Restore the monarchical Kaldorei Empire decision

[VespertinePetrichor]

Describe your suggestion in full detail below:

Restore the monarchical Kaldorei Empire decision

The following assumes the earliest start date. It further accounts for the shenanigans introduced should the Kaldorei Empire, Old_Title, the Alliance/the Horde and custom unions all become involved.

The Kaldorei Empire exists as a title held by Tyrande Whisperwind in her capacity as the High Priestess of Elune. However, the Kaldorei Empire is neither a de jure entity in contemporary WarCraft nor is it conventionally thought of as such by its citizens. Therefore, I propose that the current empire level title for the Night Elves is renamed¹. In the rest of this text, this renamed title will be known as Old_Title.

This brings us to the new empire level monarchical Kaldorei Empire title. Beyond the flavour value of a monarchical Kaldorei Empire, its de jure extent will effectively combine most of the territories of Old_Title, Empire of Eldre'thalas , Azshara, and Winterspring.².

Here it can be created either by decision or an event chain for a ruler seeking to reinstate the original imperial monarchical state prior to the Sundering. In order to create the Kaldorei Empire title, a ruler must fulfill specific conditions pursuant to their approach. Here are my suggestions:

Conditions to form monarchical Kaldorei Empire

Scenario A: Royalist Revolution

In this scenario, a character seizes control of Old_Title through foreign Conquest or Civil War (Claim Throne interaction). Although this is the most straightforward approach, it should be the most difficult.

Before the title can be formed, the ruler must have the following:

Crown Authority: Absolute Crown Authority
Fame: Distinguished
Succession Law: Single heir group
Culture group: Kaldorei, Highborne, Satyr, Naga
Religion: Elunic, Shen'drelar, Belore, Vindicatory
Trait: Cynical
Territory: Control all de jure territory in Old_Title

Special Condition:
Once the usurper has seized Old_Title through war, they will receive a 10 year modifier called 'Revolutionary Fervour'. If the ruler cannot satisfy the above requirements before the time runs out, the ruler will lose the decision to form the Kaldorei Empire and their close family will recieve a 50 reputation malus from all Elven culture group characters. The character cannot opt to pursue Scenario B although any other claimant from their house may do so.

Upon creating the Kaldorei Empire title, the ruler's honorific becomes Emperor or Empress. Then the Elunic Head of Faith will excommunicate the ruler and declare a Great Holy War against them. This would be Emperor will need the plot armour of Sylvanas Justicerunner to survive this.

Reasoning
This route may seem like a waste of effort and time. Having becoming the ruler of Old_Title, transitioning to Kaldorei Empire is filled with risks and challenges that seem entirely avoidable by sticking to Old_Title ³.

That said, the Royalist Revolution route does confer certain advantages. This is the only route where the Light of Lights can take what is rightfully - I mean, where Belore, Vindicatory, Naga or Satyr rulers can become Emperess. Expanded de jure land⁴ is excellent for expansion, but unique to this route is absolute authority. After surviving the Great Holy War, the Elunic Head of Faith / High Priestess of Elune title will be destroyed and you will gain the decision to create a new head of faith title as well as select whether it is temporal, spiritual, temporary or for life. Moreover, all feudal contracts of your direct vassals will be automatically set to high taxes and levies and you will gain strong hooks on all of them. Finally, your bloodline will gain a natural buff +x to dread.

Scenario B: Reconciling Reformist

In this scenario, the incumbent holder of Old_Title decides that it is time to mend the wounds of a sundered people and forge toward a united future in the face of a rapidly changing Azeroth. This represents the path of least resistance⁵ amongst the three and exists mostly for flavour as you become a constituional monarch: a declawed, defanged nightsabre. In spite of that, forming the Kaldorei Empire this way strengthens the Kaldorei people as a whole against external invasions such as the Old Gods or the Burning Legion.

Before the title can be formed, the ruler must have the following:

Title: Holder of Old_Title
Territory: Control at least one third de jure territory of Old_Title
Crown Authority: Limited Crown Authority or below
Succession Law: Scandanavian Elective (Otherwise named)
Culture group: Kaldorei
Religion: Elunic
Level of Devotion: Religious Icon
Fame: Distinguished or higher
Piety Cost: 7500 (subject to balancing)

Reasoning
Upon creation of the Kaldorei Empire title, Old_Title is destroyed and the ruler's main honorific will become 'Emperor' or 'Empress' as they are crowned on the basis of consitutional monarchy. The main title of Kaldorei Empire will not have any land associated with it and the ruler's desmense limit is reduced by 90%. A majority of the Emperor's council members will also become fixed⁶.

