The Royal Beasts

"In Father Unicorn's steps we walk, under Mother Dragon's wings we repose."

— Invocation of the Royal Beasts

In modern-day Altairus, the most common religious practices recognize two figures: Mutamoph (Mother Dragon) and Fatamoph (Father Unicorn). Representing Yin and Yang, Alpha and Omega, Seelie and Unseelie, the Royal Beasts have a prominent place in many of Altairus's greatest legends.

Origin

Up until the start of the Silver Era (Year 2100), Mutamoph and Fatamoph were considered secondary to the Heart of Altairus, the fenghuang who created the world and protected it from outside harm. As the years passed and the Heart of Altairus faltered on its duty, though, its place was usurped by these two magical beasts. In the Post-Separation Era, Mutamoph and Fatamoph are the still considered the two principal deities in many Altairian religious observances.

Role

In mythology, the two Royal Beasts are both representations and protectors of Anima. In the oldest legends, dating back to the Golden Era, they were merely servitors of the Heart of Altairus, working its will across the world. As the Silver Era began, however, the Heart of Altairus was gradually pushed out of those legends until only the Royal Beasts remained. In these legends, they are alternatively referred to as the King and Queen of Altairus, benevolent rulers who do everything they can to provide for their subjects.

Fatamoph represents the Seelie powers: Air, Fire, and Light. He is said to possess a silver coat, and his horn and hooves are of the finest gold. His domain is the sun, and by extension both the daytime and summer. In myths, he serves as a protective father figure and a bringer of wisdom for would-be heroes.

Mutamoph represents the Unseelie powers: Water, Earth, and Darkness. She is a dragon with sleek black scales and silver claws and wings. Her domain is the moon, nighttime, and winter. In myths, she is more of a nurturing yet fierce mother figure, providing respite to exhausted adventurers.

The images of Fatamoph and Mutamoph are commonly found in temples and dojos. The simple buildings often just have their depictions carved into the walls or door, while the more ornate ones have murals or even enormous statues of the two guarding the front doors. It is believed that this wards off bad spirits. Mutamoph is said to protect the people inside, while Fatamoph protects the structure itself.

Role in the Altairian Calendar

In the Altairian Calendar, Fatamoph and Mutamoph are responsible for the change in the seasons. The cycles they are said to go through represent the changes in Seelie and Unseelie energies that occur throughout the year.

From the Vernal Equinox to the Autumnal Equinox, Fatamoph takes charge of Altairus. During this time, the days become longer and warmer, and life springs up in abundance. On the night of the Summer Solstice, when Fatamoph is said to be at his peak strength, Mutamoph lays an egg. This egg matures throughout the rest of the year, becoming bigger as the days shorten and the nights grow colder.

From the Autumnal Equinox to the Vernal Equinox, Mutamoph rules over Altairus. As the season progresses, heat gives way to cold and the nights become longer. On the night of the Winter Solstice, when Mutamoph is at her best, the egg hatches into Lümamoph, the half-unicorn, half-dragon spawn of the Royal Beasts. This whelp has only one mission: to fly to the sun and restore it with his magic. This ends his short life, but assures that the sun will once again usher in spring. Fatamoph's power is gradually restored, and he eventually returns to the task of ruling over Altairus on the Vernal Equinox.

Human Discovery and Corruption

With Earth-dwellers making frequent visits to Altairus before the Post-Separation Era, it was inevitable that they would encounter the legend of the Royal Beasts. Unfortunately, what they brought back with them was a gross misinterpretation of the myths.

In the original myth, Fatamoph and Mutamoph are equals, representing seemingly conflicting forces but inseparable from one another. The visiting humans, in their dualistic thinking, saw the Royal Beasts as inherently opposed to one another, unable to achieve peace or balance between them. In their version of the myths, Fatamoph and Mutamoph are locked in an eternal battle for supremacy, the tides shifting every solstice.

This same dualistic mindset produced the idea of Fatamoph and Mutamoph being locked in a battle of good versus evil. Fatamoph was demoted to a heavenly messenger, a being in service to the humans' god (i.e. the Christian God) in particular. Mutamoph had it even worse; she was corrupted into a Satanic figure, a being of pure darkness and evil in service to the devil.

It is speculated that Fatamoph was favored by the humans because he was associated with Light, which the humans were in favor of, and Mutamoph got the short end of the stick because she was associated with Darkness, which humankind associated with evil. Alternatively, one could say that the visiting humans' patriarchal attitudes influenced their decision to make Fatamoph the hero and Mutamoph the villain. Still others speculate that Fatamoph was merely more aesthetically pleasing and "safe" to the humans than Mutamoph. Whatever the reasoning behind it, the Royal Beasts myth had been mutated to fit the humans' religious beliefs.

Fatamoph and Mutamoph side by side in the Altairus Sigil.

Fatamoph's Monikers

• Fatamoph
• Father Unicorn
• Father Beast
• Father/Guardian of Light
• Father/Guardian of the Day
• Father/Guardian of Summer
• King of Altairus

Mutamoph's Monikers

• Mutamoph
• Mother Dragon
• Mother Beast
• Mother/Guardian of Darkness
• Mother/Guardian of the Night
• Mother/Guardian of Winter
• Queen of Altairus