Imperial Diet III

[AussieGiant]

The spears were recently trained and the knights were not available to reinforce the AHA (limit on knights). I have sent what I could.
Regarding this matter, the Doge has sallied forward and I await word from von Mahren on the outcome of the battle.

(Odds 1:1)

OOC:

Hot dog...am I there though?

[FactionHeir]

Indeed, now make haste for Durazzo before the battle is over!

In other news, I present you the final chancellor's report for the year 1226 of our Lord.

[OverKnight]

My lords the news of the Chancellor's victory over the Hungarians is wonderful news. We have crushed our enemy and aided our ally in one fell swoop. I congratulate Count Hans on his victory.

I begin to think, however, that we may be overextended in the south east of the Reich. I hope Lothar will return Zagreb to the Empire, but our forces around Durazzo are worn down. I have heard rumors that the Chancellor wishes to take Sofia. This would be heavy blow to the Magyars, but can we hold down this Fortress while stabilizing Austria's borders? The addition of Sofia to the Reich would add hundreds of miles to our borders, frontiers vulnerable to attack from the Hungarians to the north and the Venetians to the south.

I fear we might be crossing the line from the defense of the Reich to all out greed for land. I'm all for fighting an effective campaign against our enemies, but if we expand too quickly we risk overextension and the collapse of our defenses in the interior, similar to what happened at Zagreb. If we take Sofia, I feel it should be offered to the Byzantines for military access, or used in peace negotiations with the Hungarians. The Poles, Venetians, Milan and France remain our true enemies in Europe, let us strengthen our efforts against them by removing the Magyars as an enemy. Our border with Hungary is vast and mostly undefended, with several key spots left unsupervised. We should address this weakness by seeking peace, Sofia could provide the neccesary chit.

As for Outremer, the gathering storm around Damascus shows that the next few years will be critical. I ask the Chancellor to give me leave to take the field. My new drillmaster and I have recruited many men at Acre who have been deployed, but with the Crusade in the balance, the Mongol Hordes nearing the Holy Land, and a crisis point approaching, I ask that I be allowed to join the fray. It would shame me to leave the Crusade and the Kaiser to face the horsemen and Egyptians alone.

Thank you my lords.

[FactionHeir]

King Otto,

I shall send you with the reinforcement group to Emperor Henry's position the next year to reinforce our position against a possible Mongol invasion. Again, I will stress that we may not attack them until they show hostility or an edict or charater amendment is passed. Our forces in Outremer in combination with the crusade should be more than enough to eliminate any threat they pose however, as I have done most troop hiring in Outremer during my chancellorship to ensure its safety.

As for Sofia, I believe the troops that assaulted Zagreb originated from there and taking this citadel will stem any future invasions from Hungary on our eastern border. It is possible however that I shall use it in negotiations if necessary, although not necessarily with our Byzantine allies, as I have bought military access from them this year already.

[OverKnight]

Otto glances at some scrolls on his desk and shakes his head:

Thank you Chancellor, I should have paid closer attention to the diplomacy section of your report.

[AussieGiant]

A messenger arrives bearing the Steward of Austria's seal

My Lords, King Otto,

I write this while preparing for battle so things are getting a little tense.

The Venetian's have quite a tidy number of men holed up in Daruzzo, it's a regular hornets nest of merchants and their bodyguards holding each other todgers I must say.

Never the less there are Venetian heads to cut off and a few likely women to plunder after this little tango down south.

The elder von Mahren is a real peace of work. He's out there given the boy's a little bit of the "rah rah, how's your mother" speech.

Personally I had my Austria dog's blessed by the local priest and then followed it up with and fairly ball tearing speech about hunting them down in the afterlife if they had the temerity to die on me...it seemed to work. I could see the whites of their eyes after that section.

It was spoilt of course by some smart ass who had the gumption to laugh right after I'd finished. I restored the fear of god back in them by knocking the offender out cold with my fist and daring any other swinging dick on parade to make a noise.

Silence rained supreme after that little effort.

I must say gentlemen our troops are getting arrogant with all these victories. I'd recommend a healthy dose of hard core discipline to those of you suffering from arrogance in your units.

Anyway, must be off, von Mahrens' screaming at me about something...he seems rather tense I must say. It must be age...they all get edgy when they age.

I'll send word once I've ripped a few guts out and turned them into garters!!

Venetian's...christ when did merchants afford so many bloody soldiers!!

Ahhh, I almost forgot. King Otto, I concur with your assessment regarding our South Eastern border. My plan is to create two quality half stack's lead by myself and the other by the most promising von Mahren. I believe this will be able to defend the region with the assistance of garrison militia units bolstering our numbers when the enemy stops to fight.

