The Fallen Moon

Nevermore · #1 10-12-2009

(Theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko7oh2FWbGY)

The night was cold, yet it was not bitter. The weather stood at that time between seasons where the nights and days stayed at comfortable temperatures. This night was no different and the cool air could either be relaxing, or demand a jacket from the select few who chilled easily. The full moon lit the ground with a peaceful light and no clouds marred the vast sky. Just outside the quite, stone city was a road lit by gas lamps that ran for about a mile outside the city walls and then the road was not lit after that distance. This night was no different than any other night.

Then there was darkness. Utter, blinding darkness so complete that it would hurt the unadjusted eyes of anyone who might have been outside at that late hour, for, the bright, full moon that had been shining for hours had suddenly vanished from the skies. As if on cue, the gas filled lamps on the road flickered momentarily as a figure entered into the burning light they cast upon the road. The figure walked slowly and made no sound nor did it leave foot prints in the soft dust of the road. The figure was clad from head to toe in a black cloak that engulfed its body from view completely. Beneath the dark hood that rested on its head sat a solid white mask with strange dark patterns drawn on it. The mask was a perfect oval and left no part of the face visible, including the eyes, which did not have any sort of hole cut for them. The mask was created in such a way that the wearer could still see, but the eyes would be hidden from the view of anyone looking upon the wearer.

Doc · #2 10-12-2009

The young knight clad in light steel sat just outside of the town gate, his back pressed up against the wall behind him and his rear upon the grass beneath him. His hazel gaze watched the moon and the stars contently, a relaxed smile on his lips as he deeply breathed in the fresh smell of the green plains through his nostrils, savoring the scent for a moment before allowing it to escape back out into the air. It was a peaceful and beautiful evening, neither too hot nor too cold to enjoy. A soft breeze swept against the young swordsman's face, causing his eyes to close for several seconds as his brown bangs danced about over the green bandana that was tied about his head.

He could have sworn that his eyes had reopened. But they couldn't have as he could not see a single thing. Where the moon had just been was now covered by a thick veil of shadow, the stars having slipped away as well into the limitless nothingness that reached into eternity. Fumbling about for a moment, his gauntlet clad hand finally managed to locate and firmly grasp the hilt of his double-sided broadsword, picking it up from the ground as he rose to his feet, blinking several times in an effort to get his bearings.

The only light that the night now offered was that of the dimly glowing gas lamps which lined the road leading from the town and into the distance. Squinting, he took a step towards the lanterns, but then came to an immediate halt. Someone was walking along the path, a silhouette moving through the flickering light. Scratching at the back of his head with his free hand, the knight continued heading in his direction, eventually raising his hand in a wave.

"Hey! Excuse me, but uhh..." he trailed off, glancing about awkwardly. He was sure that he was coming off as a complete creep, just approaching someone in the middle of the night.

"Would you know what time it is? I think I must have dozed off so I lost track..."

Nevermore · #3 10-12-2009

"The night has expired two hours past midnight," the figure spoke, his cold, smooth voice sounding hollow beneath his mask, "The stars look exceptionally beautiful tonight, don't they?" he said as he looked up at the sky. Without the moon's bright glow the stars seemed to be much more vivid against the sky, though the darkness was still deep from the lack of the moon. "I have answered a question for you, perhaps you might answer one for me? Do you know who I am?" He asked, still looking at the sky. It was weird to think that anyone traveling at night, who might have witnessed the moon disappearing, wouldn't ask someone else if they had also seen the moon vanish. The man standing before the knight seemed completely unbothered by the missing moon.

Doc · #4 10-12-2009

"Uhhh..." the knight trailed off momentarily, furrowing his brows in thought as he looked the man before him over. He couldn't see a single inch of him beneath the cloak and mask that he wore, let alone in the bizarre darkness that had suddenly swallowed them whole. In his head the knight was still trying to think of what had just happened to the moon. The time that the man had given him meant that he hadn't fallen asleep after all. Was he going crazy?

"No, sorry, I don't." he answered the masked man apologetically, "Should I?"

