Outsea

From PathfinderWiki
Outsea
Outsea.
(City)

Plane
World
Nation
Size
Small city
Population
6,700
Demographics
Merfolk 34%, sedacthy 36%, human 20%, elf 5%, other 5%
Government
Council
Alignment
Demonym
Outsears
Adjective
Outsea or Outsear
Ruler
Source: Guide to the River Kingdoms, pg(s). 34ff.

Outsea is a town in the River Kingdoms containing farmland, swampland, rivers, and canals. Its citizens include both aquatic species as well as air-breathers. Military service is mandated for all water-breathers and a few landlubbers serve in respected voluntary battalions. Locks and gates separate freshwater and salt water, preventing the districts from flowing into each other. Beneath the waterline, coral reefs and seaweed form underwater structures. Fish, octopuses, and other aquatic animals are prevalent. Mages of Outsea are known for their strong tradition of practicing water magic. Unique spells of merfolk and sedacthy1 origins can be found only in this kingdom.2

Government

The city of Outsea, as well as its holdings on land and at sea, are ruled by the Council of Generals. The council represents each of the sentient aquatic races of Outsea and all members are generals in the military. Landlubbers are represented by an advisory circle, which makes requests to the Council of Generals regarding their interests.2

History

Outsea was created when a force of ceratioidi mercenaries traveled through the Sellen River to make war on enemy merfolk. However, their magic failed and they and other saltwater races were trapped in an area of magical brine, deep in the center of the River Kingdoms.3

Inhabitants and society

Outsea is rather unique among settlements of water-breathing races due to the large number of separate species that coexist peacefully within it. Although many are descended from races that are traditionally inimical to each other, or openly hostile to most other species, the centuries of forced cooperation required to maintain their small pocket of sea among the freshwaters of the Sellen watershed has resulted in most of Outsea's residents being willing to live peacefully with each other and work alongside both air-breathers and former enemies. The resulting peaceful and mixed society can be very strange to those used to the more typical behaviors and hostilities among sea-dwelling races.2

Besides the merfolk and sedacthy majorities, Outsea is also home to marine nagas, tritons, sea hags, ceratioidi, and small populations of chuul, gillmen, and ulat-kinis.2

Ceratioidi are in the minority of Outsea's population, but they resemble Danglosa, the rarely seen angler fish god-ruler of Outsea. As a result, the ceratioidi are held in high respect by other residents of Outsea.3

References

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

  1. Paizo referred to sedachtys as sahuagins and sea devils until the publication of Monster Core.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 China Miéville. Outsea” in Guide to the River Kingdoms, 34–37. Paizo Inc., 2010
  3. 3.0 3.1 Adam Daigle, et al. “Bestiary” in Rivers Run Red, 80–81. Paizo Inc., 2010