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[[File:Streets of Sothis.jpg|center|Sothis, the ancient capital city of Osirion.]]

{{Nation
| image      = [[File:Osirion symbol.jpg|200px|Osirion.]]
| name       = Osirion
| land       = 
| titles     = Land of the Pharaohs
| alignment  = [[Lawful neutral]]
| capital    = [[Sothis]]
| ruler      = [[Khemet III|Ruby Prince Khemet III]]
| government = Celestial monarchy
| natives    = Osirians
| adjective  = Osirian
| languages  = [[Human languages of Golarion#Osiriani|Osiriani]]
| religions  = [[Abadar]], [[Irori]], [[Lamashtu]], [[Nethys]], [[Norgorber]], [[Pharasma]], [[Rovagug]], [[Sarenrae]]
| regionmap  = {{Golarionmap|lat=31.597|long=-3.999|zoom=5}}
| source     = [[Osirion, Legacy of Pharaohs]]
| page       = 
}}

'''Osirion'''<ref>'''A large poster map of Osirion is included in this product: '''{{Cite book/Mummy's Mask Poster Map Folio}}</ref> (pronounced oh-SEER-ee-on)<ref>{{Cite book/Campaign Setting|247}}</ref> is not only one of the oldest [[human]] nations currently in existence in the [[Inner Sea region]], but has been one of the most powerful and influential since [[Earthfall]].

== History ==<!-- The article [[Ancient Osirion]] links here -->

{{Main|History of Osirion}}
{{See also|Timeline of Osirion|Pharaoh}}

The founding of Osirion in [[-3470 AR]] is used by historians as the marker for the beginning of the [[Age of Destiny]]. Osirion served as the trailblazer, marking humanity's re-emergence from barbarism of the [[Age of Anguish]].<ref name="ISWG-34">{{Cite book/The Inner Sea World Guide|34}}</ref> A follower of [[Nethys]] named [[Azghaad]] united the warring tribes along the [[Sphinx River]] with the help of the [[deity|god]] himself, and became the first pharaoh, a tradition of rulership that has continued (with long interruptions) to the present day. Azghaad I is said to have accomplished great deeds, including the defeat of the [[spawn of Rovagug]] [[Ulunat]], and the founding of the capital city of Sothis around the giant beetle's carapace. He also built the first temple to Nethys in Sothis, ushering in the '''First Age of Osirion'''.<ref name="OLP-5">{{Cite book/Osirion, Legacy of Pharaohs|5}}</ref> Under the rule of successive [[God-Kings]] the land prospered and expanded, at its height ruling much of northern [[Garund]],<ref name="Gaz47">{{Cite book/Gazetteer|47}}</ref> including land ruled today by the countries of [[Geb]], [[Katapesh]], [[Nex]], [[Thuvia]], and [[Rahadoum]]. Osiriontologists often refer to the nation during its roughly 5,000-year span of pharaonic rule between its founding and the [[Kelesh]]ite takeover in [[1532 AR]] (see below) as '''Ancient Osirion'''.<ref name="ISWG-212">{{cite book/The Inner Sea World Guide|212}}</ref>

=== Pharaonic rule ===<!-- [[Age of the Black Sphinx]] redirects here -->

[[File:Lost Cities cover.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Osirion's ruins can be dangerous to explore.]]

A period of decline followed, which was halted when the country was re-unified under the [[Pharaohs of Ascension|Four Pharaohs of Ascension]], marking the country's Second Age.<ref name="Gaz47"/> However, the decline continued when the reign of the Four Pharaohs came to an end.<ref name="ISWG35">{{Cite book/The Inner Sea World Guide|35}}</ref>  

=== Qadiran satrapy and Keleshite sultanate ===

Osirian independence ended following the assassination of  Pharaoh [[Menedes XXVI]] in [[1532 AR]], which led to the overthrow of the pharaonic dynasty. The country became a [[satrapy]] of the [[Kelesh|Empire of Kelesh]]. 