Elunism will reform to become more pluralistic and offer greatly reduced opinion penalties against Elunic Highborne, Naga and Satyr. Magic schools such as Order and Shamanism will no longer be criminal or shunned, but accepted. Shath'gral, Maldraxxi and Fel remain unacceptable, however Vindicatory will be shunned instead of criminal.

On the surface, Scenario B may once more appear to be a downgrade from Old_Title. Bear in mind that this route is best suited for duchy/kingdom tier rulers seeking to reunite the fragments lands of Old_Title. The goal is for an eventual consolidation and showdown between the rulers of the Kaldorei Empire and Old_Title⁷ over de jure lands in what can be considered a theological schism. The inertia of empires combined with the realm stability afforded by Kaldorei lifespans means that snowballing can trivialise much of the mid to late game and this route offers a solution to spice things up.

With all that said, Scenario B involves the least preparatory work of the three routes; the main focus should be building level of devotion and stockpiling piety in order to gain access to the decision. There are no cultural advancements needed due to the Scandanavian Elective succession law, and increased de jure territory is always beneficial. Lastly, there should be a special rule implemented that prevents vassals from declaring war on you unless they use a hook on your head of faith. To surmise, this route lets your dynasty rule as royalty with nominal control over the realm - subject to the approval of your fixed council. Just don't piss off too many people due to your small demense size!

Scenario C: Rightful Restoration

Note that this section includes a significant rework for the current implementation of Eldre'thalas

Having lived in terror of Prince Tor'theldrin's purges for over a millennia, the once grand avenues and swirling spires of Eldre'thalas bespeak the withering decay at the heart of the citadel's dwindling Highborne population. Reversing their fortunes will require inward journey of reflection and renewal, before emerging outward from their devastated citadel to seize their birthright as the blue blooded sovereigns of the Kaldorei Empire. This path is meant for the long game, offering the most varied and comprehensive route to forming the Kaldorei Empire and it is intended as primary content for Highborne rulers of the Duchy of Eldre'thalas.

Before the title can be formed, the ruler must have the following:

Ruler: Is not Prince Tor'theldrin
Title: Holder of Empire of Eldre'thalas
Territory: Control the Duchy of Eldre'thalas
Development Level: Development in Duchy of Eldre'thalas must be [x] (Subject to balancing)
Cultural Territory: All counties within two de jure Empire of Eldre'thalas kingdoms must be entirely Highborne.
Crown Authority: High Crown Authority or higher
Fame: Exalted Among Men or higher
Succession Law: Any non-elective
Culture group: Highborne

Upon creation of the Kaldorei Empire title, the ruler will receive de jure claims on most of the lands in Old_Title, Azshara, and Winterspring². Moreover, a special one-time army will spawn in the capital county named 'Shen'dralar Imperial Guard' (subject to balancing). This approach provides the advantage of forming Kaldorei Empire without holding any land in Old_Title, but the real impetus should be the restoration of the Highborne monarchy! On the other hand, Eldre'thalas will face significant challenges in the mid-game from the threat of Qiraji Great Holy Wars, making defensive measures an early priority. Futhermore the Kaldorei Empire will refuse to join any union as a junior partner and can only create unions.

Suggested Next Steps

Having consolisated dominion across the southern belt of Kalimdor and successfully repopulated large areas with a Kaldorei majority, Eldre'thalas has laid claim to the Kaldorei Empire and returned the Highborne from obscurity to a major Azerothian power. Still, threats abound from north and south, while the Royal Banners of Eldre'thalas fly high over Ethel Rethor in clear view of Stonetalon Peak. Tensions are at a breaking point and hawkish elements of both sides are drawing the battle lines: What will be the destiny of the Kaldorei people?

From here, the ruler of Kaldorei Empire has free reign to continue as they wish. I have outlined additional decisions that could be implemented below:

Military Irredentism

• Adding an Empire Level CB of Old_Title for rulers of Kaldorei Empire.

• Decision to declare a Great Holy War on Old_Title as one-off temporal Head of Faith if Old_Title is a junior member of the Alliance/Horde/Custom Union.

