Orders and reports thread

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

My reign as Chancellor is now 3/4 completed and much has to be mentioned. Many of you know most of these events already from the Diet deliberations, however, there have been some things that I have left out.

After the midterm session of the Diet concluded I immediately sent Otto von Kassel (dlain) out with a fairly large army to besiege the rebel castle of Bern. Sigismund der Stolze (Ignoramus) will be meeting Otto from the northwest with a small amount of extra troops. This is all in accordance with Edict 2.5.

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I fully intended to set out for Breslau at the same time, however, I was informed that those stinking Polish had beat us to it. That was 2,500 florins down the drain.

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However, they have given me a new mission to initiate diplomatic contact with Portugal, which is perfect since a diplomat was on the way anyway and it gives me even more incentive to fulfill Edict 1.25.

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I am also happy to inform the Diet that I have fulfilled Edict 2.8, which instructed me to take along three priests along with Cardinal Scherer (IvarrWolfsong) in order to convert Stettin. However, it seems as if, er... the people in charge of making these people priests have long functioned without eyesight:

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My son Leopold (Braden, now Ituralde) has finally taken and sacked Prague, bringing some much-needed glory and land to the House of Austria. Already he has set up watchtowers to the east to keep watch on Poland.

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In addition, I took care of some rebels to the south of Florence.

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However, the unnerving thing about it was not the small rebel army that was easily destroyed, but rather the significant Papal force in Imperial territory! Naturally, this situation will be closely monitored.

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However, my mind was quickly diverted elsewhere with the trouble in the Diet and news of Otto's spectacular capture of Bern.

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With Bern falling under Imperial control, the remainder of my term will be focused on getting Stettin under our control, as well as putting up watchtowers around the Reich. Maximillian Mandorf and Dietrich von Saxony will be fulfilling those tasks, respectively.

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Until next time, good Electors.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Good Electors, I was not planning to make a report until my term has ended but several diplomatic situations have arisen that I believe need to be made known to the entire Diet. The other events that have taken place since my last report will be detailed in my final report.

First of all, and the least important, it seems as if Venice, our "ally," cares little if it angers us or not.

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Second, despite Dietrich von Saxony's worries, we have successfully allied ourselves with Poland.

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Third, a mixed blessing. The Moors, the Islam faction of southern Spain and Northern Africa, have surprisingly approached us with the offer of friendship. I accepted, but the Moors had to pay a price. However, more disturbingly, Pope Gregory has excommunicated our allies the Sicilians.

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It was not long before he ordered me to cut diplomatic ties with them.

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I am still mulling over whether to comply with the Papal order or not. We have plenty of time and a diplomat is close to Naples.

However, the main reason I make this report is that we, the Reich, are at war with the vile faction of Milan. Sigismund der Stolze is threatened, as the besieging army will most likely defeat him in an assault.

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I suppose I should have seen this coming, as I received this report some time earlier:

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Otto von Kassel and a regiment of mailed knights are on the way and have arrived (the picture is slightly out of date) in order to assist Sigismund, but unfortunately there are no mercenaries in the area. I will probably send Otto out to recruit some more in another province, but that will take time.

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The fifth Elector of Swabia (Kagemusha) proposed reconnaisance on the city of Milan itself in hopes of determining the garrison size, which I agreed was a good idea. However, the Milanese probably thought so too.

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What makes matters worse is that they dared make this diplomatic "attempt" around the same time:

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Now, the course of action I will probably take is the following:

Both Milan and Genoa are lightly-to-moderately defended. We have a significant garrison in both Florence and Bologna, but most of it can't be taken out of the city because unrest is a larger problem in our Italian possessions than in our German possessions. The best I can do is two regiments out of each city, including my own escort.

However, we can get a lot of units out of Innsbruck, including a regiment of Armoured Sergeants, our highest-quality infantry yet. The idea (which I must again give credit to Fifth Elector of Swabia Kagemusha) is to make the besieging force of Bern turn around and face the greater threat - the loss of Milan itself.

I am confident, with what I have available in Italy and southern Germany, I can defeat all but the largest Milanese force in open combat or city assault. This plan will follow through. Rest assured, Swabia, that Sigismund will not perish. Milan will recognize the threat and turn around, or at the very least split her forces.

I urge the Electors to view the current situation: http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1118.zip

Until next time, good Electors.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

I now make my offical end-of-term report for the Diet to review and discuss.

The previous diplomatic crises that I addressed in my last report (see above) have changed little. However, there has been no word from the Papacy condemning our actions against the Milanese so I suspect that Pope Gregory has little interest in how this conflict plays out. Either that or he is siding with us.

Hungary, of whom we were so concerned with a short time ago thanks to their large army within striking distance of Vienna, is now sending us mixed messages. That army has turned northeast to another target, but it would seem that they have indeed taken an active interest in the goings and comings of Austria's capital:

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~~~~~~~~~~

But now we must review what has happened over the course of my term as Chancellor.

Since 1180, the size of the Reich has doubled. All commanders are to be lauded for achieving this feat. The victories we have won in this half-term include the captures of Stettin, Bern, and Prague, as well as the defeat of numerous brigands outside of Florence and a heroic sally beating back the Milanese. The casualty reports that I have not already given may be found below.

