Characters / Equestria At War Northern Zebrica

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Kingdom of Warzena

Full Name: Kingdom of Warzena

Ruling Party: gav Zalmem Dynasty

Ideology: Benevolent Absolutism^note Harmony

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Barekzamal VII

Party: gav Zalmem Dynasty

Ideology: Benevolent Absolutism^note Harmony

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 24th of August, 984 in Zamivgazal

Biography: The second son of Zamaliahon XV, Barekzamal had an idyllic childhood, free of struggle. While his brother, Zamaliahon, was subject to endless tutoring as the crown prince, Barekzamal spent his days playing with the foals of the nobility, and galloping gleefully through the streets of Zamivgazal. When he did have tutoring, he was a diligent student, but he wasn't as studious as his brother. He much preferred to spend time with his favourite playmate, Ummazanit Nazlayn, the daughter of a prominent noble. Although she was intended as a future bride for his brother, they were never officially engaged, and she much preferred Barekzamal's company to that of his eccentric brother, who himself seemed to have no interest in anything asides from his studies.

When their father died in 1001, Zamaliahon was made king, and swiftly leapt into action. Among the first things he did was to formally renounce any intention of marrying in the near future, leaving Barekzamal and Ummazanit free to get married that same year. The following year, the two sired their first foal, a colt named Hannizamal, today the heir presumptive. However, since Barekzamal was technically his brother's successor, he did make an effort to educate himself on the basics of statecraft and governance. But there was no rush. After all, they were young, and had their whole lives ahead of them. His brother would inevitably find a nice mare and Barekzamal could live the rest of his life in bliss. Unfortunately, the gods had other plans for the young prince, and in 1005, his precious world was turned upside down.

As the Storm King swept through the kingdom, Barekzamal and his family managed to escape, but his brother didn't, and was slain in the Palace by the invaders. When Barekzamal found out, he wept for hours, and from that day forth, his smile permanently left his face. After the conqueror was slain and Warzena freed, Barekzamal returned to Zamivgazal a changed person. Forgoing his coronation, he quickly set to work, trying to keep the nation afloat and recuperate from the devastation. Although he had some success, for the most part, his policies were ineffective as his inexperience betrayed him. Now, he sits uneasy on the throne as the threat of revolt grows. While not as unpopular as his father was, he definitely has his fair share of opposition. The fate of the nation rests on his haunches, and it will take monumental effort on his part to keep it, and his throne, from falling out of his grasp. But Barekzamal is determined to bring Warzena into a brighter future, where he can smile with his family once more.

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• Unexpected Successor: Barekzamal VII, second son of Zamaliahon XV, never expected to become king until his older brother was killed in the Storm King's invasion.

Chiropterra

^{Flag of Chiropterra (Harmonic)}

^{Flag of Chiropterra (Communist)}

^{Flag of Solaria}

Full Name: Chiropterra, Chiropterran Commonwealth (North Zebrican War victory), Federated Provinces of North Zebrica (Batton, Tobuck and Zarantia conquered), Nightmare Dominion (Ocean Spray; Tobuck, Zarantia, Warzena and Hippogriffia conquered), Chiropterran Imperium (Stirling Silver, Green Bay coast conquered)

Ruling Party: Her Imperial Majesty's Legionary Council - Hardliners

Ideology: Authoritarian Theocracy^note Supremacy

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• Asshole Victim: If Chiropterra is conquered by Sirenalia, half of the Legionary Council are killed by the sirens and the others are driven to the far ends of the world, breaking the state for good.
• Beast of Battle: The objective of the LMRD's Project House Cat is to make use of local fauna as weapons. When finished, Chiropterra gains access to hydra companies.
• Civil War: After Chiropterra is defeated by an enemy that occupies the eastern part and leaves the rest of the country alone, then recovers its lost territories, the coalition that once cooperated against their common enemy will divide themselves upon political and sectarian lines, form their own paramilitaries and wage war against both each other and the government. The Chiropterran Troubles, as this conflict is known, is fought entirely through decisions and not treated in-game as a civil war.
• Cruel and Unusual Death: If Revolutionary North Zebrica defeats Chiropterra and Skystar fails to convince Posada otherwise, the three captured Lord and Lady Commanders are executed by roughly eleven thousand roentgens (around twice the average exposure underwent by Chernobyl workers who died in a month), and subsequently suffer a painful death drawn out over a week, during which some of them beg for the hippogriffs to put them out of their misery. The medical report ends with:
  In the final week, cellular and internal damage became catastrophic to a level never seen before in any patient in the literature. The full list of symptoms recorded is relegated to the appendix. Conclusion: Acute radiation syndrome is a horrific death. I hope we never have to treat victims afflicted with it again. Should we need to, gods forbid, we have hopefully learned at least a little here. Personal note: You make me sick, General Secretary.
• Curb-Stomp Battle: If Operation Moonshine fails to bring Nightmare Moon back, Chiropterra will turn to invading Tobuck and Zarantia, and will usually quickly defeat these two countries unless they're controlled by a skilled human player.
• Defeat Means Friendship: If Chiropterra is defeated by Tobuck under Alesia Snezhnaya, Lunar Hail readily submits to her, declaring that only a worthy individual, one with the blessing of the Nightmare, could defeat Chiropterra's legions, and that Alesia is destined to rule over Chiropterra. The other Lord and Lady Commanders then proceed to swear their loyalty to her as well.
• Defiant to the End: If Chiropterra is defeated by Revolutionary North Zebrica, Posada gives the three captured Lord and Lady Commanders a choice between denouncing their faith as evil and getting a quick death by gunshot, or being exposed to several thousand roentgens. All respond by glaring at Posada with pure hatred, with Lunar Hail insulting her as a faithless abomination.
• Enemy Mine: If Chiropterra is defeated and subsequently neither puppeted nor annexed, the new civilian government, led by Carrot Stick and Gorge Z. Batton, is forced to cooperate with various dissident leaders such as Dusk Wane, Ocean Spray and the Jackal. While openly hostile, these groups are willing to work together to reclaim Huiactlali and New Maredian, which continue to be occupied; when Chiropterra's territorial integrity is restored, they'll quickly turn on each other.
• Even Evil Has Standards: Even their colleagues on the Legionary Council look at the Legionary Medical Research Department as if they were sociopathic madponies.
• Explosive Leash: A behavioural correction collar consists of a small explosive charge encased in five pounds of durable steel. A microphone and a radio wave receiver and transmitter allow for the location of labourers to be monitored along with their conversations. Need be, the collars can be detonated remotely.
• Expy: Chiropterran Admiral Perfect Shot is visually and name-wise based on the Insane Admiral Arc Villain of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, Captain Matias Torres.
• Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Chiropterra's methods and system of colonialism are based on the worst parts of British imperialism, mainly Rhodesia and South Africa.
• Foreign Ruling Class: Chiropterra is entirely ruled by Nightmare Moon loyalists living in exile from Equestria, while natives who refuse to adopt the Lunarist faith are taken in by the Native Affairs Commission, which is tasked with finding an appropriate role for them.
• The Fundamentalist: The Chiropterran state apparatus is so dedicated to their Goddess Nightmare Moon that resisting her dictates is tantamount to putting a gun in your mouth.
• Government in Exile: Chiropterra is a country established by remnants of Nightmare Moon's army from a millennium ago, who fled from Equestria to North Zebrica to set up their new government. For an entire millennium, they have treated Chiropterra as a temporary solution, a stopping point on their road back to their true homeland Tzinacatlia.
• Hated by All: Most of North Zebrica, with the exception of some Colthaginian leaders, wants Chiropterra gone, in part because of the slave raids.
• Hidden Elf Village: Chiropterra is a very closed-off and secretive nation whose interactions with other countries are limited to raiding them for labourers. Those living on the Tobuckian coastline next to the border speculate wildly about the horrible things that might be going on beyond the warning signs.
• I Can Rule Alone: The liberals, socialists, nationalists and supremacists who form a coalition government after Chiropterra is defeated and abandoned by the victor can only tolerate each other as long as the eastern part of the country is still occupied. After these regions are reclaimed, the strongest faction will immediately get rid of or sideline the others and seize total control of the government, while the losers will form paramilitaries that fight against both the government and each other and must be dealt with.
• Mad Doctor: The ponies of the Legionary Medical Research Department conduct horrific experiments on sentient creatures, ignoring even the most basic medical and scientific ethics.
• Made a Slave: Those captured in Chiropterran border raids are usually forced to perform menial labour for the state until they either prove their devotion to Nightmare Moon or drop dead.
• Meaningful Name: Chiropterra is a play on Chiroptera, the bat order's scientific name.
• More Despicable Minion: Even the most oppressive version of Nightmare Moon appears tame compared to how Chiropterra has been doing for the last millennium. If she returns and wins the Equestrian Civil War, she'll order her own worshippers to moderate their behaviours and cut down some of their more evil practices.
• New Neo City: The capital of Chiropterra is named New Ayacachtli, after the oldest thestral city in Equestria.
• People's Republic of Tyranny: After winning the North Zebrican War, Chiropterra rebrands itself the Chiropterran Commonwealth, while also carrying out brutal repressions on the native zebras of the territories it recently annexed, especially if the hardliners manage to retain power.
• Police State: Chiropterra is the vigilant Invisible State, watchful of the lives of its subjects and the affairs of adversaries.
• Pragmatic Villainy: The Velvet Glove economic route bases improving conditions for laborers not so much on it being the right thing to do, but on it being more efficient for the Chiropterran cause to have lower laborer turnover and on the grounds that workers who are better treated can work harder and that creating a faster path to citizenship can bolster the Auxiliaries.
• Resurgent Empire: If Tobuck (under Baragzen or kleptocratic Vasile) or Zarantia somehow manages to defeat Chiropterra, they'll simply annex its eastern part and try to extract as much wealth as possible before withdrawing, leaving behind a bloodied but independent Chiropterra hellbent on liberating its lost territories. In particular, three post-defeat leaders have even more ambitious war goals than the old regime: Gorge Z. Batton can fully annex Tobuck and Zarantia, Stirling Silver can invade Maregypt and seize its two biggest cities on the Green Bay coast, and Ocean Spray can expand the Nightmare Dominion all the way to Tobuck, Zarantia, Warzena and Hippogriffia.
• Shout-Out: Three of the LMRD's first four research projects are clear pop culture references.
  • Project Noctule produces a hulking giant of a supersoldier with limited cognitive faculties based on Frank Horrigan.
  • Project Octopus produces Fallout-style Stimpaks.
  • Project Oaxaca produces the Ubercharge, seemingly more of the Kritzkrieg style. It also faces similar setbacks to the Medic's own research on the matter and the researcher who began the project is clearly a reference to the Medic.
• Super-Soldier: The LMRD's Project Noctule involves the manipulation of genetic material for the purpose of creating a superior soldier. The end result is Comet Flash, a general with 10 attack skill and 1 in every other skill.
• The Theocracy: Chiropterra is a Lunarist theocracy entirely dedicated to serving their God-Empress Nightmare Moon.
• Trademark Favorite Food: The "Moonburger" restaurant franchise that invents fast food ends up being such an important and popular part of Chiropterran culture that the government nationalizes it. Many later story branches actually touch on the fate of the Moonburger, and potentially its expansion to other nations.
• Undying Loyalty: Chiropterra is a secretive nation of Lunarist supporters who have been working from the shadows for a millennium to bring about the return of their Empress, Nightmare Moon. Even if their Project Moonshine fails, they're willing to keep working and strengthening their network, and wait for another millennium.

Autumn Breeze

Role: Head of State

Party: Her Imperial Majesty's Legionary Council - Hardliners

Ideology: Authoritarian Theocracy^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 31st of December, 942 in New Ayacachtli

Rank: Lord Commander Of The Nightmare Legion

Biography: Baron Autumn Breeze III, one of the last scions of the venerable Clan Reed of Fillydelphia, whom a millennia ago were one of the first Equestrian noble families to recognize the righteousness of her Imperial Majesty Nightmare Moon's Rebellion, and although the first rebellion was a catastrophic failure Clan Reed never betrayed their Empress and as such were the first of her Majesty's loyal subjects to set off for the savage lands of Zebrica, and it was they who laid the foundations for the creation of Chiropterra those countless centuries ago.

Since those dark days Clan Reed and by extension the Nightmare Legion they have been charged with leading have laid in the shadows; Slowly but surely laying the seeds of doubt that will one day lead to the return of the Empress and the destruction of Equestria.

But for now Autumn Breeze must attend to the matters of the present. He is a proud supporter of Chiropterra's noble traditions, and believes firmly that the way they have lived for a millennia will guide the nation on into the future. For when Nightmare Moon does return, it shall be the venerated Nobles of the Legions who shall spread her mandate, and none shall dare to stop them.

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• Wicked Cultured: Before ascending to the Legionary Council, Breeze was an aficionado of Equestrian vineyards. While undercover, a few of his more charged reviews even made it into national papers, before his handlers quickly put a stop to that growing fame.

Lunar Hail

Role: General, Head of State

Party: Her Imperial Majesty's Legionary Council - Hardliners

Ideology: Authoritarian Theocracy^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 3rd of January, 969 in Moonspeaker Hollow

Rank: Lady Commander Of The Children of the Moon Legion

Biography: The life of Lunar Hail started quite simply, born to a poorer thestral family in the Moonspeaker Hollow, they had no political power, no prestigious military position, and not much property to their name. Though what they did have, was their daughter. They confided in her their deep faith in the Nightmare and admiration for the Children of the Moon Legion, who her family saw as the most devout protectors of their nation. Lunar was always a sheepish child, upstanding and genuine, but often reserved. It seemed that Lunar Hail would continue this line, as a laborer for the entirety of her life, until one faithful night. When she was thirteen, her family found that she was not in the house one night, they found her asleep in a nearby forest grove, and when they brought her home, she began to speak of the things she had seen. She told her parents that she had seen a vision of Nightmare Moon's return, she didn't know when it would happen, but the vision was so glorious, that she knew what her cause in life must be, to help bring this event about, and so her journey into faith deepened.

As soon as she could, she began to study to become a moonspeaker, and then joined the Children of the Moon as a military chaplain. By this time, her parents had noticed a change in her, she had become more charismatic, she spoke with a confidence she had never had before, and could easily work crowds into a frenzy, especially when she was speaking on religious matters. With this, she quickly became a sought after preacher within her Legion. Often, officers far above her rank would request her to give sermons at meetings or dinners, which gave her entry into the halls of power. In the year 1000, the previous Chief Moonspeaker of the nation died of natural causes, and in his will, the Moonspeaker asked for his funeral sermon to be given by Lunar Hail. To many, this was as good as choosing a successor, and Lunar Hail became the nation's foremost preacher and prophet. Four years later, the Children of the Moon's Commander also died, and since Lunar Hail already held a high position in her Legion, it wasn't difficult to get the other officers and moonspeakers of the Legion to elect her their leader. And now, with a Legion in one hoof, and the nation's faith in the other, Lunar Hail sets forth to wage war to bring about the Nightmare's eternal Glory.

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• The Fundamentalist: Lunar Hail, the Chief Moonspeaker of Chiropterra, is particularly zealous in her beliefs, and obeys every command of her Goddess without question.
• Trading Bars for Stripes: Part of her military plan to offset the risk to the true Lunar faithful is "Redemptory Brigades" or masses of criminals, unbelievers, and non-citizens essentially sent out on the most dangerous missions to act as living shields for the more faithful in the Legion and Auxiliary.
• We Have Reserves: Lunar Hail's military plan is based on the Mass Assault doctrine and emphasizes throwing masses of the faithful at the enemy.

Emerald Light

Role: Head of State

Party: Her Imperial Majesty's Legionary Council - Hardliners

Ideology: Authoritarian Theocracy^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 7th of February, 965 in Firstport

Rank: Lady Commander Of The Silver Moon Legion

Biography: There have been those who called Emerald Light a 'mad scientist', though she herself would refute the notion quite strongly, as would many others even though the reasoning might differ. Born - like so many others in Chiropterra - to two legionnaires, Emerald Light was something of an outcast in her martially oriented family. Her mind always sought deeper answers, and where her parents might want to teach her how to kill something, Emerald Light could only wonder how it lived, what made it tick, why, and how to change it.

This proclivity set her path not into the ranks of the Legions, but rather into the LMRD, where she quickly proved herself an excellent researcher. Her seniors remarked on her steel-trap mind, which seemed able to lock onto an issue and, to the exclusion of all other things, figure it out even if she had to simply brute force it. Additionally, her utter disinterest in office politics and goal-focused thinking made her reliable enough that - after a series of purges of the LMRD's ranks - she was a perfect candidate for heading the division when the old guard was dismissed.

Under Emerald Light, the LMRD flourished and turned its efforts to more and more radical experiments. They were after all the servants of Nightmare Moon, and half-hearted efforts had no place under her, and with the plethora of test subjects at their disposal, the sky was the limit, and any lingering shreds of ethics was the first thing discarded on this route. In time, her technocratic and apolitical disposition combined with her results made her a perfect fit for the role of commander of the Silver Moon Legion. Dividing her time between the LMRD and the Silver Moon Legion, her fascination with pushing the very limits of science - no matter what needed to be done - has remained. She does not consider herself mad though: madness leads to irrationality, and she holds rationality in highest regard. Neither do others: that would make her a victim of her own mind, an excuse few can stomach giving her after seeing what she is capable of do.

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• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Emerald Light and her special medical projects are in many cases lifted directly from Josef Mengele.
• The Sociopath: Emerald Light is a high-functioning sociopath who considers herself a rational actor fascinated with pushing the very limits of science, no matter what needed to be done.

Stone Palisade

Role: General, Head of State

Party: Her Imperial Majesty's Legionary Council - Hardliners (Hardline route), Her Imperial Majesty's Legionnary Council - Moderates (Moderate route)

Ideology: Authoritarian Theocracy^note Supremacy (Hardline route), Theocracy^note Non-Aligned (Moderate route)

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 18th of April, 957 in Metztunalia

Rank: Lord Commander Of The Starborn Legion

Biography: If, six years ago, you would have asked any soldier of the Starborn Legion who their next Commander would be, none would have said Stone Palisade. Sure, he held a relatively high post in the Starborn Legion, attending to its work in the nation's eastern territories, but that was all. He was one more Legionary in a land with over one hundred thousand of those. Then came the Yetis.

The first sign of the Storm King's approach came from an agent of The Nightmare's Hoof in Maregypt, a horde was coming, massive airships that flew through the sky, and magic of thunder and frost. It was then that Palisade decided he needed to act, moving without orders to secure resources he began constructing defensive redoubts along Chiropterra's border, securing it against yeti attack. In this, he set up anti-air defenses, defensive chokepoints, citadels, mines, as well as defenses along the southern coast to defend against an invasion over the water. So when the time came, and the armies of the mighty Storm King arrived upon the borders of Chiropterra, Stone Palisade's defiant defenses and his legion stood ready to turn them back.

But no attack came, as when the Storm King looked upon this "Nightmare Line" as Palisade had called it, he deemed the land too much trouble to attack and simply moved further north. After this, Palisade was called to New Ayacachtli for an unknown reason. He himself has told close confidants that he feared he would be reprimanded for acting without orders or even face some worse punishment, but he would be proven wrong. For when he arrived in the city, he was asked to meet with the Commander of his legion, and what he was told is unknown to this day. We know though, that when he left that room, he was designated as the Starborn Legion's next Commander, and from there, he has only risen.

Now, as Lord Commander, he has an interesting relationship with the rest of the Council. He is not a charismatic creature, and prefers to speak in data points rather than flamboyant speeches. In general, they view him as one of Chiropterra's best defenders, but should be left out of the picture if anyone is ever needed to make an impassioned speech or an inspired prayer.

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• Expy: With his incredible skills in fortification, inability to speak in words other than data points and his glorious moustache, he greatly resembles Rogal Dorn from Warhammer 40,000.

Auburn Leaf

Role: Head of State (Lost/No Lunar Civil War, hardliner path)

Party: Her Imperial Majesty's Legionary Council - Hardliners

Ideology: Authoritarian Theocracy^note Supremacy

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Lucent Eclipse

Role: Head of State (Lost/No Lunar Civil War, moderate path)

Party: Her Imperial Majesty's Legionary Council - Moderates

Ideology: Theocracy^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 28th of January, 980 in Ursagrad

Rank: Lord Commander Of The Ursa Legion

Biography: Lord Commander Lucent Eclipse, a day that some never wished would come but none dreaded it more than Lucent himself. With the passing of Eternal Eclipse, the young thestral has ascended to a deeply coveted position in Chiropterra and assumed full command of the Ursa Legion. The issues of the nation having weighed heavily on him with each step he has taken in recent years, but now without the guiding wisdom of his grandfather he faces these issues for the first time alone.

