True Sons of Ali

[Reykvolc]

True Sons of Ali (867):

Here I am! Hasan Alavid! I am a Sayyid, a descendant of Ali! Ruler of Tabaristan! I am Zealous, Paranoid, Proud, and Craven. I have a 17-year-old unmarried daughter, Maryam. My brother Mohammad is heir. He is decidedly more martial in spirit and more competent in general.

Tabaristan was not conquered by the Abbasids until about 760. Islamification didn’t really start until the Tahirids brought more direct rule in 840. In 864 rebels called me in to rule them. My early reign proved tumultuous, being forced to flee an Abbasid invasion in 869 and a Saffarid invasion in 874. In real life the Saminids conquered us in 900, then again in 914. Zaydi Shia beliefs would remain a force in the region for the next 600 years however.

Here's the neighborhood! Georgia, Armenia, and the Byzantine Empire are Christians. Karen is Zoroastrian and has 5k event troops. The county of Gilan is ruled by the Zoroastrian Justanids who also have 5k event troops. Pretty much everyone else in the area is Sunni Islam other than the Fatimids of Damascus and the Hamdanids of Mosul who are both Shia vassals of the Abbasids. The current Abbasid Caliph is Al-Mu’tazz, who is 20 and not very competent. He inherited after his brother conveniently died, who had in turn had his father killed. They can raise 7k men. The Tahirids can raise over 3k men but are defending against a Saffarid invasion. The Saffarids can raise over 4k men. The Saminids can raise about 7k men. The Dulafids and Yazidids can raise about 2k men. Making them only slightly stronger than the weakest guys in the neighborhood. That’s right! Us! We can raise a whopping 1593 men! Its not so much a question of *if* we will be invaded as *who* and *how many*.

So this will be a role-playing game of my characters. Similar to “In the Land of Prester John”: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/in-the-land-of-prester-john.1616334/. Or “To Be The Sultan of Delhi”: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/to-be-the-sultan-of-delhi.1697828/. I will follow the realm, if the ruling dynasty loses power, will switch to the new rulers. If we get conquered (quite possible!), will play as a vassal if possible. I generated a bunch of courtier couples which will provide the fodder for future vassal dynasties and characters.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

We can raise a whopping 1593 men! Its not so much a question of *if* we will be invaded as *who* and *how many*.

You're outnumbered and surrounded on all sides, hopefully they pick each other apart and you can defeat them while they're weak.

 

[Reykvolc]

January 867-June 875:
I chose a Hunting focus. I chose the ambition to Groom an Heir. As I am too proud to marry a courtier, its time to look abroad. The marriage pool of Shia noblewomen turns out to be 1 person deep. Specifically a 13-year-old Shahrbano bint Hussayn Fatimid. Guess that means Muhammad gets to marry a peasant debutante! Maryam is betrothed to the oldest Hamdanid son.

I hire a Nestorian missionary named Danush as Court Physician. 27 days into the game, the Abbasids declare a holy war for Gilan on me. I borrow money from the Jews so I can buy Turkic mercenaries. I put my brother in command of the combined army. Justanid Gilan decides to invade the Yazids instead of me thankfully. In April I attempt to intervene in an argument between a vassal and his wife. He is not appreciative.

In August we fight the Abbasids at Khunaj and lose. Due to regrettable troop movements we ended up locked into launching an attack across a river into mountains against them. In September the Qizilbash order joins us. In February 868 I marry Shahrbano. In March we fight the Abbasids at Wasamkuh. We win! However, I somehow ended up commanding the army and lost a hand in the process. I make sure to forbid myself from commanding armies. My brother Mohammed is apparently more comfortable on the battlefield as shortly after he gains the nickname ‘the Jolly’.

In May I struggle against my tendency toward shyness and become Stressed. We unsiege land the Abbasids occupied then march on border areas. They are facing an independence revolt in the Holy Land. In October the stump of my hand becomes infected. In April 869 I have my court mullah persuade the clergy how spiritual I am! In August my brother becomes Decedent. In November I hear rumors people are plotting to kill my wife. And by “hear rumors” I mean “delusions of a paranoid mind.”

In January 870 my father-in-law Hussayn Fatimid launches a war for the Caliphate. In the process turning my defensive war into part of a great war for the soul of Islam between the descendants of Ali and the Abbasids.

I start studying Islamic law in detail. I also tell my brother he needs to straighten up his ways. He refuses. So I invoke Takfir against him and put him under house arrest. In April the Hamdanids call me to arms against the Yazidids. Its likely a while before I can spare them help. Or that is what I think before the Yazidids try the charge across a river up a mountain trick against me. I win.

In November I learn my wife is pregnant. Naturally I have paranoid thoughts it isn’t mine. The maids I hire find nothing. Probably because there is nothing to find. In January 871 my infection finally clears.

My wife takes advantage of her pregnancy to start making connections at court. In April 871 the Hamdanids suffer a crushing defeat against the Yazidids. In June my son Zayd is born. He is a Short Sickly Hunchback. Despite my court physician’s efforts, he dies in November. My wife is pregnant again in February 872. The Hamdanids are defeated again. The Abbasids get bored of back and forth sieging and march off, presumably against the Fatimids. My son Aram is born in September. He is Left-Handed, but otherwise normal. I ‘hear rumors’ people are plotting to kill my daughter Maryam.

