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Who Needs Harmony?: An MLP Empire Quest

Reader mode
...whelp, with that last vote we have a stalemate between Diplomacy and Learning...anyone wanna change or give their vote to either of the two to finally move on?
 
[X]Diplomacy: As his friendship with Ki Seong has shown, Gawain has no difficulty bridging cultural divides and forging connections with individuals of differing backgrounds; valuable skills for a head of state and diplomat alike. Gisa could always use another helping talon managing the growing number of foreign delegations and embassies she has been placed in charge of. Gawain should fit right in.
 
[X]Diplomacy: As his friendship with Ki Seong has shown, Gawain has no difficulty bridging cultural divides and forging connections with individuals of differing backgrounds; valuable skills for a head of state and diplomat alike. Gisa could always use another helping talon managing the growing number of foreign delegations and embassies she has been placed in charge of. Gawain should fit right in.

I'd go for Intrigue, but its clear the votes aren't going that way
 
Personally, I went with Learning because of the narrative. One of my favorite parts of the quest is reading about what awesome new technologies we can discover to make our military and economy even better. I can't wait until we have time to actually take the Sugar Beets option, as I think it will give us tons of new and fascinating options. That's why I want to put Gawain in Learning, I want more Learning actions so we can learn more things.

Also, I like playing as a nerd. I'm a little bit sad that we haven't really focused any of our children into Learning/Stewardship.
 
Sentient Tree said:
Personally, I went with Learning because of the narrative. One of my favorite parts of the quest is reading about what awesome new technologies we can discover to make our military and economy even better. I can't wait until we have time to actually take the Sugar Beets option, as I think it will give us tons of new and fascinating options. That's why I want to put Gawain in Learning, I want more Learning actions so we can learn more things.

Also, I like playing as a nerd. I'm a little bit sad that we haven't really focused any of our children into Learning/Stewardship.
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Sugar Beets has been here forever mocking us, sadly, lol. More Learning options can only benefit us in the long-run, because the faster we get up the tech tree, the more time we have to implement them and reap the benefits!

As for the second thing, well, there's always that... Theoretical (see: Orphaned) Diamond Puppy we could adopt? Science canine! Family time with Garrick and his 18 Learning stat in retirement!
 
[X] Learning: As a former student of Archimedes, Gawain already possesses all the necessary attributes of a scholar and researcher. What better place to have him work than alongside his former mentor in the act of benefiting the Empire's knowledge base?
 
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Learning (21) vs Diplomacy (22) vs Piety (3) vs Intrigue (3) vs Martial (3) vs Stewardship (1)
VOTE'S STILL OPEN!

*waves pompoms* L! E! A! R! N! I! N! G! GO! <333
Adhoc vote count started by Markala on Dec 26, 2019 at 8:46 PM, finished with 168 posts and 52 votes.
  • [X] Learning: As a former student of Archimedes, Gawain already possesses all the necessary attributes of a scholar and researcher. What better place to have him work than alongside his former mentor in the act of benefiting the Empire's knowledge base?
    [X]Diplomacy: As his friendship with Ki Seong has shown, Gawain has no difficulty bridging cultural divides and forging connections with individuals of differing backgrounds; valuable skills for a head of state and diplomat alike. Gisa could always use another helping talon managing the growing number of foreign delegations and embassies she has been placed in charge of. Gawain should fit right in.
    [X]Diplomacy
    [X] Piety: They say that suffering builds character, and you can't think of a more character-building activity for your son than placing him at the head of the Council of Faiths. In all seriousness though, with the growing prominence and importance of religion in the Empire, having your son in a place to learn about and influence the numerous faiths in Gryphus may be a wise decision.
    [X] Intrigue: When you began your rule, you had no idea just how important your spies and intelligence agents would become to the security and functioning of your domain. If Gawain is to one day become an effective ruler, he must have first-hand experience with the Empire's...less obvious means of influencing events.
    [X] Martial: Gawain shall be given a commission and a position of authority within the military. Exactly what role he will play is as of yet uncertain, but your military command could always use another effective leader to carry out operations, both logistical and combative in nature.
    [X] Learning
    [X] Stewardship: While he does not have the business instinct borne of years of experience that you do, Gawain still has a head for sums and an eye for opportunity. Besides, the whole point of this exercise is to give him a chance to learn and grow.
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piety is probably the only option I'd be actively against, but any of the others would work.

