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Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011

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    Nils Jeppe's

    Arth SpaceArth SpaceA S p e l l j a m m e r C a m p a i g n S e t t i n g

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    2

    CreditsWritten by Nils Jeppe.

    License:

    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike .!

    "nported #icense.$lease credit Nils Jeppe http%&&enderra.com&.

    With many thanks to:

    Nathaniel lsen (or the idea o( how Spell)ammer *elms could work with +ravity.

    #ars ,ecker and Arthur A/ent ran/ina01 (or their (eedback.

    Art by:

    ,ark.sv/ by http%&&commons.wikimedia.or/&wiki&"ser%$ibwl cc-by-sa 2.31

    Arth's +eo/raphy is based on the 45iddle 6evonian4 paleomap by 6r. 7on ,lakey

    http%&&)an.ucc.nau.edu&8rcb9&/lobalte:t2.html1

    This document was created usin/

    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/http://enderra.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/http://www.openoffice.org/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/http://enderra.com/
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    The only way o( discoverin/ the limits o( the possible is to venture

    a little way past them into the impossible.0

    - Arthur C. Clarke

    3

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    Table of Contents;ntroduction......................................................3

    The "niverse in a Nutshell.........................3

    Sailin/ Amon/ the Stars.................................... and was inspired by many additional sources. ;t aims

    to provide a complete 4(antasy space4 role-playin/ settin/. Concepts o( space travel> a rou/h

    history and the current situation o( the solar system will be presented> as well as other

    in(ormation that will let you use this settin/ (or your /ames.

    ; started this work in 2!!3 and> si: years later> it is still not done. ; have cleaned up this book as

    best as ; can> and ; decided to release it in the hope that someone will (ind this use(ul.

    ;'d really appreciate (eedbackI ;( you like this or don't let me know. ;'d love to /et

    constructive criticism and su//estions on how to improve this work.

    Kou can email me at% nilsLpandemonium.de

    The Universe in a Nutshell;t has been over (i(ty years since 5an has (irst le(t his home planet> Arth> and be/an sailin/

    amon/ the stars. *e has visited all ma)or celestial bodies in the Solar System> and e:plored most

    o( them at least super(icially. *e has established outposts and colonies on the most use(ul and

    valuable worlds and constructed several space stations. *e has met many alien races> andestablished commercial and political relations with many o( them Sometimes as eMuals> o(ten

    as conMuerors. *e has even le(t his solar system> sailed throu/h the rainbow ocean known as The

    ?low> and discovered other Solar Systems beyond the crystal sphere he inhabits.

    While space-(li/ht is maturin/ and the human kin/doms o( Arth are slowly /rowin/ into an

    interplanetary civiliEation> it is still an a/e o( e:ploration and e:pansion. The universe is (ull o(

    wonders and mysteries. There is enou/h room to e:pand into> but the kin/doms o( 5an have

    time and a/ain come into con(lict over what they see as the most valuable possessions. Dven in

    times o( peace> spies and other a/ents try to secure advanta/es (or their realms. 5any countries

    are sendin/ their mis(its o(( into space> and many people are leavin/ voluntarily in search o( a

    better li(e. 5erchants are makin/ a (ortune tradin/ amon/ the planets> and $irates prey onthem.

    The latest dan/er that threatens not only humans and Arth> but eventually the entire Solar

    System is the arrival o( the ?ormians. This insectoid menace has no other /oal than to conMuer

    all the territory available to them> and to establish the *ive as the supreme overlord o( all livin/

    creatures. They are completely alien> and cannot be reasoned with once the war breaks out in

    earnest it will be a battle (or the survival o( 5ankind as an independent species.

    5

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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    Sailing Among the Stars

    Sailing Among the StarsThe real (riends o( the space voya/er are the stars.0

    - James #ovell

    Space is an environment that is radically di((erent (rom what human bein/s are used to. ;t's also

    very hostile. When the (irst pioneers on Arth built their space-ships> they had to overcome many

    problems they had never ima/ined. ver the years these in/enious men and women came up

    with solutions> technolo/ies and ma/ics that are still in use.

    ,e(ore we can discuss space travel> we have to understand the environment that these pioneers

    (ound themselves con(ronted with.

    Air5ost livin/ creatures reMuire air to

    survive. Air is somethin/ any inhabitant o(

    a planet takes (or /ranted. nly in rare

    circumstances would a creature be

    deprived o( breathable air% A cave-in

    mi/ht trap it under/round> or it mi/ht

    drown in a body o( water. True vacuums

    are e:ceedin/ly rare> and usually the

    result o( ma/ic and hence very limited inscope.

    When the (irst pioneers reached hi/her

    and hi/her altitudes in their dream to visit

    the stars> they (ound out that at a certain

    point the air be/an to thin rapidly until

    Arth's atmosphere (inally ended> /ivin/ way to vacuum.

    D:periments were done to clean or create air ma/ically. The solutions proposed were all

    impractical. Attempts to create airti/ht capsules in which space (arers could travel seemed more

    promisin/> but small capsules would only hold enou/h air (or a very small crew (or short periods

    o( time. *owever> throu/h these e:periments the brilliant minds behind the e((ort to reach the

    stars learned enou/h to (ind the solution in use today. ,e(ore they were able to develop this

    solution> the pioneers (irst had to understand the nature o( +ravity.

    Gravity+ravity is the (orce that pulls ob)ects to the sur(ace o( a planet or other lar/e ob)ect. The

    e:istence o( /ravity as a natural (orce had been known (or a lon/ time. WiEards and philosophers

    had developed mathmatical (ormulas and spells to deal with /ravity in some special cases. ,ut

    not all bene(its and aspects o( /ravity were understood be(ore mankind le(t Arth and its /ravity

    well and made its (irst tentative steps into outer space.

    6

    Air Quality

    The air around any body or ship can be one o(

    three classes o( Muality - (resh> (ouled> or deadly.

    ?our i( you count vacuum.

    Fresh airis completely breathable.

    Fouled air is stale and partially depleted. ;t is

    humid and smelly and unpleasant. All characters

    act at a -2 modi(ier while breathin/ (oul air.

    Deadly airis completely depleted and (illed withcarbon dio:ide. "se the rules (or Slow

    Su((ocation0 (rom the 65+.1

    acuumis the absence o( air. Characters e:posed

    to a vacuum will su((ocate.

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    Sailing Among the Stars

    Dvery body> no matter how small> e:erts a

    /ravitational (orce on all other ob)ects nearby. ;n

    very small bodies> such as humans or rocks> this

    (orce is so small that it has no practical e((ect at

    all. ;n other ob)ects> such as planets or moons> ite:erts enou/h (orce to hold thin/s to the

    sur(ace o( those bodies. Another side bene(it is

    that /ravity is also the reason why Arth has

    breathable air without /ravity the air would

    dissipate into space.

    The ma/ical manipulation o( /ravity was

    reco/niEed as a necessary step to space(li/ht

    (rom the very be/innin/. ther more

    mundane methods to li(t persons o(( a planet and into the heavens had all (ailed. ;n more

    success(ul early attempts> modi(ied #evitatespells were used to li(t items hi/h into the air. Thespace pioneers be/an to out(it their e:perimental vessels with a *elm> a device to allow the

    crew control over the /ravity o( the vessel. At (irst it only li(ted the ships> but the (unctionality

    was e:panded Muickly as a solution (or the problem o( providin/ air to the crew o( any space

    vessel was needed.

    The *elm was used to stren/then and e:tend the e:istin/ althou/h ne/li/ible /ravity

    e:erted by the vessel enou/h to allow people to stand on its deck. Since it was impossible to

    simply create a point-source o( /ravity in such a small ob)ect the /ravity was e:tended in the

    shape o( a plane that runs throu/h the ship at the keel level. This stren/thened /ravity also

    attracted enou/h air to the ship to provide a breathable atmosphere very much like the one o(

    Arth )ust much smaller.

    This /ravity plane is bidirectional it attracts ob)ects (rom both sides. ;t is possible (or a

    space(arer to stand either on the deck o( his ship> or on the bottom o( its hull. What would be

    up0 (or the crewman on the deck is down0 (or his mate on the bottom o( the hull. When the

    crewman on the bottom o( the ship returns to his ship he will have to at one point pass throu/h

    the /ravity plane and his up0 and down0 reverse a/ain.

    ;t would be possible to take advanta/e o( this bidirectional nature o( the /ravity planes and build

    ships with two decks0> each (acin/ away (rom the other. *owever> there are two reasons why

    this isn't bein/ done.

    ?irst> it was (ound that many people cannot easily overcome their li(elon/ perception o( theuniverse> and have problems dealin/ with situations where there is no de(inite up0. Dven the

    most e:perienced space crews work more e((iciently with de(inite directions. The second reason

    is that such a ship would have a very hard time landin/ on a planet. Some races that are more

    adapted to a li(e in outer space do not (eel hindered by such considerations one e:ample are the

    hu/e city-ships o( the 6war(s.

    7

    ;llustration =% D:tent o( the /ravity plane and the air envelope

    o( a barMue.

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    Fallin! "## and Dri#tin! A$ay

    A stran/e side-e((ect o( the bidirectional nature o( /ravity planes is that any ob)ect which (alls

    throu/h the /ravity plane will oscillate back and (orth alon/ the /ravity plane> until air (riction

    eventually slows it down and it settles in the /ravity plane.There is one problem (or unrestrained ob)ects that have come to rest in the ship's /ravity plane.

    An ob)ect there is suspended in air> (loatin/> but it will be slowly pushed outside towards the

    ed/e o( the /ravity (ield. nce it passes beyond the limit o( the /ravity plane> it is released and

    stays behind as the ship move away. This is an intended e((ect desi/ned to prevent dust>

    /arba/e> rocks and other items (rom /atherin/ in the air envelope.

