The Chronicles of the Illuminati

[TinCow]

Word Document Version

Herein lies the most Sacred History of the Divine Order of the Illuminati. All records of the Brotherhood’s dealings are preserved here for the education of future generations of The Enlightened. Learn well what wisdom lies within these pages, ye reader, for the true souls of men lay bared to your gaze.

A Warning to any Unenlightened Eyes which fate draws across these words: Read no further. Abandon your pursuit of undeserved wisdom, for you are not worthy of the knowledge contained within. Even if this Tome has been lost to the Order and the Brotherhood has not revealed itself for countless eons, be assured that the Cloaked Ones live and see all. Any Unenlightened Soul which glimpses a single word contained herein will be marked for death. Return to your Ignorance, ye puppets of the world. Gods walk these pages.

Chapter I: Genesis

Arnold, my friend!

It is good to see another face in the Diet whose eyes are not clouded by cataracts! I am not as much of a fool as many of those in the Diet may think. We are but a sideshow in this Diet and even our well-known abilities will not be enough to help us during this session. These old bastards simply aren't willing to share their glory with men who look as good as us! HAH!

But the coming Chancellor will not serve forever. We should prepare for the future. There are many new, young members of the Diet. At the moment only you and I have spoken up, but there are many others who also have a youthful complexion. Sigismund von Mahren, Peter von Kastilien, Ehrhart von Mahren, Fritz von Kastilien, Jan von Hamburg, and perhaps even Helmut von Hamburg and Ansehelm von Kastilien. That is a large body of men, my friend! If we could harness this youth into a political alliance aimed at furthering our own stations, we could bring about a new age in the Reich! Think of it!

If you agree, Ansehelm von Kastilien has spoken in the Diet and perhaps we could approach him about this matter. It appears that Hans will indeed take the Chancellorship unopposed this term. While he is not a young man anymore, many of the old men in the Diet clearly consider him a young upstart. Perhaps he would be receptive to aiding the Young Guarde.

What do you say, Arnold? This Empire is our heritage. Let us make sure it is not run into the ground before we inherit it!

Lothar

Lothar, I like it!! The von Mahren's have just been added to House Austria and as my father goes on crusade I will be the steward. That should help with Sigismund and Ehrhart. How would you like to organise our policies!!

I still think your mad, and I still think we need to go out this evening!!? I haven’t been whoring for some months!! Bring your brother, that will be a good place to start this group...we need a name!!?

Speak soon

HAH! I knew you would love it, Arnold! Clearly our first priorities should be to get ourselves some experience on the battlefield. A few victories will make the elderly take us more seriously. Encourage your father to have you knighted as soon as possible. It won't be long before you become Duke yourself and will have full control over the Austrian Household Army.

I have petitioned my father to allow me to prove myself worthy of knighthood as well. That vicious witch has rather unnerved him on the battlefield and I think he will see the wisdom in allowing me to serve as the commander for the Bavarian Household Army.

Duke Otto is old and will soon be gone. My father will inherit Bavaria and surely he will send that pious fool Salier to the East under the pretense of overseeing our possession in Outremer. With him gone, the Steffen family will rule Bavaria unopposed. If I follow my father loyally, I will surely inherit the Dukedom when he is gone. Think of it Arnold, you and I, fellow Dukes!

Kaiser Henry is getting old as well. The recent difficulties with Prinz Jobst have given us the perfect opportunity. Let us express our loyalty to the Prinz, defend him in the Diet, and do his will to the best of our abilities. He will soon be Kaiser and will be a valuable ally. With an alliance between the Kaiser and the Dukes of Austria and Bavaria, nothing can stop us! No emergency session of the Diet can be called unless the Kaiser or THREE Dukes agree to it. Between us we could deny any emergency session should the Diet disagree with our actions. Not that we would give them any cause to do so, of course... but insurance like that is always valuable.

As for names, I shall have to think on it. While The Drunken Whoremongers would be fabulous, I doubt it would inspire the reaction that we wish! Speaking of drunken whoremongering...

Lothar!!

I have already made it a priority with my father to become Knighted before he leaves for the crusade. I will immediately be looking to take control of the AHA.

Keep in mind Lothar that as soon as my father commences the crusade I will become Steward of Austria.

Many of our most famous leaders will be gone in the next chancellorship, so there is certainly going to be a power vacuum to move into. I would be more than honoured for the two of us to take our boyhood friendship to levels we could only have dreamed of some years ago.

There is only one problem with your plan...I really don't like Jobst, he annoys me no end and I don't care for his attitude. Maybe we should find another Duke, in fact what about all the young guy's from each of the house's being formed in this club?

You know me Lothar, I don't suffer fools gladly and I have more than enough reputation preceding me due to my father’s ability to cause fear.

Is there another likely candidate that could be a young Duke in the making??

Is your brother on-board?

As for names, well whoremongering is a past time not a name.

How about the Illuminati?

Ah, a Latin name. I believe it translates to "The Enlightened Ones," does it not? It conjures in my mind images of robed figures meeting in dark halls. HAH! It's bloody well perfect! It will make our members feel powerful and will instill fear and uncertainty in our enemies.

Let's do this thing right! Let's write up an Illuminati Blood Charter, by which our alliance will operate. I have picked up a bit of literary technique from Gottfried and Godwin (Hans and Frans?), so perhaps that will be of use. Let's see here...

*Lothar picks up a quill and begins to write.*

Being the Most Sacred Blood Charter of the Divine Order of the Illuminati, this document is infallible law.

As the Esoteric Brotherhood is Supreme on Earth, the aims of the Illuminati shall forever be to increase the station and power of all Members of the Order. As the elevation of the Illuminati is a Divine and Holy mission, all means of achieving its ends shall be acceptable, no matter the cost to the Unenlightened.

Rule 1: The existence of the Illuminati, the identity of the Brothers, all proceedings of the Orders, grand plans, goals, and assets are to be kept secret from the Unenlightened.

Rule 2: All formal decisions of the Illuminati are made by majority vote. Split votes fail.

Rule 3: All Brothers will comply with all formal decisions of the Illuminati, regardless of personal opinion on the matter.

Rule 4: No Brother may vote against another Brother in any election for Chancellor nor may he vote against an Edict proposed by a Brother, unless the Brother standing for election or proposing the Edict agrees otherwise. Brothers may abstain from any Diet vote unless a formal decision states otherwise.

Rule 5: New members of the Illuminati must be approved by unanimous vote of all Brothers before an invitation can be given.

Rule 6: All amendments to the Blood Charter must be approved by unanimous vote.

Rule 7: Violation of any Rule of the Blood Charter will result in immediate expulsion from the Divine Order of the Illuminati. It is the duty of all Brothers to hinder and harm all Exiles with all the means in their power, including death.

*Lother puts down the pen and looks over the document.*

There, that ought to do it. Suitably grim and mysterious, eh? Perhaps we should get ourselves some black friars' cloaks to disguise ourselves during meetings.

If you are in agreement with these Rules (More to keep anyone else in line than to restrict ourselves, of course!), I do have a suggestion for our first 'recruit.' Ansehelm von Kastilien is a few years older than us, but he is still of the new generation. Most importantly, he is the son of the Duke of Franconia, placing him in an excellent position to inherit that title when his father passes on. If he were to join us, we would have the potential heirs to three of the Ducal Houses within our numbers.

Ah, I am looking forward to this already, Arnold! The world shall be ours!

Christ Lothar!!

Where was that little gem sitting in your head!! Have you been reading books again??

It looks good. Shall we be the two founding members?

We have to have some type of cart blanch over rule function...I think we need that.

I've accepted your fathers offer to crush the Hungarians while the AHA is sacking that Venetian city I can't pronounce the name of.

You should get yourself on that army list so we can be knighted together. It seems as if the BHA could go west though.

What do you think?

Yes, that is wise. We must have a way of keeping some special power for ourselves, without seeming to rule over the rest. How about altering a rule and adding in one final rule:

Rule 5: New members of the Illuminati must be approved by unanimous vote of all Brothers before an invitation can be given. All communication with and initiation of prospective members is to be done by the Voice.

Rule 8: The determination of any matter not specifically laid out in the Blood Charter is to be made by the Grand Master of the Illuminati. The Grand Master's rulings in this regard will have the weight of a formal decision of the Illuminati.

The new rule allows for great leeway and power in the event of some crisis. Furthermore, by limiting it to one single person, it will not appear that both of us are controlling the Order. I believe you would be the proper choice for Grand Master. Your father's fearsome reputation already makes men fearful of you. This is a group that should be led by a man that others believe will stop at nothing to further its goals and protect it from danger.

In turn, I will be the Voice of the Illuminati. Despite the secrecy of our Order, one of us by nature must communicate with those who are not yet amongst us. To keep the identity of the rest a secret, that should always be the same person. I will take that duty on myself, as it may be that some already suspect me of being part of a secret group.

If you agree with this, then we shall conclude that the Order of the Illuminati has been formally created, with you as Grand Master and myself as Voice. I believe our first order of business should be to expand slightly and recruit one Brother. I have previously mentioned Ansehelm von Kastilien as a possible candidate. What are your thoughts on him?

Love you work Lothar, you're a bloody genius my friend. I concur with your thoughts on the Illuminati provisions.

Let us make this day the formal consecration of the Illuminati!!

Yes we need a Franconian in our order. He seems of a good age...can we turn him to our cause my friend...can we bind him to our order and have him succumb to our will...you are the Voice proceed at will!!

[TinCow]

Chapter II: The Ansehelm Affair

As you enter your bedchamber to sleep for the night, you notice an object on your pillow. It is a small, tightly rolled parchment tied with black ribbon and sealed with red wax. You open it and begin to read.

Ansehelm von Kastilien, Count of Thorn and Sixth Elector of Franconia, you are being watched.

You are a man of great talent and greater potential. Yet for all that, you wield little power in your House and in the Reich. That can change, if you wish it to. Will you take control of your destiny and seize what is rightfully yours, or will you let power slip through your grasp, keeping only what is bestowed on you by the fickle whims of others?

If you wish to lead rather than follow, place a red candle in your window tomorrow night.

Destroy this letter immediately. If you speak of this to anyone else, you will never hear from us again.

The letter is unsigned.

Tell me what you want stranger. I'm not answering people that don't tell who they say they are and what they want.

*You are walking down the market street when a man in a cloak brushes past, knocking into you in the process. You shout at him angrily, but he vanishes into the crowd. It takes you a moment to realize there is a small bulge in your pocket. You pull out another note and begin to read.*

We exist to save the Reich from itself. There are countless volunteers who throw themselves against our foreign foes, leading our armies to victory in far away lands. Yet who stands against the corruption within? Where were these brave volunteers when your province was taken from you and occupied by the barbarous Rus? Why did your pleas for aid of the Heimat fall upon deaf ears?

You know the answer as well as any: none saw profit for themselves in helping you. Even now, when your farms burn and your people are enslaved, there are those who wish to delay the recovery of your lands for their own petty purposes. What we want is simple: to empower those who have the wisdom and the will to protect the Empire from internal threats, as well as external.

Who we are is not for you to know yet. If you join us, all will be revealed, but once within, you can never leave. We will be devoted to you and you will be devoted to us. Never again will you find yourself without an ally. As we grow, so will you. Nothing more will be divulged unless you indicate your willingness to proceed.

