Introduction
Pyrespace is based on the solar system presented in the Shadow of the Spider Moon article from Polyhedron #151/ Dungeon #92. It adapts the material to a crystal sphere for the Spelljammer setting. The material below "revisits" many of the familiar concepts and locations from the original article, but with some new twists.
Sphere Overview
Pyrespace is a small sphere, having a diameter of 2,000 million (2
billion) miles. This sphere is a relatively young one; the temperature
is even colder than that of Krynnspace. It only rises above freezing
as one gets closer to The Pyre—somewhere between the orbits of Ashen
and Verdura. Winter clothes are recommended for trips between planets.
Pyrespace is an odd crystal sphere. It's far from the travelled spacelanes, yet most worlds have native sentient life. Those that don't—like Ashen—must have supported some in the past. There are no naturally occuring portals into the sphere, yet opening one through spells—or by other, conventional, means—is not hindered in any way.
The planets of Pyrespace lie in the following orbits around The Pyre:
- Ashen: 35 million miles; 9 hours travel
- Verdura: 65 million miles; 16 hours travel
- Quelya: 95 million miles; 22.5 hours travel
- Perianth: 140 million miles; 1.4 days travel
- Chain of Tears: 300 million miles; 3 days travel
- Moradin's Forge: 500 million miles; 5 days travel
- Sphere Wall: 1000 million miles; 10 days travel
Worlds of Pyrespace
| # | Contains fan created material not found in the Shadow of the Spider Moon article. |
Inhabitants of Pyrespace
Despite the abundance of intelligent beings, interplanetary travel, IEN presence, and occasional visitors from beyond; the inhabitants of Pyrespace remain fairly ignorant of anything outside their own sphere. The cold temperatures in wildspace, recent appearance of illithid and formian forces in the outer system, and the sphere's distance from known space, have been major contributors in keeping the casual space traveller out.
Imperial Elven Navy
The IEN made contact with the elves of Perianth long before the First Unhuman War, and many elves from that planet have served on local ships—though they rarely leave the sphere. Their presense in the sphere is very small, consisting of Atwa Falasse, a research facility on Perianth, and a handful of man-o-wars and warbirds to keep an eye on things. The casual and friendly dealings the IEN once enjoyed with the locals have been replaced by a very formal, business-like approach ever since the local elves developed their own class of armada. The IEN leaves most of the governing of the spacelanes to Pyrespace elves.
- Atwa Falasse (on Perianth)
Non-player Characters
Ships of Pyrespace
The Shadow of the Spider Moon article introduces some new ship types for its own ship combat system. Presented below are those ships converted to Spelljammer rules, with the addition of some sorely needed deckplans.
Drow Deathspider — Drow Great Mother — Drow Spinneret — Elven Armada — Elven Arrowing — Elven Warbird — Illithid Boreworm — Illithid Dreadnaught
Monsters of Pyrespace
Adventures and Hooks
Pyrespace is a crowded sphere, providing many opportunities for adventure.
The Continuation of Politics
The humans of Quelya set up a logging town on Verdura as an alternative to acquiring wood from the elves of Parianth. The elves, who are loosing business, make a deal with some jungle natives—lizardfolk, yaun-ti, etc.—to disrupt the camp. The plan is foiled, and the logging operation continues. The elves set up a blockade around the jungle world to keep cargo ships away, and the humans send along an escort fleet. Is war between the two races on the horizon?
At the start of the conflict, the player characters could be involved in the defense—or attack!—of the camp. As hostilities escalate, they can participate in the blockade, or in the trade/peace negotiations.
Complete Adventures
- Intrigue in the Elven Court^
- The PCs must foil an assassination! (1st level)
Ports easilty to any non-Spelljammer campaign!
Additional Material
- Shadow of the Spider Moon
- Fan created material for the setting.
