Mha'se, High Mother of my people, gives you this story, as it was told
to her by a wise woman of our tribe, many years ago.

"Now, you know of how the Moon became the Moon and how light and dark
came to share the day. There were many spirits as there are now, though
many of them slumber now. And one of them, was an Ancient, who, had
begun to wane as well.

This Spirit loved nothing more than to make others suffer. This Spirit,
we will call the Old One, saw how the Moon came to share the sky with
the Sun Prince and was sour at the Moon's fortune. As the Old One grew
weaker, It knew It must act quickly before It slumbered.

Being very powerful, It took a draught of It's vilest thoughts and
boiled it in a sweet perfume, creating a beautiful perfume that tasted
very horrible. Perfume used to taste as good as it smelled, you know.

The Troubler had two children with the Moon and the Old One sent to the
youngest, the bottle of perfume as a gift. It disguised itself as a
bright star and the children of the Moon loved stars. The youngest child
smelled the perfume and it was so lovely that she poured some on herself
in glee and went to her brother and gave him some as well.

Now the Moon, when it was her time to rest, went to see her children and
found them smelling very beautiful. The children shared the perfume with
her and so they all were covered in the sweet stuff.

It was not long before the Troubler smelled on the air, the perfume, but
to Him, it did not smell sweetly at all...being crafty and used to
tricking people, He could tell it was vile under the sweet scent. But
His children and wife were covered with the stuff.

And try as He might, He could not wash it from them...it was then the
Old One appeared to them all. It sniffed the air and said, "Ah, I see
you are enjoying My gift, precious ones." In a rage the Troubler leaped
up and made to attack the Old One, but just before He could hit It, the
Old One spoke thus, "If you destroy Me, you will destroy your loved
ones, for I am in the perfume and the perfume is now in them. Troubler
was very vexed at this and knew He had been tricked beyond hope.

The Old One cackled with glee as It knew It had won something and would
not be lost forever as long as the Moon and her children smelled of the
perfume. Just then the Lady appeared, drawn by the disturbance of anger
in the air and the scent of bitterness of the perfume. She Herself was
weak indeed, but still She spoke.

- You have taken of the vile essence and so you are tainted, but I have
the blessing of the Spirits and We have decided that all will not be
lost. -

This She spoke and then using all of the strength left in Her, She split
the Moon into three parts and infused each part with the Moon Lady and
her two children. In one She forced all of the vileness, in another, all
of Her goodness and in the third, what was left of the two. It was then
those two Ancients fell silent and sleeping, exhausted of Their powers
and forgotten by the cities.

Each of the pieces of the Moon bled from being broken and where the
drops of blood fell, Magick came to the Children of the Ground. It was
said that this blood was cursed and any who touched it went mad. This is
why you are always to carry a pouch of blessed sand with you, no matter
where you go. If you get close to the cursed Magick, throw the sand or
dust over your shoulder and pray. The Great Spirits smell the sand and
hear the prayer and will protect you."

Penned by my hand on the 17th of Letum, in the year 458 AD.