Strawberry Duchy



The Strawberry Duchy is a place of wine and culture to much of the Griffonian elite, and its ruling family has long been second only to the Imperial lineage of the Grovers. It is the fiefdom of Duchess Gabriela Eagleclaw, and was one of the great champions of the empire during the revolution. Still, not all is well in the duchy these days. The Duchess has spent more and more time away from her fiefdom to be in Griffenhiem, and some among her subjects wonder if she has forgotten about them. Maybe the time has come for Strawberry to assert itself beyond The Duchess' reach?

Or maybe dark clouds will gather and Strawberry once again will rise to be the bastion of loyalty it has always been?

Lore
The Strawberry Duchy lies just north of The Griffonian Empire. Like many other realms, it was forged through war and bloodshed, carved out from many minor duchies and baronies. However it was not a great hero or a visionary that forged The Strawberry Duchy, no, rather it was a warlord. One whose name has been lost to time, leading an army of third and fourth sons of Feathisian nobility on campaign. While their conquest of the region was successful, offspring were made knights and great warriors. They sadly weren't educated in courtly life, something which manifested in the naming of this newly conquered realm. This happened during one of the great feasts which were organized after the conquest. Of course, these events were filled with a great deal of drinking and inebriation from the great deal of alcoholic beverages they had taken. Including the famous Strawberry wine, which was produced in the region. And according to various sources, the warlord and many of his best warriors were so impressed by the beverage, that in a moment of drunken stupor, they decided to name their new realm after it.

However, despite such origins, Strawberry Duchy wasn't just another warlord realm, such as forged by bandit and raider "kings". Maybe due to a lucky coincidence, it seemed that the state was blessed by several successful monarchs. This lead Strawberry Duchy rising from such barbaric origins into something far greater, spreading its influence across Central and Northern Griffonia.

While the subjugation of the continent by Grover I was quite the setback to the rise of The Duchy of Strawberry, it didn't result in their complete destruction or collapse. While it was a great defeat, with territory lost and diplomatic connections brutally severed, in the case of Strawberry Duchy, it only opened up more possibilities. And the Eagleclaws, the royal family of the realm, used every opportunity and chance they got, spreading their influence across Griffonia yet again. They even managed to marry into the imperial family, a feat which very few dynasties managed to accomplish.

The Strawberry Duchy was also unique in the way they managed to survive through the Griffonian Revolution, managing to not only weather the storm under the leadership of young Gabriela Eagleclaw, but also participate in the reclamation of the Heartlands from the republican grip. However, despite the failure to fully crush the republicans and failing to stop their march north, these events left the Duchy in a more powerful position than before, at least politically.

Since then, the Strawberry Duchy has been an extremely important and influential part of The Griffonian Empire, with Duchess Gabriella Eagleclaw becoming somewhat of a representative of the interests of the Heartlander aristocracy. Furthermore she was heavily involved in the governing of the Empire, helping her sickly cousin on various visits.

However, despite the ever increasing political success of their leaders, the Strawberry Duchy has been suffering. Gabriela is a distant ruler, spending most of her time within the capital in courtly intrigues rather than governing her realm. Furthermore the legacy and brutality of the Griffonian revolution remains. While politically Strawberry Duchy is indeed successful, the industrial and social sectors do not share it. Many of the nobles in the realm, who to this day possess great influence and own huge tracts of land and swathes of industry within the realm are openly against any modernization, believing that providing the populace with education and becoming a truly modern, industrial society, might lead to a repeat of the revolution.

But times are changing yet again and it seems a storm is rising again. Anti-nobility rhetoric is spreading across the Herzland, with the populace gathering under the three Archons in hopes of divine salvation for the countless problems the empire is facing. Connections and alliances of Strawberry Duchy are being slowly chipped off and broken as various movements and groups attempt to reforge the empire in their own vision. And the current emperor is getting weaker by the day. With another disaster looming, will the realm persist and rise to greatness yet again, or will it finally disappear into the pages of history?

