For a moment I thought that TYCOON STEPPEN was the character’s full name and not title+name and I was disappointed we couldn’t play as someone with as awesome a name.
Also the more that this mod tries to talk about the Old World the more that I think that a Hungry City Chronicles mod would be wild but probably impossible to model with a Paradox engine.
Chapter 10 - The Great Reform
Emperor Thao I also begins introducing his heir, Prince Pollock, to the realm; a grand feast is planned for the end of summer, where all the lords of California can fully meet the prince.
The emperor also uses the feast to announce the Great Reform, a series of council approved laws and reforms that should hopefully ease their burden and allow for better governance. In reality, they greatly favor the emperor, giving him sweeping powers to change Imperial succession and determine what actions constitute treason. Thanks to the never ending wine and the excellent food, his vassals largely miss the subtext of the Great Reform.
Prince Pollock is quickly married to his cousin Fine, the daughter of Prince Khais; the marriage ensures that the two branches of House Armour will forever be entwined.
As 2700 becomes 2701, Emperor Thao I announces to the Imperial Court that his son, Prince Pollock, is to be made the new Count of San Benito; perhaps more importantly, he appoints the prince as the new Governatus of California. It becomes clear to all present that the time when the Governatus could operate outside the sphere of Imperial control is over; the office is now forever linked with the emperor.
Chapter 11 - Interesting Times
The Imamites continue to be a problem, as the Prefect of Los Padres, a man named Keaton, comes out as a secret Imamite. Los Padres is an important prefecture, as it contains Tejon Pass, which is the locked gate that guards the Valley from invasion; allowing it to be owned by an Imamite rebel is a threat to the security of California. Thankfully, the Imperial Guards are able to quickly arrest Prefect Keaton and drag him back to Sacramento, where he is stripped of his titles; Emperor Thao I elevates General Kyra’s son, his nephew, to the office of Prefect of Los Padres.
The emperor also begins working on making sure history remembers him in the same way it remembers Elton the Lawgiver; it will take time and effort, but in the end it’ll be worth it, if it makes House Armour remembered as paragon of art and philosophy.
The Wineland War initially goes in Gran Francisco’s favor, as the Imperial Army is slow to wake; early victories Marina, Yountville, and Napa embolden the Franciscan forces and give them hope for a swift victory.
These hopes are dashed at the Battle of Vallejo, where a massive Imperial force crushes the Franciscan army; the Franciscans lose nearly half their number, while the Imperials lose only ten men. It is a stark reminder that the Empire is not to be underestimated.
In November, Princess Alice the Pale is married to High Chief Nolan II of Death Valley; the marriage lends legitimacy to the claim that Death Valley is a true Californian kingdom.
But, instead of rushing into Las Vegas, the Mormons remain quiet through most of the Wineland War. Emperor Thao I takes advantage of this silence to quickly conquer Wineland for the Empire so that he can focus on the Mormons.
King Stanford III of Jeffeson pledges to support Emperor Thao I during the Second Socal Expedition; not too long after several regiments of Jeffersonian troops arrive in Sacramento, ready to fight the Mormons.
The Wineland War ends in September 2703, barely a year after its start; another coup has ousted Queen Sapphire and replaced her with a distant member of House Yudkow. Broke and tired, King Elton I surrenders the Prefecture of Wineland to the emperor.
The first and only battle of the Second Socal Expedition takes place at Havasu Falls. The Mormon army, barely 600 strong, crumbles before the superior Imperial Army.
Las Vegas is reinforced and its old fort rebuilt by the Imperial Army; as the only way the Mormons can attack California, Las Vegas is a linchpin in the defense of the Empire.
2706 starts with a victory over the enemies of California, promising a bright future for the Empire; with Emperor Thao I at the helm of state, nothing seems impossible for the Golden State.
Chapter 12 - 2706 State of the World
Things have greatly changed since the time of King Pollock the Ram, not just for California, but for the rest of the world as well.
