Imperial Messenger Service

[GeneralHankerchief]

While Rome has fallen and the Diet been closed, communication is not completely cut off between Electors. News can still get out and quickly make their way around the Reich, and the Imperial Messenger Service is the best place to spread the news.

Use this thread to make any official in-character proclamations that apply to the Reich as a whole. Debate is not encouraged as it would be debate-by-mail, which lacks the zing of normal debate.

Example: The House of Austria is in dire straits and requests assistance against the Byzantines. Your contribution will not be forgotten once this ends.

[econ21]

The State of the Reich

Electors, in these chaotic times, my authority seems to extend no further than the picquets of my army. However, I believe I can still perform some small service as Kaiser by keeping a record of the fate of the provinces that are, or once were, part of the Reich. I will endeavour to keep this accurate and up to date, so as to facilitate right and lawful arrangements of the Reich after this cataclysm is over.


The absence of an entry implies that the province remains part of the Reich and is loyal to its Duke.

I would be grateful for any information and corrections you may supply.

Kaiser Elberhard



OOC: This supercedes the province information in the playlist, which is getting out of date but won't be updated until things settle down.

[Privateerkev]

Dear Kaiser, Dukes, Counts, and Electors,

I hope this letter finds you well. I often sit and wonder how things are going back in Europe. These dark times are an opportunity to pull together. We should stop pointless bickering and fratricidal combat. One day, the crisis will end and we will all have to rebuild together. I hope we can enter the next Diet with more civility and brotherhood, than we left the last one.

I will tell you with great pride that we in Outremer are holding against the mighty Byzantine armies. Even now, we are making plans to re-take Outremer, for the Byzantines have proven to be ill-equipped stewards. The extermination of Rome was the last straw. They need to be driven from our lands. I hope that the pressure we are putting on the Byzantines in Outremer, is helping the Bavarians. Maybe we can force the ERE to spread themselves too thinly.

Good luck and God be with you.

All of you are in my prayers,

Jan

[GeneralHankerchief]

Fellow Electors, Swabians:

In this time of crisis stability is needed, this much is clear. So far stability has been remarkably nonexistant, and look at what has happened.

The need for it in Swabia is clear. Hans has spent much too much of his time chasing down rogue Electors and trying to build his own legacy instead of focusing on external enemies. He is unfit to rule. The honorable Sir Dietrich von Dassel wishes to relieve him of this post and take command of Swabia himself so that competancy may be restored.

Hans is a cancer to his House and the Reich. While enemies have overrun the frontier, are putting the middle territories in mortal danger, and threatening the heart of the Reich, he instead marches around Swabia intent on killing fellow Germans. This is not the best way to act.

Dietrich von Dassel instead claims the title of Duke of Swabia for himself. With the abdication of Hans, he can then concentrate on driving the French off Imperial lands instead of killing countrymen. If Hans does abdicate, then he and his followers will be allowed to keep their Counties.

[Stig]

Announcement from Franconia

Today Franconia has given up Thorn, defending it would cost the Reich too much, and as soon as possible we will leave it. We plan on building a new defensive line to defend Stettin and Breslau from attacks, and furthermore we want to gain land against the Danes.
Electors from other Duchies are hereby invited to join an attack against Arhus, to bring down the Danes once and for all.

The Reich should stand strong, it should not have people declaring themselves anything and nothing.

[Privateerkev]

Dear Kaiser, Dukes, Counts, and Electors,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am proud to tell you that the Crusaders are holding Outremer against heavy odds. Antioch and Aleppo have been relieved of their sieges and the Kaiser has moved south to try to re-take Damascus. I hope the rest of you in the Reich are holding your own against the enemies arrayed against you.

However, some letters that have reached me through the IMS have caused concern.

The announcement by one Dietrich von Dassel to somehow claim the mantle of Duke of Swabia is particularly interesting. He is supposedly doing this to promise stability. How a man who gets the entire Reich excommunicated, can see himself as the purveyor of stability, is quite simply beyond comprehension. Electors only need to look so far as their own counties to see evidence of Dassel's "so called stability" embodied by the massive civil unrest excommunication has brought us. I am sure the thousands that have died from riots and lack of social order will rest easy knowing that Dassel is going to claim being Duke all in the name of stability.

