The Chronicles of the Illuminati

[TinCow]

Chapter XIII: An Eye in Swabia

Brothers,

Two items for your attention.

Regarding Prinz Elberhard. I believe we should ensure that he receives an army while Matthias is chancellor.

Perhaps we can ensure he gets one.

I now believe we should contact Jens Hummel for consideration of Enlightenment.

Please cast your votes on the matter as soon as possible.

Grand Master

Grand Master,

Who will be the contact with Elberhard who gains his royal favour by ensuring this army? If Matthias is planning to run for Chancellor, it may be that he himself ought to. If we wish to bolster another Brother's reputation, though, this would be an ideal moment.

As for Jens, I agree that now is the time.

Fritz

Fritz,

Lothar is the only person authorised to deal with others on behalf of the Illuminati.

I'm concerned that if Lothar says he can arrange an army for the Prinz then he will be able to easy comprehend that Matthias is one of the brotherhood if this is organised while he is chancellor.

We should go through a proxy in this case. What we need is for us to do this through the Kaiser. Then the Prinz will not be able to link things so directly.

Grand Master

Brothers,

I have recently had an interesting exchange with Counts Hans. I attempted to gain favor with him without doing what he asked. I believe that my 'impartiality' during the succession crisis did indeed pay off. I will attempt to build this relationship so that we may exploit it in the future.

Lothar

Steward Lothar,

Will you be standing for election this diet session? I believe you have great potential and could easily best your brother. To gain additional votes, you would only have to propose your ideas less radically so that the more moderate members of the diet can identify
with you.

In my view, your brother has done somewhat well, but not great. For example he promised to reply to letters and enquiries, yet he has failed to do so repeatedly. Also, he seems to have put the needs of Siegfried and Elberhard before good Arnold's who even passed an edict to gain him a wife.

I would not be opposed to supporting you at all, truth be said, if you were to stand.

Think about it.

Hans

Hans,

I thank you for your support and I will not forget it. However, I do not truly think that I can best my brother quite yet. I fear that if I run again and lose, I will begin to be seen as a man like Ulrich Hummel. I will certainly attempt the position again in the future, but for now I feel it is best if I simply lay low and let others forget about the past.

Perhaps we can find ways to aid each other in the future. It will not be long now before I am Duke of Bavaria, and at that point I will not be quite so easily brushed aside. If there is any way in which I can aid you, in the Diet or elsewhere, please let me know.

Lothar

Brothers,

The next election will soon be upon us. We should start thinking about legislation we should pursue and the election for Chancellor.

First, Ajaccio needs to be formally accepted into the Reich. I assume my Father will take the lead on this. We should support him.

Second, both Bran and Cagliari need to be voted on as well, or they will be removed from the Reich. Cagliari is not so important, but Bran is a vital recruitment center and a bulwark against the Hungarians.

Third, we have discussed increasing the influence of the King of Outremer. As it now appears, Karl will be the King, and we should seek to increase his power. Though this is complicated by the fact that the Kaiser is still away, and we may not have an official appointment. Perhaps this should be addressed in legislation as well, have Karl named Steward of Outremer until an official appointment?

Fourth, the edict calling for the conquest of Naples and Palermo will expire in 1280. Should it be renewed, modified or abandoned?

Finally, there is the election for Chancellor itself. I will stand for reelection. The only opponent I know of so far is Wolfgang Hummel. He I can easily defeat, but it is difficult to gauge the resistance of the Diet to a two term Chancellor. If a stronger candidate runs, I might be in trouble. My term as Chancellor has been mostly successful, but I have made some enemies. If worst comes to worst, Lothar can contact a candidate of our choosing and offer him assistance in return for preferential treatment, and I then would drop out under mysterious circumstances.

As Chancellor I have tried to benefit the members of the Illuminati. Fritz has seen many more battles since he joined, distinguishing himself among the crowd of Franconian nobles. Arnold has received Bran, which I hope will be assigned to Austria, though I have failed to find him a wife. He has also burnished his reputation for ferocity. Lothar has finished the Milanese, and stands ready to be a conqueror in Italy. Karl will soon, I hope, be King of Outremer and has taken part in the Crusade. His reputation among the Electors is immaculate. I have lead a Crusade, faced the Mongols and been knighted. It is amusing that I had to be elected Chancellor to receive my spurs.

Despite all this, our Brotherhood remains secret. No one has connected the dots. This I view as our most important accomplishment. We can continue to pull the strings and keep the Reich safe from those who would do it harm.

Matthias

Brothers,

Matthias, firstly let me say this now. You have done a masterful job. Without doubt this has been once of the most impressive periods in the Reich’s history and it can be directly attributed to your handling of “State Affairs”.

Having said that, I would like to clearly state that above and beyond edicts and other matters of legislation, THE, most important thing is the secrecy of this Brotherhood. Nothing must jeopardise this….NOTHING.

We must determine if the Kaiser is going to enact his right to govern the Empire as soon as possible. If we don’t we run the danger of overplaying our hand when we need not do anything in that regard. Fritz please inform us as soon as you have any information on this matter.

As for legislation then the key points I believe are as follows:

Follow up edicts for Bran and Cagliari to be absorbed into the Reich.

Edicts for the King of Outremer to have +2 influence, placing him squarely between Counts and Dukes.

A temporary position of Steward to be given to Karl until the Kaiser can confirm King Sailer’s wishes.

Extension to the edict permitting Naples and Palermo being taken.

As for the re-election, then Matthias must run again.

Finally, the reign of one of our Brotherhood has brought great benefits and treatment. We must ensure this continues.

Grand Master.

Brothers,

Has there been full agreement yet on the plan to recruit Jens Hummel?

Lothar

Brothers,

I'm sorry, but the possible recruitment of Jens had escaped my notice. Feel free to use your discretion.

I am preparing my end of term report. Oddly enough it will also resemble a campaign speech. I will have an official candidacy speech prepared for when the next Diet Session opens.

Matthias

Brothers,

We have not reached consensus for approaching Jens Hummel.

Fritz can you please let us know.

Karl spoke to me before and gave his blessing that I can as Grand Master make decisions on his behalf.

We need a unanimous decision on approaching the unenlightened.

Matthias, your re-election is being seen in a favourable light in Outremer.

Have your speech prepared.

Grand Master

Brothers,

I am most grievously disturbed to see that our work to have Karl appointed King of Outremer has been wasted. This situation is totally abhorrent and we cannot let it stand. Not only has the Order been denied one of the most powerful positions in the Reich, but that position has also been given to Jan von Hamburg, an incompetent twit. Kaiser Siegfried will reign for many, many years. If Jan is already in his favor, it will be exceedingly difficult to gain a hold on Outremer at all.

We have a choice to make, brothers. Do we simply sit back and let this occur, or do we do something about it?

There is nothing we can do about the fact that the Kaiser appoints the King. However, we can, perhaps do something about the Kaiser. It will not be long before I am Duke of Bavaria. With Arnold and Duke Scherer, we would have enough power to call an Emergency Diet session. If we could pre-secure sufficient votes for a 2/3 majority to pass, we could force through legislation removing Kaiser Siegfried and appointing Hans in his place. Our price for this immense move would be simple:

Hans will appoint Karl as King of Outremer and the Charter will then be changed so that the King of Outremer appoints his own heir. In this way, Outremer will be ours for all time and we will have a Kaiser in our pocket.

The alternative is doing nothing. That poses less risk, but we lose Outremer, likely for good, and we will be forced to live in a Reich that is ruled by a Kaiser who is too strong to bend to our will. That will seriously hamper our future efforts.

If we are to move in this manner, we will have some time to prepare. I expect that I will not be Duke until the end of this coming Chancellorship. Remember as well that the Kaiser has previously stated that he intends to take the Chancellorship in 1300. If we do not act before then, his grip on the Reich will be absolute and we will have no chance at dislodging him. So, we would have to be prepared to move as soon as my father dies, which means we would have to have secured sufficient votes beforehand to ensure the end result.

