Blood of the Gods: A Fantasy CKII Quest

[Cavalier]

Blood of the Gods: A Fantasy CKII Quest

You were born from the seed of the Great God made flesh, the Pharaoh of Kemet. You are, alas, the sole issue of a failing Dynasty and have the misfortune of being born female. You will never be the incarnation of the Great God and as the last of your august dynasty the divine blood will leave Kemet entirely on your death. Or perhaps not; the Gods have meddled in the affairs of Kemet before and may yet do so again.

But you were still fortunate to have been born in the palace of the Great God, amid luxury and the finest care of the finest caste of physicians around and with the wards and auspicious sigils of the Royal Magician. You have survived to the ripe age of four years old (counting the year spent inside your mother's womb) and will thus likely survive into adulthood; you are now brought before the assembled court for the ceremony of your Naming Day.

[ ] Your Name. (write-in)

The alabaster walls of the Great Hall of Reception are covered with murals depicting the history of the cosmos, etched into the rock and lined with expensive and rare paints. Fronds sway from the rafters of the reception hall, symbolizing the shade of fortune. The sun overhead is soon to reach its zenith, as you are herded forward by your eunuch attendants. In the center of the hall is a fountain, and at the fountain the Head Priest stands by to provide the blessings and benediction. The Dowager Queen is beside him, keeping her kohl-lined eyes carefully upon you. They are surrounded by important court officials, while above in the rafters the most important officials and landowners watch at the distance. The Royal Magician is not to be seen, but she is present in the patterns of henna painted on your hands and feet.

The High Priest begins reciting of the glories of your Father. What were they?

[ ] Your father was a great hunter and warrior, who slew lions and hippos to safeguard the people. He brought back the arms of a thousand invading barbarians, and forced the peoples of the south to provide tribute of ivory and gold.

[ ] Your father lived but a short time on the throne, through no fault of his own. He was the only surviving grandson of the Great Ancestor, who reigned long and brought the favor of the gods upon Kemet with his many temples.

[ ] Your father was diligent in the preparations for the annual flood, and kept the granaries full against urgent need. When a locust swarm descended upon Kemet for five years the people did not starve because of the great wealth of grain available.

[ ] Your father discovered a conspiracy against him led by his father's favorite concubine, which would have cursed him with black magic. He convinced his own father to lend him the power to root out the evil the resided in the harem and the bureaucracy.

[ ] Your father founded a great repository of learning and papyri where foreign and native scholars alike could gather together and consult all the knowledge of the world. One benefit is that the annual floods can be predicted with greater precision, sparing many lives of the fellahin.

[ ] Your father established his authority over the bickering city-states of the Kanaan and treated with the King of distant Babel-Ur as a brother. His letters were heeded by monarchs near and far as a source of wisdom and profit.

But your father is gone. It is your Mother who will give you your name today. And who is she?

[ ] The Dowager Queen. Sister-Wife to your Father the Pharaoh, blood of his blood, the lineage of the Great God has reached a full fruition in your veins.

[ ] The favored concubine. While having no divine blood, your mother is the daughter of a great landowner and niece of the commander of the Royal Army.

[ ] The foreign princess. To seal a peace treaty the Great God consented to take a concubine of the daughter of the Mittari Kingdom and that union has borne fruit.

[ ] The youngest concubine. You are the fruit of the first and last union of your father with his final concubine, who is a daughter of the High Priest himself.

[ ] The Royal Magician. It was a desperate attempt to preserve a lineage from a dying man, facilitated by the strange magic of the pale sorceress from a far-distant land.

OOC: Well, I'll give this a shot. These two choices play something of a role but character generation will be extended out a bit with further "events" as self-contained incidents that will build up stats and establish a few traits. There will be a more extended Regency period and together with the childhood portion will form an extended prologue. Mechanics of governance will be based on the ubiquitous CKII format as will the actual stats.

Voters are encouraged to consolidate around Plans as that will lead to more cohesive choices. The plan (or set of choices) with the most votes win, even if that is a plurality.

