Aztec many titles but only 3K troops = Vulnerable. Enemy of Empress = Death Wish. Thanks
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-Thirty-Seven : Friends And Enemies - Part Two
Chapter One Thousand-Thirty-Seven : Friends And Enemies - Part Two
This chapter opens in mid July, of the year 944, with the Empress Eulalia “The Unfaithful" of Marurya going over lists.
The first list was of her Vassals. Those Nobles directly under her control. It wasn’t a bad list. Out of the thirty-one Nobles MOST liked her. Or at least didn’t feel anything negative towards her. In fact only six Vassals disliked or hated her.
The Imperial Court, on the other hand, was more mixed. Though she wasn’t sure how accurate it was due to it having at least one mistake in It that she noticed. Still out of the twenty-one members of the Court fourteen disliked or hated her. Not good to have so many people in her Palace who felt that way about her.
Still, she had eight Non-Aggression Pacts. Which was good.
And she had one friend. Only one friend. The Bhikkhu Shurapala of Zholhun.
“I have a Priest for a friend,” said the Empress. “How sad…”
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-Thirty-Eight : Midnite Duke’s Request
Chapter One Thousand-Thirty-Eight : Midnite Duke’s Request
So Midnite Duke requested to see how many of the Sultan Vebeliya’s troops were spawned from special events. So I went took a image. But then I wanted to know. Where did he come from? And I found out….his line came from Lanka!
Yes, it seems the House of Lambakanna is, in fact, from the House of Lambakanna from the Kingdom of Lambakanna. Who would have thought it?
The Sultan is, in fact, the grandson of the Great King Jhotisena. The last Ruler before the House of Dysnomia took over via marriage.
So while the House of Lambakanna lost a Kingdom it went and made an Empire. So, even if you think you defeated a House in your game…they might come back.
Just something in the background I thought you might find it interesting. But does explain why the Sultan is a Buddhist!
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Sultan Vebeliya is a creation of the Dysnomia. No bad deed goes unrewarded. Thanks
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-Thirty-Nine : Top SEVEN Military Powers!
Chapter One Thousand-Thirty-Nine : Top SEVEN Military Powers!
This chapter opens on the 19th of July, of the year 944 AD, with a known world that had been rocked with change. And therefore there had been some changes to the Top Seven Military Powers of the KNOWN World! Or at least the most important parts.
The top of the list was the Aztec Empire. But they weren’t doing so well.
Huctlatoani Ueman “Bloodaxe” of the Aztec Empire was in debt AND in a war in North Africa. He was winning but only because he had overwhelming numbers. His skill in warfare was…not impressive.
Still the Aztec Empire was on top and that’s all that mattered. The next on the list was the Mongol Empire.
Khagan Jajiradau “Slayer of the Khazar” was in charge. But was getting old. And scarred. And wasn’t really as good with a sword as a man who starts so many wars should be.
It was hard to tell who was winning the current war….
He was at war with the Khagan of Khazaria. Who was a new Ruler. The son of the old Cat. This suggested that the Mongol Empire MAY have met their match. The House of Tuzniqid were tough and not going away soon.
The Third Realm on the list was new…kind of. The Lambakanna Sultanate had been born since the last list.
And this completely screwed up all the old maps. The balance of power in the Middle East was changed and the House of Abbasid gutted. Making the borders look as bad as those found in Pagan Europe.
The Sultan was a man of many skills AND brave. And Buddhist. So, there goes the neighborhood. We’ll see how long he lasts.
The Fourth Realm on the list is the Abbasid who was ruled by Caliph Qawurd.
A young Ruler who was, at the time, defending the Emire of the Awzalid Emirate against a Aztec Noble. In other words his military was busy. Though to be honest his side WAS winning.
And at least he wasn’t a sinner - like much of his family had been - BUT he was not very skilled and had a club foot. And the nasty rumors didn’t help.
And all the people he had killed likely made him look a TAD not-so-good.
The next Realm on the list was the Byzantine Revolt. Yes, once again the Byzantine Empire is a broken mess.
