There is much speculation on the origin of Lucerna, but much of the knowledge has long been lost...

While the intricacies of these gods has been lost over the years, they continue to be the prominent figures in Lucernan religions to this day. Lepidlanvhi, representing the sun, light, order, pride, and kindness is the more popular god among most anthroids, with the Guiding Light religion being the largest practiced in the world. Her symbol is often three pairs of hands, paws or hooves cupping the sun and is most found etched on temples, safe houses and even over the thresholds of doors of those who practice. Those following the Guiding Light are often said to be stern, yet kind, and prioritize practices of charity, selflessness and protection.

Not much is remembered of Chiroptanvhi as many of the ancient etchings and sculptures of him and his creations, the battai, have been destroyed. During the height of the corruption the other anthroids were led to believe that by eliminating the cause of the corruption, the battai, that the tainted magics would stop the consumption of the world and its inhabitants, or at least slow down drastically. This proved to be untrue, as the eradication of the battai only seemed to increase the corruptions influence on anthroids. Those remaining speculate that nearly 70% of the world's population has fallen to the tainted magic.
Chiroptanvhi's religion has long since died, with the name of it stricken from what's left of the Motti's tomes of knowledge. It is widely believed that Chiroptanvhi, often referred to as the God of Darkness, created the battai to spread the corruption and represents cold, darkness, death and envy.

The darkness swallows all who wander into it.
There are no second chances for those who lose the light.

For as long as there has been a night, there has been a reason to fear it. Every new generation is taught to fear the dark. Generations passing down stories of unfortunate souls left without a light to protect them. Despite the teachings, some lack the true understanding of the dangers the darkness holds with the majority of Lucernan civilizations safely residing inside Divine barriers. The safety inside lets some grow complacent, forgetting how easy the shadows can drag them into the depths of the dark, never to be seen again. Be it a lost traveler praying their embers don’t go out, a flame extinguished by the wind and rain, or a brave fool testing their luck. All who find themselves in the dark meet the same fate. The darkness takes any and all.

While a lantern or large torch is enough to ward off the shadows, relying on such fragile and unreliable light sources is a risky move. Light is life, a divine gift. The gods have bestowed the remnants of their creations with various Familiars to help keep Devouring Shadows at bay, protecting them from that which is unseen.

In the last few hundred years another horror has arisen to plague Lucerna. If the darkness wasn’t enough to put fear into the bravest of souls, the blood moon also steals the safety of the light. A sickly blanket of crimson engulfs the farthest reaches, flooding the world with twisted monsters ripped straight from that of nightmares. During the weeks where the days and nights are painted red, all Lucernans are plagued with paranoias, nightmares, fear and torment. Not even the safety of a divine barrier can hold the nightmares at bay. It's a siege of pure adrenaline and a fight for survival. If one is caught in the wilds or alone during these times, it is a guaranteed death sentence.

The Blood Moon lingers around the middle to the end of October, with most settlements hunkering down at the start of the month to prepare. The annual Blood Moon fills the sky for up to two weeks, less so if luck prevails, but longer instances have been recorded. The most devastating one so far lasted 28 days and had catastrophic consequences on the world. 

The origin of the corruption is still unknown. How it came to be and what causes it to be spread so ravenously is a mystery whose answer is most sought. Those who managed to survive the deadly darkness and terrors of the blood moon may wish they hadn’t if faced with the corruption instead. Though a slow torment, it is highly dangerous. 

Corruption of the environment contorts the beasts and flora within it, causing them to be consumed by poisonous tainted essence. Beasts and flora tainted by the corruption are not consumable nor purifiable by just any anthroid. Rumors have been heard that Lepidlanvhi herself has the ability to purify corruption within the environment. Though rumors may only be hope for the hopeless. It has been nearly a hundred years since any anthroid has been said to witness Lepidlanvhi or her grace with their own eyes. Some speculate the corruption has claimed her in the mortal plane, ascending her back to the heavens. Others speculate that she roams among Lucerna, purifying what she can to provide safe places for her Motti to live.

With Lepidlanvhi's help or not, no known cure has been found for an anthroid tainted by the corruption. Motti will wither within a decade of becoming corrupted, losing their antenna and the ability to perform magic. It is a slow, damning illness that causes brittle bones and chronic, sharp pain all the way into the soul. All light and color leaves anthroids who are affected, eventually leaving them a faded purple-grey to a purple-black color, with blotches of saturated purple markings and purple eyes. 

See The Departure Ceremony for more details