 (as of 1457 I)
Rome is the name of the vast metropolis that has grown out of the village where Caesar forged the races into one people. It is also the name of the land which surrounds it. Rome is the home of Sextus Caesar and the Senate. While it has lands surrounding it, the city is not self sufficient and has to import grain to feed its many hungry mouths.
This plain has turned into masses of farms peppered with the odd town. Verindium is the territory given to the humans after the defeat of the orc nation. Its capital, Mortize, is on the border of Rome. The land is self ruled and sends senators to Rome. The population is mostly human although other races coexist with them.
The dwarves renamed their mountains after their fallen God. Deep in the heart of the mountains, dwarves have been transforming a mountain into a monument to Moradin. The mountain's location is a secret and is believed to be filled with the finest examples of dwarven craftsmanship. Construction started centuries ago, however every generation wants to add their own improvements so it may never be finished. The population is mostly dwarven. The mountain range has openings into the Underdark so it is not completely safe. Moradin is self ruled and sends senators to Rome.
The foot hills to Moradin were given to the gnomes. Due to religious friction, relations with Moradin are not the best. While the other race lands have a smattering of other races Green Hills is practically 100% gnomish. The non gnomish citizens are followers of Quillon seeking sanctuary. The gnomes are the worshippers of Quillon (god of mischief) so the Green Hills are a benign anarchy. Gnome senators are sent to Rome by the church of Quillon. There are disturbing reports of gnomes from another dimension called Tinker Gnomes. However, these rumours come from Mystic and are generally ignored.
The halflings were given the gentle hills outside of Rome. The land is a peaceful rural community. Each community sends representatives to a meeting of government each year to iron out problems and arrange to send senators to Rome. Adventurers find Sanctuary mind numbingly boring.
The elves claimed as their homeland the Sylvan Forest. At the time it was smaller, but massive planting operations have extended the forest to the south until it has reached Squall Bay. Some of the Imperium's most senior senators come from the forest. Most humans do not understand why someone who has held a position for decades will stand aside for a relative nobody, but elves tend to look to the long term so they do not hold all of the senior positions in the senate. The elves are ruled by a king or queen. This leadership is for a century and is based on winning a poetry contest. The current ruler is King Redfox Longius, whos reign ends in 1459 I. The forest is full of sylvan creatures such as centaurs.
This country, originally the size of Rome, was dedicated to become the Imperium's garden. Over the centuries it has expanded. This massive work is overseen by the High Priestess of the nature goddess Vitula. The garden has grown so massive with so many workers that towns were created to house them and the many visitors. They also now send senators to Rome. Anyone wishing to contribute to the gardens can if they receive permission. Contributing to the design of the garden increases a person's dignitas. None romans are surprised by how many retired senators move here to build a garden.
This province was founded in 56 I. The Imperium explored the country surrounding it and this farm land was awarded to the legionaries for service. The reason for this generosity was to have a body of trained men between Rome and the barbarians of the north. Constantium has self rule and sends senators to Rome. It has a reputation for having the best military academies.
This barren land has small villages scattered about it. Phrasiol was annexed by the humans of Verindium who found peace did not agree with them. The only good thing about Phrasiol is its rock. Slave colonies mine a variety of rocks for rich men in Verindium. This land is ruled by Verindium's rulers, but there are people who would like to be independent.
As you travel north through Moradin you find a line where the mountains change. Rugged rock changes to mounds of what looks like hard dried mud the size of mountains. This used to be part of the Moradin Mountains, but the dwarves have disowned it. The cause of the change is unknown. It started in 421I and has since spread. A wizard from Mystic claimed to know the reason, but was insulted by the dwarves anti-magic attitude he disappeared without telling anyone in 1432I. The mountains are inhabited by all sorts of monsters, Dwarves avoid them and it is rumoured that dwarven treasure troves still dot the mountains.
This plains land was inhabited by nomads. The Imperium advanced into and captured the land. The land receives a governor from Rome complete with army to watch over the northern barbarians and Spartica. The nomads are hunters, unfortunately the land is fertile so lots of grain farmers have moved in to feed Rome, displacing the animals they used to hunt. While some natives have sort of Romanised themselves, others are still hostile. There are a lot of Mas'hatar slaves.
A long time province of the Imperium Perario has recently become a crisis point. The village of Transia was attacked by Ophelia and her vampire followers in 1427I. Fortunately priests of Minerva launched an attack on the vampires. A significant number of undead still exist in Perario hiding from the large Minerva contingent hunting them down. Perario's usual significance is that it is part of the grain belt.
