Russian Empire

## Introduction

To the east of europe lies the russian empire, the country ruled by Strigoi. Since simple farmers and horsemen banded together to form its first cities the Tsari Drakonov, the Dracul of the far north, held sway above the land. They share it with a much older group of Afflicted, known as the Koldun, however. These sorcerers capitalise on the naturally thin Veil and the restless spirits that travel across russia, standing in eternal conflict with its ruling class.

## Regions

The russian Empire is divided into countless smaller Oblasts, semi-autonomous regions with their own rulers, citites and traditions. The Afflicted care much less about these human borders; however the Tsari Drakonov have developed similiar structures known as **Grand Oblasts,** of which there are seven; each ruled by a (...) that claims fiefdom over their lands in typical Dracul fashion. These are:

### Khazakan Grand Oblast

At its western border, surrounded by the black sea, lies the Crimean peninsula. Since centuries the naitive Krimtartar Zalim waged war against the Tsari Drakonov, leading attacks deep in the russian heartlands. Recently the Russian Empire conquered Crimea, instating a loyal Boyar as its ruler. Although the Zalim are defeated they are still active in the shadows, trying to corrode the Drakonoy rule from within.

## Cities

### Severnyy Grand Oblast

* **St. Petersburg**
* **Navgrad-** Since the days of the Republic of Novgorod the city of Navgrad stood proud. It was the first grand city to the north-east of europe. Across the ages it changed its name countless times but the russian Afflicted still refer to it by one of its first. In medival times Navgrad was a large and prosperous city, ruled by a council of powerful Afflicted that ruled the Republic in unity, from Navgrads enwalled Kreml. This would change in the war with the Kievan Rus. Through a powerful intruige, *Volkhov*, first of the Tsari Drakonov, murdered the Republics council and took reign over the ancient city as an indipendant Boyar. In modern times the city holds little relevance for the mortal world despite its beauty and many historical buildings; yet for the Afflicted it is a hoard of ancient knowledge ruled by a dreaded tyrant. Volkhov is among the most powerful Afflicted in the entire russian and his mutated creatures stalk the land around his sacred city, shrouded in magical mirages. Volkhov and his many children reject the rule of the Tsar and their cousins, claiming full and unchallenged authority over their lands.

### Varangian Grand Oblast

* **Moscow**
* **Voronezh**

### Kieffan Grand Oblast

* **Kieff-** Since centuries Kieff holds great religious and political importance in russia. Due to its authority in the world of the eastern orthodoxy and its many beautiful churches it has often been refered to as the *Jerusalem of the East*. After Tsar Peter ended the rule of the Patriarchs and instigated the Synode, many of the traditionalist Afflicted became enraged and antagonistic. Although modern Kieff is still held by loyal Drakonoy, the Schismatics are a strong force in the city, recruiting members and gathering around the old churches and planning the return of the traditional ways.
* **Odessa**
* **Kharkoff**

### Trassjankan Grand Oblast

* **Minsk**
* **Riga**

### Vostochnyy Grand Oblast

* **Novgorod**
* **Kazan**

## Factions

### Rusalka

For most of russias history the term Rusalka refered to a set of benevolent spirits that roamed its wilderness; enjoying anually worship of slavic pagans. While the river Nereids of Kholod where often confused with these spectres. While these more naturalistic Nereids often joined pagan cults as believers or lesser dieties, it was not until the beginning of the 19th century that the term became almost exclusivly associated with them. The Tsari Drakonov led a campaign against the Nereids and painted them as vengeful spirits that lurked in rivers and swamps to drown the unwary.

The Rusalka originate from the Black Sea and the Deephold of Kohold, build from countless shipwrecks in its icy depts. While they mostly refrain from interacting with mortals and Afflicted at the oceans shores, many of them are send up the rivers to expand Koholds influence into the russian main land. The Rusalka do not worship the Ocean God but instead a more animisitic and alieanated version of the slavic pagan pantheon.