Major Powers: Troy, Lycia, the Edoni (Thracians)
Other Peoples: Phrygians, Mysians, scattered tribes and coastal cities
Enemies & Allies: Greece to the west, Hittites to the east, Canaanites and Sea Peoples across the sea
Pantheon: A blend of Olympian gods, Anatolian river and storm deities, Thracian spirits, and local heroes
Anatolia is the bridge of East and West, where the mountains meet the sea and where kingdoms rise on trade, war, and divine favor. The land is rugged and divided, each region fiercely proud of its own traditions. At its heart stands Troy, jewel of the north, whose walls rise high and unbroken, commanding the Hellespont straits. To the south lies Lycia, famed for its archers and seafarers. And beyond the mountains dwell the Edoni, Thracians who worship in blood and wine, feared for their ecstatic rites.
Anatolia is no unified empire but a land of shifting alliances and rivalries, where the favor of gods can tilt battlefields and determine the fate of kings.
Ruled by King Priam, wise but aging, with a court full of proud sons and daughters.
The city’s walls are said to have been raised by Poseidon himself, making them nearly unbreakable.
Wealth flows through Troy, as all ships passing the straits must pay tribute.
The Trojans are famed horse breeders and charioteers.
Hector, their greatest champion, embodies the city’s honor.
Patron Gods: Apollo, Aphrodite, and often Zeus himself.
A southern kingdom along rugged coasts and mountain valleys.
Ruled by King Sarpedon, cousin of Priam and favored by Zeus.
Lycians are famed for their deadly archers, swift ships, and sacred tombs cut into cliffsides.
Their culture blends Anatolian and Hellenic elements, and they claim descent from heroes of both worlds.
Patron Gods: Apollo Lykeios, Zeus of the Storm, and local river spirits.
Fierce tribes dwelling in the northern hills and forests.
Followers of Dionysus in his wildest form, practicing ecstatic rites of wine, drums, and sacrifice.
Their warriors are terrifying in battle, fighting in frenzied trances and wielding curved sica blades and heavy axes.
Though often mercenaries or raiders, the Edoni can be swayed to join larger wars if promised plunder.
Patron Gods: Dionysus, Ares, and dark local spirits of storm and shadow.
Phrygians: Rising power inland, famed for their music and horse-breeding. They are said to be destined for greatness after Troy’s fall.
Mysians: Hardy tribes of the northwest, often caught between Troy and Greece, providing mercenaries and supplies.
Carians: Seafarers of the southwest, rivals to the Lycians, sometimes allying with Sea Peoples.
Heroic Lineages: Kings of Anatolia trace their bloodlines to gods and heroes, weaving legitimacy through myth.
Seafaring and Trade: Anatolia’s coastal cities thrive on maritime exchange, dealing with Greeks, Canaanites, and Egyptians alike.
Tombs of the Ancestors: Especially in Lycia, tombs carved into stone cliffs honor the dead and are believed to house their spirits.
Rites of Ecstasy: Among the Edoni, warriors drink deeply of wine, howl to the drums, and fight with divine frenzy.
Prophecies and Omens: Both Troy and Lycia keep oracles who read the flight of birds, the stars, or the entrails of beasts.
While the Olympians are worshipped here, Anatolia has its own powerful traditions:
Apollo Lykeios (Wolf Apollo): God of archery and prophecy, honored across Lycia.
Zeus of the Storm: Thunder-lord tied to Anatolia’s mountains, distinct from Zeus Olympios.
River Gods: Each valley has a river-spirit, honored with offerings and festivals.
Dionysus: In Thrace, he is worshipped in his most violent, ecstatic form, demanding frenzy and sacrifice.
Ares: Beloved of Thracian tribes for his bloodthirst.
The Trojan Question: Troy prepares for Greek assault, calling upon Lycian and Phrygian allies. Envoys travel far to secure aid.
The Lycian Oath: King Sarpedon swears loyalty to Troy, though some Lycian nobles resist.
Edoni Raids: Thracians spill from the hills, raiding both Trojan and Greek lands, answering only to their own chiefs and gods.
The Hittite Shadow: In the east, the great Hittite Empire watches. Their kings send no armies, but whispers suggest they may quietly support Troy.