Let's Play Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Fifty-Nine : Death...


...And Marriage

We open this chapter in October, of the year 837 AD, with a message from Sakellarios Wiryasini to the Queen stating that he was making progress in the search for the lost artifact. In fact he believed he would soon be able to present it to the Queen. She was very pleased.

Spoiler: Almost Found The Artifact

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At the end of the month three projects were completed. Two Castle Walls and a Barracks were finished - all of which would increase the Kingdom's military might.

Spoiler: Three Completed Projects

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She was very pleased and before the day ended her ordered a new project. She wanted the Castle Walls of her own Castle/Palace to be made even thicker and higher!

Spoiler: Upgrading Her Palace Walls

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November started out with good news also. The Castle Walls in Haruppeswara had been completed!

Spoiler: Castle Walls Finished In Haruppeswara

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Then the bad news came. Very bad news. Count Dionysios "The Hunter" of Medog, her husband, Despot of Kamarupa, died a natural death at the age of 65, on the 3rd of November. The man her own father had selected to marry her. The man who had helped her give birth to eight children. The man who had helped her with paperwork and planning. The man she had loved. The man was gone.

Spoiler: Death Of A Despot

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The new Count of Medog was now their eldest son, Andronikos. At least the boy was loyal and seemed to be a good steward. Maybe he would settle down, have a few sons, and turn out okay? As long as he didn't try to kill the future Queen again.

Spoiler: Count Andronikos Of Medog

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Of course the Queen had to remarry. She searched for somebody who was, to be honest, harmless. Nobody who could threaten her rule or bring shame to it.

She ended up deciding to marry a Courtier, of the name of Herakleios, a lowborn Greek Buddhist who WANTED to marry. He wasn't even one of the Courtiers of her own court! He was a Courtier of Count Isaias, of all people.

Spoiler: Wedding Request

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True, she would really lose a huge amount of prestige marrying a nobody but she really felt marrying a nobody was the best thing to keep the Kingdom stable and her control over it complete.

As she waited for the reply to her marriage proposal she was notified of that fact that, without her husband's help, she was falling behind in her duties towards the holdings, the demesne, she directly held. Maybe if she gave one up...?

Spoiler: Demesne Is Too Big

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She refused, deciding to hold onto all nine holdings until after the marriage. Maybe her new husband would be a help in the direct running of her private lands?

Spoiler: The Answer Is Yes

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She finally got a positive reply and the marriage was held. She decided to pay for the wedding herself and ended up regaining much of the respect that she had lost in marrying such a lowborn man.

Spoiler: The Royal Wedding

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Turned out her new husband did know a thing or two about land management and, with his help, she was able to run her nine holdings without a problem. Now there was no need to give one up.

Spoiler: The New Despot And The Queen

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So we close this chapters with more projects finished, a new Count, and a new Despot. But maybe a tad saddened by the passing away of "The Hunter".

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Sixty : A Diwali Feast


A Kind Of Honeymoon?

We open this chapter in November, of the year 837 AD, with the Queen being told that Count Andronikos of Medog passed the law of Title Revocation. A good first move by all new Rulers it suggested that the young man may, in fact, settle down and be a proper Count.

Spoiler: Count Andronikos Passes A Law

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A new born baby was also added to the court. Mah Varshasbzk of the House of Vijaya was born on the 19th of November. The Queen decided on the 20th that the girl should focus her early education on Greek culture and the Buddhist faith. A GOOD basic education.

Spoiler: A New Born Courtier For The Court

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The Queen also decided to celebrate her marriage to new husband by holding a Diwali Feast. Due to the size of her Royal Court the cost would be almost 100 gold coins but she felt it worth the price. The scribes wrote the invites and they were carried off by dozens of mounted messengers.

Spoiler: A Diwali Feast

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As the Queen waited for the replies she selected a cape for her husband. Surely he would like a new cape?

Spoiler: A Baron Refuses

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Soon she received a response from Baron Samudravarman of Numaligarh. He had refused to come to the feast. But he was the only one and, with such a large crowd coming, it was doubtful he would be missed.

Spoiler: Everything Is Ready!

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Soon the Palace was ready for the party - the kitchens hot from cooking, the dining rooms decorated with flowers and tapestries, and the servants outfitted with new uniforms. Soon the guests started to arrive and were greeted with gifts and jugglers.

As the Queen mingled with her Vassals and Courtiers she was notified by a servant that the Christian Rebels had almost taken the County of Lhatse from the Kingdom of Bihar. They had only one holding whose defenders still held out against them.

Spoiler: Christians Keep Revolting

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Soon it was time for the traditional gifts. Sadly, the Despot did not seem impressed with his brand new cape. The Queen was slightly disappointed.

Spoiler: The Cape Was Not To His Liking...

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Around this time it was announced that Nayanadevi Bhaumakara of the Kingdom of Pala had died from a heart condition. The Queen was slightly upset by this. It meant that the Great King could get a newer, YOUNGER, wife. One who could produce more offspring.

Spoiler: The Queen Of The Pala Dies

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The darkest night of the Diwali had arrived and the Palace became a island of flames in a sea of darkness. The oil lamps and scented candles and wall torches were all lit up and they helped beat back the darkness. Food and drink were plentiful and many of the guests cheered the Queen and her new Despot, wishing them a long and happy marriage.

Spoiler: Light The Lights!

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As everybody partied around the Queen a servant came over and whispered into her ear. It was as she feared - the Great King Mahendra wanted to get married!

Spoiler: The Great King Of Pala Wants To Marry!

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As the old year ended and the new year started the party came to an end. All the guests left with after-party gifts as the staff started to clean up and the Queen tried out her many cures for hangovers.

Spoiler: Time To Go Home Folks!

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The feast had mixed results - the guests were happy but she had not bonded with her husband as she had hoped.

So we start the new year with the Christians still revolting, the Great King Mahendra looking for a new wife, and the Queen wondering what to do with a husband who did not seem to like capes?

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Sixty-One : The Host, The Tongue, And The Tiger


The Pala Family Entertains Us!

We open this chapter in January, of the year 838 AD, with the announcement that Kameshwar of the House of Pala had declared war on the Great King Maharaja Srimanta of Bihar. The man had raised a Host and had a war chest full of gold so he could claim the Kingdom of Bihar for himself!

Spoiler: Kameshwar's Host

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This meant the young King was now in two wars to defend his throne while trying to crush a religious upraising.

In February the idle Sakellarios was sent to Kamarupanagara to help with the upgrading of the Castle Walls.

Spoiler: Sakellarios Sent To Help Upgrade The Palace Wall

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Soon afterwards the Queen received shocking news. Her son, Prince Andronikos, at the age of 27, had died! The reports were unclear but it seemed the death was from some kind of accident and it was suggested that his coffin be kept closed during the funeral.

Spoiler: Prince Andronikos Dies

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Revati Ptompiletkacer, her son's wife, returned to Urabo to live with her family.

Spoiler: Revati Returns To Her Family

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The Queen had mixed feelings. She felt sad for her son but he had been such a trouble maker in life maybe it was for the best? After a week or so trying to figure out WHAT had happened she gave up and looked for a person to hand the County over to. She handed the title of Medog over to her husband in the end. He was VERY pleased to receive a County of his very own.

Spoiler: The New Count

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In March the Queen received news that the White Tiger had been seen in the region. A magical beast, the one to bring it down would be imbued with divine power. Her ordered her people out to find it - sending out her best hunters and trackers.

Spoiler: The White Tiger?

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Later that month Kameshwar's Host was sighted. It was moving north and seemed to be uncontested.

Spoiler: Host Sighting

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In April the Queen was told that the Christians were now in the County of Sakya. Looks like the Kingdom of Bihar was being overwhelmed with too many enemies.

Spoiler: Christian Rebels

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The Queen was almost in a good mood again. Until June, when she was told that Bhikku Gabriel of Para-Lauhitya had started a Faction to bring Gavelkind Succession to the Kingdom of Kamarupa. The Queen was VERY upset by this piece of news.

Spoiler: Gabriel Starts A Faction For Gavelkind Succession

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She was so angry, in fact, that she accidentally sent her Spy Master Bhikku to scheme in Kamarupanagara INSTEAD of Dimapur! In Dimapur the man could have uncovered some dirt on Gabriel but now he would be in the Palace, wasting his time with the normal, everyday, plots.

Spoiler: Master Spy Sent To Wrong County!

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Late June the Varahas-Guhilot Subjugation War had come to an end. But nobody could tell the Queen why this was important or what it had to do with her.

Spoiler: And...?

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In July the searchers for the White Tiger had reported it being sighted in Bikrampur. The Queen ordered her best horse saddled and her equipment prepared!

Spoiler: Prepare For The Hunt!

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As the servants tried to decide which saddle to put on which horse the Queen tried to pick out her best hunting gear. And of course which boots to wear! Making sure to be well armed AND fashionable was important, after all.

In August, while she and her staff were still picking out cloaks, Count Wiryasini finally brought the relic before the Queen. A well-preserved tongue that once belonged to a holy man!

Spoiler: A Powerful Tongue!

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The Queen rewarded him with over 123 gold coins. It also meant her soldiers were back from adventuring.

Spoiler: A Tiny Overview...

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So we end the chapter with the Queen having a minor artifact, her levies back to 100%, and getting ready to hunt for the rare White Tiger!

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Sixty-Two : The White Tiger


Kitty! Come Get Hunted!

We open this chapter in August, of the year 838 AD, in which the Queen decided to order the building of a Keep in Kundina and a Barracks in Haruppeswara. She had the money and she decided to use it.

Spoiler: A Keep And A Barracks Are Ordered To Be Built

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A few days later a son was born to Ramtish and Princess Dionysia named Wakhushakk.

Spoiler: A Boy Named Wakhushakk

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The Queen decided the boy would learn about his Heritage, focusing his studies on Greek culture and Buddhism. A good solid basic education for a new Courtier.

Spoiler: Learning About One's Heritage

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The Castle Walls of the Palace was soon finished. They were now bigger than ever before much to the delight of the Queen.

Spoiler: Bigger And Better

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Now that they were finished the Sakellarios could be sent to Kundina to help build the County's Keep. Mustn't let him get idle and lazy.

Spoiler: Councilors Off To Work

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The Queen also decided that it was time for the Protostrator to stop organizing the army and start training the Commanders who would end up leading it. They had a few years left to sharpen their skills.

In September there was a horrible event as a elephant went crazy and started running amuck in the town outside the Palace. It had already killed several people and the Queen decided to send soldiers to try to kill it before it hurt more people.

Spoiler: A Lone Elephant

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In the end it was lured to a safe area and killed with spears by the brave soldiers. A sad affair to be sure but at least it had been contained.

Also a rumor leaked out of the Kingdom of Pala that Rajkumar Hariyamandal of the House of Pala had disbanded his Faction to put himself in power. Yes, it seemed that even the Kingdom of Pala had a few family members plotting against their own Ruler. Seemed all the branches of the Pala Family had some kind of infighting.

But the Queen dismissed the rumors as it was finally time for the Hunt For The White Tiger to start! The Queen had her horse picked out and her favorite hunting dogs. So she, and her hunting party, were off.

Spoiler: Time For The Hunt!

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Up and down the hills she rode. Her hounds barking, her people beating the bush, her eyes scanning the forest for the tiniest sign of the big cat. Yet day after day, and night after night, they failed to find any trace of the cat. Every evening she went to her tent tired and hungry for a kill.

During the hunt she received news about the Ming Dynasty. It seemed that Shah Kanak "The Usurper" had allowed his Realm to become a tributary state of the Middle Kingdom.

Spoiler: The Khotan Bows Down To The Ming

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The Queen wondered if the Shah felt it was worth it? Giving half of his income in order to be a Tribute State to the Ming Dynasty - did the man feel safe being a subject state to the nation to the east? Would it come to his aid in times of trouble? Was his family happy with his decision?

By October the Queen was feeling horrible. She had found plenty of bugs, snakes, and saddle sores but no White Tiger. She wondered if her hunt was worth it?

Spoiler: No Tiger

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It put her into a deep depression. A dark hole of unhappiness. Life had lost its sweet taste.

Spoiler: Depressed

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She returned to the Palace, failing to find the White Tiger, but promising herself that she would find her prey next time.

Spoiler: I WILL FInd You Next Time!

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We close this chapter with the Queen depressed and tired but with a stronger Kingdom and a bigger military.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Sixty-Three : World Tour!


Christian Vikings Save The Church?

It is time to leave India and the depressed Queen to see the known world and the top seven military powers as of the 9th of October, in the year 838 AD. Yes, my lovely readers, time to see what's happening in the neighborhood.

We fly to the Middle East where we visit the most powerful military power in the known world, Caliph Mahdi "The Tormentor" of Abbasid. Also known as the Arabian Empire. With over eighteen thousand soldiers he was still in the Civil War in Spain.

Spoiler: Arabian Empire

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He was also DEEP in debt. But at least he was no longer crazy! That's good. Right? Oh well, on to the next super power!

We head north to visit the Byzantine Revolt. Nikarete "The Weak" was still in control and she was winning her Revolt. With over twelve thousand soldiers it was easy to see why she was winning.

Spoiler: Byzantine Revolt

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Too bad she was a lunatic. Outside of that she seemed like she would make a great Ruler.

For our next Realm we just have to shift a tad. Welcome to the Byzantine Empire! The Ruler was still Basileus Niketas II. He had over ten thousand soldiers, little to no skills, and he was only 9 years old.

Spoiler: Byzantine Empire

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And no money. So there was a reason he was losing. Oh well, on to the next Realm on the list!

To the east we fly! To India! Welcome To Punjab! Ruled by the Great King Begluk "The Conqueror" who was in a war with his twelve thousand warriors against the Taghlibid Sultanate with their seven hundred something men.

Spoiler: Punjab

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When you compare the two Rulers...well, you can see who was the better man. Will the "Conqueror" decide to move west and take on the Middle East? Who knows! Now, who is next on our list? Off to Italy we go!

That's right! King Adelchis II "The Monster" of Lombardy has crushed the Heresy Revolt and was now fighting off an invading Host. By defeating the Heresy Revolt he had increased the Church's Moral Authority up to 51 from the 40.6 when we last saw it. Though there may be other factors involved as we will see later in the chapter.

Spoiler: Lombardy

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For a Ruler with so many negative traits mixed in with the good ones he seems to be doing a good job surviving in this harsh world. Maybe Bad Men make Good Rulers?

Next we fly to Spain, where the last two powers on our list are fighting each other!

First is the Sultan Mu'awiyah of the Umayyad Sultanate who was trying to crush the Revolt with his four thousand soldiers. Luckily, as he had help from the Arabian Empire, he was winning. His Realm covered most of Spain and included parts of Africa and France.

Spoiler: Andalusia (Spain)

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Sadly, he was also suffering from cancer and was hiding from the populace. Why? The illness? Or maybe the Viking Raider who were also raiding his territories. Now, let us move to the next and last power on the list.

Abdul "The Seducer" of the Umayyad Revolt may be having a good time with his ladies but he was losing the Revolt AND being attacked by two Viking Raiders. With less than three thousand warriors it was doubtful he would be a Ruler much longer.

Spoiler: Umayyad Revolt

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So those are the seven military powers of the known world. But let us peek at another power. The Raiders attacking the Spanish Realms were coming from Svipjod, ruled by King Bertil of the House Skjoldung. A Roman Catholic! That's right. The Vikings of Northern Europe, at least for the moment, were Christian. Which may be why the Church had the increase in it's Authority.

Spoiler: Svipjod

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Even the next in the line of Svipjod succession was Catholic suggesting that, somehow, the Church had converted some of the Nobles of the Germanic Pagans to Christians. And who was in charge of the Church?

Pope Victor II "The Holy" was a 67 year old German who enjoyed hunting and making money. And seemed to have a hair fetish. Or maybe it was just the local fashion?

Spoiler: The Pope

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Would the Christians make a come back? Would the Vikings help them take back Europe from the Pagans? Or would the Tribal nature of the Viking Realms bring it all down? We will see.

Well, we close this chapter and I thank you for joining me in this peek at the known world. Join me next time when we return to the Queen and India.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Sixty-Four : Plots, Plots, And A Wedding.


Ghost Letter Delivery

We open this chapter in October, in the year 838 AD, when it was brought to the Queen's attention that her fourth son, Doge Himerios of Lhasa, was now a man. And angry to not have a position on the Council.

Spoiler: Himerios of Lhasa

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The Queen cared nothing for his desires for power. All she noticed was he had no wife. Time for the traditional matchmaking she, like her father and grandmother before her, enjoyed so much.

