The Pucking Coach's Daughter

1. The Moon's Many Faces: Gods, Mortals, and the City

There was little difference between the moon and the Moon, at least to the eye; they shone the same, hung in the sky the same, illuminated the night the same. They were one. But the Moon also walked the world; it lived the short, temporary lives of the people who had dreamt it into being, and while the moon was eternal, the Moon was temporary, waxing and waning from existence even as the moon waxed and waned from the sky.

Dual Existence. The narrative explores the complex relationship between the celestial moon and its earthly manifestations, the "Moons" who are both divine and mortal. These beings, like Aske, Chang'e, and Máni, are not simply avatars but individuals with their own lives, struggles, and desires, existing in a constant state of flux between their human and godly aspects.

• The "moon" is the celestial body, eternal and unchanging.
• The "Moon" is the incarnate deity, temporary and subject to mortality.
• This duality creates a tension between the eternal and the ephemeral, the divine and the human.

The Impossible City. The City is a central concept, a place of power and mystery that draws both gods and alchemists. It is a place that exists outside of normal reality, a nexus point where the divine and the mortal intersect.

• It is a concept, an idea, an ideal at the center of all things.
• It is a place that isn't a place, a contradiction wrought in masonry and glass.
• It is the center of all things, the spoke around which their wheel spins, slow and stately and unstoppable.

The Power of Belief. The Moons are not simply natural forces; they are shaped by human belief and perception. The universe itself adjusts to accommodate the ideas and stories that people tell about it. This highlights the power of human consciousness in shaping reality.

2. The Fragility of Divinity: Incarnation and Mortality

Gods can be forgotten. Seasons can’t. Oceans can’t. But gods … gods are only ever here to go.

The Limits of Divinity. Despite their power and connection to the celestial, the Moons are not invulnerable. They are subject to mortality, and their existence is contingent on the belief and recognition of humanity. This vulnerability adds a layer of tension and stakes to their stories.

• They are fractured reflections of natural forces, not the forces themselves.
• They are temporary, waxing and waning from existence.
• They can be forgotten, their power fading if they are no longer believed in.

The Cost of Incarnation. The process of stepping into a mortal body is not without its risks. The Lunars are vulnerable when they are fully incarnate, and they can be harmed or even killed while they are in the space between human and abstract idea.

• They bleed moonlight along with the normal red stuff.
• They can die anyway.
• They must learn how to exist as a concept instead of a body.

The Importance of Balance. The Lunars must find a balance between their divine and mortal aspects. They cannot fully embrace their divinity without losing their humanity, and they cannot fully embrace their humanity without losing their connection to the moon. This tension is a constant struggle for them.

3. Alchemists' Ambition: Control, Power, and the Impossible City

Alchemists, those humans who dream of controlling the universe when everyone who knows the universe knows it’s the other way around, have tried a thousand ways to access the City, a thousand methods of breaching the walls and making it their own.

The Alchemists' Goal. The alchemists are driven by a desire to control the universe, and they see the Impossible City as the key to achieving this goal. They believe that by accessing the City, they can gain godhood and power over everything.

• They seek to control the concepts of creation.
• They believe the City will grant them power over everything.
• They are willing to use any means necessary to achieve their goals.

The Alchemists' Methods. The alchemists are not content to simply observe the natural world; they seek to manipulate and control it. They use a combination of science, magic, and unethical experimentation to achieve their aims.

• They use alchemical processes to force sub-incarnations into physical form.
• They use human and animal remains in their experiments.
• They are willing to sacrifice anything to achieve their goals.

The Alchemists' Hubris. The alchemists believe that they are the only ones who can truly understand the universe, and they are unwilling to accept the limitations of their own knowledge. This hubris blinds them to the dangers of their actions and makes them vulnerable to their own ambitions.

4. The Hunt for the Lunars: A Web of Deceit and Danger

They were trying to make a body that could appeal to Artemis’s Hind, and in the legends, the Hind wasn’t a human person. It was an actual deer. So maybe she should just feel lucky she has thumbs, and not fret too much about everything else she’s got.

The Alchemists' Target. The alchemists are hunting the Lunars, seeking to capture and control them in order to gain access to the Impossible City. They see the Lunars as a means to an end, not as individuals with their own agency and desires.

• They are trying to force sub-incarnations to become manifest.
• They are using these sub-incarnations to attract the primary Lunars.
• They are willing to use any means necessary to capture the Lunars.

The Lunars' Vulnerability. The Lunars are not always aware of the danger they are in, and they are often targeted because of their connection to the moon and the City. They are vulnerable when they are fully incarnate, and they can be easily manipulated by those who seek to control them.

• They are often targeted because of their connection to the moon and the City.
• They are vulnerable when they are fully incarnate.
• They can be easily manipulated by those who seek to control them.

The Web of Deceit. The alchemists are not always honest about their intentions, and they often use lies and manipulation to achieve their goals. This makes it difficult for the Lunars to know who they can trust and who they should fear.

5. The Everything: A Shifting Landscape of Possibilities

To someone who wasn’t a Moon, it would look like nothing, like the void, but for her, it’s a shaft of silver moonlight shot with rainbows, each textured with every possibility the universe is considering and rejecting, millions of sparks of color per second, most guttering out without even an echo.

The Nature of the Everything. The everything is a liminal space between worlds, a place of infinite possibilities and constant change. It is a place where the laws of physics and logic do not always apply, and where the boundaries between the real and the unreal become blurred.

• It is a tunnel between worlds, a corridor of rainbow light.
• It is a space where possibilities flash and die, where the universe is constantly considering and rejecting different paths.
• It is a place where the laws of physics and logic do not always apply.

