Crescent Moon
I yearn for the day the void goes away...
Who Is She?
Crescent Moon is a human who was brought to and raised in one of the many communes of the Silkweavers of the Night. There, she was taught the ways of Polmas, Goddess of the Night and Moon, learning to be kind, gentle and compassionate. A curious and amicable girl, Moon spent her days playing the harp, weaving silk, and roaming the surrounding area of her home.
However, Crescent Moon's gentle side became corrupted from witnessing the murder of Nilu, a woman she greatly loved and saw as a sister. Since then, Moon has made a vow to make the killer pay, and six years later, embarks on her journey.
Crescent Moon possesses an elegant and slender silhouette that glides with a melancholic grace. Her brown eyes resemble deep pools, concealing the thoughts within her mind. Draped in a flowing, dark purple cloak that shields her from the outside world, she wears a warm smile that masks her hidden sorrows.
The Baby Wrapped in the Night Sky
On a starry night, a distressed and dishevelled woman—eyes wide with fear—came to the Silkweavers of the Night. Cradled and wrapped in her scar-riddled arms was a baby girl.
You were enveloped in the most exquisite and luxurious silk—a fabric worthy of royalty—draped in a magnificent shade of purple reminiscent of the infinite cosmos. This opulent silk was intricately decorated with countless moons and stars, creating the illusion that you were swathed in the very fabric of the night sky. That is how I gave you your name.
Tears in her eyes, she begged the weavers to take care of the infant before dropping her and leaving. No one saw the woman again. The weavers pitied the baby and brought her to their commune, where they would raise her in their ways.
Life with the Silkweavers
Crescent Moon was brought to a tight-knit community on a small hill in the grasslands. She was taken to the leader, Lucina, who vowed to teach the infant personally. The child was taught how to worship the Moon Goddess and how to live a life She would approve of. As Crescent Moon grew, she developed a deep connection to the rituals and traditions of her people. Each night, she would gaze at the stars with her mentor and be told stories about the Moon Goddess.
The girl also immersed herself in astrology, learning about star families and how to use them in navigation. She played the harp, a sacred instrument of Polmas, while weaving silk in camaraderie with the women. With each passing day, Crescent Moon grew under Lucina's watchful eye, absorbing the wisdom and traditions of her new home.
Eventually, it was decided that the girl was worthy of receiving a special blessing from Polmas—a god-gift.
Current Status
Seeking vengeance on her sister's killer
Age
18
Children
Pronouns
she/her
Sex
Female
Gender
Woman
Presentation
Feminine
Eyes
Deep earthy brown
Hair
Sleek, medium-length black
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Chocolate brown
Height
5'5"
Weight
50kg
Belief/Deity
Polmas, Goddess of the Night and Moon
Aligned Organization
God-gift
Crescent Moon associates the night and Polmas Herself with the luxurious feel of soft silk, the transparency of clear glass, the calming presence of soothing water, and the gentle sounds of harps; thus, her god-gift manifests as such. With their aid, she can create formidable glass barriers, fashion a bow and arrows from harp strings, and utilise silk as a tool for restraint.
When Crescent Moon overexerts her gift, her body slips into what she calls the "New Moon" phase—named after the weakest Moon phase. In this state, she temporarily loses the ability to call upon her gifts, a condition reflected in the whitening of her eyes (leading to poor vision) and the painful cracking (like glass) of her skin.
The Strange Woman
One day, after a festival ended, the ten-year-old Crescent Moon came across a woman sitting alone in the field near the commune's outskirts. She was staring into nothing, humming a strange tune and seemingly daydreaming. Moon cautiously approached the figure and tapped her on the shoulder. The woman turned, her face a picture of grief framed by dark hair and deep eye bags. Her bewilderment melted into sadness. Moon asked the woman who she was, and she solemnly replied that her identity wasn't important. Burying her head in her knees, the lady then told the girl to leave.