Also of note is Duke Ansehelm's letter where he claims the need to abandon Franconian lands while simultaneously calling for a gigantic offensive against the Danes. Meanwhile his brother, Peter the Pretender, abandons Hamburg to the Danes. While I understand the need to consolidate defensive lines, in order to preserve forces, it makes little sense to then go on separate offensives into the heart of enemy territory. Thousands of our citizens are either caught behind enemy lines, or are under threat of being over-run. I urge the Duke to concentrate on protecting the citizens entrusted to his care and avoid foolhardy offensives that will only waste his resources and put more lives at risk. I also urge the Franconian Counts to take matters into their own hands to protect their people, if Duke Ansehelm refuses the responsibility.

I wish you all luck in protecting those under your care. It is up to us to bring the citizens of the Reich through this dark time. We must not fail. The fate that befell Rome is ample proof of what will happen if we falter.

God be with you,
Jan

[AussieGiant]

My Lords,

The situation in Austria is still tense.

I write this in light of the recent crushing Lord Zirn, Count Lorenz and Count Karolinger have given the approaching Hungarian's near Budapest.

After two successful night actions I believe we will be able to hold firm at Budapest.

The next phase will be the Venetian attack on Ragusa.

As long as the two nations do not co-ordinate their attacks either by luck or design then I believe Austria can hold on these two fronts.

News of the Outremer victories are certainly heartening given the substantial amount of troops present in the region...we are certainly doing well.

As for Dietrich's proclamation then I am certainly not interested in rehashing the past.

Right now Swabia is in turmoil and anyone that can unite the Duchy will be the most appropriate for the position no matter what the past may have recorded.

At this time I will also publicly state that "count" Becker has separated himself from the Duchy of Austria based loosely on some grievance against the function of House Austria.

I've sent him a note saying that he is under a period of amnesty should he decide to rejoin me and the House he swore allegiance too. If he reconsiders then I will view it as a brief moment of uncertainty given the situation we are facing.

However, and I say this with absolute certainty....at such time as the situation in Austria stabilises I will make a determination as to when this amnesty ends, and when it does there will be a clear choice for him to make.

Anyone aiding or abetting him will fall under the same conditions.

In uncertain times is when you learn about your men and your nobles. Loyalty and trust to me from my nobles and the men I command IS the most important characteristic!! There can be no grey areas.

Duke Arnold of Austria.

[Tamur]

Count Fritz von Kastilien, dear friend of Odred One-Hand and Haldrich Ring-Thrower, summons all able-bodied mercenaries to join him on the shores of the North Sea in a new and exciting prospect.

Rich plunder, fine women, acres of land for those old enough to wish a farm.

Pay from Fritz' thick coffers and from expeditions soon to be launched. Come now or regret serving elsewhere, you dogs!

[Privateerkev]

Dear Kaiser, Dukes, Counts, and Electors,

I am happy to hear that the situation in Austria is stabilizing.

However, I find it regrettable that Duke Arnold feels the need to take the opportunity to not only sanction violence against a sitting Duke, but threaten electors over who they politically support.

I will support whom I wish to support without regard to Arnold's threats or temper tantrums. Having years of experience regarding Arnold's anger management problems, I can assure all of you that his bark is much worse than his bite.

If the Dukes wish to maintain the support of their electors, they need to protect their citizens and lead by example, not fear.

God be with you,
Jan

[AussieGiant]

Nobles of the Reich,

Of course I find Jan's open letter a disgrace to this Realm and a pathetic series of words that mean nothing to anyone with some vital sense of reality.

My attitude towards the self proclaimed separatist Becker is measured and accurate and certainly not something Jan could possibly defend unless he too did not have the best interests of this Riech at heart!!

His sanctioning of Becker’s action is boarding on treason and clearly undermines the Household traditions that have made this Realm what it was and will be in the future.

Of course having no real House himself and clearly showing no sign of respect for the Duchy he belongs too have long been theme's of his rhetoric and constant snipping.

I would certainly recommend Jan remains in Outremer for his entire life as his ability to work with others and generate good will and consensus are sadly lacking. Especially here in the homelands.

