What's that bright star, the one right there? That one is not a star, it's the planet Akatosh.
He’s the dominion planet and eye of the Warrior constellation.
Do you remember what I taught you about his charges?
The lady, lord, and, um, the steed?
Right you are! What about the other guardians?
There's the Thief. His charges are the lover, shadow and… the tower.
Right. His dominion planet is Arkay. Who is the last one?
The Serpent?
The Serpent is important too, but he’s not
a Guardian. He’s made of un-stars and travels the night sky as if chasing the other constellations.
Care to try again?
The witch? No, the wizard.
The Mage, but close. He watches over the apprentice, the atronach, and the ritual. His eye is the
planet Julianos, the god of logic and reason. I was born under the Ritual, in Morning Star,
and I've always thought that the sign’s blessing has helped keep me out of trouble.
That’s just superstition. I was born under the Apprentice, but I’m no good at spells.
Don’t sell yourself short. You might not be good at magic, you’re a fast learner
and a clever thinker. You wouldn't have gotten the chance to go to school in Windhelm if
you weren't. Not everyone’s birthsign manifests in the same way - if it did, all the mages
would have the same birthdays! The effects of a sign differ based on the aspects of the
moons, the Divines, and other cosmological factors.
You might think it’s just superstition, but stars are gateways to magic, and these
particular combinations are especially potent. Why would every culture in Tamriel recognize
them if they did not have meaning?
The Dwemer built observatories to track and predict the movement of the stars and planets,
and the Altmer of Alinor power their magical varlines with a gargantuan orrery whose simulacrum
planets float above the island. They represent the constellations with Exemplars and the
planets with Skyharkers: Altmer who are most suited to play the part of and guard over
each celestial body. The ancient Ayleids, meanwhile, tapped into the stars’ powers
using Welkynd and Varla stones, powerful magical crystals that fell to Tamriel in the form
of shooting stars.
The human denizens of Tamriel recognized their powers too, building giant monoliths -- called
Mundus Stones by some -- that tap into the constellation’s power to grant blessings
to their supplicants.The Nedes of Craglorn in Hammerfell, were particularly fervent worshipers
of the skies.
But that was all thousands of years ago. Now we know better, right?
There’s also the story of the Guardians being personified in Craglorn in the mid second
era. The Serpent had been pulled from the heavens by a woman named Cassipia, leader
of the Scaled Court. The Guardians, called Celestials in their Mundrial forms, were defeated
and taken over by the Serpent and Cassipia, who intended to bring about what she thought
would be a new era for Tamriel. How any of this was prevented, or how it was possible
in the first place is beyond me. Maybe it was the magic of Craglorn or the instability
caused by the Planemeld between Mundus and Oblivion.
That’s still nearly a thousand years ago!
The stars are holes going from this realm, through the infinity of Oblivion, and right
into Aetherius on the other side. You can't really visit an infinitely distant hole, can
you? The Magna Ge that made them are long gone. Except for Mnemoli, the Blue Star that
appears at every Dragon Break, but if you run into her you’ll have bigger problems
to deal with.
You think you could settle for the moons little mananaut?
I guess I'll have to. It’s been done, but I’ll do it better. I thought the mananauts
weren't around anymore?
There’s been no mention of them or the Altmeri Sunbirds since the third era… but who knows
what secret military operations the Empire or Dominion are running? Control over Aetherial
thoroughfares would be a great strategic advantage for either faction.
I don’t want it to be morning. I don’t want to go to school anymore. Can’t I just
stay with you?
But you were so excited a few hours ago! Bragged that merchant’s ears off about how you’re
going to study all the way to Winterhold.
You can teach me more than any school…
You’ve got natural talent and a whole lot of drive Little Tongue. You remind me of myself
at your age, and you know what I was doing then? Going to school. Charisma and quick
thinking is good, but knowing more than the other person is the real trick of this trade.
Knowing how to work people is important too, and you’ll be better off learning both those
things in a structured setting with your peers than on the road with me.
Besides, remember how after that mammoth cheese incident, you complained about always being
hungry, dirty, and in danger?
I suppose.
Don’t worry, I’ll visit you as soon as I can and you can show me all the things you’ll
have learned. Why, I’m sure you’ll be a proper bard next time we meet!