The night skies of Elanthia are a mystery to many of us. Star-filled jumbles of chaos that we rarely look at, and even more rarely discuss. The intent of this series of articles is to discuss and define some of the more prominent constellations in out night skies.

Some say the Stars have been the way they are forever, others say that as history unfolds, the skies changing as events of consequence take place. No one truly knows, but the Legends and Myths, if you choose to call them that, still exist and they define our night skies.

There are countless constellations in the sky. Each has its own tale to be told.

Imaera’s Tears

Appearance:

Imaera’s Tears is a cluster of stars that seems to cascade down the sky like a waterfall. The stars near the top are the brightest and become brighter the further down the constellation you look. There are a total of 18 stars in the cluster.

Location:

In the winter, Imaera’s Tears lay low in the northern sky, slightly higher than the horizon. In the summer, the stars are high in the sky, and slightly to the northeast of their position in the winter.

Lore:

There are two major legends surrounding the name of this constellation. The Arkati only know the truth of the matter.

The first Legend:

The Arkati were present for the Ur-Daemon War, where the Drakes fought to push the Ur-Daemon back beyond the Veil from which they had come. Some of the Arkati even chose sides in the battle, fighting either for or against the Ur-Daemon as their natures dictated.

Imaera was a powerful Arkati, the child of a Great Drake that lived deep within a primeval forest. She wore the shrouds of nature even then, her hair of autumn leaves, and her skin weathered like tree bark. She and her Drake were glorious companions. However, the Ur-Daemon sought to destroy her Drake’s great forest. This was something the Drake could not allow. He rose from his slumber amongst the ancient boughs and fought the Ur-Daemon alongside his brethren.

As history has told us, the losses among the Drakes were horrible. Some were slain outright in the fighting, and others were driven mad by emotions they had never felt before in their aeon long existences. Many sacrificed themselves simply to bind the Veil tight so the Ur-Daemon could not return.

Imaera’s Drake was a powerful old one, however, and he was barely able to survive the slaughter. He returned to his forest, grievously wounded. His blood flowed freely, making lakes and rivers where once there was only forest. He fell, exhausted, at the feet of his horrified Arkati, Imaera.

The Lady of the Forest wept, knowing her Drake would not live out the day. He spoke to her of the titanic battles with the Ur-Daemons, of the massive losses the Drakes suffered, and the sacrifices made by the last few. As his final breath left his body, Imaera wept freely; sobbing and wailing like one possessed. She knew, with the loss of the Drakes, that the world would forever be changed.

She stood, still weeping, and in a flow of powerful, divine magic’s, immortalized her Drake in the mountains of the world. As she worked her magic, she wept on, and the tears, perfect and crystalline ascended to the heavens, becoming the constellation we know as Imaera’s Tears.

The second Tale:

Many are the tales passed down from one dark elf generation to the next. Many of the stories revolve around the final battle at Maelshyve, the Fortress of Despana during the Undead War. It is well known how the Dark Elves harnessed foul magic’s, turn loose a horde of mighty demons, and at last, with magic’s beyond the ken of other elves, caused the mighty towers of Maelshyve to collapse in upon themselves.

Rarely are the lands surrounding this fortress discussed. It is said the lands of Rhoska-Tor were once the most beautiful on all of Elanith. Of course, Despana’s horde spoiled all of that, but underneath the destruction, the land still retained the memory of its former glory.

In the final war council, the Dark Elves discussed this fact. They knew their magic’s would forever lie waste to thousands of acres of land surrounding Maelshyve. If they let loose their spells, the land could never be recovered, and they would forever become a barren, blasted wasteland.

In the end, all the elves knew there could be no other choice. Despana’s power was too great, and to leave her fortress standing for the sake of the land around it was unacceptable. The Dark Elves let loose their demons and their other spells. The fortress and the land around was rocked and devastated.

Some of the eldest dark elves, citing tales passed down to them, claim that, as Maelshyve was destroyed, a great sound of weeping could be heard all across the battlefield. As each tree and blade of grass was decimated, they say the great Imaera, Lady of the Forest, shed a tear for every inch of land that was destroyed. That night after the battle, during the celebration, what was left of the elven armies saw a series of falling stars, each of which slowed, and froze in the skies, becoming what we now call Imaera’s Tears.

A smirk upon the crescent moon,
Over silver sands of woe.
Dark shadowed clouds whisper to my ears,
"She's never coming back you know."

The breeze blows up into my face,
Comforting me like a friend.
I inhale deep, the rose I keep.
"Someday you'll be together again."

My poor tortured soul, can bear no more,
Despite the words of the winds,
My words hushed by the sea.
"Good winds, say farewell to my friends."

Upon pale cliffs of cold white shale,
I cannot help but sigh.
My silent form, crouched all alone,
Whispers one final, "Good-bye."

I fall to my knees, and leave my rose,
A symbol to those that pass.
I turn and leap, into the sea.
"We two, are one at last."