Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Five Hundred-Sixty-Three : A New Imperial Baby And A New Mercenary Company

A Visitor From The East?​

This chapter opens up in mid February, of the year 901 AD, with the Basileus Niphon being told of another plot being uncovered by the Spymaster. It seems Srimanta of the House of Mana was planning to kill Narsingh of the House Mahindranarayan.

"I don't care why," responded the Basileus. "Tell her to stop."

In late February a Chinese Nobleman, calling himself Yuan of the House of Li, came before the Imperial Court.

"My family was murdered by the fake Mongol Emperor," he explained. "And knowing your wisdom and mercy I have come here for refuge. I know, because of your marriage to your Queen, that you have no ill will towards the Han and I would be safe here."

"Of course, of course," replied the Basileus. As the Noble was taken away by the servants to be shown his new quarters the Basileus turned to one of his Courtiers and asked, "How do I stand with the Chinese Emperor?"

"You're barely on good terms with him," stated the Courtier. "And taking in one of his enemies will not help it any."

"Send a letter to the Emperor," whispered the Basileus. "Tell him Yuan is here and ask if there is a reward."

"Sire?"

"Do IT! Do IT!" hissed the Basileus. "We need a friendly Emperor more than we need another Freeloader. And keep it secret. Oh, and don't tell my wife." So a letter was sent to the Chinese Emperor alerting him to his enemy's appearance within India.

In early March there was some interesting news out of the Mongol Empire. Seems the Court Chaplain of the Great King of Guge, Junpala, had been trying to convert some of the populace to Hinduism and had been caught. The Great Khan had imprisoned the man and few could guess how long the poor fellow would be visiting the Great Khan's dungeons.

While bored, and poking around the daily reports, the Basileus noticed that the Great King of Orissa was unmarried.

"Maybe if I match him up with somebody he will like me even more!" mumbled the Basileus to himself. "Lists! Bring me the lists of all available women in the Realm!"

Sadly, those not TOO old to marry were all the Basileus's Concubines. So that plan was shot down.

Then the Basileus noticed something horrible. One of his Concubines, Kanchani, was trying to abstain from excesses of the flesh.

"But...there's only two reasons to have Concubines. You like them AND they like sex. Is there something we can do to stop her?!?!"

"Well," said one of the Courtiers, "you could set her aside, or give her landed titles, or arrange a marriage for her, or have her become the Captain of a Mercenary Company-"

"Wait, what?" cut in the Basileus. "She can become the Captain of a Mercenary Company?"

"Yes, sire," remarked the Courtier with a smile. "If you look at her records she had military training."

So for the small cost of 50 gold coins the Kanchani of the House of Kaivarta became a Captain of a Mercenary Company.

The Kamarupanagaran Band was born! (1)

The Baselius noticed something in the Band's paperwork. "Are...are they using the old Kingdom's symbol as their battle standard?"

"Yes, sire, it looks like they are....sire...are you crying?"

The Baselius Niphon sniffled and stated, "Queen Arminestra, the First, would be so proud to see it on the battlefield again. Causing fear and horror." He blew his nose.

"Yes, sire," commented the Courtier with a shrug. "Anyway, we can also supply them with special equipment if you wish."

"Oh yes, let's so that," answered the Baselius with a nod.

"Now," continued the Courtier, "we could pay for equipment to convert some of the solders into Heavy Infantry, or Heavy Cavalry, or Pikemen."

"Pikemen," replied the Baselius. "A hired band of thugs don't need to win the battles. Just survive them and send the cash back to me. Pikemen can defend themselves better and likely live longer."

So 50 lucky Infantry received the equipment and training to become Pikemen.

In April the Basileus received some mixed news from one of his other Concubines, Vina, as she had given birth to a baby girl. Sadly the girl was Slow. But she had been named Sibylla which was an excellent name which, in ancient Greek, meant "Prophetess".

The Baselius decided the girl should follow a Religious pathway. Maybe she could become a Nun or run a Temple when she came of age?

So we end this chapter with a Han Freeloader, a NEW Mercenary Company, and a NEW Imperial Baby!

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Author's End Notes:​

1. By Buddha that's a long name.

 

[stnylan]

I had to laugh at the bit about the Concubine.

 

[Bullfilter]

Oh, the Indian version of a shield maiden! And a mercenary band too. Excellent. I too shed a little figurative tear for the old flag.

But is she still your concubine? Not going to trade her in for a new and lustier model?

