Constellations
Astrological Signs
- Paro the Coyote
- More to Come
Notable Constellations
Agryos, The Winged Boar
Once every 267 years, the celestial bodies align just-so and in the autumnal sky appears for one night only the distinct, starry outline of a wild razorback boar. Several bright stars aligning above the boar’s shoulders form the major bones of its ‘wings’. As this constellation appears so infrequently, it has become conflated in common vernacular with events that are either rare or extremely unlikely—hence, the expression, “When pigs fly!”
Written by Mcracken.
Cessair - The Mourner’s Wings
Cessair, The Psychopomp, or most commonly, the Mourner’s Wings, is composed of sixteen stars, the majority making up the great and vast bat-like wings of Cessair, the constellation can be seen throughout the month of Mourningfrost but remains hidden throughout the rest of Lithrydel’s calendar year.
During her brightest hours, the shape of a great bat can be traced through the lines of the stars, her wings spanning far and wide across the night sky.
In the shadowed realms where mortality meets the abstract, there existed a creature of silent wings and compassionate purpose—a companion to death known as Cessair, the winged beast of the Afterworld. With fur as dark as the void and wings that whispered through the air like the last breaths of the departing, Cessair served as a faithful companion to Vakmatharas, the God of the dead and dying.
Cessair's duty was to guide the souls of the departed to the realms beyond, ensuring a peaceful transition from the tangible world to the mysteries that awaited. Each beat of her wings echoed the heartbeat of passing souls, and her eyes held the reflection of the distant afterlife.
For countless seasons, Cessair fulfilled her sacred duty with unwavering dedication. She danced on the precipice between life and death, an intermediary that bridged the mortal coil to the unknown. Vakmatharas, though often seen as malevolent by mortals, witnessed the grace and mercy that Cessair bestowed upon the departing spirits.
Yet, as the ceaseless march of time unfolded, even Cessair found herself ensnared by the inescapable clutches of mortality. Death, supposedly impartial and always inevitable, visited her with a touch that silenced her wings and dimmed her ethereal eyes. Vakmatharas, the lord of that death, for the first and last time was filled with an anguish as profound as the void itself.
In his sorrow, Vakmatharas sought to immortalize the memory of Cessair. He painted her likeness in the vast canvas of the night sky, creating a constellation that bore the shape of her wings and the grace of her spirit. A loving testament to the faithful companion who had guided countless souls to their final resting place.
During the coldest and darkest of all the seasons, these stars shine as symbols of the compassion that transcended even the cold dominion of death and the endurance of love. The Mourner’s Wings is a reminder that even in the face of mortality, there existed moments of comfort... And that even death itself has known the bitter taste of loss.
Written by Fiadh.
Clara - The Third Eye Constellation
The tale goes that there once lived a powerful witch, Clara, and she had the strongest intuition in the lands. She could prevent accidents from happening, finish someone’s sentence, and predict random occurrences. One night, she told her best friend that her husband was being unfaithful, as she swore that she had dreamt of him in bed with another woman. Clara’s best friend believed her and left her husband, which made him very angry. The unfaithful man sought revenge on Clara and he plucked both of her eyes from her head, blinding her, or so he thought. Clara’s gift blossomed even more, as she didn’t require eyes to see that which no one else could. The witch relied on her third eye, the eye that is invisible and mystical, and sees far beyond any mere ordinary sight. Clara became very outspoken after that and swore that she would tell every man and woman if their partner was being unfaithful. It’s said that the stars will align in the sky in the shape of an eye, if one gazes towards the Heavens at the stroke of midnight and states that they wish to know if their partner's doing them wrong. If Clara doesn’t appear, it means that the heart is true and safe, that no wrongdoing has occurred. Many sailors call upon Clara while they’re away at sea, so they know if they should hurry home to their sweetheart or if they should change their course and find love anew.
Written by Noah.
Daezir, Daedria's Mask
In the night sky gather a cluster of twenty-two rosy pink stars, each wreathed in a golden glow. The stars align in such a way that they look like a mask peering down from the heavens, and myth whispers that Daedria's mood can be determined by this mask on clear nights. Supposedly, the stars comprising the mask's mouth -move-, shifting into a comedic smile or tragic frown depending on the whims of the Ascendi. Often, actors and actresses look to the sky prior to performances if the sky is clear and the Mask is visible, to gauge Daedria's mood before stepping on stage. Bards across Lithrydel are known to look skyward as well upon completing their tune, using the constellation's expression to determine if they performed well or not.
Written by Loravelle.
