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Part 12: A Good Regent
Rayan has a problem. Laks isn't paying attention to his lessons on following the path of the king and how it pleases the gods. If there's one thing that you should pass on to your children, it's that you shouldn't piss off the beings responsible for every force in the universe. Rayan is forced to take drastic measures.
Cynical is a very bad trait for Indians, especially early game when you can't get a lot of piety. True, it gives you a point of Intrigue and Zealous isn't always good either (it prevents you from changing religions), but -.20 piety is not cool.
Oddly enough, even though the second choice implies that Rayan will beat the unbelief out of Laks, the game doesn't count this as violating the principle of non-violence, so we don't lose any piety from it.
Rayan's mind wanders toward Goa, one of the great cities of India. He has sent his finest generals to prepare the forces there and his finest religious advisers to prepare the temples.
I had a plan. In order to speed up the conquest of the Deccan Empire, I was going to move my capital to Goa, culture convert, (which you can do if the capital's culture is different from your own), and then declare some subjugation wars. To prepare for that day, I had my marshal and religious adviser research their tech in Goa so it wouldn't be so backwards compared to Laksmanavati. I later realized that Goa is Marathi and Marathi is not Dravidian, but Indo-Aryan. I need Dravidian culture to take over most of the kingdoms in south India. Oh well.
Because I felt like it, I've made of a list of all the 7 holding and 6 holding provinces in India, along with the Empire, Kingdom, and Duchy they are located in. Enjoy.
7 holdings
Delhi: Rajastan - Punjab - Delhi
Cholamandalam: Deccan - Tamilikam - Chola Nadu
6 holdings
Udabhanda: Rajastan - Punjab - Gandhara
Lahur: " - " - Lahore
Trigarta: " - " - "
Debul: " - Sindh - Sauvira (I like to make this a merchant republic)
Serasvata-Mandala: " - Gujurat - Gujara Mandala
Mathura: " - Delhi - Mathura
Kanyakubja: " - Kosala - Kanyakubja
Prayaga: " - " - "
Navasarika: " - Gujurat - Lata
Jaunpur: Bengali - Bihar - Kasi
Magadha: " - " - Magadha
Laksmanavati: " - Bengal - Gauda
Nabadwipa: " - " - Nadia
Kataka: " - " - Tosali
Thana: Deccan - Maharastra - Goa
Goa: " - " - "
Idatarainadu: " - Karnata - Raichur Doab
Alampur: " - " - Nolanda
Mahoyadapuram: " - Tamilikam - Chera Nadu
Madurai: " - " - Panyan Nadu
Rayan receives a letter from his religious adviser. His adviser is asking that he be given money to hire a mathematician in Goa. Rayan fancies himself a supporter of the sciences and sends him the money.
This is an event that happens if you send your religious adviser to research cultural tech. More tech points is good. The Indians contributed a lot to mathematics and if you're interested you should definitely look them up. I believe they were the first people to use "zero" as a mathematical concept and influenced the Arabic numeral system.
Gang Dev follows his brother's example in being charitable.
Remember, I'm raising both the genius kids to increase my chances of getting a good heir. Sadly, little Mukun, the other genius, died of sickness. 
A sense of loneliness pervades Rayan's tent. He misses his castle, the rest of his family, but most of all, he misses his wife. His beautiful Sidhawa. It seems his father knew what he was doing when he put the two of them together.
I love this event so much because it's just so cute. 
I always take it.
The Tomara Kingdom's army has shattered and all that remains is to finish up the assaults.
If you look closely, you'll notice there's a little box in the top right that says smallpox has broken out in some province. It may be just me but it seems like diseases don't break out as much in India as they do in Europe.
Laks is a sweet young boy, which may turn out badly for the boy, but Rayan wishes his son to have the same kindness that Rayan had so long ago.
Gang Dev is proving himself to be a patient young man, which is good for Gang Dev but a little embarrassing for Rayan. Regardless, Rayan feels it is good for a emperor-to-be to have patience.
Patience gives +1 to all stats except Martial. It also acts as a command trait and adds 20% defence.
In response to the Crusades of the Christians, Caliph Rafiq II of the Fatimids calls the Islamic world to war with the infidels.