Martial to strengthen/upgrade the army and explore, diplo to establish new/ better current relationships, learning to improve our magitech base, stewardship to improve the empire directly, intrigue to gather important Intel or influence/act from the shadows.
 
I swear to Discord and his ex, that all this suspense is gonna make me combust a lil', lol.

X3
 
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Adhoc vote count started by Pittauro on Dec 26, 2019 at 11:02 PM, finished with 174 posts and 53 votes.
  • [X]Diplomacy: As his friendship with Ki Seong has shown, Gawain has no difficulty bridging cultural divides and forging connections with individuals of differing backgrounds; valuable skills for a head of state and diplomat alike. Gisa could always use another helping talon managing the growing number of foreign delegations and embassies she has been placed in charge of. Gawain should fit right in.
    [X] Learning: As a former student of Archimedes, Gawain already possesses all the necessary attributes of a scholar and researcher. What better place to have him work than alongside his former mentor in the act of benefiting the Empire's knowledge base?
    [X] Piety: They say that suffering builds character, and you can't think of a more character-building activity for your son than placing him at the head of the Council of Faiths. In all seriousness though, with the growing prominence and importance of religion in the Empire, having your son in a place to learn about and influence the numerous faiths in Gryphus may be a wise decision.
    [X] Intrigue: When you began your rule, you had no idea just how important your spies and intelligence agents would become to the security and functioning of your domain. If Gawain is to one day become an effective ruler, he must have first-hand experience with the Empire's...less obvious means of influencing events.
    [X] Martial: Gawain shall be given a commission and a position of authority within the military. Exactly what role he will play is as of yet uncertain, but your military command could always use another effective leader to carry out operations, both logistical and combative in nature.
    [X] Stewardship: While he does not have the business instinct borne of years of experience that you do, Gawain still has a head for sums and an eye for opportunity. Besides, the whole point of this exercise is to give him a chance to learn and grow.
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Gawain is already better than his father in most areas, what he needs to be a great ruler is to be a well rounded ruler, which means increasing his lowest stats rather than doubling down on things he's already good at.

In addition, contact with the other polities we've found will likely happen under Garrick and credit will go to him, it won't build Gawains reputation.
 
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Zarion said:
Gawain is already better than his father in most areas, what he needs to be a great ruler is to be a well rounded ruler, which means increasing his lowest stats rather than doubling down on things he's already good at.

In addition, contact with the other polities we've found will likely happen under Garrick and credit will go to him, it won't build Gawains reputation.
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Gawain already doesn't really have weaknesses, so we're free to focus on one super-stat if we want too.

Really, BOTH options work, it's mostly a matter of preference.

And while contact will most likely happen under Garrick, if Gawain is the one sent as the ambassador he will certainly be given at least part of the credit, same for any innovation that gets developed by him if learning wins out.

The only case in which he might not get recognition for his work (at least publicly) it's probably intrigue, and even there it depends on the specific action
 
TWO SCHIZOFREENIC VOICES WIGGLING WINGLING IN OUR EMPERORS HEAD.
IS HE GOING INSANE, OR DOES HE ACTUALLY SEE, WHEN HE LOOKS.
DOES HE GAZE UPON THE BEYOND, IS HE MAN OR RULER OF THE REALITY
DID OUR GOD STAY THE SANE, WHEN HE CHANGEG THE FORMS.
WHERE DO WE STAND WHATS THE REALITY. VOICES WIGGLING WIGGLING WITH MY HEAD.
VOICES IN MY HEAD, THEY SQUABLE AS THEY GUIDE ME, VOICES VOICES, ALWAYS SINGING THE SAME SONG.
OBEY, ONCE WE FIGURE OUT WHAT. AND I DONT LIKE TO HEAR THAT, VOICES VOICES WIGGLING IN MY HEAD.
 