*The note is unsigned.*

If you favour the Heimat and defending it over starting endless Crusades and leaving the Heimat undefended I'm your man. I however won't work to bring down the empire. I'm it's servant.

If however you would have been serious, we would have had a different chancellor.

*You wait for hours for a response, but none comes. You get the feeling that you will not receive another note unless you give the proper signal that you are willing to delve deeper into this mysterious group. If you place a red candle in your window, perhaps you will learn more. If you do not, you will surely never hear from them again.*

*places red candle at window*
*feels whorish*

*Two days have passed since you placed the red candle in your window. Nothing has happened and you start to feel foolish for engaging in these games. It was probably Peter or Fritz playing a joke on you, nothing more. At least, that is what you are telling yourself as you retire for the evening.

*When you enter the room, you feel compelled to search your bed for another note. As you expected, there is nothing there.*

"Good evening Ansehelm."

*You spin around to find a black robed figure sitting in the shadows in the corner of your room. By instinct you reach for the dagger you always carry about your person.*

"Now, now, there's no need for that. We're all friends here."

*You stop moving your hand, but your palm remains resting on the hilt of your dagger. The figure stands up and moves towards you. He stops on a spot where the moonlight casts a faint glow on his dark form.*

"I am here to explain all to you... all that can be divulged to one who is not a member. First, I suspect you will wish to know who we are. We are the Order of the Illuminati, and I..."

*He draws back his hood, moonlight falls on the face of a young man.*

"...am Lothar Steffen, Elector of Bavaria, son of the Steward of Bavaria, and Voice of the Illuminati."

*Lothar grins. He notices the lack of amusement on your face.*

"I know this process of notes, candles, and robes is a bit dramatic." *He nods at his own words.* "Perhaps so, perhaps so. But still, it serves an important purpose. It warns off those who are not amongst us. We keep secrecy and instill fear for a very important reason: the consequences for crossing us are most severe. Indeed, they can be fatal."

"Please keep that in mind tonight while we are speaking. You were warned before that once you join the Illuminati, you can never leave. Though you are not yet one of us, you now know my identity. You can no longer reverse your course without consequences. This is a commitment for life. Your bond to the Illuminati and your mortal existence will end together, one way or another."

*You do not like the way this conversation is going. Lothar smiles and opens his arms.*

"Now, with that done, let us get down to business. What we want is simple: we seek to better the Reich by improving ourselves. Every last nobleman, certainly every Elector, has grand dreams and designs he wishes to enact. Yet for most of these people, these desires never come to fruition. We select members with great natural skill and talent, and then give them the resources to achieve their desires. We aid each other in every possible manner that aid can be given. We are a brotherhood, committed to helping our fellows unquestioningly in all aspects of life."

"Your support in the Diet will increase. Your Edicts will always be seconded. If you lands are threatened, you will find armies marching to your aid. All that we ask in return is that you similarly support us when we are in need."

"You stated before that if we were serious about helping you, there would be a different Chancellor. First, you were not one of us. We do not aid those outside our ranks unless it is for our own benefit. Second, our power is still... limited. We are a new organization and it will take time to develop influence, but it will come. Indeed, our very cooperation makes it certain. The more we help each other, the faster we shall grow in power and abilities. Before long, no man will be elected Chancellor unless we agree to it. We will be able to strike down any legislation that we find distasteful. We will even be able to call Emergency Diet sessions at will."

"Great things, yes, but it will take time to get there. Other than the founding members, you are the first to be offered admission to our circle. It is a great honor, and one you would do well to embrace."

*Lothar reaches into his sleeve and pulls out a large piece of parchment. He unrolls it and presents it to you.*

"This is the Blood Charter of the Order of the Illuminati. Your signature makes you one of us. Before you sign, I will answer any question you wish to ask of me, except for one. You will not know the identities of any other member of the Order until you are one of us. I am the Voice of the Illuminati and thus I am the only one who ever reveals himself to the Unenlightened. It is a security measure to protect the Illuminati from attack. If you join us, we will protect your identity just as fervently."

"I have spoken long enough. Read the Blood Charter and ask your questions. Then we will proceed."

*You read the parchment.*

Being the Most Sacred Blood Charter of the Divine Order of the Illuminati, this document is infallible law.

As the Esoteric Brotherhood is Supreme on Earth, the aims of the Illuminati shall forever be to increase the station and power of all Members of the Order. As the elevation of the Illuminati is a Divine and Holy mission, all means of achieving its ends shall be acceptable, no matter the cost to the Unenlightened.

Rule 1: The existence of the Illuminati, the identity of the Brothers, all proceedings of the Orders, grand plans, goals, and assets are to be kept secret from the Unenlightened.

Rule 2: All formal decisions of the Illuminati are made by majority vote. Split votes fail.

Rule 3: All Brothers will comply with all formal decisions of the Illuminati, regardless of personal opinion on the matter.

Rule 4: No Brother may vote against another Brother in any election for Chancellor nor may he vote against an Edict proposed by a Brother, unless the Brother standing for election or proposing the Edict agrees otherwise. Brothers may abstain from any Diet vote unless a formal decision states otherwise.

Rule 5: New members of the Illuminati must be approved by unanimous vote of all Brothers before an invitation can be given. All communication with and initiation of prospective members is to be done by the Voice.

Rule 6: All amendments to the Blood Charter must be approved by unanimous vote.

Rule 7: Violation of any Rule of the Blood Charter will result in immediate expulsion from the Divine Order of the Illuminati. It is the duty of all Brothers to hinder and harm all Exiles with all the means in their power, including death.

Rule 8: The determination of any matter not specifically laid out in the Blood Charter is to be made by the Grand Master of the Illuminati. The Grand Master's rulings in this regard will have the weight of a formal decision of the Illuminati.

I don't like rule #4 kid. Franconia and my family goes before any group you teens come up with. I suggest you try speaking to my younger brothers, I'm sure Peter and Fritz are in for a joke, but I've got more important things to do. Thorn is under siege, and I'm trying to prepare Breslau for what might be a besiegement.

*Lothar's eyes narrow.*

You are making a grave mistake. You are throwing away valuable allies that would have served you well in the years to come. Yet, the error is yours to make.

I encourage you to forget that any of this ever happened. If you speak of us to anyone else, show any of the documents you have seen to another soul, or otherwise violate the trust we shown by revealing ourselves to you, there will be consequences. You have rejected us as allies today. I urge you not to make us your enemies.

*Lothar turns to leave. He looks back at you for one last moment, his face deadly serious.*

I say again, do not speak of any of this to anyone, no matter how long you live. If you do, you will find yourself vigorously opposed in every act you engage in throughout your entire life.

*He disappears into the corridor.*

Arnold,

Ansehelm von Kastilien has spurned us. Let us hope he at least has the wisdom to keep his mouth shut about the matter.

I still believe that it is essential for us to bring at least one other Elector into the brotherhood. Perhaps Prinz Jobst would appreciate our aid, should this trial go forwards. It seems that many in the Reich are too concerned with chivalry and the Church to ever align themselves with us. What are your thoughts on other candidates?

Grave news indeed Lothar.

In future I believe we are going to have to compel people to join without reveling who we are.

We can tempt them with power, glory, riches...whatever we think will tempt them. Only once they sign the oath with their blood do we tell them anything about who we are!!

I'm inclined to silence him now...but I think that would be a small over reaction...still, he will be able to identify you in future.

I must send out spies to identify likely candidates. I will send word once I find a suitable target. Of course you are free to continue your work my brother, let me know if you find somebody of worth.

Arnold

Yes, we will have to find a different method of recruitment. For now though, there are other matters to deal with.

As you must be aware, the Chancellor is refusing to allow me to command the Bavarian Household Army as it moves to relieve the Hungarian siege of Zagreb. He would prefer to entrust the fate of the city, the fate of the Bavarian Household Army, the life of Peter von Kastilien, and my own life, to a merchant militia captain.

While Imperial law states that I cannot command the army, this situation is grave. Surely bending the rules for this exception would be more wise. As Steward of Austria, perhaps you will have better luck at influencing the Chancellor than Ehrhart von Mahren and I have had.

Perhaps your assistance in the Zagreb matter will not be necessary. I have found a loophole in the law that will allow me to command the relief force. I simply need to take no more than five regiments with me into the attack. It will be dangerous, confronting the Hungarians with such a small force, but it will certainly allow me to achieve even greater glory than I could have with the entire Bavarian Household Army at my back.

In any case, I will not abandon one of your provinces to the enemy. This is exactly the kind of ridiculous incompetence that our Brotherhood must fight against. The laws exists to serve the Reich. When those laws injure the Reich, we must discard them and do what is necessary for our own protection!

I am more convinced than ever that our Order is not only good, but necessary. We must succeed at all costs, or else these buffoons will bring the whole Empire crumbling down around us.

You are a natural Lothar. I was contemplating how to circumnavigate the ridiculous tradition myself...your solution is perfect.

Maybe I can apply this precedent to myself.

If we don't meet, then good luck and may your sword arm be strong and quick.

Your brother
Arnold

[TinCow]

Chapter III: The Brotherhood Grows

Arnold,

My brother, Matthias Steffen (Overknight) has come of age and he will soon be a regular sight in the Diet. He is not a man of any particular power or station, but he has potential and could make a strong ally under the right circumstances. I would like to attempt to recruit him into our Brotherhood. What are your feelings on the matter?

Lothar

Lothar,

It's good to hear from you again. Yes I entirely agree with you my friend. We need to move onto the next phase of our plans and begin recruitment.

Keep me informed of your progress with the young Steffen.

Your friend
Arnold

*You can't quite place it, but you have the feeling that you are being watched. For the last week, you have regularly seen dark figures lurking in the periphery of your vision while out in the city. At first you thought they were just beggars, but their behavior didn't fit that role. Typically, you would sense that you were being followed and slow your walk. Turning your head suddenly, you would capture a brief glimpse of the back of a dark robe disappearing around a corner. The robes were always the same, but the size and shape of the figures under them always change.

None of these men has approached you, but you are losing your patience with this game. You consider taking your bodyguard with you next time you go to the market.*

As you enter your bedchamber to sleep for the night, you notice an object on your pillow. It is a small, tightly rolled parchment tied with black ribbon and sealed with red wax. You open it and begin to read.

Matthias Steffen, Count of Milan and Seventh Elector of Bavaria, you are being watched.

You are a man of great talent and greater potential. Yet for all that, you wield little power in your House and in the Reich. That can change, if you wish it to. Will you take control of your destiny and seize what is rightfully yours, or will you let power slip through your grasp, keeping only what is bestowed on you by the fickle whims of others?

If you wish to lead rather than follow, place this black ribbon in your window tomorrow night.

Destroy this letter immediately. If you speak of this to anyone else, you will never hear from us again.

The letter is unsigned.

A black ribbon is placed in Matthias's window the following night.

*Two days have passed since you placed the black ribbon in your window. Nothing has happened and you start to feel foolish for engaging in this game. It was probably one of your brothers playing a joke on you, nothing more. At least, that is what you are telling yourself as you retire for the evening.*

*When you enter the room, you feel compelled to search your bed for another note. As you expected, there is nothing there.*

"Good evening Matthias."

*You spin around to find a black robed figure sitting in the shadows in the corner of your room. By instinct you reach for the dagger you always carry about your person.*

"Now, now, there's no need for that. We're all friends here."

