Crusader Kings II Succession Game 2: Electric Boogaloo

[Grif]

Right. Second try at starting up a succession game. You can read the previous game here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?267622-Crusader-Kings-II-Succession-Game).

EDIT: The game has ended. Thank you to everyone that participated and made this a fun game. :smallsmile:

What is CK2, you might ask?
Crusader Kings 2 is a strategy game from Paradox Interactive, the makers of all sorts of grand strategy games that span a vast time period, from 1066-the late 20th century. In this case, we are playing their game focused on Europe of the Middle Ages. Specifically, the second of those games. It's probably the best, or at least the least buggy, game they've made. In it, you take control of a dynasty, not a country, and try to guide them as successfully as you can to rank with the great families of history.

We'll be playing this guy:
http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/579024353771559979/A7CBAF47DFB78F10099D83736C298627C114B9DB/

FAQ:
How do I join?
Simply indicate your interest in this thread, and roll dice (1d100) in the linked thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?355268-CK2-Succession-Game-Dice-Roller). The lucky one who rolled the highest will play as the next ruler. Priority will be given to players who have not participated yet. In case of a draw, players who drew reroll the dice again and the highest will play the next ruler.

What DLC do I need?
The following is the list of DLC you should be running to join the succession game.

African Portraits
Legacy of Rome
The Old Gods
Sons of Abraham
Mongolian Portraits


I'm not very good at the game. Can I still join?
Of course! CK2 is a very forgiving game, and even if you royally mess things up, chances are it'll make a great story. Just go for it and see how you fare!

EDIT: Extra FAQ!
Can I roll again if I played in this round?
Unfortunately, no. Players are only allowed to roll their dice once the current pool of players all taken a turn. (In other words, once no more new players are available.) Once the next round starts though, feel free to roll again!

[Grif]

[List of Players]
Spanish Branch

Duke Antso III of Gascogne, 867-891 (OrcusMcP)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17603940&postcount=40), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17624160&postcount=63), Part 3 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17624781&postcount=72)
Save (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r6rzstobsf6cy0o/AADUXv_6vejF6mOY2q67bUJ0a/SUCCESSION.ck2)

Duke Gartzia II of Gascogne, 891-911 (Guancyto)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17629433&postcount=91), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17633418&postcount=99), Part 3 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17638622&postcount=109)
Save (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r6rzstobsf6cy0o/AAB7Ujo4k-y5ZbElcB8gEIIQa/SUCCESSION_DEUX.ck2)

Duchess Endulcia of Gascogne, 911-915 (Sallera)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17649811&postcount=129)
Save (http://ge.tt/105kouk1/v/0)

Duchess Kisilio of Gascogne, 915-927 (AgentPaper)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17653987&postcount=143), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17686103&postcount=160)
Save (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9uQqHNKFo5SSTlzRGlTV2JhR1U/edit?usp=sharing)

Duchess Ermesinda of Gascogne, 927-965
Queen Ermesinda of Navarra, 965-967 (Grif)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17720439&postcount=205), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17728331&postcount=210), Part 3 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17728339&postcount=211)
Save (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0WyBmfXXXZKWHd6NjI3eHZ3X2M/edit?usp=sharing)

King Egidio of Navarra, 967-999 (Flickerdart)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17761871&postcount=240)
Save (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/59276366/SUCCESSION%20GAME%20SIX.ck2)

King Lope of Navarra, 999-1014 (ObadiahtheSlim)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17776673&postcount=262)
Save (https://www.dropbox.com/s/iihayfayyffc0p3/GITP%20Succession%20Game.zip)

Queen Ana of Navarra, 1014-1037 (Cristo Meyers)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17793410&postcount=278), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17796367&postcount=285), Part 3 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17799306&postcount=293), Part 4 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17812535&postcount=299)
Save (https://www.dropbox.com/s/scbb1hx6ztmwuxp/GITP%20Succession%20Game.ck2)

Emperor Diego of Hispania, 1037-1070 (IthilanorStPete)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17823261&postcount=327), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17829769&postcount=340), Part 3 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17835371&postcount=344),Part 4 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17869249&postcount=354)
Save (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10246932/ck2/succession9.ck2)


German Branch

King Èrrard of Germany, 1070-1072 (Aolbain)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17984908&postcount=387)
Save (https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9rb4BfuSoBdb2xKMks5ZVNpT2c/edit)

King Savary of Germany, 1072-1078 (Flickerdart)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17997237&postcount=398)
Save (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/59276366/succession11.ck2)

King Bernhard of Germany, 1078-1093 (Sallera)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18006773&postcount=410), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18019340&postcount=412)
Save (http://ge.tt/6snz1as1/v/0?c)

King Martin of Germany, 1093-1102 (CristoMeyers)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18035144&postcount=424)
Save (https://www.dropbox.com/s/r31s23bmmtn2p3k/succession_12.ck2?dl=0)

King Meinhard of Germany, 1102-1118
Kaiser Meinhard of the Holy Roman Empire, 1118-1121 (OrcusMcP)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18077063&postcount=476), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18104131&postcount=496), Epilogue (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18105069&postcount=499)
Save (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r6rzstobsf6cy0o/AABmkpp1ofzbRW6k2hJXNtPVa/NextSuccession.ck2?dl=0)

Kaiser Caspar of the Holy Roman Empire, 1121-1133 (Grif)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18117761&postcount=509), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18118992&postcount=510)
Save (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0WyBmfXXXZKSDRaeTZsTlYxVUE/edit?usp=sharing)

Kaiser Hugo of the Holy Roman Empire, 1133-1184* (Flickerdart) 1184*-1191 (Sange)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18173023&postcount=528), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18260705&postcount=542), Part 3 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18438834&postcount=574)
Save (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/59276366/Holy_Roman_Empire1187_08_14.ck2)


Jerusalem Branch

King Suero of Jerusalem, 1191-1195 (Sallera)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18460068&postcount=603)
Save (http://ge.tt/1ixw4P52/v/0)

King Ghalib of Jerusalem, 1195-1243 (Flickerdart)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18533214&postcount=612), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18576746&postcount=627), Part 3 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18640405&postcount=646)
Save (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/59276366/Jerusalem1243_03_12.ck2)

Sultan Ya'qub of Jerusalem, 1243-1244 (Squark)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18653648&postcount=668)
Save (https://www.dropbox.com/s/983q1wwk7rjqqyd/Jerusalem1244_08.ck2?dl=0)

Sultan Muzaffaraddin of Jerusalem, 1244-1254 (CristoMeyers)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18670277&postcount=680), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18670563&postcount=682), Part 3 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18670758&postcount=687)
Save (https://www.dropbox.com/s/0x5y8r1ly21jsfo/Jerusalem1244_08.ck2?dl=0)

Sultan Nuño of Jerusalem, 1254-1261 (Grif)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18688940&postcount=713)
Save (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0WyBmfXXXZKNVNYb3UwTW1mbEk/view?usp=sharing)

Sultan Qawurd of Jerusalem, 1261-1292 (OrcusMcP)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18708729&postcount=723), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18754057&postcount=741), Part 3 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18778674&postcount=759)
Save (https://www.dropbox.com/s/0fdqmcwalt0fztw/Succession.ck2?dl=0)

Sultana Maryam of Jerusalem, 1292-1330 (Sallera)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18794931&postcount=762), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18812564&postcount=769), Part 3 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18817196&postcount=779)
Save (http://ge.tt/5Rf95RA2/v/0?c)

Sultan Sadiq of Jerusalem, 1330-1345* (Squark) 1345*-1361 (Grif)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18947887&postcount=816), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19258966&postcount=857)
Save (https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0WyBmfXXXZKbndrbEhmUXdVOEU&authuser=0)

Sultan Faruk of Jerusalem, 1361-1379 (OrcusMcP)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19344545&postcount=873)
Save (https://www.dropbox.com/s/0fdqmcwalt0fztw/Succession.ck2?dl=0)

Sultan Khaireddin of Jerusalem, 1379 (Sallera)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19355388&postcount=886)
Save (http://ge.tt/8sEiNmH2/v/0)

Sultana Rasa of Jerusalem, 1379-1449 (CristoMeyers)
Part 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19357336&postcount=897), Part 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19360019&postcount=904), Part 3 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19363781&postcount=911), Part 4 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19365761&postcount=912)
Save (https://www.dropbox.com/s/iu1qsiab5abeh7r/Succession_Jerusalem_Shaiban.ck2?dl=0)

[Grif]

I'll toss my hat into the ring.


Here we go:

(1d100)[45]

:smallsmile:

[Cristo Meyers]

Well you know I'm in :smalltongue:


I'm awake, so let's get this out of the way

1d100 (38)

[OrcusMcP]

Let me do the thing that is kingly and crusading!


Awwww, yeah! Let's get this started!

(1d100)[97]

[Grif]

I think we might have a winner already. :smallwink:

[Aolbain]

Ck2? Seccession Game? Why the heck not?


(1d100)[82]

dont be a 1 dont be a 1 dont be a 1 dont be a 1

I didn't get a 1!

Edit: There we go.

[Narkis]

I don't think this is gonna be a 98

(1d100)[11]

It wasn't...

edit: I have no idea what I'm doing.

[Hiro Protagonest]

(1d100)[68]
Can I turn the 6 upside down?

I'm willing to turn the 8 upside down too. :smalltongue:

[Manticoran]

Yay, I got 41! Don't have to go first!

[OrcusMcP]

I know that it's unlikely that a 97 will be topped, but should we let people express their desire and roll until the end of the weekend?

[Cristo Meyers]

I know that it's unlikely that a 97 will be topped, but should we let people express their desire and roll until the end of the weekend?

Yeah, we should at least wait until Monday morning to get started.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Why can I not see the edit post button?

Let's try that again shall we? [roll0]


Alright, let's get this rolling!
... it's a 79. My laptop is breaking the forums!

[Hiro Protagonest]

Alright, let's get this rolling!
... it's a 79. My laptop is breaking the forums!

(we all copy-pasted our numbers instead of the coding and then added bold tags around the result :smalltongue:)

There's no edit button so you can't delete the post.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Oh.

Hahahaha, I've only been on this forum for like 8 years.

[Sallera]

For the plume!

(1d100)[31]

Still Orcus.

[Farix]

Totally didn't fail my first attempt to roll, at all. Really.


(1d100)[5]

[Cristo Meyers]

Totally didn't fail my first attempt to roll, at all. Really.

Heh, not only did I fail my first attempt to roll, I put it in the wrong thread. :smallredface:

I'm loving how every time I load up Duke Antso to take a look at the map he keeps generating the Craven trait when what little we know about him historically suggests he was a feared warrior...

[Grif]

I know that it's unlikely that a 97 will be topped, but should we let people express their desire and roll until the end of the weekend?


Yeah, we should at least wait until Monday morning to get started.

Well, so long we don't delay too long. :smalltongue:


Heh, not only did I fail my first attempt to roll, I put it in the wrong thread. :smallredface:

I'm loving how every time I load up Duke Antso to take a look at the map he keeps generating the Craven trait when what little we know about him historically suggests he was a feared warrior...

The game works in mysterious ways. :smallbiggrin:

[Flickerdart]

Here's my result:

Here goes nothing: (1d100)[82]

[IthilanorStPete]

(1d100)[46]

Yeah, looks like Orcus'll be starting us off.

[Guancyto]

Let's see what happens... (1d100)[15]
Quite, yes.

[Sgt. Cookie]

Sure, I'll join in. Sounds fun!

1d100

EDIT: The die roller doesn't work in this forum? News to me.

EDIT 2:



(1d100)[91]

RNGesus likes me.

[Grif]

Sure, I'll join in. Sounds fun!

1d100

EDIT: The die roller doesn't work in this forum? News to me.

EDIT 2:


RNGesus likes me.

Unfortunately, RNGesus likes OrcusMcP better. :smalltongue:

I'll leaving interest posting open for one more day, but if no one else rolls higher than a 97, then OrcusMcP may start as soon as the weekend is over. :smallwink:

[IthilanorStPete]

How are people planning to host their screenshots? Would linking to Steam screenshots work well?

[Grif]

How are people planning to host their screenshots? Would linking to Steam screenshots work well?

All my screenshots have been through steam. (Even in the first succession game) Just make sure you link to the actual cloud URL, rather the one you get from the initial screenshot link.

[Hiro Protagonest]

Yeah you can either link directly to the Steam URL, you can transfer it to a different upload site like imgur (doesn't require a membership) by uploading through the web, or you can just take an old-fashioned screenshot (on Windows PCs you take one by holding the Windows start button and pressing print screen, then it'll be in your pictures folder) and upload it to an upload site.

[OrcusMcP]

I use ImageShack to host screenshots, using the native MacOS screenshot mechanism, as for some reason I keep getting issues with Steam screenshots.

[IthilanorStPete]

Ok, using Steam sounds like it'll work fine.

[Hiro Protagonest]

I'm loving how every time I load up Duke Antso to take a look at the map he keeps generating the Craven trait when what little we know about him historically suggests he was a feared warrior...

I thought character stats were set in stone.

In any case, mine is Craven and has zero martial.

How do you go about playing a vassal anyway? Start an independence faction immediately? Wait for someone else to start independence? I assume you should amass wealth to hire mercenaries, get other vassals of your station to like you, and use the Sow Dissent chancellor option to make other vassals dislike your liege.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Well, sometimes I play the "loyalist", but I'm a strange person who is adverse to doing well, so ignore any advice I may give.

[IthilanorStPete]

I thought character stats were set in stone.

In any case, mine is Craven and has zero martial.

How do you go about playing a vassal anyway? Start an independence faction immediately? Wait for someone else to start independence? I assume you should amass wealth to hire mercenaries, get other vassals of your station to like you, and use the Sow Dissent chancellor option to make other vassals dislike your liege.

Depending on the CA of the kingdom/empire you're in, you can wage wars against other vassals to gain power, or just expand by attacking other independent powers. One nice thing about the latter is that defending captured territory is easier since anyone outside your realm that wants to declare war on you has to declare war on your liege. It's helpful to pick off territory with small Holy Wars against smaller/revolting infidels, knowing that any retaliatory holy wars against you will involve the full might of whatever realm you're in.

[Cristo Meyers]

I thought character stats were set in stone.

In any case, mine is Craven and has zero martial.


The traits might be, but not the stats. Mine has had a different set every time ranging from an average set of 6-14 to having almost all 1's.

Here's hoping we get a good roll :smallamused:


How do you go about playing a vassal anyway? Start an independence faction immediately? Wait for someone else to start independence? I assume you should amass wealth to hire mercenaries, get other vassals of your station to like you, and use the Sow Dissent chancellor option to make other vassals dislike your liege.

It's going to depend on what kind of Crown Authority Aquitane has. Looking at the map it seems our most likely avenue for expansion is going to be the Spanish Basque counties. Build power, amass wealth, and when the time is right either declare independence or just usurp the King.

[Grif]

Making it official then.

OrcusMcP, lead us to glory. :smallwink:

Future turns will have a wait time of ~24 hours or so.

[OrcusMcP]

Making it official then.

OrcusMcP, lead us to glory. :smallwink:

Future turns will have a wait time of ~24 hours or so.

I will make it so!

[ObadiahtheSlim]

(1d100)[23] iacta alea est (the die is cast).
Well looks like I was a little late rolling to join, but it matters not. I rolled rather low.

[AgentPaper]

In case anyone missed it, here's the house rules I proposed for this game:

1) If a title can be created, it must be created, funds allowing.
2) No elective succession.

