Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Twenty : Depression


Everybody Likes Money, Right?

We open this chapter in May, of the year 827 AD, where we find the Despot trying to get Sangrama out of "jail". It turned out that while Shah Kanak "The Usurper" liked money he refused to let Sangrama out. Sangrama Anantazk had a claim on the realm of Khotan and, therefore, he was a danger to "The Usurper".

Spoiler: Please Take Him?
Show


The Despot really could not debate that point - this MAN had dumped his kids from his marriage with his first wife to go and become the ruler of his father's realm. Sangrama Anantazk even hated the Despot for imprisoning and hanging Chat - one of the daughters he had left behind. The one who had killed one of the Despot's daughters - the Princess Kale.

Spoiler: Sangrama WAS Kind Of A Jerk
Show


It was just so embarrassing to see the fat man walking about with that weird cage hat. Also it was awkward when Sangrama's children from his first wife meet the children from the second wife. At least all the Despot's children got along.

For a few months all the Despot did was wait. Not much was happening within his Kingdom. War still rocked India but not in his little corner of it.

He did work hard at ruling his realm and that soon became stressful. Dealing with complaints and checking reports and double-checking other people's work.

In September he became depressed by the unlimited amount of work that always seemed to greet him every time he entered his throne room.

Spoiler: Too Much Stress!
Show


In October the Great King Mahendra finally won his war. The Rani Rani "The Chaste" could not subjugate the Kingdom of Pala. The Great King dismissed the hired swords and had less then a thousand warriors left. Most of which were not his.

Spoiler: The Great King Won The War...Kind Of
Show


The Despot wished to wait before starting a war. He wanted more funding and he wanted to see how well the boy held his realm together. Even if the Great King built up his military to full strength he would be outnumbered by his own vassals.

Spoiler: A Weak Great King
Show


In November his son, Sakellarios Ioulianos, came to the Despot asking for more money to search for the artifact. This time the Despot agreed. Yes, he needed to save up for a war but he also knew that sometimes you spend money to make it. Or in this case find a artifact. And who else would he trust with a large amount of coins with no questions asked?

Spoiler: Throwing Money At The Artifact Search
Show


Later that month the Militia Training Ground in Srihatta was completed. This pleased the Despot slightly as it meant a slight increase to his own military.

Spoiler: Srihatta Gets A New Militia Training Ground
Show


In December he called two of his Councilors back to the Capital-County. His son the Sakellarios was called back to help administer the realm. And the Spy Master Sabas Prabhavati was called back to uncover any plots against the Royal Family or members of the Royal Court.

Spoiler: Councilor Recall
Show


Later that month, in order to try to fight his depression, even though he knew it would cost coins he should have been saving, he announced another festival.

Spoiler: Trying To Beat Back The Darkness
Show


He also picked the necklace as a gift without even a second thought. The only person to refuse to come to the feast was Bhikkhu Isidoros of Para-Lauhitya. Of course.

Spoiler: Surprise? Not Really
Show


The Palace was ready for the guests. It had the flowers, the food and drinks, and the ribbons. Sound and color greeted the guests in the form of jugglers and jesters and entertainers.

Spoiler: Welcome
Show


The Despot was pulled out of the party once as Princess Dionysia needed the final stage of her education selected. Being her educator the Despot picked diplomacy and statesmanship for her studies.

Spoiler: Future Statesman
Show


He returned to the party in time to give Queen Yajinavati her necklace. When the high point of the feast came during the darkest night of the season, when the candles and lamps were lit, the Despot still felt depressed. It just was not enough to help fight back HIS own darkness.

Spoiler: Failing To Fight Back The Night
Show


When the party came to an end the Despot smiled on the outside but he still felt tired and old on the inside.

So we close this chapter with the depressed Despot slowly preparing himself and his Kingdom for another war.