*You stop moving your hand, but your palm remains resting on the hilt of your dagger. The figure stands up and moves towards you. He stops on a spot where the moonlight casts a faint glow on his dark form.*

"I am here to explain all to you... all that can be divulged to one who is not a member. First, I suspect you will wish to know who we are. We are the Order of the Illuminati, and I..."

*He draws back his hood, moonlight falls on the face of your brother, Lothar.*

"...am more than I seem. I may be the eldest son of the Duke of Bavaria, I may be the Count of Florence, and I may be a Knight of the Reich (yes, it appears that is finally true), but I have another title that is far more important. I am also the Voice of the Illuminati."

*Lothar grins. He notices the lack of amusement on your face.*

"Sorry, brother. I know this process of notes, ribbons, and robes is a bit dramatic." *He nods at his own words.* "Perhaps so, perhaps so. But still, it serves an important purpose. It warns off those who are not amongst us. We keep secrecy and instill fear for a very important reason: the consequences for crossing us are most severe. Indeed, they can be fatal."

"Please keep that in mind tonight while we are speaking. As you probably suspect, I am here to offer you an invitation to our Brotherhood. *His smile disappears and he looks serious.* Yet, you must consider your answer very carefully. Once you join the Illuminati, you can never leave. Though you are not yet one of us, you now know my identity. You can no longer reverse your course without consequences. This is a commitment for life. Your bond with the Illuminati and your mortal existence will end together, one way or another. You are my brother and my blood, but I have other Brothers now. They are a family that does not tolerate betrayal."

*You do not like the way this conversation is going. Lothar smiles and opens his arms.*

"Now, with that done, let us get down to business. What we want is simple: we seek to better the Reich by improving ourselves. Every last nobleman, certainly every Elector, has grand dreams and designs he wishes to enact. Yet for most of these people, these desires never come to fruition. We select members with great natural skill and talent, and then give them the resources to achieve their desires. We aid each other in every possible manner that aid can be given. We are a true brotherhood, committed to helping our fellows unquestioningly in all aspects of life."

"Your support in the Diet will increase. Your Edicts will always be seconded. Should your lands need military aid, it will be swift in coming. All that we ask in return is that you similarly support us when we are in need."

"Brothers have already supported each other in these ways, though the Diet is entirely unaware of it. Yet, I must admit that our power is still... limited. We are a new organization and it will take time to develop influence, but it will come. Indeed, our very cooperation makes it certain. The more we help each other, the faster we shall grow in power and abilities. Before long, no man will be elected Chancellor unless we agree to it. We will be able to strike down any legislation that we find distasteful. Perhaps some day we will even be able to call Emergency Diet sessions at will."

"Great things, yes, but it will take time to get there. Other than the founding members, you are only the second to be offered admission to our circle. It is a great honor, and one you would do well to embrace."

*Lothar reaches into his sleeve and pulls out a large piece of parchment. He unrolls it and presents it to you.*

"This is the Blood Charter of the Order of the Illuminati. Your signature makes you one of us. Before you sign, I will answer any question you wish to ask of me, except for one. You will not know the identities of any other member of the Order until you are one of us. I am the Voice of the Illuminati and thus I am the only one who ever reveals himself to the Unenlightened. It is a security measure to protect the Illuminati from attack. If you join us, we will protect your identity just as fervently."

"I have spoken long enough. Read the Blood Charter and ask your questions, brother. Then we will proceed."

*You read the parchment.*

Being the Most Sacred Blood Charter of the Divine Order of the Illuminati, this document is infallible law.

As the Esoteric Brotherhood is Supreme on Earth, the aims of the Illuminati shall forever be to increase the station and power of all Members of the Order. As the elevation of the Illuminati is a Divine and Holy mission, all means of achieving its ends shall be acceptable, no matter the cost to the Unenlightened.

Rule 1: The existence of the Illuminati, the identity of the Brothers, all proceedings of the Orders, grand plans, goals, and assets are to be kept secret from the Unenlightened.

Rule 2: All formal decisions of the Illuminati are made by majority vote. Split votes fail.

Rule 3: All Brothers will comply with all formal decisions of the Illuminati, regardless of personal opinion on the matter.

Rule 4: No Brother may vote against another Brother in any election for Chancellor nor may he vote against an Edict proposed by a Brother, unless the Brother standing for election or proposing the Edict agrees otherwise. Brothers may abstain from any Diet vote unless a formal decision states otherwise.

Rule 5: New members of the Illuminati must be approved by unanimous vote of all Brothers before an invitation can be given. All communication with and initiation of prospective members is to be done by the Voice.

Rule 6: All amendments to the Blood Charter must be approved by unanimous vote.

Rule 7: Violation of any Rule of the Blood Charter will result in immediate expulsion from the Divine Order of the Illuminati. It is the duty of all Brothers to hinder and harm all Exiles with all the means in their power, including death.

Rule 8: The determination of any matter not specifically laid out in the Blood Charter is to be made by the Grand Master of the Illuminati. The Grand Master's rulings in this regard will have the weight of a formal decision of the Illuminati.

Matthias's eyebrows rise upward in surprise, and then he laughs.

"This a very elaborate joke, Lothar, even for you. Men in robes following me, notes in the night. I remember when you dragged me down into the catacombs of Rome claiming to have found the body of Pope Gregory. Of course, it was Markus in a Miter who leapt out at me while we down there. Very amusing for you I suppose."

Matthias's gaze bores in on Lothar, he seems uncertain.

"Are you serious about this?"

He glances at the Charter.

"A new order? If you want to establish a disciplined voting bloc, why the mysticism? I had my fill of that. . .

A coughing fit overtakes Matthias.

. . .on Corsica."

Matthias lets go of his dagger.

"Does this Blood Charter supersede the Reich's Charter? I'm not sure if I could betray the Fatherland like that. This talk of death and killing our own noblemen disturbs me.

"Are there any overarching goals, besides those decided by the Enlightened? I am leery of what will happen after Kaiser Henry, may he have a long life, dies. The Reich may need a firm hand without a strong or popular Kaiser. You speak of benefiting the Reich, how would we do that exactly?

"How would we meet without others knowing?"

Matthias harrumphs.

"I have other questions, but you won't answer them until I've joined."

Matthias waits for Lothar's answers.

The mysticism and dramatics are all for outward appearances. It is a show, if you will, to make others take us more seriously. Well... *Lothar shrugs and nods.* I suppose it is rather entertaining for us as well. Do not fear, we care not for religion one way or another. Worship God, Worship the Devil, Worship Nothing, as long as you help your fellow brothers, it matters not to us.

Yes, the Blood Charter supersedes the Reich's Charter, but that is designed for the protection of the Reich rather than to injure it. There have been many occasions when following the letter of the law has led to disaster and ruin. It was the letter of the law that allowed Kaiser Heinrich to place us at an immense disadvantage. It was the letter of the law that required me to twice fight at a disadvantage to aid citizens of the Reich. The Charter was written by men and, like those men, it is fallible. We believe it is our duty to do what is best for the Reich, even when those actions would be officially forbidden. Indeed, we risk our own lives and well-being to ensure that the proper course is followed, no matter the consequences.

Regardless, conflicts between the Blood Charter and the Imperial Charter are rare. None has yet occurred and no Brother can be forced to violate the Imperial Charter except by a formal decision. In such a decision, your vote carries equal weight with all of us. There is no influence, no inequality, in the Brotherhood. Your own vote as the newest member will carry as much weight as the vote of the Grand Master himself. Nor will you find us petty and unwilling to listen to other opinions. We support one another unconditionally because we fundamentally believe that all Brothers are worthy of deep respect and deference. Many in power seek it for its own end, without purpose. We seek it to exercise it for the betterment of the Reich. Kaiser Heinrich abused personal power to cause harm to the Reich. We will violate the Charter only to aid the Reich.

I know you are an honest man, but think on this matter. Is it better to obey the law and let innocent women and children die, or to use bribery and blackmail to save the lives of citizens of the Reich? Blind obedience to law can do as much evil as it can do good. Is not the true and honest course of action that which achieves the greatest good for the Reich? If you are placed in such a situation and faced with telling a lie, you may respond, "I am serving the best interests of the Reich" and you will always be telling the truth.

Of course, our ability to aid the Reich is directly proportional to our own power to influence the course of affairs. We must improve ourselves first to ensure that we have the power and ability to act at crucial moments.

As for the talk of death and killing, well... that is part dramatics and part necessity. Rumors of our supposed ruthlessness will surely leak out, and that is a good thing. If the Unenlightened are wary of crossing us, they will be more willing to aid us when we request it. They will also be grateful to think they have a powerful ally when we offer aid. Furthermore, there must be some kind of rule of law that ensures that the Order's will is carried out.

In the situation I cited above, bribery to save innocents, some risk of reputation could be imposed on some members. What would happen if they thought of themselves before the Reich and shirked their duties? If they placed their own interests above the good of the Reich? What would have happened to the citizens of Budapest if I had ridden from the field when their garrison routed? By ensuring my own safety, I would have risked tens of thousands of lives. We cannot allow that to happen, so there are consequences for betraying us.

Still, that has not once occurred and we do not expect it to happen. No member can be admitted without unanimous approval of the Brothers. So, all members are fully trusted by all others before they even join. Even then, the penalty of death is an extreme measure that is unlikely to be imposed. Its inclusion in the Charter is simply to keep options open if the Brotherhood deems it necessary in the most vile of circumstances.

Do not concern yourself with privacy. As you can see from my position as the Voice, we are extremely careful to preserve secrecy about identity and proceedings. No one will ever know what goes on in the Illuminati unless we want them to know.

I feel as if I have spoken for ages, little Brother. I know you have concerns. I would too in your situation. Remember, two things above all. First, we exist to save the Reich from all who threaten it; enemies internal as well as external. Second, our dark robes and dramatics are a means to this end. Smoke and mirrors, if you will, to aid us in our goal.

Join us, you will not regret it.

Doubt and interest play across Matthias's features.

So there is more than meets the eye to the callow, ambitious Lothar. A deception Brother? Play the fool, so that other won't suspect?

He takes a deep breath.

Very well. I accept.

Matthias's lips quirk in a wry smile.

Do I have to sign in blood, or is ink acceptable?

*Lothar grins.* Ink will do just fine, my brother. Brother brother? Hah!

*He watches as you sign your name to the Blood Charter of the Illuminati.*

Excellent! I am so pleased you have decided to join us. You cannot imagine how much I have wished to tell you the entertainment I have had over the past few years. As I said before, there is more than a little fun involved in creeping around in the darkness, seeming menacing. I may no longer be a child, but I suspect I will never grow tired of that part!

So, now it is time to reveal all to you. In truth, there is little to say. As I mentioned before, the Order of the Illuminati is still young and we are in the process of growing in size and power. I made reference to other Brothers, but in truth there is only one other member so far. The Grand Master of the Illuminati is none other than Duke Arnold of Austria. It was he and I who decided to create this organization and we have been working hard from the beginning. Indeed, my deployment to Austria to gain knighthood was a result of this Pact, and the provision of Bavarian forces to aid Austria was an example of the type of support we expect to provide for one another in the future.

I hope you are not dismayed to discover that we are still small in size. Yet, let me point out that we are not without power already. Since we began work, Arnold has become Duke of Austria. He wields immense influence over his own vassals and he is entirely in control of the Austrian Household Army. As for you and I, should we conduct ourselves properly, I know that one of us will likely inherit our father's title when he passes on. It will not be long before two of the Imperial Dukes are Brothers in our Order, a very significant advancement.

