This first part is just a list of notes that I hope will make things less complicated for those reading this. It should be noted that while all four kingdoms are a strong mix of the cultures of the nations included in them, they most notably present that of their royalty.

Spades

· King: America (17 at the beginning) [tattoo = back of right hand]

· Queen: England (24 at the beginning) [tattoo = back of left shoulder]

· Jack: China (63 at the beginning) [tattoo = right side of neck]

· Ace: Norway (Lukas)

· Nine: Korea (Yong Soo)

· Eight: Denmark (Matthias)

· Seven: Hong Kong (Xiao Chun)

· Six: Vietnam (Huyen)

· Five: Cameroon (Ahmadou)

· Four: New Zealand (Jamie)

· Three: Australia (Jack)

· Two: Sweden (Berwald)

· Jack is advisor to the king; Yao has absorbed much of the original power of the Ace, who is intended to be the alchemist and keeper of magic. Instead, Norway has been downgraded to a low-level advisor.

· Capitol: The Sapphire City (castle: Spades Castle)

· Both king and queen born with tattoo; not chosen from a royal line

· Constitutional monarchy; most power rests with the king, but there is a parliamentary body that can propose laws and take care of tasks given to them by the king

· Castle: Chinese-style imperial building

Diamonds

· King: France (26 at the beginning) [tattoo = back of right hip]

· Queen: Liechtenstein (18 at the beginning) [tattoo = center of chest above breast]

· Jack: Switzerland (32 at the beginning) [tattoo = bottom of left foot]

· Ace: Monaco (Margot)

· Nine: Turkey (Sadik)

· Eight: Seychelles (Angelique)

· Seven: Canada (Matthew)

· Six: Spain (Antonio)

· Five: Belgium (Emma)

· Four: Romano (Lovino)

· Three: Luxembourg (Gabriel)

· Two: Portugal (Rodrigo)

· Jack is a protector and head of the household guard; Ace is the alchemist and keeper of magic

· Capital: Diamandis (palace: Crystallides)

· All royal children born with tattoo; only eldest child succeeds the throne. Queen tattooed before marriage.

· Absolute monarchy; all power rests with the king. There is an advisory body, but they have no real power.

· Castle: Versailles-style palace

Hearts

· King: Germany (43) [tattoo = right bicep]

· Queen: Japan (51) [tattoo = stomach]

· Jack: Italy (26) [tattoo = right buttock]

· Ace: India (Reyansh)

· Nine: Egypt (Gupta)

· Eight: Taiwan (Meimei)

· Seven: Ukraine (Yekaterina)

· Six: Romania (Andrei)

· Five: Greece (Hercules)

· Four: Poland (Feliks)

· Three: Cyprus (Ibrahim)

· Two: Cuba (Maximo)

· Jack is a protector and head of the household guard; Ace is the alchemist and head of religious rites

· Capitol: Honoria (castle: Hearts Palace)

· Queen born tattooed, king tattooed before marriage according to chi flow as determined by the monks

· Theocracy; king shares power with the church and the church can decide to revoke a king or queen's status

· Japanese-style imperial building; low level with many small gardens and courtyards.

Clubs

· King: Russia (37) [tattoo = chest, over heart]

· Queen: Hungary (33) [tattoo = center of back]

· Jack: Austria (34) [tattoo = right cheek]

· Ace: Lithuania (Toris)

· Nine: Belarus (Natalia)

· Eight: Estonia (Eduard)

· Seven: Latvia (Raivis)

· Six: Netherlands (Lars)

· Five: Finland (Tino)

· Four: Thailand (Somchai)

· Three: Moldova (Alexandru)

· Two: Iceland (Emil)

· Jack is advisor to the king, head of national finance; Ace is supposed to be alchemist and keeper of magic, but centuries of abusing magic and persecuting magicians alternately has left Clubs drained of magic. Toris is capable of only tiny feats and acts mainly as another advisor to the king.

· Capitol: Tristar (Castle: Centerpeak)

· Neither king nor queen born tattooed; both marked after ascension to the throne.

· Oligarchic monarchy; power rests with the king, but the nobles must be appeased or they will stage a coup

· Defense-style stone castle; function over form.

Jokers

· Prussia

· Sealand

· Wy

· Seborga

· Kugelmugel