Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[stnylan]

I mean is it really a fate worse that death. I mean, obviously not pleasant or nice in any way, but death is death.

 

[Bullfilter]

Eek - either way, (Niphon or Meow-Meow) that’s a grisly fate. Good thing the Despot already has his nickname: better ‘Lionhearted’ than ‘Depraved’!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Five Hundred-Three : Invitations To Murder

The Lady Kanchani Of The House Of Kaivarta
​

We open this chapter in March, of the year 894 AD, with the Despot Niphon of the Realm of Kamarupa meeting his blind Magistros the Duchess Anakhit of Nyingchi.

"So," said the Despot as the Guards made sure the throne room is secure, "can we join in the war?"

"No," replied the Duchess as she wiggled the cane she was carrying. Lord Meow-Meow enjoyed attacking her cane whenever she visited and the Duchess seemed to find it amusing. "We can't join a Vassal's war unless it is for a claim outside the Realm. Or a Holy War of some type."

"Can we talk to Pritampala again? Maybe offer him a favor again?" asked the Despot after some thought.

"No, my sire," she responded. "His people no longer talk to our people. He must be upset with you."

"Crap," cursed the Despot. "What are our choices?"

"There is more then one way to....well....skin a cat. We have two options," answered the Duchess. "I suggest we try both. First, let's try to remove him from his position. Second, we try to find a way to give Doux Kyros more money or more troops or both."

"I don't know," murmured the Despot. "I'm not to sure murdering him will work. Secret plots never stay secret for long."

"We just have to be selective in who we pick to join the plot," commented the Duchess. "And it is one way to stop the war. Cut off the head of the Revolt and it falls apart."

"Let's do it!" stated the Despot. And so the plot to kill Pritampala of the Kasi Revolt was started.

"And we need to send the Spymaster Hierotheos to Chunar to set up the plot," added the Duchess. "Of course he could be captured and even killed."

"Send him," ordered the Despot. "His middle name is danger! Well, it isn't, but you know what I mean."

So as the Spymaster packed his things and headed off to build a spy network the list of people who would be invited to join the plot was worked on.

The first to be asked to join was Bhikshuni Kyra of Shukla. The Duchess felt she would be more than willing to join.

The list just longer and longer as it was soon found a large number of the Despot's Vassals showed a willingness to join in. Bhikkhu Romanos of Para Lauhitya, Doux Hypatios "The Lecher" of Lhasa, Bhikshuni Sergia of Hajo, and Bhikkhu Eugenios of Totaram Panditer Dhap were all invited. And it looked likely they would join.

Then there was a surprise. Turned out the wife of the target, the Lady Kanchani of the House of Kaivarta, was willing to join the plot for a purse of coins. In hindsight it was kind of stupid of the man to marry a Brave Buddhist who knew how to use a sword and was loyal to the Despot.

The Despot eagerly sent her 15 gold coins of wealth and then invited her to join the plot.

Of course Doux Kyros of Kasi was willing to join the plot to kill his enemy.

More and more were invited to the plot. The Mayor of Itanagar, the Bhikkhu of Durjaya, the Major of Pankak, Doux Ananta "The Terrible" of Varendra, the Bhikshuni of Puthia, and the Baroness of Nalrajar Garh all wanted to join. Seems the Leader of the Hindu Revolt was REALLY hated. Now how many would join?

So we close this chapter with the birth of a murder plot against a Revolt Leader.

 

[stnylan]

Sometimes one has to remove the razorblades from the candyfloss of life.

 

[Bullfilter]

The Despot need not worry too much about the plot being ‘discovered’, as most of the realm is already part of it! Pritampala had better start checking his ceiling for ninja assassins.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Five Hundred-Four : Letters For The Despot

Pigeon Postal Delivery
​

We open this chapter in March, of the year 894 AD, with the news that the movement to increase Council Power In Magadha had been disbanded. Since the Despot did not have direct control of that region he didn't really care.

What he did care about was when, on the 25th of March, he started to receive letters from carrier pigeons. They came in dribs and drabs but they came.

​

It always amazed the Despot how eager the Religious Vassals were to kill his enemies. Of course, in this case, the target was not a Buddhist. Maybe this fueled their bloodlust? On the 31st of March a pigeon came in with the Doux of Kasi's reply. He was happy to join the plot to kill the man trying to take his title and holdings. More letters flew in as March turned into April.

In fact the last letter to arrive came on the 6th of April from the wife of the target. After her gift the Lady Kanchani was more then willing to join the little scheme to kill her own husband and bring the Revolt to close.

"I like her," commented the Despot with a grin. "We better keep an eye on her after this is all done and over with." Lord Meow-Meow agreed.

