Who Needs Harmony?: An MLP Empire Quest
- Thread starter Questor
- Start date
- Location
- Maryland
It's a little of both honestly. Sometimes I write it bit by bit, other times I write much of it all at once. I've never written the entire post in one sitting though.
- Location
- The state of Paranoia
Not sure if voting is still open, since I only just caught up, but:
[X] The Scholars
Also, not sure if anyone mentioned something similar, but in case they haven't what if we collect blackmail on the nobles who own our people, and use it to bargain for a drastically reduced price. Then, once our people have been returned, release the blackmail anyway along with a statement on why we did it. It will create the precedent that we don't negotiate (in good faith) with terrorists, throw their nobles into disarray and infighting as they find out just how many of their best friends their spouse has been sleeping with, and be really fun to read.
[X] The Scholars
Also, not sure if anyone mentioned something similar, but in case they haven't what if we collect blackmail on the nobles who own our people, and use it to bargain for a drastically reduced price. Then, once our people have been returned, release the blackmail anyway along with a statement on why we did it. It will create the precedent that we don't negotiate (in good faith) with terrorists, throw their nobles into disarray and infighting as they find out just how many of their best friends their spouse has been sleeping with, and be really fun to read.
Trimontar
Weed Dragon
- Location
- Behind You
vote closed with loner winning but interaction with all 3 groups is gonna happen
That would also prove to other nations we cannot be negotiated with if they and we have cultural dissonance.
- Location
- The state of Paranoia
Fair. So just keeping the blackmail and having them give back our people for free I guess?
At the Gala, Part 2
- Location
- Maryland
"Pardon me Miss, but are you alright?"
The Young Hen turns her gaze away from the other party goers, blinking in confusion before freezing at the sight of the Crown Prince standing right next to her. To Gawain's surprise, the Griffoness leaps off the chair and throws herself to the floor, bowing as low as she can, her beak scraping the marble.
"Forgive me for my insolence my liege, pardon my foolishness!"
For a split second, Gawain despaired. Another noble eager to kiss his feet. But a closer inspection revealed something far different. This Griffon was abjectly terrified. Terrified of him. This bore further investigation.
"Please stand Milady, there is no need to bow to me. I am not an Emperor yet."
The young Hen hesitantly drew herself back to her feet, visibly nervous. Gawain noticed that she seemed incapable of meeting his gaze.
"If I may be so bold as to ask you, why do you shy away from the night's festivities?"
The young lady raised her gaze momentarily, her eyes widening in surprise.
"You...you don't know?"
Realizing that she'd been staring at the Prince, she flinched, hiding her face once again as she spoke in a low voice, a nearly inaudible whisper amidst the din of the gala.
"My name is Isabelle Brissette. My family is...ill regarded amongst the nobility."
Her voice practically dripped with shame.
"My mother was the...late King's half-sister."
It took Gawain a moment to realize what she was saying. When he managed to decipher her words, it was all he could do not to stare in surprise.
Brochard. She was talking about Brochard. The King that his father had opposed, fought and killed (well, technically Hardbeak had killed him, but semantics).
He was talking to Brochard's niece.
He took a good few seconds to consider how to respond to this revelation as the relative of one of his family's greatest foes struggled to stand before him, her shoulders drooping in disappointment as she braced herself for a public tongue lashing or worse at the talons of royalty.
In the end, it was the sight of such a heart-wrenching display that led Gawain to extend a talon to the stun-struck young heiress.
"You have nothing to apologize for Lady Brissette. Whatever blood relation you may have had to the late King is irrelevant in my eyes. His actions were his and his alone."
The young hen, smiling hesitantly and holding back tears, gently took Gawain's outstretched talon, standing a bit straighter than she had before. Seeking to change the uncomfortable subject, Gawain glanced towards the Neighponese contingent, their colorful scaled forms standing out amidst the sea of fabric and feathers.
"I dare to think that our Qilin guests will feel much the same, if they even care about your lineage at all. I was just about to go speak with some of them. Would you care to accompany me?"