These days the Council meetings are temporarily dominated by clashes between impromptu cliques with Commanders Charm and Palisade supporting his liberal reforms and the conservatives seeking a return to the old ways under Commanders Hail, Emerald, and Lady Auburn Leaf. The two sides debating on whose ideals should guide the nation through its current crisis as Warmaster. Change is coming and he stands at the vanguard of it, though which way the Council will sway is not secured yet. Some consider his social and military reforms too extreme, while others view them as a necessary step in building a strong and stable Chiropterra for the Nightmare to return to.

His nights are still consumed with paperwork and discussions with Auburn Leaf, the pair at each others throats more and more, but Lucent does not deny how she drives him to work harder, to go further. In those quiet hours, Auburn has admitted the same to him. While their ideologies and the approach to their reforms cannot be more different, their push for change has forced Chiropterra to debate a serious question? What kind of nation will Chiropterra become for itself and what sort of rule it must become for the Nightmare.

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• Internal Reformist: Lucent believes that Chiropterra needs to be reformed, and Nightmare Moon's most devout followers must be swayed from blind zealotry that would harm the Empress' grand vision. Upon succeeding his grandfather as Lord Commander of the Ursa Legion, he quickly becomes the face of the reformist faction on the Legionary Council. Some consider his social and military reforms too extreme, while others view them as a necessary step in building a strong and stable Chiropterra.
• Know When to Fold 'Em: After Chiropterra is defeated by Zarantia, unlike most fellow Legionnaires, Lucent does not continue to resist, instead asking for southeastern Chiropterra to be given autonomy and spared the wrath of Zarantian warriors, and swearing to ensure that the people there will become the Aguellid's loyal subjects.
• We Used to Be Friends: When Lucent Eclipse and his friend Auburn Leaf ascend to the Legionary Council after the end of the North Zebrican War, a wedge is driven between them as he and she respectively find themselves at the face of the Council's reformist and hardliner factions. In the former's path, they confirm they're still friends in spite of their political stances; in the latter's path, Lucent denounces Auburn as a monster for the repressive policies she's implemented and demands her to call him Lord Commander Eclipse instead of by his first name.

Carrot Stick

Role: Head of State (Won Lunar Civil War, civilian government or Lost North Zebrican War, Harmonic path/puppet state)

Party: Chiropterran National Liberal Party

Ideology: Centrism^note Non-Aligned (Civilian government), Harmonic Republicanism^note Harmony (Harmonic path/puppet state)

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• The Atoner: Carrot Stick's republican path is all about trying to reform the nation and make up for the mistakes of the past, putting former war criminals to work in public service and trying to tear down the legacy of the Nightmare.
• External Combustion: If the communists are the strongest faction when Chiropterra retakes its occupied eastern territories, Dusk Wane will assassinate Carrot Stick by hooking a bomb to his car's ignition switch.
• Frame-Up: After reclaiming eastern Chiropterra, consolidating his power and having Gorge Z. Batton assassinated, Carrot Stick gets rid of Ocean Spray as well by linking him to Batton's death and having him arrested.
• Kids' Meal Toy: In a moment of levity in the otherwise somber path, Carrot Stick's government run fast food restaurants are mentioned to serve Princess Luna plushies.
• Pay Evil unto Evil: In order to cement his power, Carrot Stick will assassinate Gorge Z. Batton and pin the crime on Ocean Spray, though it's hard to feel sorry for his victims, who are despicable ponies themselves.

Dusk Wane

Role: Head of State (Lost North Zebrican War, communist path)

Party: Lunarist Labour Front

Ideology: Religious Socialism^note Communism

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• Chummy Commies: After being put in charge of Chiropterra, Dusk Wane uplifts the working class, promotes a culture of mutual aid, provides representation to hitherto-marginalised minorities, and apologises for the horrible crimes of the previous regime.
• Drowning My Sorrows: When he decides to open Chiropterra's archives, the sheer scale of the previous regime's crimes over the centuries brings so much distraught and anguish that Dusk Wane reaches for his whiskey bottle and drinks for the blissful numbness.
• Good Shepherd: Dusk Wane has turned Chiropterra's Lunarist faith into something resembling liberation theology, and genuinely desires to see the country serve the populace, instead of the opposite.
• I Did What I Had to Do: After Chiropterra's eastern territories are reclaimed, Dusk Wane finds it hard to stomach that he has to get rid of Carrot Stick, who was affable enough to be seen as a comrade, or even friend. In the end, however, he decides that he has to put aside personal feelings for the sake of the nation, and chooses to give Carrot a quick death out of respect.
• Interfaith Smoothie: Dusk Wane syncretises Zebrica's many local religions and deities with the moon and stars to assimilate their worshippers in the future.
• Martial Pacifist: Dusk Wane follows a doctrine of socialist pacifism: starting wars will no longer be Chiropterra's business, but any invasion will be met with tooth and hoof.
• Turbulent Priest: Dusk Wane is both a Moonspeaker devoted to the Empress and a dissident against the Chiropterran regime infamous for how he managed to connect Nightmare Moon to a version of socialism—due to his impeccable grasp of theology, the government finds it impossible to prove that he's a heretic and execute him. After Chiropterra is conquered by Wallnut Drive or Posada, the former will recruit Dusk Wane into his government if he chooses communism over harmony, while the latter can install him as Chiropterra's new leader should she decide against an occupation.

Gorge Z. Batton

Role: General, Head of State (Lost North Zebrican War, non-aligned path)

Party: National Rejuvenation

Ideology: Conservative Liberalism^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 11th of November, 956 in New Ayacachtli

Rank: Lieutenant General

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• Make It Look Like an Accident: After Chiropterra reclaims the territories it lost after its initial defeat, if the harmonists or communists are the strongest faction, they get rid of Batton by sabotaging the brakes of his car, causing him to drive straight off a cliff.
• No Full Name Given: What the Z stands for in Gorge Z. Batton's name is never elaborated on.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Gorge Z. Batton is based on famous American tank general George S. Patton, sharing his volatile temperament, right-wing political views, opinions on armored warfare and demise in a traffic accident (or "accident").
• Patriotic Fervor: Batton calls back to when Chiropterrans could look at each other and their soldiers with pride and glory, and turns the new Republic into the face of who Chiropterrans are as a people: strong, proud and united.
• Red Scare: President Batton begins a propaganda campaign to paint the socialism of Dusk Wane and the fundamentalism of Ocean Spray as equally bad and must be stamped out (something that is blatantly false, as demonstrated by these two's own paths).
• La Résistance: When Chiropterra is occupied by Hippogriffia after losing the North Zebrican War, if the latter is ruled by the moderate wing of Aris First, Batton forms the Chiropterran Republican Army, an insurgent group that seeks to put an end to the occupation. Their ambushes and assassinations eventually successfully convince Raft Wood to withdraw and restore Chiropterra's independence.

Ocean Spray

Role: Political Advisor (Winggarden), Head of State (Lost North Zebrican War, supremacist path or Winggarden, Dominant Chiropterran influence)

Party: The Crescent Moon Society (Chiropterra), Chiropterran Military Administration (Winggarden)

Ideology: Esotericism^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography (Winggarden) ^{Click to Show}Born: 20th of April, 960 in Batsby

Biography: Ocean Spray was born to a couple of Silver Moon Legion soldiers; entering the service as quickly as he could he slowly began to climb the Legion's ranks, but not in the way most did. He was not a military bat, but a pencil-pushing bureaucrat, though one adept at his job. In his early thirties, he signed up for the LMRD, serving to organize and structure their less savory business into a form more palatable by the rest of the Legions, eventually rising to be the Chiropterran Legate in Winggarden. But recently, things have changed.

Personally, Spray is no kind soul. He is a harsh bat, and is only a bit nicer to his friends than enemies and only has a few hobbies. He holds a general disdain for the hippogriff and seapony populations, and is always preparing for a struggle against them.

But now he has hit a new height. The Warmaster now sends him new orders. No longer is the plan to be careful subversion and maintaining control, now it shall only be absolute domination. Ocean Spray has seized his chance and has upended Chiropterran policy in Hippogriffia. He intends to use his position for the good of the nation and aim a "Dagger at Mount Aris" as he regularly says to his assistants.

Ocean Spray is in control of Winggarden now. And Nightmare help any creature who stands in his way.

---

• The Coup: If the Supremacists are strong enough by the time Chiropterra reclaims its occupied territories, Ocean Spray will order the Crescent Moon Society to bomb the capitol building in New Ayacachtli, killing the leadership of all factions except his own.
• Crushing the Populace: After the Legation Council collapses as a result of overwhelming Chiropterran influence, Ocean Spray takes over and turns Winggarden into a city-sized labour camp, where people are deliberately kept hungry and forced to work for the good of Chiropterra.
• Deadly Gas: As the Chiropterran legate in Winggarden, Ocean Spray advocates for using nerve agents such as sarin gas to crush protests, something that his colleagues denounce as insane.
• Didn't Think This Through: After eastern Chiropterra is reclaimed, Ocean Spray deals with his rivals by simply blowing up the capitol building with them inside, assuming that the citizens would rejoice at the deaths of these 'imbeciles' and that his former superior Emerald Light and his old friends in the LMRD would continue supporting him. In reality, the nation is aflame, Emerald Light seems to leave for Skyfall without notifying him, the LMRD distances themselves from him, and even the rest of the CMS starts to regard Ocean Spray with contempt.
• Maligned Mixed Marriage: Ocean Spray criminalises relations between true Chiropterrans and slaves, considering their offspring to be unneeded workers, not true and loyal servants of the Nightmare.
• More Despicable Minion: Ocean Spray is one of the most unhinged individuals in Chiropterra, to the point that (one of) his jobs is to help his boss Emerald Light distract from how crazy she is by being even crazier. His path has been described to be the worst that Chiropterra can go down, even moreso than if the Legionary Council had remained in power.
• Pet the Dog: After taking over Hippogriffia, he runs into a surviving lieutenant who reports to him that Queen Novo has escaped with any further attempts at capture impossible. After being able to tell that the failure was due to heavy resistance just by looking into the lieutenant's eyes, he sweeps the failure under the rug to prevent getting the poor sap from being punished any further.
• Police Brutality: After Ocean Spray takes over Winggarden, police brutality rises to an unprecedented level.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: After Dusk Wane assassinates Gorge Z. Batton and Carrot Stick and seizes control over the post-liberation Chiropterran government, Ocean Spray delivers a speech that reveals Dusk Wane as the culprit, then, knowing that he has turned himself into a target, packs his belongings and flees to somewhere safer, like Skyfall.
• Short-Lived Leadership: If the Stirling clique was sufficiently empowered (both of their focuses taken) by the time Ocean Spray blows up his rivals and seizes control over Chiropterra, he'll be assassinated after a mere three days.

Stirling Silver

Ideology: Despotism^note Non-Aligned

---

• Military Coup: Stirling comes into power by launching a commando raid on Ocean Spray's villa and assassinating him, causing his government to collapse.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Stirling Silver, the founder of the Special Air Service, a disciplined, experienced force of commandos who can lead the charge and strike deep into enemy territory, is based on British Army officer David Stirling, who founded the real life SAS.

Republic of Tobuck

^{Flag of the United Lands of North Zebrica}

^{Flag of Novaya Severyana}

^{Flag of the Neo-Hazrumenian Empire}

Full Name: Republic of Tobuck, United Lands of North Zebrica (Wallnut), Neo-Hazrumenian Empire (Baragzen), Tsardom of Novaya Severyana (Alesia), Condominium of Tobuck (Zeshmunazash Zonicia puppet)

Ruling Party: Tobuck National Alliance

Ideology: Oligarchy^note Non-Aligned

---

• Defeat Means Friendship: When Chiropterra defeats Tobuck, it has the choice to recruit Alesia Snezhnaya and Baragzen as generals (though the latter's effectiveness leaves much to be desired).
• Enemy Mine: Even though Zarantia continues to view Tobuck (which was lost after the Storm King's invasion) as its integral territory and is thus inherently hostile to any government that holds power there, the latter can propose to strike a mutual defence pact with the former when Chiropterra (a foe much stronger than Tobuck and Zarantia combined) begins preparations to invade both.
• The Exile: Tobuck is home to four exiles who had to flee their birth country for one reason or another: Prywhenian fugitive Vasile cel Tradat, Warzenan would-be usurper Baragzen, Chiropterran apostate Wallnut Drive and Severyanian monarchist Alesia Snezhnaya. With the exception of Vasile, the three others all seek to return home and topple the current government.
• Private Military Contractors: The Republic of Tobuck has no standing army, only bands of mercenaries and the private forces of three adventurers.
• Significant Wardrobe Shift: Upon defeating Chiropterra and turning the sham Republic of Tobuck from a front for gun-runners into a properly functional state, Wallnut Drive and Alesia Snezhnaya will replace their old, rugged military uniform with something more appropriate to their new role.

Pea Shooter

Role: Head of State

Party: Tobuck National Alliance

Ideology: Oligarchy^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 17th of November 962 in Petershoof

Biography: When Pea Shooter was just a foal, one could hardly picture the cheerful little one to become a gun runner. With a loving family, the loveliest of childhood crush turned happy wife and good prospect as a shipping merchant between Petershoof and Skyfall. But still, even with all of that, little Pea Shooter was bored.

It could have all ended with a simple middle-aged pony finding a hobby or drinking the occasional excessive cider but then came the Stalliongrad Revolution. His family's business was ruined but Pea Shooter saw an opportunity. With the help of a shady friend, he bought some guns from a Fezeran smuggler and travelled back home, selling them to a communist volunteer group. And also one Severyanian counter-revolutionary he had met in a bar. He made good bit on those deals and decided to make it his career. He travelled to Haukland, making some deals there before finding his way south, wherever there were bits and a need for gunpowder.

In 1005, he made his way to Zebrica, looking to make bank on that insane Yeti whilst he was still on a roll. He failed as the Storm King died and his conquest spree ended the following year. But! He was in Tobuck with some friends and it just so happened that one of those friends had friends guarding the supply depots in the region. And with half of Zebrica in turmoil, Pea Shooter exactly knew where to find his clientele.

With the help of Vasil cel Tradat, he helped bring about the independence of Tobuck, the birth of harmonic republicanism in the region, found some pony to become its face while he became foreign affairs minister. As long as there was guns to sell in Tobuck, there would be business to do there for any good gun-runner.

And Pea Shooter is more than a good one.

---

• Arms Dealer: Since the Severyanian Revolution, Pea Shooter has made a career out of selling weapons. By game start, he's in Tobuck trying to make as much money as possible selling the firearms left behind after the Storm King's death before the time comes to honour his deal with Zarantia.
• Even Evil Has Loved Ones: The primary motivation for his dirty business? Getting his family to live comfortable lives, something that can be easier achieved with arms dealing.
• Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Downplayed. While he knows what kind of griffon Vasile is before selling Tobuck to Zarantia, it results in a chain of events that can result in the rise of the Worm Queen, something that not even he could see coming.

Vasile cel Tradat

Role: Head of State (Vasile takeover)

Party: Tobuck National Alliance

Ideology: Populism^note Non-Aligned (Republic of the People path), Plutocracy^note Supremacy (Republic of Riches path), Oligarchy^note Non-Aligned (Umalez puppet master)

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 31st of December 957 in White Flower

Biography: Born in a family of imperial loyalists, Vasile grew up in the troubled times that followed the prince of Brodfeld's attempt at unifying the region of Prywhen. While his parents were aghast at the constant turmoil of the region, Vasile quickly accustomed himself in it.

Pushed into civil service, the young griffon became a firefighter. Clever and lacking in morals, Vasile organised a small arson ring to start fire in wealthy households to then steal as he put out the fires. He quickly left the job before he got caught. After a few stints in smuggling, he ended up landing the job that would change his life: sales representative of a burgeoning weapons factory. Uninterested in selling hunting weapons or handguns to local police forces, he cleverly used his job to funnel orders to all who would need them and create more demand: communists, criminals, minotaur or Gryphussian rebels. After a few years of spectacular success, Brodfeldian justice finally closed in. The dumbfounded company leadership was left to stand trial while their best sales representative was nowhere to be found.

Vasile traveled, doing some smuggling work, for a few years until he fatefully met Pea Shooter during a gun deal in Sicameon. Both double-crossed by some local pirates, they joined together and from there, a partnership blossomed.

Eventually, the pair would end up in Tobuck where Vasile diligently helped with the creation of the Republic of Tobuck. However, he was not satisfied with simply looting the place. He saw opportunities. Weaving contacts with the local wealthy elites, Vasile foresaw a future where Tobuck could become a true moneymaker where he wouldn't just be a criminal but a respectable member of society. Sadly, Pea Shooter didn't see it that way but why let a partner stand in the way of a good thing?

---

• Belief Makes You Stupid: Exploited. As Mayor of Tobuck under Aguellid Umalez Ataghan, Vasile uses the Zarantian tribes' religious rituals, which involve consuming drugs to come in contact with the gods, to placate the people and keep Umalez a drug-addled, easily-controllable puppet. This backfires big time if she becomes the Worm Queen as a result.
• Corrupt Politician: In his Republic of Riches path, Vasile removes all checks and balances to turn the Republic of Tobuck into a state that serves to make money for himself and his associates above everything else.
• Engineered Heroics: In his youth, as a firefighter, Vasile organised a small arson ring to start fires in wealthy households to then steal as he put out the fires.
• Evil Chancellor: If Pea Shooter upholds his promise to return Tobuck to Zarantia, Vasile stays behind and makes himself useful to Aguellid Mekiouzza Ataghan, while inflaming tensions in the city, squirrelling away millions of zhekels and installing his cronies across the entire government. Soon after being appointed Mayor of Tobuck, he has Mekiouzza assassinated, then takes advantage of her daughter Umalez's insecurity, leading her to resign herself to being reliant on him and spend most of her time taking drugs, while he could extract as much wealth from the city as he could.
• Faux Affably Evil: Vasile is a griffon as capable of holding a genuine conversation with someone as he is with robbing any poor creature blind on the spot… usually with said poor creature.
• Fed to the Beast: After being defeated and captured by the Host of the Grave Dancer, Vasile is fed to a gigantic tatzlwurm.
• Nominal Hero: In his Republic of the People path, he can improve the poverty situation by increasing welfare, works with harmonists to establish a semi-legitimate republic, and overall changes Tobuck for the better... but it's only to make himself look good and to cover his criminal tracks.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: When Izemrasen Tjenwitt gathers the Zarantian tribes in revolt against Vasile's puppet Aguellid, he frantically begins preparations to get out of Tobuck. If he manages to finish his focus tree, he flees on a ship laden with the city's wealth, leaving the victors to pick up the pieces of the ruins; if the rebels defeated him beforehand, Vasile is arrested and buried up to his neck deep in the desert.

Wallnut Drive

^{Generalissimo Wallnut}

Role: General, Head of State (Wallnut Drive takeover)

Party: Harmonic Front (Harmonist path), All-Hazrumenian Socialist Bloc (Communist path)

Ideology: Harmonic Republicanism^note Harmony (Harmonist path), Revolutionary Dictatorship^note Communism (Communist path)

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 29th of May 980 in Firstport

Biography: There are few that have the guts to disobey orders in Chiropterra and even fewer live to tell the tale, but there is one thestral that has managed both. Wallnut Drive has always been both a famous and infamous individual, the former amongst his large circle of friends and the latter amongst his equally large group of enemies. Though he is incredibly personable and a delight to be around in general, his escape from Chiropterra during his breif stint in service with the legionnaires has left a particularly large target on his back. If the legions got their hooves on him now, he'd be on the chopping block.

Lucky for "the tricky thestral" that he then he has many friends that are willing to harbour and protect him, much like Pea Shooter who was more then happy to hire a Warlord with a distaste for one of the biggest security threats to his operation. His characteristic smile and capacity to converse even in matters far beyond his intellectual capacity makes him a truly lovable pony, despite his typically accidental aloofness.

He's well known for his rousing speeches, capacity to command, his love of drink and partying and his hatred of Chriropterra, something that drives him to do great things to this very day. A common joke amongst his ranks is that the only thing their general can't do is talk to mares which, though none of them seen him try, is entirely accurate.

Though he may be a wanted criminal just across the border, Wallnut Drive is never one to shy away from a fight; nor is he one to pass up an opportunity to party, even at the most inconvienent of times. He is most of all a rebel with a big heart.

---

• Bait-and-Switch Tyrant: While Wallnut Drive is a warlord and initially classified as a Kleptocrat, he's not motivated by selfish or reactionary interests like the other two. After conquering Chiropterra, he'll start building the United Lands of Northern Zebrica into a thriving country, leading to one of North Zebrica's better outcomes.
• Defector from Decadence: After a short stint in the Legions of Chiropterra, Wallnut Drive deserted, fled east past the border and set himself up as a warlord in Tobuck. Since then, his main drive has been his hatred of Chiropterra, whose true extent of evil remains one of the few topics about which he is uncharacteristically serious.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Wallnut Drive is comparable to Juan Domingo Perón, a charismatic populist and political chameleon who can easily fit to whatever politics takes hold.
• Older Sidekick: Wallnut Drive (born 980) is one of the youngest potential heads of state in the world; his two sidekicks (Niftyn and Dusk Wane in the communist path, Rose Rain and Carrot Stick in the harmonist path) are both older than he is.
• Supporting Protagonist: While Wallnut Drive has a leader's charisma, he's relatively apolitical and mostly listens to whatever his hyper-ideological drinking buddies tell him to do.

