赛伦河流过阿維斯坦北部冰冷的苔原,通过河域诸国肥沃的草原,最终流向塔尔多那肥沃的田地和辽阔的維杜蘭森林。期间横跨了大大小小的聚居地,从小小的渔村到繁荣的都市,如卡索米爾,柴斯德,林邊市等等。
在漫长的时间里,赛伦河都是紐梅利亞的柴斯德与塔尔多的卡索米爾连接干道。所说的大河路(River Road)也就是这里,在这里经常可以看到十字军从内海各地出发,跋涉前往世界之傷抵御恶魔。在第二次十字军远征斯托拉斯塔沦陷之前,卡拉斯湖至西赛伦河的流域被称作十字军之路,因为这是通往蒙蒂維最快的途径。而今这片区域已经变得荒芜,所以十字军和商人都被迫走妮若錫安到柴斯德之间的陆路。
除了大河路,赛伦河另一条主要干道就是赛伦河道,其连接着恩卡坦湖(途径鏡河,是奇奥尼与拉茲密安的边界)和内海水域。尽管奇奥尼与拉茲密安的居民不是十分友好,但这里比起向北延伸的十字军之路或大河道都更适合旅行者使用。
劇透 - :
GAZETTEER
The Sellen River stretches from Avistan’s cold northern
tundra and sparse evergreen steppes to the silt-enriched
farmlands of the River Kingdoms and the expansive
Verduran Forest of Taldor. Within all of these horizon-
spanning vistas are settlements of every size, from lonely
fishing villages to cosmopolitan cities such as Cassomir,
Chesed, and Woodsedge.
At its longest span, the Sellen connects Chesed in
Numeria and Cassomir in Taldor. This stretch of the
Sellen is called the River Road, and its most frequent
travelers are crusaders making the arduous journey from
the lands near the Inner Sea to combat the Abyssal forces
of the Worldwound. Prior to the fall of Storasta during the
Second Mendevian Crusade, the river path from Kallas
Lake up the West Sellen River was known as the Crusader
Road, as it provided the quickest route to Mendev. Now
that the northern reaches of the West Sellen have grown
so inhospitable, crusaders and merchants alike are
forced to take the overland route when traveling from
Nerosyan to Chesed.
Apart from the River Road, the other major route
along the Sellen River is the Sellen Passage, which
connects Lake Encarthan (by way of the Glass River,
which forms the border between Kyonin and Razmiran)
and the waters of the Inner Sea. Despite the unfriendly
inhabitants of both Kyonin and Razmiran, this route
typically proves far more felicitous to travelers passing
in both directions than the northern stretches of the
Crusader Road or the River Road.
北部地区赛伦河北部的象征是那严冬的天气,以及数千年来征服与探索的历史
大铁链:这条巨大的铁索横跨在东赛伦河于布雷斡与河域诸国之间的北部边界。由諾萊斯基·索托瓦國王于AR4714建立,铁索控制着所有来往布雷斡的船只并允许索托瓦家族的人上船检查并扣押他们认为可疑的船只以迫使羅斯特蘭的反贼不得入境。许多来自南方的游客都反对这一措施,以河域六則的第三条(走任何路,过任何河)为由发起抗议。而布雷斡皇室迅速发出回应,这条铁索是在布雷斡境内,如果想要乱来那么就请去河域诸国。
龙兽工厂:在紐美利亞中部赛伦河东侧的一个小港湾里漂浮着一艘巨大的金属驳船,里面终日充满了烟雾与有毒气体。这是疯狂的炼金术师Rezik Nellibloom(中立邪恶男性侏儒炼金术师8)的命根子,这个漂浮着的工厂对这里的生活的河栖龙兽 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3 107)进行改造,包括但不限于移植其他器官以增强它们的肉身,通过化学使它们的精神和肉体产生变异,甚至与其他龙兽进行杂交(尤其是裂隙龙兽和沙漠龙兽)虽然Nellibloom不希望离开这片有着大量实验体供应的地区,但每当移动驳船便表示他遇到了当地人的抗议或是避开科技聯盟的刺探,他可以在任何地方抛锚和航行,所以他也可能前往赛伦河流经的任何其他地方。
死魂河:在紐美利亞与乌丝塔拉夫的边界,赛伦河西部有一条长达一英里的水域因其终年不散的超自然武器而闻名。这些绿灰色的雾气夹杂着甲醛和肉桂的气息,而且似乎被一种超自然力量搅动。水手们声称在这里可以看到逝去的亲人,死去的敌人以及一些难以形容的可怕生物,但水手都不能与其交流。雾气较为浓厚时大多数船只都会以最快速度通过这篇水域,而雾气变淡时船只会走的更快,他们担心是什么更强大的力量影响了这里。
冰裂堡:在遥远的北方,在西赛伦河流经世界之冠的冰川矗立着冰裂堡。这是德雷澤家族的Lord Pernigrais建于AR4629以抗击恶魔的,该堡垒被雕刻在悬崖的一侧,其上的灯塔可以照亮整片地区的黑暗。但在次年春,城堡被发现空无一人,所有人都被不知名的敌人残忍地屠杀掉。至今再没有人敢靠近这里,或者是隐藏于其中的神秘与恐怖。
繁星要塞:这座雄伟的要塞耸立在西赛伦河的蒙蒂維的一处悬崖边上,如同一头栖息在那里的雄鹰。这里是数个不同信仰的圣武士团体的根据地,在这里也训练了许多人以对抗世界之傷的恶魔。一些流传于十字军之路的故事说这些圣武士深入了旧薩克利斯,寻找线索以发现恶魔的踪迹并摧毁他们的巢穴。尽管他们也是蒙蒂維圣武士的一份子,但繁星要塞的十字军独立于十字军远征之外。
劇透 - :
N ortherN r egioN