I chose these two rules because they are the most effective way I've found to ensure an...interesting game, while having little to no impact on how the player actually wants to play the game. They also fit the time period much better, since having few to no titles and elective succession basically turns your country into a modern nation-state, rather than the feudal society the game is meant to simulate.

[OrcusMcP]

Quick notes, actual screenshots and such will come tonight.

-Stats are not bad, but not good. Son hates me. So does council. And vassals.
-Found good wife for son who promptly died in childbirth. Then found AMAZING wife for son.
-Little money, but had to throw a feast in order for council and vassals to push into the positive numbers.
-Good ol' fashioned murder.

Goals so far:
-Survive long enough to push Absolute Cognatic succession.
-Epic eugenic epidemic. Already have an attractive granddaughter.
-secure whole duchy, demesne limits be damned.

[Grif]

In case anyone missed it, here's the house rules I proposed for this game:

1) If a title can be created, it must be created, funds allowing.
2) No elective succession.

I chose these two rules because they are the most effective way I've found to ensure an...interesting game, while having little to no impact on how the player actually wants to play the game. They also fit the time period much better, since having few to no titles and elective succession basically turns your country into a modern nation-state, rather than the feudal society the game is meant to simulate.

Well, I'll just note that these house rules are purely optional and if players want to follow them, that's fine. Just know that some of us may play different regardless.

(For the record, I plan to do a trait-based thing anyway, and Elective is out of the picture.)

[OrcusMcP]

Duke Antso has gotten off to a decent start, as you may see for yourself in the spoilers!

CHAPTER 1

Behold, our glorious starting character!

http://imageshack.com/a/img819/4097/e35w.png

Average in every way, except being rubbish at diplomacy. Guess which ambition was chosen.

Our heir and only child, Gartzia!

http://imageshack.com/a/img856/1416/vq1e.png

Much more respectable. You will note, however, that he is not married. Time to find him a suitable prestigious genetically superior bride.

Mmmm, yes, she will do quite nicely.

http://imageshack.com/a/img850/8571/k8ow.png

We also see our first expansion opportunity. Duke Antso is the heir to the county of Bearn, and the count of Bearn doesn't like us anyway.

http://imageshack.com/a/img829/6551/3hhp.png

Time for some well applied murder.

http://imageshack.com/a/img834/6303/rpt8.png

Great success!

http://imageshack.com/a/img829/6203/0qs9.png

Come the new year in 868, we are now at 3 personal counties, 1 duchy, 3 count vassals. Also, a faction forces Aquitaine to be elective succession. I promise I had nothing to with it. (Seriously, this was all AI.) We are still gavelkind in the duchies, though.

http://imageshack.com/a/img829/7875/8sft.png

Soon, our first granddaughter (and future heir) is born!

http://imageshack.com/a/img843/9696/hskg.png

Sadly, her mother dies not long after the birth.

http://imageshack.com/a/img849/6956/bqlv.png

Fortunately, there was an even superior genetic specimen diplomatic lady to wed that I had missed before!

http://imageshack.com/a/img842/7171/v58p.png

At this point, it was time to take a loan in order to build some infrastructure.

http://imageshack.com/a/img841/9914/78ye.png

Also, pilgrimages to Rome. All the cool dukes are doing it.

http://imageshack.com/a/img856/5460/bstd.png

On the road to the Eternal City, Duke Antso became both Kind and Zealous.

http://imageshack.com/a/img820/1254/1qgr.png

Further expansion comes at the expense of Count Rodrigo of Dax, our brother. Sadly for him, the Duchy of Gascogne must be whole.

http://imageshack.com/a/img850/8962/kzsx.png

There is little need to show off the war as it was a very foregone conclusion.

http://imageshack.com/a/img841/8361/yrob.png

Well, this is problematic. Our wife, who is 43, is now pregnant. After Duke Antso decides to start trying out celibacy.

http://imageshack.com/a/img856/3017/p452.png

Clearly she must die to preserve the succession. This game makes you do terrible, terrible damage to people.

http://imageshack.com/a/img843/8148/zj3x.png

Duke Antso then remarries a 48 year old Frankish noble scholar. No chance of more kids.

http://imageshack.com/a/img820/838/4mx.png

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO THESE WOMEN WITH YOUR SEED, GARTZIA????????

http://imageshack.com/a/img855/7565/33mi.png

By December 4th, 874, Duke Antso was able to achieve what Basque Culture is known for in CK2, Absolute Cognatic inheritance. Daughters are now on equal footing as sons for inheritance.

http://imageshack.com/a/img834/7708/i6kn.png

But meanwhile, in Germany...

http://imageshack.com/a/img842/2821/9nd6.png

[Hydranova]

Oh....my. It certainly is notable that there's a bit of Italy up in that region.

[Hiro Protagonest]

Alright, do we all roll again to determine who goes next?

[Manticoran]

I mean, he ain't dead yet.

[Science Officer]

What DLC do I need?
The following is the list of DLC you should be running to join the succession game.

African Portraits
Legacy of Rome
The Old Gods
Sons of Abraham
Mongolian Portraits



Ah, well. I guess this game has enough people already.
I suppose I'll follow along anyways.

[Flickerdart]

I mean, he ain't dead yet.
Can we plot against characters in other singleplayer games?

[Grif]

I mean, he ain't dead yet.

That is true. :smalltongue:

[OrcusMcP]

Rumours of Duke Antso's death have been greatly exaggerated. :smallwink:

[Hydranova]

Rumours of Duke Antso's death have been greatly exaggerated. :smallwink:

Well great, now I'm expecting another Duke Antso with the exact same traits and stats to appear somewhere down the line. Won't that be quite the twist.

[OrcusMcP]

Well great, now I'm expecting another Duke Antso with the exact same traits and stats to appear somewhere down the line. Won't that be quite the twist.

Sadly we don't have Rajas of India on and aren't playing in India where they have reincarnation events. Those could've been amusing.

I'm most annoyed so far that our heir has killed TWO amazingly talented quick/genius wives with babies. So much for the breeding plans.

[Grif]

I'm most annoyed so far that our heir has killed TWO amazingly talented quick/genius wives with babies. So much for the breeding plans.

Something tells me he doesn't like daddy playing matchmaker. :smallamused:

[OrcusMcP]

Something tells me he doesn't like daddy playing matchmaker. :smallamused:

"Don't like her? What's wrong with her?! She's beautiful, she's young, she's got huge.........stats and traits!"

[Cristo Meyers]

Something tells me he doesn't like daddy playing matchmaker. :smallamused:

Or he secretly reproduces via chestburster...

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Hahahaha, come my turn you will be swimming in brothers with claims to the throne! Muahahahaha!

[Narkis]

Or he secretly reproduces via chestburster...

I laughed harder than I should have at this. :smallbiggrin:

[Hiro Protagonest]

Or he secretly reproduces via chestburster...

That requires a child to actually have been born though.

So do we just have the next highest roller go next?

[Grif]

That requires a child to actually have been born though.

So do we just have the next highest roller go next?

Nah. We'll reroll. More fun that way. :smalltongue:

[IthilanorStPete]

I believe the idea is to do another round of rolling once Orcus is finished.

[Grif]

Duke Antso must be living well into his 80's by now. :smalltongue:

[OrcusMcP]

60s, but I haven't been able to play as much the past couple days as I initially thought. More chapters, screenshots and the likely end of Duke Antso will come this weekend.

[Hydranova]

But what if you name all the male kids Antso? Then he'll always live on!


Or their peers will think them possessed.

[Flickerdart]

I think we should name all of our kids Antso just so we can jack up the "Xth" counter so high it'll make the Louis blush.

[Hiro Protagonest]

So, both my attempts at playing Antso have gone disastrously. Partly because I'm too eager to be independent/get more autonomy, and partly because of just bad luck. My second attempt was more interesting though.

So I start off plotting to kill that guy we're the heir of. Except there's barely anyone I can get. Eventually (probably after he's gotten a new heir), one of my guys blabbed about it and now he hates me forever and there's no way I can get Elective. Why do I need Elective? Because there's no way I can get anything else, and nobody's willing to plot against my wife, or after she was born, my daughter. Should've just divorced that bitch. Also, I got the "I think X might fancy me" event twice, with the same girl, who was my son's wife. I turned it down both times. Then my son's wife died. Luckily I had found a genius and promptly married them. Later I got the same event with her (turned down again). A short time later my game had gone to hell and I was imprisoned because I gambled on other factions declaring ultimatums after I had done so (they didn't), so I just gave up.

[OrcusMcP]

CHAPTER 2!

Well, our fancy wife died after a bad coma. For some reason, there were no other old women that would marry Duke Antso. It may have been because he was celibate.

http://imageshack.com/a/img820/5364/2iab.png

Not too long afterwards, the count of Bordeaux died, leaving the county to his daughter. Bordeaux is a pretty awesome county with a lot of potential.

http://imageshack.com/a/img837/4792/hvku.png

We wanted it. We took it.

http://imageshack.com/a/img855/262/6q7i.png

Then, we gained a claim on the county of Perigord that we can hopefully press before we die. Ideally after Charles the Bald dies so we don't have to fight all of West Francia.

http://imageshack.com/a/img850/9089/afao.png

Ahhhhhhh, crap. Looks like the King likes Bordeaux as well. We are in position to fight him in anyway, and we are way over our demesne limit anyway, so we end up just handing it over. We still have a weak claim, though.

http://imageshack.com/a/img840/2962/g64.png
http://imageshack.com/a/img853/9646/3brj.png

He then also decided to expel all the Jews from the realm, which while fortunate since we owed them money, means that tech advancement will be slower.

http://imageshack.com/a/img856/9070/31pc.png

At this point, Duke Antso is getting old, but he is not out yet. It is still possible we can press our claim on Perigord before he dies. If we can get the duchy of Aquitaine as well as Gascogne, that would put us in a decent position to start scheming for independence. Then we can ideally move into the natural Basque lands of Navarra.

[IthilanorStPete]

Sucks that we lost Bordeaux to the King, and I'm not sure what the chances of getting it back are. How exactly did you gain control of it in the first place - did you just revoke it, accepting the tyranny penalty?

[Flickerdart]

How exactly did you gain control of it in the first place - did you just revoke it, accepting the tyranny penalty?
You can revoke counties you have claims on without incurring tyranny.

[IthilanorStPete]

You can revoke counties you have claims on without incurring tyranny.

Ah, right...but how'd we get a claim on it?

[OrcusMcP]

I had no claim, and just took the tyranny hit, since we otherwise had few vassals. Sadly the King didn't like us anyway.

FYI, Duke Antso just died, and you should start rolling for the next player. I will post screenshots in a bit.

Also, I have good news: providing he survives, there should be a genius ruler 2 generations after the next.

[Hiro Protagonest]

(1d100)[79]
White text

[Sanguine]

I figured I'd throw my hat in, though it looks like I already lost.


Let's see what we get.

(1d100)[48]

[Guancyto]

Round 2! (1d100)[99]
Oh dear. :smalleek:

[Cristo Meyers]

Oh dear. :smalleek:

Oh...so close...


Heeeeeeyyyy nowhammynowhammynowhammySTOP!

1d100 (56)

...or not....

[OrcusMcP]

Chapter 3!!

While we aren't doing super well just yet, Southern France still is prime wine land. And who bette rot grow wine than monks?\

http://imageshack.com/a/img837/9758/j96c.png

Soon, Duke Antso's first granddaughter, and future heir due to the new inheritance laws, Kisilo Gartzez de Vasconia comes of age.

http://imageshack.com/a/img840/2407/c8yq.png

Fortunately, we found her a very suitable husband who would marry matrilineally.

http://imageshack.com/a/img840/9561/jwki.png

They ended up having a son named Nuño, but he was an absolute disappointment did not correspond to our genetic policy looked at us funny after birth. Duke Antso is not a nice man.

http://imageshack.com/a/img820/6061/om71.png

Fortunately, they then had a daughter who was worth far more to the family, named Kisilo.

http://imageshack.com/a/img829/9407/rdh0.png

Another granddaughter who was not much to think of, enjoyed experience. Duke Antso sent her to a Nunnery (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Nunnery).

http://imageshack.com/a/img834/4061/g9oh.png

Sadly, on the 1st of March, 891, Duke Antso de Vasconia passed away in his sleep, leaving all property to his son Gartzia.

http://imageshack.com/a/img837/4937/yp4m.png

[OrcusMcP]

I have 2 questions:

1) How should I pass along the save file?

2) Should I do some kind of "State of the World"?

Away the game goes!

[Hydranova]

So, what's the female equivalent of Antso? Or are all the girls being named Antso as well.

[IthilanorStPete]

My roll: less that Guancyto's 99.


I have 2 questions:

1) How should I pass along the save file?

Do you have a Dropbox account? That'd probably work well. If not, maybe Google Drive?



2) Should I do some kind of "State of the World"?

Maybe a brief overview, focusing on the immediate vicinity. Right now, the stuff I'd like to see is a sitrep on the Karling realms and on Iberia.

[Sanguine]

So, what's the female equivalent of Antso? Or are all the girls being named Antso as well.

Antsa is a female name in the Basque culture list, I would assume it's the female equivalent. Unfortunately they aren't linked for the purpose of regnal numbers.

[Grif]

I have 2 questions:

1) How should I pass along the save file?

2) Should I do some kind of "State of the World"?

Away the game goes!

Any file sharing service would do. As for "state of the world", that's optional. Once you post the save, those of us curious enough would load it up anyway. :smalltongue:

Also,


Second round!

(1d100)[19]

[OrcusMcP]

I've got Dropbox, I'll just need to know who to share with.

(Signs point to Guancyto)

[Guancyto]

There's about a 1.5% chance that it will not be Guancyto, assuming that seeing a 99 doesn't discourage people from rolling.

Might as well just lay it on me and let me screw up your carefully-planned eugenics program.

[Grif]

I've got Dropbox, I'll just need to know who to share with.

(Signs point to Guancyto)

Post the link here. Why the hush hush? :smalltongue:

[OrcusMcP]

No reason, just wasn't sure of protocol/location.

[Grif]

No reason, just wasn't sure of protocol/location.

Aha, let me make things clear for everyone involved.

When a player ends their turn, they post their save here, along with whatever comments they have. Interested players then have approximately 24 hours from the time of posting the save to indicate their interest (and in this game, roll dice). Then if there's no objection, the next chosen player resumes the game.

[Farix]

Chapter 3!!

They ended up having a son named Nuño, but he was an absolute disappointment did not correspond to our genetic policy looked at us funny after birth. Duke Antso is not a nice man.


Antso's a bloody psychopath, good omen for this dynasty.




(1d100)[73] And...preemptive nope.

Preemptive nope was correct.

[Aolbain]

So, do we roll again or keep the our previous ones?

[Grif]

So, do we roll again or keep the our previous ones?

Roll again for each new turn. :smallsmile:

[Aolbain]

"And the RNG showed him great mercy..."

(1d100)[46].

Eh, could have gone worse.

[Narkis]

I'm not even gonna bother rolling. Go Guancyto!

[OrcusMcP]

Behold the save!

Link (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r6rzstobsf6cy0o/AAC_d10gKtjoQXHW4-Rax8k-a)

Let me know if there's issues.

[Grif]

Behold the save!

Link (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r6rzstobsf6cy0o/AAC_d10gKtjoQXHW4-Rax8k-a)

Let me know if there's issues.

Cool. Barring anyone actually rolling a 100, I think I can safely say:

Guancyto, onwards to Paris. :smalltongue:

[Guancyto]

Paris?! What do you take me for?

Onward to Cordoba. :smalltongue:

(Our flight may encounter some turbulence... and then explode.)

