Roleplay / Who Needs Harmony

Who Need Harmony? is a Crusader Kings II-style empire Quest originally created by author Questor, set in the world of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic following Discord's defeat and the world is beginning to rebuild. The quest follows Garrick Golden-Feather, a griffin merchant who finds himself crowned as the king of Griffonia after the previous king passed away with no heir and was discovered to be the only living descendant of Imperial family of Gryphus. Now Garrick must navigate his way as ruler of Griffonia in a post-Discord world, return the empire back to its former glory, and deal foreign powers, both hostile and otherwise.

As a Quest, players vote on Garrick's actions and development of his nation in between updates written by the author, as Garrick leads Griffonia to establish its place within the slowly rebuilding world.

---

Who Needs Harmony? provides examples of:

• Accidental Aiming Skills: When Gabriella took over a Flame Projector against Sombra's army, her shot missed the army but triggered an avalanche that took out her intended target. She swears that this was all intentional.
• Action Girl: Garrick's wife, Gabriella.
• Adopted into Royalty: Garrick adopts two different children into the royal family, Gwyndlyn (a dragon) and Gleaming Pearl (a Crystal pony).
• The Alliance: Gryphus and it's allies represent the most powerful conglomeration of nations discovered on the planet so far.
• Alliterative Family: So far every member of the royal family has a name that starts with 'G'.
• All of the Other Reindeer: Isabelle Brissette due to being Brochard’s niece, and in turn, the rest of her family being ill among the rest of the nobility. She and her family were eventually able to shed off their status as social outcasts in part of some social manoeuvring and political intrigue from Gawain and Garrick at the Imperial Gala. The result is that nobles are lining up to curry favor from the suddenly resurgent house.
  • Rose, the pseudo-Changeling Queen. Which is enforced by Queen Phalanx herself to ensure there isn't any competition for her position as Queen.
• Amazon Chaser: Out of all the possibilities for marriage, Garrick chose Gabriella. Reciprocated on her part to the point upon his improving his physique that she becomes pregnant twice due to her appreciation.
• Animalistic Abomination: Creatures corrupted by Sombra's magic look considerably more twisted than they normally would.
• Anti-Climax Boss: Brochard ended up being this as he is taken out by Hardbeak in a Single-Stroke Battle.
  • Pegicles ends up being this as well as after defeating the last dragon attacking Mare-A-Thon and basking in his victory, Garrick simply has an explosive barrel teleported in front of him. Pegicles reacts accordingly before it goes off.
• Anti-Magic: Orichalcum is a metal that possesses anti-magic properties and is thus of great interest to the griffons to create anti-magic weaponry and armor as they lack any sort of means to combat magic.
• The Archmage: Merlin Ambrosius, one of the Canterburian magic experts that Garrick recruits into his court, is a legendary-level archmage.
• Army of Thieves and Whores: The military force of the Abolitionist faction in the Maretonian civil war consists almost entirely of ragtag militias of liberated slaves. While they hold enthusiasm in spades, they were poorly organized and reckless, being fond of futile Last Stands and Zerg Rushes when they lacked the numbers. Fortunately, the Gryphus military advisors that were sent were able to break them of these bad habits and organizing them into a proper military force.
• Badass Normal: The griffons are the only species on the world (as far as the player-base knows)that cannot do magic beyond sustaining their natural flight. Regardless of this fact, Gryphus has proven capable of Defeating Sombra and his hordes of mutated monstrosities and slave soldiers to the point where the liberated crystal ponies became utterly infatuated with their new liege lord protectors. This is preceded by their war-ready culture where each young Griffon adult seems to be ready to fight for their settlements as militia.
  • Konrad Hardbeak, Grandmaster of the Knights Lion and Hero of the Empire, deserves a special mention on this. During his tenure, he's personally decapitated in one single sword strike a rival king in the name of Griffonia, de facto cementing the quick annexation of their primary rival. Once the Empire of Gryphus unified, he proceeded to gain more fame by defeating King Sombra in battle - Twice, each time leading to crippling damage on the despot, including cutting off his horn! This is without mentioning his "lesser" feats, which in themselves make him sound like an overachiever.
• Balkanize Me: The griffons were once united under the ancient Empire of Gryphus, but when Discord's reign of terror engulfed the world they fractured into several nations: the Kingdom of Griffonia, the Duchy of Wingbardy, the Kingdom of Aquileia, and the Feathersian League.
• Barbarian Tribe: The Diamond Dog packs that infest the wilderness of the griffon lands were this but were integrated into the empire as full citizens.
