The Asterion

Overview

The Asterion is the government complex in Arkaster that serves as the seat of Asgartha’s executive power. It houses the Basileus’s palace and the administrative offices where the government’s daily operations are conducted.

Name Origin Theories

The name “Asterion” was initially thought to convey the idea of a star or light in the sky. Teija and historian Abiram Okech noted connections to pre-Confluence mythology: in ancient myths, Asterion was both a king married to the Phoenician princess Europa and the name given to the Minotaur born from Pasiphaë and a bull sent by Poseidon. Asgartha occupies territory previously known as “Europe,” linking the government building’s name to this mythological tradition.

Political Structure

The Asterion is where Chambellans and other political officials work to manage the affairs of state. Sigismar Synd’s father works late in the corridors of the Basileus’s palace, demonstrating the demanding nature of government service at this level.

The highest echelons of the Asterion hold significant power over the Ordis faction’s internal affairs. When Sigismar contested his father’s intervention in his military career, his father had appealed to these highest echelons, and the Faction’s hands and feet were tied in the matter.

Role in the Rediscovery Endeavor

The Asterion played a central role in organizing the Rediscovery Endeavor. Avkan ruun-Heshkari’s rise to power culminated in his position within the Asterion’s leadership structure, and his opponents formed a cabal to thwart his plans from within these very halls.

Waru Toowoom gradually extended his influence within the Asterion’s political circles after being recruited by emissaries representing opposition figures. He was invited into the palaces of some governors and met prestigious dignitaries, taking a central position among Avkan’s opponents while operating from the Asterion’s sphere of influence.

Security and Oversight

Venka serves in security oversight at the Asterion, demonstrating that the complex requires protection and monitoring beyond its political functions. The building represents not just a center of political power but also a potential target requiring vigilant defense.

Relationships

• Arkaster: City where The Asterion is located
• Basileus: Ruler whose palace is housed within The Asterion
• Ordis: Faction that controls The Asterion
• Teija: Muna Exalt who discussed the building’s name origin with Abiram Okech (393 AC)
• Abiram Okech: Historian who discussed Asterion mythology (393 AC)
• Minotaur: Eidolon connected to the Asterion name through mythology