Holy Moon of Leiar

Holy Moon of Leiar captured by the WSAA Belaphor Space Probe

The **Holy Moon of Leiar**, also known as **Belaphor II** or simply as **Leiar**, is the second major moon of Belaphor. The moon is noted for having a global theocratical government which praises its host planet.

## History

### **Formation**

Leiar most likely formed when Belaphor's early, unstable outer ring collected together. This occurred around Amoerra's protoplanetary disk, while it was still forming. Belaphor's immense gravity most likely caused large amounts of water-bearing asteroids to reign down on the moon, creating its ocean.

### **Anthropology and Human History**

Like on other human-bearing exoplanets and exomoons, the appearance of humans in other places than Earth is not fully understood and contradicts many leading theories. However, humans most likely first appeared on the planet's second largest continent, based on archeological data. The first civilizations may have erupted in the large prairies alongside the common global forests.

On 2056 AP, the powerful national government of Leiarrae mainly situated in Lishean City (the present-day global capital of the moon) explored and conquered the nearby continents and took control. Natives were murdered and converted to the Belaphor religion, after only some generations, the Leiarrae managed to brainwash a large portion of the population. However, they mainly distanced themselves from the Avota, an enemy civilization of comparable size to the Leiarrae which resided on the other half of the globe.

On 2205 AP, the Leiarrae attacked the populous Avotan city, Koffoto, using newly created "flying machines" similar to planes that had been created during the Leiarrae's period of industrialization, along with devices that unleashed toxic gases when dropped at a large distance. This caused the Avotans to declare war on the Leiarrae. Even though the Leiarrae had an advantage with newly created weapons and control over the sky, the Avotans were esteemed warriors known for their relentless methods to defeat their enemies, although they still fell under Leiarrae control around the end of 2208 AP, when the Leiarrae seized control of the Avotans' major cities, which contained their main supply of weapons. The Avotans struggled and rebelled for about another 57 Leian years, fighting against oppressive Leiarrae rule. However, on 2285 AP, a Leiarrae movement conjured up, calling for extended Avotan rights. The movement succeeded 2 years later, after the Leiarrae government prohibited Avotan discrimination. About 200 years later, "Avotan" and "Leiarrae" became rarely used words, as the two cultures merged to form the singular, global Leian government.

## Politics

### **Political Divide**

The moon's government, being a theocracy, is handled by a congress of two religious sects: Djeurilem (majority) and Morilem. The sects are not that politically distinct, hence the religious divide is seen as more power-based.

The political divide can be traced from specific migration patterns with a context of Avotan-Leiarrae rivalry. Both the Avotans and the Leiarrae worshipped Belaphor; although the religion likely originated in Leiarrae Lishean City. The religion may have been diffused by Leiarrae wanderers that immigrated to Avotan territory by passaging through the arctic sea ice during Winter. The Avotans' interpretation of the Belaphorite religion was slightly different than the Leiarrae's, the two versions of the religion are now recognized as the political parties Djeurilem and Morilem, respectively.

### **Immigration Policies**

A prominent conflict the Holy Moon of Leiar faces between its two parties is the intake of immigrants. The two parties' beliefs are directly correlated to Belaphor. While the Djeruliem argue that the Holy Moon of Leiar is close to enough to bask in the presence of Belaphor, making them future divine disciples for the deity, they also claim that any others past the set boundary of Leiar are "unholy" and therefore not chosen by Belaphor to be in its presence. Morilem acknowledge this belief and argue that no other beings should enter the moon's vicinity if they were not already born there.

However, due to the recent catastrophe in the outer moon of Estrophytus, which caused widespread famine and sickness, Leians had the option to accept immigrants from Estrophytus to their moon. The Djeurilem argue that although any other incomers will always stay unholy, they have a right to bask in the vicinity of Belaphor. Ultimately, since the Djeurilem hold the most power, immigrants from Estrophytus are allowed into the planet. Notedly, Djeurliem still strictly and discriminately regulate immigration, seen as the government is more likely to accept Estrophytans who will allow themselves to assimilate and who are from nations influenced by the Belaphorite religion.

### **Human Rights Violations**

Pregnant female Estrophytans' newborns are immediately taken by government officials. The mother Estrophytan is then forced to watch the baby get killed as a sacrifice to Belaphor. The general treatment of Estrophytan immigrants is generally poor and inhumane on the moon.

## Gallery

Leiar and Belaphor taken by the Belaphor Space Probe (Lens 2) during its approximation to Belaphor.Leiar (leftmost sparkle) shining with the other two major moons of Belaphor