Diplomatic Conciliation

• Decision to form a union with the ruler of Old_Title.

Acceptance is subject to regular considerations and thus unlikely, but if the ruler of Kaldorei Empire successfully defended a Qiraji Great Holy War in the past or if the Kaldorei Empire includes the Duchy of Ahn Qiraj, there is a massive opinion bonus that could tip the balance if relations are already good. Unlike a regular custom union, should the ruler of Old_Title perish without an adult heir of the same House, the ruler of Kaldorei Empire can trigger a decision to seize Old_Title and annex its territories. Should this happen, the rulers of Hyjal, Moonglade and Teldrassil will become independent while relations with all powerful vassals in Old_Title will be permanently reduced tremendously (subject to balancing). Furthermore, the Spiritual Head of Elunism may declare a Great Holy War on Kaldorei Empire.

Without the Highborne demonstrating a clear commitment to reform to the Kaldorei people, the possibility of success of the above is low to impossible. Thus, below are conditions that would enhance any diplomatic overtures.

Religion: Shen'dralar must be reformed⁸ to include a new tenet called Elunic Syncreticism while replacing Human Sacrifices with something else⁸. Holy Light (I believe Elunic belongs to this?) and various forms of Druidic magic must be accepted. Practice of Necromantic, Void magics are criminal and Fel (If possible only Vindicatory, other Fel is all Criminal) is shunned.
Pilgrimage: Ruler of Kaldorei Empire must make a pilgrimage of the longest distance.
Feudal Contracts: Taxes for all vassals are reduced by one tier.
Construction: The capital of Eldre'thalas will gain two new building slots where a unique Cenarion Enclave and a Temple of Elune must be constructed for a cost/upkeep to be determined.

Doing each of the above will unlock a decision that activates a special event chain upon the death of Old_Title's Ruler which ensures the peaceful annexation of Old_Title (notwithstanding, Teldrassil, Moonglade and Hyjal).

Suggestions

• Fruit of Fertility/Felvine
• Arcan'dor: (Cultural Innovation for Highborne and Nightborne)
  • Provides a minor boost to health and prowress for all characters of the associated cultures.

Footnotes:

Footnotes

1. 'Darnassian Accord'
   'Darnassian Confederacy' ↩

2. The following WoW zones would be excluded: Teldrassil, Moonglade, and Hyjal. ↩ ↩²

3. This is by design as forming a monarchical, absolutist state by the time of modern WarCraft would be anathema to most Night Elves and a supreme departure from history. A sudden takeover by either a crazed Elunic ruler or foreign power is equally unlikely. Even if the ruler has no intention on forming the Kaldorei Empire, their usurpation has fundamentally and undemocratically altered the political landscape of Kaldorei society that has existed since the beginning of the Long Vigil. This is why the ruler and their close family are guaranteed a reputation malus if they fail to form the Kaldorei Empire after 30 years. The character conditions stipulated ensure this path can only become feasible in the mid to late game. ↩

4. To clarify, Old_Title encompasses all de jure lands held by the Kaldorei Empire as of Dec. 2021. The newly proposed Kaldorei Empire for all scenarios would comprise of all the lands of Old_Title in addition to additional titles. I do not know if this is setup is permissible in the game engine but a workaround can achieve the same effect. ↩

5. Note that the other options may turn out to be simpler to execute (unless you cheat) as you cannot begin the game playing at the holder of Old_Title since it is held by Tyrande Whisperwind. Consequently, a ruler pursuing Scenario B will likely come into possession of the title after consolidating de jure territories in a 'War States' period of civil wars involving various claimants descended from Tyrande. ↩

6. This accounts for the representation of powerful stakeholders in the Kaldorei Empire. Short of creating new role specific titles, I would suggest that the High Priestess of Elune, and 'kings' of Moonglade, Teldrassil, Hyjal, and the Wardens have guaranteed council seats in their feudal contract. It would be ideal if this arrangement cannot be changed or incurs an astronomical tyranny malus if invalidated, with or without a hook. ↩

7. Either given to the next largest ruler of de facto Old_Title lands or destroyed and potentially created again by another ruler if they hold enough de jure lands. ↩

8. Shen'dralar should begin with the following tenets: Esotericism, Human Sacrifice and Astrology. Other options could include Sacred Lies, Communal Identity, and Alexandrian Catechism. ↩ ↩²