The Hamdanids give up after a 3rd defeat. The Caliph dies of an infected wound in January 873. His 3-year-old son Fadil inherits.

In April my wife gives me a puppy as a gift. I name him Hunter. We march south and siege Baghdad, which falls in June though the Abbasid court successfully escapes. An Abbasid Zoroastrian revolt starts near Mosul. In October I become Shy. In December Maryam dies of Rabies. In cherrier news I defeat an Abbasid uncle at Zurbayiyah south of Baghdad. In June 874 I (i.e. my commanders) defeat another Abbasid uncle at Suq Ash and lay siege to Basra.

In July I become a Fiqah. In September my wife is pregnant again. As usual, no evidence of her being unfaithful is discovered. The Hamdanids have become Sunni, been released by the Abbasids as tributary Sultans, and now join the war. Worse, the Abbasids hire thousands of mercenaries. In April 873 my daughter Saaman is born! The Fatimids agree to a white peace. So I settle with the Abbasids. As I occupy Tabriz and they occupy nothing, I have the upper hand in negotiations. They agree to over a thousand gold in reparations. I am traumatized from the war however. I am unable to get close to anyone. Including my wife. No more kids can be expected.

The Abbasids have largely lost land. Tahirids and Saffarids have been fighting since game start, but the Saffarids look likely to come on top. The Saminids are winning a holy war against Karen for Khorasan which Karen conquered in 869 from the Tahirids. They have also conquered Herat and the Shahi lands.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

The Caliph dies of an infected wound in January 873. His 3-year-old son Fadil inherits.

That should destabilise the Caliphate, which is good for you!

 

[Chac1]

Good to see your latest @Reykvolc . I will ride along to see what happens as long as I can keep up with your posting pace. Good luck in this challenging terrain.

 

[Reykvolc]

June 875-January 887:

I inherit the barony of Hashtgerd. In November I have to deal with a woman with the delusion she should be my marshal. A woman? Commanding soldiers? In January 876 I ‘hear rumors’ people are trying to kill me. In February my steward collects a special tithe. In May my father-in-law calls me to arms to fight against Tripoli (the Lebanon one, not the Libya one). But just as I start marching my armies out, the al-Sharabi declare a holy war for Gilan.

The Saffarids in December conquer the Tahirids, though they keep most of their lands as vassals. In September 877 my son gets a mild case of dysentery. In November, we defeat the al-Sharabi and the Fatimids win their war.

In March 878 I ask my wife to help me with a baron (he’s an unusually stupid 7-year). I become Content. I learn there actually is someone plotting my death. Future generations would send her to a psychiatrist. I behead her. In April my spymaster steals technology. In May the al-Sharabi agree to a white peace after the Fatimids defeat them again.

I decide to go into hiding to protect myself from future plots. My court mullah becomes regent. In April 879 I lose Stressed. I decide on a Faith focus for my son Aram. The Saffarids face a major Yazidi revolt. The Fatimids call us in against Galilee. In February 880 our combined armies defeat an Orthodox uprising. In May I become Depressed in hiding.

In July we defeat Galilee. We steal more technology. My dog is wildly popular at court (+10 to courtier opinion!). In November my court mullah/regent botches conversion efforts. The Safarids crush the Yazidi. In February 881 Galilee surrenders after another defeat. My steward collects a special tithe. My wife decides on a Duty focus for our daughter Saaman. In June I stop being depressed. I ‘hear’ rumors people are plotting to kill me.

In September the Dulafids declare war on me for my portion of Jibal. The Qizilbash join me. In January 882 we win a crushing victory at Hashtgerd. In February my wife dies. I decide on a Theology focus. In August the Miaphysites found the Order of St Anthony. In September we defeat the Dulafids again. In February 883 they surrender. In less positive news, in March the Abbasids conquer Zoroastrian Gilan. In September I inherit the county of Zanjan-Abhar. I give the temple there to my regent. He then gets killed in January 884 spreading Islam. The Hamdanids flipped back to Shia beliefs, so I betroth my son to his oldest sister.

My marshal becomes my new regent. But in August, one of my vassals claims the regency. My pet dog Hunter dies…I decide on a learning education for Aram. In February 886, I face a faction to reduce council authority. I refuse. They are the Nestorian ruler of Daylam and the Zoroastrian ruler of Tabaristan. In May I befriend one of my mullahs, named Khurshid. We hire Bedouin mercenaries. The Abbasids declare war on Karen for Gurgan. They seem intent on encircling us. We fight 3 battles with the rebels and win 2.

I gain the nickname ‘the Old’. I celebrate this by dying on January 1, 887 at the age of 57 of natural causes. I have reigned for 23 years. My epitaph is “Guilty of the sin of Pride, he wanted everyone to know of his greatness. A wicked man, Hasan will surely pay for his sins in the afterlife”. My 14-year-old son Aram inherits…

The Samanids and Saffarids are both riding high at the moment, having won major wars against Karen and the Tahirids respectively, although they are also both ruled by 10-year-olds right now. The Abbasid Caliph recently came of age, which has meant a more aggressive foreign policy. Wondering how long before he attacks me.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

I wonder if the regent will be reluctant to give up power when Aram comes of age...

