Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[stnylan]

Can't trust those vassals, especially those Advisors!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Thirty-Seven : Roses And Wars

Medieval Garden​

This chapter opens in the middle of June, of the year 909 AD, with the Basileus sending his Magistros, the blind Duchess Anakhit, to Kataka. It was the Capital-County of the Kingdom of Orissa.

The Great King Vigrahapala was in the middle of a local revolt AND a war. So it was hoped he would not notice the Duchess trying to create a claim on one of his holdings. Hopefully his Kingdom.

In a war with the Empire it is unlikely the Great King will have the men or riches to win against the Emperor.

Then the Basileus received some good news. The NEW Doux of Qamdo had agreed to marry Princess Sibylla when they came of age.

Elsewhere the Great King of the Ayudha Kingdom was still fighting the Kingdom of Mana. And it looked like he was winning the battle to make Mana his Tributary State. This was thought of as BAD news to the Imperial Court and the Emperor.

In late June the Basileus received a letter from his Spymaster Agathe who was also a member of the Buddhist Society. She was wondering if he was interested in learning more about a type of rose she was working on. In fact he was VERY interested as he was working on something along the same lines.

In July he noticed, much to his annoyance, that the Duchess Alexandria of Gauda had tried to revoke the Count of Radha's Title. He had refused and started a Civil War. Which, under Enforced Realm Peace, should not be happening!

Being that Count Hariyamandal had more men and more military skills than the Duchess this had been UNWISE of her. On top of that the Count was still TRAINING himself to be an even BETTER warrior. All in all it was likely he would end up the victor of the conflict.

As this was happening the Buddhist Society, the Savaka-Sangha, come forward to ask the Empire for some funding to help their charities. Of course the Basileus happily gave them a hundred gold coins. The Arahnat Indranarayan was very pleased.

The Basileus soon received a reply from his Spymaster Agathe. The Emperor had sent her a sample from his garden and in return she had sent him some sketches from many of her own roses. He, of course, was more then happy to help her with her projects.

So we close the chapter with the Emperor in a much happier mood. As long as he ignored everything that was happening outside his rose garden.

 

[stnylan]

To be at his age concentrating on his rose garden is surely excusable.

 

[Surt]

Chapter 637, that is a lot, and we still got 500 years to play?

 

[Eurasia]

Chapter 637, that is a lot, and we still got 500 years to play?

More or less. Game years. But at this rate it might be 500 years.

 

[Surt]

More or less. Game years. But at this rate it might be 500 years.

So your going to out do El Pip in none-real time gaming!!!

 

[Bullfilter]

636:

He also didn't want her to hear him sobbing at night because of the Doux of Qamdo's betrayal.

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.

That’ll do it. An undiscovered plot Niphon couldn’t order stopped. A little convenient ...

637:

So we close the chapter with the Emperor in a much happier mood. As long as he ignored everything that was happening outside his rose garden.

Warning, old song reference follows (just say OK, Boomer and move on ). His wife no doubt observed that, as Despot then Basileus: “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden. Along with the sunshine, there's gotta be a little rain some time!”

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Thirty-Eight : Death Of A Doux

Another Medieval Grave To Fill​

This chapter opens in the middle of July, of the year 909 AD, with the bad news that Doux Pelagios "The Gentle" of Nagchu had died of old age. Most of the titles went to his oldest son Pyrros.

The NEW Doux was quick. Before his father's ashes had been lowered into his grave the young man had his Council pass the Religious Control Mandate Law.

The death of the Doux left a few Minor Titles available to be handed out. The first was the Seneschal. The organizer of feasts and entertainment. While mostly a prestigious position it would still please whoever received it. So the Emperor gave the title to Count Helias of Kamatapur.

Another Minor Title available was the Court Poet. The Basileus wasn't going to just give this title to just anybody. This one needed some research. So the Basileus decided to look for a fellow poet. And found one!

Bhikkhu Chrysanthos of Somapura Mahavihara seemed to be the only poet, besides the Emperor, available. So, of course, he received the title.

The last position that needed to be fulfilled was a empty Commander position. And on the top of the list of available individuals to fill the position was the Despot. So he got the job!

