ASTRALAUTUMN ASTRALAUTUMN
Letter from the Editors
It’sFall,Guys!Autumnisatimeforgathering with loved ones and we want to thank you once again for joining us for a very special AsteriansFriendsgiving.Thebondsweshare are so special and this is a time to celebrate them.
In this autumn issue of our quarterly newsletter features some incredible work by you all. Our cover story features the most fashionableWarriorofLight,LoloRiolo,and includesanexclusivefashionspread.
Next up, we featured some touching stories about family, love, and redemption, highlighting the sweetness of the season. While there may be a chill from the crisp autumn air, warm up with us in this fourth andfinalissueoftheyear.
In our next issue, we will be celebrating Starlight and once again will feature the incredible creativity of all our Asterians. We willalsoincludesomeextraspecialwaysfor youtogetinvolvedso,astheysay.... pleaselookforwardtoit!
The
Asterians
TalesofHartwyn: highlights
WarmthandComfort
ashortstorybyThanna @thannahartwyn.bsky.social
It was a quiet night in the Aster household. After the events of her most recent escapades and her harrowing fight against the Endsinger, Thanna has taken a well deserved vacation from the life of adventurer and savior of Etheirys Bidding farewell to the Scions, herself, Octo, and Setomi took to traveling the star. Not as adventurers and warriors, but as tourists; sampling the everyday pleasantries that the world had to offer Eating different culture’s cuisines, taking in the sights at a more leisurely pace, without whatever imminent danger threatened them before, and most importantly of all, plenty of sunbathing and naps. Gods, did Thanna enjoy being able to nap Of course these constant travels and trips eventually take their toll, so every now and again, Thanna and company would swing by the Asterian’s home for a little R&R. Away from any prying eyes of adoring and impassioned fans This was one such night
The trio was seated by the fire, all dressed in comfortable and warm attire. The days were beginning to get shorter and the nights beginning to get colder, so the warmth of the fire was a much welcomed companion
The duo of Octo and Setomi had dozed off to sleep. A combination of the hearty meal that Bertram had prepared for the three and the warm fire had worked effortlessly to incapacitate the two, who were now snuggled up on the couch, huddling against their shared maternal figure Thanna for that bit of extra warmth and security
Thanna looked down at Octo, who was curled up by her side, using her legs as a pillow and purring softly as she stroked the side of his head affectionately He was dressed in a much heavier jacket than the other two, even having his hood pulled up most of the time. Despite his many layers and warm interior, he still shivers on occasion An apparent bi-product of his previous furry form. It seems having fur to protect themself against the cold has lowered his tolerance Thanna smiles to herself
“If only you had come out as a hrothgar, you wouldn’t be so cold all the time.” Thanna pokes fun at the slumbering miqo'te in her lap Speaking gently enough as to not stir him from his slumber
Thanna paused for a moment.
“There’s a thought ” Thanna thought to herself, brushing hair out of Setomi’s mouth with her other hand
She knew Octo could change their gender at will. A revelation that was brought to her attention after a rather familiar looking green-haired miqo’te woman walked into the woman’s bath during their visit in Kugane after he got lonely in the men’s bath She never considered the possibility of Octo changing his appearance to that of another race. Up until then, she had just assumed that because he was a carbuncle, the feline properties of his appearance were simply ingrained into his being. Even if he couldn’t change into an Au’ra or a Roegadyn, surely he could change into a race of a similarly feline nature, right?
“I wonder if he would look anything like the old man?” Thanna muttered her thoughts aloud, turning her gaze to the roaring fire
Her mind was brought to the day that she first summoned Octo She was brought to the Arcanist guild by K'lyhia, who was spouting something about “potential” and “calculations” It was a bit of a blur, what was important was when she was handed a grimoire and instructed on the proper technique of summoning.
Thanna remembered being incredibly hesitant. She had never done magic before this point. That was always Raz’s expertise, and hers was nothing like what was thrusted in front of her But despite her trepidation, she attempted it nonetheless. She can still remember the feeling of relief and joy when she looked down at the little green carbuncle that looked back up at her How he nuzzled up against her. How he stole the fried octopus from Thubyrgeim’s lunch immediately afterwards She also remembered how when she looked at him, all she could think about was Jeroct. She was plagued by nightmares of her late fatherfigure berating her for her failures as a pirate. When she saw this little carbuncle, this apparent new variant, this “Jade Carbuncle”, she saw a chance to make him proud His apparent love for cooked cephalopods was a convenient excuse to name him Octo. She was too embarrassed to admit that, in truth, he was named after Jeroct. It felt fitting.
Thanna yawned The wave of drowsiness that had claimed her two couch companions was beginning to take its hold on her. She nestled herself deeper into the couch to get more comfortable She leaned over and kissed Setomi on the top of her head, who subconsciously smiled at the familiar presence.
