Siberspace: The Arbiter and the Aegis (Patreon)

We've now established two members of the Dragonhawk crew. The Captain is the Frog Prince, and our Magister is Lady Wrey ir'Wynarn—and by the narrowest of margins, she's an expert Diviner determined to unlock the mysteries of the Realm Above. 

I want to run the first adventure this month, and that means we've got to work double-time filling out our crew—so today we're filling TWO positions. We know them as the Arbiter and the Aegis, but in practical terms they're the ship's engineer and the security officer. I discuss and refine these character concepts on the Threshold Discord channel, so if you want to be part of that conversation, join in! 

The Arbiter of the Heart has a direct bond to the ship and to its attendant fey. They maintain its core systems (with assistance from the Magister), as well as maintaining its driving story—a task that requires them to be bold and inquisitive, as that’s the story of Dragonhawk! The Arbiter is also a mediator who helps resolve disputes between crewmembers, as well as being a capable diplomat should alien cultures be encountered. Essentially, the Arbiter is a warlock whose patron is the ship itself, but there's various ways we can express that idea. 

• Archfey Warlock is the simplest approach and most direct approach.
• Celestial Warlock reflects the idea that the heart of Dragonhawk is a force of radiant energy, and gives our Arbiter the ability to heal. 
• Aberrant Mind Sorcerer reflects the idea that the Arbiter has a telepathic bond to the ship and can connect to other minds as well. Again, despite the name, this character draws their power from their connection to the Fey spirit of the Dragonhawk; there is nothing actually "aberrant" about them.  

The next question is the species and background of the Arbiter. Here's our options. 

• The Experiment. The Arbiter is a magebred fey, secretly created by House Vadalis and the Arcane Congress in an attempt to create ambassadors for Thelanis. While they have the abilities of a fairy, their ancestors are human. They have bonded with the ship and the experiment appears to be a success. But what exactly are they? Where do they belong, and who do they belong with? Do they feel any loyalty to Vadalis, and is the house hoping to manipulate them? Perhaps they will find the answer on the journey. (“fairy”, House Agent)
• The Extension. The Arbiter was created along with the ship; they are a unique construct with the abilities of an autognome. They’re cheerful and excited to face the unknown. Of course, as they were created with the ship itself, they have yet to have many practical experiences. They have knowledge of the war and enemy nations, and they were built to understand people and to settle disputes. They know what a dance is, and may know fifty Thelanian dances; they've just never actually had the opportunity to dance. (Feylost Autognome)
• The Fixer. A folk hero among the common folk of Aundair, the Fixer has no noble blood and never attended Arcanix. From childhood, they learned how to bargain with the fey—not just the Archfey, but the lesser fey who can play a valuable role in the lives of commoners. The Fixer helped people settle disputes with angry river fey, and showed people how to win the favor of a house spirit. The Fixer has a good relationship with the Mother of Invention, and when the Dragonhawk Initiative was having trouble getting things off the ground, she sent the Fixer their way. The Fixer takes pride in being a self-made success, and will always looking for ways that the discoveries of the Dragonhawk can benefit the common people. (Khoravar or Human Folk Hero)

But wait, there's more! The Knight Aegis of the Stella Arcana is charged to defend the crew of Wayfinder against all threats. The most physically powerful member of the crew, they are expected to interpose themselves between the researchers and any danger. Here are the class options...

• Eldritch Knight Fighter, an elite soldier
• Crown Oath Paladin, a devoted defender
• Wild Magic Barbarian, charged with unpredictable power. 

The flavor of these classes will vary dramatically based on their species and backgrounds. 

• The Royal Eye is an elite servant of the Crown, who served with distinction during the war. Eldritch Knight would reflect military service; Paladin would blend their devotion to their nation with the blessing of Aureon; and for them, the abilities of the Barbarian would be tied to a Vadalis magebreeding program with highly unpredictable effects. The Royal Eye may have orders to protect Lady ir'Wynarn above all else—orders they may not particularly approve of.(Human Soldier)
• The Moonwalker is a shifter who has always felt the influence of the moons, much like a Moonspeaker druid. They were born in the Towering Wood, but the Moons guided them to Aundair and the Dragonhawk Initiative, and Magister ir'Wynarn was intrigued and requested they be assigned to Dragonhawk. Their talents are tied to the moons; they hope that through their actions they can strengthen ties between Aundair and the Eldeen Reaches. (Shifter Outlander)
• The Fey Champion is an emissary from Thelanis, assigned by an Archfey to cement their alliance with the Initiative. Their patron will depend on their class; they could be tied to the Forge Maiden (Eldritch Knight), the Harvest Monarch (Paladin), or Lady Perilous (Barbarian). They're sworn to defend the crew and their word is their bond, but they may find the limitations of the mortal world to be frustrating. (Feylost Eladrin). 

In other news, I'm surprised by the lack of environmental hazards in Spelljammer: Adventures in Space... to me, part of the genre is dealing with the unexpected challenges of black holes, ion storms, nebulae, etc. I'll be creating such things for the campaign, and I'll share what I come up with as a Patron exclusive article later this month. As always, thanks for your support!