Places

The time taken to travel to the moon is not absolute. The length of the journey depends on the traveler’s ability to resist the coercion of guardian Lunes. When someone decides to travel to the moon her intent shines like a beacon to the Lunes. These spirits are not hostile but are charged with ensuring their mistress is not lightly disturbed. They will first order the traveler to turn back, appearing as immovable gatekeepers or intimidating guardians. If she ignores their demands they will eventually change tactic and offer her alternative paths that they say are faster and easier to travel. In truth, these Moon Bridges soon lead the traveler away to other parts of the Near Umbra. The Lunes are not particularly concerned with where these paths go, but usually try to offer those that do not lead to hostile environs, unless the traveler was unusually aggressive or offensive.

Overcoming the Lunes’ manipulations and distractions requires ten successes on an extended Intelligence + Enig­ mas roll (difficulty 9). The character may make one roll per day to resist the Lunes but must achieve the required successes in no more than (Gnosis) days or she discovers that she has fallen victim to their tricks despite her best efforts and is hopelessly lost.

If she defeats the Lunes, the visitor arrives on solid ground in the realm of Sokhta, the lunar Incarna known to some as Phoebe.