This land is another part of the grain belt. It has a human/haltling population. The country has massive farming communities. The country has self rule and sends senators to Rome. The western part of Wadican has a monster problem.
This massive land was originally a massive forest. Large areas near Green Hills have been cleared. Paths have been hacked through to Squall Bay. The towns on the bay are ship builders and have mariner populations. Juridicus is not home ruled. The reason is elven opposition in the senate. There is a significant military presence near Mystic.
Metelica is famous for its seaside resorts where the rich from Rome flee to in the winter. It is the choice holiday resort in the area. It has home rule and sends senators to Rome.
This land was discovered in 785I. The Galwains worship 'the one true God' Morast. Seeing the Imperium worshipped false gods they were whipped into a jihad and launched an attack on the Imperium. Over the next fourteen years the Imperium first beat back the Galwains then invaded their country. All the temples to Morast were destroyed and the citizens were forced to join the Imperium or become slaves. The religion of Morast still exists underground and its followers still commit terrorist acts in his name. The Imperium always has a governor and a standing army present as the natives are still not totally controlled.
Barnival is famous for its wine and gourmets, some would say gluttons. This lands only real problem is terrorists from Galwain. They have home rule and send senators to Rome.
Erascova is a land of primitive farmers. The Erascovians contacted the Imperium requesting to become a province in 1436I. The reason was due to raids from the barbarians to the north. The Erascovians received military protection, but rumour has it they have had trouble with corrupt officials.
Zeeda is a human country which is not part of the Imperium. Zeeda is surrounded by mountains on all sides. The Imperials only discovered them while exploring by boat. The Zeedans are a very civilised people, but in recent years their economy has taken a nose dive Some Zeedans even sell themselves into slavery as tutors in the hope of improving their lot.
Losendeha is an elven land. The central area is a large forest which has wild elf natives. On the outskirts of the forest are Imperial style villas of the more civilised elves. Common belief has it that there is a portal between Losendeha and Sylvan forest. This land has self rule and sends senators to Rome.
Korshan is an independent state. They Korshanese are looked at with suspicion by the Imperium as they are suspected of harbouring pirates. They have a truce with the humanoids of The Claw.
This land is called the Claw by the Imperium due to its shape and its inhabitants. It is ruled by a mishmash of humanoid tribes. They are responsible for a navy of humanoid pirate ships and have temples to the evil gods in the heart of the land.
Sumaria although technically under Imperium rule is a lawless state. Gold has been struck in the Sumaran hills. Prospectors have rushed to the land hoping to make a fortune. Due to various wars the land is not heavily patrolled and in a state of near anarchy.
Parthia is a rugged unpleasant land. There are only villages on the roads going through Parthia. However it is not uninhabited. Parthia is actually an ancient dwarven kingdom. Under the land are extensive networks of passages and strongholds. Fortunately a dwarven senator was present at the first encounter with Parthian Dwarves. The Imperium has their permission to build roads and necessary infrastructure around them, but few non dwarves are welcome underground due to the treasure seekers of the past. There is a Parthian ambassador who deals with any business with over landers.
Afranius is a military colony set up with the retired legions of Lucius Claudius Afranius Pontifex Maximus. This was done in 1382I. The colony is ruled by Afranius's grandson Lucius Claudius Rex. Afranius has self rule, but does not send senators to Rome, although Claudius Rex has men lobbying in the Senate. Afranius is loyal to Rome and has strong ties with Constantium due to the combined operations against the barbarians to the north.
Kweeden is an independent country surrounded on all sides by the Imperium and barbarians. It is a client state of Rome. Kweeden is noted for its worship of snakes. Visitors are warned there are a couple of nasty underground cults. Kweedens frequently paint themselves with snake like images and have rather unnerving stares.
The province of Zurchan has great mineral wealth. Its people are also great merchants, so it is a rich land. They are considered very arrogant and it is a common insult to compare their manners unfavourably to an orcs. They are self ruled and send senators to Rome.
This land is famous for its sturdy timbers. They apparently do a lot of trade with Mystic. The Optimians are the originators of the rumours that Zurchan will secede. They also believe that Zurchan will try to engulf them to gain access to the Red Sea. They are part of the Imperium and send senators to Rome. They have yet to receive help and are considered paranoid.
Hadrina is a relatively new province set up to guard Zurchan, Optimus and the Imperium from the Wild lands. It is ruled by a governor and has a very bloody history. The natives are mostly from freedman families who were offered land so they could help feed the legions. Hadrinans are an independent lot and believe they are considered expendable by the senators of Rome. The capital is Korsail.
