Lance's Spelljammer Campaign Guide and Primer

The Humans

The humans are believed to be the numerous race on the world. They spread much more rapidly than many other races, and their diversity in skillsets, beliefs and morals make them an incredibly versatile group. While the other races tend to look down upon humans and their short lifespans, the ambition of the human race cannot be denied by any.

The Khova

An offshoot of humans, the Khova first appeared several hundred years ago. A more powerful connection to the natural world, combined with their intensely spiritual culture, has made them a powerful, if small, presence. The humans see them as a lost cause, believing them to be more of an evolutionary mistake then an improvement. Other races, especially the elves, are much more supportive of the Khova and their ways, and in turn they are friendly with other races as long as they don't interfere with or threaten their way of life.

The Halflings

Considered by many to be an oddity, the halflings are neither particularly ambitious nor particularly powerful as a culture. Possessing a lifespan just a little greater than that of the humans, they tend to gather in small villages or settlements, and have not really spread much at all in the past several hundred years.

Feared and Reviled

Their "monstrous" appearance in the eyes of many have resulted in their being feared by many, and while they are a friendly raced, they are not welcomed almost anywhere on Deneva. Those thathave chosen to remain there have gathered themselves into small cities, mostly along the northern coast of Deneva, after having made a deal to retain their small slice of land in return for otherwise keeping to themselves. Many have chosen, however, to make the continent of Vallakith their home, where they thrive as the greatest political powerhouse there.

A Scholarly Race

The dragonborn possess an intense love of history, believing that most problems in life can be solved by turning to the stories of the past as examples. They tend to possess an innate magical ability that many attempt to hone, to great success. For this reason, one of the only places where dragonborn are considered truly welcome is the cit of Rona, which many dragonborn will go to great lengths to visit at least once over the course of their lives. While some return, the thriving culture of dragonborn in Vallakith has resulted in many that leave on this pilgrimage never returning, with the end result being that the dragonborn presence in Deneva is slowly dwindling to nothing.

The Rite of Adulthood

Every child, upon reaching the age of adulthood, is sent on a twenty year long private journey and pilgrimage, the purpose of which is to see what the other races have done to the land, to visit and see the other firbolg tribes, and to help satiate the innate wanderlust felt by many firbolg. This journey will often take them from coast to coast, and is the most common means by which non-firbolg will meet a firbolg outside their forest homes.

Shepherds of the Lost

While the stories told of the firbolg paint them often in a negative light, saying that any who wander into their forests will be lost, this could not be further from the truth. Those with malicious intent will most certainly be taken care of, but those who find themselves lost or curious will often face the friendly side of the firbolgs, who will provide them food and supplies for their journey, and quite often even a home. It is widely believed that the Khova may have been the result of a small human tribe that settled with the firbolg.

A Race Split in Two

Scholars are unsure how the Githyanki and the Githzerai came to be, or how two seemingly entirely opposed cultures manage to co-exist peacefully, but somehow they manage. The Githyanki, the most warlike and militaristic of their kind, serve as the defensive force of the Gith, always training for a war they have yet to fight. Meanwhile, the seemingly peace-loving Githzerai prophecy this war and tell of the coming fall of the world of Valbora, all while studying and maintaing order in the city they call home.

Masters of the Mind

Both types of Gith share one commonality; a mastery of the mind and a gift for using its power to influence the world. Many attempt to travel to Mora-Toth to learn from the Gith, but are almost always turned away. While the Arcane and Divine magics do hold a place within Gith culture, every last Gith is taught that the mind is their mightiest tool, and that forsaking the mastery of it is a foolish error.

Guerilla Warriors

If you are not one of them, you better travel armed and in great numbers, as almost any race but the Khova who wander too near an elven forest is never heard from again. Exceptional archers and skirmishers, they make quick work of those that wish them harm, and the result is that the few forests still inhabited by elves are rarely visited by others. Attacks against villages, towns, cities and settlements are not entirely unheard of, though rare.

Half Wood-Elves

While relations with the other races are rather heated, the wood elves have discovered that while children are rare and take long to mature in Elven society, the shorter lived races bear children much faster. In times past, male wood-elves would often takes wives of humans in particular, which greatly increased the growth of their armies. While this practice is rare today, a few half-elves are still born from time to time, and some that have forsaken their elven ancestors have become a true-breeding race of their own. Often treated poorly by their human ancestors, many do their best to hide their heritage and live normal lives to the best of their ability, with only their longer lifespans giving them away.

