Aster

* Elysium Arc
* Masquerade
* 'Human' Form
* 'Non-Human' Form

A scientist intent on figuring out the mysteries of Haven and its origin. Unlike the others Aster woke up with no memories and have yet to recover them, making them highly paranoid of the other Havenites. They constantly shift between two states, a 'human' appearance and a 'non-human' appearance. It is not currently known which one is their true form. Deepest Sleep has noted that the shifting may be a result of extended exposure to the Void underneath Haven.

### Physiology

In their 'human' form Aster appears as a person with a shaved dark purple scalp and black hair overtop in a half-shaved hairstyle. They have tanned brown skin and purple eyes, and wear round black glasses. They also wear hanging purple earrings. Underneath a dark grey overcoat they wear navy blue pants and a lavender colored shirt with a pinkish-purple scarf on top. The back of their coat sports a white bone-like design on the spine.

In their 'non-human' form Aster appears as a black, purple, and pink swirl of stars. Most notably a bright white star eclipses the space between their eyes. A particularly large swirl of pink stars can also be seen on their chest. Their back sports a white skeleton-like design similar to the one seen on their 'human' form, though noticeably larger and more prominent.

Aster cannot initially see their 'non-human' form, insisting that they look the same when questioned about it. Later, both forms seem to have a swirling purple particles around them and an odd shine in their eyes. Both forms also seem to have difficulty breathing near the Void. The reason for Aster's constantly shifting appearance is currently unknown.

### Personality

Aster woke with no recollection of their life before Haven. As a result they are slow to open up to others and are often prickly to the other Havenites. Their lack of memories has the added effect of making them overly defensive towards criticism, citing their own situation as an excuse for their behavior. They have a tendency to disregard people's privacy and boundaries in favor of pursuing knowledge, though this often only fuels their own anxiety. Aster tends to behave selfishly, expecting others to view their actions sympathetically but rarely extending the same view in return and refusing to elaborate on their circumstances. Despite what they say, they often doubt themself and have many concerns regarding their role prior to The Catalyst.

While Aster craves true connection with others they are unwilling to be vulnerable in turn, as they fear manipulation. As a result they tend to draw away from other people, something that the other Havenites seem to find unsettling. This tactic also does not protect them from manipulation, as Sleep seems to find it relatively easy to persuade Aster to do his bidding. When Rhys, who Aster woke up with, leaves to build his own house away from the Haven Village Aster feels betrayed and still harbors some resentment towards him.

Somewhat hypocritically, Aster is not above manipulating others for their own gain, especially for information. Upon meeting Renn, a naive living doll with a childlike view of the world, Aster insists that they keep their presence on the server a secret, framing it as a hide-and-seek game so Renn will lie to the others. When confronted about this by Moth and Oz they defend their actions, stating that the others are in fact at fault for extending their trust to everyone they meet.

The incident with Renn's accidental death has caused them to question their own morality, particularly due to Sleep and Lux's insistence that they sign a contract restricting their interaction with Renn afterwards.

Ultimately, Aster's primary motivations are their own self-preservation and the discovery of the truth behind The Catalyst and their own nature. Their lack of knowledge regarding their own physiology and origin is a source of great anxiety for them, as it further highlights how little they truly know of the word and themself. They tend to think the worst of others and are often surprised when their expectations are surpassed, but remain uncompromising in their view of the world. The uncertainty of the world and their situation continues to affect their mental health.

### History

#### Pre-Haven

While Aster woke with no memories, they have since begun to recover them. They have also found a book signed by themself in their enderchest. This book, detailing the system of travel between realms as well as Haven's role as a research area and details about The Catalyst, along with their recovered memories has led Aster to believe they were previously a researcher focused on exploring the Void.

According to Rhys, he and Aster were in a relationship prior to the The Catalyst. Aster has no memory of this relationship and Rhys does not have many memories prior to waking.

#### Arrival Arc

Late at night Aster wakes up near a savannah village with a tall stone gate in front of it. They find no one inside but meet another person who has also just woken up, a man named Rhys. After clarifying that neither of them know where they are or why they are missing their memories, the two of them explore the inside of the gate and conclude that the village was previously inhabited but has since been abandoned. Aster and Rhys die several times to the silverfish living in the infested stone of the gate and find it to be a painful experience but one that yields no other consequences as they respawn instantly. Aster separates from Rhys, saying that they find the fact that Rhys has memories of them while they remember nothing to be unsettling. Behind the village they find a small amethyst cave. The amethysts inside begin to talk to them, calling themselves 'Chat' and giving Aster advice. They tell them to be wary of the Void and to find the others and befriend them. Aster promises to do so.

Aster meets a purple tiefling named August who introduces themself as a fellow researcher. When Aster expresses frustration at Rhys' lack of interest in exploring the nature of Haven, August agrees that ignoring the mysteries surrounding their arrival is not an option. They head towards a cursed village they call Stonks. Aster is blown up by a creeper. August meets them closer to their spawnpoint and gives them a book they found signed by someone named K detailing the curse that infected Stonks and how it eventually withered away. K managed to escape but warns anyone reading the book to stay away from a 'smug purple bastard' and to never take his deal. August also says that they have been exploring the Void.

The two of them descend to a mineshaft just above the Void and Aster begins to have difficulty breathing. Despite August's insistence that everything is fine Aster begins to get anxious, worsened by Chat persuading them to leave. August tells them that the voices in their head are pushing them towards research and they want to surprise Oz, a fellow scientist. They reveal that they've been jumping into the Void repeatedly and try to get Aster to do the same. Aster tells them that they disagree with their research methods. August continues to be friendly and expresses disappointment as Aster leaves and insists they be left out of future research plans, saying that they thought 'they could be dedicated'.

Returning to the observatory Aster briefly considers sending one of Oz's dogs into the Void, something that August finds appalling. August trades them some iron for an amethyst block, mentioning that their eyes have a strange purple quality that seems inhuman to them. The two part ways. Aster talks to chat while mining, mentioning not being able to find Rhys. They consider the possibility that they aren't human like they initially thought and become a little frustrated with how little they know about themself. Aster also mentions their inventory remaining when they die and how strange it is that there are no villagers present in the village.

