Who Needs Harmony?: An MLP Empire Quest

[Questor]

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. (Three Actions Per Turn) +1 Martial Action and -1 Personal action until Wingbardy/Aquileia Situation dealt with.

Onwards, to Glory!: You have an army and a navy. You have a suit of armor and a blade worthy of your station. You have Knights. And now you have an excuse, one that no one will begrudge you. Wingbardy won't last long on its own. Rally your forces and march to war! (Wingbardy Campaign Begins!)

Expand the Army: Well, Brochard has made the first move. The war for the future of all Griffon-Kind has begun. Your army has been sufficient to patrol your borders and fight off raiders and monsters, but you're not sure if they're going to be enough to defend your kingdom against a full-on invasion by an actual army, let alone lead an invasion themselves. If you're going to fight a war, you're going to need more soldiers. Cost: 1000. Time: One Year. Reward: Warriors recruited, army expanded.

Quality over Quantity: It's one thing to have a large army, quite another to have a well-equipped one. With all the ore your mines have started to churn out, you can start equipping your troops with high-quality armor and weapons usually reserved for elite units. This will be expensive however, both to purchase, and to maintain. Cost: 500. Time: One Year. Reward: Better Equipment issued to Royal Army, Upkeep Costs Doubled.

Mountain Militia: As a result of living in such a dangerous region, many Griffons possess their own personal weapons to defend themselves, and will rally together to defend their homes should the creatures of the forests threaten them. Wouldn't it be nice if they did the same when the kingdom was faced with invasion by less beastly foes? Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Village and town militias incorporated into military.

Dog Fighters: Diamond Dogs may not be capable of flight, but they can dig like nothing else, and their numerous raids against your territory in the past have proven their martial capabilities. Now that you have the loyalty of several packs, it might be a good idea to gather some volunteers willing to join your army and fight on your behalf, especially now that there's no risk of infighting between them and your regular units. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Diamond Dog Soldiers Recruited

Big Sticks: The mobile Ballistae show promise as new weapons, good for fighting larger monsters and breaking up masses of smaller enemies. They also have a significant range advantage over traditional bows. Build a few more. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: +5 mobile Ballistae added to army.



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)

The Cavalry is Coming: Duke Talonuelli doesn't want to just roll over for Brochard, but he can't fight him alone and everyone knows it. He's rallied his army, but that doesn't mean he won't surrender and spare the lives of his people if he sees no chance of victory. Send a fast courier before Wingbard is surrounded to let them know that help is on the way, and tell him to hold on until you get there. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Talonuelli knows you are coming, will be less likely to surrender to Brochard. Chance of Success: 75%

Pulling the League off the Fence: Despite Montefeathertro's best efforts, the Feathersian League remains paralyzed with indecision. The economic sanctions some have instituted are better than nothing, but you'd really like it if they took a more direct approach to halting Aquileian aggression. Send envoys to the more hesitant League member cities and convince them that they can no longer afford to sit idly by while Brochard threatens them all. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: The whole of the Feathersian League rallies against Aquileia and will contribute to the war effort. Chance of Success: 65%



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)

Fungus Farming for Fun and Profit: Archimedes' theories were sound, now it's time to put them into practice. Fund the construction of several mushroom farms and start harvesting your new foodstuff! Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Mushroom Farms Constructed, Increased Farming Income.

I'm a Lumberjack and I'm OK: Where it not for the fact that they were infested with monsters, the forests of your kingdom would provide a nearly inexhaustible supply of lumber. That's not to say that your people don't cut down trees, it's just that they've never really done it on a large scale for fear of angering the things living in the woods. If your kingdom is going to grow and prosper, you'll need that timber. Gather some soldiers and have them assist with the construction of water-powered sawmills and woodcutting camps. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Logging income. Chance of Success: 70%



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) Choices Locked

Aquaculture: One of Archimedes' assistants has proposed a strange new idea. Why don't we just farm fish the same way we farm other foodstuffs? After being accused of Discordian sympathies he hastily clarifies that he did not mean to invoke the memory of the horrific squid-plant hybrids created by the mad trickster god, but something much more mundane: "corralling" fish in artificial lakes and ponds, feeding and harvesting them in a similar manner to other livestock. Well…you've heard of crazier ideas. Cost: 400. Time: Two Years. Reward: Fish Farms established. Will Finish This Turn

Noxious Nitrates: Archimedes has been experimenting with some of the minerals your miners have started digging up, seeing how they react chemically with other elements. He's found a way to make a sort of...explosive powder out of sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter. You're...kind of concerned about that last one, seeing as how it's extracted from feces of all things, but his practical demonstrations cannot be denied or ignored. But Archimedes has an issue: the difficulty in acquiring large amounts of the components needed to make this Fire-powder. He's going to need funds to construct sulfur mines and...saltpeter distilleries. Ewww. Cost: 500. Time: Two Years. Reward: Supply of Fire-Powder Acquired. Chance of Success: 75% Will Finish This Turn



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)

Fluent in Treason: Brochard's taxation policies haven't been popular amongst his subjects. Should he fail to deliver a victory in Wingbardy and acquire it's fertile lands, he risks facing a revolt. Your spies are still present in Aquileia. Have them contact a few of the more openly resentful nobles and see if you can get the ball rolling on that whole "rebellion" thing, as well as lay the groundwork for a transfer of power once Brochard is out of the way. Cost: 400. Time: One Year. Reward: Increased chance of Revolt against Brochard, Less risk of opposition to your taking the throne. Chance of Success: 50%

Spying on the League: Despite Brochard's recent actions and Montefeathertro's influence, the Feathersian League remains divided on how to handle the ongoing conflict. Have your spies identify your detractors and the loudest voices advocating neutrality, that you may take action to change their minds and gain their support (or at least their silence) on the Council. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Gain intel on Feathersian Council. Chance of Success: 65%

Lord Ravenburg's Big Book of Blackmail: That earlier issue with the barons served to highlight what a headache they can be at times. Oh sure, you have their loyalty and support now, but at some point in the future you're going to want or need something that they won't want to give you or let you do. Being a member of the nobility himself, Ravenburg has a solution: blackmail. What with all the scheming and backstabbing that the nobility get up to, almost all of them have secrets that they wouldn't want being made public knowledge. It might be a good idea to learn a few of those secrets, just in case some uppity count needs to be "convinced" not to oppose you politically. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Blackmail on Griffonian nobility acquired.



Personal: You refuse to let your duties as King take up every moment of your day. (One Action Per Turn) -1 Personal and +1 Martial Action until Wingbardy/Aquileia Situation dealt with.

Gabriella's Greatswords: Your wife spent much of the previous year calling in favors from old friends and acquaintances. Among them were several mercenary captains that agreed to offer their services at discounted rates should you choose to acquire their services. Time to take them up on their offers. Cost: Varies, depending on Choices. Time: One Year. Reward: Mercenary Hires Interlude

Cracking an Egg: The dragon egg you've acquired is currently stored in a specialized room of your castle, designed to ensure it is kept at the proper temperature. Archimedes, ever the problem-solver, claims he has a way to encourage the egg to hatch, or to prevent it from hatching, should you wish it. Honestly, you're not too sure what to do. Your people know little about dragons beyond the obvious; the closest thing to an expert you have is your wife, who only knows how to kill them. Still, it seems a waste to just leave it sitting in your palace as a glorified paper-weight. Fully grown dragons are forces of nature, capable of taking on entire battalions of Griffon warriors and burning whole villages to the ground in minutes. Then again, those also seem like good reasons not to allow the egg to hatch, now that you think of it. Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Hatched Dragon Egg.

 

[Questor]

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.

-Expand the Army: Well, Brochard has made the first move. The war for the future of all Griffon-Kind has begun. Your army has been sufficient to patrol your borders and fight off raiders and monsters, but you're not sure if they're going to be enough to defend your kingdom against a full-on invasion by an actual army, let alone lead an invasion themselves. If you're going to fight a war, you're going to need more soldiers. Cost: 1000. Time: One Year. Reward: Warriors recruited, army expanded.

Heralds and town criers spread the word throughout the land: Aquileia has invaded Wingbardy, and you're looking for warriors to join you and help stop them. Offers of generous pay and access to the best weapons and armor are made, as are appeals to patriotism and the nostalgia of a united Empire. Griffons fly in to the muster stations by the hundreds and are given weapons and armor that still bear the heat of the forges they were birthed from.

There's little time for training, some Griffons having only a few days to familiarize themselves with their new equipment before flying to Wingbardy. But your people have spent decades under Discord's reign, have lived their entire lives under threat from the creatures of the forests, have been raised from birth to defend themselves from a world that will seek to do them harm at every opportunity. They know how to fight, how to defend themselves, even from other Griffons.

With your army bolstered by new blood, you now feel a bit more confident with the prospect going to war. +2500 Warriors, 1250 Archers, 1250 Pole-arms



-Quality over Quantity: It's one thing to have a large army, quite another to have a well-equipped one. With all the ore your mines have started to churn out, you can start equipping your troops with high-quality armor and weapons usually reserved for elite units. This will be expensive however, both to purchase, and to maintain. Cost: 500. Time: One Year. Reward: Better Equipment issued to Royal Army, Upkeep Costs Doubled.

Hundreds of tons of ore are pried from the mountains and shoveled into smelters. Blocks of red-hot metal are hammered into shape. Blades and spearheads are sharpened, shields hardened, bows strung, arrows crafted. When the shipments from the mines cannot keep up with the demand, the now outdated iron weapons are thrown into the forges to be melted down and remade into steel.

