Skill Check

Astronomy

concept art for an Evorte fire spirit which takes the form of a fiery wolf

Skill Master: Wendil Nidhogg
Rank Range: Rank 4 - 5 (and Pending)
Topics: Isilendorean Astronomy, Stars, Planets, Deities, Celestial Bodies, Constellations
Books: The Book of Astronomy
Where to Go: Course Link


About Astronomy

Isilendor is home to 2 suns, a moon and other Celestial figures that often present themselves as our deities. As you might imagine, this creates an interesting phenomenon in the world of Astronomy. We have our own constellations, solar system and even a horoscope chart for the elements. This course will teach you about all of it and more.

Each realm of Isilendor has constellations more known to them. Like the bear of Delvheim and the Leshen of Braitheld. Helios and Solis are our 2 suns, not just the gods that tend to wreak havoc upon the world. Lady Lemuria, our moon, is adored by many. If you pursue Astronomy you can get a stronger glimpse into this part of our world.

At the end of the course you will be able to acquire The Astronomy Mastery Certificate.

Task: Roll for Astronomy

Complete ONE Astronomy assignment using ONE of the below prompts.
However, you cannot choose the prompt.
Below Rank: If you are below the rank for Astronomy, there is a bonus task below.
Message Victariah Rauxilfen who will roll a 20-sided dice (d20). The result will determine your prompt.

  1. You happily attend the Astronomy lesson... only to wake up and find that you are still in bed and that you actually did not attend the lesson and realise your dream was completely nonsensical.
  2. You get caught up in a meteor strike, whether it was divine intervention or an arcane spell gone rogue, it doesn't matter, as you turn up at the end of the Astronomy lesson.
  3. You confuse midday and midnight, arriving to the site in broad daylight. By the time the lesson does roll around, you are so exhausted you can't focus.
  4. You get into an argument with another student and end up knocking over a very valuable arcane telescope... The Skill Master kicks you and the other student out of the lesson.
  5. Looking through the arcane telescope you see an asteroid... Hurtling towards you. Fortunately, the Skill Master uses the arcane arts to disintegrate the asteroid, but not before you make an absolute fool of yourself.
  6. You and another student fight over a copy of the Book of Astrology, intending to discover your elemental horoscopes... However, you instead discover that books can tear in half. The Skill Master is furious and you get the corner of shame.
  7. You're convinced you discovered a new planet, only to discover that the telescope was smudged.
  8. It's foggy. Not a single star in sight.
  9. You trip over and knock the Skill Master's telescope. It pokes them in the eye.
  10. You pull out the dustiest, nastiest book out of the pile to find that it was probably written centuries ago... Nothing useful for the lesson, but still an interesting read with outdated concepts.
  11. Good news! The weather is clear. You can see the stars today.
  12. You get to use the Skill Master's arcane telescope to observe the stars - its much clearer than the other one.
  13. You look up at the sky to see a shooting star! Wow, time to make a wish. Your wish doesn't quite come true.
  14. All the books are gone from the table, however, seeing that there are no more books available, the Skill Master gives you their own... With all their very helpful notes.
  15. It's a special time of year. You witness a lunar eclipse.
  16. Somehow you become an oracle during the lesson, accurately guessing other students' elemental horoscopes as well as being able to tell them of their past, present, and future. Has something possessed you?
  17. You bullshitted your horoscopes, yet they keep coming true. You don't know why this is happening. It is a feat worthy of Silvertongue manipulation.
  18. You find a book on Arcane Astronomy and come across a spell that brings the constellations to life. You somehow successfully cast it, filling the sky with moving constellations. The Skill Master is annoyed but also very impressed.
  19. You gaze upon the sun, but instead of going blind you have a vision of Lord Solis. You're not sure why, but he seems pleased with you.
  20. Is this divine intervention? You witness an extraordinary event - Upon a festive midnight clear, Orbs of Light rain down from the heavens. Are these the lost children of Lemuria?


Below Rank Task

You received a special invitation to the Dusk Towers for an exclusive Astronomy lesson for the lower ranks. Explicitly, the invitation requested that you come to the towers about a quarter to midnight for the lesson. At the belvedere of the astronomy tower, Wendil waited for the inexperienced students, carefully setting up some equipment and a table with Astronomy and Astrology books for them. She was a bit hesitant about providing the arcane telescope, but it was a valuable tool for their learning. At around a quarter to midnight the students began to show either in groups or alone. Once the clock was ten minutes to midnight, Wendil began to explain the task that had been set out for them. "Welcome to your special task in Astronomy, consider it an introduction," said Wendil, wearily eyeing the students and hoping there weren't any trouble-makers. "Tonight your task is to first identify what your elemental horoscope is using the Astrology books provided," Wendil gestured to the table with books in the middle of the belvedere, "and then you must look to the stars to identify a constellation... I don't mind if you use the Book of Constellations to guide you or if you fabricate your own constellations within the stars if reading books bore you..." Wendil paused, observing the students. "Well," she said, "get on with it." The students then dispersed, some heading straight for the books and a few others turning their eyes up to the stars.
  • Write an RPG text where you identify your elemental horoscope in the stars.
  • What is your elemental horoscope?
  • Describe how your character observes the sky and what they notice.
  • What does your elemental horoscope look like as a constellation? How many major stars does it have? What part of the sky was it found?
  • Send the completed entry to Victariah Rauxilfen and Wendil Nidhogg.

The Rules

  • After you have completed the assignment, message Victariah Rauxilfen.
  • The assignment does not need to be graded beforehand.
  • The assignment must meet lesson requirements (eg. format, questions answered).
  • If you choose a prompt without rolling the dice, it will not be counted for the reward.
  • Entry must be submitted by Monday 25th May at midnight.

The Prize


Telescope
A beautiful brass telescope with a blue leather grip and stars painted on leather

For more detailed sources of information, see the following links:
Hall of Attainment
Guild Registry
Astronomy
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