First lets talk about why the light most definitely shouldn't win. We have lightspeed travel (maybe faster? Not sure) and we have infinite lives. We have the capability to go to inhabit the terraformed planets that the traveler made for us. That there is the issue. The traveler gave us all of these "capabilities" but throughout all of the lore, we are entirely grounded to the sol system. When do we get out of it? When our enemies take us there. The colonization potential of humanity is limitless at this point, but with our infinite lives and godlike powers, we struggle to clear some pirates from space (the fallen, complete failure of a civilization). This is covered in a lore card by the darkness. The traveler coddles humanity, and this is a problem. Because of this, we're helpless when our unconditional gifts are taken. We also know that these gifts don't have to be taken by force, becuase the traveler is completely willing to leave. Humanity is a cult army forced to stay in our solar system to coddle and protect the traveler. We should easily be able to protect, conquer, and spread humanity becuase the enemies are basically powerless against us, yet for some reason every mission is a struggle and guardians still die all the time. In summary against the light... 1) too much coddling, which is bad for any civilization in the long run 2) questionable motives of the traveler. There's no real reason to believe it's any more than a lifeless rock that drifts from place to place. Or worse, self serving. 3) the cult like results of following it on blind faith are always negative. We should not be bound to our solar system with these powers. Nor should we be bound to our source of power. This is essentially silent blackmail. A lot of people think that because of that, we should choose the darkness. Here's why that's an issue. While the light makes humanity completely incompetent, the risk of joining the pyramids outweighs the rewards. Even if the stories are hearsay, it isn't worth it. The real question should not be, "What's the best source of power," nor "which wants the best for humanity." The question should be, "Why do we need an external source of power?" An external source of power can always be taken, and becuase of that, whatever provides that power can have control. there are positives to the darkness though, if a side must be chosen. For one, the ghaul incident would be impossible. There is no central source of power like the traveler. Where there's a single ship of this huge fleet, there's power still. Secondly, it bodes well for the pyramids that they made the guardians earn their power. Who would you trust more, a guy in a van offering free candy, or a guy that gives you a paycheck becuase you put in the work? It's also nice that the pyramids actually communicate with us. It's ethically questionable becuase they manipulate the ghost to do so though, while the traveler let ghosts have totally free will (independently of their guardians even). But regardless of this, there are far too many negative stories about the darkness. If everyone from independent species or groups generally believe the same thing about the darkness, then it's probably true. We know that morally questionable beings have been given gifts by the darkness (I should also say, morally questionable by the standards of humanity. Oryx is bad to us, fine to the hive. It's a different culture, but humanity needs what's morally acceptable for humanity evolutionarily speaking. If the darkness doesn't match that, we don't need it). To sum up the argument against the darkness... 1) morally questionable manipulation of the world 2) more lenient with much *greater* (but not free) power than the traveler 3) everyone seems to have the same account of the negativity of the darkness 4) alien cultures that are twisted through the lens of human culture have a positive view of the darkness So the real point to all of this, is that it doesn't matter which one is chosen. They're both bad for humanity becuase they're an outside source. They may possess power, but when outsiders came to north america it still didn't bode well for the natives, no matter how many thanksgivings you have. It's not as if humanity is powerless, either. Other species without gifts aren't powerless either. I think we need to remember, who was it that was going to kill oryx first? Was it the lightbearing guardians? Nope, a single cabal ship was completely capable of destroying the dreadnaught until the guardians interfered (for good reason though). So think, were the cabal using mystical gift powers to defeat oryx? Nope, they were using 4 little bomb packs. Bombs. They don't have the light, and they took the traveler. They were more competent in defeating oryx. They have a ship that eats planets to make alcohol. They've controlled vex simulations multiple times. Their civilization is falling because of humanity and humanity alone due to a cult following of the traveler. Arguably they started it, but if they had more forces, there's no reason to believe they couldnt take the city without even taking the traveler. Humanity could have a ton of power. Extra points if you join the cabal and become civilized to eachother. Then think again. Who made rasputin? Siva? Just some dude, that's who. and just some dudes is what humanity needs, not one cult or the other I realize no one will see this, but I have too much free time on my hands.