Not trusting her voice, the young she-griffon nodded, giddily walking alongside the crown prince across the ballroom floor, garnering numerous murmurs and whispered conversations from the gala's other attendees. Gawain paid them no mind. Let them talk. He'd long ago grown used to dealing with the rumors and speculations of the nobility, though it pained him to deal with them.
Seeing a pair of Griffons approaching the table reserved for the "esteemed guests of the Empire", several pairs of reptilian eyes turned to regard the unlikely pair that had already caused a stir amidst the rest of the attending noble scions. Some visibly reacted as they recognized the heir to the Imperial Throne, but most maintained a polite, blank expression, interrupted by the occasional polite smile. Whether they truly failed to recognize him, or were simply better at controlling their reactions, Gawain could not say.
One Qilin female stood to greet the two Griffons, her silken kimono and braided mane swaying with her graceful movements. She gives a smile and a perfectly executed bow before speaking in a mixture of Neighponese and heavily accented Griffonese.
"Konbanwa Prince Gawain, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I am Ki Seong. You may know my father."
Gawain did indeed. Her father, Kawa Seong, was the Neighponese ambassador to Gryphus, a well-spoken and eternally polite fellow that the Prince had spoken to on several occasions. He'd known the elder Qilin had a child, but he had never learned anything beyond that. Gawain, attempting to make a good first impression, made an attempt to speak to the Qilin in her native tongue, a practiced greeting rolling off his tongue.
"Anata ni aisatsu, gesuto o sonchō shimashita. Watashi wa anata ni aete ureshīdesu."
Judging by the blinking stare she gives him, and the twitching facial expressions of the other Qilin within earshot, he must have bungled it, though he knows not how. The burn of shame threatens to set his face alight as he hastily switches back to his own language in an attempt to distract from his mistake, as well as for the benefit of his female companion, who simply watches blankly, thankfully unaware of his mistake.
"This is Isabelle Brissette, a peer of the realm."
The hen blushes at being introduced to foreign dignitaries by the heir to the throne, bowing in greeting. The lady Seong, apparently deciding not to dwell on or make a fuss of his translation error, smiles and returns the bow.
Despite the rocky start, the three hit it off soon after, somehow managing to find topics of mutual interest despite their wildly different backgrounds. Gawain, having picked up his father's tea habit, listens to Ki Seong's advice on preparation and consumption, even as he discusses the merits, rules and playstyles of numerous board games that both females are familiar with. It is interesting, the similarities between Neighponese and Griffonian games of skill.
As the Lady Seong explains the rules of a game called shogi, Gawain is distracted by a polite cough from behind him. Surprised, the young prince turns to regard a scrawny male Gryphon a year or two his junior who promptly bows, fidgeting nervously under the gaze of his aristocratic superior.
"E-excuse me, I-I couldn't help but overhear...you um, play chess?"
The poor Gryph looks like he's about to either sink into his own shadow or boot for the exit. Gawain blinks. Hadn't he been among the scholarly heirs on the balcony? The nervous Griffon stammers, not encouraged by Gawain's momentary silence.
"I-it's just, I don't often meet someone else who also plays and um..."
He blushes profusely, as by this point both Isabelle and Ki Seong are staring at the odd little bird before you.
"I w-was wondering if you'd...be interested in playing a game s-sometime?"
The poor fellow looks like he's about to spontaneously combust. Taking pity on the shy gryphon, and genuinely interested in the prospect of a chess partner closer to his own age, Gawain gives a smile and nods, inviting the shy boy to join their impromptu social group, an invitation which he accepts despite his nervousness.
While initially quiet and awkward, the young Gryph starts to open up when subjects he is passionate about come up. Obviously, chess is chief among them, but to Gawain's pleasant surprise he is also familiar with numerous academic subjects, from chemistry to classical literature. Eventually, Gawain manages to learn his name: Sebastian Rainfeather, the Heir to a noble house centered in Griffonia.
