Who Needs Harmony?: An MLP Empire Quest

[Marlin]

Link to the last time I did this.

Archival purposes: "Turn 16: Results (posted by QM on Thursday, March 14, 2019)"

OR

The Front Page as it appeared to me on Thursday, March 14, 2019.

Character Sheet (last edited by QM on Thursday, March 14, 2019)
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Name: Garrick Golden-Feather

Age: 43

Titles: Emperor of Gryphus, King of Griffonia, Inheritor of the Imperial House of Gryphus, The Unifier, Great Winged Alpha

Description: Before your wife got her talons on you, you were a fairly typical example of the Griffon species. 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. Not anymore though. Oh, you still have all those qualities, they're just overshadowed by the massive amount of muscle you've put on since you started your wife's "enhanced training regimen". Your wings can lift dumbbells, and your legs are like tree-trunks supporting a barrel chest rippling with abdominal muscles. In short, you have the build of a person who has been lifting heavy objects his entire life.


Martial: 9+2+1+2=14

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-Strong: Working out with your wife has done great things for your body. +2 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: 10/10

Age: 42

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: 12

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: 8
Status: Child-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)


Daughter: Gilda Golden-Feather


Age: 5
Status: Infant-No Stats

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Informational: State of the Nation (last edited by QM on Thursday, March 14, 2019)
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Economy

Treasury Reserves: 4600

Net Income: 5910

Yearly Income: 6650

-Tax Revenue: 3325
-Farming Income: 1325
-Mining Income: 800
-Logging Income: 200
-Trade Income: 1000

Yearly Expenditures: 740

-Army Upkeep: 520
-Navy Upkeep: 100
-Office of Disease Control: 10
-Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 10
-Peregrine Line: 100



Military

Imperial Army: Professional soldiers, paid and supplied by you. 500 soldier battalions cost 150 gold each to raise or replace. Additionally, Imperial Army soldiers have an upkeep cost of 200 gold per every ten thousand soldiers.

Imperial Army Morale: 70/100 (Above Average)

Imperial Army Numbers: 26,810

-12,500 Warriors: Armed with a sword or hand-axe and shield, these Griffons make up the bulk of your army.

-6250 Polearms: For keeping your enemy at arms length or taking down opponents larger than a Griffon.

-6250 Archers: Griffons with bows and some arrows. Not much else to say.

-1500 Diamond Dogs: Armed with a variety of swords, maces, war axes, and other weapons suitable for close-quarters, Diamond Dogs are masters of subterranean combat, and are well suited to ambush tactics.

-312 Artillerists: Responsible for the transport, maintenance and operation of heavy weaponry, these Gryphons and Dogs are highly trained in their chosen field of ranged combat.

-5 Mobile Ballistae: Massively oversized mechanical bows that fire bolts big enough to pierce through tree trunks from vast distances.

-24 Cannons: Firing iron balls through the power of explosive black powder, these metal siege engines are one of the most powerful weapons in your arsenal.

-10 Flame Projectors: A product of Archimedes's "liquid fire", these static contraptions can shoot jets of flaming liquid vast distances, burning all in their path.



Knightly Orders (Self Maintained): In the old Empire, Knightly Orders were typically made up of Griffons of noble birth who joined a fraternal militant organization dedicated to martial excellence, honor, and a number of various edicts of moral strength. These great warriors dedicated themselves to the Emperor and the protection of the common Gryph. Tragically, few of these brave souls survived the reign of Discord. But a new breed of Knights now seeks to serve as your sword and shield, and will rally to your banner whenever you may need them.

The Knights Lion
1 Grandmaster Konrad Hardbeak, "The Kingslayer"
40 Knights of the Inner Circle
200 Imperial Knights
150 Squires
500 Griffons-at-Arms
Citadel: The Lion's Den, Griffonia

The Knights Talon
1 Grandmaster Colombroni Pigeonio
30 Knights of the Inner Circle
250 Imperial Knights
115 Squires
400 Griffons-at-Arms
Citadel: The Crow's Nest, Wingbardy

The Knights Panther
1 Grandmaster Adrian Dawnquill
35 Knights of the Inner Circle
300 Imperial Knights
100 Squires
400 Griffons-at-Arms
Citadel: The Black Fortress, Aquileia


Royal Navy: The vessels that guard your coastlines and patrol the oceans. Crewed by career sailors, they have an upkeep of five gold per ship, per year.

