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EMPEROR RICARDUS ASSASSINATED BY REVOLUTIONARY, ROMANIA FALLS INTO DISARRAY

Pari Vakili

In a significant victory for the people of Romania, Emperor Ricardus II was killed incidentally in Smyrna while making a rousing, condescending speech at Renovatae VII. The seventh edition of the exposition held by the imperial government, it was announced a few years back following the successive defeats of the Roman Army trying to fight the Jannah freedom fighters, officially backed by the Iranian government as part of its anti-imperialist agenda against the Roman Empire.

Ricardus II was shot by a Spartacist revolutionary named Elena Anatolikos at the Emperor Ricardus I Plaza, the centre of the city and venue of Renovatae VII, who joined the Spartan Party of Romania in 728 as the rights of workers and especially women, were being crushed at the will of the cruel Emperor. Fortunately, the Emperor had died of his wounds, but the Roman Empire has refused to acknowledge his death until two days later, when pressure was mounting from his son, Ricardus III, emerged in trying to get his death publicised.

The heroine to the Spartan cause, as well as the global effort to equalise the plebeians, was sadly shot on sight once members of the New Praetorian Guard had caught the wind of the shooting as thousands of visitors dispersed and were tracked down by his men to arrest those responsible for the attack. Her martyrdom ultimately showed the resilience of the people's struggle against the Ricardian regime and the patricians' oppression of the people. However, the witnesses, through the connection of various Iranian allies and associates, managed to keep the story alive, as The Patriot, the infamous nationalistic newspaper owned by the Emperor's state party, struggled to comprehend how to react to such an event of their beloved Emperor dying out of nowhere.

With the death of the frail, senile Emperor, it was later revealed today that Ricardus II had not instead passed his son down in his will that was quickly revealed to the public, but rather his grandson, Claudius, who was taught personally by him to behave and rule the country his way. This private will had been long rumoured and spread around by many commoners of Romania that believed that Ricardus II "was a step ahead of his plan" and that seemed to be right.

However, it seemed that Ricardus III, who had declared his intention of naming himself as Emperor Constantine III, after knowing the revelation, was not ready to admit defeat to his own son that was snatched away by his father to become an ideological clone of himself, defied the demands of the Roman Senate, who always had been loyal and accepting of the slain Emperor Ricardus II, to accept the passing and declared he would try to regain the throne that he was supposed to inherit and stolen from his father.

The old imperial system is rotting in itself. With the system prone to multiple succession and civil wars over its history, this is one of the conflicts that would invariably come under this monarchical system. The Spartacists that rose up against the rule of the Ricardian dynasty, hope to change this for the better. A stable republic that is governed by the plebeians with a revolutionary mindset, nothing like the First Roman Republic or the frail Second Roman Republic that found themselves in an elitist or patrician's thralls and illusions of liberalism, will certainly benefit the already dissatisfied populace of Romania.

The Mazdakist (est. 731, state Iranian newspaper),

Thursday, 12th June 747

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[First spoken in Greek then in Arabic. Some grammatical errors or pronunciations, which for the latter aren't shown here, are a result of "drakonisms", drakonic language gaffes of being inadequate in human languages.]

The people of Frankonia, you have been received of a message from the Director-General of the Colony of Archon.

I am speaking to one of your leaders about the recent events of a few of the Drakons who have informed us about your unauthorised intrusions and transgressions against the two tribes that are protected by the Lurkowite Authority. The bureaucrats of Lurkow have agreed, as well as the Director-General, agreed that the actions you have made violate the clause and deal that is struck between the convoys of Archon and you, which is to disallow any aggression between both sides until the year 753, following a deal to give up thousands of humans in exchange for peace.

As I reiterate, if it is not clear to you, the Koto and Gika Tribes are protectorates of the Colony of Archon. They are Drakons who have the right to live in their own culture and land as they are hatched and raised in the region. Some of them already began having offspring and thus hold special connection to the land once they pass away. For them to be told to leave their lands is considered an aggression on your behalf and therefore, we must issue a statement to your leaders. The collective statements of both representatives and leaders of both Drakonic tribes, Nagubi and Itanka are as the following:

"To the following persons:

Queen Cassandra of Frankonia,

Matthias Dayak, Chief Governor of Frankonia,

and Laila Ioustinianos, Vice Chief Governor of Frankonia,

Parvatham Yathooshan, Foreign Minister of Frankonia,

We, the Drakons of Koto and Gika are hatched in our native soil and feel the connection of our home to this place. To suggest that the Koto and Gika people are non-indigenous or pose a threat to the Frankonian people is preposterous. Up until the point where the Xhosa people are comfortable with us being able to live off their land without challenges, you were the ones who forced the Xhosa to begin believing in your anti-Drakonic principles and racist ideals of trying to get rid of the Drakons off their own land or to die in a war so to contain the supposed 'Mana disease' or 'Mana syndrome'.

It is unacceptable for us to leave these lands as a result. We will fight our own land until we die and not under your own hands. Let us remind you that the Archonese and Lurkowite bureaucrats have the means and strength to take over your villages and take as many people as they desire as punishment. You don't want to see that after the Lurkowites that have bestowed us with the gift of protection and security that unlike you, have been giving to your own 'allied' Drakons, do you?

One day, those Drakons, including those humans that you have victimised once they have invariably turned from unfortunate circumstances, will turn on you. The racist policies of segregation will become a tipping point for your downfall. The crackdown of those activists that stood for the freedom of Drakons of your realm by using our own kind is atrocious and is condemned by us.

Sincerely, the leaders of the Koto and Gika Tribes, Nagubi and Itanka."

The Koto and Gika Tribes took the situation of your aggression appropriately and not to send any retaliatory messages back, for it has unnecessary aggressive aftershocks that could harm our stability. Instead, they have consulted themselves through a monthly convoy that passes through neutral territory, giving us the time to eventually make an official statement.

We have also observed that your people are also potentially involved in fighting with your own Drakons in the north. Our insiders have confirmed that. Even though we can acknowledge that there are Drakons, despite legally being the subjects of the Lurkowite Bureaucracy and Authority, may not be able to be tagged and identified easily due to the fact that Gaia [Earth] is a primitive world and thus subject to different treatment, these Drakons are interfering with the processes of the Colony of Archon's responsibilities in handling various human polities. We have observers there to ensure that interference is minimal and Frankonia is an exception to this.

The fact that you go so far to also use Drakonic subjects that is legally under our jurisdiction to identify, document and ensure that they are tagged is not our priority. The appropriate local forces should be able to deal with your problems there. It is the violation of the rights of native Drakons living on Gaia that is the prime concern here.

Now, we must send you the terms of cessation of hostility from you.

You will send us 19,000 humans every year to us until 753, the agreed year that both parties would cease aggression until that point. You have done the same thing to the Sericans and you will do the same thing again to help contribute our continued efforts of building a sustainable infrastructure comparable to the colonies of Lurkow for Drakonkind, what you call Aphrodite.

You must respect the sovereignty of the Koto and Gika peoples. Displacement is considered a hostile act by the bureaucracy as a group of protected people.

You will not touch any other Drakonic tribe that is not allied to you.

And lastly, you will not harm our researchers, diplomats and personnel in the north. We have seen you and your collaborators, Drakons who blindly took to your side, get close to our allies, but this is their affair. We have no part in this conflict.

Respond soon and send these remarks to these people that I have mentioned. You can take as much time as you want. If you reject the deal or try to force the displacement of the Koto and Gika peoples, appropriate security measures will be given to ensure the safety of every Drakon on Gaia, such as the removal of the Sotho people from our grounds. We have already done this in the interests of the safety and security of our own subjects, deeming them high risk of inciting attacks or rebellion in Archonese grounds. They will be firmly relocated to your grounds.

Phiri Ōrminsnurr, convoy leader responsible for the ultimatum,

interpreting and speaking in Greek and Arabic in Nealimus,

10th April 748

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///In the news...///

RICARDUS II MARTYRED AS A SAINT BY EQUALIST REACTIONARY

His grandson, Claudius, is declared as the Emperor of the Romans by the will of Saint Ricardus II. His martyrdom shows the undying Roman spirit persisting through the toughest times in recent history.

The Patriot, June 747

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// THE ACTA DIURNA WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGISE FOR THE TWENTY YEARS OF PROPAGANDA SPREAD BY THE LIES OF THE IMPERIAL PARTY. //

Constantine III formally disavows Pope Dionysius II as Bishop of Rome for exiled leader Gelasius

This marks as one of the many bold steps by the Emperor to reverse the years of damage created by his father and to bring his vision closer to one idealised by former Empress Cassandra, now Queen of Frankonia. It was praised by Francia and Spania, who recognise Gelasius II as the Bishop of Rome but rejected by the deceitful Roman Senate and his tricked son.

Acta Diurna (Ravennese edition), August 747

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The Serican Guard Formed as Part of "Sero-Roman Friendship Deal" by Claudius III

Unlikely relationships between two hyper-militaristic regimes forged out of necessity and survival.

