Please send me your respective money and recruiting orders.
I will dispatch the troops as soon as they are formed.
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Please send me your respective money and recruiting orders.
I will dispatch the troops as soon as they are formed.
Lorenz Zirn
I need some orders Duke!
Arnold:
Count Lorenz!!
Recruit what ever you can locally and take up a position outside the walls of Vienna in a good defensive location.
Hold the line my good sir that is all I ask of you at this time.
I will recruit what I can here in Ragusa and hold off the siege against the Venetian's.
Lord Zirn is going to determine what his course of action is very soon.
He's free to take on the Hungarian's besieging Zagreb, although my scouts report that the force is highly motivated, trained and equipped.
Duke Arnold.
Karl Zirn:
I will hold the walls for now and not sally at this time. I will let the Hungarians make the first move.
Gentlemen!!
We are being worn down!!
Lorenz you must assist Karl and break the siege of Zagreb or we will be ground into dust by disease and famine.
I will ask the Kaiser what he intends to do but we must assume he does not head east until we hear otherwise.
Lorenz, let me know your thoughts and get back to me as soon as possible.
Your word is my command. I will take my professional army and go to Zagreb immiadtly and break this seige. I swear to you lord every single one of them will fall to my blade.
Arnold:
Christ on the Cross Lorenz you really are a hard charger!!
I like it!!
But hold for the moment. If the Kaiser heads east to Zagreb then you might have to go north and hammer some Poles and help Becker.
I need you to wait until we hear from the Kaiser and then I'll let you loose in one direction or the other.
Is Vienna potentially threatened by any army if you leave for an extended period of time to help Zagreb or Prague?
Duke Arnold
A letter to the Duchy of Austria:
Duke Arnold and Noble Lords of Austria!
I very much desire to reminisce with my old comrade Karl Zirn at Ragusa. Should any @#$%^&!!! Hungarians be rude enough as to try to interrupt our reverie, they will regret it. I am glad that Count Becker is reconciled within the House of Austria and wish Lorenz Zirn God's speed in marching to relieve him.
As for the intention of Imperial knights to join me, this is a spontaneous move on their part and not something I control as yet. I asked young Dieter von Kassel if he could explain it, but the fellow rambled on about something involving a metallic bovine. He is clearly deranged. I expect at the next Diet, the Imperial knights that gather to me will form the heart of reconstituted armies of the Kaiser, Prinz and Chancellor.
Kaiser Elberhard
Arnold:
Elberhard you sarcen killing swine!! Glad you could join the bloodshed here in the homelands.
The sun must have baked more of that brain than we thought, because I have no idea what the %#^@ing hell are you talking about.
I'M in Ragusa not Karl Zirn.
Are you marching on Ragusa where I am or Zagreb where Lord Zirn is currently located?
And did you bring any of those $#%^#$ing massive beasts you call "Arnold's"?
If you did, then by %$#^#ing Christ little cross we could use them now!!!
Looking forward to your immediate reply my Liege.
Arnold.
Another royal letter, addressed privately to Duke Arnold, although an amused scribe cannot help but leak its contents
@#$%^&!!!ing hell, Duke Arnold. Do you expect me to know the names of my provinces? I am Kaiser Elberhard, King of the @#$%^&!!! Romans (well, those Romans that the @#$%^&!!!ing Byzantine @#$%^&!!!ers have not exterminated anyway) and I am above geography!
I am going to see my old comrade Karl Zirn, whether he is up a mountain, in a bog or back in @#$%^&!!!ing Outremer!
And don't mention me "Arnolds", friend. It's still a sore point. Sadly, the only one I have left is on me coat of arms.
Yours
Elberhard
Arnold:
My Liege,
My sincere apologies for "ballsing" up your orders, I'll have the messenger flogged and the cartographers alter the maps accordingly after they've been dragged five miles by their scrotal sacks.
I'll also endure a few more hours of penance for wasting the Kaiser's valuable time, my Priest will be immensely gratified with that.
Lorenz you blood soaked, killer!!!
Head north and pound seven shades of #^%#$% out of those Poles around Becker!!! Work out the details with him directly, I just want them all dead by the time either of you report back to me at the end of the season!! Clear!!??
Lord Becker,
Try and make sure young Lorenz doesn't go too over the top while he's up there with you. You're the cool head in my view. Point the young buck in the direction you want him to go and then send him off.
