- Location
- Back in Cali
Don't worry we got giant crossbow meant to take them down. Not to mention a wife who has fought a dragon before.
Who Needs Harmony?: An MLP Empire Quest
- Thread starter Questor
- Start date
Omake: Training Day (Canon)
@Questor here's an omake for the 'I Work Out' personal action. Please put any bonus from this towards that action.
Training Day
Garrick stretched rigorously, he didn't know exactly what he and Gabriella would be doing out here beyond the fact that it would be rigorous exercise. It hadn't been easy to swallow his pride and ask for her help with this but there really wasn't any better option for a trainer than his wife, she'd been with a mercenary company for years, not only fighting but also getting new recruits into shape. Plus it would be nice to spend some time with his wife in a more casual setting, the past few months with her had been a whirlwind of military reorganization, the training of dedicated naval officers and the numerous logistical concerns behind getting the Lion's their own citadel and organizing recruits alone had generated a figurative mountain of paperwork and as you- "Stop your daydreaming maggot and drop and give me twenty." Garrick very nearly jumped out of his feathers as his wife started shouting right in his ear, turning to her with wide eyes he said. "Gabriella wha- urk." He was cut of again when Gabriella grabbed his beak and forced it shut, leering at him with a look that sent a tingle racing up his spine. "I said, drop and give me thirty."
"But you just said twenty." "Forty." "What is-" "Fifty." "Yes ma'am." Dropping to the ground he started doing push ups and started to think. From what he could tell his wife had fallen into training sergeant mode as soon as they'd gotten here, he supposed this was what he asked for, and if he was being honest he'd never seen Gabriella so at ease, in the court or even in closed chambers talking with generals she always seemed slightly uncomfortable, like there was an itch just faint enough that she couldn't justify scratching it. Out her with him though, she seemed entirely at ease, and that tiny shift just made her, well, glow for lack of a better term, very nearly forgot to go back down when he got caught up looking at her once. This really wasn't so bad, in fact he could see himself really growing to like these- oh dear sweet ancestors his back, craning his neck back he looked to see Gabriella sitting down on his back. "Don't worry sweetie I just saw that these were a little to easy for you so I decided to add a little extra weight." Nope never mind this was hell.
Finally, when he'd finished all fifty of his push-ups he stood right back up feeling his spire crack ominously as he did so. Turning to his wife with betrayal in his eyes, she met him with a beatific smile and said in a peppy voice, "okay now that the warm up is done let's get the real training started. There's two training swords over by that tree go get one and we'll get started sparring." Well okay that wasn't so bad, he'd done plenty of sparring with the Knight Lion and he'd managed to hold his own fairly well against them after a few months. So, he ambled over to the tree she'd indicated grabbed them and walked back, passing one over to Gabriella as he walked back, he took a proper stance and waited for the spar to begin, he grew slightly nervous however when he heard his wife tut. "What did I say, go grab a sword, not go get us a sword. Always do your best to make sure a fight isn't fair, because a fair fight is one where your opponent has fair odds of killing you, but don't worry sweetie I'll be sure to help break your bad habits." The next few hours were a whirlwind of pain, learning, and sarcastic quips, and he honestly could remember few things that made him as happy as seeing how much fun his wife was happening, sigh, well he supposed he'd have to make this a weekly thing then.
"But you just said twenty." "Forty." "What is-" "Fifty." "Yes ma'am." Dropping to the ground he started doing push ups and started to think. From what he could tell his wife had fallen into training sergeant mode as soon as they'd gotten here, he supposed this was what he asked for, and if he was being honest he'd never seen Gabriella so at ease, in the court or even in closed chambers talking with generals she always seemed slightly uncomfortable, like there was an itch just faint enough that she couldn't justify scratching it. Out her with him though, she seemed entirely at ease, and that tiny shift just made her, well, glow for lack of a better term, very nearly forgot to go back down when he got caught up looking at her once. This really wasn't so bad, in fact he could see himself really growing to like these- oh dear sweet ancestors his back, craning his neck back he looked to see Gabriella sitting down on his back. "Don't worry sweetie I just saw that these were a little to easy for you so I decided to add a little extra weight." Nope never mind this was hell.