    ;( a person /oes overboard> there is in /eneral more than enou/h time to rescue him or her> but

    it can be a problem in battle or other special situations.

    ;t is important to note that the air envelope and /ravity plane do not turn when the ship turns -

    meanin/ the position o( an ob)ect will chan/e relative to the ship as it turns> but an ob)ect will

    not dri(t to the rear o( the /ravity plane simply because the ship moves.

    A wei/htless adventurer who enters an air envelope is immediately a((ected by the pull o(

    /ravity o( that ob)ect. *e will> in e((ect> (all the distance (rom where he entered towards the

    plane o( /ravity. Normal (allin/ dama/e applies i( he hits somethin/ solid - like the ship itsel(.

    Levels o# Gravity

    As in the real world0> /ravity in the Spell)ammer universe is not /ranular. ;ts (orce is directly

    related to the mass o( any /iven ob)ect. *owever> to simpli(y /ame play> the (ollowin/ abstract

    levels o( /ravity are used based on the S761%

    No Gravity:Adventurers who are wei/htless can move under the normal laws o( physics% Any

    (orce has an opposite (orce. A dri(tin/ adventurer could move - slowly - by throwin/ his

    eMuipment into the direction opposite the one he wishes to /o into.

    Ne!li!ible Gravity:The /ravity e:erted by nearby ob)ects is very low. ?or practical purposes> this

    is the same as No +ravity> but over a lon/ time the /ravity will pull down nearby ob)ects. Any

    character standin/ on an ob)ect with Ne/li/ible +ravity would be able to simply )ump into

    space.

    Li!ht Gravity:The /ravity in this location is less intense than that o( Arth. As a result> creatures

    will (ind that they can li(t more wei/ht> but their movements tend to be clumsy. Characters

    e:posed to #i/ht +ravity take a 2 circumstance penalty on attack rolls and ,alance> 7ide>

    Swim> and Tumble checks. All items wei/h hal( as much. Weapon ran/es double> and characters

    /ain a O2 circumstance bonus on Climb and Jump checks. Stren/th and 6e:terity donPt chan/e

    as a result o( li/ht /ravity> but what you can do with such scores does chan/e.

    Natives o( a #i/ht +ravity world will have lower Stren/th but soemwhat hi/her 6e:terity

    abilities.

    ?allin/ characters in a li/ht /ravity environment take =d points o( dama/e (or each meters o(

    the (all ma:imum 2!d1.

    8

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    Normal Gravity:This is the /ravity o( Arth. 5ost o( the inner planets> and most o( the Darth

    worlds capable o( supportin/ human li(e> (all in this cate/ory. The usual rules (or ability scores>

    carryin/ capacity and encumbrance apply.

    %eavy Gravity:The /ravity on some lar/e planets is much more intense than on Arth. As a result>,alance> Climb> Jump> 7ide> Swim> and Tumble checks incur a 2 circumstance penalty> as do

    all attack rolls. All item wei/hts are e((ectively doubled> which mi/ht a((ect a characterPs speed.

    Weapon ran/es are halved. A characterPs Stren/th and 6e:terity scores are not a((ected.

    Characters who (all on a heavy /ravity planet take =d=! points o( dama/e (or each =! (eet (allen>

    to a ma:imum o( 2!d=! points o( dama/e.

    &'treme Gravity:Some very lar/e planets> suns> or e:otic celestial bodies have a /ravity that is so

    stron/ that it makes li(e di((icult or even impossible (or normal li(e-(orms. *umans will (ind it

    hard to move at all> and will die i( they stay in such a /ravity (or too lon/.

    Gravity (lanes and Natural Gravity

    +ravity is a rather weak natural (orce> and since /ravity planes are ma/ically stren/thened> the

    plane always overcomes the local /ravity. ;( a character leaves the area o( e((ect o( the /ravity

    plane e((ectively the Air Dnvelope o( the ship1> he will be a((ected by whatever local /ravity

    e:ists. ;( the ship is hoverin/ above a planet this could result in a nasty (all.

    A side e((ect o( this dominance o( /ravity planes over local /ravity is that vessels will retain their

    air i( they encounter an airless ob)ect. *owever> some leaka/e may occur over time> as inertia

    drives air molecules over the boundary o( the /ravity plane. ;( the ship is within any type o(

    atmosphere> the ship's air envelope and the local atmosphere will mer/e and mi: Muickly. This is

    normally done to (reshen a ship's air> but on planets with poisonous or otherwise unhealthyatmospheres this means that even the dominance o( the /ravity plane will not provide any

    protection.

    )nteraction *et$een T$o Gravity (lanes

    Ships which encounter each other in space will usually match their /ravity planes as the (irst

    step. When two or more> (or that matter1 /ravity planes overlap> they will compress or push

    each other aside> creatin/ a 4border4 between them at mid-point> until the two ships physically

    touch> at which point each *elm will try to 4take over4 /ravity control (or the new 4combined

    ob)ect4. This ad)ustment takes as lon/ a time as creatin/ a new /ravity plane> so it is not usually

    an issue in boardin/ maneuvers or other short encounters.

    *owever> i( a /ravity plane moves throu/h the air envelope o( another ship without actually

    intersectin/ that ship's /ravity plane> then all ob)ects within ran/e will be a((ected by two

    /ravity planes. This can cause serious problems and dama/e to both ships> but can be used as a

    weapon by a skilled *elmsman and a prepared crew. ?or this reason (ailure to match /ravity

    planes is /enerally seen as a hostile act.

    +ravity planes 4snap4 to each other easily> makin/ the e:act ali/nment o( /ravity planes a rather

    trivial maneuver.

    9

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    +ettin! u, a Gravity (lane

    The /ravity plane is set up0 when the *elm is installed in the ship. The *elmsman in control

    o( the *elm at this time selects the stren/th o( the /ravity and the level at which the plane

    intersects the ship. The *elm will need time to set up the /ravity plane =! minutes per ton o(the ship which does reMuire the attention o( a *elmsman. The process can be interrupted and

    resumed later. 7emovin/ a helm (rom the ship destroys the link to the /ravity plane. The plane

    will collapse in the same time it took to set up i( a new *elm is installed> the /ravity plane

    could be restored in only as much time as the /ravity plane has had time to 4de/rade4 since the

    removal o( the old one however i( a new plane is to be set up one must wait (or the old /ravity

    plane to completely vanish.

    5aintainin/ a /ravity plane does not reMuire any action or attention> it is automatic.

    Tem,erature"nder normal conditions temperature is not a problem (or space e:plorers. The sun radiates

    enou/h heat to warm their ship even at a considerable distance. *owever> the (urther they

    travel away (rom the central star the colder it will be. At e:treme distances> temperatures

    become chilly> (reeEin/ or even deadly> and precautions should be taken accordin/ly.

    A similar rule can be seen in planets the (urther away a world the colder it is. #ocal conditions

    may vary wildly> however> (or e:ample due to the presence o( hi/h volcanism> a nearby small (ire

    body> atmospheric conditions> or any kind o( other reason. 5a/ical and mundane methods e:ist

    to deal with all but the most e:treme temperatures. ?ire- and Cold-protection spells are as

    essential a tool o( the space e:plorer as are heavy (ur coats.

    ( course> approachin/ any (iery body will be accompanied by the associated problems caused by

    the intense heat. #andin/ on the sun is similar to enterin/ the elemental plane o( (ire. Survival

    o( unprepared parties will be severely limited.

    Time"nlike on parallel worlds or alternate planes o( e:istence> the (low o( time is constant no matter

    where one is located in the universe. ( course local calenders and methods o( time-keepin/ will

    vary wildly> but this is mostly a problem o( communication and administration. There are no

    relativistic e((ects.

    +,ell-ammer %elms. +ails and /i!sThere are three thin/s that distin/uish a Spell)ammer (rom a normal ship% The *elm> the sails

    and the ri//in/> and optionally the 5ass 6etectors.

    +ails

    The enchanted sails used by Spell)ammers are what provides these ships with motive (orce. The

    sails are normal sails made o( sailcloth or other materials> (or more e:otic Spell)ammers1. They

    have been enchanted and treated with ma/ical substances so that they reach out over the

    10

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    normal universe and into the ?low. The ?low then pushes a/ainst the sails> providin/ enou/h

    (orce (or the Spell)ammer to move (orward.

    The ?low chan/es its direction much like wind on a planetary ocean. TechniMues similar to the

    ones used on ocean-/oin/ voya/es are used to better take advanta/e o( the e:istin/ ?low

    currents.

    0%elms

    There are several di((erent types o( helms available. The most common is the siEe and shape o(

    a lar/e> throne-like chair.

    A Spell)ammer helm is a ma/ical device that takes e:istin/ natural (orces and channels and

    stren/thens or weakens1 them accordin/ to the whims o( the *elmsman. ?or e:ample> *elms

    are used to set up +ravity $lanes (or Spell)ammers. This control over /ravity is also what makes

    the Spell)ammer able to (loat in a planetary /ravity well.

    ,ut a *elm is also used to control the direction o( travel o( a Spell)ammer up> down> le(t> ri/ht

    in place o( a more traditional rudder. Without this control> the only direction a Spell)ammer

    could move would be strai/ht ahead.

    +ensors

    rystal (rism

    5ost spell)ammers carry a special crystal prism aboard. ;t is used to show a spectrum o( colorsthat helps the crew analyse the composition o( a planet's atmosphere be(ore mer/in/ their own

    air envelope with a potentially deadly (orei/n one.

    1ass Detector

    A mass detector is a ma/ical device that is used in the ?low to detect lar/e masses in the normal

    universe. ;t has a /reat ran/e and is very reliable> but it is useless to detect anythin/ smaller

    than the siEe o( a lar/e planet. The device is used by space-(arers to navi/ate the otherwise

    rather (eatureless ?low. A 5ass 6etector looks like a lar/e crystal ball.

    The device is only needed (or ships which will travel into the ?low. Ships which stay within onesolar system do not need such a device.

