The Vacuum of Space
Space, the final frontier. The immense expanse between stars contains planets, space stations, hazards, and treasures beyond imagination.
The void of space is has no atmosphere and lacks substance, and this vacuum is perhaps the greatest danger of outer space. Sound does not travel in a vacuum; as there is no medium for the sound waves to move through. A creature exposed to a vacuum immediately begins to suffocate and takes 1d6 force damage per round.
Decompression occurs when a creature suddenly transitions from a pressurized environment to a vacuum, such as by being flung out of an airlock or being inside a sealed structure that becomes heavily damaged. Such a creature takes 3d6 force damage and on subsequent turns is subject to exposure to the vacuum.
Astronomical Objects
Objects in space are classified into general categories, and most life in the galaxy is lived on such objects.
Asteroid
Asteroids are shattered fragments of rock or similar matter. Asteroids are generally too small and lack the gravitational pull to be considered true planets. Generally, asteroids are just chunks of rock with no atmosphere exposed to the vacuum of space. However, while many are devoid of ecosystems, they are generally rich in minerals and other resources that result in many mining operations being operated from them.
Gas Giant
Apptly named, gas giants are composed of gases and dust. Such planets usually have extreme atmospheric storms and air currents. Their cores are highly pressurized and super heated and consist of liquid or solid metals. Objects caught a gas giant's gravity could take days to fall towards its center. Gravity and temperature increase as you get closer and the core acts in many ways like
Stars, including destroying creatures that dont have full immunity to fire.
Irregular World
While most objects in space are generally spherical composed of gases or rocks and metals, space fairers have encountered oddities defying natural explanation. Some are gargantuan structures created by a vast civilization. Others may be odd shapes or two dimensional surfaces floating in space. These worlds are very rare and show up when least expected.
Satellite
A satellite is simply an object that orbits a planetoid. The most well known form of satellites are moons, small planetoids around a larger planetoid.
The term satellite as a classification can apply to asteroids and terrestrial worlds as they can often be satellites orbiting a larger body. Unlike other astronomical objects, satellites are often artifical objects. Markers, communication boosters, defense nets, space stations are all examples of artifical satellites that are settled in a planetoid's gravitational field.
Star
At the heart of planetary systems are the life giving objects and reason these systems exist. Stars, and sometimes multiple stars per system, are massive balls of incandescent plasma that provide their orbiting satellites with light and heat.
Stars range in size and heat and are often classified by color and size, such as blue dwarfs and yellow hypergiants. No matter how they are classified, all stars are hot enough to pose deadly risk to adventurers. The surface of stars will incinerate and destroy on a molecular level anything that is not fully immune to fire damage.
Solar Flares: An additional phenomenon of stars are solar flares. These are intense bursts of plasma and energy that produce striking visual streams of plasma that pose significant danger to adventurers. The immeidate risk is the intense plasma, fire, and eletrical damage to anything caught in its path. The residual risk is the harm such turbulent outbursts have on unshielded technological devices that can be experienced millions of miles away from the star's surface. Devices impacted by solar flares cease to function for 6d6 x 10 minutes.
Terrestrial World
Terrestrial Worlds are what most people simply refer to as "planets". These astronomical objects are compsed of silicate and mineral components and are composed of solid cores and have a solid crust.
Terrestrial Worlds often host varied ecosystems ranging from barren wastelands, vibrant and lush jungles and forests, vast oceans, and rocky plateaus. In some cases, these biomes cover the suface of the entire planetoid and thus earn a sub classification for these planets: desert world, ice world, water world, lava world, forest world, etc. If such a Terrestrial World is also a satellite and a "moon", many times the "world" title would be changd to "moon".
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