Setting Overview

Welcome to Imperium Terram. (Latin for “land of empires”)

The year is 464 AP (Anno Pacis, Latin for "Year of the Gods"). You live in a world very much like the Earth of the classical age, save for some “slight” differences.

I: In this alternate timeline, the Nordic people of Scandinavia began exploring and expanding much earlier than in our timeline. This allowed them to spread out their civilization at the same rate and time period as the Roman Empire. By 150 TC (Terminus Conflictus, Latin for "border conflict"), the two world powers had begun a race for power and territory. In 54 TC, war was declared by both countries in spite of tense diplomatic negotiations. The Great War, as it would come to be called would last for over five decades. In the year 1 AP, the first agreement between the two nations was written: The Grecian Accord. It outlined that Greece and the surrounding area would be a neutral area owned and maintained by both nations equally. By 100 AP, border and trade agreements were in place and the people of both nations were cautiously getting to know the culture and society of the other. By 300 AP, the two world powers were practically allies.

II: The Roman Empire has far from collapsed. Due to a common goal (Nordic domination) during the time it would have faced collapse from external and internal sources, the Romans were able to use what divided them in our timeline to their advantage. Instead of being spread too thin, the Roman tacticians left the harder barbarian foes to the Nords, and quickly swooped in if the Swedes should fail. Instead of ruling by decree, the leaders of Rome realized that uniting the people was the best chance they had to overpower the Nords. The people grew fiercely loyal to The Glory of Rome. The ideals of selfless sacrifice to Rome and being but a piece in a large Roman machine still live on in every province.

III: When the Nordic people began to expand their civilization, the Nords expanded south from the areas now known as Norway and Sweden towards Denmark and even northern Germany. After the Great War, and due to the increased cultural influences of the Roman Empire, the Nordic people realized that the traits that they held most dear were very different than those of their new allies. While the roman value unity, devotion to Rome, and the ideal of a ruler supreme, the Nords believed in freedom, choice, self identity, and leaders as men, not effective gods. The kings of the Nords were overthrown and a new idea of governance was adopted. The Democratic Republic of Nordsted was founded in 228 AP, with a similar governance structure to our modern USA, nearly 1500 years ahead of its time.

IV: The Gods are real. They have made themselves known as active beings in the world and it’s events. You may worship a God or Goddess (or perhaps even many) of the Nordic or Roman mythologies.

V: Magic, mythical beings and demons also exist. Because what would DnD be without a few dragons upon which to cast Magic Missile?