Pathfinder Chronicles - Gazetteer - Asamnet

Pathfinder Chronicles
46
Numeria
SAVAGE LAND OF SUPER-SCIENCE
Alignment: CN
Capital: Starfall (32,400)
Notable Settlements: Castle Urion (1,240), Chesed (59,690),
Hajoth Hakados (6,780)
Ruler: Kevoth-Kul, the Black Sovereign of Numeria
Government: Barbaric monarchy
Languages: Hallit
Religion: Desna, Gorum, Nethys
The headwaters of the mighty Sellen River system emerge
from powerful lakes and springs in the arid plains of
Numeria, the greatest of the so-called River Kingdoms
and the site of the strangest otherworldly inf luence on
all of Golarion. Before the coming of demons in the
Worldwound, Numeria had been on the verge of uniting
several of its neighbors into a vast empire of the north,
but the fall of Sarkoris and the subsequent horror in the
north changed Numeria’s trajectory. Now the brutal Black
Sovereign and his council of wicked sorcerers struggle to
keep things together while outside inf luences threaten
the nation from all sides.
In the civilized south, Numeria is best known as the
source of Skymetal, extremely rare metallic alloys useful
in weaponcraft and magical artifice. The most common
of these is adamantine, but seven varities exist, each with
its own properties and arcane affinities. Demand for
these most precious of metals sees them traded and sold
as far away as the markets of Geb, and the reputation of
“Numerian steel” extends well into central Casmaron.
The shards of twisted metal gathered by Numerian
wanderers and traded in all directions come from the
scattered debris of a great metal mountain that fell from
the sky many millennia ago, perhaps even before the Age
of Darkness. The enormous bulk was a vessel from the
depths of outer space, and when it broke up over the plains
of Numeria its destruction bathed the region in weird
energies that result in strange mutations to this day. The
largest fragment of the vessel, with a great many intact
cabins, dominates the landscape near Numeria’s capital
city of Starfall and is known as the Silver Mount.
Life in the grim capital is a perverse, barbarian
version of the decadent courts of the south, steeped
in addiction to vile liquids extracted from the Silver
Mount and patrolled by metal men rescued from the
tarnished edifice. The word of the Black Sovereign is
law in Starfall, with the debased sorcerers of the Technic
League and their Gearsmen servants enforcing the will
of Numeria’s brutal dictator. Those who follow his
lead (and sometimes revel in it) participate in the dark,
carnal rewards of conformity, while rebels and the dregs
of society live only to serve.
The tyranny of Starfall extends throughout the nation
to threaten the many nomadic barbarian Kellid tribes that
range the northern plains. While most fear the word of
the Black Sovereign, the canniest know the ruler’s fearless
legions can only be in one place at one time, and thus
freedom abounds where the Black Sovereign does not cast
his jealous gaze.
In the last century, Numeria has absorbed vast numbers
of pilgrims and religious warriors venturing from southern
lands to the crusades of Mendev and the Worldwound.
These travelers often take the so-called River Road from
the Inner Sea up the Sellen to Chesed, and from there to
Mendev and the glory of holy war.
Most pilgrims first approach Numeria at the
imposing Castle Urion, where the Sellen forks east and
west. The new fortification stands on land claimed by
the Black Sovereign, but a full detachment of griffonriding
Knights of Iomedae ensures the protection of
travelers and administers to those in need of medical
or spiritual attention. During the first two Mendevian
Crusades, most travelers took the western fork of the
Sellen, venturing north along the haunted border
of Ustalav to reach crusader-occupied Storasta and
eventually Nerosyan, capital of Mendev. When Storasta
and the surrounding river fell under the tainted sway
of the Worldwound, the pilgrims at Castle Urion began
to f low eastward, toward the near-independent trading
community of Hajoth Hakados.
The river journey from there to Chesed sees freqent raids
from the lawless barbarian nomads of eastern Numeria,
but as the attacks represent one of the final challenges
before reaching the end of their quest, many pilgrims
actually look forward to these battles. Finally, the travelers
reach the coastal city of Chesed, on the Lake of Mists and
Veils, the final destination before arrival in Mendev.
The Technic League welcomes visitors to Chesed for
the coin they bring, and protection of this f low of capital
has greatly changed Numeria in the last century. Wily
merchants in Chesed know that many pilgrims are dupes,
and more of them lose their final pennies in Chesed than
at any other point in their long journey. Most travel by boat
to their final destination in Egede. Unscrupulous captains
often charge exorbitant fees for this service, safely banking
on an increase in unthinking zealotry as the pilgrims get
within sight of their goal.
Osirion
LAND OF THE PHARAOHS
Alignment: LN
Capital: Sothis (111,989)
Notable Settlements: Eto (9,740), Ipeq (12,730), Totra
(52,360), Shiman-Sekh (6,680)
Ruler: The Ruby Prince Khemet III