Who Needs Harmony?: An MLP Empire Quest
- Thread starter Questor
- Start date
- Location
- Washington
I believe it was stated that canonically the magic was just worn off by that point in canon.
Violence is not the answer. Violence is the question and the answer is When?
- Location
- Washington
Huh, if he escaped because of the magic wearing off could we ask that the princesses reapply it every now and then? Even if we don't know it would wear off I think Griffon would rather be on the safe side and get it reapplied. While it would be a good opportunity in the sense that we can pick up the pieces and control the world that way I don't think we want to rule a kingdom of ashes.
- Location
- Germany
Or if nothing else helps, *put them outta their misery*
- Location
- Italy
..ok, I still have to read the fallout omake (I skimmed it though. I just don't like Fallout or Fallout Equestria that much), but let's skip to the actual update for now!
I want to learn more about the present Alicorn sisters, and quest Equestria!
It would take quite a lot for them to actually become hostile to us, after all.
Well, I imagine she'll get along with our country and ambassadors pretty well, and part of her "fall to darkness" was her isolation and being ignored.
If she gets something important to do, and is RECOGNIZED for it, we should be able to prevent Nightmare Moon.
also, gas lamps = more night life... though she might be a bit annoyed at light pollution dimming the stars' light...
I doubt it would work, but still!
And I suppose the concept of a standing army would sound foreign and possibly alarming to the ponies. Generally speaking professional armies are expensive.
someone might call us paranoid. I prefer the term "prepared".
Time and again, we have been proved RIGHT about our fears, and the need of a standing army.
Sombra. Maretonia. the Caribou attacking Emerald Isle and the pirates attacking our merchants. The monsters that until a few years ago plagued our land.
And, unknown to the Royal Sisters, the changelings.
Having our army and our mindset makes us important to keep an eye on... but we've also proved ourselves good people in general. As long as they don't see us using our powers for evil purposes (and they'll probably start by checking our treatment of Maretonia once the war is over), it's in their interest to be our allies and friends, and try to influence us through diplomacy rather than showing themselves as hostile.
oh the irony!
We'd definitely pay good money for teams of weather pegasi to manage the weather in at least PARTS of our kingdoms. Stopping big storms and hurricanes before they start, ensuring rains for good harvests and sunny days for at least the big holidays...
We all know not to trust the Flim-Flam Brothers after all.
again, this is very ironic because in their own way the ponies are fighting nature just as much as us.
I mean, how can complete control of weather and seasons AND SUN AND MOON not be seen as a way to control nature, to make it harmonious?
It's just that they use magic for that, and we (mostly) use technology.
Then again, it's all in the mindset I suppose.
I'd expect ponies to have conflicting feelings about what are predators though.
In the end, both viewpoints have some flaws, but I kinda hope that in time our cultures might slowly influence each other, and better themselves though that.
And really, history proves the Griffons RIGHT that war is unavoidable (or at least VERY VERY LIKELY), and one should be prepared for it.
We don't have a Deus ex Harmony to fall on, after all.
I wonder what the princesses will think of this specific bit. Luna certainly showed a lot of disgust for her nobles...
yeah, Equestria will likely require quite a few diplomatic actions to have everything go right. It should be worth it though, and both races could stand to learn something from each other.
I want to learn more about the present Alicorn sisters, and quest Equestria!
yeah, that would likely be a bit surprising from their PoV.
ah... that explains it.
..yeah, considering that they're going from "we only knew of the yaks" to "the world is a lot bigger and varied than we thought!"... their surprise is completely understandable, yeah.
As good as we could hope. They'll likely want to verify how we'll treat the Maretonians after the war is over, but abolishing slavery and being decent to the civilians will likely be enough to gain their acceptance.
It would take quite a lot for them to actually become hostile to us, after all.
..yeah, there is SOME level of doubt in Luna.
Well, I imagine she'll get along with our country and ambassadors pretty well, and part of her "fall to darkness" was her isolation and being ignored.
If she gets something important to do, and is RECOGNIZED for it, we should be able to prevent Nightmare Moon.
also, gas lamps = more night life... though she might be a bit annoyed at light pollution dimming the stars' light...
