Characters / Equestria At War Herzland

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Herzland

Griffonian Empire

Full Name: Griffonian Empire

Ruling Party: Griffonische Kaiserpartei^note Griffonian Imperial Party

Ideology: Despotism^note Non-Aligned

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• Authority in Name Only: The Empire starts the game surrounded by loyal counties and baronies that are nonetheless represented as fully independent nations with the puppet state of "nominal vassal". When Grover V dies, political infighting will always result in many vassals seceding and removing their nominal vassal status, showing just how little power the Empire has.
• The Empire: The Griffonian Empire cannot go down a peaceful route, and will always begin a long conquest to reconquer their lost territories.
• Fantasy Counterpart Culture: The Griffonian Empire has many similarities with the Holy Roman Empire.
• History Repeats: Grover IV died of a stroke at an early age, leaving a ten year old Grover V, who is already sickly, to be caught in the middle of a Succession Crisis along with the revolutions. This made the latter barely incapable of ruling as he was barely groomed due to his young age. At the same time, the stress induced from having to deal with such stuff at his age worsened Grover V's health, resulting in his early death and making his son Grover VI undergo the same struggle as he did, but at an even younger age.
• King Bob the Nth: The Grovers are only known by their formal name In-Universe. According to Word of God, it is "von Greifenstein" meaning "of Griffonstone".
• Klingon Promotion: Nearly every country on the Griffonian continent have some paths, focuses, or other opportunities that lets them go to war with the Griffonian Empire. If the Empire is defeated, and their core territories taken, the new owner of the Griffon throne will often get to declare a new Empire (or a pan-Griffonian republic) under their leadership, getting cores on the Empire's heartlands. Even Lake City, a pony nation, can put a pony on the Griffon throne in their Princely restoration path.
• Resurgent Empire: The Empire may be decaying in terms of political power, but it is still a military superpower on the Griffonian continent. The new regent for Grover VI will implement reforms to strengthen the Empire and then use its military strength to subjugate rebellious vassals and reconquer lost territories (something which is very likely to succeed unless Ferdinand Dawnclaw takes power, declares war on the entire Herzland, and subsequently gets crushed).
• Vestigial Empire: The Griffonian Empire was once the most powerful nation in the world, even colonizing part of Equus. They've been on the downhill ever since, with multiple kingdoms seceding and an internal revolution tearing the country apart. Whatever nobles still allied to the Griffonian Empire act largely autonomous, and can break away easily.

Grover V

Role: Monarch^note Head of State

Party: Griffonische Kaiserpartei^note Griffonian Imperial Party

Ideology: Despotism^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Nominally the Emperor of all Griffonia, Grover V has had a difficult life. Never the most healthy of griffons, he has lost his father to a stroke, and with that, woe soon came to the Empire. The loss of the Idol of Boreas, the Republican Uprising of 978, millions of dead griffons - Grover could only watch and weep as the events unfolded. Nonetheless, the Emperor could count on his good friends, notably Archon Eros VII and Duchess Gabriela Eagleclaw, to keep him safe from the worst and guide him in ruling what remained of loyalists. An unifying force for the Heartlands, Grover has developed a sense of grim determination and does his best to maintain the Empire's legacy, regardless of his personal issues.

The sickly Emperor of Griffonia. In his lifetime, he has witnessed the loss of the Idol of Boreas and the violent Republican Uprising, tremendously troubling events that he was too weak to prevent. Still a unifying figure for the Imperial Heartlands, Grover V is terminally ill, and has to prepare for the imperial succession to his underage successor, Grover VI.

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• The Emperor: Grover V is the current Emperor of the Griffonian Empire, which is ruled by the Grover dynasty.
• King on His Deathbed: Grover V, a young Emperor by Griffon standards, is terminally ill and not expected to live long. His successor Grover VI is too young to succeed him, and needs a regent until he is of age.
• Plot-Triggering Death: The Griffonian Empire's focus tree and the political branches in other Herzland countries' focus trees are locked until Grover V's death.
• We Hardly Knew Ye: Grover V dies less than three months after the game starts.

Grover VI

^{Supremacist/Non-Aligned Grover VI portrait}

^{Harmonist Grover VI portrait}

^{Communist Grover VI portrait}

^{Neo-Feudalist Grover VI portrait}

Role: Monarch^note Head of State

Party: Kaiserliche Liga des Reiches^note Imperial League of the Realm

Ideology: Same as regent^note If the regent gives him back his power in 1021, his own ideologies are Harmony or Non-Aligned depending on your choices in his personal focus tree.

In-Game Biography (Child)^{Click to Show}Emperor Grover, sixth of his name, has so far shared the fate of his father. An orphan too young to rule, a regency has been established to govern in his stead, leaving the young griffon as a powerless figurehead. However, unlike with Grover V the regents aren't selfish and corrupt fools. Not only that, but Grover VI is not sickly or weak, but has a sharp and curious mind as well as a natural talent for leadership. He has great potential, but only time will tell if it will be fulfilled.

In-Game Biography (Adult)^{Click to Show}Grover of Griffonstone, sixth of his name, Emperor of All Griffons, ascended to the throne at the age of 18. Unlike his father, who was denied the coronation by his regency council, Grover VI's regent allowed him to be crowned as soon as he came of age. Already, his reign appears much more promising than his father's. He is healthy, the Empire has been rebuilt, subversive and traitorous movements have been crushed, and the light of Boreas shines upon Griffonia. But will he be able to keep griffonkind united? That will be the greatest challenge of his life, and he must dedicate himself to it fully. Without the Idol of Boreas, it may not be possible to keep griffons united under one banner. Only time will tell if his upbringing was good enough to prepare him for the hardships ahead.

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• Arranged Marriage: If Claus Rosewing takes over the Griffonian Republic and restores the Duchy of Cloudbury, and Cloudbury then manages to take over the Herzland and form the Kingdom of Cloudbury-Herzland, Duke Oskar of Cloudbury will arrange a marriage between his great-niece Ophelia and Emperor Grover VI, tying the Herzland and Cloudbury together.
• A Child Shall Lead Them: Grover VI succeeds Grover V after his death, but he's just a 4 year old child, so he needs a regent until he reaches adulthood in 1021. The two default options are Duchess Gabriela Eagleclaw of Strawberry and Archon Eros VII of Boreas; other regents from vassal states are available if they take over Griffenheim and depose the incumbent regent. Grover VI's own focus tree is only unlocked when he turns 18.
• Children Are Innocent: Grover VI is an innocent child whom every Griffon loves. Almost all leaders in all Herzland countries, regardless of ideology, will try to take care of Grover VI should they take over the Herzland. One of those who don't is Ferdinand Dawnclaw, who murders Grover VI in his path, which causes a massive outrage and results in all imperial vassals seceding.
• Coming of Age Story: If either Archon Eros VII or Duchess Gabriela Eagleclaw becomes Regent, his growth from a sheltered child to a competent emperor will be shown through several events over the years under his/her tutelage.
• Death of a Child: There are multiple factions in Griffonia that can end up killing Grover VI in certain paths, despite him being a child that may not even understand what's happening.
• Drives Like Crazy: When the Changelings send Grover VI a tank as a birthday gift, he takes it on a joyride, causing no small amount of chaos despite the best tank aces being with him.
• The Exile:
  • If Grand Cru's Aquileian Republic takes over the Herzland, Grover VI is expelled to some distant land, where he would live out his life in anonymity.
  • One of his choices after Kemerskai-led Griffonian Republic taking over the Herzland is to be relocated to Equestria instead to learn about Harmony if he refuses to become a normal citizen.
• Gilded Cage: If the Griffonian Empire is conquered by the Kingdom of Aquileia, Emperor Grover VI becomes Baron Grover of Groverwald (formerly King's Realm) and is forced to stay at his estate under heavy guard, so he could not build the kind of contacts among the nobility that would make him dangerous. In the end, he'd be little more than a country bumpkin of a noble with few influential friends and only a glorious past to his name.
• Locked Away in a Monastery: If the Empire is defeated by the Holy Council of Katerin, Heinrich Duskfeather sends the young Grover VI to seminary school to join the priesthood as a message that nogriff is above the gods. He also changes Grover VI's name to protect him from those would want to harm him, knowing that he doesn't deserve to suffer the sins of his father. He also notes that killing Grover VI is out of the question and locking him up is just asking for him to become a second Diellza.
• Long Game: If he chooses to become a normal citizen in the Kemerskai-led Griffonian Republic, a later event reveals that he is spending his normal life learning all kinds of topics. This is because since he is now a normal citizen, he can take part in politics to become president once he is old enough.
• Multiple Endings: Due to his status as a Puppet King making him the centerpiece of a struggle between practically all kinds of ideologies, he has been noted to have the most variations of the kind of king he will become when he comes of age in the game. That is if he doesn’t get murdered first.
• Parental Substitute: Since Grover V died while Grover VI is so young, the new regent serves as Grover VI's parental substitute for much of his upbringing.
• Puppet King: Due to his (very) young age, he's mainly used as a political tool by whoever takes up the job as Regent. Works against him in Ferdinand's path, where Grover being used as a puppet for the Empire's nobility is used as an excuse by Ferdinand to murder him.
• Smart People Wear Glasses: Constantly wears a Pince-nez, even as a child. It is implied from his focus tree that the new constitution was drafted/written only by himself in the span of a month. Pretty impressive when you consider that the Empire is usually takes up most of not all of Griffonia by 1021.
• Superior Successor: After formally assuming actual power at the age of 18, Grover VI's first act is to resolve a series of student protests and bring in an era of peace and stability to an entire generation of youth who has only known war, resulting in student protests that cripple your base stability and war support. Depending on the choices, he can choose to hear out the protesters or send tanks on them. His final focus would calm down the student protests when completed, cementing his rule while ensuring long-term peace, a massive improvement from the difficult reign of his father.

Archon Eros VII

Role: Regent^note Head of State (Chosen as Grover VI's regent)

Party: Der Rat der Drei^note The Council of the Three

Ideology: Authoritarian Theocracy^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}One of the oldest living griffons, Archon Eros VII was born when the Empire was at the height of its power. At a young age, he joined the priesthood of Boreas out of genuine respect for the Gods. His pious devotion and humble manner has led him to quickly rise to the position of Archon, and all seemed well. Yet cruel fate had in store to render the Empire asunder, with the loss of the Idol of Boreas and the incompetent Council of Regents dragging the country to the ground. He was responsible for saving the young Grover V's life from the claws of Republican insurgents, and has maintained a close friendship with him ever since. This is why he protects the late Emperor's son, Grover VI, and hopes that once his regency is over, he will rule an unified Empire. Yet Eros has little love for the nobility of the Empire, believing them to be responsible for every misfortune that has plagued the Heartlands. And now, with the broad support of the commonfolk, Eros and his fellow Archons are attempting the restore the Empire's glory. The traitors and unbelievers will pay with their blood, Boreas wills it!

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• Assassin Outclassin': Should Ferdinand Dawnclaw murder Grover VI, he'll try to get rid of Archon Eros VII, but he manages to survive eight assassination attempts before Ferdinand simply kicks in the Archon's house and shoots him (unless Skyfall turns supremacist, in which case Eros will flee there before this could happen).
• Good All Along: His backstory and focus tree reek of Evil Chancellor at first sight but at the end of his storyline, it is revealed that his loyalty to the royal family and love for the commonfolk are genuine. He even uses the situation to his advantage to pull a Bad Guys Do the Dirty Work, effectively allowing Grover VI to inherit his blood-stained birthright while exploiting the Puppet King situation to absolve the Emperor of any blame for the wars and atrocities. That way, Grover VI can start his reign fresh, without the baggage of a warmonger.
• Long-Lived: If not killed beforehand, he lives to 107 years old by the time of his natural death in 1021. As griffons follow human lifespans, this makes him a centenarian.
• The Purge: Archon Eros VII conducts a mass purge of so-called traitors and sinners who fail to show absolute loyalty and devotion, resulting in the loss of 12500 ponypower across the Empire's core territory.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Eros VII is a populist who much more genuinely supports the citizens of the Empire in contrast to the nobility, and seeks to turn the young Grover VI closer to the citizens. However, his ambition to save the Empire and unite the griffon race under one banner leads to many wars. On his deathbed, the Archon admits to Grover VI that he was a tyrant who destroyed nations and reunited Griffonia with iron and blood, but did all these terrible things so the Emperor wouldn't have to.

