Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[iain_a_wilson]

I absolutely love what you do with your images! Putting them together the way you do really compliments the text. Good work!

 

[Eurasia]

I absolutely love what you do with your images! Putting them together the way you do really compliments the text. Good work!

You have to have images, maps, and photos. The fun part is finding something that fits the chapter.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Eight Hundred-Ninety-Four : Never Ending Work!

This chapter opens in mid February, of the year 935 AD, with the Empress getting news about Princess Eupraxia of Maurya.

It seemed the Princess trusted everybody. The Empress decided to shape that so the girl was more Charitable.​

And it worked. This would likely help the Princess and her future as the next Ruler if she was seen as a Charitable person.​

Then the Spymaster brought her news of a murder plot. Seems Himerios of House Rangabes was planning to kill Antonia House Rangabes. Who was the sister of the man’s Liege.

“So he wants to kill a family member who is also the sister of his Liege?” remarked the Empress. She sighed. “Tell him to STOP. You don’t spill the blood of your family. I mean, unless you really need to.”​

Then she received good news a few days later when the Temple of Sepla fell to the Imperial troops. The Imperials had lost twenty-four soldiers while wiping out the enemy defenders. Mostly Warrior Monks.

The Vihara of Sepla and the Castle of Monyul had been under control of the rebels. But the third Holding, the city, had been under Imperial control. Which was why it had been attacked by the Rebels. But since it was still free the County was not under control the Imperials.​

So the Imperial forces were ordered to march on the next Rebel stronghold. The County of Lhoyu.

At the same time the Battle of Baibung had continued in the County of Meddog.​

One of the enemy flanks had collapsed and the Imperial Archers now focused on the enemy center and other flanks.

So we close this chapter with the enemy already losing to the missile fire.

 

[Midnite Duke]

What are Greek Orthodox doing in India beside murdering themselves? Thanks for updating

 

[Eurasia]

What are Greek Orthodox doing in India beside murdering themselves? Thanks for updating

I think the murderer is in Europe and plotting a long distence hit on the woman in India.

 

[Surt]

“So he wants to kill a family member who is also the sister of his Liege?” remarked the Empress. She sighed. “Tell him to STOP. You don’t spill the blood of your family. I mean, unless you really need to.”

How charitable ...

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Eight Hundred-Ninety-Five : Victory In Baibung

This chapter opened in late February, of the year 935 AD, with the Battle of Baibung moving onto the next stage of the battle - the lines slamming into each other.​

The enemy infantry was outnumbered as most of their forces had already fled. Soon the last enemy soldiers collapsed under the weight of the Imperial forces and the Imperial Cavalry were charged in to run them down.​

By March the enemy forces fled the battlefield and the Battle of Baibung became a victory. The Army of Timotheos lost three hundred-ninety-four soldiers while the Rebels lost eight hundred-twenty-six.

The Army was then ordered to Nyingchi. There happened to be a Host there already causing the Rebels problems. So the Imperials would find some of the work already done for them.

The Imperials arrived andjoined the Host in the Siege of the Castle Drakchi. Which was already on fire. And many of its defenders had already been killed.

And so we end this chapter with another victory, another siege, and being almost halfway through the war.

---------------------------------​

Author’s Notes:

OOC: I didn't know that Hosts could be helpful!

 

[Midnite Duke]

Helpful Hosts are rare and going against their instincts. BTW, the siege will probably go to the raiders, so it is probably you that is being helpful and not the hosts. The flip side is that rebels will beat on your armies even if you are an innocent bystander. Thank you for updating,

 

[Eurasia]

Helpful Hosts are rare and going against their instincts. BTW, the siege will probably go to the raiders, so it is probably you that is being helpful and not the hosts. The flip side is that rebels will beat on your armies even if you are an innocent bystander. Thank you for updating,

You are correct, I just noticed the numbers in the Siege.

 

[Bullfilter]

Big catch up done. Last time I had tuned in was just before this happened:

But it mattered not. For, on the 17th of June, Basilissa Eupraxia had passed away from Slow Fever at the age of 53 years old.

The old Empress had died. Long live the new Empress Basilissa Eulalia!

Sad, but also something of a relief. Empress Eupraxia was a bit of a loose trebuchet! Let’s hope Eulalia can settle into her reign and calm things down, while keeping China and the Mongols off her back.

Then he made Princess Eupraxia her NEW Heir. She didn’t know how her son felt about this. And didn’t care.

Fair enough too: this is the Road of Queens, after all. The matriarchy rules.

The current civil war seems to be going all according to plan, pesky hordes notwithstanding.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Eight Hundred-Ninety-Six : Too Many Wars!

It was late March, of the year 935 AD, and Basilissa Eulalia “The Unfaithful” was becoming annoyed.

