Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Eight Hundred-Fifty-Four : David Of The House Fisher - Part Two

The Bard drank some of his water and pouted. He then strummed his lute and continued with the story of Duke David.

“The Duke also found many minor titles were empty. And he decided, at least, to pick his Court Doctor and his Designated Regent.”

“So,” continued the Bard, “The Duke picked the Bishop of Spackenkill as his Court Physician. The man was a book reader and knew a lot.”

“He then picked the Mayor of Wynantskill for his Designated Regent,” the Bard added, “because the man seemed to have a high opinion of the Duke.”

“The Duke’s only worry was his King,” remarked the Bard as he strummed his lute. “King Baltus was of the same Religion and Culture but wasn’t really a nice man. He had a habit of seducing people. He was also Envious, Cynical, and Arbitrary. Not really the best King to have in charge of the Kingdom.”

“The Duke’s future title that he wanted was the County of Manhattan which was under the rule of the Speaker Florell of New York,” said the Bard.

“He wanted it because it had much wealth going to its Trading Post,” the Bard pointed out.

“By the 19th of July his future wife came to his court with a letter of approval from her father,” said the Bard with a strum of his lute.

“The Duke wasn’t a greedy man and paid for the wedding,” the Bard added. “But he did notice his new wife had a VERY low opinion of her new husband. So he decided he would have to work on making her happy with him.”

The Bard stopped to slowly take a sip of his water. Water was good for the throat but not really that refreshing for one’s thirst.

 

[Surt]

Bad King, unimpressed wife and rich neighbour, what could possible go wrong?

 

[Midnite Duke]

Tea with honey would be better for the throat and water is better than cheap beer for thirst. Thank you for updating

 

[Bullfilter]

The Bard stopped to slowly take a sip of his water. Water was good for the throat but not really that refreshing for one’s thirst.

A hard earned thirst needs a big cold beer!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Eight Hundred-Fifty-Five : David Of The House Fisher - Part Three

An Elder Of The Council​

The Bard wiped his lips and strummed his lute. The cold water was nice but not beer.

“So,” he started, “the Duke decided he had to focus on his own Realm. First, to get his wife to like him.”

“So he decided to give a gift and a title,” continued the Bard. “He made her his High Almoner. More of a honorary title but it did come with a tiny salary.”

“It pleased her and her opinion of him went up,” remarked the Bard. “But not by much.”

“Of course, now that he was married, he grew a beard,” added the Bard, “which was the custom at the time.”

“As he looked over his Realm he noticed only one trouble maker,” continued the Bard. “One of his Council members.”

“So his Old Steward was replaced with Bishop Tehwehron of Rhinebeck. He was not as skilled but he did hold a higher opinion of his Liege,” added the Bard with a strum of his lute.

“In early August the Duke decided to focus fully on trying to sway his new wife to like him and not worry about his looks,” said the Bard. “He wanted her to see his inner beauty.”

The Bard stopped to finish his water and tune up his lute.

 

[Surt]

Maybe she wants a warm hat like the duke to make her happy?

 

[Bullfilter]

At least she doesn’t actively dislike him now.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Duke David, great beard for 16. Largest Vassal does not like you, kick him off council for an incompetent. That is how you win friends. Thank you for updating

 

[Eurasia]

Folks, just to let you know Thanksgiving is coming and I will be with family starting on the 23rd and not back till the 28th so both AARs are on hold for now. Happy Harvest Day?!?

 

[NarcomancerPL]

I've just recently wanted to check famous "Road of Queens" I checked first chapter 8th century, checked the last... chapter 855 27th century. 182 pages what? :O No way xd
I started from the begining... Current empress' father Basileus Niphon was definietely my favourite ruler ^^
Now I understand why we are in 27th century even though we haven't reached year 1000 in a proper story
That being said, I'm curious when we will return to Aztec Roman Empire, Mongol Empire, Other Roman Empire, Poland and Maurya?

 

[Bullfilter]

Folks, just to let you know Thanksgiving is coming and I will be with family starting on the 23rd and not back till the 28th so both AARs are on hold for now. Happy Harvest Day?!?

Have a great time on that uniquely American holiday!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Eight Hundred-Fifty-Six : David Of The House Fisher - Part Four

California Ladies​

The Bard strummed his lute. He judged the audience was attentive enough to continue his tale of David.

“In August there was news from the west coast,” said the Bard with another strum of his lute. “The Imamites, who had for hundreds of years had been subdued by Those--In-Power, had finally broken free and had decided to spread their faith for the first time.”

“But a war for the Valley meant nothing to the people on the east coast of the lands,” pointed out the Bard.

“Then the Duke received a request from his King,” said the Bard. “He wished the Duke to become his Marshal. David felt to refuse the King would be…a bad thing…so he agreed.”