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Omake: The Maretonian Royal Guard (Canon)
  • Sidestory
    • The Maretonian Royal Guard

    ][​

    It had all gone to Tartarus.

    The stairs that led to the Royal Maretonian Palace were wet with the blood of slaves, their masters, nobles, and many other civilians from all walks of life. Their fresh corpses littered the area.

    Captain Marecinas sat at the top of the stairs, her hooves drenched in blood, her breath heavy, and her wings could barely move after being pushed so hard. She hadn't felt this exhausted in a long time. Her subordinates were on clean up duty, putting corpses into carts and eliminating the last elements of agitators in Roam.

    Marecinas looked up to see the whole skyline of Roam and the countryside outside its walls. As the Royal Palace was built on a large hill, one could see much of the surrounding area. She remembered the first time she came here, everything had been beautiful and magnificent back then. Now? It looked as if the demons of Tartarus were dragging her whole country into its fiery depths. Entire districts of the city were burning, the smell too sweet and overwhelming. Brief flashes of light could be seen on the horizon along with huge plumes of smoke rising into the afternoon sky.

    Not for the first time, Marecinas wondered how it came to this, but before she could think more on it, she saw two of her bloodied and battered Lieutenants - an earth pony and a unicorn - galloping up to her.

    Well then, back to it.

    "Report."

    "Captain Marecinas," gasped Lieutenant Hazelblossom, an earth pony who was the son of a minor noble family who supplied Roam with a quarter of its wine, Marecinas could understand to a degree on how difficult it had been for Hazelblossom to choose duty over his kin. He performed a quick salute. "All agitators have been put down, those that have surrendered are being clasped in irons as we speak."

    "Good, what of the wounded?"

    "A great many Captain, the fighting had been sudden and brutal. Thankfully their injures not as bad as it could have been but-" Hazelblossom took a breath. "There are a few severe cases, I know we are the elite, but then again we had all been taken by surprise."

    "That's a huge understatement Lieutenant."

    "Ahem, regardless your quick thinking has saved us yet again Captain."

    Marecinas nodded, then looked to the unicorn whose horn was fizzling from overuse. "Amethyst report, what is the status of the food stores and hospital?"

    "All food stores are undamaged and accounted for Captain," said Amethyst Dawn with a quick salute. A perfectionist at heart and quite arrogant as well, but time and work had eroded most of it. "Any who attempted to steal from them have been dealt with extreme prejudice."

    "Good, what of the hospital?"

    Amethyst grimaced and Marecinas' heart nearly sank to her stomach.

    "It almost burned to the ground Captain, many supplies and equipment have been destroyed. We managed to quell the flames but it looks to be on the verge of collapsing. I recommend abandoning the building and retrieve all remaining supplies."

    "There's still some left?"

    "Yes, It's not all bad Captain. We managed to save several crates of herbal medicines and bandages. I estimate that they'll last throughout the year, granted that we don't engage in fierce battles and maintain a low casualty rate."

    Marecinas nodded, then stood up. "Amethyst, recall the rest of the Lieutenants and bring them to me. Hazelblossom, bring the wounded and any surviving civilians to the palace. We have a long day ahead of us."

    "Yes, Captain!"

    ][​

    "It was the bucking Griffons, it has to be." snarled Lieutenant Firehoof, a pegasus with a fierce temper. "It can't be the Canterburians, those chivalrous bastards would never use poison to kill their enemies, so it must have been the Griffons. You all know how much they hate us."

    "Calm it, lad," Lieutenant Ironbuck gruffly spoke, a middle-aged earth pony who was strong enough to easily wrestle six ponies to the ground. "Throwing accusations like that around isn't going to help us get justice for our Queen sooner."

    "Getting justice for our queen at all will be quite difficult for us I fear," said Lieutenant Sharptrot, the youngest of all of them, but also the most agile in a fight. "We have so many problems that finding justice for our queen takes a second priority."

