International Relations in the Far-Star Victoria System

The nations of Elysium are bound by a dense, ever-shifting web of diplomacy, rivalry, and necessity. At the heart of these dynamics is the monopoly of Etherium by Erebus, fueling both opportunity and tension. Below is a detailed nation-by-nation analysis.

Amareidonia

Self-Image:
Amareidonia defines itself as a nation tempered by catastrophe and transformed by resilience. Scarred by the Psionic Holocaust and ongoing tensions over psychic abilities, it values order, scientific inquiry, and the defense of its democratic freedoms. Amareidonians take pride in their adaptability and the hard-won lessons of survival.

Trusted Partners:

Olam Ha-Ba: Deep mutual respect for tradition, scholarship, and the value of community. Olam Ha-Ba’s agricultural goods and clandestine knowledge networks are vital for Amareidonia’s food security and intelligence efforts.
Arcadia: Reliable trade partner and cultural ally; Arcadia’s support for research, the arts, and civil liberties helps bolster Amareidonia’s own sense of modernity and progress.
Meropis: Appreciated for its neutrality, artistry, and diplomatic finesse. Amareidonia values Meropis as a trading partner for medicinal and aquatic goods, as well as a conduit for information and peaceful negotiation.

Distrusted Rivals:

Empire of Ruritania: Seen as a militaristic, authoritarian threat with a history of cross-border interference and intolerance for psychic diversity.
Baltia: Viewed as unpredictably insular and spiritually extreme, especially since the rise of the Oracles of the Storm. Amareidonia is wary of Baltian influence on local cults or spiritual dissidents.
Concordia: Regarded as a destabilizing force due to its willingness to smuggle arms, psychic relics, and foment unrest along trade routes.

Complex Relations:

Colonial Alliance: Historic ties to the UNE legacy mean cooperation in technology and trade, but also a wariness of Alliance intervention and political pressure.
Kalahari: Pragmatic economic relationship, especially for minerals and desert crops, but cultural and religious distance keeps relations formal.
Belrios: Appreciates Belrios’s creativity and trade in art and rare goods, but finds its isolationist tendencies and festival-driven economy unpredictable in times of crisis.

With Erebus:
Trades rare medicinal plants, research data, and select agricultural surpluses for limited, tightly regulated Etherium shipments. Amareidonia remains highly suspicious of Astraea Corp’s motives and vigilant against corporate espionage or manipulation.

Annwyn

Self-Image:
Annwyn sees itself as a guardian of harmony between civilization and the wild. Its people take pride in their resourcefulness, open-mindedness, and sturdy independence. Annwyn’s society is built on community, stewardship of the land, and a preference for cooperation over conquest.

Trusted Partners:

Colonial Alliance: Annwyn values the Alliance’s stability, scientific acumen, and willingness to respect Annwyn’s independence in exchange for agricultural exports and environmental collaboration.
Arcadia: A longstanding cultural and economic ally, Arcadia is seen as both a sophisticated partner and a like-minded neighbor in diplomacy, trade, and mutual defense.
Freiheitland: Annwyn respects the dwarves’ industriousness and perseverance. Their partnership is rooted in shared values of self-reliance, trade in metals and timber, and occasional joint ventures in engineering or environmental management.

Distrusted Rivals:

Empire of Ruritania: Ruritania is regarded as an expansionist threat, feared for its aggressive military posture and disregard for Annwyn’s autonomy and natural resources.
Bedlam Dominions: Seen as chaotic and dangerous, the Dominions are a source of mutant incursions, raids, and environmental harm.
Concordia: While Annwyn occasionally trades with Concordia, it distrusts their pirates and black-market activity, which disrupt coastal security and undermine Annwyn’s laws.

Complex Relations:

Apex: Annwyn views Apex with a mix of encouragement and caution, supporting its frontier efforts but wary of instability spilling across borders.
Kalahari: Trade is mutually beneficial—Annwyn supplies food, herbs, and timber while importing rare minerals and desert crops—but Annwyn finds Kalahari’s mercantile pragmatism and religious zeal a bit alien.
Volantes: Annwyn admires Volantes’ technological innovation, especially in airship engineering, but worries about the ecological impact of unchecked progress and prefers to keep this relationship moderate and carefully managed.

With Erebus:
Annwyn trades surplus food, herbs, and timber for modest Etherium shipments, always guarding against dependency. Annwyn is highly resistant to Astraea Corp’s influence and vigilant against any attempt to encroach on their sovereignty or environmental priorities.

Apex

Self-Image:
Apex sees itself as a bold experiment in frontier government and cooperation, priding itself on its courage, adaptability, and willingness to welcome both pioneers and outcasts. Its people are determined to prove that community and ingenuity can tame even the harshest wilds of Elysium.

Trusted Partners:

Annwyn: Apex relies on Annwyn for agricultural expertise, environmental guidance, and practical support in dealing with wilderness threats. The two nations share values of resilience, communal decision-making, and mutual respect.
Volantes: Apex admires Volantes’ spirit of innovation and benefits from trade in airship technology, tools, and scientific knowledge. Volantes’ willingness to support infrastructure and education in Apex has fostered a growing alliance.
Freiheitland: Apex respects the dwarves’ engineering prowess and shares with them a frontier mentality of self-reliance. Freiheitland’s tools, machinery, and advice on building durable settlements are highly valued.

Distrusted Rivals:

Empire of Ruritania: Ruritania is viewed as a looming menace, feared for military aggression, autocratic ideology, and disregard for the freedoms Apex holds dear.
Bedlam Dominions: The Dominions are a constant threat due to raids, mutant incursions, and the spread of lawlessness along Apex’s borders.
Orlostek: Relations with Orlostek are tense; Apex sees them as cold, insular, and sometimes hostile, especially when disputes arise over resources or security along the wild northern frontiers.

