Old World
The Old World is a large landmass, divided politically into several human nations. Its dominant inhabitants are humans, whose common heritage distinguishes the Old World as a distinct civilisation and continent. It is bounded to the north, west, and south by the Great Ocean. Its eastern borders are delineated by the Worlds Edge Mountains.
The Old World is located south of Norsca and north of Araby.
Much of the land is an untamed wilderness, the forests giving way to large expanses of marsh and swamp in the lowlands, and heath and moorlands in the highlands.
The Old World has a temperate climate, although it varies over the wide expanse, from cool temperate in the northern coasts, to warm temperate in the western and southern coasts.
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Major countries
Among the major states of the Old World are the Empire, Bretonnia and Kislev. To the south are the kingdoms of Estalia and the city-states of Tilea, both of which lack a central authority and government, as does the anarchic collection of petty kingdoms known as the Border Princes, at the southeastern frontiers of the Old World.
The Old World is also home to a number of non-humans, such as the Dwarfs, and the Wood Elves living in the Forest of Loren. Within the boundaries of the Empire is the Halfling-administered area of the Moot.
History
The Old World was colonised six millennia ago by the High Elves during the Golden Age of the High Elves. Over four thousand years ago, a devastating war known as the War of the Beard occurred between the Elves and the Dwarfs. Eventually the Elves withdrew to Ulthuan, leaving a few Wood Elf settlements in the depths of the Old World forests.
Humans first settled the Old World over three millennia ago, as human nomadic tribes migrated from the south. Only following the Human-Dwarf alliance under Sigmar Heldenhammer which drove the Orc and Goblin races beyond the borders of the Old World were the tribal humans able to establish the foundations of the current nations of the Old World. Over the next five hundred years human civilisation advanced rapidly.
Languages
Linguistic differences are a part of the cultural differences distinguishing the countries of the Old World, although most of the human languages of the Old World belong to a group of closely related tongues called Old Worlder.
Religion
The majority of the human population worships a common pantheon of gods and goddesses. Some of these are national deities like Sigmar in the Empire, or the Lady of the Lake in Bretonnia, while others are worshipped throughout the continent.
Notes & Sources
- Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, 1st edition