By [[2217 AR]], a sect of [[Sarenrae]] known as the [[Cult of the Dawnflower]] was flourishing in Osirion, but the Qadiri satrapy viewed it as a threat. The cult's leaders were driven into exile in the desert.

In [[2253 AR]], the Cult assassinated the last Qadiran [[satrap]], ending their exile and leading to the establishment of a line of Keleshite sultans independent of the Empire. <ref name="ISWG35"/><ref name="ISWG147">{{Cite book/The Inner Sea World Guide|147}}</ref>

=== Independence ===

After 3,000 years, Osirian independence was restored in [[4609 AR]], when the Keleshite sultan was overthrown and replaced by Prince [[Khemet I]], who traced his ancestry back to the ancient pharaohs.

Khemet I was succeeded by his son [[Khemet II]], who in turn was followed by his son, the current ruler [[Khemet III]].<ref name="ISWG35"/><ref name="ISWG147"/> Under his rule, parts of the country have been opened to foreign treasure hunters and researchers.<ref>{{Cite book/The Inner Sea World Guide|149}}</ref>

== Government ==

[[Khemet III|The Ruby Prince Khemet III]] rules as the divine monarch of the re-emerging nation. His chief advisor is the invisible [[fire elemental]] [[Janhelia]]. Some fear that Khemet is becoming embroiled in the complex politics of the savage [[elemental]] clans that inhabit Osirion's desert regions. Khemet and his family are protected by an elite unit known as the [[Risen Guard]]. While Khemet's rule is absolute, the day-to-day administration of Osirion is handled by the [[Council of Sun and Sky]]. In theory the Council is an independent body, but most Osirians realise the true power is held by the Ruby Prince.<ref>{{Cite book/The Inner Sea World Guide|147&ndash;148}}</ref>

== Geography ==

[[File:Valley of the pyramids.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The Valley of the Pyramids.]]

This primarily desert nation occupies the northeastern corner of the continent of [[Garund]]. It is bordered on the north by the [[Inner Sea]] and the east by the [[Obari Ocean]]. Its western border (where it meets the nation of [[Thuvia]]) is established by the banks of the [[Junira River]], while the [[Barrier Wall]] and the [[Brazen Peaks]] provide a natural barrier to the south, where Osirion's former holding of [[Katapesh]] stretches into further expanses of desert. The two mountain ranges are separated by the [[Kho-Rarne Pass]] which leads to the [[Mwangi Expanse]].<ref name="ISWG-148"/>

=== Deserts ===

The desert interior dominates the country, which contains some of the largest arid wastelands on [[Golarion]].<ref name="ISWG-146">{{cite book/The Inner Sea World Guide|146}}</ref> The western desert has the [[Alamein Peninsula]] on the north coast, while to its west lie the the [[Cliffs of Kusha-ta-Pahk]]; to the east of the peninsular is the [[Coast of Graves]]. South of the peninsular is the [[Glazen Sheets]], separated from the [[Footprints of Rovagug]] by the [[Scarab River]]. The central desert has the [[Sahure Wastes]] to the north and the [[Parched Dunes]] to the south. Separating them are the mountain range known as the [[Pillars of the Sun]]. The desert is then bisected by the mighty [[Sphinx River]]. Most of the country's major cities lie on the river or its tributaries, with the capital, [[Sothis]], at the mouth where it reaches the [[Inner Sea]]. The eastern desert has the impressive [[Underdunes]] to the north and the [[Salt Hills]] to the south, separated by the [[Shining Mountains]]. Features of the eastern coastline include the [[Burning Cape]] and the [[Scorpion Coast]].<ref name="ISWG-148">{{Cite book/The Inner Sea World Guide|148}}</ref>

=== Rivers ===

[[File:Crocodile wrestling.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Osirion's rivers hold many dangers.]]