 

[Reykvolc]

January 887-March 900:
Shahab of Qazwin continues to be regent. I am rivals with my sister Saaman. I am friends with Isa ibn Azam, son of a courtiers. In March, idolizer becomes Zealous. Shahab goes into hiding for some reason, so a mayor becomes regent. My regent decides on a Diplomatic focus for Saaman.

In September I come of age! I am a Mastermind Theologian, Zealous and Deceitful. I always look Groomed and am kind of Slothful. I regrettably am Left-Handed.

I go through with the marriage to Princess Munawwar of Hamdanid. I chose the ambition to groom an heir and the theology focus. My heir is my Uncle Mohammad who has spent the last 18 years in house arrest for his decadence. My hated sister Saaman is betrothed to a Fatimid vassal. The rebels surrender in November. The laws don’t let me revoke titles, so they just sit in prison.

I start building improvements in my counties. In December the Abbasids have an independence revolt. The Al-Sharabi and Gilan are members. In July 889 I gain Temperate. In December I learn my wife is pregnant.

In January 890 I valiantly resist the urge to lust after my pregnant wife. In March I study the Koran. The Dulafids are facing a Zoroastrian revolt. Karen has been inherited by an Armenian. My daughet Souzan is born in July. She is left-handed. My Uncle dies, leaving no heir of my dynasty. The Idrisids of Morocco are next in line. The Abbasids lose to the independence revolt. The Zoroastrians defeat the Dulafids under Khodadad Dezbarid.

My sister asks me to press her claim on Damascus. I’m sure you can guess lazy, temperate me’s interest in fighting the Abbasids for the person I hate most in the world…Then in April 892 I learn she gave birth to a bastard by a courtier. I kick the courtier out of my court. My ex-regent takes him in along with the bastard.

In January 893, the Samanids declare war on me for Tabaristan. I hire mercenaries and put my friend Isa in charge. The Quizilbash join me.

I am busy studying the Koran and spending time with my daughter. I gain Kind. Isa defeats a Samanid army at Komish Depa in July. Then another army at Damqan near my capital in December. They agree to a white peace.

However Samanid’s vassals meanwhile mostly carved up Karen. The Saffarids are in the process of subduing the new Zoroastrian state. The Caliph was murdered by a cousin. His 5-year-old son is now facing a vassal attempt to seize the throne. In April a Jewish man appears at court. Saaman’s lover dies of Dysentery. In January 895 the Tahirid vassals of Saffarids declare war on Samanid for Khorasan. In March I learn my wife is pregnant!

My son Mansur is born in October! I have an heir! I go to a fair in December. I decide my friend Isa needs rewarded for his victories. I change the laws to allow title revocation and revoke from the rebel prisoners. Isa gets the county of Tabaristan. I give Gilan to a courtier named Mukhtar Shahrbano. My wife decides on an etiquette education for Souzan.

In July 896 I seclude myself in prayer and meditation. I realize I am Lazy and fix that. I work on building fortifications in my counties. I seclude myself again in August 897. In October I learn my wife is pregnant!

In March 898, I decide to buy my wife a present as she is feeling gloomy. She really appreciates the gesture and leaps in my arms and passionately kisses me. Given I apparently have a thing for pregnant women, you can probably guess the rest. Anyway, we realize we love each other! Also I gain the trait Charitable!

In April I get a rash, but it disappears shortly after. The Saffarids declare war on the al-Sharabi. Over in the Hamanids, my dead sister Maryam’s son Faisal ‘the Wise’ inherits (my wife is his aunt). He wants to have his uncle marry Saaman (one can only assume to taint the uncle!), but I refuse as the uncle is Sunni. In June my son Jalil is born. He is sickly, weak, and a dwarf with a hairlip. He is supposedly bright though…

I seclude myself in prayer and meditation in September. My bastard niece dies of cancer at the age of six. Jalil dies in December.

In May I arrest an Englishman spreading Christianity to Muslims. He agrees to convert in return for being released. In September 889 I shift to a Family focus. I end my rivalry with my sister. I marry her off to the Jannabids of Bahrein. I also ally myself to my Fatimid uncle. The Saffarids are facing a major tyranny revolt. In March 900 the Hamanids call me to war against the al-Sharabi.

The Abbasids have lost more land, meaning I no longer share a border with them! Though the Hashimids in the Hijaz have become their vassals. They are still ruled by a child. Currently helping Muslim Armenia against the Byzantines. Georgia gobbled up the remnants of Christian Armenia. Samanids and Saffarids have both expanded. Though former is still fighting the Tahirds and the latter is facing a revolt. The Samanid ruler is a lunatic in hiding.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

He wants to have his uncle marry Saaman (one can only assume to taint the uncle!), but I refuse as Saaman is Sunni.

