Aetherial Adventures 14

This PDF collects the space fantasy articles from the past year or so.

-Nate

Aetherial Adventures 14

Many Moons

Many Moons

For the inhabitants of Homeworld, the shape of Luna in the night sky is a familiar sight. Indeed, her waxing and waning follow the passing of the months during each year. On other worlds in the Sol System the night sky looks much different, however, as detailed below.

Wodan and Freya

Neither of these planets has a moon of its own; the night sky on the former is just a canopy of stars, while the latter is shrouded in cloud cover so thick that it is not noticeable. Note that the absence of a moon affects the shapechanging of lycanthrope characters, as detailed in the sidebar below.

Homeworld

As mentioned above, Luna has a strange connection to the lycanthropes. It should also be noted that, due to the fact that Luna's period of rotation on its axis is the same as its period of revolution around Homeworld, only one side of the moon is ever visible from that world. That is a fact that could make it an appealing base of operations for those who want to be close to Homeworld, but who want to come and go unobserved.

Tyr

The two moons of this planet are named Phobos and Deimos. Both rocky little planetoids are pockmarked by numerous crater impacts. They are also tidally locked, just like Luna, thus showing only one side to Tyr. Due to its fast revolution around Tyr, some natural philosophers have surmised that Phobos will eventually be torn apart by the forces of gravity.

The Asteroid Belt

While it is commonly believed that this ring or rocky debris was once a planet like the others in the Sol System, it is not known if that world had any moons of its own.

Thunar

This world has four known moons.

1. Io, the first moon, is relatively large and highly volcanic. This makes it appealing to the Dwarven Mining Guild, who see it as a possible location for mining, smelting and smithing activities. Indeed, one dwarf captain and crew have been assigned with exploring the moon and its possibilities.
2. The second, Europa, is covered in a thick layer of ice. The elves believe that, like Enceladus (detailed below), it could be a candidate for development through the use of elemental obelisks and similar means.
3. Ganymede, third, is actually bigger than the planet Wodan. It, too, is covered by a thick layer of ice. Given that, it is considered less of a candidate for a development that Europa.
4. Fourth is Callisto. It is tidally locked, just like the moons of Homeworld and Tyr. What is more, its surface is almost entirely covered by crates from meteoric impacts. Indeed, it boasts a huge crate surrounded by concentric rings of displaced soil, stretching more than 2000 miles in diameter. Just what might have caused that is open to speculation.

Finally, it should be noted that the Elven Navy keeps a ship in orbit around Thunar at all times, although the reason for doing so is not known.

Kronos

Seven moons are known to orbit this world.

1. Mimas, the first moon, is also predominantly made up of ice with some rock. Curiously, its location inside the ring debris of Kronos sweeps out an open area between the rings, which also means that its surface is frequently pummeled by meteoric impacts.
2. Enceladus is the second moon. It is covered by layers of ice, but volcanism beneath the surface causes there to be liquid water and geyser activity. For that reason, the elves chose it as the first place that they would develop for habitation when they left Homeworld. It is the home of Star Fort Station, as detailed in previous articles.
3. The third, Tethys, is a floating ball made up of more ice than rock. For that reason, some speculate that it could have been a comet that was somehow captured by the gravity of Kronos. If that is the case, then one wonders from where it originally came.
4. Dione, the fourth moon, is similar to Enceladus in structure, and thus considered by the elves to be another candidate for development.
5. The fifth, Rhea is very similar to Dione. Its atmosphere and surface are also affected by dust particles from the rings of Kronos. Indeed, the moon is slowly forming rings of its own.
6. Titan, the sixth moon, has a nitrogen and methane atmosphere; in that way, it is similar to the planet Freya.
7. The seventh and last moon, Iapetus, is also tidally locked. What is more, one side of the moon is dark in coloration, while the other is light. The reasons for this are unknown.

Moons and Lycanthropes Worlds that have multiple moons, or none at all—and, thus, more frequent full moons or none—affect lycanthrope characters in different ways; refer to page 196 in the Bestiary for details.

