PRESENT DAY FACTIONS

Chinese (Jin Wei)

Residents of northeastern China, they are mostly peasants, although a small fraction are craftsmen, soldiers, or upper class. They tolerate Oni and ghouls, but are hostile to Japanese.

Chinese (Manchurian)

Residents of Manchuria, these chafe under Japanese rule. They tolerate ghouls and are friendly to Oni, with whom they sometimes make common cause.

Koreans

Residents of Korea, they have a better lot than native Chinese, but still are not on an equal footing with their Japanese rulers, which causes resentment. Koreans tolerate all others.

Japanese (Native)

Japanese born in Japan regard themselves as above all others, which earns them considerable resentment. They tolerate other Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese, and are hostile to Oni and ghouls.

Japanese (Emigrant)

Japanese born outside Japan regard themselves as the equal of other Japanese and superior to all others, which causes them to be widely resented. In turn they resent the condescension shown them by native Japanese. They are hostile to Oni and ghouls and tolerant of all others.

Ghouls

Humans exposed to large amounts of radiation will, in most cases, die. A very few, however, instead become ghouls. Many of them lose all mental capacity and become mindless predators, which gives ghouls a poor reputation. By 2270 most humans have learned to differentiate between feral and intelligent ghouls and tolerate the latter. Ghouls in turn tolerate humans and are friendly to Oni.

Oni

Descended from heavily mutated humans, according to popular belief, Oni stand roughly seven feet tall and have light tan to dark brown skin with a peculiar purplish tone to it. Their hair is usually dark brown or black with the same distinct purplish tone.

Oni are as intelligent as humans. Oni tolerate humans, except Japanese, and are usually friendly toward ghouls, with whom they often make common cause. Oni are hostile to Japanese, although currently at peace with them.

TERRITORIES

Jin Wei

Comprising a hundred thousand square miles of northeastern China, including the former capital of Beijing, Jin Wei is a military dictatorship ruled from the city of the same name, roughly fifty miles southeast of Beijing. With a population of fifty million it is one of the more heavily populated areas of the world. An average per capita income of fifty yuan also makes it one of the poorest. Ninety five percent of the population is engaged in subsistence farming, with most of the remainder employed as craftsmen or merchants.

Jin Wei's army is poorly equipped and trained by most standards, but is still better off than the peasantry, so morale is high. Most are dutiful, but there are some who take advantage of their position to exact tribute from the peasantry.

There are populations of bandits, concentrated in cities and frontier regions. Most prey on travelers and merchants. The army tries to suppress them, but given the endemic poverty of most of Jin Wei's people that is a hopeless task.

Slavers are rumored to exist, operating on the border between Jin Wei and the Oni state. Rumor has it that they carry off farmers and other unfortunates to be sold in markets in Oni territory, but no one has seen any proof of this.

Although officially at peace with the Japanese Jin Wei's border with Manchuria sees constant skirmishing, as both sides continually seek advantage. Unusually, Jin Wei officially recognizes the Oni state, something no other nation has seen fit to do.

Manchuria

Manchuria is a part of the Empire of Japan. Ruled by native Japanese with the assistance of emigrant Japanese, the resentful population of Chinese and ghouls is nevertheless the region's most productive. Even though they are treated little better than serfs they enjoy an average per capita income of three hundred yuan. At ten million the population is large enough to sustain considerable industry; mining and manufacturing are flourishing here. The only fly in the ointment is the situation on the western and southern borders; the low level conflict with Jin Wei and the Oni state is a constant drain on resources. Banditry, especially on the northern border, is also a constant nuisance.

These concerns are minor. The Japanese armed forces are the best trained and equipped in the region, well able to handle any challenge which comes their way. The loss of northwest Manchuria in the war against the Oni led to a complete reappraisal of training and tactics; if such a war were to recur the Japanese would be much better prepared.

The Oni State

The Oni State was formed by the Oni roughly one hundred years ago. They have, in view of Japanese hostility, refused to reveal details of it to anyone. This includes the location of their capital, which they believe would come under Japanese attack if its location were known. Jin Wei is, so far, the only nation to have given them official recognition.

Comprising roughly the area of the Greater Khinggan mountains, Inner Mongolia, and northwest Manchuria, the latter a recent conquest from the Japanese, it covers roughly fifty thousand square miles. The total population is unknown, but is believed to number roughly one million. The average per capita income is also unknown, but estimated to be about one hundred fifty yuan. The Oni are definitely in charge, with other races in subordinate positions.

The Oni armed forces are, unusually, entirely composed of Oni. Although their equipment is not equal to the Japanese they compensate by being larger, tougher, and more numerous in the field; their training is every bit as good as the Japanese.