Conseil du Royaume

[Braden]

Henri stands slowly, tired perhaps, he bows to his Father and Alain

I thank you my Lords for this honour. If it could be refused it would be, but Lorraine needs everyone she has now more than ever and I guess, my experience at least of campaigning against the Germans will aid her in the defence of our lands.

I thank you also for the vote of confidence in me and the offer of aid to rebuild our forces.

Should your efforts my father to attain peace fall to nought...rest assured I will be waiting to ask the Kaiser, in person, and at the end of my sword, if he would reconsider your offers.

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

Micheal Coughed awkwardly

So My Roi, am I allowed to build the watchtower northwest of Pamplona?

[OverKnight]

A young man enters the Conseil. He is slight of build but bears a determined look in his eyes. He bows to the throne and then speaks with a somewhat high voice in contrast to his warlike words.

I am gladdened that the Germans have foolishly refused our latest peace offer. Seneschal de Champagne offered them much more than that, very generous terms, and they still refused.

So let the fools come. Those bastards burned out my family when I was 15, and I've yet to fully repay them. We should make the Empire a desert and then call that peace.

So if blood must be shed, so be it, but we should not offer even one more florin of tribute.

[_Tristan_]

The King nods at Michel d'Anjou.

Permission granted.

He then acknowledges the arrival of Chretien Saisset.

I understand your anger, Sieur Saisset and grieve for your loss. But we have to stand one rung above the Reichlanders and thus, it is our duty to propose a ceasefire at almost all costs. The Eastern front has claimed too many lives of late, Lorraine has paid too heavy a price in blood and though I know that the noble of Lorraine are up to the challenge of many more battles, Icannot bear the burden of so many deaths on my conscience.

Hence, I'd ask you to stay your sword and use it in your defense or that of your Duchy or our Royaume alone. Vengeance should have no place in our hearts.

[Braden]

Henri stands and acknowledges Chretien Saisset

Both you and I are young Chevalier, you have offered your services to Lorraine and we accept them gladly. I foresee much fighting still to come as my scouts report large German armies at our borders still…and I do not believe they are there for the mountain air!

My King, my father…Seneschal…too many titles for me perhaps to pronounce, then again, none more than my own it seems now. Lorraine has suffered as you know and I have made instruction to my Barons to look to their provinces and request what they feel is needed to rebuild our forces.

For my part I ask that you continue with your pledge to recruit for our depleted companies in Frankfurt ((OOC: i.e. retrain)).

However, Lorraine will not sit idly by and accept constant incursions from a German foe who repeatedly refuses offers of peace. I say here and now that if these incursions continue Lorraine WILL be forced to wage an offensive war against the Germans. I cannot and will not accept our villages and farms pillaged and burnt! It is better that the Germans suffer and are made to bring peace than our normal folk are made to suffer longer than needed.

Yes, my soldiers will die but they join as men-at-arms to defend their homes and to stop constant German pillage of their lands…they gladly accept their lives as trade to do this task.

Father, I am not Louis. You see me here telling you and the council what my Duchy is to do…I have not heard Louis tell the council that he intended to strike deep into Iberia until after he had already committed to such a course. Lorraine will and has been forced to consider the same course against the Germans but I am here to tell you and the council this will happen rather than hear from a messenger that Hamburg has fallen.

As Captain of the Order I have also instructed that your requests be fulfilled. I trust this is to your agreement also.

Father, give me the tools and I will bring peace in the East. Continue to talk to the Germans, I assure you that before long their tone will change.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Charles stands..

After some discussion with my brother.. Charles nods to Henri.. I will accept Villain de la Salle into Royal Family. The deal I made with my brother sees that Staufen will be handed to me in return.

So,

Villain de la Salle, welcome into our family!


(OOC: Tristan, accept that MotH offer when Braden have confirmed this deal. )

[Braden]

Henri stands

Indeed brother, I wish you well in establishing your own Duchy on our Southern frontier. I too welcome Villain into our family and toast his continued work with the Duchy of Lorraine.

((OOC: I confirm the completion of extensive, awesomely evil, back-handed, backroom dealings)

[_Tristan_]

Philippe sits upon his throne, anger visibly rising, then turns towards his son Henri.

Please tell me what accomplishments and what qualities does Sieur de la Salle hold that you think he should be a valid addition to our illustrious family ? True, he has met success in battle... He's not the first, and in thse trying times, he surely will not be the last... Hence what makes him stand over the rest ? If I were to follow your lead my son, I'll soon find myself considered the sire of so many nobles, I could field armies with only my sons... So think twice about this...


Or did your vassal offer you something special in your meetings with him, that makes him stand out from the rest ? something that makes him special ? Because from what I know of the man, aside from a mean streak, there is nothing out of the ordinary in that man... For that matter what did you own brother promise you ? What hold do they have on you ? Am I to believe the spreading rumours about the untimely death of your former liege lord, Duc Thomas, under your command ? Is this a way to silence them from speaking the truth about these matters ? Have your ambitions led you to commit the unthinkable ?

Speaking of which, I bestowed upon you the title of Duke but never did I bestow upon you the lands that belonged to you liege. Hence Frankfurt and Staufen are not truly yours. Your liege dying without a will made those province part of the King's Demesne. But I'm in a conciliatory mood, so I will have you retain your newly chosen Ducal capital of Frankfurt.

But Staufen is not yours to give. It belongs to me. Or rather, it will belong to your brother for I would not break the word of a Royal Prince to another but on the condition that he refuses to make Vilain de la Salle part of the Capet family.

Philippe glares at Henri and turns with a knowing smile to Charles.