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Tales of Cross
Nations

Nations

Eight powers, and who actually rules each one.

Eight human powers and two anomalous zones. In seven of the eight, whoever rules on paper is not whoever rules — and that gap is the bloc’s real profile.

The cross-dependency is total and deliberate: Brytonia has industry and no mineral, the Order has mineral and buys machines, Vykhradia has food and no industry. Nobody can leave, nobody can win — and that is why there is no war between humans.

300 mi people on the continent
8 mi under arms — 2.7%, permanently
0 wars between humans in 110 years

The eight powers — 1890

PowerCapitalRegimePopulationArmy
Power Clerical Order Capital Aurum Roma Regime theocratic empire of 7 States Population 120 mi Army 1.780.000
Power Pact Heptarchy Capital Karzhar (empty throne) Regime 7 cities patronas Population 40 mi Army 2.300.000
Power Brytonia Capital Brithon Regime monarchy constitucional Population 40 mi Army 620.000
Power Vykhradia Capital Vykhrad Regime monarchy + Dieta de onze magnatas Population 30 mi Army 1.200.000
Power Meridia Capital Stromakra Regime monarchy Population 28 mi Army 480.000
Power Königsmark Capital Königsburg Regime monarchy + cesaropapismo Population 22 mi Army 720.000
Power Serenissima Velinia Capital Velinia Regime republic — Doge of the Sails Population 10 mi Army 210.000
Power Kantonal Confederation Capital Bernkanton Regime federal republic — 17 cantons Population 6 mi Army 130.000

Who rules on paper × who actually rules

BlocOn paperIn fact
Bloc Clerical Order On paper Lumen I, 40 years In fact he does — and that is what nobody foresaw
Bloc Vykhradia On paper Rei Stanislav VII, 73 In fact the eleven magnates, through the Diet
Bloc Brytonia On paper Queen Aldreth II, 61 In fact Parliament — and, since 1886, credit
Bloc Meridia On paper King Riccardo IV, 58 In fact him at court, the Confraternities in the mountains
Bloc Königsmark On paper Rei Eirik III, 44 In fact him and the Council of the nine counts
Bloc Velinia On paper Captain-Doge Renato Cosma, 54 In fact the Ten Blacks — and he is one of them
Bloc Kantonal On paper Federal Captain, one-year term In fact the College of Coffers
Bloc Heptarquia On paper the throne is empty In fact seven courts that never coerce one another

The seven States of the Order

StateCapitalFunctionMineral
State Aurum Romana Capital Aurum Roma Function seat of the Pontiff and the Curia Mineral Liturgical Gold
State Ferrum Alpina Capital Ferrumkar Function steelmaking, armament Mineral Choir-Iron · Hashmalita
State Sal Pradelica Capital Pradel Function barrier mining Mineral Seal Salt
State Limes Orientalis Capital Castrum Limentis Function the front Mineral Choir-Iron · Ardentina
State Maritima Coronata Capital Coronata Function fleet and coast Mineral Silver Chrism
State Vallia Sacra Capital Vallium Function farming, liturgical vineyards Mineral Holy Ash
State Schola Coronata Capital Schola Maior Function universities, Curia of the Hashmal Mineral Lúmen
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The full texts

The almanac gives you the figure. Here is the reason behind it — contradictions included, and everything the Curia would rather not explain.