Imperial Diet V

As the Austrian Clerk drones on, King Jan's eyes go out of focus. It is clear that the long legalistic speech is inducing sleepiness in the King. As the clerk's monotonous tone induces confusion and lethargy, Gunther slides his foot over and taps the King's foot. Jan snaps out of his legalistic induced trance and blinks. The clerk finally finishes and leaves, to which Jan says almost to himself,

I think I am beginning to see what Count Jens, may his soul rest in peace, meant by "legal obfuscation." I will have to endeavor to make sure my own speeches in here are curt and to the point. Wouldn't want to put anyone else through what I just suffered.

As Jan hears the sounds of violence being done to the clerk, he smiles and replies to the Duke.

No apology is needed Duke Arnold. I know a thing or two about "being difficult". A lot has happened lately and I think we can all use a drink... or three.

*nods respectfully*

A Franconian Ritter enters the Diet

I have a message from my Duke, Ansehelm von Kastillien

Quote:

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Meine Herren of the Diet, I hereby wish to make a simple note.
From this moment on Gersenda von Kastillien to be my heir. She holds the future of Franconia, note some middle aged nobleman like most of us. Would I die before she marries my brother Peter will act as Steward, as he normally would. I personally doubt I will marry ever. I don't have the time for it, hardly for women at all. My life is fighting, I've done it my entire adult life, I know nothing else. I don't have time for courtromances, or travelling to a family-in-law. All my life I've fought the Orthodox and the Poles. And I intend to continue so, my army should stay behind enemy lines, but within reach of the Reich to draw the attention of Polish armies till Vilnius is safely taken. Would Duke Arnold agree with it I don't mind doing the same with the Hungarians, I can easely draw multiple armies towards me, and while I fight those the way is open for others to launch attacks.

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*A messenger runs out, there is silence, and then a dreadful stream of oaths which trail away to nothing*

King Jan looks up,

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Count Fritz and all of his people, banned?

Also, and this is a minor point, can a princess of the Reich be made an heir to a duchy?

Haha, you can't prevent a messenger of him from taking notes. In fact, some of my clerks are doing just that!

Count Peter,

Your right, taking notes is ok. I was mistaken earlier when I called out against Count Fritz having a scribe in here and I apologize. He is only banned from speaking or having his own messengers speak for him.

During this, a lawyer baring the livery of the Prince walks in and hands King Jan a note. Jan unfolds it and reads it. He becomes visibly relaxed and addresses the Diet.

Well, it seems there is no issue with having the Princess holding the title until she is married. I was worried about the possibility of a non-German becoming Duke but I have been assured that, that is legally impossible. While I know Kaiser Siegfried would never put us in that position, there is no guarantee as to who would be Kaiser when it became time to marry the Princess off so I did not want to leave anything to chance.

The King writes a reply to the note and hands it off to the lawyer who bows and leaves.

I wouldn't be too worried about not having an ethnic German as Duke. After all the current Duke's entire family originally hails from Castille, and they've done as well as any German could have.

Count Edmund,

Are you implying that the whole Kastillien family is not German? I believe they are. I'm afraid I would need to see some serious genealogy records before I would believe that.

Truly, we did originate from Castile, but that is many generations ago and our Spanish blood is more German as of now.

The Franconian Ritter enters the Diet again

Herr Becker is right. The Kastillien family comes from Spain originally. Duke Ansehelm told me that he personally even has one or two castles there, but he never visited them.
I believe that some of their family even hold important positions at the Spanish Court.

I think that once Duke Ansehelm arrives here in the Diet again, during the next Diet session he will be willing to explain it to you.

Matthias speaks.

Duke Ansehelm's naming of a female heir, even if only a proxy for her eventual husband, if she marries, is unique in the history of the Reich. There's nothing in the charter specifically forbidding it, but most of the rules for determining an heir mention sons and nearest male relatives.

Rolling his eyes in clear amazement.

#$^#ing hell.

Talk about drama.

Striding back into the Diet Chamber Arnold stops mid stride...did I get banned or was that Fritz...ahh yes it was Fritz...with that thought now having flashed through his mind Arnold turns to the Chancellor.

Lord Chancellor!!

Is seems von Heidelberg has decided to present himself for duty.

About £$%£ing time I'd suggest too!!

Please ensure he joins on myself or Becker for assessment of his martial capabilities and potential knighting.

Gazing back at Becker, the Duke continues in a much lower voice.

Covered in blood Becker, I want to see him tested fully. These late comers need to be put through their paces.

Understood?

Matthias seems lost in thought, and only seems half aware of the events in the Diet. He absentmindely twirls a dagger in his hand while drinking from a small vial in the other.