A prince from the Nether wakes up. His name is Lux, and Aster makes their way over to him to help him navigate. They meet inside a glass dome in the middle of the desert. The two of them start bickering immediately. When Aster protests at being called Lux's assistant, he gives them the title of Archivist. They jump into a pond to get to another island and discover that Lux is hurt by water. Aster gives him an iron helmet to protect him from the rain and they make their way to the Haven Village. Lux claims that he was the prince of his realm and all other mobs bowed down to the rule of his father. Lux discovers that he has no memory of how he got to Haven, just like Aster. He tells them that he currently rules the kingdom of the Nether, as his father is sick and war is currently being waged on them. He also mentions receiving a 'donation' from someone named Sleep who respects his authority. Aster warns him against Sleep after hearing that he has similarities to the purple man mentioned in the journal August found. Lux ignores this, valuing respect very highly. He also fires Aster as Archivist and then re-hires them. The two part ways.

Aster has been frantically collecting stacks of amethyst in an attempt to get their chat back. They tell chat that they've been hiding from everyone else and talks about how offputting they find August, who continues to jump into the Void. They run into Deepest Sleep near his funeral home. Sleep is initially intimidated by Aster, who draws a sword on him and demands an introduction. He introduces himself as the local funeral parlor director, something that Aster seems to find threatening. He also says that August has been telling other people about them. Aster is upset by this as they were hoping to keep their presence on Haven a secret. When Aster expresses interest in selling their amethysts for profit Sleep's interest is piqued. They reintroduce themself and Aster puts their sword away to discuss further.

Under threat Sleep agrees to give Aster a tour of Haven. He tells them that everyone, for the most part, has kept each other at arm's length and remain spread out across the server. They continue on the tour seeing Moth's house, the community tree farm, a chest that STARS has left, a message board in front of the village, the Fantasy Costco, a Lighthouse built by August, Stonks, a boat being constructed in the sky, Oz's observatory, and Gerassic Park.

Aster also learns of a cursebreaker named Gawain who has started building something out of bone blocks. Upon arriving at August's lighthouse Aster warns Sleep against them, saying that they have dangerous ideas. The two of them discuss The Catalyst and its nature. Sleep cites the fact that the Void is present in every world, saying that someone might have messed with it and caused its appetite to grow, resulting in the state of Haven as it is now. Aster agrees with this conclusion. They ask Sleep if he thinks that person who did this has reached their limit and he tells them that the kind of person who would go this far will 'never be satisfied'.

Eventually Aster mentions Rhys, who has disappeared since the two of them woke up. They express frustration at the fact that the one person who knew them before Haven has seemingly vanished. Sleep promises to help them look for him in exchange for a favor.

Aster tells chat that they've been exploring the area surrounding the Haven Village and pull out a map of the area. They've also come to the conclusion that in order to make progress in their quest to discover the origin of Haven they need to branch out. They encounter a childlike living doll named Renn at the community board. Renn asks if they want to be friends. Aster agrees and Renn gets excited about the amethysts they are holding, saying that someone gave them amethysts too. While Renn is not human, they admit that they don't know what they are exactly, just that they are similar to iron constructs like STARS. They hop onto Aster's head and the two of them go to the lighthouse. Aster tells Renn to keep it a secret that they are on Haven, framing it as a hide-and-seek game. They also disover that Renn's stuffing grows heavy in water. Renn comments that Aster looks like amethyst, and they don't seem to realize that their appearance has changed to their non-human skin. They take some wheat from a farm and Aster convinces Renn not to tell anyone.

Renn tells Aster about an abandoned house they found in the woods and they go to it. The house has a large map on the wall of Haven before everyone woke up. They also find a ladder leading downstairs blocked off by obsidian. Renn shows Aster a book they found in a chest under the bed detailing a list of resources for something. After leaving the house they go to Oz's observatory where Aster takes three diamonds from Renn's thank you gift to Oz. Aster shows Renn the place where they plan to build their new house, a mountainside under the bridge. They watch the sunrise together and Aster briefly considers meeting the other Havenites as they explore.

Aster succeeds in spying on some Havenites with Renn's help. On one such occasion they are caught watching a ritual being conducted by August, Gawain, and Moth, the latter of which chasing them down demanding answers. A zombie attacks Moth and they manage to escape. They leave a sign in front of Oz's observatory for Moth afterwards.

After the failed attempt to light the Nether portal and the realization that he can't return home, Lux receives a message from Aster about information they've recently discovered about Haven's nature. Lux promises to talk to them soon.

The cave house has been fully built. Renn has left a little gift box at the entrance of the cave and coordinates to their own house. Aster reveals that they've been spying on Lux and the others and watched the failed attempt to create a Nether portal. They run into Moth, who introduces itself as the community organizer and brings up Aster's presence at the night of the ritual. Moth also asks what Aster was doing in its house and they reply that they were making sure it wasn't a danger to anyone. When Aster questions the ritual Moth refuses to give them answers. Oz approaches and introduces themself, saying that August spoke about Aster. Moth and Oz disapprove of Aster's decision to lie to Renn in an attempt to keep their presence a secret. Aster defends their actions, saying it was for their safety.

Moth and Oz quickly become annoyed with Aster's criticisms of their more laidback attitude. They find themself enjoying Gerassic Park, the nearby zoo, nonetheless. Aster mentions that the Nether portal failed to light. When Moth brings up STARS and their love for amethysts Aster agrees to meet them. Moth also brings up Butterflies, the village hidden behind a wall that STARS has been charged to guard by Sleep. Apparently STARS has been hearing small snippets of speech from the amethysts. They have also been eating them. Aster lies about hearing the same voices and tries to brush it off, saying they might be from the past residents of Haven. They fail to convince them.

On their way back home Aster encounters Sleep. He seems to have gotten over Aster's previous intimidation and is upset with their sneaking around. He disapproves of Aster's relative isolation from the other Havenites as well as their insistence to pry into the others' personal business. Aster in turn has become suspicious of Sleep's supposed friendship with STARS, as they mentioned being instructed to guard the gate of Butterflies. Sleep also says that he has failed to locate Rhys, but in exchange for that favor asks Aster to help him build the palace for Lux. They agree. The two exchange a few insults and Sleep leaves. Aster then heads to the island above Haven Village to show chat a book they found detailing information about Haven and travel between realms as well as chorus fruit, which they take.

