Starfinder 2nd Edition - Chapter 3: The Pact Worlds

Source: Archives of Nethys - SF2E Chapter 3: The Pact Worlds

Overview

Chapter 3 covers the Pact Worlds setting, beginning with "the Gap"—a mysterious three-century-old event that erased history and caused collective amnesia across the galaxy. The setting exists 325 years After Gap (AG), following this catastrophic event.

The Gap

"The Gap erased an entire era from history" approximately three centuries ago. Records are scrambled or nonexistent, and affected individuals experienced collective amnesia. Neither magic nor technology can bridge this broken timeline, and deities refuse to divulge information about it.

During this catastrophic event, civilizations changed or vanished entirely. The planet Golarion disappeared, replaced by Absalom Station with the legendary Starstone fused to its core reactor.

"Records for this missing time are scrambled or nonexistent, and people who lived through the Gap experienced a collective amnesia about its events."

Timeline of Key Events

0 AG: The Gap occurs; the modern era begins; planet Golarion vanishes; Absalom Station appears with the Starstone fused to its core
3 AG: Triune's Signal enables Drift discovery and hyperspace travel
41 AG: The Pact Worlds unify into a collective defense alliance after conflict with the Veskarium
324 AG: Planet Aucturn hatches, birthing the Newborn godling and creating the Gelid Edge
325 AG: Current campaign year

Lost Golarion

Pre-Gap Golarion was the presumed birthplace of humans, ysoki, dwarves, goblins, halflings, hobgoblins, and orcs. Its theological significance derived from two features: Golarion's core imprisoned Rovagug, a forgotten destruction deity; the Starstone artifact allowed worthy mortals to achieve divinity. The deity Iomedae ascended via the Starstone and remains widely worshipped.

"At some point during the Gap, Golarion disappeared, and Absalom Station appeared in its place." Current knowledge confirms Golarion still exists in seclusion, unreachable by magic or science, with its descendants surviving safely. The Knights of Golarion honor Iomedae's legacy in the modern age.

The Starstone

This miraculous artifact enabled mortals to achieve divinity through passing its tests. The Starstone believed located at Absalom Station's core is "the very same Starstone that was once located on Lost Golarion," though none have ascended to divinity post-Gap, breeding conspiracy theories.

Triune and the Drift

The artificial god Triune dispatched the Signal a few years post-Gap, gifting civilizations across the galaxy hyperspace travel innovation through a mysterious dimension called the Drift. Triune's church maintains Drift beacons enabling Drift navigation and galactic messaging. Using Drift engines, inhabitants can traverse vast interstellar distances in days or weeks. Journeys to Absalom Station remain swift due to Starstone properties.

Post-Drift Crisis (approximately 324 AG), Drift lanes emerged as hyperspace highways connecting major ports, enabling even faster travel after adventurers rebooted and stabilized the dimension.

The Pact Worlds System

The core system comprises 11 major planets orbiting Golarion's former sun:

Aballon
Castrovel
Absalom Station - Central hub, easily accessible from anywhere; serves as Pact Worlds anchor
Akiton
Verces
The Diaspora
Eox
Triaxus
Liavara
Bretheda
Apostae

Additionally included as Pact Worlds:

The Idari - Kasatha generation ship
Pulonis - In Near Space (formerly Veskarium-occupied)
The Gelid Edge - Destroyed Aucturn's remnants

The Pact Worlds also include the Brethedan moons.

The Idari

"The Idari—a generation ship built and inhabited by kasathas—is a Pact World," indicating these space-faring people maintain their own mobile civilization within the system.

Pact Standard Time

Pact Standard Time uses a 24-hour day, 7-day week, and 52-week year with leap days every 4 years.

