Oh dear, what happened?
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Well, look for yourself.
In addition to somehow lowering Empire stability to the 50s, I appear to have raised a Tyrant Augusta; or rather, not raised a Tyrant Augusta, since I availed myself of the first stat gain opportunity. It really does make it a lot harder to influence her, which was very realistic. So Augusta ended up following her motherās example. Also, the dialogue of her being so much more indifferent to me was a little sad, but it was okay, because I had Consentiaās giant mansion to console me.
I am also now realizing why so many people have had a hard time raising barbarian stats while allied with the Senate. It really is quite difficult. If youāre a Treasury Prefect and donāt side with the Legate, it is a lot harder to faction-balance than the reverse. I imagine other careers may vary, however.
I want to see if I can get a Paragon Augusta as well on a later playthrough. That would be an interesting run. I will admit, this sort of Principate reformation is an intriguing prospect.
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Hilariously, your stats are still better than mine when I ended the game. To me, your run looks wholly successful.
Take a look at my first run thru chapter 5:
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At the very least you donāt need that imperial favour if you eliminate the one who gives said favour in the first place. Or perhaps Augusta takes that role, but I canāt bring myself to find out yet.
Might as well share the only stats that I consider truly important
As you can see, Iām quite the supporter of the current dynasty.
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Okay ā this time I tried the marry Julia route, and I think I actually like it better than my tragic ālet Titus blabā route. I think itās far more interesting ā and I actually found it far more emotionally crushing ā to marry Julia and then admit to Augusta that Iām her father. The dialogue was really visceral ā amazing job, @Azan ā I think this will be my canonical route now. I think Iāve managed to handle the conversation with Augusta as gently and respectfully as I could, but man was it emotional.
I also like other aspects of the marry Julia route ā the way she reacts to the MC differently, and even how it impacts how other people react to the MC. I tried to have a chat with the legionaries about how they were feeling while we were on campaign, and they would just respond with salutes and proclamations. The text pointed out that I would never be treated as a commoner again and it would impact how people treated me going forward, and that was a really cool difference to see. Excited to see how that works going forward.
And I have to admit that imperial purple is, after all, my favorite color. (For real, it is ā I love the senate, but I also love that purple. I actually have my own collection of Tyrian purple fabrics, dye, murex shells, and a porphyry slab ā I love the purple, haha). I will be going the Emperor Consort route officially going forward, methinks.
My stats were better this time, but specifically ā only with respect to Julia and Augusta. I have top ranks in Imperial favor and Augustaās trust, and the Senate still loves me ā but everyone else still hates me and the Empireās stats arenāt too hot either. I donāt know how you all do it.
I guess the delicate dance balancing Juliaās favor to become emperor, the Senate, and making Augusta a strong paragon means I donāt get a bunch of the other stuff. Canāt have everything I guess!
Hereās how I ended up:
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Is this the route where Julia has Titus killed and asks you to marry her instead? And does that change any dialogue in the Augusta scene, having a dead Titus and yourself as her step-father (which is something that Julia actually calls you in the end of Ch V. if youāre married her.)
Can confirm that Augustaās checks continue to use her trust/willfulness duo from before her accession. She doesnāt know what you potentially did to Julia. Though I imagine if she finds out, that will be quite the scene.
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Fixed!
Iām glad it was impactful! I spent quite some time on that scene, hoping to get across the shattering effect it had on Augustaās self-image and trust.
Funnily enough, one of mine too! Tyrian/Imperial/Royal Purple is such a great color, it shows up a few times in my wardrobe lol.
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It changes quite a bit. Conversations with Augusta are pretty rough if Titus does the reveal ā and Augusta hates, hates, hates her betrothal to Marius in that scenario. If the prefect marries Julia and does the reveal, you at least get Augusta happy about the marriage and offering you the sword gift before you reveal it to her. The actual reveal is more shattering if you do it yourself because youāre the one that breaks her ā but I still like it better bc I think itās a stronger emotional beat. Julia still calls you Augustaās step father, but Augusta basically says ādonāt you mean fatherā and you have the same strained interactions with her near the end that you wouldāve if Titus reveals it.
