Holy Empire of Men

A once great human civilisation sapped and brought low by constant civil war; the war is rumoured to have stemmed from the death of a previous emperor without naming a successor. The nation was then plunged into chaos, powerful figures emerging from the shadows, each with distant ties to the throne. fortunately for the rest of Arcadia, the country as of now seems to be too disorganised to formulate a direct plan of attack. The once perfect and absolute rule of the empire’s past was a mere notion of history, for a new way of life had become apparent to the denizens of the empire, one of endless conquest and bloodshed…

The holy empire of man is currently split into several factions, each taking a different role and could be seen to be supporting each other in times of dire crisis and catastrophe. Though this situation could change at any time: the scholars guild has seen fit that I create this record as of now… though I  take utmost pride in my work, I fear it will be in vain as a new wave of uncertainty seems to be taking the nation by storm, seemingly ushered in by an unseen force. Though I will keep my peace, a scholar such as myself… relishes the thought of more tales to be told, hidden behind the very horizon itself.

Neherlandstadt
Roughly translating to ‘low lands’, the landscape itself is largely composed of a single shallow valley that runs through the centre of the region. It’s exact origin unknown, many have speculated that a magical disturbance that could have occurred thousands of years ago had been to blame for the impacted earth, for now the area has been deemed habitable. The resident population of the lowlands are mostly composed of westerners, though the country is connected to Welthafen so the occasional demi-human isn’t uncommon. Not even war can stop the constant flow of migration, the people of Neherlandstadt however tend to throw themselves into the war effort in any way they can, by practising simple mage craft and smithery they can hope to join up with the military as either guards or join their brethren on the front-lines.

Hoherlandplatz
Roughly translating to ‘high lands’ and resting atop a steep incline, the fertile plateau known as Hoherlandplatz is resident to a dying breed of nobility… held upright, by only a decaying militia that shifts uneasily like a snake, trapped within it’s own coils. Here, the remnants of an ancient lineage plot and scheme, toying with a dream of reclaiming dominion of the land they once lost. The population are mostly made up of easterners, though the bloodline themselves hail from the north. The exact circumstances of their fall from grace still lies hidden, perhaps the rulers of old sought to hide their weaknesses and ordered for all records of the event to be destroyed. Whatever the case, their presence is being made known more and more upon the battlefield… it’s only a matter of time before they reveal themselves to the common eye.

See Northerners in Humans for more info

Feldhausen
Roughly translating to flatlands, the Southern side feldhausen is made up of vast plains which stretch out for miles in either direction. Once the fertile farmland which fed the empire in it’s prime, now the area has gone fallow, years of neglect has allowed wildflowers and herbs to bloom and run rampant among the crops. Strange, after so many years the earth still rejects crops of any kind, the curse seems to hang over the land, in a similar fashion to the fog which wreaths the barren earth like phantasmal cloth that shrouds the spectres of the night.

The residents of the land work with what they have, doting over sickly cattle and near skeletal poultry. On the northern side of Feldhausen however the landscape starkly contrasts it’s southern counterpart, the vegetation lush and full of life. The locals here have allowed themselves to get drawn into the power struggle at the empires heart, the prospect of providing support to those in the south pales in comparison to the possibility empirical rule.

Welthafen
Welthafen is a maritime state, though they are responsible for a large part of trade across the nation means they are slightly disconnected from the heart of the fighting, but not completely so. The population is mostly made up of westerners who excel at manual labour and show some resistance to the elements. For the most part, the residents of Welthafen stay out of the fighting and only truly involve themselves when the situation truly becomes dire. The matter of who rules is no concern of theirs, only that their fragile way of life isn’t disturbed.

See Westerners in Humans for more info

Pfalzgraf
The locals living in these parts are stubborn, having lived through multiple threats in their time they are indifferent. At this time the area is composed of a single small village on the outskirts of a vast forest that was rendered but a shadow of it’s former self.

In ancient times past, the holy empire was under threat from a different sort to the one that rages within. The land of Pfalzgraf were subject to numerous dragon attacks, the normally serene and tranquil forests blackened and scorched by dragon fire creating a barren landscape, devoid of life. The locals, a mix of southerners and westerners banded together in order to raise some coin that could entice a highly skilled magic wielder. With some luck they managed to draw in a druid by the name of ‘Agnorak’, not much is known about the circumstances of the failure… only that it had quite unintended effects, ash and other mundane particles were transformed into spores of unknown origin. These spores took root in the soil, taking full advantage of the little nutrients that the fires had left. Given time to sprout, these fungal blooms emerged. Vibrantly coloured dappled caps breaking the soil and mycelium stretching far underground, showing through the crusted earth in places like the roots of a great and pale, albeit spongey tree.