Japan

Ruled by an Imperial Court consisting of bureaucratic administrators, merchants, and generals, all drawn from the samurai caste.

To be a perfect samurai is to become a master of three paths - one to bring perfection to the mind, one to bring perfection to the body, and one to bring perfection to the soul. To some, one craft may bring them two, or even all three paths.

The Isles of Japan are about 700 kilometers southwest of Ireland.

Isolationist for much of their history, the advances leading to the Last War has shown them that the world will move on without them if they do not keep up with it, and since the stagnant peace began, they have opened their borders, learning from the rest of Europe, and incidentally sharing their own knowledge.

Militarily, the Samurai warriors are known for great skill - but the individual perfection they seek can translate poorly to large scale conflict, and they have not yet broadly adopted the bandit-like fighting as the Spanish have, considering such methods dishonorable.

Supplementing their numbers are the larger caste of Ashigaru, trained soldiers, although lightly armed and armored, and when yet more is still required, peasants would be armed and marched into combat as well.