Countryhumans (15th century)

Ashikaga remained silent. In his world, too, there were codes of honor and ritual violence, though very different ones. He did not approve of mass sacrifices, but neither did he react with moral hysteria. He studied it as an external phenomenon. The Friction Point What bothered everyone the most was not just the sacrifices. It was the contradiction: Advanced mathematics. Precise astronomy. Monumental architecture. Complex administration. And, at the same time, blood rituals. That broke the simple narrative of "wild without order". In the Bastion, that created constant tension. Europeans tended to reduce it to religious barbarism. Asians tended to classify it as a distant civilization with extreme practices. But none of them fully recognized him as an equal. Because accepting that the Mexica held a coherent cosmology and a functional state implied admitting that the world was broader and more complex than they had believed.

When the Aztec Empire began to speak of its gods, the cycles of the sun, and the blood offered to maintain the order of the world, European and Asian countryhumans did not react the same way… but none of them understood it from within. 🇪🇺 Europeans Castile was the most severe. For him, the sacrifices were not complex ritual or profound cosmology: they were proof of spiritual corruption. His judgment was immediate. Idolatry. Error. Sin. That justified chains. Portugal listened more than it condemned, but it did not approve. It saw those practices as an obstacle to integrating the Mexica into a Christian commercial and political system. France watched with a mixture of fascination and repulsion. She was intrigued by the temples, the ceremonial organization, the theatricality of the ritual… but the bloodshed was unacceptable within her moral framework. England analyzed it coldly: a society capable of order and calculation, but governed by beliefs that, from its perspective, made it unstable and "primitive". The Holy Roman Empire was categorical: without true faith there could be no imperial legitimacy. Its cities didn't matter; its spirituality placed it outside the Christian order. 🌏 Asians Here the reaction was less visceral. The Ottoman Empire did not view human sacrifice as a direct personal heresy, but rather as a sign of a distinct and extreme religious structure. They would not call it "animalistic," but they would consider it alien to the civilized Islamic order. The Safavid shared that religious distance. He did not condemn them with the same European fervor, but he viewed those practices as a grave spiritual disorder. The Ming Empire reacted with the most analytical detachment. The sacrifices seemed brutal to them, yes, but what interested them most was the Aztec calendar, their astronomy, and their urban organization. The Ming recognized state structure when they saw it. I didn't see him as a beast. I saw it as a distant state with bloody rituals.

common.

Countryhumans, also known today as 'Countrys' or simply 'Representatives,' originated with the primary objective of representing their respective countries, not replacing politicians and their allies, but serving to prevent conflicts between them; this, of course, does not mean that conflicts can be completely prevented. Countryhumans are conscious, physical, and symbolic entities that embody the living soul of a nation. They are not mere avatars; they are the direct manifestation of their country's spiritual, social, historical, and emotional state. They have existed since the very birth of the concept of "nation" and are not tied to a single form of government or territory, but rather to the collective identity of their population. The unity and belief of its people in the nation they represent. Its strength, presence, and stability are linked to three main factors:

1. Shared national identity (symbols, history, language, culture).

2. Public confidence in their system or ideals.

3. Number of people who still recognize it as “their country”.

When a people loses faith, becomes indifferent, or begins to believe in another ideology or nation, the Countryhuman begins to weaken both physically and spiritually. If faith is completely shattered—for example, during a revolution or annexation (if no one believes in that nation anymore, it will simply disappear)—the Countryhuman may vanish or die, being replaced by a new one with the values ​​or systems that seized power.

Example: If two countries are experiencing a period of peace, trade, and cooperation, their Countryhumans will feel mutual sympathy, even attraction, which may lead to something deeper.

💍 What does it mean when two Countryhumans get "engaged"?

A commitment between Countryhumans is not literal like a human marriage, but it does represent a deep alliance, both symbolic and strategic. This type of bond can arise for emotional or diplomatic reasons.

Implications:

Their territories tend to cooperate more closely (militarily, economically, or culturally).

The populations of both countries tend to feel more affinity with each other.

Crises between them can affect the Countryhumans emotionally, as if they were personal breakups.

They may share spaces in the Bastion or create common areas. ⚔️ What if they hate each other or go to war?

☢️ Can they declare war?