Military
The Strawberry Duchy begins the game with an army of six divisions doled out in two templates, each with three divisions. The Griffon Infantry Division, consisting of six infantry battalions with supporting artillery, and the Hertogelijke Garde (trans: Ducal Guard) divisions, consisting of six battalions of knights and a recon company each.

Furthermore, the production lines are split between rifles, support equipment and artillery. The production line for rifles is fully maxed out at the start. The line for support equipment at 3/4s of possible production, and the artillery line at half efficiency compared to the theoretical maximum in 1007 for the Duchy.

Threats and Opportunities
Griffonian Empire: This will always be the primary goal for any self-respecting Strawberry player. No matter if Gabriella takes power in Griffenheim or not, a player will always seek to either become the Empire or usurp the mantle of the Empire in some way and become the proprietor of the Herzland. Be aware, an Empire that consolidates quickly will be an uphill struggle. On the other hand, if a player is skilled enough and has luck on their side to gather a large enough coalition, the war can become comparatively easy.

National Focus and Game Walkthrough
The focus tree of the Strawberry Duchy consists of four distinct and independent trees, each with two main branches. One political tree, an industrial tree, an army tree and an airforce tree. Notably, there is no naval focus tree, standing in contrast to other landlocked nations such as the River Republic, as it is not expected that Strawberry will be a large naval player, or even at all build more than a token fleet.

Political Tree
At the very top of the political tree is a gatekeeper focus, The Passing of Grover. Like with the focus tree of the Griffonian Empire, this locks out the political focuses until Grover V is dead. This will, in turn, unlock the first focus. Still, there will be waiting, as the Empire will need to go through its initial tree to decide upon Grover's Regent for the next fifteen years. For more information on this, see The Death of the Emperor in the article for the Griffonian Empire. As the path the Strawberry Duchy can take is determined by the decisions that the Empire AI takes, it is recommended that if a player intends on playing one specific path, that the Empire is set to either head towards the Archon or Duchess as to guarantee the run of the paths that the player wishes.

Two Nations, One Ruler
If the Empire chose Gabriella, then she will remain absent from Readewetter, as she will be busy running the Empire while Grover VI grows up. Of course, with this now being a rather permanent arrangement, a regent will need to be found. Three candidates will put themselves forward to rule Strawberry in Gabriella while she is indisposed with matters elsewhere.

Julius Eagleclaw
The first candidate is the Prelate of Osnabeak, Julius Eagleclaw, and Gabriella's uncle. Seemingly loyal, the Prelate has his own designs on Strawberry, and will eventually come into conflict with the Empire and the Duchess in Griffenheim. It starts be taking a malus to political power gain on 10% and 2% additional consumer goods factories. Secret Talks will be held between the Prelate and Archon to organize a front against her. Much like Gabriella does in her own path, the Prelate will Decrease the Opposition (read: Murder them in cold blood), while aligning and empowering the Royal Guard to act. The Archon will be contacted and given assurances that he will return. Lastly, money from the Temples will be invested into the economy, and the administration will be stacked with people from the Temples. Then, the Prelate will show his cards, and aligning fully in name with the Archon as well.

Once all this is completed, and requiring that the For Strawberry sub-branch has also been completed in full, along with the focus Knightly Tradition, then the player can take the Strawberry stands Strong focus which will give bonuses to stability and war support of each and additionally improve the society development level. This can be rounded off with the focus The University of Starclaw, improving the Science Base, literacy level and an additional research slot.

For Strawberry
There are several challenges that face Strawberry in the year 1007. Illiteracy is rampant, and the factories are outdated. While some go it alone, others turn to the Empire. In the For Strawberry sub-branch, the Duchy goes it alone, without the Empire. This can be taken by both Julius Eagleclaw, the Prelate, and Vitalius Moonbill, the next potential candidate for Gabriella's regent.

It starts by extracting 25 political power and boosting the popularity of Communism by 15% and Supremacism by 5%. This leads into two branches. The right branch tackles the economy, and the left illiteracy.

