Astomoi (Ass-toe-moy)
Basic Information
Anatomy
While humanoid, the Astomoi are some of the strangest mortals in existence, what with their smooth featureless skin precluding even eyes or a mouth. Astomoi appear as humanoid fragments of the night's sky, with swirling nebula, stars and falling stars across their bodies, with each individual having different arrays visible. Some have one or two stars on their head that move around it as their 'vision' moves, though not all possess this. In order to live, the Astomoi can leech nutrients directly from foodstuffs, though this ability makes them quite vulnerable to disease.
Genetics and Reproduction
Astomoi can choose what their forms appear like, for the most part, though due to their alien biology they do not possess 'gender' as other mortal species do. In order to reproduce, two Astomoi share part of their essence, which becomes a small swirling ball of 'chaos'. This form learns about the world from their 'parents' and will alter itself over a few years, eventually reaching a solid humanoid form around the age of ten.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
As they do not possess any eyes, the Astomoi 'see' in all directions at once, though the range of this ability is quite limited, to about twenty meters. In order to see anything beyond this range the Astomoi need to limit their band of perception in order to get more information than a blurry image. This is done via a strange natural magical ability to read the area around them, though since their arrival on the Material Plane the Astomoi have had to adapt this ability to see further.
Civilization and Culture
History
When the world was formed from the primordial forms of the Primal Gods, they were not the only entities to feed off of the energies of the proto-plane, as countless smaller entities that come to be known as the Astomoi also fed off of its energies. When the Primals formed the Material Plane, the Astomoi decided not to leave in search of another proto-plane, but remained, taking humanoid form after witnessing Yemar and Ylros create humanoid life. When they did this, the Astomoi did not retain their immortality, nor their memories, though existence here was better than an eternity of wandering the darkness.
After magic awoke on Ioral, the Astomoi were the first to harness it in any meaningful way, as their Aberren Sages would spend centuries exploring its potential, though not without their mistakes. Eventually, however, these Sages would fall into legend as their home island of Aberren had more need of hands in the field than pondering scholars after years of famine. Despite their downfall, the Astomoi of Astraum maintained their knowledge of magic and would continue to use it, albeit to a lesser degree than the Sages, until the Sages returned 1180 years later.
When the Sages returned during the Bronze Age, in the year 700 BE, the Astomoi of Astraum were brought to heel under the reign of the Sages, as they had kept witnessing the Tribes of Astraum brutally attacking each other with no end in sight. Most tribes submitted after the Sages revealed themselves, though some had to witness the power of the Sages before they would submit. This new nation, the United Tribes of Astraum, would exist to further the quality of life for all Astomoi, as all resources could be pooled towards this goal. Great works of infrastructure were built, new technologies introduced and utilized, the rest of the archipelago properly colonized and brought into the fold. Things would continue like this until 1090 BE, when Astraum was reorganized into a Republic after the Sages believed that the old tribal rivalries and disputes had been eradicate.
This new state would go on to colonize the southern coast of Il'Arthel, with a focus on returning resources back to the home islands. This focus was fine for the colonists, they lived in great conditions and wanted for little, though in time this deal would no longer be enough for them. When the War of the Star came about, the Republic launched what they believed to be a preemptive invasion against the Empire, teleporting three armies into Imperial territories beyond the Imperial Eastern fortifications. These armies would wreak havoc across the Empire of the Sun, utilizing the rebellious Striven and the opportunistic Guzord to hold ground while the Republic kept on pushing. In Mindyl, an obelisk of teleportation was erected near the city atop a mountain peak, enabling easy reinforcements to arrive without worrying about naval warfare. Ultimately, however, the war was fought to a stalemate, as the Republic could not keep pushing after their losses and the Empire could not break the Republican lines. Astraum was given a few port cities, would sign a non-interference pact with the Empire and immediately withdraw their armies from Imperial territory.
With the Western threat dealt with, the Astomoi turned to rebuilding their people, as the loss of so many, the duration of the conflict and the turning of so many industries towards war had left the nation war weary. As they rebuilt their nation, the Astomoi watched as, just as the Sages had predicted, the post-War Empire began to tear itself apart, as in 1376 BE, the Imperial Civil War occurred. While this civil war did not end the Empire, it did severely weaken it, as the Imperial Borderlands were lost and the entire Imperial Navy rebelled and promptly was sunk by the Striven. The Astraum could not revel in their victory for too long, however, as only five years after the end of the Imperial Civil War ended, something unexpected happened, the global temperature began to rise.
Despite all their power of divining, the Sages of Aberren did not foresee the coming of the Long Summer, and when it began the Sages were at a loss for what was happening. With new calculations coming to the conclusion that, if not stopped, the surface would be unlivable, the Sages spent the better part of a century trying to stop the catastrophe, to no avail. By this point, word of nations collapsing, jungles drying up and deserts spreading had the populace of Astraum in the grips of fear, until the Sages finally gave up on trying to stop the apocalypse, but instead began to try to survive it. A great undertaking was begun, where the Sages would create a massive demi-plane within which the Astomoi could wait out the heat, until the rains returned. In order to achieve this, massive amounts of resources would be needed to create the demi-plane, as well as portal to and from, and stockpiles of resources to last them millennia.
