The Lumis and Malus Moons

## The Lumis Moon

The older, larger, and brighter of Talus's two moons, the Lumis Moon moves quickly around Talus. Lumis's rapid orbit carves out a predictable pattern in Talus's astronomy, with it waxing or waning every week, or six days. Luxdun - which derives its name from Lumis's light, or lack thereof - either sees Lumis full or new. Weirdun, on the other hand, always sees Lumis in the midst of its waxing or waning. Lumis maintains a perfect circular orbit around Talus, and is further away than the Malus Moon.

The elves refer to the Lumis Moon as "Shaldira", the "High Sister", and consider the celestial object a guardian. Elven myths portray Shaldira as an older, wiser sister, often admonishing or cleaning up after her younger brother.

## The Malus Moon

The younger, smaller, and darker of Talus's two moons, the Malus Moon moves at a slower and imperfect orbit around Talus. It takes thirteen days for a Malus moon to shift from its new to full phases, or vice versa. The Malus Moon is considered by many cultures across the planet as a dark or evil entity, as it gives off very little light compared to the Lumis Moon, and seems to be linked to dark magic strengthening during certain periods of time.

The elves refer to the Malus Moon as "Drasmela", the "Twisted Brother", and consider the celestial object a dark omen and a constant presence of wickedness. Older elves that lived through a significant enough portion of the Cold Dark remember when the Malus Moon was still a fragmented ring.

Indeed, the moon is the result of one aspect of the Sundering: an explosion on what is now the Sketta Isles that saw enough debris blasted out from planet to form a small moon, after thousands of years of gravitational coalescence. Even the oldest living elves, still too young to know the true origins of the Malus Moon, regard the celestial body wearily. Its subsequent formation during the Cold Dark helped establish the tonality of the dark Age

## Major or Notable Lunar Events

The precise patterns of the two moons will occasionally result in a particular day and/or night that sees the moons causing particular effects or allowing for certain manipulations of magic.

### Lunar Phase Peaks

**New Lumis // New Malus** - called "Sleeping Moons". Corresponding lunar magics are stable, and celestial (star) magics/entities are able to communicate more clearly.

**New Lumis // Full Malus** - called "Darklight". Necromantic magic and other dark spellcraft are able to be expressed more clearly. Lycanthropes consistently all transform.

**Full Lumis // Full Malus** - called "Twolight". Elemental and wild magics are able to be expressed more clearly. Most lycanthropes have the possibility of transforming.

**Full Lumis // New Malus** - called "Brightlight". Divine and life magics are able to be expressed more clearly. A few enchanted lycanthropes have the possibility of transforming.

### Lunar Dominances

**Lumis Dominant**: Lumis light is above 50% and Malus light is below 50%

**Malus Dominant**: when the Lumis Moon is below 50% and Malus light is above 50%

**Lunar Dominant**: when both Lumis and Malus are above 50% light

**Lunar Recessive**: when both Lumis and Malus are below 50% light

### Rare Celestial Events

**Solar Eclipse via Lumis** - called "Darksun". The Lumis moon perfectly eclipses the sun, casting parts of Talus either in partial or total eclipse.

**Solar "Eclipse" via Malus** - called "Wicked Eye"

**Solar Eclipse via both Lumis and Malus** - called "Skybane"

**Lunar Eclipse of Lumis** - called "Redmoon"

**Lunar Eclipse of Malus** - called "Bluemoon"

**Lumis Eclipse via Malus** -