Frozen Crusade Order Council

Dietrich watches his Meister retreat from the Council Chambers then turns around to his fellow knights

What now, sir?"
asks one. Dietrich stands after swearing at him

You call that punishment!? Take my army, I don't give a @#%^! Chop off my head, that might take you away then!
Dietrich lays his head aas if going to the gullotine, then raises it laughs loudly.

Now to more important matters; Why the %^&$ did you let him take my army, Rupert!? Now I have to stay in this place, and he's going to kill every last Livonian and Prussian in that army!
Dietrich sits, while the Livonians around him stay silent.
OOC: I can't see the save, what other traits does he have? Dietrich is going to take advantage of Maxmillian's absence...

Bruders, we have a momentous decision ahead of us.

It has been two seasons since we last spoke. On the war front things are going mostly in our favor. Lithuania is on its last legs. Maximillian's army has been reinforced by the one form Dunaburg, and I have even better news. A young English crusading noble has joined our fight. Maximillian should rendevous with him next season, then this new full size army will ravage the few remaining Lithuanian lands.

The Danes are sieging Pernau again. I should be able to fight them off like before, but first I must deal with a Rus army threatening Riga. I grow weary as a Prussian spending all of my time defending Livonia, but I suppose it is for the best until Dietrich is again able to fight battles.

A small army has been recruited to form a core for the Army of Prussia. If my Meister is willing, think it would be good for him to sail north with it and conquer the Island of Gotland, which contains a rich trading city.

Now for the biggest news of the season. Our ally the Holy Roman Empire has declared war on our other ally Poland. I had hoped such a thing wouldn't happen, especially with the Empire suffering attacks from Danish pirates. We have long been a loyal vassal of the Empire, but I wonder at the wisdom of their move. Already under pressure in the north, they attack our ally without even informing us. Staying with them would likely create a second front to our west, where we have relatively few troops. We are not making as much money as before, due to the need to recruit large armies. Perhaps it is time to declare our independence from the secular HRE. I leave the decision up to wiser men than I.

OOC: I give the save a look later tday, Warluster. I know he has some points of dread, and a few command starts as well. I'll check his other traits. :yes:

This is good. By my authority as Hochmeister, I charge Ordenmarshall Maximillian to be the one who escorts this Crusading Noble about the Lithuanian territories for our vengeance from Vilnius.

I will take an army to Gotland.

Good, it is agreed then. Meister Karl will take the trading city of Visby, while Meister Maximillian excorts the English Noble Charles to rid the Baltic of the pagans.

About Poland, shall I cancel our alliance with the Empire, or with Poland? I'm afraid their diplomats insist we hoose one or the other.

We must take the side of the Polish. The Holy Roman Empire has gone down a dark path - Poland shall continue to be our ally.

OOC: I think we need to figure something out. Are decisions like this up for a vote? I wouldn't mind letting Gibson have the final say as Hochmeister, but it could be voted on as well.

OOC: We could vote. Hochmeister in this game has a lot of power actually, it's pretty cool.

Dietrich stands anrgily,as usual, and the knights surrounding him prepare themselves

So those bloody little $%^&'s in the west are stuffing up again. Heres my opinon; they've made so many mistakes, we might as well stick to Poland so we don't get caught up in their $%^#!

I request personally to whoever will listen to me anymore;

One of the knights speak "I do"
Shut up; anyway, I ask someone could I please lead a offensive somewhere! I am sick of losing my voice every time someone stirs the %^&$ about! Hochmeister Hans, I am eager to expand our borders. Give me a army, Prussian, Livonian, Polish, English, all the other bloody cutlures we have helping us!

The matter of Military Police; why are they not formed yet? They are, would be, perfect for helping these new Crusading nobles! Maybe Meister Maxmillian wishes to be one, since he has backed away from the thought of a fight.

Dietrich grimly smiles, and sits after throwing a nasty look at the cowering knight sitting beside him.

We cannot betray them! We are their countrymen and Brothers. There are few men in our armies who do not have blood in the fatherland and if we side with Poland now then I'm afraid thousands of our soldiers may return home. You can formally break the alliance if you wish but I shall not ever help the Poles and attack them if the opertunity presents itself.

