In-Character (IC) Info:
Onyx Path Publishing
Chronicles of Darkness
Chronicles of Darkness
Venue: Hunter: The Vigil 2nd Ed
Post by: Jerad Sayler
Lore: Celestial Spirits
Source: Adapted from "Predators," a sourcebook for for Werewolf: The Forsaken (1st Edition) and Werewolf: The Forsaken (2nd Edition) Corebook.
THE LUNES
While some legends credit the Lunar Choir’s willingness to deal with the Tribes of the Moon as a sign of Mother Luna’s forgiveness, it should never be thought that Lunes are the staunch allies of the Forsaken. As mutable as Luna herself, these spirits can be eminently capricious, as the unfortunate Uratha who treats them inappropriately will soon discover. Werewolves understand surprisingly little about the Lunes, considering the Uratha’s claims of close ties to the moon. One thing is widely known, however: Lunes that are tied to a moon phase are both the easiest to locate and the most amicable to interaction during that phase. Locating an Irralunim under the full moon is almost impossible, as is finding an Elunim any time other than within a few days of the half-moon.
CAHALUNIM — THE FERTILE CHOIR
Second in fervor only to the warlike Ralunim, spirits of the Fertile Choir embody Luna’s passion and fruitfulness. Inspired by the bright glow of the moon as it borders its brightest phase, Cahalunim are the Voice of the Lunes, encouraging those who go through their First Change under their influence to experience and understand all that it is to be a Child of the Moon.
Example Spirits: Glimmerings
While legends speak of Luna’s birthing of the first werewolves while wearing a human form, no werewolves alive today have ever been known to interact with her directly. Some say that Luna’s forgiveness is not as complete as the Forsaken would like to believe and so she still denies them her direct presence. Others believe, based on the devastating effect a Lune totem has upon a pack, that a personal encounter with the goddess of lunacy herself would be enough to drive any werewolf mad.
Indeed, those werewolves who claim to have encountered Luna herself are often thought to be delusional, or at least to have been duped by one of the more mischievous of the Lunar Choir. Instead, the Glimmerings claim to act as her representatives, celestial intermediaries to other choirs and to her half-wolf descendants.
Glimmerings rarely mimic a physical animal or person’s form, preferring to wear more subtle guises. On nights when their Mistress is visible, Luna’s messengers appear simply as moonbeams, indistinguishable from her other emanations until they make their presence known. On moonless nights or during the dark of the moon, Glimmerings are rarely seen.
Glimmerings claim to act as the intermediaries between Luna and the rest of the spirit world. They affect an air of confidence that some say is derived from the knowledge that nobody can directly disprove their claims. Like Luna, their personalities change as the moon moves through its phases.
IRRALUNIM — THE SILENT CHOIR
When Luna hides her face, the Irralunim walk the darkest places in the Shadow Realm. They are secretive spirits, prone to listen and watch rather than speak. Many have a cool and almost cruel sense of humor, but their jibes are always focused to teach and broaden perspectives rather than simply to do harm.
The most powerful Ralunim frequently appear as bright javelins of cold, white light or as athletic warriors in gleaming white armor. It is not unheard of for the Choir of Fury to manifest as great night-hunting beasts, dire wolves and predatory cats that would put modern tigers to shame with their muscular grace. Whatever appearance they take, there is an air of ferocity to the Ralunim. Like the rest of their kind, they bear the mark of their moon phase somewhere upon them, although like everything else about the Full Moon Choir, it is often displayed blatantly, gleaming from the shield of a warrior or the brow of a beast as if defiantly proclaiming the Ralunim’s nature to any who witness it.
THE HELIONS
Spiritual children of the Sun itself, Helions are rarely seen in the Shadow Realm. Those unfamiliar with them might easily mistake them for fire elementals, and perhaps they are related, but their spirits, forged in the unceasing inferno of the Sun, are far less mutable than those of their earthly cousins. Even less is known about the Sun Choirs than of other spirit groups, although one thing seems certain. No werewolf who comes across one of them will walk away unaffected by their encounter.
ILLUMINATORS (SUN SCHOLARS, UTH ARATHUM)
Embodying the unceasing radiance of their solar sire, Illuminators seek out those whose paths are darkened with hypocrisy, duplicity and selfdeceit, burning away these shadows with the blinding luminosity of the Sun itself. Illuminators are among the most commonly seen of the Helions, although the very nature of the Shadow indicates that their presence is infrequent at best.
