The Twin Moons of Llorin
Only fools and faeries dance under the blood moon.
Only fools and faeries dance under the blood moon.
The two moons are one of the most striking figures in the world of Llorin. Commonly called the Twins, they feature in culture and mythology around the world. The bigger one, Onos, is red and swollen, often called the Blood Moon by the Llorians. The smaller one, the pale Iril, is a gentler, more discreet presence.
The moons of Llorin create a different environment than the one known to our earth; More extreme tides, stronger erosion, and higher volcanic activity make life complex and challenging. Increased moonlight during the nighttime caused the evolution of more nocturnal creatures, some of which are adapted to be most active during the brighter phases of only one of the moons.
The moons are closely connected to tradition, sorcery, and myth. In culture, time is marked by the turn of one or both moons, with calendars varying in length and intricacy.
The Olomi culture, settled in the tide-swept beaches of the Kalamahan, count a month as one cycle of Onos and a year as ten cycles of Iril. They consider the red moon a symbol of blood, and associate it with both death and childbirth, as well as the female menstrual circle. It is thus a fertility goddess, connected to life, death, and rebirth, celebrated in women's mysteries with blood offerings. Therefore, women in their fertile years are expected to be passionate, sensual, and creative; equally Creators and Destroyers. Their ceremonies are dynamic, with wild singing, dance, and ritual sacrifice. Men are associated with the white moon, a symbol of clarity and constancy, and are thus expected to be calm, stern, and unyielding; an image of the Preserver. Their ceremonies include ritual fasting, contemplation, and solitude.
The Olomi believe that when Onos is full, circumstances favor pregnancy and battle, making it a time for fertility rituals, blood sacrifices, and warfare. However, a battle or birth taking place when Onos is dark is a bad omen, ending in defeat or stillbirth. When Iril is full, circumstances favor peace, quiet, and contemplation. Deviating from either of these norms would cause the respective moon to go dark, destroying balance in society. This, supposedly, is what happened to previous civilizations of the Isles, whose ruins can sometimes be found, swallowed up by the jungle.
In comparison, many cultures associate Onos with evil, witchcraft, and social upheaval, while Iril with a more benevolent or neutral force. In the City of Lamplight, the red moon is a prime time for spirits, skinwalkers, and sorcerers to walk the narrow streets, looking for unsuspecting passerbyes. For the Galikia tribe in Andor, a full red moon is when the faerie folk are at their most malevolent, while a full white moon draws forth their good will - though any Galikian will tell you that the fae are never trully harmless, no matter the hue of the sky above. Both moons being full at once causes a havoc of contrasting spiritual activity, which the tribesmen attempt to pacify with festivals.
The civilized Caladorans, of course, consider any sort of moon worship to be base and superstitious, choosing the sun as a symbol instead.
The moons of Llorin create a different environment than the one known to our earth; More extreme tides, stronger erosion, and higher volcanic activity make life complex and challenging. Increased moonlight during the nighttime caused the evolution of more nocturnal creatures, some of which are adapted to be most active during the brighter phases of only one of the moons.
The moons are closely connected to tradition, sorcery, and myth. In culture, time is marked by the turn of one or both moons, with calendars varying in length and intricacy.
The Olomi culture, settled in the tide-swept beaches of the Kalamahan, count a month as one cycle of Onos and a year as ten cycles of Iril. They consider the red moon a symbol of blood, and associate it with both death and childbirth, as well as the female menstrual circle. It is thus a fertility goddess, connected to life, death, and rebirth, celebrated in women's mysteries with blood offerings. Therefore, women in their fertile years are expected to be passionate, sensual, and creative; equally Creators and Destroyers. Their ceremonies are dynamic, with wild singing, dance, and ritual sacrifice. Men are associated with the white moon, a symbol of clarity and constancy, and are thus expected to be calm, stern, and unyielding; an image of the Preserver. Their ceremonies include ritual fasting, contemplation, and solitude.
The Olomi believe that when Onos is full, circumstances favor pregnancy and battle, making it a time for fertility rituals, blood sacrifices, and warfare. However, a battle or birth taking place when Onos is dark is a bad omen, ending in defeat or stillbirth. When Iril is full, circumstances favor peace, quiet, and contemplation. Deviating from either of these norms would cause the respective moon to go dark, destroying balance in society. This, supposedly, is what happened to previous civilizations of the Isles, whose ruins can sometimes be found, swallowed up by the jungle.
In comparison, many cultures associate Onos with evil, witchcraft, and social upheaval, while Iril with a more benevolent or neutral force. In the City of Lamplight, the red moon is a prime time for spirits, skinwalkers, and sorcerers to walk the narrow streets, looking for unsuspecting passerbyes. For the Galikia tribe in Andor, a full red moon is when the faerie folk are at their most malevolent, while a full white moon draws forth their good will - though any Galikian will tell you that the fae are never trully harmless, no matter the hue of the sky above. Both moons being full at once causes a havoc of contrasting spiritual activity, which the tribesmen attempt to pacify with festivals.
The civilized Caladorans, of course, consider any sort of moon worship to be base and superstitious, choosing the sun as a symbol instead.
Type
Planetoid / Moon
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