Opposition may be strong, but with Matthias in the Chancellorship, there is always one final option we can resort to in the event that our votes appear insufficient. If the vote would be close, but against us, Matthias could ensure that a few 'accidents' befall some of the more influential members of our opposition. I understand the seriousness of this statement and I do not take it lightly. Remember, though, that the Order works for the benefit of the entire Reich. It is our will that keeps the people and the lands safe. If our power is diminished, the Reich becomes vulnerable. We must boldly seize power for ourselves so that the Reich remains safe.

Lothar

Grandmaster,

I have perused the records and it appears that Fritz did indeed give his approval for Jens. I will thus begin the recruitment process for the Swabian.

Lothar

As you enter your bedchamber to sleep for the night, you notice an object on your pillow. It is a small, tightly rolled parchment tied with black ribbon and sealed with red wax. You open it and begin to read.

Jens Hümmel, you are being watched.

You are a man of great talent and greater potential, yet you wield little power and influence. Powerful men dominate the halls of your House. Duke Scherer is easily the most accomplished general in all the Reich and his hold on Swabia has never been stronger. Though Hans failed in his bid for the throne, he remains a dominant figure in the Diet and on the battlefield. By comparison, your history is less distinguished. Your father was publicly disgraced and took his own life. Your brother openly rebelled against the Kaiser and is still seen by many as something of a traitor. Their foolish actions are great marks against you; and unjust state of affairs for one as capable as you.

That can change, if you wish it to. Will you take control of your destiny and seize what is rightfully yours, or will you let power slip through your grasp, keeping only what is bestowed on you by the fickle whims of others? If you wish to lead rather than follow, place this black ribbon in your window tomorrow night.

Destroy this letter immediately. If you speak of this to anyone else, you will never hear from us again.

The only signature is a small symbol, drawn in red: an all-seeing eye.

Rome, 1280

The entire known world was subject to his gaze. Europe, North Africa, and Asia – nothing escaped his view. For he was all-powerful.

He saw armies marching to the far corners of the world and back. He saw deals being made and just as quickly broken. He saw fathers passing on weapons to sons, loyal subjects mourning the death of their lord, and politicians dictating policy, hoping that what they made was the right choice.

He saw the Pope, in Jerusalem, drawing up a Papal Bull:

“The Reich shall hereby abstain from continuing hostilities with Spain and Denmark until further notice, under penalty of excommunication…”

The nerve of the Pope! He was an Imperial! He was not respecting the Lord of All’s wishes! But the Lord of all laughed, and swept his hand, and the Pope, nay, all of Jerusalem, was no more, swept away. So the Lord of All wished it, so it occurred.

In Rome, Jan von Hamburg laughed at him and dismissed his groundbreaking legal proposals. The Lord of All clenched a giant fist and brought it down upon the Diet building. There would be no more legal obfuscating.

In Constantinople, that usurper of a Kaiser simply existed. He was vacationing, enjoying his little play for the throne, and now not even bothering to take an interest in the Reich while its true leaders like Hans and Elberhard toiled in obscurity. The Lord of All grew angry at this and let forth a mighty bellow.

Seeing this, the Kaiser noticed his opposition and let forth a cry. “Please, My Lord,” he said, petrified, “What have I done to offend you? I shall do anything, anything to get back in your good graces.

The Lord of All laughed. “There will be no second chances for you, mortal.” Amid the Kaiser’s screaming he pronounced and executed his final judgment. Siegfried von Kastillien no longer existed. The Lord of All surveyed his domain once more. In it, he saw frightened respect, terrified awe, and willful submission. This pleased him greatly. He-

The door knocked. Hastily, Jens Hümmel scrambled, scooping up his map of the world and clay figurines and stuffed them into a corner of his room.

“State your name,” he said in a cracking voice, far from the majestic tones of the Lord of All.

“Innkeeper,” said the voice from behind the door. “You owe me a night’s rent.”

“Yes, of c-course I do,” said Jens, stuttering, as he opened the door. “Please, come in, make yourself at home while I get the florins. How much do I owe you? Eleven florins?”

“Twenty,” said the innkeeper. He peered around the room, looking as if he was expecting to find someone else there. Jens tried not to look at the map and clay figurines. “I heard voices,” the innkeeper continued. “You trying to sneak in an extra customer? ‘cause it’s ten extra florins a night if ye are.”

“It’s robbery, is what it is,” Jens said under his breath as he breathed a sigh of relief. “No,” he said, “Nobody here but me. Take a look around if you like.”

“Very well, young sir, I shall do that.” The innkeeper walked around the shabby room, occasionally peering over for a closer look, for a couple of minutes. He glanced over the map and clay figurines but said nothing.

“Satisfied?” said Jens.

“I s’pose that only you are keeping yourself company,” said the innkeeper wearily. “Twenty florins, then, if you please.” Jens reluctantly handed over the money and saw the innkeeper out the door. He shut it and grunted.

“I have got to be the poorest noble that ever did live,” Jens said to himself. “Here I am, sitting in the shabbiest inn in Rome, barely able to pay rent, and yet I am an important member of the House of Swabia.”

Jens blamed his family for his poor position. Being the son of the worst Chancellor in the Reich’s history and the brother of the man who led a failed revolution against the Kaiser did not endear him to the people. He considered himself lucky that they had even allowed him to become an Elector in the first place. Of course, he didn’t help that perception by picking a fight his first day in the Diet with the man who eventually ascended to the post of King of Outremer, but how was he supposed to know that was coming? Von Hamburg was an almighty wart, a political nobody who was only alive because Salier had taken a liking to him.

And so, he was laughed at, brushed off without a second thought. But that would change. Someday, he would be powerful. Someday, he would be important. Someday, he would restore the Hümmel family name and become the most revered figure in the Reich, one way or another.

“So the Lord of All wishes it, so it occurs,” he said to himself as he departed his room, leaving only a black ribbon in the window and his map and clay figurines in the corner.

*Nothing occurs throughout all of the next day. You find yourself constantly scanning the faces of every man you pass, looking for an unexpectedly attentive gaze. Yet, despite your alertness, you discover nothing. Eventually, evening falls and you retire for the night.*

*When you enter your room, you feel compelled to search your bed for another note. As you expected, there is nothing there.*

"Good evening Jens."

*The sudden voice from the darkness startles you, but you control your nerves and turn around calmly and complacently, as if you had known the man was always there. You find a black robed figure sitting in the shadows in the corner of your room. The hood of his cloak is pulled low over his face, so that you can see his chin, but little else. By instinct you reach for the dagger you always carry about your person.*

"Now, now, there's no need for that. We are all friends here."

*You stop moving your hand, but your palm remains resting on the hilt of your dagger. The figure stands up and moves towards you. He stops on a spot where the moonlight casts a faint glow on his dark form. He pauses for a long moment and the room grows uncomfortably silent.*

“Allow me to introduce myself.”

*In a flourish, he bows low, his robes flowing around him.*

“I am the Voice of the Illuminati. Before I begin, there is one thing I must make absolutely clear. We value our secrecy above all else, and the true names of our members are the greatest secret we keep. No one outside the Order is ever permitted to know the identity of the Brothers. As Voice, I am the only means of communication between the Illuminati and the Unenlightened. Do not ask the names of other members. Do not attempt to find out who the other members are.”

*The figure walks over to the window. He touches the black ribbon gently and then stares out into the moonlight.*

"This process of notes, ribbons, and robes is intentionally dramatic; it warns off those who are not amongst us from seeking what they do not deserve to know. We keep secrecy and instill fear for a very important reason: the consequences for crossing us are most severe. Indeed, they can be fatal."

"Please keep that in mind tonight while we are speaking. I am here to determine whether you are worthy of becoming one of the Brotherhood, or whether you will forever remain one of the Unenlightened.