Under Emperor Thao I, the Empire of California is more united and powerful than it has been since Elton the Lawgiver first created it. The emperor still remains as hale and hearty as he was when he first claimed the throne, promising to rule for many more years to come.
Gran Francisco continues to be a land of instability; King Walter the Wise is back on the throne, after yet another coup. The once great kingdom has fallen far from its place as the jewel of California, since the loss of Goldengate.
Meanwhile, Jefferson continues to prosper under King Stanford III; a bulwark of stability, Jefferson guards California from the north, stopping any number of Gaian raiders from reaching Sacramento.
To the south is the impoverished Kingdom of Baja; currently ruled by the child king Baltasar III, its survival relies on the goodwill of Emperor Thao I. It is unclear how much longer this goodwill will last.
To the north of California two great realms are slowly emerging under the Gaians: the Kingdom of Cascadia and the Kingdom of Lincoln. While not currently a threat to California, should they ever manage to find common ground, they could easily force their way into Sacramento. Thankfully, Queen Penny I and Queen Veronica II hate each other, claiming that their “signs” are natural born enemies; whatever that means, it is apparent that no grand Gaian alliance will materialize while they rule.
North of the two Gaian kingdoms is the Kingdom of Januug Tlagaang; based out of Vancouver, the people of Januug Tlagaang are feared in California for their raiding prowess. The current king, Tahaygen the Tenacious, is, by their standards, a kind and temperate man; this has not stopped their frequent raids on the Californian coast, but it has made them less violent.
Across the Great Basin Desert lies the realm of the Mormons, Deseret. While outwardly it projects an image of a strong realm, in reality it is one in decline. Under High Judge Verril, not only did the Children of Zion fail to secure Socal, but they have lost ground to the tribals of Gadsen under Manuelito. While still possible for the Mormons to recover, it is growing increasingly unlikely they will.
For the longest time, the American Great Plains were dominated by the Catholic Kingdom of Comancheria, but in recent years the Atomicists of Sierra Madre have begun expanding into the area from Mexico. Now King Pahayoko II must deal with the up-and-coming Queen Nina I if he hopes to protect his realm from the Old World Cultists of Mexico.
Complicating matters for King Pahayoko II are the nomads of Kickatus to his north; fierce raiders and horselords, Sheriff Galen III has made it his purpose in life to destroy Camancheria.
In the Mid-East, the Kingdoms of Iowa and Chicagoland do what they can to protect Catholics and other Christians from the Old World pagans of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. Queen Jilly I, crusader who was given the crown of Chicagoland, acts somewhat as a mentor and teacher for the young Queen Emma and the two kingdoms enjoy an alliance with each other.
The biggest threat to Christianity in the Mid-East is the Jarldom of the Twin Cities; having conquered most of Michigan and Wisconsin, Jarl Ollrod I has set his eyes on conquering Iowa and Chicagoland.
In Ohio, Consumerism has failed to bring forth the change it promised; the current Tycoon of the Reserve, Stevland, has banned the religion and brought his realm back to the Rust Cultist faith. His zealous nature makes it unlikely that Consumerism will be able to survive in Cleveland, the city of its birth.
While the Christians of the Mid-East struggle to protect their people and kingdoms, the Christians of the Far East fight among themselves while the wolves gather at the door. The Anglican kingdoms of Ontario and the Maritimes have banded together to try and counter the Hudsonia-Deitscherei alliance; while Hudsonia follows the Ursiline faith and the Deitscherei are staunchly Anabaptist, they have found common ground in their shared distrust of the Anglicans of Canada. For their part, the kings of Ontario and the Maritimes have done nothing to prove this distrust unfounded, having declared several wars on both kingdoms with the goal of enforcing their faith on them.
While the Christians argue and scheme, the tribes that surround them slowly grow in strength. To the north, High Chief Kajika has managed to unite, through war and diplomacy, several local tribes under his rule. The Eeyou Itschee Coalition, as it is called, promises to be a problem for Ontario and the Maritimes if not properly managed.