 

[Cavalier]

Meritamun, Princess of Kemet
True Name: Eurydice
Father: Ameneheb II
Mother: The Royal Magician, Who Is Also Called Satysis

Martial: 10 (17)
Diplomatic: 11 (20)
Stewardship: 11 (14)
Intrigue: 11 (18)
Piety: 11 (14)
Learning: 11 (14)

Traits:
Divine Blood (+3 Diplomacy)
Quick (+3 to all Stats)
Composed (+2 Diplomacy, +2 Intrigue)
Deceitful (+2 Intrigue, -1 Diplomacy)
Wrathful (+3 Martial, increased chance to botch certain events)
Proud (+2 Diplomacy)

Status:
Fit (+1 Martial, +1 Personal Combat)
Favor of Hathor (???)
Half-Foreign (-10 Base Authority)
Born of a Witch (-10 Base Authority)
Novice Charioteer (+1 Piety)

 

[Cavalier]

State of the Realm, YR Meritamun 2
Population: 2,020,000
Population Growth Rate: 0.2% per year
Political Stability: Stable

Income for Year 2 of the Reign of Queen Meritamun
Agricultural Tax Income: 27,000 s. deben
State Granaries: 9,700 s. deben
Wastage in Storage: -2900 s. deben
Military Upkeep: -2700 s. deben
Civil Upkeep: -2000 s. deben
Available Grain: 29,100 s. deben

Mining Income (gold): 14 gold talents
Treasury Reserves: 6 gold talents
State Imports (copper, tin, silver): -4 talents
Trade Fees: 2 gold talents
Tribute: 0 gold talents
Net Treasury: 18 talents

Royal Council
Regent: Queen Dowager Neferet
Commander of the Royal Army: Khui
High Priest of Atum: Atumnemhat
Royal Treasurer: Ipy
Chief Royal Eunuch: Ptahshepses
Inspector of Works: Herenamenpenaef
Inspector of Granaries: Sennefer
Chief Royal Scribe: Wenamun

Other Positions
Royal Magician: Who is also called Satysis
Supervisor of the Garden of Ptah: Banefre
Tutor to the Queen: Ma'atneferure
Tutor to the Queen: Meryawy
Tutor to the Queen: Zizel-Kur
Tutor to the Queen: Ramessu

Provincial Leaders
Supervisor of Delta Province: Iumeri
Supervisor of Upper Kemet: Wajmose
Supervisor of Lower Kemet: Nebmakhet
Prefect of Temes: Sebek-khu
Warden of Mefkat (nominal): Empty
Viceroy of the Kanaan (nominal): Empty

Advantages
The Garden of Ptah
-Flood Prediction (+10 to yearly Flood Rolls)
Civil Service Purge [Granaries]
-Decreased corruption (9 years)
Bountiful Harvest [last year]
-Increased political/social stability
-Increased population growth rate

Disadvantages
Civil Service Purge [Granaries]
-Decreased administration effectiveness until restaffed

 

[Cavalier]

Dramatis Personae

Meritamun, true name Eurydice
Daughter of Satysis and Queen of Kemet
Age: 14 years old

You; the quest perspective character.

Neferet, Queen Dowager
Sister-Wife of Ameneheb II, God's Wife, Regent for Queen Meritamun
Age: 34 years

The Queen Dowager is a noble and cultured woman, steeped in the protocol of the court. You think of her as a sad and kind woman who seems to be concerned with the welfare of the people, but held back from being an effective ruler by her ill-health. You aren't sure what your aunt thinks of you, though; she seems proud of you at times and indulgent at others, but she wants clearly wants you to learn to be a proper Queen in her image. Mother says that Neferet hates her for bearing an heir to Pharaoh Ameneheb, and as that heir her feelings for you are conflicted.

Satysis, the Royal Magician
Mother of Eurydice, Kirke the Priestess of Gaea
Age: I don't even…

Your mother loves you and cares for you deeply. As a foreigner and a witch her lot is to be viewed with deep suspicion by the people of Kemet. But she has great powers and has taught you how to control your words and actions unless provoked beyond all reason. She wants you to be a great queen and has some higher hopes for you, but you aren't quite sure what those are. In private she has a caustic tongue about many of the people in the court, though she has told you to always see for yourself rather than to rely on the judgements of others.