Star of Aden, September 747

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Menouthias and Rhapta Liberated

Frankonian Journal, September 747

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The Spartan Party declares the founding of the Roman Spartan Republic

In Ancyra, party leader and chairman of the SKR, David Staurakios declares the birth of the people's republic from the fallen ashes of Ricardus II.

Hadramaut Weekly (est. 690), December 747

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Archonese Drakons Threaten Frankonia With an Ultimatum

Frankonian Journal, April 748

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For explained events that take place between episode 81 to 82, including those that have been taken into effect, consult this below. A recommended reading for context of this episode.

Events of 747 AD

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DIPLOMACY
- Personal unions: N/A
- Military alliances: N/A
- Defensive pacts: Somalia
- Non-aggression pacts: N/A
- Vassals: N/A
- Protectorates: N/A
- Truce with: N/A
- At war with: Zanj Governorate, Al-Muqurrah

The Domains of Cassandra are a protectorate of Himyar until deemed "self-sufficient". (Should it be attacked, Himyar may be able to intervene on our behalf. Recent debates though begin to show Himyarite politicians starting to turn their eyes against us of being given that privilege, but it remains effective.)

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MILITARY (displayed at war)

(should it exceed the number of available armies, you will be penalised by 25% of income per excess army)

Offensive armies: 2 of 4 available armies (per mass conscription program)

-> 2 offensive armies in the Second Erythraean War

Defensive (garrisoned) armies: 3 of 3 available armies

Drakonic armies: 1 of 2 available armies

-> 1 Drakonic army in the Second Erythraean War

Naval fleets: 4 of 4 available fleets

-> 2 fleets in the Second Erythraean War

Vassal armies: N/A

Special units (each having three strikes):

-> Black Legion of Cato Society (paramilitary branch; paranormal espionage)

Expeditionary units: N/A

Current commanders (on the map): N/A

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LEADERSHIP and STATE
Current dynastic head: Cassandra (age 73)
Current consort: N/A

Line of succession:
- Current heir: Diogenes (age 47)
- Second-in-line: Basil (age 17) | son of Diogenes
- Others (in order):

[3] Theodosius II (age 12) | son of Diogenes

[4] Diogenes II (age 7) | son of Diogenes

[5] Cyril (age 39)

[6] Adam (age 14) | son of Cyril

[7] Georgios (age 5) | son of Cyril

[8] Cyril II (age 2) | son of Cyril

[9] Cassandra II (age 44)

[10] Laila (age 43)

- Pretenders/Claimants: N/A

Current Chief Governor: Matthias Dayak (age 54; no party)

Current Vice-Chief Governor: Laila Ioustinianos (age 43; no party)

Minister for the Frankonian Drakons: Maurook (age 51; Tcharak)

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Drams (units): -16 (2/5 of defaulting)

Income modifier: 65%

- From Militias to Mandatory Enlistment (until repealed): -25%

- Manufactured Conversion (until repealed): -15%

Income: +36

- Fishing for Moby: +12 (from +20 originally, permanent)

- Jewel Rush: +24 (from +40 originally, permanent)

Prestige: 19

Population: 1,125,882

- Human: 1,094,970 (806,870 natives)

- Draconian: 8,775 (2,825 natives, 5,950 draconified humans)
- Gargulo (Gargoyles): 537

- Orc: 21,600

Migrants will be taken in by 20% per year for every five-year period intervals.

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Future/scheduled events:

- As we gave the Archonese drakons enough Sercian cultists to "satiate" the tribute they expect of us, they are pledged by us to not initiate any "aggressive" attacks or intrusions on our territory until 753. (Violated according to Archon

- By 760, mainland Frankonia will be considered "Orc-free" by the government, wiping out the rest of the Orc population and its potential offspring from freshwater sources.

- Frankonia and Himyar (in part of Amera's research infrastructure) will finish the development of a unique machine and equipment specialised in filtering pheromones as well as other microparticles and allergens by the year 770, permanently reducing the risk of draconification but not entirely.
- The long and ambitious, yet controversial cultural project by Frankonia to unite the "human cultures" of Frankonia into one homogeneous identity is slated to be complete in 790, though its heavy investment and assimilationist outlook has been criticised as being "against the values of Old Rhomania" by some ethnonationalists and indigenous peoples of Frankonia.

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Second Erythraean War: Part II

Our focus away from Inanna will only strengthen the Orcs who were already aware of our own antics. They're waiting to see the right time for an attack someday. But that being said, the Somali front is going somewhat in our favour as did the taking down of Zanj's weak fleet. If we can take Mogadishu and even the capital as planned by the Himyarites, we can begin a rush into their land and potentially expose the ruse of this Drakonic cooperative alliance.

Five choices only.

All battles in the Second Erythraean War, as we are not the leaders of our defending side, have their predicted outcomes hidden. But we do have a sway on how much we could impact a battle.

A Frankonian human army (during the war) is worth approximately 35,000 men in this war. Losing it means losing that amount of people.

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Second Battle of Garacad

Preliminary Precautionary Plans: Play it safe at a time where our forces and allies are being encircled by an enemy.

(+15% chance of a victory in this battle.)

(or)

Go on a Run: Perhaps there is a loophole that we can tactically exploit against the commander and his horde of slave soldiers and elite skirmishers and if we push these holes, we can make a run home to victory...

(Make a gamble on an offensive, have a 30% chance of making a breakthrough. If so, this will give us +25% chance of a victory in the overall battle, but if not, the Frankonian army there has a 60% chance of capitulating in this operation as a second roll if it is defeated.)

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The March to Mogadishu (Sarapion)

The City First: The last thing we want is a retreated, battered army that would lose a battle easily if we just take the camp for ourselves. We must cut them off from the Somali invasion front before they could make one last sweep over the land of Punt. Mogadishu would be our army's focus.

(+20% chance for our involvement in the Liberation of Mogadishu. If Mogadishu falls, the camp will also fall too. Pepin Martel is immune to being killed in this episode. Instead Martel has a 50% chance of a capture and a 40% chance of being draconified incidentally instead of being killed.)

(or)

Frankonia for the Hidden Camps: Our priorities are set on the camps. We brought the Drakons along, surely there will be some surprises there for ourselves. Perhaps there are some of their kind there too, supporting Zanj and Archon's initiatives to... turn the unwitting person into one of them for labour.

(If this is chosen, you can choose Ratting the System to combine the results of a victory. We individually attack rumoured Camp Zay-Alif against a lone guard army. Using one human Frankonian army and a Drakon army at hand, we have a 40% chance of a victory. If we win, we can control the camp even if the liberation of Mogadishu fails and the Zanj army capitulates. If it fails, the Frankonian human army gets a 70% chance of capitulation. Pepin Martel is immune to being killed in this episode. Instead Martel has a 50% chance of a capture and a 40% chance of being draconified incidentally instead of being killed. The Drakon army is spared.)

(or)

A Talon at the Slaves: Remember, we brought the Drakons along. We shouldn't waste on their ability. Some of the captured people they have, some Somali, others from Kush or from other lands they have conquered, are being forced into fighting on their side or face their family to die under the plight- they should be given... the right claw against their authority.

(Same effect as The City First. Draconification of some of the slave soldiers of the Zanj Governorate's forces is a necessity and so, our Drakon soldiers, comprising of at least two hundred come to attack any Zanj subjects in a non-lethal manner. Available because we chose A Scales' Worth of Pursuing but we have a 50% chance of making more breakthrough through this weird human mechanism, including... "half-immunes". If we win Mogadishu, we also gain one Drakon ex-slave army on our side.)

(or)

Incite Civilian Resistance: Alternatively, the civilians of Mogadishu are already vigilant and prepared to fight against their mortal enemies. Instead of trying to basically cause more cases of Manaism to occur, we back some... resistance?

(Costing 20 units, we incite civilian resistance within Mogadishu in a bid of raising more Somalis to fight against the Caliphate larpers. Since we are focusing on a rebellion, we reduce our chances of an effective battle and this will give Mogadishu a +10% chance of a victory instead. But it will give us two Somali armies and a civilian resistance commander in return if we win.)

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Hidden Camp: a contingency plan (some choices don't take effect unless you have won the battle over Sarapion)

Ratting the System: The excitement of getting to the first camp controlled by the Zanj Governorate with some classified purpose already boils the excitement of our troops and scholars. But we can only get to it if we just increase more firepower at the place...

(Only available if Frankonia for the Hidden Camps was chosen but this will strengthen our victory there. We engage in pounding the walls and camps with bombards of the camp. However, we risk killing some subjects, including the captured Somali commander and now a victim of draconification, Peter Habane, with a 60% chance of being killed incidentally by us. But we get a +30% chance of a victory in the camp alone.)

(or)

The Interview: Alright, let's not get too hasty about getting inside. We are not barbarians and the slavers of Zanj. We must treat everyone there, even if they have become Drakons themselves, to be equals and not prisoners of war. Let us help them out should we win the war.

