The Lunar Tryst

The Lunar Tryst tells of the forbidden love between Selaveth, goddess of passion, midnight, and the moon, and Thalor, god of the sea, tides, and stormsong. Their union defied the will of Aurenos, the god of magic, who feared what might be born of their passion. Yet under a moonless sky, they came together in secret. From their divine union was born Naelir, god of daydreams, stars, and desire—a child not born in a place, but within the shared dream of all sentient beings. It is said that the stars first appeared when Naelir opened his eyes, and that he still weaves new constellations as he sleeps.

This myth is widely known across all regions of Mythralune, particularly in coastal communities, among elves, and in artistic circles. It is often recited during moon festivals and seafarers’ rituals. However, certain arcane scholars and priests of Aurenos treat the myth with skepticism or revision, downplaying the emotional betrayal in favor of a more abstract interpretation (e.g., the moon and tides harmonizing to birth cosmic magic).

• In elven traditions, the myth ends with Selaveth fleeing to the moon in sorrow, her tears creating moonlight, while Naelir is raised among the stars.
• In Virellian coastal lore, Thalor is cast into a storm-prison by Aurenos for his defiance, and Naelir is said to appear only when lovers defy social expectations.
• A heretical variant claims Naelir was not born of a consensual union but was “dreamed into being” by Selaveth alone, using Thalor’s essence without his awareness. This version is considered scandalous and mostly suppressed.

In most cultures, The Lunar Tryst is regarded as a romantic and tragic myth—one that celebrates emotional freedom, passion, and the creation of beauty through defiance.

• Elves see Selaveth as their divine mother and often reference this myth as proof that love should transcend laws.
• Clerics of Aurenos tend to view the story as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the danger of unchecked emotion.
• Druids and sea-folk celebrate the myth in seasonal rituals, praising the union of moon and sea.

• “Naelir’s Dream”, an epic romantic poem passed down through bardic colleges, recounts the myth in twelve verses, with a focus on Selaveth’s longing.
• The myth is allegorically retold in the children’s fable “The Silver Shell”, where a moonbeam and a wave fall in love and create a pearl that sings in dreams.
• The banned tome “Shadows Behind the Veil” explores the heretical variant of the myth and is considered dangerously provocative in academic circles.

In Art

• A famous mural in Verdantreach's High Temple of the Moon depicts the moment Selaveth and Thalor embrace, veiled by clouds and shadow, as stars burst to life in the sky around them.
• Dance troupes in the Lilted Vale often perform a two-part piece called “The Eclipse,” with one dancer representing the moon and the other the tide, spiraling together until the stars appear.
• Star-maps sold by mystics and astronomers sometimes claim to depict constellations “breathed by Naelir,” tying modern astrological signs back to this myth.