The Eclipse

When the sisters embrace, everything will change

With the sun gracefully dipping below the horizon, casting its last, warm golden rays over Al’Nahar, the night markets came alive. Narrow, winding streets filled with industrious merchants and eagle-eyed buyers, each eager to make some deals before the new day.
The air was thick with the mingling scents of exotic spices and freshly baked bread. The heavy aroma of saffron, cumin, and cardamom wafted from the spice stalls, mingling with the sweet smell of dates and figs piled high in reef baskets. The air filled with the scent of roasting lamb and chicken from the food vendors’ grills, making mouths water and stomachs rumble, while clinking coins sang their eternal melody.
Twilight deepened and lanterns were lit all over the city, casting a warm, flickering glow while the moon sisters Shali and Sahar slowly rose into the dawning night sky.
It was to be a full moons' night, a night for lovers and bards - praised for its silvery beauty and whispered secrets. A soft evening breeze carried the faint scent of jasmine from the gardens, while songbirds sang their good nights to each other.

Slowly, almost unnoticed, the air grew quiet. The distant sounds of the bustling bazaar seemed to fade, the birds ceased their evening songs, and even the rustling of palm leaves stilled. The world seemed to hold its breath, the air crackling with a strange energy that could be felt tingling on the skin.

In the velvet skies above, Shali drifted closer to Sahar, as if yearning to touch her sister. A black shadow appeared on Sahar's surface, a veil of silken midnight slowly settling on her silvery form.

As darkness began to descend upon the land below, people stopped in their tracks, their tasks abandoned, eyes turning to the heavens in disbelief. A slow murmur drifted over the streets, a whisper tinged with disbelief and despair.

Sahar's protective light dimmed further and further, until all that was left was a softly shimmering silver halo, shining on from behind Shali. A hush fell over the Al’Nahar as people watched the twin moons enter an embrace that painted all of creation with hues of silver . The moons seemed to shimmer softly with divine magic, their bodies intertwined in a dance of light and shadow. A fluttering, soft gust of wind arose from the east, a gentle whisper from a lover’s lips, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming night flowers not from this world.
Into the dark, as if orchestrated by a divine hand, waves of green and blue light suddenly sprung forth from behind the moons. They danced across the heavens, weaving through the stars like a celestial river of otherworldly current of colors, mingling with the silver glow of the eclipsed sisters. Shali and Sahar, locked in their shadowy embrace, pulsed with a silent rhythm, a quiet back and forth, each word an invisible thrum of magical force. Light cascaded down from the heavens, bathing the city in an ocean of colors, as the aurora danced in the purple heavens. The aurora’s light seemed to breathe, expanding and contracting in time with the pulsing moons, a symphony of light and magic.
Suddenly, in a cataclysmic burst, wherever the dancing lights touched, the constellations, those ancient guardians of the night sky, shattered, drifting apart like dust on a breeze. Their fragments scattered, each star strewn over the tapestry of the night sky like lost jewels,as if the very fabric of the cosmos had been torn asunder.

Gasps of wonder quickly turned to cries of alarm. Some fell to their knees, whispering frantic prayers to the gods, their voices trembling with terror. Others pointed and shouted, their faces pale with panic, trying to make sense of it all. Some just stared with eyes full of wonder, looking up to the sky in awe.
Slowly, like tumbling leaves on a celestial river, the shining stars danced across the heavens, settling into new and mysterious patterns until the sky was filled with new, unfamiliar shapes never seen before. Each new constellation blazed with colors once, then twice as the stars settled into their new places, a silent greeting to the world below. The Weaver emerged, delicate and intricate, its stars forming a pattern that seemed to weave through the very fabric of the night sky. The Guardian took shape, strong and steadfast, its stars shining down with a protective light. The Seeker appeared from beyond the horizons, ever searching, its stars forming a path that seemed to lead into the unknown.
One by one, every star found its new home heavens, and ever so slowly, the sisters drifted apart again, separating like reluctant lovers. Like smoke on the wind, the aurora gradually came apart, its ethereal colors dissolving into the night sky. Shali returned to its resting place,leaving just its own glow, the warm light of Sahar and a heaven full of wonders.

