Astarian

The Astarian are vitian, powerful celestial fey beings, who are native to the Shardscape realm of Rhaddin's Rest. They belong to no nation and indeed believe themselves to be above the petty notion, instead being self-governed by a council of their brightest and most powerful, known as the Astarum. They are worshipped by the Vastaya of Rhaddin's Rest and beyond, who believe them to be living gods.
Broadly speaking, the Astarian are aligned with the Astarum's principles, policies, and values, but as time has gone on, individuals inspired by the stories and actions of the Crimson Star, Agarem have increasingly turned on the orthodoxy to join the breakaway Palares faction. Effectively immortal, Astarian culture places little true value to the lives of the mortals that live under their auspices. To the Astarian, mortals are lesser beings who are of little use besides as tools—political or otherwise—and entertainment.
As celestial fey, the Astarian have a cultural aversion to the earth below. They believe that their rightful place is in the heavens where they can bask in the light of the stars to which they are bonded and receive the reverence of the mortals who can only ever hope to crane their necks and gaze longingly at their light. For this reason, and to ensure that mortals are ever reminded of their place in the hierarchy of being according to the Astarian, the Astarian prefer to live in floating castles, palaces, and towers from which they can look down upon the world below.
As Seelie fey, the Astarian believe in and have a strong innate sense of order and cosmic justice. Consequently, Astarian culture values strict hierarchy and keeping to one's lane. "All stars have their place and purpose in the heavens," is an oft-quoted refrain. It is for this reason that the Astarum Council seeks to expand its dominion over all of Rhaddin's Rest. The relatively egalitarian societies of the realm's ethnic minorities are seen as an affront to the Astarian sense of cosmic order while the highly stratified cultures of the Agrian League's theocratic member states are viewed as sterling examples of the way that things must be.