The Ruler of the Revolt was Maximos of the House Katakylas. The reason for the Revolt? Well, Maximos had a Claim on the Empire. And he was WINNING.
How did he get a claim? Likely bribes. It also could be because the next Ruler on the list, the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire, who took over when his father was killed in combat, was Catholic.
This was likely a problem for the rest of the Empire as well. And being a child it was unlikely he will be on the throne very long.
The next, and last, Realm on the list was the the Second Maurya Empire who was still ruled by Basilissa Eulalia “The Unfaithful” whose husband is still alive and a Ruler who happily had crushed all who threaten her.
Very skilled but a known murderer and not good at gardening. But at least she had a Heir she WANTED who was alive and doing well.
So we end this chapter with the Middle East and Near East broken. With the Empires of the Aztec and the Mongols still going strong. Well, they were a little boxed in. Still, if they can make headway into the Middle East or Near East they could crush the older Empires and bring peace to those regions. The peace of mass graves.
And so, dear readers, next chapter we will return to the main story.
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Always love trips around the known world. Does the Aztecs and Mongols have any special event troops left? Thanks
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Yes, always good to see the travelogue of murderous top military powers! The Aztecs remain a real behemoth, even if they’re marginally in debt.
The Aztecs remain a real behemoth, even if they’re marginally in debt.- 1
The Aztec have no special event troops. I noticed that last time. This means they are recruiting from the local populace. So their militarty is kind of stable. In fact the Vassals are supplying the Empire with many of its troops.
The Mongols on the other hand have about over thirty-three thousand Spawned Troops. Once they are gone the Empire will have to recruit from the counties. Not sure how that will go.
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-Forty : Stuff Happens
Chapter One Thousand-Forty : Stuff Happens
This chapter opens in late July, of the year 944 AD, with the Magistros Theophilos bringing her knowledge of a delightful tradition that had started in the County of Khinjali Mandala.
Seems peasants would meet up, dance, feast, and get hooked up.
The Empress decided this was a good idea and helped support the tradition with a little cash.
She did notice that the Magistros was mildly sick. Seemed he had, somehow, contracted the Measles. How he got it? Where he got it? Who knows.
In August the Empress was glaring at the Wall Map that showed that the Bangala Varman Revolt was still going on.
“I need to stop this!” she mumbled to herself. “Maybe kill him? He isn’t family and he has a bad opinion of me. On the other hand he IS a member of the Society. That would look…bad…if the Savaka-Sangha found out I will killing members.”
She thought over it for a few days. She checked the Wall Map again and sighed at the spot where the Revolt discolored the counties.
“On the other hand the Doux of Bangala Varman Raj doesn’t like me either,” she added as she glanced back at the Wall Map. “So why should I help him? Well, if nothing else, it will clean up the Map.”
She decided to kill the Leader of the Revolt.
She also sent her Mystikos to help move the man’s murder along. In other words the Spymaster was sent to make a network to help support the plot.
She also sent the Exarch of the Pala Kingdom, her Spymaster, a gift to increase his opinion of her. Just to encourage him to work faster.
It was found that the Mayor of Deleg was willing to help kill the Rebel Leader. For a price.
The price turned out to be fifteen gold coins worth of wealth.
After that he was more than happy to help kill Vishwarupsen.
Then there was good news! Count Basilcios of Candradvipa had left the Imperial Court! He was no longer a Free Loader.
Then there was the bad news. He was a Count because his Father-In-Law had died and left his wife his county. Making her the Countess of Candradvipa.
Which means they now had soldiers, money, and power to seek out revenge.
Oh goodie….
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The countess has adequate coins to manage her realm but not enough to tangle with the empress. The men are not sufficient to get her into trouble unless she is super dumb. Thanks
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-Forty-One : Murder Most Normal
Chapter One Thousand-Forty-One : Murder Most Normal
This chapter opens in late August, of the year 944 AD, with the Empress trying to decide how to become closer to Didar.
He was no longer the Regent of Exarchessa Sundari, now she was an adult, BUT he was the Guardian of the Exarchessa's Heir. Prince Damodar. Who barely liked the Empress.
