Imperial Diet

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

I congratulate Chancellor Sigismund and Sir Otto on their successes, but please remember that Edict 3.8 instructs that I am to play a role in the destruction of the Milanese as well.

As for the Crusade, obviously, there is no way that we shall risk our good Imperial troops to attack an ally. There is no need to call an emergency session for this, and I trust that our Chancellor will make the right decision.

-edit- In Dietrich von Saxony's absence, I name Fredricus von Hamburg (FLYdude) as Steward of Franconia.

[Ignoramus]

Chancellor Sigismund der Stolze yawns, and stands up to address the Diet.

I must congratulate Count Otto von Kassel on his commendable performance against the city of Milan. He fought well for the Reich.

Sigismund turns to the Kaiser.

Mein Kasier, I have not forgotten you. I know how much you loath these Milanese traitors, therefore I am sending you against Genoa. I know that under your command Genoa will fall.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Those dirty Venetian rats! I knew it would only be a matter of time before they turned on us!

I plead to Chancellor Sigismund to turn me around and march me straight to Venice once I have captured Genoa.

[Ignoramus]

Chancellor Sigismund der Stolze leaps to his feet and salutes the Kaiser.

You shall, my liege. I cannot refuse mein Kaiser anything. As for those treacherous merchants, they shall soon have their pockets picked.

[Ituralde]

A messenger from Vienna arrives in the Diet proclaiming from a scroll he holds at arms-length.

I have a message from Duke Leopold! He clears his throat.

A dire enough reason has been supplied by the Venetians!
I hope this gives every member of the Diet a brief pause to consider that an alliance is not made to last forever and this should be considered before turning against the might of Christianity!

I will repell those pesky Venetians as soon as possible and intend nothing less than march on their capital of Venice itself. They shall fear the might of the House of Austria and the Reich!

Your dutiful servant,

Duke Leopold

[OverKnight]

Otto von Kassel, a little more tan than you remember him, walks into the Diet. After a short time listening, he rises to speak:

My lords, our Chancellor Sigismund is well on the way to turning Milan, if that nation can still be called that since the Reich rules the city now, into an island republic. We have had an impressive string of victories. Much of what was lost in the past is now ours again!

Yet any victory comes with a cost, our forces our spread thin in Italy and elsewhere. In Milan, for example, I am garrisoning the city with my own retainers and a depleted unit of peasant archers. I can hold down the locals, never fear, but if Milan is besieged I do not have enough men to defend it. Vienna is besieged by the Venetians, and while I believe they will be repulsed if they attack the city, Duke Leopold lacks the necessary cavalry and archers to mount an effective sally.

I must make clear that this is not criticism, we have kept the Milanese off balance with a brilliant series of hammer blows. I doubt they can mount an effective counter-attack themselves. With the entry of the Venetians into this conflict however, the scope and size of our war has widened. They are fresh, and probably chose this time to strike because we are entangled with Milan. They can strike where the Milanese cannot, as they have shown with their siege of Austria's capital. They could easily move on Milan, Innsbruck, Florence or Bologna.

Having looked at the latest maps, with what forces are we to relieve Vienna with? With what forces are we to defend Italy with, if Venice decides to attack there or Milan recovers? We must consider these questions, or I fear a lack of answers will come back to haunt us.

I would suggest, for the time being, that we redeploy some nobles and units from Franconia and central Bavaria, our only quiet fronts at this point, to reinforce Austria and Italy. I would also suggest that we begin recruiting heavily again at Innsbruck and Staufen. Innsbruck troops can deploy to Italy through Milan or into Austria, or they can even strike at Venice if needed. Staufen troops can reinforce our assault on Dijon or head into Italy as well. If paying for these new troops requires delaying new buildings, I suggest we prioritize recruitment.

As for any thoughts of fighting the Pope, look at that army he seems to be parading around northern Italy. Even if we collected all the troops we have in that front together, it would still outnumber and outclass our forces. Now is not the time.

The Reich is strong! But we are not invincible.

My lords.

Otto sits.

OOC: Edited to remove a mention to Bern castle, I failed to realize that it has been converted to a town.

[AussieGiant]

Standing quickly the Austrian 2nd Elector begins

Count Otto is correct.

I have recieved personal word from Duke Leopold in Vienna that he is in no position to take the fight to the Venetians.

I fear we need to make sure we do not over extend ourselves. With a two front war now being waged, any further involvment by other nations could tip the balance. And that especially includes the Pope!!