Let's Play Road of Queens - CKII India AAR

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Eighteen : Swords Are Crossed


A Historical Marker At The Battle Of the Three "Friends"(1)

We open this chapter in August, in the year 850 AD, with the Queen having to pick a new ambition for the Kingdom. She was not happy with the need to pick a new goal so quickly after the last one.

"This is embarrassing," grumbled the Queen. "We could not even last a year at peace before we went to war."

"Yes, my Queen," said the Magistros. "Not your fault but you do need to decide on what to do now."

Spoiler: The Queenn Needs To Groom An Heir

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"Groom an Heir I guess," remarked the Queen with a sigh. "Yes. Tell the Council I will work on having an Heir. If I can get my husband to even look at me"

"I am sure that, after the rebellion is crushed, you and your husband can work things out," commented the Magistros. "Now we also have news about the war."

"So early?" stated the Queen, looking surprised. "Surely our armies have barely started their journey to the rally point I selected in Medog?"

Spoiler: Enemies Spotted In Friendly Territory!

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"Well, it seems that three enemy soldiers have appeared deep within our territory," said the Magistros showing the Queen a report. "We are not sure WHERE they came from as the Duchess has no holdings down there. But they seem to be trying to siege the local holdings."

"That's crazy!" exclaimed the Queen with a shaking of her head. "Well, they will not last long. They are in the way of one of our armies of levies."

The Queen handed the report back to the one-eyed Councilor. "Anything I should know or need to make a decision on?"

"No my Queen," responded the Magistros before leaving the throne room to leave the Queen with her thoughts.

A few days later he returned with a report on the Revolt.

"The Duchess is slightly ahead in the war," reported the Magistros. "As she holds her lands she is, kind of, winning."

Spoiler: The Duchess Is Winning Already?

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"She will not be for long," grumbled the Queen. "Anything else?"

"Yes," said the Magistros, "the Doge of Lhasa has passed the Late Feudal Administration Law."

Spoiler: The Doge Of Lhasa Passes The Late Feudal Administration Law

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Later that month she got two reports. Prince Himerios had joined the Gavelkind Succession in Kamarupa Faction and then Bhikkhu Adrianos of Para-Lauhitya had FOUNDED the Increased Council Power in Kamarupa Faction.

Spoiler: Prince Himerios Joined A Faction And Bhikkhu Adrianos Started A Faction

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"None of that makes sense," complained the Queen, "If Prince Himerios wants the thrones WHY split up the titles? And Adrianos isn't ON the Council!"

"I told you greed and power," said her Magistros. "Common sense has been tossed out the window."

Later the news from the first battle, the Battle of Tawang, was received. The enemy had been wiped out and the Queen's levies had continued north without even a rest break.

Spoiler: The Battle Of Tawang

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Shortly afterwards Prince Eusebios and Count Varzak both joined the Gavelkind Succession in Kamarupa Faction.

Spoiler: Prince Eusebios and Count Varzak Joined The Same Faction

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"I will have to do something about these movements after the war," grumbled the Queen to herself. "They are getting totally out of control."

She then was told of the death of Eustathia, who had died after eating something bad for her, and left two daughters of the Royal bloodline behind. More children in the Royal Court it seemed.

Spoiler: More Children Without Parents

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In September she got news that the Doux Herakleios, her stepfather, had founded a Gavelkind Succession in U-Tsang Faction.

Spoiler: Doux Herakleios Started A Faction

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"Even he plans to cause trouble, does he?" stated the Queen after reading the report. "How sad."

What she really wanted was news about the war. But the levies were marching north, through mountain passes and over barren landscapes and it was slow going. Luckily there were no reports of any losses due to lack of food or water. There MAY be problems later when the smaller armies started to get together but that was for her to worry about when it happened.

Near the end of September the Duchess almost started a battle by marching south but decided not to when she realized she was outnumbered.

Spoiler: The Almost Battle

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Shortly after that the Army of Prince Eusebios, with his flank Commanders Isaias and Symmachos, started north. He was MORE than happy to fight the enemy forces.

In October, while waiting for a battle to start, the Queen was told that Doux Herakleios had joined the Gavelkind Succession In The Kingdom Of Kham Faction.

Spoiler: Doux Herakleios Joined Another Faction

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The Magistro, on hearing the news, just said, "BAAAAAA!"

In November the Battle of Alamdo started as the Prince was able to engage the Duchess's forces. The traditional exchange of arrows was somewhat pitiful as there were not a lot of archers on the field.

Spoiler: The Battle Of Alamdo Starts

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But the Prince did have more than enough infantry and cavalry. The enemy's right flank in fact collapsed when Commander Symmachos charged into them with his mounted forces. It turned out the weakest and least skilled of the Queen's Commander was still more than a match for the enemy's right flank Commander.

Spoiler: Royal Archers Let Loose On The Enemy

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Soon the enemy's center fell apart and the Duchess found herself the center of attention of the archers under the command of both the Prince and Commander Isaias.

Spoiler: The Duchess's Flank Becomes The Target

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At this point it was just a question of time before the enemy was forced to flee.

The next messenger did not bring a battle report but news from China. There was a change in Emperors as one died and a younger one took the Dragon Throne. Luckily the new Emperor Dong Xizong was of the same Dynasty and, therefore, the Peace Treaty was still valid.

Spoiler: New From China

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In December the Battle of Alamdo had come to an end after a massive cavalry charge against the fleeing enemy forces.

Spoiler: Victory

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The Prince reported he had only lost 13 men while the Duchess had lost 197 soldiers and was last seen fleeing into the territory of the Xia Revolt.

"And that was only a small part of our military forces," stated the Queen to her Royal Court. "It will take some time but we will win this war."

"Let us hope we win it soon," whispered the Magistros as he stood next to her throne. "Before one of the Factions becomes too powerful for us to handle."

So we close this chapter with two victories and a Duchess in retreat. Yet the threat of the Factions still hung over the Queen's head like a sword.
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Author's End Notes:

1. A memorial marker was first placed there by the three families of the three soldiers who answered the call to assemble and were wiped out. It is said the three soldiers had become good friend from all the training they had done together and that their bodies had been found together as if they had tried to protect each other. The original marker has been replaced many times over the centuries by the local township and has become a tourist attention over the centuries.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Nineteen : Taking The "Castles"


The Queen's Justice

We open this chapter in December, of the year 850 AD, and the Queen was being told of the Siege of the Fortress of Banbar. Or the wooden stockade. It was hard to tell from the descriptions.

Spoiler: Siege Of Banbar

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While the Battle of Alamdo had been waged a second Army, under Comander Pusyamitra, with his flanking Commanders Varshasb and Eustathios, had marched past and entered the County of Banbar. Even while they slowly tried to break the defender's wooden walls the Army of Prince Eusebios was marching to do the same to the County of Qamdo.

In fact the Queen was notified, in January, of 851 AD, that they had started to lay siege to the Castle of Qamdo. Another pitiful wooden fort. Or stockade. Or whatever it was.

Spoiler: Siege Of Qamdo

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Now both counties of the Duchess was under siege.

In the middle of February the Count Petros of Kunggar had his Council pass the Religious Control Mandate Law. The Queen sighed. He was going to use the fact that many of his own vassals were Buddhist AGAINST them.

Spoiler: Count Petros Passes Religious Control Mandate Law

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"Somebody is going to kill him and I am not sure I should stop them," the Queen murmured to herself and now understood why her mother decided to drink.

"Doubtful," said the Magistros who had good ears. "He isn't a good warrior or good at math but he knows the way of the shadow. I doubt anybody is going to kill him with poisoned wine or hidden dagger."

Shortly after that there was news from China. It seems that the young Khan Sircan II of Xia had peacefully agreed to be a Tributary state of the Middle of Kingdom.

Spoiler: New From China

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The Queen doubted this would help the boy with his wars. In fact she doubted China would do anything to help anybody outside of China.

Spoiler: The Young Khan Sircan II

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The Queen was then asked to join her fellow Society members in a nearby monastery. They spent the day performing chores, such as mopping the floors, cleaning the windows, and helping cook the meals.

Spoiler: Visiting A Buddhist Monastery

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Afterwards the Abbot gathered the members and showed off the great treasure of the monastery. The Queen, who was not impressed by what many people called "treasures" or "relics", said something nice about it and went home.

By the time she got home she was greeted by the news that the Count Petros had taken the City of Drakchi for himself.

Spoiler: Count Petros BACK To His Old Tricks

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"Wasn't he forced to give back all the titles he took last time?" asked the Queen. "Didn't his vassals and Councilors point out how he SHOULD NOT do that?"

"Yes my Queen," answered the Magistros. "He is not the brightest star in the night sky."

In March the Savaka-Sangha asked if she could be willing to hand over some money and the Queen agreed to give them the funding they needed after the war.

Spoiler: A Promise Of Funding

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The Magistros approached her a few days later with a report. As he handed it to her he said, "The blind and insane Count Yase of Mainling is trying to generate a claim on the Duchy of Nyingchi. Again."

Spoiler: Count Yase Of Mainling Wants The Duchy Of Nyingchi

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The Queen opened the report and clicked her tongue. "Well, at least he has not started a faction."

In the middle of March the Queen was told that the Count Petros had taken the Bishopric of Dambuk.

Spoiler: Count Petros Takes A Church!

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"By Buddha," stated the Queen as she tossed the report onto the floor. "Will somebody explain to him the RULES of how the Feudal System works?!?"

That same day she finally got a report from the Siege of Banbar. The Commanders had finally taken the fort having lost 243 soldiers. Commander Pusyamitra reported that they had wiped out the 311 defenders and had captured ALL five of the Duchess's children!

Spoiler: The Castle Of Banbar Falls

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They would be sent to the Queen's Palace via fast horses and escorted by loyal cavalry officers. Nobody would be allowed to harm them OR rescue them.

The Queen, now impatient, ordered the Prince to speed up his own siege of Qamdo. He ordered his army, made up of only levies (as the Retinue was in the County of Banbar), to storm the enemy defenses.

Spoiler: The Queen's Soldiers Storm The Castle Of Qamdo

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It hurt. They lost 845 soldiers while killing only 606 defenders. It seems that wooden walls were just as dangerous as stone walls if you rushed them.

But it also meant, that as we close this chapter, the Duchess would be returning to occupied counties and empty castles.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Twenty : The Rebellion Ends


Medieval Light Cavalry

We open this chapter in April, of the year 851 AD, with the Queen receiving a report that Count Petros had revoked another Bishopric.

Spoiler: Count Petros Rad Revoked The Bishopric Of Lamaling

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The Queen sighed. "Does he not know what karma means?" She handed the report back to the Magistros and added, "Does he not know karma is a woman with a very short temper and a large sword?"

Her Magistros just chuckled and left the throne room to file the report.

The next day the Queen asked for a run down on the latest factions. For some reason the list looked shorter than it should be.

Spoiler: The Factions List

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"Have some of the movements disbanded?" she asked the scribe who brought her the list.

"Not that I know of oh Great Queen," said the scribe with a shake of his head. "Though it could have happened in all the fuss with the war and MAYBE gone unnoticed."

A few days later the Militia Training Ground in the Castle of Pundravardhana had been completed. This was good news for it meant that, even while in the middle of a war, the Kingdom's military was getting stronger.

Spoiler: A Training Ground Built In The Castle Of Pundravardhana

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In late April the Queen was given a report from Commander Eustathios. He had replaced Commander Pusyamitra when he arrived with more Light and Heavy Infantry. He and his army had left the County of Banbar when scouts reported the Duchess and her army had returned from across the border.

Spoiler: Commander Pusyamitra Prepares For Battle

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It seemed the Duchess was so worried about her family or her lands that she was rushing back blindly. She didn't even seem to notice or care about his own advancing army. In fact the Commander was pretty sure there was no way for her to escape battle at this point!

On the 27th of April the messenger's letter was pulled out his hands by a excited Queen who then became disappointed after she opened it. It was just the Count stealing another title from one of his poor vassals.

Spoiler: Counnt Petros Takes The City Of Gyama

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In May the Queen got the news she wanted. The Battle of Zaring had started with a exchange of arrows. The attacking Royal Army had over 300 Archers and they let loose with a fury.

Spoiler: The Battle Of Zaring Starts

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The Duchess's left flank held up. The rest of her men collapses and fled when the arrows started to fall down among them.

About a week later the Town of Riwoche in Qamdo fell to the Prince Eusebios and his army. This siege had nice and slow and very traditional. He reported losing not a man while wiping out the defenders to the last man.

Spoiler: The Town Of Riwoche Falls To Prince Eusebios

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A few days later the Magistros brought her news that Prince Eusebiso was a VERY busy man as, even while on the battle field, he had joined the Gavelkind Succession in the Kingdom of the Kham Faction.

Spoiler: Prince Eusebios Joined The Gavelkind Succession In Kham Faction

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"I see," murmured the Queen. "Even while trying to keep the Kingdom together he plots to pull it apart."

Then the Queen got a love note from Commander Isaias. She was not interested and felt it very improper. She burned it to make sure nobody found it.

Spoiler: A Love Note From Commander Isaias? No. No. No.

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Finally she received news that the Duchess and her army had been defeated. The large numbers of Archers and Light Cavalry must have made a big difference for the Queen's soldiers had only lost 3 soldiers while the enemy had lost 113 soldiers.

Spoiler: Victory

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The Queen decided it was time to ask the Duchess to stop her silly Rebellion. She sent a formal letter demanding the woman surrender.

Spoiler: Time To Ask The Duchess To Surrender

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The Duchess, her lands occupied, her army a shadow of its former glory, and all her children in the dungeon, decided it was a time to give in to the Queen's demands and agreed.

Spoiler: The War Comes To A Close

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So the Revolt against the Queen ended and the costs for both sides were kind of high. The Queen's military lost 1,104 soldiers while the Rebellion lost 1,379. Many historians blame the Queen for ordering one of the sieges to be rushed. They also said she should have made sure her armies were properly balanced with the troop types they needed before the sieges.

So we close this chapter wondering if the Queen learned anything from this war and pondering what would happen to the Duchess and her five children?

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Twenty-One : Post-Rebellion Clean-Up


Mass Producing Slop For The Dungeon Inmates

We open this chapter in May, of the year 851 AD, in which we find the Duchess Eustathia sitting in her small cell. The cell was simple, with a bed to sit on, a chamber pot to do one's business in, some straw on the floor, and a door with a small bar-covered hole to allow light in.

She stared at the wooden plate they had used to deliver her meal of moldy cheese and stale bread. At least they were feeding her real food. She heard some of the other prisoners, those of lowborn births, were fed slop and got water by sucking the moister off the damp stonewalls.

As the steward of the dungeon came for her wooden plate she asked for the latest news. This man, known to his staff just as Boss Hog, shrugged his shoulders and said, "I heard that old woman...the Duchess of Varendra...before you were jailed she joined another one of those factions. Which one was it...oh yeah, the one about Gavelkind Succession in the U-Tsang."

Spoiler: Duchess Of Varendra Joined The Gavelkind Succession For U-Tsang Faction

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As he left and locked the door the Duchess tried to peek out the door's tiny round window. But the tiny bars blocked her view. She doubted there was anything of interest to see anyway.

She had only been in the dungeon a few days and the only information they had told her was her children were okay and that the Queen was not going to hang her. Outside of that they sometimes gave her tiny pieces of information which she grabbed like a mouse would grab crumbles of food.

Sadly, like the food, the news wasn't filling enough. She wanted to know what the rest of the Royal Family was up to. Were they demanding her freedom? Was there spots of rebellion breaking out here and there? When would they come to free her?

One day, she guessed it to be June, she received a small letter from the Queen. A demand of a ransom for her daughter Valeria. She agreed to pay around 50 gold coins for the child though her responding letter was less than kind.

Spoiler: Paying Ransoms

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It seemed like weeks later when she received another request of a ransom for Chet, her other girl, and once again the Duchess agreed to pay about 50 gold coins for the child. Once again her wording in the letter was somewhat rude.

