Realmspace Update:Anadia

Note: For any interested,  I'm going to start addressing each of the major
astronomical bodies in Realmspace now,  working my way out from the Sun. (I
will not be treating Toril itself as a whole).  I will also still be doing
several updates dealing with space borne organizations,  as well as at
least one update dealing with the Spelljamming activities of Toril power
groups (like the Zhentarim).  Both the Company of the Chalice and Code helm
will be addressed soon,  as I've almost gotten their update finished.

Anadia:
Size B Earth body,  12 hour day.

        Most of what has been previously written about Anadia (in the
Realmspace accessory) is correct.  It is a small planet,  dominated by the
equatorial deserts which compose over 70% of the planets surface.  These
harsh,  rocky deserts are home to umber hulks,  Anadjiin,  Plainsjan(see
Realmspace),  and other monstrous,  desert dwelling creatures (no Dragons
have ever been reported).  The deserts are devoid of signs of habitation
except for a few crashed spelljammers and the remains of a Neogi Umber Hulk
"farm".
        The poles are entirely different,  here the temperature cools to
tolerable (70 degrees on the average) and the terrain becomes pleasant,
gently rolling hills surrounding large,  fresh water lakes (the largest of
these lakes approach the size of the Great Lakes in the States).  The
actual poles themselves are small mountains which are continually in a mist
from the near constant rain over them.  Rain is _very_ rare elsewhere in
the Polarates,  water is distributed via a stream and river network..  Wind
and lightening storms are uncommon,  but they do occur.  The wildlife here
is very terrestrial,  common pasture land creatures.  There were no native
equines,  but ponies and donkeys were introduced a century ago and are now
widespread.  The only ruminants are a type of small cow (a Brahman bull in
miniature,  about 4 feet at the soldier).  Anadian halflings are the
dominant race at both poles.  These halflings have dark,  nearly black
skin,  dark hair,  dark eyes,  and lack infravision.  They speak their own
language "Anadian",  despite previous reports "Anadian" is not related to
common,  but many Anadian halflings do speak common.  The Anadians of the
North worship the traditional halfling dieties,  in the south these are
honored mostly in the breech.
        In the south,  the halfling culture as disintegrated into a series
of clan wars.  These clans are fiercely loyal to their members,  but
unwilling to compromise with the other clans surrounding them.  Outsider
tends to be viewed in terms of their effect on this warfare as potential
allies,  mercenaries,  or victims.  The inter-clan warfare has begun to
take a more deadly turn as various Spelljammer factions begin to meddle in
the turmoil.  Many Southern Polarate halflings have begun to appear on
spelljamming vessels as fierce,  clannish mercanaries.  They seldom hire
out as individuals,  instead whole clans seem to emigrate into space
attempting to escape the constant warfare on their home world.  These tend
to be the smaller clans,  numbering usually from 20-200 adults warriors.
Females are _never_ permitted to fight within Southern polarate society,
they are considered too valuable as breeders.  Southern Polarate halfling
mercanaries use their traditional weapons; daggers and Anadian Flintlocks.
They usually wear leather armor.
        The Northern Polarate is the south's polar opposite socially as
well as geographically.  Traditional,  democratic halfling counties are the
norm here,  they exist under a central government known as the Counties of
North Anadia (usually simply "North Anadia" or "Anadia".  The current
leader of this nation is Govenor Fjord Deepskull (LG 1/2 m F0),  a wise
politician who as served for the past 70 years.  This is quite a feat
considering that he must run for reelection every five years.  Fjord was
instrumental in debunking the old spacer myths about Anadian "idiot"
reservations for non-halflings.  There few non-halflings in North Anadia
because everything is built halfling size,  larger races consider it
uncomfortable and seldom stay long ( a few non-halfling hermits live in
their own houses in the countryside-their reticence in speaking with
visitors is what caused the idiot reservation rumors).
        North Anadia is one of those groundling nations with an active
interest in spelljamming.  Lacking any terrestrial neighbors (the
equatorial deserts prevent direct,  land contact with the southern
polarate) the nation has been free to turn their considerable resources to
expansion into wildspace.  This has been driven by two goals-establishing
colonies (the polarates are small and the halflings will run out of room in
a few generations) and defending trade.  North Anadian swanships are a
common sight throughout Realmspace as they journey to and fro delivering
goods and collecting fees.  Anadia itself has two main export
items-smokepowder and crispyleaf.  Anadian halflings make a smokepowder
substitute from a plant native to their planet called "powderpuff",  there
are many large powderpuff plantations on both poles.  Because the plant is
poisonous until dried this naturally occurring smokepowder substance sells
for only slightly less the alchemical smokepowder.  It can be bulk
produced,  however,  and provides the primary weapon for the Anadian
halflings (the planet is very poor in metals).  Most of the smokepowder
used in Realmspace is actually made on Anadia. All attempts to transplant
this plant to other planets have failed.  The other export,  crispyleaf,
allows one to temporarily go without food when the leaves are eaten.  This
plant remains good indefinitely and uses up very little space.  It is often
purchased and stored as emergency rations aboard spelljammers (prolonged
use of the plant causes malnutrition,  if one eats only crispyleaf for a
weak a system shock roll must be made to avoid death).
        The military of North Anadia is focused on two threats-monsters
from the deserts and raiding spelljammers.  Typical halfling warbands
defend against the monsters,  but every town in North Anadia is protected
by several heavy ballistas with high fire arcs for use against
spelljammers.  In addition,  the North Anadian fleet patrols space just
above North Anadia,  as well as scouring the spacelanes for trade threats.
This navy consists of 30 shrikeships and 5 swanships, they use Major helms
and their heavy catapults often use "smokepowder bolts"(see below).  These
craft patrol above North Anadia,  and throughout the sphere attacking
pirates and neogi.  The crews should all be considered to have the Corsair
kit and they are helmed by priests of Arvoreen.  The navy is commanded by
Admiral Merridoc (LG 1/2 m Pr9 (Arvoreen)),  who often leads large patrols
personally.
        North Anadia currently has a defensive and trade alliance with the
Torilian realm of Luirien.  Admiral Icarus of the Imperial Elven fleet has
sent envoys who are negotiating an alliance between the elves and North
Anadia as well.
        North Anadian merchants typically use Swanships,  most swanships
within the sphere are in fact North Anadian.  North Anadian merchants tend
to be warriors,  not rogues,  and use the Merchant kit from the CSHB.
Those North Anadian rogues who are merchants use this kit as well.  There
are several major trading companies,  the Powderpuff Emporium and the
Crispyleaf coster being the two largest.  Both will be detailed in the
upcoming update on the merchant companies of Realmspace.

