Tenteisei’s Servants

Most unique within the night sky and different from Earth, the constellations which make up the earth zodiac do not follow the ecliptic, rather they appear independent of each other and with no apparent ‘schedule’. Where the other Yuriban constellations are visible at set times year year, these constellations, known as Tenteisei’s Servants, appear at seemingly random times for varying lengths of visibility, viewed as omens much like comets were in early earth history. However, unlike the common earth view of comets, the Servant’s omens and presence are not always associated with negative events. Theory suggests that there is a pattern to their appearances, but since many records of their showing up in the night sky have been lost, no schedule of their showing exists.

Each of these constellations have a known, ‘public’ meaning that is fairly common knowledge amid the society, though each also carry a deeper more secret meaning taught only to priestesses of Tenteisei, and mainly to those not gifted with precognition, those priestesses having a different focus than the study of stars. While the presence of one of the Servants in the sky can tell a fortune for a child born during it’s showing, these constellations do not have a strong correlation to Yuriban horoscope.

The SkyWatchers

Those who follow the Star Bringer yet are not gifted with precognition frequently train to be 'SkyWatchers', dedicated to watching the stars for signs and messages from the Goddess. These women know the deeper meanings behind Tenteisei’s Servants, and the sighting of shooting stars and Tsuki's Tears. One of these SkyWatchers, typically a lower ranking or new priestess, has always been stationed outside of Underhill on the island proper, typically within an isolated location which still affords quick return to Underhill, keeping herself isolated from the populations which make their home upon the island. Her job is to watch the night sky for the appearance of one of the Servants or other notable activity with the stars, and to report to a senior priestess immediately. This position is typically a short term shift, rotating to a new acolyte every five to ten years, though record indicates a few SkyWatchers who took this position for an extended period of time.

The Servants

Pisces = Mina

Also viewed by Yuribans as a pair of fish connected by a tie, when Mina rises in the sky is an omen of prosperity and good fortunes, directing the people to prepare for the extra work to gather in a good harvest and hunt.

Aries = The Sheep

Sharing a similar visual representation, the Sheep is viewed as the horns of one of the Omertà Sheep. It’s appearance signifies conflict of a territorial nature, much like the habits of the sheep it’s believed to represent. It is said to have been visible the during the years of the decline of the Lilian Civilization, and is thus viewed as a rather negative omen.

Taurus = Naiad

Sharing name with the water spirits and seen as a downward swimming woman, Naiad is another of several water-based Servants. This Servant foretells the ease of completion of a major task, last seen before the building of the major parts of the village of Yuriba.

Gemini = The Lovers

The most vague of the Servants, depicted as two women holding hands, The Lovers meaning is highly dependent upon the other stars in the sky at it’s appearance. Should the Broken Lovers be present, the meaning is thought to be a rough time for relationships, namely between the Goddesses themselves (which can lead to any number of consequences depending upon the Goddesses in question), but the most common meaning is of a time of prosperity for the society in the form of several births, connecting The Lovers to the ever present Mother Wolf and her cub.

Cancer = Treoraigh

Treoraigh, or most often called Treo, is shown as an arrow, and is unique among the Servants in how it does not stay in a fixed position on top of it’s random appearing. Seen as a most direct pointing by the Goddess Tenteisei to another omen, it’s not an omen so much as it’s a giant cosmic arrow indicating where the priestesses really need to focus their attention. Most often this arrow points to other Servants should multiples of them be visible; indicating which is the most ‘important’, or to others of the usual constellations. Occasionally Treo seems to point to nowhere, in which case the priestess needs to look further than to the stars. The appearance of Treo is exceedingly rare, only four known records of its showing exist, most recent being at the crack of Jan. 1, 2012. Prior, it had last been seen nearly eight hundred years ago, pointing ‘nowhere’; what it was pointing to has never been publicly determined.

Leo = Fionnuala

Seeming to borrow from the Irish and Gaelic traditions the Yuribans had trade with, Fionnuala represents a whale cresting the surface of the ocean to breathe. It’s showing in the sky is an omen of a period of prosperity for the fishing ships, or hinting to arrival of a group of immigrants from sea, depending on the length of it’s visibility.

Virgo = Sylph

Taking it’s name from the wind spirits and seen to represent a flying sylph, this Servant is oft seen as a sign of a time of great intellectual growth. Previous sightings of this Servant have corresponded with the introduction of a new school of thought, a new technology, or the birth of a great teacher.

Libra = ???

To date no grouping of stars equaling what is known as Libra on earth has appeared, or if it has, record and knowledge of it has been lost. Knowledge of the earthly meaning of the sign has lead several priestesses to keep close watch for anything which may resemble such a constellation, reserving their assigning of a meaning until that time.

Scorpius (Scorpio) = The Weaver

Shown as a spider weaving it’s web, the Weaver has multiple meanings just as the spider has multiple legs. Some view it as a negative time of secrets and lies weaving a web of deceit, others view it as the weaving of the fate of multiple souls, this view having a more neutral aspect. Others still see it as a good time to establish a home like the spider does with building it’s web while others see this as a time to plan carefully for an ultimate goal which will come out well with the Weaver’s blessing. Often the meaning relies upon when the spider climbs into the sky and what other constellations are visible.

Sagittarius = Kiretsu

The Japanese word for ‘crack’, this constellation is viewed as the cracked surface of a stone, or in this case, a literal crack in the sky. Viewed as a portent to strong rains which would pour down from it, it can also signify a coming earthquake. More recent translations say the crack shows the breaking of a relationship between persons of importance, though not always to negative results.

Capricornus (Capricorn)= The Triangle

Viewed quite literally, when the Triangle rises indicates activity within the so called ‘Devils Triangle’, predicting either arrivals from different planets to Yuriba, a modern meaning, or warning against travel, lest one find their way off of Yuriba with little way back. Also signifies a time of unpredictable strength of magic.

Aquarius = Bakufu

Japanese for ‘Waterfall’, this constellation has similar appearance to it’s earthly counterpart, though instead of a water-bearer pouring water, it’s seen as a waterfall at the end of a river. Depending upon the time of year, Bakufu can signal danger of a watery origin such as a typhoon or tsunami of terrible destructive capabilities, or signal a heavy, long winter.