    "Second priority?!" hissed Firehoof, anger and disbelief mixed in his voice. "The Queen is dead, her killer walks free, and you want us to-"

    Sharptrot interrupted. "Other than the cup and wine she drank from, we have nothing to lead us to whoever did it and we do not have to time to find more clues. Believe me, Firehoof I want nothing more than to bring the Queen's murderer to justice, but not with a civil war on our hooves."

    Firehoof opened his mouth to argue, then snapped it shut. He may have been temperamental but he wasn't stupid.

    The impromptu War Room was chosen to be in council chambers of the Royal Palace. The round table served as a War Council for the Lieutenants and their Captain.

    Marecinas looked at each of her Lieutenants, out of ten that were here before the queen's assassination only five remained…

    "Amethyst, I see only five of my Lieutenants here. Where are the rest?"

    Amethyst took a glance at everyone in the room before her eyes narrowed in anger. "None of them have been found within Roam or the surrounding countryside Captain. Their dorm rooms are empty and their bodies haven't been found amongst the dead, which leaves only one explanation: They have deserted their posts and have forsaken their duties."

    "Those bloody cowards…" Firehoof fumed, Ironbuck and Sharptrot's expressions darkened, Hazelblossom's face fell into a mix of shock, hurt and betrayal.

    Captain Marecinas simply nodded. "Not entirely unexpected." At the looks of concern from her Lieutenants, she elaborated. "I had my suspicions about them from the first day. You don't get far in Roam without playing the game of nobles."

    Everypony nodded at that.

    "So, what were your suspicions Captain?" asked Ironbuck.

    "Well, Quicksprint was a snake who was in it for the glory but it seems he wasn't that courageous, Flash Sentry was a mareanizer who wanted to share Amethyst's bed-"

    "Wait, what?"

    "-but was a cowardly inexperienced fool who was only able to join the Royal Guard because his family called in a favour with the Queen, Apple Sweet and Candy Tail were spies for who knows who, and Gold Trot was…"

    Sorrow appeared on Marecinas face.

    "More loyal to her family than her duties, you all know how much she loved her siblings." Marecinas hesitated for a moment. "Despite what she's done, I cannot find it myself condemn her."

    Nopony said anything to that.

    After a few seconds, Marecinas slammed her hooves on the table, everypony stood to attention.

    "To business. Ironbuck, see to enforcing fortifications throughout the city. Firehoof, take two squads of pegasi to scout and secure the countryside around Roam, if you encounter any deserters capture them on sight, they will face the law when this war is over. Sharptrot, set up a hospice within the Palace for our soldiers. Amethyst, Hazelblossom, begin conscripting any surviving civilians within Roam, we are going to need every able-bodied pony we can get."

    "Sides will be forming in this war. When they do, we will take a position of absolute neutrality. We serve Maretonia and we will honour the orders of our late queen. Dismissed."

    Everypony saluted before leaving the room. However, Ironbuck stayed behind with Marecinas. When it was just the two of them, she spoke.

    "Where is she?"

    "She's in her personal quarters. She's waiting for you."

    "Thank you."

    ][​

    Captain Marecinas walked into the bedroom.

    Everything was the way it was when its occupant still lived.

    A quiet and sombre air had settled into the room.

    On the grandiose bed, lay the body of a mare draped in red covers.

    Marecinas took off her helm and knelt before it.

    After a very long time, Marecinas spoke quietly and - with all her strength - without a break in her voice.

    "My Queen, I swear to uphold your final orders with all that I am. The Royal Guard will be a force of law and order in these dark times as it always has been. And the one who ended your life will be brought to justice whether it be by anypony else's hooves or mine."

    ][​

    A/N: So Romanesque Legions are a favourite thing of mine, tell me what you think! @Questor please tell me what you think as well.
     