It wasn’t the Revolt against her Rule that was annoying her. It was all the other events that was happening at the same time.

For example, the Imperial forces were laying siege to Drakchi while the Host left. That wasn't annoying.​

And two Imperial Armies are on their way to siege another Rebel County. And these things were good. Not annoying.​

But all the Hosts were causing problems. For example, the Duolubu’s Host was fighting the forces of Magadhi. They were losing against the Doux true. But it was still annoying.

By April the Imperial forces arrived in the County of Lhoyu and started to siege the Rebel city.

In other words, even with all the distractions, the Imperial forces were still slowly crushing the Rebels. Like they always do.

“Why do people rebel against my Family anyway?” the Empress asked her Imperial Courtiers. “They ALWAYS end up being defeated and sent into the dungeons!”

Then there was news from Mongol Empire. Chief Theophilos of Artux had become the NEW Leader of the ‘Independence’ movement.

The Empress just shrugged at this news. “Stupid people do stupid things.”

Then there was bad news. The Host of Kuntuvdi was back and looting the County of Bome. Though there was reports that they didn’t have enough troops to lay siege to anything.

Then there was also news that one of the Rebel armies was engaged with an army of the Pala Kingdom. Seems one of their mayors tried to fight the Rebels. And was losing.

It also looked like the Rebels were about to receive reinforcements. Or were they retreating?

Then there was more news. Seems the old Doux of the Ghosha Raj had died from Slow Fever. So Vasudeva was now the new Doux. And the old Doux’s Non-Aggression with Toxias was now broken. Because he was, you know, dead.

The NEW Doux didn’t like the Empress at all and she realized this might cause her trouble in the future. In fact most of her Vassals, even those not in rebellion, didn’t like her.

Then there was some humorous news. A Host had gotten into a fight with an army of the Kham Revolt.

“HA!” exclaimed the Empress. “Good. Let the Host help Mew!”

By mid April there was good news. The City of Drakchi had fallen to Imperial forces. The besiegers had lost not a man. While all the defenders had been wiped out.

So they moved on to lay siege to the Castle. Which was already on fire.

In the County of Lhoyu the Imperial Army of Doux Lomapada continued to lay siege of the Castle of Lhoyu.

There was also more good news from the western part of the Empire.

The Host of Duolubu had been defeated and was on the run.

So we end this chapter with many victories. How many more are to come?

---------------------------------​

Author’s Notes:

OOC : So many sides killing each other. I fear the Empire might fall apart at this point!

 

[Surt]

Basilissa Eulalia the Annoyed, sounds better than her current nickname.

 

[Bullfilter]

OOC : So many sides killing each other. I fear the Empire might fall apart at this point!

Let's hope not! At least Maurya keeps on winning battles.

 

[roverS3]

I don't think it's that bad. The Imperial army remains plenty powerful enough to keep it together by force. Of course you might have to shelve any expansion plans until some semblance of stability has been restored.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Eight Hundred-Ninety-Seven : Daggers Everywhere

By late April, of the year 935 AD, the Empress is starting to feel annoyed. Very annoyed.

One of the armies of the Rebellion have left their territories and were attacking the County of Lhatse.

On the other hand the Empress was thinking about other gods. Seemed many within her Realm worshiped other gods and held other beliefs. She wondered if she should double down on such people. Or allow them their religious freedom?

It is unknown why she decided to accept religious freedom. What she embracing other ideas? Or was she just letting sleeping dogs lie? But in the end she developed Sympathy for Pagans.

In May she ordered the Imperial forces in Nyingchi to rush the defenders of the Castle.

The attackers lost twenty soldiers while wiping out the enemy. It was easy when you take into account the structure was on fire.

The Army moved to lay siege to the Temple Complex of Lamaling. Over four thousand soldiers against about five hundred Warrior Monks.

In the County of Lhayu the siege of the Rebel Castle continued. The troops there were not ordered to rush the walls. It wasn’t on fire and might put up a real fight.

There was interesting news from the Mongol Empire. Seems Chief Theophilos of Artux had disbanded the Independent Movement. Seems he had developed some intelligence and had decided to drop the issue.

But there was some bad news from within the Realm. Seems Ratnadevi of the House Mundid was plotting to kill Simonis of House Dysnomia.

“Tell her to stop!” declared the Empress. “Nobody kills members of my Dynasty but me! And maybe my daughters!”

That wasn’t the only trouble facing her. The Factions within the Empire were becoming more powerful. After the war she would have to deal with them all. One way or another.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Eight Hundred-Ninety-Eight : A Border War Too!

This chapter starts in mid June, in the year of 935 AD, with good news. The Imperial forces in the County of Nyingchi had taken Lamaling.

