Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[Eurasia]

Wow, just read the whole tale over the last few days - very good. Of course as someone who has two pugs I would say that

Thanks for joining us! Are they properly trained Attack Pugs?

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Thirty-Two : Courtly Problems

The Ayudha Kingdom Invades The South​

This chapter opens in late November, of the year 908 AD, with the Basileus being told of a murder plot. Seems Bibibai of the House Munda was plotting to kill one of her younger brothers.

Seems he was the Heir of the County of Munda. Which she wanted for herself.

"Tell her to stop," demanded the Emperor. "Killing family members can backfire on her big time."

The next piece of news was also kind of bad. Seems his good friend Bhikkhu Niphon was being blackmailed and had come to the Emperor for help. So, of course, the Basileus agreed to help his friend. Free of charge! (1)

Then in early December the Basileus entered his study room to find all his work had been tidied up and put away. Now he couldn't find anything! Seems the servants had seen Dionysios Dysnomia "cleaning" the Emperor's study earlier that day.

"Why that little freak!" exclaimed the Basileus. "I'll show him!" So the Emperor went and messed up the Prince's rooms.

There were two results to this. One, the Prince became Conscientious. In other words, very scrupulous and responsible. But the other result was now the Prince HATED his father.

Close to the middle of December, when the Christians were preparing for a major Holiday for their Sky God and the Sky God's Zombie son, the Basileus was brought the horrible news that the Ayudha Kingdom had started a war with the Realm of Mana.

"Show me on the Wall Map!" demanded the Basileus. The staff guided him to the Map and pointed out the Realm in question.

​

"They took my idea of going south!" shouted the Basileus in rage. "I hate the Ayudha Dynasty!"

"It COULD benefit us, my Liege," remarked one of the Courtiers. "By invading Mana they could be protecting our westward flank as WE, ourselves, move south. The Mana COULD have been a major threat to our advancement to the south."

"Hmmmm," the Emperor hummed thoughtfully to himself.

So we end this chapter with Basileus Niphon wondering if the Ayudha Dynasty was doing him a good turn by accident?

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Author's End Notes:

1. Which is a sign of true friendship! Not getting a bill!

 

[Surt]

So is OCD boy any better than the other heirs?

 

[Eurasia]

So is OCD boy any better than the other heirs?

Until he becomes an adult it is hard to really know that. But as he is a boy he will likely get a county or a barony or something out of the way. Maybe after we get into a war and get some extra titles to toss about?

 

[stnylan]

One has to say that was a bit childish of Niphon. Perhaps a sign of senility?

 

[Bullfilter]

On Ch 631:

freshly baked mice meat pies.

I’m sorry, but every time after reading that, when someone munched into a pie, I had a mental image of it squeaking back! Though Lord Meow Meow would have approved.

On Ch 632: a bit petulant of Niphon towards his sin, but it’s the Road of Queens, so it probably won’t matter much. His opinion didn’t actually go negative, at least. Kids today!

 

[Eurasia]

On Ch 631:
I’m sorry, but every time after reading that, when someone munched into a pie, I had a mental image of it squeaking back! Though Lord Meow Meow would have approved.

 

[Bullfilter]

Yep, something like that!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Thirty-Three : Preparing For The Future

Medieval Public Works​

This chapter opens in the middle of December, of the year 908 AD, with the Basileus realizing that his wife, the Upadhyayani, was not doing as well in Kathmandu as he would have wished. The Despot Sonpal was NOT converting. The Emperor decided that if his wife could not change the man's mind maybe his Magistros could. The blind woman had a lot of skills and out of all his Council Members was most likely to get the Despot's opinion of the Emperor high enough to make him OPEN to suggestions from his Liege.

​

So the blind Duchess was sent to the County of Kathmandu to work on improving the relationship between the Basileus and the Despot.

Of course, as the Emperor was planning for a war to expand south he needed to prepare for it. Which meant, one of the things he needed to do, was to secure his income. Or increase it slightly. So, his first act was to order that the City of Mankuta, in the Capital County of Kanatupanagara, add a Toll Booth to the City Guild Hall.

His second action was to order the Temple Complex of Durjaya, also in the Capital County, to upgrade their Temple Town. Which would also increase his income slightly.

