Makron turned out to be a village in the middle of nowhere AND a secret gulag for political opponents of the dominant noble faction in the Marchdom of Sonder.

The team learned about Ulfric Mede’s situation. He is a lesser nobleman in Sonder. His family owns a lot of countryside land, but the value of the property is low since there aren’t enough NPCs in his territory. And those who are cannot grow crops like the rest of the overworld. Instead, they their lives revolve around hunting, fishing, and setting traps. It’s enough for them to get by and sell to the main market of the country, in Kurejar. However, the products that are sold, are sold at a very low price because merchants have other alternatives throughout Sonder and Graypine. Thus, the NPCs outside of the city are left with meager profits, just enough to get by. But they could theoretically get richer if there were enough adventurers in the area helping them with difficult tasks, like hunting larger but more dangerous animals.

This information was relevant because to Sayooshi and his team, it signaled the fact that there were barely enough Players active in this region of the overworld. Something they already knew yet now seemed more important than before. They also better understood that the wealth and power of Sonder is centered in Kurejar. Both in lore, and in game.

Ulfric Mede makes the point that, the power of Sonder does not rest with the ruler, Margrave Bulgraf, but with the powerful nobility under him which are seeking to undermine the autonomy of Sonder. Which already is a tributary vassal to the Kingdom of Graypine, yet, if the higher nobles get their way, then “Sonder as it is will cease to be completely!”

“Did you get a new quest dear Sayooshi?”

Niki asked

“No. Although that’s the weird thing about what we’re doing here. We’re on a quest which isn’t actually a quest…”

“Maybe it’s just a bug after all?”

Krafty posed a possibility

“You’d think so but has anyone come across any bug like this before?”

Sayooshi asked, but everyone replied with a ‘nope’

…

“So the reason why you were laughing earlier like a maniac was because… you’re hoping this is some kind of special event?”

Remixhorizon asked as she considered the next thing they’ll do together as a team

“Exactly. As I’ve mentioned earlier, this the start of our Player Government! It’s come sooner than expected, but the beginning will still be a long process…”

…

Everybody looked at Sayooshi’s character, expecting him to elaborate

“Yo Sayooshi if you continue acting like a anti-social dummy then you won’t have this government-thing created!”

“SORRY! I forgot to explain the plans I just outlined a moment ago.”

Remixhorizon reminded Sayooshi he wasn’t cooperating with the rest of the party who were wondering what they were going to do next. If he wasn’t going to have anything else on his mind, then they’ll just go off and do their own things in the game. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Sayooshi apparently had an entire plan already.

“First step… we need a just LOT of money”

“How much are we talking?” Niki asked

“100,000 gold coins…” Sayooshi replied

“Finally! Now we’re talking! I’ve been waiting for this…” Krafty cheered

“I think we could do it, but just don’t expect us to do all the work…” Remixhorizon reminded Sayooshi, since he might want to armchair his way to the top

If I remember correctly from my research earlier, we need to control one settlement and multiple zones around it. We need either 500 Players from a single or multiple guilds/organizations, or 2,000 volunteer NPCs. And 100,000 gold coins need to be paid as patronage to any deity. A lesser god (gamemaster) or to lore-gods.

Sayooshi explained this to his friends, and they all sighed and moaned exhaustingly after hearing the rest of the requirements. Grinding gold wasn’t a problem, because they could just play the game like normal in a little guild of their own while contributing a share of what they earned over time. But, convincing 500 players or 2,000 NPCs… without any of them bailing or dying midway through? Seemed too tedious. If they were a popular internet personality, this would be easy to do. But even if an internet personality creates an ingame country, they’ll need to defend themselves from a guaranteed enemy AI Nation. A lesser god who will try to hamper them down. And, on top of it all, will this internet personality even continue playing the game or be able to set up a self-functioning ingame state? Stuff like that, usually, can turn into drama and unnecessary hassle. So popular figures just play game relatively like everyone else, trying to become a cool badass raid leader or forming unique guilds of their own. But not a government, which are annoying to operate and could create a lot of server drama, and maybe the game developers could even punish pay-to-win style of progression.

On the Isilia server, which Sayooshi is playing on, there is only one successful ‘player-government’, but this government barely functions like one. Instead, it’s a glorified alliance of guilds. Nothing wrong with that, because they make it easier for noobies in the community to be guided on where to go dungeon delving and raiding and invasion questing. A standardization of sorts for a part of the server community. Meanwhile every other attempted Player government failed for a variety of reasons. These reasons, Sayooshi has studied and found ways around them…

“Don’t worry guys, like I said, I already planned almost everything out. Just follow my guide!”

“You say that with confidence, but how do you expect us to take control of zones?”

Krafty pointed out a really good question. Zones aren’t something you can just ‘take over’. Remixhorizon and Niki agreed with Krafty about how all three of them had no idea how zones worked outside of regular gameplay. They are just areas of the world, sometimes just as a grid, or sometimes like a grove or a mountain or a dungeon.

“We declare war on Sonder!”

“So, then we get steamrolled the AI? Great idea…”

“Ahaha, I’m not an idiot Remix… Don’t worry I already considered that… hehe”

“Somehow, I don’t entirely believe you, but I’ll trust that you know exactly what you’re doing. What’s exactly is your plan chief?” Remixhorizon asked

“We need to prepare for a big bang. While we gather 100,000 gold coins, we need to convince guilds and organizations to join our confederation. And then, at the right moment, we will somehow formally declare war or just attack Sonder. Then, according to my research reading the Divine Mortality fan-wiki, we’ll see flags somewhere around the center of the zone, which need Players to control. None of us have fought world-pvp on any faction’s side, but if you do join Visiwend and fight Graypine’s NPCs, then you could see those flags in each zone. Players or NPCs can basically capture those flags if they wait next to it uncontested-“

“Actually, I’ve killed many people on Visiwend’s side!”

