Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Sixty-Four : An Uneven War

The Revolt Was Nothing But Siege Warfare So Far​

We open this chapter with the Despot trying the first thing that popped into his mind. He asked the Count to stop. The Count's reply was polite and well worded but seemed to upset the Despot by how well mannered and innocent it came across. In other words it pissed him off.

He realized that the war was somewhat uneven. The Count had two counties and more men. The Despot gave the Duchess a gift of coin but knew it would not help her very much.

Not that there was much he could do during the feast. Even while he gave his Queen another necklace, which she started talking to right away, calling it George, he was worried about the Revolt in his Kingdom. Even when celebrating with the others during the high point of the feast he was nervous about what news he might receive from his attendants. By the end of the feast he was kind of surprised on how well it went during a Revolt.

After the party ended he rushed to his throne room and demanded maps and information on what had happening during the feast.

"So," said the Despot after looking over the maps and letters from his agents in the field who had been watching the unfolding war. "The Count had taken some time to get his men together, moving his Goalpara levies to Srihatta to join up with the soldiers there. In doing so he left his Capital to the Duchess's men who are now putting it to siege. He is NOW marching with his combined men to Dimapur where he plans to do the same to her."

"Now," said the Despot as he looked up from his maps to the listening Councilors, "She has one advantage. Dimapur has a Castle AND a city. Which means his has to siege both. While Goalpara only has a Castle. Which she can take and move onto Srihatta in the time it takes him to take Dimapur. Problem is, he has the numbers to make his siege go faster. So sooner or later he will be free to attack her army directly."

The Despot leaned back in his throne and said, "So what we need to do is find a way to help her without joining the war - which I am not allowed to do ANYWAY."

While the Despot carefully pondered his next action he received a letter from Count Sudas that held information that was very damning towards one of his most loyal vassals. The Despot refused to use it - he didn't care how kinky the Baroness was!

"Is he insane?" stated the Despot after burning the letter. "Somebody tell me really. Is he insane? Does he think anything he does now will get me to side with him?"

By March the Count was carrying out a siege on the Duchess's Castle.

While watching the two sieges in April the Despot was given the greatest news he had ever gotten since his birth. The Great King Dharmapala "The Unchaste" of The Pala Kingdom had died due to severe stress.

Now his lands were split between two of his offspring. In fact they both had claims on the other sibling's territory. It was a mess. The Despot had a good laugh about it. Much needed during this time of stress.

And it gave him a wonderful idea. In April he gave the Duchess the County of Suvarnagram.

Then the Despot got some bad news. It seems that the new Great King of Pala was declaring war on the Raja Shurapala for the County of Samatata.

"Of course he is," said the Despot once he was given the news. "Of course he is."

In June he was given a normal, everyday, decision to make. According to his Protostrator the County of Haruppeswara was having issues with wolves and robbers. The Protostrator suggested a systems of road outposts to protect the peasants. The Despot approved of such a plan. Also in June the Duchess had finally gotten her new county organized and was marching her additional men north to meet the rest of her troops in Goalpara.

So we end this chapter with a Vassal Civil War, a Broken Pala Kingdom, and a Despot who was wishing he had killed a certain Doux many, MANY, years ago.

 

[volksmarschall]

Civil war, sieges, and regrets. Our despot is definitely a human!

 

[stnylan]

Civil war, sieges, and regrets. Our despot is definitely a human!

Oh he is a wonderful portrait of a human being.

And still afraid of his own shadow probably.

 

[Nuada Airgetlám]

He may make missteps but the despot is quietly successful in many respects.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Sixty-Five : A More Even Sided War

More Exciting Siege Action!
​

We open this chapter in June, during the year 806 AD, with the Despot receiving the news that the Raja Shurapala had asked for, and was about to get, help from Raja Rajamalla "The Lion Heart" in his war with one of the Great Kings.

"Oh," said the Despot. "He had an ally. Wonderful. Maybe he will win."

