I was hoping some veterans of the game can tell me how they've composed PC groups consisting of characters from different nations.  Reading through the 1e materials, it's clear how much emphasis the authors place on a character's homeland.  And unless some/all of the PCs belong to the same secret society, it seems like it could be tricky having PCs of, say, 3 nations working together.  I'm looking for tips on to build relationships among PCs, whether they exist prior to the game's start or if the first session is their meeting.

Thank you!