Ferdinand Dawnclaw

Role: Lord Protector^note Head of State

Party: Regierung der Nationalen Rettung^note Government of National Salvation

Ideology: Stratocracy^note Supremacy

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• Cult of Personality: Ferdinand paints himself as a monolithic figure who truly saved the Empire from the destruction, and has a portrait of himself installed in every home, after murdering Grover VI.
• Curb-Stomp Battle: An AI-controlled Operation: Herzschmerz almost always ends in the Empire's rapid total defeat.
• Cutting the Knot: After repeatedly failing to have Eros VII assassinated covertly, a frustrated Dawnclaw simply drives to his home, kicks in his door, and shoots him dead, and then wonders why he didn't do this sooner.
• Didn't Think This Through: Ferdinand and his plotters initially thought that the Empire's vassals would easily submit to them after they did their coup. They were very, very wrong, as after Ferdinand kills Grover VI, all vassals are enraged and instantly secede from Ferdinand's Empire, declaring it as their sworn enemy.
• Disney Villain Death: If Ferdinand murders Grover VI but subsequently gets defeated by the resurrected Grover II, the Emperor proceeds to break his wings to prevent him from flying before throwing him out of his chamber's window to his death.
• Early Game Hell: The early game (Herzland unification) for the Lord Protector path is one of the most difficult in the entire game, due to Operation: Herzschmerz. Ferdinand has to recover from a period of complete anarchy and be forced to wage an all-front war with no allies, limited industry, limited manpower, and no reliable cheese strategies. Once the player gets past the reunification stage however, things will start sailing much more smoothly.
• General Ripper: Ferdinand sees himself as the savior of the Griffonian Empire, and declares himself the Lord Protector of the Griffonian Empire after deposing the regency. After securing his rule, he will militarily reconquer the Empire and then conquer the Riverlands to expand the Empire to newer heights.
• Hollywood Tactics: In what's apparently a case of gameplay-motivated Idiot Ball, Dawnclaw doesn't reconquer the Herzland one nation at a time like the Regents; instead, he declares war on the entire Herzland all at once in Operation: Herzschmerz.
• The Kingslayer: In Ferdinand's path, he murders the child king Grover VI. In his eyes, Grover VI was an obstacle to the Empire, as he was a puppet in all of the Empire's corrupt politics. Ferdinand believes that for the Empire to be reborn, Grover VI must die.
• Luck-Based Mission: It is possible to avoid (or reduce the difficulty of) Operation: Herzschmerz, one of the hardest wars in the game, if some vassals declare war on Ferdinand's Empire first, allowing the Empire to conquer them individually. This isn't always guaranteed however, and delaying things for too long may result in the vassals outpacing the Empire in military production, making the wars unwinnable by the time they come.
• Military Coup: Ferdinand can take over in a military coup when the new Regency attempts to purge the military; in gameplay, this is triggered an event that happens after taking the focus "Die Kleine Säuberung".
• Obvious Rule Patch: To prevent players from skipping Operation: Herzschmerz by justifying war goals and declaring war on each Herzland country individually, Ferdinand cannot justify war goals until Operation: Herzschmerz is complete.
• The Purge: Ferdinand launches an extremely violent and viscerally written purge in the core states of the Empire following his coup to secure his rule. The civilians, the military, the clergy, and the nobility are all massacred due to the widespread discontent against his rule.
• Putting on the Reich: Ferdinand's endgame involves the creation of several Reichskommissariate in Cossack lands and the Riverlands. Reichskommissariat Kosakenland actually has a unique focus tree involving its interaction with Ferdinand's Empire, though it's very late game content.
• Regent for Life: Dawnclaw, after overthrowing the regent, murdering Emperor Grover VI and leaving the throne empty, proclaims himself Lord Protector of the Griffonian Empire, without creating a republic or crowning a new monarch. This makes matters of succession unclear; it's implied that Dawnclaw's Empire will collapse after his death.
• Tyrant Takes the Helm: While the monarchy was corrupt, Ferdinand's rule is positively evil. Ferdinand rules through terror, turns the entire nation into a massive war machine, and launches multiple wars to conquer all of Griffonia.
• Villainous Underdog: While the Griffonian Empire is a military superpower that will normally easily reassert control over its vassals (one at a time), this will not be the case if Dawnclaw takes over. In the beginning, the Empire collapses into anarchy (causing tons of debuffs that take a good while to remove), but what really makes the difficulty shoot through the roof is Operation: Herzschmerz, in which Dawnclaw reunites the Empire by declaring war on the entire Herzland at once, forcing him to fight an uphill battle before being able to impose his reign of terror over the Herzland.
• Would Hurt a Child: After couping the regency, Ferdinand kills the 4 year old Grover VI to secure his rule over the Empire.
• You Monster!: In the event panel where Ferdinand kills Grover VI, the game has a special line saying "You are a heartless monster" underneath the list of stat impacts.

Strawberry Duchy

^{Flag of the Strawberry Duchy (Communist)}

^{Flag of the Griffonian Communes}

Full Name: Strawberry Duchy

Ruling Party: Imperiale Coalitie^note Imperial Coalition

Ideology: Despotism^note Non-Aligned

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• Clashing Cousins: Duchess Gabriela's uncle Julius is loyal to her rival Archon Eros VII, who shares his desire to curb the power of the Empire's aristocracy. If Julius is left in charge of Strawberry while Gabriela becomes Grover VI's regent, conflict between the two will almost always erupt.
• Corrupt Politician: With the Duchess often being away in Griffenheim, corrupt ministers often appoint government officials based on family connections, favours, or old-fashioned bribery.

Duchess Gabriela Eagleclaw

Role: Monarch^note Head of State, Regent^note Head of State (Griffonian Empire, Chosen as Grover VI's regent)

Party: Imperiale Coalitie^note Imperial Coalition

Ideology: Despotism^note Non-Aligned (Strawberry Duchy), Oligarchy^note Non-Aligned (as Grover VI's regent)

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Duchess Gabriela Eagleclaw of the Strawberry Duchy is the cousin of Grover V, the Griffonian Emperor and is a griffon who holds vast tracts of land and large amounts of wealth. Were Grover to pass away, she would be a prime candidate to become regent and certainly feels that she would be the only one suitable!

She is a staunch supporter of the nobility and she will try to uphold the balance between the nobles, religion and the people. She does truly care for her people though, and wants to see them prosper above all else; she even has plans for some minor reforms in the pipeline!

While she is no stranger to the life as a noble, ruling her own Duchy would be nothing compared to ruling an entire empire and she might find herself part of a larger power-struggle, tearing the empire apart.

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• Star-Crossed Lovers: Grand Duke Gerlach IV is the love of Gabriela's life, but she was forced to turn down his proposal, as her cousin Grover V couldn't allow such a powerful political bloc when he sat so weak on the throne. But when Grover V died, it is another story altogether...
• Too Good for Exploiters: Duchess Gabriela is one of the most powerful nobles in the Empire, champions for the cause of her peers, whom she considers to be stalwart protectors of tradition, and believes that the Archonate's ideas are so radical that they'll only bring ruin.

Vitalius Moonbill

Role: Regent^note Head of State

Party: Adviseuren voor de Griffioenen^note Advisors for the Griffons

Ideology: Socialist Monarchism^note Communism

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• Chummy Commies: As regent of Strawberry, Moonbill will ensure political, civic and social rights, break monopolies, and ensure universal education.

Regina Eagleclaw

Role: Head of State

Party: Harmonische Aardbij Coalitie^note Harmonic Strawberry Coalition

Ideology: Harmony

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Julius Eagleclaw

Role: Regent^note Head of State

Party: Archon Loyalisten^note Archon Loyalists

Ideology: Supremacy

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• Conscription: As Prime Minister of Cloudbury-Herzland, Julius Eagleclaw instates mandatory conscription—it is the duty of every griffon to serve their nation with their body and mind, which also ties together griffons under a common oath to the Kings.

Grand Duchy of Feathisia

^{Flag of the Feathisian Republic}

^{Flag of the Griffonian Federation of Socialist States}

Full Name: Grand Duchy of Feathisia, Grand Duchy of Feathisia-Strawberry (Union with Strawberry), Feathisian Republic (Monarchy abolished), Feathisian People's State (Rozenkamp), Griffonian Federation of Socialist States (Communist national unification), Griffonian People's State (Rozenkamp national unification)

Ruling Party: Fethisische Hertogelijke Partij^note Fethisian Ducal Party

Ideology: Centrism^note Non-Aligned

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• Civil War: If the far-right FNV and the far-left PvdA are chosen as the coalition party options in the political focus tree, a coalition will not form due to their completely irreconcilable ideologies, which only worsens the political crisis in Feathisia. The Duke will then be targeted by an assassination attempt; if he dies, the last string holding the country together snaps, and the FNV and PvdA declare war on each other. This is not a conventional civil war; the country remains nominally unified, but the army is restricted to the capital, while militia battles break out across the rest of Feathisia. These battles are initiated by decisions and resolved by events.
• Enemy Mine: After the Feathisian civil war erupts, if the Griffonian Empire invades Feathisia when the civil war is still unfinished, the warring PvdA and FNV can call a truce to unite and defend their homeland against the Empire. They will push a neutral public servant to the position of dictator to redirect the country towards defending against the Empire.
• Faction-Specific Endings: Feathisia is among the nations with the most possible political paths in all of EAW.
  • All four political parties in Feathisia (Communist PvdA, Non-Aligned FHP, Harmonist LDP, Supremacist FNV) can come to power after the political crisis by forming a coalition and getting elected to lead the government.
  • The PvdA and the FNV can also come to power if a civil war breaks out, opening up six additional political paths, three each for both sides^note PvdA: Stappenbeld's Vanguardist Communism, Kogchel's Democratic Socialism, Rozenkamp's Nationalist Worker's State; FNV: Vorst tot Vorst's Military Dictatorship, Moldernik's Reactionary Democracy, and Heeren's Racist National Populism..
  • The Duke can also declare martial law and abolish the democracy if he survives his assassination during the political crisis.
  • During the civil war, the Empire's invasion unlocks the final secret PvdA-FNV compromise path with unwilling dictator Edgar Pechvogel.
• Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Feathisia, the only part of the Herzland where the spoken language is Dutch instead of German, is a stand-in the Netherlands.
• Merchant City: Nestled in the Griffking estuary, Rottendedam has always been Feathisia's natural harbour city. For centuries, the wealth of distant parts of the world has flown into this port, the fruits of the labour of Feathisian explorers, traders and at times, conquerors.
• Odd Friendship: Two of the options for a new coalition government involve a radical party forming a coalition party with the moderate party on the other wing (left-left and right-right coalitions are not possible); either the far-left PvdA with the centre-right FHP, or the far-right FNV with the centre-left LDP.
• Unexpected Successor: In the FNV civil war victory path, Vorst tot Vorst and Moldernik's sub-paths allow them to proclaim Karel Everhard, a Jonkheer with far-right sympathies who married into the ducal family, as the new Grand Duke.

Grand Duke Gerlach IV

^{Gerlach and Gabriela}

Role: Monarch^note Head of State

Party: Fethisische Hertogelijke Partij^note Fethisian Ducal Party

Ideology: Centrism^note Non-Aligned, Supremacy (after failed assassination)

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Grand Duke Gerlach IV Weijermars is known far and wide as one of the most reasonable leaders in Griffonia. The Duke, who earned his nickname 'The Silent' for his patience and calm, transformed his fief into the very first proper Constitutional Monarchy in Griffonia. The people of Feathisia love their Grand Duke and as long as he keeps listening to the concerns of his Griffons, this is unlikely to change.

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• Altar Diplomacy: Duke Gerlach has been interested in Duchess Gabriela of Strawberry for a long time. When the situation in Feathisia stabilizes, the player gets a decision for Gerlach to send a marriage proposal to Gabriela. If Gabriela accepts, and she is also the regent for the Griffonian Empire, she will transfer the regent title to Gerlach, making him the new leader of the Empire. Game-wise, this effectively bypasses the need to fight the Griffonian Empire while annexing the lands taken by it until now in one fell swoop, saving you a lot of effort.
• Cannot Spit It Out: It is implied from his conversation with Grover V that the real reason why he never married Duchess Gabriela is because he is suffering from this trope while making up all sorts of excuses to not marry her. Even the sickly king knows about their love and is asking him to get on with it. When Gerlach IV still refused, the banquet's mood turned rather sour as they ate in silence afterwards. This is reflected in-game where proposing to her if she becomes regent costs a whooping 300 political power.
• Plot-Triggering Death: If Duke Gerlach is successfully assassinated during the political chaos following the rise of the FNV and PvdA, Feathisia loses the last person holding the country together and collapses into a civil war.
• The Purge: The PvdA, LDP, and FNV all form anti-Duke fronts when the Duke survives his assassination and dissolves the parliament. This only further enrages the Duke, who orders mass purges to wipe out all of them.
• Sanity Slippage: If Duke Gerlach survives his assassination, he will get mentally scarred and become very pissed off. He will ditch his silence and democratic leanings and personally introduce martial law to crack down on the politicians and end the crisis by force.
• Universally Beloved Leader: Grand Duke Gerlach IV is one of the most beloved rulers on all of Griffonia, due to his patient and reasonable personality and democratic political leanings, transforming Feathisia into a Constitutional Monarchy.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: In Duke Gerlach's Martial Law route, following his near-death experience, the Duke becomes extremely paranoid, but still holds on to some of his original good intentions. Under the absolute rule of Duke Gerlach, the citizens of Feathisia can find themselves living better lives one day, only to have their freedoms taken away the next.

