Sellen River

The Sellen River as it flows from Chesed in northern Numeria to Cassomir in southwestern Taldor.

See also: West Sellen River, East Sellen River, River Road, Sellen Passage, and Verduran Fork

The Sellen River is one of the most heavily traveled waterways in eastern Avistan and plays an incalculably important role in the trade and culture of all the nations of central and northeastern Avistan. Originating in the Lake of Mists and Veils north of Brevoy, the Sellen flows south through Numeria and the River Kingdoms (where it branches into countless fingers winding through the marshy countryside), and along the borders of Kyonin, Galt, the Five Kings Mountains and Andoran, finally pouring into Star Bay and the Inner Sea at the Taldan port of Cassomir. It is easily one of the longest rivers on Golarion. Fed by dozens of tributary rivers, high mountain lakes and thousands of streams, the Sellen moves more water than all the other rivers that touch the Inner Sea combined. For this reason it doesn't show typical flooding and dry seasons like most rivers, but flows as faithfully as the sun rises.

In Numeria

In Numeria, the Sellen River begins near the city of Chesed, which was constructed on the eastern side of where it flows in from the Lake of Mists and Veils. The river is joined by the Seven Tears River near the border of Numeria with the River Kingdoms, and the city of Hajoth Hakados is constructed at the border. Here in the north, the Sellen is subject to icing over in wintertime, while carrying bitterly cold and blinding winds.

In River Kingdoms

In the River Kingdoms, the Sellen winds past the ruins of Heibarr, and past the towns of Outsea, Artume, and Sevenarches. South of there it is joined first by the Goldenrun and then the Yhalt River before finally flowing into Kallas Lake. As the river moves south, it gradually becomes slower and wider as it no longer has to fight its way between walls of glacier-carved rock. Grasslands and rich forests along its banks become more common, as do the various outposts that cater to trade.

In Kyonin, Galt, and the Five Kings Mountains

The Sellen first forms the border between Kyonin and Galt, flowing past the Galtan cities of Dabril before becoming the border between Galt and the dwarven nation of the Five Kings Mountains. South of there it enters the Verduran Forest and the nation of Taldor near the Galtan city of Woodsedge.

In Taldor and Andoran

In the Verduran Forest, the Sellen becomes the border between Taldor and Andoran, where it is joined by a tributary called the Dragonfly River south of the Andoren town of Bellis. From there it turns southeast and meets one of its largest tributaries, the Verduran Fork River, at the druidic stronghold of the Isle of Arenway. After this it once again turns south and flows the small remainder of its 1,200-mile journey into the Inner Sea at the Taldan town of Cassomir.

Trade

Trade along the countless branches of the Sellen River provides the economic lifeblood of most of the nations of central and northeastern Avistan. Plying the waterways of what is known as the Sellen Passage, the river traders connect such inland nations as Ustalav and Brevoy with the warmer, more populous nations surrounding the Inner Sea. The Sellen has become an increasingly important trade route as the recent rise of Tar-Baphon has made travel across Lake Encarthan much more hazardous.

Because of the incredible importance of trade along the Sellen and its tributaries, governments that border these rivers tend to invest in well-regulated harbors and towns where a certain level of safety can be expected. Maintenance of these locations is supplemented by the taxes and tolls levied on traders and travelers alike. This does not mean that banditry is absent from the Sellen. Far from it, smugglers, pirates, and other brigands are common along its less populated stretches. These threats have created a secondary industry of river pilots and mercenaries to guide and protect travelers, although it is an open secret that these individuals often turn to piracy once business slows.

References

Paizo published a major article about the Sellen River in Dreams of the Yellow King.

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