The Celestial System of Valaron

Overview

Valaron has multiple moons, a celestial arrangement that has shaped the world's mythology, religion, and culture for ages beyond counting. Each moon possesses distinct characteristics and, according to those who study them deeply, exerts different influences over the world below.

Celestia

Celestia is the largest of Valaron's moons, ancient beyond measure. She is the undisputed focal point of lunar worship. Celestia is described as perfect, luminous, and eternal, appearing with consistent regularity in the night sky. Her cycles are as predictable as the turning of seasons.

Celestia is believed to pull at time itself, influencing the great cycles of history, transformation, and change. Those who worship the moons regard her with reverence bordering on awe. She is the mother. She is the wisest. She is the one whose witness spans eternities.

Secondary Moons

Beyond Celestia orbit several smaller moons, each with its own characteristic influence and nature. They are less predictable than Celestia. Some appear consistently. Others seem inconstant, present one night and absent the next.

The exact number of attendant moons is disputed. Some claim seven. Others claim ten. Still others say that new moons appear and disappear according to patterns only the truly devoted can perceive.

Nature

Traditional scholars regard the moons as celestial bodies. They are interesting from an astronomical standpoint, but ultimately inanimate. However, those devoted to lunar study, such as The Lunar Vigil claim the moons are far more than this.

The moons are conscious in their own way, not alive in any biological sense but aware of the world beneath them. They are indifferent to individual suffering, yet capable of noticing greater patterns and cycles. They communicate through subtle means like tides, shadows, the play of light on water, and patterns in the night sky. They possess purposes and wills that mortals can, with sufficient study and devotion, learn to interpret.

History

The moons have featured prominently in Valaron's oldest stories and religions. Ancient peoples built shrines to observe them. Wars were fought according to lunar cycles. Prophecies were read in their movements.

The most consistent truth across all these accounts is that Celestia, the great mother moon, has always been regarded as the wisest and most important. She is the constant witness to all things.

Worship

The moons inspire deep devotion across Valaron. Those who feel called to study the moons and interpret their will are often drawn to organizations dedicated to lunar knowledge and practice.

The most prominent of these is the Lunar Vigil, a group of fanatics and believers who dedicate themselves to understanding the moons and their influence on the world. They maintain temples and observatories, track lunar cycles with meticulous precision, and work to decode the messages they believe the moons communicate to those who listen.

Many across Valaron contribute to lunar worship in their own ways, whether through prayer, observation, or participation in the festivals and celebrations that mark the moons' most significant moments.

Celebrations

Every year, during the peak of summer, Celestia reaches her highest point in the sky and overlooks Solaris Isle with particular clarity and brilliance. This is the most significant moment in the lunar calendar, and the people celebrate with joy and reverence.

The streets come alive with the glow of thousands of lanterns, their light dancing alongside the moon's own luminescence. The air fills with music and laughter as communities gather to mark the occasion. Dancers twirl through the streets while artisans showcase mystical crafts and enchanted goods. Storytellers weave enchanting tales in public squares, their voices carrying through the night.

The smell of sizzling treats mingles with music and celebration as food vendors offer special dishes prepared only for this festival. Families and friends gather beneath the moon's watchful eye, creating magical memories that will sustain them until the next year's celebration arrives. For one night, the ordinary world feels touched by something sacred.