CHAPTER 1 – AN ABRIDGED "HISTORY" LESSON ON THE FOUR KINGDOMS
History is written by the winners. When two groups battle each other and only one comes out the winner, the other side is demonized in the books. They were the rebels/oppressors/ butchers who drove the victorious side t rise up against them, to fight for the good. You will never hear about the atrocities that the winners committed, except form the other side.
Because of this, history is the biggest fairy tale. We can make things look the way we want by adding certain passages here and omitting others there. When it comes to wars and diplomacy there is no good and evil or light and dark; there are shades of grey. This is true for every event throughout history. This includes the best and most well-known hero's around. Open any book and Mario is seen only as The Hero and Bowser is The Dictator; but nothing is as it seems.
If you want the truth, never look for a recounted event. Stick to the facts. Let's look at the most accurate documents, economic and exports.
There are several districts, or Kingdoms, in this large world without a name.
Let's start first with the most well-known one, The Mushroom Kingdom. The population of the mushroom kingdom is the largest and most stable. The country is ruled by a monarch, Princess Peach; however, she is more of a figurehead. The area is widely democratic in its nature. Its citizens thrive due to low tax rates on manufacturing and higher tax rate on imported goods. The areas widely populated by humanoids and Toads. The population has a focus on higher education and the GDP comes from mining, harvesting, and hospitality.
In contrast, The Koopa Kingdom has a high tax rate for both imports and exports. There's little emphasis put on welfare. Unlike the Mushroom Kingdom, there is no retirement system. Because of this, the populations in flux. The majority of its citizens are younger as very few live past middle age. The area's run by a dictator, Bowser. All rules and regulations are made by him and his advisors. Their main focus is on manufacturing and high technology with the assistance of magic, and if people must suffer, so be it. Their main export is motor vehicles. Education is rudimentary, and for that, they are often seen as oafs and uncouth. Their military is active and has been working to expand their empire for both a larger workforce and more raw materials.
The Bean Kingdom, which lies far across the seas, does very little more than to mine its easily accessible goods for sales overseas. They are graced with fertile lands and many high earning commodities that are required for luxury products, like coffee, jewelry, and computers augmented by magic. Because of its geography, it has no stake in the military matters of the mainlands and stays out of it. They sometimes act as peace-brokers when the interests of the Bean Kingdom can be adversely impacted. They don't take sides. Its citizens benefit greatly from the peace and prosperity. They are a high-functioning welfare state with democracy. Higher education or advanced trade skills are compulsory.
The Delfino Islands and the deserts beyond make up the last of the great kingdoms. Like The Bean Kingdom, they focus on exporting luxury goods. Most revenue is due to tourism as the main Islands are lush. The tax rates and GDP are very high. The island has democratically elected parties but let the individual islands set their own policies and laws. The deserts beyond hold very little, but are the home of the high magic schools. They also contain the largest and most profitable gold mines in the known world. Most are exported to the mainlands to be melted down into coins. They have only a rudimentary system that looks after the interests of the people. Due to the large influx of visitors they are plagued with blights and illnesses that come in waves, leaving the population high for a time until the disease sweeps through. During these times, the kingdom must depend on gold and magic to generate revenue.
Due to the small pockets of both wealth and poverty, the kingdoms are constantly in a state of upheaval as all vie for resources. This led to the times of great heroes and even greater villainy.
After the Koopa Kingdoms successful military began to expand into the Mushroom Kingdom and created settlements and trading posts in both the Bean Kingdom and The Delfino Islands. A great rebellion broke out that led rise to the Hero Mario and his brother Luigi. The successful duo rallied mushroom troops to throw back the encroaching Koopa Kingdom. After several well-documented battles revolving around the kidnap and imprisonment of The Mushroom Kingdoms figurehead, Princess Peach, the four nations were able to forge a shaky ceasefire. Several diplomatic parties were launched with the goal of building unity and trade agreements. These diplomatic parties (Sometimes shortened to just Parties, or more commonly "Mario Parties" named after the great warrior and diplomat himself) helped to strengthen the bonds between these kingdoms. However, all knew the battle for growth, power, and development still waged on.
And with the war came the players key to it with all of their wants, desires, and flaws.