Harva - The Pinecone Constellation
Depicted as an array of stars in the shape of a pinecone, this constellation can only be seen one night during the month of November. Some years go by without ever seeing Harva, as it’s said that she only appears to those that are pure of heart and truly need a successful harvest. If one is down on their luck they can make their plea to Harva by going into the forest and climbing a pine tree. The one that means to make their wish must select a female pine cone, which is often at the top of the tree. If they manage to obtain one, they must plant the pine cone in the soil of one of their least fertile lands, so that Harva knows where to make her grand appearance the following night. Should she show up, the farmer will know that their harvest will be blessed and bountiful and their family will make it through the cruel, upcoming winter.
Written by Noah.
Hippocampus
Appearance/Number of Stars: Composed of 11 bright stars and a handful of smaller ones. 2-3 stars each create the head/neck (3 stars), and each of the front legs (2 each), where they join together at one of the brighter stars of the bunch, called the Heart of Selene. From there, a wide swath of tiny stars are spread across the sky to form the tail, looking very similar to the tail of a comet. Only to further the comet-looking appearance, the narrow end of the tail ends in another bright star, the Zaytorian Scale. From there, on both sides, it branches off into 1 lesser star on each side to form the tail fin.
The Heart of Selene is deep blue-green in color. It is also visible during the month of Selevann, while the Zaytorian Scale is bright aquamarine in color. It is also visible during the month of Zayvann.
Based on one of Selene’s most prized creations, in honor of the brackish water-dwelling kelpie, and for her beloved fellow water god Zaytor. The actual hippocampi can be rather shy creatures, thus almost never allowing landwalkers to properly see them and enjoy their beauty. Frustrated by this, Selene asked Q’na for a small collection of stars for her own use. While Q’na usually can’t be bothered with silly requests, they did often have an overabundance of stars and so indulged Selene just this once. And so, with the stars she was given, she used her waves to paint the skies with them, shaping them into the majestic half-horse, half-fish creature that she so loved.
While most rituals are often to Selene herself, some sailors pray upon the hippocampus constellation. They burn offerings of dried kelp and fishbones, in hopes of giving their ship the speed needed for their journey, whether it be with the wind or the waves.
It is best viewed during the fall and winter months, when the sea is at its angriest.
Written by Khitti.
Mothelf
Made of 13 stars in total. While 11 stars made up nearly the whole of the moth elf, two bright red ones make up its piercing stare. These two stars are known as The Eyes of Madness to the forsaken elves, ever shifting between a garnet and ruby shade of red. Trinkets based on the constellation or the Mothelf itself usually have either gem. When the eyes are ruby, the more superstitious forsaken elves carry umbrellas with them, to keep them from looking up into the Eyes of Madness.
It has long been rumored by the scholars in Vhys that the original spider culling during the month of Fellsol was thanks to the influence of the Mothelf itself. A mysterious cryptid of the Vhysian ancient forest, it has always claimed the woods as its own, well before the forsaken elves settled in that area of Rynvale Island. It is said that the Spider Goddess’ children overran the place, forcing the Mothelf into a very small section of the massive forest. And so, it waited and bided its time, and with time brought the elves. The Mothelf used its strange power, swaying the elves into a temporary madness, wherein they would slaughter the spiders that had taken up residence in the Mothelf’s home. After the slaughter, the Mothelf would keep a long, metaphorical leash on what are now called the forsaken elves, bending some to its will when it required them for some dark deed. It is said by the Vhysian scholars that the constellation itself did not come into being until the spider massacre was over, as if the Mothelf created it as another way to keep watch over its home and the forsaken elves that unknowingly and unwillingly helped it.
While solitary practitioners often leave offerings of food and drink at the woods’ edge in hopes that the Mothelf leaves them be, there is a secret cult that dwells within the ancient forest that sacrifices 13 souls to the Mothelf every Fellsol, during the festival known as The Culling.
It is best viewed from the ancient woods of Vhys, during the month of Fellsol.
Written by Khitti.
The Apple
Made up of an open cluster of 5 red giant stars, the Apple can be spotted easily in the night sky by its red sheen. As is typical with star clusters, all 5 of those that make up the constellation were formed around the same time, though a telescope is required to see the stars.
Those born under the sign of the apple are naturally blessed with gaining knowledge and expelling wisdom for those that need it. Though they might not always have wisdom leftover for themselves, their passion for learning and helping others makes up for it often.
Written by Khitti.