But war was not just about raising money. It was about having a military. So he ordered the Keep of his own Castle/Palace to be upgraded. This would increase the Imperial Levies AND increase the Garrison's numbers.

Of course he had his daughter, the Sakellarios, oversee the projects. She could help speed up the workers as well as cut costs.

So we close this chapter with the Emperor getting down to business.

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Author's End Notes:​

OOC - I noticed that there were three cranes in the Capital - one for each project. I never noticed that before!

 

[Surt]

But there are no city wall (to see).

 

[roverS3]

Yes, the construction projects are back. Niphon may have taken over a capital of stone, will he leave made of Marble?

 

[stnylan]

Well building is always useful.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Thirty-Four : Mass Conversion

Buddha Saves!​

The chapter opens in late December, of the year 908 AD, with the Basileus being brought some interesting news. It seems Maharshi of the House Gupta was plotting to kill his own liege - the Doux of Gupta Raj. Who was also his older brother. A older brother he hated. It seems the man wanted to gain a title and had decided on his liege's title.

The Emperor sighed and told his Spymaster, "Tell him NOT to kill his superiors. Nor his own kin. That's bad. Very bad."

In January, of the year 909 AD, he received some GOOD news from his blind Magistros. Seems she had improved the relationship between him and the Despot of Nepal.

So of course the Emperor sent the Despot of Nepal a request to convert to Buddhism.

And by the ides of January a letter returned from the Despot. The Noble Sonpal had agreed!

Not only did the Despot convert. But his family, including his wife and his son, and only Heir, also had converted! It was more than Basileus Niphon could have hoped for!

"Now we can focus on the south!" proclaimed the Emperor with a evil laugh that caused his staff to cringe.

So we close this chapter with a happy Emperor who needed to take some 'evil laughter' training courses.

 

[stnylan]

Correction: good laughter training courses are what are required. Or perhaps good karma laughing courses

 

[Bullfilter]

In January, of the year 909 AD, he received some GOOD news from his blind Magistros. Seems she had improved the relationship between him and the Despot of Nepal.

Good old Anhakit does it again.

Not only did the Despot convert. But his family, including his wife and his son, and only Heir, also had converted! It was more than Basileus Niphon could have hoped for!

A bonanza!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Thirty-Five : Clearing House

Medieval Laws​

This chapter opens late January, of the year 909 AD, with the Basileus in a good mood. He even checked on the list of Factions in the (Second) Empire of Maurya and found only one movement. The faction to bring Gavelkind Succession to the Empire of Maurya.

"Why Gavelkind?" murmured the Emperor to himself. "Why do they want to BREAK UP the Realm?"

The leader of the faction was Doux Artemios "The Ill-Ruler" of Lhasa. More of a "Grand" Doux to be honest. A Vassal who wanted a position on the Council but, in general, wasn't that bad a Noble. At least on paper.

On the 1st of February the Basileus was brought some good news. It seemed that now that the Despot was Buddhist he was using his own Laws to revoke Titles from one of his Hindu Nobles. He took the City of Lalitpur away from Kamalnarayan, the Lowborn Mayor.

Then there was the good news that there was another little Dysnomia. Gerasimos had been born to Theocharistos and his wife.

The Emperor suggested the first educational stage of the boy's life be with Nobles and Courtiers so he can learn about politics and how to rule.

Then the staff brought him some bad news. Seems Doux of the Bangala Varman Raj had started a movement for "Independence".

"Really?" replied the Basileus with a snort. "Freedom? Freedom to be absorbed and enslaved by the Mongols? Or the Punjab? Or the Guge who border his holdings?"

Later that month more news was brought to the Basileus about the Despot. Seems he had revoked another city title. This time from a lowborn named Vijayapala who had been Hindu AND a vassal of the Kingdom of Ayudha.

"Hehehehehehe!" responded the Emperor. "He is sweeping out those vassals of other Realms! Wonderful!"

"Sire," stated one of the Courtiers, as the poor man was shoved up to the throne by the others, "we would like to point out that the laugh you just used sounded more like a witch's cackle. May we suggest you work on it some more?"

The Emperor pouted but agreed to work on his laughter some more.

