Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Sixty-Nine : Long Term Planning

A New Wife​

We open this chapter with a most interesting move by the Despot. He sent the Magistros Loukas to Pundravardhana. The county was a jungle filled landscape owned by the Rajkumar Vijaysingha of the Pala Kingdom. And it was part of the Silk Road. A valuable piece of property. The Magistros was sent to fabricate a claim.

A wonderful prize to win in the next war. But also somewhat daring if the Great King finds out.

Knowing that such deeds would take years the Despot announced another Tiger Hunt in January. Two of his Vassals refused to come. The Baron Ratnapala of Nalrajar Garh and the Mayor Stuarakios of Pragyotisapara.

Soon the Despot, with his elephants and his attendants and his dogs and his guards and his cooks and his hunters and his retainers, had packed up and marched to the hunting camp.

It only took them a day to set up the tents, put out the guards to protect the camp, cook the evening meals, and prepare for the hunt to begin by sending out the scouts and hunters.

​

Within just over a week a tiger was found. It took the party by surprise but was easily taken down by the soldiers armed with long spears. The Despot was very pleased and enjoyed dinner that night with many toasts to the soldiers. Many barrels of good wine were emptied and a few roasted wild boars feasted on.

The Despot decided to stay in the area for a few weeks longer to search for more tigers or any wild game that could be found. So on the 25th of February he was surprised when a letter came to him announcing that the Duchess Lasani of Dimapurid Raj had died a natural death. Of course he got all her titles.

While pondering what to do with the extra Duchy title he received another surprise via another letter. His wife, at the age of 55, had died from the Great Pox.

The Despot had been ready for that. He knew she was not long for this world, due to her age and insanity, and had already thought of a replacement. Before the end of the day he was happily married to his new wife - Pavlina of the Wild.

So the Despot came home with another tiger skin and a new wife. He just had to decide what to do with the new Duchy title. He knew his Vassals would not be happy about him having three Duchy titles.

He had barely had time to unpack when news came that the White Tiger had been spotted again! It had been seen in the County of Kundina. A somewhat wild, dangerous county, he still decided to go hunting it. He ordered his hunting gear prepared, his best horses readied, his hunting dogs well fed, and a basket of yummy sandwiches made.

As he waited for these things to be done he invited a lowborn female named Hira to his Royal Court. Sadly, while he was able to give her the title of Court Musician the lawyers said she could not become a Duchess.

So he invited another female lowborn named Pertal to the Royal Court. And while he could make her his Cupbearer the lawyers would not allow him to make her the Duchess either.

"I don't understand what is going on!" he complained to his new wife. "They allowed me to pick a lowborn woman last time!"

His wife agreed that lawyers were a weird bunch. They used a strange language, tied pieces of clothe around their necks, and liked to have liquid lunches.

"Why not pick somebody within the Kingdom who you know CAN own land?" she suggested. "Somebody who you KNOW is loyal."

The Despot thought about it and then smiled.

The Baroness was made the Countess of Dimapur and then the Duchess Para-Lauhitya. Being already on the Council, and having an I.O.U. from the Despot, she was already a powerful Vassal to start with. Giving her more land and troops would not change that. But she had also proven herself to be loyal over the decades. Better yet she had no family and was too old to have children.

In April the Despot called the Spy Master back to Kamarupanagara. There was no need to watch or plot against his new Duchess.

In April his accountants, reviewing the books, pointed out that his yearly income was now around 130 some gold coins.

By May he was almost ready for the hunt. Even while selecting what colored hunting cape to wear and which pair of boots he wanted to take he received news from the Pala Kingdom. Seemed Mayor Susarman of Sutrapur had been burnt at the stake by Maharaja Gopala II.

"Like Father Like Son," the Despot wrote in his private papers. "What kind of madness does that bloodline hold that they enjoy burning people to death?"

Soon he was off, with his dogs and followers and packed meals, he searched the country for the White Tiger. Soon he came upon a lone rider, a Greek like himself, who was also hunting the same animal. They were both having the same bad luck.