[Guancyto]

Chapter 4

We begin with Duke Gartzia II of Gascogne. At first glance, he is not a particularly able man, a lover of books and numbers, better suited to the administration of a guild or a caravan than a shatterer of armies and a leader of men. He has two traits which will get him into trouble, however: a brave heart, and a bad temper. At present, no one respects him; he has a reputation for kowtowing to his father and dallying with a lot of common girls with too much learning for their own good. (You'd kowtow to him too were he your father, the old man slaughtered his infant great-grandson for learning to speak too slowly.) He wants to have a son.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00002_zps3beebb1b.jpg

Gartzia II is already blessed (or cursed) with five daughters, the eldest of which is his heir by the (insane) laws passed by his father. Still it is not all bad, she has a most pleasing rotundity and a double chin so wide that her line of suitors stretched full and far, but in the end the one chosen as her husband was a smart man who was also healthily fond of his breakfast.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00003_zps3c668187.jpg

Our personal demon for this period will be King Carloman Karling of Aquitaine, a man who never saw a war he didn't want to jump into screaming and hollering after due deliberation. Last time he stole without cause the lands of Duke Antso, who he hated nearly as much as he hates Gartzia. He'll get his, someday anyway.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00001_zps811fb0d8.jpg

The death of his father Louis the Stammerer and the birth of another son to his grandfather Charles the Bald forestalls any notion of uniting the lands of Aquitaine and West Francia (and the lords of Aquitaine are stubbornly against having Charles rule them, as though a half-kingdom on the border of the enemies of all Christendom were a desireable position), so we regrettably turn our attention elsewhere.

Our immediate course of action is to fill out our council. Although the old Spymaster is a man no one knows exists, much less intends to replace, the rest of the council is rather empty. A steward and chaplain are easy to find. For the art of statecraft and diplomacy, a somewhat wider net is cast, finally contracting a Scottish gentleman previously traveling with a group of 'mac Phails,' whoever those people are. The spot of Marshal lies open, so we arrange a marriage of one of our courtiers to a legendary Frankish general. Imagine the look on his face when, exhibiting the typical attitude of the Basque women, he found she had his belongings shipped to Gascogne instead of the other way around!http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00025_zpsb50f7873.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00026_zpsdd12e36f.jpg

Some small wars pass. The King allows the Jews back into the realm, so naturally we take the opportunity to borrow money from them before they are again expelled. An opportunity to get even more money arises; a bishop had aided Antso in some assassination or another, so we have Gartzia banish him. No child murder in this kingdom, thank you very much! The confiscation of his properties is but a happy accident. http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00035_zps27b9f9e8.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00037_zps60da920a.jpg

Of course, the Pope doesn't seem to much care for this line of thinking, and so Gartzia is 'encouraged' to visit a holy site to renew his understanding of his place in the world. The idea of 'vengeance for his dead grandson' being against God's laws does nothing to improve Gartzia's opinion of the Lord, and at Jerusalem itself, he finds nothing but dust and fools.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00049_zps22c000c7.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00050_zps429d231f.jpg

A sixth daughter is born, unexceptional in every way, the likes of which will drive Gartzia to drink (although not on the level of his father). He considers naming the new drink after his new daughter, and then decides it will never catch on.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00038_zps1a8b454e.jpg

King Carloman Karling, upon hearing of yet another ridiculously independent Basque woman born to his vassal, decides to see what all the fuss is about and proposes that one of them learn under his Marshal. Gartzia, overflowing with daughters, says yes in exchange for another drink.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00052_zps8661480d.jpg

King Carloman decides to involve himself in yet another war, this time among the Spanish kingdoms, and since Gartzia has obviously learned all about warfare in Jerusalem and his ten-minute drunken chat with the King's Marshal, he feels no compunctions whatsoever about demanding that a clerk lead his armies. It goes... better than expected. Gartzia clearly has a flair for logistics.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00058_zps74910a3d.jpg

During the war, our resident Scotsman arrives with good news, that he has bribed enough nobles fed up with the constant revolts in Navarra that they would be willing to accept Aquitaine's rule, or more specifically Gartzia's. The resulting war over the claim, bolstered with Scottish mercenaries specifically picked for the occasion, is almost disappointingly short.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00073_zpsc138949a.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00088_zpsee5cf35f.jpg

In a positively unprecedented move, we assign it to Aldontza. A woman, administrating a county? Well, she can't possibly be worse at it than the eternally gorged King of Navarre.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00102_zps0a05d724.jpg

King Carloman thinks little of this move; clearly Gartzia is getting too many strange ideas in his head, and proposes a tutor for another of his granddaughter who was dictating poetry before she was old enough to use a pen. However, this time he has proposed a rival Duke as a tutor, and one of the few actually loyal to him in the kingdom. Clearly he is threatened by our power and is attempting to procure a hostage, so we tell him to take a hike.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00107_zpse9dc9303.jpg

Then the second-worst thing to happen in Gartzia's reign happens. His wife is plotting to assassinate his grandson! Decades of dead wives and children come back to his mind in a flash, as though the dreaded Antso never departed this world. In a fit of rage, he orders her banished. The seizure of her assets is, of course, a happy coincidence.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00109_zpsbe88ef96.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00111_zpsd7e91731.jpg

The tutelage of Kisilo, Gartzia's granddaughter, is going quite well. Something about the youthful exuberance for the faith breaks his cynical exterior and he is, perhaps, ever so slightly ready to accept Jesus into his heart. In another stroke of good fortune, yet another of Carloman's wars bears fruit, in fighting the dreaded Vikings, something comes together and he realizes that while it is bravery that wins battles, it is logistics that wins wars. His skill at administration has guided him this far, and it will take him further yet. Things are looking up!http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00114_zpsa4441347.jpghttp://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00118_zpsb80fc0bf.jpg

His joy is not to last, of course. His new grandson has a distinct dullness about him (the doctors will admit nothing about accidentally dropping him on his head), and the King's Marshal has made a completely useless warrior out of his daughter thanks to a combination of neglect and inability to teach. He is angry, but the final spilling of his wrath comes when his second daughter brings him news.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00119_zps85660094.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00121_zps9d9141ae.jpg

The Sultan of Andalusia, Scourge of Christendom, is trying to take land that is rightfully his! That it currently belongs to his neighbor and enemy the King of Navarre is irrelevant; it is his by right! http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00136_zps45121683.jpg

Sending a call to all the mercenaries he can find and all the men he can muster, he rides out TO WAR!

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00137_zps7e5d2a2d.jpg

(The final picture isn't exactly clear since I didn't manage to screenshot the actual war declaration, but yes, we have declared a Holy War for Aragon on Andalusia)

[Grif]

I'm thinking that grandson of ours will have an exceedingly short life. :smalltongue:

[OrcusMcP]

Now that is some testicular fortitude. Well done, Gartzia, I forgive you for having deadly babies.

[Narkis]

I'm thinking that grandson of ours will have an exceedingly short life. :smalltongue:

I half-expect him live for 80 years and become the first emperor of Frankia.

[IthilanorStPete]

Awesome post, Guancyto. This Holy War should give us some interesting prospects, and maybe it'll finally lift Gartzia's prestige out of the negatives.

[Flickerdart]

Considering that Andalusia is a beast, what's more likely to happen is that we lose all of our money and Gartzia dies in an oubliette somewhere.

[Cristo Meyers]

A sixth daughter is born, unexceptional in every way, the likes of which will drive Gartzia to drink (although not on the level of his father). He considers naming the new drink after his new daughter, and then decides it will never catch on.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00038_zps1a8b454e.jpg


Half-expected to see the name 'Brandi/y'. Armagnac is famous for it.

Nothing like a good Holy War to shake things up. Here's hoping our erstwhile 'allies' in the fight actually hold their own for once...

[Hydranova]

Yes, yes, go! This plan is probably utterly mad, but I can dig it.

[Guancyto]

Chapter 5

The immediate reaction to Duke Gartzia II's declaration of unilateral war upon the third most powerful military force in the world is, perhaps, the most obvious conclusion. His daughter decides he's gone mad, and starts to make arrangements to kill him so she and absolutely everyone she loves don't all die in an oubliette somewhere. The old faithful spymaster arranges for him to be tipped off about the plot, and he's able to convince her that he has a secret plan to win the war. (Afterward, he tells his Marshal to concoct a secret plan to win the war.)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00140_zps95b091c3.jpg

After this he charges into battle. The forces of Sultan Khairedden are immense, but they require time to be mustered and unified, time which he spends rampaging up and down the countryside thanks to the intelligence of scouts he can't quite remember commissioning. Oh well, no time for questions, time to kill Muslims!http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00146_zpse71d6fc5.jpg

News comes from home that he has a grandson of seemingly nimble intelligence (his nursemaid explains that he drools very smartly). More importantly, he is the son of one of the Galician king's bastards, and so long as said king remains on the throne, he will inherit the claims.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00149_zps37407530.jpg (Said king does not remain on the throne. You'll have to press them if you want Diego to pick them up.) Of course, that son is soon followed up by a daughter whose burbles are in iambic pentameter, but another de Vasconia woman that makes everyone else look like an idiot is, at this point, not even exceptional.

Gartzia is perhaps so distracted by the news that finally a son of the line has some measure of promise that he forgets about the nearly five thousand Muslims bearing down on his army. Oh well, we can take them. Charge!

It goes... poorly, and both Gartzia's troops and the loyal Scottish mercenaries are either routed, deserted or dead. Shouldn't have trusted a mercenary captain who suggested going to the pub instead of fussing about with giant hordes of Muslims.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00150_zpse071f349.jpg

Andalusia's own offensive makes no better progress, however, as the new King of Brittany - fresh from liberating it from the strangely popular and well-storied norseman Hasteinn - brings six thousand of his finest men to defend Navarre from the infidel. The Bretons are substantially more successful at their work. http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00166_zps64bf6bf7.jpg

Hearing of their fellows fighting so long and ferociously against the infidel and the weakness of the Sultan, Catholics across northern Iberia start to take up arms against their oppressors. If such a sorry lot as the people of Gascogne, who were so weak-willed that their women started taking over, can stand and fight against the infidel? Truly no one who calls himself righteous has an excuse not to take up arms!http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00178_zpsfd746eb7.jpg

Gartzia musters a new force, this time bolstered with mercenary Bretons who had no desire to cease fighting when the Sultan called off his war for Navarra and focused on defending his realm from the sudden outpouring of uprisings and challenges. The Sultan fights long and hard against the rebels, finally defeating them only to find an army of Basque and Breton - his two most hated foes! - staring him down. The numbers are even. He orders the assault heedless of the skill of the enemy generals. Gartzia smiles, and so do the Bretons. His enemies are cut to pieces and riddled with arrows as their horses try to cross the river, and once again as they try to retreat. The Sultan's forces are entirely shattered.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00215_zps82cc8108.jpghttp://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00218_zps2b0d1c50.jpg

He asks one of his knights afterward if this would finally see him in the pages of history. The knight's reply of, "eh, what you really need to do is go hunting and marry a lot of Karlings," earns him a truly resplendent black eye.

Although the Sultan escapes, the rout results in the capture of many Andalusian lords, whose ransom bolsters Gartzia's war machine enough to not see his mercenaries revolt against him, at least. Spirits buoyed by the victory and the sudden influx of gold, a mad (madder?) plan is hatched between Gartzia and the Breton commanders. They will take Qurtubah, the enemy's capital.

It is fortunate that they choose this moment to go on the offensive; a series of anonymous missives delivered to the generals' tents tells of another mercenary force arriving and mustering. His own troops failing him, Sultan Khairedden has hired the Irish to do his killing for him. They are caught completely by surprise in their camps - how could they possibly anticipate being assaulted in the heart of Andalusian territory when no one even knew they were coming? The survivors return to Ireland with tales of mad ghosts instead of men.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00228_zps14a29ab2.jpg
(This was actually blind luck on my part. I just wanted to siege something that wasn't swimming in garrisons, and ran into a mercenary band! Good thing too, they'd have been real trouble if we hadn't hit them at 0% morale)

Stymied at every turn, bereft of funds and troops and facing an enemy knocking on his very gates, an enemy that he had once thought completely destroyed, Sultan Khairedden offers Gartzia terms to hand over the Duchy of Aragon. The terms are more than generous to a man like Khairedden; he insists on retaining Calatayud, not taken or occupied by Gartzia but by the rabble that dared to rise against him. In a moment to later be memorialized for the ages, Gartzia exhibits his legendary skill at diplomacy, tearing up the terms and spitting on them.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00250_zpsbf2f5b31.jpg
(The surrender came as a surprise! That means he's really hurting. We can do better!
For the record, that's three events that have really gone our way in this war. Liberator of Brittany defends Navarre and brings his event troops, HUGE Catholic uprising in Andalusia, and accidentally running over the Irish Band before it can muster. Let's see if our luck holds!)

[Grif]

Something tells me you'll regret not taking that surrender. :smallwink:

[Cristo Meyers]

Something tells me you'll regret not taking that surrender. :smallwink:

Nah, let's fight like Turians, I say! Crush them until they can't even lift a finger against us ever again!

[ObadiahtheSlim]

But the sooner you accept the surrender, the sooner you can go to war with them again.

[OrcusMcP]

Sadly, though, CK2 is not like EU4 or Vic2 where you can expand the gains from a war if things are going well, what you declare at the start is all you can get.

Unless you just want to occupy them and drain their reserves just because you can. Which I heartily encourage, because it'd be awesome.

[Hydranova]

Yup; the only land you can gain is what was stated. But you can try and occupy everything to keep his forces down for a while.

[Cristo Meyers]

What about Prestige and Piety gains? Is it possible to increase those? 'Cause I can honestly see prolonging a war for a chance at increasing those (and looting gold...but hey...).

Plus there's the chance that the Pope will notice we're fighting infidels and say "here, have some money." I bankrolled the Spanish economy just on those grants for a time.

[OrcusMcP]

What about Prestige and Piety gains? Is it possible to increase those? 'Cause I can honestly see prolonging a war for a chance at increasing those (and looting gold...but hey...).

Plus there's the chance that the Pope will notice we're fighting infidels and say "here, have some money." I bankrolled the Spanish economy just on those grants for a time.

You'll get increased prestige and piety from battles themselves, but not from the final terms. While you'll gain gold from occupation, it's unlikely to keep up with your troop upkeep. That said, though, if you capture valuable hostages then you can get a pretty good payday from those.

And yes, sometimes the Pope will give you money. (Though bribing a bishop into the curia and then having him be Pope means you can ask for stupidly large amounts of money for a time)

[Guancyto]

Although in CK2 you can only gain what you declared for, a third of the stuff we declared for is occupied by rebels at the moment, so we won't gain it if we accept the surrender now. If we siege that down and then peace out, we'll get it too.

Clearly this is worth the likelihood of getting utterly crushed!

[OrcusMcP]

Although in CK2 you can only gain what you declared for, a third of the stuff we declared for is occupied by rebels at the moment, so we won't gain it if we accept the surrender now. If we siege that down and then peace out, we'll get it too.

Clearly this is worth the likelihood of getting utterly crushed!

Ah yes, I forgot that part, you are right!

