Star Signs

Fantasy star signs deserve more in-depth information and attention than "you are an astrologer, you can get a +1d4 once per day." If you (the character) live in a world where astrology is real and the gods do, in fact, dwell among the stars, then that should be reflected in your character sheet.

So, that said, let's make some astrological signs, associated constellations, and the features & behaviors that go with them.

There are 13 signs; 12 bright and 1 hidden sign. This goes nicely with the 12 classes (with artificers or warlocks left out, because one sucks and the other is thematically good for exile). Each individual has three Signs to be aware of: your primary, your secondary, and your tertiary, or Earth, Sun, and Moon. Your Earth sign is the core, and may grant you a minor bonus or ability. Your Sun, or secondary sign, defines your interactions with the external world, and your Moon, or tertiary sign, has some effect on your spirituality or self-reflection. The Sun sign is where the sun was at the hour of your birth, more or less. The Moon sign is about the phase the moon was in. Voila, a working astrology set-up.

The 13th sign was hidden, deposed, or otherwise done away with because it was indivisible. The ancient astrologers preferred 12, as it can be halved, thirded, quartered, or sixth'd. The only better thing would have been 24 or 60. Thus, the 13th was slowly eliminated from star charts until there were 12 commonly accepted signs. The 13th sign is only 'assigned' to those who have died & been resurrected*, or otherwise were severed from their birth sign in some way.

• Characters that are dead more than a day can, at the time of their resurrection, take the new signs as though they were born again at their resurrection, or can take the Stranger's sign.

Certain combinations are immensely prized. A Zenith/Full Moon/Emperor combination would be viewed as a natural leader, no doubt destined for greatness. A Nadir/New Moon/Hermit might be (assumed to be) an outcast and suited for academic pursuits out of the public eye.

A lot of this is bunk. Anyone can be anything, but some have natural aptitude.

January - The Martyr - a constellation called the pyre, usually interpreted as a person being burnt at the stake, or as an animal offering being burnt on an altar

Wizard

Arcana

February - Death - a constellation called the mirror, depicting two people reaching across a divide of blackness in the sky

Rogue

Stealth

March - The Wanderer - a constellation called the river, depicting a meandering road or river

Ranger

Survival

April - The Suitor - a constellation called the lyre, in the rough shape of a stringed instrument

Bard

Deception

May - The Druid - a constellation called the sickle, depicting a sickle or scythe, and in some interpretations a reaper using it in a field

Druid

Animal Handling

June - The Seer - a constellation called the hawk, eagle, crow, or raven, depicting an bird in flight

Sorcerer

Performance

July - The Fiend - a constellation called the chalice, depicting a wide chalice

Barbarian

Intimidation

August - The Emperor - a constellation called the crown, just a few stars in a line, but featuring one of the brightest in the sky as its 'crown jewel'

Paladin

Persuasion

September - The Priest - a constellation called the ox, depicting a huge bull or wide-horned cow

Cleric

Insight

October - The Judge - a constellation called the scales, depicting a set of balanced scales

Monk

Acrobatics

November - The Warrior - a constellation called the tower, depicting a massive walled castle keep or tower

Fighter

Athletics

December - The Sage - a constellation called the fox or the badger, depicting a fox or a badger

Artificer

Investigation

??? - The Stranger - a constellation called the seer, depicting a figure wrapped in a snake

Warlock

any one skill or tool set

Dawn: Reinforcement, returning, renewal of hope

+1 Cha

Rising: Growing, fruitfulness

+1 Dex

Zenith: Brightness, supremacy

+1 Str

Setting: Maturity, comfort

+1 Wis

Dusk: Transitions, reflection, parting

+1 Int

Night: Rest, absence

+1 Con

Eclipse: Peculiarity

+2 to any, -1 to any

New: Unpredictability, forgetfulness, impulsivity

friends

Waxing Crescent: New experiences, inquisitiveness, exploration

mending

Half: Changing, reversals, supporting others

spare the dying

Waxing Gibbous: Growth, competence

guidance

Full: Centered, powerful, self-possessed

light

Waning Gibbous: Maturity, accepting help from others

message

Waning Crescent: Contentment, resignation, or sorrow

blade ward