Harsh winter weather marks the northern Sellen River
region, along with a tattered history of conquest and
exploration spanning thousands of years.
The Chain: This massive iron chain spans the East
Sellen River just north of the border between Brevoy
and the River Kingdoms. Installed in 4714 ar by Noleski
Surtova, the Chain controls river traffic into and out of
Brevoy, and it allows agents of House Surtova to examine
or detain any ship they wish in an effort to keep the
rebellious people of Rostland in line. Many travelers
from the south protest the obstacle, citing the third
of the Six River Freedoms (“Walk Any Road, Float Any
ADDITIONAL READING
With as long a path as the Sellen carves through eastern
Avistan, it touches upon many locations that are not
fully detailed in this article. For more information on
the Sellen River in three of the nations it borders or
traverses, see the following Pathfinder Campaign Setting
volumes: Guide to the River Kingdoms; Numeria, Land of
Fallen Stars; and Rule of Fear.
River”) as justification for unrestricted passage along the
Sellen. The Brevic authorities are quick to answer such
protestations with a reminder that the Chain is in Brevoy,
and that the lawlessness of the River Kingdoms spreads
no farther upstream than King Noleski allows.
Drakeforge: In a small cove on the eastern side of the
Sellen in central Numeria floats a massive metal barge
that fills the sky with smoke and noxious fumes. The
brainchild of mad alchemist Rezik Nellibloom (NE male
gnome alchemist APG 8), this floating factory performs
biotechnical experiments on a local clutch of river
drakes (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3 107), including grafting
cybernetic enhancements to their bodies, chemically
mutating their minds and flesh, and crossing them with
other types of drakes (particularly rift and desert drakes).
While Nellibloom is reluctant to move his floating
operation away from a natural supply of test subjects,
the barge’s mobility means that, should he encounter
resistance from the locals or wish to avoid the Technic
League’s prying, he could raise anchor and sail anywhere,
potentially bringing his augmented drakes to any part of
the Sellen or beyond.
Hauntwaters: This mile-long stretch of the West Sellen
along the border between Numeria and Ustalav takes its
name from the preternatural mist that rises from the
water in all seasons and weather conditions. The green-
gray vapor smells of formaldehyde and cinnamon and
swirls as though being stirred by some invisible, willful
force. Sailors claim they have seen the forms of lost loved
ones, slain and vengeful enemies, and indescribably
horrific creatures in the mists, but such visions never
coalesce into any form with which the mariners can
interact. Most vessels move quickly through the region
when the haunted mists are at their thickest, while others
travel faster when the bizarre vapor is absent, fearing
that some even greater force is keeping the terrifying
phenomenon at bay.