[Stig]

A messenger enters the Diet, with a message from Thorn

Meine Herren
At the time of the writing of this message I will be marching my personal bodyguard and followers into Thorn. Yes, I would have rather led the attack myself, but Breslau needed a good defense, seeing the near Polish army.
And I can tell you gentlemen that from now on Thorn will be defended and held. It is obvious that I cannot stay there forever, however nice the city is, but already my father has constructed a watchtower to make sure that we can see the Ruski's coming.

I have been long away from the easy, simple and good life in Rome and the Diet, but I have some things to say:

First of all I wish to congratulate the newly appointed counts in the Outremer with their positions.

Secondly on Crete, it will be of interest to take it, but do we have men and nobles to spare for such a journey. The journey takes long, and both Bavaria and Austria seem undefended.

Lastly I feel I should agree with King Otto, the Reich is getting harder and harder to defend. Especially when seeing the Mongol in the Outremer. France is in the west, and going further with attacking it might sound good, but be adviced that we have a real threat in the East now, both Hungary, Poland and Rusland are there. Maybe Swabia wants to direct it's attention on the Danish held city of Antwerp. Then if we take the settlements of Halych and Krakow in the coming 20-40 years we will have seen the last of the Poles, as they will have been pushed back to the steppes.

Ansehelm,
Heir to the House of Franconia
Rightfull Count of Thorn

[Ituralde]

A thin noble of the House of Austria by the name of Dieter von Schüsselen raises from the Austrian benches to adress the Diet.

My Lords I have just received word from my master Duke Leopold about his successful landfall in the Levant. He should be approaching Damascus as we speak.

He wishes me to convey his congratulations to the appointed Counts of Outremere and I am to extend his gratitude towards King Otto von Kassel for appointing my master as a possible successor should anything unpleasant happen to his Majesty, which I don't hope.

He is saddened to hear of the loss of Zagreb but has every faith in the Bavarians under Lothar Steffen to remedy this situation.

[Kagemusha]

A blood soaked Teutonic Knight enters the diet.

"I bring a message from my Master Count Von Mahren."

"I have no words. All is ashes. Durazzo is ours and the Venetians defeated,but this is just shadows and dust. The worst what can happen to a father have happened to me. My eldest son Erhart Von Mahren found his destiny near the walls of Durazzo. Fighting like a lion he came to our rescue when our lines were faltering but he never had the chance to witness our victory,nor me to know my son. I have knighted Count Arnold for his bravery in the battlefield. Now it is time for me to leave the army and bury my son. The messenger has Erhards still bloody sword with him to give to Kaiser,for my son payed the ultimate prize giving his life in the service for the reich."

The Knight places the sword on Erhart´s empty chair and leaves.

[FactionHeir]

The empire mourns its young yet loyal follower. I would like to knight Ehrhart von Mahren posthumously for his valor in attempting to save the Austrian Household Army.

[Stig]

A young Prussian-looking noble enters the court

Herr Ansehelm mourns the death of his childhood friend Ehrhart. Once Ehrhart gets buried in the Von Mahren family crypt I will be there to pay my last respects.

[Dutch_guy]

Günther von Kastillien's messenger enters the Diet

My master offers his sympathy to the Von Mahren's, and is preparing to visit the burrial when it takes place. If there is anything else he can do, he'd be honoured to do it.

[Cecil XIX]

A message arrives from the Austrian fortress of Ragusa.

It is with a heavy heart that I have received news of my dear brother's death. Since childhood I had looked up to him for his bravery and uprightness, and his death serves as a stark reminder of our own mortality. Now I pledge that I will do everything in my power to avenge my brother and honor his memory.

With Sorrow,
Sigismund von Mahren

[TinCow]

A message arrives from Lothar Steffen's small force near Zagreb.

Ehrhart von Mahren died as a true nobleman should, sword in hand and with countless enemy bodies at his feet. His life was short, but glorious. What grieves me most is that I shall now never have the opportunity to bear arms with this noble brother of the Reich.

My men will not mourn tonight or any other night. We shall celebrate instead. Celebrate the valor of one of the Empire's finest men. He is an example to us all. Courage in battle. Leadership from the front. Death before defeat. Ehrhart von Mahren will be remembered as a hero of the Empire and his name will be told to our children for generations to come!

[Stuperman]

A message arrives from Gerhard Steffen

This is most terrible news, One of the Riech's own falling in battle! There will be a day of mourning across all Bavarian lands to honour the young Von Merhan. May his eternal soul rest in StoVoKor

My Appoligies for not being able to attend the Diet in person, but I am afficked(sp) with the most dredful of illnesses, and am unable to make the short trip from My bed to the Diet.

