the dark moon; dance of the spirits.

According to local legend, the dark moon was born from the tears of the ancient goddess, Arachne. She wept for her lost love, the moon god, Erebus, who was slain by the sun god, Helios.
As Arachne's tears fell upon the earth, they formed a lunar cycle, forever tied to the phases of the moon. But once a year, on the night of the dark moon, the veil between worlds was at its thinnest, allowing spirits to cross over.
The dark moon was said to have three faces:

*The Maiden*: Representing rebirth and transformation, the Maiden's face was associated with the new moon.
*The Crone*: Symbolizing wisdom and decay, the Crone's face was linked to the waning moon.
*The Shadow*: Embodiment of darkness and chaos, the Shadow's face was tied to the dark moon.

To appease the spirits and maintain balance, the residents of Raven's Peak performed ancient rituals:
*The Lighting of the Lanterns*: On the eve of the dark moon, lanterns were lit throughout the town to guide spirits back to the afterlife.
*The Offering of the Bloodstone*: A sacred stone was offered to Arachne, believed to absorb the darkness and maintain the veil's integrity.
*The Dance of the Shadows*: A mystical dance was performed to honor the Shadow's face, ensuring the darkness remained contained.
If the rituals were disrupted or ignored, the consequences were dire:

*Spirits Gone Rogue*: Unchecked spirits would wreak havoc on the living.
*Dark Energy Unleashed*: The Shadow's power would spread, consuming everything in its path.
*The Veil's Collapse*: The boundaries between worlds would dissolve, unleashing unholy terror.
#madwriter