Conseil du Royaume

[econ21]

My King, my Prince,

I humbly petition that members of the Order be permitted to ride with you in any crusade the Pope authorises against the English. We are an order dedicated to the cause of chivalry - it would be a great honour to us if you would grant us this chance to ride in such a noble endeavour. I realise that the Eastern frontier must be defended, but Baron Thomas has taken up command of Frankfurt and I am sure that arrangements can be made to provide him with sufficient men to hold it.

[OOC: Whichever generals are in the stack capturing the crusade target get really nice chivalry-oriented boosts to their traits. In KotR we arranged things so as to maximise the number of generals who wanted to join a crusade could get those traits. Please can we do that this time?]

[TinCow]

Finally, it is good to see that this body is at last coming to its senses. Now you must excuse me, I have Englishmen to kill.

Christophe rises and leaves the chamber.

[Ituralde]

Mon Roi!

As you can see many of the Order wish to join should a Crusade against the English be called. As a chivalrous Order I see it as our duty to defend the Christian faith and it would be a pleasure to personally support you in bringing your disgraced cousin to heel. In fact I believe that when the Pope calls every Noble should be given the chance to take up arms on this Holy Mission. So I would ask every Noble of France who is willing to partake in this stand up now and make himself known.

I can only speak for the Order and their burning desire to purge these heretics!

Simon raises a cautionary finger.

But we can not slacken in the defense against the Germans. Too bad they won't accept an amiable peace treaty. Which is why it's even more important that we all make our intentions clear and coordinate ourselves within these chambers. Who will fight and who will defend? Who will save the damned souls and who will protect our subjects? Who will slay the English and who will crush the Germans?!

[OverKnight]

The Seneschal belches loudly and begins working on a second wineskin, a wry look on his face.

[Ramses II CP]

Louis, having sped from the chamber with de Perrone when he heard the announcement of the excommunication, returns now with his own announcement,

Ahh, at long last! Mon Roi my men and I have ridden to the walls of Bordeaux and we await only your official word to begin the siege! Valencia could be retaken within days, so I am assured by my vassal de Xaintrailles. Simply say the word war and the reclamation of France will be launched instantly!

I told you all God favored our cause! And despite being played false by the Seneschal I and House Aquitaine are still ready! Give us our head and we'll wipe these bastards out of France in no time!

Louis is so excited he takes no notice of the page pushing a copy of the latest notes at him.

[_Tristan_]

Louis, Louis... Tsk, Tsk... Why do you always have to act so rashly ? Your actions these past season have been made in violation of Edict 2.8, which still stands until war is declared. We're not yet sure the Pope will call for a crusade on England and already you're at their walls...

In what kind of light do you think it casts us in the eyes of the Pope ? I'm tempted to ask the Senechal to enforce the Edict, just to teach you manners...

[Ramses II CP]

My King! Surely we cannot bandy words of a truce with an apostate! The Pope has signed off, has asked all good Catholic peoples to turn their backs on William and his crew of criminals! We have only to stretch out our hands and all of France will fall back into them.

The light in Louis' eyes is undimmed as he goes on speaking,

It is bad enough that we've sent them money and lands, let us not delay in taking them back! War is inevitable, all here know it. We need only your permission!

Mon pere I beg you, most humbly, give me the word and let the reclamation begin... Let I and my men, and I assure you there are no more devoted servants to the throne in all this land, let us launch this war for you. If His Holiness takes umbrage, and I cannot imagine he will, you may blame my infamous lack of caution and I will bear the laughter of all Europe if only I can teach the English the lesson they so desperately need!

A note of caution finally enters Louis' voice,

Before God I meant no offense to the throne or your word, I only acted as I expected must be done eventually anyway. I was the most staunch supporter of this edict, in a way I even proposed it to you, but it's time has passed. Declare the war and let this truce be ended, please!

[AussieGiant]

Alain glances at Hugues, his face clouded with a grimance for one moment. He addresses the chamber with a even voice.

"My King, as a Duchy zat was intrimental in enabling ze most recent deal wiz see English, Bretagne and 'er nobles stand ready to join ze conflict against England.

Ze partial reunifcation of Bretagne wiz ze rest of ze Kingdom and our endeavours in Wales is proof enough zat zis war must include us."

Alain stares hard at ze Dauphin and the nobles from the Order.

"While others seem intent on furthering zeir aims by crawling and throwing themselves at you My King, I would first ask zat ze nobles of Bretagne are reunited wiz us before we declare our intentions so obviously."

[GeneralHankerchief]

Raynaud de Xaintrailles:

*The Baron rises, the emotion palpable in his voice.*

My... my lords...

*He takes a moment, collects himself, and then begins again.*

My Lords,

This unexpected chain of events has...

...has...

*Shaking violently, Raynaud sits down, trying to gather himself before he rises again.*

[Braden]

Father, I cannot imagine the Pope will look unkindly upon us for doing just exactly as he has asked ALL Catholic nations to do? Namely teach the English what it means to go against God's word.

I humbly also beg you to speak the words so many of us wish to hear.

[OverKnight]

Hugues lurches to his feet. He stands swaying a bit, taking in the room with is eyes.

Tell me my Lords, think, perhaps in all this you have forgotten something? Now, what could it be? It seems we have already divided Albion and her continental possessions up. We've lined up our armies. We've made vows of protection and honor. What could we have forgotten?

We'll I tell you what you all have forgotten, you proud soldiers of France. You've forgotten your compatriots, your brothers: Alexandre Le Sueur and Thierry de Rochefort!

They slipped your mind? The two gentlemen still in Wales? The ass end of the Island with their escape cut off because Duc Alain's fleet is blockaded?! Hmmm? By the Germans, it seems, the massive enemy we're already at War with?! Ring a bell?

We declare war on England now and they'll be butchered like pigs!

But I'm sure the Dauphin considered that before he violated an edict and moved his men to the walls of Bordeaux. I'm sure the King considered that before he set this Conseil afire with his calls for a Crusade. I'm sure the Order remembered them before they asked for a piece of the action!

Will you abandon these men to a terrible fight, to die alone and outnumbered!? Just so we don't waste a precious year or two actually planning this!?

Hugues shakes his head.

This is a disgusting spectacle.

He tromps out.