    Celestial *odiesThe term Celestial ,ody0 describes any natural ob)ect that (loats in space. They ran/e (rom

    small asteroids to hu/e suns or nebulae that can be as bi/ as entire solar systems. $lanets and

    their smaller cousins> asteroids> are o( most interest to adventurers.

    Celestial bodies can have any shape> but most are spherical or especially smaller asteroids

    irre/ular. *owever> there are known e:amples o( all kinds o( /eometrical shapes.

    11

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    Celestial bodies are composed o( Dlements that is> Air> Darth> Water> and ?ire. Some celestial

    bodies are composed primarily o( one o( the (our elements> while others notably Arthlike

    planets1 are a mi: o( all the elements. ?or e:ample> Air worlds o(ten have smaller Darth bodies

    inside them. ?ire worlds mi/ht have a sur(ace o( molten rock> and any world mi/ht have water or

    water vapor> and so on.

    The Flo$The ?low also called the $hlo/iston is an alternate universe which e:ists parallel to the real

    world0. ;t is similar to the Dther or the Astral plane in that re/ard. ;t is possible to cross (rom the

    normal universe into the ?low and vice versa via portals either naturally-occurin/ ones or

    portals opened by specialiEed ma/ic spells.

    While within the (low> the enchanted sails o( a Spell)ammer are able to (ully capture the

    currents and 4winds4 o( the ?low> and thus provide the ship with much /reater speeds thatwould be possible in the "niverse. ;t is thus possible to travel amon/ solar systems in the ?low>

    a (eat that would take centuries or millenia at normal Spell)ammer speeds.

    There are no star systems or solid bodies within the ?low. There are some pieces o( debris (rom

    previous ships> but it's unlikely a traveler will encounter them. Since the $hlo/iston lacks

    landmarks o( any kind> space-(arers use the ma/ical 5ass 6etector to navi/ate amon/ solar

    systems.

    The ?low and the "niverse interact only very weakly> and usually in a one-way direction /ravity

    and other (orces will distort and bend the ?low and cause eddies and currents in the $hlo/iston.

    $hlo/iston looks like a rainbow-colored (o/ that surrounds everythin/. ;t is very chaotic in

    nature> and can be almost hypnotic is one stares too lon/ into it. ;t is also hi/hly (lammable. Any

    source o( (ire be it a spark (rom steel and tinder> a candle> the ship's cookin/ oven or a ma/ical

    (ireball will result in a (iery e:plosion o( immense stren/th. #ar/e enou/h (lames will produce

    e:plosions that can utterly destroy a ship.

    This> however> is not the /reatest dan/er to a Spell)ammer in the ?low. ;t is known that any

    Spell)ammer which approaches a star too closely in the $hlo/iston disappears. ;t's unknown what

    happens to these ships> as nobody has ever witnessed it to happen. There are wild myths and

    rumors> the most prevalent o( which postulates monsters livin/ in the (low> which will eat

    Spell)ammers that come too close.

    0CommunicationSpace(arers use various methods to communicate between ships.

    +houtin!

    ;t sounds obvious> but between two ships that are in close contact> voice shoutin/ is the

    easies way to communicate. ;t does not work i( the air envelopes o( the two ships are not in

    contact as sound is carried by air.

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    +ema,hore Fla!s

    Semaphore (la/s are used on sea> and in space. bviously the two ships must be usin/ the same

    system to e((ectively communicate. Semaphores obviously do not work i( a ship is in a lar/e

    ob)ect's shadow.

    +i!nal Li!hts

    5ost ships carry lanterns as a sort o( positionin/ li/hts> but most also use them to communicate

    interactively. #i/hts can be seen over a lon/ distance> and a blinkin/ li/ht will attract the

    attention o( an alert lookout at a /reat distance.

    %elio!ra,hs

    A helio/raph is an apparatus that uses mirrors and lenses to bundle and re(lect the sun's li/ht.

    These are basically lar/e> complicated si/nal li/hts and used by moons> plantary bases> asteroidsettlements> and space stations to communicate across interplanetary distances.

    Gariants use the 6ayli/htspell instead o( the sun> especially (ar in the outer re/ions o( a system.

    Tele,athy

    ;n a ma/ical world> telepathy is an obvious choice to communicate between ships.

    +hi,2s Cre$

    (ositions

    a,tain:Commands the ship. Not necessarily the most e:perienced sailor> but the one with the

    best command skills.

    Lieutenant 3 First "##icer 4 5

    nd

    in ommand:Assists the Captain. Carries orders to the rest o( the

    ship. Captain may have more than one #ieutenant.

    Navi!ator 6Astro!ator7:$lots the ship's course.

    %elmsman:Controls the ma/ical helm that propels the ship. There are usually several on board>

    to keep the ship /oin/ the entire day.

    +hi,2s leric:Spiritual wel(are and healin/ ma/ic

    Quartermaster:7esponsible (or provisions and supplies

    ar,enters:A ship will have crew trained in repairin/ them. 5ost ships are made o( wood> and

    carry carpenters> but ships made o( other materials would carry di((erent cra(tsmen.

    +ailmaker:To make and repair sails. Specially trained in handlin/ the sails o( spell)ammer

    vessels.

    /o,e maker:7opes are another inte/ral part o( the spell)ammer ships.

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    Sailing Among the Stars

    *arrel maker:,arrels are use(ul (or storin/ thin/s.

    Gunsmith 3 artillery en!ineers:To maintain the /uns> ballista> and catapults.

    Gunners:"se(ul in combat.

    ook:Feeps the crew (ed.

    +ailors:Take care o( the day-to-day operation o( the spell)ammer ship.

    1arines:*andle boardin/ o( (orei/n ships and the de(ense o( their ownI

    Golems

    +olems and other constructs are popular amon/ space(arers who can a((ord them. They are

    stron/> work tirelessly> and above all> need neither provisions nor air. Constructs are used in

    boardin/ actions or (or any task that reMuires /reat physical stren/th.

    Undead

    Similar to constructs> undead reMuire neither (ood nor air and would thus be ideally suited (or

    space. *owever> almost all societies have stron/ taboos a/ainst usin/ undead labor (or any

    purpose. ConseMuently> they are normally not used as space crew. *owever> particularly evil

    ship captains> especially Clerics or WiEards> mi/ht animate them to supplement their crew.

    So-called *one *undlesare stored in a ship's hold and animated when needed. This usually

    means ship-to-ship combat> where the undead serve as marines. ,one ,undles are also

    sometimes loaded on a catapult and hurled onto the deck o( an enemy ship. There a tri//er

    casts the Animate 6ead spell> and the undead rises> attackin/ whatever is in his si/ht.

    Wea,onsSpell)ammer ships carry a number o( weapons%

    ,allista> Catapult> Trebutchet

    Jettison

    Cannons

    7ams are relatively uncommon due to the problems o( overlappin/ /ravity (ields

    +reek ?ire

    Chain shot cannon balls linked with chains these were desi/ned to dama/e ri//in/

    and sails

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    Spelljammers

    Spelljammers*eavier-than-air (lyin/ machines are impossible.0

    - #ord Felvin

    %uman +hi,s*umans mainly use ships converted (rom naval duty. This be/an in the early days o( space-

    (arin/> and was a matter o( convenience. Arth's humans already knew how to build ocean-/oin/

    ships> and they knew it well. Such ships are also able to land and anchor at any normal harbour>

    and> where necessary> could even land o(( the coast and sail into a harbour normally> hidin/ the

    special nature o( the ship. Such ships have o(ten been modi(ied (or the special reMuirements o(

    space.

    There are also many ship types which were desi/ned speci(ically (or space travel.

    +8uidshi,

    Smaller> more maneuverable than *ammership

    $iercin/ ram> desi/ned (or boardin/

    %ammershi,

    ,etter armor than SMuidship.

    A8uatic +hi,s

    5any sea/oin/ ships have been converted into spell)ammers. +alleon> Caravel> Co/> ?ri/ate>

    Clipper> but also more e:otic ships like the 6ra/onship> the ,ar/e o( $tah> and so on.

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    Spelljammers

    D$arven +hi,s

    "vervie$

    6warven ships don't look like anythin/ that *umans> Dl(s> or any other

    species would consider to be a 4ship4. ;( the 6war(s ever lived on a

    planet> i( they ever evolved their 4ships4 (rom ocean-/oin/ vessels the

    way humans did then this must have been many thousands o( years a/o.

    6warven 4ships4 are called 4ships4 simply because they're mobile. They are massive ob)ects>

    hundreds o( meters lon/> and made (rom rock and metal. Dach provides livin/ space (or doEens

    or even hundreds o( dwar(s.

    The basic shape is that o( a lon/> thin cylinder> to which various ob)ects have been attached.

    5ost common are lar/e> more or less round ob)ects on both ends o( this cylinder> but it varies.

    (ten> there will be smaller shapes attached all alon/ the len/th o( the cylinder. Sometimes thelar/e shapes on the ends are rock (ormer asteroids makin/ the whole construct look like the

    6war(s simply made an asteroid mobile and thus took their home with them. And indeed this is

    o(ten what happened.

    The only thin/ these settlements-come-ships have in common with 4normal4 vessels is the sail.

    The dwar(s can set a hu/e> circular sail (rom one end o( the structure. "sually it's one bi/ sail>

    but some dwarven clans pre(er several smaller sails.

    The 6warven ships are too bi/ to enter the ?low there(ore the dwarves travel between the stars

    at normal Spell)ammin/ speeds. Dven thou/h this is very (ast (or structures this siEe> it still

    means that travel times between solar systems are measured in decades. The dwar(s do not

    really mind they are lon/-lived and very patient. They simply use this time to hone their

    cra(tsmanship.

    6ue to their siEe and /ravity plane> dwarven ships carry a normal atmosphere. Some ships

    actually have 4outside /ardens4 on their sur(ace> to re(resh the air and to provide (ood to the

    inhabitants.