So while the Basileus mourned the lose of the old Doux of Nagchu he was cheered by the swift action of the NEW Doux of Nagchu. The young man knew his stuff!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Thirty-Nine : When It Rains It Pours

Imperial Archer​

This chapter opened in late July, of the year 909 AD, with the Basileus becoming an Honest man. He now lived in the truth and valued it above almost everything else.

​

Then the Emperor was brought some interesting news. It seems that Count Chandrasen "The Just" of Candradvipa had ended his plot. But nobody could tell Basileus Niphon WHAT plot. A murder plot? A plot against his Liege? A plot to get another person's title? Nobody knew.

In August the Emperor was brought news of a KNOWN plot. Seems Malavyadevi of the House Gupta was seeking to kill Doux of the Gupta Raj. Her older brother and Liege. It seems she wanted to run the Duchy.

"Tell her NOT to do that," the Basileus told his Spymaster. "That's just not right. Killing her Lord AND brother. Talk about bad karma."

Then the Emperor got some...confusing news.

"Prince Mandandeva of Nepal had declared Doti War for Prince Hirapal's Claim on Prayaga....okay, somebody explain this mess of a report?"

"Yes, Sire," said one of the Courtiers. "Seems a Prince Hirapal had a claim on Prayaga in the Kingdom of Ayudha. So Count Mandandeva of Doti has decided to fight a war, in his name, to help him take Prayaga. So a vassal of a vassal of the Despot has declared war on the Great King of the Kingdom of Ayudha."

"Damn it," murmured the Basileus.

To get in a better mood he tried to get his two friends, Bhikkhu Niphon and the Queen, to be friends also. But it didn't work. Why couldn't his friends BE friends too? Why couldn't people just get along?

So we end this chapter with the Basileus worrying about what the Kingdom of Ayudha would do to the County of Doti. Or, to be more honest, just how badly the Kingdom would stomp on the County of Doti before the Count decided to give up.

 

[Surt]

What happens when Dot.I is defeated? nothing or does he just lose the claim?

 

[Eurasia]

What happens when Dot.I is defeated? nothing or does he just lose the claim?

He loses the claim and honor and stuff like that. And most likely his men are killed in battle and some of his family members are killed or have to be ransomed. Oh, and his own people likely think he is an idiot and decide to replace him?

 

[stnylan]

I think the stomping is going to be pretty bad.

 

[Bullfilter]

Or, to be more honest, just how badly the Kingdom would stomp on the County of Doti before the Count decided to give up.

Looks like it will be - unless he has some support to help him fight it. Still doesn’t look good, though.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Forty : Mongol Conflicts

Social Distancing In The Middle Ages​

This chapter opens in August, in the year 909 AD, with some good news. Seems Doux Jayapala of the Gupta Raj had ordered one of his Counts to convert to Buddhism. And the Count had agreed.

"A Han Count?" remarked the Basileus on seeing the report. "Well, I've seen stranger things. Oh, LOOK! He wants to get married!"

"No Sire!" stated the Courtiers. "Don't do it! You won't get the credit for the marriage!"

"But I WANT tooooo!"

"NO!" replied the Courtiers sternly.

A few days later the Basileus was given some good, if interesting, news. Seems Doux Bhavesh of the Bangala Varman Raj had disbanded his Independence Faction and nobody knew why. He was still alive too!

Then, near the end of the month, the Emperor received some more good news. The Protostrator reported that Commander Eugenios had improved greatly in the Art of Siege Warfare.

And, because of that, he also started wearing a different sash. Basileus Niphon agreed that fashion WAS an important part of life but even he didn't understand why the change in color was needed. He decided Buddhist Warrior Monks were just strange.

In September the Emperor was brought horrible news. Prince Dionysios, one of his younger sons, was sick. It seemed all his symptoms pointed to the boy having pneumonia.

Basilues Niphon ordered his own Doctor, the Court Physician, to attend to the boy.

The same day the staff brought the Emperor some interesting news from outside the borders of the Empire. First it seems that Saua Wenshunu "The Bold" had started a Revolt against his Mongol masters. In fact he was neck deep in a couple of conflicts. He would lose, sure, but at least he was causing them trouble.

Then there was the Kingdom of Urabo which was fighting to keep one of the Khans from taking their lands. And, yes, they would lose. Even with Saua Wenshunu's help. But at least they were trying.

