Perspective on the Skies
Notions of astronomy in Eashavar are deeply connected to the planar cosmology. One of the core facts of that cosmology is that all of the planes are infinite in space and time, and the Material Plane is no exception. Rather than believing in a universe with many planets and visitiable locations, the dominant view on Eashavar is that there is but a single world, which spans infinitely in all directions, and the objects in the sky are just that - pins of light with ordered motion. This view is compounded by the fact that the edges of Eashavar remain largely unexplored, and though the world has an observable curvature, the implications of this have not fully been thought through.
Thus, Eashavar is viewed as the "bottom" tier of the universe, with all things in the sky - from the clouds to the stars - being a fabric (or blanket) overhead. These objects are intimately tied with occurences upon Eashavar; the sun rises by
Ah'yelan's will,
Maeras calms the seas for
Maer's children, and
Yerev wreaks havoc on sailors the world over with the pull of his
Yerevas. As far as why, or how, these objects dictate their interactions, this too has been abstracted by the existence of the planar cosmology. "Magic" is a common answer for many questions pertaining to the nature of the skies above.
And "magic" is not even wrong! Everything within the planar cosmology is inherently magical, and the objects in the sky are no exception. There exist wizards who can claim to draw their powers from the sun, or from the moon, or from the stars, though these kinds of arcane transfers are typically associated with the occult. Divination is one field which benefits greatly from stellar movements; because they are so unusually ordered and predictable in a world of chaotic magic, they offer a unique ability to bring insight to the past and future. Astrology is very much extant in Eashavar, and to some extent, it works!
Though explorations of how the fabric relates to concepts within planar cosmology and magical theory are slim, there are popular associations between objects in the sky and the various planes among hedge-witches and practitioners of the occult. Typically, the Light of Ea is associated with Pyranor, the Twin Moons are associated with Rivanor, the Storm of Soot and Vesamir Shield with Ordenor, the Haze with Aedanor, the Sparks Beyond with the Divine Planes, the Signs Up High with the Emotional Planes, and the Void Between with the Great Beyond.
The Fabric Above
The Haze
The Haze is the lowest level of the Fabric, consisting of the clouds in the sky above Eashavar. Popular astronomy holds that the Haze is the aggregation of energies that come in from the air which composes the space within the fabric. These energies gradually enter into Eashavar to fuel all of life's breath. They can also become overloaded, leading to thunderstorms and twisters in the worst of cases.
The Twin Moons
The twin moons,
Maeras and
Yerevas, dance together in the sky above and are intrinsically tied to the tides below. It's said that Maeras calms the sea and winds, while Yerevas brings the upheaval which leads to death and disaster. Of the two moons, Yerevas is about one-and-a-half times larger, glowing bright gold and completing a full cycle over a period of 34 days, which corresponds with a change in the Signs Up High. Maeras features an oddly purple glow - far less bright than Yerevas - and completes a cycle in 28 days, defining the time of a month.
Sometimes, the two moons interact. When they are especially close together, observers can sometimes spot the
Skywyrds, which involve bright strands of light that connect the two together. They are typically blue, white, or purple in color, and are associated with especially tumultuous seas and wild stellar magic. Annually, on the 2nd of Bachthalium, a skywyrd always occurs during an event known as Heloth's Passing.
The Light of Ea
The Light of Ea is the lifeblood of Eashavar, bringing heat and comfort to all who dwell upon its surface. The Light of Ea glows bright white which is painful to look at. It cycles through the sky once every 24 hours, defining the length of a day. Some believe it to be the local origin of the Haze; just as fire turns to smoke as it reaches to the sky, Ea's heat radiates throughout the Fabric in the form of air, condensing back into the clouds and breathing air onto the world.
The Light of Ea is often associated with a variety of deities, including
Ah'yelan and
Fraeyr. There are no explicit ties to either in any holy texts, but the associations are obvious, as the former is typically associated with sanctifying travel and the latter with inspiring life. The association is not limited to these two deities, however, and no other object in the Fabric has inspired as many comparisons to the Ones Above.
The Signs Up High
The Signs Up High are lights within the Fabric, though unlike the Sparks Beyond, they tend towards more vibrant colors and are remarkably clear. Most of the Signs are singular entities, though some are groups of dots guided by a single brightest point. They have a meaning in Eashavar comparable to constellations; because there is usually at least one Sign flickering in the sky, they are often associated with certain traits in those who are born beneath them, and they are the most common object to read for omens and portents when doing divination.
The Signs are typically named after the various dragonflights, due to their shared coloring. They also flicker in a specified order, correlating roughly to a span of 34-35 days.
The Purple Sign
The Purple Sign crests around Maeras, brightening its glow to compete against that of Yerevas itself. It is a singular sign, which completes an ellipse around the purple moon before fading once again. Those born under the Purple Sign are said to be contemplative and studious; introverts with a penchant for magic.
The Green Sign
The Green Sign is actually a pair of dots, appearing side-by-side close to the Light of Ea. The Green Sign is vaguely visible throughout the day, though it's difficult to look in the direction due to the brightness of Ea. Unlike most other signs, the Green Sign fades near midnight and reappears in the twilight hours, disappearing from the sky throughout the night. Those born under the Green Sign are considered shy and anxious, though at the same time being masters of creativity and thinking outside of the box.
