The Observatory: The Constellations Contest

[Ellyana Lilli]

Constellation name - The Dragonfly



Star pattern - 4 magnificently ablaze stars representing a mighty wingspan and a 5th brightly glowing star below which represents the tail.

Constellation location - Shining bold and bright - high above Balthazar’s Will

Constellation Mythology


Some unknown time ago and for some unknown reason, and with no solid truth to back it up, it has been told that a great dark bolt of energy came up from the ground and the lands which were uninhabited by man at the time, were instantly divided into two parts. One half was blessed with light and life and the creatures flourished and thrived on happiness and the other half was cursed into a great darkness and the creatures there succumbed to sadness and destruction - and they became known as the living dead who hungered for the light and for life in their wretched bodies.

Little did either side know that stuck in a small, muddy crevice in between the light and the dark was a tiny little unpretentious creature almost unseen to the naked-eye, if any were to be looking upon him. He was but a meek speck of life hidden away and seemingly unaffected physically by what was happening. He watched day in and day out from his crevice with a great sadness as the blackness around him seemed to grow larger everyday, over taking the light. For he had hoped the opposite would happen, that the light would be the stronger of the two, but he was wrong and in his realization of this, he shed a tiny, unseen tear.

In time, whatever this unknown plague was, it eventually began to spread to the side of light and take it over. For it seemed that each creature that lost hope would become changed and the more creatures that changed the more the darkness over took the side of light. Faster and faster this began to happen. It is also said that creatures of the dark begin to envy the creatures of light, and would attack them as well, feeding on their life and thus changing them to creatures of dark, robbing them of their life, light, joys, hopes and dreams. The side of light eventually began to wane and the glorious Sunrifter faded until it was almost completely over taken by dark … and then was simply no more. Or was it …?

Darkness now enveloped all the lands as far as the eye could see and the once warm air because cold and still - filled with nothing more then an eerie silence. There was no life; there was no sound but the echoes of darkness. There was no color, only a desolate landscape. There were no longer any emotions or any wind to carry the emotions on. There was no more joy and no more laughter. No more fear and no more cries. No sign of light. There was only darkness. Was hope gone forever?

Through all this time for some unknown reason the tiny creature in the crevice had slowly begun to change, and all the while still unseen and unaffected by the blanket of darkness which now completely surrounded him. His tiny dot-like body had grown long and lean and with a tail as radiant and golden as the now lost Sunrifter. From his new slender body sprouted four wings designed for flying, shimmering in glorious colors of green, purple, blue, pink and silver and more. “What is this nothingness? Why is it here and where did it come from?” He spoke aloud to himself in a calm voice as he looked up to the skies and knowing there was no answer as to why. He was calm because for some unknown reason he knew exactly what it was that he had been born to do – and do it he shall.

Without another word the morphed creature suddenly sprung from his crevice and darted up into the oppressive dark skies and off into a fantastic dance of flight! Marc after marc and day by day he weaved and twisted a new tale - flying higher and higher as he zigzagged through the darkness, back and forth and up and down he danced flawlessly, as if no obstacles could hold him back - nothing could hurt him or hinder his life’s mission. Then, for some unknown reason, it happened. As he flew about the skies his wings began to shine and reflect something. Light?! Tiny partials of glorious beloved warm light began to emerge from the ebony skies, sparkling multi faceted like tiny beacons of hope, growing brighter and stronger until the dark became tiny flecks of velvet blackness, then faded away as the Sunrifter blazed in all its glory once more! His wings continued to beat and buzz so furiously that winds blew once again, colors reflected and returned to the land and the sounds from his wings echoed throughout, awaking something inside of the creatures as they transcended back into creatures of life - filled anew with warmth, hope, joy, love and light. It was a beautiful site indeed!

The unknown creature smiled as the lands returned to what they once were and from that day on they prospered and the creatures once again lived together in a perfect harmony. Their nameless savior became known as the Dragonfly – representing to the creatures a new found light and joy and strength of the heart and soul. When he was needed no more he waved a winged farewell, and without one word he flew far up into the skies until he was no longer seen by day, but by night - perched high above what is today known as Balthazar’s Will. There he sits for eternity trying to keep the darkness at bay - his delicate yet powerful and radiant wingspan spread out protectively over the ever changing creatures which inhabit these ever changing lands and shining forever in the night skies as a symbol of hope to all creatures below.