So the main differences are that Augusta is happy about your marriage vs unhappy about her betrothal, and that you actually get the gift from her but you also get a very difficult scene with her (with lots of options on how to handle it).
I think I like it overall. Itās possible the stepfather route has Augusta happier, but itās been my goal since this WIP started to tell Augusta the truth and I much prefer the route where I do it to that where Titus does it. Plus, as mentioned, I get the purple.
You really captured her voice, especially the way she responds to your various conversation choices. In my route, she was both strong enough and betrayed enough to respond poorly to being coddled but also very, very much sounded like a wounded, vulnerable kid who didnāt know who she was. And the parts about her blaming MC for it felt very genuine and raw.
It really is! I havenāt added it to any wardrobe items yet although Iād very much like to. Well, what Iād actually like is to wear the genuine Tyrian real deal but thatās rather prohibitive, the fabric samples I have were dear enough to acquire. Itās also rather smelly, haha. But I should at least try to seek out color-matched items. Right now Iāve settled for Tyrian purple sheets, which feels quite imperial to me.
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Iām glad it resonated! I always enjoy writing Augusta. Though Iāve found writing child characters a little troublesome before, I think Iāve found her voice over time and I look forward to continuing to write her development throughout the rest of Shattered Eagle.
Oh I donāt have any real deal Tyrian, but my favorite is a dress I got to go to a family wedding that came in an Imperial Purple color, itās definitely my favorite!
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I totally get it. I wrote a child character for a fictional work before (also an imperial princess, actually!) and it was a significant challenge. It took me a while to get the voice down ā that is, if I ever did, haha. Youāve done really well with Augusta ā I think as evidenced by that one poll you did a while back when she was everyoneās favorite.
I agree ā I think her voice comes through stronger in each chapter, and especially as sheās developing as a character herself but is still at root a kid. I canāt wait to see how things go with her.
Oh, thatās wonderful! I very much approve ā I hope you get more chances to use it!
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Just wanted to mention it, but I appreciate Titus being a good parent in the latest chapter - if given the opportunity of course. He might be an atrociously terrible artist, but he may yet be a great father. Just for that, I will not marry Julia.
Keep it up mate 
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I keep seeing people talking about marrying Julia, how do we get that option?
I was seeing her, Augusta was my child, and I think I got 102% Imperial favour at one point.
You need two of the following: 1) Augusta is raised as a tyrant 2) Imperial favor above 90% 3) You agreed to kill Scillaās heirs in the flashback
This sounds like an incredibly healthy and wholesome option. Iāll try it at some time, but itās not going to be my main/canon run ā I have definitely settled on the emperor / reveal fatherhood route for that I think. I do actually feel quite bad for Titus ā itās not his fault Scilla was awful and made Julia hate the entire thing.
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Ah I see, I raised her to be compassionate. Might try a tyrant run then.
Iāve been wondering if Augusta could decide to restore adoptive succession and marry a woman as a proof of her dedication to the idea (she may or may not have been inspired by femPrefect and Julia)? That way she ensures that there wonāt be any legitimate blood related heirs and maybe gets to live a happy life in the footsteps of her moms.
Also enemies to lovers romance between Augusta and Victoria with our Prefects being incredibly confused when?
Never have I thought Iād enjoy a child character in media but here we are, Augusta is precious nad must be protected at any cost. So far my favourite interactions have been between femPrefect (in love with Julia) and her. There is something very touching about those two completely unrelated people forming a mother-daughter relationship.
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Actual Tyrian purple? Where exactly did you find that? I mean, I donāt think you can buy that off Amazon. Also, about how much would you need to actually dye a toga picta?