Complex Relations:

Colonial Alliance: Apex is cautiously cooperative; it appreciates occasional assistance and trade but is wary of losing hard-won autonomy to Alliance bureaucracy or political pressure.
Kalahari: Pragmatic trade in food, desert crops, and minerals is ongoing, but Kalahari’s commercial opportunism and religious differences limit deeper trust.
Concordia: Apex has little patience for Concordia’s piracy and black-market dealings, which threaten the safety of supply lines and undermine fledgling law and order, but sometimes turns a blind eye for needed goods or information.

With Erebus:
Apex trades rare herbs, monster parts, and food for strictly rationed Etherium shipments vital for survival and technological development. Distrust of Astraea Corp runs high; all trade is closely monitored to prevent exploitation or external meddling.

Arcadia

Self-Image:
Arcadia sees itself as the heart of Elysium’s culture, diplomacy, and refinement. Its people are proud of their kingdom’s legacy of enlightenment, justice, and creative achievement, and believe Arcadia is destined to set the standard for civilized society on the continent.

Trusted Partners:

Colonial Alliance: Arcadia’s strongest ally, with deep bonds in trade, military cooperation, and intellectual life. The two nations often coordinate diplomacy and defense, and Arcadia values the Alliance’s technological prowess and stability.
Annwyn: A valued neighbor and partner in agricultural exchange, environmental stewardship, and mutual defense. Arcadians respect Annwyn’s commitment to community and view its forests as a source of both inspiration and vital resources.
Freiheitland: Arcadia admires the dwarves’ industriousness, craftsmanship, and steadfastness. Trade in metals, engineering projects, and cultural exchanges are robust, and Arcadia considers Freiheitland a trustworthy and principled friend.

Distrusted Rivals:

Empire of Ruritania: Arcadia’s historic military and ideological adversary. Ruritania’s authoritarianism, expansionist ambitions, and disregard for Arcadian values make it the greatest perceived threat to Arcadian independence and way of life.
Concordia: Although some trade occurs, Arcadia distrusts Concordia’s piracy, black-market dealings, and disregard for law and order, which conflict with the kingdom’s ideals and coastal security.

Complex Relations:

Kalahari: Arcadia values Kalahari’s luxury goods, minerals, and commercial connections, but is wary of its political maneuvering and sharp business practices. Cultural and religious differences provide both fascination and friction.
Morrigan: Arcadia respects Morrigan’s blue-collar ethic and resilience, and values their naval cooperation, but finds their politics and environmental debates complex to navigate.
Italica: Arcadia shares strong cultural and religious ties with Italica, but sometimes finds the theocracy’s rigid morality and political influence overbearing, especially where church and state interests intersect.

With Erebus:
Arcadia occasionally trades high-value goods, art, and technical expertise for Etherium, but carefully avoids dependency and is vigilant for Astraea Corp’s influence or espionage.

Baltia

Self-Image:
Baltia is fiercely proud of its storm-wracked resilience, spiritual depth, and the mysterious influence of the Voice in the Storm. Its people view themselves as chosen survivors, set apart by the island’s temperamental weather and a tradition of mystical revelation and endurance.

Trusted Partners:

Froelia: Baltia values Froelia’s maritime skill, practical outlook, and mutual respect born from facing the harsh realities of ocean life. Trade in ship repairs, nautical lore, and weather-predicting goods is frequent, and the two nations often share shelter and information during the storm seasons.
Empire of Ruritania: Despite their distance, Baltia has established a pragmatic and occasionally warm relationship with Ruritania, especially through mutual trade in preserved foods, metals, and mechanical expertise. There is a respect for Ruritanian order and strength, and Ruritania is one of the few continental powers that treats Baltian spiritual traditions with wary deference.

Distrusted Rivals:

Colonial Alliance: Baltia distrusts the Colonial Alliance’s perceived arrogance, cultural imperialism, and attempts to “rationalize” or regulate Baltian seafaring and religion.
Amareidonia: Baltia is wary of Amareidonia’s psychic legacy and views their scientific interventions and social experiments with suspicion, fearing both unwanted influence and instability.

Complex Relations:

Belrios: Relations with Belrios are marked by a blend of envy and camaraderie; Baltia admires Belrios’s artistic vibrancy and island solidarity, but the two often compete for trade and cultural prestige among the isles.
Meropis: Baltia sees Meropis as a mysterious but useful trading partner, especially for aquatic goods and spiritual artifacts. However, differences in spiritual beliefs and occasional disputes over oceanic boundaries keep the relationship carefully balanced.

With Erebus:
Baltia rarely trades with Erebus, generally only exchanging stormcraft devices or spiritual services for Etherium in times of necessity. Suspicion of Erebus’s motives and technological meddling is widespread.

Bedlam Dominions

Self-Image:

The Bedlam Dominions revel in their reputation as a land of chaos, improvisation, and unchecked freedom. Its denizens see themselves as survivors and innovators who reject the hypocrisy and orderliness of “civilized” Elysium. Here, strength, cunning, and adaptability are valued above laws or tradition.

Trusted Partners:

None: The Dominions are too fractured and suspicious for true alliances; even local pacts are temporary and transactional.

Distrusted Rivals:

Colonial Alliance: Viewed as would-be conquerors and meddlers, whose attempts at control or “civilizing missions” are met with violent resistance and sabotage.
Apex: Seen as upstart interlopers on lands claimed or raided by Bedlam warbands. Apex’s efforts at law and order are an affront to Bedlam’s way of life.
Volantes: Disliked for their arrogance and attempts to “uplift” or manipulate Bedlam’s tribes. Airship patrols are seen as targets or invaders.
Freiheitland: Distrusted for their order, engineering prowess, and history of fighting off Bedlam raids on their borders.

Complex Relations:

Orlostek: Bedlam’s relationship with Orlostek is a pragmatic mix of border skirmishes, black-market trade, and occasional non-aggression pacts. Orlostek’s outposts sometimes serve as trading points for fuel, scavenged tech, or mercenaries, but trust is minimal and betrayal is always lurking.

