Imperial Messenger Service

[GeneralHankerchief]

While Rome has fallen and the Diet been closed, communication is not completely cut off between Electors. News can still get out and quickly make their way around the Reich, and the Imperial Messenger Service is the best place to spread the news.

Use this thread to make any official in-character proclamations that apply to the Reich as a whole. Debate is not encouraged as it would be debate-by-mail, which lacks the zing of normal debate.

Example: The House of Austria is in dire straits and requests assistance against the Byzantines. Your contribution will not be forgotten once this ends.

[Tamur]

Count Fritz von Kastilien, dear friend of Odred One-Hand and Haldrich Ring-Thrower, summons all able-bodied mercenaries to join him on the shores of the North Sea in a new and exciting prospect.

Rich plunder, fine women, acres of land for those old enough to wish a farm.

Pay from Fritz' thick coffers and from expeditions soon to be launched. Come now or regret serving elsewhere, you dogs!

[Privateerkev]

Dear Kaiser, Dukes, Counts, and Electors,

I am happy to hear that the situation in Austria is stabilizing.

However, I find it regrettable that Duke Arnold feels the need to take the opportunity to not only sanction violence against a sitting Duke, but threaten electors over who they politically support.

I will support whom I wish to support without regard to Arnold's threats or temper tantrums. Having years of experience regarding Arnold's anger management problems, I can assure all of you that his bark is much worse than his bite.

If the Dukes wish to maintain the support of their electors, they need to protect their citizens and lead by example, not fear.

God be with you,
Jan

[AussieGiant]

Nobles of the Reich,

Of course I find Jan's open letter a disgrace to this Realm and a pathetic series of words that mean nothing to anyone with some vital sense of reality.

My attitude towards the self proclaimed separatist Becker is measured and accurate and certainly not something Jan could possibly defend unless he too did not have the best interests of this Riech at heart!!

His sanctioning of Becker’s action is boarding on treason and clearly undermines the Household traditions that have made this Realm what it was and will be in the future.

Of course having no real House himself and clearly showing no sign of respect for the Duchy he belongs too have long been theme's of his rhetoric and constant snipping.

I would certainly recommend Jan remains in Outremer for his entire life as his ability to work with others and generate good will and consensus are sadly lacking. Especially here in the homelands.

My words towards Becker are nothing more than a clear and defined set of parameters for him to make a clear decision. If he chooses to continue his separatist actions against House Austria then my promise is that action will be taken by this House to remedy the situation.

I've never bitten so I am unsure how anyone is able to determine whether my bark is more or less dangerous.

Long Live the Reich!!

[Privateerkev]

Dear Kaiser, Dukes, Counts, and Electors,

Duke Arnold has made some strong statements. Now, with all of you as my witness, I am going to dare him to back them up. I have been accused of bordering on treason and undermining Household traditions. Clearly, some people have different ideas on what it means to serve their citizens.

Arnold wishes to rule by fear and temper tantrums. I rule by serving and sacrifice.

So, I will now say what Arnold has said so many times in the Diet.

Duke Arnold, you have talked a great deal, now lets see some action. Bring a case of treason against me at the next Diet if you feel so strongly.

As for your bite, I have experienced it and it did not live up to the mythos you have built up for yourself.

The Dukes need to do what is right by their people in these trying times. This is not a time for Arnold to be grasping at power in a desperate attempt to hold onto his pathetic legacy.

God be with you,
Jan

[AussieGiant]

My Lords,

Essentially Jan has supported a man who is a self proclaimed separatist and someone that has forsaken his oath to me and his Duchy.

That seems a clear case of disloyalty and certainly not something that should be tolerated when the Reich is faced with crisis it has now.

Becker’s actions have directly affected House Austria's ability to defend itself and has resulted in two nobles from other houses providing assistance in these trying times.

How that is defensible is beyond me, and I would regard my handling of the situation as measured and clear.

Jan has on many occasions used guilt by association to validate his arguments. His own methodology would seem to be the best course of explanation as to where my comments are coming from.

I'm not going to back up anything as he requests.

I have no need.

The words he has said will be more than enough for those who wish to see this Reich return to dominance deal with him as they see fit.

I am taking action and the nobles that have remained loyal to me and this Duchy see that every day of their lives.

We are the one’s dying defending Austria.

We are the one’s that have remained firm in this time of crisis.

We are the one’s working together towards a common aim and purpose.

Those in Prague do nothing but worry and build their forces for the inevitable time that is approaching.

Jan’s clear delusion of the situation here in Austria only compounds his complete lack of understanding as to what is happening.

If he so freely wishes to forsake the Duchies and the Dukes and Counts that make them whole then I see a long and lonely time before him.

Long Live the Kaiser. Long Live the Reich.

[Cecil XIX]

Let it be known that I have reached a reconciliation with the Duchy of Austria, pending the convening of the Diet.

[Ignoramus]

His excellency, Wolgang Hummel, Prinz of Swabia, extends a full amnesty and pardon to all the loyalist Swabians.

