The Moons

"It told of the love shared by Panya, a Qirsi woman, and Ilias, an Eandi man. The two races were young then, and the gods who created them, Qirsar and Ean, had long hated each other and had thus decreed that the Qirsi and Eandi should remain apart. But what Panya and Ilias shared went deeper even than their fear of the great ones. Soon Panya was with child, and Qirsar's rage flared like the fire magic some of his people possessed. For it was well known that Qirsi women were too frail to bear the children begotten by Eandi men. When Panya's time came, she lived long enough to deliver her child, a beautiful daughter, but then she died. Ilias, bereft of his love and unable to find consolation in the birth of his daughter, took his own life, hoping to join his beloved in Bian's realm.

Qirsar, however, had something else in mind for them. He changed the lovers into moons, one white and one red, and placed them in the sky for all to see, as a warning to Qirsi and Eandi who dared to love one another. For all eternity, the great one declared, the lovers would pursue each other among the stars, but never would they be together or even see each other again. Whenever white Panya rose, red Ilias would set, and only when she disappeared below the horizon would he rise again.

But so great was their love, that even in death they were able to defy the God. The first time Panya rose into the night sky, brilliant and full, she paused at the summit of her arc. And there she waited until Ilias could join her. Ever after, they traveled the sky together, their cycles nearly identical." --Rules of Ascension, p. 42 (describing The Paean to the Moons)

Panya and Ilias, the two moons that pursue each other through the skies of the Forelands and Southlands are far more than just the stuff of legend and song. The calendars of both lands are inextricably bound to the cycles of the moons -- time is measured in their waxing and waning, the passage of seasons and years is marked by the coming of new turns, each one named for one of the gods in the Forelands, or by ancient tradition in the Southlands. And attached to each of these turns is a legend that can fortell joy and prosperity, or great tragedy.

The Cycle of the Moons

Each lunar cycle, or turn, lasts twenty-eight days. It begins with the first day of the waxing, when Ilias, the red moon, is but a thin sliver in the morning sky, and white Panya is not even visible. Over the next fourteen days the moons move through their phases toward full, Panya rising first, and Ilias following her into the sky. The waxing ends with the Night of Two Moons, the night between Ilias's full and Panya's full, a night of magic and portents. The next day begins the waning, which, like the waxing lasts fourteen days. The waning ends with Pitch Night, the only night in each turn when neither moon can be seen at all. Like the Night of Two Moons, Pitch Night is a time of magic, of omens. But this is a dark night, when the legends speak of hard times, even death. Few men dare to be abroad on Pitch Night in any turn.

The Turns and their Moon Legends

Each turn is named for a different god and is imbued with different characteristics. For each turn there is a moon legend tied to the Night of Two Moons and Pitch Night. (First name is moon's name in the Forelands; second is the moon's name in the Southlands.)

Qirsar's turn/Magic Moon -- For the God of Magic. On The Night of Two Moons in Qirsar's Turn, a Qirsi's power is enhanced. On Pitch Night, the Qirsi have no power at all.

Eilidh's turn/Fire Moon -- Also the yule moon, for the Goddess of Fire. It is said that a fire built on the Night of Two Moons in Eilidh's turn will bring friends to one's door. On Pitch Night, a fire that is allowed to burn out cannot be relit.

Elhir's turn/Hunger Moon -- Called as well the snow moon, for the God of Wind. A clear sky on the Night of Two Moons in Elhir's turn presages an early thaw. An overcast sky on Pitch Night will bring a harsh planting season.

Osya's turn/Forest Moon -- The sap moon, for the Goddess of the Wood. Trees are planted on the Night of Two Moons in Osya's turn as an offering to the goddess. The new trees are said to bring good fortune. Trees cut on the day of Pitch Night will yield wood that will not burn if used for fires, or will not bear weight if used for building.

Amon's turn/Rain Moon -- The grass moon, for the God of Water. Rain on the Night of Two Moons in Amon's turn will bring a generous growing season. Rain on Pitch Night is an omen of floods to come.

Elined's turn/Planting Moon -- The earth moon, for the Goddess of the Earth. Planting on the Night of Two Moons in Elined's turn ensures a good crop. If the seedlings aren't up by Pitch Night, however, the crop will fail.

Adriel's turn/Fertility Moon -- The love moon, for the Goddess of Love. A love consummated on the Night of Two Moons in Adriel's turn will last forever. A love consummated on Pitch Night will end in betrayal.

Morna's turn/Thunder Moon -- For the Goddess of the Sky. The Night of Two Moons in Mornas's turn is said to be the fairest night of the year. Pitch Night is always a night of violent storms.

Shyssir's turn/Dreaming Moon -- For the God of Sleep. Good dreams on the Night of Two Moons in Shyssir's turn will come true, as will nightmares on Pitch Night.

Sivan's turn/Reaping Moon -- Also called wine, or grain moon, for the God of the Harvest. A crop that is ready for harvest on the Night of Two Moons in Sivan's turn will yield enough to feed everyone throughout the cold turns. The first killing frost in most parts of the Forelands comes on Pitch Night in Sivan's turn.

Kebb's turn/Hunter's Moon -- Also called the blood moon, for the God of Beasts. A successful hunt on the Night of Two Moons portends good hunting throughout the snows. Meat from a beast killed on Pitch Night is considered cursed and cannot be eaten.

Bian's turn/Memory Moon -- Also called the death moon, for the God of the Underrealm. On the Night of Two Moons in Bian's turn, you will meet lost loved ones. On Pitch Night, the wronged dead roam the land, seeking vengeance.

Bohdan's turn/Festival Moon -- In the Forelands named for the God of Laughter. The Night of Two Moons in Bohdan's turn is a night of rejoicing, when gifts are exchanged and friends partake of feasts together. The entire turn is one of celebration, though this ends the night before Pitch Night. Pitch Night in Bohdan's turn, the last night of the year, is a night of prayer and introspection.

The Seasons

As one might expect, given the size of the Forelands, and the different elevations found in the Southlands, the seasons vary somewhat depending upon where you are. That said, however, the thirteen turns can be divided roughly by season.

The Planting includes Osya's turn, Amon's turn, and Elined's turn.

The Growing includes Adriel's turn, Morna's Turn, Shyssir's turn.

The Harvest includes Sivan's turn, Kebb's turn, and Bian's turn.

The Snows include Bohdan's turn, Qirsar's turn, Eilidh's turn, and Elhir's turn.