After Eradicate Illiteracy, there will be a choice to either slowly improve upon the illiteracy problem, or to spend political power to boost the literacy campaigns. The same kind of choice will be presented after De Bezige Bij, where the choice is to spend political power and accept a temporary malus to factory output, in return for a research speed bonus and removing the illiteracy malus quicker.

The sub-branch to the left will deal with the archaic economy and remove various obstacles. Old guilds must be broken and advisors removed. In return, the player is rewarded with two civilian factories along with two research bonuses (both at 100%) for Industry. The two branches reunite under Appropriate the Land of the Nobility, giving 2 Building Slots in every owned state. Lastly, Knightly Tradition will improve the training of Knights that there may be around

Vitalius Moonbill
Vitalius Moonbill is the second candidate for regent. Owns a smattering of lands throughout the Duchy, but more importantly, is a close friend and confidante of Gabriela. He also happens to harbor some very un-royal and un-noble views, ranging from his views on the Republican Revolution of 978 to how the economy should be organized. Nevertheless, should he win out, he has the widest latitude of most, with access to both the preceding and the next section. For now, he will 'just' start with reigniting the Memory of the Republic before moving unto the state itself. Therein lies a choice. A strong legislature or a strong executive. Each, mechanically offering either party popularity or political power.

Afterwards another choice. Empowering old offices, or to expand civil liberties? While empowering the Grand Pensionary will grant 5% Stability and political power gain, choosing instead to Expand Civil Liberties will give  stability, 5% party popularity and a national spirit, Civil Liberties, granting  factory output. This will be rounded off with The Griffons' Army, giving 3% recruitable population and division defence on core territory.

After this comes a choice. Depending on what branch of either For Strawberry or For Gabriela a player went down. Moonbill will either choose to Break the Monopolies in Strawberry, giving to both Infrastructure construction speed, resource gain efficiency and party popularity. Or, alternatively to institute a Planned Economy for a benefit of 3 Civilian Factories, three infrastructure spread out on three states and stability. Afterwards, Moonbill will Expand Social Rights, granting consumer goods factories and put Socialist Education into place with a +5% research speed.

Once the focus "Moonbill's Strawberry" has been taken, with replacing the Resistance to Reform and Progress National Spirit with the Subdued Nobles National Spirit, nullifying all the negative effects and leaving only a factory output left, then either the University of Starclaw can be taken, granting the same benefits as mentioned in the Prelate's section, or The University of Readewetter focus can be taken for improving both illiteracy and science base, but granting the national spirit Expanded the University of Readewetter worth  research speed.

For Gabriela
As mentioned above, several challenges lie ahead of Strawberry, but should they choose to cooperate with Griffenheim, other options open up. Note that this is not mutually exclusive with the sub-branch For Strawberry and an enterprising Strawberry player can pursue both at the same time. It starts with the For Gabriela focus, giving political power and party popularity. And just like For Strawberry, the same problems arise. Sacrifice on the short-term to quicker rid themselves of illiteracy or not in the left branch? The same events even fire for the focuses Form the Griffenheim Presses and Griffenheim Educational Grants as in Eradicate Illiteracy and De Bezige Bij. On the right-hand side is the focus Industrial Subsidies granting factory output and  Factory Repair Speed, followed by Import Modern Agriculture Equipment,  rewarding the player with three civilian factories.

The two branches reunite with the focus Establish the Industry Council, giving Industry Research Speed.

Once that focus has been taken, a player may seek out cooperation with Feathisia, provided that they have the same ideology, establish the Zentralbank Strawberry (This will have a better effect if the Empire restores their own Zentralbank). Provided they don't, Strawberry's Zentralbank will grant consumer goods factories,  Trade Deal opinion factor, and  Political Advisor cost.

This is then rounded off with the focus Defence Against Our Enemies, granting Division Defense on core territory.

Regina Eagleclaw
Lastly comes Gabriela's cousin, Baroness Regina Eagleclaw. A personal friend, and a devoted Harmonist. The first question posed is if to distance Strawberry from Griffenheim or embrace the Empire. The initial two focuses, Baroness Regina Eagleclaw and An Independent Strawberry? give a total of 175 political power and 10% party popularity.