    )nside a D$arven +hi,

    Dach ship contains livin/ Muarters> /ardens> and workshops (or the entire clan. 7aw materials are

    bein/ melted in the ship's (urnaces and made into tools> weapons or artworks in the workshops.

    There are lar/e vaults which store the (inest o( the 6war(s' work anythin/ that is deemed lessthan per(ect is melted down a/ain> to be recreated anew hope(ully improved.

    6warven ships carry males> (emales> and usually also children. The smallest ships are home to a

    small clan o( several doEen members the lar/est ones can support hundreds or thousands o(

    dwar(s. The ships are well /uarded every dwar( is trained in combat> but there is a detachment

    o( /uards on duty at any /iven time. The ship itsel( is armed with cannons and )etisons.

    The /ravity inside a 6warven ship is very stran/e to any visitor. Their /ravity plane (ollows the

    curve o( the corridors and walls in many locations the dwar(s use every trick they can come up

    with to ma:imiEe the livin/ space in their ships.

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    Spelljammers

    Landin! a D$arven +hi,

    6warven ships do not land they dock. The ship will navi/ate to a stationary point alon/side an

    asteroid the dwar(s will e:tend a 4brid/e4 to the sur(ace o( the Asteroid and be/in to mine the

    asteroid (or ores and precious materials. ;( the asteroid is very small and thou/ht to be valuableenou/h it mi/ht be secured directly to the side o( the ship. ;( it is very lar/e> or a direct contact

    is not possible or advisable (or any reason> the dwar(s use small boats to transport personnel and

    materials. These boats are little more than (lat car/o sleds eMuipped with a helm-like device

    that /enerates a /ravity plane and enables the boat to (loat slowly. The boats are not able to

    (loat on water.

    "ther +hi,s

    )nsect9Themed

    These have been si/hted as manned by humans. They are part o( an unknown space(arin/

    empire.

    5osMuito

    6ra/on(ly

    6amsel(ly

    Wasp

    Tradesman

    Gnomish

    +nomish Sidewheeler

    +nomish Wreckship Spidermoon1

    Unkno$n "ccu,ants

    Nautiloid

    Tyrant Ships

    +,ider9Themed

    5indspider

    6eathspider

    *utter#ly9Themed

    ?litter

    5an-o-war

    Armada

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    he !istor" o# Arth

    The History of Arth;( you would understand anythin/> observe its be/innin/ and itsdevelopment.0

    - Aristotle

    Ancient %istoryThe earliest recorded history on Arth reaches back some =3!! years or so to an a/e where various

    kin/doms rose in the island chains south o( Dn/aron. These kin/doms were tradin/ amon/

    themselves and e:plored the world. They had access to papyrus> and ship captains re/ularly

    kept lo/books. 5any o( their tradin/ partners learned their lan/ua/e> script> and the secret howto make papyrus.

    This continued (or several hundred years a(ter a war between two rivalin/ nations re(u/ees (rom

    the de(eated kin/dom settled on the mainland o( the continent Dn/aron. They Muickly

    conMuered the locals and carved out a new kin/dom. With enou/h room to /row> and access to

    resources that the island kin/doms had to trade (or> their kin/dom eventually became wealthy

    and power(ul. A hundred years a(ter the (oundation o( their kin/dom> they developed

    techniMues to work with iron.

    With this advanta/e they continued to e:pand> and wa/ed war on the kin/dom which had

    de(eated their ancestors. Their kin/dom /rew into the lar/est empire ever> and their calender

    which used the (oundation o( their kin/dom as the year ! became the standard calender (or all o(Arth. The name o( their empire was Dn/aron> the name the continent remains known until

    today.

    The rule o( the Dmpire created an a/e o( peace. All serious contenders were conMuered. ther

    kin/doms allied with the Dmpire rather than be anne:ed. thers were /enuinely keen to be part

    o( the Dmpire. 7oad networks were built> the ;mperial army en(orced peace and law throu/hout

    the realm.

    ;n the year the rulin/ emperor died without an heir.

    Several (amilies and (actions immediately lay claim to the throne> and the church which mi/ht

    have settled the dispute by divine decree supported a third candidate> claimin/ that the divineri/ht o( rule over the Dmpire should revert to the church as it had been /ranted by the /ods in

    the (irst place. Not surprisin/ly> the result was a civil war which (ra/mented the Dmpire and

    eventually caused it to sink into anarchy. Trade broke down> separatist movements spran/ up in

    some provinces> and kin/doms and barbarian hordes0 outside the Dmpire be/an to take

    advanta/e by occupyin/ land or raidin/ cities that were too well de(ended be(ore.

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    he !istor" o# Arth

    The Dark A!eDventually> several kin/doms rose (rom the ashes o( the Dmpire> and most o( the provinces (ar

    away (rom the capital were /iven up. Wars between these kin/doms continued (or a lon/ time

    and only ceased when the nations had e:hausted their ability to wa/e war on one another.

    The church /ave up their claim to the throne when the empire (alled apart> and local branches

    supported whatever ruler had mana/ed to throne himsel(. ;n (act the Church was the only

    moderatin/ (actor in those days. The clerics tried to encoura/e the kin/doms to (i/ht a common

    enemy invariably hethen tribes and kin/doms that did not reco/niEe the church and

    emphasiEed brotherhood and a common herita/e as the 4children o( the /ods4. The church

    became more and more (anatic in its preachin/s> services more /loomy. ;t preached that the war-

    torn world was the divine punishment (or the people's lack o( (aith and demanded total

    obedience (rom all levels o( society. 6oom threatened any who would not kneel be(ore the

    divine will> both in a moral sense as well as a very practical sense% The church had started a

    /rand ;nMuisition which sou/ht to identi(y and kill any heretics within the kin/doms. Torture

    was commonly used to (orce con(essions (rom identi(ied heretics.

    The Great DeathThis dark a/e o( brutality and wars continued until the year when the (irst cases o( a

    new disease were seen at a time when a lar/e coment hun/ in the skies over Arth. ;t was

    unknown where the disease came (rom what had caused it and how it mi/ht be cured. ;t was

    certainly a dan/erous disease because the (irst victims to display the symptoms died Muickly.

    $riests were brou/ht in> and to the /reat shock o( witnesses> their divine healin/ ma/ic (ailed to

    cure the diseased.

    The church used its inMuisition to suppress news o( this at (irst> but it Muickly became known

    widely. The pla/ue ran its course throu/h the known world. Church o((icials died by the score>

    )ust as criminals> simple peasant and nobles. $olitical borders shi(ted as a//ressors took

    advanta/e o( a weakened nei/hbor> only to (ind that the disease would decimate the invader's

    armies as well.

    The +reat 6eath> as the disease came to be known> burned itsel( out a(ter !QO o( the people

    had been killed.

    The Ne$ &raA(ter the (uneral pyres had ceased to burn> the survivors o( the +reat 6eath be/an to

    contemplate their (ate. No (amily had been spared> everybody had lost (riends and (amily

    members. The church had been unable to help even the most (aith(ul. The kin/s and nobles

    their positions derived (rom divine will had likewise (ailed to protect their sub)ects. The

    people o( Arth be/an to look beyond the church (or e:planations and /uidance. They were more

    open-minded (or new ideas> and humanistic philosophies be/an to develop. WiEards and sa/es

    became in(luential and power(ul> and while most were too eccentric and hermitic to take

    advanta/e o( this trend> some established themselves as rulers over small kin/doms.

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    he !istor" o# Arth

    With a shorta/e in labour in almost any /iven /eo/raphical area> there was no unemployment to

    speak o(> and many realms could not produce everythin/ they needed. A resur/ence o( trade was

    the result. 5any kin/doms became dependent on each other (or trade> and merchant (amilies

    and -houses became very wealthy.

    ;t was these merchants who be/an to sponsor artists> philosophers and wiEards. Some was done

    (or the love o( art or knowled/e> o(tentimes it was done to impress one's peers. Schools and

    universities were (ounded. ?or the (irst time in the history o( Arth> a truly scienti(ic culture

    developed> with research done (or its own sake and discoveries were made as the conseMuence o(

    research rather than by accident. The printin/ press was invented in and reshaped the

    (ace o( the battle(ield.

    *eyond the *lue %orionne boy o( the name #eonis was born in a small hamlet near the port town o( Dvony in the

    kin/dom Alenac in the year 9!= ?D. As he /rew up it Muickly became apparent that #eonis was

    driven by a curiosity about the world that even in these enli/htened days (ew people posessed.

    *is parents had no money to speak o( and could not a((ord to send #eonis to a school. With the

    help o( the local cleric o( the church #eonis learned to read and write> and he kept a diary (rom

    an early a/e> whenever he could /et paper.

    #eonis was (inally accepted by a wiEard who noticed the boy as he travelled throu/h the town.

    *e took #eonis with him to Dvony> and then later to Kene> a city in the mountains> where

    #eonis be/an his ma/ical and scienti(ic studies.

    ?or the ne:t twenty years> #eonis didn't once return to his home. When his mentor died> hecontinued many studies alone> thou/h he eventually accepted two apprentices himsel(. #eonis

    did not (ocus on any sin/le (ield o( ma/ic or sciences he was a true /eneralist with an interest in

    everythin/.s two (avorite sub)ects> however> are reported to have always been astronomy and

    (li/ht.

    #eonis (inally made a voya/e back to Dvony in 9 ?D> accompanied by several (riends>

    retainers> servants> and his apprentices. *is (ather had passed away> his mother was old and (rail

    and was cared (or by the local church. *e le(t enou/h money with the church to pay (or any

    e:pense his mother mi/ht cause> and purchased a tract o( land near the city. *e le(t a/ain when

    construction on several buildin/s had started there under the supervision o( one o( his retainers.

    eonis then travelled east> where he reached as (ar as Sylvris> be(ore returnin/ in 99 ?D. *esettled in his new estate which had been completed shortly be(ore his return and be/an with

    e:periments all dedicated to (lyin/ ma/ic.

