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OPINION

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A TRAGIC DEFEAT: RICARDO RETURNS AS CONSUL WHILE THE PEOPLE SUFFER.

What will we do to ensure that his power is contained in an age of uncertainty?

by Iaco Mansina

On a fateful election made exclusively by elected senators and advisors in the Roman Senate, a vote narrowly went to the former canonised figure Ricardo Sueridus by 61% votes, enough to at least push him to a victory. This is a dark day for us all. For him, it may be a sign of his vision coming true at long last, but the golden days of optimism, the years that Empress Cassandra expressed after the war with the Danes about a bright future ahead and for the Roman Empire to come up from her battered state.

As the Consul who mustered three non-consecutive terms within a decade, it must be an achievement for him to somehow remain persistent in Roman politics. As both Bartus Caesarienis and Gastone Romano, the defeated Consul, have made their way into accepting a defeat, we must not forget that this man is still persistent on a self-gratified victory. If there's something in his way, he'll not stop it until he can beat it. Politicians are disposable. It is why Sueridus is an unusual case and to a smaller extent, the underdog leader, Eboro Vitba.

How is it possible? He was the de facto leader of the "anti-tyranny revolution", a self-purported movement set up by his son after dropping out of the battle with a "goal" of deposing Cassandra. This was the talk of a politician. This is why many have lost faith with the bureaucracy but find some solace with the Empress herself. To them, she was the voice of reason, who would make rational steps. But for others, she hadn't proved anything to fundamentally change the situation, to instead turn to another authority, God and to not look back at the wicked state that was the Senate, as stated in Luke 17:32: "Remember Lot's wife". For them, this verse was instrumental to not be tempted to take a part in the chaotic environment.

But his commitment to staying in this flawed electoral system is what is dragging him down. And that might be a good thing. Under current law, Sueridus is ineligible for a third term as consul and now he will be relegating his position of consulship, should his party get re-elected to power for a second consecutive term, all to instead serve and stylise himself as Emperor once he formally passes the title to his coveted child. Fortunately, his son was never an experienced politician, but he could also do more harm for being an inexperienced political ruler himself.

Tuesday, March 5th, 715,

African Times (est. 668; African-language newspaper)

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EMPEROR RICARDUS BACK AS CONSUL. REJOICE FOR ROME!

Ricardus Sueridus had been elected as Consul of the Romans for a second term. Over 61% of the senators in the Roman Senate have cast their own votes over the puppet Cassandrian politician, Gastone Romano, who had only 30% of the support of the Senate, while anti-revolutionary Eboro Vitba only received 9%. This divide between this apparent alliance to divide our party hadn't worked out as Cassandra and Lakonia's puppet have thought it to be. Even some at the Group for Inward Perfection knew that the filibusters that the Senate have endured can be broken if they instead try to not stoke division and instead embrace a united identity.

As a result, Romano is humiliated, causing his resignation to occur a few hours after the count had been tallied. Cassandra's attempt to stoke and divide us hadn't succeeded by any margin and this proved that despite St. Ricardus being attacked from all sides, inevitably, the Roman Empire knew who to bring the empire back after a long, boiling war that humiliated our identity at best to selling all of our treasury to those barbarians at worst.

We can thank the Francians for being rightfully angry. For their loss of their homeland to those Danes, they stopped listening to the lies of Cassandra and instead embraced the truth and what they truly are: Roman citizens, patriots who are fighting for the existence of their nation. But let's not forget that the Exarch of Francia is still a sellout to Cassandra. The people are awake, but not those in charge of the exarchate. The illegal occupation of northern Francia will end someday and our returning Consul will help them someday, when he becomes Emperor.

Saturday, March 2nd, 715,

The Patriot

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Decided that I would split this episode from this episode and onward permanently. The DeviantArt character limit helped me expedite the process, as well as knowing that no-one would be able to see it. It is still recommended to read it up, but alas, from now on, you'll only be seeing choices and stories that mainly concern the story on this one.

Events of 713-714 AD

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DIPLOMACY
- Personal unions: N/A
- Military alliances: Avaria, Britannia, Iran, Kush
- Defensive pacts: N/A
- Non-aggression pacts: Armorica, Kanem
- Vassals: the Ghassanids, the Lakhmids, Armenia, Lazica, Iberia, Albania, Castria, Taif (Umayyads), Moravia
- Protectorates: Bulgaria Minor
- Truce with: Kush (exp. 720), Denmark and allies (exp. 742)
- At war with: N/A

Mediterranean Economic Group (MOO/Medoikon): Rhomania (de-facto leader and founder) and its vassals, Britannia, Kush, Avaria, Bulgaria Minor, Kanem

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MILITARY (displayed at war)
Rhomania proper: 7 garrisoned armies, 6 armies

Vassal armies: 8 armies (the Ghassanids, the Lakhmids, Armenia, Lazica, Iberia, Albania, Castria, Taif, Moravia)

Special units (each having three strikes):

-> Lycaonian Guard (bodyguard/espionage)

-> Manichaean Guard (desert guerilla)

-> Constantinopolitan Rookery (gargoyles of the capital; 1,450 gargula)

-> Ravennese Rookery (gargoyle unit; 490 gargula)

Expeditionary units: N/A

Current commanders (on the map): N/A

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LEADERSHIP and STATE
Current emperor: Cassandra (age 40)
Current consort: Stylaios (age 48)

Current consul: Ricardo Sueridus Sr. (age 63) | Imperial Party (I-Haemus)

Ruling party: Imperial Party

The Coalition: Reform Party, Group for Inward Perfection

Main opposition party: (see The Coalition)

Other opposition parties: N/A

Line of succession:
- Current heir: Diogenes (age 13) | Cassandra
- Second-in-line: Cyril (age 6) | Cassandra
- Others (in order):

- [3] Ioannina (age 15) | Cassandra

- [4] Cassandra II (age 11) | Cassandra

- [5] Laila (age 10) | Cassandra

- Pretenders/Claimants:

- Ricardus I (Ricardo Sueridus) (age 63) | Ricardus ("the Ricardian Dynasty")

- Ricardus II (Ricardo Sueridus Jr.) (age 35) | Ricardus

- Ricardus III (Ricardo Sueridus III) (age 9) | Ricardus

The Anti-Tyranny Revolution

To install Ricardo Sueridus (Ricardus I) as Emperor of the Romans

Leaders:

- Ricardo Sueridus Jr. (Ricardus II, leader of the Army to Liberate the Roman Empire from Tyranny [SRBT])

- Nikolaos Michalopoulos (assassin of Justinian II, leader of the New Praetorian Guard)

Military power: 6 armies (+1 army each episode)

Ultimatum for next episode: 30% (frozen but ultimatum guaranteed in 722)

The Imperial Party has the power to deduct 3 votes (thanks to Patriots not Rebels*) from a choice via filibustering.

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Advisory Council (715 AD)

In total, there are 92 seats.

Imperial Party: 63

Inward Perfection: 22

Reform Party: 9

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Popular Council (708 AD)
In total, there are 312 seats. Four seats (de jure Taurica) are excluded, which would've been 316 seats instead.

Government (51.9%)

Imperial Party: 162

Coalition Against the Tyranny of Ricardo (48.1%)

Group for Inward Perfection: 98
Reform Party: 29
Pacifists: 15

Gargula: 8

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Current Bishop of Rome (the Pope): Boniface III (age 60)

Current Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople: Christophoros (age 69)

Roman solidi (units): -22 (current income is 60; episode 1/3 of defaulting)

National income modifier (next episode): +105%
- The Byzantine Bank: +15% (permanent)
- For the Protection of Works: +20% (permanent)
- A Market in the Capital: +10% (permanent)

- Solidi Pieces to Drachma Decimals: +20% (permanent)

- It's a Long Time Coming: +15% (until the Justinian Dynasty is overthrown)

- A Stronger Patent System: +10% (permanent)

- Mediterranean to Metropolitan: +20% (expired)

- Citizens From a Freed Land: +15% (exp. #72)

- There’s a State Company For It: -45% (expired)

Prestige: 65
Population: 46.5 million (directly controlled; 705 Roman Census)

- Gargulo (Gargula/Garguli): 8,051

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Future/scheduled events:

- The Memorial to the Lechian Wars will be complete in 721, which is located in Rhaedestus and is the substitute to Lost Time.