This great tract of land is a big question mark. The land by the water and its borders shows no sign of habitation. A significant proportion of explorers never return. There is apparently the ruins of a city somewhere. Some explorers discovered the body of another explorer, his body covered in strange gold jewellery of no known civilisation.
This inland sea was the sight of the first Imperial/Humanoid war in the area in 1172I. The humanoids then had an armada of bizarre ships, which was of course massacred. The elven admiral looked over the stained waters and named it. The Red Sea is linked to the Border Sea by a massive canal of unknown origin. It was obviously constructed.
This area is ruled by Gruumush's followers. Its borders, leaders and cartography remain a mystery. Despite the name the land has a very mixed bag of humanoids as natives.
The further north it gets the colder it gets. These lands are ruled by strange nomadic barbarians who dress in furs and ride bears(?). A number of wars have been fought with them, mostly caused by Imperial greed. The barbarians have retreated and tend to avoid Imperials. There are several tribes of barbarians but they are generally just lumped together.
This country was formed in 1319I when Centurian Siccius led a mutiny and seized the land. At the time Caesar stopped any retaking of land. It have become a haven for criminals from the Imperium, but the brigands are unfortunately too entrenched to destroy. Spartica has been making overtures of peace recently due to fear of Ophelia's activities.
This cold barren land is ruled by Ophelia and her undead servants. The evil gods are presumably worshipped here. A wall was built to keep the undead out of the Imperium. The side facing Ophelia's land is covered with religious symbols. Since her return in 1427I and the attack on Transia Ophelia has been relatively quiet. From time to time the nearby lands report grave robbing. The borders of this land are patrolled by skeletal soldiers.
Moonshadow is not a country. After the undead attacked Transia in 1427I Caesar sent senator Lily Moonshadow Orcus (of the orcs, it means she has killed a lot of them) an ancient elf senator who has been counsel ten times. Moonshadow promptly used magicians capable of flying to find land where a wall could be effective, then instructed engineers to build it and called up local priests to bless the construction. She then spent five years defending the wall and tracking down any undead on the Imperial side of the wall, before returning to Rome in 1432I. The military are the only living community in Moonshadow.
Dekensia is a client state of the Imperium. It is an old land which was originally an enemy of the Imperium. They have since sued for peace. Dekensia is a land of contrasts, it leaders are flamboyantly wealthy, while everyone else is painfully poor.
Northern Crotal is rich farmland, but the southern half is full of swamps. Criminals and monsters are believed to live in the swamps. This land is part of the Imperium and has home rule and sends senators to Rome.
This area is made up of a lot of city states whose main business is fishing. Piracy is common in this area.
Originally part of Crotal in 1399 I a massive dishevel caused this huge piece of land to plummet down a mile into the earth. No Roman has since tried to enter the land due to superstitious fears (except for people looking for survivors or remains of loved ones just after the fall).
This land was reclaimed from the barbarians to the south. The land always has a governor to keep the natives in line and to stop the barbarians coming north. In 1452I a boat from Zakhara washed up on the shore. The governor sent some men over the Serrasail Sea to Zakhara (using maps on the boat) to conduct diplomatic greetings. They never came back. He then sent several legions to retrieve his men and a full scale war developed. There are whispers that the Imperials are not completely innocent in starting the war.
Mystic was founded in llllI by the Arch Magi Vincent Algoth. He apparently found a spring of magic which makes the wizards of Mystic more powerful. The Imperium launched several attacks on Mystic which were easily repelled. In 1116I a peace treaty was signed. Mystic has closed its borders to all comers. They are believed to be guarded by dragons and other monsters. Although an ally of the Imperium, the Imperium only benefit seems to be a wizard adviser to Caesar. The enigmatic wizards of Mystic are feared throughout the Imperium. Calmer heads say that if they wanted to conquer anything they would have done so by now.
Very little is known about this land. The Imperium has only encountered the northern border. South of the Sea of Jonah the sea is incredibly rough. No one has ever sailed from the Sea of Jonah to the Serrasail Sea. The warriors of these tribes are female.
Formally Mystic and Zeeda were joined by land. The land was destroyed during the war between the gods. All that is left are a few islands dotted around the area. In the centre of the area the water is believed to be red coloured. Rumour has it a person who is diseased or infirm who bathes in th water is cured of their illness. The only people who live in the area are priests of Jonah. In 524I Caesar passed a law allowing only the priests and those they welcome into the area on pain of death.
This strange desert land is at war with the Imperium. Mamellius has landed a bridgehead here five years ago. It was originally much larger, but over the years the Imperium has been beaten back. |
 
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Design © 1997 | Last Revised November 2001 Contact us: Michelle Wilcox and Vanessa Vincent. |