Icerift Castle: Far to the north, where the West Sellen
River forms from the melting glaciers of the Crown of
the World, stands Icerift Castle. Built in 4629 ar by Lord
Pernigrais of Drezen while on a mission to establish a new
wardstone to keep the demons of the Worldwound at bay,
the fortress was carved into the cliff’s side and stood as a
beacon of light against the darkness that threatened to
swallow the whole land. By the spring after its founding,
the castle lay empty. All its inhabitants were dead within,
victims of a bloody massacre carried out by unknown
enemies. Today, no one dares go near Icerift Castle, and
the mysteries and terrors that lie within patiently wait.
Star Keep: On the Mendevian bank of the West Sellen
River, this imposing bastion of stone perches upon the
cliff’s side like a bird of prey. Home to several orders
of paladins embracing different faiths, Star Keep trains
many against the Worldwound’s demons. Some stories
along the Crusader Road insist that these bands of
paladins strike deep into old Sarkoris, seeking out
information to track demonic troop movements or
crushing particularly troublesome nests of their hated
enemy. Despite their location in Mendev and their large
population of paladins, the crusaders of Star Keep work
independently of the Mendevian Crusade.
中部地区赛伦河中部得益于数千年来肥沃的土壤和世界之冠融化的冰水,形成了一片辽阔的河域和丰盛的草地,这是该地区的特征。冒险者在河域诸国支离破碎的疆土上开拓自己的土地,而赛伦河静静地穿过平原和森林。
灰枝森林:灰枝森林靠近黑巴爾废墟,因其灰枝松而闻名。细长的翠绿色针叶更衬托出树枝的优雅,而灰枝松树最少也能长到80尺高。在初夏,灰黑色的花粉云随风飘荡,让人看上去仿佛是灰枝松在吸烟一般。而一些猎人也在这里舒适度日,但黑巴爾废墟与吉羅娜教團让人不会选择在这里永久定居。机关如此,关于森林深处古代遗址Emberbough Cairn(Pathfinder Campaign Setting:Tombs of Golarion3)的故事依旧不断吸引着冒险者的到来,但至今人们都一无所获。
镜河:这里是奇奥尼与拉茲密安的边界,自西赛伦河流入恩卡坦湖。作为赛伦河道北部的主干道,镜河上的船只络绎不绝。尽管这里看上去很多肥羊,但却鲜见有河盗,因为他们害怕被瑟爾出来的拉茲密安信仰小舟黑吃黑。而另一边精灵也在尽力维护河道的安全并将其视作自己的责任,但虽然他们不会欢迎恶客进入奇奥尼的边界,但也不会找拉茲密安的蒙面狂信徒的麻烦。
卡拉斯湖:这里是船长们的天堂也是最佳的汇合点,同时这里永远流通着最新的消息,但卡拉斯湖没有一个稳定的组织,除了雷沃屯和一些小码头。这里汇聚了赛伦河的三条支流,因此也是水陆交通的中枢—和一些河盗和商人牟利的地方。赛伦河上经常可以看到水鼠的漂流祭坛,但只有在这里筑有一个正式的神庙。虽然这不过是每周更换一次的木筏,但那些祈求一份风顺和祝福的人都会在起航前来这里祈祷。春分时节一些贸易公司的船长们会在这里将船只绑在一起形成一个小型浮在水中央的村落,并为这一年的未来座机计划。而那些没有参与的人要么已经死了,要么就放弃了赛伦河上的业务—毕竟这片区域充满了危险,比如恶魔、河道、仇外的精灵又或是仅仅因为无法承担的债务。
雷沃屯:吉羅娜和翰斯普是在赛伦河上大概最常见的神祗,某些人认为后者更加可亲,当然黑暗的真相往往会让人大吃一惊。水鼠的信徒以对这条河流及其流向的熟悉而著名,但如果你选择与他们结伴而行那么你的尸首第二天就会漂在河中,一如他们的神死去的时候一般。雷沃屯的领导者是Naerel Twice-Born(混乱邪恶男性精灵 战士1/翰斯普牧师6)这里也是他一手建造的,他被尊称为河域先知,决定这个卡拉斯湖畔小镇的日常事务。那些不想参与对翰斯普的祭典,对其信徒的言语嗤之以鼻又或是不想获得关于河域诸国事务的指点的人务必要在补给后立即离开,因为没有人能揣摩水鼠的信徒的想法。
劇透 - :
C eNtral r egioN
The central Sellen River region has benefited from
millennia of rich soil and glacial melt brought down
from the Crown of the World, creating a lush expanse of
river and grassland that typifies the area. The fractured
nations of the River Kingdoms came about from
explorers carving out their own pieces of this land,
where the Sellen River winds its way through the plains
and forests.