(Once we win the battle over Mogadishu or the camp alone, the Cato Society immediately sets out to interview the victims of draconification and those that were interned into these camps...)

(or)

Preventing Precise Mana Contamination: The camp is already contaminated with pheromones. We've already risked ourselves trying to take the camp by having some of our troops turn. Thankfully, this is just in some areas, but we cannot let them escape beyond the confines, lest we risk an event that could have happened like Cydanus or the Garamantes falling influence.

(Once we win the battle over Mogadishu or the camp alone, the Cato Society alongside the army, moves to destroy the camp and its victims while keeping evidence at bay. This is to ensure that we don't repeat the issue that could spread like Cydanus for example [though we already did, this case, there are hundreds waiting]. There will be a 50% chance of potential backlash from local civilians and this will kill Peter Habane.)

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Naval involvement between Sarapion, Iron Swords and Garacad

(Two Frankonian fleets currently on duty)

Saving Somalia: Should we deter our own armies to concentrate on taking over the elusive camp near Mogadishu, our currently active duty ships in the Erythraean Sea would be their support, giving the Somali resistance and its allies an extra layer of safety and a way out by sea, if warfare in the city falls.

(Our current ships help to make sure Mogadishu, at least on our side, gets the help it needs in the conflict, with Zanj's navy nonexistent at that point. +10% chance of a victory.)

(or)

Bringing the Swords of Iron: The Himyarite navy needs us the most for this operation. Sadly, we have missed our opportunity when we have our own variant of this attack: Operation Coral Reef. However, it isn't too late for us to get involved in taking over their capital.

(Ashria is an important strategic victory, as that would mean Zanj's defences are proven to be worthless. +15% chance of a victory in Ashria/Operation Iron Swords.)

(or)

Make or Break This Safe Zone: Garacad is yet another Hobyo that could happen. Not under our watch. Using our own transport ships, we can both ensure the survival of the troops remaining there, but we can also supply food and basic necessities through Socotra and Aden.

(It seems more important to try and ensure that the blockade can be circumvented by guaranteeing the troops. +15% chance of a victory in Garacad, with the Himyarite and Frankonian armies instead having a 50% chance of capitulation for each instead of a full-on capitulation. If any defending army survives, they are evacuated to Amera.)

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Late armed involvement in Operation Iron Swords

A Certain Must: Assuming that we keep the Archonese aggression at check with our own defensive militias and after missing our own opportunity to attack them from our homefront, this is our last chance to turn the tide around.

(Send two of our offensive armies and the remainder of the reserve fleets to fight in Operation Iron Swords, increasing the chances of a victory there by 20%.)

(or)

Reinforcing on Mogadishu: Better yet, we continue crafting a guaranteed victory in Mogadishu. We do have the means of transporting these troops after all...

(The same as above as if it is sent to Ashria, but for Mogadishu, which it will be increased by 20%.)

(or)

Best Saved for Archon: The Drakons are already at our gates, threatening to make us no longer breathe... Why waste more troops to a long-term effort when we must look to the present?

(Do nothing. We have also something at hand too at home...)

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Less Sothos, More Threats

It seems that by provoking the bear in the room, we've made something that should've been an easy solution, into an unavoidable situation. The Archonese determined that we have violated their deal of not attacking them by being aggressive onto them and decided to place an ultimatum that demanded we take citizens in or face major reprisals. The good news is that Pepin Martel and some of our citizens are out of Frankonia, but how long will it take before the Archonese force could draconify us?

Six choices only. Archon, determining that we have violated their truce that we've agreed to them for forcibly displacing a protected group of people, has a base chance of 0% of starting a war this episode and could be increased by choices. Once war is declared, we lose 30,000 to 70,000 from annual casualties (so two times this episode) inflicted by Archon and at least 20% of them would be draconified.

Continue the forced expulsion of the Two Drakon Tribes or to keep them as-is?

The Xhosa Wills It: The Xhosa demand only one thing- let bureaucracy get out of the way and have the people take the cake. Just get rid of them. It's a simple solution, right?

(Expel the Koto and Gika Drakons out of Xhosa homeland anyway. This will immediately anger Archon into war and anything we do to placate them will be for nothing.)

(or)

Guarded by a Wall: The Xhosa don't like it, but at least we can placate their demands of expulsion by making those Drakon tribes that pledged allegiance to their arcane overlords more uncomfortable living in their lands by treating them like we do with the early years of the Drakon Homelands being a thing.

(Costing 50 units, we build up walls and watchtowers akin to the Drakon Homelands of Frankonia against the Koto and Gika Drakons this episode, except this one would be more intrusive than the "friendly" tribes we have established relations to. However, by trying to impede their movement and given that we have been "disruptive" to Archon, they have a +10% chance each episode to wage war on us if this is chosen.)

(or)

Can't Pounce No More: It'll make the natives angry, sure, but what can we do about it? We can't provoke them again.

(Do nothing. This will make the Xhosa restive of the situation for failing to resolve their issues, giving us -6% morale.)

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The Sotho refugee situation

They're Vengeful Citizens of Frankonia: With the Archonese taking a step further than what we have done and expelled an entire ethnic group of humans down to our territory in retaliation, that being the Sotho, they no longer have their homes as a result. What can we do about it? Well, we can make them citizens of Frankonia and hopefully get their land back.

(We add 87,000 Sotho refugees displaced forcibly by Archon as subjects. This will not disrupt our relations with Archon.)

(or)

Inglorious Basothos: The Sothos want their land back. And what better way than to turn them into militants and making them cross borders to deter the Archonese from ever trying to provoke us?

(We let the Sotho stay as non-citizens, but we train their men to be guerrilla fighters and send them back, which would definitely be crushed but it would partly weaken them temporarily. However, we get a 30% chance of being declared war at by Archon. Sotho Shielding is available for this choice.)

(or)

Send Them Back!: This is ludicrous and hypocritical on the bureaucrats' part. The administrators used an excuse of us trying to displace under a thousand Drakons to expel tens of thousands of humans from their lands. The Archonese have a responsibility to take care of the Sotho people- and we're not responsible for caring them.

(The Archonese have placed their hypocrisy by displacing humans in retaliation of us just simply asking them to leave their premises. The Sotho had no consent from their leaders of being proposed this. We gain +4% morale from nationalistic fervour. This will jolt the chance of war by 15% once due to us sending them back to where they originally came from. Sotho Shielding is available for this choice.)

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Responding to the Archonese ultimatum

We've Rattled Too Far: The Drakonian menace retaliated with an ultimatum. With the strength and technological prowess they harbour, we don't have a choice but to accept their terms- to send our citizens, whether they like it or not, to them. We're basically now a tributary for the remainder of the truce, just without that pesky director-general, luckily.

(Diffuse the situation by 25% by sending out 19,000 humans [40% non-indigenous and 60% indigenous] that are citizens of Frankonia per annum as tribute until 753. Voluntary or not, we don't want to die in a year. This will give us a 10 prestige penalty as well as -6% morale for our country.)

(or)

Sotho Shielding: What the bureaucrats at Archon did was insane to us. It's time we sort of bite back by treating the Sotho as "citizens of Frankonia", if they want to treat them that, the same way we gave up the Serican cultists to them. However, we're playing a moral dilemma here: this is the ethnic group we're talking about and not a subsect of cultists. If we send them, they'll all be draconified and no longer be considered human to us.

(If you choose Send Them Back! or Inglorious Basothos, you can choose this. All Sothos are given up by us as if they were Frankonian subjects and as a shield. However, all of them would be draconified in two years, potentially strengthening their grip on mainland Frankonia and would no longer become a human ethnic group of itself. Nothing changes in the probability of war.)

(or)

Arrange Convoy Talks: Diplomacy can be a surefire weapon of us... right? Last minute talks should diffuse the situation.

(Force the Archonese convoy in Neasparti led by that veteran Phiri Orminsnurr into a discussion with Vice Chief Governor Laila Ioustinianos, your daughter- all fully suited in a conventional hazmat suit to contain 93% of pheromones. We only have a 10% chance of making any diplomatic breakthrough that diffuses any tensions by 15% and to amend the tribute to allow Frankonian citizens to freely migrate to Archon by consent and that the quota should be set by just 3,000 Frankonians per annum [with that ranging from 800 to 5,000 Frankonians consenting migration] as "tribute" instead until 753. If it falls below 3,000, we will be notified. However, we will have a 25% chance of seeing Laila draconified [regardless of outcome] because of close contact meetings. If it fails, +25% chance of tensions instead.)

(or)

The Perfidious Beast: No. If they want to play fire with us, then we'll bring explosives with them. It's not a matter of if they'll do it again, but when it'll happen again.

(Reject the ultimatum- our human citizens of Frankonia will never surrender to Manaism for it is the Drakons who brought them here. This will see a +50% chance of Archon waging war.)

