Lore & Setting > Geography of the Empire
The Empire occupies most of its continent. The landmass is made up of the following areas :
- Imperial Heartlands : The Western part of the Continent is made up of Asao, Yama, and Rugashi provinces. It is mostly flat with few mountain ranges and is known as the centre and breadbasket of the Empire.
- Eastern Heibesu : Great forests and mountain ranges alternate across much of eastern Heibesu, traditionally the home of the Dazaifu civilization before they fell to the might of the Empire. Today, the Totori and Kokura Clans fight a cold war for control of the region.
- Northern Heibesu : To the North, cutting winds sweep across austere lands. This is the home of the rebel Kingdom/Shogunate of Oranda, and of the brave souls who dwell in Narugami Province.
- Heibesu City : The Imperial City of Heibesu is one of the biggest in the world - and most definitely a sight to behold and a centre of Imperial Enlightenment.
- Wakoshi and Sokomo Islands : to the West of the Continent, Wakoshi is a pirate haven while Sokomo is home to the world's greatest academy of magic.
The population of the Empire is estimated at 47 million people, mostly on coastal areas. Most of the people are Ton'keena, the dominant race in the world, and the last surviving species of catfolk. The biggest city is 2015-acre big Heibesu City (also known as the Imperial City), the capital of the Empire and seat of the Summer Court. With its 212.325 inhabitants as of the last census two years ago, it is often rumoured to be the greatest and most populous city in the world. Cities with double circles on the map have a population of between 30.000 and 78.659 inhabitants (the latter being Ninomiya). Single-circle settlements are towns of between 10.000 and 30.000 inhabitants.
Cities are the heart of Imperial Civilisation, even though only about 20% of the population lives in cities. One can find every profession in a city. Heibesu City, for instance, is home to 1.000 tailors, 1.500 shoemakers, 115 magic shops, 37 libraries, 350 taverns, 120 temples and 85 inns! A medium-sized town like Nishino (36.251 inhabitants) will still be home to about 50 taverns and maybe 20 magic shops. Towns are smaller and sometimes lack certain businesses. Cities and towns tend to be walled, a requirement these days due to the various troubles and unrest that plague most parts of the Empire.
However, villages are also very common, especially in arable areas like the western breadbaskets where one can find a village every 5 or so miles, surrounded in fields, usually rice.
There are several ways to travel through the Empire :
- Using Imperial Roads. This is by far the safest way to travel. Imperial Roads are dotted with forts and inns called Ryokans at close intervals. Monsters often avoid those well-travelled roads, though not always. Those forts and inns are far closer together in the west of the Empire. Imperial Roads link major cities and villages often develop around the forts. Some roads also branch out, but most roads are, in fact not protected and not considered Imperial Roads. A system of fast mules also runs on those roads, using the inns as relays, for fast travel of mail and light goods. People can either ride mounted or walk alongside the roads.
- Ships. Most of the trade is done on boats, using either the riverways or the wide ocean. There are two Navies and plenty of merchant ships about. Pirates often roam the seas but are harmless to a powerfully escorted convoy.
Movement tables are the same as for standard Pathfinder and can be found here.