20 Cogs (Bolt-Throwers)



Auxiliaries: Auxiliary units are forces not part of a Knightly Order or the Royal Army and Navy that can be brought into battle alongside both of the former groups. They can be made up of allied nation units suborned to you, units drawn up from the militia, and mercenary outfits.



Politics

Nobility Opinion: 9/10 (Long Live the Emperor!).

General Public Opinion: 9/10 (Long Live the Emperor!).


Roll Bonuses

Improved Army Communications: +3 on certain Army Rolls
Naval Navigation Tools: +5 on certain Naval and Exploration Rolls
Gun-Cotton: +5 to all Cannon Rolls
Pre-Discord Map: +10 to next Exploration Roll
Scatter-Shot: Bonus to Certain Cannon Rolls
Blasting Jelly: +5 to Certain Explosive Rolls
Camouflage 101: +5 to Certain Intrigue/Army Rolls
Imperial War Memorial: Army Morale may not fall below 20, Militia count as Regulars when defending Core Territory

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Informational: Diplomatic Relations/Persons of Interest (last edited by QM on Thursday, March 14, 2019)
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Diplomatic Relations

Kingdom of Neighpon: 7.5/10

Yak Clans
Raw Hides: 7/10
River Walkers: 7/10
Broken Horns: 7/10
Thunder Warriors: 7/10


Persons of Interest

???: A friendly and strangely casual Griffon female you met at your inaugural ball. Despite having a wonderful evening chatting with her, you never got her name.

Garibaldi Talonuelli: Formerly the Duke of Wingbardy, now the Grand Duke of Wingbardy, Talonuelli is a beloved public figure in his home province and an experienced administrator. After saving his city and people from Brochard's attempted invasion and negotiating his province's vassalage over a few drinks, you'd like to think you can count him among your friends.

Federico Montefeathertro: Duke of the (former) City-State of Urbirdo, and your Father-in Law. He might just be the friendliest of the former Feathersians, having agreed to back you and your kingdom without question or condition during the Brochard Crisis, and hiring a mercenary outfit as a belated wedding gift. You're reasonably certain he likes you, as much as In-Laws can like each other anyway.

Koryū Ryuō: The draconic Emperor of the Island Kingdom of Neighpon. Having agreed to assist you in the war against the Shadow King and making fast friends with your adoptive daughter, you consider him a decent fellow who you can trust to keep his word, and a valuable ally against any destructive forces the world can throw at you.

Click to shrink...

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Why did cannons and steamtech go so cheaply?

We didn't even seem to get much in the way of relations.

 

[Inclinedtoserve]

Why did cannons and steamtech go so cheaply?

We didn't even seem to get much in the way of relations.

Click to shrink...

Personally, I think a .5 increase total is a pretty good result. Prices were a bit low, but I still feel pretty happy with these results. Also, don't forget that there's a benefit to us that isn't flat out spelled out, even if it can be inferred, regarding the cannons.

Your fellow Emperor thanks you profusely for sharing these weapons, and promises that his armies shall make good use of them in the coming Southern Campaign.

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If these are going to come into play for the Southern Campaign, we just got 20 cannons this turn. While the ten we gave to our allies obviously won't be a permanent addition, that's still a significant amount of extra artillery for a coming battle. Maybe not game-changing, but definitely decent enough to warrant a lower monetary gain than expected.

 

[Thule]

i hope we will be able to hire some mercenary to help deal with Sombra's Revenge and the Southern Campaign when the times comes

 

[Pittauro]

i hope we will be able to hire some mercenary to help deal with Sombra's Revenge and the Southern Campaign when the times comes

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I think there won't be mercenaries. Those who'd be willing to fight probably joined the army already.

I think we kept the flamethrowers from the mercs actually.

If these are going to come into play for the Southern Campaign, we just got 20 cannons this turn. While the ten we gave to our allies obviously won't be a permanent addition, that's still a significant amount of extra artillery for a coming battle. Maybe not game-changing, but definitely decent enough to warrant a lower monetary gain than expected.

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Honestly they'll probably count for more than 10 of ours do. After all there is a chance neighpon will try to enchant them and/or the cannonballs

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Personally, I think a .5 increase total is a pretty good result. Prices were a bit low, but I still feel pretty happy with these results. Also, don't forget that there's a benefit to us that isn't flat out spelled out, even if it can be inferred, regarding the cannons.