Spoiler: Wedding Proposal

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In general he seemed to be a well rounded individual. But the Queen wanted something more. So she picked Mahendrani Khsetravridhid, a Buddhist Bengali. She was from outside the Realm as nobody within the Royal Court was worthy of marrying the Doge. The woman was somewhat dull but she DID have impressive stewardship skills and amazing cheekbones. She WAS also older than the Queen's son but age had never proven a barrier to the men of the family before, so why should it matter now?

There had been, of course, younger women and many women of many skills in India. But none were as balanced in their traits and skills as Mahendrani. And most were not Buddhists.

Spoiler: A Son Is Married

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By the 18th of October the couple was married. Sadly, this did little to cheer the Queen up. When she wasn't depressed she was drunk. And when not drunk she was buried neck deep in paperwork. Running so many holdings directly was wearing her down. Sometime in November it is said she screamed at a servant for not refilling her wine cup fast enough. It seems she had lost patience.

Spoiler: Lack Of Patience

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Being a cruel drunk and having no patience did not help in her relations with the staff. It also meant she was having problems keeping up with the reports and information from all her holdings. The Council suggested she hand over one of her titles to another.

Spoiler: Too Many Titles

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After a quick once over of her titles she decided the County of Nedong was the less likely to be of any use to anybody else. So she gave it to her husband. In the end she would get it back anyway. Unless...he seemed to have taken a Concubine.

Spoiler: Her Husband Gets A New Title

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If the Concubine had children the Queen did not know if the offspring could inherit. Of course, the Queen could always marry the woman to somebody else if she had too. The woman, Alexandra, even wished to marry. And she was a Buddhist Greek. She was wasted as some man's concubine. The Queen decided to keep an eye on the woman.

Spoiler: Count Of Nedong Becoming Uppity?

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Funny enough her husband switched his primary title to Count of Nedong shortly afterwards. He was also starting to put on extra weight. And he was now angry about not having a position in the Council. You would think he would be happy with his wealth, titles, and Concubine?

Spoiler: Bhikkhu Gabriel

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Early December the Nobles of the Duchy of Para-Lauhitya approved the Religious Control Mandate Law. Which helped the Queen remember that she had a little problem with Bhikkhu Gabriel and his Faction.

Spoiler: Her Spy Master Is Sent To Dimapur

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On the 5th of December she was finally able to relocate her Spy Master to Dimapur to Build a Spy Network and try to put a stop to the Gabriel's Faction.

Amazingly the Spy Master, and his agents, uncovered some dirt a few days later. But it was dirt related to a whole different plot and Vassal!

Spoiler: A Murder Plot Is Uncovered

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Doux Ananta of Lhunze was plotting to kill Count Harendranarayan of Madhupur. The only reason that the Queen could find for this plot is the fact that the victim was a Vassal of the Doux's wife. So the wife would inherit the County of Madhupur. The Doux was just try to make his wife more powerful by giving her one more title and one less Vassal. Of course he was told to cancel the plot and was given till the Christian Winter Holiday to do so.

Spoiler: A Threat

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But then the Spy Master did dig up the RIGHT dirt. And the Queen decided to threaten the Bhikkhu Gabriel to make him disband the Gavelkind Succession Faction.

Spoiler: A Death

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On the 21st of December she was brought the news of Gabriel's death. Bhikkhu Pankratios had inherited the titles. The new man was, sadly, not as interested in collecting money as much as he was in causing trouble. The Queen was shocked.

She tossed her wine mug at the messenger, who easily dodged the horrible throw, and screamed at him. "I told the Spy Master to threaten him not KILL him!"

The messenger bowed and defended the Spy Master, replying, "It was not a murder. The man died a natural death."

The Queen calmed down and gestured for a fresh mug of wine.

"Well," she said to herself, "At least the silly Faction has disbanded. You can't control Factions from the grave."

Spoiler: NO Factions

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By Christmas the Doux Ananta had also stopped plotting. Of course if he had refused he would have been arrested.

Spoiler: NO Plots

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A day later the Queen was once again tossing wine mugs at messengers as one tried to deliver a letter to her from the dead Bhikkhu.

Spoiler: A Ghost Writer?

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"Ghost postal delivery!" she screamed in horror.

The messenger, once again dodged the mug, and stated, "It was likely a letter he wrote BEFORE dying my Queen."

"Oh," said the Queen as she had a fresh wine mug filled and handed to her by a waiting servant. "That's okay then."

So we close this chapter with one of her sons getting married, a new Bhikkhu to worry about, and many plots being dealt with.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Sixty-Five : War And Love


True Love

We open this chapter in January, of the year 839 AD, with the Queen reviewing the situation outside her borders. The Great King Srimanta, the 10 year old Ruler of Bihar, was having problems. Two of his relatives were trying to take his throne as he was also fighting off a Catholic Uprising.

Spoiler: The Pala Family Wars Continues

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In other words his one thousand six hundred soldiers were against a total of over six thousand enemy soldiers. Not good for the Kingdom of Bihar. Not good at all.

But the Queen had her own problem. No matter how she tried she could not trick her husband into marrying off his Concubine. She could not even arrange a betrothal because her husband refused to put Alexandra on the list of women available for such an arrangement.

Spoiler: Alexandra

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But there was one silver lining in the Queen‘s storm cloud. Alexandra had a LOVER! Count Harendranarayan of Madhupur loved her and she loved him. This meant that if she did get knocked up it would likely end up being the Count’s bastard. True love might end up saving the day! Unless that gave the Count an heir...

Spoiler: Lovers

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Later that month the Raja Dev Singh died from poor health. He was only 44 years old. His 24 year old son, Jatakhadga II, got his father’s titles. The young man had a wife, two kids, a concubine, and was great at dealing with money. Maybe not the greatest of his line but, still, it would make him a good vassal for the House of Pala.

Spoiler: The Raja Dev Singh Is Dead

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A day later the Bhikkhu Pankratios of Para-Lauhitya decided to found the Gavelkind Succession in Kamarupa Faction.

Spoiler: Another Faction

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The Queen was less then pleased. “Has it become a tradition of the Dukes of Para-Lauhitya to piss me off?” She ordered some more wine and sighed. “At least my Spy Master is ALREADY in Dimapur.”

Spoiler: The Spy Keeps On Spying

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And she was right. The Mystikos had not even had time to leave the County after the last Doux had died. So he just continued to work on the local spy network!

Her Protostrator alerted her to the fact that Commander Varshasb had improved his military skills. This pleased the Queen, for her Commanders were dangerously unskilled. In fact there was even an empty position.

Spoiler: Commander Varshasb

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She selected Bhikkhu Adrianos of Hajo to fill the Commander position. He was old but he was also brave and good with a blade. Maybe he would become a Warrior Monk?

Spoiler: Military Commanders

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The Queen realized that the next two years would be a race to improve her officers. They needed to be worthy to command her large armies. What was the point of all the newly trained archers and levies if their leaders had no knowledge of warfare?

So we close this short chapter with a new Commander and a Queen deep in thought - plotting, scheming, and drinking.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Sixty-Six : A New Friend And Passing Out Titles


A New Keep

We open this chapter in late January, 839 AD, with the Queen being introduced to a friend of a friend. She decided there was no harm in getting to know somebody else's friend.

Spoiler: A Friend Of A Friend...

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Pamphilios turned out to share a lot of ideals with the Queen and they were soon very close. It was good to have another friend during her time of depression.

Spoiler: Becomes A New Friend

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The map on her wall had been slightly changed showing that the Realm of Khotan now had the status of a Chinese Western Protectorate. The Queen wondered how the Shah's eleven vassals felt about being under the thumb of the Ming.

Spoiler: Western Protectorate

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She also wondered how the Shah was able to get betrothed to a daughter of "The Conqueror".

Spoiler: How?

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Later she ordered that the Castle of Kamarupanagara build some Stables. She felt she could easily make back the money before the war started in a couple of years.

Spoiler: More Stables Are Needed

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She also noticed that Rajamati Himadrijid, 6 year old Courtier without parents, was also without an education. The Queen decided that learning about Buddha and the Greek culture would be good for the girl

Spoiler: Rajamati Himadrijid

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She also noticed that Arminestra Dysnomia, her granddaughter who had been abandoned when the father died and the mother left the court, also needed an education. The Queen decided the girl needed to learn, first hand, about the harsh realities of life.

Spoiler: Arminestra Dysnomia

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In March the Queen, once again trying to gain points with Buddha and her religious populace, gave a 100 gold coins to the Savaka-Sangha. They were very pleased with her of course.

Spoiler: Charity

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As were most of the Bikkhi but for Pankratios whose opinion of her, while positive, was somewhat low.

Spoiler: Happy Monks

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She also noticed that one of the Religious Sites of Buddhism was now under Buddhist control. Before this only two had been under control of the Faithful.

In May looking over her Court records she realized that many of the Minor Titles were empty. Such as the Designated Regent! How careless!

She made Princess Anastasia of Kamarupa, the Duchess of Bhutan, her Designated Regent. Who better to put in such a position of power then her own daughter and heir to the Kingdoms?

She made Pankratios of Para-Lauhitya Master of the Hunt on the hopes of increasing his opinion of her. It did so, but barely.

Doux Ananta of Varendra was made the Royal Builder and Yudhisthire Gayakasyapesoya, her Magistros, who was still nervous around the Palace Walls, was made the Court Poet.

Spoiler: The Keep In The County Of Kundina Is Complete

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Later that month the Keep in Kundina was finished and the Sakellarios, Count Wiryasini "The Wise" and likely very tired, was sent to Kamarupanagara to help with the Stables.

Spoiler: Now To Finish The Stables

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So we end this chapter with a new Friend, happier Monks, and more work to be done.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Sixty-Seven : Children And Advancement


Family Is Important

We open this chapter in May, of the year 839 AD, with the Queen deciding to look over how some of her children were doing. She first noticed that Doge Himerios of Lhasa had a cough. And also did not get along with his wife - they both had low opinions of each other. It also seemed that the Doge felt he should get the County of Medog which now belonged to his Stepfather.

Spoiler: Doge Himerios

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She also noticed that they did not have kids and the Doge's Court Physician would inherit the Republic. At least the man was a skilled and trusting Doctor. Therefore it was unlikely there would be "accidents". Still, the Queen felt they needed to have children! Sadly, she could not force the issue.

Spoiler: Duchess Anastasia

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The next member of the family she was interested in was the Duchess Anastasia of Bhutan. Who seemed to be eating well but not yet with child. The Duchess also seemed to have plans to gain another title if she could. The County if Medog, of course.

Spoiler: Mayor Leontios

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As did the next family member she checked on, Mayor Leontios of Yumai. The eldest son still alive. He was brave and trusting but also had ambitions for the title of County of Medog. The Queen realized it was because it had belonged to her first husband and all his offspring felt they should inherit it.

Spoiler: County of Medog

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As did the young Lady Mayor Eustathia of Banbar who was one year from being a woman and getting married. She also wanted Medog.

Spoiler: The Youngest Children

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Lord Mayor Eusebios of Amdo also wanted the title of Medog. Even Princess Eupraxia wanted the title and she was destined to be married to the Prince of the Pala Kingdom and become its Queen.

In June the Savaka-Sangha was in need of funding and asked the Queen for help. She, of course, could not refuse.

Spoiler: Request For Money

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She gave them a 100 gold coins. She felt her Kingdom could easily recover that amount and then some before the year even ended.

Spoiler: Money Donated

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Because of this, and her other acts of Faith, she promised herself to treat others better and the records show she became less cruel.

Spoiler: No Longer Cruel

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In July the Queen realized there was a good chance she could advance in rank from being a Sotapanna to Sakadagami. So she requested to be allowed to move up to the next rank.

Spoiler: Request For Advancement

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As she waited the Barracks were completed at the Castle of Haruppeswara.

Spoiler: New Barracks

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Shortly after that she got her reply from the Society. They had agreed with her and she was being advanced in rank!

Spoiler: Advancement Given

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She was so happy that to show her devotion to her Faith and the Society she took the vow of celibacy.

Spoiler: Vow Of Celibacy

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So we end this chapter after a overview of her surviving offspring, and the Queen improving herself and her position among the Faithful.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Sixty-Eight : The Pope Must Be Pleased


A New Kingdom

We open this chapter in August, of the year 839 AD, with the announcement that the Catholic Kingdom of Nagchu has formed as the Rebels win their war against the Kingdom of Bihar. Gyalpo Poyul Pungse answers only to Pope Victor II and happens to see the Queen as a infidel. He even wants the Kingdom of U-Tsang for himself.

Spoiler: Kingdom Of Nagchu

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On the other hand it is likely he will soon be at war with almost every other nation in India and Tibet as all the others were either followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, or Jainism. In other words, many Holy Wars were in the newly formed Realm's future.

In October the Countess Theodosia asked for some advice. She had many buildings that needed to be replaced. The Countess wished them just be reinforced - no doubt trying to save money.

Spoiler: Advice Is Given

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The Queen suggested that the buildings could be torn down AND the materials from them could be used to rebuild better buildings. This pleased the Countess greatly.

Sadly, while the Countess was very grateful for the help and one of the Queen's best friends, she refused to marry Pamphilios to anybody, inside or outside the court.

Spoiler: No Marriage For Pamphilios

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Even when the Queen suggested he marry the widow Theodosia of Kamarupa, a widowed Princess of the Royal Family, the offer was refused by the Countess. What a waste!

Spoiler: Theodosia of Kamarupa

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The Queen decided to show some mercy and invited Rajkumari Theodosia, and her son, back home. The poor thing was likely sick of the island life on Lambakanna. True, she still had a claim on the Kingdom. But she had no army to back up her claim - the Queen's half-sister was harmless at this point.

Spoiler: Princess Anastasia Wants Another Title

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While waiting for her half-sister to arrive the Queen received, in November, a request from Princess Anastasia, asking for the County of Pundravardhana. The Queen was pleased that her daughter would be so daring to ask. But she decided to refuse the Princess with great diplomacy.

There was also a child born to the House of Dimapur. Theoktistos of Dimapur was both a Buddhist and a Greek, much to the happiest of the Queen. It seems her Royal Court was becoming a solid core of Greek culture and the Faithful.

Spoiler: Theoktistos of Dimapur

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A day after his birth the Queen decided he would focus his early education on manners and court etiquette.

Theodosia Dysnomia and her son, Digasumana Lambakanna, showed up at the same time the letter of acceptance showed up. No doubt they have both taken the same ship.

Spoiler: Acceptance

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The Queen looked over her nephew. He was strong and seemed to have a claim over his homeland. Which meant she had no problem with him and he had no problem with her.

Spoiler: Theodosia Dysnomia And Son

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But the Queen still did not trust her half-sister. She wanted her to be happy and married. Just not happy and married inside her borders. The Queen called for her scholars and scribes to look for a Prince she could marry Theodosia to. And she found one.

Spoiler: Prince Marasimha Of Talakad Ganga

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Prince Marasimha of Talakad Ganga was almost an adult and would make a good husband for Theoktistos. At least that's what the Queen told her half-sister as she sent the proposal for an arranged matrilineal betrothal.

Spoiler: Proposal

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The proposal was agreed on. Which meant another Princess could become the Founder of another branch of the family. If all things went well...

Spoiler: Agreement

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Near the end of the month she was told that the White Tiger had been spotted and she, once again, ordered her best horses be prepared!

Spoiler: Another Tiger Is Spotted!

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So we end this chapter with a Catholic Kingdom, another Family Member being passed around like a two-dollar coin, and the start of another Great Hunt!

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Sixty-Nine : The "Unfaithful" Harlot


Never Enough Cavalry

We open this chapter in December, of the year 839 AD, with the Queen being alerted to the fact that the Palace Stables were completed.

Spoiler: Capital Stables Are Completed

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"No more projects," she stated to her Court. "From now on we try to save every coin, every ounce of gold, for our war. One year. We have to be ready in ONE year!"

Spoiler: Kingdom Overview

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To be honest, while depressed, she was pleased with how well her Kingdom had developed both in its military forces and its economy. When not drunk or crying in the corner. At least she had stopped throwing her wine mugs at people.

In December she was notified that Heer Lohi died at the age of 62 years old from natural causes.

Spoiler: Heer Lohi Who?

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"Who?" asked the Queen looking confused.

"The wife of the old Raja," replied the servant.

"Why do you people bring me such news?" demanded the Queen with a frown.

In January, of the year 840 AD, the Queen called for a small overview of the Pala Kingdom.

