Who Needs Harmony?: An MLP Empire Quest
- Thread starter Questor
- Start date
YES! I knew we not in a "lets keep the shiny and doom us all!" scenario!
ok, half jokes aside. Personally, yes I think we won, way more than Sombra if it comes to numbers. My reasoning to it is mostly speculative, but its based on what I understand from his profile.
Sombra is a being devoid of empathy, he never cared for his minions only to the point he derives power from them. While that is lessened by his tactical thinking in long term plans, he is a "leader"(only using this word in the loose sense he commands his units, not that he has any leadership at all) that commits and, because of his ego, likes to showcase his power. He is blind in his own pride and too sure in his power to not commit too many forces (of course, there is also the old adage that, the easier you curbstomp your enemies, the less forces you lose overall. Even if you do not use fighting retreat and cycling tactics, in a war, the bigger side both inflicts morale damage by its own existance, which has to be countered by, say, a FRIGGING BADDASS QUEEN OF WAR). Anyways, rambling.
In short, I woudn't be surprised at all if Sombra used too many "normal" units and "elite" units to this, his kingom IS a winterzone and still got us outnumbered. And had basically total losses. While I don't know the sheer size of the population at his beck and call, elite units have a problem. They are by their own nature, hard to replace.
If you want a simple example, if Twilight Sparkle falls sick for a week and you NEED magic research done, who else will pick up the pace? Your best bets here in a canon story would be... some academics at canterlot university, Trixie Lulamoon and Starlight Glimmer. The more you invest in a single resource, which makes it more likely to get specialized stuff done (and survive the battlefield wounded, but alive to fight another day) the more critical is the loss if it fails.
Those abominations? I woudn't be surprised if they cost a great deal of accumulated time and resources in the making, and we broke the horn of Sombra itself. Those losses are way heavier for him than for us.
Thats on the... sane logic. We completely pissed off Pony Sauron and cut off the pony equivalent of his magic arm. He WILL be coming to our lands again, as soon as he can, and this time, he want us to suffer until we prefer Cocytus than to live.
Thats not me discouraging or trying to sow despair. Thats me saying we should
a) ramp up our Intrigue options both internally and externally;
b) see if there is a chance we can get in contact with, if not magical means, magical DETECTION means. Be they a species or some magically sensitive mineral.
c) recover while keeping our guards up.
@Star : while I understand the point you made on we ramping up for counter attack, we DID got toomuch losses, we would be going against foreign territory where HE can use ambush tactics against us and where he can pick the best terrain to fight us. After losing half our forces and without supplies to have a extended invasion force, even we having flying units as our backbone, we won't be able to survive if Sombra simply decides to stall and ramp up the winter on his territory. We would be broken down by "Winter General". At least is what I think.
A grand wall would be pointless.
NoMoreScarecrow
[Unverified Vanir]
- Location
- South Africa Time Zone
Blasphemy! Building a wall on top of a mountain range is never a bad idea! That way we can repell invasions while we repell invasions!
OK, I've recently became obsessed with triades and I need three Grands. What would you suggest, instead of DA WALL?
Well, except for an obvious mountain pass fortress...
- Location
- Space
I didn't say to charge in right away, i said to rebuild our forces and then attack because we are now guaranteed to rebuild before him instead of waiting for him to regain his powers and strike again.
As for winter, we are people that live in cold areas and his magic is now weakened so it's logical to assume that his magical defenses are weakened as well.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
All of these casualties could have been avoided if we just retreated to the City and replenished our supplies. But no, some of us just want to finish this as quick as possible. The Yaks are pretty much not gonna be able to fight with us again due to their casualties, and if they do fight again, it would mean the end of them. Our forces are gutted like fish, which could have been different if we just chose to retreat.
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Omake: The Greatest Battle Never Sung (Too Funny to not be Canon)
@Questor
You are the King of Griffonia, Garrick Golden-Feather, and you are... bedridden. And mostly resting. Honestly, you got what? Two visits from royal related duties in the last two days since you got back from the battlefield? Grent, your physician deserves a medal. The sheer determination towards his patients is commendable he has been a wall between your duties to the Kingdom and, in his words, your duty to recover are amazing. And you better recover soon, because...