My words towards Becker are nothing more than a clear and defined set of parameters for him to make a clear decision. If he chooses to continue his separatist actions against House Austria then my promise is that action will be taken by this House to remedy the situation.

I've never bitten so I am unsure how anyone is able to determine whether my bark is more or less dangerous.

Long Live the Reich!!

[Privateerkev]

Dear Kaiser, Dukes, Counts, and Electors,

Duke Arnold has made some strong statements. Now, with all of you as my witness, I am going to dare him to back them up. I have been accused of bordering on treason and undermining Household traditions. Clearly, some people have different ideas on what it means to serve their citizens.

Arnold wishes to rule by fear and temper tantrums. I rule by serving and sacrifice.

So, I will now say what Arnold has said so many times in the Diet.

Duke Arnold, you have talked a great deal, now lets see some action. Bring a case of treason against me at the next Diet if you feel so strongly.

As for your bite, I have experienced it and it did not live up to the mythos you have built up for yourself.

The Dukes need to do what is right by their people in these trying times. This is not a time for Arnold to be grasping at power in a desperate attempt to hold onto his pathetic legacy.

God be with you,
Jan

[AussieGiant]

My Lords,

Essentially Jan has supported a man who is a self proclaimed separatist and someone that has forsaken his oath to me and his Duchy.

That seems a clear case of disloyalty and certainly not something that should be tolerated when the Reich is faced with crisis it has now.

Becker’s actions have directly affected House Austria's ability to defend itself and has resulted in two nobles from other houses providing assistance in these trying times.

How that is defensible is beyond me, and I would regard my handling of the situation as measured and clear.

Jan has on many occasions used guilt by association to validate his arguments. His own methodology would seem to be the best course of explanation as to where my comments are coming from.

I'm not going to back up anything as he requests.

I have no need.

The words he has said will be more than enough for those who wish to see this Reich return to dominance deal with him as they see fit.

I am taking action and the nobles that have remained loyal to me and this Duchy see that every day of their lives.

We are the one’s dying defending Austria.

We are the one’s that have remained firm in this time of crisis.

We are the one’s working together towards a common aim and purpose.

Those in Prague do nothing but worry and build their forces for the inevitable time that is approaching.

Jan’s clear delusion of the situation here in Austria only compounds his complete lack of understanding as to what is happening.

If he so freely wishes to forsake the Duchies and the Dukes and Counts that make them whole then I see a long and lonely time before him.

Long Live the Kaiser. Long Live the Reich.

[TinCow]

Citizens of the Reich,

I write this letter to formally state that the Duchy of Bavaria is supporting the claim of Sir Dietrich von Dassel to the Duchy of Swabia. I will not attempt to persuade you that Dietrich has some hereditary claim to the title. That is a trick that dishonest men like Hans turn to in order to further their station. Sir Dietrich is not such a disreputable man. Far from it, he acts out of a true love for his people and a desire to see them governed by a man who will truly protect their interests. At this very moment, Dietrich is leading a large army that includes many fine Bavarian soldiers to aid the people of Swabia in their hour of need. I have spent much time with Sir Dietrich in recent months and he has convinced me of his sincerity. I am certain that he will rally the peoples of this broken Duchy and protect them from the ravages of the French armies.

For those of you who doubt his motives, and my own for backing him, I will simply recount the history of recent events as we know them. Dietrich von Dassel has been a true and honest friend of Bavaria from the day he came of age. He was knighted by my own father, Duke Gerhard Steffen, for his actions in defending Marseilles against the French. In more recent times, Sir Dietrich single-handedly defeated a Byzantine army that was threatening Bologna. He did this at a time when he had been disowned by his own Duke and was without lands to call his own. He could have ignored that army that plagued Bavarian lands and marched homewards. Instead he risked his own life and sacrificed much of his strength in a selfless act. As if that was not enough, he then volunteered his men to aid me in the destruction of a second Byzantine army that was blocking my escape from Florence. Without the aid of Sir Dietrich von Dassel, I would not likely be alive today.

