Alexander the Great in a Patchwork World CK2 Quest Or, Cho-Ko-Nus and Gunpowder, Orcs and Dragons
- Thread starter Bobalo18
- Start date
- Crossover Alt. History Historic
- Location
- USA
[X] Month
Fall Year 1
Unfortunately I've decided to change things up a bit. We won't be visiting the sci-fi settings in this quest. I just don't think we could mix sci-fi and fantasy for very long without the fantasy being subsumed almost entirely into sci-fi. Apologies. That said, here's the first update! Pick 12 actions total. Note that write-in actions are often accepted. Note also that any suggestions for the quest in terms of both style and plot are appreciated. Turns will be a season long. Make sure you vote in plan format. Any actions that have ... at the end require a write-in and can be taken more than once. Finally, omakes and sidestories are rewarded with in-game bonuses, and if they're good enough may even affect the main events of the quest, so please feel free to write and help expand the world!
You have had the pleasure of being truly being lectured by three wise men in your 30 years of life before the visions.
The first was, of course, your teacher Aristotle. You paid much attention to his lessons, especially the ones about what a proper king should be. You ascribe to him your patience in dealing with people who might not recognize your greatness. However, the memories of notable interactions with him are now rather sparse and hazy.
The second was the famous cynic philosopher Diogenes. On a whim, you decided to test the mettle of this famous ascetic by offering him a gift. You approached him, with your retinue close behind, and were only mildly surprised when he deigned to ignore you, continuing to eat his simple meal. Magnanimously choosing to ignore this breach of protocol, you introduced yourself and asked the man if there was anything that he desired that was within your power to give.
"Most certainly," he said, "If you would, move a little to your right or left. You are standing in the way of the sun." With this he went back to eating his meal. You stood there for a few moments pondering what he said. He must've known that even if you were lying about being Alexander, you were clearly a man of much importance. Why didn't he want anything? After a few moments passed he looked up and glared at you. "Didn't you say you would grant me anything in your power to give?"
You dutifully moved out of the way. He gruffly thanked you and once again went back to his meal. A few more moments passed, then you decided to ask him if he knew who you were. "Yes, I know who you are," he replied. "You are Alexander of Macedon, son of Philip of Macedon, and a fool who, surrounded by the means and knowledge to become a great leader loved by the gods and men alike, have chosen to forsake it for dirt and sand." With this he finished his meal and you went back to your retinue telling them of Diogenes' answer to your first question, and judiciously deciding not to tell them his answer to your second.
The third wise man did not deign to give a name. He approached your army camp about 6 months ago, and was almost beaten for his impudence, but you happened to be there and bade your men to give him peace and a translator. Under the pitch black of the night, illuminated only by the torches he asked you a question: "Oh, majestic conqueror from the east, for what purpose do you come to this land with a sword in your hand?" Seeing an opportunity to remind your soldiers as well as yourself the purpose of your conquests, you replied so the surrounding soldiers could hear, "I brandish the sword of conquest to protect my people, what ruler does not?" You said these words but as you were saying them, you began to wonder if there was some other reason for your fighting. You had not thought about your reasons for so long...
At any rate, the wise man continued. "Indeed, it is part of a ruler's dharma to protect his people from destruction and death. A hunter who refused to shoot game would perish along with his family. But a wise hunter does not hunt for sport, but only to provide for his family. I have heard that the empire of the Achaemenids has been absorbed into your own. Are you not now safe from external threats?"
Deciding to play this game, you replied, "Were the Achaemenids?"
"They were. Until you appeared. How will you defend against men such as yourself?"
You took a moment to try and answer this question. No answer came to you. The wise man walked off muttering something under his breath. Later you asked the translator what the words were. The words were, "Truly I will never understand the games kings play..."
You were thinking about those wise men often before last night, the night a god, possibly Apollo, gave visions to you in your sleep. You call them visions and not simply dreams because even now, 12 hours after you awoke you remember all the details perfectly.
In the first vision, you saw Your city of Alexandreia being beseiged by pale skinned bald men with ugly faces. There were many men on your city's walls defending it, some with the fairest faces you'd ever seen, some the size of children but with the faces of adults, and one tall man in particular clad in grey, and holding a staff above his head, chanting in a language you never heard or heard of before.