- Ricardo Sueridus shall not send an ultimatum until 722 per a betrothal arrangement made by Cassandra for her eldest daughter, Ioannina. But he will be able to send it immediately after arranging a proper marriage with his grandson, Ricardus III.

- Electric and steam-powered vehicles will be considered obsolete by the 740s, thanks to the predominance of oil-powered cars by that period.
- Rhomania will pay tribute to Denmark until 742, costing us 30 units per episode until that time.

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A Duo Diplomatic Standoff

There are two diplomatic issues that are at the heart of the issue of internal politics. The Imperial Party and Ricardo himself had vehemantly opposed all dealings with the outside world, preferring to ensure that Roman glory "had been restored" and to be fearmongered upon. On the other hand, talks to the Interrealm Congress that were led by Cassandra and her allies have being pursued, while a treaty to sign a non-aggression pact and a military trading deal emerged was conjured up for Armorica.

Of course, with the case of the Caucasian vassals and the Lakhmids, their path to independence, something Cassandra would've granted, was filibustered by the Imperial Party. Now, the Interrealm Congress, aside from signing the Mazun Protocol, request that they expedite the process of granting independence to those four concerned vassals.

Two choices only

Armorica's unjust tribute and our financial woes

Discuss Our Treasury: Right now, we're not in a good state to give our money to those people. We have a more obligatory deal with the Norse, while they... have a bad communication in assuming that some voice in our Senate is gospel. We'll need to iron this out our own. (We have a 25% chance of making a breakthrough. The tribute given to them will be reduced from 50 units to 20 units per episode for the remainder of the term. If not, things will be the same...)

or

Bring the Danes to the Table: It turns out that Armorica wouldn't leave with their newfound friends. The Danes seem have an edge in convincing them better than us. Perhaps if we bring in, as much as we hate it, the Francian king Ragnvald's own diplomatic mission to the table, we can drop some of those ludicrous tributes. (Their new friends, Francia, will be brought on the table to challenge Armorica's unjustly demands. This will give us a 60% chance to make a breakthrough instead of what was done before, but it will further extend Francia's influence in Armorica in return, including a defensive pact against our NAP.)

or

Too Exorbitant, Plus They're Mean: "Who wanted this? Nobody. The Roman economy is already being conceded to the outsiders thanks to Cassandra and her goons. Under our rule, we will make them pay for demanding our money by destroying them inside out!" -Ricardo Sueridus (Armorica allies with Francia and the Danes- and they will take all of our military technology blueprints as we've agreed to this treaty to defend them against the Danes as well. But we will no longer pay tribute.)

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The question of Caucasian vassals and Lakhmids demanding freedom, the Interrealm Congress wants the Romans to grant their wishes before moving further.

Gotta Go By The Word: The words of the Interrealm Congress are definitive: the Imperial Party is obstructing this process. We will persevere with a minority of dissenting senators. (+150 units and +4 morale. Armenia, Lakhmia, Albania and Iberia are granted independence as independent sovereign states of their own, with the same membership and military alliance. They'll join the Interrealm Congress immediately and we can make a step closer to being granted membership in the Senate.)

or

Negotiate a Possible Circumvention: "This? Our highness has already conceded the Roman Army to outsiders. The Roman Army, the shining prestigious component of our culture, has given up what it represented, just so that they cannot kill someone who may betray us someday as a man who hates Rome. This isn't bravery nor is it honorable. This is cowardice and being impressionable. Their war doctrine is bad. Why do we need to spare those who made us suffer? And our vassals have fought for us, US! They helped us fight back the cult of Bogomil! They do not deserve to leave." -Ricardo Sueridus (Literally undermine the Interrealm Congress. They have a 20% chance of accepting a compromise between Rhomania and the Interrealm Congress in maintaining the status quo, where we are allowed to keep those vassals but it will anger them further and so would those members of the Interrealm Congress. If it fails, then we will have our candidacy withdrawn.)

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The Explorers' Guild

The Treaty of Roscon also led to a bit of a financial woe for the Roman Empire. The Office for Exploration or informally, the Explorers' Guild as it was proposed, was supposed to be an office or a department where we fund and incentivise young citizens to go abroad or subsidise their travel funds for the purpose of the state and research. But now, things are a little dire. We could either restart our trading post and former convict colony Nealimus anew or we can use this for now, until we resolved the political crises within, to train willing adventurers, like the Hibernians and the Danes, to explore exotic worlds that we already know.

One choice only

Rebuild Nealimus: It's time we place our old convict colony where it belonged. But make it a trading post. (Costing 50 units but giving us +30% income over the next seven episodes and only if a civil war doesn't occur, we establish and claim land over the remains of Nealimus.)

or

Fortify the Indian Trade: The spice trade across the sea should be further fortified. The Erythraean War had concluded and the sights for the Indian Ocean are unparalleled according to Roman writers and travellers. Why waste this moment? (+40 units over the next 7 episodes and only if a civil war in our lands doesn't occur.)

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The Deck at Play: Ricardo's Hand

Now that you are the consul and have a political edge in the Senate, you may begin to pursue some of your plans to create as much collateral damage to your enemy. You are at your highest at this point, but choose wisely. For if you pick the wrong choices, it may backfire immensely. The cards are at play here and you'll need to use them to your goal. The Empress needs to learn the truth, even if its the most inconvenient.

As the controlling consul, you get one more option over Cassandra. Four choices only.

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PMC'ing Our Way: The tactic to convince our vassals worked, Emperor Ricardus. You'll be pleased to see that at least two will join us in a fight. The others? You know, the dissenting ones, not so much. And these Castrian nobles have no clue. They are Romans who have decided to abandon their culture and become assimilated... to an enemy we fought. They are traitors. It is ironic that an Iranian religious vassal would stand up to us. But let's get back to Armenia, yes. These four vassals, the ones that want independence? We can send in some troops to save them from losing their heroic, deserved Roman heritage. Whatever it takes, even Cassandra will be impressed by a miracle you are giving- no more rebellion, no more separatist thoughts. Peace will flow as if nothing happened. Just loyal states willing to bow to Rome- and to you. (Send out private troops of our revolution to stage coups and removing the dissenting rulers of Armenia, Lakhmia, Albania and Iberia. They have a 25% chance of succeeding respectively without repercussions and if it fails, all of those realms will have a 50% chance of undergoing civil unrest between the vassals we hold that are waiting for independence and Ricardian sympathisers.)

or

Who Cares About Masmuda?: This is your electoral promise to the Senators that you pledged to do: to conquer the Berber kingdoms. In fact, it might be better to start off picking some nobodies, rather than something on the international stage. If it means bringing Roman glory again, it'd be through conquering new lands that are left untouched and these lands- they can be fertile ground for a possible offensive. (Private troops belonging to Ricardo will be sent to conquer Masmuda, Tazdait, Tamazit, Aghlan and Gaetulia. We will lose two armies, but we will have a 60% chance each to successfully conquer it and turn it into Roman territory guaranteed to revolt for us- they're "private territories", not real provinces. This will hopefully extend the boundaries of Africa- and put the subjects in good graces with us. If it fails, we will be forced to fight with them, but we will not have the backing of Cassandra's army as we're illegitimate.)

