Planetary Statistics

Size: Size F (10K-40K Miles)
Shape: Spherical
Type: Earth Body

Overview

The fifth planet is almost as deadly as Durgoth. The atmosphere is cold, over a hundred degrees below 0! In addition it's composed almost entirely of methane--with about 5% ammonia for flavor. The surface gravity is five times normal, and the atmospheric pressure is 36 times normal.

Baraduithin orbits at 3 AU from Saruthillion, about 280 million miles. It has no moons and nothing worth trying to extract. There are no life forms on this world, it's far too cold and the gravity is too strong. Not to mention the deadly atmosphere

Hazards

Let's see. Quintuple gravity, methane atmosphere (with ammonia chaser), 36 times normal atmospheric pressure, and a hundred degrees below 0. Enough said?

Oh, of course any spelljammer unlucky enough to try and refresh their air envelope is instant freeze-dried history. This happens more often than you might think because Baraduithin's air looks just like normal air.

History

Legend has it that this planet was named after a dwarven captain who was the first one to try and replenish his air envelope from this beautiful but deadly world. His air envelop instantly and completely fouled with methane, his helmsman overcome without warning, the ship plunged to its doom. Part of a small fleet his ghastly mistake was forever immortalized.

Magic Use

Same problems as with Durgoth, except you have to deal with numbing cold and the atmosphere's roughly half as dense.

Points Of Interest

Aloth and the Arcane maintain a beacon orbiting Baraduithin. Anyone approaching the the beacon immediately discovers it is shaped into an enormous skull and crossbones, the light blazing from eye sockets, nose, and mouth. The beacon is particularly noticeable because it rotates, making the beacon light flash.

At the base of the beacon, in most space faring languages, is a warning about the planet's poisonous atmosphere. There are also warnings about the other, deadlier worlds (like Durgoth).

Aloth considers the beacon's expense well justified, since newcomers can't trade if they're dead!