If these are going to come into play for the Southern Campaign, we just got 20 cannons this turn. While the ten we gave to our allies obviously won't be a permanent addition, that's still a significant amount of extra artillery for a coming battle. Maybe not game-changing, but definitely decent enough to warrant a lower monetary gain than expected.

Click to shrink...

The problem is that I don't see a rival country with magic that we biologically cannot use without mechanical assistance, giving them a prominent advantage that will be hard for us to overcome, and giving them significant portions of our advantage for what amounts to a 1000 gold pieces.

We make more than six times that yearly.

We shoudl have asked for trading deals, Laws that prevents taxations or tarifs on our merchants, some sort of discount.

Not for what is basically pocketchange.

....

I am just annoyed here, its not a total loss or anything. We might be able to get stuff like that latter but we already made a precedent of offering so much for so little.... its like a country selling plans for a cutting edge aircraft carrier in return for a hundred thousand or something....

 

[Adventwolf]

Well looks like Sombra is finally making his move to attack. Good with our expanded army the militia that is on par with our regular soldiers when on the defensive, the new fortifications that means he can't sneak in we are in our best position that fight. Like with the rest of the wars before we still get the turn to act we should get even more time because he can't sneak and we have the ablity to prepare earlier than last time. Which mean we can still make the swords though in a defensive fight they are less useful.

 

[Pittauro]

The problem is that I don't see a rival country with magic that we biologically cannot use without mechanical assistance, giving them a prominent advantage that will be hard for us to overcome, and giving them significant portions of our advantage for what amounts to a 1000 gold pieces.

We make more than six times that yearly.

We shoudl have asked for trading deals, Laws that prevents taxations or tarifs on our merchants, some sort of discount.

Not for what is basically pocketchange.

....

I am just annoyed here, its not a total loss or anything. We might be able to get stuff like that latter but we already made a precedent of offering so much for so little.... its like a country selling plans for a cutting edge aircraft carrier in return for a hundred thousand or something....

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You're ignoring a couple facts

1)1000 out of a budget (assuming it's close to ours) of 5000/6000. It means they payed a foreign nation nearly a fifth of their yearly budget, maybe more. That's not little, especially when they're about to go to war (without asking for anything in exchange I'll remind you)

2)they payed for the product, and they payed it well. They still can't produce it themselves so we could sell more in the future, and it's likely we'll keep the technological edge even if they learn how ( as they'll probably keep the magical one, at least short/medium term), remaining an interested (and interesting) market for any innovation we create. Like our up and coming steam engines. Or trains. Or airships. Or steamships.

We do need to negotiate trading terms for magical items though. (And we need a list of what kind of magical items they can make)


P.s. I have this image of a joint empire in the future, with Koryu and Gwindlyn as co-regents (and maybe advisors) that can jointly start a vote to depose the current king-emperor if needed.

After all even immortal beings would grow tired of ruling at some point.

(See the last season 9 trailer for proof)

 

[Lisain]

You're ignoring a couple facts

1)1000 out of a budget (assuming it's close to ours) of 5000/6000. It means they payed a foreign nation nearly a fifth of their yearly budget, maybe more. That's not little, especially when they're about to go to war (without asking for anything in exchange I'll remind you)

2)they payed for the product, and they payed it well. They still can't produce it themselves so we could sell more in the future, and it's likely we'll keep the technological edge even if they learn how ( as they'll probably keep the magical one, at least short/medium term), remaining an interested (and interesting) market for any innovation we create. Like our up and coming steam engines. Or trains. Or airships. Or steamships.

We do need to negotiate trading terms for magical items though. (And we need a list of what kind of magical items they can make)


P.s. I have this image of a joint empire in the future, with Koryu and Gwindlyn as co-regents (and maybe advisors) that can jointly start a vote to depose the current king-emperor if needed.

After all even immortal beings would grow tired of ruling at some point.

(See the last season 9 trailer for proof)

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Hoping we could make some form of transport between our two nations easier in the future... Currently we have ships, which will probably be upgraded to steamboats later when we get that tech. can see blimps being that pretty easily, or on the wildly impractical side and in no way feasible, a sea train straight to them. Would make for an amazing spectacle if that could be managed though. Slightly less impractical but still wildly impractical without magic, making a land bridge.

probably the easiest option would be some kind of teleportation formation, if they can manage that...

