spelljammer campaign guide 2011
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
1/75
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
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
2/75
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/ -
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
3/75
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
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
4/75
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] -
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
6/75
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.
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
7/75
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.
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
8/75
Sailing Among the Stars
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
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
9/75
Sailing Among the Stars
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
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
10/75
Sailing Among the Stars
+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
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
11/75
Sailing Among the Stars
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. $lanets and
their smaller cousins> asteroids> are o( most interest to adventurers.
Celestial bodies can have any shape> but most are spherical or especially smaller asteroids
irre/ular. *owever> there are known e:amples o( all kinds o( /eometrical shapes.
11
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
12/75
Sailing Among the Stars
Celestial bodies are composed o( Dlements that is> Air> Darth> Water> and ?ire. Some celestial
bodies are composed primarily o( one o( the (our elements> while others notably Arthlike
planets1 are a mi: o( all the elements. ?or e:ample> Air worlds o(ten have smaller Darth bodies
inside them. ?ire worlds mi/ht have a sur(ace o( molten rock> and any world mi/ht have water or
water vapor> and so on.
The Flo$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 $hlo/iston disappears. ;t's unknown what
happens to these ships> as nobody has ever witnessed it to happen. There are wild myths and
rumors> the most prevalent o( which postulates monsters livin/ in the (low> which will eat
Spell)ammers that come too close.
0CommunicationSpace(arers use various methods to communicate between ships.
+houtin!
;t sounds obvious> but between two ships that are in close contact> voice shoutin/ is the
easies way to communicate. ;t does not work i( the air envelopes o( the two ships are not in
contact as sound is carried by air.
12
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
13/75
Sailing Among the Stars
+ema,hore Fla!s
Semaphore (la/s are used on sea> and in space. bviously the two ships must be usin/ the same
system to e((ectively communicate. Semaphores obviously do not work i( a ship is in a lar/e
ob)ect's shadow.
+i!nal Li!hts
5ost ships carry lanterns as a sort o( positionin/ li/hts> but most also use them to communicate
interactively. #i/hts can be seen over a lon/ distance> and a blinkin/ li/ht will attract the
attention o( an alert lookout at a /reat distance.
%elio!ra,hs
A helio/raph is an apparatus that uses mirrors and lenses to bundle and re(lect the sun's li/ht.
These are basically lar/e> complicated si/nal li/hts and used by moons> plantary bases> asteroidsettlements> and space stations to communicate across interplanetary distances.
Gariants use the 6ayli/htspell instead o( the sun> especially (ar in the outer re/ions o( a system.
Tele,athy
;n a ma/ical world> telepathy is an obvious choice to communicate between ships.
+hi,2s Cre$
(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.
13
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
14/75
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
14
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
15/75
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( $tah> and so on.
15
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
16/75
Spelljammers
D$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$arven +hi,
Dach ship contains livin/ Muarters> /ardens> and workshops (or the entire clan. 7aw materials are
bein/ melted in the ship's (urnaces and made into tools> weapons or artworks in the workshops.
There are lar/e vaults which store the (inest o( the 6war(s' work anythin/ that is deemed lessthan per(ect is melted down a/ain> to be recreated anew hope(ully improved.
6warven ships carry males> (emales> and usually also children. The smallest ships are home to a
small clan o( several doEen members the lar/est ones can support hundreds or thousands o(
dwar(s. The ships are well /uarded every dwar( is trained in combat> but there is a detachment
o( /uards on duty at any /iven time. The ship itsel( is armed with cannons and )etisons.
The /ravity inside a 6warven ship is very stran/e to any visitor. Their /ravity plane (ollows the
curve o( the corridors and walls in many locations the dwar(s use every trick they can come up
with to ma:imiEe the livin/ space in their ships.
16
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
17/75
Spelljammers
Landin! a D$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
17
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
18/75
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.
18
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
19/75
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.
19
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
20/75
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.
20
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
21/75
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
21
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
22/75
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.
22
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
23/75
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
23
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
24/75
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
24
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
25/75
Arth
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
25
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
26/75
Arth
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.
26
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
27/75
he Solar S"stem
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
27
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
28/75
he Solar S"stem
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.
28
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
29/75
he Solar S"stem
;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
29
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
30/75
he Solar S"stem
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
30
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
31/75
he Solar S"stem
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
31
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
32/75
he Solar S"stem
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.
32
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
33/75
he Solar S"stem
/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.
33
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
34/75
he Solar S"stem
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.
34
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
35/75
he Solar S"stem
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
35
-
7/21/2019 Spelljammer Campaign Guide 2011
36/75
he Solar S"stem
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