The Two Moons of Kethos: Lore, Contradictions, and Explanations
Kethos has two moons—Toros, the white moon, and Amydra, the red. They've been part of the setting's lore for years, and their descriptions have introduced some apparent contradictions over time. This post breaks down what those moons do, why they behave the way they do (even when it doesn't quite make sense), and how they're interpreted within the world.
Toros is the “normal” moon of Kethos. It has a regular orbit, shows visible phases, and is the basis for the most widely used calendars. Its cycle is about 35 days long, and many cultures divide that into either five weeks of seven days or similar systems. Though it appears smaller in the sky than Earth’s moon, it shines far more brightly—so much so that it “dominates” the night sky. Despite its size, this brightness is generally attributed to a highly reflective surface. Some scholars believe the moon is covered in high-albedo crystal or magically treated stone, possibly even maintained by long-lost machines or divine intervention. There are also theories suggesting that Toros’s orbit is actively stabilized through ancient arcane means or residual planetary defense systems. Whether natural or artificial, it’s consistent, visible, and reliable—the celestial timekeeper of the world.
Amydra, on the other hand, is anything but typical. It’s smaller, darker, and reddish-gray, with an irregular, almost jagged shape. Rather than reflecting light, Amydra glows with a constant, dull red luminescence. It doesn’t show traditional lunar phases, and instead maintains a steady level of light regardless of its position relative to the sun. This glow seems to come from within the moon itself. Amydra follows an elliptical orbit and takes about 60 days to complete a full circuit from closest point to closest point. During the three days of its closest approach, its presence intensifies—not in size, but in metaphysical impact. Cultures across Kethos mark this period with dread, calling it Redsky, Bloodmoon, or similar names. It’s widely believed that the veil between life and death thins during this time, and that magical forces—particularly those dealing with necromancy or divination—become more volatile. Wizards monitor this cycle closely, as many report that Amydra’s passage affects their casting, dreams, and even memory. Perhaps strangest of all, Amydra’s influence is felt most powerfully underground. Amydra is considered a sacred and dangerous force among goblinoids and subterranean races in the Deep Lands. Why this happens remains one of the great unanswered questions of arcane astronomy.
In real-world terms, Amydra doesn’t make sense. A moon that glows red, doesn’t reflect sunlight, has no phases, but still orbits? From a physics standpoint, it’s a mess. But in the world, there are explanations — just not ones everyone agrees on. Some scholars believe Amydra is not a moon but a remnant of a forgotten war: a prison, a sealed god-heart, or a piece of another world caught in orbit. Others argue it’s a construct or relic, an arcane object left in the sky by the ancients that emits energy. A few, primarily heretics and esoteric philosophers, claim that Amydra isn’t there — it is an illusion, or a metaphysical echo that only exists because we believe in it. Whatever the truth, Amydra is real enough to cause observable effects. Its glow can be tracked. Its orbit can be calculated. Its influence on magic is measurable.
Toros serves as the basis for most civil calendars. It’s a 35-day cycle that breaks into familiar weekly rhythms across much of Kethos, particularly in the Kehler, Perashdan, and Hyaran spheres. By contrast, Amydra’s cycle is used mainly by underground or esoteric cultures—seven 60-day circuits per year, with magical and spiritual significance attached to each perigee. Some societies, like the Yanoshi or the races of the Deep Lands, rely almost entirely on the Amydra cycle, especially for religious and magical rituals. Yes, Amydra defies conventional astronomy. That’s intentional. It exists outside the laws we expect from a real-world moon, but inside the logic of Kethos — a world shaped by ancient magic, fractured history, and cosmic secrets. Amydra is a mystery, a threat, a ritual marker, a flare in the dark. Players may learn different things about it depending on where they come from. To a Kehler scholar, it’s an arcane anomaly. To a goblin war-shaman, it’s a divine whisper. To a Taohuan star-priest, it may be a warning system left behind by something older than the world itself.
The contradictions are only contradictions if you expect the moons of Kethos to obey the laws of Earth. They don’t—and that’s the point.You don’t need to explain Amydra. You need to let it glow.