Yes, but only under certain conditions:

1. For the safety of its population.

2. If another Countryhuman poses a direct threat to its existence.

3. If tensions reach the point of diplomatic collapse and there is no other option.

This makes wars exceptional but devastating.

🔥 What's happening emotionally between them?

Both experience physical and mental pain that reflects the suffering of their people.

Their appearance may deteriorate, become more aggressive or painful (darkened eyes, new scars, etc.).

An internal state called "Symbiotic Confrontation" is activated, where they feel a mixture of fury, sadness, extreme patriotism, and a primal survival instinct.

When the new members of the newly discovered continent began to appear in the Bastion, the powers of the Old World did not regard them as equals. They observed them with the same mixture of curiosity and disdain with which one studies an unknown creature. Castile initially saw them as untamed souls: human bodies, yes, but without “true order.” For him, they were fertile lands and peoples that needed to be corrected, guided, and subjected to faith and the crown. Portugal regarded them with calculation rather than moral judgment. They didn't see them as equals, but neither did they see them as an immediate threat. They were part of the map yet to be completed: routes, resources, stops along a trade network still being woven. France and England shared a similar perception: “primitive” peoples, lacking a political structure they recognized as legitimate according to their own standards. Their mistake was measuring civilization by their own rules. The Holy Roman Empire considered them outside the imperial framework: without Roman lineage, without Christian legitimacy. For him, they were societies without a comprehensible hierarchy. The Ottomans and the Safavids, although less directly involved in the Atlantic, would have seen them as distant, culturally strange peoples, not necessarily inferior by nature, but certainly alien to the order of the known world. In contrast, Ming observed from a distance. She did not see them as “animals,” but as peripheral peoples, far removed from the civilized center that she believed she embodied. The overall pattern, however, was clear: The unknown was interpreted as inferior. The difference was interpreted as a delay. And the absence of horses, steel, or alphabetic writing was mistaken for the absence of full humanity. In the Bastion, new members were not seen as political equals. They were considered territories with a face. That was the root of what came next.

🌊 Songhai Empire (Female) Songhai enters with ample space. She is tall and majestic, with sweeping and confident movements. Her figure is strong and resilient, accustomed to vast territories and extensive trade routes. His face is serene yet imposing. Dark, steady eyes that reflect knowledge and administrative power. Hair gathered under elaborate headpieces or light veils. She wears long robes in shades of deep blue, sand, and gold. Flowing fabrics, embroidered with Islamic patterns and refined details. He may carry a ceremonial staff or a straight sword. Their presence represents intellectual wealth, control of trans-Saharan trade, and extensive territorial power. 🛕 Vijayanagara Empire (Male) Vijayanagara stands tall with cultural pride. He is of medium-tall height, with an athletic and well-proportioned build. His posture is firm yet flexible. He is not rigid; he is dynamic. Defined face, intense and focused gaze. Dark eyes that combine spirituality and military strategy. Dark hair, tied up or loose to the shoulders. She wears rich fabrics in shades of saffron, red, and gold. She sports subtle ornaments, bracelets, and an ornate belt. She may carry a straight sword or a ceremonial spear. Its presence represents cultural resistance, monumental architecture, and structured regional power.

🪶 Iroquois Confederacy (Man) It does not enter as a centralized empire. It comes in as a balance. He is of medium to tall height, with an athletic and agile build. His body is not made for heavy armor, but for moving through forests. His shoulders are firm, his posture upright but relaxed, like someone accustomed to listening before acting. Her face is strong, with defined features. Dark, attentive eyes, always assessing. She doesn't project expansive ambition, but rather inner cohesion. Long, black hair, sometimes braided or partially tied up. May wear feathers or symbolic ornaments representing clan and alliance. She wears worked leathers and natural fabrics in earth tones, decorated with beads and geometric embroidery. She carries a bow or ceremonial axe. Their presence represents counsel, unity, and diplomacy among different nations under one voice. 👑 Kingdom of Kongo (Woman) Kongo walks with regal dignity and vital energy. She is tall, with a strong and well-defined figure. Her posture is confident, her gaze direct, without fear. Her presence is not aggressive, but it is firm. Her face is expressive, with strong features and deep eyes that convey political intelligence. She is not impulsive; she is strategic. Dark hair, braided or adorned with beads and metallic details. She wears fabrics in red, gold, and white, with geometric patterns and light layers that drape gracefully. She wears elaborate necklaces and bracelets, symbols of power and commercial wealth. Its presence represents regional authority, emerging Atlantic trade, and a consolidated monarchical structure.