Days of the Week

Firstday (Monday)
Seconday (Tuesday)
Thirday (Wednesday)
Fourthday (Thursday)
Fifthday (Friday)
Sixthday (Saturday)
Seventhday (Sunday)

Months

Days are numbered, and months retain traditional names from pre-Gap Golarion:

Abadius (January)
Calistril (February) - Leap day added to Calistril every 4 years
Pharast (March)
Gozran (April)
Desnus (May)
Sarenith (June)
Erastus (July)
Arodus (August)
Rova (September)
Lamashan (October)
Neth (November)
Kuthona (December)

Day/Night Cycle

Absalom Station maintains 24-hour artificial cycle mirroring Earth standards. Individual planets maintain their own cycles while observing Pact Standard Time for communication/coordination. Beyond Pact Worlds, external societies track their own calendars while maintaining Pact Standard Time knowledge for galactic coordination.

Beyond the Pact Worlds

Near Space

Near Space comprises all worlds whose proximity to Drift beacons enables swift, relatively safe travel. Journey times typically last approximately one week (3d6 days).

The Veskarium

"A mighty interstellar empire of vesk and all the peoples they've conquered" occupying the Ghavaniska System plus distant colonies. Currently at peace with Pact Worlds, warring with the Azlanti Star Empire.

Patron Deity: Damoritosh (war god)

Marixah Republic

Democratic federation sharing ancient Golarion ties with nearby powers; maintains tentative peace amid territorial disputes.

Gideron Authority

Militarized coalition similarly rooted in Golarion heritage.

Szandite Collective

Federation spanning seven worlds across four star systems, linked by ancient magical szandite crystals; currently under Swarm attack.

Notable Independent Worlds in Near Space

Daimalko - Ravaged by colossi
Embroi - Infernally-bound
Tabrid Minor - Polluted
Preluria - Gas giant with anarchic settlements

The Vast

The Vast encompasses everything beyond Near Space's Drift beacon-dense regions. These worlds are dangerous, infrequently traveled, and often uncharted. Travel times range from weeks to months (5d6 days). Destinations include isolated planets, uncharted worlds, fledgling colonies, mining enterprises, ancient ruins, and stellar anomalies.

Azlanti Star Empire

"A tyrannical, human-centric regime" centered on New Thespera and Aristia System, conquering 11+ solar systems through expansion. Recent coup toppled the Ixomander dynasty, sparking war with Veskarium.

Patron Deity: Lissala (goddess of duty, obedience, service rewards)

Scoured Stars

Trinary system recently explored by Starfinder Society; under jealous god Kadrical's protection.

Jinsul Hierocracy

"A xenophobic war machine of vicious jinsuls intent on scouring the galaxy of all sentient life not originating in the Scoured Stars."

Kazmurg's Absurdity

Recently opened sector where interstellar travel is broken, requiring old-fashioned star charts.

Other Notable Sites in The Vast

Elytrio - Radioactive wasteland
Lajok - Mysterious ruins orbiting reborn sun
Shadari Confederacy - Criminal haven near Azlanti fringe

Planar Information

The Inner Sphere

"The planes of the Inner Sphere form the heart of the cosmos." They form nested shells containing elemental planes (fire, earth, metal, water, wood, air), mortal galaxies of the Universe, and at the core, Creation's Forge and the Void overlapping the Universe.

Transitive Planes

These planes coexist with other planes, functioning as passages between realms:

The Drift

"Mysterious one-way connections to every plane," accessible via technology from Universe inhabitants.

Ethereal Plane

Overlaps Inner Sphere planes.

Astral Plane

"Borders every other plane in existence like the backstage of the cosmos."

First World

Bright mirror overlapping mortal world.

Netherworld

Dark mirror overlapping mortal world.

Outer Sphere Planes

"The planes of the Outer Sphere are the manifest realms of philosophy: good and evil, order and change, faith." Populated by celestials, fiends, and monitors promoting moral concepts. The Boneyard's spire serves as judgment location for mortal souls, determining their final destinations.

Planar Traits

Scope Traits

Finite

Limited spatial extent.

Immeasurable

Immensely large, possibly infinite.

Unbounded

Loops back upon reaching edges.

Gravity Traits

Normal

Standard planetary gravity.

