Centuries after the fall of the Second Empire, savage nations and petty tribes competed for
dwindling resources across a vast post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Yet while most born around the Fall of Bast, were destined for lives of hardship, some
joined larger factions in the hopes they might offer a measure of security and stability.
Among the most influential powers of Kenshi, were the United Cities Empire, formed as a
successor state to the Second Empire through an alliance of cities in the south and north
east of the continent.
Their territories included The Hook, the Bonefields, Stormgap Coast, Heng, Bast and the Great Desert.
Their cities were Drifter’s Last, Clownsteady, Catun, Mourn, Brink, Heng, Bast, Sho-Battai,
Stoat, Bark and Heft.
In addition to offering walled cities defended by samurai armies, the United Cities was largely
free from discrimination based on religion or race, with most citizens left alone so
long as they obeyed the law.
However this state also lacked many fertile lands and was ruled by a feudal aristocracy
and over privileged Emperor which sought to increase their wealth and power at the expense
of the population.
Over time, the class divide grew so extreme, the nobility made poverty illegal, forcing
low income peasants out of the cities where their only protection was the occasional Samurai
patrol.
A corrupt slave state, they not only captured foreigners but also abused the law to arrest
their own citizens, profiting from their forced labour.
Drug use was also highly illegal, with most shops refusing to buy hashish while guards
randomly searched those entering their cities.
The imperial government and economy were supported and fortified by the Trader’s Guild out
of Heng.
Allies of the United Cities that brought in goods during times of hardship.
Yet this wasn’t always enough to prevent catastrophe, like when a terrible famine struck
the southern half of the Empire.
Although the Trader’s Guild sent food shipments, bandits and raiders blockaded the roads, stealing
what was sent.
Making matters worse, the southern nobility fought to horde the few goods that made it
through, leaving the rest of the population to starve.
Desperate to survive, citizens rose up in the Red Rebellion, leading to the death of
many including the Emperor Anzai.
Eventually the nobility crushed the uprising and selected Tengu as their new Emperor, a
cruel, spoiled, callous dullard meant as a puppet for the aristocracy in the capital
of Heft.
Imprisoning enemies like the assassin Luquin in Tengu’s Vault, the Emperor ruled the
United Cities with the aid of his inner circle, including Lord Inaba of Stout, Lord Yoshinaga
of Heng, Lord Nagata of Sho-Battai and Lady Sanda of Bark, as well as Captain Eyegore,
a masterful warrior who led his elite army against their most dangerous enemies.
Inspired by the peace, stability and order of the empire, a group of vigilantes formed
the United Heroes League, acting as an unsanctioned paramilitary enforcing laws as they saw fit.
Yet the organization mostly focused their efforts on bullying and attacking non-humans.
While the Heroes League rose to defend the United Cities, the brutal, corrupt, slave
state more often inspired rebellion, which they faced from the Boss Simion and his rebel
Farmers in Sinkuun to the north, former peasants and slaves who fled the empire and now survived
through banditry.
Then there was the slave rebellion that liberated the city of Mourn in the Bonefields, turning
it into a largely free settlement under the influence of Tech Hunters.
The United Cities also fought the Anti-Slavers of Spring in Stobe’s Gamble, led by the
legendary warrior Tinfist, former friend of Cat-lon, ruler of the Second Empire.
As well as Valamon’s Reavers of the Ark in Stobe’s Garden.
A faction of viscous slavers, who wished to overthrow and replace the lazy, corrupt nobility
of the United Cities, to form a more efficient and competently administered government.
In addition to these many enemies, the United Cities was also in a constant state of war
with the cannibal tribes of the west, and was recently invaded by the Holy Nation when
the city of Bast was destroyed, leaving the region an active warzone.
Once a growing cult in the second empire, the Okranites of the Holy Nation rebelled
against their Skeleton masters and founded a realm in the fertile lands at the center
of the continent.
These territories included Okran’s Gulf, Okran’s Pride, the Arms of Okran, Okran’s
Valley and Rebirth, establishing the cities of Bad Teeth, Stack and their capital Blister
Hill.
According to their beliefs, humans long ago lost faith in their great and powerful god
Chitrin.
Yet when a great calamity arose they repented and begged Chitrin’s help.
A merciful diety, he forgave his children and sacrificed his life to cleanse the planet
of sickness.
Chitrin was then reborn in two forms, Okran the god of day, warmth and renewal, associated
with human males and Narko, god of night, cold and destruction, who represented females
and non-humans.
Much of the cult’s early teachings revolved around peace, personal responsibility and
kindness to others, but over time, their more extreme elements gained authority, discriminating
against servants of Narko who they blamed for the First Extinction, an event in the
ancient past which nearly wiped out humanity.
In addition to hating technology, they developed a racial hierarchy where greenlander and scorchlander
males were considered clean children of Okran, while human females required taming and were
treated as property.
Shek, were treated as corrupted, beastly humans who could be redeemed through the purification
of slavery.
While Hivers were also thought to be former humans, now so far gone in their beastly transformation,
they could only be enslaved or killed as a mercy.
Skeletons, were entirely irredeemable and should be killed on sight.
Ruled by the Holy Phoenix, a lawgiver and champion of Okran, his spirit lived on by
passing into the first male child born after his death.
Under this theocratic government, the Holy Nation discriminated against women, enslaved
non-humans, and forced religion upon their citizens.
Yet they also offered walled cities protected by a fearsome army, with fertile lands providing
plenty of food and water.
A powerful slave state, the Holy Nation believed in purification through forced labour, sending
captives to many sites throughout their lands, including Rebirth, an enormous mining camp
where many toiled until death under a giant statue of Okran.
Provoking rebellion with their brutality, the Holy Nation Outlaws of the Border Zone
and Hub formed from exiled citizens and former slaves, some of whom continued to worship
Okran but believed the Holy Phoenix and his followers corrupted the religion.
There were also the Flotsam Ninjas of the Hidden Forest to the North, composed largely
of women and slaves who escaped the Holy Nation.
Led by Moll, they trained by fighting nearby cannibal tribes, increasing their might to
one day challenge the Holy Nation.
They too believed in their own version of Okran which did away with the discrimination
against women.
In addition to facing rebel groups, the Holy Nation warred with Northern cannibal tribes,
the Shek Kingdom to the South, and invaded the United Cities with the destruction of
Bast, ending a long stretch of peace between these states.
At the time of the invasion of Bast, the Holy Nation followed the 62nd Holy Phoenix, a leader
so devout, that at the age of 16 he sentenced his own family to be purged in fire.
The Holy Phoenix was aided by High Inquisitor Seta of Stack and High Inquisitor Valtena
of the Okran’s Shield military camp, as well as the elite Wrath of God army, sent
against their fiercest foes.