Spoiler: Kingdom Of Pala Overview

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The report was short and simple. The Great King Mahendra of the Pala had over four thousand soldiers, of which over a thousand were hired swords, and was slowly winning his war against the Kingdom of Bihar. And he had become very skilled in the Art of War by leading his armies himself.

"Good," said the Queen with a smile. "If he is captured in battle it makes the war all the more shorter."

She was not smiling when she received the news from one of her spies that Princess Anastasia of Bhutan, her eldest daughter, the future Queen, was now named "The Unfaithful".

"What does this mean?" she demanded from her Councilors when she heard the rumors.

The Councilors looked at each other and prepared to tell their Queen the news.

The Magistros Yudhusthire Gayakasyapesoya decided to step forward, as the Spy Master was not available, and said, "She has been found to be having a love affair with her Protostrator Jayapala. Also...there are hints and suggestions that she may have had an affair earlier than this with a much YOUNGER man."

Spoiler: NOOOOOOOOOO!

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The Queen's words that followed have been recorded by witnesses but, due to their nature, I fear I can not reveal them here in print. It may offend my younger readers.

"IT...gets worse," stated the Magistros, "The Protosrator is totally insane and paranoid. And, of course, is now a rival of High Chief Somogy Izsak. Which means he might try to kill your son-in-law."

"But my son-in-law might kill him too, right?" asked the Queen hopefully. "Right? And end the whole affair?"

"Yes," said the Magistros, "but...your daughter already is heavy with a child."

The words the Queen used, while once again recorded, can not be repeated here.

"If the baby belongs to the lover," continued the Magsitros, trying to ignore the way the Queen was glaring at her Council, "he could claim it for his own house. And due to the nature of her husband's feelings right now it may be a long time before the Princess is...well, hmm, you know. With child again."

The Queen sat up straight in her chair and sighed, with her eyes closed. She then said, slowly, "WE will deal with her AFTER the war with Pala. We will deal with her after I have had time to calm down. Now leave me. I need to break a dozen wine pots or so."

The Councilors exited the throne room with great speed.

So it was not with much surprise that when the Queen finally went out to find the Great Tiger she did so full of energy and the burning desire to kill nature's helpless creatures.

Spoiler: Time To Kill

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It is said even the hunting dogs shied away from her during the hunt and during the evening meals the Queen was said to be so enraged she even forgot to get drunk!

When, in February, the Queen finally found the tiger she had the bad luck to be separated from it by a deep gorge. It stared at her and, witnesses say, stuck its tongue out before disappearing deep into the surrounding jungle.

Spoiler: Why You!!!!

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She promised herself that one day, ONE DAY, she find the Great White Tiger and kill it dead.

So she returned to the palace in not a very cheerful mood. On doing so she heard some mixed news.

Doge Himerios was getting treated for his cough. Which was good. He had also pushed a law that allowed him to take titles away from Vassals. Which was also good. And he now had a little girl! All good news.

Spoiler: Doge Himerios Of Lhasa

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But he was the Ruler of the REPUBLIC of Lhasa. Which meant he needed a SON to inherit his titles. Which was bad.

“Stupid form of government,” said the Queen when she heard. “Why would anybody want to let others VOTE on their decisions. That makes no sense!”

For a few weeks the Queen did nothing but draw angry images of white tigers being killed in many horrible ways. But in March she was notified that Lady Mayor Eustathia of Banbar was now old enough to marry.

The Queen looked over what the Princess had become as an adult. A mixed bag but if the right husband was found they could do a good job running their lands together. The big problem was the woman’s people skills. She had none.

Spoiler: Looking Good

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Babak Chakarzk of the House of Kasyar on the other hand not only had good people skills BUT he wanted to marry. He was pretty old but the Queen decided to go for it and sent a proposal.

Spoiler: Marriage Proposal

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Funny enough there was no letter in reply - the man just showed up in Court and the Queen got the couple married as soon as possible!

Spoiler: A Quick Wedding

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In April the Queen was told that Prasadhanadevi Pratihara had died from cancer at the age of 68.

Spoiler: Prasadhanadevi Pratihara Who?

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“Are you people trying to depress me?” asked the Queen. “Because it isn’t going to work as I am already depressed much of the time.”

In May the Baron Samudravarman of Numaligaid died and passed on his titles to his eldest son. The Baron Bhattamahabahu. The new Baron did not like the Queen, for many reasons including differences in culture and religion.

Spoiler: A NEW Baron For Numaligaid

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So we close this chapter with a very, very, very upset Queen. But also much closer to the war with the Kingdom of Pala. As the truce would be running out in December, 840 AD.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy : Game Of Thrones


Girl Power

We open this chapter in May, of the year 840 AD, with the Queen looking over the Kingdom of Talakad Ganga. Her half-sister would be marrying Prince Marasimha of the House of Talakad Ganga. The second in line of succession.

Spoiler: Kingdom Of Talakad Ganga

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That meant his eldest brother was in the way of the Prince becoming the Great King. Prince Sripurusha would have to die! Which would be hard to do as the man was not only a coward - which meant he would be on the look out for trouble - but much of the court seemed to dislike the Queen more than their own rulers.

Spoiler: Prince Sripurusha Needs To Die!

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Even spending money on gifts to two Court Concubines and the Court’s Royal Doctor there were still no backers to her plot.

“Let it boil and see what floats to the top,” remarked the Queen. “It was a long shot either way.”

To comfort herself the Queen went back to drawing pictures of white tigers being killed by spears, arrows, and packs of Viking Guard Pugs.

Sometimes she would also read her father’s poetry about his love of cheese but that only made her thirsty for wine.

Spoiler: Cheese!

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In July she was notified that Rajamti Himadrijid had become Greek due to her tutor’s influence. This was wonderful news - the girl would make a perfect Courtier and perfect future wife!

Spoiler: Rajamti Himadrijid Becomes Greek

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She noticed also that one of her Commanders had gone missing.

“What happened?” demanded the Queen. “Did somebody leave? Did I marry somebody I should not have? Did somebody die? Oh...okay...let me pick somebody.”

Spoiler: Picking A New Commander

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She picked Mayor Suryakk of Mangling who she didn’t know at all. He was just the best non-important person for the job. Why put somebody important in danger?

In August the very loyal Count Kyriakos of Bumthang, Cupbearer of Kamarupa, the Queen’s Protostrator discovered a man of military talent called Isaias. The man wanted a job and was willing to work within the ranks.

Spoiler: Count Kyriakos - Talent Scout

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Of course the Queen tossed out the Mayor and made Isaias a Commander. Suryakk was outraged but in the end he was only a Mayor so the Queen didn’t really care.

“I need all the skilled Commanders I can get!” she exclaimed to her Council. “War comes by the end of the year and a huge army is nothing without men who know how to use it!”

In September the Queen realized that the wonderful Commander Isaias was also single and got him married to Prabhavatigupta of the House of Pavakid. As the woman was a noble and he was not the marriage, was of course, matrilineal. The wedding was in October. The woman, who had disliked the Queen, now had a higher opinion of her because she had wished to be married!

Spoiler: Every Commander Needs A Wife

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While the offspring would belong to the House of Pavakid the Queen hoped they would end up Buddhists and Greek. With the proper education, of course.

Shortly after that marriage the Prince Marasimha become an adult and the Queen confirmed that the marriage should go ahead as planned.

Later that month the Great King of Talakad Ganga also agreed that the wedding should go ahead. Along with his letter came the Prince.

Spoiler: Prince Marasimha Becomes A In-Law

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After the wedding the Queen face-palmed in private. She had forgotten that because the Prince was second in line for the throne he would end up living in her Royal Court instead of her half-sister going to live in their Royal Court.

“So I still have my half-sister within my borders,” grumbled the Queen. “Where’s my WINE!”

“There is one good piece of news I can bring you oh Great and Noble Queen,” remarked one of her scribes.

“And what is that?” demanded the Queen as she sipped her wine.

“It is the 19th of October,” said the scribe with a smile. “There are only 58 days left before the Truce with Great King Mahendra expires.”

The Queen smiled. “And we have over 800 gold coins in our coffers.”

A few days later the Queen was told about the death of Vakulamahadevi Somavamsi at the age of 49 from cancer,

Spoiler: Vakulamahadevi Somavamsi Dies

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“I really don’t care,” explained the Queen to the servant. “You guys forget to tell me about important events while acting like unimportant events are the most amazing thing in the known world. Just stop it.”

At the end of October the Queen was told by her spies and Councilors that the view of women and women in power had become more positive over the years. So she decided to increase women’s rights! Of course the Law was passed - because she was the Queen and not the Ruler of some bloody Republic.

Spoiler: Women's Rights!

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In November the Queen had to make a painful decision. Monks from the local monastery asked her for donations. It seemed that their site was popular and they had a rising number of visitors. They needed more money or food to feed the worshipers while also taking care of their own needs.

Spoiler: Monks Asking For Donations

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The Queen gave them over 147 gold coins, as much as it pained her, because she knew it would please the religious members of her Court and Kingdom. It would help her greatly in the long run.

Later that month she noticed her youngest half-sister was about to come of age very soon. So the Queen had a great idea. Why not marry the Princess Ioulia of Dysnomia to her other half-sister’s son, Prince Digasumana?

Spoiler: Princess Ioulia Of Dysnomia

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A matrilineal marriage would seem to be a good idea. And the Princess agreed to the idea without a second thought. Well, he was a good catch.

Spoiler: Princess Ioulia And Prince Digasumana Marry

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And so we close this chapter in December with the Queen finally turning her TOTAL focus onto the war that was about to start.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-One : A Rock And A Hard Place


Happy New Year Surprise!

The Great King Mahendra "The Chaste" of the Pala Kingdom was looked at by many as the perfect Warrior King. He was skilled in the use of heavy infantry AND a trickster. He was not only brave in battle but enjoyed hunting. He even had the scars to prove it. People expected nothing less from a member of the Kshatriya caste - the warriors.

But he was also charitable and chaste. Very much a man in control of himself. A good Buddhist and, for a man at the age of 37 years, he was doing pretty well as leader.

We find him leading his men in Magadha, the Capital-County of the Kingdom of Bihar. His army had just started laying siege to the Castle of Magadha. The County had a castle, two temples, and two cities. It could take half a year to bring the whole county under his control.

Spoiler: Magadha - Capital Of The Kingdom Of Bihar

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The war had not gone as well as he would have liked. The Great King Srimanta of Bihar was just a boy. But his ally, Raja Dharmarstha of the Somavamsi Raja was not. And had proved a powerful friend to the boy.

Still, the Pala Kingdom was winning, Slowly. The Kameshwar's Host had not helped matters. Three sides fighting over the same holdings, having sieges and counter-sieges, and getting into each other's way had caused the Great King Mahendra some annoyances. Still, Kameshwar had TOTALLY failed to hold any of his gains.

Without the Catholics as a thorn in his side the Great King Srimanta had proven a match for the Host. The rabble was running about without a piece of land to call its own. Sooner or later Kameshwar would run out of men or coin and the Host would disband.

But in the end there had been no real surprises. The Great King of Pala, his Commanders, and his troops were all veterans. Few things surprised him.

Today, on the 20th of January, he was about to be surprised. If only slightly.

The Great King was in his tent, enjoying a short catnap. Outside was the sound of great siege machines crashing and men grunting as the castle walls were attacked and battered. It would take time. Time he no longer had.

A cough was heard outside the tent. The Great King sat up and said, "Come in."

The officer who entered was one of his Commanders and held a small scroll in his hands.

"Messenger bird just brought this my Liege," said the man, his face like stone and his voice calm. He handed it to his King and backed out with a bow.

The Great King looked down at the slip of paper and stared. Years of combat and public speaking meant his expression did not change but inside his mind was working a mile a second.

Spoiler: War With Kamarupa!

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Queen Arminestra II "The Wise" of Kamarupa had declared war against him over the County of Kotivarsa. A worthless piece of territory. Yet the impact of such a war...

Spoiler: County Of Kotivarsa

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If he left to fight the Queen his enemies could free all the holdings he had captured. It could take him years to fight off the Queen AND then he would have to start all over again.

But if he stayed in Magadha the Queen could do anything she wanted with his territories.

Soon more information started to pop in from his network within Kamarupa. A spy from one county reported levies while a messenger pretending to be a trader brought information about levies from another county. There were even soldiers coming from the Tibetan frontier. Over time more and more pieces of data flowed in. The numbers were not good - at least not for him.

Spoiler: Enemy Troops

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The total he and his staff could come up with was about seven thousand enemy soldiers.

"Seven thousand?" he said aloud. "Count again!"

They did so. It still came up around seven thousand soldiers under the Queen's command.

So now the Great King had to decide what to do. And another message soon came that put even more pressure on him.

"My Liege!" said an officer as he burst into the tent on the 26th of January. "I'm sorry my Liege but...this is important!"

The Great King looked up from his maps and took the message.

Spoiler: County Of Laksmanavati Under Attack!

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Over three thousand enemy soldiers were already in his Capital-County of Laksmanavati setting up barriers and siege machinery around his Palace. They even had war elephants!

------


Levies Assemble!

In December the Queen had over five thousand soldiers and about 790 gold coins in her coffers. The plan, like all the other plans, were simple.

She hired the Bengal Band and the Rajput Band on the 8th of December. The two mercenary groups assembled in the Capital, right outside the Palace. They joined up with the Retinue of professional soldiers.

The Commanders selected were Isaias for the right flank, Ramtish for the center, and Varshasb for the left flank. They started to march south right away - aiming for Laksmanavati. Even after hiring both units the treasury still had 484 gold coins.

The Truce ran out while they marched and the Queen just waited. The declaration of war had to be timed perfectly.

Once she sent the declaration she ordered the levies assembled. She knew she would likely have time to bring them together. After that, well, anything could happen.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Two : Vikings And Infighting


Tibetan-Norse Levies

"And where are the Norse right now?" asked the Queen.

One of the servants pointed at the map on the wall. "The Yarlungi Army is just leaving Markam my Queen. It consists mostly of heavy infantry."

Spoiler: The Yarlungi Army

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It as the 26th of January, of the year 841 AD, and the Queen had finished reviewing her available forces and where they were. The Markam levies had the longest distance to march to join the others that, at that moment, were all marching to assemble in the Capital.

For some reason that idea of Viking levies, with their famous packs of attack pugs, amused her greatly.

"And Rajkumar Gopala of the Pala Kingdom is still betrothed to my youngest even though we have attacked his father's realm?" asked the Queen.

Spoiler: Future Son-In-Law From Pala

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"Yes oh Great and Noble one," answered another servant as he refilled her wine mug. "In fact the agents inside his residence report he still seems to like you."

The Queen shook her head. "He will, funny enough, likely make the best son-in-law I will ever have."

The Queen sipped her wine and then, after a few seconds, remarked, "And the bad news?"

The servants looked nervous and made sure to keep their eyes on the ground.

"Your Heir to the throne gave birth to a bastard," one of them stated.

Spoiler: A Bastard

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The Queen ground her teeth and then sighed again. "I am starting to think maybe my son, Leontios of Yumai, would make a good Heir. What do you think?"

Spoiler: Maybe A Change In Heir?

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The servants looked at each other and one said, "He is brave and trusting. Even has some skills with a sword. And both his daughters are his. So...well...yes?"

The Queen nodded. "After the war I think I may have to make him my new Heir."

By February it had become clear that the Great King of Pala was too focused on Magadha to care about his OWN Capital. He had already taken the Palace of Pataliputra and seemed determined to take it all.

Spoiler: Fighting In Magadha

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In that month almost all the levies had reached the Capital. The Queen told Commander Fortun, who commanded the collected army, to wait for all of them but the Vikings. They would have to catch up.

By March is was clear that the Great King Mahendra "The Chaste" of the Pala Kingdom was in deep trouble.

He had almost five thousand soldiers. But while he had over 300 gold coins in his coffers his monthly balance was negative. He was losing about 2 gold coins a month.

Spoiler: Over Eight Thousand Soldiers

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The Queen on the other hand had over eight thousand soldiers and more than 500 gold coins. And she was MAKING money.

For some reason the Queen felt something was not going according to plan. Which was silly - the war with the Kingdom of Pala had just started. Maybe because at one point the enemies had been one of the most powerful military realms in India? But that was so long ago - generations in fact.

Spoiler: Ask A Friend For Help?

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So she decided she needed no help. And she wasn't going to ask Bhikkhu Urak, one of her best friends, for money or troops.

On the 24th of March the Queen ordered the Army of Fortun to the County of Kotivarsa. Commander Fortun was stationed on the center with Commander Paschalis on his right flank. No Commander was in command of the left flank. But one would not be needed - the army was doing to carry out sieges.

