Imperial Diet III

[Warluster]

Prinz Jobst stands, looking unconcerned, but worried all the same

This is indeed...a problem, if you would call it that.

Of course, our defenses beyond Thorn are very...well, right? I hope. Of course, it is such a shame that all of Duke Von Kastillen(OOC:sp?) efforts have been wasted in the defense of Thorn.

It also produces a major problem, we have never verused the Russians in open battle before, we have hardly encountered them in fact. it was only the Count of Venice's expeditions into RUssia which gave us a proper undertsanding of their culture and armies.

Russia, I predict, shall be swept away very soon beneath those Mongolians, I heard news from a Chinese Merchant a whle ago, those Mongols stop at nothing with their hordes...

With our unstopable armies bearing upon them, and the Mongolians coming the oppostie way they shall be crushed soon, then its a race, shall we be swept before the Mongols next? Or our Crusader States?

Prinz Jobst sits

[Dutch_guy]

The Franconian Duke's servant stand, and addresses the Diet

It seems we have been a little too ambitious in the east, our borders are stretched out to the extreme and it was really only a matter of time before the Russians tried something like this. My master is currently on a forced march to Thorn, hopefully being able to get those Russians out of the area as fast as possible, before heading back to take Krakow from the Poles - who've taken a severe beating last time my master and his son faced them in battle. He also wishes to inform the Diet that his son Ansehelm has been Knighted, he is now authorized to lead a force of his own.

That is it for now, my master hopes to keep this body updated on our eastern situation...

The servant returns to his seat.

[Northnovas]

A new face in the Diet stands Karl Zirn Third Elector of Austria son of the late Count of Zagreb.

Electors!, This is an embarrassment that a Fortress of the Reich has been captured! A frontier fortress protecting our border. It is one thing to convert a fortress to a city but to loose one in battle is shame.
What will next the cities of the interior??!!!!
Are we not trying to modernize our army what about our tactics? Are we following the tactics of dead nobles.
Who is responsible for the defence of Thorn?
The FHA is on it's way to recapture the Thorn but I hear they are in a sad state in short of supply because of fights with the Poles.
What lands fall next Dijon, Ragusa or Rome itself???
I am all for the work in the Outremer but it's success will not matter if there is nothing to come back too!!
There must be a strategic plan for the Reich that does not focus the East with the new Kingdom. We must work with what allies we have and protect our lands proper.

The member returns to his seat upset with the news of Thorn.

OOC: This is all IC from the other OOC thread concern. Just got up and read econ's report and thought I would generate some discussion. Too early to be really vocal at this point.

[FactionHeir]

Servant

My master agrees that we need to look to our defences now that our borders are stretched thin. We may even need to increase our border guards and further their training so they may stand a chance when no senior commander is present to command the force.
However, this requires us to improve our economy even further so we can sustain the hiring of larger forces at strategic locations.
To however not waste good florins on paying troops that hardly will ever meet an invading force, my master would propose that for the meantime, forts and watchtowers are to be erected along our borders so we have may stall the enemy while we prepare for an onslaught. This would of course not only allow for additional troop training but also for our senior commanders to make haste for the affected county.

This will be an edict that my master will propose once the diet session opens.

[Stig]

The servant of the count of Thorn stands and speaks

I can inform you gentlemen that my master will do everything to take Thorn back. Even if it means leading the attack onto the walls.
My master also thinks that we should put more into the HRE and less into the Outremer. Afterall, the Heimat is most important. He proposes that in future we will put more effort into kicking the enemy from our gates. A Teutonic Crusade might do well.

[OverKnight]

Otto von Kassel enters the Diet. He looks around the chamber as if to get his bearings after an absence of so many years. Crossing the Bavarian section on his way to speak with Gunther, he passes a hand over Maximillian's old seat. His expression grows grim for a moment, but Otto brightens up when he greets his old proxy. They exchange a few words and Gunther makes his way to the back benches. Turning to the main floor, Otto addresses the Diet:

My lords, it is good to be back in Europe and my homeland. Since the Egyptians have been quiet around Acre and Jerusalem and our sea lanes to and from Outremer secure, I decided to return to Rome on one of our fastest merchant ships. I want to be here for the upcoming session, and it has been a long time since I have seen the Alps or Innsbruck.

The set back at Thorn is unfortunate, the swiftness and ferocity of the Russian attack took both the Chancellor and the Franconians by surprise. Still, it is just that, a temporary set back. While Krakow was not captured, Duke von Kastilien has bled the Poles, and it will take them years to recover. While his own forces are depleted, he gave much better than he got, and he has enough men to put paid to the Russians. Thorn and Corsica have shown, however, that there needs to be better coordination between the Household Armies and the Chancellor. I hope we will take this lesson to heart.

In regards to Sir Zirn's comments concerning Outremer, I find his assertions unfounded and not constructive. Thorn is thousands of miles from the Levant, even if we were not engaged in the east, we would most likely have the same result. We are doing God's work in Outremer, and this has not detracted from our efforts at home, in fact it has aided them. By gifting Jerusalem to the Papacy and our our missionary work there, we have gained much influence in the College of Cardinals. Even now we have an Imperial Pope and several successors in line. If anyone doubts the efficacy of this on the home front, the excommunication of the French should assuage those concerns.

I agree with Count Hans that we need to keep a better eye on our borders, and watchtowers are a good way to do this. I myself have built a system of them bordering Acre, and they have served me well in keeping an eye on Saracen incursions to the south and east. We would be wise to finish such a system for all of the Reich's borders.

Perhaps we should use the Baltic fleet and a small landing force to seize one of the Russian's less defended coastal cities. Once we have Thorn back, we could offer this city's return for peace and possibly tribute. I have no desire for the Reich to make any permanent inroads into the vast lands to the east.

In regards to these Mongols, they do concern me. What they lack in initiative so far, they make up for in numbers. We will deal with them if need be. A possible idea is that once we can convince the Pope to call a Crusade again, we should target any city they might have seized. The horse lords threaten all of Europe, it is only right that all of Christendom should respond to this threat. We would only have to join the Crusade in the later stages, giving time for the other Catholic armies to assemble and travel to the east. Still, this is a ways off. It is merely a suggestion.

Edit: The idea of a Crusade to convert the schismatic Russians and Baltic pagans is also intriguing, but I still would not want to keep any territories in that vast emptiness they call a Duchy.

It is good to be back, if only for a little while.

Otto makes his way to his old place in the Bavarian delegation and sits.

[Northnovas]

The Elector stands to address von Kassel's remarks...

Lord Kassel I do not feel that my statements are unfounded. The past 20 years the Reich as concentrated in the East. The work is God's doing and you are quite correct; we have benefit from it's outcome especially with the Papacy.
However, in completing this work we have committed our best generals and troops to the cause with the exception of Duke Leopold who remained to defend the homeland. I wish to go to the East myself and continue the Lord's work.
We have had several threats over the years at home and if it were not the leadership of the Lords here we could have lost more cities.
All I am saying is there has to be strategic plan that serves the Homeland and the Outremer. We cannot be focused on one goal.
The natural reaction in this crisis would be to build up the homeland and then the Outremer is neglected and suffers from lack of support and attention.
Whoever is considering the Office of Chancellor should keep this in mind.
One plan for two lands.

[AussieGiant]

One plan for two lands.

That rhymes My Lord. Maybe that should be a slogan for the next Chancellor election.

Raising his eyebrows in amusement the Count of Venice takes a seat