Spoiler: The Royal Retinue Marching Back Home

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That same day she overheard some the dungeon staff talking about the levies being released and the Royal Retinue marching south through the Tibetan Plateau on its way home.

The dungeon seemed to surprise her. It looked worn and almost ready to fall apart but in fact it was all an illusion. It was, in fact, well designed and very modern. Every inch, every stone, every angle made to produce horror in the prisoner's mind.

And it was working. She could hear the rats and sometimes there was a scream. What is a real scream or a fake scream? The staff seemed almost friendly. What unnerved her was the professional joy they seemed to take in their jobs. They would sometimes brag about the atmosphere and they showed great pride in their equipment.

She asked Boss Hog about her sons and he chuckled. "No need to pay off their ransom. They were released. Some old tradition about boys or sons or something being released if their parents are arrested. The Queen was pissed. Said we let her money fly away. Hahahaha!"

The Duchess felt a tad better. But she wished they had given her a spoon or something to mark on the walls. She didn't even know if it was day or night outside!

"I bet you can't find a more effectively run dungeon then this one," stated Boss Hog one day after delivering her the stale bread and moldy cheese. She kept silent and tried to eat the food. Some days she was so hungry she forgot just how bad it tasted. No, that was the problem. It wasn't bad. Bad would have been something. Sometimes it tasted spoilt or bland or wormy or like sawdust. Or like nothing at all. You ended up just as hungry afterwards as you were before eating it.

Spoiler: Helias Given A Gift From The Queen

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One day she heard the name Helias and her ears perked up. Helias was her Heir and Regent. Seems he had received 15 gold coins from the Queen. Was he a traitor? Was he selling her out? Was the Queen plotting to murder the Duchess and have Helias take over?

Spoiler: Welcome To Your NEW Home

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Welcome to The Oubliette

She was sure it was still June when Boss Hog unlocked her door and had the dungeon thugs pull her out. Calling them thugs isn't meant to be an insult. The dungeon thugs were men trained to manhandle people from one place to another. They were not like the normal staff who delivered food or messages or replaced the torches or sometimes changed the floor straw. They were huge men who were hired just to transport people about the dungeon. They did so quickly and with amazing skill. It is said they even had a union.

"New place of residence for you Countess," said the man as he wiggled his cell keys at her. "You are such a lucky woman. You are going to be the first to try out one of our oubliettes."

"No!" said the Duchess, trying to push the thugs away. "You told me the Queen was not going to kill me!"

"Hang you," said Boss Hog as he headed towards one of the stairways that headed deeper into the dungeon. "I said she promised not to hang you. You have been assigned to one of the oubliettes. Oh, and she had revoked the Republic of Qamdo away from you. So you are just a Countess now."

Spoiler: The Queen Orders The Duchess Into The Oubliette AND Revokes Her Main Title

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The thugs pulled the Duchess behind him. She struggled but after weeks of nothing but old bread, disgusting cheese, and water she had become too weak. In fact they were able to sweep her off her feet and carry her down the stairs without a problem.

"Philemon!" shouted Boss Hog. "Philemon! Where are you! I can't see...oh, there you are."

Philemon was an old man in a gray cloak who approached them carrying a oil lamp. "Howdy Boss! Is this the guest we will be keeping down here? Hello miss! Welcome to the rest of your life."

The Duchess, now a Countess, looked around the dim hallway and shuddered. Along the bottom of the walls had nothing but hatches. Dozens of hatches. And inside them was nothing but darkness.

"Which one...?" inquired Boss Hog his attention still on the old man called Philemon.

The old man responded by walked over to one of the hatches and swinging it up. "Ladder over there," he added while pointing with his lamp towards the other end of the hallway.

Before you knew it the Countess was lowered into the pit. She struggled but it was useless. The thugs were too good at their job. Even while navigating down a ladder they were still able to carry her down, drop her, climb back up, and remove the ladder before she could blink.

"Now Philemon here will be your keeper," said Boss Hog from the hole above her. "He will keep you informed of all the news and his wife, Baucis, will feed you as she does all the lower level prisoners."

The hatch clanked shut and she found herself in a dark pit. She reached out to explore her new home. The oubliette was round and the stone walls were uneven. They were also wet and she could hear things moving around her feet. It was so wet she wondered if the lower levels of the dungeon were near the river or were there just pipes hidden in the walls to make her THINK she was near the river.

"The devil himself designed this place," she said to herself.

A few hours later she met Baucis as the old woman lifted the hatch and lowered a bucket of slop down to the Countess on a rope.

"There you go miss," said the old woman. "Just unhook it from the rope. You'll find a wooden spoon in the bucket. Worthless for digging out but good for scooping up the yummy slop. I'll be back for the bucket soon so eat up! HEHEHEHE!"

Down came the hatch and the Countess tried to eat the slop. And found she missed the old cheese and moldy bread and tasteless water.

It was like that day in and day out. The old woman would bring her two or three meals a day. The Countess was sure the woman timed it to be random. The dungeon staff did not wish her to be able to count the days and time by counting the meals.

Spoiler: The Queen Takes The Princess's Last Title

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There was barely any light and Philemon would only show up once or twice a week to ask if she was alive. It was during one of these visits that she found out she had been stripped of her last title. The Grand City of Banbar was no longer hers.

The old man and his wife had no problem answering her questions. Most of the answers were useless to her. She even asked once if it was raining outside and the old man said, "It's always raining someplace."

But they did give her some news about current events. For example it was said the Queen was very pleased when Prince Himerios demanded Count Petros become a Buddhist and the young Count had to obey.

Spoiler: Count Petros Becomes Buddhist

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Soon her dress was soaked. Without some way to dry her garments they would soon begin to rot away. At least she could no longer smell ANYTHING. Whoever had designed the pit had added tiny drainage holes. So there was no chance of her drowning in her own excrement but it did end up covering the floor, sometimes up to her ankle, which forced her to try to sleep sitting up against the wall.

But in the end she got used to it. The slop in the bucket. The smells that came from her own body. The total darkness. The things that crawled over her when she slept. The tame rats who liked to play outside her hatch at night. The screams. The sobbing. The murmuring.

Spoiler: Timotheos Becomes Count Of Banbar

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Then she heard from Philemon that a man called Timotheos had been invited to the Royal Court. A lowborn Greek from within the Kingdom, he was allowed a few days to clean up, before going to the formal ceremony where the Queen presented him with the County of Banbar. It seems she WAS going to give it to Helias but the man could not be found. Seems the old Regent had taken the money and fled for parts unknown. Or more likely parts the Queen was not bothering to search.

A few days later, when Baucis was delivering her bucket of slop, she received the news that Bhikkhu Adrianos of Para-Lauhitya had disbanded his own faction to increase the council powers in the Kingdom of Kamarupa.

Spoiler: Bhikkhu Adrianos Disbands His Faction To Increase Council Power In Kamarupa

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"Seems nobody has the guts to go against the Queen," said the old woman with a chuckle. "Not after they saw what happened to you, eh? HEHEHEHE!" Down came the hatch.

The Countess, no, now the Princess Eustathia spent much of her days trying to remember what her dress had once looked like. She knew she had not been in the dungeons for very long but she had been in long enough to start wishing for a bath and real food and clothing that was not covered in muck. She realized if she was down here too long that she would very likely welcome death.

Then one day, after Philemon made sure she was alive, he announced that Count Timotheos, after being matched up with a wife, had become the Doux of Qamdo.

Spoiler: Count Timotheos Becomes Doux Of Qamdo

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"Seems he is seen as a good one too," the old man explained from above her. "Good at book keeping and everything. And loyal. A tad paranoid but that just means he will be hard to kill, right? HAHA!" Down came the hatch.

Spoiler: Kingdom At Peace

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One day as she was being served her slop the old woman, Baucis, let slip that while the Kingdom seemed to be doing okay the Queen had to give her husband a gift of gold just to get him to like her.

Spoiler: The Queen Gives Money To Her Husband

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The Princess took some joy in that. But very little. She would give anything to see the sun for a few moments or feel the grass under her toes. Or to hug her children.

So we close this chapter and next time we will return to the story from the Queen's point of view.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Twenty-Two : The Factions And The Prisoner


A Ming General And His Army

We open this chapter in July, of the year 851 AD, with the Queen looking over the Factions and finding TWO people who were very active in the movements.

Spoiler: The Factions

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The first was the Duchess Uppalabarna of Varendra who had started one faction and joined another. She was not very powerful but she, out of all the others, liked the Queen the most. If she could be turned to the good side...

Spoiler: Duchess Uppalabarna Receives A Gift

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So the Queen ordered her accountants to send the old woman a gift of over 22 gold coins. Maybe the token of friendship would make the Duchess Uppalabama think about disbanding her faction or at least withdrawing her support for the other movement?

Spoiler: The Magistros Goes Forth!

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She decided to send her Magistros, Fortun "The Wise", to visit the Duchess on top of that. She hoped his charm, wit, and Basque accent would help bring her to the Queen's side. Just a little extra honey to sweeten the deal.

The second person who interested the Queen was the Duchess Anastasia "The Unfaithful" of Bhutan. She had done the same - started one faction and joined another. She was VERY powerful, with over a thousand soldiers, many claims, and a deep dislike for the new Queen. It was doubtful she would listen to reason or be swayed by gold.

Spoiler: The Duchess Anastasia

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So the Queen sent her Spy Master, Princess Dionysia, to build a spy network in the Duchess's court. Not to kill her but to find dirt on her. If the woman would not listen to reason she would listen to threats of blackmail.

Spoiler: The Spy Master Goes Forth!

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After sending the two Councilors their orders she moved onto something more private. Her current Heir, Arminestra Dysnomia, had a so-so Educator. The Court's Tutor was okay for the mass of young children in the Royal Court but not for this abandoned little girl. The Queen was going to do her best for the child.

Spoiler: Arminestra Dysnomia

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The Queen requested that Apollonia take over the education of the young teen. It was likely too late to help shape the girl before she became a woman but the Queen had to try.

Once that was done the Queen moved onto her next topic of concern. The Princess Eustathia of Kamarupa rotting away in a pit in her Palace's dungeon.

Spoiler: Princess Eustathia

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The poor thing was slowly breaking under the stress. Many people in dungeons sometimes came out insane and depressed. And that was just after years in the normal cells. But the Princess was now in a deep, damp, dark oubliette. Few survived being put in a oubliette.

The Queen did not want the woman to die in her dungeons. First off the children would likely blame the Queen for their mother's death. Second it would not be proper for the member of the Royal Family to die like that.

She needed to put the woman someplace where she could live a semi-normal life and yet be made mostly harmless. Then an idea hit her.

The current Emperor of China had no interest in concubines. But General Dong Xingcheng had no wife or concubines. Maybe he would be interested?

Spoiler: An Offer Is Sent To The Ming General

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So she sent a offer. A Princess of the Royal Family for his very own Concubine. Her staff said the General would very likely accept the deal.

As she waited for a reply she received a report that Prince Himerios had become the new leader of the Faction for Gavelkind Succession in Kamarupa.

Spoiler: Duchess Uppalavarna Withdraws From The Faction SHE Started

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It seems the Duchess Uppalavarna had withdrawn from her own faction. Maybe the woman had been influenced by the Queen's gift? Even the Magistros hadn't been able to turn on the charm yet. It must have been the gold.

Shortly after she was told that the General Dong Xingcheng was pleased with his new Concubine. Princess Eustathia would now sleep in a real bed, eat clean food, and be waited on by servants.

Spoiler: General Xingcheng Accepts The Princess Eustathia As His Concubine

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"And maybe she even had some new children to love," remarked the Queen to herself as she put the message from the General to one side. The woman would still hate her, of course, but now nobody could blame the Queen if she died.

That reminded her to check out the reports on the Princess Eustathia's children still in her court. At least two needed their educational future selected.

The Queen decided the 5 year old Valeria would learn from merchants. There was nothing wrong with a girl understanding math.

Spoiler: Two Children Have They Education Selected For Them

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And for the 3 year old boy named Lazaros she decided he needed to learn more about his roots. In other words to learn about Buddha and Greece. The education one picked when one had no idea what to do with a child.

A little later she heard a rumor that there was a burning in the Kingdom of Pala. But this time it had been carried out by the Raja Pariksh1tnayaran of the House of Shantideva. Once again there was no evidence that her agents could bring her to suggest Lilavati had done anything wrong.

Spoiler: Another Woman Burns At The Stake

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The Queen shivered as this event reminded her of the Duchess Anastasia. The woman who had burned three people at the stake for no visible reasons.

"I must make sure she is NEVER in power," said the Queen to herself.

Then the staff brought her news that Count Petros of Knuggar made the BISHOP Samuel of Dambuk his Designated Regent.

Spoiler: Bishop Samuel of Dambuk

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The Queen pondered this move. Was the Count hated by his own court so much that the only person he could pick to be his regent was a Bishop? Neither of them even liked each other.

To cheer herself up she donated the 100 gold she had promised to the Savaka-Sangha which they were very happy to receive for their charities.

Spoiler: Money For Charity

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So we close this chapter with the Queen doing her best to knock out a few Factions while doing her best for the children and people of her Kingdom. Even the traitor.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Twenty-Three : Marriages And Shrinking Factions


Politics As Usual

We open this chapter in late July, of the year 851 AD, with the Queen receiving a report on Doux Timotheos of Qamdo. It seems he was strengthening his hold on his counties by having his Council passing the Late Feudal Administration Law.

Spoiler: Doux Of Qamdo Passes The Late Feudal Administration Law

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The Queen approved of that. He needed to make sure he was strong. After all he was on a frontier facing the steppes and right now he had less than a hundred warriors.

She also received a report about the Great King Mahendra was in three wars and losing two of them!

Spoiler: Great King Mahendra - The Queen's Father-In-Law

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"My husband may not inherit the Kingdom of Pala at this rate," mumbled the Queen. "Why did their family carve out such a large piece of India when they can't even keep it?"

Her attention next went far to the south to the young Pelagios. She suggested, to the boy's father, a betrothal with Valeria, the daughter of the traitor. All the signs suggested the man would agree.

Spoiler: Suggested Arranged Future Marriage Between Pelagios And Valeria

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As she waited for a reply she was alerted to the fact that Doux Timotheos of Qamdo was plotting to take the County of Bome. If he could "find" the paperwork needed to make a claim.

Spoiler: Doux Of Qamdo Plans To Take Bome

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The Queen didn't really care. The Count of Bome had come with the County when her mother took it. Even if the Doux took the County and ruled it directly he would still not be able to threaten the Queen anyway.

In August she received a nice letter sent to her via a sailing ship that stated there was no problem with Valeria and Pelagios marrying when they were of the proper age.

Spoiler: Betrothal Proposal Accepted

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The Queen had felt her sense of ego shrink and her need to recognition slowly die. She found she could focus on the more important things in life. Like destroying her enemies and gaining as much wealth as she could.

Spoiler: The Queen Becomes Humble

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She noticed that the Monks and Nuns who ran the Temples were of a much higher opinion of their Queen. Well, Bhikkhu Adrianos still didn't like her as much as the others. Which was normal for him.

Spoiler: The Bhikkhus Seem Happier With The Queen

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Then she was delivered a piece of humorous news. It seems Mayor Kale of Anini, the Christian Mother of the Count Petros, had been "asked" by her son to convert to Buddhism and, as he was now her Liege, she obeyed.

Spoiler: HA-HA!

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"HAHAHAHA!" laughed the Queen, dropping the report in her out of control laughter. "The one who made her son a Christian has been forced, by the very same boy, to become Buddhist!" She laughed so hard she had to hold onto the arms of her throne for fear she would fall off and land on the floor.

After that the Queen received even better news. The Duchess Uppalavarna had withdrawn her membership from the last faction she had been in.

Spoiler: Duchess Uppalavarna Withdraws From The Gavelkind For U-Tsang Faction

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Then the Queen was alerted, by the scribes, that an arranged marriage proposal was about to come to completion. Prince Digasumana had become a man and now could marry the Queen's Aunt the Princess Ioulia.