Baragzen

^{Zamal-Baragzen}

Role: General, Head of State (Baragzen takeover), Monarch^note Head of State (Conquered Warzena)

Party: Imperial Chancellery of Hazrumenia

Ideology: Reactionarism^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 8th of July 975 in Zammar

Biography: Baragzen is an exiled noble hailing originally from Warzena and now residing in Tobuck with dreams of one day returning to his home country. Much of his early life was spent in courtly education and becoming accustomed to his role as the heir to the head of the Leopard dynasty Waseem, his father. Most seemed to think that the family had been kept away from rule for so long that they were no longer relevant and Waseem seemingly agreed.

As he grew older, the young zebra began to slowly drift away from his family's dynastic policy of simple acceptance and instead started preparing for his family's 'inevitable' return to power. When his father passed, he became head of the family to little opposition or applause; his mother, Raaniya, attempted to persuade him to abandon his dreams of ascending the throne which resulted in a heated falling out. With no support even within his own immediate family, he ran away with a large part of the family coffers.

This would land him - and the significant amount of wealth he managed to smuggle out - in Tobuck which was a hotbed of instability and conflict during and following the rule of the Storm King. There he would raise a small private army, one which grew rapidly as his renown and skill became widely known amongst mercenary circles. His success came partly from a natural talent which was being explored at the time of his exile in a military academy, but it was additionally thanks to the absolute loyalty that he commanded in his soldiers. He treated them with respect and dignity, even going so far as to enter the fray himself when his force was much smaller and commanding from the field.

During the dissolution of the Storm King's realm and the establishment of Tobuck, Pea Shooter hired him in essence to ensure that he couldn't cause any trouble. Now Baragzen thrives as a warlord, commanding an irregular but disciplined force. He still hopes to return to Warzena and reclaim his birthright, but only time and a little luck will tell if he can achieve that dream.

---

• Adipose Rex: Baragzen's appetite (and by extension weight) start to grow rapidly after his ascent to the Neo-Hazrumenian throne.
• Amicable Exes: Though Baragzen has long since broken up with his first lover Lyna, he still cares for her enough to provide her with important courtly titles and plenty of funds from the royal treasury.
• And There Was Much Rejoicing: When Baragzen dies, parties big and small are hosted all across Neo-Hazrumenia to commemorate the long-overdue death of the widely despised Zamal.
• Disappeared Dad: His children hardly know Baragzen as their own father, having been brought up mostly by his associates and spending little time with him.
• Fat Bastard: After taking over Warzena, Baragzen rapidly gains weight and rules his kingdom irresponsibly and without any regard for his subjects or even loved ones, caring only for his own power and greed.
• A Father to His Men: Baragzen commands absolute loyalty from his soldiers, since he treats them with respect and dignity, even going so far as to enter the fray himself when his force is much smaller.
• The Hedonist: After conquering Warzena and claiming his perceived 'birthright', Baragzen descends into debauchery at an astounding speed, frivolously spending wealth with no subtlety, and partaking in activities so ludicrous and wild that they are seldom spoken of even in the most private of circles. It should come as no surprise that Baragzen only lives to his early 40s; even the doctors aren't sure of the exact disease that kills him, given how poorly he treats his own body.
• I Have No Son!: After his father's death, Baragzen was disowned by his mother for his refusal to abandon his ambition to claim the Warzenan throne, forcing him to run to Tobuck with a large part of the family coffers.
• Knighting: Baragzen grants titles to Warzenan ex-nobles who moved to Manerba after losing their titles and land.
• Our Founder: In a possible leisure event, Baragzen has an enormous golden statue of himself erected on a hill overlooking Zamivgazal. The sheer amount of gold needed turns the statue into an example of his greed and continued misallocation of public resources.
• The Usurper: Born in a common Warzenan noble family, Baragzen dreams of his family's 'inevitable' return to power. After securing Tobuck from Chiropterra, he'll immediately begin preparations to invade Warzena; upon victory, he executes the entirety of the ruling opposition and crowns himself Zamal of the Neo-Hazrumenian Empire.
• Warrior Prince: Baragzen, a noblezebra-turned-warlord, presents himself as a warrior king like those of old, opposed to the weakling Barekzamal VII who currently sits on the Warzenan throne.

Alesia Snezhnaya

^{Tsaritsa Alesia}

Role: General, Head of State (Alesia takeover), Monarch^note Head of State (Conquered Chiropterra)

Party: Court of Stars

Ideology: Autocracy^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 21st of December 969 in Zhelenovsk

Biography: Alesia Snezhnaya's path through life is one that she has carved herself. Her parents and family, though oppossed to her activities outside Equus, encouraged her headstrong and authorative nature in the hopes that she would rise through the ranks of the native nobility; but such dreams were cut short by the civil war. From her early days serving in the Royal Guard and fighting Steel Stallion during the 995 revolution to her service as a mercenary and fighting against the Storm King in Colthage; war and leadership have been entrenched as essential components of her lifestyle.

She has fought always for the same goal, to free Severyana from socialist hooves. Even as a Zebrican warlord and mercenary, the vast majority of her personally accumalated funds return home to her family or to private accounts with which she hopes to one day fund a counter revolution in her homeland.

Though strongly anti-communist and a staunch monarchist, she is equally oppossed to decadent and exploitative nobility. In particular, she believes that Celestia betrayed her people in signing an armistace with the communist forces. In Alesia's mind all odds were against Severyana; but still she wishes to see it restored to its former glory. She is nothing if not dedicated and determined in the extreme.

---

• Chest of Medals: Alesia has accumulated numerous medals fighting in the Royal Guard and for various factions in Zebrica.
• Divine Right of Kings: As The Nightmare's chosen, Tsaritsa Alesia rules through divine right. Her word is the law of the land. Her every order shall be understood as the will of the realm, to be followed as unquestioningly as if The Nightmare Herself had willed it.
• Egopolis: Tsaritsa Alesia renames the city of Ursagrad (Novaya Severyana's new capital) Snezhnograd, after her ancestor Alexander Snezhinsky.
• Evil Reactionary: Alesia is an aristocrat bitter about how the common people took away the privilege of her family and class during the Severyanian Revolution, and now seeks to turn Tobuck into a Novaya Severyana, with a new working class to oppress while also trying to fund a counter-revolution in her homeland.
• God Save Us from the Queen!: Tsaritsa Alesia emulates the example of Nightmare Moon, an autocrat who ruled with an iron hoof and never let anypony deny her her due.
• Offered the Crown: After Alesia defeats Chiropterra, the Chiropterran Moonspeakers approach her, expressing their respect and wish for her to rule over them. This motivates her to crown herself the Tsaritsa of Novaya Severyana.
• Pragmatic Villainy: While her views are definitely reactionary, Alesia has her own problems with the way her homeland used to be run and is determined to ensure the failings that brought the empire down won't happen again. As an example, she grants protesting serfs better pay and conditions while threatening to shoot the noble who wanted to gun them down.
• Red Scare: As it led to the loss of her homeland and honor, Alesia intends to keep the godless venom of communism from infecting Tobuck, and to use her new state as a hammer against the red hordes.
• Rightful King Returns: Invoked. Alesia has spent years looking over various lineages of Severyana, including the most distant of cousins and the most absurd family trees, but every potential candidate for Tsar has been either unsuitable or uninterested in the position. Only after defeating Chiropterra and acquiring Lunar Hail's blessing does she decide to crown herself.
• Try to Fit That on a Business Card: Alesia's full list of titles, should she manage to re-establish Severyana in Northern Zebrica, is: Blessed of the Moon, Tsaritsa and Autocrat of Severyana, Protector of the Faithful, Warmistress of Her Imperial Majesty's Legions, Grand Duchess of Tobuck, and others, and others.

Zarantia

^{Flag of the Zarantian Confederation}

^{Flag of the Zarantian Empire}

^{Flag of Zarantia (Communist)}

^{Flag of the Host of the Grave Dancer}

Full Name: Zarantia, Zarantian Confederation (Harmonic Umalez), Zarantian Empire (Supremacist Umalez), Host of the Grave Dancer (Worm Queen), Garden of Igennet (Worm Queen, North Zebrica conquered)

Ruling Party: Ataghan Influence

Ideology: Tribal Chiefdom^note Non-Aligned

---

• Civil War: If Tobuck is returned to Zarantia and Vasile cel Tradat asserts control over Aguellid Umalez, a civil war will eventually erupt in Zarantia. In the standard scenario, Izemrasen Tjenwitt will gather the tribes in a rebellion against Vasile and his puppet Aguellid. In the rare case where sufficient religious rituals have been performed before the penultimate focus in the political tree is taken, Umalez will walk into the desert, apparently devoured by a tatzlwurm, only to come out as the Worm Queen, at the helm of an army ready to overthrow Vasile.
• The Remnant: If Zarantia is taken over by Chiropterra and made a puppet, a Charger warband division will come to the aid of Hippogriffia during the North Zebrican War, stating that they are under orders to avenge the fallen nation.
• Sand Worm: The deserts of Zarantia are home to tatzlwurms, a species of burrowing worms that have no theoretical upper limit on size and can grow as long as they can find nourishment. Most titanic tatzlwurms hibernate deep underground the sandy dunes of the Zebharan. When they wake up, few can claim to have survived such an event unscathed.

Mekiouzza Ataghan

Role: Head of State

Party: Ataghan Influence

Ideology: Tribal Chiefdom^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Mekiouzza was born as the oldest child of the leader of the Ataghan tribe. Ever the precocious child, her talent for leadership showed itself when the Tobuckian envoys came to seek aid from the Imazeeb tribes in throwing off the Warzenan yoke. Though not even a chief, she was the first to pledge herself to aid them and managed to both convince her parents as well as many others to join the cause. What more, her zeal impressed the Tobuckians, and as the tribes moved to liberate the city from its Warzenan overlords, the Ataghan was able to set the agenda. And within the tribe, the agenda became set by young Mekiouzza.

The victory against Warzena raised the Ataghan to the apex of their power among the tribes, and Mekiouzza was raised to become the new Aguellid - the chosen leader with the right to call the tribes to war - in recognition of her triumphs. While not officially the leader of Tobuck, the city and its surroundings knew who they relied on for protection and therefore allowed her great say in their affairs as well.

Ever since, Mekiouzza has worked to bring Tobuck and the Imazeeb together into one, united nation akin to Colthage or Maregypt, and though the events of recent years have set her life's goal back by decades, she is nothing if not tenacious.

---

• Founder of the Kingdom: Her main goal is to unite the various desert nomads under a single flag and reclaim Tobuck, forming a proper sovereign state. She falls ill and dies shortly after achieving her goal, leaving her daughter to pick up from where she left off.
• My Beloved Smother: A non-familial example. Her method of getting other tribes to join hers. She acts like a mother figure to the other tribes while intermingling with them, to the extent they swore fealty to her before they even knew it.
• There Is No Kill Like Overkill: After being handed back Tobuck and purging the corruption, Mekiouzza gets rid of her treacherous advisor Vasile cel Tradat by hitting him with a cane again, and again, and again, as if her age and exhaustion did not matter. When she is finally pulled away, Vasile was long since dead.

Umalez Ataghan

Role: Political Advisor, Head of State (Mekiouzza succession)

Party: Ataghan Influence (Non-Aligned path), Tatranit Akavar (Harmonic path), Amsarmud Influence (Supremacist path)

Ideology: Tribal Chiefdom^note Non-Aligned (Non-Aligned path), Tribal Federation^note Harmony (Harmonic path), Autocracy^note Supremacy (Supremacist path)

In-Game Biography (Non-Aligned) ^{Click to show}Umalez was born as a mare caught between two worlds. Though she is the daughter of Mekiouzza, her childhood and upbringing was shaped by city life in Tobuck and the finest teachers available. Between her studies and her constant contacts with foreign delegates at her mother's court, Umalez grew to develop a mindset and attitude that was quite far removed from her kin, especially as Mekiouzza raised her to think of the role of Aguellid as something that would be hers by right. While she knows her people's traditions and observes them, she has always felt as though she is merely donning a costume, and she has always struggled with the idea that she could ever measure up to her mother.

Her mother did not raise her to doubt herself though, and little by little, Umalez listened, and Umalez learned. In the end, she may not be her mother, but she sees what her mother saw. The duty entrusted to her is the greatest honour any zebra can ask for, and between the two of them, Umalez knows they will leave a Zarantia that can stand the test of time, and which can give their people a nation to help them prosper through the ages to come.

In-Game Biography (Harmony) ^{Click to show}Umalez was born as a mare caught between two worlds. Though she is the daughter of Mekiouzza, her childhood and upbringing was shaped by city life in Tobuck and the finest teachers available. Between her studies and her constant contacts with foreign delegates at her mother's court, Umalez grew to develop a mindset and attitude that was quite far removed from her kin, especially as Mekiouzza raised her to think of the role of Aguellid as something that would be hers by right. While she knows her people's traditions and observes them, she has always felt as though she is merely donning a costume, and she has always struggled with the idea that she could ever measure up to her mother.

In the end, she realised that she shouldn't try to be Mekiouzza, and instead surrendered the authority her mother had claimed back to the tribes. She does not need to be the sole authority of Zarantia, and instead the council that her mother built can maintain that role, elevating all Imazeeb as her mother once said she wished to do. It might not be what Mekiouzza planned, but she did not raise Umalez to blindly follow the lead of others.

In-Game Biography (Supremacist) ^{Click to show}Umalez was born as a mare caught between two worlds. Though she is the daughter of Mekiouzza, her childhood and upbringing was shaped by city life in Tobuck and the finest teachers available. Between her studies and her constant contacts with foreign delegates at her mother's court, Umalez grew to develop a mindset and attitude that was quite far removed from her kin, especially as Mekiouzza raised her to think of the role of Aguellid as something that would be hers by right. While she knows her people's traditions and observes them, she has always felt as though she is merely donning a costume, and she has always struggled with the idea that she could ever measure up to her mother.

Thankfully, in the end she managed to see what her mother needed her to understand, and in this realisation she found purpose. Her people's traditions and customs, her own doubts, indeed the lives of her people, all needed to be gambled if Zarantia was to survive. This artificial state, the final expression of her mother's raw determination, was only kept together by force. If it would remain intact that same force needed to be exerted. She will never be her mother, but she can keep Zarantia together, and earn it its place in the world.

---

• Addled Addict: The religious rituals, which Vasile cel Tradat recommends Umalez to do to maintain public order in Tobuck, involve inhaling the smoke of the igennet flower, which keeps Umalez almost perpetually high and unable to perform her duties. By the time the rebels led by Izemrasen Tjenwitt find her after taking over Tobuck, they see that the historian they once knew has become little more than a mindless drug addict, whose desperate screams could send shivers down the spines of even the most hardened warriors. Some chieftains even propose that she should be put down out of mercy, though Izemrasen refuses to do so and personally decides to watch over her recovery.
• Despair Event Horizon: While being Vasile's puppet, she can undergo this. If she did enough prayers, she runs away while Vasile tries to recapture her, screaming bloody vengeance against her captors and all they embody in the desert. It is answered in the form of a tatzlwurm eating her which turns her into the Worm Queen. If she didn't, she remains a drugged puppet needing to be saved by the rebels.
• God Save Us from the Queen!: In her Supremacist route, Aguellid-Queen Umalez learns that only violence can keep her where she is, and believes in it with all her heart. There is no line she won't cross, no cruelty she will not stoop to. Mercy and kindness are luxuries to be doled out in service of an end goal: fear.
• Might Makes Right: A Supremacist Umalez embraces the idea that might makes right. If you cannot defend what is yours, thieves and invaders will take it from you. You survive only because you've taught the world that if they try anything, you will end them. The instance you stop fighting, you condemn yourself to death.
• Puppet King: If her mother is assassinated after Tobuck is handed back to Zarantia, while Umalez becomes Aguellid, her insecurity is such that she comes to rely on her Prywhenian advisor Vasile cel Tradat, and can't muster the will to overrule his decisions even when she might personally disagree.
• The Quisling: After Chiropterra conquers Zarantia, they keep the Aguellid around as a figurehead for the Imazeeb tribes. While most Imazeeb fight under Chiropterran banners in the North Zebrican War, Umalez also gives her blessing to Zawgha Amsarmud to gather warriors and join forces with Hippogriffia in the hopes that their people can be liberated.
• Sacred Hospitality: In her Harmonic path, Umalez promotes hospitality as the most sacred of virtues—when you see a lost wanderer, you aid them.
• Tough Leader Façade: While she accepts the title of Aguellid-Queen and the cruelty that holding this position would demand, and embraces the role of an indomitable autocrat who controls Zarantia and every living creature within it, a Supremacist Umalez simply considers this the role that history has given her, and still tries to enjoy the little freedom she could still enjoy early in the morning, the only time when she feels relaxed. One day, when the servant comes to serve her breakfast and helps her gets ready for the day, Umalez realises that she longs for the next morning and the few minutes of freedom she would have then.
• Unwitting Pawn: After Tobuck is returned to Zarantia, Vasile cel Tradat exploits Umalez's helpfulness to fill the government with his cronies in preparation for a takeover. If her mother resolves the corruption issue and gets rid of Vasile, Umalez is taken aback by how she all but served the government to him on a silver platter, though Mekiouzza assures her that Umalez's involvement has been covered up and will be known by nozebra.

Izemrasen Tjenwitt

Role: Head of State (Civil war victory/Puppet Umalez succession)

Party: Zarantia Anmahal Anmalu

Ideology: Agrarian Socialism^note Communism

---

Worm Queen

Role: Head of State

Party: The Worm Queen

Ideology: Authoritarian Theocracy^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}The Worm Queen has been an eternal fixture in Imazeeb legends for centuries. As all things are born, so all things must die, and she is there to devour the dead and in doing so separate their spirits from their flesh. Rot, decay, the consumption of flesh in fire and by wind and water; everywhere that things wither is her domain. Her children are countless, from the smallest carrion feeder to the titanic Ijirmed that roam the deserts of the Zebhara, and in the end all things will come to her. She is no goddess of death though, as the realm of the dead is far beyond her reach. All she does is break apart that which was in order to make sure that something new can be born out of it.

As the girl Umalez cried out for Ijirmed to devour them all, a herald of the goddess did indeed hear her. Her body fell into the thrashing maws of the giant worm, yet the divine essence of the Igennet had permeated her and made her mind become one with the creature. Where it now ends and Umalez begins none can say, and neither can anyone say what is left of Umalez. One thing is clear though; the degradation that the promises of Tobuck offered would break the Imazeeb, as it has broken the world, and the Worm Goddess has decided to act. The world is sick, and her destruction is the cure.

---

• Animalistic Abomination: The Worm Queen is apparently the fusion of Umalez and the tatzlwurm that ate her. There is barely any left of her zebra body, with her portrait replacing a good portion of her face with flesh.
• Beast of Battle: The Worm Queen can have tatzlwurms as part of her divisions and and command elder tatzlwurms to raise hell and destroy as much "modernity" as possible, inflicting massive logistical damage.
• Dark Messiah: The Worm Queen leads the Imazeeb in a crusade against "modernity", which she perceives as responsible for all of Zarantia's woes. There is even an event if she destroys the whole world instead of just North Zebrica, where she releases all her followers into a "new" world while she along with the tatzlwurms go to sleep deep underground, just in case they are needed again.
• God of the Dead: The Worm Queen has been an eternal fixture in Imazeeb legends for centuries. As all things are born, so all things must die, and she is there to devour the dead and in doing so separate their spirits from their flesh. In the end, all things will come to her.
• Large and in Charge: The Worm Queen is described as towering over her armies.
• Walking Spoiler: It is hard to talk about the Worm Queen without bringing up Umalez Ataghan.
• Was Once a Man: While this thing wears the body of Umalez Ataghan, she has been almost completely subsumed by the tatzlwurm that ate her, and little remains of Umalez herself. Soon enough, only the Worm Queen will be left.