Should Strawberry choose to embrace Griffenheim, the first question posed will be Economic Cooperation. The Empire asks for aid, and it is up to the player to decide if it should happen or not. The focus opens up for two others, Equalization Payments, giving -5% consumer goods factories and Economic Integration, giving, at normal values and relations, one civillian factory for both the Empire and the Duchy. The game of relations with the Archon and Duchess can be played, and if Strawberry maintains good relations with either, bonuses will be granted to the player.

Should Strawberry on the other hand choose to distance themselves from Griffenheim, choices will open up to enrich themselves at the cost of either the Archon or the Duchess in Separate but United, followed by a choice like that in A Unique Opportunity. Each of the events that fire will grant one civilian factory. This rounds off with the event The Readewetter Accord, giving stability and four civilian factories.

One branch shared between both are the two focuses No Secrets Between Friends and Little Sister Diplomacy, giving bonuses to relations with the Duchess and a single research boost to Radar.

No matter what, both branches will reunify at the focus New Ducal Administration removing the Absent Ruler afterwards, together with Defence Against Our Enemies!, The Strawberry of Old can be started, which like Moonbill's Strawberry will give bonuses to both production efficiency, construction speed and production efficiency cap. Lastly, the focus The University of Readewetter can be taken (see the Moonbill section for more information.)

Exile from Griffenheim
If the Empire chose the Archon however, as the regent, then Gabriella will have no role left to play in Grover's upbringing and the rule of the Empire. Instead, she will return to Strawberry and plot her revenge upon the Archon. The tree is split up into three parts, each dealing with an aspect of this. To the left lies her plan to discredit the Archon and to take her revenge before capturing her rightful place as Grover VI's regent. In the center, Gabriella must deal with the fact that it has been a year since she last was in her fief, and the apparatus of the state has not been touched since the Republican Revolution at best. And lastly, to the right, she must maintain her support from the people and the nobles to ensure her own powerbase against the Archon.

Allies Close and Far
At the outset of this sub-branch, there is a choice to be made. Does Gabriella openly defy the Archon and declare her opposition, ie. Spit in His Face, or does she remain silent, ie Spit Behind His Back? The benefits of both are clear, as are the negatives of it. If she is open with her defiance, everyone will know, but the Archon will also be better able to counteract her. If she isn't, covert operations will be better off, but less griffons will know of her fight. No matter what, Gabriella will begin to rally support. She will need to rally both nobility and commoners to this cause, lest they both fall. And she will need to Gather Arms for the oncoming struggle.

The focuses to rally the Nobles and the Commoners also pose a question - How much is the regency worth? Lowered taxes? Land redistribution (in either direction). Or nothing and good wishes?

In addition, there are also other fiefs in the Empire. Feathisia, Katerin, Yale, Bronzehill. All may, or may not have a chip on their shoulder with regards to the Archon and could be swayed to ally with the player and Gabriella against the Archon. There are three options for each interaction. Industrial cooperation, military cooperation and proposing an alliance. Rewards for each are listed below. And once all that is done, she will need to actually pull the Archon from his high perch. Final preparations, calling upon the favors gained from earlier with the nobles and commoners and then going to war, and, by force taking Griffenheim, but that's for another day...
 * Industrial Cooperation: 25% research bonus to industry
 * Military Cooperation: 25 Army Experience and 25 Command Power
 * Proposing an alliance: Mutual guarantee and military access. The nation will join you against the Empire.

A Modern Strawberry
A nation is nothing without a solid support structure, and the one that the Strawberry Duchy is running on has not been looked at for a very long time. In this, Gabriella, and her trusted advisors must rework both economy and laws of the Duchy. Mechanically, the focus branch splits in twain. The left branch tackles the economy, and the right the legal work and illiteracy.

After Modernize our Legal Text, there will be a choice to either slowly improve upon the illiteracy problem, or to spend political power to boost the literacy campaigns. The same kind of choice will be presented after The Ministry of Education, where the choice is to spend political power and accept a temporary malus to factory output, in return for a research speed bonus and removing the illiteracy malus quicker.

