Astra

Official character art by Bee

1x01 - 1x26

> BEWARE **SPOILERS BELOW!**
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Verdant Astra, commonly known as Astra, is a Tiefling Bard, part of the party, played by Bee on Life Of The Party. Currently, as with the other player characters, Astra is Level 6. He is a tiefling bard, the party's only pacifist character, and plays a lute, a panflute and a lyre.

At the start of the series, Astra sets off from Mirrortail with the rest of the party pursuing a cartography contract to chart the flooded hills and mangrove swamps en route to the legendary city of Sanskra.

Astra is a pacifist and refuses to attack in battle, instead supporting the party in various other ways, though has been seen to use psychic attacks and saying that he doesn't consider that damage the same as a physical damage.

## **About Astra**

#### **Appearance**

Astra is a tiefling with unusual teal skin, golden eyes and long green hair. He has black horns that bend backwards, embellished with mother of pearl. He is 6ft2 (6ft4 with the horns) and has a slim body. His standard outfit was a simple brown leather duster, shirt and trousers though has recently changed his style to be more flamboyant. Now sporting a pair of thigh high boots over black leather trousers, a grey tunic with a wrap around tight black jacket that has a cape coming from the arms that resembles the wings of a Monarch Butterfly.

After wearing makeup during the Shadebourne ball, Astra seems to be wearing eyeliner more often now.

#### **Personality**

Astra is a calm, kind and empathetic person who doesn't seem to want to hurt any living creature and won't raise a weapon. Though it seems as though he doesn't consider psychic damage as real attacks, or perhaps doesn't realise the damage his spells do. When he first uses his Hellish Rebuke it seems as though he is taken aback and shocked at doing some physical damage.

When the other members of the party attack or harm recklessly, Astra has shown that it makes him frustrated or upset. Though recently, he has come to realise that for the need of self preservation the group must do harm to do good. During a fight with a Yeti, Astra tried to talk and reason with it but upon seeing it was useless and very much an 'it or us' situation said to Vanden - 'Fuck it up' and was willing to support the group in the fight.

He cares for nature deeply and is far more comfortable surrounded by trees than he is in a city. Stating in Shadeborne that he hated being surrounded by stone.

There are multiple personal rituals that Astra performs, showing some signs of OCD with the way that he acts. With writing in his journal every night and tending to the belongings within his bag or getting extremely agitated if he's unable to do this. He also hates being dirty and will become extremely distressed if his clothes or hair get ruined.

Astra also has a playful sense of humour and as he's grown used to being around hte others has become a lot more spirited, often giving as good as he gets or playing small pranks on the others with no ill intentions.

After a prank played by a pixie which made Astras form more feminine, it was stated that Astra looked at themselves in a mirror and it looked like it was the first time Astra was seeing themselves properly. During that moment, only gender neutral pronouns were used.

#### **Music**

Astras Mother taught Astra how to sing, play instruments and how to speak in Sylvan, Astra stating that the songs he plays are hers though they speak of heartbreak and lost love.

The tiefling loves to play music and sing, doing so whenever he gets the chance to. After an encounter with a Dryad that left the party divided and hurt, Astra refused to sing in Sylvan for quite some time, only returning to the language months later when the group were at Velathra.

#### **Equipment and** **Key Possessions**

Astra carries multiple instruments, so far including:

-a lute

-a lyre

-a panflute

Astra is given a new lute by Renard when in Lakeside, after Renard finds it in Ozgin's shop. It is green and has leaf motifs carved into it. Astra is moved by the gift and tells him that it is the first thing anyone has ever bought for him.

He is very protective of his backpack and whatever it contains, although the contents have not been revealed yet. When he is shaken after fighting a dragon and being knocked out, Astra sits with his hands wrapped tightly around something in his bag for a long time. He also has a journal that he writes in very frequently.

Astra was carrying a dagger at the start of the series, although after using this once on the Shambling Mound that attacked and hurt Renard in the druid temple they found in the mangrove swamps, Astra locked it in a trunk in the Water Snakes bathhouse and never retrieved it.

Renard offers him his dagger before they face the Weeping Eye for the first time, which Astra takes and then uses to threaten the Fang and protect Aerenthias Van Wymarck in battle, although he doesn't attack with it.