He was being wishful but it was true that the Alliances the old Great King had made had ended with his death. So the new Great King of Pala was starting fresh - with no allies to call in.

In September the Count had finally overcome the Duchess's Castle but still had the city to deal with. The Duchess was about to take Castle of Goalpara - which was the only holding in the county. There was a chance - if slim - that her men could find and capture the Count who was in hiding in the county.

In October the Despot woke up one morning and realized he was no longer ruled by fear.

He decided his next goal was a five year plan to stay at peace and allow his Kingdom to prosper. And work on his military. He would need the five years to do so after the damage the Revolt would have done to his counties and military forces.

In November he was told that the Duchess had taken the Count's Castle but failed to find his hiding place. No matter. She headed towards her next target which was the County of Srihatta.

Later that month the Count had taken the city in the County of Dimapur and was heading towards Goalpara. Funny enough the Duchess was hiding someplace in Dimapur and the Count had totally failed to find her also. At this point the horror of never-ending warfare started to enter the Despot's thoughts. The two were now TOO well matched.

On the 6th of December the Despot was looking down from one of his balconies and called to one of his servants.

"Why is there a army assembled outside my Palace?" he asked the servant.

"It seems the Suddhodane Bharuka has assembled a Host to go fight his brother to take Aksu."

The Despot was silent for a few moments and then said, "So...the sons of Taram Baruka are going to fight over the very throne she fought her brother for? Oh....how sad. Or it would be if I cared. So, what are we having for breakfast?"

Of course it meant he needed a new Spy Master. So after his breakfast he selected his Royal Builder Sivakaradeva Bhaumakara. On the 6th he had his new Mystikos post himself in Goalpara to start building a spy network. And there was a reason for that.(1)

He then reopened the plot to kill the Count. And this time he planned to continue the plot till the Count was dead or captured or banished.

Even as the war rocked the southern part of the Kingdom he found himself helping shape his daughter - the future Queen.

He taught her to become diligent and patient. He helped fill her with zeal for life and a rational outlook. And while they spent time together she learned to enjoy his company.

One day the Sakellarios Herakleios came to the throne room and explained to the Despot that, due to the length of time they had taken to search for the artifact, that the trail had gone cold. There was no hope of finding the treasure now and the Councilor had called the search off.

The Despot wasn't really disappointed - he had been pretty cold to the whole idea - and at least the money that had been spent on the search would now go to the coffers instead.

So we end the chapter with a brave Despot, a Princess who is developing into a better Princess, and a Host assembling on the Despot's front yard.

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Author’s End Notes:

1. The only woman who could have taken the position was his wife and nobody wanted an insane Spy Master.

 

[volksmarschall]

Spy Master's are useful in Eu4. Well, not really. World of Pdox games never changes.

 

[stnylan]

I just can't get the Brave Sir Robin tune from Monty Python and the Holy Grail out of me head as a result of this update.

 

[JabberJock14]

The Despot's big flaw has been fixed. His daughter is growing into a worthy heir. The Doux is on the run. Things are looking up!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Sixty-Six : The Wars End

And So The Hot Steamy Siege Action Comes To An End Also​

We open this chapter in March, in the year 807 AD, with the Despot being alerted to the fact that the County of Kamarupanagara was doing so well that the need for more space was increasing the value of land. The Despot ordered some land to be cleared. In fact enough was cleared for a whole new holding.(1)

Later that month the Count had freed his Capital County and was now marching to attack the holdings of his enemy in the County of Suvarnagram. As he did this the Duchess was halfway through the siege of the Count's castle in Srihatta.

While the Despot continued to watch the Revolt damage his southern counties he received news that the Great King Gopala II of Pala Kingdom was NOW being raided by Thakur Mahipata of Tripuri. Tough times for the early reign of the young Great King.

At this point the Despot realized that the Duchess still had less men and this war could on forever before her death, or the Count's death, allowed it to end.

So once again he helped her out by giving her the County of Haruppeswara. The County was a built up one, with a Silk Road Trade Post and large levies, and should help her grasp victory.

