Città dell'Impero (Cities of the Empire)

(Estratto dalle fonti raw locali; il testo originale è mantenuto in larga parte in inglese per preservare termini e formulazioni. Le note tra parentesi quadre sono riferimenti presenti nelle fonti.)

Cities of the Empire

Altdorf- Altdorf is the capital city of the Grand Principality of Reikland and the current capital city of the Empire itself, as well as the home of the Imperial Colleges of Magic and the Imperial College of Engineers.[2d] Nuln - The city of Nuln, located between four provinces, Reikland, Wissenland, Averland and Stirland, and two great rivers, the Reik and the Aver, is the home of the famed Imperial Gunnery School and several of the oldest and most prestigious universities of the Empire. Nuln is the former capital city of the Empire under the Emperor Magnus the Pious, until it was moved back to the traditional Imperial capital at Altdorf in 2429 IC. There is no Elector Count of Nuln, although the Countess Emmanuelle von Liebewitz of the Grand Barony of Wissenland is based in the city. Von Liebwitz is the Chancellor of the University of Nuln and is known for her extravagant parties, desiring to surpass the Imperial Court in Altdorf through sheer decadence. Nuln is also the base of one of the two Arch-Lectors of the Cult of Sigmar. The temple to Sigmar is large and ornate and attracts thousands of pilgrims due to its connections with Magnus the Pious. The second most important temple in Nuln is that of Verena.[2d] Middendorf - During the Siege of Middendorf, the Champion of Nurgle Festus the Leechlord continued to blight the Empire with his dark experiments, unleashing a strain of Eyeslime Fever so virulent that the death it causes allows a horde of Daemons to manifest within the Empire, laying siege to the city of Middendorf.[35a] Middenheim - Capital city of Middenland.[2d] Marienburg - Marienburg was the largest commercial city in the Old World that seceded from the Empire in 2429 IC and took the former province of Westerland (now the Wasteland) with it. It is now an independent city-state ruled by its most powerful merchants. Talabheim - Talabheim is the capital city of the Grand Duchy of Talabecland. Averheim - Averheim is the capital city of the Grand County of Averland. Mordheim - Mordheim was once a major Imperial city and the former capital of the League of Ostermark until it was destroyed by a falling comet of warpstone in the year 1999 IC. The survivors mutated, and the entire city became a dangerous ruin whose monstrous inhabitants threatened the rest of the Empire until it was destroyed by the forces of the Grand Theogonist of Sigmar and the Knightly Orders of the Empire. Wolfenburg - Wolfenburg is the large town that serves as the capital of the Grand Principality of Ostland. Salzenmund - Salzenmund is the medium-sized town that serves as the capital of the rural Grand Barony of Nordland. Castle Drakenhof - The Drakenhof was the dread castle and surrounding town that once served as the capital of the County of Sylvania that was ruled by the von Carstein bloodline of Vampires during the Dark Ages of the Empire and is now a fief of the Grand County of Stirland. Minor Settlements and Domains of the Empire

These are locations within the Empire with no specific location:

Asendor - A settlement not far from Nuln.[42a] Hammerbilt - Hammerbilt is an Imperial town, some of his citizen wer assassinated by the Skaven while the young men of the town were out fighting against a Chaos horde in the North.[42h][42i] Hauptmansburg Hauptmansburg's walls have recently repelled a Greenskin siege.[43] Marheim - Marheim is an Imperial town on the marshes of the Talabec, in its sewers, there is an under-city of the Skaven once ruled by Clanlord Wryth Warbite before his assassination. The under-land saw the rival battle between Clan Reekill and Clan Rypp.[42g] Munchenbard - Munchenbard is an Imperial town.[42e] Odenheim - Odenheim is one of the many settlements of the Empire.[42d] Stehenmark - The fiefdom of Stehenmark lied on the borders of Stirland and Sylvania, ruled by the Vormund line. The lands of Stehenmark are said to be haunted by a massive phantom black dog, which has always been seen before the death of a lord from the Vormund family. Where once its fields and vineyards produced bountiful crops, it is now a barren wasteland of swamps and stunted woodlands—almost as if the sickness of Sylvania itself is creeping into the region. Now his last ruler has abandoned its people without an heir or bride. He was last seen in Talabheim.[42f] Tränenwald - An Imperial village during the Vampire Wars.[42c] Valnein - Valnein was a sleepy village nestled deep within the Empire. Once devoted to Sigmar, its inhabitants eventually fell under the sway of Tzeentch, the Chaos God of change and intrigue. The village was later reduced to ash by its own priest of Sigmar.[42b] Former Settlements of the Empire