After raiding a dragon hoard, the party recover an Immovable Rod, which is given to Astra as it makes a great tool for a pacifist.

## **Relationships**

#### Vanden

Astra seems to trust Vanden implictly, implying early on that he would follow whereever Vanden wanted to lead. In the beginning their relationship was a little more reserved until Vanden hugs him for his tactics in the pyramid. Astra opens up to Vanden first in the party, though he doesn't state much more than he doesn't know where he's going but that he feels like following Vanden and sticking with the party is the right thing to do. Astra offers Vanden emotional support and is offered the same in return which has solidified their bond.

Astra likes to check in on the Fighter though has said that he doesn't want to push but is always there if Vanden ever wishes to talk. More recently, the Tiefling has gotten Vanden to trust him enough to allow him to cast magic on the Aasmiar which Vanden previously rejected fully.

Sariel

Sariel has been compared to Astras little sister during the series and Astra has been seen to be incredibly protective of her. Often rushing to her side if she needs help and referring to her as 'Little Sapling' as a term of endearment. To begin with Astra didn't know how to talk to Sariel properly though he was always desperate to strengthen the friendship there and recently the pair have a good level of trust between them. Astra cares deeply for the small Druid, and often supports her in battle over the other party members, though he's also stated that he's quite aware how well she can look after herself. Saying that she's an impressive fighter and incredibly capable, but that he just feels like a sibling to her and wanted to watch her back when he's able to.

Cassian

Astra and Cassian had a strained relationship to begin with, though not on Astras side with the tiefling thinking that they were good friends from the offset. Cassian has been seen to use his psychic abilities to manipulate Astra without the tiefling knowing about it. The pair used their mutual love of music to get to know eachother, with Astra starting to play music that he heard through the shell that Cassian had given him causing the Elf to be rather surprised. To begin with it seemed as though Astra was a bit blind to Cassians quips against him, or perhaps he was ignoring them on purpose yet in recent episodes the tiefling has been seen to poke a little more fun at Cassian and be less laid back. Rather enjoying the Warlocks company and quipping back in response to Cassians own.

#### **Previous Party Members**

Boblem

The pair share a lot in common and seem to find an easy friendship early on, feeling comfortable with each other and sharing tavern rooms wherever they stopped. Never minding the company. Astra respects Boblems advice and wisdom and has spoken up about how he admires Boblems abilities throughout the series. Boblem helped Astra to learn Draconic and they grew to be good friends as they travelled together, then in Shadeborne Astra surprised the Druid with a small garden that he'd set up in their barracks that he hoped would bring a smile to the other mans face. The pair would tend to the garden and spent time out there ensuring that it was well cared for.Astra was always fond of the way that Boblem would talk of his family and home and often asked questions about where he came from. For the Shadeborne ball, Astra was excited to get a chance to care for Boblems hair and try and make it tidier than it had been previously.

Elyse

In the beginning, Elyse and Astra were seen to have a close friendship with Astra even comparing her to his brother. Throughout the series, the tiefling offered her help and support and was always willing to do what he could to help her. However, as things progressed Elyse and Astra only interacted when Elyse wished to use his abilities or when he offered to accompany her to the Temple of Kord, despite his attempts to make conversation. Then, in Shadeborne, after Astra had finished cleaning the barracks and setting them up, the Sorcerer is seen to empty the contents of a bag of holding out into the room which leaves the place messy and disorganised, leaving Astra upset and angry as he's laughed at for his reaction. The pair don't get to reconcile until after Astra is almost killed by Verran Greywood where Astra doesn't air his grievances stating that there are more important things to be worried about than silly disagreements.

#### **Key Characters**

Jocelyn D'Fabron

Astra seemed to get along well with Jocelyn. He respects her and sees her as a good role model, commenting that it was easy to tell she'd had a hand in raising Renard.

Aerenthias Van Wymarck

Aerenthias flirts with Astra immediately on first appearance in the series and continues to do so throughout all of their interactions. Astra gets noticeably flustered, as far as not being able to string words together when talking to Aerenthias one on one, and blushing which appears purple because of teal skin. He expresses a lot of concern for Aerenthias' well-being, insisting that the privateer get rest and healing along with the rest of the party, and checking on him when possible. Aerenthias is the second person Astra has drawn a weapon to protect, although he doesn't use it to attack, instead to attempt to threaten the enemy into surrendering. When Aerenthias is leaving, Astra gives him a big hug.