In contrast, Hans has consistently demonstrated that he is unfit to rule a County, let alone a Duchy. His first act as a new Elector was to disobey orders and abduct a large group of knights from the First Crusade. He used these knights to gain personal glory against the Hungarians, knowing the entire time that he was putting the very security of the entire Crusade at risk by depriving them of much of their mounted strength. During his time in Outremer, he consistently sought to further his own station at the expense of others. A noble and honorable young Swabian, Jens Hummel, was killed while under the command of Hans in a battle against the Mongols. This was a needless and pointless battle. The Mongols were already broken as a threat to Outremer and more forces could have easily been assembled to defeat their remaining army without risking great bloodshed. However, that would have required that Hans share the glory with another general. Instead, he assaulted the Mongols alone and Jens Hummel paid the ultimate price so that his fellow Swabian could have yet another victory to brag about in the taverns.

In recent times, Hans has been single-handedly responsible for much of the evils that have befallen the Reich. When Peter von Kastilien took the brave and bold decision to march on Constantinople to prevent the atrocity of the ‘unification,’ Hans was the first man to volunteer to stop him. He cared not that it might require the shedding of fellow German blood or that his actions would support the ‘unification’ policy which was destined to destroy the Reich. No, he only marched east with an army and a will to shed the blood of his fellow Germans. As a result, Hans’ own people have clearly and unambiguously demonstrated their distain for his rule. Paris, Dijon, and Metz all rebelled against his authority, more provinces than any other Duchy. Furthermore, his actions have caused two of his own Electors to take up arms against him. Surely this demonstrates that the people desire a new leader.

Therefore, given the honorable manner in which Sir Dietrich has conducted himself, the friendship that Sir Dietrich has consistently shown to Bavaria, and the desire of the Swabian people for a new Duke, I have chosen to give Sir Dietrich the full support of Bavaria in his efforts. I know that under his wise and noble leadership, the Duchy of Swabia will survive and prosper. I urge all Electors to do what they can to aid Sir Dietrich in his noble mission, for the good of Swabia and the Reich.

To those, who wonder why I have given Bavarian resources to a Swabian when my own Duchy is so desperately in need, I say this: While Bavaria is itself beset with enemies from all sides, I simply cannot turn a blind eye to the plight of good German peoples, no matter which Duchy they call home. Count Friedrich Karolinger is already serving to aid Austria in the east and now Sir Dietrich von Dassel will receive Bavarian support in the west. Duke Ansehelm is doing a remarkable job defending Franconia, but should he find himself truly in need, Bavaria will aid him. We Bavarians will find a way to defend our lands and aid our neighbours at the same time, even if it puts own own lives at risk. We will not abandon our friends, even when times are hard for us. It is only through such common bonds of friendship and cooperation that we can hope to live through these dark times. As yet another demonstration of the good-will of Bavaria, I hereby pledge to the entire Reich that I will personally liberate Rome and restore it to the Kaiser, or I will die trying.

Praise God!
Long live the Reich!

Lothar Steffen
Duke of Bavaria

[GeneralHankerchief]

Fellow Electors,

I thank Duke Lothar for his continued support and generosity. If the rest of us showed the same spirit of cooperation then we would have our enemies beaten back in no time and concentrate on the betterment of the Reich's people.

Sadly, this is not the case. Duke Hans has failed to reply to my claim despite both inside and outside support. Therefore, I offer him an ultimatum:

Renounce your claim to Swabia. Agree to appoint me as Duke. I will grant leniency and amnesty to you and your supporters. I will even name you Count of Staufen, despite it being the Swabian capital, in recognition of your long service to the Reich and Swabia.

You have twenty-four hours to respond. Otherwise action that I do not wish to take will be taken. Please act for the good of the people of Swabia, Hans. I will not be this lenient again.

Electors, my priority is to keep Swabia united and powerful. I want to kill the French, not good Germans. I did not wish for the situation to come to this but in the long run I must do what is best for the people.

Signed,
Dietrich von Dassel

[FactionHeir]

Duke Hans of Swabia wishes to extend his greetings to the noble Counts and Dukes, and of course the honorable King of the Levant and Emperor of our Holy Roman Empire.

He feels that at this time, there is no need to reply to the ramblings of overconfident rebels and cutthroats who wish to bring another dark age over the empire.