    #eonis kept to himsel(> and his hired /uards kept away any unwanted /uests. #eonis be/an to

    work on his one obsession he wanted to reach the stars. *is e:periments were slow because

    nobody had ever tried such a (eat. ?li/ht ma/ic was very limited> and no scienti(ic basis (or

    heavier-than-air (li/ht e:isted. At (irst> nobody paid any attention to his work. #eonis made

    some pro/ress> but in the year 92 ?D he be/an to run dan/erously low on (unds. *e had to (ind

    a sponsor or /ive up and admit de(eat.

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    he !istor" o# Arth

    ;t took #eonis several months to decide who he would approach his cautious nature con(licted

    with the dire need (or (unds. ;n the end> #eonis contacted James Calder> a rich local merchant

    and presented his plans> theories> and current work to him. Calder a/reed to (inance his work.

    With the in(lu: o( new money> #eonis conducted numerous new e:periments and picked up the

    schedule. ;t Muickly became known that James Calder and the wiEard #eonis were workin/ on a

    pro)ect to/ether. 7ival merchant houses be/an to show interest. Security at #eonis' estate had

    to be increased. ,oth church and crown showed an interest> and then came a/ents (rom other

    countries. 6espite these di((iculties> #eonis was able to achieve his /oal within a (ew short

    years. ;n the year 93 ?D he le(t the atmosphere o( Arth (or the (irst time> and in 9< ?D he had

    solved the problem o( breathin/ in space. An e:pedition was launched to the 5oon in autumn o(

    that year> landed and returned sa(ely. The kin/dom o( Alenac o( the planet Arth had become a

    space-(arin/ nation.

    The A!e o# +,ace &',loration;t tooks several weeks> but news o( their wondrous voya/e spread throu/h the city> and then

    throu/hout the kin/dom and beyond. The secrecy around #eonis' pro)ect had been intended to

    keep competitors and saboteurs away> and now that the voya/e to the moon had been

    completed the /reatest need (or secrecy was /one. As Calder intended to pro(it (rom the new

    means o( travel (inancially> the secret would have to be broken eventually. As #eonis and his

    assistants and apprentices built as many Spell)ammer ships as possible> a representative o( the

    kin/ was invited on a second voya/e to the moon.

    5ore and more ships were built> and parties were sent out into space to e:plore what lay beyond

    Arth. Several ships were also used to map Arth itsel( as accurately as never be(ore (rom the air.Calder's merchants used the 4(lyin/ ships4 to visit distant countries voya/es that had once

    taken months could now be done in hours or days. 5oney be/an to pour in.

    The Fin/ /ave his blessin/ to the house Calder and si/ned a decree e((ectively /ivin/ Calder

    and #eonis the e:clusive ri/ht to build Spell)ammers and to e:plore space in return (or a

    special royal ta: on any pro(its and (or spell)ammin/ helms to power royal warships.

    Spell)ammers visited Hula and made contact with the (irst 4aliens4> the Dlves. Trade was

    established an two Dlves were brou/ht back to Arth where they were met by an astonished

    crowd. Tall tales o( space e:ploration circulated *ouse Calder received thousands o( volunteers

    who wished to travel into space. The only limit to the e:ploration o( the solar system in those

    early days lay with the number o( Spell)ammer that could be out(itted.

    As more and more helms were made and more and more people travelled into space and

    witnessed the operation o( the ma/ic o( the helms> other kin/doms be/an to see some pro/ress

    in duplicatin/ the work. Dventually> a/ents also succeeded in stealin/ workin/ spell)ammer

    helms. ;n 932 ?D other merchants and kin/doms be/an to test their own desi/ns> and Muickly

    )oined Alenac in e:plorin/ space.

    5eanwhile> Alenac had a /ood head-start. The kin/dom set up little outposts on Hula and some

    other celestial bodies to (acilitate trade> and some o( them Muickly /rew into (ull-(led/ed

    colonies. Adventurers traveled to other worlds. +oods and money streamed back and (orth the

    kin/dom /rew very wealthy. The rivals be/an to contest much o( this trade. thers set up

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    he !istor" o# Arth

    colonies as well> undercuttin/ *ouse Caldor prices. As with any ship travelin/ to unknown

    re/ions> most space-ships were heavily armed> and it was only a matter o( time be(ore the (irst

    battles broke out in space. *ouse Caldor was very power(ul> with a relatively lar/e space-navy>

    and nobody dared attack them but the lesser space (arin/ powers be/an to battle over what they

    saw as the most pro(itable trade routes. ;t was *ouse Caldor which ne/otiated a truce andprevented the outbreak o( an interplanetary colonial war> at the ur/in/ o( #eonis. Several /round

    rules were set down which re/ulated space e:ploration. ?ew nations would have anybody dictate

    to them what they could and couldn't do> but eventually most kin/doms saw that it was use(ul

    to have a way to settle disputes.

    D:ploration o( the solar system continued> and soon all ma)or moons and all planets had been at

    least visited by humans. Goya/es to the distant stars seemed impossible> but in 9 and subseMuently several nearby solar systems were (ound and e:plored. Colonies

    were established on a (ew worlds> and contact to several intelli/ent species was made. The

    merchant empire o( Arth e:panded with every year.

    The (resent;t is the year 9 ?D. The (athers o( Arth's space-(li/ht> Calder and #eonis> are both dead. They

    le(t a lastin/ le/acy> however Arth's society has embraced space-(li/ht and society and politics o(

    the planet have been chan/ed (orever.

    While much has been e:plored in the past 3! years> many mysteries remain. There are many

    places in the Solar System (or adventurers to e:plore and loot1> and even more so outside.

    Some colonies especially those on Gelvun and Hula have /rown /reatly since their(oundation. *undreds o( thousands o( humans today live o(( Arth. Space e:ploration is still

    mostly peace(ul there is so much space to e:pand into that the kin/doms o( Arth can usually

    avoid one another> but none o( them has /iven up espiona/e or sabota/e to ensure that its rivals

    have a harder time. ther (actions like pirates have emer/ed as well.

    ?inally> the (irst interplanetary war looms on the horiEon. Thou/h humans are yet unaware o(

    the e:tent o( the threat> ?ormian hives have be/un attacks on the worlds o( Arth.

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    Arth

    ArthThe Darth is the cradle o( mankind> but one does not live in thecradle (orever.0

    - Fonstantin Tsiolkovsky

    Arth is the home world o( mankind. *umans have> over time> conMuered most o( its sur(ace and

    adapted to local conditions with various ways o( li(e and customs. *umans share this world with

    countless other species all o( them can be classi(ied as either animals or monsters. There are

    no other sentient humanoid species present unless one counts the occasional /host or

    summoned demon1. ;n civiliEed lands> monsters and the wilder animals have been driven o((

    inhabited lands lon/ a/o.

    Geo!ra,hy and Climate?or the most part> Arth is a warm and pleasant world. The polar re/ions are (reeEin/ cold durin/

    the winter which lasts hal( a year (or each o( the poles due to the inclination in the a:is o( the

    planet. 6urin/ the summer> the polar re/ions thaw up. The South $ole is almost completely ice

    (ree durin/ this time> only the lar/est iceber/s do not melt. ;n the North $ole re/ion> plants and

    trees bloom and /row the temperatures can reach as hi/h as =!RC on warm days.

    Arth consists o( three main landmasses. The lar/est by (ar is called Dn/aron. ;t stretches over

    hal(-way around the /lobe. ;ts northern part is at the north pole its south-western tip reaches

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    Arth

    almost to the eMuator. The northern areas turn (rom artic to temperate climate> and much o( the

    continent is subtropical or even tropical. Several ra//ed mountain ran/es subdivide the

    continent.

    The two smaller main landmasses are called Dndra and Nunun. Dndra lays (urther to the east.

    5ost o( Dndras interior is shielded by a massive mountain ran/e to the north> west> and south>

    and conseMuently receives so little rain(all that it is one vast desert. The land west o( the

    mountain ran/e is (ertile and humid and receives so much rain that many lar/e streams (low

    back into the ocean. ?loodin/ is a re/ular event> and a lot o( the land consists o( marshes and

    swamps.

    Nunun> the southernmost o( the landmasses o( Arth> is covered by lush ve/etation. ;t's a li/ht

    rain (orest that receives a lot o( rain and sun and there is li(e everywhere. As the rain(all spreads

    out over lar/er areas there are (ewer swamps and usually smaller rivers.

    ;n addition to these three main landmasses> Arth has countless islands. 5any o( these are lar/e

    enou/h (or individual countries to have developed on them. The lar/est o( them lies to the easto( Dn/aron> in the temperate climate Eone. ;t is called Sylvris. ;ts southern coast is a massive

    mountain ran/e with some o( the hi/hest peaks on Arth the northern part consists o( (armlands>

    pinewood (orests and plains.

    (olitics and +ociety

    &n!aron

    Dn/aron is divided into countless kin/doms and city states. The most populous and power(ul

    dominate an area comprisin/ very rou/hly the southern hal( o( the western hal( o( the

    continent. The north-western lands are thinly populated> and while they supply many valuable

    resources such as iron> coal> and timber> most people pre(er the warmer southern climates.

    #ike most people o( Arth> the kin/doms o( Dn/aron have always been e:pert shipbuilders and

    skilled traders. These traditions developed out o( necessity the terrain o( Dn/aron is ru//ed

    with many (orbiddin/ mountain ran/es. At the same time> the oceans o(( the coast had many

    inhabited islands. Travel by ship has always been the easiest way to travel lon/er distance> and

    the society o( Dn/aron's kin/doms has been heavily in(luenced by this maritime past.