Illuminators have allegedly appeared since before the death of Father Wolf as a brilliantly glowing orb that drives away all darkness. In more modern times, Sun Scholars have appeared as radiant torches, candles and even incandescent bulbs, a manifestation that is believed to have spawned the material association of the latter item with sudden insight. They may also take the form of birds with impossibly bright plumage or the visage of a cloaked hermit bearing a lantern from which emanates a blindingly bright glow. They do not converse out loud, speaking mentally instead, a disconcerting communication for those who are not expecting it.
The rare Uratha who have been visited by one of these confusing spirits consider the encounter to be a mixed blessing. Few spirits are more likely to answer questions as straightforwardly as the Sun Scholars, but their wisdom is never without a cost, and they will not tolerate those who refuse to look deeply at their own shadows while condemning the darkness of others.
SEARINGS (SUN WARRIORS, UTH UMFISAH)
Background: Searings are the manifestations of Helios as the Merciless Sun, fiery solar energy at its most unforgiving. They are the warriors of the Helion Choir, embodying the destructive clout of the sun without thought for light or warmth. If fire elementals characterize fickle hunger in the spirit world, Searings are the spiritual embodiment of self-righteous wrath.
Searings most often take the form of blazing, animated weapons, burning eternally with a blinding intensity. The most powerful among them, however, are sometimes seen as gloriously brutal humanoid warriors with broad, feathered wings of flame, golden, glowing skin and eyes like orbs of unquenchable flame.
Of all the Helions, Searings are the most hostile toward werewolves. Whether it is their connection with Luna (and hence the night) or their half-physical/half-spiritual ambiguity that most angers the Sun Warrior is not completely clear. What is known, however, is that they seem to consider the Uratha at least partially creatures of darkness and impurity, and are loath to tolerate their presence.
Searings are direct and intense, unwavering in their course of action. It is exceptionally difficult for a werewolf to sway a Searing into assisting him, even if the spirit and the werewolf share a common foe. Those werewolves who have had dealings with Searings often favor entering the Shadow Realm only at night afterwards, so as not to repeat the experience.
THE MOON, SUN, AND WOLF
The current in the Gauntlet during the day and the effect of Shadow-sunlight have the same cause. While Luna is ever-changing and protean, guarding the earthly Shadow from alien void spirits, her brother Helios is steadfast, unchanging, and pushes everything within the lunar sphere “in,” forcing Essence to ground, fixing spirits in place and creating the Shadow’s “gravity.” Werewolves who convince aerial spirits to carry them into the sky discover that they can’t reach the moon no matter how hard they try — the increasing pressure of Helios’ solar winds force them back long before they reach the void.
Ithaeur who’ve dealt with Helions know all too well that Helios hasn’t forgiven the Forsaken as his sister has. Mostly, it’s because it’s not in Helios’ nature to change his mind about anything, but partly, it’s because of the Sundering. Just as Luna gives the Hisil its ever-changing, reactive nature, Helios provides the impetus for spirits attempting to leave. By his nature, he forces everything away. Before his death, Father Wolf hunted the spirits fleeing the Shadow, complementing both Luna and her brother. By killing him, the first pack destroyed that harmony, and made Helios the unwitting cause of the material world’s woes.
Lunes prefer to appear only during their own moon phase, and must be sought out against their will at other times. This is a dangerous practice, of course. Rahu draw on only a portion of Luna’s anger when her face is full — the Ralunim draw much more, and provoking one can be fatal. Lesser Lunes that are not tied to a particular phase, such as Secrets or Glimmerings, are likely to be found during any phase of the moon, although their personalities tend to change as the moon does. Even the lesser Lunes are more likely to be aggressive during the full moon or even more secretive than normal when Luna hides her face.
All Lunes have the ability to change their shape to some extent. Depending on their choir and the current phase of the moon, they may appear of both, even as inanimate objects or imitations of werewolves. They are among the most diverse spirits in form, with only the glow of the moon held in common — and even then, not always strongly.
Those who have sought aid from Lunes while the dark moon is in the sky often find the search fruitless unless the celestial-spirits desire to be found. And, while they may be easier to locate when Mother Luna shines fully, Lunes, like their half-spirit students, are at their most aggressive, and perhaps most dangerous, then. However they appear, the Lunes of the five choirs associated with the phases of the moon can almost always be discerned by the mark of their moon phase, whether it appears as a shining brand, glowing tattoo or a silver talisman. Unlike almost every other choir of spirits, there are no known packs that successfully follow Lunes as totem-spirits, successfully being the key word. Legends speak of packs that, after dedicating themselves to a spirit of one of the lunar choirs, went entirely mad as the moon entered their totem’s phase. Overcome with uncontrollable Rage that destroyed all hope of reason, their rampages were only stopped through the combined effort of other local packs that dealt with their insane brethren. Strangely, Lunes are no more hesitant than any other spirit to act as patrons of Uratha packs, regardless of what surely must be common knowledge of the end effects. Perhaps these celestials are simply too alien in thought to have concern for the end results of their patronage, or perhaps it is their small revenge for the auspice patronage they are forced to give to their Mother’s half-breed children.