Then he received some interesting news from Nepal. The Despot had made his own Queen his Spymaster. Seemed she had some skill at it. And being Strong meant she could, likely, shove a dagger deeply into an enemy if she wished it.

Near the end of the month the Basileus was brought some more good news. The Despot had revoked a Temple Complex from the Lowborn Chand of the Kingdom of Punjab. No doubt this would upset the Great King Ram Rai "The Hammer" of the Kingdom of Punjab very much.

This time the Emperor let out a "BWUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" and the staff clapped.

So we close this chapter with the Despot, now being a proper Buddhist, using the Laws to clean his territory of Nobles who COULD be future enemies. And Basileus Niphon practicing his laugh in front of a mirror in his private quarters.

 

[stnylan]

The laugh is coming along.

 

[Bullfilter]

"Hehehehehehe!"

the laugh you just used sounded more like a witch's cackle.

This time the Emperor let out a "BWUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" and the staff clapped.

Progress is being made. But the best evil laugh is when you have done (or plotted) something devilish and preferably devious and surprising to an opponent oneself. Then he can really do it from the heart: “once again, this time with feeling!”

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Thirty-Six : Confused Politics

"Suspicious Circumstances"​

This chapter opens in the ides of April, of the year 909 AD, with the report of a foundation of a NEW Faction by the Countess of Magadha. Seemed she wanted to put one of the Council Members in charge of the Duchy. But it was a Faction in the Duchy of Magadha and had nothing to do with the Empire. Directly, anyway. So the Basileus didn't have to worry about it.

By late April the Emperor was having issues sleeping. He seemed as tired after sleeping as he had before sleeping. But instead of deciding on more meditation he figured he would, sooner or latter, get over it.

The next piece of news was not delivered to the Basileus till late May and it was BAD news to boot. It seems Doux Tishifan of Qamdo had started a movement to bring Gavelkind Succession to the Kingdom of Kamarupa.

"But he is a Council Member!" stated the Basileus to his staff on hearing this news. "HE can't start or join a faction! That's NOT how that works!"

"Well, he is only an ADVISER. Maybe that does not count as a REAL Council Member," replied one of the Courtiers. "Whatever the law may or may not be he HAS founded a Faction."

"AAAGGHHHH!!!" responded the Emperor while facepalming himself.

A few days later the Basileus sent his wife, the Upadhyayani, to the south to carry out some Cultural Studies on the coast. He also didn't want her to hear him sobbing at night because of the Doux of Qamdo's betrayal.

While she was down there she reported that the Doux of the Shantideva Raj had assembled his levies and were sending them north.

It turned out he was part of a war. There was a Mongol Invasion going on. And he was on the side of the Mongols!

"Buddha give me strength," murmured the Basileus to himself. "That reminds me...where is Count Kyros?"

"He is safe and sound back home my Sire," reported one of the Courtiers after checking the records. "And he hates you and you son. And wants to claim....everything. It looks like he may be planning to murder somebody also."

At the end of May Basileus Niphon was brought some good news. Seems the Doux of Qamdo had disbanded his Faction to bring Gavelkind Succession to the Kingdom of Kamarupa.

The reason for this was because he was dead. At the age of 29 the Doux Tishifan had died from suspicious circumstances. Most people assumed his wife had done it to insure her son was put on the throne. The Ex-Doux had been young and may had lived to produce many sons from "other sources" AND this was her way of making sure THAT did not happen. But, of course, there was no proof that SHE had done it.​

The Basileus took advantage of this by suggesting a arranged marriage between the NEW Doux and his youngest daughter. All evidence suggested that the boy's Regent would agree to this. But only because it wasn't to be a matrilineal marriage.

And now he could pick a new Adviser. The individual on the top of the list of those available was the Despot Sonpal of Nepal. And why not? He was a Loyalist and it would make the Vassal very happy to be put on the Council. It also, MIGHT, keep him out of trouble. Maybe.

And so the Despot became a member of the Imperial Council.

So this chapter closes with more good news than bad news and the Emperor in a good mood. Mostly. He was still confused on how one of his Vassals had joined in on a war along side the Mongols!

 

[Surt]

But is he competent?!?