Imperial Diet & Rules

[Nightbringer]

Oh, I apologize, it was out of ignorance. I was merely displaying my desire to one day have a city to call my own, I assumed that doing so would still be fully within my role in the Osterreich, and that the city would simply be my home base of operations.

Please rest assured my Lord, I have no desire to leave the Osterreich.

Jens smiles as he watches the Hungarian being dragged off by the Turk
As annoying as these Turks seem to be, at least they know how to treat a Magyar.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Pages! I have an assignment for you. Scour the city for that Seljuk representative who has just... graced... us with his presence. Tell him that if he wishes to conduct diplomatic business of any sort with us, he may return here and wait to be received by the Kaiser, who is unilaterally in charge of the empire and who will not be suffered to see his Electors treated in a such a manner as what just happened.

[phonicsmonkey]

Prinz Leopold arrives to a fanfare.

Mein Kaiser and good Electors,

I bring the joyous news that Innsbruck has been returned to the bosom of the Reich and good Duke Becker avenged. I have commissioned a statue in his honour which will stand at the gates of the fortress in memorial.

I have withdrawn my forces to the plain south of Nuremburg lest I be caught in a trap like the Bavarian before me. Also I should like to be closer to Osterreich in case things turn awry, with several Magyar armies of varying sizes threatening Budapest and Wien.

Our spies in the east indicate that the Magyar have built a sizeable force at Bran which no doubt they will send our way, unless it is to be used to defend against the Turkish threat...there are further forces at Sofia and just west of the city.

I should like to formally petition the mighty and noble Kaiser that Budapest, Innsbruck and Nuremburg should be granted to the Duchy of Osterreich. In the first two cases by right of conquest and in the case of Nuremburg to formalise the arrangement which is currently in place.

I await the Kaisers judgement in such matters.

He inclines his head respectfully.

[The Celtic Viking]

Theodericus stands up and claps his hands.

"Well done, Prinz Leopold! Very well done, indeed. I congratulate you on this success of yours!"

"Now, I have a brief question and a request from my side. Firstly, what's the status of that spy you promised me? Secondly, to raise that cavalry for you, I need to liberate Magdeburg first. I have come into contact with a band of mercenary spearmen who can help me do this job. I ask for your permission as the Marshal to hire these men for this purpose, out of my own pocket."

[phonicsmonkey]

The Prinz.

Your spy is headed towards Brandenburg. Unfortunately he was used for a quick scouting mission to the south and is one season's march behind where he would have been, but he is now at the river crossing north of Vienna and you may command him from there. Apologies for the delay good Margrave...

I assumed the cavalry would be required for the defence of your ancestral seat - but it would be greatly appreciated if you could send them on their way once they are no longer needed.

You have my permission as Marshall to hire whatever mercenaries you require, of course.

[Zim]

Austria's newest noble, Elberhard von Essen, steps into the chamber. His face is strikingly handsome, sharp patrician features marred only by a thick scar running from behind one ear down to his neck that his long hair does not quite conceal. His grey eyes scan the room somewhat warily. His armor is well crafted, every piece of plate or chain molded to his body. The darkened metal is edged with gold, forming an abstract pattern of lines on his breast plate that draws the eye, similar in appearance to the designs of the Gaels to the northwest.

His physique, as much as can be seen under the armor, seems on the slender side for a knight. As he makes his way towards the center of the room he does not move quite with the economy of motion found in some larger warriors, but rather with the easy grace of a swordsman. Once in the middle of the room he kneels in the direction of the dais, bows his head and begins to speak. His voice is smooth and cultured, with a slight edge to it.

"I hereby swear that, during my time as an Elector, I will serve the Reich faithfully and the Kaiser loyally. I recognize that the Kaiser is the sovereign of the Reich and, while I may disagree with him politically, I will not question his supremacy."

Once finished, he waits for the acknowledgement of the Emperor. If the Kaiser is absent, he stands and makes his way to the Austrian side of the chamber.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Gentlemen, please familiarize yourselves with the secret passages in and out of this city. I fully expect the next scheduled Diet session to be conducted with Frankfurt under siege.

*He digs into a stack of papers and haphazardly flings some of them out at the Electors.*

Maps. Passages. Here they are. There had better not be any traitors in this building.

*The Kaiser looks around for a second, spotting a new face on the Austrian benches.*

Ah yes, Elberhard von Essen. A good strong name, that. Part of it, anyway. Your oath is acknowledged, and welcome.

Hmm, that reminds me. I hereby grant the House of Austria the province of Budapest. The rest of the provinces will remain in my possession right now. We will decide what to do with them at the Diet. The Diet Under Siege. That sounds like a good name. A name that will be remembered. Buckle down, Good Electors. It's going to be an interesting Diet.