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Five Hundred-Sixty-Four : Waiting For The Host

Peacetime Is The Time For Training​

This chapter opens in early April, of the year 901 AD, with the Basileus receiving news from the Kingdom of Guge. Junpala had finally been released from the dungeons of the Great Khan.

His Liege was nice enough to give him back his old job the day after he was free. Sadly, he was one hand less.

Basileus Niphon also was given the news that the Kamarupanagaran Band was now on contract with Punjab. Likely trying to crush one of the Revolts or maybe even fighting the Mongols?

Being Buddhists the Band had no problem with killing Non-Buddhist opponents.

He was also brought news of another murder plot. It seems the Insane Jayavarmadeva of the House of Jayavarmadevid was seeking to kill a male Lowborn called Someshvara.

"Tell him to stop listening to the voices in his head and cancel his plot," ordered the Basileus.

In late April there was much excitement as a Chinese Emissary arrived with several Imperial Guards. The Emissary himself was Han while his Guards were Mongols. And from the rough looks of the soldiers the Basileus decided they were veterans. They had come to take the Chinese Freeloader back to China.

But they were doomed to be disappointed as Li Yuan had disappeared. No clue could be found to where he had escaped to. The Chinese Emissary promised that the "Emperor will be...displeased."

This didn't really impress the Basileus as the Emperor of China had not been pleased with him to start with!

By May the Basileus was becoming bored again. "Where is Malaiyaman's Host?" demanded Basileus Niphon. "Does anybody know what she is doing?"

The staff shook their collective heads and answered with, "She had not done anything yet. In fact she still has not recruited any soldiers yet."

"And her supporter?" added the Basileus.

"Damapati Civallapa has not moved from his own holdings," replied the staff. "And he only had 324 warriors under his direct control. Neither seem to be taking the war seriously."

The Basileus picked up Lord Meow-Meow and petted her while he thought. And he thought. And he thought some more. Then he made a decision.

"If we kill her before she rises a Army we can save many lives," he remarked to his staff. "We must kill her."

The Spymaster sent out his agents and they found one Lowborn woman called Kolaliyar who was willing to join in the plot. For a "gift".

The agents also approached Piramaccani of the House of Cataiyavarman but, even after the "gift", she refused to join the plot. They even asked the wife of Damapati Civallapa. But she also refused.

And that is where the agents hit a stonewall. Nobody else wanted to join. None of them hated Malaiyaman nor would any of them profit from her death. She held no titles to pass on. She had no enemies within the Court. She...would be VERY hard to kill.

So as Basileus waited for ANYTHING to happen with the want-to-be Warrior Queen he received news of more behind-the-scenes scheming. Doux Mukundanarayan of the Shantideva Raj had suggested to Thakur Vigrahapala of Zhongba that two of their vassals marry.

"I can't keep track of all these names," murmured the Basileus rubbing his eyes.

In June Doux Pantoleon of Yarlung did something many saw as slightly stupid. He made his Step-Brother his Court Chaplain. The Step-Brother who disliked him and who he disliked in return. The Step-Brother who ALSO wanted to be the Doux of Yarlung.

By July there had been little process made in the scheme to kill Malaiyaman of the House of Cataiyavarman. Basileus Niphon was not pleased and was growing nervous.

So we end the chapter with plots and schemes and a somewhat bored Basileus.

 

[Bullfilter]

Will the Basileus “tell himself to stop” the plot?

 

[Eurasia]

Will the Basileus “tell himself to stop” the plot?

Don't be silly! HE'S allowed to plot all he wants!

 

[stnylan]

Well that is embarrassing about the Chinese fugitive

 

[Bullfilter]

Well that is embarrassing about the Chinese fugitive

True. Yuan to hear what went wrong?

 

[stnylan]

True. Yuan to hear what went wrong?

That, my good sir, is a truly Richard Whitely level of punning which should, worthy of a full-throated groan and a definite giggle

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Five Hundred-Sixty-Five : A Death In The Family

The Emperor Mourns​

This chapter opens in late July, of the year 901 AD, with the Basileus being notified that he was winning the Patta War. This was due to the fact that he still had control of the Kingdom of Kham. And the longer he controlled it the closer he would get to victory.

Once again Basileus Niphon became bored and noticed the Heir to the Doux Pantoleon of Yarlung, the young Theocharistos, had no wife. It was MATCHMAKING TIME!

"Bring me the lists of available women for marriage throughout the world!" shouted out the Basileus. "We must find this man a bride!"