Finally, when he'd finished all fifty of his push-ups he stood right back up feeling his spire crack ominously as he did so. Turning to his wife with betrayal in his eyes, she met him with a beatific smile and said in a peppy voice, "okay now that the warm up is done let's get the real training started. There's two training swords over by that tree go get one and we'll get started sparring." Well okay that wasn't so bad, he'd done plenty of sparring with the Knight Lion and he'd managed to hold his own fairly well against them after a few months. So, he ambled over to the tree she'd indicated grabbed them and walked back, passing one over to Gabriella as he walked back, he took a proper stance and waited for the spar to begin, he grew slightly nervous however when he heard his wife tut. "What did I say, go grab a sword, not go get us a sword. Always do your best to make sure a fight isn't fair, because a fair fight is one where your opponent has fair odds of killing you, but don't worry sweetie I'll be sure to help break your bad habits." The next few hours were a whirlwind of pain, learning, and sarcastic quips, and he honestly could remember few things that made him as happy as seeing how much fun his wife was happening, sigh, well he supposed he'd have to make this a weekly thing then.
- Location
- Back in Cali
Ah isn't that sweet spending some quality time with our wife. Hopefully the stat boost and possible trait should make us harder to kill. Also if our wife likes us enough maybe we can get kid as well. The kid can wait a few more turns though right now we have to settle our internal affairs.
Wait a sec. There has been no option or vote where to put our hero unit in?
jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
If you mean our wife, she gives +1 Martial action.
- Location
- Back in Cali
And +1 Personal action it seems.
- Location
- Maryland
If you notice me too
Don't worry, yours will be included.
Hey Questor, just out of curiosity, what would our starting situation have been like if we chose age of harmony?
- Location
- Maryland
Knowledge of most places beyond your borders (not all, but most). Pre-established contact with non-Griffon nations. Starting off with some technology and infrastructure that you have to build yourself in the post-discord-Era. A much bigger and more powerful Equestria that you would've had an even harder time trying to catch up to. Different threats (Tirek, the return of Discord, Communist revolutionaries). The lands of the Griffons would still be divided from the start though.
- Location
- Space
I think that some things are better to remain unseen...
- Location
- USA
I mean that we some how manage to impress her by not dying of her training within the first 20 mins
He made my training omake cannon so I guess you could look at that if you did want to see.
Turn 4 Results
- Location
- Maryland
Martial: Gustav Kingfeather is one of the most scarred Griffons you've ever seen. A former Troll hunter, he lost a wing, an eye, and a hind-leg to a particularly vicious Manticore. Despite his injuries, he's one of the most spirited people you've ever met, and can drink and brawl with the best of them. (Two Actions Per Turn)
-Investigate the Smoky Mountains: You do not like large plumes of smoke in areas not under your control. Generally you just don't like large plumes of smoke. It usually means that a large number of Diamond Dogs have gathered together, or a Dragon has decided to take up residence. You don't like either possibility. So, as such, put together a few scouting parties to investigate, yes? Cost: 50. Time: 1 Year. Reward: ???
A few brave volunteers are selected to make the journey. The smoke has severely reduced visibility, so they have to make a detailed inspection on foot. They have no idea what they'll find. None expect to discover what they do.
It's a scene of carnage. The forest burns, entire trees set alight, acres of greenery turned to ash and smoking embers. There are great rents in the ground, the tell-tale signs of Draconic claws that have been scratching in the dirt. At the entrance to a massive cavern lie the corpses of four enormous mountain trolls, their skins charred black by dragonfire, their entrails scattered about them. The smell of burnt flesh and rotting corpses adds to the already naturally pungent stench of the trolls. Before them is the equally massive corpse of a fully grown dragon, it's ribcage crumpled inwards by a titanic blow, its face still twisted in a snarl of fury.
Inside the cavern, the scouts discover the reason the dragon did not simply flee, why it stayed and fought to the death to defend its home: a nest, carefully carved from the mountain's rock and surrounded by the few gems to be found nearby. Within it, shielded from the elements, sits a cluster of dragon eggs. Four are as cold as the stone they sit upon, the lives within them snuffed out before they could even breach their shells. But the fifth is still warm, still holding a spark of life within it. What now? Smoky Mountain Mystery Resolved, Gain 1 Dragon Egg.