​

In the end the Despot invited the man to join his court. Dionysios the Hunter agreed.

By June he returned to his court failing to have found the White Tiger. But at least he had gained a truly interesting new Courtier. AND he had found the county bandit-free. Finally.

Dionysios the Hunter was a lowborn Greek Buddhist with some pretty nice skills. True, he was lusty but was that REALLY a sin? And a tad lazy. But he was brave, trusting, and content. And a decent warrior.

The Despot decided he would make a good husband for his daughter who was ALMOST of age.

So he arranged a matrilineal betrothal between the two. His daughter would lose some prestige by marrying a commoner but she would easily earn it back before becoming Queen. And it made the Despot happy to know he had found a good husband for her.

So we close the chapter with the Despot gaining a young wife, a new loyal Duchess, another tiger skin, and a future son-in-law. And planning a future war with the new Great King.

 

[Nuada Airgetlám]

A noble wedding and betrothal, good work.

 

[stnylan]

Sounds like the dynastic future of the realm is secure for now. Not bad.

He's doing better in the tiger hunts as well.

 

[JabberJock14]

Hard to complain with the outcomes here. Nice way for the Despot to keep the titles under a loyal vassal. Also, who knew tiger hunts were a great place to meet spouses given the success he and now his daughter have had.

Though, man, married the same day you learn your wife died? Have some decency sir!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Seventy : School Daze

The Despot's School Bell​

We open this chapter in June, of the year 808 AD, with the Despot ordering the construction of Barracks in his Palace in Kamarupanagara.

​

This was followed by him noticing that he had two empty positions for the Commanders of the armed forces. So he selected Dipankar Kalodayesoya and Prabhase Buddhatalasoya as new Commanders. They were somewhat cool towards him but at least they seemed to know which end of a sword to hold.

​

Then in late June his daughter came of age. She had become a schemer. Records showed that Arminestra Dysnomia was chaste, patient, dutiful and shrewd. Yet it was said she was also very frail. She was, of course, married to the Hunter. The marriage to a lowborn hurt her prestige greatly but her father was right when he knew that she would quickly gain prestige back, and then some, well before she was crowned Queen.

On the 23rd of August Nikodemos and Damayanti gave birth to a new baby girl named Mahidevi. He suggested she learn about being a Courtier - focusing on service and humility.

He noticed her older sister, Kakanvati, needed a new teacher. Otherwise she might become Christian. So he took her away from her father and handed her over to Loukas.

In September he realized he needed to go through the young Courtiers and assign them all to proper Greek teachers. So two children were handed over to the blind Isaakios, a child is assigned to Herakleios, and two kids were assigned to the young Dionysios. Even Prince Ioulianos was assigned a child to educate.

The irony was that most of the girls were sisters to the Ex-Count Sudas.

He also noticed one child, Caiytiska Prabhasesoya, was 5 years old and yet nobody had selected his educational pathway yet. The Despot told the parents to teach him about Buddhism.

In October Castle Walls had been finished in Srihatta. No doubt a project started by the late Duchess as he had not ordered them.

In late October he was totally confused by the news he received from one of the messengers.

"Could you repeat that piece of information?" asked the Despot.

"Of course my liege," said the messenger. He held up the scroll, cleared his throat, and said in his clearest voice, "The Raja Dharmarstha of Somavamis Raj has declared Somavamis War to make Maharaja Traillokyachandra of Bihar pay tribute on Maharaja Traillokyachandra of Bihar."

The Despot tilted his head and said, "So the war is called The Somavamsi War To Make Maharaja Traillokyachandra of Bihar Pay Tribute?"

"Yes my liege," remarked the messenger.

The Despot frowned and added, "Seems a tad long winded. For a second there I thought you were saying the Raja was declaring war on the Maharaja to force him to pay tribute to himself."

The Despot also ordered the building of a Castle Town in Numaligarh - the second castle in the County of Haruppeswara.