Emberbough Forest: Close to the ruined city of
Heibarr, Emberbough Forest takes its name from the
cinderpines that compose it. Thin, papery black bark
covers a cinderpine tree, which has a deep scarlet-and-
orange interior. Long, emerald-green needles grace the
tree’s boughs, and a cinderpine often grows to 80 feet tall
or higher. In the early summer, clouds of ash-black pollen
drift in the wind, giving the cinderpines the appearance
of smoking brands. Foragers and trappers can make a
modest living among these groves, but the proximity to
Heibarr and the stains of Gyronna’s followers prevent
many from claiming a permanent settlement here. The
rumors of ancient ruins deep in the forest persist to this
day, though, and treasure hunters seek out Emberbough
Cairn (Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Tombs of Golarion 3),
but so far with no loot to show for their troubles.
Glass River: This short river serves as the border
between Kyonin and Razmiran, and it provides access
to Lake Encarthan from the West Sellen River. As the
northern leg of the Sellen Passage, the Glass River sees
heavy traffic. Despite the seemingly easy prey here,
pirates tend to avoid the Glass River, themselves scared
off by the often violent proselytization of the Razmiri
faith barges that sail out of Xer. The elves, for their
part, do what they can to make the river safe, seeing the
waterway as half their responsibility. Nonetheless, they
are so concerned with the well-being of their nation and
protecting the riverbanks from unwanted visitors into
Kyonin that they don’t trouble themselves too much with
Razmiran’s masked zealots.
Kallas Lake: Serving as both a haven and rendezvous
point for captains catching up on the latest gossip, Kallas
Lake remains free of any permanent structures, save
for the ramshackle village of Riverton and a few jetties
and piers. The three branches of the Sellen flow into
Kallas Lake, and with them comes an enormous amount
of river traffic—and profit for pirates and merchants
alike. Floating altars of driftwood dedicated to the god
Hanspur are omnipresent on the Sellen River, but Kallas
Lake is home to a great shrine to the Water Rat. Although
it is in truth little more than lashed-together rafts that
change weekly, those seeking the blessings of the god’s
priests or a bit of weather wisdom often visit here before
starting a journey. Trading companies that work with
multiple captains and crews meet on the lake during
the spring equinox, fastening their vessels together to
form small floating villages of their own and planning
out their upcoming seasons. Those who fail to attend are
assumed either to be dead or to have quit the business
of sailing the Sellen entirely—victims of Worldwound
demons, river pirates, xenophobic elves, or just the
burden of heavy profits.
Riverton: Of the two deities most often associated with
the Sellen River, Gyronna and Hanspur, the latter might be
considered kindlier, but a dark truth counters that naive
viewpoint. The Water Rat’s followers are known for their
knowledge of the river and its ways, but only an outsider
would travel alone with a devotee of Hanspur, as those
who do often end up floating downriver, their corpses
waterlogged and bloated in a macabre reenactment of the
god’s mortal death. The village of Riverton was founded
by one such lone follower, Brother Naerel Twice-Born
(CE male elf fighter 1/cleric of Hanspur 6), also known
as the River Preacher, who leads the community in daily
rites on the shores of Kallas Lake. Those who do not wish
to take part in Hanspur’s worship, hear the words of his
followers, or pay for knowledgeable guidance through
the River Kingdoms are advised not to linger in Riverton
beyond the briefest stop to resupply, as these worshipers
of the Water Rat are as unpredictable as any.
