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Having a stewardship of 1 and intrigue of 0, is not a valid reason to marry your daughter to someone with Great Pox.
IF she is worthless it kind of is. :D
 
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Seven Hundred-Thirty-Eight : Battle Of Tribandapura

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Fighting In The Forest!

This chapter opens in early February, of the year 919 AD, with the Basileus being told that the Army was about to catch up with the Host in the County of Tribandapura. They were looting again and not keeping an eye out for the Army.

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The Basileus as very pleased. Maybe the Army could crush the Host once and for all!

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Soon a rider arrived with the news of a battle having started! Of course the traditional exchange of welcome, in the form of arrows and throwing spears, was carried out first. The enemy’s right and center collapsed the the Cavalry were released to chase down some of the fleeing Raiders. Once again NOT The best tactic to carry out in the forest. Then the enemy’s left flank broke and all the Imperial Cavalry came out to play.

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Soon the enemy was retreating in mass. When the rider came with the news of “a kind of” victory there was much confusion. While it was known that the Imperial Army had lost 25 men and it was believed that the Host lost, around 361 men, there was no official records.

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The Basileus was pretty upset about and then told the Imperial Army to return to the borders of the Empire.

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The battle hadn’t even been recorded in the official history of his Dynasty. He was confused. But figured it MUST have been a victory. Right?

So we end this chapter with a somewhat confused Emperor and a MAYBE victory?!?!?!
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Author’s Notes:

OOC : Not sure what happened. I may have forgotten to take a picture but the battle was even recorded yet in the book!
 
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Maybe it's related to that bug in HOI3 which sometimes doesn't give you a battle report when one of the sides loses all organisation?

If 361 of 693 were killed, the rest may have deserted, especially as they keep losing against an army close to 2.000 strong. At some point the raiding just isn't that much fun anymore if the price is a 50/50 chance of getting cut down by Imperial Mauryan cavalry in some far-away forest within the next week.
 
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Had some catching up to do, but am back up to speed again. I think Niphon is going to live to 120!
 
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Maybe a hole in the ground opened up and swallowed them?
 
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Seven Hundred-Thirty-Nine : So Much Politics

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So Many Plots

This chapter opens in early April, of the year 919 AD, with the Doux of the Gupta Raj taking a City away from one of the vassals of Guge.

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No doubt Count Vigrahapala was angered by this but could do little about.

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Then another Non-Aggression Pact was canceled. This time between the Doux of Lhasa and the Doux of the Gupta Raj.

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In late April there was some good news. Orestes Dysnomia and his wife had given birth to a baby girl they had named Antipatra. A name came from the Greek name “Antipatros” which meant “like the father”. Let us hope this girl lived.

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As was the tradition the parents asked the Basileus to pick the girl’s future education. It was decided she would study the Greek Culture and the True Faith.

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Then the Basileus was given some horrible news. Seems the Doux of the Bhar Raj was plotting to take the Kingdom of Bhar.

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“Tell him to stop,” demanded the Emperor. “No, I will not arrest him. His wife, my granddaughter the Duchess Euphernia, will be upset if I did that. But things will happen which he will not like if he does not stop.”

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Then the Basileus was told that, his grandson, the Doux Basileios of Kasi, had already been warned to STOP backing the plot.

“Why can’t my grandchildren behave?” he asked his staff. They had no answer for him.

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In May he was sent a request by the Society. They needed funds to maintain certain charitable functions.

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Of course the Basileus was more then happy to give the Society the money they asked for. And they were very happy to have received the coins.

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Near the end of May the Imperial Army arrived just north of the County of Doti and was brought to a halt. The Courtiers and Servants could only assume that the Emperor had plans for Doti. Maybe he planned war with Guge after all?
 
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Grandchildren ... so ungrateful.
 
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When he finally shuffles off, Niphon’s epitaph will be “Tell him to stop”! :D
 
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Seven Hundred-Forty : War With Guge

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And More Marching

This chapter opens in late May, in the year 919 AD, with the Imperial Army stationed just north of the County of Doti. A County that one of the Imperial Douxs felt belonged to them.

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At the moment it was part of Guge which was a Realm ruled by the young 10 year old Khan Asalup II of the House Kipchaki. A boy whose nation was already rocked by a massive Revolt. Which meant the small military was already engaged in the northern holdings of Guge fighting Rebels.

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The Empire, on the other hand, had more than enough soldiers and coins to fight a war with the young Khan. And planned to do so.