#### Renn Resurrection Arc

After exploring a series of strange buildings eaten by the Void, Lux is contacted by Aster to meet them at the Haven Highway crossroads. Aster tells him that there was an accident when they were experimenting with the chorus fruit. Renn has fallen into the Void and did not respawn normally. The two of them head to the abandoned house Renn showed Aster. On the way Lux expresses concern for Aster's wellbeing, as they seem very distressed by the accident. Renn had also turned off their communicator before falling into the Void. When they finally reach the house they find Renn unresponsive and Aster starts to worry about what other Havenites will think of them. They start to panic and make a plan to ressurect Renn without telling anyone about the accident, boarding up the door and putting a sign outside with a fake message from Renn.

Going back to the cave, Aster shows Lux their chorus fruit farm and expresses a desire to find the rest of the books detailing Haven's origin. They tell Lux not to tell anyone about what happened and plan to talk to Sleep later about resurrecting Renn. When Lux becomes concerned about Aster's wellbeing again and they point out that the other Havenites are making much better progress in their research and that they cannot rest until Renn is well again. Lux becomes frustrated and leaves.

Aster and Lux meet up with Sleep, who has since become Lux's royal advisor. Lux notes that Aster has not been taking care of themself and that Sleep is in a similarly upset state, saying that he found something personal in his enderchest. After some arguing Aster tells Sleep that Renn has been in an unresponsive state since the experiment with the chorus fruit ended with them both falling into the Void. Aster also notes seeing visions just before they died in the Void. They stress the importance of keeping the accident a secret and ensuring that the chorus fruit do not fall into anyone else's hands. Aster asks Sleep what he knows about constructs, artificial manmade beings. He tells them that he has built several constructs himself but both STARS and Renn are far more complicated than what he could hope to understand. At his insistence the three of them head towards the abandoned house where Renn respawned.

When they arrive Sleep begins looking over Renn. He notes that they are a more complicated construct than any other he's seen before, as it is difficult to fit the required parts inside such a small body. According to him they likely have a magical fuel source hidden away somewhere which could make the resurrection more difficult than initially thought. Sleep mentions a ritual being necessary to fix Renn. They find the entrance to a secret room underneath the house. There, Aster finds a book signed by a woman named Renee Hart as well as a family album of two women and Renn. Sleep realizes that the house must be Renn's childhood home and the women must be their moms. He also states that he had a friend who specialized in the type of magic used to create Renn and that Renee's soul was likely partially preserved in Renn. Aster begins to question Sleep's reluctance to speak to STARS and Gawain, two people who may have experience with construct magic. He insists that he has everything handled despite his obvious distress.

Aster begins to confront Sleep over the amount of control he has over STARS and they argue for a while with Lux acting as a mediator before going to Renn's home. They sift through Renn's diaries, finding very little information. Sleep invents a reason for Renn's disappearance and plans to tell everyone that they left to find him a birthday present. After Sleep apologizes for arguing with Aster, he and Lux insist that they rest as they haven't slept in several days. Aster begrudgingly obliges and they part ways.

Sleep finds Aster building a house near Renn's home outside the village walls. They are surprised when Sleep seems excited about them moving in. He seems to have an interest in drawing them out from their cave to socialize with the other Havenites. Aster tells him that they have begun to see their 'non-human' form in their reflection. This seems to trouble them as it looks very similar to the Void's appearance. Sleep attempts to comfort them, thinking that they are having difficulty accepting their identity as a inhuman being. This seems to be a matter that he has personal experience in. Aster rebuffs this, clarifying that their only issue is that their inhuman nature highlights their apparent lack of knowledge about themself and amnesia problems.

When Aster questions Sleep's sudden vulnerability he reveals his true intentions. He plans on having them be a council member of the kingdom he and Lux are building, both as a way to keep an eye on them and to help the community. Sleep also tries to frame this as a good thing, saying that they will finally have allies and people to help them with their research. And if they step out of line he will expose them as Renn's murderer. Aster further insists that Renn's death was an accident and Sleep does not seem to believe them. They are greatly distressed by this. Sleep and Aster briefly discuss Gawain and their role as a cursebreaker. When prompted Sleep also offers his theories on what Aster is. He says that he unsure of their true nature but believes it to be affected by the Void in some way.

Aster tells Sleep that Renn was the one who initially had the idea to be neighbors. After they died Aster found the plans hidden in their chest and started building the house as a way to distract themself. They also describe a worry that they've made too many mistakes to be able to truly fix things. Sleep seems oddly touched by this and clarifies that he enjoys their presence and having them around. When prodded he also admits that he does truly believe Renn's death to be the result of a mistake, but a mistake that Aster should have been able to prevent. While exploring the village Aster accidentally teleports into Jackdaw's basement. They sheepishly introduce themself and apologize for intruding. Sleep buys some pies from Jackdaw and discuss some personal matters and Aster gets shot by Navn, who greets them through the communicator. After this Sleep and Aster meet up with Lux and the three of them hang out.

While building their house Aster briefly encounters Angel, a vampire who has become Renn's mother figure of sorts. When questioned on Renn's whereabouts Aster quickly becomes nervous and tells her that they have gone off on a trip and to ask Deepest Sleep about it if she has any more questions. Angel is suspicious of this and threatens Aster but they hold their ground, though they are clearly shaken by the encounter.

Aster has begun to hear snippets of past memories in their dreams. Certain parts of these memories are inaudible and they do not know their context, but their memory is beginning to come back all the same. Lux approaches them at their house and tells them it is time to resurrect Renn. Since their last meeting Aster has added an archery tower to their house to ensure proper defenses. When they meet Sleep he forces them into a contract, ensuring that they serve under him and cannot defy him in any way or risk being murdered by Angel, who now also works for Sleep. The contract has no concrete terms, meaning he can change the details of it as he sees fit. As part of this agreement Aster cannot be within three blocks of Renn at any time and must be supervised by a fellow council member to interact with them. Lux refuses to intervene, saying that Aster must face consequences for what they have done. Aster is hurt by this as they had previously considered Lux a friend. After signing the contract the three of them make their way to the abandoned house.