Bernhardt Stappenbeld

Role: Head of State

Party: Communistische Partij van Fetisië^note Communist Party of Fethisia

Ideology: Equestrian Socialism^note Communism

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• Chummy Commies: Stappenbeld is a classic Stalliongradian communist and is generally benevolent to his subjects.

Gerben Kogchel

Role: Prime Minister^note Head of State, Head of State (Monarchy abolished)

Party: Partij van de Arbeid^note Labour Party

Ideology: Socialist Monarchism^note Communism, Democratic Socialism^note Communism (Monarchy abolished)

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• Chummy Commies: Kogchel advocates for socialist direct democracy and state unionism, aiming to create a fair and free socialist nation.
• Hero of Another Story: Kogchel appears in three other countries' paths:
  • Kogchel can be elected to power in Communist Angriver-united Herzland (Herzland Commune), where he is the moderate democratic socialist option.
  • Kogchel can also be elected in the first pan-Griffonian elections after a democratic Griffonian Republic unites the greater Griffon lands.
  • Kogchel leads a Social Democratic party in a Herzland reunited by the Central Universities Yale in their democratic path, and can serve as the vice-president to Georgina Fredrika Schüler.

Herman Rozenkamp

Role: Head of State

Party: Fetisische Nationaal Rozenkampistische Partij^note Fethisian National Rozenkampist Party

Ideology: Ethno-Socialism^note Communism

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• Commie Nazis: Herman and Reinoud Rozenkamp lead a radical faction in the PvdA, which advocates for a Strasserist "nationalist worker's state", mixing nationalistic policies with socialist policies. Despite being in the Communist ideology grouping, Herman himself has has the leader trait "Supremacist Sympathies", giving him extra acceptance of supremacist diplomacy. In universe, the ideology of leaders like socialist Crack Lightning who marry ultranationalist and chauvinist views to socialist economics is Rozenkampism, meaning it's literally the in-universe equivalent of Strasserism.
• Fantastic Racism: The Rozenkamps are racist against ponies, as they think that the ponies are greedy leeches that profit off of the blood of Griffon workers. As such, they launch a purge on the ponies after they take power.
• New Era Speech: After taking power, the Rozenkamp brothers make a trip to their home town, where Herman makes a loud speech amidst a crowd of workers, proclaiming a national socialist future for the nation, driving the crowd into a frenzy.
  Herman: "Griffons, Feathisians, workers! We have won our victory! Your blood, your sweat and your sacrifice have brought us here. And I am humbled to stand before you now to announce our red dawn. Our national socialist future! We have killed the fascists and saved our Feathisia for socialism, but there are still enemies a plenty. Those that would destroy us, if we give them a single chance. The capitalist pigs! The Archons! The Nobles! The Liberals! The Ponies! Every griffon that wants to take what we earned for themselves. I ask you one simple question; will we let that happen?"
  The crowd: "No! No! No!"
  Herman: "Then we must leave the nest of the PvdA and fly out to reach national socialism. I have brought you victory before. I can give it to you again, my dear friends. Will you let me lead you?"
  The crowd: "Rozenkamp is our Leader!"
  Herman: "Victory for Feathisia, victory for the revolution! Griffonia shall run red with the blood of our enemies!"
• A Nazi by Any Other Name: Inverted. The Rozenkamps are literally called National Socialists in their focus tree, but they are not the Hitlerist National Socialists of real life Nazi Germany, and are instead Strasserists.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: The brothers Herman and Reinoud Rozenkamp are expies of Gregor and Otto Strasser, early Nazi party members who developed Strasserism, the original Commie Nazi ideology.
• Secret Police: Rozenkamp creates the Staatspolitie (Secret State Police) to keep watch over all griffons and ensure their loyalty to the Leider.
• Warhawk: The Rozenkamps espouse militarism as a part of their Rozenkampist ideology. They are the only one among the three Feathisian Communist leaders who get a war goal on the Empire in their focus tree.

Herman of Vorst tot Vorst

Role: Head of State

Party: Military Junta

Ideology: Supremacy

---

• Aristocrats Are Evil: General Herman comes from a family of Baron Generals, and after he comes to power, he turns Feathisia into a military dictatorship.
• Military Coup: After the FNV wins the civil war, General Vorst tot Vorst starts having doubts on the FNV, and can decide to launch a coup and take out the FNV leadership in a "convenient accident", and take power himself.
• Police Brutality: In his path, Vorst tot Vorst launches Operation Red Star, a mass arrest operation targeting all leftists in Feathisia. During the operation, he deploys veterans of the civil war as the new police force, who cracks down on protesting workers and forcibly arrests all socialist leaders.
• President for Life: In his path, Vorst tot Vorst "temporarily" suspends elections, allegedly in the interest of national security.

Karel Everhard I

Role: Monarch^note Head of State

Party: Military Junta

Ideology: Supremacy

---

Anton Moldernik

Role: Head of State

Party: Fetisisch Nationalistisch Verbond^note Fethisian Nationalist Alliance, Herzland Partei der Rechte^note Herzland Party of Rights (Greifenmarschen Herzland unification)

Ideology: Fascism^note Supremacy, Populism^note Non-Aligned (Greifenmarschen Herzland unification)

---

• Hero of Another Story: If Erebus Whiteplume from Greifenmarschen unifies Herzland under a Non-Aligned democracy, Moldernik becomes one of the candidates in the first pan-Herzland elections. Here, he leads a conservative-nationalist party known as the HPdR, which supports organizing Herzland into a confederation with a less powerful central government.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Compared to the other prominent figure in his party, Godfried Heeren, Moldernik is far more pragmatic and reasonable, and is even willing to negotiate with the PvdA if it's for the greater good of Feathisia.
• Token Good Teammate: Anton Moldernik is the most moderate of the three possible leaders in the event of an FNV victory, and his actions are overall benevolent for the people of Feathisia. Moldernik will restore democratic institutions (without the communists, of course), opposes Heeren's racist radicalism, and enacts many populist policies.

Godfried Heeren

Role: Head of State

Party: Fetisisch Nationalistisch Verbond^note Fethisian Nationalist Alliance

Ideology: Fascism^note Supremacy

---

• Fantastic Racism: Heeren hates the pony minority in Feathisia, calling them parasites and leeches.
• The Friend Nobody Likes: Being by far the most radical member in the FNV, Heeren's views are shared by few, and he's purged from the party if the FNV comes to power through coalition. If the FHP comes to power and does the "Attract FNV Members" focus, the FNV will begin to moderate, once again leading to Heeren being kicked out. If the FNV wins the civil war and Moldernik takes leadership, Heeren will also be purged. He even gets purged by Suntail in the Griffonian National Republic path, since he's too much of a pain to work with.
• The Purge: After coming to power, Heeren launches "The Great Purge" to root out the "vermin" from the society. The results are not pretty.
• Secret Police: After taking the leadership of the country after the civil war, Heeren establishes the Geheime Staatspolitie (a reference to none other than The Gestapo), a ruthless secret police force willing to use all methods of interrogation and punishment to root out the resistance, the traitors, and the citizens harboring the undesirable.
• State Sec: FNV Deputy Godfried Heeren, the most radical leader within the far-right FNV, leads an equally radical paramilitary called the Bronzen Schildwachten or Bronze Sentinels.

Edgar Pechvogel

Role: Head of State (Griffonian Empire invades during Feathisian Civil War)

Party: Nationale Reddingscommissie^note National Rescue Commission

Ideology: Non-Aligned

---

• Reluctant Ruler: Pechvogel is given dictatorial powers if Feathisia is invaded by the Empire during the FNV-PvdA civil war. Both belligerents agree that his approach is so neutral that he could possibly hold no bias, and while Pechvogel views his job as a burden, he's still determined to do his best.

County of Bronzehill

^{Flag of the Imperial Dogs' County of Bronzehill}

Full Name: County of Bronzehill, Imperial County of Bronzehill (Supremacy), Socialist County of Bronzehill (Communist), Imperial Dogs' County of Bronzehill (Kimball), Griffonian Imperial Federation (Communist national unification), Democratic Socialist Empire of Griffonia (Kimball national unification)

Ruling Party: Fürstliche Partei^note Princely Party

Ideology: Despotism^note Non-Aligned

Descendants of the dogs who escaped Diamond Mountain 200 years ago and were given shelter by emperor Grover II, they are undoubtedly loyal to the empire and to the imperial dynasty in particular. In the aftermath of the 978 Republican revolution, their world view was shaken as they realized that the powerful Griffon nobles had been exploiting them for their own gains. In spite of this, they are still loyal to the emperor, out of gratitude for saving them from a cruel and terrible fate.

---

• Eagle Squadron: They function as such to the Griffonian Empire, being trusted advisors and soldiers despite being dogs.
• The Exile: Much of the population consists of dogs who are descendants from slaves that escaped Diamond Mountain 200 years before the start of the game.
• Fate Worse than Death: Should Reinhard Suntail take over the Griffonian Republic and defeat Bronzehill, many of the Diamond Dogs will be sent back to the Diamond Mountain.
• Revenge: If Ferdinand Dawnclaw murders Grover VI, Bronzehill will be struck with a nation-wide grief that soon turns into anger, and a desire to punish Ferdinand for his great betrayal. This causes radical leaders to rise, opening up new political paths for Bronzehill, culminating in a war of vengeance against Ferdinand Dawnclaw.
• Sons of Slaves: Their ancestors were slaves that managed to escape Diamond Mountain and were given asylum by Grover II.
• Undying Loyalty: As a result of Emperor Grover II giving shelter to their ancestors, the Bronzehill dogs are extremely loyal to the Empire, and Grover II in particular. If the scientists of Yale resurrect Grover II to restore his Empire, the County of Bronzehill will break away with Griffenheim and align itself with Yale and the Emperor's Kaiserliche Pakt. It says something when even their communists are monarchists.

Ignatius Bronzetail

Role: Monarch^note Head of State

Party: Fürstliche Partei^note Princely Party

Ideology: Despotism^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 14th December 965, Sandstone House, Bronzehill

Biography: Count Ignatius has ruled Bronzehill since the death of his father Count Georgie in 997. When he was five years old, he travelled to the Imperial City to see Grover V's coronation and was enamoured by the splendour. He returned to the city many times and studied there at Emperor's College, gaining a degree in politics.

He became a close friend of the Emperor, who attended his wedding to Izzy Bones-Iron, daughter of the Lord Gems. With her he has had two children, Barnaby and Margaret.

During his rule he has been a competent administrator and a beloved defender of Bronzehill and the Emperor, however his policies on supporting Griffon industry over Bronzehill's own has led to the formation of several communist organisations in Bronzehill. And while he has the full support of the Bronze Council, there are those who question his ability to lead effectively should Bronzehill be faced by a disaster such as the Republican Uprising during his father's reign.

---

• Abdicate the Throne: In Bronzehill's Harmonic path, Count Ignatius abdicates and leaves the throne to his son Barnaby, who has many friends in the pro-harmony parties in Bronzehill.

Barnaby Bronzetail

Role: Monarch^note Head of State (Ignatius abdication)

Party: Fürstliche Partei^note Princely Party

Ideology: Benevolent Absolutism^note Harmony

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 14th August 975, Karfeuer, Bronzekreuz, Bronzehill.

---

Winston Copperhill

Role: Political Advisor, Head of State

Party: Harmonisch-Konservative Partei^note Harmonic-Conservative Party

Ideology: Democratic Monarchism^note Harmony

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: November 15th 958

Former Rank: Major, Emperor's Own Bronzekreuz Hussars.

Biography: Winston Copperhill is first child of Lord Rover Copperhill and a member of the prestigious Copperhill family. He grew up as a member of Bronzehill's elite during the peaceful reign of Emperor Grover IV. He was one of a few Diamond Dogs who went to the military academy in Helheim and was commissioned as a Leutnant in 966.

After a time as a member of the Imperial Guard, he was granted a seat on the Bronze Council in 971 and was a close advisor to the Count. He was often controversial with his desire for social reform and his support of local Bronzehill businesses over Imperial ones. He was a founding member of the Harmonic Conservative Party and sort to bring greater representation of the common hound into the Bronze Council.

During the Republican Uprising he was temporary promoted to Oberstleutnant, although did not participate in the fight to restore the Emperor to the throne. The event however convinced him that the only way to ensure the safety of the Emperor is to make Bronzehill strong and ready to fight. A rallying call that has put him at odds with many even in his own party. But his stubbornness and oratory talent have kept him at the forefront of politics.

---

• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Winston Copperhill is Winston Churchill as a literal bulldog rather than a metaphorical one. Besides name and appearance, both are staunch conservatives and monarchists, and both are well known for their charisma and doggedness (pun intended).

