"Careful now son, be gentle with her."
"I know mom."
After spending a couple of days under observation to ensure that she was healthy and wouldn't turn into a gargantuan beast without warning, Gwyndlyn, the newest addition to the Golden-Feather family, was taken to meet her brother. Gawain was quite surprised, both by the fact that he now had a sister and by the fact that his sister was a dragon, but he seemed more enthused than concerned.
Your family stands together in your personal bedchambers, your wife Gabriella having just passed the sleeping Gwyndlyn to Gawain to hold. You can tell by the awed look on his face as he stares at her gently snoozing form that he will be a good brother, one that will look after his sibling regardless of their differences in species.
It's never a dull moment for you. Raising a dragon, overseeing the construction of Archimedes' latest contraption, going over reports on these "Yaks" on your Western Border, and that's just your afternoon schedule! Still, as you pull all the members of your family into a warm embrace, you know that all of your work is worth it to ensure that your children will see a better future.
Martial: Gustav Kingfeather is still a wild Griffon, never caught dead without his flask, though the increased workload brought about by the unification means he's had to curb his wilder tendencies in the interest of keeping up with his subordinates. Still, he's more than up for the job of Imperial Martial, especially with Gabriella around to provide her own military experience when needed. (Two Actions Per Turn)
[ ] The Imperial Army: You've got a lot more territory to guard now, and a larger treasury to dip into. It might be a good idea to take a page out of Brochard's book and expand your army so that it's worthy of the moniker "Imperial". Cost: 2000. Time: One Year. Reward: Warriors recruited, Army Expanded.
[ ] Big Sticks: The mobile Ballistae proved instrumental in your victory at the Battle of Wingbardy. Clearly they are a valuable battlefield asset. Build a few more. Cost: 400. Time: One Year. Reward: +10 mobile Ballistae added to army.
[ ] The West Wall-Watchtowers: You have neighbors to your West. Large, strong, and surprisingly fast neighbors that are used to living off the land and crossing great distances in a relatively short period of time. They don't seem hostile at the moment, but it couldn't hurt to take precautions. The Black Cliffs of Aquileia serve as a natural barrier, but one that could be crossed by the Yaks if they really wanted to. It only makes sense to fortify this barrier and make it more difficult for any Yak raiders or warbands to cross into your core territory. You can start with some watchtowers. These small posts won't be able to prevent any sizable force from crossing the border, but their vigil will prevent a surprise attack and give you some warning in the event of a Yak mountain crossing. Cost: 1000. Time: Two Years. Reward: Western Border Watchtowers built, removes possibility of Yak surprise attacks, may discourage Yak raids into core territory.
[ ] Expeditious Exploration: You have no real idea what lies beyond your borders. Discord altered the geography of the planet itself, and most records from before his arrival and reign of terror were lost amidst the madness of his reign. You know the world is bigger than your Empire though, and you're almost certain that other races, tribes and kingdoms managed to survive the era of chaos. Such potential neighbors could be allies and trade partners...or a threat to you and your people. Either way, it's better if you find them before they find you. Cost: 200. Time: Variable. Reward: Info on lands beyond your borders.
—[ ] South: The Peregrine Mountains form a natural border to your South, preventing easy travel for Dogs and Griffons alike. Pre-Discord records indicate that the climate is warmer the further south one goes. You suppose there is only one way to find out for sure.
—[ ] East: To the East, the open ocean beckons. Few Griffons have ever had cause to sail beyond sight of the shore, and as a result the sea is regarded as a mysterious place filled with equal promises of danger and unclaimed treasures. You have the Caravels, now it's time to put them to good use.
Diplomacy: Elva Von Cleef remains your head diplomat, despite her advancing age. With contact finally having been made with people beyond your borders, she's back to work once again, managing diplomats, linguists, and a growing number of merchants seeking to market their wares to foreign cultures. (One Action Per Turn)
[ ] Getting to Know the Neighbors, Yak Edition: You know the Yaks are a nomadic culture divided into numerous clans, but that's about it. How many clans, their relationship with each other, their territory, their leaders, all that is still largely unknown. Send a couple of Griffons back over the border and see if you can't find out more about these Burly Nomads. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Cost: 100. Reward: Information on Yak Political Landscaie
[ ] My Hovercraft is Full of Eels, Yak Edition: Your scouts, specifically the diplomats among them, managed to communicate with the Yaks through the use of pictographs, body language, and the handful of Yakyakistani words and phrases they managed to pick up. But if you're going to have any kind of meaningful diplomatic relationship you'll need to know how to actually speak their language. Gather a few interpreters and linguists, give them some gold and simple trade goods, and send them off to learn from the natives. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Diplomats learn Yakyakistani language, removes chance of mistranslation mishaps. Chance of Success: 80%.