🌸 Ashikaga Shogunate (Japan) (Female) Ashikaga doesn't enter making a sound. She glides like a shadow, perfectly aware of her place in the room. She is of medium-tall height, with a slender yet firm figure. Her body reflects discipline: straight back, relaxed shoulders, precise movements. Her silhouette is feminine and defined, with curves accentuated beneath layers of silk, yet never displayed; everything about her is governed by control and etiquette. Her strength lies not in exhibitionism, but in restraint. Her face is serene, with delicate features but a sharp gaze. Dark, deep eyes that observe without revealing thought. Her expression rarely changes; emotion filters through only in the smallest details. Long black hair, straight as ink, gathered in elaborate hairstyles with discreet decorative pins. He wears a silk kimono in deep shades—indigo, dark red, or pine green—with subtle patterns of flowers or cranes. Over it, he sometimes wears stylized pieces of samurai armor: lacquered shoulder guards, forearm protectors, and details in red and black. There's no need to raise your voice. Its authority is hierarchical, silent, and ceremonial. It's military tradition wrapped in silk. ☀️ Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu) (Woman) The Inca Empire does not walk: it advances with the stability of a mountain. She is tall and has a commanding presence. Her figure is strong, marked by physical resilience and a connection to the earth. Her curves are broad and firm, a symbol of fertility, abundance, and earthly power, not fragility. Her posture is secure, grounded. She doesn't seem to be moving; it seems as if the ground adjusts to her stride. Her face has defined features, an intense and direct gaze. Dark eyes, as deep as the Andes. There is no doubt in them. Only certainty. Black hair, thick and long, braided with colored ribbons or ornate gold ornaments. She wears finely woven Andean textiles in red, gold, and earth tones. Geometric patterns run across the fabric with perfect symmetry. She wears gold embellishments around her neck.

🕌 Safavid Empire (Man) The Safavid moves with restrained intensity. It is not as expansive as the Ottoman, but its presence is fiery. Of medium-tall height, athletic build. His features are sharp, his gaze penetrating and proud. Dark eyes that shine with ideological conviction. Dark hair, sometimes partially covered by a distinctive red turban. She wears robes in shades of crimson, deep blue, and gold. Her clothing combines Persian refinement with military rigor. His sword is curved, decorated with delicate artistic details. Their presence is fervor, a strong identity, and a Persian cultural renaissance under a defined faith. 🗡️ Mamluk Sultanate (Woman) The Mameluca stands erect with martial discipline. Her bearing is firm, trained, almost military even at rest. He is of medium-tall height, with a strong and agile build. His features are defined, and his gaze is alert and strategic. He does not smile easily. Dark hair, gathered practically under a light veil or structured headpiece. She wears fabrics in shades of sand, dark green, and gold, combined with pieces of light armor on her torso and arms. Her attire blends oriental elegance with constant readiness for battle. He carries a curved sword or ceremonial spear. Their presence represents warrior tradition, control of eastern trade, and strategic defense. 🐉 Ming Empire (Female) The Ming does not need to impose itself through volume. Its authority is ancient and stable. She is tall, with impeccable posture and serene, controlled movements. Her face is balanced, her expression calm yet distant. Her dark eyes observe with ancient patience. Jet-black hair, long and carefully gathered with jade and gold ornaments. She wears imperial robes in deep red, golden yellow, or sky blue, embroidered with dragons and clouds. The fabrics flow with dignity, ample yet perfectly structured. He does not carry a visible weapon; his power does not depend on it. His presence is celestial order, dynastic continuity, and civilization.

