Duchy of Franconia

[gibsonsg91921]

OOC: I'm count +1, idk about my stats but i think theyre insufficient
Lords, post any planned edicts here soon so we can revise them if necessary.

[Dutch_guy]

You're welcome Peter, you've earned it. Plus, you're by far the best commander of the family, would be a shame to hamper your potential.

Ansehelm, would you care - as Peter suggested - let us review the edict before presenting it to the Diet itself ? Keep in mind I will have to, as our Duke, request such a second army - as stated in the latest Charter Amendment we proposed last session.

[Stig]

(OOC: Peter's no longer the best Kastilien anymore DG. Ansehelm as the same amount of command now. Sides he has defense and wall attack bonuses.)
(OOC: CA 9.4 failed, we can't have a second army)


The edict will be something like:


Edict 10.?

An attack will be held against the the Russian barbarians. An army will be gathered for a Teutonic Crusade against the Russian.
This army shall from the start be commanded by a Franconian general, but generals from other houses are allowed to join as well.

The goal of this small non-popal campaign is attacking and sacking the settlements of Vilnius, Riga, Novgorod and Helsinki. Many fine buildings in these settlements will be destroyed before leaving the settlements again, so they can turn into the hands of rebels. This should damage the Russian warmachine and additionally give us many gold.

The objective is to finish this crusade by the year 1280.

[gibsonsg91921]

Maybe something like:

"Edict 10.?

An attack will be held against the the Russian barbarians. An army will be gathered for a Baltic Crusade against the Russians.
This army shall from the start be commanded by a Franconian general, but generals from other houses are allowed to join as well.

The goal of this small non-papal campaign is attacking and sacking the settlements of Vilnius, Riga, Novgorod and Helsinki. Many buildings in these settlements will be destroyed before leaving the settlements again, such as buildings of happiness and law, so they can turn into the hands of rebels. This should damage the Russian warmachine and additionally fill our coffers.

The objective is to finish this crusade by the year 1280."

A few changes in the wording to prevent confusion. Remember, everyone can post their own edict plus the Duke can propose house edicts, so use them to help Franconia, and use them all.

[Stig]

Good one brother, tho I must say that we should also destroy the military buildings

[gibsonsg91921]

OOC: We want it to still be hard, and typically military buildings and law buildings are similar

[Dutch_guy]

The edict, as it is, sounds good. Perhaps we could negotiate with ...a certain house or person who might help us achieve this goal in the future. We need additional support for our edict to make it, we should see to it we get it this time - like we should have gotten our charter amendment.

[gibsonsg91921]

Father is right - send messages to your friends in other houses to ensure their support of this edict.

I believe Bavaria is a strong place to look for support as they had a part of their Household Army bribed by the Russians.

[Stig]

Maybe we can get the Austrians to help us, afterall their army was bribed by the Russians

And we should second our own edict, so it gets through

[gibsonsg91921]

I believe it was the Bavarians to get their army bribed by Russians, or maybe it was both. In either case, Austria would be inclined to help us. Of course we must second our own edict - I think we shouldn't have a problem passing it through vote if it is seconded. Send messages to people of high influence to ensure their votes and persuade them. I have sent messages to Duke Gerhard and Lothar Steffen, Ulrich Hummel, and Duke Arnold. We must persuade men from each house that this is the best for the Reich.

[Stig]

We have the advantage that there are many of us. (OOC: I have not checked the latest game, and the influence hasn't been updated for some time, so I don't know how we compare to the other houses.)
And with the help of these men we should be there

[gibsonsg91921]

I await the responses but I believe that I can persuade these men to help us. I will send a message to Prinz Jobst as well.

I believe the main issue with this edict is that we have to present it in such a way that we don't look like the barbarians, mindlessly killing these cities and their citizens, even if they are the Russians.

Edit: Are there any other edicts in need of revision/approval/support? The Baltic Crusade edict is to be our House Edict, correct? Are there any personal edicts?

[Dutch_guy]

Alas, losing is never easy - especially for those not accustomed to it - but those three votes made it happen alright.

