Landsrue Astrology
by Dave and Diane

T'Klendathu
The magical school in Tellek is justly famed for the quantity and quality of its astrologers. It is said to have the most advanced equipment, both magical and mundane, for observing the heavens in all of Landsrue. The following syllabus, found discarded in a Tellek tavern after a particularly rowdy night, can be considered a fair sample of a first-year's coursework.

Introductory Astrology
Taught by Chet'sway'al the Kushite
(former astrologer to the Hierogate Heloise of Tellek)

  1. Introductory remarks
    1. Course requirements
    2. Observation schedule
  2. History of astrology
    1. Pre-Epimetreus
    2. From Epimetreus to Tellek
    3. Founding of Tellek in 294 AE
    4. A brief survey of important astrologers
      1. Forfindel (541 AE)
      2. Hathobeard (772 AE)
      3. Ursula the Woadhite (899 AE)
  3. The Planets
    1. All discovered before recorded history
    2. The Five Planets
      1. Borgil/Bordil
      2. Narindor
      3. Nenambar
      4. Tindome
      5. Elros/Fanhael
    3. Speculation on origins and history of Elros
  4. The Houses, or Greater Wheel
    1. First codified by Catherton the Scribe in 323 AE
    2. Basic information:
      1. The Houses (also known as constellations) divide the sky into 12 parts
      2. The sun rises in each House for approximately one month of the year
    3. Popular misconceptions:
      1. Houses are linked with Anaris the Bull
      2. Houses are fixed in place
    4. The Twelve Houses
      1. Bear (Nadzi 7 - Kagali 6)
      2. Pike (Kagali 7 - Anuyi 7)
      3. The Hounds (Anuyi 8 - Kawani 7)
      4. Griffon (Kawani 8 - Anagvti 8)
      5. Phoenix (Anagvti 9 - Dehalyi 8)
      6. Boar (Dehalyi 9 - Guyekoni 9)
      7. Centaur (Guyekoni 10 - Galoni 9)
      8. Hart (Galoni 10 - Dulisdi 9)
      9. Plowman (Dulisdi 10 - Nudakera 10)
      10. Lion (Nudakera 11 - Duninvi 10)
      11. Serpent (Duninvi 11 - Visgiga 11)
      12. Ram (Visgiga 12 - Nadzi 6)
    5. Matching Houses to the calendar
      1. Necessity for periodic adjustments
      2. Corrections made every century since 600 AE
      3. Pivotal role of Tellek Masters in determining corrections
      4. Expected changes for 1000 AE
  5. The Aspects, or Lesser Wheel
    1. First codified by Sharerdrase the Eunuch in 754 AE
    2. Basic information:
      1. Aspects are directly tied to Velerena the Ghost
      2. Each Aspect is in the ascendant for one complete cycle of the Ghost (approximately 63 days)
      3. A Great Cycle (all seven Aspects) lasts 463 days
      4. Aspects do not follow a predetermined order
        1. Each Aspect is ascendant only once in a Great Cycle
        2. Previous Aspect is said to be declining
      5. Aspects change when Ghost is completely full
    3. The Seven Aspects
      1. Earth
      2. Air
      3. Fire
      4. Water
      5. Life
      6. Death
      7. Spirit
    4. Signs that Ghost is full
      1. Hair of the Ghost becomes visible
        1. The Hair is probably a small crevice at the edge of the Ghost
        2. Can only be observed by elves and those with enhanced vision
        3. Remains visible until new moon
      2. Moonflowers bloom
        1. Moonflower is a magical plant, related to non-magical moss flowers
        2. Blossoms are tiny red cups that bloom at exact moment Ghost is full, night or day
    5. Ascendant Aspect
      1. Can be determined by observing effects on:
        1. Spells
        2. Natural phenomena
        3. Magical and non-magical creatures
        4. Humanoids
      2. Different methods used by:
        1. Pantocrator of Tellek
        2. Archmage of Landsrue
        3. Great Druid
    6. Speculation on origins of Ghost and Aspects
  6. Concluding remarks