Star Cartography
Bahhrayms can’t directly connect to Gveleshapni and use their magic only if the star’s light gets reflected on their weapons. As a result, star cartography is an important part of tsukaite education. Suzume, the Eighth Hand of the Empress, governs observatories filled with impressive telescopes and the most thorough star maps available all around Ayonerra. She monitors the eager-to-learn students and notes them to Empress Keiko.
As the tsukaite advances in the study, Keiko permits her ascent to the Ninth Sky. The tsukaite forges a small metal disk under the starry sky. Following the descent, she watches the sky and writes the most prominent stars. The disk catches starlight, allowing the god-blessed bahhraym to feel its magic flow through her body. Aiming the item at specific stars takes practice and trained precision. God-blessed bahhrayms often gaze at free-flying gveleshapni, eagerly waiting for one to form into a star. Oftentimes, the gveleshapi leaves the field of view or is eaten by the pursuing kin.
As the tsukaite advances in the study, Keiko permits her ascent to the Ninth Sky. The tsukaite forges a small metal disk under the starry sky. Following the descent, she watches the sky and writes the most prominent stars. The disk catches starlight, allowing the god-blessed bahhraym to feel its magic flow through her body. Aiming the item at specific stars takes practice and trained precision. God-blessed bahhrayms often gaze at free-flying gveleshapni, eagerly waiting for one to form into a star. Oftentimes, the gveleshapi leaves the field of view or is eaten by the pursuing kin.
“It’s slowing down! Whatcha think its magic will be?”
“Oh! What about… and it got eaten...”
“For Dekabura’s sake!”
“Oh! What about… and it got eaten...”
“For Dekabura’s sake!”
Star Atlases
Various star atlases are kept in the Eighth Sky. Several can be traced back to bahhraym’s initial arrival in Hayanao. Many such maps were hand-drawn and one-of-a-kind.
More recent atlases are printed using copper engraved plates, allowing for particularly precise maps. Each page includes a grid for accurately determining the star positions. Additionally, telescopes help cartographers note gveleshapni unseen by the naked eye. Some Nine Skies cartographers rent flying islands to detail stars not visible in Hayanao.
To star cartographers, constellations serve as helpful guides for swiftly locating desired stars. The celestial bodies are named individually. The books contain an index with each star’s name, a brief description of the magic they grant and a reference to a page which details the information further. Stars are often grouped by their visibility in the sky and how useful their magic is in specific situations.
More recent atlases are printed using copper engraved plates, allowing for particularly precise maps. Each page includes a grid for accurately determining the star positions. Additionally, telescopes help cartographers note gveleshapni unseen by the naked eye. Some Nine Skies cartographers rent flying islands to detail stars not visible in Hayanao.
To star cartographers, constellations serve as helpful guides for swiftly locating desired stars. The celestial bodies are named individually. The books contain an index with each star’s name, a brief description of the magic they grant and a reference to a page which details the information further. Stars are often grouped by their visibility in the sky and how useful their magic is in specific situations.
Fascinating. Does Ayonerra's sky change a lot, then, if you can actively watch the stars chase and eat each other? How fast does a star move from the planet's perspective?
Yee free flying gveleshapni look like shooting stars from Ayonerra's perspective. They zap quickly through the sky. Stars in comparison are in a locked state. They change relatively rarely. Either if they feel safe enough to become free again, get eaten by gveleshapni or if a gveleshapi becomes a star for self protection. But bahhrayms still regularly update the map just in case.
oohh I see! very cool explanation for shooting stars as well