always been a centre of trade within the Empire. Anyone prepared to work hard who has any level of moxie or chutzpah can amass a respectable pile of coin. There

east of the Empire. Historically they have been ancient enemies of the Highborn, the The League, and Dawn - fighting with the Empire for control of Holberg

conquest of the Barrens is finally complete. It is a glorious accomplishment to rival the greatest achievements in the nation's history. The birth of the nation

the ancestors of the modern Grendel laboured under the rule of a powerful orc nation that dominated the Bay of Catazar, but that nation was cast down by

influence of the realm of Spring might become a briar in later life while a child born during a great famine when Winter holds sway might be born a draughir

house of their intended. The earl of the house must set the suitor a test of their choosing, called a Test of Ardour. A request for marriage, like a request

souls of their own nature, so a raptor usually carries the soul of a warrior or great hunter, while an owl or a raven usually brings the soul of a wise

spires of Morrow are amongst the oldest in Urizen, dating back to the nation's birth. The heart of the Heliopticon is here, making it a centre of communication

accident of birth but a choice made by each Winterfolk child as they reach maturity. Just as one might be born a peasant and rise to become a Thane, so

damp it would take a great deal of effort to set fire to even a small tower.") It is the site of Diora University, a prominent seat of learning that specialises

spires of Morrow are amongst the oldest in Urizen, dating back to the nation's birth. The heart of the Heliopticon is here, making it a centre of communication

genders, Empire is a gender blind setting and people of any gender choose any name they like that is appropriate to their nation. Members of a noble house are

castle initially served as a base-of-operations for the settling of Casinea. Later, it served as a symbol of the power and dominance of the patrician families

personal guards of a merchant prince or bishop, the streetwise protectors of a mountebank or even the boisterous "stage hands" of a troupe of magicians can

Highguard is a distinguished nation. Their days of rapid change, hurried conquest and shifting rulerships are behind them, and their culture has reached a pinnacle

than others to break the social rules of respect with less chance to cause a scene - or a duel. This is not a nation of effete libertines. Innovative gewgaws

position of power. Many Imperial soldiers who think they have fought the Druj have actually fought members of a subject nation, perhaps supported by a few small

Ulmo of the Suaq King of the Three Tears, ruler of a new nation, Wintermark. The crown was passed from monarch to monarch through the history of Wintermark;

Founded by a visionary shaman of the Winter Sun, the Bonewall are dedicated to the soul of the orcish nation. They seek to bring the Way of Virtue and

longer afford to be a divided nation of petty households squabbling with each other. Henry of Meade spoke several times of the danger of an Empire where the

as the tenth nation of the Empire. It is often a source of pride to the Guerra that the only Freeborn Throne to date embraced the ideals of their Founder

being exemplary not only of the pursuit of Prosperity, but of many of the ideals of Erigo herself. Joining the Erigo tribe is a great idea for anyone who

opportunity to be a part of a great civilisation again. Their cities still exist, buried in the depths of their forests and infested by the vallorn, a monstrous

world as a result. At the time of the Empire's formation, it was a common second language for high-status citizens of the nations on the Bay of Catazar

irrespective of the location of towns or villages, and a traveller must weigh the advantages of moving quickly against the difficulty of finding a trod that

terms of landmass compared to some other nations, but it still manages to have a sizeable population. Each city of the League has something of a character

his time he heard of a young Orc, one who inspired his fellows by words, despite not being a unit commander, a soldier of daring, yet a reflective soul.

operate portal to submit a question to Leviathan on behalf of their coven, but doing so requires a dragonbone effigy of a whale - a unique game item made

surrounds the ruins of the city of Cavan. Another rumour talks of a city east of Therunin, somewhere in the Mallum, built on the edge of a great marsh and

were capable of nudging local events toward the desired outcome – supernaturally efficient resupply of a large force of troops from any nation, in any battlefield

this version of events was invented decades later to romanticise their relationship. There is a record of a young knight passing a test of mettle to enter

Wintermark has not suffered a major famine since it joined the Empire, there is still a tradition of giving new parents gifts of grain, or dried fruit, or

Brothers Blythe of Tassato, a vast number of healers, alchemists, and even a bakery, the guild has a great deal of talent to its name. Members of the guild are

for the motion. A list of all announcements made before Senate. The location of a suitable a suitable pro-forma for Senate motions. John of Meade, Speaker

opportunities; a daring raid; a mystical rookery; a chronicle of heroes. The talk of Fraying, and of the people of Sermersuaq, however, has produced a very different

talk to members of the nation to find out how they can help. However the Assembly of the nation the Highborn are trying to help could use a judgement in their

simple as a loaf of bread, a pitcher of water, or even a plate of biscuits. When talking about your home, it's quite acceptable to weave a story of some sort

sporadic tales of sudden bursts of fertility for otherwise barren farms that allow a bumper harvest, or a sequence of inexplicable multiple-births in the herd

system of paths and roads that draws on the Spring magic at the heart of a vallorn, like tapping the sap of a tree. Now the structure of Navarr society reflects

the cruelty of the creator. Even the birth of a child can be a sombre experience, in Kantor, for it is a reminder that someone who once lived a full life

outskirts of the necropolis - a short tower of weirwood surrounded by a maze of white granite walls. In some ways, Brannan is almost a footnote, sandwiched

become aware of it. Some players are interested in playing a character with a bit of one nation and a bit of another. While this helps to make a character