It also looked like the Western Protectorate was being invaded.

It seemed that, due to unrest in the Middle Kingdom, there was nothing the Chinese could do to help their Tributary State.

"What is the point of being under the boots of the Chinese," remarked the Emperor with a smirk, "if they can't keep other people from stepping on you?"

So we close this chapter with the Emperor worried about his son and watching the lands outside his borders burn with the fires of war.

 

[Surt]

That is a very short stick for keeping social distance, he needs a longer one for the peasants!!!

 

[stnylan]

It is a good question re: Chinese overlordship. Surely it would be nicer to be the subject of Basileus Niphon?

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Forty-One : A Plot, A Hunt, And A Fear!

France Is Saved! Kindof...​

We open this chapter in the ides of September, of the year 909 AD, with Basileus receiving some very bad news. It seems Bodhideva of the House Kamarupanagarid was plotting to kill the Emperor's oldest daughter, and Heir to the Empire, Exarchessa Eupraxia of Bengal. Just because they were rivals!

"She plans to kill one of the most powerful women in the Realm because they are rivals?" stated the Basileus with a frown. "Not for land? Or power? Or money? Well, tell her to stop."

Then it was noticed that another position for Imperial Commander was empty. The Emperor, for a moment, pondered what kept happening to his Commanders but dismissed the thought. The list of available warriors showed Sabas, Mayor of Qonggyai, at the top. So, of course, he was recruited into the military.

Near the end of September the Basileus found himself growing bored. So he announced a Tiger Hunt!

As the riders went off with the invites he went off to his private quarters to decide on which color his boots and cloaks would be.

But an idea wormed its way into the dark corners of his mind. He was getting old. Each morning was a chance he would not exit the lands of dreams back into reality. Each day a chance his advanced age would catch up with him and bring him down.

Maybe it was because the face that stared back at him in the mirror was old. Maybe it was the knowledge that, in the past, men had died during the Tiger Hunts. Or maybe it was the suddenly enlightenment that he was spending hours picking out purple plum boots and purple eggplant cloaks out of his closets.

"What am I doing with my short life?" he whispered to the image in the mirror. "I only have so much time left. Even if I live longer then my family normally does it would not be enough to do all the things I wished!"

"Long life you want, yes," seemed to say the reflection. "Look for it you must."

"I'll try," he replied. "Yes, long life. I want it. I need it. I will try to find it!"

"Do, or do not," responded the voice from the mirror. "There is no try."

"Shut up."

And therefore the Council, at least those members within the Capital, were summoned to a secret meeting. But they were all busy and were having a hard time selecting a date they could all get together on.

In early October, as he waited for the Council Members in the County-Capital to come to the Palace, news came from Europe. It seems the Aztec Great Holy War for West Francia had failed.

The reason for that failure was simple to see with a glance at the Wall Map. Duke Dedo "The Conqueror" of Brittany had won HIS war with West Francia and seemed to have claimed most of the lands for himself.

With most of West Francia no longer West Francia the Aztec no longer had a valid war claim and the Great Holy War had ended. The Emperor found SOME humor in the report.

That very day the Hunting Party leave the Palace. Huge elephants carried the Emperor and those important members of the Imperial Court, as horses and porters carried the food, tents, and other equipment.

It didn't take too much time before the Hunters guided the group to the selected hunting spot and a camping spot had been picked. Soon tents were pitched up, cooking fires started, and Guards posted to protect the camp. It seemed the Council Members would have to come out to the Hunting Camp to have their meeting with the Emperor.

So this chapter ended with the Emperor trying to decide WHAT to say to his Council while preparing for the Tiger Hunt. How to explain what he wanted them to do when he didn't even know WHAT they could do to help him fight off approaching death?

 

[Surt]

Hope the counsel meets before the Basilius gets eaten by a tiger!!!

 

[stnylan]

I had to laugh at the reason for the failure of the Aztec Holy War. I can imagine that causing a certain amount of raised blood pressure in some quarters

 

[roverS3]

Oh boy, it's the beginning of the end for Niphon. Where are all those commanders going? Are they dying, or are they spilling the Empire's military secrets to rivals for gold, maybe they've just become mercenaries? It's something the Basileus should definitely look into, preferably before he dies...