Spoiler: An Arranged Marriage Set Up By The Old Queen

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The Queen sent the reminder to her stepfather who sent back a note of his own.

But the Queen noticed something special about her aunt. She was heavy with a kid. The Queen needed to find out WHO had been with her aunt. Had the marriage broken up two lovers? Had the new Queen and her stepfather broken up a happily couple?

Spoiler: EWWW?

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After some digging around in the records, and sending out agents to question the staff of Princess, she realized her aunt Ioulia had been a lover of her stepfather. Who had gotten his younger sister-in-law pregnant.

"EWWWWWW!" exclaimed the Queen as she tried to forget the image of the two having courtly love out of her mind. Reading poetry. Dancing together. Sneaking out alone into the garden maze! She failed.

"EWWWWWWWWWW!"

Then the thought hit her. If her aunt had a son by the Old Despot would that make the boy the Queen's Cousin-Brother?

"EEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

She was brought nicer news near the end of August when she was told the Count of Kunggar had forced one of his Bishops to embrace the true Faith. She didn't mind the fact that Theodoros had sympathy for Christendom. But what bothered her a tad was that, according to witnesses, he was possessed.

Spoiler: A Possessed Buddhist Bishop?!?!?

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"Well," said the Queen to her staff as she passed the report back to them to be filed, "Its the Count's problem. I have enough of my own loonies to deal with."

In September the Queen was told that the Prince Himerios had disbanded his Faction to make himself King of U-Tsang. It is said he was disappointed by the lack of support among his fellow-family members.

Spoiler: Prince Himerios Disbanded His Faction To Make Himself King Of U-Tsang

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So we close this chapter with a few less factions, a few more Buddhists, another marriage, and the Queen trying to wash her brain out of certain images. EWWWWWWWWWWW!

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Twenty-Four : Less Factions And The First Feast


Food Food Food Food!

We open this chapter in September, of the year 851 AD, with the Queen looking over what information she had on Dionysios Dysnomia. This boy would inherit the Duchy of Bhutan.

Spoiler: Dionysios Dysnomia

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She wasn't really happy about the Duchess being the guardian of her own heir. It sounded normal and was. Who didn't educate their own children or heirs? But the Queen felt that the Duchess Anastasia was a tad....unstable.

Spoiler: Request To Change The Educator Of Dionysios

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She decided to request that Duchess Theodosia take over as the teacher for the 7 year old. At least she was a tad more stable. Well, maybe not very stable but she had never burned anybody at the stake and that's what counts. Amazingly the Duchess Anastasia agreed to this request.

Spoiler: Anastasia Agrees

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Later she heard Count Petros was causing problems for his Liege by starting a Increase Council Power in Lhasa Faction. As it wasn't HER problem she didn't really care that much.

Spoiler: Count Petros Starts A Faction Against Lhasa

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She then sent Protostrator to the County of Goalpara to study their defenses and militia training to see if he could find ways to improve on it. She also sent him there to keep his suggestive grins and wiggling eyebrows away from her. Really, what DID wiggling eyebrows MEAN anyway?

Spoiler: You Go Over There - WAY over there

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She then heard that the Count Petros had disbanded his faction. His movement had lasted a whole eight days!

Spoiler: Count Petros Gives Up Easily

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The Queen decided to get back to working on the Factions. One of the people among the movements was Count Varzak of Gyantse. A young 19 year old man who was just if a tad greedy and not really skilled. She had to be careful with him as he was a member of the House of Vijaya whose members filled the Kingdom like spider webs filled an old barn. It would be unwise to upset their members.

Spoiler: Count Varzak Gets A Gift

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He happened to be the leader of the Gavelkind Succession of the Kingdom of Kham. And he seemed to like the Queen. Which meant she had a chance to turn him away from such pursuits with just a gift. She sent him 18 gold coins which seemed to please him.

Spoiler: Which Works Quickly

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She got results the next day as he withdrew from his own FACTION! The Princess Anastasia had to take over the leadership of the movement to keep it going. He also left the Gavelkind Succession for the Kingdom of Kamarupa.

By the end of the month the Royal Retinue had finally made it all the way back to the Capital-County. They were happy to be back in the warmer regions. Winter in Tibet was not something the southern city folks enjoyed.

Spoiler: The Royal Retinue Gets To Warm Up

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Maybe the small unit would be given time to build up its strength to 100 percent before the next war.

In October the Queen decided to hold the seasonal feast. It was the first she would have and she was looking forward to it. She sent out the riders with the invites and then picked out a purple colored cape for her husband.

Spoiler: Planning For The Feast

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The Queen was somewhat surprised, but pleased, when there were no refusals. Soon the Queen was deep in the details of planning the feast. Greek foods, such as hummus, olives, and many types of bread, were soon being added to the menu along side the curry dishes, yogurt drinks, rice dishes and many types of spicy sauces. She also had the cooks select a few Tibetan-Norse meat dishes. Mead, wine, and beer were all bought up from the local shops or shipped in from other parts of the India.

Spoiler: Clown Pugs!

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The Queen also decided the entertainment, like the food, should vary. She paid for Indian musicians and dancers to perform in one dinning room while having Norse dog trainers and their dogs perform in another. Magicians were also hired to do tricks and jugglers hired to juggle and tumblers were hired to tumble.

Good food, good drink, and live performers from all over the Three Kingdoms would be available to the guests!

As this was going on the Queen received the good news that the Town at the Castle of Goalpara had been upgraded with wider roads and bigger warehouses.

Spoiler: A Castle Town Is Improved

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She also heard, while test tasting some of the pastries, that Sevindik of the House of Zhetysu had embraced the Greek Culture. Too bad she was still Hindu. But there was still time for her educator to change that too.

Spoiler: A Young Courtier Embraces The Greek Culture

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Then the news of the Count Anata Vijaya’s death arrived. It was reported he had died a natural death.

Spoiler: Anata Of The House Of Vijaya Dies

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The new Count was Shaw. The son of the old man’s Norse Concubine.

Spoiler: The NEW Count

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“So...the kid of the woman who was trying to kill the old man is now the Count?” remarked the Queen to her staff.

They all nodded.

“And it was a natural death?” she continued with a tilt of her head.

“That’s what the report says,” said one of the staff looking over the papers again.

“And she, Astrid, who is still Christian and Norse is the educator of this young Greek Buddhist?” she added.

“Yes,” said the same staff member.

“Are you SURE it was a natural death?” asked the Queen again.

But the staff were very sure that the old Count had died a natural death. There were no signs of being stabbed or being poisoned or being choked. The Queen decided to take their word for it but made sure that Astrid was nowhere near her in the seating arrangements during the party.

Soon the Palace was ready. All the dining rooms and hallways and meeting rooms and public areas had been cleaned and prepared for the guests with flowers and ribbons and tapestries. All the guests were greeted by jugglers and dancers and small gifts.

Spoiler: The Palace Is Ready And The Quests Arrive

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During the early part of the feast the Queen was pulled to one side by an aide and notified that the Doux Herakleios had disbanded his Gavelkind Succession for U-Tsang Faction. There were only three Factions left in the Kingdom. The most dangerous of the three was the Gavelkind Succession of the Kingdom of Khan. That movement could, if it wanted to, raise over two thousand soldiers.

Spoiler: What Factions Are Left

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The Queen thanked the aide and returned to her guests with a smile. Soon it was time for the traditional gifts and while her husband seemed, on the surface, to be pleased with the cape private journals and diaries suggest he was not impressed at all.

Spoiler: The Party Is Fun BUT Must Come To An End

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At the height of the feast the lamps and torches were all lit and the guests enjoyed the chilled drinks and rich pastries and delicious sweets. But sadly, as they say in India, “All good things come to an end” and this party had to also.

As the Queen sent off her guests with farewell gifts she realized just how much she had enjoyed being among her subjects and Vassals without having to plot and scheme and plan against them. It was nice to be able to relax for awhile.

So we close this chapter with the Queen much happier and the Factions in a manageable state.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Twenty-Five : A Few Finishing Touches


Waldenses Being Killed By Papal Soldiers

We open this chapter in November, of the year 851 AD, with the Queen being notified that Doux Herakleios of Nyingchi was fabricating a claim on the Kingdom of Kham.

Spoiler: Doux Herakleios Wants The Kingdom Of Kham

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"Well," she said when hearing the news. "Tell him to stop. He seems a reasonable man and I am sure he does not wish to offend me."

After that she went searching. And she found what she was searching for. Or, in this case, who.

A 27 year old woman of the Han culture. Buddhist and a Zealous Buddhist at that. She invited the woman to court and she soon arrived.

Spoiler: Wu Xiuying

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The Queen offered her as a Concubine to the Count Petros of Kunggar. She knew he would not take Xiuying of the House of Wu as a wife but she figured he would be happy to take such a interesting woman from far off lands as a Concubine.

By December a messenger came to the throne room, looking a tad awkward, and announced that the Count had accepted the woman as his Concubine. Yet the man seemed uneasy about handing the letter to the Queen.

"What is it?" asked the Queen.

"WELL," said the messenger, "he isn't very polite about it..."

"Show me," commanded the Queen and the messenger did so.

Spoiler: The Concubine Is Accepted

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"No," remarked the Queen. "He isn't, is he?" She noticed the messenger's downcast eyes and shuffling feet and added, "I don't punish the messengers for the messages they carry."

His husband had noticed the exchange and even looked at the message. He gave off a laugh and said to the Queen, “I see what you are doing. Trying to make sure his kids are Buddhists by giving him a pretty zealot.”

As he left the throne room the Queen rolled her eyes. She turned to one of her waiting staff members and added, “Send 15 gold coins to Xiuying as a gift from her Queen.”

The servant bowed and left to obey.

The Queen shook her head. Her husband was strong in many ways but he sometimes failed to dig deeper and see what was under the surface. For example Xiuying disliked her husband, liked the Queen, and would make a wonderful assassin.

Spoiler: A Dagger In Plain Sight

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“Just making sure I have a second plan in case the Count proves to be too much of a problem,” the Queen said to herself with a smirk. “Don’t worry Count. I don’t want your Counties going to the Doge.” She glanced at the information on the Count and added, “I will wait till you have a few children before anything happens. Unless, of course, you decide to behave.”

By December her stepfather, the Doux Herakleios, had cancelled his scheme to claim the Kingdom of Kham.

She also decided to help the County of Markam along by giving it some of her attention. (1)

Spoiler: County Of Markam - The Queen's New Favorite County

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She also asked her scribes for an updated map of the Silk Road. What they gave her showed Trading Posts controlled by others AND where the Silk Road no longer operated due to wars or other issues.

Spoiler: The Silk Road

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Some of her Vassals were getting rich from their Trading Posts while the rest of India was not. She, and her Realm, was becoming rich from just being peaceful.

She also told Upadhyaya to stop studying religion and start trying to convert the heretics who lived in Nyingchi. Sadly, she knew it would take some time to change the religions in Tibet. Buddhism wasn’t as weak as other religions but it didn’t have a very high Authority.

Spoiler: The Upadhyaya Tring To Save The Folks Of Nyingchi

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To help the County of Markam develop she ordered Church Walls be built for the Temple of Cuowa and she also ordered Castle Walls for the Fort of Markam.

Spoiler: The Queen Orders Some Improvements In Markam

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A couple days later she received news that the Waldensian Heresy had appeared in the County of Amdo.

The Queen asked the scribes to update the Religious maps.

Spoiler: Waldensian Spreads To Amdo

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Her husband looked it over. “Your Court Chaplain isn’t working as fast as he could.”

“It matters not,” responded the Queen with a smile. “That County was Roman Catholic. The change does not harm Buddha. But it hurts the Pope and his Church.”

Spoiler: Top 5 Religions

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Near the end of December it was reported that Doux Herakleios had joined the Gavelkind Succession in the Kingdom of Kamarupa Faction.

Spoiler: Doux Herakleios Joins The Gavelkind Succession For Kamarupa Faction

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“He is going to be trouble,” stated the Queen to her staff. The scribes, accountants, and servants all nodded. Many of them have worked in the Palace for decades and knew that the old Despot was a cunning and dangerous man.

In January the Doux Herakleios arranged a marriage between one of his Courtiers and the Count Petros of Kunggar. The Queen didn’t know what the old man was up to.

Spoiler: Count Petros Marries

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But in the end it helped her. For the new wife disliked her husband and seemed to like the Queen. Maybe the marriage was unwanted. Or maybe because they were of different cultures. Either way it was to the Queen’s advantage.

“One more person to send a gift to maybe,” said the Queen with a smile. “And even closer to the Count then his Concubine.”

So we close this chapter with the Queen laying the framework for dealing with Count Petros in the future by finding those who disliked him as much as she did.

In our next chapter we check on the top seven military powers in the known world!
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Author's End Notes:

1. Sometimes called the “Crown’s Focus” it just meant that the Queen would help a County along. Sometimes being a patron to a certain store or helping out with the poor and other things. With such attention some counties had been known to switch religions or even change their culture to that of their Ruler’s. It is likely the Queen was trying to help the County develop AND maybe become Greeks.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Twenty-Six : Top Seven Superpowers


"There Are Some People Over There We Haven't Killed Yet!"

So in this chapter we will be looking at the top seven military powers on the 21st of January in the year 852 AD. Some of them are old and some of them are new. Who is first? You likely guessed. To the Middle East we go!

The Arabian Empire was ruled by Caliph Al-Mahdi "The Wicked". A 28 year old man of the House of the Abbasids he had almost twenty-two thousand warriors of Islam under his command and over two thousand gold coins in his purse. He was a hunter and a experienced warrior but his real skill seemed to be in collecting money.

Spoiler: Arabian Empire

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He was stubborn but charitable and was only in one conflict. A peasant revolt which he was about to put down. Outside being lazy there was very little negative to say about him. He even had a large Fleet under his command which meant, if he wanted to, he could invade any lands in the known world. Well, almost...

Our next military power was right next door. Welcome to the Byzantine Empire where Basilissa Iouliana "The Usurper" has crushed the rebels who had been trying to overthrow her and she was pretty much in charge.

Spoiler: Byzantine Empire

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Well, her Regent was, anyway. She also had over twenty-one thousand warriors and even a bigger Fleet. Too bad for her subjects she was also incapable, paranoid, and cruel. And not really skilled at anything. Funny enough her vassals might be HAPPY with a weak Ruler on the throne and, therefore, they might support her. Better to have a puppet than a master.

Now we head westwards to number three on the list. In Andalusia (Spain) also known as the Umayyad Sultanate we found the Realm ruled by Sultan Aram. Paranoid, lustful, and shrewd he commanded over seven thousand warriors and was in a couple of conflicts.

Spoiler: Andaluisa (Spain)

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One was an outright war of conquest against a alliance of Christians over a holdings called Berry. The other wasn't really a conflict as much as he was pissed off at a Norse Raider. He was neither a Great Ruler nor was he a Horrible Ruler. He was a Goodish Ruler.

So let us move onto the next Realm - to India!

We find Great King Uzluk of Punjab in command of over six thousand soldiers and in control of a large part of the former Kingdom of Punjab which he inherited from his father. Sadly, he was stressed, depressed, and possessed.

Spoiler: Punjab

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But at least he had won his war with Kashmir and was only dealing with a Raider. And he seemed to enjoy gardening. Yet he was in his early 60s and could die soon. On the other hand, by living so long, he already had a fully grown Heir. Sadly, no cool nickname like his father.

For our next military power we must go to the most horrible place in the known world. A place of never ending land grabs and religious conflicts. Where Pagans and Muslims and Christians were always trying to kill each other - Francia!

In this case we are visiting Middle Francia ruled by King Adalbert "The Chaste" of the House of Karling. With a little more than three thousand soldiers he has big plans. Look at ALL those claims. He was also in the group of Christians trying to fight off the Muslims from Spain.

Spoiler: Middle Francia

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While he seemed a experienced and very skilled military leader he had, somehow, annoyed the religious authorities. Maybe it was the partying? Who knows.

For the next military power on our list we most bounce over to India again. Rampal of Ayudha Revolt of the House of Kalachuri was a man with many skills. He was not just a warrior on the battlefield but seemed to know how handle the account books as while.