Maximillian Mandorf's capture of Stettin

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Kaiser Heinrich's strange encounter with some rebels

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Sigismund der Stolze's sally from Bern

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Our financial situation is better than in recent years. Our cash-on-hand for 1120 is slightly below what it has been due to spending in anticipation for the continuation of hostilities with Milan.

Aside from the florin problem, we are surely the greatest power in the known world:

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And news has just reached me that my son Leopold (Ituralde) has gotten himself married. May you have many fine children.

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I am pleased to report that all edicts have been fulfilled (including 1.16, but the spy was killed in action - see previous report) aside from 1.25, but the diplomat is currently on his way to Russia as I make this report. He should initiate contact with them shortly.

We are allied with Venice, Sicily, the Byzantine Empire, the Moors, and Poland. In addition, we have secured trade rights with England, France, Spain, Denmark, Portugal, Hungary, and the Papal States. We are at war with Milan.

I expect that that Diet and the next Chancellor will have to deal with the following issues in order of precedence:

- The logistics of our war with Milan (passive or active, what do we target, who leads the attack, etc). Personally, I recommend a two-pronged front, with myself/Otto von Kassel targeting their Italian possessions and Prinz Henry/Sigismund der Stolze securing Dijon. The Pope has not condemned our sally attack, I doubt he will condemn this.

- Who to side with in the Sicilian Excommunication crisis.

- What to do about Hungary and their actions with Vienna

- Our continued building priorities. Do we wish to make money or successful war? Stettin would be an example of this. Currently the governor, Fredricus von Hamburg (FLYdude) will have to choose between upgrading Stettin to a full castle or converting it into a large town.

~~~~~~~~~~

1120 has caught several Electors in transition to their next assignment, and for that I apologize to Otto von Kassel, Maximillian Mandorf, Leopold, and Dietrich von Saxony. Otto and Maximillian are returning to Innsbruck, Nuremburg, and Prague, respectively, from military service and Dietrich is currently fulfilling Edict 2.9. I recommend that he be returned to Hamburg once his task is completed.

I hereby allocate the newly-conquered settlements to the following houses:

- Bern to Swabia
- Prague to Austria
- Stettin to Franconia

And with that, I relinquish my position of Chancellor. May the person you elect to hold it next continue to improve the Reich.

Heinrich, Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1120.zip

[econ21]

Prinz Henry:

Build Queue for Staufen:

Chapel - 2 turns
Mustering Hall - 1 turn
Garrison Quarters - 2 turns
Drill Square - 3 turns
Upgrade to fortress - 3 turns

Build queue for Bern:

Convert to city - 2 turns
Town watch - 2 turns
Town guard - 3 turns
Church - 2 turns
Leather tanner - 2 turns

Taxes to very high if no general is present in Bern; set to high if a general is present. But always lower taxes to avoid red faces.

Note: Please prioritise Staufen over Bern if necessary; it is essential that we get a fortress asap.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Build queue for Florence

1. Town Watch
2. ---
3. Market
4. ---
5. ---
6. nothing
7. Communial Farming
8. ---
9. ---
10. Stone Wall if available. Otherwise, nothing.

~~~~~~

The key here is first, to make sure that Florence can produce middle-grade militia to defend itself in case the Italian situation goes nasty. It should then continue to be an economic center of the Reich. The taxes are to stay at the level they are, but I give permission to lower them if the face turns red.

[Ituralde]

Build queue Prague:
1 Grain Exchange
2 continued
3 Small Church
4 Town Watch
5 continued
6 Town Hall
7 continued
8 Leather Tanner
9 continued
10

Build queue Vienna:
1 Church continued
2 Stone Wall
3 continued
4 continued
5 City Watch
6 continued
7 continued
8 continued
9 Fairground
10 continued


I'd also like to see the Stone Wall completed as soon as possible over any improvements in Prague.

[Ignoramus]

Chancellor Sigismund der Stolze:

My brief reign so far, although short, has been quite eventful.

First, our spy, Wolfgand Ruesdorf, successfully infiltrated the Papal army led by Pope Gregory himself. He returned with comprehensable report of the strength and compostion of the Papal soldier.

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Next, I killed the Milanese Duke Bernado in battle at the foot of the Alps. He and his tow depleted companies of mercenaries did not fight well. As I wished to remain on good terms with the mercenaries in the area, I released the 25 prisoners we took.

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Next, I was attacked in a pass in the Alps of Savoy, by a far superior Milanese army led by Manno Galli.

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Due to a good defensible position and good fortune, the Milanese were unable to attack my meagre force. My object, was therefore gained - I had prevented the Milanese from entering Lombardy.

On a personal note, I have finally married.

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The Venetians army loitering in Austria has moved out of sight somewhere near the Danube in the middle of Austria. Meanwhile, another small army led by a general has again crossed our borders.

The Hungarian army in Hungary has grown larger, but it has not moved towards our borders. Instead, it has marched back near Budapest.

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Otto von Kassel is ready to strike at the city of Milan:

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The Pope has moved back into Milanese territory, and another rebel general has arisen near Bologna:

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However, the most important event that has taken place is from the Pope:

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The city of Tunis, is held by our ally Sicily, who very piously took it from Muslims. Ironically, the Pope has already demanded us to break that alliance.

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And finally, Prinz Henry and Count Otto von Kassel are now Army Commanders.