CIB, Age of Corruption

Some blame the arrogance of the living in their attempts to usurp the Gods; some blame their irresponsibility in building technology they could never truly control; and some simply nod and smile, knowing the way of the world. Whatever the reason, the Empire of the past Age begins to crumble as it succumbs to forces on every side. Enemies batter the very gates of civilization, and the corruption of the Shadow rots the Empire from within, tainting the success of the living and tempting them into complacency. Ultimately, the Empire cannot withstand its enemies, and its singular fate is always, at last, to fall.

The Age of Corruption tracks the decay and fall of the great empire forged first in the Age of Kings. Raids by enemies increase, accidents due to magical and technological abuse grow more commonplace, and the remaining Beasts of Legend make a concerted effort to ‘correct’ the faithless.

This Epoch can be played in two ways:

• As individuals, fighting either in the doomed cause to save the Empire from its enemies and itself, or fighting to topple the decayed, rotten husk of the Empire which has caused so many so much pain.
• As an asymmetrical wargame, with one player taking the role of the Empire, and the others taking on the roles of several external forces: rebels, monsters, the Beasts of Legend, the Shadow, and so forth. Game is played either until the Empire falls, all of the Empire’s foes are defeated, or a certain year of play has been reached.

This Epoch ends when the Empire has lost direct governance (no army, any regional governor dead) in at least 4/5 of its original territories.