    5ost kin/doms o( Dn/aron (ollow the classic (eudal model. *ereditary monarchies are the rule

    A kin/> who inherits his position (rom his ancestors> rules by 4divine ri/ht4 and o((ers protectionto his sub)ects> who in turn swear loyalty to their lord. *owever many variants e:ist (or e:ample

    in the kin/dom o( Alenac the kin/ is viewed as a servant o( the people he still holds his title by

    ri/ht o( inheritance> but he is e:pected to place the wel(are o( his sub)ects hi/her than his own.

    This works with some kin/s better> with some not so well. Some kin/doms have parliaments

    in most> these consists o( noblemen. +eneral su((ra/e is rare> and usually doesn't e:tend to

    women or peasants.

    The Church maintains a stron/ in(luence on li(e in Dn/aron. The vast ma)ority o( the population

    are (aith(ul believers. *owever> the church has lost much o( its direct political power since the

    +reat 6eath. 5ost notably the church does not maintain standin/ armed (orces anymore> with

    the e:ception o( an orders o( $aladins whose main task is to protect the monasteries and

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    temples o( the church. $eople attend church because they ask (avors o( the /ods> not because

    they are (ear(ul o( the /ods or the church1.

    The kin/doms o( Dn/aron /et alon/ (airly well> by and lar/e. Traditional con(licts have been

    de(used as each nation turned its attention space-ward. There seems to be little sense in

    envyin/ the lands o( your nei/hbors when entire planets waited to be coloniEed 4out there4. This

    doesn't mean there is no rivalry le(t> Muite the contrary. The kin/doms still spy on each other

    and the more a//ressive ones conduct sabota/e where they can. The space-ports and (leets are a

    primary tar/et> as are the wiEards who make space(li/ht possible. The stakes have been raised>

    a(ter all it is no lon/er a /ame played to control a continent or world1 whoever /ains or keeps

    the upper hand will shape the (ate o( many worlds (or centuries to come.

    #i(e (or most peasants and citiEens has improved by leaps and bounds since the +reat 6eath.

    There is no shorta/e o( work even the most unskilled workers can (ind /ain(ul employment in

    a/riculture. 5any colonies are not sel(-sustainin/> and import lar/e amounts o( (ood. ;n return>

    /old> silver> and /oods (low back to the kin/doms on Arth. Dven remote rural communities livein wealth compared to the situation a (ew hundred years a/o. CitiEens who are still unhappy

    with their lot in li(e can and o(ten do immi/rate to one o( the many colonies and hope (or a

    better li(e there.

    Nunun

    The rain (orests o( the southernmost continent do not lend themselves well to a/riculture.

    Tribes and small kin/doms are sel(-su((icient> but they do not produce a lar/e surplus.

    Traditionally> these people have e:ported silks> spices> e:otic woods and o( course precious

    metals and /emstones. Several power(ul kin/doms had established colonies on Nunun that is>

    conMuered the lands o( the natives.

    With their attention turned to space> the colonies on Nunun have been ne/lected or even /iven

    up. The solar systems promises much /reater riches. The locals (or the most part are happy to

    return to their traditional ways o( li(e. Colonists are bein/ peace(ully absorbed into the local

    population> and the locals did learn a thin/ or two (rom their would-be colonial masters%

    ;ri/ation techniMues> the manu(acture o( steel weapons> and others.

    "n(ortunately> not all is peace(ul. The northern tribe o( the Cusa have access to horses and

    /unpowder weapons> and their chie(tains have decided that it's now their turn to /o on a war o(

    conMuest. They have mana/ed to conMuer many nei/hborin/ tribes> and are slowly workin/ their

    way south and west. As their opponents are badly or/aniEed and usually badly eMuipped> it

    seems like only a matter o( time be(ore the entire continent (alls to the Cusa. ;t remains to be

    seen what will happen then.

    &ndra

    The inhabitants o( the eastern continent Dndra had never much to o((er to the people o(

    Dn/aron> and thus escaped bein/ 4coloniEed4. The western wetlands are inhabited by small

    unor/aniEed tribes who usually try to live on subsistence (armin/ in a selected small area the

    hu/e eastern desert is inhabited by nomadic tribes who travel around the desert> lookin/ (or

    (ood and water. Their lives are harsh and o(ten short. Starvation and dehydration are constant

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    threats> and tribes o(ten battle over an oasis. 7eportedly> many tribes will not re(rain (rom

    cannibalism either> usually out o( necessity.

    +ylvris

    The entirety o( Sylvris is controlled by one lar/e empire ruled by a cult that calls itsel( the

    4Servants o( hu4. The people o( Sylvris shy (rom contact with outsiders. Travelers and

    merchants were allowed to land> and many did mana/e to sell or buy (rom the locals> but always

    were they encoura/ed to leave a/ain as Muickly as possible.

    hu is the /reatest dra/on that lives on Arth today. *e is served by several lesser drakes> who

    are in turn worshiped and served by the cult. The cult> (inally> rules over the peasants. The

    dra/ons do not bother the humans much> as lon/ as the humans do not bother them. They will

    accept o((erin/s o( treasure or livestock> and they will protect the humans in case o( an outside

    threat. They don't do anybody personal (avors0> however> and do not listen much to what their

    worshipers have to say. This system has e:isted (or hundreds> possibly (or thousands o( years.

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    The Solar System?or ; dipped into the ?uture> (ar as the human eye could see sawthe vision o( the world> and all the wonder that would be.0

    - Al(red> #ord Tennyson

    "vervie$The Solar System in which Arth is located does not have any special name. Arths inhabitants

    simply re(er to it as 4The Solar System4. *owever> when dealin/ with utsiders> they will

    proudly distin/uish their system as the 4Solar System o( Arth4.

    Arth's Solar System is a rather typical one as (ar as systems /o. There are no stran/e or unusualconditions. Temperatures are (airly pleasant throu/hout the system> althou/h temperatures /et

    a little chilly beyond the asteroid belt and downri/ht (reeEin/ as one approaches Hplanet. Still>

    the low temperatures are nothin/ some thick coats cannot solve.

    Spell)ammin/ is commonplace in this system. 5any /roundlin/0 kin/doms own and operate

    spell)ammin/ vessels and maintain bases and colonies on other worlds. There are many types o(

    ships used by /overnments> trade or/aniEations> and private individuals. 5ost /roundlin/s are

    Muite aware o( spell)ammin/> even i( they never even see a docked Spell)ammer in a harbor.

    Namin! onvention

    All planets are re(erred to by the names /iven to them by the humans o( Arth> as they are the

    dominant space (arin/ race. #ocal names have been noted where these e:ist. ther cultures will

    have their own names (or all the planets as well.

    5oons and other bodies that were unknown to Arth prior to the a/e o( space (li/ht were usually

    named by their discoverer> or by settlers> i( any. Some have multiple names> especially i( the

    discovery is disputed. The most common name has been used (or these celestial bodies.

    1inor 1oons

    The lar/est worlds usually have doEens o( moons> many o( them small asteroids. ;t is mentioned

    how many such moons are known but they are not described unless there is a special reason (or

    it. These minor moons are smaller than 2!! km in diameter> usually smaller than =!! km and

    o(ten smaller than 3!km.

    The +unType% Spherical ?ire ,ody

    6iameter% =. 5illion km

    The Sun is the central body o( the Arth system. All other bodies - planets> moons> and so on -

    revolve around it. ;t provides the warmth and the li/ht that /ives li(e to the planets o( the

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    system. Some say that the sun contains a /ateway to the elemental plane o( (ire at its core. The

    sun does have a poisonous> searin/ hot atmosphere that is lethal to most creatures. Several

    islands0 o( solid basalt (loat on or above the sur(ace o( the sun.

    A,,earance #rom +,ace

    The sun looks like a /iant> (eatureless ball o( (ire. The (loatin/ islands are lost in the /lare. 6ue

    to the atmosphere o( to:ic (umes> its ed/e appears haEy.

    limate and Terrain

    The sun is composed almost entirely o( elemental (ire. As a result the conditions on its sur(ace

    are very similar to those (ound on the elemental plane o( (ire> and only the most (ire-resistant

    creatures can survive here. ConseMuently> there is little variation in the terrain o( the sun's

    sur(ace. The sun does have an atmosphere> but it is composed o( poisonous /asses and deadly

    to:ins rather than air breathable by any humanoid bein/.

    There are> however> a (ew places where the sur(ace o( the sun is solid. These can be seen (rom a

    distance as so-called 4sunspots4. ;n reality they are islands o( solid basalt (loatin/ on or above the

    (iery sur(ace o( the sun. Some o( these last (or only a (ew days> but some have e:isted (or

    hundreds or even thousands o( years without bein/ consumed by the intense heat. Whether

    they are short-lived or lon/> their undersides are hal(-melted> while on their topsides the cooled

    basalt (orms the stran/est crystalline shapes. The heat on any o( these is still so hi/h that any

    ship approachin/ close enou/h would be incinerated> and the poisonous atmosphere is still a

    problem> so (ew e:plorers have ever set (oot on them.

    Flora and Fauna

    ?ew creatures not native to the elemental plane o( (ire can survive the heat on the sur(ace o( the

    sun. There are salamanders and ma/ma> (ire> and steam mephits. There are also rumors o(

    colonies o( AEers> (ire /iants> and other similar creatures. A (ew dra/ons may also have lairs on

    some o( the more permanent rocky islands.

    /esources and Trade

    The sun isn't suited (or e:ploration or e:ploitation. Some o( the rocky islands (loatin/ above it

    may contain precious metals> crystals or /emstones> but it would be relatively di((icult to mine

    them.

    Adventure %ooks

    A ship carryin/ a uniMure car/o has crashed on one o( the (loatin/ basalt islands. The

    characters must (ind a way to retrieve that car/o (rom this di((icult location a/ainst the

    opposition (rom well-eMuipped a/ainst o( a (orei/n power. They have to eMuip a ship in a

    way that will withstand the heat usin/ shades> mirrors> heat shields> protection (rom (ire

    ma/ic> and so on1. ;n the climatic battle> they must (i/ht the enemy a/ents on the

    islands while retrievin/ the car/o. ( course the island is about to disinte/rate> and their

    heat-protection will not last (orever.