Thus, a great burned was placed upon the colonies of the Republic in Il'Arthel, as they would need to feed the Republic more resources in only a few decades than they had ever in their existence, creating atrocious working conditions. Eventually, the people of the colonies rebelled against Astraum, and began the Astraum Civil War, though the Republic did not know it yet. When shipments of materials stopped coming in, the Republic was worried but not overly so, as the nearby governor of Ferkumabermo would investigate, though reports of Federal ships flying different flags and attacking patrols was of great concern. When the Governor of Ferkumabermo went personally to investigate, their head was sent back to the capital of Ferkumabermo on board the now deserted vessel.
This civil war would go on for twenty five years, as the rebels would nearly take the largest of the Ferkumabermo islands shortly after the governors head was returned, though the Republic would deploy troops to counter attack. For five years the rebels and Federal forces would go back and forth on Ferkumabermo, until finally the Federal forces pushed the rebels back from the island. Following this, a period of three years went by without much action as the Federal army planned their invasion of the colonies, though much espionage was performed by both sides. Most notably was the rebellion of the treaty ports on Ahuduir, which were lost and almost entirely forgotten about by the Republic as they focused their attention on the resources of Il'Arthel. When Federal troops did land, they spent seven years brutally pushing the rebels back, until a new rebel strategy was implemented. Rebel raiding parties would prevent the flow of reinforcements and goods via sea, while Rebel Mages would intercept any attempts to teleport onto Il'Arthel. So effective was this strategy that it choked the Federal army into stagnation, allow for the rebels to regroup their armies and take a few small islands. Finally, the rebels launched their counter offensive, with a new front in the West, opened by an army of twenty thousand Kalurai mercenaries, taking the Federal forces by surprise and taking much land before the Republican armies could redeploy. So effective was this move that the Federal forces would be forced off of Il'Arthel within a year, forcing the Federal army to rethink their strategy.
In order to close a potential avenue for rebel aid, the Federal government granted the rebellious Ahuduir cities their freedom in exchange for guarantees that they would not aid the Il'Arthan rebels. Back at home, most of the Federal government wanted to agree to peace terms, but the Aberren Sages had been slighted and their plans ruined, so peace would not come for another nine years. During this time, the Federal navy would dedicate their resources to raiding the rebel cities, taking the resources that they could so that the Sages might be able to finish some of the project. Eventually, the Federal government was forced to sign a peace deal with the rebels, as they could no longer afford the conflict due to issues on the home islands.
Between the years of 184 LS and 255 LS the Republic of Astraum and the rebellious Arthan nation would collapse due to civil strife and famine, though Astraum managed to somewhat preserve itself on the home Island. With the project half completed, the Sages and those remaining loyal to the government were evacuated into the demi-plane, before it was sealed off. Since then, the Astomoi of Astraum have returned to their tribal conflicts, though those that survived on Il'Arthel have spread out across the other continents as well, integrating with other mortal sapiens.
After magic awoke on Ioral, the Astomoi were the first to harness it in any meaningful way, as their Aberren Sages would spend centuries exploring its potential, though not without their mistakes. Eventually, however, these Sages would fall into legend as their home island of Aberren had more need of hands in the field than pondering scholars after years of famine. Despite their downfall, the Astomoi of Astraum maintained their knowledge of magic and would continue to use it, albeit to a lesser degree than the Sages, until the Sages returned 1180 years later.
When the Sages returned during the Bronze Age, in the year 700 BE, the Astomoi of Astraum were brought to heel under the reign of the Sages, as they had kept witnessing the Tribes of Astraum brutally attacking each other with no end in sight. Most tribes submitted after the Sages revealed themselves, though some had to witness the power of the Sages before they would submit. This new nation, the United Tribes of Astraum, would exist to further the quality of life for all Astomoi, as all resources could be pooled towards this goal. Great works of infrastructure were built, new technologies introduced and utilized, the rest of the archipelago properly colonized and brought into the fold. Things would continue like this until 1090 BE, when Astraum was reorganized into a Republic after the Sages believed that the old tribal rivalries and disputes had been eradicate.
