12.7.2 AETHERSPACE ENCOUNTERS
See also AETHERSHIP, AETHERSHIP CREWS, AETHERSHIP MODULES, AETHERSHIP ARTIFACTS
AETHERSPACE, AETHERSPACE ENVIRONMENTS
Though it cannot be emphasized enough how vast aetherspace is, there are
numerous creatures that inhabit the hostile environment. Aetheric creatures
are either huge monstrosities or sometimes clusters of smaller creatures, most
of which view algontherine entities as food. Thus, aetherships must always be
vigilant against attack when traveling the aetherways.
The most highly prized encounter is that of an energy vortex. If an aethership
is equipped with one or more energy collectors, they can siphon power directly
from these vortexes. This is not without its dangers, however, because
siphoning energy attracts the attention of aether creatures as well as running
the risk of getting sucked into the vortex and becoming ejected somewhere far
away in the vastness of aetherspace.
Dimensional rifts are gateways to other planes which experienced aethership
commanders can navigate through. Other planes hold their own aetherways.
If you are attacked by an aethercreature, there is a possibility that parasites could infest your aethership, attaching itself to a module. It will feed on the module's energy, slowly damaging it. Further, these parasites will eventually begin to grow larger if not killed. The larger the parasite, the more they will damage the module.