• The Big Damn Kiss: Gabriella gives Garrick one following the Battle of Wingbardy.
  • Gawain gets one from Isabelle after he helps her have a nice time at the Annual Unification Day Gala and admits that he likes her.
• Black Knight: The Black Watch is comprised of the best knights in the empire, adorned in black steel armor and wielding black steel weapons.
• Black Swords Are Better: Orichalcum is a durable metal with anti-magic properties. Naturally, weapons made with this metal are really good. However, Orichalcum is also rather rare. Black steel (a metal made from combining steel and Orichalcum) also makes for great weapons, although weapons made with it are not as durable as Orichalcum made weapons and the anti-magic properties of Orichalcum are dampened due to the process.
• City of Spies: Changeling hives are basically this as they are a race of infiltrators.
• Civil War: The nation of Maretonia breaks out into when their queen is assassinated and having no heir to assume the throne. During the scramble, four factions managed to arise: House White Star, House Storm, the Abolitionists, and the Royal Guard (although they are largely trying to stay neutral).
• Checkpoint Bluff: Liberating the slaves from Maretonia involved snaking across the border in a variety of ways, such as in the mail.
• Cloudcuckoolander's Minder: Genevieve to Archimedes, as she works to keep the rather eccentric scientist grounded.
• Court Mage: Because griffons are Muggles, royal courts lacked a resident magic expert and instead had a resident scientist, such as in the case of Garrick's science advisor, Archimedes. After discovering nations that possessed the ability to use magic, Garrick gathered a few resident magic experts under his employ.
• Curb-Stomp Battle: When Caribou Vikings attack a Neighponese patrol fleet all of the raider ships get destroyed and their crews were either killed or captured. The Neighponese ships on the other hand only suffered cosmetic damage to two ships and only a half dozen wounded.
• Damn You, Muscle Memory!: Played With in-universe. Gabriella reflexively beheads a random chicken with a throwing knife due to experience with cockatrices.
• Defector from Decadence: Rose the Changeling to save herself from Phalanx, but also more reasonable, morally just, and cares about the long term future of the Hive.
• The Dragonslayer: In her time as a mercenary, it is noted that Gabriella managed to fight and slay a dragon.
  • During King Sombra's counterattack on Gryphus, he unleashes a corrupted dragon upon his foes. Konrad Hardbeak, Grandmaster of the Knights Lion and Hero of the Empire, engaged the dragon in battle and managed to slay it.
• Due to the Dead: Garrick goes so far as to commission a massive mausoleum to honor all of those who died against Sombra and in future conflicts.
• Elite Army: The Royal Guard of Maretonia are the most powerful military force within the nation.
• Elites Are More Glamorous: The Knightly Orders of the Empire of Gryphus are some of the greatest warriors within the empire. These orders even have their own elites known as the Knights of the Inner Circle who are armed with Black Steel swords.
  • The Black Watch are a force of two dozen of the best knights in the empire, lead by Konrad Heardbeak himself. In addition to wielding black steel swords, they also wear black steel armor.
• The Emperor: Garrick, of The Good King variety.
  • God-Emperor: Played With. The Imperial Cult holds the belief that the Garrick and the rest of the royal family are gods given flesh. This is a belief that Garrick finds more than a little uncomfortable, but doesn't actively discourage or encourage. Played Straight with Kōryū Ryūō of Neighpon, who is seen as being descended from divine dragons.
• The Empire: Non-evil examples so far! Griffonia becomes the Empire of Gryphus after Garrick manages to unite all the griffon lands back into a single, united nation. Neighpon is also the empire.
  • Hegemonic Empire: The Empire of Gryphus is this kind of empire, having united the Griffon lands through negotiations rather than conquest, peacefully integrating the Diamond Dog packs, and making the Crystal Empire a protectorate. Everyone within the empire is very happy to be there
  • Resurgent Empire: Again, Gryphus was divided into a number of different nations. When Garrick reassembles them back into one nation, they are back to their former glory.
• Enemy Mine: [Following the Royal Guard joining the fighting in the Civil War properly, they along with the Abolitionists and House White Star become temporary allies as they all target the much more hated House Storm.
• Epic Fail: The Royal Guard was somehow unable to stop a chicken from reaching the king's chambers one morning.
• Everyone Is a Suspect: Turn 26 points out the almost everyone, almost every major and notable pony within Maretonia had at one point, or the next, thought about killing the Queen Mareia, with some having elaborate plans to do the deed.

