Imperial Diet II

[Northnovas]

Dietrich Von Saxony gazes at the 3rd Austrian Elector from his seat and says

"I believe that your seconding makes three of us,who have seconded Leopold´s edict.

With a little smile, hardly regogniceable, he takes a sip from his wine.

Stands to address Dietrich Von Saxony among the other speakers

My Lord, I apologies for my oversight and the House of Austria is grateful for your support to Duke Leopolds edict.

Sits back down and reviews edicts

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Leave me in peace, von Saxony! The reasons I have for not partaking in this crusade are my own. Whether you agree with my policies or not, you must respect the fact that the Reich has grown in power and prestige in my reign. My one last wish is to spend the remainder of my days here, in Rome.

[Warluster]

Too much war.

Thats what I say, we all talk of fighting Nations in deserts of far away lands, gaining glory. WHat glroy does war have? What does Nations of far away lands have to do with us!?

We are already at war with Venice,Papal STates, Milan, Poland,France and manmy more, and now you want to send OUR armies away!? Leave our lands with no support? I assure you our enemies wills trike, and very hard.

SO I go against the Crusade, ti leaves us open, with ourselves surrounded by enemies!

[econ21]

Prinz Henry: Although it is by no means clear that Edict 1.1 will pass, in the event that it does, it may speed the Chancellor's job of organising a crusade if he knows from the start who would wish to join it.

Consequently, I ask each Duke to state who among their House would join the crusade proposed in Edict 1.1?

For Swabia's part, in view of Count Von Salva's statement, I believe it will only be I who joins. I would also wish to commit to the crusade some of the resources that would otherwise go to the Swabian Household Army - at least one regiment of pavisse crossbows and one of dismounted Feudal knights. I would also be willing to detach other forces if the Chancellor judges they are required and can be spared. I do not believe the crusade should set off with less than the full complement of 20 regiments, including our bodyguards.

Duke Leopold has also declared against the crusade and so presumably would not join.

I wonder what Duke Otto and Duke Dietrich can say about the contribution of the Houses of Bavaria and Franconia?

[TinCow]

Prinz Henry, you are most wise to bring up this topic. The very reason I wished for the Emergency Session to be called this year was to allow me to use the time remaining in my term to assemble the Crusade. If Edict E1.1 passes and everything goes as planned, I anticipate that the Crusade could depart in the first or second year of the next Chancellor's term.

As there seems to be a somewhat lackluster response to the Crusade, I do not anticipate an over-abundance of volunteers. Accordingly, I declare my intention to join.

[Kagemusha]

Dietrich Von Saxony

"Mein Prinz, i will place my support behind the edict 1.4 from Duke Leopold.Becouse to me it sounds more reasonable. Incase still if 1.1 will pass. I will myself will join the Crusade. I know im old,but i think it is as holy task to join the Crusade as its is to see it reach its destination. Which i will propably not witness.My Counts and Knight Von Mahren can decide themselves,if they will take the cross or not. Due to nature of Franconia and its large defendable area.I would prefer for atleast two of my Commanders to stay home, so Franconia can be protected from enemies of the Reich. About the troops.I wish that only our escorts and maybe some Teutonic knights would join the Crusade.We need every other men to fend of the enemies of Franconia"

[OverKnight]

Otto rises to speak.

It is only fitting that Maximillian, who proposed the idea of this Crusade, will represent Bavaria. I wish that I could go as well, but I have already given my reasons as to why I will stay to defend the Reich and Bavaria. I have not heard from Gerhard Steffen, and I will not speak for him.

Once the Bavarian Household Army has finished the remnants of the Milanese on the mainland, Bavarian territories will be relatively secure. I will then put the Army at the disposal of the Chancellor. He may take as much of the Army as he wishes to the Holy Land, I leave it to his discretion. Bavaria supports the Crusade in word and deed!

Otto sits.

[econ21]

Prinz Henry: Gentlemen, I think we have all said what we have to say and I fear I am going down with a temperature. I have instructed the scribe to open the polls for 24 hours. Now, I shall retire for the evening. This our first Emergency Session is closed.

[nazgul3]

Walks up to the guards in a long robe and whispers to the guard who lets me in...The diet is empty bc of voting. I walk in slowly touching the marble of the diet. I spot my seat and walk to the middle of the diet. I notice the true granduere of the diet as it imposes when empty. Sits in his empty seat and waits for the rest of the Diet.