Sadly, most of the women on the list had some problem or another. Wrong Culture or wrong Religion or sinful (in a bad way) or ill or just not good material for becoming a future Doux's wife.

Suddenly Lord Meow-Meow poked at the list with her right paw and meowed.

The Basileus peeked at the list and frowned. "Courtier Bodhideva. Hmmm...she does have a good sword hand AND seems well educated. Which would help him. But she isn't the right Culture and also seems Greedy."

"Meow-meow-meow-meow," explained Lord Meow-Meow with great patience.

"That's true," responded Basileus Niphon with a slow nod of his head. "That just makes it easier to bribe her to join a plot if I need her too. And she IS of the correct Caste to marry Theocharistos. Okay, I'll suggest they get married. But it the marriage fails I blame you!"

And so a proposal was sent which seemed to please everyone. There was a SLIM chance it could have been refused as the Bride WAS from outside the Empire.

In early August, as the Basileus waited for a reply, he was told about a plot. At least it wasn't a murder plot. It seemed Count Theoktistos of Goalpara was plotting to claim his Liege's Monastery.

"Good Buddha," stated the Basileus as he stared at the report. "Why would such a Stupid and Sinful man WANT a Monastery? Tell him to back down."

In the middle of August the Basileus received approval of the wedding proposal. And Theocharistos married his new bride. It did seem like a good match and Lord Meow-Meow was pretty smug about it.(1)

But after this good news was some belated sad news. The Basileus's stepmother, Vijinyavati, had died a natural death at the age of 57 the day before. He had liked her and, many historians believe, she had helped fill the emptiness in his heart after losing his biological mother to bandits.

So we close the chapter with a marriage but also a death in the family.

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Author's End Notes:

1. Interestingly enough Bodhideva had a daughter but there was NO evidence of a earlier marriage OR even a love affair.

 

[stnylan]

One can always blame a cat - one of the great truths of life.

 

[roverS3]

Now she doesn't want the despot in her bed so often anymore, she better go out mand make a living, his harem isn't a charity organisation. The mercenary band is a great idea, and I'm sure both the despot and his former concubine will get a lot out of it. I love the use of the old kingdom's flag.

Lord Meow-Meow seems to have raised above the despot's level where the selection of wives is concerned. He has reason to be smug...

 

[Bullfilter]

The Despot will find it’s pointless blaming a cat for anything. It will either ignore you, or go back to what it was doing as soon as you aren’t looking.

 

[MK1980]

been away a coupe of weeks and finally caught up with the recent development in the road of queens universe. lots of big events.

will be interesting to see how the crusade in the far west shakes up the european/aztec situation. i doubt the holy orders alone will be able to win the war, but unlike the aztec deus ex machina event troops the orders work basically like mercenary companies that regenerate lost troops over time (and even reinforce troops in hostile lands - unlike levies).if the first crusade fails, it can still weaken the aztecs and soften them up for another crusade a few decades later if they lose too many of their non reinforcing troops. maybe one of the 2 caliph zeyds (or both) will also declare jihad to retake egypt from the mexican invaders while they are busy defending italy against the catholic orders.

the claimant host for the kingdom of kham seems like a bit of a joke. but i think you automatically get like +25 bonus opinion from your vassals while fighting a defense war, so it's not actually a bad thing to be stuck in a "passive" war that simply ticks down to an automatic victory over a few years.

also, i only just noticed that Lord Meow Meow is a she. which i find slightly confusing

 

[Eurasia]

also, i only just noticed that Lord Meow Meow is a she. which i find slightly confusing

When Niphon named the cat "Lord Meow-Meow" one of his staff pointed out they thought the cat was a "she" but he refused to listen. Also female cats are called "Queens" and that would just confuse the issue. Can't have a Queen Meow-Meow - that's just silly!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Five Hundred-Sixty-Six : More Buildings!

Dealing With The Mentally Ill During The Middle Ages​

This chapter opens in late August, of the year 901 AD, with the Basileus Niphon being told that Doux Nar Singh "The Cruel" and Count Chandrasen "The Just" were matchmaking again.

"When I do it that's okay," murmured the Basileus to himself. "But when other people do it....that's bad."

Then there was some interesting news from the Duchy of Qamdo in the north. For some reason Doux Tishifan had taken Knut Anantadevazk as his Ward. Funny enough the OLD Doux's had taken other Noble sons as his Wards also. What was going on? Was this some form of blackmail? Was the boy being used as a hostage? Or was the Doux just trying to turn the youth of the lands into Vikings?

