FLORA & FAUNA
The land and sea of Astrum Island are inhabited by a wide variety of wildlife, both imported and native.
The fauna of the island are mostly dominated by seabirds such as loons and grebes, as well as avines
which acclimated to the island’s environment due to obstructions in migration due to the Ashlands
(which often become domesticated in the process, being seen commonly in the city with relatively little
fear of islanders). Only a few species of wild land mammals are found on Astrum, a majority of which
were brought over by vessel.
Strangely enough, the Island is heavily populated with goats, particularly tucked along the north-eastern
side of the island, near the tallest mountains. These goats, small in stature, have been given the name of
the ‘Astremian pygmy goat’. Formerly found roaming the streets as wild animals, they have become
accustomed to people and have since been domesticated, with these goats being common pets and livestock
on the island due to their agreeable nature, producing a vast array of products such as meat, milk and cheese
(which are all staples in the Astremian diet).
However, the island isn’t merely populated by birds and mammals. The rock pools towards the
western shoreline are home to many creatures. Mostly submerged underwater, a vast variety of semi-aquatic
plants, including brown seaweed and algaes, and creatures, such as abalone, chitons, hydroids, mussels,
crabs, and even fish. Some of these organisms have been found to grow naturally larger due to having
relatively little predation, due to the wave action and shallow water that make it difficult for most larger
predators to reach the rock pools.
It is advised to not travel to the western side of the island, though, as caves sheltering a particularly
violent species of
giant crab are littered along the shoreline. These crabs are fast, with thick,
armoured bodies that can grow up to 5ft wide, and they act as the primary predator on Astrum. Due to
their danger to islanders, the Vetrium will organise hunts against the beasts, particularly after mating season,
to keep the crabs from venturing beyond the western side of the island.
Along the shorelines, grey seals can be commonly spotted, particularly during the winter months,
where seals are more likely to be hauled out on rocks, beaches, and shoals, and in the springtime,
when baby seals are most likely to get separated from their group. Aside from them, there are plenty
of aquatic mammals which populate the Astremian waters. Long-finned pilot whales are well-known
around the island, which are hunted in accordance with a long-standing local tradition. However,
islanders are advised to not attempt to hunt the whales outside of this context. Orcas also can be regularly
spotted around the island, with several instances of them washing to shore and having to be dug out by
islanders. During the summer months, particularly in Sunbright to Mistset, red arctic jellyfish migrate past
the island, settling along the shores, which can make it somewhat difficult for folks to head down to
the beaches for a few weeks. These jellyfish are primarily associated with good harvest,
and a festival is held each summer to welcome their safe passage northwards.
The natural vegetation of Astrum island are primarily dominated by arctic-alpine plants, wildflowers,
grasses, moss, and lichen. Areas of lower elevation consist of grassland, as well as shrubby heaths
which line the mountainous crags; however, most of this land has since been repurposed into farmland,
due to its incredibly fertile volcanic soil. Closer to the shorelines, sea rockets are commonly found,
and its leaves are occasionally picked and cooked into meals. Although there are no trees native to
Astrum, there have been successful efforts to introduce limited species to the region, most notably
planted in important areas as a burial tradition, in commemoration of an islander’s passing.
[Art Credit to Sears Gallagher]
While not indicative of all life existing in the Astremian ecosystem, this is the exhaustive list of
all observed species of flora, funga and fauna that researchers have documented.
