Draft world map, circa 90 years before the events of NEB1:
The great powers - NPC's observing events in Turrica.
United Commonwealth:
Brythonic/Pictic/Germanic
Shrewd, profiteering industrialists
Imagine a republican British Empire that handled its American (in this case, Avalonian) colonies so well they became the heart of an expanded empire of trade and rampant industrialisation. Cracks may be appearing, but for now they all remain part of the same happy Commonwealth. Discarding pomp and ceremony, ruled first and foremost by money interests, largely happy with its current territories, but maintains the world's great fleet and is always on the lookout for strategic acquisitions. May well use its economic might to buy favours in Turrica and improve conditions for its own trade in the Great Ocean.
Lenierde (Thrid Empire of the Lenierdee):
Latino-Gallo-Iberians
Adventurous imperialists
Imagine a monstrous union of colonial Spain AND France, dominating Eurway for centuries from the medieval age onwards. Had the greatest empire in world history until very recently, when an expedition to smite uppity neo-Soldian nationalists went disastrously wrong, with hundreds of thousands lost to machine gun, shell and armoured vehicles. Gondwania also rebelled, and now crisis looms. The Third Empire hangs by a thread, the economy lags behind the Commonwealth, while the army struggles to reform. Many see another foreign adventure and a quick victory somewhere as the only way to restore prestige – could Turrica be a target? Can a native ally and a casus belli be found there?
Soldia (Second Soldian Empire)
Germano-Romans
Patriotic, pragmatic nationalists
Newly re-unified nation with a moderately-sized but cutting-edge military, somewhat similar to Imperial Germany but with a proud ancient imperial legacy to live up to also. Commanding the strategic waterways and roadways of central Eurway. Will undoubtedly now seek to expand its influence overseas – Will they be willing to export their weapons technology to prevent Lenierde expansion into Turrica?
Njordviggen (United Kingdom of Njordviggen)
Nordo-Ugric
Liberal intellectualists
Self-entitled enlightened liberals, peaceful uber-scandinavia. After invading other countries and fighting civil wars constantly up until the middle ages, enlightenment dawned and royal marriages united the kingdoms into one. Was happy to take a back seat in recent centuries until it started feeling overshadowed by vast colonial empires built by others. With everyone distracted by the Soldian Independence War, they have rapidly pushed deep into the jungles and swamps of South Avalonia under the pretext of protecting wilderness and native tribes for future conservation and study. Just happening to occupy areas with great potential for rubber, oil and exotic fruit export... Njordic explorers have meanwhile shown great interest in Turrican flora and fauna.
Oska (Sacred Empire of All the Oskans)
Celto-Slavo-Ugric
Eccentric spiritualists
Maintaining ancient celtic and slavic traditions of a nature-worshipping and pro-feminine nature. Their Emperor or Empress is always chosen by a council of respected spiritual elders based on signs and portents, a system that has proved surprisingly stable, and capable of absorbing the tribal peoples of the east into its sphere. Oska has been slow to modernise and has been written off by everyone, but continues to surprise them all with sporadic displays of innovation; given the empire's lack of road and railways, they have been among the first to experiment with airships and aeroplanes. They are sitting on vast reserves of minerals and oil, but will be interested in cultural and economic exchange with Turrica, and making sure the Great Ocean remains peaceful.
Great Tzu (Kingdom of the Great Master of the Mortal World)
Sino-Tibeto-Khmer
Conservative rationalists
Great Tzu has existed as a monolithic empire occupying Southeast Eurazia (Xan'a) for most of the past four thousand years, with only small intervals of fragmentation. Heavily into Zen and Taoism and ideas of heavenly order, the Emperors and their officials are seen as undertaking sacred public duty; as such they avoid extravagant displays of wealth. Great Tzu maintains that Turrica is a tributary state, based on ancient treaties. But barely managing to hold of Lenierde and Commonwealth encroachment in recent years, they are in no position to threaten Turrica militarily. They may however assist in keeping others out of the region. They have the biggest urban economy on the Oceanic shore and massive potential markets.
Naturally I have a soft spot for Gondwania because of NEB1.