Nevermore · #5 10-12-2009

The man reached up to the mask and slowly removed it to reveal a pale, flawless face that appeared to be made from stone, silver bangs, and long, skinny pointed ears. The man looked like an elf. His silver eyes looked like molten metal in the flickering light cast by the lamps. He took the hood off his head and removed the cloak from his body. He wore on his upper body a vest covered in a series of belts that only covered half his chest and one arm, the other side was left bare to the waist. He wore a leather bracer on his right arm along with a sturdy, black leather glove. At his waist he wore a belt that held up two curved pieces of leather and cloth that met at the top and split wider as they went down. He had the appearance of wearing a skirt, yet it seemed fitting. "I have many names," the man spoke softly, in a voice that seemed too deep and too powerful. Though there was no hint of evil in his voice, it seemed quite cold to hear.

"Some call me Lunar, or Mond, Charon, Deimos, or Solinari*, and many others. I go by any of these." He looked at the knight with his molten eyes, a slight amount of amusement showing in them.

(* These are all different names for the moon)

Doc · #6 10-12-2009

"That's a lot of names." The knight said in surprise, scratching at the side of his head uneasily. He gave Lunar a once over in curiosity, having never seen anyone with an appearance that even slightly resembled the pale elf before him. Or at least, the young knight could only assume that Lunar was an elf judging by his ears. He definitely wasn't a human, that much was certain.

"I can't say I'm that popular." The knight joked in a friendly manner, extending a steel clad hand and offering a polite smile, "My name's just William."

Nevermore · #7 10-12-2009

The man of many names failed to recognize the hand being offered to him. He did not smile in return but simply glanced up at the sky again, as though fascinated by the contrast of the stars against the pitch-darkness of the moonless sky. He took a few steps past William and then turned back to him, most of his face obscured by his long bangs, "A fine night tonight. Who do you worship, William? Do you worship a specfic deity? Or an element of nature? The sun? Or perhaps," he paused and his hidden eyes seemed to bore forward while his words seemed to obtain emphasis, "The moon?"

Doc · #8 10-12-2009

William watched as the man named for the moon strode by him, gaze directed upwards rather than at the young knight. The boy let his hand fall to his side, raising an eyebrow upon hearing the elf's question.

"Who do I worship?" the knight asked, looking up at the sky as well while he thought on it. He knew what he was supposed to say. He was a knight, and as such had been trained to serve the God of the Church. However, he'd seen the horrors that had torn the world apart by the word "religion". Holy wars and crusades that claimed hundreds upon thousands of lives....

Lowering his face with a hand on his chin in contemplation, he nodded once having decided upon a suitable answer.

"I believe in myself, I guess." William smiled, looking back to Lunar.

Nevermore · #9 10-12-2009

"Yes," Lunar spoke as he looked closer at the man, "the god of your church is quite dismayed by the belief humans have created for themselves. Their reactions are not quite what he expected. Each day he comes very near to destroying his subjects and starting over new. Worshipping him is quite dangerous. Tell me, William, if it were the moon you worshipped, would its disappearance trouble you more? This God of Church is one that cannot be seen so the people cannot know if he leaves or stays, but the moon is always there, except tonight. Were you to believe in something tangible, would its disappearance shake your world?"

He turned at walked again, then spun around on his heels, without disturbing the dust on the road, to face William. "I believe that no one really knows how to appreciate the beauty of the moon. Sure, without the moon the stars are that much more beautiful in the night sky, but does it not seem like something is missing? A part of the sky is gone. They say that the gods are capable of walking on the earth in human form, but should those gods leave their seats in the heaven, so too do the items they represent. Most gods take the form of a constellation, and they are all there. But, where is the moon?"

Doc · #10 10-12-2009

William blinked. Had he spoken of the church out loud? He could have sworn it had only been a thought. He shook his head at himself. First the moon, now these lapses in attention and memory? Was he going crazy?

"I don't know." The young knight answered the first question, thinking on it for several seconds before continuing, "Maybe. But I believe in others, too. Family and friends, I mean. I'm not always with them, so I definitely can't always see them, but I still have... faith." he nodded, looking back to Lunar, "Faith that I'll see them again. Even when they're gone."

"I believe that no one really knows how to appreciate the beauty of the moon. Sure, without the moon the stars are that much more beautiful in the night sky, but does it not seem like something is missing? A part of the sky is gone. They say that the gods are capable of walking on the earth in human form, but should those gods leave their seats in the heaven, so too do the items they represent. Most gods take the form of a constellation, and they are all there. But, where is the moon?"

William's face took on a thoughtful expression as he reflected upon the other's words. He didn't quite understand where this conversation was leading, but it would be rude to interrupt Lunar or end the conversation without allowing him to finish.

"I guess, if what they say is true," William smiled, regarding Lunar curiously, "then the moon is taking a break."