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The Orokang Tribe situation

Expand the Program: The Orokang Tribe, after some Archonese convoys had made their way to excuse themselves to expand their influence over more stray Drakon tribes, despite the irony of them likely rejecting the eggs they have initially placed them in the first place, is in a pretty vulnerable situation. Perhaps we can... lure them in with a promise from us instead?

(Reach to the Orokang Tribe to join the Frankonian Drakon Homelands program and department as the odd one who had initially rejected it out of local concerns. They have a 80% chance of accepting this, otherwise they will finally be influenced by Archon to join its protectorate pact. However, this will be seen as an act of aggression and we get a +15% chance of seeing Archon declare war.)

(or)

Guaranteed Tag: In due time, they will change their minds. Let them join the horde of barbaric Drakons that plot to kill us as a human race.

(Let them join the horde...)

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The Tlokwa and the convoy issue

Declared "Subjects": Now, we can't afford the Archonese to do the same with the Tlokwa. Thank goodness we have never done them with the Orcs to the last minute. Now we can flex on them for protection- to declare them "subjects" so that if the Archonese try to displace them, we can play tit-for-tat against them.

(The Tlokwa are declared a protected people of Frankonia and we begin trying to immediately turn them into subjects in the process- though as a protectorate for now. This will be seen as an act of aggression and Archon will have a +10% chance of waging war from this.)

(or)

Subtle Waves: I'm pretty sure with everything that is going on, with the various vehicles and convoy transports carrying some... advanced arms, as rumours say, the Tlokwa are definitely ANGRY about it. We can support them... or we can stage a false flag attack. But we warned, while this might give us a deterrent, they might go down hard on the Tlokwa as retribution.

(Costing 40 units, we use some natives as a bit of cannon fodder in a state sponsored attack on one of Archon's convoy teams disguised as a group of young Tlokwa hunters that smuggled chemical weapons and explosives from Frankonia. This has a 35% chance of it working, killing its leader, reduce a risk of war by 10% and cause a bit of a distraction but we have a 50% chance of being caught and that will give us +20% chance of waging war, as well as severe retribution to the Tlokwa people.)

(or)

No Need for Overreach: Safety first. Best not to let them expand aggressively to the west and focus on... cramming a lot of their people alone.

===

Preparation of another war on the horizon

Women Can Serve: With the current situation, we got to scrape the barrel further. Women could volunteer for the militias and our own incorporated army at the moment, while most of our men are on the fields serving their time in Somalia. However, we need more manpower- and that means women must join the fight too...

(Costing 60 units, we raise 2 more defensive armies in encouraging more women to join the Frankonian militias, since its mostly men who carry the gun. But this will cause more issues to the economy, further straining our income by 30% until repealed.)

(or)

The Claw Will Not Take Agios Ioustinianos: With women making up more of the workforce in the factories more than ever from the Second Erythraean War, we need to pivot towards propaganda, given that our morale is starting to wobble at that point. We should tap into the radio- formerly the Rana waves, as there is a rush towards commercialising and making these receiving equipment more mainstream to an average person.

(Costing 40 units, we formally incorporate a state broadcasting company just like the Ricardian regime did, as well as some private Iranian, Deccan and Himyarite groups and give us +7% morale in creating propaganda that will bolster our unity against the unruly lizards. Frankonia will finally have a radio station of its own for civilians and not just for the military fighting in Somalia.)

(or)

His Blessing: Nothing happens. Good prayers, am I right?

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Recognizing Legitimacy

Ricardus II has been killed! A joyous victory for the people of Rhomania and yes, Frankonia. A shame and guilt for our former Empress, which is you, though with the Roman Empire now falling into a crisis that is unseen since the Crisis of the Third Century, which also happened to be the time of civil strife and conflict there too, Frankonia is now positioned to take sides- with Himyar and Iran still divided and especially with... that anti-equalist/Mazdakist consul that Himyar elected in the wake of the Second Erythraean War.

One choice only

For the Plebeians and the Revolution!: Frankonia was founded by the people who wanted the Roman Empire to be better. Why should we endorse more pretenders to the throne that would end up contributing to nothing? Supporting the people would not only energise your closest son and the equalists, but also let the world know that the old system that Cassandra failed to take on, has failed and must be destroyed from within.

(Frankonia formally recognises the Roman Spartan Republic as the legitimate successor to the Ricardian regime. This will impress the Iranian government as well as Cyril of Frankonia and the Kushites but will anger the Himyarites, risking us on a revocation of our protectorate status [besides... they might be unable to take on another advanced threat].)

(or)

The "Better Couple": Remember that you still made a betrothal and marriage deal with Ricardus I, the father of the tyrant and that involved your eldest daughter, Ioannina. I know you may not want to mention her again, but she is still a Justinian. Supporting her and her claimant Emperor, who happens to be the son of Ricardus II, would hopefully be the right track to restoring the Roman Empire down to a path closer to the Interrealm Congress and democracy.

(Constantine III [born as Ricardus III] and Cassandra's eldest daughter, Ioannina, will be recognised as legitimate rulers of the Roman Empire, as they are the ones who vow to finally end the tyrannical reign of Ricardus II and finally make long anticipated democratic reforms desired by Cassandra previously as Empress. This gives us 3 prestige and +3% morale. Will be praised by the Himyarites but angered by the Iranians and Kushites in the process.)

(or)

Wait Till We See: Nothing happens. Until there is a clear winner in this and to be on the safer side, the Ricardian Dynasty remains the de facto recognised polity of Old Rhomania to Frankonia. Will generally see us get poorer relations with countries already making sides with the situation.

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First Recontact

It is unfortunate that the Spanian Republic, those Lakonist traitors who decided to declare independence and lose an entire country to Ricardus II, would try to re-engage with us. Moreover, they have also mocked your heir and eldest son, Diogenes by claiming his identity and being "exiled", when it is clear as day that he stood by your side. But, despite the resentment from your loyalists for what they have done after the political alliance of Old Rhomania against the Imperial Party collapsed right on their face, they are willing to trade. And this will give us the opportunity to re-establish contacts in Europe at least.

One choice only

Like the Sero-Roman Friendship: The forbidden friendship of Serica and the Ricardian regime says it all: the enemy can be your friend. Perhaps we can take exploit of Spania and eventually subsume their ideologies... We just have to open something favourable to them, which is basic trading relations. The loyalists may hate it, but it will please the liberals.

(-4% morale from our own ruling class as well as Diogenes of Frankonia [who resent his name being taken for granted, giving you the choice to kill False Diogenes next episode as a personal request] taking bad optics of trusting the Lakonist traitors that lost an entire peninsula to Ricardus. Gain 30 units from Spania as a gift, giving us the opportunity to begin commencing an Atlantic trade and eventually gain contact with the Norse to resolve some... petty issues [the Frankonians are still salty for some reason], giving us a +30% income modifier permanently.)

(or)

Tell a Mutual Tale: We both share a history of exilement. Let's not get too far, for now. We can accept the gift graciously and tell stories...

(Gain 30 units with no major bold steps.)

(or)

Still Traitors to Heart: A gift from Diogenes Ioustinianos? The Consul of Spania? That's stupid. They have already insulted us by taking your son's name and claiming it as some sort of "hero" to them. They have no right to claim Frankonia's heritage for themselves.

(+4% morale. Boldly reject the Spanian offer of gifts as spiritual successors of the Roman Empire, which will be praised by our own insiders and loyalists, as well as Prince Diogenes of Frankonia, who as your eldest son, is pretty pissed at Alexandros Tassi- stealing his name for his own gain and propaganda. Angers the old Reform guard and the neo-Lakonist movement in Frankonia in the process.)

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Sorry, it took a while for me to get there. I got some real-life stuff to tackle and did a one-off thing called The Ghoul Pile .

Ricardus II is dead finally (to the blessing of the Kushites) and Rome finally receives its collapse and civil war that it needed, the first major internal crisis since the Roman Revolution in the 670s and the secession of Spania just twenty years ago.

Next episode takes us to 750 AD and after that 751-752 AD. But it depends on your choices, basically.

Also I have read some of your ideas and had a minor issue:

To summarise what is correct in calling the draconians from a human perspective, "drekir/drekar" is a Norse plural word for dragon, not "drekirs" (this is also the same thing for that DragonScape comics and universe thing, which did have some strong influences into the draconians of this series). The correct singular term in Norse and modern Icelandic is dreki. The correct in-universe term generally referring to the draconians is "drakon" (derived from the ancient Greek word for dragon, "drakon"- which is technically correct for this time and not "drakos", the modern Greek word for the same thing today).

tl;dr "Drakon[s]" is the correct term in 21st century English for these people if you want to get more technical. But if you want to use the Norse name, at least if you can, do it correctly in formal situations and not let me cringe unless its sort of in a jokey situation like I did with the choices.

Voting ends on Saturday, 23rd December, midnight at Greenwich Mean Time.