All Lunes have the ability to change their shape to some extent. Depending on their choir and the current phase of the moon, they may appear of both, even as inanimate objects or imitations of werewolves. They are among the most diverse spirits in form, with only the glow of the moon held in common — and even then, not always strongly.
Those who have sought aid from Lunes while the dark moon is in the sky often find the search fruitless unless the celestial-spirits desire to be found. And, while they may be easier to locate when Mother Luna shines fully, Lunes, like their half-spirit students, are at their most aggressive, and perhaps most dangerous, then. However they appear, the Lunes of the five choirs associated with the phases of the moon can almost always be discerned by the mark of their moon phase, whether it appears as a shining brand, glowing tattoo or a silver talisman. Unlike almost every other choir of spirits, there are no known packs that successfully follow Lunes as totem-spirits, successfully being the key word. Legends speak of packs that, after dedicating themselves to a spirit of one of the lunar choirs, went entirely mad as the moon entered their totem’s phase. Overcome with uncontrollable Rage that destroyed all hope of reason, their rampages were only stopped through the combined effort of other local packs that dealt with their insane brethren. Strangely, Lunes are no more hesitant than any other spirit to act as patrons of Uratha packs, regardless of what surely must be common knowledge of the end effects. Perhaps these celestials are simply too alien in thought to have concern for the end results of their patronage, or perhaps it is their small revenge for the auspice patronage they are forced to give to their Mother’s half-breed children.
CAHALUNIM — THE FERTILE CHOIR
Second in fervor only to the warlike Ralunim, spirits of the Fertile Choir embody Luna’s passion and fruitfulness. Inspired by the bright glow of the moon as it borders its brightest phase, Cahalunim are the Voice of the Lunes, encouraging those who go through their First Change under their influence to experience and understand all that it is to be a Child of the Moon.
The spirits of the choir of the gibbous moon shine brightly, as befitting their association with glory and memory. Cahalunim often appear as gleaming columns of moonlight that, while they glow brightly, contain just enough darkness to accentuate their light. More powerful Cahalunim sometimes appear in the form of robust and athletic men or lushly gravid women, as wolves with piercing voices or great bears. They often possess gleaming pale skin and teeth, accented with eyes and hair as dark as the night sky itself. No matter the form they choose to appear in, they are closely tied to the concepts of potential and growth, and bear some sort of jewelry or marking that represents the moon in its gibbous phase. When they speak, their voices are musical and strong, carrying like the howl of a victorious hunting pack or the visionary words of an ancient prophet.
Cahalunim are spirits of expression and of passion. While they nurture those who remember the past, not for them is the solemn contemplation of the Elunim or the crafty guile of the Irralunim. They are spirits of inspiration and while they do not encourage foolhardy action without thought, they have little truck with those who will not make choices and act upon them. Cahalunim respect glorious words and deeds, and those who are favored by the Cahalunim often find themselves goaded to find an outlet to express the overwhelming emotions the Fertile Choir inspire, else the intensity of their passions drive them mad.
ELUNIM — THE CLOVEN CHOIR
Walking the night between the dark and the light, the Elunim represent duality and balance, an ideal often sought by the half-spirit Uratha. Elunim know that there is a time and a place for the darkness and for the light, for rage and for stealth, for sacrifice and for demanding one’s due.
One legend credits an Elunim with conducting the bargaining between Helios and Luna that resulted in the creation of day and night. Whether it is true or not, Elunim and the werewolves who experience their First Change under the half-moon are noted as superb diplomats, capable of seeing both sides of a situation without being lost to inaction through their broad perspectives.
The Elunim are entities of both light and dark, a duality reflected in their forms. An Elunim often appears luminescent on one half of their form, and shadowy on the other. The “light” and “dark” aspects may even possess dramatically different features: a Cloven Lune that wears a wolf form may have sleek, silver fur and a slender build on one side and a shaggy, dark coat and bulge with brawny strength on the other. A few even lack substance on their “shadowed” side, and appear like lambent figures that have been sliced in half.