The next vision featured a beautiful woman riding on top of and seeming to control a giant, winged, monstrosity that breathed fire on your soldiers! But you weren't in Alexandreia any more. No you were in a land with thick with forest and jungle, and you thought you could recognize some of the words being shouted aside from those in Greek...
In the third vision, men with thin eyes conversed and traded goods with men with red hair, and you could not recognize any of the languages spoken. As for the location, it was a cold, dreary looking land with nonetheless fertile grasslands.
The final vision had more men with thin eyes (although they did not speak the same language as those in the previous vision). Fought amongst each other with both thin swords and and strange sticks with some sort of iron attached to them. Men pulled a lever attached to the stick, and it jerked, smoke poured out of it, and men on the opposite side collapsed and died as if hit by an invisible arrow.
When you woke up, you immediately recognized that you have work to do. But what?
Martial
[] Continue Conquests into India
[] Prepare for War With...
[] Recruit Fresh soldiers from...
[] Hire Mercenaries from...
[] Train Troops in...
[] Strengthen Borders at...
Diplomatic
[] Propose an Alliance with...
[] Suggest Vassalization to...
[] Visit the soldiers
[] Visit the locals
[] End your campaign in India
[] Search for talented people
[] Search for the third wise man
Stewardship
[] Declare... as your official heir
[] Fight corruption at...
[] Improve Infrastructure at...
[] Attempt to discover Internal threats to your empire
[] Review finances.
[] Increase Taxes at...
[] Lower Taxes at...
Intrigue
[] Guard yourself against assassination attempts
[] Assassinate...
[] Coerce...
[] Bribe...
[] Hire spies in...
Knowledge
[] Increase one of your skills
[] Learn about...
[] Study the language known as
[],Promote Learning at...
[] Fund Schools at..
Personal
[]Travel to...
[]Make some friends
[]Find a new lover
[]Think about what the wise men said
[] Try to find the third wise men
[] Consult scholars in your employ about your visions.
You have had the pleasure of being truly being lectured by three wise men in your 30 years of life before the visions.
The first was, of course, your teacher Aristotle. You paid much attention to his lessons, especially the ones about what a proper king should be. You ascribe to him your patience in dealing with people who might not recognize your greatness. However, the memories of notable interactions with him are now rather sparse and hazy.
The second was the famous cynic philosopher Diogenes. On a whim, you decided to test the mettle of this famous ascetic by offering him a gift. You approached him, with your retinue close behind, and were only mildly surprised when he deigned to ignore you, continuing to eat his simple meal. Magnanimously choosing to ignore this breach of protocol, you introduced yourself and asked the man if there was anything that he desired that was within your power to give.
"Most certainly," he said, "If you would, move a little to your right or left. You are standing in the way of the sun." With this he went back to eating his meal. You stood there for a few moments pondering what he said. He must've known that even if you were lying about being Alexander, you were clearly a man of much importance. Why didn't he want anything? After a few moments passed he looked up and glared at you. "Didn't you say you would grant me anything in your power to give?"
You dutifully moved out of the way. He gruffly thanked you and once again went back to his meal. A few more moments passed, then you decided to ask him if he knew who you were. "Yes, I know who you are," he replied. "You are Alexander of Macedon, son of Philip of Macedon, and a fool who, surrounded by the means and knowledge to become a great leader loved by the gods and men alike, have chosen to forsake it for dirt and sand." With this he finished his meal and you went back to your retinue telling them of Diogenes' answer to your first question, and judiciously deciding not to tell them his answer to your second.
The third wise man did not deign to give a name. He approached your army camp about 6 months ago, and was almost beaten for his impudence, but you happened to be there and bade your men to give him peace and a translator. Under the pitch black of the night, illuminated only by the torches he asked you a question: "Oh, majestic conqueror from the east, for what purpose do you come to this land with a sword in your hand?" Seeing an opportunity to remind your soldiers as well as yourself the purpose of your conquests, you replied so the surrounding soldiers could hear, "I brandish the sword of conquest to protect my people, what ruler does not?" You said these words but as you were saying them, you began to wonder if there was some other reason for your fighting. You had not thought about your reasons for so long...
