The Moon

The moon is the only satellite object of Galactus and, along with the sun, one of only two visible celestial bodies. It is said that the moon was once accompanied by stars which disappeared at the time of the Vanishing.

Appearance

The moon is a round, pure white orb that appears in the night sky. It produces no light of its own, instead reflecting sunlight from the other side of the planet. Scholars believe that it is made of an unknown stone based on observations through telescopes. Its surface is also not entirely smooth, with craters and other markings on it that create a pattern of shadows and highlights across the surface. Observation by the naked eye reveals that the pattern creates the image of a face in profile. This face is most clearly visible during the winter cycles. In ancient records, this face was once described as a wolf's head, and scholars believe that a possible impact of space debris with the moon has changed the pattern over time.

The moon changes phases depending on its position in the sky and the time of year. It takes approximately 32-33 days for the moon to go through an entire cycle, which is where the term "cycle" on the Galactan calendar originates from.

The moon also exerts its own gravitational forces on Galactus, which are only strong enough to move the tides across the planet.

Magical Properties

The moon is the representation of the deity Metsli, and as such is a powerful source for moon magic. It is believed to be a source of ley lines which stretch down to Galactus and travel across its surface as the moon orbits the planet. Moon magic is stronger at night, and stronger when the moon is full, waxing and waning with the moon's phases. It is weakest when the moon is new and is invisible in the night sky. Moon magic also seems to be stronger during winter, when the power of Metsli - who is also the deity of winter - is at its peak.

Moon magic is often associated with ice and cold, given the moon's ties with winter. Much like its sister magic of the sun, it is also a healing magic, but while sun magic heals the body, moon magic heals the mind. Moon magic can be used to cure insanity, soothe fear, and alleviate other ailments of the mind.

Role in Mythology

The moon is most commonly associated with Metsli, deity of winter and the moon. It is said that the moon was the first thing that Metsli created, modeling it after his sacred stone, an orb of shining white crystal now known as moonstone. Others say that is crescent shape resembles Metsli's weapon of choice, a silver sickle.

The moon is said to reflect sunlight in much the same way that Metsli reflects the traits of his sister, Elena, the sun goddess - tempering the vibrant and sometimes brash nature into something more soothing and calming. And, like Metsli pined for the sea goddess, Pyara, the moon pines for the oceans, pulling them towards it but not nearly as strong as it should to bridge the distance.

Those who believe the story of the Vanishing believe that Metsli has been trapped in the moon in recent centuries. They say that the shadowy face on the moon's surface is actually the face of Metsli himself, gazing down helplessly on the planet that he once protected. An occurrence such as this is also one of the catalysts for the Swallowing, the supposedly predetermined series of events that leads to the end of all the planes.

Type

Planetoid / Moon