Elunim are among the most insightful and discerning of spirits, and they encourage those qualities in others, sometimes through pointed questions and others through astute observations. They are also the most strongly swayed by Luna’s phases, growing short-tempered and quick to anger under her full face and introspective and secretive on her darkest nights.
Cahalunim are spirits of expression and of passion. While they nurture those who remember the past, not for them is the solemn contemplation of the Elunim or the crafty guile of the Irralunim. They are spirits of inspiration and while they do not encourage foolhardy action without thought, they have little truck with those who will not make choices and act upon them. Cahalunim respect glorious words and deeds, and those who are favored by the Cahalunim often find themselves goaded to find an outlet to express the overwhelming emotions the Fertile Choir inspire, else the intensity of their passions drive them mad.
ELUNIM — THE CLOVEN CHOIR
Walking the night between the dark and the light, the Elunim represent duality and balance, an ideal often sought by the half-spirit Uratha. Elunim know that there is a time and a place for the darkness and for the light, for rage and for stealth, for sacrifice and for demanding one’s due.
One legend credits an Elunim with conducting the bargaining between Helios and Luna that resulted in the creation of day and night. Whether it is true or not, Elunim and the werewolves who experience their First Change under the half-moon are noted as superb diplomats, capable of seeing both sides of a situation without being lost to inaction through their broad perspectives.
The Elunim are entities of both light and dark, a duality reflected in their forms. An Elunim often appears luminescent on one half of their form, and shadowy on the other. The “light” and “dark” aspects may even possess dramatically different features: a Cloven Lune that wears a wolf form may have sleek, silver fur and a slender build on one side and a shaggy, dark coat and bulge with brawny strength on the other. A few even lack substance on their “shadowed” side, and appear like lambent figures that have been sliced in half.
Elunim are among the most insightful and discerning of spirits, and they encourage those qualities in others, sometimes through pointed questions and others through astute observations. They are also the most strongly swayed by Luna’s phases, growing short-tempered and quick to anger under her full face and introspective and secretive on her darkest nights.
Example Spirits: Glimmerings
While legends speak of Luna’s birthing of the first werewolves while wearing a human form, no werewolves alive today have ever been known to interact with her directly. Some say that Luna’s forgiveness is not as complete as the Forsaken would like to believe and so she still denies them her direct presence. Others believe, based on the devastating effect a Lune totem has upon a pack, that a personal encounter with the goddess of lunacy herself would be enough to drive any werewolf mad.
Indeed, those werewolves who claim to have encountered Luna herself are often thought to be delusional, or at least to have been duped by one of the more mischievous of the Lunar Choir. Instead, the Glimmerings claim to act as her representatives, celestial intermediaries to other choirs and to her half-wolf descendants.
Glimmerings rarely mimic a physical animal or person’s form, preferring to wear more subtle guises. On nights when their Mistress is visible, Luna’s messengers appear simply as moonbeams, indistinguishable from her other emanations until they make their presence known. On moonless nights or during the dark of the moon, Glimmerings are rarely seen.
Glimmerings claim to act as the intermediaries between Luna and the rest of the spirit world. They affect an air of confidence that some say is derived from the knowledge that nobody can directly disprove their claims. Like Luna, their personalities change as the moon moves through its phases.
IRRALUNIM — THE SILENT CHOIR
When Luna hides her face, the Irralunim walk the darkest places in the Shadow Realm. They are secretive spirits, prone to listen and watch rather than speak. Many have a cool and almost cruel sense of humor, but their jibes are always focused to teach and broaden perspectives rather than simply to do harm.
Irralunim are shapeshifters of the first water, and seem to dislike assuming the same form twice to speak to any given werewolf. Unlike other Lunes, Irralunim give off almost no radiance at all, but are dusky of feature, nearly invisible in darkness. Some Irralunim refuse to speak at all, instead communicating through gestures, body language or telepathy. They are fond of assuming sinuous forms: cats, serpents and wisps of fog are among their favored appearances.
Irralunim see things that others do not, and encourage others to see them as well, preferring to teach perceptiveness rather than pointing out answers. They have no interest in Uratha who will not learn to look and listen, and those who insist on charging into a situation without investigating it first will quickly find themselves devoid of Irralunim aid.