The Bovox
The Bovox Constellation, or the more scholarly Athair Faireil, is a series of fifteen stars. The brightest of these stars, Faire, named after the legend that preceded the astronomer’s mapping, rests at the center of the seven that create the “bulls head” formation and shines with a bright, watchful golden light. Eight stars make up the body of Bovox, the second largest star placed in a fist close to his heart.
While the seven stars that compose the head of the bull remain bright and visible throughout the year, the full constellation is visible throughout Mithrise and dominates the southern part of Litrydel’s skies most brightly during the 16th night.
Often mistaken for a simple minotaur, the Bovox Constellation greatly resembles the strange melding of both beast and man - the figure of a body kneeling with a hand closed over his fist, the head of a bull where the face of a man would be more usual to rest.
In the twilight of creation, when the cosmos were but visions in the eyes of gods, and the dreams of dragons echoed through the vast expanse, a peculiar creature came into being - the Glashtyn. Like what is said to be their distant cousins, the minotaur, the Glashtyn held the shape of a man and the head of a bull. Unlike the minotaur, they were able to borrow the full form of a human save for the telltale sign of horns. This was said to be the God’s first attempt at the creation of man. Forged from the collective breath of deities, they were bestowed with the task of shaping the world, molding mountains and weaving the sinuous tapestry of streambeds with their laborious hands.
As the era of gods waned and the age of man began, the Glashtyn dwindled, severed from the divine whispers that birthed them. All save one, who, in defiance of celestial fate, found solace in the arms of an elvish princess. Their love, forbidden and radiant, kindled a flame that transcended the boundaries of their disparate realms.
Together, the Glashtyn and the elvish princess fled, creating a life hidden from the gaze of disapproving deities and avaricious kings. In the haven of their union, a son was born, a symbol of love's triumph over celestial constraints. Yet, their joy was short-lived, for the shadows of a lost kingdom and the wrath of the elvish princess's father, the king, loomed over them.
In a tragic twist of fate, the fallen king, blinded by possessive rage, murdered his own daughter. As the bereaved Glashtyn rose to defend his son, the king aimed a fatal blow, sealing the creature's demise. However, in the celestial realm, the goddess Loda, patroness of crafts and workmanship who most favored the beast made for such work, took notice.
With a thunderous swing of her mighty hammer, Loda intervened. The king fell, struck down by the goddess's divine justice, but the Glashtyn, already wounded, could not be saved. For the realm of the dead and dying belongs only to Vakmatharas, and not even the Goddess Loda could intervene. In a moment of mercy, Loda granted the dying creature a final wish – to be cast into the tapestry of stars, where he could watch over his son for all eternity.
And so, the myth of the Glashtyn constellation was born, a celestial tribute to the love of a father that defied the boundaries of mortal and divine realms. The Bovox, a constellation of steadfast vigilance, forever gazes down upon the world, a silent guardian in the night sky.
Written by Fiadh.
The Broom
This constellation is made up of a string of 13 stars of varying types, that ultimately fan out to form the bristles at one end. At the base of the broom handle lies the brightest star out of the bunch, aptly named ‘The Witch’s Eye’, a blue supergiant that can always be found in the same spot in the sky. Another notable star in the constellation is the ‘Garnetta’, a brown dwarf named for its dark pink-ish hue that is strikingly similar to the gemstone.
Those born under the sign of the broom are much more inclined at brushing off problems and sweeping away negativity that might plague them. They are typically carefree and can manage to go with the flow and adapt to anything, even in the roughest of times.
Written by Khitti.
The Chariot
Believed to be the vehicle Maro uses to haul the sun across the sky, The Chariot is a constellation comprised of five stars. Instead of taking the typical shape of a chariot, these golden stars appear to encircle Maro, with their dimmer lights providing a ring of gold around the planet that serves to enhance its brilliance in the sky. The Chariot as a constellation was named by renowned astronomer Akohr of Gamorg, in the midst of her research on the planet Maro. Each star in this arrangement has a name, oftentimes attributed to the names of horses said in myth used to drive Maro's Chariot across the sky as he hauls the sun across it. Their names are orcish names, much like the origin of Maro's name; Orot, Eikur, Meerth, Uzog, and Burok. In myth, these horses are said to all be fine stallions of solid gold, with fiery white manes. Meerth, the largest and fastest of the five, is said to lead the chariot, while Uzog and Eikur pair directly behind him, and Burok and Orot take the rear. Orot is the most dim of the five stars, often described as the youngest of the brothers and slower of the stallions. Maro treats him kindly, and in truth, favors the softer Orot over the other four horses. It's said that looking to Orot in this constellation for hope is often wise – for even the smallest and weakest can shine when given the chance.
