Coliar

Overview

Coliar is an enormous spherical gas giant, whose upper atmosphere is shrouded within a 100-mile (160 kilometres) thick layer of clouds, which completely obscures the interior of the planet. Below this thick envelope is nothing more than a swirling mass of air with thousands of floating land masses, referred to as islands. Most of these islands are roughly pyramidal in shape, resembling inverted mountain peaks, although there are a few planar (relatively flat) masses that are several yards thick, indicating that there is some variety in the shapes of the islands.

Because of its close proximity to the sun, the planet is quite warm, averaging in temperature around 75°F (24°C) except at the poles, where it can reach as low as 40 °F (4°C) during winter. Every 30 hours or so, the land masses revolve around the central gravitational point of the planet, which effectively creates day and night for the islands’ inhabitants. Each land mass floats in its' own orbit, between 50 miles (80 kilometres) and 30,000 miles (48 thousand kilometres) from the planet’s center. This phenomenon causes several “eclipses” every day for most of the islands, as higher ones pass before the Sun and cast their shadows on to the islands directly below them.

The islands range in size from a mere 5 feet (1.5 meters) in diameter to well over 20 miles (32 kilometres) on a side. Each of these land masses is unique, which makes it somewhat easier for spelljammers to find a specific location. Often inhabitants will give directions that refer to the specific shapes of the floating islands and their positions relative to other oddly-shaped land masses.

The islands all have rivers, lakes, hills, grass, trees, caverns, and every other naturally occurring feature found on other planets. A very few of the uppermost islands have extremely tall structures built on them that pierce through the dense cloud cover of the planet, allowing them to be seen from wildspace. These structures serve as docks for spelljamming vessels, and are used by traders, mercenaries and other spacefarers to contact and trade with the inhabitants on Coliar.

At the geometric center of the planet lies a very large island. This land mass is home to perhaps the single greatest draconic terror to have ever roamed the known spheres. Synonymous with fear and destruction, his name in the common tongue is Firebrand Flametongue. Every living creature on this world knows to stay away from this island, for Firebrand has taken great care to ensure his continued seclusion. Large wooden signs on all four corners of his territory clearly state, "All ye who enter find naught but darkness.” Only two creatures are allowed to approach his island: the air dragon Jarfange Buffeter, and the human archmage Elminster of Shadowdale.

Inhabitants

Coliar is inhabited primarily by avian and reptilian lifeforms. Currently the planet is dominated by three independent civilizations; that of the aarakocra, the lizardfolk, and the dragons of Coliar. Most of the islands of Coliar are uninhabited or uncharted. However, those that are inhabited are roughly evenly distributed between all three cultures. Due to the periodic rain that falls on Coliar, lightning storms usually strike the upper islands, For this reason the aarakocra prefer to live on the lower islands, while the lizardfolk, who have no inherent fear of lightning, tend to inhabit the upper islands.

The Lizardfolk

The lizardfolk of Coliar have benefited from their relative closeness to the Sun and the warmth of their homeworld. They believe that if their eggs are allowed to develop in close proximity to the sun, their offspring will have naturally superior attributes. They have established a relatively primitive socialist government, where everyone has a say in the running of their civilization, but at the same time, no individual may accumulate greater wealth than anyone else. All resources are evenly distributed among everyone, thus ensuring that no lizard man is dominated by another. The lizard men are able to move between their various outposts by travelling on the winds using large gliders.

The Aarakocra

The aarakocra have established a democratic government, which they feel is most beneficial to their people. However, the aarakocra have voted only females into government office for the last 1,200 years, believing them to be more stable, since male aarakocra are prone to flying into fits of rage whenever they feel wronged. There are currently 100 separate aarakocra governments on Coliar, and all important posts are filled by females.

The Dragons

The dragon communities on Coliar are surprisingly peaceful among their own kind. There has not been a major dragon war during Coliar’s entire recorded history, though there have been skirmishes on occasion between rogue dragons and the rest of the population. The dragons are mostly neutral in outlook, and are only interested in benefiting their individual family units. On occasion, a rogue dragon will terrorize the lizard men and aarakocra communities. Luckily, these occurrences are few and far between, and these rogues are usually eliminated by the other dragons.

