Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Eighty-Nine : Too Many Women

"Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me A Match!"​

This chapter opens in early June, of the year 913 AD, with the Basileus trying, and failing, to give the Great King Kalahastambha a Concubine. It seemed that the staff didn't have the right forms for such a proposal.

Basileus sighed to himself. "We don't have the RIGHT FORMS?"

The Basileus thought on the problem for a few moments. "Maybe we could we could corrupt his vassals? Marry them to Buddhist women and at least spread Buddhism among the populace of the Realm? Bring a list of his vassals.”

Luckily the list was small. The first man they tried to send a proposal to was Pujari Indravarman. Which, it seemed, didn’t have a chance of working. While the man liked Rajamati’s youth he didn’t like Basileus Niphon.

“This is helpless,” stated the Basileus with a sigh. “Now what do I do with her? And the other two I have invited? Hmmmmm....bring me a list of my Vassals with the lowest opinion of me?”

The staff looked at each other and one pointed out, “Giving them Concubines won’t likely improve their opinion of you, my Liege.”

“No,” replied the Basileus, “but it may screw up their family life. Revenge for not liking me enough!”

The first Vassal on top of the list of those who didn’t LOVE their Emperor was the Doux of Nyingchi. His people suggested, to the Basileus’s people, that the gift of a Concubine would be welcome. So a formal proposal was sent. It seemed the staff had the proper forms for dealing with Imperial Nobles.

As the Basileus waited for a reply the second woman he invited to the Court arrived. She was weak and dull. But had a good heart and was of a Noble House.

So a suggestion was sent to the Doux of the Bangala Varman Raj, the next Vassal on the list, that he could take Yilie. All evidence suggested he was okay with the proposal and a formal one was sent.

As the Basileus waited for the two Douxs to send their replies he received some semi-bad news. Seems the Non-Aggression Pact between Haripaladeva of Bome and the Despot of Nepal has dissolved. Likely due to a spouse passing away and breaking a marriage tie. It was semi-bad because Non-Aggression Pacts at least keep Nobles from fighting each other.

Then the third, and final, of the women to be invited to his Court arrived. A paranoid Noblewoman of the House Narubho. But at least she was honest.

The third Vassal on the list was the Doux of Bhar Raj. The Doux already had a Concubine but was also insane and all suggestions pointed to him happily accepting a another one. So a formal proposal was sent.

Before the end of the month the Basileus received replies from all three Vassals. All three Douxs had agreed to accepting the women as their Concubines.

“BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” laughed Basileus Niphon when the last reply was received. And so we end the chapter with a happier Emperor.

 

[stnylan]

He really is happiest with matchmaking of one sort or another.

 

[vandevere]

Dude's either the busiest busybody I've ever seen, the the purest incarnation of a Yenta...

 

[roverS3]

Despite all his wars, his diligent economic policy, his devotion to Buddhism, and his grand architectural projects, Basileus Niphon will be most remembered for his matchmaking ambitions, for better or worse.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Ninety : The Small Stuff

PLAGUE!​

It was late June, of the year 913 AD, with the Basileus checking out his files on the Great Queen Chandaladevi of the Talakad Ganga Kingdom.

"If I can't do something to her husband I need to do something to her," murmured the Basileus. "Something to ruin her marriage or mess up her Realm."

The Basileus thought on it and then announced, "Send her some money as a gift!" And so the Great Queen was sent a large purse of over 100 gold coins.

"Sire," said one of the Courtiers, "you're not planning on trying to seduce her, are you?"

"No, no, no, no," stated the Basileus. "Well, maybe. Think it will work?"

"Well," replied the Courtier. "She is a different Religion, a different Culture, and only half your age. So I am going to have to go with no."

"HEY!" responded the Basileus with a frown. "That is ageism."

In early July there was some bad news. Doux Pelagios II of Nagchu had died from the Plague and had been replaced by Doux Kallistos - the 15 year old Uncle of the deceased Doux!

"Plague?" proclaimed the Basileus. "The Empire has plague!?!?"

"No, Sire," replied one of the staff. "No reports of any plague within the borders."

"Wait...who is his Guardian?" The Basilues peeked at the new Doux's file. "Trongzhi? A Lowborn who isn't Greek and has no skill with accounting? Oh no, no, no. This will not do."

The Basileus suggested that his wife become the New Doux's Guardian. He trusted her to bring up the new Doux right. Even if it was his last year before he became an adult.

The new Doux agreed to this later in the month which made the Basileus very happy.

The day afterwards the Emperor was glancing as the Wall Map when he noticed that the far westward County of Kabul was still, somehow, part of the Empire.

"Who is in charge of that piece of land?" he asked his staff.

"Count Mew, Sire," was the reply.

"Hehehe...mew...hehehe...wait, is he married?"

"No, Sire."

