Duchy of Talouse



The Duchy of Talouse is one of the 4 states of Southern Griffonia that have banded together under the Karthinian Pact. With Kingdom of Wingbardy the strongest country of the alliance, Talouse will have to balance protection from without and within.

Talouse's Duchess is Ginerva

Kingdom of Wingbardy - Wingbardy's actions can be dangerous, especially if Talouse remains in a faction - leaving the faction may be the best option depending on Talouse's choices, outlined below.

Communist and Fascist Wingbardy, upon converting the country successfully to their ideology, can begin to integrate Talouse, reducing its autonomy at 1/day. It is best to leave the faction before this happens.
 * A Harmonic Wingbardy will not harm Talouse, and will be a strong defensive alliance. However, this can severely limit the opportunity for expansion as Talouse will have to follow the justifying rules of a democratic nation. It will take the Keep our Friends Close focus which will influence Talouse towards Harmony.
 * A Non-Aligned Wingbardy may play more aggressively and will demand Talouse's integration or gain a war goal via a decision after doing the Wingbardian Empire focus if Talouse is still in the same faction.
 * A Fascist Wingbardy plays similarly to a Non-Aligned Wingbardy and will also demand Talouse's integration or gain a war goal via a decision after doing the Wingbardian Empire focus if Talouse is still in the same faction. It may take the Pressure Allies focus, which will push Talouse fascist.
 * A Communist Wingbardy will go into a civil war and will disband the Karthinian Pact. A victorious Communist Wingbardy then may either attempt to annex its neighbours via war, including Talouse, or influence and integrate them.

Lore
Archeological evidence dates griffon settlement in what is now Talouse to before 1000 BLB. These first inhabitants belonged to one of several dozen tribes whose names are now forgotten. The recorded history of Talouse begins with Arantigos’ conquest of the region in 620 BLB as part of his southern campaigns. Arantigos awarded the land to his nephew, Marco Talonostra, and tasked him with maintaining order and ruling in his stead. The conquest heralded a wave of migration and many Sparletans moved into the region, displacing the native population. Talonostra constructed the city of Talononte to serve as his administrative capital, and eventually the territory gained the name Talonsia, after its ward.

After Arantigos’ death, Talonostra consolidated power and declared himself King of Talonsia. With limited resources and griffonpower, Talonostra was thrown on the defensive and was forced to construct a string of mountain keeps to defend his small realm against the other post-Arantigan kingdoms. The most formidable of the rogue kingdoms proved to be Karthin, which began a series of conquests across the former empire’s southern territories in 566 BLB. The newly-born Karthinian Empire attempted three failed invasions of Talonsia, each time being repelled by the Talonostra’s defensive mountain.

Although victorious in battle, the conflicts drained enormous wealth from Talonsia. So, in 535 BLB, Talonsia agreed to become a march of Karthin. The period of peace that followed was one of prosperity for Talonsia, even as their imperial masters stagnated and declined, ultimately falling to the Wingbardians in 453 BLB. Talonsia quickly declared independence and was beset by barbarian invaders, but once again its fortifications proved impregnable. As the Wingbardian territories congealed into a patchwork of feudal states, Talonsia continued to maintain its defensive line of forts, proudly bearing the title of “Warden of the South”, a title once granted to the Talonostras by Arantigos himself.

Throughout the 2nd century BLB, Talonsia began to decentralize as local lords consolidated power around their keeps. Although the army remained loyal to the Talonostras, Talononte’s grip was loosening. The death knell came after the assassination of King Marus of Talonsia in 34 BLB. The kingdom, which by that point only nominally governed the lords, finally ceased to exist. A brutal succession war ensued, with a minor lord securing the capital and declaring himself Duke of Talononte. The birth of the Kingdom of Aquileia during the 2nd century ALB sparked a dramatic increase in trade in the western bay, greatly benefitting the region. Trade also accelerated the mixing of Talonsians and Wingbardians, and as time passed the land became more and more often referred to by its Wingbardian name, Talouse, instead of Talonsia. By the end of the 3rd century ALB, a strong Talousian culture had formed, marked by their veneration of Arantigos alongside typical Wingbardian traditions. The land remained politically disunited until 602, when Giovanni I, Duke of Talonsia was willed the Duchy of Navarro after the death of its last duke, Emmanuel IV. Giovanni accepted and combined the 2 crowns in a new state: the Duchy of Talouse.