Niki suddenly blurted out something both shocking and not shocking.

“Oh dear… how many did you kill Niki?” Krafty asked sheepishly

“I lost count but if I total it up… maybe over 50? Or 100?”

…

“So, is Sayooshi right? Did you see any flags?” Remixhorizon asked

“Oh yeah. Plenty. There was one time where I led a group of Players and we ambushed a bigger number of enemy Players and NPCs who were trying to capture our flag. I used my ally-buff and enemy-nerfing abilities on mass scale. We surrounded them and massacred them spectacularly!”

…

Niki’s cheerful tone creeped everyone out a little

“I’m glad you’re on our side Niki ehehehe…”

“Of course!”

Krafty’s character performed a smiling emote at Niki and she did the same. Remixhorizon actually thought Niki’s was slightly cool, because Niki sounded like a really skillful player. Someone Remixhorizon planned to be, but better. Meanwhile Sayooshi went back on topic.

“This is great because not only do we have amazing Niki-“

“Mhmmm” Niki announced in the background which sent shivers down Sayooshi’s spine

“Since Makron counts as a settlement, we basically already have completed one of the requirements!”

“But we literally don’t even control this village…?”

“Yeah, what Remix said!”

“Sure, not at the moment but if we make this a base of operations and the stage of our rebellion, then once we declare war, we will control it.” Sayooshi said confidently

“You say that… but these NPCs don’t look too enthusiastic to me”

“That’s because they lost their protection.”

“What protection?” Niki asked

“Remember how the villagers said that they were forced to pay tribute to the bandits? Those guys were basically their protection services even if they weren’t good dudes”

“Ah, I see. I like the way you think Sayooshi… so you want us to become a bandit party?”

“Nooo not that… ahaha”

Sayooshi, Remixhorizon, and Krafty giggled while Niki remained silent. She was confused, ‘Did I say something funny?’

A little while later, Sayooshi explained the basics of his general plan for creating a Player-led country in Divine Mortality

Step 1: Gather resources (somehow make a lot of money)

Step 2: Ask for contribution/funding from other Player Guilds and Organizations

Step 3: Invite trustworthy-enough Players to join their cause while also seeking alliances with multiple Guilds and Organizations so that eventually they could form an ingame confederation

Step 4: Eventually somehow get more Players and NPCs to hang out in the western side of the Marchdom of Sonder, and also expand a little into the Hinterlands across the river

Step 5: Become even wealthier and stronger in general. Confirm (on the safe side) that there are both, 2,000 allied NPCs and many powerful Players staying around staying around the village Makron.

Step 6. After a new ingame society is build west of Sonder, declare independence at a good moment while also paying 100,000 gold coins to a deity and prepare to fight Sonder.

“We are lucky that we’re going to be just competing against Sonder and a gamemaster because this NPC faction isn’t the strongest in the game. Plus, I don’t think many Players on the server are going to care about us in the north.”

“This doesn’t sound too bad after all. As expected from you Sayooshi!”

“Hey, thanks a lot Niki”

“Good boy!”

I don’t like the fact that I’m starting to enjoy Niki's praises (or harassment), it's sort of embarrassing...

Wait, doesn’t this sound like she’s starting to treat me like a pet dog?!?

“Hang on a moment Niki! You're giving him too much credit. This plan is super… like, it's super-duper questionable! There are so many variables where anything could go wrong or plainly won’t work-out at all.” Remixhorizon pulled back Niki from praising Sayooshi’s ego

“YEAH! And it’s super-duper freaking time consuming and complex!”

“Krafty I’m not saying you’re wrong, because it is freaking time consuming… but like, stuff like this requires effort, y’know?” Sayooshi reminded Krafty

“Sigh… yeah I know...” Krafty gave a mellow response

“Plus, while we’re going to be grinding for 100,000, do you really expect that we’ll just stop at that number? Once the train starts going…-”

“IT won’t stop! Hehehe… I like you’re way thinking Sayooshi. So, I’m going to be expecting my 50,000-gold coin paycheck at the end of this, by the way.” Krafty, as simple as he was, became easily excited once again.

Meanwhile Sayooshi’s character regretted hyping Krafty up, so he dramatically grabbed his heart in pain over the sudden stress

…

“So, guys, sorry for me being like a dumb roleplayer. Getting super excited over something nerdy as a Player Government. Admittedly, a waste of time. But even though the road ahead will be long. Are you with me?”

“I’ll gladly follow you around!”

Niki hyped up Sayooshi’s speech by shooting magical sparkling missiles from her wand into the air

“Sign me up. I won’t forget about the 50,000… it’s a promise now”

Krafty gave an ugly deep laugh of satisfaction

“I’m just playing this game for fun, especially if it’s with you guys. But if it gets super boring later on, then I’ll just go back doing my own things. Just to let you know Sayooshi…”

“Yup I gotchya, and thanks guys! This whole project won’t be just about me, but about you all and to have fun with the rest of the server. So that a lot of other cool people could get involved with us too. So, I’ll make sure it’ll be an awesome adventure!!!”

…

…

…

“Sooo… at the moment, what’s y’all’s Party doing next?” Niki asked

…

Everyone looked at each other, clueless.