{this has been updated} Star Watchers — TRUE Record Star Watchers are colossal, non-hostile entities that have existed for over 90,000 years, though they do not age in any conventional sense. They are best described as colossal plant-like organisms that sustain themselves by absorbing dim starlight, which they collect through a central eye or multiple eyes in later stages. They are found exclusively on high mountain ranges and cold environments, where thin air, low temperatures, and minimal light pollution allow uninterrupted access to the night sky. The sun is too intense for them; during the day, their heads lower and eyes close. At night, they rise to face the stars, emitting a faint glow while feeding. Star Watchers move extremely slowly—approximately 6 inches per year—yet display daily motion. Their rarity is extreme, with only ~80 confirmed individuals worldwide. No juveniles have ever been observed; instead, they exist in distinct growth stages, not tied to age: Stage 1: 20–40 m Stage 2: 60–95 m Stage 3: 115–170+ m (up to 4 heads observed) Stage 4: Unknown / predicted Despite their age, Star Watchers are not immortal. Radiation is uniquely lethal to them, causing severe geometric deformation, eye irritation, and rapid systemic failure. In 2008, a malformed Star Watcher near the Chernobyl exclusion zone collapsed and died within three weeks—a near-instantaneous death by their timescale. Following this event, no Star Watchers have been recorded within a 100-mile radius, suggesting permanent environmental incompatibility. They tolerate natural obstructions such as clouds, but pollution is toxic. Air and light pollution interfere with their ability to feed, effectively poisoning their eyes and blocking usable night. As a result, Star Watchers slowly migrate away from towns and cities over centuries. On rare occasions, individuals positioned near—but not within—polluted regions have been observed turning their gaze toward cities for a single night, before returning to stellar observation. No repeated behavior has been recorded. Purpose unknown. Star Watchers do not observe humanity. They observe the night sky. And they cannot survive where the night is broken.