Khui, Commander of the Royal Army
Age: Early twenties?

Khui was a captain in the Horus Guard before being appointed to handle the expedition to Upper Kemet's borders. Like most members of the Guard he comes from a noble family, though his Delta-based clan has been obscure in recent generations. Ma'atneferure and your mother told you he was known as an ambitious and competent soldier. The results from his expedition seem to bear out the competent part. He often looks restless or impatient. He is also young and handsome, and remains unmarried for the moment. Gossip says he's in love with a eunuch, though Khui may just be too constantly busy rebuilding the army to take a wife yet.

Atumnemhat, High Priest of Atum
Age: Early forties?

Atumnemhat is the High Priest of Atum, responsible for the highest rites of the Great Creator God and managing the extensive temple complexes one behalf of the state. You haven't deal with him much. Meryawy seems reluctant to discuss him despite encouraging you to trust in the priesthood and be generous to the gods.

Wenamun, the Chief Royal Scribe
Age: Late twenties? Early thirties?

Wenamun is a palace functionary in charge of all the scribes used to conduct correspondence with foreign rulers and provincial leaders. You haven't dealt much with him.

Sennefer, the Inspector of Granaries
Age: Early twenties?

Sennefer came to your attention in the aftermath of the disastrous flood in Year 13 of the Interregnum. You commissioned him to investigate anomalies in the distribution of relief supplies and he uncovered extensive corruption among the state granaries dating back to your father's reign. He was raised to the position of Inspector after his predecessor was dismissed in disgrace. He seems to be a very capable young steward, and shows you the proper respect. You don't know much else about him, though his family is nobility in Heneneshut.

Ptahshepses, the Chief Royal Eunuch
Age: Twenties? Probably older than he looks.
Disliked

The Chief Eunuch is responsible for the running of the Palace and its associated servants. He's condescending toward you and irritating and you've been ignoring him for some time. Everyone says the eunuchs are corrupt and treacherous and you aren't sure they are wrong. Ptahshepses himself takes an inordinate amount of care in his appearance and manners in a way that makes you feel awkward in comparison and you don't like that either. He hails from the Delta Province and was castrated by his family as a youth to clear the way for a palatial career.

Ipy, the Royal Treasurer
Age: Forties? He's been around a while.

The Royal Treasurer is a barrel-chested, incredibly strong man who speaks with a peasant's accent from the lower reaches of Upper Kemet. He is the father of your friend Bakenptah, with his Kerman wife. He entered government service after being noticed for his strength by a royal commander on campaign against the tribes in Mefkat. After serving as a bodyguard he became literate and transferred to the logistics branch of the Army, and from there joined the civil service on recommendation of his patron. He enjoys a reputation as a righteous steward and honest man, though his attitude toward government and the gods is distressingly pessimistic.

Herenamenpenaef, the Inspector of Works
Age: Thirties?

Herenamenpenaef is in charge of construction projects and public works initiated by the palace. That includes the all-important canal and irrigation system as well as the mortuary temples, storehouses, and administrative complexes. He is the father of your friend Paneferer and a stark contrast to his son. Where Paneferer is aggressive and assertive, Herenamenpenaef seems to be placid. Both father and son are amusing and witty conversationalists, though. Aside from meeting him in Council and as Paneferer's father you don't know him that well.

Banefre, the Supervisor of the Garden of Ptah
Age: ???

You haven't met Banefre and don't know much about him. He administers the temple complex and the scholarly stipends associated with the Garden of Ptah.

Meryawy, Priest of Ra
Royal Tutor
Age: Early thirties

Meryawy was your favorite tutor as a child and the father of your friend Tayuheret. He was diligent in overseeing your studies, but granted you all the respect you commanded and never talked down to you. He seems like an ideal priest though lately you've found his bookishness to be a bit of a bore. You still like and trust him more than almost anyone else except your mother. He's encouraged you to keep the faith of the gods and invest more in the proper administration of their rites.

Ma'atneferure, Handmaiden to the Dowager Queen
Royal Tutor
Age: Twenties?