[purazon]

constellation: the Cougar

Star pattern:
In the far east, the following constellation can be seen:


Constellation symbology
Even in ancient times, people saw a cougar in this collection of stars. The following is mostly hearsay, but one never knows how much thruth is to it.
Being a strong, cunning, agile creature of the East, the cougar itself became a symbol for the Kingdom of the East, Verthor. People would use tiny sculpts of a cougar to ‘watch’ over their homes and in times of trouble, one would look up to the nightly sky and ask the cougar for protection.
The cougar’s symbol even became so common in the East that even the noble families of Verthor would use the image of a cougar as a crest on their shields and their armour.

The legend of the cougar of Verth
This legend tells a story dating from before the golden age, from before the kingdoms were joined under an unified Valorn. Due to the age that has passed since, it seems impossible to verify if the story is even near historically correct.

In the time before the Golden Age, several Kingdoms were locked in combat with each other. The three largest and most powerful Kingdoms, Verthor, Norwind and Alornium were of equal power. As war raged on.... it seemed as if no clear victor would ever emerge.

This legend tells the story of one of these Kingdoms, how it nearly was destroyed, and how the valour and courage of a man turned the tide and restored the balance of power between the Kingdoms.

Our story starts after Verthor had lost a major battle against Norwind. As most of Verthor’s warriors lay dead on the field of battle, it was clear that its lands and cities were ripe for the taking. Groups of Norwind warriors had been sent to the major towns so that Norwind might consolidate their victory. And so one of these groups of warriors travelled through the area we now know as the grasslands, on their way to the town of Verth.
Their equipment was valuable and much more intricate than that of most warriors. Their clothing was made of the finest fabric and they wore many colored feathers. And it was clear that they were of noble birth.

In the ancient keep of Verth, lived the Lord of Verth. He was very old, but also very popular among the peasants and common folk.... He was known as Tanvirio, the ancient. He had a daughter Leagindi and a son, Wilvium, who had in turn a daughter, Magairi. Wilvium was a very tall and extremely strong man, a warrior, and he went through life with a golden cougar on a green field on his armour. It had been the symbol of the Lords of Verth for a very long time. Everybody in Verthor knew the name of Wilvium. He was so famous for his many heroic exploits on the battlefield, that he himself was nicknamed “The Cougar of Verthâ€

[Jael]

Star Pattern: A configuration of seven stars, although you almost have to squint to see the more faint ones, arranged in an imperfect, slightly elliptical circle, set in the eastern sky. The stars are brightest at the northwest and northeast curvatures of the constellation.

Mythology: As with so many important things where the original truth may have been lost or muddied through the passage of time, there is disagreement over the formation of this constellation.

There are those who hold that it was set into the black skies by the Dark Evil himself to mock Sunrifter and drain the resolve of those who dare oppose him. No other stars are visible within the circle, and some swear the skies are darker within, the antithesis of the day’s light. The [b]“Empty Sunâ€

[skylsganin]

The rat and the spilled grain.

x--x- x- x
x \x- x/ \x- x
x x


The Myth.
Once there was a fabulous city, rich in culture and wealth.
The land around prospered and the peoples of the city along with it.
All would have been well,but, as is so often the way, the people became complacent.

what matter if a little grain is spilt when there is plenty for all?

The vermin prospered, and by the time their numbers were seen as a threat it was too late.
Grain stores were contaminated and lost, disease spread through the population, and the city died.

There are some who believe the constellation shows the last rat, picking over the ruins, and others who believe that as the city died the citizens turned their eyes back towards the gods, who set the pattern in the night sky as a warning to us all.
Skyls ( 70488)

[Topaz]

Name: The Sage (Figmar the Astute)


The ancients saw it as a figure in enchanter's robes, leaning slightly forward with an outstretched hand. Some say the hand holds a quill pen, some an enchanter's staff, and some say the figure is pointing at some unknown object, unseen by any eyes less perceptive than that of the Sage.

The Legend: Figmar the Astute was one of the most famous enchanters of the Golden Age. His hunger for knowledge made him forsake wealth or power, although he might have had both, and choose a life of research and study in the great Watertown Library.

But he was not left alone with his books, for a constant stream of people came to him for help and advice. Enchanters entreated him to share his knowledge of his art, and the clerics of Branishor clamored for his theories on the nature of healing. Warriors consulted with him concerning quests for remarkable weapons and rare armor. Even the rogues stepped from the shadows to speak with him as they sought secret ways or found hidden treasure. And Figmar could not turn away those in need of his knowledge, for he hid a kind heart beneath his irascible exterior.