[Guancyto]

Chapter 6

News comes from home of yet another war of King Carloman's, but this time, oh, this time it is a healing balm to a man with burns. The province of Bordeux, tyrannically stolen from Duke Antso, is in turn being stolen from Carloman by his cousin. His forces stand no chance whatsoever against the enormous coalition lifted against him. With his vassal lords all pursuing their own vendettas, his rage is as impotent as his loins.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00252_zps977b0e13.jpg

Further word ccomes to the forces at Qurtubah that the King of Navarre has lifted himself from his cups long enough to declare that he is just as much man as anybody, and that no one will keep him from liberating Aragon from the infidel. The fact that it is entirely occupied - and at this point, practically run - by fellow Catholics is met with a red-eyed, bleary stare and the throwing of a bottle. http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00253_zpsfbb460e1.jpg

It was a substantial hindrance to Gartzia's plans, however, as the Navarrese forces just might decide to fight them and let the Andalusians retake everything, so his forces swiftly begin the march back to Aragon. The countryside of Cordoba in ruins, other lords make declarations that Sultan Khairedden has lost his nerve and his right to rule, first attempting to capitulate to the invaders and then being spurned like a common whore. Tales circulate that instead of fighting the enemy, he instead spent all his time cleaning off entire feast tables. Fearing for their own tables, many take up arms against him.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00261_zpsf68f3c60.jpg

As the last bastions of Aragon fall, Khairedden has finally had enough, and raises enough mercenaries to crush the Navarrese drunkards, the Basque women, the rebelling lords who keep calling him fat, and the Catholic rabble all! His forces mercilessly fall upon the armies of Navarre and wipe them out, but before he can reach the forces of Gascogne, they are mysteriously warned of his new advance and fall back.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00267_zpsca8ffd8c.jpg

As he charges through his former lands, he receives a letter in his tent. It reads, simply, "you can chase the Bretons until you go bankrupt and your mercenaries turn on you, or you can deal with the threats do your throne. We were told you were a smart man, Khairy." His infuriated roar might even be heard in Norway, as he dispatches a messenger to Gascogne with terms to fully surrender the duchy and turns his forces southward. Gartzia brings his troops back to his new lands in a glorious parade! And fading away in his bed, Antso's old spymaster smiles.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00270_zps52b07930.jpg

Gartzia grows old and turns to the administration of his new land. Drafting a new set of laws, he stipulates that all of his domain and the dukedom besides not be distributed among his children, but given to the eldest of the de Vasconia line. His eldest daughter has earned the right to all of his ancestral lands, and his other daughters are granted employment in the administration of the new territories.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00271_zps5a64db25.jpg

Finally, his armies march into the last remaining province of the once-Emirate of Aragon. The Navarrese King's forces have all been slaughtered by the Andalusians and the nobility is tired of his drunken antics. The army meets with barely any resistance, and with only a trivial fight, the Duchy of Aragon belongs entirely to Gartzia.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00295_zpsf7792795.jpg

As though some heavenly force has decided Gartzia needed to die happier, more news comes. Grand Duke Bernard Gellones, Duke of Toulouse and Barcelona and the most powerful man in the kingdom, has finally tired of King Carloman's own-goaling foolishness, sloth and waste, and declares an open revolt to reduce him in law to the ineffective puppet he is in fact. Gartzia's own forces are either administering to Aragon or squires or dead, so he shrugs his shoulders and asks Carloman what, exactly, he would be expected to do about it.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00312_zps9c5c3a45.jpg

"Bloody well lead my armies is what" seems to be the reply, as well as keeping that quality for winning against impossible odds. Grand Duke Bernard's forces outnumber the King's by a mere 2-to-1. Unfortunately, Gartzia's luck seems to have finally run out (funny, that), and while still suffering a great illness that swept through the warcamp, he is gravely wounded in the arm by an enemy pike. It quickly turns gangrenous, and in the medical tents it is determined that it must be amputated.http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00321_zpscffd45f1.jpg

Carloman, outside the tent, sees nothing wrong with this arrangement, and asks Gartzia when he'll be ready to go back into battle. Gartzia, for a brief span of time, considers what happens next to be his greatest achievement. History, however, is conspicuously lacking the story of Duke Gartzia II de Vasconia attempting to beat his king to death with his own severed arm.

News of his death travels quickly, and his eldest daughter Khisilo begins preparing herself for the coronation. Imagine her surprise when Duchess Endulcia of Portucale, her third cousin and childless besides, arrives with all her belongings, a large retinue of soldiers and the necessary documents to prove that it is she who is eldest of the line, by a period of one year.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll37/Geesaroni/CK2%20Succession/2014-06-14_00324_zpsbd9760fb.jpg

Clearly that won't be a problem for anyone.
-----------------------------------------
Well, that was a trip! Our current succession method is Absolute Cognatic Seniority. We have all of the Duchy of Aragon except for one mosque that that idiot king of Navarre sieged before we could get to it (and then there were seven thousand muslims in the way). Crown Authority is Medium soon to be Low because the Grand Duke of Toulouse/Barcelona basically owns the half of the kingdom that's not ours, and we have no reason to want the king to win this civil war.

We don't actually have a Retinue, but the war (and mil org 2) gave us enough cap to buy one, now. I suggest we do so. We have a truly absurd number of genius daughters thanks to Antso's eugenics program, and a single Quick son of our line whose dad is going to inherit weak claims on a couple of kingdoms in Spain. Some of our kids are going to inherit weak claims to some of the other kingdoms as well.

Andalusia has been kicking around the various minors in North Africa, so they're still quite dangerous once they get their act together. Uniting the Karling realms in a single generation is now a pipe dream, but the dynasty has kept all their belongings. Carloman has one county and a kingdom full of people who alternately hate him, are secretly trying to kill him or are openly trying to kill him. This couldn't have happed to a nicer guy. Sadly, his son is still the elective heir.

Orcus has the save in his dropbox, I believe

[Sallera]

Brilliant writing as usual, Guancyto. Pretty much laughed my way through the whole thing.


Round 3: (1d100)[99]
And now we might all be screwed.

[Grif]

Third round!

:smallbiggrin:

(1d100)[88]

Won't be matching that 99, I think. :smalltongue:

But yes, great start so far.

[Narkis]

Loved your writing Guancyto. My parents found it hard to understand why I was laughing so much. :smallbiggrin:


I doubt it. :)

(1d100)[81]

Someone call the mods, the die roller is broken. All these high numbers...:smalltongue:

[OrcusMcP]

Here is the Link (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r6rzstobsf6cy0o/AAC_d10gKtjoQXHW4-Rax8k-a), file is Succession_Deux.

I'll skip rolling of this round, well done, sir!

[Hydranova]

Amazing writing! Now, do we have enough territory to usurp...Navarre was it? Or was it Aragon.

[ObadiahtheSlim]

Let's do it!
(1d100)[36]

No i guess not.

[OrcusMcP]

Amazing writing! Now, do we have enough territory to usurp...Navarre was it? Or was it Aragon.

We will have to move west into Northern Spain a bit to get Navarre, but we'd also have to become independent first. Aragon would be trickier, considering that other Great Duke controls all of Barcelona.

[Cristo Meyers]

Ah, the sweet smell of victory...

...and the hilarious mental image of an aged duke trying to beat his king to death with his own arm :smallbiggrin:...

...but mostly the smell of victory


A 99 again? :smalltongue:

1d100 (66)

So close...

[Hiro Protagonest]

(1d100)[10]
Bah, it's just zero away from one hundred.

[Yaktan]

I foresee lots of amusing stuff ahead with the absolute cognatic seniority succession. Lots of scheming old women ahead, especially with all the genius daughters...

[Farix]

(1d100)[38] Still nope

Good to know my rolling skills haven't improved since playing WoW.

[Sgt. Cookie]

*Kneels down in humble prayer*

(1d100)[54]

Well, praying doesn't work. Next time, I'll try a blood sacrifice.

[IthilanorStPete]

Someone's eventually going to roll a 100, right? :smalltongue: 1d100 63

...but not today.

EDIT:
Looking at the save, seems like the Norse are doing quite well; Mercia's been wiped out in England, Bjorn Ironside's taken control of Norway and Sweden, and Rurik's added Ruthenia to the northern Russian territories.

[Grif]

Making it official then. Sallera, show us what a Duchess can do. :smalltongue:

[Guancyto]

EDIT:
Looking at the save, seems like the Norse are doing quite well; Mercia's been wiped out in England, Bjorn Ironside's taken control of Norway and Sweden, and Rurik's added Ruthenia to the northern Russian territories.

With any luck they'll add Wessex to the fold and give us Crusades and Holy Orders 150~ years early.

[ObadiahtheSlim]

With any luck they'll add Wessex to the fold and give us Crusades and Holy Orders 150~ years early.

That doesn't trigger Crusades. Provence, Toulouse, Paris, Cologne (Köln) or Braunschweig have to fall for the Europe Threatened trigger. All of Britannia can fall and there still won't be crusades until 1090.

[Guancyto]

I thought Canterbury getting conquered triggered it as well? Maybe I'm thinking of a previous patch, I remember a lot of complaints about Norse players getting Crusades for England right away.

*checks wiki* Huh. The more you know!

Well, uh, maybe one of the Karlings will go heretic or something. Yeah.

[OrcusMcP]

Well, a big Waldensian revolt took control of Sardinia while I was playing, so it's possible!

[Sallera]

Hrm. This is awkward. Put the file in my save folder, loaded up with Legacy/Old Gods/Sons, but I can't see the save. Anything obvious I might be missing?

Edit: Ok, never mind, found it. Bloody duplicate folders.

[Sallera]

Chapter 7

We begin with the newly-ascended Duchess of Gascogne, Endulcia. An honest and just stateswoman who would have been quite content without the crown, she nonetheless has the occasional tendency toward removing troublesome heads. But only after negotiation has failed, of course.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00001_zps688ed468.jpg

Her first order of business is filling out a new council; most of the old drunkard's appointees are nowhere to be found. The Mayor of Dax promises to be at least a decent Marshal (and far less trouble out in the field than complaining about the already horrendously-low taxes he suffers from), while the Bishop of Bazas has a messenger at her door within days practically begging for the position of Chaplain. Finding a competent Steward is somewhat more difficult, even after putting out the word to neighbouring kingdoms, and eventually the position is given to the Bishop of Eauze (mainly on the grounds that he is not the ever-grasping Count Belasko).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00002_zpse24d35aa.jpg

Her niece Ermisinda shows great promise, already causing Bishop Mentzio no end of trouble with her endless questions, and she is placed in the care of a sharp-tongued Irishwoman, who promises to show her the appeal of more physical weapons as well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00003_zps58bcc160.jpg

Duke Guillarme's revolt against King Carloman at first seemed to be going well (and promising much opportunity for Gascogne), but the intervention of Italy's mighty king puts a swift end to his ambitions.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00004_zps7b67243f.jpg

And not a week later, Endulcia's husband passes away in his sleep. (He hadn't been the brightest specimen, but there was a certain charm to the coastal lords. One reinforced by great expenditures on fine port.)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00005_zps6910e35e.jpg

The incident finds her surprisingly depressed, and dampens her desires to continue her line; she chooses a marriage of convenience with an Italian count over one more likely to produce children. The Italians are growing great again, and proving staunch allies already to her nominal liege; another tie to their realm cannot hurt.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00006_zpsb1266868.jpg

The betrothed of Kisilo (the younger) comes of age, arriving at the Gascon court; a marriage of equals if ever there was one, it promises to continue the greatness of Duke Antso's line.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00007_zps52a3e54f.jpg

King Arnoul of West Francia attempts to push the Aquitainian duke's claim on the poor Prince-Bishop of Agen; Endulcia considers the high costs of intervention over her feudal obligations, but the Italian armies once again intervene before she is forced to make a decision.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00008_zpsfbd7090e.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00009_zps6812ff4a.jpg

And with barely a whimper from the defeated Duke, the realm of Aquitaine is once again unified. A disappointing outcome, in the main, but a harsh and perhaps necessary lesson on the perils of crossing the Italians. Endulcia is not disloyal, per se... but she does begin to contemplate the relative costs and benefits of retaining Carloman as her liege.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00010_zps7435bcbe.jpg

Alas, with the end of the war comes the end of the Italians' support, and she is forced to mobilize her troops to deal with the Francians before they can regroup.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00011_zps15b8b73e.jpg

Dealing with the constantly changing loyalties of his targets takes a toll even on a reliable Scotsman, it seems, as Alan dies shut away and malnourished, still forging documents with his last breath. His replacement is less brilliant, but equally dutiful, and takes up his predecessor's task.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00012_zpsc7a2dc52.jpg

The Franks are successfully drawn away from Agen...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00013_zps660ec07b.jpg

...and trapped in an extended skirmish with the illusion of numerical superiority while Carloman's troops are finally convinced to join battle. He might be so cautious as to only strike when victory is assured, but even Endulcia's guileless mind can turn itself toward manipulation once in a while.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00014_zps37842594.jpg

In fact, it goes well enough that she considers further practice in the field.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00015_zps2647d34b.jpg

And despite her intentions, finds that the occasional practice of her spousal duties has born fruit.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00016_zpsf1d5a4e1.jpg

The Franks lose momentum entirely when the old King dies, their new boy leader unable to even control his own peasants! Agen becomes the last thing on their mind.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00017_zps8ec2d8d9.jpg

Alas, good stewards are hard to find, especially when managing the realm's finances seems to drive men to their death. The good Bishop expires, and Count Belasko finally gets his hands on the management of the treasury, to the muted dismay of all.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00018_zps7b3be9d5.jpg

Kisilo (the younger) bears her first child, who already shows signs of being at least brighter than most, if not quite in her parents' league.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00019_zps306f5c76.jpg

Running into some Frankish troops by accident on the way home, Mayor Karlos needs no further excuse to charge into the fray with aplomb. Such is the Gascon way.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00020_zps6e1d20ff.jpg

With the future of the realm in mind, Endulcia disperses her troops, leaving the cleanup to Carloman - but calls Karlos to her afterward. The mayor is all too eager to lay out his plans for a standing force, and promises to train them himself if only given the funds, and Endulcia turns her mind to their potential use - perhaps offensively, for a change.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00021_zpsf0a0a73d.jpg

Alas, before he can finish, word comes: Khaireddin has left his feast tables and turned his mind once again to war. Endulcia musters her forces again, but her mind is on her husband and his liege - will the Italians aid in their defence against the heathens, or will greater sacrifices be required?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00022_zps2bea0687.jpg

The birth of her son, at this point, is almost an unwanted distraction. Cursing her ill luck, for once, does not seem to improve matters, and the strain takes its toll on her. Praying for enough time to see her realm safely through the war, she resolves to lead from her sickbed if necessary. A Gascon does not submit even to death.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00023_zpsdf861d2d.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00024_zps3d2a0307.jpg

The Prince is despatched undercover to ascertain Khaireddin's progress. The results are less than promising.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00025_zps2cc4507d.jpg

Definitely not promising.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00026_zps764086f3.jpg

A desperate attempt to shore up the defenses...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00027_zpsef34b50b.jpg

...goes surprisingly well. Unfortunately, it is but a delaying tactic.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00028_zps09e8b75f.jpg

With her forces caught between three armies, Endulcia knows that her chance has passed. The time to supplement her forces was a month or more ago.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00029_zpsadcfb672.jpg

Even with the Muslim armies split, no mercenaries she could hire would have a chance at defeating all three of them. Furious at the defeat, her own lack of foresight, and her bedridden body, reliant on intermediates to get anything done, she considers whether a single blade might succeed where two thousand failed. The Prince sends back a single message. Some would say it is God's will. But give me the opportunity, and I will show Him how it's done.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00030_zps1d7bf9a6.jpg

The Prince's confidence proves misplaced.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00031_zps6a888bc3.jpg

And the war continues poorly. No one, it seems, is willing to challenge the Sultan's unholy ambitions.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00032_zps7aa668a0.jpg

Finally, some of Endulcia's increasingly insistent messengers get through. Whether it be promises of gratitude, dreams of glory, or duty to the Lord, Asturias and Berry join the defense.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00033_zps189d9ee5.jpg

The Asturians engage one flank while the Berrians and Gascons lead the other on a merry chase, but even a numerical advantage grants them no success.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00034_zpsb94939cc.jpg

When the combined forces meet, it is a disorganized mess of eight separate armies that even the skilled Mayor Karlos cannot make enough good of to glean victory.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00035_zpsab5c5e7f.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00036_zps9549d3b2.jpg

After a few months of successive failures, the stress becomes too much for Endulcia to bear. She dies in despair, praying that Kisilo will find some way to correct her errors.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/emberice/CKII/2014-06-18_00037_zps2c0f0679.jpg



Well, it seems Endulcia's contribution to the annals of history will be rendered a footnote. Spent the entire time playing defence, and just when I had room to switch gears, in comes Khaireddin. I definitely misplayed the start of the war, mercenary-wise, but without allies the assassination seemed about my only hope. Naturally, Asturias and Berry joined after I'd spent my money. :smalltongue: So, apologies to whoever gets to take over, but you've got a Holy War to win! Blame children.

