Getting Started

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The Hellenic Imperium is actually a joining of federated regions. Ruled over by the city of Rome and its emperor, the magistratus of the capital cities of each region have the authority over the areas that they control and are afforded some autonomy as it would be impossible for Rome's reach to control everything in the land. The regions are as follows:

Central: Latium. Ruling city, Rome. Patron god, Zeus/Jupiter.

East: Attica. Ruling city, Athens. Patron goddess, Athena/Minerva.

North: Thrace. Ruling city, Sparta. Patron god, Ares/Mars.

West: Epirus. Ruling city, Delphi. Patron god, Apollo.

South: Boeotia. Ruling city, Corinth. Patron god, Hephaestus/Vulcan.

Aegean Archipelago: Cyclades. Ruling city, Minos (Crete). Patron god, Poseidon/Neptune.


Other Places:

Olympus: Ruled over by Zeus/Jupiter.
Hades: Ruled over by Hades/Pluto.
Aegean Sea: Ruled over by Poseidon/Neptune.

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Rome

All roads lead to Rome. This is a truth, one way or the other and all in the empire points itself towards the capital. Rome is very large, even compared to the other big cities and it is constantly bustling with activity. The home of the Emperor himself and the Senate it is also the political and governmental center for the whole of the federation. The richest of citizens also usually choose to live in Rome and the upscale areas of the city are truly an amazing sight to behold. Farms lay on the outskirts of the city, providing essentials for its denizens while caravans bring exotic items all the way from the ports of Corinth and travelers bring tales from Athens and news from Delphi.

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Athens

Beautiful Athens is the center of higher culture. Art, music, and theater all flourish here among the concentration of masters. The city also boasts the philosophers, mathematicians, and architects as well as the greatest tale spinners of the empire. The city is well known for its open attitude, more so than any of the other cities in the empire and its people tend to be far more welcoming than others. The buildings tend to be quite beautiful with gardens and fountains frequenting the squares and the homes of the rich. It's people follow this pattern and Athens boasts the most attractive citizens of the empire.

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Sparta

The northern region of Thrace boasts the greatest warriors of the federation. While the entire region is military in itself, it is the capital of Sparta where they gather and where the main bulk of the empires army is trained. The denizens of this city are trained from a very young age in physical endurance and combat, hardening them for when they eventually join the empires military, which all born in the region are required to do. Warriors are sent out all over the empire to protect it and men from other parts of the empire often come to Sparta to learn, though the army has branches in all the major cities.

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Delphi

Situated in the west, at the foot of the mountains, Delphi is the haven of mysticism and the gods favorite spot to communicate with the people. While the major gods have temples all over the empire, the largest of which are in Rome, the last and final word always comes from the priests of Delphi. There is a Magistratus in Delphi, but their words are greatly influenced by the powerful priests and priestesses of the temples as angering them would bring disfavor on not just the region, but the whole of the federation itself.

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Corinth

Situated right on the sea, Corinth is the hub of industry for the empire and its principle trading city. Ships come from all over to the city's ports, bearing essentials and exotics which then make their way out of the city by the excellent roads that run through the countryside. While Athens is where most of the art and philosophy come from it is Corinth that holds the artificers and the leaders of practical invention and it is a key point. Because of this, and the city's position it is well designed, protected from attacks by land and sea and there is always a sizable garrison of soldiers to help keep it safe. The city itself takes on the appearance of its role and the buildings lack flourish are clean and practically attractive, the streets well plotted out and easy to navigate. The people of Corinth, too, tend to share their city's heart.

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Cyclades Islands

A group of islands of various sizes that lie off the shores of the Hellenic Imperium in the Aegean Sea. The island people specialize in fishing and products that can be harvested from the ocean. The federations ships are built here, in conjunction with the port in Corinth. The ruling city of the archipelago is Minos on the largest island, Crete. Other islands of note are Skyros, Karnos, Samos, Lesbos, Santorini, and Icaria.

Many of the smaller islands are home to some of the more dangerous varieties of creatures that call the Imperium home such as sirens, cyclops, and gorgons. Such islands are documented by the empire and well known to local sailors and are given a wide berth during sea travel.

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Hades

Hades is the underground realm of the dead ruled over by the god Hades/Pluto and his bride Persephone. There is an entrance to Hades in Epirus which reaches the surface at the Erebus Caves. Here the river Acheron cuts a path through the great cavern and it is here the dead cross the river with the help of the boatman Charon. Though the cave is not guarded it is rare that mortals dare to enter or even to venture close. Across the river is also guarded by the three headed dog Cerberus. Upon entering the underworld the dead are judged by three great past magistratus: Aeacus, Minos, and Rhadamanthus. Once the judgment has been passed the dead are sent to one of three places to spend their eternity:

Fields of Asphodel

A great field that seems almost never ending, covered in Asphodel flowers and crowded with the dead who were ordinary or indifferent in life, who become listless specters in death. This is the most populated section of Hades and also the most unimpressive to look at. It is over this part of the underworld that Hades and Persephone have their thrones, giant things carved into the very rock of the walls.

Tartarus

The eternity of the wicked and cruel. Those who were terrible in life pass beyond the flaming river Phlegethon which belts this area of Hades from the others, and which is all rock and swamp. It is guarded by a fifty headed hydra and overseen by Fury Tisiphone, the Fury of Revenge. Those sent here are punished in ways befitting their sins.

Elysium

This is the rest for heroes and the virtuous of the Hellenic Imperium. The three judges do not send dead here on a whim and worth must be proven to be given the right to rest here. Elysium is not like the other areas of Hades, in that is is far more peaceful and more like the earth above. Fields of asphodel flowers and groves of poplar trees abound and there are gentle breezes on the winds and small streams that run and the dead are free to wander. The gates to Hades own abode rest here, but the dead never cross back once entering Elysium.

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Olympus

Set high atop one of the western mountains, Olympus is the home of the gods, and a permanent residence for the twelve principal deities of the pantheon though others come and go. It is not a place for mortals, though a select few who have caught the gods fancies have been spirited away there but are usually not returned to tell of what they have seen. The gods of the Hellenic Imperium are very involved in the affairs of the federations denizens, choose favorites among the regions and peoples, contest and cajole from them too. They have a hand in the choosing of the emperor though to take all the responsibility for it would ruin the fun.