¶ Overall Data
¶ Size
Bodi's diameter at the equator is about 2,500 miles, giving it an equatorial circumference of approximately 7,855 miles. The planet rotates slightly more rapidly than standard, giving it a day of 18 hours.
¶ Satellites
Bodi is encircled at the equator by a flattened ring of dust and ice crystals. The ring begins about 1,000 miles above the surface, and is 300 miles wide. It is barely more than a mile thick, however, and so is virtually invisible when viewed edge-on. This means that, from the surface on the equator, the ring can't be seen. From other parts of the planet, however, it's visible both day and night as a white arc against the sky. The dust and ice particles are so thickly packed that, from any distance at all, the ring appears totally solid. Apart from creating a spectacular view, the ring has no effect on the planet. It does represent a hazard to spelljamming vessels, however.
¶ Geology
The composition of Bodi is standard: a solid crust surrounding a semi-molten mantle, with a core of liquid nickel-iron. Its magnetic field is about equivalent to that of Earth, but there is one difference: the magnetic axis is offset from the rotational axis of the planet by 15°. This can cause problems for compass-based navigation unless the navigator is aware of the offset. The planet is only slightly geologically active. Earthquakes are very rare, and very few of them are strong enough to cause damage. The last epoch of mountain-building was several million years ago, and the mountains have eroded considerably since then. Bodi is thus a world of smoothly rolling hills.
The planet's rotational axis is inclined at an angle of 15° to its orbital plane, which means that Bodi has regular seasons. Its magnetic axis is exactly perpendicular to the orbital plane.
¶ Continents
Since there are no oceans as such on Bodi, the entire planetary surface can be considered a single continent. There are two very large fresh-water lakes—more like inland seas, really. One, on the equator, is called Iruvene by the inhabitants of Bodi; the other, slightly smaller, is near the south pole, and is called Eradine.
¶ Climate and Weather
Bodi has a very clement climate, comfortable for virtually any humanoid race year-round. On the equator the temperature range is 65° (night) to 90° (day) in the summer and 40° to 75° in the winter. At the poles, the temperature range is 45° to 70° in the summer, and 35° to 50° in the winter. Bodi has no ice cap. Near the equator, humidity is very high—90% relative humidity and up—making summers very muggy. At the poles, relative humidity is nearer 30%—still not dry, but not muggy.
Rain is fairly common during spring and fall, less common during winter, and rare in summer. Snow is unheard of on Bodi. Winds are usually gentle, and very rarely reach gale force. Cloud cover is thin. In general, clouds only appear when there is precipitation, and even then coverage is almost never total.
¶ Apperance from Space
Bodi appears as an emerald-green sphere streaked with thin bands of clouds. There are very rarely weather systems large enough to be seen from space.
¶ Life Forms
¶ Flora
Bodi is a forest world. Its land surface is completely covered by forests of one type or another. Near the poles, where the temperature and humidity are relatively low, the forests are generally coniferous evergreens, similar to pines and firs. In middle latitudes, deciduous trees similar to oaks and maples are the rule. Near the equator, where it's hot and damp, great spreading deciduous trees form thick, fetid rain forests.
¶ Fauna
Bodi is a world blessed with a wide variety of animal life. Its ecosystem is as varied and complex as those of Krynn, Oerth and Toril. Every ecological niche is filled by at least one species of creature. Most of these niches are filled by creatures similar to standard terrestrial species, although there are often slight differences. For example, the scavenger niche is filled by six-legged rats that operate by hearing and smell rather than sight, and one of the more efficient airborne predators is actually an insectile creature the same size as an eagle, and with quite similar behavioral traits.
There are two creatures on Bodi that are found on few terrestrial worlds. The largest non-sentient airborne predator is a massive creature called the gyre, and the larger lakes are home to monstrous fish similar to giant pike.
Insect life flourishes on Bodi. Most insects are totally benign, except for a species of bloodsuckers—like terrestrial mosquitos—which live in the tropical rain forests. These deliver painful bites which raise itchy welts, but cause no significant physical damage. Some travellers in the tropics have reported seeing giant, stone-hard mounds that could only have been created by creatures similar to giant termites, but these claims haven't been confirmed. If there are such giant termites on Bodi, they must be very few in number.