Marburg - Marburg was an early settlement of the Empire that stood during the reign of Sigmar. It still stands today as a much-reduced village in Stirland that faces regular threats from nearby tribes of Forest Goblins.[33a] Jutonsryk - Jutonsryk was an Imperial city of the Wasteland originally founded by the Jutones tribe that stood during the reign of Emperor Sigmar. After the assault of the Liche Nagash on the Empire and his defeat by the first emperor, Jutonsryk was reduced to a city of the dead, its streets empty of life and infested with degenerate cannibal creatures.[33c] Siggurdheim - Siggurdheim was the ancient capital of the pre-Imperial tribe of Men known as the Brigundians, although it was abandoned after the war against the Liche Nagash during the reign of Emperor Sigmar. The town had originally been built into a crag near a river, forming a natural defence, although under King Siggurd the city had already grown beyond its constraints. Sigurdheim was constructed on a natural promontory of dark rock with a wall of smooth stone erected around it. Siggurdheim was taken by the Great Necromancer Nagash when the Lord of Undeath sought to reclaim his Crown of Sorcery from Sigmar. The city fell after only a few days of siege, with the entire population being slain and raised again to join Nagash's Undead armies. The exact location of Siggurdheim within the ancient Empire has been lost to time. In the Empire of the present day, it is believed that Sigmaringen, a humble township in modern Stirland, stands upon the ruins of what was once one of the major centres of the early Empire.[33a] Other Regions

Great Forest - The Great Forest is an immense woodland that encompasses much of the Empire's territory across its southern and western regions and keeps its cities and towns largely isolated from one another. The Great Forest, particularly in its northern and northeastern reaches, is home to dozens of groups of Greenskins, Beastmen, mutants, Chaos Cultists, Human bandits. Drakwald Forest - The Drakwald Forest is the most ancient woodland in all the Old World, this region of woodland is infamous throughout the lands of the Empire as a realm of darkness and the home of an untold number of Beastmen tribes. Forest of Shadows - The Forest of Shadows is the northernmost woodland within the Empire, and covers much of the province of Ostland. It serves as the natural border between Kislev and the Empire. Reikwald Forest - The safest forest within the Empire, kept clear of the dangers of Greenskins, Beastmen and worse creatures that afflict so many other woodlands of the Old World, the Reikwald covers the lands of the Reikland, and is famous for the tranquility and peace to be found beneath its boughs. Three Hills - The Three Hills is a wide strip of land in what is now Stirland that was used for many decades during the reign of Sigmar by Asoborn youths to hone their skills with bow, spear and chariot.[33b] Current Elector Counts and Other Electors

Averland - Disputed after the death of Marius Leitdorf Hochland - Aldebrand Ludenhof Middenland - Boris Todbringer Nordland - Theoderic Gausser Ostland - Valmir von Raukov Reikland - Emperor Karl Franz Stirland - Alberich Haupt-Anderssen Talabecland - Helmut Feuerbach Wissenland - Emmanuelle von Liebwitz Mootland - Hisme Stoutheart Cult of Sigmar - Grand Theogonist Volkmar the Grim and the cult's Arch Lectors Kaslain and Aglim Cult of Ulric - Ar-Ulric Emil Valgeir Notable Imperial Characters