So the Despot somewhat pleased. One Peasant Revolt had been crushed and a Religious Revolt was about to be, hopefully, snuffed out.

So when his Magistros entered the throne room he knew something was wrong by the look on her face.

"You bring me bad news don't you," murmured the Despot.

"I bring two pieces of information," answered the blind Duchess as she wiggled to her cane to the delight of Lord Meow-Meow. "One is boring. One is bad. Which would you like first?"

"Let us get the boring news out of the way first," replied the Despot. "So we can focus on the bad news."

"It seems the Lords of Nepal have approved the Tax Shifted Burgher Obligations Law," stated the Duchess. "Seems their new Liege plans to increase the size of his treasury as soon as he can."

"You were right," commented the Despot. "Very boring. And the bad news."

The blind Duchess sighed. "The Doux Hisen had declared Qamdo Holy War for Nangqen."

"Oh Buddha have mercy on me," mumbled the Despot. "Does the Doux not understand buffer states? Does the Doux not understand massive Mongol Empire? Does he not understand NOT drawing attention to himself?"

"No," responded the Duchess.

The Despot sighed and double facepalmed himself. "Will he win?" he asked from behind his hands.

"He has more troops then the Christians," the female Magistros explained. "The Christians are also fighting the Mongols AND their neighbors in Saua. If you are worried that Hisen might lose you could always join. It is a Holy War. You can join a Holy War."

The Despot glared at her and then remembered she could NOT see him so he stated, "Very funny."

"On the other hand the Doux has a LOT of holdings spread out all over and could be attacked while most of his soldiers were occupied in Nangqen. Also he is an old man with many scars and old wounds. He could die before victory." The Duchess smiled. "Maybe he will just drop dead?"

"I doubt I will have such luck," grunted the Despot.

Still, by the middle of April, the Despot was cheered up by a report from his Skymaster. Thirteen backers had joined the plot to kill Pritampala. If it worked it would end the second Kasi Revolt and bring peace to his lands. Well, some of his lands.

So we end the Despot in a somewhat happy mood and a promise of peace. Well, but for Hisen "The Wise" starting his Holy War of course. And not to forget that there was the infighting between Germanos of Nadia and the Duchess Bhogavati of Nadia still going on. And who could forget Avyaman was fighting the Doux Lakshminarayan II in the Shigatse Revolt. Okay...there was very little peace in the Realm's future. At least he was still in a somewhat happy mood.

 

[stnylan]

I wonder what the Despot would do if someone killed one of his carrier pigeons.

 

[Eurasia]

I wonder what the Despot would do if someone killed one of his carrier pigeons.

Well, when Buddha gives you a dead pigeon you make...roast pigeon!

 

[stnylan]

How very forgiving - I thought at the very least a hilariously biased trial.

 

[volksmarschall]

That looks delicious! One of the nice things about London is Chinatown and the ducks, but I admit, now I wish to have a roast pigeon!

 

[Bullfilter]

Oh no, not Speckled Jim!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Five Hundred-Five : Money For Nothing And Your Title For Free

Indian Coins
​

We open this chapter in April, of the year 894 AD, with the Magistros entering the throne room. This was not her bringing her Liege bad news but a planned follow-up meeting the Despot had requested with the blind Duchess. The "Main Plan", the assassination of Pritampala, had been set into motion. But now they wanted to set up a backup plan to help the Doux Kyros of Kasi. Just in case.

"The first action to take would be to send him a present. Cash helps win war," remarked the Duchess Anakhit as Lord Meow-Meow tried to eat her cane.

"Do it!" replied the Despot. "Send him about 38.2 gold coins worth of wealth." Which was done.

​

"And the second action would to hand over a County to him so he can have more troops under his command," continued the Duchess.

"Er..." murmured the Despot. "So I need to give him one I don't like. But will increase his military power."

The Despot and the Duchess walked to the Wall Map to decide on what holding to hand over to the Doux of Kasi.

"The County of Kamatapur might be a good idea," pointed out the Despot. "It will increase his troop count AND he could help develop it. Let's give it to him!"

The title was sent to the Doux after all the paperwork was signed, stamped, sealed, and filed away by the Courtiers.

So by the middle of April the Doux of Kasi now had an additional title. The County of Kamatapur was also right next to the Capital which would make it a great summer home or vacation retreat!

And now Doux Kyros of Kasi had a total of 1,028 soldiers to his name. Even after losing one battle to the Rebels.

In comparison the Revolt had a total of 821 soldiers. So the Doux had a slight chance to win by military might. A SLIGHT chance.

​

Then the Despot received some surprising news. It seems that Hisen "The Wise" had DISBANDED both of his Faction on the same day!

"Is he dead?" asked the Despot hopefully.

