Duchy of Swabia

[Warluster]

As can be seen nonble Knights of Swabia, the infomation log has been updated for future reference.

Now it is here where we discuss the future of Swabia. The Duchy is once again re united, to great joy, and now we are to foucs on important matters.

Andreas, you are of course under the command of the King. The rest of you have orders, follow them out unless you have questions to them. Once we have Swabia to its former glory, I will give most of you a free rein.

Duke von Salza,

[Warluster]

Swabians! I urge you all to sign the document Count Fritz of Franconia has put forward (OOC: PM Ramses) It will further aid the defense of the Reich.

These chambers are silent, I wish to hear of attak plans and defenses! COme all, speak!

[deguerra]

do excuse the silence, mein Herzog, but we are all unused to being part of a formal Duchy again.

As it stands I am recruiting more flemish to hold Bruges. While I have high hopes I will be able to hold the walls, any assistance would be appreciated.

Ludwig von Bohmen, Graf von Brugge

[FactionHeir]

My Duke,

As you know from my recent correspondence with you, I have driven out the French that threatened Bern. However, as most my army lies dead or wounded, I will not be able to use them for further military action this year until I reach Staufen and replenish my troops.

If you require, I will endeavor to join you at Metz the next year.

[_Tristan_]

Hugo walks in the House of Swabia halls, brushing away the cobwebs clinging to his face.

Seeing the halls deserted, he quickly walks out again, leaving only his footprints in the dust.

[deguerra]

Welcome to our new Electors,

mein Herzog,

as your are doubtlessly aware, I am under siege. I do not expect the impossible, but some sort of a relief effort would be greatly appreciated, as I am dubious as to the skills of my flemish pikemen, who already cost Swabia one general. However, if they attack, we shall hold.

[FactionHeir]

Count Ludwig,

I would come to your aid, but the French are besieging Metz and blocking all routes north. It will also take several years to rebuild the household army back to capable size while concurrently defending against raids.

I suggest you try to sally and hopefully wreak some damage with your loud puff guns on the French before retreating back to the city.

[Warluster]

Count Ludwig,
I call upon you a great effort, to hold out for at least another two years. I shall relieve Metz, and then Count Ruppel, as he has kindly volunteered, shall head north with reinforcments.

If not capable, I am sure some mercaniares would be more then helpful with some more money.

Once these problems of defending our lands are done, our assualt on France may begin in earnest.

Count Ruppel has had some great ideas, that of involving banning Wolfgang Hummel from the Mausleoum, seeing as he is a traitor to the Reich. I am interested as of how many Electors would be interested in such a Edict.

[FactionHeir]

A draft of such an edict would look like this I assume:

Edict 14.3: Wolfgang Hümmel and Dietrich von Dassel are to be confined to the Pillory for high treason, iciting rebellion, unlawful occupation of German lands, conspiring to rebel, premeditated murder of fellow Germans and disobeying authority.

If Duke von Salza would be willing to propose such, I would second it.

[Warluster]

Count Ruppel, I shall at once take this edict to the Diet, and hope the rest accept.

I also urge to the other Swabian Electors to ignore any comments spoken by young members of other Duchy's. There unlawful comments shall be brought to justice very... fast.

[Zim]

Andreas walks into the Swabian chamber, looking slightly irritated. Upon seeing Duke von Salza, he bows.

Mein Duke, forgive me if I intrude. I am not quite sure if my presence is allowed in this chamber while I am still in service to Outremer. I came to escape the incessant but meaningless noise coming from one of those young Electors. Should you require it, I will leave.

[FactionHeir]

My Duke's wish is my command.
I shall strive to keep out of petty quarrel.

[Warluster]

It brings things which people can threaten you with later, you can slip and lose a valuable weapon.

It is good to have you be here Andreas, when you return to Outremer I hope yousend King Matthias my regards.

In the next few years we shall need to rebuild Swabia, but first defend. I have explained inital plans, but am happy to hear others.

Firstly, we shall beat them for Inner Swabia, and Flanders. Count von Bohmen, you may stay in Flanders as a bastion against the Danes there. Then Count Ruppel shall siege and assualt Rheims, with Hugo, while I take Dijon. From there, Erhart and Hugo will siege Paris, while I assist the Bavarians in reclaiming Marseille, though privately I hope for it to be gifted to us.

Any inquires, questions? Any volunteers for something else?

[_Tristan_]

I'm glad to be of use and serve under Count Ruppel's command.

[Warluster]

You shall hopefully be made a Imperial Knight within the next few years, and from there a capable commander as your own.

It seems Duke Arnold as got it right, ands his plans are all right except that of the retreat from Metz. THis decision lies to Count Ruppel. Do you wish to retreat and fight again, or perhaps wear them down so there a easier target? Either way, I am confident in your decisions.

[Zim]

Thank you for the welcome, mein Duke. I will give King Matthias your regards, although you may yet meet him yourself while he is in town for the Diet.