Sleep begins to set up the ritual. Renn's body has noticeably begun to deteriorate, though Sleep assures them that this is a temporary thing that can be repaired. Using experience bottles they are able to successfully resurrect them. Renn seems very confused about what happened and doesn't remember anything beyond speaking to Aster in their cave house. They ask about their moms, to which Sleep responds that they are not present. Renn moves very slowly and still seems a little dazed. Their vision also seems to have been severely impacted by the resurrection. When Aster picks up Renn to help them move, Sleep and Lux allow them to violate the terms of the contract for a day. Aster shows them around the newer buildings like the Fantasy Costco and Jackdaw's house.

In the village the four of them also spot Moth's house, blown up. Sleep promises to investigate what happened and formally befriends Renn. Aster ensures that Renn is not aware of the contract or its terms and tells them to contact Moth instead if they need anything. Renn heeds everyone's advice and goes to rest and Aster begins to get choked up before Lux and Sleep force them to leave. In their own home, Aster begins to question their own morality and whether or not the terms of the contract are fair. They worry again about Rhys' whereabouts and go to sleep.

Aster has been travelling the rest of the world outside of Haven. Deepest Sleep and Lux's insistence on the contract's terms has made them question their morality and right to freedom and as a result they have left the central area near the Haven Village. In their dreams an allay visits them to show them around the new area that's been built in their absence. They talk about why Aster left, their guilt over Renn's death, and Aster questions why they are dreaming about a place that caused them so much pain.

They visit a dream version of Renn. Electron the Blue Mage, a chaotic being who haunts people's dreams, appears and shapeshifts in front of Aster before leaving. This confuses them. Aster apologizes to Renn for what happened, which confuses Renn since they don't remember their death. Aster says that it doesn't matter anyway since this is a dream and they're just using dream Renn as a test run of sorts for their apology. Renn forgives them and gives them sunflowers, saying that maybe it'll help cheer them up. Aster gets mad at the allay that brought them here, saying that they've had dreams similar to this one before and that it's cruel to let the good part of it drag on for so long before it turns sour. The allay says that they aren't responsible for the dream at all.

Hearing this Aster continues to spiral and questions if they ended up here because they wanted to be here. And if their loneliness finally overrided their need to get away from everything. This spiralling is interrupted by a lightning strike from Electron, who has built a hut outside of Aster's house. They realize that the dream is Electron's doing and tell him to end it. He seems upset by this, as doing so will mean that he won't exist to them any longer. Aster tells him to end the dream anyway and he kills them with his trident, causing them to wake up.

#### Elysium Arc

During their time exploring the rest of the world outside of Haven, Aster found secrets about the world's origin and the Catalyst that led to it breaking apart. They have not since shared this knowledge with anyone else. Upon returning they also have access to invisibility potions and netherite armor. At some point in time they begin spying on Lux, Kota, and a few others with these invisibility potions. The Havenites become aware of this, especially when they leave a message for Lux taunting him and begin throwing eggs at people.

While hanging out with Renn, Kota meets Aster for the first time. He says that he's heard of them and is aware of their sneaking around. The Captain follows them around at a distance and aims weapons at them for unknown reasons. They all go to Aster's house, which has since been redecorated by someone. Andro and Meda, their two pet llamas, also make an appearance. Aster questions what exactly the title of monster hunter means to Kota. He clarifies that it means he hunts 'people who do bad things for bad reasons'. Aster seems to approve of this answer and warns him to be cautious of people in Haven. Kota also mentions Navn, who allegedly lost their life in a scuffle with STARS. However, Kota says that Navn's communicator has remained active.

Kota also mentions that other people have awoken since Aster's disappearance namely Dr. Dae, a catgirl doctor, and Soleil, a clown. Soleil then shows up to introduce herself. She says that she is also aware of Aster's sneaking around. This initially makes Aster defensive, but Kota and Soleil agree to keep this meeting a secret from Sleep. They all head to the now-built castle. On the way there, Soleil mentions that Moth has died. For Renn's sake, Aster lies and says that Moth has gone on vacation to the moon, something that Kota doubles down on. Aster also says that they have been sending letters to Moth and offers to send a message on Renn's behalf.

In the castle, Aster finds the room Sleep has designated to be their lab. Renn mentions finding a small body identical to their own in their enderchest. This is disturbing to Aster and they ask to talk to Renn about it later. Aster leaves a couple of signs in Lux's room as a prank before leaving.

Sleep spots Aster exploring The Crying Vault while invisible. He confronts them and laughs at their attempts to stay hidden, something that Aster becomes upset by. They ask what has happened since they've been gone. Sleep clarifies that the anchors found in the vault are attached to their very lives, and that destroying an anchor or keeping it in your inventory ensures that you will not respawn. He also states that he has framed Anathema, who has replaced Moth and previously shared a body with it, for Navn's murder. Navn is alive but currently in hiding. Aster is upset by this but agrees to return to Haven Village with Sleep. They discuss future plans.

Aster seems far more confident answering back to Sleep and repeatedly taunts him, to his frustration. They do not listen to him and quickly become antsy before he herds them to the Elysium castle. To Aster's surprise he tells them not to worry about the contract and asks them to begin work as the Royal Scientist for the kingdom. This will include a lab in the castle that will be furnished for them. Aster is pleased with this apparent change in their relationship and agrees, though they privately plan to nullify the contract entirely.

Aster spends much of the Law Day ceremony causing trouble with Soleil and taunting Sleep. Afterwards, they tell Kota that Sleep has blackmail against them. This is technically a breach of the contract, giving Sleep has legal grounds to hunt them down. Aster also gets on good terms with Anathema and lets him know that they're available to talk about whatever Sleep did to him. Angel and the Captain are on guard against Aster, who then becomes paranoid that Sleep let something out about the resurrection. Renn, who doesn't remember the ressurection at all, continues messaging Aster during the proceedings. Sleep has also moved residence to their cave. Aster speaks to Soleil. They approve of her general dislike of Elysium and Sleep's rule of the place.