Spoiler: Ayudha Revolt

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Outside of the stress he looked like he might end up winning his freedom. We'll have to keep an eye on him. Now to the last military power on the list!

For right next door is the Queen Eupraxia of the Kingdom of Kamarupa. Over eighty years ago her Royal Family, the House of Dysnomia, kicked out the old Kings and took the region for themselves. Bunch of upstarts! The current Queen held three Crowns and, outside of being weak, was humble, kind, charitable and diplomatic. She had an army of about four thousand and, while not experienced in warfare, did have a Peace Treaty with China. Which meant she did not have to worry about her eastern border.

Spoiler: Kamarupa

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On the other hand she had no children, she seemed pretty young, and she was Buddhist. And we all know Buddhists are pushovers. So I think we all agree she will not be on this list again.

So we close this chapter with a lot of Realms on our list being in India. How interesting. So, my readers, as I clean the ink out of my pen, put out my lamp, and carefully close my book so the pages do not smear I bid you farewell till the next chapter where we return to our story!

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Twenty-Seven : Marriages, Plots, And A Tiger Hunt


Arranged Marriages

We open this chapter in January, of the year 852 AD, with the Queen recalling both the Magistros and the Sakellarios back to the County-Capital. Fortun "The Wise" was asked to perform statecraft - shaking hands and building bridges of friendship with Vassals and Courtiers - while Doux Wiryasini "The Wise" was asked to help with running the Queen's lands.

Spoiler: The Magustros And The Sakellarios Are Sent Out To New Assignments

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She then ordered her Castle in Pundravardhana to build a Training Ground and her Castle in Haruppeswara to build a Keep. Both projects would take more than a year but the Queen wasn't planning a war any time soon.

Spoiler: The Queen Orders A New Training Ground And A New Keep

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In February her stepfather received a nickname. Why he was now known as "The Cruel" was something she didn't really want to know about. She did feel a tad sorry for his Concubines and daughters.

Spoiler: Interesting Times

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Near the middle of the month she received the news that the Bishop Theocharistos of Lamaling had been told to convert to Buddhism by Count Petros and had done so. It seemed that the Count was cleaning up the mess he had started in the first place. The Queen enjoyed the twisted humor in it.

In March the Queen decided to carry out her own tiger hunt. She invited all her Vassals and, once again, no one refused. Soon the Palace was busy. The servants were packing up the portable ovens and tents, the hunters prepared their maps as the soldiers prepared their equipment.

Spoiler: The Queen's First Tiger Hunt

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Soon the group was ready and marched off to the hunting camp. Once there they set up the tents and started the cooking fires and the Queen made sure the Royal Elephant Platform was properly supplied with fruit juices. She really didn't drink a lot of wine outside of a glass goblet or two with a meal.

The hunt was soon becoming boring. The hunters could not find any sign of a tiger. Many of the Vassals suggested that maybe the tigers in the area had either been killed off or had just moved on.

In April she received a letter from her Council. It seems Count Ioustinos of Bumthang had finally become a adult and his first act had been to pass the Religious Control Mandate Law. The Council reported the Count was brave, diligent and strong but also maybe a tad too trusting. And his skills and talents seemed so-so.

Spoiler: Count Ioustinos Of Bumthang Comes Of Age

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Soon the Queen and the hunting party returned to the Palace empty handed. They had not found anything. No tigers. Not even a hint of one.

Spoiler: The Hunt Fails

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The Queen didn't seem that upset about it. She wasn't really a military minded person and was more interested in helping the new Count find a good wife. So she searched and found a woman with strong stewardship skills. It seems she was more effective at finding a future bride than a future tiger rug.

A few days later Taoge, who had been invited to join the Queen's Royal Court, arrived. She knew how to handle a treasury, was a just woman, AND wanted to marry!

Spoiler: Taoge Arrives

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Of course the Queen suggested to the Count that this lowborn woman, while older, was still the best woman to be his wife.

As the Queen waited for the Count's reply the Queen noticed the man had a sister. Mayor Alexeia of Palcho was a strong woman. But her skills in book keeping was somewhat lacking. So she searched for a man with good math skills and invited him to the Royal Court.

Spoiler: Mayor Alexeia Of Palcho

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As she waited she was visited by her Spy Master Dionysia Dysnomia. The Master of Spies brought her the news herself, not trusting any messengers, as she had found some dirt on Duchess Anastasua. The Queen had taken the Spy Master to a small private room. After allowing the servants to bring them tea she had all the nearby halls and chambers blocked off by the Royal Guards. She didn't want anybody to overhear what the Councilor had to say.

"My Queen I have found out something about the Duchess," said the Spy Master when they were alone. "It is so horrible..."

"Do you think it is strong enough to make her leave the Factions?" asked the Queen as she served her Spy Master some herbal sea and a few honey covered pastries.

"Yes," said Dionysia looking a little nervous. She sipped the tea and added, "She had been-"

"No," said the Queen. She placed the tea pot on the carrying tray and continued, "Best I not know. Just use it. Threaten her with releasing the news if she should not stop her foolish behavior."

Spoiler: The Duchess Of Bhutan Is Blackmailed

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"Yes my Queen," said Dionysia. She picked up one of the pastries using a small napkin. "What is my next mission after this?"

"Deliver the threat for now and then stay in Bhutan till I need you," replied the Queen. "Now let us finish this lovely tea."

By the end of April Count Ioustinos agreed to marry Taoge. The Queen hoped he would be happy AND the new wife would help him to run the County of Bumthang properly.

Spoiler: Count Ioustinos Marries Taoge

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In May Dirghanajhe Indratewesoya of the House of Urabo appeared in the Royal Court. It was doubtful he knew that he was going to be placed in a matrilineal marriage with Mayor Alexeia. The man was not just highly skilled when it came to making money but he was honest and shrewd.

Spoiler: Dirghanajhe Indratewesoya Arrives

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She then received a letter from Duchess Anastasia. The Duchess agreed to withdraw from any and all Factions!

Spoiler: Duchess Anastaisa Agrees To Behave

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In fact the next day she disbanded her movement to make her Queen of U-Tsang AND she left her leadership position of the Faction to bring Gavelkind Succession to the Kingdom of Kham.

Spoiler: Two Factions Left

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But that very day the Queen also received the annoying news that Prince Digasumana of the Kingdom of Lambakanna was trying to kill Anantadeva Haropaladevid. After telling the Spy Master to warn the Prince to stop, and sending a letter she wrote herself to tell Apollonia to stop backing the plot, she went to see WHO Anantadeva was.

Spoiler: Prince Digasumana Plots To Murder Who?

Show

He was a member of the House of Haripaladevid. This made him a Noble but one without a title. He had no land nor soldiers nor money to his name. The Queen felt sorry for him and invited a woman to the Royal Court to marry him - which was his wish. She doubted he would be allowed any real power as he was not very smart. So she may as well make him happy if she could.

Spoiler: Anantadeva Haropaladevid

Show

She then received a letter from Mayor Alexeia who had happily agreed to marry Dirghanakhe. Of course, all the children would belong to the House of Nalragar Garh.(1)

Spoiler: Mayor Alexeia Marries Dirhanakhe

Show

Then Xiao-Wen arrived at the Royal Court. A woman who knew how to make money if nothing else. She, in fact, came with a 100 gold coins already on her person.

Spoiler: Xiao-Wen Arrives In Court

Show

This was the woman the Queen had invited to marry the poor Anantadeva. As she was the Liege to both of them she just had to arrange it and didn't have to ask if they wanted to marry or not.

Spoiler: Anantadeva Marries Xiao-Wen

Show

Near the end of May she was told that the young Courtier Sevindik Zhetysu, who had turned Greek earlier, was now embracing the Buddhist Faith.

Spoiler: Courtier Sevindik Zhetysu Becomes Buddhist

Show

So we close this chapter with a Queen who seemed to enjoy matchmaking and getting into the tiny details of ruling a Realm. And was doing a somewhat good job of it.
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Author's End Notes:

1. Or was it the House of "of Nalragar Garh"?

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Twenty-Eight : Death Of A Councilor


Kingdom In Review

We open this chapter in June, of the year 852 AD, with Queen Eupraxia asking her scribes, accountants, and other staff members for information on...well, almost everything, within her own Realm.

First they brought her news of the Yarlungi Army, her Royal Retinue, which was now about a hundred soldiers away from being 100 percent. At least it had all the Pikemen it should.

Spoiler: The Royal Retinue

Show

She was alerted that the total number of soldiers she could raise was over five thousand though many of them were from her Vassals. And her coffers were overflowing with over 700 gold coins.

Spoiler: Queen And Country

Show

Three of her Vassals still disliked her while most of them were leaning towards the positive side and, therefore, they were giving her the taxes they owed her. This pleased her and her accountants greatly.

Spoiler: Three Grumpy Vassals

Show

She also found the Count Pelagios of Nyima still had Christian vassals. Much to her annoyance.

Spoiler: Count Pelagios And His Christian Vassals

Show

"I really am starting to see why my mother hated those cross-wearers," remarked the Queen.

She was then notified that the Minor Title of the Court Musician was available. She decided to make her Spy Master, her Aunt Dionysia, the new Court Musician to try to increase the woman's opinion of her Liege. It was always a good idea to keep the Spy Master happy.

Spoiler: The NEW Court Musician

Show

There were only two Known Plots. One being planned out by the aging Count Yase of Mainling who was blind, crazy, and aging badly. She doubted his plot, or his life, would last long.

Spoiler: Two Plots And An Aging Plotter

Show

As for the Factions, well, their numbers had been decreased greatly. They could still be dangerous and the Queen knew their numbers could increase if her Vassals sensed a weakness within her or the Kingdom. But for now the Factions were not a problem.

Spoiler: Two Factions

Show

She even sent a gift to her Father-In-Law. She didn't want a conflict with the Great King - it would just damage her family's future holdings. She just hoped he would live a tad longer - he seemed to be ill and she preferred he stay on the throne a few more decades.

Spoiler: Ill Father-In-Law

Show

"Well," said the Queen as she leaned back in her throne and handed back the last report she had read, "Everything seems to be going smoothly."

Later that month she was able to give her husband and Royal Court some good news as it turned out she was with child!

Spoiler: A Future Ruler!

Show

Sadly it seems when Buddha gives with his left hand he takes with his right hand. Less than a week later the Doux Wiryasini "The Wise" of Yarlung died. Now the Queen had to decide who would fill the dead Councilor's position and what to do with his titles.

Spoiler: Wiryasini "The Wise" Dies

Show

Before she could even do that it seemed she received the Book of the Doux's Family History. Called The Legendary Balantes it was a book just finished last year about the House of Balantes which was pretty useless to anybody not of the same Dynasty.

Spoiler: The Legendary Balantes

Show

"Put it with the other treasures," the Queen said when presented with the large tome. "It will be protected till we can find somebody of his Bloodline to take it."

Then she turned to the decision of what to do with the three titles. Of course now she had too many Duchies, according to her Vassals, and too many holdings on top of that, accounting to her Magistros.

Spoiler: Three New Titles

Show

The Duchy of Yarlung included the Counties of Lhunze and Taktse. She had received direct control of the County of Taktse. She also now had the County of Bome on the northeast frontier.

She figured she would give the Duchy and Taktse to somebody and keep the County of Bome.(1)

So she first ordered that the Bome's Castle have a Town built around it. She liked her holdings to make her money. She had learned from history how important a fat purse was.

Spoiler: The Queen Orders Bome To Build A Castle Town

Show

Then she turned to the business of deciding who would get the other two titles. She picked Andronikos Dysnomia, the youngest son of her Spy Master, for the titles as he would not be able to join a Faction for about 14 years.(2)

Spoiler: The NEW Doux Of Yarlung

Show

"All done," announced the Queen with a smile to Fortun who was the only Councilor stationed in the County-Capital at the moment.

The Magistros coughed and looked nervous. "No, you still have to give up the County of Bome."

"But I was over my Demesne limit by TWO," replied the Queen. "And I gave up two titles!"

"No," said Fortun "The Wise" with a sigh. "A Duchy Title is not a DEMESNE. It has no holdings or landings directly controlled by it. Demesne are Counties or Baronies or such."

"So I have to give up the County of Bome?" complained the Queen with a frown. "But I just spent money to build a Castle Town in it!"

"And I am sure the next Count will be happy for such a gift," joked Fortun as he rubbed his eye-patch.

The Queen went through the list of people in her Royal Court who had no holdings and selected Haripaladeva of the House Haripaladevid on the hope he would be skilled enough not to be killed in his sleep by his neighbors.

Spoiler: The NEW Count Of Bome

Show

After she had finished putting her seals on the paperwork her Magistros seemed to be somewhat amused.

"Why are you smiling?" she demanded.

"Do you know the dull witted boy Anantadeva who you got married because you felt sorry for him?" asked the Magistros. "That's his father."

"Well," said the Queen after a few seconds of silence, "at least his wife knows how to handle a purse."

Now the Queen had to select the new Sakellarios and amazingly enough her husband fit the bill perfectly. She handed him the title of Sakellarios and then had him get to work at running the Kingdom and her own holdings. Idle hands were the Pope's playthings as they use to say in those days.

Spoiler: Her Husband, The Despot, Becomes The NEW Sakellarios

Show

So we close this chapter with the Queen having reviewed her Kingdom, getting a Treasure she never wanted, and having dealt with the Death of one of her finest Councilors.
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Author's End Notes:

1. She figured wrong.

2. Only adults could create or join a Faction.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Twenty-Nine : Another Doux Dies


A Greedy Monk

We open this chapter in July, of the year 852 AD, with the Queen waking up to find the her staff in a uproar. It seemed the Great King Farid "The Cruel" of Guge had assembled his troops. But nobody knew why. All they knew was the Great King had NOT declared war on their Queen.

Spoiler: Guge At War

Show

"Well," stated the Queen as she prepared to break her fast, "have some information for me by the time I have finished my morning meal."

By the time she had finished the least of her fresh bread and entered the throne room the staff was waiting for her with piles of paperwork and maps. She sighed and sat down on the throne.

"Well?" she asked.

One of the staff members stepped forward and handed her a report so fresh that the ink was still fresh.

"It seems," said the man as the Queen took the paper and looked it over, "The Great King has joined his older brother Uzluk of Punjab in defending Samarkand."

Spoiler: County Of Samarkand Of The Kingdom Of Punjab

Show

"Is it a Pact?" said the Queen with a frown.

"No," said the staff member. "Farid is not part of any Pact though his older brother seems to be."

"First the two older brothers both invade their younger brother's lands," commented the Queen to herself, "and now they help defend themselves...who is invading Samarkand?"

"The Caliph Al-Mahdi of the Arabian Empire," said the staff member with a somewhat hushed tone.

The Queen blinked in shock. "Really? He must have decided to start moving eastwards. Well...that is alarming."

Later that month the Count of Bome passed the Late Feudal Administration Law. Not surprising for a brand new Ruler. It seemed to be one of the first laws passed by any new Count or Doux.

Spoiler: Count Of Bome Passed The Late Feudal Administration Law

Show

Then she heard the news that Astrid was "traveling" to the Chinese Empire.

Spoiler: Astrid Goes To China

Show

"You mean he son, Count Shaw, sent her to be a Concubine to the new Emperor?" stated the Queen. "Oh my. Once a Concubine always a Concubine I guess."

Then she heard news that upset her greatly. Seems her Upadhyayani, Bhikkhu Valerios, had been using his position of power to fleece from the richer patrons in return for religious favors. All the gold coins had gone to his own pockets. She, of course, found this horrible and dismissed him from his Council seat.

Spoiler: A Greedy Upadhyaya!

Show

In fact it was suggested by certain agents within his household that he had almost 300 gold coins in his coffers.

Spoiler: Bhikkhu Valerios Is Dismissed

Show

The next day the Queen made Bhikkhu Pelagios of Madan Kamdev her next Upadhyaya. He seemed well educated for the life of a Monk even if he did like his food a little too much. A problem he was well aware of and was working to overcome.