南部地区经过苍翠的森林和河域诸国便是错落有致的赛伦河南部,那里的水流变得缓慢,树木也变得不那么尖利,这里是安多安,伽尔特和塔尔多的疆域。
貝利斯:这是半个多世纪之前建立在安多安东部边境以对抗塔尔多的小镇,然后赛伦河作为中立地区互不干涉,虽然实际上双方都颇有微词。貝利斯以蜂蜜、蜂蜡和蜂蜜酒闻名,是林邊市下游一座著名的旅游城市。当然伐木聯合公司也在这里肆无忌惮地砍伐树木,而赛伦河两岸的人民都认为这是对自然生态的掠夺,频繁的伐木活动加剧了維杜蘭森林的德鲁伊们的怒火,一些人担心这会引发冲突并危机出行。
海姆巴瑞亞森林:海姆巴瑞亞森林南部是一片长满了橡树,白蜡树和山梨树的树海,这里是伽尔特难民逃避紅色革命的避风港,也是一些商讨阴谋的秘密会议的绝佳地点。在伽尔特贵族被推翻前,他们有些人会在这里建立狩猎小屋以进行打猎游戏进食奢华的晚餐。而今这些狩猎小屋大多已经变成了革命士兵的根据地,或是被废黜的贵族的避难所。
雅倫威島:这里是赛伦河与維杜蘭岔流的交汇处,是苍翠信仰的聚集地。这是塔尔多因与德鲁伊于AR3841签署的叢林條約而划分出的岛屿,这里驻守着一队塔尔多河卫哨兵。通过这里的船只通常会停驻让友好的德鲁伊祝福他们的船只。每年一位塔尔多大使都会访问这里重申双方的和平条约,并以种子交换一些木头,而这对于一些迷信的船长而言是运气的象征,他们会为此付出高昂的代价(比如高昂的价格或政治代价)
Shaping Bluffs:这段两英里长的陡峭红石悬崖是五王山脉在赛伦河上最为凸显的地方。这里的名字来源于这里不规则的地貌让然看上去像是一张张人脸,而走私犯,河道和一些可疑分子经常会藏匿于此。他们会在退潮时将小船推入水中—经由一些水下通道到达里面密闭的石窟中。但其实这有一定的风险,因为没有人知道什么时候这些通道才会再次打开。但幸运的是Shaping Bluffs并不是完全封闭,这里总是会给里面的居民留下足够的空气。
这里还居住着一个矮人的石头萨满部落,借由持续的土魔法维持他们的家园。他们戍守这里并且巡逻解决那些恶棍,但他们主要是为了与这里的石头精魂交流以了解这一切是怎么形成的。虽然有各种猜测,但是无人知晓矮人们的真实想法。
林邊市:这里是哲学与各种政见的温床,也是伽尔特红色革命建筑师之一Darl Jubannich的故乡。贵族,不法分子和和见不得人的人都在这里煽动着夺权的计划。和多数伽尔特人一般,林邊市的人们怀疑外来者,这使其成为了卡拉斯湖与内海之间相当不受欢迎的港口之一。这个港口戒备森严,甚至不乏灰花匠的身影,这里若发现走私需直接交由国家处理,尤其是藏匿贵族或运送他们。尽管这里不为人所喜,但这里也是许多船只进行最后一次补给的地方,然后才能继续在赛伦河上行进。近年来因为探索者协会在这里的出入变得频繁,林邊市分部也在该国的骚乱后再次重启。
劇透 - :
S outherN r egioN
Past the wild forests and patchwork nations of the River
Kingdoms lies the southern Sellen River region, where
the river is a bit slower and the woods are tamer as they
stretch into the nations of Andoran, Galt, and Taldor.