A shame, but I am sure we'll come to live with it. The sooner we do, the better.

[Stig]

I am still happy as now we still have our crusade. Sides when Siegfried and I reach Moscow the new Diet will have started so who says we can't sack other settlements as well on the road back.

Hell who says we'll even go back. I'll be happy to continue to Bulgar and sack the Russian fortress, that will really damage the Russians.

[Ituralde]

Fellow Franconians,

It is with great regret that I inform you, that I will not be able to participate in the Eastern Crusade currently staged by my brother Ansehelm. Foremost is the fact that I'm still stuck in Prague, instead of being with my brother near the Eastern border of Thorn territory. I don't want this project to be delayed by my absence.

Furthermore, our Emperor Jobst has requested me to join him in his Imperial Army, he is currently commanding. I don't know what his plans are, but as a loyal servant I felt obliged to agree. I have already sent word to the Chancellor that I wish to join Emperor Jobst, and hope that I will be able to campaign with him, if I can't help my brother Ansehelm.

I still wish you success in your task Ansehelm. May you defeat the Russians in honourable battle. The glory is all yours now!

[Stig]

You being in Prague is no problem little brother, but if the Kaiser request your presence it's important and you should obey to his order, it will be good for you.
Peter could take your place, but Duke Gunther, father, is getting old, and when I'm gone we need a strong man to defend the Household Army.
Herr von Mahren too isn't the youngest anymore, so we can't rely on him to take full control of our Household army.

So I think I will go on my own, if I ever get the change to go.
If the army building hasn't started in a month (OOC: 24 more hours of no chancellor report and Ansehelm will be pissed off) I will return to Rome to demand it.

(OOC: you will still have to fight some battles for the crusade m8, I'm gone entire July, I'll have no MTW2 for a month, I will have internet tho).

[Dutch_guy]

As I've deduced from discussions both in the Diet as in this body, I am currently the only nobleman in the FHA. As my son, and your brother, correctly stated I am getting old. And with Ansehelm on crusade, and Peter up in the north, someone will have to lead the FHA. So you may join the imperial army, may be good for your experience, but do understand that when I die in the somewhat near future someone 'll have to take my place. By the looks of it, either you - Siegfried - or Peter will. At least with my eldest on crusade.

[Stig]

You are getting old father. You're in Thorn (last time I looked) and I lead the FHA. Peter is somewhere up north fighting a battle to the death.
Herr von Mahren is still in a forest outside Hamburg.
Herr von Hamburg is in the Outremer, together with his sons Dieter, Jan and Helmut I believe.
That leaves only Fritz in Franconia itself.
The Herren von Mahren, von Hamburg and von Kastillien are getting old, and we can't expect them to do many more things in future. Franconia will revert to an entire new order with me and Helmut as the oldest in the House, but still young compared to many others.

If we get our emergency session I will soon leave for Russia, I don't know what will become of Peter, that would mean Fritz is the only Franconian left to defend our big Duchy.

[Ituralde]

Once I am knighted, I will gladly lead the Franconian Household, alone or with you, father!

[Dutch_guy]

I have reached an agreement with our Kaiser, Jobst.

Siegfried will join the Imperial Army, thereby gaining the needed experience for him to eventually lead a force of his own. I'd rather have him garner his experience in the Imperial Army than in Ansehelm's crusade, whenever that takes off that is, as I do not know how the situation with Peter in the north will unfold. With that in mind, I'd rather have him do something which he can end at any time. As We all know one is bound to see a crusade through to the end, plus, I don't like the idea of him having to travel alone through hostile lands when the homefront desperately needs him.

With Ansehelm away on his Holy mission, Peter's life in the balance, and my advanced age we need someone - Siegfried - to be able to fill in the gaps as soon as possible. As Ansehelm correctly stated, someone will have to command the FHA once I'm gone.

[gibsonsg91921]

I will be glad to lead the Household Army of Franconia - I have been dishonored by having to flee from my first two battles and I wish to redeem myself.