"No my Liege," said one of his Courtiers. "He is alive and well. In fact even his Concubine seems happy with him now."

"I thought she hated him when he married somebody else out of true love. In fact the new wife had a boy if I recall."

"Yes," replied the Courtier, "But the Doux of Qamdo made the son of the Concubine his Heir."

The Despot looked impressed. "Well, well....he defused her trying to murder him by making her son his Heir. Smarter than I thought. Still, now his wife is likely pissed off with him. And that still does not explain why he disbanded his political movements!"

"Well," suggested a different Courtier, "he does seem to like you. Maybe it's that? Maybe he LIKES you?"

"EWWWWWW!" exclaimed the Despot in horror.

The Royal Army was directed to come home. It would not be getting involved with any of the other internal conflicts. And it needed a rest.

So we end this chapter with a stronger Doux of Kasi and a Doux of Qamdo who seemed to LIKE the Despot.

 

[stnylan]

He just wants to be best friends!

 

[Bullfilter]

The screenshot didn’t seem to indicate a, um, romantic devotion to the Despot. Or is there something else going on behind that mask? In any case, the Despot wouldn’t have to worry about the hideous war wound (or whatever it is) if the lights were out ....

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Five Hundred-Six : TRYING To Relax

Bad Kitty! BAD!​

This chapter opens on the 20th of April, of the year 894 AD, with the Despot pondering what to do while he waited for his plot to trigger.

"I don't want to just sit here looking bored," stated the Despot with a frown. "I know! We'll have a Tiger Hunt! HEY! Courtiers! Send out the invites! I want to have a Tiger Hunt!"

So the riders were sent off to all corners of the Realm.

As the bags were packed, the horses and elephants selected, and the menus written up the Despot received some good news. The Gavelkind Succession movement for the Kingdom of Kham had disbanded.

This pleased the Despot very much. There was no more political movements! No more Faction!

But his happy mood was damaged when the staff brought him news of a plot against HIM! Seems the Insane Duchess Gabrielia of Gauda was seeking to fabricate a claim on the Title of Bengal!

“Tell her to stop it!” demanded the Despot. “I want the Spymaster to send her a stern letter at once.”

By the May everything was ready. The Hunters had picked their best dogs and the Royal Guard had selected their best spears. Soon the party was on their way to the camp site selected. It had been picked as the most likely place to find tigers. Lord Meow-Meow had been left behind. It was felt he might have a conflict of interest during the hunt.

On arrival the Despot received a letter from a rider who had finally caught up with the Liege. As the tents were unpacked and the cooking fires lit the Despot broke the seal and unfolded the message.

It seems that Doux Lakshminarayan II was now known as “The Accursed”. The Despot pondered this. Normally such a name was given to somebody who had killed a family member. Or something just as bad.

“I wonder what he did to earn such a name,” the Despot murmured aloud as the camp was constructed around him.

Then he received more news via messenger owl. Seems the Doux Pantoleon of Yarlung had made his own 51 year old wife his Spymaster.

“Interesting,” replied the Despot. “Still, not uncommon.”

Then he received a letter from his Spymaster via Pug Express. It seems a few backers to his murder plot had dropped out without warning. So the Despot sent out more invites to a few more people asking them to join the plot. The Baron of Banan, his own Spymaster Heirotheos, the Mayor of Mahasthangarh, the Mayor of Malda, the Bhikshuni of Dhakeshwari Jatiya Mandir, and the Doux of Kathmandu were all invited to join in.

The Tiger Hunt seemed to be going forever. Each day the Hunters and dogs went in front of the Guards and elephants as they stomped through the jungle. The Despot rode in style, of course, protected from the sun and supplied with chilled wine and hot pastries.

About the middle of the month, on the 12th of May, they found a tiger. Or, to be more accurate, the tiger found them. A tiger rushed out of the underbrush and turned one of the servants into tiny little pieces of bloody chunks of human flesh. Then it escaped.

As the group mourned the loss of Jeeves, one of the best servants to have ever served tea and muffins, and started to pack up the camp the Despot found himself receiving some of the replies to his invites.

So we end this chapter with a Tiger Hunt that went wrong and more backers being add to the Despot’s murder plot.

 

[stnylan]

It is the fallback option of the House - when in doubt of what to do, have an unsuccssful Tiger Hunt.

 

[Bullfilter]

Poor Jeeves - will the Despot now seek a new butler - or more correctly his Gentleman’s Personal Gentleman? Lord Meow-Meow would probably have approved of the tiger’s actions - feline solidarity and all.

And would simply being insane and possessed by Satanic forces be enough to be branded ‘Accursed’? Or would he have had to do something to get the moniker? Perhaps he is the member of an evil secret society (not sure if they are an enabled thing in your adventure).