These stars are often hidden by the brilliance of Maro, but they're visible with the assistance of a telescope.
Written by Loravelle.
The Fair Maiden & The Admirer
On a clear night in the countryside, stargazers will be able to see the visible outline of a man on his knees, hand over heart and head bowed in humility as he offers a beautiful bouquet of flowers to his love. A petite woman with long flowing hair can be seen as if she is far off in the distance from the admirer, maybe she doesn't even know who this man is and tragically missing the beauty of the gift he offers. Shooting stars may be a plenty in the lands of Lithrydel if one only takes a moment of peace to look up and watch for one, but every once in a while a singular shooting star will line up and appear as if the fair maiden has blown a kiss to the admirer... maybe there is hope after all.
An excerpt of an RP involving one of Brennia's characters: Largakh
“You see those groups of stars,” it would look similar to a lady, “there is this story, older than time, that she is the fairest maiden. I dont know the real name, my grandpa always said it was named Seldanna,” an amused smirk on his lips because that is his grandmother's name, “that group over there is The Admirer.” This constellation looked like a man holding something, “some say he’s endlessly holding flowers to her beauty and that in all of the worlds he’s never found one good enough for her to prove his love, but every once in a while on a clear night like this he will send her a kiss… Or shooting star. The unrequited love story of all the ages,” there was a moment of quiet in the forest and as if on queue there happened to be a faint shooting star traveling from the admirer to the fair maiden. “See?”
Written by Brennia.
The Harpy's Claw
According to legend, long ago there once lived a terrible and powerful Queen of the High Seas. She was a wealthy merchant princess in some tales and a cunning pirate captain in others, but in all these stories the Sea-Queen's wrath could not be denied. She controlled the coastal regions of Lithrydel with an iron fist, wielding a golden claw that she used to execute those who resisted her. This so-called Queen of the High Seas ruled like this for many years until eventually Paladins of Cyris gathered in current-day Cenril to put a stop to her reign. In a meeting on the cliff sides they devised a plan to depose this false queen, the power of their god blessing their intentions. Within a few short months they had shattered the Queen's fleet and placed her in chains, bringing her forward in a tribunal on the same rocky cliffs where they had plotted her demise. It is said that Cyris himself came to dole out judgment and angered by her arrogance he transformed this vain and cruel queen into a harpy as punishment for her sins. He then took her weapon, the Harpy's Claw, and took it with him back into the heavens, far enough away that she could never reach it but shining bright enough in the night sky that she always had to look upon it. To this day the Harpy's Claw represents a warning of the consequences of her hubris.
The Harpy's Claw consists of several bright yellow stars arranged in the shape of three sharp, curved talons. Each "claw" or finger of the constellation is made up of three stars, nine in total, with a tenth forming the "wrist" of the formation. On nights with decent cloud coverage the Harpy's Claw is bright enough to remain visible but it appears to turn orange or red, colloquially known as a "blood claw" in some cultures, and a foreboding and vague omen in others. Sailors often use the Harpy's Claw constellation for navigation, especially during treacherous voyages. It is said that when the constellation is crimson red in the sky, it serves as a warning to sailors to proceed with caution and to respect the power of the sea, for a storm may be looming just out of sight over the horizon.
Written by Quintessa.
The Sisters
Children in coastal areas traditionally sing a simple rhyme, in a game similar to “Eeny Meeny Miny Mo”:
Over the land and under the sea,
This is the tale of the sisters three:
One got stolen away from home,
One turned into a block of stone,
And one was left to cry, cry, cry, cry alone.
The rhyme’s origins are assumed to be extremely ancient. Some believe it is linked to folktales surrounding a stand of volcanic monoliths on Rynvale island but more commonly it is recognised as a simplified version of a long-lost myth associated with the constellation universally known as “The Sisters”.
The Sisters are a triune of similar-shaped constellations centrally connected by a dense star cloud. This is usually depicted as three women in a roughly triangular formation, joined together in the center by a tangle of serpent-like hair.
While the rhyme itself isn’t a happy one, The Sisters remind us of the powerful bonds shared between siblings and close friends, those familial and emotional ties which connect us to each other. Though we may strive for independence, still there is that part of us which craves connection and all too often suffering results when these ties are broken. It is likely, therefore, that the children's rhyme began as some sort of cautionary tale.
Written by Mcracken.