With Erebus:

Bedlam Dominions sometimes barter scavenged tech, mercenary services, or illicit goods for Etherium via intermediaries. Any direct dealings with Erebus are rare and fraught with mutual suspicion.

Belrios

Self-Image:

Belrios is fiercely proud of its artistic, communal, and celebratory island culture. The people see themselves as guardians of unique traditions and joy, treasuring creativity, hospitality, and independence. Their isolation during the Times of Strife fostered a strong sense of self-reliance and an openness to peaceful exchange with those who respect their way of life.

Trusted Partners:

Froelia: Belrios values Froelia’s practical maritime skills and crafts. The two island nations share strong ties through fishing, shipbuilding, and mutual support during storms and hard times.
Meropis: Belrios enjoys a flourishing relationship with Meropis, trading in aquatic goods, art, and participating in vibrant festivals and cultural exchanges. Both nations appreciate each other’s creativity and devotion to tradition.

Distrusted Rivals:

Baltia: Belrios distrusts Baltia for its spiritual extremism and unpredictable weather magic, viewing it as a source of both competition and potential danger among the islands.
Concordia: The Free Republic’s piracy and black-market dealings are seen as threats to Belrios’s peaceful society and economic stability. While some trade occurs, Belrios is wary of Concordian influence and lawlessness.

Complex Relations:

Amareidonia: Belrios admires Amareidonia’s resilience and engages in occasional trade in art, food, and medicinal goods, but finds its scientific intensity and history of psychic trauma perplexing.
Colonial Alliance: Belrios recognizes the Alliance’s power and influence, and occasionally seeks access to its markets and protection, but is cautious of being culturally overshadowed or politically drawn into continental disputes.

With Erebus:

Belrios rarely trades with Erebus, preferring to barter art, rare island goods, and medicinal plants for small amounts of Etherium. Such exchanges are handled carefully to avoid dependency and outside interference.

Boreas

Self-Image:
Boreas prides itself on endurance, kinship, and the wisdom gleaned from surviving in the frozen north. Its people see themselves as independent, honest, and masters of their own fate, shaped by harsh winters and the long polar night. Boreans value storytelling, hospitality, and community decision-making above all.

Trusted Partners:

Annwyn: Boreas relies on Annwyn for trade in food, timber, and knowledge of land stewardship. The two nations share a respect for tradition, endurance, and the rhythms of nature, often exchanging guides, herbal remedies, and stories.
Morrigan: There is a strong sense of kinship with Morrigan, born out of facing similar climatic challenges. Boreas and Morrigan exchange practical goods, survival knowledge, and occasionally band together to weather severe storms or fend off external threats.

Distrusted Rivals:

Colonial Alliance: Boreas sees the Colonial Alliance as culturally distant and overly interventionist, fearing its political ambitions and dismissive attitude towards traditional ways.
Empire of Ruritania: Boreas distrusts Ruritania for its militarism and expansionist ambitions. The possibility of Ruritanian outposts or influence in the north is a constant concern.

Complex Relations:

Arcadia: Boreas admires Arcadia’s culture and learning, and occasionally trades for luxury goods or educational materials, but generally finds Arcadia’s ways too urbane and detached from the realities of northern survival.
Orlostek: Relations with Orlostek are marked by a mix of competition and necessity; the two exchange resources (such as coal, furs, and wood), but past border disputes and Orlostek’s alignment with Ruritania keep trust limited.

With Erebus:
Boreas trades for Etherium only in rare emergencies, carefully rationing what little it acquires and remaining wary of Erebus’s corporate influence and long-term intentions.

Colonial Alliance

Self-Image:

The Colonial Alliance views itself as the rightful inheritor of Earth’s legacy and the leading force for order, progress, and civilization on Elysium. Proud of its scientific institutions, democratic traditions, and cosmopolitan culture, the Alliance aspires to set the standard for governance and technological advancement across the planet.

Trusted Partners:

Freiheitland: The Alliance values the dwarves’ industriousness, engineering skill, and history of loyal partnership. Mutual defense, infrastructure projects, and trade in minerals and machinery form the backbone of this alliance.
Arcadia: Arcadia is a close cultural, diplomatic, and military ally. The two nations coordinate strategy and share intellectual, artistic, and technological exchanges, seeing themselves as the “civilized core” of Elysium.
Annwyn: The Alliance respects Annwyn’s ecological wisdom and agricultural output. The partnership is rooted in food security, environmental research, and a shared commitment to stability.

Distrusted Rivals:

Empire of Ruritania: The Alliance’s great rival and military adversary, seen as an expansionist, authoritarian power bent on undermining Elysium’s freedoms.
Concordia: Viewed as a haven of pirates, smugglers, and anarchists, Concordia is perceived as a destabilizing force that undermines law, commerce, and security.
Bedlam Dominions: Regarded as a chaotic, lawless region that threatens border stability with mutant incursions, raids, and rogue technology.

Complex Relations:

Kalahari: The Alliance relies on Kalahari for exotic goods, minerals, and certain trade routes but remains wary of Kalahari’s opportunism and resistance to Alliance-led order.
Italica: Relations are generally positive, rooted in shared faith and cultural events, but the Alliance is cautious about Italica’s theocratic influence and its potential to sway public opinion.
Kobayashi Shogunate: An honored but carefully circumscribed treaty relationship; the Alliance respects the Shogunate’s autonomy and limited trade, but finds its isolationism frustrating.
Volantes: The Alliance admires Volantes’ airship and scientific expertise, and the two often collaborate on technology and exploration, though Volantes’ proud independence sometimes complicates closer alignment.

With Erebus:

The Colonial Alliance is the primary customer for Etherium and Steam, trading food, manufactured goods, and natural resources in return. While the Alliance is wary of Astraea Corp’s leverage and monopolistic practices, dependence on Etherium remains a strategic vulnerability.