Aftermath

The impact of these events on the Kaharan people echoes to this day. The lunar eclipse was seen as a divine message or omen from the gods themselves, a sign of a new age - although one of darkness or greatness no one knew. It led to a renewed wave of piety, with people all over the land flocking to temples and shrines to praise the gods. Art, literature, and music flourished, inspired by the celestial dance and the events that followed.
Revered priests, draped in flowing robes, each with their own interpretation of the events, urged their devout followers to seek repentance or guidance from the gods. Doomsayers and prophets emerged from the shadows, some inciting fear and panic, while others offered solace and promises of a golden age.
By royal decree of Sultan Shamir Al’Daoud the Celestial Circle was founded shortly after the eclipse - an organization of sages and navigators dedicated to the study of the celestial arts. Scholars, armed with astrolabes and ancient star charts eagerly studied the celestial shift, striving to uncover its secrets anew. Each star pattern was meticulously charted, hoping to gain more insight into the mysteries of the universe. Navigators, previously masters of the heavens and stars, now faced with an unfamiliar sky, had to relearn their trade anew - a task they tackled with abandon.

The common folk reacted with a far more tumultuous mix of emotions. Children clung to their parents, their eyes wide with confusion and fear, as the heady scent of burning incense and the acrid smoke of sacrificial offerings filled the air of many villages. Elders whispered of ancient prophecies, their voices trembling with both reverence and fear, while the young looked to the heavens in wonder and hope for a golden age.

Wise and compassionate, Sultan Shamir Al’Daoud rose to the occasion, using the celestial catastrophe to unify his people. His leadership inspired a renewed spirit of solidarity as the kaharan people faced the new night skies together, forging a future filled with unity and purpose amidst uncertainty. Transforming fear into strength and despair into hope, he led them towards the dawn of a new golden age.

Shali and Sahar

Also known as the Daughters of Heaven to the kaharan people, the twin moons silently watch over all of creation since time's beginning.
Born as illegitimate children to the queen of heavens, these celestial sisters govern the realms of the ocean, magic, compassion, and hope with gentle silver light, offering a silent promise to all who seek their aid, unjudging and all-encompassing in their grace.

Constellations of Aran'sha

Al'Missaj, the weaver

In the vast tapestry starry sky, behold Al'Missaj, the Weaver. With threads of starlight, it spins the patterns of fate and destiny, woven by the hands of time itself.

Al'Kadis, the guardian

Gaze upon Al'Kadis, the Guardian, a vigilant hero with a shield of stars. He stands watch over the heavens, a symbol of protection and loyalty, ever watchful in the silent night.

Al'Dahith, the Seeker

In the celestial expanse, find Al'Dahith, the Seeker. Holding a lantern of shimmering light, she embarks on an eternal quest for truth and knowledge, guiding souls through the darkness.
ternal quest for truth and knowledge, guiding souls through the darkness.

Kuruqal Al'Kimisha, the alchemist’s crucible

Among the stars, discover Kuruqal Al'Kimisha, the Alchemist’s Crucible. It's mystical glow symbolizes transformation and discovery, the everlasting change of life.

Al'Ralir, the Dreamer

Look to the heavens and see Al-Ralir, the Dreamer. Stretched out among the stars, he gazes into the infinite, embodying imagination, hope, and the dreams of a better future.

Soudah Al'Dama, the Celestial Bazaar

In the night sky, the Soudah Al'Dama, the Celestial Bazaar, opens its gates every night. A bustling market of stars, it symbolizes commerce, community, and a life well lived

Khanna Al'Sima, the garden of heavens

Amidst the stars, find Khanna Al'Sima, the Garden of Heavens. A lush garden with blooming flowers, it represents paradise, beauty, and the eternal peace of the afterlife.

Al'Hamyuh, the Serpent

Winding through the night, Al'Hamyuh, the Serpent, slithers among the stars. It embodies mystery, wisdom, and the hidden dangers that lurk behind the horizon.

Washat Al'Sahir, the Desert Rose

In the celestial gardens, behold Washat Al'Sahir, the Desert Rose. Blooming amidst the stars, it stands for beauty and resilience, flourishing even in the harshest of places.

A new dawn

As a result of these events, Sultan Shamir Al’Daoud himself decreed that the years would henceforth be counted from “After Eclipse.” This decree was issued to honor the gods and to mark the beginning of a new golden age for the kaharan people.