So she sent Didar a small gift. Only about fifty gold coins were spent on a fancy gift for him.
He seemed very happy about the gift. But then the Empress realized something.
She didn’t NEED to be his friend. She just needed to replace him with somebody else who already had a high opinion of her. That way the Prince would be influenced and educated by somebody loyal to her. And somebody Greek.
So, of course, she suggested to the Exarchessa that her Heir be educated by Konstantios.
The Exarchessa agreed quickly. No doubt due to the Empress having been HER Educator.
Then she was told that the Rebel Leader, Vishwarupsen, would soon have a carriage accident.
And it worked! But the driver had babbled. Now everybody knew the Empress had murdered the Revolt Leader.
But in the end the Count was dead. Which resulted in one Pact breaking and that was about it. Of course, now people had another reason to hate the Empress.
“That’s okay,” remarked the Empress on hearing the news. “As long as the Revolt is dead.”
The Imperial Courtiers looked at each other.
“What happened?” demanded the Empress. “What went wrong?”
“The Revolt has a new Leader,” remarked one of the Courtiers.
They handed the Empress a file. “Yesh, name of Varzak of the House of Vijaya,” the same Courtier added. “And he hates you. Go figure.”
“Buddha damn it!” she exclaimed on reading the file.
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-Forty-Two : Monkeys And Death
Chapter One Thousand-Forty-Two : Monkeys And Death
This chapter opens in mid November, of the year 944 AD, with the Empress finding herself bored.
So she decided to have a party. In other words time for the Seasonal Feast of Diwali. Though she was just looking forward to the food and drink.
The riders went forth with the messages. They were dressed in a different theme this time as they visited the invited Vassals. Seemed to work. There was no refusals.
While the Palace/Castle staff prepared the chambers and hallways, selected the dishes and wines, and made sure everything was ready for the feast, the Empress was asked to pick her husband’s traditional gift.
She decided on a nice cape. A used one she found in one of the dusty trunks in one of the many changing rooms and had repaired by one of the Servants.
Also her husband was sick in bed so it was unlikely he needed a horse.
As she selected her own outfits, she planned to have a different one every day, she was given some good news. The Leper Colony had been built in the Hospital in the Capital.
On the other hand the Revolt controlled to mess up her Wall Map. Damn them! And her Spymaster was trapped in the middle of a battle to boot! Who would keep HER from being murdered?
Near the end of November the guests started to arrive. They were greeted by dancers and singers and drummers and cool drinks.
The wine flowed freely and many guests enjoyed the meat pies, the pastries, and the cakes. Then the monkeys attacked. They had been planning it for years, figuring out how to open the Servants’ entrance with a key they made from a bar of soap, and dressing up as tiny butlers.
But they turned out NOT to be tiny butlers and soon were making a mess. Damaging artwork, throwing food around, insulting the selection of wines. It was chaos. And they made the Wine Steward cry.
Then the staff brought her some news. Her husband had finally given up the ghost. Cancer had defeated him.
She mourned by getting drunk and demanding her Sakellarios marry her. Arsenios, a lowborn 45 year old Council Member who was also a Commander and the Court Musician, really had no choice. How could he refuse?
So the feast became a wedding. At least her new husband wasn’t too young. They were both around the same age.
By mid December she gave her husband the cape.
Funny enough there was no historical record of her new husband receiving the gift. It MAY have been buried with the dead one.
Soon the darkest night came and the guests celebrated hope over despair, good over evil, and light over darkness. They did so by drinking a lot of booze and eating a lot of rich food. At least the booze and food that didn’t have monkey poo in it.
By the end of December the feast came to an end. A feast that had issues. The Empress had mixed feelings about the whole thing. At least she had a brand new shiny husband out of it.
And so the feast came to an end. With a monkey attack and the death of a husband.
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That was inconsiderate of hubby to die during the feast. Monkeys need to unite with the tigers. What is new hubs modifier? Apostate? Thanks
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-Forty-Three : Picky Vassals and Roses
Chapter One Thousand-Forty-Three : Picky Vassals and Roses
This chapter opens in late December, in the year 944 AD, with the Empress still upset with the Revolt.
