The Empire at a Glance: Organized Chaos
The Empire of Man is the largest human nation in the Old World, which is like being the tallest building in a city that's on fire. Founded by Sigmar Heldenhammer over 2,000 years ago, it's a collection of semi-independent provinces held together by tradition, mutual enemies, and the desperate hope that tomorrow won't be worse than today.
graph TD
A[The Empire] --> B[Electoral Provinces]
A --> C[Great Cities]
A --> D[The Emperor]
B --> E[Elector Counts]
C --> F[Altdorf, Nuln, Middenheim, Talabheim]
D --> G[Karl Franz Currently]
E --> H[Vote for Emperor]
F --> I[Proud and Prickly]
G --> J[Herds Cats]
H --> K[Usually Corrupt]
I --> L[Constant Politics]
J --> M[Good Luck!]
The Electoral System: Democracy with Swords
The Great Provinces: Where You'll Probably Die
Major Cities: Centers of Civilization (Sort Of)
Imperial Law: Justice with a Hammer
graph TD
A[Imperial Justice System] --> B[Roadwardens]
A --> C[City Watch]
A --> D[Witch Hunters]
A --> E[Local Lords]
B --> F[Patrol roads<br/>Rarely effective]
C --> G[Keep peace<br/>Take bribes]
D --> H[Burn heretics<br/>Ask questions later]
E --> I[Whatever they want<br/>Usually hanging]
F --> J[Justice?]
G --> J
H --> J
I --> J
J --> K[Usually death]
Languages and Dialects: Talking Your Way to Trouble
Imperial Culture: Paranoia as a Lifestyle
Core Imperial Values:
- Sigmar Above All: The state religion dominates (Ulric in the north)
- Fear the Mutant: Burn first, ask questions never
- Trust No One: Your neighbor might be a cultist
- Work Until Death: Then work some more (necromancy)
- Obey Your Betters: They have bigger swords
- Education is Suspicious: Unless you're rich
- Magic is Terrifying: Even legal magic
The Imperial Calendar: Measuring Doom
Common Threats by Province
Regional Danger Guide:
- Reikland: Cultists, political intrigue, occasional beastmen
- Middenland: Beastmen, forest spirits, Chaos warbands
- Stirland: Undead, vampires, poverty, more undead
- Averland: Greenskins from Black Fire Pass, bandits
- Ostland: Forest monsters, Norse raiders, isolation
- Wissenland: Skaven, industrial accidents, decadent nobles
- Nordland: Norse raiders, sea monsters, dark forests
- Hochland: Beastmen, harsh winters, wolf packs
- Talabecland: Beastmen, isolation, suspicious locals
- Ostermark: Chaos from north, undead from east
Living in the Empire: A Survival Guide
Daily Life Tips:
- Pay your taxes: Or face the consequences
- Attend temple: Be seen being pious
- Report mutations: Even your own (then run)
- Know your place: Social mobility is suspicious
- Join a guild: Protection through bureaucracy
- Avoid the forests: Nothing good lives there
- Trust roadwardens: But verify they're real
- Learn local customs: Ignorance is dangerous
- Keep emergency funds: For bribes and fleeing
- Have an escape plan: Always
"The Empire endures not because it is strong,
but because everything trying to destroy it hates each other more."
- Attributed to Emperor Magnus the Pious