Avalon is the legacy of Arthur and the line of Pendragon, who founded Camelot and Avalonian chivalry. The British Isles fiercely kept their independence from the Romans, and have defeated most invading armies swiftly ever since. The House of Pendragon rules Avalon now, as it did at the inception of the Empire, though there have been two interregnum periods of civil war and the rule of the House of Stuart during their history. Avalon used to rule the American colonies, but they won their freedom in the War of Independence. As well as being the sole power of the British Isles, Avalon maintains large holdings in Australia, South-East Asia, Southern Africa and the Caribbean, and it wields great influence in India and China, though the dominant Empires there do not allow them control.

The Avalonians are much used to war, and their knights are the best-trained of any world power, on par with the greatest independent knightly orders. The Knights of the Round Table in particular have proven their worth time and again in battle against all the European nations, and their navy is one of the greatest in the world, rivalled perhaps only by the Spanish. Avalon also has the world’s fastest-growing economy, enriched by trade throughout the known world.  Back to Nations List

The greatest Empire in history, the Holy Roman Empire at its height dominated all of Europe, North Africa, and much of the Middle East. For centuries the most advanced and powerful superpower in the world, it is now a power in decline, and other powers define the shape of Europe now. However, the Holy Roman Empire still contains the Vatican, the seat of the Catholic Church, and its influence is still felt all over the known world. The current Pope, Pius IX, began his pontificate with a number of liberal and pacifistic reforms, but they were not enough to please his opponents, and after a near-coup a decade ago, he has become very conservative and dogmatic. The Holy Roman Empire is also home to some of Europe’s most powerful merchant families, such as the de Medicis and the Borgias, and though its power is waning, its influence is still felt everywhere.

The legions of Rome are still the best-equipped military force in the world, but the Empire has few holdings outside Europe. Venetian merchants still maintain friendly relations and trade with China, though, and the influence of the Catholic Church still dictates politics and foreign relations worldwide. Money, politics and history run deep in the Empire, and its corruption and double-dealing are legendary.  Back to Nations List

France has always felt largely separate from the Holy Roman Empire, though their actual independence was not till the beginning of this century. Though Charlemagne reinstated the Holy Roman Empire in its current form, control of the Empire passed out of French hands and into German, Austrian and Roman control several centuries ago. The Kings of France have always acted much as powers unto themselves, making war constantly with Avalon in particular and with other states within the Roman Empire. Napoleon Bonaparte won France’s independence, and threatened to conquer even the Romans, as he did Germany, Spain, and North Africa. Though France’s borders have receded in the past half-century, it still remains the current dominant power of Europe, and Emperor Napoleon III takes an active hand in world affairs. The French maintain several holdings throughout South-East Asia, the Caribbean, and in the northern part of America, as well as parts of Spain, the Low Countries, and North Africa.

The French military, despite its constant threat, has been defeated many times in major engagements, particularly when it lacks a strong leader, such as Napoleon or Joan of Arc. French troops are solid but unspectacular, their knights powerful but undisciplined. The French Navy is widespread but not dominant, their merchants influential but not powerful. France’s strength lies in its cultural influence, and its science; many of Europe’s greatest centres of learning, such as the Sorbonne, are in France, and the French systems are usually soon put into worldwide use, such as the metric system and the Gregorian calendar. French social fads are soon popularised throughout Europe.  Back to Nations List

Usually seen as backward, primitive, and somewhat frightening by the ‘civilised’ nations of Europe, the Russian Empire is one of the largest in the world, stretching from the Sea of Japan in the East to the Baltic Sea in the west, as well as holdings in Alaska in North America. Its sheer size has made it hard to invade and conquer; only the Golden Horde has ever managed to do so. Russian technology is indeed behind much of Europe, but its magic is primal and terrifying, and the strength and hardiness of its people legendary. The Romanovs have ruled Russia virtually unbroken since their inception, submitting to the Golden Horde when necessary, and driving them out of Russia as soon as they were strong enough, retaking Eurasia in the process. Russia has constantly tested its borders against Romans and Ottomans alike, taking what it can hold and hanging on with grim tenacity. Their recent defeat in the Crimea has not significantly weakened Russia’s seemingly endless resources and population, and Europe watches it with a wary eye.