Colthaginian Republic

^{Flag of the Constitutionalist Army/Colthaginian Republic (Non-Aligned)/United Colthaginian States}

^{Flag of the Colthaginian Republic (Harmonic)}

^{Flag of the Liberation Army of the East/Coltvan Republic/Colthaginian Federation (Communism)}

^{Flag of the Colthaginian Federation/Coltvan Republic (Harmony)}

^{Flag of the Zonician Republic}

^{Flag of the North Zebrican Technate}

^{Flag of the Zonician Confederation}

^{Flag of the Zonician Sovereign Socialist Federation}

^{Flag of the Colthaginian Federal Army}

^{Flag of the United Republican Front}

^{Flag of the Covenant/the Ascendancy}

Full Name: Colthaginian Republic, United Colthaginian States (Orzagid), Federation of Colthage and Coltva (Zeirutids), Zonician Republic (Supremacist, Zonicia formed), Zonician Confederation (Zeshmunazash, Zonicia formed), Zonician Sovereign Socialist Federation (Zarishat, Zonicia formed), Ascendancy of Zebrakind (Zerranid)

Ruling Party: Zarcids

Ideology: Plutocracy^note Supremacy

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• Arms Dealer: The Tiger Syndicate is a cartel that runs guns up and down the length of Colthage. These weapons, stamped with a tiger's head, are well-known for their quality.
• Balkanize Me:
  • If Batrun Zaryes fails to keep the loyalty of his subordinates in check, after overthrowing him, they'll turn each of their fiefdoms into a country in its own right.
  • After capitulating Colthage, some of its rivals have the option to partition Colthage, turning its constituent prefectures into nominally independent countries.
• The Cartel: The Storm King's invasion led to the rise of five criminal cartels, which, if Zarishat Zeirutid lets Colthage fall into its third civil war, will massively grow in strength and ally themselves with Benoam Gerza. A major part of Gerza's gameplay is managing these groups, as after the civil war they have immense sway over Colthage.
• Civil War: Colthage can fall into no less than three civil wars within the span of less than a decade (to the point the developers have joked that Colthage is its own Arch-Enemy):
  • Failing to control the Constitutionalists and/or the Liberation Army of the East will cause either or both to rebel against the Zarcid government. While the two rebel factions initially focus on the Zarcids, if they're victorious, they can fight a second civil war if the Constitutionalists refuse the LAE's demands or assassinate its leader.
  • If the Constitutionalists make a deal with the Scientifids and militarists before defeating the Zarcids, the ensuing Ten Tragic Days ends in a three-way civil war between Bezelshazzar Zerutra's central government, the Constitutionalists and the Conventionists.
  • If Zarishat Zeirutid wins the second civil war but fails to stabilise the country, a third civil war erupts between the Federal Army, the United Republican Front (remnants of the Constitutionalists) and the Covenant, the Sword and the Hoof of Equinity (which is now strong enough to participate in the civil war).
• The Famine: The first Colthaginian civil war results in a famine which must be tackled by the victor.
• Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Colthage's name, ancient history, character and location names, and overall aesthetic are derived from ancient Carthage. The Zarcas are based on the Barcids, one of the leading families in the ruling oligarchy of ancient Carthage. It also has a fair amount of Mexico, especially during the Mexican Revolution, with most of its potential leaders being based off of historic figures from the time period.
• Hereditary Republic: Although nominally a republic, in practice the office of sufrit has taken on increasingly despotic powers over time, and has been in the Zarca family for a while. If Zalathel maintains power long enough, he'll become a total autocrat, and sweep away the last vestiges of republican rule. (And this is far from the worst thing that can happen in Colthage...)
• Merchant City: Colthage is Zebrica's most famous harbour, where endless merchant vessels from all corners of the known world gather.
• No Name Given: The six Grandmasters of Equinity, who serve as the Covenant's generals in the third Colthaginian civil war, are only referred to as Grandmaster/mistress of their portfolio.
• Private Military Contractors: Colthage's military has always relied heavily on mercenaries. During Zamilcar Zarca's reign, a professional army was built, but it was scattered by the Storm King's invasion. After the Storm King's death, the new Colthaginian army is once again reliant on mercenaries.
• Vestigial Empire: Colthage is the biggest successor state of Zonicia, a vast thalassocratic empire that once dominated trade in the northern coastline of Zebrica until it was conquered and vassalised by Quaggatai. Although the Zonician War of Independence was successful, the southern province of Coltdar remained under occupation and the attempt to re-establish Zonicia failed, resulting in three independent countries: Colthage, Zumidia and Warzena. However, the idea of a united Zonicia has not been forgotten; Zalathel Zarca and the Zeirutid siblings all seek to unite the once-scattered Zonicians under one nation.
• White Sheep: The youngest Zarca sister has Harmonist sympathies. This saves her brothers' lives after a Constitutionalist victory in the civil war; a certain death sentence is commuted to life imprisonment thanks to her passionate pleas for clemency.
• Whole-Plot Reference: Colthage's political factions, leaders and civil war are based on The Mexican Revolution.

Zalathel Zarca

^{Zarca with sunglasses}

Role: Field Marshal, Sufrit^note Head of State

Party: Zarcids

Ideology: Plutocracy^note Supremacy, Autocracy^note Supremacy (Supreme Sufrit)

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}As the son of Zamilcar Zarca, former head of the powerful Zarca family and longest serving Sufrit of Colthage, Zalathel grew up in Colthaginian high society during a period of peace and prosperity. Since his birth, he was seen as the successor of his father, and thus received far more attention than his siblings. He was educated in history, military science and politics, becoming fascinated with ancient Colthage in the process. His love for his homeland grew as rapidly as the size of his ego did. By the time he became an adult, he saw himself as the embodiment of Zonician civilization, and was ready to succeed his aging father who was preparing to retire. However, everything changed when the Storm King attacked.

Despite joining his father in the defence of the city, the Storm King's forces overwhelmed the defenders. Zamilcar perished in the chaos and Zalathel was forced to abandon the city of Colthage with his sister and two brothers. The zebras fled high into the Alaudid Range to lead a guerilla force to harass the Storm King's army as it continued to rampage in Northern Zebrica. When news of the Storm King's death reached Zalathel, he led his forces to the capital and executed those who had surrendered to the enemy. With the city secure, he was seen as a liberator by many, but did not hesitate to crackdown on any opposition to the Zarcid rule. He turned to the warlords that had risen up throughout Colthage and those who would not step into line where quickly taken out.

Elections were soon held, which were claimed to be rigged, and the Senate approved Zalathel as the successor of his father. Now the new Sufrit, he has enough strength and support to keep power, but his position is a precarious one. Scientifids and militarists have taken advantage of the chaos, rebuilding their power. In the west, the anti-Zarcid Constitutionalist movement is plotting against his rightful rule, while in the east, the Coltvans are rising up against their landlords. Only time will tell if he is able to continue the legacy of his father, the position he was groomed for, or if the house of cards collapses around him.

---

• Composite Character: On top of being named after the ancient Carthaginian family of Barca mixed with the familial ties of Hannibal, Zalathel has elements of Mexican dictator Porfirio Díaz in his character, as well as parts of Porfirio's nephew Félix.
• Enemy Mine: If Colthage falls into its third civil war, Zalathel returns home and sides with Zanit Monzano, who once fought under his enemy Zeshmunazash Zeirutid, against the Constitutionalists who removed him from power.
• Four-Star Badass: He is a very powerful field marshal, starting at level 5 with several traits.
• Happily Married: After proclaiming himself Supreme Sufrit, Zalathal proposes to a princess of Zumidia.
• A Lighter Shade of Black: Zalathel is an oppressive oligarch and would-be autocrat and a warmongering historical revanchist, most of whose more sympathetic actions are Pragmatic Villainy. But, as per his inspiration from Porfirio Díaz, he's a competent and intelligent ruler, and whatever ugly nationalist manifestations it takes he's an ardent Colthaginian patriot who puts results ahead of a quest for ideological purity. Most of the carnival of war-crazed butcher-generals that take power if he falls are significantly worse than he, both in terms of their atrocities, which are shown to make even him uncomfortable, and in terms of caring about absolutely nothing except themselves and satisfying their own cruel greed, sadistic lust, or ideological insanity.
• Nepotism: Zalathel appoints his younger siblings, whose loyalty is not in doubt, to important posts in the government and military. Nevertheless as shown in-game with their busted stats, he would've appointed them anyway even if they weren't family.
• President for Life: After securing power over Colthage (either by winning or averting the civil war), with majority support in the Senate, Zalathel can enshrine his extensive powers in the constitution.
• Reassigned to Antarctica: When Bezelshazzar Zerutra takes control of Colthage following the Constitutionalists' victory against the Zarcids in the civil war, he sends Zalathel to serve as a military attaché in the Kingdom of Pingland in the far north, instead of giving him back the position of Sufrit as initially promised.
• Sibling Team: Zalathel Zarca's closest confidants are his younger siblings Zasdrubal, Zago and Zaphod.
• You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Near the end of his tree, with Colthage modernised and its economy recovered, Zalathel decides that the Scientifid Clique is no longer needed, and has the military arrest its highest-ranking members.

Zaron Zorrel

Role: Head of State (Raft Wood Hippogriffia puppet state)

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• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Zaron Zorrel's appearance and name seem to be based on that of Ramón Corral, Porfirio Díaz's vice president.
• The Quisling: If Colthage is defeated by Raft Wood's Hippogriffia, Zorrel will be appointed the new puppet Sufrit, and offers various businessgriffs control of Colthage's largest rubber and oil sources.
• Vice President Who?: Zorrel is a mild-mannered, unambitious politician whose most remarkable trait seems to be his lack of controversy, and is considered to be the safe (if not particularly competent) choice for Co-Sufrit by both Zalathel Zarca and Jezabzella Zeshmid. Notably, while both of Zarca's other choices (Baltazar Zakbar and Batrun Zaryes) can usurp him by themselves, Zorrel can only become Sufrit if installed as a puppet by Raft Wood.

Baltazar Zakbar

Role: Head of State (Scientific coup)

Party: Scientifids

Ideology: Technocracy^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}While the Scientific Clique has no formal leadership, Baltazar Zakbar is widely acknowledged as the political figurehead of the faction. He supported the Zarcids from the very beginning, primarily because of Zamilcar's efforts to modernize the country which aligned with the goals of the Scientifids.

Having studied law and economics extensively and even worked as a teacher at the University of Colthage, Baltazar is an economic mastermind who was credited with laying the foundations for Colthage's economic miracle in the 900s. It was he who balanced the budget, established a gold standard for the zhekel and signed lucrative commercial treaties with Wingbardy and Sicameon. Without his genius, Colthage would've remained as backwards as many other zebra countries. However, his reforms came at the expense of the common folk, who lost much of their land and wealth to mighty magnates.

Baltazar's influence was so great that Zamilcar grew worried. Shortly before the Storm King's invasion, he sent the economist far away to Griffonia to negotiate a loan, wanting to get him out of the picture. This move likely saved Baltazar's life, as he was on another continent when flames of chaos engulfed Colthage.

After returning to his home, Baltazar was quick to assert dominance once again. His relations with the Zarcids had soured, especially because he saw Zalathel as nothing more than a selfish, hot-headed youth. The only thing that kept him from trying to take over the country was General Batrun Zaryes, who deeply distrusted Colthaginian intellectuals. It was clear to him that more preparations needed to be made before the Scientifids could assert dominance and guarantee order and progress in Colthage.

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• Emperor Scientist: Baltazar is the leader of the technocratic Scientifids, whose central tenet is that a nation's problems should be approached and its policies formulated scientifically.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Baltazar, leader of the Scientifid clique, is based on José Yves Limantour, who led the Científicos, a group of technocratic advisors to Mexican president Porfirio Díaz.
• Poison and Cure Gambit: Baltazar's coup against Zalathel Zarca involves tricking the Sufrit into drinking poisoned tea, then offering the antidote in exchange for him signing a document where he officially resigns due to health issues.
• The Purge: After becoming Co-Sufrit or Sufrit, Baltazar launches an ambitious anti-corruption program, removing countless corrupt officials and in the process giving citizens a reason to trust the government more.

Batrun Zaryes

Role: Head of State (Militarist coup)

Party: Military Junta

Ideology: Stratocracy^note Supremacy

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• Military Coup:
  • If Zalathel Zarca fails to maintain the militarists' loyalty, Zaryes will lead a column of soldiers towards the Senate building, arrest any dissident senators, and impose military rule over Colthage.
  • If the Constitutionalists rebel against Zarca, make a deal with the Scientifids and militarists and then win the civil war, Zaryes will run as a candidate in the subsequent election. When Zanno Mzelqatid is announced as the winner, Zaryes accuses him of election fraud, and while the Senate refuses to ratify the results, Zaryes leads a battalion to march on the capitol building. Even though his attempt is foiled when a Senate guard shoots him dead, it still sends Colthage into a period of chaos that eventually culminates in a second civil war.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Zaryes' appearance, service under Zalathel Zarca, and role in the Ten Tragic Days (in which he's killed on day one, within sight of the presidential palace) are a clear reference to Mexican general Bernardo Reyes.
• Non-Standard Game Over: Zaryes' subordinate generals, who aid him in his coup against Sufrit Zarca, are ambitious and might not be satisfied with being mere subordinates. Failing to keep their loyalty or power in check will cause them to overthrow him and divide Colthage between themselves, which switches to a generic focus tree.

Bezelshazzar Zerutra

Ideology: Stratocracy^note Supremacy

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• The Alcoholic: During his numerous pacification campaigns under Zamilcar Zarca's rule, Zerutra developed a dependency on alcohol. Zalathel remarks that Zerutra is easily tamed with a large shipment of fine and expensive alcohol, and his fiefdoms spend most spare funds on expanding the production of alcoholic drinks.
• Military Coup: In the chaos following Batrun Zaryes' failed coup, Zerutra marches his own soldiers upon Colthage and restores order, only to coerce Zanno Mzelqatid to hand power to him, and arrest him after being refused.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Zerutra is an analogue of Victoriano Huerta down to appearance and alcoholism: refusing to participate in the first of the Ten Tragic Days in which his superior is killed, then marching into the capital, restoring order via incredibly brutal means, overthrowing the democratically-elected president, and sparking a civil war in which he's defeated and forced to resign.

Jebzel Zoblos

Ideology: Neo-Feudalism^note Supremacy

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• The Dreaded: The mere mention of the name Jebzel Zoblos is enough to make almost any Colthaginian uncomfortable, furious or terrified.
• General Ripper: Zoblos' distaste for the Coltvan people is well known. As Commander of the East, she commits war crimes against civilians with no basic respect for sentient life; even Zalathel Zarca admits that her methods to pacify Coltva might be too excessive.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Zoblos is based on Mexican general Juvencio Robles, and her brutal methods to pacify the Liberation Army of the East ends up swaying many civilians against her, much like how her inspiration did against the Zapatistas.
• Sociopathic Soldier: Zoblos is a soldier who thirsts for only one thing: blood. Her fiefdom is filled with forced labour camps, civilians are arbitrarily arrested, beaten, tortured and brutally murdered, servants and slaves are forced to work with no regards to their well-being, and people are made into hostages to ensure relatives' loyalty.

Zauro Ochzor

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• Arms Dealer: Zauro Ochzor is a famed weapons designer and businesszebra who owns several manufacturing companies.
• My Country, Right or Wrong: When Jezabzella Zeshmid, leader of the Harmonites, visit him in prison after the Zarcids are defeated, Ochzor declares that he'll fight for the Harmonites—he's a soldier and his loyalty is to the nation, and just because Zarca was the legal authority doesn't mean Ochzor has to like him. It's up to Jezabzella to decide whether he's being sincere or not.

Zanno Mzelqatid

Role: Head of State

Party: Constitutionalists

Ideology: Conservative Liberalism^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Zanno Mzelqatid is a son of a landowning well-off family in Western Colthage. He attended university in Wingbardy thanks to a government exchange program and there he became part of the ever growing urban middle class that read republican Griffonian literature and spoke out against the Zarcid regimen as an affront to Colthage's own republican traditions.

In 1006, when the chaos of the Storm King's invasion was dying down, Zanno travelled around the nation gathering support from the citizenry to campaign for an end of Zarcid tyranny and promised them true political and economic reform. All that had to be done was for them to make their voices heard to the Senate. Unfortunately this led to Zanno being arrested a week before the senate voted Zalathel Zarca in as Sufrit. Zanno was eventually released from prison on bail, but managed to make his way across the border into the Hippogriff-run Zumidian Mandate where he declared the election as illegitimate and began gathering supporters.

Personally, he is often seen as aloof and often not in touch with reality. In Wingbardy he ended up becoming an advocate of Spiritism and believes he is a medium who can talk to the dead and magical spirits. He claims the spirit of his dead brother visited him and asked him to dedicate his life to helping others, and to never drink alcohol or smoke. He is also a strong believer in homeopathy, a system of alternative medicine denounced by practitioners of both healing magic and medical science. Regardless, he is well liked by people he meets and is held in high regard by the employees of his plantations. He introduced sweeping education, medical, and social reforms for the plantation and the nearby towns, building schools and hospitals (staffed by actual doctors thankfully). He is against slavery and the semi-official class system in the nation and wishes to see a true liberal democratic Colthage.

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• Cincinnatus: After leading the Constitutionalists to victory against Zalathel's dictatorship, Zanno will form a provisional government and oversee the preparations for elections. In accordance with his democratic principles, he will not be claiming the title of Sufrit. Instead, an interim one will be selected to serve until elections can be held. If he subsequently loses to Jezabzella Zeshmid, Zanno congratulates his opponent, reminding his voters that leading opposition was as honourable a task as being Sufrit.
• Deal with the Devil: When Zanno leads the Constitutionalists to rebel against Zarca, the Scientifids and militarists, seeing where the winds are blowing, offer to betray their Sufrit and join the Constitutionalists. While this makes it much easier for Zanno to win the initial civil war, it also leaves most of the Zarcid state apparatus intact, which comes back to bite him hard in the subsequent days.
• Inspirational Martyr: Zanno's murder under orders from Bezelshazzar Zerutra turns him from a disgrace to a martyr for the Constitutionalist cause, his name carried on banners in every town in the west.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Zanno Mzelqatid's background, an opponent of Zalathel Zarca who lost to him in a rigged election and fled to Zumidia, is based on Francisco I. Madero, who lost to Porfirio Díaz in a rigged election and subsequently fled to the US. Like Madero, Zanno can spark a revolution and defeat the Zarcids, only to lose support among conservatives and radical revolutionaries and be ousted in a coup and assassinated, sparking another civil war in which he's seen as a unifying force among his former supporters.

Zenut Zaranzid

Role: Head of State

Party: Constitutionalists

Ideology: Conservative Liberalism^note Non-Aligned

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• The Cassandra: When the Scientifids and militarists approach the Constitutionalists in their first revolution with an offer to betray Zarca, Zaranzid adamantly tells Zanno Mzelqatid that they should not accept, but instead try to knock down the whole Zarcid state apparatus all at once, even though Zanno sees the demand as reasonable to minimise civilian casualties. If Zanno still accepts, eventually leading to his overthrow and death, Zaranzid curses him as a naïve fool and the architect of the revolution's destruction when he flees to Zapsa and prepares for a second uprising.
• Cincinnatus: Subverted. When rebelling against the Zerutra junta, Zaranzid proclaims himself First Chief of the Revolution, while promising to hold democratic elections after victory—and unlike Mzelqatid before him, he will not be running in this election. While he technically fulfills all of these promises, Zaranzid also has his agents crack down on supporters of the two rivals of his endorsed candidate Hiram Zerranid, and is eventually overthrown and killed in a coup a few days before the election.
• Deconstructed Character Archetype: Of both the Anti-Hero and The Cassandra. Zenut is absolutely right that Zanno doomed the revolution by being too soft… but ends up course correcting too far in the other direction, suppressing political dissidents and democratic freedoms in name of stabilizing the Republic. While he means well by doing this, his actions ultimately end up destabilizing the nation, causing him to be couped and killed.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Zaranzid's appearance is based on Venustiano Carranza, and both become leader of the Constitutionalists after their predecessor was overthrown and assassinated in the Ten Tragic Days, rebel against the new government, eliminate their rivals after victory, but when the time comes to give up power, choose a virtually unknown politician as their successor, and subsequently get ousted and killed themselves.

Zarvad Orzagid

Role: General, Military High Command, Head of State (Election)

Party: Constitutionalists, Party of the Colthaginian Revolution (PCR formed)

Ideology: Centrism^note Non-Aligned

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• Landslide Election: In the election held after the Constitutionalists' victory in the second civil war, thanks to his immense popularity, Orzagid wins a healthy majority of votes against his opponent Jezabzella Zeshmid.
• President for Life: At the end of his tree, Orzagid signs a controversial amendment to the constitution removing the term limit for Sufrit, making it possible for him to be re-elected indefinitely. Immediately afterwards, he is assassinated, and his successor Azruzaal Azarago wastes no time reverting the amendment.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Orzagid, the pragmatic centrist general who comes to power after revolting against the Constitutionalist leader, is based on Álvaro Obregón.

Jezabzella Zeshmid

Role: Head of State

Party: Harmonites

Ideology: Harmonic Republicanism^note Harmony

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Jezabzella's patrician parents had a very clear future planned for her when she was a filly. As a scion of the immensely wealthy Zeshmid dynasty, her destiny was to continue the family's legacy by embracing the life of a merchant and marrying some zebra from another equally wealthy (preferably even wealthier) patrician family.