Clement Attaboy

Role: Political Advisor, Head of State

Party: Harmonische Arbeitspartei^note Harmonic Labour Party

Ideology: Harmonic Socialism^note Harmony

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 3rd January, 954 in Pawdorf, Bronzehill.

---

• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Attaboy is quite clearly based on Clement Attlee, Labour leader during World War 2 and Prime Minister of the UK from 1945 to 1951.

Rosey Luxembark

Role: Head of State

Party: Kommunistische Partei Bronzhügel^note Communist Party of Bronzehill

Ideology: Socialist Monarchism^note Communism

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 5th March 961, Zarhim-Kazgald, Diamond Mountain.

---

• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Rosey Luxembark, a council communist and leader of the Spoticus League, is unambiguously based on Rosa Luxemburg, who led the Spartacist Uprising in Germany in 1919.
• Taking Up the Mantle: Luxembark calls upon the legacy of Spoticus, who led a slave revolt in Diamond Mountain (the Bronzehill dogs' ancestral home) centuries ago. While the rebellion was crushed, they won many victories and sparked a spirit of resistance which exists to this day.

Karl Liebarknecht

Role: Political Advisor, Head of State

Party: Kommunistische Partei Bronzhügel^note Communist Party of Bronzehill

Ideology: Socialist Monarchism^note Communism

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 13th August 961, Ravensburg, Bronzehill.

---

• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Karl Liebarknecht is based on Karl Liebknecht, co-founder of the Spartacist League with Rosa Luxemburg.

Ernst Thälpoodles

Role: Head of State

Party: Kommunistische Partei Bronzhügel^note Communist Party of Bronzehill

Ideology: Socialist Monarchism^note Communism

---

• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Ernst Thälpoodles is based on Ernst Thälmann, a famous German communist leader executed by the Nazis.

Clara Woofkin

Role: Head of State

Party: Kommunistische Partei Bronzhügel^note Communist Party of Bronzehill

Ideology: Socialist Monarchism^note Communism

---

• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Clara Woofkin is based on Clara Zetkin, a German communist activist and ally of Luxemburg.

Wilhelm Spots

Role: Head of State

Party: Kommunistische Partei Bronzhügel^note Communist Party of Bronzehill

Ideology: Socialist Monarchism^note Communism

---

Lucky

Role: Hochmeister^note Head of State

Party: Knights of the Bronze Cross

Ideology: Zealous Knightly Order^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 15th May 959, Bronzekreuz, Bronzehill.

Rank: Grandmaster of the Knights of the Bronze Cross.

---

Gunhild

Role: Prelate^note Head of State

Party: Prelate of Ravensburg

Ideology: Reactionarism^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 12th August 949, Griffenheim, Griffonian Empire.

---

Rufus Loudbark

Role: Head of State

Party: Nationale Union^note National Union

Ideology: Reactionarism^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 15th June 977, Bronzelöwe, Bronzehill.

Rank: Unterwachtmeister, Artillerie-Regiment Bronzekrutz, 1. Königlich Bronzehügelsche Garde Division.

---

Kimball Barking-Sun

Role: Head of State

Party: Arbeiterpartei von Bronzhügel^note Workers' Party of Bronzhill

Ideology: Self-Reliance^note Communism

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 15th April 973, Marzhounden, Bronzehill.

---

• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Kimball Barking-Sun is based in name and appearance on Kim Il-sung, the founding father of North Korea. He calls his ideology Unz-Kravakgash, meaning self-reliance, the same as Juche (the DPRK's state ideology), and his path is overall a clear reference to North Korea, with the difference being that Kimball's state is an actual socialist monarchy (with the Glorious Leader being Grover VI instead of Kimball himself) and not a republic under a long running political dynasty.

Greifenmarschen

^{Flag of the Principality of Greifenheim}

^{Flag of the Greifenmarschen Soviet Socialist Republic}

^{Flag of the Greifenmarschen National Republic}

Full Name: Peasant Republic of Greifenmarschen, Principality of Greifenheim (Dawnfeather Equestrian model), Greifenmarschen Soviet Socialist Republic (Rohmer), Greifenmarschen National Republic (Supremacist)

Ruling Party: Greifenmarschen Konservative Volkspartei^note Greifenmarschen Conservative People's Party

Ideology: Centrism^note Non-Aligned

The Peasant Republic of Greifenmarschen is an Imperial subject in Southern Herzland, distinctive for its antique system of electoral self-governance, based on public referendums with an elected governing council. Formed by Grover I after local peasants overthrew their widely unpopular duke, Greifenmarschen was firmly loyalist in its decades of existence. However, the last century's rapid changes brought new ideas into the old nation, and new, radical parties aim to totally reshape the nation's old systems and propel it into modernity.

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• The Republic: The only peasant-ruled republic in all of Griffonia.
• Fantasy Counterpart Culture: The Peasant Republic of Greifenmarschen is a stand-in for Dithmarschen in the real-life Holy Roman Empire, being a peasant republic on the outskirts of the Empire.

Erebus Whiteplume

Role: Head of State

Party: Greifenmarschen Konservative Volkspartei^note Greifenmarschen Conservative People's Party, Griefenheimisch Herzogliche Partei^note Greifenmarschen Ducal Party (Duke path), Kaiserliche Partei^note Imperial Party (Duke path Herzland unification)

Ideology: Centrism^note Non-Aligned, Despotism^note Non-Aligned (Duke path)

Erebus Whiteplume is the old and experienced leader of the conservative GKVP (Greifenmarschen Konservative Volkspartei) party. Active in Greifenmarsian politics for over 40 years, he had seen first hand the issues with the inefficient Greifenmarsian democracy. While he has faith in Greifenmarschen's democratic traditions, he strongly believes that rational and bureaucratic reforms need to be made.

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• Cincinnatus: In his democratic path, after uniting the Herzland, Erebus will retire and announce an all-Herzlander congress to elect a new leader.
• Democracy Is Flawed: Erebus is an experienced politician and has had years of experiences with the problems within the Greifenmarsian democracy. Thus, when he seizes power, he can try to guide the democracy down a more efficient path.
• Dying as Yourself: The end of the Emperor Erebus path is a twist ending; after Erebus conquers all Griffon lands and laments that there is nothing left for him to conquer, he suddenly returns to his senses, and his old personality comes back. The old pro-democratic Erebus Whiteplume, seeing what he's done, throws away his crown, rolls back all autocratic and oppressive laws, and abdicates the throne and hands it over to a democratic Congress, before going into self-imposed exile to atone for his sins. He dies happy, knowing that he ultimately managed to create a free and democratic Griffonia.
• Face–Heel Turn: The Duke Erebus path sees Erebus abruptly change from a pragmatic but ultimately well-meaning democratic politician into a brutal autocrat.
• From Nobody to Nightmare: The Duke/Emperor Erebus path sees Erebus go from a lowly peasant politician to the Emperor of all Griffon lands.
• The Purge: In the Duke Erebus path, Erebus violently purges the Communists and Supremacists of Greifenmarschen by massacring striking workers and assassinating all supremacist leaders (by burning down their headquarters). The Harmonists are purged by launching a false flag attack on the local Temple of Boreas and then blaming it on the Harmonists so he can justify their mass arrests.
• Sanity Slippage: In the Duke Erebus path, Erebus suffers a fall that apparently damaged his mind and changed his personality. After a brief disappearance where Erebus searches for the unmarked grave of the original Duke of Greifenmarschen, Erebus the First, he requests to restore the ducal throne with himself as the new duke.
• The Usurper: In the Duke Erebus path, Erebus proclaims himself Emperor Erebus I of the Griffonian Empire after conquering Griffenheim.

Werner Ebonplume

Role: Head of State

Party: Greifenmarschen Konservative Volkspartei^note Greifenmarschen Conservative People's Party

Ideology: Non-Aligned

---

Archibald Dawnfeather

Role: Head of State, Monarch^note Head of State (Equestrian Model path)

Party: Greifenmarschen Volksharmonie-Partei^note Greifenmarschen People's Harmony Party

Ideology: Harmonic Republicanism^note Harmony

The public face of the Harmonist GVHP, Archibald was an Equestria-born Griffon who's Greifenmarsian on his father's side. He wishes to bring Equestrian Harmony to Greifenmarschen, though his personal beliefs in Equestrian Harmony is somewhat... "idiosyncratic".

---

• Foreign Culture Fetish:
  • Archibald is a massive fan of Equestria and Equestrian Harmony. His bio notes that there are rumors saying that he wrote fanfics that paired up the Equestrian Princesses.
  • His obsession with Equestrian Harmony reaches comedic levels in "The Equestrian Model" path, where he dissolves the Council and proclaims himself Prince Archibald, modeled after Princess Celestia, and creating the Principality of Griffenheim. He even almost proclaims himself Princess Archibald, but manages to correct himself right after.
  • After uniting the Herzland and creating the Principality of Herzland, Archibald writes letters to Twilight Sparkle telling her how he (the "faithful student") has been developing the six Elements of Harmony in Herzland, and the final letter on "Magic" literally name drops "Friendship is magic!"
• Sibling Incest: Is rumored to have wrote fanfics featuring a "secret incestual relationship" between the Equestrian princesses.

Wingbert Rohmer

^{Wingbert Rohmer in Party Line route}

Role: Head of State

Party: Kommunistische Partei der Griefenmarschen^note Communist Party of Griefenmarschen

Ideology: Stallionism^note Communism

The iron-willed leader of the Communist Party of Greifenmarschen. Rohmer sees Greifenmarschen as a proto-communist nation threatened by capitalism, and wants to totally transform the country into a true communist nation.

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• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Rohmer is a Griffon version of Joseph Stalin. His default portrait is a reference to a mugshot of young Stalin, while his new portrait in his party line path is based on old Stalin's appearance.

Dietrich Mach

Role: Head of State

Party: Nationale Aktionpartei^note National Action Party

Ideology: Ultranationalism^note Supremacy

The unofficial head of the Nationale Aktionspartei, Mach is a young militiagriff and a Herzland supremacist with a vision of pan-Herzlander nationalism.

---

• The Coup: Mach's political path opens with him (alongside the rest of his party) executing a coup against the Greifenmarschen council with his party paramilitary.
• Fantastic Racism: As a Herzlander supremacist, Mach discriminates against non-Herzlanders and non-Griffons after he unifies the Herzland. He also discriminates against the Feathisian-speaking Feathisians, whom he considers to be less than Herzlanders.
• Shout-Out: In his endgame, he creates a Supremacist faction known as the Unity-Pakt, a reference to the faction of the same name in the famous HOI4 mod The New Order Last Days Of Europe.

Wilke Truthahn

Role: Head of State (Coup)

Party: Nationale Aktionpartei^note National Action Party

Ideology: Reactionarism^note Supremacy

The deputy of the NAP, Truthahn is a theocrat and a member of the Old Believers, a Griffon religious sect that rejects the Archonate and calls for their deposition.

---

• The Coup: Truthahn can seize power in Supremacist Greifenmarschen by overthrowing Dietrich Mach with his faction of the NAP party.
• Mandatory Motherhood: To greatly stimulate population growth, Truthahn passes a three child policy, requiring every family to raise at least three children.
• The Theocracy: In Truthahn's path, he turns the Herzland into an Old Believer theocracy, aiming to depose the rule of the Archonates and institute true Griffon religious rule.

Yale Rectorate

^{Flag of the Communes of Yale}

^{Flag of the Duchy of Yaledom}

^{Flag of the Kingdom of Boreas}

Full Name: Yale Rectorate, Herzland Rectorate (Mikusian national unification), Communes of Yale (Communist), Duchy of Yaledom (Supremacy), Herzland National Republic (Proteus national unification), Griffonian Reich (Grover II national unification), Kingdom of Boreas (Herald of Boreas national unification)

Ruling Party: Der Akademischer Rat^note The Academic Council

Ideology: Technocracy^note Non-Aligned

---

• Emperor Scientist: Since 878 ALB, Yale has been ruled by the Rector Magnificus of Yale University, even before the 978 Revolution formally transformed the Duchy of Yaledom into the Yale Rectorate.
• The Federation: If Central Universities-led Yale reunites the Herzland, they can create the Federal Republic of Herzland if they go down Georgina's Harmonist route, and then the Social Democratic sub-route.
• For Science!: In its Supremacist route, Yale turns away from conventional ethics, removing regulations and guidelines which came to be seen as impediments to scientific progress. This can eventually culminate in one of two projects, each of which leads to one of Yale's secret paths: Project Auferstehung, which resurrects the long-dead Emperor Grover II, and Project Weihe, which summons an avatar of Boreas to the mortal world.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: There are two rival figures in the Middenheim School of Economics, who both support a different economic theory. Lord Meynard Clawnes argues that aggregate demand drives the economy, and thus governments should intervene more, while August von Hawk argues that the actions of individuals drive the economy, and thus governments should intervene less. Meynard Clawnes is a parody of Keynesian economics founder John Maynard Keynes, while August von Hawk is a parody of Austrian School economist Friedrich August von Hayek.

