Stargazer Orbital Outpost

Designed and built at the height of the Age of the Varn, Stargazer was a global effort towards a better understanding of the cosmos led by Varnian Mechanics. Its ultimate goal was to serve as a jumping point for further space exploration.

Purpose / Function

The Varn believed that exploration of the cosmos would greatly benefit the people of Erdos. Not only would this lend further credence to the knowledge of other worlds and universes the Varn had shared with the Erdosians, it would also give better perspective to the civilizations of the Lands. In addition, the Varn hoped that spacefaring Erdosians would be able to export their ideals and the Prime Discipline to other worlds.
However, with the Planar Seal active, ordinary planeshifting was not possible and while the Soldos System—that planet Erdos was a part of—was within Wildspace, Erdos itself was not. Thus, the development of starships was deemed a necessity. These starships had to be capable of reaching the wildspace region of the system, and from there exit the heliosphere of Soldos to slip into the astral sea.
This would be a monumental task that would probably take a few centuries to complete. Stargazer was an important stepping stone towards its realization. Magicians onboard the station would further study the astrophysics of normal space, design better, faster starships, and chart a course towards wildspace.

Architecture

Stargazer is composed of several modules, each made by a different country of ancient Erdos. Each module (except for the Cupola and Zvezda) is a 50-feet diameter sphere that contains an extradimensional space making it effectively much bigger on the inside. Unfortunately, most of the modules have been destroyed, including Harmony, where a magifactory was held.
The remaining modules are:

Unity

The central module. It holds a single Class IV magicant engine, the only one of its kind, ready to power the station. The Class IV not only uses magicant, but can also absorb vast amounts of latent, inert magis from outer space.

Cupola

Meaning ‘dome’, the Cupola module was designed by ancient Eranhein. It is the station’s observation deck, and holds Stargazer’s remaining portal. Unlike the other modules, its size is real, there is no extradimensional space.

Destiny

Destiny holds the various crews quarters.

Thénaesu

Meaning ‘science’ in Draenish, this module was used to hold a biosphere and assist in life support. By far the largest of the modules internally, it still holds a small wooded area over a thousand years later.

Zvezda

Which means ‘star’ in Dwarvish, this module is also without an extradimensional space. It serves as the Stargazer’s single remaining bay area.

History

Stargazer’s construction began in 80BF and was completed by 14BF. Unfortunately, the War of the Varn broke out merely three years later, putting an end to the station’s peace-time mission.
During the War, both factions claimed ownership at one time or another. The last to operate it were Ovi’s forces. It was believed to be destroyed however, until the The Fatebreakers discovered a sigil sequence that led to the orbital station’s primary portal in 1736 AV.
The adventurers turned Stargazer into their base of operations in their fight against the Black Sun  and the Aboleth Empire. 
When the Fatebreakers sacrificed themselves to save the world, the last surving Fatebreaker, Dalek Modron, remained behind as the steward of the orbital outpost, hoping that Erdosians will once again be ready to take to the stars.

by Yoji Shinkawa

Founding Date

14 BF

Type

Orbital, Outpost

Parent Location

Soldos System

Owner

Dalek Modron

Owning Organization

The Fatebreakers