Spears are replaced with glaives and other pole-arms, mail and plate replace leather and banded iron, and helmets, greaves and vambraces become standard issue amongst frontline combatants. While few if any of your troops are as well equipped as your knights, you now feel a great deal better about their effectiveness in combat. As do they, judging by the chatter you hear as you inspect the forges and camps. Army Equipment Upgraded, Upkeep Costs Doubled, +10 to Army Morale.


-Onwards, to Glory!: You have an army and a navy. You have a suit of armor and a blade worthy of your station. You have Knights. And now you have an excuse, one that no one will begrudge you. Wingbardy won't last long on its own. Rally your forces and march to war! (Wingbardy Campaign Begins!)

You've recruited additional troops and outfitted them all with the best equipment you can afford to give them. You've done everything you could have in the time allowed to prepare yourself. You wish you could do more, but Wingbardy burns even now. Time is a luxury that you have precious little of, and if you are to stand a chance at halting Brochard's invasion and preventing him from annexing Wingbardy, you need to go now.

As you strap on your armor with your wife's assistance in the solitude of your personal chamber, your eyes stray to the crib in the corner where your son Gawain sleeps peacefully, blissfully ignorant of the conflict that threatens to destroy his home and family.

You find yourself standing silently over his gently breathing form, your wife's talons entwined with yours as you seek to memorize every detail of your child. Neither of you dare to speak it, but you both know there is a chance that one or both of you will not return to see him again. You reluctantly tear your eyes away from your child, your greatest treasure, and look into your wife's face as she, like you, fights to keep her eyes dry. There are no words. There is no need for them. You both simply nod and embrace the other. Tomorrow she shall meet with several mercenary contacts, negotiating on your behalf as your Queen, and you shall muster the troops for the march over the border. But here and now, in this moment, in the tranquility of your home, you are not rulers, but a family. Just one of many threatened by the madness of war. Continued in "The Battle of Wingbardy"



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.

-The Cavalry is Coming: Duke Talonuelli doesn't want to just roll over for Brochard, but he can't fight him alone and everyone knows it. He's rallied his army, but that doesn't mean he won't surrender and spare the lives of his people if he sees no chance of victory. Send a fast courier before Wingbard is surrounded to let them know that help is on the way, and tell him to hold on until you get there. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Talonuelli knows you are coming, will be less likely to surrender to Brochard. Chance of Success: 75%

Required: 25. Rolled: 29+18(Personal Diplomacy)+10(@LunarTinker Omake Bonus)=57

You send the fastest courier money can buy to the Duke with a missive urging him not to surrender and reassuring him that help is on the way, that all he needs to do is hold on until you can relieve him. The courier returns and hands you a letter from Talonuelli before collapsing from exhaustion. You later learn that he had fled the Ducal Manor just as the vanguard of Brochard's army had come into sight of the city's walls. The letter is hastily scrawled, but the message is clear: Talonuelli will hold out as long as he can. You suppose that's the best you can ask of him. Talonuelli informed of imminent relief force, will resist surrender for as long as possible.



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.

-Fungus Farming for Fun and Profit: Archimedes' theories were sound, now it's time to put them into practice. Fund the construction of several mushroom farms and start harvesting your new foodstuff! Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Mushroom Farms Constructed, Increased Farming Income.

The construction of the new Mushroom Farms become a symbol of the cooperation between Gryphons and Diamond Dogs. Dogs dig the tunnels, Gryphons plant the spores and oversee the growth of the crop, and both races work side-by-side to harvest the fungal bounty. A year-round food supply that can be cultivated underground is naturally something of great interest to the subterranean canines, and their decision to pledge their loyalty to you is once again vindicated as they reap the benefits. The extra tax income in your treasury isn't bad either. +200 Farming 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.

-Aquaculture: One of Archimedes' assistants has proposed a strange new idea. Why don't we just farm fish the same way we farm other foodstuffs? After being accused of Discordian sympathies he hastily clarifies that he did not mean to invoke the memory of the horrific squid-plant hybrids created by the mad trickster god, but something much more mundane: "corralling" fish in artificial lakes and ponds, feeding and harvesting them in a similar manner to other livestock. Well…you've heard of crazier ideas. Cost: 400. Time: Two Years. Reward: Fish Farms established.

After a great deal of trial and error and more than one pond-full of dead fish, Archimedes informs you that they've smoothed out the kinks in the "aquaculture" process. You now have access to a supply of fish that doesn't rely upon changing migration patterns or fluctuating populations. And there's still a market for "wild-caught" fish, so you won't have to worry about the fisher-gryphs coming after you or complaining about lost revenue. Some of them have actually raised their prices, and are making more of a profit now than they were before! +200 Farming Income


-Noxious Nitrates: Archimedes has been experimenting with some of the minerals your miners have started digging up, seeing how they react chemically with other elements. He's found a way to make a sort of...explosive powder out of sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter. You're...kind of concerned about that last one, seeing as how it's extracted from feces of all things, but his practical demonstrations cannot be denied or ignored. But Archimedes has an issue: the difficulty in acquiring large amounts of the components needed to make this Fire-powder. He's going to need funds to construct sulfur mines and...saltpeter distilleries. Ewww. Cost: 500. Time: Two Years. Reward: Supply of Fire-Powder Acquired. Chance of Success: 75%

Finally, after much difficult and foul-smelling work, Archimedes guarantees you a reliable supply of his fire-powder in significant quantities. Just in time for the war against Aquileia. You're sure you'll be able to find a use for it. Gained Supply of Black Powder.



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.

-Fluent in Treason: Brochard's taxation policies haven't been popular amongst his subjects. Should he fail to deliver a victory in Wingbardy and acquire it's fertile lands, he risks facing a revolt. Your spies are still present in Aquileia. Have them contact a few of the more openly resentful nobles and see if you can get the ball rolling on that whole "rebellion" thing, as well as lay the groundwork for a transfer of power once Brochard is out of the way. Cost: 400. Time: One Year. Reward: Increased chance of Revolt against Brochard, Less risk of opposition to your taking the throne. Chance of Success: 50%

Required: 50. Rolled: 95+13(Personal Intrigue)+50(Omake Bonuses)=158 (Nat. Crit!)

Wow. No really just...wow. You're not sure if Brochard really sucks or if your spies are just that good, but they did way more than just find some nobles who didn't much care for their current King. According to Ravenburg's reports, half the nobles in Aquileia have already pledged their loyalty to you and forsaken Brochard, and the other half are likely to do the same should you manage to defeat him on the field of battle!

You'd expected that you'd have to fight your way to the throne and wage war against Brochard's supporters but it seems that, barring a few rare exceptions, the majority of the Aquileian nobility only followed Brochard out of fear or a perceived lack of any other options. Most of them weren't even aware that you were descended from the House of Gryphus, and seemed shocked that you would try to convince them to join you through rational arguments rather than just threatening to kill them and confiscate their lands if they didn't. You suspect Brochard has been spreading misinformation about you. Either that or this is the style of rulership his people have come to expect. Probably both.

Well, his lies about you don't stand up to the truth, and his subjects no longer see any reason to follow him. If you can beat Brochard and his army, the nobles of Aquileia will trip over themselves to swear fealty to you. Aquileia's nobility and peasantry promise to swear fealty to you in the event of Brochard's defeat.



Personal: You refuse to let your duties as King take up every moment of your day.

-Gabriella's Greatswords: Your wife spent much of the previous year calling in favors from old friends and acquaintances. Among them were several mercenary captains that agreed to offer their services at discounted rates should you choose to hire them. Time to take them up on their offers. Cost: Varies, depending on Choices. Time: One Year. Reward: Choice of Mercenary Hires

Gabriella meets with the leaders of a number of mercenary outfits, most of whom she knows personally from her years as a wandering sell-sword. She's traveled with, gotten drunk with, and in some cases fought against these Gryphons. She's earned their respect, and as a result they've all agreed to offer their services at discounted rates. They still charge enormous sums mind you, just not quite as much as they otherwise would have. (You may hire as many units as you like, though they all insist on being paid in advance. Alternatively, you can choose not to hire any of them with no consequences.)


[ ] The Wood Stalkers: Experienced Archers/Scouts that specialize in Forest Combat, they have years of experience hunting Timberwolves and Feral Diamond Dogs throughout Griffonia. (Numbers: 200 Warriors, 300 Archers) Cost: 300 Gold

[ ] The Black Pikes: A unit of heavily armored and stoic Gryphons skilled in the use of long thrusting spears, ground combat, and phalanx warfare. They're not very mobile or good in an aerial battle, but when defending a spot on the ground they're nearly impossible to dislodge. (Numbers: 500 Pikes) Cost: 400 Gold

[ ] The Crimson Company: One of the most (in)famous mercenary companies of the Northern Mountains, the warriors of the Crimson Company fly into battle with nothing but steel claws and a coating of war-paint. Almost suicidally brave and determined to win glory in battle or die trying, their lack of armour gives them a significant speed advantage over most opponents. (Numbers: 500 Gryphon Berserkers) Cost: 500 Gold

[ ] Captain Kingfisher's Marvelous Mutineers: Before Brochard started constructing actual warships, he forcibly confiscated several fishing boats from coastal settlements to serve as makeshift patrol vessels. Naturally this didn't fly with many of the local fisher-gryphs. One former boat captain by the name of Gerard Kingfisher led several of his fellows in a daring raid to steal back his boat, along with a shipment of weapons. Branded outlaws, they now make a living as privateers and pirate-hunters, offering a special discount to anyone asking them to raid Aquileian naval vessels. (Numbers: 2 Caravels loaded with 300 angry sailors) Cost: 600 Gold

[ ] The Troll-busters: These eccentric exiles of Feathersian nobility are unusual even by mercenary standards. Wielding strange and unwieldy mechanical contraptions that spew streamers of fire like draconic maws, they've made a name for themselves burning down swathes of monster infested forest for the highest bidder. Despite their pitiful numbers, they charge absurdly high rates for their services; apparently those "flamethrowers" aren't cheap to operate or maintain. Still, they would doubtlessly be a valuable asset in battle. (Numbers: 4 Flamethrowers) Cost: 1000 Gold

 

[Questor]

"I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again: you look good in armor love."

