The Zodiac

Avern's Stars

The stars of Avern have a history all their own. There are many constellations that can be seen from the main continent as well as surrounding islands. Those on Avern started reading the stars, and found that people born when a particular constellation was directly near the Black Moon, they had similar traits to others born at the same time. Priests were the ones to state the histories of the constellations, telling their worshippers that each one had been placed there by one of the gods. Some believe this, while others consider it a made up way to keep the masses busy. Even non-believes cannot deny, though, the traits exist, though why they cannot say. Truthspeakers have thus far been silent on the issue.

Name

Symbol

Atrributes

Mythos

Lupene

Positive: Persevere where others might not, great leaders, strong, great stamina.

Negative: Can succumb to the pack mentality, sometimes too dogged.

Lupene was once the greatest companion of Pherome. After dying to protect his friend, Lupene was cast into the skies to create the constellation.

Zyphirius

Positive: Wary individuals, may be able to wriggle their way out of tough situations, make good politicians and diplomats.

Negative: Often tends to hide the truth and can become vicious when attacked.

No doubt, Franel speaks with a forked tongue, so it was no surprise that Zyphirius became his favorite follower. When Zyphirius pleased him greatly, he promised to make him immortal when his time came. Ever the liar, Franel instead changed Zyphirius into a two-headed snake and sent him to the stars.

Edre

Positive: Perhaps best known as survivors, those born under Edre are often hardy and can be happy even if alone.

Negative: Sometimes become isolated; find it hard to trust others in their lives.

One day, Luan found Edre upon the shores of the Sea of Tears nearly dead. The Father of the Undying knew that she would not last long and asked her preference: undeath or death. Edre chose undeath as long as she could stay with Luan.

Kran

Positive: Make lasting attachments to others, loyal, and often trustworthy.

Negative: They tend to dominate those around them, can become too wrapped up in their own lives, sometimes insensitive.

Telema’s weapon, Kran, gained sentience during repeated battles over the years. After serving his master for many years, Kran was granted immortality in the stars.

Ales

Positive: Strong as a stone, they are often creative thinkers and can sometimes buck established rules that lack fairness and don’t like to be tied to one place.

Negative: Often, a wild streak defines those born under Ales, and there is a tendency to let anger get the best of them.

Thrakas carried Ales into many bloody battles. Somewhere along the way, Ales gained sentience and became an ever-faithful companion to the great Destroyer. After many long years of service, he heaved the axe to the skies, where it landed among the stars, ever able to show the way to glory for his followers.

Skel

Positive: Observant, risk-taking, and willing to go the extra mile, loves to find new places and things.

Negative: They are often perceived as cold, can have a hard time understanding others, and can be highly distractible.

Ravera walks the line between death and life, and Skel the raven stalks those dying from the shadows. For many long years, Skel was the eyes on the battlefields for Ravera, and was known to herald the appearance of many undead creatures in a battle.

Vad

Positive: Opportunists, find opportunities for success and advancement where others cannot, can be very successful in business.

Negative: Often misunderstood by others because their demeanor does not often match their intentions, sometimes seen as materialistic and selfish.

Crean is known for her cruelty in spreading pestilence, and Vad, the vulture, watches and waits for her victims to pass from the world. After many years of doing his duty to Crean, the Plaguebearer allowed him to ascend to the stars. Vultures are still a sign that Crean is near the field of battle.

Essex

Positive: Known for their fearlessness, those born under the sign of the spider rarely shy away from anything. They are known to be some of the best adventurers in the land.

Negative: With their fearlessness comes a degree of recklessness. Sometimes, they take things too far and put themselves and others in danger more than necessary.

The master of the Nightmarwalkers, Rhen often could be found with creatures that frequented the nightmares of mortals. One such creature, a spider named Essex, became well known to him and often walked into the world of nightmares with him. After being his companion for a long time, Rhen decided that Essex should be elevated to the stars.

Ana

Positive: At their best, those born under the sign of Ana the dove are positive and upbeat at the worst times. They are known to wear a smile and spread joy where they go.

Negative: The positive nature wears on those under this sign. They can easily burn out and succumb to despair if they are not careful.

Briasha, to compete with her sister Crean, also chose a bird to be her herald. Ana was once a regular dove until Briasha put her hand to her and elevated her to get intelligence and wisdom. For many years, she heralded the coming of the merciful one, until she wore down and was placed among the stars forever to be viewed from the world.

Shov

Positive: Wise beyond their years, those born under the owl, Shov are often sought out to be wizards and healers. They seek knowledge and are often night people.

Negative: Wisdom comes with a price, and some of those born under the owl lack common sense while retaining that wisdom.

Soryn became lonely following the moon and being separated from their twin, Joryn. Along the way, they acquired the company of many nocturnal creatures. The wisest among those creatures was Shov who was able to keep Soryn’s spirits up despite being without their twin.

Positive: Those born under Pendulum are excellent gamblers and often take chances. They can be great persuaders and speakers, often having good charism.

Negative: The winds of chance are fickle, and those born under the Coin can just as easily be plagued with bad luck as they are able to turn luck in their favor.

Erikreas carried Pendulum for many years, a coin minted from an Ancient Avernese country. For no other reason than it suited them at the time, they tossed the coin to the skies to create the constellation of the coin.

Pendulum

Luen

Positive: Those born under the Dreamer often are dreamers. They reach for the stars, and sometimes they have very lofty goals. They are often positive and hopeful.

Negative: They can often be flighty and live with their head in the clouds. Sometimes, they spend more time daydreaming than living life to it’s fullest.

Whesta spent a lot of time in the dream city of Mistlan, and there, the dream wraith named Luen became her constant companion. For many years, they were inseparable, and eventually, to reward Luen for their service over the years, Whesta elevated them to the stars.

Positive: Bright personalities are the hallmark of Loasta, and an ability to fit into new circumstances easily. They often are people who try to do good in the world, bringing light to it.

Negative: They can be prone to despair if they aren’t careful. They are often light bringers, but sometimes they need to have the light brought to them.

Joryn, like their twin, became lonely and made companions out of animals that would often follow them as they walked the world. One of those, perhaps the most interesting among them, was Loasta. For years, Loasta kept Joryn company and eventually was elevated to the stars by them.

Loasta

Positive: Exceedingly Loyal to friends, seek to mediate, often listen well to others.

Negative: They can get too wrapped up in others’ lives to the detriment of their own, sometimes considered naïve because they take people at their word.

Said to have borne Aren himself in battle, the great warhorse Tamar was blessed near the end of his long life with a place among the stars by Aren. Though he was sad to see his trusted steed leave his side, he knew it was Tamar’s time to go.

Tamar

Brita

Positive: Those under Brita make excellent judges, able to remain neutral in many situations.

Negative: Often unable to understand motivations of others, tend to be rather literal.

Volmn was known for carrying a torch to light his way to the truth. Eventually, the torch became very old and worn. Volmn sent the now sentient torch Brita to the sky to forever be a guide to those who traveled Avern. The Star of North is the peak of Brita’s formation.

Shamis

Positive: Shamis means that those born under her sign will be born with a thirst for knowledge and seek it out voraciously.

Negative: While a thirst for knowledge can be good, they are often dogged and will pursue something until they are satisfied. This can sometimes lead to ruin.

Shamis was the book that Samastain wrote the original Litany in when time began. Given life on her own, Samastain sent her to the heavens once she no longer needed to bear the burden of the Litany.