🦅 Holy Roman Empire (Man) The Holy Roman Empire does not walk as one… but as if many wills were moving within the same body. He is tall, strongly built but not as compact as Castile. His posture is upright, although at times he seems to carry an invisible weight on his shoulders. It is not weakness: it is fragmented responsibility. His face is stern, with sharp features. Light eyes—gray or pale blue—that observe with almost rigid seriousness. There is no impulsiveness in him, but there is constant tension, as if he were always balancing internal forces. Dark blonde or light brown hair, usually tied up or styled back with discipline. He wears black, gold, and red. His attire is more imperial than national: a dark tunic with gold embroidery, the double-headed eagle displayed on his chest or cape. The fabric is heavy, formal, almost ceremonial even in everyday life. His armor is imposing, decorated with imperial engravings and rigid lines. It is neither light nor particularly agile; it is made to represent supreme authority rather than mobility. Its presence is tradition, inherited legitimacy, and complex structure. It is not a simple kingdom. It is a crown held by many hands.☪️ Ottoman Empire (Man) The Ottoman enters with absolute calm. He has no need to hurry; his power is already evident. He is tall, with a solid and well-proportioned build. His movements are fluid yet firm, like a warrior accustomed to both combat and governance. His dark gaze is deep, calculating, and difficult to read. Black hair, usually gathered under an elaborate turban in white or dark tones with gold details. She wears long robes in emerald green, dark red, or black, embroidered with intricate gold patterns. Rich but not ostentatious fabrics without restraint: everything is in order. He carries a curved sword—a scimitar—elegant and deadly. Its presence represents disciplined expansion, structured military power, and unwavering imperial ambition.

⚜️ Kingdom of France (Female) France walks with natural elegance, as if the ground were made to support her. She is tall, with a slender yet firm figure. Her posture is upright, her chin slightly raised, not out of exaggerated arrogance, but from the habit of knowing she is important. Her face is harmonious, her gaze intense and analytical. Her eyes don't just observe: they judge. Her long hair, light brown or dark blonde, falls in carefully styled waves or is styled with discreet adornments. She wears a deep blue dress with gold fleur-de-lis embroidery. The fabric is heavy, refined, and structured. The cape is long and flowing. In armor, it maintains elegance: stylized plates with fine engravings, nothing crude. Their presence represents prestige, continental ambition, and dynastic pride. 🦁 Kingdom of England (Male) England moves with restrained calm. It doesn't seek the center, but neither does it stray. It is solidly built, resilient, with a firm stance and measured movements. Angular face, cold and thoughtful gaze. Her light eyes always seem to be calculating. Light brown or dark blonde hair, practical, without unnecessary adornments. He wears deep red and white, with the heraldic lion embroidered on it. A shorter, more functional cape. His armor is sober, strong, made to withstand rather than to impress. Their presence represents patience, strategy, and island resilience.

👑 Crown of Castile (Male) Height: Tall, imposing. Build: Strong, broad shoulders, upright and dominant posture. Face: Strong features, firm jaw, intense and calculating gaze. Dark, almost stern eyes. Hair: Dark brown, shoulder-length or pulled back. Presence: Natural authority. When he enters a space, the air seems to become ordered. Outfit: Dark doublet (black or deep red) with gold embroidery. Long crimson cape with the heraldic lion embroidered in gold thread. tall black leather boots. Fine leather gloves. Ceremonial longsword with golden hilt. Cross hanging from the neck or embroidered on the chest. ⚜️ Crown of Aragon (Man) Height: Similar to Castile, but more stylized. Constitution: Athletic, less massive but equally firm. Face: More delicate, astute gaze, more diplomatic than severe expression. Eyes: Brown or amber. Hair: Dark, slightly wavy, sometimes partially tied up. Presence: Elegant, controlled. Radiates strategic intelligence rather than direct imposition. Outfit: Dark blue or maroon tunic or doublet with yellow and red details. Lighter layer, with the four red bars on a gold background. Riding boots, more practical. Brown leather gloves. Mediterranean curved sword or fine rapier. Royal seal ring for pacts. In formal contexts: Armor less heavy than that of Castile. Engraved maritime details (waves, galleys). A more ornate, stylized crown.⚓ Kingdom of Portugal Portugal doesn't make a splash. Enter with purpose. He is of medium-tall height, more slender than Castile and less robust than Aragon. His body doesn't seem built for endless sieges, but rather to withstand storms. There is a contained tension in his posture, as if even on dry land his balance were adjusting to the ebb and flow of the sea. His face is thin, sharpened by the Atlantic wind. It is neither stern nor warm. His eyes—light or dark, depending on the light—do not dwell on the immediate.