[ArchdukeEvan]

comes in after the voting to read in the quiet... and spots the other elector...

well now... what a pleasent suprise to find you back... are you going to kill anyone this time?... i was eagerly awaiting it last time...

laughs at his minor sarcasm... goes to his seat and opens a book

[nazgul3]

Behind my long brown robe with face hidden in a low deep voice

It would seem so noble lord. 'r tis true of your pleasentness? Mein noble i extend thy hand in frienship, I hope thou shall find peace in thy heart. Mein noble sire, elector of Austria, thou shalt always be considered friendly to me. I have never had coarse relations t'word thee. But tis death thou seeks, than i shall watch your back and together fight the infidels on our lords will. What say you mein elector, whilst thou take thy hand in peace?

Raises hand out of the robe, holding it out sincerely. Face is still covered waiting for the electors response

[ArchdukeEvan]

puts down his book and walks over... suddenly thankfull for his chainmail armor on underneith his clothing...

i will take your offer of peace... but maybe i made a mistake earlier? i must have... you seemed very similar to another... my apoliges far elector...

takes his hand in agreement

[nazgul3]

Looks up at the elector..his eyes steady at the his slight response to the armor underneath

Thank you honorable sir. It is i who am blessed for your honor. Nods May i inquisite as thou may confuse me of? It seems you react as such a man of little confusion. I assure you sir Tis not the same person underneath you have doth witnessed before. But a man anew blessed by ze Lord above. Here stands a man charitable in peace with wisdom and calmness. 'ver the battlefield is the same man but with the attitude of a lion and prowess of a tiger. For thy will serve no better honor to watch your back. Humbly sir I wish you well and do not want to delay your reading further with my rhetoric. Thank you again.

Nods again and lowers his head, covering the armor

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

So certainly you will take back your previous remarks about your Lord and Kaiser, then, Good Elector.

[ArchdukeEvan]

starteled by sudden appearance of the Kiaser... the elector moves quickly back to his seat... and sits... reading and listen to the insuing conversation between the two

[nazgul3]

In the corner of his eye, notices the Kaizer. Steps off his seat and walks to the Kaizer....Speaks softly...facing man to man, the face still halfly covered by the hood

It seems that i 've over stepped my bounds mein Kaizer. I hope that you will take heed to thy message of impending attack. However thou has something to speak of, once the diet has returned. If thou doth allow me to speak first i shall make my intentions be known. I know thou will not trust thy honorable self just yet...But will say this, thy Kaizer is control of the holy city..it seems God favors you. In thus calling me good, i am humbly capable of your postion..thus acquiescent of your venerable valence. Allow thee triumphant one, to return such a gift has thou returned upon me. Mein self will become whole upon mention. For you i wll fight for.

Extends his hand in show of good faith.

[Kagemusha]

Nevermind.

[FactionHeir]

Well von Sachsen, it seems that the scribe made a clerical error and omitted the emperor's votes the first time.
The new results problaim that E1.1 is in effect accompanied by E1.7

And I suppose we need to vote on how to punish the scribe for omitting the emperor's votes.

[Kagemusha]

Dietrich Von Saxony

And it seems that the polls are not even closed yet. There are still Electors who hasnt voted.

[TinCow]

Electors, it has not passed my attention that there has been much speculation about the next election for Chancellor. I have heard several suggestions that I run for re-election. I wish to firmly state here and now that I will not seek another term in office. It was during my Chancellorship that this conflict with Pope Gregory finally erupted into open war. I failed to keep the peace and we are now forced to embark on a Crusade to purge these sins.

There are many Electors who would make a worthy candidate for Chancellor. I encourage all who have any interest in the position to consider campaigning in 1160.

[Kagemusha]

Dietrich Von Saxony

"My stand on issue is double edged. If we are to embark on the crusade immediately like 1.1 suggest´s. In that case i will not run for Chancellor,since i couldnt do honour for the rank,since i would be travelling away to far away lands. Incase 1.1 doesnt pass. I would be honoured to apply for the position of the next Chancellor of the Reich,now before i will turn too old to handle the affairs of the Reich."

Dietrich bows to the Diet and sits back on his place.

[OverKnight]

Gunther of Eichstadt, looking somewhat better after the end of the Investiture Crisis, stands to read a message from Otto to the Diet:

My Lords, Duke von Kassel has fulfilled Edict 5.13 by engaging and utterly beating the Milanese forces outside of Genoa. The Milanese lord, Bindello Columbana was killed in battle. Of the 653 Milanese, 257 were killed, 370 were captured and only 26 escaped. The Duke wishes to congratulate Gerhard Steffen, he and his retainers were responsible for killing or capturing 230 men alone.

The prisoners were released. . .

Gunther looks quizzically at the message.

Hmm? He must have written that wrong. . .it says the prisoners were released and they took flight to a Milanese galley off shore. None of those "bloody merchants" are left on the mainland. Imperial losses were 150 men.

Gunther sits.