The Russian armies lack the training, technology and experience to significantly move outside their borders for now, and their naval power is weak. However, their people are indomitable and strong, hardened by constant struggle against the elements, and Russian magicians are mysterious, largely unknown to magical science in Europe. Russian knights, the bogatyrs, are fiercely independent heroes of almost mythical status; most wander the wilds of their massive country, defeating barbarians and, some whisper, strange creatures in the depths of the darkest forests.  Back to Nations List

Europe’s most recent superpower is but a few years old, the brainchild of Prussian discipline and military strength and the will of Otto von Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor. The German states are unified for the first time in centuries, and German precision, discipline and efficiency are already becoming bywords in Europe. The German industrial machine is operating at its peak, reaping the benefits of a centralised government that values its own strengths. The Kaiser, Wilhelm I, has entered into tentative negotiations with Emperor Franz Josef of the Holy Roman Empire; there is speculation that the Germans are being courted to rejoin the Roman Empire. The Unified German Empire is dominated by Prussia, but also includes Bavaria, Bohemia, Saxony, Hesse, Silesia, Hanover and Liechtenstein.

German forces are limited to central Europe at the moment, but their industries are the strongest in the world, and Europe is watching the buildup of their armies and economic strength with caution. The Teutonic Knights have sworn fealty to the Kaiser, giving the Germans access to one of the most powerful fighting forces in the world. Whatever lies in the future for unified Germany, it is likely that it will have a big part in the shaping of Europe to come.  Back to Nations List

For centuries the only real opposition to the Holy Roman Empire on the world stage, the Ottomans have declined as their ancient rivals have. Despite their early humiliation at the hands of the Golden Horde, the Ottomans rebounded vigorously, conquering Constantinople where countless others failed, and being the first Empire to really threaten the unified Holy Roman Empire, wiping out the long-lasting Byzantines in the process. Their borders have been constantly waxing and waning for centuries, pushed by the Hungarians in the west, the Mameluke Sultanates in the south, and the Persians in the east. Recently, they lost control of Greece, being pushed back across the Bosporus by a coalition of Romans and Russians. Ironically, in their most recent conflict with Russia, it was the Christian Avalonians and French, their longtime enemies, who defeated the Russians for them. Ottoman forces still control the Middle East and much of Persia, as well as Anatolia and some small holdings in North Africa. Babylon, jewel of the Middle East, is still in Ottoman hands.

The Ottomans are the dominant power of Islam today, and have inherited the widespread trading routes of their Arabic forebears. No longer the world’s foremost military power, the Ottomans are still the strongest force in the Near East, and their levels of technology are on par with the European powers. Turkish sorcerers are highly learned, and their magic is probably stronger than that of any of the European powers; it has not been tested in some time. Ottoman traders move throughout the world, conveying goods from East to West, and it is unlikely that they will be removed from their position of power anytime soon.  Back to Nations List

The world’s largest democracy, the USA is still really a loose confederation of colonies and states, but very wealthy and free of much of the oppressive politics of Europe. An independent streak runs strong in the American psyche, and many states are vastly different from their neighbours; most southern states make extensive use of slave labour, whereas it is outlawed in northern states, for example. The states are still mostly confined to the east coast; conflict with the native Americans of the Iroquois confederation has kept them from expanding. The US has expanded more to the south of the continent, where it has come into conflict with the Aztecs as well. Currently in a tenuous situation, it is nevertheless the most technologically advanced of the powers in the New World, and while not dominant, it’s policies are starting to shape the continent.

The US is a mishmash of many European powers, and this is seen in their social makeup, their armed forces, and their magics; few European sorcerers of any great power migrated to the New World, but sorcerers of almost any discipline can be found somewhere in the US. Conflict between the states is frequent, but rarely rises above the level of a skirmish for now. Their military strength and naval power is weak by comparison with the European powers, but it is more than any other in the New World.  Back to Nations List

Egypt is the world’s oldest empire and civilisation, and it was here that human civilisation really started; here are the world’s first cities, first kings, and first sorcerers. Conflict with Rome, the Arabs, the Ottomans, the Mamelukes, the French, and the Avalonians have reduced Egypt’s power outside its borders; except for a brief period a few centuries ago, Egypt’s borders have remained at the Nile Delta. Several times in its history, Egypt has been forced to open its borders to invading armies passing through to North Africa, or open its ports to foreign fleets of conquest going to the Holy Lands, and it has maintained its neutrality and thus kept its sovereignty. Egypt’s military might is small, but its culture is strong, and its history long; it has been trading with the kingdoms in the heart of darkest Africa for four thousand years, long before the Portuguese began, and its knowledge and influence throughout the world is subtle, but omnipresent.