Diablerie Revisited

Whereas one of my previous posts provided an update about an earlier article, adding details about how the settlement formerly known as Smith's Crossing would have changed based on the events of the Manifested Destinies campaign, this post changes the details of another--Diablerie--via retroactive continuity. I do this because, when I was working on last year's campaign, I wrote up a theater that I thought would come into play, but it never did. Upon reflection, however, I realized that it would pair well with a supplement that details the Invisible College. For that reason, here's a new version of that post.

-Nate

Diablerie v2

Overview

The production of a stage play has its own kind of magic, being a combination of emotional acting, elaborate costumes and scenery, music, and even special visual and auditory effects. What few people know, however, is that some theater troupes push beyond such imaginative magic into the actual practice of the arcane arts, using full-blown sorcery to gain influence over the audience. Such is the case with those who run the New Globe Theatre in London; they are, in fact, agents of the Invisible College who guard an entrance to the Winding Way.

The New World Theater

Refer to the maps above and below for the following location details.

1. Entry

Broad double doors provide an entrance to the theater. They are locked at times when no rehearsals or performances are taking place (details); otherwise, they are open to the public.

2. Courtyard

This open area has no roof overhead, and the floor is nothing more than packed earth. Visitors may pay a much smaller sum to stand here, and such individuals are known as groundlings.

3. Gallery

Most of the people who attend shows at the theater stand in this area, with a railing in front of them and a roof over their heads. There are also stairs that lead up to the second and third levels.

4. The Stage

This area is raised five feet above ground level. There are a number of trapdoors that provided access to the under-stage area, along with doors leading to the backstage part of the theater. What is more, a curtained alcove provides an area for actors who need to make dramatic entrances during particular scenes.

5. Backstage

During productions, the actors and stage hands who are involved can ready themselves back here, and a show's director is almost always present. The ground level opens directly onto the stage, while the second level features a balcony for certain dramatic scenes. The top level is generally used for storage, including old costumes and props and the like. Note, too that on the bottom level there is a secret door (Notice check at -2 to detect) that opens onto more spiral stairs leading further underground; this is, in fact, an entrance to the Winding Way.

6. Under-Stage

In order to make certain special effects work, there are a number of trapdoors that lead down to this area. The spiral stairs from the backstage area also lead down here. The walls of this room are also lined with wardrobes that hold all manner of costumes from numerous different productions.

The Winding Way Refer to the scenario “Beyond the Veil” for more information about the obstacles and other dangers that one might find in this borderland between various places, times and possibilities. https://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2019/01/beyond-veil.html

Members

Profiled here are just a few of the prominent individuals who are part of this organization.

Zerelda Williams, the Scholar

If anyone can be called the leader of the company, it is Zerelda. She is the one who chooses the plays to be presented, researches them and then plans the productions. To that end she is almost always caught up in one text or another, be it eldritch in nature or something mundane. It's said that Zerelda can trace her lineage to the Puritans who settled in Salem at the end of the 17^th Century.

Attributes: Agility d4, Smarts d8, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6

Skills: Investigation d6, Knowledge d6, Notice d6, Persuasion d4, Spellcasting d6

Charisma: --, Pace: 6”, Parry: 2, Toughness: 5

Edges: Arcane Background (Sorcery), Ghost Sight, New Power

Hindrances: Bad Eyes (Minor), Small

Special Abilities

Power Points: 10; Powers: Detect/conceal arcana, dispel, grave speak, speak language

Gear: Comfortable clothing, various books, magical trappings and writing materials

Sophie Delacroix, the Dancer

The daughter of former slaves, Sophia grew up steeped in voodoo. At an early age she experiences having a loa take over her body, being “ridden” by it while dancing in a ritual. With that foundation, she began training for combat, and eventually found that she excelled at it. Thus she performs as a dancer for the theatre, but also provides protection for her fellow agents.