_Anadian Weapons_
Anadian halflings of both poles use several unique weapons.  They have a
fairly advanced society,  but exist on a planet with very little metal.  In
addition they have a natural smokepowder so weapons have evolved somewhat
differently here.  Daggers,  spears,  and slings are all common weapons on
Anadia,  as well as the following:

Anadian Flintlock
Range: 5/17/20
ROF:1
Damage:1d6 (roll and additional die if a six is rolled,  ad infinitum)
Weapon speed:12
Size:medium
Type: piercing
Misfire on a 1 (1d3 damage)
        Anadian Flintlocks are typical primitive firearms,  except that
their barrels are hardened leather stiffened with wood.  The trigger
mechanism is the only metal component of the weapon. Anadian halflings also
use Starwheel pistols,  but their stats are the same as the metal barreled
starwheels.  Anadian halflings get their racial +3 when using firearms as
well as for bows and slings.

Smokepowder bolt
These heavy crossbow bolts use a plunging head to make a spark and ignite
the 20 charges of smokepowder contained within their bulbous heads.  This
does 10d6 points of damage to personnel,  and 1-10 hull points to the ship
(causes an explosion in the flow as well).  These weapons are used often by
the North Anadian fleet.

Notes:
The above contains TSR trademarked material,  as well as paraphrased
copyrighted material.  This use should not be construed as a challenge to
that status.
_Bibliography_
War Captain's Companion: Book 1
War Captain's Companion: Book 3
Books 2, 3 and 4 of the Cloakmaster cycle
Goblin's Return
Lost Ships
Realmsspace
Forgotten Realms Boxed set
Spacefarer's Handbook
Spelljammer Boxed set

"We look on the same stars,  the sky is common,  the same world surrounds
us.  What difference does it make by what pains each seeks the truth?  We
can not attain to so great a secret by one road..."
Symmachus,  "Memorial on the Occasion of the Removal of the Altar of
Victory from the Senate House" (392 AD)

westermeyer.3@???.edu
Paul William Westermeyer