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The Old Empires

The Southern reaches of the Hundred Kingdoms are dominated by the heavy weight of history, filled with the ruins of ancient empires and the remnants of lost cities. A vital and important region during the height of the First Age, and the very center of the Shogunate's Eastern Empire, little remains of this proud heritage. The old provincial capitals, Laris and Velen?, are in particular only shadows of their former glory. Yet the Southern-most portions of the Hundred Kingdom are still home to grand kingdoms, mighty armies, and the sites of innumerable battles.

Many of the grand cities and mighty nations of the region have histories that claim to reach back to the Shogunate or even the First Age. Some of these tales are true; the fallen city of Maladahn? is perhaps one of the only nations to have survived past the Great Contagion, while the once great Kingdom of Mar`Asalon? had a history stretching back almost as far prior to its conquest. Others are lies built atop old ruins; the Dadanni Alliance?'s retains only a historically important name, while the great Fortress City Of Athana? is little more than a rebuilt ruin filled with an army. Some cities, like Marsember?, do not claim great age but are shaped by their past regardless.

Even those new nations that rise from the ashes of the old are often touched by the past. The glorious city of Narlath? is ruled by a First Age Automaton, while even the humble town of Knapp's Ford? was built around the remains of an ancient dock system. Other new nations linger around the bones of the ancient empires that preceded them, picking at the bones like the scavengers they are. Most notable of these is probably Trailsend?, a haven for Scavenger Lords from all over the east, come to scour the ruins of the East. The small town of Goldsword?, dominated by the buried remains of a Warstrider, is a different kind of magnet for Scavengers.

The Old Empires region is composed, almost entirely, of rugged hills, tall mountains, golden plains, and an endless amount of both savannah and scrubland. Forests are actually somewhat rare; a mixture of the long history of development and civilization, and the influence of the elemental South on the terrain. The lands are quite fertile, with long rainy seasons and a very generous growing seasons (with a long summer and short winter), but the region has not been a center producer of agriculture for quite some time -- most going to feed the regions own people and armies. The main export is instead a mixture of domesticated animals, iron, steel, numerous manufactured goods, and scavenged relics of a long lost age.

While the region is dotted, quite liberally, with ruins -- and many of the cities and towns are, in fact, situated on more such relics of the past -- perhaps most infamous of all is the Black Citadel?. Once a massive Shogunate Fortification, the ancient ruin has never been fully plundered. This is due to the bloated Spider-God that lairs there, and here multitudes of blood-thirsty children.

Local Rumors

• Once this region was so saturated with war and bloodshed that no single warlord stood out amongst the greater mass. Yet, with the coming of the Golden Warlord, that time is past, and all eyes turn toward the mad Forsaken and his seemingly unstoppable advance. Ruthless, horrible, and quite disturbing of the title "Demon Prince" in the eyes of those he faces -- the Golden Warlord offers little mercy and will only accept an unconditional surrender. None who oppose him are allowed to live.
• Many ancient legends say that the Hundred Kingdoms were once protected by an ancient guardian, crafted of bronze and gold, empowered with the souls of her greatest heroes. This great protector was said to be a bulwark against the Fair Folk, able to scourge armies and destroy entire cities, yet it has not been seen in an age -- and not from lack of looking. Most sources point at it being located somewhere in Velen...or perhaps Laris.
• While Scavenger Lords still flock to the region, the ruins of the Old Empires have long since been plundered to the bone. While many rumors speak of hidden niches or the secrets to overcome guardians, others are more grand -- such as the Legends of The Windtower. An ancient manse, once home to a Great Exalt, filled with opulent treasures and lost wonders. None have ever found the ancient tower, but all rumors say it lurks somewhere in the Mountains bordering with the South.
• The ancient defenses of Maladahn, still operated by the God-Blooded Children that rule there, have been slowly failing for ages. These rumors have circulated across the Hundred Kingdoms for hundreds of years, but recently, the Princes of Maladahn have sent some of their children out into the wider lands of Creation -- they scour lost ruins, cannibalize ancient artifacts, and take whatever they can find back to their home.

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