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The Empire

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This article describes the history and background of the Empire of man. See the article Order of the Griffon for information about the Imperial army of WAR.

Of the human nations in the Old World, the most important by far is that of the Empire, forged by the man-god Sigmar from the primitive tribes who inhabited the lands of the southern Empire two and a half millennia ago. Although not as skilled in craftsmanship as the Dwarfs or in magic as the High Elves, the Empire is not held back by tradition to the extent of the Dwarfs or Elves and continues to progress. Having yet to succumb to any threat, external or internal. It is the faith, the sense of righteousness, and the indomitable spirit of its citizens which gives the Empire strength, as well as the organisation and ruthless efficiency of its military and religious orders.

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[edit] Overview and History

The greatest nation of the Old World, the Empire is ruled by the Emperor and is composed of the descendants of the ancient tribes united by Sigmar after the Battle of Black Fire Pass. Sigmar was deified after the battle and his promise of eternal aid to the kingdom of Dwarfs still stands today. This action solidified the relationship between men and Dwarfs and planted the seeds for the burgeoning Empire through trade. Today, the Empire is led by Emperor Karl Franz, who rules from his court in the city-state of Altdorf.

There are ten provinces in the Empire, each ruled by an Elector Count who owe their power to the unifying figurehead of the Emperor. It should be noted that the Empire is not a single nation, but a confederation of individual states brought together out of a shared language, religion and culture. The states correspond roughly to the ancient territories brought together by Sigmar when he united the tribes of man.

The southern states - Averland, Reikland, Stirland, Talabecland and Wissenland - resemble a broad chalice, partially surrounded by near-impassable mountain ranges from which drain the mighty rivers which are the lifeblood of Imperial trade. To the west of these are the Grey Mountains, beyond which lies Bretonnia and the forest of Athel Loren. To the south are the inhospitable Black Mountains and to the east the Worlds Edge Mountains mark the extent of the Old World.

To the north, the rolling hills and rapid streams of the south and east are gradually transformed into the forested lowlands and deep waterways at the heart of the Empire. The vast forests at the Heart of the Empire stretch almost unbroken across the countless leagues from Reikland to the northern border with Kislev and the shore of the Sea of Claws. The Great Forest, Drakwald Forest and the Forest of Shadows are essentially part of the same dark, untamed wilderness, with the green blanket of trees punctured only by the abrupt mountain range known as the Middle Mountains. These lands are divided into the northern states - Hochland, Ostermark, Ostland, Middenland and Nordland. The inhabitants of these northern states generally have to deal with much greater hardships than those of the south, being that much closer to the Chaos Wastes.

The life of a citizen of the Empire is a perilous one, for there are foes within every shadow and enemies around every corner. Secret cults abound, or at the very least, there are rumors of them running rampant. No one is certain who is trustworthy, and fear and paranoia are omnipresent in the isolated settlements that dot the Empire's provinces.

[edit] Religion

The spiritual health of the Empire is tended to by the Cult of Sigmar, but many other deities are worshipped openly by Imperial citizens. The names of Morr, Shallya, Verena, Taal and Rhya are all invoked on a daily basis, and in Middenland it is fair to say that the worship of Ulric comes before even Sigmar, and in Talabecland, the worship of Taal and Rhya is certainly equal to that of Sigmar.

[edit] Locations of Interest

[edit] Cities of the Empire

*Appears in WAR.

[edit] Provinces

The Electoral Provinces of The Empire.

*Appears in WAR.

[edit] Former Provinces

Former provinces of the Empire and other areas of note.

  • Solland - Was destroyed and its land absorbed by Wissenland.
  • Westerland - Seceded from the Empire. Now known as the Wasteland.
  • Sylvania - Former province now a part of Stirland.
  • Drakwald - A founding province located near the center of the Drakwald Forest, now divided up between Middenland and Nordland.
  • Sudenland

[edit] Other regions

  • The Great Forest - A large forest which encompasses much of The Empire's territory.

[edit] The Empire in the Age of Reckoning

As the Empire rots from within, it is constantly under assault from without. Chaos warhosts from the north frequently travel south into the Empire, pillaging and destroying all that they can. In the Age of Reckoning, such a warhost has attacked the Empire's northern borders under the leadership of a powerful Champion of Tzeentch. The timing of the invasion is particularly ill-fortuned, for the Empire is being ravaged by a mysterious Chaos plague that is transforming the populace into murderous fiends. Portents of the end of times are everywhere, towns and cities lie in smoking ruins, and the greatest nation of mankind is on the verge of sliding into anarchy.

Against this backdrop of certain doom, humanity unites to fight against the corruption from within and the encroachment from without. Faced with such desperate circumstances, Emperor Karl Franz has been forced to call upon the Dwarfs and High Elves for aid, lest his lands be transformed forever into a nightmarish domain of Chaos. He has personally overseen the creation of the Order of the Griffon, an organization solely dedicated to fighting the invading forces of the Raven Host. The members of the Order have been charged with the task of ensuring the very survival of the Empire itself.

[edit] External Links

Map of the regions and cities of The Empire

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