How did that happen? (Saaman being Sunni, that is)

 

[Reykvolc]

@StrategyGameEnthusiast I meant to say the *uncle* was Sunni, not Saaman.
March 900-August 912:

I have seen quite a bit of character development over the last dozen years, losing Slothful and gaining 3 positive traits! In May I am struggling to deal with some religious issue, when my wife has some bright ideas! I feel like I am falling in love with her yet again! Munawwar has also become best friends with our daughter Souzan. The Hamdanids siege down their wargoal. We try to join them, but run into the al-Sharabi army. They however also mess up feeding armies in, so we win at Sanda in September before losing at Shahrazur in October.

In November I start a correspondence with my sister Saaman. The Al-Sharabi keep hiring mercenaries and gaining allies. In March 901 I fight them at Ahar. I forget to get a screenshot, but anyway my force of 2.6k men is totally wiped out by 8k men. Safe to say my nephew’s losing this war… The Zoroastrian Dezbarids declare war on me (the Saffarids kept them as vassals) for Zanjan. I hire mercenaries. Who achieve suboptimal results at Wasamkuh. The Fatimids call us into one of their wars. Fortunately for them, they don’t need my help…

I decide on a Struggle focus for my son. In April 902 the Hamanids surrender. My wife decides on a Diplomacy education for Souzan. After some back and forth sieging, me+Hamanids+Armenians passing by to fight Saffarids defeat the enemy near the village of Tehran.

Meanwhile my Zoroastrian subjects have been converting to Manicheanism. We defeat the Dezbarids again in August. We siege down a holding, but suffer *heavy* loses to disease and raids by the defenders. The Dezbarids take advantage of this to inflict a humiliating defeat in May 904. They are still happy to agree to a white peace though.

It is time for Souzan to marry. I had envisioned marrying her to Isa’s oldest son. Unfortunately he has grown up into a cruel lunatic. So instead I marry her to the Sheikh of Qazwin’s son.

In January 907 I ask Isa to teach me sword-fighting. He tells me I am an unteachable incompetent. In November I decide on a Martial focus for my son Mansur. In December I spare a nobleman. In January 908 I realize my feelings for my wife have cooled down. Qazwin dies in August 909, so my son-in-law now rules there. They have given me a grandchild, Donya.

I am busy with Mansur’s education. I teach him to be Diligent, becoming Stressed in the process. I teach him to be Charitable. In June 911 my steward collects a special tithe. I have to tell a courtier to stop a plot to kill his rival. In October the Saffarids win their 9-year-war for Armenia. In October Mansur comes of age. In many ways he is a fine young man, but he is Stubborn and Dull. I betroth him to Isa’s oldest daughter Shahrbano.

My relationship with Munawwar has continued to deteriorate. I start to notice more things about her I don't like like her hairlip and her hunchback. So I decide to divorce her. I remarry to Sabba Shaharbarno, daughter of my vassal Daylam. A lovely young lady, albeit with sloppy manners. She is only 6 years younger than my daughter! My new ambition is to See The Realm Prosper.

The Samanids are still ruled by a lunatic. They have gained a few counties, most importantly Gurgan. The Saffarids have continued to expand west. The Abbasids decided to attack the Byzantine Empire. Mubarak ‘the Tormentor’ decided to revoke lands from his cousin of Tigris. This is sort of understandable given Tigris’s father murdered Mubarak’s father. But trying to do both at the same time has not gone well. The Bardunids of Cilicia continue to do well as the Byzantines have prioritized expanding elsewhere. They have gradually expanded into northern Syria over the decades and are compact, but powerful, being able to raise close to 7k men.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

We defeat the Dezbarids again in August. We siege down a holding, but suffer *heavy* loses to disease and raids by the defenders. The Dezbarids take advantage of this to inflict a humiliating defeat in May 904. They are still happy to agree to a white peace though.

They must have been losing too many men for the AI to consider continuing the war to be worth it. (and I know that in EU4, the AI becomes more willing to accept peace the longer the war has been going on, so maybe it's the same for a white peace in CK)

 

[Reykvolc]

August 912-July 923:

My steward collects a special tithe. In June 913 I give my wife Sabba ruby earings. She falls in love with me. I learn she is pregnant! In September Mansur marries his betrothed. I continue to correspond with Saaman. Our relationship has vastly improved over the last 20 years, from bitter rivalry to now actually being rather fond of each other. My daughter Jahaira is born in January 914. She is tall, but clubfooted. A large Bolghar raiding party stops by.

In March my childhood friend Isa dies. I decide to befriend his oldest sane son, Qawurd. The Bolghars wander off. Sabba is pregnant again in June! In January 915 my left-handed son Aghlab is born! In April Mansur and his wife give me a grandson, Khalil!

I invite the Ukhaidhirids, who are Shia Sayyids just like me, to court. They had taken refuge in Muslim Bulgaria. In May the Hamdanids call me to a defensive war against the Bardunids of Cilicia. In February 916 I learn Sabba is pregnant again! In July, mine and the Hamdanids combined armies defeat the Bardunids at Hasakah.

My, also left-handed, son Mahdi is born in September! I give my marshal, Isa’s lunatic son, money for military research. The result was an embarrassing farce. Apparently God does not favor us the way he did Joshua before the walls of Jericho… In January 917 the Bolghars come back and seek to conquer Zanjan and Rayy from me.

