Astraeus

Astraeus is a red kuparkuke from the planet Fungaia, and the former chief of the Enoki tribe.

As a much-loved war hero, Astraeus was celebrated in his youth as the general who, alongside the tribe’s chief of the time, War-Chief Agaricus, led the Enoki tribe to victory at the Battle of Enoki Village, seizing back control of the tribe’s ancestral settlement from its feline raiders. As chief, a position he held for more than thirty years, Astraeus won many more battles for his tribe, including his legendary victories at the Battle for Star Falls and the Rumble at Thunder Rock.

Although he is now retired, Astraeus’ life is anything but quiet. He advises Chief Chaga in the matters of politics and warfare, and he’s a father figure to virtually every other member of the Enoki tribe – most of all Chaga, Angel Wings, and Kinoko.

Physical appearance

Astraeus is a red kuparkuke who in his youth stood tall and strong amongst others, casting a striking figure on the battlefield whenever he led the charge. Whilst he’s older now, and not quite the figure he once was, Astraeus remains taller than most, and he still stands upright and proud – even if he needs the help of his mushroom cane to do so.

His fur is red, striped heavily in bands of white, although his ears and tail are dark. His eyes are teal, and have lost none of their light in his advancing years. His long hair is pulled into plaits around the top and sides of his head, tied together with jewel beads, so that it looks like he is wearing a coronet, and he has a large white beard.

Personality

Being one of the Enoki tribe’s oldest kuparkukes – and having lived a very full life at that – Astraeus is incredibly wise. He’s someone the other kuparkukes can always depend on in times of crisis, even when the relatively inexperienced Chief Chaga loses his cool. He’s firm but fair, offering his judgement but never berating others for their mistakes. No one remembers ever seeing him angry. He’s the sort of kuparkuke that all the other aspire to be. He’s been around for a long time, but he has the strength and the vigour of someone half his age.

As a red kuparkuke, Astraeus’ heart burns intensely and his emotions are strong. Whilst for some red kuparkukes, this intensity manifests in great displays of anger and extreme outbursts, in Astraeus it shows only in his love for his tribe and his courage on the battlefield. He’s fiercely devoted to the Enoki tribe, even now in his retirement.

Having led the Enoki tribe to victory in battle so many times, Astraeus is full of stories. Although the entire tribe – even the kups – have heard these stories countless times before, seldom does a night around the bonfire go by without someone begging Astraeus to recount his legendary battles once again. He’s very humble, never claiming any victory as his own, and he takes the time to recount the names of every kuparkuke involved, whether they survived to share in the accolades or became one with the glorious dead.

Skills and abilities

Astraeus is a natural-born leader with the fire and the passion to lead the tribe he loves into the heat of battle and come out victorious. He makes it look effortless, but ever since he was a boy Astraeus always had a mind for tactics. He’s logical and a thinker, and he knows how to study his surroundings and scope out the advantage.

Despite his ferocity on the battlefield, Astraeus is incredibly warm and approachable. It’s won him the respect and adoration of the entire Enoki tribe. Kuparkukes go to Astraeus with things they cannot share with anyone else, whether for fear of admonishment or mockery. Astraeus knows just how to put others at ease, and the door to his mushroom is always open (and his kettle always on the fire) for anyone who needs the benefit of his wisdom.