Egypt’s military has not been a major power in the world for four thousand years, but its magic is ancient, and the root power from which all other branches of magical study (except the Oriental ones) derive. Egypt’s sorcerers are rightly feared and sought for their teachings, and at least once in their history, Imhotep, humanity’s first wizard, has risen from his grave to protect his beloved kingdom. Egypt’s proximity to the Holy Lands and the rich Middle East and North Africa ensure that most serious merchants have dealings with it, and its time is not yet done on the world stage.  Back to Nations List

Ancient and powerful, the Chinese had already developed most of the technologies in the Galilean Scrolls by the time Europe was first puzzling over them, and they have wisely allowed foreign traders and merchants much access, thus benefiting economically and scientifically from Europe’s Renaissance. Chinese Emperors are almost always sorcerers in their own right, and powerful ones; their magic is unlike anything seen in Europe or the Middle East, and has evolved independently. Their civilisation took a large backward step with the invasion of the Golden Horde, but has since rebounded with a vengeance, and the Chinese have holdings throughout South-East Asia and Korea, as well as a large trade empire that extends all the way to Europe.

The Empire of China is the world’s most populous nation, though most live as cripplingly poor peasants. They have a long history of conflict with Russia and Japan, as well as with the Golden Horde, now firmly kept outside China’s borders. In recent times, they have gained much from their relations with Avalon, but there is now pressure from within to remove the foreign presence from China.  Back to Nations List

Fiercely independent and isolationist, the Japanese have expelled most European traders from their borders, and allow only a select few (mostly Dutch) access. The Japanese have ignored most of the rest of the world for centuries, and their technology is mostly hopelessly backward, as they have resisted most foreign influences with a pathologic hatred. The one area of technology in which they are on par with the world is militarily; they have willingly embraced modern military equipment, particularly battlearmour. Japan has not chosen to expand outside its borders for some time, despite constant conflicts with Russia, China, and the Golden Horde.

Japan’s population lives, for the most part, in fearful poverty and oppression as serfs. Their nobles live lives of extreme wealth, supported by a rigid caste system that keeps the peasantry downtrodden. It is not a situation that can persist much longer, and the Tokugawa Shogun is aware of this, and seeking new solutions. The Japanese samurai, enhanced by power weapons and battlearmour, are rightly famous for their martial skills, and Japanese mystics, much like the Chinese, wield magics that are complete mysteries to the rest of the world.  Back to Nations List

The Mughals have been the ruling dynasty of India for some time now, and have held it against foreign invasion from Persia, France, Avalon, and China repeatedly. The Empire is made up of many disparate peoples, such as Marathas and Bengalis, and many different religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. These have combined to make it one of the world’s most cosmopolitan and tolerant Empires, despite its size and comparative poverty. Careful trading with Persians, Ottomans, Chinese, French and Avalonians have allowed the Mughal Emperors to resist dominance by any one power, and India’s position in world politics is one which involves careful play of the major players against each other. With large numbers of people belonging to almost every major religion except Christianity, the Mughals also wield surprising influence in nearby regions through this avenue.

Of the nearby world powers, only the Persians have weaker military strength, and so the Mughals must play careful and intelligent politics to retain their independence. Their forces have been eyeing Persia and the Chinese holdings in South-East Asia for some time now, but have not acted as yet.  Back to Nations List

Descendants of the Vikings, the Scandinavian states are still very much like their barbaric forebears. Little in the way of modern technology has penetrated here, and the Norse are probably most dependent of the world’s peoples on their sorcerers, the rune-casting skjaeren. The runecasters dominate Scandinavian politics, social life and religion, and little occurs without their say-so. The Scandinavians have rejected technology, foreigners, Christianity, and other outside influences with a vengeance, and keep up their lifestyle of raiding where they can, though modern European military power makes that an increasingly risky proposition. Life in the wintry Free States of Norway, Iceland, Sweden and Finland is hard, making the Norse tough and independent people, skilled in the arts of war, sailing and magic. Scandinavian holdings include the aforementioned states, as well as Greenland and some small settlements in the cold north of America.

Any technology the Scandinavians use they have likely stolen from others, and they will use it till it falls apart, whereupon they will steal another, whether it be boats, weapons, armour, or whatever. Though their military is weak overall, a Scandinavian warrior, filled with battle-lust, wielding a notched, used power sword and glowing with runes that make him nigh-invulnerable is still one of the most fearsome opponents any soldier can face in the world, capable of defeating even a skilled Teutonic Knight caparisoned for war. Their raids are still events to be feared throughout Avalon and northern Europe. 
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Having won their independence only in the last century, the homelands of ancient Greece have been conquered many times throughout their history, first by Persians, then Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans, and have changed hands many times. Their independence has held for now, but they are clearly a buffer state between the Holy Roman Empire and the Ottomans, and the Greeks are very wary of both sides. They have reverted to ancient Athenian democracy, with an elected President who rules a loose confederation of largely-independent city-states.