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Is It Reichstag Time? It's Reichstag Time!: The High Court has proven itself to be corrupt when they are independent. Sure, they have done things two times in your favour, so there's that, but its the exception than the norm. Once you overthrow the Empire, there's no need for a corrupt bench like the High Court. But first, you must show your power to crack down these powers of corruption and that is by a direct attack. (Purge the High Courts for they have done their deed in dampening the influence of Cassandra's hold over the Senate. The High Court will be restored by Cassandra, but it will show Ricardo's promise to the whole Empire, a taste of "ending corruption" if you will. There will be a 40% chance of a backlash and calling of hypocrisy against the Imperial Party for such action.)

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Harass the Traitors: We have the majority of both chambers of the Senate. We can easily pass and elect your son to be the next consul. Through a wave of intimidation by your bodyguards and by senators threatening a filibuster on any law planned, they'll not be able to vote for our enemy and perhaps even vote for us out of not having a choice. (If passed, we will be able to deduct 3 votes against Jacobus Remin-Blance and Eboro Vitba in the 720 consulate election.)

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Be the Humble Servant That You Are and Kneel: While we have secured our eastern exarchates, these western exarchs refuse to yield before us. They sympathise more with the Empress and not you. By threatening them to have their family and their lands destroyed as retribution for refusing to bow before you as the legitimate Emperor, they'll fear your presence and submit before they can ever make a foolish decision like staying loyal to a leader who is selling the Empire to the outside world. (Blackmail the exarchs of Cartagena, Francia, Ravenna and Africa, who are notorious for being critical to us. They have a 40% chance each respectively to accept our ultimatum- to bow to the new emperor when the time comes. If they refuse, they will side with Cassandra should a civil war come. We already got Oriens, Haemus and Asia under our loyal belt. Now we need to make sure that the transition is smooth.)

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The Anti-Patriarch: There's a sect that has rejected firmly on the state church's stance. Meet the Orthodox Church of Rhomania- the small schism that rejected the decanonisation of you, being the living saint that you are. If you and your son are willing to sacrifice the state religion's reckless actions to taint your public image and to ensure that when you become Emperor, that this mistake be corrected, perhaps you can join this Church and be reborn again as a saint as you are. (Both Ricardo Sr. and Jr. will pledge allegiance to the "true" Roman Church, the Orthodox Church of Rhomania. Strengthen the religious base against the cowardly state church by emphasising himself as the "exception" as a living saint but also make his moderate followers go stray.)

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Guns? We Love 'Em: Now that our agenda has passed with the hindsight that these fools who oppose us think we can't outsmart them, let us emphasise that we, are not the bureaucracy. We'll provide all of our loyal followers to you, with a free supply of self-defending crossbows to aid your cause. After all- we have the right to arms now, in a legal sense. (Emphasise the importance of his loyal subjects in getting their hands on firearms. The state may be picky and slow as a bureaucracy, but we are not. This will give us two armies.)

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The Deck at Play: Cassandra's Hand

And you, Cassandra, you must play your cards as well. This game of political chess needs to be done and over with. While you may have less choices now, thanks to your party and their coalition being ousted unjustly by the traitorous Imperialists themselves, you still have some edge over them. The Lycaonian Guard is already preparing to set up a plot to severely undermine Ricardo's reign, but it is up to you on whether you would pull the card on decimating his senator base or to quietly kill the father and son off. So-called "Emperor Ricardus" shall perish before you.

Three choices only. You must also pick at least one choice from THE PLOT, which is also approved of, this means False Flagging a Firebomb, A Slow Choker or Send Out a Sniper must be either chosen alongside two of the remaining options (THE REST) that can be chosen freely.

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THE PLOT

False Flagging a Firebomb: It's time we throw Ricardo under the bus. The pretender had his plans to burn the Senate and while he'd officially deny it, his spirit as being the ideological clone off your antagonistic uncle, Callinicus, remained steadfast in him. Through this plan conjured up by the Lycaonian Guard, we can bribe one of his followers into compensation and to give him the materials, such as the newfound dynamite formula from our wins in the Erythraean War from Aksum, to terminate most of those yesmen that his party has in the Senate. (Bribe an Imperial loyalist into committing to the plans that Ricardo Sueridus had allegedly put out as claimed by Jacobus Remin-Blance a few years back. It will see the Roman Senate razed to the ground the second time, but instead of killing all Senators as originally planned, it shall be focused on a huge contingent of Imperial senators once the session concludes. This will dampen the influence of the Imperial Party by a margin, reducing his share of votes by 2 votes and we can execute him for display. However, there will be a 30% chance of a backlash from the Imperial Party and potentially energising them, who may be able to find out that we're plotting for something and call themselves victims.)

or

A Slow Choker: Alternatively, we don't have to make a big scene. It could very well be a mundane scene, an act of generosity that both of you, as well as Ricardo's son, that there's something to be discussed or to be agreed upon when it comes to how Rome should be restored. But, we've also got red wine and some food to be poisoned. Take them out through this and you can easily cover it up without any issue. (Invite Ricardo Sueridus and his son to a dinner with Cassandra as a meeting between consul and empress. However, the food and wine taken by the two enemies will be laced with a bit of poison. It has a 20% chance of working for both respectively.)

or

Send Out a Sniper: And we can also send out a Gargulo out into the wilderness, to use one of those fancy weapons that we now have to take down father and son for what they did to your father. But be warned, it'll be pretty easy to catch the hypocrisy and they'll be willing to label themselves victims for your actions of bringing out an assassin to pursue them. (Send out a gargoyle from Constantinople to kill Ricardo and his son from the distance. It has a 60% chance of working for each, but a 75% chance of being caught in the act.)

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THE REST OF HER CARDS

Terminate Them Fake Praetorians: Do you remember the man who killed your father? Yes, I'm talking about Nikolaos Michalopoulos. This man, he had wandered off scot-free without any justice that should be given to him years ago. The false Praetorian Guard that the pretender set up has him as leader. But what if we picked him off? Using the opportunity of infiltrating and perhaps using our legal authority, we can crush this group and potentially earn something great- perhaps more of this would-be saint's plans. (The assassin of Justinian II must get his justice served. We target the New Praetorian Guard and try assassinate Nikolaos Michalopoulos out of the blue. If we succeed and have a 55% chance of succeeding, we earn 100 units from seizing the assets of this "bodyguard" of his. If not, it will boost the manpower of the Anti-Tyranny Revolution by two armies instead of one for the next episode.)

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The People of Haemus Had Enough: Are you tired of the Imperial Party's entrenching of Lechian labour, those refugees that have arrived after the war with the Danes? Well, we're concerned too. They are undermining the true diversity of this region and to paint the people of Haemus as supporters of this cultish party or their "supreme emperor" is all a lie. We may have to sacrifice the Lechians for their own good, but its a necessity in a fight against an evil that is paralleled to Prince Callinicus. (Sow dissent in Haemus between disgruntled non-Slavic citizens and Imperial sympathisers, to the point that there is civil unrest. There will be a 60% chance for the Exarch of Haemus, a known Imperial sympathiser, to die in those riots we conjured and this will help us turn the region into Cassandra's bastion [except Constantinople] should civil war come. This will dampen the Imperial Party's influence for their attempts to weaponise the Lechian population to their own gain but it'll also drag the Lechian refugees much closer to the Imperial Party's sphere and exacerbate ethnic tensions between refugee Lechians/Sclaveni and non-Lechians in the region.)

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A Schism in the Belly: The Imperial Party is growing. But at the same time, it is also divided with various, conflicting opinions. While there are fears of repercussion if they spoke out against this wannabe Emperor, we can exploit those differences so that he wouldn't gain an electoral advantage in the Senate. (If passed, we will be able to deduct 3 votes against Ricardo Sueridus Jr.'s run as consul.)

