The Emerald Empire of Pythium is a splinter empire of the great Empire of Ermor. As dark arts were practiced in the heart of the Empire, the stars warned the Theurgs of Pythia to flee the impending doom. They led Pythia away from the falling Empire and formed an imperial theocracy under their wise rule. But this was not enough to save them. As Ermor crumbled, the provinces of Pythium rebelled and broke away from their old masters. The Emperor of Pythium could not reclaim the rebelling lands and the power of the Emerald Empire diminished over the centuries. The war machine of Pythium is based on the old legionnaire army of Ermor with some minor modifications. During Ermorian times, part of the Pythian lands were under the sway of the Sauromatian tribes. The Androphags used hydras of the Pythian Marshes in warfare. For a long time hydras were only used in the Pythian arenas, but now the old practice has been adopted along with the usage of serpent mounts.

"Pythium is based on the eastern Roman Empire and Byzantium. Its history and military bears a legacy of Ermor, as did Byzantium from Rome. The Theurgs and their ceremonial magic are influenced by the lavish liturgy of the Orthodox Church. The Cathedral of the Spheres is filled with chanting, the fragrance of incense, and processions of Theurgs robed in gold and silver. Ritual magic is a public and religious affair. The serpent-and-emerald part of the nation is more free-form fantasy fiction, and comes from the name I think.

In the late era the nation is influenced by the mystery cults and religious worshipers of subjugated lands, much as the late Roman empire became a melting pot of imported religious beliefs and faiths. The mystery cults of Isis/Sarapis, Mithra, Dionysos and Euleusis gave Pythium in the late era a new and interesting flavor. The serpent priests are more of a fictional addition, and probably came about as a result of the sacred serpent cataphracts and hydras. Since the mystery cults were inspired by the cult of Isis, a serpent priest with a C'tissian legacy felt fitting. I'm personally quite fond of late era Pythium, since my thesis was about the Roman Isis/Sarapis cult." -Illwinter

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Magic Access	Alt. Access	Unit Summary	Core Abilities	Buildings
3 (rare 4) 2 (rare 3) 2 (rare 3) 2 2 1 1 1 1 2	Heroes: 233 Rituals/Summons: 32 (unique, rare 4) 112 3 (req. 4)	Heavy Legionnaires Sacred Serpent Cataphracts Gladiators Saced Hydras	Communions Castle Defense Standard Heretic Disease Healer Poison Resistance Levy	Standard Forts

Capitol Gems: 13
Order Limit + 1

Bless Bonus: Poison Resistance (10)

Old Magic, Heretical Magic: A bunch of Pythium's magic access is found on fortless provinces. These provinces have only 1 Commander Point at most, so some of the mages cost only 1 Commander Point to account for this.

Capital Magic	Off-Capital Fort Magic	Off-Fort Magic
3 (rare 4) 2 (rare 3) 2 2 1 2	2 2 1 1 1	2 (rare 3) 2 (rare 3) 1 1 1

It should be noted that the 4 and 3 in the capital are much rarer than the 3 and 3 outside of forts; though, due to the 3 Commander Points on citadels, the gap is a bit narrower than it may seem.

• Gift of the Sacred Swamp (Enchantment 2) 11
  A "missing link" step between Protection from Poison and Poison Ward, with an AOE of 4 squares (+2 for each extra level of Nature).

• Katabasis (Enchantment 3)
  11 and 8 by Renata or Renatus
  A variant of Twiceborn that doesn't make the caster undead, allowing them to re-cast this on themselves after dying. As with Twiceborn, there is roughly a 20% chance to get +1 upon death, if the caster doesn't already have 4 or higher.
• Epopteia (Enchantment 3)
  1 and 12 by Epoptes
  Adds +2 and -3 to the local province. The Dominion loss is instantaneous; the Growth is applied by changing the default for the province, and lasts until early spring.
• Taurobolium (Thaumaturgy 3)
  11 and 6 by Heliodromus
  Provides the caster or another Heliodromus +2, +1, and another three points of Heretic, for 12 turns. Only one Taurobolium may be in effect at a time.

• Gloves of the Gladiator (Construction 3)
  2 and 8
  Commentary here.
• Serpent Kryss (Construction 5)
  1 and 4
  Commentary here.
• Astral Serpent (Construction 5)
  11 and 44
  Commentary here.

See Magic Access. These guides supplement the summaries at the top.

Pythium has access to all nine arcane paths (and Holy), but only five of them are on its forts.

