Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-One-Hundred-Twenty-Nine : Ever Watchful

This chapter opens in early January, of the year 952 AD, with the Empress, Basilissa Eulalia “The Unfaithful” of Maurya, a member of the Dynasty of Dysnomia, pondering her rule.

The House of Dysnomia had been founded over 183 years ago. And had grown in power and size since then.

But her family had only stayed in power by being ever paranoid. Or was it remaining ever vigilant? Whatever. The point was she was 54 years old and planned not to die any time soon if she could help it.

“Bring me the folder of those we are watching!” she demanded of the Imperial Court.

The folders were always being updated by Spies of the Spymaster who had been sent to …well..spy on the four individuals in the folder.

The first name in the folder was Marzoban Theophilos of Artux, the man who had upset the Mongol Empire by fooling around with the Ruler’s wives and then breaking off to be independent. The man with the death wish. Who was still alive. Even though he WAS in a war with them defending the Realm of Khazaria.

Was he a idiot or a gambler?

Still, he was still alive, seemed to be pretty good with a sword, and had three sons. All of them alive! So he must have been doing something right.

The next on the list of people the Empire kept an eye on was Count Basilcios of Candradvipa. The Noble who marched all the way from Greece, with a Host, over land, to try to take the Empress’s Titles. And lost.

But his wife was the Countess of Cadradvipa and now he was a member of the Empire. What were the odds? No, really, somebody figure it out.

The problem was he still hated the Empress and wanted her Titles. All her titles.

Then the Exarch Hrodgar “The Good” of Kham. A Vassal she was trying to sway to her good side. And failing at. He still disliked her. And he was an In-law! She REALLY missed Mew.

One way to make him like her more WOULD be to put him in the Imperial Council. But he sucked at most things and there were suggestions he was fooling around. He wasn’t even Greek! Not somebody she wanted as a member of the Council.

Then there was Maharaja Nandamitta of Lanka. Who somebody didn’t wish to get into an arranged marriage with the main branch of the Imperial Family. The Empress was watching him until he was 16 years of age. Then she would suggest he marry the future Empress.

Every time she had tried lately it had been approved of and then canceled. At this point she refused to waste her time. Though she could declare HIM the Heir….

But she had no direct control over him, his education, or anything dealing with him. He was an unknown and placing him on the Imperial Throne seemed like a bad idea at the moment.

So she drank, listened, and pondered. Mostly she drank.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Send the Maharaja a daughter patrilineal so that he will think that he got one got on you. Watch the Marzopan slip up and get squashed like a bug. Thanks

 

[Eurasia]

Send the Maharaja a daughter patrilineal so that he will think that he got one got on you. Watch the Marzopan slip up and get squashed like a bug. Thanks

I am not sure if even a Patrilieal Marriage proposal would work either. I think the Regent or the Queen Mother is blocking/canceling the marriage proposals for their own reasons. They may have their own plans for the young King. OR maybe they wish to keep their independence? The AI in CK2 is kind of good in some ways. Keeps me guessing.

 

[Eurasia]

Vote for the Q1 2024 ACAs!

 

[Bullfilter]

Also it was now time to replace the Sakellarios with somebody skilled and loyal. Unlike her husband.

Exactly.

This chapter opens in December, of the year 951 AD, with the Empress giving her upset husband a small purse of gold coins.

In other words her husband was what we could call in the modern world a “cheap date” as the small gift seems to work.

He really is a bit of a drone, isn’t he? Not up to standard for a Queen Bee!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-One-Hundred-Thirty : Fighting Evil!

This chapter opens in late March, of the year 952 AD, with news of a WAR! But it wasn’t a war between Vassals this time.

Seems the Duchess Eustathia “The Ill-Ruler” of Tirabhukti started a war with Prithvi “The Evil” of the Ayudha Revolt for the County of Sravasti.

The Revolt was a war to increase the Council’s Power.

While the Duchess had LESS troops Prithvi was involved in trying to win his Revolt. So most of them were likely already engaged elsewhere. In other words the Duchess might have local superior in numbers.

Was the County of Sravasti worth it? And would the Kingdom of Ayudha want their county back once they crush the rebellion? I dunno.