...you know, that's not a bad idea.
I doubt it would work, but still!
...that's actually an interesting idea. It might very well work to weaken him
fair question from Luna. I wonder if she'll be surprised by Snowdrop confirming everything we said.
the best of friends, and the worst of enemies, that's us!
mh.. yeah, I suppose our knights would likely be comparable to the royal guards in quality. No idea about HOW MANY royal guards they have, though.
And I suppose the concept of a standing army would sound foreign and possibly alarming to the ponies. Generally speaking professional armies are expensive.
someone might call us paranoid. I prefer the term "prepared".
While all the intel about our military mindset might be worrying, I trust Celestia and Luna to be reasonable.
Time and again, we have been proved RIGHT about our fears, and the need of a standing army.
Sombra. Maretonia. the Caribou attacking Emerald Isle and the pirates attacking our merchants. The monsters that until a few years ago plagued our land.
And, unknown to the Royal Sisters, the changelings.
Having our army and our mindset makes us important to keep an eye on... but we've also proved ourselves good people in general. As long as they don't see us using our powers for evil purposes (and they'll probably start by checking our treatment of Maretonia once the war is over), it's in their interest to be our allies and friends, and try to influence us through diplomacy rather than showing themselves as hostile.
oh the irony!
We'd definitely pay good money for teams of weather pegasi to manage the weather in at least PARTS of our kingdoms. Stopping big storms and hurricanes before they start, ensuring rains for good harvests and sunny days for at least the big holidays...
well, if the WHOLE of Equestria reached that point, I'd kinda agree with them... especially because we have ZERO reasons to trust that such industrialization made Equestrian's life better.
We all know not to trust the Flim-Flam Brothers after all.
again, this is very ironic because in their own way the ponies are fighting nature just as much as us.
I mean, how can complete control of weather and seasons AND SUN AND MOON not be seen as a way to control nature, to make it harmonious?
It's just that they use magic for that, and we (mostly) use technology.
Then again, it's all in the mindset I suppose.
mh.. interesting comparison.
I'd expect ponies to have conflicting feelings about what are predators though.
In the end, both viewpoints have some flaws, but I kinda hope that in time our cultures might slowly influence each other, and better themselves though that.
Honestly I'm just happy it's the SECOND best way. I find it reasonable all things considered.
And really, history proves the Griffons RIGHT that war is unavoidable (or at least VERY VERY LIKELY), and one should be prepared for it.
We don't have a Deus ex Harmony to fall on, after all.
I wonder what the princesses will think of this specific bit. Luna certainly showed a lot of disgust for her nobles...
yeah, Equestria will likely require quite a few diplomatic actions to have everything go right. It should be worth it though, and both races could stand to learn something from each other.
- Location
- Maryland
The encounter roll for Equestria was an interesting thing. Had the roll been a little bit lower, or had you encountered them a few decades later, you would have arrived just in time to bear witness to this:
Gawain: "You guys are back early."
Griffon Cosmonaut: "Moon's Haunted."
Gawain: "What?"
Griffon Cosmonaut: Grabbing an Orichalcum Sword and getting back on the rocket. "Moon's haunted."
The possibility of a referendum to fully join or leave the Empire does exist, but such a thing lies firmly in the court of the Crystal Ponies themselves. It will likely be some time yet before they consider fully committing.
"Victory cannot be achieved without sacrifice. Our people know this truth better than any other."
I've actually been wanting to touch on this subject for a while.
Gryphus is currently one of the only nations in the setting with a professional standing army, and certainly possesses the largest of such forces.
Most civilizations you will encounter at this point in time are similar to Equestria, in that their military is made up of a small core of professional warriors (knights, royal guards, samurai, a warrior caste, etc.), which are supplemented by conscripts, militia, mercenaries and peasant levies.
The reasons for this are twofold: firstly, financial. The costs of maintaining a permanent force of professional soldiers is ruinous, especially to an agrarian, feudal society. And paying this cost becomes difficult to justify when you are not facing an enemy. Gryphus sidesteps the issue by virtue of being, if not the largest economy on the planet, certainly one of the most powerful and dynamic. Put very simply, the reason Gryphus has such a large military while others don't is that they are one of the only nations that can afford to have such a force.