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d4, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6

Skills: Climbing d4, Fighting d6, Notice d4, Stealth d4, Throwing d6, Voodoo d6

Charisma: --, Pace: 6”, Parry: 5, Toughness: 5

Edges: Arcane Background (Voodoo), New Power

Hindrances: Impulsive, Obligation

Special Abilities

Power Points: 10; Powers: Armor, Deflection, Smite

Gear: Elaborate but loose-fitting costume, pair of knives (Range 3/6/12, Damage Str +d4+1, RoF 1), conjure bag

Margaret Jameson, the Artist

Although one wouldn't guess it by looking at her, this woman was raised on the American frontier, often surrounded by native people. He father is a famous painter and collector of Indian artifacts, and she followed him from post to post. In doing so she learned to connect with the spirits, and now brings that knowledge to share with her Sisters, whom she also serves in painting, sewing and the like.

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d4

Skills: Healing d6, Knowledge d4, Notice d6, Streetwise d4, Survival d6, Tribal Medicine d6

Charisma: --, Pace: 6”, Parry: 2, Toughness: 5

Edges: Arcane Background (Shamanism), New Power

Hindrances: Curious

Special Abilities

Power Points: 10; Powers: Elemental Manipulation, Light/Obscure, Spirit Walk

Gear: Comfortable clothing, knife (Range 3/6/12, Damage Str +d4+1, RoF 1), totem (buffalo pouch)

Watercraft

Presented here are supplemental rules for use with the Savage Worlds RPG in the setting of The Sixth Gun comics (and other supernatural westerns); it includes guidelines for ghost ships.

-Nate

Watercraft

Watercraft

Use the following game stats for these vehicles.

Vehicle	Size	Handling	Top Speed	Toughness	Crew	Cost
Canoe	-1	1	3	5	1+2	100
Rowboat	0	-2	5	8 (1)	1+3	300
Sailing Ship	11	0	10	13 (2)	10+5	15000
Steamship	16	-1	5	15 (3)	10+100	45000
Steamboat	16	-1	9	20 (4)	6+30	90000

Notes:

• The speed of a sailing ship is dependent on available winds; as such, its maximum speed may never be higher than that of the current wind speed -2.
• It is possible to use a rowboat for towing a sailing ship, in which case the maximum speed becomes 2.
• Some canoes can be rigged with a short mast and sail, thereby becoming like a small sailboat. In that case, the maximum speed increases to 6.

Shipboard Artillery

Use the following stats for weapons that are installed on watercraft.

Type	Range	Damage	AP	ROF	Blast	Weight	Cost
Cannon	50/100/200	3d6	4	1	–	1000	5000
Swivel Gun	20/40/80	2d6	2	1	–	100	500

Ghost Ships

Whether it was due to carelessness, greed, or some other factor, the steamboat Sultana set sail from Vicksburg, Mississippi carrying two thousand or more passengers on the night of 24 April 1865. They were Union army soldiers, men who'd just been through the hell of the Civil War and who were eager to sail back upriver to their homes. Such was the crowding that nobody was able to keep an accurate record of exactly who was onboard. 

Although the ill-fated voyage managed to last a couple of days, in the early hours of April 27 one of the vessel's four boilers exploded. The resulting hole, it is said, was so large that a smokestack and the wheelhouse fell into it. Fire spread quickly through the remaining hull, forcing passengers to decide between burning to death or drowning in the river. Some managed to float to shore by clinging to debris and even animals, but in all 1,547 people were killed. What is more, the story received little publicity in the press at that time, because it happened on the very same day on which the assassin John Wilkes Booth was capture and killed. Indeed, the official investigation into the matter never resulted in any criminal charges that could bring those responsible for the disaster to justice, and a natural change of course for the river meant that the wreck of the Sultana was eventually buried, and all physical trace of the disaster was lost.

There is still a spiritual trace remaining, however.

Those who ply the waters of the Mississippi River sometimes report seeing a ghostly steamboat, one that moves in an unnatural way and that seems to have an unearthly glow. Skeptics, of course, try to explain away these sightings with notions including tricks of moonlight on the fog and similar ideas. Even so, those who are more attuned to the spiritual realm know that ghosts of the victims, traveling aboard a spectral form of the Sultana still continue their voyage, cursed to haunt the location of their demise, and always looking to bring other helpless victims aboard to share in their fate.