The sub-branch to the left will deal with the archaic economy and remove various obstacles. Old guilds must be broken and advisors removed. In return, the player is rewarded with two civilian factories and a bonus to both political power and a discount on political advisors. The two branches reunite under A Modern Feudal Nation, giving +10% stability and removes the Resistance to Progress National Spirit.

Return of the Duchess
The Duchess is back in Strawberry, but people and griffons far and wide need to know it. And, worse, the Archon's supporters are still around in Strawberry, many of which are deeply embedded. To deal with this, Gabriella has two weapons at her disposal to deal with this. She will take to the airwaves, and then to the streets, touring her fief and reminding who it is they owe loyalty to. In The Duchess' Speech there is a choice. Does Gabriella prize the nobles or commoners more. If she goes with the commoners, they will grant 5% party popularity. If she chooses the nobles, the reward is an additional 5% stability and war support each.

An additional choice lies in the speech. Research bonuses to industry or land doctrine? Both are at 100%, but with the caveat, that choosing industry will harm relations with the Empire, while choosing land doctrine will mend them slightly. No matter what, the speech will round off with a 5% bonus stability.

Lastly, several decrees will be parcelled out and spread all over Strawberry for two additional civilian factories.

But there is another weapon in Gabriella's claw. Cold steel. By expanding the Royal Guard, and empowering the same, the focus The List can be taken to root out all those that may harbor loyalties to anyone but Grover and Gabriella. And once that is done, Gabriella will invite everyone who is of note to a party in Readewetter. And the nation will stand united against the Archon. This unlocks the focus Expand the University of Readewetter, which will grant a boost to research speed, depending on how a player has aligned the Commoners and Nobles. and additionally improves the Science Base of Strawberry.

This will all culminate in the war against the Griffonian Empire. All will be brought to bear against the Archon, and the Archon will bring everything he has to bear against the player. This will happen when the decision Strike at the Archon has been taken, and the 30-day course has run.

Industrial Tree
The Industrial Tree, unlike both the military trees and the political tree, can be accessed immediately after the death of Grover V. Immediately after completing the first focus, two 100% research bonuses will be given to industry, which opens up a choice. Either to focus on the hinterlands of Strawberry and modernize them, or to start with the metropole and work outwards from there.

Modernize Agriculture
If a player chooses to develop the hinterlands of the Duchy, the first focus, the gatekeeper of it grants both a better resource gain, as well as factory and dockyard output. Afterwards, they are immediately met with two focuses, the first, The Ministry of Labour giving a better production efficiency growth and retention, the other, Breakup Noble Estates trading stability for building slots. They branch off, with the left branch giving an even bigger bonus to production efficiency, and the right branch having two 'dead-end' branches giving steel and oil in core states, rounding off with free infrastructure and a national spirit with a bonus to infrastructure construction speed and one level of infrastructure in four states.

Both branches reunite at the bottom of the tree, giving three bonuses, namely two 100% research bonuses for electronics, three off-map military factories and two research bonuses valid for either 100% or reducing the penalty for being ahead of time by one year.

Develop Readewetter
If the player instead starts from the capital out, and develops Readewetter, they are instead given a more 'direct' reward in the form of two civilian factories, and two infrastructure in Readewetter. The branch then splits in three, with Subsidize Domestic Industries giving +10% to all dockyard and factory output, All Roads Lead to Readewetter, giving two levels of infrastructure in each of four states and Sell Ducal Lands for a temporary reduction in consumer goods factories and construction speed.

At reunification of all three, Eastern Investment gives two 100% research bonuses to Excavation technology and furthermore unlocks decisions to exploit resources not present on the map at the start.

Lastly, there are five focuses, Import Equestrian Expertise, giving two 100% research bonuses to magical technology, Construction Boom granting +10% construction speed, and Military-Industrial Complex, which, much like another focus in the other branch, gives three off-map military factories. This, in turn, unlocks The Era of Electronics, giving two 100% bonuses to Electronics research and A New Readewetter,  with four new building slots, two infrastructure levels, both in Winterbell, and additionally, two civilian factories, and one military factory, all three off-map.

