Portugal

Portugal is a mercantile nation that prospers by trade from profits of the land facing the Atlantic Ocean. They quickly rode the advances of navigation, and were the first to round the Cape of Good Hope. Recently, after returning from the discovery of the Indian route, and fiercely compete with their neighbor, Spain.

Alvero Sarmiento (17) - a trader playing the marketplaces near Portugal. He is a leader among boys his age, and his smile endears himself towards people.

Diego Sarmiento (42) - the head of the Sarmiento Company, a major company representing Portugal.

Juan (10) - a boy who accompanies Alvero on his journeys.

Vasco da Gama (28) - Portuguese naval officer born to a noble house. He became a national hero by discovering the Indian route.

Sanjai (18) - Indian spice trader.

Spain

Spain is a powerful authoritarian kingdom dominated by the royal house of Habsburg. The Habsburgs' rise to the royal throne came because of the premature death of the late king's son. Spain came into possession of the Netherlands which is the territory of the current royal family.

In order to support the country's finances, the Netherlands have been taxed heavily, and as a consequence has raised support for their independence movement in recent years.

Baltasar Oliveira (38) - captain of the mercenary fleet working for Spain. He lives to hunt down the leader of the Barbary pirates named Khair ad Din. He is the leader of the Black Orca fleet.

Eduardo de Mascareñas (20) - the newest captain of the Black Orca fleet. He was born into just a normal house instead of the famed Hidalgo class. In order to fulfill his dream of promotion to a hidalgo he joins with Baltasar.

Augustino (39) - an officer originally from an artisan family in the heart of Italy.

Barbarossa Khair ad Din (38) - leader of the Barbary pirates. He sails out into the Mediterranean from his base of operations in Algeria.

Irene (29) - the barmaid at Marseilles. Sophisticated and "high-maintenance" she is known as an "adult woman" who is chased after by many adventurers.

England

England is a small island country to the north for whom wool is the key industry. However, the wool market became unstable because of the Spanish political meddling in the Netherlands, which is England's biggest trading partner. The wool trade decreased, and a heavy recession ensued. The Queen wishes to repair the situation, but there is no method to compete with powerful Spain.

Liza Middleton (21) - an English naval officer from the former pirate Middleton house. She has gained notoriety for her courage.

Gordon (40) - a veteran crewman who has served the Middleton house for more than 14 years. He runs around trying to protect Liza.

William Middleton (29) - the family head of the Middleton house who was pirating 10 years earlier. He has passed on naval activities to his sister. He maintains friendly relations with the courier Fredrik nowadays.

Count Kilingrew (45) - the chief vassal who serves the English Royal Family. He treats the navy as his personal property.

McGregor (35) - a pirate who stood out after he had beaten the Middleton family.

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a rising maritime courier nation facing the North Sea. They are a producer of wool fabric. The main Habsburg territory of the Netherlands became Spanish territory by inheritance of the Spanish king. The Spanish political meddling awoke the independence movement, but the military strength of the House of Alba prevents the movement.

Fredrik Van Metteren (24) - specializing in the transport of 'dangerous' goods and naturally independent.

Egmont (25) - a nobleman representative to the Netherlands government. Recently he has been trying to increase monetary support from other nations for the independence movement.

Hoorn (28) - a revolutionary of commoner origins.

Amalia (18) - a towngirl liked by many who lives in Amsterdam.

Ines (25) - the trusted retainer of the House of Alba, who indirectly rule the Netherlands, and is a female officer of the Spanish navy.

France

France is an agrarian kingdom holding territory from the Mediterranean to the North Sea. France is surrounded by strong ocean-faring countries, and its seafaring business was delayed because of a long line of monarchs who were obsessed with themselves. The half-century delayed Renaissance starts from the Italian peninsula, and there are many nobles who collect rare treasures and artifacts.

Julien Clarence (23) - a quiet man who belongs to a treasure hunting family who holds the patronage of many nobles. He has excellent eyes in regards to art.

Countess DuBois (42) - the wife of a count in Marseilles who wields much power. She has a proud and sadistic demeanor. She makes servants out of those who are unable to pay for services.

Augustine (39) - a one-eyed priest who recently came to Marseilles.

France's Queen Mother (48) - the Queen Mother who holds real governmental power in France in place of the young King. At 17 she was married from the Medici family in Firenze, and after a while the king died.

Ogun (20) - a warrior who travels the continent of Africa. He knows the spirit of animals and how to survive.

Venice

Venice is a small city-state floating on the sea. It is called the "City of Water". Venice's maritime industry had long been prosperous, and Venice had long held a monopoly on the profits of the Mediterranean trade on pepper from Alexandria, but recently the Ottoman Empire appeared in the East and Portugal discovered a sea route to the Indies. The story line is intertwined with the French story line, and they have many of the same main characters.

Vittoria Orseoro (22) -

Alvise Orseoro (30) -

Harun (12) -

Gradenigo (61) -

Faisal (31) -