Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Nine Hundred-Twenty-One : Interesting Times

This chapter opens in mid June, of the year 936 AD, with the Empress's husband whining too much about the military.

Seems her husband wasn't fit to be a real soldier. He didn't mind commanding troops on the battlefield. But he wasn’t happy about spending so much time marching about the dirty roads, drilling in the hot sun in full gear, sleeping in small tents with other smelly soldiers, and eating cold rations in the rain. He was a good warrior, skilled with the sword, but he just didn't the rough life that came with warfare.

She decided he complained too much. Maybe when he died she could ask the Empress of China for a new husband?

As the Empress walked about the Throne Room she noticed that the artists were working on the Wall Map.

“What you up to?” she said as she appeared behind them. Scaring them and causing many of them to drop their tiny tools and gems.

“We’re trying to figure out the cultures of Europe and Africa,” pointed out one of the artists. “It seems that Africa is more Arabs, Greeks, and even Aztecs then Africans. Africans are a minority in Africa.”

“How interesting….” said the Empress. “And Europe?”

“Parts if Europe have the same issue,” replied the same artist. “Lots of Aztec and not a lot of Europeans. Cultures are being pushed around or even crushed.”

“The world is a interesting place,” commented the Empress. Trying to sound smart and failing.

The artists bowed as she left the Throne Room and went back to work. They kind of liked it when she slowed them down. They could charge her for overtime.

 

[Midnite Duke]

I do not envy the clerk who presents a bill to the Basilla with overtime. Thanks for updating

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Nine Hundred-Twenty-Two : A New Ward

This chapter opened in mid June, of the year 936 AD, with Basilissa Eulalia returning her attention back to the list of Factions within her Empire.

The most dangerous of Faction, if it started a war, could call forth over ten thousand soldiers.

This was worrying. The Leader of the movement was Exarch Danujmadhava of the Pala.

The Empress tried to form a Non-Aggressive Pact with the man but he turned it down.

But the fool seemed willing to allow the Empress to become the Guardian of his daughter. So his Heir would soon be under her control!

Then there was some good news from the Doux of Nadia. Seems he had captured Ram Rai Kipchaki. The son of the Ruler of Punjab. This was the Doux’s chance to end the war in his favor.

By late June the Princess Bhogavati of the Pala Kingdom had officially become the Empress’s Ward.

Now the Empress just have to shape the child. And the father could not declare war on the Empress! Which was good.

So first she gave the girl a gift. Then she asked the father’s permission to change her education to Heritage.

He agreed. And the Empress snickered to herself. Now the little girl would learn about Buddhism and Greek Culture. Which was better!

“I still have to deal with the Factions,” murmured the Empress to herself. “I keep getting sidetracked.”

 

[Midnite Duke]

Did she pull the fangs from one faction serpent? We will have a South Asian toddler speaking Greek instead of Bengali. Thank you

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Nine Hundred-Twenty-Three : The End Of A War

This chapters opens early July, of the year 936 AD, with two pieces of good news.

One of the pieces of news was that the Keep in Kamarupanagara had been built.

The other piece of news was that the Doux of Nadia had forced the Great King of Tugor of Punjab to finally sign a Peace Treaty. He won his war.

Because he had captured the Great King’s son. Who was released after the war was off, of course.

Which meant the Doux now had the County of Qangtang. And this meant that the Duchy of Sumparu could be formed as the counties that made it up were now part of the Empire.

“And no doubt the Doux will create the Duchy for himself,” murmured the Empress. “So I better take it.” So the Empress formed the Duchy of Sumparu.

But the Empress didn’t plan to keep it. The Doux of Nadia was becoming too powerful and didn’t like the Empress. So the Empress wanted to block his growth.

So she decided to bring the new Countess…er.. Thakurani Jodhabai of Qangtang to her side. The Empress needed to work on the woman’s opinion of her.

So first she gave the woman a purse of gold coins. Then handed her the Title of the Duchy.