*The man turns towards you and his grave tone subsides.*

“You are a new man, but your actions are already known to us. You control little, but you protect and aid your vassals in the manner befitting a proper nobleman. We do the same, but on a grander scale."

*He spreads his arms wide, as if trying to embrace the world.*

"We exist to protect the Reich from all who would harm it. The Imperial and Household Armies serve well enough to confront our foreign enemies, but what of those who imperil the Reich from within? The Diet cannot be trusted with such a responsibility, for every Elector is self-serving and every House seeks power for it's own sake. You have not been in the Diet for long, but surely you have already seen how they squabble over rank and influence. Some may justify their actions with chivalry or law, but that does not make their exploitations any less damaging.”

“There have been many occasions in our history when following the letter of the law has led to disaster and ruin. It was the letter of the law that allowed Kaiser Heinrich to assault the Papacy, resulting in excommunication and hardship for the entire Reich. Once, many years ago, the citizens of Zagreb were threatened by sack and rapine by a Hungarian army. It was the letter of the law that forced a squire to confront the enemy with a mere handful of soldiers, rather than the full strength of the available forces. The lives of innocent women and children were put at risk simply because the man did not have sufficient rank.”

“The Charter was written by men and, like those men, it is fallible. We believe it is our duty to do what is best for the Reich, even when those actions would be forbidden by law. Indeed, we risk our own lives and well-being to ensure that the proper course is followed, no matter the consequences.”

“Ask yourself, would it better to obey the law and let innocent women and children die, or to use bribery and blackmail to ensure their safety? Blind obedience to law can do as much evil as it can do good. The true and honest act is that which achieves the greatest good for the Reich, not that which is most legally sound. This is our purpose, this is our duty. If Electors pursue courses of action that injure the Reich, we oppose them. If the law itself endangers the security and prosperity of the Reich, we simply ignore it. The first Roman Empire fell because of corruption from within. We exist to ensure that will never happen again.”

“Of course, none of this can be accomplished without strength. Therefore we also are committed to ensuring that all Brothers achieve significant power and station. As they grow in rank and influence, so do we grow as a whole. No man is forgotten or overlooked in the Order. Indeed, we control an unprecedented amount of influence. Few even know that we exist, but I assure you that our shadow falls over the entire Reich. There is no greater ally, and no more dreadful an enemy, than the Divine Order of the Illuminati.”

*The robed figure walks back over to the shadowed corner, and sits.

“I have much more to say but, as I stated, this meeting is to determine whether you are worthy of being one of us. So, speak, Jens Hümmel. Ask your questions, tell me your thoughts on what I have said, and then we will proceed further.”

Jens stares at the figure for several moments, saying nothing. It appears that he is thinking on what next to say. His expression is unreadable.

Finally, he speaks.

"You have given many examples of what has happened when things are followed too closely. I can think of many more. Some of which hit pretty close to home.

"Obviously I am for what you speak of, Voice. I am not saying this just for purposes of inclusion, either. I proposed that Charter Amendment with the intent that Chancellors use their best judgment, not squabble and fail to act while the Reich burned around them."

Jens's face loses his stoic expression as he starts to get more wound up.

"The whole point of ruling is to do what is right, not what is proper! I find it unbelievable that a secret society, even a powerful one as you claim you are, is even needed to advance this idea! What goes through the people's heads, the people that insist strict obedience? Are they afraid society will come crashing down because we're trying to save a city full of people?!"

He breathes deeply, and calms down.

"But enough. I gather you know my stance on this idea. Tell me, if you deem me fit to join up with you, what am I to do? If there are future services you require of me, I assume you will get in contact with me your own way?

"And, should the need ever arise that I require something of the Brothers (although this should rarely, if ever, happen, since I can make my own way through life), how am I to make that request known?"

Jens stands, waiting for a reply.

*The figure bows his head while you are speaking; he is clearly concentrating on every word you utter. What he is searching for, you do not know. When you finish speaking, he looks up. You wonder how he can possibly see with the cowl covering half his face.*

"This is not a question of giving orders and requests. We are not a totalitarian group. We exist as a true Brotherhood. Unlike in the Diet, all members are given equal status. Your opinion would be valued as highly as mine. There is no influence, no inequality, in the Brotherhood. The vote of the newest member carries as much weight as that of the Grand Master himself. If there is something that you wish us to aid you in, all you need to do is ask."

"The Order only believes in two levels of knowledge and privilege; the Unenlightened know nothing, and the Brothers know all. There are no secrets once you are behind the veil. You will have full access to our secret chambers, where we meet regularly to discuss events in the Reich and plans for the future. Indeed, we are far more active than any of the Ducal Houses."

"You will also not find us petty and unwilling to listen to dissenting opinions. If you disagree with a course of action, your words will be taken very seriously. We support one another unconditionally because we fundamentally believe that all Brothers are worthy of deep respect and deference. Only the most intelligent and competent men are admitted to the Order, and as such we never act without thought or deliberation."

*The Voice turns towards you and reaches his right hand into his left sleeve. After a few seconds, he pulls out a large piece of parchment from the enveloping fabric. He unrolls it and presents it to you.*

"This is the Blood Charter of the Order of the Illuminati. Your signature makes you one of us. I said before that I was here to determine whether you were worthy of membership. That was a lie. You were deemed worthy by a unanimous vote of the Order long before we met. Had there been any doubt, you would have remained one of the Unenlightened forever."

“Consider you choice carefully, Jens. Once you join the Divine Order of the Illuminati, you can never leave. This is a commitment for life. Your bond with the Illuminati and your mortal existence will end together, one way or another. Should you join us, you will reap great rewards. You will join a new family that will stop at nothing to ensure your safety and prosperity. But it is also a family that does not tolerate betrayal.”

*The voice reaches into his sleeve again and produces a quill and inkpot. It seems as though the man has an entire secretarial desk sequestered inside his robes. Both the quill and the ink itself are colored a deep burgundy. He offers them to you.*

"Before you sign, I will answer any final questions you wish to ask of me, except for those things which I have previously told you were off-limits. They will not be revealed until you are one of us. I have spoken long enough. Read the Blood Charter and ask your questions. Then we will proceed."

*You read the parchment.*

Being the Most Sacred Blood Charter of the Divine Order of the Illuminati, this document is infallible law.

As the Esoteric Brotherhood is Supreme on Earth, the aims of the Illuminati shall forever be to increase the station and power of all Members of the Order. As the elevation of the Illuminati is a Divine and Holy mission, all means of achieving its ends shall be acceptable, no matter the cost to the Unenlightened.

Rule 1: The existence of the Illuminati, the identity of the Brothers, all proceedings of the Orders, grand plans, goals, and assets are to be kept secret from the Unenlightened.

Rule 2: All formal decisions of the Illuminati are made by majority vote. Split votes fail.

Rule 3: All Brothers will comply with all formal decisions of the Illuminati, regardless of personal opinion on the matter.

Rule 4: No Brother may vote against another Brother in any election for Chancellor nor may he vote against an Edict proposed by a Brother, unless the Brother standing for election or proposing the Edict agrees otherwise. Brothers may abstain from any Diet vote unless a formal decision states otherwise.

Rule 5: New members of the Illuminati must be approved by unanimous vote of all Brothers before an invitation can be given. All communication with and initiation of prospective members is to be done by the Voice.

Rule 6: All amendments to the Blood Charter must be approved by unanimous vote.

Rule 7: Violation of any Rule of the Blood Charter will result in immediate expulsion from the Divine Order of the Illuminati. It is the duty of all Brothers to hinder and harm all Exiles with all the means in their power, including death.

Rule 8: The determination of any matter not specifically laid out in the Blood Charter is to be made by the Grand Master of the Illuminati. The Grand Master's rulings in this regard will have the weight of a formal decision of the Illuminati.