Ma'atneferure is the personal handmaiden of Queen Neferet and acted as your governess in your childhood. She was relentless in teaching you how to present yourself to the court and public, but softened as you took her lessons to heart. Her lessons on dance have helped to keep you in shape despite your lack of military training and she taught you feminine arts of makeup and gossip. She served as your handmaiden on ceremonial occasions and acted as a confident and comforted you as you entered puberty. She is still very close to the Dowager Queen and your mother has warned you about her influence, though you find it hard to believe she wishes you harm.

Zizel-Kur, Scholar
Royal Tutor
Age: Late thirties? It can be hard to tell with foreigners.

Zizel-Kur was brought from the Garden of Ptah to take over your education in higher mathematics. He hails from a city in Babel-Ur and is rather laid back. You aren't close to him like you are with Meryawy and Ma'atneferure and so know little about him. He sometimes seems in over his head teaching you, though that could just be the limits of his proficiency with the language of Kemet.

Bakenptah, son of Ipy
Friend
Age: 16 years

Bakenptah is a companion of your childhood and remains a friend though you see him less and less often as your duties as Queen pick up. He clearly inherited the strength of his father but has a gentle and thoughtful disposition. He's easy for you to prank, but he was a real pain to beat when playing the foreign game. You like and trust him and that may make him useful later on.

Paneferer, son of Herenamenpenaef
Friend
Age: 14 years

Paneferer was another companion of your childhood and a present friend. He is much more aggressive and hard-charging than his father, though both men are pretty charming. Paneferer was the member of the party most like you, and inclined to go out and make things happen. He dominated the games of soldier and bandit despite the sheer strength of the older Bakenptah.

Tayuheret, daughter of Meryawy
Friend
Age: 15 years

Tayuheret was the final companion of your childhood, and your closest friend. As the only other girl your age you both faced the same trials around the same age and had to deal with a male-dominated environment. Whereas you are assertive and confident she is somewhat shy and introverted, but like her father she is pious and studious. Having her as a foil and confidant has helped you deal with the stresses of your position.

 

[Cavalier]

Military Forces
Total Personnel: 17,000
Manpower Limit: 50,000
Upkeep Cost: 2,700 silver deben

Division of Ra
Deployed: Delta Province
Experience: Regular
Morale: Average
2 Brigades of Light Infantry
1 Brigade of Archers
1 Brigade of Medium Infantry
50 Heavy Chariots

Division of Ptah
Deployed: Delta Province
Experience: Green
Morale: Low
2 Brigades of Light Infantry
1 Brigade of Archers
1 Brigade of Medium Infantry
50 Heavy Chariots

Division of Sekhmet
Deployed: Lower Kemet
Experience: Green
Morale: Low
2 Brigades of Light Infantry
1 Brigade of Archers
1 Brigade of Medium Infantry
50 Heavy Chariots

Division of Set
Deployed: Upper Kemet
Experience: Blooded
Morale: Good
2 Brigades of Light Infantry
1 Brigade of Archers
1 Brigade of Medium Infantry
50 Heavy Chariots

Guard of Horus
Deployed: Temes
Experience: Green
Morale: Good
1 Brigade of Noble Infantry

National Levies
Up to 100 Brigades of Peasant Infantry
16 Brigades of Bowmen
4 Brigades of Noble Infantry
Note: Can only be raised within Kemet during Inundation Season.

 

[veekie]

[X] Your father was diligent in the preparations for the annual flood, and kept the granaries full against urgent need. When a locust swarm descended upon Kemet for five years the people did not starve because of the great wealth of grain available.
[X] The Dowager Queen. Sister-Wife to your Father the Pharaoh, blood of his blood, the lineage of the Great God has reached a full fruition in your veins.

Not sure about name though. What's the naming convention here?

 

[Crilltic]

This is going to be fun.

[X] Your father founded a great repository of learning and papyri where foreign and native scholars alike could gather together and consult all the knowledge of the world. One benefit is that the annual floods can be predicted with greater precision, sparing many lives of the fellahin.