When Grover I, King of Griffonstone, blessed by the Idol of Boreas, conquered Kingdom of Wingbardy in 706, Talousian forces fighting alongside the Wingbardians witnessed his army’s incredible might. As the mighty conquerer approached Folino, the last sovereign Duke, Francesco VI, bent the knee, making Talouse a vassal realm of the ascendant Griffonian Empire. Peace reigned for the next few centuries, and when massive coal deposits were discovered under the Talousian Highlands, several Wingbardian mining companies moved into the area to provide their homeland with a cheap and plentiful supply of coal.

In 972, Kingdom of Wingbardy seceded from the Empire. Giovanni III, then Duke, honoured the old alliance and seceded as well. Talouse joined the new Karthinian Pact, which became the major power bloc in Southern Griffonia. One key provision of the Pact was the right for Wingbardian mining companies to continue their operations in Talouse: the infamous Coal Clause derided by nearly all Talousians. Following Wingbardy’s example, Talouse established a national Parliament in order to embrace modernity. Unfortunately, just like in Wingbardy, the Parliament proved ineffective and several governments fell in succession.

Giovanni III died in sleep in 992 and was succeeded by his hot-headed daughter, Ginerva. The most well-known moment of her reign came during the General Strike of 1003. Thousands of workers marched down the streets of Talononte, calling for less hours, more pay, and the fair treatment of workers. The city ground to a halt while Parliament scrambled to think of a solution to quiet the rabble, yet at the same time wished to stay on the good side of the industrialists. The Duchess stormed into Parliament building, shouting “Lo giuro su Boreas, se voi bastardi non fate qualcosa, appenderò ognuno di voi in piazza!” (“I swear to Boreas, if you bastards don't do something, I'll hang each of you in the square!”). The very next day, Parliament passed a resolution granting workers slightly higher wages, a slightly reduced work day and some protections.

With the election of 1007 fast approaching, incumbent Prime Minister Marco Paltiori and his liberal government will have to fight hard to keep their position. It will be a tough fight, but securing Talouse’s place in the world will be an even tougher fight, no matter which party emerges victorious…

Economy Tree
All paths share this tree and it can be started as soon as the Elections of 1007 is completed.

The central branch is the most important, it'll give you several resarch bonuses and will quickly allow you to remove all development debuffs (science base, industrial base, illiteracy and poverty). You will also receive a small reduction of consumer goods and a couple of factories, the focus Public Schools will grant you 1 Research Slot.

The left branch notoriously will give you 24 crystals and bonuses to magical and nuclear research, whereas the right branch will grant you a total of 5 factories, 16 steel and a synythetic factory as well as research bonuses to syntethic reources.

Getting the LRN in Power
The League for National Restoration is a small movement that seeks to restore Talouse to it's ancient glory, rejecting the modern movements that corrupted their once great country. The first few focuses will grant you some political power and help you gain some Supremacy poularity, however the LRN is still a fringe movement for the most part, this is where Secure the Ballot comes in.

Completing that focus will unlock a series of repeatable decisions which will slowly raise supremacy support, however it'll also have pushback from the rest of society and every 45 days you will lose some supremacy support while the percentage of those who are Against the LRN will grow. It is easily avoidable but, if when the timer runs out that percentage is 95 or greater, a civil war against the communists will start.

Once you have more than 60% support the focus LRN Victory can be taken, finishing it will disactivate these decisions, rename your country to Nova Talonsia and allow you to progress down the rest of your tree.

Solidify Control
The next section of the tree is split among three branches.

The left one is largely focused on the economy, letting you remove the Coal Clause, Sluggish Economy and leave the Karthinian Pact. It'll further give you some factories and unlock one-time decisions for Social Projects that will give you 1 civilian factory, infrastructure and some stability. Finally you will gain two 18 width infantry units and forts will be built along the mountain line to protect inner Talouse.

The central branch will seek to bring a cultural and religious revival, granting you bonuses to war support, stability and giving you ponypower and Division Recovery Rate.

The right branch will focus on ending political opposition to the LRN's rule once and for all. The monarchy will be abolished and Duchess Ginevra will be ousted, in her place Fetivola will announce the start of a regency to a promised 'Chosen One' which one day will come to lead the nation in the future. Regency for the Chosen One will give +1% Recruitable Population. Purge the Socialists will unlock a series of decisions to remove the FLT's influence, with your efforts being hampered by 5% every 45 days, if you do fall under 0%, a civil war against the communists will happen.

Once all three branches are complete you may take The Warden of the South and continue with your tree.