In November the Despot found Nonna had become a young woman who had NOT done very well when it came to her military education. Still, his Councilor Loukas needed a new wife and she fit the bill. In that she was young and available.

In fact he noticed that the Councilor's surviving kid from his first wife needed a direction for her education and the Despot suggested philosophy and religion.

Later in November the Despot's blind doctor died. Before starting the search to find a new one the Despot first had to find new teachers for the children who had been under the Physician's care.

The two girls were split between his son and his wife. After that THEN he sent out riders to search for a new Court Physician.

Soon the riders would bring back a report about a pilgrim. Known as Serapion he had been on a quest to visit all the Buddhist holy sites and was now ending his journey.

It is said during his travels he had gained a vast knowledge of medicine and was seeking to put his skills to use. Of course the Despot recruited him.

Before the new Court Physician had arrived the Despot received news that the Silk Road Trade Post had been completed in Haruppeswara. Funny, he thought there had already been one there?

When the Serapion entered the Royal Court he was greeted by his new wife, Tarma, mother of the late Count Sudas and a hunchback to boot.

In December the Despot was surprised to find three new children in his Court. A boy and his two sisters. They had fled from Greece - no doubt due to them being of the wrong Christian Sect. Of course he ended up their teacher.

By now the Despot had decided to put down the bow and arrow. He no longer needed to prove himself in hunting and decided to focus on family for the moment. His family wasn't that big but he wanted to make sure it held together.

We close this chapter with the Despot driving the Palace nuts as each morning, after breaking his fast, he rang his "school bell". He used this device to call the many children under his care to one of the rooms he had put aside as a "classroom" to educate them on whatever subject he decided to talk about that day. The room was full of maps and scrolls and books and tables and chairs. He taught them what he could about reading, writing, and basic math. He also touched on the importance of Greek culture, the Greatness of Buddha, and to always obey the Despot.

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OOC Note: That school bell is mine. My Mom was a teacher and, while never teaching in a one-room school house, she had lived in Michigan where many of such schools could still be found. Or at least their ruins. She found this school bell and would ring it to bring us to dinner. It is VERY VERY VERY loud.

 

[stnylan]

All these children to keep an eye on!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Seventy-One : A Displacement Kingdom

Greek Refugees?
​

We open this chapter with the Despot receiving more religious refugees from Greece in the form of three men. Two were Iconoclasts and one was a Orthodox. The Despot just added them to the rest of the Greek Freeloaders and didn't even bother to find them wives.

"I do wish they would go elsewhere," mumbled the Depot to himself. "Don't they have someplace else to go? Wasn't there Orthodox Christians in Africa?"

By March the Despot noticed his children were not doing well together and he decided to invite them both to share time with him and his wife. Family time, in other words. In the end it seemed to work.(1)

It came to his attention that his future daughter-in-law was in need of his guidance. He decided to let her decide her own fate. In other words, he wanted her to keep being dull and harmless.

After all, she was going to be the wife of her son who was NOT going to own land or do anything important. If she became ambitious she might try to put her husband in power and nobody wanted THAT.

Two Greek males showed up in Court in April and both were Buddhists. The Despot married both quickly. In fact a tad too quickly as one was married into the court of a different ruler.

On the 24th of April he also noticed that the Palace's Barracks had finally been finished. Which slightly increased the amount of men he had. It was slight but still a good step in the right direction.

In May a rumor reached the Despot that his Duchess was now called "The Unready" for some reason. And she had become stressed under the pressures of her new titles.

Then in June his network of spies and agents in other courts pointed out a change in the map of India.

It looked like the Great King Traillokyachandra of Bihar had loss control of a part of his realm. A big part of it was now an independent realm under the control of the Raja Pratanarayan "The Old."

Traillokyachandra was the son of the late Concubine Devavati - the woman the old Queen had given to the Great King Dharmapala. Turns out the boy HAD become a problem after all. By splitting the Pala Kingdom he had weakened one of the most powerful nations in India. Then he turned out not to be powerful enough to keep HIS piece of the Kingdom from also splitting.