At any rate, the wise man continued. "Indeed, it is part of a ruler's dharma to protect his people from destruction and death. A hunter who refused to shoot game would perish along with his family. But a wise hunter does not hunt for sport, but only to provide for his family. I have heard that the empire of the Achaemenids has been absorbed into your own. Are you not now safe from external threats?"
Deciding to play this game, you replied, "Were the Achaemenids?"
"They were. Until you appeared. How will you defend against men such as yourself?"
You took a moment to try and answer this question. No answer came to you. The wise man walked off muttering something under his breath. Later you asked the translator what the words were. The words were, "Truly I will never understand the games kings play..."
You were thinking about those wise men often before last night, the night a god, possibly Apollo, gave visions to you in your sleep. You call them visions and not simply dreams because even now, 12 hours after you awoke you remember all the details perfectly.
In the first vision, you saw Your city of Alexandreia being beseiged by pale skinned bald men with ugly faces. There were many men on your city's walls defending it, some with the fairest faces you'd ever seen, some the size of children but with the faces of adults, and one tall man in particular clad in grey, and holding a staff above his head, chanting in a language you never heard or heard of before.
The next vision featured a beautiful woman riding on top of and seeming to control a giant, winged, monstrosity that breathed fire on your soldiers! But you weren't in Alexandreia any more. No you were in a land with thick with forest and jungle, and you thought you could recognize some of the words being shouted aside from those in Greek...
In the third vision, men with thin eyes conversed and traded goods with men with red hair, and you could not recognize any of the languages spoken. As for the location, it was a cold, dreary looking land with nonetheless fertile grasslands.
The final vision had more men with thin eyes (although they did not speak the same language as those in the previous vision). Fought amongst each other with both thin swords and and strange sticks with some sort of iron attached to them. Men pulled a lever attached to the stick, and it jerked, smoke poured out of it, and men on the opposite side collapsed and died as if hit by an invisible arrow.
When you woke up, you immediately recognized that you have work to do. But what?
Martial
[] Continue Conquests into India
[] Prepare for War With...
[] Recruit Fresh soldiers from...
[] Hire Mercenaries from...
[] Train Troops in...
[] Strengthen Borders at...
Diplomatic
[] Propose an Alliance with...
[] Suggest Vassalization to...
[] Visit the soldiers
[] Visit the locals
[] End your campaign in India
[] Search for talented people
[] Search for the third wise man
Stewardship
[] Declare... as your official heir
[] Fight corruption at...
[] Improve Infrastructure at...
[] Attempt to discover Internal threats to your empire
[] Review finances.
[] Increase Taxes at...
[] Lower Taxes at...
Intrigue
[] Guard yourself against assassination attempts
[] Assassinate...
[] Coerce...
[] Bribe...
[] Hire spies in...
Knowledge
[] Increase one of your skills
[] Learn about...
[] Study the language known as
[],Promote Learning at...
[] Fund Schools at..
Personal
[]Travel to...
[]Make some friends
[]Find a new lover
[]Think about what the wise men said
[] Try to find the third wise men
[] Consult scholars in your employ about your visions.
Character Info
Abyssal_light
Lord of the light, within thy abyss
- Location
- Coaltown
[X] Plan: let's get this started
-[X] Train Troops in guerilla warfare
-[X] Search for talented people
-[X] Review finances.
-[X]Think about what the wise men said
-[X] Try to find the third wise men
-[X] Learn about magic (is it real? If it's real how do we gain it)
-[X] Improve Infrastructure in our capitol
-[X] Guard yourself against assassination attempts
-[X] Attempt to discover Internal threats to your empire
-[X] Increase intrigue X2
-[X] Hire spies in India
@Bobalo18
Is this correct?
Also, can we get a list of country and their relation with us?
-[X] Train Troops in guerilla warfare
-[X] Search for talented people
-[X] Review finances.
-[X]Think about what the wise men said
-[X] Try to find the third wise men
-[X] Learn about magic (is it real? If it's real how do we gain it)
-[X] Improve Infrastructure in our capitol
-[X] Guard yourself against assassination attempts
-[X] Attempt to discover Internal threats to your empire
-[X] Increase intrigue X2
-[X] Hire spies in India
@Bobalo18
Is this correct?
Also, can we get a list of country and their relation with us?
Abyssal_light
Lord of the light, within thy abyss
- Location
- Coaltown
Nice quite excited; first time I've managed to catch this style of quest for the first turn.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] Plan Consolidation and Learning
-[X] Strengthen Borders at...