"Thank you dear, though I don't think I pull off the look nearly as well as you do."

Gabriella smirks in that playful way you've grown to love these past few years, running a clawed talon along her stylized cuirass. Her armor is a bit lighter than yours, but it is undoubtedly worthy of "Griffonia's Warrior Queen". Your own armor is nothing to scoff at either, though you sometimes wish it wasn't quite so heavy. Were it not for the benefits of your regular exercise schedule you doubt you'd have been able to fly for any appreciable length of time in it! Still, it certainly serves its purpose: You cut an imposing figure, and you reckon it would take a ballista bolt to pierce it in most places.

Just behind you is the assembled might of Griffonia, over fifteen thousand warriors, their newly-crafted steel equipment gleaming in the midday light. Many flying, some walking to conserve their energy, all being kept organized by the shouts, whistles and bugles of their officers. Traveling alongside them, distinguished from your regulars by their flamboyant armour and rigid discipline, are the Knights Lion and their squires, the new blood among them eager to prove themselves in combat. And then, scattered in pockets throughout the column, there are the mercenaries, the soldiers of fortune whose services cost you a great deal of gold. Still, you are certain they will play their part in the battle to come. You can afford to lighten your treasury, but you can't afford to lose here.

By now Duke Talonuelli has been under siege for months. You haven't heard anything from or of him since Brochard's Army encircled his Capital. He promised to hold out as long as he could, but the Aquileians outnumber him more than three to one, and Brochard would not have started this war without a plan to capture it. All you and your warriors can do is move as quickly as you dare and hope the Duke is still fighting when you arrive.

(Status of Wingbard: 38+15(Cavalry's Coming)+10(Walled City)-5(Siege Engines)=58)

And miraculously, he is. Your forces clear the forest and come into sight of Wingbard's walls, still standing strong. Though the city they defend has seen better days.





Columns of smoke drift from the city-center, and even from this distance you can make out numerous damaged or destroyed buildings. As your soldiers reorganize into a defensive line behind you, one of the siege engines in Brochard's force launches a stone projectile over the walls. It impacts a roof, collapsing it and sending debris flying. The cacophony of splintering wood and shattering glass is audible for miles. There is no sign of retaliation from the defenders. You grimace. While the flag of Wingbardy may still fly above the city, it is clear that its inhabitants have been battered and exhausted. You don't know how much support you can expect from the Duke. It appears the burden of ensuring victory shall fall almost entirely upon the shoulders of you and your troops.



One of Brochard's smaller, portable Siege Engines.


The army of Aquileia is encamped just beyond archery range of the defenders, patrols of flyers ringing the city to ensure no brave or desperate Gryph tries to make a break for it. The land bears the scars of their presence. Great swathes of forest have been cut down for firewood, and refuse and garbage litter the field. Such are the consequences of hiring bandits and brigands as cut-rate mercenaries. Though the Aquileians are not all so undisciplined. Even now you can see the besiegers streaming out of their camps by the thousands, forming up into their own lines and combat formations in preparation to meet you in battle.

You steel yourself as you go to discuss your battle plan with your subordinates. This is it. The battle that will decide the fate of you and your Kingdom, the battle that will determine the future of all Griffons. One way or another, by the end of the day there would be no question as to who deserves the title of Emperor.



What Strategy Shall You Employ?

[ ] Charge!: Brochard is many things, but he's not an idiot. He had to have known you'd try to assist Wingbardy, and he has to have a plan to deal with you. Don't give him time to enact it. Rapidly close with his forces and engage them before they have a chance to try anything.

[ ] Come And Get Me!: You have Ballistae, you have the range advantage, and while you don't know if Talonuelli is capable of launching an assault from his city against Brochard's rear, you want to give him an opportunity none the less. Assume defensive positions and make the enemy come to you.

[ ] Write In



Despite the upgrades you've made to your army, the Knights Lion are still the best trained and best equipped warriors you have. How shall you utilize them?

[ ] Tip of the Spear/The Bulwark: Place them front and center, ensuring that they will be the first to engage with the enemy.

[ ] Rapid Response: Hold them back, keeping them in reserve to plug gaps in the line and respond to changing circumstances.

[ ] Links in a Chain: Scatter them individually throughout the frontline units, bolstering morale and ensuring discipline amongst the rank and file.

[ ] Protection Detail: The Knights were your bodyguards once. They can be so again. Assign them to protect and support you in battle.

 

[Questor]

After a hurried discussion with your subordinates a battle plan is hashed out and you disband to take charge of your respective units. You give your wife a brief but emotion-laden embrace before you are forced to part ways. She had stated beforehand that she wished to fight alongside the Valkyries as she had done before marrying into royalty, and you could not begrudge her that. You would miss her presence alongside you in battle, but you both trust each other to handle yourselves.

The piercing whistles and bugle calls developed what seems like a lifetime ago ring out, and orders are passed along down the chain by banner and courier alike. Battalions take to the skies or assume defensive positions on the ground, forming a wall of flesh, feathers, fur, and steel that stretches upwards and outwards. Warriors interlock their shields and soldiers wielding polearms brace themselves while archers nock arrows. You grip your blade as your soldiers brace themselves for the coming assault. Across the field, standing before the walls of Wingbardy, you can see your opposition has also finished reorganizing itself.

You can see that Brochard has placed his mercenaries and enlisted brigands up front, likely out of a desire to minimize losses among his regular troops and ensure that the soldiers of fortune can't retreat. With spears at their backs as well as their fronts, they'll have no choice but to fight or die. Despite your scouring of the Aquileian lines, you can't seem to locate Brochard. Would he be garbed as a regular officer? You know he's on the field, he would never entrust a battle of such immense importance to a subordinate and simply leave it be. You suppose it doesn't matter too much at the moment. This is a clash of armies, and a single Griffon, no matter how physically strong or politically powerful, isn't going to make much of a difference in the grand scheme of things.

Finally, after an unbearably tense silence, the Aquileian lines begin to advance. Not the entirety of their army though, a small portion remain behind, holding their positions outside the walls. A reserve force, or a rear guard to defend against a potential Wingbardian counterattack?

You can see the Aquileian siege engines being rolled towards you; you don't know what the range on those things is but you've bet an awful lot that they don't have the reach of your ballistae. And it seems you are right: the Aquileians cross into the effective range of your field artillery while still pushing their own forward. You silently raise your arm and bring it down like a guillotine.

(Ballistae vs Catapults: 65+10(A Letter from Father to Son Omake)=75)

With a clatter of wood and the faint whistling sound of great arrows slicing through the air, your mobile bolt-throwers are fired in anger for the very first time. One bolt undershoots and carves a path of destruction through a section of the Aquileian line, but the other four hit home, punching through wood and tearing through coiled rope. Nearly half of the enemy siege engines fall apart under their own weight, their structural integrities compromised by your bombardment. The bandits and mercenaries at the front rank of the advancing force stumble, some even coming to a halt at the sight of such ranged firepower, but the regulars at their backs push and shove them forwards, maintaining their pace.

As the enemy begins to close in, you see the hostile siege engines halt and begin to orient themselves to target your line. Your ballistae signal they are ready to launch another volley only moments before the opposing siege engines toss their own stone payloads.

(Artillery Duel: 56+15(On the Wings of Hope Omake)=71)

Bolts fly through the air as the incoming projectiles reach the arc of their trajectory. Most of the heavy stones fall short of your lines, the crews of the Aquileian siege engines apparently not having time to properly calibrate them in the mad scramble to get their shots off before being targeted by another volley from your ballistae. A volley that has much the same result as the last, with one bolt again falling short of its intended target and the rest striking true, their impacts much more devastating at close range as splinters and shrapnel spray outwards, grievously wounding the Aquileian weapon crews. There is now only one onager threatening your troops, and you still have all your bolt-throwers.

It is not a flawless victory though. One of the carved spheres of rock smashes through a formation of warriors arrayed in the sky, and several of your Griffons fall to the earth in heaps of smashed armor and broken bones. You wince and grip your sword tighter. The first losses of the battle. You know there will be many more dead before this is all over. Still the enemy lines advance, now crossing into range of your archers.

(Archer Volley: 24+10(Feathersian Arguments Omake)+10(My Aim be True Omake)+10(Griffon Versatility Omake)=54)

Your archers loose their arrows, sending a hail of wood and steel falling down upon the advancing formations of the enemy. The Aquileian regulars raise their shields, and many arrows are blocked or are deflected by armor. But the brigands and mercenaries at the front, lacking the armor and equipment of the professional soldiers behind them, take significant losses. Arrows pierce flesh and cut tendons, and scores of Griffons fall.