Yup, she came back again. Your Queen, Gabriella Golden-Feather, decided to stalk your bed today. She comes in her form fitting, social dress, custom fitted to show her imposing feature , her battle toned body and like last time, she isnt wearing the Griffonia emblem on her neck, allowing a good part of her front body exposed (you going to strangle Ravenburg for ever managing to make she consider seduction a battlefield).
Of course, she is very respectful, she never once touched your body or said any less than polite, proper words, even when you two were alone. She comes everyday, around the time you have your bandages changed, and stays prone, like a marble statue, looking at you as she slowly, slowly, imprints on her eyes the concussions and dislodged wing you got by shielding her with your own body, in the end of the charge you, herself and the Konrad commited to fight the Emperor of Shadows.
She stays as a perfectly still, glorious statue of a well fitted body, in all glorious curved lines, glorious toned body and those gl... I mean, patient eyes. Those.. eyes... the eyes she showed you everyday you managed to actually impress her in your spars that led to you... extending the Royal Line.
And you know, oh dammit she made the nurse tell you, with her on the same room, prone and ready to pounce, that after you rest, your physician deemed you need one additional week AFTER you recover enough so its sure you are back to form. The nurse even winked at you for her!
AND SHE IS STILL WATCHING.
...
A medal and a title of nobility.
PS : the title refers to the battle between Gabriella and the physician in order to allow the King to recover. Your dirty minded people.
PPS: Yes, the PS is part of the omake.
Any omake bonuses if applicable for this post I would like to go to
Either a roll for increasing opinion of Gabriella or Orichalcum research, thank you
~~~~~the greatest battle never sung~~~~
You are the King of Griffonia, Garrick Golden-Feather, and you are... bedridden. And mostly resting. Honestly, you got what? Two visits from royal related duties in the last two days since you got back from the battlefield? Grent, your physician deserves a medal. The sheer determination towards his patients is commendable he has been a wall between your duties to the Kingdom and, in his words, your duty to recover are amazing. And you better recover soon, because...
Yup, she came back again. Your Queen, Gabriella Golden-Feather, decided to stalk your bed today. She comes in her form fitting, social dress, custom fitted to show her imposing feature , her battle toned body and like last time, she isnt wearing the Griffonia emblem on her neck, allowing a good part of her front body exposed (you going to strangle Ravenburg for ever managing to make she consider seduction a battlefield).
Of course, she is very respectful, she never once touched your body or said any less than polite, proper words, even when you two were alone. She comes everyday, around the time you have your bandages changed, and stays prone, like a marble statue, looking at you as she slowly, slowly, imprints on her eyes the concussions and dislodged wing you got by shielding her with your own body, in the end of the charge you, herself and the Konrad commited to fight the Emperor of Shadows.
She stays as a perfectly still, glorious statue of a well fitted body, in all glorious curved lines, glorious toned body and those gl... I mean, patient eyes. Those.. eyes... the eyes she showed you everyday you managed to actually impress her in your spars that led to you... extending the Royal Line.
And you know, oh dammit she made the nurse tell you, with her on the same room, prone and ready to pounce, that after you rest, your physician deemed you need one additional week AFTER you recover enough so its sure you are back to form. The nurse even winked at you for her!
AND SHE IS STILL WATCHING.
...
A medal and a title of nobility.
PS : the title refers to the battle between Gabriella and the physician in order to allow the King to recover. Your dirty minded people.
PPS: Yes, the PS is part of the omake.
Any omake bonuses if applicable for this post I would like to go to
Either a roll for increasing opinion of Gabriella or Orichalcum research, thank you
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If we had done this by retreating to the town, the avalance would've been triggered prior to the enemy reaching the danger zone in order to buy time for the evacuation. Instead of the survivors, we would be dealing with the full force of the enemy elites.
Without Sombra going through Rage YOLO that ultimately got himself banished and weakened, he would've likely retreated before getting his horn hacked off, or at least be better protected while the shadow hands scythed over the walls..
- Location
- Space
And we wouldn't had destroyed Sombras army and cut his horn of.
We achieved total victory here, all of his army destroyed and Sombras magic capabilities crippled, wich will make it even harder for him to rebuild giving us more time.
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- Location
- Somewhere
Link to the last time I did this.