--[X] along the Indus at our eastern-most border
-[X] Suggest Vassalization to...
-[X] the petty Kingdoms and tribes of India that we have fought and conquered
-[X] Visit the soldiers
-[X] Visit the locals
-[X] End your campaign in India
-[X] Search for talented people
-[X] Guard yourself against assassination attempts
-[X] Increase one of your skills (x2)
--[X] Stewardship
--[X] Intrique
-[X] Study the language known as
--[X] Persian
-[X] Promote Learning at...
--[X] Alexandreia
-[X] Fund Schools at..
--[X] Alexandreia
Alright, so a lot needs to be done. Since Alexander is starting to stop and reflect on the world around him, we should hold off on the eastern campaign and consolidate our gains. Historically the eastern satrapies returned to their independent ways as soon as Alexander left, so there isn't any reason to not offer them vassal status and let them do so with our approval now. Talk with the locals and our soldiers to get a feel for the situation on the ground (and reinforce the fact that everyone wants to stop fighting in India). Gotta increase stewardship and intrigue before we do any of their corresponding actions, and learn some Persian since it's the dominant language of Macedon's new empire. Lastly I'd like to get a jump start on creating Alexandria's status as the learning center of the ancient world.
-[X] Strengthen Borders at...
--[X] along the Indus at our eastern-most border
-[X] Suggest Vassalization to...
-[X] the petty Kingdoms and tribes of India that we have fought and conquered
-[X] Visit the soldiers
-[X] Visit the locals
-[X] End your campaign in India
-[X] Search for talented people
-[X] Guard yourself against assassination attempts
-[X] Increase one of your skills (x2)
--[X] Stewardship
--[X] Intrique
-[X] Study the language known as
--[X] Persian
-[X] Promote Learning at...
--[X] Alexandreia
-[X] Fund Schools at..
--[X] Alexandreia
Alright, so a lot needs to be done. Since Alexander is starting to stop and reflect on the world around him, we should hold off on the eastern campaign and consolidate our gains. Historically the eastern satrapies returned to their independent ways as soon as Alexander left, so there isn't any reason to not offer them vassal status and let them do so with our approval now. Talk with the locals and our soldiers to get a feel for the situation on the ground (and reinforce the fact that everyone wants to stop fighting in India). Gotta increase stewardship and intrigue before we do any of their corresponding actions, and learn some Persian since it's the dominant language of Macedon's new empire. Lastly I'd like to get a jump start on creating Alexandria's status as the learning center of the ancient world.
- Location
- Tarn-Vedra
[X] Plan Consolidation and Learning
Diplomatic Info
These are all the Peoples you know of for now
For more detailed information, you can spend an action to learn more about a particular group of tribes or a nation.
- Carthaginian Republic and Aligned States
- Iberian Tribes
- Massalian Republic (Modern-day Marseilles)
- Northern Italian Tribes and City-states
- Etrurian Cities (Northern Italy)
- Roman Republic
- Southern Italian City-states
- Syracuse (Southern Italy)
- Northern Thracian Tribes (North of Macedon Proper)
- Spartan Kingdom
- Epirus Kingdom(Northwestern Greece)
- Bosphorus Kingdom (Modern Crimea)
- Bythinian Kingdom(Modern Northwestern Turkey)
- Pontic Kingdom
- Cyrenean Republic (Modern Libya)
- Nubian Kingdom
- Nubian Tribes
- Damot Kingdom (Modern Ethiopia)
- Axum Kingdom (Modern Ethiopia)
- Arab Tribes
- Ma'in Kingdom (Western Arabia)
- Sabaean Kingdom (Southern Arabia and Northern Yemen)
- Qataban Kingdom (Modern Yemen)
- Hadhramaut Kingdom (Modern Yemen)
- Muscat Kingdom (Modern Oman)
- Gerrha Kingdom (East Arabia)
- Steppe Tribes (Northern Borders)
- Nandan Empire (North and East India)
- West Indian Tribes
- Great Mountain Tribes (Modern day Tibet)
For more detailed information, you can spend an action to learn more about a particular group of tribes or a nation.
Rolen von Keng
Sleeping Green Bear
- Location
- The Wilderness
[X] Plan: let's get this started