What is this, Livonian treachery? We Prussians, the ORIGINAL Teutonic Order, came and saved you Livonian "Brothers of the Sword" from the certain defeat you would have suffered at the hands of some pagans, and THIS is how you repay us?

I would inform you, Meister, that the Hochmeisters word carries some influence, but if we vote and decide on something then it is BINDING on each and every one of us, INCLUDING Livonians. I am sorry Dietrich, I do not include you in this angry triade, as despite our differences you have proven yourself a loyal and invaluable asset to the order. As for your Meister however...

Finally, one must realize that the Emperor does not speak for all of the Germans, he is merely a figurehead to a crumbling empire. I doubt many in our ranks would be angry, or too displeased if his power were curbed a little.

In any case, I would have this council know that I will not stand for treachery. If the Meister of Livonia thinks he can dissobey a council decision then I vote we strip him of his titles and his membership in the order and send him to the Poles.

Dietrich sits back while the two make there announcements, then tands with a knife in his hand

Well here we go... again! I am not siding with anyone, and not going against anyone, but mein meister, you know the words you speak are of forked tounge!

I shall say no more $%^#! I shall not prove disloyal to mein Meister! But I unfortunely, agree, with a Prussian. I have to prove disloyal, since I know my own Meister does not want me in his Chapter. If you so think so, banish me, I shall go elsewhere.
Dietrich shivers
But, I do not like it when Prussians bagre on about being the Original Chapter! YOU might have a #$%^ing good history, but ours is just as good. If 'Prussia' doesn't want us, FINE! We can form our own @#$%pile!
All the Livonain Knights surorounding Detrich sstand up and let out a hearty roar, then they all sit down, including Dietrich.

We shall make an offensive, we shall destroy the Lithuanians, and then we shall cripple the Novgorod Republic! Dietrich, perhaps you should urge your Meister to grant you territory so you can set troop build orders!

OOC: Ah, the fun of a game where every avatar has several points of dread. :clown: Shall I go ahead and cancel the alliance with Poland and continue? It looks like the majority is in favor.

We shall not submit to a dying Empire. Poland is our ally, and that is final.

Greetings Bruders, I bring some ill news this season. Our alliance with the Empire is broken. I was able to see of some Russians threatening Riga, but Pernau fell to the Danes before I could reach it. I should have the city sieged next season to recapture it.

Meister Maximillian has met the English Noble Charles and is commanding a large army. He should take at least one Lithuanian city this turn.

Meister Karl has set sail for Visby, as a trading city to fuel our military.

Lithuania's last major army is marching on Lida. Hochmeister Hans should be able to collect enough troops to see it off by the time it sieges the castle.

OOC: Sorry, Warluster. :shame: I think we had Dietrich all wrong when he was described to you. He has Fair Fighter, Religiously Proper, and Promising Commander. :dizzy2: Not very chivalrous, but not particularly dreadful either. If he had dread, he lost it while a governor. I'd suggest to roleplay him as you've been doing, it's been fun. :yes: A few exterminated towns or executed prisoners would set him right (err, wrong) again.

OOC: :laugh4:
Maybe make him go through a character changing experince? I'll go with yuor suggestion; exterminate, be merciless, etc,etc. I think I might RP Religiously Proper though, could be a uh, interesting comibnation. :grin3: Next argumentThanks for finding out, if I found out later it might be a bit strange (disatorous)

Gentlemen, another season has passed. I took out a small Danish and small Russian army, retaking Pernau. Thanks to Meister Maximillian and Englishman Charles' efforts, the Lithuanians are down to two cities. They have taken a stand at Vilnius, with the army threatening Lida last season marching north to mee another of the same size. Maximillian can either take the small town to the north of it, or try to take on those Lithuanian armies.

Hochmeister Hans could march north to help Maximillian, but it would take two seasons at least, and the Mongols are snooping around Minsk.

My own Meister Karl is sailing north to take Visby. That rich trading city will help fix our funding problem, since the upkeep for the many soldiers we've needed to fight so many enemies has damaged our economy. Nonetheless, things are going well and the Lithuanians will soon be no more. After that, we can look to our other enemies.

OOC: Warluster, since you're going to be unable to play battles for a while, maybe a sub can be designated?

I'd hate to see Dietrich's behavior changed, I think he's our most colorful character! :D