In the end his struggle for power within the family had made it easier for future conquest of those regions. From within or from without.

On top of the war he was having with the Raja he was also involved in a second war with a different realm AND a small revolt.

"Well, well, well," said the Despot. "Looks like the map on the wall will need to be redone. Again."

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Author’s End Notes:

1. Records suggest he locked everybody in a room together and refused to let anybody out till they all loved each other.

 

[stnylan]

I wonder if the Despot has any thoughts of being an active part of cartographical changes?

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Seventy-Two : Aksu - The Other Greek Court

Nothing Like A Feast To Fill The Belly​

We open this chapter in June as the Despot finds out that Suddhodane Bharuka had failed to take over Aksu and, in fact, was now a Courtier to his brother the Count. Which meant he was now a nobody. Without rank, without land, or even one soldier to his name.

"Boy," said the Despot on hearing this. "I bet he wished he had stayed here. With a nice position, comfortable housing, and respect."

In July his Protostrator had discovered a man of such great military talent that he hinted that maybe this new man, named Ioustinianos, should replace one of the other Commanders.

The Despot agreed! Commander Indrapala was replaced with the new Commander Ioustinianos.

In September the Despot noticed that Baron Ratnapala didn't dislike his liege as much as he normally did. In fact he was slightly warm towards the Despot. The Despot decided to give the Baron the title of Seneschal in the hopes of increasing the Vassal's opinion of him slightly.

In October the Despot announced the Festival of Light! Riders were sent out with the invites and nobody turned them down. Everybody decided to come to the feast. The Despot was pleased.

Wanting to impress his new wife he selected a necklace. He hoped that she preferred jewels to perfume.

Soon the Palace was ready. The cooks had prepared a wonderful menu, the attendants were dressed in their finest, and the guests had started to arrive.

The Mage arrived again. Once again nobody knows who invited him though the Despot took credit. He did the same rope trick but it was still impressive as nobody knew how he did it.

Afterwards he gave his wife the gift of a necklace and she was happy to receive it.

As his wife was checking out her new gift in a mirror and guests were enjoying the wine and cheese he was dragged away from the party by the Council. It seemed that Euphrasia Toxias was plotting to kill Theodoros Toxias.

“Theodoros Toxias?” commented the Despot. “The boy with his two sisters? Sounds like she is a relation.”

“Yes, my liege,” said the Spy Master Sivakarade Bhaumakara. “She is their aunt.”

“How can she plot his death all the way from Greece?” demanded the Despot.

“She isn’t in Greece,” said Loukas. He moved to the wall map and tapped a hand onto the realm of Aksu. “The children came from the court of Count Anktsas. That is where their mother, Eudoxia “The Unfaithful”, is. It seems likely they were all refugees from Greece who settled in Aksu. Then something happened and the mother sent the children here. Think of them as re-gifted refugees.”

“Ha. Ha. Very funny,” said the Despot. “Keep an eye on it. I don’t want him or his sisters killed. They will make good breeding stock for future generations.”

The Despot returned the guests in time to be there during the darkest time of the feast. By the time the party came to an end he had truly enjoyed himself.

He was also happy his second wife had enjoyed her first Diwali with her first husband.

So we close the chapter with the Kingdom in peace, a happy Royal Family, Vassals who were somewhat behaved, and a India which was collapsing in on itself.

 

[stnylan]

What an image of amity and comity, only midly spoiled by a distracting plot.

 

[JabberJock14]

The Despot is industrious. I wouldn't have even bothered shutting down all these plots. More hassle than it's worth. No wonder he ended up stressed.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Seventy-Three : A Cowardly Tiger

Come Back HERE!​

We open this chapter in January, in the year 810 AD, as the news of his wife's pregnancy spread throughout the Kingdom.

As the Despot celebrated the coming of a new child he received news that the Great King Gopala II was now in a war. It seemed another Great King, Indrayudha, was attacking him in a Subjugation War.

