Moodboard: Aristocracy

The accountant frowned as he briefed the Lord-Governor on the financial results, his voice cautious and critical.

“Abraxis,” sighed the Lord-Governor, “you know I tolerate your diatribes because you’re the most skilled number-cruncher in the entire Zone. You’re aware of that, aren’t you?”

“Yes, my lord,” replied Abraxis, his tone respectful yet burdened with a lingering frustration. “It’s just that the injustice still pains me.”

The Lord-Governor, a figure of imposing stature draped in the red regalia of his House Vernaz, walked over to the accountant’s desk. Placing a hand on the man’s shoulder, he softened his expression. “Explain it to me once more, dear Abraxis” he said.

Abraxis shuddered slightly under the touch but seized the opportunity nonetheless. “If we tally up everything your House Vernaz extracts from the coffers of the state, it amounts to almost 3000 Credits each year, along with resources that could have raised almost three armored battalions.”

The Lord-Governor nodded, his expression both serious and subtly pleased. “That’s a good tally” he mused.

“Don’t you see this harms our nation, my lord?” Abraxis pressed, his voice trembling with restrained defiance.

“Frankly,” Lord-Governor Vernaz drawled, his tone measured, “quite frankly… no, not really. You assume too much, Abraxis. You view the world through a very narrow lens, assuming this wealth is wasted, when it actually is not.”

The Lord-Governor straightened himself, his imposing presence filling the room. “You forget the stability this has purchased for our great Steelshelf Nation. You cannot put a price on a nation at peace with itself. You, of all people, should remember the days of oligarchs and unrest, no?”

Abraxis shook his head, a heavy sigh escaping him. “Yes, yes,” he conceded, “but if we had just curbed the corruption or perhaps reformed into a democracy… then we could have had stability without the aristocracy taking everything from us…”

The accountant slumped in his chair under the Lord-Governor’s withering gaze. “Careful now,” the Lord-Governor warned, his voice low. “Don’t forget your place!” the aristocrat snapped.

After a large pause the Lord-Governor refocussed his attention on his accountant and continued: “What you’re proposing would have bought only temporary stability. Did you notice what happened to our neighbor, the People’s Republic?”

Abraxis nodded again, feeling the weight of his lord’s words pressing down on him, making him question his own revolutionary ideas.

“Alright,” he sighed, “but at least reconsider transferring your household guards to the presidential command. We could really use those elite troops in our fight against the People’s Republic.”

The Lord-Governor laughed, a deep, booming sound that echoed through the chamber. Slapping Abraxis on the back, he nearly knocked the wind out of the accountant. “If the president concedes to our demands for stewardship over the East Zone, sure, Abraxis, we’ll lend a hand. But all in due time… all in due time…”

https://www.matrixgames.com/news/shadow-empire-republica-moodboard-and-designer-notes-6-aristocracy

ok

Neat but you probably should have lead your post with the link at the top instead of making us read that regency era whinging.

As to a simple matter, I don't even know why you're excited, exactly 0 of the Aristocracy series is on GOG. And there's only one title from Matrix Games by total incident.

Oh please, leave that whining for your gen z buddies

Were it in fact, that I were of that demographic, this insult may have struck. Unfortunately for you, I've recently completed my 34th cycle.

But also more bluntly, you failed to tell us what about the seemingly mysterious link excites you.

You actually read that?

Even though I did scroll past it quickly, I was able to get the gist. I'm a speed reader by nature.

There's no need to be on the defensive.... people like that love to crawl under your skin