#### **Other Characters**

**Family**

Grandfather - Mentioned

Verdant Aesthete - mother. An Albino tiefling that Astra speaks fondly of and who taught him how to speak Slyvan and play instruments.

Verdant Cynefin - father. A taller teal tiefling with greying hair and a permanent frown etched onto his face.

Verdant Ammil - Younger brother. A shoter teal tiefling who looks very similar to Astra if not for the horns that look like their mothers. A lot more 'hot headed and brash'.

Verdant Lunette - Younger sister. A small teal tiefling with eyes like their mothers and a much cheekier disposition than her brothers.

## **History**

#### **Background**

Astra comes from the Riveni Forest, outside of the City of Riven, where he and his family live in an encampment deep within the trees. It's been hinted at that the encampment is a secret which keeps outsiders away by using magic and turning people around. He has also stated that there is 'no way' that the others will be able to meet his family, though that is one of his deepest desires as revealed to the group in Velathra.

Not much more is known about Astra's life before the series, but when he contacts his mother with the Sending spell, he insinuated that he was lost and she responded by saying he would always be able to find his way home. It seems that he is naive in a lot of ways about the way things are in the world, not knowing about the Vahrysan Halos or what a Prince is. He's also stated that he has only had one kiss in his life when he was 8 years old that was 'just wet' but that kissing must be nice since so many people still do it.

In the Lakeside Games, Astra uses a crossbow and wins his competition, although he states he hasn't used one for a very long time. In the vision in Velathra, his father and brother are seen returning to the Encampment with recently hunted Rabbits whilst his mother and sister begin to prepare the stew on the fireplace so it can be believed that he learned these skills with his family.

#### **Pre-Series**

Astra met Renard, Elyse and Boblem on the docks in Mirrortail, and later met Cassian and Sariel outside the Giggling Squid Tavern.

In Farrelstadt, Astra had alcohol for the first time and had his horns embellished with mother of pearl by a street seller, which Bee has joked is the equivalent of a drunk tattoo.

After aiding the defense of Farrelstadt from a pirate attack, Astra traveled across the sea with Renard, Boblem, Cassian and Sariel to Mirrortail, where he parted ways with Cassian, Sariel and Boblem, and he and Renard were reunited with Elyse. The three of them met with the Cartographer's Guild in order to take a contract to map an uncharted part of the continent of Caldera, between Jennicks Village and the city of Sanskra.

Following this, they freed a Guard Drake that had been captured by a local nobleman, Lord Komo.

#### **The Story So Far**

The series begins with Astra, Renard and Elyse in the streets of Farrelstadt after releasing the Guard Drake. The three escape to the Moon and Stars Inn, where they stay the night, before meeting with the others and traveling back across the Igeni Channel to Jennicks Village.

From here, they venture into the uncharted Flooded Hills and begin mapping, seeking out a fallen star the ranger captain in Jennicks told them about.

The fallen star ended up being a fallen airship where a pair of Manticores were nesting. Astra, ever determined to leave nature be, was the unfortunate victim of a series of attacks that almost killed the tiefling. The attack left him very shaken and unsure on if he was on the right path. After this, he was determined not to let that happen again and started to become somewhat more serious in the upcoming episodes.

## **Technical Information**

#### **Known Proficiencies and Skills**

Armor

* Light
* Medium

Weapons

* Martial Weapons
* Simple Weapons
* Crossbow

Tools

* Lyre
* Flute
* Pan Flute
* Lute

#### **Bard Abilities**

* Bardic Inspiration
* Mantle of Inspiration
* Mantle of Majesty
* Song of Rest
* Counter Charm
* Enthralling Performance

#### **Spells**

Cantrips

* Prestidigitaion
* Thaumaturgy
* Vicious Mockery
* Message

**Feats**

* Tough

**Racial Traits**

* Darkvision (Up to 60 feet)
* Hellish Reistance (Resistance to Fire Damage)
* Infernal Legacy