Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Sixty-Three : Joining Another War

Cry Havoc And Let Slip The Elephants Of War!!!​

We open this chapter in early March, of the year 912 AD, with the Commanders deciding to rush the Defenders of the Temple Complex of Bajrakot.

A few days was all it took to overwhelm the Priests of the Complex. All 803 of them were wiped out. But they did put up a fight as 140 Imperial soldiers were also killed.

Then the Basileus received an interesting request from the Great King Kalahastambha of the Kingdom of Satyavarman. He wanted the "Great" Basileus Niphon to honor his obligation and help him crush a Revolt.

"Before we answer please check the small print," demanded the Basileus. "The Revolt isn't being backed by...oh...let's say...the Mongols?"

"No, Sire," replied the staff after checking their records. "Just the Revolt."

"Do you think he asked us on the chance we might say no and allow him the excuse of freeing himself and his Kingdom from us?" asked the Emperor.

"No," responded the staff. "The records show the Revolt is close to being the Kingdom's equal in numbers and even having more funding. Also the Revolt Leader is a SLIGHTLY better warrior. If a Coward."

"Okay," remarked the Basileus with a shrug. "We'll join his little war."

"Should we redirect the second Army to help crush the Revolt?"

"What? NO!" The Basileus rolled his eyes. "Split up our forces? Fight in TWO wars at once? Pfui! We're not amateurs. We'll focus on one war at a time."

"Of course, Sire," stated the staff.

So we close this chapter with another victory and another war.

 

[roverS3]

Oh no, a two front war. Now the Imperial force's hurry in rushing enemy defences becomes very sensible. The clock is ticking, the Army is needed for the next war, no time for sieges, just brute force...

I do hope the revolt isn't backed by some invisible Mongols after all, because that would be a problem.

What happened with peace in the Empire? The vassals really can't work together to better Maurya, they always have to squabble. Rather annoying, but fun for storytelling.

 

[MK1980]

tributaries seem kinda useless in this game to be honest. they always drag you into their internal wars and only pay some marginal amount of money in tribute anyway. if you refuse the whole process of making them a tributary was pointless, but if you help them you waste more money solving their issues than you make from extorting them in the first place

good thing is it probably doesn't even matter if your tributary loses against his vassal. if the other guy had a claim on the kingdom or revolts against tyranny, it's really an internal affair. if they win you'll just have another tributary maharaja after the war paying you protection money.

the other war should have priority.

 

[stnylan]

I had to chuckle about checking the small print.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Sixty-Four : A Victory, A Treaty, And A Female Future?

Rights Of Women In The Middle Ages​

This chapter starts in the middle of March, of the year 912 AD, with the Basileus deciding to ask Count Raphail of Kundina, his son, to spend some time with his father. He figured it would be a great way to gain the Prince's trust.

As the Emperor waited for his son to arrive he received news. The Non-Aggression Pact between Jira of the Magadhi Revolt and the Baron Vallal Sen of Teliagarhi of the House Pala had come to an end. In other words her husband died and she no longer had a Pact with her Father-In-Law.

Interestingly enough the husband had been slain in combat by Nayapala of the House of Pala in a duel.

Then, around the same time, as the Imperial Army of Doux Artemios approached the enemy Army Doux Shur "The Hideous" launched his own attack. Which meant the foes would be already engaged when the Imperial Levies and Chinese soldiers marched onto the battlefield.

The Emperor decided to strengthen his ties with the Doux by offering a Non-Aggression Pact. Everybody in the Imperial Court said it would likely be accepted and was a good idea.

At the same time his son finally arrived and they started spending time together. The father showed his son his garden full of roses, his favorite writing desk where he wrote his poetry, and how to sneak into the kitchen to steal freshly baked pie without anybody noticing. And the Emperor was pleased.

When April came about the Basileus finally got a reply from the Doux. Shur was happy to accept the proposal for a Non-Aggression Pact. And the Emperor was pleased.

The Basileus was enjoying his time with his son and it seemed his son was enjoying his time with his father. And the Emperor was pleased.

He was so pleased that he started the process to pass a law through the Imperial Council to repeal restrictions on female power. He prayed that it would pass.

The same day Basileus suggested the passing of the law he was told of the victory at the Battle of Mahavinayak. Seems the Army of Doux Artemios had joined in on the side of the Doux Shur's battle and had the enemy had simply collapsed so quickly that victory had come before any other reports could be sent off!

The Imperial side had lost 3 men while the enemy had lost 337 soldiers. And the Emperor was pleased.

So we close this chapter with a VERY pleased Basileus Niphon.

 

[stnylan]

Very pleased indeed!

 

[roverS3]

how to sneak into the kitchen to steal freshly baked pie without anybody noticing.