With one of the smallest militaries in Europe, the Greeks have opted for extremely skilled, well-equipped troops. Each city-state in the Peloponnese is responsible for raising its own armed forces, and the Peloponnese hoplites are some of the toughest individual soldiers in the world, equipped with carapace armour and advanced weapons and training. Their sorcerous tradition is equally small, but ancient; Peloponnese sorcerers are the heirs to the great Byzantine magicians such as the legendary John Tzimisces.  Back to Nations List

Though part of the Holy Roman Empire, Hungary has long barely paid lip service to Rome, and considers its own traditions and histories far more important. Mostly, this is because Hungary has been on the Ottoman border for centuries, fighting the Turk for Christendom while those in Rome and Paris grew fat and decadent, staying alive only through Hungarian blood and sweat. Many parts of Hungary are still Muslim, leading to constant internal conflicts with their Christian neighbours only a town away. The recent establishment of the Peloponnese has allowed the Hungarians to turn their attentions to matters other than war, and they have found a Europe balanced on a knife edge, full of concerns other than the Ottomans. But the rulers of Hungary, the mighty and heroic House of Hunyadi, keep a watchful eye on all surrounding empires, for they know best of all the peoples of Europe what it is to be at war.

Hungary is best known for the Order of the Dragon, or Dracul, the knights who have safeguarded Hungary’s and the Roman Empire’s borders for the past four hundred years. Vlad Dracula, the legendary Prince of Wallachia, whose borders have always been hardest hit by the Turk, was one of these knights, as was Janos Hunyadi, the White Knight of Hungary. The Dracul Knights are skilled and fierce warriors, on par with the Avalonians and the Teutones, and the Hungarian mobile infantry is one of the most elite formations in Europe, hardened by constant battle.  Back to Nations List

Babylon is possibly history’s best known city, and has been conquered many times by many empires throughout its illustrious history. Located in the heart of the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, Babylon was where society and the rule of law was first codified by King Hammurabi, though 'rule of law' is hardly an appellation that applies to it today. Over the centuries, Babylon has been used as a capital by numerous conquerors; the Assyrians, then Alexander, who directed his conquest of the Middle East from there, and the Arabs, who made it the heart of Islam, and now the Ottomans. Though not as important as Constantinople in the government of the Ottoman Empire, Babylon is the centre of trade for kingdoms throughout the Middle East, the Far East, and even North Africa. Merchants from all over Europe, China, India, and Egypt meet here in this most cosmopolitan of cities to do business, cut deals, and influence the politics of the world.

Babylon is under the aegis of the Ottoman Turks, but as a consequence of its illustrious history, it is often left largely to its own devices. The Pasha of Babylon rules mostly by consensus of the city's most important merchant houses and corporations; 'Babylon's rules' is common parlance for graft and double dealing that would be punished under the full extent of the law in most nations. Nonetheless, what occurs in Babylon is frequently felt around the world.  Back to Nations List

Umar was the heir to Mohammed, and at least equally responsible for the spread of Islam throughout Europe and the Middle East. The Umayyads, the caliphs that claim their descendance from him, were the first great empire of Islam, though they are much reduced from their former holdings. Seven hundred years ago, the Umayyad Muslims were the foremost civilisation in terms of science, quality of life, medicine and magic, and to this day they still retain a strong and rich culture, though they are no longer pre-eminent in the fields of learning. Umayyad armies invaded Europe with great success until they were stopped at last by the Romans, but they held on to their Spanish conquests in particular for many centuries more, even as their Middle Eastern empire was torn apart by civil war, falling into the hands of other Islamic powers. Today, the once-vast holdings of the Umayyad Caliphate are reduced to North Africa, in particular Morocco and Algeria, and the city of Granada on the Iberian peninsula.