This new state would go on to colonize the southern coast of Il'Arthel, with a focus on returning resources back to the home islands. This focus was fine for the colonists, they lived in great conditions and wanted for little, though in time this deal would no longer be enough for them. When the War of the Star came about, the Republic launched what they believed to be a preemptive invasion against the Empire, teleporting three armies into Imperial territories beyond the Imperial Eastern fortifications. These armies would wreak havoc across the Empire of the Sun, utilizing the rebellious Striven and the opportunistic Guzord to hold ground while the Republic kept on pushing. In Mindyl, an obelisk of teleportation was erected near the city atop a mountain peak, enabling easy reinforcements to arrive without worrying about naval warfare. Ultimately, however, the war was fought to a stalemate, as the Republic could not keep pushing after their losses and the Empire could not break the Republican lines. Astraum was given a few port cities, would sign a non-interference pact with the Empire and immediately withdraw their armies from Imperial territory.
With the Western threat dealt with, the Astomoi turned to rebuilding their people, as the loss of so many, the duration of the conflict and the turning of so many industries towards war had left the nation war weary. As they rebuilt their nation, the Astomoi watched as, just as the Sages had predicted, the post-War Empire began to tear itself apart, as in 1376 BE, the Imperial Civil War occurred. While this civil war did not end the Empire, it did severely weaken it, as the Imperial Borderlands were lost and the entire Imperial Navy rebelled and promptly was sunk by the Striven. The Astraum could not revel in their victory for too long, however, as only five years after the end of the Imperial Civil War ended, something unexpected happened, the global temperature began to rise.
Despite all their power of divining, the Sages of Aberren did not foresee the coming of the Long Summer, and when it began the Sages were at a loss for what was happening. With new calculations coming to the conclusion that, if not stopped, the surface would be unlivable, the Sages spent the better part of a century trying to stop the catastrophe, to no avail. By this point, word of nations collapsing, jungles drying up and deserts spreading had the populace of Astraum in the grips of fear, until the Sages finally gave up on trying to stop the apocalypse, but instead began to try to survive it. A great undertaking was begun, where the Sages would create a massive demi-plane within which the Astomoi could wait out the heat, until the rains returned. In order to achieve this, massive amounts of resources would be needed to create the demi-plane, as well as portal to and from, and stockpiles of resources to last them millennia.
Thus, a great burned was placed upon the colonies of the Republic in Il'Arthel, as they would need to feed the Republic more resources in only a few decades than they had ever in their existence, creating atrocious working conditions. Eventually, the people of the colonies rebelled against Astraum, and began the Astraum Civil War, though the Republic did not know it yet. When shipments of materials stopped coming in, the Republic was worried but not overly so, as the nearby governor of Ferkumabermo would investigate, though reports of Federal ships flying different flags and attacking patrols was of great concern. When the Governor of Ferkumabermo went personally to investigate, their head was sent back to the capital of Ferkumabermo on board the now deserted vessel.
This civil war would go on for twenty five years, as the rebels would nearly take the largest of the Ferkumabermo islands shortly after the governors head was returned, though the Republic would deploy troops to counter attack. For five years the rebels and Federal forces would go back and forth on Ferkumabermo, until finally the Federal forces pushed the rebels back from the island. Following this, a period of three years went by without much action as the Federal army planned their invasion of the colonies, though much espionage was performed by both sides. Most notably was the rebellion of the treaty ports on Ahuduir, which were lost and almost entirely forgotten about by the Republic as they focused their attention on the resources of Il'Arthel. When Federal troops did land, they spent seven years brutally pushing the rebels back, until a new rebel strategy was implemented. Rebel raiding parties would prevent the flow of reinforcements and goods via sea, while Rebel Mages would intercept any attempts to teleport onto Il'Arthel. So effective was this strategy that it choked the Federal army into stagnation, allow for the rebels to regroup their armies and take a few small islands. Finally, the rebels launched their counter offensive, with a new front in the West, opened by an army of twenty thousand Kalurai mercenaries, taking the Federal forces by surprise and taking much land before the Republican armies could redeploy. So effective was this move that the Federal forces would be forced off of Il'Arthel within a year, forcing the Federal army to rethink their strategy.
In order to close a potential avenue for rebel aid, the Federal government granted the rebellious Ahuduir cities their freedom in exchange for guarantees that they would not aid the Il'Arthan rebels. Back at home, most of the Federal government wanted to agree to peace terms, but the Aberren Sages had been slighted and their plans ruined, so peace would not come for another nine years. During this time, the Federal navy would dedicate their resources to raiding the rebel cities, taking the resources that they could so that the Sages might be able to finish some of the project. Eventually, the Federal government was forced to sign a peace deal with the rebels, as they could no longer afford the conflict due to issues on the home islands.
Between the years of 184 LS and 255 LS the Republic of Astraum and the rebellious Arthan nation would collapse due to civil strife and famine, though Astraum managed to somewhat preserve itself on the home Island. With the project half completed, the Sages and those remaining loyal to the government were evacuated into the demi-plane, before it was sealed off. Since then, the Astomoi of Astraum have returned to their tribal conflicts, though those that survived on Il'Arthel have spread out across the other continents as well, integrating with other mortal sapiens.
Lifespan
350 years
Average Height
1.8m
Average Weight
70kg
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