Concordia

Self-Image:

Concordia sees itself as the ultimate haven of freedom—a society built on radical independence, resourcefulness, and the refusal to bow to any centralized authority. Proud of its anarchic traditions, Concordia thrives on diversity, improvisation, and the unrestrained pursuit of opportunity. Its people embrace risk, adventure, and the romance of the open sky and sea.

Trusted Partners:

Morrigan: Concordia values Morrigan’s blue-collar ethic, resilience, and mutual respect for survival on the margins. The two nations share joint defense efforts against invaders and natural disasters, as well as vibrant cultural exchanges.
Boreas: Boreas is respected for its honest dealings and hardiness. Concordian mercenaries and merchants often rely on Boreas guides, and the two collaborate on navigation, survival, and mutual protection in the cold northern waters.
Froelia: Froelia’s practical, community-focused people are seen as trustworthy partners for maritime trade, salvage operations, and sharing shelter during storms and disasters.

Distrusted Rivals:

Empire of Ruritania: Feared and despised as an imperialist, authoritarian threat that would crush Concordian freedoms if given the chance.
Colonial Alliance: Regarded as overbearing, rule-bound, and intent on imposing its laws and customs on Concordia’s way of life.
Italica: Italica’s religious zeal and moral certitude are seen as antithetical to Concordian values. The Virtue Militant’s agents are especially unwelcome in Concordian ports.

Complex Relations:

Kalahari: Concordia relies on Kalahari for trade in luxury goods, rare desert materials, and sometimes for diplomatic mediation, but regards Kalahari’s sharp business practices with suspicion.
Arcadia: While there is appreciation for Arcadian artistry and occasional trade, Concordia is wary of Arcadia’s close ties to the Colonial Alliance and its preference for order over liberty.

With Erebus:

No official trade exists, but Concordia is a major hub for black-market Steam. Smuggling networks funnel Steam from corrupt Erebus officials or stolen shipments to Concordian buyers, fueling the Republic’s airships and industry while evading Astraea Corp’s control.

Empire of Ruritania

Self-Image:

Ruritania sees itself as Elysium’s future—a nation of iron discipline, industrial might, and imperial destiny. Its people are proud of their order, tradition, and military prowess, believing that only under the emperor’s vision can civilization truly thrive.

Trusted Partners:

Erebus: Ruritania maintains a pragmatic and deeply strategic relationship with Erebus, relying on regular Etherium shipments to fuel its war machine and industry. In return, it provides Erebus with food, machinery, and sometimes covert support for Astraea Corp’s interests.
Orlostek: Orlostek is seen as a loyal junior partner and military protectorate, providing resources, manpower, and secure northern borders in exchange for Ruritanian protection and technological support.
Italica: Ruritania respects Italica’s organizational discipline and the social cohesion brought by faith, even while disagreeing on the balance of power between church and state. The two cooperate on religious festivals, military parades, and the maintenance of public order.

Distrusted Rivals:

Colonial Alliance: Ruritania’s greatest rival, regarded as decadent, meddling, and the primary obstacle to imperial expansion.
Arcadia: Seen as a subversive neighbor, too liberal and unpredictable, and a sponsor of dissent among Ruritania’s post-human population.
Freiheitland: Distrusted for its dwarven independence, history of rebellion, and as a potential source of technological subversion.

Complex Relations:

Kalahari: Ruritania engages in mutually beneficial but wary trade for minerals, luxury goods, and desert technology; both sides keep each other at arm’s length, ready to exploit weakness.
Concordia: Concordia is considered a den of piracy and rebellion—a nuisance on the high seas and a thorn in Ruritania’s trade routes. Ruritania sometimes sponsors privateers or military expeditions to curb Concordian influence.
Morrigan: Respects Morrigan’s tenacity and industrial potential, but is wary of its democratic ethos and reluctance to depend on Ruritanian exports. Occasional trade and technical exchange occur, but trust is minimal.

With Erebus:

Major customer; Ruritania trades food, machinery, and clandestine support in exchange for Etherium and Steam. Secret collaborations with Vitatech Laboratories are rumored, especially in bioengineering and security.

Freiheitland

Self-Image:

Freiheitland is a proud dwarven republic forged in the fires of oppression and escape. Its people are fiercely independent, value communal effort, and hold freedom, engineering excellence, and honest labor as their highest ideals. The legacy of enslavement on Erebus shapes their vigilance and solidarity.

Trusted Partners:

Colonial Alliance: Freiheitland relies on the Alliance for trade in advanced technology, mutual defense, and cooperative infrastructure projects. The Alliance’s respect for Freiheitland’s autonomy and expertise has cemented a longstanding alliance.
Annwyn: There is deep mutual respect for Annwyn’s stewardship of the land and practical wisdom. The two nations trade in metals, timber, and occasionally collaborate on environmental management and border security.
Arcadia: Freiheitland admires Arcadia’s culture, ingenuity, and sense of justice. Trade in crafted goods, joint engineering ventures, and cultural exchanges are frequent and valued.

Distrusted Rivals:

Erebus: The old oppressor, Erebus is viewed with implacable distrust and scorn. Freiheitland refuses direct trade or diplomacy except in dire necessity, and remains alert for Astraea Corp subversion.
Empire of Ruritania: Ruritania’s expansionism, authoritarianism, and history of post-human oppression make it a constant source of suspicion and defensive preparedness.
Bedlam Dominions: The chaos and unpredictability of the Dominions pose a regular threat of raids, smuggling, and technological theft.

Complex Relations:

Volantes: Freiheitland respects Volantes’ technological achievements and sometimes engages in collaborative projects, but the relationship is competitive and both nations guard their secrets closely.
Kalahari: Occasional trade in minerals and crafted goods exists, but cultural and religious differences keep relations at arm’s length.
Apex: Freiheitland is cautiously supportive of Apex’s frontier experiment, providing tools, advice, and occasional aid, but is wary of instability on its northern border.

