I arranged this a while back for two pianos (will try and condense it to one piano for four hands), but wanted to share. Feel free to click the dropbox link below to see the sheet music for free.
The Star Globe, also known as a planisphere or an astrometer, is the casting focus wielded by astrologians, practitioners of the sharlayan school of Astromancy. The weapon deviates heavily from the traditional staves of conjurers and thaumaturges, and even the more complex casting grimories employed by arcanists, in order to fully utilize the magicks drawn from the stars and the power of the major arcana.
Although the look and feel of every star globe is just as varied as the countless foci of other schools of magick, each one is constructed in a uniform fashion. All star globes, thus, are built with four main components: 1) the outer frame, 2) the inner rings, 3) the core, and 4) the spread. The first three components are essential to the casting of astromancy spells while all four are critical to the incorporation of the major arcana into the astromancer’s arsenal.
The outer frame, sometimes referred to as the foundation, is the framework upon which all of the other components rest. It is also the most varied component, as it is the easiest to modify to one’s personal tastes, having little to no interference with the casting process. The simplest and cheapest star globe frame is a simple ring with minor decoration depending on the craftsman’s or client’s wishes. As part of the casting process, the outer frame serves as the point where the raw aether is first drawn in.
The inner rings separate from the outer frame, rotating in their designated directions around the core. Almost all star globes are built using two rotating inner rings, though it’s not unheard of to have a star globe possessed of only one. The lack of a second ring can be compensated by increasing the aetherial conductivity of the remaining ring. The inner rings take the aether drawn in from the outer frame and process it into the appropriate magick being weaved, creating the spiraling star-like appearance of the aether during casting. As such, the designs of the inner rings are harder to customize without causing issue with the casting process. Most star globes, even those custom made, will remain conservative in design, bearing aligned precious stones or depictions of astronomical imagery, such as constellations or heavenly bodies.
The core is the inner-most component and stays in a locked position with the outer frame. Although the look of the core can be decorated more than the inner rings, they generally fall into one of two categories: a plate or a crystal chamber. Regardless of the design, the core’s function is to take the processed aether from the rings and focus it into the spell to be projected outwards by the caster. Many astromancers swear by the use of a plate over a crystal chamber, as though the plates produce weaker spells than the crystal chambers, they remain more resilient to wear and generally require less maintenance.
The spread is the fourth and final component of the star globe and is separate from the main piece held in hand. It’s worn at the hip and is the sheath that holds the caster’s copies of the six major arcana. Traditionally, the six cards were laid bare in the spread, but it is becoming more and more common for astromancers to encase their cards in a thin sleeve of glass or clear crystal in order to limit the damage done to them by the elements. This does make the cards mostly unusable with a normal deck, but the cost of a second deck and the protective coverings is far less than the cost of needing to constantly buy whole new sets to replace the damaged ones.
The design of the spread itself is generally left alone. There exists a standard model that all spreads are designed after and very, very rarely will the designs of them differ from one another save for simple changes like the materials used.
In addition to all of the above is the fact that the components are all aetherially linked to each other and require aether to function.
A spell is implanted in the star globe upon creation and is responsible for allowing it to float at the will of the caster, rotating the inner rings, and connecting the star globe to the spread. This spell is highly efficient, requiring such a minute amount of the caster’s aether that the body will naturally replenish more of it in a given moment than is expended. In spite of that, some casters will use either the crystal chamber core or secondary crystal chambers in order to power the spell, thus reserving the full measure of their natural aether for spellwork.
The link between the star globe and the spread is what projects the image of the major arcana around the star globe. Although the orbiting deck might look like physical cards, in reality they are aetherial images projected from the core. Their semi-solid nature allows the astromancer to grasp and manipulate them for the purposes of their casting, though more juvenile or desperate astromancers might also try to inflict “paper cuts” on someone by striking them with the projections.
When wielding the magicks of the major arcana, the caster will grasp at one of the cards and, drawing upon a fraction of their ability to predict the future, draw a card that would be beneficial for the given situation. It is, however, a known factor that the cards will produce results for several given future situations, not simply the one at hand. Thus, upon seeing the result of the card, the magick can be returned to the spread and a second draw attempted. From there, the magick can either be directed outwards from the core or returned to the spread in one of two manners: it can be held as is or be channeled into another card.
It is a lesser spoken of facet of astromancy that the six major arcana possess an alignment different from their elemental and astral/umbral alignment, and it is these lesser alignments that allow the arcana to empower other cards.
The Ewer and the Spire are the “foundation” cards and are channeled through the frame, hence why it is sometimes called the foundation. Empowering other cards in this manner allows the magick to expand outwards, affecting multiple targets. The Spear and the Arrow are the “ring”, also sometimes called “spiral”, cards and project outwards from the spiraling inner rings. This constant, cycling movement makes the magicks more efficient, increasing the time the spell is active. The Balance and the Bole are the “core” cards; focused at the core of the star globe, where the magicks are finally released, they empower other cards to greater strength.
Lyn'to's Sanctuary 