The greatest nation of the Old World, the Empire is ruled by the Emperor and is composed of the descendants of the ancient tribes united by Sigmar after the Battle of Black Fire Pass. Sigmar was deified after the battle and his promise of eternal aid to the kingdom of Dwarfs still stands today. This action solidified the relationship between men and Dwarfs and planted the seeds for the burgeoning Empire through trade. Today, the Empire is led by Emperor Karl Franz, who rules from his court in the city-state of Altdorf.
There are ten provinces in the Empire, each ruled by an Elector Count who owe their power to the unifying figurehead of the Emperor. It should be noted that the Empire is not a single nation, but a confederation of individual states brought together out of a shared language, religion and culture. The states correspond roughly to the ancient territories brought together by Sigmar when he united the tribes of man.
The southern states - Averland, Reikland, Stirland, Talabecland and Wissenland - resemble a broad chalice, partially surrounded by near-impassable mountain ranges from which drain the mighty rivers which are the lifeblood of Imperial trade. To the west of these are the Grey Mountains, beyond which lies Bretonnia and the forest of Athel Loren. To the south are the inhospitable Black Mountains and to the east the Worlds Edge Mountains mark the extent of the Old World.
To the north, the rolling hills and rapid streams of the south and east are gradually transformed into the forested lowlands and deep waterways at the heart of the Empire. The vast forests at the Heart of the Empire stretch almost unbroken across the countless leagues from Reikland to the northern border with Kislev and the shore of the Sea of Claws. The Great Forest, Drakwald Forest and the Forest of Shadows are essentially part of the same dark, untamed wilderness, with the green blanket of trees punctured only by the abrupt mountain range known as the Middle Mountains. These lands are divided into the northen states - Hochland, Ostermark, Ostland, Middenland and Nordland. The inhabitants of these northern states generally have to deal with much greater hardships than those of the south, being that much closer to the Chaos Wastes.
The life of a citizen of the Empire is a perilous one, for there are foes within every shadow and enemies around every corner. Secret cults abound, or at the very least, there are rumors of them running rampant. No one is certain who is trustworthy, and fear and paranoia are omnipresent in the isolated settlements that dot the Empire's provinces.
ReligionThe spiritual health of the Empire is tended to by the Cult of Sigmar, but many other deities are worshipped openly by Imperial citizens. The names of Morr, Shallya, Verena, Taal and Rhya are all invoked on a daily basis, and in Middenland it is fair to say that the worship of Ulric comes before even Sigmar, and in Talabecland, the worship of Taal and Rhya is certainly equal to that of Sigmar.