Rules for Ghost Ships and the Sultana

• Just like with humanoid ghosts, ghost ships have the Ethereal and Fear (-2) qualities. While they still move at a speed similar to their specific vehicle type, they can thus ignore impediments such as sandbars and other snags, they cannot move across land.
• Additionally, although there are ghostly crew members aboard the ship, they do not individually have the Fear-causing effect; rather, they have become an extension of the vessel itself.
• The unfulfilled purpose of this vessel, along with its crew and passengers, is to deliver everyone safely to the railroad junction at Cairo, Illinois. Sadly, however, this has become twisted into reliving the nightmare of their voyage every year on its anniversary. For that reason, it appears near Vicksburg on the night of every April 24, and then explodes, burns and sinks a little after midnight on April 27.
• Those who encounter the Sultana during this span of time find that the passengers try to drag them aboard the ghost ship, intending that they should share in its curse. They use their ability to hurl physical objects as their main attack, and then use it to pull the bodies of those beaten into unconsciousness aboard their vessel.
• Indeed, any who die during this repetition of the calamity are also turned into ghosts—with the limitations mentioned above—and thus continue the annual attacks.
• There are a few ways to end this curse. One is to find the culprit responsible for the overloading and bring him to justice, but few can agree on just who that might be. Another is to use magical weapons to destroy the steamboat, thereby sending the souls trapped aboard it to one final rest.

Deck Plans for Vehicles Referenced Refer to the following resources and scenarios to find deck plans and descriptions of the vehicles listed below. Canoe: https://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2018/07/this-scenario-builds-upon-events-in.html (This article also presents a printable plan for a rowboat.) Sailboat: https://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2018/11/this-post-begins-to-expand-scope-of.html Steamship: https://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-steamship.html Steamboat: https://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2016/08/steamboat-deck-plans.html

Spies for the Void Spirits

Detailed here are two NPCs mentioned in a previous post, "Spirits of the Void," along with plot hooks for working those scallywags into adventures and campaigns.

-Nate

Lady Hasu

CR 6

XP 2400

Female human wizard 7

NG medium humanoid

Init +1; Senses Perception -1

DEFENSE

AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+1 Dex, +1 deflection)

hp 34 (7d6+7)

Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +5

Resist None

OFFENSE

Spd 30 ft.

Melee Quarterstaff +3 (1d6)

Ranged Light crossbow +4 (1d8)

Special Attacks Spells

STATISTICS

Str 10, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 8, Cha 16

Base Atk +3; CMB +3; CMD 14

Feats Combat Casting, Eschew Materials, Scribe Scroll, Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus (enchantment), Silent Spell, Still Spell

Skills Craft (writing) +6, Knowledge (arcane) +7, Knowledge (geography) +7, Linguistics +7, Spellcraft +7

Languages Common, Dwarven, Elven, Draconic

SQ Arcane bond (amulet), arcane school (enchantment), cantrips

Combat Gear Clothing, spellbook, quarterstaff, light crossbow, case of 10 bolts, amulet, pouch with writing materials, cloak of resistance +1, ring of protection +1, elixir of love

Spells per Day: 4/5/4/3/1

Spells Known: All cantrips; charm person, comprehend languages, hypnotism, identify, mage armor, shield, sleep; daze monster, eagle's splendor, invisibility, touch of idiocy; arcane sight, dispel magic, hold person, suggestion; charm monster, lesser geas

Lady Hasu was once a Navigator, but now she is the courtesan of Lord Kyodaina. Her task is to beguile his enemies, winning their confidence and thus causing them to lower their defenses, thereby allowing her allies to take exploit them.

Mr. Osoroshi

CR 7

XP 3600

Male ogrekin wizard 7

CN Medium humanoid (giant)

Init +0; Senses Perception +0; low-light vision

DEFENSE

AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed 16 (+5 natural, +1 deflection)

hp 55 (7d6+28)

Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +4

Resist None

OFFENSE

Spd 30 ft.