The Islamic caliphates built their empire around common religion, trade and language, and the Umayyads can still draw on those resources. Throughout the world of Islam, particularly the Ottomans, the Umayyads still wield great economic and religious influence, even if their military presence is weak. The Umayyads still hold some of the rarest trade routes in the world, to places such as Mali and Great Zimbabwe, as well as China, India, and South-East Asia. Militarily, the Umayyads have a tremendous knightly tradition, blending European equipment and chivalry with Arab tactics and skill. Their Moorish soldiers are highly skilled and very proud of their histories, and their North African holdings have never fallen, not to Napoleon, or the Egyptians, or the Mamelukes.  Back to Nations List

Alone of all the barbarian hordes that threatened civilisation’s borders, only the Mongols ever succeeded in effecting large-scale conquest. They conquered China, one of history’s most ancient empires, all but wiped out the stronghold of Islam, conquered Russia where even Napoleon’s tanks and gunships could not, and held the Romans to ransom. All of this with only a smattering of technology and shamanic magic, though they did use the fruits of their conquests to great effect, particularly the secrets of the Chinese. Following Genghis Khan’s death, the Mongol Khans conducted their own private wars and empires; Subotai and Ogadai Khan in Russia and Europe, Kublai Khan in China, and, later, Tamerlane in the Middle East. Their empire was the largest the world has ever seen, and is still enormous, though much reduced. Having been removed from China and Russia, as well as the Middle East, today their holdings are limited to the steppes of Eastern Eurasia and the lands between the Hindu Kush and the Caspian Sea.

Named after Tamerlane, the correct term for their nation is the Timurid Emirates, though they are almost universally referred to as the Golden Horde. Much of the Horde has converted to Islam, and most that are not are either Buddhist or Hindu, creating an eclectic mix of magic, religion, culture and technology. Although not one of the world’s great powers in science, economy, or magic, the memory of the Golden Horde is still strong in Europe and China, and stirrings within the Emirates are watched very carefully. The capital of Samarkand has a surprisingly strong magical tradition, legacy of Tamerlane’s grandson, the sorcerer-prince Ulugh Beg.  Back to Nations List

When the Golden Horde was sweeping through the Middle East, the weak and fractious Abbasid caliphate was powerless to stop them. Their slave warrior caste, the Mamelukes, rose up in rebellion, forming a small but powerful confederation of sultanates that successfully resisted the Mongols. Since then, they have held on to their holdings through careful politics, allowing concessions to many European and Islamic powers. The sultanates often skirmish among themselves, and they have no official leader, though one or more sultans are often significantly more powerful than the rest. The sultanates are limited to the Middle East, specifically around the Holy Lands - one of history’s most prized areas. They have traditionally allowed Christians, Jews and Muslims alike to access their particular places of religious significance in return for concessions.

The Mamelukes consider themselves the heirs to Saladin’s legacy, and their warrior knight tradition is strong, based around the Saracen farisi, knights of great skill. They also control the Holy Lands, prime real estate for three of the world’s major religions. Though not large or otherwise significant, the sultanates are often on the world stage for these facts alone.
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Spain is a relatively recent phenomenon on the world stage; for much of their history they have been a province of one Empire or another, whether it be Romans or the Umayyads. As part of the Umayyad Caliphate, strong cities with great centres of learning and culture were built, and when the Umayyads were finally pushed out of most of Iberia, the Spanish kingdoms, such as Castile, Aragon and Leon, gained great prominence in the Roman Empire. When Castile and Aragon were joined by marriage, the Kingdom of Spain truly came to the fore, and most of the other Iberian kingdoms joined under the Spanish flag. The status of the Portuguese has come and gone over the centuries; at times they have been vassals of Spain, at others a power in their own right. For the time being, they are a separate kingdom. As is often the case with close neighbours, they are often fierce rivals, economically, politically and militarily. Both Spain and Portugal are still technically part of the Holy Roman Empire, although both are far more independent than the Vatican might like, and little notice of Roman power is taken, particularly since they no longer share a land border with the Roman peninsula. Both kingdoms have expanded the world over, and have vast overseas holdings. The Spanish are the dominant power in the Caribbean, if such a term has any meaning in that hive of piracy and frontier government. They also have the lion’s share of the Iberian peninsula, and far more territory in the Americas, generally in South America. The Portuguese have gone eastwards, and conduct a huge slave trade from Africa, as well as having colonies in the Philippines and South-East Asia.

