As a consequence, Alya’s Leaguer buddies weren’t (initially) too happy to hear that she wasn’t on board with their “Shayard should become the new post-Hegemony superpower” agenda, but after bribing (whether it be a pension plan and/or an esteemed position in Alya’s court) was conducted, tunes soon started changing in Alya’s favor. 
And as a common sense reminder (and echo of a previous comment on the Uprising thread, whose source I’ve forgotten) it would be wise NOT to harrow the infant(s) of Theurgy-wielding parents, lest your blood collectors get fireballed to oblivion (in retaliation).
1- So I take it that Alya has dumped her current plans to romance Phaedra in favor of courting Cerlota instead?
2- And what is Alya’s logic/argument for getting Cerlota to back her bid as Eternal Thaumatarch? (When Cerlota’s G2 introduction has currently defined as a “Theurge who wants all Theurges (herself included) barred from political office”?)
Again, best of luck to you and your “journey to achieve a romanticized dream” playthrough!
Though, please do be mindful to keep an eye on the hardline nationalists who may have reason to pick fights with the few foreign nations that you call your allies!
Long live the Xthonic Holy Belt/Coast! (Shayard, Erezza, and (post-Hegemony) Karagon)
Fortunately for you, me, and other alliance-seeking Homelander players, I previously asked Havie (on the Uprising forum) if “soft nationalism can still be a useful glue for Homelander MC to form alliances with non-Shayardene nationalists , right?”
His answer: “Yes, that will be possible! As I’ve argued at length elsewhere on the forum , nationalism isn’t inherently bad or divisive, even if (like all significant sources of social order) it can go very, very bad.”
And as for the potential analogy for “very, very bad” forms of nationalism, do be careful not to escalate your faction into the XoR version of the Axis of Evil (WW2 Germany, Italy, and Japan)!
(unless of course, that’s what you’re deliberately going for in your playthrough!)
Unless, of course, said Cosmo MC has simpler aspirations of being a “by rebels, for rebels” mercenary commander (instead of aiming for becoming a nation builder).
And here’s another relevant Havie quote (from the Uprising thread) for you to consider: “The big independent mercenary band wouldn’t be a viable model in the bipolar superpower war of the present gameworld, nor in a total anarchy meltdown where no one has the money for big armies… but it would probably work out and be a satisfying option for some players in a post-Hegemony world of many little states.”
Will Grand Shayard’s aristo community/locations ever have any opportunities for players to solve a murder mystery? (whether it’s in G2 or beyond)
Sorry if the question came out of left field- I’m still acting upon the “murder mystery involving a dysfunctional cast of wealthy 1%-ers” craving that Knives Out and Glass Onion have stimulated for me (in recent years).
As for how characters of all specs could succeed at such a murder mystery plot, I have the following suggestions:
1- COM characters can do their own pseudo-forensic analysis of bladed weapons and guns (without needing any outside assistance from NPCs).
2- CHA characters can squeeze more information from the witnesses they interview (while also being able to talk down (insert culprit) into turning themselves in, OR arranging a plea bargain to secure (insert culprit’s) confession).
Also, CHA characters should have the ability to detect lies/guilt (based on detecting body language).
3- INT characters obviously have the advantage of determining whether or not a cause of death could be attributed to a Theurgy-wielding culprit.
Also, INT characters should have the ability to point out lies/contradictions (based on piecing together concrete facts beyond body language).
Couldn’t MC address this issue by simply keeping Erezzan representatives in the loop with his “double agent” plan? (publicly work with (and get resources) from Halassur, covertly work with Erezza on the side (to secretly advance Shayard and Erezza’s bigger picture mutual goals), and then later publicly side with Erezza during a later critical battle)
I think it would be a very amusing irony for MC to defend Erezza with the resources he mooched from his past dealings with Halassur.
Or is the uncertainty of allegiances enough of a thorny issue for the Erezzan representative(s) to cynically accuse MC of deliberately “hedging his bets?” (thus rejecting MC’s proposed convoluted plan, and instead demanding that MC publicly commit to allying with Erezza from the get-go)
Then again, asking for trust from the intrigue-obsessed Erretsins may be a very tall order (by default) to begin with? 
Might the hunt for the G4/G5 base of operations evoke what happened during Amazon’s pursuit of their second headquarters?
E.g. with Grand Shayard, Corlune, or Aveche “offering billions in tax breaks” to MC? (if MC picks them as his HQ)
Albeit friction that worked against Napoleon (rather than for him).