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Far, Far Away From Home: Take his grandson away from home. The Roman Empire is only of Ricardo's concern and he wouldn't dare to take anyone out unless its for his own gain, that is an invasion of our allied state. How about placing him in Ctesiphon? (Take Ricardo III out of Constantinople and placing him in Ctesiphon for his own good, until marriage of course. It will ensure that his grandfather and dad will never get a hold of him in an event of a civil war. He will still be tutored by us, but it will be supervised by the Iranian shahanshah, who will be glad to do it. However, this will also sour Perso-Roman relations from Ricardo's end.)

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Approaching No Man's Land

As we and the Kushites set up camp in Kanem, where for the very first time, this Libyan kingdom had communication with the known world that weren't the Garamantes themselves and joined the Medoikon, there were rumours circulating that the Garamantes were also a culprit to this. After all, it seemed that their acquisition of a former Ogun vassal as one of theirs, may not simply be for "ethnic unity" as the Garamantian lords may have told them and us to be.

Do you remember those exotic-looking diplomats that these diplomats from Garama have talked about, the reason why the king decided on breaking a pact with us, its most likely them having to do with the Ogun Empire, so the people of Kanem say. If those rumours were true, then we should start camping it out in their capital. But we can also take that information into account and not make an incident with them, instead diverting it to investigating the diplomats' origins. We may also abandon course for now, keeping that information and just explore what remained of this land and see for ourselves.

One choice only

Pivot to Garamantia: Who knows what those diplomats were? We need to know who they were, let the Garamantes describe their appearance. perhaps these exotic-looking diplomats may be more than meets the eye... (Move the camp of Kush and Cato Society in Kanem to Garamantia. We got serious questions about a clause in Garama...)

or

Explore for the People and Culture: How about we save these words for now and move back home? We've finally established trade with Kanem properly, we can just document the remains of the Ogun state instead. (Uncover the remains of the Ogun empire on our map, as far as we know of and leave the premise after that, missing the opportunity but we can come back later, I guess.)

or

Investigate as We Always Needed: Our original intentions need to be respected. So we will continue our investigation with new context in mind. (Move to Ogun country to investigate the "fragment" but miss the chance to explore the rest of the region. We are tasked to do this, not to another cause.)

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720 Roman Consulate Election

The five years of chaos have come to an end invariably. But the second and final elected term of Ricardo Sueridus will have done much damage to what Cassandra had initially wanted: a peaceful and prosperous state. If the democratic state of the Empire says anything, it is that the consulship still remained in the hands of the Advisors and Senators that vote and keep the lands in hostage. Moreover, no democratic reform had happened- the filibuster that Ricardus' party made had been effective in stemming Reform agendas in favour of theirs and those from Inward Perfection that they have a potential strategic advantage.

Now... What comes after 720, especially with the looming expiry of the betrothal truce, will be determined by this simple election process.

One choice only

===

The candidates for this election

Imperial Party: Ricardo Sueridus II (0/2 elected terms)

Group for Inward Perfection: Jacobus Remin-Blance (0/2 elected terms)

Reform Party: Eboro Vitba (0/2 elected terms)

Third-party candidate: A pacifist candidate.

Chamber majorities
HAEMUS: I / I (Imperial)

ASIA: I / I (Imperial)

ORIENS: I / I (Imperial)

AFRICA: GIP / GIP (Group for Inward Perfection)

RAVENNA: GIP / I (tossup)

CARTAGENA: mixed / mixed (tossup)
FRANCIA: I / I (Imperial)

Two swing votes will be granted at the end to either Ricardo or Jacob.

Ricardo Sueridus Sr. is ineligible for a third term under Roman consulship law.

===

Jacobus Remin-Blance: While Gastone Romano and Bartus Caesarienis left their offices as soon they were being defeated by an energised, intimidating party that I used to be in, I shall not be defeated. I returned to being a Senator for Francia for a sole purpose: to tear down the beast that is the Imperial Party and their cult leader that I used to favour him towards. Ricardo has no right to be the Emperor, not after what I went through when I was imprisoned by his command. Together with Diogenes Selefkios, my friend and journalist, you know what it feels like to live for five years of Ricardo's petty rule, let alone another five years from his son, who may not even know how to run an empire, let alone be a consul. (This candidate starts with 1 vote.)

or

Eboro Vitba: Progress makes right. Right now, the Empire is in danger and is being prevented from reforming itself. Under my rule, you will see major changes that will be pleasing to the plebeians of Rhomania. Vote for Vitba.

or

Ricardo Sueridus II: Well... its me, Ricardus the Second, the son of a living saint. The man who killed Bogomil. Like him, I have experience in the battlefield. I know what it feels to lose a battle in Cracovia. It is why I deserted and protested in mutiny. I saw the Roman Army as a husk of itself when it had fought against those northerners. Yet, Rome can't be humiliated again. That's why my father right now is saving Rome through his heroic efforts as Consul once more, as much as our Empress tries to cope and reject his victories for the people as "destruction" to her eyes. As my father had decided to take full duty as the righteous Emperor, I'll instead be filling his role as Consul. Vote for me. You'll see Rome be reborn from the ashes of these two wars. (This candidate starts with 4 votes. Should he die, this position has a 70% chance of being filled in by a Ricardian loyalist.)

or

A Third-Party Candidate: There is no hope.

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Just in case it wasn't clear, I've made this summary of where you needed to vote. Choice 1/2/etc. are choices with mutually exclusive options in them.

A Duo Diplomatic Standoff (2 choices)
Choice 1 (either three of the following): Discuss Our Treasury, Bring the Danes to the Table or Too Exorbitant, Plus They're Mean
Choice 2 (either two of the following): Gotta Go By The Word or Negotiate a Possible Circumvention
The Explorers' Guild (1 choice)
Rebuild Nealimus
Fortify the Indian Trade
The Deck at Play: Ricardo's Hand (4 choices)
PMC'ing Our Way or Who Cares About Masmuda?
Is It Reichstag Time? It's Reichstag Time!
Harass the Traitors
Be the Humble Servant That You Are and Kneel
The Anti-Patriarch
Guns? We Love 'Em
The Deck at Play: Cassandra's Hand (3 choices)
THE PLOT (must choose either of those three following): False Flagging a Firebomb, A Slow Choker or Send Out a Sniper
Terminate Them Fake Praetorians
The People of Haemus Had Enough
A Schism in the Belly
Far, Far Away From Home
Approaching No Man's Land (1 choice)
Pivot to Garamantia
Explore for the People and Culture
Investigate as We Always Needed
720 Roman Consulate Election (1 choice)
Jacobus Remin-Blance
Eboro Vitba
Ricardo Sueridus II
A Third-Party Candidate

Total number of choices to be considered "fully voted" (without error): 12 choices

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Decided that I would permanently split the main episode into two parts: timeline and choices (the one with the map). Also, I lost a lot of progress in writing this. I blame a single bookmark and me going back and clicking on this. I know I could've used Google Docs or some equivalent, but no. With that, if it appears rushed, that's because I am trying to get it out early as possible. I lost much of what I wrote and I'm kinda frustrated at it.

This is going to be a boring 5 year period of political tit-for-tat. The next episode will be interesting, a Chinese wildcard that follows the death of Wu Zetian at the age of 96 (how!?) in 720 AD, then a main episode in 720 AD and the next episode after that, 721 AD, will be a surprise and it has a wildcard.

Voting ends on Thursday, 30th June, midnight (GMT). It used to be 29th June, but I hate rewriting.

And make sure to vote on the Draconian CYOA . The link is in the name. It needs more than 4 votes to actually make it to the next episode, as it is a miniseries that I wish could not die upon. We only have three votes so far as of this writing. Just go and vote. if you don't, I'll revoke your privileges to vote on this series. /s (don't take the revocation serious, just... vote on the miniseries if you can)

Description

OPINION

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A TRAGIC DEFEAT: RICARDO RETURNS AS CONSUL WHILE THE PEOPLE SUFFER.