I feel like they just pretend not to notice, and bake another cake. He's the Emperor after all.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Sixty-Five : Women Are ALMOST Equal To Men

A Female Marshall In The Future?​

This chapter opens in early April, of the year 912 AD, with the Army of Doux Artemios starting the Siege of the Castle of Raibania in the County of Viraja.

Next door the Army of Bhikkhu Kyriakos, in the County of Kodalaka Mandala, had decided to rush the City of Deogarh. This Holding was the last one holding out against the Imperial forces. Within a few days the City fell to the Empire.

The Imperial forces lost 66 soldiers while the City lost 715 of the City Guard and local militia.

With the County now under Imperial control the Army marched south to lay siege to more holdings.

A few days later the Basileus was told that Doux Boethios of Bhutan had approved of the new Law. It looked like it may pass! The Basileus was very pleased. The struggle to make women the equals to men meant that soon they would be available for all positions on the Imperial Council and all the Councils of the Empire. They would add their voice to the back and forth of debate, they would add their sword arm to the battles, and they would soon be able to hold all titles without fear of being mocked.

Halfway through April the Army of Bhikkhu Kyriakos reported that they had almost overwhelmed the Defenders of the Castle of Khinjali. The Emperor ordered them to rush the rest of the enemy on the walls. The Commanders agreed and did what he ordered.

By May the Castle had fallen at the cost of 208 Imperial soldiers. All 964 of the enemy soldiers had been killed.

The Army of the Bhikkhu moved to lay Siege to the Temple Complex of Nilamadhav.

In the middle of May the Basileus was told his wife, Basilissa Dong Yanyan of Maurya, had approved of the new Law.

The Law passed shortly afterwards. Women were only one step away from being (politically) equal to men.

So we end this chapter with more victories and a very VERY pleased Basileus.

 

[stnylan]

I am getting increasingly concerned for the Basileus. All this good news and being happy. It's not natural.

 

[Bullfilter]

The Road is getting more Queenly for sure, even if a man has ruled for so long.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Sixty-Six : Nothing But Victories!

More HOT Siege Action!​

This chapter opens in the middle of May, of the year 912 AD, with the Basileus ordering Doux Artemios to NOT rush the Siege of the Castle of Raibania. The Army had the not-so-experienced Imperial Levies with the VERY RARE Chinese Honor Guard. Neither were easy to replace.

They finally overwhelmed the Defenders and took the Castle near the end of May. They lost nobody while the enemy lost 561 men.

Shortly before the Castle was captured the Imperials found a young child. Satyavarman of the House Bhaumakara was now in the 'dungeon' and the Emperor was now his Educator.

"How did that happen?" demanded the Basileus. "How am I his teacher?"

"Well, Sire," replied one of the Courtiers, "the lawyers-"

"Oh shut up and release the boy! And make sure the paperwork is done properly this time."

So the boy was released and the Army went on to lay the Siege of the Temple Complex of Viraja.

Next door in the County of Khinjali Mandala the Army of the Bhikkhu was about to overwhelm the Defenders of the Temple Complex of Nilamadhav.

The Complex soon fell at the cost of zero Imperial soldiers. The enemy soldiers, all 755 of them, was wiped out.

The next Holding was the City of Nayagarh. The Bhikkhu was ordered to rush the streets with his Army. Which he did. The Army lost 32 soldiers while the 337 City Guard was wiped out.

Then the Army of Bhikkhu Kyriakos, with another County under the Empire's control, started to march towards the coast. The County of Puri ruled by Thakur Narendra was next on the list of holdings to lay siege to.

So we close this chapter with many victories and the Emperor even MORE pleased then before!

 

[stnylan]

Not even being upset by lawyers? Something is seriously amiss.

 

[roverS3]

to NOT rush the Siege of the Castle of Raibania. The Army had the not-so-experienced Imperial Levies with the VERT RARE Chinese Honor Guard. Neither were easy to replace.

It's also a good idea not to anger the wife.

Those are some splendid victories, though.

Not even being upset by lawyers? Something is seriously amiss.

Disaster must be right around the corner.

 

[Crackerwyvern]

Of course disaster likes hiding behind corners. It's what it does. Silly disaster.

 

[MK1980]

that boy prisoner can consider himself lucky

it's not uncommon for me to forget to check the prison after a war. which usually leads to some embarassing situations a decade later when the game informs me that a random child i never heard of is now an adult. and then i remember that there was a war and realize that some poor kid sat in my dungeon for their entire childhood.

also regarding the "lost" battle (due to movement lock) some chapters ago: i think you got lucky there. i ran into a similar problem in my most recent CK2 campaign with two movement locked armies charging at each other. my army was slower so the other army became the attacker and my troops auto retreated. but then (for some odd reason) they didn't just lose the battle - the army was completely deleted. which kinda sucked because the affected army was my whole retinue of ~15k soldiers

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Sixty-Seven : More Victories!