Lord Zirn,
Hold tight, God's representative on earth is on his way!! There seems to be some bizarre issues with the Royal cartographers with the Kaiser. I'd light a massive beacon just to be sure Zagreb is clear for all to see.
I'll sit here and mind my own business for another season...I'm getting very good with the Longbow in this siege. I think I've killed more than a dozen donkeys to date...those bloody beast are as dumb as two sacks of crap.
Happy hunting everyone.
Duke Arnold
Lorenz Zirn
I will immidiatly take my professional army and head to prague. I will leave a small garrison at Vienna, but I am concerened that we might lose it if one of our enemies discover's it weak. But that shall be no matter, I will demolish the Poles so fast that the I'll be back in Vienna in no time.
Arnold:
Just make sure you don't lose Vienna in the process of getting up there to help Lord Becker!!
Imperial War Dogs of Austria!!!
After you've all spanked the living bejesus out of the Poles and Hungarian's this season...and I expect total £$%$£ing annihilation from all of you...I'd like you all to sign Fritz von Kastilien's renunciation of the £$%ing reunification $%^$ up we were all privy to watch from the front row!!
It's certainly a good move in my view and will end any and all future attempts at such misguided and completely %&^$ing stupid ideas.
And I'd all like you to spare a thought for me sitting in this £$%£ing cold, damp, boring Citadel here in Ragusa. I'm bored as bat shiet and would love to be up north having some fun with you all.
And if any of you hear, see or happen to read about some Hapsburg noble wandering around the Duchy can you kindly send word down the coast to me.
Give'em hell boys!!
Arnold, Duke of Austria.
Another Imperial scroll:
Honourable Nobles of Austria,
There were some @#$%^&!!!ing ugly @#$%^&!!! @#$%^&!!!ers loitering around Zagreb, so I told them to @#$%^&!!! off. They were quite unreasonable about it, but could be persuaded in the end.
I don't want to appear to be telling you how to defend your homelands, but the road to Ragusa is now open. I suggest that my old comrade Karl Zirn begin the march there. It's winter and the weather is @#$%^&!!!ing awful, so he won't get far but it might be good to make a start.
And Duke Arnold, about that murderous @#$%^&!!!er Fritz's von Kastilien's declaration. When you have signed it, please pass it on to me. I need something to wipe my @#$%^&!!! with.
I mean, come on - Fritz, that @#$%^&!!!ing idiot God-@#$%^&!!! Lutheran @#$%^&!!!er! I don't know what the @#$%^&!!! he is doing dragging up that ancient history. After the extermination of Rome, reunificiation is deader than Fritz's wards at Stettin.
The only possible function of that declaration seems to be to embarass me. Well, if that's what you all want, I will invite Fritz and all of you to the smallest room in the Diet, where you can watch me with my pants down. And for a bonus, I'll let you watch me put his @#$%^&!!!ing declaration to good use!
Good day, noble Austrians! It's a cold welcome here, but anyway I will be returning northwest. There is a Diet to open and after that, the small matter of a capital to retake.
Kaiser Elberhard
Kaiser,
I can certainly see your point of view my Lord, however I am certainly not doing this for any other reason than to clearly state and support a declaration that reunification is NOT an option to be considered in the future. In my view I'm aiming this squarely at the clergy and it's a clear warning to both Lutheran and Catholic men to keep their shiet in line, or secular powers will do it for them!!
That is all I am making this mean in my view. The History of how this crisis began has already passed into the scribes hands and I'm not one of those pencil pushing administrative #$%$wit types!!
As for Austria's next move, then yes, Lord Zirn and I have already discussed his immediate march down south to relieve the situation in Ragusa.
Your assistance was greatly appreciated my Liege.
Happy hunting in the north and Merry Christmas.
Duke Arnold
OOC: Just so everyone knows, I'm definitely around. I just have been stalling and waiting to see if Zirn's daughter gets married. I'll wait for the 1340 report. If she's married by then, I'll take the husband as my avatar. If she isn't, I'll take a generic elector and be around for the 1340 Diet. Then, after the Diet, I'll wait for the daughter to get married or Jan Zirn to come of age, which ever comes first.
So, that's why I've been quiet. I'm waiting to see what "skin" I'll be wearing for the Diet before getting really involved with character interaction. :2thumbsup:
Thanks for the update PK.Quote:
Originally Posted by Privateerkev
Arnold:
Right you Hungarian loving, Polish sympathizing, Venetian kissing bastards!!!