While the attacking Great King had more men and money the Great King Gopala DID have better military skills. Still, warfare seemed to be about chance as much as skill and numbers, so the Despot wasn’t willing to bet on who was going to win.

In March Kale Toxias came of age. Sadly, her education had failed to produce a good diplomat. Even as she was coming of age he was asked to help direct her education one last time. He tried to make her become more diligent but even that failed. What he had on his hands was a fussy, semi-educated, overeating, untrustworthy lesbian who was of the wrong religion. And very strong.

So of course he married her to Dipankar Kalodayesoya. His hope was they would produce little Greek Buddhists. Before the husband died from cancer.

In April his Spy Master told him that he had evidence he could use on the Duchess. Of course the Despot decided NOT to use it. He trusted her and even polite blackmail was still blackmail and would do more damage than good in her case.

By now his hunting dog had really brought him joy and he found one day that his stress was gone. In fact he was in such a good mood that he announced a Tiger Hunt!

Nobody refused to come this time and by mid-April the Despot with his soldiers and servants and tents and elephants and dogs and hunters were putting up camp. Cooking fires had to be started, guards stationed to protect the camp from wild creatures, and equipment unpacked.

One day, after days of searching, the hunters came back to the main party. They had found a tiger. The Despot decided to kill it himself. He was given a spear and went off on his own in the thick underbrush.

When he found the big cat he prepared to hit it with the spear. He waited for just the right moment to throw it as the tiger approached. But somehow the tiger sensed something was wrong, turned about, and fled.

The Despot returned back to the hunting party having failed to kill the tiger. He had lost great face by failing. He had no idea why the tiger had fled. Had it smelled him? Heard his movement? Seen light reflect off the spear point?

By the time the party returned to the Palace in May the Despot was trying to put a spin on the failure. He was suggesting to anybody who would listen that the tiger had sensed how awesomely awesome the Despot had been and fled. Nobody believed it. They assumed he had stepped on a stick or something. He lost even more face when the hunters and soldiers and servants spread the news to the county peasants and farmers and boatmen.

So we close the chapter with the Despot as a failed educator and a failed hunter. But at least he was no longer stressed and he had another child on the way.

 

[stnylan]

Well all credit to the Despot to actually attempting the deed, even if it fell through. Not so long ago he wouldn't have dared.

 

[JabberJock14]

Feel like there's a certain irony that the cowardly (or smart) Despot gets all the credit for killing a tiger, but the now-brave despot gets all the blame by a cowardly (or smart) tiger fleeing.

I was wondering how the Despot might react if his new wife ended up pregnant, but looks like he's pleased! Though if it's a girl, that would make succession a bit more complicated, right?

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Seventy-Four : Royal Babies And Distant Courts

More Babies!
​

We open this chapter in August, in the year 810 AD, as the Despot is told two of the courtiers needed to have their second stage of their education selected. Seems their guardians or educators had neglected to select their pathway.

Faramarz Sangramazk was put on the path to becoming a scholar while his sister, Chat, was set on the pathway to become a diplomat.

“Really dreadful to neglect such a duty,” said the Despot. “Their guardians or teachers should be lectured.”

“Yes my liege,” said one of the attendants. “But you do know YOU are Chat’s educator?”

“Oh...”

Later that month the Despot heard that one of the courtiers was becoming GREEK which was a good thing in his book. The more Greek Buddhists the better!

His future daughter-in-law finally came of age - and turned into a wonderful master of war! The perfect wife for a devoted Buddhist.

Too bad she was a stupid, depressed, food loving wife. Not that there was anything wrong with enjoying food. His wife also seemed to enjoy a extra meal here and there.

A new courtier was born to his court, birthed by Euphemios Tati and his wife Tati Issapaketkacer. The boy was named Nande. It was a safe bet to suggest the boy learn about his Greek background and about Buddha as his father, who was also his teacher, was a Greek Buddhist.