[AussieGiant]

A clean an unarmored Arnold walks into the Diet with obvious pain. Fresh and vivid wounds can be seen on his arms and neck and there is substantial bruising to his face and head

Gentlemen,

I have left Jonas von Mahren to bury his eldest son at their family estate to the north. I can only say that what took place at the gates of Durazzo was something that will be spoken about through the ages.

As a victory it was Heroic and at the same time tragic. Ehrhart von Mahren was to be my second in Austria and would have lead the other half of the House Army with great distinction and courage. Sadly that will now never come to pass.

I have commissioned a statue of Ehrhart von Mahren to be erected in Vienna to honour his passing and to ensure the sacrifice he made for his adopted home is never forgotten.

I have decided that Durazzo will be kept for the time being but it is at the disposal of the Chancellor and should to be used in any negotiations on behalf of the Reich. If the Venetian's come to reclaim it then so be it. They can have it. A token militia garrison can be established to prevent rioting and all other units will be coming north to rest, rearm and replenish in Ragusa.

Once back in Ragusa I will select another von Mahren to accompany me and we will drive the remaining Hungarian army from Austrian lands.

With that Arnold turns and leaves the Diet with the ex Count of Venice and another Military adviser shadowing him

[gibsonsg91921]

A man enters - he is Ehrhart von Mahren's lawyer:

We all mourn the loss of my master Ehrhart von Mahren. He died nobly at Durazzo for Austria, tragically going at such a young age. It was his dying wishes that Austria should one day drive Venice off the globe and that his brother, Sigismund, should conquer Crete and be its count. Let us have a moment of silence at his passing.

[OverKnight]

Otto is visibly shaken by the news of the young knight's death.

It seems like only yesterday he and I were arguing in this very chamber. It is a cruel fate that takes someone from us so young, with much of his life yet to be written.

Still, he died in battle, defending his friends and family. His sacrifice helped his father achieve victory against the Venetians. Ehrhart is a hero of the Empire.

My condolences to the von Mahren family and to Austria, the boy will be missed.

[FactionHeir]

*A messenger brings a notice from the chancellor*

My noble lords.
It is with pride that I present you... Sofia.
This Hungarian stronghold is now officially part of the empire and the faithless Hungarian prince lies dead as do most of his subjects who came to reinforce the citadel in its defence. Further, I have hunt down several Hungarian regiments around the citadel to secure it but have chosen to release the prisoners in a show of good faith, that peace may be possible.
As I have chosen to sack the citadel to subdue the locals from rising up against us, I have managed to fund twice as many constructions as before.

Please find the collated casualties for both sides with this notice

OOC Note: Even though Hans had an extra knight unit above the limit, in either battle, at least 1 knight unit was not utilized for combat.

[Northnovas]

A messenger arrives from the Austrian Household and addresses the speaker. They chat briefly and he unrolls a document and address the Diet floor..

Elector!, Greeting from the Count of Zagreb he wishes to express his gratitude to the young noble Sir Lothar Steffan for the liberation of Zagreb. This is truly joyous news. The Count gives the "key" to the city to Sir Steffan and his men. Rest and resupply and take what you need there is no expense for the work to rid those Hungarian foes. It is comforting to know the city is now save.
I also received the tragic news from Durazzo and I would also like to express my sympathy to the von Mahren and the death of the young Ehrhart. His valour will not be forgotten by the House of Austria.
Electors, the news from the Outremer is good. The Crusaders are almost at their goal . These Horse Lords from the East are different from any foe we have met. We are deploying new tatics and there numbers are many but we shall over come because we are doing the Lord's work in this barren land.
May God continue to bless the Reich and Kasier.

The messenger bows before the member and sits with the Austrian delegates.

[Stuperman]

Gerhard Steffen:

Congradulations My son on your most impressive victory, Clean up the hungarians in the area as you see fit. When you return home, we will discuss your Knighthood.

[Ituralde]

A scrawny man enters the Diet and steps up to the Podium to adress the Assembly:

Nobles of the Reich,

I am Gerhardt von Schenk and I am here to tell you how Duke Leopold of Austria died, fighting in the Crusade and defeating the heathens!

He launches into a detailed account of the battle against the Mongols

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...2&postcount=86

Afterwards he leaves the Podium to advance to the Austrian benches. He had been carrying a bundle which he now takes into his hand and carefully unwraps a plain Imperial Great Sword.

Duke Arnold of Austria? This is the sword carried by your father, used by him in his many battles against the foes of our Empire. This is the sword that has shed the blood of Aradai the Wrathful, Khanzada Batudhun, and the Great Khan Jebuk of the Mongol Horde itself. It is now yours, may you honour it and its bearer until the day you die.

Placing the sword in his palms he kneels in front of Arnold and offers him the sword.