Spoiler: Bhikkhu Pelagios Is Hired

Show

The man was sent to Nyingchi to continue to try to convert the Christian populace to Buddhism.

Spoiler: Pelagios Is Sent To Convert Lost Souls To The True Faith

Show

In August the Queen was surprised to hear that Doux Timotheos of Qamdo had died. Of course all his titles ended up with her as he had no offspring.

Spoiler: Doux Timotheos Dies

Show

The Queen decided to make the widow, Mah "The Unfaithful", the new Countess. But first she wanted to have her marry to somebody so the woman would have a partner to help her run the holdings. She found a 40 year old Greek lowborn Courtier, called Symmachos, who wanted to marry. He was both humble and content which meant he would not be much of a trouble maker.

Spoiler: Mah Is Remarried

Show

The marriage was quick, as nobody planned to disagree with the Queen, and she gave Mah the County of Banbar and then the Duchy of Qamdo. The NEW Countess seemed somewhat happy with her Queen BUT it seemed she now wanted a position on the Council.

Spoiler: The NEW Duchess Of Qamdo

Show

The only problem was her eldest son, who was her Heir, was NOT within the Kingdom. On the other hand the laws of the land would force the new Heir to bow to his new Queen once he inherited. Of course, if the Countess had more children that would no longer be a problem. And she still had five years in which to have babies with her new husband.

A couple of days later the Magistros reported that the Mayor if Sutrapur had a better view of the Queen now. Seems Fortun's wit and humor had worked on one more Vassal.

Spoiler: Mayor Sutrapur Seems Happier With The Queen

Show

So we end this chapter with a new Councilor, a New Duchess of Qamdo, and the Punjab brothers acting as a shield against Muslim invasion.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Thirty : Plots And Apostasy


Where To Draw The Line?

We open this chapter in August, of the year 852 AD, with the Queen being notified by a agent of her Spy Master that Hierotheos, the Upadhyaya of Amdo, was plotting to kill Belisarios, the Heir to Lord Mayor of Amdo.

Spoiler: Upadhyaya Of Amdo Plans To Kill Belisarios

Show

"Let me guess," said the Queen after reading the letter. "Hierotheos is second in line for the title?"

Spoiler: Hierotheos Wants To Inherit Amdo

Show

"Good guess," said the agent with a nod. "If he kills Belisarios he becomes the Heir to the Lord Mayor. Luckily he has no idea how to scheme his way out of a sheep's bladder."

The Queen snorted and then tried to pretend she had not. She handed the letter back to the agent. "Ask the Spy Master to request that Hierotheos stop his plotting."

"Already done," said the agent with a bow before he left the throne room.

Later that month she received news that Duchess Mah had passed the Late Feudal Administration Law in Qamdo. The first step of every effective leader.

Spoiler: Duchess Mah Passed The Late Feudal Administration Law

Show

In September the Queen was given news that was both confusing and upsetting. It seems that Amro kice Tej had been imprisoned by the Duchess Uppalabarna. It seems the charge was that the Lady of the House of Padda was a Apostate.(1)

"Is there any evidence of the charge?" the Queen asked her Magistros.

Spoiler: A Apostate Or Just A Person In Doubt?

Show

He shook his head. "None that we can find. In fact the woman in question is honest, trusting and chaste. There is not a hint of her doubt to the True Faith."

The Queen sighed. "Even if she was accused of apostasy surely the best response is to help her back to the Path of Enlightenment. Not to thrust her into a dark cell."

The Magistros shrugged and remarked, "The Duchess Uppalavarna has focused a lot on religious studies lately and may have taken the idea of apostasy very...seriously."

"Keep me informed," said the Queen as she dismissed her Magistros.

About a week later the Queen asked her staff how the Ayudha Revolt was doing.

They brought her maps and many reports. In the end it all came down to the fact that the Revolt was starting to swing the war towards their favor.

Spoiler: The Ayudha Revolt

Show

"Good," said the Queen. "I am looking at their counties bordering us. I think, sooner or later, we should try to claim them before the Revolt ends."

The staff nodded and promised to keep her updated on the Revolt.

Near the end of September the Magistros brought the Queen the news that Amro kice Tej had been banished and was still Buddhist as far as he could tell. "There is no clues to suggest the rumors are anything but rumors."

Spoiler: Amro kice Tej Is Released

Show

In October the accountants reported that the treasury had over 1000 gold coins and the Queen decided it was time to spend some of them. She ordered a Keep built in her own Palace and a Keep built in the Castle of Kamatapur. A last ditch defense was always a good idea. It WOULD take more than a year for both projects to be completed and it did cost over 400 gold but it was a good investment.

Spoiler: Ordering The Building Of Two Keeps

Show

She then gave a 100 gold to charity and the Savaka-Sangha were happy with her.

Spoiler: The Queen Gives To Charity

Show

Time passed swiftly, it seemed to the Queen, as she felt the life growing inside her.

In late October she received news from the frontier that the Castle in Markam finally had a proper wall.

Spoiler: The Castle In Markam Now Has Proper Walls

Show

With the coming of December the Prince Himerios "The Wise" decided to join the Gavelkind Succession in the Kingdom of Kham Faction.

Spoiler: Prince Himerios Joined The Gavelkind Succession For Kham Faction

Show

One day the Queen woke up and felt her tummy. Soon it would be hard for her to walk or do anything by herself. She would feel a tad safer if her Spy Master was back in the County-Capital to watch over things.

First, she sent her Spy Master a nice little gift to show how much she was happy with her Aunt's work so far.

Spoiler: Giving A Gift To Her Aunt

Show

Then the Queen transferred her back to the Palace to listen and watch and make sure nobody did anything naughty. Like try to kill the Queen while she was slow and fat target.

Spoiler: Having The Spy Master Spy On The Royal Court

Show

So we end this chapter with the Queen wondering about the issues of Faith and Free Will. She was also slightly worried about her unborn child.
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Author's End Notes:

1. I believe this word has already been in a End Note before but just in case it has not or you have forgotten "apostasy" is the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief. Origin of the word comes from the Greek "apostasis" which means defection. In a broader context it has also come to mean taking a contrary view of one's previous opinions. Some religions take this more seriously than others.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Thirty-One : A New Heir And A New Physician


Medieval Midwives

We open this chapter in December, of the year 852 AD, with the Queen receiving news that her husband, Despot Gopala, was doing a great job working with the local people of the County-Capital. It seemed he was great at motivating people. Who would have thought? Maybe he threatened them?

Spoiler: Despot Gopala Is Good At His Job

Show

She was also told, near the end of the year, that Duchess Uppalavarna was now known as "The Bold". The Queen had no idea why and none of her staff or the Courtiers in her Court could tell her why the Duchess now had that nickname.

Spoiler: The Bold?

Show

Arminestra Dysnomia, the girl with the dead dad and deadbeat mom, finally came of age in January of the 853 AD. She was a very talented and skilled Heir. The Queen felt bad knowing that the woman would not become Queen unless something REALLY went wrong.

Spoiler: Arminestra Dysnomia Comes Of Age

Show

The only weakness of the young woman was her lack of skill with money and land management. The Queen decided that the woman needed a man who had good stewardship. Just in case. The Queen was not so stupid as to think all plans were performed perfectly. This woman would be the backup plan.

Spoiler: A Marriage Proposal Is Sent

Show

After searching the Court's records the Queen found Parsak Anantazk of the House of Vijaya. A tad weak and paranoid AND a bastard but a good steward. So the Queen sent out a proposal to the man's Liege. A matrilineal marriage proposal, of course.

A few days after sending off the proposal with her Royal seal on it the Queen gave birth to a young boy. She named the new Heir Niphon which seemed to be related to the Greek prefix for "snow".(1)

Spoiler: A Royal Prince Is Born And The Queen Becomes Ill

Show

But the labor had been difficult and the Queen felt weak and soon developed a cough. But even while sick she knew what had to be done before she could rest.

First she replaced the Court Tutor with Princess Dionysia. Who better to teach the boy about duty and diligence then the Spy Master? Maybe he would pick up some of her talents during the first stage of his education?

Spoiler: Niphon Needs A Good Education

Show

The Queen was reminded of two things by her staff. She had no Regent nor did she had a Physician to care for her. So first she picked Bhikshuni Ioanna of Geding, who seemed to have a positive opinion of her Queen, as her Regent.(2)

Spoiler: The Queen Picks A New Regent

Show

The Queen then sent riders to roam the three Kingdoms to search for a skilled physician willing to work for a Queen, get a steady salary, and live in a Palace.

Spoiler: The Search For A Court Physician Begins

Show

As she waited Parsak arrived in her Royal Court and he married Arminestra. The wedding was small but the Queen made sure the couple had the best food and entertainers at their post-wedding party.

Spoiler: Arminestra Is Married

Show

In February the scouts reported they had found a man named Zenon who was known for helping the peasants with their ailments. It seemed there was one hitch. He was a raging alcoholic. The Queen had no real choice and gave up over 80 gold coins to persuade the man to become the NEW Court Physician.

Spoiler: The NEW Court Physician

Show

Zenon examined the Queen and decided that she was slowing early signs of Gout. As he prepared the treatment she felt herself getting worse as her stomach started to have sharp pains.

Spoiler: The Queen Seems To Have Gout

Show

As this was happening the Queen was notified that the Duke Saua Wenshunu now had his own Independent Duchy. The Queen was amazed by the fact that she had seen, in her lifetime, TWO Revolts gain their freedom north of the border while all the Revolts in Europe she had heard about had always failed. Maybe it was something in the air of the steppes?

Spoiler: The Duke Saua Won

Show

Zenon came back with a bag that had a small bone in it. Turned out to be a chicken bone. He explained to her that it would scare away the bad spirits and she should wear it around her neck.

Spoiler: Bad Spirits Don't Seem Scared Of A Chicken Bone

Show

A few days later she developed a pain behind the eyes. She was starting to worry about her life and her future Heir.

So we end this chapter with a new Heir and a very sick Queen with a chicken bone in a bag around her neck.
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Author's End Notes:

1. There are few Saints named Niphon in the Eastern Orthodox Church but it is unknown why the Queen called her first son that name.

2. Turned out Ioanna did NOT like the Queen. Long story short the Queen had a weak claim on Geding and, while she never planned to use the claim, Ioanna felt threatened by this.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Thirty-Two : "When It Rains..."


"...It Pours!"

We open this chapter in March, in the year 853 AD, with the Queen being told that Count Petros is trying to fabricate a claim on the Republic of Lhasa. And it looked like he might be able to do it without a backer!

Spoiler: Count Petros Wants The Republic Of Lhasa

Show

The Queen learned that her problem with the Count might not last long. His wife was now pregnant. Which meant that soon he could be replaced by a harmless baby.

Spoiler: The Countess Is Heavy With Petros's Replacement

Show

Later that month Doux Herakleios was seeking to claim on the Duchy of Yarlung. Unlike the Count Petros the Doux would need some backers for his plot to work.

Spoiler: Doux Herakleios Wants The Duchy Of Yarlung

Show

In April the Queen forced herself to go attend one of the prayer meetings with the members of the Savaka-Sangha. She noticed one member, Brother Ketuyu, had fallen asleep.

Spoiler: Helping Brother Ketuyu

Show

She decided to wake him up before anybody noticed. In the end she had to slam her elbow into his side. At first he seemed angry but then realized what had happened. He thanked her for keeping him from making a fool of himself. The Queen made sure not to gloat or embarrass him over it.

In May she received bad news. A militant priest named Folki was leading a Catholic Uprising in the County of Bome. It was made up of mostly Yak herders and dirt farmers but if not crushed it could spread.

Spoiler: Catholic Uprising On The Tibetan Frontier

Show

The Queen hired both the Alan Riders, with their cavalry, and the Bengal Company, with their elephants, and had them join her Retinue. Her levies would not be fighting in this conflict. She wanted to give them time to recover. And also she wanted hardened veterans in this war.

Spoiler: Experienced Soldiers Are Assembled And Sent To Crush The Rebellion

Show

They were ordered to march north right away without delay. Commander Eustathios was in charge at the time. His flanking Commanders were Varshasb and Pusyamitra. The Queen knew it would take forever before the war ended.

Not because the enemy was tough but because they were so far away. It could take weeks to get to the County of Bome.

A few days later a man calling himself Eusebios appeared in the Royal Court. He was a aging lowborn Greek. The Queen could only assume he was a "Freeloader" from the West. Many of the servants and Courtiers that chatted with him were able to bring the Queen the fact that he was a zealous Orthodox Christian to boot.

Spoiler: Eusebios The NEW Freeloader

Show

"Great," sighed the Queen as she tried to cover a cough. "More Christians."

Then she got a letter from Arahnat Rajaganesha. He suggested she spend more think studying the divine and put aside her worldly worries. She sent back a letter agreeing to try her best.

Spoiler: The Society Is Worried That The Queen Is Too Worried About The World

Show

A few days later she was so racked with aches and pains that she became trapped in her bed. She had the FLU!

Spoiler: The Queen Has The Flu

Show

Bhikshuni Ioanna of Geding stepped up as her Regent. But she seemed somewhat unhappy with the Queen. It seemed the Queen had a claim on Geding and the Regent didn't trust her not to take it away. The Queen had no reason to. She couldn't anyway - she already had too many holdings!

Spoiler: The New Unhappy Regent

Show

The Court Physician Zenon came to see the Queen and told her that he had a few treatments he could try. The Queen demanded he use only a treatment he knew had worked before. One that was well understood.

Spoiler: The Physician Suggests A Weird Treatment

Show

He brought her a dead cat and made her eat it. She did it but she wasn't happy about it.

From her bed she heard the news that defenders in Bome had sallied forth and raided the besiegers and caused them a lot of deaths. It sounded risky to her but it had worked.

Spoiler: The Rebellion Is Having Some Problems

Show

So we close this chapter with the Queen bedridden, having eaten a cat, and a Religious Revolt on the frontier.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Thirty-Three : A Great King Dies


Medieval Inheritance

We open this chapter in May, of the year 853 AD, with the Queen asking her Society for and receiving an advancement in rank. Now she was a Sakadagami instead of just a lowly Sotapanna.

Spoiler: The Queen Moves Up In Rank

Show

She would have been more joyful about it if she wasn't so sick. She kept herself busy by making sure her staff kept her in touch with everything happening in and outside of her Realm.

In June she was told that the Castle of Haruppeswara now had a nice new Keep.

Spoiler: A New Keep Is Built In Haruppeswara

Show

Later that month she reorganized the military force heading north by replacing Eusebios with Captain Saros, of the Alan Riders, and shifting the Commander to the flank. The Captain Saros was just better than her other Commanders and she wanted him in control of the center.

Spoiler: Army Of Captain Saros

Show

A few days later the mother of the Great King of Pala died of poor physique at the age of 70. The Queen wondered what "poor physique" meant? She hoped the rest of the Pala Royal Family lived as long.

Spoiler: Queen-Mother Of Pala Dies

Show

Soon she received a report that the Castle of Pundravardhana had finished the Militia Training Ground. More troops for her levies when she needed them.

Spoiler: Pundravardhana Finished A Militia Training Ground

Show

Late in the month of June Count Varzak of Gyantse founded an Independent Faction.

Spoiler: Count Varzak Wants Freedom

Show

"So while I am sick and the Kingdom is at war the vultures come circling," said the Queen as she read the report in her bed. Next to her, on a table, was a pot of warm herbal tea and some honeyed scones. It helped with her throat and, lets face it, she also enjoyed the taste of honey.

She was told by one of her nurses that Courtier Sangrama had become a proper Greek. That pleased the Queen even though she had no idea who the young boy was.

Spoiler: Courtier Sangrama Becomes Greek

Show

Near the end of June the Queen was notified that the Duchess of Qamdo was assembling her levies. The Queen thought this was a good sign of a proactive Vassal. At least the troops could protect the rest of the holdings.

Spoiler: The Levies Of Qamdo Assemble

Show

In August her Magistros, Fortun, came to tell her of how he had improved her relations with Bhikkhu Adrianos.

