Imperial Diet VI

*Fritz steps away from the doors and back to the Franconian bench*

While I don't agree that Péter is unworthy of the Stewardship, I respect Ansehelm's right to make a decision, and have stated before that I think it wise of him to have appointed a child. That alone should have forestalled all this current bickering.

And to those who doubt my ferocious loyalty to the Reich, may I remind you of the many battles I have fought on its behalf, the many scars I have gained, the many sacrifices I have made to keep it strong. No, the real traitors here are those who would side with Siegfried and give the Reich away to some gold-laden eastern effeminates!

*Fritz looks at Elberhard, a slow triumphal grin on his face, then takes his seat*

So, let me get this straight,

The Diet endorses the pursuit of Peter.

The Diet endorses Duke Hans going into battle with Peter's rogue army.

The Diet endorses a trial for Peter if he is captured.

But the Diet does not endorse firing Peter!?!

Tancred is not missing, Peter told me that Tancred is with him on his cause.
Sides, a normal General cannot become an heir to a Duchy.

Ok, so he is not missing, just a traitor.

Jan addresses the whole Diet,

Gentlemen!

We are asking Germans to fight their fellow Germans!

The least we can do is show that Duke Hans and his army have our full support!

If we do not have the BALLS!!!! to demand the firing of Steward Peter, then none of us are fit to be here!

Fritz, it is not your capacity for battle we doubt, but your loyalty. Loyalty does not have to do with scars gained in battle. I am loyal, yet have not been in service quite long enough to have a record such as yours.

I'll take an example: Caius Julius Caesar, whose name gave the honorific Kaiser, fought the Gallic Wars. He then proceeded to fight against Rome, because of Pompey. It was not a matter of loyalty which brought him to rebel, but one of personnal agenda.
Do you have a personnal agenda?

And, if you believe that we are traitors, we who would try to find a peaceful enough solution to all our problems, problems which keep increasing in number and difficulty by the minute, then you are wrong. Have you heard of the "vote of no confidence" Matthias put in place? Have you seen the preliminary results? I believe they say "No" in majority.

The King storms into the Diet holding a ream of reports,

This is an outrage!!!

The King violently throws them across his table where they scatter about.

I have reports that crowds are destroying churches!!! The cathedral in Genoa is gone! The chapel in Acre is gone! Count Zirn's beautiful huge cathedral in Damascus is gone!!

And Stettin.... Stettin destroyed their own church with the help of Count Fritz's magistrates!!!

Count Fritz, I demand an explanation!!!!

Even if there is no good alternative heir to Franconia anyone is better than Peter at the moment. Even if there are doubts about Fritz and his attitudes towards Luther at lest he has still remained at his post and is following the orders of his Duke. I would much rather follow a steward who has only just arrived at his Dukedom than follow a Duke who has betrayed his country!

OOC: just read PK's post

IC: Good lord! Surely such a thing cannot be true, if this is the case then Fritz is most certainly not a preferable choice. Someone has to be punished for this lest it become common practice throughout the reich!

Ansehelm:
A Chancellor is responsible for all building and army movements. So I too would like to know why the Chancellor decided to destroy those buildings.

There are numerous eyewitness accounts that these acts were done by crowds following the teachings of Luther!!

The Chancellor didn't do this!!!

I demand that Luther be found and made accountable for this!!

The Pope is blaming us for not keeping control of our populace. Well, we better get control and fast!

*Fritz rises coolly from the bench*

Ah, it's come to this, then, has it. I am blamed for the acts of the people. People who have been trying to get it through your thick heads that the current situation cannot stand.

And it cannot, friends! The people will no longer tolerate this unification, neither on a political nor on a spiritual level. They are fed up, sick and tired, worn out, and ready for a revolution!

I suggest everyone take care when going home today. The crowds cannot be controlled with a few bodyguards.

*Fritz sits with a smile*

Ansehelm:
I know no Luther, and have never even heard the name.
But I bet his views are better than anything Orthodox.