Save (http://ge.tt/105kouk1/v/0)

Edit: Godsdamnit Photobucket, those screenshots were readable before I uploaded them. -.- I'll fix those tomorrow, maybe, but for now I need sleep.

[Grif]

Looks like a solid four years of drama there. :smallbiggrin: (Assuming I read 915 correctly in the last screenshot.)


Fourth round!

(1d100)[39]

[AgentPaper]

(1d100)[98]

http://verysmartbrothas.com/images/fistpump-400x266.jpg

[Guancyto]

:O

Yeah, not even rolling.

I was gonna give advice like "revolting against and white-peacing your weakened liege will let you end the war inconclusively" or something, but I think Paper's got this one.

[Closet_Skeleton]

http://verysmartbrothas.com/images/fistpump-400x266.jpg



Sorry to rain on your parade but

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17650261&postcount=46

[Grif]

Sorry to rain on your parade but

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17650261&postcount=46

Welp. Unless someone else rolls a 100? :smalltongue:

[AgentPaper]

Sorry to rain on your parade but

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=17650261&postcount=46

Oh sheeeeet.

Well, um, this is a bit awkward. I already started playing, assuming that I'd just pass the game along in the small chance someone beats me by the deadline, and well, it's been going really well. Not so much well from a "became really powerful" standpoint, as much as just making for a really great and dramatic story with lots of ups and downs. I understand if you want to take this as your turn anyways, but if by any chance you'd be willing to pass the turn to me...?

Edit: I don't want to spoil anything, but a sneak peek: The war for Aragon has finally just ended, and it's currently year 922 (7 years since taking power).

[OrcusMcP]

BIG MONEEEEYYY!!!!

(1d100)[76] !!!!!!

Sadly no big money

[Cristo Meyers]

Horribly dated Pokemon reference! I choose you! GO!

1d100 (90)

Huh, I should make dumb jokes when rolling more often...

[Closet_Skeleton]

I understand if you want to take this as your turn anyways, but if by any chance you'd be willing to pass the turn to me...?


Not sure. I've started as well and its been pretty static. The Kingdom has been shedding rulers on a regular basis but I've not done much.

Mostly been making marriages and appointing bishops.

[Grif]

Oh sheeeeet.

Well, um, this is a bit awkward. I already started playing, assuming that I'd just pass the game along in the small chance someone beats me by the deadline, and well, it's been going really well. Not so much well from a "became really powerful" standpoint, as much as just making for a really great and dramatic story with lots of ups and downs. I understand if you want to take this as your turn anyways, but if by any chance you'd be willing to pass the turn to me...?

Edit: I don't want to spoil anything, but a sneak peek: The war for Aragon has finally just ended, and it's currently year 922 (7 years since taking power).


Not sure. I've started as well and its been pretty static. The Kingdom has been shedding rulers on a regular basis but I've not done much.

Mostly been making marriages and appointing bishops.

Unless Closet_Skeleton explicitly says he relinquishes the turn, I'm afraid his version will take priority. (Or in the unlikely event that we have two 100s, then we reroll and then choose the one who rolled the highest.)

[AgentPaper]

Not sure. I've started as well and its been pretty static. The Kingdom has been shedding rulers on a regular basis but I've not done much.

Mostly been making marriages and appointing bishops.

Well, if it helps, I'd be willing to cede my own next winning roll to you, though there's no guarantee that'd be any time soon.

Otherwise, I'll just post the story here some time later on, as a sort of alternate-history sidestory, unless anyone has objections to that.

[Closet_Skeleton]

Go ahead and take it then. I'm not in the mood to finish up right now so I probably wouldn't get it posted until saturday anyway.

[AgentPaper]

Go ahead and take it then. I'm not in the mood to finish up right now so I probably wouldn't get it posted until saturday anyway.

Thanks! I'll get it up ASAP, hopefully by the end of the day today or tomorrow.

[AgentPaper]

Chapter 8

I am Duchess Kisilio de Vasconia, Duchess of Gascone, Count of Bearn, Armagnac, and Marsan. Unlike many noble ladies, I was taught the arts of warfare from a young age. I have practiced the art of the sword and the spear, and I wear a suit of arms as well as any dress.

http://i.imgur.com/1XPGrfi.jpg

However, it seems that the time for armor and swords has passed.

http://i.imgur.com/NIHt5DV.jpg

There was a time not long ago when this was a war to be won with swords, when hope, however slim, still remained. That time is past, now. Squandered by greed and overconfidence. Now the heathen roams our land without contest.

However, there is more than one way to fight a war. While others see war as a glorious clash of armies, I have learned too much to think that. I know that war - real war - is not a match of armies, but rather of the will of each side to continue to fight. I know that wars are not lost after a glorious battle, but only when the spirit and will to fight of the enemy has been utterly crushed.

A lesser woman than me may have already given up at this point, but God as my witness, I will NOT let the heathens rule our rightful Christain land!

For now, though, I must buy time. God helps those who help themselves, after all.

http://i.imgur.com/0i3YCHO.jpg

The first step of my plan involves preparing a revolution to install a more worthy King on our crown. Old King Carloman has proven himself insufficient in the defense of Christendom, so he must be replaced.

That done, I order my remaining forces to stand down, and beginning looking towards the more distant future, after this war is over. After all, it would be foolish to win this war only to find ourselves hobbled by the poor decisions of my predecessors.

http://i.imgur.com/WAw62F8.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/RxBCc4I.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ot0Qpwl.jpg

The first order of business is to sort out the teaching of our young ones. While my training in the art of warfare has taught me many things, our daughters would be better served fighting with words, not swords. As such, I arrange for a few capable teachers to be brought into my court, lured by promises of marriage to our strong, beautiful Basque men and women.

I also look towards the more immediate future, that is to say, my succession.

http://i.imgur.com/CTicHeA.jpg

The news is...grim. While my training may have been lacking in some areas, Guntroda Jakuez is simply incompetent. The second and third in line are no better, though, so I have little choice but to hope I live long enough to change these ridiculous succession laws. Any of my own daughters, or even my son, would make a far better ruler than any of my older relatives.

http://i.imgur.com/gzzTmpB.jpg

With the future...assuaged, if not secured, I return to the present. I have looked over my options, and sent my most capable agents to where they can be most useful.

Bernard I send to try and sow distrust between the Bernard, Duke of Barcelona and the King, in the hopes of encouraging him to join my faction. Yes, they both have the same name, and no, I doubt that that will make him any more likely to succeed, given the popularity of our "mighty" ruler.

Louis I send to try and recruit Bernard, Duke of Toulouse (seriously, another Bernard?) through more direct means. Though again, I doubt it will be in time.

Karlos and Swaefraed are both assigned closer to home, to attempt to bolster our supply of men and wealth both. They won't come in time for this war, but there will come a time when they are needed again. I only hope that it will be enough.

Finally, Mentzio I send to Rome, to pray for a miracle with the Holy Father.


As the months pass, the Heathen Khaireddin continues to savage the lands of Aragon, with no armies to contest him. Neither the duke of Toulouse of Barcelona has joined my cause against Carloman, but there is no more time. The heathen's armies will soon control all of Aragon, so I set my plan into motion.

All across my land, my men unfurl the banners of Revolution, declaring our intent to unseat Carloman in favor of Louis the Second, King of East Francia and Burgundy, in hopes that he will be able to protect us from the Heathen.

However, word soon reaches me of two more events:

http://i.imgur.com/mBGJ0JL.jpg

God has sent me a miracle!

It seems that Khaireddin, the coward, has retreated from our lands. Rumors say that his face turned pale at the sight of our banners, and he immediately called for a full retreat of all of his forces! I can only assume that he must have thought these banners represented some new foe that had caught him by surprise, and the craven fool fled rather than risk being caught unprepared.

Other rumors say that the sight of our banners, red and black, reminded him of the delicious steak dinner his palace cook always makes, and that he has ordered his entire army to retreat just so that he can feast at his own table once more.

Regardless, this truly is a miracle! And as if inspired by grace god has shown us, nearly a thousand old soldiers have appeared on my doorstep, asking to join my cause. With my forces bolstered, I decide that now is the time to strike. I order my men to march directly to Barcelona, to rout the meagre remaining forces of Carloman, and bring us a swift victory before the Fat Heathen decides to leave his feast halls again.

http://i.imgur.com/WEwRnyv.jpg

While we march to fight Carloman's forces, my son Ordono asks me to become a monk and dedicate his life to Chirst in thanks for saving our lands from the Heathen conquerors. With a tear in my eye, I say yes. I couldn't be more proud of his devotion.

http://i.imgur.com/JLezzmD.jpg

Carloman's forces are easily dealt with, but it seems that the foolish king has decided to be stubborn, and refuses to step off his throne, despite his hopeless situation. With no other choice, I order my men to dig in and prepare to starve him out.

http://i.imgur.com/T0g3i4D.jpg

The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.

It seems that my subjects have grown weary of the constant strife and war ravaging our lands, and to be frank, I find it hard to hold much ill will against them. Still, I grieve for my husband. He deserved more than this.

I appoint the bastard Belasko in his place, in hopes that the same fate befalls someone more deserving.

http://i.imgur.com/d6YBsmQ.jpg

Khaireddin seems to have realized his error, or perhaps has run out of juicy steaks, and has once again declared war, this time on myself directly. While my forces are greater than they were a short time ago, they are still no match for this heathen host. Even worse, old king Carloman still refuses to surrender his crown, leaving us ill-prepared for the coming onslaught.

http://i.imgur.com/jGTvfFj.jpg

Carloman, too, seems to have found his courage, and has summoned up two armies. The first, and largest, he has stationed in the mountain pass, obviously hoping to trap my forces away from home, while the rest march to my capital and lay siege to it.

However, he has miscalculated. As soon as the castle falls, I order my troops to march east, around the other pass before Khaireddin's forces can cut me off from the only other pass through the mountains, leaving only a token force in the castle to distract his larger force.

http://i.imgur.com/ZBvFn9a.jpg

Once again Carloman's overconfidence betrays him, as my forces destroy the small siege force easily on the open ground.

http://i.imgur.com/lStb9vX.jpg

With the western pass now blocked by Khaireddin's forces, I instead march east, taking position just behind Carloman's main force. Now he is the one who is trapped, between my forces in the mountains behind him, and a massive force of angry heathens to his front. With nowhere to run, he seems now to be paralysed with fear,

http://i.imgur.com/MsUfH5x.jpg

However, while this war goes well, Khaireddin has wasted no time in securing the lands he covets. His forces now are, if anything, even greater than they once were, and even spread out as they are, my forces stand o match against even the smallest of his armies. I can only hope that my brave defenders will hold out long enough.

http://i.imgur.com/dTdZbSc.jpg

However, it seems that my bid for time has paid off. Asturias and Berry have both pledged to join my cause, and along with my own replenished forces and a hasily recruited band of mercenaries, we now have an army that can stand against the Heathen.

http://i.imgur.com/4DWLd0G.jpg

Our forces take up a defensive position in the pass of Leyre, and Khaireddin complies, sending a large part of his force to meet us.

http://i.imgur.com/9TpNkOn.jpg

The battle is hard-fought, but the heathens have underestimated God's soldiers, as their right flank breaks, and soon...

http://i.imgur.com/QUaDacY.jpg

Praise the Lord! We can win this war!

http://i.imgur.com/xexqDae.jpg

However, our victory feasts are cut short when word comes of an even greater host of heathen soldiers headed straight towards us. Grimly, I order the troops to break camp and head east, into the mountains, to make a grim, final stand.

http://i.imgur.com/ZItD1Z4.jpg

As we prepare our defenses, word comes that a large group of peasants have risen up back home, no doubt still angry over the higher taxes. My only regret is that they didn't kill that bastard Belasko while they were at it.

http://i.imgur.com/Ahtz5di.jpg

At last, Khaireddin's main force clashes with ours. We give it all that we can...

http://i.imgur.com/UveyyCw.jpg

...but it isn't enough. Outnumbered on all sides, our forces waver, and finally...

http://i.imgur.com/IUD3FH0.jpg

I order the retreat, but the damage has been done. Khaireddin gives chase, and only a last stand by the brave veteran soldiers buys the rest of my armies time to retreat to their holdings, though I fear those walls will do little to save them if the heathen comes for them. Even the revolting peasants are swept aside in the mighty host's wake.

Then, a new, faint gleam of hope:

http://i.imgur.com/scp4jZZ.jpg

It seems that the wise king Louis has not been blind to my struggles, and has offered to help me in my war to install him. I must admit, I had hoped this help would come much sooner, but in these dire times I find it difficult to complain.

http://i.imgur.com/Q6qxDWi.jpg

Not long after, I recieve another message, this time borne by one of the heathen's lackies. It spells out the terms of my surrender. In response, I stab the messenger in the face through the parchment as he lifts it up to begin reading. His companions seem to understand my intent, and hastily drag him away as they flee my court.

http://i.imgur.com/daYwTBs.jpg

However, for all my bravado, there really is very little I can do to prevent Khaireddin from getting what he wants. As Louis' forces begin to arrive, I summon up the remnants of my own force once again and lead them far to the south, in an attempt to strike behind enemy lines and buy whatever time I can.

http://i.imgur.com/miJVUnE.jpg

Khaireddin, it seems, has no more patience for me. He sends a small, but still more than sufficient, force to chase me off, while his larger force continues to siege the last untouched province I have.

http://i.imgur.com/E1Cj1ix.jpg

Still, my stubborness contnues to pay off, as now the powerful king of West Francia has also joined my cause.

Once again, I rally my forces to join these new allies, only to find them already engaged, and losing. With a quick prayer for deliverance, I order my small force to join the fray, hoping to tip the balance in our favor.

http://i.imgur.com/NjnHCL1.jpg

After a long day of bloody battle, we finally manage to defeat Khaireddin's forces. Still, as my men and our new allies cheer, I can't help but feel that this war is far from over. Almost all of Aragon is now held by Khaireddin's forces, and while we work to take them back, his forces will be replenishing.

As I turn to march back to the war-tent to plan our next course of action, however, I am approached by a messenger. It seems that my allies have taken a prisoner. At first, I wave him away, until he tells me the name of this prisoner. Not daring to believe my own ears, I sprint to the West Francian camp to confirm the news with my own eyes.

http://i.imgur.com/RuGhxZR.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/wxQZBKP.jpg

There before me, the fat heathen sits before a massive table laden with food, feasting to his heart's content, seemingly oblivious to the soldiers surrounding him as his panicked servants rush about bringing him more food, seeming to be more afraid of their liege's wrath at not being fed than they are of the swords of their captors.

