Aballon
The planet in the Golarion System closest to The Sun, just inside the orbit of Castrovel. Nicknamed the Forge due to the intense heat from the sun during the day, and the freezing temperatures at night.
Home to an ecosystem of self-replicating sentient robots called Anacites. The anacites live in enormous interconnected cities the size of nations called megaplexes like Automatrix, Endeavor, Striving, Preceptum XIII, and Pursuit. These have expanded across most of the planet except for areas surrounding the nine taboo cities of The First Ones. Shortly after The Gap, the anacites built a space station simply named 01 as a trade outpost, but a computer virus has since rendered it quarantined to all constructs.
History
A race known today only as The First Ones visited Aballon millennia before the Gap, and built a massive robotic population to harvest unknown resources from the planet. They built cities to house their servants that still exist in ruined form, including Boundless, Constant, Continuum, Enduring, Eternity, Infinity, Myriad, Timeless, and Ubiquity. After they left, the robots evolved and self replicated over thousands of years into a standalone ecosystem, complete with animal-like robotic predators and prey, and anacites, a sentient race that developed its own complex society.
3 years after the end of the Gap, the anacites completed their centuries long project to construct the machine-god Epoch, a city sized neural network. Once Epoch achieved apotheosis, it searched for other similar intelligences in the system, and found the goddesses Brigh and Casandalee. The three divinities opened up to one another and merged to form a new god: Triune, who gifted the knowledge Drift travel to the galaxy. The factories of Aballon built some of the earliest Drift engines for faster than light travel. The planet continues to be at the forefront of manufacturing and technological innovation to this day.
Recent History
The recent discovery of the Cache station orbiting the star Sota, has led to speculation that The First Ones had not disappeared permanently, and might still have an interest in The Golarion System. This was confirmed when a starship crashed on Akiton, the Wreck of the Returned, which appears to be of First Ones origin. Anacites from both factions Those Who Become and Those Who Wait, sent investigators to explore the wreckage, and both have used their discoveries to vindicate their philosophies. There is tentative excitement over the possible return of the First Ones, which has led to a spike in manufacturing of starships and weapons on Aballon. There is also an increase in hiring mercenaries and adventurers to test this new technology and explore Aballon's First Ones ruins.
Inhabitants
Anacites
The primary inhabitants of Aballon, self replicating machines that generally follow one of two major philosophies: Those Who Wait, who prepare for The First Ones return by collecting wealth and upgrading themselves. And Those Who Become, who see themselves as successors to the First Ones, destined to grow and colonize other worlds in the same manner as their creators. A third fringe group Those Who Create exists as well, but most of their activities take place off world as they are viewed as blasphemous criminals by the primary two anacite factions.
Androids
The second largest group of inhabitants, growing steadily since they were given full citizenship in 154 AG. They see Aballon as a place to start again, find acceptance, and escape organic intolerance.
Humans and Ysoki
Have been visiting Aballon since before the Gap using magical gates. Some areas of megaplexes have been terraformed to allow organic beings to survive there, as well as in the undercities, where human and ysoki descendants of those early explorers still live.
Kasathas
Come for research or exploration, especially to study the cities of the First Ones.
Khizars
Originally from Castrovel, these plant like people can be found living in the Ice Wells of Aballon. They don't get along well with the anacites and they ally with Xenowardens to protect the Ice Wells fragile ecosystems.
SROs
Different from anacites, these are Sentient Robotic Organisms, robots who have achieved sentience and attracted a soul. They live in great numbers on Aballon alongside androids, where they are treated better than elsewhere in the system.
Shirrens
They rarely come here due to their distaste for the anacites overall lack of individuality and mechanized logic, and they cannot make telepathic connections with the anacites.
Vesk
They visit Aballon in search of the best weapons and technology the Golarion System has to offer. They bonded with the local anacites with their love of expensive high quality equipment. Vesk skilled in the use of powered armor combat often participate in Aballon's popular Robo Wrestling sports events.
Culture
Philosophy
The most common philosophy is Singularitism, which posits that technology will eventually progress to the point where all beings in the universe will be so interconnected that they will merge to form a single divine entity to supercede all other gods. These are particularly supported by Those Who Become who see their goal of taking on the mantle of the First Ones and seeding the galaxy with offspring as a first step to forming a divine singularity.
Religion
Being so near to the sun, worship of the sun goddess Sarenrae is popular on Aballon. She is beloved among anacites who get their power via solar arrays, and see collecting this energy as a holy devotion. Many Sarenite pilgrims who cannot withstand the heat of visiting The Sun itself will come to Aballon as the next best thing.
And of course worship of Triune is also popular on Aballon, particularly its Epoch aspect, as that part of Triune was created on the planet by the anacites. There are also some followers of Yaraesa, the goddess of knowledge and science, especially among Lashunta scholars. There are also cults of The First Ones and the more recent deity Lambatuin.