The Empire. Even in modern times, several of Terra's greatest powers continue to pride themselves on their kings and queens. Other, supposedly more progressive countries like Kazimeriz and Colombia pretend to put those ideas aside for a more representative form a governance, when in reality, are no different from monarchies. There are great monoliths and great pretenders, but within Terra, there is one collection of city states who are the very definition of not just an empire, but a world power. The states may squabble, even into the modern age, but the empire is still more cohesive when compared to Ursus, who was crippled so severely by civil war that it can hardly raise its men against the world. Or Victoria, who continues to lack a proper heir to the throne. Afterall, how else would the Empire of Man stand against Terra's greatest evils?

The Empire was born shortly after the end of a viscous civil that sought the planet's original race splitting into two, Sarkaz and Sankta. The Sankta chose to break away in order to escape the Sarkaz barbarism, no worse than roving Beastmen or Orcs. They founded a city under the leadership of "The Law", a machine designed to intimate the divine. One Sankta saint realized the folly of worshiping such a false idol, and led a rebellion to free as much of his sons as possible from its influence. This man is Sigmar Heldenhammer. He was tasked by beings from beyond the mortal plane with the survival of mankind with a "Shield of Civilization". Sigmar was surrounded by self-interested fools who desired to hole up in their technocratic False-Eden, while the rest of the world is consumed by evil. "The Law" did not immediately punish Sigmar and his rebels for their betrayal by turning them into Fallen. They were free to march out of the ruined gates of Laterano, where the true battle awaited. It lied with Orcs, Beastmen, Norscans, Dark Elves, Sarkaz "half-daemons", and other monsters that infested the lands. Through slaughtered them over the course of a thousand years, Sigmar carved out his empire while also paving the way for modern civilization. Mobile Cities would never been possible if the Darkness was not culled.

During Sigmar's crusades, several important alliances were established, building the Shield of Civilization. The sheer scale and violence of the Empire's wars drew attention away from Gaul, while the country itself was simultaneously impressed by their feats. Blackpowder was and still is a card Nuln's smiths keep close to their chests. The nation instead absorbed the Empire's knight culture and became what is known as Bretonnia. Proto-Durins decided to stay within the mountain ranges rather than invest in deep-earth holds known as "domes". Working with the Empire was a better bet than retreating from the surface to escape the Greenskin hoards. These Durins consisted of the older, more stubborn kind, insultingly called "Dwarves" by their younger kin. They were the true inventors of the Empire's steam technology and firearms, which was exchanged between Dawi and Imperial hands when trade first began. Unfortunately, the Victorians sent spies to steal the knowledge for their own ends. The spying led to conflict between two Empires, one of Man, and one of Feline. Long story short, a bitter rivalry between Victoria's Grand Dukes and Imperial Elector Counts today. Oh, and their entry in the Dawi Great Book of Grudges is permanent. Kislev, the Empire's youngest ally, was founded when noble refuges fled to the Empire's northernmost province, Ostland. They were the "new blood" who were tired of how the Ursus establishment treated their people, especially if they were infected. The "old blood" sent several Emperor's Blades, a most heretical combination between man and daemon, to stop them. The blades were already a sore spot within the Empire, but this was the first account of one sent to an Empirical Province. The resulting war was catastrophic, ending with the Ursus Empire seceding its northern territory to the newly found Kislev.

Today, the Empire of Man is carefully monitoring its civilians for Oripathy. Originium Arts is strictly regulated when compared to other nations. Each broad type of Arts, such as healing or pyrotechnics, falls under an individual College of Magic. The colleges were founded by Sigmar's fellow war heroes during the split from Laterano. They severe to not only further the Empire's understanding of magic, but also train the world-renowned "Battle-Wizards". However, if a person is discovered to practice Magic while not registered with the correct institutions, they are branded as a "Witch". Punishments can very depending on the severity of the crimes, but the most common form is being set alight by the prosecuting Witch Hunter, or banishment to the Northern Wastes. Oripathy Infectees suffer from a great deal of suspicious in the Empire's borders, but not without reason. The current line of logic was that while The Law failed to turn SIgmar's rebels into Fallen, it did not leave Sankta insurgents unscaved. Infected among Sigmar's ranks and several inexperienced Casters begun to lose their minds after the succession. Villages were incinerated by hellfire, strangled by unchecked overgrowth, or demolished by fell beasts summoned by the afflicted. This was The Law's last spiteful laugh; cursing every man with Imperial to fall into the depths of madness if they were to use Originium Arts. The secrets of gunpowder gave the Imperial of Man a leg up against its competition. Still, Sigmar's inner circle, the current Gods of Imperial magical lore, shamed the Leithanien King by their Arts aptitude. Once the Enemies of Mankind were slain, there was nothing stopping Sigmar from completely overrunning Terra. The Law, acting to preserve itself, cursed every Imperial bloodline to remove one asset from Sigmar's hand. This is not the only reason why Oripathy receives so much scorn. If an insane witch was not executed on the spot, and was allowed to further wallow in the Darkness... death is no longer an appropriate punishment. It is best if they are sent directly to the North, where the ensuing Chaos can do the least amount of damage. The native Sami people do not take kindly to the Empire deposing of fanatical cultists on their land, but that merely comes with being the Shield of Civilization.

The Empire of Man draws a line between Witches and those who catch the disease by accident. Despite their backwardness, the finest medical minds in all of Terra call the Empire home. Rhodes Island has offices in every province, but their Sarkaz employees are strictly forbidden in Imperial territory. After the proper authorities clear the individual of guilt, they will be directed to the proper institutions for care. That is, assuming the individual lives in a big city and not in the rural towns, where superstition reigns supreme. Walking into a mob who has just lynched your patient isn't uncommon. There is one sin that is completely and utterly forgivable within the Imperial lands, and will earn the offendant a bullet between the eye sockets. Warpstone. Even those its source is the one enemy, utter than the Dark Ones, that the Empire pretends to not exist, every young boy in the Empire is told the tales sooner or later. Suddenly, a town collapses into a subterranean cavern, after which hoards of ravenous ratmen come from the shadows and devour everyone. Or, the town falls to a mysterious illness foretold by the presence of normal rats. Better yet, your loved one dead, with a glowing chunk of Originium as the killer's calling card. The rest of Terra believes this is little more than prejudiced against the Zalaks, but the Empire's leadership, and a few select few from non-imperial nations, know the full story, the true threat. The only thing preventing them from flooding the surface is their nature to backstab and self-sabotage. Mobile Cities don't merely exist for Catastrophes, but to slow them down.

The Reunion Movement accelerated the Skaven Under Empire's, and the Darkness', plans for total destruction. The End Times.