French Court (IC Thread)

[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?

[Privateerkev]

If you had read the Chancellor Report, you would know that the Spanish have allied with the Germans.

Every time Anjou attacks the Germans, there is a chance that Spain will declare war on us. And they have an army marching north through France as we speak.

Furthermore, Germany is allied to Milan which neighbors territory you own.

And I am the one blamed with wanting to start wars with half the nations in Europe...

[TinCow]

Baronet Hermant Tanlay stands and clears his throat.

Noblemen of the Court, Chancellor and Prince Louis, I am but a lowly Baronet, not a man of great rank or prestige. Yet my lands stand watch at the far north of France's domain. Beyond my walls is nothing more than the untamed wilderness and wild Scotsmen. Indeed, the garrison of my city, York, is the front line of all of Western Civilization. Pagans and wolves lie to the north, and we shield true Christians from their wrath. And yet, we are vulnerable.

I have trained the men available to me to the best of my ability, but they are simply peasants and there is only so much that can be done. In the event of an invasion by the Scots or an uprising by the Welsh or other rebels, York will be powerless to resist them. Indeed, I note with concern that there is only one army in all of Albion that is even capable of confronting an enemy in the field: Viscount Henry's Private Army. Even this force is easily the weakest of all of France's armies. It is mainly composed of mercenaries, and not even ones of great quality. Indeed, in this entire army there are only two regiments of true French soldiers, a regiment of Knights and a regiment of unarmored Spearmen.

During times such as these, I hear much about concerns to the south and east, yet no one speaks for the deplorable state of our defenses in the north. True, the Scots are our allies at the moment, but they are a fickle people. The Scots have never been true friends with the rulers of England, whether those rulers hailed from London, Normandy, or Île-de-France. Give them a chance, and they will assail us, I assure you.

I ask the Chancellor to find some room in the budget for some small improvements to the defenses of Albion. I ask not for any great expenditures, simply an investment in our defense and future that may give us a small chance of success in the event of betrayal or rebellion. First, a few watchtowers to control the countryside and watch the border. Second, a fort along the Scottish border with which to delay any invasion. Third, the recruitment of some small number of true French soldiers for the border. Finally, an investment in the facilities of Caernarvon so that they may at least field the most basic of archers.

These investments may not be easy given the demands of other fronts, but I think they are small requests for the defense of an entire House. A House led by your own brother, my Prince. It should not be difficult to find a few hundred florins a year that can be diverted to cold Albion.

My thanks for your time, nobleman of the Court and my Prince.

*Baronet Tanlay bows and sits.*

[Ramses II CP]

The King casts a derisive glance at Guillemot.

Enough with the 'threat' of the Spanish. You stripped your border with them to show the world how much you fear them, and even now your nobles march away from them. Frankly I've begun to wonder if you didn't conclude some kind of side deal with Spain.

For me, I've marched straight at France's true enemy and laid siege to Staufen. Not wishing to waste good troops on this little assault, I have left many of my best men in the care of the Marquess. I am certain he will treat them well, as I hope and pray the rest of my nobles will as well.

I must second Baronet Hermant Tanlay in his call for northern reinforcements. The borderlands of our most recent conquests are thinly held and full of discontent peasants. A rebellion there would reverse all those dearly bought gains we secured against England.

Turning to the Prince, the King continues in a less pleasant tone.

Louis if I understand your latest report correctly you made a gift of my settlement at Ajaccio to the Sicilians by repudiating the possibility of a retaliatory strike. Can I assume you will be repaying me for my loss out of your personal lands or funds?

The King takes a seat, with a look of dissatisfaction on his face.

[Privateerkev]

The Count looks indignent.

Every time you attack the Germans, you increase the chance that the Spaniards will attack us. While you might not care for the citizens of Gascony, I do.

As for your comment regarding me and the Spanish, that is just as absurd as your comment about giving men to the Marquess "to care for."

You have sheltered an Anjou army unit. And now you have reinforced an Anjou field army. These are slaps in the face to all of Gascony and should give every noble in this court pause.

Your claim of neutrality is a farce. Every action you take shows you care little for hundreds of thousands of your own people.