-The Lion's Den: The Knights Lion are the last of the knightly orders, the militant brotherhoods that served the Emperor in the age before Discord. As the only known living descendant of the Imperial Family, the few remaining knights have sworn their service to you. But if they are to truly recapture the glory of their ancestors, they will need a base of operations. A citadel. You intend to give them one. Cost: 400. Time: Two Years. Reward: Citadel of the Knights Lion constructed. Knights Lion upgraded from bodyguards to battlefield unit.
A mountain peak with a commanding view of your territory is selected. Blocks of granite, marble, and limestone are carved from quarries and transported to the building site. The finest architects, masons, and builders are assembled with a single goal: build the greatest and most magnificent fortress since the Empire. A task they set to with gusto. The Knights themselves are not idle either, seeking out young Griffons worthy of becoming their apprentices, so that there will be enough knights to justify the creation of such a grand structure. The construction will take time, but you are one step closer to recapturing the glory of your ancestors. Will Finish Next Turn.
Diplomacy: Elva Von Cleef is a stern eyed and stiff necked old bird. But she's been negotiating deals between city-states since before you were born. Negotiating deals between kingdoms was the logical next step for her. (One Action Per Turn)
-Throw a Dog a Bone: While none of the Diamond Dogs in your territory could be considered "civilized", not all of them are completely feral. Some have been known to use tools, wear clothes, and even speak your language to a certain extent. It might be worth trying to open a dialogue with some of the less aggressive packs, if for no other reason than to tell them that you know where they live and that you'll kill them if they don't stop raiding your territory. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Diplomatic contact made with several Diamond Dog Packs. Chance of Success: 40%
Required: 60. Rolled: 60+15 (When Heron Met Swift-y Omake)+18=93 (Art. Crit!)
Diamond Dog packs often hang on the edge of survival. They must contend with the beasts of the forest, and compete with rival packs of their fellow dogs for scarce resources. The whole reason they raid Griffon territory is because they usually can't produce what they require on their own. They also possess an almost instinctual need to follow an alpha, a strong dog capable of leading them and providing for them. You knew this intellectually, but you'd never really considered the greater ramifications of it. Until today.
Because today, representatives from the Diamond Dog packs you'd sent envoys to came to present you with tribute. Chests and cloth pouches filled with shining nuggets of gold and silver ore, chunks of glistening marble, multifaceted crystals, even a talonful of rare and precious gemstones.
You know what this means, even before the Dogs presenting their bounty bow down before your throne in a gesture of submission. Diamond Dogs only willingly part with their gems for two reasons: for barter, or as a tax towards their alpha in exchange for protection. They want to become your subjects.
…What.
+100 Tax Income
Stewardship: Claus Rosewing is, much like you, a former merchant. You'd actually done business with him a few times, and he always struck you as a fair and reasonable gryph. Good thing too, because now he'll be handling much of your finances. (One Action Per Turn)
-Diggy Diggy Hole: Now that you know where all the major mineral deposits in your kingdom are, it's time to start exploiting them. Subsidize the construction of several mines for the extraction of iron, coal, copper, and other metals suitable for industrial and military applications. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Mining Income, access to large supplies of raw materials.
As a general rule, Griffons aren't very comfortable underground. The lack of sunlight, the stale air, the tight spaces…still, needs must. You need ore to make metal, and you need metal to make weapons, tools, and other products essential to the continued prosperity of the kingdom. Thus, shafts are dug, support pillars are installed, smelters are assembled, several of your non-sapient avian cousins are employed as makeshift gas warning systems, and the exploitation of your land's bountiful mineral wealth begins in earnest. Gain: +250 Mining Income
Learning: Archimedes is an almost comically small and scrawny Griffon, often mistaken for a teenager despite being middle-aged. What he lacks in physical stature, he more than makes up for with brainpower. He has authored numerous works on history, biology, and physics, making him an ideal choice for an advisor. (Two Actions Per Turn)
-Fungus Farming: In a mountainous, forested land such as yours, arable land is in short supply. That, plus the threat of bandit raids and monster attacks makes the production of a reliable food supply a significant issue. Archimedes claims to have a solution: Mushrooms. They can grow places other foodstuffs can't, don't require sunlight, and are highly nutritious. You're skeptical, but are willing to give him some time and funds to explore the viability of his idea. Time: One Year. Cost: 100. Reward: Viability of Mushrooms as Food Crop investigated.
