Zarethis
Where Veylnis offers serene silver light, Zarethis bleeds crimson radiance across the night sky of Aeloria. This ominous celestial body pulses with a sickly glow, its surface marred with veins of deep purple and black that seem to writhe and shift like the blood vessels of some great, wounded beast. During certain alignments, these dark lines appear to form nightmarish faces that stare down upon the world with malevolent intent—a phenomenon that sends the superstitious fleeing indoors with symbols of protection clutched tightly in trembling hands.
Known as the Moon of Undeath and Hunger, Zarethis serves as the baleful eye of Morgathis, the Blood Mother. Folk wisdom holds that its light stirs unnatural hunger in all it touches—livestock become restless and aggressive, predators grow bold, and the undead feel the pull of their mistress most strongly. On nights when Zarethis dominates the sky, its bloody illumination stains the landscape, making shadows appear to move independently and causing reflective surfaces to show momentary glimpses of other worlds where death holds no dominion.
The Blood Moon Requiem
When Zarethis reaches its fullest phase, a phenomenon known as the Blood Moon occurs. During these nights, the boundaries of death weaken, and those bound in undeath find their power surging. Vampires report heightened senses and abilities, while restless spirits may temporarily break free from their anchors. Necromancers prize these nights for their rituals, as the cost of raising and controlling the dead diminishes substantially under Zarethis's baleful gaze.
The Crimson Eye Awakens
Some ancient texts suggest that Zarethis is not a true moon at all, but rather the sealed, sleeping eye of Morgathis herself. According to these forbidden writings, the goddess lies dormant beyond the veil of reality, with only her eye partially visible in our world. The dark veins across its surface represent her slowly lifting eyelid, and should it ever fully open, her gaze would devour all life in an instant.
The Eclipse of Dread
When Zarethis passes before Veylnis, creating what astronomers call the Night of the Black Tide, dark magic surges throughout Aeloria. During these rare alignments, the normal silver light of Veylnis becomes corrupted and extinguished, leaving only a ring of silver around the dominating crimson orb. These eclipses are considered the most dangerous nights in Aeloria, when the influence of Morgathis reigns supreme.
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