Peace and Quiet

While long ago the goblins that made their home on Valbora were considered nasty, warlike, and deadly, the Deneva goblins found their peace years ago. A quiet life is all they seek, and as a result few goblins venture far from home for any reason. While they cannot compare to the halflings in their mastery of agriculture, they certainly try and imitate the halflings to the best of their ability.

Magic Amongst Goblins

The incredibly short lifespans of the goblin race result in a very small number of goblins capable of any form of magic. However, on rare occasions, sorcerers will appear amongst their ranks. Those born with the spark of magic often lead their kind, and for some reason live longer lives than all the rest. However, many of these goblins consider themselves unfortunate, as this leadership is all too often passed to them against their will.

A House of Cards

While they may not be as cruel as the drow of other worlds, their lives are still all too often embroiled in politics. To the drow, your family is more important than anything, and both friendly and not-so-friendly rivalries are all too common. Their long life spans have resulted in blood feuds that have continued for centuries, and while they rarely escalate to violence, they are serious nonetheless. They call this phenomenon the "Game", and it is a core part of every drow child's education. As a result, spies from amongst the ranks of the drow are some of the most effective, as they have often quite literally been raised from birth to perform corporate espionage and backroom dealings.

Master Craftsmen

Every race will attest to the quality of almost any good produced by the drow houses. Masters of stoneworking, metallurgy, and the arts, anybody of wealth and status, regardless of where they live, likely own at least one piece of art that has been made by the hands of a drow. Each house tends to specialize in one particular area, often to the exclusion of others, and the Game is often a matter of two houses that do compete trying to sabotage their rivals and raise the value and quality of their own house's work.

Slow to War

The avariel have only been involved in armed conflict as a race twice in the history of Valbora, and both times, often due to their assistance, their side has prevailed. While they are against violence in any form, they are excellent archers and treat archery as a sport. Those that study magic among them will often go so far as to totally ignore learning magic that can do harm, and clerics amongst the avariel quite often travel without weapons or armor of any sort. As a result of this, when conflict breaks out in Banaram, the avariel are never threatened, and are treated with respect and reverence from all sides. Those who fail to abide by this unwritten wartime agreement will quickly find themselves on the receiving end of arrows by the best marksman in Valbora.

Guilds

The dwarves have divided themselves into a strict form of a caste system, with each caste taking the form of a guild. Each guild focuses on a particular role within dwarven society to the exclusion of others. From architects to priests, warriors to scholars, each type of dwarf can be seen in each guild. While they are often friendly with each other, traveling between castes is a rare event, and attempts to do so are often frowned upon, with the one exception of every dwarf spending some time in the Warriors Guild.

The things lurking in the dark caverns in the bowels of Banaram often travel upwards towards the surface, encountering dwarven sities often on their way. As a result, all dwarves are trained in basic warfare and discipline, with military service being a mandatory duty for all young dwarves. It is said that no one has known fear unless they have stood against a dwarven phalanx, and many tacticians and generals of other races often look towards the dwarves as a shining example.

Mechanical Marvels

The dwarves are considered by all to be the most technologically advanced race of the world, equaled only by the gnomes. Long lifespans and access to precious metals and volcanic forges have not only allowed them to be master smiths, but masterful mechanics. Dwarven golems and airships are just some of the tools that have made life in the harsh mountains of Banaram comfortable, and in the eyes of some, possible.

Arcanists

Many tribute the gnomes for the greatest advancements in magic of recent times. When they first arrived, they bore with them countless tomes detailing magic in a rather scientific fashion, and strange automatons that were a combination of the mechanical and the arcane. Copies of these tomes have reached the farthest reaches of Valbora, and some of the originals sit in the great libraries of Rona.

Homeless

Despite arriving in Banaram several hundred years before, the gnomes have not yet found themselves a real home, happy enough to live wherever there is some extra space in the cities they've wandered through. Expeditionary parties down the paths the gnomes arrived from have found no sign of a previous home or they're passing, further adding to the enigma of the gnomes.

Dragonkin

Those that have managed to talk to the reclusive kobolds note their insistence that they are among the most noble of races due to their heritage. They claim they serve a dragon beneath the mountains, owing to their survival despite the harsh world they live in. Many scholars disregard this, but there are a few that believe them, and searches have been made for the dragon in Banaram that the kobolds all claim to serve.

Superstitious Peoples

Magic is an almost entirely foreign concept to the kobolds, and most upon encountering it have fled in terror. Sorcerers among the kobolds are incredibly rare, and most are killed upon first showing signs of magic. Even the rare priests of the kobolds refuse to wield divine magic, even if they might be capable of it. Many tribute this to their difficulty rising as a civilization.