Osirion could not exist without the Sphinx River and its tributaries (the [[Asp River|Asp]] and the [[Crook River|Crook]]). They provide a yearlong source of fresh water to this otherwise inhospitable land, and it is not surprising that the vast majority of the nation's inhabitants live along their banks. The rivers are not without danger, however, as they flood seasonally and are also home to the black-scaled [[crocodile]]s known as [[hetkoshu]].<ref name="ISWG-146"/>

== People ==

Osirians are wise people who look deep into the past for answers to present troubles. Their sense of history gives them a unique perspective on the ebb and flow of power in the political landscape of the modern Inner Sea. Many folk of Osirion are of old [[Garundi (human ethnicity)|Garundi]] blood, bronze-skinned, and gifted with the noble bearing of the ancient pharaohs.<ref name="PFS blog 61208">{{Cite web|url=https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo5l9zp|title=Exploring Paizo's Pathfinder Society Organized Play, Part 3|author=[[Joshua J. Frost]] and [[Nicolas Logue]]|page=Paizo Blog|date=June 12, 2008}}</ref>

A nomadic offshoot of the Garundi, the [[Yerbira]], inhabit Osirion's western desert.<ref>{{cite book/Osirion, Legacy of Pharaohs|20}}</ref>

== Religion ==

The most common religions are those of [[Abadar]], [[Nethys]], [[Pharasma]], and the other major gods of Osirion, but the country has several unique faiths, including the twin serpent cults of [[Wadjet]] and [[Apep]] and the dung beetle [[Khepri]], a cult for peasants.<ref>{{Cite book/Osirion, Land of Pharaohs|24&ndash;25}}</ref>

Despite the efforts of the Keleshite rulers, the worship of Osirion's [[Osirian pantheon|native beast-headed gods]] has continued to the present.<ref name="OLoP-24">{{Cite book/Osirion, Land of Pharaohs|24}}</ref> The shaven-headed Osirian priests usually wear white robes with fringed kirtles, and sometimes ornate pectorals or headscarves, veils, or metal or leather masks.<ref name="OLoP-24"/>

The churches of [[Sarenrae]], [[Nethys]], and [[Pharasma]] have played a particularly prominent role in Osirian history. Osirian worshippers of [[Irori]] tend to cluster in isolated communities in valleys among the [[Barrier Wall]] and [[Brazen Peaks]], including the [[Temple of An-Alak]] in the [[Salt Hills]], the [[Stepped Tower of Djedefar]] on the [[Alamein Peninsula]], and the ritual center of the [[Monastery of Tar Kuata]] beyond the [[Footprints of Rovagug]].<ref>{{Cite book/Osirion, Land of Pharaohs|8&ndash;9}}</ref>

== Magic ==

Spellcasters in Osirion have access to some unique spells and abilities. Those practised in [[metamagic]] can convert a spell into a ''thanatopic spell'', which can pierce wards against negative energy or use negative energy effects to destroy undead, or a ''threnodic spell'', which can convert mind-affecting spells into effects capable of influencing or controlling undead.<ref name="OLoP-27">{{Cite book/Osirion, Land of Pharaohs|27}}</ref> The country's most infamous tome of necromancy are the papyrus scrolls known as the ''[[Aleh Almaktoum]]'', the Book of the Dead, found in the collections of Osirian archmages.<ref name="OLoP-27-28">{{Cite book/Osirion, Land of Pharaohs|27&ndash;28}}</ref> Several uncommon spells are familiar to Osirian magicians, including ''[[boneshatter]]'', ''[[canopic conversion]]'', ''[[Sands of time|sands of time]]'', ''[[spectral saluqi]]'', and ''[[tomb legion]]''.<ref name="OLoP-27-28"/>

== References ==

[[Paizo]] published several major works about or set in Osirion, including ''[[Osirion, Legacy of Pharaohs]]'', ''[[Osirion, Land of Pharaohs]]'', ''[[Lost Kingdoms]]'', and the [[Mummy's Mask Adventure Path]].

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[[Category:Osirion| ]]
[[Category:Nations]]
[[Category:Historical nations]]
[[Category:Nations of Garund]]
[[Category:Lawful neutral nations]]