Secondly, there are political barriers and consequences to having such a large number of armed people whose entire job is fighting the enemies of the realm. If the force answers solely to the Emperor, Princesses, or head of state, then the nobles below them may get nervous about what might happen if that amount of force is directed inside the nation's borders.
And if the force is decentralized, with say, each Noble house controlling a portion of the army, then you have new problems. Not just the practical question of how you will quickly assemble and coordinate this patchwork force in a time of war, or how you will sort out the chain of command, but the issue of ambitious Noble commanders getting the idea to use their personal armies against each other or the head of state.
And in both such situations, one has to worry about a bunch of bored soldiers getting it into their heads that if they have all the weapons and firepower, maybe they should be the ones in charge?
In such cases, having such a large army actually invites instability.
Gryphus is different. The Winter War, a war for the very survival of the nation against a foreign threat, allowed Garrick to achieve a level of centralization of authority that would never have been possible in peacetime. The outlook of the Griffons is also a factor. As Snowdrop said, Griffons do not ask if they will need such an army, but when. They do not just think, but know, on a deep instinctual level, that there will always be another foe, another threat, another war to be fought. And they need to be prepared for when that threat rears it's head.
Evaunit02mark1
S-s-smell the Prey, S-s-start the Hunt.
I mean when you get proven right time and time again the old scraggly griffon standing on the corner with a sign saying "The End is Nigh" isn't a madman so much as a very enthusiastic weatherman.
FictionPack
Monochromatic Ursine
- Location
- Tennessee
- Pronouns
- He/Him
War, war never changes.
So....we are Final Fantasy recurring Big Bad Empire?
- Location
- Italy
The encounter roll for Equestria was an interesting thing. Had the roll been a little bit lower, or had you encountered them a few decades later, you would have arrived just in time to bear witness to this:
is that a Luna turning Nightmare, or a Nightmare trapped in a ritual circle with Celestia hoping there's an "inner Luna" fighting an external corruption?
ah, so we have to wait.
Or, possibly, use an intrigue option to subtly nudge them to start a "fully join" movement.
Not a priority anyway. We'll consider it after Maretonia.
wait, we're not the largest economy on the planet?
I can't imagine anyone else surpassing us, really!
But yeah, we're basically so wealthy that we CAN afford our army. Really, we could afford a much bigger one, though we don't truly need it yet.
The fact that we've had plenty of uses for our armies also helps.
which is why having a LOT of noble/commoner approval is paramount.
Luckily for us...
- Location
- sweden
Hmmm pony magic can be a threat to the enviroment there meddling would basically make the land completely useless to non-ponies if a pony stops controlling land then the weather will become endless beating sunlight baking the ground, grass simply not growing over those few inches like a carpet that then dies, possibly no crops growing due to pony magic being responsible for it could the soil be depleted where they grow food? but works due to earth pony magic could be why there are most only earth pony farmers?
Quadruped. The word you're looking for is quadruped. Quadraped is very different in meaning.
AldariSiradla
Knight of the Fountain Pen
URAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
When the day of judgment comes...
These heroes shall rise again!!!
That sounds like us. Moon is haunted? Grab an anti-magic sword and GO RIGHT BACK TO THE MOON!
Loved this update and info dump, I fully back and agree with the Griffon mindset, If you want peace then prepare for war.
Of course you do realize that now we must double the army size, you know, too future proof it... just in case...
Also lets have our diplomats drag Luna away and show her a good time, if the ponies won't appreciate her then the Empire will, may as well let her relax on Libertalia and get pampered by some pool boys too.
Of course you do realize that now we must double the army size, you know, too future proof it... just in case...
Also lets have our diplomats drag Luna away and show her a good time, if the ponies won't appreciate her then the Empire will, may as well let her relax on Libertalia and get pampered by some pool boys too.
- Location
- Somewhere
Link to the last time I did this.