What will we do to ensure that his power is contained in an age of uncertainty?

by Iaco Mansina

On a fateful election made exclusively by elected senators and advisors in the Roman Senate, a vote narrowly went to the former canonised figure Ricardo Sueridus by 61% votes, enough to at least push him to a victory. This is a dark day for us all. For him, it may be a sign of his vision coming true at long last, but the golden days of optimism, the years that Empress Cassandra expressed after the war with the Danes about a bright future ahead and for the Roman Empire to come up from her battered state.

As the Consul who mustered three non-consecutive terms within a decade, it must be an achievement for him to somehow remain persistent in Roman politics. As both Bartus Caesarienis and Gastone Romano, the defeated Consul, have made their way into accepting a defeat, we must not forget that this man is still persistent on a self-gratified victory. If there's something in his way, he'll not stop it until he can beat it. Politicians are disposable. It is why Sueridus is an unusual case and to a smaller extent, the underdog leader, Eboro Vitba.

How is it possible? He was the de facto leader of the "anti-tyranny revolution", a self-purported movement set up by his son after dropping out of the battle with a "goal" of deposing Cassandra. This was the talk of a politician. This is why many have lost faith with the bureaucracy but find some solace with the Empress herself. To them, she was the voice of reason, who would make rational steps. But for others, she hadn't proved anything to fundamentally change the situation, to instead turn to another authority, God and to not look back at the wicked state that was the Senate, as stated in Luke 17:32: "Remember Lot's wife". For them, this verse was instrumental to not be tempted to take a part in the chaotic environment.

But his commitment to staying in this flawed electoral system is what is dragging him down. And that might be a good thing. Under current law, Sueridus is ineligible for a third term as consul and now he will be relegating his position of consulship, should his party get re-elected to power for a second consecutive term, all to instead serve and stylise himself as Emperor once he formally passes the title to his coveted child. Fortunately, his son was never an experienced politician, but he could also do more harm for being an inexperienced political ruler himself.

Tuesday, March 5th, 715,

African Times (est. 668; African-language newspaper)

------

EMPEROR RICARDUS BACK AS CONSUL. REJOICE FOR ROME!

Ricardus Sueridus had been elected as Consul of the Romans for a second term. Over 61% of the senators in the Roman Senate have cast their own votes over the puppet Cassandrian politician, Gastone Romano, who had only 30% of the support of the Senate, while anti-revolutionary Eboro Vitba only received 9%. This divide between this apparent alliance to divide our party hadn't worked out as Cassandra and Lakonia's puppet have thought it to be. Even some at the Group for Inward Perfection knew that the filibusters that the Senate have endured can be broken if they instead try to not stoke division and instead embrace a united identity.

As a result, Romano is humiliated, causing his resignation to occur a few hours after the count had been tallied. Cassandra's attempt to stoke and divide us hadn't succeeded by any margin and this proved that despite St. Ricardus being attacked from all sides, inevitably, the Roman Empire knew who to bring the empire back after a long, boiling war that humiliated our identity at best to selling all of our treasury to those barbarians at worst.

We can thank the Francians for being rightfully angry. For their loss of their homeland to those Danes, they stopped listening to the lies of Cassandra and instead embraced the truth and what they truly are: Roman citizens, patriots who are fighting for the existence of their nation. But let's not forget that the Exarch of Francia is still a sellout to Cassandra. The people are awake, but not those in charge of the exarchate. The illegal occupation of northern Francia will end someday and our returning Consul will help them someday, when he becomes Emperor.

Saturday, March 2nd, 715,

The Patriot

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Decided that I would split this episode from this episode and onward permanently. The DeviantArt character limit helped me expedite the process, as well as knowing that no-one would be able to see it. It is still recommended to read it up, but alas, from now on, you'll only be seeing choices and stories that mainly concern the story on this one.

Events of 713-714 AD

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DIPLOMACY
- Personal unions: N/A
- Military alliances: Avaria, Britannia, Iran, Kush
- Defensive pacts: N/A
- Non-aggression pacts: Armorica, Kanem
- Vassals: the Ghassanids, the Lakhmids, Armenia, Lazica, Iberia, Albania, Castria, Taif (Umayyads), Moravia
- Protectorates: Bulgaria Minor
- Truce with: Kush (exp. 720), Denmark and allies (exp. 742)
- At war with: N/A

Mediterranean Economic Group (MOO/Medoikon): Rhomania (de-facto leader and founder) and its vassals, Britannia, Kush, Avaria, Bulgaria Minor, Kanem

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MILITARY (displayed at war)
Rhomania proper: 7 garrisoned armies, 6 armies

Vassal armies: 8 armies (the Ghassanids, the Lakhmids, Armenia, Lazica, Iberia, Albania, Castria, Taif, Moravia)

Special units (each having three strikes):

-> Lycaonian Guard (bodyguard/espionage)

-> Manichaean Guard (desert guerilla)

-> Constantinopolitan Rookery (gargoyles of the capital; 1,450 gargula)

-> Ravennese Rookery (gargoyle unit; 490 gargula)

Expeditionary units: N/A

Current commanders (on the map): N/A

-------
LEADERSHIP and STATE
Current emperor: Cassandra (age 40)
Current consort: Stylaios (age 48)

Current consul: Ricardo Sueridus Sr. (age 63) | Imperial Party (I-Haemus)

Ruling party: Imperial Party

The Coalition: Reform Party, Group for Inward Perfection

Main opposition party: (see The Coalition)

Other opposition parties: N/A

Line of succession:
- Current heir: Diogenes (age 13) | Cassandra
- Second-in-line: Cyril (age 6) | Cassandra
- Others (in order):

- [3] Ioannina (age 15) | Cassandra

- [4] Cassandra II (age 11) | Cassandra

- [5] Laila (age 10) | Cassandra

- Pretenders/Claimants:

- Ricardus I (Ricardo Sueridus) (age 63) | Ricardus ("the Ricardian Dynasty")

- Ricardus II (Ricardo Sueridus Jr.) (age 35) | Ricardus

- Ricardus III (Ricardo Sueridus III) (age 9) | Ricardus

The Anti-Tyranny Revolution

To install Ricardo Sueridus (Ricardus I) as Emperor of the Romans

Leaders:

- Ricardo Sueridus Jr. (Ricardus II, leader of the Army to Liberate the Roman Empire from Tyranny [SRBT])

- Nikolaos Michalopoulos (assassin of Justinian II, leader of the New Praetorian Guard)

Military power: 6 armies (+1 army each episode)

Ultimatum for next episode: 30% (frozen but ultimatum guaranteed in 722)

The Imperial Party has the power to deduct 3 votes (thanks to Patriots not Rebels*) from a choice via filibustering.

===

Advisory Council (715 AD)

In total, there are 92 seats.

Imperial Party: 63

Inward Perfection: 22

Reform Party: 9

===

Popular Council (708 AD)
In total, there are 312 seats. Four seats (de jure Taurica) are excluded, which would've been 316 seats instead.

Government (51.9%)

Imperial Party: 162

Coalition Against the Tyranny of Ricardo (48.1%)

Group for Inward Perfection: 98
Reform Party: 29
Pacifists: 15

Gargula: 8

===

Current Bishop of Rome (the Pope): Boniface III (age 60)

Current Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople: Christophoros (age 69)

Roman solidi (units): -22 (current income is 60; episode 1/3 of defaulting)

National income modifier (next episode): +105%
- The Byzantine Bank: +15% (permanent)
- For the Protection of Works: +20% (permanent)
- A Market in the Capital: +10% (permanent)

- Solidi Pieces to Drachma Decimals: +20% (permanent)

- It's a Long Time Coming: +15% (until the Justinian Dynasty is overthrown)

- A Stronger Patent System: +10% (permanent)

- Mediterranean to Metropolitan: +20% (expired)

- Citizens From a Freed Land: +15% (exp. #72)

- There’s a State Company For It: -45% (expired)

Prestige: 65
Population: 46.5 million (directly controlled; 705 Roman Census)

- Gargulo (Gargula/Garguli): 8,051

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Future/scheduled events:

- The Memorial to the Lechian Wars will be complete in 721, which is located in Rhaedestus and is the substitute to Lost Time.

