Sun

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Sun
The Rune of the Sun
(Cosmos)
Titles The Burning Mother
Type Star
Adjective Solar
Diameter x100
Mass x300,000
Gravity x28
Atmosphere None
Orbit n/a
Inhabitants Fire elementals, plasma oozes, Plane of Fire visitors, powerful spellcasters
Satellites The Solar system

The sun, sometimes called the Burning Mother, is a yellow star at the center of Golarion's solar system.[1][2]

Description

Golarion's sun is some hundred times the diameter of Golarion and 300,000 times its mass; its gravity is 28 times that of Golarion. The sun has no atmosphere. It has no solid surface, and generates incredible heat, capable of vaporizing steel even at its coldest point.[2] The sun's intense gravity grows even more powerful near its core, the Starheart.[3]

Gazetteer

The sun shown at the centre of the Cosmic Caravan.

Despite the churning nature of the sun there are some locations of note, though some do move in the convection currents. They include the Burning Archipelago, the Silent Sanctum, the Sleeping Sea, and Starheart.[2]

Inhabitants

The sun is intensely inhospitable, yet some creatures do manage to survive and thrive in the inferno. Native inhabitants include dolphin-like fire elementals that leap and frolic in the burning gases closer to the surface, while deeper in the star, plazma oozes that range in size from elephants to mountains slowly move under the immense pressure. Non-native species enter the sun through temporary portals to the Plane of Fire and include efreet, powerful spellcasters, and salamanders.[2]

Travel by non-natives to the sun

Travel to the surface of the sun or within it is possible, but requires complete immunity to heat and flame. Anyone else is instantly vaporized, and can only be brought back to life through powerful magic spells such as wish or resurrection. In addition, travelers from Golarion must contend with the enormous gravity of the sun along with its intense pressure; strangely, creatures native to the Plane of Fire are not bothered by these effects. To circumvent these hazards, travelers can create vessels similar to diving bells made of pure force using wish magic, or transform themselves into creatures who are not harmed by the environment.[2]

Figurative uses of the Sun

Runic representation

In scholarly works, the sun is sometimes represented by a rune: a circle with a dot at its center.[2]

In Religion

The Sun features in many important roles in theology.

Domains and portfolios

Many deities grant the power of the sun to their worshipers through the Sun domain. They include Aldinach, Iaozrael, Iomedae, Sarenrae, and Shizuru. In addition, three gods and a demon lord hold the sun as part of their portfolio: Easivra, Nurgal, Sarenrae, and Shizuru.[4]Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many

Holy symbols

Three goddesses use solar imagery in their holy symbols:

  • Desna: Butterfly with star, sun, and moon symbols on its wings
  • Iomedae: 'The sword of valour': Elegant longsword with a circular sunburst behind the sword's hilt
  • Shizuru: a stylized sun behind a katana

Other theological references

Some other theological references to the sun that are not included above are:

Other solar references

Non-theological references to the sun also exist, including:

Other suns

There are other suns in addition to that which Golarion orbits, including the myriad of stars seen in the night sky. Notable suns include:

References

For additional resources, see the Meta page.

  1. James L. Sutter. (2008). Into the Black. Children of the Void, p. 48. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-127-5
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 James L. Sutter. (2012). Distant Worlds, p. 5. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-403-0
  3. Ethan Day-Jones, Jim Groves, Jonathan H. Keith, Andrew Romine, David N. Ross, and James L. Sutter. (2014). People of the Stars, p. 5. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-674-4
  4. Sean K Reynolds et al. (2014). Inner Sea Gods, p. 316–326. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-597-6
  5. James Jacobs. (2010). Lords of Chaos, p. 22, 40. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-250-0