FLORA
Alsike clover [Native – Common]
Arum lily [Native – Common]
Arum-leaved arrowhead [Native – Uncommon]
Asparagus [Native – Uncommon]
Astremian lavender [Native – Common]
Azalea baneberry [Introduced – Rare]
Bog blueberry [Native – Common]
Bracken [Introduced – Rare]
Brooklime [Native – Uncommon]
Brown seaweed [Native – Common]
Bull thistle [Native – Rare]
Bunchberry [Native – Rare]
Cat grass [Native – Uncommon]
Catnip [Introduced – Rare]
Chickweed [Introduced – Common]
Chicory [Native – Common]
Cleavers [Native – Rare]
Cloydberry [Native – Uncommon]
Cocklebur [Native – Uncommon]
Common bird’s-foot trefoil [Native – Uncommon]
Common black huckleberry [Native – Uncommon]
Common fireweed [Native – Common]
Common knotgrass [Introduced – Common]
Common knotweed [Introduced – Common]
Common orache [Native – Rare]
Common reed [Native – Rare]
Common speedwell [Native – Common]
Creeping dogwood [Native – Common]
Creeping thistle [Native – Uncommon]
Crowberry [Introduced – Rare]
Curled dock [Native – Uncommon]
Dandelion [Native – Common]
Dwarf blueberry [Native – Rare]
Early blue violet [Native – Rare]
Eastern daisy fleabane [Native – Common]
Elven bittercress [Introduced – Uncommon]
Fleshy hawthorn [Native – Rare]
Hairy michaelmas-daisy [Native – Uncommon]
Hard-stemmed bullrush [Native – Common]
Highbush blackberry [Introduced – Uncommon]
Hyssop [Introduced – Common]
Juneberry [Introduced – Uncommon]
Lovegrass [Introduced – Common]
Lowbush blueberry [Native – Uncommon]
Magebloom [Introduced – Rare]
Marsh violet [Native – Common]
Mayapple [Native – Common]
Northern bedstraw [Native – Uncommon]
Northern black currant [Native – Common]
Northern bugleweed [Native – Common]
Oval-leaf blueberry [Introduced – Common]
Oxeye daisy [Native – Uncommon]
Pearly everlasting [Native – Uncommon]
Prickly currant [Native – Common]
Red clover [Native – Common]
Red oak [Introduced – Rare]
Red-rooted pigweed [Native – Rare]
Sea milkwort [Native – Common]
Sea rockets [Native – Uncommon]
Seashore saltgrass [Introduced – Uncommon]
Self heal [Introduced – Uncommon]
Sheep sorrel [Introduced – Rare]
Silverweed [Introduced – Uncommon]
Soft-stemmed bullrush [Native – Common]
Starflower [Native – Uncommon]
Stork’s-bill [Native – Rare]
Sugar maple [Introduced – Rare]
Sweet gale [Native – Common]
Sweet-scented bedstraw]
Thyme-leaved speedwell [Native – Rare]
Toothwort [Native – Rare]
Velvetleaf blueberry [Native – Uncommon]
Wapato [Native – Rare]
Water whorl-grass [Native – Common]
White ash [Introduced – Rare]
White clover [Native – Uncommon]
Wild pansy [Native – Uncommon]
Wild strawberry [Native – Common]
Willow dock [Native – Rare]
Yellow cow lily [Native – Uncommon]
Yellow marsh-marigold [Native – Uncommon]
FUNGA
Black morel [Native – Common]
Black witches’ butter [Introduced – Uncommon]
Common Inkcap [Native – Uncommon]
Fairy ring mushroom [Native – Uncommon]
False chanterelle [Native – Common]
False parasol [Native – Common]
Fly agaric [Native – Common]
Funeral bell [Introduced – Rare]
Golden chanterelle [Native – Common]
Green-spored parasol [Introduced – Rare]
Lobster mushroom [Native – Rare]
Meadow mushroom [Native – Uncommon]
Mica cap [Native – Rare]
Olive shaggy parasol [Native – Rare]
Onion earthball [Native – Common]
Red russulas [Native – Uncommon]
Tawny grisette [Introduced – Uncommon]
FAUNA
Mammalia
Astremian pygmy goat [Native – Common]
Bank Vole [Native – Common]
Beluga [Native – Uncommon] (Vagrant)
Blue whale [Native – Rare]
Common Alteran Hare [Introduced – Common]
Common Hedgehog [Introduced – Uncommon]