Great Accident

While some genasi are born from entirely normal parents, most genasi are true-breeding, and trace their lineage back to an ancient accident that occurred on the seas between Vallakith and Banaram. Stories state that a great storm assaulted a ship on it's way to Banaram, and a powerful wizard attempted to draw upon too much power trying to calm the storm. The resulting explosion suffused the people aboard in primal magics, and birthed the race of Genasi.

Natural Magics

The Genasi, born of primal magic, are naturally gifted spellcasters. While most of their race are sorcerers, some do seek more traditional magics, though divine magic is especially rare among them. Many sorcerers amongst the genasi have an exceptionally difficult time controlling their magic, adding to the fear that other races have for them. It often takes many years before a sorcerer finds themselves fully under control.

Master Smiths

Not even the dwarves can boast smiths as good as those among the goliath. It is said that long ago, the dwarves taught the first goliath smith, and his skill quickly outpaced that of his master. Regardless of the veracity of this story, warriors swear by goliath metal. Unfortunately the goliath do not often produce goods for others, and have no need for selling them, making the metal of the goliath as rare as it is precious.

Storytellers

Most goliath believe that putting words to writing is a dangerous preactice. This belief is rooted in superstition, and as such, many goliath, while they know how to read and write, rarely practice this. As a result, there is a strong tradition of storytelling amongst the goliath, and they use their storytelling to share lessons, morals, and their own history with their young and with curious outsiders. Luckily enough, they have no qualms with others writing the stories of the goliath, allowing scholars interested in studying them to share the knowledge they've gained in writing.

Honour is Everything

To question a minotaur's honour is to question their existence. While they are a warlike race, they always fight with honour and pride. To die of old age is considered dishonourable, as a true minotaur should lose their lives to battle. As a result, minotaur that do manage to survive to old age often leave their homes in search of an honourable death.

Home on the Sea

While pirating is rare in this age, the sight of horns at the bow of a ship strikes fear in the hearts of any sailor, as they know the minotaur or on the prowl. This love of sailing has extended to the Spelljammer, and with the arrival of the Imperium in Muldaren, many minotaur have left their home to sail amongst the stars.

Arcane Source

It is said that the soul of a high elf is formed from pure mana, and that each high elf conceived draws directly from the weave to form a new soul. Whether or not this is true has been a topic some have devoted their entire lives to, but none have been able to prove. Regardless, it is a proven fact that every high elf possesses great magical potential, and some of the greatest Valboran arcanists were high elves.

Half High-Elves

Unlike the wood elves, who tend to mate with other races primarily for the sake of growing quickly, relations between the high elves and other peoples are far more common, and just as often born from love and romance as any other coupling. The children of such relations are not treated with fear, in the same way that half wood elf children often are, and their versatility and the touch of the arcane has resulted in many famous scientists, wizards, warriors, explorers, craftsmen, and others of a half high-elven descent.

Family

The orcs hold family dearer than anything else. For this reason, most orcs will often stay at home well past adulthood, adding to what ends up being a very large family home, and "leaving the nest" is a rather rare sight outside of marriage. Most orcish families simply grow slowly and naturally, with marriages adding to their numbers.

Half-Orcs

Unlike many half-races in Valbora, half-orcs are not necessarily a true-breeding race. Many orcs believe that marriages to those of other races should be a proud event, as adding to and strengthening the orc bloodline can only better the families therein. They are also one of the more versatile races, as half orc-elves, half orc-humans, and even half orc-gnomes are a somewhat common sight.

Nomads

Small, tight clans of tabaxi are most commmon, and there are very few tabaxi that would call one small corner of Vallakith home. Rather, they prefer to wander, seeing the sights, with most Tabaxi endeavoring to never sleep in the same location more than once in their entire lives. Constantly traveling, the tabgaxi have become experts in living off the land, hunting the animals of the deserts and finding water where needed.

Artisans

The Tabaxi, self sufficient as they can manage, use the spare parts of the animals they hunt and the vegetation they eat to make the tools they need to survive. Keen believers in the idea of "waste not, want not", they can turn the most useless of cast-off hide or bone into something of value. Anything extra they have often gets traded to others on their journeys, in exchange for some of the rare pleasantries the other races can provide them.

Children of the Desert

Living off the land is just as easy for the quelthyra as it is for the tabaxi. It is theorized that the quelthyra are the results of a group of high elves that delved into magic they should not have studied, and were exiled to the desert as punishment. While no high-elven literature supports this theory, the animosity between the two races is harsh, and high-elven caravans or groups wandering into the desert for any reason are the most likely to encounter death at the hands of a quelthyra raiding party.

