Cosmology

Trid is the second of four planets orbiting the Class F star Ammonkis. Roughly three-quarters the size of Earth, Trid has an equitorial circumference of 18,000 miles and is itself orbited by two moons, Lyolm and Opho.  

The Ammonkis System

Ammonkis is larger and hotter than Sol, giving off bright yellow-white light and exerting significant gravitational pull on its four far-flung satellites:   Aerchus: Occupying Ammonkis' closest orbit, Aerchus is a small, swift, red planet that peeks over the horizon at dawn or dusk, never more than 30 degrees preceeding or following the sun. Its scarlet radiance captures the eye instantly, and is associated with Chaos.   Trid: The second planet, Trid is an ancient world whose inhabitants have for long ages built empires on the ruins of those before. Trid is dominated by humans who have achieved a socio-technical level roughly equivalent to that of 10th-century Earth.   Vincula: A pale blue orb whose size and orbit closely matches Trid's, Vincula appears in Trid's night sky for a brief period every 36 days. Sages envision its surface is covered by a massive ocean, lending the body its azure hue. In Trid's mythologies, Vincula typically connotes Neutrality.   Hieron: Farthest from Ammonkis is Hieron, a massive planet that appears as a distant, white star in the sky. The "ward" of Ammonkis' outer limits, Hieron embodies Law—often distant, but ever watchful.  

Trid's Moons

Two satellites orbit Trid:   Lylom: The closest and largest of Trid's moons, Lyolm orbits in a 30-day cycle of new, waxing, full, and waning phases. Its size and proximity create the ocean's tides and triggers lycanthropic response in those creatures so afflicted. Unlike Earth's dead, grey moon, Lyolm's surface is resplendent with red mountains, green forests, golden pampas, and steel-blue seas.   Opho: The smaller of Trid's moons, Opho has a fast and erratic orbit, rising randomly—always full—and racing yellow across the sky, only to set in a matter of hours. As a result of an elven research gone awry, Opho is the source of the Ardic Curse, which erodes a caster's ability to control arcane magic (q.v., Wilderness Adventuring for details).  

Beyond Ammonkis

The heavens surrounding Trid are vast and full of stars. The most prominent are the nine constellations of the Circle, a zodiac representing each one of the Ardic Gods whose interests lie on Trid. These also form the basis for the elven calendar (see sidebar), which suggests that the constellation under whom one is born influences their outlook and temperament.   Other stars, clusters, and nebulae decorate the firmament, many of which are associated either with esoteric Elder Powers or to the various Local Gods, heroes, monsters, and ancestors significant to a particular culture's mythos.  

Planar Geography

The Ammonkis system—the star, its planets, and their moons—is one of many Prime Material "spheres" contained within the Ethereal Plane. But beyond the ether lies other planes of existence that exert influence over Trid. Extending outward from Ammonkis' sphere are 12 planar "orbits":   Ethereal Plane: The first orbit is a “bubble” of gently swirling Ether that contains all possible Prime Planes, each within their own sphere (which may occupy any amount of physical space).   Alternate Primes: Drifting in and along the Ether's gentle currents are infinite parallel universes. Each is a self-contained sphere with its own worlds, natural laws, mortal inhabitants, and technologies. Generally, there is no contact between alternate primes, though close proximity within the Ether can create sponteneous connections.   Elemental Planes: Beyond the Ether lie the four orbits of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water (from which elementals are summoned). Each Elemental Plane is a flexible band, comprised entirely of the eponymous matter, which expands and contracts to swap positions with the others (if desired, the referee may roll 1d4+2 to identify a specific Elemental Plane’s orbit at any given time).   Astral Plane: The seventh orbit is an expanse of pure energy that forms a barrier between the Inner Planes of matter and the Outer Planes of divine essence.   Outer Planes: The last five orbits are the realms of the immortals. The closest orbit houses various Local Gods and their servants, each separated within their own pocket dimension. The next three orbits swap positions are the domains of Lawful, Neutral, and Chaotic Ethos Gods (roll 1d3+8 to determine the precise orbit of each at any given time). The twelfth and final orbit is the realm of the various Elder Powers and their intangible abstractions, like Time, Thought, and Emotion.