To the south, the Rust Cultists of the Mid-East have united under the rule of High Chieftess Allison of Transallegheny, who has turned her gaze towards the conquest of Ohio and New York, which would put her in direct conflict with Hudsonia.
The Americanists have managed to cobble together a kingdom under General Eudoxia I; called the Old Dominion, the kingdom has designs on the Delmarva and Gotham, which has brought it into conflict with Deitscherei. Only time will tell if the Old Dominion has any staying power, beyond its current ruler.
The South remains unified under the Holy Columbian Confederacy; once thought invincible, under Emperor Omar I the HCC has faced its first real threat in the form of the Viceroy. Following a successful invasion of Florida, the Viceroy has slowly, but surely, expanded into HCC lands, bringing into question if the Empire truly is bless by God.
The Caribbean has still not recovered from the fall of the Empire and its people are scattered and disunited. In recent years, there has been a small hope for a return to stability in the form of Queen Ella of the West Indies; since the fall of the Empire, she has worked to forge a strong, united kingdom. Her biggest rivals in her quest for unity are the lords of Cuba, who have begun working together to prevent her further expansion on to the island.
In Central America, the followers of the Saints contend with a resurgence in Mesoamerican religions; the kingdoms of Mexico and Rio Bravo are threatened on all sides by the Mesoamerican kingdoms Michoacán, Mixteca, and Yucatán. The only thing stopping their complete destruction by their hands is the fact that the three kingdoms cannot agree on which Mesoamerican religion is the true faith.
South America, a land once united by the Gracia Divinia faith is now splintered in the face of Tres Potencias, a religion native to Venuzela and popular with the nomads and tribes of the Amazon. Faced with this threat, the King of Puente Grande, the King of Zulia, and the Lord Proprietor of Cartagena have banded together to protect the few remaining Gracia Divinia realms.
While it seems like Gracia Divinia is on the decline, its rival Tres Potencias seems to be unstoppable. Popular among the tribals and nomads of South America, the only thing stopping it from completely dominating the landscape is the fact that its followers seem content to fight among each other.
Finally, the August Empire of Brasilia continues to exert its power upon South America, though with the recent plague and the rise of the Gaúcho tribes it has not been as active in the region as it once was; the Northern Capitancy has only forced the Muslims of Guyana to swear fealty to the August Emperor. Only time will tell if this trend of weak Governor Militants will continue.
The World in 2706
Chapter 13 - End of a Legend
February sees Emperor Thao I rewarded for his long, hard work in the Ivy League: the last Dean has died and the members of the League lift him up to their highest office. He is humbled by their faith in him.
When Emperor Thao I took the throne from Emperor Reuben II, he threw out several of old laws that the kings of California disagreed with, one of which was Regulated Inheritance; sensing a chance to bring back the old law, but this time written in his favor, he brings it to his council for a vote.
The Right of Regulation of Realm Inheritance is shot down by his council, who are not eager to see the emperor given any more power.
Perhaps as an outlet for his frustration, Emperor Thao I declares war on the Kingdom of Baja with the goal of bringing the Prefecture of Ensenada under the empire’s direct control. His council is more than happy to rubber stamp the war, if it means they don’t have to deal with an angry emperor.
In October, with his council and all of California distracted by the war, the emperor proposes a law that will give him sole say over who is imprisoned, effectively cutting the Imperial Council out of the decision. The Cutting of Excess Bureaucracy Act, as it is known, phrases the change as one that will ultimately streamline the bureaucracy of the empire by freeing up the council to vote on more important issues. It passes with relative ease.
Emperor Thao I also continues to court artisans and scholars in the hopes of making himself known as a patron of higher learning; to this end, he creates a massive fund that any philosopher or scholar can have a piece of to fund their works, as long as they are willing to relocate to Sacramento and publish their works through the Imperial Library. It turns out to be a big hit and soon the Imperial Palace is full of great thinkers.
While Sacramento flourishes, the war in Baja continues. It goes as expected, as the child king of Baja is unable to offer much of a challenge.