Jens goes over the Blood Charter three times, reading it intently. After the third read, he looks up.

"I have no further questions and am ready to make the commitment," he says. "Hand over the quill."

After the Voice does so Jens signs the Charter, slowly and deliberately. It is done, there would be no going back now.

*The Voice of the Illuminati leans over and takes the document. He holds it up to the faint moonlight and examines the signature closely.*

“Yes, this will serve.*

*He rolls up the Blood Charter and slips it back inside the folds of his robe.*

“Now, I suppose I owe you some answers.”

*He reaches up and pulls back the hood of his cloak. Even in the dim light, it is impossible not to recognize him as Lothar Steffen, heir to the Bavarian Dukedom.*

“I do not believe that we have spoken in the Diet before, but I doubt I am unknown to you. However, you are new to the Diet and I do not know how much you know about my political career. If you have studied the Diet records, you will know that I am somewhat… unpopular… in that body. Let me assure you that this is entirely intentional, one of the many ruses we have used to aid the Illuminati. You will understand more completely in a moment.”

*Lothar turns and sits down. He takes a moment to arrange his robes in a comfortable fashion. Clearly what he has to say will take a while.*

“I suppose the best place to start is with the Brothers. As you know, I am the Voice of the Illuminati and the only Brother who ever contacts the Unenlightened in an official capacity. The Grand Master of our order is Duke Arnold of Austria. He and I were the founding members of the Order many years ago. It has grown in size since then. You are now the sixth member. The Brother who was recruited before you was Fritz von Kastilien, of the House of Franconia. The other two members are Karl Zirn, Count of Zagreb and Damascus, and my own brother, Matthias Steffen, the current Chancellor of the Reich.”

*Lothar pauses for a moment, to let the information sink in.*

“As I said, guile is our preferred method of operation. The public animosity between Matthias and myself is entirely fabricated. I assure you, we are as close as brothers can be. Indeed, we are Brothers twice over. We have intentionally made a public spectacle of our ‘disagreements’ for many years now, starting from a minor spat within the House of Bavaria itself, until our competing ‘campaigns’ for Chancellor.”

“I will get to the Chancellorship election in a moment, but first a bit more history is in order. Before you joined the Diet there was an immensely chaotic and difficult period for the Reich. It all began with the election of Ulrich Hummel to the Chancellorship. We were responsible for that. Four men stood for the position, but Ulrich had the least likelihood of success. He was not well-liked and had lost the election in two previous occasions. This meant that he was also the most desperate candidate. We approached him and formally offered the aid of the Illuminati in return for several ‘favors’ during his Chancellorship. He agreed, and we set about securing the election for him through deft political negotiation. Suggestions were made in the right ears, and before the Diet knew it, Ulrich had gone from the least favorable candidate to the victor. Better yet, none of those we manipulated even knew that the Illuminati were involved. Indeed, most believed they were voting for Ulrich for their own interests.”

*Lothar sighs heavily and the left side of his mouth turns down.*

“Unfortunately, Ulrich did not turn out to be a reliable puppet. Oh, he did most of what we asked of him, but he also pursued a startling path of his own. He committed many blatant violations of the law and did great harm to the Reich through his inept management. We did not expect him to act as such, and were caught off guard. The backlash against him in the Diet was immense. We decided to cut our losses and ignored his pleas for help when the vote for impeachment came.”

“After that fiasco, we decided that we simply could not trust a third party to carry out our will. We had to control the Chancellorship directly in order to ensure that our will was done. So, we decided on a slight of hand. Instead of simply supporting a single Brother for the position, we would run two Brothers with directly opposing agendas. One would stand on a platform that would appeal to the masses, while the other would make statements so outrageous that the Diet would flee en-masse from him. Matthias and I fit the bill perfectly for these rolls. With his popularist statements drawing votes and my inflammatory rhetoric propelling all moderates towards him, it worked perfectly. Now Matthias controls the Reich for us, and our will is enacted to perfection.”

"We do not believe that such a ruse is necessary again this year, as Matthias has gained much approval in the Diet. He will be re-elected without any need for such tactics."

“During the Succession Crisis, Kaiser Siegfried retained his throne only because of us. The fact that Duke Arnold and Duke Steffen sided with the Kaiser decided the issue. We arranged that. We chose Siegfried for one simple reason: to frustrate Hans. The use of power from the shadows requires a political environment in which the Diet is fractured. The greatest threat to our control is the emergence of other significant powers or voting blocs. Thus, we do all that we can to keep other individuals and groups from gaining enough influence to threaten us. Until recently, Hans was one of the most powerful men in the Reich. Indeed, one of our demands of Ulrich Hummel so many years ago was that Hans be given command of a clerk’s office instead of an army. The idea of Hans gaining the Imperial Throne was simply one we could not accept.”

"However, that stance may be changing. We expected Karl Zirn to inherit the title of King of Outremer and we are greatly disturbed that the Kaiser has named that ponce Jan to the position. Discussions are only just beginning now, but it is possible that Kaiser Siegfried could find himself without a throne in future years."

“Much else has occurred in our history, but I will not recite every last detail. We have compiled all of our actions from the very beginning in a Sacred History. If you wish to know everything we have ever done, you can consult that tome. I will show you where it is located when we first meet formally with the rest of the Brotherhood. However, there is one final thing I must tell you. As Voice, I have met with only two Unenlightened who did not later become Brothers. Ulrich Hummel was one. He is now dead and of no threat to us. His son, Wolfgang, may have been told of our existence, but Ulrich never knew my true name or any other information that could be used against us. However, the other person is more of a danger: Ansehelm von Kastilien.”

*Lothar looks unpleased at what he is about to say.*

“He was the first man we attempted to recruit into the Brotherhood. We miscalculated badly and Ansehelm spurned us. Worse still, I was new to the position of Voice and had not developed my… techniques… as well as I have now. I revealed my identity to Ansehelm and showed him a copy of the Blood Charter. He has since made several comments about my involvement in a secret society, but we are fortunate. He does not seem to believe that we have much power, if we exist at all, and the rest of the Diet has ignored his statements. Even so, we have opposed him regularly. We are the reason that his Teutonic Crusade took so many decades to get moving. Ansehelm, at the head of a united Franconian House, was the greatest threat to our power.”

*Lothar snorts back a laugh.*

"Of course, that is no longer true. That fop, Jan von Hamburg, did a great deal to split Franconia. With the loss of several of their elder Electors, Franconia is much weaker now than it once was. With Fritz in place to influence the House and report on its internal affairs, we are now more than capable of handling them."

“I hope you do not take offense at my words about the various Houses and Electors. All Brothers are loyal to the Order above all else, even their own Houses. If we prosper, the Reich prospers. That is the way of things. I personally had to destroy my relationship with my fellow Bavarian, Conrad Salier, as part of my duties to the Illuminati, so that Matthias could become closer to him. Needless to say, my father was been less than pleased with the 'disdain' that Matthias and I show for each other in public. Sometimes what is best for the Order is not what is best for your House."

*Lothar grins and shakes his head.*

“Apologies for blathering on so long. I can talk forever if I am not stopped. I am sure I have forgotten ten thousand things, but I think that is a good enough summary to start with. If you have any questions, ask them now. I will answer anything you wish to know, with no reservations whatsoever.”

Brothers,

Here is my revised estimation of how the votes lie so far.

Total votes: 82 - 41 votes are needed for guaranteed victory.

Wolfgang - Wolfgang (1)

Total: 1


Hans - Friedrich Scherer (6), Athalwolf von Salza (2), Hans (5), Ansehelm
von Kastilien (6), Jens Hummel (4)

Total: 23


Matthias - Matthias (5), Fritz von Kastilien (4), Arnold (6), Karl (4),
Lothar (4), Gerhard Steffen (6), Friedrich Karolinger (2), Peter von Kastilien (4), Jan von
Hamburg (4)

Total: 39


Toss-Up - Elberhard (5), Helmut von Hamburg (3), Dieter Bresch (2), Dutch_guy (1), Edmund Becker (2), Siegfried (6)

Total: 19

We are getting closer, but I am still concerned about whether proxy votes were turned in or not.