With the change in ownership the Sakellarios was asked to leave the county while the Upadhyaya was allowed to stay.(2)

The Sakellarios was reassigned to continue his studies in Kundina.

By the end of May the Duchess had her new county firmly under her control and was marching her brand new levies south to join in the conflict. She had almost overcome the defenders of the Castle of the County of Srihatta.

In June the Despot was forced to do work again. For example, Nonna, daughter of his friend Kolite (who was off with her husband to invade her brother-in-law's petty kingdom) was his student. She was not his ward, he was not her guardian, but he was her teacher.

He realized that he didn't want her getting too greedy for power and did his best to let her do whatever she wanted. To develop naturally.

He also decided to pass a law to increase his power, over the Kingdom and Vassals, slightly. They all agreed to it - not that they could refuse him. The Council had no rights to refuse any law he passed. It had no power over him or the laws he wished to pass. It was one of the reasons he was so careful, or tried to be so careful, over who he put on the Council. Of course the Baroness could turn in the favor he owed her to change that - like empowering the Council.

June also brought him the news of the end of the war between the New Great King and the Raja. The Great King had won. The Magistros was recalled from Samatata and told to work within the Capital improving relationships with local Vassals and neighboring rulers.

The Raja Shurapala of Shantideva Raj was now nothing but a "King" in title. He had nothing but a county left to his name now.

In July the Sakellarios suggested new roads be built in Kundina. He said they were needed due to the increase of the populace using the current roadways. The Despot agreed.

By August the Duchess had taken the Castle in Srihatta and started working on overwhelming the local town.

In September her men captured the town and forced the Count to surrender himself. He was tossed into her dungeon as she reported the end of the Revolt to the Despot.

"Well, now I can banish him..." The Despot stopped as the Council members looked embarrassed.

"Don't tell me I can't do anything to him?"

"Well," said Loukas the Magistro, "He is not in our dungeon. He is in a cell within the Duchess's dungeon. Also, he is still in hiding."

"Hiding?" remarked the Despot, totally confused at this point. "How can he still be in hiding when arrested by the Duchess and placed in a cell in her Castle?"

"Either way," inserted the Mystikos Sivkaradeva Bhaumakara, "we can not touch him as of yet. BUT it is also hurting him. Being in hiding AND in a dungeon cell means his relationship with his Vassals and Courtiers IS horrible. I am sure we will get him sooner or later. If the Duchess does not decide to kill him herself."

The Despot sighed and said, "Continue the plot to kill him. Even if it never works as long as he is in hiding it hurts his overall position. And Loukas?"

"Yes my liege," the Magistros replied.

"Put that fish away," the Despot demanded.

So this chapter closes with the end of the Revolt, the Count in a cell, and the Despot watching the rest of India slowly change in front of his very eyes.

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Author’s End Notes:

1. Enough land was cleared for a future castle, town, or temple.

2. Which made sense as the Baroness's temple was IN that county.

 

[volksmarschall]

Despot still hasn't learned. Only throwing him in the cell. He got off easy! Enough plotting. Just do it!

 

[stnylan]

The Count is clearly the Despot's nemesis.

 

[Nuada Airgetlám]

That revolt ended pretty well. Those counties handed to the duchess should come back around to the Despot, unless she hands them out to vassals.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Sixty-Seven : Peace Comes To The Kingdom

Serfs Returning To The Fields​

We open this chapter in September, in the year 807 AD, and the Despot has decided to check up on his family and courtiers.

​

The first thing he noticed was that Prince Ioulainos had shaved his head. It seems he was now a Member of the Savaka-Sangha, like his mother before him, and the Despot felt that was a good thing. The young man was a person who loved learning and would make a very good Buddhist. Outside of the whole lusty thing.

