Theft of the Moons
According to the Tidean myth of the Theft of the Moons, minor god/dess Kellyn is responsible for the cycical disappearance of the world's three moons, and minor god Misken is responsible for their return.
According to the Tidean myth, one of mischievious Kellyn's favorite things to do to cause mayhem is to steal the moons from the sky. By doing so, they are able to cause changes to the seas and tides, the moods of people, and the mercurial actions of animals. Following the theft of each moon, it falls to absent-minded Misken to journey to retreive the moons. The different lengths of time it takes to bring the moons home is attributed to both Misken's different levels of interest, as well as how hard Kellyn works to keep him from suceeding.
In Tidean myths, each moon is said to hold a distinct personality and purpose, influencing different aspects of the world. For instance:
Kellyn’s motives for stealing the moons vary with the story being told. Sometimes they are driven by pure mischief, delighting in the chaos caused by their actions. Other times, their theft is seen as a form of cosmic protest, a statement about the rigidity of the heavens compared to their mercurial nature. Kellyn often hides the moons in whimsical or symbolic places:
Misken’s retrieval of the moons is central to the myth. Known for his absent-mindedness, Misken often embarks on long, meandering journeys that mix moments of brilliance with frustrating delays. His varying levels of interest are legendary!
Elements of the Myth
Basic Story
According to the Tidean myth, one of mischievious Kellyn's favorite things to do to cause mayhem is to steal the moons from the sky. By doing so, they are able to cause changes to the seas and tides, the moods of people, and the mercurial actions of animals. Following the theft of each moon, it falls to absent-minded Misken to journey to retreive the moons. The different lengths of time it takes to bring the moons home is attributed to both Misken's different levels of interest, as well as how hard Kellyn works to keep him from suceeding.
Facets of the Moons
In Tidean myths, each moon is said to hold a distinct personality and purpose, influencing different aspects of the world. For instance:
- Fella, the Biggest Moon - Governs the tides and seas, and embodies calmness and reflection.
- Dimmen, the Middle Moon - Affects people, their tempers and passions; symbolizes fire and fervor.
- Reisi, the Smallest Moon - Affects animals, especially the instinctual and unpredictable; is linked to the wild and untamed.
Kellyn's Mischief
Kellyn’s motives for stealing the moons vary with the story being told. Sometimes they are driven by pure mischief, delighting in the chaos caused by their actions. Other times, their theft is seen as a form of cosmic protest, a statement about the rigidity of the heavens compared to their mercurial nature. Kellyn often hides the moons in whimsical or symbolic places:
- Fella might be trapped within a lake, it's light diffusing through the water
- Dimmen might be concealed deep within the blue forest, it's distinct huge blending with the blue-green pine trees
- Reisi might be found dancing in the clouds, camouflaged by a flock of enchanted birds
Misken's Quests
Misken’s retrieval of the moons is central to the myth. Known for his absent-mindedness, Misken often embarks on long, meandering journeys that mix moments of brilliance with frustrating delays. His varying levels of interest are legendary!
- When deeply invested, Misken devises clever strategies to outwit Kellyn, such as luring them into a trap with promises of praise.
- When uninterested, Misken might wander off-course, distracted by other celestial phenomena or philosophical musings, leaving the world in prolonged disarray.
- Kellyn’s efforts to hinder Misken often lead to tales of misadventures, such as enchanted labyrinths, riddles, or trickster illusions designed to lead him astray.
Cultural Influence
Real-World Phenomena
The root of this myth is in the very real occurance of lunar eclipses in the world. Reisi has a 12-day cycle. Dimmen has a 40-day or monthly cycle. Fella has a yearly or 240 day cycle. In seeking an explanation for why the moons "disappeared" cycically, the Tideans ascribed it to Kellyn (the god/dess of magic and mischief) stealing them and their eventual return by Misken (the god of the moon).Spread
This is a very common myth for Tideans, both Humans and Marelis. This makes it a very common myth all across Ryold, where most inhabitants are worshippers of the Aethertide (also known as Tideans) but not particularly widespread outside of Ryold.Evolution of the Myth
In some very old, perhaps original, variations of the myth, after the moons were stolen by Kellyn, they were returned by Shamath (god of law) or by Rhagnar (god of the sky) instead of by Misken.In Art & Literature
This is a popular myth in the world - both because of the importance of the moons to everything the world is, and because stories involving Kellyn are just interesting and often fun. The way stories are portrayed is heavily influenced by the message that the teller intends to send. Those who are telling the story for entertainment focus on the fun parts, the tricks and puzzles and heists. Those who are telling the story to give a moral or lesson focus on the perseverance of Misken, or the steady turn of time, or the way history repeats itself.
Festivals
Every year after the biggest eclipse, when all three moons are eclipsed at the same time, the Tideans have a big festival to celebrate Misken's success. Paper lanterns shaped like moons are lit and released to symbolize the return of the moons to the sky. This festival is initiated as soon as sighting of all three waxing moons is confirmed.
Lantern photo made with gencraft AI.
Blaming Moon Theft
Tideans superstitiously attribute things like irregularities in weather patterns, emotional changes, and animal migrations to the ongoing struggle between Kellyn and Misken.
I love this myth so much, especially the trickster element to it. Great way to explain different moon cycles and eclipses.
Explore Etrea | March of 31 Tales
Thank you!