Gifted

While the high rlves may have souls of magic, the Quelthyra claim to be made of it. Powerful arcanists in their own right, there is no doubt that something supernatural has pervaded their race and hardened them beyond that of any other. With their ability to keep their homes hidden to all eyes, to disappear into the deserts, and even to supposedly shape and control the sandstorms and rare rains of Vallakith, none dare to doubt this claim to the face of a quelthyra.

Chromatic and Metallic

Some believe that there is a distinct moral difference between the chromatic and metallic dragons of old, however this does not play out when the most agreed upon legends are studied. Metallic dragons have been found to be cruel just as often as they were kind, and vice-versa. Many scholars even suggest that this myth was one set down by a particularly cunning copper dragon who wanted to use the misconception to his advantage.

In Present Times

The greatest reason to disbelieve the existence of dragons is the simple fact that they have not been sighted on Valbora in nearly ten thousand years. Even before they supposedly left they tended to meddle little in the affairs of the other races. Those who do believe that dragons once existed are left to answer the question of where they went. The number of theories is almost equal to the number of interested scholars. Some say they were killed off. Others say that they simply flew off into the night sky, never to return. Still others say they hide amongst us in human form, and there are some that believe that they're simply in a world not quite like ours. Whatever the answer is, the scholar who discovers the truth as to what happened to the Valboran dragons will most certainly have their name forever immortalized in the annals of history.

The Coming of the Imperium

With the arrival of the Imperium, the most popularized theory is that the Valboran dragons simply left. With an entire universe out that to discover, and the near infinite lifespan of dragons, one would be hard pressed to imagine a race better suited to the Aetherium. This theory has received even more consensus recently, as newly arrived sailors often speak of the great winged beasts inhabiting the Aetherium and their awesome power. Whether these are the same dragons that left Valbora or not remains to be seen, but it's certainly an interesting face that must be considered.

The Truth

The Truth is that no one can know for certain what happened to the Valbora Dragons, or even if they ever really existed. Bones have turned to dust, scale armor has been lost to the ages, and no truly new knowledge has come forth. The few items that survived the rigors of time and the existence of the old Draconic writings are the only thing close to actual proof that they even really existed.

Quelthyra

The moment they saw us, I froze, unable to move. With deliberate steps they approached, speaking in low, calm voices that seemed to meld with the sounds of the swirling sand. As they laid hands on each of my companions they fell. I knew I was next when the storm began to die down. The walls of the city revealing themselves to be merely a few hundred feet away. They smiled at me, and I blinked. They were gone.

The Quelthyra are an ancient race, more akin to the elves than any other. However, unlike the elves, who may have only a touch of magic within their ancestry, the Quethyra are suffused with it. Hailing from the harsh conditions of the Vallakith deserts, their bodies are hardened against any inclement weather.

Duran

A small figure flits quietly along the top of the water, their wings a blur. Every so often, they dip their net into the water, pulling up a shiny object with each attempt. After a quick examination, it is released back into the depths, and the figure continues on her way. After several minutes of doing this, they flit back to the shore and lean back to enjoy the breeze, perfectly content that they had discovered the coin, even if they really didn't want to keep it.

Hailing from the quiet spaces between mountain peaks in Banaram, the Duran are a small, pixie like race that excel at being nosy. Intensely curious, they value information more than coin or material possessions. Their wings and small size let them get to otherwise hard to reach places, and their sharp ears and eyes let them do the rest.

Khova Traits

All Khova possess the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. The Khova are as versatile as the humans they call their ancestors. Two ability scores of your choice increase by one.

Age. Khova possess the same lifespan as humans. They reach adulthood at thirteen after undergoing a special rite, and live to just under a century unless their lives are cut short.

Alignment. Khova can be of any alignment, however they tend towards neutral.

Size. Khova vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Speed. You have a base walking speed of 35 feet.

Chameleon. Your skin can shift in color to match your surroundings. You can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured, and have advantage on Stealth checks made when you are not moving.

Natural Poisoner. You gain proficiency in the Poisoner's Kit, and over the course of a long rest, can craft one dose of Khova Poison as long as you possess a Poisoner's Kit. A vial of Khova poison loses it's potency after 24 hours. The DC for the poison is 8 + Wisdom Modifier + Proficiency Bonus. The damage dealt by the poison is Xd4 poison damage, where X is equal to your Wisdom modifer.