However, in his wisdom, and belief, that no more blood of Swabian descent should be spilt than absolutely necessary, he graciously will accept the surrender of Wolfang Hümmel and Dietrich von Dassel, if they will lay down arms instead of inciting further infighting and civil wars, and allow them to use their forces to fight the French alongside the loyal and true Swabians.

If however, they feel the urge and craving for Swabian blood, the Duke regretfully will see no choice but to respond in equal measure.

In addition, Duke Hans of Swabia is most displeased at Duke Lothar of Bavaria's actions and wishes to warn Bavaria that their lack of faith and support of rebellion will not soon be forgotten.

[TinCow]

Edmund Becker and Other Rebellious Knaves,

The Duchy of Bavaria will not tolerate exploitation of her lands by non-Bavarians at any time, let alone in these dark days. I formally demand that Edmund Becker return the wealth he has stolen from Nuremburg to me personally and swear to keep his citizens from commiting such crimes ever again. It is clear to all that I cannot spare the time to march north and deal with the matter personally, but this period of crisis will not last forever. If all Bavarian properly is not returned to me by the end of the year, I shall extract it from Edmund Becker's hide with my bare hands... plus interest. It may take a few years, but that will only give me more time to devise unpleasant methods of repossession.

Lothar Steffen
Duke of Bavaria

[Cecil XIX]

Electors of the Reich,

I apologize, deeply and profusely, for what has happened as a result of my orders. My intentions were for my men to legally purchase goods and materials from the surrounding lands, and I had even hoped that some of the taxes and tariffs would go to the coffers of my fellow nobles.

My men have given me nothing that I requested, but have instead stolen from my countrymen. Were I not in a position to make things right, I would second Duke Lothar's proclamation. Instead, I will return to Dukes Arnold, Lothar, and Peter double what was stolen. Each of these men have a much greater need for soldiers than I. I will also release those responsible into the custody of those they have wronged, namely the same Dukes.

Let no one doubt my intentions, for it is not my will to contribute to this chaos.

Sincerely,
Edmund Bece

[AussieGiant]

Becker!!

It seems as if the actions of your merchants are beyond your control!!

Apologies all you want but the effects are the same. Three Duchies are now temporarily affected this year while this mess is sorted out.

The timing could not be worse and the Duke's in question have already sent me notes of displeasure.

I don't know what your playing at, but if you think that by yourself you can defend against Polish and Hungarian forces then you are delusional.

Why don't you send an observer to some of the battles being fought outside Budapest to gauge for yourself how our professional troops, commanded by some of the Reich's greatest General are fairing!!??

End this separation before you bring down Austria and yourself in one foul moment of selfishness!

I promise you Becker, when I decide the amnesty is over you will have one chance to reconcile before military action is taken.

Duke Arnold

[Tamur]

To the electors of the Reich:

I have received word from a reputable source that King Jan has foully abandoned Outremer, bound for the Reich's unstable centre, with malignant intent. My informant whispered many rumours of Jan's whereabouts but these are unfounded at present.

I urge all electors to keep watch on their troops, their territories, and their coffers. King Jan should be treated as a criminal! We must apprehend him at the first opportunity and bring him to trial when the Diet next convenes.

Fritz von Kastilien

[AussieGiant]

My Lords,

Word has reached me from Budapest.

Lord Zirn has defeated another Hungarian force in a night action.

I'm also please to announce that Johann Zirn has been knighted due to his skill and bravery on the field of battle.

On a more sour note I have heard that Becker is pleading a case to help defend Breslau on behalf House Franconia.

I'd urge Duke Peter to avoid dealing with the separatist as he can clearly not be trusted and must not be dealt with as an equal of any station.

Clearly Becker is feeling the adverse affects of sitting around watching Austrian nobles with assistance from Franconia and Bavaria make the sacrifices that HE should be making for his Duchy!!

Duke Arnold

[Privateerkev]

My fellow Germans,

This letter is being sent to every settlement in the Reich, as well as every noble.

I come to you in a time of great peril to ask you for your help. Events are going on in Europe that I can not ignore any longer. First off, let me introduce myself.