Finally he left the great city and sought a secluded tower in the Forest of Verth, telling only the High King his destination. There at last, he hoped, he would be left in peace.

But late one evening, a knock was heard at Figmar's door, and when he opened it, he saw a cloaked figure in front of him. Figmar knew many things, but fear was not among them, so he moved to see the figure more closely, but even when he stood close enough to see it face to face, he could see nothing but shadow. The figure spoke, and said:

What is the deepest thing?
What is the strongest thing?
What is the highest thing?

Figmar sighed in annoyance and slammed the door.

The next day, a messenger came from the High King with bad tidings. All over Valorn, citizens had been awakened through the night by a cloaked figure asking those three questions. And none of them could give (or in many cases chose to give) an answer. But each of the people who was questioned had fallen ill and was declining rapidly. Indeed, Figmar himself felt very feverish and all his joints ached, and he listened to the messenger's words while coughing heavily.

"I suppose *cough* someone must *cough* answer his riddle," said Figmar. So the High King warned all his subjects that they should not ignore the cloaked riddler, but should try to answer his riddle, and perhaps he and his mysterious plague would disappear again.

Throughout the next night, the people to whom the apparition came tried to guess the deepest thing: the ocean, the tombs, the nest where the soul leaches breed. They tried to guess the strongest thing: the giants of Altitan, the armies of the High King, the volcano of Kilican Island. And they tried to guess the highest thing: Sunrifter, the mountains, the tower of Branishor.

The next day, the messenger returned, with more word from the High King. None of the people had solved the riddle, and now the High King had a high fever and was growing weak. "I spoke to the person cloaked in shadow," he wrote to Figmar, "and he said that he had received many excellent answers, but none were the ones he sought. And he said that if he did not receive his answers in three days, then he would depart, but the plague would remain and spread without his presence, and people would begin to die. And there were many who tried to strike him down, but he vanished."

Figmar sighed as he carefully folded the High King's missive. Taking up his gemstone staff and some necessary items in his pack, he went out to where the cloaked figure had first stood, and by the light of the gemstone he looked for traces. And his sharp eyes found footprints, and he followed them until he came to a portal, and when he saw that the footprints led into the portal, he entered it, and paused, and performed an enchantment.

The figure whose face was shadowed was waiting to meet him. "You *cough* have disturbed my studies," said Figmar irritatedly. "And I have caught whatever foul ailment you brought with you *cough* from whatever past, or future, or other place you come from. Therefore, I will answer your riddle. *cough* But since I have no assurance that you will keep your word, I have enchanted your portal, so that you can no longer pass through it, *cough* neither by walking nor by teleportation nor even by death. *cough* Neither can I, of course, *cough* but that is of no importance."

For the first time, the figure showed some tension. It turned and moved toward the portal, but the way was blocked and it was clearly unable to exit. Figmar, although still coughing, was unperturbed.

"What is the deepest thing?" he said. "Love is the deepest thing."

"What is the strongest thing?" he said. "Death is the strongest thing."

"What is the highest thing?" he asked. "The courage in the hearts of the people of Valorn. There is nothing higher."

The figure shuddered once and dissipated into essence.

Figmar looked with disgust at the place where it had been. He took a deep breath and noted with satisfaction that his cough had disappeared and he no longer felt feverish.

He settled himself as comfortably as he could on the shimmering floor of the portal, with his pack as a back rest, and started to write an account of his meeting with the cloaked figure. He had no idea how long the portal would last, especially with the enchantment he had cast upon it. He might well be trapped there forever with the dissipated essence of the cloaked figure. But there were a lot of books in his pack, and even if he was going to die in this place eventually, at least he would first have some peace and quiet in which to read ...

Figmar the Astute
knows three things none may defeat:
love, death, and Valorn.

Note: The adventures of Figmar the Astute are many and varied, but he is currently known chiefly through the artifact called the Sword of the Sage, which the gods granted to Lady Fleur:

http://www.darkgrimoire.com/ishow921627 ... +Sage.html


Topaz

[Bebhinn]

Thank you to everyone whose taken the time to enter the competition. We've all enjoyed reading all the entries.

I'll be announcing the winners here on Monday 4th February.

Thanks again folks.

Bebhinn

[Lug]

Heres another entry from Az, to enjoy, which she pm'd before the deadline.

Name: The Rudder
Pattern: 6 stars - 4 in a vaguely north south direction with the final two at the bottom heading westward.
Appears: High in the night skies, pointing west.