“Soon he was training troops in Albany for his King,” the Bard added. “While this was happening he received news from his Steward, Hamilton, that many peasants were moving into the County of Troy.”

“He suggested to David that new roads would help,” the Bard continued. “He agreed and sent the County a purse of about eleven gold coins of wealth.”

“And can I have some ale now,” said the Bard. “Surely such a wealthy Empire can afford to give me some ale?”

The Empress snapped her fingers and said, "Ale the Bard!”

-----​

Author’s Notes:

My AARs will be slow and irregular for the next few weeks due to searching for a new job, holidays, and family issues.

 

[Bullfilter]

My AARs will be slow and irregular for the next few weeks due to searching for a new job, holidays, and family issues.

Best of luck navigating those tricky shoals.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Thank you for updating. My thoughts and prayers go to you as you deal with job and family.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Eight Hundred-Fifty-Seven : David Of The House Fisher - Part Five

The Bard drank some of his ale and sighed happily. The tale of the Duke of the Hudson Valley would likely be long and confusing. And the Bard needed to keep his throat clean of dust.

“While the Duke trained the Royal troops he continued to send letters of praise and friendship to his wife back home,” said the Bard with a strum of his lute.

“By late September,” the Bard continued, “the Duke’s attempts to whoo his wife was working. At least she seemed friendlier to him.”

“This was good news. But his Council sent him some alarming news,” added the Bard.

“Seems his Ex-Council Member, the Tevye of Rockland, had passed the Title Revocation Allowed Law,” remarked the Bard. “Normally this would not be an issue. But the man was Yiddish and there was a chance he might use this Law to replace his own vassals with members of the Yiddish Religion.”

“As the Duke tried to figure out how to fix this little issue he received a letter from his King,” remarked the Bard with another strum of his lute.

“Seems the King wanted the cities to pay in pure coin instead of a mixture of recruits and coin,” said the Bard.

“In other words, as a member of the Royal Council, the Duke had to vote,” added the Bard. “He decided to approve the new Law.”

“Good choice,” said the Empress. “The cities prefer giving money over their own laborers every time.”

“Indeed,” replied the Bard. He then continued.

“Now the Duke had to prepare for the war to take Manhattan,” continued the Bard. “First he sent his Chancellor to Manhattan to look around and try to find something that could be used to make a legal, if false, claim on the county.”

“He then had his Marshal train the troops in his Capital of Dutchess,” added the Bard.

“As the Duke prepared for his own war he noticed war had broken out to the east of his lands,” said the Bard. “Seems his not so peaceful neighbors were not so peaceful.”

The Bard stopped to take another sip of the ale.

 

[Bullfilter]

Seems his Ex-Council Member, the Tevye of Rockland

From Anatevka, as well? “On the other hand … there is no other hand!” His position on the council was precarious - just like a fiddler on the roof!

 

[Eurasia]

From Anatevka, as well? “On the other hand … there is no other hand!” His position on the council was precarious - just like a fiddler on the roof!

And three daughters!

 

[Bullfilter]

And three daughters!

My daughter played one of them - Chavala - in a stage production here about ten years ago. Ever since it’s been Little Bird and Papa! <3

 

[Surt]

First we take Manhatten, then Berlin?

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Eight Hundred-Fifty-Eight : David Of The House Fisher - Part Six

A Summer Fair​

The Bard smacks his lips and strummed his lute. He was ready to continue the story of the Duke David.

“Duke David still had a problem,” started the Bard. “The Count of Rockland didn’t like his Liege. And one result of that was the Duke wasn’t getting the taxes due to him. All his other vassals had good relationships with the Duke and happily gave him his share of the taxes collected.”

“He should seduce the Count,” said the Empress who was a tad drunk on pear cider. “That’s what the first Queen, Arminestra of Kamarupa, did with her vassals.”

The Bard ignored her and moved on.

“The Duke had many options in dealing with the Count,” the Bard pointed out. “He could revoke the man’s title. Or he could imprison the Count. Or have the man killed. Or he could send the man some money.”

“But in the end the Duke decided to give the Count a new, honorary, title,” continued the Bard. “He made the Count Master of the Hunt. It didn’t do much.”

“While this was happening,” added the Bard, “the Speaker of New York was having issues with being raided. This wasn’t surprising when you take into account how rich the man’s lands were.”

“By May the Duke decided to have a summer fair,” said the Bard. “He was tried of plotting and scheming and needed some time for himself. He called it self-care.”

“As the people were preparing for the fair a bear and its trainer came to the fair,” added the Bard. “Bishop Nicholas was so impressed that this increased his opinion of the Duke. Which, in hindsight, makes no sense but there you are!”

The Bard strummed his lute as he gave off a little laugh.

“When the fair ended in July the peddlers and merchants were happy, the farmers and laborers were happy, and the Duke was happy,” explained the Bard.

“And now I am happy,” he added as he took another swig of his ale.