Furthermore, now that we number three Brothers, we can guarantee that any Edict we choose to propose will receive the required number of seconds in the Diet. So, we can automatically force a vote on any issue we wish to put forward.

I know I mentioned that you were the second person we have offered an invitation to. That was not a lie. Some time ago, we approached Ansehelm von Kastilien with an offer of membership. I met with him in a similar manner as I did with you. We saw in him yet another future Duke. Yet, the man spurned our offer and threatened to disclose what he knew about us to the Chancellor and Duke Gerhard. I made him aware that such a move would be a very bad idea and as far as we can tell, he has not said a word to anyone.

The only thing he knows is that the Illuminati exist, that I am their Voice, and he has seen a copy of the Blood Charter. All of this was expected to come out eventually, so it is no great loss. In any case, the matter is hopefully at an end and we will not need to dwell on it any longer. However, you should keep an eye on Ansehelm. If you suspect that he is speaking of what he knows or otherwise working against us, we may have to discuss this matter again.

As for our current agenda, it is simple: we must increase our power. We cannot exercise serious influence over the Reich until we are stronger. When Arnold and I first met, we agreed that the first order of business was to ensure a quick Knighthood for both of us. This has now been achieved. Now that Arnold is Duke and I am a Count, further influence has been gained. We must make the same efforts to improve your station, little brother. You must be Knighted immediately, so that you can lead proper armies into battle.

I personally believe that recruiting a fourth member should be a priority as well, but our experiences with Ansehelm emphasize that we must be careful in our selection. My position as the Voice protects our best secrets, but it would still be best not to take risks.

I will leave you now. I must inform Arnold that you have accepted our invitation and joined our Brotherhood. The three of us will then meet formally to decide on our proper course of action. If you have questions that cannot wait until the meeting, you may of course contact me earlier and I will respond or meet with you in person, whatever is required. I am sure that Arnold will be happy to speak with you as well.

*Lothar grins again and slaps you on the back.*

Welcome to the Illuminati, Matthias! I can guarantee you that life will be more interesting from now on.

*He turns to leave, then stops.*

Oh! I almost forgot...

*He pulls a bulky parcel out from under his robes and hands it to you.*

Enjoy!

*Lothar departs. You untie the package and find a long, black hooded robe made of the finest silk. On the inside of the hood is the blood red symbol of the Illuminati; placed so that you will always have an eye in the back of your head. An eye that the Unenlightened will never know about.*

Arnold,

Success! Matthias has agreed to join us. The Order of the Illuminati now numbers three. I have explained much to my brother, but I believe we must call a formal meeting to determine our future goals and actions.

Lothar

[TinCow]

Chapter IV: The Games Begin

Brothers,

I apologize for not consulting with you before making my recent statements in the Diet. I saw an opportunity and I took it. With luck, it will be rewarding. If not, I shall bear the consequences on my own. Still, I wish to explain my line of thought and the reason why I said what I did.

First, of course, is the fact that I believe it to be true. However, there is a larger issue at stake. As you must be aware, there has been growing discontent in the Reich at the focus on Eastern affairs over those of our homelands. I believe that this discontent is only beginning and will be a decisive issue in upcoming Diet sessions. By being the first to speak openly on this issue, I hope to be the standard behind which all like-minded Electors will rally. I believe that there is more power on this side than the Kaiser knows, and I believe that a platform supporting the homelands over Outremer has an excellent chance of winning the next election for Chancellor.

In any case, there is little risk in opposing Kaiser Henry. He is an old man and will be dead very soon. His party will lose a great deal of power when he is gone. Prinz Jobst is an entirely different man and is not likely to follow in Henry's footsteps. I cannot predict what course his rule will take, but I do not believe he will hold a grudge against those who opposed his predecessor.

In sum, it seemed the perfect time to grasp the reigns of a growing sentiment which will be instrumental in shaping the future of the Reich. If I have calculated correctly, I may have a good chance at election to Chancellor in the coming term. In the event that I am wrong, I can take the blame fully on my own shoulders and none need be spread to either of you. Even if I fail, the Kaiser's death with obscure any blemishes on my reputation and I will soon recover.

Hopefully this is sufficient to explain why I spoke as I did. I assure you that every word was specifically calculated to provoke the exact response I have received. If either of you are upset, I humbly apologize.

I believe that we three should meet formally very soon to discuss this and other matters.

Brother Lothar

Well, so much for our 'secret' society:

Lothar go and play somewhere else. I still remember your tricks, and they may be there because you're still in your teen years, but the Diet is no place to play. So take your little Blood Order out of here and go and annoy some Milanese in future.

You might be laying it on a bit thick Lothar. I thought the purpose of the Order was a patient accumulation of power to effect change in the Reich. If we move to quickly, it will all come tumbling down around us.

Personally, I'm a bit insulted both of you decided to invite Ansehelm in before me. What is power if it is not used wisely? He may be a Duke someday, but he'll never stop being a fool.

I also do not like the tone you are adopting toward Outremer Lothar. Speaking out against it is fine if you plan to later use that animus against the lands opponents, but I support Outremer, I plan to go there. Do not turn it into a straw man to beat.

Do not get me wrong, Gentlemen, I support the aims of our Enlightened order, but our execution appears to be a bit off. I hope, however, that I am proven wrong.

Matthias

Yes, we clearly made a mistake with Ansehelm. In our defense, this was long before he made his ignorance known in the Diet. He was largely a blank slate to us. Regardless, he knows nothing of importance. His words in the Diet are meaningless to nearly everyone and he has no knowledge of the two of you.

Yes, I laid it on thick, but it was certainly memorable. If disgruntlement continues to grow, it will be remembered. I admit it is a gamble, but I will not be inflaming it at further. The point was to get myself noticed as a supporter of a particular aspect of politics. With that done, I will sit back and see how that political sentiment develops, or fails to.

Matthias, I think you going to Outremer is a brilliant plan and I have no personal disdain for the Kingdom. I am a religious man and I recognize the importance of keeping the Holy Lands free of heathen influence. Indeed, it would be useful to us to have a high-placed member in the East.

Why can we not play both sides of the game? Remember, our short-term objective is to gain power for ourselves so that we can wield it in the future for the good of the Reich. Matthias, if it appears none will rally to my position, I urge you to personally speak out against me in the Diet. If it turns out I am wrong, any bid I would make for Chancellor would be doomed to failure. Yet I would still be able to run and my inflammatory language would make those who oppose me immensely popular. You could run for Chancellor and benefit from this. We could engineer our statements to specifically repel from my side and rally to yours. One man pulling a cart will only move it so far. One pulling and one pushing can travel the roads at will.

Lothar

Brothers!!

And indeed actual brothers you are...

Matthias, Ansehelm was an error, one that was contained by the very checks and balances we formulated to defend our Order. Neither you nor I will ever be identified and certainly Lothar can maintain a very plausible facade of denial should that idiot ever cross us.

Lothar’s words in the Diet were somewhat over done, however that is certainly one of his strengths in my opinion.

Personally I do believe we are unbalanced in our approach to the two distinct halves of our empire, the fact that you do wish to go echo's my own, however we certainly need to develop our base here in the homeland as a priority.

At this stage I would prefer laying it on thick. Much of our power in the decades to come will be the implied, and assumed rather than real. Don't get me wrong, we will wield more than enough temporal and spiritual power over the Reich but that can be accentuated greatly by mystery and fear. Personally I would prefer fear be associated with us rather than respect.

I recommend you read the works of a man by the name of Machiavelli. His thoughts and reasoning’s can be of great help.

Now, as usual Lothar's double dealings and concepts are excellent. We can certainly use sentiment either way to secure positions. Matthias, if you disagree then we can certainly place you on the other side of the fence in the argument and be the leading light in the counter argument.

As Grand Master I believe the following two goals are to be our next targets.

Have Lother recruit one more member and to have one of our Brotherhood be the leading candidate for the next Chancellor position.

Remember gentlemen, the "ends justify the means" in this Order of the Illuminati, we are here to ensure the real objectives are met and the bureaucracy and stupidity of technicalities are NOT preventing the great objectives being met.

I welcome you Matthias, your brother has spoken highly of you.

From my records I have not been able to determine if you are yet knighted. If not then that should also be a high priority.

Once we have a fourth member then I will convene our first official conclave. A time and place will be selected by me in due course.

Your Brother
Arnold

It good to hear from you Grand Master. For now I will limit my comments only to the issue you raised about a fourth member of our Order.

There is one person I can think of who might be willing to join: Péter von Kastilien. There are positives and negative to the man, so I shall outline them.

Positives:
1 - He has fervently supported my position in the Diet, even against his own brother.
2 - He appears to hold a great deal of respect for me. I give you proof of this by a series of letters I have recently exchanged with the man. I attach them at the end of this letter, so as not to take up room here.
3 - He truly seems to believe that serving all the peoples of the Reich is of the utmost importance. This is our core value.
4 - He is a Franconian. It would be good to add a member of a third House to our numbers.
5 - I personally believe he would likely accept the offer, based on (1), (2), and (3).

Negatives:
1 - He seems impulsive. I know this must sound strange coming from me, but I again state that none of my statements were spontaneous. Every word was carefully calculated to a certain end. If I have erred, it is due to my strategy, not my technique. I would be concerned that Péter might speak secrets without meaning to. I have no factual basis for thinking this, it is just a minor feeling.
2 - He is Ansehelm's brother. The two have openly disagreed in public, but blood is very thick. It could cause problems.
3 - He is obvious. I doubt anyone in the Diet paid much attention to Ansehelm's comment about the Order. I firmly believe that he is the only person outside the Brotherhood who has even given the idea that we exist a second thought. However, that will not always be true. At some point, the fact that we exist and are actively influencing events will become known. Speculation will then begin as to who is a member. Since I will obviously be instantly identified, those who are my allies will be implicated as well. Péter would likely be suspected from the first, unless he began changing his stance on various issues.

Those are my comments and I will leave you both to think them over. I am not entirely sure of my own opinion on the matter yet and will have to think it over. I look forward to hearing of any other candidates you have in mind.

Lothar

As promised, here are my private communications with Péter.

Péter,

I thank you for your support in the Diet. You have stated that should I be expelled, you would leave yourself. As I am voluntarily withdrawing for the moment, I would like to request that you not do this.

Let whatever wrath and scorn there is to follow fall on my head. Remain in the Diet and speak the wisdom that we both know to be true. Truth rings clear when it is heard, and if you continue to be a voice of justice in the Diet, the Electors will hear it an agree. Do whatever you must to remain in the Diet, for there must always be a voice to speak out for those who cannot.

Your friend,
Lothar

Lothar,

I thank you for your friendship. It is easy to support one with such persuasive and emphatical oratory - truly you are a subject of God and the Holy Roman Empire, and none of the mindless ravings of the "Holy Pope" possess you. I will remain in the Diet, as you bid, and I shall call upon God to hold my own - to show those who have remained silent thus far that our wisdom should be the consensus of the Reich.

Your friend and ally,
Péter von Kastilien

My friend! You have been barred from the Diet until you apologize to the Emperor. If you require to speak through me as a proxy, that it most acceptable as I fear I will not be able to hold my own for too long. It's odd, but I wish that I had been barred as well, rather than that write-off that I received from the Kaiser. I almost feel dishonored that my arguments have not been received with such weight as yours. I still have much to learn from my father, Gunther, and the controversial lords of the past.

