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Ancient Origins |
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Long before the age of men and when elves were still young on the plane on Mundus, large beasts ruled the land. They were powerful and blessed with magic of the land, gifted with control of their domains to shape them as they saw fit. While there were many such beasts, our story focuses on the friendship of two, a lasting bond between the Turtle and the Lunar Moth. |
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One especially dark night the Moth was flying low to the ground in a swamp near a river now lost to time. Without the light of the moon, the moth was relying on the trees and the river to guide her home. But fate would have it that a strong gust would knock our poor Moth into the churning river. The moth struggled and sputtered against the raging current, it was no swimmer! But as fate would also have it, a soon to be friend had seen the commotion and was on his way to help. |
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While the Lunar Moth was dreading that the river might swallow her whole, a strange sensation started pushing her above the raging water. From below, an enormous turtle shell was emerging from the water for the Moth to land upon! The two drifted over to a nearby shore where once Moth disembarked came face to face with her saviour, a turtle that could be mistaken for a large boulder from afar. |
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The Moth thanked the turtle profusely for saving her life, and the two began to get to know each other. The Turtle told the Moth that it had wandered this river and its many deltas since its inception, helping those in need where it could. But the river waters were always moving, and the Turtle wished for a place to rest and call home. While they were talking, the clouds had shifted and the pale glow of the full moon now illuminated the river and its water with a shimmering glow. The Moth, sensing the goodness of the Turtle’s heart, offered to show Turtle its home on the river, a small cave that could be found by following the moon. The moth once again hopped onto Turtle’s back, but now Moth guided the turtle through the winding tributaries and offshoots of the river to a place even Turtle had never seen before. Once they arrived, the two gazed at the beauty of this small pond that seemed to glow with power in the light of the moon. As Moth lead on, she showed Turtle a grotto off the pond, one that was lit from the glowing water. |
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And so it went, that the Turtle and the Moth would live together in the sacred grotto, hidden away from the world for many ages. As men and elves began to populate the planet, Turtle would find wary travelers who were in peril on the river and guide them to the shoreline. If they were of good character, the Turtle would call upon the Moth to lead them to the grotto, where they were allowed to live in peace. Soon a magnificent mansion was built near the grotto, where folks of all types would arrive on the Turtle’s back and join together to live in their new home. |
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Modern Day |
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Now, in the current age of Mundus, the small group of humanoids that at one time resided in the Grotto and mansion house have begun calling themselves Sombrelune. Many were found as young children, separated from their parents by war, famine, or other such unpleasant conflict in the outside world. All met with Turtle near one of his many rivers and were whisked away to the safety of the Grotto with the blessing of the Moth. Many stayed for most of their formative years, where they would meet a most eclectic mix of people from all walks of life. |
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Many young ones in the Grotto of Sombrelune would explore the surrounding swamps near the grotto, where many wondrous secrets of a world forgotten resided. During the day, every youngling would study to learn a skill of their choosing from either older members of the mansion, or sometimes from the Grotto itself. Anything from trade skills, fighting, exploration, even magic could be found in the Grotto. Most students, upon reaching adulthood, spend a few years traveling back into the outside world, mastering their trade and meeting the world. A few would remain mostly in the outside world, only occasionally coming to visit back to their home. Some would return after their Great Wander and serve as teachers and guides to the next generation of younglings. But whatever they chose, all who had been graced with visiting the grotto of Sombrelune have the ability to call upon Turtle to take them back wherever there’s a river, and have the grace of the Lunar Moth to guide them home. |
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Some other notes: |
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- The initiation ritual in the grotto, where Michelangelo leads the new person into the glowing grotto with everyone singing the welcoming song, and the Moth blesses the arrival with their mark |
| 1026 |
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La guilde s'affilie à la province de Clar Karond.
1026: La guilde Dark Moon est parrainée par Marmara. |
