On Hepta-Menon, peace had reigned for twelve generations. One Noble line of the royal family had ruled with a just hand for hundreds of years. Working as stewards of the land and its people both thrived under their care.
The capital Tungol-Saju sat proudly alongside the river Nume, hugging its banks. Here, trading ships from all over the globe could sail up the river to trade at the vibrant markets that stretched along the east side of the river. The Castle sat on a rise overlooking the town, river and all the lands as far as the great forest Vior, which stood tall like a standing wave of green framing the plains. To the West and South, impassable ranges rose like giant megaliths stretching across the land.
The Bastillion mountains divided the country in three. West over the mountains, the great walled city of Moras-Burg stood proudly between the sea and the great marshes. To the South the marble city of Seafon-Masah perched on the sea cliffs like a magnificent ocean bird tucked in against a storm. There were passes over the mountains, but they were slow and perilous. Extremes in weather, gravity and wild creatures made sea faring a far more desirable route between the districts.
Seven moons hung in the sky over Hepta-Menon moving in independent orbits. Ocean tides were harder to predict as they depended on where each moon sat relative to the others. When several moons were present in the same sky there were periods of time where gravities effect was noticeable on land as well. During lesser alignments you wouldn’t notice much more than a lightness in your step or a reduction in a heavy load, or the opposite as the tide of gravity changed.
These events happened all the time and were a part of life. Laborers, elderly people and builders all planned their work carefully around these cycles. Fluctuations in gravity also meant that weight was an unreliable gauge. Volume was the main method of measurement, easy for liquids such as honey, harder for a cow or sheep. Less often, various conjunctions occurred where several moons lined up like an eclipse, these produced much greater gravitational effects. An old farmers' tale talked about a storm that blew all the cows across a field like a bunch of tumbleweeds during a major conjunction.
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A group of astronomers, the Tungol Scholars, studied the lunar cycles using models, charts, scales and balances of every kind imaginable. They posted Lunar calendars in the markets as well as holding a position in the high council. They lived in a small settlement at the edge of the Vior. Their village was set around a giant henge with a small river running through it. Several standing stones and smaller henges dotted the country. The Tungol scholar's village was located away from the city because of the clearer skies and to keep the scholars' work free of the politics of the land.
The Tungol were excellent at predicting the lunar effects but not even they could have foreseen the terrible virus that brought an end to the balance of the entire nation. It became known as the Visam, an old word for venomous poison. The Visam killed more than two thirds of the population of Hepta-Menon within a single orbit of Einn, the primary moon. It left the survivors broken. The royal family was torn to shreds. Not one of their immediate family survived.
In the wake of the virus's destruction, several large ships arrived from Seafon-Masah under the guise of bringing aid and paying respect to the lost royal family. The city of Seafon-Masah had been hit hard but not as hard as Tungol-Saju. Their leader was Lady Ardincinder a distant relation of the king.
In a shocking ruse, her private guard opened the castle gates at night and let in her army, which had been concealed in the holds of the boats. Much to everyone's dismay she claimed the throne as the strongest of the living royal bloodline. The people didn’t agree but were in no position to oppose her rule. Any palace guards or army that didn’t join her ranks were expelled from the castle. Many of the captains and royal advisors were arrested and shipped off to be imprisoned in Seafon-Masah.
Lady Ardincinder used the royal treasury to solidify her position. The former royal family had put it aside for times of hardship like these but only the bare minimum made its way to the people who needed it.