THE MYTH THAT BEGAN IT ALL
A Philippine legend tells of seven moons, a serpent from the ocean's depths, and the people who refused to surrender their final light.
THE ORIGIN
In Philippine folklore—especially in stories associated with the Visayas and Cebuano traditions—Bakunawa is a mighty serpent or dragon linked to eclipses. The creature is often imagined rising from the sea, though its dwelling and appearance change across retellings.
The account below is an original narrative retelling of the familiar legend of Bakunawa and the Seven Moons. Details differ among storytellers; this is not the only version of the myth.
A TALE IN FIVE CHAPTERS
They say that when the moon disappears, the sea serpent has lifted its gaze to the heavens once again.
From myth to the gameLong ago, when the islands were young and night was not yet feared, Bathala, the supreme creator, set seven moons across the heavens. Their silver radiance shone over mountains and shorelines, turning every evening into a wonder. Fisherfolk sailed beneath their glow. The sea itself seemed to carry seven shimmering paths of light.
But far below the waves, in depths no moonbeam could reach, something ancient watched.
Bakunawa, a vast serpent of the deep, had lived in darkness for an age beyond memory. The sight of the moons filled the creature with awe. Why should such beauty remain so far above the ocean? Why should the heavens possess all that light?
Wonder became longing. Longing became hunger. And on a night when the sea was still, Bakunawa surged from the black water toward the sky.
With jaws wide enough to eclipse the horizon, the serpent seized a moon and swallowed it. The earth shuddered. The waters rose. Yet deep inside Bakunawa, the precious light faded instead of burning forever.
So the creature returned for another—and then another. In the telling, six moons vanished from the night, leaving a single pale light to guard the world against darkness.
When Bakunawa rose again to seize the seventh moon, the people of the islands refused to stand silent. They carried drums, gongs, pots, and pans to the shore. As the serpent's shadow spread across the sky, they struck their instruments and shouted with all their strength.
The uproar startled Bakunawa. The great jaws opened, the last moon slipped free, and its light returned to the heavens. Defeated for that night, the dragon plunged back into the sea.
The surviving moon still watches over the islands. But the story warns that Bakunawa has not forgotten its radiance. When the moon darkens in an eclipse, people remember the serpent and the noise that saved the sky.
Some versions of the legend tell how Bathala sought to guard the remaining moon, while others emphasize the courage and clamor of the people. Across the variations, the last light endures—and the serpent waits beneath the waves.
FROM ANCIENT LEGEND TO NEW FANTASY
Bakunawa: Legends of the Abyss takes inspiration from this Philippine legend and builds an original fantasy setting around it. The game's enchanted eggs, four creature factions, submerged kingdoms, and arena battles are fictional game inventions—not claims about the traditional folktale.
In our imagined world, every creature awakened in the depths inherits an echo of that ancient struggle between light and darkness.
Explore the four factionsA NOTE ON THE FOLKLORE
Bakunawa belongs to Philippine myth and oral storytelling traditions, particularly those associated with the Visayas. The serpent's appearance, its home in the sea or sky, the intervals between attacks, and even explanations of its name differ by source. This retelling combines motifs from the two versions shared for the project rather than presenting one definitive account.
For further reading, see the Bakunawa mythology overview (community-written). The seven-moons narrative also appears in Esplanade's Bakunawa and the Seven Moons retelling. We use original text and original game concept imagery here, not illustrations from those articles.
THE ABYSS IS AWAKENING
Will you answer the call from below?
Return to Bakunawa