The Window to the City. The window is a portal to the Impossible City, a place where the Lunars can cross the sky and shine down on the streets below. It is a personal space, unique to each Lunar, and it is a place of both wonder and danger.

• It is a double window in a plain white frame, with a little latch.
• It is a window that looks out upon the Impossible City.
• It is a place where the Lunars can cross the sky and shine down on the streets below.

The Shifting Landscape. The everything is not a static place; it is constantly changing and shifting, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of the universe. This makes it a difficult place to navigate, and it requires a certain level of adaptability and awareness to survive.

6. The Power of Connection: Shared Burdens and Shared Destinies

We’re not the same as our deities, we’re more … the reflections they cast when they aren’t using the energy to manifest.

The Lunar Pantheon. The Lunars are not alone in their struggles; they are part of a larger pantheon, a community of gods who share a common purpose and a common destiny. They rely on each other for support and guidance, and they work together to protect the balance of the universe.

• They are a team, a pantheon made up of refugees from dozens of others.
• They have a job that transcends human belief, keeping the universe wedded to the idea of them.
• They are each other's keepers.

The Importance of Community. The Lunars understand the importance of community, and they work together to support each other and to protect the world from the forces that seek to control it. They know that they are stronger together than they are alone.

• They cooperate and get along.
• They share a common purpose and a common destiny.
• They are each other's keepers.

The Burden of Divinity. The Lunars carry a heavy burden, and they often struggle with the weight of their responsibilities. They are not always sure of their place in the world, and they often question their own worth and purpose.

7. The Nature of Choice: Free Will and the Inevitable

We have to be sure there’s enough of us to shine above the Impossible City every night.

The Illusion of Control. The Lunars are not always in control of their own destinies. They are often forced to make choices that they do not want to make, and they are often powerless to change the course of events.

• They are often forced to make choices that they do not want to make.
• They are often powerless to change the course of events.
• They are subject to the whims of the universe and the machinations of the alchemists.

The Power of Choice. Despite their limitations, the Lunars still have the power to make choices, and those choices can have a significant impact on the world around them. They can choose to fight for what they believe in, and they can choose to protect those who are vulnerable.

• They can choose to fight for what they believe in.
• They can choose to protect those who are vulnerable.
• They can choose to make a difference in the world.

The Inevitability of Fate. The Lunars are aware that their lives are not entirely their own, and they are often forced to confront the inevitability of fate. They know that they are part of a larger story, and they must play their roles, even when they do not understand the purpose of their actions.

8. The Price of Knowledge: Truth, Lies, and the Cost of Discovery

We need to access the City. Humans are so important that half the universe has rewritten itself to have the chance to experience humanity firsthand. Doesn’t that mean we should be the ones in charge?

The Pursuit of Truth. The characters in the story are constantly seeking the truth, but they often find that the truth is more complicated and more dangerous than they had imagined. They must learn to navigate a world of lies and deception in order to find their way.

• They are constantly seeking the truth.
• They often find that the truth is more complicated and more dangerous than they had imagined.
• They must learn to navigate a world of lies and deception.

The Cost of Knowledge. The pursuit of knowledge often comes at a great cost, and the characters in the story must be willing to sacrifice everything in order to learn the truth. They must be willing to face their fears and to confront the darkness that lies within themselves and the world around them.

• The pursuit of knowledge often comes at a great cost.
• They must be willing to sacrifice everything in order to learn the truth.
• They must be willing to face their fears and to confront the darkness.

The Power of Lies. Lies can be a powerful tool, and they can be used to manipulate and control others. The characters in the story must learn to recognize the lies that are being told to them, and they must be willing to challenge those lies in order to protect themselves and others.

9. The Strength of Community: Finding Belonging in a Fractured World

You’re not that naïve, Kelp. You must have figured it out by now.

The Search for Belonging. The characters in the story are all searching for a sense of belonging, a place where they can feel safe and accepted. They find this sense of belonging in different ways, through their relationships with each other, through their connection to the moon, and through their shared purpose.

• They are all searching for a sense of belonging.
• They find this sense of belonging in different ways.
• They are stronger together than they are alone.

The Importance of Acceptance. The characters in the story must learn to accept each other for who they are, flaws and all. They must learn to see past their differences and to recognize the common humanity that binds them together.

• They must learn to accept each other for who they are.
• They must learn to see past their differences.
• They must recognize the common humanity that binds them together.

The Power of Friendship. The bonds of friendship are a powerful force in the story, and they help the characters to overcome the challenges they face. They rely on each other for support and guidance, and they are willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of their friends.

10. The Looming Eclipse: A Convergence of Worlds and Fates

The sun’s a thief, and with his great attraction
Robs the vast sea; the moon’s an arrant thief,
And her pale fire she snatches from the sun.

The Eclipse as a Catalyst. The approaching eclipse is a catalyst for change, a moment when the boundaries between worlds become blurred and the forces of chaos and order collide. It is a time of great danger and great opportunity.

• It is a moment when the boundaries between worlds become blurred.
• It is a time of great danger and great opportunity.
• It is a time when the fates of the characters will be decided.

The Convergence of Worlds. The eclipse is a time when the mortal and divine worlds converge, and when the forces of the universe are brought into sharp focus. It is a time when the characters must confront their own destinies and make choices that will determine the future of their world.

• It is a time when the mortal and divine worlds converge.
• It is a time when the forces of the universe are brought into sharp focus.
• It is a time when the characters must confront their own destinies.

The Uncertain Future. The eclipse is a reminder that the future is uncertain, and that the characters must be prepared for anything. They must be willing to adapt to change and to embrace the unknown, even when it is frightening and unpredictable.

Last updated: February 3, 2025