Yes. . .covered in blood. . .I'll see what I can do. . .

Leaning forward Grom whispers into the Dukes ear. He seems to be drawing attention to the bizarre behavior of the Chancellor.

Arnold double takes once he realises what he is, or is not seeing.

Chancellor!!

There's a very long, drawn out pause before any visible sign of reaction is seen from from the Chancellor responding to the Dukes exclamation. Eventually as the moment turns into minutes, Arnold's eyes widen in concern, then shock and finally amazement at the response he is seeing.

Are you ok? Did you hear what I said?

And what on earth is that shiet you are drinking??

Matthias sighs dramatically and rises. He stabs down with the dagger and leaves it quivering in the wood of his desk.

I heard you Duke Arnold. You wish the newest Austrian Squire tested in battle.

I'll add it to the list of the requests I've gotten from the other Dukes, and those who think they're Dukes, and get right on it.

I need a drink, the laudanum seems to be doing nothing for my nerves.

Matthias, muttering to himself, stalks out of the Diet.

Nodding with a somewhat surprised look on his face

Oookey then. It seems all is well in the world of men and mice.

Looking at the figure of the departing Chancellor Arnold leans over to Grom.

Grom, send a bottle of absinth to the Chancellors Room. Maybe that will give him the desired result.

Athalwolf leans back and yawns, then suddenly bursts to life and jumps up after a while.

I have seen, or more and less forseen...

He glares at every face in the Imperial Diet, not all innocent.

More or less, some electors have come here drunk! Here we are, talking over the latest issues and problems of the GREATEST Empire in the world, we have the fate of millions of people. NOt just Germans, but Poles, Rus, Turks and Egyptians!

And all you people can do is drink!

Honestly, no offence mein Kaiser, as I know you'd never do such a thing, but I wouldn't be suprised if the Kaiser turned up drunk!

So I say...
He looks at Matthias empty seat.

Get you bloody act together! Or go to outremer, the next drunk person to step over that bloody doorstep is either going to be cut in half by ME, or hopefully

Athalwolf coughs in the Kaisers direction and whispers

Our Kaiser will take some action against them.

He speaks in the ear of a messenger, who rushes of towards Matthias room with a letter clutched in his hands.

Matthias enter the Diet chamber, a bleak look on his face and a black armband on his sleave. He strides to his desk, retrieves the dagger he had left there and sheathes it.

Duke Gerhard Steffen, my father, is dead.

A curious mix of emotions crosses the Chancellor's face.

Long live Duke Lothar!

Matthias gaze turns to Athalwolf.

As for you, which is the worse offense, public drunkness or threatening the life of a sitting Chancellor?

Speak to me as an equal once you have few more battles underneath your belt.

Entering just after the Chancellor, Arnold is covered in his jet black platemail and cloak. A somber look on his face shows clear signs of unhappiness

A sad day gentlemen of the Reich.

Gerhard Steffen was the next closest man to me apart from my father.

Having raised me in the later years of my youth, my time spent with him and his sons was an amazing time of my life.

I will miss him dearly.

Long Live Duke Lothar!!!

King Jan stands up and bows his head,

Indeed, this is a sad day. Losing a father is hard and both Duke Lothar and Chancellor Matthias have my sympathies. But I am sure that Duke Gerhard is resting peacefully up in Heaven. May the Lord bless and keep his family through this trying time. And finally, may the good Lord also bless and keep Duke Lothar through a long and prosperous reign as Duke of Bavaria.

Amen

Athalwolf bristled in offence

Threaten the life of a CHancellor!? What blasphemy is this? I Never even mentioned the word Chancellor! I don't think I did...
He leans back, talks to someone else then resumes his talk

Yes, the death of Gerhad is truly moving, I somewhat mourn for the sorriness SOME members of the Steffen are going through. Though through several actions I have seen maybe not all...

He was a conqueror, and somewhat true man of Bavaria.

A Franconian messenger enters the Diet, reading a message from his

Quote:

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First of all I must say I am saddened with the dead of Duke Steffen, but I also have something else to say concerning Steffen.
It was in the Edict that Vilnius should be taken, and I'm partly happy that it will be taken. However it is being taken by the Prussian Army, the army charged with the defence of Thorn, Breslau and Stettin. Now the Saxon Army needs to be taken from it's positions to help out, not according to plan.
Would this have gone as I asked to this would never have happened. Remember Chancellor, Franconia has 2 armies. The Prussian and the Saxon, and both have 3 provinces to defend. What will you do if the Danes march against us now? Franconia is too stretched out to do daring military operations, you should have waited till I myself came within supporting distance.

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Yes indeed, it is sad Gerhard has passed away. Nevertheless, I wish to express my congratulations to Duke Lothar, may his reign be prosperous and his house obedient to him.