Spoiler: Advance!

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The Vikings had not arrived at the Capital yet so they were told to march directly to Kotivasa to join the main group.

Later that month she received the funniest news she would get during the whole war.

"So Raja Jatakhadga of the House of Shantideva had started a war with another Raja to take the County of Samatata away from him?" she commented before she started to laugh.

Spoiler: HA HA!

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"Why is she laughing?" asked one of the servants to the messenger who had brought the information.

"Both are vassals to the Great King of the Pala Kingdom," explained the man as the Queen continued to laugh. "He is their Liege. In other words, Mahendra is fighting two wars, dealing with a Host, and now two of his own vassals are having a...well, a Civil War. As long as they fight they can't help him with money or men."

Spoiler: Raja Vs. Raja

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A day later it was reported that the Raja Jatakhadga's levies in Kotivarsa were heading south. But did they know that they were about to be hit by over three thousand soldiers? Would they escape in time?

By April it was clear there was going to be a one-sided battle between the Queen's levies and the Raja's levies.

Spoiler: About To Be Surprised

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"Just like the good old days," snickered the Queen when she heard the news. "My namesake would be happy."

The Battle of Ramavati started on the 18th of April and ended on the 27th of April. The enemy levies were just outnumbered and outmatched.

Spoiler: The Battle of Ramavati

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The Queen's army lost one soldier. The enemy was wiped out. Now there would be less defenders helping protect the holdings against the Queen's soldiers.

"Very much like the good old days," said the Queen with a smirk when she heard the news.

So we close this chapter with the war barely having started and the Great King already having headaches.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Three : Slow And Steady


Hello! Anybody Home?

We open this chapter in April, of the year 841 AD, where we find the Royal Couple were having their evening meal.

"So, how is the war between the two Rajas?" asked the Queen as she started on a dish of grilled chicken after finishing the appetizer of olives, cucumbers, and feta cheese.

The chicken has been marinated with olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and lemon juice. It would be served with curry rice of course. She had grown up with the fusion of Greek and Indian cuisine and truly enjoyed it.

Spoiler: Greek Grilled Chicken

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She had been told that the frontier cuisine was just as interesting but she didn't really want to try Norse-Tibetan food. Yak butter tea, barley bread, and roast mutton was really not to her taste.

Spoiler: Making Yak Butter Tea

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"Well, first off my Queen," said her husband from where he sat across from her at the dining table. "Ganeshwar Singh of Samatata is a Thakur, a Count, and not a Duke. And as far as our agents can tell, they are still fighting. Wiping out two hundred of the Raja Jatakhadga's soldiers at Ramavati likely only slowed the war down."

Spoiler: Fools Fighting

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"Don't correct me," stated the Queen as she gestured to a waiting staff member for more local wine. Viticulture had been around since the Indus Valley civilization, around the time of the Bronze Age, but the winemaking industry had boomed with the influx of all the “Freeloaders” from Greece.

"Yes dear," said Count Herakleios with a sigh. He was somewhat embarrassed to be talked to like that before the servants but there was not much he could do. The two might be married but they didn't love each other and the Queen didn't really trust him much. In fact her opinion of him was pretty low.

He cleared his throat and added, "The Great King seems to have occupied the temple of Pataliputra. He continues to focus on the Bihar Capital-County." He poked his grilled chicken and added, "He has three holdings to go. Then he may come after your armies."

Spoiler: Temple Of Pataliputra Is Taken

Show

"Maybe," said the Queen after tasting the chicken and rice. "But he is hugely outnumbered. We'll see."

------


Come And Get It!

It was the 15th of May and the Great King Mahendra looked at his porridge and sighed. One of the problems with long sieges was the fact that armies could strip a landscape of everything. Cattle became meals and trees became firewood. Wells and streams became sources of fresh water and barns, cottages, and windmills became staff headquarters, kitchens, and hospitals. Road ditches became toilets and farm fields became tent cities.

Which meant that after a few months the food available became less and less tasty. And you ended up with imported salted fish, weak beer, and cereals. Lots and lots of different types of cereals.

He tasted his porridge and sighed again. It tasted like left over gains mixed together with some kind of herbs. It wasn't bad tasting. That would have been wonderful! No, it was worst than that. It was bland.

He always tried to lead by example but when it came to eating the same food as his soldiers he sometimes wondered if he was taking it a tad too far.

Still, the town of Maner, which was the focus of the siege must have run out of real food long ago. It was likely that they had already eaten all their pets and were now eyeing the bodies of their dead comrades.

There was a cough outside the tent and the Great King cringed. Lately, news was not something that cheered him up. But at least he could take a break from the food.

"Come in," he said, after sitting up and making sure there was no porridge on his chin.

The Commander stepped into the tent and bowed. With him came the scent of the camp outside the tent. It was not a good one. The small of unwashed bodies, urine, and spoiled rations.

"News from the War to Revoke Samatata, my Liege," said the officer as he handed the Great King a small scroll. He then left with another bow. Sadly, the smell did not leave with him. The Great King reminded himself to burn more incense before retiring to bed.

The Great King unrolled the scroll after breaking the seal and glanced at it. He shook his head and remarked aloud to himself, "Poor man."

Spoiler: Poor Count

Show

The Thakur, or Count, of the County of Kotivarsa had first been dragged away by his liege to fight in the war. Then he had heard the news of his lands being attacked by the Kingdom of Kamarupa without being able to do anything about it. And now he had been captured when the Raja was defeated in the first battle of their tiny little conflict.

And now he was suffering in some dungeon while the Queen’s soldiers stomped his home into the mud. Hopefully the Thakur Ganeshwar Singh would treat him decently. Or release him soon.(1)

The Great King set down the scroll and looked at his food. He wondered if dungeon meals were better or worse than what he was eating?

------


Laws Were Made To Be OBEYED!

On the 25th of June the Queen was trying to decide on which crown to wear that day when her husband entered the throne room. She cringed and waved the three servants holding the three crowns away. It wasn’t that she expected bad news. His face just always made her cringe.

“My wife,” said the Count as he held out a letter, “news about Lady Mayor Eustathia.”

The Queen took the letter and opened it.

Spoiler: Lady Mayor Eustathia Makes Demands Of Her Vassals

Show

“I see,” said the Queen with a nod. “Good. She is demanding the City Vassals supply more troops during times of war. Wonderful idea. When you only have TWO vassals. I do something like that and they’ll try to hang me.”

In July she received good news and wonderful news.

The good news was that the Great King’s own Castle, his Palace, had fallen to her men. The Commanders reported they had lost 545 troops while the defenders, over a thousand of them, had been wiped out.

Spoiler: The Great King's Palace Is Taken

Show

The wonderful news was the fact that three people had been taken captive. One of which was the Great King’s wife. And another turned out to be the Queen Mother! The third had been a girl from the House of Lakhnorid.

Spoiler: Very Important Captives

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If the Great King was worried he didn’t seem to show it as the town of Maner fell around the same time. It was said his army was now moving onto the urban center of Barh.

Spoiler: Town Of Maner Falls

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The Queen ordered her Commanders in the field to send ransom notes to the Great King. There were hints that he would willingly pay to have his wife and mother back. For a total of 20 gold.

The first payment came on the 7th of July for his dear wife. She was released the second the gold was received.

Spoiler: A Wife Is Returned

Show

Later that month the Castle of Ramavati, in the County of Kotivarsa, fell to the Army of Fortun. Once again all the defenders had been wiped out while the Queen’s levies only lost 88 men.

Spoiler: Castle Of Ramavati Falls As Does the Town Of Barh

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Funny enough the Queen received news, that same day, that the town of Barh had also fallen to the Great King.

Soon the Great King’s payment for his mother also arrived and she was released.

Spoiler: A Mother Is Returned

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The Queen’s Commanders also offered to hand over the girl, Ratnadevi, for another 10 gold but the Great King said no. She was not important to him. In fact both of her parents were dead - it was believed they had died from some kind of illness - and therefore there was nobody to pay her ransom.

Spoiler: A Young Child Is Set Free

Show

So the Queen let her go. She was only four years old and life had made her suffer enough.

So we end this chapter with many victories and even a few people ransomed.(2)

And one happy little girl.
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Author's End Notes:

1. He was, in fact, released shortly afterwards.

2. And don’t forget the loot from when a castle or town fell to the Queen’s armies.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Four : Sieges And Politics


Armies On The March

We open this chapter in August, of the year 841 AD, with the Queen staring at the message in her hands.

It seems that the Arahnat Mukundanarayan, of the Savaka-Sangha, wanted her to build a temple to Buddha. Temples could cost up to 700 gold coins.

Spoiler: The Savaka-Sangha Wants A Temple

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But the Queen agreed to this. It would take time but she was making money even while at war. Surely sooner or later she could afford to build a temple for the Faithful.

Also in August the Queen got a report from the Commanders on the field. It seemed a Pala army, a small one, had been sighted marching northwest. It was on the other side of the River Ganges and seemed to be ignoring the Queen's troops.

Spoiler: WHERE Are They Going?

Show

By September the Queen, and her advisers, realized the small army was heading towards the County of Mithila. This county was an important County has it was part of the Silk Road. It seems the Pala military had picked their next target.

At this point the Queen asked what was "Ironside" doing? Where was the boy King's ally?(1)

Funny enough old "Ironside" was in the County of Gaya trying to free all the boy King's holdings there from the Pala enemy garrisons. He WAS trying to do something. Sadly, with under two thousand soldiers, it was slow going. Also the fact he was in a total of three wars didn't help him either. Or, maybe we should say, it didn't help the Kingdom of Bihar.

Spoiler: The Great King Srimanta's Ally

Show

The man was a great warrior and hunter. But he was also almost broke. It was doubtful he would be able to do much of anything.

Sadly, at this point, she became too sick to care about the politics between the Kingdom of Bihar and the Somavamsi Raj. Count Wiryasini said that the cough was not due to a serious illness but after some thought, and after the Queen silently threatened him with her Grandmother's dagger, he decided he would treat her for it anyway.

Spoiler: The Queen Becomes Ill

Show

He brought her boiling water and had her hang her face over it. She pondered if she should stab him anyway but decided not to as the treatment did seem to help a little.

As she steamed her face, which did do wonders for her skin, she received news that the army in the County of Lakamanavati had taken the Castle of Gaur. The Commander Fortun reported no losses while the defenders had been wiped out.

Spoiler: The Castle Of Gaur Falls

Show

Also, though the Vikings had gone to the Army of Fortun in Kotivarsa, the army in Lakamanavati was now calling itself the Yarlungi Army. Nobody could explain why.

Spoiler: The NEW Yarlungi Army?

Show

Near the end of September the Great King Mahendra had finally subjugated the County of Magadha and had moved his main army across the river to join the smaller army. In other words over two thousand out of the three thousands warriors of the Pala Kingdom was now on the WRONG side of the Ganges.

Spoiler: The Great King Leads His Men Across The Ganges

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Commander Ramtish decided to join the other army on the hopes of taking the Great King by surprise.

Spoiler: Planning To Meet Up

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While the Army of Commander Fortun waited for the join-up he decided to take the Temple of Devkot. He lost 188 men while the defenders lost 837 men.

Spoiler: The Temple Of Devkot Falls

Show

As the Queen waited for more reports she stayed in her bedroom, her head over pots of boiling water, trying not to cough too much.

The Queen Was Not Feeling Well

But while her body tried to cough up her lungs she received news of her two of her Vassals from one of her most trusted spies.

Both Count Wiryasini, her Doctor, and Count Yase, the coo-coo, had their Councils pass the Title Revocation Laws in late September. This was not a surprising move. Any ruler would do likewise if they could.

Spoiler: Title Revocation Laws Are Passed

Show

But then Count Yase of Mainling decided he wanted FREEDOM FOR ALL. He founded the "Independence" Faction.

"The what now?" said the Queen. Maybe she had heard the word wrong. She was not feeling well after all.

Spoiler: FREEDOM!

Show

"The Independence Faction," repeated the hooded spy with a shrug. "He wants to break off and become his own Kingdom. And he hopes for others to join him so he may force the issue from a position of power."

The Queen felt shaky and sat down on her bed. She coughed into her hands and shivered. Memories of her father's last days haunted her.

The spy waited silently and tried not to look embarrassed. He felt sad to bring her such crazy news while she was so ill. He had worked for her for many years and felt a certain pride at his job. He always felt bad about bringing her bad news. He knew that there was not much she could do about the crazy Count as her Spy Master was already occupied at the moment.

"Independence? The second he broke off from the Kingdom one of my other Vassals would just invade his county and hang him. Does he really think...oh wait, I forget he is insane." The Queen coughed again.

Secret Agent Man!

She then handed the spy a small bag of silver and he exited her bedroom, escorted by her Royal Guards. They would make sure he left the Palace without being questioned or even noticed.

So the chapter ends with a Queen who was somewhat upset but had wonderfully soft skin.
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Author's End Notes:

1. The Queen had started to call the Great King Srimanta of Bihar the boy King so not to confuse him with the Great King Mahendra.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Five : Failed Ambush


A Norse Concubine?

We open this chapter in October, of the year 841 AD, with the Queen reading reports from her bed.

The Great King Mahendra and two thirds of his military sat in the County of Mithila laying siege to its Castle. Her Commanders were planning on visiting him once they were ready.

Spoiler: A Sitting Duck?

Show

She coughed and dismissed her servants, scribes, and husband. "I need to rest now," she explained.

After they left she reached under her pillow to check to make sure her dagger was there. And her bottle of the strongest beer she could stomach. It helped ease her cough. At least that is what she told herself.

Spoiler: Refreshing Yummy Beer

Show

She was lucky that she trusted her Commanders. She felt weird not being RIGHT on the battlefields. She knew her Grandmother and Father had both fought face-to-face against their enemies. She had grown up on tales of the capture of Raja Viradeva of Shantideva Raj by Queen Arminestra.

True, the Despot found out he was a yellow-bellied coward but at least he had tried to command soldiers in war.

She sipped her beer and wondered if she would live long enough to see the end of this war.

About a week later she received news that Count Ananta of Lhunze had his Council agree to passing the Title Revocation Law. But there was also a piece of information in the report that drew her attention.

Spoiler: Count Ananta Likes Redheads

Show

His Concubine was a Christian Norse. And had given the Count two daughters.

“Do many of the Nobles have Norse Concubines?” she asked one of her scribes.

The scribes looked at each other and one stepped forward. He bowed and remarked, “This is the first time we have noticed such a Concubine in the records. Most powerful men seem to prefer Greek women. But the region of Tibet, and some Counties within India, do not have Greek peasants. So they end up taking what they can among the lowborn.”

The Queen frowned. She didn’t like that idea but there was no way to stop it. At least the daughters would take the religion of their father and become Buddhists.

On the 11th of October the two Royal Armies came together and the Queen decided the newly combined forces needed a new General in charge of them all.

Spoiler: Switching The Head Commander

Show

Commander Isaias was now in charge of the massive army. An army with thousands of light infantry and heavy infantry, almost a thousand light cavalry, sixty war elephants, hundreds of peasant bowmen, professional archers and hired mounted archers. Within the ranks of the infantry were hundreds of giant Tibetan-Norse warriors, a core of professional pikemen, and swarms of man-eating attack pugs.

Spoiler: PUGS!

Show

Battle Hardened Attack Pugs Ready For War!

The Army of Isaias did one last thing before leaving Kotivarsa. They took the town of Bangarh. The new army lost zero soldiers while the defenders were wiped out.

Spoiler: Town Of Bangarh Falls

Show

Then the army marched west. It was a mighty sight. Hundreds of wagons, thousands of animals and men, and clouds of crows which followed them. They knew when fresh meat would soon be available.

As the Queen waited for the next report from the war she was alerted to the next Vassal to pass the Title Revocation Law. Countess Theodosia of Xainza, one of the Queen’s best friends, had decided to pass it in November.

Spoiler: Countess Theodosia Passes The Title Revocation Law

Show

Pretty smart for a woman with low intelligence and who liked to party.

The Great King’s scouts must have noticed the approaching army and he started to withdraw. Commander Isaias realized they were NOT going to catch the enemy and ordered the army to halt. The only benefit was they had broken the Great King’s siege and, therefore, had helped the boy King.

Spoiler: The Great King Flees

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That same day Count Kyriakos of Bumthang had his Council pass the Title Revocation Law.