It worked slightly. But she wanted the Duchess to be more loyal and, to be honest, more powerful to counteract the Doux of Nadia.

So the Empress granted the Duchess the Viceroyalty of the Kingdom of Bengal.

Which made the woman very powerful and very loyal. And now the Duchy of Nadia was under HER authority.

“HAHA!” stated the Empress after the paperwork was stamped, signed, copied, and filed. She doubted the Doux of Nadia was pleased. In fact he disliked both the Empress and his new Liege.

And so we end this chapter with a Peace Treaty and a NEW powerful Noblewoman.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Doux of Nadia hates bossy chicks. Vassals want you to own no more than two duchies and two kingdoms. Thank you

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Nine Hundred-Twenty-Four : A New Buddhist

This chapter opens in early July, of the year 936 AD, with the Empress looking over notes about the Doux Rajyapala of Nadia and the NEW Exarchessa Jodhabai of the Patola Sahi Kingdom.

The Exarchessa already was the man’s equal in her military forces. Which hopefully would keep the man in check.

But the Empress noticed the woman was of the Hindu Religion. And that needed to be changed. Couldn’t have the Exarchessa converting her vassals and people into the wrong faith!

So she asked the new Vassal to turn to Buddhism. All signs suggested she would.

A few weeks later the Empress received a polite reply in which the Exarchessa agreed. The Empress was pleased.

So now one of the most powerful Vassals of the Empress was a Buddhist AND had a very high opinion of her Liege. Of course the symbol of the Kingdom changed once the woman became a Buddhist.

She wasn’t sure HOW it happened but the list of movements within the Empire had gotten shorter. There was some debate that maybe some of the Leaders were under the new Exarchessa and, therefore, were no longer directly under the Empress. But it was mostly guessing.

Only the lawyers knew what had really happened. And they refused to give up any information without a few silver coins being placed in their palms.

Sadly the Known Plots hadn’t changed. Damn them! And Doux Lomapada was the most annoying of them all as he was plotting against the Empress herself.

And he refused to stop plotting!

So we close this chapter as the Empress, now in a bad mood, pondered what to do with the Doux Lomapada.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Call in the Loopa Loopas! Thanks for updating

 

[roverS3]

Those factions really are proving quite the challenge. Looks like it will take quite some effort still to make them go away.

 

[Eurasia]

Those factions really are proving quite the challenge. Looks like it will take quite some effort still to make them go away.

Well, it is simple. Just get the Leader of the Faction to like you and they will disband. Problem is getting them to like you. Some Leaders start a Faction and already like you. Sometimes it's just business and has nothing to do with their opinion of you. It can get annoying.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Nine Hundred-Twenty-Five : Keeping Track Of The Trouble Makers

This chapter opens in late July, of the year 936 AD, with the Empress glaring at the file on Doux Lomapada of Tirabhukti.

The only part of the report that amused her was that the idiot was in debt. Maybe because of the war he was in? Outside of that the trouble maker really upset her.

He refused to stop plotting against HER. Even knowing that any conflict with her would likely end with him in the dungeons.

So she decided to punish him. He had many titles and two daughters. So she demanded he adopt Gavelkind Succession. Which would split his lands and titles between the two girls. And if he had more kids before he died all the better!

The Imperial Courtiers warned that owing too many favors might backfire on her but she just made them stand in the corner. A tradition passed down for generations. Visitors to the Castle/Palace were always asking to see the corner and posed for artists to draw their image as they stood in it.

And yes, when the Doux responded he agreed to adopting Gavelkind Succession BUT only if the Empress owed him a favor. She agreed.

Then there was news from the Mongol Empire in early August.

The Raiders in Artux had totally destroyed a Keep in the County.

Around the same time the war between the Mongol Empire and Khazaria had some to an end. It looked like the Great Khan had captured a few members of the Tuzniqid family and had forced a Peace Treaty.

How damaging this was to the Khagan Cat ‘The Tormentor’ was unknown and it did worry the Empress. She liked when the Mongol Empire's military might was focused on Europe and the Christians.