Description

EMPEROR RICARDUS ASSASSINATED BY REVOLUTIONARY, ROMANIA FALLS INTO DISARRAY

Pari Vakili

In a significant victory for the people of Romania, Emperor Ricardus II was killed incidentally in Smyrna while making a rousing, condescending speech at Renovatae VII. The seventh edition of the exposition held by the imperial government, it was announced a few years back following the successive defeats of the Roman Army trying to fight the Jannah freedom fighters, officially backed by the Iranian government as part of its anti-imperialist agenda against the Roman Empire.

Ricardus II was shot by a Spartacist revolutionary named Elena Anatolikos at the Emperor Ricardus I Plaza, the centre of the city and venue of Renovatae VII, who joined the Spartan Party of Romania in 728 as the rights of workers and especially women, were being crushed at the will of the cruel Emperor. Fortunately, the Emperor had died of his wounds, but the Roman Empire has refused to acknowledge his death until two days later, when pressure was mounting from his son, Ricardus III, emerged in trying to get his death publicised.

The heroine to the Spartan cause, as well as the global effort to equalise the plebeians, was sadly shot on sight once members of the New Praetorian Guard had caught the wind of the shooting as thousands of visitors dispersed and were tracked down by his men to arrest those responsible for the attack. Her martyrdom ultimately showed the resilience of the people's struggle against the Ricardian regime and the patricians' oppression of the people. However, the witnesses, through the connection of various Iranian allies and associates, managed to keep the story alive, as The Patriot, the infamous nationalistic newspaper owned by the Emperor's state party, struggled to comprehend how to react to such an event of their beloved Emperor dying out of nowhere.

With the death of the frail, senile Emperor, it was later revealed today that Ricardus II had not instead passed his son down in his will that was quickly revealed to the public, but rather his grandson, Claudius, who was taught personally by him to behave and rule the country his way. This private will had been long rumoured and spread around by many commoners of Romania that believed that Ricardus II "was a step ahead of his plan" and that seemed to be right.

However, it seemed that Ricardus III, who had declared his intention of naming himself as Emperor Constantine III, after knowing the revelation, was not ready to admit defeat to his own son that was snatched away by his father to become an ideological clone of himself, defied the demands of the Roman Senate, who always had been loyal and accepting of the slain Emperor Ricardus II, to accept the passing and declared he would try to regain the throne that he was supposed to inherit and stolen from his father.

The old imperial system is rotting in itself. With the system prone to multiple succession and civil wars over its history, this is one of the conflicts that would invariably come under this monarchical system. The Spartacists that rose up against the rule of the Ricardian dynasty, hope to change this for the better. A stable republic that is governed by the plebeians with a revolutionary mindset, nothing like the First Roman Republic or the frail Second Roman Republic that found themselves in an elitist or patrician's thralls and illusions of liberalism, will certainly benefit the already dissatisfied populace of Romania.

The Mazdakist (est. 731, state Iranian newspaper),

Thursday, 12th June 747

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[First spoken in Greek then in Arabic. Some grammatical errors or pronunciations, which for the latter aren't shown here, are a result of "drakonisms", drakonic language gaffes of being inadequate in human languages.]

The people of Frankonia, you have been received of a message from the Director-General of the Colony of Archon.

I am speaking to one of your leaders about the recent events of a few of the Drakons who have informed us about your unauthorised intrusions and transgressions against the two tribes that are protected by the Lurkowite Authority. The bureaucrats of Lurkow have agreed, as well as the Director-General, agreed that the actions you have made violate the clause and deal that is struck between the convoys of Archon and you, which is to disallow any aggression between both sides until the year 753, following a deal to give up thousands of humans in exchange for peace.

As I reiterate, if it is not clear to you, the Koto and Gika Tribes are protectorates of the Colony of Archon. They are Drakons who have the right to live in their own culture and land as they are hatched and raised in the region. Some of them already began having offspring and thus hold special connection to the land once they pass away. For them to be told to leave their lands is considered an aggression on your behalf and therefore, we must issue a statement to your leaders. The collective statements of both representatives and leaders of both Drakonic tribes, Nagubi and Itanka are as the following:

"To the following persons:

Queen Cassandra of Frankonia,

Matthias Dayak, Chief Governor of Frankonia,

and Laila Ioustinianos, Vice Chief Governor of Frankonia,

Parvatham Yathooshan, Foreign Minister of Frankonia,

We, the Drakons of Koto and Gika are hatched in our native soil and feel the connection of our home to this place. To suggest that the Koto and Gika people are non-indigenous or pose a threat to the Frankonian people is preposterous. Up until the point where the Xhosa people are comfortable with us being able to live off their land without challenges, you were the ones who forced the Xhosa to begin believing in your anti-Drakonic principles and racist ideals of trying to get rid of the Drakons off their own land or to die in a war so to contain the supposed 'Mana disease' or 'Mana syndrome'.

It is unacceptable for us to leave these lands as a result. We will fight our own land until we die and not under your own hands. Let us remind you that the Archonese and Lurkowite bureaucrats have the means and strength to take over your villages and take as many people as they desire as punishment. You don't want to see that after the Lurkowites that have bestowed us with the gift of protection and security that unlike you, have been giving to your own 'allied' Drakons, do you?

One day, those Drakons, including those humans that you have victimised once they have invariably turned from unfortunate circumstances, will turn on you. The racist policies of segregation will become a tipping point for your downfall. The crackdown of those activists that stood for the freedom of Drakons of your realm by using our own kind is atrocious and is condemned by us.

Sincerely, the leaders of the Koto and Gika Tribes, Nagubi and Itanka."

The Koto and Gika Tribes took the situation of your aggression appropriately and not to send any retaliatory messages back, for it has unnecessary aggressive aftershocks that could harm our stability. Instead, they have consulted themselves through a monthly convoy that passes through neutral territory, giving us the time to eventually make an official statement.

We have also observed that your people are also potentially involved in fighting with your own Drakons in the north. Our insiders have confirmed that. Even though we can acknowledge that there are Drakons, despite legally being the subjects of the Lurkowite Bureaucracy and Authority, may not be able to be tagged and identified easily due to the fact that Gaia [Earth] is a primitive world and thus subject to different treatment, these Drakons are interfering with the processes of the Colony of Archon's responsibilities in handling various human polities. We have observers there to ensure that interference is minimal and Frankonia is an exception to this.

The fact that you go so far to also use Drakonic subjects that is legally under our jurisdiction to identify, document and ensure that they are tagged is not our priority. The appropriate local forces should be able to deal with your problems there. It is the violation of the rights of native Drakons living on Gaia that is the prime concern here.

Now, we must send you the terms of cessation of hostility from you.

You will send us 19,000 humans every year to us until 753, the agreed year that both parties would cease aggression until that point. You have done the same thing to the Sericans and you will do the same thing again to help contribute our continued efforts of building a sustainable infrastructure comparable to the colonies of Lurkow for Drakonkind, what you call Aphrodite.

You must respect the sovereignty of the Koto and Gika peoples. Displacement is considered a hostile act by the bureaucracy as a group of protected people.

You will not touch any other Drakonic tribe that is not allied to you.

And lastly, you will not harm our researchers, diplomats and personnel in the north. We have seen you and your collaborators, Drakons who blindly took to your side, get close to our allies, but this is their affair. We have no part in this conflict.

Respond soon and send these remarks to these people that I have mentioned. You can take as much time as you want. If you reject the deal or try to force the displacement of the Koto and Gika peoples, appropriate security measures will be given to ensure the safety of every Drakon on Gaia, such as the removal of the Sotho people from our grounds. We have already done this in the interests of the safety and security of our own subjects, deeming them high risk of inciting attacks or rebellion in Archonese grounds. They will be firmly relocated to your grounds.

Phiri Ōrminsnurr, convoy leader responsible for the ultimatum,

interpreting and speaking in Greek and Arabic in Nealimus,

10th April 748

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///In the news...///

RICARDUS II MARTYRED AS A SAINT BY EQUALIST REACTIONARY

His grandson, Claudius, is declared as the Emperor of the Romans by the will of Saint Ricardus II. His martyrdom shows the undying Roman spirit persisting through the toughest times in recent history.

The Patriot, June 747

===

// THE ACTA DIURNA WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGISE FOR THE TWENTY YEARS OF PROPAGANDA SPREAD BY THE LIES OF THE IMPERIAL PARTY. //

Constantine III formally disavows Pope Dionysius II as Bishop of Rome for exiled leader Gelasius

This marks as one of the many bold steps by the Emperor to reverse the years of damage created by his father and to bring his vision closer to one idealised by former Empress Cassandra, now Queen of Frankonia. It was praised by Francia and Spania, who recognise Gelasius II as the Bishop of Rome but rejected by the deceitful Roman Senate and his tricked son.

Acta Diurna (Ravennese edition), August 747

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The Serican Guard Formed as Part of "Sero-Roman Friendship Deal" by Claudius III

Unlikely relationships between two hyper-militaristic regimes forged out of necessity and survival.