“I’m sure the old man would have loved you two.” Thanna whispered, eyes, and drifted off in comfortable sleep
TheReunion highlights
ashortstorybySara/Yoshi
TheWarrior ofFashion coverstory
AglamorouscelebrationofLoloRiolobyTwiggenstein
TheBurningWall highlights
ashortstorybyJon
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earing pain shot through Seishin’s left calf like a bolt He cried out a guttural curse as the slimy form of a black eft slithered out from the reeds and leapt back into the Yugr’am river with a splash, kicking its tail quickly to escape, or perhaps to rear back and strike again. In one fluid motion Bertram drew his blade and stuck it into the dewy flesh of the eft’s back, twisting his wrist to cut short the beast’s scream until its last breath bubbled to the surface. He flicked the sword to remove its black blood, splattering it across the muddy riverbank “Seishin, I’ve got you!” Styrnrael ran to catch him before he could topple over, putting a hand on his back and easily supporting his much larger frame Seishin winced as Bertram and Styrnrael each linked one of his arms like a chain and lowered him down onto a log to rest Each tension of his calf shot another hot knife up his leg and side and split him from the inside out, and he ground his teeth together to keep from crying out The pain snuffed out the rest of his senses like water on a fire. Bertram knelt to his side and removed Seishin’s boot with a practiced hurry and care, and pulled the leg of his trousers up to his knee, careful to avoid the wound.
a hand on the Vieras shoulder, peering down with him at Seishin’s leg “Did it bite him? Will he be okay?”
“Hmm,” Bertram hummed as he inspected the bite, hovering his scarred hand over the gash as though tracing its jagged route with his finger “Ja, it’s definitely poisoned Look at the redness here around the bite. Luckily it isn’t too deep… and the venom wouldn’t have spread far yet ” He quickly tied the hem of Seishin’s gaskin below the knee as a makeshift tourniquet “You don’t move,” he said, firmly locking his stormy gray eyes with Seishin’s.
Seishin nodded, trying to focus his feverishly swimming mind on Bertram’s words Cold shivers were beginning to run up his back and neck. His ivory scales felt like they were clattering against each other The twisted orange skeins of the Burning Wall overhead tried to double in his vision, and he shook his head to ward off the been in this part of eastern gathering herbs outside pennies for the Alchemist had told him about eft special unguents that co Seishin looked up at Styrn to distract Bertram from h
highlights|theburningwall
“Styrn, there’s a plant that grows around these parts,” he grimaced. The words tasted metallic and he struggled to get them out. Styrnrael looked between them both with a wide-eyed nervousness Were this a foe to be bested with a blade or a strategy she would not be outdone, but identifying and gathering herbs was far outside her element “Yellow ginseng,” Seishin continued. “It… it grows in clusters of three to five leaves The flowers are star-shaped ”
Bertram waved a hand towards Styrnrael. “No need,” he said, continuing to inspect Seishin’s wound “I have some in my pack, ja It’s in, umm, the third pocket on the right side. Beneath the strap. It’s a yellow-brown, kind of amber root in a little pouch. Could you grab it Styrnrael? I’ll need my mortar too, in the main compartment at the top Better yet, could you bring me the whole thing?”
“Right away,” Styrnrael nodded, relief writ plain on her face as she ran to grab the satchel.
Bertram looked up at Seishin, who couldn’t stop the flush spreading across his face “What? You didn’t think you were the only herbalist here, did you?” he smirked. When Styrnrael returned, Bertram took the bag and motioned for her to take over “Hold his leg steady,” he said as she took his place, kneeling and resting Seishin’s ankle on her thigh She ran her fingers softly across his lower shin in a soothing motion as they watched Bertram add the roots and several oils to his stone mortar and start mixing them into a thick ochre paste The sweet, earthy smell emanating from the mixture already seemed to ameliorate Seishin’s cold sweats
Thetwistedorange skeinsoftheBurning Walloverheadtried todoubleinhisvision, andheshookhishead towardoffthe dizziness.
Bertram knelt and looked up at Seishin “This is going to sting a little. Let me know if you need to bite down on anything, ja?”
Slowly, methodically, he scooped a small bit of unguent from the bowl and started spreading it along the wound, rubbing it in gentle circles with his middle and forefinger as Styrnrael watched intently Seishin hissed, gripping the bark of the log so tightly that the wood began to crack. As Bertram continued massaging the salve over his skin, his hands gradually began to relax He wasn’t sure what was more soothing: the coolness of the ointment against the burning of the venom, or Bertram’s and Styrnrael’s fingers gently rubbing his leg; calming, comforting. Seishin closed his eyes and breathed deep, relaxing and allowing their tender touches to wash over him until the pain at last subsided Bertram and Styrnrael carefully lowered Seishin’s leg back to the ground, and Bertram unwound the gaskin from his knee, hinging his leg back and forth slightly to allow the blood to flow fre Now I just need you to rel do know how to do tha raised an eyebrow and s keep an eye on him for m to wash up and make us a