Where once there was a closed sky, depth appeared. The invisible boundaries that separated domains began to tighten, as if they knew they would soon be tested. Isolation was no longer safe. Some gardens began to grow ambitiously, extending paths into that new expanse. Others felt an internal imbalance, as if their roots were being forced to adapt to a distant pressure. And then something irreversible happened: The Bastion ceased to be a collection of suspended continents. It became a network. An invisible axis ran through the entire structure, connecting opposite ends. It belonged to no one, yet it affected everyone. From that moment on, no region could be considered completely independent of the others. The concept of a closed world died there. Previously, each block of the Bastion represented a relatively contained cultural sphere. Afterward, any movement at one end could trigger vibrations at the other. Trade, migration, war, disease, faith—everything began to cross oceans, not only on land but also in the spiritual realm. The central square of the Bastion recorded the change as a new luminous inscription: a fiery line uniting two previously unconnected masses. It wasn't an alliance. It wasn't a conflict. It was constant contact. For the Countryhumans, this meant the end of structural innocence. They could no longer exist as purely regional entities. From that moment on, its power could be influenced by events occurring thousands of kilometers away. Expansion ceased to be territorial and became systemic. Decisions no longer resonated only in its garden, but throughout entire corridors of the Bastion. Some felt growth. Others felt threatened. Everyone felt that the balance had shifted. And most importantly: The Bastion never shrank again. From the moment the human world accepted that it was greater than imagined, spiritual strength.

When the human world expanded, the Bastion neither exploded nor trembled. It rearranged itself. Until that moment, the floating fortress was organized like a mosaic of certainties. The spiritual masses were distributed according to what humanity knew. Not because the unknown didn't exist… but because it hadn't yet been recognized as part of the “world.” The ocean was a boundary. A conceptual border. And when that edge ceased to be one, the Bastion had to accept that the world was bigger than its shape reflected. New land didn't suddenly appear. First, there was a void. An expanding space, as if the ground itself were stretching to accommodate something that had always been there, but now demanded presence. The outer walls did not move; the inner one did. Corridors that once ended in balconies above the clouds began to slowly extend. Terraces grew into nothingness, building themselves as they advanced, as if an invisible hand were drawing new boundaries. The map engraved in the central plaza of the Bastion was silently rewritten: lines that once marked the end of the world now curved and continued. The spiritual ocean changed its nature. It was no longer a separation. It was a transit point. A current began to flow from one end of the Bastion to the other. Not a visible bridge, but a constant tension connecting regions that had never before touched. The air itself seemed to traverse distances that had previously remained motionless. And with that flow, the internal balance was altered. The spheres of influence began to extend beyond their original boundaries. Some domains stretched like long shadows across distant territories. The Bastion responded by creating layers: overlapping regions where two influences vibrated simultaneously. It wasn't a conquest yet. It was interpenetration. In personal gardens, the change was more subtle. At first, only the horizon moved. Where there was once a closed sky, depth appeared.

🏰 The Bastion — Year of the Sun 1492 The Bastion does not float. Breathe. Suspended above an ocean of golden clouds that move like celestial tides, the fortress rises immense, impossible to encompass with the eye. It belongs neither to heaven nor to earth. It is neither in Europe nor in Anáhuac. It is at the precise point where beliefs take shape. Its walls are ancient, made of stone that does not wear away. There is no industrial iron or modern glass. There is marble polished by centuries of faith. There is obsidian that reflects nonexistent constellations. There is gold that does not symbolize wealth… but conviction. The towers are not arranged geographically, but according to spiritual influence. Where faith is strong, the architecture is imposing. Where identity is clear, the structure is firm. And in 1492… the Bastion is restless. 🌫️ The air The air of the Bastion is not wind, it is memory. Each breeze carries echoes of different languages, religious chants, war cries, oaths, and promises. The voices don't blend; they coexist. They overlap like layers of history. In the western part of the city, the cathedrals vibrate gently. Invisible bells ring even though no one touches them. In another region, further south on the celestial map, the air is warm. It smells of copal. Of flowers. Of ritual blood offered to the sun. There is no contact between them. Still.