The Brightest Star

The Brightest Star is one of three Fate Signs that players may select from during character creation. It is the symbol of protectors, and those who act without hesitation. Within the Palmes Mantra, the Brightest Star represents "the will to face the present," and is represented by a crown of mountainous spikes, with a single spike in the center pointing downwards.

Players who select the Morning Sun as their astrological sign recieve +1 to Ability at the start of the game, and are overall considered to have heightened physical capability. They are said to have a noble destiny, and their Secret Objectives tend to involve active, direct change. The Evident Boons they are given "tend to be implements and tools useful for exploration or interaction, or skills that make them adaptable even under harsh conditions."

Its associated color is red, and items associated with the Brightest Star may glow this color when activated.



Player Characters

 * Thomas Ingold
 * Astrid Daugherty
 * Sampson O'Broin
 * Luciana Walker
 * Maureen Edda

Non-Player Characters
No Brightest Star NPCs are currently known.

Items Associated with the Brightest Star

 * Sword found in the Old Storage
 * Brick found in the Dormitories Washroom

Speculation

 * The symbol representing the Brightest Star strongly resembles the jeweled crown of Lord Arcturus from The Never-Ending Cycles. Lord Arcturus is the king and foremost of seven venerated spirits in the story's setting, and is revered as a champion of human will. He is an affectionate spirit who values freedom and agency, but despises those who use their power to suppress the dignity of others. He is associated strongly with forge-flame.
 * Within the greater universe of Terra Firma's collaborative works, Lord Arcturus is a manifestation of Arthur Cheng Long, one of the player characters in the play-by-post strategy game Attack on Castle High. A prideful mercenary whose bawdy attitude belies his deep conviction and affection for others, he ascended to the greatest height of his strength when he committed himself to "becoming the end of all battles." The philosophy is a two-sided pacifist mindset proposing that true peace can be only be obtained by exerting the precise amount of force needed to stop a given conflict. By proving one's infallible conviction to others, conflict can be ended with true, complete finality.
 * The final conflict of Attack on Castle High pitted players and their allies against Grandmaster Azure, an extremely powerful ancient magus whose astrological prowess led him to gain dominion over fate itself. Near the end of the game, Arthur broke past the weakened curtain of reality to "cut towards a future where all battles have ended;" ascending to the peak of the Expanse (the continuous medium containing all universes) and creating Astrum Arcturus, a brilliant red star whose light can be seen from any world. From his vantage point, Arthur and his star pursue Grandmaster Azure across the expanse (as well as other entities with similar powers), intent on inspiring and empowering humans to "overcome cruel fate" with their inner strength.
 * The theming and symbolism surrounding the Brightest Star strongly suggests a true identity in Astrum Arcturus. During the final combat with The Hands on Turn 9 of Act 1, a bright red light filled the Old Storage and bathed the sword held by Maureen Edda in flames--bestowing the power to kill the Hands after it was revealed to be a fragment of a larger, unkillable being. At the beginning of that battle, players were also given the impression that they were accompanied by "an old friend": possibly alluding to either (or both of) Arthur's presence in Attack on Castle High, or his station as the guard of human will. Granting Maureen the strength to overcome The Hands midway through battle aligns with Arthur's philosophy of only exerting overwhelming strength when it is absolutely necessary.