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<quote>"Nothing great without cost."</quote>
<quote>"Nothing great without cost."</quote>


This is the League. The four great rivers that run down to the Bay of Catazar are the veins of this fierce nation, carrying the lifeblood of trade. Its cities are its beating heart, pumping steel throughout the Empire, and the people of the League are city-folk through and through. Do not think them soft, however! They are a <i>driven</i> people, who tolerate neither weakness nor lawlessness, and who earn their fine lifestyles through hard work and hard dealing. Competition is everything, and from the wealthiest moneylender to the loudest street bravo, they are sharp as steel, quick-witted, and <i>always</i> ready to seize the moment.
The people of The League are city-folk through and through. Competition is fierce - you might fall behind not because you have stumbled but simply because someone else is faster. Nobody is given a free ride in The League; they earn their fine lifestyles through hard work and hard dealing. You must seize every opportunity quickly if you wish to rise to become a Merchant Prince.


Tales of the League have been made famous by street balladeers: rival theatre-houses and rival traders, savage duels where wits matter more than swordplay, and strange secrets in the southern cities' canals which only the Merrow boatmen have mapped. The long con is as much an art form here as the politics of high office, and the coffee-house cant covers both. Powerful Carta clash over business interests and the League's mercenary Free Companies are eagerly sought at the Empire's borders. The Church of the Little Mother feeds and shelters the orphans of those border conflicts - any of whom might become one of the Merchant Princes of tomorrow.
This is The League. The rivers that run down to the Bay of Catazar are the veins of the Empire, carrying the lifeblood of trade. The <s>four</s> five great cities are its beating heart, sending tides of wealth back and forth across the nations. In the South are Sarvos - elegant and sophisticated, cultured and refined - and Tassato - diplomatic, Machiavellian, persuasive and articulate. In the North are Temeschwar - ruthless, relentless, cold and hard - and Holberg - pragmatic, ingenious, innovative and enlightened. Now they are joined by Apulian in the East - audacious, self-assured, cunning and remorseless. Together as The League they are stronger than their parts - <s>four</s> five strands inexorably woven to produce an unbreakable bond. They are a driven people, tolerating neither sloth nor lawlessness, and from the wealthiest moneylender to the loudest street bravo, they are quick-witted and alert to opportunity and danger.


===Five things to know about the League===
It is said that the cities of The League never sleep. By day, the powerful guilds clash over business interests and The League's mercenary Free Companies seek to find work on the Empire's borders. By night, the street balladeers perform on every corner, and rival theatre-houses fight duels where the wordplay matters more than the swordplay. The long con is as much an art form here as the politics of high office; in the coffee-houses that never close, the cant covers both.
*'''Life is competition, and someone is always keeping score.''' Citizens of the League love to compete – in commerce, in entertainment, even in love.
*'''Keep your loyalties close, like the rings on your fingers.''' League loyalties are fiercely held and hard to break.
*'''Coin counts, and everything costs.''' In the League wealth is status - this is the land of conspicuous consumption.
*'''Everything is on show, like a mask on your face.''' Performance runs through the heart of the nation.
*'''Keep your wit sharp, but your blade sharper.''' Citizens of the League pride themselves on their charm and intellect, but they’ll never, <i>ever</i> shy from a fight.


===What the citizens of the League are not===
The League is much more than ruthless business and cut-throat competition; it is the centre of civilisation in the Empire. It produces and displays great works of art while rich patrons support the theatres. There is a university in each of the <s>four</s> five cities and they champion scholastic learning and imaginative problem solving. They institutionalize charity - the Church of the Little Mother feeds and shelters the orphans of the Empire and finds them work - because they know that everyone is a citizen of the Empire, and that today's destitute orphans might rise to become the Merchant Princes of tomorrow.
* '''Popinjays.''' While appearance and social standing are important, looking good and making witty comments is no substitute for actual deeds. Scratch the surface of the League and beneath you find a Nation of ruthless, ambitious people absolutely committed to their goals.
* '''DaVincian Inventors.''' Citizens of the League are creative, and they love trinkets and gew-gaws, but Empire is not a game that supports the invention of new technologies. League characters are audacious, rather than inventive.
* '''Organised Criminals.''' The League is not home to Mafia families, and they have a deeply ingrained cultural respect for the law because it helps create a shared understanding of the "rules of engagement".
* '''Italian.''' While the cities of the Italian Renaissance are part of the inspiration for the League, they are not the ''only'' inspiration. The cities of the Hanseatic League, Rennaisance Prague and the County of Flanders are all part of the flavour of the League.


<quote by="The Steel Throne, Act II, scene iv">A street map? You need much more than a map of the streets to navigate this city, my friend. There are rules to this city; break them, and the Carta will break you.</quote>
==Five things to know about The League==
*'''Life is competition, and someone is always keeping score.''' Citizens of The League love to compete in everything they do.
*'''The rules of the game are not to be broken.''' League society has simple rules but woe betide those who break them; they are particularly ruthless with lawbreakers.
*'''Keep your loyalties close, like the [[Rings in the League|rings]] on your fingers.''' The League takes loyalty very seriously.
*'''Coin counts, and everything costs.''' This is a land of conspicuous consumption where wealth is power and nothing worth having is free.
*'''Everything is on show, like a mask on your face.''' Bold, flamboyant action is the best way to publicize yourself and your services, but nobody confuses the mask with the real thing.


