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Far away from the kawani lands there was a plush and fertile valley filled with life, but sharply divided. A river ran along its center, marking the boundary where the two groups dared not tread. On the one side, the Herd of the Sun, the Scions of Light. On the other, in the shadow of the mountains, rested the Herd of the Moon, Harbingers of Darkness. For years beyond memory the two sides fought until an uneasy truce was struck by the current ruling families. The Sun would stay on one side of the river and come out by day and the Moon would stay in the shadow of the mountain and come out by night. The two were not to cross the river or mingle in any way.

Among the Herd of the Moon were several ruling families. Those who had glowing eyes were considered touched by the Goddess of the Moon herself and were venerated above the others. They were each given a patch of land to govern, and the other members of the Great Herd fell into the general rule of one of these families based on where they chose to live. Ruling them all was the Royal Family, of which Sin was the eldest son and heir.

As he grew Sin saw no reason why the two herds should not be friends. Time had erased all sign of the wars that had come before. He had seen none of the bloodshed, felt none of the hatred. His family's teachings only went so far. As the young prince grew he began to explore, pushing the permitted boundaries of his family. He became adept at skirting his guards and running off alone.

It was on one such occasion early in the evening one night that he happened upon the river that divided the land. He stared into it's unusually still waters and his glowing eyes reflecting back at him - the only thing he could make out in the darkness. There was a noise and he retreated just inside the treeline nearby and saw just on the other side of the river a young filly. She seemed of an age with him and certainly no threat. He watched her a while and when it seemed she'd spotted him he took off.

But he returned. Every night he would slip the guards and go to the river to see the filly, and sure enough she would be there as well. Before long they seemed old friends.

He knew that it was wrong. It was forbidden to interact with the others, and he was technically engaged to be wed to one of the prominent families' daughters. Still, he couldn't help his feelings for the purple mare across the river.

One day she wasn't there. One day she was just gone. He couldn't stand it. So he left to track her down, and there his real story begins.






Two families, the Sun herd live by day and sleep by night, they rule the plains. The Moon herd lives by night and sleeps by day, they rule the forest. The two are feuding over something... (It could be over territory, annual games inspired by the pokemon world, spiritual beliefs???? or it could ancestral thing and as the reasons to despise each other fade, it just sticks for the sake of history.)

The newer generations of both herds are growing ever more curious of one another, especially the children of the leaders.

Memory, the daughter of the Sun herd leaders, spots shadows dancing behind the trees one night. She becomes fascinated by them, staying awake until the moon is high in the sky to watch them. Their glowing eyes and markings mesmerising and beautiful. She watches from where her family sleeps for some time, until finally one night she finds the courage to approach the border but she never passes. One of the shadows seems to linger by her. When it moves, she chases it and when she moves, it chases back. The shadow is Sin, the son of the Moon Herd leaders. The two form a forbidden, yet strange friendship, even though they have never met face to face, or likely ever will (So they thought).

Memory expresses her fascination of these shadow creatures to her parents, it doesn't go well. Receiving an unexpected scolding and being warned of ever approaching them. She refrains from telling them of the new friend she has been playing with and sulks the rest of the day.

When that night came, she gathered the courage to break the border and finally meet her new friend face to face. No more chasing shadows... However when she beaks the tree line and starts wandering deeper, she hears the enchanting song of the carousel. Distracted by the melody, she follows it's call and stumbles upon the mystical members of the carousel. Completely mesmerised by these as well, she follows them and minutes turn in to hours and hours become days and when she finally realises that she is far from home, with no way of knowing how to get back, she decides to stay in their company and join them. Hoping one day they will return to the forest and she can return home.

Sin has witnessed this but because of the old tales and his families teachings, dares not stop or approach her. He returns home, saying nothing.

When her family realises she has gone, they immediately storm the forest and accuse the Moon Herd of taking her. They argue and squabble and that is when Sin admits what he has saw. The Sun herd leaders, infuriated that the Moon herd leaders son didn't do anything to stop her, demand that they send only their best to find and retrieve her. (Either they do or they refuse.) Sin offers to go however still being too young, his family denies him this task.