The dragon’s maintain cordial relationships with the aarakocra and the lizardfolk communities on Coliar, since they find them both to be useful in some way. However, the dragons will, on occasion, side with one of them during their squabbles, tending to support the side from which they can gain the most wealth and power. Because they believe that maintaining a good relationship with these communities is important, the dragons will usually provide aid if either community is attacked by outsiders.

All of the standard dragon types can be found on Coliar, but their alignments tend to be more neutral in outlook than elsewhere. This has fostered a completely unique relationship among the dragons on this planet, who tend to work together to guarantee their mutual wealth. The younger dragons even care for the needs of the elder dragons. The older dragons are sought after for their insight and wisdom, and are the cornerstone of every family unit.

Dragons on Coliar are known to live twice as long as their kin on other planets. Once a Coliar dragon has surpassed the great wyrm stage of life, which is usually about 1,400 years, their bodies become fragile and decrepit. At that point, an elder dragon gains the ability to mentally shape air, and will create a replacement body for itself. The elder dragon can choose to either use this body remotely to view its immediate surrounds (up to 15,000 miles [24,000 kilometres] from its still living body), or the dragon can choose to permanently place its consciousness within this construct, becoming an Air dragon. Once this choice has been made, it is irrevocable.

Trade

Tall wooden structures pierce the dense layer of clouds in various locations throughout Coliar, and can be clearly seen from wildspace. These structures serve as markers which, if carefully followed by descending spelljammers, lead to docking facilities hundreds of miles down. The aarakocra and lizard men have established about 50 such trading posts throughout the planet, and are generally peaceful and accommodating when dealing with off-world traders. However, Coliar has little in the way of natural resources to trade with.

The aarakocra predominantly trade in gems, which according to rumor dot their islands like sand. In return, the avian humanoids import weapons and smokepowder. The weapons are used against the lizard men who are constantly trying to expand their territory. The aarakocra, who are similarly attempting to extend their holdings at the expense of the lizardfolk, tend to couch their efforts in terms of a holy war, while decrying the hostile actions of their lizard men opponents as that of terrorists.

The lizard men, on the other hand, prefer to import spelljamming technology. They believe that if they place their eggs on these ships and fly them closer to the sun, their offspring will hatch with superior attributes – they often rent spelljamming ships from other races for the same reason. In exchange, the lizard men export aarakocra meat and feathers, gems, and water. They realize that clean air and water is extremely vital to spelljammers, so any time a ship docks in their airspace, an "air tax" of five gold pieces is imposed. Water may be abundant, but is still sold at a high price.

The dragons, who for the most part have no interest in space travel, have a standing agreement with both the lizard men and the aarakocra to allow them to use their spelljamming ships and docking facilities whenever they should need them. The dragons have no real interest in spelljammers, unless provoked. Dragons have been known to completely destroy ships which have attacked them (usually out of panic), but for the most part, they generally ignore or avoid these flying ships.

Elminster's Hideout

Within 100 miles (160 kilometres) of the center of the planet is a spherical globe made from a bright shiny metallic substance. The globe is free of any tarnish or corrosion, and tends to reflect all light striking it. Nearly 250 feet (76 meters) in diameter, the globe makes a deep and constant humming noise that could rattle the teeth loose of those who come too close. The globe slowly revolves around the island at the center of Coliar, while spinning around it own axis, causing a rainbow pattern of light to occasionally reflect off its surface, which appears almost solid.

This perfect sphere serves as a hideout for the famous archmage, Elminster of Toril, who originally established the structure to keep an eye on his old foe, the dragon Firebrand Flametongue.

Appendix

See Also

• Alekra Donakkis, aarakocra matriarch of the Donakkis family.
• Arisai Heliwing, a powerful and ruthless aarakocra merchant.
• Schlith Darkscale, lizard man director of spelljamming services and expert on spelljamming.

External Links

• Coliar article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.

References

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