I should point out that, since this is "Totally-not-Egypt" predicting the floods with greater precision doesn't just mean that we can save a lot of lives and infrastructure, but it also comes with ancillary benefits. The Egyptians after all used to the floods to help set their calendars and other things to that effect.

[X] The Royal Magician. It was a desperate attempt to preserve a lineage from a dying man, facilitated by the strange magic of the pale sorceress from a far-distant land.

Come on, this is the obvious choice. I mean, really magic. Totally want the shiny magic.

Not sure on names. Will need to do research on naming conventions.

 

[OneirosTheWriter]

[X] Your father established his authority over the bickering city-states of the Kanaan and treated with the King of distant Babel-Ur as a brother. His letters were heeded by monarchs near and far as a source of wisdom and profit.

[X] The Dowager Queen. Sister-Wife to your Father the Pharaoh, blood of his blood, the lineage of the Great God has reached a full fruition in your veins.

'tis the season for MAXIMUM GAWDAGE.

 

[Cavalier]

If nothing else Google will turn up some fairly extensive lists of actual Ancient Egyptian names, which will probably let you find something "good enough."

 

[Shard]

[X] Your father founded a great repository of learning and papyri where foreign and native scholars alike could gather together and consult all the knowledge of the world. One benefit is that the annual floods can be predicted with greater precision, sparing many lives of the fellahin.


[X] The Royal Magician. It was a desperate attempt to preserve a lineage from a dying man, facilitated by the strange magic of the pale sorceress from a far-distant land.

 

[Knightking]

[X] Your father was a great hunter and warrior, who slew lions and hippos to safeguard the people. He brought back the arms of a thousand invading barbarians, and forced the peoples of the south to provide tribute of ivory and gold.
[X] The Dowager Queen. Sister-Wife to your Father the Pharaoh, blood of his blood, the lineage of the Great God has reached a full fruition in your veins.

 

[hcvquizibo]

[X] Your father founded a great repository of learning and papyri where foreign and native scholars alike could gather together and consult all the knowledge of the world. One benefit is that the annual floods can be predicted with greater precision, sparing many lives of the fellahin.


[X] The Royal Magician. It was a desperate attempt to preserve a lineage from a dying man, facilitated by the strange magic of the pale sorceress from a far-distant land.

 

[PayKey]

[X] Your father was diligent in the preparations for the annual flood, and kept the granaries full against urgent need. When a locust swarm descended upon Kemet for five years the people did not starve because of the great wealth of grain available.

[X] The Dowager Queen. Sister-Wife to your Father the Pharaoh, blood of his blood, the lineage of the Great God has reached a full fruition in your veins.

 

[StarkDemise]

[X] Your father founded a great repository of learning and papyri where foreign and native scholars alike could gather together and consult all the knowledge of the world. One benefit is that the annual floods can be predicted with greater precision, sparing many lives of the fellahin.

[X] The Royal Magician. It was a desperate attempt to preserve a lineage from a dying man, facilitated by the strange magic of the pale sorceress from a far-distant land.

 

[useofstrike32]

[X] Your father established his authority over the bickering city-states of the Kanaan and treated with the King of distant Babel-Ur as a brother. His letters were heeded by monarchs near and far as a source of wisdom and profit.

[X] The Dowager Queen. Sister-Wife to your Father the Pharaoh, blood of his blood, the lineage of the Great God has reached a full fruition in your veins.

 

[Kaferian]

[X] Nimaathapi

[X] Your father was a great hunter and warrior, who slew lions and hippos to safeguard the people. He brought back the arms of a thousand invading barbarians, and forced the peoples of the south to provide tribute of ivory and gold.

[X] The Dowager Queen. Sister-Wife to your Father the Pharaoh, blood of his blood, the lineage of the Great God has reached a full fruition in your veins.

 

[Cavalier]

Well voting will close at 5:00pm EST, which is to say after I get off work tomorrow. It would probably be a good idea for you all to discuss the implications of each choice and try to work out how they are going to affect the setup of the character's Regency.

 

[permeakra]

[x] Eurydice

[X] Your father founded a great repository of learning and papyri where foreign and native scholars alike could gather together and consult all the knowledge of the world. One benefit is that the annual floods can be predicted with greater precision, sparing many lives of the fellahin.

