and banish all that went between

Any authority that exists has limited time and limited resources, so it must prioritize rules that minimize the MOST HARM, that are EASIEST TO VERIFY, and are MOST ENFORCEABLE.

So, before you CREATE a rule, you must ask yourself:

What does this rule accomplish?

Is the reward of this rule greater than the expense of establishing it?

Can I verify when this rule has been violated?

Can I feasibly discipline one to violates this rule?

And, what I would argue is almost MOST important after all that,

5. How do I explain this rule in a way that people will want to follow it?

As a parent, for example, "do not set a campfire in the living room" is a good rule, because it is easily explained as a risk to personal safety and property, it's a rare enough situation to come up, it's easy to tell when it's happened, and a consequence like

"you will not be left unsupervised for an extended period of time" or "you will write a report on house fires" could be implemented as discipline.

But as a parent, "no eating outside of meal times" is not a great rule in most circumstances. For one, food is easy to access, the harm that can come from snacking between meals is almost zero, it's almost impossible to prove, and there is no feasible way to stop someone from doing it OR make them WANT to follow it without lowering yourself to abuse.

So, if there is a behaviour an authority wants you to follow, it must first ask itself Why. Then decide if that is reasonable. Then decide if it should be a Rule or a Suggestion.

If the desired rule is not verifiable, or enforceable, then the authority must make peace with the fact that it will be taken as a suggestion. It has no other choice but to become an enemy, and slowly lose all respect and credibility.

You cannot make "no snacking" into a rule. But you CAN say, "this is how you keep a balanced diet, this is how you stay healthy, please don't take more than you'll eat at dinner, save leftovers for later".

You CAN make "no fire pits indoors" into a rule, and you can remain vigilant that it doesn't happen and give it your full focus when it does.

This is where laws based on social or religious judgement fail.

You cannot Verify or Enforce against drugs, crossdressing, homosexuality, sosomy, tattoos, prostitution, oral sex, or abortion. Not in any way that matters. Not in any way that Protects more than it Harms. It's difficult to prove, difficult to enforce, and it happens too much and too consensually to universally oppose.

You can only expend energy and cultivate a population that distrusts you in trying.

You CAN Verify and Enforce against violence, abuse, theft, fraud, embezzlement, and murder.

Because it DOES Protect more than it Harms, and you can justify the expenses. Because these are things that happen nonconsentually, and can be prioritized, because there are Victims who experience Harm. Enforcing these rules can cultivate safety and trust instead of suspicion, cooperation instead of opposition within a populace.

Which is why laws against anything that does not cause harm, in my opinion, is doomed.

Because I've raised and seen kids raised in both ways, and I know that "because I said so" does nothing.

If you cannot Verify or Enforce, then the best you can do is Educate, provide safe options, and build a system to heal and recover for any potential fallout.

The story opens with the trial of Empousa Bathory. Baphomet, the oldest Elder, also called The Soulless, condemns her for breaking the Bathory family’s laws by bringing Noah back from death. Cain warns that her punishment will be decided by the four highest-ranking elders—a sentence of cruelty without mercy. But Cain, Aiona, and Setti plot to rescue her, asking Noah to help.

What follows is a clash of politics, faith, and identity. In the Hall of Elders, Noah faces what he later calls a “gathering of weirdos.” Aiona argues for Empousa’s cause, Bella and Gilrain trade sharp barbs, and Gilrain plays the role of executioner—even faking Cain’s death to mislead the others. Baphomet mocks the prophecy of the Moonblessed, calling Noah a perfect vessel for his experiments.

Imprisoned, Noah reflects on his fractured memories and questions who he even is. In the dungeon he meets Jestel Aegis, who shares the Bloodborn legend of being born on the moon. Noah calls the ancient prophecy, „far-fetched yet strangely romantic“. Freed by Aiona and Setti, they set out to save Empousa.

Empousa, resigned to death, sings the Moonblessed song as she waits in her cell. Noah arrives, remarking: “Such a beautiful voice. More gentle than the last time I heard it.” Their bond deepens—the blood resonance that links them means he can feel her pain. Yet Baphomet’s cruelty is unrelenting: he unleashes Empousa’s “sisters,” puppet doubles created to replace her. When Baphomet taunts her as the “first puppet,” Noah’s sharp tongue cuts him off with a blunt, “Shut up.”

In the final confrontation, Baphomet declares to Noah: “You’re the one I have waited centuries for.” He recalls once being defeated by a Bloodborn who looked just like Noah, proof that Noah’s existence runs deeper than even he realizes. But this time, Baphomet falls. Cain, revealed to have faked his death with Gilrain’s help, closes the chapter. In a conversation with Noah he mentions that there are still four more Moonblessed yet to be found. “Go and piece together the moon.”

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Lore seeds in this chapter:

• Blood resonance: Empousa and Noah share pain and memory through their bond.

• Bathory Tenets: secrecy; forbidding creation of new Bloodborn; succession struggles.

• Puppets: Empousa’s “sisters” were made to replace her.

• Moonblessed Prophecy: Born on the moon, destined to lead Bloodborn home. Ascension requires all Moonblessed to be gathered.

• Jestel’s tale: Baphomet lost his body after being defeated.

• Moonblessed Song:

“The stars are our birthplace; and thus we were exiled.

The moon is but a dream of the sun, and thus we were forgotten by the light.”

• Bloodborn identity: memory is essence. To lose memory is to lose existence.

⸻

Some character notes

• Noah: Reflective, sardonic, yet startlingly sincere. Begins to question his identity: shell or self? Protects Empousa with both wit and loyalty.

• Cain: Fiercely protective, sharp-tongued, and loyal. Unafraid to challenge the elders or to scheme if it means saving others.

• Gilrain: Introduced as a cunning manipulator—dangerous, silver-haired, faking Cain’s death as part of his plans

• Empousa: Burdened by the secret of her puppet replacements. Still deeply loyal to Noah.

• Aiona: The spark that set the Moonblessed journey into motion.

• Jestel: Tortured survivor and warrior who wants to ascend with the Moonblessed.

Some quotes of note:

• Noah: “Who am I? Am I still the same person? Am I an empty shell of the man once known as Noah Nevernight? A curse left on this world by the Black Blood?”

• Noah: “If I’m merely an empty shell inheriting Noah Nevernight’s memories, then I’ve only existed for a day.”