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  • Sidestory
    • x0Nothing0x said:
    huh, so did the refugees make new villages in the crystal empire or did they just move into the city and some moving into the griffon empire? Mostly just wondering if the crystal empire is still basically just a waste land with nothing in but a massive city state in the middle with some forts along its boarders or if it actually has some villages out there now?
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    I think it might be doing the equivalent of slowly terraforming the landscape because with the more population inthe influence of the Heart that would mean the land starts to slowly heal up from the embrace that Sombra had over it? That's my own head cannon of the thing at least, plus you could have a ton of those small time towns that show up on the railroad line that i am pretty sure runs through most of the country.
     
    Travler66 said:
    Flash Sentry was a mareanizer who wanted to share Amethyst's bed-
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    I take it that someone doesn´t like Canon!Flash Sentry or at least his more popular fanon portrayals?

    Travler66 said:
    "It was the bucking Griffons, it has to be." snarled Lieutenant Firehoof, a pegasus with a fierce temper. "It can't be the Canterburians, those chivalrous bastards would never use poison to kill their enemies, so it must have been the Griffons. You all know how much they hate us."

    "Calm it, lad," Lieutenant Ironbuck gruffly spoke, a middle-aged earth pony who was strong enough to easily wrestle six ponies to the ground. "Throwing accusations like that around isn't going to help us get justice for our Queen sooner."

    "Getting justice for our queen at all will be quite difficult for us I fear," said Lieutenant Sharptrot, the youngest of all of them, but also the most agile in a fight. "We have so many problems that finding justice for our queen takes a second priority."

    "Second priority?!" hissed Firehoof, anger and disbelief mixed in his voice. "The Queen is dead, her killer walks free, and you want us to-"

    Sharptrot interrupted. "Other than the cup and wine she drank from, we have nothing to lead us to whoever did it and we do not have to time to find more clues. Believe me, Firehoof I want nothing more than to bring the Queen's murderer to justice, but not with a civil war on our hooves."
    Click to expand...
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    Just as I thought:

    - The Guard at least still wants the culprit to be found and dealt with, but currently they have their hooves full with keeping Roam from imploding
    - Some of them suspect us of having orchestrated it, which while untrue (at least both our char and Ravenburg are blameless of the hit itself) would make sense from a Maretonian PoV...after all, it was us who spearheaded the Abolitionists´attempts to liberate slaves and who indirectly aired the dirty laundry of many Maretonian nobles. So while we didn´t *directly* order Mareia killed, she still died as a result of our meddling

    All this confirms to me the need to attempt "Cold Case" next turn in the hopes of resolving at least part of the mess we unwittingly started. That in turn means that we should use some omake boni to boost the atm-coin flip of a chance for "Cold Case" to succeed. After that, we need to brainstorm hard what to do with the gained information.

    Three polities I think can be excluded from the circle of suspects: Canterbury (too noble for an assasination), Yakyakistan (too young and inwardly-focused to pull it off), and us (again, neither Garrick nor Ravenburg themselves didn´t order this murder) - mind you, I only discharge the direct rulers of this accusation and not specific overzealous agents.

    Neighpon is rather unlikely as well, since I am pretty sure that Koryuo has no interest in Maretonia past the liberation of any enslaved Neighponese.

    Other than that, I suspect someone from inside Maretonia - yeah, I am actually drawing back a bit from my Changeling-fixation, since now that I have had time to think about everything it might have been more in their interest to impersonate Mareia instead of assassinate her. At least that would have enabled the hive(s) in question to covertly harvest love.

    Well, until we know more we´ll just have to do our best to get the mess in Maretonia dealt with as humanely as possible (PR is important, people)
     
    Travler66 said:
    The Maretonian Royal Guard

    ][​

    It had all gone to Tartarus.

    The stairs that led to the Royal Maretonian Palace were wet with the blood of slaves, their masters, nobles, and many other civilians from all walks of life. Their fresh corpses littered the area.

    Captain Marecinas sat at the top of the stairs, her hooves drenched in blood, her breath heavy, and her wings could barely move after being pushed so hard. She hadn't felt this exhausted in a long time. Her subordinates were on clean up duty, putting corpses into carts and eliminating the last elements of agitators in Roam.

