[✗] [World Lore] Constellations and the Material Alphabet

[Cpt_Noobman 1377]

“Astronomer!” the king bellowed . “I grow tired of waiting! Tell me, what do your divinations foretell of my son?”. “Just a moment your grace…” the astronomer replied absently as he focused on his work. “The stars shall reveal their secrets, but the moment is not ours to choose.” 

 

He adjusted the lenses of the telescope in his grand observatory as he peered through the eyepiece, the brilliance of the heavens coming in and out of focus as he looked for the familiar formations. “Blood?” He thought to himself. “No, not quite emergent yet… Life?” He almost smiled, then tutted with a frown.

 

“What is it?” demanded the king. The astronomer took a step back from his scope, and turned to face the king with a sad shake of his head. “Born under the symbol of death, your grace. A poor omen indeed…”

 

Constellations

 

 

 

Constellations are recognizable groups and formations of stars. They may look different to every pair of eyes, and bear vastly different meanings dependent on culture, but some are recognized by nearly every single species capable of abstract thought that has ever existed. These constellations that transcend cultural boundaries are recognized as the material alphabet.

 

Although stars flicker out of existence with the death of Aengudaemons, the indelible mark of the creator’s grand orchestration of the cosmos is the continued observance of his most recognizable signature. Nearly all signs and symbols that make up the material alphabet are visible under the open night sky, should one look under the proper timing and conditions.

 

However, just because the constellations exist does not mean they are easy to see. Astronomers spend countless hours staring into the void of space and sometimes struggle to see any constellations at all. Although the most prominent constellations on any given night may be likely to be seen by the naked eye, others require complex and expensive telescopic equipment to view. Even then they may only be discernible from locations that are completely devoid of light pollution and other inhibitors.

 

As months pass, multitudes of stars can be seen journeying across the cosmos and during the same time each year the familiar formations return before once again fading from view until the beginning of the next cycle. 

 

It is not uncommon for a single star to hold a position in multiple constellations, occasionally overlapping as one constellation moves in and out of prominence with another. It is equally as frequent that an entirely new star replaces one that fizzles out, or that a star belonging to one constellation swaps places with another. However, as the stars expand and battle against the ever looming void, the symbols are maintained.

 

What these constellations could imply is a great and ponderous question indeed. Countless scholars of countless races across countless centuries have gazed up into the night sky with reflective eyes filled with wonder. Some have attempted to use them to divine the future, others as inspiration for their works of art. Some have developed complex metaphysical interpretations of their meaning, while others still have been content to merely gaze upon their beauty.

 

The nature of stars, constellations, and their purpose is perhaps unknowable, but that has never stopped someone from looking on in awe and pausing to wonder.

 

Visible Constellations By Month

 

Spoiler

Note, the word visible does not necessarily mean visible with the naked eye. With the passage of each night, a new constellation may come to prominence and then begin to fade with the coming of dawn. Using astronomical equipment however, one may view any constellation that is in season. 

 

This list of constellations is robust, but not exhaustive. It is possible for new constellations to be discovered, or for players to describe their own constellations. This list represents the constellations of the material alphabet which would be recognizable to any who see them.

 

The only constellation that is visible for the entire year is the sign Aether.

 

Malin’s Welcome

Spoiler

Air

 

 

 

 

Aqua Vitae	Blood	Life	Sound	Seperation

 

 

 

 

Open	Clarity	Rebirth	Space

 

 

The First Seed

Spoiler

Air

 

 

Flora	Creation	Astral	Push/Giving	Up/Lifting

 

 

 

 

Growth	Smooth	Fragility	Grace

 

 

The Grand Harvest

Spoiler

Fire

 

 

 

Fauna	Mana	Lard	Reinforce	Heat	Love

 

 

 

Fluidity	Continuity	Empowering

 

 

Sun’s Smile

Spoiler

Fire

 

 

Lightning	Smoke	Light	Destruction	Chaos

 

 

Power	Solar	Burning	Courage	Agility

 

 

 

 

Swiftness	Rage	Vigour	Instability	Purity

 

 

The Amber Cold

Spoiler

Earth

 

 

 

Ferrum	Metal	Aurum	Stone	Dirt

 

 

 

Mud	Lava	Reduction	Down/Falling	Close

 

 

 

 

Hardiness	Blunt	Confusion	Time	Poison

 

 

The Deep Cold

Spoiler

Water

 

 

 

Ice	Dark	Balance	Silence	Order

 

 

 

Pull/Draining	Connection	Weakness	Freezing	Fear

 

 

 

 

Hate	Endurance	Rigidity	Peace

 

 

Snow’s Maiden

Spoiler

Water

 

 

Steam	Distilled Water	Death	Lunar	Coarse

 

 

 

 

Sharp	Fragility	Coldness	Impediment	Curtailment

 

 

 

 

Slowness	Lethargy

 

 

 

Summary

 

Constellation lore does what it says on the tin, giving players the opportunity to look up at the night sky and describe what they are seeing with context. Beyond the usual impact of looking upon a symbol of the material alphabet, players may extrapolate additional meaning as they will.

 

I have provided images for all of the signs/symbols I was able to find. If anyone has access to the original depictions of the missing images, I would eventually like to include them as well.

 

Complete list of used images.

 

Bonus Images

 

Works Referenced

 

Space Lore

[✓] Space; From Within the Void - General - The Lord Of The Craft

 

The Material Alphabet

[✓] [World Lore] The Material Alphabet - General - The Lord Of The Craft

[ClassyDryad 1733]

I... They did art for each constellation. I want this

[Nooblius 5794]

Quoth the Noobman,

"sTarS!"

[For the last 9 months anytime lore writing is mentioned in VC Noobman has interrupted the convo shouting the word stars and asserting this idea.]

[rdowdy 236]

Oh to look up and see light shining back...

[Dj_McMuffin 112]

A sick frail farfolk perches at the edge of a stool. She gazes into the eye of a massive telescope that extends far out of one of Hohkmat's tallest towers If my Fate is Bound by the stars, I will find it for myself. I will be more than a fleck of the heaven's spat out spit...

[Agy 326]

YEEESS!

YEEEEEESSS!!

YEEEEEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!

 

FINALLY! CONSTELLATION LORE!! I have been waiting for ANYTHING like this for so, so, so long! And it's literally brimming with so much quality and fun :>

I cannot wait to see what emerges because of this, I wish you the best of luck!

[Islamadon 4429]

This lore has been denied. You will be sent a forum PM regarding the reasons for denial within the next 24 hours.