I do not wish you to simply be a proxy for my words. It will serve all of us best if you speak your own mind on the matter. Besides, I think the Diet needs some time to contemplate what has been said. The Electors will be forced to take sides on this issue. Others have already begun speaking up on our side and more will hopefully do so. It is by encouraging this mass of other voices that we shall prevail.

However, I will be happy to aid you in debating techniques, if you wish it. For example, Ansehelm recently said the following:

Still, an attack will seriously damage our reputation.

And that means that the next warning the Pope gives will be about excommunication.
And Peter, I think you do want to attack the Poles without the Pope being in our way, don't you?

Bavaria should not attack, we've been trying to get in the Pope's favour with crusades and by giving them Durazzo, why shall we throw all that away, it's not worth. As the emperor has said: Milan is not worth it.

A counter to this is to ask why retaining a free hand against Poland is more important than Milan? Both Franconia and Bavaria are in similar situations with their long-time opponents, surely if it is worthwhile for one of the to pursue their attack, then it is also worthwhile for the other. If Milan is not "worth it", why is Poland "worth it"? Ansehelm's words indicate that he cares only for the interests of his own House, not those of the rest of the Reich.

Of course, he is your brother and you are a Franconian, so such an argument may cause problems for you. I merely cite it as an example.

Thank you for your lessons - I believe I have done well. The law provides, truly, that your father can attack Milan if he wants, and no man can prevent him. Swabia has shown that you need no edict to take a settlement, Bavaria can follow suit! Hopefully, my native Franconia will punish the Poles soon, but if Milan is not punished we may not have the funds necessary.

Brothers,

I would let you both know that it is time to begin taking action in accordance with achieving our goals.

Lothar,

What news do you have regarding our potential 4th candidate?

Matthias,

Are you to be knighted soon? If not, then I would bed more than happy to make a request to your father for you to join me in the east where there are various Hungarian armies that must be destroyed?

I'm finding the current state of affairs to be less than challenging so we must take this time to build on our own strengths.

Regards to you both
Arnold.

Apologies, Grand Master. I thought I had sent you my report on my initial thoughts for a 4th Candidate. I am including another copy of my report with this letter.

Brothers

Arnold, my intention is to be knighted in action against the Milanese, if that cannot be achieved in the next few years, I plan to take ship to Outremer. With the Turks to the north and the Egyptians to the east and south, I feel the Kingdom is a good place to be blooded. King Salier is a fellow Bavarian, so I am certain he will ensure my promotion.

I am grateful for your offer of assistance Arnold, but I feel it would be best if I am seen as independent from both you and Lothar, for reasons we have discussed earlier. The Diet already associates you and Lothar as friends, and myself and Lothar because we are family, it would be best not to link myself and you in public. In fact, I might have to make a public effort to disagree with both of you on some point or another, to maintain our secrecy.

Matthias

Brothers,

Peter could be a viable candidate. The only thing I would add to Lothar's surprisingly thorough examination is one observation.

I am curious as to why and when Peter became so pro-Bavarian. Was it before or after you contacted Ansehelm, Lothar? The possibility exists that he could be a stalking horse. Perhaps Peter is currying your favor so that he can be initiated and report to his brother on the identities of the other members of our group.

I suggest this as a theory, not that I am convinced myself, but it must be considered. We have formed a conspiracy, it stands to reason others have as well.

Also, considering the news about the Mongol resurgence, I feel I must depart for Outremer immediately. This might also serve as a good time to showcase our public disagreement Lothar.

Matthias

Brothers,

I am growing reluctant with Peter, at least for the moment, because Ansehelm has publicly accused him of being part of our group. As before, I don't think anyone paid any attention to it, and Peter was surely baffled by the comment, but it is obvious that Ansehelm believes his brother to be one of us. Since misdirection can aid us greatly, I suggest that we do not recruit Peter for this very reason.

The less people know about our members, the better we will be able to influence events. For this reason, I entirely agree with Matthias' suggestion that we begin a public disagreement on matters. Matthias, do you have a topic in mind to get this started? I believe that if you were to make some kind of statement that people would expect me to find outrageous, I could respond appropriately and believably. Of course, it would have to be in our Bavarian discussions, since I am not permitted in Diet at the moment. Though perhaps you could say it in the Diet and I could reply, outraged, at home.

I believe our plans for the moment are thus clear: Matthias will head east and gain power in Outremer. Arnold will continue to solidify his influence in the Diet and his ability to command the votes of his vassals. I will try to gain military prestige and influence within Bavaria in the coming actions against Milan.

I am truly very interested in a fourth member, preferably from Swabia or Franconia. Any suggestions that either of you have would be greatly welcomed. Incidentally, after my game in the Diet, I privately contacted Prinz Jobst. I include a record of our exchange below. Though this was several days ago, but as is obvious, I believe I have succeeded in making think positively of me. It would be wonderful if the Order had power to influence the actions of the Kaiser as well.

Lothar

My Prinz,

I humbly apologize to you if my words have personally offended you. That was not my intention. I have utmost respect for you and I eagerly anticipate you assuming the throne. You have shown yourself to be a great man and a great protector of the people. Swabia has thrived and prospered largely do to your steadfast support and I know that all the people of the Reich will benefit when you are crowned.

I assure you that I am your loyal vassal and you will not have any difficulties with me. My words to the Kaiser were harsh, but they were spoken out of a sense of duty to my people. I hope you can understand that.

Furthermore, I emphasize that I have the utmost respect for the Pope. I have been told that after I left the Diet you spoke about people who thought the Pope is not worthy of living on earth. I assure you I am not one of those, nor did I ever say such a thing in my speeches. I am a religious man and I am proud to see Jerusalem in the hands of the supreme pontiff.

Again, if my words caused you offense, I sincerely apologize.

Your servant,
Lothar Steffen

To Lothar,

Do not worry my friend, I was speaking on a more broad basis.

I thank you greatly for the apology, it takes much courage and heart to do that, I wish you luck in your future, and I shall remember your name.

If you, or Bavaria, ever needs help, then just call on me, I'd be more then happy to lend a helping hand with the EIA.

Though I do advise you on one thing, do try to stay clear of offending the Kaiser, as he is the most powerful man in the Empire, and in moments you'd have the fury of Romans upon you.

Prinz Jobst,
Count of Dijon,
Commander of the EIA,

Brothers,

Well, I did my best in the Diet to start a split between us, Lothar, but I fear I lack your talent at provocation. If I pressed anymore, they might view it as out of character.

To be honest Prinz Jobst worries me. He is unpredictable, we may enjoy his favor now, but I wouldn't count on it continuing. Still, it's better than nothing. His reign will most likely be chaotic, dangerous but it will provide a vacuum of power we can fill.

As for candidates, have we considered Elberhard? Once he is out from his Father's thumb, he could have potential. I think we should focus our search for candidates on the younger nobility, those who hunger for influence but have little yet. Older men are already entrenched in their own power structures and would view us as a threat, not an opportunity.

Matthias

Matthias, your words in the Diet were fine. The break must seem gradual and natural. An immediate firestorm over nothing would seem improbable. I believe we will have to cultivate this deterioration over a lengthy period to make it truly believable and effective.

Prinz Jobst is indeed an unknown entity. I do not know how he will fit into our plans yet. I believe the best thing to do is keep our options open when it comes to him.

I have been considering Elberhard as well, indeed I can think of no one who would be a better drinking partner for Arnold and I! However, he does not have a voice of his own in the Diet at the moment. My hope is that he will come into his own when Henry dies which, if God wills it, will be mercifully soon. We will see what kind of a man he is then.

On another matter, I am slightly disturbed by the prospect of Hans running for re-election. He already has too much power in his hands and I do not see him as a friend of the Order. Another term will only serve to make him more of a dominant force. I suggest we oppose his re-election by supporting whoever opposed him in the election. If no one else stands for the candidacy, I believe Arnold should attempt it. Recent events would make my candidacy futile and Matthias is not yet well known in the Diet. While Arnold is young, he is still Duke of Austria and thus commands serious respect. Indeed, it might be worthwhile for him to run even as a third candidate, simply to increase his profile. A loss in an election can be a victory if it gains the loser higher stature and more followers than before.

Lothar

Brothers,

It seems you both have talent for misdirection and cunning.

I entirely agree with all points raised.

The von Kastilien's should be left for now. The failed attempt would only create unnecessary exposure at this delicate phase of our Order.

I do believe we should concentrate on the younger members of the Reich. It is these men that will influence the future of our nation.

Elberhard would be an option. I will have the ex Count of Venice investigate him. No contact will be made as Lothar is our voice, but I will simply create a dossier on him for assessment as Lothar had done before.

Matthias, good luck to the east. I don't think this next wave of Mongols will be so easily dispatched.

Lothar,

Shall we meet in our usual tavern with our colleague this evening?

Arnold.

Of course, Arnold!

On a minor note, please do not refrain from contact with potential recruits because I am the Voice. It is entirely natural for us to engage in friendship and conversation with other Electors. That is actually an excellent way to determine whether a particular man would make a good recruit or not. The Voice need only be used when the Order is making an official contact with someone. Intelligence, skullduggery, and general network-building are all perfectly acceptable on an individual basis.

Lothar

[TinCow]

Chapter V: Rigging the Election

Brothers, the time has come address our plans for this coming election. Though I have spoken in the past of having one of our own members run, I believe the current free-for-all in the Diet gives us far more of an advantage than we could otherwise offer. With four separate candidates running, each man will be desperate to secure every last vote. We can negotiate our votes for personal favors to further our ends. So, we have two decisions to make, as I see if. First, who do we prefer to support? Second, what do we want?

Here is my personal review of candidates:

Hans - The outgoing chancellor is already far too powerful. He is older than us, but still a young man and he has many years left in him. He will never join us and he will be a major obstacle to overcome even at his current levels of influence. We must do everything we can to marginalize him and prevent him from gaining further control over the Reich. I believe that any candidate is preferential to Hans.

Prinz Jobst - An unknown entity. Supporting him will certainly gain us favor when he becomes Kaiser very shortly, but he will achieve that position regardless of us. We risk our efforts coming to nothing if he feels that he can ignore us when he assumes the throne.

Fredericus von Hamburg - A man who's most important quality is that he will soon be dead. Any influence he gains will be for nothing as he will surely drop dead from the strain of running the Reich shortly after he is out of office. This is bad for us, as it means that any efforts we spend on him will have to reap immediate rewards this term. Even then he could attempt to renege any promises he makes, as he knows his impending death will make their consequences few and far between.

Ulrich Hummel - This man has one quality that makes him the best candidate of all: he desperately wants to be Chancellor. He lost the last election and is campaigning more fervently than any other so far. His desperation will likely make him more open to our offers than anyone else. Furthermore, he is not an old man and any influence we gain over him we can work to our advantage in future years.

So, my final rankings of the candidates are as follows, from most preferential to least: Ulrich Hummel, Prinz Jobst, Fredericus von Hamburg, Hans. I would like to hear your comments on these men, brothers. Regardless, whatever list of rankings we agree on, we should contact the first one and offer our services, then work our way down the list until one accepts.

