Charles VI "The Great": A Mad King SI with a system

[Porthos]

Chapter 1: A new life

It was raining cats and dogs in Toulouse, a city renowned for its calm, sunny weather. It was late or early, depending on how people were behaving. It was around 4.30 in the morning, night was still reigning supreme and it was difficult to get around as soon as you strayed from the main roads lit up by street lamps. It was against this backdrop that I found myself returning from the party that my school's BDE (Bureau des Etudiants) had organised.

I was neither drunk nor sober, my ears whistling to the music from the club where I'd been before wandering the empty streets of the pink city. I was now next to a park, the Japanese garden for those who want to know, and I had to cross a footbridge that went over the roads. So I started to cross it when I saw three kings approaching me with knives.

From there, there are several possible outcomes: the first and perhaps the least likely, these three caïd accost me and ask me for fire for their firecrackers then go away thanking me, for the second outcome, more likely, they ask me for money, I refuse and they stick their knives in me to be able to pick my pockets. Finally, the third possible outcome, just as likely, but better for me than the second, is that they ask me for money, I reluctantly accept and then they leave me alone.

But back to my situation, one of the likely outcomes happened, but as I wasn't an idiot it was the third outcome. But what would a story of reincarnation be if the protagonist didn't die in his first life?

Unfortunately for me, when I went to give my money to my aggressors, I couldn't find my wallet. So when they saw that my hand was empty, they thought I was making fun of them and started attacking me with their knives. And so, despite my experience in Krav Maga and knowing how to defend myself against an attacker armed with a knife, I died, because remember, I wasn't physically very well and this isn't a film, it's impossible to defend yourself bare-handed against 3 armed attackers with the physique of a student at around half past four in the morning.

~~~

I can't see anything, I can't hear anything, I can't feel anything. I don't know where I am, but I know why I'm in this state and I'm clinging on to this knowledge alone for an uncertain, even unreal time...

~~~

1380 Royal residence - Paris

The maids run to the royal physician who was then standing next to King Charles V.

"Messire! The dauphin has woken up!

"Did you hear them majesty? Your son has woken up. You won't lose another loved one before you die." asked the doctor.

"Good... Let him know that his father the king orders him to take his time to recover and that he is wary of his vassals who might betray him out of ambition..." dictated the king

"Yes Majesty, I will send him a letter by pigeon post."