However, she has bucked traditions since the beginning, and defied her parents' will. She studied foreign literature and took up political writing, had a knack for causing embarrassment for those who courted her which earned her the nickname "Lady Oleander", and most annoying of all, she joined the constitutionalists (which was a horrid disgrace to her father, who was loyal to the Zarcas).

Having studied political science from across the world, she's keenly up to date with global political discourse. She also has a fascination with the harmonic society of Equestria and is an admirer of Princess Twilight and her friends. This eventually led her to establish the harmonite faction within the constitutionalists, which quickly grew in popularity by appealing to the downtrodden masses.

No matter the occasion, she usually dresses up as if she's going to the ball. In part this is because she adores high fashion and dressing up, but she also loves it when others underestimate her. Many zebras are surprised to learn that she is experienced in fencing or that she is often ruthless to her political opponents. If they are against the common zebra getting rights and dignity, it is clear that they are not good individuals, so she doesn't feel bad about crushing them like ants.

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• Archnemesis Dad: Jezabzella is a political opponent of her own parents, who are aristocrats and support the Zarcids.
• Defector from Decadence: Jezabzella left the Constitutionalists due to their lack of enthusiasm towards real change—at times it seemed like they were content just polishing the surface and ignoring the rot below.
• Friendly Enemy: On a political level, while Jezabzella and Zanno Mzelqatid find much to disagree on with her rapid reforms compared to his fear of rocking the boat, they have each others' backs during the first civil war and support one anothers' honestly-won democratic victories during elections.
• I Want Grandkids: Deconstructed. Jezabzella has a strained relationship with her enthusiastically Zarca-supporting parents who bug her about getting married and settling down even after she becomes Sufrit. In her final event, her father apologizes to her, asking what kind of parody of a zebra complains about his daughter's love life because she is too busy being in charge of the government.
• Odd Friendship: She is close friends with fellow aristocrat-turned-passionate-harmonist, the youngest Zarca sister, and can even make her her second-in-command after winning the election.
• Slave Liberation: While all Colthage leaders will eventually phase out slavery on pragmatic grounds, Jezabzella will outright remove indentured servitude if it still exists, then amend the Colthaginian constitution to criminalise slavery in all of its forms, completely pardon all slaves who committed crimes related to escaping from their masters or were pressed under faulty evidence, and seek reconciliation with the Kása Free State, a country formed by escaped Colthaginian slaves.
• Suffrage and Political Liberation: While Jezabzella has the option to continue playing within the established systems of Colthaginian society, the center of her focus tree allows her to instead almost-totally break the remaining power of the Landlords, Scientifids, and Militarists, replacing the bonuses for high approval from these factions with generalized bonuses from popular support and democratization.

Zannido Zidon

Ideology: Social Banditry^note Harmony

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• Just Like Robin Hood: To the ruling class, Zidon is a ruthless bandit who takes what he wants. To the common folk, he is a hero who steals from the rich and gives to the poor.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Zidon's appearance, exploits and starring as himself in a movie are all modeled off notorious Mexican revolutionary and warlord Pancho Villa.
• Passing the Torch: While Zidon leads the Conventionists during the second civil war, he knows that he's unfit to lead a country in peacetime, nor does he have any desire to do so. After the Conventionists' victory, he'll name Zeshmunazash Zeirutid or Jezabzella Zeshmid the new Sufrit (depending on whether the former is still alive or not), then returns to his old job of hunting pro-Zerutra landlords.
• Propaganda Hero: After he rebels against Bezelshazzar Zerutra, Zidon uses the media to spread word of his thrilling exploits to Colthage and abroad. He gives an interview to a prominent Macawian journalist, and even stars as himself in a movie produced by the Equestrian Applewood studios. The resulting publicity drums up a great deal of support for the Conventionist cause.
• Red Baron: Zannido Zidon is better known as Bandolier, notorious bandit turned folk hero.

Azizelqart Zahummid

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• Corrupt Politician: As Benoam Gerza's financial advisor in the third Colthaginian civil war, Zahummid funnels money into an undersea account as a fallback in case the Constitutionalists lost.
• Small Role, Big Impact: While Zahummid stays in the background for most of the game (he doesn't appear in many events and can only become head of state in the epilogue of one very specific scenario), his economic expertise is a major reason why most Colthaginian governments can actually function.
• Surrounded by Idiots: If Zeshmunazash Zeirutid takes over Colthage, Zahummid likes how he, for all his 'brave' ideas, still has the wherewithal to listen to experts, and yet his associates are varying levels of misguided, idealistic or just insane.
• Visionary Villain: As the Colthaginian legate in Winggarden, Zahummid dreams of turning the city into the testing grounds of his Colthago Nuovo Project, a place whose full economic potential could be unleashed, with the power of capital reigning supreme and propelling the city to 'new heights of prosperity'.
• Wide-Eyed Idealist: After the Colthaginians grow powerful enough to take over the Legation Council of Winggarden, Zahummid believes that he now finally has the chance to put his dream Colthago Nuovo project into practice, but his hopes are quickly dashed when the Bean Security mercenaries, whom he hired to keep order in the absence of the Wingbardians and Chiropterrans, kidnap him and forcibly send him back home in disgrace.

Zeshmunazash Zeirutid

Role: Head of State (Civil war victory)

Party: Liberation Army of the East

Ideology: Agrarian Socialism^note Communism (during rebellion), Harmonic Socialism^note Harmony (post-war)

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• Chummy Commies: Zeshmunazash is a socialist revolutionary who fights for equality on behalf of Coltvan peasants, who have long been oppressed by government-backed landlords.
• Defiant to the End: If Zenut Zaranzid's goons comes to assassinate him, Zeshmunazash tells his sister to flee, but refuses to do so himself or surrender to his assailants, until they incapacitate and leave him for dead in the burning ranch.
• Face Palm: Zeshmunazash covers his face with one hoof after yet another attempt to convince his sister to shake off alcoholism.
• Improvised Weapon: In the first Colthaginian civil war, the LAE repurposes civilian planes into makeshift fighters and bombers.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Zeshmunazash, the agrarian socialist who fights against corrupt landlords for the rights and equality of peasants, is modelled after Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata.
• Overly Long Name: The name Zeshmunazash Zeirutid is seven syllables long. When Zenut Zaranzid's goons call him by his full name when they come to assassinate him, Zeshmunazash responds that they really don't have to do so.
• Passing the Torch: If he secures Coltva's autonomy within Colthage, Zeshmunazash steps down and passes the civilian government's leadership to Zenarvo Ozid, whom he perceives as a better orator.
• Rebel Leader: Zeshmunazash is the leader of the Liberation Army of the East, consisting of Coltvan peasants fighting a war of resistance against the Colthaginian government.
• Red Baron: He's sometimes referred to as the Lion of Coltva.
• Reluctant Ruler: Although Zeshmunazash has agitated for land reform and equality his whole life, he never thought he would have to march an army to the capital, let alone ruling the whole country (which can happen if the Constitutionalists did not revolt, were defeated by the Zarcids, or declared war on the LAE after the Zarcids were defeated). Nevertheless, he's willing to roll up his sleeves and work for the change he wants to see.

Zenarvo Ozid

Role: Head of State (Coltva, Third Civil War erupts)

Ideology: Harmonic Socialism^note Harmony (Coltvan autonomy), Agrarian Socialism^note Communism (third civil war)

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• The Cassandra: When the Constitutionalists invite Zeshmunazash to Colthage for negotiations after he refuses to disarm the LAE, Ozid warns him that he will be going into the Snake Pit, the Lion's Den, full of people whom he pushed out of power. If Zeshmunazash still goes and subsequently gets assassinated, Ozid explodes in raging fury and deep sorrow.
  The fool! The damn fool of an idealist! I've told him. I've told him! I've told him those damn Constitutionalists were not to be trusted. I've told him that they were no better than the Zarcids. He should have listened. Why didn't he listen?!
• Good Is Not Nice: Ozid is a zebra of the people through and through, but he's not exactly the politest. Including the above quote, if Zeshmunazash unifies Colthage, an event plays where Jezabella's patrician friends invite him to a party to schmooze him. Ozid responds by telling them all he wasn't impressed and that they will be reported for this, as well as stating that they're all lucky to be alive after the revolution... and then apologizing to Jezabella for ruining the party.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: His appearance brings to mind General Genovevo de la O, one of Zapata's best generals and one of the few to survive the Revolution.
• Team Switzerland: If the third Colthaginian civil war erupts, Ozid returns home to Coltva and does not participate in the fighting between the Federal Army, the Constitutionalists and the Covenant.

Zarishat Zeirutid

^{Zarishat the Red Sufrit}

Role: Head of State (Constitutionalists assassinate Zeshmunazash)

Party: Zonician Agrarian Socialist Party

Ideology: Agrarian Socialism^note Communism (façade), Market Socialism^note Communism (actual)

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 8th of April 966 in Kizil-Zeb

Biography: Zarishat could have had it all, had it not been for her older brother's need to try to save the world. As a talented student with a knack for building useful connections, she had arranged everything for her career in Colthage where she would work for a member of the Zarcid family. It would have been her springboard to wealth and recognition, had not Zeshmunazash ruined everything with his need to challenge authority.

After Zeshmunazash became an outlaw, Zarishat's future fell apart before her eyes, and it was not long before the authorities came looking for her as well. Though her brother bailed her out, Zarishat never forgave him, nor did she ever forget what she lost thanks to him. As part of the Liberation Army of the East, Zarishat's ambition found some distractions as she refused to not get involved, but though she earned her place, she ended drinking heavily when she realized she would likely never become anything more than a simple criminal stuck in her brother's delusional crusade.

Zeshmunazash dying was the only good thing her brother had ever done for her, as she found herself in a position to seize control over the LAE and finally, for the first time in many years, turn the path of her life the way she wanted it to go.

Zarishat could have had it all, and with her brother out of the way, she may have it yet.

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• The Alcoholic: While on the run from the law, Zarishat developed a dependency on alcohol to get through the day.
• Corrupt Politician: Zarishat's government will grant entire sections of the economy to private ownership as long as they pay the equivalent of a bribe to her.
• Gameplay and Story Segregation: Like her brother, Zarishat is classified in-game as a Communist, but unlike her brother, she cares little for ideology. Her Zonicia is a capitalist trading empire under a Marksist banner.
• Going Cold Turkey: In an early focus after taking over Colthage, Zarishat goes cold turkey in an attempt to shake off her alcoholism.
• Hate Sink: A loathsome individual who blames her own brother for her many problems, and is rude and abrasive to everycreature she meets.
• Jerkass: One of the most detestable characters in the mod, she starts off as an alcoholic bully. If she gets in power, she gets even worse, becoming greedy and outright abusive, until she pursues a downright imperialistic foreign policy where she invades other countries because she wants to.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Her violent nature and alcoholism make her a female version of Emiliano Zapata's older brother Eufemio.
• Not in This for Your Revolution: Unlike her brother, Zarishat is not a real communist, and easily co-opts socialism for her own aims. One of the first thing she does is name a stock exchange after him.
• Roaring Rampage of Revenge: While loyal to him, Zarishat doesn't care for her brother's ideology of cooperation and reform. She will purge all resistance with blood and violence; after all, they killed Zeshmunazash, who would have listened to their grievances.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: If four prefectures or the prefecture of Colthage falls to anarchy and Zarishat's government collapses, she'll flee to Les Méridiennes with the entire national gold reserve as the third Colthaginian civil war erupts.
• Sibling Rivalry: Zarishat holds a one-sided hatred towards her brother, blaming him and his need to challenge authority for destroying her future. As leader of the LAE and ruler of Colthage, Zarishat does things simply because Zeshmunazash would have hated them.

Benoam Gerza

^{Sufrit Gerza}

Role: General, Head of State

Party: Order and Progress Party

Ideology: Oligarchy^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Benoam Gerza should not be where he is today. Nothing in his life has lead him to this moment, and no gods placed their favor on him. Everything he has gained has been down to pure personal guile and opportunism, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

Born to a middle class Coltvan landowner, Gerza spent his entire early life trying to escape the condition of his Coltvan birth. His father had tried for years to earn the respect given to any Colthaginian of his status, but he was looked down upon as nothing more than a country hick. Gerza would continue his father's objective by doing all the dirty deeds asked of him by the local Colthaginian government, eventually earning a reputation as a ruthless, and mildly competent fixer. He enrolled in a local military academy and received an officer's commission thanks to his work as a grunt, and a decently sized bribe.

The one time Gerza made use of his Coltvan heritage was when the Storm King invaded Colthage. He met up with general Zoblos and they hid in the jungles of the eastern province, committing horrid reprisals on Storm King and Coltvan rebel forces alike. Though it should be noted, he never won a battle he personally led.

Following the liberation of Colthage, he returned to his simple fixer work in the eastern regions, until the revolt of Zeshmunazash Zeirutid. Working with the militarist forces, he helped plan the meeting that would turn into a death trap for the Coltvan rebel, which in his eyes, finally liberated him from the legacy of that jungle slum of a prefecture. However, he didn't see Zarishat coming.

Leading a resistance against her regime, he managed to gather to him cartel and constitutionalist forces that he could use as a blunt weapon against the second Zeirutid sibling. Succeeding in toppling her regime, he could never have predicted the chaos that now engulfs his land. But as he always has, he'll come out on top by making a few more deals.

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• Boomerang Bigot: Gerza, a native of Coltva, grew to hate his homeland and adopted the elite Colthaginian mentality of regarding Coltva and its people as backwards and needing of fixing.
• Cincinnatus: Invoked and exploited. In Gerza's final speech as Sufrit in his low corruption ending, he proclaims with a 'heavy heart' that it is time to step aside and hold free elections, to 'break the last stranglehold of oppression' since 'the position of Sufrit should not be held out of reach'. The response to the event calls this Gerza's 'final great patriotic lie', for his actual goal is to leave office on his own terms and keep all of his ill-gotten gains without being impeached.
• Corrupt Politician: The phrase 'money makes the world go around' is doubly true for Gerza's rag-tag band. The influence of this on his government is represented by the corruption mechanic. High and low corruption give different in-game modifiers.
• General Failure: Gerza is mockingly known as the General Who Never Won A Battle for having lost every battle he personally led.
• General Ripper: Gerza is less known for his competence and more for his cruelty against his fellow Coltvans, both LAE members and civilians. In the third Colthaginian civil war, he staffs his army with similarly-cruel officers.
• Karma Houdini Warranty: After Coltva secures its status as an autonomous republic within Colthage, the latter extradites Gerza to the former so he could be tried under the laws of his birthplace. Initially, the middle and upper-middle class decries the action of the Coltvan government as petty vengeance, and the beginning of a Marksist purge, forcing them to let Gerza live. However, as the new government makes large investments in education and secures the intelligentsia's support, Gerza can eventually be arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment.
• A Lighter Shade of Black: While a thoroughly self-serving and corrupt kleptocrat who employs war criminals and cartels to enforce his rule, Gerza comes out as tame in comparison to the sheer genocidal intents of the Star Father.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: His name, appearance, and his nickname are all based on General Pablo González Garza.
• The Quisling: In his native Coltva, Gerza is widely perceived as a traitor, for he abandoned his roots and pledged loyalty to the Zarcid regime for personal gain. His hooves are soaked with the blood of LAE members, as well as innocent civilians caught in the middle of violent reprisals.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: In Gerza's low corruption ending, when the police arrests corrupt landlord Zaalisillhek for financial crimes (many of which Gerza himself is also complicit in, not helped by Zaalisillhek's habit of meticulously recording everyzebra who has worked with and helped him), his advisor Zuan Khilletzbaal tells Gerza that he has two choices: stay in office and risk getting impeached and losing everything he has gathered, or resign on his own terms so he gets to keep his money and dignity and couldn't be impeached or charged with anything he's done during his time in office. Gerza chooses the latter, and after holding elections, the Father of the Republic retires to the Meridiennes on a semi-permanent vacation.

Zanit Monzano

Role: Head of State (Third Civil War erupts)

Ideology: Despotism^note Non-Aligned

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• Not in This for Your Revolution: Monzano is someone who doesn't care at all for politics. She joined the LAE out of pragmatism and found the sarcastic and witty Zarishat a good drinking partner.
• You Are in Command Now: When Zarishat's government collapses, Monzano finds it unbelievable that her erstwhile friend has abandoned the country, but is nonetheless determined to win yet another civil war and try and reforge a Colthage where zebras can live in peace.

Hiram Zerranid

Role: Head of State (Third Civil War victory)

Ideology: Esotericism^note Supremacy (Star Father), Harmonic Socialism^note Harmony (Condominium of Tobuck leader)

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born to a rich patrician family in Hippone, Hiram Zerranid had an easy life and could focus freely on his studies. As an adult, he enrolled in the University of Hippone and studied history, philosophy, hippology and alchemy. During his time there, he joined a small, secret society and quickly rose through its ranks due to his charismatic nature, eventually becoming its leader. Over time this society slowly grew in numbers, though it likely would have remained as such that had the government not collapsed multiple times in quick succession.

By the end of the Second Colthaginian Civil War, Hiram's followers had grown from a small club to a legion of thousands. His teachings gave the aimless purpose and the destitute hope. Once he had gained enough support, he made the daring act of rebelling against Zarishat's regime under the pretense of her being unfit to rule. As a direct result of this, his influence skyrocketed and the knowledge of his beliefs spread throughout Colthage. To others he was no longer Hiram Zerranid, for his followers whispered a new name in reverence while his enemies cursed the title that he had come to be known by: The Star Father.

Now that the Age of Strife has begun, only time will tell what will come of this mysterious zebra and his new religion. Will he be content with brutally cleansing his homeland of the "evil" he claims infests it, or will he strive for higher, more terrifying goals?

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• Alchemy Is Magic: The Star Father employs alchemy on an industrial level to convert certain resources to others and solve shortages.
• Art Shift: The final leader of the Ascendancy is a statue and idol that physically resembles a real horse and is drawn with an anatomically correct head, albeit glowing and otherworldly.
• Book Burning: According to Hiram, all traces of the Avian must be removed from the world, including the ideas and concepts that they have created or corrupted. All books written by them are thus confiscated and consigned to the flames.
• Bragging Rights Reward: The end of his path gives you The Godhead, a very powerful leader. Chances are you have already taken over North Zebrica and the Griffonian Empire by the time you done this, as the final focus needs 2000 crystals in Colthage.
• Composite Character: In the Constitutionalist path, Hiram's role as an unimportant official chosen by Zaranzid to be his puppet Sufrit is based on Ignacio Bonillas. In his own path, the Star Father is heavily based on Chilean diplomat and occultist Miguel Serrano, one of the primary founders of esoteric Hitlerism.
• Dark Messiah: The Star Father is the prophet of the Covenant, the Sword and the Hoof of Equinity, a cult whose members believe that he'll bring forth a prophesied age of reckoning for equinity's enemies.
• Early Game Hell: Because of the three civil wars, you will be falling behind your neighbors by the time you got to settle down, resulting in a nearby Hippogriffia steamrolling you unless you are very skilled at micro.
• Fantastic Caste System: The Star Father divides all equinity into three castes: Equines of Gold (intellectuals and politicians), Equines of Silver (soldiers) and Equines of Bronze and Iron (labourers). All equines born into a caste shall remain within that caste for their entire lives; advancement is strictly limited to within one's caste.
• Fantastic Racism: Hiram holds some racist beliefs against avians, which grow genocidal during Zarishat's reign of terror and the subsequent third civil war.
• Final Solution: By the time the third Colthaginian civil war erupts, Hiram desires nothing less than the extinction of all Avian races across the world.
• Forced Transformation: When Colthage is defeated by Tambelon, the conquerors twists Hiram's mouth into a beak—a poetic punishment for a frothing anti-avian racist like him.
• From Nobody to Nightmare: By game start, Hiram is an experienced but not particularly well-known diplomat; he is available as a political advisor but doesn't really have a major role to play in the story. Other paths even make note of how irrelevant he is on the national scale. With each civil war, his influence grows while his beliefs turn more and more radical; by the time Zarishat Zeirutid takes over Colthage, the Covenant is powerful enough to seize control over the region of Hippone, and eventually participating as a side in the third civil war if it erupts.
• Godhood Seeker: The Star Father's first lesson is that in the beginning, there was the Godhead until they were tricked and shattered by Za'al-Maar, and virtuous action is needed to purify the world and restore the Godhead.
• Ignored Epiphany: After botching his effort to Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence instead drops him into Grogar's prison as a helpless slave, where compelling evidence is shown that his entire system of racist gobbledegook philosophy is wrong, the last thing Zerranid's shown thinking is that he should have been racist towards "caprines" instead of "avians."
• Laser-Guided Karma: At the end of his path, his attempt at transcendence of the mortal world built on millions of lives just makes him a slave to what is supposedly Grogar in the afterlife. The epilogue reveals that the Guide becoming disillusioned with the Star Father due to all the deaths he caused combined with what she saw in her journey led to her slightly altering his crystal formation, resulting in this outcome.
• No True Scotsman: The Star Father's genocidal intent towards all Avians in the world also extends to some equines that he doesn't like (including but not limited to communists and those who fraternise with avians), whom he calls 'crypto-avians'.
  They will be judged as one of them!
• Pragmatic Villainy: In the Covenant's first events, Hiram's followers eagerly distribute food and water supplies, help people rebuild their homes, and treat the sick and the hungry in massive field hospitals. These actions are as much humanitarian as they are propaganda, meant to demonstrate to the people that the Covenant is not all that bad.
• Public Execution: After the Covenant defeats the Federal Army, Hiram has Zanit Monzano and her cabinet executed at the central square of Colthage. If the Ascendancy subsequently defeats Coltva, Zenarvo Ozid suffers the same fate in Kizil-Zeb.
• Red Baron: As the Covenant grows in influence under Zarishat's regime, Hiram's followers and enemies alike whisper a new name that he has come to be known by: the Star Father.
• Villain Cred: If both Hiram Zerranid and Ocean Spray take over Colthage and Chiropterra, they'll strike an alliance in a fast food restaurant run by the Chiropterran government, in which Hiram commends the taste of the coconut crab moonburger.
  Hiram Zerranid: Well, Mr. Spray, I have to say your people have outdone themselves. We wouldn't normally allow such an establishment to exist in the Ascendancy, but I'd be willing to make an exception in this case, if you'll allow it.
  Ocean Spray: Of course, Hiram! After all, nothing beats a good Moonburger.
• Villainous Friendship: Hiram, potential dictator of an insane, genocidal far-right regime, is friends with Lakeish fascist politician Westerly Leeward, who refers to Hiram as his 'favourite foreigner' and sends a squad of commandos to assist the Guide when her expeditions for Hiram's alchemical reagents bring her to Lake City.