Once again, the bandits and sell-swords pause, and once again the Aquileian regulars behind them push them forward. It's rapidly becoming apparent to everyone, themselves included, that they are intended as little more than living shields. Even as you think that, your archers shift their fire, for the Aquileians are now beginning to nock their own arrows.

(Exchange of Arrows: 91)

But something goes wrong. Perhaps there is a sudden gust of wind, but the Aquileian arrows go wild. You don't think a single one even comes close to hitting your troops. The Aquileians however are another story. Shouts and the odd fistfight break out amongst their own lines as friendly fire injures or even kills some of them. They are reminded of their true enemy when an absolute storm of expertly aimed shots from your own archers slam into their lines seconds later, felling hundreds. But though your archers keep up a blistering rate of fire, they can't prevent the enemy from advancing, and soon they finally close the distance and charge your lines.

(Clash: 52+10(Eyes Up Guardian Omake)+5(Defensive Formation)=67)

The Aquileians throw themselves against your defenses. The front ranks of the opposing army are impaled upon polearms, beaten with shields, stabbed with swords and beheaded by axes. Some try to flee, only to be shoved back into harms way or cut down by those behind them. Your soldiers take losses of their own, but for every one that falls, two or three of the enemy are also slain. You shift your gaze from the front of the Aquileian army to its rear. It seems Duke Talonuelli is finally making his move.

(Wingbardy Breakout: 45+15(Grey Warden Omake)=60)

Over two thousand Griffons in the colors of the Wingbardy militia rise from the city and descend upon the Aquileian rear guard. Unfortunately they do not face brigands or mercenaries, only professional and well-equipped regulars. But this is their homeland, their city, their soil that has been violated by these invaders, and their time hiding behind the walls has done nothing to dampen their rage. They fight furiously, cutting down many of the former besiegers, even as they take significant casualties of their own. Still, despite their ferocity and the comparatively small numbers of their enemy, it looks like they'll be fully occupied taking on the rear guard for a while. Much as it disappoints you, it doesn't look like you'll be able to surround the main body of Brochard's army just yet.

(Battle Interrupt?: Coin Flip-Heads. Yes.)
(By Who?: 88)

As the battle rages on, you are shocked to see a regiment carrying the banner of Urbirdo enter the combat area, with Federico Montefeathertro himself at its head! Your Father-in-Law lands beside you, cheerily hefting his massive broadsword and grinning ear to ear.

"Garrick my boy, good to see you! I was worried that the scrap would be over before I arrived! And before you ask, no, the League hasn't decided to back you. I figured I'd take a page out of my daughter's book and go do what I wanted to without asking permission."

He stiffens, suddenly serious.

"And if the rest of the council has a problem with it then they can eat seed. If those indecisive turkeys honestly think Brochard will stop at Wingbardy then they're going to have a lot more than their heads buried in the sand if he wins this fight. My troops and I are here to help. Where do you need us?"



What Now?

[ ] Stay the Course: The Aquileians seem content to throw themselves upon your lines, and you see no reason to deny them. Reinforce the frontline and instruct your troops to hold their positions.

[ ] Push them Back: You've bloodied them, but they're not beaten yet. Countercharge against the Aquileians, forcing them back towards Wingbard's walls.

[ ] Up and Over: Most of your forces are already engaged, but several reserve units are still awaiting orders, ready to shore up depleted battalions on the frontline. Order these units to fly over the top of the melee and link up with the city militia, giving them some aid in assaulting Brochard's rear. Be aware that they run the risk of being intercepted or cut off from your own army.

[ ] Write In



The Knights Lion are fresh and stand ready charge into battle at your order. Shall you commit them to the fight?

[ ] Yes
-[ ] Where, and to do What?

[ ] No, you don't want to play your trump card just yet.



The Legendary Noble Mercenary Federico Montefeathertro has arrived with a thousand fighters. Where shall you deploy them?

[ ] The Front Lines: They're needed most where the fighting is thickest.

[ ] In Reserve: Much like the Knights, keep them out of the fighting for the moment to serve as a rapid response force so they can plug any holes or breaches that may appear in the line.

[ ] Write In




Royal Army of Griffonia
7300 Warriors
3600 Polearms
3750 Archers
5 Mobile Ballistae

Knightly Orders
The Order of Knights Lion
Grandmaster Konrad Hardbeak
25 Knights of the Inner Circle
125 Imperial Knights
300 Squires
550 Griffons-at-Arms

Mercenaries
The Valkyries
485 Warriors
The Woodstalkers
180 Warriors
300 Archers
The Black Pikes
475 Pikes
The Crimson Company
450 Griffon Berserkers

Allies
Wingbardy Militia
1200 Warriors
400 Polearms
450 Archers
Montefeathertro's Mercenaries
Federico Montefeathertro
500 Warriors
300 Polearms
200 Archers

 

[Questor]

Federico agrees with your tactical assessment, and accompanies his troops to the flanks, reinforcing the embattled units there. Horns ring out, flags and banners are raised, and the order is given: Counterattack.

(Push Forward, Center: 80)

(Push Forward, Flanks: 44+10(Federico's Reinforcement)+10(War Dogs Omake)+10(Something's Gotta Give Omake)=74)

An order your troops obey enthusiastically. With a great war cry, shield walls are pulled apart and your soldiers leap into the fray. Gabriella and Federico embody the phrase "like father like daughter" as they both lead their respective segments of the front in a furious charge forwards, the ruler of Urbirdo swinging his broadsword with abandon, your Queen repeatedly stabbing out with a polearm from the midst of her Valkyries. The Aquileians now find themselves on the defensive as their forward formations are quickly overrun and hacked apart by your troops.

The few remaining brigands and mercenaries among them try to flee and are cut down by their "comrades", only for those warriors in service to the king to be slaughtered themselves. Bodies fall from the sky by the hundreds as the ground becomes soaked with blood, most of it belonging to the enemy. Bit by bit, inch by bloody inch, the forces of Aquileia are shoved bodily back towards the walls of Wingbard. And as all this occurs, the archers of both armies continue to rain steel upon their foes.

(Archer Volleys Part Two: 22+10(Garrick in Armor Fanart)+10(Garrick in Armor Mk 2 Fanart)+15(Acquelian Crit.Fail)=57)

Unfortunately it seems that the opposing archers have recovered from their earlier mishap, and though your own archers maintain their fire and fell many of the enemy, an equal number of your own troops find themselves pierced by projectiles. The constant hail of fire causes the advance to slow marginally as your warriors are forced to keep their shields up to protect themselves.

(Wingbardian Assault: 19+10(Blood and Steel Omake)+10(Fishy Business Omake)+10(A Lion Must Rise Omake)=49)

The Wingbardians are also having trouble, their attack on Brochard's rear stalling as the casualties on both sides continue to mount. Though the Wingbardians fight furiously, they are both outnumbered and exhausted from months under siege. For every enemy they slay, one of their own falls. While they still press hard against the invaders, it does not look like they will be routing them anytime soon.

Still, despite these setbacks, you feel that the battle is going well. A few of the Aquileian units have already been routed or destroyed utterly, the enemy now find themselves outnumbered, and you haven't even deployed the Knights Lion yet! You think you might just win this.

And as if sensing your optimistic thoughts and seeking to dash them, Brochard reveals his own trump card. A loud horn is blown from the center of the Aquileian camp, and the soldiers of the opposing force go into a panic, frantically reorganizing themselves to leave a clear path between their camp and your frontline. Several canvas tarps are pulled from what you had assumed to be large tents or the frames of siege engines under construction. They aren't.

You stare, eyes wide and jaw agape. For what's concealed beneath the tarps are cages. Massive iron cages, each one the size of a house. And within them sit trolls. More than a dozen, each one bedecked in heavy armor, crude blades big enough to slice through a whale fastened to their forearms.



The doors to the cages are thrown open by Griffons wearing the armor of Brochard's personal guard, and fifteen living mountains lumber out before suddenly barreling towards your lines, trampling over any Aquileian unfortunate enough to stand between them and your advancing army.

(Troll Fighting: 70-5(Large)-10(Heavy Armor)+10(Ballistae)=65)

They smash into your lines with a massive crash. Griffons are crushed underfoot, swatted from the sky, or bisected by massive blades. Swords bend, polearms snap, arrows bounce off their thick armor. You don't know how Brochard managed to find and cage so many trolls. You don't know how he managed to forge them armor. You don't know how he managed to train them to attack your forces while ignoring his own. All you know is that he did, and now they're killing your troops. For every second they rampage, dozens of your soldiers are killed.

Your ballistae fire, each shot piercing through the crude armor covering the trolls' monstrous forms and bringing down one of the rampaging beasts, but that still leaves ten of them up and fighting. Federico Montefeathertro flies up behind one and shoves his broadsword into a gap between it's helmet and it's torso armor, severing it's spine. Gabriella, mighty warrior Queen that she is, kills two more, flying right up into their faces and shoving her spear through their eyes and into their brains. The desperate and valiant efforts of your troops manage to kill two more before your ballistae reload and manage to kill all of the rest.

Brochard's secret weapon has been defeated. But hundreds of your troops lie dead. And that's not the worst of it. As your forces are still recovering from the devastating attack, another horn is blown from the depths of the Aquileian camp, and a column of soldiers carrying the flag of Aquileia fly out to assault your ravaged lines. Garbed in gilded armor and armed with the finest weapons, these are Brochard's personal guard, the greatest warriors in Aquileia. And at their head, covered head to talon in heavy armor and wielding a massive war hammer, is the King himself.

