No Moon
The new moon is
a shadow among the night sky. Luna conceals herself in the darkness so that she
may engage in subtle thought and practice powerful magic without distraction.
So, too, do the Children of the Hidden Moon. Those of the No Moon Caste are
quiet thinkers and mighty sorcerers. They survive by the honed skill of their
minds, trusting in their vast knowledge and mystical might. A Child of the
Hidden Moon is a font of subtle insight and wisdom. Her eyes are deep pools
that reflect knowledge of lore long forgotten and secrets best left hidden.
Members of the
No Moon Caste are the Silver Pact’s master sorcerers. Their sharp and powerful
minds enable them to easily grasp the concepts of manipulating Essence and
casting spells, and they serve as the keepers of sorceries long lost to the
rest of Creation. Even if a No Moon Lunar does not practice the arts of
sorcery, she is recognized as having the raw potential to do so and will almost
certainly learn at some point in her long life. In addition to their roles as
sorcerers and mystics, the Children of the Hidden Moon are the keepers of the Lunars’ entire history and culture. Out of necessity, the
culture of the Silver Pact has become an oral one, and the No Moon Caste is
responsible for memorizing and passing on the tales and lore preserved since
the First Age. A No Moon’s unparalleled intellect enables her to recall endless
facts and to understand how to apply the lessons of the past toward the obstacles
of the present.
When members of
the No Moon Caste gather together in council, a younger Lunar is expected to
demonstrate her intellectual prowess by reciting ancient stories, answering
obtuse questions and solving complex riddles. These tests are meant to test the
No Moon and to help prepare her to take up the caste’s role as arbitrator and
advisor within the Silver Pact. Children of the Hidden Moon also favor such
pastimes as hunting, mock combat and target shooting in order to hone awareness
and reaction time. Although they are great thinkers, a Child of the Hidden Moon
is expected to be a doer as well. She must learn to recognize threats in
advance and must be able to react quickly to changing situations.
Trials: A Lunar of the No Moon Caste typically survives her
trials through quick thinking or mystical insight. Dangerous foes are defeated
using tactical brilliance. Dangerous situations are navigated by being aware of
her surrounding’s and reacting quickly to threats. Restless ghosts and vengeful
gods are bound with powerful magics. A No Moon uses
intelligence and learned skill to conquer all challenges.
Totem Animals: No Moon Lunars
typically favor animals with mystical significance, especially those that are
sacred to Luna. Black or white cats (both big and small), bears, owls, serpents
and creatures of the deep ocean are all common.
Anima Banner: The animas of No Moon Caste Lunars are dreamlike veils of dark-blue and purple light,
with a slight silver tint along the edges. As more Essence is spent, the colors
grow deeper and more flowing, as the silver light along the animas’ edges grows
brighter and more noticeable. When the banners become iconic, they depict
abstract or realistic images of the Lunar’s totem
form.
Anima Effects: A No Moon Lunar may attune her anima to
the Essence she calls upon to work sorcery, reducing the amount of Essence
needed to caste spells. For each mote the character spends to attune her anima,
the Essence cost for all spells cast for the rest of the scene is lowered by 1.
A character may not spend more than twice his Essence in this fashion during a
given scene. The cost of a spell cannot be reduced by more than half (rounded
down). Spending Essence in this fashion is reflexive and does not count as a
Charm for the purposes of how many Charms the character can use in a turn, but
it cannot be done while casting a spell.
Caste Abilities: Members of the No Moon Caste are
naturally inclined to survive through the use of mental adeptness and sorcerous skill. They possess a natural affinity for the
attributes of Perception, Intelligence and Wits.
Associations: The season and element of water, the
color blue
Sobriquets: Children of the Hidden Moon, The Silver
Shadows, Luna’s Chamberlains, Nightwitches
Concepts: Tribal storyteller, spirit medium,
shaman of the Wyld, master archer, keeper of
forbidden lore, cryptic riddlemaster, child who is
too clever for her own good
Wisdom is like a pretty bird, beautiful
both to see
and to eat.