Melee Quarterstaff +8 (1d6+5)

Ranged Light crossbow +3 (1d8)

Special Attacks Spells

STATISTICS

Str 20, Dex 10, Con 18, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 5

Base Atk +3; CMB +8; CMD 18

Feats Greater Spell Focus (divination), Greater Spell Penetration, Improved Familiar, Scribe Scroll, Skill Focus Spellcraft), Spell Focus (divination), Spell Penetration

Skills Appraise +13, Knowledge (arcane) +13, Linguistics +13, Profession (sailor) +10, Spellcraft +16

Languages Common, Draconic, Giant

SQ Deformities (thick skin, weak mind); arcane bond (familiar); arcane school (divination)

Combat Gear Clothing, cloak or resistance +1, ring of protection +1, spellbook, component pouch, writing materials, quarterstaff, light crossbow, case of 10 bolts, elixir of vision

Spells per Day: 4/5/4/3/1

Spells Known: All cantrips; comprehend language, detect secret doors, feather fall, identify, mage armor, shield, true strike; detect thoughts, fox's cunning, locate object, see invisibility; arcane sight, clairaudience/clairvoyance, dispel magic, tongues; locate creature, scrying

Mr. Osoroshi is a diviner, and acts as navigator for the crew of the Void Spirit. While his services are thus valuable, he is often mistreated by the others—by Lord Kyodaina because his is inferior, by Lady Hasu because he is ugly, and by the ogres because he is not as strong. For that reason, his loyalty to his fellows may not be so strong as they suspect.

Mrs. Kireina, the Cat

CR --

XP --

N Tiny animal

Init +2; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +5

AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +2 size, +4 natural)

hp 27 (half of Mr. Osoroshi's)

Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +6

Speed 30 ft.

Melee 2 claws +4 (1d2-4), bite +4 (1d3-4)

Space 2½ ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Str 3, Dex 15, Con 8, Int 9, Wis 12, Cha 7

Base atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 6 (10 vs. trip)

Feats Weapon Finesse

Skills Climb +6, Perception +7, Stealth +14; Racial Modifiers Climb +4, Stealth +4

SQ Alertness, improved evasion, share spells, empathic link, deliver touch spells, speak with master, speak with animals of its kind

While most people think of Mrs. Kireina as nothing more than a comforting pet kept by a lonely and unhappy person, she is in fact Mr. Osoroshi's secret weapon. In her feline way, she often rubs herself against people's legs; what they don't know is that this allows the ogrekin to deliver touch spells against them. Given her small size and natural stealth, too, she can spy for him on situations in which he would not be so secretive.

Using these Pirates in an Aetherial Adventures Campaign

The Spirits of the Void can be used in all sorts of adventures, including a few of the following options.

• The pirates of the Void Spirit make their living by prowling the Asteroid Belt between Tyr and Thonar, waiting for hapless victims on whom they can pounce. In this way they have made themselves particular enemies of the Dwarven Mining Guild, the Elven Navy, and the Royal Interplanetary Company.
• As mentioned above, Lord Kyodanai uses Lady Hasu and Mr. Osoroshi as his spies; the prior is adept at charming the unwary, while the latter uses his divination spells to reveal secrets whether people suspect him or not.
• Indeed, Lady Hasu has also become a favorite courtesan of various Navigators; they, in turn, are part of her unwitting information network.
• Lord Kyodanai and his entourage can sometimes be found at the asteroid settlement known as The Grotto, where they sell stolen cargo, spend money on rest and entertainment, and purchase supplies for new voyages. They are, in fact, one of the most bloodthirsty crews that is part of the Freebooter's Fellowship.
• An especial interest of Mr. Osoroshi is the mysterious Wyrmholes that sometimes appear throughout the Sol System. He believes that they can lead to other star systems and possibly even different planes of existence, and intends to find some kind of pattern in their seemingly random appearance and disappearance.
• What is more, the ogrekin's loyalties to the other officers and crew members of the Void Spirit have worn thin due to the harrassment to which he is often subjected. Should he be offered a new employment, something that would be more comfortable for him (and, more importantly, Kireina), then he might turn on his old comrades.