A hypothetical question about Kingdom of David achievement

[Langkard]

After a long while, I've decided to get some old achievements done that I haven't bothered with in many hours of play. One of those is the above. But I'm thinking of taking an uncommon approach and would like some input, because I don't know if it is even possible.

My plan is to start as Sigurd Ring in 769 and do the way OP Norse pagan conquest route through all of Europe, the Byzantine Empire and maybe most of the steppes before tackling the Abbasid blob and various other Islamic polities. Unless the Abbasid blob implodes early, I don't think I can get to Tigrinya or Semien, the only 2 Jewish religion counties in a 769 start, before they are completely converted by Abyssinia or one of the other Miaphysite realms or by a conquering Islamic realm.

That leaves me with several questions.

Am I wrong in believing that new Jewish counties are unlikely at best? I have never noticed a new Jewish realm rise via a secret religious sect turning overt in a 769 start.. If one did appear at some point, it was destroyed before I noticed it.

How rare is it for Jewish courtiers to appear for a Norse pagan ruler? I honestly don't remember that ever happening when playing as such.

Without one or the other happening, I don't see a way forward with this. I can't think of any other way to switch from Germanic pagan to Judaism at any point.

I only play ironman, by the way, so no modifications allowed.

Any input will be helpful.

[hertz]

you dont need a jewish courtier. right click on the jerusalem county shield and there will be options of conversion to most abrahamic religions, including judaism

if you just want to cheese your way through achievments, 13th century golden horde is your best friend (lots of cash, ~98k event troops with 0 attrition)

edit: changed character to jewish courtier

[Alex]

Originally posted by Langkard:

How rare is it for Jewish courtiers to appear for a Norse pagan ruler?

No chance. Jewish courtiers, usually court physicians, only show up for Christian rulers. However, you can always abduct one through raiding&sacking.

But this is a really roundabout way to establish a Jewish state. It's far easier to start as the Khazar, build up your power through raiding, then conquer the kingdom of Jerusalem with a tribal invasion.

Or just cheese the achievement as described there:
https://ck2.paradoxwikis.com/Achievements#List_of_achievements

[Langkard]

Thanks for the responses! They give me a clue on how to proceed as planned.

I prefer to avoid using the old established methods like the Khazars. I like to do things a little differently, the road less traveled kind of thing. It often gets me in a bind; but I think it's more fun that way.

[Alex]

Originally posted by Langkard:

I prefer to avoid using the old established methods like the Khazars. I like to do things a little differently, the road less traveled kind of thing. It often gets me in a bind; but I think it's more fun that way.

Oh, it sure is. Once, I managed to establish a Jewish Kingdom of Jerusalem by starting out as Axum, then going the secret cult route as the Muslims tried to holy-war me, and worked my way to erode their sultanate from within, while acquiring lands around Jerusalem.

Unfortunately, that kingdom lasted only about 80 years or so, before the Crusades steamrolled everything. I didn't even manage to finish building the Temple.

[Langkard]

I think you may be wrong about Jewish courtiers only showing up in Christian court, Alex. I've never seen it either until...

So, I'm playing as the son of Ragnarr Lothbrok and this happened:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3471243807

A lowborn Ashkenazi woman appeared in my court. No reason given, no idea why, no relatives. I immediately married her to one of my courtiers and started using her as a guardian to hopefully have more Ashkenazi Jews in my court. She is one of only 3 adult Jewish courtiers in the world at the moment. If this works out, I have a much quicker path of getting the Kingdom of David Achievement. It will depend upon keeping a few Jewish courtiers in my court and having a future female Jewish courtier available in my court when I'm strong enough. A lucky Abbasid rebellion at the right time too, and I can use my Norse pagan ability to conquer any coastal county and get a quick start toward Jerusalem.

[galadon3]

I guess what Alex was refering to was a jewish courtier being directly spawned by events or looking for a court physician, once the NPC is in the game world, the normal run of the game might make them move around ofc.

[Alex]

Originally posted by Langkard:

I think you may be wrong about Jewish courtiers only showing up in Christian court, Alex. I've never seen it either until...

So, I'm playing as the son of Ragnarr Lothbrok and this happened:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3471243807

A lowborn Ashkenazi woman appeared in my court. No reason given, no idea why, no relatives. I immediately married her to one of my courtiers and started using her as a guardian to hopefully have more Ashkenazi Jews in my court. She is one of only 3 adult Jewish courtiers in the world at the moment. If this works out, I have a much quicker path of getting the Kingdom of David Achievement. It will depend upon keeping a few Jewish courtiers in my court and having a future female Jewish courtier available in my court when I'm strong enough. A lucky Abbasid rebellion at the right time too, and I can use my Norse pagan ability to conquer any coastal county and get a quick start toward Jerusalem.

That's a different mechanic. NPCs from dissolved courts wil disperse to other realms, and you might receive some of them at random.

Originally posted by galadon3:

I guess what Alex was refering to was a jewish courtier being directly spawned by events or looking for a court physician, once the NPC is in the game world, the normal run of the game might make them move around ofc.

Exactly, the only semi-reliable way to spawn a jewish courtier is through the "search for a court physician" decision. It might involve a bit of save-scumming as well.

[Langkard]

OK, got it. I guess I just never really paid much attention to some of those mechanics. It didn't pan out anyway. A little run of bad luck and bad timing led to a succession disaster and by the time I got it sorted out, my Jewish former courtier had been converted. C'est la vie. Back to the drawing board.

[Alex]

Originally posted by Langkard:

OK, got it. I guess I just never really paid much attention to some of those mechanics. It didn't pan out anyway. A little run of bad luck and bad timing led to a succession disaster and by the time I got it sorted out, my Jewish former courtier had been converted. C'est la vie. Back to the drawing board.

Just raid some of those southern fatcats, and capture a new courtier.