Spoiler: Bhikkhu Adrianos Has A Higher Opinion Of The Queen

Show

"Well, at least that is something," said the Queen. "Maybe he will not join the others in destroying the Realm my Great Grandmother worked so hard to build."

In the middle of August the two sides started to dance about the landscape. As the Queen's Army approached the Rebels decide to try to move past them. When they tried to do that the Duchess's troops tried to move into Bome while the Queen's Commanders switched their pathway to meet the enemy.

Spoiler: Dancing Armies

Show

Of course the Rebels decided NOT to move once they noticed the approaching army had also changed course and this forced the Duchess's levies to fall back also. Luckily this meant the Catholics had to start their siege all over again.

Then the most important event in the Queen's life or maybe the second most important event happened. The Great King of Pala died and Gopala III received ALL the titles.

Spoiler: The Great King Is Dead - Long Live The Despot!

Show

The was because the Great King's other son had died during childhood and his other offspring were all daughters. So now Gopala was the Great King of Pala AND Bihar. Sadly, as a Ruler, his opinion of his wife was not the same as when he was just her husband.

Then near the end of August the Magistros brought the Queen some interesting information.

"It seems the Count of Bome is plotting to claim the Duchy of Qamdo," stated Fortun with a grin.

Spoiler: The Count Of Bome Wants To Be The Doux Of Qamdo

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"So...let me get this straight," replied the Queen. "The Count, even while under attack, plots against his Liege. A Liege who has assembled an army to try to save him?"

"Yes," said Forun with a shrug.

"Well, never mind that," said the Queen. "Bring me as much information on the men available who could make a good Sakellarios. I need to fill the seat my husband abandoned."

Fortun and her staff soon had her buried under a mountain of scrolls and books and pieces of paper. And in that mess she found Parsak Anantazk. He was very skilled but had a low opinion of the Queen. She made sure to send him a small gift before putting him in the position of Sakellarios. He was then sent to oversee building projects within the Capital.

Spoiler: The New Sakellarios Is Put To Work

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Even while sick and worried about the fate of her Kingdom she did feel good about her son who was the future Heir of a small part of India and a good part of Tibet.

Spoiler: Future Heir Of Everything

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So while we close this chapter with a ongoing war and a sick Queen at least we leave her with some small piece of joy in her heart.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Thirty-Four : The Rebellion Ends


Death For The Loser

We open this chapter in September, of the year 853 AD, with the Queen waking up to find her Flu was gone! The coughing and fever had left her. She could even enjoy a breakfast without having to worry about a surprise cough making her gag or choke.

Spoiler: The Queen Is Over The Flu

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The next day her grumpy Regent stepped down. The Queen felt good being back in the old throne room.

The middle of September she was told the 12 year old Dionysios, one of her nephews, needed the second stage of his education selected. The boy's attributes seemed to suggest he would be a perfect steward so the Queen declared he should learn about money and land ownership.

Spoiler: Dionysios Needs The Second Stage Of His Education Selected

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Shortly afterwards the first reports of the Battle of Alamdo started to arrive. It felt like some of the earlier reports were lost as in these reports the enemy was already collapsing!

Spoiler: The Battle Of Alamdo Starts

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In fact they were soon fleeing the massive charge of horse and elephants. There was really no doubt that the Queen's men would be the victors.

As news of this battle spread, along with the knowledge of the Queen's recovery, Count Varzak decided that maybe it was not yet time to try for his freedom. He disbanded his Faction.

Spoiler: Count Varzak Disbanded His Faction

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Then her husband was overheard that he wanted to groom an Heir. This upset her because it seemed that Gopala might not see his SON as a proper Heir to his Realms because the boy was not of the House Of Pala.

Spoiler: The Despot Wants To Groom An Heir

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One way he could get around that was to have an Heir with a Concubine. The Queen would have to keep an eye on that. He didn't have an Concubine yet but once he had one THEN the Queen would have to do something.

Spoiler: Victory!

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On the 27th the news of Victory arrived. The Queen's soldiers had lost 32 men while the enemy had lost 627 peasants.

The results were clear. Farmers and herders are no match for professional soldiers. Not when they outnumber you over 4-to-1.

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In the County of Bome there was a massive military camp. In this camp a Rebel Leader had turned himself in to surrender.

Folki marched between the rows of the Queen's Retinue with his head held high. He was flanked by Royal Guards twice his size but they failed to scare him. He was a man of God and feared not these Buddhists.

He was in a simple tunic and trousers. His armor and sword had been taken away from him when he entered the camp. He had been treated well - no beatings. They had even given him some of their food before parading him in front of the troops.

The ranks of soldiers looked impressive. Their breastplates and mail had been cleaned, their weapons polished, and their banners flapped high above them in the wind.

All around the Retinue the paid scum of the hired mercenary bands were packing up and leaving. They had been dismissed. Tents were being pulled down, fires put out, and horses saddled. Over four thousand soldiers, soldiers who had helped crush his hopes and dreams, were now leaving.

Spoiler: The Retinue Prepares To Go Home

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In his mind he cursed them. He cursed them high and low. But his face stayed calm.

He finally found himself in front of two men. Prince Eusebios and Commander Pusyamitra. They were in full armor and surrounded by staff and servants.

The Prince stepped forward and wasted no time with social chitchat. He held out a treaty and said, "Sign this. You will be the only person punished. The rest of the rebels are worthless without a leader. They can go back to their yaks, goats, and gardens. We don't care."

Spoiler: The War Was TOTALLY One Sided

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Folki looked down at the piece of scroll and nodded. The war had been terribly short. One battle. Not even a battle really. A blood bath. They gave him a pen and he carefully signed in the proper space. The Revolt had ended. And now he was officially a prisoner of war.

Spoiler: Folki Agrees To Peace

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As the scroll was removed from his hands the Guards brought chains. His legs were shackled close together, making it impossible for him to run, and his hands were shackled to a neck collar. The neck collar itself was too large but at least it did not choke him.

The scroll was carefully dried and rolled up. It would be sent by a fast rider back to the Capital where, no doubt, copies would be made and posted all over the Realm. The news of the defeat of the Rebellion would become top news for the next few days.

He grinned at the two Royal Commanders and rattled his chains. "Scared I will try to kill your Queen when I meet her?" he asked with a smile.

The two Commanders looked at each other and laughed. "Meet the Queen?" remarked the Prince. "No. You will not be meeting the Queen. And before you ask we will not force you to convert or place you in a dungeon or burn your eyes out. We were told to show you mercy."

The Prince made a gesture and the ranks of soldiers behind him parted to show the gallows.

Spoiler: The Enemy Leader Is Hung

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"A quick death," added the Prince as the Guard escorted the Rebel Leader to meet his Maker. "Don't worry. The chains will add weight to your body. Your neck should snap real easy."

------

The Queen was pleased when she heard of the man's death. Having crushed a rebellion would make others think twice about starting their own rebellion AND it had been done without using any of her levies. This had given her own levies time to rebuild their numbers.

Now that the revolt was over trade could flow again in the Tibetan Trade Posts. And without the cost of the hired swords her own coffers would fill up faster.

So we close this chapter with a healthy Queen and a healthy Kingdom.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Thirty-Five : Another Failed Tiger Hunt


Darn Those Invisible Tigers!

We open this chapter at the end of September, of the year 853 AD, with the Queen deciding to organize another tiger hunt. She wasn't a hunter, and really did prefer parties, but she did enjoy traveling and it got her out of the Palace.

Spoiler: Another Tiger Hunt

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In October, as the hunters debated the best hunting grounds and the servants packed and the stables readied the elephants, the Queen toured her newly built Keep. The last line of defense during a siege. She hoped it was never needed.

Spoiler: A New Keep For The Capital

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It turned out not everyone would be going on the tiger hunt. Duchess Anastasia "The Unfaithful" of Bhutan declined. She said she had pressing business and the Queen wondered what that business was? Another love affair? Burning somebody at the stake? Plotting against a neighbor?

Spoiler: The Duchess Of Bhutan Could Not Come

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She husband also would not be able to accompany her as he was too busy with his wars. As long as he wasn't killed in action. If he WAS...

Spoiler: Her Husband Was Busy

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Also Fortun "The Wise" was sent to the County of Limbuwan to see if he could lay claim to the holdings there. If the Queen took take it away from the Rebels it would be a fine addition to her lands.

Spoiler: Fortun Was Working

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Soon all was ready and the party marched to the camping site where the ovens were lit, the tents put up, and the guards made sure all was well in the surrounding jungle.

Spoiler: Let The Hunt Begin

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Sadly, there was no animals to hunt. Maybe the tigers had been scared off? Maybe wiped out? The Queen, one night, out of boredom sat down to a game of cards.

Spoiler: The Queen Knows How To Handle Cards

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Though she played for low stakes she, from good luck or good skill, won over 180 gold coins. As the hunt cost around 88 gold coins she had made a profit from her own guests! She was very pleased.

As she rode about on the elephant and did mostly nothing she received news from her Palace that a young Courtier named Jayapala Pavakid, due to his Tutor, had become Greek. Which was good to hear. Though, once again, the Queen knew not who the boy was.(1)

Spoiler: A Young Courtier Becomes Greek

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She also received news that her stepfather, Doux Herakleios "The Cruel", had passed the Title Revocation Allowed Law. No doubt the vassals of the Duchy of Nyingchi were not too happy about that.

Spoiler: The Cruel Doux Herakleios And The Content Count Stephanos

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At this point she remembered that she needed a Designated Regent and sent a letter to her Council to make Count Stephanos of Mangyul the new Designated Regent.

The man was loyal and content. And while it was rumored that he liked the company of men it was a well known fact that he loved his wife.

Spoiler: A Failed Hunt

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By November the hunting party had returned to the Palace empty handed. No tigers had been found. The hunting scouts had not even found paw prints. The Queen was not bothered as much as others - she had made a profit while enjoying the fresh air and beautiful jungle.

So we close the chapter with a happier and, slightly, richer Queen.
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Author's End Notes:

1. Many of the children coming of age had been dealt with by her mother. The New Queen had no idea who many of the young people in the Royal Court were as she, a Member of Royalty, had never interacted with them.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Thirty-Six : Another Feast


What Do You Mean Its VERY NICE?

We open this chapter in November, of the year 853 AD, with the Queen being told that her Retinue was about halfway home. She felt sorry for them. The high plateau of Tibet was pretty harsh even during the warm months but trying to travel through it during winter was horrible. She hoped the men had a lot of furs cloaks and wool clothing. Poor Pusyamitra had been left in command of the troops.

Spoiler: The Retinue Returning To the Capital

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In December the Queen decided to have the autumn feast. The scribes made lovely scrolls and they were delivered by riders decorated with flowers and ribbons.

Spoiler: The Queen Announces A Feast

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This time she decided on a horse for her husband. It doubled the cost of the party but she felt it would be worth it if she could improve her relation with her husband and next door neighbor.

The Queen was also plotting to send a eunuch to the Ming Dynasty to gain some grace with them. Sadly, she failed to check the background of her first choice who she invited to her Court. When Arjunavarman arrived he brought his wife. The Queen welcomed them and then face-palmed herself after they left the throne room.

Spoiler: Oops, He Is Married

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The Queen decided to pick a man without a wife and invited one to the Court. The second invite, Satyavarman, WAS a widower BUT had three kids. The Queen welcomed them and then decided to make sure to find somebody without a wife OR children.

Spoiler: Oops, He Has Kids

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But she had other guests to greet for the Palace was ready for the party. The food was out on the tables, the jugglers and jesters were tumbling and jesting, and the guests were arriving. None of her Vassals had refused and she was pleased to see most of them. She made sure to chat with each of them and did her best to taste all the dishes her cooks had selected for the menu.

Spoiler: Soon The Guests Started To Arrive

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Then in January the third invite showed up. Har Rai was a very scholarly old man without any family. He was perfect.

Spoiler: The Third Invite Was JUST Right

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"Welcome!" said the Queen as she guided him out of the public view into one of the private chambers. She handed him a plate piled high with food. "Eat quickly," she said with a smile. "I need you for a very important job. In China." She handed him over to the Royal Guards and added, "Once he is finished make sure he goes right to the stables and to the waiting carriage."

She then returned to the feast. She didn't want to miss anything. And she could smell that the kitchen had brought out a fresh batch of pies.

Soon it was time to give her husband the gift. He had come in from his wars to attend the party at her request. She rode in on the horse and he received her gift with a statement that the horse was "very nice".

Spoiler: A Wonderful Horse

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She was disappointed by his reaction. Witnesses recorded that she was somewhat shaken by him seeming to accept a horse and act like she had given him a flower. He left soon afterwards as he was needed on the battlefields of his many conflicts. He EVEN rode off on his new horse.

A few days later a messenger from the Ming Dynasty brought a letter praising the Queen for giving the Emperor such a learned eunuch. At least that pleased the Queen.

Spoiler: A Nice Thank You Letter

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During the feast, while she was enjoying some lamb, small pastries, and a light ale, she was handed a note by a servant. It seems that Count Petros of Kunggar finally had a child. Sadly, it was a daughter who could not inherit. She just shrugged and went back to enjoying the party.

Spoiler: The Count Petros Finally Had A Child

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At this point, while digging into some fresh hummus, the Queen decided to send the Ming Dynasty a request for a Chinese Artifact. She hoped that they would not be sending more Chinese writings.

Spoiler: Requesting A Chinese Artifact

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The Protector General Dong Xingcheng replied with a message stating that a wonderful relic would be sent to Queen Eupraxia. In fact the item arrived during the feast.

Spoiler: Robes

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The relic was Chinese robes. It looked somewhat simple but did give off a certain amount of charm and history. Also she liked the color.

Soon the party was at the height of the Diwali. The night was dark but the lamps and fires were lit and the best drink and sweets were passed out to the guests. The warm glow from the flames added to the warmth felt by the happy guests and beat back the darkness and despair.

Spoiler: The Feast Comes To An End

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When the feast ended the Queen had mixed feelings. The guests had left happy but the Queen's plan to become closer with her husband had not worked as well as she would have wished.

So we close this chapter with a Queen worried about her husband and how likely he was to die in battle.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Thirty-Seven : Greek Culture Spreads


Greek-Indo Art

We open this chapter in January, of the year 854 AD, with the Retinue finally marching into the County-Capital. On the way home it had filled its ranks with reinforcements and had finally reached eight hundred soldiers. It was now 100 percent complete.

Spoiler: The Retinue Returns

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The men were, of course, greeted by wives and family and cheering crowds. They had, once again, crushed the Christians who were starting to become monsters in the eyes of the southern counties. The few non-Buddhists in the local courts and county governments were starting to get dirty looks.

In fact, later that month, Mayor Konstas of Drakchi, converted to Buddhism at the demand of Count Petros. The Queen didn't trust the Count, or all the converts, as they all seemed to have a soft spot for the Christians. But she didn't plan to start something with them unless THEY started something.

Spoiler: Mayor Konstas Becomes A Buddhist

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In February the Queen was notified that Duke Saua had started a war with Kroran. He wanted to make it a Tributary State. The Queen didn't think it was worth it - the cost of the war alone would greatly outweigh any money he got from the tiny Realm over the next few decades.

Spoiler: Why Pick On Kroran?

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The Queen got the impression this was just him flexing his military muscles.

A few days later she received the news that the people of the County of Kundina had embraced the Greek Culture. This pleased the Queen greatly. It was about time. The Assamese populace of many counties had been under her family's rule for over 80 years.

Spoiler: The People Of Kundina Become Greek

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Embracing Greek culture was not just wearing togas, drinking wine, and speaking Greek. Even art was changed. For example, before the influence of Alexander the Great and other Greek civilizations had invaded India the Indian people never showed Buddha as a man in their artwork. He had always been represented by a tree or a flower.

Spoiler: The Head Of Buddha

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Of course, the Greek culture did not erase the local cultures. They fused. So even while we talk about "Greek" culture we really mean Greek-Indo or Indian-Greco culture. Just like the Tibetan Counties where Norse culture mixed in with the older Tibet culture.