ITHALUNIM — THE ORACLE CHOIR
The Ithalunim are strongest during nights of the crescent moon, when it is said that they learn their occult wisdom from Luna at her most contemplative. The Oracle Choir is the patron choir of the Ithaeur, but their greater role as they describe it is to serve as spirits devoted to wisdom. The Ithalunim guard many secrets, but few of the insights they grant bring solace. The wisdom they keep is not comfort — it is Truth.
The Lunes of the crescent moon shine faintly, sometimes with a half-halo of light that emanates from one edge of their shape. They often favor the forms of robed, angel-like beings or beasts of uncommon calm, but regardless of the shape they wear, they always craftily manifest the mark of their moon somewhere in their forms. It may take the shape of a crescent-shaped luminous sigil, a carried sickle or similarly shaped tool, or curved wings or claws, but, like the wisdom they guard, it is always there for those who seek sincerely. Ithalunim always speak softly, never raising their voices.
Like the crescent moon, the Ithalunim are sharp in nature and not generous with their light. They are cryptic by nature and frequently answer questions with further questions, leading supplicants into broader awareness rather than providing simple answers. Ithalunim loathe explaining themselves more than they must; they believe in wisdom as an ideal that must be sought and kept pure, not shared out with as many as possible. They both respect Ithaeur and hold them to a very high standard, expecting the Forsaken of the Crescent Moon to never cease in their quest for knowledge, especially that of the spirit-world. Bone Shadows fall under similar scrutiny, and the Oracle Choir’s respect for any werewolf will evaporate quickly if the hapless creature demonstrates a dull or foolhardy nature.
RALUNIM — THE FURY CHOIR
No light is as bright as that which shines against the darkest darkness. Directly opposite the dark moon is Luna’s full face, her wrathful warriors whose fury and wrath the most devout Rahu could only hope to emulate. Although capable of both bold tactical maneuvering and brazen use of intimidation and power, Ralunim are truly a spiritual force to be reckoned with.
Irralunim see things that others do not, and encourage others to see them as well, preferring to teach perceptiveness rather than pointing out answers. They have no interest in Uratha who will not learn to look and listen, and those who insist on charging into a situation without investigating it first will quickly find themselves devoid of Irralunim aid.
ITHALUNIM — THE ORACLE CHOIR
The Ithalunim are strongest during nights of the crescent moon, when it is said that they learn their occult wisdom from Luna at her most contemplative. The Oracle Choir is the patron choir of the Ithaeur, but their greater role as they describe it is to serve as spirits devoted to wisdom. The Ithalunim guard many secrets, but few of the insights they grant bring solace. The wisdom they keep is not comfort — it is Truth.
The Lunes of the crescent moon shine faintly, sometimes with a half-halo of light that emanates from one edge of their shape. They often favor the forms of robed, angel-like beings or beasts of uncommon calm, but regardless of the shape they wear, they always craftily manifest the mark of their moon somewhere in their forms. It may take the shape of a crescent-shaped luminous sigil, a carried sickle or similarly shaped tool, or curved wings or claws, but, like the wisdom they guard, it is always there for those who seek sincerely. Ithalunim always speak softly, never raising their voices.
Like the crescent moon, the Ithalunim are sharp in nature and not generous with their light. They are cryptic by nature and frequently answer questions with further questions, leading supplicants into broader awareness rather than providing simple answers. Ithalunim loathe explaining themselves more than they must; they believe in wisdom as an ideal that must be sought and kept pure, not shared out with as many as possible. They both respect Ithaeur and hold them to a very high standard, expecting the Forsaken of the Crescent Moon to never cease in their quest for knowledge, especially that of the spirit-world. Bone Shadows fall under similar scrutiny, and the Oracle Choir’s respect for any werewolf will evaporate quickly if the hapless creature demonstrates a dull or foolhardy nature.
RALUNIM — THE FURY CHOIR
No light is as bright as that which shines against the darkest darkness. Directly opposite the dark moon is Luna’s full face, her wrathful warriors whose fury and wrath the most devout Rahu could only hope to emulate. Although capable of both bold tactical maneuvering and brazen use of intimidation and power, Ralunim are truly a spiritual force to be reckoned with.
The most powerful Ralunim frequently appear as bright javelins of cold, white light or as athletic warriors in gleaming white armor. It is not unheard of for the Choir of Fury to manifest as great night-hunting beasts, dire wolves and predatory cats that would put modern tigers to shame with their muscular grace. Whatever appearance they take, there is an air of ferocity to the Ralunim. Like the rest of their kind, they bear the mark of their moon phase somewhere upon them, although like everything else about the Full Moon Choir, it is often displayed blatantly, gleaming from the shield of a warrior or the brow of a beast as if defiantly proclaiming the Ralunim’s nature to any who witness it.