Well, you were skeptical, but Archimedes delivered on his promises. His prototype fungus farm has done well, producing numerous species of edible mushrooms year-round. After much trial and error, the brainiest of your advisors has figured out how to reliably and efficiently plant, grow and harvest mushrooms like any other food crop. All that's left now is to construct more, larger farms for this new kind of produce. Mushroom Farms now available for construction.
-Ocean Navigation Tools: As a traveling merchant who operated in Discord's era, you are familiar with the importance and difficulties of traveling over a constantly shifting and often dangerous landscape. You can therefore emphasize with those sailors that dare to venture beyond the sight of the coasts. Archimedes has a few ideas to improve ocean navigation, hopefully making the operation of your navy go much smoother. Time: One Year. Cost: 100. Reward: Better naval navigation, +5 on certain naval and exploration rolls.
The Sextant. The Barometer. The astrolabe. Improved Telescopes. Standardized sea charts. All these and more are tools your thinkers have crafted for use by your navy to assist with navigating the frequently dangerous and often unpredictable seas. These new innovations are rapidly disseminated to sailors throughout your lands. This should give you an advantage over your rival seafarers in Aquillea. Gain Naval Navigation Tools, +5 on certain naval and exploration rolls.
Intrigue: Lord Ravenburg is a stoic fellow with dark feathers and fur. He speaks only when spoken to and somehow manages to be both unassuming and mildly intimidating. You're not sure exactly how he became spymaster, but the fact that he seemed to know everything about you before you'd even met him indicates he is well-qualified. (One Action Per Turn)
-Spy School: If you're going to unite your people, you're going to need information. And to get information you'll need spies. Good ones. Have Ravenburg set up a recruitment and training program for infiltrators to operate beyond your borders. Cost: 400. Time: Two Years. Reward: Spies trained, can be sent on missions to other nations.
Lord Ravenburg announces that his "infiltrator academy" is now up and running, and has produced its first "graduating class" of spies and saboteurs. He confidently states that you're as ready as you'll ever be to start sending spies out to Wingbardy, Aquillea, and the Feathersian League. Additional Intrigue Options now Available
Personal: You refuse to let your duties as King take up every moment of your day. (Two Actions Per Turn)
-I Work Out: Your wife is…ok, there's no beating around the bush here, your wife could probably break you in half with her bare talons. And while that's not a bad thing at all, you have to admit that you feel a little…inadequate when standing next to her. She's intelligent and attractive, and most importantly, your Queen! You think she deserves a husband that can at least stand a chance against her in an arm wrestling match. There's only one solution to this: start exercising regularly. Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Increased martial stat, chance to gain Strong Trait, chance to improve Gabriella's opinion of you. Chance of Success: 70%
Required: 30. Rolled: 30+10 (Training Day Omake)+10(You?! Omake)=50
Gabriella's Training is brutal. At the end of each session you're left a pile of sore, strained flesh and matted feathers. As soon as you start to improve, Gabriella increases the weight load, or moves the finish line further away, or reveals that she's been holding back in your spars together. Still, though it is painful, exhausting, and at times humiliating, benefits are reaped.
By the end of the year you…well, you're not ripped, but you're definitely stronger and more fit than you were before you started training with your wife. Your musculature is a more toned and obvious, your body is a bit sharper around the edges, and you can now actually last a few seconds in an arm-wrestling match with her, though you still lose nine times out of ten. Speaking of which, Gabriella has really enjoyed your training sessions together, appreciating a chance to really relax and let loose, without having to worry about keeping up appearances. Her endless and amazing tales of her exploits as a wandering mercenary make her grueling workouts more bearable than they otherwise would have been. You can tell she…appreciates your gains, though you both think you can go further with a more intense regimen. Assuming you survive it.