- Ricardo Sueridus shall not send an ultimatum until 722 per a betrothal arrangement made by Cassandra for her eldest daughter, Ioannina. But he will be able to send it immediately after arranging a proper marriage with his grandson, Ricardus III.

- Electric and steam-powered vehicles will be considered obsolete by the 740s, thanks to the predominance of oil-powered cars by that period.
- Rhomania will pay tribute to Denmark until 742, costing us 30 units per episode until that time.

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A Duo Diplomatic Standoff

There are two diplomatic issues that are at the heart of the issue of internal politics. The Imperial Party and Ricardo himself had vehemantly opposed all dealings with the outside world, preferring to ensure that Roman glory "had been restored" and to be fearmongered upon. On the other hand, talks to the Interrealm Congress that were led by Cassandra and her allies have being pursued, while a treaty to sign a non-aggression pact and a military trading deal emerged was conjured up for Armorica.

Of course, with the case of the Caucasian vassals and the Lakhmids, their path to independence, something Cassandra would've granted, was filibustered by the Imperial Party. Now, the Interrealm Congress, aside from signing the Mazun Protocol, request that they expedite the process of granting independence to those four concerned vassals.

Two choices only

Armorica's unjust tribute and our financial woes

Discuss Our Treasury: Right now, we're not in a good state to give our money to those people. We have a more obligatory deal with the Norse, while they... have a bad communication in assuming that some voice in our Senate is gospel. We'll need to iron this out our own. (We have a 25% chance of making a breakthrough. The tribute given to them will be reduced from 50 units to 20 units per episode for the remainder of the term. If not, things will be the same...)

or

Bring the Danes to the Table: It turns out that Armorica wouldn't leave with their newfound friends. The Danes seem have an edge in convincing them better than us. Perhaps if we bring in, as much as we hate it, the Francian king Ragnvald's own diplomatic mission to the table, we can drop some of those ludicrous tributes. (Their new friends, Francia, will be brought on the table to challenge Armorica's unjustly demands. This will give us a 60% chance to make a breakthrough instead of what was done before, but it will further extend Francia's influence in Armorica in return, including a defensive pact against our NAP.)

or

Too Exorbitant, Plus They're Mean: "Who wanted this? Nobody. The Roman economy is already being conceded to the outsiders thanks to Cassandra and her goons. Under our rule, we will make them pay for demanding our money by destroying them inside out!" -Ricardo Sueridus (Armorica allies with Francia and the Danes- and they will take all of our military technology blueprints as we've agreed to this treaty to defend them against the Danes as well. But we will no longer pay tribute.)

===

The question of Caucasian vassals and Lakhmids demanding freedom, the Interrealm Congress wants the Romans to grant their wishes before moving further.

Gotta Go By The Word: The words of the Interrealm Congress are definitive: the Imperial Party is obstructing this process. We will persevere with a minority of dissenting senators. (+150 units and +4 morale. Armenia, Lakhmia, Albania and Iberia are granted independence as independent sovereign states of their own, with the same membership and military alliance. They'll join the Interrealm Congress immediately and we can make a step closer to being granted membership in the Senate.)

or

Negotiate a Possible Circumvention: "This? Our highness has already conceded the Roman Army to outsiders. The Roman Army, the shining prestigious component of our culture, has given up what it represented, just so that they cannot kill someone who may betray us someday as a man who hates Rome. This isn't bravery nor is it honorable. This is cowardice and being impressionable. Their war doctrine is bad. Why do we need to spare those who made us suffer? And our vassals have fought for us, US! They helped us fight back the cult of Bogomil! They do not deserve to leave." -Ricardo Sueridus (Literally undermine the Interrealm Congress. They have a 20% chance of accepting a compromise between Rhomania and the Interrealm Congress in maintaining the status quo, where we are allowed to keep those vassals but it will anger them further and so would those members of the Interrealm Congress. If it fails, then we will have our candidacy withdrawn.)

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The Explorers' Guild

The Treaty of Roscon also led to a bit of a financial woe for the Roman Empire. The Office for Exploration or informally, the Explorers' Guild as it was proposed, was supposed to be an office or a department where we fund and incentivise young citizens to go abroad or subsidise their travel funds for the purpose of the state and research. But now, things are a little dire. We could either restart our trading post and former convict colony Nealimus anew or we can use this for now, until we resolved the political crises within, to train willing adventurers, like the Hibernians and the Danes, to explore exotic worlds that we already know.

One choice only

Rebuild Nealimus: It's time we place our old convict colony where it belonged. But make it a trading post. (Costing 50 units but giving us +30% income over the next seven episodes and only if a civil war doesn't occur, we establish and claim land over the remains of Nealimus.)

or

Fortify the Indian Trade: The spice trade across the sea should be further fortified. The Erythraean War had concluded and the sights for the Indian Ocean are unparalleled according to Roman writers and travellers. Why waste this moment? (+40 units over the next 7 episodes and only if a civil war in our lands doesn't occur.)

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The Deck at Play: Ricardo's Hand

Now that you are the consul and have a political edge in the Senate, you may begin to pursue some of your plans to create as much collateral damage to your enemy. You are at your highest at this point, but choose wisely. For if you pick the wrong choices, it may backfire immensely. The cards are at play here and you'll need to use them to your goal. The Empress needs to learn the truth, even if its the most inconvenient.

As the controlling consul, you get one more option over Cassandra. Four choices only.

===

PMC'ing Our Way: The tactic to convince our vassals worked, Emperor Ricardus. You'll be pleased to see that at least two will join us in a fight. The others? You know, the dissenting ones, not so much. And these Castrian nobles have no clue. They are Romans who have decided to abandon their culture and become assimilated... to an enemy we fought. They are traitors. It is ironic that an Iranian religious vassal would stand up to us. But let's get back to Armenia, yes. These four vassals, the ones that want independence? We can send in some troops to save them from losing their heroic, deserved Roman heritage. Whatever it takes, even Cassandra will be impressed by a miracle you are giving- no more rebellion, no more separatist thoughts. Peace will flow as if nothing happened. Just loyal states willing to bow to Rome- and to you. (Send out private troops of our revolution to stage coups and removing the dissenting rulers of Armenia, Lakhmia, Albania and Iberia. They have a 25% chance of succeeding respectively without repercussions and if it fails, all of those realms will have a 50% chance of undergoing civil unrest between the vassals we hold that are waiting for independence and Ricardian sympathisers.)

or

Who Cares About Masmuda?: This is your electoral promise to the Senators that you pledged to do: to conquer the Berber kingdoms. In fact, it might be better to start off picking some nobodies, rather than something on the international stage. If it means bringing Roman glory again, it'd be through conquering new lands that are left untouched and these lands- they can be fertile ground for a possible offensive. (Private troops belonging to Ricardo will be sent to conquer Masmuda, Tazdait, Tamazit, Aghlan and Gaetulia. We will lose two armies, but we will have a 60% chance each to successfully conquer it and turn it into Roman territory guaranteed to revolt for us- they're "private territories", not real provinces. This will hopefully extend the boundaries of Africa- and put the subjects in good graces with us. If it fails, we will be forced to fight with them, but we will not have the backing of Cassandra's army as we're illegitimate.)