Emperor Karl Franz - Karl Franz, also sometimes styled Karl-Franz or Karl Franz I, Protector of the Empire, Defiler of the Dark, Emperor Himself and the Son of Emperors, Elector Count of Reikland, and prince of Altdorf, is the current emperor of the Empire and the greatest statesman and general the Empire or perhaps the entire Old World has seen in many centuries. Karl Franz, who was elected to the Imperial title in 2502 IC and inherited it from his father, Luitpold, is acclaimed as a patron of the arts and science, as a military innovator, and as a valiant general. Thanks to his tireless efforts on the behalf of its people, the Empire has flourished during his reign like never before: the Imperial Engineers School in Altdorf has grown, the Colleges of Magic have thrived and his armies have marched from victory to victory, most recently during the terrible events of the Storm of Chaos. The Emperor frequently takes personal command of his troops, wielding Ghal Maraz, the fabled magical warhammer given to Sigmar himself by the Dwarf king Kurgan Ironbeard over two thousand years ago, or his Runefang sword, and riding atop Deathclaw, his Griffon mount of many years.[2y] Kurt Helborg - Kurk Helborg, is Karl Franz's closest friend, and one of the greatest military minds in the entire Empire. He is known by most as the Reikmarshal, having full authority when it comes to military affairs, second only in command to the Emperor himself. Kurt is an exceptional warrior as well as a leader and tactican, and has been responsible for leading many battles against the Empire's foes from as far north as Kislev to the furthest south as Araby. Ludwig Schwarzhelm - Lugwig, also known as the Emperor's Champion is another close friend of Emperor Karl Franz and bodyguard to his lord. Not only is he a very skillful swordsman, but he is also the envoy of Karl Franz himself, often acting as his emissary towards several other provinces for political reasons, such as an edict the supposed lord has refused to accept or to uphold the Emperor's justice. Markus Wulfhart - also known by most as the Huntsmarshal or Captain of Scouts, is the Emperor's most superb Monster Hunter, as well as an exceptional leader and scout. He and his band of Monster Hunters are the greatest in the Old World, hunting down the greatest and most terrible beasts from the dark dense woods of the Empire, not stopping until the day comes that no other beast shall ever be seen once again in the Great Forest. Marius Leitdorf- also known as Elector Count Marius Lietdorf of Averland "the Mad", is both a Count of the Empire and also as an exceptional swordsman and leader, but having a known reputation of being mentally-ill, often screaming in rage one moment, then having a period of melancholy and laughter a moment later. Volkmar the Grim - is the current Grand Theogonist of the Empire, and the leading spiritual leader of the Church of Sigmar. This man has a great aura of influence wherever he goes: such is his reputation that if he wished, he could call an army of followers and zealots onto his banner, who are ready to die for their great leader and prophet. A pious and foreboding man, this man's entire life was bent on holding back the darkness assailing his homeland, never tiring nor resting in his vigil over his own people. Luthor Huss - known by some as the Prophet of Sigmar, is one of the Empire's most devout and zealous Warrior Priests across the land. His desire to smite chaos and all its forms drove this Warrior Priest to scorch the land of Beastmen tribes, Chaos cults, and Imperial corruption wherever he goes. Though his deeds were just, his actions have unveiled the corruption from within the Church of Sigmar itself, and it came to pass that an Arch Lector has asked the Grand Theogonist himself to excommunicate this man. Yet the Theogonist was a just man himself, and knew something about Luthor Huss that no one else knows about, and with a smile upon hearing his deeds, he dismisses the ordeal.[3l] Balthasar Gelt - Balthasar Gelt or with his full title, Supreme Patriarch Balthasar Gelt, is one of the Colleges of Magic's most powerful and skillful Wizards of the Gold College and some say, the entire city of Altdorf. Such is his skill in the art of magic that he managed to defeat the former Supreme Patriarch, Thyrus Gormann of the Bright Order, in single combat, replacing the long-standing prominence of Fire with that of Metal.[3m]