Tears of Selûne

The Tears of Selûne is an asteroid cluster that trails behind the moon Selûne as it orbits the planet Toril in the crystal sphere known as Realmspace. This asteroid cluster is visible from the surface of the planet below, resembling a cloud of luminous shards.

Overview

The Tears of Selûne is a cluster of asteroids which follow the moon Selûne in its orbit around Toril. Within the Tears are hundreds of asteroids which slowly orbit around one another. Most of the asteroids are too small to maintain an atmosphere; however, there are several dozen asteroids which do have an air envelope and are quite capable of supporting life. Several settlements have been established on these asteroids by various civilizations or groups, including various human nations, beholder factions, elven outposts and other spacefaring races.

History

Over 4,000 years ago, an astronomer from Shou Lung, named Tu Pi Chei, reported seeing many objects 'pop' into existence in the skies above. Soon, all of Toril's oceans were wracked by massive tidal waves. The Emperor was informed and the next night he too looked at the sky and saw the new objects. Twenty astrologers were tasked with determining their meaning. Most said that Shou Lung would expand inland, some said that a member of the emperor's family would soon die, one claimed that the emperor himself would become pregnant (the latter was of course later put to death). Shou Lung did indeed expand inland soon after and is now one of the largest countries on Toril. The emperors wife also died in childbirth later that year.

The elves of Evermeet took it as a sign that the gods were pleased with their magical research and view the Tears with pride, while the goblinoids believed they were part of a plot by human mages to bathe the night in moonlight. They feared that the night sky would soon be filled with moons thus eliminating their precious darkness. Many have set out to kill as many humans and elves as they could for just this reason.

The truth however, is that the Tears are the result of a magic-fueled weapon created by dragonkind to destroy the King-Killer Star, but when the weapon was fired, it missed and struck Selûne a glancing blow instead, creating the cluster of asteroids

Locations of Interest

Many of the inhabited asteroids are home to various settlements which allow ships to dock or conduct trade. Others have been set up as bases of operation, or whatever the need of their owners may be.

Dragon Rock

The most active of all the Tears, Dragon Rock lies on the edge of the asteroid cluster. Its ten mile surface is dedicated to trade, and a single silver piece allows trade in up to a ton of goods at one of the asteroids' hundreds of docks. Should a trader not wish to stick around, the cargo can be left with one of the twelve very trustworthy owners where it will be sold on commission.

The Cave

Near the center of the Tears is a small rock covered in blue-green grass-like plants. An opening in the underside of the small asteroid leads to the lair of the infamous Batship as well as the unsold plunder accumulated by its pilot. More often than not, the pilot is aware of the presence of intruders nearby and will try to draw them away from the cave.

Journey's Legg

Journey’s Legg is a neogi stronghold. Nearly eight miles (13 kilometers) across, the rock is well fortified and is defended by no less than ten ships of various types. Neogi raids across Realmspace are all coordinated from this location, and all slaves that have been captured are sent to Journey’s Legg to be sold or to be processed for later use.

Eye of the Sky

The Eye of the Sky is a beholder hive two miles (3 kilometers) in diameter. There are several hundred beholders living within the asteroid's labyrinth of tunnels and caverns. No one has ever successfully led an attack against this asteroid.

The Citadel

The Citadel is a darven waystation which often serves as the first stop for dwarves leaving Toril's atmosphere for the first time. No other races are allowed to set foot on the Citadel unless they are accompanied by dwarves. This is where inexperienced dwarven travelers are informed of the dangers of space travel. All dwarves staying here must pay a fee of three gold pieces.

The Castle

In the geographic center of the Tears lies an unnamed castle built on an asteroid. It is beautifully constructed with magically lit spires that reach a hundred feet (30 meters) above the ground. The grounds themselves are covered in long green grass and constantly blooming bushes. An overturned magical chalice constantly pours water which flows out of the citadel's doors and eventually out into wildspace. The asteroid is populated by ravens (who are unable to escape the air envelope) and brown puddings which prey on the ravens. No sentient being would want to live here once they discover that the puddings are extremely difficult to dislodge when not hungry, making complete eradication of them near-impossible.

Elmonitae

Elmonitae had once been a neogi stronghold, until they were defeated by the Tsunami Storm of Honour, under the command of Daimyo Akahu Nagasa, who rescued nearly 100 captives. Forty of the captives were Wa citizens, while the remaining captives were elven. Daimyo Nagase handed the elves over to the elven Armada Wings of Glory, leading to five years of peace between the elven fleets of Realmspace and Wa.

Isidore’s Isle

Isidore’s Isle is a hollow asteroid frequently used by neogi or pirates to conceal their ship, which can then easily ambush vessels passing by in the vicinity. The Isle is located 90 miles (145 kilometers) spinward from Journey’s Legg.

Gaspar Reclamations

Gaspar Reclamations is a fairly young organization led by an immensely fat mage named Gaspar. It specializes in the location and recovery of magical items and artifacts. Gaspar Reclamations has a major outpost on the Rock of Bral, but maintains its headquarters, as well as the home of Gaspar himself, within the Tears of Selûne.

Stardock

Stardock was originally established as an asteroid outpost by the mind flayers of Glyth. However, agents of the Twisted Rune, a secret society of undead spellcasters, discovered the existence of the outpost and conquered the entire asteroid base in a lightning fast raid. Senior members of the Twisted Rune set in motion a plan to kidnap Halaster Blackcloak by creating a magical Rift that led from Stardock to the Undermountain dungeon complex.

Appendix

See also

• Burnayette Skyansdanya, the pilot of the terrifying marauder known as the Batship.
• Brassons, a neogi who owned and operated the Ocean's Wake bar and restaurant located on Dragon Rock.
• Gaspar, the owner of Gaspar Reclamations which had its headquarters somewhere in the Tears of Selûne.
• The Gauntlet, a freelance group of adventurers who had taken it upon themselves to patrol the Tears of Selûne.

External Links

• Tears of Selûne article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.

References

Connections