===

Is It Reichstag Time? It's Reichstag Time!: The High Court has proven itself to be corrupt when they are independent. Sure, they have done things two times in your favour, so there's that, but its the exception than the norm. Once you overthrow the Empire, there's no need for a corrupt bench like the High Court. But first, you must show your power to crack down these powers of corruption and that is by a direct attack. (Purge the High Courts for they have done their deed in dampening the influence of Cassandra's hold over the Senate. The High Court will be restored by Cassandra, but it will show Ricardo's promise to the whole Empire, a taste of "ending corruption" if you will. There will be a 40% chance of a backlash and calling of hypocrisy against the Imperial Party for such action.)

===

Harass the Traitors: We have the majority of both chambers of the Senate. We can easily pass and elect your son to be the next consul. Through a wave of intimidation by your bodyguards and by senators threatening a filibuster on any law planned, they'll not be able to vote for our enemy and perhaps even vote for us out of not having a choice. (If passed, we will be able to deduct 3 votes against Jacobus Remin-Blance and Eboro Vitba in the 720 consulate election.)

===

Be the Humble Servant That You Are and Kneel: While we have secured our eastern exarchates, these western exarchs refuse to yield before us. They sympathise more with the Empress and not you. By threatening them to have their family and their lands destroyed as retribution for refusing to bow before you as the legitimate Emperor, they'll fear your presence and submit before they can ever make a foolish decision like staying loyal to a leader who is selling the Empire to the outside world. (Blackmail the exarchs of Cartagena, Francia, Ravenna and Africa, who are notorious for being critical to us. They have a 40% chance each respectively to accept our ultimatum- to bow to the new emperor when the time comes. If they refuse, they will side with Cassandra should a civil war come. We already got Oriens, Haemus and Asia under our loyal belt. Now we need to make sure that the transition is smooth.)

===

The Anti-Patriarch: There's a sect that has rejected firmly on the state church's stance. Meet the Orthodox Church of Rhomania- the small schism that rejected the decanonisation of you, being the living saint that you are. If you and your son are willing to sacrifice the state religion's reckless actions to taint your public image and to ensure that when you become Emperor, that this mistake be corrected, perhaps you can join this Church and be reborn again as a saint as you are. (Both Ricardo Sr. and Jr. will pledge allegiance to the "true" Roman Church, the Orthodox Church of Rhomania. Strengthen the religious base against the cowardly state church by emphasising himself as the "exception" as a living saint but also make his moderate followers go stray.)

===

Guns? We Love 'Em: Now that our agenda has passed with the hindsight that these fools who oppose us think we can't outsmart them, let us emphasise that we, are not the bureaucracy. We'll provide all of our loyal followers to you, with a free supply of self-defending crossbows to aid your cause. After all- we have the right to arms now, in a legal sense. (Emphasise the importance of his loyal subjects in getting their hands on firearms. The state may be picky and slow as a bureaucracy, but we are not. This will give us two armies.)

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The Deck at Play: Cassandra's Hand

And you, Cassandra, you must play your cards as well. This game of political chess needs to be done and over with. While you may have less choices now, thanks to your party and their coalition being ousted unjustly by the traitorous Imperialists themselves, you still have some edge over them. The Lycaonian Guard is already preparing to set up a plot to severely undermine Ricardo's reign, but it is up to you on whether you would pull the card on decimating his senator base or to quietly kill the father and son off. So-called "Emperor Ricardus" shall perish before you.

Three choices only. You must also pick at least one choice from THE PLOT, which is also approved of, this means False Flagging a Firebomb, A Slow Choker or Send Out a Sniper must be either chosen alongside two of the remaining options (THE REST) that can be chosen freely.

===

THE PLOT

False Flagging a Firebomb: It's time we throw Ricardo under the bus. The pretender had his plans to burn the Senate and while he'd officially deny it, his spirit as being the ideological clone off your antagonistic uncle, Callinicus, remained steadfast in him. Through this plan conjured up by the Lycaonian Guard, we can bribe one of his followers into compensation and to give him the materials, such as the newfound dynamite formula from our wins in the Erythraean War from Aksum, to terminate most of those yesmen that his party has in the Senate. (Bribe an Imperial loyalist into committing to the plans that Ricardo Sueridus had allegedly put out as claimed by Jacobus Remin-Blance a few years back. It will see the Roman Senate razed to the ground the second time, but instead of killing all Senators as originally planned, it shall be focused on a huge contingent of Imperial senators once the session concludes. This will dampen the influence of the Imperial Party by a margin, reducing his share of votes by 2 votes and we can execute him for display. However, there will be a 30% chance of a backlash from the Imperial Party and potentially energising them, who may be able to find out that we're plotting for something and call themselves victims.)

or

A Slow Choker: Alternatively, we don't have to make a big scene. It could very well be a mundane scene, an act of generosity that both of you, as well as Ricardo's son, that there's something to be discussed or to be agreed upon when it comes to how Rome should be restored. But, we've also got red wine and some food to be poisoned. Take them out through this and you can easily cover it up without any issue. (Invite Ricardo Sueridus and his son to a dinner with Cassandra as a meeting between consul and empress. However, the food and wine taken by the two enemies will be laced with a bit of poison. It has a 20% chance of working for both respectively.)

or

Send Out a Sniper: And we can also send out a Gargulo out into the wilderness, to use one of those fancy weapons that we now have to take down father and son for what they did to your father. But be warned, it'll be pretty easy to catch the hypocrisy and they'll be willing to label themselves victims for your actions of bringing out an assassin to pursue them. (Send out a gargoyle from Constantinople to kill Ricardo and his son from the distance. It has a 60% chance of working for each, but a 75% chance of being caught in the act.)

===

THE REST OF HER CARDS

Terminate Them Fake Praetorians: Do you remember the man who killed your father? Yes, I'm talking about Nikolaos Michalopoulos. This man, he had wandered off scot-free without any justice that should be given to him years ago. The false Praetorian Guard that the pretender set up has him as leader. But what if we picked him off? Using the opportunity of infiltrating and perhaps using our legal authority, we can crush this group and potentially earn something great- perhaps more of this would-be saint's plans. (The assassin of Justinian II must get his justice served. We target the New Praetorian Guard and try assassinate Nikolaos Michalopoulos out of the blue. If we succeed and have a 55% chance of succeeding, we earn 100 units from seizing the assets of this "bodyguard" of his. If not, it will boost the manpower of the Anti-Tyranny Revolution by two armies instead of one for the next episode.)

===

The People of Haemus Had Enough: Are you tired of the Imperial Party's entrenching of Lechian labour, those refugees that have arrived after the war with the Danes? Well, we're concerned too. They are undermining the true diversity of this region and to paint the people of Haemus as supporters of this cultish party or their "supreme emperor" is all a lie. We may have to sacrifice the Lechians for their own good, but its a necessity in a fight against an evil that is paralleled to Prince Callinicus. (Sow dissent in Haemus between disgruntled non-Slavic citizens and Imperial sympathisers, to the point that there is civil unrest. There will be a 60% chance for the Exarch of Haemus, a known Imperial sympathiser, to die in those riots we conjured and this will help us turn the region into Cassandra's bastion [except Constantinople] should civil war come. This will dampen the Imperial Party's influence for their attempts to weaponise the Lechian population to their own gain but it'll also drag the Lechian refugees much closer to the Imperial Party's sphere and exacerbate ethnic tensions between refugee Lechians/Sclaveni and non-Lechians in the region.)

===

A Schism in the Belly: The Imperial Party is growing. But at the same time, it is also divided with various, conflicting opinions. While there are fears of repercussion if they spoke out against this wannabe Emperor, we can exploit those differences so that he wouldn't gain an electoral advantage in the Senate. (If passed, we will be able to deduct 3 votes against Ricardo Sueridus Jr.'s run as consul.)