And when the doctor returned to the king's bedside. He was dead.

~~~

Melun

"Long live King Charles VI!

I had woken up and was reading the letter from my father the king when the lords who made up my retinue and my brother came in and announced my father's death.

I was now King Charles VI, known for his madness. And I hoped that my reincarnation would have dispelled that. But I also knew that the reign of Charles VI was marked by the influence and fratricidal struggles of his uncles who fought for power from the regency onwards, a regency that, instead of lasting about 1 year and 3 months, lasted 8 years under the influence of his uncles.

So I already knew, without my late father's advice, that I had to be wary of my uncles and in particular the Duke of Burgundy, who in the original story gradually began to secede.

"Warn my brother Louis and the great men of the kingdom and prepare my return to Paris! I ordered.

Once alone, I wanted to confirm my theory.

"Status!"

Status:
Name: Charles de Valois
Age: 11
Title: King of France (under regency)
Martial: 2 (-5)
Diplomacy: 0 (-5)
Intrigue: 0 (-5)
Administration: 2 (-5)
Erudition: 2 (-5)
Health: 2 (-3)
Reputation: D
Genetic traits: inbred (malus)
Skills: 0
Quests: !
Shop: !

"Shop!"

Status:
Shop:
Points: 150
Delete a genetic trait: 50 pts - one use remaining
Add a genetic trait: 25 to 100 pts - three remaining uses
Current trait:
Inbred: -5 ( Diplomacy, intrigue, martial, administration, erudition) and-3 Health
List of available traits:
left-handed, ambidextrous, energetic, flexible, agile, genius, quiet voice, soft voice, ..., attractive, appealing, ... capable, solid, immense, ... astute, insightful....

"Delete inbred!

Add perceptive and flexible".

Perceptive: +2 ( martial, diplomacy, intrigue, administration, erudition) - 50 pts
Flexible: +1 Martial and +1 Health - 50 pts

"Status!"

Status:
Name: Charles de Valois
Age: 11
Title: King of France (under regency)
Martial: 10 (+3)
Diplomacy: 7 (+2)
Intrigue: 7 (+2)
Administration: 9 (+2)
Erudition: 9 (+2)
Health: 6 (+1)
Reputation: D
Genetic traits: perceptive (bonus); flexible (bonus)
Skills: 3
Quests: !
Shop:

I intended to improve my stats overall which is why I chose flexible which improved my health and insightful which improved everything else. So I left myself a trait for more trad in case I gained points by doing quests as I'd theorised.

From what I understood, the martial stat corresponded to strength and combat techniques, diplomacy to relationships, intrigue to the ability to spy but also to survive in a courtyard, administration to mastery of the economy and stewardship, erudition to knowledge in general, which complemented the previous stats, health to life expectancy and the probability of falling ill, not forgetting reputation, which needs no explanation. Finally, health ranged from 0 (death) to 10 (life expectancy beyond that of a human). A health of 5, for example, is the average health and the others range from 0 to 20, but 10 is not the average stats but rather the intermediate mastery of the stat.

Let's take a look at the quests

"Quests"

Status:
Quests:

Add and remove genetic traits using starting points. - Reward: Unlock the other part of the shop. ️

End Regency Council at age 13 (Bonus: limit Regents' influence and actions) - +3 in Intrigue and Diplomacy and increase in Reputation (Bonus: +1 extra)

Develop your skills: complete your studies within 4 years. - Rewards: +5 (martial, diplomacy, administration and erudition)

Maintain your body: do 10 hours of sport a week apart from weapons training.

(+1 in temporary health)


I clicked with my mind on quest reward completed and then went to the shop

"Shop

Status:
Shop:
Points: 0
Cash: 0
List of features:
...
Skills list:
archery, one-handed swordsmanship, two-handed swordsmanship, leadership, stewardship, espionage, hand-to-hand combat, self defence, ...
List of technologies:
...


So I'll be able to learn a skill without having to learn it from someone else, and I'll be able to fill in my scientific gaps thanks to technology.

Maybe my skills will show up in my status.


"Status

Status:
Name: Charles de Valois
Age: 11
Title: King of France (under regency)
Martial: 10 (+3)
Diplomacy: 7 (+2)
Intrigue: 7 (+2)
Administration: 9 (+2)
Erudition: 9 (+2)
Health: 6 (+1)
Reputation: D
Genetic traits: perceptive (bonus); flexible (bonus)
Skills: 3
Self defence (4/5) ; Unarmed combat (3/5) ; One-handed swordsmanship (1/5)
Quests:
Shop:


A/N: Sorry for the possible mistakes I translate from my mother language to english with DeepL. It's crossposted on AH and webnovel ( the original version is there). no planning schedule and do not expect too much from the techs.

 

[Brian the dor]

dropped, he wasted points on fucking flexible, learn to stretch you idiot

 

[ATP]

SI as mad King? good,he at least could not be worst.dude sometimes belived,that is made from glass,and could shatter !

How much knowledge he had ? it would be nice if he could mass produce good steel,or made Napoleon era guns,but - not everybody have this kind of knowledge.
He could try made farmers free and turn them into archers with longbows,like in England,but - you need at least 5 years to train average archer.

P.S When he manage to win with England,he should discover Americas,Australia,and sea road to India and China.If he knew how to built galleons,of course.....

 

[Porth0s]

dropped, he wasted points on fucking flexible, learn to stretch you idiot

Click to shrink...

Goodbye then and go give your hatred elsewhere

 

[Porth0s]

SI as mad King? good,he at least could not be worst.dude sometimes belived,that is made from glass,and could shatter !

How much knowledge he had ? it would be nice if he could mass produce good steel,or made Napoleon era guns,but - not everybody have this kind of knowledge.
He could try made farmers free and turn them into archers with longbows,like in England,but - you need at least 5 years to train average archer.

P.S When he manage to win with England,he should discover Americas,Australia,and sea road to India and China.If he knew how to built galleons,of course.....

Click to shrink...

For the knowledge he had just the knowledge I had before writing this chapter as a student in business school. The shop is here to help him to improve the current tech but not too much.