Mikusian

Role: Rector Magnificus^note Head of State

Party: Der Akademischer Rat^note The Academic Council

Ideology: Technocracy^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born into a middle class family in the old capital of the Yale Rectorate, Mikusian lived through the turbulent times of the Republican revolution as a teenager. Although many students of the Yalish universities fought for the various sides of the revolution, the country was spared the ravaging effects of war, with the Rectorate only choosing sides at the final moments of the conflict. The revolution left an impact on young Mikusian, who heard about the destruction war could cause via radio and newspaper.

Like many young Yalish griffons, Mikusian grew up with tales of the country's enigmatic founder, Borean Wiedergreiff and the young griffon devoured all of the famed polymath's treatises during the revolution. By the time he enrolled for philosophy in Yale's university, Mikusian was a firm believer in Borean's rationalist philosophy of achieving peace through scientific advancement. Living and studying in the hallowed halls of Yale only strengthened the student's believes and by his second year, he decided he wanted to be a scientist and teach for himself.

And so he did, finishing his studies without delay and writing his dissertation on the works of his idol. "Pax Scientiam: A dream worth pursuing?" was a smash hit across the academic community, securing Mikusian a teaching position. The scientist proved to be a popular lecturer and sometimes griffons had to sit on the lecture hall's stairs if they wanted to attend his vivid explanations of history, philosophy and discussions on the future of Griffonia. A final twist came in 1001, with the elections for the position of Rector. Urged by his students to stand, Mikusian won in a landslide, becoming the youngest Rector of Yale since Borean Wiedergreiff himself.

Now the head of state and government of Yale, Mikusian has overseen the slow decay of the Rectorate alongside the rest of the Griffionian Empire. But the griffon has never stopped dreaming of a different future.

---

• Emperor Scientist: If Mikusian reunifies the Herzland, he will create the Herzland Rectorate, a technocratic state ruled by the brightest minds of the Griffon world.

Georgina Fredrika Schüler

Role: Head of State

Party: Neue Funkeln^note New Sparkles

Ideology: Harmony

---

• Internal Reformist: If Central Universities Yale reunites the Herzland and goes down Mikusian's technocratic route, then Schüler can be chosen to serve as a reformist minister to reform the society and appease the masses.

Erich Mühschnabel

Role: Head of State

Party: Die Vorhut der Studenten^note The Vanguard of Students

Ideology: Anarcho-Communism^note Communism

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Erich Mühschnabel never had to conquer his bread. As the second son of a wealthy industrialist, Erich could have spent the rest of his life in luxury. His childhood was spent in bliss, as Erich received the best tutors money could buy. He turned out to be bright and inquisitive, and would have been a worthy successor to the family business, were it not for his older sister. Irene Mühschnabel was just a tad bit more cunning than her brother, always managing to garner her parents' favour over Erich.

When the time came, Irene enrolled in Middenheim University, while Erich went to his own Cyrusval. The difference could not be much greater. Middenheim's grand halls taught classical economics and statecraft in a tranquil environment, a walled garden away from the hustle and bustle of the world. Cyrusval was a rowdy place of loud students, of debating clubs and radical teachers. The home of Professor Willie Scherler, an inspiring socialist who would later lead the fight for a better world in the woods of Angriver. So, as Irene studies the intricacies of profit maximalisation, Erich was taught the inherent contradictions of the capitalist mode of production.

Both siblings graduated cum laude, with Irene being allowed a prominent position in the family business, while Erich was cast out of the family as a failure. Instead of business, Erich would get a teaching position in social science, where he contributed to the ever-radicalising faculty. A sense of urgency and an air of change filled the red halls of Cyrusval as the Empire faltered and to everygriffon's surprise, the students and teachers elected Mühschnabel, the most radical candidate, as rector in the 1007 elections. When the crisis in Griffenheim escalated, Erich managed to convince national government that he would be able to mend the rifts in Yalish society. Instead, he would use the new power to prepare for a revolution.

The Mühschnabel estate was one of the first buildings to be set aflame in the ensuing violence.

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• Beneath the Mask: Erich has a secret mentally unstable side beneath his appearance as the Rector of Cyrusval and liberator of the people. His desire to launch a revolution is partially based on his desires to take revenge against his family and experience power trips.
• Dirty Communists: Downplayed. While Erich does manage to improve the lives of many Yalish citizens, his secret mental illness also leads him to commit several immoral acts during his rule, including the creation of a ruthless secret police force and unethical research units.
• Driven to Suicide: In the ending of the Communist Yale storyline, Erich, his sanity broken beyond repair, begins to hallucinate ghosts of his dead family coming back to haunt him. This completely breaks him and leads him to shoot himself, leaving the leadership of the country to Karl Legreif.
• Kinslaying Is a Special Kind of Evil: Karl Legreif's investigations suggest that Erich murdered his entire family during his revolution by burning down his estate with all of his family trapped inside, forcing his students to do the deed and making his father beg for his life.
• Nominal Hero: During the trial of Erich and his secret units after Erich's death, the lawyers made note that despite Erich's selfish goals and immoral methods, he did manage to improve the lives of many by launching his socialist revolution.
• "Well Done, Son" Guy: Erich, in his youth, had a massive inferiority complex because his father Theodore had obscenely high standards for his children, and always considered Erich second to his sister, Irene. Erich's troubled upbringing soon led him to experience Sanity Slippage, eventually giving him an irrational desire for revenge and power.

Karl Legreif

Role: Head of State

Party: Die Vorhut der Studenten^note The Vanguard of Students

Ideology: Syndicalism^note Communism

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show} Born to immigrants from Longsword, a region whose fortunes would decay rapidly over the course of his life, Karl Legreif had a difficult childhood. He was bullied by the Yalish children for his background, but Karl would not be walked over easily. The griffon fought his bullies at every opportunity. The bullies of other griffons too. Sometimes he'd win his battles as well.

Karl turned out to be quite capable as an artisan and learned the trade of wood turner. He had just joined the Trade Union when the Republican Revolution ravaged Griffonia. For a while, it seemed the biggest bullies of all the continent would finally be defeated and Legreif enthusiastically struck at every opportunity. It was not to be, however, and the revolutionaries fled north, leaving Karl and the Yalish trade union movement disillusioned.

The years went by and the immigrant from Longsword became ever more important in the union movement. Increasingly, the working class organised and fought for their rights. This trend did not go unnoticed by the professors and students of Cyrusval University, who soon provided the theory for the Union's practice. From them, Karl learned that no wage agreement with the capitalists could ever give the workers their due and that only a shift in power could forge unity and brotherhood.

The collapse of the Griffonian Empire showed the cracks in Yalish society and increased class consciousness in the Rectorate as divisions between the learned and capitalist class and the workers became ever more clear. If threatened, like in Longsword, the ruling class would not be above allying with racist maniacs to cling on to power. Instead of turning to fascists, Rector Mikusian reached out to Cyrusval to bridge the gap between classes. But there they sensed a new age in the making. So, instead, the red university successfully allied with the Unions to bring revolution to Yale and beyond.

When the leader of the students turned out to have gone mad, however, something had to be done. So, Karl Legreif, now leading all trade union federations in the Heartlands, took power into his own claws, determined to ensure that no being would be bullied again.

---

• Broken Pedestal: The discovery that Erich is an unhinged psycopath who launched a revolution to fulfil his own power fantasy does not sit well with Karl, who throws himself into trying to expose the truth about his former comrade-in-arms.
• Chummy Commies: Karl is a genuine Trade Union leader who puts the people and the workers first, and is very morally upstanding compared to the secretly insane Erich Mühschnabel.

Prelate Michael

Role: Prelate^note Head of State

Party: Schwert und Schild^note Sword and Shield

Ideology: Authoritarian Theocracy^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Michael Eisenklau was born near the Imperial city of Crona as the seventh chick in a family of peasants. The family barely scraped by and things spiralled out of control after a failed harvest in 978 spiralled Michael's village into poverty. After it was clear the local authorities refused to help, the peasants, including Michael's parents and older siblings decided to go and take their due from Crona itself. Unbeknownst to them, they were part of a massive movement which would soon fracture the Griffonian continent. Michael would never see any of them again.

Left alone to care for his younger siblings, the peasant's son turned to the only place he knew could help; the Temple. There the young griffon, weaker in body than his sturdy older brothers, managed to impress the Arcturian priest by challenging him to a duel for a chance at earning a wage. Michael lost that duel but earned himself a job, to which he tenaciously devoted himself. As the fighting raged around the Empire, sometimes coming precariously close, Michael learned the values of the different aspects of Arcturius. A Smith who can burn away impure elements through war and forge together what is fractured. A Warrior loyal, honourable and unflinching in conflict. And a leader willing to sacrifice himself to a greater cause.

Michael had taken these lessons to heart long before he had completed his formal education and as the Empire licked its wounds after the revolution, he began his career in the Hierarchy of Arcturius. First as a priest to one of the many towns in the Herzland who had lost their religious leader in the fighting. Later on, as a clerk for Archon Proteus III, where he got a great deal of respect for the Warrior-Priest. Although Proteus sometimes joked about the griffon's 'puny stature', the Archon was never mean to the former peasant. And when the position of Prelate of Yale opened up in 1005, Proteus nominated Michael himself, hoping that the commoner might be able to help heal the divides in Yalish society. Prelate Michael set to the task with great enthusiasm, reinvigorating the Triarchy in Yale with fiery speeches, charity and the help of the Sword and Shield movement, earning him a spot at the table, shifting the balance of Yalish politics in his favour.

---

• Press X to Die: If Archon Eros VII is ruling in Griffenheim, Michael's Into the Fold focus causes the Griffonian Empire to annex Yale, ending the game for the player.
• Voluntary Vassal: If Archon Eros VII becomes Grover VI's regent and Michael takes power in Yale, he'll willingly submit to the Empire, leading to Yale either becoming an autonomous puppet or getting outright annexed.

Archon Proteus III

Role: Archon^note Head of State

Party: Schwert und Schild^note Sword and Shield

Ideology: Authoritarian Theocracy^note Supremacy

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• Church Militant: Proteus is both the leader of the church of Arcturius and a general in the Reichsarmee. If he takes power in Griffenheim, he'll form a Divine Army, whose soldiers should be well-versed in matters relating to the Gods.
• The Conqueror: Archon Proteus is one of the most expansionist potential rulers of the Herzland, his focuses allowing him to restore the Empire's old borders, conquering any nation that has since seceded.
• Reassigned to Antarctica: If Romau under Archon Erion unifies the Herzland, Proteus will be given the important task to protect the weak and innocent in the Arcturian Order from the Dread League, in the extreme northeast of Griffonia, far away from Griffenheim.

Grover II

Role: Monarch^note Head of State

Party: Griffonische Kaiserpartei^note Griffonian Imperial Party

Ideology: Autocracy^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography (Unmarked Spoilers)^{Click to Show}Grover II was the second ruler of the Griffonian Empire, ascending the throne in 785 ALB. By the time of his ascension Grover II was already an accomplished general and he commanded many of his father's forces when he unified the griffon states. The start of his reign was characterised by an Aquileian insurrection, which the Emperor's armies crushed before rebellion could spread throughout the empire. It is said that in his anger, Grover II killed the Discret King of Aquileia himself and ordered Aquila burned. To keep the Discrets from seeking revenge, he married Giselda Discret.

The Emperor decided to entrust the Idol of Boreas, the Empire's most sacred relic, to his Brother Guto, who he made King of Griffonstone, starting a period of early stability. In 799 the Emperor started his conquest south, adding Sicameon and Asterion to the Empire. Grover II was still not content with his domain, fearing his eastern frontier with the ponies of the Riverlands. Therefore he sanctioned the Knights of Hellquill to crusade against them. Internal squabbles and economic woes would delay any large scale efforts to attack the riverponies for 40 years. It is widely believed that Grover III and Giselda were the ones constantly fixing the bad domestic policies of their father and husband.

In 852 the ageing Emperor decided to finally press forward. He flew east at the head of a massive host of knights and soldiers, eager to finish his conquest of the Griffonian continent. Battle after battle was fought and Grover himself was almost invincible in his enchanted armour, the terror of his foes. That was, until the Nimbusians rallied to save what was left of River City. The Strategos of the pegasi force had lured the griffons into a chokepoint. There, the unthinkable happened. The towering griffon was in the thick of the battle, leading his most faithful knights to punch a hole in the unflinching Nimbusian battleline, when a startled young hoplite threw his spear at him instead of staying in formation. Grover was hit through the eyes and died instantly, which routed his forces.

And now, he has returned to Griffonia to finish what he started.

