Neothane Lunar Cycle

Neothane is a Duo-Lunar Planet orbited by the moons known as Sotis (Sew·Tees) and Illuris (Ill·lure·is). Sotis the smaller of the two satelites is made of a deep purple ice like substance and sits 240,000 miles from the surface of Neothane and orbits the planet in a 27 day Waxing and Waning cycle and reflects the light of the binary star known as Tonnen. Illuris is the larger of the two satellites and has been observed to be made of a naturally glowing orange stone, Illuris orbits the planet on an 118 day Waxing and Waning cycle and sits 360,000 miles from the surface of Neothane and 120,000 miles from Sotis.   With a radius of about 1,080 miles (1,740 kilometers), Sotis is less than a third of the width of Neothane. One day on Sotis lasts roughly 27 days on Neothane leading to an observable lunar cycle lasting almost a month. In scholarly and arcane study Sotis fills the postion of many important fields of study. Many physicists consider the gravity of the elliptical orbit of Sotis as a major factor in the ebb and flow in the tides of the oceans of Neothane, causing many sailors to keep moon and star maps to not only help navigate on the waters but to know how long a specific journey may last depending on it's placement in the Lunar Cycle.   In arcane and religious studies Sotis is one of the symbols of Sabik Rannan the god of time, and is considered sacred. The Sphere of Ita, which is claimed to be the origin of all arcane energy on Neothane and is housed deep in the Canavale Mountian in Vixiara University, is presumed to have a deep connection to the moon and scholars have spent their entire lives seeking the secrets of the connection between the two. In the century since the return of Creucanoth an influx of magic users and their powers have increased exponentially.   With a radius of about 2,995 miles (4,820 kilometers), Illuris is a little more than half the width of Neothane. If observed through a telescope one would see that the surface of Illuris is covered in deep sand dunes that look like ridges to the naked eye. One day on Illuris lasts roughly 118 days on Neothane leading to slow but observable lunar cycle lasting nearly 4 months. No one is entirely sure why Illuris sits in the sky the way that it does and why it revolves so slowly compared to all other known celestial bodies. Many tales of ancient eldritch horrors or gods that predate the current pantheon sit on the tounges of conspiracy theorists and scholars, and many who seek answers to life's questions in the stars believe that those born under a full Illuris are destined for greatness. Some well known figures in Neothane history that were born under Illuris include Bak Ghul, Galareon and Aymon Jouvelle, Chirgos the Aggressor and Atreus Dimallon commonly refered to as Nova Herald of Sabik Rannan. Though many of these people went on to great and powerful things there is no concrete evidence that the moon of Illuris had anything to do with their successes.   Due it's distance from Neothane the elliptical orbit of Illuris does not have much bearing on the tides of the oceans, though sailors do believe that setting sail on a full Illuris is a bad omen and that the voyage is doomed to fail, so many docks treat these days as small holidays known as "Illuris Nights." Granting many workers the whole day off and offering large community get togethers where singing, dancing and gift giving occur. Many a person in Neothane cite the "Illuris Nights" as their favorite holidays. In recent years, after the second fall of Xen Minir, these celebrations have turned into week long festivals that allow small moments of joy for the hard working class citizens of Neothane to blow off any pent up frustrations in a safe and friendly way.           Cultural Rituals and Modern Festivals The twin moons of Neothane are more than celestial bodies—they are cultural keystones, woven into the myth, ritual, superstition, and seasonal rhythm of life across the continents of Volaire, Iomis, and the distant isles beyond. Each phase of Sotis and Illuris carries spiritual, social, and sometimes economic significance, guiding everything from marriage rites to revolutions.   Sotic Observances

“Time’s echo is a comfort, even when the gods are not.” – Archivist Ilyra Varn, Canavale Codex, Vol. IV

    Because of its predictable 27-day cycle, Sotis defines the Sotic Month—used by merchants, universities, and religious sects alike. Every seventh day is known as a Harmonic Rest, a practice begun by early acolytes of Sabik Rannan to meditate on the passage of time.   During the Sotic Full Moon, known as Chronenrise, many regions observe the following:    

• Archivist Vigils: Libraries and temples stay open overnight; scholars read aloud from ancient texts, some hoping to receive prophetic dreams.
• Silver Hour Ceremonies: Attuned spellcasters gather in moonlit courtyards to harmonize their voices and amplify divination spells. The chorus often attracts spectators and spontaneous communal song.
• The Time-Woven Fair (in cities like Marrowfen and Syllendane): Artisans display works crafted over a full Sotic cycle, some even time-lapsed with minor chronomantic enchantments to show their process.

