So I got this today from my good buddy,
Abîme. He said...
I love this guy! What a great friend! And then he says to me...
Having named several of his characters he created, I was like sure I'll give it shot. (And I'm not one to just drop a name, there's got to be more to it than that.)
Here's what I came up with... I hope y'all enjoy the images and the short origin story of this character's name. I had fun writing it!
Cheers!
In the dark reaches of the world, the Goddess of Moonlight looks upon favorably to the people of the Moon Tribe that serves her. In a world fraught with danger, the Moon Tribe stands as a bastion of hope and steadfast determination against the horrors of the night, and evil shapeshifters and spirits such as non-good lycanthropes and will-o'-wisps. Unlike other deities of the Night, their patron goddess is a protecting mother-goddess for the Moon Tribe and nurtures them with a guiding hand in all their pursuits leading them to an almost carefree life in the jungles and marshlands of their corner of the world. Strangers and lost travelers find respite as they are unknowingly led to the people of the Moon, and later will often join in to the joyous songs sung to her praise and dances with them in moonlight. The goddess sends her favor and blessings in foxfire and wisps of fairy fire.
Originally a goblin tribe, over the centuries and generations, the Moon Tribe became an amalgamation for the peoples of the world as travelers find their way to their jungle and marshland home and settled among them. Though "tribe" is a bit of a misnomer as their settlement grew to become a prosperous small city in their part of the far-flung world welcoming good folks from all walks of life. But they carry it in honor for their patron deity and continue to call themselves the Moon Tribe. As is tradition for the goblin populace, names can change through deeds or important events in one's life until they find one that permanently becomes their own.
This was no different for the Princess of the Moon Tribe. She was born on an auspicious night of a full moon. Though everyone is free to choose their own path in life, she always felt like she bore greater responsibilities as she grew up as everyone looked upon her with expectations of becoming one of the leaders of the Moon Tribe due to her role as a princess. She carried with her a few other names but they never really stuck with her.
Due to her overabundant spirit and partly due to her nature as a goblin (and to say nothing of having all the curves in the right places despite her small stature afforded her from being one of the smaller greenskin races), the Princess of the Moon Tribe had an alluring presence and a sexual appetite that appealed to many that encountered her -- and one which she would willingly engage and act upon. Having fortunately been born to a mostly non-homogeneous society, she enjoyed experiencing the many different partners among the races found in the Moon Tribe. However, many of her non-goblin elders frowned upon this and renewed and redoubled their efforts to groom her into a proper ruler...
And in a rebellious state one fateful day, the Princess of the Moon Tribe ran away!
She managed to sneak her way past the confines of the jungle city, and long after the cries of her pursuers that cared for her died down, she found herself deep in the jungle. She just wanted a little time alone -- to breathe -- and to explore a bit on her own before returning. Unskilled at exploring and traveling on her own, she became lost quickly. It was getting dark, and nights are dangerous especially in the unforgiving and unfamiliar jungle. It is disturbingly easy to get lost in the jungle she thought.
She always felt a tug of the mother-goddess in her heart but never readily acknowledged or relied upon it. But now, lost and alone, she felt compelled to offer the Goddess of Moonlight a silent prayer. Nothing seemed to happen for the Princess of the Moon Tribe so she cautiously continued through the jungle following trails she managed to glimpse among the dark foliage from the soft glow of light from the sparse illuminating insects of the jungle.
In spite of attempting to stay quiet and hidden as she traversed through the jungle in her attempt to get back, she felt like something out there had eyes upon her. To her dread and alarm, she knew she was being stalked, possibly hunted. Panicking, she made a mad dash and sprinted as fast as she could as she heard her unseen assailant rustling through the dark jungle far behind her in pursuit. Whereupon, she stumbled upon a terrible scene taking place in a small clearing that she had reached.
"Goddess help me!" cried a woman crumpled on the ground desperately holding on to her bloodied and unconscious companion with a broken machete as a grayed-haired werewolf sneered and was approaching nearby to the two travelers.
Though in great fear, the Princess of the Moon Tribe felt a surge within her as she quickly took in the developing situation. The small goblin woman noted that a skirmish must have taken place as the fallen man must have attempted to protect the woman from the werewolf. Among the detritus, she spotted a knife in the moonlight and somehow quickly scooped it up and unexpectedly rushed towards and leapt at the ever larger werewolf and slammed the blade deeply into the neck of the unaware werewolf from the side! It felt like a long time to the Princess of the Moon Tribe, but it all happened quickly in mere moments as the momentum of her flight from her own dangerous foe had given weight to the strike -- killing the werewolf in a savage display of power. Had she paused to think or comprehend what was happening or letting fear take ahold of her into inaction, it might've been her gurgling on her own blood instead of this werewolf.
Without warning, a second werewolf crashed through into the clearing to the shock of the woman traveler. It was the Princess of the Moon Tribe's original pursuer! Seeing the silvered werewolf dead, this other werewolf roared and whirled around and charged at the goblin woman in hatred and directed rage with claws and teeth in full murderous display. As if guided by providence, the Princess of Moon Tribe threw the knife she had as hard as she could after dislodging it from the neck of the fallen enemy. It was just an act of desperation. She never thought that her running away could end her up as someone's meal. She closed her eyes tight waiting for her inevitable death...
An incomprehensible, ugly howl was a heard and a loud, ground-shaking thud was felt. The Princess of the Moon Tribe opened her eyes slowly and found the werewolf staring listlessly back at her, from below her near her dainty feet, with the once-thrown knife hilted thoroughly in its forehead. She soon fell to her knees and let out a long sigh of relief as all her energy and what little strength she still had sapped away from her in an instant from the ordeal.
"Thank the good moon that you were here! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" exclaimed the near-hysterical woman that the small goblin woman had all but forgotten even existed breaking the momentarily silence they had. The man was still unconscious but alive, and the two of them made a makeshift travois to drag his body as they limped slowly on their way towards the Moon Tribe, the traveler's intended destination. Making their way to a more familiar road and fortunately for them, a patrol that was still out looking for the princess discovered them and escorted them to safely to the small jungle and marshland city.
After her harrowing experience, the princess thought deeply of all that transpired. Perhaps, she thought, the Goddess of Moonlight never abandoned her and was with her all the time. She mediated on everything that had happened in the jungle and of all the things that had happened in less somber and more carefree moments of her life, and of how the mother-goddess affected not only her but all those around her as well and to all in the city of the Moon Tribe. She realized that the goddess had always been there with her since her birth on the night of the full moon, and had moved with unseen grace and compassion all this time and gave solace, inspiration, strength, and courage to the princess and to others whenever it was needed.
Dedicating to the Goddess of Moonlight more deeply than ever before, the princess also became an official priestess of the patron deity of the Moon Tribe. She decided that she will take her role as both a future ruler and priestess more seriously to protect her people and attend to the spiritual needs of the Moon Tribe as she exalts the goddess's benevolence and glory for all. In honor of her birth and her life-affirming moment, she decided her name would forever more be "Luna Goodmoon".
But, Luna also decided that she'll still be who she is and will continue to have "fun" whenever she wants and is able to do so. And to always have her signature silvered dagger nearby, just in case. ;]