​

Theodosia, who his son was betrothed to, needed to have her next stage of education chosen for her. The Despot decided, due to her skills, to have her train for military strategy and war. The fact was she was not the smartest of girls and she was very depressed. Not doubt due to the fact that both parents were dead. Maybe practicing with a sword would help her? Or at least let her work out her issues on practice dummies.

He also selected Nonna's second stage of education. He decided on picking the life of a warrior for her also. Knowing the history of her NEW family he figured she would need it.

Around this time his Councilors alerted him to the fact that Amritakala's husband had died under suspicious circumstances in February. It seems she had finally been able to kill him while the Despot was distracted by the Revolt. At least that was one less plot for him to worry about.(1)

At this point the Despot remembered that the Count he SO wanted to kill was in the dungeons of the Duchess. So he sent the Spy Master to Dimapur (because keeping him in the Count's Capital was useless if the Count wasn't home at the time).

In October the Duchess took the County of Goalpara away from the Count. He was now Count Sudas of Srihatta. The Count now hated the Duchess with a passion and wanted the county back AND still wanted the Duchy also. But with only nineteen soldiers to his name it was very doubtful he would be getting either of them back any time soon.

The Despot realized there were no backers to his plot and had to bribe the Mayor Hekrtorios of Heromdial to join it. Now he had a grand total of one backer to his plot. This was slightly depressing to the Despot.

A day later the Duchess reported she had inherited the County of Srihatta due to Sudas being hung to death at the age of 18. This was less depressing.

The Despot was so happy that he ordered a seasonal feast in November. This time NOBODY refused the invites to the party. He selected a necklace for his wife, as he always did.

While planning for the party he also recalled the Protostrator to Kamarupanagara help train the army. After all, he was no longer needed in Goalpara to arrest a dead man.

Then a Greek named Pankratios arrived in the Royal Court. The servants had overheard him talking and reported that he was a failed peasant leader. A man who revolted against his betters in Greece and had failed. No doubt that is why he fled all the way to India. He was humble but also he was ambitious.

"You are just in time my friend!" exclaimed the Despot as he greeted the man. "Just in time for we are about to have a feast! And it will be perfect to have two reasons to have the feast! One reason is we celebrate the beating back of the darkness by the light! And the other will be celebrating a wedding!"

"Whose wedding?" asked Pankratios.

"Your wedding! This is Barbara, she is the daughter of Herakleios, my Sakellarios, and Yajnavati. Your new parents-in-laws. You are now husband and wife. Kiss, enjoy the feast, have babies."

The Palace was shortly ready for the guests. They were greeted with flowers and ribbons and dining halls full of food and wine and dancers.

Then the Mage appeared. Nobody knows where he came from or who invited him. But his magically rope trick was enough to amaze and awe the guests. Of course, the Despot took full credit for it.

He then presented his gift necklace to his wife. She, of course, loved it. By January, at the high point of the festival, the Despot was truly feeling good about life, the universe, and everything. Sadly, as with all things, the feast came to an end. But the Despot had truly enjoyed it.

So we leave the Despot with a Kingdom at peace, a Duchess as powerful as him but as loyal as a Vassal can be, a Daughter who looked like she would be a great Queen, a son who would be a great Buddhist, and a wife who talked to her collection of necklaces.

And his two dogs, of course.

In our next chapter we will leave the Royal Court for a world tour of the known world where we once again do a countdown of the top seven military powers!

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Author’s End Notes:

1. In fact the other two current plots were against people he didn't really care about so at this point he had NO plots that worried him.

 

[roverS3]

I'm finally caught up with this AAR: The current Despot is even more fun than his mother, and that count, in hiding and in a dungeon, that's some serious skill right there. You're lucky the Duchesses guards managed to find him for his hanging, I'm sure they had to search every inch of that dungeon...

I'll surely keep reading this going forward,

consider me fully subscribed,

RoverS3

 

[stnylan]

Ahhh, the plot against the husband finally worked.

The first of those dogs must be getting rather old by now?

