Imperial Diet VI

[Northnovas]

From the Austrian bench stands a very distinct individual. One who feels a little uncomfortable in the settings for it’s been a long time since he had spoken in the House but presents a man of gentleness and authority…

Kaiser, Speaker, Electors!

It has been a long time since I have sat at this bench and debated the issues of the day. It is good to be on dry land after such a long voyage. Congratulations Fredericus on your victory. That is the news I like to hear on the floor. Smiling and looking towards the Kaiser

First Kaiser Elberhard, I pledge my allegiance to you and wish you a long and prosperous rein over the Reich. Bowing deeply in the Kaiser’s direction and then facing the Electors…..

I am shocked to hear of Siegfried’s death and near Austrian lands! I assure my Kaiser this House is loyal to the Crown. ….looking upwards and taking a deep breath he begins…..

I am told in my absence there is a circus in this Diet and I believe it because the performers are still at it!!

King Jan, you stand before this House and accuse every Elector here of some ill matter of disrespect or disloyalty to the Crown yet you set the worse example of an Elector or Nobleman when speaking in this House. I keep hearing where everyone else has erred but you!

Electors, the Outremer is lost and was lost in 1260 when with the first sacking of the city by the Egyptians and Papacy lost its capital moving back to Europe. We lost!! That’s was the end of the Outremer. Yet for the past 50 years we have continued the Charade by appointing King’s and Crusader Counts. For what I ask you!?

To fight non Christians in relentless battles for to protect something that no longer existed. The mandate was gone. Duke Ansehelm you say of the German blood spilled by our fore fathers those First Crusaders who had a mandate for Christianity. That is who let down when we lost Jerusalem. The lost lands now are a completely different matter that is not worth spilling of German blood. There are buildings of worship in the Outremer and the Reich destroyed. Looking amongst the Electors….

A man’s life of work wiped out not by the sword but the pen. The damage is done. I am glad I left because I had foreseen what was coming when the words of the mandate were only on paper and that spirit of the men was gone. It was not in their hearts to be the defenders of the faith and it showed by the Crown’s approach to the Outremer. To know that Damascus is smoldering in ruins breaks my heart. The one diamond in the rough destroyed. I could not bear to see the waste that is there now or see the reason to keep an army there. What of our men that are still there?? When do they return?? Why should we be left to defend Byzantine holdings?? .. looking around the room … coughs coming from the backbenches. There is no Pope in Jerusalem.

In fact I hear the Papacy abdicated in the reunification. The Unified Roman Church!? I cannot accept such an act of fornication. My faith will not be destroyed by the whims of an alliance with a culture who only holds contempt for us and does not wish to have a union of an empire. These are very dark time gentleman. ….lowering his voice…..again scanning the room.
Very dark times and we sit here watching the circus. Indeed how many of are you laughing. I am not!!! Our Kaiser is murdered and we have Duke Hans investigate who had an issue with the late Kaiser’s ascension to the throne and he blames the Bavarian House for the act??? Then questions Austrian House about its army build up. Everyone is pointing fingers and they don’t know what they are pointing at!

Here we are arguing about grammar tense and name calling when some cities in the Reich are at the boiling point. The Fraconian Peter, is he a hero and Heir to the throne? Why are we not discussing these issues? (I guess the sarcasm is lost in the text.)

Elector Dassel speaking from the heart and not the head very much like our King in his younger days challenging Dukes before the House, this childless bantering is not for this House take it to the Tavern. This is a House of debate by nobles not peasants.

Young Dassel has a “guest” residing in Ragusa with him. Who is this Luther? Is he an enemy of the state? He does not call for political change, he sees the Papacy abdicated so he questions why we are still following the Pope. Those are some good questions we should be asking ourselves. There is only one God and all men are equal before him. Buying the high priest favours does not advance us before the Lord. Our day of reckoning will come.

Electors, Let us focus on the issues. If we have no control over the gifting of lands then let’s debate what we have control over.

1. What is our diplomatic status and what are we doing against enemy states of the Reich?
2. What is Peter’s status?
3. What of this Luther and the implications of his removal from Ragusa.
4. What is the strength of all House Armies and what of the troops in the Outremer, do they return home or disband?
5. What is our faith so the people of the Reich know?

Zirn looks through the room again and exasperated look on his face as he slowly sits down to his seat…….