The Ensenada War ends with an Imperial victory and the recognition of the emperor’s right to directly rule over the area. Slowly, but surely, more and more of California falls under the sway of Emperor Thao I.
Chapter 14 - The Lecher
Emperor Pollock I is a… complex man; while it cannot be denied that he is a bureaucrat and administer of great skill, instead of focusing on managing his realm, he instead is content to party, drink, and flirt without regard for what such actions have for his public image.
Scandal rocks the Imperial Court in January of 2709: High Chief Nolan II of Death Valley brings credible proof that Emperor Pollock I and his sister, Princess Alice, are in an incestuous relationship, which has resulted in a child. Emperor Pollock I simply walks out of the throne room, instead of responding to the high chief’s claims.
July brings grim news: Emperor Pollock I’s eldest son, Thao, dies of some unknown illness. The new Imperial heir is Nicholas, a quiet young boy who was never expected to take the throne. The emperor loses himself in the arms of one of his many mistresses, resulting in yet another Imperial bastard.
Things take a turn in 2712 at the Battle of Grass Valley, where the Imperial Army faces off against the main Consumerists army, lead by High Chairman Adam himself. For the first time in decades, the Imperial Army is forced to retreat.
The Imperial Army suffers a second defeat, this time at Placerville. Disheartened by the emperor’s poor leadership, many Imperials simply desert rather than fight for the Lecher Emperor.
With the rise of heathen powers to the east, as well at home, and a weak, lecherous emperor on the throne, it seems as if California’s star is once again in decent. The dream of a unified, strong California seems more and more distant every day.
No update today because I was working on this (minor game spoilers, maybe?):
I got the Long After the End mod working for EU4; its one of the worst put together mods I’ve ever seen, so I spent most of the day wrangling it to make do what its supposed to. But it was worth it!
Looking forward to it.
I hope that Adam Profit-Margin does well with whatever he’s doing out there. He deserves to with a cool name like that.
Chapter 15 - A Bad End
The Imperial bureaucracy also continues to be extremely good at collecting taxes for the crown, which is greatly appreciated during these dire times.
This tax money, as well as the money coming in from the new foreign trade, is used to hire several mercenary bands to help reinforce the Imperial Army. This turns out to be an excellent idea, as with fresh troops the Imperial Army is able to beat the Consumerists at the Battle of Fernley. Urged on by this victory, the Imperial Army manages to take Susanville, finally bringing the war to the Consumerists.
The Nevadan Reclamation is still a long way from being over, though with the Consumerists divided, it is mostly mop up work for the Imperial Army.
Teacher Channing even offers to further educate the prince in the intricacies of Cetic thought; eager to get back to drinking, the emperor agrees.
His son, now Emperor Nicholas I, is but a boy of 13 and is untested in the realm of Imperial politics. It remains to be seen if he will join his father as a figurehead emperor, or if he will blaze his own path in the image of his grandfather, Emperor Thao I.
At least the Regency will only be a few years.
Pollock single-handedly tanked both my administrative bureaucracy score AND Imperial authority to unheard of levels, which I have to spend literal decades fixing. I fucking hate him.
Easy come easy go for the mandate of heaven, I guess.
Please, its the Prime Mandate and also claiming it is super hard, for some reason?
Given who created it, how much of the religion of Cetism is devoted to AI development?
Sadly zero percent.
Chapter 16 - A Repayment of Debts
Being too young to rule, Emperor Nicholas I requires a regent; following a flurry of assassinations, bribes, and threats, the Imperial Court manages to oust the bureaucracy from its control over the throne. Prefect Brittany of the North Valley is appointed Imperial Regent and given the task of managing California in the young emperor’s name, as well as seeing to his education.
Meanwhile, the War for Salinas continues; there is no threat of loss to the greatly diminished Gran Francisco, so it is mostly just routine mop up work.