Archival purposes: "Meeting the Princesses, Part 2" (posted by QM on Saturday, June 5, 2021)
OR
The Front Page as it appeared to me on Sunday, June 6, 2021.
Character Sheet (last edited by QM on Sunday, May 23, 2021)
(Been my experience that spoilers inside quotes, don't work well, so I'm removing those spoilers)
- Changed
- Garrick has a portrait. Very nice.
-- I am prejudiced against spoilers.
Informational: State of the Nation (last edited by QM on Sunday, November 15, 2020)
- Not Changed
Informational: Diplomatic Relations/Persons of Interest (last edited by QM on Friday, May 21, 2021)
- Change happened
--- "Look at the Sky Sisters and weep in awe" = Kingdom of Equestria diplomatic relations has been added
Archival purposes: "Meeting the Princesses, Part 2" (posted by QM on Saturday, June 5, 2021)
OR
The Front Page as it appeared to me on Sunday, June 6, 2021.
Character Sheet (last edited by QM on Sunday, May 23, 2021)
(Been my experience that spoilers inside quotes, don't work well, so I'm removing those spoilers)
- Changed
- Garrick has a portrait. Very nice.
-- I am prejudiced against spoilers.
Name: Garrick Golden-Feather
Age: 56
Titles: Emperor of Gryphus, King of Griffonia, Inheritor of the Imperial House of Gryphus, The Unifier, Great Winged Alpha, The Lightbringer, The Liberator, the King of the North.
Description: Before your wife got her talons on you, you were a fairly typical example of the Griffon species. An unmistakably masculine build, a strong, prominent beak, feathers and fur that seem to be perpetually well-groomed, and a pair of piercing amber eyes hiding a fierce intelligence. Not anymore though. Oh, you still have all those qualities, they're just overshadowed by the massive amount of muscle you've put on since you started your wife's "enhanced training regimen". Your wings can lift dumbbells, and your legs are like tree-trunks supporting a barrel chest rippling with abdominal muscles. In short, you have the build of a person who has been lifting heavy objects his entire life.
Martial: 9+2+1+2=14
Diplomacy: 14+2+2=18
Stewardship: 13+2=15
Learning: 16+2=18
Intrigue: 11+2=13
- Trait-Attractive: You are a very handsome fellow. +2 Diplomacy, better spousal relationship
- Trait-Genius: Smart doesn't even begin to describe you. +2 all skills
- Trait-Strong: Working out with your wife has done great things for your body. +2 Martial
Inventory:
- Blade of the King: an ornate and deadly sword you had forged for yourself after being crowned King of Griffonia. +1 Martial
- Runic Royal Armor: Serving to protect you as well as display your royal status to onlookers, this armor is both durable and aesthetically pleasing. With Merlin's assistance, it has been enhanced with runic magic, making it even more durable.
- Orichalcum Sword: A blade made of an extremely durable, magic resistant metal
- Sendak Manuscript: Recovered from the Archives of the Shadow King Sombra, this strange book is bound in the treated flesh of monsters and is written in numerous unknown tongues. It contains diagrams that seem to reference everything from the movements of stellar bodies to the biology of plants and animals to the complex physics of magical phenomenon. It's origins remain a mystery.
Wife: Gabriella Golden-Feather
Opinion of You: 10/10
Age: 55
Martial: 15+1+2=18
Diplomacy: 11+1=12
Stewardship: 8+1=9
Learning: 13+1=14
Intrigue: 10+1=11
Trait: Strong - Born stronger than most. (+2 Martial)
Trait: Experienced - Has been a mercenary for several years, ranging across the lands of the former Empire. Knows much about the world. (+1 All Stats)
Son: Gawain Golden-Feather
Age: 25
Martial: 14+2+2+1=19
Diplomacy: 13+2+2+2=19
Stewardship: 14+2=16
Learning: 10+2=12
Intrigue: 11+2=13
Status: Designated Heir. Will become player character in event of Parent's Deaths.