I am Jan von Hamburg, son of Fredericus von Hamburg. Veteran of the Second and Third Crusades. King of Outremer for 44 years. I have spent my adult life defending the Holy Lands and protecting a Papal Jerusalem. I have served the Reich, the Kaiser, and the Lord faithfully. And I am not happy.

I am not happy because I see a Reich torn apart by religious division. I watched as Alexander Luther poisoned the minds of many good people. One of them is Dietrich von Dassel who, with Luther at his side, murdered Pope Abbate, exterminated the city of Durazzo, and got the entire Reich excommunicated.

I have recently learned that my nephew has aggressively negotiated with the Papacy in order to get us reconciled. Now it is time for his uncle to finish the job. I intend to confront Dassel and Luther and bring them both to justice. Why such a strong stance against these two individuals you ask?

Because they represent a particularly violent strain of Lutheranism. Alexander Luther advocates violence, as even a cursory glance of On The Byzantines and Their Lies will show. Dassel has proven particularly malleable and receptive of these teachings, as his past brutal actions have shown.

Now this is not intended to alarm Lutherans who have remained peaceful. Nor those who loyally serve the Reich. But Lutherans who rebel against their fellow Germans need to be shown the full weight of the law. As a member of the Diet, I can assure you that your leadership saw the Lutheran menace coming. And we did nothing. We were afraid. Or we did not find it politically expedient. Duke Lothar and Duke Arnold could have done more to stop Dassel from killing the Holy Father but they refused, for their own reasons.

From among the Dukes, only Duke Hans has remained a loyal Catholic through all of this. And it is Duke Hans that is in most need of help. For Dassel and Luther have now set their sights on the Swabian Duchy. Afraid of what will happen to him at the next Diet, Dassel has decided to make himself above the law by usurping the Ducal throne. While Dassel is currently under siege in Bern, I do not believe that Duke Hans can take the city without horrible losses.

This is unacceptable. I intend to immediately join in the Swabian Civil War on the side of Duke Hans, rightful and legal Duke of Swabia. And I need your help. I need an army of Catholics to help me save the Reich from violent Lutheranism. I know you are out there, a silent majority. I know you are scared and discontent. I know you crave leadership.

Well, I am here to give you that leadership. I have left everything I cared for, a job I swore an oath to, and a duty I dedicated my life to, in order to come here and serve you. For I believe this is the struggle of our time. And I believe it is time that we all let it be known where we stand. And I stand on the side of God.

It was hoped by your leaders, that this whole Lutheran thing was just a phase and would blow over. Or, that everyone could co-exist peacefully. But, events in Donauwörth have proven that the more violent elements of Lutheranism will not let that happen. Since they can not gain primacy as the one true interpretation of the Word, they are instead trying to usurp political power.

So I put out a call. To all of the faithful. To the masses. To the veterans of our past great Crusades. To the Teutonic Order. To anyone who wishes for this darkness to end. Join me!

Together we can steer the Reich in a better direction.

Catholic Soldiers of the Reich, Unite!!!

[GeneralHankerchief]

A lone arrow is shot out from the besieged city of Bern one day. Attached to it is a short message, quickly spread and reproduced throughout the Reich. It simply reads:

I'm waiting.

[OverKnight]

Reward Offered

Let it be known to all citizens of the Reich that I, Matthias Steffen, seek the return of the Crown of Thorns to its proper place, the guardianship of the Kings of Outremer.

The Crown was last known to be in possession of Jan von Hamburg, but it is rumored that he sold the Crown to finance his unexpected flight to Europe. It is unfortunate that such a holy relic has been treated with such base and callous disregard for its sanctified history.

To right this wrong I offer a reward for the Crown of Thorns. The party who purchased the Crown is encouraged to come forward, they will be well compensated for its return.

Matthias Steffen

[gibsonsg91921]

I, Peter von Kastilien will make it known that if, in life, my is unable to serve my Duchy of Franconia as Duke, my older brother Fritz von Kastilien will take up the charge. Upon my death, the younger Dieter Bresch shall become Duke.