==The Nation==
==What the citizens of The League are not==
{{CaptionedImage|file=LeagueCouple.jpg|align=right|title=TV Series: The Borgias|width=300}}
* '''Popinjays and dandies.''' While appearance and charm are important, wit and panache are no substitute for actual deeds. Scratch the surface of The League and beneath you find a Nation of ruthless, ambitious people absolutely committed to their goals.
=== Core Brief ===
* '''DaVincian Inventors.''' Citizens of The League are imaginative and ingenious; they solve problems with their brains not their brawn. But Empire is not a game that supports the invention of new technologies - League characters are audacious, rather than inventive.
* [[League People|The People]]
* [[League Culture and Customs|Culture and Customs]]
* [[League Look and Feel|Look and Feel]]


=== Further Reading ===
<quote by="The Steel Throne, Act II, scene iv">A map? A street map! You need more than a map of the streets to navigate this city, friend. There are rules to this city; break them, and the Prince will break you.</quote>
* [[League History|History]]
{{CaptionedImage|file=PledgeBall.jpg|align=right|title=Wealth, ambition and culture unite in the League.|width=300}}
* [[League Leadership|Leadership]]
{{The League Links}}
* [[League Economic Interests|Economic Interests]]
* [[League Military Concerns|Military Concerns]]
* [[League Religious Beliefs|Religious Beliefs]]
* [[League Magical Traditions|Magical Traditions]]
* [[League Hearth Magic|Hearth Magic]]
* [[League Egregore|The Egregore]] - '''Guise'''
* [[League Icons and Artistry|Icons and Artistry]]
* [[League Lineage and Species Attitudes|Lineage and Species Attitudes]]
* [[League Territories|Territories]]
* [[League Children|Children]]
* [[League Music|Music]]
* [[League Costumes|Costumes]]


[[Category:The League]]
{{pdf}}
[[Category:Nations]]


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Latest revision as of 15:55, 8 April 2024

GBarossa.jpeg

"Nothing great without cost."

The people of The League are city-folk through and through. Competition is fierce - you might fall behind not because you have stumbled but simply because someone else is faster. Nobody is given a free ride in The League; they earn their fine lifestyles through hard work and hard dealing. You must seize every opportunity quickly if you wish to rise to become a Merchant Prince.

This is The League. The rivers that run down to the Bay of Catazar are the veins of the Empire, carrying the lifeblood of trade. The four five great cities are its beating heart, sending tides of wealth back and forth across the nations. In the South are Sarvos - elegant and sophisticated, cultured and refined - and Tassato - diplomatic, Machiavellian, persuasive and articulate. In the North are Temeschwar - ruthless, relentless, cold and hard - and Holberg - pragmatic, ingenious, innovative and enlightened. Now they are joined by Apulian in the East - audacious, self-assured, cunning and remorseless. Together as The League they are stronger than their parts - four five strands inexorably woven to produce an unbreakable bond. They are a driven people, tolerating neither sloth nor lawlessness, and from the wealthiest moneylender to the loudest street bravo, they are quick-witted and alert to opportunity and danger.

It is said that the cities of The League never sleep. By day, the powerful guilds clash over business interests and The League's mercenary Free Companies seek to find work on the Empire's borders. By night, the street balladeers perform on every corner, and rival theatre-houses fight duels where the wordplay matters more than the swordplay. The long con is as much an art form here as the politics of high office; in the coffee-houses that never close, the cant covers both.

The League is much more than ruthless business and cut-throat competition; it is the centre of civilisation in the Empire. It produces and displays great works of art while rich patrons support the theatres. There is a university in each of the four five cities and they champion scholastic learning and imaginative problem solving. They institutionalize charity - the Church of the Little Mother feeds and shelters the orphans of the Empire and finds them work - because they know that everyone is a citizen of the Empire, and that today's destitute orphans might rise to become the Merchant Princes of tomorrow.

Five things to know about The League

  • Life is competition, and someone is always keeping score. Citizens of The League love to compete in everything they do.
  • The rules of the game are not to be broken. League society has simple rules but woe betide those who break them; they are particularly ruthless with lawbreakers.
  • Keep your loyalties close, like the rings on your fingers. The League takes loyalty very seriously.
  • Coin counts, and everything costs. This is a land of conspicuous consumption where wealth is power and nothing worth having is free.
  • Everything is on show, like a mask on your face. Bold, flamboyant action is the best way to publicize yourself and your services, but nobody confuses the mask with the real thing.

What the citizens of The League are not

  • Popinjays and dandies. While appearance and charm are important, wit and panache are no substitute for actual deeds. Scratch the surface of The League and beneath you find a Nation of ruthless, ambitious people absolutely committed to their goals.
  • DaVincian Inventors. Citizens of The League are imaginative and ingenious; they solve problems with their brains not their brawn. But Empire is not a game that supports the invention of new technologies - League characters are audacious, rather than inventive.

A map? A street map! You need more than a map of the streets to navigate this city, friend. There are rules to this city; break them, and the Prince will break you.

The Steel Throne, Act II, scene iv
Wealth, ambition and culture unite in the League.

Further Reading

Core Brief

Additional Information

This selection of articles can be downloaded as a PDF book (or as html only)