Army Tree
In contrast to the later Air Force Tree, the Army Tree for Strawberry branches relatively early in two mutually exclusive branches, though with one shared branch. First is the focus Memory of Rotten Rift which can be taken regardless of if Grover V is alive or not. Starting with the non-exclusive branch, it is started by the focus The Army of the 11th Century, granting the national spirit 11th Century Army, granting faster planing speed, bigger command power storages and more daily command power. Two focuses can then be taken to fortify part of the river towards the Grand Duchy of Feathisia and the border to the  Griffonian Republic.

Additional focuses will give various research bonuses to artillery, engineers, infantry weapons, radar and race technology, before they all run together in Collaborate with Bronzehill, the results of which depends on the acceptance of the County of Bronzehill. If they accept, the player will be granted two 100% research bonuses for Magical Technology and the production of 10 Crystals will start.

Irontalon Doctrine
The Irontalon Doctrine is one of the two paths for the military that the player can take as the Strawberry Duchy. This path focuses on the Mass Assault doctrine, granting a Chief of Army for just that. Through the focuses The New Role of Artillery and Standardize the Rifle, the player will receive a  production cost to both artillery and infantry weapons. The Irontalon Doctrine will futhermore change the conscription law to Limited Conscription for free, and round off with two 100% research bonuses to Light Tanks.

Eagleclaw Doctrine
On the flipside is the Eagleclaw Doctrine, focusing on the Mobile Warfare doctrine. The tree goes for quality over quantity, with a bonus to special forces in the focus Expand the Special Forces and research bonuses to infantry weapons and select support batallions, two of each at 100% in the focuses Invest in a New Infantry Rifle and 170mm Minenwerfer and Blautal 7.65 MG90. The branch then rounds off with The Eagleclaw giving two 100% research bonuses to armor technology

Air Force Tree
The airforce tree is relatively small combined to the other three trees, and has only one choice, that ultimately reconcile immediately after. The first focus, Airport Construction Grants will grant three levels of airbases in two states. This leads into Contact Foreign Advisors, giving four air-focused military advisors, and Develop Doctrine, giving two 100% bonuses to Air Doctrine. Each of these must be completed before the choice is made. Fighters, or bombers? Whatever is chosen in the corresponding focuses, Attack Griffenheim for bombers, and Defend Readewetter for fighters in turn gives a 100% research bonus to the choice.

After either one have been taken, the tree gives one 100% research bonus to CAS, and one for bombers, as well as two for Anti-Air, and additionally gives two levels of Anti-Air in two states. Lastly, in the last four focuses, Dominate the Skies, Strawberry is given the national spirit of the same name, giving a  production cost to all Fighters, and, after having taken Upgrade Air Fields, bonuses to construction of both airbases, Anti-Air (buiildings) and radar. Lastly, the air tree is rounded off with one research bonus for paratroopers and two bonuses for rocketry

The Lord Protector in the Empire
Note that Strawberry does not have a special focus tree to deal with the Lord Protector in comparison to County of Bronzehill, and will merely go down the tree related to Exile from Griffenheim if such an event should occur.

Unifying the Herzland
Should the Strawberry Duchy manage to conquer Griffenheim and the Empire, the Strawberry Duchy can declare themselves the Empire, and as such, will switch their focus tree to the tree of the Griffonian Empire filled out until the focus The Duchess. For more information on how to proceed from there, please go to the page of the Empire proper.

Additionally, note, that the Empire will attempt to unify and once they have taken the focus Unite the Nation or Reward the Faithful, they will ask for your annexation or war. An Empire that has annexed most other will be hard, but doable to defeat.

Staff and Designers
Political Advisors Tank Designer Ship Designer Aircraft Designer Materiel Designer Industrial Concern Theorist Chief of Army Chief of Navy Chief of Airforce Military High Command