What if it turned its attention onto India?

So we close this chapter with the Empress staring at the Wall Map and noticing just how big the Mongol Empire was.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Can the favor be you converting to Gavelkind or worse Elective Succession? Why does the AI like Gavelkind so much? Thank you

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Nine Hundred-Twenty-Six : Worthless Conflicts

This chapter opens in mid August, of the year 936 AD, with the Empress looking over the war rocked her Realm.

Tishofan of Kham was still fighting, and losing, his war against Exarch Mew ‘The Whisper’.

And there was Doux Lomapada attacking the Kingdom of Ayudha. Which likely was the reason the idiot was in debt.

“And maybe he will die in battle while leading his troops,” said the Empress in trying to cheer herself up.

“Ahem,” was the sound of one of the Courtiers stepping forward and clearing her throat. “No, he is in the Capital. He is Commander the center of your Retinue.”

“WHAT!” the Empress exclaimed.

“Well, he is one of your better Imperial Commanders,” explained the Courtier.

“Replace him with the Doux of Jharkand. Oh, and put the Count of Mustang in that empty slot.”

And so Doux Lomapada was sent back home. Where he decided to stay in his Capital and not take direct part in his own conflict.

“Darn it!” exclaimed the Empress.

In other words as the war between him and the Kingdom of Ayudha raged on he was nowhere near it.

Then there was the war happening on the southern border. Doux Bhogishwar had BARELY started his war with the Kingdom of Satyavarman.

“Why are all my Vassals in so many wars?” the Empress asked her Court. But nobody had an answer. Or maybe they had an answer but didn’t want to upset her with it.

So we close this chapter with the Empress drowning her unhappiness with her Vassals in rice pudding. Mostly because none of them were getting killed in combat.

 

[Midnite Duke]

That is a beautiful dish, though I am not sure that I would want to eat it. Thank you for allowing us to commiserate with the Empress.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Nine Hundred-Twenty-Seven : A Small Meeting

This time the meeting room had some cookies in the middle of the round table. Spicy Masala Cookies right out of the ovens of the kitchen.

Too bad for those Council members who could come there was no milk or fruit juice to help cool off their tongues after tasting the cookies.

Seems some joker in the kitchen had over spiced the cookies.

The Protostrator, the Doux of Kathmanda, the Sakellarios, Orestes “The Sleepy”, and the Mystikos, Exarch Mew “The Whisper” were the only members who could attend.

The Magistros was in Kalinganagar trying to claim…well, any part of the Realm for the Empress.

And the Upadhyaya was in Samatata trying to convert the people, and the local Nobles, to Buddhism.

“I want us to move south and west,” explained the Empress. “But we have so many wars going on. How can I go to war knowing my Vassals might cause trouble right when most of my soldiers are occupied else where?”

The three Councilors just looked embarrassed and tried to cool down their mouths with fanning hands. After all, some of the Councilors were trouble makers themselves.

“Well, at least tell me my tax income Is stable,” said the Empress.

“You don’t have to worry about that, oh Great Empress,” remarked the Sakellarios. He was the only one who felt comfortable enough to speak up as he was the only one of the Councilors in the room who had not caused any trouble. Lately. “The Revolts and Wars are at the edge of our territory. Which means most of the Silk Road is untouched and reaches most of your Trading Posts before heading out beyond our borders.”

“That’s good to hear,” stated the Empress. “Well, this meeting is over. Once we get a claim, or a chance, we’ll likely go to war with a neighbor. Get out. And stop eating the cookies if you can’t handle the heat!!!”

 

[Midnite Duke]

Less cookies for councilors, more for Empress. Mouth-watering cookies, thank you.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Nine Hundred-Twenty-Eight : Annoying Siblings

This chapter opened in mid August, of the year 936 AD, with not much happening. Outside of the wars, of course. But as the Empress wasn’t involved in them she didn’t really care.

Sooner or later the conflicts would come to an end and she could then continue with spreading the borders of the Empire outwards.

