Catha is the larger and closer of Exandria's two moons, considered the primary moon.[1][2][3] The phrase "lunar cycle" commonly refers to Catha's cycles. It is associated with Sehanine, the Moon Weaver.
Though often depicted close to each other, Catha and its counterpart Ruidus have different orbits and can appear in different points in the sky.
Description[]
Catha appears either pale blue[4] or bright white in the sky, resembling Earth's moon, though Catha is a little closer than the moon is to Earth and so appears larger in Exandria's sky.[5][3] It takes between 30 to 40 days to orbit Exandria, during which it waxes and wanes; this is the commonly referred to lunar cycle.[6][7][8] The brightness and phases of Catha are constant and predictable respectively.[9] The surface of Catha is pocked with craters.[10]
Unlike its sister moon Ruidus, Catha also appears in the Feywild because The Moonweaver's essence is tethered there, creating an image of Catha.[11]
Mythology and study[]
Symbolism[]
Catha functions as a symbol of the god, Sehanine, the Moonweaver.[12] Most believe Sehanine created Catha to "bless the just with cunning and caution" and to cloak those who need "stealth and subtlety.”[2][1] Other followers of Sehanine identify Catha with "the Moonweaver's cunning and grace,"[2] posing an alternative to the general association of the deity with trickery and illusions. They understand the light of Catha to favor the "goodhearted.”[2] While the light of Catha can hide, its connection with revelation is also prevalent. Folklore holds that Sehanine grants her worshippers who invoke Catha "inspired dreams" and knowledge of "hidden paths."[13] A small Syngornian sect of the Moonweaver derives a moral imperative from the predictability of the lunar cycle to safeguard balance and calm order in the world. Furthermore, Catha's association with balance and order leads this sect to juxtapose Catha with the "ill-fated chaos of Ruidus."[14]
Astronomy[]
Elven astronomers track the lunar cycles of Catha to predict the largest full moon of the decade, during which night the followers of Sehanine observe her holy day.[15][12]
Magical phenomena[]
Catha's lunar cycles affect entities with bestial curses, especially nocturnal creatures.[16] Furthermore, the lunar cycle of Catha rather than Ruidus influences entities with lycanthropy.[17][18] In addition to curses, Catha's light can interact with necromantic magic during the full moon phase. As of at least 836 PD, reports exist of Catha's light coinciding with the raising of undead soldiers from the Battle of the Umbra Hills in Tal'Dorei.[19]
During celestial solstices, and specifically during apogee solstices, Catha becomes relevant, since the event coincides with its full moon phase, which combines with the enhanced strength of curses such as lycanthropy.[20]
Extraplanar phenomena[]
The lunar cycles of Catha connect to other beings, which may include demons per the speculation of Cobalt Soul archivists and others.[16][21] Some worry that rare double solar eclipses, in which both Catha and Ruidus eclipse the sun simultaneously, cause the Material Plane and other planes to intersect calamitously.[22]
Trivia[]
- While the meaning behind Catha's name in Exandria is unknown, in our world the word can derive from the Old Irish cath (battle).
- This moon also shares a name with the Etruscan deity Catha, believed to be either a solar or lunar deity.[23]
- While more references to the "moon is made of cheese" trope exist for Ruidus, Taliesin does identify Erwin Schrödinger as "the guy who invented cheese on the moon."[24]
- The people of Ruidus see Catha as pearlescent twin to the Blue Promise, Exandria, beautiful but lonely. For some it is the place where good dreams are kept, while others say it is where bad dreams go to die; some see the white moon as a reminder that they must focus on their goals or be left alone in darkness.[25]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 9. Welcome to Wildemount. "Moons of Exandria".
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 9.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 See "Manifold Morals" (2x74) at 1:35:30. Matt: "So you do know there are two moons of Exandria. There's Catha, which is the main moon, that's the one that's largely associated with the Moonweaver and the bright one that moves in the sky...."
- ↑ Zahra's eyes appear "pale blue like the moon in the sky" when casting a spell. See "Trial of the Take: Part 1" (1x18) at 1:58:43.
- ↑
Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) on Twitter: "One resembles our earth moon, if a bit closer (so larger in the sky). The second is much more distant and deep red/purple in color, so it doesn’t reflect as much light/show as strongly in the sky." (2018-01-26).
- ↑ See "Refjorged" (2x76) at 1:44:14. Matt: "Catha is the common moon cycle. That's the great, you know, white moon in the moon-lit sky. That cycle is, you know, anywhere between 30- to 40-day cycle, waxes and wanes per normal."
- ↑ "Catha completes a full cycle approximately once a month..." See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 10.
- ↑ Catha "cycles through its phases once per month." See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 5.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 5.
- ↑ See "Omens Above" (3x19) at 2:54:30.
- ↑ See "Dark Portents" (3x29) at 2:51:58.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 33.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 169.
- ↑ Such are the beliefs of Nalys Ildareth, the leader of the sect circa 836 PD. See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 170.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 25. Chapter 2: Story of Wildemount. "Prime Deities: Sehanine, the Moon Weaver”.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 See "Manifold Morals" (2x74) at 1:37:34. Demid: "The moon cycles themselves are distinctly related to various entities, whether it be bestial curses or creatures themselves that are nocturnal. You know, they come out by Catha's light to hunt." / Beau: "Demons?" / Demid: ""Demons, now there is a lot of interesting thoughts and ideas about Catha.”
- ↑ Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) on Twitter: "The smaller one is vestigial. No affect by comparison. ;)" (2018-01-26) — in reply to @jamesjhaeck: "Hey Matt, how does having two moons affect Exandrian lycanthropes? [prepares to take notes]"
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 170.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 107.
- ↑ See "Far From The Others" (3x52) at 2:39:28.
- ↑ At the location of the Battle of the Umbra Hills, the full moon phase of Catha coincides with the raising of the slain undead who fought for Trist Drassig, King of Emon, during the Scattered War. Reports also exist of demons exiting "the ruins of ancient Drassig war camps"; the contract between Trist Drassig and Graz'zt, the Demon Prince of Indulgence, still binds these demons. See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 107. While the correlation between the light of the full moon phase and the above-mentioned necromantic magic is clear, it is tempting to analogize this connection to the observed crossings of fiendish entities to the Material Plane. Such a connection would corroborate the speculation of the Cobalt Soul archivist, Demid, mentioned in a note above.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 134. Chapter 3: Wildemount Gazetteer. "Wastes of Xhorhas: Barbed Fields".
- ↑ See Catha (mythology) on Wikipedia.
- ↑ See "Manifold Morals" (2x74) at 2:49:21.
- ↑ See "Red Rural Revelations" (3x84) at 1:33:29.
- Art
- ↑ Official art of Catha, from Exandria: An Intimate Appendix - Ruidus and the Gods, by Clara (source). Used with permission.