Then her husband, Arsenios, asked for a bird. Seems he had become captivated by the grace and strength of hunting birds. The Empress was slightly confused. Didn’t she already give him a bird? But she gave in and gave him another one.

It was costly but kept him from whining.

Around the same time the County of Kataka, due to the Empress’s great management and the period of peace, had propered. This made the people and the tax collectors very happy.

So the news was either good or just normal news. The Empress was somewhat pleased.

 

[vandevere]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-One-Hundred-Thirty : Fighting Evil!

This chapter opens in late March, of the year 952 AD, with news of a WAR! But it wasn’t a war between Vassals this time.

Seems the Duchess Eustathia “The Ill-Ruler” of Tirabhukti started a war with Prithvi “The Evil” of the Ayudha Revolt for the County of Sravasti.

The Revolt was a war to increase the Council’s Power.

While the Duchess had LESS troops Prithvi was involved in trying to win his Revolt. So most of them were likely already engaged elsewhere. In other words the Duchess might have local superior in numbers.

Was the County of Sravasti worth it? And would the Kingdom of Ayudha want their county back once they crush the rebellion? I dunno.

Then her husband, Arsenios, asked for a bird. Seems he had become captivated by the grace and strength of hunting birds. The Empress was slightly confused. Didn’t she already give him a bird? But she gave in and gave him another one.

It was costly but kept him from whining.

Around the same time the County of Kataka, due to the Empress’s great management and the period of peace, had propered. This made the people and the tax collectors very happy.

So the news was either good or just normal news. The Empress was somewhat pleased.

Looks like a good turn of events this time around...

 

[Midnite Duke]

Good luck to the Duchess. No more help than Hubs has been, a buzzard should do, but really, he may hurt himself. Thanks for updating

 

[Eurasia]

Good luck to the Duchess. No more help than Hubs has been, a buzzard should do, but really, he may hurt himself. Thanks for updating

If he hurts himself he will have to see the Doctor. And we all know how long he might live if he has to see a Doctor. Bwahahahahahahaha!

 

[Bullfilter]

And we all know how long he might live if he has to see a Doctor

Probably try to cure him of gout (or pox, etc) by transplanting the hawk’s head on to his shoulder!

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-One-Hundred-Thirty-One : Disappointment And Plots

This chapter opens in the middle of March, of the year 953 AD, with the Empress getting some boring news.

Seems the Lords of U-Tsang had passed the Tax Shifted Burgher Obligations. Which likely pleased the City Rulers as they preferred giving up cash than giving up soldiers.

Maharaja Nandamitta of Lanka also made Rajkumar Mahasiva one of his Commanders. This was a interesting choice as Rajkumar was the Great King’s Regent. If the Regent died in battle who replaced him?

Then Dorothea of the House …of nobody because she was lowborn… was given the nickname of “Merry”. The Empress didn’t care.

In late April the Empress sent a letter to Exarch Hrodgar to try to convince him of what a great Empress she was.

It failed. Or, at least, she got no reply to her letter.

In fact he still disliked her. Which disappointed her greatly.

Then in May the Exarch selected a Lowborn as his new Chancellor. Still, Hrane was skilled in what mattered when it came to his new position.

Then the Empress was given some REALLY bad news. Seems Bhaumakara Prataparudra had been sent into the borders of the Empire to try to claim the County of Khinjali Mandala for his Liege, Duke Jau Jinshan.

The Empress ordered the Magistros to be killed.

Then she sat back, drank beer, and waited.

 

[Midnite Duke]

What is the boy/duke going to do if he gets a claim? Or is he a frontman for a bigger, badder goon? Thanks

 

[Eurasia]

What is the boy/duke going to do if he gets a claim? Or is he a frontman for a bigger, badder goon? Thanksth

Not much. My Imperial forces can likely crush him without even hiring any mercs.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-One-Hundred-Thirty-Two : Success!

This chapter opens in mid May, of the year 952 AD, with the Empress receiving some news from the Exarch of Kham.

Seems he had made Doux Salasthamba II of Nyingchi his Chancellor. Not really the best choice but maybe the Exarch didn’t have many vassals with the skills needed for being his Chancellor?

