The Thunders Current Background

This land is split between three rival factions:

The Imperial Empire is ruled by the Emperor, a hereditary position. The Empire’s culture is very much like ancient China.

The Shogunate is ruled by a Shogun who is elected by other the lords, called Daimyo. A land very much like feudal Japan.

The last region is called the Sanctuary. It is ruled by the people with culture like Communist China. The people rule and nobility is ejected.

All these three regions consider their way of life the best way forward for the entire Thunders and a cold war exist between all three. In recent years all out war as come very close as the three factions claim control of various resources such stable portals. Assassins have allegedly killed or attempted to kill various political leaders and dubious propaganda is spread. In the main, the Shogunate and Sanctuary sit in opposite corners with the Imperial Empire between but that is a massive simplification of the true nature of the balance of power.

A new form of clockwork miniature technology is developing in the Sanctuary, but both the Imperial Empire and the Shogunate are also using it in their cold war of either assassination or spying.