There's going to be a Diet session in a few months.
I want you to start making your way to Nuremberg and begin thinking about potential legislation and discussion points for this House.
Think before you start talking in here...there's bloody six of us now so I don't want this place sounding like some brothel full of gossip and screaming women!!!
We're nobles of House Austria, we're men and I want you all to try and remember that.
Duke Arnold
Dieter von Essen wanders into the Austrian chambers off of the Diet floor. Way down the great table, he sees a plaque with his name. Proud of his very own seat at such a noble place, Dieter walks over and sits in a chair that is almost too big for him.
Having said his peace in the Diet, Dieter goes back into the Austrian Chambers to see if his Duke has any guidance he wishes to give.
Arnold:
Having finished sparring with Bresch for the moment the Duke enters the Austrian chambers and is slightly surprised to see Dieter.
Young von Essen. I see you have found your seat in the chamber.
We've not spoken privately since your marriage to my niece, so congratulations. She's a fine woman and has a loving heart, you'd best look after her well young man. Lord Zirn is not for this world much longer, and then it will be up to me to take care of my sisters family.
The last sentence is accompanied by a hard stare.
Realising he might be over compensating the Duke quickly smiles at the young Lord.
I hear you wish to take up the cross and join Matthias in Outremer is that correct?
Dieter is in awe to be finally speaking to his Duke. Not wanting to stammer on and bore such a busy man, Dieter attempts to keep his answers short and to the point.
Mein Duke,
I assure you I will take good care of my family. I am well aware that any children we bare would be considered to have "the blood of Heinrich" and that is a great responsibility.
Unfortunately, you are correct about my father-in-law. The Good Lord will take him in the near future. When that happens, I will be looking to you for guidance and support since you will be the elder patriarch of the Zirn family.
And yes, it is my wish and hope that I be allowed to take up the Cross. But I know I am an Austrian noble first and a crusader second. If you believe the situation in Austria requires my presence, then I will stay for as long as you need me.
But since we now have six Austrian nobles, and no one else seems to wish to take up the Cross at this time, I hope that something can be arranged. My long term goal is to see Damascus under Austrian control in honor of my father-in-law. But with that great city under the control of our allies, I fear that may just be a pipe dream for the moment.
Also, I need to get officially "knighted". I have been in combat as a soldier and an officer and have the scars to prove it. But, being knighted is a different matter since it involves nobility and fealty to a lord. Something that was not available to me until I got married. Whether it happens in Austria or Outremer does not matter. I just want it to happen sometime in the near future so I can serve.
And finally, any edicts you wish to present? I don't have any ideas for mine. And you know the local situation better than I do. Also you know what we can realistically accomplished in one term.
Your opinions on proposed legislation seem to mirror my own. But even if they didn't, I always welcome your thoughts on legislation and will weigh your opinion heavily.
Dieter finally stops talking in order to give his Duke a chance to respond.
Taking a seat and sipping some wine the Duke studies the young man for a few moments before speaking.
I'm glad you realise the blood lines carried in this family. I believe only myself and Elby can say we are grandson's of the late Kaiser Heinrich, I think many men don't realise that anymore.
You certainly have my blessing to take up the cross Dieter. Siburg has always spoken favourably of the East and I'm sure she would be happy to go back there. But please keep in mind what Matthias has said. You could be desk bound or part of the reserve cavalry forces out there for sometime, plus I'm not sure how you would get out there, I hear there are rumors that the fleets will be disbanded for fiscal reason's.
As for your knighthood, then my first thoughts are to have Lord Zirn and his son Johann take you east and attack a small Hungarian force that I have field reports on. There we can see if it would be possible to get you knighted before heading to Outremer. That would have you placed in better stead for surviving out there.
Just between you an me Dieter, I have no edicts or amendments to propose at this time. The less the better at this stage of the game my boy. It's going to be about survival more than anything right now.
As for your support or voting direction...then contrary to what many believe I do not dictate what you should do. You should vote with your head and heart on matters and I freely expect you to argue and debate here in the Austrian Chamber on whatever you wish.
I will as a matter or policy send all Austrian nobles my thoughts and recommendations on what I believe and outline anything of special significance to me...but it is a guideline only.