Versatile. You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Common.

Giff Traits

All Giff possess the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength increases by 2 and your Constitution increases by 1.

Age. Giff mature faster than humans but tend to have about the same lifespan, reaching adulthood at 14 and old age at 60. They can live to 90 years if lucky.

Alignment. Almost every Giff is raised from birth to honor their word and the agreements they make. They are almost always Lawful. Ethics, on the other hand, don't matter quite as much, and while they don't tend towards evil, they are rarely good.

Size. Often seven feet in height or more Giff are large and often well muscled. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Giff Weapons Training. Firearms are a core part of Giff training. You are proficient in the pistol and musket.

Field Repair. You can add your proficiency bonus to Tinker's Tools checks made to repair firearms. Additionally, you can craft ten pieces of Pistol or Musket ammunition over the course of a short rest as long as you possess Tinker's Tools and the gunpowder and metal required.

Naturally Athletic. You gain proficiency in the Athletics skill.

Nonmagical. Giff cannot cast spells. However, you have advantage on saving throws against spells.

Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Languages. You can speak, read and write common and one language of your choice. They usually choose the most common language in the region they are working.

High Dwarf Traits

All High Dwarves possess the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma increases by 1.

High Dwarf Magic. You know the Guidance cantrip. At 3rd level, you can cast the Enhance Ability spell once per day. You must finish a long rest in order to cast the spell again using this trait. At 5th level, you can cast the Fly spell once per day. You must finish a long rest in order to cast the spell again using this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Aetherium Genasi Traits

All Aetherium Genasi possess the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity increases by 1, as you can be as elusive as the aetherium itself.

Part of the Void. You know the Light cantrip. At 3rd level, you can cast the Chromatic Orb spell once per day. You must finish a long rest in order to cast the spell again using this trait. At 5th level, you can cast the Gaseous Form spell once per day. You must finish a long rest in order to cast the spell again using this trait. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

The Locus

The Locus have served the imperium directly for many years as soldiers within their ranks, and arrived alongside the Imperium when they came to Valbora. The choice to leave the Imperium is an available one to all Locus, but is one that is seldom taken, as most Locus are viewed with suspicion at best, and life outside Imperium ranks can be dangerous for them.

Part of this is their creation. Formed from the aetherium itself by the Imperium using ancient arcane machines, they are purpose built to serve. Many believe that those who forsook the Imperium publicly are merely serving as Imperium spies, and that they don't have any real will of their own beyond the commands of their Empress.

While this is often the case, some Locus truly have forsaken the Imperium and chosen their own path, proving that they do in fact have free will, even if most Locus deign to rarely exercise and most others choose to disbelieve it.

The Shardmind

The Shardmind are another strange entity, arriving seventeen years ago shortly after the Imperium. A race of sentient crystalline humanoids, the Shardmind are believed to have come from shards of the Crystal Spere's themselves, and are believed to be the result of Open Sphere spells being used too often, or of objects colliding with the sphere.

While very small in numbers in Civil space as a whole, not even to speak of Valbora itself, the Shardmind are unique enough that the few sightings there are of Shardmind are rather memorable.

Shardmind are often believed to be harbingers of the end time or of an apocalypse, or perhaps simply harbingers of a darker era. This has not been proven to be true, but does not prevent the notion from spreading, and outsiders settling on Valbora have been quick to share this belief the way they do their other beliefs.

The Arcane Font - A Warlock Patron

Occasionally, a Wizard at the peak of their power may attempt something new, experimental, and highly dangerous. And occasionally, they fail. When this happens, the Wizard may find themselves rent asunder by the power of the weave they've failed to master, torn into shreds, and bonded to the area of the accident. They have become an Arcane Font.

Still possessing some of their original personality and goals, emotion has been stripped out. Unable to leave, but still powerful practitioners of the Arcane, they continue to learn, luring others near with offers of power in exchange for more knowledge, often in the hopes of somehow finding the means of reversing what had been done. Those who refuse are often killed, but those who accept the offer may become warlocks of the Arcane Font.

Weaveforged

"You see what it did to me. They didn't help me. They won't help you. The weave is a weapon. Use it like one."

Prerequisites: Pact of the Blade, 5th level, Arcane Font patron.

You use charisma instead of dexterity or strength for attack and damage rolls made with your pact weapon. In addition, if you hit a caster concentrating on a spell with your pact weapon, you may choose to force disadvantage on the concentration check. You may use this feature a number of times equal to your charisma modifier. You regain these uses at the end of a long rest.

