Baogan

## Description:

The name "Baogan" strikes a chilling fear into the hearts of the mortals that reside within the Froderlands; instead, they prefer to use names like "The Mage's Moon," "The Hunters' Moon," "Winter's Eye," etc. Baogan is the moon for the Froderlands Hinterland, sits far closer to the ground than Earth's Moon, and features a number of supernatural features which give it the terrifying reputation it deserves.

Baogan came to the JPCU's attention upon their initial investigation into the Froderlands, during which time they detected the orbiting planetoid's intense Magic presence. An investigation was launched shortly thereafter, although it had to be cut short following intense warnings from the scholars and residents of the Hinterland, who foretold grievous consequences should the JPCU bother Mother Winter. As was predicted, Earth suffered one of the worst winters on record, with an unusual number of blizzards and storms centering themselves atop JPCU Facilities around the world.

### Physical Description & Attributes:

Baogan is a large planetoid which rises over the Froderlands every night and sets just before the sun rises. Unlike Earth's Moon, Baogan is always a full moon, and reflects an unusually high amount of light compared to Earth's version; similarly, this light is sharper, paler, and brighter than normal. Baogan's most striking feature, however, is its surface; while a quick glance reveals the surface to be the pale gray that a traveler would expect of an Earthlike moon, a longer observation will allow the traveler to notice that the planetoid is covered in an incredibly thick layer of barely-visible ice, a layer so thick that it likely doubles the planetoid's size. This layer of ice has turned the moon into a massive cold desert, dotted by various landforms and mountains of ice and settlements of Mother Winter's servants.

Mother Winter makes her domain on **Baogan**, and was responsible for giving it its glacial coating. Mother Winter can weaponize the moon's light, flash-freezing entire regions of the Hinterland if she so desired; this potential is often utilized by her servants, mortal or Undead or otherwise. Additionally, the moon is often called "Winter's Eye," because it is believed that Mother Winter can use it to observe and spy on anyone and anywhere in the Hinterland with it. Mother Winter is accompanied on **Baogan** with her army of servants, most of whom are Undead. **Baogan** also serves as the home for the Wild Hunt, a host of Undead that serve several gods and goddesses across the K2 Universe. During the winter months, **Baogan** obtains a series of misty rings which spin around its equator; this ring is really the Spirits of the Wild Hunt, running around in preparation for their mission. Should the ring be absent during winter, the Hunt is away on business, killing or kidnapping those who displeased Mother Winter over the past year and punishing anyone who attempted to fight against their fate.

Baogan's eerie clear light, sharp and geometric in its appearance, serves as a powerful weapon for the moon's patron; this light acts as the cause for Lycanthropy in the Froderlands, causes mist and fog to rise and hang in the air longer than usual, and surges the ocean's tides to generate waves as large as buildings. It serves as an important religious symbol, used by many faiths around the Froderlands as a source of Divination and wisdom; its alignment with other celestial bodies can weaken or strengthen the border between the Froderlands and other Realms, especially the Elemental Realms.

### Flora and Fauna:

1. Mother Winter
	1. House Vefr
	2. Wild Hunt
		1. Undead
			1. Spirits
	3. [ICE EMPIRE]

### Religious Significance:

As stated previously, many religions and organizations rely on Baogan for a variety of purposes. Primarily, it portends the weather and influences the Ley Lines of the Hinterland; additionally, it can be used for Divination Magic and serves as an incredibly powerful source of Cryomantic energies.

For the Pantheonic practitioners, Baogan serves as an important celestial timekeeper, a marker of the changing Seasons, an omen of certain events and a means by which specific Rituals may take place. The Fae, particularly the Unseelie Court, value Baogan for the enhancements its presence provides their nature-attuned Magic.