[X] The Royal Magician. It was a desperate attempt to preserve a lineage from a dying man, facilitated by the strange magic of the pale sorceress from a far-distant land.

 

[giodan]

[x] Eurydice

[X] Your father founded a great repository of learning and papyri where foreign and native scholars alike could gather together and consult all the knowledge of the world. One benefit is that the annual floods can be predicted with greater precision, sparing many lives of the fellahin.

[X] The Royal Magician. It was a desperate attempt to preserve a lineage from a dying man, facilitated by the strange magic of the pale sorceress from a far-distant land

 

[Skjadir]

[X] Your father founded a great repository of learning and papyri where foreign and native scholars alike could gather together and consult all the knowledge of the world. One benefit is that the annual floods can be predicted with greater precision, sparing many lives of the fellahin.

[X] The Royal Magician. It was a desperate attempt to preserve a lineage from a dying man, facilitated by the strange magic of the pale sorceress from a far-distant land.

 

[Ghostdevil]

HMMM MAGIC.... OR WINCEST?
No contest

[X] Your father founded a great repository of learning and papyri where foreign and native scholars alike could gather together and consult all the knowledge of the world. One benefit is that the annual floods can be predicted with greater precision, sparing many lives of the fellahin.

[X] The Royal Magician. It was a desperate attempt to preserve a lineage from a dying man, facilitated by the strange magic of the pale sorceress from a far-distant land.

 

[Arcus]

[X] Meritamun

Or Meri for short. (okay I don't know if that would be the actual diminutive used but fuck that)

[X] Your father founded a great repository of learning and papyri where foreign and native scholars alike could gather together and consult all the knowledge of the world. One benefit is that the annual floods can be predicted with greater precision, sparing many lives of the fellahin.

[X] The Royal Magician. It was a desperate attempt to preserve a lineage from a dying man, facilitated by the strange magic of the pale sorceress from a far-distant land.

A princess born of desperation and magic... there are those who will surely be wary of a child conceived via such unnatural means... and a child born to a pale-skinned foreigner, no less. There's going to be a lot of people who won't be happy with us on the throne.

But on the upside, we get magic.

 

[Zaratustra]

[X] Your father was a great hunter and warrior, who slew lions and hippos to safeguard the people. He brought back the arms of a thousand invading barbarians, and forced the peoples of the south to provide tribute of ivory and gold.

[X] The Dowager Queen. Sister-Wife to your Father the Pharaoh, blood of his blood, the lineage of the Great God has reached a full fruition in your veins.

 

[Kipeci]

[x] Sekhmakh

If support grows for the greek option, I may defect to some other more coptic-inclined name. Anyway.

[X] Your father established his authority over the bickering city-states of the Kanaan and treated with the King of distant Babel-Ur as a brother. His letters were heeded by monarchs near and far as a source of wisdom and profit.

[X] The foreign princess. To seal a peace treaty the Great God consented to take a concubine of the daughter of the Mittari Kingdom and that union has borne fruit.

I'm making the assumption that the Mittari are basically like the Mittani and that Babel-Ur is essentially some power akin to Babylonia. If that's the case, establishing authority over Kanaan means that we'd really and truly want to be friends with the Mittani unless we want to go for the violent conflict route, which I'd prefer to avoid if possible. Look at this sample map:



We could be in basically this sort of situation, controlling Kanaan and being friends with Mittari through the former marriage ties and father's good reputation. That friendliness with Ur-Babel will also help serve to make the Mitarri think twice about invasion.

So yes, I think this choice of mine helps to expand and seal off the borders, promotes international communications so that our realm doesn't easily lapse into isolation, and allows for foreign assistance should matters go south domestically.

 

[McLuvin]

[x] Eurydice

[X] Your father founded a great repository of learning and papyri where foreign and native scholars alike could gather together and consult all the knowledge of the world. One benefit is that the annual floods can be predicted with greater precision, sparing many lives of the fellahin.

[X] The Royal Magician. It was a desperate attempt to preserve a lineage from a dying man, facilitated by the strange magic of the pale sorceress from a far-distant land