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    ;humrarType% Spherical Darth ,ody

    6iameter% BB! km

    rbit% 39. million km

    Fhumrar is a small> rocky world that orbits close to the sun. ;t is tidally locked to the sun its

    rotational and orbital speed cancel each other out and the same side o( Fhumrar (aces the sun at

    all times. As a conseMuence> while the sunward side is hot enou/h to melt metals> the other side

    o( the planet is a (roEen wasteland. A small band o( twili/ht circles the planet> but is made all

    but inhospitable by the sava/e storms that result (rom the uneven temperatures.

    Althou/h the sur(ace o( the planet is so hostile> there is some intelli/ent li(e in the re/ion.

    Several space-stations o( the so-called 4Sun Fin/s4 orbit Fhumrar> shielded a/ainst the /lare o(

    the sun by /iant screens and sails as well as ma/ical protection.

    A,,earance #rom +,ace

    The hot side appears as one /iant desert> broken up only by occassional mountains or small>

    shiny lakes o( molten metal. The desert is not o( a uni(orm colors> however it has many shades

    o( ochres> yellow> and brown sandy tones. Sand storms> especially near the twili/ht border to the

    cold side> can at times cover lar/e trackts o( land and block the view (rom space.

    The cold side lies in eternal darkness.

    limate and Terrain

    The sunward side o( Fhumrar is scorched day a(ter day by the intense heat (rom the Sun. ;t is

    hot enou/h that lakes o( molten lead e:ist here instead o( normal seas> and most or/anic matter

    will be burned Muickly i( e:posed to the intense heat. ,arren rock and sandy deserts round out

    the sunward landscape o( the planet.

    The dark side o( Fhumrar is the opposite o( the hot side. *ere> what water or humidty once

    e:isted on the planet has lon/ (allen as snow> (ormin/ a mi/hty /lacier coverin/ most o( the

    hemnisphere. The ice is as hard as rock. A (ew mountains pierce the /lacier.

    ;n between the two sides lies a small band that would be habitable were it not (or the incredible

    winds. Air is warmed over the hot side and rises> pullin/ ice cold air (rom the cold side in. The

    winds are sually stron/ enou/h to knock any creature brave enou/h to best the storms o(( their(eet. The wind is stron/ enou/h that it has polished the mountains in this area> resultin/ in

    stran/e smooth shapes that look utterly alien and out o( place.

    Flora and Fauna

    The sur(ace o( Fhumrar is almost completely hostile to any li(e-(orms. What creatures mi/ht

    survive the e:treme temperatures are likely unable to withstand the hi/h winds and sandstorms.

    There are> however> many species that live under the sur(ace. Garious types o( creatures burrow

    throu/h the sands o( the deserts on the hot side or throu/h the ice on the cold side. The

    ThoMMua and a sand-dwellin/ variant o( the $urple Worm are two prominent e:amples (or

    creatures (ound on the hot side ?rost Worms live inside the /lacier o( the Cold Side. All

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    creatures on the cold side have some way to see in the darkness that (orever cloaks their side o(

    the world.

    No settlements e:ist on the sur(ace o( the planet> however> there are several space stations in

    orbit around it.

    iviliations

    7ou/hly a doEen 4space stations4 orbit Fhumrar. ri/inally set-up by wealthy human (amilies in

    the very early days o( space e:ploration> they bene(it (rom their strate/ic location in the center

    o( the system. 5ore o(ten than not> lon/-ran/e voya/ers will pass by - and dock at what is the

    only hospitable place at the very core o( the system.

    And 4hospitality4 is the ma/ic word when it comes to these stations. Their owners> the sel(-

    titled 4Sun Fin/s4> live in style and e:trava/ance and they do everythin/ to make their /uests

    (eel welcome. The space stations are in a state o( continual carnival> with masked balls and all

    (orms o( entertainment. ;t is widely rumored that all ima/inable pleasures can be had on theSun Fin/s' space stations> as well as black market /oods and in(ormation that would be hard to

    come by anywhere else.

    The Sun Fin/s are loosely or/aniEed> with each o( the stations havin/ one vote in an irre/ular

    council that presides over matters that will a((ect all the stations. ,ribery> blackmail and

    backstabbin/ are common means to a((ect such votes.

    (orts o# all

    6oEens o( space stations circle the planet.

    Sol Station

    City o( #i/ht

    Crystal $alace

    $aradise station

    6reamland

    #i/ht Dternal

    /esources and Trade

    Fhumrar has e:tensive deposits o( metals and minerals. *owever> e:tractin/ them is very costly

    and dan/erous and as a rule prospectors tend to move elsewhere (or business unless there is

    some very speci(ic reason to try a landin/ on Fhumrar.

    The Sun Fin/s do send e:peditions to the sur(ace o( Fhumrar to obtain water ice> and to hunt

    various native creatures (or their (urs and skins as well as (ood.

    "ther )ssues

    The Sun Fin/ stations are a hotbed o( intri/ue and crime. Dven discountin/ (orei/n di/nitaries>

    merchants and adventurers who are visitin/> the Sun Fin/s are constantly plottin/ a/ainst each

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    another. To them> it's as much about real power and in(luence as it is a /ame to keep

    themselves entertained.

    1oons

    Fhumrar does not have any moons.

    Adventure %ooks

    The Sun Fin/ stations can serve as a very color(ul backdrop (or any adventure. ?or

    e:ample a murder mystery works well here the $layers have to uncover who committed

    the crime a/ainst the back/round o( the eternal carnival> while a/ents o( some o( the Sun

    Fin/s are tryin/ to disrupt their investi/ations.

    elvunType% Spherical Darth ,ody

    6iameter% =2=!! km

    rbit% =!B million km

    #ocal Name% Ssyllra

    Gelvun is a world with a thick> acidic atmosphere. ;ts sur(ace is covered by a dense )un/le o(

    stran/e plants. ?ew lar/e bodies o( water e:ist on the planet. ;t's always (o//y> e:cept (or times

    o( heavy monsoon-like rains> where the thick clouds will block even more o( the sun's li/ht. The

    hi/hest peaks pierce the cloud cover like islands an ocean and are coloniEed by humans and

    other races.

    A,,earance #rom +,ace

    6ue to its almost constant and complete cloud cover> Gelvun appears as a (eatureless> white

    /lobe. The mountain peaks are /enerally too small to make out at a /reat distance.

    limate and Terrain

    Gelvun is covered in a thick layer o( clouds that traps heat (rom the sun and causes the entire

    planet to be covered by a steamy> hot )un/le. As relatively little li/ht penetrates the cloud cover>

    the days on Gelvun are only as bri/ht as a severely overcast day on Darth. The )un/le's (o/ onlyclears durin/ the times o( monsoon-like rain. *owever> durin/ the rain periods> the clouds will

    block even more li/ht> limitin/ visibility even (urther. The )un/le is dark and (orbiddin/ durin/

    rainy periods.

    The atmosphere is very rich in carbon o:ides> which cause much o( the water on the planet to

    be rather acidic. While non-native li(e (orms can survive these conditions> it causes them severe

    lon/-term health problems.

    The e:ception to these conditions are the tops o( the hi/hest mountain peaks. These pierce the

    atmosphere> and conditions here are much more (riendly. Several cities have been built on these

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    peaks by humans and other humanoid bein/s who would (ind li(e on the actual sur(ace di((icult

    or even dan/erous.

    There are (ew lar/e bodies o( open water on Gelvun. There are many lakes and countless

    swamps and rivers> but no seas that would warrant the name 4ocean4. What seas e:ist are

    relatively shallow. 5ost lakes> rivers> and seas carry murky water> and all are inhabited by many

    aMuatic animals many o( which are predatory.

    Flora and Fauna

    All kinds o( unusual plants /row in the )un/les o( Gelvun. The plants are (iercely competitive (or

    what little sunli/ht (ilters throu/h this has caused many plants to evolve in stran/e directions.

    5any o( the oddest plant-like creatures can be (ound here.

    The hi/hest (orms o( animal li(e on the sur(ace o( Gelvun are reptilian. Their thick hides protect

    them (rom the acidic conditions. 6inosaurs> dra/ons> wyvern> di/esters> but also snakes and a

    lar/e variety o( amphibians can be (ound livin/ in the )un/les. There are also many types o(plants or plant-like monsters> (or e:ample +reenvise> $hantom ?un/us> Tendriculos> Assassin

    Gines or Shamblin/ 5ounds. The most intelli/ent natives on the sur(ace o( Gelvun are Fobolds

    and #iEardmen.

    iviliations

    #i(e in the mountain peak cities is totally di((erent. These are inhabited by humans> some elves>

    hal(-elves and a (ew individuals o( other species.

    The most advanced civiliEation on Gelvun is that o( the cloud-city dwellers. These cities

    conduct (reMuent trade with other worlds> sellin/ products (rom the lowlands in e:chan/e (ormanu(actured /oods.

    The liEardmen o( the sur(ace live in primitive villa/es and clan-like tribes. While some

    liEardmen are sometimes hired as soldiers> they have little desire to leave their homes. While

    they are distrust(ul o( stran/ers> they do trade with the cloud-city dwellers. Their customs are

    sava/e> thou/h overall honorable.

    The kobolds are an entirely di((erent lot. They (ind the concept o( space travel (ascinatin/> and

    they have little that holds them on their home planet. *ere> they are mostly scaven/ers - not

    intelli/ent or power(ul enou/h to hunt the bi//er animals> and treated like vermin by both the

    city dwellers and the liEardmen. They lack the in(rastructure and resources to build their own

    spell)ammin/ ships> but will try anythin/ and everythin/ to /et on board one i( presented with

    the opportunity.