With Erebus:

Almost no direct trade; Etherium is only acquired in emergencies via intermediaries. Freiheitland is ever on guard against Erebus influence or attempts to exploit their expertise.

Froelia

Self-Image:
Froelia is defined by its practicality, hard-earned resilience, and deep-rooted sense of community. The islanders see themselves as survivors—resourceful, weathered by storm and hardship, and fiercely loyal to one another. Their culture values perseverance, remembrance of the lost, and the skills of both sea and craft.

Trusted Partners:

Belrios: Froelia’s closest ally, with strong bonds formed over generations of maritime trade, cultural festivities, and shared islander traditions. The two nations support each other in times of hardship and exchange goods, music, and artisans.
Amareidonia: Froelia appreciates Amareidonia’s pragmatic approach, scientific knowledge, and willingness to assist during crises. Trade in preserved foods, medicinal supplies, and technical advice fosters mutual respect.

Distrusted Rivals:

Colonial Alliance: Froelia distrusts the Colonial Alliance’s bureaucratic reach and fears political or economic domination that could erode local autonomy and traditional ways.
Meropis: While trade occasionally occurs, Froelia is wary of Meropis’s insular attitudes and sometimes competing interests in sea routes and fisheries, finding them elusive and difficult to fully trust.

Complex Relations:

Empire of Ruritania: Froelia trades sporadically with Ruritania for metals or manufactured goods, but keeps a cautious distance due to Ruritania’s authoritarian reputation and strategic ambitions in the region.
Baltia: Froelia shares the burden of harsh weather with Baltia and occasionally collaborates on navigation and rescue, but finds Baltian mysticism and spiritual unpredictability unsettling, leading to a careful, arms-length relationship.

With Erebus:
Froelia rarely seeks Etherium except in emergencies for vital repairs or technology, remaining alert to the dangers of dependence on Astraea Corp.

Italica

Self-Image:
Italica sees itself as the spiritual heart of Elysium—an exemplar of virtue, tradition, and divine order. Its people are deeply devout, proud of their theocratic heritage, and believe their society sets the moral standard for the planet. Italica’s leadership strives to balance faith, education, and the defense of the faithful, while maintaining influence through the Virtue Militant.

Trusted Partners:

Colonial Alliance: Italica values its longstanding partnership with the Colonial Alliance, founded on shared cultural traditions, mutual respect for law, and collaborative festivals. The Alliance’s scientific and organizational strengths complement Italica’s religious influence.
Arcadia: Italica enjoys a close bond with Arcadia through cultural exchange, artistic patronage, and common religious observances. They collaborate on educational projects and support each other in international forums.
Empire of Ruritania: While wary of Ruritania’s authoritarian tendencies, Italica respects its commitment to order and social cohesion. The two coordinate on ceremonial events, maintain diplomatic ties, and occasionally cooperate on military displays or the suppression of dissent.

Distrusted Rivals:

Kalahari: Italica views Kalahari with suspicion and religious disapproval, regarding its state faith as heretical and its commercial pragmatism as a threat to moral order.
Volantes: Italica is unsettled by Volantes’ scientific progressivism and secular tendencies, and worries that its technological influence could undermine spiritual values.
Kobayashi Shogunate: Despite admiring the Shogunate’s discipline, Italica is distrustful of its insularity, resistance to missionary activity, and adherence to ancestral—rather than divine—worship.

Complex Relations:

Morrigan: Italica admires Morrigan’s communal spirit and history of perseverance, but finds its secularism and labor politics challenging to reconcile with theocratic ideals. Cooperation occurs on humanitarian missions and disaster relief.
Annwyn: Italica values Annwyn’s hospitality and environmental stewardship but is frustrated by its religious pluralism and resistance to conversion. The nations collaborate on education and social welfare projects but keep some distance in matters of doctrine.

With Erebus:
Italica conducts minimal trade with Erebus, limited to the acquisition of Etherium for ceremonial or preservation purposes. Official rhetoric condemns Astraea Corp’s secularism and exploitation, and the Virtue Militant is vigilant for Astraea influence among the faithful.

Kalahari

Self-Image:
Kalahari views itself as the master of trade, negotiation, and adaptation—a land where prosperity is won through cunning, faith, and resilience in the face of the desert’s challenges. Its merchant princes and caliphs take pride in balancing tradition with cosmopolitan ambition, guided by the teachings of the Disciples of the Prophet.

Trusted Partners:

Olam Ha-Ba: Kalahari shares spiritual kinship and strong agricultural trade with Olam Ha-Ba. The close relationship is founded on mutual respect for tradition, communal wisdom, and the value of negotiation.
Arcadia: Arcadia is seen as a key commercial and diplomatic ally, supplying luxury goods, art, and technological wares. Kalahari appreciates Arcadia’s sophistication and willingness to engage in pragmatic compromise.
Amareidonia: Kalahari values Amareidonia’s scientific rigor, innovation in resource management, and ability to provide unique crops and medicines. The nations maintain a practical partnership built on mutual benefit and respect for adversity.

Distrusted Rivals:

Concordia: Kalahari distrusts Concordia’s lawlessness and the destabilizing effects of piracy and smuggling on vital trade routes. While some clandestine commerce occurs, Concordia is generally seen as a threat to order.
Italica: Italica’s religious rigidity and condemnation of Kalahari’s faith and pluralistic society foster deep suspicion. Kalahari views Italica as an intolerant and meddling rival in both spiritual and political arenas.

Complex Relations:

Colonial Alliance: Kalahari relies on the Alliance for certain manufactured goods and technological imports, while supplying minerals and southern luxuries. Nevertheless, it remains wary of Alliance ambitions and legalistic interference.
Empire of Ruritania: Kalahari engages in selective trade with Ruritania, particularly in minerals and luxury items, but keeps the relationship cautious due to Ruritania’s authoritarian tendencies and history of exploiting weaker partners.