The Guide

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• Heel Realization: After the Star Father disappears in what would be his transcendence ritual, the Guide realises that the Ascendancy's goal might not have been worth the deaths of so many equines (in gameplay terms, you'll need to conquer large swathes of Griffonia to achieve this), and contemplates if it was possible for an avian to be good.
• Maligned Mixed Marriage: In Seguro (capital of the Kása Free State), when she spots a griffon and a zebra embracing and kissing one another, the Guide approaches and murders both on the spot, enjoying the righteous feeling of slaying the unclean before Zethro ushers her away from local authorities.
• No Name Given: The Guide is sworn to secrecy and never reveals her name. In the Ascendancy's final event, she finally does so, but the event text (for the player) cuts off just before her name is revealed:
  The Guide thought on her question, then said, "My name is..."
• Would Hurt a Child: When searching for a Dragon's Heart, the Guide finds a lost and crying dragon child, and promises to help it reunite with its mother before slitting its throat.

Quaggatai

Full Name: Quaggatai

Ideology: Despotism^note Non-Aligned

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Zaghu

^{Trascendental Zaghu}

Role: Monarch^note Head of State

Ideology: Despotism^note Non-Aligned

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Macawia

Full Name: Macawia

Ideology: Centrism^note Non-Aligned

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• Pirate: The Macawians have a cultural history of piracy.

Julio Penario

Role: Head of State

Ideology: Centrism^note Non-Aligned

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Mount Aris

Hippogriffia

^{Flag of Phalangist Aris}

^{Flag of the Socialist Kingdom of Aris}

^{Flag of Revolutionary North Zebrica}

^{Flag of the Workers' Republic of Aris}

^{Flag of Seaquestria}

^{Flag of the Committee of World Revolution}

^{Flag of National Revolutionary Zebrica}

^{Flag of the People's North Zebrican Federation}

^{Flag of the Government of National Unity}

^{Flag of Sirenalia}

^{Flag of the Arisian Purification Mandate}

Full Name: Hippogriffia, National Phalangist State of Aris (Aris First hardliners), Socialist Kingdom of Aris (monarcho-socialist Skystar), Revolutionary North Zebrica (Communist), Workers' Republic of Aris (Salina Blue), Post-Civilization Communities of Seaquestria and Hippogriffia (anarchist), Committee of World Revolution (Hard Line), National Revolutionary Zebrica (National Communist Crack Lightning), People's North Zebrican Federation (Silverstream), Government of National Unity (Moonfeather), Sirenalia (Sirens), Arisian Purification Mandate (Ascendancy puppet)

Ruling Party: Royal Court

Ideology: Benevolent Absolutism^note Harmony

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• Civil War:
  • A civil war will erupt between the Cultists of the Abyss and government loyalists should stability drops too low (below 40%) when the former are spreading, though this is not preferable next to spreading quietly and launching a coup to seize control over the entirety of Hippogriffia with little bloodshed.
  • If Hippogriffia loses the North Zebrican War and is forced to cede Winggarden, then the Winggardian Legation Council collapses and the faction that seizes power successfully stabilises the new government, it will eventually go to war with Mount Aris (though this only counts as a civil war if Winggarden's new leader is Zephyr Silversliver, as his is the only Winggardian government that self-identifies as Hippogriffia).
• Enemy Mine: If the sirens take over Hippogriffia, harmonists, communists and fascists will band together in a resistance movement, which grows into a big tent government if they succeed (while their foes must break this resistance by fostering infighting between its constituent groups).
• The Federation: Hippogriffia can work with Warzena to form a true North Zebrican Federation, made of the four nations of Hippogriffia, the Seapony Queendom, Zumidia and Warzena.
• The Good Kingdom: For nearly five centuries, Hippogriffia has been a monarchy ruled according to a form of Absolutist Harmony inspired by Princess Celestia, where monarchs are chosen on the basis of compassion and wisdom. While Queen Novo has great respect for harmonic republics, she does not consider this to be Hippogriffia's way.
• No Name Given: The leader of the Cultists of the Abyss is only referred to in-game as 'Cultist Leader' instead of by any actual name, befitting their extremely minor role in the story (they're given almost no characterisation and disappear from the story as soon as the civil war is won and their overlords reveal themselves).
• La Résistance: A resistance consisting of harmonists, communists and ultranationalists will form against the sirens after they take over Hippogriffia. A major branch in their initial focus tree involves dealing with this resistance.
• Secret Police: The Anti-Harmonic Activities Committee (AHAC) is an organisation that ensures the continued unity of hippogriffs and seaponies, and roots out foreign ideas that are perceived as anti-harmonic, including communism, fascism and republicanism. While its leader Violet Facade has only good intentions, the Committee can go to disturbing lengths to keep the state protected and secure.
• Underwater City: The territory of the Kingdom of Aris consists of both the above-ground Hippogriffia and the underwater Seaquestria, whose cities on the ocean floor are just as large and developed as those on the surface. Due to engine limitations, Seaquestria does not actually appear as part of Hippogriffia's territory on the in-game map and is represented by off-map factories, which can be built by decisions and will be lost if it secedes from the union.
• Voluntary Shapeshifting: Every Arisian carries a shard of Novo's Pearl of Transformation, which allows them to transform between seapony and hippogriff forms, though most spend nearly all their time in one form or another.

Queen Novo

^{Seapony Novo}

Role: Monarch^note Head of State

Party: Royal Court

Ideology: Benevolent Absolutism^note Harmony

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}For the last thirty years, Aris and Seaquestria have been ruled by the steady claw -or fin- of Queen Novo. Novo's reign has been highly eventful, to say the least. Its early years were marked by completing the integration of industrial production into Hippogriffia's economy, a process started by her father King Skylance. Novo managed to soften industrialism's birth-pangs by impressing strong Harmonic values upon the industrialist class, preferring to lead by example rather than force. The second decade of her reign was marked by a long period of stability and peace, with Aris retreating from North Zebrican affairs and establishing closer ties with Equestria and New Mareland.

All that changed when the Storm King attacked. Unwilling to risk total destruction as had befallen so many other nations which had faced his wrath, Novo evacuated the population and industry of Mount Aris to the underwater realm of Seaquestria. There, she prepared for an eventual confrontation. Her fin forced by her precocious daughter and the Equestrian Elements of Harmony, Novo's forces defeated the Storm King and reclaimed Aris. However, the evacuation left deep scars, and Novo has had more and more difficulty balancing the needs of her creatures: seaponies and hippogriffs clash and the new generation of industrialists abandons Harmonic values in the name of profit, all while the new generation of workers and students turn to radical ideas.

Throughout her long reign, Novo has proven herself a master of negotiation, or some would say concession. She has proven herself a pragmatic ruler, or some would say a coward. She has been a rock of stability in a rapidly changing world, or some would say she has held Hippogriffia back. Some whisper that she plans to retire in favour of her daughter Skystar, others long for a change of pace, but most Arisians simply could not imagine an Aris without Queen Novo.

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• Abdicate the Throne: After winning the North Zebrican War, Novo can abdicate and leave the throne to her incredibly popular daughter Skystar.
• The Cavalry: After the North Zebrican War, she can have the country along with any allies and puppets it has merge with the United Ponies Alliance to aid Equestria against the Changelings.
• Gilded Cage: After being forced to give up power to Crack Lightning, Queen Novo becomes a prisoner in her own palace, only allowed to see her subjects on ceremonial occasions. Her guards, clawpicked by Crack Lightning, can and will dispose of her if she ceases to be useful.
• The High Queen: In 1007, Hippogriffia is essentially an absolute monarchy, though Queen Novo is not an absolutist at heart, and has only used her Royal Prerogatives to keep her nation safe. Even if the monarchy is abolished in a socialist revolution, the royal family will be allowed to keep living in Hippogriffia, since they ruled with fairness, unlike most other monarchs, and Hard Line's proposal to have her executed goes down in flames, with multiple party members offended at the very suggestion.
• I Did What I Had to Do: Upon losing the North Zebrican War and ceding Winggarden, she can choose to resort to more ruthless methods to restore order among the angry populace, which even changes her ideology from Harmony to Non-Aligned. Even after getting called out by Silverstream and Princess Celestia about how she turned her back on friendship and ruined her family's legacy, she is convinced that she will be vindicated by history.
• Puppet King: If Aris First grows popular enough, Raft Wood and Crack Lightning will coerce Queen Novo to appoint a government to let them run things in her place.
• Video Game Cruelty Punishment: Downplayed, in that Queen Novo can't be that bad and the outcome isn't automatically terrible, but the fastest and easiest way to ensure Posada's communist revolution takes over is for her to be too dismissive of the needs and concerns of the common people.
• You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: Her initial response to Beakolini's declaration of war against Hippogriffia shortly after the North Zebrican War starts. Her confusion quickly gives way to fury at the idea of a three-front war and she immediately notifies Admiral Seaspray to quickly intercept any Wingbardian ships.

Skystar

^{Communist Skystar}

Role: Monarch^note Head of State (Won North Zebrican War, Novo abdicates or Aris First lost North Zebrican War, Razorbeak stands down)

Party: Royal Court

Ideology: Benevolent Absolutism^note Harmony (absolutist), Democratic Monarchism^note Harmony (constitutional monarchy), Socialist Monarchism^note Communism (post-coup against Crack Lightning, Blue Faction dominant), Marksism^note Communism (post-Salina Blue election)

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• And I Must Scream: If the Sirens decide to make an example of her to crush the local resistance and spread their Hate Plague, her event notes that she is aware of everything her body is doing but is unable to stop it.
• The Conscience: In the communist route, Skystar joins the RWP and becomes both a Commissar-Commodore and Posada's friend. As Posada's friend, she helps dissuade Posada from more vengeful acts like torturing the Chiropterran leadership or launching an invasion of the reunited Storm Kingdom out of fears the new Storm King may follow the old one's footsteps.
• The Coup: If Crack Lightning loses the North Zebrican War, Skystar will lead a platoon of mutinous soldiers to storm his villa and depose him.
• I Will Only Slow You Down: If the Sirens succeed in destroying the Arisian resistance, Skystar throws Silverstream onto the Mane Six's escape boat at the last moment when she herself got caught in the leg by her former subjects and yells at the others to leave her behind. She knows that it is her the Sirens are after.
• Internal Reformist: Skystar is an innovator, and believes that modern Harmony requires more than just a benevolent autocrat. As Queen, she will expand and codify the authority of Parliament, formally devolving legislative power away from the crown and to the people, while retaining executive power in the fins of the monarch. If Posada's communists take over, Skystar takes the audacious step of renouncing her titles and joining the communist ruling party, bringing them great legitimacy while also allowing her to keep promoting Harmonic ideals along socialist lines.
• Princesses Rule: While she takes control of Hippogriffia after deposing Crack Lightning, Skystar puts off her coronation, and is technically still Princess for a year before officially being given the crown.
• Silk Hiding Steel: Don't let her cheery attitude fool you. Piss her off and she will personally put a bullet through your skull. Just ask Crack Lightning. Her leader buffs even include a boost to war support and being able to justify war goals against Non-Aligned countries that didn't generate world tension.
• Teeth-Clenched Teamwork:
  • If Posada's revolution takes a dark turn after the North Zebrican War and Posada ignores her pleas and advice, Skystar keeps working with Posada for the sake of the revolution but their relationship turns very cold.
  • Has to desperately try to keep the Arisian resistance consisting of harmonists, communists and Aris First united on top of working together with the Mane Six if they arrive. To say that she is having a hard time keeping it together is an understatement and that is not counting the Sirens exploiting this very fragility to break them apart.
• There Is No Kill Like Overkill: During Skystar's coup against him following Phalangist Aris' defeat in the North Zebrican War, if Crack Lightning orders Razorbeak to carry out her counter-coup, Skystar will shoot him at least a half dozen times before fleeing. When Razorbeak finds him, his body is barely recognisable.

Raft Wood

^{Raft Wood and Crack Lightning's Alliance}

Role: Political advisor, Head of Government (Empower Aris First, Raft Wood dominant)

Party: Aris First

Ideology: Populism^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Raft Wood was Queen Novo's advisor during the Storm War, the seapony who first suggested the evacuation to Seaquestria. He's seen as a calm voice in an uncalm age, though his status as a founding member of the Aris First committee has raised some eyebrows, and many disparage him as a symbol of weakness.

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• Choosing Neutrality: Raft Wood, leader of Aris First (and specifically its moderate wing), wants Hippogriffia to withdraw from the affairs of continental Zebrica. The idea is that they shouldn't be bleeding for others they don't even know. His storyline is whether or not he sticks to those isolationist ideals after the conflict.
• A Lighter Shade of Black: Verging on grey (no pun intended). Raft Wood's brand populist nationalism has got a lot of troubling over and undertones, but he's easily the lesser evil compared to his literal fascist rival within Aris First, Crack Lightning, and he does have options to reform for the better.
• Make It Look Like an Accident: After Moonfeather's foreign oil business goes under, Raft Wood can choose to bail him out or let him die in the middle of the desert. If he didn't reform Aris First, Moonfeather would survive and buy out practically the entire bureaucracy thanks to its corruption, attempt to assassinate Queen Novo and become chief minister. If it is reformed, Moonfeather's attempts at buying out the government fails and all his attempts at doing so were used as evidence against him, destroying his clique along with his power and influence in one fell swoop, leaving him a shell of his former self awaiting court.
• Meaningful Rename: He renames Aris First's motto from 'Aris Eternal!' to 'Aris Strong and Free!' should he decide to let others speak their mind at the post-war conference without AHAC agents watching them, showing that the Aris First government has changed for the better.
• Morton's Fork:No matter what actions he chooses, there is no subjugating Chiropterra. Arming their workers just leads to even more chaos while some of them even use the given equipment against Hippogriffia, resulting in AHAC's intervention. If AHAC is chosen from the start, Violet Facade will have massive difficulty keeping the peace. Either way, both choices end with Violet Facade nearly dying from a car bomb and receiving a threat letter as warnings. While she attempts to convince Raft Wood to fully withdraw in response, the local resistance led by Gorge Z. Batton and Stirling Silver devastate the Hippogriffian garrison at the given date as declared in the threat letter. This finally convinces Raft Wood to fully return independence to Chiropterra.
• Necessarily Evil: Raft Wood despises Moonfeather recognises that his funding is needed for the survival of the nation in the war. Not surprisingly, Raft Wood gets rid of him if the time is right.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Raft Wood, leader of Aris First, a political party that wants Hippogriffia to withdraw from continental Zebrica and embrace isolationism, is based on Robert E. Wood, a key financial backer of the America First Committee, an isolationist group that opposed American entry into World War II.
• Patriotic Fervor: Is a stanch advocate for any policies that lets Hippogriffia remain as it is while keeping all foreign ideologies and presences out.
• Shapeshifter Default Form: Raft Wood, the most isolationist of Hippogriffia's leaders, prefers being a seapony (who tend to favour isolationism) most of the time. The events that show him aboveground describe him being always uncomfortable as a hippogriff.

Crack Lightning

^{Communist Crack Lightning}

Role: Chief of Airforce, Head of Government (Empower Aris First, Crack Lightning dominant), Head of State (Hero Posada succession)

Party: Aris First - Hardliners, Revolutionary Workers' Party (post-communist revolution), Revolutionary Workers' Party - National Communist (Posada succession)

Ideology: Fascism^note Supremacy (Aris First), Ethno-Socialism^note Communism (Posada succession), National Communism^note Supremacy (Posada succession)

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 4th of February, 977 in Harmonizing Heights.

Biography: If you'd asked anygriff what Crack Lightning's future held after his rise to fame as an ace pilot in the Storm War, none would have guessed he planned on becoming the voice of the Aris First nationalist movement, much less the supreme commander of Aris' armed forces or the de facto ruler of Hippogriffia.

Few now remember that Crack Lightning opposed the move to Seaquestria following the Storm King's arrival, nor that until his rise to fame he had never particularly cared for traditionalism, for all of that has been wiped away by the bombastic fervour of his commitment to Aris First after his round-the-world flight.

Passionate, young, aggressive, adventurous, seductive, he was everything Aris First needed to contrast the stoic Raft Wood and to rile up the youth into a nationalistic frenzy. Few suspected that his ambitions went far beyond the isolationism of his colleague, and those that did notice found their objections falling on deaf ears as his influence grew and his followers grew more zealous. Now with Raft Wood out of the picture, Hippogriffia is under the full control of Crack Lightning, and there is little doubt that "The Ace," as his followers call him, will put the country's considerable might towards creating the Hegemony he dreams of.

In-Game Biography (Ethno-Socialist/National Communist) ^{Click to show}Born: 4th of February, 977 in Harmonizing Heights.

Biography: Crack Lightning became a household name during the Storm War and has remained one ever since. He is known for being many things: a heroic fighter ace, talented and adventurous aviator, and a bombastic nationalist firebrand. But one thing most people did not know about him until very recently is that he was also a close friend of Posada.

Just after the war Crack was introduced to Posada, whose miraculous escape from the Storm King had earned her minor fame. The pair bonded over their mutual hatred of the yeti conquerors and shared desire to embrace new ideas. Although Posada became a marksist while Crack took inspiration from Wingbardian fascists, they remained on friendly terms in private. As Posada took control of the state and expanded it across North Zebrica by force, Crack came to see her communist party as a possible vehicle for his own ideas of hippogriff hegemony. He unexpectedly asked to form a National Communist wing of the RWP, and Posada even more unexpectedly allowed it.

Crack Lighting supported all of Posada's most controversial policies, especially her brutal treatment of the Chiropterrans. He believes that Skystar and other harmonists unjustly vilified Posada for doing what was right and drove her to suicide. Now that fortune has placed him in the General Secretary's chair, his priorities are twofold: build the hippogriff hegemony he's always dreamed of, and take revenge on those responsible for the death of his friend.

