> >This is probably really old info, and since superceded - my instinct
Its visible from all over Glorantha. Within and without the Empire, the phases are visible. If the Red Moon was only full within the Glowline, her people would not see the wonderous journey she has made dsiplayed upon her face.
What is the glowline then? Effectively it is a power shunt. While those in the north might see one phase, those in the south see its opposite. The Reaching Moon Temples literally shunt the moon energies around to equalise the flow. Hence in HW terms the Glowline does not give a full moon effect, rather a normalised effect on all Lunar magicians.
If a magician knows the secret of his cult, then he is aware of the oneness of all aspects of the Goddess within the mystical union of Sedenya, and for that reason, they are at Full Moon effect within the glowline, it a benefit of their illumination.
Other benefits of the Red Moon "web" of energy is the ability of the Empire to shunt magical power from different parts of it to areas where they need it. So for example, when the Northern Sartarites attempted to attack Tarsh while the main Imperial Army advanced on Runegate, the Empire shifted the ritual backing of thousands of intitates from across the Empire to the priests of the RM temple in Tarsh, allowing them to devestate the oncoming army with huge ranged spells.
Note also that the Dragon Event in 1625 is more than just a disaster for the large numbers of Lunars present. While the RM ceremony was in effect, the magical power from across the Empire was being coordinated by priests in every RM temple. They were pouring power into the event to facilitate the Sky fixing ceremony so that the temple could activate. When the Dragon ate the temple, the backlash from this was immense. All that energy was scattered, without control. Priests across the Empire died in droves, some of the RM temples took physical damage. The heroes of the Red Moon partaking of the ritual lost powers and many heroquesters who stood on the mythic planes as guards, wards, conduits and ritual proxies were either lost, killed or driven insane.
The effect on the Empire was catastrophic. Many of the best Lunar citizens died, leaving a power vaccuum that was filled by those less than pleased with the Glorious rule of Argenteus. When he dissapears in 1628, the Empire is ripe for civil war.
If it hadn't been for this event, Sartar might well have freed itself, but for a year at best. The full power of the Empire would have crushed Sartar, as it had before. Sartar effectively warred with Tarsh and a few Imperial troops for the next few years after the Dragon Event, until 1638.
Martin Laurie
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