As much as it pains me to not be married to the great love of my life, Iām not so callous as to intentionally kill Titus over it when I can talk him down. Plus, heās a great help to Augusta and possibly to me. With the Galerii entwined with Victoriaās plot, having Titus around could be useful to deal with his relatives. And my Prefect is more of a low-key consensus builder, and doesnāt need to wear the purple as long as he can work towards the glory of the Empire and have Julia as a lover and Augusta as a daughter figure.
I mean, he did fall for Julia, but itās not like my Prefect can blame him for that. Itās important to realize that in the matriarchal society of Iudia, the Prefectās professional success is abnormal, bordering on scandalous. To the Galerii, Titusā only value is securing a valuable marriage alliance, just like female relatives in real-life classical and medieval monarchies.
I actually think Titus is an admirable character. Heās probably the most moral character in Shattered Eagle, as low of a bar as that is. He wears his heart on his sleeve, is not a slimy power player, and tries his best to counsel Augusta to a Paragon, moral path.
Think about how unusual that is. The Julio-Claudian dynasty after Augustus is incredibly messed up, and thatās a direct result of their environment. Youāre raising children that are not just raised in incredible luxury with legions of servants and thus often spoiled, youāre raising them in a broken, power-hungry family where their aunts are killing their uncles and their fathers attempt to kill their mothers. Where people have designs on them from birth and you never know whom is loyal to whom.
A paid-off guard could smother you with a pillow any night, or a cook could slip poison into your wine. No wonder they grew up paranoid, delusional control freaks who were prone to outbursts. Even those members of the family who donāt crave power have to play the power game, pay off informants, and work against their relatives simply to survive, lest their more ruthless kin finish them off to tie up loose ends. Titusā mother was killed and his aunt gradually grew to hate him. And yet Titus is no Nero. He strives to do better and teach his daughter better, despite his traumatic upbringing.
I think that we should have the option to express this opinion in the game, actually. Itās one thing to pity Titus, but I want to tell the man face to face that I respect him and value his moral compass.
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Haha, I have a very very strong suspicion this is going to be one of the plausible outcomes to resolve the struggle peacefully. The hints are there ā Azanās comment about who Augusta is betrothed to, Augustaās positive reaction to the suggestion she and āDianaā could get along, and the hints weāve gotten about how not!Egypt was integrated into the Empire through the political marriage of the then-empress and not!Egyptās queen.
Iām glad Iām not the only one who potentially sees things going that way and is in favor of it. Itād be a fun outcome ā AND politically useful to reunite the family lines (or to get Galerian blood at least acknowledged via marriage if Augusta is a bastard).
And as you note, it would require adoptive succession to go forward. Itās a win-win-win as far as Iām concerned.
Yes, you canāt just buy it ā there are a small number of researchers doing work in the area and I contacted one of them to get some fabric samples of various different formulations, including some attempts at reconstructing the Plinian shade of Tyrian purple (color of clotted blood, changes color in the sunlight etc). There are three separate species of snail involved and I got their shells as well. The olā murex brandaris is the most handsome of those I think (now called bolinus brandaris, a less cool name) but hexaplex trunculus and haemastoma are also components of the dye.
To dye a toga? Good gravy. So, for context, the cost of modern Tyrian purple dye ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 a gram based on the proportions of which snails are used. Google tells me a single t-shirt can use up to 10-50 grams of dye powder to dye, and getting the actual Tyrian shade takes multiple dye baths.
To dye an entire toga ā quite a bit of fabric ā I think youād have to be someone who casually buys Ferraris. Itās outrageously expensive dye.
Whatās funny is that as weāve discussed before, your prefect and my prefect sound very, very similar in mindset. I think the only difference is that my prefect really does want to tell Augusta that heās her father and ā well ā while he wasnāt seeking the purple, as established, I think he ends up quite liking it and the symbolism created by the family: a matrician empress, a plebeian emperor, and their bastard daughter breaking the strangehold that a single bloodline has had on the throne and restoring the Empire to its republican, adoptive roots.