Also, if Friedrich Scherer is back in the Diet, why is Hans still Steward? He is issuing building queues and Counties, and acting in a lordly fashion. Is there anyway we can exploit this?

Matthias

Brothers,

Matthias' analysis looks accurate to me. As such, we need to secure 6 votes for him to ensure his success. I suggest that he make a specific appeal to Elberhard. The Prinz desires his own army in the Homelands. Matthias, if you promise this to him, regardless of any legislation that passes, you may have success. The remaining 1 vote can easily be gained from anywhere else.

I firmly believe that we should oppose both CA 12.4 and 12.5. If Karl was King, they would be perfect, but he is not. With these Amendments, Outremer is slipping further and further from our grasp. We cannot allow this.

In other news, Jens Hummel has been successfully initiated. I will formally bring him into this Council later today. Congratulations, recruitment is now complete! We have six Brothers, including one in each of the Ducal Houses and two in Outremer.

Lothar

Brothers,

Lothar you raise a good point on both CA's.

I've already privately said I would support both edicts but on the condition the term of the King is reduced to that of the Chancellor and rotated. On the other hand your analysis of the second CA is interesting.

Perhaps I should call be Zirn and then take over Damascus myself as Duke.

The CA 12.5 is now too dangerous as it removes the Household bind that created it in the first place.

Arnold.

Matthias,

The Prinz's response:

Elberhard!!

I'm not going to beat around the bush here fella!!

We're of like mind on most things so I'll be blunt.

I'm pretty #%$$#ing shocked the Kaiser handed the reins to Jan rather than Lord Zirn, but what the hell, shiet happens and we have to roll with the punches woot!?

Still Zirn deserved it in my view. He toiled away over there for decades and got nothing for it. It was certainly going to be a bright moment for House Austria in an otherwise difficult period.

As for the Diet comments about supporting my edicts, then I have to say once again thank you.

Now...the Chancellor run. I've got to tell you Hans is a worry...being selfish right now I can't seem to get him to commit to looking after the delicate situation in Austria the way I would like. While on the other hand Matthias has done a great job supporting me and the predicament I find myself in with the Hungarians. The Austrian eastern front has been deadly to say the least and I can't have anymore #@@ ups at this time.

Considering Zirn got shafted, I'd like you to support Matthias in the coming elections if you can possibly help it.

Let me know what you think...

..and forget that nut job Wolfgang...he's $@%ing bonkers as far as I'm concerned and we can't have that if the Kaiser's also a going to be a bit bewildering at the moment too.

I hear you’re coming back to the Reich...or are you back already?

If you are back, then come and see Lothar and myself in the tavern. We could do with some tall stories from out east.

Your Friend
Arnold

Duke Arnold,

Thanks for the note. I dunno what the Kaiser was thinking turning down Zirn - maybe something to do with the King not being part of a House? You need as many Austrians as you can get, whereas Jan desperately wants to escape Franconia. But who knows? I am sure he has his reasons.

No worries on the Austrian Household edicts and CAs - just stick my name down, as and when. The offer holds good for other Diets too.

On the election, I agree I also favour Matthias. Both Hans and Matthias have been exemplary Chancellors, but Hans seems to be the more expansionist. I'd prefer to continue with the consolidation we have seen under Matthias. However, Hans is my brother and that counts for something. The @#$%^&!!!er also bears grudges like no other one you have seen! Maybe I will have to follow Karl Zirn and have a sickie on election day!

I hope to move my base of operations back to the homeland during the next Diet. Until then, I will flit back and forth, so no doubt I will catch you in the tavern.

cheers

Elberhard

I believe you have his vote Matthias.

Grand Master.

Brothers,

I would like to formally welcome Brother Jens Hümmel. With his recruitment, our Order is now complete. We have six Brothers, with men in each of the four Ducal Houses as well as Outremer. We directly control 1/3 of the votes in the Diet, a number that will only increase as our members continue to gain rank and influence. By the end of this coming term, we will also have two Dukes in our Order, as well as the Chancellor. The immense disappointment of losing the King of Outremer, which we expected Karl to obtain, has highlighted the one area where we are still weak: the Imperial throne.

Simply put, we absolutely must gain some control over the Kaiser. You know me well enough to see that I tend to advocate for radical actions, but even if we do not attempt to oust Siegfried, we cannot ignore the situation. I believe, at minimum, a two-pronged effort must be made. First, Siegfried must be brought under our control in some manner. Perhaps an exchange of resources for future benefit. Perhaps something less direct. Regardless, we must be able to influence his actions. Second, we should strive to make Siegfried the last Kaiser to ever sit the throne without the blessing of the Illuminati. This must be done by controlling the heir. While Elberhard is currently Prinz, he is actually older than Siegfried and will not inherit the title himself. Whoever the title passes to after Elberhard must be brought under our control, or perhaps even into the Order. This is a long-term plan, but something to remember at all times, in case opportunities appear to exploit it.

For now, our immediate goal remains clear: ensure that Matthias is re-elected to the position of Chancellor. When the time for voting comes, I would urge all Brother to immediately vote for Matthias except Jens and myself. It would be beneficial to us if both Jens and I could maintain positive relationships with Hans. He already trusts me and Jens is a fellow Swabian. If we can vote for Hans without risking Matthias' defeat, I believe we should do so. Obviously, if our votes are required to keep Matthias in the position, we will vote for him. This is why Jens and I should wait to vote until the closing hours. A close victory is just as a good as a landslide, and in this case it could be more beneficial for our future schemes.

Lothar

Brothers,

I welcome Brother Jens into the Order and hope he finds our members as surprising as I did!

As to the Kaiser... My continued efforts to contact my brother have been met with complete and absolute silence. I am afraid that our years together under the same roof are not kindly remembered, or Siegfried has simply chosen to forget what I did to soften Ansehelm's wrath at times.

Whatever the cause, the practical effect is that I will not be an instrument capable of influencing the Kaiser. We must find some other way. Because of the soft approach I have used, I begin to believe we will need to devise some scheme to shock the Kaiser into a greater interest, either in his house or in the causes that we, as an Order, aspire to maintain. This will require some thought.

I agree that some votes should be withheld when the time comes, until we see how the wind blows. Because I am new to the Diet, I will vote immediately for Matthias.

Yours, in God,
Fritz

Brothers,

Firstly welcome to the Order Jens. I did not see the notes Lothar usually provides us of your acceptance, however I assume he has ensured your total commitment to the cause.

Secondly Lothar’s voting bloc is the way we shall proceed if no one has any objections.

I have contacted King Jan and he is considering abstaining from the Chancellor vote due to Hans and Matthias both being Crusaders...not a wise choice in my opinion.

The Prinz has already confirmed that he is leaning towards Matthias in favour of his own brother...a telling sign.

It seems my provocation of Wolfgang to debate as a candidate has not had the desired affect publicly. Perhaps behind the scene's Hans is gagging Wolfgang from debating the issues at hand.

I'm going to contact Duke Steffen to double check his position. I will provide a tangible reason for him to vote for his son as I wish Matthias to continue his excellent work in assisting me in detail with the situation in Austria.

With six members now, I do think we should look further ahead and devise a way of gaining control of the Royal Family. We need not do anything too obvious. With the voting power we have I believe we have reached such a critical mass that none of the "unenlightened" could believe we are this influential.

We secure the Heir to the thrown after Prinz Elberhard. That should be our goal.

Jens, please present yourself to the Order as soon as you can.

Grand Master

Brothers,

Jan abstaining would be a good thing. If we can secure Elberhard and Jan is committed to abstaining, there is no possible way that Hans can win.

Grand Master, there is no need to contact my father. He is supporting Matthias. In fact, Matthias' private statements to him have worked well. I have recently had the following exchange with my father, which is entirely in-line with our planning:

My son, How are you?

Are the beaches on Sardinia as wonderful as I've heard? When they aren't stained with Spanish or Milanese blood I mean.

Your charter amendment to include Ajaccio and Cagliari into the Reich is most wise indeed. Although I'm not sure what to answer if I'm asked why or how it was assigned before it was officially part of the Reich, haha.

No matter, that is not really the reason that I'm writing. Your brother is running for re-election and he would like you support, he just does not know how to ask. I would encourage you to at least talk to him, another Chancellorship under Bavarian Control can only mean good things for Bavaria.

I know there is much animosity between you two, but I won't be around much longer to act as an emissary. It would be nice to know that my sons don't hate each other before I die, he is you brother, and that will never change. He will always be a slightly annoying goodie two shoes in your opinion, just as he will always see you as a slightly self-centered warmonger. It is his 'job' as your brother to annoy, bug, interfere with, and generally upset you. I just hope that for the sake of the HRE, Bavaria, and the Steffen family, you two can learn to work together.

Your father

Gerhard.

Father,

I assure you that my relationship with Matthias is not as bad as it may seem to some. He has done much to aid Bavaria during his Chancellorship and for that he has gained a great deal of my respect. We may not always agree on other affairs, but so long as he manages things well for our House, I can live with the rest. As such, I too wish to see him re-elected to the position of Chancellor.

That said, I am attempting to build political contacts of my own for the future benefit of Bavaria. If it turns out that Matthias does not need my vote to win, I shall vote for Hans to help build these bridges. Of course, if the race is close and my vote is necessary, I will vote for Matthias and attempt to excuse it to Hans in some way. If such a thing were necessary, perhaps you could aid me. If the race appears to be close, you could publicly state in the Bavarian Hall that I must vote for Matthias or be disinherited. That would give me more than a valid excuse in Hans' eyes. Hopefully Matthias will lead comfortably and that will not be necessary.

Lothar

I took the liberty of requesting his aid in my scheme with Hans, as I know he will heartily approve of it. My father has been a deft backroom dealer throughout his Dukedom and I believe he will be happy that I am attempting to build future contacts with Hans. He need not know that it is truly for the benefit of the Order, rather than Bavaria. In truth, I am saddened once again to have to keep our secret from him. Of all the men in the Reich, I believe my father would be immensely proud of what we have achieved. Hopefully some day he will look down on us from Heaven and see what we have accomplished, and be happy.

Lothar

Brothers,

I believe Peter von Kastilien will vote for me

Matthias, I fear I shall have to vote for you by default. Don't misunderstand me, you are a great chancellor and I am proud that you controlled the Reich so honorably. As much as I dislike giving one man two consecutive terms, I believe this is the only way.

Count von Kastilien,

I know you have spoken out against my candidacy on the grounds that a Chancellor should not serve two terms. I respect this, but I would ask that you reconsider your position.

Franconia has benefited during my first term. The Polish have been kept at bay, the military standing of the von Kastiliens has been advanced, and the Teutonic Crusade is near success. There is no reason why this can't continue.

If I am reelected, the Edicts pertaining to Franconia will be enforced. I have expressed my preference for Krakow as a target rather than Vilnius, but I would bow to the will of the Diet in this matter.

In supporting me for Chancellor, you would also be denying the office to two men who have actively plotted against your brother, Kaiser Siegfried. Ask yourself, can either of them be entrusted with the safety of the Emperor?

Think on what I have said.

Godspeed,

Matthias

This is good news as we have shattered a unified Franconian voting bloc, the only disciplined voters left in the Diet are us.

I have thought on how to bring the Kaiser under our control. I believe Fritz, since he has spoken out against the Kaiser's indolence, can propose this:

CA X: Charter Article 5.2 "5.2 Once in his reign, the Emperor may automatically assume the post of Chancellor. The Emperor must declare he is exercising that right at a Diet; he will then be appointed Chancellor with no election. This right can only be invoked once, but the Emperor may also compete in normal Chancellorship elections at other Diets." will be removed. If the Kaiser wishes to be Chancellor, he must run in an election like all other Electors.

This way the Kaiser can only become Chancellor if he deals with us. If he doesn't we will be free to run our own candidate. We gain a lever over this Kaiser and any futures ones.

Of course, I will not be able to second this, but I'm sure other members of the order can.

Thoughts?

Matthias

Brothers,

The latest events in the Diet have caused both Hans and Jan to contact me privately. I have attempted to play both of them to my favor by doing something that I have not yet tried with them: telling the truth. I am still working on Hans, but already my discussion with Jan has proved immensely fruitful. I will post the entire discussion below, but I will summarize as follows: Jan is voting for Matthias. Ansehelm is voting for Hans. The Kaiser is voting for Matthias. I believe this gives us more than enough votes to win comfortably, not counting extras that may dribble in.

Lothar

Count Lothar,

It seems I have over reached beyond what the political situation would accommodate. CA 12.5 is dead. Hans has made clear what is more important to him. I am going to make some assumptions and pray that I am right.

I know for whatever reason that you are against our mission in Outremer. Yet, there are things you do want. And I am going to assume that it is Matthias that you are favoring for Chancellor. Blood is thicker than water after all. I have until now remained neutral in the Chancellorship election. I am reconsidering my stance on that. From talking to people and crunching the numbers, the election looks like it will be close.

I am not asking you to not hate me or my mission. But I am asking if there are some things that we can agree on. Can put aside our obvious differences and talk?

I await your word,
King Jan

Jan,

I am always open to discussions which benefit my people. If there is something you wish to suggest, state it and I will listen.

Lothar

Count Lothar,

I first need to know your thoughts regarding the Chancellorship election. Was I correct in my prior assumptions? I am putting a great deal of faith in this discussion we are having and I am putting myself "out on a limb" as it were. It would help if I could have some concrete statements as to what your stance is regarding who is to be Chancellor.

Thank you,
King Jan

Jan,

Very well, then, I shall be honest with you.

This election puts me in a difficult position. I will inherit the Bavarian Duchy in a few years and I must do what I can for the best interests of my people. Many years ago, Swabia and Bavaria were close allies, but that relationship has fallen apart. I have done my best to repair this relationship throughout my life, with varying degrees of success.

I wish to support Count Hans to demonstrate my friendship with Swabia and to build a bridge between our Duchies when I become Duke. However, I do not think I will be allowed to vote for Hans. Private discussions with my father have led me to believe that I may lose my inheritance if I do not support Matthias. This would tie my hands rather firmly.

While I very much disagree with many of Matthias' beliefs, he has also managed Bavarian affairs well during his Chancellorship. So long as he continues to do that, I will not have any serious quarrel with him. So, it appears that I will likely be voting for Matthias, though in an ideal world I might wish to do otherwise. If that happens, I will not build the bridge that I would prefer to have, but Bavaria will continue to prosper. In the end, that is enough to keep me content.

I hope you will appreciate the significance of my disclosures to you. I could just as easily told you that I was supporting Matthias and been done with it. While my words may not be exactly what you wanted to hear, I thought that truth would serve us both better than false pleasantries. I hope that you will similarly trust me and explain what you are on about.

Lothar

Count Lothar,

I very much appreciate the frankness that you have shown here and I will attempt to return it the best that I can.

I always preferred Matthias. Matthias steered the ship well for all of us. When I was simply a Crusader Count, it was easy to just support him. But then I became King and Hans immediately jumped into the race which put me in a rather difficult position. I was afraid that supporting one would alienate the other. Plus, with two Crusader Counts running, I figured I would get what I wanted no matter who won. So, I took the distasteful stance of being "neutral". It hurt Matthias and I feel bad about it.