This then moves us on to what we want. We must be careful about this, for if we are too blatant we will show our hand. There must be deceptions within our deceptions. Favors to distract as well as reward. We must certainly ask for things which will strengthen us, but in a way so as to keep our identities and agenda secret. Here are some initial suggestions:

1) Sideline Ansehelm von Kastilien and prevent him from fighting any more than is absolutely necessary. Give Peter von Kastilien command of the armies in his place. (This will result in revenge on the man who has scorned us, it will increase in prestige a man who is a close friend and potential recruit, and it will make the Chancellor believe that Peter is one of us, thus a distraction from the truth.)

2) Recall Hans from the front and put him to work governing a desk. (This removes a competitor for power.)

Both of these 'favors' will be easy for the Chancellor to do, will benefit us, and will not reveal our identities or agenda. We could easily ask for things such as strong Bavarian and Austrian Household Armies, but that would surely expose us. Let me know your thoughts on other 'favors' we should request.

It is essential that you both respond with your opinions as quickly as possible. The election will be held in a few days and negotiations with the candidates may take some time. If this is to be successful, I must begin discussions with them as soon as possible.

Lothar

Brothers,

I agree, Hans must be marginalized, he is not only a threat to us, but I sense within him the spirit of Servius Aemillius. If allowed to accrue further power, he could be a danger to the Reich. It is one of the reasons I spoke against him in the Diet.

Personally, I was leaning towards von Hamburg as a "caretaker" Chancellor while we grow in power, but if the wide open field can give us immediate results, so be it.

I have concerns about the electability of both Hummel and Jobst. We can throw our votes behind either, but it may not be enough. Hummel has been crushed in the last two contested elections, and Jobst still has the shadow of the "Danish Incident" over him. The Kaiser still has much influence, and he has made his preference known. Jobst, Hummel and Hans will split the Swabian vote, while von Hamburg is guaranteed the Franconians. Still, if we manage to elect one of them, they will owe us a great deal. I get the feeling that von Hamburg would not tolerate any backroom deals anyway.

Considering all this, I agree with your list of candidates. Yet, we may be disappointed in the results.

As for what we want, I agree with the goals you gave. I assume that you will contact Ulrich, if so, you can serve as liaison during his turn, giving him suggestions if other goals come to mind. A priority should be to have us all in the thick of the fighting. A martial background is the key to power in the Reich. Of course we should suggest this in a subtle manner. I hope Hummel has enough tact not to spill the beans.

Matthias

Regarding, Hummel's electability, I agree. However, I think that giving our support (or denying it) will decide the matter. Duke Steffen has specifically told me that he wishes me to support Hummel. My father will surely be able to persuade Markus to vote along House lines, and this will allow both Matthias and myself to vote for Hummel without drawing undue suspicion. Arnold can exercise his influence over his Austrian electors in private to bring the full weight of that house to Hummel's aid as well. That is two of the Ducal Houses firmly behind Hummel. Hans will waste his votes on himself, and Swabia will be divided amongst the candidates. von Hamburg is truly the most significant competitor to Hummel, assuming we support him. It will take a large number of votes to overcome the Kaiser's backing. If we decide to back Hummel, it would be wise for us to through our full weight into the fight on his side to ensure a positive result. One or two electors gained from Swabia or Franconia could make the difference. If Hummel is the man we decide to prioritize, I will certainly attempt to sway Peter von Kastilien by utilizing my past friendship with him. I urge both of you to do the same, if you have any contacts you can exploit.

Lothar

Brothers!!

Hans must not retain power!!

As for both your thoughts so far, I agree.

There is something to be said for having the old fellow take power as it gives us more time to establish ourselves however…

…Hummel is desperate, and I like desperate.

I therefore think we have consensus. Lothar’s preference list is set.

But Lothar…you must be careful…generalities, vagueness are essential. I trust your skills, you mad bastard!!

I of course am assuming a more and more ridiculous personality with the Diet as a whole.

As Grand Master I wish the mere thought being a total absurdity to all.

I will take our preference to the back room of the Austrian benches and ensure voting goes according to plan for House Austria.

Good luck Lothar. I’m highly amused to see the results you obtain.

Arnold.

As you enter your bedchamber to sleep for the night, you notice an object on your pillow. It is a small, tightly rolled parchment tied with black ribbon and sealed with red wax. You open it and begin to read.

Greetings Ulrich Hümmel, Prinz of Antioch, Count of Metz, and Sixth Elector of Swabia.

You seek the most powerful and prestigious office in the Reich. You have great prowess on the battlefield and your leadership as Duke aided Swabia greatly during a time of troubles. Yet, you have been relegated to the lower ranks of the Diet. You have been forced to give up your rightful title as Duke of Swabia. In a grand gesture, you chose to display your integrity by aiding the Reich in Outremer. Yet even there you have been spurned. While you have fought hard for the Reich, men like Kaiser Henry, Duke von Kassel, and Duke Leopold took all your glory. When Duke von Kassel died, you were not even considered for the title of King of Outremer. A drug addict rules Outremer in your stead. In the last election, none but Franconia supported your bid for the Chancellorship.

Now it is election time again and once more you are attempting to grasp the power and responsibility that you have rightfully earned with your blood and sweat. Yet once again it can be denied to you. Kaiser Henry openly supports Fredericus von Hamburg. The Kaiser rules over the Reich with an iron grip and his vote will carry immense amounts of influence. Your supporters will be further diluted by the campaigns of Prinz Jobst and Hans. In order to have any chance at victory, you will need powerful allies to bring votes to your side.

You need us.

The Order of the Illuminati offers you its full support, Ulrich Hümmel. We will throw all of our resources into your campaign, vastly increasing the number of votes you receive. With our aid, victory in the election is entirely possible. Without us, your defeat is certain. Our assistance does not come free of charge, but neither will we make excessive or unreasonable demands. You will find our terms to be relatively minor affairs that can be accomplished with ease and at no cost to yourself. Of course, if you do not wish our help, perhaps one of your competitors will find our influence... useful.

If you are interested in our aid, place this black ribbon in your window tonight. When it is seen, you will be approached by one of our number to negotiate the terms. If you speak of us to anyone, there will be no deals of any kind.

The only signature is a small symbol, drawn in red: an all-seeing eye.

Brothers,

Lothar, I would say you laid it on a bit thick again, but Ulrich seems the type who likes a bit of drama. I hope it works.

Each of you have assumed roles in the Diet, the Gregarious Drunkard and the Power Hungry Warrior, to fog the minds of the unenlightened. In the past few years I have attempted to establish my own persona, the Good Boy.

Frankly, I would have exchanged roles with either of you, but I showed up last, so this is what I get. I am the straight man, if you will. I will be playing an agent of orthodoxy, shocked at the outbursts of my cohorts, trying to build consensus and agreement. I will be a model of piety and duty.

My question to you both, is this facade working or not? I fear I may have gone overboard in my rebuttal of Hans. I would welcome any insights you might have. You've been acting a role a bit longer than I.

Between the three of our very different characters, we should be able to place ourselves in any cause or movement that happens along in the Diet.

Matthias

Brothers,

Matthias, what you say is true. I do get a bit carried away with the dramatics at times. There is absolutely no need for me to monopolize this aspect of the Order though. I am the Voice and the contact point for all of the Unenlightened, but that does not mean the words I speak must always be my own. If either of you wish to draft the notes and speeches I give to others, I will happily play the part as you write it.

Lothar

My Brothers,

As much as Lothar does warm to the dramatic aspects of the Order I believe it is necessary at this time. It portrays a very mysterious and dangerous aspect that is much greater than we actually are.

Once we have 5 to 6 members I believe we can make very overt but unrevealing shows of force.

Lothar,

How is the progress with Hummel? Have we received a response as of yet? I grow easily impatient in my current mood. This “buffooning” around is taxing actually.

I desperately need battle to calm my nerves.

I have not contacted my Austrian House Nobles at this time as I am waiting to see how our “expression of interest” in backing Hummel is going.

Matthias,

No I do not think you have gone overboard with your responses. You are certainly coming across as the discrete and conscientious type. It is certainly a contrast to Lothar in the extreme and as brothers this will be a natural comparison all your lives. You can play off against each other for added effect, which of course can sometimes seem insincere to you both.

Arnold

Brothers,

Apologies regarding the lack of forewarning about Edict 10.8

I did not like the way Hans took it upon himself to take this province with little or no consultation.

By 1250 I would think our own Fortresses will be able to train both Gothic Knights and Zweihanders.

Arnold

Ulrich ponders the letter thoughtfully, and then without hesitation places the ribbon in the window.

Darkness falls, and Ulrich retires, waiting...

*Nothing occurs throughout all of the next day. You find yourself constantly scanning the crowd of noblemen and merchants, looking for an unusual face. Eventually, evening falls and you retire for the night.*

*When you enter the room, you feel compelled to search your bed for another note. As you expected, there is nothing there.*

"Good evening Ulrich."

*The sudden voice from the darkness startles you, but you control your nerves and turn around calmly and complacently, as if you had known the man was always there. You find a black robed figure sitting in the shadows in the corner of your room. The hood of his cloak is pulled low over his face, so that you can see his chin, but little else.*

"The rare occasions when we reveal ourselves to others are usual enveloped in even more dramatics than you have so far witnessed. However, time is short and we must reach a deal quickly, so let us dispose of the rest and get down to business."

*You nod and sit down.*

First, the rules. Do not attempt to discover our identities and do not speak with anyone else about our deal . Our Brothers value their privacy above all else and we will do anything to protect it.

Next, what we can offer. We cannot simply give you the election. Things are more... complex than that. However, with our support you will gain far more votes than you would without us. By dealing with us you will gain every single vote the Order directly controls, plus we will use all of our powers, officially and unofficially, to convince others to vote for you as well.

I will not mislead you though, it will be a tight race. We are prepared to back you fully, but even we do not know what the end result will be. Hans and Prinz Jobst are distractions and annoyances, nothing more. Your real opponent is Fredericus von Hamburg. We are already taking actions to attempt to sway some of his supporters, but it is not easy. The Kaiser's backing will be difficult to overcome, but if you continue to campaign strongly, you certainly have a chance.

Finally, our price. If you are not elected, we will of course not require anything of you. However, if you win the Chancellorship, you will do the following things for us. First, recall Hans from the front and put him to work governing a desk somewhere. Second, sideline Ansehelm von Kastilien and prevent him from fighting any more than is absolutely necessary. Give Peter von Kastilien command of the armies in his place. Third, make a high priority of knighting the as-yet unblooded Electors.

I understand that you may be reluctant to make this deal without knowing exactly how many votes we will bring you. Unfortunately we cannot disclose this to you without revealing unnecessary information about who the Brothers are. I assure you that it is enough to make you a formidable challenger, and more importantly, it is fare more than is necessary to deny you the election. The favors we ask in return are relatively minor affairs that will not inconvenience you in any serious way.

Now, ask your questions and be quick about it. There is much to be done and little time in which to do it.

*The cloaked figure sits quietly, waiting for your response.*

Brothers,

Ulrich Hümmel has made the proper signal and I have begun negotiations with him. It appears to me that he is eager to deal with us, as we suspected. As such, since time is short, I urge both of you to begin work gathering votes for him. Arnold, your vassals in particular are crucial to this task and you must convince them to follow your lead. If there are any Austrian electors who are not Counts, it would be prudent to grant them that title before the election, since every bit of influence will count.

