Visions from the Empire

The Underworld,
rendered.

Cities carved beneath the earth, and the people and machines that fill them. Select any plate to enlarge it.

Explore artwork by location

Beneath the northern coast of France · The Old Channel Port

Le Pari.

One of the first cities ever built beneath the earth — a rust-and-brick port on the English Channel where the submarine lanes come in and the cable cars climb to the surface of France. Brick and iron, patched with black glass and violet steam.

A street in Le Pari beside the brick-ringed lift shaft — a lit glass car behind iron railings, a Sabre trooper on watch and pale citizens in long coats passing a blood vendor's cart — Le PariStreet by the lift gates

Dockhands on the Le Pari quays strapping freight crates beside the water, gold Provak hammer marks on their arms and a crane lowering cargo behind them — Le PariThe quays

Beneath Berlin, Germany · The Capital

Grelock.

Capital of the Empire Eternal and seat of House Draconi — masked aristocracy, vaulted halls, and the throne of the Immortal Empress herself.

The imperial palace of Grelock — a stepped black massif of ribbed piers and dozens of spires, violet lightning across the crown — DraconiThe Imperial Palace

Empress Victoria Dracula in her black crystal mask, seated upon the throne — The throneThe Immortal Empress

Imperial Guards in the vaulted inner palace hall, skull-helms and violet rifles — GrelockImperial Guard — inner palace

Imperial Guard in four formation blocks before the palace, banners raised — GrelockFormation before the palace

The empty imperial throne on its stepped dais between violet-lit pillars, tall purple Draconi bat tapestries flanking the steps and caped Imperial Guard at watch — GrelockThe Imperial Throne Room

The five masked Archons of the Imperial Council with two armored Praetorians behind them — GrelockThe Empress's Hand

Beneath Las Vegas · United States · The City of Vice

Vicestatt.

Home of the Blood Games and every appetite the Empire sells. Violence and spectacle to enthrall the masses.

The Colosseum from a luxury box — leather seats and betting terminals above the empty fighting floor, odds boards lit for the next match — The ColosseumThe arena

Zeta and Gamma Bloodletters clash with violet pikes and red hard-light shields — The Blood GamesThe Bloodletters

The Dark Star hotel atrium — gaming floors beneath a projected planetary dome, pale Provak guests with gold hammer neck markings — VicestattThe Dark Star — grand atrium

The Dark Star gaming floor — a Provak dealer at the table, the black-and-gold hall beyond — VicestattThe Dark Star — gaming floor

Beneath Vancouver, Canada · Convert and Thrall Processing Hub

Purgatory.

A major intake hub in North America where new vampires and slaves are processed by the thousands.

Customs Checkpoint One in Purgatory — pale new arrivals queue at the scanners while caged holding pens signed CONVERTS and THRALLS stand behind them, human Thralls in red-lit collars, and Sabre troopers in black armor with three red slashes and red-energy rifles watch beneath a projected star field — The thresholdArrival at Checkpoint One

The Hemochron examination in Purgatory — a restrained Convert's wrist locked into the blood reader while four robed officials in red, orange, blue and purple study the results, the purple-robed Draconi behind a sculpted metal vampire mask with purple bat cheek markings, a uniformed Sabre attendant with a crimson-veined plasma sidearm at his shoulder — IntakeThe Hemochron — House assignment

The descent shaft beneath Purgatory — a square riveted black shaft lit by red maintenance strips, five sealed black-glass coffin capsules suspended at staggered depths, their motion trails running both up and down — The descentSurface to Underworld

Beneath New York City · United States · The Serpent's Garden

Seraphel.

The garden of the Underworld — synthetic terraces and engineered groves, waterfalls strung between towers, and artificial flowers threaded with glowing circuitry. At its edge, sea-gates open to the Atlantic, where submarine liners carry the Empire's passengers and cargo to Europe.

The garden city skyline of Seraphel — terraces, waterfalls and glowing groves beneath the cavern sky — SeraphelThe garden city

A Praetorian of the Serpent's Guard — black armor with green serpent crest and green-lit rifle — PraetorianThe Serpent's Guard

The serpent-crowned palace of Seraphel with its fountains, guarded by green serpent-liveried Praetorians — SeraphelThe Serpent's Palace

The masked Serpent's Court gathered in revel beneath a great serpent coiled around a moon, green-armored Praetorians among the guests — Intrigues of the courtThe Serpent's Masquerade

Beneath Rome, Italy · The City of War

Kronos.

Ancestral city of House Sabre, raised on the bones of the Roman legions — parade grounds, war foundries, and discipline drilled from cradle to grave.

A Sabre Legionnaire in black segmented armor with red lenses, three red slashes across the chest and a crimson plasma rifle — SabreLegionnaire

Legions of House Sabre mustered in the parade ground of Kronos — arched colonnades hung with blood-stripe banners, the domed citadel beyond and crescent fighters crossing the cavern roof — KronosParade muster

Street level in Kronos — a mixed crowd of Sabre, Provak and Veisik citizens on a black thoroughfare, a sentinel drone above — KronosStreet level

Beneath Cambridge, England · The City of Wonder

Novacrypt.

The gleaming laboratory-city of House Veisik, where science and progress never sleep. Every wonder of the Empire — and every nightmare — bears the mark of its citizens.

A completed Death Head — skull helmet, orange mechanical eyes, violet forearm blades — Terror assetDeath Head

Two Veisik scientists at work in a white cybernetics laboratory, a suit of Death Head armor standing in a display case behind them — VeisikResearch laboratory

A Veisik Necromancer monitoring a reclining Death Head under construction — VeisikThe Necromancer's Table

Beneath Los Angeles · United States · The City of Greed and Industry

Vulcaneum.

Industrial heart and executive hub of House Provak, where towering forges roar beside glittering casinos and corporate headquarters. The lights never dim and the work never ceases.

The industrial level of Vulcaneum — Provak laborers in worn work gear, a food vendor at his steaming pots and an armored Sabre trooper on the wet street, foundry glare behind them — VulcaneumThe industrial level

A Provak baroness with a glass of blood in a gilded lounge, a liveried server beside her and the smoking foundries of Vulcaneum through the window — The BaronsAbove the foundries

The Underworld,rendered.