Common mink [Introduced – Uncommon]
Common minke whale [Native – Uncommon]
Grey seal [Native – Common]
Harbour porpoise [Native – Common]
Harp seal [Native – Rare] (Vagrant)
Hazel dormouse [Introduced – Uncommon]
House mouse [Native – Common]
Humpback whale [Native – Rare]
Long-finned pilot whale [Native – Uncommon]
Mountain Hare [Native – Common]
North sea beaked whale [Native – Uncommon]
Northern bottlenose whale [Native – Rare]
Orca [Native – Uncommon]
Red squirrel [Native – Common]
Aves
Aquatic warbler [Native – Rare] (Vagrant)
Black-billed cuckoo [Native – Rare] (Vagrant)
Cackling goose [Native – Uncommon] (Vagrant)
Common loon [Native – Common] (Vagrant)
Common magpie [Introduced – Common]
Common nighthawk [Native – Uncommon]
Double-crested cormorant [Native – Uncommon]
Garganey [Native – Rare] (Vagrant)
Grey partridge [Native – Common]
Jackdaw [Introduced – Uncommon]
Lesser gallinule [Native – Rare]
Little grebe [Native – Common] (Vagrant)
Marsh tit [Introduced – Rare]
Mourning dove [Introduced – Common]
Nightjar [Native – Rare]
Northern raven [Native – Common]
Oldsquaw [Native – Uncommon] (Vagrant)
Palaearctic oystercatcher [Native – Common]
Pied-billed grebe [Native – Uncommon]
Savi’s warbler [Native – Uncommon] (Vagrant)
Smew [Native – Common] (Vagrant)
Snowy owl [Introduced – Uncommon]
Stock dove [Introduced – Uncommon]
White-throated dipper [Native – Common]
Willow ptarmigan [Native – Common]
Wood grouse [Native – Common]
Yellow-billed loon [Native – Uncommon] (Vagrant)
Amphibia
Alteran common brown frog [Native – Common]
Smooth newt [Native – Uncommon]
Reptilia
Astremian ridley sea-turtle [Native – Rare]
Green sea-turtle [Native – Uncommon]
Leatherback sea-turtle [Native – Common]
Slow worm [Native – Uncommon]
Fish
Albacore [Native – Uncommon]
Alteran anchovy [Native – Common]
Alteran hake [Native – Uncommon]
Alteran perch [Native – Common]
Alteran sea sturgeon [Native – Uncommon]
Angel shark [Native – Rare] (Vagrant)
Arctic char [Native – Rare] (Vagrant)
Arctic red jellyfish [Native – Common] (Vagrant)
Basking shark [Native – Rare]
Blunthead puffer [Native – Uncommon]
Bogue [Native – Common]
Bramble shark [Native – Rare]
Devil fish [Native – Uncommon]
Haddock [Native – Common]
Hagfish [Native – Uncommon]
Kitefin shark [Native – Common]
Knifetooth dogfish [Native – Common]
Large-eyed rabbitfish [Native – Rare]
Leafscale gulper shark [Native – Uncommon]
Long-snouted seahorse [Native – Rare]
Narrownose chimaera [Native – Uncommon]
Pilchard [Native – Common]
Portola cod [Native – Common]
Portola halibut [Native – Uncommon]
Portola herring [Native – Common]
Portola mackerel [Native – Common]
Portola salmon [Native – Uncommon] (Vagrant)
Portola saury [Native – Uncommon]
Red mullet [Native – Uncommon]
Sea trout [Native – Common] (Vagrant)
Spotted torpedo [Native – Uncommon]
Swordfish [Native – Rare]
Whipsnout sorcerer [Native – Common]
Crustaceans
Astremian giant crab [Native – Uncommon]
Black squat lobster [Native – Common]
Blue mussel [Native – Common]
Brown crab [Native – Common]
Common hermit-crab [Native – Common]
Common prawn [Native – Common]
Common shrimp [Native – Common]
King scallop [Native – Rare]
Montagu's stellate barnacle [Native – Rare]
Mud shrimp [Native – Uncommon]
Portola ditch-shrimp [Native – Rare]
Queen scallop [Native – Uncommon]
Roly-poly [Native – Common]
Sand crab [Native – Uncommon]
Small hermit-crab [Native – Common]
Smooth gooseneck barnacle [Native – Uncommon]
Spiny spider crab [Native – Uncommon]
Waterlouse [Native – Common]