I keep your idea in mind but I think I would go with improved crossbows and cannons.

Maybe... but I do not know yet.

And thanks for commenting

 

[Ashak]

Very interesting scenario but why would anybody not choose the genius trait? Afterall it is the most coveted trait in Crusader Kings eugenics.

 

[Porthos]

Very interesting scenario but why would anybody not choose the genius trait? Afterall it is the most coveted trait in Crusader Kings eugenics.

Click to shrink...

I want to have a boost in health

 

[Tonyorobsky]

1-You showed his status 3 times in a single chapter, that's a waste of space, just bloating word count for nothing.
2-Show the price of the things in the shop, so we can understand why he chose this one or that one (because selecting flexible...)

 

[Porthos]

1-You showed his status 3 times in a single chapter, that's a waste of space, just bloating word count for nothing.
2-Show the price of the things in the shop, so we can understand why he chose this one or that one (because selecting flexible...)

Click to shrink...

for the status I'll try to not show it too much
for the price genius for instance cost 100points, and according to power and the number of the effect the cost of a gentic trait goes from 25 to 100 points. I didn't write the cost and the effect of each traits because I thought it was too much for too little. Even if the status appears 3 times I didn't want to have the system taking too much spaces in the chapter.

 

[Abdi12345]

Interesting but I see in the comments that the tech uplift will be limited then for the main uplift will it be mainly in administration of the country such agriculture, education and military etc and how are going to handle the church influences in the kingdom.

 

[ATP]

For the knowledge he had just the knowledge I had before writing this chapter as a student in business school. The shop is here to help him to improve the current tech but not too much.
I keep your idea in mind but I think I would go with improved crossbows and cannons.

Maybe... but I do not know yet.

And thanks for commenting

Click to shrink...

Maybe rockets,too.In India they used them against calvary in 18th century.
And,other things which could help - you should probable could made good glass,in medieval times it mean big moneys.
The same goes for better blackpowder - in Poland for example we had later alchemist named Sędziwój who officially worket on alchemic stone,but in reality was mass-producing better blackpowder for our Kings.
I am fairy sure,that you could hire some good alchemist to work on it.

Or..Custerian monks.In OTL they arleady had abbeys which was first small manufacturies making good steel and cloth,and conducted first experiments.Just gave your knowledge to them.

P.S british improved copy of indian rockets,Congreve rockets,was even better with better range and real warheads.
Here:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...usg=AOvVaw2F6vQ6Z0mIN-3C13ziM4Xf&opi=89978449

 

[Porthos]

Interesting but I see in the comments that the tech uplift will be limited then for the main uplift will it be mainly in administration of the country such agriculture, education and military etc and how are going to handle the church influences in the kingdom.

Click to shrink...

For the techs you'll see and I'm not sure about them yet.
For the church, Charles will try to use the church with as few inconveniences as possible

 

[Porthos]

Maybe rockets,too.In India they used them against calvary in 18th century.
And,other things which could help - you should probable could made good glass,in medieval times it mean big moneys.
The same goes for better blackpowder - in Poland for example we had later alchemist named Sędziwój who officially worket on alchemic stone,but in reality was mass-producing better blackpowder for our Kings.
I am fairy sure,that you could hire some good alchemist to work on it.

Or..Custerian monks.In OTL they arleady had abbeys which was first small manufacturies making good steel and cloth,and conducted first experiments.Just gave your knowledge to them.

P.S british improved copy of indian rockets,Congreve rockets,was even better with better range and real warheads.
Here:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi9ssqeuKqCAxU3g_0HHbwZDTIQFnoECBQQAQ&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congreve_rocket&usg=AOvVaw2F6vQ6Z0mIN-3C13ziM4Xf&opi=89978449

Click to shrink...

Thanks for your ideas.
If he uses these rockets it won't be at the beginning of the story since I don't want to have a big uplift.

 

[Asmodyne]

Interesting! Keep it coming. I can see him becoming OP soon, but the juxtaposition of a combat oriented system with a life of mostly administration and intrigue could be a fun read.

 

[ATP]

Thanks for your ideas.
If he uses these rockets it won't be at the beginning of the story since I don't want to have a big uplift.

Click to shrink...

According to what i read,british version had up to 2km range,but was innacurate as hell - if you fire it at enemy from that distance,it could hit something 500 m left or right.

 

[Porthos]

Chapter 2: Beginning of the Regency

A/N: Small error on my part, I didn't put the months in chapter 1, I won't put the days for simplicity's sake, but if you want to know, chapter 1 took place on 16 September 1380. The beginning of this chapter takes place the day after chapter 1 (17 September).

September 1380 France

We went to Paris with my brother on horseback accompanied by a dozen knights who acted as escort. I was finally going to discover 14th century Paris, which I imagine to be very different from modern-day Paris. After all, from what little I've seen of Melun and the villages we pass through, Paris must be dirty and made up of fragile half-timbered houses. Something I shall have to change during my reign.

The journey on horseback was shorter than expected. But the journey through Paris to the royal residence took longer than expected because of the crowds of Parisians who, hearing the news of my accession to the throne of France, cheered me throughout the journey as the bells of the churches and Notre-Dame were rung in honour of my return to Paris and the death of my father the king.