---

• Back from the Dead: Grover II, the greatest tactician in Griffonian history, can be revived by Yalish scientists in Project Auferstehung.
• Catching Up on History: In the first event after Grover II comes back from the dead, he orders a historian to inform him of what has happened between his death and resurrection.
• Cincinnatus: Should he manage to restore the Empire to its former glory, when his great-great-grandson Grover VI comes of age, Grover II willingly gives up his power and returns to his tomb, confident that his Empire is now in good hands.
• The Conqueror: Grover II was a conqueror in life, and is resurrected by Yale to conquer again. His focus tree grants Yale war goals on nearly every country in the continent of Griffonia.
• Eye Scream: Grover II was killed when a startled Nimbusian hoplite threw his spear at him and hit through his eyes. As can be seen in his portrait, Grover II no longer has his right eye, even after being resurrected.
• Four-Star Badass: As a Field Marshal, Grover II is one of the most powerful generals in the entire game, starting out at level 8 and having tons of powerful traits. He's also a capable fighter too, as demonstrated in some events.
• It's Personal:
  • Grover II was killed by Nimbusians in his past life, and retains a special hatred for them after coming back to life.
  • If Ferdinand Dawnclaw kills Grover VI only to be defeated by Grover II, he will personally kill Ferdinand by breaking his wings and throwing him out a window as revenge for killing his great-great-grandson.
• Large and in Charge: One of Grover II's most defining physical traits is that he was one of the largest griffons to ever live, and as the second emperor of the Griffonian Empire and probably the single greatest conqueror the world has ever known, he was most certainly in charge. And if he comes back, he's still just as much of a towering giant of a griffon as he ever was and can take charge once more.
• Puppet State: Grover II, after conquering the Riverlands, can either establish a single puppet state called Ordenstaat Flussland on all Riverland territories, or create three puppet freestates (Groß-Seeland, Hoch-Weissland, and Meerland) instead.
• Tranquil Fury: If Ferdinand Dawnclaw comes to power and murders Grover VI, Grover II will be massively distraught and start having an existential crisis over his revival. Though enraged and anguished, Grover II stays calm and concludes that this hate was brought upon him by the gods to motivate him to spread their word and conquer more of the world. This opens up a path that grants -50% war goal justification time, guiding the player down the road for world conquest.
• Walking Spoiler: This character is the leader of Yale in a special secret path that opens up a whole new section of the focus tree.

Herald of Boreas

Role: Head of State

Party: Göttliche Einheitsappell^note Divine Unity Appeal

Ideology: Authoritarian Theocracy^note Supremacy

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• The Coup: The Herald comes into power by walking into the meeting room of Yale's Academic Council, and intimidating them into resigning by bathing them in bright light and searing heat.
• Fantastic Racism: As it turns out, the Herald is xenophobic towards the dogs of Bronzehill, and has them deported from their homeland once he gets there.
• Glowing Eyes: The Herald's supernatural nature is evident in his glowing, unreadable eyes.
• Klingon Promotion: After taking over Griffenheim, the Herald executes Archon Eros VII for daring to claim to be the worldly voice of Boreas, then declares himself the new Archon.
• Messianic Archetype: The Herald of Boreas is basically Griffon Jesus Christ, an individual with godly powers who presents himself as a messenger from the god. He even has quotes directly lifted from The Bible.
• The Theocracy: After he unifies the Herzland, the Herald proclaims the Kingdom of Boreas, a Divine Kingdom on the mortal world.
• Walking Spoiler: This character is the leader of Yale in a different special secret path.

Katerin Principality

^{Flag of the Katerin Republic}

^{Flag of the Kingdom of Katerin}

Full Name: Katerin Principality, Katerin Republic (Hector), Kingdom of Katerin (Erik), Holy Council of Katerin (Duskfeather)

Ruling Party: Katerintreue^note Katerin Loyalists

Ideology: Autocracy^note Supremacy

One of the poorest and most unstable regions in the Herzland, it is ruled by the mad princess Diellza von Katerinburg, who has made the desperate situation there even worse. With bandits terrorizing the terrified and broken populace and reports of a plague coming to light, the Katerin Principality is in dire need of somebody sane to take control of the situation.

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• The Plague: A plague breaks out in Katerin soon after the start of the game, making the situation in the principality even worse.
• Ruling Family Massacre: During the Republican revolution, Katerin's entire ruling family, save the six-year-old Diellza von Katerinburg, was torn apart by an angry mob.
• Wretched Hive: Katerin is already one of the poorest regions in the Griffonian Herzland, and the rule of the mad princess only made it even worse. Bandits are everywhere, the princess oppresses her own subjects in insane ways, and a plague will also break out in Katerin soon after game start.

Princess Diellza von Katerinburg

Role: Monarch^note Head of State

Party: Katerintreue^note Katerin Loyalists

Ideology: Autocracy^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}As one of the last surviving members of the von Katerinburg family, Princess Diellza carries a legacy 300 years old. Her family was among the first who pledged allegiance to the Grover dynasty and for their loyalty they were rewarded the principality of Katerin. During Diellza's childhood, however, tragedy befell the family during the revolution that struck the empire. A mob stormed the von Katerinburg castle, seeking to overthrow the princely family. When the smoke cleared, the six year old Diellza was the only one still alive, even as she was imprisoned by the revolutionaries.

After the revolution ended and Diellza was freed something had broken inside the girl. As the only remaining von Katerinburg, she was raised to the throne as Princess of Katerin, even as the trauma she had experienced began to manifest itself.

Ever since, Diellza had been quietly referred to as "the mad princess" as her mannerisms have become more and more erratic and violent. Nowadays her subjects live in constant fear of triggering a violent outburst from her, and though she goes from relatively lucid to enraged madness regularly, it is impossible to predict when and what does it.

One of the few things that seem to have a stabilizing influence on her is "Glitterhoof", a pony's skull that was given to her as a macabre gift from her distant cousin Wingfried von Katerinburg. Whatever the intent behind the gift was, Diellza always carries it with her, treating "him" like a stuffed animal and referring to the skull as her fiance. This, combined with her unpredictable and violent mannerisms has made her feared and hated among a people that once respected the von Katerinburg lineage, and it is doubtful if Diellza is able to comprehend this.

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• 0% Approval Rating: Due to her insanity, no griffon loves Diellza. The citizens, the knights, and the nobles all fear her madness.
• The Caligula: Princess Diellza is prone to violent outbursts and insane behavior, getting her the nickname "the mad princess".
• A Child Shall Lead Them: Diellza was crowned princess when she was seven. A regency council handled the governing until she is of age.
• Companion Cube: Diellza keeps a pony skull called Glitterhoof (gifted to her by her distant cousin, griffon supremacist Wingfried von Katerinburg) and treats it as a living being, seeing it as her lover/rival/husband/enemy depending on her mood. In gameplay, Glitterhoof serves as a political advisor with only negative effects that cannot be removed manually.
• Despair Event Horizon: She has an immense amount of affection for Grover V (who saved her from those evil republicans) and Wingfried von Katerinburg (who gave her Glitterhoof). Grover's very short visit to say goodbye and subsequent death leave her even more emotionally unbalanced than before, and when Wingfried declines her invitation to her wedding she goes completely berserk. Both events make it clear that things are only going to get worse under her rule.
• Freudian Excuse: During the republican revolution, a mob of revolutionaries killed young Diellza's entire family and left her as the sole survivor. As a result, she went completely bonkers.
• Pet the Dog: At one point she decides that since she loves books so much, everyone should enjoy them. For this purpose she opens up her libraries and forces the entire population to read at gunpoint. It's pointed out that this is ironically the one good decision she ever makes, as the literacy level of the nation shoots up dramatically.
• Shout-Out: Glitterhoof is a reference to Crusader Kings II, which features a horse named Glitterhoof that can be appointed to a governmental position if the player is playing an insane leader.

Katerintreue Council

Role: Regent^note Head of State

Party: Katerintreue^note Katerin Loyalists

Ideology: Plutocracy^note Supremacy

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• Non-Standard Character Design: The Katerintreue is not a single person and does not have their own portrait, instead sharing theirs with non-communist provisional governments across griffon nations. While all other such governments are only 'in power' briefly before a proper leader ascends, the Katerintreue actually have their own path, during which the Provisional Government trait is removed.
• Pragmatic Villainy: In an event, after unifying the Herzland, the Herzlandtreue announces a food dole for all citizens below a certain income. Though this generosity is lauded by the people, the Herzlandtreue only does it to silence protests demanding higher wages and extract part of the profit margins in the process. A significant percentage of the people also become reliant on the food dole, meaning that they are quite literally in the government's claws if they want to eat.
• Regent for Life: Since Diellza von Katerinburg became Princess when she was only 7, a cadre of nobles were assembled to act as advisors and regents for the child. While Diellza is an adult now, the Katerintreue remains, and its members remember the power they used to possess. In their path, the Katerintreue forces Diellza to sign away her claim to the throne in perpetuity to them, putting Katerin under a permanent regency. If they subsequently unify the Herzland, they rebrand themselves the Herzlandtreue and raise Emperor Grover VI to serve as their puppet for life.

Hector Ardennson

Role: Head of State

Party: Die Silberkralle^note The Silver Claw

Ideology: Harmony

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}As the Grandmaster of the Silberkralle, Hector Ardensson is a knight and physician in equal measure and is held in high regard by most in the country. Born in Strassmark in 945, Hector had just become a knight when the revolution swept the empire, Katerin included. While he fought on the counterrevolutionaries' side, the many atrocities he witnessed and the longstanding suffering of the people left him disillusioned with the old order, and even as he was part in restoring the nobles' power, he began to harbour republican sentiments himself. At least they spoke of the people's suffering, and at least they tried to relieve it.

Ever since, Hector worked tirelessly across Katerin, trying to help the suffering people and mitigate the worst of Diellza's excesses, but in the end that wasn't enough, and he found himself forced to act more directly for the sake of the people he swore so long ago to safeguard and help.

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• Batman Gambit: Hector is well aware why the nobility are so eager to capture Diellza and put her on trial, as it is a way to absolve themselves of their crimes under her rule. He uses this to discredit them with the whole nation watching, advancing his republican ideals.
• Genius Bruiser: Hector is a knight, but he's also a very talented doctor. He shares this with his order.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Though Diellza's government rightly sees him as a threat, their attempts to discredit him fall flat considering how he's clearly one of the few competent and reasonable people in Katerin.
• Shaming the Mob: When Diellza is finally deposed, he notes that most of the people calling for her death were the same people who until recently were murdering and destroying on her mad whims, and blaming a traumatized child for their own sins only highlights the folly of hereditary rule.

Erik Grimclaw

Role: Monarch^note Head of State

Party: Argentumdämmerung^note Argent Twilight

Ideology: Despotism^note Non-Aligned

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• Rightful King Returns: Centuries past, Katerin was ruled by the Grimclaw family, before the Griffonian Empire conquered it and replaced them with the Katerinburgs. After the fall of Diellza von Katerinburg, Erik Grimclaw, the current head of his family, can seize the opportunity to reclaim the throne of Katerin.
• The Usurper: After reclaiming the throne of Katerin, Erik seeks to avenge his family by marching to Griffenheim, deposing the Grover dynasty, and expanding Katerin to encompass the entire Herzland.
• Warrior Prince: Erik is both the leader of the Grimclaw ex-royal family and the Grandmaster of the Argentumdämmerung knightly order.

Heinrich Duskfeather

Role: Head of State

Party: Trinthiest-Sozial Partei^note Trinthiest Social Party

Ideology: Religious Socialism^note Communism

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Once one of the preeminent prelates of the Temple of Boreas, Heinrich Duskfeather could well have carried him all the way to the position of Archon. Yet, inside the temple hierarchy as much as outside of it, the political games played are vicious, and Heinrich underestimated his rival, the prelate that would become Eros VII. Losing not only the struggle for the Archon's seat, but his position as a prelate as well, he was left destitute and banished from the temples as Eros made sure to not just defeat but crush his opposition.

It was at this time, during his darkest moments, that he met a certain griffon during a train trip, one that gave him a book on socialist philosophy at the end of it. The disillusioned and destitute ex-prelate was captivated by the ideas discussed in it and started to slowly reevaluate many ideals he had held.

In the end, when he returned to Katerin, he had concluded that the very structure of the temples meant that the kind of power games that had seen his downfall were not simply a part of the temple hierarchy, but rather a cancer that is rotting the temples from within, just like how the nobility is a cancer upon the people.

Drifting through Katerin, he preached not from a grand altar, but at the kitchen tables and at the marketplaces of the common griffon, seeing the suffering that the nobility wrought upon the people and how the temples didn't fight this suffering as much as teach the people how to accept it.

It sickens him, and he has long since realized that this order must be torn down, by force if no other option is available.

