History The first recorded Teutonic people were marauding tribes from the east. Though their exact land of origin is unknown, it is likely they were forced from their ancestral homeland by some malicious stimuli. Having moved into the region, and usurped the elven population in a series of ill documented wars, in which the few native elves were driven out or put to the sword by the roaming Teutons. As the land was fertile, the tribe settled, and began to grow in size, dominating more land, and building greater settlements. As the fledgling nation grew, nearby tribes were integrated into the society, including the native elves (though few and far between) and other advancing human tribes.
After several years of steady expansion, the Teuton people bordered neighbouring tribes, and set out defined borders. These tribes would later found the surrounding provinces of Sorren, Ferrine, Verin, Umbria, The Water Dales, and the Shires.
As was inevitable, the peoples began to fight amongst themselves. The first recorded wars began between the Duchy of Ferrine and the Teutonic Kingdom (as it was at this point known). The kingdom suffered a series of defeats, and was forced to give up substantial tracts of land, yet this was soon recovered after a war between Ferrine and Verin, in which the Kingdom sided with Verin, and recaptured its lost land.
This was merely the first of many such wars, and ever changing alliances.
These wars, known only as “The wars of the many colours” (in reference to the national colours soon adopted to distinguish armies, clashing with as many as four other nations at once), raged for many years, until a defining moment, where the Teutonic Kingdom signed a treaty with the defeated Republic of Sorren, taking it as a territory, annexed by the Teutonic Crown. The combined armies then easily conquered the (relatively) peaceful South Sires, and, as the Teutonic armies grew, so their foes fell, until the majority of the states were crushed, or had submitted to the Teutonic crown. This Kingdom, built on conquest, soon began to fall apart however, as unrest grew rife. In desperation, the king issued a declaration in which he outlined a new political system, in which an Emperor would rule over the nations, and would be elected by various elector princes of each state, in turn elected by the ruling nobility of their state. This system was accepted by the nobility, and after a series of minor civil wars over the prince ship, the Elector council was formed, promptly electing Emperor Theodorus I as their leader. The newly formed empire began a long process of assimilating the territories under a national flag, with some success. In a matter of years, the region was transformed into one of relative harmony, though nobles still squabbled and plotted, and peasants still grumbled and conspired. In this time, the population and trade boomed, as did the culture of the ascendant empire, and it became the state it is today.
Though national identity is somewhat hard to grasp, there is universal pride in the empire. This does not stop various territories bickering over obsolete borders, but the might of Imperial decree is often enough to prevent such disputes, and the Emperor’s High Court offers an alternative to settling land disputes among the nobility to warfare, and allows peasants limited rights. The nations retain their colours, and much of their tradition, however, they do so in the name of the Central Teutonic Empire.
Geographic layout The land in the Teutonic Empire varies, but the climate remains fairly constantly temperate.
The Teutonic Heartland is mainly made up of sweeping forests of deciduous woodland, comprised of such trees such as oak, sycamore and elm. These forests are sparsely populated, and filled with wildlife. They have provided the Teutonic people with a ready supply of fuel and building material, as well as sport in the form of wild game. The rest of the Heartland is made up of fertile grassland, in which the majority of the population can be found. The majority of land use revolves around subsistence agriculture, though several townships dot the region, as well as some large cities.
Elsewhere in the nation, the geography remains much the same, barring a few exceptions. The Water Dales gain their name due to a vast swamp encompassing much of the region, populated only by large towns on secure land, and yet few in the way of rural dwellers.
In the south, particularly in the territory of Sorren, a large pine forest covers much of the region. This forest, rumoured to be filled with evil creatures, is mostly avoided, and the nation’s inhabitants live around the edges of the forest, or along the fertile banks of the Vard River. Sweeping moors of heather and reed occupy much of the land in Ferrine, Veril, and Umbria. These regions are almost universally occupied by hardy herdsmen and crofters, as few brave the wind swept dales and treacherous peat bogs.
In the far south, the Straight pike mountain range dominates the skyline-a district of mighty mountains and wild beasts, inhabited by tribes of orcs.
Several cities dot the lands of the empire, and one such city, Marienburg, the capitol of the region, and empire on a whole, is home to the Imperial house and elector council. The city is said to sprawl out in all directions, from the focal point of the grim citadel at its centre. The inner city itself is encircles by a thick curtain wall; however the city continues beyond its limit, in a chaotic jumble of dwellings, ranging from stone manors, to rickety shacks. Navigating it’s labyrinthine streets is nigh on impossible without a guide, and in the outer city, it is said that a man makes his own law, as imperial watch patrols only maintain the inner city.
This model is fairly typical for many cities in the empire.
Religion The assorted people of the Imperium Teutonicum have a fairly varied pantheon of gods, mostly adopted from the various cultures. Each god has a respective church, and an order of militant knights, which represent one of the few standing professional soldiers in the empire. In order of prevalence;
.Larim (also The Morning lord, Light bringer)-Patron of mornings, the Sun, Good deeds, healing-also patron of the Knights of the Golden Rose
.Ferra (also Golden Sheaves, Lady Noon)-Patroness of harvests, fertility, growth, renewal, celebration. Patroness of the Knights of the Sickle
.Derrid (also the Judge, The Evenhanded, Gravewarder)-Patron of crusades, Justice, Final Judgement, the doomed, undead hunters-Patron of the Twilit Crusade
Terim (also Warbringer, Iron Duke) Patron of soldiers, heroism, honour. Patron of the Holy Legion
.Omia (also The Father, The Guide, The Hand, the great invoker)-Creator god, patron of the blind, builders, Architects, ages and the Order of the Blind Builder
-Syrid (also Shadow Stalker, The Cold Heart, The Bloodied Claw)-Patron of thieves, murderers, shadows, crimes, night. Originally patron of The Brothers of Suffering-exterminated by the Knights of the Golden Rose.