Also, Franconia is in dire need and nearing extinction. We have not the manpower to defend ourselves and are overrun with Poles, Danes, and rebels. We have lost territory. All Electors are invited and strongly encouraged to help defend the northland. We understand that all Duchies are beleaguered, thus any who provide assistance will not be forgotten in happier times. Also, any and all able-bodied armed men heed my call! We need troops to fill our ranks and protect ourselves! Fight for honor and glory and the salvation of the Reich!

[econ21]

AN END TO HOSTILITIES


I, Kaiser Elberhard, do hereby call upon all Electors in the Reich to immediately CEASE and DESIST from any hostile actions against each other.

NO German soldier is authorised to attack another German solider.

ANY general ordering such an attack will be regarded as a TRAITOR.

With the death of my dear brother, Hans, and the heroic fall of the ex-King of Outremer, Jan von Hamburg, we must call an end to this infighting. There must be an immediate CEASEFIRE.

Electors, our enemies are not at the gate. They are battering down the @#$%^&!!!ing gate and exterminating our civilian folk! Franconia is imploding and Swabia self-destructing. The Byzantines run amok around North Italy and Austria is in retreat. Everywhere, zealots and agitators challenge proper legal authority! We must stand together against these external and internal threats. Any disagreements between us must be resolved peacefully and under a process of law.

I am about to sail home. The journey will be long, but I am to make landfall in 1340. I will then reconvene the Diet. I call upon all Electors to put aside their grievances and let that Diet adjudicate on all disputes.

Specifically:

Athalwolf von Salza: I recognise you as the appointed heir to the Duchy of Swabia. But I call upon you to take no further offensive action against the "Principality of Swabia" unless it attacks you first.

Wolfgang von Hummel: If you will desist from any attacks on loyalist Swabian settlements or armies, I will recognise you as the temporary lord of Antwerp, Bruges, Caen and any other settlements you take from our enemies (the French, the Danes, rebels etc). The long term status of Swabia and the "Principality of Swabia" will be decided at the next Diet through peaceful negotation and proper Charter Amendments.

Duke Arnold: I understand your grievance over the secession of Prague, but I ask that you take no military action against Count Becker unless he attacks you first.

Count Becker: If you refrain from any attacks on Austrians, I recognise you as the temporary lord of Prague. The long term status of Prague will decided at the next Diet.

I ask the above Electors, and all others with internal grievances, to reflect on the lessons of Bern and to follow the path of peace and law.


Kaiser Elberhard.

[Cecil XIX]

I, Reichsgraf Becker, hereby proclaim that I will obey the Kaiser's decree. I will never attack my fellow Imperials, nor will I enter their lands with my armies without first receiving their permission. I swear this to each and every Elector of the Reich, as well as to the Lord himself.

[Warluster]

I recognise the Kaiser's wish, and for the meanwhile, the Duchy of Swabia recognises the Duchy of Flanders. We shall not fight any more Germans except when attacked.

[Ignoramus]

I am interested in you overtures, von Salza.

If you are serious in your offer, you must agree to meet allow me safe conduct to meet with you on the bridge over the River Rhone.

I swear by mein honour, mein faith, and mein Gott, that I will not enter the city of Metz. If I break this oath, I call upon mein men to slay me for being untrue to mein word.

I also swear by the same to meet you in peace and not to engage you in battle.

I hope that this may be the means to peace in Swabia so that we not have internal struggles cripple our resistance to the French.

Wolfgang Hummel,
Prinz of Swabia.

[AussieGiant]

Kaiser Elberhard,

I will certainly abide by your wishes, as I would never show any disloyalty towards you or the position you hold.

I will continue to ask Lord Becker to rejoin the Duchy in these dark times and try and stem the tide against the Polish and Hungarian armies together.

It is only together that Austria will be able to defend itself in these desperate time. Separated as we are now will only accelerate the breakdown of the Reich's eastern front.

God speed to you all and may your swords arms strike true my fellow nobles!!

Duke Arnold

[Ramses II CP]

Sent by means of the widest possible distribution available to every sizeable town and city in and around the Reich:

Reward

For any information leading to the discovery of Alexander Luther, doubled for any who aid him in reaching me, Fritz von Kastilien, Scourge of Stockholm, in Franconia.

In this time of troubles all monies promised must be claimed in person upon verification of said information or recovery of Luther.