The Revolt was still messing up her Wall Map! On top of all that it looked like it may win in the long run. How annoying!
Then the Count of Dulan, Count Dan, disbanded his Faction to make one of the Princes the Ruler of the Kingdom of Bihar.
One less movement to worry about. Not that he WASN’T still causing trouble. Damn trouble maker!
In April the Empress was contacted by Sakagami Syamadevi about a new rose she had developed. A dark rose mixed with a yellow wild rose. The Empress decided to visit her and see the rose for herself. So she packed up a few dozen bags and started her journey. With lots Servants, dancers, drummers, mules, food, and wine.
Also there was some interesting news that were delivered to her while she travelled.
Seems the Count of Goalpara was seeking to claim the Monastery of Para-Lauhitya from Bhikkhu Nikephoros.
“Tell him to stop,” the Empress told one of her Imperial Courtiers. “I prefer the current Bhikkhu. He is loyal. Not very good at balancing the accounts but loyal.”
In May the Empress received news that Didar wanted to get married.
“Match making time!” proclaimed the Empress. “Bring me the lists of available women in the Empire! From the portable library! I think one of the mules is carrying it.”
Sadly, after much searching of the files, there was nobody on the list of women in the Imperial Court who wanted to marry him.
So the Empress invited a Alexcia of the House Vijaya to the Imperial Court. Or at least to the moving Imperial Court.
She arrived in May in a dust covered carriage pulled by VERY tired horses.
But this time Didar turned HER down because she was “unimportant”. She was a Noblewoman and he was a NOBODY and he turned HER DOWN!
“Stupid Vassals!” murmured the Empress. “Well, I won’t let her good blood go to waste. I’ll arrange a marriage between her and Count Ajmal. One of my kin.”
It would be a normal marriage, of course. So she wrote up the request and sent it by carrier rabbit.
The Count, who was six, agreed to this in his reply. In a very polite letter.
By June the Empress was visiting Syamadevi’s garden. She was asked if she would like to help with the gardening. The Empress refused but did praise the gardens, the monastery, and the gardener.
Syamadevi was VERY pleased at the praise and her opinion about Empress went up slightly. And the Empress kept her hands clean.
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You should have let Count A with his 1k get a smackdown from his lord's 2k. Didar seems to want to go the way of the dodo: extinct. Can a person head more than one faction? Thanks
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Uh oh!
If she had a conscience it might worry her. So she is safe, if irritated.Sad. For about 7 nanoseconds.
Really an offer you don't refuse, Godmother!
Am improvement to the bouquet. One hopes.
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Yes, they can. And they can join as many as they want from what I have seen.
Sad. For about 7 nanoseconds.
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Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-Forty-Four : A Great Revolt
Chapter One Thousand-Forty-Four : A Great Revolt
This chapter opens in mid June, of the year 945 AD, when the Empress was brought news of a murder plot.
Seems Countess Theognosia of Jharkand was plotting to kill her sister who was the Spymaster of Shigatse.
“Tell her to stop!” demanded the Empress. “One member of the Dynasty should not be killing another. I don’t care they are Rivals. Unless it is me nobody should be killing a member of the Imperial family!”
Then she was brought news of a new Revolt. A massive revolt!
“No!” exclaimed the Empress. “Not my Wall Map!”
“No, Liege,” said one of the Courtiers. “It isn’t within the Empire. Come look! Come look!”
And so she went to the Wall Map. And grinned.
Musa “Bloodaxe” had started the Revolt of Aztec. And was winning. Even though the Aztec Empire greatly outnumbered the Revolt in terms of warriors.
The Empress was shocked. Even if such a Revolt failed it would leave behind a weaker, damaged, Aztec Empire.
How did the Revolt happen? The different Cultures? The different Religions? Too many Non-Aztec among the Nobles? Something must have happened. Some cracks had appeared among the rank and file. How had they formed?
But she was also pleased. The other Empires would sense weakness and go after the Aztec. Hopefully.
Of course there were still the Mongols…
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