There is a small constellation of stars, just six but if you were to draw a line between them, and filled in the area, you would see a primitive rudder. It stays high in the night skies and the tip of the rudder always points westward.

The night storm was a terrible one; the wind lashed at the sea and stirred it up to a foam-laden froth. In the saying of the Kilican pirates it was a night not meant for even Balthazar. There were men and crews out there, those who had not read the weather alright or who were too far away to heed the sign of the encroaching storm.

Those left on land could do nothing but pray. They knew how the winds would whirl the ships and sailors about making it hard for them to get their bearings. And they knew that many would be lost. Now, the pirates of Kilican and their families might not be much for prayer, but as the sounds of the prayers wound their way up in the dark night, they were heard. More importantly, they were listened to.

Who would care about pirates you might ask? Those who pillage and plunder? Perhaps in the eyes of the gods we are all more equal then you might think. For as the storm began to still, a new constellation was seen. A young, newly minted captain trying to figure out the way home and fearful he led his crew to their deaths was startled to hear a voice next to him. ‘Look to the skies, your course has been laid.’

He saw the series of stars, pointing westward, and he pointed his ship that way. Early in the morning, his exhausted crew and stormbeat ship pulled into their safe harbor.

Ever since then, the pirates of Kilican know the gods watch out for them as well, for the Rudder shines overhead, even through the darkest night.

_________________
Azure Greenhills 83729

[Lug]

We will try and decide on a top three and winner shortly, but as you can imagine, with the quality on offer, its very hard to narrow it down!

Thanks to everyone for your entries!

[Lug]

We havent forgotten!!

Poor old Bebhs been throwing up for awhile, so we havent had chance to sort out the final placings, but we do have a winner in mind.

So get well soon Bebh!

[vardian]

eeeew! Erk! Get well soon!

[Bebhinn]

Firstly I’d like to thank everyone for taking time to enter the competition. The standard has been absolutely amazing and judging it has been really really difficult.

So here we go folks ….. *drum roll*

1st Place …. The Smile or Miranda’s Smile by Azure

2nd Place …. The Cougar by Purazon

and because we couldn’t agree we have two 3rd places

3rd Place …. The Tear of the King by Kit Written and The Sword of Valorn by Vardian


Thanks again to everyone who took part. It seems almost unfair to pick these 4 above the rest of you because every entry was enjoyable to read and they all offered something different. I particularly like Will’s Requitance, because I’m a sucker for a love story and Raffe’s story of Sir Pestus, as I’ve always felt sorry for the old Knight stuck in the Castle on his own. Also a special mention to Ellyanna and Topaz for there wonderful writing.

I’m sure Lug will be putting his two penneth in after this but once again WELL DONE EVERYONE !!

[Lug]

Ill give a mention to my pal Jezz as well who's story I really enjoyed, im a sucker for animals! Being who i am I enjoyed the battle ones, like
Purzon and Kitts!!

But everyones was great in their own way, thanks all!

[kitwritten]

Thank you both very much! This was a very fun contest! Not only did it give me something to do out of the game, it also gave me great roleplaying tools in which to evolve my character. Thanks again and congratulations to everyone!

[kitwritten]

Thank you both very much! This was a very fun contest! Not only did it give me something to do out of the game, it also gave me great roleplaying tools in which to evolve my character. Thanks again and congratulations to everyone!

[JezzTheWarrior]

**laughs** thanks, Lug. It was a very interesting contest and congrats to all the winners!

Jezz

[AKA Azure]

Thank you for hosting this contest. It was lots of fun to read everyone's thoughts on the Valorn constellations.

[purazon]

Aye, thank you for hosting the contest. And thank you for the observatory.

Especially, this contest was fun, ... to stand still a moment and gaze at the stars.

Well done to all those who have entered. I enjoyed them all.

[Jael]

Unenviable task, placing such excellence! I don't think I've ever seen so MANY high quality entries for a contest! Blessings on the inspiration you gave, Bebhinn and Lug! And congrats to the winners!

[Lug]

It was a combination of a brilliant idea from Bebh and brilliant entries from everyone who entered that made the contest!

The prizes will be dished out in due course and the winning entry will be pinned up in the observatory (when guild points permit!) so that those using the telescope will have something to look at and know the story behind the name of "Mirandas Smile"

[Lug]

The winning entry now has pride of place in our Observatory! It can be viewed by travelling west from Milltown, then North from the Royal Road, then East, then up.