Later the Basileus tried to introduce his friend Bhikkhu Niphon of Madan Kamdev to his wife Queen Dong Yanyan. He hoped that the two could become friends but it wasn't meant to be.

On the other hand he was still winning the Patta War.

The Basileus Niphon, around this time, had a struggle with his Faith. Was there any Truth in the Buddhavcana? Or was it just an old book?

In the end he embraced his Faith and did so with so much energy that many believed he had become a Buddhist Zealot.

Up north, in October, the neighbors were as noisy as ever.

The Basileus realized it had been a long time since the last time he had ordered a public works. What could he build? Well, in the County of Haruppeswara the Hospital needed a Soup Kitchen. The patients were sick and tired, more than normal anyway, of eating uncooked onions and turnips with their water. So he ordered a Kitchen made.

On top of that the City of Manikuta, within the County-Capital, were full of stupid people. So the Basileus paid for the construction of a University.

His daughter, still being in the Capital, would help oversee the project.

Then something weird happened. Dampati Khetrapal of Amroha was imprisoned by The Great King Tejapala "The Spider". Seems he was Possessed.

Whatever they did to try to cure him totally failed because by the time they released him, in the same month, he was Possessed AND Insane. In 14 days they turned him INSANE! How? Why? What horrible doctors they must have!

So we close this chapter with the Basileus becoming Zealous, an insane man becoming MORE insane, and a couple of public works being started up.

 

[stnylan]

He's right, it has been a wee while since the last building project.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Five Hundred-Sixty-Seven : The THIRD War With Nepal

Imperial Levies Are Called Out Again​

By late October, of 901 AD, the tiny spot of Nepal's Holding inside the Second Empire of Maurya was bothering the Basileus again. It annoyed him so much and just added to his growing impatience with the first war. So, of course, he planned to attack the Great King Mandandeva II "The Drunkard" of Nepal one more time.

So the Imperial Levies were called forth even as the Retinue and Chinese Guard marched towards the County of Kathmandu. As Nepal was already in a war with Guge (still) and fighting off a Raider it was doubtful they would have any troops to respond to the new threat.

As the Basileus waited for his troops to be in position so he could declare the war he found himself getting closer to Sotapanna Jayanarayan, a member of the Savaka-Sangha, and found their encounters to be very pleasant. They always seemed to agree on the most important issues, like if one should have beer or wine with curry fish or if Heavy Cavalry was better than War Elephants. In the end they became close friends.

In November as the Basileus watched the military markers slowly move over the Wall Map he received a request from Arahnat Khsetravridha for more funds.

Of course Basileus Niphon handed over the 100 gold coins without a second thought.

In the end Basileus Niphon found himself full of kindness and compassion for all things. But that spot on the Wall Map, of course.

By December the Imperial forces were approaching the target. The Basileus enjoyed watching the tiny markers move across the Wall Map. When Lord Meow-Meow wasn't knocking them down.

While waiting for that last distance to be covered there was interesting news out of the Kingdom of Ayudha. Jagannatharaya Gahirawar had died under suspicious circumstances.

What made it even more suspicious was that the Great King Tejapala II "The Spider" of the Kingdom of Ayudha inherited his Treasures. VERY suspicious!

Then in late December, right when the Imperial soldiers under Doux Lakshminarayan were about to enter the County of Kathmandu, the Basileus was told he could not declare war on Nepal.

"What do you mean I can't declare war on Nepal?!?!" demanded the Basileus.

"You can't have Levies raised before declaring war," pointed out his staff. "They can only be called forth during a war."

"But I am ALREADY in a WAR!" shouted the Basileus.

"But this is a new war," explained his staff. "So you have to disband the Levies, then declare war on Nepal, and then call forth the Levies again."

"Your rules are bad and you should feel bad!" exclaimed the Basileus.

But rules were rules. And so the Imperial Levies were told to go home.

Then the third war against Nepal, the Ducal War for Doux Dionysios II's Claim on Kathmandu, had begun!

Funny enough the Patta War was still going well.

Finally, with the coming of the new year, the war could start and did so with the Army laying Siege to the Castle of Bhaktapur. Outnumbered almost five to one the Defenders would not likely last very long.

By last January the Imperial Levies were called forth. Again.

And so we close this chapter with the Empire in TWO wars. One of which they are winning by default.

 

[Bullfilter]

I agree with the Despot - stupid rule! They should indeed feel bad.

 

[stnylan]

Ruddy rules lawyers