But today, things changed. I expected you and Duke Arnold to put up a fight against my agenda. I might not have expected you to do so well and I wish to take this chance to congratulate you on your legal acumen. But I did not expect to get stabbed in the back by Hans. While your father and I were having a good discussion on how to rework CA 12.5, Hans got spooked and abandoned me. He does not believe in the mission of Outremer. He is only there for personal glory. I can no longer trust him as a Crusader Count and I certainly can not trust him as Chancellor.

I have already promised your brother that I would vote on all Bavarian legislation so it would be dishonest of me to try to offer it to you as a bargaining chip. But I can help get Matthias elected which is not what I had previously planned on doing. Duke Ansehelm told me that he is supporting Hans. And Duke Arnold told me that he is supporting Matthias. That is why I needed to know where Bavaria stood. With Bavaria, Austria, and a couple others, we "may" be able to win. I can probably pull Dieter away from Ansehelm if I twist hard enough. The Kaiser supports Matthias and I suspect Ebelhard might too but I do not know for sure.

As for legislation, I think I am done. CA 12.5 is dead and I am sure Hans is going to pull support for CA 12.4 when he finds out what I am doing. I do wish we could find a way to make CA 12.7 a little more like the amended version of CA 12.5 that we were planning. But, at this point, I'll settle for Matthias being Chancellor. If there is something you are willing to do for me regarding 12.7, please let me know.

Please let me know your thoughts on these matters,

Yours,
King Jan

This is quite telling indeed. It shows us that Outremer is becoming weaker.

Matthias and Zirn, of course, are Brothers. Elberhard and I are leaving for Europe, and Jan actively distrusts Hans. This leaves him only one ally in the place - Dieter Bresch. If we continue to use our persuasion skills as efficiently as we have before then perhaps he will only be King for one Diet session. Hans may not like it in Outremer but if we install him as King perhaps he will stay out of our way in Europe.

Jens

Brothers,

Where do we stand on voting for CA 12.9?

Lothar, has that any hidden bombs in it that we should be aware of?

It increases the influence of the King, which I can live with now that the Kaiser must re appoint the King at every Diet session. The chances that Zirn is appointed once he recovers are great in my mind. After Jan dragged us through this Diet session most would support Zirn for the position next Diet.

As for Jan contacting you Lothar. Well, he has done it again. He would be far more affective if he was less combative. It is now clear we are in a good position for Matthias to win his second term.

Grand Master

Brothers,

After a series of long exchanges with Jan, I have some news. He will support me and he will contact others to support me.

More importantly, he plans to offer Hans the leadership of the Army of Outremer in return for dropping his election bid. Jan thinks that offering Hans all he can fight Mongols will persuade him to drop out. I tried to dissuade him from doing this, but I could hardly tell him flat out about all my support. I think he will go ahead and make the offer.

This could give Hans more laurels, but I asked Jan to hold the line on letting Hans dictate AoO orders. So as Chancellor I will be able to limit his activity in the interests of "sharing the wealth". The new King truly disdains Hans now.

I believe I will support 12.9 as I seconded it to keep Jan friendly.

Any thoughts on my proposed CA to remove a Kaiser's automatic Chancellorship? If we don't propose it now, it won't be in effect for the next session when Siegfried takes the position.

I understand if Jens has to vote for Hans, though it tightens our margin of error a bit. I hope Karl and Siegfried left a proxy vote.

Matthias

I fully agree, Grand Master. CA 12.9 is a good as anything we could hope for at the moment. Outremer's power as a united entity has been firmly broken, so Jan is of little danger to us as King. By breaking the life appointment, we re-establish our ability to take control of Outremer. We should ensure that CA 12.9 is voted into effect.

However, I do not wish to have to deal with this affair ever again. Once we do gain control of Outremer, we must never relinquish it. If the Kaiser can be persuaded to continually appoint the men we wish, then all the better. If not, we may wish to pass legislation in future Diets that gives the King of Outremer the right to appoint his own successor. In this way, Brothers could hand the title off to Brothers in perpetuity.

Lothar

Matthias,

Your legislation about the Kaiser is certainly useful, but I do not believe we could pull it off during this Diet. The Electors are already tired of these endless Amendments, and such a massive attack on the Kaiser would not go unnoticed. I do not believe we could get it passed with such a short amount of time to build an alliance to push it through. While this means we will not be able to stop Siegfried from assuming the Chancellorship, I believe that is simply something we will have to live with.

I suggest that we make a direct approach to the Kaiser during Matthias' second term and propose some kind alliance between us. So long as Matthias is Chancellor, we will have both the power to do anything we promise and also the power to carry out threats in the event that he disregards us. If we cannot use force on the Kaiser, we must deal with him, and if we must deal with him we should do so from the greatest position of strength we can achieve.

Lothar

Brothers,

I agree that now is not the proper time to go after the Kaiser. We have succeeded in crippling Outremer, that is a start.

I am now going to hand in my votes to the Diet speaker; please let me know if there is anything you disagree with.

Chancellor: Hans

Edicts
12.1: yes
12.2: yes
12.3: yes

CAs
12.1: yes
12.2: yes
12.3: yes
12.6: yes
12.7: yes
12.8: yes
12.9: yes

Oh wow, it would have been much easier had I just said yes to all.

Jens

Brothers,

Though I would gladly propose such an amendment as Matthias suggests, it would in fact be difficult to push through at this time. Better to focus our strength on what exists now.

As for the votes, I must congratulate Lothar on his masterful handling of the situation with Jan. Two more and we will have a victory! My own power to affect change is very limited at this time, but what I can do I will.

Fritz

Brothers,

I agree that every single Charter Amendment that still stands (CAs 12.4 and 12.5 have been withdrawn) should receive our votes.

I am less sure about the Edicts. Edict 12.1 seems sensible to me, as it will once and for all secure the Reich's southern border. With Sicily expelled from Italy, the Reich will not share a land border with a single enemy at any point in the entire southern half of the realm. We may then seek peace with Sicily. With a moderate Italian fleet and a single Bavarian Household Army stationed in the south to deal with sea raiders, a significant portion of the Reich can be permanently secured for little cost.

I see less benefit from Edicts 12.2 and 12.3. Both of these proposals appear to be extending our lines and further stretching our resources in return for rewards that I cannot divine. In particular the move towards Vilnius seems absolutely absurd. Thorn already suffers from endless attacks due to the fact that it is isolated from the rest of the Reich. I cannot even begin to imagine how Vilnius will be protected. Had the Franconians pushed for Krakow, that would be different. Taking Krakow would shorten our borders, relieve pressure on Thorn and Budapest, and increase the safety and security of the Reich.

Of course, I am also a Bavarian and no matter how dedicated I am to the Order, my heritage may be clouding my judgment a bit. What are your feelings, brothers?

Lothar

Lothar, and Brothers,

I write with two motives. First, I share Lothar's view on the Edicts. I have attempted to start a discussion in the Franconian house regarding Vilnius and Krakow, both by public discussion and private letter. However, both have met with apathy. And, I have been informed that I cannot propose legislation without the consent of my House and so I am bound to sit idly by on the issue.

Regarding the Amendments, I do have grave concerns concerning the enforcement of 12.2. It is so vague that it could be turned against we ourselves in a few years. I must out of conscience vote against it, unless the Order wishes otherwise.

And regarding 12.7, I received a communication from my cousin Jan today which may be of interest. I quote the relevant parts here, and will discuss it below:

"...I have a proposition for you. You once spoke of coming to Outremer. I can make that happen right now. I want Matthias to be Chancellor. If he wins, I can request that he move you towards Outremer at once. It might be a long journey though you would get here eventually. And your Duke will not like this. But, he can not stop you if both I and the Chancellor agree to it. You may lose your county but I have a county in Outremer that I can offer you so you will really lose nothing. I need good people and there is much work to do out here. If Hans wins, I do not know what will happen. He is only in Outremer for glory and does not believe in the cause."

