Crescent Moon

Act One: The Gathering Stars

Through closed eyes, the one known only as the Prophet traversed upon a voyage of time and space. It was a gift of sorts, one bestowed upon him from ages passed, born from the darker times of revelation through the perilous price of victory. The world of Lunaria, his home, called to him now and in that calling came the visions once more. The stars whispered of the coming of the Crescent Moon, awakening the forge to strike again at destiny and fate.

And the Prophet was not ready.

For years lost to counting, the Prophet observed his world from shadows and distances, careful with his help and council. In that span he had grown ancient, a legend to all but the most timeless of creatures in Lunaria. The Prophet had watched the Saelen Kingdom flourish in this span and had allowed himself the luxury of savoring such a peace. Yet he also knew that such a blessing was fleeting, and that the darkness would someday return. And sadly, like an echo from the deep, it had. The fate of Lunaria and the light would again be tested, and again it was time to call upon the greatest champion drawn to Lunaria, the one known by all as the Dreamer.

But the Dreamer was nowhere to be seen, another painful, blaming scar wrought upon the soul of the Prophet, for the blame of this absence was his own.

The ripple of such a thought shook through the Prophet painfully, yet he held to his dreams and visions. His mind was carried deeply through the fabrics of time and remembrance. The Prophet was drawn through his visions to the point of creation, knowing that he must absorb all that he witnessed, for the meaning could be the difference of victory or defeat. It was his blessing to know, and it was also his curse. And as so, the Prophet opened his senses to the unfolding nothingness and everything.

What the Prophet saw before him was the bleakest of darkness. Yet with but a blink, this darkness was met with the birth of the Firestar, an explosion of powerful light. And born on this great light and creation was the being known as Magranar, a creature of pure and untarnished power. Magranar descended upon the darkness and brought life to Lunaria, lording over his creation as its ruler and god. Under the warmth of the Firestar, Lunaria flourished, a world of untold beauty and possibility. Yet even in this prosperous creation there was trouble, for a conflict began inside of the great being.

As time unfolded, the creator was torn on how to maintain the balance of his world and how he should hold command over his domain. There were none like him to discuss such a course, and eons of solitude tore at Magranar's core. At last, a new dawn emerged when the great deity split, ushering in the birth of the eternal brothers Mardas and Moreg. The duel beings were joined of spirit, yet divided of view and soon these views shaped Lunaria in light and darkness.

Time then unfolded once more, and the Prophet watched the dawning of strife, for the conflict that bore Mardas and Moreg now permeated Lunaria. Under this influence, the creatures and races of Lunaria were drawn to opposing sides, shaped by the hands of the eternal brothers. The harmony of Magranar's world grew turbulent under Mardas and Moreg, for while Mardas embraced the light, Moreg wished to return the world to the darkness that once reigned. The impending clash was all but inevitable.

The Prophet cried out in his dreams, feeling the force and power of the battles waged of that time. The bloodshed was unrelenting and fully welcomed by Moreg. Mardas knew that his brother had to be stopped at all costs, or war would carry endlessly until all that was left were death and shadows. These were the darkest days that Lunaria would ever know, with the survival of the world cast into doubt. Mardas challenged his brother openly then, prepared to do whatever was necessary to stop the unending strife of his world.

The fight between the brothers shook Lunaria completely, placing its survival in question. And it was in this carnage that Mardas realized at last the folly of his battle with Moreg and sacrificed himself to put an end to the conflict. Moreg jumped on the chance to finish his brother, yet the light and love offered by Mardas consumed and destroyed Moreg, severing his hold upon Lunaria. The shadows faded at last and the races and creatures of Lunaria could again know peace.