It is good to be in Swabia again. Despite it's troubles, with such fine men leading the House I have no doubt we shall recover quickly. Since I am not actively participating in campaigns in Swabia, instead spending most of my time in Outremer, I will not pretend to advise you on military matters here. However, I will vote for any bill reccommended by mein Duke von Salza.

[deguerra]

There are some advising me to sally forth to wreak some destruction on the French besiegers. Is this a valid idea?

edit: I just think that with the amount of crossbowmen he has, my lack of cavalry as well as no archers, I will get hurt more than him

[Zim]

A letter arrives bearing the mark of Andreas von Salzgitter

Fellow Swabians, as those of you who have revisited the Diet recently may be aware of already, I have recaptured the city of Antioch. In their haste to flee from Matthias, the Greeks had left the city virtually empty. By the end of the season, Matthias will once again be guarding the Iron Bridge. Meanwhile, our English neighbors in Outremer seem to be guarding their new territories well, recruiting many soldiers. All is not completely well, and the Greeks continue to greatly outnumber us, but it seems Outremer is on the mend.

Regards,
Andreas von Salzgitter, Crusader

[deguerra]

At least one Swabian is getting things done, even if it's in Outremer. Gentlemen, I want more discussion taking place here, I want orders and I want a clear cut plan for how we are going to defeat the French. I am still holed up in Bruges and don't think I can leave with my army in the rather shabby state that it is, and my walls unrepaired.

But leave I shall and challenge any foe I must, so long as I see that it is part of some plan we have and not just squandering of our already preciously few resources.

So Duke, Herr Ruppel, for my humble benefit and that of the newcomers, what exactly is the plan?

[FactionHeir]

On the southern front, Metz has fallen this year and the French are gathering for a crossborder strike I believe.
Our forces are still heavily battered and mostly fresh recruits and garrison troops that would stand little chance against the battle hardened French armies that stand at Metz and Dijon.

Without any additional cavalry being supplied to Swabia by the chancellor nor his steward, I fear that both Staufen and Bern may fall to the onslught of their hordes of chivalric footknight.

In the meantime, I have gathered what forces we have and moved just south of the ford near Staufen to counteract any French advance. It may be a futile undertaking, but I shall sooner die than let the French take more of our homeland.

[deguerra]

Right. Sounds good Ruppel, but what is the grand master plan? Does our Duke even have one? And where is he for that matter? His presence in these discussions, or in any others for that matter is sorely lacking!

[Warluster]

The French are powerful, yes they are certianly overwhelming but I believe this war is ours.

Seeing as we have a SHA, we shall closely follow Count Erhart's plan. For now, I thinkw e should keep on the defensive foot. Seeing as the French have massive armies, we can not contend.

Men, defend like your going to die, is what I say. Once the Reich is in a better state, I am cure the new Chancellor will provide us with reinforcements, perhaps we might even have the support of the Kaiser. Once we have at least a Second SHA then we shall plan our offense.

Any objections?

[_Tristan_]

I would advocate a guerrilla war against the French, not all their settlements are well defended and a small force of our men could certainly avoid notice and strike behind the lines...

I volunteer to lead such a force and require only a few recruit, among which a siege or artillery crew would be a must...

[Zim]

OOC: This may sound odd (it did to me at first) but you can't send an army to take any settlement unless it's allowe by a specific Edict, even to raid. At least, that was the reason given why the Army of Outremer couldn't do so.

[_Tristan_]

OOC : I am not fully aware of all legalities of the Reich... Anyway my character is a bit hot-blooded when France is mentioned in his presence and will advocate any and all solutions even illegal to further his ends and those of the Reich...

One thing I'm sure is that he is not knighted yet so the point should be moot...

And I think that Edict 14.3 passed during the last diet authorizes such raiding... on Caen, Paris, Marseilles, Dijon...

[FactionHeir]

The emperor has fallen, may he rest in peace!

Now, as for the raids, I agree. I have sent the late emperor a letter requesting some swift cavalry and that the spies in France be moved into Dijon so I may strike at night to take Dijon while the French camp outside.

[deguerra]

OOC: on that note, what precisely do I need to do to get myself knighted?

[OverKnight]

Edit: Oops I responded to this question before I realized this was the Swabia thread, my apologies. I thought it was the OOC thread.

OOC: Have your avatar fight in a battle where his unit does something meaningful. It's up to the person who fights the battle.

[deguerra]

but the chances of me fighting alongside somebody else are fairly slim at the moment, so ill just have to wait, i guess.

and no worries replying here, really, what with andreas in outremer, you two are basically part of the family :D

[FactionHeir]

Hmm normally you would have to serve under a knight in battle to be knighted.
However, given that you singlehandedly beat the French back from Bruges, I have little doubt that Duke von Salza would not knight you for this act, as Lothar Steffen has been knighted as such by his father, Duke Gerhard.