    Marecinas looked up to see the whole skyline of Roam and the countryside outside its walls. As the Royal Palace was built on a large hill, one could see much of the surrounding area. She remembered the first time she came here, everything had been beautiful and magnificent back then. Now? It looked as if the demons of Tartarus were dragging her whole country into its fiery depths. Entire districts of the city were burning, the smell too sweet and overwhelming. Brief flashes of light could be seen on the horizon along with huge plumes of smoke rising into the afternoon sky.

    Not for the first time, Marecinas wondered how it came to this, but before she could think more on it, she saw two of her bloodied and battered Lieutenants - an earth pony and a unicorn - galloping up to her.

    Well then, back to it.

    "Report."

    "Captain Marecinas," gasped Lieutenant Hazelblossom, an earth pony who was the son of a minor noble family who supplied Roam with a quarter of its wine, Marecinas could understand to a degree on how difficult it had been for Hazelblossom to choose duty over his kin. He performed a quick salute. "All agitators have been put down, those that have surrendered are being clasped in irons as we speak."

    "Good, what of the wounded?"

    "A great many Captain, the fighting had been sudden and brutal. Thankfully their injures not as bad as it could have been but-" Hazelblossom took a breath. "There are a few severe cases, I know we are the elite, but then again we had all been taken by surprise."

    "That's a huge understatement Lieutenant."

    "Ahem, regardless your quick thinking has saved us yet again Captain."

    Marecinas nodded, then looked to the unicorn whose horn was fizzling from overuse. "Amethyst report, what is the status of the food stores and hospital?"

    "All food stores are undamaged and accounted for Captain," said Amethyst Dawn with a quick salute. A perfectionist at heart and quite arrogant as well, but time and work had eroded most of it. "Any who attempted to steal from them have been dealt with extreme prejudice."

    "Good, what of the hospital?"

    Amethyst grimaced and Marecinas' heart nearly sank to her stomach.

    "It almost burned to the ground Captain, many supplies and equipment have been destroyed. We managed to quell the flames but it looks to be on the verge of collapsing. I recommend abandoning the building and retrieve all remaining supplies."

    "There's still some left?"

    "Yes, It's not all bad Captain. We managed to save several crates of herbal medicines and bandages. I estimate that they'll last throughout the year, granted that we don't engage in fierce battles and maintain a low casualty rate."

    Marecinas nodded, then stood up. "Amethyst, recall the rest of the Lieutenants and bring them to me. Hazelblossom, bring the wounded and any surviving civilians to the palace. We have a long day ahead of us."

    "Yes, Captain!"

    ][​

    "It was the bucking Griffons, it has to be." snarled Lieutenant Firehoof, a pegasus with a fierce temper. "It can't be the Canterburians, those chivalrous bastards would never use poison to kill their enemies, so it must have been the Griffons. You all know how much they hate us."

    "Calm it, lad," Lieutenant Ironbuck gruffly spoke, a middle-aged earth pony who was strong enough to easily wrestle six ponies to the ground. "Throwing accusations like that around isn't going to help us get justice for our Queen sooner."

    "Getting justice for our queen at all will be quite difficult for us I fear," said Lieutenant Sharptrot, the youngest of all of them, but also the most agile in a fight. "We have so many problems that finding justice for our queen takes a second priority."

    "Second priority?!" hissed Firehoof, anger and disbelief mixed in his voice. "The Queen is dead, her killer walks free, and you want us to-"

    Sharptrot interrupted. "Other than the cup and wine she drank from, we have nothing to lead us to whoever did it and we do not have to time to find more clues. Believe me, Firehoof I want nothing more than to bring the Queen's murderer to justice, but not with a civil war on our hooves."

    Firehoof opened his mouth to argue, then snapped it shut. He may have been temperamental but he wasn't stupid.

    The impromptu War Room was chosen to be in council chambers of the Royal Palace. The round table served as a War Council for the Lieutenants and their Captain.

    Marecinas looked at each of her Lieutenants, out of ten that were here before the queen's assassination only five remained…

    "Amethyst, I see only five of my Lieutenants here. Where are the rest?"