I will continue to press on Peter von Kastilien as best I can, though I do not hold out great hope in the matter. Matthias, both of us must ensure that Bavaria completely follows our father's will and supports Ulrich. I do not doubt that Markus will obey, but Conrad concerns me. You are going east and being taken under his wing. Perhaps a private conversation between you, as friends, would help to ensure that he follows his Duke.

Lothar

Brothers,

Excellent news Lothar! A little theater can be effective, and you tailored the message well to fit the man.

I fear I have not been as active at establishing connections among the Diet as you two. I will endeavor to correct this in the future. I will also speak to King Salier. You must be aware, however, that his behavior is erratic lately. If I was him, I would not want a fellow Crusader as Chancellor, it would be a threat to his freedom of action and sovereignty in Outremer. Still, I will use the threat of the Mongols, and Fredericus' somewhat shabby manifesto, to convince him to vote for Ulrich.

Wish me luck,

Matthias

Brothers,

I have begun to analyze the voting situation in the Diet to try and determine whether we can bring Ulrich Hummel victory.

I believe that it is entirely safe to say that the Kaiser and all of Franconia will likely vote for Fredericus von Hamburg. All candidates will obviously vote for themselves. I trust that Duke Gerhard can influence Markus to vote for Ulrich and I also trust that Arnold can convince his own electors to vote for Ulrich. That leaves only two undecided votes: Conrad Salier and Friedrich Scherer. Without those votes, the standings look as follows:

Ulrich Hummel: 30
Fredericus von Hamburg: 31
Hans: 5
Prinz Jobst: 4
Undecided votes: 10

Two extra votes can be gained for Ulrich by making Sigismund von Mahren and the 4th Elector of Austria Counts before the election. That gives Ulrich the victory. Of course, the votes of Conrad Salier and Friedrich Scherer could change all that. I honestly do not know whether Conrad Salier is more heavily influenced by his Duke or his Kaiser. I suspect the latter and I am very concerned that he will support Fredericus. That would destroy everything.

With luck, Friedrich Scherer will simply waste his vote on Hans or Prinz Jobst, so that will not matter.

One other thing that must be taken into account is absenteeism. With every vote crucial, we must ensure that every one of Ulrich's supporters actually shows up to vote in the election. It would be disgraceful to lose a potentially victorious election by the laziness of one Elector.

So, as you can see Brothers, we certainly can bring victory to Ulrich, but it requires a great deal of work to secure every last vote possible. Remember, victory means a Chancellor that is beholden to the Order for his seat!

Lothar

*Ulrich grins in the darkness.*

I shall do what you say. I have no love for Hans, who has been a tyrant these last few years. As for the others, I shall have few regrets doing as you say.

*Though you can still see nothing but a chin, a slight wrinkle makes you suspect that the man is smiling broadly.*

"It is a deal then. In truth, we anticipated your agreement before we even approached you. To this end, we began our work for you before we even met this evening. I am pleased to report that our efforts have met with great success. I still will not provide any specific guarantee of success, but you will likely find many votes coming from unexpected quarters. We shall see how the votes fall, but we now anticipate that you will, indeed, be elected."

"Our methods themselves are designed to mislead and confuse. Some of your supporters will believe that it was their own efforts that gained votes for you. Others may pretend that they vote for you unprompted or out of loyalty to their lords. We are happy to let these impressions be given, as it maintains our secrecy. However, do not forget that we were the ones who truly decided this election. Every last vote for you has our hand guiding it in some manner."

"We have more than upheld our side of the agreement, and we expect you will do the same. There is no need to make specific announcements, particularly about our first two 'requests,' if you do not wish to. It is enough that you do them. We will know, regardless."

*The man gets up and walks to the door. A step before he reaches it, he turns back and faces you.*

"We have been pleased with your conduct towards us. Should you wish to contact us again in the future, hang that black ribbon in your window. We will then approach you at a time and place of our choosing."

*He turns and strides out. As he disappears into the hall, his last words hang in the air.*

"Sleep well, Chancellor."

[TinCow]

Chapter VI: Securing the Votes

My friend, I would request your vote and legal support for the attached edict, which will be a Franconian House Edict at the upcoming Diet session. If you can suggest any revisions to increase the demographic of electors who will vote for it, they would be welcome.

"Edict 10.?

An attack will be held against 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 war machine and additionally fill our coffers.

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

Péter von Kastilien
Count of Breslau

Péter,

It is good to hear from you, my friend! I will certainly consider supporting your edict and will encourage others in Bavaria to do the same. However, the current free-for-all in the Election is somewhat disturbing and unpredictable. It is important that we elect a man who will properly defend the interests of the Reich. I have no firm plans yet, but I may ask a favor in return for backing you edict. I will look into matter further and contact you again.

Your friend,
Lothar

Péter,

It is good to hear from you, my friend! I will certainly consider supporting your edict and will encourage others in Bavaria to do the same. However, the current free-for-all in the Election is somewhat disturbing and unpredictable. It is important that we elect a man who will properly defend the interests of the Reich. I have no firm plans yet, but I may ask a favor in return for backing you edict. I will look into matter further and contact you again.

Your friend,
Lothar

Personally, I believe Fredericus von Hamburg, the wise Count of Hamburg and Aleppo, is the best choice for chancellor. His manifesto states no partiality towards any house and a devotion to protect our eastern territories from the Mongol hordes.

This is very true. Count von Hamburg is a good man and his statements in the Diet are admirably honest. He must be doubly appealing to you, since he is a man of Franconia. In all honesty though, I am concerned that his lack of planning will lead to chaos at home. We are already having difficulties defending our borders and the interior of our provinces with the Household Armies. If the status quo continues, enemy armies will continue to breach our borders, settlements will continue to be besieged, and our lands will continue to be sacked.

The only man who has proposed any kind of solution this problem is Ulrich Hümmel. His proposed defensive armies for the Duchies is a wonderful idea. With two extra armies permanently assigned to guard our lands, the Household Armies would be free to strike at our enemies. Even if your Russian edict doesn't pass, Franconia could take her Household Army on a punitive expedition into Russia knowing that your borders were secure. All of Franconia voted for Ulrich in the last election, so clearly you think he is a worthy man. In my mind he has proposed the best solution.

Verily, that is the question in the House of Franconia right now. Ulrich Hummel has always supported us, but the thought of a Franconian Chancellor, nay, the first Franconian Chancellor, is all too appealing.

King Salier,

You gave me quite a scare in the Diet, my lord. I hope you have recovered from your episode, and I pray for your good health.

I hate to talk politics while you are resting, but the four way election provides some opportunities for Bavaria and Outremer. Since there is no Bavarian candidate, mores the pity, our House can serve as the deciding force in this election. The Swabian vote is split and the Franconians will vote for von Hamburg.

If Bavaria can present a unified and decisive voting bloc in the election, the next Chancellor will be indebted to us. I have heard my Father and Lothar support Ulrich Hummel. I have also heard that Duke Arnold is leaning toward him as well, and might bring Austria with him. While Count Hummel is not my first choice, none of the candidates are particularly strong. Hans, at least in experience, is the best of the lot, but I am leery of having anyone serve two consecutive terms. Fredericus has done much as a warrior, but his manifesto is lacking. When he announced his candidacy, it was the first time he had spoken in the Diet in years. Jobst is unpredictable, and it is possible he could serve consecutive terms as well.

In order to maintain House unity and increase the influence of Bavaria, I will vote for Ulrich Hummel. For the same reasons, I ask you to join me in doing so. With the approach of the Mongols to the Holy Land, there would also be an advantage in a Crusader Chancellor. Outremer will need all the men and florins a cooperative Chancellor can provide to face the Horse Lords.

Think over what I have said, you Majesty, and I hope you will reach the same conclusion.

Your servant,

Matthias

Lothar,

I'm sure that you have received word from Ulrich Hummel and his intentions to run for Chancellor, I have foregone running myself in order to support him, I encourage you to do the same. I agree with you that Hans is an arrogant glory seeking fool, who relies on short memories to inflate his own position. After all this is the same man who kidnapped two regiments of Teutonic and almost got killed using them to fight the Hungarians.

Father,

With the election drawing near, every last vote for Ulrich must be obtained. We must not back the loser of this election. I believe that it will be a close run between him and Fredericus von Hamburg. It appears at the moment that the Kaiser and all of Franconia are behind him. I do not know the status of Swabia, but they are likely to split their votes amongst Hans and Prinz Jobst. We must ensure that every last Bavarian follows your lead and votes for Ulrich. I am particularly concerned about Conrad Salier. I urge you to exercise all your influence over him to ensure that he supports the will of Bavaria.

If you have any friends in Swabia or Franconia that you can exploit to gain further votes, I strongly suggest that you contact them as well. Leave Austria to me, I shall bring it to Ulrich's side.

Your loyal son,
Lothar

Greetings!

I urge you to vote for me. I can guarantee you that if you vote for me, Austria shall get the spoils from the east; if Fredericus is, then Franconia will.

Support me, gut electors, and I am guaranteed victory, despite Kaiser Henry's influence.

Ulrich Hummel

Lord Ulrich,

I'll take you request under consideration.

Arnold

My Prinz,

I humbly wish to speak to you about the election. I do not wish to offend you, but I must speak bluntly. You cannot win this election. The Kaiser and all of Franconia supports Fredericus von Hamburg. My father, Duke Gerhard, has pledged his support to Ulrich Hummel and as his vassals the rest of Bavaria is obliged to follow his orders. Hans will surely vote for himself. The simple fact is that there are not enough votes remaining to grant you victory. This is no great loss, as you will surely be Kaiser by the time of the next Diet and you can assume the post of Chancellor by right at that time.

The next best thing to being Chancellor is having a Chancellor beholden to you. I urge you to support Ulrich Hummel with your vote. He is a fellow Swabian and will surely look out for your interests and lands far more effectively than a Franconian. Indeed, it was his singular desire to protect Swabia that led to him being stripped of his title as Duke. Fredericus has no plans at all for the defense of the Duchies. This is of great concern to all the Houses, but it certainly must be for Swabia, with so many large French armies around your borders. Ulrich's plan of providing two additional defensive armies to each Duchy will help to ensure Swabia's security. Simply put, Ulrich would be far better protector of the Homelands than Fredericus. Both for Swabia and Bavaria.

I humbly apologize if these words have angered you. As I stated before, I am your loyal vassal and will do all in my power to support you once you have assumed the throne. I would even support you now if it would bring you victory, but that is simply not within my power. The election is very close and every vote counts. If you were to support Ulrich Hummel, his victory would be almost certain. Might I suggest that you could in turn use this position to extract favors from him? I suspect that Ulrich will meet whatever demands you ask of him.

I hope you will see my honesty and candor as proof of my friendship and loyalty to you. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to aid you, be it now, or at any time in the future.

Your loyal vassal,
Lothar

Dear Lothar,

No, those words did not anger me, as they are of complete truth. I knew when I entered this Chancellorship race that I couldn't win.

Yes, I shall support Ulrich. I know the Franconians shall, if one of theirs win, use that persons Chancellorship to attack Russia, when other things are happening.

With your unwavering support Lothar, I shall remember your name when I assume the Throne.

Prinz Jobst,
Count of Dijon,
Commander of the EIA,

My Prinz,

I am glad to be of service in whatever way I can, even when the manner of my service is less than ideal.