(Attack of the King's Guard: 84-15(Elite Unit)=69)

They smash into the depleted ranks of your army, gouging out a chunk of your frontline and clearly intending to carve a path right down the center of your force. Blades flash and blood flies as the Aquileian elites engage your troops in mortal combat. But despite their superior skill, Brochard's assault stalls only a few dozen yards into your lines, sheer weight of numbers allowing your soldiers to halt his advance even as so many of them pay the ultimate price to do so.
You'd been holding the Knights Lion in reserve, waiting for Brochard to show himself, waiting for a chance to end this battle. Now you have it. With a shouted order to Grandmaster Hardbeak, the Knights finally charge into combat against a worthy adversary.

(Charge of the Knights Lion: 46+10(The King is Here Omake)+10(War Sworn Battle of Wingbardy Omake)=66)

A worthy adversary indeed. It seems your knights have met their match. For every member of Brochard's personal guard that meets his end at the claws of the lions, a Knight or a squire goes down as well. As for Brochard himself, he's right in the thick of it, caving in a ribcage or smashing a skull with every swing of his massive hammer.


Brochard's Warhammer

Still, the Knights have taken the pressure off of the rest of your forces, who have resumed their assault against the Aquileian army's main body. Brochard and his elites are now pinned down and nearly surrounded, though it remains to be seen whether they can overcome the Lions and stage a breakout.


What Now?

[ ] Duel of Kings: You've been largely separated from the fighting up till now. You haven't even bloodied your sword yet! What's the point of all this armor if you're not going to put yourself into harms way? Do you really want to be known as the King that stood by and let others fight for him? Are you going to just stand here as Brochard slaughters your subjects? Go engage your rival in single combat and settle this feud once and for all.

[ ] Roar of the Lion: This is what the Knights were created to do, what they are trained and equipped to do. You're a merchant, an administrator, a ruler, but you're not a warrior, and you're certainly not as great a warrior as Brochard. Leave the task in the capable talons of Hardbeak and his Lions. You're not going to risk your life over some petty grudge.

[ ] Precision Targeting: Well...you still have the Ballistae. And they are pretty accurate. But are they accurate enough to snipe a King in the middle of a crowded, shifting battlefield surrounded by hostile and friendly forces? Only one way to find out.

[ ] Write In



Royal Army of Griffonia
5100 Warriors
2800 Polearms
3400 Archers
5 Mobile Ballistae

Knightly Orders
The Order of Knights Lion
Grandmaster Konrad Hardbeak
20 Knights of the Inner Circle
100 Imperial Knights
245 Squires
480 Griffons-at-Arms

Mercenaries
The Valkyries
375 Warriors
The Woodstalkers
115 Warriors
255 Archers
The Black Pikes
370 Pikes
The Crimson Company
245 Griffon Berserkers

Allies
Wingbardy Militia
825 Warriors
285 Polearms
350 Archers
Montefeathertro's Mercenaries
Federico Montefeathertro
300 Warriors
200 Polearms
150 Archers

 

[Questor]

No. While it would make for an amazing story, you don't want to risk the fate of all Gryphon-kind on a duel against someone with far more combat experience than you. Brochard is a born warrior, a veteran of countless battles against Trolls, Diamond Dogs, and Griffons alike. You are a merchant, an administrator, a negotiator, not a warrior. You're not too proud to admit that you'd most likely lose in a straight fight against him. You'll let the Knights handle Brochard and his personal guard. They are much better suited for the task than you.

(Knights Lion vs Aquileian Royal Guard: 71+15(A Proud Day to be an Artillery Gryph Omake)+10(A Day in the Life of a Good Boy Omake)=96)

Even better suited than you'd expected as it turns out. While the Lions had been experiencing difficulties in the initial push, they appear to have hit their second wind, cutting down their foes in great numbers at little cost to themselves. Imperial Knights live up to the reputation of their pre-discordian forbears, slaying dozens in valiant charges, at times only visible as metallic blurs weaving in and out of the Aquileian formations. Squires fight ferociously alongside their heavily armored masters, seeking to prove themselves and earn the title of knighthood, and the Griffons-at-Arms form an impenetrable shield wall that steadily advances to crush all resistance before it.

To his credit, amidst all this chaos Brochard still fights on, unable or unwilling to even contemplate retreat or surrender. In prolonged duels at the center of the whirling melee, he fells several brave knights with great swings of his hammer, shattering bone and crumpling steel, until finally he is approached by the Grandmaster of the Knights Lion: Konrad Hardbeak, his sword dripping with the blood of those he has slain to reach his opponent.

The two legendary fighters square off, the rest of the battle seeming to flow around them. This will be a duel between titans of the battlefield, one on one, no outside interference. After what seems like an hour but is in reality just a couple of seconds, the two scarred veterans charge each other, each knowing that this battle will be to the death.

(Brochard vs Hardbeak: 99)

After all that dramatic buildup it's almost anticlimactic when Hardbeak simply ducks underneath Brochard's swing and beheads him in a single fluid motion. As the King's crowned head falls to the ground, followed shortly thereafter by the rest of him, a stunned silence seems to fall over the battlefield, as every Griffon comes to learn, through direct visual confirmation or the panicked and jubilant shouts that follow, that the Aquileian King has been slain.

(Aquileian Morale Check: 25-20(The King is Dead)=5)

And just like that, the Aquileian line collapses. After over an hour of sustained combat against an army greater in size and quality than anticipated, after being attacked in the rear by the people that were supposed to be too demoralized and exhausted to fight, after seeing both their siege engines and their trolls defeated by your ballistae, the death of their leader is the final straw. Entire battalions disengage and flee the combat area, or drop their weapons and assume positions of surrender. Some fight on, either unwilling to admit defeat or too fearful of the consequences of surrender. You give the order for one final advance to mop up the stragglers.

(One Last Push: 63+20(Screwed Aquileian Morale)+10(The Roar of Battle Omake)=93)

They should have just surrendered. Reduced in number and with gaping holes in their formations, your forces have no trouble utterly overwhelming the remaining Aquileians. Not even the ones that try to flee are spared, either surrounded and forced to lay down their arms or simply run through by the blades and polearms and arrows of your soldiers. Less than twenty minutes after Brochard's body hits the ground, all Aquileian soldiers have either fled or surrendered.

You breathe a sigh of relief and begin to make your way towards Wingbard. All around you Griffons celebrate their victory, knowing that this battle will be immortalized in story and song, that history has been made, that with this battle begins a new era for all Griffons. But you cannot join them in their festivities. You need to speak to Duke Talonuelli, and Federico, and your Council, and start the long and arduous process of uniting the so-long shattered remnants of the old empire of Gryphus...

Your Wife suddenly lands right in front of you, her armor dented and scratched, and roughly pulls you in for a violent and passionate kiss to the cheers of the soldiers around you.

.....

Well, you guess you can take a few minutes for yourself. You're the King, you think you're entitled to that much.


Battle of Wingbardy: Historic Victory (+2 Noble/Public Opinion)
All Aquileian forces are dead, captive or deserting.
Brochard is Dead, leaving no other competition for the Imperial Throne.
Duke Talonuelli and his subjects are eternally grateful for your assistance. (+2 Wingbardy Relations)




Royal Army of Griffonia
5000 Warriors
2700 Polearms
3380 Archers
5 Mobile Ballistae

Knightly Orders
The Order of Knights Lion
Grandmaster Konrad Hardbeak
19 Knights of the Inner Circle
95 Imperial Knights
210 Squires
445 Griffons-at-Arms

Mercenaries
The Valkyries
350 Warriors
The Woodstalkers
100 Warriors
250 Archers
The Black Pikes
365 Pikes
The Crimson Company
230 Griffon Berserkers

Allies
Wingbardy Militia
800 Warriors
250 Polearms
350 Archers
Montefeathertro's Mercenaries
Federico Montefeathertro
285 Warriors
190 Polearms
145 Archers

 

[Questor]

You stand upon the steps of the Lion's Den as the former squires cheer in celebration of their newly acquired knightly status. Grandmaster Hardbeak had asked if you could officiate the ceremony, and after all he and his knights did to deliver you a victory upon the fields of Wingbardy, how could you refuse? You stand in the Citadel's main hall before the newest addition to the local architecture: A grand statue of an Imperial Knight in full regalia and war-plate. It stands upon its hind legs, its wings outstretched. In its oversized talons are clutched two items: A crown, and a steel warhammer.

At Hardbeak's request the statue was not carved in his likeness, merely being a generic knight with a face-concealing helmet. Everyone knows who it's supposed to be though. His duel against Brochard has garnered him quite a reputation. You can hardly believe he used to be your bodyguard before you reestablished the order.
It's been a busy few months since the victory in Wingbardy. True to their word, the Aquileian nobles that didn't swear their fealty to you beforehand practically tripped over each other to pledge their allegiance to you once the news of Brochard's defeat and death reached them.

+500 Tax Income

The few that didn't quickly found their lands invaded, seized, and divided between their neighbors who didn't share their loyalty to your now deceased rival. Unfortunately, it seems that even from beyond the grave Brochard insists on making things difficult for you. Not only is much of Aquileia far behind Griffonia in terms of development, but it seems that in all the chaos of the transition of power someone just walked off with the whole of the Aquileian royal treasury! Naturally, all of the local nobles professed their innocence, but you're going to need Ravenburg to investigate to be sure.

