Your name is Garrick Golden-Feather, King of Griffonia, and the only known living descendant of the great Griffon Emperors of old. At least, that's what everyone's been telling you for the past few days. You were just a merchant, moving goods between the canyons, caves and forests that allowed your people to hide from Discord. Your parents had done the same, before they'd been killed by brigands seeking to loot their caravan. You'd carried on the family name and business, after hiring some mercenaries to help you avenge their deaths.
When word of Discord's defeat began to spread, you'd found yourself in the nearest bar, putting your wealth to good use by buying a round of celebratory drinks for everyone. And then another. And another. You woke up the next morning with a raging hangover and a pair of stern-faced Griffons in the colors of the Knights Lion standing over you. They told you, very matter of factly, that the King of Griffonia had died without an heir (alcohol poisoning, ironically), and a thorough search and examination of the genealogical records and family trees of all the major families across the former Empire had revealed you to be the only living descendant of the Imperial family of Gryphus, and thus the only remaining successor to the Throne. They had then practically dragged your flabbergast self to the Royal Residence where you were hurriedly run through the necessary ceremonies to install you as the new King. As your fellow Griffons began to emerge from their hiding places and adjust to a Chaos-free world, you were being put through a crash course in your royal duties.
Now you stand before a bunch of counts and barons swearing their fealty to you, though you can tell they're subtly sizing you up. Your appearance has sent ripples throughout the Kingdom and beyond, and everyone is wondering just what sort of ruler you will be, yourself included. Some, like the Duke of Wingbardy, the King of Aquileia and the leaders of the Feathersian League, have refused to acknowledge your claim to the Imperial Throne, or simply stated that your ancestry means nothing. And now you have a meeting with the King's…with your privy council.
Honestly, you already find yourself wishing you were still just a regular merchant. But you will not turn away from your duty. You are determined to be the great king everyone seems to expect you to be. And maybe, just maybe, you can hope to be as great as your Imperial ancestors.
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. (One Action Per Turn)
Protection Racket: You have a few precious sources of income. One of them is taxes. Taxes that your nobles say they will be unable to pay if you do not protect their lands. Specifically their logging camps, mines and trading posts. It's a pretty blatant attempt at getting protection, but they aren't actually wrong. If you don't, and said places are burnt to the ground or something then your nobles will be unable to pay taxes…from their own income. Then they might have to dip into their treasuries. The horror. Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Dead Trolls and Diamond Dogs. Small Boost to Nobility Opinion. Sources of Income protected.
Establish a Navy: The one true advantage you have over Aquileia is your unrestricted access to the Sea. While Aquileia is not landlocked, any of its vessels must pass through your waters if they wish to reach the open ocean. Unfortunately, as of now your "Navy" is just a bunch of hastily re-purposed fishing vessels using civilian docks. This will never do. Build a few actual warships and dedicated military dockyards. Cost: 400. Time: Two Years.
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 large-scale battlefield unit.
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)
Diplomatic Survey: You know as much about the other Griffon Kingdoms as any Griffon off the street. That's not going to be enough. You don't know much about your fellow rulers, or what they think of you. Time to familiarize yourself with your neighbors. Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Information on your neighbors and how they regard you.
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, 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%
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)
Farmers on the Rocks: One of the biggest problems with living in the mountains is the need for fields. You know, for food. Which people need to survive. What limited space you have is often dedicated to said farms. Unfortunately, what farmlands that weren't ruined by Discord were looted by Diamond Dogs, wrecked by Trolls, or burned by Dragons. A few farms remain, which is why your people aren't currently starving, but you should rebuild some as soon as possible. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Farming Income. Chance of Success: 90%.
Mountain Minerals: You know that there is an abundance of minerals and resources buried beneath the mountains you call home. You just need to know exactly where they are so you can start to really harvest them. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Mineral survey throughout your territory.
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. (One Action Per Turn)
Literacy Program: The ability to read and write has become a rarity amongst your people. That's not surprising, intellectual pursuits tend to take a backseat to survival when under the reign of a mad god. But if you're going to make any progress in the long term, this issue has to be dealt with. Build some schools and have some of the few literate Griffons teach the many illiterate ones. Cost: 400. Time: Two Years. Reward: Higher literacy rate, +1 Research Action 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.
Battlefield Communications: Your army relies mostly on banners and flags for communication. While this works fine under most conditions, it's not ideal for low-visibility situations like fighting in mist or the forest, to say nothing of when your troops are actually trying to stay hidden. Have your military thinkers come up with some new means of communication for your soldiers in the field. Time: One Year. Cost: 200. Reward: Easier communication between troops, +3 on certain combat rolls. Chance of Success: 90%
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)
Eye Out for Spies: You're sure that Wingbardy, Aquileia, and the Feathersians are trying to insert spies and informants into your population, and if they haven't already they soon will. Set up a counterintelligence organization to spot and snatch any foreign agents or suspicious persons trying to enter or leave your borders. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Spy-catchers hired and placed throughout the Kingdom.
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.
It's not Paranoia: The nobility are sworn to your service, but that doesn't mean none of them will try to cheat you or plot against you. It might be a good idea to look into them and make sure none of them are up to something. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Nobles investigated. Chance of Success: 90%
Personal: You refuse to let your duties as King take up every moment of your day. (One Action Per Turn)
Marriage…yay?: You hadn't even really thought about marriage before this point. But as a King, you have a responsibility to…well, get married. It's not like you'll want for potential partners. Even as a brand new and untested King, you wield more power and influence than almost any other Griffon alive. Put out the call that you are looking for potential partners and you can be assured that you will receive many an option. You'll have your advisers look through them first to cull the list a bit of course. Cost: 0. Time: 1 Year. Reward: Marriage Options.
I Need a Weapon: You really do. The mountains and forests of Griffonia are filled with potential dangers, and you already know of some people who aren't too excited about your ascension to the Throne. You may have the Knights Lion as bodyguards, but you'd sleep a little easier if you had your own piece of steel to swing around, one that served as both a means of defense and a symbol of your office. Cost:50. Time: One Year. Reward: A weapon fit for a king. +1 Martial
Meet the King: It's customary for a new ruler to arrange a celebration in order to introduce themselves to their subjects. Whether it's a mayor organizing a festival for their town or a count inviting his barons to a feast, food and drink tend to help make a good first impression. Perhaps you should follow their example? Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Small boost to Public Opinion, small chance to meet Persons of Interest.
