Astra remembers the ancients; Lunara summons the future.
From The Great Magical History of Erudus - 2nd edition
The Twin moons - Astra and Lunara (a.k.a. The SpellLights)
Astra
The largest of the twin moons, Astra is a silver-white in color that darkens with the seasons. The moon is associated with protecting and guiding travelers, memories of the ancients, and light for true and dependable magic.
It is said that on Astra, on the nights that Astra dominates the sky, you can see visions from the past on the highest peaks of the most remote mountains on Erudus. Astra often gives visions of dead relatives.
Astra’s rise is a useful tool to magical beings. She is said to shine down and protect them from sickness and others who would do them harm.
Erudians say “By Astra!” This indicates something is true and just.
Lunara
The smallest moon has a light cobalt and lavender color. It is considered to be wilder and more dangerous than its twin. Lunara is often thought to be associated with hidden magic, dreams and the spirits.
It is said that when Lunara dominates the sky on the celebration of their Lifebright (birthday), the individual will go through an immense period of transformation over the next sol.
Lunara dominated nights are especially good for making prophecies.
The Cycles of the Moons
Astra and Lunara have different cycles in the Erudian sky. Astra completes a full cycle every thirty days (brights). Lynara only takes twenty. They phase together after sixty days (brights).
The complex cycle and colors over the sky, has led the Erudian people to track and name all of the phases of the moons.
More about Twinful
During this phase both moons are full. Magic crackles in the air making all spells and charms more effective. The magical curtain on this night vibrates. Some of the most dangerous events in Erudian history have occurred on twinful nights.
The natural world is awakened during the Twinful. Animals’ abilities and powers are also enhanced. During this night, flooding is increased, the Bitter Winds are colder, and waters whip around Erudus in turmoil.
Songs always have a form of underlying magic on Erudus. During the Twinful, music resonates with greater power and seeps into the sound of non magical beings.
The Twinful - An Example of its Magic - Silinah Moonbliss
One Twinful night, when Astra burnt silver-white and Lunara shone lavender, Master Silinah Moonbliss lifted her voice in song in the Spineback Valley. A violent storm was tearing through the mountains, threatening the lives of the people and animals that lived there.
Silinah began to pull her song together. She accessed the powers of the universe, pulled them through her mind and body, and opened her mouth to sing her first note. The first note was quiet, like a downy feather flapping in the wind. But the moons caught that note lifting it to the winds. The song grew larger, stronger and more powerful. It was like the note resonated in water, stone, dirt and sky. The wind still churned, but it stopped its advancement. It hung high above the mountain in a large cloud of darkness and destruction.
Ordinary frightened Erudians, saw what her voice was doing. They began to sing with Silinah, even though they had no magical abilities. She wove the people’s voices into her song, until she had captured every power of the Thirteen Keys. For a brief moment, her power became greater than that of any other master alive.
The storm stilled in midair, the shattered landscape repaired itself, trees re-rooted, wounded animals healed, and the aurora returned over the mountains. Silinah brought the note to an end, trembling as she realized that the whole of Erudus had wound itself into her song.
After that night, the Moonbliss family became rooted in the sound magic on Erudus. The parents of each descendant of the family tried to teach their children to sing, play instruments or compose music, hoping that they would have the ability to combine these skills with magic. The Moonbliss family passed down a wish from Thomial and Eluzin, the first masters of sound. One day they hoped that their use of sound, would help the 13 keys bring the universe into harmony.
Other phases of the moon will be described in future articles.
When silver blends with lavender, magic abounds.
From The Great Magical History of Erudus - 2nd edition
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