Darkstar

A Darkstar is an Anasorein who has completely succumbed to the Astral Hunger, unable to sate their need for energy. Any Anasorein who starts to succumb to the Astral Hunger will have mere weeks to revert their potential 'death'. If they fail to do so, their body will slowly decay and die, until skin sloughs from the bone, and void energy replaces it, leaving them as a literal void spirit reminiscent of their original self.

Summary
The Reverence of the Stars are a key feature of Anasorein society. The Anasorein once used the Astranawell, a well similar to the Sunwell, but infused with pure arcane and lunar magic, to fill their need and hunger. It is the force that guides their hands, and allows foresight into the future through reverence of Malash.

However, there are unfortunate circumstances surrounding this following the Fall of Amastril. With an unstable Astranawell, balance must be kept with each Anasorein and their mana intake. While there are fonts throughout Amastrils territory of Quel’Anaris and Arcadia, which fulfills the need to feed off the Wells energies, one cannot overindulge in the feeding. This is known as the Astral Hunger

Overfilling upon the energy of the well, as well as underfeeding will lead to the transformation of what is called a “Darkstar”, a creature writhed in shadow and astral energy, which lives only to consume and kill. The only known way of removing them is through purification via a priest from the Kelendric Pantheon, though only those who have mastered the teachings of Kelendri, Dras or Larshigal are capable of purifying their spirits and sending them to the afterlife.

Existence
Those who become a Darkstar are doomed to continue their existence in sufferage, in eternal pain as the hunger gnaws at them, forcing them to drain the life from their surroundings, and seek out a source of Astral energy from their Anasorein brethren. Those who do manage to drain such essence from another Anasorein will 'infect' them with their affliction, forcing them to eventually become a Darkstar as well, unless they sate the hunger.

Furthermore, while a Darkstar cannot be reverted to their once corporeal form, they can be 'cured' in a way, either being purified and sent to the afterlife, or collected into a soul gem and infused into a weapon, forced to serve as a permanent enchantment until their soul is drained, and they are finally killed.

While it is rare for children to become afflicted by the Astral Hunger, it is still possible. In such a case, it is noted that the child does not become aggressive, but rather, seeks comfort from those who they would normally try to drain life from. For a time, it is possible to comfort and soothe them, but they will eventually start to drain those that do so. As always, they must be purified, or collected into a soul gem.