Spoiler: Count Kyriakos Passes The Title Revocation Law Also

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In December the Council held a meeting in the Queen’s private quarters due to her illness. As she sat up in bed they give their reports and speeches. Sakellarios Wiryasini told the group that the peasants were speaking of another artifact. This time, while the Queen thanked him, she did not assign anybody to search for it.

Spoiler: ANOTHER Artifact?

Show

The problem was simple - the search would require a percent of her income being used FOR such a search. As she was in the middle of a conflict she didn’t wish to burn her treasury at both ends. Decreasing her income while spending coin on a war just seemed wrong. The rumors of the artifact were filed away in the back of her mind for later date.

Spoiler: The Cough Is Gone!

Show

By the end of the month she found herself without a cough. Being able to sleep, have meals, and talk to people without coughing was a great relief.

So we end this chapter with a Queen in better health and the largest Royal Army the Kingdom had ever seen.
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Author's End Notes:

OOC: As you know I added the attack pugs. Sadly there are none in the game.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Six : Court Life Is Complex


Busy Queen Is Busy

We open this chapter in January, of the year 842 AD, with the Queen happily sitting on her throne in her throne room. She was drinking wine and not coughing. She was very happy not to be coughing. It allowed her to lecture servants and have meals in which most of the food was not sprayed all over the table. Just breathing without doubling over was nice again.

She had also just received news that the Temple of Jagaddala had fallen which meant that the County of Kotivarsa was now totally under the control of her soldiers.

Spoiler: Temple Of Jagaddala Falls

Show

Her troops had lost 47 warriors while the enemy had lost 2. Now the army had two choices.

During this siege the Great King had returned to the County of Mithila. Once again making himself a target. The army COULD go after the Great King.

Or they COULD go south and attack the enemy’s Capital-County again. It could force the Great King to come to them.

So of course Commander Isaias decided to try to ambush the enemy again. And of course the Great King made a run for it. This time he crossed the River Ganges, totally abandoning his invasion of Mithila, and once again breaking his siege of the boy King’s territory.

Spoiler: Another Failed Ambush

Show

Later that month she was alerted to the fact that her brother-in-law, Prince Marasimha, was trying to spread heresy. Now she could be heavy handed or just let it go. But she decided to try to send the young man a series of letters to help guide him to the proper pathway of enlightenment.

Spoiler: Heresy!

Show

She was also alerted to the birth of a son to the House of Vijaya. It took her about five days to decide on Sangrama Varshasbzk’s early education. She decided he should learn about the Greek Culture and more about the True Faith.

Spoiler: House Of Vijaya Welcomes A New Son

Show

The reason she had been so slow to make the decision about the boy’s education was because she had spent much of the time exchanging letters with Commander Isaias. In the end they had both decided to march the army south to the enemy Capital. The goal was to take the rest of his holdings.

Spoiler: Marching South

Show

IF the Great King tried to stop them - good! He would be attacking a far larger army across a river. He would have all the disadvantages. And if he refused to attack he would lose his Capital!

While she waited for news from the front she got a letter from Prince Marasimha. It seemed he was totally convinced by her arguments and promised to never stray again. She hoped not. She had enough problems without religious issues adding to culture differences, family infighting, and her own aging body.

Spoiler: Prince Marasimha Promises To Be Good

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That same day she was notified that Princess Anastasia had given birth to a little girl named Rhodanthe. The name was Greek for Rose. The Queen pondered the fact that the Rose was the flower of love. Yet this child had been born from two parents who hated each other.

Spoiler: Rhodanthe - The Rose

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“Scribes! Scribes!” shouted the Queen. “I need paper, ink, an ink stone, and a pen. I plan to write a very important letter and need the wording to be just right.”

Spoiler: One Of The Tools Of A True Scholar

Show

Imported Chinese Ink Stone

After making some fresh ink and using the finest sheets of paper she wrote a letter to the Princess Anastasia asking, nicely, to be assigned the baby Rhodanthe’s Guardian.

Spoiler: Guardian Request

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The Princess sent a letter in reply, which arrived in February, agreeing to this arrangement. The Queen also restricted who the girl could marry. True, she was a baby right now but the Queen did not wish to leave anything to chance.

Spoiler: Agreement

Show

Later that month the Army of Isaias reported it was laying siege to the town of Malda. They would need to take a total of four holdings from the Great King to occupy the whole County. Five if you count the Trade Post. Will, a Trading Port really.

Spoiler: Siege Of Malda Begins

Show

It was also noticed that the County of Rajrappa was being attacked by a new player. Yes, another person had joined the war. Who else had decided to kick the small boy and his Kingdom while he was down?

Spoiler: Thakur Jayshikari Of Jumla Joins The Dance

Show

Thakur Jayshikari of Jumla, a great warrior and hunter, had declared war on the Great King Srimanta of Bihar. The boy King was, in other words, becoming a target for every vulture in India. The only person in the war NOT attacking him was the Queen!

In the ides of March the town of Malda fell to the Royal Army. None of her own soldiers were lost but the defenders lost over four hundred men.

Spoiler: Town Of Malda Falls

Show

Now the army, just under seven thousand troops, descended onto the Temple of Puthia which had just over five hundred priests to defend it. Ditches were dug and barriers built. The siege had begun.

A few days later the Magistros Yudhisthire bragged about improving the Queen’s relations with Count Yase of the Tibetan Plateau. A few of her nearby servants snickered.

“What?” she demanded to her servants.

Spoiler: A Young Boy And His Lovely Teacher

Show

They blushed and many of the male servants looked at their feet. One of her maids stepped forward and said, “The Count’s teacher is a young woman named Tarmawirne. She is said to be lovely even after suffering a case of pox.”

The Queen touched her own wrinkled face and graying hair. Talking about another woman’s beauty made her feel all the more older. She shook her head at the maid and the rest of her staff. “Don’t gossip,” she said with a shaking of her right forefinger at them.

A few days later she received the information that the infighting between the Raja and the Thukar south of her Kingdom was still going on. There was no sign of progress on either side.

Spoiler: Fools Continue To Fight

Show

So we end the chapter with the Queen keeping her Royal Court, Vassals, and Kingdom in order while her trusted military Commanders did their best to end the war as quickly as they could.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Seven : The Old Queen


Where IS The White Tiger?

We open the chapter in April, of the year 842 AD, with the announcement that the Royal Army had taken the Temple of Puthia without losses. The defenders, all 569, had been killed. The army then headed to the next target which was the city of Pankak.

Spoiler: Temple Of Puthia Falls

Show

The Queen’s army now numbered over seven thousand and the defenders of Pankak were about six hundred.

In early May reports came in that the White Tiger had been spotted in Paro. The Queen ordered, once again, that her best horses be prepared, her hunting gear cleaned, and her dogs selected. She would get the tiger this time for sure!

Spoiler: White Tiger Spotted!

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In June the city of Pankak fell. The military Commanders reported that they had lost zero men while the defenders had all died. Now they marched on to the Castle of Banan. After that would be the Trade Post.

Spoiler: City Of Pankak Falls

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Before the Queen left for the hunt her husband and staff surprised her with a small birthday party to celebrate her 50th Birthday.

Spoiler: Happy Birthday!

Show

The cooks had made Baklava for the party. She tried to enjoy it but it reminded her of the slipping away of time.(1)

Spoiler: Go Forth!

Show

She needed more time. As she left the Palace in July, in the crowd of dogs, extra horses, and mounted servants, she begged Buddha for more time.

One evening, one of the servants brought her a note. Seems the Great King Mahendra had inherited the Castle of Gaur when the Damapati Bhatta died.

Spoiler: The Great King Inherited the Castle of Gaur

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The joke was on him - Gaur was in the County of Lakamanavati which he would not have access to till the war was over.

Spoiler: Failure!

Show

By the 24th of July her body ached and even her dogs were tired. In the end she had to return to the Palace empty handed and humble. Very humble. But Buddha had started out as a rich Prince who failed many times to find enlightenment. Surely being humble was NOT a bad thing to be?

Spoiler: The Old Queen

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Near the end of July the Great King decided to try to take back Kotivarsa while the Queen’s army was occupied in his Capital-County. No doubt he planned to free his holdings and gain time. This would place him right next to the Queen’s army.

Spoiler: The Great King Makes His Move

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After some discussion with her Commanders it was decided that they should take the County of Laksmanavati then try to take the Great King one more time.

By August the Castle of Banan had fallen. The army reported no losses while the defenders were all wiped out. Now the Queen’s soldiers only have to take the Trade Post which was defended by a hundred enemy troops.

Spoiler: Castle Of Banan Falls

Show

Commander Ramtish, who had been replaced, had not become angry. Instead of just hanging about, complaining about being replaced, and getting on everybody’s nerves he had gone to the Protostrator to continue his training. In fact the Queen got a report that he had improved his knowledge of defensive tactics.

Spoiler: Commander Ramtish Imrpoves His Skills Via Training

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Later that month the Great King was laying siege to the Castle of Ramavati. Over two thousand of his men against a garrison of just over three hundred.

Spoiler: Thousands Against Hundreds

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In September the Trade Post had fallen. The defenders had failed to kill EVEN one of the Queen’s warriors while, at the same time, they had been wiped out.

Spoiler: The Trade Post Falls

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Soon they were marching north towards the Great King’s army which was focused on trying to take back his holdings.

Spoiler: End Game...?

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As the Queen waited for the announcement of the battle she was told that Aaleyaamma was trying to kill the Doux Ananta of Varendra.

Spoiler: Aaleyaamma Plots To Kill Doux Ananta

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On one hand it seemed like there was no reason for it. But the fact was that before the Count had changed who was his Heir the Aaleyaamma’s husband, brother to the Count, would have inherited. She was likely planning to kill the Count and the rest of his offspring to clear the way for her husband. Of course she was told to halt the plotting.

So we end this chapter with the Queen’s Army trying, one more time, to ambush the Great King’s Army. We also have a Queen very much looking her age.
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Author's End Notes:

1. Some say the oldest recipe for Baklava can be traced to the 2nd Century BCE. The Placenta cake was a Roman dessert. The cake contained cheese and honey interspersed between layers of thin dough. It was flavored with bay leaves, baked, and covered in more honey before being served.

What Roman Placenta Cake Likely Looked Like

Also known as Roman Honey Cake. Placenta is Latin that came from the Greek Plakount or, in English, “Flat Cake”, which in turn came from the Greek Plax, which in English meant “Flat Plate”. Today many Placenta cakes may just contain cheese and, therefore, many people believe it was also the source for modern day Pizza. But those people are silly.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Eight : The Final Battle


Crap...Its Vikings

It was the 24th of September, of the year 842 AD, in the County of Kotivarsa and the Great King Mahendra's scouts had failed. Failed badly.

The Great King sat on his massive war horse and stared at the approaching army. The Queen Arminestra II "The Wise" of Kamarup certainly knew how to impress people.

The ranks of his own soldiers, many battle hardened warriors and officers, stood in their lines all around him. He had made himself Commander of the Center. And it not only gave him a view of the enemy army but allowed him to judge the reactions of such a sight among his own men.

He shifted slightly and pulled out his sword. He kept his face calm and tried to look almost stern. Still, inside he was impressed. He also sensed the men around him were also impressed. Not scared or nervous. But they were impressed.

Maybe it was the sixty war elephants. Maybe it was the shouting Tibetan-Norse who pounded their weapons against their shields. Maybe it was the HUGE amount of infantry. Also the amount of cavalry was also something to wonder at. Many of them seemed to carry missile weapons. The only thing the Queen's army lacked was heavy cavalry.

"I would say they outnumber us at least 3 to 1," commented one of his staff officers sitting on a horse next to him. "And what are those...things running about their ankles?"

"Attack Pugs," whispered another officer.

"I thought pugs were myth, like unicorns and dragons?" replied the first officer, somewhat taken back.

"I though Vikings were myths," replied the whispering officer. The man gestured with one hand towards the enemy ranks and added, "But there they are."

The Great King glanced at the two officers and they became silent. It was a little too late to worry about what they were facing now. Now was the time to fight.

"Gentlemen," said the Great King as he prepared to close his helmet's visor, "after this war remind me to hire better scouts."

------

The Battle of Ramavati (and the first battle on a open field between the two enemies) opened with a exchange of missile fire. Arrows from the ranks of archers and throwing spears from the missile cavalry. The Defenders got the worst of it as they had few of the first and none of the second.

Spoiler: The Battle Of Ramavati Starts

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Before the battle Commander Isaias had given his flanks the superior numbers. Sadly for the Great King, he had put much of his forces into his right flank, so his left flank was a weak point. His left flank collapsed first under the weight of Commander Varshasb's arrow fire. Varshasb followed up with a cavalry charge as the ground was perfect for mounted forces.

By October the Great King's own command, the center, was the next to give. Instead of pursuing the King for his own honor Commander Isaias switched his missile fire to help his left flank. Commander Varshasb followed his leader's example and halted chase to add the weight of his arrows and missiles to the battle once again.

Spoiler: The Great King's Army Flees

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The center could not hold and soon only the Great King's right flank was left. And it collapsed swiftly under the attention of the missile fire of the Queen's army. Soon it was fleeing the battlefield being chased by cavalry, elephants, and attack pugs.

------

It was the 14th of October, of the year 842 AD, in the throne room of the Queen's Palace. She had been waiting and waiting for the next report from her Commanders. She was becoming worried. Surely they had won by now? There was NO way they could have lost such a one-sided battle.

Then the Royal Guards swung open the doors and a messenger ran in and come to a stop in front of her. He panted as he kneed and held out a scroll.

"The war is over my Queen!"

The Queen grabbed up the scroll, ripped it open, and unrolled it. She then started to curse.

"What is it my wife?" said the Count, her husband, as he stepped forward to read the scroll.

Spoiler: A War Ends

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He sighed and said to the messenger, "Get out before she decides to become cruel again."

Count Herakleios turned to the rest of the court and announced in a mildly amused voice, "Raja Jatakhadga II of the Shantideva Raj has lost his little war."

A few days later the Queen finally got the scroll she wanted. The Battle of Ramavati had been a victory. Her army had lost 307 soldiers but the enemy had lost 958 of their own. They would have to surrender now.

Spoiler: Victory

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In fact the Commanders on the field contacted the Great King and he agreed on the spot to give up the County of Kotivarsa in return for a Peace Truce.

Spoiler: THE War Ends

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The Kotivarsa War had been a interesting. With only two battles, one against Raja Jatakhadga II and one against Great King Mahendra, it had been a conflict of sieges. There had been eleven sieges in total. The Queen's military forces had lost 1,176 men while the Great King had lost 7,169 men and the Raja only 237 men. That seems like a small number but that may have also cost the Raja his small war.

Spoiler: Happy Crows

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Either way the crows were well fed.

Spoiler: County Of Kotivarsa

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Sadly, the Queen now had one more title than she was allowed to have and had to decide who to give it to. In the end, after much debate and searching the records of her Vassals, she handed it over to Duchess Anastasia. Let her trouble-making daughter deal with all the problems of taming a new territory.

Spoiler: Duchess Anastasia Gets The Prize

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Her joy at victory was soon eclipsed by a lack of energy later that month. The Queen realized she was ill again. After a few days the Count Wiryasini announced the Queen had the Flu.

Spoiler: The Flu Was Back

Show

As the Queen pondered on what strange and weird treatment would be forced onto her she remembered the artifact! She assigned the Protostrator, Count Kyriakos, to search for it. At least now she could afford the hit in her income.

Spoiler: Remember That Lost Artifact? Go Find It!

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The Count returned with peppermint leaves which he then rubbed on the Queen's hands and feet. The Queen was not sure if the treatment would work but it did smell good.

Spoiler: Peppermint Cure?

Show

So we close this chapter with the end of the war, a search for another Lost Artifact, and the Queen with the Flu.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Nine : Post-War Clean Up


Medieval Medical Tools

We open this chapter in November, of the year 842 AD, with the Queen being notified of some trouble in her Kingdom. Her best friend the Countess Theodosia was being blackmailed by a mad man. Being that the woman was, to be honest, as smart as a rock it was unlikely she would be able to handle it with the tact needed.

Spoiler: Helping A Good Friend

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The Queen, of course, offered to do all she could for her friend. Countess Theodosia was not just her friend but her sister-in-law as well.

Spoiler: Marching North

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On the 14th of November the Queen's army dismissed the levies, allowing the farmers and herdsmen to go home, while keeping the mercenaries and Retinues. Then the Commanders headed north with their men. They had been given orders via messengers on fast riders on what the Queen planned for them.

A few days later she was no longer feeling tired. She was feeling out-and-out queasy and found herself many times in the privy puking.