Archival purposes: "The Winter War Part 5 (posted by QM on Sunday, February 17, 2019)"
OR
The Front Page as it appeared to me on Monday, February 18, 2019.
Character Sheet (last edited by QM on Sunday, February 17, 2019)
- Changed
Informational: State of the Nation (last edited by QM on Thursday, February 7, 2019)
- Not Changed
Informational: Diplomatic Relations/Persons of Interest (last edited by QM on Tuesday, January 22, 2019)
- Not Changed
Archival purposes: "The Winter War Part 5 (posted by QM on Sunday, February 17, 2019)"
OR
The Front Page as it appeared to me on Monday, February 18, 2019.
Character Sheet (last edited by QM on Sunday, February 17, 2019)
- Changed
Name: Garrick Golden-Feather
Age: 39
Titles: Emperor of Gryphus, King of Griffonia, Inheritor of the Imperial House of Gryphus, The Unifier, Great Winged Alpha
Description: At first glance, you seem like a pretty average example of the Griffon race. Head of an eagle, body of a winged lion, standing perhaps a hair taller than most other quadrupedal species. It's not until one looks closer that they see the things that distinguish you from a crowd. An unmistakably masculine build, a strong, prominent beak, feathers and fur that seem to be perpetually well-groomed, and a pair of piercing amber eyes hiding a fierce intelligence. But you're no peacock, only known for your good looks; your talons are razor sharp, and though you are not as strong as your wife, you are still an apex predator, and your musculature reflects that. Your wife's workout regimen has also improved your physique, cords of taut muscle now visible across your body.
Martial: 9+2+1+1=13
Diplomacy: 14+2+2=18
Stewardship: 13+2=15
Learning: 16+2=18
Intrigue: 11+2=13
- Trait-Attractive: You are a very handsome fellow. +2 Diplomacy, better spousal relationship
- Trait-Genius: Smart doesn't even begin to describe you. +2 all skills
- Trait-Toned: Working out with your wife has done good things for your body. +1 Martial
Inventory:
- Blade of the King: an ornate and deadly sword you had forged for yourself after being crowned King of Griffonia. +1 Martial
- Royal Armor: Serving to protect you as well as display your royal status to onlookers, this armor is both durable and aesthetically pleasing.
Wife: Gabriella Golden-Feather
Opinion of You: 8.5/10
Age: 37
Martial: 15+1+2=18
Diplomacy: 11+1=12
Stewardship: 8+1=9
Learning: 13+1=14
Intrigue: 10+1=11
Trait: Strong - Born stronger than most. (+2 Martial)
Trait: Experienced - Has been a mercenary for several years, ranging across the lands of the former Empire. Knows much about the world. (+1 All Stats)
Son: Gawain Golden-Feather
Age: 7
Status: Child-No Stats
Status: Designated Heir. Will become player character in event of Parent's Deaths.
Trait: Strong-Born stronger than most. (+2 Martial)
Trait: Attractive-A cute kid, and eventually a handsome fellow. (+2 Diplomacy, better spousal relationship)
Trait: Genius-Smart doesn't begin to describe him. (+2 All Stats)
Trait: Game Master-Years of playing games of strategy and wits with members of the Imperial Court has honed his sense of strategy and taught him how to read others. (+1 Martial, +2 Diplomacy)
(Adopted) Daughter: Gwyndlyn Golden-Feather
Age: 3
Status: Infant-No Stats
Status-Designated Regent: In the event that no heir is capable of taking the throne, or in the event the rightful ruler is otherwise unavailable, she will take control of the kingdom until the situation can be resolved.
Trait: Dragon-A fire breathing reptile. (+4 Martial)
Informational: State of the Nation (last edited by QM on Thursday, February 7, 2019)
- Not Changed
Informational: Diplomatic Relations/Persons of Interest (last edited by QM on Tuesday, January 22, 2019)
- Not Changed
- Location
- Germany
How about a suit of Oricalcum Armour and upgraded Training equipment for his order (or maybe a Retirement-fond for knights not fit for duty anymore?)
- Location
- Maryland
I'll think of something. You've definitely earned a cultural bonus after this fiasco.
The small number that weren't cut down by your soldiers died when Sombra exploded. As far as you can tell, they had some kind of magical kill-switch in their armor.