The Bardunids hire mercenaries and crush the combined army at Nizip in February. I flee home and hire mercenaries. In November, the Bolghars crush my army at Lambsar. My spymaster steals tech. Sabba is pregnant again in July 918!

In November I get diarrhea. My court physician thinks it is Gout and has me fast for a week. By January 1919 it is obvious I have cancer. He has me consume a red powder, which helps.

My homely daughter Sahba is born in February. Souzan’s husband died, so I remarry her to Irbil. In March my steward collects a special tithe. My friend Qawurd inherits Tabaristan after his lunatic older brother dies of Great Pox. In August after extensive back and forth sieging, I defeat the Bolghars at Roudehen. I agree to a white peace as my savings are almost exhausted. The Abbasids have been overthrown by Halil ‘the Bear’ Azdid of Oman.

In January 920 I lose Stressed from the joy of being married to a woman I love. The new ruler of Qazwin offers to teach me a foreign language. Presumably Persian, AKA the native language of my subjects as I am Bedouin. Nothing like learning the language of the place your family has ruled for nearly 60 years! I give Jahaira a Humility education.

My Hamdanid nephew calls me into a defensive war against the Al-Turki, a powerful Azdid vassal. By the time I arrive he has suffered a major defeat. My steward collects a special tithe in October. In February 921, we are defeated at Deir al-Zur by the Al-Turki. I give my court physician Talib ibn Jalil money for medical research. In May Sabba is pregnant again! Souzan’s 2nd husband dies, so I remarry her to a Hamdanid prince. In August the Hamdanids surrender to the Al-Turki, losing the broad lands of Mosul and being reduced to a rump state.

My weak daughter Saghar is born in November. Talib’s research comes to nothing notable. I give my grandson Khalil and son Aghlab Etiquette focuses. Saghar dies in May 922. My son Mahdi gets a Struggle focus.

On July 1, 923 I die of Cancer at the age of 50. I have ruled for 36 years. My epitath is “Well-known to be Charitable, he freely gave money to his friends and family. A godly man, Aram is now with the Greatest.” My son Mansur inherits.

The Saffarids have gained 2 counties. The lunatic Samanid ruler died and his brother Ahmad inherited. He has vastly expanded the realm into the Tarim basin. As mentioned, the Abbasids have been overthrown by the Azdids. The Bardunids have continued to expand, repulsed a Byzantine invasion, but are now defending against the Al-Turki. That resulted in the first violent transfer of power in the Byzantine Empire in April. The new emperor (formerly a minor vassal) is now facing a revolt to place a Makedon princess married to a Doukas on the throne.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

The new ruler of Qazwin offers to teach me a foreign language. Presumably Persian, AKA the native language of my subjects as I am Bedouin. Nothing like learning the language of the place your family has ruled for nearly 60 years!

Surely they've learned at least some Persian by now... Probably not though, as it isn't CK3 where they have slots for languages known by a character.

 

[Reykvolc]

July 923-September 934:

Here I am! Good at war, but kind of dull-witted. I am temperate, diligent, and charitable, but can be stubborn and envious. My wife Sharbano is remarkably similar to me. Our son Khalil is showing promise. I decide on a Martial focus. My ambition is to Become King of Daylam! I am friends with Adila Jalilid.

I decide to declare war on Gilan, which Qazwin is already attacking. Qazwin with our help wins in February 924. So I move on to finishing up the Yazidids. I hire some mercenaries for this in case other Sunni realms join in. In July my spymaster steals tech. My Hamdanid cousin wants to marry an Ukhaidhirid, which I allow. In September I have to tell my wife to stop trying to kill one of her brother’s courtiers. The Yazidids surrender in November. I give the county of Shirvan to my brother Aghlab. The Hamdanids are defending against the Saffarids, so I join in.

10-year-old Reshawna Jalilid apparently has a bit of a crush on me. I tell her I am just a responsible adult, which apparently just impresses her more. She gains Idolizer, I gain Humble. In March 925, the Saffarids are defeated by the combined armies of me, the Hamdanids, and the al-Sharabi. However, in November, they avenge this defeat as my allies chose not to be distracted from siege efforts. My step-mom Sabba is plotting to kill me. I tell her to knock it off. I am focusing on diplomatic educations for my half-sisters.

The Hamdanid army is defeated in February 926 and they surrender in July. I chose a stewardship focus for my son Khalil. I teach my brother-in-law cavalry tactics. My court mullah upsets the locals in his conversion efforts. In March 928 the Samanids crown themselves as Emperors. In July I stop being Humble. I have to resist the urge to snap at my friend Adila. In February 929 Qazwin and my brother-in-law demand increased council authority. I refuse. In March I become a Falconer.

The revolt turns out to be a bit of a nothing-burger. I hired mercenaries and the rebels get defeated in detail. They surrender in March 930. I keep Qazwin for myself. My brother Mahdi gets Gilan. My son Khalil gets Tabaristan. I decide to finish off the al-Sharabi. Unfortunately the Saffarids almost immediately join. However, before they come up I successfully siege the al-Sharabi down and they surrender in November. Adila’s sons Isa and Aghlab get Tabriz and Maragha respectively. I crown myself Sultan of Daylam!