    Amethyst took a glance at everyone in the room before her eyes narrowed in anger. "None of them have been found within Roam or the surrounding countryside Captain. Their dorm rooms are empty and their bodies haven't been found amongst the dead, which leaves only one explanation: They have deserted their posts and have forsaken their duties."

    "Those bloody cowards…" Firehoof fumed, Ironbuck and Sharptrot's expressions darkened, Hazelblossom's face fell into a mix of shock, hurt and betrayal.

    Captain Marecinas simply nodded. "Not entirely unexpected." At the looks of concern from her Lieutenants, she elaborated. "I had my suspicions about them from the first day. You don't get far in Roam without playing the game of nobles."

    Everypony nodded at that.

    "So, what were your suspicions Captain?" asked Ironbuck.

    "Well, Quicksprint was a snake who was in it for the glory but it seems he wasn't that courageous, Flash Sentry was a mareanizer who wanted to share Amethyst's bed-"

    "Wait, what?"

    "-but was a cowardly inexperienced fool who was only able to join the Royal Guard because his family called in a favour with the Queen, Apple Sweet and Candy Tail were spies for who knows who, and Gold Trot was…"

    Sorrow appeared on Marecinas face.

    "More loyal to her family than her duties, you all know how much she loved her siblings." Marecinas hesitated for a moment. "Despite what she's done, I cannot find it myself condemn her."

    Nopony said anything to that.

    After a few seconds, Marecinas slammed her hooves on the table, everypony stood to attention.

    "To business. Ironbuck, see to enforcing fortifications throughout the city. Firehoof, take two squads of pegasi to scout and secure the countryside around Roam, if you encounter any deserters capture them on sight, they will face the law when this war is over. Sharptrot, set up a hospice within the Palace for our soldiers. Amethyst, Hazelblossom, begin conscripting any surviving civilians within Roam, we are going to need every able-bodied pony we can get."

    "Sides will be forming in this war when they do, we will take a position of absolute neutrality. We serve Maretonia and we will honour the orders of our late queen. Dismissed."

    Everypony saluted before leaving the room. However, Ironbuck stayed behind with Marecinas. When it was just the two of them, she spoke.

    "Where is she?"

    "She's in her personal quarters. She's waiting for you."

    "Thank you."

    ][​

    Captain Marecinas walked into the bedroom.

    Everything was the way it was when its occupant still lived.

    A quiet and sombre air had settled into the room.

    On the grandiose bed, lay the body of a mare draped in red covers.

    Marecinas took off her helm and knelt before it.

    After a very long time, Marecinas spoke quietly and - with all her strength - without a break in her voice.

    "My Queen, I swear to uphold your final orders with all that I am. The Royal Guard will be a force of law and order in these dark times as it always has been. And the one who ended your life will be brought to justice whether it be by anypony else's hooves or mine."

    ][​

    A/N: So Romanesque Legions are a favourite thing of mine, tell me what you think! @Questor please tell me what you think as well.
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    Amazingly done! +10 to a roll of your choice!
     
    Awesome, very well done.

    On the subject of the queens death. Huh. It's really odd for me.

    As far as we know, she was a decent leader of her people, though had tension with the noble class. I suspect no more vices than one would associate with Romanesque cultures.

    I think the royal guard is innocent, or rather, as innocent as they can be. Traitors maybe, but they wouldn't poison her.

    A single cup of wine? Silver or glass? It is actually important depending upon the poison.

    Only a handmaiden or slave could have had the access required, as I'm sure she had a taste tester, or someone similar to test her food. Someone who would not be missed or found odd. A guard would be too obvious, to open, a noble too conspicuous. So a slave or servant with access to the queen. And the desire and will to frame us and sow mass Discord in Maretonia. But for what reason?!?

    If it's a war with Griffonia then that failed, the houses are too divided to be a threat. Likewise, they could have left some mark, or forgery to implicate others.

    So either the target is only Maretonia, in which case who ever wins the war will be in danger if they are not the culprit, or it's a larger threat.
     
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