"Bring me the list!"

The list was pretty long but after dismissing those women who were too old, or the Emperor's Concubines, that really only left Demetra of Nyingchi.

A 16 year old Greek Noblewoman who had "experience" in the field of romance. Funny enough Mew had no issue with this though Demetra seemed to have issues with the Count's skills.

By August the bride had left the Capital for the County of Kabul and marriage to her new husband.

So the chapter closes with the Emperor at least making one match work.

 

[vandevere]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Ninety : The Small Stuff

PLAGUE!​

It was late June, of the year 913 AD, with the Basileus checking out his files on the Great Queen Chandaladevi of the Talakad Ganga Kingdom.

"If I can't do something to her husband I need to do something to her," murmured the Basileus. "Something to ruin her marriage or mess up her Realm."

The Basileus thought on it and then announced, "Send her some money as a gift!" And so the Great Queen was sent a large purse of over 100 gold coins.

"Sire," said one of the Courtiers, "you're not planning on trying to seduce her, are you?"

"No, no, no, no," stated the Basileus. "Well, maybe. Think it will work?"

"Well," replied the Courtier. "She is a different Religion, a different Culture, and only half your age. So I am going to have to go with no."

"HEY!" responded the Basileus with a frown. "That is ageism."

In early July there was some bad news. Doux Pelagios II of Nagchu had died from the Plague and had been replaced by Doux Kallistos - the 15 year old Uncle of the deceased Doux!

"Plague?" proclaimed the Basileus. "The Empire has plague!?!?"

"No, Sire," replied one of the staff. "No reports of any plague within the borders."

"Wait...who is his Guardian?" The Basilues peeked at the new Doux's file. "Trongzhi? A Lowborn who isn't Greek and has no skill with accounting? Oh no, no, no. This will not do."

The Basileus suggested that his wife become the New Doux's Guardian. He trusted her to bring up the new Doux right. Even if it was his last year before he became an adult.

The new Doux agreed to this later in the month which made the Basileus very happy.

The day afterwards the Emperor was glancing as the Wall Map when he noticed that the far westward County of Kabul was still, somehow, part of the Empire.

"Who is in charge of that piece of land?" he asked his staff.

"Count Mew, Sire," was the reply.

"Hehehe...mew...hehehe...wait, is he married?"

"No, Sire."

"Bring me the list!"

The list was pretty long but after dismissing those women who were too old, or the Emperor's Concubines, that really only left Demetra of Nyingchi.

A 16 year old Greek Noblewoman who had "experience" in the field of romance. Funny enough Mew had no issue with this though Demetra seemed to have issues with the Count's skills.

By August the bride had left the Capital for the County of Kabul and marriage to her new husband.

So the chapter closes with the Emperor at least making one match work.

Matchmaker...Matchmaker...make me a match...

 

[stnylan]

had to chuckle at the line women ineligible for reasons of age or being the Emperor's concubine.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Ninety-One : New Realms?

Brand New Rulers​

This chapter opens in early of August, in the year 913 AD, with the Basileus receiving some news. Seemed that the Doux of Nyingchi wanted the Duchy of Nagchu.

"Good grief," remarked the Basileus. "He is a greedy little Noble, isn't he? Well, keep an eye on him."

A few days later he was brought some GOOD news. The Realm's Religious Leaders all loved him.

He was even doing well within the ranks of the Savaka-Sangha. Sadly, he wasn't the next member in line for becoming the Leader of the Society.

The reason for this interest was because the Leader didn't look well and it was likely he would passing away soon. He was a Dueler and had received a wound during one of his challenges. Maybe he did badly due to the swollen ankle?

By the middle of the month the Basileus was cheered up by the fact that there were STILL no political movements working against the Empire. No Factions at all!

Around the same time a murder plot was uncovered in which it seemed the Count of Gauda was seeking to end the life of the Count of Varanasi.

"Tell him to STOP!" demanded the Basileus. "The Count of Varanasi is a real Count. Not just a husband who gets to be called Count because of marriage. Have some respect!"

Near the end of the month the Basileus wandered over to his Wall Map and noticed something strange had happened north of the Taklamakan Desert. The familiar names had all changed.

"Somebody tell me why there are TWO Realms called Fergana?" he asked his staff.

The Courtiers explained that one of the Realms were Aztec and one of the Realms were Hindu.

"How did that...never mind. And where did Pamir come from?"

"We don't know," replied one of the Courtiers. "The records of the Shah's background seems to be...missing. Almost as if he came out of nowhere and just claimed the Realm for his own."

The Basileus sighed and said, "Well, at least he is Buddhist."

The Emperor stepped back, to take in the whole Wall Map, and added, "The world is a strange place."

And so we close this chapter with a few plots, no factions, and new players on the stage of history.