Aster attends a campfire party hosted by Lux, Anathema, and some others. They succesfully conduct an informal experiment with TNT and explode a part of the forest. Gawain, who has also been missing for a time, appears. Angel spends time prodding Aster while invisible, making them anxious. She shows herself eventually along with Renn. Aster then tells a cautionary tale, transcribed here:

>
>  Once there was a great deer. It was tall, taller than any being had any right to be, stretching to the sky and above the trees with a height previously unknown to any who saw it. It prospered. For it was part of the forest and the forest was part of it in turn. The two could not be separated as so too do the sun and moon rely on each other in their ebb and flow. The immutable truth was that they were tied together and tethered in a way that could never be broken.
>
>
>  Now as was the nature of this place every few years or so the deer would journey back to the forest in which it was born. And upon arriving there the trees would be crushed underfoot to make way for new fauna. So would begin the new cycle of life and rebirth, and death among the animals would not prosper in this place. For those that inhabited the forest would see and hear the deer coming and every time clear the area in expectation of this. It was a natural cycle, after all. One they had been seen and observed many a time.
>
>
>  One day a new family of squirrels moved in. They were not from the forest and thus did not understand its ways, nor the deer's cycle. They knew of it from the whisperings of other creatures and observation of the new trees that sprouted. But these squirrels prided themselves on being smarter than the other animals. We can harness the power of this deer, they told themselves, use it as a protector and laborer. What a waste to let this great power go unused, to let the deer remain passive in nature. Surely to innovate is our right as new inhabitants of the forest.
>
>
>  So they set it upon themselves to build a trap. With the wood of the treesaround them they fashioned tight, winding ropes by which to ensnare the deer and in time, tame it. Then they would become strongest among the animals and no longer would they have to scavenge for nuts and berries to survive.
>
>
>  The day of the deer's pilgrimage came. And as planned the ropes were fastened around its body and pulled tight against its skin. The deer cried out in pain, captured by the very bones of the forest it took its root in. The struggle that ensued lasted many days and nights. But eventually, after a low keening cry that echoed all throughout the land, the deer succumbed.
>
>
>  In their eagerness to take that which was not theirs, the squirrels had woven their ropes too tightly against the deer. Its eyes, huge and pleading, rolled back in its head and with a final heaving breath the last trees sprouted from the ground. There would be no more after this.
>
>
>  In the end, the squirrels were crushed under that which they wished to command. The other animals returned to a forest incapable of loosening its grip. It had known the pain of the deer as it fell and would not forget it though the deed had already been done.
>
>
>  And the trees in that place grew unendingly afterwards, forevermore. As if the very forest mourned its counterpart, and would not let those that remained rest.
>
>
>
>

Afterwards, they are helped by some people to transport a goat to their house. This results in the goat's death but they herd another one across the map and name it Karckat. Kota brings another, later dubbed Karkat^2.

Aster goes to their cave house and finds Sleep there carrying out his exile. They express surprise that he did as he promised during Law Day and self-exiled in response to everyone's backlash. When they notice that the wall where the chorus fruit had been is now covered up they break into it and find a ritual space. Sleep brushes this off. Upon getting to the Haven Village Aster expresses conflicted feelings over the fact that Sleep seems to genuinely want to make the kingdom work but seems to have gotten on many people’s bad sides in the process.

They question what Sleep has done to make so many people in Haven hate him. They also say that they want to trust him but feel that they can’t because of his tendency to manipulate other people (including themself with the contract) and that the current evidence points to him continuing to do so. Sleep says to forget about the contract from now on and that he’s trying to build a community in Elysium, a community that Aster is welcome to be a part of. Aster takes this to heart and says they will consider it. They go over the contents of the lab and Sleep has an epiphany, saying that the problem in Elysium could be him. He resolves to run things from a more background position from now on. Aster seems to find this interesting. At Aster’s house, they say that their journey into the other parts of the world taught them things about the history of the world and that they tried to hint towards it with a campfire story but no one understood.

Sleep leaves and Digger Krozhul appears and kills Aster several times, mocking their inability to escape with their chorus fruit and invisibility potions. Aster is shaken and says they will have to talk to Sleep about this.

Aster goes to the kingdom to see if Sleep has finished setting up the laboratory and to check out the rest of the castle. They run into Lux. After annoying him and trading insults, Anathema shows up. Aster asks him what he did to make Sleep so upset and Anathema states that he did nothing. He also says that Sleep is tyrannical and power hungry. Aster agrees with this sentiment. On their way out they also mention Lux’s compliance in the contract and how they will remember it. When Anathema asks what the contract was Aster says that it is ‘a story for another time’. While walking back to their house Aster talks to their chat about how they thought Lux was their friend and considers bringing up the contract to Anathema. They come to the conclusion that it wouldn’t change things anyway since Anathema and Lux seem to be very close.

Aster considers the fact that they themself have no one to trust in the same way. They spot Soleil leaving their house and when they go back to her house she asks them if they want to prank Lux. The two of them egg Lux’s throne room and Soleil shows them her secret passageway. Aster gives Soleil chorus fruit and chorus flowers to plant as a thank you. They end up at Aster’s cave where Aster tells Soleil about everything that happened including the experiment, Renn’s death, and the contract Sleep and Lux had them sign. Soleil tells them that the death wasn’t their fault and the punishment doesn’t seem fair considering Renn is alive and well. Aster mentions that they no longer remember exactly what happened and as a result cannot excuse themself of any guilt.

When Soleil asks how they can be freed from the contract Aster says that Lux might have the ability to nullify it considering his status as the king. Soleil hints that persuading Lux, one way or another, might be key to their freedom. They run off to throw more eggs at Sleep’s funeral home and say goodbye.

Aster enters the masquerade and sees Sleep drunk at the bar. They get wasted together. A pig with a saddle is involved and they may or may not have gotten scammed into a double vacation in Fiji.

In the middle of the party Anathema murders Sleep, startling everyone. He doesn’t respawn at the bed and everyone panics, thinking he’s been permanently killed. An enderchest is placed and Aster grabs several enchanted crossbows from it, showing that the contents of their enderchest have changed since they last opened it.

Soleil seems excited to meet someone, a woman she is convinced will come now that Sleep has been murdered. She refuses to provide concrete details on who this person is. According to Soleil, Sleep had his respawn anchor on him and as a result might be permanently dead. Anathema was not aware of this and gets upset. Aster tells him that his actions have consequences and even if Sleep hadn't been permanently murdered, Lux would have to deal with the fallout. They specify that they are not defending Sleep, simply asking Anathema to bide his time if he really wants to take Sleep down. Anathema continues to insist that he didn’t mean to do any damage.