[Kagemusha]

Message from Jonas Von Mahren arrives in the Diet.

The word of Duke Leopolds death have reached me.Death in victory.A most worthy end for a Duke Of the Reich. It seems that death visits us regularly these days.Loss of a friend is always hard to bare. The old guard is almost gone,all that remains is the Kaiser. My condolences to Kaiser Henry for loosing a brother,To the new Duke of Austria for loosing a father and to Leopolds wife for loosing a husband.And to the Reich for loosing its best general. I raise a toast to you Leopold as you surely now watch us from heaven.

Count of Magdeburg, Jonas Von Mahren

[gibsonsg91921]

Message comes from Péter von Kastilien, Count of Breslau:

The news of Duke Leopold of Austria have reached my present abode in Prague. Alas for the Reich for losing its greatest general and for the House of Austria, bereft of two noble lords in glorious battle in so short a time. May Leopold rest forever in peace.

[OverKnight]

Gunther, after recieving a message rushes to the Diet floor:

My lords! Duke Leopold is avenged! The Mongols are destroyed!

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...&postcount=226

[Warluster]

Prinz Jobst stands, Dieter standing behind him

It seems these last years have been quite a handful, a hard time it has been, the mongrels,deaths...

Jobst shakes his head

I am truly shaken by the two deaths...

Erhart was fighting to regain our land. He died honourably,to the aid of his father. I have not meet young Erhart,but I am sure he was mighty.

Then we come to Leopold... these horse lords we face! Wearing hats of Chinese fabric Dieter informs me! The chinese to wield so willingly, but from evidence it seems these horse lords have made contact with the Chinese! With the recent stop of the flood of Chinese Traders, I fear Asia has fallen to a tide, a massive flood...

Duke Leopold, you died on a Crusade, from evidence you went out fighting bravely, fighting to claim Damacus, stopping a flood.

Good luck Duke Arnold.

Prinz Jobst sits, Dieter bows and sits

[AussieGiant]

Standing in silence Arnold takes some moments before speaking. At his side hangs the sword of his father. Behind him is Gerhardt von Schenk and an advisor.

My father was a proud and sometimes ruthless man.

As a son to Kaiser Heinrich, a brother to Kaiser Henry, a father to me and a leader to all, I will remember him as a true Knight of the Reich.

King Otto has avenged my father and I extend my personal thanks and that of all Austrian's both noble and low born.

Austria has taken two heavy blows in the space of a very short time, but I can assure there will be no weakness shown to any foe of the Reich.

The Hungarians will unfortunately feel the wrath of my loss and wonder why god has forsaken their country. I intend on expelling them from my borders and striking at the heart of their empire.

In the east Lord Zirn will continue upholding Austria presence and representation of our noble house.

Lords, gentlemen, Austria has a new Duke and I intend to ensure my father is proud of what is to be accomplished under my rule.

[Stuperman]

Gerhard Steffen:

Such a glorious Victory King Kassel comes to only the best commanders.

The emotional ride that the entire Diet is being put through is trying, the loss of the Young Von Mahren and Leopold the Mighty as his scribe put it pains all of the riech.

But the Destruction of the Horse Lords, and the Death of thier Khan is wonderous news indeed.

Several Kegs of ale are seen beingwheeled into the back of Diet

We now await news of the Crusade from Conrad Sailer, with a Bavarian such as he in command, success is assured, although I don't want to seem over confidant, With all the events of this past year I have made arrangements to have a Grand Feast Here in the Diet. With Ales form across the Riech, I await news from Outremer to put the pig on the spit.

It shall be a time of rememberance and Celebration!

[Kagemusha]

Message from Jonas Von Mahren.

My congratulations for King Otto for breaking down the horse lords.Im sure your victory will be remembered long after we are all gone. To other matters. I believe now that the threat of the horse lords have passed.We should start discussing the issue of Outremer in the Imperial Diet. My wiewpoint is that Outremer is getting way too much from our resources and we should normalize the forces in there into level that would mirror the levels of troops on the areas of the great houses of the Reich. After all we are Germans and as Germans we should stay, focusing too much to far away lands wont benefit us,when we should be building up the Reich so no other Empire could ever compare with us.

[econ21]

Henry: I rather fear that the Mongols have done your proposed "normalising" of our forces in Outremer for you, Jonas.

Outremer is not yet complete - we must take Damascus and Edessa to fulfill its constitution. However, then by that same constitution, we will switch to a purely defensive stance in the Levant. Nonetheless, I fear we will always require at least two field armies stationed there: one in the south, to guard Jerusalem from Egyptians coming from Gaza and Cairo; the other in the north, to hold off the Turks who are massing north of Adana.