Dark Night

Greyhawk Holiday

Dark Night Type: Cultural; religious Frequency: Annual Date(s): Goodmonth 11 Observed by: Various folk; faiths of Celestian, Rao, and Kurell Significance: Luna and Celene both new.

Dark Night, also called Black Night, Star Night, and the 'Night of Hopeful Dawn, is observed on Goodmonth 11, when both moons (Celene and Luna) are in their new or darkest phase. It is a holy night for the church of Celestian because the stars are so easy to observe without the light of either of the moons getting in the way.

Not to be confused with Dark Time.

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Dark Night, depicted in Vecna: Hand of the Revenant (2002). Art by Kevin McCann.

It is also a holy night for the church of Rao, who refer to it as the Night of Hopeful Judgment. They believe that Rao chooses this time to separate the sinful from the righteous in the afterworld. There is also a prophecy in the Raoan holy text, the Book of Incarum, that claims that Rao will cleanse the world of evil on this night, sometime in the future.

The priesthood of Kurell consider it holy, too, calling it Kurell's Night, requiring the faithful to undertake special missions on this night to prove their cleverness and skill. Kurell smiles particularly on acts of theft or vengeance performed on his holy night, blessing those who do so successfully. Donations to Kurell's church are encouraged afterwards, for Kurell may take vengeance against those who do not properly thank him for his aid.

Most other people regard Dark Night as a time of ill omen, fearing it as much as the night of the Blood Moon Festival. Bonfires are burned from dusk till dawn, particularly in small villages and in Elmshire and Narwell. Orc and goblin religions view it as an excellent night for raiding settlements. Certain evil cults perform kidnappings, murders, and vile rites during this period. On the other hand, lycanthropic activity is at its lowest.

Iggwilv and Tuerny attempted to summon a demonic army to Luna on this night in 585 CY.

In other media

In the graphic novel Vecna: Hand of the Revenant, Dark Night (spelled Darknight in that book) is described as a period in which Pholtus's power is at its lowest, causing the people of Fleeth to lose faith in the god. The priests of Pholtus compensate by completing a rite called the Ritual of Light in which the temple of Pholtus is transformed into a great beacon that destroys all "creatures of darkness" (including undead) within a mile of the city, often blinding normal humans. The rite is performed every twelve years.

The book claims Dark Night itself only takes place once every twelve years, though all other sources say it happens every year. It is possible either this was an error and it was meant to be every twelve months, or there is a special circumstance every twelfth year which makes Dark Night more significant on those occasions.

Vecna's assault on Fleeth took place on Dark Night, because that is when Fleeth's defenses were at its lowest. However, the Ritual of Light was a temporary setback for Vecna, nearly destroying him. In the aftermath of the rite, Vecna's left hand and eye were burned away by the light.

See also

• See also: Dark Time.

Calendar

Goodmonth

Starday	Sunday	Moonday	Godsday	Waterday	Earthday	Freeday
8	9	10	11 Dark Night	12	13	14

References

Bibliography

• Lai, Gary. "Hopeful Dawn." Dungeon #41. Renton, WA: TSR, 1993.
• Miller, Andy. "Campaign Holidays." Dragon Annual #4. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1999 (pp. 18-19).

———. "The Oeridian Lesser Gods." Dragon #263. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1999.

• Moore, Roger E. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.

———. Return of the Eight. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.

• Thorsson, Modi, and Kevin McCann. Vecna: Hand of the Revenant. Lakewood, CO: Iron Hammer Graphics, 2002.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic	Type	Description	Product	Page/Card/Image
Dark Night {Black Night, Star Night}	Calendar		Dragon magazine #AN4	20
Dark Night {Black Night, Star Night}	Calendar		Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e	17
Dark Night {Black Night, Star Night}	Calendar		Player's Guide to Greyhawk	15
Dark Night {Black Night, Star Night}	Calendar		Return of the Eight	3, 12, 20, 54
Dark Night {Black Night, Star Night}	Calendar		The Adventure Begins	46
Dark Night {Black Night, Star Night}	Calendar		World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983)	20