• 3 on one-in-twenty Heliodromuses (off-fort recruitment; at least 1-in-2 have 2)
• 1 on one-in-three Theurgs (capital-only)
• 2 on one-in-three Renatas (off-capital forts)
• 1 on one-in-three Epoptes (off-fort recruitment)

• 2 on one-in-three Theurgs (capital-only), 1 on one-in-three Renatas/Renatuses (off-capital forts)
• 2 on one-in-three Renatuses (off-capital forts)
• Nature varies quite a bit:
  • 3 on one-in-four Serpent Priests (capital-only)
  • 3 on one-in-thirty Epoptes (off-fort recruitment; at least 1-in-3 have 2)
  • 1 on Serpent Acolytes (off-capital forts)
• 1 on one-in-three Epoptes (off-fort recruitment)

• 1 on one-in-ten Revelers (off-fort recruitment)
• 2 on Serpent Priests (capital-only), 1 on Serpent Acolytes (off-capital forts)

With a lot of work and empowerment, 6 for Ring of Sorcery and then 7 for Ring of Wizardry is reachable.

Highest Starting: 2 Heliodromus (1 in 2) but a 11 Heliodromus (1 in 2) with Taurobolium has 3.

One-in-twenty Helidromi have 21, so they can get to 4 with the Taurobolium and craft the Flame Helmet.

Taurobolium
11 Heliodromus (1 in 2)

Highest Starting: 1 Theurg (1 in 3)

Tome of High Power Unique
11 Theurg (1 in 3) + Both the Air and Astral boosters are hard to get.

Highest Starting: 2 Serpent Priest (1 in 4) or Renata (1 in 3)

Trident from Beyond Unique
11 Theurg (1 in 3) + or Renata (1 in 3) +
The Astral booster is hard to get.

Contact Naiad
22 Serpent Priest (1 in 4) + , 11 Renata (1 in 3) + , or 11 Renatus (1 in 3) +
Naiad which has 3 and can use the two easy Water boosters.

Streams from Hades
21 Renata (1 in 3) +
Kokythiad also has 3 and can use the two easy Water boosters.

Highest Starting: 1 Epoptes (1 in 3)

The Tome of Gaia Unique
11 Epoptes (1 in 3) +

Highest Starting: 2 Theurg (1 in 3)

Tome of High Power Unique
11 Theurg (1 in 3) + Both the Air and Astral boosters are hard to get.

Highest Starting: 2 Renatus (1 in 3)

Technically, Ether Gate is possible with a Renata or Renatus but that many Astral boosters are difficult to get.
Also, when a Renata or Renatus is reborn because of Katabasis, there's a chance they will gain .

Highest Starting: 3 Serpent Priest (1 in 4)
LA Pythium has mages with the right crosspaths for multiple Nature boosters, but getting the necessary boosters is tricky. Earth requires a level of empowerment, Blood needs two levels.

The Tome of Gaia Unique
11 Epoptes (1 in 3) +

Armor of Twisting Thorns Unremovable
11 Reveler (1 in 10) +

Moonvine Bracelet
21 Serpent Priest (1 in 4) +

Highest Starting: 1 Epoptes (1 in 3)

Highest Starting: 1 Reveler (1 in 10)
Requires two levels of empowerment to get started.

Armor of Twisting Thorns Unremovable
11 Reveler (1 in 10) +

How to win as the nation. Feel free to use the following sections, or delete them, or change them.

Different expansion options.

Early game options.

Mid game options.

Late game options.

Add links to guides or other overviews for this nation here.

Nations
Early Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Ulm • Pyrène, • Marverni • Sauromatia • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Mictlan • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Agartha • Tir na n'Og • Fomoria • Vanheim • Helheim • Niefelheim • Muspelheim • Rus • Kailasa • Lanka • Yomi • Hinnom • Ur • Berytos • Xibalba • Mekone • Ubar • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Therodos
Middle Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Sceleria • Pythium • Man • Eriu • Ulm • Pyrène • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Asphodel • Vanheim • Jotunheim • Nidavangr • Vanarus • Bandar Log • Shinuyama • Ashdod • Uruk • Nazca • Xibalba • Phlegra • Phaeacia • Ind • Na'ba • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Ys
Late Ages	Arcoscephale • Pythium • Lemuria • Man • Ulm • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Jomon • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Midgård • Utgård • Bogarus • Patala • Gath • Ragha • Xibalba • Phlegra • Vaettiheim • Feminie • Piconye • Andramania • Pyrène • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia