Toggle Background Color
Part 11: In the Name of the Emperor
Last time, we became Emperor. Why is this so important? A few things:
1. We must hold all three Emperor titles in India in order to become Samrat Chakravartin: Bengali, Deccan, and Rajastan.
2. We may now hold kings as vassals. This is usually a bad idea, as kings get a special -25 malus to opinion called "Vassal King". But there are a few times when you'd want one.
3. We can expand our territory by pressing the claims of anyone in our de jure empire.
4. Our demesne can hold more territory.
5. We get more prestige.
Let's continue with the story.
After decades of long service, Kannama finally passes away. He will probably continue to beat up peasants in his next life.
I remember taking this shot because Kannama has been with us for a very long time. I actually kinda missed him. Regardless, when one of your councilors dies, you'll get a message like this and an alert at the top of the screen.
Rayan demonstrates his power by pressing the claim of some Thakur onto the throne of the Dakina Kosala raj.
This is one of the priveleges of the Emperor - heck, any ruler. Since the Dakina Kosala raj was in my de jure territory, pressing the claim of a courtier will add it to my domain at once, instead of de jure warring one county at a time.
What happened was that first I used my privileges as Emperor of Bengal to de jure war a thakur who belong to the Dakina Kosala raj. I then had the raja murdered and then pressed the thakur's claim on the raj. So the thakur is both mad at my for warring on him and loves me for pressing his claim. Since our goal is to control every single holding in India, looking for ways to efficiently do that is of utmost importance.
You veterans might be thinking "Why didn't Morgenstern ask the raja to become his vassal?" I did, but since I am Jain and the raja is a Hindu, he thinks I'm a filthy infidel. The religions of India have a weird relationship. People don't hate you for being part of a different Indian religion but they treat you like an infidel for all other intents and purposes. You can revoke their titles for free (should your crown authority be high enough), they can hire holy orders against you, and otherwise do the things you normally do to infidels, except holy wars.
And check out our snazzy new portrait border.
While we're at it, let's look at my beautifully illustrated map of how I will take over India. The map is from a few years ago but we'll work with it.
The pink arrow points to the raj I just pressed the claim on.
My next target is the kingdom pointed to by the grey arrow - the Candravamsa Kingdom. It's in my de jure borders, so any claim I press on it will add it to my lands. Of course, this means I will have a vassal king, but since the Candravamsa kingdom is so small they shouldn't be a problem.
The yellow arrow points to Sri Lanka, which isn't entirely on the picture, but it's Buddhist and Indo-Aryan, so I could subjugate it. Or if I become the Emperor of the Deccan Empire, I can invite a claimant, press his or her claim, and then take the island.
The... burgundy arrow (what is that color?) points to the Tomara kingdom, which one of my vassals has a claim on. Said vassal is Hindu, so I can revoke his title before he gets any funny ideas.
The Budhids are likely to be subjugated by the Solankis, so I won't bother them.
The Soomras are Muslim, so I am most likely going to convert to Hinduism (after securing the succession laws) and holy war them out.
I'll deal with the Pandyans and Cholas the same way I dealt with the Kalyanis - marrying into their families and pressing claims.
Speaking of the Kalyanis, Mom is old and I'll get her kingdom when she dies - and she controls quite a bit of land.
This is a multi-generational process, so we have a few more Samrats to go before we become Samrat Chakravartin, "Emperor of Emperors".
I feel the rest of map is self-explanatory. If you have any questions, please post them in the thread and I will do my best to assist you.
Rayan eyes his next target, Govindachandra, Maharaja of Candravamsa. Govin is skeptical of this new "Samrat" and believes that Rayan has no right to be his liege. However, there are many in Candravamsa who would like to be in charge and would do anything to gain power, even accepting the authority of an Emperor to do so.
Here is our unlucky Maharaja. His heir is underaged, so if I kill the Maharaja, I will be able to press weak claims on the kingdom. I've drawn a red arrow pointing to the plot button. By clicking this, I can start a plot and invite anyone who hates him to join me. This is for the most part free (though I've had to pay for the assassination tool once), and is my preferred way of having people killed, as they don't send retaliatory assassins after you. Usually.
I've found that kings will never give you their allegiance if you ask for it. They have a special "I am a king!" malus to signing up with you. So we're going to have to kill him. Oh well. His loss.
One of Rayan's concubines has a son. Rayan is sure why, but he feels there is something special about this one.
Genius! If Rayan lives long enough we might make this kid the new heir! This is why Jains and Buddhists are awesome.
There's something about plotting a man's death that makes you a little more paranoid. At least it's true for Rayan. He increases the size of his bodyguard, hoping that they will protect him from any reprisals.
