Imperial Diet

[AussieGiant]

The 4th Elector of Austria receives message from a scribe...he reads it intently, his eye open wide at the end...stand rather slowly the address the floor.

It has come to my attention gentlemen that my statement is not accurate.

My apologies to Sir Otto, he is indeed correct in his assesment.

It seems a small detail in the constitution will mean edict 3.8 will override 3.6.

I do believe we are heading down the road of excommunication in the near future.

If you would excuse me for a time gentlemen...

...I'm going to take myself outside and conduct a jousting session with Helmut. I'd like to get a feel for how my colleagues in Vienna are going to react to the news I bring them.

while heading toward the outer doors you hear the receeding voice of the 4th Elector shouting

Erwin you filthy sod!! Get my armour ready...and make sure its the one with the reinforced cod piece...I'm going to need it!!!

[Ignoramus]

Chancellor Sigismund der Stolze stands up with a grave expression on his face.

My fellow electors, Kaiser Heinrich, and my lord, Prinz Henry, I have just ordered Otto von Kassel to assault the rebellious city of Milan. May God grant him success that all future rebels may fear the wrath of the Reich.

Chancellor Sigismund resumes his seat.

[Ituralde]

Chancellor Sigismund! I would also like to extend my best wishes to your ascension to this important office within the Reich. I am convinced that the loyalty and chivalry you have shown in the past will suit you well to guid our Reich through this troubled times. I am confident that with your abilities you should be able to fulfill all Edicts proposed by this Assembly. I don't see 3.8 and 3.6 as being mutually exclusive, although to fulfill both would take some care a man that has shown so much promise during the last years should be able to do this.

Concerning the situation in Austria, the Venetian presence there makes me a little uneasy and if it were up to me I would take a small escort with me to follow the path of the first army. I think a watchtower between Vienna and Innsbruck in the Danube valley could put an end to the blind spot we've developed for that region. To hear that another small detachment has dared to intrude in our lands does not bode well. While I don't think that a dire enough reason is supplied yet, the Venetians are well on their way to break this alliance.

Meanwhile, with the retirement of Conrad von Schüsselen the post of Second Elector of Austria has become vacant and I'm pleased to announce that the former Fourth Elector of Austria shall henceforth occupy this important office and act as my voice in this Diet should I not be able to attend to our meetings. That is, if he survives the ordeal he is planning to put himself through.

Before I conclude I put all my faith in Otto von Kassels abilties as a commander and am sure that Milan will soon be back in the Reich, where it belongs!

[OverKnight]

A messenger rushes into the Diet and announces:

Otto von Kassel has captured Milan! The Reich is no longer divided!

He caught most of the garrison outside their city square, after killing their commander they surrendered on the spot. My lord decided to spare them as cornered men are vicious and he wanted to preserve his forces so that the Chancellor will have a strong garrison. No doubt the Milanese scum will try to retake their capital.

The city was sacked and my lord is sending nearly 11,000 florins to add to the Imperial coffers.

My lord Otto sends along his commendation to the spy who opened the gates, he did excellent work. He also wishes to thank the Chancellor for entrusting him with this command and who wisely infiltrated the agent into Milan before the assault.

My lord said that he would send along a full battle report shortly.

The messenger bows and exit.

[Kagemusha]

Fifth Elector of Swabia comments:

"Exellent news! Congratulations are in order for the commander! We have connected our Italian lands in to the Reich. I hope to hear soon from the development against both Genoa and Dijon!"

[TinCow]

Many congratulations to Otto von Kassel for his glorious achievements in Milan. As a reward for his loyal service to the Reich, I would like to bestow on him the title of Count. From now on, let all address him as Count Otto von Kassel. As for his province of assignment, both Bolognia and Innsbruck are available to him. He may inform the Chancellor of his choice in the appropriate administrative area. (OOC: Just pick one and post a build queue for it.)

As for the discussion about Edicts 3.6 and 3.8, it is an interesting situation. If we are not threatened with excommunication, then there is no conflict between them. If we are threatened with excommunication due to the war with Milan, they are directly opposed to one another. In such a case, Diet Rule 3.5 states that in the event of conflicting Edicts, the one with the most votes take priority. Since Edict 3.8 received more votes, it overrides Edict 3.6. Thus, the Chancellor is to continue the attacks on Milan even if threatened with excommunication.

[TinCow]

A servant rushes over to Maximillian Mandorf and whispers something in his ear. Mandorf's face grows dark. He replies to the servant with a few hushed words and the man rushes off.

My lords, it appears that Gregory has called for a Crusade against our allies the Sicilians. While the target is not what I had expected, I must emphasize that this is exactly what I predicted not several days past! If you had not hamstrung the Chancellor and restricted his actions against the Pope, we would now have a free reign to strike against Rome itself! I hope that all who voted against the attack on Rome will learn from this mistake of timidty and short-sightedness.