===

Far, Far Away From Home: Take his grandson away from home. The Roman Empire is only of Ricardo's concern and he wouldn't dare to take anyone out unless its for his own gain, that is an invasion of our allied state. How about placing him in Ctesiphon? (Take Ricardo III out of Constantinople and placing him in Ctesiphon for his own good, until marriage of course. It will ensure that his grandfather and dad will never get a hold of him in an event of a civil war. He will still be tutored by us, but it will be supervised by the Iranian shahanshah, who will be glad to do it. However, this will also sour Perso-Roman relations from Ricardo's end.)

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Approaching No Man's Land

As we and the Kushites set up camp in Kanem, where for the very first time, this Libyan kingdom had communication with the known world that weren't the Garamantes themselves and joined the Medoikon, there were rumours circulating that the Garamantes were also a culprit to this. After all, it seemed that their acquisition of a former Ogun vassal as one of theirs, may not simply be for "ethnic unity" as the Garamantian lords may have told them and us to be.

Do you remember those exotic-looking diplomats that these diplomats from Garama have talked about, the reason why the king decided on breaking a pact with us, its most likely them having to do with the Ogun Empire, so the people of Kanem say. If those rumours were true, then we should start camping it out in their capital. But we can also take that information into account and not make an incident with them, instead diverting it to investigating the diplomats' origins. We may also abandon course for now, keeping that information and just explore what remained of this land and see for ourselves.

One choice only

Pivot to Garamantia: Who knows what those diplomats were? We need to know who they were, let the Garamantes describe their appearance. perhaps these exotic-looking diplomats may be more than meets the eye... (Move the camp of Kush and Cato Society in Kanem to Garamantia. We got serious questions about a clause in Garama...)

or

Explore for the People and Culture: How about we save these words for now and move back home? We've finally established trade with Kanem properly, we can just document the remains of the Ogun state instead. (Uncover the remains of the Ogun empire on our map, as far as we know of and leave the premise after that, missing the opportunity but we can come back later, I guess.)

or

Investigate as We Always Needed: Our original intentions need to be respected. So we will continue our investigation with new context in mind. (Move to Ogun country to investigate the "fragment" but miss the chance to explore the rest of the region. We are tasked to do this, not to another cause.)

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720 Roman Consulate Election

The five years of chaos have come to an end invariably. But the second and final elected term of Ricardo Sueridus will have done much damage to what Cassandra had initially wanted: a peaceful and prosperous state. If the democratic state of the Empire says anything, it is that the consulship still remained in the hands of the Advisors and Senators that vote and keep the lands in hostage. Moreover, no democratic reform had happened- the filibuster that Ricardus' party made had been effective in stemming Reform agendas in favour of theirs and those from Inward Perfection that they have a potential strategic advantage.

Now... What comes after 720, especially with the looming expiry of the betrothal truce, will be determined by this simple election process.

One choice only

===

The candidates for this election

Imperial Party: Ricardo Sueridus II (0/2 elected terms)

Group for Inward Perfection: Jacobus Remin-Blance (0/2 elected terms)

Reform Party: Eboro Vitba (0/2 elected terms)

Third-party candidate: A pacifist candidate.

Chamber majorities
HAEMUS: I / I (Imperial)

ASIA: I / I (Imperial)

ORIENS: I / I (Imperial)

AFRICA: GIP / GIP (Group for Inward Perfection)

RAVENNA: GIP / I (tossup)

CARTAGENA: mixed / mixed (tossup)
FRANCIA: I / I (Imperial)

Two swing votes will be granted at the end to either Ricardo or Jacob.

Ricardo Sueridus Sr. is ineligible for a third term under Roman consulship law.

===

Jacobus Remin-Blance: While Gastone Romano and Bartus Caesarienis left their offices as soon they were being defeated by an energised, intimidating party that I used to be in, I shall not be defeated. I returned to being a Senator for Francia for a sole purpose: to tear down the beast that is the Imperial Party and their cult leader that I used to favour him towards. Ricardo has no right to be the Emperor, not after what I went through when I was imprisoned by his command. Together with Diogenes Selefkios, my friend and journalist, you know what it feels like to live for five years of Ricardo's petty rule, let alone another five years from his son, who may not even know how to run an empire, let alone be a consul. (This candidate starts with 1 vote.)

or

Eboro Vitba: Progress makes right. Right now, the Empire is in danger and is being prevented from reforming itself. Under my rule, you will see major changes that will be pleasing to the plebeians of Rhomania. Vote for Vitba.

or

Ricardo Sueridus II: Well... its me, Ricardus the Second, the son of a living saint. The man who killed Bogomil. Like him, I have experience in the battlefield. I know what it feels to lose a battle in Cracovia. It is why I deserted and protested in mutiny. I saw the Roman Army as a husk of itself when it had fought against those northerners. Yet, Rome can't be humiliated again. That's why my father right now is saving Rome through his heroic efforts as Consul once more, as much as our Empress tries to cope and reject his victories for the people as "destruction" to her eyes. As my father had decided to take full duty as the righteous Emperor, I'll instead be filling his role as Consul. Vote for me. You'll see Rome be reborn from the ashes of these two wars. (This candidate starts with 4 votes. Should he die, this position has a 70% chance of being filled in by a Ricardian loyalist.)

or

A Third-Party Candidate: There is no hope.

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Just in case it wasn't clear, I've made this summary of where you needed to vote. Choice 1/2/etc. are choices with mutually exclusive options in them.

A Duo Diplomatic Standoff (2 choices)
Choice 1 (either three of the following): Discuss Our Treasury, Bring the Danes to the Table or Too Exorbitant, Plus They're Mean
Choice 2 (either two of the following): Gotta Go By The Word or Negotiate a Possible Circumvention
The Explorers' Guild (1 choice)
Rebuild Nealimus
Fortify the Indian Trade
The Deck at Play: Ricardo's Hand (4 choices)
PMC'ing Our Way or Who Cares About Masmuda?
Is It Reichstag Time? It's Reichstag Time!
Harass the Traitors
Be the Humble Servant That You Are and Kneel
The Anti-Patriarch
Guns? We Love 'Em
The Deck at Play: Cassandra's Hand (3 choices)
THE PLOT (must choose either of those three following): False Flagging a Firebomb, A Slow Choker or Send Out a Sniper
Terminate Them Fake Praetorians
The People of Haemus Had Enough
A Schism in the Belly
Far, Far Away From Home
Approaching No Man's Land (1 choice)
Pivot to Garamantia
Explore for the People and Culture
Investigate as We Always Needed
720 Roman Consulate Election (1 choice)
Jacobus Remin-Blance
Eboro Vitba
Ricardo Sueridus II
A Third-Party Candidate

Total number of choices to be considered "fully voted" (without error): 12 choices

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Decided that I would permanently split the main episode into two parts: timeline and choices (the one with the map). Also, I lost a lot of progress in writing this. I blame a single bookmark and me going back and clicking on this. I know I could've used Google Docs or some equivalent, but no. With that, if it appears rushed, that's because I am trying to get it out early as possible. I lost much of what I wrote and I'm kinda frustrated at it.

This is going to be a boring 5 year period of political tit-for-tat. The next episode will be interesting, a Chinese wildcard that follows the death of Wu Zetian at the age of 96 (how!?) in 720 AD, then a main episode in 720 AD and the next episode after that, 721 AD, will be a surprise and it has a wildcard.

Voting ends on Thursday, 30th June, midnight (GMT). It used to be 29th June, but I hate rewriting.

And make sure to vote on the Draconian CYOA . The link is in the name. It needs more than 4 votes to actually make it to the next episode, as it is a miniseries that I wish could not die upon. We only have three votes so far as of this writing. Just go and vote. if you don't, I'll revoke your privileges to vote on this series. /s (don't take the revocation serious, just... vote on the miniseries if you can)