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• Badass Preacher: Heinrich Duskfeather may be an old griffon of the cloth, but he's also a very effective field marshal, starting with 3s in all stats and the Ranger, Swamp Fox, Trickster, Adaptable, Charismatic, and Unyielding Defender traits.
• Chummy Commies: Heinrich's heterodox flavor of religious socialism is broadly portrayed positively, especially when contrasted with Diellza's madness, the ambition of the Katerin nobility, and the power games of the established church hierarchy.
• Good Shepherd: Since Diellza's descent into madness, Heinrich has traveled the Katerin countryside advocating for and organizing the workers and peasants. Ultimately his goal is to abolish much of the church hierarchy, clear out what he sees as a Corrupt Church and turn it towards the betterment of the people and a vehicle of governance more responsive to local needs.
• Shaming the Mob: After an angry mob beats and hangs Diellza, Heinrich condemns them for acting in a mad rage, rather than punishing the wicked in a court of justice.
• The Theocracy: Under Duskfeather's guidance, the Imperial monarchy is abolished and a new socialist theocracy is established with himself as Emperor-Archon.
• Turbulent Priest: Duskfeather leads the religious resistance against Diellza's mad misrule and the Katerintreue's political games.
• The Usurper: Upon unifying the Herzland, Duskfeather puts an end to both the Empire and the Grover dynasty, and proclaims himself Emperor-Archon of the Socialist Archonate of Boreas.

Barony of Angriver

^{Flag of the Republic of Angriver}

^{Flag of the Kingdom of Herzland}

^{Flag of the Angriver Commune}

^{Flag of the Herzland Commune}

^{Flag of the Angriver Regency}

^{Flag of the Holy Griffonian Empire}

Full Name: Barony of Angriver, Kingdom of Herzland (Stoiber, conquered Herzland), Republic of Angriver, Angriver Commune (Scherler), Herzland Commune (Scherler national unification), Angriver Regency (Black Claw), Holy Griffonian Empire (Black Claw national unification)

Ruling Party: Kabinett des Barons^note Cabinet of the Baron

Ideology: Autocracy^note Supremacy

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• Aristocrats Are Evil: The Black Claw's main support base is the traditional Angriverian nobility who can no longer dominate a vast writhing mass of filthy, worthless serfs, and now seek to regain their privileges that were lost to the republicans and the absolutist Baron Leer.
• La Résistance: The Angriver branch of the National Republican Party has allied with a local Anarcho-Communist militia known as the Free State Army, and has been biding their time in the Scheißwald, waiting for a chance to rise up and ovethrow Baron Leer.
• Terrorists Without a Cause: There is a nebulous organization active in Angriver known as the Black Claw, who commit gruesome violence seemingly without a cause or objective.
• Wretched Hive: Angriver is the poorest region in the entire Herzland, not helped by the fact that the Scheißwald is filled with monsters and rebels of all different kinds.

Baron Leer the Vicious

^{God-Emperor Leer}

Role: Monarch^note Head of State

Party: Kabinett des Barons^note Cabinet of the Baron

Ideology: Autocracy^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Baron Leer was once a complacent ruler, but when the flames of Revolution swept through Griffonia they burned fiercest in Angriver, forcing Leer into a fight for his life. His lands were swiftly overrun by a Republican-Anarchist alliance of considerable strength. The rebels seemed unstoppable until Marshal Stoiber—a close friend of Leer—was able to rally his forces and begin supporting the Baron.

Their partnership proved fruitful, and together they began to push back the Republican army. Leer showed the rebels no mercy in battle and displayed a shocking brutality which extended to harsh treatment of captured prisoners. Although Stoiber found this behaviour off-putting he did not have much time to dwell on it; in short order the two put an end to organized resistance in Angriver. The campaign had been a success, but it marked the beginning of a permanent rift between Leer and Stoiber. After the restoration of Grover V, Leer was rewarded for his service and Angriver was given greater autonomy within the Empire.

The crisis had pushed the Baron to his absolute limit, some say leaving him a broken griffon. Although he always had a controlling personality and a propensity for micromanagement he has grown increasingly obsessive in recent years, allegedly because he envisions a day when chaos and instability will return to Griffonia with a vengeance, and that to survive both he and his country must be prepared.

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• Aristocrats Are Evil: Though not all aristocrats in EAW are evil, Baron Leer is definitely one of the evil ones, and a pretty nasty one at that.
• Control Freak: Baron Leer has a controlling personality, and ever since the Republican revolution, became borderline paranoid with the possibility of his country falling into chaos and him losing control over it. This eventually grows into something similar to Despotism Justifies the Means, as Leer launches a violent purge whenever he conquers a new region to crush any potential resistance against thim.
• Cool Crown: When Emperor Leer conquers Griffonstone, he will claim Grover II's crown and crown himself with it, seeing himself as the inheritor to the legacy of Grover II.
• God-Emperor: If Leer becomes the Emperor, some Griffons, trying to explain the downfall of the Grover dynasty, begin to believe that Leer had the favor of the gods. A fanatic local priest takes it one step further and claims that Leer is a representative to the Gods and a manifestation of the Empire's glory. This eventually culminates in Leer creating an Imperial Cult dedicated to him, making it the state religion, and declaring himself the God-Emperor of Griffonkind.
• Kick the Dog: Emperor Leer burns down the city of Karthin after conquering Wingbardy, as he holds a special contempt for the "False Kingdom" of Wingbardy.
• Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Leer is nicknamed "The Vicious" due to his violent suppression of the Republican Revolution in Angriver.
• The Purge:
  • If the Barony was not overthrown by Republican revolutionaries, Leer will purge the rebels with full force. He also purges Othmar Stoiber due to his disagreements with his rule, even though Stoiber used to be his friend.
  • After becoming Emperor, he purges the old nobility as he thinks that they are scheming against him.
  • Emperor Leer will launch a massive purge in Cloudbury after conquering it, killing over half a million Cloudburians to punish them for harboring the vile Republicans.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something: Leer is a general in addition to being the Baron of Angriver.
• The Usurper: If Leer unifies the Herzland, he will crown himself Emperor Leer I, usurping the Grover dynasty.

Großmarschall Othmar Stoiber

Role: Head of State

Party: Konstituonalisten^note Constitutionalists

Ideology: Democratic Monarchism^note Harmony

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• Good Is Not Soft: Though Stoiber is a constitutionalist who ultimately desires the best for his people, he is willing to use force to crack down on the anarchists and the Black Claw.
• The Good Chancellor: Stoiber, after uniting the Herzland, proclaims the creation of the Kingdom of Herzland instead of the Griffonian Empire. He adopts Grover VI and acts as his regent, raising him to adulthood. When Grover is of age, he is christened King Grover I instead of Emperor Grover VI, and he renounces all previous claims of the Empire outside the Herzland.
• Last Stand: When the Republican Revolutionaries overthrow the Barony, Stoiber gathers a small group of forces and charges into the Republican headquarters, aiming to inspire the people to rise up and counter the revolution.
• Turn the Other Cheek: If Stoiber's counterrevolution against the Republicans is successful, he will negotiate with the Republicans due to their aligned values, and eventually pardon the Republicans and release them from prison.

Willie Scherler

Role: Head of State

Party: Anarchistenunion Angrivers^note Angriver Anarchist Union

Ideology: Anarcho-Communism^note Communism

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Willie Scherler was once a professor of sociology at Cyrusval university in Yale. Passionate about his field and a staunch anarcho-syndicalist, he was popular with his students and became well-known for giving lively and rousing lectures. Ironically for an academic, he preferred actions over ideas and grew restless at his post. He came to resent his peers at the university for being armchair revolutionaries, and burned with a desire to take the future into his own claws.

One day he resigned from his position and left for Angriver to put his theories into practice. Filling a vacuum in leadership, he quickly became a rallying point for the disorganised socialist groups in Angriver, and in time came to lead all of them. It was under his direction that the Free State Army became reorganised into a trained and formidable guerilla force.

Scherler has a forceful yet compassionate personality and is a natural leader, inspiring intense loyalty in his followers. He is a devout believer in the Gods, although he disdains the rigid structure and dogma of established temples, which he views as distorting and misrepresenting the true messages of the Gods for their own gain.

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• Chummy Commies: Compared to Yale's Erich Mühschnabel, Willie launches his revolution to better the peasants of Griffonia, and happily organizes elections for the next socialist leader should he unite the Herzland. If he stays in power, he delegates as much power to the people as possible, and seeks to ensure a lasting peace after the violence of the revolution.
• Rebel Leader: Scherler is the leader of the anarcho-communist Free State Army who has long fought a guerrilla war against the tyrannical Baron Leer.

Gerhard Bluhm

Role: Head of State

Party: Angrivische Zweig der Nationalen Republikanischen Partei^note Angriverian Branch of the National Republican Party

Ideology: Republicanism^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Gerhard Bluhm was born in a small town in rural Angriver, the son of poor farmers. His humble upbringing did nothing to stunt his ambition, which led him to join the Imperial Army in the hope of gaining glory, but his hopes were dashed and he found himself disgruntled with the Empire's rigid and outdated military doctrine. When Kemerskai launched his Republican Revolution in 978 Bluhm was an enthusiastic supporter, believing the Empire was in need of drastic reform to thrive in a changing world.

After the Revolution failed, Bluhm declined to follow his fellow Republicans in the Long March North. He instead returned to Angriver to form a resistance, beginning what would become a decades-long fight to free his homeland. With limited resources and a rag-tag force, Bluhm was a constant thorn in the side of the Barony. Unwavering resolve and courage are traits that Bluhm's soldiers always attributed to him during this period.

His short stature in combination with staunch Republican ideals earned him the nickname "Little Kemerskai." Nogriff would dare use it in his presence, though, as he bears an intense grudge against Kemerskai for his bungling of the first Republican Revolution. In Bluhm's view, it was Kemerskai's weakness and leniency that allowed a counter-revolution to take place.

Bluhm swears that he will go to any length to protect the Republic and uphold the Three Principles. With the length of his résumé and the impressiveness of his accomplishments, that looks to be a great length indeed.

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• Bait-and-Switch: The final focus in Bluhm's post-betrayal focus tree focuses on Bluhm passing an act to let him unilaterally pass laws. The focus description says that an event named "The Enabling Act" will be fired, but no such event actually exists; instead, in the midst of the focus's completion, a series of events chronicling the act being leaked and Bluhm's subsequent downfall will fire.
• Bread and Circuses: In Bluhm's post-betrayal focus tree, a focus with the same name as the trope creates a system of food distrubution and public entertainment to keep the public under control.
• Cincinnatus: If Bluhm reunites the Herzland, he can choose to reunite with Kemerskai's Republic in Cloudbury, and hand over the position of leadership to Kemerskai. He can also choose to not to, and betray Kemerskai instead.
• Death Is the Only Option: Bluhm's authoritarian Republic will not last forever. If Bluhm successfully makes his pan-Griffonian conquest, he will attempt to pass an act that enables him to unilaterally pass laws. When the plans for the act were leaked, widespread revolt against Bluhm breaks out, and he will be killed during one of his attempts to personally crack down on the dissidents, leading to the ascent of democratic politician Saskia Meckler and the restoration of liberal Republican values.
• Drunk with Power: Bluhm's betrayal of Kemerskai is motivated partially because he dislikes Kemerskai's failures, and partially because his ego has been inflated after successfully reuniting the Herzland himself.
• Face–Heel Turn: Bluhm starts out as a heroic revolutionary that wants to revive the Republican revolution and overthrow the Empire. But if he betrays Kemerskai after reuniting the Herzland, then he will become a dictator, create an authoritarian Republic, and launch a pan-Griffonian conquest to bring what he sees as liberty to all Griffons.
• Hates Being Nicknamed: Bluhm is nicknamed "Little Kemerskai" due to his short stature and loyalty to Republicanism. He doesn't like being called such because he has a grudge against Kemerskai, since he believes that Kemerskai's weaknesses led to the collapse of the Republican revolution.
• Knight Templar: Bluhm after betraying Kemerskai still sees himself as the bringer of liberty to all Griffons, and that his actions are made to ensure that the communists, supremacists, and revisionists will not threaten the stability of the Republic. He does not see how his authoritarianism is damaging the lives of the people under his rule.
• Mirror Character: For all his distaste of Kemerskai, Bluhm and Kemerskai can become dictators (betraying Kemerskai path for Bluhm, Permanent Emergency path for Kemerskai) in almost the exact same way, and justify their authoritarian measures with the exact same talking points.
• President for Life: Bluhm post-betrayal will "temporarily" suspend the democracy in the name of stability, effectively making him a dictator.
• Rebel Leader: Bluhm is the leader of the National Republican Party in Angriver, and has been laying low in Scheißwald after the failure of the Republican Revolution, waiting for a chance to rise up.
• Secret Police: Bluhm post-betrayal will create an intelligence agency known as the MfÖS (Ministerium für Öffentliche Sicherheit) to root out dissidence in his Republic.

Saskia Meckler

Role: Head of State

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Otto Weschler

Role: Head of State

Party: Sozialliberale Partei^note Social Liberal Party

Ideology: Republicanism^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Otto Weschler was born the son of Conrad Weschler, a prosperous Griffing merchant. Although well-off, Otto's family was ostracised from polite society as a result of widespread suspicion that Conrad was involved in black market trade, an accusation that Conrad and his family always denied. Regardless, young Otto declined to follow his father's path and instead pursued a career in the civil service. After university he began working as a mail carrier for the Griffing post office, beginning what would turn out to be a long and distinguished career.