Spoiler: Running To The Privy!

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During one of her visits to vomit she was alerted that Count Kyriakos was making steady progress in his search for the artifact. She envied him. He was both old but at the same time acted so young and full of energy. Even his mask gave him an air of mystery.

Spoiler: Count Kyriakos - Man Of Mystery

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She was in too much misery for this news to cheer her up. All she could think about was how sick and old she was. It reminded her of the promise she had made to her fellow-Buddhists.

Spoiler: Starts Building A Temple

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As the war was over and the coffers were over flowing with gold coins, over 800 coins, she ordered the building of a new Temple within the Capital-County of Kamarupanagara. A empty plot of land was selected. It would take almost a year to build but it would be worth it for the Society and the Faithful in general.

Funny enough the Sakellarios was still in Kamarupanagara and was able to start right away on overseeing the building project.

Spoiler: Sakellarios Overseeing Temple Project

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In fact all the Councilors were very busy doing their jobs the best way they could while the Queen was ill.

By December the Queen's condition was getting worse. One day she felt like she was encased in packed snow and the next day she felt like she was being cooked alive.

Spoiler: The Flu Again

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Count Wiryasini, after a fast examine, insisted that the Queen still had the Flu. He started to give her footbaths to help fight her fever. Icy cold footbaths.

Later in the month, during one of these cold footbaths, the Count reported to her that the Baroness Amrapali of Jagaddala had died from a illness. The Queen was not really happy with getting this news when SHE was ill but the point was that the Princess Anastasia had inherited the Baroness's Temple.

Spoiler: Princess Anastasia Inherited A Temple

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By the 7th of January, of the year 843 AD, the Queen was so sick that she was confined to her bed. The next day Princess Anastasia was appointed her Regent.

Spoiler: The Queen Was Confined To Bed

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This meant that Duchess Anastasia was now both the Heir to the Queen and her Regent.

Spoiler: Duchess Anastasia Becomes Regent

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The Count Wiryasini finally came to the Queen and offered several different types of treatments to help with the Flu. The Queen ended up asking him to use only the well known and well tested methods to cure her. Nothing too wild or untried. She wanted to keep both her legs.

Spoiler: Bloodletting

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In the end he tried a somewhat old fashion treatment. He bled the Queen from her armpits and temples to help balance her humors.

Spoiler: The Ram Is About To Touch The Wall

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In February her husband brought her news from the military forces. The Army of Isaias was entering the targeted nation and the declaration of war would need to be sent soon.

So we close this chapter with the Queen bedridden and the army about to start another war.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Eighty : A Minor Holy War


The Cross And The Wheel

We open this chapter in February, of the year 843 AD, with the Queen being shocked to hear that her nephew Mayor Andronikos of Kyichu had been murdered.

"Who did it?" she demanded from her bed to her husband who had given her the news. "Bring them to me! Hang them! Skin them alive! Dig their eyeballs out with spoons and have an elephant crush them under its mighty feet!"

Spoiler: A Nephew Murdered!

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"We have no clue to who killed him," said the Count while trying to calm his wife by giving her a mug of wine. "We don't know why he was killed. The new Mayor may have done it but he has the skills of an accountant and not the skills of an assassin."

"Poor Theodosia," said Queen as she calmed down. "And his wife and girls. Is there any way to find who did this? For a member of the Royal Family to be murdered and not do anything about it. Well, that's just not done."

"We could make a wild guess," said her husband with a shake of his head. "But we can't arrest people on guess work without causing an uproar among the Vassals and Courtiers. You'll be labeled a tyrant."

The Queen nodded. She understood the cold logic but her heart was still not happy about it.

"I am interested now in the affairs happening in the shadows," she said after pondering over the bad news. "Any plots I should know of?"

"None for now, my wife, but your own" said the Count. "But there are still two Factions in existence."

Spoiler: Plots And Factions

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"Yes," said the Queen while covering a cough. "The power hungry Bhikkhu of Para-Lauhitya and the loony Count of Mainling. Any backers to their little movements?"

"None so far," said the Count. "People either have no issues with you or know you are too powerful right now to go against. The same might not be true of the next Queen of course."

The Queen nodded. An adulteress was not as well liked as a loyal wife and mother. Who would have thought?

The Queen became curious about the state of the world when it came to diseases and asked the scribes if Flu was wide spread in India or the known world?

Spoiler: Small Pox

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Turned out the only wide spread illness at the time was a break-out of Small Pox west of India, overlapping the Middle East and parts of Asia. As it did seem to be along parts of the Silk Road there was a small chance it could spread east to India or west to mainland Europe.

“We have a hospital,” said the Queen to herself and dismissed the break-out. The distance was too great for her to really worry about it.

Ironically the next day she woke up and found herself having completely recovered. The Flu was gone along with the coughing, fever and headache. Knowledge was TRULY the best medicine!

Spoiler: The Queen Is Better

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The next day the Regent stepped down and the Queen was back in charge.

And just in time. She received news that the army was starting their march into the County of Nyima. The declaration of war needed to be sent in order to make things all nice and legal.

Spoiler: The Army Is Ready

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The Queen decided on a Minor Holy War for the County itself. Taking too big a territory could cause problems.

Spoiler: The Holy War For Nyuma Is Started

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The Christians were alerted to the new state of war between the two Kingdoms. They reacted swifty and assembled their levies. The County of Nyima brought together 179 herdsmen, craftsmen, and peasants willing to fight for their God And Country.

Spoiler: The Stage Is Set

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No doubt thinking they had weeks, if not months, to drill and prepare they were taken by surprise. And so the Battle of Khyungdzong started in March. The enemy Commander was an unskilled man who had likely been chosen for being a member of the Church. The Church did not help when the arrows started to fly and caused the tiny right flank, which had no Commander in charge of it, to collapse. Soon the center also collapsed. The Queen’s Commanders all gave chase with the cavalry and elephants. The landscape was mostly flat and had left nowhere for the fleeing enemy to hide.

Spoiler: The Battle of Khyungdzong Is Started

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Soon the enemy’s right flank was wiped out to the last man and the Queen’s army focused all attention on the remaining center. It did not last long as the enemy fled in horror before the thundering horses and trumpeting war elephants. Few had every seen such huge beasts. Victory came shortly after that.

Spoiler: The Enemy Is Totally Defeated

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Commander Isaias reported the loss of 1 man while the enemy army had been destroyed. It seems that peasants were no match for heavy armed and trained soldiers. Go figure.

Spoiler: The Siege Of Nyima Begins

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Then the army settled for the Siege of the Castle of Nyima with its 278 defenders.

The Queen sensed that this war might not last as long as the one with the Kingdom of Pala.

So we close thus chapter with an unsolved murder, a healthy Queen, and a small Holy War.
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Author's End Notes:

OOC : Now you have your Holy War. Are you happy?

(This was directed towards a person in the Paradox Interactive Forums)

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Eighty-One : Fighting Zealots


The Wild Beauty of The County Of Nyima*

We open this chapter in March, of the year of 843 AD, as the Queen received a letter from the Maharaja Marasimha "The Wise" of the Kingdom of Talaka Ganga. It seems that during a recent visit by her husband to the region he had made friends with the King. In fact he had so impressed the King that the man was suggesting a non-aggression pact between the two Realms.

Spoiler: Non-Aggression Pact

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The Queen agreed. And then ten days later quietly made sure to cancel her plot to kill the man's eldest son.

Spoiler: Cancelling The Plot

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Having a pact with Maharaja Marasimha and then killing his Heir would have been most embarrassing.

Shortly afterwards she got a report from the army. The Castle of Nyima or Keep or whatever it was had fallen. The cost was somewhat high.

Spoiler: The Castle Of Nyima Falls

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The 278 defenders had been wiped out but had fought well, taking 324 attackers with them. Even the Queen was slightly impressed. Maybe the Christians were not the pushovers she thought they would be?

Spoiler: A Captive

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The soldiers though did gain a prize for their troubles in the form of Gyelmo Ciltanesi of Nagchu. She was wife of Gyalpo Poyul Pungse. Why a Christian Ruler had a wife who was a follower of Zoroastrianism and a different culture was impossible to explain. A political marriage maybe?

Spoiler: A Powerful Woman

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Gyelmo Citanesi Of The House Yaghlakar - Another Warrior Queen?

She did seem to be trained in the arts of war and was a tough soldier. Maybe she was the reason so many of the Queen's men died?

The Gyalpo Poyul Pundse was not an idle man. He had collected his remaining levies and was marching towards the County of Xainza. No doubt to bring the war to the subjects of the Queen.

Spoiler: The Enemy Is Blocked

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Commander Isaias reacted to meet the enemy army. Of course, the Christians halted their advance at once not wishing to meet the Army of Isaias in open battle.

Spoiler: The Queen Feels Passion

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The Queen's private papers suggest that, in April, the woman felt strange passions rise inside herself. She was thinking unchaste thoughts in her autumn years. Yet there was no trace of her falling in love with her husband or having an affair. A puzzle to be honest my dear readers.

Spoiler: The Queen Is No Longer Chaste

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A few days after this Aryaraksite, the Queen's Upadhyayani, passed away leaving the position empty. Seems the woman had died from complications related to Goat at the age of 62 years.

Spoiler: Aryaraksite Passes Away

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The Queen selected Bhikku Valerios of Hajo. The man was a Greek Buddhist and very learned. He was also a genius. It turned out that his dream was to get a seat on the Council!

Spoiler: A New Upadhyaya

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He was sent to continue to do the job of converting the Hindu in the County of Kotivarsa to Buddhists.

While this had been going on Commander Isaias had tried to engage with the enemy on the field of battle. But they refused and fled every time. So the man became impatient and stormed the City of Dropo. The people tried to hold back the elephants by blocking the streets with wagons and their belongs but in the end they were overwhelmed.

Spoiler: The City Of Dropo Falls

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The army lost 7 men while the defenders of the city were wiped out. Then the army stormed the Temple of Khyungdzong. The defenders there must have been zealots as they put up a more effective defense. Because while they fell in two days they did kill three times the amount of attackers than the city folk did.

Spoiler: The Temple Of Khyungdzong Falls

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While the defenders were all wiped out they killed 23 of the Queen's men.

Now that the army fully occupied the county the Commanders Isaias, Varshasb, and Fortun had a meeting and decided to march on the County of Mangyul.

Spoiler: Moving To Mangyul

Show

This was also the last place the enemy had been sighted. If they ran into the enemy's army then they could crush it. If not then they could lay siege to the countryside and bring the war to an end the hard way - by burning it down.

So we end the chapter with the war continuing and the Queen thinking about men again.
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Author's End Notes:

* That IS a real photo I found on the Interwebs of the county of Nyima. Looks lovely.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Eighty-Two : The First Holy Victory


Christian Warriors Wearing Traditional Tibetan Equipment

We open this chapter in June, of the yea 843 AD, with the Queen leaving her cold bath to hear the news that the Great King Mahendra's second son had died at birth. It was sad but, in the end, meant there would be no struggles over the throne when his eldest son took over.

Spoiler: Sad News

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Some bad news was ready for the Queen when later that month she learned Mayor Belisarios of Jambay was planning HER death. The young man thought he had a weak claim on the throne via his departed father - the Queen's eldest brother. This was shocking and upset her greatly.

Spoiler: Bad News

Show

For this was the other son of her friend, Countess Theodosia, and the Queen hated the idea of killing her friend's remaining son if the fool refused to back down. Not only that but it may explain why the OLDER son had been killed - the younger one might have seen his brother as a barrier to the throne! Of course the Spy Master wrote a strongly worded letter to the Mayor to knock it off.

The Queen tried to cheer herself up by sending a ransom note to Gyalpo Poyul Pungse to return his wife for 10 gold coins. The man replied pretty swiftly, in a polite letter, and had no problems with handing over the coins.

Spoiler: A Queen's Ransom

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In July the Army of Isaias tried to engage with the enemy army many times but it kept fleeing. In the end Commander Isaias gave up on trying to destroy the army and went straight for Mangyul.

Spoiler: Stop MOVING!

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While the Army of Isaias marched across the steppes the Queen was given a puppy from her friend, the Countess Theodosia, who had picked it out herself. Of course the Queen took the gift though she was doubtful she would ever be able to find and kill the White Tiger.

Spoiler: A Good Gift From A Good Friend

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Still, she named the puppy Hunter and thanked her friend. The Countess Theodosia was a amazing woman. To have gone through so much and yet to still think of others - what a loving friend and wonderful Buddhist.

The Royal Army hit the County of Mangyul like a ton of bricks. They stormed the Castle of Dzongka. They lost 244 soldiers while killing all 230 of the defenders. This had been the Palace of the Gyaplo Poyul Pundse and the Queen's soldiers took great joy in looting it.

Spoiler: Storming The Holdings

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Then they stormed the town of Gyirong which they took in nine days. This time they only lost 5 men while killing 69 defenders. This was the last straw, or brick, for Gyaplo Poyul Pungse "The Scholar" who agreed to give up the County of Nyima.

Spoiler: The Holy War Ends

Show

The Holy War had been short, with only one battle and five sieges. The Queen Arminestra had lost 604 soldiers while the Gyaplo Poyul Pungse had lost 927 soldiers.(1)

Many historians had stated that the Queen’s men had so many losses because of their tactic of storming the last few holdings. They pointed out that when the siege was slow and steady the losses were not as great.

But a few historians point out that there is a FLAW in that logic. In the first siege the Queen’s soldiers DID NOT storm the Castle and in fact had greater losses than the defenders. It could be that the Christian soldiers, not having much in the way of experience, did better when on the defense and when within fortifications.

Either way, it is said that the Queen found herself respecting the Christian soldiers. They had proven to be surprisingly tough adversaries.

Spoiler: The "Freed" County of Nyima

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So now Queen Arminestra II "The Wise" was the Countess of Nyima. And of course she was told she now had too many titles. She looked over the county carefully with her scribes and agents. It WAS a border County which would make it somewhat dangerous to hold. On the other hand the populace was mostly Buddhists which meant the Revolt Risk was not as high as it could be.

Spoiler: Count Pelagios of Nyima

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She handed it over to the bastard of the family, Pelagios, now the Count of Nyima and let it be. She reminded herself to pick him a good educator. Somebody who knew about keeping the books. Or fighting. Or both.

So by the end of August the Queen found herself enjoying herself. She had a new puppy to train. She was taking cold baths to keep her mind off men. She had liberated a Buddhist population from their Christian overlords. But something nagged her and she couldn't figure it out. What was she forgetting?

And then it hit her!

Spoiler: Bringing The Soldiers Home

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She remembered to tell the Commanders to dismiss the hired swords and return the Professional Soldiers of her Retinue back to the Capital. She didn’t want to still be paying two mercenary bands during peacetime, now would she?

Spoiler: The Newly Liberated Buddhists Of Nyima

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Happy Liberated Buddhist Traders Enjoying Their New Happy Buddhist Lifestyles

So we close this chapter with peace and in our next chapter we will tour the known world for the top seven military powers!
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Author's End Notes:

1. Gyalpo is the title for “King” in the Tibetan language. It is doubtful the Queen ever thought of the man as a King but her writings suggest she did respect the people of the region after the war.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Eighty-Three : Top Seven Military Powers Of 843 AD


Welcome To-AHHH! What Is THAT?!?! Kill IT! Kill it with FIRE!

In this chapter we will explore the top seven military powers as of the 3rd of September, in the year 843 AD, and maybe examine what they were up to. The first on our list was in the Middle East.

As you can guess it was the Arabian Empire. The Abbasid's were still going strong after all these years. At almost twenty thousand soldiers strong the Caliph Mahdi "The Tormentor" was still a coward, a zealot, and cruel. And the Jews were still expelled.(1)

Spoiler: Arabian Empire

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He was also in a war with a few folks in India. To be clear, he was helping an ally DEFEND himself against attackers. The Great King Vanaraja II "The Tormentor" of the Chawda Kingdom was likely going to find out that, in the Chess Game of Life, a Caliph beats a Maharaja.

You may have noticed all the Defensive Pacts against the Abbasids. There was Eastern Defensive Pact (think India), the Pagan Defensive Pact, the Muslim Defensive Pact (which had a HUGE list), and the Christian Defensive Pact whose members were King Adelchis "The Monster" and Basilisaa Iouliana "The Usurper". Yes, a Roman Catholic Ruler and a Orthodox Ruler joining sides. Let us meet one of them?

The next Realm on our list was just up north. The Byzantine Empire was in ONE piece - it is a sign of the end of times? And ruled by Basilissa Iouliana “The Usurper” and her sixteen thousand soldiers.