Also, in…somewhat related news, Gabriella's Pregnant. Sooo…yeah.
+1 Martial Stat, +1 Gabriella Opinion, Gabriella Gains "Pregnant" Status Modifier.
-Ingratiating the In-Laws: Your wife's father is Federico Montefeathertro, Duke of the city-state of Urbirdo. A veteran warrior, patron of the arts, and a major player in Feathersian politics, he's an extremely powerful and influential Gryph. It might be a good idea to meet with him in a more official capacity and discuss matters of state. It'd be nice to have a friend on the Feathersian council, and it's always a good idea to be on good terms with your Father-in-Law. Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: ?
Rolled: 66+18(Personal Diplomacy)+10(Daughter Likes You)=94 (Art. Crit!)
Federico might just be the friendliest Feathersian noble out there. You'd barely gotten out of your throne to greet him before you found him embracing you like you were his own flesh and blood. Apparently Gabriella's been sending him letters filled with nothing but good words about you, and he's pleased as can be that his daughter is settling in well. He's equally relieved that her wanderlust seems to have been sated for now, as he was terrified that she would disappear again on another perilous journey that she would never return from. It's not long before you find yourselves in the castle's wine cellar, sharing a bottle as he regales you with tales of your wife in her pampered youth. You in turn share stories of your own past, and you find yourselves bonding over the issues you both face as rulers of your respective realms.
It's not until you're on your second bottle of wine that you remember exactly why you'd invited him and try to gently broach the subject of Feathersian support of Griffonia. To your surprise, he casually promises Urbirdo's full support for your Kingdom in whatever form you may require. After all, with his daughter as your Queen, her health and happiness are tied to the fate of you and your kingdom. He also expresses his disdain for your rival, King Brochard, and complains of receiving a vaguely threatening letter from him in the aftermath of your wedding, warning him of "the dangers of abandoning his neutrality". Needless to say, he was not impressed, nor was he pleased. As such, he fully intends to back you and Griffonia, both as the Duke of Urbirdo and as a voice on the Feathersian Council. Though he warns you that, while he is powerful, he is merely a single ruler of a single city-state. But while he may not be able to rally the Feathersian's against Brochard, he should be able to prevent them from trying to hinder you in any potential future conflict.
This is the best you could have reasonably hoped for, and you raise another glass to your Father-in-Law in thanks. Not long afterward, as you tipsily assist the equally buzzed Federico into his sky-carriage, he reaches into a pocket of his jacket and removes a bundle of official-looking documents stamped with his personal seal. He thrusts them into your hands and tells you to "consider this a belated wedding gift" before cheerfully bidding you a goodnight and departing back to Urbirdo. You curiously inspect the documents, and are shocked to discover that your new friend has hired your wife's former band of mercenaries on your behalf! Not only that, he's agreed to pay them a retainer "for the foreseeable future", and has left you a note stating that he intends to keep them in your employ until "this whole Aquillean business is dealt with".
You think it's safe to say that he likes you. Federico Montefeathertro and Urbirdo are allied with Griffonia, gain upkeep-free Mercenary unit: "The Valkyries".
-Investigate the Smoky Mountains: You do not like large plumes of smoke in areas not under your control. Generally you just don't like large plumes of smoke. It usually means that a large number of Diamond Dogs have gathered together, or a Dragon has decided to take up residence. You don't like either possibility. So, as such, put together a few scouting parties to investigate, yes? Cost: 50. Time: 1 Year. Reward: ???
A few brave volunteers are selected to make the journey. The smoke has severely reduced visibility, so they have to make a detailed inspection on foot. They have no idea what they'll find. None expect to discover what they do.
It's a scene of carnage. The forest burns, entire trees set alight, acres of greenery turned to ash and smoking embers. There are great rents in the ground, the tell-tale signs of Draconic claws that have been scratching in the dirt. At the entrance to a massive cavern lie the corpses of four enormous mountain trolls, their skins charred black by dragonfire, their entrails scattered about them. The smell of burnt flesh and rotting corpses adds to the already naturally pungent stench of the trolls. Before them is the equally massive corpse of a fully grown dragon, it's ribcage crumpled inwards by a titanic blow, its face still twisted in a snarl of fury.