The Imperials had lost two hundred thirty nine soldiers while wiping out the garrison.

The forces moved on to lay siege to Lakang. The last Rebel holding in the county.

In the County of Lhoyu the Imperial forces were wearing down the defenders in the Castle of Lhoyu. They weren’t going to rush this. The defenders were professionals.

In July there was news that Lakang had fallen to the Imperials. They had lost zero men while killing all the defenders.

The County of Nyingchi now firmly under control of the Empire the Mauryan Army moved on to the next Rebel county.

In the middle of July the Imperial took the Castle of Lhoyu. They had lost fifty one soldiers while killing over five hundred defenders.

Then there was annoying news.

Seems Doux Lompada of Tiranhukti had started a war with the Kingdom of Ayudha over a border county. Funny enough there was a chance the Doux MIGHT win. Their armies were almost equal and Doux was better at the military arts.

“Eh…let the trouble makers kill each other,” remarked the Empress on hearing the news. "If the Doux is killed, well, one less trouble maker for me. And if the Doux wins he expands the Empire and weakens the Kingdom of Ayudha.”

 

[roverS3]

The optimist in me thinks that Doux Lompada will win and incorporate some Ayudha province into his territories and the empire. The pessimist thinks that this could end badly. It is somewhat funny to have your Doux have the same military power as the next-door kingdom.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Eight Hundred-Ninety-Nine : Peace?

This chapter opens in mid July, in the year of 935 AD. With the Empress receiving more bad news. Or, at least, not good news.

Seems Countess Chrysogone of Kathmandu was plotting to take her Liege’s Duchy. Not REALLY a good idea when you take into account Doux Dionysios the Third was a member of the Imperial Dynasty (as she was) AND kind of a bad ass when it came to combat. If she failed it would spark ANOTHER war.

“Only one cure for idiocy,” commented the Empress on hearing the news. “Tell her to stop.”

In the County of Lhoyu the Imperials were laying siege to the City of Anini. The City had a large number of defenders and Doux Lomapada had decided to take his time. No rushing the barriers and the well armed populace.

Having won one battle and taken many of the Rebel lands the Empress wondered about suggesting that the Revolt put down its weapons. Her people sent a suggestion to the Countess that it might be time to give in.

The Countess Simonis refused this offer for Peace. One, if she accepted a Peace Treaty she would end up in the Imperial dungeons and, two, she didn’t feel she was losing.

And she knew that, as she wasn’t a member of the Imperial Dynasty, her life span once in the dungeons might be very short.

So the Rebellion, and other wars, would continue.

 

[Bullfilter]

That wasn’t the only trouble facing her. The Factions within the Empire were becoming more powerful.

Yes, some of them are getting very powerful indeed. An actual civil war could be quite nasty.

“Eh…let the trouble makers kill each other,” remarked the Empress on hearing the news. "If the Doux is killed, well, one less trouble maker for me. And if the Doux wins he expands the Empire and weakens the Kingdom of Ayudha.”

Sound strategy. Usually.

The Countess Simonis refused this offer for Peace. One, if she accepted a Peace Treaty she would end up in the Imperial dungeons and, two, she didn’t feel she was losing.

And she knew that, as she wasn’t a member of the Imperial Dynasty, her life span once in the dungeons might be very short.

So she is swapping as very short life span for just a short one. It’s not going to end well for her, and now more of her people will die to delay the inevitable.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Nine Hundred : Factions & Opinions

This chapter opens in late July, of the year 935 AD, with the Empress turning her focus onto the Factions in the Empire and letting her Imperial Commanders run the war.

The Factions were way too powerful. The most dangerous of them was trying to Increase the Imperial Council Powers. It wasn’t the most powerful but it could be the most damaging if it got its way.

So first she sent Exarch Danujmadhava of the Pala Kingdom a gift. It didn’t really help much.

So the Basilissa asked for a Non-Aggression Pact between her and Exarch. Sadly, it was turned down.

One of the reasons so many Vassals were upset with the Empress was the fact that she held too many Duchies. So she decided to do something about that.

So she gave Princess Eupraxia the County of Puri, along with all the Lower Titles, which made the future Empress very happy.

Then the Empress gave the NEW Countess the Duchy of Varendra. Including the Lower Titles.

The problem is these actions seemed to do nothing to increase her Vassals’ opinion of her. How many Duchies did she have to give up before the idiots started to like her?

Then she received some interesting news. From the Rebellion. Seems the Countess was plotting to kill Vijaysen of the House Pala.

“So she plans to make more enemies while she is involved in a Rebellion?” asked the Empress with a confused look. “Well, I guess you could try to tell her to stop. I doubt she will listen to us.”

So we end this chapter, not with victories or battles, but bribes and titles.