Just as five is a holy number among most faiths, nineteen is a curse. It is said that inside the moon, a congress of 595 demons convenes every 19 years when Karna is at his weakest. The names of babies are arranged to avoid being 19 letters long, lest they be born with iron teeth. When once a slave princess was raped by 18 pirates and their captain, she gave birth to the evil witch of the sea, Ingrid. Many such beliefs persist regarding that number.
As the demon moon waxes, evil forces strengthen, and the barrier between worlds weaken. As it wanes, blessings return and discord lessens. Many curses are linked to the demon moon, and many blessings are linked to its absence. Weddings, battles, and alliances are often begun as far from the demon moon as possible.
When the demon moon rises in full, it is considered very bad luck to look directly at it.