Era-(also Maiden of the woods, Beast Mistress, High Huntress) Patroness of Hunters, Wild beasts, wildernesses, archers, forests. No militant order associated.
Generally, the gods are treated with respect, though the Teutonic peoples can hardly be called devout. Nevertheless, each god has an established church and a large following, making the various churches some of the wealthiest institutions in the realms. One unified belief of all the churches is a hatred and fear of undead. As a result, necromancy is shunned, and deplored, and the Twilit Crusade has gone as far as to dedicate its existence as the laying to rest of undead creatures, and the extermination of the causes.
Aside from this, there is little trans species prejudice. Elves are integrated into Imperial society as equals, though they are few compared to the humans, and dwarves are a rarity in the Teutonic lands. Even the mountain orcs have been known to integrate with society, though the majority live in tribal isolation, raiding local villagers, rather than tilling fields alongside them.
As well as the churches, there is also the Esoteric University of Marienburg-The only institution willing to teach magical arts openly in the nation. This university teaches a special school of magic-known as invoking-where the user, born with the talent and trained rigidly by a brutal regime of mental discipline, brings primordial matter through a gap in reality, though one so small that only a trickle may be allowed. Using a focus (usually a staff, or other such totem) the mage can form the matter into whatever he wishes, as long as it is within the bounds of the material world, and does not exceed the power drawn from the seething primordial chaos. This art has led to many wonders, mostly manifesting in magical weapons and armour, capable of withstanding mortal blows, and destroying metal as if it were paper. However, such items require vast amounts of energy to forge and so are few and far between. The mages can also invoke this energy in battle, manifesting it as walls of fire, or sheets of lightning, however this requires a circle of invokers, working in parallel to channel the energy required. If too much energy is drawn, and falls from the users grasp, disastrous consequences can occur, as the primordial matter defines itself, eventually closing the rift on its own accord, but only often after vast amounts of havoc have been wrought on the surrounding area.
Crest of the Imperium Teutonicum Medium 
Bios Emperor Ferdinand IV
Elected emperor by the elector princes, the emperor is 50 in years, with a head of grey hair. Veteran of several campaigns in his past, he is an experienced general and warrior, with a legendary patience for matters of state. He is generally considered a good monarch, and has brought many benefits to the nation.
Arch Invoker Kermann: A mage of great power and wisdom, whose age is indefinable. He has the appearance of a man in his eighties, though many vouch his actual age in measured in hundreds. Known to be a kind man face to face, he has a habit of brutal efficiency in managing the affairs of the University.
Marshal Zandt: Leader of the Imperial army by appointment. Also the grand master of the Twilit Crusade. The Marshal has strong feelings of honour and duty, and leads his armies from the front line.
Military Contempory sketch of Imperial soldiers 
The Imperial army is the only standing force of the nation, numbering only about 3000 in number. Generally considered elite, these soldiers are employed to hold battle lines together, prevent petit wars between nobles, and keep order in the capitol. Dressed in black uniforms, and typically equipped with a breastplate, and helmet, wielding a massive two handed flamberge, the Imperial army is a force to be reckoned with, yet low in number.
Flamberge, as used by the Imperial Army 
The majority of forces are made up of levies; every settlement with a large enough population is given a sum of money to found and maintain a militia, (or militias, if the population allows for it) which can be called to war at any time. The local nobility is often tasked with equipping and training these bands, and as a result, a motley group can be fielded in battle, ranging from proud, plate clad pike men, to ill equipped rabbles armed with bows and rusting spears. One thing that is enforced is the uniform of the militia-each group must have a unique uniform and battle standard to distinguish it the generals. Because of this, the Teutonic battle lines are often an eye dazzling affair of clashing colours, screeching instruments of every nature, and often resemble a county fair more than an army, aside from the militant orders, and Imperial army. Nevertheless, this has led to fierce regimental pride, and several regiments and companies have fierce rivalries, often leading to squabbling, forcing generals to consider the politics of battle arrangement carefully.
A squad of Imperial militia. Generally, the regiments will be made up of as many as 400 men 
One characteristic of the militias is a weapon almost unique to the Teutonic Empire-The Arbalest. This crossbow, made unique by it’s solid steel arm (replacing the wooden arm of traditional crossbows), requires great strength to draw, and yet can deliver a bolt at such a velocity that it can punch through even the thickest armour, leaving a wound mutilating the entirety of a mans chest.
A standard Teutonic arbalest 
These weapons are widely distributed, as though they take a long time to prepare (the bold must be loaded, and the bow string wound back with a system of ratchets-the average human finds drawing the arbalest nigh on impossible), they decimate armoured foes, and require none of the training that traditional archers require. However, due to long loading times, they are often deployed with the paviste-a large tower shield, placed infront of the crossbowman, where he can take cover as he reloads his weapon. These shields are often painted with scenes from folklore, in bright, stark colours, adding to the carnvial atmosphere of the Imperial battleline.
The nobility, when not commanding their foster militias, also join the battles. Always better equipped, these brigades are nearly always mounted, as they can afford to maintain horses-a luxury most can not afford. Clad in heavy armour, and bearing lances and long swords, these noblemen are a force to be reckoned with,as apart from some light cavalry from Ferrine and Umbria, and the militant orders, they represent the only cavalry in the Teutonic army. As a result they are often tasked with guarding the flanks of the Teutonic battle lines.
Noble cavalry in the charge 
