Golarion

Golarion

(Cosmos)

Titles

The Cage, the Child

Type

Planet

Adjective

Golarian

Diameter

x 1

Mass

x 1

Gravity

x 1

Atmosphere

Standard

Orbit

1 year

Inhabitants

Humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, orcs, goblinoids, and countless other races

Satellites

One moon

Images of Golarion

More information about this subject might be available on StarfinderWiki.

The planet Golarion orbits a yellow sun in the far reaches of the Universe. Third of eleven in orbit, this blue planet contains vast oceans and lush green lands, the perfect environment for countless cultures to thrive. Indeed, Golarion is the most populous planet in its solar system. Golarion's crater-scarred moon, Somal, fills its night sky, and its nearest planetary neighbors, Castrovel the Green World and Akiton the Red Planet (second and fourth from the sun, respectively), are easily visible as colored stars.

Due to its innately hospitable and life-sustaining environment compared to other worlds, presumably the work of the deities, astronomers sometimes refer to Golarion as "the Child". Astronomers on other planets, however, often refer to Golarion as "the Cage" in reference to its cosmic role as the prison of the mad deity Rovagug, who remains bound at the world's core.

Artist's impression of the known world showing the continents (from left) of Arcadia; Azlant; the Crown of the World, Avistan and Garund; Casmaron; and Sarusan and Tian Xia.

Another equirectangular estimation of the known world based on multiple sources.

Rune representation

In scholarly astronomical or astrological works, Golarion is sometimes represented by a rune: a circle with three vertical bars overlaying it. One might suggest this symbol is more in keeping with Golarion as 'the Cage', rather than as 'the Child'.

Geography

Ancient ages

Golarion is more than 50 million years old, at which primeval point its environment was hostile to modern forms of life, and its landscapes were dominated by prehistoric beasts. Dragons joined such beasts in the planet's prehistoric ages from that period to approximately 1 million years ago.

Serpentfolk and other non-human beings became predominant from that point until approximately -10000 AR, which marked the dawn of human communities, included the rise of Azlant, and also marked the end of the Age of Legend and beginning of the Age of Darkness with Earthfall occurring in -5293 AR.

Continents

Golarion contains eight continents amid immense seas.

• Arcadia is a lush continent west of Avistan and Garund across the Arcadian Ocean, which bears its name. Located about 4,000 miles from the shores of Avistan, recent travel and colonization efforts have introduced Arcadian culture to a growing portion of the rest of the world.
• Avistan is a large peninsular continent that expands westward from Casmaron, bordered by the World's Edge Mountains. Avistan plays host to a number of civilizations built upon the ruins of great past empires, such as Thassilon and the colonies of Azlant. The Avistani nations of Taldor, Cheliax, Andoran, and Qadira are shaping up to become world powers, and the city of Absalom on an island off its coast is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the world.
• Azlant is a once-great island-continent whose remnants are now islands about 1,000 miles west of the Arch of Aroden. Azlant saw the rise of the first human civilizations, but all that remains of Azlant are a series of jutting crags and narrow, twisted channels; most of the continent sank beneath the Arcadian Ocean after Earthfall.
• Casmaron is Golarion's largest continent, spanning much of the world's northern hemisphere and containing the two largest and most powerful empires in the world: Kelesh and Vudra.
• The Crown of the World is an immense frozen desert that spans the northern pole of the planet. While much too cold and harsh-weathered for permanent and successful habitation save for a few hardy nomads, the Crown is an invaluable trade route between Avistan and Tian Xia.
• Garund is a continent south and southeast of Avistan, across the Inner Sea. Whether one is scouring its northern deserts for lost relics of the Osiriani pharaohs or trekking through the near-impenetrable jungles of the Mwangi Expanse, Garund provides endless adventures for those willing to risk its many dangers.
• Sarusan is the smallest and least-known continent on Golarion. It is located in the least-traveled portions of the sea and is separated from the continent of Tian Xia by the Valashmai Sea.
• Tian Xia is a great supercontinent across the Embaral Ocean east from Casmaron and the Okaiyo Ocean west from Arcadia. Like Avistan, it is home to many ancient and powerful empires, including Minkai and the Successor States of Lung Wa. Merchants from Tian Xia travel the entire world.

Oceans

Five great oceans cover the remainder of Golarion.

• The Antarkos Ocean, which covers most of Golarion's southern hemisphere, including the South Pole, and is largely composed of a permanent ice shelf.
• The Arcadian Ocean, west of Avistan and Garund, east of Arcadia, and surrounding Azlant.
• The Embaral Ocean touching Casmaron, Tian Xia, and Sarusan.
• The Obari Ocean, between Garund and Casmaron.
• The Okaiyo Ocean separating Tian Xia from Arcadia.

Seas

The nine most important seas on Golarion are:

• Castrovin Sea
• Fever Sea
• Inner Sea
• Ivory Sea
• Shining Sea
• Sightless Sea
• Songil Sea
• Steaming Sea
• Valashmai Sea

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.