Imperial Diet

[Ituralde]

Conrad applaudes lightly as he hears the message from Emperor Heinrich.

I have to agree with your gratulations my Lords.
Concerning your desire for an extended spy network, mein Kaiser. Vienna will not oppose the building of a brothel. I'm sure my liege would have mentioned this to you, but it seems he was preoccupied with his siege. I hear our merchants are already craving for distraction. Counting florins can be quite boring, at least that's what I'm told.

[Lucjan]

Dietrich bursts into the proceedings.

"This is intolerable!" Dietrich's tone is far beyond angry, though he retains his composure, his voice his booming.

"This man has, up to this point, done everything in an attempt to circumvent the laws of the diet and has blatantly proceeded to act contrary to the edicts in pursuit of his own ambitions! This is not diplomacy, this is tyranny! May I call the diet's attention to the location of Maximillian Mandorf. The Kaiser has deliberately sent him through Polish territory in order to take Stettin. Our diplomats report our relations with them have dropped to poor! The edict demands and alliance, yet this fool continues to antagonize and instigate war with people who have shown nothing but predictable responces of someone with concern for their own safety, not the intention of harming others."

Dietrich shakes his head, looking to the floor. "I will not follow the whim of someone so ignorant as you...build your own god damned watch towers. If I am needed I will be at Hamburg, unless I am needed by the kaiser, in which case you can meet me in Hell."
With that, the Duke storms out of the diet proceedings, adamant in his refusal to follow the kaiser's orders.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Hmm, now things are a bit different, aren't they?

First of all, it seems as if you are now the one disobeying edicts by refusing to build the watchtowers. Not very sporting for one who has the office of Chancellor in mind.

Second, now all of a sudden you are not concerned with the speed of the capture of Stettin. Through Poland is the quickest way for Mandorf, and I thought that you were particularly concerned with the speed of its fall. This is how this argument started, is it not?

Third, no edict has been passed with the ban on our forces entering Polish territory. Therefore, I am in violation of no edict and the diplomat is on his way to offer an Alliance with Poland, which you so desparately crave.

[Lucjan]

There is mumbling from side of the House of Franconia. Then outright laughter, nobles, statesmen, even their secretaries can see through the Kaiser's pitiful excuses.

"Does he actually think we can't see through that nonsense?!" One man yells.

"He's deliberately lowering relations with Poland so they'll deny the alliance!" Another angry voice barks.

"The duke isn't refusing the edict, he was never ordered to build them, in fact, Franconia is the only house that had the foresight to erect such constructions prior to the edict! Each duchy should construct it's own towers! It's stupid to have a man with no knowledge of other houses building their watch towers!"

"He's a baboon!"

The rauckus laughter, after that last comment, only grows worse.

"He violates edicts! Argues that he didn't, then tries to make the Reich's situation WORSE by ignoring intelligent council and proceeding to deliberately act contrary to the diet's wishes!"

The Franconian section of the diet, now in an uproar, begins to angrily storm out of the diet, following their duke.

"This is not a diet! This is a dictatorship!"

"Tyrant!"

"Any man who thinks this dummkopf is an honorable man is ALSO a dummkopf!"

It takes little time for the entire section of Franconia's diet seating to be empty.

[OverKnight]

Otto von Kassel quickly strides into the Diet. His riding clothes are splattered with mud and the worse for wear. A bandage is wrapped around his head, with a hint of red showing through the gauze at the right temple. Otto speaks:

Mein Kaiser! Lords of the Reich! Bern is ours! The Reich is victorious! I have ridden three horses into the ground so that I could bring you the news myself!

Having made his announcement, some of the elation leaves Otto. He appears grimmer than you remember.

It was not without cost, however. The commander of their garrison, Helmut, knew his business and his walls were strong. Almost 400 of my men gave their lives for this victory. None of those bandits, however, lived to brag of it, I sent almost 700 of them to Hell!

Otto turns to Prinz Henry and the Swabian delegation:

Sigismund and his men fought like Lions my Prinz! Without their valor, I fear the day might have turned against us. All the men should be commended for their bravery!

Otto faces the Kaiser:

I bring with me 1500 florins for the royal coffers mein Kaiser. They were crafty and well armed foes, but not all that rich. Still, we are in commanding position in the Alps now.

Otto addresses the new Fourth Elector of Austria:

I thank you for the gift of wine you gave me before I left good sir. Sigismund and I drank it in the great hall, and it was excellent. I have a few choice bottles from the castle's cellar that I will send to you.

Otto turns to face the Franconian delegation, only at this point does he notice their absence. One of his eyebrow raises a bit, but he says nothing. Otto addresses the remaining members of the Diet:

I will present a battle report soon my lords, but I am very tired now from the road. I am going to rest. I might have something to say on the morrow.

Otto turns on his heels and wearily exits the Diet. He returns much later, rested and in a change of clothes, and begins writing a battle report at his desk.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Wrong again, Franconia. The watchtower that Dietrich requested was to keep watch over the Danes, not the Reich.

And you were not the only house to have placed watch upon outsiders, either. Austria has done so with both the provinces of Vienna and now Prague too, and Bavaria has done so with a pass through the Alps leading into Italy, serving both as an interior and exterior view.

I suggest to the electors and their staff that they review the latest maps thoroughly as well as constitutional procedure before they... grace this Diet with their presence again.

[Ignoramus]

Count Sigismund der Stolze strides into the Diet building. He has not had time to change from his coat of mail into more suitable attire.

Mein Kaiser, fellow electors, and honourable lords of the Reich, I offer my heartiest congratulations to Otto von Kassel. He fought admirably at Bern and kept calm even when the day looked as if it may go against us. He is a credit to the Reich and the Duchy of Bavaria; it was an honour to fight alongside such a brave and shrewd general.

I apologize for the state that I am in; I received a mere scratch on mein arm from a Swiss spear.

Sigismund bows and quiety leaves the Diet.