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And so the Basileus declared war on Guge. A war to claim Doti for the Doux of the Kumanchal Raj.

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So the 2,000 Chinese Honor Guard and the Imperial Levies were called forth to assemble even while the Imperial Retinue marched on Doti. (1)

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By June the Siege of the Castle of Dullu had started. The defenders only numbered 849 but the Commanders were told NOT to rush. The Empire did not wish to waste men only one County. Four other Imperial Armies, of different sizes, were on their way to join in the war.

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In late June Ram Rai, of the Kamarupanagaran Band, asked for more troops for the mercenary band. If he had asked during peace time the Basileus might have agreed to this request. But to ask during a war when every soldier was needed on the front - the Basileus had to turn the request down much to the man’s disappointment.

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In late July the Exarchessa Eupraxia unveiled a statue of the Emperor. The crowd assembled to see the monument seemed pleased and even gave a round of applause upon seeing it. The Basileus was very pleased with his eldest daughter. Even if she was an adulteress.

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It was noticed that Saua Wenshunu’s Host was passing north of Doti. Roughly 378 men left. It was unknown where they were going but they seemed to be a peaceful mood. Or at least they were no longer looting Imperial Holdings.

And so we close this chapter with a new statue, a Siege, and a Host that has decided to behave.
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Author’s Notes:

When the Imperial Levies were called forth, on the 26th of May, they had 1,352 Light Infantry, 1,604 Heavy Infantry, 234 Pikemen, 586 Light Cavalry, 58 Heavy Cavalry, 426 Archers, and 55 Special Units. This did not count the Chinese Honor Guard or the troops in the Retinue. The Retinue had 250 Pikemen, 595 Archers, 150 Heavy Infantry, 400 Light Cavalry, 400 Heavy Cavalry, and 200 Special Units.
 
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Yes! Once more onto the warpath, even if it is for only one province. I do feel like calling up all the levies is overkill, but I guess you can never have enough forces for a war. I'm disappointed the statue of Niphon wasn't flanked by an equal-sized statue of Arminestra, but I'm sure Niphon didn't mind that much.
 
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I almost never get the positive result of the statue event.
 
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Seven Hundred-Forty-One : Guge Makes A Move

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The Game Is Afoot

This chapter opens in early August, in the year 919 AD, with the Armies of the Empire slowly heading westwards. Their target, was of course, to either join in the siege or invade the Holdings of Guge.

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And the Accountants reported that, even with the costs of the war, the Empire was still making about 33 gold coins of wealth per month.

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In late August the Basileus went to the local market to get a gift for Gerasimos Dysnomia, who was his ward, and told the boy to stay at home. But the boy followed the Basileus anyway and the Emperor punished him by lecturing him for over an hour.

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The boy wasn’t happy with this punishment. He now slightly disliked his Educator.

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Around the same time the news of the Non-Aggression Pact between the Doux of the Pala Duchy and Doux of the Gupta Raj had “dissolved” because of a lack of marriage ties become known to the Emperor.

“Because somebody DIED,” stated the Basileus with a sigh. “Keep the reports simple. And get them to me faster.”

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And, for some reason, Orestes Dysnomia was now known as “The Sleepy”.

The Basileus was confused by this. “Is this because he is lazy?”

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By September the Army of Doux Kallistos was approaching the County of Doti. His troops would be joining the siege. But even the best laid plans of mice go astray.

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An army from Guge had crossed the border to lay siege to the Holdings of Gyesar. One of the Imperial Armies, under command of Doux Bhogishwar, was directed north to deal with the invaders.

So we close this chapter with the enemy striking back. Would they be stopped in time or would the Imperial Holdings start to fall to the enemy?
 
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Seven Hundred-Forty-Two : The First Victory

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Sieges!

This chapter opens in late October, in the yea 919 AD, with the Basileus sending a nice letter to Duke Jau Wenshunu asking if he needed any help in running his Realm?

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So the Emperor sent the Duke a thick letter full of helpful hints on how to deal with revolts, stupid family members, murderous vassals, and flat beer.

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It was also noticed that the Guge Army within Imperial territory might be receiving reinforcements. So the Army in Doti, which had just received its own reinforcements, now split to send reinforcements to those who had been sent to deal with the enemy. The Imperial Commanders wanted the numbers to be on their side.

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Near the end of October the Basileus received a reply from the Duke. He did want to learn more from the Emperor.

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But while their bromance grew the Basileus was given some bad news in December. Seems a traitor was working among the defenders in Gyesar. It had eroded their morale and it meant there was less time to save them than everybody had thought. The Basileus wondered who the traitor could be? Hmmmmm…..