With Erebus:
Kalahari trades select luxury goods, rare minerals, and desert technologies for Etherium, but does so carefully to avoid excessive dependence. Relations with Erebus are kept strictly commercial and Kalahari is always vigilant for opportunities to leverage its unique resources in negotiations.

Kobayashi Shogunate

Self-Image:

The Kobayashi Shogunate sees itself as the last bastion of disciplined tradition and ancestral honor in a world driven by chaos, ambition, and foreign influence. Its people take pride in their isolation, adherence to ancient codes, and the spiritual strength drawn from their land and ancestors.

Trusted Partners:

Colonial Alliance: The Shogunate’s only true partner, bound by a carefully negotiated treaty that allows for limited trade and defense cooperation. The Colonial Alliance is respected for honoring the Shogunate’s sovereignty and refraining from unwanted cultural or religious intrusion.

Distrusted Rivals:

Everyone else: The Shogunate maintains a policy of strict separation and suspicion toward all other nations. Outsiders are viewed as potential sources of corruption, instability, or disrespect for Kobayashi customs. Merchants, missionaries, and diplomats from other lands are kept at arm’s length or outright refused entry, and foreign influence is carefully monitored.

Complex Relations:

Empire of Ruritania: While the Shogunate is wary of Ruritania’s expansionist reputation and authoritarian rule, it recognizes the Empire’s military might and watches its maneuvers with particular vigilance. Occasional diplomatic contact occurs, but always in the spirit of defense, not friendship.

With Erebus:

The Kobayashi Shogunate refuses all trade and diplomatic contact with Erebus, seeing Astraea Corp and its Etherium monopoly as antithetical to the Shogunate’s values and a threat to self-sufficiency and spiritual purity.

Meropis

Self-Image:

Meropis prides itself on being a bridge between land and sea, a center of artistry, diplomacy, and aquatic tradition. Its Azarketi population values harmony, creativity, and careful stewardship of natural resources, seeking peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding with those who respect the ocean.

Trusted Partners:

Belrios: Meropis enjoys a flourishing and vibrant relationship with Belrios, rooted in cultural exchange, shared festivals, and trade in art, music, and aquatic goods. Both nations value tradition and the beauty of communal celebration.
Amareidonia: Meropis appreciates Amareidonia’s scientific outlook and pragmatic approach to diplomacy and trade. The two cooperate in medicine, environmental research, and the sharing of rare aquatic and botanical resources.

Distrusted Rivals:

Froelia: Meropis distrusts Froelia due to longstanding competition over fisheries, navigation rights, and occasional disputes at sea. Differences in culture and approach to maritime law keep the relationship tense.
Baltia: Relations with Baltia are fraught due to conflicting spiritual beliefs about the sea and weather, as well as periodic clashes over storm-predicting technologies and territorial waters.

Complex Relations:

Colonial Alliance: Meropis admires the Alliance’s technological achievements and sometimes trades for advanced goods or knowledge, but remains wary of cultural dominance and the risk of losing its unique identity.
Concordia: While Meropis occasionally trades with Concordia for rare goods or information, it is cautious of Concordian piracy and lawlessness, taking pains to protect its coastal settlements and maintain neutrality in regional conflicts.

With Erebus:

Meropis trades pearls, rare sea goods, and medicinal substances for limited quantities of Steam (in waterproof containers). These exchanges are carefully managed to avoid dependence and preserve Meropis’s autonomy.

Morrigan

Self-Image:
Morrigan is fiercely proud of its blue-collar ethos, rugged independence, and tradition of mutual aid in the face of adversity. Its people see themselves as pragmatic survivors, deeply connected to the land and forests of Hy-Brasil, and determined to maintain their democracy and distinctive culture against outside pressures.

Trusted Partners:

Arcadia: Morrigan values Arcadia’s cultural sophistication, respect for tradition, and naval support. The two nations collaborate on coastal defense, trade in agricultural goods, and occasionally in the arts.
Annwyn: There is a strong bond with Annwyn, founded on shared respect for nature, communal festivals, and mutual support in times of need. The two often coordinate on environmental stewardship and disaster relief.
Boreas: Morrigan sees Boreas as a kindred spirit—a fellow northern nation with shared hardships, survival strategies, and a tradition of honest dealings. Trade in furs, survival knowledge, and practical tools is common.

Distrusted Rivals:

Colonial Alliance: Morrigan distrusts the Alliance’s bureaucratic reach, centralizing ambitions, and tendency to overlook the realities of frontier and working-class life.
Kalahari: Kalahari’s commercial opportunism and sometimes harsh negotiating tactics have fostered suspicion, especially in the wake of disputes over resource contracts and trade routes.

Complex Relations:

Concordia: While Morrigan appreciates Concordia’s resilience and maritime know-how, it is wary of Concordia’s lawlessness and the risk of pirate raids disrupting vital supply lines or trade.
Empire of Ruritania: Morrigan is cautious of Ruritania’s military ambitions and authoritarian ideology, but occasionally engages in pragmatic trade or technical exchanges, especially in times of crisis or common threat.

With Erebus:
Morrigan refuses to trade with Erebus on principle, relying instead on fossil fuels and local ingenuity. Its leaders are outspoken critics of Erebus’s monopoly and corporate ethics, and the people of Morrigan take pride in their self-sufficiency.

Olam Ha-Ba

Self-Image:

Olam Ha-Ba sees itself as a land of ancient wisdom, secrecy, and resilient kinship. Its halfling tribes are proud of their independence, mastery of survival in the desert and oases, and their ability to preserve tradition while navigating a world often dominated by larger, more aggressive powers.