As he worked his way up from mail carrier to postmaster of Griffing, Otto was shocked at the corruption and mismanagement he witnessed. Concluding that nepotism was the root cause of the problem, he resolved to put a stop to it. But it was no easy task, and a long period of struggle followed as Otto was continually thwarted by the entrenched and powerful families of Griffing.

Eventually, after years of effort, Otto succeed in turning the Griffing post office into an efficient, meritocratic department. His accomplishments did not go unnoticed, with the Baron himself praising the job Otto had done, and elevating him to Postmaster General of Angriver. His past stewardship of the Postal Service is one of Angriver's few unconditional success stories and earned him near-universal popularity: popularity he has leveraged to springboard his way to the forefront of public life as an advocate for liberal principles.

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Fiona Schmitz

Role: Head of State

Party: Sozialliberale Partei^note Social Liberal Party, Herzland Soziale Liberale Partei^note Herzland Social Liberal Party (Greifenmarschen Herzland unification)

Ideology: Republicanism^note Non-Aligned, Non-Aligned (Greifenmarschen Herzland unification)

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 13th of April, 973 in Griffing

Biography: Hailing from a family of wealthy landowners, Fiona Schmitz grew up in a mansion, the eldest of six children. Her formal education began at a young age under the direction of highly regarded tutors from across the Empire. A diligent student, Schmitz displayed an avid curiosity in all fields, and outside her studies often read books from her family's sprawling library

After graduating with highest honours, she began working as a law clerk, eventually becoming a lawyer in her own right. Thanks to family connections, her client list soon included members of Angriver's elite families. In the course of practicing law, Schmitz was exposed to rampant corruption endemic in Angriver's legal system, and developed a keen interest in curbing it.

This interest caused her to come into contact with Otto Weschler, a conscientious leader within the civil service who shared her goal of reforming the machinery of government. Schmitz was inspired by the ideals espoused by Weschler, and quickly became his devoted protege. They both believed that the injustices and excesses of Angriver were the result of institutional failures rather than griffon nature, and that individual liberties combined with political equality were antidote to arbitrary government.

A staunch believer in the virtue of republicanism, Schmitz's vision for a better society emphasizes secularism, a free yet regulated market, and protections for civil liberty

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Hera Eichberg

Role: Head of State

Party: Herzland Volkspartei^note Herzland People's Party (façade),Schwarze Klaue^note Black Claw (actual)

Ideology: Harmonic Socialism^note Harmony (façade), Neo-Feudalism^note Supremacy (actual)

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Next to nothing is known about the formative years of Hera Eichberg. Although an ever-present figure in Angriver's social circles, she gained a reputation for being a cipher and rarely let slip any details about her personal life. Her apparent introversion and bizarre mannerisms left many observers baffled at her initial rise to political prominence, but at this point none still doubt her efficacy.

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• Bait-and-Switch: Hera Eichberg's initial focus tree consists of social democratic policies which will never be enacted. None of the focuses in this branch can be taken, as Hera coups the government 30 days after coming to power, before any single focus can finish.
• Corrupt the Cutie: If she takes over the Empire, she grooms Grover VI into an autocratic tyrant, thinking this is the "natural order" of things. When Grover VI comes of age, he reminisces that when Regent Hera first explained feudalism to him, it had seemed so unfair and wrong, but he eventually came to see serfdom as a 'benevolent obligation' to his 'property'.
• Deadly Gas: One of the Black Claw's focuses has them liberally use chemical gas payloads in their artillery, giving them a 10% artillery attack boost but worse relations with other countries.
• Dead Person Impersonation: If she takes over Griffenheim after Ferdinand Dawnclaw has already murdered Grover VI, Hera visits an orphanage, finds a boy named Henrik who resembles the late Emperor, and has him pretend to be Grover VI, who miraculously survived.
• Even Evil Has Standards: Hera sees slavery as a barbaric, heinous practice only to consider serfdom a more 'civilised' form of servitude.
• Evil Reactionary: Hera's true goal is to restore the old 'glory' of the Griffonian Empire. Society should be strictly ordered in a style similar to the feudal structure of old, with aristocrats holding unlimited power and serfs stripped of all rights, and the Empire should punish those who betrayed it and reclaim all that rightfully belongs to it, which is to say everywhere griffons live.
• Fantastic Racism: Hera views all non-griffons, except for the Diamond Dogs of Bronzehill (who are considered honorary griffons), as lesser races that can never be trusted by griffons.
• Feudal Overlord: The Black Claw's true aim is the restoration of feudalism and the enforcement of traditional hierarchies. The serfs would be completely stripped of rights and effectively enslaved, while the nobles would be empowered and told to embrace their god given rights.
• Living Weapon: Hera's dagger is enchanted, intelligent and capable of speaking and cackling.
• Mole in Charge: Hera is actually the leader of the Black Claw; she is pretending to be a social democrat in order to infiltrate the Republicans and have the Black Claw take charge should they elect her.
• President Evil: After coming into power through democratic elections, Hera reveals herself as leader of the Black Claw terrorists and instates an ultra-totalitarian neo-feudalist system upon Angriver.
• Putting on the Reich: While the Black Claw's ideology is quite different from National Socialism (the Reformisten from Hellquill are more similar to the Nazis ideologically than the Black Claw), their aesthetics are 100% based on Nazi Germany, especially the SS, with things like the Schwarzestaffel and the Sicherheitsdienst.
• Slavery Is a Special Kind of Evil: The Black Claw's enforcement of traditional hierarchies results in them effectively enslaving the entire lower class in their country.
• Sole Survivor: The six-year-old Hera was the only survivor when republicans and anarchists burnt down her family's manor in the revolution.
• The Spook: Her bio notes that next to nothing is known about her early years, as she rarely mentioned anything about her personal life.
• State Sec: The Black Claw creates a party paramilitary known as the Schwarze Garde (Black Guard), made up of fanatical volunteers. After uniting Herzland, they reform the Schwarze Garde into the Schwarzestaffel, or the SS.
• Together in Death: After raising Emperor Grover VI to adulthood, Hera returns to the ruins of her family manor, tells her late parents that her work is done and that the Empire is in good hands, and plunges her dagger into her own heart.
• Undying Loyalty: Hera believes that everygriff must have undying, unquestioned loyalty to their divine Lord and Sovereign, for the Grovers forged the Griffonian Empire with fire and blood. They ARE the Empire, and it would not exist without them.
• Walking Spoiler: Hera's path involves a major twist soon after its start.
• You Killed My Father: Hera's entire family, except herself, was exterminated by the republicans during their revolution. When she defeats the Griffonian Republic, she repays the debt by exterminating the family of President-Marshal Alexander Kemerskai.

Free City of Romau

^{Flag of the Romau District}

^{Flag of the Romau Commune}

^{Flag of the Eyrite Archonate}

^{Flag of the Griffonian Republic}

Full Name: Free City of Romau, Romau District (di Karthin), Romau Commune (Ehrhardt), Eyrite Archonate (Erion XII), Griffonian Republic (di Karthin, Herzland unification)

Ruling Party: Romau Stadtrat^note Romau City Council

Ideology: Oligarchy^note Non-Aligned

The home of Boreas' most loyal servants, Romau is an independent city-state located in the Imperial Herzland, and is the seat of the controversial Archon Erion XII.

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• Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Of the Papal States and the Vatican, a tiny city-state surrounded by a larger empire much like how the historical Papal States were usually located near the Holy Roman Empire until the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. Even their name Romau is Rome with a few letters changed up. Romau's flag and color scheme however are based on Ancient Rome.
• Hereditary Republic: If Non-aligned Romau led by Senator Ravioli unifies Herzland, he will declare the creation of the Serene Republic of the Heartlands, a crony capitalist republic with the Ravioli family in power.
• Land of One City: Romau is an independent city-state located within the Griffon Imperial Heartlands, having been stripped off almost all of its territory (outside of the city itself) by Emperor Grover II after a failed rebellion.
• Pintsized Powerhouse: Despite being a city state that occupies a total of two tiles, Romau is a competent military power with powerful units and enough resources to field a surprisingly large army.

Senator Ravioli

Role: Head of State

Party: Romau Stadtrat^note Romau City Council

Ideology: Oligarchy^note Non-Aligned

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• Corrupt Corporate Executive: To cement the Ravioli family's power, Senator Ravioli privatises wide swathes of lands and transfers large holdings into the Ravioli Trade Corporation, which shall be granted a monopoly on several key industries.
• Corrupt Politician: After unifying the Herzland, Ravioli constructs a system of patronage and political machines with the intent to keep power and wealth flowing upwards towards his family.

Archon Erion XII

Role: Archon^note Head of State

Party: Eyrisches Archontum^note Eyrite Archonate

Ideology: Authoritarian Theocracy^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Youngest of the three Archons, born in 959, Erion has risen rapidly through the ranks of the Eyrite Temple to the very top. However, this was not achieved by exceptional piety alone, nor by hard and honest work. Erion is ever hungry for more power and is not afraid to use more questionable and violent means to gain it. Now that he has achieved supremacy in the Archonate of Eyr itself, he seeks to grow his temporal power as well.

All this has made Erion rather unpopular among the nobility and the clergy, who see him as a threat and a lunatic. The hatred is mutual, as Erion often rants about the corruption of the nobles of Griffonia and the senators of Romau, and the incompetence and lack of zealotry of the priesthood. Many commoners are swayed by his fiery and passionate speeches, especially among the lower classes. Erion’s control of education contributes to this as young students are indoctrinated and turned into faithful servants of Eyr.

While Erion is power-hungry, none can deny he is a devout Eyrite as well. His parents, poor industrial workers in Romau, were very religious and conservative, and sent all their children to a temple school. There, the eyes of their youngest child, Lorenz Whitefeather, were opened and he became a faithful servant of Eyr, the goddess of fertility and family. After becoming an Archon, Lorenz chose the archonal name of Erion. Even to this day, Erion sends money to his old parents, and preaches the importance of traditional values.

Erion has a tenuous relationship with his fellow Archons of the Borean and Arcturian temples. As Eros is one of the most influential griffons in Heartlands, Erion always seeks to impress him and earn his favour, so Eros would entrust him with more power. Eros sees through his act, however, but sees him as a useful if dangerous pawn. Proteus on the other claw openly distrusts and dislikes Erion, and Erion despises him in return for his lack of piety and neglect of clerical duty. The two only work together because they must.

Now that Erion has secured his control of Romau like he always desired, he is determined to support Eros and gain rewards from him in return. However, the time might come when Erion will have outlived his usefulness to the Archon of Boreas...

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• Ambition Is Evil: Archon Erion XII is very power-hungry and not afraid to use more questionable and violent means to gain it.
• Corrupt Church: It is an open secret that Erion XII conducts himself in a manner considered shameful by even the Priesthood of Eyr's standards, funding extravagant parties with people's alms and committing abuses on young initiates. Duchess Gabriela Eagleclaw can reveal this to the people of Romau to force the Archon to resign, so she could replace him with her friend Hephaestus I, a local priest whose advancement was snubbed by Erion many times.
• Make It Look Like an Accident: After Erion XII takes over Griffenheim and assassinates his rival Eros VII, the doctors who examine his body conclude that he died of a stroke, caused by extreme old age. Erion's plan worked perfectly; no one suspects a thing.
• Regent for Life: If Erion XII unifies the Herzland and makes himself Grover VI's regent, he refuses to cede power to the Emperor when he comes of age, instead coercing him to leave capable matters to his regent and councillors, who will find 'just the right time' to bestow him his birthright. When Grover VI protests, Erion cuts him off and threatens to order the Emperor's servants to beat him again.
• Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Erion has a tenuous relationship with his fellow Archons of the Borean and Arcturian temples. Erion always seeks to impress Eros VII and earn his favour, so Eros would entrust him with more power. Eros sees through his act, but sees him as a useful if dangerous pawn. Proteus openly distrusts and dislikes Erion, and Erion despises him due to his lack of piety and neglect of clerical duty. The two only work together because they must.
• Villainous Breakdown: When Luca vun Lissay, an Eyrite priest from the Old Believer sect in Adelart, declares himself Archon Venia III in opposition to the three Archons (and in particular to Erion XII himself), he can barely contain his rage and hate in his condemnation letter, as his own faith has been co-opted by an insane madman in the woods.

Roland Ehrhardt

Role: Head of State

Party: Romau Gewerkschaften^note Romau Trade Unions

Ideology: Communism

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• War Hawk: Ehrhardt advocates a policy of interventionism in foreign conflicts to ensure socialism prevails and reactionaries are weakened. This, in his opinion, is the best way of ensuring global revolution without dragging Herzland directly into bloody large-scale conflicts.

Gabriella di Karthin

Role: Head of State

Party: National Republican Party

Ideology: Harmony

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