She did receive some news from outside the Empire. Seems the Mongol Empire had decided to start releasing some of the prisoners they had captured from the last war.

For example, Gunes of Kundac’s Khazar Band had been released.

In September she also was told that the Great King Theophylaktos “The Chaste” of Lanka had abandoned a plot to claim the Raj of Sinhala.

“Why would he abandon a plot? Did somebody complain?” remarked the Empress as she read the report. “He is a Great King or Duke or whatever. Why would he care what other people thought of his plots?”

At this point the Empress decided to check out what her siblings were up to. Just to make sure they were not up to anything. In other words not plotting against her.

The first, and oldest, was Princess Pulcheria of Maurya who, sadly, had claims on many of the Empress’s titles. This did make her somewhat of a problem.

While she was suffering from Cancer she was being treated for it. By somebody who knew what they were doing. So dying from Cancer was unlikely.

On the other hand she had no military forces and a small Treasury. So it was also unlikely she would try to take the Empire from her sister.

The next sister was dead. She had died from Cancer 903 AD. Over 33 years ago. So she wasn’t a threat. Unless she became a zombie…..

Then there was Prince Niphon of Maurya. He also had claims to his sister’s titles but had no troops and little in the way of coinage. He would need a lot of support to take the Empire and there was no guarantee his supporters would not turn on him after victory.

Then there was Princess Eudolia of Maurya. And like her other siblings she had claims but no way to take them. She had no soldiers and little money. She didn’t even have any lands of her own.

Then there was Princess Demetra “The Unfaithful”. Who had claims but, like the rest, had no soldiers, little in the way of coins, and no lands to her name.

Then there was Rajkumari Pelagia of Maurya who was the wife of the Great King of Satyavarman. Which meant her offspring may inherit her claims and with the power from their father may try to claim the claims. But that was a long way off and might not happen at all.

“Don’t try to cross a bridge that hasn’t been made yet,” murmured the Empress to herself as she put the report to one side and reached for the next one.

This report was on Princess Agathe of Maurya. Like the others she had claims on many titles of the Empire but no soldiers and not a lot of coins.

Overall most of her siblings hated her and wanted her titles. But could do little about it without support from other Nobles. And even then it was unlikely they would win. Or even survive. And if they did win their own allies might turn on them.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Spreading the love seems to be a family tradition. The Empress has two sisters who have 'bastard daughterss'; a deceased bastard brother and her own bastards. Keep up the great reporting, O great chronicler.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Nine Hundred-Twenty-Nine : Annoying Children

This chapter opens in early September, of the year 936 AD, with the Empress being told she had forgotten one of her brothers.

The boy had died from the Flu at the age of 6 years of age.

“Oh….who cares,” remarked the Empress. “Bring me a list of my ungrateful children.”

At the top of the list of her offspring was Doux Ioannikios of Tosali. The only Vassal of her’s that wasn’t a trouble maker. The smelly spineless no good son.

“If he had any balls he would be causing me so much trouble,” pointed out the Empress. “This is why men make bad Emperors!”

Then there was Polykarpos of Laksmanavati who had died from the flu.

“So what?” said the Empress. “He had been a weak bastard!”

Then there was Princess Ioustina of Maurya. Who had a arranged marriage to a 32 year old man while all records suggested she preferred female company. No problems there.

Then there was the departed Romanos Dysnomia. Who had died at the Slow Fever at the age of 5.

Lastly there was Princess Pelagia of Maurya. Who, just being 5 years old, had a very thin file.

The Courtiers pointed out the Empress had not bothered to read the file on Princess Eupraxia of Maurya. Who was the most important offspring as the girl was her Heir.

“So? I keep track of her all the time,” replied the Empress. “I am her Guardian after all!”

 

[Midnite Duke]

The Empress is in a great mood. Did she not get any presents for mother's day? Did her mother of the year award get lost in virtual mail? Thank you, my lord for meeting with the Empress. Better you than me.