Sleep’s wife Miasma traps everyone in the ballroom and sends plagues of silverfish and endermites after them. Eventually, she shows up in person and kills Anathema telling him that he was 'always sick’. Aster gives Anathema some chorus fruit and teleports out. They meet briefly before Aster goes to check on Sleep, who has since respawned at the initial spawn area. Anathema’s sword went straight through his skull and he seems deeply unwell.

At his office, Sleep clarifies a few things with Aster. Miasma is indeed his wife and she is far more powerful than anyone else on the server. When he died he also heard a raspy and phlegmy cough. Aster suggests that this may be the work of K, and Sleep seems to agree. Aster meets Kota and Soleil outside of the palace. Kota seems upset with Soleil for not providing further details when she knew that everyone is in danger. Aster seems far more forgiving, saying that they cannot ask Soleil to compromise on that. When soleil leaves they also say that they feel bad for Sleep and don’t think he should have been killed. They also question what all this means for the kingdom, considering that Anathema and Lux are very close.

On their own, Aster talks to their chat in the amethyst cave. They consider the fact that Sleep may no longer be able to enforce the contract they signed so long ago. With his recent death they may be able to take advantage of the situation.

Aster runs into Sleep, Kota, and Soleil on the island above the village. Sleep seems terrified of Anathema and Kota says that he will take responsibility if Snathema does anything else. Soleil advocates for putting restrictions or some sort of punishment on Anathema, saying that the kingdom will not be safe until he is under control in some way. Aster and Soleil talk about how they can get out of the contract. Currently the contract hinges on two people, Sleep and Lux. Soleil explains that if Aster can find a way to gain Anathema’s trust and then murder him, Lux will be distraught and possibly weakened and Sleep may be grateful enough to release Aster from their contract.

While Aster does indeed sympathize with Anathema and relates to his situation of being manipulated and unfairly targeted by Sleep, they are also desperate to be released from their contract. They tell Soleil that they will do anything to finally be free. The two of them share a drink as they consider plans to murder Anathema.

Later, Amber goes to their vacation house to relax after the masquerade and finds Aster and Sleep there bickering like usual. They've been on vacation for a week after they were scammed by someone at the masquerade while drunk. Sleep did not realize the coordinates he was given were to the vacation house he built until after the purchase.

Sleep has been grilling food and Aster has also put down their own stoves and campfires to act as competition despite the fact that there are no other potential customers at the lake. Amber confronts Aster about being brushed off at the masquerade and Aster says that they had more important things to worry about at the time. Amber tentatively accepts the apology. Aster kills Sleep a couple times and obtains his head. They steal from each other and Sleep gives Aster drugs and some food. Eventually Amber gets tired of this and the two leave, having conclulded that the vacation is over now that they have run out of alcohol and poison to consume.

#### Investigation Arc

Aster begins the stream by talking to chat. They mention that they've started cooking since the recipes to all sorts of new foods have been recently discovered. They also mention the vacation they were scammed into taking with Sleep and show off the forest they've grown around their house. Sleep comes by with some food for them, something that he's been doing for the past couple of weeks. Aster mentions a science lab they found in their time away from Haven and the two of them teleport to it.

They find several journals mentioning experiments to do with amethysts, chorus fruit, and zombie villagers as well as a cease and desist letter addressed to an unknown scientist. Several zombie villagers named Dave, John, and Subject #6 are found in one of the lab rooms. However, curing them yields no results as they don't have the full sentience that the other villagers found in Haven have. Upon further exploration Sleep also discovers that the antennae coming from the TV in the back of the lab extends above ground and to a space underneath the island. Sleep theorizes that the island was originally in a different location before the world was broken into pieces. They also spot one of the islands that Digger Krozhul has corrupted and irradiated. Sleep gives Aster blue cotton candy, which Bird gave to him beforehand.

Despite Sleep's insistence that they leave Aster teleports to the broken village near the very bottom of the world, a place that some of the other Havenites have already explored. This village contains pieces from everyone else's original realms as well as some people's original belongings and Aster comments that there doesn't seem to be anything from their own world there.

They journey back to Aster's lab to deposit the newfound journals. Sleep tells Aster about Soleil's broken anchor. He says that he wasn't aware of how close they were and that he is currently looking for a way to fix her anchor. Aster remarks that the broken anchor is not the problem, it's what it implies. Soleil might be permanently dead. They ask Sleep for details on who was in charge of guarding the anchors and ask him to leave so they can process the information.

Once alone, they consider the fact that Soleil was helping them plan Anathema's murder. Lux might have intervened, considering his close relationship with him. Aster promises to investigate Soleil's possible death further.

After their conversation with Sleep, Aster seeks out Anathema for more information since he and Lux were the last people to talk to Soleil as far as they are aware. Lux informs them that Anathema is no longer active and Moth has taken control of their shared body. Aster offers their condolences to Lux, who wishes them luck in searching for Soleil.

Aster finds Angel nearby in her room. They ask for her help and say that despite Soleil's tendency to pull tricks on people, she's always let them in on the trick. Because of this and the broken respawn anchor found in the vault, they believe that something must have happened to her. Angel agrees and messages Kota for help. She and Aster discuss Soleil's tent disappearing and her upside-down house being turned rightside-up after her disappearance.

Kota says that he was with Soleil when she disappeared. They were playing exciting chess and she and her last words were 'Oh no, not now' before she forfeit the game and vanished without a trace. He also says that he has an alibi and that they should talk to Bird about the broken anchor since Bird was guarding the vault. Lux also shows up to help investigate. Aster says that Sleep was also planning on looking into things and briefly mentions the vacation they were both scammed into taking.

On the way to the vault everyone encounters Batman. They ask Angel if Batman is her cousin, since she is a vampire. She takes offense to this and Aster's assumption that she can turn into a bat. Batman says that he's a crime-fighting vigilante, which Aster does not trust. When questioned he also says he doesn't have a respawn anchor and that he is a mob, not a spirit.