Actually that makes me wonder @Azan, how does bastardry work in Iudia? Could the new imperial couple officially legitimize Augusta or evenā¦ āadoptā her and naturalize her as their lawful child? Obviously it still means she lacks that legitimating Galerian blood, but as you know ā I donāt put much stock in that anyway.
Oh, I know. Thatās why despite it all I do feel sympathetic for him ā after all, the real-life women heās an analogue for in these games are often the people Iām most intrigued about in our own histories. You mentioned Augustus ā his daughter Julia is pretty much reviled by the male senatorial historiographic tradition, but I find her story extremely compelling (and tragic) ā and especially the hints that she was able to amass a political role that needed to be covered up and quashed by adultery allegations. You see similar things happening time and time again to Roman women who gain political influence: Clodia, Fulvia, Julia, Agrippina the Younger, heck you see the pattern continue all the way into late antiquity with Aelia Eudoxia.
Yeah, what happens to the family after Augustus is horrific. He arranged so many marriages (ruthlessly we should add) and ensured his family was interconnected with all the surviving major republican families, and then if you look at the Julio-Claudian stemma after that you see how many of the various lines were murdered and purged to the point that there were barely any descendants of the family (even through the maternal line) by the late first century. I often think of the horrors experienced by Agrippina the Elder and her family in particular.
This does depend on your route though, no? And whether or not you patch things up with him in chapter 4? Because if youāre a prefect in a relationship with Julia, heās not particularly kind nor interested in a relationship with his daughter.
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I would argue that heās always motivated by having a relationship with Augusta. As other people have noted, itās not entirely his decision to leave for Attika. Additionally, a great portion of both his hope of reconciliation (in non-romance playthroughs) and his ire (in romance playthroughs) is based on wanting to be with Augusta, not just Julia. He either thinks weāre his way to being able to be with her or twisting her against him, manipulating his family, even as his wife refuses to let him be any closer than he has to be.
He tries to fight for what he believes are Augustaās best interests, not just his own, even though his views of you in a romance playthrough are probably skewed by his bad experiences with the upper echelon of the imperial hierarchy and his own experiences of Scilla gradually growing to despise him. And if you do convince him that youāre not a threat, he still wants to stay to raise āhisā daughter, even if Julia will never respect him, much less love him.
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Iām sympathetic to what he has to deal with because it isnāt his fault, BUT he is the author of some of his own miseries too. He lets his jealousy of the prefect blind him in the romance route ā whatever his beliefs about Augusta, he 1) openly critiques without basis whatever the prefect chooses to educate Augusta in and 2) is set on ruining Augustaās life and sense of self UNLESS the prefect goes out his way to patch things up with him.
Titus has been dealt a hard hand but heās no hero. I definitely find the reconciliation path compelling and a bit sweet (I certainly want to try it, after seeing the chapter 4 version of that path on a previous build) but Iām not going to praise him to the sky.
But look ā Titusās flaws are at least personal and understandable. Like, he hasnāt burned down any cities. Thatās a big plus.
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Hear! Hear!
One can reasonably see Titusās mistakes and harm be repaired in a lifetime. On the other hand, doing several BBQs and sending people to Gaia ahead of schedule can never be undone. Power tends to amplify the damage oneās own flaws cause to the world, after all. Someone āsupremelyā powerful like Julia will inevitably make far more consequential decisions. And we all know how is Julia.
I find Titus all the more sympathetic precisely because he is, compared with the other characters we interact with, rather powerless. He doesnāt want power or want any part in the scheming taking place. He just wants to be appreciated, especially by Julia and Augusta. But since heās not particularly bright (or emotionally mature) he instead harms himself and those whose affection he craves.
Basically, a mundane man with mundane issues (still a rich person in an antiquity-based setting, but you get what I mean) which is placed in a world which isnāt made for him. Said world is the admittedly horrendous arena of Iudian politics, of course.
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