Straightforward is often the Ralunim’s path, although it’s a mistake to assume they are therefore dull-witted or incapable of tactics. Rather, once their path has been decided, there are few spirits (or Uratha) capable of swaying them from their chosen goal. Ralunim respect bravery (although not stupidity) and strength. Cowardice is intolerable to them, although they are capable of understanding guile as a tactic.
THE HELIONSSpiritual children of the Sun itself, Helions are rarely seen in the Shadow Realm. Those unfamiliar with them might easily mistake them for fire elementals, and perhaps they are related, but their spirits, forged in the unceasing inferno of the Sun, are far less mutable than those of their earthly cousins. Even less is known about the Sun Choirs than of other spirit groups, although one thing seems certain. No werewolf who comes across one of them will walk away unaffected by their encounter.
ILLUMINATORS (SUN SCHOLARS, UTH ARATHUM)
Embodying the unceasing radiance of their solar sire, Illuminators seek out those whose paths are darkened with hypocrisy, duplicity and selfdeceit, burning away these shadows with the blinding luminosity of the Sun itself. Illuminators are among the most commonly seen of the Helions, although the very nature of the Shadow indicates that their presence is infrequent at best.
Illuminators have allegedly appeared since before the death of Father Wolf as a brilliantly glowing orb that drives away all darkness. In more modern times, Sun Scholars have appeared as radiant torches, candles and even incandescent bulbs, a manifestation that is believed to have spawned the material association of the latter item with sudden insight. They may also take the form of birds with impossibly bright plumage or the visage of a cloaked hermit bearing a lantern from which emanates a blindingly bright glow. They do not converse out loud, speaking mentally instead, a disconcerting communication for those who are not expecting it.
The rare Uratha who have been visited by one of these confusing spirits consider the encounter to be a mixed blessing. Few spirits are more likely to answer questions as straightforwardly as the Sun Scholars, but their wisdom is never without a cost, and they will not tolerate those who refuse to look deeply at their own shadows while condemning the darkness of others.
SEARINGS (SUN WARRIORS, UTH UMFISAH)
Background: Searings are the manifestations of Helios as the Merciless Sun, fiery solar energy at its most unforgiving. They are the warriors of the Helion Choir, embodying the destructive clout of the sun without thought for light or warmth. If fire elementals characterize fickle hunger in the spirit world, Searings are the spiritual embodiment of self-righteous wrath.
Searings most often take the form of blazing, animated weapons, burning eternally with a blinding intensity. The most powerful among them, however, are sometimes seen as gloriously brutal humanoid warriors with broad, feathered wings of flame, golden, glowing skin and eyes like orbs of unquenchable flame.
Of all the Helions, Searings are the most hostile toward werewolves. Whether it is their connection with Luna (and hence the night) or their half-physical/half-spiritual ambiguity that most angers the Sun Warrior is not completely clear. What is known, however, is that they seem to consider the Uratha at least partially creatures of darkness and impurity, and are loath to tolerate their presence.
Searings are direct and intense, unwavering in their course of action. It is exceptionally difficult for a werewolf to sway a Searing into assisting him, even if the spirit and the werewolf share a common foe. Those werewolves who have had dealings with Searings often favor entering the Shadow Realm only at night afterwards, so as not to repeat the experience.
THE MOON, SUN, AND WOLF
The current in the Gauntlet during the day and the effect of Shadow-sunlight have the same cause. While Luna is ever-changing and protean, guarding the earthly Shadow from alien void spirits, her brother Helios is steadfast, unchanging, and pushes everything within the lunar sphere “in,” forcing Essence to ground, fixing spirits in place and creating the Shadow’s “gravity.” Werewolves who convince aerial spirits to carry them into the sky discover that they can’t reach the moon no matter how hard they try — the increasing pressure of Helios’ solar winds force them back long before they reach the void.
Ithaeur who’ve dealt with Helions know all too well that Helios hasn’t forgiven the Forsaken as his sister has. Mostly, it’s because it’s not in Helios’ nature to change his mind about anything, but partly, it’s because of the Sundering. Just as Luna gives the Hisil its ever-changing, reactive nature, Helios provides the impetus for spirits attempting to leave. By his nature, he forces everything away. Before his death, Father Wolf hunted the spirits fleeing the Shadow, complementing both Luna and her brother. By killing him, the first pack destroyed that harmony, and made Helios the unwitting cause of the material world’s woes.
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