"I would like to have CA 12.7 voted against... I believe that the King of Outremer should be able to build in crusader counties that have no crusader counts. If you are considering my offer to come out here, I would in fact insist that you vote against that bill. A Crusader Count should not tell his King that he can not build things in Outremer."


My question to you, Brothers, is: should I take him up on this offer to come to Outremer? That offer is obviously tied to his interest in Amendment 12.7. I have no strong feelings on the issue one way or the other on the Amendment. I am intrigued by the Mongols and Outremer, and I would treasure the chance to make Ansehelm squirm. But I also feel a great desire to stay in my homeland and defend it against the miserable Poles.

Your thoughts would be most welcome.

Fritz von Kastilien

Fritz,

Your situation with Jan is interesting. In truth, I care little whether Charter Amendment 12.7 passes or not. I proposed it mainly to make Jan squirm a bit and also to keep up my facade as an anti-Outremer advocate. In reality, the Order gains nothing from the Amendment that is truly useful to us and its defeat will not harm us one bit. At the same time, if you can work yourself into Jan's good graces, perhaps you could succeed him as King. That would be a significant gain and worth the effort, though it appears it relies more on the Kaiser's will than the King's.

That said, Karl is still favorably placed in Outremer and is still a strong contender for King. Also, we would lose all physical presence in Franconia, something that we were very glad to have when you joined us. In sum, I believe the scales are balanced for the Order on the issue. My personal opinion is that you should decide whether you wish to spend your time in Franconia or Outremer, as you are the one most heavily impacted by it.

Lothar

Brothers,

Here is my revised estimation of how the votes lie so far.

Total votes: 82 - 41 votes are needed for guaranteed victory.

Wolfgang - Wolfgang (1)

Total: 1


Hans - Friedrich Scherer (6), Athalwolf von Salza (2), Hans (5), Ansehelm
von Kastilien (6), Jens Hummel (4)

Total: 23


Matthias - Matthias (5), Fritz von Kastilien (4), Arnold (6), Karl (4),
Lothar (4), Gerhard Steffen (6), Friedrich Karolinger (2), Peter von Kastilien (4), Jan von
Hamburg (4)

Total: 39


Toss-Up - Elberhard (5), Helmut von Hamburg (3), Dieter Bresch (2), Dutch_guy (1), Edmund Becker (2), Siegfried (6)

Total: 19

We are getting closer, but I am still concerned about whether proxy votes were turned in or not.

Also, if Friedrich Scherer is back in the Diet, why is Hans still Steward? He is issuing building queues and Counties, and acting in a lordly fashion. Is there anyway we can exploit this?

Matthias

Brothers,

We should wait as I mentioned with regards to the Throne.

If we get Matthias re-elected then we can more on it at the end of the next Chancellorship.

The voting looks fairly accurate. I'm concerned that Jens will proxy vote to the Prinz for Hans. This doesn't allow up to change his vote at the last minute.

We should have him vote for Matthias and have another brother leave his vote until the last minute to ensure victory if it is required.

What say you all?

Grand Master

I do not believe that is necessary, Grand Master. Matthias' most recent voting calculation shows that he is only 2 votes away from victory, even with Jens voting for Hans. This does not take into account the fact that Elberhard is still listed as 'toss-up' even though our indications are that he will vote for Matthias. Jan also stated that the Kaiser would vote for Matthias and said that he would put pressure on Dieter Bresch as well. As it stands, if any of these three men for Matthias, we win.

Ask yourself, do you think it likely that Siegfried would vote for the man who attempted to take his throne? Of course not. At worst, Siegfried will abstain and if Siegfried abstains, we will be victorious even if everyone else in the 'toss-up' votes for Hans. So, as I see it, victory has already been secured and we must now concentrate on keeping our affiliation a secret. Jens should vote for Hans. I will wait until the last minute and either vote for Hans or abstain, if that can be done without risking Matthias' victory.

Lothar

Given the explanation then we are set for another period of power.

Dieter has just cast his vote for Matthias. If the reckoning Matthias drew up is true, then he has just won!

Fritz

Brothers,

Jan's actions in the Diet and my inevitable inheritance of the Bavarian Dukedom continue to reap rewards. I present to you an exchange I have just had with Duke Ansehelm. If the Order continues to weave its web through all layers of the Reich, we will be able to bring down the Heavens themselves if we so choose.

Lothar

Message from Duke Ansehelm to Lothar Steffen
My friend,

I know we had our difference in the past, but I think we are slowly beginning to agree on things. Not to put it badly regarding your father, but I think that soon you will be the Duke of Bavaria, meaning you will not only gain more power, but also more influence.

I think that by now we both begin to agree on the Outremer. It is a stinking !@#$&%-hole that only seems to cost us money. The bloody idiots have like 3-4 armies, we only have 1, if I'm correct all you have are a couple of militia. I'm beginning to see that I should have backed you up as chancellor last Diet Session, however if a Chancellor rules very anti-Outremer the pious little rats will impeach him, which would get us nowhere. I think it would we better that at some point we would simply retract our support in the Outremer, like it is going now Outremer will destroy itself, especially with the current King. He has no authority what so ever, and I wonder why my little brother even choose him (we will have some words when I am back in the Reich). As things are going now Outremer is becoming more and more dangerous, not because it has influence, but because it wants it. It sees itself as a Ducal House, well I tell you, it can never become one if the Duchies don't allow people to travel there. If Dukes can set queues for their Outremer provinces it will even lose more influence. You always seem to be taking the direct way, I prefer the passive way, Jan von Hamburg will destroy the Outremer, believe me. He is not respected by any of the Duchies, and will have a hard time making sure he gets what he wants if he has no support from the Dukes. I already lost mine a long time ago.

I know this message really lacks a goal, a message, but I just want to let you know that you are no longer on your own, as if you ever were. And I think more Franconians support my case than support the traitor Jan.

Ansehelm von Kastillien, a friend, since the last 24 hours.

Duke Ansehelm,

Certainly a great deal has passed since we were young. I may not have agreed with all your past actions, but it is clear to me that you act in the best interests of Franconia, and not out of selfish desires. I respect this very greatly. I do not envy you for having to deal with a man like Jan in your House. He even makes the Hummels look like nice fellows to have around.

I also agree with you on Outremer. My direct approach has not achieved any great success. Perhaps your more passive strategy will. If there is ever any way I can help, please let me know.

I am sure we will disagree on some things in the future, but I swear to you that I will always be open to actions that benefit our peoples and the Reich. If there is ever any way that Bavaria can aid you, please let me know. I cannot promise you that I will be able to assist in every occasion, but I will always be willing to listen to your proposals and consider them seriously.

Fighting in the Diet is a game for children and we are far past that age. It is the responsibility of Dukes to lead the Reich with wisdom and a strong hand.

Your friend,
Lothar

Brothers,

Matthias currently has 38 votes. With Duke Ansehelm's abstention, it is now impossible for Hans to win unless I vote for him. I am therefore going to cast my vote as an abstention as well. I know we originally planned for me to actively vote for Hans, but the cover story I have given, about my disinheritance, would make that seem suspect. By abstaining, I can make it seem as if I reached a compromise with my father. I believe this will serve well enough in Hans' eyes. In addition, it will seal Hans' defeat for certain. I know Brother Zirn has not yet voted, and we expect Matthias to gain votes from other Electors who have not yet voted, but the Illuminati does not thrive on chance, no matter how good the odds. We are constantly victorious because we leave no avenue open for defeat. If I vote for Hans, there is still a tiny fraction of a chance that something could go wrong and he could win. For these reasons I will be abstaining rather than voting for Hans.

Congratulations, Brothers, our shadow will envelop the Reich for another 20 years.

Lothar