In response to the news, Rayan yawns. It's not like one of his descendents will descend upon their holy cities. Come to think of it, they might. But Rayan pushes such thoughts aside and gets back to work.
If Jerusalem falls to a non-Muslim power, Jihads are activated. There are several other triggers. From the CKII wiki:
1. The Caliphate exists and it is the year 1187.
2. Mecca is held by a non-Muslim
3. Damascus, Cairo, or Baghdad is held by a non-Muslim.
4. Marrakesh, Tunis, or Al Dzajir is held by a non-Muslim.
In response to the call, a new order of Islamic holy warriors arises to battle all heathens and heretics. This news does trouble Rayan, who fears they may come to the aid of the Soomras.
The Bektashis are created whenever the Muslims lose one of their holy sites, I believe.
Eventually, the Tomaras fall under the fury of the Palas. Another kingdom of India is under Pala control.
But there shall only be so many kings in Pala. Rayan revokes the kingdom of Delhi from Dhaulshaya. Dhaulshaya knows he cannot fight the Palas, so he relinquishes his title.
Vassal kings are a serious pain to deal with, believe me. Fortunately, Dhaulshaya has the courtesy to die right after this.
Since we are Jain and Dhaul is a Hindu, we can revoke his title without pissing off our other vassals.
Sahib is permitted to go home to her family. She goes home a wealthier and more prestigious woman.
We can release our concubines whenever we want.
Laks is taking notes from his little brother and shares his patience. Every day it is looking more and more likely that it will be Laks that takes the throne, not Vigra.
Rayan feels his death is near. He sends out his men to find a guru to lead the kingdom if Laks comes onto the throne before he comes of age.
The guru Bhimsingha answers the call. One of the most learned men in the world, Bhimsingha is a master of diplomacy, spycraft, and stewardship. Only his military skill leaves something to be desired.
A guru! Haven't seen one of these guys in a while. As always, gurus have great stats and if you've just converted, act as a good religious adviser.
Rayan starts to wonder if Gang Dev and Laks are in fact the same person.
The Christian world trembles as the Muslims of the world march to retake Anatolia. The Byzantines are known for their military might even in India, but will it be enough?
Rayan continues his ancestors' work on the succession laws.
SET. YOUR. SUCCESSION. LAWS. IN. ORDER. BEFORE. YOU. CONVERT. TO. HINDUISM.
Rayan's strong body fails him as a unknown disease takes its toll on him.
Infirm is a condition that can happen after your ruler turns 50. While Rayan's Strong trait will help him stay alive, he is a dead man walking at this point.
His condition worsens, and Rayan falls in a permanent coma. His regent takes the opportunity to use the realm's treasury to help the poor.
Infirm can grow into Incapable, at which point a regent must take over. This isn't the end of the world, but regents can do nasty things like kill your heirs, lower the crown laws, and steal your money.
At least ours didn't take the money himself. Piety is piety, at least.
Two important things take place. The first is that a new regent takes over. The other is that a will has been found that states that Laks will be the heir, not Vigra. The will is unfinished, and it seems that it was the last thing Rayan worked on.
I switched to Laks before Rayan snuffed it. He's close to majority anyways.
After a long reign, Rayan's spirit leaves his boy. His son, Laks, is made Samrat. Bhimsingha is made regent for the young emperor.
Bhimsingha considers himself a man of peace, but he sees the wisdom of bringing Nasikya under the protection of the Palas. The Thakur disagrees, but he is one man against an army of thousands.
The lords of Pala see the Regency as a chance to gain more power, but Bhimsingha is loyal to his master, even when his master has moved on.
Having Bhimsingha as a regent is great. I mean, you looked at his stats, right?
With the annexation of Nasikya, Bhimsingha does some housekeeping and has the local thakur under the authority of the new Raj of Nasikya, Airamadeva.
Vassal dukes are great. They can be annoying, but it's easier to keep one duke happy than 4 counts. But 1 king is more trouble than 3 dukes, in my opinion.
Like any good servant, Bhimsingha is ready to step down to let his master take charge.
Next Time: The Mouth of Hell