Lýstar

Lýstar is a fictional term used in a fantasy world-building context to describe a system of luminous celestial formations observed in the night sky. In the setting, lýstar serve as a navigational guide, a source of magical power, and a central element of myth and ritual. The concept appears across novels, games, and ancillary materials created for this world to provide coherence to calendars, geography, and belief systems.

The name lýstar comes from the imagined Lýari language, combining lý meaning light with star. In published lore, lýstar is treated as a plural term denoting a set of seven luminous asterisms; a widely used singular form is not standardized in the texts.

In-universe, lýstar consist of seven clusters that form a loose arc across the northern sky. Their relative positions shift with the solstices and equinoxes, and their rising and setting are used to time rites, agricultural activities, and journeys.

Cultural usage centers on festivals and rites tied to lýstar appearances. Priests and scholars interpret different alignments as omens or directives, while navigators and travelers use the visible patterns to chart routes in unfamiliar regions. Some magic traditions draw power from the perceived resonance of lýstar, especially during special seasonal alignments.

As a fictional construct, lýstar has no basis in real astronomy. It exists in fictional works and role-playing materials, where it functions as a narrative device to structure lore and gameplay. See also: fictional astronomy, star lore, and constellations in fantasy.