Inside the cavern, the scouts discover the reason the dragon did not simply flee, why it stayed and fought to the death to defend its home: a nest, carefully carved from the mountain's rock and surrounded by the few gems to be found nearby. Within it, shielded from the elements, sits a cluster of dragon eggs. Four are as cold as the stone they sit upon, the lives within them snuffed out before they could even breach their shells. But the fifth is still warm, still holding a spark of life within it. What now? Smoky Mountain Mystery Resolved, Gain 1 Dragon Egg.
-The Lion's Den: The Knights Lion are the last of the knightly orders, the militant brotherhoods that served the Emperor in the age before Discord. As the only known living descendant of the Imperial Family, the few remaining knights have sworn their service to you. But if they are to truly recapture the glory of their ancestors, they will need a base of operations. A citadel. You intend to give them one. Cost: 400. Time: Two Years. Reward: Citadel of the Knights Lion constructed. Knights Lion upgraded from bodyguards to battlefield unit.
A mountain peak with a commanding view of your territory is selected. Blocks of granite, marble, and limestone are carved from quarries and transported to the building site. The finest architects, masons, and builders are assembled with a single goal: build the greatest and most magnificent fortress since the Empire. A task they set to with gusto. The Knights themselves are not idle either, seeking out young Griffons worthy of becoming their apprentices, so that there will be enough knights to justify the creation of such a grand structure. The construction will take time, but you are one step closer to recapturing the glory of your ancestors. Will Finish Next Turn.
Diplomacy: Elva Von Cleef is a stern eyed and stiff necked old bird. But she's been negotiating deals between city-states since before you were born. Negotiating deals between kingdoms was the logical next step for her. (One Action Per Turn)
-Throw a Dog a Bone: While none of the Diamond Dogs in your territory could be considered "civilized", not all of them are completely feral. Some have been known to use tools, wear clothes, and even speak your language to a certain extent. It might be worth trying to open a dialogue with some of the less aggressive packs, if for no other reason than to tell them that you know where they live and that you'll kill them if they don't stop raiding your territory. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Diplomatic contact made with several Diamond Dog Packs. Chance of Success: 40%
Required: 60. Rolled: 60+15 (When Heron Met Swift-y Omake)+18=93 (Art. Crit!)
Diamond Dog packs often hang on the edge of survival. They must contend with the beasts of the forest, and compete with rival packs of their fellow dogs for scarce resources. The whole reason they raid Griffon territory is because they usually can't produce what they require on their own. They also possess an almost instinctual need to follow an alpha, a strong dog capable of leading them and providing for them. You knew this intellectually, but you'd never really considered the greater ramifications of it. Until today.
Because today, representatives from the Diamond Dog packs you'd sent envoys to came to present you with tribute. Chests and cloth pouches filled with shining nuggets of gold and silver ore, chunks of glistening marble, multifaceted crystals, even a talonful of rare and precious gemstones.
You know what this means, even before the Dogs presenting their bounty bow down before your throne in a gesture of submission. Diamond Dogs only willingly part with their gems for two reasons: for barter, or as a tax towards their alpha in exchange for protection. They want to become your subjects.
…What.
+100 Tax Income
Stewardship: Claus Rosewing is, much like you, a former merchant. You'd actually done business with him a few times, and he always struck you as a fair and reasonable gryph. Good thing too, because now he'll be handling much of your finances. (One Action Per Turn)
-Diggy Diggy Hole: Now that you know where all the major mineral deposits in your kingdom are, it's time to start exploiting them. Subsidize the construction of several mines for the extraction of iron, coal, copper, and other metals suitable for industrial and military applications. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Mining Income, access to large supplies of raw materials.