At the vault Kota shows everyone the barrel where Bird found Soleil's broken anchor along with her mask, porkchops, two pieces of blue cotton candy, and a note that said 'Not so funny now, is it?' While there Batman comments on the presence of server blood around the vault, stating that something in Haven has gone wrong and that the other servers they've been to do not have the same problem.

Aster says that Batman should have a bird-themed sidekick and offers to fight crime with them as Tit. In their amethyst cave Aster says that their main suspect is Lux, given their plan with Soleil to kill his boyfriend. They also question whether or not they were as close with Soleil as they thought and if she's just playing another trick on them. Aster also says that Angel isn't anything like they expected and she's much nicer than Sleep made her out to be. They head back to the lab and end stream.

Aster seeks out Bird, since they were guarding the vault at the time of Soleil's disappearance. They question Bird heavily, saying that it was their responsibility to make sure nothing happened to their anchors. Bird lets them examine the contents of the barrel found behind the vault, Soleil's mask and a broken anchor being the two most important items. When Angel insists that Soleil wouldn't leave without saying anything Aster wonders again if any of them really knew her and their friendship with Soleil.

Everyone goes to investigate Sleep's caravan. Angel and Bird mention that Lux has been more impatient recently, lashing out with little warning. Angel says this is probably because of Moth gaining control of their shared body with Anathema.

On their way to the vault Aster mentions wanting to open a cafe. They ask Angel if she and Renn can help them with cooking. Aster wonders if the sleeping quarters next to the vault could have been used to tunnel in through the ceiling. Kota shows the invitation Soleil sent him to play exciting chess and says that he used Secretariat to get there. Considering the porkchops found in the barrel, Secretariat is likely also dead.

When Bird asks if Aster has told anyone else about their investigation, they comment that most people in Haven don't like them. Angel and Kota say that they like Aster anyway. A thrown enderpearl spawns an endermite and Aster gets attached to it, saying they'll take it back to their house at a later time. Everyone suggests that Aster check their mailbox. When they do they find a note from Ezekiel, Kota's angel companion who has recently taken on a form beyond a cat and is starting a newspaper. Aster resolves to meet Ezekiel later.

They also find a note with coordinates and Soleil's signature. Aster does not tell anyone else about the note and says they found nothing else in the mailbox. After hanging out Aster thinks about Angel and how she's much nicer than they expected. They also say that they enjoy hanging out with Kota and Bird.

Turning their attention to the note left in their inbox, Aster decides that even if the coordinates are a trap the idea of not knowing what's there is worse than the potential danger. When they seek out the coordinates, they'll message the coordinates to Angel and Bird so they can check up on them.

In their house, Aster considers the note left in their mailbox signed with Soleil's signature. They consider the two possibilities: either Soleil faked her death and didn't tell them or the note's coordinates lead to a trap. Aster admits they would be hurt by the first possibility and resolve to travel to the coordinates alone once their supplies are gathered.

Aster visits Renn's house to cook with them and Angel. Kota is also there and offers to help. Everyone starts gathering ingredients for the restaurant Aster's opening with Angel. Aster also mentions a dream they had where everyone murdered each other in a spaceship, referencing the in-character Among Us stream.

Angel asks Aster about the resurrection ritual used to bring back Renn. Aster keeps their answers vague and tells her that Sleep and Lux, who were also present, refused to tell them the details and forced them to keep quiet. They apologize for not being able to provide more information and admit that necromancy magic scares them since they know almost nothing about it. Angel thanks them for being honest and when Aster says that they consider her a friend she says she considers them a friend as well.

Kota and Angel are surprised to see Aster's netherite boots, which they place in a chest while collecting ingredients. Aster says they found it in a place far away from here. Everyone warms up in Aster's house after cooking and the stream ends.

Aster seeks Sleep out once again to show him two more locations they found in their time away from Haven. The first is an abandoned mine with a mechanical drill bit. From the contents of the chests Sleep and Aster surmise that it was used to harvest amethysts, meaning that the amethyst experiments they found evidence of was part of a much larger project. Sleep also comments that whatever was going on, the researchers working in the mine were forced to leave very quickly. Aster mentions that they are opening a restaurant, but refuses to disclose who their partner is.

When Aster mentions making their own amethyst harvesting operation, Sleep questions what they would want with it and the true importance of amethyst to them. They say that whatever meaning it may have had is now lost to them along with their memories, but they still feel drawn to it in a strange way. It gave them comfort when little else did.

The two of them make their way to another building, one that is a combined office area, farm, and housing space. The letters HRC are displayed on the side of it. Sleep theorizes that the building was some sort of temporary housing effort or refugee center and that it was built in a hurry. Parts of the building have been corroded or otherwise corrupted, and Sleep warns Aster against touching those parts or taking anything from the building.

On their way out Aster notices a library near the void and points it out to Sleep, who says they shouldn't go there. Gawain previously journeyed to the library and read its books and the aftermath severely impacted their sanity and mental state. Aster comments that they don't have much of that left in the first place and continues pressing the subject further.

Sleep insists that they don't go to the library, saying that he doesn't want to deal with Aster's mental health worsening further. He says that Aster is only where they are now because he and Lux helped them get away from a 'breaking point'. Aster replies that Sleep was the one who pushed them to that breaking point after Renn's death anyway. But when challenged they drop the subject.

Sleep says that he's been working on repairing Soleil's anchor, though Aster wonders if that'll do any good in the first place considering Soleil is still absent. At the Haven Village the two of them realize that HRC likely stands for the Haven Research Council, as mentioned in one of the previously found journals. Aster says that they feel tired of feeling like they have no impact on anything and that they're going to take a sabbatical. Sleep wishes them well.