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Then the Basileus was told that the Khan Eljigedei “The Unready” of Uriankhai, maybe the most foolish man inside the Mongol Empire, started the “Overthrow Khan” movement.

“I assume this report is some kind of joke?” remarked the Emperor after reading the scroll.

But according to all the evidence the news was totally true.

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Then the Basileus was told that a Lowborn named Polyarpos was trying to reject Cruelty. Which was nice but interested the Emperor not at all.

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What did matter to the Emperor was that the reinforcements had finally joined the waiting Army south of the enemy in late December and was not heading north to engage them.

As the Basileus waited for a report on the opening moves of the battle he worried about where those enemy reinforcements had disappeared to.

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Then there was a report of a Uprising in the Mongol Empire. Well, a failed one. Seems the Empire to the north was becoming more and more unstable. Looks like there was Religious unrest among the people of the Steppes.

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The next year came and a rider came with news of the Battle of Gyesar. Not only did the Imperial soldiers outnumber the Guge but they had arrived in time to stop the siege before the enemy could take the Castle. And they were loosing so many arrows and missiles onto the enemy's ranks it was almost like it was raining death onto them.

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Then news came from the County of Doti. The Castle Dullu had fallen to the Imperials. The Empire had lost 133 men while the defenders had lost 849 of their own.

So we end this chapter with one victory, the start of a battle, the lifting of a siege, and a very happy Emperor.
 
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Remarkably little plotting
 
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Seven Hundred-Forty-Three : Plots…

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…And Warfare

This chapter opens in January, of the year 920 AD, with the Imperial Army in Doti moving onto the City of Dailekh where it surrounded it, blocked the roads, and settled down for a long siege.

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There was only TWO Commanders due to much of the troops going north. Which split the Army into two groups not three. But this did not handicap the Army when it came to sieges. Battles might be a problem but sieges were not.

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Back at the Battle of Gyesar the flanks of both armies had slammed into each other while the centers still let loose on each other with arrows and missiles. Then the enemy’s right flank crumbled. Then the enemy’s left flank collapsed and all that was left was the center of the enemy army.

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Soon the whole Guge force was falling apart. As the Basileus waited for the next battle report he received some news of a murder plot within the Empire.

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Seems Doux Einarr of Qamdo was planningb to kill a rival of his. A 12 year old boy called Herakleios Dionysiosson of the House Narbiotes.

“The Doux of Qamdo plans to kill his rival,” remarked the Emperor with a roll of his eyes. “His 12 year old rival. My Vassals are not just stupid. They are jerks. Tell this in-law of mine that the boy is related to me by blood. So NO.”

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Back at the Battle of Gyesar, with the coming of February, the enemy’s right flank had fled and the Imperial Cavalry was sent into the confused mob. Then the Guge’s left flank melted away completely and the center was all that was left.

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News of victory soon came to the Capital. The Imperial Army had lost 574 soldiers while the Guge forces had lost 874 soldiers. Not a MAJOR victory but still a victory.

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OF course the Commanders decided to give chase and followed the retreating mob back into their own territory. Funny enough the retreating enemy army was leading the Imperial Army right in the direction of another, smaller, Guge army.

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As the Basileus celebrated the victory with some local beer and deep fried fish he received some interesting news out of the County of Srihatta (which is NOT a type of hot sauce). Seems the young Doux Dionysios III of Kathmandu had built a Temple in the County and, therefore, held a Title he should not have. He needed to give somebody else the Vihara of Egarosindur.

“Not my problem,” said the Basileus has he went back to enjoying his food.

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Soon there was news of another murderous plot. Seems the Countess Gandharavati of Mudgagiri of the House Mana wanted to kill the Prince of Nepal.

“Tell her no,” stated the Basileus with a frown. “He kind of likes me and is a PRINCE of my only loyal King. Why all this hate those kids?!?!”

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The Basileus had mixed feelings about the plotting within the Empire. It seems his Spymaster was uncovering them fast enough to expose them before they triggered and this allowed the Spymaster to stop them. Most of the time. This meant there were only three plots still functioning by the end of February.

Either way the victory against Guge had cheered the Basileus up and, therefore, we close this chapter on a happy Emperor.
 
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Paradox Math 2 - 1 = 2
That -1 was likely just a wounded elephant and it recovered or just failed to die. The final Casualties are those killed. So wounded don't count. They just don't tell you the difference between killed or wounded.
 
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