[Stig]

I too have reached an agreement with the Kaiser, mostlikely Hummel will be impeached and the Kaiser will do the wisest thing by becoming chancellor and restoring peace.
My crusade army however needs to be trained from nowhere, which will be done in Magdeburg. As soon as I get a save passage out of Thorn I will take it to go to Magdeburg, that leaves Peter in control of Thorn and it's defence.

As it's now we will all return to Thorn. Peter managed to get away from the Russian, I got away from the Poles twice and have beaten them in a later battle, after which I retreated on Thorn.

As soon as the Kaiser has become chancellor I will send him what to do with the Thorn garrison, as it needs to prepare to mostlikely two sieges in a very short time.

[gibsonsg91921]

Indeed - we must ensure that Thorn has many archers as well as infantry. Cavalry will not prove too useful in the citadel walls. I suggest that if besieged, we wait until they assault and drive it back defensively as their large armies will be incredibly difficult to sally forth and drive back.

[Dutch_guy]

But won't recruitment in Magdenburg set you back years in comparison to recruitment in Thorn ? Or have the recruitment facilities now matched Thorn's capabilities ?

I understand the choice for Magdenburg though, it's better to raise an army without the fear of isolation and a siege, but I don't think the crusade 'll take off faster at any rate.

[Stig]

Thorn will be under siege and dangerous.
Magdeburg can recruit the infantry and the archers. (4x dismounted knights, 4x armoured swordsmen, 4x some sort of archers)
Next to that I requested 2 regiments of Teutonic Knights, who need to come from elsewhere. And 4 regiments of Mounted Sergeants, though I expressed the wish to change some of these Mounted Sergeants for Mounted Crossbowmen, that would make sure I would meet the Russians on equal terms.


OOC: Mounted Crossbowmen are some of the best unit in the game. They are standard in any High Era army on MP ... unless you can get Border Horseys.

[Dutch_guy]

May I be the first to officially welcome the latest addition of the von Hamburg family to this body !

Welcome Jan von Hamburg [Privateerkev], we look forward to your contribution to the noble house of Franconia.

[Privateerkev]

I thank the Duke for his warm words of welcome. Since I came of age at 16, I have been busy helping my father in the Outremer and have not been very active in house affairs. I hope to change that soon and take a more active role.

OOC: My character has been in play for a few game years(he's in his 20's and has obviously been used in the game) but as an NPC.

[gibsonsg91921]

We must keep a large garrison in Thorn, but the FHA should be outside of it ready to spring an attack on its besiegers, making it easier than sallying out. Thorn will need all the troops it can get.

Welcome, cousin, to the Council of Franconia!

[Stig]

Thorn is difficult to maintain. We can't use it to retrain troops if it's constantly under siege, but I'm quite confident that if we beat the current 2 big armies near Thorn we are safe for a while.
After that I will leave for Russia, making sure they won't attack.
I suggest that with an edict we again propose to take Krakow in the next Diet session. That should take the Polish pressure of Thorn.

You, my brother, should prepare to lead the FHA in future, as I will not be capable to do as I will be in Russia and next to us the others have not shown to be our best commanders (OOC: Peter and Ansehelm have by far the most command of the younger Franconians).

I suspect that next year we will come under siege by the Poles, and depending on what there army is made up we can sally out or let them attack (OOC: you can easely beat an attacking army, bog them down in the narrow streets and let them be fired upon by archers on higher walls. If however they don't have artillery (proper artillery ballista's don't count as) I would like to sally out and destroy them, if the odds are with us)).

After that Polish army we should expect another Russian army, but that will be it for some time.

[gibsonsg91921]

Typically I prefer to let the rats come to me; the citizens of Thorn will marvel at our conquests when they see them!

Indeed, the Poles are becoming a nuisance aren't they? However, I propose we take one of their unit-producing castles and grant it to an ally, say, the Byzantines, to relieve the stress laid upon the citizens of Thorn and the rest of Franconia.

I believe that it will be easiest to defend Thorn if the FHA is nearby outside and Thorn is constantly recruiting. Of course, we must ensure the Kaiser's cooperation. As you, brother, are the Count of Thorn, I suggest you make correspondence with our Kaiser and Chancellor and let him know of our needs.