Never forgetting, Sin waits until he has come of an age where he can fend for himself and sets off to find the lost princess. (This is where the inspiration of Andrew Lang's tale 'Minnikin' comes in to play. Having to undergo a series of trials to gain information of her whereabouts. Minnikin continued to meet the old hag in his story, stealing her false eye and when she asks for it back, he asks what she would give him in return for it. These would be things that would benefit and help him in the future.)

Everyone he comes across gives him very little, telling him that he can't just find the carousel, as everyone has heard stories but has never actually seen them, that you just 'happen' upon it. Though one day he comes across someone who has seen the princess, assuming it is her from the description he gives at least, performing her stories. One story being of the tale of two herds at war and two children, friends, caught in the middle of it. They also tell him that if you listen closely enough, you can hear her singing to the moon just before the dawn.

Knowing this is her, he asks to be pointed in the direction they had last seen her in and off he goes again. While on his travels, he could hear her song, a mournful tune. When they finally meet again, it could be while she is performing. During it, she spots him but waits until after the show to approach. She would know those glowing eyes and markings anywhere. Overwhelmed with joy, nerves and fear, the happy reunion falls in to sorrow when he offers to show her the way home. She explains that she is unsure whether you can ever leave the carousel and that if they were to return, they would never be allowed to see each other again and instead, offers him a place in the carousel so that they can be together. (As friends, or as lovers, depending. xD )



I very much like this idea! And it gives me ideas for RP so he can go seeking information for her haha. And I kind of like the idea of it being a love story, if you're game XD That's a lot of effort and a lot to give up for a platonic friend lol

So the feud... hmmm maybe it is a matter of disputed territory? Let's say there are a pair of parallel rivers with a fertile field between them that the two herds constantly fight over? It can be the disputed land, where no one ends up going for fear of being attacked by the other herd. Due to this constant fear of bodily harm both herds preach how dangerous the other one is, hence the strict rules never to go near them. Lets say the adults in the herd still carry the scars and wounds from the horrible battles fought but since the young have no battles to recall they have no real fear of the other herd. The war could have lasted for generations, falling into an uneasy truce when the current leaders' generation finally decided they were tired of bloodshed. The only terms they could agree on was that no one could go to the disputed land.

His counter-argument to the "if we go back they won't let us be together" idea would be that as the future leaders of the two herds their union would strengthen the peace and possibly end the animosity between the two herds. (I expect it will be quite the discussion before he just gives up his home and family for her lol)


That is very true. XD I am definitely up for it being a love story!~ <3

Sounds like a great idea for the feud. I especially love the idea of the adults wearing the scars from their battles. Very interesting as it will be a constant reminder of all that they have been through and fought for.

Oh no! She wouldn't expect him to just give them up that easy either or at all. She would be saying that out of fear of change. Since the carousel will be all that she has known for almost as long as she can remember, it would feel unnatural to take a change of lifestyle so suddenly. As well as what her family would say or do. She misses them, of course and does want to go back deep down, which is why after some persuasion, especially with his argument that they could bring peace and unity, she would agree to go back. So long as they stay strong together, of course! That support is needed but in truth, with him around, I am certain he will make it feel like they can achieve anything.

Where would you like to start the RP's from? Assuming that this will be rp'd? smilies/icon_smile.gif

Also, thank you for all the tickets, I wish you good luck in the raffle and hope you enjoy your holiday!

The Faith:

Worshipping the Moon


The moon is viewed in terms of the rhythmic life of the cosmos and is believed to govern all vital change. The cyclical process of disappearance and appearance of the moon is the basis of the widespread association of the moon with the land of the dead, the place to which souls ascend after death, and the power of rebirth. The lunar governance of this cycle likewise leads to association of the moon and fate.