I am saddened to hear about the death of Gerhardt Steffen. He was a very capable Duke and from what I could learn a great man. He will be missed and we can only hope that his son will be as adapt as he was at governing Bavaria.

Were the Chancellor drunk out of grief for his father, I would understand him, but otherwise I have to agree with Athalwolf von Salza, that drunken electors is not the think we are aiming for. Still I reserve any kind of punishment on this matter to me alone, so don't make empty threats within my Diet, Athalwolf.

*Lothar Steffen stands, his face pale and sagging. There is a great sadness in his eyes.*

Today, I have lost a father and the Reich has lost its greatest defender. Duke Gerhard Steffen was the last of an old breed of Romans, who’s like we see too little of these days. He believed in duty and honor above all else. He did what his Duchy and his Kaiser asked of him without question and without fail.

He was the last man alive who could claim to have fought in the war with Pope Gregory. Indeed, my father stood on the walls of Genoa itself, beside Kaiser Heinrich, as the last great battle was fought. I will leave it to scholars to determine whether the war was right and just, but one thing is certain: Gerhard Steffen acted as a true Roman. His Kaiser and his Duke led the fight, and it was his duty to serve. It would be good for many men alive today to remember that.

Duke Gerhard’s first battle as the commander of the Bavarian Household Army was a taste of what was to come: he led his men to the aid of Austria, destroyed a massive Hungarian host, and broke the siege of Venice. He cared not what House the men and women belonged to, he cared only that they were Imperial subjects. For Gerhard Steffen, that was always enough.

While Maximillian Mandorf, Otto von Kassel, and Conrad Salier went East, Gerhard Steffen remained in Bavaria to protect his people. While other Houses made land grabs and other Electors sought little more than glory, his priority was the simple welfare of his people. It was for this reason that he was made Duke of Bavaria. No one in the history of the Reich has deserved it more.

He ruled Bavaria peacefully for many years, until the Milanese once again brought war upon our House. He personally led the invasion of the Milanese islands, simply to halt the constant raids on coastal farms and towns. He marched not for rank, influence, or wealth. He marched for the common people who were suffering. Duke Gerhard paid a high price for this service to the lowest class. He and much of his family were cursed by a powerful witch. The only one to escape unscathed, my brother Markus, paid with his own life to see the Milanese threat ended for good. His death hit my father hard, but he did not allow his grief to cloud his judgment. His leadership ensured that despite great personal loss, the Milanese threat was ended. All this he did for the Bavarian commoners, not for himself.

I will mourn my father’s passing greatly, but not even my grief can match that expressed today in the streets and markets of every Bavarian city, town, and village. My father acquired a less than savory reputation towards the end of his life, due to his actions on the field of battle; actions made to defend the people of the Reich. Yet the people will always remember him by the name he earned many decades ago: Duke Gerhard the Honorable.

Be at peace, father, your work here is done.

Immediately following Lothar’s speech, Arnold draws his sword and raises it into the air.

Three cheers for the Departed Duke Steffen!!!!

As one the lords, retinue and retainers of the entire Austrian Household roar their approval.

HIP RAH!!!

HIP RAH!!!

HIP RAH!!!

Jan waits a respectful amount of time after the Austrian section cheers. He then stands up to speak.

I wish to take this oppurtunity to say something else about Duke Gerhard. My brother-in-law Jens von Kassel turned traitor against us and joined the Russian army. It was Duke Gerhard that hunted the traitor down and brought him to justice. My sister is still beside herself in grief over the loss of honor. The good Duke's actions helped return some of that honor to the von Hamburg family and I feel that is a debt we can never fully repay. As the highest ranking von Hamburg, I will make this pledge. Either of the Duke's sons can come to me and I will try to help them however I am able. While I can never fully make up for the stain on our family's honor that Jens von Kassel brought upon us, I can at least attempt to return some of the kindness that Duke Gerhard showed our family. He went about this task with the professionalism of a true knight. His kind are too few in our world.

Jan sits

I join Bavaria and the Reich in mourning Duke Steffan. The Duchy of Bavaria was truly lucky to have Duke who was content to rule so peaceful a Duchy. I wish Duke Lothar a long and equally glorious reign.

For his service in battle, I hereby grant Tancred von Tyrolia his knight's spurs. He is now fully capable of fighting a battle.

The Prussian Army, fiercely loyal under my command, is now ready to move to Vilnius.

On a sadder note, I would like to take this time to express my condolences to the Steffen family over the loss of Duke Gerhard. Long live Duke Lothar!

Peter whispers to Lars and Ulrich, his shield and lancebearers, then sits down.