Varushka is a huge part of their culture. Here is a famous musical toast. Mother Varushka Goes to War A rousing battle song. The Beast of Volgadurn A cautionary

Our goal is to try and create the feel of a buzzing settlement right at the very heart of the Empire, a place of relative security. Our NPC magistrates

like those of a catfish, the moustache of a Chinese dragon, or even something suggestive of D&D illithid facial tentacles. You will need to use a prosthetic

monsters have a human-ish body topped with a fish-like head with a mouth full of razor sharp fangs. They come out of the Eastmere, during a heavy storm,

nearest equivalent to a Test of Mettle that a house might set for a member of another nation. Passing such a test doesn't make you Dawnish, and by definition

declared that "The town of Sarcombe in Southmoor has a long history as a centre of rich commerce" and secured it a charter as a market town - the first

people of Hercynia. At the same time, a mighty castle of white stone and black ice rises in the foothills of North Pines, a frozen citadel drawn from the

Nine of the Imperial nations are made up entirely of humans, and one - the Imperial Orcs - is made up entirely of orcs. There are a handful of other sapient

no records of the birth of Sulemaine (or sometimes Sulemeine) daughter of Taziel nor of her early life before she came to Urizen. A handful of sword scholars

hindquarters of a rooster) or a hippogryph (a creature like a gryphon but with the body and tail of a horse rather than a lion), it is a symbol of speed, grace

testimony. A sutannir can be part of almost any Freeborn group - a family might have a sutannir or two among their ranks, but so could a band of kohan or a fleet

daring brings. more... Land of knights, war-wizards and yeomen, where nobility comes from a proud spirit not a fortunate birth. Live for glory, die for love

children - and I find it difficult as a scholar and a man of faith to take seriously a process that uses them as proof of anything." As with several Paragons

congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter, a girl whom I am certain will be as full of the virtues of courage and pride as those who gave her birth. Keep her

virtuous nation of Highguard. Recognised as a paragon of Pride, Lepidus' legend has somewhat overshadowed Ruth's story. A chapter devoted to restoring lost

was built on the ruins of the old, on a rejection of the idea that anyone had a right to rule over the others by dint of their birth. This sentiment comes

could take a different approach. A Declaration of Concord from anyone empowered to raise one could be used to ask the members of the Order of the Shuttered

important part of a group background is a description of the community that you are from. Most groups will be the de facto leaders of a place - be it a Wintermark

or the practice of a profession rather than manual labour. By a similar token a set of artisan's tools are sometimes used as a symbol of the virtue - and

have been a covenmate of Navarr herself. Indeed, one of the few stories that mention Star directly speak of her being one of those who led many of the refugees

monument of white granite in the centre. Three times a year there is a quiet ceremony where the custodians irrigate each of the trees with barrels of water

hands of the Broken Shore orcs were quickly taken out of Spiral, sent south to the slave markets of Dubhtraig, of Fort Fuil, of Gainmeachdubh, and of Vorlach

prevent the spread of the Vallorn. We are protecting the very souls of the Nation. Make me proud" Nicassia Avicia of Phoenix Reach, General of the Citadel Guard

wicked knives. Scores of silver-haired spiders with myriads of inky black eyes and most terrifying of all, a trio of silver unicorns. Great four legged beasts

indication of her past lives, so the sign of revelation is impossible to confirm or refute. Tian is one of the standard examples of the sign of benevolence

shell of a great sea turtle ... and so forth. Each of these encounters presents a challenge that, when overcome, leads to a little booty and a tale of daring

elusive and a firm, comfortable conclusion denied. The ‘Speaker for the Dead’ is one of several mythical figures of great importance to a population of foreigners

the coming of the Steinr and the troll war. Most of what we know about her comes from a book called “Tobban’s Annuls: A collection of stories of the people

discover of a trove of mage weapons and armour in a chamber beneath the Unmade Spire in Redoubt presented a unique opportunity to the people of Urizen.

shipowners of every nation The Empire does not exist in isolation; it shares the world stage with five great nations of similar power, and has a handful of neighbours

Mother of Briars. The dreams appear to be part of a concerted effort to appeal to the briars of the Empire, inciting them to reject the trappings of civilisation