Star of Aden, September 747

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Menouthias and Rhapta Liberated

Frankonian Journal, September 747

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The Spartan Party declares the founding of the Roman Spartan Republic

In Ancyra, party leader and chairman of the SKR, David Staurakios declares the birth of the people's republic from the fallen ashes of Ricardus II.

Hadramaut Weekly (est. 690), December 747

===

Archonese Drakons Threaten Frankonia With an Ultimatum

Frankonian Journal, April 748

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For explained events that take place between episode 81 to 82, including those that have been taken into effect, consult this below. A recommended reading for context of this episode.

Events of 747 AD

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DIPLOMACY
- Personal unions: N/A
- Military alliances: N/A
- Defensive pacts: Somalia
- Non-aggression pacts: N/A
- Vassals: N/A
- Protectorates: N/A
- Truce with: N/A
- At war with: Zanj Governorate, Al-Muqurrah

The Domains of Cassandra are a protectorate of Himyar until deemed "self-sufficient". (Should it be attacked, Himyar may be able to intervene on our behalf. Recent debates though begin to show Himyarite politicians starting to turn their eyes against us of being given that privilege, but it remains effective.)

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MILITARY (displayed at war)

(should it exceed the number of available armies, you will be penalised by 25% of income per excess army)

Offensive armies: 2 of 4 available armies (per mass conscription program)

-> 2 offensive armies in the Second Erythraean War

Defensive (garrisoned) armies: 3 of 3 available armies

Drakonic armies: 1 of 2 available armies

-> 1 Drakonic army in the Second Erythraean War

Naval fleets: 4 of 4 available fleets

-> 2 fleets in the Second Erythraean War

Vassal armies: N/A

Special units (each having three strikes):

-> Black Legion of Cato Society (paramilitary branch; paranormal espionage)

Expeditionary units: N/A

Current commanders (on the map): N/A

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LEADERSHIP and STATE
Current dynastic head: Cassandra (age 73)
Current consort: N/A

Line of succession:
- Current heir: Diogenes (age 47)
- Second-in-line: Basil (age 17) | son of Diogenes
- Others (in order):

[3] Theodosius II (age 12) | son of Diogenes

[4] Diogenes II (age 7) | son of Diogenes

[5] Cyril (age 39)

[6] Adam (age 14) | son of Cyril

[7] Georgios (age 5) | son of Cyril

[8] Cyril II (age 2) | son of Cyril

[9] Cassandra II (age 44)

[10] Laila (age 43)

- Pretenders/Claimants: N/A

Current Chief Governor: Matthias Dayak (age 54; no party)

Current Vice-Chief Governor: Laila Ioustinianos (age 43; no party)

Minister for the Frankonian Drakons: Maurook (age 51; Tcharak)

===

Drams (units): -16 (2/5 of defaulting)

Income modifier: 65%

- From Militias to Mandatory Enlistment (until repealed): -25%

- Manufactured Conversion (until repealed): -15%

Income: +36

- Fishing for Moby: +12 (from +20 originally, permanent)

- Jewel Rush: +24 (from +40 originally, permanent)

Prestige: 19

Population: 1,125,882

- Human: 1,094,970 (806,870 natives)

- Draconian: 8,775 (2,825 natives, 5,950 draconified humans)
- Gargulo (Gargoyles): 537

- Orc: 21,600

Migrants will be taken in by 20% per year for every five-year period intervals.

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Future/scheduled events:

- As we gave the Archonese drakons enough Sercian cultists to "satiate" the tribute they expect of us, they are pledged by us to not initiate any "aggressive" attacks or intrusions on our territory until 753. (Violated according to Archon

- By 760, mainland Frankonia will be considered "Orc-free" by the government, wiping out the rest of the Orc population and its potential offspring from freshwater sources.

- Frankonia and Himyar (in part of Amera's research infrastructure) will finish the development of a unique machine and equipment specialised in filtering pheromones as well as other microparticles and allergens by the year 770, permanently reducing the risk of draconification but not entirely.
- The long and ambitious, yet controversial cultural project by Frankonia to unite the "human cultures" of Frankonia into one homogeneous identity is slated to be complete in 790, though its heavy investment and assimilationist outlook has been criticised as being "against the values of Old Rhomania" by some ethnonationalists and indigenous peoples of Frankonia.

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Second Erythraean War: Part II

Our focus away from Inanna will only strengthen the Orcs who were already aware of our own antics. They're waiting to see the right time for an attack someday. But that being said, the Somali front is going somewhat in our favour as did the taking down of Zanj's weak fleet. If we can take Mogadishu and even the capital as planned by the Himyarites, we can begin a rush into their land and potentially expose the ruse of this Drakonic cooperative alliance.

Five choices only.

All battles in the Second Erythraean War, as we are not the leaders of our defending side, have their predicted outcomes hidden. But we do have a sway on how much we could impact a battle.

A Frankonian human army (during the war) is worth approximately 35,000 men in this war. Losing it means losing that amount of people.

===

Second Battle of Garacad

Preliminary Precautionary Plans: Play it safe at a time where our forces and allies are being encircled by an enemy.

(+15% chance of a victory in this battle.)

(or)

Go on a Run: Perhaps there is a loophole that we can tactically exploit against the commander and his horde of slave soldiers and elite skirmishers and if we push these holes, we can make a run home to victory...

(Make a gamble on an offensive, have a 30% chance of making a breakthrough. If so, this will give us +25% chance of a victory in the overall battle, but if not, the Frankonian army there has a 60% chance of capitulating in this operation as a second roll if it is defeated.)

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The March to Mogadishu (Sarapion)

The City First: The last thing we want is a retreated, battered army that would lose a battle easily if we just take the camp for ourselves. We must cut them off from the Somali invasion front before they could make one last sweep over the land of Punt. Mogadishu would be our army's focus.

(+20% chance for our involvement in the Liberation of Mogadishu. If Mogadishu falls, the camp will also fall too. Pepin Martel is immune to being killed in this episode. Instead Martel has a 50% chance of a capture and a 40% chance of being draconified incidentally instead of being killed.)

(or)

Frankonia for the Hidden Camps: Our priorities are set on the camps. We brought the Drakons along, surely there will be some surprises there for ourselves. Perhaps there are some of their kind there too, supporting Zanj and Archon's initiatives to... turn the unwitting person into one of them for labour.

(If this is chosen, you can choose Ratting the System to combine the results of a victory. We individually attack rumoured Camp Zay-Alif against a lone guard army. Using one human Frankonian army and a Drakon army at hand, we have a 40% chance of a victory. If we win, we can control the camp even if the liberation of Mogadishu fails and the Zanj army capitulates. If it fails, the Frankonian human army gets a 70% chance of capitulation. Pepin Martel is immune to being killed in this episode. Instead Martel has a 50% chance of a capture and a 40% chance of being draconified incidentally instead of being killed. The Drakon army is spared.)

(or)

A Talon at the Slaves: Remember, we brought the Drakons along. We shouldn't waste on their ability. Some of the captured people they have, some Somali, others from Kush or from other lands they have conquered, are being forced into fighting on their side or face their family to die under the plight- they should be given... the right claw against their authority.

(Same effect as The City First. Draconification of some of the slave soldiers of the Zanj Governorate's forces is a necessity and so, our Drakon soldiers, comprising of at least two hundred come to attack any Zanj subjects in a non-lethal manner. Available because we chose A Scales' Worth of Pursuing but we have a 50% chance of making more breakthrough through this weird human mechanism, including... "half-immunes". If we win Mogadishu, we also gain one Drakon ex-slave army on our side.)

(or)

Incite Civilian Resistance: Alternatively, the civilians of Mogadishu are already vigilant and prepared to fight against their mortal enemies. Instead of trying to basically cause more cases of Manaism to occur, we back some... resistance?

(Costing 20 units, we incite civilian resistance within Mogadishu in a bid of raising more Somalis to fight against the Caliphate larpers. Since we are focusing on a rebellion, we reduce our chances of an effective battle and this will give Mogadishu a +10% chance of a victory instead. But it will give us two Somali armies and a civilian resistance commander in return if we win.)

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Hidden Camp: a contingency plan (some choices don't take effect unless you have won the battle over Sarapion)

Ratting the System: The excitement of getting to the first camp controlled by the Zanj Governorate with some classified purpose already boils the excitement of our troops and scholars. But we can only get to it if we just increase more firepower at the place...

(Only available if Frankonia for the Hidden Camps was chosen but this will strengthen our victory there. We engage in pounding the walls and camps with bombards of the camp. However, we risk killing some subjects, including the captured Somali commander and now a victim of draconification, Peter Habane, with a 60% chance of being killed incidentally by us. But we get a +30% chance of a victory in the camp alone.)

(or)

The Interview: Alright, let's not get too hasty about getting inside. We are not barbarians and the slavers of Zanj. We must treat everyone there, even if they have become Drakons themselves, to be equals and not prisoners of war. Let us help them out should we win the war.

