Morea

Morea was once a peninsula extending out of the mainland to the south-east, but the cataclysm flooded the land bridge between Attika and Korinthia and made Morea an island. These days it’s possible to sail straight through the Korinthian Gulf and out via the Saronic Gulf at the other end. The island is mountainous, but pleasant and survived the cataclysm more or less intact. It’s relatively heavily populated, especially around the coastline. Most of its inhabitants are human, but the bull-headed beastkin known as Minoans still cling to their ancient fortresses above the valleys and are largely left alone. Also the interior is home to the Pelasgi, strange fey who predate nearly everyone and refuse to recognise human boundaries.

Provinces of Morea

Achaea

Nestled at the mouth of gulf of Korinth, mountainous Achaea is traditionally a quiet backwater used to avoiding the attention of its more populous neighbours. Its people mainly live along Achaea’s long northern coastline and trade in wine and olives, grown further inland. The main port of Patrae is a dour, sullen place, but home to the finest weaponsmiths of Graecia who have practiced their craft for hundreds of years.

In recent times Achaea was transformed into a brutal tyranny until the thumb of Senator Verzarli Lucazzi. After a period of rapid expansion the province swept into power across much of south-eastern Graecia. After his assassination, surprisingly under the hands of a foreigner rather than his own people, Achaea reinstated its democracy and elected the popular statesman, Themis Kostas as Senator who reinstated independence in the conquered territories. Themis' reign however was to be short lived as he was overthrown during the Pelasgi uprisings of 1116, who claimed Achaea in the name of Dionysus and allied themselves to the Theocracy of Morea.

Elia

The lowlands of Elia are famed for the strength and virility of its horse breeds, who are sold throughout Graecia and form the bulk of the Elian economy. The Elians themselves are a proud people and fiercely protective of their land, but they involve themselves with outsiders as little as possible for fear of falling under their corruptive influence.

Elia has long held to the tradition of passing over a place in the senate in favour of being represented by the Achaean candidate, a policy sorely tested during Verzarli's era. Freed from the tyrants rule by Themis Kostas they have however fallen back into the control of their stronger northern neighbour.

Messinia

Tranquil Messinia is a rural idyll. High up amongst the valleys Messinians tend to their goats, produce honey and bake the local speciality of walnut cake. Few Messinians actually live along the rocky coastline although in the west the Minoan fortress of Pylos stands guard looking out across the eastern Steel Sea towards Lantia.

Tragically Messinia’s more warlike neighbours have been unable to leave this rural paradise alone and Messinia has been twice invaded by Laconia to its east and Achaea to the north. Both times Messinians have been forced in slavery, as helots and made to work the land for their new lords. The Minoans of Pylos would act, for many are loyal to their adopted province, but are constrained by the interests of the wider Minoan Empire. Liberation came from Senator Themos Kostas of Achaea and they are now members of the Theocracy of Morea and represented on the Senate by the wise rite master, Senator Abore.

Laconia

The fierce temperament of the Laconians mirrors that of their harsh and unforgiving homeland. They lay claim to the legacy of distant Sparta and emulate the ancient Hellenikan city-state’s ways. The fertile Lakedaimon valley is capable of sustaining its populace, but the Laconians prefer to raid and take what they want from their lessers.

Such violence came to an abrupt end when the Laconians were defeated in the 2nd Graecian civil war. Stripped of their lands and their senatorial position Laconia and its conquered territories in Messinia were split into three occupation zones run by Achaea, Korinthia and Attika. The Korinthian and Attikan occupation zones have since been reunited into a new Laconia led by the dwarf, Dawi Grimstone, first of that name and revered Priest of Hephaestus.

Argolis

Ancient Argolis prides itself on being the oldest inhabited region of Graecia, settled by Hellenikan sailors hundreds of years ago. When they arrived they came across the monolithic Minoan citadels of Tiryns and Mycenae and a great war broke out. Victorious, the Argives claimed the citadels as their own. Many live there still, high amongst the valleys of central Argolis, but the commercial centre has shifted to the coastal port of Navplion, which has become rich from exporting Argive silver from the hinterland.

Argolis has a torrid history. Stricken under the mad rule of Senator Ergot for many years its people suffered greatly. Minoans used the opportunity of the strife and upheaval to resettle amongst the human populations of Tiryns and Mycenae and during a further period of chaos, triggered by an internal dispute within Argolis, the eastern port of Troizen broke away to join Attika. The battered and beleaguered state reorganised themselves into a League and have redoubled their efforts to bring peace to the region. They are represented in the senate by Senator Iakovos Atreides.

Korinthia

In the bustling port of Korinth anything can be bought for the right price. The city stands as a central hub for commerce throughout Graecia and ships ply their wares before setting sail for Teutonia to the north-west or Aegyptus to the south. Decedent and worldly the Korinthians see all sorts pass through their waters and have learnt not to ask to too many questions as long as people are willing to trade. The rural areas of Korinthia only serve to keep the hungry metropolis fed.

Korinthia has been blessed with a healthy and strong democracy for many years, but it’s not a democracy as others would understand it. Its common practice for senator elects to openly buy votes from their constituents with the most wealthy individual inevitably becoming senator. The Korinthians see this as right and proper and a good way of ensuring the most prosperous (and therefore the most deserving) individual gets to represent them.