My sister Jahaira is married to a Saffarid. My new ambition is the See the Realm Prosper. Then in January 931, the Abbasid Caliph (now a mere Azdid vassal) declares war on me for Gilan.

In April we defeat two armies before they can combine. I personally slay an Abbasid commander. Khalil comes of age! He turns out kind of mediocre. Marriage options as usual are thin. I decide to marry him to his cousin Parvin, my sister Souzan’s younger daughter. In June I learn my marshal is corrupt, so I fire and imprison him, really a convenient excuse given he is a Manichean.

I keep defeating the two Abbasid armies, developing my warfighting abilities in the process. I gain Patient. I become an Unyielding commander. I start studying the campaigns of Alexander the Great. In October 932 I capture my Hamdanid cousin, reduced to a 1-county Abbasid vassal. As I am charitable, I decide to release him without a ransom. The Abbasids surrender and pay reparations.

I celebrate by holding a Tournament. Adila’s husband Jalil Jalilid is crowned champion! In January Sharbano tells me she is pregnant for the first time in 18 years! In August 934, my tall, burly, and comely son Abdul-Jaleel is born! In September I decide to pass on the opportunity to shift my capital from Persian to Bedouin culture.

The Byzantines have expanded into Armenia. They have had a couple violent transfers of power recently. Currently the Makedons rule. Georgia had a revolt by the Mandean Armenians of Lori who formed the Duchy of Kakheti. That has rapidly expanded, defeating the Saffarids and Hashimids. As already mentioned the Hamdinids are now a mere vassal. The Bardunids haven’t expanded much but are still strong. Halil ‘the Bear’ Azdid was overthrown by Fayiz, commander of the Abbasid Imperial Guard. The Saminids formed an empire than almost immediately after were overthrown by one of their vassals, the Banijurids.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

In June I learn my marshal is corrupt, so I fire and imprison him, really a convenient excuse given he is a Manichean.

He really shouldn't have been corrupt, because he was allowed to exist peacefully and follow his religion as long as he didn't give Mansur a reason to imprison him (because the game doesn't allow you to imprison people for following different religions).

 

[Reykvolc]

September 934-January 949:

The Byzantines declare war on the Saffarids. My brother Mahdi dies in October and the Manichean vassal in November. Gilan goes to my son Khalil, while Abdul-Jaleel gets Alamut. Adila’s husband dies, though she gives him a posthumous son. In March I have to put an adulteress in the stocks. Her wandering from the marriage bed may have something to do with her being lustful and her husband a chaste homosexual…

My wife Sharbano dies in June. The marriage options are bleak anyway, so I decide to marry my childhood best friend Adila even though she’s 43 and unlikely to give me kids. While I am a slow, but surprisingly sharp thinker, she is just a slow thinker and rather homely. In July I increase realm centralization. Sadly her oldest son, Isa, dies in April 937.

In July we engage in wargaming, me and Khalil against my half-brother Aghlab. War is something I am good at, and I win. I become a Strategist.

I chose the ambition See the Realm Prosper. In December we build roads at my steward’s suggestion. In May 938 Aghlab lectures me on eating too much. In September Adila’s son, also called Aghlab, persuades me to give him Rayy. In March 939 I gain Stressed. In May 939 my brother Aghlab dies. Khalil’s wife dies, so I betroth him to Sajida Ukhaidhirid (Sayyids if you remember).

A measles outbreak emerges at court. Adila gets sick. I gain Brave. My mother dies in September at the age of 69. My nephew Aram dies of the measles. Adila recovers, but by February 941 I clearly have measles myself. My court physician/father-in-law has me drink mercery which helps a lot. By April I am fully recovered.

I start feeling sick. In June 942 my steward collects a special tithe. In August I let my father-in-law operate on the cancer. I am left severely injured, missing a hand, and still cancer-filled. My son Khalil has the bright idea to hire guard dogs to protect me from plots. In September my only grandson Pujman dies of the side effects of giantism.

On October 11, 942, I die at the age of 47 of cancer. I reigned 7 years as Emir and 12 years as Shah. My epitaph is the same as my father’s: “Well-known to be Charitable, he freely gave money to his friends and family. A godly man, Aram is now with the Greatest.” My eldest son Khalil inherits. As for expectations of his reign: “Surrounded by enemies and rivals, we hope that Khalil’s rule is not cut short by means of a dagger in the back.”

I am Diligent like my father and Erude. I am Gregarious and Gluttonous and Content. My wife Sajida is struggling with depression and while she is comely, she is also chaste. I have one daughter, Ghazal, who like her sadly deceased brother is a Giant. My brother Abdul-Jaleel is heir and in some ways looks more promising than me. We are the only male Alavids. The family tree has constricted in recent years. I chose a Family Focus and Groom an Heir ambition.

I am rivals with 2 courtiers and a mayor. As for my vassals, my step-brother and step-nephew like me, while my grandfather’s brother-in-law doesn’t.

