Titles:
Twin Moons, The Dancers, The Tides of Life and Death
Inspiration: wG, bG, spirit walker, light/shadow
Biography:
Asrein and Demira, aspects of the moons, perform the duties of delivering life and death to the peoples of Eideiri. Life was first brought to Eideiri when Asmir brought life to the oceans with the beck and call of the tides. When the oceans began to move, so too did the land and the two began to dance in tribute to the dances of Asmir and Desmir in the sky. Now when Asmir and Desmir dance, they send their patrons to deliver and collect the souls in the cycle of life and death. Asrein brings with him the essence of life at each lunar full moon and Demira returns that life at each dilunar full moon. They continue the traditions of the gods who have come before them to ensure that the cycle of life and death remains intactin tact and so that souls may pass into their next lives with the comfort of a god to guide them.
Worshippers:
Families, midwives, mediums, necromancers, moonfolk (pending rewrite)
Places of Worship:
Hospitals, Mortuaries, Psychic Temples, homes, dance studios
Worship:
Although often paired, Asrein and Demira perform two distinct functions in the cycle of life and are generally worshipped independently. That aside, worship of one at minimum requires acknowledgement of the other as their teachings suggest that one cannot exist without the other. Life and death are merely parts of an eternal cycle with the souls of all existence. In this, there is an acknowledgement of the importance of rebirth within the cycle when a soul is moved from Desmir to Asmir.
Worship of Asrein and Demira is a celebration of one’s role in this cycle of life on Eideiri, death on Eideiri, death on Desmir, and preparation for life on Asmir. The immortality of a soul is cherished and most celebrations of life and death are in tribute to Asrein and Demira. It is believed that the quality and strength of a soul is kept throughout the cycle and that those who are great in magnitude will continue to be great in the future. The soul of a fallen god might become a great ocean or a glacier whereas the soul of a great hero might be born a dragon or mighty mountain.
Commemoration of a soul is considered to be the greatest form of devotion to Asrein and Demira and is most often done through the form of body art. Those dedicated to the moons have developed a natural expertise for body modifications and other forms of expression by which they tell their own stories. Tattoos chronicling a journey, clothing dictating a mood, and other means of documenting oneself are highly valued by those with an affinity for the moons. Wealthy families commission great tapestries to display the grandness of the souls among their bloodline.
The cycle of life repeats approximately once every 36 days on Eideiri, following the full moon of Asmir. In contrast, the cycle of death repeats approximately once every 108 days on Eideiri, following the full moon of Desmir. These are the days Asrein and Demira visit Eideri in their mortal forms and bestow their powers to all of the peoples. Children formally receive their names on an Asmiran full moon following their birth and funerary services are held on the Desmiran full moon following their death. Furthermore, the presence of Asrein and Demira on the full moons allows them to lend mortals the greatest of their strengths. An Asmiran full moon greatly amplifies life magics and is the only day in which a mortal can achieve a true resurrection spell. Similarly, a Desmiran full moon greatly amplifies death magics and is the only day in which a mortal of great power may halt their role in the cycle.
It is said that the closer one is born to a Asmiran full moon, the longer they will live. Similarly, dying with a lengthy duration until the next Desmiran full moon indicates there are some tasks to be completed before passing on to the next stage in the cycle.
Many great instances of classical music on Eideiri are written by recording the pattern of the two moons in comparison to each other. Both music and dance, in honor of Asrein and Demira, are classically performed by duettists who would celebrate a great great life or a great death.
Chief among the celebrants of the Asrein and Demira are the moonfolk of Eideiri. (For more information regarding Moonfolk, check here – pending total rewrite). While it is not known whether or not they truly descend from the moon, the moonfolk live to express themselves in tribute to Asrein and Demira. As such, they are often found around Eideiri as healers and spiritualists. Necromancers also often find themselves worshipping Asrein and Demira, favoring the latter.
Servants:
Asrein (mortal)
Asrein walks the lands of Eideiri at each Asmiran full moon as a mortal dressed in pale green holding a sickle and a lantern. Devoted followers wear the same on the Asmiran full moon in fear of someone taking advantage of his temporary mortality.
Demira (mortal)
Demira walks the lands of Eideiri at each Desmiran full moon as a mortal dressed in dark green holding a scythe with a lantern tied to her waist. Devoted followers wear the same on the Desmiran full moon in fear of someone taking advantage of her temporary mortality.
Syzym, the Painter
Syzym’s mark appears on the bodies of the greatest souls as they are about to die. This mark is revered by many and is often self replicated by those who know they are going to die soon. Many people believe the mark protects the soul on its journey to the afterlife and to die without it is to risk losing one’s soul forever.