As a general rule, Griffons aren't very comfortable underground. The lack of sunlight, the stale air, the tight spaces…still, needs must. You need ore to make metal, and you need metal to make weapons, tools, and other products essential to the continued prosperity of the kingdom. Thus, shafts are dug, support pillars are installed, smelters are assembled, several of your non-sapient avian cousins are employed as makeshift gas warning systems, and the exploitation of your land's bountiful mineral wealth begins in earnest. Gain: +250 Mining Income
Learning: Archimedes is an almost comically small and scrawny Griffon, often mistaken for a teenager despite being middle-aged. What he lacks in physical stature, he more than makes up for with brainpower. He has authored numerous works on history, biology, and physics, making him an ideal choice for an advisor. (Two Actions Per Turn)
-Fungus Farming: In a mountainous, forested land such as yours, arable land is in short supply. That, plus the threat of bandit raids and monster attacks makes the production of a reliable food supply a significant issue. Archimedes claims to have a solution: Mushrooms. They can grow places other foodstuffs can't, don't require sunlight, and are highly nutritious. You're skeptical, but are willing to give him some time and funds to explore the viability of his idea. Time: One Year. Cost: 100. Reward: Viability of Mushrooms as Food Crop investigated.
Well, you were skeptical, but Archimedes delivered on his promises. His prototype fungus farm has done well, producing numerous species of edible mushrooms year-round. After much trial and error, the brainiest of your advisors has figured out how to reliably and efficiently plant, grow and harvest mushrooms like any other food crop. All that's left now is to construct more, larger farms for this new kind of produce. Mushroom Farms now available for construction.
-Ocean Navigation Tools: As a traveling merchant who operated in Discord's era, you are familiar with the importance and difficulties of traveling over a constantly shifting and often dangerous landscape. You can therefore emphasize with those sailors that dare to venture beyond the sight of the coasts. Archimedes has a few ideas to improve ocean navigation, hopefully making the operation of your navy go much smoother. Time: One Year. Cost: 100. Reward: Better naval navigation, +5 on certain naval and exploration rolls.
The Sextant. The Barometer. The astrolabe. Improved Telescopes. Standardized sea charts. All these and more are tools your thinkers have crafted for use by your navy to assist with navigating the frequently dangerous and often unpredictable seas. These new innovations are rapidly disseminated to sailors throughout your lands. This should give you an advantage over your rival seafarers in Aquillea. Gain Naval Navigation Tools, +5 on certain naval and exploration rolls.
Intrigue: Lord Ravenburg is a stoic fellow with dark feathers and fur. He speaks only when spoken to and somehow manages to be both unassuming and mildly intimidating. You're not sure exactly how he became spymaster, but the fact that he seemed to know everything about you before you'd even met him indicates he is well-qualified. (One Action Per Turn)
-Spy School: If you're going to unite your people, you're going to need information. And to get information you'll need spies. Good ones. Have Ravenburg set up a recruitment and training program for infiltrators to operate beyond your borders. Cost: 400. Time: Two Years. Reward: Spies trained, can be sent on missions to other nations.
Lord Ravenburg announces that his "infiltrator academy" is now up and running, and has produced its first "graduating class" of spies and saboteurs. He confidently states that you're as ready as you'll ever be to start sending spies out to Wingbardy, Aquillea, and the Feathersian League. Additional Intrigue Options now Available
Personal: You refuse to let your duties as King take up every moment of your day. (Two Actions Per Turn)
-I Work Out: Your wife is…ok, there's no beating around the bush here, your wife could probably break you in half with her bare talons. And while that's not a bad thing at all, you have to admit that you feel a little…inadequate when standing next to her. She's intelligent and attractive, and most importantly, your Queen! You think she deserves a husband that can at least stand a chance against her in an arm wrestling match. There's only one solution to this: start exercising regularly. Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Increased martial stat, chance to gain Strong Trait, chance to improve Gabriella's opinion of you. Chance of Success: 70%
Required: 30. Rolled: 30+10 (Training Day Omake)+10(You?! Omake)=50
Gabriella's Training is brutal. At the end of each session you're left a pile of sore, strained flesh and matted feathers. As soon as you start to improve, Gabriella increases the weight load, or moves the finish line further away, or reveals that she's been holding back in your spars together. Still, though it is painful, exhausting, and at times humiliating, benefits are reaped.