[ ] Western Trade Caravans: Establishing trade with Nomads is a difficult prospect. Even more so with the Yaks since you aren't even sure if they have any goods worth trading for in the first place. Elva proposes sending a few caravans of enterprising Merchants out into the Steepes to show off their wares and gauge interest. The Yaks will get a look at the goods we have to offer, and hopefully we'll get a look at whatever they consider valuable enough to barter with. Of course, these caravans will require guards to protect them, and translators to help them strike deals with any potential customers. Cost: 400. Time: One Year. Reward: Information on Yak Markets and Trade Goods, Potential for Trade Income. Chance of Success: 70%.
Stewardship: Claus Rosewing remains as your Steward, though most know this is likely a temporary arrangement. Claus has served you admirably since your rise to the throne of Griffonia, but he's not really equipped to handle the finances and infrastructure of an entire Empire. He intends to stay on for as long as you need him, but he's made it clear you'd probably be better off with someone else in his position. (One Action per Turn)
[ ] New Management: Rosewing has been asking for a replacement. The Lady Bronzeclaw seems agreeable to taking his position. Fill out the necessary paperwork, replace any outgoing staff, arrange a generous severance package, and have Frida throw Claus a retirement party. After all his hard work on your behalf, it's the least you can do for him. Cost: 50. Time: One Year. Reward: Frida Bronzeclaw becomes Imperial Steward, +1 Stewardship Action per Turn
[ ] I'm a Lumberjack and I'm OK: Were it not for the fact that they were infested with monsters, the forests of your kingdom would provide a nearly inexhaustible supply of lumber. That's not to say that your people don't cut down trees, it's just that they've never really done it on a large scale for fear of angering the things living in the woods. If your kingdom is going to grow and prosper, you'll need that timber. Gather some soldiers and have them assist with the construction of water-powered sawmills and woodcutting camps. Cost: 150. Time: One Year. Reward: Logging income. Chance of Success: 70%
[ ] Blast Mining: Archimedes' fire powder, while little more than a noise maker in small amounts, is a potent explosive in large doses. A few miners have expressed interest in using it to blast their way through solid rock that can't be easily excavated. It's risky, but the rewards make it worth consideration. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Increased Mining income. Chance of Success: 70%
[ ] Imperial Brew: This is something that could be...controversial. Archimedes' shroomshine has been exceedingly popular with the Imperial Citizenry. However, given it's relatively recent invention, all the people brewing it are doing so on a small scale. Someone in Rosewing's Department raised the idea that, instead of having a bunch of independent brewers making a bunch of wildly disparate concoctions in their basements, the government could contract them and arrange the sale and distribution of the alcohol itself, ensuring consistent quality and netting a tidy profit in the process. Of course, some people might not approve of the government selling alcohol, or taking control of the market in such a fashion. Cost: 400. Time: 1 Year. Reward: Government Controlled Breweries. Gain Alcohol Sales Income. May raise Peasant Opinion. May lower Peasant Opinion. 50% chance of either outcome.
[ ] Settling the Western Fromtier: While the Western Steepes are largely inhospitable and unsuitable for permanent settlement, a significant portion of the land beyond the Black Cliffs is quite similar to your core territory. The Yaks don't appear to have any claims on these stretches of forest, and they may hold resources that could add to the economy. Even if they don't, it would be nice to have some settlements outside of your heartland to make interaction with the Yaks easier, or as a buffer should they prove hostile. Subsidize the construction of a few towns and encourage some of your people to establish homesteads on the unsettled land. Cost: 1000. Time: Two Years. Reward: New Western Settlements Established, Additional Income.
[ ] Steam Pumped Land Drainage: Due to the mountainous and heavily forested nature of the Griffonlands, arable land is often at a premium. If one wishes to establish a farm, one must clear the land of trees (and the beasts that live among them), or risk trying to farm on rocks. There are a handful of places in the Empire that would be prime farmland were they not flooded or otherwise too wet to plant crops on. Ordinarily these lands would be impossible to drain, but Archimedes' new Steam Pump offers a new potential option for land drainage. It'll be expensive and time consuming, but the extra agricultural output just might be worth it. Cost: 500. Time: Two Years. Reward: Water-logged areas cleared, additional farming income.
