Editing Hyborian Age (section)

==Nations and Empires==
The Hyborian Age itself is set in what can be considered a mish mash of late Bronze and Iron ages with armies of the world nations numbering thousands or tens of thousands at a time and several of the nations themselves transitioning into mega-empires like Rome or Han China. The world itself however is still brimming with unexplored lands, fierce monsters and ancient civilizations more fitting for a Bronze Age setting.

The major polities and empires of the Hyborian Age are as follows:

*'''Aquilonia & Nemedia''' The most powerful and developed kingdoms of the dreaming west. Their armies feature knights clad in full plate armor and both are wealthy and culturally sophisticated. Aquilonia has a number of client-kingdoms such as Poitain, Gunderland and Bossonian Marches which keep the barbarous picts and Cimmerians at bay.

*'''Zyngara & Argos''' Merchant nations on the southern coasts of the continent. They posses vast fleets that ply the oceans to trade with Stygia and the Black kingdoms further south. A few centuries after Conan's reign they become annexed by Aquilonia.

*'''Ophyr, Corinthia and Koth''' Kingdoms of middling power situated in the center of Howard's map. They are mostly prosperous but also decadent, homes of wizards and nobles residing in tall towers. As with Argos and Zyngara most later fall under Aquilonia but as tributaries rather than being annexed.

*'''Zamora''' The easternmost of the hyborian-descended kingdoms. A shifty land whose capital Shadizar bears the moniker "City of Wickedness". Has plenty of sorcerers and also contends with Turan encroaching from the east.

*'''Cimmeria & Brythunia''' Cimmeria is a barbarous land analogous to Scotland and/or Ireland before the roman arrival on the isles with Brythunia being a bit civilized. Cimmerians are viewed as the scourge of the west and are only rivaled by the even more northern peoples.

*'''Vanaheim, Asgard and Hyperborea''' Lands on the extreme north of the Hyborian continent, barbarous and belligerent, they primarily worship the god Ymir as opposed to the Hyborian Ishtar and Mithra.

*'''Turan & Hyrkania''' Basically the Mongol Empire, the Turanians are the western prong of the horde that remained after the Hyrkanians were pushed back east. Turan is described as one of the wealthiest nations of the world and eventually expands it's borders all the way to Zamora.

*'''Shem''' Nations reminiscent of the middle-eastern/semitic peoples. They are potent fighters and valued as mercenaries across the neighbouring kingdoms.

*'''Stygia''' Predecessor of Ancient Egypt, a home of dusky desert tombs, black pyramids and devious sorcerers worshipping the demon snake-god Set. Also a nation of some of the most powerful sorcerers in the world, bested only by those hailing from the distant Khitai.

*'''Kush, Darfar and Keshan''' Border-nations of semi-barbarians south of Stygia that often war with each-other and are a source of goods for Zyngara and Argos.

*'''Vendhya''' Proto-India, a wealthy and ancient kingdom south-east of Turan. The people there are of non-hyborian eastern stock and the primary religion centers around the worship of Asura, who's cult has spread as far west as Aquilonia.

*'''Khitai''' Proto-China and another of the ancient empires. Little is known of it but the empire posseses the best wizards in the world.

There are also several empires which existed prior to the rise of contemporary realms but after the sinking of Atlantis:

*'''Atlantean and Pictish empires''' The twin empires arose after the cataclysm though they were beaten back to the stone-age level by the cataclysm and incessant warfare. The Atlanteans were known as rough but artistic people while the Picts were above all practical and simplistic. Both of them collapsed with Atlanteans devolving into ape-men and later re-evolving into Cimmerians while the Picts slunk back to tribal-based society that has since stagnated for millenia.

*'''Ancient Stygia''' A powerful empire that stretched as far north as Ophir and Koth before the Hyborian hordes drove it south across the river Styx

*'''Acheron''' A sophisticated and developed empire that covered many present kingdoms 3000 years before Conan's birth. It was a nation of sorcerers exceeding even it's sister nation of Stygia and legendary in it's cruelty and evil, practicing necromancy and thaumaturgy. They enslaved the incoming Hyborians but were later overthrown.