The Despot also tried to help Euphemia Toxias who was angry a lot. This was understandable when you take into account she was a stranger in a strange land and her aunt was trying to kill her brother. The Despot tried to help her overcome this issue and whatever he did worked.

He also noticed she was 12 and now needed her second stage of education to be selected. He decided she would make a good diplomat now that she had control of her temper.

In September his new wife gave birth to Kale Dysnomia. Even as a baby she was a beauty. The Despot decided she needed to learn about Buddhism.

The Despot planned to see if he could steer her into some kind of religious life. Her older brother seemed to be going in that direction on his own. Maybe, if he got enough coin, the Despot could build a temple for one of them to run.

In October Ioanna, one of his students and the youngest daughter of Amritakala the murderous mother, needed some guidance. In other words she needed some advice from the Despot. This time his advice totally failed to change a student's ways.

As she was 14 years old he also, belatedly, selected her next stage of education. He decided the adventurous life of a accountant was the life for her. Which would keep her far away from daggers, poisons, and assassins.

The Despot asked about what had happened to Amiritakala now that her plot was no longer active. It seems Amiritakala had become the Upadhyaya of the Bihar Revolt and harbored no ill will towards the Despot. Still a dangerous loony but a well skilled loony all the same. The Despot planned to keep out of her way from now on.

His own Upadhyaya was stressed and in hiding for some unknown reason. The woman was, sadly, starting to look her age. The Despot was a LITTLE worried about her having a Heir but he assumed that the man was the Heir to her Barony. Not to the Duchy. He hoped.

Then he was notified that one of his courtiers, Marzpanate of Turtam, had a weak claim on Urabo. The Despot COULD help him win that claim if he wished.

“Hmmm,” said the Despot to himself as he met his Council. “So if I back his guy’s claim he becomes the ruler of Urabo. Which means he either becomes one of my Vassals and I end up having to defend this far off land. Or he breaks off as a independent ruler and I get nothing for all my time and dead soldiers. Is that right?”

“Yes my liege,” replied the Council.

“Get my best paper and the finest ink,” commanded the Despot. “And write one big NOPE on it. Then carefully fold it, seal it with wax, and send it to him. With some flowers. Don‘t want to seem rude.”

Then in November the Despot became a Grandfather. Dionysios “The Hunter” and Princess Arminestra gave birth to a baby boy they named Andronikos.

The Despot, pleased by the name of the new baby, suggested he learn about etiquette and courteous behavior from the members of the court.

In his private papers he did point out the problem that while the boy was their first child if they later had a daughter, even if she was the second, third, or fourth child, she would still be the next ruler after her mother. The boy, in the end, was unlikely to rule the realm.

So we close this chapter with two new members of the Royal Family and the Despot trying to keep out of foreign affairs.

 

[volksmarschall]

Babies, babies, babies, and more babies! "Was it a boy?" to quote Michael Corleone.

I also thought of OJ Simpson catching the babies and doing a touchdown dance in Naked Gun 33 1/3. Well done, sir. Well done.

 

[stnylan]

An update long on matters pedagogical

More Greeks!

 

[JabberJock14]

Definitely could have used the sexes of those babies being reversed but the Princess has more time to produce a girl. And perhaps the Despot should consider taking a break from teaching duties and pass some of these children on to some of the other freeloaders. Let them earn their keep.

 

[Nuada Airgetlám]

No shortage of arrivals in the realm, whether freeloaders or newborns.

 

[Bullfilter]

So Eurasia, I'm a bit of a slow learner on non-HoI3 AARs, but having enjoyed March of the Machines on HoI3, I thought I should check out your CKII AAR - even though I'm a complete novice and numpty at the game (and my own AAR takes up a large part of my limited discretionary time). So, in two months you're up to Chapter 74!? I have some catching up to do, though I notice your chapters seems to be short, breezy, nicely presented and amusing, so I'll do my best.

Just don't expect any useful commentary from me: I think I'll need to retire before I have the time to come to grips with the game (actually not that far off), but I have bought it and will get there eventually. I will use your AAR (among others) to help learn!