Ghazal falls down with dysentery, but my step-grandfather does a good job treating her, so I personally praise him to the court in June 943! I decide to build a new barony in Qwivir. I try to impress my vassals by setting a good example of rulership. In August Ghazal succumbs to her dysentery. By December 944 I have become Fat, though at least I become Kind and gain a reputation as a family patriarch.

In June 945 my steward collects a special tithe. In June 946 my spymaster steals tech. In September my steward collects another special tithe. In March 947 I learn my spymaster is slandering me! I replace him. In February 948 I learn my wife is pregnant! She has a bout of pneumonia, but recovers. In September my son and heir Es’mail is born!

Shortly after I realize my ‘chaste’ wife is having an affair with a courtier. He is crushed to death by elephants. She dies the death of adulteresses, being stoned to death. My remarriage options are fairly bad, so I marry Maryam Jalild, niece of my stepmother Adila in January 949.

The Byzantines have lost some peripheral areas as they continue to be unstable. The Doukas now rule. Kakheti has finished off the Hashimids, but lost territory to the Saffarids. The Saffarids have been facing some instability with their Tahirid vassals (the Saffarids have 6 satraps: 3 Saffarids and 3 Tahirids). The Banijurids survived a major revolt. The Fayizids rule the Arabian Empire. The Bardunids just repulsed a Byzantine invasion.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

In March I have to put an adulteress in the stocks. Her wandering from the marriage bed may have something to do with her being lustful and her husband a chaste homosexual…

You'd think, considering his preferences, he'd just accept the affair and try to hide it to avoid losing face.

Shortly after I realize my ‘chaste’ wife is having an affair with a courtier.

Just Crusader Kings things...

 

[Reykvolc]

January 949-July 963:

In May I lose Gregarious. In June my steward collects a special tithe and suggests building roads in Shirvan! In August I become a Poet! My spymaster steals tech. I build some hospitals and start constructing new castle holdings in Qazwin and Zanjan. I am getting closer to my wife Maryam. In May 951 I hire someone to teach me to be a better poet!

My brother Abdul-Jaleel comes of age! He looks the ideal martial ruler, but is Content. We also apparently became best friends at some point so this is likely to be a low-drama relationship. My brother-in-law Abdul-Wahab wants me to join his plot to kill my step-brother Aghlab. I refuse. In March 952 I learn a Hashimid adventurer plans to attack me. In May I learn my wife is pregnant!

In July I hear that a huge Shia revolt to overthrow the Sunni Caliphate has started! Murad Fayizid is the current Sunni Caliph. Ali ‘the Usurper’ Abbasid is the opposite of a great man. First he lost his empire in 919. The Caliphate was lost in 935. By the present he is reduced to a couple random temples! But nicely for us that means the Sunni ‘caliph’ is not even a Sayyid! I decide to assist the revolt nominally lead by a 3-year-old Zahir Nuffarid! I hire thousands of mercenaries! An army 11k strong marches south under the command of my brother.

In December, my slow-witted daughter Bahar is born! In May 943 we crush a Fayizid army near the ruins of Babylon! Then again in July at Chuartan! In September the Fayizids surrender Iraq. A pathetic resistance! (I cheat the Sunni caliphate back to Ali Abbasid’s son, I don’t see how the Fayizids would be seen as legitimate at this point!). There is now a Shia Caliph for the first time in nearly 100 years!

I betroth Bahar to Zahir and form an alliance with him! In February 954 Mizra Hashimid declares war on me! I laugh when I learn he raised this army in Morocco and so has a several thousand mile hike before him! I chose an Etiquette education for my son Esm’ail.

In November, I get my first duke-tier vassal as Jahandar Jalilid, cousin of my wife creates the Duchy of Tabriz thanks to inheriting counties from relatives. Maryam is getting kind of fat. I tell her there is nothing wrong with that! I commission a painting of my father from an artist. In May 955 I learn my wife is pregnant again! The omens around her pregnancy are bad, bud I decide I am just misinterpreting them. My daughter Golpari is born in December. She has a lisp.

Mizra’s army finally arrives to be defeated. In December 956 he is executed. The Yazidids overthrow the Fayizids as Arabian Emperors. In September 957 I get a pet cat! My brother has a son, Burhanaddin, so I betroth Golpari to him. In April 958 I help my brother deal with a blackmailing woman. In August my spymaster has the bright idea to hire guard dogs.

By March 959 I am fat enough it is starting to concern me. I go on a diet. I lose Glutenous and gain Stressed. I hire another poet to train me. In January 960 I learn my wife is pregnant again! I learn another Hashimid wants to overthrow me. I guess he must be salty about me executing his uncle? In August my son Zakaria is born! My brother recently had a daughter named Shogofa so I betroth them.

In September 960 I introduce Esma’il to the realm! A mayor agrees to help him learn the Koran for a favor. I give Shirvan to my brother-in-law Abdul-Wahab. The Hashimid adventurer arrives and is defeated, captured, and executed in December 962. In May 963 I teach Esma’il to be Diligent.

On July 6, 963, I die of severe stress at the age of 48. I have reigned for 21 years. My epitaph is “Known to be Kind, few had a bad word for him. A godly man, Khalil is with the Greatest now.” My 14-year-old son Esma’il inherits.