In September, only months after the start of the War of Salinas, peace is declared and Gran Francisco formally recognizes Imperial rule of the prefecture. But there’s a slight wrinkle: the land is currently under the rule of the Haida raider known as Forrest; apparently the king gave him ownership of the land in exchange for his fealty and oath to protect the coast from his northern countrymen.
Thankfully, Count Forrest is a follower of the traditional Haida faith Xhúuyee K’iigaang and is thus subject to the Right of Revocation as established by Emperor Thao the Glorious. Count Forrest refuses to give his lands up without a fight, and the ensuing war is short and sweet.
Count Forrest surrenders to the Empire less than a month after the start of his war; perhaps he was hoping his Haida countrymen would flock to his banner, but no such support materialized. He is stripped of his titles, which then immediately fall into a sort of bureaucratic black hole; the Imperial Court cannot decide who should receive the lands and associated titles, so they are left ungoverned.
Unlike his grandfather, Emperor Nicholas I has no interest in joining the very slightly heretical Ivy League; instead he opts to join the Emperor’s Disciples, a society dedicated to studying Imperial teachings to fully derive their sacred insights. The Disciples happily welcome him into the fold, as he is the first Emperor to show any interest in them for several decades.
And just like that, Emperor Nicholas I proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he is no one’s puppet and that all debts will be repaid with interest. While nowhere near as fierce as Emperor Thao the Glorious, Emperor Nicholas I’s deceptively quietness hides the same keen mind that was able to raise House Armour up to the Imperial Throne. The Years of the Poor Emperors has come to an end.
Chapter 17 - The Baja Reclamation
In March, Fort Bragg, one of Jefferson’s greatest military structures, falls to the Imperial Army; a weakened and malnourished Jeffersonian garrison welcomes the emperor and his army with open arms. Emperor Nicholas I listens to their stories of frequent Haida raids from the north and little to no support from the king. The emperor is appalled that any Californian lord would allow this to happen under his watch.
More and more, it becomes apparent to the emperor that the Redwoods War is one of protection; every garrison the Imperial Army encounters is hailed with cheers and open arms. The Haida menace has not been kind to the prefecture and the sight of the Imperial standard brings hope to the people.
The first Jeffersonian army is encountered by the Imperials at Eureka; a great many of the Jeffersonian force simply deserts rather than fight the Imperials; the resulting Battle of Eureka is a battle in name only.
On January 1st, 2720 King Stanford III presents himself to the emperor at Sacramento; he profusely apologizes for his arrogance in thinking he knew better than the emperor what was best for the people of the Redwoods. Emperor Nicholas I accepts his peace offering, and the Redwoods becomes part of the Empire of California once again.
Unfortunately, the plan will take years to go into full effect and does nothing to stop the Haida raids currently happening along the coast.
In August, word reaches the Imperial Court that Prince Blake, the son of King Stanford III, is gathering supporters with the goal of claiming the Imperial Throne for himself. Emperor Nicholas I takes a wait and see approach, despite his advisors’ best efforts; to him, if the prince can take the throne, then it is a clear signal that House Armour has lost the Prime Mandate.
The Haida, long used to lucrative raids on the Redwoods and Gran Francisco, suddenly start encountering the Imperial Army. As it turns out, they do not like it.
While the emperor is in seclusion, the Consumerists of Nevada rise up, with the hope that they shall reclaim the land for the High Chairman.
At Davis Creek, the Consumerist rebels are swiftly crushed by the Imperial Army; their leaders are captured and the revolt ends before it even had a chance to begin.
The Baja Reclamation goes off with out a hitch, as the Imperial Army beats the Atomicists at the Battle of Loreto, before swiftly taking the city.
So, of course, Prince Blake decides that this is the perfect chance to attack.
Through strategic use of bribes and favors, the prince’s army was able to make it to the outskirts of Sacramento before being stopped by the Imperial Guard. He quickly drives them off and begins to lay siege to the surrounding countryside.