Bodi is also home to a wide range of bacteria and other microorganisms. All native life is immune to these bugs, however, and they cause no diseases. Non-native life almost always (80% chance) contracts an irritating disease within the first 24 hours of landing on the planet, however. This disease causes inflamed glands, sore throats, continuous sweating, and fever chills that last for about 24 hours. After that time, the symptoms go away and never recur. The disease causes no lasting problems, and there have been no reported cases of fatalities. Normal clerical magic such as cure disease will immediately remove the symptoms.
¶ Sentient Life
¶ Green Dragons
There are three sentient races native to Bodi—although in one case, there is some dispute as to the term "native." Bodi is home to a large population of green dragons. These creatures are totally indistinguishable from their counterparts on other planets, and have the standard powers, characteristics and personalities as described in the Monstrous Manual. The whole planet is home to probably fewer than 3,000 of the creatures, so it's possible to totally avoid their attentions. The green dragons of Bodi speak only their own tongue; none understand or speak Common.
The green dragons know that spelljamming exists, but have no interest in it. Since a spelljamming vessel represents a potential rival for "air superiority," chances are good that the dragons will attack any low-altitude vessel on sight.
¶ Tasloi
The next sentient race are the tasloi. These sly and malicious humanoids frequent the steamy tropical rain forests, and hunt in the trees, killing and eating anything unfortunate enough to cross their path. The tasloi aren't particularly numerous. Research indicates that there are probably fewer than 20 tribal groups on the planet, each with 50 to 100 members. (Of course, it must be admitted that the margin of error in this estimate is very high.) Most tasloi speak only their own tongue, although there are some who speak a smattering of the green dragon tongue.
On the topic of spelljamming, the tasloi have no concept of its existence, and couldn't care less. Visitors from another world simply represent more food—food that isn't familiar with Bodi, and thus will probably be easier to catch.
¶ High Elves
Finally, there is a population of perhaps 2,000 high elves on Bodi, spread throughout the temperate regions. Although elves did not naturally arise on the planet, they have been here long enough—perhaps 20,000 years—to qualify as "native." Nobody—not even the elves themselves—knows how this population came to Bodi. Folktales recall that the elves "fell from the skies," which might imply that they're the descendants of survivors from a crashed spelljamming vessel. Over the millennia, however, these elves have "gone native." They have forgotten their origins, and the fact that they're part of a major race throughout the cosmos. Bodi is the only world they know, and hence makes up "the universe" for them. Their language has changed with time, and now they speak a highly modified form of elvish which is only 25% comprehensible to a speaker of modem elvish (and vice versa, of course). No elf on Bodi speaks any other language, including Common.
The Bodi elves are highly intelligent, and have a well-developed culture, similar to elvish civilizations on other terrestrial worlds. They are sadly lacking in magic, however. There seem to be fewer than 10 wizards on the entire planet, and none of them are highly skilled. Their selection of spells is greatly limited, and those spells that they do know differ greatly in verbal, somatic and material components from the standard versions (although the effects and other details are unchanged). This leads some sages to believe that the original survivors of the (putative) crash contained no spellcasters, and that the elves have had to redevelop the study of magic from scratch—an amazing achievement, even for creatures who live more than a millennium.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Bodi elves have no form of religion. This is taken by some as an indication that the original survivors didn't include a cleric.
The elves of Bodi know of the existence of only three sentient races: green dragons, tasloi and themselves. Thus they will be shocked and surprised to meet any explorers. While they are by nature curious, the elves are also cautious. Keeping in mind that, on Bodi, anything intelligent that isn't an elf likes to eat elves, visitors should watch their step to avoid being categorized as enemies.
There is no central elvish civilization as such. The population is divided into loosely-knit tribal and family groups, rarely numbering more than 25 individuals. Groups cooperate when it's appropriate, but generally prefer to live their own lives.
The elves, of course, have no knowledge of spelljamming. Should visitors arrive and prove themselves friendly, the elves will enjoy hearing tales of the greater universe—if the language problem can be overcome—but will have scarce desire to leave their home.
¶ Landing on Bodi
Bodi is virtually covered with forests, which makes landing a problem. There are some clearings, but these are typically small. Most clearings, too, have been made by the green dragons, to allow them to land. For this reason, water landings on the many lakes are by far the best choice.