Part of the reason for the relative success of these two kingdoms overseas is that both seem to have the capability to overcome the Galileo Effect to some extent; they cannot use radar or use long-range navigation, but both kingdoms have access to either a magical or technological secret that allows use of something resembling short-range radio and radar. This has led to both kingdoms developing impressive air power, in the shape of sleek jet fighters and bombers. They are not used for intercontinental flight, though they might be capable of it; clearly whatever sensor capability they have is not good enough for that. The Spanish and Portuguese navies are clearly also strong, though only the Spanish have a true military navy; Portuguese ships are mostly liners and transport vessels. Neither country has any real land military strength, certainly not on a par with any other European power, but their economies are mighty and their influence strong throughout the world, more so even than the Holy Roman Empire they are a part of.  Back to Nations List

The only real rival to Spanish and Portuguese power in South America (as opposed to the Caribbean, where frontier towns and privateers of half a dozen nations vie for wealth and power), the Auracanian Federation is all that is left of the Incan Empire, torn apart by Spanish conquistadors. The Auracanians are native South Americans - Incas, Mayans, Caribs, and a mishmash of other peoples who grew out of the resistance to foreign settlement. The Auracanian Federation consists of a number of small states loosely allied into a trade and military commonwealth, ranged mostly around Central America, Chile, Brazil, and around the giant Amazon. Dotted around the northern coast of South America are the mighty Spanish and Portuguese fortresses, places like Caracas, Panama and Cartagena, which the Auracanians trade with cautiously. Their magic is unlike any in the European world, and has largely been the reason the conquistadors were held in check.

Despite being technologically backward and weak economically, there are vast numbers of people throughout the Federation, and the massive resources of the Amazon and the Andes lie still largely untapped within. Though cautious about foreign involvement - they remember Pizarro and his compatriots well - they are nonetheless aware that foreign capital and industry may well help them enter the world stage. The Auracanians also maintain cordial relations with the Aztecs to the north, an Empire in a similar situation.  Back to Nations List

Luckier than their Incan cousins, the Aztecs stood firm against Cortez, keeping the Spanish mostly out of North America. However, they have another problem to contend with now - the frontier towns and soldiers of the United States, a far more local and dangerous foe. The Aztecs have kept the struggle to a stalemate for now, but they are rapidly falling behind in the arms race, and their magic - rumoured to be full of blood sacrifice - will not keep the US tanks at bay for long. Unlike the Iroquois and the Auracanians, the Aztecs have a strong central government and large, well-established cities, but land far poorer in many resources, though there are still vast untapped mineral deposits throughout; Aztec lands include the Mexican Valley, parts of the southern deserts, and much of Central America.

Aztec warriors are proud and fierce, and rapidly learning the skills and technology required to survive in the modern world. Of all the native American nations, the Aztecs may be the best-equipped to make their presence felt throughout the world - if they can survive the challenges at home first. Back to Nations List

Called Indians still by many, the natives of North America now use the name Iroquois when dealing with foreign powers, though they still refer to themselves as just the People. The Confederation was created when several native tribes, such as the Shawnee, had been destroyed or enslaved at the hands of the colonists, and the chiefs of the People met to decide what should be done about the foreign invaders. The Iroquois are made up of dozens of tribes, each a diverse people with their own customs, culture and way of life, often seeming like completely separate peoples, with even different religions and appearance. Often, they war amongst each other, but all agree that their traditional way of life is better than what the white man has to offer, having seen what happens to those unfortunate tribes that did not resist. The Iroquois tribes have adopted some modern technology, generally to varying degrees; some are as advanced as any US town, whereas others have barely even seen a gun. Iroquois tribes range across almost all of North America, from frozen Alaska in the north to the bays and rivers of French Quebec, from the Rocky Mountains across the plains and the Great Lakes. 

The spirit magic of the Iroquois is extremely powerful, and is largely responsible for their ability to beat back the US and the colonials. They are a versatile and adaptable people, and those that have access to modern equipment use it with cunning and gusto. There is an uneasy peace across most of North America, and the Iroquois are also often happy to trade with the US and colonists - much of the continent’s riches are still in their hands, after all.  Back to Nations List

Though their history is long and rich, the fortunes of Persia have not gone well in the past thousand years or so. Conquered many times, by pagan, Christian and Roman alike, the Persians have not been a major power for a long time. They have enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent times, with the advent of the Safavid dynasty, who reclaimed Persia from the Ottomans and have gained and lost along that border several times over the past few centuries. Sandwiched between the Ottomans, the Mughals and the Timurids, Persia enjoys the benefits of trade with all three, but also the constant threat of stronger powers at their borders.

Persia is significant chiefly because it is the largest nation of Shi’ite Islam in the world. This sect is less popular than the mainstream Sunnis, but it has a groundswell of underground support in many places throughout the world, through India and the Arab worlds, and even in Egypt. Persia’s military history is long, but its current strength is weak, though they remain relatively rich and influential in their region.  Back to Nations List