    (orts o# all

    The mountain-peak cloud cities provide convenient ports-o(-call (or space(arers however> they

    usually do not have open bodies o( water and so reMuire ships to either stay a(loat in the air> or

    land on solid /round.

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    /esources and Trade

    Gelvun is rich in e:otic or/anic materials. D:ports medicines> herbs> leather> tou/h wood> and

    ille/ally1 dru/s. *eaven (or bi/ /ame hunters.

    "ther )ssues

    No entries.

    1oons

    Gelvun does not have any moons.

    Adventure %ooks

    A Fobold stowaway makes (or a /reat side-plot> and this would be a /reat way to

    introduce a Fobold $C to the party.

    A human huntin/ party has been killin/ o(( entire tribes o( Fobolds. The $C's are invited

    to 4)oin the (un4. ;( they parlay with the ne:t tribe selected as a tar/et> the Fobolds will

    be/ the $C's to be their protectors. ;( they a/ree this could have lon/-term e((ects on

    their reputation on Gelvun some colonists will appreciate their sense o( )ustice> while

    others will view them as traitors.

    An e:pedition was lost on Gelvun> the $C's are hired to (ind them. nly cryptic hints

    remain a near-dead native /uide> and a diary. 6ue to the cloud cover> thick ve/etation

    and (o/ the $C's cannot search (rom the air and must retrace the steps o( the (irst

    e:pedition. The native /uide #iEardman or Fobold mi/ht )oin them as well> /ivin/the 65 a /reat chance (or various Jun/le adventures on the way. A(ter they return (rom

    their mission o( mercy> the $C's will know Gelvun (airly well.

    ArthType% Spherical Darth ,ody

    6iameter% =29!! km

    rbit% =32 million km

    Arth is the home world o( the human race> and due to their dominance o( space the political and

    economic center o( the solar system. ?or the most part> it is a true 4/arden4 world seemin/ly

    per(ectly adapter (or human li(e while> o( course> in reality it is the other way around1. The

    climate runs across the whole spectrum (rom cold polar re/ions to steamy )un/les. A lar/e

    percenta/e o( the sur(ace is covered by water.

    A,,earance #rom +,ace

    Arth looks like a blue-/reen sphere many bands o( clouds cover parts o( the world at all times. A

    lar/e silvery moon orbits Arth.

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    limate and Terrain

    The climate o( Arth varies /reatly. verall it is (airly temperate. The polar caps are (roEen solid

    (or the winter> but thaw durin/ the summer. There are some deserts on the main continent.

    The rest o( the planet is subtropical to tropical. There is hardly any place on Arth that does notteem with li(e and that is not inhabited by humans.

    Flora and Fauna

    ,ecause o( the variety o( climates and environments> and its relatively hospitable environment>

    Arth is inhabited by a hu/e variety o( plant and animal li(e.

    iviliations

    *umans are the dominant species o( the planet. r/aniEed into kin/doms o( various siEes. ?ew

    kin/doms trust each other> but they will co-operate a/ainst outside threats. 7o/uhly = printin/ press> universities. Advanced (eudal societies> in(luence o(

    church wanin/. 7epublican ideas are takin/ hold in some re/ions.

    (orts o# all

    5any> many> many. 5ost space-(arin/ nations have =-2 main ports.

    +ateway%An asteroid orbittin/ hal(way between Arth and its moon. A city slowly /rew on the

    asteroid> which is o(ten described as the 4(irst outpost o( mankind4. Several kin/doms maintain

    small ports on the asteroid and use it as a base (rom which to patrol the orbital space o( Arth.

    +ateway is also the site o( a lar/e observatory.

    /esources and Trade

    Arth e:ports (ood> because its overall very mild climate and established a/ricultural society allow

    it to prouce (ood in relatively lar/e Muantities. ;t also e:ports weapons and other manu(actured

    /oods. 5ost kin/doms are very weary o( e:portin/ (irearms to planets on which they are

    unknown> however there are many unscrupulous merchant houses who will not (ollow such

    restrictions.

    The planet> in turn> imports lu:ury items> spices> e:otic /oods> cloth> silks> )ewelry> prcious

    metals and stones> and other valuables.

    "ther )ssues

    5any rocks> dust> and other bits and pieces have /athered at the Tro)an points. The asteroids

    here are all (airly small> but to/ether they allow the Tro)ans to be used as hidin/ places. This

    was used by pirates in the early years o( space e:ploration> and several merchant ships met their

    (ate here. *owever> the navies o( Arth eventually ended piracy so close to home. *owever> there

    are now also parts o( various ship-wrecks intermin/led amon/ the clous o( rocks at the Tro)an

    points. While little valuables remain> these wrecks are still sometimes visited by inMuisitive

    adventurers or by smu//lers who wish to use them to temporarily hide their contraband.

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    1oons

    The 1oon:Arth has a sin/le> lar/e moon> measurin/ 3=2km in diameter. ;t is o( a /rayish

    silvery-white color and covered in myriads o( craters some lar/e> some small. 5ost are the

    result o( meteor impacts> but some are o( volcanic ori/in.Some re/ions o( the moon are (lat and covered with seas o( a (ine> darkish dust. This dust is

    suspended in air and has about the same overall density as water> which makes it possible (or

    sea-worthy spell)ammer ships to touch down in these seas. *owever> the dust particles will

    dama/e a ship's hull over time.

    The moon isn't totally li(eless. ;t has a thin atmosphere too thin (or normal humans> but

    enou/h to sustain local li(e (orms. There are many varieties o( mosses and lichen.

    The casual e:plorer would never realiEe that the moon is also inhabited by intelli/ent creatures.

    5ooncalves live in the )a//ed mountain ran/es o( the 4dark side4 o( the moon. 5oonbeasts live

    in caves> where they (eed on a race o( intelli/ent insectoid creatures.

    ?inally> there are several colonies o( 5yconids in the deep caverns below the moon's sur(ace.

    Gate$ay: This asteroid city circles Arth rou/hly hal(-way between the planet and its moon. See

    4$orts o( Call4> above.

    Adventure %ooks

    ne o( the pioneers o( space e:ploration dies> and his heirs (ind several e:Muisite crystals

    in his possessions. Notes indicate that they were (ound on Arth's moon. The heirs want

    to sponsor the players to /o to the moon and (ind more o( these crystals. A diary or other

    notes provide clues the crystals can only be (ound deep under/round. The player couldraid the caves> or they mi/ht (ind a way to deal with one o( the sentient races.

    ne o( the space-(arin/ nations mi/ht decide that aerial /unboats /ive it the ed/e to

    de(eat the dra/ons o( Sylvris and be/ins plannin/ an invasion. The players could take

    part in this invasion on either side1 or try to prevent the plan.

    wron/ universe.4

    - 7obert A. *einlein> 4The Number o( the ,east4Type% Spherical Darth ,ody

    6iameter% (or some unknown reason> the world

    be/an to dry up thousands o( years a/o. The water slowly vanished. 7ivers dried out. ceans and

    lakes shrank> leavin/ swamps> marshes> salt (lats> and deserts.

    The Dlves> the dominant native civiliEation o( Hula> tried to irri/ate their cities by buildin/ hu/e

    canals. ,ut this enormous pro)ect (ailed as the water reclined (urther and (urther and the Dlves

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    became nomads> losin/ most o( their (ormer achievements. Today> (ew open bodies o( water

    remain and most o( the planet's water is locked in the polar ice caps.

    Three separate civiliEations live on the sur(ace o( Hula today% The human colonists (rom Arth>

    and the ori/inal natives o( Hula% The Dlves and the rcs. ;nteraction between these species has

    also resulted in *al(-Dlves and *al(-rcs.

    A,,earance #rom +,ace

    Hula appears as a dusty desert world. Sand and rock cover most o( its sur(ace. The color ran/es

    (rom ochre to oran/es and some yellows to deep reds overall the planet appears unnaturally red.

    Some areas are dark /reen these are the remainin/ marshes and steppes. ?ew clouds are in the

    atmosphere> and those that (orm will do so mostly at the poles or near very hi/h mountains. ;t

    never rains on Hula. Also o( note are several very hi/h volcanoes> easily spotted when one

    approaches the planet. The vast network o( hu/e canals that the natives built is also visible (rom

    orbit.

    limate and Terrain

    #ittle is le(t o( Hula's once lush (orests and /entle meadows. The planet has turned into one

    /iant desert. 7ed and ocher sands cover most o( its sur(ace. *u/e volcanoes reach hi/h into the

    thin air. 5ountains> rollin/ hills> ra//ed cli((s and deep canyons criss-cross many parts o( the

    planet's sur(ace.

    ;n some areas> mostly the lowest basins o( the (ormer oceans> small lakes that do not deserve the

    name sea0 survive. 5arshland and swamps are common around them.

    The native civiliEation o( Hula built a hu/e network o( canals to irri/ate their dried-up cities. Asthe oceans shrank> the cities - and with them the canals - slowly (ollowed the droppin/ water

    line. #ater> the natives e:panded the canal network to transport water (rom the polar re/ions all

    across the planet.

    Dven today> many o( these canals and the mysterious pumpin/ stations that power them> are

    still operational. thers> however> have become clo//ed up or have had their dams break>

    allowin/ the precious water to (low into the countryside. A/ain> marshes and swamps have

    developed as a conseMuence.

    The canal network is (ed by the polar caps at the North and South pole o( Hula. *ere> lar/e

    reserves o( water ice survive in arctic conditions. The ice melts durin/ the sprin/ and summer>

    rushin/ down the canals.

    Flora and Fauna

    With the slow disappearance o( water> most species o( (lora and (auna had to either adapt

    rapidly> or become e:tinct. Arctic creatures survive well at the poles> as their habitat has

    chan/ed the least o( all.

    ;n other parts o( t