 

[stnylan]

The Wall Map is a strange place, let alone the world

 

[Bullfilter]

From an earlier chapter:

PLAGUE!

Doux Pelagios II of Nagchu had died from the Plague

"Plague?" proclaimed the Basileus. "The Empire has plague!?!?"

"No, Sire," replied one of the staff. "No reports of any plague within the borders."

Unless Pelagios was Patient Zero, it seems things will be ok after all. But it only takes one to start it ...

Maurya should change its name to Fergana as well. Just to confuse any invading Aztecs or Mongols!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Ninety-Two : Peace!

Peace, Peace, Boring, Peace​

This chapter opens in late August, of the year 913 AD, with the Basileus Niphon entering his Throne room one morning while rubbing his hands together with a smile on his face. He was in a very good mood.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," he announced to the waiting Courtiers, "today I plan to start a war with the Kingdom of Orissa. As they are already knee deep in three wars they will be easy picking!"

"You can't my Liege," said one of the Courtiers with a embarrassed look on her face. "We have a Truce with them from the last war. It will last till around 922 AD."

"Well, darn," replied the Basileus with a pout as he sat down on his Imperial Throne. "We could have EASILY crushed them and won. We could break the Truce, right?"

"Yes," responded the female Courtier, "but your Vassals would be unhappy with that and you would lose a lot of support among your Nobles."

"I guess no war today," grumbled the Basileus as they brought him his morning cookies.

Around the same time, due to spending so much time with his son, Prince Dionysios, the boy came to love and hate the Emperor. It was a slight improvement.

Near the end of the month Paschalis of Nyingchi, the Empire's Protostrator, told the Basileus that one of the Commanders, the Doux of Lhasa, had improved significantly when it came to killing large groups of enemy soldiers.

Sadly, at the start of September the Basileus noticed there was four plots still going on. Even after being asked to stop.

There was news of a Non-Aggression Pact coming to an end. Seems Count Gopal's wife, sister to Doux Bhavesh, had died.

Then the Basileus received some news from the Bhar Duchy. The old Doux had died from Cancer and been replaced by his eldest son. Looks like one of the lesser titles ended up with one of the brothers. At least the NEW Doux had been old enough to take over without a Regent.

Then there was some good news. At least good news for the Duchy of Nyingchi. Seems Count Raphail disbanded his movement to Increase Council Power. It seemed he was finally behaving....kind of.

By the middle of September news had come out of the Yuan Empire. Civil unrest was rocking China and it was hurting trade. In fact profits from the Silk Road was down to 25%! There was also a chance that the unrest could grow into a full blown Civil War. And that would cut off the Silk Road COMPETELY!

"The horror!" exclaimed the Emperor when he heard the news. "My profit!"

Near the end of the month there was some interesting news. Haridevnarayan of the House of Pala had been released by Doux Srimarta.

The Ex-Doux didn't have any titles but at least he still had some wealth to keep him, and his family, from starving.

So we end this chapter with a lot of news, some good, some bad, some neither, and a somewhat bored Emperor.

 

[stnylan]

The Chinese situation bears careful watching.

 

[roverS3]

Once again let down by a truce you signed. If only you could make the nobles understand that sometimes it's not a bad thing to break a truce...
The Chinese people better calm down and get back to work, because otherwise Niphon is likely to get very angry about his precious gold income.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Ninety-Three : Time To Party - Part One

The Emperor Loved His Pastries​

This chapter opens in early October, of the year 913 AD, with the Basileus deciding he wanted to celebrate Diwali. In other words he wanted a party. So he announced the event and sent out the invites.

After ordering the cooks to make as many types of bread products for the upcoming party as they could he selected a perfume box for his wife. It was wrapped and sent to the County of Samatata where she was carrying out her Cultural Research.

Sadly, as the Castle was being prepared the Basileus received bad news. Bhikkhu Romanos of Para-Lauhitya had died from Cancer and had passed his Titles on to Bhikkhu Evangelos II.

With his death the old Doux of Para-Lauhitya had left a few positions empty. One of which was a Commander's Title. Which was given to the NEW Doux of Para-Lauhitya.

There was also now a need for a new Master of the Hunt. Which was given to the NEW Doux of the Blar Raj. Which should just increase his opinion of his Liege.

By the middle of October the Castle/Palace was ready. The tables moaned under the weight of the cakes, pies, and pastries that had been piled high on them. There was chilled wines and warm ciders and foamy beers ready for the drinking. The guests started to arrive and were greeted by dancers, drummers, and jugglers.

As the Basileus tried to enjoy the company, the wine, and the pastries the staff kept interrupting his fun. First they brought him news that his son, Count Raphail, wanted to groom an Heir. Even though he already had one.

"Duh," he replied while stuffing his face full of apple tarts covered in honey, "we all want that."