Nova Talonsia Awakens
Having completed his reforms, Fetivola will start looking outwards in an effort to bring Talonsia back to glory. Enlightenment  will have Fetivola come to to the conclusion that he was the one chosen by Arantigos-Borea to lead the nation, this will grant him two traits, the first gives, amongst other bonuses, a powerful 5% Recruitable Population, the second will massively reduce your stability and make you lose 0.20% every week. Talonsia Awakens will grant 1 Research Slot.

His first targets will be your former companions of the Karthinian Pact. You will send ultimatums to the County of Francistria, the  Kingdom of Wingbardy and the  Barony of Arantiga. If they accept you will annex them and inherit their troops and generals, if they refuse you will gain an annexation war goal against them. Once you have annexed them all, the Talonsian Empire will be founded and you will be able to core their land.

After the empire is proclaimed, his next set of targets will be the Falcorian Queendom, the  Kingdom of Griffonstone, the  Federated Parishes of Sicameon and finally  Commonwealth of New Mareland, all of which will receive an ultimatum like the previous.

Once he has finished his conquests, Fetivola will be able to core all the conquered nations, several cities and states will be renamed, you will be able to offset you stability loss and, should the Kingdom of Aquileia be ruled either by the monarchy or by supremacists, you may seek a defensive alliance with them.

Tradition Triumphs
The Conservative Party led by Antonia di Colliverde seeks to bring an end to radicalism and bring the country back to the golden age that happened after it's seccession from the Griffonian Empire. For you to start on this path, the Kingdom of Wingbardy must not have done the focus Rally the Anti-Fascists. The following focuses will greatly boost your non-aligned popularity and, once PC Victory is completed, Antonia will be elected.

She will rekindle the economy by collaborating with fellow members of the Karthinian Pact, the Coal Clause will be reformed so that you can access your resources in Talononte and gain a boost to Resource Gain Effieciency. Evaluate the Domestic Situation will unlock a set of decisions which will grant you 1 dockyard, 1 civilian and 1 military factories as well as some infrastructure. Further focuses will give you some factories and remove the Declining Economy national spirit. Finally she will reform the education and healthcare systems and pass a Vote of Confidence on Duchess Ginevra.

Looking Outwards will give 1 Research Slot and the tree will divide into three small branches. If Kingdom of Wingbardy has gone communist or fascist, Talouse can leave the Karthinian Pact (in the proccess losing national spirits related to it) and gain some military bonuses. If Wingbardy has gone monarchist, Talouse can further obtain some economic bonuses and 1 civilian factory. If Wingbardy is anything other than monarchist, Talouse will be able to obtain both military and economic bonuses, in particular -2% Consumer Goods Factories.

Keep the Course
The Liberal Party and its leader, Marco Paltori, is the one currently leading the nation and while their popularity has somewhat fallen in recent times, they still intend to continue their process of reformation and liberalisation of society. The first section of the tree will boost the popularity of harmony with Aid the Needy changing Marco Paltori's trait to a positive one, PL Victory can be taken as soon as harmony has 65% popularity and will open up the rest of the tree while also greatly increasing the daily gain of communism popularity.

While from there you will see three branches, only the right one can be taken for now. This short branch will seek to undermine the FLT, with Campaign Against the FLT unlocking a series of decisions to combat their influence and eventually remove the Increased FLT Activity national spirit. Doing that will allow you to take the final focus and unlock the left and central branches of the tree.

The central branch will work towards improving and opening up the economy (removing the Declining Economy spirit), you will also gain 3 civilian factories and an economic advisor which can grant you -5% Consumer Goods Factories. The left branch focuses on ammending Paltori's greatest failure: the failure to renegotiate the Coal Clause with Kingdom of Wingbardy, specifics are detailed in gameplay mechanics, further focuses will vary depending on the result of the renegotiations.

Once you have finished these two branches you will be able to take The Economic Powerhouse of the South which will grant you 1 Research Slot, some bonuses and open up three minor branches dependent on external factors. The left one can be taken if Kingdom of Wingbardy has gone communist or fascist, you will leave the pact and receive some ponypower and generals. If Wingbardy has gone harmonist the central branch can be taken, it'll give you 1 factory, -4% consumer goods and some misc bonuses. The right path can be taken if Wingbardy is not harmonist, it'll grant you 2 factories, -2% consumer goods, some troops a few construction bonuses.

Military Leaders
Army Commanders Naval Commanders