Bellis: Founded just over half a century ago, the small
town of Bellis cements Andoran’s hold on its eastern
borders against Taldor, with the Sellen River serving as a
neutral zone between these two nations that don’t always
see eye to eye. Known for its tradition of apiculture and
the beeswax, honey, and mead that it exports, Bellis is
a favored stop on the trip downriver from Woodsedge.
The town also supports a thriving logging industry,
operated by the unscrupulous Lumber Consortium. The
logging, which many along the Sellen see as an affront
to the region’s natural resources, has increased tensions
with the druids who live in the Verduran Forest on both
sides of the river, leading some to fear that an outright
conflict could arise and jeopardize travel.
Hymbrian Forest: An expanse of oak, ash, and rowan
trees, the Southern Hymbrian Forest is a haven for
Galtan refugees of the Red Revolution as well as an ideal
location for clandestine meetings between conspirators.
Before the aristocracy was overthrown, Galtan nobility
maintained a number of hunting chalets here, from
which they tracked wild game to supplement their
decadent evening repasts. Most of these hunting lodges
now serve as headquarters for revolutionary militias or
as permanent residences for the deposed nobility who
once used them only for pleasure.
Isle of Arenway: Situated at the confluence
of the Sellen River and the westward-
flowing Verduran Fork, the Isle of Arenway
provides a sanctuary for practitioners of
the Green Faith. Set aside by the Taldan
government for the druids’ exclusive
use in the Treaty of the Wildwood
in 3841 ar, the isle houses a lone
Taldan River Guard outpost in
a walled compound that the
guards do not leave. Ships
traveling through the area
often stop to have friendly
druids bless their vessels
before journeying on.
Once a year, a Taldan
envoy visits Arenway
to reaffirm the
peace, exchanging
seeds for a piece
of wood that acts as a
good luck charm for any
superstitious ship captain
who can obtain such a
token (often at a very high
monetary or political price).
Shaping Bluffs: This 2-mile
stretch of steep red stone bluffs
occupies a portion of the Five Kings
Mountains’ small but notable stretch
along the Sellen River. Taking their name
from the strange phenomenon that
reshapes the face of the bluffs at erratic
intervals, the Shaping Bluffs often
provide refuge to smugglers, pirates,
and other people who
wish to remain unfound.
Criminals and other suspicious folk often move small
ships into water-level caves along the bluffs and hide
within sealed-off grottoes when the face of the bluffs
closes them in. Such hideouts pose risks, however,
because one can never know when or if the chamber will
ever open again, or whether it will close soon enough to
provide an effective refuge. Luckily for all of those who
explore or hide in these caves, the bluffs never seem
to fully encase creatures in solid rock, always leaving
pockets of air around foreign objects and inhabitants
when they shift.
A cadre of dwarven stone shamans
has taken up residence in small,
semipermanent nooks in the bluffs,
maintaining their homes through the
use of sustained earth magic. They
observe the bluffs and patrol them for
miscreants, but primarily the dwarves
commune with the spirits of the stone
in an effort to understand how and why
the bluffs act as they do. Despite much
speculation, no one knows the dwarves’
true motivations.
Woodsedge: A hotbed of philosophy
and dissident thought, this city was home
to Darl Jubannich, one of the architects of
Galt’s Red Revolution. Nobility, outlaws, and
those in disgrace all rub
shoulders here, fomenting
schemes to wrest power
from those who hold it—no
matter who that might be. Like
most Galtans, the citizens of
Woodsedge are suspicious
of outsiders, making it a
rather unwelcoming port
of call between Kallas Lake
and the Inner Sea. The
docks are heavily guarded by
government agents, including
the Gray Gardeners, and the punishment
for smuggling—especially smuggling people
wanted by the state, and in particular,
nobles in hiding or on the run—is steep.
Despite its off-putting demeanor, the city
nevertheless provides many vessels with
one last chance to resupply before they
undertake the next leg of their journeys
up or down the Sellen. In recent years, the
Pathfinder Society has traveled to and
from the city with increased regularity,
as Woodsedge Lodge was reopened
after being abandoned during the riots
that tore the
country apart.