 

[Eurasia]

I'm finally caught up with this AAR: The current Despot is even more fun than his mother, and that count, in hiding and in a dungeon, that's some serious skill right there. You're lucky the Duchesses guards managed to find him for his hanging, I'm sure they had to search every inch of that dungeon...

I'll surely keep reading this going forward,

consider me fully subscribed,

RoverS3

Welcome to the AAR! We still have a few decades of the Despot unless somebody kills him or he gets wounded or sick for some reason. Yes, the Count must have been great at the game of hide-and-seek as a child.

Ahhh, the plot against the husband finally worked.

The first of those dogs must be getting rather old by now?

Yeah, I was so focused on the Despot's own plot and the Revolt I forgot about other plots.

Hmmm...not sure how old the first dog is but I assume he is getting long-in-the-tooth.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Sixty-Eight : World Tour 808 AD!

War Is Peace
​

So this chapter will be about the seven most powerful nations of the known world in the year 808 AD.

The first on our list is the Byzantine Empire. Basileus Niketas "The Usurper" was still in charge of the Empire. He had crushed the revolt but still had some problems to deal with. For example he had consumption. Known to us as Tuberculosis even with treatment this could not be something he could just shrug off. Both wives had died and he was in another war.

At least he had almost nineteen thousand soldiers and knew how to fight with them.

For our next nation on the list we head south to the Arabian Empire. Caliph Al-Hadi "The Holy" was fighting a war against a Abbasid Revolt. With over ten thousand soldiers you would think he could handle it BUT please remember he was dull and not really a skilled warrior.

Still, he had survived longer than most of us would had thought. Good for him!

Now, the next nation on the list, number three, is in the same spot. The Abbasid Revolt was run by Ramadan Makkid. A man with military skills and just over five thousand soldiers.

He COULD, if all conditions were perfect, raise over seven thousand warriors.

Next we move to the southwest to Africa to visit the Sultan Mansur. With over five thousand soldiers and a good amount of gold he was doing somewhat well for such a young ruler. He even had some skills. Too bad he was in debt and his attempts to decrypt hidden truths from divine sources had gone badly.

He also happened to be supporting a war in Northern Spain which meant many of his men may be occupied.

So now we move north to Europe to visit Mescheravid. High Chief Putyayka "The Tenacious" ruled this tribal nation. He was a drunkard but a VERY well skilled drunkard when it came to warfare. At the moment he was defending himself against High Chief Vseslav the Young. Both sides had called in their allies and he was winning at the time. With over six thousand soldiers and all those skills you would think he would be seen a lot in the future.

But he had a few problems. His only kid was a girl, so somebody else was to inherit his throne, and he was gay. So producing more children in the future was...slim at best.

Number six on our list is Andalusia (Spain) which was ruled by Sultan al-Qasim of the Umayyad Sultanate. He seemed, at the moment, to be doing pretty well.

​

Sadly, he only had just over two thousand soldiers. Not A LOT for all the holdings and vassals he had under his rule.

And the last on our list is just across the water in Italy. King Adelchis II of Lombardy had over five thousand soldiers, eighteen vassals, and good amount of money to his name. His father, the King Unichis, had died in battle which was why the young King was now on the throne. As he was 14 years of age it is hard to say if he will be in any future lists. Or even if he will survive.

At least at the moment he was not in any wars and had no reason to be the focus of any plots. That we know of.

So that is the list. You may notice that none of those powerhouses were from India. Does that leave India open to outside invasions? Or will the Despot and his offspring use that to THEIR advantage?

So join us next time readers when we return to India and insert ourselves back into the Despot's Royal Court. But for now I will blow out the oil lamp, carefully close the book, and put away my ink.

 

[JabberJock14]

So his threat is taken care of, and he'll inherit all of that land when the Duchess dies. And he didn't even have to kill the former Doux himself. Once again, the Despot is a smooth operator, or lucky, or possibly both.

 

[stnylan]

So opportunities perhaps?

And the Despot is now a coward now

 

[Nuada Airgetlám]

The Despot's family life seems wholesome.