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• Ace Pilot: Crack Lightning rose to fame as an ace pilot in the Storm War. Hippogriffia's air tech descriptions are his personal notes on each plane, with rankings out of ten for his personal opinions on each of them, usually from a "fighter mafia" perspective that doesn't seem to fully appreciate the roles of some non-fighter aircraft.
• The Atoner: If Crack Lightning and Posada successfully reconcile their friendship after her revolution, he renounces and apologises for his prior fascist beliefs, and while he may not be wholly on board with all elements of Revolutionary North Zebrica, he knows that it has done plenty of good and wants to help.
• Commie Nazis: If Hippogriffia has a socialist revolution, Crack Lightning and a few other former members of Aris First will petition Posada to form a so-called National Communist wing of the Revolutionary Workers' Party, which would advocate for the strengthening of the state and the protection of Hippogriff national identity against foreign influence. The National Communists oppose the mainstream RWP's internationalism, arguing that other races and societies are too backwards to achieve communism in a 'civilised' manner. In gameplay terms, they take up the Supremacist slot on the ideology pie chart; after Crack Lightning takes over, he is initially classified as an Ethno-Socialist (a Communist subideology), but can become a National Communist (a Supremacist subideology) with an event. Amusingly, his initial justification is that Beakolini went from being a socialist to being a nationalist, so him going the other way isn't such a stretch.
• Evil Colonialist: Crack Lightning advocates for increased exploitation of Hippogriffia's Zumidian mandate, viewing the natives as foreign lowlifes leeching off the hard-working hippogriffs who need to pay their share. When King Zamni comes to Colthage for help, he describes how Hippogriffia's once-benevolent rule has grown to be little different from the late Storm King.
• Face Death with Dignity: If Skystar decides to not commute his death sentence after overthrowing him, when Crack Lightning is brought before the firing squad, he turns down a blindfold, wanting to look his killers in the eye, and shouts 'Aris Eternal!' before his life ends.
• Fair-Play Villain: As part of his A Lighter Shade of Black characterization as a "best of Facism" fascist, Crack Lightning prefers a "fair" fight against worthy opponents to just preying on weaker enemies, although he's not above that too. He gives a low rating to a plane meant to engage enemies from outside of their visual range, despite admiting it's a fine piece of hardware, because he sees in it the death of dogfighting and the sense of sportsmanship he feels for fellow pilots.
• Fantastic Racism: Crack Lightning codifies a hierarchy of species, according to which Arisians are on top, and other species are servants who shall have their particular talents put to service of the Arisians.
• The Generalissimo: If Crack Lightning takes over Hippogriffia, he will centralise all power around himself and the military, kicking the economy into overdrive and integrating the Phalanx into the army as fanatical shock troops.
• Good Feels Good: Crack Lightning is a fascist and is not used to being praised as a liberator of creatures, but he does genuinely feel nice being the good guy after toppling the comically evil MARESOC.
• Jerkass Has a Point: While reviewing strategic bombers, Crack Lightning heaps scorn on the two-faced hypocrisy and doublethink behind trying to call planes flying that high and carrying that much explosive ordinance "precision bombers." He calls a spade a spade: these are terror weapons, made for killing whole cities with mass explosive saturation.
• Kangaroo Court: When Crack Lightning takes over Aris First, he sentences Raft Wood to death in a secret military tribunal. The public is shown just enough evidence to convince them he was guilty: the surveillance on high-ranking military officers, the private comments about not wanting Hippogriffia to conquer Colthage carefully shorn of context, the attempts to limit the patriotic activities of the Phalanx, whose soldiers only wanted to stop foreigners from destroying Hippogriffia. The foreign power Raft Wood conspired with, his endgame, and how he made it so high up while being a double-agent the whole time are all top secret.
• Killed Mid-Sentence: When Skystar attempts a coup against Crack Lightning after he leads Aris to defeat in the North Zebrican War, if he refuses to stand down and instead orders Razorbeak to do a counter-coup, he'll get shot dead by Skystar.
  Razorbeak, storm the compound. Skystar is—
• A Lighter Shade of Black: Crack Lightning is a militaristic tyrant, colonialist, racist, and proud fascist, but he comes out as slightly less villainous than his rivals in the North Zebrican War Giulio Beakolini (who is Benito Mussolini with a beak) and the Legionary Council of Chiropterra (whose atrocities far exceed what Crack Lightning himself is capable of). One senior developer has described his inspiration as the 'best of' fascism.
• The Peter Principle: Downplayed, but his notes on Hippofriffia's planes make clear that in our world, Crack Lightning would be part of the "fighter mafia," overvaluing aerial maneuver and air-to-air combat capacity and undervaluing any roles combat aircraft could undertake that do not require either. He also is skeptical of new-fangled technologies like jets and helicopters, at least at first. His brilliance as a combat pilot doesn't necessarily carry over to being a good arbiter of aircraft design.
• Race Fetish: Crack Lighting was at one point in a relationship with a Warzenan stallion and likely for this reason sees Warzenans as higher on his Fantastic Racism hierarchy than other zebra ethnicities.
• Reassigned to Antarctica: Aside from prison, the Sirens can punish him by sending him to work in a Zumidian post office instead. Having to serve the very zebras he thinks are lower than him every day is the perfect punishment for a hippogriff like him.
• Shapeshifter Default Form: Always stays in hippogriff form on top of his platform partially centered around the superiority of hippogriff culture to seapony culture.
• The Social Darwinist: Crack Lightning embraces the hippogriffs' predatory ethos. A strong nation does not protect weaker ones; it preys on them.
• The Starscream: While Raft Wood is supposed to be the leader of the Aris First movement, Crack Lightning has been building up his own power base, riling up the masses and building up what amounts to a private army. At the end of the day, only one can become leader of Aris. Who it is depends on your choices.
• Token Evil Teammate: Though Crack Lightning is a fascist, it doesn't stop him from working alongside Skystar, Silverstream and Posada (all much more upstanding figures) in the anti-siren resistance, and in the ensuing big tent government if they succeed.
• Villainous Breakdown: After Crack Lightning loses the North Zebrican War and is put on trial by Skystar's new government, he initially maintains a calm demeanour. However, when many of his Phalangist underlings give their testimonies, including pieces of evidence contradicting the alibis he had carefully constructed for himself, Crack Lightning finally loses his cool and calls them traitors and liars before his death sentence is pronounced.
• Villainous Valor: Crack Lightning is a pretty villainous character, all things considered, but he's a genuine war hero and faces death bravely when it comes for him in some events. His plane reviews in Hippogriffia's air tech glory in the idea of "fair" combat and decry planes made to engage enemies who can't fight back and/or from outside their visible range as "unsportsmanlike."
• We Used to Be Friends:
  • When Giulio Beakolini sends him Wingbardy's declaration of war, Crack Lightning reminisces about the conversations they had back during his tour of Karthin, but none of this, or Crack Lightning's admiration for Beakolini, matters next to geopolitical concerns.
  • Posada and him used to be close friends who talked about how they would revolutionize the nation, be it in person or letters. Their separate ideologies eventually turned them against each other as of present day. If Posada is victorious in her revolution, he sort of patches things up with her and forms the National Communist wing of the RWP, although they remain divided on many points.
• Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: Perhaps more than Skystar's advocacy for moderation, it's Crack Lightning's concurrence with Posada and Hard Line on a pre-emptive strike against the reunited Storm Kingdom that kills the plan.

Razorbeak

Role: General, Head of State (Aris First lost North Zebrican War, Razorbeak takes over)

Party: Aris First - Hardliners

Ideology: Stratocracy^note Supremacy

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 1st of December, 971 in Winggarden.

A harsh and demanding officer, Colonel Razorbeak has spent most of her career as an instructor at Hippogriffia's military academies, attempting to weed out weakness among future officers. Her involvement in the Phalanx, once considered a career-limiting move, led her into Crack Lightning's inner circle during his brief rule as dictator of Aris. Even when the rest of the Phalanx turned on him, Razorbeak remained loyal.

Lightning's assassination and the bloody fighting which followed has seen Razorbeak take over as Supreme Commander of Aris, unleashing her signature cold-hearted violence on those who failed The Ace. She now rules with an iron claw, seeking to weed out weakness among the entire Hippogriff race in the same way she once did to cadets at the academy, now completely unrestrained by law and oversight. The people of Aris once called Crack Lightning a tyrant, but Razorbeak is determined to show them real tyranny, and to mould the next generation into a nation of fanatics who will succeed where their parents failed.

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• Blood Knight: Razorbeak exalts violence as the most glorious thing that is in life.
• The Dreaded: Razorbeak is noted to be a very intimidating general among the Arisian high command.
• Evil Colonialist: After exacting her revenge over Colthage in the second North Zebrican War, Razorbeak designates Zumidia and Hippone as New Hippogriffia and New Starfield, stealing land from the indigenous zebras to make way for hippogriff settlers.
• Fantastic Racism: Razorbeak is disdainful of seaponies, whom she considers to be cowards. Her first act after her takeover is to declare curfew and martial law in Seaquestria.
• The Generalissimo: Upon taking control over what remains of Hippogriffia after it lost the North Zebrican War, Razorbeak proclaims herself Supreme Commander and turns the country into an army with a state where all power is centralised around herself.
• General Ripper: As Supreme Commander of the Aris Military Government, Razorbeak ushers in a reign of indiscriminate terror, enacting bloody reprisals against her enemies all with the goal of purging Arisian society of all weakness.
• Number Two: To Crack Lightning as his most powerful supporter in the hardliner faction of Aris First. She carries on his legacy if he dies and wasn't ordered to stand down.
• Meet the New Boss: Razorbeak's junta continues what Crack Lightning failed to accomplish. Everything that was in line with them shall be made into the foundations of the state, while everything else shall be erased.
• Military Coup: When Skystar storms Crack Lightning's villa after Phalangist Aris loses the North Zebrican War, Razorbeak gathers the Phalanx in preparation for a counter-coup. If not ordered to stand down, she'll force Skystar into exile and establish a military junta over Hippogriffia.
• More Despicable Minion: While her boss Crack Lightning is a fascist dictator, he also loves Aris and wants to make it great and strong. Razorbeak, in contrast, is a cold-blooded monster with no real redeeming qualities.
• Rape, Pillage, and Burn: Razorbeak exacts revenge on Chiropterra by burning the crops to starve the cities and having hunters prowl the countryside for those trying to escape. Crack Lightning might have showed them mercy, but she will not.
• Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Razorbeak stirs up fear and rage at Chiropterra, Colthage, Equestria and others—neighbours who have slighted and robbed Hippogriffia. Every Arisian shall know what was stolen from them, and shall live a life of austere discipline in preparation for reclaiming it.
• Tyrant Takes the Helm: Even moreso than her predecessor, Razorbeak's job in life is to punish the population for failing Crack Lightning.
• War Hawk: Among the various leaders who can take over Hippogriffia after it loses the North Zebrican War, Razorbeak is the most eager to avenge the defeat by launching a second North Zebrican War against Chiropterra and Colthage.

Posada

^{Sad Posada}

Role: Head of State (Communist revolution)

Party: Revolutionary Workers' Party

Ideology: Futurist Socialism^note Communism

In-Game Biography ^{Click to show}Born: 14th of May, 980 in Seaquestria

Biography: For most of her childhood, Posada was ostracised by her peers. But she liked it that way, it left her more time to explore and play with her imaginary friends. She became an apprentice bookmaker in her teenage years. When she first went to the surface, she looked upon the stars in wonder and often would stargaze while contemplating if there were creatures on other worlds. It was on one such night she accidentally drifted over towards Zebrican territory and was captured by the Storm King's forces.

Posada was chained inside the cargo hold of an airship full of looted trophies and treasures from Colthage. During the long journey she suffered at the hands of her yeti captors, but one night she was able to break free of her shackles. Sneaking through the ship's hold, she was seeking to make a quick escape and then follow the stars home when a flash of green light caught her attention.

The light ebbed from out the crack in the lid of a large golden chest intricately carved with images of horned beasts and bowing goats. Unable to help herself, she broke the chains and opened the lid. What she saw would change her forever. Images flashed before her eyes, images of things nogriff should ever know. Images of conflict, strife, poverty and the stars, so many stars. She saw galaxies of the scale of atoms. She saw how stars burned. And more, much more, she could not understand.

It is unknown how she returned to Hippogriffia. Her mind was broken, and it was months before she could talk in coherent sentences again. Shortly after the Storm King's defeat, a copy of the works of Caramel Marks crossed her desk at work. She found the book as a symbol that she was destined to rediscover what the chest had shown her and to free everycreature from the shackles of capitalism and monarchy. She founded the Revolutionary Workers' Party and quickly started preaching her ideology to every hippogriff and seapony she could. Now with RWP in power, the interstellar revolution is upon creaturekind.

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• Bait-and-Switch: When Hard Line proposes executing Queen Novo to make a clean break with the past, Posada pretends to support the claim with a quote from Marks, only to reveal it was actually a quote from Beakolini and scolding him for proposing such a thing in front of the Queen's daughter and niece that have become enthusiastic communists.
• Cincinnatus: At the end of her focus tree, if she hasn't come to a sticky end, she decides to retire and pass on the role of General Secretary to her elected successor, who will be Starry Eyes.
• Color Motif: Her flavor of communism is not associated with red as in most countries, but a particular shade of blue which, combined with her other motifs, is likely a reference to Cherenkov Radiation^note light produced by charged particles (such as those emitted by radioactive decay) when they pass through an optically transparent medium at speeds greater than the speed of light in that medium.
• The Dreaded: After successfully testing a nuclear bomb at Sunset Atoll, Posada becomes feared as an enemy who wields previously unimaginable destructive power by countries without their own nukes (who suffer a war support penalty when fighting Revolutionary North Zebrica).
• Driven to Suicide: Committing ruthless deeds to spread the Revolution takes its toll on Posada's mental health. If she manages to unify Northern Zebrica but loses her optimism in the process, she'll sentence herself to death by coming to an uninhabited island and ordering a nuclear bomb to be dropped there.
• Good Feels Good: Embracing the less-brutal and more-humanitarian applications of her ideology and technological drive helps to shore up Posada's sanity and sense of purpose, as does listening to positive friend influences like Skystar rather than toxic ones like Hard Line and Crack Lightning.
• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Posada is heavily based on (in)famous (and memetic) Argentine Trotskyist J. Posadas, who held unorthodox views with regards to dolphins, aliens, and nuclear warfare, specifically on the latter that "nuclear warfare equals revolutionary warfare". Posada's preferred form as a seapony mirrors Posadas's beliefs about marine life and she shares a certain passion for all things nuclear with him, and later develops similar affinities for UFOs and dolphins. Darkly, the historical Posadas developed many of his more esoteric beliefs after being horrifically tortured by a military government, many feeling his mistreatment shattered his sanity, and Posada's own fascination with the atom began when, after enduring suffering and torture under the Storm King's invasion force, she looked into a forbidden artifact that briefly drove her mad.
• Nuke 'em: Posada loves nuclear and radiological weapons at least as much as she loves nuclear power and sees nuclear weapons as the hammer with which the proletariat will smash global capitalism. Accordingly, she directs the development of a wide variety of tactical nuclear weapons. She also spearheads the development of thermonuclear weapons, which are far more powerful and at the cost of 50 standard warheads, completely scour all buildings and infrastructure from an enemy's capital.
• Odd Friendship: One of Posada's closest friends winds up being Skystar, the princess who was deposed by Posada's RWP before joining her communist party. She also still tries to remain friends with Crack Lightning despite the ideological gulf that opens between them, and can succeed, after a fashion, if her revolution does.
• Pay Evil unto Evil: Posada's most extreme option to deal with Chiropterra, whose evil ideology is deeply entrenched among its populace, is to immediately execute everypony above the rank of sergeant and have the rest spend the rest of their lives in concentration camps—a measure described to be even bloodier than the Storm King's methods. Appropriately, its impact on Posada's mental health is massive.
• Physical Scars, Psychological Scars: Posada was captured by the Storm King and bears many physical scars of this, though she normally hides them under her uniform. Despite her amnesia, her psychological trauma from this also shows through in her more vindictive moments and in her visions. If she accumulates enough "sad level" points from cynical or cruel actions like subjecting the Lord and Lady Commanders of Chiropterra to extreme radiation, she changes her portrait to one that shows her scars much more clearly.
• Please Spare Him, My Liege!: After Crack Lightning loses the North Zebrican War and is overthrown by Skystar, who sentences him to death, Posada asks her to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment, despite the objections from Silverstream and her own followers.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: When Crack Lightning takes over Aris First, she has long fled the country by the time he gets around to dealing with her.
• Take Over the World: Her proposal for War Plan Hydrogen is nothing short of conquering or overthrowing every single supremacist, non-aligned, or harmonist government in the world in order to "make the world safe for communism". You decide if the proposal is accepted by the others. Understandably, this notion is dismissed as adventurism by many and when it fails to pass (which is decided by you), it does at a whopping 75% no vote. Posada will even admit to Skystar that it was honestly a stupid idea. This doesn't stop the player from simply doing it the old-fashioned way by having her undergo manual war justifications. If it passes, you get a short focus tree that helps out with making your world conquest go faster.
• Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Posada's coalition, which lacks ideological purity, consists of communists, democratic socialists and anarchists alike, who only barely manage to get along with each other at first. The player can adopt one of two options for a more pluralistic party platform that will unite the coalition.

Salina Blue

Role: Head of State (Posada lost North Zebrican War, One More Try)

Ideology: Democratic Socialism^note Communism

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• Necessarily Evil: Salina Blue, a communist, has no love for the bourgeois class and finds it hard to stomach that she has to reach out to foreign capitalists and make concessions to them, but sees foreign capital as necessary to rebuild Aris after its defeat in the North Zebrican War.

Seapony Schools

Role: Head of State (Posada lost North Zebrican War, A Different Approach)

Ideology: Anarcho-Communism^note Communism

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• Martial Pacifist: After Revolutionary North Zebrica's defeat in the North Zebrican War, the seapony anarchists retreat underwater and embrace isolationist pacifism (one of their focuses outright prevents them from declaring war), while also being ready to make any capitalist who dare invade Seaquestria pay.
• Non-Standard Character Design: Instead of being a single person, the in-game leader of the Post-Civilization Communities of Seaquestria and Hippogriffia is the Seapony Schools (whose portrait depicts no less than nine individuals), reflecting how these anarchist communes have no actual head of state.

Terrafin

Role: Theorist, Head of State (Posada succession)

Party: Revolutionary Workers' Party

Ideology: Futurist Socialism^note Communism

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Some say Terrafin is a once in a generation genius, inventing technologies that foreign scientists can only dream of. Others say he is a mad scientist who recklessly pursues new discoveries with no regard for potential danger. As for Terrafin himself, he doesn't care what people call him so long as his projects get funding.

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• Emperor Scientist: Terrafin is a scientist by trade, not a politician, and is much more at home in a laboratory than in a committee meeting. If Posada commits suicide, he names himself as a potential successor because he doesn't think the other contenders would fund his research. Once in power, he advocates for integrating computers into all government functions, potentially rendering government by living creatures obsolete.

Hard Line

Role: Head of State (Hero Posada succession)

Party: Revolutionary Workers' Party

Ideology: Anti-Revisionism^note Communism

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 16th of September, 977 in Seaquestria

Biography: Among the seaponies, having a lure is seen as a sign of nobility. For Hard line, it is a reminder of a past that has haunted him for his entire life.

Hard Line, born with the name Kelp Strand, was the product of an affair between a highborn duchess and a poor mechanic. His mother abandoned the family just after he was born. His father tried his best to provide a good life, but living on the edge of poverty meant that times were often hard. Kelp's origins as a bastard child frequently made him the target of insults and mockery from his peers, and over time he came to blame his mother for all the indignities he suffered. Among the many enemies of the revolution, those of royal or noble birth are the only ones he truly despises.

Kelp Strand was always a very bright student, excelling in all of his classes. It was in school that he first came across the collected works of Caramel Marks, which he devoured voraciously. He soon developed a set of ultra-orthodox Marksist beliefs, upholding dialectical materialism with almost religious fervor. Even world-renowned revolutionaries like Steel Stallion are considered revisionists within his framework. To showcase the strength of his convictions he adopted the name Hard Line.

Hard Line joined the RWP as a founding member and quickly became one of Posada's chief advisors. Although he was often critical of her policies, he never broke with the party of the General Secretary. Now Posada's untimely demise has allowed him to take control, beginning a dark new chapter in the history of Revolutionary North Zebrica. Revisionists, reactionaries, even those with no interest in politics: none are safe in a state that has declared compassion and basic decency to be "bourgeois constructs."

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• Improperly Paranoid: Hard Line's insistence on executing the Queen is ill-founded. Revolutionary Hippogriffia has no monarchist restoration path, even if an ex-royal comes into power.
• Lack of Empathy: He proposes the execution of Queen Novo at a committee meeting. A meeting that includes fellow members Skystar and Silverstream. Not surprisingly, the other members stop him cold before he could go on any further while consoling the crying girls.
• Meaningful Rename: Kelp Strand adopted the name Hard Line to showcase the strength of his convictions.
• Missing Mom: Kelp Strand's mother, a highborn duchess, abandoned his father just after he was born, leading to his hatred of all aristocrats.
• Principles Zealot: Hard Line has developed a set of ultra-orthodox Marksist beliefs, upholding dialectical materialism with an almost religious fervour. Even world-renowned revolutionaries like Steel Stallion are considered revisionists within his framework. His unique Anti-Revisionism ideology is, paradoxically, itself almost a revision of orthodox Equestrian Socialism.
• The Purge: Hard Line's first acts after becoming General Secretary are to purge those who hold heterodox viewpoints within the Revolutionary Workers' Party, and to declare everyone who opposes violence an enemy of the revolution.

Silverstream

Role: Political advisor, Head of State (Monster Posada succession)

Party: Revolutionary Workers' Party - Harmonist

Ideology: Harmonic Socialism^note Harmony, Democratic Socialism^note Communism

In-Game Biography (Political advisor) ^{Click to show}The niece of Queen Novo, Silverstream was the first Hippogriff to graduate from Princess Twilight Sparkle's School of Friendship.