 

[Vozen]

It's not going to be that bad. Even if it was, I don't think I have it in me to write any of your children dying, so there's no need to worry about that at this juncture.

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Oh good, our children are safe. I can't imagine anything that would hurt nearly as much as-

...OUR WIFE!

 

[Trimontar]

it worse sombra going to try to attack our beloved dice gods

 

[Adventwolf]

Boats and steamships followed by airships are the most likely development for our transport department when dealing with oversea nations and travel. Which is great because I want a fleet of Airships eventually to rain fire and death on all who dare attack us.

 

[Zarion]

The problem is that I don't see a rival country with magic that we biologically cannot use without mechanical assistance, giving them a prominent advantage that will be hard for us to overcome, and giving them significant portions of our advantage for what amounts to a 1000 gold pieces.

We make more than six times that yearly.

We shoudl have asked for trading deals, Laws that prevents taxations or tarifs on our merchants, some sort of discount.

Not for what is basically pocketchange.

....

I am just annoyed here, its not a total loss or anything. We might be able to get stuff like that latter but we already made a precedent of offering so much for so little.... its like a country selling plans for a cutting edge aircraft carrier in return for a hundred thousand or something....

Click to shrink...

You're missing the point entirely, we didn't give them the technology, we just sold them some cannons and water pumps, nothing more, they haven't gained any real advantage, actually comparing how much they spent on them vs what we spend on them, we came out way ahead of them in this deal. If they ever want any more of these they'll probably have to buy them from us again.

 

[RookDeSuit]

Why did cannons and steamtech go so cheaply?

We didn't even seem to get much in the way of relations.

Click to shrink...

No one knows the True Power of Industrialization. This is technically new technology.

 

[Pittauro]

just thinking, but damn, we (as a nation) are literally the best friend you can have (and the worst enemy).

1)Yaks send help against tyrant. We send back cartloads of goods as a thank you gift, above and beyond what they expected from us, and are even hesitating about using intrigue on them to push the agenda we'd prefer (though to be fair it's also because we have more pressing concerns). Even if we annexed them we honestly plan to treat them well.

2)Neighpon offers unconditional help. We give them access to our two most important technologies and are nearly ready to allow free immigrations between our countries. Yes, we benefit too, but i think we can all agree they're honestly getting the better deal.

3) Sombra attacked us. MAYBE if we feel like it there will remain a memory of him.

4)Also Aquileia. Once we killed Brochard we made their lives ten times better. And we're about to do the same to the crystal ponies (hoping they survive, but we'll do our best..)

We'll make Equestria (those racists!) look bad

 

[Lisain]

just thinking, but damn, we (as a nation) are literally the best friend you can have (and the worst enemy).

1)Yaks send help against tyrant. We send back cartloads of goods as a thank you gift, above and beyond what they expected from us, and are even hesitating about using intrigue on them to push the agenda we'd prefer (though to be fair it's also because we have more pressing concerns). Even if we annexed them we honestly plan to treat them well.

2)Neighpon offers unconditional help. We give them access to our two most important technologies and are nearly ready to allow free immigrations between our countries. Yes, we benefit too, but i think we can all agree they're honestly getting the better deal.

3) Sombra attacked us. MAYBE if we feel like it there will remain a memory of him.

4)Also Aquileia. Once we killed Brochard we made their lives ten times better. And we're about to do the same to the crystal ponies (hoping they survive, but we'll do our best..)

We'll make Equestria (those racists!) look bad

Click to shrink...

so this... is the power of harmony...

Not bad.

 

[Inclinedtoserve]

Can't wait to totally show up Celestia's canon performance by flat out destroying Sombra and not losing an empire for a really long time.

Or hopefully that's what will end up happening. I'm a natural optimist though!

 

[Pittauro]

Can't wait to totally show up Celestia's canon performance by flat out destroying Sombra and not losing an empire for a really long time.

Or hopefully that's what will end up happening. I'm a natural optimist though!

Click to shrink...

To be fair in canon Sombra was defeated pretty soon, so the Crystal ponies suffered for maybe days or months, not years. Fewer deaths too.

See the power of Harmony Plot Armor!

Can't wait to totally show up Celestia's canon performance by flat out destroying Sombra and not losing an empire for a really long time.