Even as I stand before him, he seems to be oblivious to all but the food before him. That is, until my sword pierces his plate, causing the over-laden table to shudder. He looks up to me, eyes filled first with fury, then confusion, and finally - gloriously - terror.

http://i.imgur.com/8pAFrqB.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/QLWNFCJ.jpg

- Chapter 9 coming soon -

[IthilanorStPete]

Oh sheeeeet.

Well, um, this is a bit awkward. I already started playing, assuming that I'd just pass the game along in the small chance someone beats me by the deadline, and well, it's been going really well. Not so much well from a "became really powerful" standpoint, as much as just making for a really great and dramatic story with lots of ups and downs. I understand if you want to take this as your turn anyways, but if by any chance you'd be willing to pass the turn to me...?

Edit: I don't want to spoil anything, but a sneak peek: The war for Aragon has finally just ended, and it's currently year 922 (7 years since taking power).

You weren't kidding about this! Quite the turn of events, and your write-up really adds to the drama.

[Cristo Meyers]

Ooooh, nothing ends a war quite like capturing the enemy lord. I love it! :smallbiggrin:

[Guancyto]

Oh, but that is a fine ending to the war.

For the faction, hah, yes, that's even better than just white peacing, that's getting us a monarch worth a damn! Possibly.

I was playing the save for a bit and it's a little funny and a little sad how much everyone hates Carloman. The only people willing to help him in the holy war were the two lords that will almost certainly be 'next'. None of his relatives even want to touch him.

(On that note, Sallera you did well considering you were facing the monster of Spain with barely any backup - I've seen Andalusia fight the entire Karlingblob and win, which is why I focused heavily on screwing them over.)

[Sallera]

I did notice Khaireddin's tendency to lead from the front, but never got fortunate enough in battle to capture him. Lucky, dramatic, and very profitable! I like where this is going. :smallbiggrin:

[AgentPaper]

You weren't kidding about this! Quite the turn of events, and your write-up really adds to the drama.


Ooooh, nothing ends a war quite like capturing the enemy lord. I love it! :smallbiggrin:


Oh, but that is a fine ending to the war.


I did notice Khaireddin's tendency to lead from the front, but never got fortunate enough in battle to capture him. Lucky, dramatic, and very profitable! I like where this is going. :smallbiggrin:

Thanks! It was quite a ride for me as well, and not until that final battle did I think I would actually win. That whole time, my best hope was that I'd win the liege change war before Khareddin came back a second time. And yet, we just kept barely hanging on until eventually enough people joined to turn the war around. Of course, the Andalusian threat is far from dealt with permanently, but we should be much better prepared to deal with it in the future.


For the faction, hah, yes, that's even better than just white peacing, that's getting us a monarch worth a damn! Possibly.

I certainly hope so! He's currently the king of Burgundy and East Francia, and he also happens to be the heir of the young king of West Francia. If this was my own game, I would be trying to murder the heck out of that kid to combine the two kingdoms, so that when I eventually stole it for myself, I could tear out the parts of de jure Aquitaine with it, rather than needing to go to war 50 times to get them all. As is, I'm basically content to leave it up to chance, since for all I know the next guy is going to go independent by forming Navarra or Aragon or who knows what, in which case making the Karling blob even more massive is probably not a great idea.

[Flickerdart]

Well, we can't form a kingdom with a king-level liege, so unless we want to enable some Karling to form Francia, independence (preferably with Aquitaine under your belt) would have to come before a Spanish kingdom.

Personally, if I get the next play-through, I'd be throwing all of my weight behind unifying Karling lands, because as a vassal to a powerful king, and with Andalusia sharpening its scimitars to the south, there's not really that much else to do. Maybe pick a fight with Asturias for whatever reason...

[Guancyto]

On the note of picking a fight with Asturias, there's a bastard in our court, matrimarried to our dynasty, with weak claims on Galicia and Castille.

Meanwhile Carloman's second son (and the elective heir, at the beginning of the save anyway) is also matrimarried to our dynasty.

So getting ourselves a kingdom by inheritance is far from unrealistic.

[ObadiahtheSlim]

What are you going to do with the reparations money? We should maybe upgrade our keeps to give us more troops.

[Grif]

Still waiting on that next chapter. :smalltongue:

[AgentPaper]

Still waiting on that next chapter. :smalltongue:

Sorry, didn't have any time to play it out today, was stuck in a U-haul all day. I should hopefully have enough time tomorrow, and have the writeup done that night. Worst case, it'll be until Monday.

[Flickerdart]

What are you going to do with the reparations money? We should maybe upgrade our keeps to give us more troops.
It's always seemed to me that this isn't really worth it - you can spend something like 600 gold and get a measly dozen soldiers, or you could spend that money on mercenaries to seize more land and get way more levies from it.

[AgentPaper]

It's always seemed to me that this isn't really worth it - you can spend something like 600 gold and get a measly dozen soldiers, or you could spend that money on mercenaries to seize more land and get way more levies from it.

This used to be the case, but vassal levies were heavily nerfed, and your own levies generally buffed (since martial now makes them better), so it's a much better investment than it used to be. That said, you're still generally better off using your money on mercs.

Unfortunately, though, we don't have all that many options as far as using mercs goes, at least for now. I also wasn't able to play today (stuck unloading aforementioned Uhaul all day long...somehow), so I'll have to complete it tomorrow. Next chapter should be up a bit after that.

[OrcusMcP]

It's always seemed to me that this isn't really worth it - you can spend something like 600 gold and get a measly dozen soldiers, or you could spend that money on mercenaries to seize more land and get way more levies from it.

As Agent Paper said, it's more worth it than it used to be. Plus, mercenaries don't get better with time. Your own demesne/vassal levies will. Investing in the castle buildings is much more of a long-term strategy.

[Hydranova]

And upping Training Grounds increases your Retinue Cap as well, further making mercenaries useless. Those 3g Varangian Guardsmen sure are helpful when you're just starting out, but over time they get dwarfed heavily.

[AgentPaper]

As Agent Paper said, it's more worth it than it used to be. Plus, mercenaries don't get better with time. Your own demesne/vassal levies will. Investing in the castle buildings is much more of a long-term strategy.

Well, not really, though. If you can use the vassals to press a war that you normally wouldn't they can effectively buy you more levies in the long term by helping you conquer more land.

Of course, this is mostly only true if you are high on CBs and low on troops, which is often the case early on in the game. If you have enough troops to press all of your CBs already without issue, then hiring mercenaries doesn't give you any long-term benefit compared to upgrading your troops.

[Flickerdart]

Any progress on the update? I eagerly await the inevitable decline and suffering that will come after this fleeting victory.

[AgentPaper]

Chapter 9:

After the celebratory feast (using the Sultan's own supplies) was over, and the glow of righteousness and victory had passed, I again returned to the war-tent, to take stock of our current situation.

http://i.imgur.com/CnNhtx4.jpg

There was little doubt that we would win this war handily, but still I did not want to waste too much time, lest the fat sultan come back for revenge too soon.

http://i.imgur.com/XOa0TEP.jpg

Wasting no time, I order the troops to assault the undefended cities and churches that have been laid bare by previous sieges, then lay siege to Barcelona once again. The stubborn king still refuses to accept my demands, and I start to wonder if he holds out now just to spite me.

http://i.imgur.com/zGgJefQ.jpg

Exactly as I had worried, Khaireddin has again mustered his forces, this time seeking a weaker target. I give thanks to god that I had not wasted any time in finishing this war, as old king Louis certainly has no chance of standing against this, even with the heathens weakened as they are.

http://i.imgur.com/QcVBWOf.jpg

Fortunately, it seems even Louis has a bit of common sense to him, as he finally relinquishes the throne, which is enough to fend off the heathen vultures, at least for now.

http://i.imgur.com/WMjXxn3.jpg

With our new liege, we now belong to the kingdom of Burgundy, which constitutes a rather large empire spanning much of central Europe. Hopefully the added bulk will make Khaireddin think twice before trying to steal our rightful lands again.

http://i.imgur.com/bRS5qI1.jpg

After weighing my options, I decide to erect a new castle in the mountain pass of Navarra, to serve as a bastion against the heathen hordes. I also begin...negotiations with my sister to take the county for myself, as part of a shift of focus from Aquitaine into the Iberian peninsula.

http://i.imgur.com/TL7wISd.jpg

With domestic matters settled and the realm once again at peace, I decide to show my thanks to God by going on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. It is a shame that such a holy place is held by heathens. If I were younger, perhaps I would try to rally my Christian brethren into some sort of "great holy war" to reclaim it, but my bones ache. Alas, it seems some things must be left to future generations.

http://i.imgur.com/IUQ5dvE.jpg

Unfortunately, not long after I return, it seems that Khaireddin is up to his old tricks once again. He has declared war on my new liege for Aragon once again.

http://i.imgur.com/JNR4EDc.jpg

As I watch the heathens swarm our lands again, I feel the icy grip of death sneaking up on me. My dreams are filled with death, and I fear I am not long for this world. I am forced to hand over control of our troops to my marshal, lest the stress of the war harm my health.

http://i.imgur.com/x7Q7NdN.jpg

Not wanting to see my realm destroyed by my incompetent sisters, I order the laws of succession be changed. In a stroke of genius, I realize that the necessary change is quite simple: Rather than the old inheriting, it should be the young! If only I had been given the reins of this realm when I was 10 years younger, how much more good could I have done?

http://i.imgur.com/aZSczcq.jpg

With my legacy secure, the feelings of dread recede, and my mind clears again.

http://i.imgur.com/lYQ1DkM.jpg

I also get word that my sister has finally given up hope on holding Navarra, allowing me to move our capital and completing my plan to shift our focus. After making the move, I must say that it feels good to finally be amongst other Basque men and women.

http://i.imgur.com/uODFMWc.jpg

Meanwhile, my marshal informs me that our war is going exceedingly well, with a major battle at Teruel sealing our dominance over the heathens. Comforted in the knowledge that our new liege can protect us much better than the one before, I retire to my chambers to get some well-earned rest.

http://i.imgur.com/yMzS5Fj.jpg

Rolling: BEGIN!

[Hiro Protagonest]

(1d100)[33]
Weeeeeoooooo

[OrcusMcP]

NO WHAMMIES!

(1d100)[56]

It's half a whammy.

[Sallera]

Are we rolling for second turns already? Thought we were going to give everyone a shot first.

[AgentPaper]

Are we rolling for second turns already? Thought we were going to give everyone a shot first.

Oh, I knew there was a preference for new players, but I didn't know how it worked. So we just don't roll until round 2 or something?

[Cristo Meyers]

Gonna sit this round out. Not likely to have a lot of free time next week. Gonna be out of town next weekend.

[Flickerdart]

Hooray, a chance! (1d100)[88]




Roll, roll, roll your boat, gently down the stream...

[IthilanorStPete]

No rolls of 90+ to beat...yet...

(1d100)[85]




Was feeling good, then I saw Flickerdart's roll.

[Guancyto]

Well, what we could do is roll smaller dice if we've gone recently, that way it's unlikely but not strictly impossible to get the same people multiple times

Like,

Just went: Don't roll
Went 2 turns ago: 1d20
Went 3 turns ago: 1d40
Went 4 turns ago: 1d60
Went 5 or more turns ago: 1d80
Haven't gone yet: 1d100

[AgentPaper]

Well, what we could do is roll smaller dice if we've gone recently, that way it's unlikely but not strictly impossible to get the same people multiple times

Like,

Just went: Don't roll
Went 2 turns ago: 1d20
Went 3 turns ago: 1d40
Went 4 turns ago: 1d60
Went 5 or more turns ago: 1d80
Haven't gone yet: 1d100

Probably better to do like a -10 modifier or whatever, that way you don't have to re-roll if you mess it up.

[IthilanorStPete]

Well, what we could do is roll smaller dice if we've gone recently, that way it's unlikely but not strictly impossible to get the same people multiple times

Like,

Just went: Don't roll
Went 2 turns ago: 1d20
Went 3 turns ago: 1d40
Went 4 turns ago: 1d60
Went 5 or more turns ago: 1d80
Haven't gone yet: 1d100

Could we just have the people who've already had a turn not roll until everyone's gone at least once?

[Guancyto]

Could we just have the people who've already had a turn not roll until everyone's gone at least once?
That... could work too!

[Grif]

Could we just have the people who've already had a turn not roll until everyone's gone at least once?

That was how it worked last game. :smalltongue:


(1d100)[97]

Goooooooooo~

:smallbiggrin:

[Flickerdart]

That was how it worked last game. :smalltongue:
:smallbiggrin:
>_>
<_<
http://i.imgur.com/4blplNr.png

[AgentPaper]

That was how it worked last game. :smalltongue:

Right, sounds fine to me. Just ignore my roll then.

We should probably post this rule in the OP, just to make it official and reduce confusion, though.

[Farix]

And...(1d100)[14]

:smallsigh: Love you too RNG.



>_>
<_<
[Snip]

Beautiful

[Guancyto]

Dammit Flickerdart it counts all Lowborn as the same dynasty, if you get Kinslayer just before inheriting you'll...

...actually be in pretty good company with like 40% of the heirs I've had over the course of this game, but still!

[OrcusMcP]

Eh, I thought we could still roll but give preference to those who haven't gone yet. Doesn't matter now, because Grif, but you may consider my roll withdrawn.

Plus, gotta keep you all on your toes. :smallwink:

[Flickerdart]

Dammit Flickerdart it counts all Lowborn as the same dynasty, if you get Kinslayer just before inheriting you'll...

...actually be in pretty good company with like 40% of the heirs I've had over the course of this game, but still!
I think they fixed it, and now Lowborns count as separate dynasties.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

(1d100)[72]
COME ON COME ON (though with my girlfriend in town and my work schedule it may take me a few evenings...

Nope, not gonna cut it.

[Grif]

>_>
<_<
http://i.imgur.com/4blplNr.png

What.

*plots to murder Flickerdart*

[Flickerdart]

What.

*plots to murder Flickerdart*
As if you'd ever get enough supporters. I'll just go take a carriage through the woods to my favourite inn, and lean against a balcony railing while sipping wine in total darkness. I'm sure that is the safest thing to do.

[Narkis]

Not gonna roll. Again. Go Grif!

[Grif]

Alright, since no one else beat my roll, I'll take my turn.

Expect a post in several hours time. (Dear lord, she's so young, at 21. This might take a while barring unfortunate bedroom accidents.)

EDIT: I don't see a save posted anywhere. :smalltongue:

[AgentPaper]

Alright, since no one else beat my roll, I'll take my turn.

Expect a post in several hours time. (Dear lord, she's so young, at 21. This might take a while barring unfortunate bedroom accidents.)

EDIT: I don't see a save posted anywhere. :smalltongue:

Shoot! Knew I was forgetting something. Unfortunately, I played the session on my Laptop, which is still at the office, so I won't be able to upload it until at least tomorrow. Apologies again for the delays!:smallfrown:

[Grif]

Shoot! Knew I was forgetting something. Unfortunately, I played the session on my Laptop, which is still at the office, so I won't be able to upload it until at least tomorrow. Apologies again for the delays!:smallfrown:

's fine. I'll just start when you uploaded it. :smallwink:

[Grif]

I'm not one to poke incessantly, but I'm still waiting for that save.

[AgentPaper]

I'm not one to poke incessantly, but I'm still waiting for that save.