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Silverstream, niece of Queen Novo and graduate of Princess Twilight Sparkle's School of Friendship, was the last creature anyone expected to become the new General Secretary of Revolutionary North Zebrica.

When the revolution came to Hippogriffia, Silverstream chose not to flee like many other members of the extended royal family. Instead she took the advice of her cousin Skystar and formed a harmonist faction within the RWP. Her platform of curbing the revolution's worse excesses and improving relations with Equestria attracted many followers. After Posada's death both the party and the people wanted a leader who could restore some semblance of normalcy, and they turned to Silverstream.

But fulfilling the people's hopes is easier said than done. Silverstream never wanted to be General Secretary, and she now finds herself in a very precarious position. Posada's many crimes have done severe damage to the government's reputation, and the effects of other communist policies remain divisive issues. Silverstream will have to tread carefully if she hopes to restore any form of harmony to her troubled homeland.

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• Broken Tears: After escaping from a Siren-controlled Hippogriffia, she breaks down at the loss of her family and home.
• Calling the Old Man Out: If Hippogriffia loses the North Zebrican War, she would do this to Queen Novo if the latter regresses back to her old ways of isolation and enforces martial law to wrangle her subjects. She even quits her position in the government (if she had one) out of disgust.
• Good Old Ways: Silverstream, leader of the Harmonic wing of the RWP, tries to bring back some parts of Harmony should she succeed Posada as General Secretary.
• Politically-Active Princess: She may not be the crown princess like Skystar but she is still a princess. She is capable of politics like any of her older family members when the push comes to shove.
• Resign in Protest: Silverstream's name counts among those government officials who resign from their jobs in protest to the emergency measures that Queen Novo can choose to take after losing the North Zebrican War.
  For me Queen Novo is more than just a queen, she's my aunt. I've loved and admired her all my life, but I can't support her rule any longer. Her emergency measures are unjust, unnecessary, and just plain mean. During my studies in Equestria I learned that sometimes friendship can be difficult, but it's always worth fighting for. Queen Novo has turned her back on harmony and on friendship. She's let down her subjects, her family, and all of our friends around the world.
• Uncanny Valley: Invoked. Silverstream only comes to power if things have really gone off the rails for Hippogriffia; her portrait is drawn with disturbing realism and lack of stylization to reflect the dark mood of both the story and of her position as a character.

Skybolt Spear

Role: Head of State (Monster Posada succession)

Party: Revolutionary Workers' Party

Ideology: Equestrian Socialism^note Communism

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Starry Eyes

Role: Head of State (Happy Posada succession)

Party: Revolutionary Workers' Party

Ideology: Futurist Socialism^note Communism

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 24th of July, 984 in Starfield

Biography: As the youngest daughter of a lower middle-class family, Starry Eyes enjoyed a happy childhood. She loved spending time with her many friends, but she was also known to spend hours by herself engrossed in a good book. On occasion she read about politics and history, but her favorites were always works of fiction and poetry.

Like many other hippogriffs, her life was upended by the Storm King's arrival in 1005. Moving underwater could have been disastrous for her family, as her parents were unable to work and there wasn't enough food and shelter to go around. However, a generous seapony invited the whole family in and shared what he had with them. Starry would never forget this random act of kindness, and it inspired her to always help creatures in need. When the Storm King was finally defeated she decided to remain in Seaquestria. She was working at a soup kitchen when she first met Posada, who convinced her to join the newly formed RWP.

Her talent for organizing and her ability to make friends with everyone helped her rise through the party's ranks rapidly. By the time Posada announced her retirement, Starry had already been elected to the Supreme Workers' Council and the Presidium. Now serving as General Secretary, she is continuing most of Posada's policies while also trying to step out of her shadow. Instead of investing heavily in technological progress, Starry believes the revolution will be best served by reforming the social relations between creatures.

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• Establishing Character Moment: Starry is introduced dropping everything - her inauguration speech included - to help a wounded audience member, binding his wound with a piece of fabric torn from her uniform, and telling that she won't stop helping those in need because of a promotion. The cheers that follow her exit are deafening.
• Landslide Election: In the election following Posada's retirement as General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers' Party, Starry Eyes, a talented and organiser who gets along well with everyone, easily defeats Hard Line, who considers himself the logical successor but is liked by no one.

Plumage Moonfeather

Role: Head of State (Lost North Zebrican War, Puppet state)

Ideology: Corporatocracy^note Supremacy

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• Corrupt Corporate Executive: Cares only about lining his pockets and nothing else, no matter how many lives he has to ruin because of it. Not even his queen is exempt from this.
• Corrupt Politician: As Constant of the sirens, Moonfeather also tries to steal whatever he thinks they won't notice off the top. His favourite siren is Adagio because she's an easily distractable superior so he could get away with his corruption; in contrast, Aria can easily detect what he's been doing while Sonata starts thinking that maybe she should improve society somewhat.
• Not Brainwashed: If Hippogriffia is taken over by the sirens, they select Moonfeather as leader of the Collaboration Corps, whose members are not enthralled and serve the sirens under their own will, to deal with mundane governance in their stead.
• Playing Both Sides: In the power struggle between Aris First's duumviri, Moonfeather actively stirs this rivalry by encouraging them to buy the materials they each sought for their different strategies (defensive armaments for Raft Wood and aggressive products for Crack Lightning). The profits would go to him, regardless of the actual winner.
• The Quisling: If Hippogriffia utterly loses the North Zebrican War and gets annexed, the victors will put Moonfeather in charge of the new satellite Government of National Unity. He subsequently shamelessly collaborates with Wingbardy, Chiropterra and Colthage, declaring them to be Hippogriffia's new friends, the old government to be 'not free' and the North Zebrican War to be a war of liberation. Even worse, he serves as a willing Not Brainwashed pawn of the Sirens if they take over.

Sirens

Role: Head of State

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• Adaptational Backstory Change: The Sirens were banished to the bottom of the Mareiana Trench instead of another world.
• All for Nothing: Aria has a decision to build various towers around their domain in an attempt to help spread the trio's influence, inflicting a negative national spirit for 150 days due to the effort required to build them. All you get is a heap of junk that doesn't actually help with anything.
• All Your Powers Combined: Sonata has the idea of combining all their corporations for easier management. Game-wise, this combines all the different specialties into one single entity. Not surprisingly, they cost one magic drift to maintain each.
• Charm Person: The effects of siren magic are incredibly potent, requiring only seconds of sound to reach a creature before it falls under their complete control.
• Defeat as Backstory: Their endgame is finishing their conquest of Equestria, which was halted by the Pillars banishing them. Once they take over, they waste no time trying to find them for payback and destroying their legacies when the trio found out that they are somehow still alive after a thousand years as well. When it is time to banish them to another world, Somnambula and Stygian can be spared if Sonata heard out the former in an earlier focus.
• Dug Too Deep: More like swam too deep. They can be released because the seaponies discover them while exploring the trench and don't try to investigate any suspicious activity afterwards.
• Early Game Hell: A whooping negative five magic drift (three from the Arisian resistance and two from the arrival of the Mane Six) will usually come early on in their game. You need to quickly unlock the various decisions needed to raise magic and pull you out of an early game over.
• Egopolis: Upon conquering Maregypt and Stalliongrad, Adagio and Sonata will rename their capital cities to Adagia and Sonatagrad after themselves (Aria doesn't care about such 'trivialities').
• Eldritch Abomination: The sirens are extremely powerful, ancient entities that consume hatred and and are able to enthrall a whole nation into serving their bidding.
• Evil Versus Evil: Their desire to conquer Equestria pits them against would-be villains like Sombra, Queen Chrysalis or Nightmare Moon.
• Hope Crusher:
  • Once they capture Skystar, they can decide to turn her into a mindless thrall as an example to crush the will of local resistance. It is that or handing her to Sonata for her own idea.
  • Upon annexing Maregypt, they immediately capture Somnambula, the Pillar of Hope.
• I Can Rule Alone: After their shared goals are achieved, the sirens will come into conflict and challenge each other for leadership. The siren with the highest influence will win and become the unquestioned despot of Sirenalia, while the losers leave out of frustration (except for Sonata, who keeps Aria around as her second-in-command).
• Mechanically Unusual Fighter: Their magic is more powerful as the obedience of the populace gets higher. However, it can only be gained in the first place via conflict meaning that they have to start fights by themselves. They also can switch between leaders on the fly at a cost of 50 political power if the situation calls for a different siren. Game-wise, their magic is capped at 200 and the "Magic Drift" system determines whether they gain or lose that amount of magic with each passing day. If their magic reaches zero while the Arisian resistance is active, they get subdued and Skystar takes back her country. If it happens after the resistance has been crushed, it instead triggers a very crippling national spirit that can only be solved when magic reaches 50 and above.
• Musical Theme Naming: Some of their focuses are based on music terms and notes, which is rather fitting.
• Player-Exclusive Mechanic: If the sirens are controlled by the AI, their content is heavily adjusted (and simplified) so the AI can actually play as them. The game notes that if the player wants to play as the sirens, they'll have to start the game as Hippogriffia, instead of tag-switching after the sirens take over, or the content will not function properly otherwise.
• Power Trio: The sirens divide their roles and focuses in the game based on their character.
  • Adagio's focuses advance the plot of their story. This includes conquering North Zebrica, Maregypt and Abyssinia along with some islands before going for their goal of Equestria.
  • Aria's focuses are based on building up a power base. Her part of the focus tree focuses on economics and beefing up their armies.
  • Sonata's focuses are based on keeping the peace among their subjugated populace. Her focuses are mainly based on lowering resistance, increasing compliance and coring states.
• Pragmatic Villainy: As the number of races under their spell increases, they often have to choose between causing more fighting for more magic or using their magic to make their subjects live peacefully alongside one another as mindless thralls, essentially erasing racism. After all, a domain that is constantly infighting makes for terrible armies.
• Purposely Overpowered: One of Adagio's focuses has them instantly register 5 separate companies as part of their government to offset all the political power they spent doing everything else.
• Sealed Evil in a Can: A millennium ago, the legendary Pillars of Equestria were able to defeat the sirens, tricking the trio into banishment at the bottom of the Mareiana Trench.
• Secret Character: While their path appeared in some pre-release teasers, the sirens themselves were never mentioned, and getting them in charge of Hippogriffia requires some rather unintuitive steps.
• Sorcerous Overlord: The sirens' rule is enforced through magic, with which they enthrall the population. None except the sirens themselves have free will or are seen as of any importance, and they alone dictate the will of Sirenalia. That being said, Aria recognises magic as too fickle, and will eventually put an end to the spell and turn Sirenalia into a mundane, if incredibly watchful, Police State (in gameplay terms, her ideology changes from Tyrannical Magocracy to Surveillance State).
• Time Abyss: As far as history has been recorded, the sirens have always existed, even before the time of the Princesses of Equestria, when monsters ruled and cowed ponies.
• Villain Team-Up: When the sirens turn their attention to Equestria, they can reach out to the changelings, who also desire the end of Equestria and Harmony. The alliance (if it can even be called such) is full of distrust, both sides seeking to one-up the other even as they work together against their common foe.

Adagio Dazzle

Party: Sirens' Patronage

Ideology: Tyrannical Magocracy^note Supremacy

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• God Guise: Adagio doesn't believe in a higher power—alicorns are far younger and naive than herself, the griffon deities are nothing more than symbols invented to be believed in, and worshipping ancestors as gods is outright absurd. However, she does remember how sirens were once worshipped as gods and recognises the usefulness of religion (specifically a cult dedicated to herself) as a tool.
• Master Race: According to Adagio, creatures that aren't sirens deserve absolutely nothing. Their lives have no notions of value past serving a siren. They are to be used, played with, and cast aside when they have served their purpose. The 'privilege' of being controlled by a siren is enough.
• Take Over the World: Adagio's path culminates in the conquest of the entire world, to ensure every corner pays tribute, to bring back siren rule as things should be. To facilitate a world conquest run, her final focus reduces the time needed to justify war goals by 80%.

Aria Blaze

Party: Sirens' Patronage

Ideology: Tyrannical Magocracy^note Supremacy, Surveillance State^note Supremacy (magic phased out)

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• Police State: Seeing magic as unreliable, Aria transitions siren rule into a non-magical system that Aria knows every part of, where everything works like a well-oiled machine at her command.
• Shadow Dictator: Aria creates an entirely new and very strictly defined hierarchy with Aria herself at the top of it. As a result, except for Plumage Moonfeather and a few others, very few people actually see her in person, but practical (and magical) safeguards are in place so she can intervene at any level of the system.
• Shapeshifter Mode Lock: Invoked. Aria has the pieces of the Pearl of Transformation, which allow seaponies and hippogriffs to shift forms at will, confiscated and reassembled into one, so they will both stay where they belong, exactly where she wants them.
• Supervillain Lair: Aria builds her headquarters in the darkest parts of the Mareiana Trench, where not even seaponies could survive without special equipment, an unassailable fortress hidden from all those who she does not want to be there.

Sonata Dusk

Party: Sirens' Patronage

Ideology: Tyrannical Magocracy^note Supremacy, Autocracy^note Supremacy (magic phased out)

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• Internal Reformist: Sonata dreams of a feat never seen before by all sirenkind: rule without magic, over masses who would willingly submit to their betters.
• A Lighter Shade of Black: Sonata is as much of a ruthless tyrant as her fellow sirens, but her Pragmatic Villainy makes life under her rule marginally more bearable.

Winggarden

^{Flag of the Social Republic of Hippogriffia}

^{Flag of Libertalia}

Full Name: Winggarden, Social Republic of Hippogriffia (Zephyr), Libertalia (Coffee Bean)

Ideology: Oligarchy^note Non-Aligned

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• Les Collaborateurs: While foreigners make up the bulk of the Winggardian armed forces, the Legation Council can supplement them by recruiting locals into the army and police.
• Do Well, But Not Perfect: If you want to play as Winggarden, you have to (as Wingbardy, Chiropterra or Colthage) take over Zumidia and force Hippogriffia to sign the Treaty of Ain Trotgourait, forcing them to cede away both their Zumidian mandate and the city of Winggarden, without declaring a total war or outright annexing Aris proper (which will instead put Plumage Moonfeather's puppet Government of National Unity in charge of Hippogriffia).
• Land of One City: After fascist Wingbardy wins the North Zebrican War on the side of the Colthage-Chiropterra coalition, it can force Hippogriffia to concede Winggarden as a self-governing Legation City, guaranteed by Wingbardy, Colthage and Chiropterra. That being said, this is only the case as long as the Legation Council remains in place; if it collapses, the faction that takes power will always try to take over the rest of Hippogriffia as well.
• Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: From the outside, the Legation Council stands as one, uniting the interests of the North Zebrican War's victors. Within its halls of power, however, a constant struggle is waged for dominance. Game-wise, if one faction's influence rises over 40%, a 30-day countdown will begin. If it is allowed to run out, the council collapses and the victor drives the other two factions out of the city.
• Timed Mission: If the Legation Council collapses, a 210-day timer begins. Failing to raise stability above 40% before it runs out allows Hippogriffia to effortlessly re-annex Winggarden. It is noted that the timer also disappears when you complete the initial focus tree, which takes around 90 days.

Golden Shore

Role: President^note Head of State

Party: Winggardian Independence Party

Ideology: Libertarianism^note Non-Aligned

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• Puppet King: Golden Shore's position of President of Winggarden is powerless, while the Legation Council retreats to the shadows to continue their rule.
• The Quisling: Golden Shore is chosen by the Legation Council as a puppet President if it successfully manages to stabilise itself. While Winggarden will remain under Chiropterran, Wingbardian and Colthaginian control, Golden Shore provides a façade of self-rule and democracy that allows the legates to continue their purpose in a more palatable form.

Zephyr Silversliver

Role: Head of State (Dominant Wingbardian influence, Fascist takeover)

Party: National Union of Hippogriffian Fascists

Ideology: Fascism^note Supremacy

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• Blood Knight: Zephyr exalts violence as the best way there is to live life.
• Broken Pedestal: Zephyr Silversliver used to admire Crack Lightning, the daring fighter ace with a devil-may-care attitude, even writing an ode to his exploits and thinking that he could be the future Duce after he visited Wingbardy and established the quasi-fascist wing of Aris First. However, his opinion rapidly deteriorated as Zephyr started seeing Crack Lightning as a reactionary and opportunist who denies that he's a fascist.
• The Puppet Cuts His Strings: While Zephyr is initially put into power as a Wingbardian puppet, as he takes over Hippogriffia, he'll consolidate his power, sack the Wingbardian advisors, and let true Hippogriffian fascists rule Hippogriffia.
• The Quisling: If the Legation collapses from too much Wingbardian influence, Wingbardian legate Gilippo Gappi chooses Zephyr, a local fascist, as a willing pawn who can run the state for the Legation, though his ambitions go much farther than that.
• The Starscream: While initially agreeing to serve as Wingbardy's puppet ruler in Wingggarden, Silversliver makes no secret of his objective being restoring Hippogriffia to the role of great power. After taking over the entirety of Hippogriffia, he'll declare that he no longer needs Wingbardy, dismissing his Wingbardian advisors and reasserting Hippogriffia's independence. At the end, he denounces the PNF as a grey, lifeless, bureaucratic system that has lost sight of true fascism, and declares war on Wingbardy itself.
• Villain with Good Publicity: Employing effective propaganda methods, Zephyr builds up an impressive level of support, causing many hippogriffs to rally to the cause of fascism.
• Visionary Villain: Zephyr sees himself as the bearer of the torch of pure Fascist ideals, who shall lead Hippogriffia into a bright Fascist future, where every creature can live better than their parents did.
• Wicked Cultured: Zephyr is both a committed fascist ideologue and a patron of the arts who sees poets and artists as the superior people whom his movement exists for.

Coffee Bean

Role: Head of State (Dominant Colthagian influence, Libertarian takeover)

Party: The Liberty Lobby

Ideology: Libertarianism^note Non-Aligned

In-Game Biography ^{Click to Show}Born: 18th of September, 965 in Bridlepolis

Biography: Born the youngest of four foals to a well-off family, Coffee Bean's early years were chaotic but happy. After graduating from high school, he and his father toured the world together, visiting cities across all the continents. These trips made a big impression on the young pony, and exposed him to a wide variety of creatures and cultures.

After receiving a bachelor's degree in economics, he founded a private military company: Bean Security. His company provided contract security services to the Equestrian government and received massive amounts of money in the process. However, he was soon dogged by controversy, suspected of being involved in illegal activities including unlicensed drug manufacturing, smuggling, and tax evasion—this unreliable reputation led Equestria not to renew their contract with Bean Security.

Given his strained relationship with the Equestrian government and various legal issues, Coffee Bean decided to turn his gaze elsewhere and began offering security, logistics, and transportation services to any nation that could pay. A true adventure seeker, he never shied away from sending his mercenaries anywhere in the world, no matter the danger.

Coffee Bean has been married three times and is currently divorced. His personal interests include golfing, poetry, meditation, water skiing, and recreational drug use.

A libertarian to his core, Coffee Bean distrusts government and advocates the decriminalisation of drugs, a free market economy which does not redistribute wealth, and upholding free trade. Now in total control of Winggarden, he finally has a place to transform into the liberty-loving utopia he's always dreamed of.

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• No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Coffee Bean is based on eccentric British-American millionaire and two-time US Libertarian presidential candidate John McAfee.
• Private Military Contractors: Coffee Bean is the CEO of a mercenary company named Bean Security.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Upon finding out that running a country is very different from running a business which takes a toll on his mental health, he makes plans to leave his successful project behind. He pushes all his responsibilities to other people while secretly making a hidden retirement fund. His final event has him living comfortably on his private island, guarded by all matter of modern security.
• The Starscream: If overwhelming Colthaginian influence leads to the Legation's collapse, Colthaginian legate Azizelqart Zahummid hires Coffee Bean's company to help him maintain order in the chaos of the city. Soon enough, Coffee Bean takes over Winggarden by sending his men to kidnap Zahummid and forcing him to return to Colthage in disgrace.

Kingdom of Zumidia

Full Name: Kingdom of Zumidia

Ideology: Benevolent Absolutism^note Harmony

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• A Child Shall Lead Them: King Zamni was only a child when his parents were murdered by the Storm King. Today, he's a young adolescent. Zumidia's in-game leader (if it gets released) is the Regency Council, while the King is treated as a national spirit.
• La Résistance: If Chiropterra wins the North Zebrican War and seizes control over Zumidia (partially or fully, depending on whether Colthage also participated), it'll have to fight a Bush War against the native zebras. While Colthage is perceived as cultural cousins, the Legionaries of Chiropterra are foreign, aggressive, and bent on spreading their Lunarist faith.
• Satellite Character: Zumidia, which is not independent and does not even appear on the in-game map by game start, has no playable content and mostly just serves to interact with their overlord Hippogriffia and rivals Colthage and Chiropterra.

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