Since you have agreed to support Ulrich, I would like to remind you again that the election is bound to be close. I do not know the exact numbers, but I believe that with your support Ulrich will win, but only by the slimmest of margins. If one of his supporting electors does not arrive in the Diet in time to vote, the election could go to the Franconian. Any extra votes that we can secure for Ulrich will greatly reduce this risk. I was wondering if you knew what Duke Scherer's voting plans were. If he is not inclined to vote for Ulrich, perhaps a word from you would convince him otherwise.

Your loyal vassal,
Lothar

Brothers,

I have excellent news! I did not mention it before, as I did not wish to arouse any undue hopes, but I decided to take a risk and contact Prinz Jobst. I did so as a private citizen, not a member of the Order, and attempted to explain the situation in a sympathetic manner. As you will see below, Prinz Jobst has agreed to vote for Ulrich in the election! This by no means makes our position safe, but it gives us much more room to work with.

Keep up the pressure, I believe we can win this yet.

Lothar

Excellent Lothar!!

I believe we have set this election up as best we can. My advisors have confirmed that the three members of the Austrian House have read my instructions. To date there has been no impression that they will not follow my request.

I'm looking forward to this elections fellow Illuminati, this could be the beginning of great things to come.

Arnold.

Brothers,

As you can see from the transcript below I fear I have a problem.

He was specifically told to vote for Hummel and now he does this...

My lords, before the voting starts in earnest I feel I must make a plea.

Do not vote for Count Hummel.

If I may speak of things that were before my time, it was not too long ago that the then-Duke went rogue and attacked the French at Rheims, using vague statements about avenging my namesake as an excuse. He did not issue a formal apology to this esteemed body, and instead managed to avoid censure by voluntary abdicating his position and relocating to the east. Again, I may be young, but Count Hummel's attitude towards the law is all too similar to that of our previous Emperor, Heinrich. Some will say that the charter has become sturdier since those times, but I say that we can not rely on paper and words to protect us from mischief. Legal documents cannot adapt. Men can. And good men must be vigilant to ensure that honor and justice are ever prominent in our realm.

We electors need a chancellor who will work with us, not circumvent our decisions in manners that are only technically legal. In short, we need someone who will obey the letter of the law and the spirit. That is why I must request that my colleagues withhold their support for Count Hummel's bid for the chancellorship.

I'm inclined to have him buried in the back waters of Budapest.

Do either of you have a suggestion?

Arnold

My Lords and Electors,

As you have all seen I have appointed those of you without Austrian titles.

Congratulations to Sigismund and our newest member the 6th Elector of Austria on your new appointments.

There are of course a manageable number of Edicts at this session and like my father I am happy for you to vote individually based on you personal opinions with regards to the Edicts.

However, and also like my father, there is sometimes a need to make directives to ensure the House prospers in competition with other groups and individuals.

I have had contact with the various Chancellor candidates and have made my decision who we as House Austria should support.

Therefore I would ask you to place your support behind Lord Hummel. This will ensure the further good standing of Austria and our future in the coming Chancellors term.

Please contact me individually if you have any issues with this request.

Duke Arnold

I fear I do have issue with a Hummel Chancellorship. Hummel is well known to despise the notion that he is beholden to any notion of duty or servitude. When we were just boys, he even went so far as to defy the Chancellor’s orders and besiege Rheims. To give a man who has no qualms about ignoring the will of the electors, the chancellor, and the Emperor more power is not good for Austria or the Reich, especially since he has yet to issue an apology. I cannot vote for such a man.

Dear Sigismund,

I entirely agree with your train of thought, and therefore have made secure and detailed negotiations to ensure this does not happen if he is to gain power. At least at the expense of Austria.

It is his very actions that have allowed me to predict how he sees various topics and be able to make sure this does not happen while he is in power.

All I can say is that as your Duke I have decided it is best for us as an entire House to have the "Devil you know, rather than the devil you don't" in power.

Does that help at all Sigismund?

Yours
Arnold

Indeed, it helps immensely! Woe my arrogance of youth, for as I could not foresee a way to reconcile my differences I assumed there were none. I have already made arrangements so that no others will hear my screed, and I will vote for Hummel. All that is left is apologize to you personally for such an ill-considered and rash action. So let my apologize with action: If there is anything I can do to make amends, short of endangering my mortal soul, please let it be known and it shall be done.

Dear Sigismund,

It is entirely understandable. As Duke I'm able to engage in topics that I could not previously. I remember when my own father would ask me to do things because he had made arrangement that I did not know of.

If you can vote for Hummel that is all I ask of you for the moment.

There is no need to apologies my friend. Soon you will be leading fellow Austrian's into battle and I would prefer a general who thinks before acting.

Arnold.

Brothers,

It seems you put the fear of God into young Sigismund, Arnold, he has withdrawn (edited) his comments in the Diet.

Following in Lothar's footsteps, I have contacted the only Swabian who isn't running for Chancellor, Duke Scherer. I've enclosed a copy of our exchange of letters.

I hope this will bear fruit.

Duke Scherer,

Forgive me for intruding on your time at this Diet session, but I feel I must write you. The four way election, with no less than three Swabians running, is unprecedented. It seems that Fredericus von Hamburg, with the undivided support of the Kaiser and his House, is the favorite to be Chancellor.

Yet, there might be hope for Swabia. My Father, Duke Steffen, plans to support Ulrich Hummel, along with many of the Bavarian electors. I have also heard, despite the pleas of Sigismund von Mahren, that most of the Austrians will back him. I plan to vote for him as well, but to ensure that he defeats Count von Hamburg, I suggest that you and your fellow Swabians unite behind him. Only if this occurs will we be able to defeat the combined influence of Franconia and the Kaiser.

I understand if you are reluctant to do this, but Prinz Jobst has not gathered much support, I have heard rumors that he is planning to vote for Count Hummel himself, and Count Hans is running for an unprecedented second term. The best choice to ensure the continued support of Bavaria and Swabia's interests is Count Hummel. If Count von Hamburg assumes the Chancellorship, the resources of the Reich will be focused on this "Crusade" into Russia, and not in the West.

As a token of my good will, I will second your edict in the Diet.

Good Fortune,

Matthias Steffen

I thank you for your seconding of my edict and your efforts to reach out to me. I wish to have the Chancellor be another Swabian and would be eager in joining you in voting for Ulrich. However, I have doubts over whether other members of my house Hans and Prinz Jobst would be willing to support Ulrich. I shall do my best to convince them, but cannot have any guarantees.

Brothers,

It appears that Duke Scherer does not know how to properly scheme. He has mentioned my letter to him in the Swabian Chamber:

Now I wish to talk about a different matter. Matthias Steffen has recently come to me with concerns about the race for chancellorship. Fredericus von Hamburg with the support of his house and the emperor seems to be in the lead in the race. The Bavarians does not wish for him to be chancellor, but given our house's lack of unity and uncertainty about the Austrians, a Franconian chancellor may be elected. The Bavarians offer to support Ulrich Hummel in his race for the chancellor. I will not say who I wish to win the election, but I would rather have another Swabian chancellor elected and will support Ulrich. Given uncertainty regarding the Austrians, I urge the other electors Hans and Prinz Jobst to support Ulrich too.

If I got access to this information, that means other Electors can as well. I apologize for this leak of information, I assumed that Duke Scherer knew what a backroom deal was and wouldn’t go blabbing about our arrangement. Next time I'll have to spell it out.

This is unfortunate, because Hummel might be able to figure out that the offer from us and my letter to Scherer are related. Still, he has no solid facts, but I am sorry about it. Perhaps I should stick to waxing philosophic in the Diet and leave the cloak and dagger intrigues to Lothar.

I have written again to Scherer asking that he edit the transcript so as not to mention me or our deal, but I have not heard back from him. It's too late anyway, as anyone who has already read it knows.

I need a drink.

Lothar

Markus,

I am disturbed to note that you have cast your vote for Prinz Jobst. I expected that our father had contacted you, but I suspect now that he has not. Our entire house is pledged to Ulrich Hummel and the election is too close to abandon any vote. Out of loyalty to your Duke, your father, and your brothers, please announce that your vote was in error and that it was intended for Count Hummel. You will note that even Prinz Jobst, the man you prefer, has himself voted for Ulrich.

Your brother,
Lothar

Lothar,

I am surprised to hear from you that my vote has been counted as I haven't voted yet. This must indeed be a mistake. I will try to have this corrected as soon as possible. Thank you for the notice.

Your younger brother,
Markus

Brothers,

I am pleased to report that it seems we have achieved complete success. In truth, things have gone better than I even imagined. Ulrich has agreed to our terms, and better yet, he is in our debt. He will surely be a valuable ally or pawn, depending on what use we have for him. Perhaps he may even prove himself worthy of being one of us.

All of us have been instrumental in achieving victory for Ulrich. I personally brought Prinz Jobst to our side and have made sure that Markus is correcting his voting 'error.' Arnold has delivered the votes of Austria to our cause and kept one of his own errant vassals in line. Most importantly, and most impressively though, is Matthias. Indeed, Matthias, it is you that has made Ulrich's victory not only possible, but certain. Your communications with the Duke of Swabia have not only brought his vote to Ulrich, but he in turn has then swayed Hans to add his weight as well. Now, even if Conrad Salier's vote goes to the Franconian, Ulrich will be victorious.

I cannot put in words how proud I am to see our small Brotherhood achieving so much. We are still young and few in number, yet our actions alone have determined the fate of the election. This is indeed our first great achievement, and I do not doubt that many more will follow.

I salute you, glorious Brothers of the Illuminati!

Lothar

Brothers,

My words to Duke Scherer bore unexpected fruit, which I hope will balance out the unfortunate disclosure of our deal.

The voting is indeed encouraging, but I have not heard back from King Salier, so I worry. Still, you always were better at math than I Lothar, so I'll take your word things are going well.

Lothar, I am very impressed by the drive and insight you shown in arranging this, I had my doubts, but you proved me wrong.

Arnold, I was equally impressed on how you imposed voting discipline in your House. You have to tell me how you brought Sigismund into the fold.

If we have achieved victory, it is imperative that we monitor Ulrich's actions to make sure he is keeping up his end of the deal. It is easy enough to make a few promises when the world is offered to you, but more difficult to actually keep them.

To the first triumph of our Brotherhood! The first step to a more Enlightened world!

Matthias

Brothers,

I don't think we are going to win. The 4th Elector of Austria did not follow my request plus Lord Zirn and Sigismund have not voted at this stage.

It will be close.

Arnold

Do not fret, Grand Master, I have checked the voting records and Ulrich simply cannot lose. Sigismund has now voted and do not forget that Markus Steffen's vote has been re-assigned to Ulrich. With the current standings the voting is as follows:

Ulrich Hummel: 42
Fredericus von Hamburg: 33

All of Franconia and the Kaiser have already cast their votes. The only possible area where von Hamburg can make up ground is from the only votes not yet counted: Conrad Salier and Lord Zirn. The only way von Hamburg can win is if both men vote for him. Conrad Salier has apparently notified the Kaiser of his voting choice, so we know his result will be included. If he votes for Ulrich, Hans, or Prinz Jobst, then von Hamburg cannot win. If he votes for von Hamburg, then all rests on Lord Zirn. If Lord Zirn votes for Ulrich OR refrains from voting, Ulrich will win.

So, the only thing we must do to win at the point (and the only thing we can do) is to ensure that Lord Zirn does not vote for von Hamburg. Anything else, even him missing the vote altogether, will bring us victory.