Sword and Spell

"Cut them down. Take what you need by force. Don't give them time to strike back."

Prerequisites: Pact of the Blade, 7th level, Arcane Font patron.

When you cast a spell using a warlock spell slot, invocation or Mystic Arcanum, you can make a single attack with your pact weapon as a bonus action.

Enslave the Weave

"The weave cares not for us. Make it. Take the weave, bend it into shape, and make it slave for you."

Prerequisites: Pact of the Chain, 3rd level, Arcane Font Patron.

You gain an additional familiar option for your Pact of the Chain, known as a Weave Fragment. The stats for this familiar can be found on the last page of this document. The familiar gains additional hitpoints equal to twice your warlock level.

Two Become One

"They're simply a tool. Use them like any other."

Prerequisites: Pact of the Chain, 5th level, Arcane Font patron.

As an action, you may merge forms with your familiar. You take on the size, senses, speed, armor class, Strength and Dexterity scores of your familiar. You control the melded form, and all your equipment is melded with you. While merged with your familiar, you gain the special traits, features, and actions of the familiar. You cannot wield normal weapons while in this form. Weapons possessed by the familiar's form or sized for the familiar, such as an Imp's sting or a Sprite's bow, can still be used as normal. You cannot cast spells while merged with your familiar, unless it is a spell granted by the familiar's features, traits, or actions, or it is a warlock cantrip you possess. You maintain your current HP. Damage dealt to you or your familiar while merged is dealt to you, not to your familiar.

Almost a Spellbook

"I will show you the secrets of the weave."

Prerequisites: Pact of the Tome, 5th level, Arcane Font patron.

When you take this invocation, choose two spells from the Wizard spell list of your warlock spell slot level or lower. These spells appear in your Book of Shadows, and you may cast each of these spells using a warlock spell slot once. You may cast these spells again after you complete a long rest. These spells do not count against your spells known. You may switch these spells at the end of a long rest for two spells on the wizard spell list of your warlock spell slot level or lower.

Breadth of Knowledge

"Learn as much as you can. It's what we live for."

Prerequisites: Pact of the Tome, 7th level, Arcane Font patron.

At the end of a short rest, you may switch the skill proficiency/expertise gained by the Student of the Arcane feature for History, Religion, or Investigation proficiency/expertise, or back to Arcana after making this switch.

Prying Eyes

"The weave suffuses everything. Use it as your eyes."

Prerequisites: 12th level, Arcane Font patron.

You may cast the Scrying spell once without expending a warlock spell slot. You regain the ability to cast the spell in this way after you complete a long rest.

Master of Missiles

"All new wizards should master this spell. Now it's your turn."

Prerequisites: 12th level, Arcane Font patron.

You can cast Magic Missile at will as a 1st level spell, without expending a warlock spell slot.

Words Through the Weave

"Bend the weave to your will. Use it as your personal courier."

Prerequisites: 15th level, Arcane Font patron.

You may cast Sending at will, without expending a warlock spell slot.

Careful Planning

"I will watch you, and when you need me, I'll bend the weave to keep you safe."

Prerequisites: 15th level, Arcane Font patron.

You may cast the Contingency spell once without expending a warlock spell slot. You regain the ability to cast the spell in this way after you complete a long rest.

Walk the Weave

"Most are slaves to the weave. Bend it to your will, walk it's paths, and see things like you've never seen them before."

Prerequisites: 18th level, Arcane Font patron.

You may cast Teleport once without expending a warlock spell slot. When cast in this way, you are always considered to be very familiar for the purposes of the accuracy of the teleportation, as long as you are given a good description of the target location. You regain the ability to cast the spell in this way after you complete a long rest.

College of Captains Quirks

Following is a small list of flavor-only quirks you may apply to your College of Captains bard. You can choose one from the list, roll, or make up one of your own. These are just ideas.

Subclass Features

Aetherium Touched Quirks

Following is a small list of flavor-only quirks you may apply to your Aetherium Touched sorcerer. You can choose one from the list, roll, or make up one of your own. These are just ideas.

Subclass Features

Gunmage Quirks

Following is a small list of flavor-only quirks you may apply to your Gunmage Wizard. You can choose one from the list, roll, or make up one of your own. These are just ideas.

Subclass Features

The Pilot - A Wizard Tradition

The Cannoneer - A Fighter Archetype

The Divine Agent - A Rogue Archetype

The Wayfarer - A New Class

Factions

There are many factions that hold a claim to power within the Spelljammer universe. The largest players are detailed here.