Lorenz Zirn Bursts into the room greeting the new general and speaks:
Duke! This young and novice general seems to want to be knighted so quickly. Please my good lord let me bring him into battle. Not only will I get him knighted, I will make sure he is soaked in Hungarian and Polish blood and flesh. I'll show him the true marks of war!
Karl Zirn comes in to the chamber and sees that it is filling up with nobles. He orders the steward to bring some wine and food.
Good day everyone. I see that young Lorenz is ready fro action. It may be a good plan to sent Dieter with him to Vienna. The city is in unrest and there are some Hungarians that need to be pushed back.
There is also a large Byzantine army to the west that is still a very large threat. Only the Kaiser's army is standing between them and Zagreb.
I don't have any edicts in mind I am just glad to see business returning to normal and see our Duke elected Chancellor.
Strategically I would like to see Venice and Budapest returned into the Austrian fold in the near future.
As for the Outremer it will need good men and Dieter would be a good candidate but I would like to see the situation stabilized and have King Steffen's input who and what he will need. If Austria is to send her men then Dieter should be our first choice. Get him knighted here by cleaning up our borders with the vermin that are lingering there.
The steward arrives with a tray of bread and cheeses. Some fine wine is poured in the goblets and passed to the nobles.
A toast to the Duke in his bid for Chancellor, to Austria to the Reich! Cheers!
Dieter takes a goblet of wine and holds it up.
To Duke Arnold's Chancellorship!
Here here!
Dieter looks at Count Lorenz,
I appreciate your offer. I do want to make clear though that I have been blooded. I was in the Battle of Zagreb and have the scars to prove it.
Dieter points to a scar on his face.
But I will go and be knighted by whoever needs the extra cavalry. Just put me where I am needed.
Now I have my own thoughts on current legislation.
CA 14.1 I am neutral about. I'll probably vote for it since I can't think of a reason to vote against it.
CA 14.2 has my full support. The Charter of Outremer needs to be modernized.
CA 14.3 I do not support. I have only been quiet about it since a fellow Austrian had proposed it. I keep my disagreements with my fellow Austrians private. I will say in here though that the CA is unnecessary.
CA 14.4 is completely pointless. It needs to die a horrible death. Let us prosecute the war on our terms, not that of some radical priest.
Edict 14.1 I support. This is the way to prosecute the war with the Greeks. Through legislation that is practical and allows flexibility for conditions on the ground.
Edict 14.2 I am neutral about. I'll probably vote for it since I can't think of a reason to vote against it.
Do any of my fellows have their own thoughts they wish to share?
Dieter munches on a piece of cheese.
Raising his goblet to his fellow Austrian nobles Arnold downs the glass in one swift gulp.
Christ I'm going to need a few more of those bottles Lord Zirn!! The bloody tavern resembles the Diet chamber at the moment.
Of course that lunatic Fritz then goes and challenges ME to a joist...is he mad??
Anyway!!
Remember to submit your tax and build queue's to the Chancellors office before the election men, otherwise Fritz or myself can do what we want...which might not be a bad idea.
Apologies to both Dieter and Hapsburg as there are currently no Count-ships to allocate at the moment.
I'll post up the Austrian House Army orders in the next day or two.
Karl your still head of the 1st AHA, I plan and sending you, Johann and Dieter towards Budapest. Let me know if this is agreeable to you or not.
Hapsburg, I need you to quell the rioting in Vienna as soon as possible. I'll request as many militia troops as possible to assist you in that action.
Dieter munches on some more cheese blocks,
No apology is needed Mein Duke. The situation is what it is. Furthermore, I don't believe Counties are "entitlements". They are rewards for loyalty and service. I need to do something worthy of rewarding first.
I'm already looking forward to this Diet session being over. It has just degenerated into pointless bickering and arguing. I know I had some part in that and have privately reconciled with Sir Fritz in order to do my part at bringing a certain level of civility back to the Diet.
It certainly has been an exciting first Diet Session!
To that, Dieter takes a sip of wine.
My lords, as you are aware a Hungarian army is menacing Vienna. Given the state of the Reich, we cannot aford for Vienna to be besieged. The loss of trade will be sorely felt. With that in mind I ask Karl Zirn to leave his artillery train behind and engage the Hungarians immidiately. Once the battle is won Lord Zirn's artillery will be able to march close enough to Vienna that they could call upon him for support if attacked. Once that is done I will be to return to Prague.