The Imperial Army hurries back from Baja to Sacramento and, in February 2723, manages to break the siege of Sacramento and drive off the prince’s army at Folosom. They pursue the rebels to Nevada City, where they hope escape to Reno and take advantage of the fact Prince Blake is the son of King Stanford III; the Imperials give them no quarter and a humiliated Prince Blake is forced to surrender.
While the Imperial Army was away protecting the capital, the Atomicists have overrun Imperial Baja, slaughtering countless Cetic peasants in the process.
Peace is made not long after and the King of Sorona gives up his claims on Loreto. Emperor Nicholas I hosts a massive festival in Sacramento, partly to celebrate his victory of the the Atomicist and partly to celebrate the fact that the Prime Mandate is still with House Armour.
During the festival, Emperor Nicholas I announces that the Baja Reclamation is not yet over; despite the protests of his generals and the general war weariness of the populace, the emperor refuses to stop until all of Baja is free from the Atomicists. The feeling in the streets of Sacramento is that the war in the south will never truly end and for the first time many openly wonder if Emperor Nicholas I’s brilliant rulership was simply a fluke.
Chapter 18 - The Blossom Age
While the emperor grows sicker and sicker, the Baja Reclamation continues; its rapidly becoming apparent that the Queen of Sierra Madre has no interest in holding the peninsula.
In November, Emperor Nicholas I is made Arahnat of the Disciples; this is the first time since Elton the Lawgiver that a sitting emperor has been made head of the society. It is truly a day to remember.
To ring in the new year, peace is made between California and Sierra Madre; Baja Sur is turned over to the empire and the queen quits all claims she had on the land. The Baja Reclamation is finally over.
In January 2728, Emperor Nicholas I finds his grandfather’s plans for having the empire adopt regulated inheritance; copying it almost exactly, the emperor introduces the Regulated Inheritance Law to his council. Unlike Emperor Thao the Glorious, who failed to gain enough support for the law, Emperor Nicholas I is able to sway his council into approving it.
Feeling confident following the success of the Regulated Inheritance Law, Emperor Nicholas I, who’s dislike of the Imperial Council is well known, also floats the Imperial Prerogative, a law that would remove the council’s right to vote on wars, instead giving the right solely to the emperor. Surprisingly, his council is more than happy to forfeit their power in exchange for nothing.
Emperor Nicholas I also sends a legion of gurus and bureaucrats to the county of Orange with the goal of finally stamping out the Imamite heresy with in the province. While it does rile up the local populace, the county finally becomes majority Cetic.
In 2730, California is experiencing a Golden Age under Emperor Nicholas I; culture, art, philosophy, science, and theology flourish under him, while the Imperial bureaucracy functions better than it ever did under Emperor Thao the Glorious. What’s more, California is more unified than ever and it seems like a bright, prosperous future lays before the Golden State. Truly, it is a great time to be alive.
Chapter 19 - Bleeding Jefferson
In June, Prince Blake decides to try his luck again, this time deciding to take the throne from his father.
County Blythe, the final stronghold of the Imamite heresy, is targeted by the emperor for conversion; he uses the same strategy as he did with Orange, sending a mix of bureaucrats and gurus. While the majority of peasants in the province relent and openly follow the Cetic faith, a few zealots refuse and actively begin plotting against the empire.
Caught in three different wars, Jefferson is completely unable to stop the Imperial Army, as city after city falls to them.
In April, a coup results in King Stanford III’s ousting and Prince Blake made the new king; he immediately pays off the Haida and pledges loyalty to the emperor. With the old king gone, Emperor Nicholas I is forced to end his war, as the Prime Mandate is back with Jefferson.
The war goes much the same as the last one, as the ailing Jefferson has no hope of defending against the superior Imperial Army.
Still, it is inevitable that the Imperial Army will win the war and, in November of 2735, King Blake is finally forced to admit defeat. The Shasta Cascade is now part of California once again.
Unlike their previous Great Expeditions, the Mormons now face a united, strong California; of course, the Mormons have not been quiet since their last Expedition, and rumors claim that the Nauvoo Legion rides again…