Unfortunate delays continue, but it should be up tomorrow.

[Flickerdart]

Looks like we have a succession crisis on our hands. :P

[AgentPaper]

Looks like we have a succession crisis on our hands. :P

Indeed. I've just finished assassinating the requisite pretenders, though, so the crisis is officially over. Here's the download. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9uQqHNKFo5SSTlzRGlTV2JhR1U/edit?usp=sharing)

If that doesn't work, let me know and I'll upload it somewhere else.

[Avilan the Grey]

Okay, I SERIOUSLY need to play this again.

[Grif]

Nothing much going on so far. More like I'm not really sure how to expand without bringing down the wrath of the Sultan on me. :smalltongue:

[Flickerdart]

Nothing much going on so far. More like I'm not really sure how to expand without bringing down the wrath of the Sultan on me. :smalltongue:
When you have nowhere else to go, fabricate claims in Ireland.

[Narkis]

Overthrow our King!

[OrcusMcP]

Eugenics! MEDIEVAL ROMANCE SIMULATOR ENGAGE!

[Flickerdart]

Eugenics! MEDIEVAL ROMANCE SIMULATOR ENGAGE!
Yessssssss

Take as many Genius, Strong, Attractive, etc. courtiers as you can, invite them into your court, marry them off to each other.

Also, go for the Dwarf Fortress achievement goal.

[Grif]

Eugenics! MEDIEVAL ROMANCE SIMULATOR ENGAGE!

Considering I'm a Genius, and our heir is also a genius. :smallamused:

[Farix]

Considering I'm a Genius, and our heir is also a genius. :smallamused:

I see someone doesn't have the humble trait.

[ObadiahtheSlim]

Considering I'm a Genius, and our heir is also a genius. :smallamused:

But not a Strong Genius. That's the point.

[OrcusMcP]

Frankly, if you're not playing a character who is Genius, Strong and Attractive, I don't know why you are even playing this game.

Bonus points if their name is Mary Sue.

[Flickerdart]

Frankly, if you're not playing a character who is Genius, Strong and Attractive, I don't know why you are even playing this game.

Bonus points if their name is Mary Sue.
Don't forget having all of the virtues (except for Proud instead of Humble because she needs "a character flaw").

[Hiro Protagonest]

Don't forget having all of the virtues (except for Proud instead of Humble because she needs "a character flaw").

And no Chaste.

Maybe Lustful.

[Rockphed]

Grif, an accounting of our lands and dynasty is required at your hands.

[Avilan the Grey]

Part of me really want to create a Blackadder character in to-be-England in 867...
Edit: I do love the... disjointed ruling approach in this Let's Play between players. :smallbiggrin:

[Guancyto]

And no Chaste.

Maybe Lustful.

Lustful, but savescum asap if the trait ever gets you a lover that looks gross or has bad traits.

[Grif]

Long overdue update. Since not much is happening, it's more of an overview of how the world is faring.

Chapter 10
This being the diary of Ermesinda, First of Her Name, Duchess of Gascogne.

I suppose I should be frank, and say that I did not expect the title to be passed down to me. Sister was furious at first, naturally, being the next in line for succession, but I soon persuaded her to come around my point of view. (The fact that I offered her a county helped smooth matters along admirably.)

First task is of course filling the council, which has been inexplicably deserted by my mother's old advisors. No matter.

http://i.imgur.com/xi1Ibhj.jpg

I'm also told that we're supposed to be involved in a war with the fat fool that currently rules the heathen Umayyad Moors to our south. Dear King Louis seems to have the war well in hand though.

http://i.imgur.com/tNiRGkk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/3yqL9jc.jpg

Quite.

Weary of this war, and curious about the state of the world beyond our borders, I sent some of our enlightened scholars to bring news of distant countries and states. They returned with fantastical tales of the newly arose Irish kingdom that is cutting a swath through Saxon lands. The kingdom of East Francia appears to be no more, supplanted by the Kingdom of Italy in its place and Burgundian lands. It's quite likely our new King would be coming to blows with his brethens in Italy soon.

http://i.imgur.com/byvmMUy.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/yDNc7Zr.jpg

Sister seems to be settling in well.

http://i.imgur.com/ieSzhap.jpg

With that in mind, I set my mind to amassing wealth. Greed may be frowned upon by the church, but gold just makes everything flow easier. Or so I heard an old man said once.
http://i.imgur.com/P3jWQpL.jpg

King Louis tries to foist his Frankish tradition on our young. He can go sod himself.
http://i.imgur.com/mVQXGoq.jpg

Ah, the vagaries of romance.
http://i.imgur.com/XfIFyRk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/2fWHij7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/9iDIFNd.jpg

And their fruits.
http://i.imgur.com/1F1pRXE.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ogAwLeQ.jpg


(Lengthier update to follow.)

[Grif]

Uh. Okay. Surprise situation developing.

We appeared to have lost all our Aragonese vassals, due to Burgundy splintering into various kings and queens. The current king also appeared to have weaseled into one of our Gascogne county and claimed it for its own.

For all my hours in this game, I have never seen this happen before. :smalleek:

[Guancyto]

Damn!

Well, it's a good thing most of them were of our dynasty.

[Grif]

Damn!

Well, it's a good thing most of them were of our dynasty.

Indeed! Should be a fun story to spin later. :smalltongue:

[Hydranova]

Zounds! It's the dreaded Basque sleeper Counts!

[Grif]

(Damn, lost an entire post. Well, time to split this up so that I don't dawdle too much.)

Chapter 11

This being the diary of Ermesinda, First of Her Name, Duchess of Gascogne.

The past ten years have blissfully quiet, a rare interlude in the succession of wars that had plagued the land. Even the great Sultan, Khaireddin was content to remain quiescent. However, I suspected this state of affair was not to last long.

http://i.imgur.com/McBcbNB.jpg

Soon afterwards, peace was shattered as Sultan Abu-Bakr feels it's his right to take over Mallorca as his own. King Louis, naturally, wasn't pleased.

http://i.imgur.com/a1o8C1g.jpg

And the stress soon drove him away from this realm, and in his place was King Jaufre, a man I soon learned to loathe.

He insists that all my wards should be taught to be a proper Frank. Naturally, I wasn't having any of that.

http://i.imgur.com/nmxzw18.jpg

I concentrated on continuing to build up a large reserve of gold... and biding my time to reclaim the rest of the duchy of Navarra. In the meantime, young Edigio is growing up so fast. It's time to teach him the ways of ruling.

http://i.imgur.com/wVgkdx0.jpg

The intrepid sultan didn't seem to be faring well in the war.

http://i.imgur.com/9mROae1.jpg

Educating Edigio was proving fruitful. Though I am concerned he may have adopted my cynical attitude towards life.

http://i.imgur.com/nn42AFC.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/SY10GLc.jpg

Kisilo seems quite content to have her brother rule in her stead. All the better.

http://i.imgur.com/aWGErN4.jpg

I'm also told my marshall is taking military advice from Jesus himself. What crock.

http://i.imgur.com/oNDGagL.jpg

Soon enough, I judged that the conditions are ripe for us to start taking back what was rightfully ours. The chancellor has of course, "unearthed" our rightful claim to the county.

http://i.imgur.com/u156MXX.jpg

The war was short. King Alfonso soon yielded to our righteous demands.

http://i.imgur.com/MY1blRl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/XrN1uvg.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/YR5f99a.jpg

And to add to our joy, I soon had a second son.

http://i.imgur.com/V5ht76r.jpg

To my dismay, I found out that my favourite son would not inherit the duchy as I hoped. Although the spymaster has suggested ... less than pleasant ways to deal with this matter, I opted instead to deal with this legally. In place of the system where the youngest inherit, I have chosen instead to allow the realm to elect their rulers. Of course, most of the nobles took the hint to support dear Egidio.

http://i.imgur.com/nXDAwSq.jpg

And just in time for young Egidio to come into his own. I gave him the responsiblity of administrating our new conquest.

http://i.imgur.com/I5XGxVT.jpg

My chancellor soon bring word that the infidel Khaireddin was finally dead, content at last to pass on to his judgement. In his place is his son Garsiya: a relatively uninspired man who seemed to have ascended the throne reluctantly. The fool decided that the jungles of Africa was key to his glory, a moment of weakness I seized to reclaim the last piece of the Navarran homeland.

http://i.imgur.com/6sdLrr7.jpg

Garsiya's army were unable to muster a meaningful defense. The foolish sultan was soon forced to cede the land to me.

http://i.imgur.com/QfMpi2D.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/B2eGnGh.jpg

And the birth of Elisabeth was just icing on the cake.

http://i.imgur.com/FdtnCvK.jpg

(Rolling may begin now, I have finished the game and just need to write the last part.)

[Grif]

Chapter 12

This being the diary of Ermesinda, First of Her Name, Duchess of Gascogne and Navarra

The burghers and clergy continue their petty squabble. I see no point in intervening.
http://i.imgur.com/7QwMJFu.jpg

In the meantime, Sultan Garsiya licked his wounds long enough, and decided to launch his campaign of revenge.
http://i.imgur.com/NkMUGBq.jpg

Unfortunately, the war went his way initially, the border provinces quickly falling.
http://i.imgur.com/yXlxjhs.jpg

Sensing that I need to take a more active approach while Jaufre slowly, ever so slowly marshalls his troops behind the Pyrennes, I decided to "lend" Jaufre a little encouragement. The Catalan Company agrees enthusiastically.
http://i.imgur.com/JFMwDe9.jpg

That was enough to get the Franks moving...
http://i.imgur.com/aLH4qCg.jpg

and the aftermath was quite bloody
http://i.imgur.com/SxI9xHv.jpg

Meanwhile in the Far East, the heathens appeared to have spawned a new sect.
http://i.imgur.com/t1HePal.jpg

With Garsiya properly put in his place, I quickly launched a campaign to sweep Toledo off the hapless sultan before he recovered.
http://i.imgur.com/UQdtR86.jpg

The audacity of my actions must have shocked his underlings, for the sultan was murdered not one year after my army marched onto Umayyad lands. His son, Utman quickly begged for peace.
http://i.imgur.com/h2AO6bF.jpg

And Toledo was liberated! The spoils was quickly distributed, with dear Kisilo gaining a fiefdom of her own.
http://i.imgur.com/dZJxeTf.jpg

Scarcely after the victory celebrations died, a messenger brought me grim news. The count of Bern, whom I have never met and certainly never knew, accused me of coming into the Duchy of Navarra wrongly. Hah, I scoffed, and called my generals to ready for war!
http://i.imgur.com/n0uvSKd.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ftT3hAO.jpg

Before our armies could march, however, another messenger descended from the capital. King Jaufre was dead! And his kingdom, held together tenously only by his person, was split asunder amongst his heirs.
http://i.imgur.com/gG2ONFi.jpg

The worse was yet to come. While I tried to sort out the mess that came out of Jaufre's untimely death, the lords of Aragon decided to declare independence. In Bearn, I hear reports of the new King of Aquitaine, King Simon, had commandeered one of my castle to call his own. He sends me his "thanks". I tore up that letter.
http://i.imgur.com/2CNiAAo.jpg

Such blatant disrespect. Gascogne shall not bow to such a king. Freedom!
http://i.imgur.com/vbhjDZo.jpg

Serendipitously, I also arranged for my younger son, who so far had remained landless, to be married to the new Queen of Aragon.
http://i.imgur.com/pXvZEH4.jpg

None shall stand before our might!
http://i.imgur.com/K8qj2Jj.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/MOSxSLb.jpg

And with our independence secure, I hereby declare the new Kingdom of Navarra.
http://i.imgur.com/aKyF17r.jpg

Omniously though, Sultan Utman had wasted no time trying to regain his former lands. Already, Albaraccin had fallen to the Moors, and he was now rampaging through Aragon. I quickly offered to join the war, partly to halt the heathen, but also to impress the still independent lords of Aragon back into our fold, familial ties likewise.
http://i.imgur.com/1MdrK50.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Ow0ghYj.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/NlH16lA.jpg

Of course, the war goes as expected.
http://i.imgur.com/LkyOxkJ.jpg

And the lords properly reminded of their place.
http://i.imgur.com/9CO03Md.jpg

Only one final task remains. To reclaim Bearn. Which was done quickly and efficiently.
http://i.imgur.com/0EEvEjN.jpg

At last, I can finally rest...
http://i.imgur.com/fpQ6Sm8.jpg


tl;dr

Acquired Navarra proper.
Instituted Elective succession to get favoured son onto the throne.
Snatched Toledo off the Umayyad.
Kingdom broke up suddenly, lost half of our vassals, some smug schmuck kicks us out of Bearn.
Declare independence successfully, formed kingdom of Navarra.
Managed to get back most of our lands pre-breakup.




Save (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0WyBmfXXXZKWHd6NjI3eHZ3X2M/edit?usp=sharing).

[Narkis]

Come on, give me a high number!

(1d100)[86]

Damnit, I know someone's gonna roll a 95...

And nice job Grif! Things seem to be going pretty well so far. :smallsmile:

[Flickerdart]

Damnit, I know someone's gonna roll a 95...

And nice job Grif! Things seem to be going pretty well so far. :smallsmile:


The throne of Navarra shall be mine!
(1d100)[86]
If the rest of the people roll even more dismally than this, we shall have to have a proper roll-off, knave!

[Studoku]

I rolled a 10. No reigning for me.

[IthilanorStPete]

Not going to roll for this round; can't commit the necessary time.

[Sallera]

Well, that was certainly an eventful reign. And independence, which is certainly going to make fighting the Sultans more... interesting. :3

[Farix]

Not going to roll for this round; can't commit the necessary time.

Likewise for me.

Things are looking up for our family, lets hope that being the smallish kingdom next to the Moors proves tenable.

[Aolbain]

I don't have a good feeling about this...

(1d100)[46]


Gosh darn it to the heck!

[Grif]

Well, that was certainly an eventful reign. And independence, which is certainly going to make fighting the Sultans more... interesting. :3

It isn't as bad as it looks. Currently we have an alliance with Aragon, and East Francia (Not sure if Great Moravia still counts), and the other Christian kings should be more than willing to help in the event of a holy war. Plus Umayyad is finally racking up decadance, and it won't be long before the inevitable decadence revolts springs up.

(AI seems to be even worse than EU4 in managing their armies, so I'm actually glad we get to field our full force for once.)

[Hydranova]

Like I always say; you should Never-ra comply with sassy lieges!

[SaruSama]

Dang it only a 75. (also hello how are you this looks cool hope i can still join)

[Grif]

Dang it only a 75. (also hello how are you this looks cool hope i can still join)

Of course you can join. :smallsmile:

Now, unless someone rolls a higher number 3 hours after this post, we'll have the two, Flickerdart and Narkis, to reroll to determine who gets the next turn.

[ObadiahtheSlim]

Let's do this.
(1d100)[78]
Is that high enough?

[Avilan the Grey]

I'd love to join, but fear I am too incompetent. Love trying to learn, though.

[Cristo Meyers]

I'd love to join, but fear I am too incompetent. Love trying to learn, though.

Psh, don't let that stop you. Digging yourself out of messes is half the fun.

Sitting this round out, again :smallsigh: Hopefully my schedule will open up a little more so I can give this the attention it deserves.

[Hiro Protagonest]

I am out, as I'm still on vacation.

[Narkis]

I'd love to join, but fear I am too incompetent. Love trying to learn, though.

No one is too incompetent to join!

edit: I suppose it's time for the roll-off.


En garde, sir!

(1d100)[64]

Hmm. That could have gone better.