### Relationships

Their relationship turned sour when Aster asked Sleep for help in resurrecting Renn. Sleep seems to be under the impression that Renn died due to Aster's neglect and thus blames them for the accident. He then wrote up the terms of the Contract, under which Aster's freedom was severely limited. He also notably showed some concern for Aster's wellbeing during this time, as they were very distressed by Renn's death. It is unknown how much of this concern was genuine. Nevertheless, Aster's treatment of Sleep swings wildly from civil to outright hostility
Just after Renn's resurrection they started blaming themself for the accident, influenced by Sleep's view of the situation. However, they came back to Haven during the Elysium Arc with the belief that the Contract's terms were unjust and they have since been more conflicted about their relationship with Sleep. He promised more leniency upon their return and as a result they have developed some understanding. Their job as the royal scientist means that they must work with him for the good of the kingdom, but they continue to harbor feelings of resentment towards him
 Lux
 Renn
Aster was wracked with guilt over Renn's death to the point of questioning if the incident truly was an accident. Even after their resurrection Aster begins to heavily question their morality, something they do not share with Renn since they do not remember the incident
This eventually led to their temporary departure from the area around Haven Village, during which they had many nightmares about the accident. In one of their nightmares Aster apologizes to a dream version of Renn for putting them in danger, though Renn tells them again that it is not their fault.
 Dakota
 Soleil
As one of the few people who openly criticize the kingdom and Sleep and Lux's reign, as well as being generally supportive of Aster despite their paranoia, they have developed a close friendship with each other. Aster has notably chosen to tell Soleil the details of the Contract in full, breaching its terms. Upon hearing this Soleil insisted that Aster should not be punished so severely for Renn's death, especially as the consequences were not permanent, and promised to help them nullify the contract
During the Masquerade Aster became somewhat annoyed by Soleil's refusal to give a straightforward answer regarding Miasma's identity. However, they ultimately decided that they could not ask Soleil to compromise on their secrecy. Seeing the extent to which Sleep wishes to kick Anathema out of the kingdom entirely, Soleil persuades Aster to come up with a plan: kill Anathema to weaken Lux and get on good terms with Sleep. As a result, the Contract may be lifted entirely. Overall Aster and Soleil share a lot of major values and share the same opinion on Elysium Kingdom. Their shared sense of mischief have made them close friends. Aster is blind to whatever external motivation Soleil may have

 Anathema

During the Masquerade Aster indicated that they understood Anathema's desire to hurt Sleep and take revenge on him but urged him to consider the consequences of his actions. Despite all this, with Soleil's persuasion Aster has begun plotting to kill Anathema in order to weaken Lux and appeal themself to Sleep with the hope of having the Contract lifted

### Trivia

* Despite having no memory of their life prior to Haven, Aster seems to recall a religion worshipping a figure called 'Nagito Komaeda'
* They are said to have been intimate with a number of mobs including strays, chickens, sheep, and cows
* A photo of Sleep's nudes hangs in their cave
* They possess a pair of leather thigh-highs found in a chest near the Haven Village
* Apparently, while living in their cave house Aster repeatedly used asbestos as a recreational drug

1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMfd97GyVGk&list=PLYsCJD0NdU9YUYUepvFZCgL3iE1XjgHkr&index=1&ab\_channel=Asterlsks
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HalM3gszgGs&list=PLYsCJD0NdU9YUYUepvFZCgL3iE1XjgHkr&index=2&ab\_channel=Asterlsks
3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoQpvGLoZRg&ab\_channel=Kriber
4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3MslsnyKls&list=PLYsCJD0NdU9YUYUepvFZCgL3iE1XjgHkr&index=3&ab\_channel=Asterlsks
5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFOYuI4-c3Y&list=PLYsCJD0NdU9YUYUepvFZCgL3iE1XjgHkr&index=4&ab\_channel=Asterlsks
6. ↑ 1:06:46 https://youtu.be/nGekEena\_mc?t=4006
7. ↑ 1:30:55 https://youtu.be/qcyfw3CCJd0?t=5455
8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJzCMv1xvfE&list=PLYsCJD0NdU9YUYUepvFZCgL3iE1XjgHkr&index=5&ab\_channel=Asterlsks
9. ↑ 1:56:16 https://youtu.be/fAPQkjqtwao?t=6976
10. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlQzCP-N6SE&list=PLYsCJD0NdU9YUYUepvFZCgL3iE1XjgHkr&index=8&ab\_channel=Asterlsks
11. ↑ 54:54 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYJv3yvBxEM&list=PLYsCJD0NdU9YUYUepvFZCgL3iE1XjgHkr&index=7&ab\_channel=Asterlsks
12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jruEmP2UyM&list=PLYsCJD0NdU9YUYUepvFZCgL3iE1XjgHkr&index=8&ab\_channel=Asterlsks
13. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huj8fLJq2fE&t=7284s&ab\_channel=AdAsterlsks 1:53:00
14. ↑ 1:13:31 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCAOB766cyY&list=PLWrB\_n57nejrwx8NyazvRfga-T6OV2koU&t=4411s&ab\_channel=SintheticArchives
15. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFidngCkxd4&ab\_channel=AdAsterlsks
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLhn98mnX4E&list=PLWrB\_n57nejrwx8NyazvRfga-T6OV2koU&index=19&ab\_channel=SintheticArchives
17. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsZE12kb2lA&t=2423s&ab\_channel=AdAsterlsks
18. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKljXCU\_OCc&ab\_channel=AdAsterlsks
19. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syevhaqy6E0&ab\_channel=AdAsterlsks
20. ↑ 2:15:12 https://youtu.be/AaeK80ubyFI?t=8112
21. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebA33wFwUkY&ab\_channel=exist\_VODs
22. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWH6mPXcwv8&t=2s&ab\_channel=AsterlsksVods
23. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEyImU16Rog&list=PLYsCJD0NdU9YUYUepvFZCgL3iE1XjgHkr&index=15&ab\_channel=AsterlsksVods
24. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEUUNb1M2H4&list=PLYsCJD0NdU9YUYUepvFZCgL3iE1XjgHkr&index=16&ab\_channel=AsterlsksVods
25. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu7NhA2fv-U&t=54s&ab\_channel=AsterlsksVods
26. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DGwKR6VpQg&list=PLYsCJD0NdU9YUYUepvFZCgL3iE1XjgHkr&index=17&ab\_channel=AsterlsksVods
27. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AboyCD-FGXQ&ab\_channel=AsterlsksVods
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jruEmP2UyM&list=PLYsCJD0NdU9YUYUepvFZCgL3iE1XjgHkr&index=9&ab\_channel=AsterlsksVods
29. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWH6mPXcwv8&t=2392s&ab\_channel=AsterlsksVods
30. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEUUNb1M2H4&ab\_channel=AsterlsksVods