Daily Life: Celestial Objects
With the help of magic, astronomers in Tellaia have a good understanding of the bodies in their solar system. Tellaia is one of eight planets orbiting the sun Sole. It has three moons, called the Three Sisters. Further out are the stars, which have been divided into thirteen major constellations, each lending their name to a month.
At the centre of the solar system is Sole, the sun, which does not move (as far as anyone knows).
The first planet orbiting it is Fortuna. This is a small white planet, with an orbit of 53 days. It is associated with the element of Air, and the magic of Illusion.
The second planet is Bellona. It is red, and about half the size of Tellaia. Its orbit is 97 days. It is associated with the element of Fire, and the magic of Evocation.
The third planet is Amora. It is gold, and about three-quarters the size of Tellaia. Its orbit is 173 days. It is associated with the element of Water, and the magic of Enchantment.
The fourth planet is Tellaia. It is a blue-green planet, and the only one that is inhabited. It is associated with the element of Earth. It has an orbit of 365 days. Tellaia is not associated with any wizardly magic, but is the source of nature magic according to its practitioners. Some elementalists point out that their magic is native to Tellaia, rather than being drawn from the stars as well. Tellaia is orbited by three moons called La Tre Sorelle (the Three Sisters). Sorellina (Little Sister) has an orbit of 17 days, and Sorellona (Big Sister) has an orbit of 19 days. Sorella Anziana (Old Sister) has an orbit of 29 days. If other planets also have moons, they have not yet been discovered.
The fifth planet is Genia. It is a green planet, about twice the size of Tellaia, with red-brown rocky scarring. Some believe that it acts as a shield, drawing in asteroids. It has an orbit of 479 days, and is associated with the element of Earth and the magic of Abjuration.
The sixth planet is Musa. It is a reddish gas giant, with an orbit of seven years. It is associated with the element of Fire, and the magic of Transmutation.
The seventh planet is Urbina. It is a bronze-gold coloured gas giant, with an orbit of 17 years. It is associated with the element of Air and the magic of Conjuration.
The eighth and final planet is Morta. It is an ice giant, purplish-blue planet, with an orbit of 23 years. It is associated with the element of Water and the magic of Necromancy.
Outside these are the stars. The major arrangement of stars is called the Belt of Ercole, after the legendary hero, and the thirteen constellations in it, named after his exploits, define the thirteen months. They are also used in astrology, where a person's horoscope is determined by the positions of the sun, moons and planets relative to the constellations at the time of birth.
The constellations are the Bulette (associated with fire), the Troll (associated with earth), the Pegasus (associated with air), the Hydra (associated with water), the Griffin (associated with fire), the Unicorn(associated with earth), the Blink Dog (associated with air), the Lamia (associated with water), the Harpy (associated with fire), the Ettin (associated with earth), the Sphinx (associated with air) and the Aboleth (associated with water). The thirteenth constellation is the Dragon, although it was once associated with Ercole himself. It is associated with the element of Aether, and those born under its sign are marked for a great or terrible destiny.
At the centre of the solar system is Sole, the sun, which does not move (as far as anyone knows).
The first planet orbiting it is Fortuna. This is a small white planet, with an orbit of 53 days. It is associated with the element of Air, and the magic of Illusion.
The second planet is Bellona. It is red, and about half the size of Tellaia. Its orbit is 97 days. It is associated with the element of Fire, and the magic of Evocation.
The third planet is Amora. It is gold, and about three-quarters the size of Tellaia. Its orbit is 173 days. It is associated with the element of Water, and the magic of Enchantment.
The fourth planet is Tellaia. It is a blue-green planet, and the only one that is inhabited. It is associated with the element of Earth. It has an orbit of 365 days. Tellaia is not associated with any wizardly magic, but is the source of nature magic according to its practitioners. Some elementalists point out that their magic is native to Tellaia, rather than being drawn from the stars as well. Tellaia is orbited by three moons called La Tre Sorelle (the Three Sisters). Sorellina (Little Sister) has an orbit of 17 days, and Sorellona (Big Sister) has an orbit of 19 days. Sorella Anziana (Old Sister) has an orbit of 29 days. If other planets also have moons, they have not yet been discovered.
The fifth planet is Genia. It is a green planet, about twice the size of Tellaia, with red-brown rocky scarring. Some believe that it acts as a shield, drawing in asteroids. It has an orbit of 479 days, and is associated with the element of Earth and the magic of Abjuration.
The sixth planet is Musa. It is a reddish gas giant, with an orbit of seven years. It is associated with the element of Fire, and the magic of Transmutation.
The seventh planet is Urbina. It is a bronze-gold coloured gas giant, with an orbit of 17 years. It is associated with the element of Air and the magic of Conjuration.
The eighth and final planet is Morta. It is an ice giant, purplish-blue planet, with an orbit of 23 years. It is associated with the element of Water and the magic of Necromancy.
Outside these are the stars. The major arrangement of stars is called the Belt of Ercole, after the legendary hero, and the thirteen constellations in it, named after his exploits, define the thirteen months. They are also used in astrology, where a person's horoscope is determined by the positions of the sun, moons and planets relative to the constellations at the time of birth.
The constellations are the Bulette (associated with fire), the Troll (associated with earth), the Pegasus (associated with air), the Hydra (associated with water), the Griffin (associated with fire), the Unicorn(associated with earth), the Blink Dog (associated with air), the Lamia (associated with water), the Harpy (associated with fire), the Ettin (associated with earth), the Sphinx (associated with air) and the Aboleth (associated with water). The thirteenth constellation is the Dragon, although it was once associated with Ercole himself. It is associated with the element of Aether, and those born under its sign are marked for a great or terrible destiny.
Art: 'The Flammarion Engraving.' Anonymous, c. 1888.
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