Crystal Spheres

Every solar system is self-contained in what is known as a crystal sphere. No one is certain what the material of a crystal sphere is made of, however it is entirely impenetrable by normal means, and requires sophisticated magic or a randomly occurring natural opening to get into out of.

Every exit out of a crystal sphere is known as a Sphere Portal, regardless of whether it is natural occurring or created with magic. Each crystal sphere typically contains one or more planets, moons orbiting those planets, and at the center, a star. Sometimes, in place of a star, a crystal sphere contains a planar portal at the center, though this is a rare occurrence indeed.

Most crystal spheres contain a single world that is actually populated by civilized creatures, though spheres with two or more populated worlds are not entirely unheard of. Typically, the Imperium tries not to share the Spelljammer technology with the worlds within spheres unless all populated worlds are considered fit for it.

Wildspace

The space filling the void between planets in the crystal sphere is known as wildspace. Winds and air exist in wildspace just as they do within a planet’s atmosphere. However there is no gravity, meaning that a person falling overboard on a Spelljammer ship will likely be stranded until rescued, until they die of dehydration or starvation, or until they wander too close to the gravitational body of a world.

Most skirmishes between Spelljammer ships happen inside the Crystal Sphere, as the relatively contained area makes it easier to clean up after things and makes spotting possible reinforcements easier.

The Aetherium

The aetherium is the unending field of emptiness, dotted with clouds of bright and colorful gasses that exist outside crystal spheres. No scholar has been able to determine what exactly the aetherium gasses are made of, and any attempts to bring aetherium gasses into a crystal sphere is impossible, as the gasses inexplicably dissipate no matter how well contained upon entering a crystal sphere. However, they are highly flammable, making many common weapons and spells incredibly dangerous if used within the gas clouds of the aetherium.

The aetherium, like wildspace, contains breathable air, but no gravity, and as such those who fall overboard face the same trials and tribulations as those who fall overboard in Wildspace.

Many wreckages of old ships, crystal spheres that have somehow been destroyed, and other strange things lurk in the vastness of the aetherium, leading many to sail through hoping to come across something valuable. However, sometimes the things they come across are incredibly dangerous, and many ships that stray from the wind currents of the aetherium may find themselves meeting terrible fates.

Piloting a Spelljammer

Any person with enough magical ability (represented by having at least one 1st level spell slot) can theoretically power a Spelljammer Helm. However, the art of piloting a Spelljammer is indeed an art and many study and train for most of their lives to master it.

It takes one minute (ten rounds) to sit in a Spelljammer Helm and attune yourself to it. From that point on, until another attunes to the helm or you lose attunement, you need only spend one action to sit in the Helm and tether yourself to it. Attempting to tether yourself or otherwise activate a Spelljammer Helm without first attuning to it fails and has no effect. Attuning to a Spelljammer Helm does not count towards your regular attunement slots.

While tethered to a Spelljammer Helm, the pilot can expend one spell slot (regardless of level) to perform a Maneuver. Every action taken by a pilot to run a Spelljammer is called a Maneuver. If a Maneuver requires an ability check, you may add your proficiency bonus if you have the Vehicles (Spelljammer) proficiency.

Acceleration and Deceleration

In order to either accelerate or decelerate, the pilot must make either the Acceleration or Deceleration maneuver. Each time you take either maneuver, you must expend a spell slot as normal. Whenever you take the acceleration maneuver, you may increase your speed by an amount up to or equal to your ships Maneuverability Rating. Whenever you take the deceleration maneuver, you may lower your speed by an amount up to or equal to your ship’s Maneuverability Rating. Because of this a ship with a higher Maneuverability Rating, despite perhaps having a less powerful helm, is capable of altering it’s momentum much quicker than a larger, less maneuverable ship.

Let’s take our Mosquito as an example. We’ve already determined that the typical top speed of a Mosquito powered by a Lesser Spelljammer Helm is capable of a top speed of 10. Because it has a maneuverability of 8, each time the pilot uses the acceleration or deceleration maneuver, the ship’s speed can be altered by up to 8 points.

Speed in Combat

When in combat, or when you are too close to an object of significant size, you will be dropped into what is known as Tactical Speed. You cannot prevent this from happening whatsoever and can only get back to Spelljammer speed by putting enough distance between you and whatever object caused you to drop to Tactical Speed.

On a ship’s turn, the pilot must expend all of the ship’s movement. If the acceleration or deceleration maneuver is taken on a turn, the pilot can choose whether to move before the maneuver (thus using the speed the ship had at the start of its turn) or after the maneuver (thus using the new speed).