Trusted Partners:

Kalahari: Olam Ha-Ba shares a deep spiritual and economic bond with Kalahari, founded on mutual respect for tradition, agricultural cooperation, and a history of diplomatic negotiation. Trade in food, water engineering, and communal rituals is vital to both nations.
Amareidonia: Olam Ha-Ba respects Amareidonia’s scientific rigor and values its willingness to treat Olam Ha-Ba as an equal. Exchanges of knowledge, agricultural goods, and rare desert medicines foster a relationship based on trust and pragmatic benefit.

Distrusted Rivals:

Colonial Alliance: Olam Ha-Ba is wary of the Alliance’s bureaucracy, centralization, and tendency to overlook the needs or traditions of smaller nations. It fears being subsumed or pressured into abandoning halfling autonomy.
Empire of Ruritania: Ruritania’s expansionist and authoritarian nature is seen as a direct threat to Olam Ha-Ba’s freedom and way of life. Distrust runs deep, especially given Ruritanian attitudes toward minorities and outsiders.

Complex Relations:

Italica: Olam Ha-Ba acknowledges Italica’s moral seriousness and sometimes cooperates on humanitarian or educational projects, but regards its religious zeal and missionary efforts with skepticism and polite resistance.
Meropis: Relations with Meropis are generally peaceful, especially in trade for rare crops and medicinal herbs, but cultural differences and Meropis’s oceanic focus sometimes create distance or misunderstandings.

With Erebus:

Olam Ha-Ba trades rare crops, medicinal plants, and intricate handicrafts for limited Etherium, used mainly for irrigation, lighting, and communal infrastructure. All dealings with Erebus are handled with caution, and the elders are vigilant against exploitation or dependence.

Orlostek

Self-Image:

Orlostek sees itself as a hardy, disciplined northern nation, forged by adversity and bound by communal responsibility. Its people pride themselves on their stoicism, industriousness, and capacity to endure hardship, even as they struggle with limited resources and harsh climates.

Trusted Partners:

Empire of Ruritania: Orlostek relies on Ruritania for military protection, technological support, and access to Steam, forming a close—if sometimes unequal—protectorate relationship. Ruritania’s strength is respected as a shield against chaos and external threats.
Boreas: Orlostek shares a mutual respect and practical partnership with Boreas, trading for survival goods, furs, and exchanging knowledge about life in the far north. Occasional collaboration on border security and weathering natural disasters strengthens their bond.

Distrusted Rivals:

Colonial Alliance: Orlostek distrusts the Colonial Alliance’s ambitions, cultural arrogance, and perceived meddling in northern affairs. The Alliance’s influence is seen as a threat to Orlostek’s autonomy and traditions.
Apex: Relations with Apex are tense, colored by suspicion and disputes over resources and security along the wild frontier. Orlostek views Apex’s newness and alliances with southern nations warily.

Complex Relations:

Bedlam Dominions: Orlostek’s interaction with Bedlam is pragmatic—a mix of trade, uneasy truces, and the constant threat of raids or smuggling from the Dominions’ chaotic tribes.
Volantes: Orlostek values Volantes’ technological advancements and occasionally seeks trade or expertise, but finds their southern neighbors’ pride and progressivism difficult to reconcile with Orlostek’s own conservative ethos.

With Erebus:

Orlostek trades minerals, ice, and rare northern goods for Etherium when desperate, but is wary of Erebus’s corporate influence and aims to minimize dependency.

Volantes

Self-Image:

Volantes prides itself on being Elysium’s pinnacle of airship mastery and mountainous independence. Its people see themselves as industrious, progressive, and both respectful of tradition and eager to push the boundaries of science and engineering.

Trusted Partners:

Apex: Volantes values Apex’s frontier spirit and openness to technological collaboration. The two nations trade in airship components, manufacturing materials, and knowledge, with Volantes often offering mentorship in government and infrastructure.
Boreas: Volantes respects Boreas’s resilience and practical wisdom. Trade in cold-weather technology, survival gear, and guidance for northern expeditions is common, and both nations collaborate on navigation and meteorological research.
Kalahari: Kalahari’s mineral wealth and market access are vital for Volantes’ manufacturing sector. The nations maintain a strong commercial partnership, exchanging luxury goods, rare metals, and advanced devices.

Distrusted Rivals:

Bedlam Dominions: Volantes distrusts the Dominions for their lawlessness, frequent raids, and reputation for sabotaging airship routes or stealing technology.
Freiheitland: While admiring Freiheitland’s engineering talent, Volantes sees the dwarves as overly secretive, competitive, and sometimes obstructive in technological matters. Historic rivalries over patents and industrial espionage have bred suspicion.

Complex Relations:

Orlostek: Volantes values Orlostek’s northern resources and occasionally seeks expertise in extreme weather survival, but is frustrated by Orlostek’s conservatism and close alignment with Ruritania.
Colonial Alliance: The Alliance is both a competitor and a collaborator; Volantes participates in joint scientific ventures but is careful to defend its independence, wary of Alliance attempts to dominate Elysium’s technological agenda.
Annwyn: Volantes admires Annwyn’s natural resource management and often trades for timber, but finds Annwyn’s environmental priorities sometimes at odds with Volantes’ drive for progress and development.

With Erebus:

Volantes trades food and natural resources for Etherium, which is essential for powering its industry and research. This relationship is closely monitored to avoid giving Erebus undue leverage.

Erebus (Astraea Corp)

Self-Image:

Erebus, governed by the omnipresent Astraea Corporation, views itself as both the embattled heart of human survival and the ultimate authority over progress in the Victoria system. Its leadership believes the sacrifices of freedom, comfort, and individuality are justified by the greater cause of civilization’s endurance. The planet’s harsh environment, scarcity, and history of disaster have forged a culture of discipline, hierarchy, and corporate loyalty. Astraea’s board and CEO see themselves as humanity’s last true technocrats—stewards of knowledge, guardians of the most precious resource (Etherium), and the only force capable of holding back chaos, barbarism, and extinction.