Then she received information that her Castle in Kamatapur (the major one) had finished building the new Keep.

Spoiler: A New Keep Is Built

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Near the end of March she finally embraced Theology. She decided to lead a religious life of prayer and meditation. She did it, of course, to please her subjects AND the Savaka-Sangha.

Spoiler: The Queens Focuses On Theology

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They were VERY pleased. They were even more pleased when she donated 100 gold coins to charity.

The Queen, like those who had ruled before her, decided to go on a Pilgrimage. But she wanted to go someplace new and, instead of picking Bodh Gaya, she selected Sarnath.

Spoiler: Time To Go On A Pilgrimage

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This was where Buddha delivered his first sermon to the five companions with whom he had sought enlightenment. Together, with him, they formed the first Sanga (Sangha) - a company of Buddhist Monks. If the Bodhi Tree is where he found Truth than you could say Sarnath is where he gave it to others. And like a fire it spread. First to hundreds and then to thousands.

So we close this chapter with the Queen preparing to go on a long journey.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Thirty-Eight : On A Pilgrimage


River Travel On The Ganges

We open this chapter in April, of the year 854 AD, with the Queen planning out a river trip. She planned it for herself, and her escort, to travel to the Holy Site via boats. They would start off on the river Brahmaputra, going with the flow south, till it merged with the Ganges. They would then turn against the flow, going up the sacred river till they reached the County of Varanasi.

The reason for this was simple. The Kingdom of Pala was rocked by conflicts - a war and two invading hosts - and the Kingdom of Ayudha was in the middle of a Revolt. Even the Holy Site of Bodha Gaya was occupied by the Host of Kameshwar.

Spoiler: River Map

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Of course, this was not anything new. The Kingdom of Pala was always somewhat dangerous to pass through even when at peace. Rulers from the Kingdom of Kamarupa were not as welcomed as they were now. But the Queen realized that going by river might not just be safer but more comfortable.

There was one piece of good luck. The Holy Site in question, while controlled by a Hindu vassal, was itself clear of the fighting.

As her staff prepared her things and made contact with suitable boat owners the Queen still had to deal with court politics and local events.

Spoiler: Courtier Jayapala Is Greek

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For example she was told that her Courtier Jayapala had embraced the Greek culture. This cheered the Queen up as she selected what dresses to take with her. The outfits she took could not be TOO flashy. She was, after all, visiting a Holy Site. Also FLASHY attracted robbers and thieves.

Soon all the boxes and crates and supplies were packed onto a dozen medium size boats. These boats were not flashy or impressive. I fact they were like all the other hundreds of boats that traveled the rivers of Asia. They would easily be mistaken for fishing boats or transport boats or house boats.

The Queen and her escort would go unnoticed by all but the most cunning of watchers. The day she went down to the river pier that held her boat in her hooded cloak the Count Stephanos was appointed Regent.

Spoiler: Time To Start

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He was NOT as skilled as she was and the Council and Vassals complained that he could not handle the number of holdings that she could. She decided to ignore them. She thought she could escape their whining for this one trip. But she was wrong.

For even while on the river they were able to send her messages to her when they wished it. Every once and awhile they would send her a rider to delivery a package of scrolls. Sometimes full of information. Sometimes demanding she make a decision. Of course, the rider didn’t announce to everybody that they were there to deliver information to the Queen. They found excuses to approach the boats after they had docked.

At one village a rider approached the boats and pretended to be haggling for fresh fish. In fact he slipped one of the Queen’s Royal Guards a leather tube with a scroll inside.

The scroll informed her that her Aunt Anthe Dysnomia had been sent to "travel" within the Chinese Empire. She wondered how that had happened. Was Anthe thought of too dangerous to have around but not so dangerous as to have killed?

Spoiler: Aunt Anthe Was SENT To China

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Funny enough the Queen DID get a lot of fish dishes as the boat crews knew which towns to stop at for the best food. She enjoyed fish head curry made fresh for her by a cook who didn’t have a clue that she was the Queen.

Spoiler: New Foods And New Places

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She was also able to observe something interesting. As they went up the Ganges and entered the drier plains the boats stopped at one town for supplies and a rest. The Queen saw how the peasants built a reservoir. She had the boats halt their travel up river for a few days so she could learn more about the engineering of such constructions.

Spoiler: Sarnath At Last!

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She finally made to Sarnath in June. The park was overshadowed by the Dhamek Stupa and was filled with thousands of Monks, Nuns, pilgrims, and vendors. Here many came to learn enlightenment. The Queen felt refreshed just by being there. Or maybe it had been the river trip?

But the Council had a long reach and soon she got a letter telling her of the death of the Duchess Uppalavarna “The Bold”. Which meant she now had a County and a Duchy she had to give away as soon as possible.

Spoiler: Duchess Uppalavarna Dies

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First she ordered her Council to give the County of Suvarnagram to Arminestra Dysnomia. The Council agreed with this action and obeyed. The only problem with this was that Parsak, the Queen’s Sakellarios, now left with his wife to Suvarnagram. So the Queen had to pick a replacement.

Spoiler: A NEW Countess

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She selected Arjunvarman Dasaratha. She assigned him to helping her Regent run the Realm while she was gone. There was a problem.

Spoiler: A NEW Sakellarios

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The man was skilled but pretty much on the fence on if he liked the Queen or not. She tried to help improve his opinion of her by giving him a gift.

Spoiler: A Welcomed Gift And A Refused Order

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She also sent the Council the order to give the Duchy of Varendra to the Countess Arminestra. Which they refused. Seems the Council didn’t like the idea. And as they, with the Regent, were in charge while she was gone there wasn’t anything she could do about.

So the Queen spent her time on prayers, talking to other pilgrims, and exploring the Holy Site. She found the Ashoka Piller with the Four Lions. The sight of such a relic filled her with a great sense of wonder. The Pillars of Ashoka were columns built throughout India by the Mauryan King Ashoka during his reign in the 3rd Century BCE. ALL were built at Buddhist Monasteries.

Spoiler: Time To Leave

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Soon she decided it was time to go back home. Her things were packed and the staff found as much in the way of food and other supplies as they could load onto the boats. As they left the Queen could almost feel the weight of her crowns returning. Soon she would be back in the busy Palace plotting and counter-plotting. At least she could make the most of the return trip.

Of course the riders found her and delivered her some bad news. Count Varzak of Gyantse was causing trouble again as he decided to found the Gavelkind Succession for the Kingdom of U-Tsang Faction.

Spoiler: Two New Factions

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And a few days after that Count Harendranarayan of Madhupur had founded a Faction to Increase the Council’s Power.

Sadly for the Queen the trip back took less time due to the river’s currents. The boats were being aided by the water’s power and its own journey to the sea. Only when they turned off and started fighting their way up the Brahmaputra did the boats slow down.

In the Ides of July the Queen arrived home. She enjoyment of her pilgrimage was mixed with the sadness of her return. It wasn’t that she did not love her son or her home. But she knew the heavy weight of the Realm was waiting for her the second she sat on the throne.

Spoiler: Back Home And In Charge

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The Count gave the Queen a day to rest and prepare before stepping down. Her first act was to present Countess Arminestra the Duchy of Varendra.

Spoiler: The NEW Duchess

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Just a few days later the new Duchess passed the title Revocation Allowed Law. Her vassals better watch out thought the Queen with a smile.

Spoiler: Duchess Arminestra Passes Her First Law

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The Queen also received news that Princess Eustathina had recovered from her time in the dungeons but had neither forgiven nor forgotten. She not only hated the Queen but she held claim to pretty much everything in the Kingdom of Kamarupa. Of course as she was now a Concubine to a Chinese General and all her offspring were under the thumb of the Queen there was really VERY little she could do about it.

Spoiler: The Princess Eustathina And Her Fantasies

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“She can dream all she wants,” stated the Queen to her staff. “But her threat to me is zero.”

Then she heard her niece, Konstantine who was the daughter of her brother Mayor Leontios of Yumai, had become a woman. Sadly, it seems she was also grown up to become greedy. So the Queen went to her to help give spiritual guidance.

Spoiler: Konstantine Comes Of Age But Needs Help

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In the end Konstantine, with the Queen’s help, overcame her greedy nature and her opinion of her Aunt increased.

Spoiler: The Queen Helps Her Niece Overcome Greed

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So we end this chapter with the Queen having visited a Holy Site, having enjoyed herself, and having come back to the same-old-same-old at her home.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Thirty-Nine : Peace Before The Storm


A Greek Guru

We open this chapter in July, of the year 854 AD, with the Queen making a decision. A important one.

You see, she was worried that her husband might lose one of his conflicts or might even die while fighting in one of them. So she realized one way to help was to join the Realms in an Alliance. That way he could ask for her help in the wars and she could join in with her military. She was sure that her men could make short work of the Hosts and allow her husband to focus on the WAR.

Spoiler: Her Husband Refuses To Become An Ally

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But it turned out the Great King Gopala III of the Pala Kingdom did not WANT her help. Either he didn't trust his own wife or there was something he knew about the conflicts that she didn't.

In August the Queen received some good news. Count Varzak disbanded his own Faction. Seemed the man was like tall grass in a storm. If he felt a weakness in the Queen's power he made a faction. And when the Queen seemed strong he backed down.

Spoiler: Another Faction Bites The Dust

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A few days later Kameshwar and his Host gave up their war with the Kingdom of Pala. The conflict ended in a White Peace which meant nothing changed. Well, that was still a victory for her husband. And maybe it suggested he DID know something she did not. Maybe he knew what he was doing? If nothing else he was a shrewd and stubborn Ruler.

Spoiler: The Kingdom Of Pala Has One Less Host To Worry About

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She also noticed later that month that there was only one plot left. Princess Anastasia still wanted to make her Duchy whole by taking Count Ioustinos's holdings. She had backed down when starting a war last time. Would she back down a second time?

Spoiler: Only One Plot To Worry About

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In September the Court Physician Zenon came into the Queen's private rooms, unannounced, and almost got tackled by the Royal Guard. It seemed he was worried about the Queen working too long. He asked that she slow down and not work so hard. While the Queen DID get very little sleep and her writing hand was starting to cramp she refused his advice. She had to keep an eye on her Vassals and what was happening within her Royal Court.

Spoiler: The Queen Dismisses The Doctor's Advice

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Records show that the Queen refused to slow down and continued her work habits. She had been trained to run the Realm after all and it turned out the Physician's worries were, in the end, unfounded. She seemed to be able to handle the workload without feeling any stress or pressure.

In November the Queen decided she wanted a Guru in her Royal Court. She was worried about the future of her soul and her Vassals' souls so she sent out messengers to find somebody worthy of being the Royal Court's Spiritual Guide.

Spoiler: The Realm Needs A Guru

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Later that month the Duchess Theodosia of Nagchu was given the nickname "The Cruel". The Queen was a little worried about that. The woman had been a friend of her mother and had proven a loyal Vassal. True, she wanted on the Council and was a tad...dumb. But she was also strong and brave and had kept her holdings under control. But the Queen wasn't worried about her skills as being a ruler of her territory. She was worried about how the woman had earned such a name.

Spoiler: The Duchess Theodosia Gets A Nickname

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At the end of the month of November she ordered FOUR projects started. In the County-Capital she ordered the building of Cataphract Training Ground. In the County of Kamatapur she ordered a Militia Training Ground in the her first castle and a Keep in the second castle in Nalrajar Garh.

Spoiler: Four Projects Are Started

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Then she ordered a Soup Kitchen be built in the Capital's Hospital. Most of the projects would take longer then a year.

In December a Guru finally showed up. A lowborn Buddhist Greek named Adrianos. The man had many skills and talents. Hopefully he would turn out to be an blessing to the Royal Court and her Courtiers.

Spoiler: A Guru Appears In Court

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Later that month the Queen received news that the Sakellarios had been working with the people of Markam. He had helped motivate them and improved greatly on their road system. What a fast worker he was.

Spoiler: The Sakellarios Helps The People Of Markam

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Being in a good mood in January she tried to find a good husband for Konstantine Dysnomia. Sadly, nobody was good enough for the father Mayor Leontios and he refused all proposals. Seemed the Queen's brother didn't want anything to do with her. Unless she was, of course, willing to give him all titles he wanted.

Spoiler: The Queen's Matchmaking Is Blocked

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Then in March she realized that she was going to have another baby. The Queen felt a mixture of joy and worry. She felt joy on having another child. But worry as she did not know what this would do to the titles to be inherited from the Kingdoms of Pala and Bihar. Maybe if she planned to send the second boy into the priesthood?

Spoiler: A Second Baby?

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So we close this chapter with a Queen worrying about the future of her children and her husband's Realm. And completely blind to the chain of events that would turn her own Realm into a massive battlefield.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Forty : Family Infighting Again


Will There Be War?

We open this chapter in April, of the year 855 AD, with the Queen getting news from Markam again. Seems her Sakellarios was still working with the people of the county. The Queen was pleased with that. After all that was why the County of Markam had the Crown's Focus!

Spoiler: Sakellarios Helps The County Of Markam Again

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Then later that month the Fortun sent the Queen a scroll. It seems he was on the verge of getting a claim for Limbuwan. It would only cost the Queen over 900 GOLD COINS! The Queen almost choked as the treasury only held 647 gold coins. The Queen told him to forget it.

Spoiler: HOW MUCH!?!?!

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She COULD pay for it and be in debt. But even her wealthy Realm could take years to pay off the negative balance. She didn't want that.

In May the Queen told him to return to Kamarupanagara to work on relationships with the Courtiers and Vassals. If he could not gain her holdings he could gain her hearts and minds.

Spoiler: Fortune Is Called Back Home To Work In The Royal Court

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That same day Princess Anastasia "The Unfaithful" declared the 2nd Bhutanese-Bumthangese De Jure War on the Count Ioustinos of Bumthang. In other words she wanted the County of Bumthang. Again.

Spoiler: Again? Why Princess Anastasia? Why?!?!

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So the Queen asked her to stop. But would the Princess follow her suggestion or refuse and continue the war? If she did the Queen would have only a few options available to stop her.

A few days later the Queen got a reply. The Princess was willing to pull out of the war for a Favor. The Queen was upset about that. She didn't want the war to continue as she knew her sister would win and just get stronger. But neither did she want to owe her power hungry sister a Favor. That would give her direct power over the throne.

Spoiler: Princess Anastasia Tries To Haggle

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The Queen refused and searched for other ways to help the Count. She was then alerted that Eustratios Dysnomia, the oldest son to the "Traitor", needed his second stage of his education selected.

Spoiler: Eustratios Will Make A Good Diplomat

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The Queen noticed the boy was affectionate so ordered he learn about diplomacy and statesmanship. Seemed like a safe pathway.

She also sent the Count Ioustinos some gold to help him with his war. But she knew 21 gold coins would not help that much.

Spoiler: Trying To Fund The Count's War

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She proposed that his daughter get a different teacher. The Queen suggested Antipatra. The Queen hoped that the girl would go to where the teacher was and be outside the war zone.(1)

Spoiler: Maybe Try To Help Keep The Daughter Safe?

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Then on the 11th of May the Count Petros MURDERED his own 19 year old wife!

Spoiler: Count Petros Kills His Own Wife

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The Queen was shocked and asked her staff, "What kind of unbalanced monster IS he?" They could not give her an answer.

A few days later Count Ioustinos agreed to allow his daughter to have a different educator.

Spoiler: Count Ioustinos Agrees To The New Teacher For His Daughter

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The Queen got some news from outside the Realm. Seemed a small Revolt was popping up in the Kingdom of Pala. Nothing for her to worry about anyway. Something her husband would have to handle on his own.

Spoiler: Another Conflict In The Kingdom Of Pala

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The Queen realized that there was only one way to stop his sister. She demanded that Princess Anastasia give up her title of the Duchy of Bhutan. Without such a title the war might collapse. And if the Princess refused she would become a traitor and the Queen could arrest her. And the war would fall apart also. Of course, either way, the Queen's prestige would be harmed and her own Vassals would be upset about such an action.