(Once we win the battle over Mogadishu or the camp alone, the Cato Society immediately sets out to interview the victims of draconification and those that were interned into these camps...)

(or)

Preventing Precise Mana Contamination: The camp is already contaminated with pheromones. We've already risked ourselves trying to take the camp by having some of our troops turn. Thankfully, this is just in some areas, but we cannot let them escape beyond the confines, lest we risk an event that could have happened like Cydanus or the Garamantes falling influence.

(Once we win the battle over Mogadishu or the camp alone, the Cato Society alongside the army, moves to destroy the camp and its victims while keeping evidence at bay. This is to ensure that we don't repeat the issue that could spread like Cydanus for example [though we already did, this case, there are hundreds waiting]. There will be a 50% chance of potential backlash from local civilians and this will kill Peter Habane.)

===

Naval involvement between Sarapion, Iron Swords and Garacad

(Two Frankonian fleets currently on duty)

Saving Somalia: Should we deter our own armies to concentrate on taking over the elusive camp near Mogadishu, our currently active duty ships in the Erythraean Sea would be their support, giving the Somali resistance and its allies an extra layer of safety and a way out by sea, if warfare in the city falls.

(Our current ships help to make sure Mogadishu, at least on our side, gets the help it needs in the conflict, with Zanj's navy nonexistent at that point. +10% chance of a victory.)

(or)

Bringing the Swords of Iron: The Himyarite navy needs us the most for this operation. Sadly, we have missed our opportunity when we have our own variant of this attack: Operation Coral Reef. However, it isn't too late for us to get involved in taking over their capital.

(Ashria is an important strategic victory, as that would mean Zanj's defences are proven to be worthless. +15% chance of a victory in Ashria/Operation Iron Swords.)

(or)

Make or Break This Safe Zone: Garacad is yet another Hobyo that could happen. Not under our watch. Using our own transport ships, we can both ensure the survival of the troops remaining there, but we can also supply food and basic necessities through Socotra and Aden.

(It seems more important to try and ensure that the blockade can be circumvented by guaranteeing the troops. +15% chance of a victory in Garacad, with the Himyarite and Frankonian armies instead having a 50% chance of capitulation for each instead of a full-on capitulation. If any defending army survives, they are evacuated to Amera.)

===

Late armed involvement in Operation Iron Swords

A Certain Must: Assuming that we keep the Archonese aggression at check with our own defensive militias and after missing our own opportunity to attack them from our homefront, this is our last chance to turn the tide around.

(Send two of our offensive armies and the remainder of the reserve fleets to fight in Operation Iron Swords, increasing the chances of a victory there by 20%.)

(or)

Reinforcing on Mogadishu: Better yet, we continue crafting a guaranteed victory in Mogadishu. We do have the means of transporting these troops after all...

(The same as above as if it is sent to Ashria, but for Mogadishu, which it will be increased by 20%.)

(or)

Best Saved for Archon: The Drakons are already at our gates, threatening to make us no longer breathe... Why waste more troops to a long-term effort when we must look to the present?

(Do nothing. We have also something at hand too at home...)

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Less Sothos, More Threats

It seems that by provoking the bear in the room, we've made something that should've been an easy solution, into an unavoidable situation. The Archonese determined that we have violated their deal of not attacking them by being aggressive onto them and decided to place an ultimatum that demanded we take citizens in or face major reprisals. The good news is that Pepin Martel and some of our citizens are out of Frankonia, but how long will it take before the Archonese force could draconify us?

Six choices only. Archon, determining that we have violated their truce that we've agreed to them for forcibly displacing a protected group of people, has a base chance of 0% of starting a war this episode and could be increased by choices. Once war is declared, we lose 30,000 to 70,000 from annual casualties (so two times this episode) inflicted by Archon and at least 20% of them would be draconified.

Continue the forced expulsion of the Two Drakon Tribes or to keep them as-is?

The Xhosa Wills It: The Xhosa demand only one thing- let bureaucracy get out of the way and have the people take the cake. Just get rid of them. It's a simple solution, right?

(Expel the Koto and Gika Drakons out of Xhosa homeland anyway. This will immediately anger Archon into war and anything we do to placate them will be for nothing.)

(or)

Guarded by a Wall: The Xhosa don't like it, but at least we can placate their demands of expulsion by making those Drakon tribes that pledged allegiance to their arcane overlords more uncomfortable living in their lands by treating them like we do with the early years of the Drakon Homelands being a thing.

(Costing 50 units, we build up walls and watchtowers akin to the Drakon Homelands of Frankonia against the Koto and Gika Drakons this episode, except this one would be more intrusive than the "friendly" tribes we have established relations to. However, by trying to impede their movement and given that we have been "disruptive" to Archon, they have a +10% chance each episode to wage war on us if this is chosen.)

(or)

Can't Pounce No More: It'll make the natives angry, sure, but what can we do about it? We can't provoke them again.

(Do nothing. This will make the Xhosa restive of the situation for failing to resolve their issues, giving us -6% morale.)

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The Sotho refugee situation

They're Vengeful Citizens of Frankonia: With the Archonese taking a step further than what we have done and expelled an entire ethnic group of humans down to our territory in retaliation, that being the Sotho, they no longer have their homes as a result. What can we do about it? Well, we can make them citizens of Frankonia and hopefully get their land back.

(We add 87,000 Sotho refugees displaced forcibly by Archon as subjects. This will not disrupt our relations with Archon.)

(or)

Inglorious Basothos: The Sothos want their land back. And what better way than to turn them into militants and making them cross borders to deter the Archonese from ever trying to provoke us?

(We let the Sotho stay as non-citizens, but we train their men to be guerrilla fighters and send them back, which would definitely be crushed but it would partly weaken them temporarily. However, we get a 30% chance of being declared war at by Archon. Sotho Shielding is available for this choice.)

(or)

Send Them Back!: This is ludicrous and hypocritical on the bureaucrats' part. The administrators used an excuse of us trying to displace under a thousand Drakons to expel tens of thousands of humans from their lands. The Archonese have a responsibility to take care of the Sotho people- and we're not responsible for caring them.

(The Archonese have placed their hypocrisy by displacing humans in retaliation of us just simply asking them to leave their premises. The Sotho had no consent from their leaders of being proposed this. We gain +4% morale from nationalistic fervour. This will jolt the chance of war by 15% once due to us sending them back to where they originally came from. Sotho Shielding is available for this choice.)

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Responding to the Archonese ultimatum

We've Rattled Too Far: The Drakonian menace retaliated with an ultimatum. With the strength and technological prowess they harbour, we don't have a choice but to accept their terms- to send our citizens, whether they like it or not, to them. We're basically now a tributary for the remainder of the truce, just without that pesky director-general, luckily.

(Diffuse the situation by 25% by sending out 19,000 humans [40% non-indigenous and 60% indigenous] that are citizens of Frankonia per annum as tribute until 753. Voluntary or not, we don't want to die in a year. This will give us a 10 prestige penalty as well as -6% morale for our country.)

(or)

Sotho Shielding: What the bureaucrats at Archon did was insane to us. It's time we sort of bite back by treating the Sotho as "citizens of Frankonia", if they want to treat them that, the same way we gave up the Serican cultists to them. However, we're playing a moral dilemma here: this is the ethnic group we're talking about and not a subsect of cultists. If we send them, they'll all be draconified and no longer be considered human to us.

(If you choose Send Them Back! or Inglorious Basothos, you can choose this. All Sothos are given up by us as if they were Frankonian subjects and as a shield. However, all of them would be draconified in two years, potentially strengthening their grip on mainland Frankonia and would no longer become a human ethnic group of itself. Nothing changes in the probability of war.)

(or)

Arrange Convoy Talks: Diplomacy can be a surefire weapon of us... right? Last minute talks should diffuse the situation.

(Force the Archonese convoy in Neasparti led by that veteran Phiri Orminsnurr into a discussion with Vice Chief Governor Laila Ioustinianos, your daughter- all fully suited in a conventional hazmat suit to contain 93% of pheromones. We only have a 10% chance of making any diplomatic breakthrough that diffuses any tensions by 15% and to amend the tribute to allow Frankonian citizens to freely migrate to Archon by consent and that the quota should be set by just 3,000 Frankonians per annum [with that ranging from 800 to 5,000 Frankonians consenting migration] as "tribute" instead until 753. If it falls below 3,000, we will be notified. However, we will have a 25% chance of seeing Laila draconified [regardless of outcome] because of close contact meetings. If it fails, +25% chance of tensions instead.)

(or)

The Perfidious Beast: No. If they want to play fire with us, then we'll bring explosives with them. It's not a matter of if they'll do it again, but when it'll happen again.

(Reject the ultimatum- our human citizens of Frankonia will never surrender to Manaism for it is the Drakons who brought them here. This will see a +50% chance of Archon waging war.)

