Dark Fountain

If One Was Simply
Determined Enough
Could Not Anyone Make A Dark Fountain?

Queen, Chapter 2

The Dark Fountains (JP: 闇の泉) are important phenomena in the plot of Deltarune. Dark Fountains are large, gushing pillars of darkness which any "determined" Lightner can summon. Within the Light World space in which they are created, these Fountains give form to a localized Dark World. The "will" of a given Fountain is reflected in the Darkners who inhabit the world it creates. When a Dark Fountain is created in the Light World, it takes the form of an opaque black fog that fills the location it was made in. Sealing new Fountains has been the heroes' primary goal in each Chapter of the game thus far.

Overview

According to Ralsei, the recent appearance of new Dark Fountains threatens to "shift the balance of LIGHT and DARK". The creation of these Fountains is attributed by King and Queen to the Roaring Knight.

As foretold by the prophecy, the creation of the Dark Fountains, and their shattering of harmony between the Light and the Dark, threatens to cause an apocalyptic calamity known as the Roaring. To prevent this, three "HEROES" are destined to seal the Fountains and restore the balance. Sealing a Dark Fountain results in a Dark World reverting into the Light World location it was based upon. According to Ralsei, Kris is the only one capable of directly sealing a Dark Fountain.

The Knight, Kris, and Susie are currently the only known entities known to have created Dark Fountains. However, any Lightner could potentially create a Dark Fountain by projecting their "determination" into a sharp object and piercing the ground. At the end of Chapter 2, Berdly nearly makes one inside the Cyber World as an apology to Noelle, but is swayed against it after Ralsei explains the Roaring. In Chapter 4, it is revealed that making a Dark Fountain inside a Dark World results in the birth of a Titan.

Fountains

Grand Fountain

The Fountain of Darkness, as seen in the prophecy

The Grand Fountain (JP: 大いなる泉), also referred to as the Fountain of Darkness (JP: 闇の泉) in Ralsei's summary of the prophecy, towers above Castle Town. It is visible at or near Ralsei's castle.

In Ralsei's summary of the prophecy, he states that it "gives this land form". It can also transform Castle Town if Kris recruits Darkners. Since the Grand Fountain is "made of pure darkness", it allows Darkners from any Dark World to live in the closet Dark World without turning to stone.

Eastern Fountain

The Eastern Fountain (JP: 東の泉) is the second Dark Fountain that Ralsei mentions in his summary of the prophecy, made by the Knight and threatening to upset the balance of Light and Dark. Reflecting the school's unused classroom and having created Card Kingdom, it stands at King's Card Castle, and is sealed by Kris via the power of the SOUL at the end of Chapter 1.

Library Fountain

Projector footage of "The Birth of a Fountain", depicting the creation of the library Fountain

The library Fountain is the third Dark Fountain encountered in Deltarune. It was made by the Knight in the library's computer lab sometime after Chapter 1, and makes an electronic-themed Dark World known as the Cyber World. It stands at Queen's Mansion and is sealed by Kris at the end of Chapter 2.

Dreemurr residence Fountain

The Dark Fountain forming at the end of Chapter 2

At the end of Chapter 2, Kris, after removing the SOUL and turning on the TV, uses a knife to make a Dark Fountain in the Dreemurr residence's living room while Toriel and Susie are sleeping. This makes a TV-themed Dark World known as TV World.

This Fountain was presumably sealed by Kris at some point prior to the start of Chapter 4, making it the first one that is not sealed on-screen in its respective Chapter.

Church Fountains

The Dark Fountain created within the 3rd Sanctuary

In Chapter 4, at some point after church service had ended, the Knight makes two Dark Fountains in the church, creating the Dark Sanctuary and 3rd Sanctuary. After Kris seals the Dark Sanctuary Fountain, Susie uses their knife to make another Fountain to figure out the code to the door the second one is behind, making the 2nd Sanctuary. The 2nd Sanctuary Fountain is sealed shortly after Kris and Susie defeat the Sound of Justice. Later, the Knight makes a Dark Fountain inside the 3rd Sanctuary, which hardens into stone before hatching into a Titan. With their friends' help, Kris manages to seal the Fountain the Titan is part of before sealing the 3rd Sanctuary Fountain near the end of Chapter 4.

Shelter Fountain

At some point before the end of Chapter 3, a Dark Fountain was made within the shelter. As of Chapter 4, it has not been sealed.

Background

In the background of Dark Fountains is an asset internally labeled IMAGE_DEPTH. It is a cropped and recolored stock image of the ocean that, aside from in Dark Fountains, reoccurs several times within Deltarune:

• as the background of the introduction sequence, when the voice speaks to the player;
• below the Knight during the fight with it in Chapter 3;
• as the background of the glass tapestries depicting the prophecy in Chapter 4;
• as the background of the stained glass during the fight with the Hammer of Justice, as he is explaining Lord of the Hammer's fourth chapter;
• as the foreground of the library room of the 3rd Sanctuary.

It is among the few assets within the game whose filename is completely uppercase, a trait associated with the voice.

• 
  The game file
• 
  The background
• 
  The source image
• 
  A base sprite for the IMAGE_DEPTH effect found in Dark Fountains and the Chapter 3 Knight fight
• 
  The background for the altered Legend and the stained glass in the Hammer of Justice's fight
• 
  The background used in the intro when first loading up Chapter 4
• 
  The background used for the prophecy panels in Chapter 4
• 
  The background used in the introduction

Gallery

• 
  The party gazing at a Dark Fountain
• 
  Dark Fountains, as seen during Ralsei's explanation of the Roaring
• 
  The thinner Dark Fountain initially found in the church's lobby
• 
  Promotional artwork with the Deltarune logo

Trivia

• In Chapter 2, during the fight with GIGA Queen, Queen mentions the possibility of Noelle creating "Neo Dark Fountains" in the future. This is likely using the word "neo" to mean "new" rather than indicating that "Neo Dark Fountains" are a distinct concept.
• The appearance of the Dark Fountain from which the Titan hatches in Chapter 4 is similar to the Fountain shown in the version of the Chapter Select screen that appears after completing a Chapter at least once.
• In Chapter 4, the Dark Fountain initially found in the church's lobby is significantly thinner than all other Dark Fountains shown.