And that's not even getting into Wingbardy and the Feathersian League! Duke Talonuelli has been writing you regularly, keeping you informed of his reconstruction efforts. Brochard's siege engines did a real number on his capitol, to say nothing of the damage caused by all those rampaging brigands amongst his army. As for the League, well they've been unusually quite as of late. You heard Federico got an earful for running off to join the fight without telling anyone but, since the League is merely a loose confederation, they can't really do much more to him than that. And once word got out about the conscripted bandits and the armored trolls, those protests lost a lot of their volume. Now you need to see about setting up talks to bring them both into the fold alongside the Aquileians.

You sigh, looking up at the blood-stained crown of your former nemesis. Why the hell would Brochard have ever wanted to be Emperor? Being a King is exhausting enough as it is!



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)

[ ] Replacing Losses: While you won a great victory in Wingbardy, it was not without its costs. Hundreds of your soldiers gave their lives on the battlefield, and now your army is a shadow of its former strength. Set up some recruitment drives to return your army to its pre-war status. Cost: 1600. Time: One Year. Reward: Army returned to pre-war numbers

[ ] Mountain Militia: As a result of living in such a dangerous region, many Griffons possess their own personal weapons to defend themselves, and will rally together to defend their homes should the creatures of the forests threaten them. Wouldn't it be nice if they did the same when the kingdom was faced with invasion by less beastly foes? Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Village and town militias incorporated into military.

[ ] Dog Fighters: Diamond Dogs may not be capable of flight, but they can dig like nothing else, and their numerous raids against your territory in the past have proven their martial capabilities. Now that you have the loyalty of several packs, it might be a good idea to gather some volunteers willing to join your army and fight on your behalf, especially now that there's no risk of infighting between them and your regular units. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Diamond Dog Soldiers Recruited

[ ] Big Sticks: The mobile Ballistae proved instrumental in your victory at the Battle of Wingbardy. Clearly they are a valuable battlefield asset. Build a few more. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: +5 mobile Ballistae added to army.



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)

[ ] Unity: Brochard is dead. Aquileia has pledged it's fealty to you. All that's left is to bring Wingbardy and the Feathersian League into the fold. Preferably without a war. You're on good terms with the league and great terms with Wingbardy, so you don't think it will be too difficult to get them to consider joining your kingdom and reuniting the Empire. The devil's in the details though, so you should set up a meeting between the Duke and the Feathersian Council to see if you can hash out an agreement. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Diplomatic Summit Interlude, Chance to Reunite the Empire.

[ ] First Contact Protocols: Once the Empire has been reunited, it's inevitable that your people will eventually journey beyond your borders. And when they do, they will likely encounter other peoples, with their own kingdoms, cultures and languages. First impressions are important, so set up some classes and procedural regulations to prepare diplomats for meeting and negotiating with unknown races. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: First Contact Protocols established, bonus to first impressions with other cultures.



Stewardship: Claus Rosewing is, much like you, a former merchant. You'd actually done business with him a few times prior to taking the throne, 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)

[ ] I'm a Lumberjack and I'm OK: Were it not for the fact that they were infested with monsters, the forests of your kingdom would provide a nearly inexhaustible supply of lumber. That's not to say that your people don't cut down trees, it's just that they've never really done it on a large scale for fear of angering the things living in the woods. If your kingdom is going to grow and prosper, you'll need that timber. Gather some soldiers and have them assist with the construction of water-powered sawmills and woodcutting camps. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Logging income. Chance of Success: 70%

[ ] Blast Mining: Archimedes' fire powder, while little more than a noise maker in small amounts, is a potent explosive in large doses. A few miners have expressed interest in using it to blast their way through solid rock that can't be easily excavated. It's risky, but the rewards make it worth consideration. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Increased Mining income. Chance of Success: 80%

[ ] Infrastructural Development: Brochard was a warrior king, with everything that that entails. He poured tons of funding into his military and generally left the finances and economic policy to his advisors, who didn't seem too interested in rocking the boat. As a result, much of the farming, mining, and trade infrastructure in Aquileia is well behind that of Griffonia. Open up the treasury and see if you can't fix that. Cost: 500. Time: Two Years. Reward: Aquileia and Griffonia achieve parity in development, increased 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)

[ ] Mushroom Moonshine: During his research on fungal growth and nutrition, Archimedes discovered that a few particular species of mushroom could potentially be used to produce alcohol. It's...ok, it's a weird idea, but so was mushroom farming, and that turned out pretty well. Grant him some funds to investigate these...alcoholic mushrooms...further. Cost: 50. Time: One Year. Reward: New Source of Alcohol?

[ ] Selective Breeding: By carefully controlling the reproductive processes of crops and food animals, desirable traits such as pest resistance, stronger immune systems, and greater size can become widespread across farm populations. At least, that's what Archimedes tells you. The difficulty lies in getting farmers to go along with the plan. Cost: 100. Time: Two Years. Reward: Increased Farming Income due to greater yields. Chance of Success: 80%

[ ] Explosive Siege Weapons: The success of his ballistae and his access to supplies of fire powder has given Archimedes some ideas. The idea is simple, if unorthodox: a metal tube, sealed off at one end, filled with an amount of fire powder that, when ignited, propels a metal or stone ball out the opening at great speed. It…honestly sounds kind of dangerous, but Archimedes is the expert on this sort of thing. Cost: 400. Time: Two Years. Reward: New Siege Weapon. Chance of Success: 60%

[ ] Exploration Vessels: Once the Empire has been reunited, you and your people are going to have to venture beyond your current borders and see exactly how much the world has changed in the decades since Discord rearranged the Earth's geography. And if you're going to do that, you'll need ships suitable for long-range ocean voyages, ones equally at home on the sea as on a river. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: New Ship Type.



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)

[ ] Lord Ravenburg's Big Book of Blackmail: That earlier issue with the barons served to highlight what a headache they can be at times. Oh sure, you have their loyalty and support now, but at some point in the future you're going to want or need something that they won't want to give you or let you do. Being a member of the nobility himself, Ravenburg has a solution: blackmail. What with all the scheming and backstabbing that the nobility get up to, almost all of them have secrets that they wouldn't want being made public knowledge. It might be a good idea to learn a few of those secrets, just in case some uppity count needs to be "convinced" not to oppose you politically. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Blackmail on Griffonian nobility acquired.

[ ] Secrets of Aquileia: Even months after Brochard's death, there are still a lot of things you don't know. Why did he choose to invade Wingbardy? How did he manage to get those trolls to fight for him, or at least not fight against him? Where the hell is his treasury? Get Ravenburg on the case and see if he can dig anything up. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Answers and Information. Chance of Success: 80%



Personal: You refuse to let your duties as King take up every moment of your day. (Two Actions Per Turn)

[ ] Family Time: You have a son now, an heir to your throne. Not only would it be a nice idea to spend some relaxing quality time with him, it would be sensible to start planning for his future. He's going to inherit your throne after all, best make sure he'll be prepared! Sure, he's young, but it's never too early to make plans! Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Quality Time with Family, Plans made for Son's future upbringing and education.

[ ] Cracking an Egg: The dragon egg you've acquired is currently stored in a specialized room of your castle, designed to ensure it is kept at the proper temperature. Archimedes, ever the problem-solver, claims he has a way to encourage the egg to hatch, or to prevent it from hatching, should you wish it. Honestly, you're not too sure what to do. Your people know little about dragons beyond the obvious; the closest thing to an expert you have is your wife, who only knows how to kill them. Still, it seems a waste to just leave it sitting in your palace as a glorified paper-weight. Fully grown dragons are forces of nature, capable of taking on entire battalions of Griffon warriors and burning whole villages to the ground in minutes. Then again, those also seem like good reasons not to allow the egg to hatch, now that you think of it. Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Hatched Dragon Egg.

[ ] Waxing Nostalgic: Just because Aquileia was eager to get out from Brochard's thumb doesn't mean the people of Wingbardy and the Feathersian League are going to be eager to give up their independence. It's been countless years since Discord's machinations split the Empire, and people have gotten used to doing their own thing. Different cultures and regional dialects have developed, and even if you can get their leaders to agree to reunification, it doesn't mean their subjects will just go along with it happily. You need to remind Griffons of the glory of the old Empire, show them the benefits of unification, and let them know that they share more in common with each other than they think. And failing that you can remind them that, for all you know there are legions of monsters just beyond your borders that could seek to exterminate you all at any time. Nothing brings people together like an existential threat after all! Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Eased Integration, less chance of political backlash and public resentment. Chance of Success: 65%

[ ] Getting Swole: One of the numerous reasons you refused to fight Brochard was that he was so much stronger than you. A blade and a suit of armor mitigated that advantage a great deal, but it didn't remove it completely. You trained with your wife not long ago, and that training showed results, but the results weren't quite as big an improvement as you'd hoped. If you're going to be an Emperor, you need to be strong. Have Gabriella put you through an even more grueling fitness regimen and see if you can't improve your physique a bit more. Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Increased martial stat, chance to upgrade Toned Trait, chance to improve Gabriella's opinion of you. Chance of Success: 55%

 

[Questor]

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.