Then she received some good news. Seems the assassin, dressed up like a rabbit, killed the Magistros. And there was nothing to link her to the murder. (1)

When the news became public that the Bhaumakara Prataparudra had died from suspicious circumstances that involved a giant rabbit armed with a boardsword the Empress tried NOT to look happy about it.

“Oh, how horrible,” she proclaimed aloud. “He was too young to be murdered…er…killed…er…to have died from a rabbit accidentally impaling him on a huge sword. That had nothing to do with me.”

The Imperial Court seemed to buy it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

Author’s Notes :

1. Medieval art shows murder by armed rabbit to be very common.

 

[Midnite Duke]

The Imperial Court seemed to buy it. At least no one is going to go on record saying that she had any involvement. I think all successful chancellor endings are suspicious circumstances, but the Empress, as a known murderer, would consider it realm protection and a boost to her reputation.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-One-Hundred-Thirty-Three : A Medieval Plot

Not That KIND Of Plots, Guys!​

This chapter opens in late May, of the year 952 AD, with the Empress trying to suggest that Duke Jau Junshan join her Empire.

But it seems his people and her people could not agree on such an event. Just because somebody killed one of his Councilors. Tsk, tsk.

Then in June there was annoying news. Seems Doux Antonios “The Inquisitor” of Magadha had started the Imperial Faction to bring Gavelkind Succession in Kamarupa. The Empress wasn’t disappointed. She was pissed.

Also it seems the Doux was fabricting a claim on the County of Sasaram.

The owner of Sasarm was one of her Council Members and the Exarch of the Pala Kingdom. The Doux would be luckly if he survived such a stupid plot.

The Empress shrugged and drank some more wine.

 

[Midnite Duke]

A mean Empress would make the Doux a vassal of the Exarch. No more faction. Happier Exarch. The Exarch even has a claim on the Doux's lead Duchy. The double Doux is full of doodoo. What is the culture/religion of the Doux's wife? Thanks

 

[Bullfilter]

Then she received some good news. Seems the assassin, dressed up like a rabbit, killed the Magistros. And there was nothing to link her to the murder.

1. Medieval art shows murder by armed rabbit to be very common.

Had a good chuckle at this.

And as this serious historical documentary shows …

Warning: silly Pythonesque blood and gore!

“Oh, how horrible,” she proclaimed aloud. “He was too young to be murdered…er…killed…er…to have died from a rabbit accidentally impaling him on a huge sword. That had nothing to do with me.”

Good thing it doesn’t really matter how implausible and guilty-sounding her denial is. As long as the forms and rituals are observed.

 

[Eurasia]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Thousand-One-Hundred-Thirty-Four : Vassals! Can’t Live With Them

This chapter opens in late June, of the year 952 AD, with the death of the Count of Kunggar. Seemed he had died from complications related to gout at the age of 65.

This meant that the Non-Aggression Pact between him and the Exarch Danujmadhava of the Pala Kingdom had come to an end.

His son was now in charge. Well, kind of. He had a Regent of course. Sadly, it looked like the boy didn’t like the Empress. The Rulers of Kunggar were ALWAYS trouble makers.

Then the Empress received the news that the Count of Monyul had started the new Imperial Faction called Niphon for Maurya.

Seemed the 16 year old bastard, which was not an insult as he was a bastard of the Dynasty, wanted to put an idiot of the Dynasty on the Imperial Throne. Once again not an insult as Niphon was dull and the Child of Concubine. And not even Greek. If he became Emperor that would cause so many problems.

Then there was some old news brought by carrier hamster that the Bhikkhu Nikephoros of Para-Lauhitya had joined the movement to bring Gavelkind Succession to Bhar.

The news was old because the hamster was a lazy hamster and had taken many stops along the way to enjoy the view. Also he had used his Imperial account to have a few glasses of wine at the many taverns along the way. He had very good taste and ran up quite a tab.

“Are all my Vassals morons?” asked the Empress. “Do they WANT me to kill them? And take the drunk hamster to the kitchen and sober him up. Shame!”

 

[Midnite Duke]

What does it say about the bastard if the dynasty idiot is better than him in four of categories? Thanks