[FactionHeir]

Eichstadt, I am quite certain Edict 5.13 called for the destruction of the Milanese remaining on the mainland, not the release of Milanese to the ships. Could you inform von Kassel about this?

[econ21]

Prinz Henry: My congratulations to Duke Otto for expelling the Milanese from the continent! The Duke is now free to join Duke Dietrich, the Chancellor and myself in preparations for the crusade.

I would like to briefly comment on the outcome of the recent Emergency Diet. Although the majority decisions were clear, I recognise that active Electors were deeply divided on the merits of both a crusade and a limit on our expansion during that crusade. I know there is unhappiness both among those who are not joining the crusade (looks at Leopold) and those who are (looks at Dietrich).

I can only say that, as a member for the Council of Crusaders and, God willing, as a future Emperor, I will work to the best of my abilities to further the interest and respond to the concerns of all Electors. I will try to ensure that no House or Elector is disadvantaged by joining or not joining the Crusade. I see the crusade as providing more opportunities both for participants and non-participants. I will work equally hard to secure the defence of the Reich and the success of the Crusade. While the crusade will initially stretch the resources of the Reich, I believe in the long term it will bring us closer to our goal of re-establishing hegemony of the Roman Empire over Europe.

That said, I must now attend to my duties outside the Diet. For those of us going on the crusade, there are preparations to be made. For those who are staying behind, they too have work to do: dark clouds are gathering as our many enemies muster against us.

[OverKnight]

Otto von Kassel enters the Diet. He has a quick, whispered conversation with Gunther and then speaks:

Thank you, Prinz Henry, for your congratulations. I wish that your fellow Swabian was as gracious.

Fifth Elector, since I proposed edict 5.13, I believe that it has been accomplished. The Milanese Army that had been devastating Italian lands for many years has been destroyed, the survivors took flight to a Milanese fleet off the coast.

We could enter into a semantic argument where you would insist destruction implies the complete annihilation of every soldier in that Army. I would respond that the organization and leadership of the Army was destroyed, hence destroying the Army, with the survivors being meaningless to the equation. But I will not bandy words with you.

The prisoners were released for many reasons, it was not done on a whim. First, there was a route of retreat available that allowed the survivors to leave our territory. Second, since this Diet voted to leave the Milanese their islands and attempt peace negotiations, I felt releasing the prisoners might aid the negotiation process if it continued. Our reputation needs all the help it can get at the moment. Third, the Chancellor gave me no specific orders as to the disposition of prisoners, I used my judgement as an Army Commander, which is my right. If they are foolhardy enough to return, I'm sure Gerhard will finish them.

That is the justification for my actions. If a crushing defeat of the Milanese and expelling them from the mainland is not good enough for you, I suggest you pursue them to Corsica and finish the job with your own army.

Otto sits.

[Jalf]

von Mahren enters the Diet, for the first time in years, and hurries over to join the Franconian delegation

Apologies for my recent absence. Matters in Prague have... Well, to be honest, matters in Prague have not kept me very busy at all. The city has been so peaceful lately that it was all too easy to forget all about politics and just wait for news from the rest of the Reich.

Well, news finally reached me, so here I am again. Unfortunately, I am too late to vote in the recent emergency session, but I would like to offer my services in the coming Crusade.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

I congratulate Elector Maximillian Mandorf on a fine term. May others seek to live up to his example.

The 1160 Diet session is now open. Electors have three days to propose and second motions and two days to vote. In addition, any aspiring candidates for Chancellor should come forward.

*bangs gavel*

-edit- Elector nazgul3 has apologized sufficiently. He is therefore allowed to take part in the deliberations.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Good Electors, there has been talk of a Crusader standing for the position of Chancellor. I do not agree with this. To be blunt, the Reich has become quite large and difficult to manage. It has already been decided long ago that the terms of Chancellors were to be halved, and we have only grown in size since then. I do not see how one person will be able to manage this task when they are thousands of miles from Rome and not connected to the main body of the Empire at all.

Orders will be lost or stolen. In addition, they will not be able to properly assess the threats facing the homeland. I believe that the Chancellor's first goal should be to see the Reich prosper - not to make sure that a Crusade succeeds. That is why the Crusader Council is in place.

Therefore, I propose the following:

Charter Amendment 6.1: Electors are not allowed to hold the office of Chancellor if they are in a province that is separated from Imperial territory by over two provinces.

[TevashSzat]

Seeing as my protests over the crusades are ignored, what is to happen with our empire in the Holy Lands? Will the lands be governed by all, will some house take control of it, or will a new house be formed to govern it?

[Warluster]

When the Crusaders reach there crusade target, then I think either the Commanding General should govern the settlement, or the most experinced.

And at I guess, once we have conquered our target, we look to expanding more in the Holy Land?