Initiative in Ship to Ship Combat

Instead of rolling initiative for every involved creature as normal, each ship rolls their own initiative. The pilot will roll a standard initiative check, but uses their spellcasting ability modifier instead of their dexterity modifier. A pilot can spend a spell slot to gain a +5 bonus to their initiative modifier for this roll. They can do this more than once when initiative is rolled, with no limit to the number of spell slots that can be expended this way, but they must do those before the roll is made. If the pilot has proficiency in Vehicles (Spelljammer), then they can add their proficiency modifier to the initiative roll as well.

On a ship’s turn, the pilot and every creature on the ship can choose their actions in any order. This order does not have to be carried from round to round.

If a ship is boarded, then attackers and defenders take alternating turns, with the defenders going first. Specifics of boarding will be discussed later.

Combat Maneuvers

Every pilot must do the following each round of combat:

• Expend any movement the ship has available to it at the current point in time.
• Perform a Maneuver.

If the pilot has bonus actions available to them, they may take a bonus action as per usual.

Following is the list of combat Maneuvers and their functions.

Normal Operation. This Maneuver is taken whenever there is no other maneuver the pilot wishes to make. It represents steering and maneuvering the ship in the stress of combat. This maneuver does not require a spell slot.

Accelerate. You increase your ships speed by an amount up to or equal to the ship’s MR.

Decelerate. You decrease your ships speed by an amount up to or equal to the ship’s MR.

Ranged and Thrown Weapons

Because both wildspace and the aetherium are gravity free, all ranged weapon and thrown weapon attacks have both their normal and long-distance range increments tripled. For example, the longbow has a range of 450/1800 in wildspace or the aetherium. This unfortunately does not apply to ranged spell attacks.

Artillery

Most Spelljammer ships are equipped with artillery of some variety. From Ballista to Cannons, there are quite a few options for those interested in making their ship ready for battle, and there are special rules that apply to their use.

The full rules for artillery will be noted later, however, the following applies directly to ship-to-ship combat actions and will be noted here as well. Most artillery requires more than one action to use. Multiple characters can use their action to contribute to the firing of artillery during a ship’s turn. The last player to contribute their action makes the attack roll.

It should also be noted that artillery is designed for firing against ships. While you can target creatures with artillery, targeting a creature of large size or smaller with artillery results in disadvantage on your attack roll.

Boarding

Boarding a ship requires that two ships are close enough together to perform boarding, or teleportation. Usually this is done by taking a smaller ship, like a longboat, to the enemy ship with a boarding party. Other methods include teleporting, flight, or grappling hooks. Boarding a ship is dangerous for all involved, as pushing people overboard is a common combat tactic aboard ships.

Whenever a ship is boarded, each side chooses a creature to act first. The attacking side gets to choose a creature, then the defending side. This process continues until one side has no more creatures to use. The other side then has all remaining creatures that have not yet acted act, then the process begins again next time that ship’s turn comes around.

Firing Artillery

Firing artillery is almost exactly the same as using any normal ranged weapon, except that multiple people can contribute their actions to firing, and multiple actions are required to fire artillery. One person who contributed an action is considered the Shot Caller, and that person makes the attack roll for the artillery. You use your dexterity for all attack rolls made with artillery, and you may add your proficiency bonus to the roll if you are proficient in martial weapons.

Stats

Artillery have their own unique set of properties, which are described below.

Action Cost. The number of actions that must be contributed before the artillery fires.

Minimum Range. All artillery weapons have a minimum range. Attacks made against targets closer than the minimum range automatically miss.

Personnel. If the artillery has the personnel attribute, it can be used against creatures of large size or smaller normally. If it does not have the personnel attribute, any attacks made with this weapon against creatures of size large or smaller have disadvantage.

Tonnage. Each artillery device requires a certain “tonnage”, representing the space and resources needed to fit that piece of artillery onto the ship. You must have an available amount of space greater than or equal to the tonnage rating of the artillery to fit it on the ship.

Open Sphere

6th level, Transmutation ritual

• Casting Time: 10 Minutes
• Range: 1000 ft.
• Components: V, S, M (A small glass sphere that you can fit inside your palm.)
• Duration: 8 hours
• Classes: Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard

You point at the surface of a crystal sphere within range. A large portal opens on it's surface, allowing passage into and out of the crystal sphere. The portal is 1000 feet in diameter. You can close the portal and end the spell by spending 1 minute to focus and close the portal. Anything caught in the portal when it closes are shunted randomly to one side of the portal and suffers 55 (10d10) force damage.