Introduction to Space

The world is wider than Toril. It expands out into space to the planets that orbit the sun that warms the face of that oft explored planet. Beyond atmosphere of the verdant planet of Toril, past the oceans of Karpri, the crystalline disk of H'Catha, 3.2 billion miles from the sun lie the talismans of the sphere. Beyond this shell lies the wild beyond, the Phlogiston, and uncounted worlds to explore. On a fine spring day, an anchor drops from the sky into the midst of a party of adventurers answering an advertisement for five experienced adventurers. Looking up, the party sees a sailing ship floating in the sky, moored by the anchor in the ground. It shifts and eddies with the breeze. A voice, booming like thunder on the whipping wind, calls down from above as a figure slides down the great rope. A somewhat tall human with brown hair and a weather beaten and scarred face, dressed in a red frock coat festooned with tarnished brass buttons and fraying, dull gold braid, plants his bedraggled, swarthy boots upon the ground, waves his red, wide brimmed hat with a dilapidated goose feather hanging on for dear life at the party. "Ho ho me lads, you looking for adventure? Because I am looking for officers to spelljam with me. It will be grand, GRAND I SAY! I am Captain Bellweather, Erstaz Bellweather. Here is my ship, the Whiddershins. What do you say buckos, you wanting some adventure? Or perhaps you are after some coin?" He pulls a large bag out of a pocket. "Pockets of holding," he beams, "You'll need em where we are going. See this? This is just part of ONE haul. There's more. Lots more. Come on hearties, it’s the opportunity of a life time." If the party goes with him If the party goes with Captain Bellwether, he says, "Righto my buckos! Here now, grab hold of the rope and she'll take you up, Commander Zaufanie will take charge of ye then." When the party touches the rope, they are draw by magical force up the rope at great speed and arrive up onto the deck. They are greeted by a bipedal hippo with humanoid hands and walking upright. He is about 6 feet tall, wearing an military style frock coat with a number of medals, high, polished, black boots, and has a long rifle slung across his back, a sword at his side, and two pistols tucked into a bandolier across his chest. He is smoking a cigar and walks up to the party and says, "You da new crew, ches? Very well, follow me." Commander Zaufanie takes them down to living quarters on the ship and shows them around the various places on the ship. After Captain Bellwether gets aboard, he comes to find the party. "Well now, you all seem to be settling in nicely. We'll start tomorrow on learning you how to run the ship." At that, there is a loud explosion. Bellwether and Zaufanie race to the deck with the party to find a strange ship bearing down on the Whiddershins and Zaufanie calls out, "Neogi captain, I'd say ten marks distant. Well within range of our guns but slightly out of their ranges." Captain Bellwether cries out as he dashes to the poop deck of the great wooden ship and stood on a large platform. As he stands there, he glows with arcane power and the ship begins to move. He yells, "Looks like your training begins now! Commander Hipopatam, take charge!" Zaufanie will instruct the players in how to conduct spelljammer combat. If the party does not go with them: Captain Bellwether will try to cajole them more when a spiderlike ship will descend and Bellwether will cry out, "The Neogi! Quick buckos, up the rope. Not a moment to lose. They've seen you with me and they'll kill you for sure." Shots ring out from insect like creatures coming out of the other vessel. When the party touches the rope, they are draw by magical force up the rope at great speed and arrive up onto the deck. They are greeted by a bipedal hippo with humanoid hands and walking upright. He is about 6 feet tall, wearing an military style frock coat with a number of medals, high, polished, black boots, and has a long rifle slung across his back, a sword at his side, and two pistols tucked into a bandolier across his chest. He is smoking a cigar and walks up to the party and says, "You da new crew, ches? Very well, follow me." After Captain Bellwether gets aboard, he says, "Its neogi Commander Zaufanie! Get these swabs to their stations and get the crew going!" Captain Bellwether cries out as he dashes to the poop deck of the great wooden ship and stood on a large platform with a large, curious looking chair. As he stands there, he glows with arcane power and the ship begins to move. He yells, "Looks like your training begins now! Commander Zaufanie, take charge!" Zaufanie will instruct the players in how to conduct spelljammer combat.

Subplots