Then staff pulled him away from the Party one day for a morning prayer session with the Savaka-Sangha.

"NOOOOOOOO!" he screamed as he was taken away from his plate piled high with peach filled pastries and his large mug of pear cider.

So we close this chapter with the Emperor being forced to leave his party for a prayer meeting. In the next chapter we get to see the party come to an end. Not that the Emperor will get to enjoy it much.

 

[stnylan]

Sometimes you just got to pray

 

[roverS3]

Let's all pray for the return of the peach-filled pastries, because that's what's really important in life, isn't it.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Ninety-Four : Time To Party - Part Two

That's Entertainment!​

This chapter opens in late October, of the year 913 AD, with the Basileus finding himself in a prayer session with the Savaka-Sangha. As the Emperor slowly went crazy thinking about all the fun he was missing he noticed Orestes Dysnomia drowsing off next to him.

"Oh no you don't," the Basileus whispered to himself. "If I have to live through this so do you!" He then slammed his sharp elbow into the younger man's side. Orestes woke up ready for a fight but soon realized what was going on and even THANKED his Liege for the help.

"Think nothing of it, friend," responded the Basileus with a smile.

Luckily the prayer meeting ended soon enough for the Basileus to return to the party right when the snake charmer showed up. It was very entertaining and fascinating.

"That reminds me....do we have any cakes shaped like snakes?" the Basileus asked one of the servants. Sadly, the answer was no.

When November came his wife was handed the gift he sent her. It was reported that she was pleased with her gift.

At the same time this was happening the Basileus received a letter from the Arahnat Indranarayan. Seems the Society was worried about the Emperor not spending enough time and effort on religious matters. They were requesting that he focus on divine the more. In other words they wanted him to focus on Theology once again.

He agreed to do so. In time.

As he was enjoying, once again, the cakes and pies and tarts and wines and beers and ciders and puddings and cookies and honey buns and custards and scones he was given some wonderful news. His son, Makarios Dynomia, had finally finished his studies and had become a okay Steward.

But NOW he was an adult son without titles, land, or a wife. Matchmaking time! "Bring me the lists of women available for marriage!"

Funny enough he found a bride almost right away. Countess Parvin of Artux. A 21 year old Buddhist who wanted to marry AND was the Designated Regent of the Mongol Empire.

"Send a proposal, quick, before somebody marries her!" he exclaimed to his staff.

As he happily waited for a reply the darkest night of the Diwali came to be. Candles and lamps were lit, pastries and wines were served, well MORE pastries and wines were served, and everybody celebrated the victory of light over dark, hope over despair, and good over evil.

Within a week a reply came from the Countess. Makarios, still tipsy from all the drinking, was tossed into a wagon and sent to his new bride before she could change her mind.

As all offspring would be part of the Imperial Dynasty it meant that the House of Dysnomia would soon have a branch of the family among the Mongols. For some reason the Basileus found this amusing.

By the time the feast came to an end the Basileus was very pleased with himself. He had enjoyed all the food and the drink, his guests left his Palace happy, and he had made a new friend, and also had made the perfect match for one of his sons.

 

[roverS3]

The master matchmaker strikes again. A branch of the family amongst Mongols is a great move. It will ensure the family name will continue even if the Mongols conquer all of India. It could also be a precursor to some kind of alliance or non-agression pact with the Mongols. Which could make it much easier for Maurya to expand as it wouldn't have to worry about Mongols spoiling the party.

 

[stnylan]

The Matchmaking never fails to please.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Six Hundred-Ninety-Five : Another Wedding!

The Future FUTURE Empress Gets Married​

This chapter opens during the ides of November, in the year 913 AD, with the Basileus having agreed to focus on Theology again. BUT at the moment he was focused on family. And wasn't planning on changing that any time soon.

His granddaughter, Rival, and the future Empress (after her mother) Princess Eulalia of Bengal had become an adult and skilled in the ways of the shadow, poison, and dagger.

"Time for her to be married!" the Basileus announced. "Bring me the lists of men within the Empire available for marriage!"

On the top of the list was Commander Ajmal of Yarlung. The man no woman would marry. True, he was Cruel, but he was also Strong and followed the Way of the Dragon which made him a somewhat good warrior. He was of the Vaishya Caste which would make him pretty good at collecting wealth also.

"PERFECT!" remarked the Basileus. "Nobody else wants him and he will be great at keeping the books. Send the Proposal! Not like they can refuse me!" Or course it was to be a Matrilineal Marriage.

Around the same time it was noticed that another Commander of the Empire had gone missing. So the Emperor selected the Doux of the Bhar Raj as the new Commander.

By December Ajmal and the Princess were Man and Wife. And the Princess didn't seem that upset with her new husband.

So the chapter ends with another Imperial Wedding and a VERY happy Emperor.