Solar and Lunar Cycles
In the world of Altairus, the sun and moon are the primary celestial bodies that control the power of Anima. It is well known that the Seelie powers are associated with the sun and the Unseelie powers are associated with the moon. What is less known, however, is that the Altairian sun experiences monthly cycles much like the Altairian moon. For both the sun and the moon, different powers associated with both Seelie and Unseelie powers are tied to the celestial bodies' cycles.
Solar Phases
Frost
This is the phase of the sun where it is "coldest" in the entire month. During a Frost Sun, there may be an unusual nip in the air, even during the summer months. It is during this phase when ice magic, whether based in Water or Air magic, is at its peak.
Wolf
This solar phase comes directly after the Frost phase. When the Wolf Sun is present, wild animals become more active and restless, especially in the daytime. The Wolf Sun is associated with skinwalking, and during this phase spells involving communication with and command over animals are most powerful.
Blossom
The Blossom Sun comes after the Wolf Sun. During this phase, plants tend to grow much faster than they do during other solar phases. Most healing spells are at their peak during this phase, as are many other Earth magic spells involving plants.
Cherry
The Cherry Sun is associated with cherry blossoms, hence the name. When the Cherry Sun is present, plants, including faeries who are part plant, may spontaneously fruit. Aside from this, the Cherry Sun is associated with thunderstorm creation and other weather control spells.
Horned
The "Horned" in this case refers to the horns of power. During a Horned Sun, ambitious faeries can expect to see their endeavors pay off and their good fortune increase. This is a very lucky solar phase.
Golden
The Golden Sun is the "hottest" of all the solar phases. It is during a Golden Sun when pyromantic powers reach their peak and Light-based "enlightenment" spells work best.
Oak
The Oak Sun comes just after the peak of the sun's "heat." When the Oak Sun is out, Altairians enjoy increased physical strength and decreased hunger. It is during this phase when the hardest work is planned out, as faeries can afford to work harder and longer running on less food.
Sparrow
The Sparrow Sun is associated with the powers of Air, the power of flight in particular. When the Sparrow Sun is out, it is much easier to successfully cast flight spells and creatures that are already capable of flight have their powers enhanced.
Silver
The Silver Sun is the phase just before the sun turns "cold" again. Beings who can summon and command shadows have the easiest time doing so during this phase. The Silver Sun is also ideal for divination.
Black
When a solar cycle completes, it ends with a Black Sun. During a Black Sun, beings of all elements have their powers boosted, but beware. This is also the phase where Altairus is most vulnerable to wendigo attacks, as it is when the veil between Altairus and other worlds is the thinnest.
Lunar Phases
Newborn
This is the Altairian name for the New Moon. During the Newborn Moon, necromancy spells are much easier to use and more effective.
Infant
This is the Altairian name for the Young Moon. The sliver of light that it gives off illuminates the magical power of deep sea-dwelling faeries such as Benthic sirens and makes illuminating the depths much easier.
Child
This is the Altairian name for a Waxing Crescent Moon. The Child Moon is associated with joy and good fortune, and faeries will be more likely to succeed in their artistic endeavors during this lunar phase.
Maiden
This is the Altairian name for a First Quarter Moon. As the name suggests, this moon is associated with healthful partnerships, both romantically and in business, and marriages are often conducted during the Maiden Moon, as it grants its blessings on bonds and makes them less likely to dissolve.
Lady
This is the Altairian name for the Waxing Gibbous Moon. The Lady Moon is associated with youth and beauty, and as such spells that center around healing and beauty rituals become more effective. The sick may have an easier time recovering during a Lady Moon as well.
Mother
This is the Altairian name for the Full Moon. In addition to being associated with skinwalking and wereism, the Mother Moon is when most Altairians' physical and mental fertility is at its peak. It is associated with creation, whether through physical intimacy or through creativity.
Duchess
This is the Altairian name for the Waning Gibbous Moon. This moon is centered around the accumulation of wealth. Any spells that center around increasing one's wealth or fortune are conducted during a duchess moon, as this is when they are most effective.
Crone
This is the Altairian name for a Last Quarter Moon. The Crone Moon is associated with wisdom, and an Altairian who studies and practices something during this lunar phase will have a much easier time retaining the information they learn.
Fading
This is the Altairian name for the Waning Crescent Moon. It is during the Fading Moon when powers over shadows and concealment spells become more effective.
Dead
This is the Altairian name for the Old Moon. This phase, as the name implies, is associated with death. Many Dark spells, particularly death magic, are most powerful during the Dead Moon. It is advised that one not go outside during a dead moon if one suspects that anyone has any sort of vendetta against them.
Manifestation
It is rather easy to tell the phase of the moon in Altairus. One just has to look at the moon and see how much of it is illuminated.
For the sun, determining what phase it is in is a bit more difficult. Directly looking at the sun can result in blindness, so Altairians have to look through a special telescope that blocks out enough of its rays that they can look at it without hurting their eyes.
When looking through this telescope, one can see a certain "dark spot" on the sun that is of a far deeper color than the rest of the sun. During the Frost/Black sun, the dark spot will appear directly over the sun, much like in a total solar eclipse. As it progresses through the cycle, the spot will move to the right, obscuring less and less of the sun until it disappears during the Golden Sun, only to return on the left side when it phases into the Oak Sun.
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