      A less formal but widely beloved ritual is the Midcycle Feast (on the 14th night), where friends and families bring foods that require long preparation—stews, pickled fruits, or cured meats—as a way of celebrating the slow work of time itself.     Illuris Nights

“When the sky bleeds orange, we laugh in defiance.” – Dockworker graffiti, Dawnbury

    While Illuris is feared by sailors and seen as a harbinger of fate, it is also celebrated with joy, especially by working-class communities, mystics, and those touched by misfortune or magic. The moon’s slow cycle makes its full appearance—The Ember Crown—a major event, occurring only three times per Neothanian year.   Traditional Elements of Illuris Nights:  

• No Departures: Ports are closed and gates locked for travelers; even airships grounded by tradition. It’s said to be “a time to stay where you are, or risk not returning.”
• The Ember Procession: People dress in glowing orange and red garments, often stitched with tiny reflective glass or flame-shaped charms. Children carry firefly lanterns through the streets, reenacting the "March of the Lurions", a mythical tale where Illuris walked the earth and granted dreams to mortals.
• Masks of Flame and Ash: Some wear dual-colored masks—orange for ambition, black for memory—symbolizing the dual legacies of Illuris: to rise or to fall.
• Warding Fires: In rural areas and among older cultures, bonfires are lit at crossroads or outside homes, believed to ward off the "Shadow Beneath the Flame," a mythical entity said to stir during full Illuris.

  The Lurian Rest (Modern Adaptation) Following the Second Fall of Xen Minir, many city-states expanded Illuris Nights into a full week of public celebration known as The Lurian Rest. Originally meant to honor the survivors of the war, it has evolved into a secular yet spiritual festival of resilience.   Modern Lurian Rest Traditions:   Open Hearths: Communal kitchens serve free food to any who pass by, symbolizing hospitality and survival. These often feature spicy dishes using Sunfruit or Ash Pepper—ingredients harvested only during the waxing Illuris.   Draconic Street Theater: Troupes reenact the myths of Chirgos, Xen Minir, and the Fall using masks, illusion magic, and shadow puppetry. These performances often end with a different moral depending on the region—some emphasize hope and redemption, others warn against unchecked ambition.   Flame Letters: Participants write down burdens, regrets, or lost hopes and feed them into enchanted braziers. The flame changes color depending on the emotions infused, and ashes are scattered at dawn to symbolize renewal.   Lurian Crowns: Wreaths made of woven orange reeds or enchanted wax are worn on the final night, mimicking the corona of Illuris. It is customary to give one to a stranger before the night ends—signifying shared fate.   Moonshadow Festivals (When the Moons Align) A rare but awe-inspiring phenomenon occurs when Sotis and Illuris eclipse one another—an event called a Moonshadow Convergence. These alignments happen once every few decades and are considered dangerous, sacred, or revelatory depending on cultural context.   During such events:   Temples hold mass rituals in silence.   Diviners and prophets enter shared trances—some claiming to speak the "true voice of the moons."   Followers of the old ways claim the Primordial Eye opens briefly, and if one looks directly at the eclipsed moons, they may witness their true self—or go mad trying.   Regional Variations The Norri of the Nozomu Isles craft moon-tempered steel under Sotislight, claiming it holds "the will of time." They treat Illuris Nights as solemn, almost funerary—burning incense to appease Vegris, God of Wrath, whose temple once stood beneath that moon.   The Chamael tribes of the Helios Outback consider Illuris a sky-lurking predator, mimicking its slow dance with ritual hunts beneath torchlight, while Sotis is a herald that warns of seasonal migration.   The Sareni Elves of the eastern Groves mark Illuris Nights by bathing in moonlit streams and planting fireblooms, which only open during full Illuris. These flowers are said to reveal a person's fate in the pattern of their petals.   Final Thoughts Neothane’s moons are not simply distant rocks—they are mythic companions to its people, shaping how they live, love, fight, and mourn. The rituals and festivals of Sotis and Illuris represent the soul of a world that remembers its gods, even when those gods forget them.               An Artist's Rendition of Sotis and Illuris in the night sky.