As the night goes on and conversation between the unlikely foursome carries on with it, Gawain cannot help but feel as if he's found some true peers, and fulfilled his hopes of meeting people capable of looking beyond his status as Prince.
All too soon, the party comes to a close. Gawain promises to keep in touch with each of his new acquaintances, and the others reciprocate, raising the possibility of further meetings in the future.
For the first time in a long while, Gawain was happy.
Gawain makes Three New Friends: Isabelle Brissette, Ki Seong, and Sebastian Rainfeather. New Actions Unlocked.
Finding suitable pictures of female Qilin is hard.
Apologies for the delay in getting this out. I've discovered that the reason I made this a civilization quest is because I suck at writing interactions between characters, especially in a casual, non-dramatic setting.
Let me know if there's anything I can do to improve this passage. Rumor Mill should be up soon. Thank you all for your patience!
For those wondering what Gawain said when he tried to speak Neighponese...I'd thought it's be funnier to leave it to peoples imaginations.
The Young Hen turns her gaze away from the other party goers, blinking in confusion before freezing at the sight of the Crown Prince standing right next to her. To Gawain's surprise, the Griffoness leaps off the chair and throws herself to the floor, bowing as low as she can, her beak scraping the marble.
"Forgive me for my insolence my liege, pardon my foolishness!"
For a split second, Gawain despaired. Another noble eager to kiss his feet. But a closer inspection revealed something far different. This Griffon was abjectly terrified. Terrified of him. This bore further investigation.
"Please stand Milady, there is no need to bow to me. I am not an Emperor yet."
The young Hen hesitantly drew herself back to her feet, visibly nervous. Gawain noticed that she seemed incapable of meeting his gaze.
"If I may be so bold as to ask you, why do you shy away from the night's festivities?"
The young lady raised her gaze momentarily, her eyes widening in surprise.
"You...you don't know?"
Realizing that she'd been staring at the Prince, she flinched, hiding her face once again as she spoke in a low voice, a nearly inaudible whisper amidst the din of the gala.
"My name is Isabelle Brissette. My family is...ill regarded amongst the nobility."
Her voice practically dripped with shame.
"My mother was the...late King's half-sister."
It took Gawain a moment to realize what she was saying. When he managed to decipher her words, it was all he could do not to stare in surprise.
Brochard. She was talking about Brochard. The King that his father had opposed, fought and killed (well, technically Hardbeak had killed him, but semantics).
He was talking to Brochard's niece.
He took a good few seconds to consider how to respond to this revelation as the relative of one of his family's greatest foes struggled to stand before him, her shoulders drooping in disappointment as she braced herself for a public tongue lashing or worse at the talons of royalty.
In the end, it was the sight of such a heart-wrenching display that led Gawain to extend a talon to the stun-struck young heiress.
"You have nothing to apologize for Lady Brissette. Whatever blood relation you may have had to the late King is irrelevant in my eyes. His actions were his and his alone."
The young hen, smiling hesitantly and holding back tears, gently took Gawain's outstretched talon, standing a bit straighter than she had before. Seeking to change the uncomfortable subject, Gawain glanced towards the Neighponese contingent, their colorful scaled forms standing out amidst the sea of fabric and feathers.
"I dare to think that our Qilin guests will feel much the same, if they even care about your lineage at all. I was just about to go speak with some of them. Would you care to accompany me?"
Not trusting her voice, the young she-griffon nodded, giddily walking alongside the crown prince across the ballroom floor, garnering numerous murmurs and whispered conversations from the gala's other attendees. Gawain paid them no mind. Let them talk. He'd long ago grown used to dealing with the rumors and speculations of the nobility, though it pained him to deal with them.
Seeing a pair of Griffons approaching the table reserved for the "esteemed guests of the Empire", several pairs of reptilian eyes turned to regard the unlikely pair that had already caused a stir amidst the rest of the attending noble scions. Some visibly reacted as they recognized the heir to the Imperial Throne, but most maintained a polite, blank expression, interrupted by the occasional polite smile. Whether they truly failed to recognize him, or were simply better at controlling their reactions, Gawain could not say.