This is part of the "Improve Intrigue" ambition.
However, he does not feel the need to increase it any further.
Time for the next ambition. What did people do before self-improvement ambitions?
Another of Rayan's concubines gives birth and it does not look like the child will make it. Rayan prays to every god he can think to spare the child. For the child's mother is one of the brightest women in the empire and Rayan wants that intelligence to pass to her son.
Not one, but two kids with Genius. And they're close in age. I'll keep an eye on little Mukun.
Rayan's mother calls him into another of her wars, this time with the Solankis. Rayan's armies will be doing most of the leg work.
The Crown grows in strength in Bihar.
It is very that you secure your succession laws before switching to Hinduism. If you leave it as is without changing the succession laws, expect your holdings to go into chaos. Seriously, secure your succession laws before switching to Hinduism.
The armies of Solanki are devastated and Mother gets her province.
"Mom, why do you keep calling me into your wars?"
"Rayan, you don't write and you don't visit. How else am I supposed to see you again?"
It is the last conversation he has with her. Rayan is devastated at the news.
Seeking to distract himself, Rayan launches himself into a war against the Candravamsa. He had the previous king murdered and now the king's young son sits on the throne. He will soon be taken off.
Shantaladevi has the second largest kingdom in India, after us. With her kingdom under our control, our power dramatically increases.
I think this is as good a place as any to mention that mothers and their children get a special "Mother" relationship bonus worth 50 points. 
I can't believe that once the Candravamsas thought they could take us on in a fight.
He fights on the front lines, hoping to lose himself in battle. But in doing so, he learns the ins and outs of fighting in the flat lands of India.
Battlefield traits are always nice. We get Flat Terrain Master.
Rayan regularly exchanges letters with his wife. In of his wife's letters, she mentions that one of his concubine's children wonders where babies come from. Rayan writes back that he'll answer that when Mahen is older.
Mahen works diligently in anticipation of that day.
Meanwhile, Rayan finishes his war and puts some relative of his on the throne. The Candravamsa Kingdom (now the Pala kingdom) is her problem, not Rayan's.
While Mahen is unlikely to be the heir, he might turn out to be a good councilor.
Rayan looks over his troops and marvels at the massive throng of men before him. From the bank of the Ganges to the port of Goa, men of all shapes and sizes march in formation. Few armies in the world can match the Bengal army in size.
Bear in mind we're not even done yet. We're going to beat the HRE in sheer numbers.
Rayan seizes the last of the Cedi kingdom, finishing the work of his grandfather. He and his personal guard arrive at the Cedi palace to take the crown personally. Karkanvati (who for some reason was called the "Great", despite spending her reign losing territory to the Palas) comes out of the palace and hands the crown personally to Rayan. As she does she says "Because of this crown, my father was taken from me, my friends killed, and my people slaughtered. May this crown bring you as much fortune as it has me." Several of Rayan's bodyguards draw their swords in rage, but Rayan signals them to stand down. He does not feel Karkanvati is worth the effort. But somewhere deep in his heart, he feels pity for her.
Karkanvati is the same little girl who lost her daddy in update 3. She's spent her entire reign having her realm picked apart by three generations of Palas.
Years later, Rayan hears word of a young Rajput who seeks to claim land that he insists is rightfully his.
I could probably crush his army with ease, but I don't really feel like doing that.
To face the Samrat is to face death.
Rayan launches a campaign to pick apart the Cholas. While he is at camp, a messenger bursts into his tent.
"My lord, the Catholic Church has formed the Knights of Calatrava, dedicated to fighting the heathens!"
Rayan sighs and motions for the messenger to leave his tent.
Following the Palan tradition laid down by his father and grandfather, Rayan drags another of his children to war. This child is Laks, who is proving to be an exceptionally brilliant child. Not only that, but Laks is keen on following the Dharma of the king.
This is one of the Genius kids.
The war is a formality at this point and one by one the holdings of his enemies fall.
Laks continues to prove himself to be a good Pala.
Just!
Meanwhile, Rayan launches a claim war on Tomara, after sending the previous monarch of Tomara to his untimely demise.
Look at those numbers. That's doesn't even factor in my retinues. Also, when launching a claim war, double check and make sure it's the guy you want to control the area you're conquering. Few things are more annoying than launching a huge war only to have some courtier take control and not under yours.
Since my claimant was really old, I was running against the clock to make sure he survived the war. Having your claimant die is also frustrating.
Looking at his private army, Rayan turns to one of his commanders.
"You know what, I think these guys need a special name. I was thinking... the Spice Marines."
Next Time: The Art of Raising Geniuses