The Silver Sign
The Silver Sign stands directly overhead, shining brightly down upon Eashavar as a singular object, in the shape of an almost-dotlike X. It noticably increases the amount of light in the world when it shines, though it is drowned out by the Light of Ea throughout the day. Those born under the Silver Sign are considered to be confident and courageous, though also prone to tradition and respect of hierarchy.
The Orange Sign
The Orange Sign is an array of five objects, four of which revolve around a central one which shines brighter. It is typically visible when the Light of Ea goes down, but it is fairly dull and can be drowned out by the light of Yerevas. Those born under the Orange Sign are thought to be agile and athletic, but also tend to have trouble with learning from books and picking up on abstract concepts.
The Blue Sign
The Blue Sign consists of three dots, in a triangle which rotates about the points' center. The Blue Sign is perhaps the brightest of the signs when looked at directly, though it doesn't lighten up the world as the Silver Sign might. Those born under the Blue Sign are thought to be most in tune with magic, though they are bold and reckless, which can be a dangerous combination.
The White Sign
The White Sign is largely unseen through both night and day, though it makes itself visible when larger elements of the Storm of Soot interpose themselves between it and the Light of Ea, as well as the two moons. Throughout an average night, it can be expected to show itself for a few minutes about three times. Those born under the White Sign are thought to be quiet but calculating, able to stand their ground when necessary but having few words to speak otherwise.
The Brown Sign
The Brown Sign seems to vary in number, sometimes being a singular dot sometimes being an array of many. As many as twelve dots have been alleged to be part of the Brown Sign, though even the brightest of them are very dull and difficult to find on the clearest of days. The Brown Sign seems to exist beyond the Vesamir Shield, which filters out much of the light it sheds. Those born under the Brown Sign are considered socially outgoing and friendly, though they can also be naive and subject to trusting too easily.
The Black Sign
The Black Sign is a period throughout which no sign is visible in the sky above. Nights during the Black Sign are thought to be especially dull, though this isn't actually true; the Signs (except for the Silver) barely illuminate Eashavar. Being born under the Black Sign is often considered a bad omen, in any case. Individuals associated with it are often thought to be sneaky and conniving, both during childhood and as adults, as the sign-less sky covers their plots.
The Golden Sign
The Golden Sign appears as the most disparate of signs, composed of seven lights which appear within the Void Between's most prominent gaps. These lights do not illuminate the Void, but the Void sharpens them, making them unmistakable within the sky. According to the lore of the Green Way, there are seven groves upon Eashavar which correspond to each of the signs, where their glittering light shines down upon revelers. Those born under the Golden Sign are thought to be the most religious devout individuals, as well as good listeners and community pillars.
The Red Sign
The Red Sign is the most sinister-looking of the signs, appearing as two eyes which lie between the twin moons of Maeras and Yerevas. They are not dots, but rather slits, further adding to their symbolism as eyes. They do not appear to move in relation to each other, but rather in relation to the moons. Those born under the Red Sign are thought to be quick to anger, though they are loyal friends and associates when their feelings are respected and understood.
The Storm of Soot
The Storm of Soot lies between the Light of Ea and Eashavar, a misty domain of dust and rocks. It's believed that the Storm of Soot shields Eashavar from Ea's fires, and that it also serves to filter the power of the Signs Up High, so that the people of Eashavar are not commanded by their will. The Storm of Soot is not visible to an observer without a telescope, though objects are sometimes knocked beyond it and towards the world, raining down upon its denizens. This instability is attributed to fluctuations in the magical ether which overload the Storm, much like an overload of the Haze leads to destructive weather conditions.
The Vesamir Shield
The Vesamir Shield lies further beyond the Light of Ea, but functions very similarly to the Storm of Soot. Its objects are typically larger and more sturdy, filtering out the energies of the Void while allowing the Sparks Beyond to shine through. Unlike the Storm of Soot, objects in the Vesamir Shield can sometimes be observed as comets when they are energized from their place and sent hurtling towards the Light of Ea. Many such stray objects find their way back to the Shield, though they have been touched by the energies of the Light, and they continue to stray cyclically between the two spaces. This leads to predictability among when a comet might be visible upon Eashavar.
The Vesamir Shield earns its name after
Vesamir, the Celestial Dragon of the
Adaethan people.
The Sparks Beyond
The Sparks Beyond are the dots of light that fill the night sky. These dots take the form of a road above, though they extend to the edges beyond the path in waning numbers as well. The Sparks upon this road advance throughout the year, fading into the horizon while new ones funnel forth, though a few remain ever-present. The most important of these is the Great Spark, which can always be found due northwards. The Great Spark is an important point for determining one's location withinin Eashavar, but despite it's name, it's not actually that "great." In fact, it looks like most of the other Sparks, making it difficult to pinpoint without training.
The Void Between
The Void Between is not the mere absence of objects in the Fabric, it is a negation of them. When one looks at the sky at night, they see a vast array of objects which seem to brighten the horizon, and between them lies primarily the air that fuels the Haze. In certain spots, however, there is nothing but pitch blackness, and that is where the Void truly lies. Focusing too hard upon the Void can instill a sense of terror in the observer, its effects only reduced by the protective capabilities of the Vesamir Shield.