• Fantastic Racism: Completely Averted within the Empire of Gryphus, as Emperor Garrick undertakes many projects to eliminate this trope wherever possible to avoid problems. Naturally, this only adds to his status as The Good King.
• Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Crops up a lot with this quest.
  • Griffon culture bears some resemblance to Medieval Germanic culture.
  • The Yaks are Mongolian as per canon.
  • Neighpon is Feudal Japan.
  • Libertalia is a pirate and crime boss run island nation, not too dissimilar to the Republic of Pirates.
  • Maretonia is Ancient Rome.
  • Canterbury is a mix between medieval England and France during the age of chivalry, along with influence from the Arthurian Legends.
  • The Minotaur Republics are based on Ancient Greece.
  • The Emerald Isles are somewhat based on the British Isles.
  • The Caribou of Petty Kingdoms of Olenia are based heavily on Scandinavian Vikings.
• Fire-Forged Friends: The Winter War saw not only Gryphus, but the Yaks and Neighpon join together to bring down Sombra once and for all.
• Flaming Sword: Sombra is defeated for the second time to one of these, right between the eyes.
• Gadgeteer Genius: Resident court scholars, Archimedes and Genevieve are responsible for the Gryphus various technological innovation during the course of Garrick's reign.
• Germanic Efficiency: While not actually German, the Empire of Gryphus is Germanic in terms of culture and they are highly efficient. From technological innovations to their military, to their bureaucracy, to their intelligence network... The griffons are nothing if not efficient.
• God Guise: Canterbury's chief deity, the Lady of the Lakes, is actually a Changeling Queen masquerading as a goddess to feed off the worship of the native population.
• Grim Up North: The land of the griffons is rather harsh, often plagued with monsters, brigands, rogue dragons, and worse. This naturally means the griffons are a hardy people with a martial culture.
• Had to Be Sharp: As mentioned above, the Griffons had to be a hardy people living in their harsh environment with no magic to rely on.
• Half-Human Hybrid: Or more accurately, half-griffon hybrid. Hippogryphs as the result of griffons and ponies mating with one another, and unlike their griffon parents, they do display some magical talent.
• Happily Adopted: Gwendolyn and Gleaming Pearl love being part of the Golden-Feather family.
• Happily Married: Garrick and Gabriella are quite happily married. In fact, their love is so strong it managed to power the Crystal Heart and destroy Sombra!
• Hard-Drinking Party Girl: Frida Bronzeclaw, Garrick's second steward and one of his potential wives from early on in the quest. She is known as the "Party Gryph" and loves to drink, dance and be merry, and never turns down a chance to take part in a celebration of any kind.
• Hidden Villain: The Changelings have been manipulating things from behind the scenes since the very beginning of the Quest.
• Hoist by His Own Petard: Queen Phalanx of the Changelings, wanted to prevent a Griffon Empire united under a warmonger like Brochard from being a threat to Canterbury, and by extension the Changeling Hive. So she arranged it so that Griffonia and Aquileia would go to war, with the hope that either Garrick would win and prevent the griffons from uniting under Brochard, or Brochard would be weakened by the fight and be easier to deal with. Years down the line, the Griffon Empire under Garrick would end up discovering the Changeling's and their plot in Canterbury when they traced Brochard's missing treasury back to Canterbury.
• Hostile Weather: When Sombra attacks Gryphus, he targeted them with a weaponized blizzard.
  • During the Maretonia Civil War, the pegasi of House Storm pushed their way into White Star territory until they reached the sea, where they used their natural Weather Manipulation magic to create a massive hurricane that ravages virtually the entire East Coast of Maretonia and kills thousands. It was only due to a prototype Cloudburster spell from the mages under House White Star that the hurricane was stopped in its tracks.
    • House Storm once again used their weather magic to burn their nation's capital of Roam.
• Humanoid Abomination: Or rather, Equine Abomination as Sombra employs the use of pony shaped horrors in his army.
• Humble Hero: Konrad "Just Doing My Duty" Hardbeak constantly downplays his legendary achievements.
• I Know You Know I Know: Phalanx knows about Garrick, Garrick knows about Phalanx, but Phalanx doesn't know that Garrick knows about her.
• I Need a Freaking Drink: The absurd successes of the intelligence branch constantly drive Garrick and Ravenburg to seek solace in the wine cellar.
• Interspecies Romance: It isn't uncommon for Griffons to form relationships with Diamond Dogs or Ponies after they were integrated into Griffon society.
