Conseil du Royaume

[_Tristan_]

Philippe strides into the Conseil, his armour still fleckled with specks of blood.

Mes Seigneurs, this here (pointing at his breastplate) is English blood... Our swords have finally drunk of that most foul beverage...

War with England is declared... Strike now... Strike swiftly... I and the other Crusaders will deal Guillaume the killing blow but I want to see you bleed him... Take everything from him... EVERYTHING !!

Turning to Alain and Hugues.

Would you share some of that wine ? I rode directly from Rambouillet and I'm thirsty as hell...

Taking a sip from one of the proferred goblets, Philippe calms down.

That fool Harold thought to defy us by riding against Paris. Hopefully I was still in the vicinity. Guillaume has refused to ransom his kin, the greedy and avaricious bastard that he is...

Now, we'll cross the Channel next year and I deem it a good omen that we take the Cross once safely on the other side. It will consecrate English soil once again as being part of God's Kingdom.

Join me at Calais, Crusaders, or join me in Folkestone but there only will we take the Cross.

Philippe takes another gulp of wine and finally sits on his throne.

[OverKnight]

Hugues raises a new wineskin, the one Alain stole a lost cause, in salute to the King.

Cry 'havoc', your Majesty, and let slip the dogs of war.

[Ituralde]

Simon looks incredulous at Duc Alain then decides to ignore his squirting, grinding his teeth at the words of the King.

So neither Paris nor Bruges then. I follow my King where he leads.

[Braden]

The English themselves have initiated this, in actuality we were withdrawing from their lands. Let it not be said in history that we drew first blood…this war has been started firmly by the English.

Good luck and good hunting to all on our Western front.

even Henri raises a glass in honour

[AussieGiant]

Alain gives Simon another squirt, missing intentionally and going for the splash damage option. At the Kings statement he fires one long last shot straight up in the air the whole council is covered in a thin shower of excellent 1066 and then promptly belches.

"Well zen..."

In a rather effeminate and soft voice he says.

"'avoc!

He continues in a more normal tone.

I'll be in Angers by next season if anyone wants to speak to me."

[Ramses II CP]

Louis roars,

War! At last, at long, long last! All hail the King and praise his victory! William will be repaid for his treachery and his heathen heart!

At his gesture a number of pages depart the Council chamber on sundry preassigned tasks. Louis then raises a toast to his father.

Bordeaux will be under siege shortly. Valencia should fall as soon as Sir de Xaintrailles can reach the walls. Pamplona will have to wait a few seasons, but the English will find no shelter there in the long term. They will be expelled, and this will once more be the kingdom of the Franks, whole under her King, Phillipe the Lion!

I find myself surprised that William would not pay ransom... can it be that he has emptied his coffers to make war on the Scots? Or was it that his vassal's own ambition had been unleashed and Harold acted outside his master's orders? Ever do a traitor's own look to betray him.

I hope I have made it clear that I mean to repel the Moorish invasion of our lands, no matter what excuse it hides under. With that in mind I want to make my training requests in public, so that the Seneschal may deny them in public as well rather than attempt to backroom them away in some obscure political wrangling.

I ask that militia be trained at Marseilles and Zaragosa, the the cavalry at Toulouse be retrained, and that some archers be commissioned at Toulouse to hold the castle while I take the mounted men out against the Moors. In the immediate future House Aquitaine will likely see the heaviest fighting, do not short my men because of our disagreement.

With a sneer of faint disgust Louis continues,

Wine is never really the problem, the problem is those who cannot hold it. Set aside mere drink and instead let the blood of our enemies refresh your cup now Duke de Champagne! War calls!

[Cecil XIX]

Duc Raymond strides into the Conseil.

The Army of Bourgogne has ridden into battle! I am proud to say that we have taken not only the life of Gunther von Nurmerburg as he encroached upon my lands, but just a few leagues from Bern we engaged an army under the command of Kaiser Karl, and my vassal Raoul Chatillion defeated and killed the Kaiser in the ensueing melee!

I'm embarrased to say in my enthusiasm I forgot to send a unit back to Dijon, but it's nothing that can't be taken care of next season, while my army besieges the castle of Bern.

[OverKnight]

Hugues smiles at the good news.

Congratulations to Duc Raymond and Chevalier Raoul de Chatillon. We appear to have the Germans on the defensive.

Hugues turns to the Dauphin.

Your Highness's request for more men will be taken into account. However, military expenditures are at an all time high. I must warn the Conseil that barring further prioritizations, recruitment for new companies will be curtailed. If we keep enlisting Companies, there will be no money for building, diplomacy or trade.

I am sorry if this is troubling to the Dauphin, but Acquitaine must make do with the sizable forces it already has.

If the Moors become more of a threat, I may reasses the situation.