[Grif]

Is that high enough?

Unfortunately not. Next round, perhaps? :smallsmile:

Waiting for Flickerdart's roll now.

[Flickerdart]

No one is too incompetent to join!

edit: I suppose it's time for the roll-off.



Hmm. That could have gone better.

I got a 55. You're up.

[Narkis]

Alright, I'll get to it. It's 1am here though, so don't expect a writeup before tomorrow.

Wish me luck!

[Grif]

Alright, I'll get to it. It's 1am here though, so don't expect a writeup before tomorrow.

Wish me luck!

What's the news, Narkis?

[Narkis]

Sorry guys, my grandfather had a heart attack and is in hospital. He escaped the danger but he'll be there for a few more days. I relinquish my turn to Flickerdart.

[Avaris]

I need to hang out in Gaming more often... had completely missed the start of this! I shall have to look into getting the Sons of Abraham in time to get a turn...

[Flickerdart]

Where's the save at?

[Sallera]

Save (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0WyBmfXXXZKWHd6NjI3eHZ3X2M/edit?usp=sharing).
Here it be.

[Grif]

Sorry guys, my grandfather had a heart attack and is in hospital. He escaped the danger but he'll be there for a few more days. I relinquish my turn to Flickerdart.

Sorry to hear that. I hope he'll be well!

Flickerdart, lead us to glory then!

[Flickerdart]

I can't promise glory, but I can promise constant single-county wars that waste our levies, and futile schemes that make us both poor and disliked. Update forthcoming.

[Grif]

I can't promise glory, but I can promise constant single-county wars that waste our levies, and futile schemes that make us both poor and disliked. Update forthcoming.

And how is that not glorious? :smalltongue:

[OrcusMcP]

I can't promise glory, but I can promise constant single-county wars that waste our levies, and futile schemes that make us both poor and disliked. Update forthcoming.

So you're playing a Catholic in CK2? :smallwink:

[Flickerdart]

So you're playing a Catholic in CK2? :smallwink:
Touche.

Chapter 13

Note: I run a mod that changes Muslim nations from their dynastic names into their title names, in order to avoid confusion when looking at ledgers and such.

Mother has died, and this kingdom is in a man's hands for the first time in over half a century. From atop a king's throne, at last, I survey the world that stretches out before me. My map-makers would have me believe that Ireland has conquered half of the islands to the north, and that the Christians in Bulgaria and Moravia have rooted the heathen Tengri faith out of the once-fearsome Arpads. Revolts rage in Scandinavia, in Eastern Europe, and even in the Holy Land, where Jerusalem has seceded from its Abbasid overlords.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707407026/92AA1515321FA32A4897B27D344F75D787322123/



But that is not the revolt that interests me. My mother has left me with more than just a throne, but also a claim yet unpressed on lands part of Asturian rebels.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707409364/11021971B7452728ECB7E8DD1E9932F2CC221602/

However, before jumping to my neighbour's fields, I must purge the weeds from my own. Mother has left me with a useless crowd of advisors, whom I sack at once and replace with talent worthy of a king. There are meagre pickings from my fledgling realm, but men of valor and great skill shall reveal themselves in time.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707412520/A17A22DFB2BD007AFA909879BE2CD8FA95D1E5B8/

I send them to their tasks. My chancellor I order south, into the lands of the infidel - though Utman of Umayyads is a decadent hedonist, he commands a great host of 15,000 men, and I dare not draw his ire before consolidating my position in the north. It helps that he already respects me - or perhaps fancies me, if tales of his perversions are true.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707417179/92FEDE90B85DF6023D4DE2B993F0762E5AC4E3BD/


Asturias, on the other hand, is weak, so it is against the rebels that I lead my army. It should be easy to crush them and claim the last part of my birthright.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707418103/4E9362ADF52D875BF932571452147CF25BF82622/


Not long after the ink has dried on my order, I receive a letter from my father in law. He has gotten himself into two wars - a liberation revolt of somewhere called Frisia, but more importantly, a conquest war against the capital of Aragon, somehow in the middle of Italy. The rest of Aragon is to our east, but they command no great army and should also be no threat. I agreed to his call, knowing that he will be a great guardian against the Muslim when Utman sounds his wicked war horn.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707419409/C8396327581A3529546E6A0647C33E2FAECCBAE4/


Curses! While I pondered the eastern front, Alfonso IV has managed to reunite Asturias, somehow rendering my righteous claim moot. I order my forces back home, intending to regroup and launch a new assault once the proper documents have been filed.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707421014/F700233D60F590377FA7A3F285D3A2F3B8570077/


With my focus momentarily on my homeland, I realized that we were at war with Aquitaine. Upon further investigation, it turned out that the war I had joined was truly epic in scope - Queen Sarrazine of Aragon was backed by every Karling save Carlo, who had somehow talked the Byzantine Emperor into aiding him. Europe was aflame, and I suddenly felt very small.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707422242/335BDAA8CE80DF305CCB3A826EDBD8F848B2B3CC/


Of course, the might of an Emperor and his equal could not be challenged by even such an array of powers as was assembled here, and so I went back to business in Asturias. By invoking the crown's authority I wrestled competent commanders into leading my force and settled in to siege the castle that would soon become mine.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707424277/794146BA547B7BBE296E8971655326EAC2C302BE/


A kinsman of mine caught my attention - young Ladron, barely of schooling age, was blessed by attractive features and a diligent work ethic. I set about grooming him into a fine diplomat in my own image. Perhaps he would be more successful at currying the favours of the perverse sultan.

http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707426192/AFF731E185C41657A19F037DD1E443E464E0C0C6/


Before I had sieged my first castle, Carlo had already put the Aragon Queen in her place. Hopefully, she was now weakened enough to be the target of my next invasion.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707428449/AC5A3C5F13E86D29909B2DD73B859C3CB22CFDC9/


Soon after my own war's first victory, my daughter had come of age. Her skill at arms and tactics was even greater than mine or that of my marshal, but I could not assign her to the position. Even in a land where women can inherit on the same grounds as men, there are still limits.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707430451/D2877E9854FBE920DD3028B078325EEE34AC6D0E/


As I capture another castle, word spreads that I am a just ruler. So just are my actions, in fact, that Alfonso had yet to muster an army to defend his realm, knowing full well that this land belonged to me by right.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707434621/9E494B307C4C5068864A0A48E0E8C3C1F30F37C0/


My daughter hounds me for a marriage. I set her up with a Byzantine prince, forging the same alliance my father in law used to enforce his will upon Europe.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707436948/16FB555A646706C18B9A39E89678DF6E000EE7B0/


My foe finally leaves his castles, bringing an army one quarter the size of mine to oppose me. The fool thinks that terrain will aid him, but it will not.

http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707440661/40FE8BD4FE5207BE791710C22FEE4CE63EE10400/


I do not rout his army - I crush it to the last man. Alfonso surrenders immediately.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707441725/3AA587B0CCE337ADFBE4E7AE19788FD0693E6368/


Through some contrived paperwork and likely more than one wine-addled scribe, it has come to pass that I am eligible for a vote in the election of Aquitaine. I immediately have the fore-runner of this election removed.

(Note: I kept murdering these guys as they popped up, and we were due to inherit at the time of the character's death. It didn't help that the reigning queen was 20 years his junior and beloved by the people.))

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707443852/CE3B0353F1296169A3C916E6ADD8A45C94A07B67/


However, the fates refuse to grant me what is somehow rightfully mine. No elector votes for any but himself, and there is even a revolt happening to further fragment soon-to-be-my realm. Not if I can help it!

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707450339/54724A04D8431C7641AA0BBD1B1E9D380B607DC2/


My forces drive out the rebels, but the election does not swing my way. The nobles of Aquitaine scorn their saviour! Their enmity shall be repaid with steel, as I find one of my cousins has a claim on a county in the kingdom. With Burgundy-Aragon trying to seize Aquitaine for itself, this is a great opportunity to salvage a piece of the land for Navarra.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707457298/F68ED5CAB6D1FB3BB996FE0E0177EFCC05AD3F8B/


My sword turns in search of a new enemy, and finds our eternal foe, the Moor. Utman's decadence and incompetence have upset his vassals, who have fractured the realm's power with a massive civil war. There would be no better opportunity to grab another plot of land from al-Andalus.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707461025/4836C0227A2BA3F2C12031CA454A3EAF159DE761/


The conflict is long and bloody - not to mention expensive - but at last it ends. I quickly move what's left of my forces out of the region, to let the rebels and opportunists figthing over Adalusia tear each other to pieces. These war-torn lands needed someone to pull them back into a semblance of order - a task to which I assigned the layabouts of my family, including Ladron, who by this time had come of age and proven himself an agreeable diplomat.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707466282/A16E9EDA9891D7179D7F8442855ED6C6A087885F/


I grew tired of murdering candidates to the Aquitaine throne - it seemed that every time I killed the front-runner, another would take his place and immediately gain the votes that should have rightfully been mine. I instead turned my eyes West, to Asturias and its aging king. It was a simple matter for my council to forge a claim on one of his titles, but alliances to West Francia made it impossible for me to make a move. A dagger between the ribs later, and the king, with his alliances, was no more. But then opportunity struck in the form of the heir. The boy sought to strengthen his position against rebel hordes, and reached out for an alliance. My son wed to his sister and heir - a fair offer, and fairer still when the child king suffered a case of steel poisoning and the queen ascended to the throne. Their children would rule both Asturias and Navarra - truly, an ideal turn of events.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707469945/B0EF32065719881CEEEC5F101F23FF3E72918339/


Mopping up the rebels - once precious allies and now an unwelcome distraction - took no time at all.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707471004/E611E8B409C8CBA7C3CDE1E5B587A1BCED896D22/


Unfortunately, until my dynasty inherited Asturias, I would have to keep dealing with these revolts.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707473552/084F7D9274AC1B65CDE82118BABAE7840893F133/


Nothing could stop the plan now - as my soldiers drove upstart nobles from the field, I received news of a grand-daughter born to this union, poised to inherit Asturias in the name of the de Vasconia dynasty. I could only hope that she would come of age before my death, so that I could bequeath Navarra to her.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707475461/E703DC4BA624F0348C24867C946AA053CA08CE66/


Soon, our dynastic lands shall stretch from the coast of the Atlantic all the way to...Germany? It seems that my relatives have been busy establishing themselves in the Karling heartland.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707476508/21D8832320637E4903D84349D07E1C1F1DCD2CFB/


With the unification of Christian lands in Iberia safely assured, I focused once more on the infidel to the south. Andalusia has never recovered from its fracture, still as weak as ever while we have grown ever stronger. It was time to strike another blow.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707479667/2FDA2635D60BCF614230C491359738D47060BD7A/


My daughter in law gives birth to a girl that has inherited her quick wit. Under the current laws of Asturias, she would not inherit...but my knife has shed the blood of kin before. A decision such as this would not have to be made just yet, however, and perhaps circumstances would take care of the elder sibling for me.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707482696/A39E111F2438E97ADD70280755FEF6ED9C2B9B58/


Utman's surrender is quick - a cowardly move appropriate for a man named after the first of these sultans I faced as king.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707484095/36B89B3B46C9DBB246A3229CB74449D9AD39C1D5/


Just in time for victory celebrations, my Chancellor delivered me a fitting gift - forged documents on the Duchy of Galicia. Yet another province to secure my legacy in Iberia.

http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707486308/0B9EC7A46AFCFE8473F06F9D058DDD01B3917C39/


With Galicia claimed, I can rest my weary bones at last. Go, my son - unite Asturias and Navarra into a great empire to rival that of the Byzantines and Karlings!

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577901446707488120/51ED23632BE72919F519403026C9F4B66A515EBD/


Summary:

Made alliances with West Francia, Italy, and Byzantium for glorious destroying of foes. Some alliances may have lapsed.
Captured random provinces in Aquitaine. Then murdered everyone qualified to be candidates for Aquitaine's Elective Monarchy. A little more murder should see us on the throne there.
Set up the next king with a patrilineal marriage to the Queen of Asturias - their daughters are of our dynasty and the elder will inherit Asturias, but the younger is Quick. Also, next king is simultaneously King and Prince of Navarra somehow.
Captured two duchies and a few counties from Andalusia, which is now fractured into three states. However, they inherited Mauretania, so watch out.
Germany has our dynasty as well. Perhaps it is time for Seniority succession again?


Time for the roll-off, boys. Here's the save (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/59276366/SUCCESSION%20GAME%20SIX.ck2).

[IthilanorStPete]

Most of your pictures are broken, Flickerdart.

EDIT:


(1d100)[3]


Guess I won't be going any time soon.

[Flickerdart]

Most of your pictures are broken, Flickerdart.
Hm...weird. All of them work on Firefox (presumably because they are cached) but in Chrome all but one between the Ladron screenshot and the Badajoz screenshot are missing. Are those the same ones that are missing for you, or are there others?

[AgentPaper]

Hm...weird. All of them work on Firefox (presumably because they are cached) but in Chrome all but one between the Ladron screenshot and the Badajoz screenshot are missing. Are those the same ones that are missing for you, or are there others?

I'm using chrome as well, and they all look fine to me.

[IthilanorStPete]

Working now for me.

EDIT: Interesting turn of events. I find it pretty amusing that one of our kinsmen managed to inherit Germany, and it looks like he's doing pretty well for himself; he's not just a one-county king. Out of curiosity, when did we pick up the k_castile title?

[Cristo Meyers]

Nice to turn the tables on the Moors for once.


I haven't just yet.

[1d100] (66)

Who else is left? I think there's one more or so...

[Flickerdart]

Out of curiosity, when did we pick up the k_castile title?
We don't have it. The new king's wife does (Castille and Asturias, I think). Although she's still got nothing on Queen Sarrazine (the one Italy teamed up with Byzantium to pound on) who has, in the span of the last king's reign, gone from Queen of Aragon to Queen of Aragon, Burgundy, and Aquitaine. Oh, and did I mention that she's allied with West Francia and also hates our guts because I kept assassinating her subjects to try and prop myself up onto the Aquitaine throne? Because that happened a lot.

[Avaris]

I'm here now as well, having failed to notice the thread for the first month...


And lo, a new contender enters the ring!

[1d100] 49

[Grif]

Working now for me.

EDIT: Interesting turn of events. I find it pretty amusing that one of our kinsmen managed to inherit Germany, and it looks like he's doing pretty well for himself; he's not just a one-county king. Out of curiosity, when did we pick up the k_castile title?

I think that was one of the many relatives/kinsman which I married off to random German princesses in hopes of exactly just that. (Aragon should be of our kin as well, given time. :smallwink: )

EDIT: Also, year 999. Auspicious date to end. :smalltongue:

[Flickerdart]

I think that was one of the many relatives/kinsman which I married off to random German princesses in hopes of exactly just that. (Aragon should be of our kin as well, given time. :smallwink: )

EDIT: Also, year 999. Auspicious date to end. :smalltongue:
Aragon was already our kin, I think, but of the wrong dynasty. We're very tightly bred with the Karlings at this point, which is why we're involved every time there's an uprising in what's left of Lotharingia.

Also that reminds me that I married two relatives together by accident. And also, there's a lot of bastards in our court (this king was a frisky one).

[Hiro Protagonest]

Oh Nuffles, god of dice, may this roll be pretty nice!


(1d100)[94]

Turns out praying to Nuffles actually works. And he might like half-baked rhymes.

Edit: Exactly what DLCs are we running? Are we using The Republic and Sword of Islam?

And to use the save, do I move it into the Crusader Kings II folder? Where's the sub folder for saves?