More Marching!​

This chapter opens in June, of the year 912 AD, with the Basileus receiving some bad news. Seems the Bhikkhu of Deshing was plotting to kill his son. That right, a Buddhist Monk was plotting to kill Prince Raphail.

"Tell them to stop!" remarked the Emperor. "We can't have Dynasty members being killed by commoners."

No longer in a good mood the Basileus ordered the Siege of Viraja to be rushed. The Army of Doux Artemios assaulted the Temple Complex of Viraja and took it within a few days.

The Imperial forces lost 98 soldiers while wiping out all 530 of the defending Priests and defending Hindu Warriors.

The Army moved onto the last Holding and lay siege to the Temple Complex of Mahavinayak.

In the middle of June the Basileus was told of another murder plot. The Countess of Paro, a member of the House Pala and the Upadhyayani of Paro, was plotting to kill Anastasia of Nalrajar Garh.

"Why are the Religious so blood thirsty?" pondered the Basileus aloud. "Anyway, tell her to stop."

Then he was brought some bad news. It seemed that out of the five children who were ransomed only one had, in fact, been ransomed. The others were still waiting in the dungeon, AKA the Army's tent, completely forgotten.

"Just RELEASE them already!" shouted the Basileus.

And so the four children of the House of Bhanja were given packed lunches and quickly escorted out of the camp and into the waiting arms of their family.

Once again, in a bad mood, the Basileus ordered the Army of Doux Artemios to rush the Siege at Mahavinayak. So the Imperial forces overwhelmed the defenders of the Temple Complex at the cost of losing 96 of their own. The enemy lost 527 men.

Now that the County belonged to the Empire the Army marched south to capture the County of Kataka.

So we close this chapter with more victories but a grumpier Emperor.

 

[stnylan]

Ahh, one can relay on teh day-to-day business of telling people to stop murdering people, and paperwork snaffus, to ruin anyone's mood

 

[MK1980]

i never noticed before that the city defenders on the "siege over" screen show a number with decimal digits. guess they must be counting their war pugs as fractional people or something

 

[volksmarschall]

Oh marching...there was a song, not so long ago, that I always thought of when marching...

Where There's a whip, there's a way!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Sixty-Eight : Nike

Goddess of Victory!​

This chapter opens in June, of the year 912 AD, with normal news and some not-bad news being delivered to the Basileus. The normal news was Prince Makarios of Maurya, one of his sons from one of his Concubines, needed some guidance from his father. The Basileus decided to help his son develop Patience.

The not-bad news was the fact that Jira of the Magadhi Revolt was passing a Law that make it that her Lords, all five of her vassals, would owe her soldiers instead of coins. The Emperor felt that was somewhat short sighted. He had always seen coins as more useful. But to each their own.

The same day the Army of Bhikkhu was ordered to assault the Castle of Jaugada in the County of Puri. Which wasn't as easy as it sounded as the castle seemed to be on fire. From the Doux's looting all the holdings of the County.

The Castle fell at the cost of 134 men while the enemy lost 623 men. The 500 Imperial soldiers left behind to garrison complained about how everything was still burning and how hard it was to eat, sleep, and use the toilet when everything was on fire.

The next holding, the Temple Complex of Puri, in which the County was named after, was also aflame. Which made it somewhat easier to lay Siege too. Of course the Emperor, wanting this war over with, ordered another assault on the Complex.

The Temple Complex of Puri fell to the Imperial forces at the cost of 31 soldiers. The enemy lost 182 Priests and Warriors in the assault. And once again the garrison left behind were not happy about their burning quarters and mess hall.

The City of Buguda was the last holding and the Army quickly surrounded it. It too was on fire after being looted. They were, of course, ordered to rush the burning streets and take the burning buildings.

Even before they could start the assault the Army of Doux Artemios, next door, took the Castle of Katak. They lost 53 soldiers while all 157 enemy soldiers were wiped out.

Shortly afterwards the City of Buguda fell to the Army of the Bhikkhu who lost 9 men. The enemy were totally wiped out - all 110 of them.

At this point the Emperor demanded the enemy hand over the County of Kodalaka Mandala to Doux Shur III. The Great King of Orissa agreed.

Now that the first war was over the Imperial Armies could start moving west to crush the Revolt. They left behind Doux Shur and his Army to continue their looting, burning, and fighting.

In the end there had been fifteen sieges and four battles (which included one defeat). The Empire lost 2,266 Imperial soldiers while the two enemy Realms lost a total of 9,462 soldiers. Truly a one-sided war.

So this chapter ends with a grand victory and a much happier Emperor.