Nippon & Wrang (Greyhawk)

Long ago, in the earliest days of human civilization, the Suel Empire arose as the first great power of the world. With ambitions of conquest and glory, the Suel extended their reach across the seas, subjugating the rich and land that is today Zindia, whose culture and resources fueled their empire. Emboldened by their victories, the Suel next turned their sights to Nippon, back then called Ana-Keri, an island nation steeped in mystery and cloaked in divine protection.

As the Suel navy approached Ana-Keri, a catastrophic storm—believed to be a divine wind sent by the gods—destroyed their fleet. This "kamikaze" ended the Suel invasion and marked Nippon as a sacred land untouched by foreign dominion. Afterward, Nippon was enveloped by an impenetrable wall of mist, isolating the island for millennia. During this time, its people and culture evolved in seclusion, much like Japan during the Tokugawa period in our world. Anthropomorphic animal species, including the kitsune, tengu, and inukin, formed a significant part of Nippon’s population and contributed to its highly structured and ritualistic society.

Before the Suel invasion, Nippon and Wrang, a nearby land across the sea to the West of Nippon, shared closely related cultures. Both were home to anthropomorphic animals, collectively referred to as "anthropics," and their societies were deeply rooted in the tradition of spirits typical in cultures with Sylvan influences. However, Wrang’s fate diverged when the Suel successfully occupied it after failing to conquer Nippon. The occupation of Wrang broke this unified Nippon-Wrang culture, scattering the people pf Wrang into small, independent communities. Over generations, Wrang became a land of decentralized resistance fighters and martial artists, fiercely defending their autonomy against foreign rulers. There was always an independent kingdom somewhere in Wrang.

When the mists surrounding Nippon finally dissipated, both Nippon and Wrang had emerged as independent empires with distinctly different martial cultures. Nippon, shaped by centuries of isolation, developed a rigid hierarchical society with a strong emphasis on order and tradition. In contrast, Wrang’s fragmented and independent spirit thrived in a culture of decentralized warrior clans and resistance groups unified by a belief in spirits.

Nippon, seeing itself as the inheritor of Sylvan traditions and as the dominant power in the region, sought to unify with Wrang, under its rule. However, Wrang’s people resisted the occupation in the same way they had once resisted the Suel. The mountainous terrain of Wrang became the backdrop for countless acts of rebellion, as diverse resistance groups fought for independence. Despite Nippon’s initial successes, the war has turned against them, with Wrang slowly regaining its freedom. Wrang remains balkanized, with no single central authority, but its enduring spirit of independence inspires all who resist tyranny.