Spoiler: Revoking A Title

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The first sign that something was going wrong was when all the Factions disappeared. In fact the only faction she heard about was one in the Kingdom of Pala. Where were all the movements and their leaders?

Spoiler: Where Did All The Trouble Makers Go?

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The Princess replied to the Queen's request by breaking off from the Kingdom. She started a Revolt and, in the eyes of all loyal subjects, was now a traitor. At least it stopped the war over Bumthang.

Spoiler: This Mean WAR!

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But it got worse. For the Princess called in three other Nobles into the War Against The Tyranny of Queen Eupraxia.

Spoiler: A BIG WAR!

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Doux Herakleios, Lord Mayor Eusebios, and Doge Himerios all answered the Princess's call to arms. Now the Queen knew where all the movements had gone. They had joined the Revolt.

So we end this chapter with a the Revolt that had become a true Realm-wide Civil War.
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Author's End Notes:

1. It didn't work.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Forty-One : Slow Start


Levies Assemble...Oh Crap!

We open this chapter in May, of the year 855 AD, with the Queen hiring the Alan Riders and the Bengal Company to join her Retinue. She also called up the Royal levies. The Revolt already had an army marching on the Capital.

Spoiler: Hired Mercenaries, Retinue, And Local Levies Form Up

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With the arrive of the Mercenaries the enemy forces halted their advance and started to lay siege to Kamatapur. The Queen ordered the Army of Eustathios to march on the enemy. Who decided, in the end, to flee north once they noticed the Queen's approaching forces.

Spoiler: Armies On The Move

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Even while this was happening the enemy was also TRYING to lay siege to Goalpara. And failing as they didn't have enough troops. Other Royal levies had been called to arms and were marching to rally points in the south, northwest and northeast. All the Realm's friendly and enemy forces were all grabbing their spears, putting on their uniforms, and rushing to the assembly points to join comrades and fellow soldiers to form up.

In June, as she waited for news, her sister Anastasia, who no longer was called by any other title besides rebel scum, forced her Council to pass the Religious Control Mandate Law. No doubt trying to bring some order to her newly formed Realm.

Spoiler: Anastasia Acting Like A Queem

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That same day the Duchess Arminestra II of Varendra founded the Gavelkind Succession of the Kingdom of Kamarupa.

Spoiler: Two New Factions

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Soon Count Varzak of Gyantse founded the Gavelkind Succession for the Kingdom of Kham Faction. Seems making a Faction was back in style again. At least while people plotted openly they were less likely to join the enemy ranks.

Later that month, as the armies marched and the hungry crows followed, the Queen attended a prayer meeting with the Savaka-Sangha. She noticed Brother Konstas falling asleep. She realized she had to wake him up before the rest noticed.

Spoiler: Prayer Meeting With The Society

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Of course she went with the traditional elbow to the side. He woke up a tad upset but soon understood what had happened. He thanked her and she made sure not to gloat and hold his sleeping in a meeting against him.

Near the end of June the Society asked that the Queen build a new temple in her holdings. The Queen found the timing of the request horrible but promised to do so. Later.

Spoiler: You Want A New Temple NOW?

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In July it was the enemy who hit the Royal forces FIRST in the Battle of Palcho. They took a small group of levies by surprise. It was one-sided and somewhat a bitter defeat for the Queen. Her own men were wiped out to the last soldier.

Spoiler: First Blood!

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"Tell the other levies in the area to disband and flee into the wilderness," the Queen ordered. "The levies in the northeast as safe and the those in the south are also safe."

The Army of Commander Pusyamitra, with Commander Paschalis in charge of one of the flanks, hit the enemy besiegers at Goalpara right when the news of the defeat arrived. That army had been put together with the levies of the south. They outnumbered the enemy and the rebels didn't have any skilled leaders in charge of the men. They pretty much collapsed on contact.

Spoiler: Hitting Back

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At this point the Queen decided to start a plot to kill her sister and spent money bribing at least four people who were willing to join the plot. Including Anastasia's own husband. It was likely he still had hurt feelings from the time she had fooled around with somebody else.

Spoiler: The Queen Plots

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In August the Battle of Goalpara ended in a victory and the Queen, and the Royalists, felt a tad better. The Royal forces lost 19 men while the enemy lost 205 soldiers.

Spoiler: Victory In Goalpara

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So we close this chapter with a defeat and a victory and a lot running about. Who would win? Who would be the next Queen? Or would the Realm be split into two new, smaller, Realms? Will the Queen find true love? Will the Despot win his own wars? Will France ever be formed?

Stay tuned. Same Crusader Kings II Time! Same Crusader Kings II Channel!

[Valley]

A person on Paradox Interactive Forums asked for a overview. So I tried my best to show a overview with two snap-shots from the 1st of January, 856 AD, yearly save.

Spoiler

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The point of the map is that over half of the Duchy level Vassals (Five) stayed out of the conflict. In other words the Queen is fighting a Duchess, two Douxs, and a Count.

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Forty-Two : Victories And Defeats


Missile Cavalry vs. Infantry

We open this chapter in August, of the year 855 AD, with the Queen receiving news that the Army of Eustathios had marched into the enemy Capital of Paro and surprised some enemy levies. This had started the Battle of Takthshang. And the defending soldiers, without organization or leadership, were already falling apart.

Spoiler: Battle Of Takthshang

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Even while this was happening there was an enemy to the northwest laying siege of the County of Gyantse. Seems the wishy-washy Count Varzak and his Faction was about to get stomped on. Another small army of rebels was fleeing from the Army of Pusyamitra who had just defeated it.

In the end Commander Pusyamitra decided chasing after the tiny army was a waste of time and turned south to lay siege to the rebel held County of Srihatta.

The Battle of Takthshang came to an end only about five days later. The Commander reported he lost only 10 men while the enemy lost more than 400 soldiers. It was a major victory right in the enemy's capital and brightened the spirits of many within the Queen's Court.

Spoiler: Victory!

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That same day the Queen received the news that the Hospital in the Capital had finished making the Soup Kitchen.

Spoiler: Soup Kitchen Finished

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As the armies and their Commanders went about their business the Queen, in October, went about the business of giving birth to a new baby boy. He was named Hypatios which, in Greek, meant "at the very top" or "highest". Not a bad name for somebody who would likely NOT be a Despot.

Spoiler: Hypatios Is Born

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The Queen wanted the education of his early years to focus on religion and culture. She decided that a future in the priesthood would not be a bad idea.

Spoiler: He Would Make A Good Monk OR Religious Scholar

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While the Queen was resting her Court Physician Zenon came to her asking for money to buy some books on anatomy and herbs. He pointed out that it would help him be a better doctor.

Spoiler: You Want Books NOW?

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The Queen understood but, sadly, the coffers only had 293 gold coins and his books would cost about 200 gold coins. In a time of peace she may have made the purchase but now she needed every coin just in case. She refused.

Later that month she was alerted to the fact that the Castle of Paro had fallen. The defenders had proven a tough and aggressive bunch as they killed 106 of the Queen’s men before they were wiped out.

Spoiler: The Castle Of Paro Falls

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A few days later the Commander Eustathios decided to try to save the County of Gyantse. But the very mountains that would slow down invaders from the north also slowed from invaders from the south!

Spoiler: Trying To Save Gyantse!

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Near the end of the month, while the Queen waited for important news from the war, she was given information that Count Petros had taken a title away from one of his vassals.

Spoiler: Count Petros Up To Trouble Again

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Seems he was back to his old tricks! At least he was not longer her problem as he was within the Rebel camp!

Sadly the Army of Eustathios was still making its way through the mountain passes when the Castle of Gyantse fell. Not only were the defenders wiped out but the Count’s wife, Countess Cuiba, and his daughter, Anakhir Varzakzk, had also been captured and were sent to Anastasia’s dungeons.(1)

Spoiler: Terrible News!

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Amazingly the army of over 5,000 enemy soldiers took the rest of the month to overwhelm the Town of Palcho and lost 20 soldiers while doing it. It was suggested that this was because Mayor Alexeia was a strong and skilled military leader. There ARE written accounts of her tossing enemy soldiers about and causing general chaos during the street fighting. Luckily she, like her brother the Count, was able to escape.

In December news from the south was sent to the Palace via birds. The Castle of Srihatta had fallen at the cost of 9 men. All 400 or so defenders had been wiped out. Commander Pusyamitra decided to break camp and move up the river valley to join the other small army at County of Lhoyu. He felt bigger armies were better.

Spoiler: Castle Of Srihatta Taken

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By January of the year 856 AD the main enemy army had been trying to stay away from the Army of Eustathios using the mountains to dodge around. But in the middle of the month they stopped for some reason and Commander Eustarthios went for the attack knowing that all the advantages, at least on paper, were in the enemy’ favor.

Spoiler: Getting Into Position

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But for two. He had better men and slightly more of them! And it worked. At the Battle of Mangan the Queen’s forces attacked the enemy who had only half the archers and half the cavalry. Seems the rebel scum liked a infantry heavy army.

Spoiler: The Major Battle Of Mangan Starts!

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Eustathios, in charge of the center, decided to push with his infantry sensing the enemy didn’t have that many Pike. While the enemy Commander in the center was the most skilled he had given himself the least amount of men.

On the 9th of February the Queen received the horrible news that the Countess Cuiba of Gyantse had been released but ONLY after “The Unfaithful” had blinded her by burning out her eyes. The Queen was not TOO surprised. We were talking about a woman who cheated on her husband, had burnt people at the stake, and had plotted against her neighbors and family.

Spoiler: Countess Cuiba Blinded!

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Then the Queen got some news from the County of Pundravardhana. Seems they needed new equipment and ships to keep the trade flowing. Of course the Queen paid the 200 gold coins. This was not about her health, like buying the doctor some books, this was about the health of her Kingdoms! If her Realm started to lose money it could cripple her military forces and bring about defeat.

Spoiler: Traders Need Help!

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A few days later the army in the northeast sent a report. They had taken the Castle of Lhoyu all by themselves. A small army of 392 levies, mostly made up of Norse, took out a defending force of 345 soldiers. No doubt Count Petros was NOT happy.

Spoiler: Vikings Take Castle Of Lhoyu

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That same day more reports started coming in from the Battle of Mangan. Seems the Commander’s charge had worked and the enemy center had broken. Now the Queen’s soldiers could focus on the flanks.

Spoiler: Enemy's Main Force About To Be Crushed

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The enemy’s left, without a skilled Commander, broke also and soon the enemy’s right flank was all that was left. The Queen’s Commander poured in the arrows and spears and it was unlikely the enemy would be able to stand much longer under such an attack. Soon the enemy army just fell apart and the center ran. The mountains were not the BEST place to use cavalry but they were allowed to engage the enemy anyway as they now had the advantage in numbers.

Spoiler: VICTORY! VICTORY! VICTORY!

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Finally the Battle was over and the Royalist reported losing 594 men while the enemy lost about three times that amount at 1,436 soldiers.

So we end this chapter with sieges and battles and a poor woman being blinded and no end to the war in sight! Oh, sorry about that...
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Author's End Notes:

1. If Anastasia’s Castle now belonged to the Royalists WHERE were these dungeons?

[Valley]

Crusader Kings 2 - The Road of Queens
Chapter Two Hundred-Forty-Three : Rebels On The Run


The Birds Will Feed

We open this chapter in March, of the year 856 AD, with good news coming from the County of Bikrampur. Even while in the chaos of war the Sakellarois continued to work for the Queen. He helped to motivate the people and help improve their road system. For a 50 year old man he seemed to have a LOT of energy.

Spoiler: County Of Bikrampur Improved

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Commander Pusyamitra and his army had absorbed the smaller northeastern army. Together they lay siege to the Town of Anini and by April they were able to take it.

Spoiler: Town Of Anini Falls

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For some reason they did a horrible job at taking the town as they lost 104 soldiers while wiping out 184 defenders. The Norse blamed the sissy southerners and the southerners blamed the attack pugs and the attack pugs blamed nobody because pugs can't talk.

A few days later the Queen was notified that the Castle of Kamatapur had new Militia Training Grounds.

Spoiler: A New Militia Training Grounds And A New Keep

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That same day the second Castle of the county, Nakrajar Garh, announced it had a new Keep. Even while in the middle of a Civil War the Queen and the Royalists were becoming stronger.

Near the end of the month a plot was exposed that showed that Chat of the House of Vijaya planned to kill her youngest brother, the Count of Lhunze. This made sense as she was the Heir of his title.

Spoiler: A Murder Plot

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Of course she was told to stop the plot by the Spy Master. The Queen didn't need infighting within the ranks of the Royalists while there was infighting within the ranks of the Royal Family.

In May, after much running about, the enemy had fled into its own territory. Close behind it was the main army of the Royalists commanded by Eustathios.

Spoiler: Enemy Trapped?

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The Army of Commander Pusyamitra was laying siege to the Castle of Medog. If the rebels were not careful they could end up being attacked from two different directions.

Later in May the question of showing love and sympathy towards Christians became a topic of discussion between the Queen and her staff. There were some different faiths within the Kingdoms and many of the courtiers of local courts were of the Christen faith.

Spoiler: What Would Buddha Do?

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In the end Queen decided that all people were more alike than different and decided in the future to show more understanding towards Christians.

The Queen was also able to visit her new Cataphract Training Ground. Soon the Kingdom would be training Heavy Cavalry which had their uses.

Spoiler: Soon The Kingdom Will More Heavy Cavalry

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The enemy finally realized it was in trouble and tried to flee but it was too late. The main army under Eustathios would arrive in the County of Mainling before the enemy could clear it. And the secondary army, under Pusyamitra, would arrive a few days after the battle started.

Spoiler: Upcoming Battle!

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The Battle of Mainling started on the 7th of June. The Queen's forces had over three times the amount of archers than the enemy.

Spoiler: Battle Of Mainling

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Add the missile cavalry and the rebels soon found their soldiers being turned into pincushions. The second Royal army joined in on the 11th of June and added their archers to the mix. In the end the enemy's right flank just melted away and the center collapsed into chaos. The Queen's forces charged the enemy's left flank with their infantry.

Spoiler: The Enemy Breaks

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In the end the enemy broke and once again the Queen's Commanders used cavalry and war elephants in the mountains. Not the best tactic to use against an organized enemy but safe against one that was already retreating across the battlefield.

As the Queen waited for the news of the victory the staff brought her some so-so news. The Count Stephanos of Mangyul had died. He had been replaced by his son who was an Orthodox Christian.

Spoiler: The NEW Count Stephanos Of Mangyul

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The new Count Theophylaktos of Mangyul knew nothing about money and was likely to slice his own foot off if he picked up a sword. But he seemed to know how to handle people and handle a dagger. She decided to keep an eye on him. She even sent him a gift on the hopes it would make him behave.

In July the final report of the Battle of Mainling was delivered. Victory! While her Commanders lost 625 soldiers the enemy lost twice as many. They left 1,215 soldiers dead on the battlefield!

Spoiler: VICTORY!

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So we close this chapter on a victory and a rebellion which is starting to crumble under the weight of the Royalist's mighty military machine!

[Valley]

All Males From The Age Of 16 To 50!

Bored of walking behind a water buffalo while plowing the fields? Sick of other guys getting the girl because you’re nothing but a smelly goat herder? Want to see the Three Kingdoms? Want to enjoy clean clothes and three meals a day without marrying a nagging wife?

Then JOIN The Royalist Forces Today! Learn how to fight with spear or bow! Get clean clothing and good health care! Lots of fresh air and exercise! No working on the roads or in the salt pans or in the iron mines! Skilled Archers get double pay!*

Signed,

Protostrator Isaias Prabhavatiguptid

* All Traveling And Funeral Expenses To Be Paid For By The State.

[Rockphed]

You had almost equal numbers of archers lost in that last battle. What is the war-score sitting at after that?

[Valley]

You had almost equal numbers of archers lost in that last battle. What is the war-score sitting at after that?

I believe at THAT moment of the war it was around 50/50. The Rebels started out with a slight advantage.