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A Starfly is a spacefaring plant from the Spelljammer campaign setting.[1]

Overview[]

What is referred to as a "starfly" is actually the mobile fruit of a spacefaring tree that grows to maturity rooted in the ice and dirt of a comet. Known as a "mother-tree", it produces winged fruit that drift through space in search of new comets to seed. Spacefarers consider the starfly an omen of good luck, since it not only provides sustenance but also symbolizes wealth and happiness.[1]

Description[]

A starfly is a colorful butterfly-shaped plant with gossamer wings that drifts slowly through wildspace.[1]

Uses[]

  • The starfly is considered delicious by most spelljammer crews. The gossamer wings of the starfly trap sunlight, converting it into sugary food for the seed nestled within. However, the warty, almond-shaped seed contains foul-tasting chemicals poisonous to living creatures, similar to a peach pit.[1]
  • The starfly's shape resembles that of elven spelljammers, leading scholars to speculate that the elves took these plants and altered them in some way. What the elves did was enchant them to grow to maturity while mobile, and adapted the resulting plant to create various elven ships and other forms of transportation, including gadabouts, flitters, men-o-war and armadas. In truth, the starfly is the mainstay of the Elven Imperial Fleet, since it is so mutable and easily changed.[1]

Ecology[]

The "mother-tree" is the mature form of the starfly plant. Once a starfly fruit has landed on a comet, the seed takes root and begins to absorb the cometary ice and minerals. The sapling grows wing-like leaves that take in sunlight, and after some time develops a bulb to store water. At this stage, the leaves become reflective, focusing sunlight on the bulb and heating the water within. The resulting steam jets out of the bulb nozzles, pushing the comet closer to the sun. Once the tree is close enough, the leaves fall away, and the second stage in its life-cycle begins.

In this phase, the tree absorbs the comet's remaining minerals, and by the time it has depleted them all, is large enough to generate its own gravity plane and maintain an atmospheric envelope. As the tree matures, its gravity plane attracts rocks and debris which supply additional materials for the tree's organic furnace, further aiding its growth. When the tree has reached about 1,000-feet in length, the smelting pods wither, giving off gases that add air to its atmosphere.

As the mother-tree matures, it grows dense clusters of leaves that form a habitat for animals and other plants, until it forms a fully functioning ecology. Thc tree's gravity may pull in other rocky bodies, supporting further growth and eventually creating a liveworld.[1]

Rumors[]

According to rumor, elven mages have mounted specialized helms into mother-trees for use as spelljammers. Furthermore, the suggestion is that the giant trees will succeed the armadas as the mainstays of the elven space fleet. Although the rumor remains unproven, rival fleet's would pay a great deal to anyone who can confirm it.[1]

Appendix[]

External Links[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Newton Ewell, MC9 Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Starfly Plant entry
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