The Web of Arachne
More commonly known simply as The Spider or The Web, this constellation is extremely large, at least 10 stars counted among them to make up the greater collection. Despite its large size Arachne is rather dim, making it difficult to see with the naked eye save for the brightest star in the center. With eight stars forming a wide circle, the brightest star in the center is in fact twin-stars, each orbiting the other to form the ‘Spider in the Web’ from which the constellation gets its name. The distant galaxies and cosmic clouds behind the constellation give the group of stars an interesting web-effect, causing ancient astronomers across Litherdel to label it as a spider’s web in antiquity.
Visible most clearly during the spring, it is said those born under Arachne are cunning and driven, building their little empires one step at a time. They have great ambitions and will spend a lot of their time trying to turn their dreams into reality. They have the patience, intelligence, and drive to succeed at whatever task they choose, and though it will likely take longer than expected to reach the desired results, they have an innocence to them that others don’t want to squash with reality. Like their animal namesake, they will continue to slowly and methodically build their “web” according to their plan. If the whole thing gets torn down they take a deep breath and start over, using the skills they learned from past failures to rebuild an even stronger enterprise than before. Depression and manic behavior are both possible if they aren’t careful to keep balance in their lives, and their self-reliant nature makes them turn to deceptive means to isolate themselves from future failure, sometimes even sabotaging their personal relationships.
Ancient folklore suggests that Arachne was or was related to the same spider goddess that urged the elves to retreat underground, though it is clear to us today that the constellation and the goddess are completely different things. Whether this is a coincidence or an established link remains unconfirmed, however, as the dark elf culture and the surface cultures grew increasingly isolated from each other, leaving two separate origins of the stars. Ancient surface cultures tend to hint at the Web of Arachne being a symbol alluding to their exodus while the drow believe the constellation was created afterward as a symbol of vanity and power of the Spider Goddess. The truth, however, remains obfuscated.
Written by Quintessa.
Wings Of Lore
As it's name suggests, Wings of Lore, or 'The Wings', is a wide M-shaped constellation meant to resemble that of outstretched avian wings. There are five stars that make up this formation, with the center one being a bright red dwarf star. The others are a pure white, as noble avians feathers often are. In some of the floating cities, Lore was believed to be the first avian to walk the hollows, and the very first bard who would not hesitate to imbue an empowering song upon their people.. Avians see The Wings as proof of their divine right to reign over the skies above dragon-infested mountains, and their superiority over dragonfolk. Among bards who worship Lore, The Wings are a symbol of freedom to express oneself freely and to stretch their own proverbial wings.
Written by Cresente.
Triad of the Gods
This constellation, abbreviated in Common as ⅄, is visible in central Lithrydel and across Rynvale between the summer and winter solstices. The Triad of the Gods is a constellation very easily observable from the densely packed star-clad skies of the new Ahr’Nuk moon and Vaalane’s diminuendo, to the dual perigees over the well-lit Cenrilian city nights. Due to its easy visibility, those who still pray to the Elder Gods recommend focusing one's energies on this constellation when away from cities with temples.
The center of this constellation is a globular star cluster referred to collectively as Sven’s Light, from pre-telescopic times when it was believed to be a singular large star. Extending outwards from the center are three distinctive ‘lines’ of luminous stars. Those who speak of fortunes from the stars judge the characters of newborns based on the position of Valaane and Ahr’Nuk relative to this constellation.
The westward “branch” of stars is said to represent both Hind and the Holy Eternal Tree. It can be distinguished from the other branches by the coloring of the three larger stars. The distinctive white star bordering the Sven’s Light cluster is representative of the pure heart of those who chose to follow in Hind’s footsteps. The second star radiates a bright white-green light like the leaves of the Eternal Tree catching on sunlight. The third star at the furthest edge of the constellation is iridescent, shifting colors seemingly without rhyme or reason. Some claim that this star reflects the waterfall that nourishes the Eternal Tree’s roots, while others claim that it is representative of those who ascended to Hind’s side in the Realm of Gods.
The northern “branch” of stars is said to represent Xalious and the Xalious Tree that bloomed from where he ascended to godhood. Five stars complete this line. The two middle stars are a silvery-white, and the two closest to the Sven’s Light cluster are distinctively gold, much like the silver bark and golden leaves of the Xalious Tree. The furthest star on this constellation, believed to be Xalious looking down upon his pupils, is actually the bright blue massive star of the nearest solar system, which burns too hot to sustain any orbiting planets.
The eastern “branch” of stars represents the final God of the Elder Three and the First Archknight of Cenril, Lore, or the Eternal Trembling Tree, depending on whether the person you ask is a native of Cenril or not. This part of the constellation is easily distinguishable due to the more jagged pattern of bright stars. Unlike the more colorful counterparts of the constellation, the eastern line of five stars are all white.
Written by Kanna.