Luna
Template:Greyhawk Astronomical Object Luna, known as Raenei, the Greater Moon, or the Mistress, is Oerth's silver satellite, the companion to the Lesser Moon, Celene. It is known as Mazlateotl among the Olman and as Konola among the Touv. From the perspective of Oerth, it cycles from its new to full phases once a month.
Appearance
From Oerth, Luna doesn't appear much larger than Celene, but the difference is noticeable. Because it appears from Oerth as if it is larger than the sun (it isn't), solar eclipses are less spectacular when Luna is involved than when only Celene is.
Luna appears, from the Oerth, as a featureless silver disk (varying between white, silver, and gray, with cloud cover creating a slight sense of changing patterns). Two atmospheres obscure the planet's terrain—both Luna's and Oerth's—so the haze makes it impossible to see any detail without actually traveling into space. Luna's atmosphere can refract light, though—when the conditions are right, during an eclipse the light from Celene will reflect in Luna's atmosphere, causing it to seem to be surrounded by a shining aquamarine halo.
Unlike Celene, Luna isn't tidally locked with the Oerth; it rotates on its own axis, and shows the "mother planet" both of its sides. However, both sides look the same from Oerth, so this doesn't make much difference. Its axis of rotation is at right angles to that of the Oerth, so from the perspective of Luna, Oerth rises in the north and set in the south (or vice versa, depending on the season). Oerth is large and bright enough to be visible from Luna both night and day. The sky is covered with clouds much of the time, and titanic thunderstorms are common.
Luna's surface is mostly dry land, with water covering only about 30% of it. Prominent features (invisible from Oerth) include the Worldspine Mountains, which completely encircle the equator, an ocean in each hemisphere (the Deepsound Sea and the Saltwaste), and a circular desert known as the Anvil of God. A range of mountains called the Polar Ring surrounds the north pole.
Ecosphere
Atmosphere
The atmosphere of Luna is short of oxygen. Those not attuned will find themselves constantly out of breath and tired. In RE1, Return of the Eight (set in AD&D 2nd Edition Rules), for every hour spent on Luna, reduce Con and Str scores by 1 point until 1/2 scores are reached and then movement is reduced by half.
Fire based spell damage is reduced by half, rounded down, to a minimum of 1 hp.
Due to the clouds and humidity, visibility is low; one-half to one-tenth normal.
Magnetosphere
Compasses do not work on Luna. Their needles spinning Crazily.
Ecology
Luna has no sapient natives, though there are a few groups of intelligent beings who have ended up here from other worlds. Iggwilv has a hidden stronghold here that was used by Tuerny during their brief alliance.
Luna's native animals tend to be large and monstrous, vaguely insectoid or arachnoid in appearance, alien and horrific by Oerth standards. Luna also has a great deal of native flora. Some of these plants, like bronzewood, cedar, and oak, are familiar to travelers from Oerth. Others are completely alien.
Creatures from the Quasi-Elemental Plane of Lightning and the Demiplane of Electromagnetism are common in Luna's upper atmosphere.
See also
Bibliography
- Findley, Nigel. Greyspace. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
- Grubb, Jeff. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space Boxed Set. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.
- Gygax, Gary. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Moore, Roger E.. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- -----. "Gates in the World of Greyhawk." Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995. Originally appeared in TSR's America Online folder, later moved to its website. Available online: [1]
- -----. Return of the Eight. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Reynolds, Sean K. The Scarlet Brotherhood. Renton, WA: TSR, 1999.