-Replacing Losses: While you won a great victory in Wingbardy, it was not without its costs. Hundreds of your soldiers gave their lives on the battlefield, and now your army is a shadow of its former strength. Set up some recruitment drives to return your army to its pre-war status. Cost: 1600. Time: One Year. Reward: Army returned to pre-war numbers

Once the memorials have been erected, the funerals held, and compensation paid to the families of the slain, the work begins to fill the gaps left in the ranks of your army. Its a much more subdued affair than last time. No immediate threat of war means less urgency to recruit large numbers of gryphs. Still, posters are nailed up, heralds and town criers remind everyone that there are openings available, and by the end of the year enough able-bodied Griffons have signed on for you to no longer have to worry about the state of your army. For now anyway. +2500 Warriors, 1050 Polearms, 370 Archers. Army Returned to Pre-War Numbers


-Dog Fighters: Diamond Dogs may not be capable of flight, but they can dig like nothing else, and their numerous raids against your territory in the past have proven their martial capabilities. Now that you have the loyalty of several packs, it might be a good idea to gather some volunteers willing to join your army and fight on your behalf, especially now that there's no risk of infighting between them and your regular units. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Diamond Dog Soldiers Recruited

But you're not just recruiting Griffons this year. The word goes out that you are seeking to recruit Diamond Dogs to form a new, specialized unit in the army, and you are more than a little surprised when hundreds of Dogs swarm the recruitment centers looking to sign up. Apparently eager to serve their new homeland and show their appreciation for their new, more prosperous lives, these new recruits are quickly kitted out and trained in the skills of professional soldiers, surprising everyone with their commitment to become the best they can be. By the end of the year, the first Diamond Dog battalion is declared ready for combat. You're sure they'll do you and their homeland proud. +500 Diamond Dog Warriors



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.

-Unity: Brochard is dead. Aquileia has pledged it's fealty to you. All that's left is to bring Wingbardy and the Feathersian League into the fold. Preferably without a war. You're on good terms with the league and great terms with Wingbardy, so you don't think it will be too difficult to get them to consider joining your kingdom and reuniting the Empire. The devil's in the details though, so you should set up a meeting between the Duke and the Feathersian Council to see if you can hash out an agreement. Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Diplomatic Summit Interlude, Chance to Reunite the Empire.

Missives are drafted and sent out. Duke Talonuelli marks a date in his busy schedule. The Feathersian Council debates on who to send before reaching a compromise and choosing three rulers to represent their interests. A neutral and appropriately symbolic meeting site is chosen: Griffonstone. As the story goes, it was the birthplace of the first Emperor. With any luck it will soon be known as the birthplace of the Second Empire. Continued in "The Council of Griffonstone"



Stewardship: Claus Rosewing is, much like you, a former merchant. You'd actually done business with him a few times prior to taking the throne, and he always struck you as a fair and reasonable gryph. Good thing too, because now he'll be handling much of your finances.

-Infrastructural Development: Brochard was a warrior king, with everything that that entails. He poured tons of funding into his military and generally left the finances and economic policy to his advisors, who didn't seem too interested in rocking the boat. As a result, much of the farming, mining, and trade infrastructure in Aquileia is well behind that of Griffonia. Open up the treasury and see if you can't fix that. Cost: 500. Time: Two Years. Reward: Aquileia and Griffonia achieve parity in development, increased income.

At first, the Aquileians are somewhat suspicious of your intentions. You're practically throwing money at them and you've sent a virtual army of skilled laborers and engineers from Griffonia into their lands. But once word goes out that you'll be hiring large numbers of unskilled laborers to aid in the construction of new roads, mines, and farms they stop hesitating, take the money and set to work. It's going to be some time before the former lands of Brochard reach developmental parity with Griffonia, but you're confident it will be done. Will Finish at the end of the Next Turn



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.

-Selective Breeding: By carefully controlling the reproductive processes of crops and food animals, desirable traits such as pest resistance, stronger immune systems, and greater size can become widespread across farm populations. At least, that's what Archimedes tells you. The difficulty lies in getting farmers to go along with the plan. Cost: 100. Time: Two Years. Reward: Increased Farming Income due to greater yields. Chance of Success: 80%
Need: 20. Rolled: 33+18=51
Archimedes sets out on a tour of your farmlands, instructing your farmers and growers in the art of botany and selective breeding. He somehow manages to simplify things for his less educated audience, though on more than one occasion his assistants have to serve as a translator when he strays into topics like genetic theory and evolutionary biology. The farmers, while largely skeptical, don't see any harm in trying things out. Larger, healthier crops and livestock sounds pretty good to them. It will still be some time before any results can be achieved, but Archimedes is optimistic. Will Finish at the end of the Next Turn


-Exploration Vessels: Once the Empire has been reunited, you and your people are going to have to venture beyond your current borders and see exactly how much the world has changed in the decades since Discord rearranged the Earth's geography. And if you're going to do that, you'll need ships suitable for long-range ocean voyages, ones equally at home on the sea as on a river. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: New Ship Type.

You gather a number of experienced shipwrights and tell them what you need. They spend several weeks drawing up blueprints, building model prototypes and comparing notes before agreeing on a design and setting to work on the finalized version. By the end of the year, you personally inspect the fruits of their labors.

It's...smaller than you'd expected, but the shipbuilders tell you that is by design. This "caravel" may be smaller than your usual Cogs, but it makes up for it with speed, maneuverability, and the capacity to navigate rivers and shallow waters as well as the ocean. Naturally, these benefits don't come without cost. It carries a significantly smaller crew, and isn't large enough to mount a bolt thrower, making it unsuitable for a dedicated warship. Still, you asked for an exploratory vessel, and now you have one. You commend your shipwrights for their efforts and instruct them to be prepared to make more should the need arise. Once you've taken care of more pressing issues closer to home, you reckon you will have need of such ships. New Ship Type: Caravel, Exploratory Vessel



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.

-Secrets of Aquileia: Even months after Brochard's death, there are still a lot of things you don't know. Why did he choose to invade Wingbardy? How did he manage to get those trolls to fight for him, or at least not fight against him? Where the hell is his treasury? Get Ravenburg on the case and see if he can dig anything up. Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Answers and Information. Chance of Success: 80%
Need: 20. Rolled: 37+15 (Coward Omake Bonus)+13(Personal Intrigue)=65

Ravenburg and his spies go to work, leaving no stone unturned and no source unquestioned. By the end of the year, you finally get some answers. Unfortunately, most of those answers have only raised further questions.

Firstly, while Brochard had been building up his military since before you took the throne, he didn't start to really plot for war until after you started making diplomatic inroads with Wingbardy and the Feathersian League. Your troops crossing into Wingbardy to assist them with raids and monster attacks was apparently a particularly sore point for him, convincing him that reuniting the Empire via conquest was not only necessary but unavoidable. But in the end, it was actually one of his advisors that led to him invading Wingbardy when he did.

Brochard's Spymaster, an enigmatic female Griffon by the name of Lady Nightingale, informed Brochard that Griffonia and Wingbardy had made a secret alliance against him, and counseled him to launch a preemptive strike while he held numerical superiority. Naturally, no such alliance was ever made, though Ravenburg is uncertain as to whether the Lady Nightingale was simply mistaken or if she had deliberately misled her Liege. Unfortunately you cannot simply ask her as she, like most of Brochard's advisors, has apparently gone into hiding, and Ravenburg can't seem to locate her.

What he was able to locate was some information on the trolls Brochard used in the Battle of Wingbardy. Some, but not much. While there is plenty of documentation on the capture of the trolls via "normal" means, and of their being measured for and fitted with armor while heavily sedated, there is next to nothing on exactly how the Trolls were conditioned to attack you and not the Aquileians. Brochard's journal contains cryptic references to "a mad scheme that could make or break us", but nothing more.

Then there's the matter of the Aquileian Royal Treasury. Amazingly it seems the local nobility's claims of innocence are true! Ravenburg can find no evidence whatsoever that any of them had anything to do with the theft. Nor can he find evidence pointing to any other culprit. A thorough search of the mountains and countryside reveals a secluded cave where all the gold had been smuggled away to, though it appears to have been merely a transitional point as most of it is nowhere to be found. Ravenburg estimates only a fraction of the treasury was recovered, and confesses that as of now, he has no further leads to pursue. +300 Gold to Treasury


Personal: You refuse to let your duties as King take up every moment of your day.

-Family Time: You have a son now, an heir to your throne. Not only would it be a nice idea to spend some relaxing quality time with him, it would be sensible to start planning for his future. He's going to inherit your throne after all, best make sure he'll be prepared! Sure, he's young, but it's never too early to make plans! Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Quality Time with Family, Plans made for Son's future upbringing and education.

You spend many a morning and night with your wife and son, curled up by the fireplace, playing games or simply enjoying each other's company. Perhaps it's your parental bias, but you think your son has inherited the best traits from you and his mother, possessing your lustrous coat and bright feathers and exhibiting the physical aptitude and endurance of his mother. He's already trying to fly, though he hasn't quite gotten beyond the "flapping your wings on the ground" bit. Gawain inherits Handsome/Strong Traits.

Your son is still young, but eventually he will be in need of an education. An education you should start planning for. The only real question is: exactly what kind of education should he receive?