 

[Eurasia]

And would simply being insane and possessed by Satanic forces be enough to be branded ‘Accursed’? Or would he have had to do something to get the moniker? Perhaps he is the member of an evil secret society (not sure if they are an enabled thing in your adventure).

Being Possessed will do it. And I don't know if any of my characters ever had a chance to join a EVIL Secret Society. We're Buddhists. We don't get one. ...it's so unfair...

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Five Hundred-Seven : End Of A Revolt

Carriage Ambush!​

We open this chapter in the middle of May, of the year 894 AD, with the Despot on his way back to the Palace from a failed Tiger Hunt. On the return journey he received a special message delivered to him by one of the agents of his Spymaster Hierotheos.

It seems that one of the co-conspirators, Bhikshuni Kyra, had set up a ambush for Pritampala. The assassins were going to be dressed up as highwaymen and it was hoped nobody will know it was anything but a robbery.

And this wasn't the only letter about the plot the Despot received while riding his elephant on the way back home. He finally received the reply from the Doux of Kathmandu. Slacker.

When he got home, in June, he used his disappointment at the failed Tiger Hunt to cover his nervousness at the knowledge of the upcoming assassination. His real sadness at losing a good servant did a wonderful job at cloaking his worry about the planned ambush.

As he wandered his Palace, full of energy and worry, he received some bad news. Seems Doux Hypatios had started a movement to bring Gavelkind Succession to the Kingdom of U-Tsang.

"Do my Vassals know what Gavelkind means?" the Despot asked Lord Meow-Meow. Lord Meow-Meow was of the opinion that the Vassals, in fact, did not know what it meant.

Then on the 15th of June his Magistros entered his throne room, cleared her throat, and said, "My Liege, I have some interesting news."

The Despot straightened up in his throne and eyed the rest of the room. The many Courtiers that made up his staff had taken notice of the blind Duchess's posture and serious tone. The Despot had to make sure he matched her....performance.

"What is this interesting news you bring me?" he replied.

"Count Pritampala of Chunar has been murdered in a ambush by highwaymen," she stated. "He was attacked while journeying in his carriage. Seems he put up a fight and...well, they killed him."

"I see," he said, letting a little hint of a smile show on his face. "The Revolt is over then. Good. One less thing to worry about."

The Despot leaned back in his throne in pleasure. If everybody thought it was robbers then nobody would link the ambush to him.

So at the age of 67 the Count of Chunar died of what many thought was suspicious circumstances. But they could not PROVE anything. And, because of his death, the Kasi Revolt ended and Achalraja became the NEW Count of Chunar. A ugly. one-legged, man who had little to no training in the Arts of War. And who hated....just about everybody.

The problem was the Count's Step-Mother, Kanchani Kaivarta, who had helped plot to kill his own father was still in the local court. The Despot felt she needed to be removed to someplace safe. So, of course, he decided the safest place in his bed. So he asked for her to be made a Concubine of his.

As he waited for a reply he learned, to his horror, that the plot to kill Pritampala was, somehow, still rolling along. Fearing the plotters might end up killing somebody else by accident he called it off.

Then he received some bad and yet, interesting, news from the Spymaster. It seems Michael of the House of Kamateros, who lived on the Island of Sardinia, was plotting to kill his wife.

His wife, Ioulia of the House of Chrysochoos, happened to be a subject of the Doux of Lhasa. In fact her son was the Sakellarios of Lhasa AND a Commander in the local forces.

The report, from the Spymaster, suggested that the husband was, to put it simply, insane. But there could also be Religious reasons for the murder plot. Both were Orthodox Christians BUT the husband was one of the Heresy branches.

"Well," pondered the Despot aloud, "I doubt we can get him to stop. But I doubt, when you take into account the distance involved, he can have her murdered. Have the Spymaster ask him to stop anyway."

Then in late June he had good news. The NEW Count of Chunar had agreed to his Concubine request. Kanchani was now the Despot's Concubine.

Which meant she now safe and sound within the Capital. Where the Despot could make sure she was well protected BUT also could make sure she kept her mouth shut.

There was other news that day. Seems Count Mahendra of Magadha, who still called himself Prince Mahendra of the Pala Kingdom, and Count Ganeshwar Singh of Samartata had agreed to a marriage between two of their House members.

The Despot didn't know what the result of this would be. Most likely a Non-Aggression Pact. But the Despot didn't like it when the Houses plotted like that. And he surely didn't like that a Count Mahendra, his Half-Brother, was still calling himself a Prince of the Kingdom of Pala.

So we end this chapter with the Despot in a generally positive mood. At least the Religious Revolt had died like a snake with its head crushed.

 

[stnylan]

Just so long as the religious revolt does not develop Hydra-like tendancies.