~~~

Royal residence - Paris

"His Majesty King Charles VI!" announced the guards as I entered the throne room.

"Your Majesty, we have to organise your father's funeral and your coronation until the regents arrive," said my late father's advisors.

"All right, my father's body will rest in the Necropolis of St Denis alongside my mother and his heart will rest in Rouen Cathedral as he had wished. If you don't mind, we'll bury him at the end of the month and my coronation ceremony will be held at Notre-Dame de Paris at the beginning of October, after my father's funeral.

"Then we'll have to prepare the body as soon as possible majesty and why do you want to break with tradition and not have yourself crowned in Reims?" They replied

"So send for the bishop of Paris to give him the last rites, if he hasn't already done so, and start preparations for his funeral! For tradition's sake, the capital is in Paris and not Reims, so the people of Paris will be able to attend." I replied, believing that this measure would mark my authority and set me apart from my predecessors.

"Now that we've settled that, do I have to wait for the regents to arrive before I can see my tutors?" I asked. I wanted to organise my time with them as quickly as possible so that I could complete my weekly quest, +1 in health isn't useless after all.

"No majesty, but perhaps you should choose a new master of arms now that you are king, your current master Messire de Béhuard is after all the vassal knight of your uncle the Duke of Anjou. But if not, Monsieur de Creney is here and ready to receive you so that you can resume your lessons.