Or hopefully that's what will end up happening. I'm a natural optimist though!

Click to shrink...

Now we just need to plant us a magic tree!

 

[Inclinedtoserve]

To be fair in canon Sombra was defeated pretty soon, so the Crystal ponies suffered for maybe days or months, not years. Fewer deaths too.

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Ah, I see. I stopped watching the show after season 5 and didn't look at any other materials related to it, so my memory is incredibly rusty. Wonder if there's gonna be any reason given for why the job fell to us in this quest, as opposed to happening how it went down in canon. Not that such a thing is needed, of course, but it would be interesting.

Or I could have missed a reason being given already, I will admit that in catching up to the thread I ignored most of the discussion.

 

[Asmodemus]

Wonder if he's going to be petty enough to crush the war memorial.

 

[SummoningConfig]

I'm going to point out that we should get those new swords asap, to push the offensive if we come out on top for this fight, or to bulk up our defenses.
If nothing else if he attacks again, which I would not put past him we might be able to properly kill him.

 

[Inclinedtoserve]

Wonder if he's going to be petty enough to crush the war memorial.

Click to shrink...

Honestly, I'd be thankful if that was his target. While it's an important place and gives good effects, imagine how our morale would improve against him after such an act of disrespect! Would really fire up the forces.

More likely it'll be a direct attack or some sabotage more direct than unbearable cold. Or assassination, but I'm trying to keep that possibility out of my mind for now.

 

[ThoughtMaster]

Wonder if he's going to be petty enough to crush the war memorial.

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If he is, that's just going to lead to us rebuilding it, along with quite a large amount of hate, no, righteous fury, towards Sombra.

Honestly, I'd be thankful if that was his target. While it's an important place and gives good effects, imagine how our morale would improve against him after such an act of disrespect! Would really fire up the forces.

More likely it'll be a direct attack or some sabotage more direct than unbearable cold. Or assassination, but I'm trying to keep that possibility out of my mind for now.

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Um, who would he use for infiltration, aside from maybe himself, and we should be able to have individuals observe his smoke form?

 

[jadecriminal]

Can't wait to totally show up Celestia's canon performance by flat out destroying Sombra and not losing an empire for a really long time.

Or hopefully that's what will end up happening. I'm a natural optimist though!

Click to shrink...

inb4 we roll 100 on events; Celly and Luna show up to distract Sombra, pony army crests the hills during the army skirmish and steal our thunder and SunButt turns out to be a dick because reasons.





Btw. Question;Strategy
How rare is the anti-magic orihalcum? I missed that part of the discussion and wading through 50 or so pages is a no go.

How much contact is needed to free the slaves from their slave helmets? Because if it's just a brief touch...

Because Tipping sword pommels, hammers or helmets (for headbutting) with small shards and easily taking out otherwise practically undying enemies with a thwack would probably give some bonuses.
Heck if only squad leaders get those it should still help against magic beasties.

As for ponies...

The way I see it we granted them the mercy of death the last timebut it cost us a lot of our people. So this time the poor fuckers get to live.

How being incredibly cruel to the physically somewhat recovered free slaves. Give them fake helms, some orihalcum shoes, potentially some optional stimulants, sneak them in during the chaos of battle and say "every pony you thwack on the head with these is gonna be freed and might live" and let them die content. Because I can't see any ponies faltering on the helmet smacking unless they die, or there is no pony left to free.



Orihalcum Scattershot would be a war crime and bad for our morale if used on the now suddenly screaming ponies, but what about the ultra magic abominations sombra will pull on us.
Actual cannonballs for the super magic beasties might be a bit expensive but one or two shots for the big ones?
What about orihalcum tipped ballista?
Do we use slings? Origalcum sling bullets to the helm could take out the otherwise individual bezerker equivalent enemies without costing our guys in blood might be viable.

 

[Inclinedtoserve]

Um, who would he use for infiltration, aside from maybe himself, and we should be able to have individuals observe his smoke form?

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You're right, I can't think of anything. Good point.

How rare is the anti-magic orihalcum? I missed that part of the discussion and wading through 50 or so pages is a no go.

Click to shrink...

Too rare. We've pitched a lot of ideas for utilizing it, but our supply just isn't big enough to make most practical. The most we can do right now is swords for the royal family and our grandmasters.