French Court (IC Thread)

[PrinceofTroy]

Baron Marcel silently takes everything in, thinking how will it effect Pamplona?

"My King, I do not think you realize the situation in the Southwest, the armies of the Moors and the Spanish are just waiting to for us to turn our backs on them so they may enter our Glorious Kingdom! You are obviously oblivious to this threat though, and I assume this stems from your hatred of House Gascony?"

[Ramses II CP]

After a long pause to reflect on how many times he has already addressed this issue, the King stares at Baron Marcel and says:

It was not under my orders that the Southern border armies marched north to attack their brothers. Do not presume to blame me for your Lord's folly again Baron. I have no hate for any of my noble Houses, though I increasingly wonder at the wisdom of having so many.

It is with great sadness that I greet the news of a fresh war with Sicily. While the petty matters of this civil war drag on, and wild claims of the dangerous Spanish and Moors are bandied about, Frenchmen at Ajaccio stand under siege with no forces in position to relieve them and all the professional armies of the South attacking their own. It little reassures me about the competence of our most excellent Chancellor that such a fate has befallen my loyal subjects.

May God have mercy on the men, women, and children of Ajaccio.

I must strongly caution the nobles of Gascony to treat the French citizens at Dijon with the utmost care. If I get word of massacres or rough treatment of my people I will intervene to bring it to an end.

King Philip returns to his seat with a resigned look and an elaborate sigh.

edit: Removed the bit about saving the garrison.

[Privateerkev]

Guillemot looks at the King.

Your majesty,

This goes for the Marquess as well. If either of you have something to say to me, say it to me directly. Leave my vassals alone. Surely two men of your statures can take a few comments from the lower ranks without getting defensive.

If any of their actions or words offend you, keep in mind, that as their Lord, I am the one responsible for them. Therefore, it is only proper to take your complaints to me and me alone. Are we clear?

As for your comment on there being too many Houses, you should have kept that in mind when you created a 4th one out of thin air.

Furthermore, did you not notice the Rebel force of 4 companies just south of Paris? With all due respect, instead of helping your "pet" conquer Germany, you could have been policing your own city...

As for Dijon, worry not. I am merely officiating an equitable transfer of property. There will be no mis-treatment of any settlements or prisoners by any of my men or they will answer to me.

[Ramses II CP]

The King scoffs,

You mean that pathetic and ill led band hiding out in the woods? I'd hardly call them a threat when there's a civil war drawing armies away from the German front. I suppose if you're offering to help though, then by all means I accept. March your men west and take care of that little problem for me.

[Privateerkev]

I promise I will treat the threat to Paris just as seriously as you treated the threat to France from the Spanish.

[OverKnight]

Prince Louis speaks.

What are we to do about the Sicilians, your Majesty? Surely they are more of a threat than outlaws?

I ask because Corsica is part of your personal holdings.

As for the outlaws threatening Paris, I will secure the countryside.

[Ramses II CP]

An excellent question my Chancellor. Since my input on matters to the south has thus far been ignored I will not pretend that I have any control over the situation. I can only pray that the unimaginably deadly threat of the peaceful Spanish which has been so often thrown in my face and which the lord of House Gascony is, err, fleeing from, will not distract us from yet another actual foreign war on yet another front.

In other words, what are your suggestions?