• Katanas Are Just Better: Especially when they are made of an anti-magic metal as is the case with Konrad Hardbeak's personal sword.
• Kill It with Fire: Sombra's forces hate fire, and Hardbeak defeats Sombra for the second time with a fiery sword.
• Lady and Knight: Queen Chevaline and Calard Bohemond from the Kingdom of Canterbury fit this trope of the Bright Lady and White Knight dynamic given the knightly culture their nation possesses.
• Lady of War: Gabriella in a nutshell.
• Lost Common Knowledge / Lost Technology: The Age of Discord let no one unaffected, leaving a lot of the past, and technology with it missing but being found again over time. (See airship, see Old Empire Gods being worshipped again.)
• Made a Slave: The Crystal Ponies were enslaved under King Sombra with his dark magic. Later, some griffons and Qilin are captured by pirates and enslaved by the Maretonians.
  • When the griffons send an expedition west of Yak Yakistan, the nation they found, Storm Country, also practices slavery, with the natui Yetis having captured an expedition from Equestria and one Yak and put them to work in the mines.
• The Magnificent: Garrick has a few of these, including "The Unifier", "The Lightbringer", and "The Liberator".
  • Konrad Hardbeak is known as "The Kingslayer" for killing King Cyril Brochard in battle.
• Master Swordsman: Many characters, Konrad Hardbeak standing above all of them. Brochard, Sombra's Eldritch Abomination, and even Sombra himself learn this the hard way.
• Minor Crime Reveals Major Plot: The theft of Brochard's treasury incites Ravenburg to find it, eventually causing the Griffon Empire to discover the existence of the Changelings.
• Mole in Charge: Brochard was a victim of this, having put a changeling in charge of his intelligence apparatus, who used it to manipulate him into self-destructing, and then running off with the whole treasury.
• Monster Protection Racket: In an odd sense as according to Word of God, the Changelings in Canterbury are breeding the nation's monster populations for the purposes of their Queen's God Guise. The staging of these monsters attacks or lack thereof are used to show the Lady of the Lakes' wrath or favor.
• Mook Horror Show: The first exploration towards what is revealed to be the Crystal Empire ends with nearly all of them killed, and they describe the hell they went through upon their return.
• Muggle Foster Parents: Garrick and Gabriella are this to their adopted daughter Gleaming Pearl as griffons are incapable of magic while Pearl is a Crystal Pony capable of crystalmancy.
• My Defense Need Not Protect Me Forever: The Empire of Gryphus weathers two attempted invasions by Sombra and then wipes him out in retaliation while he is weak.
• Neutral No Longer: The Royal Guard decides to enter the fray of the Maretonian Civil War one year after the great storm, denounce the nobility in general, and launch an all-out assault on House Storm.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Rivals!: The Maretonian succession/civil war escalated from run-of-the-mill skullduggery and warring to a war crime as Pegicles and his forces unleash a magical storm that causes a refugee crisis and multitude thousands of noncombatants to lose their life. This is then followed by them burning the city of Roam to the ground, worsening the refugee crisis and destroying the ancient capital for both good or ill
• Non-Indicative Name: The title ironically enough. While there has been plenty of conflict, the Gryphons first answer to most problems is diplomancy. They will absolutely fight if it comes to that, but they always try diplomacy first. This ironically makes the Empire and it's allies some of the most harmonious places on the planet.
• One-Hit Kill: Hardbeak takes out Sombra twice like this, and possibly the Shadow Dragon too.
• One-Man Industrial Revolution: Court scholars Archimedes and Genevieve are responsible for numerous technological advancements within the empire, and thanks to their efforts in the span of twenty-eight years they advanced Gryphus from being a medieval society to a Industrial-era society.
• Only Sane Man: Or only sane ponies such as Marecinas and Ambrosia within Maretonia and its civil war.
• The Order: The Knightly Orders of Gryphus who are the elites of the Empire. There are four of these orders: The Knights Lion, the Knight Talon, the Knights Panther, and the Crystal Guardians.
• The Paladin: Canterburian Grail Knights are religious warriors dedicated to the Lady of the Lakes.
• Post-Kiss Catatonia: Gawain is reduced to this state thanks to Isabelle's gratitude.
• The Power of Love: Garrick and Gabriella's outstanding relationship coupled with the Crystal Heart finally vaporizes Sombra for good.
• Quality over Quantity: During the battles against Brochard's forces and later Sombra's forces, the Griffonia/Gryphus forces quality constantly trumps their opponents' quantity.
• Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: Gawain's inner circle consists of Gawain the Crown Prince, Isabelle who is the hated Brochard's niece, Ki Seong the Qilin ambassador from Neighpon, and Sebastian the eccentric scholar.
• Refuge in Audacity: Liberating the slaves from Maretonia included antics like impersonating a diplomat and mailing oneself to the border.
• Retired Outlaw: The pirates of Libertalia are (reluctantly) becoming this due to Imperial investments turning their pirate’s republic into a proper economy. The captains and crime bosses are not thrilled with the abandonment of their previous ways of living, have adapted remarkably well.
• Rhetorical Question Blunder: Garrick can't help but wonder why his kids seem to enjoy roughhousing. His wife, the Lady of War Gabriella, dryly answers him.
• Rogue Agent: The Changeling "Rose", after Gryphus spies almost discovered the Changeling hive that set up shop in Canterbury, to save herself from Queen Phalanx.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something: Garrick is not an idle king by any stretch of the imagination, as he gets very involved in the day to day running of the country and ensuring that Gryphus prospers and actively fights in any wars his nation gets involved in. This has lead to him being completely loved by his people, to the point where his son Gawain worries he won't be able to live up to his father's example when he becomes king.
• Scam Religion: With the revelation that Canterbury's deity is actually a Changeling Queen, the Church of the Lady of the Lakes is basically this.
• Slave Liberation: During the Winter War, the Empire of Gryphus worked to free the Crystal Ponies from their enslavement under King Sombra. Later they would also work to free their own people from enslavement in Maretonia, working alongside the native Abolitionists to free many slaves.
• Slave Mooks: Those unfortunate enough to be enslaved by King Sombra are used as mind-controlled combatants.
• Slavery Is a Special Kind of Evil: After seeing and learning of the horrors the Crystal Ponies had to endure under Sombra, slavery has become something of a Berserk Button for the Empire of Gryphus as a whole.
• The Spymaster: Garrick's court spymaster, Lord Ravenburg. He and his spies are insanely effective at their jobs.
• Starter Villain: The first real antagonist of the quest was King Cyril Brochard, who served as Garrick's rival from the Kingdom of Aquileia early on in the quest. When he was finally confronted in battle he was easily dispatched by Konrad Hardbeak.
• Stealth Expert: The Empire of Gryphus' spies are ridiculously effective at what they do, almost constantly outmaneuvering everyone they come across. Keep in mind the spies largely consist of Griffons, who are Muggles in a world where almost everybody else has magical powers. They are so good that even a Changeling admits they are too good when they almost stumble upon their hive by accident.
• Stuff Blowing Up: Anytime Karl "Captain Kaboom" is involved, this is inevitable.
• The Theocracy: The Kingdom of Canterbury. Played With in that their sole religion isn't exactly government-enforced but is still practised solely throughout the kingdom and Queen Chevaline serves the dual role as both head of state and the highest religious leader in the land.
• Tome of Eldritch Lore: Sendak Manuscript, which was recovered from the Archives of the Shadow King Sombra.
• Trap Master: Karl "Captain Kaboom" frequently uses explosives to ambush enemy troops and sabotage infrastructure.
• Underground City: Settlements of the Diamond Dogs are all typically set up underground.

• Unwanted False Faith: Due to how successful his rule has been and how beloved he has become, a cult has sprung up and begun worshipping Garrick and his family as living gods. Garrick is uncomfortable with being worshiped as a god but doesn't stop them from practising their religion.
• War Is Hell: Especially when you're fighting an existential threat like Sombra. The Yaks learn this the hard way when hundreds of them die fighting off Sombra's forces, shocking them as they were more used to small skirmishes where casualties would only reach the double digits at most.
• What Did I Do Last Night?: Gawain and his friend Sebastian wakes up in a inn at the Crystal City after drinking a potent brew of mushroom moonshine given to them by Archimedes. When Gawain woke up he had a conspicuously placed plant next to him, a fake moustache glued to his beak, his coin purse having more than it did when he’d first arrived in the Crystal City, and a Crystal necklace around his neck, while Sebastian had a monocle over a black eye and lipstick on his cheek. They never did figure out what happened, but over the years, rumors and bits of hearsay would reach them and they have to question which were accurate and which were exaggerated.
• White Man's Burden: In-universe example, Merlin notes that the Kingdom of Canterbury held the belief that it was their duty to rebuild society and inherit the rest of the world after Discord's reign. Encounters with the nomadic Yak clans of YakYakistan and the slaving nation of Maretonia only reinforced this belief.

---