Internally, this manifests as a rigid social order, ceaseless surveillance, and a culture of suspicion. The ruling elite justifies their privileges and control through a narrative of existential threat: only Astraea’s iron hand keeps Humanity on both planets safe from collapse.

Trade Relationships:

Erebus’s foreign dealings are dictated by necessity and ruthlessness. Its Etherium monopoly is its tool, shield, and weapon. Every relationship is transactional and carefully managed to avoid dependence or the leakage of critical technology.

Amareidonia:
Cautious, limited trade. Erebus supplies small, highly regulated Etherium shipments in exchange for rare medicinal plants, scientific research, and select foodstuffs. Distrust is mutual, and Astraea constantly probes Amareidonian psychic research for threats or opportunities.
Annwyn:
Pragmatic and tightly controlled relationship. Erebus trades Etherium for surplus food, timber, and herbal medicines while keeping a wary eye on Annwyn’s environmental politics and resistance to corporate influence.
Apex:
Recent, strictly limited interactions. Erebus supplies only what is necessary for Apex’s survival (small Etherium allocations) in exchange for rare herbs, wilderness resources, and frontier intelligence. The relationship is marked by suspicion and a keen interest in Apex’s technological and social experiments.
Arcadia:
Measured, occasionally tense trade. Arcadia receives Etherium for art, luxury goods, and natural resources, but Erebus limits Arcadian access to avoid technological parity or the formation of anti-corporate alliances.
Baltia:
Minimal, emergency-only trade. Erebus sometimes exchanges Etherium for stormcraft devices, unique weather data, or local natural resources, but is wary of Baltia’s unpredictable, insular society.
Bedlam Dominions:
Barely more than black-market exchange. Occasionally, scavenged high-tech or mercenary services are traded for Etherium via deniable intermediaries, with Astraea exploiting Bedlam’s chaos when it serves corporate goals.
Belrios:
Cautious, small-scale trade. Erebus accepts art, rare island goods, and medicinal plants in return for modest Etherium shipments, but avoids anything that could strengthen Belrios’s independence or network with other islands.
Boreas:
Emergency trade only. Erebus provides Etherium for critical infrastructure in exchange for minerals, ice, or rare polar resources, but keeps Boreas at arm’s length due to its stubborn self-reliance.
Colonial Alliance:
The most significant and carefully balanced relationship. The Alliance is Erebus’s largest customer for Etherium and Steam; in return, Erebus receives food, advanced manufactured goods, technical maintenance, and scientific collaboration. Both sides monitor each other for espionage and seek to avoid over-dependence.
Concordia:
No official relationship. In reality, Erebus is a major source of black-market Etherium, funneled to Concordia through corrupt officials and smugglers. Astraea tolerates this only as a safety valve and means of indirect influence, but cracks down when piracy threatens core interests.
Empire of Ruritania:
A primary, strategic customer. Ruritania receives regular, large shipments of Etherium and Steam—vital for its war machine and industry—in exchange for food, machinery, and clandestine biotech research support. Astraea values the stability of this relationship.
Freiheitland:
Hostile, almost non-existent trade. Erebus’s history of enslaving the Dweorg ensures deep mutual animosity. Trade occurs only in dire emergencies, always through intermediaries and under strict secrecy.
Froelia:
Rare, emergency-only trade. Erebus provides Etherium for repairs or vital technology in exchange for specialty crafts or nautical intelligence, but contact is minimal and transactional.
Italica:
Highly limited, ceremonial trade. Italica may acquire Etherium for preservation purposes, but Astraea is wary of Italica’s condemnation of its secular, corporate ethos and keeps the relationship superficial.
Kalahari:
Commercially pragmatic. Kalahari trades luxury goods, rare minerals, and food for Etherium, but Astraea keeps strict quotas to avoid giving Kalahari leverage in southern markets.
Kobayashi Shogunate:
No trade or diplomatic contact. The Shogunate’s policy of isolation and suspicion toward outsiders, especially corporate entities, is reciprocated by Astraea, which prefers to leave the Shogunate undisturbed.
Meropis:
Carefully managed. Meropis trades pearls, rare sea goods, and medicinal substances for Etherium. Astraea monitors the relationship for signs of subversive alliances among the island nations.
Morrigan:
No trade. Morrigan’s principled refusal to depend on Etherium, reliance on fossil fuels, and vocal criticism of Astraea Corp’s ethics make any official relationship impossible.
Olam Ha-Ba:
Cautious, circumscribed trade. Olam Ha-Ba provides rare crops, medicinal herbs, and handicrafts for strictly limited Etherium shipments used for irrigation and lighting. Elders in Olam Ha-Ba are vigilant to prevent exploitation.
Orlostek:
Transactional and conditional. Orlostek trades minerals, ice, and rare northern goods for Etherium only when it can afford it.
Volantes:
Volantes trades food and natural resources for Etherium, but Astraea is careful to avoid technological leakage and monitors for industrial espionage.

Dependence:

Despite its technological edge and Etherium monopoly, Erebus is fundamentally dependent on other nations—especially Elysium’s major agricultural and manufacturing powers—for survival. The planet produces almost no food and relies on imported grains, preserved goods, and medicines to sustain its population.

This dependence is Erebus’s greatest vulnerability: any disruption in food imports, essential natural resources, or medicine can trigger unrest, production shortfalls, or even social collapse. Astraea Corp’s leadership is acutely aware of this; hence, they leverage Etherium not just for profit but as a means of political control, balancing every relationship to avoid giving any one partner the power to dictate terms.

Meanwhile, Erebus remains isolated and resented, its power balanced on a knife-edge of necessity, paranoia, and the ever-present risk of rebellion from the population it keeps at the brink of deprivation.

Elysium’s international relations are shaped by geography, trade, faith, and history, with every alliance and suspicion amplified by the shadow of Erebus’s Etherium monopoly. Tensions, rivalries, and grudging interdependence define the global balance—a balance that could tip with every new crisis or opportunity.