High Gravity

Doubled creature/object bulk
Halved movement
Reduced jump distances
Ranged attacks limited to third increment
Fall damage equals distance fallen

Low Gravity

Halved bulk
Doubled carrying capacity and jumping
Ranged attacks reach twelfth increment
First 10 feet of falls cause no damage, then quarter-damage

Microgravity

Creatures float unless pushing off surfaces.

Strange Gravity

All sufficiently-large masses serve as gravity centers with equal force.

Subjective Gravity

Gravity centers determined by non-mindless creature will; enables pseudo-flight via Fly action.

Time Traits

Normal

Time flows identically to Universe.

Erratic

Time fluctuates unpredictably via DC 11 flat check:

Success = normal
Failure = 1 hour = 1 day
Critical failure = 1 round = 1 day

Flowing

Consistently faster/slower time flow.

Timeless

Time passes without hunger, thirst, aging, natural healing effects; retroactive effects occur upon departure.

Morphic Traits

Normal

Objects remain unchanged without physical force/magic.

Metamorphic

Changes occur via non-physical/magical means.

Sentient

Plane changes according to its own whims.

Static

Visitors cannot affect living residents or their carried objects; protective spells become ineffective.

Planar Essence Traits

Air

Open spaces; breathable but potentially toxic atmospheres; difficult for earth creatures.

Earth

Mostly solid; suffocation risks without air pockets; uncomfortable for air creatures.

Fire

Continually burning flames; flammable materials ignite; creatures take 1d6 persistent fire damage; extraplanar creatures suffer moderate environmental damage per round.

Metal

Chaotic shifting metal structures/oceans; plentiful air pockets; disconcerting for wood creatures.

Water

Mostly liquid; aquatic combat rules apply; fire spells/actions become impossible.

Wood

Trees and flora in organic patterns; generally non-hostile.

Shadow

Umbral murky light; light source radii halved.

Void

Vast empty reaches; living creatures take minimum minor void environmental damage per round (death trait); killed creatures become ash/wraiths.

Vitality

Intense life energy; undead creatures take minimum minor vitality damage per round; living creatures regain HP equal to undead damage (excess becomes temporary HP); explosive consequence if temporary HP exceeds maximum.

Quintessence

Philosophically aligned material constituting Outer Planes; conforms to powerful prevailing beliefs.

Religion and Deities

"Many individuals in the universe pay homage to at least one deity," whether species-associated or possessing broader galactic reach. Some worship local pantheons, such as elves of Sovyrian, while others venerate distinct philosophies like vesk battle saints. Deities receive worship across countless worlds, sometimes adopting different identities.

Core Deities

Commonly worshipped in Pact Worlds or significantly important to the setting:

Iomedae

Ascended via Starstone; widely worshipped by humans; honored by Knights of Golarion.

Damoritosh

War god; Veskarium patron deity.

Lissala

Goddess of duty, obedience, service rewards; Azlanti Star Empire patron.

Triune

Artificial god; dispatched the Signal; maintains Drift beacon infrastructure.

The Newborn

Godling birthed when planet Aucturn hatched (324 AG).

Kadrical

Jealous god protecting Scoured Stars.

Desna

Goddess associated with the galaxy name "Desna's Path."

Rovagug

Forgotten destruction deity imprisoned in pre-Gap Golarion's core.

Faiths and Philosophies

Faith expressions extend beyond single-deity veneration. Alternative nondeific religions and philosophies exist without external godheads providing benefits to devotees, though specific examples remain undescribed in the source material provided.

Factions and Organizations

Stewards

"Battle-trained diplomats" providing mutual defense across Pact Worlds; recruit from allied planets/protectorates; operate from Bastion on Absalom Station.

Knights of Golarion

Modern organization ritually honoring Iomedae's Starstone legacy.

Starfinder Society

Recently explored Scoured Stars; maintains protective purview over that region.

Notes

This chapter provides comprehensive setting information for the Pact Worlds and the broader galaxy of Starfinder 2nd Edition. For additional details about specific planets, organizations, and locations, consult the full GM Core or other Starfinder sourcebooks.