Time of Trouble(Anthro Dark Gore[possible] NSFW)

The king and queen lie next to each other in the royal catacombs on the castle grounds. Their two daughters, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are far to young to take up the mantle of ruler, are watched over by Starswirl and the three Royal Advisors as ordered by the King before he passed to the sickness. Now with the throne vacant a massive power vacuum radiates out from the Capital drawing attention from all. What will your choice be? Stay loyal to the adolescent Princesses and the council or will you strive to take the throne for yourself?
 
Note, in this setting Pegasi fly, ‘Ponies’ have their physical strength, and Unicorns still have magic to an extent(basic levitation and minor spells. Teleportation takes far too much to ‘mana’ for wide spread usage. This lead to industrialization and use of gunpowder. Technology would equate to the Early Victorian Era.  
Basic World Geography. Equestira in this setting sits where the British Isles are on a overlay of Europe. To the East is the Germane Confederation, the South is Prench Empire, and their newly conquered Andalusian(Spain) territories(No equivalent to the Channel, and the Bennelaux region is split between Germane and Prance). Across the North sea is Griffonstone. West across the great ocean, Equestrian traders sail to the exotic ports of Neighpon and others.
 
 
Character layout  
Name: Steelhelm  
Race: Pony  
Profession: Lord Marshall of the Equestrian Royal Army  
Age: 37  
Coat: Gunmetal gray  
Eyes: Dark Emerald  
Mane/Tail :Charcoal black
 

 
Steelhelm narrowed his eyes as he looked at the growing mob hurling insults and impromptu projectiles at his soldiers arrayed outside the Royal palace and House of Lords. Riots like this were becoming more and more frequent since the sickness nearly wiped out half the total population of Equestria and her neighbors. In that fact he took solace before raising his hand to his soldiers. He’d given the crowd more than enough time to disperse, and unlike the other nations this was the first major riot after Martial Law was declared. Lowering his hand his soldiers aimed at the crowd and opened fire scattering the majority, wounding few. He’d already stationed soldiers at the hospitals, aiming to arrest the major dissidents in the capital. Looking over, he sighed as the sun was barely creeping up over the horizon. “Another glorious morning in the time of troubles.”

(Like the concept but I’m not sure if any of my characters would fit in here)

@Prince Artemis  
(I’m sure someone could fit in.)

@Tearval  
(Only one I can think of is a bit more…1940s and not from equestria.)

[OOC: I am in. I will post a sheet here(in this post) when I have time.]

Character layout  
Name: Steiner  
Race: Unicorn  
Profession: Grand Duke of the Portlands, Industrialist  
Age: 25  
Coat: Anthrazite  
Eyes: Light Turqoise  
Mane/Tail : Silvery grey

Name: Toffee M. Scotch  
Race: Pegasus  
Profession: Staff Sergeant of the Equestrian Royal Air Force  
Age: 29  
Coat: Light Brown  
Eyes: Teal  
Mane/Tail: Dark Brown  
Misc: Leather Jacket

(hmm, should we make our respective introductory posts too?)

@Cerebrate19  
Yes)
 
@Toffee  
@Cerebrate19  
(Srry been busy past two days)

the free trader cities around portland never had a high opinion of the royals, the regulations and taxes making considerable cuts into the profits of the traders who had little trouble convincing their packing grunts to begin causing trouble and even displace the royal guards from the portlands altogether, the ensuing chaos however found hearty disagreement in Steiner, who saw his self made business in danger.
 
he made arrangements under the table of course, and soon his own stallions at arms restored order when the traders agreed to let him run the place. He had however seen that the supposedly legitimate governors were ill candidates to keep the place running, no, he would have to take the reins himself, he could always abdicate later when one of the princesses was ready to take up the mantle.

the missive reached the grand duke’s desk in short order.
 
“Clever, rather than wait for my venture to escalate into a grab for the crown he legitimizes it and gives me the portlands, with a none too subtle hint that that’s as much as i can have without declaring civil war.”
 
another report comes in, a shipment of germane steel had been delayed by prench.
 
“prance is nowhere near my supply routes… something is not right at all here, send an Inquiry to the officials dealing with sea traffic, i have to talk to my engineers.”

Steelhelm studied the map wondering what exactly was going on. The majority of the Prench Navy was still in port, with only their long range frigates manuvering around the coasts.
 
“They’re disrupting the main shipping lanes with the Germanes, but why?” He asked before noticing something he overlooked. “Clever bastards.” Standing up he began drawing up plans counter the Prench movements before it escalated into a full blown war. “Hopefully we won’t have another Company war.”

@Tearval  
Finally Steiner returned.
 
“the answer is so easy i’m almost disappointed for not seeing it. traffic will soon see a marked increase and as per my right by the royal crown i can send whatever i deem appropriate protection against piracy. even the prench would not be so arrogant as to make a move against that.”

@Cerebrate19  
-Steelhelm turned and nodded_
 
“Well they would provoke another war. But what bother’s me is that the only ships they are harassing are the trade vessels going to and from Germane.”
 
Walking over, the Marshall poured two glasses of scotch and offered one to Steiner

[OOC: I am unsure how I could fit into this, but the concept is certainly very interesting.]

@HatOfDisguise  
(make a character and dive right in. There’s more going on than just this)

@Tearval  
“the grudge matches between Prance and the confederates are no news, especially now that the confederation is starting to join banners.”

@Cerebrate19  
“Agreed but the major concern is what the Prench may possibly do since the Germanes are a major trade partner of ours.”

@Tearval  
(Hello Tearval, would you like to PM RP with me?)

@Tearval  
“the question is what CAN they do, the only way they can stop my transports, or the soon to be added airships, would be to fire at them, and that would be an act of war of the sort Prance is in no way shape or form able to support.”

@Cerebrate19  
“I”m more worried about the southern coast.” Steelheml admitted as he took a seat. Ironic the two rivals for most of their lives, were not the most powerful ponies in Equestria. “Due to near collapse of the guard, I won’t have enough soldiers to stop a landing. And they’ll do their damnedest to make it seem like your ships fired on them first.”

@Tearval  
“my icebreakers are unarmed and the whole world knows it. that aside, they’d have to cross the sea for a landing and i have a few friends in the position to decide wether the prench can do that.”

@Cerebrate19  
“Much appreciated. Though it does bother me why they’re acting so aggressive.”

@Tearval  
“have you looked at a map recently, Equestria is the throne island of a far spread commonwealth, the envy of all other great kingdoms and empires. and right now it has a power vacuum. i would not be surprised if the colonial nations around the world either rebel of their own volition or declare for a new protectorate.”