One Qilin female stood to greet the two Griffons, her silken kimono and braided mane swaying with her graceful movements. She gives a smile and a perfectly executed bow before speaking in a mixture of Neighponese and heavily accented Griffonese.
"Konbanwa Prince Gawain, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I am Ki Seong. You may know my father."
Gawain did indeed. Her father, Kawa Seong, was the Neighponese ambassador to Gryphus, a well-spoken and eternally polite fellow that the Prince had spoken to on several occasions. He'd known the elder Qilin had a child, but he had never learned anything beyond that. Gawain, attempting to make a good first impression, made an attempt to speak to the Qilin in her native tongue, a practiced greeting rolling off his tongue.
"Anata ni aisatsu, gesuto o sonchō shimashita. Watashi wa anata ni aete ureshīdesu."
Judging by the blinking stare she gives him, and the twitching facial expressions of the other Qilin within earshot, he must have bungled it, though he knows not how. The burn of shame threatens to set his face alight as he hastily switches back to his own language in an attempt to distract from his mistake, as well as for the benefit of his female companion, who simply watches blankly, thankfully unaware of his mistake.
"This is Isabelle Brissette, a peer of the realm."
The hen blushes at being introduced to foreign dignitaries by the heir to the throne, bowing in greeting. The lady Seong, apparently deciding not to dwell on or make a fuss of his translation error, smiles and returns the bow.
Despite the rocky start, the three hit it off soon after, somehow managing to find topics of mutual interest despite their wildly different backgrounds. Gawain, having picked up his father's tea habit, listens to Ki Seong's advice on preparation and consumption, even as he discusses the merits, rules and playstyles of numerous board games that both females are familiar with. It is interesting, the similarities between Neighponese and Griffonian games of skill.
As the Lady Seong explains the rules of a game called shogi, Gawain is distracted by a polite cough from behind him. Surprised, the young prince turns to regard a scrawny male Gryphon a year or two his junior who promptly bows, fidgeting nervously under the gaze of his aristocratic superior.
"E-excuse me, I-I couldn't help but overhear...you um, play chess?"
The poor Gryph looks like he's about to either sink into his own shadow or boot for the exit. Gawain blinks. Hadn't he been among the scholarly heirs on the balcony? The nervous Griffon stammers, not encouraged by Gawain's momentary silence.
"I-it's just, I don't often meet someone else who also plays and um..."
He blushes profusely, as by this point both Isabelle and Ki Seong are staring at the odd little bird before you.
"I w-was wondering if you'd...be interested in playing a game s-sometime?"
The poor fellow looks like he's about to spontaneously combust. Taking pity on the shy gryphon, and genuinely interested in the prospect of a chess partner closer to his own age, Gawain gives a smile and nods, inviting the shy boy to join their impromptu social group, an invitation which he accepts despite his nervousness.
While initially quiet and awkward, the young Gryph starts to open up when subjects he is passionate about come up. Obviously, chess is chief among them, but to Gawain's pleasant surprise he is also familiar with numerous academic subjects, from chemistry to classical literature. Eventually, Gawain manages to learn his name: Sebastian Rainfeather, the Heir to a noble house centered in Griffonia.
As the night goes on and conversation between the unlikely foursome carries on with it, Gawain cannot help but feel as if he's found some true peers, and fulfilled his hopes of meeting people capable of looking beyond his status as Prince.
All too soon, the party comes to a close. Gawain promises to keep in touch with each of his new acquaintances, and the others reciprocate, raising the possibility of further meetings in the future.
For the first time in a long while, Gawain was happy.
Gawain makes Three New Friends: Isabelle Brissette, Ki Seong, and Sebastian Rainfeather. New Actions Unlocked.
Finding suitable pictures of female Qilin is hard.
Apologies for the delay in getting this out. I've discovered that the reason I made this a civilization quest is because I suck at writing interactions between characters, especially in a casual, non-dramatic setting.