So no, there are no crystal ponies for you to interrogate/integrate.
ChaosTheVoid
Beyond the Outer Gates
Well, we have almost literally become Gondor, with the Yaks standing in as the Rohirrim.
Hopefully, the Black Gates and Minas Ithils we're about to build in the mountain passes will be much more successful.
Hopefully, the Black Gates and Minas Ithils we're about to build in the mountain passes will be much more successful.
- Location
- Maryland
You had an option to fortify your Western Border when the only threat were some disunited tribes, you bet your ass you'll have a chance to build a wall to keep the land of nightmares at bay.
- Location
- Maryland
+10 to a roll! Happy to see an Omake about our "main characters"!
ChaosTheVoid
Beyond the Outer Gates
I hope we will eventually get a martial action to pacify hostile places in our nation. Push the dark things back even further from our settled areas. I guess logging action is considered something close to that. Could be used to blood green recruits.
At least having clearly defined enemy allows us to justify military build up and advancement and something to unite the people.
At least having clearly defined enemy allows us to justify military build up and advancement and something to unite the people.
- Location
- Back in Cali
We always had a reason to build up our people. We are a martial people after all even before Discord. We have United our people way before Sombra ever showed up. It was why the Unification action went so well.
As for everyone saying we should invade Sombra's Empire we can't. Not even after we recover because that would not be enough to actually take the fight to him. We need to recover our full military, then we need to expand it, upgrade our weapons and armor with either better steel from the blast furnace or the possible magical metal we found. We also need to to improve both our cannons and our flamethrowers because the current models are too expensive. If we wanted to fight in a foreign Empire we will also need a larger population which means we need to take both the swamp draining action for farmlands and the western frontier to boost our population. All of this will take time and while we can probably do it before Sombra is ready to attack us again he will have built enough to make an invasion costly for us.
As for everyone saying we should invade Sombra's Empire we can't. Not even after we recover because that would not be enough to actually take the fight to him. We need to recover our full military, then we need to expand it, upgrade our weapons and armor with either better steel from the blast furnace or the possible magical metal we found. We also need to to improve both our cannons and our flamethrowers because the current models are too expensive. If we wanted to fight in a foreign Empire we will also need a larger population which means we need to take both the swamp draining action for farmlands and the western frontier to boost our population. All of this will take time and while we can probably do it before Sombra is ready to attack us again he will have built enough to make an invasion costly for us.
- Location
- Italy
i think realistically we can't attack before 3 years at the earliest, 2 IF and ONLY IF our spies make it clear it's the best moment.
After all we can't use the militia, we MIGHT not be able to use the Yaks and we also need to replenish our troops and build more artillery.
don't hold back! worst case you get a +5 for effort
It's all good practice.
He was also using some pretty advanced spells when the horn was cut. Makes sense he lost control of his magic.
eh, i don't know. IT MIGHT have gone better, but the avalanche did kill enough of them that we got the number advantage in elites vs elites, so about 12.000 out of 15.000. Tha's a lot, and I'm honestly not sure walls, rest and ammunitions would have been worth 12.000 elites less to fight.
I expected us to take out about half of them with it at most and probably less than that, not 80%!
And the Yaks lost a lot of warriors, but they COULD reasonably continue to fight. Especially if we promised support for their people in case the worst happens, be it in food or soldiers to defend them.
Of course if we had gone with the city we would have had different rolls for different things, so it's impossible to know what would have happened.
To be clear, we risked A LOT. This could have gone A LOT worse. But in this specific situation we were lucky and the bet payed off. If i went back and had to reroll everything i'd still support the run away option, but we can't really complain with the results we got.
...fiasco? Isn't that harsh? We got a decent victory all things considered.
I'm surprised Sombra was actually PREPARED for his possible defeat. Also this is pretty sad.
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- Location
- Maryland
It's not. And your scholars and thinkers are fairly certain of it at this point in time.
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- Location
- Maryland
It was less "preparation for his defeat", and more "prevent someone else from removing or overwhelming his mind control".
- Location
- Back in Cali
Well even as early as the Greeks knew the Earth wasn't flat so I'm glad our Late Medieval/Early Renaissance scholars figured it out as well.