{{Tsrwotc}}<small>''This article is about the celestial objects known as crystal spheres, if you are looking for the AD&D adventure module named after them , see [[SJA3 Crystal Spheres]].If you are looking for individual crystal spheres, see [[Canon:Spelljammer crystal spheres]]''.</small>

A '''crystal sphere''' , also known as a '''crystal shell''', is an object of great size that surrounds an entire [[planetary system]] and forms a boundary that separates [[wildspace]] from [[phlogiston, the|the phlogiston]].<ref name="CoAS">[[{{Cite_Pub|AD%26D_Adventures_in_Space#Concordance_of_Arcane_Space|&D Adventures in Space}} ''Concordance of Arcane Space'']] pages . pp. 9-10.</ref>

The size of crystal spheres is related to the size of the planetary system within them. As the name 'crystal sphere' implies, the objects are spherical.<ref name="CoAS">[[AD%26D_Adventures_in_Space#Concordance_of_Arcane_Space|''Concordance of Arcane Space'']] pages 9-10</ref>

Although they are solid, crystal spheres have no [[gravity]] and no [[atmosphere]]. The material crystal spheres are made of is a unbreakable dark ceramic material. No magic is powerful enough to damage crystal spheres.<ref name="CoAS">[[AD%26D_Adventures_in_Space#Concordance_of_Arcane_Space|''Concordance of Arcane Space'']] pages 9-10</ref> Crystal spheres are also known as crystal shells.<ref name="CoAS">[[AD%26D_Adventures_in_Space#Concordance_of_Arcane_Space|''Concordance of Arcane Space'']] pages 9-10</ref>

Only a few methods are known to allow travel from one side of a crystal sphere to the other side.<ref name="CoAS">[[AD%26D_Adventures_in_Space#Concordance_of_Arcane_Space|''Concordance of Arcane Space'']] pages 9-10</ref>

===[[Teleport]] or [[Dimension Door]] spells==={{Main|Teleport|Dimension Door}}These spells (or magical devices that duplicate them) allow spellcasters to jump from one side of the sphere to the other without physically crossing the sphere.<ref name="CoAS"/>

===[[Phase Door]] spell==={{Main|Phase Door}}This spell (or a magical item that duplicates it) makes part of the crystal sphere immaterial and allows a [[spelljamming ship]] to pass through.<ref name="CoAS"/>

{{Main|Crystal sphere portal}}Most crystal spheres have natural portals that pierce the shell at various locations. These portals usually and vanish at random times and are located in random places. Looking for these portals can take a long time.<ref name="CoAS"/>

===[[Stars]]==={{Main|Stars}}In some crystal spheres, stars are located on the inside of the crystal shell. A few of these stars are themselves also natural portals through the crystal sphere. A spelljamming ship diving into the heart of the star would pass through the shell and appear in the phlogiston. However, a high number of stars are portals to the [[Plane of Radiance]] or the [[Plane of Fire]]. Flying a ship into one of those stars would be fatal.<ref name="CoAS"/>

===[[Spelljammer, The|''The Spelljammer'']] and creatures like space dragons==={{Main|The Spelljammer|List of creatures with the abilty to create crystal sphere portals}}The legendary ship, called ''The Spelljammer'', and some large space creatures, like space dragons, seem to have an innate ability to create portals similar to the natural portals. These portals close slowly over time, so ships can sometimes use them.<ref name="CoAS"/>

===The [[Create Portal]] spell==={{Main|Create Portal}}This spell duplicates the natural ability of ''The Spelljammer'' and space dragons, but the portals created by this spell have a much shorter duration. Portals created via this spell last no longer than 120 minutes.<ref name="CoAS"/>

The size of crystal spheres is usually determined by the size of the planetary system within them. Each sphere usually is usually twice the diameter as the outermost planet within the crystal sphere, but spheres can be larger than this.<ref name="CoAS">[[AD%26D_Adventures_in_Space#Concordance_of_Arcane_Space|''Concordance of Arcane Space'']] pages 9-10</ref> There are often astronomical objects that defy this 'double diameter' rule and orbit outside the outermost [[planet]]. Sages who support the 'double diameter' rule usually argue that these [[celestial body|celestial bodies]] are [[additional astronomicalsastronomical]] s rather than true planets.<ref name="SJR6">[[SJR6 Greyspace{{Cite_Pub|''SJR6 Greyspace'']] page }} p. 3.</ref>

It is possible for a crystal sphere to contain another crystal sphere, or a series of smaller and smaller crystal spheres.<ref>[[{{Cite_Pub|AD%26D_Adventures_in_Space#Concordance_of_Arcane_Space|&D Adventures in Space}} ''Concordance of Arcane Space'']] . Nonstandard Systems sidebar pages pp. 68, 70 and 72.</ref> ==Main theories==There are six main theories about the origin of the crystal spheres. ===The gods created the shells and the flow===The gods created the spheres and [[Phlogiston, the|the Phlogiston]] in order to divide up the universe. The gods split the universe into chaos ([[Phlogiston, the|the flow]]) and order (the spheres). They then divided up the individual spheres among themselves in order to test law against chaos and good against evil.<ref name="NotCotU">{{Cite_Pub|AD&D Adventures in Space}} ''Concordance of Arcane Space''. Notes on the Creation of the Universe sidebar pp. 42, 44, 46 and 48.</ref> ===The gods have their own gods===These gods-of-gods created the universe, and then placed the gods into the universe. This theory gained more popularity in [[Canon:Realmspace|Realmspace]] in recent times.<ref name="NotCotU"/> ===The Phlogiston is a naturally occurring object===The Phlogiston was there before the gods. The gods built the crystal spheres to settle and domesticate the flow. The spheres are like cities built along a stream and eventually they will grow and join together. When this happens the Phlogiston will cease to exist.<ref name="NotCotU"/> ===The gods fear the flow===The gods fear the Phlogiston and built the spheres to keep it out.<ref name="NotCotU"/> ===The gods fear men and other sentient beings===The gods fear humans and other sentient creatures and built the crystal spheres to keep them in.<ref name="NotCotU"/> ===The Phlogiston and the shells are naturally occurring===Someone or something created the entire universe and the gods moved in and took over. There is a secondary implication, that the gods have lied about creating the universe to deceive mortals.<ref name="NotCotU"/>

* There is an article about [[Forgottenrealms:Crystal sphere|crystal sphere]] at [[Forgottenrealms:Main Page|Forgotten Realms Wiki]].  ----{{Canon Terms Breadcrumb}}<br />{{Canon Breadcrumb/Spelljammer}} [[Category:CoAScanon]][[Category:LotVcanon]][[Category:SJCS SJR6 canon]][[Category:SJR6Crystal spheres]][[Category:Location]][[Category:Equipment]][[Category:Other]][[Category:Term]]