Jan calms down a little,

Count Fritz,

I apologize for my earlier tone. Surely you can understand my feelings on this matter. Do you know that your settlement has burned down it's church?

to the Diet

I have sent new orders to the Steward. Count Dieter is to turn his army south and secure the city of Damascus. The current unrest has pushed the city to the brink of revolution.

King Jan, I don't know anything about this. If my mag...

*Fritz goes red in the face*

...if the people of Stettin have burned the church, though, they will rebuild it to the glory of God.

Once the Pope has been replaced, of course.

*Fritz seats himself a little shakily*

Elberhard: To confirm the information that King Jan has provided, it is with grave regret that I must inform you all of the destruction of the huge cathedral in Damascus. Crusaders, possessed by the heretical teachings of Alexander Luther and filled with a diabolical hatred of our brothers, the Eastern Romans, were responsible for this sacriliegous act. They took advantage of the departure of their Count, Karl Zirn, and while loyal magistrates struggle to maintain order, I fear the city will revolt by the year's end.

Such "men" have even burnt down the chapel in Acre under my very nose. I glad to say, I caught the @#$%^&!!!ers responsible for the lesser outrage in Acre and they are now hanging in the citadel square.

These acts of sabotage against the newly unified church have not been confined to Outremer. A cathedral in Genoa has been burnt to the ground. A church in Stettin has also gone up in flames, although there are reports there that the magistrates - loyal to their governor, Fritz - not only failed to stop the arson but appeared to be orchestrating it.

These outrages have led to severe condemnation of the rioters by Pope Abbate. Our relations with the Papacy are now abysmal and the Holy Father will not suffer the name of the Reich to be mentioned in his presence. May God have mercy on the rioters’ souls for committing these sacrilegious acts.

That is indeed troubling. I shall have loyal Swabian guards posted around the churches in the Ducal territories of Bern and Staufen. I would advise all governors to do the same to prevent further destruction of all that is holy.

*Fritz von Kastilien looks about the chamber, shakes his head, then turns and leaves with weary steps*

Lorenz sits there, still a little confused with all this havoc, of the traitor.
Lorenz sits there for a long time, with a serious face, thinking. After a moment he speaks

About this traitor... Peter? I do not think we should stop him, on his "mad" run to constiaple.

Lorenz smiles

The byzatiums are, nothing but our allies, and if Peter is unstoppable at this moment, I think its time we declare war.

Peter will reach constiplae and attack soon, rather wasting thousands of german lives, on an pointless assualt, that will cause war, why not, send more armies towards constiaple, and... how should I put this....... wipe them out?

It is just my opinion, I think that since Peter is going to attack constipale anyways, why not just declare war with them? At least that will be... profitable.

This is insanity! How is it that we have two traitorous nobles and an unruly mob burning down Houses of God because of reunification when we don't even know what reunification is yet?

As blasphemous as the religious aspect of the unification is, Peter has shown himself to be not only a traitor but a bloodthirsty idiot as well. I will be happy to do the Lord's work and stop his march should he continue to move towards Constantinople, but if he and his entire army perishes at the hands of the Byzantines then he will have gotten what he deserved!

And another thing, from now on I will dedicate Prague's entire five regiments of militia towards guarding the Abbey and Councilor's Chambers for the preservation of good public order!

Lorenz stands up, smashing his knuckles on the wooden table indenting it.

Edmund! DO YOU REALLY WANT TO STAIN YOUR SWORD WITH GERMAN BLOOD!!?

ARE YOU THAT EAGER TO KILL A GERMAN, AND FORCE, BROTHERS, FATHERS, SONS, COUNSINS, TO KILL EACH OTHER?!!?

Lorenz calms down.

I would rather stain my sword with byzantium blood then, have my sword stained with german blood.

I say that we screw this unification, and take down the orthodox!

The orthodox is another religion and should not be accepted into our practicies!

Looking to Lorenz, Hans rises to speak

I am quite surprised you would attack a brother Roman for the opposite reason and stain your sword with their blood, who have not raised their arm against us for many years now and have held the Venetians in check.