Spoiler: Byzantine Empire

Show

Yes, a SHE. She seemed very much a solid Ruler, focused on making her Empire prosper while also focusing on improving relations with the Imperial Family. She even promised to deal with heresy. She had the normal Defensive Pacts set up against her from the Muslims, Pagans, and other Christians. But HOW was SHE on the throne, you ask? WHAT happened here, you ask?

Basileus Eustathios had been assassinated in 836 AD, as you know, and had been replaced by his son. Basileus Niketas II had only been 9 years old last we saw him and in debt.

Spoiler: Changes In Power

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So his Aunt Iouliana came in and kicked him off the throne. Just like her father had done so many years ago she just claimed it for herself. Not as easy as it sounds but she likely had a large group of backers from nobles and family members who were sick of all the infighting.

Looks like the boy was given a title and even had been betrothed to a good looking woman. Good for him. Maybe he will make a comeback?

Next we go back to India. Punjab, the next power on out list, was still ruled by Maharaja Begluk “The Conqueror” of Punjab. Maybe the only Ruler who many of my readers would think of as a “Great King”. With over twelve thousand soldiers and thirty-eight vassals he was truly a powerful man. Much of the soldiers were under his direct control which also makes him one of the smartest of the Rulers at this time. Peek at the map and you can see he had been nibbling here and there in a northwestward direction.

Spoiler: Punjab

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On the other hand he was in his 70s and likely to pass away soon. Don’t worry - his Heir was not a child but his eldest son. Already somewhat old himself that was, possibly, a good sign. That meant he was not just a survivor but experienced with the hard life of a leader.

Even the Defensive Pacts against him were pitiful. The Pagan Pact had one member, the Muslim Pact had two members, the Eastern Pact had only one member, and the Christian Pact had one member - Gyaplo Poyul Pungse. You may laugh now. The House of Kipchaki would likely last a long time.

Who was on the list next? Why, the ally of the Byzantine Empire - King Adelchis II “The Monster” of the Kingdom of Lombardy in Italy. No doubt the Pope was disappointed with the alliance. With only over six thousand soldiers and four wars at once he might not be the King for long. Still, it looked like he had taken some territories outside of Italy since we last seen him. But, sadly, he was a man who had run out of patience and had still not yet recalled Jews back to his lands.(2)

Spoiler: Lombardy

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Seems he, and the King of Middle Francia, was defending Croatia against a Host AND he was helping allies fight off two Holy Wars for Tunis from two different enemies AND he was attacking Duke Grasulf for the County of Istria. Talk about having one’s hands full.

Our next military power was to the west, in Andalusia (Spain). The young Sultan Aram of the Umayyad Sultanate had over eight thousand warriors but had only a Norse raider from Iceland bothering him. He seemed much better off than his father and grandfather. Shrewd and with many positive traits he looked like the perfect Ruler for such a stable Kingdom.

Spoiler: Andalusia (Spain)

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Oh, and just to let you know the Norse of Svipjod had a new King. A Pagan King. No doubt the Pope was disappointed with those election results.

Spoiler: The Newly Elected Pagan King Of Svipjod

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Now to the next military power on our list. We must go back to India!

The Kingdom of Kosala, also known as the Ayudha Kingdom, is ruled by Maharaja Tejapala, a widower with two Concubines, and over six thousand soldiers. He was in a war against the Maharaja Balan Singh and was winning.

Spoiler: Kosala (Ayudha)

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He was also somewhat a depraved character as he was known to be a torturer, very deceitful, and also cruel. He was shrewd and somewhat skilled at warfare but not a Ruler you wished to have power over you.

Now let us go back to Europe. The unfashionable part. Germany was the next and last nation on our list. Ruled by a Grand Chief Aelle. With just over four thousand warriors he was in a war with King Alfr of Svipjod. They are fighting over Friesland. No, not a land of Fried Potatoes. Friesland is a region in northwest Netherlands.

Spoiler: Germany

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As a one-legged loony it is doubtful the Grand Chief would be on the list for very long. Even the man inheriting his position, one of his brothers, was of questionable character. Walbert “The Lewd” of Mainz was a brave and just man. Who also loved a life of sin, drink, and women. Not bad if you can stay away from jealous husbands and zealous priests.

So, those are the top seven military powers of the known world. Some are, well, better than others.

And of course, the region between Germany, Lombardy, and Andalusia makes one want to scream in horror. The area is a mass of infighting between Muslims, Pagans, and the Christian Kings of West Francia and Middle Francia. It is doubtful any military power will ever form in this mess of intermixed realms.

Join us next time, my dear readers, when we return to India! Now let me carefully close my tome, clean my pen, and put out the oil lamp.
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Author's End Notes:

1. Which is sad because the Jewish Faith, and its many branches, had completely disappeared.

2. Not that he could - See End Note Number 1.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Eighty-Four : Planning The Next Move


Sugar Is Important For Thinking

The Council Meeting room was ready. The table had a plate of Norse muffin pastries and the guards had closed off all the nearby rooms and chambers. Nobody would be listening in as the Councilors and the Queen planned their next move.(1)

Only three Councilors had been able to join her. Yudhisthire had been in the Kamarupanagara improving relationships with her Vassals and Count Kyriakos had been in the Palace training the Commanders to try to improve their skills. Count Wiryasini had also been in the Capital to help with the building of the new Temple.

Spoiler: The Councilors At the Meeting

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Besides the Queen the only other non-Councilor in the room was her puppy, Hunter, who was under the table happily chewing on one of her old hunting boots.

All the Councilors had come in together, on time and prepared with notes, and taken their seats close to the Queen. The atmosphere was calm and almost friendly. The Protostrator had already finished off one muffin and was having another. He was getting sugar on his beard.

He glanced over at the Queen and said, "Sorry my Queen, but I have just come from training the Commanders and am starving."

The Queen just smiled. "It is okay Count. Now, let us review our more promising targets...oh, forgive me. I mean our neighbors."

The Protostrator cleared his throat, tried to wipe his beard clean, and stood up first. "My Queen, first off, let us dismiss the Kingdom of Punjab. It is a mighty empire and, I am sorry to suggest this, but out of our reach for now."

The Queen nodded. "Agreed. Continue."

Spoiler: Fun In The Steppes

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Revolt On The Steppes

The Protostrator nodded. "Let us look at our Christian friend Gyalpo Poyul Pungse, a genius and zealot, who hates your guts. Sadly, we have a Truce which stops us from doing anything. For now."

Spoiler: The Kingdom Of Nagchu

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The Councilors and the Queen chuckled.

"He is married to the Gyelmo Ciltanesi," he added, "who he dislikes. No doubt the marriage was to gain a non-aggression pact with her family. Not that they could attack the Kingdom of Nagchu right now. Even if they wanted to."

At that point he unfolded a small map and placed it onto the table. The Queen and the others leaned forward and examined it.

Spoiler: The Uyghur

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"As you can see the Uyghur are not in the shape to do anything to anybody," he added. "As you can also see the Revolt touches our borders," the Protostrator remarked. “Please remember that.”

Spoiler: House Of Pala

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Family Feud Continues

"Now onto our more famous neighbors," said the masked man with a smile. "The House of Pala. Three of their members, as we speak, are warring each other."

The Protostrator glanced at a piece of paper and added, "The Great King Mahendra had less than three thousand soldiers and, we believe, about 400 gold coins in his war chest. He is attacking the Kingdom of Bihar to claim the throne."

Spoiler: Great King Mahendra

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The Protostrator glanced at his paper again and then continued, "This war has become complicated as Kameshwar, another member of the family, has also claimed the throne of Bihar. He has about one and a half thousand soldiers and about 500 gold coins.”

Spoiler: Kameshwar

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“While the man has many claims he had failed to take any holdings,” inserted the Queen.

“That is right my Queen,” responded the Protostrator. “In my humble opinion he lacks the skills needed for conquest.”

The Protostrator placed the piece of paper down and picked up a fresh one.

“Lately a new person had joined this dance of stupidly,” stated the Protostrator with another smile. “A Thakur Roshandeva of Jumla has joined in to subjugate the Kingdom of Bihar.”

Spoiler: Great King Srimanta

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“Hasn’t the boy King already been subjugated by the Raja Dharmarstha of the Somavamsi Raj?” asked the Magistros with a puzzled look. “Can a Realm be subjugated by two different Rulers?”

“To be honest I don’t know,” replied the masked man. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

“This reminds me of the Endless Conflict Scenario,” mumbled the Sakellarios as he rubbed his remaining left eye.

He had been listening the whole time. It was a skill he had perfected after joining the medical profession. The Queen noticed he only seemed to talk when he really felt something needed to be said.

“The what scenario?” asked the Queen. She had never heard of that before.

Spoiler: A Thought Experiment Is Meant To Make You Think

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The "Endless Conflict Scenario"

The Councilors looked at each other and in the end the Count Wiryasini “The Wise” turned to the Queen. He had brought it up so it seemed he would be the one to explain it.

“It is a military thought experiment,” explained the Sakellarios. “The idea was you place two Kingdoms, same size and wealth, on an island and have them go to war.”

The Sakellarios stopped a few seconds to put his thoughts in order and continued, “As you know, you need coin and men to fight wars. And it has been noticed that the longer you fight the war the more unhappy vassals become.”

The Queen nodded. “They don’t like their levies being gone for too long. That is why I never rise the Vassals’ levies.”

“Yes,” said the Sakellarios with a smile. “And also how much money you get from a Vassal depends on how happy they are with you. So in theory, if a war goes on too long, even if neither side is losing, their armies and wealth become smaller and smaller and smaller. Even now our reports tell us that the boy King- er I mean Great King Srimanta is in debt. Between all the attacks plus the Catholic Revolt...well, maybe this ISN’T the best example of a Endless Conflict Scenario.”

The Queen nodded. “But I see the point. If two evenly matched Kingdoms went to war it could end up a VERY long one. The longer it was the weaker each side would be.”

“And even with that example,” added the one-eyed Count, “sooner or later one side would fail. A Ruler would die, a Noble would rebel, or there would be one defeat too many. Somebody would win the war.”

“But if the war was too long even the winner would have paid a huge price in men and wealth,” added the Queen. “Both would end up losers.”

The Councilors all nodded. The Queen had hit the nail right on the head.

“But who do you suggest we go after next?” questioned the Queen.

“I think the Protostrator has made it clear,” said Yudhisthire. “The Mongolian Revolt would seem to be the best bet. IF we can defeat it in combat and claim our prize before it was defeated by the Uyghur.”

“Or we can wait to see if they win,” added the Sakellarios. “It would be weak just after a war. And we don’t need to make up a claim to go after them. It would be another Holy War.”

The Queen nodded. “We need to know more about them. I want to know how their Revolt is going, about their Ruler, the size of their army, and how much wealth they have. And the best region to claim.”

The Queen was silent for a moment and then added, “I think we know what we all have to do. Good day gentlemen.”

The Councilors stood up, bowed, and filed out of the room. The Protostrator took the plate of pastries with him.

The Queen sighed, reached under the table, and picked up Hunter.

“Now Hunter,” she whispered to the puppy, “while they do their job I will do mine. Time to make sure everything is in order in my Royal Court and nobody is up to no good.”

The puppy barked.
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Author's End Notes:

1. The Queen had finally decided to hire a few Tibetan-Norse cooks and bakers for her kitchens.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Eighty-Five : Teachers And Titles


You! In The Front Row! Stay Awake!

We open this chapter in September, of the year 843 AD, with the Queen calling her scribes and scholars to bring her all the information they had on the members of the Royal Family and the members of the Royal Court. She was going to make sure all the children were getting the best educations they could AND there was no single men running about who needed to be married off. Willing or otherwise.

First she checked out the daughters of Mayor Leontios of Yumai. One of her offspring who hadn't tried to kill somebody or cheat on their spouse or set somebody's pet on fire. His daughters were being educated by his wife. While Mahideva Chhinda was of the culture of Hindustani both of the daughters had, so far, turned out Greek. So the Queen didn't see any reason to get involved.

Spoiler: Mayor Leontios And Count Pelagios

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The next person on the list was Count Pelagios of Nyima. She was alarmed to find out that his educator was one of those Christian Bishops. In a Buddhist County! They most be like roaches. As the bastard was only 3 years old there was little she could do. When he was older she would be able to suggest a new teacher. The only problem was the cross-wearer was also the regent. And while Bishop Gongru may have loved God he seemed to hate everybody else and the Count wasn't really fond of him either.

Then she noticed that Rhodanthe was being educated by her mother again. How did that happen? The Queen, once again, sent a request to Princess Anastasia to hand over her daughter to the Queen for a proper education.

Spoiler: Stop That Anastasia!

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Next on the list was Doge Himerios of Lhasa. He was educating his daughters directly so she saw no reason to get involved with that arrangement. Hopefully they turned out better than he did.

Spoiler: Doge Himerios And Lady Mayor Eustathia

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After him the Queen checked on Lady Mayor Eustathia of Banbar. She too was home schooling her sons. So once again the Queen felt it was better to leave things be. Both the Doge and the Lady Mayor had been tossed into the deep pool of politics at a young age and had survived. The Queen hoped they passed on something to their offspring - something to help them survive also.

Spoiler: Lord Mayor Eusebios

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Next was Lord Mayor Eusebios of Amdo who had just come of age. He was a humble man who, also, had a cruel side. A man who knew how to use a sword, a skilled warrior, yet had sympathy for Christendom. She tried to find somebody worthy within the Royal Court to marry him and found her list of available women empty. She sent out invites to three different women living outside the Kingdom looking for love, all with interesting skills and talents, and then went back to work.

Spoiler: Mongolian Revolt

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How Many Again?

At this point she received a interesting report from her agents to the north. It seems, Pulad if the House of Kulug, the leader of the Revolt had no soldiers. None. But his ally in the war, his Vassal Khan Sircan "The Monster" of Akhum, had almost seven thousand warriors. He was a brave warrior and hunter who had some sympathy for Pagans. And they were winning.

Spoiler: The Side Winning

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Khagan Bars "The Just" of Uyghur had an ally also but it didn't matter. He were losing badly. He had skills but not the numbers. And it looked like the Revolt was getting to the Ruler as he suffered from depression.

Spoiler: The Side Not Winning

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That meant it was unlikely the Revolt would be losing any time soon. Which was good. On the other hand that was a LOT of soldiers to deal with. Which was bad.

A war with the Mongols might be a little too even for the Queen's taste. But she decided to keep an eye on the conflict and kept it in the back of her mind.

She put the report to one side and went back to the list of members of the Royal Family.

The surviving children of the late Mayor Andronikos were being educated by their mother. The Queen had no problem with that. She just decided to keep an eye on them. As members of the Royal Blood line they could be used, when older, to make important connections...er...marriages with future allies.

Spoiler: Fatherless

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The daughter of the late Count Andronikos of Medog had been abandoned by her mom to the Royal Court. But she was being educated by the Royal Tutor Countess Kyra of Bumthang. Sadly, the woman had lost her own son now taught dozens of the children of the Royal Court. The result was she suffered from depression just like the Queen.(1)

Around this time a messenger arrived with a small piece of information. Lord Mayor Eusebios of Ambo, now he was an adult, was doing his best to keep his power. He had made his Council pass the Late Feudal Administration Law. It increased his control. For example if a Vassal refused the Liege's demand to back out of a war that Vassal could be seen as a traitor.

Spoiler: Eusebios Passes The Late Feudal Administration Law

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Then the Queen, putting aside the lists, turned to something she had been wanting to do for a long time. There were THREE Duchy Titles floating about. She wanted to do something with them before somebody grabbed them for themselves and caused who knows what kind of trouble for her and the Kingdom.

The first title was the Duchy of Qamdo which included the counties of Bome and Qamdo. It also included the Grand City of Banbar. The County of Qamdo was beyond the border - inside the Revolt.

Spoiler: The Duchy Of Qamdo

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She decided to give it to her daughter the Lady Mayor Eustathia of Banbar as she was already holding one of the pieces of the Duchy.

Spoiler: The NEW Duchess Of Qamdo

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The Queen noticed Eustathia's husband was the Heir to the Duchy but that didn't bother her. The husband's Heir would be one of his sons so it would end up back in the Royal Family sooner or later.

Next was the Duchy of Yarlung made up of the counties of Lhunze, Nedong, and Taktse.

Spoiler: The Duchy Of Yarlung

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This was an easy choice as Count Wiryasini "The Wise" already had the County of Taktse, was very loyal, and had no offspring. In other words the Queen was the Heir. Now, he did have a Concubine so there was a SMALL chance of some offspring but the Queen was willing to take the risk.

