Arbre

First Appearance and Context

Arbre is referenced during the winding of the great clock in a math’s Mynster, where the heavy meteorite weight is likened to the core of the world. The name also frames in‑world dating through A.R. as seen on formal citations.

Roles/Actions and Affiliations

Arbre is the setting for the Mathic World and the wider Extramuros society. Timekeeping and cosmography conducted from the Mynster use Arbre as the reference body for calendars and observations. Across concents, the rooftop Starhenge couples clockwork to skywatching; descriptions include a fixed all‑sky device ("Clesthyra's Eye") used to record meteor tracks. Around the time of a noted near‑miss by a large asteroid, similar all‑sky devices were installed on starhenges across the world. In one past near‑miss, avout were convoked to build a spacecraft intended to nudge an incoming rock; when calculations showed it would miss, the mission continued as a study effort, and the laboratory site later became known as the concent of Saunt Rab.

Astronomy and Skywatching

• Arbre is understood (by those trained in cosmography) to orbit the sun; establishing this required careful observation and theoretical work. Some extramuros people are shown holding the contrary, geocentric view.
• One permanent moon of Arbre is known. The triangular libration points of the Arbre–moon system harbor faint concentrations of dust that can be perceived as trailing or leading clouds.
• Asteroids can be temporarily captured into Arbre‑centered orbits, but such orbits are unstable and typically end in impact on Arbre or its moon, or ejection from the system.
• Polar orbits around Arbre are discussed as crossing over each pole on each revolution; such tracks are useful for surveying the entire surface over time.
• Time‑integrated all‑sky recordings from Clesthyra’s Eye on clear nights show concentric star trails centered on a fixed pole star as Arbre rotates. Fast‑moving craft appear as straight or curved light‑tracks depending on altitude and approach.
• Multiple satellites in Polar Orbits are plainly visible from the ground. In time‑integrated images near the pole they form near‑straight streaks that recur over the night, each offset by a consistent angle set by Arbre’s rotation between passes.

Natural World and Exploration

As exploration of Arbre progressed, additional plant species were identified and cataloged; mathic authorities expanded lists of flora forbidden within maths on account of undesirable pharmacological effects.

Current Observations and Debates

Recent dialogs among avout describe calculations concerning object(s) in Arbre‑centered polar orbit. Their origin is disputed: some suggest Sæcular reconnaissance craft, others question whether a purely natural explanation fits the numbers. Current work emphasizes compiling a practical census of recurring polar‑orbit passes—timing successive overflights (about an hour and a half apart for low orbits) and comparing angles between tracks—to detect any anomalies. Avout commentary also notes that such satellites have likely been present since the Praxic Age, with replacements maintained by outside authorities; the open question is whether a new or unusual object is present now.

In one documented observation, avout using a pinhole projection in a darkened workroom reported brief, bluish “sparks” appearing in sequence along a line oriented toward the sun, each flaring quickly and fading more slowly. The sequence progressed across the projection and then ceased, and the plotted points suggested a slight curve before stopping. Some interpreters take this as evidence of an artificial object maneuvering in Arbre’s vicinity, with course changes concentrated near solar alignment; discussion of such observations has been sensitive within the Discipline.

Current Status/Location

Arbre is currently inhabited and active: maths conduct regular rites and wind their clocks, starhenges underpin timekeeping and observation when accessible, and extramuros life proceeds around the walls during permitted contact periods such as Apert. At present, access to the starhenge at Saunt Edhar is tightly controlled by hierarchs, limiting direct skywatching from that site.