[ ] The Jack of All Trades: Your son will receive instruction in all subjects, ensuring a well-rounded education. +None, -None

[ ] The Warrior Prince: Your son shall spend time among knights, soldiers, and hunters who shall mold him into the great defender this realm needs. +Martial, +Intrigue, -Learning

[ ] The Young Scholar: Your son shall spend his days amidst the tomes and scrolls of the Royal library and archives, familiarizing himself with the sciences and the arts, and imbuing him with a head for numbers. +Learning, +Stewardship, -Intrigue

[ ] The Gilded Gryphon: Your son shall follow in your footsteps, learning the intricate and complicated laws of the market, tutored by bankers, burghers, merchants, and other industrious fortune-builders. +Diplomacy, +Stewardship, -Martial


-Waxing Nostalgic: Just because Aquileia was eager to get out from Brochard's thumb doesn't mean the people of Wingbardy and the Feathersian League are going to be eager to give up their independence. It's been countless years since Discord's machinations split the Empire, and people have gotten used to doing their own thing. Different cultures and regional dialects have developed, and even if you can get their leaders to agree to reunification, it doesn't mean their subjects will just go along with it happily. You need to remind Griffons of the glory of the old Empire, show them the benefits of unification, and let them know that they share more in common with each other than they think. And failing that you can remind them that, for all you know there are legions of monsters just beyond your borders that could seek to exterminate you all at any time. Nothing brings people together like an existential threat after all! Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Eased Integration, less chance of political backlash and public resentment. Chance of Success: 65%

Need: 35. Rolled: 73+10(Troll "Hunting" Omake Bonus)+10(Not Going to According to Plan Omake Bonus)=93 (Art Crit!)

Well. That went way better than you'd expected. As it turns out, Griffons of all nationalities Idolize the Emperors of old and look back on the Pre-Discord era with rose-tinted lenses. The stability, the prosperity, the control over their own destiny. The idea of a reforged Empire, contrary to your initial fears, is not greeted with suspicion and apprehension, but is seen as the ultimate sign that Griffon-Kind has begun to exit the shadow of Discord, and some dare to hope that they stand at the dawn of a new Golden Age. Needless to say, not many of the common people object to the idea of you reuniting the Empire. Griffons everywhere are ecstatic at the prospect of a reforged Empire. No risk of Integration-derived resentment among the common people.




For anyone wondering what the deal is with the education vote, go back to the Character Creation Post for a full explanation. Basically, a character's stats are the sum of three D6s. For every stat category marked with a plus, the lowest dice gets re-rolled. For every stat with a minus, the highest dice gets re-rolled.

 

[Questor]

Griffonstone. Despite its storied history, it is the poorest, least populated, and least influential of all the Independent Griffon City-States. This humble status makes it the closest thing to neutral ground available to you and the other leaders attending this diplomatic summit. Unfortunately, it also means that such a historic event must be held in...less than ostentatious surroundings. You can only imagine how future generations will react to the knowledge that the Empire was reforged by five Griffons sitting in a private room of the Griffonstone tavern usually reserved for high stakes poker games.



Few of the attendants seem bothered by the choice of venue though. Either that or they just choose not to show it. Duke Talonuelli just seems happy for a chance to get away from work and have a drink in a semi-casual situation, while Federico Montefeathertro, as one of the three representatives of the Feathersian League and a former mercenary, seems all too at home here. The other representatives, the Duchess Griffelda Diamond-Gleam and Doge Griffesco Foscari, seem a bit stiffer and more formal than the surroundings really call for, though you suppose they're simply trying to treat the negotiations with the gravitas they deserve. You can respect that at least.

Once you are all somewhat settled in, Duke Talonuelli addresses the gathering.

"Alright, we all know why we're here. And, while I mean no offense Garrick, we also all know it's going to happen whether we really want it to or not. The people are calling for unification, and they aren't going to quiet down anytime soon. My lands in particular are still recovering from Brochard's invasion, and we need all the assistance we can possibly get."

The Duke's face briefly twitches into a smile.

"The fact that many of my people practically worship you for coming to their rescue during the invasion also plays a bit of a role there. I am a servant of my people if nothing else, so yes, Wingbardy will be joining your new Empire. As for me..."

The Duke rubs his head, graying head-feathers ruffled by a passing talon.

"I'll stay on in my current duties as long as you'd be willing to have me, though I wouldn't say no to a nice retirement or a career change. As I'm sure you know by now, rulership is a stressful occupation. The choice is yours, I trust whatever decisions you make will have my people's best interests at heart."

His piece said, he Duke yields the the "floor" to the Feathersian delegation. The Doge stands, looking every bit the image of a ruler making an important decision.

"The Feathersian League has sought to maintain its independence since the collapse of the old Empire, but it is now clear that the prior status quo is no longer tenable. We know not what threats lurk beyond our borders, and if we are to stand any chance of surviving another threat like the dreaded Discord, we must all stand together as a united people."

It's a fine speech, one you would have applauded had it been given before a larger audience, but Foscari isn't done.

"That being said, the cities of the Feathersian League have become...accustomed to independence and the ability to control their own policy, particularly economic policy. We must therefore insist upon several...concessions before can accept vassalage in the new Empire."

Montefeathertro chooses that moment to add his own two cents.

"Translation: you've got the biggest stick, but we've got the bigger purse, and while you could just beat us into submission, it'd be a long and costly fight that no one really wants. So we'll bend the knee so long as you let us keep our gold and treat us like the special little snowflakes we are."

The Doge looks like he's about to leap across the table and strangle your father-in-law. Federico, for his part, simply smiles and takes a swig from his fourth mug of ale before giving you an apologetic look.

"Sorry Son, I was all for a regular integration, but sadly I was outvoted. In fairness, they're not asking for much, just a few tax exemptions and the right to control their own trade policy."

He gives the seething Foscari a half-lidded glare.

"Doesn't mean I don't think they're acting like a bunch of chicks who throw a tantrum when they're told playtime's over though."

Duke Talonuelli speaks up before anyone has a chance to do something they might regret.

"Be that as it may, whether you choose to accept these requests for concessions or negotiate further is your own decision. You are the regional hegemon."

Wingbardy will pledge fealty to you in exchange for reconstruction support. The only question is: what to do with the Duke?
[ ] Promotion: The Duke knows Wingbardy and it's people better than anyone else. It would be a waste to remove him from his position. More than that, his willingness to cooperate and go along with the integration should be rewarded. Name him the Archduke of Wingbardy and leave him in an administrative position. He'll run the place better than any of his subordinates would anyway.

[ ] Experienced Steward: Claus Rosewing has served you admirably as Steward for years, but he has been wearing under the strain as of late, and he has expressed doubts that he would be capable of handling the increased workload of a reborn Empire. You could find a suitable replacement from amongst your own population, but the Duke is a masterful administrator and has experience managing a large territory. He would make a good replacement for Rosewing, provided you can find someone to administer Wingbardy in his stead.

[ ] Retirement: Talonuelli is a major figure to the people of Wingbardy, a beloved leader whose word would hold a great deal of sway in the new Empire. He supports you now, but a day may come when he doesn't, and his significant clout and influence could spell trouble for you down the line. He's already expressed an interest in retirement. His people may be disappointed, and you'd be down an experienced administrator, but it might be worth it to avoid a potential political conflict later on.


How will you address the Feathersians?

[ ] Accept Demands: Give them what they want. They're not asking for that much in the big scheme of things, and it'll be worth it to get them integrated with minimal fuss and resistance from the ruling class. The reduced tax revenue might sting, and the lack of control over trade policy could be a bit of a headache down the line, but if it keeps the Doge and Duchess and others like them happy, it'll be worth it.

[ ] Limited Concessions: The tax reductions are acceptable, but the independent trade policies are a step too far. The central government must have final say on what products pass in and out of the empire and whether they will be subject to taxes, tariffs or embargoes. Allowing the cities of the League to trade on their own terms would undermine Imperial authority and could even pose a potential security hazard should they try to sell restricted goods to other nations. You cannot accept such a risk.

[ ] An Offer they Can't Refuse: How about no? If it weren't for you, Brochard would be battering down the League's walls and looting their cities. Your soldiers bled so theirs wouldn't have to. And now you are the most powerful Griffon in the world, an army of over fifteen thousand at your command, larger than any other in the known world by several orders of magnitude. You've got the League backed against the wall, and they know it. They'll get no tax exemptions, no independent trade policy, no special place in the new Empire. You'll drag them to glory whether they like it or not.

 

[Questor]

Imperial Archduke Talonuelli: At the urging of his subjects and in gratitude for the assistance provided in the defense of their lands, Duke Garibaldi Talonuelli has sworn fealty to King Garrick Golden-Feather. Either as a reward or as part of some complicated political maneuver, King Golden-Feather has bestowed the noble title of Grand Duke upon Talonuelli, and has decreed that he shall continue to administrate the territory that he and his family have ruled over for generations. The inhabitants of Wingbardy are ecstatic, both at their inclusion into the reborn Empire, and at the elevated status of their beloved Duke. +300 Tax Income

Feathersians Integrate!: After secret talks in the historic settlement of Griffonstone, the rulers of the Feathersian League have agreed to pledge their fealty to King Golden-Feather, bringing all of the former lands of the ancient Empire under a singular ruler. As part of the deal, King Golden-Feather has agreed to subject the formerly independent cities to significantly reduced taxes. While this has ruffled some feathers, the general public reaction to the news is positive, as Griffons everywhere celebrate the unification of all the lands of the former Empire. +300 Tax Income

Long Live the Emperor!: After countless years of fractured infighting, after nearly a decade of reconstruction, after generations of simply struggling to survive in the shadow of Discord, Griffons across the Empire celebrate the official Reforging of the Empire of Gryphus. King Garrick Golden-Feather, Inheritor of the Ancient Imperial House of Gryphus, is officially Crowned Emperor Golden-Feather in a nationwide festival as Griffons celebrate the official end of the era of Discord and the beginning of what many feel is a new golden age for their people. Their Diamond Dog neighbors, easily excitable at the best of times, show no hesitation to join in with the festivities. After all, it's their Empire too. New Title: Emperor of Gryphus