Learning: Archimedes now has to juggle his duties as the Imperial Science Advisor with his task of tutoring and mentoring your son. He can hardly complain, as he volunteered for the latter task completely unsolicited, claiming that it was his responsibility to ensure Gawain received an "exhaustive education fit for a future Emperor". You're not sure how he does it all. You suspect stimulants are involved. (Two Actions per Turn)
[ ] Explosive Siege Weapons: The success of his ballistae and his access to supplies of fire powder has given Archimedes some ideas. The concept is simple, if unorthodox: a metal tube, sealed off at one end, filled with an amount of fire powder that, when ignited, propels a metal or stone ball out the opening at great speed. It…honestly sounds kind of dangerous, but Archimedes is the expert on this sort of thing. Cost: 400. Time: Two Years. Reward: New Siege Weapon. Chance of Success: 60%
[ ] Burning Shrooms: While working on turning mushrooms into alcohol, Archimedes realized that, if distilled a certain way, rather than an intoxicating beverage, the mushrooms produced a highly flammable liquid that caused health complications and death if ingested. At the time, he considered it a failed batch. Now, he thinks it might form the basis of a family of new weapons. Naturally, he'll need funding to run tests and establish a distillery dedicated to the production of this new substance. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Flame Weapons? Chance of Success: 60%
[ ] Quarantine Standards: You now know how the Feral Disease that affects the Diamond Dogs spreads, and by association, how to prevent it from spreading should an outbreak occur. Have Archimedes put together official, detailed contingency plans for local government and military units, and distribute them throughout the Empire. Should the worst come to pass, these plans should assist in the containment of any disease outbreaks. Cost: 100. Time: 1 Year. Reward: Quarantine Plans, Bonus to Disease Outbreak Rolls.
[ ] Office of Disease Control: All his work on the Feral Disease has made Archimedes realize just how dangerous diseases can be to the Empire as a whole, and not just diseases that only affect Diamond Dogs. Talon-Rot, Feather-Flu, Bird-Pox, these are all sicknesses that have ravaged segments of your population in the past. Thus far you've managed to avoid a serious outbreak, but it's only a matter of time until some new strain appears, especially with your people going beyond your borders and mixing with new peoples who are likely to have their own diseases. Archimedes proposes creating a permanent government office tasked with the monitoring, containment, and treatment of communicable diseases. It'll be expensive, but the public's health is too valuable to risk. Cost: 500. Time: One Year. Reward: Office of Disease Control established, Bonus to Disease Outbreak Rolls.
Intrigue: As the Imperial Spymaster, Ravenburg now has access to more resources, but he also has greater responsibilities, and must gather and analyze information on a much larger scale. Despite the added workload, he seems unperturbed, and maintains his appearance and attitude of a stoic professional. (One Action per Turn)
[ ] Foreign Intelligence: Spying on fellow Griffons was one thing. Spying on other races is something else entirely. You can't just send a Griffon into potentially hostile territory where they'll stick out like a sore thumb amongst the locals. You'll have to get Ravenburg to come up with alternative methods of intelligence gathering for this sort of thing. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: New Intrigue Options, Ability to Spy on Non-Griffons
Personal: You refuse to let your duties as Emperor take up every moment of your day. (Two Actions Per Turn)
[ ] Royal Hobbies: Your son is beginning to reach the age where simple "playing" isn't enough to keep his attention. He needs a hobby. You could wait for him to develop his own interests, but there's no reason you can't try to introduce him to some activities that could expand his horizons a bit. Who knows, he might even develop some skills that could aid him in ruling. Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Choice of activities for Gawain, chance for him to develop new traits and increase stats.
[ ] Getting Swole: One of the numerous reasons you refused to fight Brochard was that he was so much stronger than you. A blade and a suit of armor mitigated that advantage a great deal, but it didn't remove it completely. You trained with your wife not long ago, and that training showed results, but the results weren't quite as big an improvement as you'd hoped. If you're going to be an Emperor worthy of the title, you need to be strong. Have Gabriella put you through an even more grueling fitness regimen and see if you can't improve your physique a bit more. Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Increased martial stat, chance to upgrade Toned Trait, chance to improve Gabriella's opinion of you. Chance of Success: 55%
[ ] A Small Blade: The world is a dangerous place, especially for Griffons in positions of power. Your son is one such individual. In this world, one of the greatest gifts you can bestow upon someone is something they can defend themselves with. Your son is young, but you could commission him a blade for when he is a bit older. Not just any hunk of steel, but a dagger worthy of a Prince. Cost: 50. Time: One Year. Reward: Master-Crafted Dagger for Gawain.
[ ] The Royal Dragon: Gwyndlyn, the young Dragoness you've more or less adopted, has been unusually docile. Despite being a fire-breathing reptile, she has acted almost exactly like a Griffon of similar age and development. You, your wife, and the castle staff entrusted to help you care for her have been very careful about not overfeeding her or letting her enter the infamous "greed growth" that the ancient records speak of. Still, while you've made the decision to adopt and care for her, there are many things you have not yet decided. How will you raise her? Will she be in line for the Throne? These are only some of the decisions you need to make about the newest addition to your family. Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Plans made for Gwyndlyn's Future.