Let me know if there's anything I can do to improve this passage. Rumor Mill should be up soon. Thank you all for your patience!
For those wondering what Gawain said when he tried to speak Neighponese...I'd thought it's be funnier to leave it to peoples imaginations.
Last edited:
- Location
- MN
he told them to do their taxes in fall?
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Thanks for the chapter, and keep up the good work.
Markala
Hannor & Polycho Shipper
- Location
- At the Junction of Angst and Fluff
This is so lovely, like, okay, watch our empire discover the POWAH of FRIENDSHIP first lol.
And okay, maybe I'm slightly disappointed that our Loner didn't turn out to be a Changeling in disguise that we could recruit but... Still awesome, watch our new friend break away from the reputation and stuff of her recent uncle. Amazing chapter! <333
And okay, maybe I'm slightly disappointed that our Loner didn't turn out to be a Changeling in disguise that we could recruit but... Still awesome, watch our new friend break away from the reputation and stuff of her recent uncle. Amazing chapter! <333
- Location
- Hell
Just minor nitpicks
Shame for the lack of Changlings but oh well.
They are teens. Miss would be the word to use
You seem to be making the Kilin pseudo-Japan but Seong is more Korean.
Shame for the lack of Changlings but oh well.
- Location
- United States of America
Hardbeak is actually a Changeling in disguise he's harvesting the love he gets for being Griffona greatest hero
She is gonna fall hard for the Prince isn't she?
- Location
- Latvia, Riga
Wow, now THIS is one future I want to see
-Isa seems like a nice teen, that's more-often-than-not is persecuted due to her family (i hope). If anything now she has real connections (bet that her "New Action Unlocked" would be dealing with aggressive 'nay-sayers')
-Sebs and interesting case. I'd bet that he might become one of Emperor's minister in a few years.
-Ki was a surprise. But this will foster more positive relations with Neighponese our best and most steadfast ally.
If anything the countries future is/will be in good
- Location
- Rapidly approaching your location.
- Pronouns
- Any/Morb
Maybe Neighpon is just a combination of East-Asia cultures but a horse pun!
It's obvious to anyone reading that Isabelle is a Changeling spy. She's using our familiarity with Brochard and playing off our sympathy towards similarly aged kids! Who knows if Brochard actually had a niece? Oh sure, he probably did. But was it this one? Maybe his niece got whisked away by his spymaster while fleeing?
The apparent plotline is that Gawain will be betrothed to Isabelle. Then, on their wedding day, she reveals herself as the Changeling Queen, and turns out half the royal staff is changelings! She sings one of the best song duets with the real Isabelle on a split screen, who is trapped in the royal dungeons. Then... wait this sounds familiar.
- Location
- Space
I believe every action has its advantages really.
For instance Isabelles family is quite close to the nobles that were and possibly still are our enemies ,this removes resentment from the war of unification wich our enemies could use as this friendship is a way to heal the old wounds . Though Gawain and we by extension need to be careful not to alienate loyal nobles.
Kin Seong gives us political capital with Neighpon and well Sebastian is heir of the noble house so that is something.
Basically they all have political capital.
Last edited:
- Location
- Rapidly approaching your location.
- Pronouns
- Any/Morb
If memory serves me well, (it doesn't) didn't we remove most of Brochard's support base? Judging by the looks Isabelle got from the others, they're not a very popular family. Probably a small minor noble house by now.
- Location
- Space
Well we did and we didn't, most of the nobles changed sides in war, now weather they saw writhing on the wall or just hated Brochard's is unknown. It's not like his supporters will act openly. But what is important is that they have someone from his family to rally around as Brochard sister still has a claim to the throne of Aquelia through him wich can be used by various groups.
Last edited:
- Location
- A house
Yay~~ 3 NEW FREINDS!
Well, guess the beginning of an omake I havent been able to finish for quite some time is now non-canon.
Well, guess the beginning of an omake I havent been able to finish for quite some time is now non-canon.