Upon returning to the weavers, Moon asked them about the strange woman. The rhythmic creaking of the looms came to a halt, and the women stared at the girl, mouths agape. Their reaction confused and worried Moon. "What's the matter?" Ilka was the first to break the silence, her picking stick making a loud clack on the loom. "You should not see that woman," Ilka scolded. She walked over to Moon, gripped her shoulders hard and continued, "Do you understand?" The girl merely blinked at the irate woman, confused. "Do you?!" Moon quickly nodded. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. Another picking stick made a clack on the loom—this time, a quieter clack. Lucina went over to the pair and admonished Ilka for being harsh on the girl. When Ilka walked away, Lucina kneeled down to Moon and stroked her hair. "Ilka is right, little one. You should not see that woman. She is a bad influence, do you understand?" Moon nodded. "Good," Ilka said with a smile, "Now off you go."
Despite this, Moon couldn't help but be drawn to the strange woman. Every other day, the girl would sneak past the golem guards to meet Nilu at a specific spot outside the commune. She would tell the woman about her day and wanted to know more about her. Nilu at first reacted with no interest, but soon welcomed Moon's curiosity.
I never understood why seeing her was forbidden. Sure, Nilu was a bit strange (she always seemed sad whenever we met, but never said why, and she always wore black), but I found that strangeness fascinating because it was a nice change from what I usually encountered on the commune. Nilu was wise, often asking interesting questions that challenged my beliefs, something the silk weavers barely did. Our talks would span hours until the stars showed up. She was also a great listener, so much so that I'd be the one usually talking. She was the older sister I didn't know I wanted.
The Turning Point
It- it happened so fast. I was telling Nilu about the Orb and Arrow star families in the night sky, pointing at each one and explaining the types of magic they give. But then... someone came out of nowhere a- and lunged at her with a knife! They started stabbing and stabbing and stabbing and Nilu screamed and tried fighting them off but was failing. I just... froze and couldn't do anything but watch. And I vaguely remember Nilu telling me to run. I soon snapped out of it and rushed in to help her. I jumped at the attacker, clawing and hitting and slapping and trying to do anything to make them stop and go away, and I think I did some damage. But then... I felt a hot, searing pain across my chest, saw a wave of blood and felt myself flying then landing hard. I tried to get up again but my body refused. I could feel the growing wetness of my shirt and the ground... Nilu's piercing screams grew fainter and more incomprehensible as the stabbing grew more and more violent and the wet sound of flesh grew louder and louder. I couldn't do anything as the world disappeared. The last thing I saw before black was Nilu lying there... her face frozen in indescribable horror, body soaked in blood and hand outstretched towards me. And my hand outstretched towards her.
An Overhead Storm
Since the incident, Crescent Moon's mental state declined, leading to patterns of prolonged self-isolation and dark, intrusive thoughts. Moon frequently thinks of Nilu's murder, wondering if things would have gone differently if she had acted quicker.
"Each new day marks a day I never see Nilu. Each new day without her warm voice, her fascinating philosophies and her challenging questions is an empty sky, devoid of interest, and a dry lake, devoid of life. The void's presence varies greatly; sometimes, it's barely there; other times, it swallows me whole."
"Every time I think about her, a voice whispers in my ear, low and hushed. It's often muffled and unclear, but I know it says awful things, says I should do awful things to myself. And often complementing the voice are strange yet frightening visions of... black. Twisting and turning black. Growing and shrinking black. Shrieking and groaning black. There's no other way to describe these visions.
They haunt me in moments of normalcy, scream and dig at me in moments of happiness. They claw and bite and tear without mercy, and sometimes, come close to eating me whole. And after they finally leave me be—broken and trembling, they still hang around, just out of sight, waiting for me to get up."
When her 18th birthday approached, Moon made a decision.
"When I find the one who murdered my sister, I'll make sure she wishes to be claimed by the black ocean; that she will yearn for the cold embrace of nothing.
I can't let the sights stop me. I shan't let the voice stop me. I have to ignore them all. I have to keep going."
Taking some food, water, money and a small blade, Crescent Moon put on her cloak and snuck past the golems guards for the final time.
Intense! I'm excited to see how she develops!
Thank you! The novel is currently being written, but I'll publish some supplementary info about her ^^
Thank you!