Spoiler: The NEW Doux OF Yarlung

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Before she started pondering the last Duchy she remembered the Count Yase with his lovely BUT not-Greek teacher. So she sent out a request to the Count to replace his current educator with the Princess Theodosia. The Queen felt the woman was just as pretty and she was Greek to boot!

Spoiler: Princess Theodosia To Teach Count Yase?

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Then the Queen went back to focus on the title of the next, and last remaining, Duchy. The Duchy of Nyingchi was made up of the counties of Mainling, Nedog, and Nyingchi. This was also a easy choice.

Spoiler: The Duchy Of Nyingchi

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She selected her husband. Now he was the Doux Herakleios of Nyingchi. And once again it was she who would be the Heir. And she was too old now for children. True, he also had a Concubine but the woman had produced no offspring as of yet so the Queen, once again, was willing to take the risk. Of course he wanted to be placed on the Council now but she ignored his demands.

Spoiler: The NEW Doux Of Nyingchi

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This DID mean her Council now had a Doux on it but the Sakellarios was one of the most loyal of the Councilors so she wasn't that worried about it.

Now she decided to look over the counties on the northeast border. The counties that were controlled by the Revolt and could be targets for a war with the Steppe Rebels.

Spoiler: The County Of Qamdo

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Out of the five counties she realized the choice was, once again, easy. The County of Qamdo, which could be claimed by the Duchess of Qamdo, would be the best target IF they went to war with the Mongolian Revolt. The only thing she disliked about the county was it was not only a Catholic region but it was full of Norse!

So we close this chapter with the Queen catching up on a lot of work she had neglected during the last two wars. She had spent a little time, and a lot of money, to do this but the results would be worth it.
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Author's End Notes:

1. It seemed having too many wards or students could increase the chances of being stressed or becoming depressed.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Eighty-Six : Tidying Up


Handing Out Minor Titles

We open this chapter in September, of the year 843 AD (again), with the Queen taking a small break.

She was resting on one of the many balconies of the Palace, enjoying wine and some of her favorite cheese. It was nice to take some time off between meetings to just watch the clouds, listen to the crowds, and ponder the great mysteries of life. Like, had Buddha ever farted?

Her pondering though would have to wait as a messenger came with a piece if news.

Vihinayavati, a 23 year old lowborn woman, who had been invited to join the Royal Court had arrived. She was shrewd, just, and deceitful. She even wished to marry. She WAS a bastard and the wrong culture but she was also a Buddhist and a woman of many skills. A perfect wife for Lord Mayor Eusebios!

Spoiler: The Perfect Proposal

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While waiting for the reply to that marriage proposal she got a reply from a earlier request. The Princess agreed that Rhodanthe would become the Queen’s ward.

Spoiler: Rhodanthe Becomes The Queen's Ward...Again

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Before the Queen could return to relaxing on the balcony another woman showed up in the Royal Court. Shuogu, a 28 year old lowborn woman, who had also been invited had arrived. The Queen greeted her and decided to keep her in mind for future marriages when single men became available. The woman wasn’t a great a catch and had a lisp.

Spoiler: Shuogu

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A day later Count Yase accepted Princess Theodosia as his teacher.

Spoiler: Count Yase Becomes Theodosia's Student

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Even as the messenger for that letter was leaving he was being replaced by a woman. It was Nana, a 20 year old lowborn woman, who was the third person the Queen had invited to her Royal Court had arrived. The young woman was brave and had some military skills. Once again the Queen reminded herself to keep the girl in mind if she needed to have a wedding.

Spoiler: Nana

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The Queen now felt too active to rest and started going over the Minor Titles that were available. She was surprised by how many there were just floating about.(1)

She gave Master of the Royal Elephants to her son Doge Himerios of Lhasa on the hopes he would stop whining about getting a Councilor position. It raised his opinion of her a tad but didn’t stop him from whining. Maybe if he stopped complaining and had more babies he could of had a male Heir by now.

Spoiler: Passing Out Minor Titles

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She also gave the title of Royal Builder to Baron Bhattamahabahu of Numaligarh to try to increase his opinion of her just a little. It did increase it just a little. But as his opinion had been so low to start with it was little help. Luckily he really didn’t have the skills or talents to be a threat to her or her position.

She also chatted with her scribes and found that the Kingdom’s Bhikkhus all seemed to like her BUT the Buddhists were a tad upset. Seems that they lost the Holy Site Shar-i-Gh, (the one they had just recently gained) and many now questioned the authority of the Faith. If Buddhism was the True Faith how could it lose a Holy Site?

Spoiler: Overview Of The State Of Buddhism

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The problem was the Holy Site in question was in the region where the Far East met the Middle East. In other words on the border of western India where Muslim, Pagan, Buddhist, and Hindu Rulers fought over the counties. It was bound to switch hands many times in the next few decades causing the Buddhist Moral Authority to decrease and increase continuously for who knows how long.

Of course Bhikkhu Pankratios of Para-Lauhitya was being a trouble maker with his weird demand that the Kingdom of Kamarupa have Gavelkind Succession. Of course he had no backers for such a wild idea. What did he think this was - a Pagan Tribal Nation?

Spoiler: No Plots And Only One Faction

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Amazingly the Independent movement had disappeared and nobody had even alerted her to that fact.

In late September Duchess Eustathia of Qamdo passed the Levy Shifted Burgher Obligations Law. Fancy way of saying that City Vassals were required to hand over more soldiers when she asked for them during times of war.

Spoiler: Duchess Of Qamdo And Doux Wiryasini Pass Some Laws

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By the end of the month Doux Wiryasini had his Council pass the Late Feudal Administration Law which would help keep the Vassals from fighting each other. One hoped.

In October Lord Mayor Eusebios of Amdo finally agreed to the marriage with Vijnayavati.

Spoiler: Eusebios Marries Vijnayavati

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The Prince had been somewhat reluctant. The bride was older and a lowborn. But she was young enough to have a few decades left for breeding and he REALLY could not argue with those skills. His very high opinion of his mother also made it very hard to refuse the proposal.(2)

So we close this chapter with the Queen handing out a few minor titles, getting her youngest son married, and tidying up the Kingdom here and there.
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Author's End Notes:

1. As Rulers sometimes would give more then one title to a person it is not THAT surprising that a few titles might all become empty with the death of only one person.

2. Most historians feel that the bride would have made a better Ruler than the groom.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Eighty-Seven : Family And Feasting


A Brand New Buddhist Temple

We open this chapter in October, of the year 843 AD, with the Queen joining with members of her order in one of the many monasteries that dotted the landscape. They performed all tasks required of them, from cleaning floors to polishing the monks' heads. After the hard work the Abbot revealed the monastery's treasure - a great relic that had been kept there for generations.

Spoiler: My Relic Is Better

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The Queen thought it was nice but, to be honest, preferred her tongue.

When she got back to the Palace she ran into Princess Eupraxia who asked, for the billionth time, if her marriage to make her Queen of the Kingdom of Pala was still going to happen?

Spoiler: Rajkumar Gopala Just Chilling

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The Queen pat the girl on the head and stated that it would. Rajkumar Gopala seemed perfectly happy with the arrangement.

Then the Queen, when she got to her private chambers, asked her scribes to bring her two maps. One detailing opinions and feeling towards her. And a second showing risks of revolt.

The first map showed her that there was mixed feelings towards the Queen from her Vassals. Oh, and that the Christian Kingdom REALLY hated her.

Spoiler: Opinions And Revolt Risks

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The second showed her that two counties in Tibet could cause her trouble in the future.

One of the Counties was Nyingchi which was full of Waldensian Norse. In other words, a form of Christian Heresy. Not good.

Spoiler: Problem Spots

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The County of Banbar was the other revolt risk. Once again more disgruntle Christian Norse.

The Queen realized she had to focus on doing two things. First, she had to keep the Kingdom from falling apart. Second, she had to keep the Royal Family from falling apart.

She decided it was time for her to stop her hobby of killing helpless animals and try to focus on bringing all the family closer together. If she could improve relations between her offspring then maybe, when she passed away, maybe the Kingdom could survive another generation or two.

Spoiler: Family First

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Also, as it was October, she decided it was time to have the seasonal feast. The messengers were sent out with the letters of invitation. While the letters were being delivered the Queen decided, once again, to buy her husband a cape for the traditional gift.

Spoiler: Seasonal Feast

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Soon the Palace was ready with all kinds of food and drinks and decorations. As the guests arrived the Queen realized that not ONE person had refused to come.

Spoiler: Welcome!

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As she greeted guests and enjoyed a glass, or two, of her finest wine the Queen was notified that her newest grandson Dionysios Dysnomia had been born. And he was NOT a bastard. How nice.

Spoiler: A New Grandson

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Also she noticed that Doux Herakleios seemed to be able to eat, drink, and talk politics all at the same time. In fact he was able to pass a Late Feudal Administration Law while eating some grilled chicken with his Councilors.

Spoiler: Doux Herakleios Multi-Tasks

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A few days later she received news that the Temple of Durjaya had been completed. The Society was very pleased with her.

Spoiler: The NEW Buddhist Temple Is Completed

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Of course her Vassals were not pleased with her. Now she had too many holdings AND one of them was a religious holding - which she was not allowed to have.

But before doing anything about that she asked for advancement in the ranks of the Savaka-Sangha.

THEN she gave the newly created title to Nana. The poor thing would now never be able to marry, and likely have to take a lot of cold baths, but she seemed happy with her new position anyway. At least it pleased the Queen's Vassals.

Spoiler: Nana Gets A Title

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In November she gave her husband a cape and he seemed pleased with it. The high point of the feast came with the glowing lamps and the sweets and the foamy beer and feelings of joy and happiness.

Spoiler: A Good Party And Much Good News

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Then two things happened at once. One of her young Courtiers, Anantadeva, had embraced Buddhism. At the same time the Queen herself felt something change within her. At first she thought it was heartburn but it turned out she had become temperate. She was so happy that she had another drink (or two) to celebrate.

Then Princess Theodosia and her husband had to leave the party. It seems his brother had become Maharaja of Talakad Ganga as their father had died and the new Ruler had made his youngest brother a Thakur (Count).

Spoiler: Princess Theodosia Leaves The Kingdom

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The Queen blessed Buddha. Not only was the young Thakur Marasimha the Heir, for now, but the couple would plant another branch of the Royal Family RIGHT into the Royal Family of the Talakad Ganga. Sadly Theodosia had left her only son behind AND now the Queen would have to find a teacher for Count Yase. Again.

Right before the feast came to a close she was told that the Protostrator was making progress in his search for the lost artifact.

Spoiler: News About The Artifact And An End To A REALLY Good Feast

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After the guests left and the staff started to clean up the Queen realized that she was very happy about the party. All the guests had come, there had been no monkey attacks, and all the news given to her by staff or Councilors during the feasting had been good. This was likely the best party she had ever had.

A few days later she was told she has gone up in rank, from Sakadagami to Anagami, which gave her even more pleasure.

Spoiler: Moving On Up!

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That same day her Royal Retinue, who for some reason still called themselves the Yarlungi Army, made it home.

Spoiler: The Boys Are Back In Town

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They were cheered as they marched through the streets. Wives and family rushed out to crowd around individual warriors. Flowers were thrown, drinks shared, and many Buddhist Monks blessed the ranks of soldiers. They were looked at as Heroes for freeing their fellow Buddhists from the Christian overlords.

So we close this chapter with the Queen suffering from depression, stress, and a hangover but at least pleased with the small things in life. Like holding the perfect Holiday Feast, receiving her new ranking among the Savak-Sangha, building a Buddhist Temple, and seeing the last of her troops finally come home.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter One Hundred-Eighty-Eight : Enemies From Within


Little Catholic Punk!

We open this chapter in December, of the year 843 AD, with the Queen's scream bringing her husband and her staff running to her throne room.

As the Doux burst into the throne room, followed by the staff and Royal Guards, they found the Queen staring at a crunched piece of paper in her hands, her face pale, and her mouth open.

"Why didn't somebody tell me about this?" demanded the Queen as she waved the piece of paper in front the Doux Herakleios.

The Doux took the paper and looked it over.

"Oh yes, the late Count Isaias of Kungaar's son," said her husband with a smile. "A Orthodox Christian. His mother is one, you see. Funny, his sisters are Buddhist. And so is his guardian."

Spoiler: The Problem Of Count Petros

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"And his Heir?" demanded the Queen.

"Some far distant family member in Europe I believe," answered the husband handing the piece of paper back. "As long as the boy gets married, has children, and does not die everything should be okay."

The Queen sighed. "This is horrible. The boy has five counties. If he dies before getting a new Heir I will have some strange Kingdom smack in the middle of mine."

"Make sure he does not die," suggested the Doux. "Try to get on his good side and have him converted."

"Easier said than done," grumbled the Queen.

The Queen moved on to simpler business and tried to put herself into a better mood. Or at least a less upseting mood.

Count Yase of Tibetan Plateau had his old female teacher. The Queen decided, this time, to pick a new educator who was Greek but otherwise unimportant and unlikely to move away or be killed or need to be replaced for any reason.

Spoiler: Assigning A NEW Teacher To Count Yase

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She picked a young Courtier named Karz, a 24 old man of the House of Vijaya, who was highly skilled in the art of diplomacy. He also had many good traits including being charitable, humble, and kind. He seemed like the perfect teacher for the young boy.

She proposed the man to the Count as a replacement for his current Guardian.

The setup of the Republic of Lhasa upset the Queen. Her son Himerios needed a male Heir and without sons all his titles would pass onto Traianos. She figured that if she married the man to one of the Princess in a matrilineal marriage the titles would end up back in the Family. But he refused to marry anybody she suggested!

Spoiler: Stupid Republic Of Lhasa

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Then she realized he was a Eunuch! This calmed her down a little. If he DID inherit the titles he would have no family to pass them on to and it was likely the Queen would get time to figure out how to get the titles back.

Still, there was another way to approach the problem. If the wife of the Doge was only giving him girls then maybe a second woman would give him boys? So she sent her son a suggestion that he take Pollatapillai as a Concubine.

Spoiler: Maybe A Concubine Would Help?

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That same day she was thinking about sending a Matrilineal Marriage Proposal to Count Petros for him to marry Arminestra but a staff member told her that would not work. The Count Petros would not consider proposals from infidels.

Spoiler: What DID You Call ME?

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The Queen growled. "I'm NOT the infidel here!'

Later in the month the Queen was notified that the Mongolian Revolt had come to an end. Both leaders has somehow lost leaving Khagan Sircan "The Monster" in charge. With his seven thousand soldiers.

Spoiler: The Mongolian Revolt Ends - Nobody Won

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"Did somebody screw up the math?" asked the Queen. "This shows him getting MORE soldiers from his vassals than his vassals should be able to supply."

The servants and scribes just shrugged.

A few days later she was told that her son agreed to take Pollatapillai Chola as his Concubine.

Spoiler: Pollatapillai Chola Is Taken As Concubine

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The Queen spent a day pondering her growing annoyance with the Christians. They were really becoming pesters for a people who followed a policy of love and forgiveness.

Not only did Bishop Gongru of Khyungdzong dislike her but his fellow-vassal of the county, Nayor Selbar of Chugtso Dropo, disliked her. Still, their opinions didn't really count as they were peasants. On the other hand the Count Pelagios of Nyima's vassals could cause him some trouble.

Spoiler: Count Pelagios's Two Christian Vassals.

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But what hurt her more was even the NEW Pope disliked her and he didn't even KNOW her. How rude.

Spoiler: The Pope

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To get her mind off the Christians she looked over what her Councilors were doing. She decided her Protostrator could stop training the Commanders for now and go back to training the soldiers - starting with the men of the County of Kamarupanagara.

Spoiler: New Jobs For The Protostrator And The Sakellarios

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Then she asked Sakellarios to start helping her and her staff run the Kingdom. The rest of the Council were kept working on their current assignments.

Near the end of the month she turned to her puppy for comfort. Hunter was growing fast and was praised by the handlers for being a good dog.

Spoiler: Good Boy!

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On the 1st of January, of the new year of 844 AD, she received a letter from Count Yase. He had agreed to take Karz as his teacher.

Spoiler: Count Yase Agreed To Take Karz As His Teacher

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So we close the chapter with the Queen sobbing in rage and depression in the corner of the bedroom, with Hunter trying to comfort his mistress, as the woman swore to wrestle control of her lands from the Christians even if it meant a thousand year war with the Roman Catholic Church.