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The sun of Realmspace, rarely also called Sol,[2] and Lizu Sapa in the Kukalatu language of the Malatran Plateau,[5] was an enormous sphere of fire at the center of that crystal sphere, and the source of light and heat of the eight planets circling around it. In fact, the sun was so hot that any closer inspection was impossible for creatures not naturally immune to fire, even if magical aid was employed.[1]

Features[]

The sun's surface was made up of varying areas of molten earth and fluid flame, a distinction which only was useful for its fire-loving inhabitants. Some areas called sunspots were somewhat cooler than their surroundings and could be recognized by their darker color. At other places, pillars and loops of flame could violently spurt outward from the sun's surface for millions of miles.[1]

The surface also featured hundreds of portals to the Elemental Plane of Fire, allowing access to the natives of that place.[1]

Another dreaded feature could be found 40 million miles (64 million km) away from the sun: like balls on the spokes of a wheel, twelve spherical dead-magic zones with a diameter of 100,000 miles (160,000 km) each orbited Realmspace's central body. They were called the sargassos and were feared by every spelljammer crew, which depended on magic for movement after all.[1]

Inhabitants[]

The sun was inhabited by many creatures originally native to the Elemental Plane of Fire: efreet, fire elementals, firenewts, fire minions, helians, lavaworms, and salamanders had been recognized. It has also been surmised that inhabitants of other fiery places on the planes made their home there.[1]

Only a few attempts by the sun's denizens to leave their home have been registered, but any spelljamming ship that got close to the sun was violently attacked by them, especially the helians.[1]

History[]

The wildspace of the Realmspace crystal sphere was unusually warm compared to others. This led sages to speculate that the sun and Realmspace itself were the oldest among the generally known crystal spheres.[1]

It was believed by sages and priests that the sun was created when the goddess Chauntea begged for a source of warmth, so that she could sustain the life flowering on Toril. The goddess Selûne ignited one of the heavenly bodies floating in Realmspace with pure flame from the Elemental Plane of Fire, creating the sun. This act started the enmity between Selûne and Shar that had lasted ever since.[6]

According to old sarrukh legends and Abeiran traditions, during the cosmic cataclysm known as the Dawn War, the primordial known as Dendar the Night Serpent devoured the sun, starting the time period known as the Shadow Epoch. It was believed that a new sun was created to support life after the war was over.[7]

Portfolio[]

Among the deities, Amaunator took responsibility for the sun within the Faerûnian pantheon;[8] first Re and then Horus-Re in the Mulhorandi pantheon;[9][10] and Utu within the Untheric pantheon.[11][12] In the Maztican pantheon, the sun lay in the domain of Tezca.[13] In Kara-Tur, it was believed that the Moon Women of the Celestial Bureaucracy were responsible for refilling the great oil lamps that made the Sun shine,[14] while there was also a Spirit of the Sun among the many deities of Wa.[15] Among the giant gods, Stronmaus had the sun within his portfolio.[16] Within the Church of Kossuth, the sun was considered an avatar of Kossuth known as the Great Sky Fire, and its rise was observed in temples like the Flaming Brazier as a daily assault upon Akadi.[17]

Reputation[]

Among creatures of the dark, such as orcs, the sun was referred to as "the Burning Face."[18]

Trivia[]

  • A golden sun on a chalice or a circlet was the symbol of the deity Siamorphe.[19]
  • The sun was depicted on one of the cards usually contained within a deck of many things. It granted the person drawing it insight as well as a random wondrous item.[20]

Appendix[]

External Links[]

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.

References[]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Dale "slade" Henson (April 1991). Realmspace. Edited by Gary L. Thomas, Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc), pp. 5–6. ISBN 1-56076-052-4.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Lorebook of the Void”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 93. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  3. Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Concordance of Arcane Space”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 34. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  4. Dale "slade" Henson (April 1991). Realmspace. Edited by Gary L. Thomas, Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc), pp. 84–85. ISBN 1-56076-052-4.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Steve Null (July 1997). Sharp Teeth, Mostly Tasty (PDF). Living Jungle (RPGA), p. 6.
  6. Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 260. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  7. Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 42. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  8. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 27. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  9. Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 94–95, 109. ISBN 978-0786906574.
  10. Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 86. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
  11. Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 95. ISBN 978-0786906574.
  12. Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 63. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
  13. Douglas Niles (August 1991). “Gods & Battles”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 28. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
  14. Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume I). (TSR, Inc), p. 25. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
  15. Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume II). (TSR, Inc), p. 184. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
  16. Ray Winninger (September 1995). Giantcraft. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 47. ISBN 0-7869-0163-2.
  17. Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 150. ISBN 978-0786906574.
  18. Victor Milán (October 1995). War in Tethyr. (TSR, Inc), p. 131. ISBN 0-7869-0184-5.
  19. Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 58. ISBN 978-0786906574.
  20. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 162, 164. ISBN 978-0786965622.

Connections[]

The SunThe SunAnadiaAnadiaColiarColiarTorilTorilKarpriKarpriChandosChandosGlythGlythGardenGardenH'CathaH'CathaRealmspace-2e-crop
The sunAnadiaColiarToril/Abeir (SelûneTears of Selûne)KarpriChandosGlythGardenH'Catha
Comets: K'ThoutekKing-Killer Star
Nebulae: Galleon NebulaColor Spray Nebula
Far Realm-infested stars: AcamarCaiphonDelbanGibbethHadarKhiradNihalZhudun
Other astronomical bodies: Caer WindlauerSkull of the VoidSargassos
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