The mythology of the moon emphasizes especially those periods when it disappears—the three days of darkness in the lunar cycle and eclipses. Both are usually interpreted as the result of battles between some monster who devours or slays the moon and who subsequently regurgitates or revives it. The interregnum is interpreted as an evil period necessitating strict taboos against beginning any new or creative period (e.g., planting or sexual intercourse). In some areas loud noises are part of a ritual activity designed to scare off the moon’s assailant.




Winter Solstice: December 20-23
Candlemas: February 2nd
Spring Equinox: March 20-23
Beltane: May Day
Summer Solstice: June 20-23
Lughnasadh: August 1st
Fall Equinox: September 20-23
Samhain (Halloween): October 31
Esbats or Full Moon celebrations.


Among ancient peoples the Moon has been a three-fold goddess of varying names; To the Romans she is Luna, Lucina, or the heavenly goddess Diana, and to the Greeks she is Selene and Artemis. In the underworld, she is Persephone or Hecate, goddess of the crossroads, ruler of magic and enchantments; in the land of the Egyptians, it is the Moon goddess Isis, "Star of the Sea" who was worshipped.


The Moon also ruled the night sky in the land of the Nile, as Nut or Nuit, the heavenly night goddess, the personification of night itself. In the far east of China she is the Moon lady Chang 'O, who was banished to the Moon for eternity.


In the study of Astrology the Moon is said to preside over the sign of Cancer. In the study of the Tarot, the High Priestess is associated with the symbology of the Moon.


The High Priestess:

I am the beauty of the green earth, and the white moon among the stars, and the mystery of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man. Call unto thy soul; arise and come unto me; for I am the soul of nature, who gives life to the universe. From me all things proceed, and unto me all things must return; and before my face, beloved of Gods and of men, let thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite...





The Triple Goddess has been adopted by many neopagans as one of their primary deities. In common Neopagan usage the three female figures are frequently described as the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone, each of which symbolizes both a separate stage in the female life cycle and a phase of the Moon, and often rules one of the realms of earth, underworld, and the heavens.


The Maiden represents enchantment, inception, expansion, the promise of new beginnings, birth, youth and youthful enthusiasm, represented by the waxing moon;
The Mother represents ripeness, fertility, sexuality, fulfilment, stability, power and life represented by the full moon;
The Crone represents wisdom, repose, death, and endings represented by the waning moon.
The triple goddess sign is identified with Greek moon goddesses:

Artemis - the Maiden, because she was the virgin goddess of the hunt;
Selene - the Mother, for she was the mother of Endymion's children and loved him;
Hecate - the Crone, as she was associated with the underworld and magic, and so considered to be "Queen of Witches".

Guard Rankings
Spiritual | Army

Paladin | Knight Commander
Irongut | Knight
Legionnaire | Sergeant
Sentry | Companion-at-Arms
Squire | Squire
Footboy | Footboy

Paladin/Knight Commander = Highest ranking officer. Paladin is direct quard to the Queen/Princess, Knight Commander is direct guard to the King/Prince. Both positions required tactical knowledge as they often send the forces out or plan where they are positioned. Paladin is highly unlikely to leave the palace while the Knight Commander would leave to lead his officers.
Irongut/Knight = Second highest ranking officer. Each oversees their own division of soldiers and acts directly on their Paladin/Knight Commanders orders.
Legionnaire/Sergeant = Third ranking officer. Typically 3-4 in each squadron. They take orders directly from Irongut/Knight and ensure the lower officers stay on task. In battle they surround the highest ranked officer as a last line of defense in case of pull back.
Sentry/Companion-at-arms = Foot solders. Do not give orders, only follows them and completes their assigned tasks.
Squire = New initiate for either side. Before they can rank up they must prove their worth by being the first to find out of threats. Basically spies. If their gathered info is sound, they will go through physical aptitude tests to see if they can progress. Some never leave this ranking.
Footboy = Someone interested in being a solder. Will often be used as whipping boys by higher ranking officers. Responsible for making sure all equipment is cleaned and brought to battle. Also keeps solders/officers quarters in line, organized, and cleaned.

Herd of the Sun info:

Sun Deity names