By the end of the year you…well, you're not ripped, but you're definitely stronger and more fit than you were before you started training with your wife. Your musculature is a more toned and obvious, your body is a bit sharper around the edges, and you can now actually last a few seconds in an arm-wrestling match with her, though you still lose nine times out of ten. Speaking of which, Gabriella has really enjoyed your training sessions together, appreciating a chance to really relax and let loose, without having to worry about keeping up appearances. Her endless and amazing tales of her exploits as a wandering mercenary make her grueling workouts more bearable than they otherwise would have been. You can tell she…appreciates your gains, though you both think you can go further with a more intense regimen. Assuming you survive it.
Also, in…somewhat related news, Gabriella's Pregnant. Sooo…yeah.
+1 Martial Stat, +1 Gabriella Opinion, Gabriella Gains "Pregnant" Status Modifier.
-Ingratiating the In-Laws: Your wife's father is Federico Montefeathertro, Duke of the city-state of Urbirdo. A veteran warrior, patron of the arts, and a major player in Feathersian politics, he's an extremely powerful and influential Gryph. It might be a good idea to meet with him in a more official capacity and discuss matters of state. It'd be nice to have a friend on the Feathersian council, and it's always a good idea to be on good terms with your Father-in-Law. Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: ?
Rolled: 66+18(Personal Diplomacy)+10(Daughter Likes You)=94 (Art. Crit!)
Federico might just be the friendliest Feathersian noble out there. You'd barely gotten out of your throne to greet him before you found him embracing you like you were his own flesh and blood. Apparently Gabriella's been sending him letters filled with nothing but good words about you, and he's pleased as can be that his daughter is settling in well. He's equally relieved that her wanderlust seems to have been sated for now, as he was terrified that she would disappear again on another perilous journey that she would never return from. It's not long before you find yourselves in the castle's wine cellar, sharing a bottle as he regales you with tales of your wife in her pampered youth. You in turn share stories of your own past, and you find yourselves bonding over the issues you both face as rulers of your respective realms.
It's not until you're on your second bottle of wine that you remember exactly why you'd invited him and try to gently broach the subject of Feathersian support of Griffonia. To your surprise, he casually promises Urbirdo's full support for your Kingdom in whatever form you may require. After all, with his daughter as your Queen, her health and happiness are tied to the fate of you and your kingdom. He also expresses his disdain for your rival, King Brochard, and complains of receiving a vaguely threatening letter from him in the aftermath of your wedding, warning him of "the dangers of abandoning his neutrality". Needless to say, he was not impressed, nor was he pleased. As such, he fully intends to back you and Griffonia, both as the Duke of Urbirdo and as a voice on the Feathersian Council. Though he warns you that, while he is powerful, he is merely a single ruler of a single city-state. But while he may not be able to rally the Feathersian's against Brochard, he should be able to prevent them from trying to hinder you in any potential future conflict.
This is the best you could have reasonably hoped for, and you raise another glass to your Father-in-Law in thanks. Not long afterward, as you tipsily assist the equally buzzed Federico into his sky-carriage, he reaches into a pocket of his jacket and removes a bundle of official-looking documents stamped with his personal seal. He thrusts them into your hands and tells you to "consider this a belated wedding gift" before cheerfully bidding you a goodnight and departing back to Urbirdo. You curiously inspect the documents, and are shocked to discover that your new friend has hired your wife's former band of mercenaries on your behalf! Not only that, he's agreed to pay them a retainer "for the foreseeable future", and has left you a note stating that he intends to keep them in your employ until "this whole Aquillean business is dealt with".
You think it's safe to say that he likes you. Federico Montefeathertro and Urbirdo are allied with Griffonia, gain upkeep-free Mercenary unit: "The Valkyries".
Last edited:
- Location
- North America
Man those crits were great.
- Location
- Back in Cali
Yes we got a Dragon egg, Diamond Dog subjects we can uplift, a pregnant wife and Urbirdo completely on our side. So we are giving the egg to our child or are we raising it ourselves as a sibling to our child.
Well here we have our miners.
I have to ask, did the omakes have any effect on this action or did the RNG curse us today?
...
*YER BLEEDIN IDIOT!
King Brochard has to have close to if not actually negative diplo stats!
- Location
- Space
Let's raise it as a sibling, there is a good chance that our child may not be fit to truly raise a baby being one itself.
jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
Question: Would the dead trolls present have been strong enough to do this or would a more powerful creature be required to pull such a feat off?