Long ago on the savanna, in a tribe of fine hunters and warriors, lived an inseparable little girl and younger brother. The little girl and her brother would go everywhere together and do everything together. They were the best of friends and loved each other dearly. So it came as a great distress to the girl when her younger brother suddenly fell ill and died. She was inconsolable and prayed every night to the Moon to bring back her brother, as it was her people’s belief that the souls of the dead resided on the Moon so they could look down on their loved ones still in the Mortal Plane. Every night, and then all day long as well, the little girl prayed and prayed. Barely eating, barely sleeping. She would not play with the other children or with her pets or her toys. All she did with her waking hours was pray to the Moon to bring back her younger brother.
Late one night, after all her people had gone to sleep, the girl was outside still praying to the Moon to return her brother. The Moon, having heard the little girl for days on end, so moved by her dedication, came down to the girl. The ebony-skinned Moon appeared before the girl in a gleaming, silvery gown with a soft, white glow around her. The Moon knelt down before the praying girl and said, “I have heard your pleas, little sister, and I know the pain you feel. Death is a natural part of life and all must join me eventually. However, your brother left this world while he was very young and there is no benefit when one so young comes to my realm. I will bring your brother back to you if you agree this very night to race me until dawn. If you can beat me, I will return your brother to you. If you lose, you must agree to accept that he resides with me and that you must live your life, and wait to see him again only when you are old and your hair is as gray and white as my gown.” The little girl agreed and she and the Moon walked to the eastern edge of the girl’s village. The Moon pointed out straight into the dark, night-filled lands, “We run until dawn. Are you ready?” The little girl nodded. “Now we go.” And the Moon and the girl took off.
The Moon shot ahead with the girl fast behind. The Moon moved more and more ahead of the girl, but the girl would not stop, even as she lost sight of the Moon. They ran thru the tall grasses and over the rocks of the streams. Around the thickets and thru stands of towering trees. Past sleeping animals great and small, and some not sleeping. Up steep hills and down jagged valleys. The little girl, determined to get her brother back, pushed herself harder and harder and it seemed as though the little girl was catching up and might overtake the Moon. So close. So close was she. They ran thru another village and just beyond it the little girl saw a small goat in trouble. The poor little thing tangled up in some brambles and brush. The Moon and girl raced past, with the girl just ahead of the Moon. But as she heard the little goat’s cries the girl had to turn around and help, losing her brief lead to the Moon. By the time the girl was done helping the little goat out of the brambles and brush the Moon was far ahead and the morning son was just rising. There was no way the little girl could catch the Moon now, but she ran anyway. The first rays of the sun broke day, the Moon stopped running, and so did the little girl, knowing that she had lost the race. Slowly the little girl walked to the waiting Moon, the little girl’s head hung low. When the girl reached her the Moon gently raised the little girl’s chin with her hand and smiled. “Fear not, little sister. ‘Tis true you did not win the race, but you have won my heart. Even though you knew you might lose you turned back and helped the little goat. This was an act of great kindness and selflessness, and for this act you have earned the chance to have your brother back.” And there from out behind the Moon’s soft glow stepped round the little girl’s younger brother. The sister and brother embraced and the Moon floated and faded back and away up into the morning sky.
The girl and her brother grew up and had good lives and lived until they were very old. And when it was there time to leave the Mortal Plane they met the Moon again and she took them each to their people’s place of rest and peace high in the night sky so they could look upon their family still in the world below.
How to incorporate aspects of the story into your gameplay:
In the Demi Plane you happen upon the girl and her brother in some silvery, beautiful place of night – which is a safe place for the party.
You must meet someone on the moon or retrieve someone from the moon.
You may ask the Moon for assistance, or make a deal with the Moon, which involves some goodly quest or act of goodly sacrifice on behalf of the players.
If the players find themselves in the Demi Plane the girl and her brother can give you information, heal you, assist you in some way to get thru and out of the Demi Plane.
The girl is a fast runner and you may see her running thru the Demi Plane, where again she may act as a guide for the players, or give some other type of assistance.
The Moon can become a patron, teacher, or god for the players.