Trait: Strong-Born stronger than most. (+2 Martial)
Trait: Attractive-A handsome fellow. (+2 Diplomacy, better spousal relationship)
Trait: Genius-Smart doesn't begin to describe him. (+2 All Stats)
Trait: Game Master-Years of playing games of strategy and wits with members of the Imperial Court has honed his sense of strategy and taught him how to read others. (+1 Martial, +2 Diplomacy)
(Adopted) Daughter: Gwyndlyn Golden-Feather
Age: 21
Martial: 15+4-5=14
Diplomacy: 9-5=4
Stewardship: 6+2-5=3
Learning: 8+1-5=4
Intrigue: 9+1-5=5
Status: Adolescent-Malus to all stats
Status-Designated Regent: In the event that no heir is capable of taking the throne, or in the event the rightful ruler is otherwise unavailable, she will take control of the kingdom until the situation can be resolved.
Trait: Dragon-A fire breathing reptile. (+4 Martial)
Trait: Gardener-Years of studying and caring for plants has taught her much in the realm of botany, and has instilled in her an understanding of how hard work and patience can yield great dividends. (+2 Stewardship, +1 Learning, +1 Intrigue)
Daughter: Gilda Golden-Feather
Age: 18
Martial: 8+4-5=7
Diplomacy: 11+2-5=8
Stewardship: 11-5=6
Learning: 7-5=2
Intrigue: 6-5=1
Trait: Beautiful- A stellar example of feminine grace. (+2 Diplomacy)
Duelist: An experienced master of one-on-one combat who spars against others as a hobby. (+4 Martial)
Status: Teenager-Malus to all stats
Daughter: Gleaming Pearl Golden-Feather
Age: 19
Martial: 7+2-5=4
Diplomacy: 10+2-5=7
Stewardship: 12-5=7
Learning: 5+2-5=2
Intrigue: 8-5=3
Status: Teenager-Malus to all stats
Trait: Beautiful-A stellar example of feminine grace. (+2 Diplomacy)
Trait: Studious-Knows her way around the written word. (+2 Learning)
Adopted: Permanently last in the line of Royal Succession.
Crystalmancer: A prodigy in the arcane art of Crystal Manipulation, able to turn a few pebbles into a forest of glittering spires. (+2 Martial)
Informational: State of the Nation (last edited by QM on Sunday, November 15, 2020)
- Not Changed
Informational: Diplomatic Relations/Persons of Interest (last edited by QM on Friday, May 21, 2021)
- Change happened
--- "Look at the Sky Sisters and weep in awe" = Kingdom of Equestria diplomatic relations has been added
Last edited:
- Location
- Hell, or at least the closest place to it
I lived, bitches.
Time to reread and do a new omake then disappear for months. Also I am incredibly flattered my Diamond dog lore made it in.
Time to reread and do a new omake then disappear for months. Also I am incredibly flattered my Diamond dog lore made it in.
Last edited:
Bakkasama
There is always a greater fool
- Location
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Pronouns
- He/his
Still, considering how prone to overreacting ponies can be, it might be fun to see what the consecuences of an airship going over the capital, visiting the palace and then leaving the same day would be. Like, what are the noble's opinions of our nation ("Eh, we have the princesses, we can take them" ; "We still have magic, they are just playing catch up with technology. We had flying cities ages ago"), the general population ("An airship? Ok, I am cutting you off the cider" "WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE" "Ayup, that is not something you see every day") or the scholars ("We could probably do the same using clouds and cloudwalking spells, but is it worth the cost of maintaining a pegasus crew to keep it whole?" ; "How does our magic compare to their charms?"), that kind of thing.
Last edited:
- Location
- MN
huh, how do our allies feel about us having such a large standing army then? I mean I know the yaks have always had a smaller army then us but their thing was that each one of their solders can basically act as a living siege weapon do to their magic and generally having a smaller population to us overall. Neighpon I always though had a military around the same size as us just focus more on their navy instead of ground troops do to being an island nation. Haven't really seen much of the other nations armies as we haven't fought with them or against them so I've always assumed that while our army was a bit larger then most other nations they still had professional armies of their own. If not then if they have any spies in Maretonia I can't help but wonder if we're about to take a dip in our relationships with the other known nations we they get to see what it's like when the griffons go to war.