"You are right, send for the Constable de Clisson, he will be my new master of arms and will teach me perfectly the arts of war, having fought with du Guesclin. As for Monsieur de Creney, I'll go and meet him straight away if you'll allow me. And find new tutors for my brother Louis. I said, before going to my tutor's lessons.

~~~

October 1380 Royal residence - Paris

The coronation ceremony had gone well, as had the first few weeks of my new life. My uncles had arrived a few days earlier and were starting to argue about who should be in charge. Fortunately, they weren't too interested in me, which left me free to do what I wanted.

First of all, I had been able to freely define my schedule with Messieurs de Creney and de Clisson, so I was able to carry out my weekly quest without too many worries, apart from the fact that my advisors and the regents were a little reluctant to see me running around Paris.
In addition, I have begun to form a "praetorian guard" with the support of the Duke of Bourbon, the only regent to be loyal to me and not to think of his own interests ( A/N : in fact, it does, since the Duchy of Bourbon's survival depends on the support of the French crown, but it is nonetheless the Duchy most loyal to the crown), by recruiting orphans my age and giving them a knightly education: they learned to read, write and count with the monks and to fight and command with the Duke of Bourbon's knights. With the war, many of them had lost their parents, so this prevented them from becoming bandits and causing trouble in the capital later on, and I gained loyal people to protect me above and beyond feudal laws. Eventually, I planned to make the best of them my generals, while the others would remain my praetorian guards and be able to offer me their views on military matters.
I also tried to do the same thing with the orphaned girls and the boys who were less inclined to fight, but on a smaller scale and in the greatest possible secrecy, because I wanted to turn them into spies: not only to pass on information but also to assassinate my enemies, in particular the Duke of Burgundy and the Duke of Anjou, my uncles.
Finally, I was trying to build up a network of loyal followers among the nobles and other decision-makers in Paris. On the one hand, in order to complete my quest for the regency and on the other, in order to have loyal advisers once I was emancipated.

"Your Majesty, are you asleep? Could you recite the declension of rosa for me?" reprimanded my tutor, Monsieur de Creney.

There's no point in continuing with Latin, and French should unite the regions of France.

"Rosa, Rosa, Rosam, Rosae, Rosae, Rosa for the singular and for the plural Rosae, Rosae, Rosas, Rosarum Rosis Rosis... And I was thinking!" I replied

...

I've just remembered that the Duke of Anjou used the crown's money to pay off his debts just before he claimed Naples at the start of the original me's regency. Although not seeing him in France any more pleases me a great deal, going after my money does not please me at all. To try and stop him I have to talk to my father's advisors and the president of the Paris parliament Jehan Pastoret.


"Monsieur Pastoret!" I called as I entered his office.

"Yes Majesty?"

"What are the necessary conditions for you to introduce a law?"

"Well, you need the majority of the Regency Council to agree, which is difficult if you ask me. He replied

"In that case, could you do me a favour? A favour I won't forget, of course?"

"Yes Majesty" he said, with an ulterior motive visible enough for me to see.

"Good. You will propose a bill prohibiting the use of the treasury for personal purposes without a valid reason for the good of the kingdom, in which case the offender will be guilty of treason. You will have the support of the Duke of Bourbon and the Duke of Berry". I ordered

"Yes Majesty

Although I do indeed have the support of the Duke of Bourbon, that of my uncle the Duke of Berry is not a given and can only be given temporarily in exchange for favours. So I think that an exemption from paying tax for the duration of the regency should suffice, since he is not the one targeted by the new law I want to introduce.

...

Now that I've got my uncle's backing, it's time to move on.

Maybe I need to start thinking about which technology to buy first, as I'm already familiar with the principle of crop rotation, agriculture isn't a priority.

"Shop"

Shop :
List of features:
...
List of skills:
archery, one-handed swordsmanship, two-handed swordsmanship, leadership, stewardship, espionage, unarmed combat, self-defence, ...
List of technologies:
Unlocked :
Blast furnace: hydraulically-assisted furnace fuelled by coal, enabling greater steel production through the use of moulds. Design plan and location of coal and iron deposits. Cost: 50,000 ecus, 5Pts
Cement and concrete: making concrete and cement. Cost: 30,000 ecus
Printing works: design plan for the 15th-century printing works. Cost 30,000 ecus

I don't have any points at the moment, so for the time being I'll have to say goodbye to the blast furnace, even if I can afford to get the technology. On the other hand, cement and concrete and printing are very accessible and I'll be able to get a return on my investment very quickly. On the one hand, I'll be able to overhaul urban development in France using cement and concrete. Secondly, printing will enable me to spread the use of the French language and begin to reduce the influence of the Church by printing Bibles in French.



A/N: And that's the end of the chapter. As far as the cost of technology is concerned, it may change in the future as I'm not very familiar with the 'purchasing power' of the time and the average income of a nobleman in France and the income of the crown. I've tried to take account of your feedback (Alternatehistory and Questionable Questing) and the writing style has changed a bit: let me know what you think.

 

[ATP]

I just remembered,that mass-production of good steel using water mills started about 1405,which lead to plate armour becoming common thing.
For example - both poles and teutonic knight levies fighting each other in 1410/Grunwald/ used mostly still mail,only 10% had full plate.
But,in 1456,during next war,everybody and his dog had plate.

So,you could use water mills earlier,they mass produce other things,like clothes or flour,too.

 

[Porthos]

I just remembered,that mass-production of good steel using water mills started about 1405,which lead to plate armour becoming common thing.
For example - both poles and teutonic knight levies fighting each other in 1410/Grunwald/ used mostly still mail,only 10% had full plate.
But,in 1456,during next war,everybody and his dog had plate.

So,you could use water mills earlier,they mass produce other things,like clothes or flour,too.

Click to shrink...

The blast furnace works thanks to water mills to increase the temperature. But maybe blast furnace was a wrong translation of the word I want to say