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The Orokang Tribe situation

Expand the Program: The Orokang Tribe, after some Archonese convoys had made their way to excuse themselves to expand their influence over more stray Drakon tribes, despite the irony of them likely rejecting the eggs they have initially placed them in the first place, is in a pretty vulnerable situation. Perhaps we can... lure them in with a promise from us instead?

(Reach to the Orokang Tribe to join the Frankonian Drakon Homelands program and department as the odd one who had initially rejected it out of local concerns. They have a 80% chance of accepting this, otherwise they will finally be influenced by Archon to join its protectorate pact. However, this will be seen as an act of aggression and we get a +15% chance of seeing Archon declare war.)

(or)

Guaranteed Tag: In due time, they will change their minds. Let them join the horde of barbaric Drakons that plot to kill us as a human race.

(Let them join the horde...)

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The Tlokwa and the convoy issue

Declared "Subjects": Now, we can't afford the Archonese to do the same with the Tlokwa. Thank goodness we have never done them with the Orcs to the last minute. Now we can flex on them for protection- to declare them "subjects" so that if the Archonese try to displace them, we can play tit-for-tat against them.

(The Tlokwa are declared a protected people of Frankonia and we begin trying to immediately turn them into subjects in the process- though as a protectorate for now. This will be seen as an act of aggression and Archon will have a +10% chance of waging war from this.)

(or)

Subtle Waves: I'm pretty sure with everything that is going on, with the various vehicles and convoy transports carrying some... advanced arms, as rumours say, the Tlokwa are definitely ANGRY about it. We can support them... or we can stage a false flag attack. But we warned, while this might give us a deterrent, they might go down hard on the Tlokwa as retribution.

(Costing 40 units, we use some natives as a bit of cannon fodder in a state sponsored attack on one of Archon's convoy teams disguised as a group of young Tlokwa hunters that smuggled chemical weapons and explosives from Frankonia. This has a 35% chance of it working, killing its leader, reduce a risk of war by 10% and cause a bit of a distraction but we have a 50% chance of being caught and that will give us +20% chance of waging war, as well as severe retribution to the Tlokwa people.)

(or)

No Need for Overreach: Safety first. Best not to let them expand aggressively to the west and focus on... cramming a lot of their people alone.

===

Preparation of another war on the horizon

Women Can Serve: With the current situation, we got to scrape the barrel further. Women could volunteer for the militias and our own incorporated army at the moment, while most of our men are on the fields serving their time in Somalia. However, we need more manpower- and that means women must join the fight too...

(Costing 60 units, we raise 2 more defensive armies in encouraging more women to join the Frankonian militias, since its mostly men who carry the gun. But this will cause more issues to the economy, further straining our income by 30% until repealed.)

(or)

The Claw Will Not Take Agios Ioustinianos: With women making up more of the workforce in the factories more than ever from the Second Erythraean War, we need to pivot towards propaganda, given that our morale is starting to wobble at that point. We should tap into the radio- formerly the Rana waves, as there is a rush towards commercialising and making these receiving equipment more mainstream to an average person.

(Costing 40 units, we formally incorporate a state broadcasting company just like the Ricardian regime did, as well as some private Iranian, Deccan and Himyarite groups and give us +7% morale in creating propaganda that will bolster our unity against the unruly lizards. Frankonia will finally have a radio station of its own for civilians and not just for the military fighting in Somalia.)

(or)

His Blessing: Nothing happens. Good prayers, am I right?

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Recognizing Legitimacy

Ricardus II has been killed! A joyous victory for the people of Rhomania and yes, Frankonia. A shame and guilt for our former Empress, which is you, though with the Roman Empire now falling into a crisis that is unseen since the Crisis of the Third Century, which also happened to be the time of civil strife and conflict there too, Frankonia is now positioned to take sides- with Himyar and Iran still divided and especially with... that anti-equalist/Mazdakist consul that Himyar elected in the wake of the Second Erythraean War.

One choice only

For the Plebeians and the Revolution!: Frankonia was founded by the people who wanted the Roman Empire to be better. Why should we endorse more pretenders to the throne that would end up contributing to nothing? Supporting the people would not only energise your closest son and the equalists, but also let the world know that the old system that Cassandra failed to take on, has failed and must be destroyed from within.

(Frankonia formally recognises the Roman Spartan Republic as the legitimate successor to the Ricardian regime. This will impress the Iranian government as well as Cyril of Frankonia and the Kushites but will anger the Himyarites, risking us on a revocation of our protectorate status [besides... they might be unable to take on another advanced threat].)

(or)

The "Better Couple": Remember that you still made a betrothal and marriage deal with Ricardus I, the father of the tyrant and that involved your eldest daughter, Ioannina. I know you may not want to mention her again, but she is still a Justinian. Supporting her and her claimant Emperor, who happens to be the son of Ricardus II, would hopefully be the right track to restoring the Roman Empire down to a path closer to the Interrealm Congress and democracy.

(Constantine III [born as Ricardus III] and Cassandra's eldest daughter, Ioannina, will be recognised as legitimate rulers of the Roman Empire, as they are the ones who vow to finally end the tyrannical reign of Ricardus II and finally make long anticipated democratic reforms desired by Cassandra previously as Empress. This gives us 3 prestige and +3% morale. Will be praised by the Himyarites but angered by the Iranians and Kushites in the process.)

(or)

Wait Till We See: Nothing happens. Until there is a clear winner in this and to be on the safer side, the Ricardian Dynasty remains the de facto recognised polity of Old Rhomania to Frankonia. Will generally see us get poorer relations with countries already making sides with the situation.

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First Recontact

It is unfortunate that the Spanian Republic, those Lakonist traitors who decided to declare independence and lose an entire country to Ricardus II, would try to re-engage with us. Moreover, they have also mocked your heir and eldest son, Diogenes by claiming his identity and being "exiled", when it is clear as day that he stood by your side. But, despite the resentment from your loyalists for what they have done after the political alliance of Old Rhomania against the Imperial Party collapsed right on their face, they are willing to trade. And this will give us the opportunity to re-establish contacts in Europe at least.

One choice only

Like the Sero-Roman Friendship: The forbidden friendship of Serica and the Ricardian regime says it all: the enemy can be your friend. Perhaps we can take exploit of Spania and eventually subsume their ideologies... We just have to open something favourable to them, which is basic trading relations. The loyalists may hate it, but it will please the liberals.

(-4% morale from our own ruling class as well as Diogenes of Frankonia [who resent his name being taken for granted, giving you the choice to kill False Diogenes next episode as a personal request] taking bad optics of trusting the Lakonist traitors that lost an entire peninsula to Ricardus. Gain 30 units from Spania as a gift, giving us the opportunity to begin commencing an Atlantic trade and eventually gain contact with the Norse to resolve some... petty issues [the Frankonians are still salty for some reason], giving us a +30% income modifier permanently.)

(or)

Tell a Mutual Tale: We both share a history of exilement. Let's not get too far, for now. We can accept the gift graciously and tell stories...

(Gain 30 units with no major bold steps.)

(or)

Still Traitors to Heart: A gift from Diogenes Ioustinianos? The Consul of Spania? That's stupid. They have already insulted us by taking your son's name and claiming it as some sort of "hero" to them. They have no right to claim Frankonia's heritage for themselves.

(+4% morale. Boldly reject the Spanian offer of gifts as spiritual successors of the Roman Empire, which will be praised by our own insiders and loyalists, as well as Prince Diogenes of Frankonia, who as your eldest son, is pretty pissed at Alexandros Tassi- stealing his name for his own gain and propaganda. Angers the old Reform guard and the neo-Lakonist movement in Frankonia in the process.)

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Sorry, it took a while for me to get there. I got some real-life stuff to tackle and did a one-off thing called The Ghoul Pile .

Ricardus II is dead finally (to the blessing of the Kushites) and Rome finally receives its collapse and civil war that it needed, the first major internal crisis since the Roman Revolution in the 670s and the secession of Spania just twenty years ago.

Next episode takes us to 750 AD and after that 751-752 AD. But it depends on your choices, basically.

Also I have read some of your ideas and had a minor issue:

To summarise what is correct in calling the draconians from a human perspective, "drekir/drekar" is a Norse plural word for dragon, not "drekirs" (this is also the same thing for that DragonScape comics and universe thing, which did have some strong influences into the draconians of this series). The correct singular term in Norse and modern Icelandic is dreki. The correct in-universe term generally referring to the draconians is "drakon" (derived from the ancient Greek word for dragon, "drakon"- which is technically correct for this time and not "drakos", the modern Greek word for the same thing today).

tl;dr "Drakon[s]" is the correct term in 21st century English for these people if you want to get more technical. But if you want to use the Norse name, at least if you can, do it correctly in formal situations and not let me cringe unless its sort of in a jokey situation like I did with the choices.

Voting ends on Saturday, 23rd December, midnight at Greenwich Mean Time.