The Yazidids are now facing a revolt by the Bahrain branch of the Al-Turki backed by the Abbasids. The Fatimids have been released as tributaries. The Bardunids suffered a major defeat in 958 when the Duchess of Charsianon conquered Cilicia from them. The current Byzantine Emperor is facing a revolt by his brother to put his female cousin on the throne. Kakheti is a bit of a broken force now militarily. The Saffarids defeated them recently after the Saffarids finally managed to crush a years-long Armenian Liberation revolt. The Banijurids haven’t done much. Its hard to see because the shading is similar, but the Shia Caliph is there in Iraq and nearing adulthood.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

My brother Abdul-Jaleel comes of age! He looks the ideal martial ruler, but is Content. We also apparently became best friends at some point so this is likely to be a low-drama relationship.

He is content and trusting...

So he shouldn't be a problem for Esma'il.

 

[Reykvolc]

July 963-November 974:

My regent is a baron, good at intrigue and a people person. I own too much land so give him the County of Gilan. As for me, I show promise. I have 2 friends. 1 is my half-sister Bahar. The other is Muslihiddin Jalilid.

If the Jalilids seem to pop up a lot, that is because they are by far the most successful of my original courtier families. They have 21 members, include a duke and a count and now stretch 5 generations down from their founder. #2 courtier family is of Alamut, the descendants of the Anglo-Saxon missionary I converted, they have 10 members. Both family trees are getting messy from cousin marriage. We have 8 members. No other family has more than 4.

My sister Gopari can be kind of annoying, but I can’t stay mad at her. I gain Humble. After father’s funeral, my Uncle Abdul-Jaleel approaches me, offering to be a friend and mentor to me, which I’m happy to take him up on! In November Uncle introduces me to his friend and army commander, a man named Mahmud, and we soon also strike up a friendship.

In September 964 I come of age! I am a gregarious personality, humble temperate, kind, and honest. In other words an absolute delight to interact with! No wonder I have 4 friends already! I can be kind of uncouth and I am lazy, frankly I am mediocre at everything *but* gladhanding!

I decide to betroth myself to my friend Muslihiddin’s beloved younger sister. I give Muslihiddin Daylam. Mahmud gets Qazwin. I chose the ambition to See the Realm Prosper and the Family focus.

My steward collects a special tithe in May 965. I start building a castle in Tabaristan. In January 967 Bahar leaves to marry Caliph Zahir. In May I marry Shola. In July I teach her to be Temperate. Muslihiddin recommends I tear down some old buildings and replace them. I pay him for his trouble. In February 968 my spymaster steals tech. In December I lose Humble. I get closer to my brother Zakaria.

My wife is a lot like me in that she is a people person first and everything else second. In April 969 I learn she is pregnant. My friend Mahmud dies. I give the County of Qazwin to my brother Zakaria. Caliph Zahir won a war against the Fatimids and gained a county without even asking for my help. In November I fulfill the ambition to see the realm prosper. My new ambition is to groom an heir! My left-handed son Jahanshah is born!

In January 970, Caliph Zahir calls me to war against the Abbasid Caliphs who are now independent from the Yazidids. The Saffarids and Yazidids rapidly join in. In June Caliph Zahir crushes an Abbasid army. In September they surrender before my army even arrives. In December I learn Shola is pregnant again!

In March 971 I try to get Bahar and Muslihiddin to befriend each other. The actual result is the exact opposite of that. In July my son Khashayar is born! In November we defeat a bunch of Cuman raiders. In December I spend quality time with my son Jahanshah. I decide to betroth him to my cousin Rashida, Uncle’s youngest. My sister Bahar has given Caliph Zahir a son and a daughter. I betroth Khashayar to his cousin Princess Farida.

In August 972 my spymaster steals tech. In October I have to dissuade my steward from hiring ruffins to try to bully more taxes out of the peasants. In February 973 Caliph Zahir calls me into another war, though he’s already nearly won it. Its for a desert town called Mecca! In April I learn Shola is pregnant again! In November my daughter Pourandokht is born! I betroth her to Caliph Zahir’s oldest, Prince Tawfiq. Golpari marries her cousin Burhanaddin.

Tabriz decideds he wants to annex his cousin Muslihiddin’s lands. He refuses when I ask him to agree to a white peace. So I have my court mullah declare a fatwa against him. Then I arrest and hang him. His son Hussayn is content and rather likes me despite his father’s unfortunate passing, so this should work better. My Uncle declares war on my half-brother, but agrees to a white peace when I request it in November 974.

Ioanna overthrew her cousin in 966 and since then as expanded the frontier eastward at Saffarid expense. Kakheti has been inherited by a Muslim son of its founder. The Yazidids have had a bit of a collapse, losing all their lands outside Arabia and Palestine. The Fatimids still rule Damascus. The Bardunids are a shadow of their former self. The Abbasids control the interior of Arabia and Medina. Caliph Zahir has slowly expanded and rules Mecca. The Saffirid Shah has ruled for 36 years now. The Banjurids were overthrown in 966 by the Nakhsabids. However those who live by the sword will die by it. Two Nakhsabids fell in battle against vassals, so a 7-year-old now rules.