Even if you were to attack the Byzantines, there would be less of German life, unless you believe you can achieve victory without a single fallen. Regardless, there may be riots, but there are counter-riots as well. Re-unification or not, at this point, the Lutherian heretics will spill German blood and they are not sanctioned by the diet.

Save your words and anger for these blasphemers.

Lorenz sits, down exhaling. Then looking to Hans

Are you even sure you will be able to catch Peter. He will reach Constiaple sooner or later. It will still mean an act of war. You have a 50% chance of stopping a war from happening. But if you fail to catch him, war will occur anyways.

THINK ABOUT IT!

If that 50% chance with peter, can be changed into 60% maybe 70%, if we reinforce him, with more troops, and crush the Byzantium.

If I have a 50% chance to stop a war, then that is better than nothing. It will save the empire and its allies from needless harm.

A worthy cause, Duke Hans. Just be careful that in preventing one war, you do not start another.

Lorenz grunts, biting hard on his tongue. Then slowly exhales, and relaxes, then stands up. Without saying anything Lorenz stands up and walks out of the chambers, right at the door he speaks in a low calm tone.

It will be your demise.

This destruction of churches is an unforgivable sin, these are symbols of gods presence and power on earth, how such acts are permitted boggles the mind. Something must be done!

I also fear that Hans actions only add to the drum beat of war, I believe that diplomacy would serve the rich best. Lest we not allow this new Roman Empire fall to internal turmoil.

Arnold:

I will certainly be making sure that any destruction of Church property in Austria will be met with swift and decisive justice at the point of my sword.

On another matter.

I hereby Knight Lorenz Zirn for his actions in battle around Krakow.

Picking up a small ornate box the Duke throws it across the Diet floor to Lorenz.

Their gold spurs son!! Don't £$^£$ing pawn them off you mad bastard!!!

The strain of the past few years is showing on Matthias. He speaks in a cold voice, but one with an edge of desperation.

This is Madness! Churches and Cathedral burned! Members of the Diet taking delight in the destruction and rebellion that is going on about us! Yet there is still no word from the Kaiser. He is fiddling in Constantinople while the Reich burns!

I oppose Unification. Our effort to unify Churches and Empires has accomplished little but rebellion, arson and chaos. What has been severed cannot be rejoined, to try is folly and only invites the dire events we see before us.

But I also oppose these Lutherites and those who support them.

Matthias's gaze bores in on Fritz.

Their actions might stop Unification, but only because there won't be anything left to join on either side. They think they are "saving" the Reich, but in fact they are only destroying it. What use is that?

This cannot continue. If this rebellion is to be put down, unification must be halted. We cannot stay on this path, or our Great Empire will be lost.

It sickens me to do this, but I call for an Emergency Session. Kaiser Siegfried must be removed from the Chancellorship, Unification halted, and the full force of the Reich brought down on this rebellion. I hope if Peter and Tancred hear of the Session they will halt their advance, but if not, they will soon be shown the error of their ways.

The Rule of Law must be reimposed, against all who set themselves against it. Without order, without laws, we are lost.

Ansehelm:
And you are the man to call on Emergency Session?
This "rebellion" can't be that serious, if people can't control their cities, well that's their fault. If something like this will happen in Franconia we'll just rebuild the church, pretty simple really.

*A messenger enters the Diet chambers, waits until he is given permission, then announces from a scroll*

Lords, Count Fritz von Kastilien sends his regards to the noble Electors. He regrets to hear that not a single second was found to push forward Matthias' call for an Emergency Session, which is clearly needed.

*The messenger stops, licks his lips, and stammers onward*

He further sends a message, that if this body is incapable of action on such a straightforward matter, he also regrets to inform the electors that he has decided to absent himself from the Diet and join the people of Stettin and eastern Franconia as they move towards a new order.

His messenger will be reachable at the Broken Axle inn to convey any messages.

*The messenger bows and makes a very quick exit*

So it's now three generals absent? Two in direction of Constantinople, and one who wants to raise further ruckus in the Diet, yet without being present in the Diet personally?

How ridiculous! This isn't going to solve any of our problems!