A rotund, octopedal mammal with a spherical head, wide-set eyes, and protruding snout covered in clumps of thin, silky fur that resemble scales. A livestock animal butchered for their meat, asts are unintelligent and maintain a population exclusively through human intervention. In Castia, along with caff ghis, ji, and yan, ast are among the most commonly eaten and preferred meats.
Activists, however, argue that the image of the ast as unintelligent is a myth perpetrated by ranchers and butchers. This has been proven somewhat true as asts become an increasingly popular pet known for their loyalty and trainability in contemporary Iska. As such, in recent decades, eating ast has become taboo in most Iskan cultures.