spelljammer

Calimar is a celestial body in orbit around the system primary of the crystal sphere known as the Astromundi Cluster. This size G spherical air body has three moons of considerable size, named Sultamar, Calamed and Amaron.[1][2]

Overview

Calimar is a massive black and red gas giant, with swirling clouds of ashen gray scattered across its surface. Its moons appear to be lifeless husks, coppery in color and surrounded by tempests that blow up huge funnel clouds of metallic-looking dust. All in all, it does not look like a pleasant place to visit, much less live.

Calimar is wracked by terrific storms that sometimes lash out into wildspace as great tendrils of wind and poisonous gases. The storms that tear at the planet also batter the gas giant's moons, where the Calidians first settled. The Calidians believed that they could escape slavery by settling here, the most inhospitable spot they could find. Those Houses that settled here became known as the "Shattered Houses", both a reference to the harsh nature of their home and because most of them had lost everything to slavers.[2]

Inhabitants

The Shattered Houses enjoyed a few years of peace as they began excavating underground homes to escape the worst of the storms. They first settled on Sultamar, which is beyond a doubt the most dangerous moon of Calimar. While tunneling down into the interior of that moon, they discovered there was great mineral wealth to be had, but there was also instant death waiting in every new tunnel. The interior of Sultamar is mostly molten lava, and once the surface was breached, it became only a matter of time before flames or magma came gushing up into an excavation. The Calidians left Sultamar as soon as possible.

Their next settlement was on the much more pleasant (relatively speaking) moon of Calamed. There they discovered less ore to mine, but there was an abundance of subterranean springs and a natural-growing lichen that was both tasty and nutritious. The Shattered Houses prospered and grew beneath the surface of Calamed, and eventually expanded their operations to the largest moon, Amaron.

Amaron was the turning point for the Shattered Houses. Where the other moons had iron or silver veins in abundance and a few scattered pockets of semi-precious gemstones, Amaron was a veritable treasure trove of precious metals and priceless red diamonds. The Calidians dug deep and fast, hauling out cart after cart of gold ore and shimmering jewels. And the next time the off-world traders arrived, the Calidians had a big surprise for them.

Word of the Calidians' newfound wealth spread slowly at first. Those traders that dealt with the Calidians were eager to keep the information quiet so that they could capitalize on this rich trade. Eventually, though, word leaked out to the illithids, who immediately set about conquering Amaron and the other moons of Calimar. The Calidians were completely unprepared for this attack. As long as they had lived in the Calimar system they had never so much as heard rumors of illithid interest in their goods, and suddenly the mind flayers were everywhere. With no military to speak of, the Calidians were conquered almost immediately.

Now, the illithid and Varan forces have taken up residence in the older mines and converted them for their own purposes. Only scattered pockets of isolated Calidians remain free on Amaron, hiding within sealed off tunnel complexes. Already the illithids are doing what they can to tunnel over and capture them as well. The Calidians are not completely helpless, however, and the humans have done much to sabotage the mines of the illithids. They have a greater familiarity with the mines, which has allowed them to wage a tunnel war against the illithids with some success. Rumor has it that the Hidden are very concerned about what has happened around Calimar and are planning to do something about it, as soon as they can spare the manpower (or hire some adventurers).

The storms that ravage the moons of Calimar make it nearly impossible to land a ship on the surface. To overcome this difficulty, the Calidians use large cargo holds with spelljamming helms attached to them to get cargo into orbit, where traders can get to them without danger. These "powerhelms" are able to punch through the storms because they are very sturdy and need only to go straight up and down. They don't need rigging for maneuvering, making them much less susceptible to high winds.

These storms also help the Calidians because the illithids cannot use typical spelljamming helms and are afraid to let captured Calidians fly goods into orbit and back on "powerhelms". A few Varan have dabbled with the cargo lifters, but so far have had very little success and quite a few spectacular crashes. If the illithids do not come up with a way to get goods and troops on and off planet, they are going to keep losing ships and slaves. Still, it is doubtful they will abandon this lucrative mining operation until it is completely stripped of precious ores and gems.[2]

Satellites

Calimar has three moons of considerable size. Unfortunately, tempestuous weather renders these moons uninhabitable over large areas of their surface. The Calidians originally inhabited the smallest moon, Sultamar, then spread to Calamed and Amaron. By half-burying their structures, the Calidian settlers were able to weather the worst of storms. The discovery of great mineral deposits on each of the moons led to mining and the eventual ascension of the moon miners as suppliers of natural materials. Unfortunately, the settlements possessed little military might and were conquered by the Varan/illithid alliance some years ago. Now, the older mines have been converted into living quarters for illithid nobles and their Varan lackeys.[1]

Amaron

Amaron is the first moon of the planet Calimar.[5] This size F spherical earth body was the last moon to be colonized by the Shattered Houses of Calimar, who discovered Amaron was a veritable treasure trove of precious metals and priceless red diamonds.[2][6]

Calamed

Calamed is the second moon of the planet Calimar.[5] This size C spherical earth body was the second moon to be colonized by the Shattered Houses of Calimar, who discovered Calamed had an abundance of subterranean springs and a natural-growing lichen that was both tasty and nutritious, allowing the Shattered Houses to prosper and grow below the surface of the moon.[2][6]

Sultamar

Sultamar is the third moon of the planet Calimar.[5] This size C spherical earth and fire body was the first moon to be colonized by the Shattered Houses of Calimar, who discovered great mineral wealth as they tunneled into the interior of the moon. Unfortunately, the interior of Sultamar is mostly molten lava, and once the surface was breached, it became only a matter of time before flames or magma came gushing up into an excavation. [2][6]

Appendix

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sam Witt, The Astromundi Cluster, The Astrogator's Guide, 1993, (TSR Inc.), Celestial Features section, The Astromundi Cluster chapter, page 18
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Sam Witt, The Astromundi Cluster, The Celestial Almanac, 1993, (TSR Inc.), Calimar section, The Almanac chapter, pages 26-29
  3. ↑ Sam Witt, The Astromundi Cluster, 1993, (TSR Inc.), ISBN 1-56076-632-8, Planetary Display Map poster
  4. ↑ Sam Witt, The Astromundi Cluster, The Celestial Almanac, 1993, (TSR Inc.), Planetary Movement section, Clusterspace chapter, page 5
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Sam Witt, The Astromundi Cluster, 1993, (TSR Inc.), ISBN 1-56076-632-8, Calimar display card
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Sam Witt, The Astromundi Cluster, 1993, (TSR Inc.), ISBN 1-56076-632-8, Primary Asteroids Chart reference card