He also exhorts both the Lutherans and the Catholics to cease fighting, as they are allowing the honourless French to plunder Swabian land.

[Zim]

A message to the Electors of the Reich, from Jan von der Pfalz and Fritz von Kastilien

Fellow electors,

I come bearing a message from Count Fritz von Kastilien and me.

These past years have seen the Reich torn apart by religious and political differences. My own House, Swabia, has been particularly troubled, losing its two greatest leaders in the Battle of Bern. Franconia has only just recently attained some measure of stability, and still faces many Danish forces. The other two Houses have also faced difficulties, being forced to retreat or hold a line well behind their former borders. All have lost territories.

Most of you probably know that Alexander Luther, the man who participated in the Battle of Bern by raising a Lutheran army to counter Hans’ Loyalist army, has decided to put aside religious differences and use his considerable abilities to face the Reich’s external enemies.

There are many differences between Lutherans and Catholics, and we cannot pretend that all of them are easily solvable. However, the main conflict of unification, which first divided the sides, is a dead issue. The Reich now faces destruction at the hands of external foes. Now is the time to unite against them. Religious differences can be worked out after the Reich is no longer under the threat of extinction.

While Count Fritz von Kastilien drives the Danes from Franconia, Father Luther and I are dedicating ourselves to driving foreign invaders from the beleaguered House of Swabia. If the armies of Swabia are united, we can defeat our French foes. Otherwise, we will be defeated piecemeal. I would implore all the leaders of Swabia to forget their differences temporarily and come together against this threat to our very existence. My Lord Hummel has declared himself willing to do so. I strongly hope the other leaders of Swabia would as well.

Remember, fellow Electors, the Reich is the one true source of civilization in Europe. If we let it be destroyed it will mean a dark age across the face of the world. We cannot let this happen.

OOC: Written with input from the players of both Jan von der Pfalz and Fritz von Kastilien

[deguerra]

Grafen, Herzöge, König von Outremer, mein Kaiser,

I am deeply saddened to announce the death of my friend and ally Jan von der Pfalz, who died valiantly in battle.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Jan for only a very few years, as he and I entered into Prinz Hummel's service at the same time. Graf Jan had the graciousness not only to allow me to stay with him in Antwerp while my own county was besieged, but to vow to retake my county at the first opportunity.

Working closely together with him, we devised several plan for defeating the French army in the field, but were surprised when our allies, the faithful English made a landing and besieged Bruges themselves. Immediately seizing upon this opportunity, Graf Jan took his own army and lay siege to the city.

The assault was ferocious, and our English allies fought bravely, but were eventually routed by the firm resistance of some French knights. Unfortunately, Jan's Flemish fared little better, so in order to rally his troops and save the day, Jan charged into the French himself turning the tide and winning the battle.

However, I regain possession of the city only at the cost of my friend, as Jan was thrown from his horse and killed in the very last moments of the battle. I am unsure that I have gained more than I have lost this day. The Lord truly works in mysterious ways sometimes, and it is not my place to question his hold over life and death.

But Jan was my friend and I pray that he is recevied in the Kingdom of Heaven with open arms and exhaulted for his brave deeds, his honour, his kindness and his courage.

Ludwig von Böhmen, Graf von Brugge

[Ramses II CP]

Jan von der Pfalz will be missed, but his death should serve as a clarion call to the remaining nobles of the Reich. Ours is not only a position of entitlement and glory, but also of service and duty. Jan's service to Sir Hummel does him great credit, and the manner of his death in a brutal battle against the vile French invader is inspiring.

I must again echo the call Jan put out shortly before his death for all Germans to set aside their differences and turn their anger outward, at the foreigners who would sack our cities and destroy the light of civilization that the Reich represents! Are we a pack of dogs squabbling over the scraps of an Empire, or are we the builders of a new, greater realm?

Don't send me letters in answer, send me the heads of your foes!

Goodbye Jan von der Pfalz. You died well, with the blood of your enemies on your sword and your army marching to victory! I pray that I may someday find so honorable an end.

Fritz von Kastilien

[econ21]

The State of the Reich

Electors, in these chaotic times, my authority seems to extend no further than the picquets of my army. However, I believe I can still perform some small service as Kaiser by keeping a record of the fate of the provinces that are, or once were, part of the Reich. I will endeavour to keep this accurate and up to date, so as to facilitate right and lawful arrangements of the Reich after this cataclysm is over.


The absence of an entry implies that the province remains part of the Reich and is loyal to its Duke.

I would be grateful for any information and corrections you may supply.

Kaiser Elberhard



OOC: This supercedes the province information in the playlist, which is getting out of date but won't be updated until things settle down.

[Privateerkev]

Dear Kaiser, Dukes, Counts, and Electors,

I hope this letter finds you well. I often sit and wonder how things are going back in Europe. These dark times are an opportunity to pull together. We should stop pointless bickering and fratricidal combat. One day, the crisis will end and we will all have to rebuild together. I hope we can enter the next Diet with more civility and brotherhood, than we left the last one.

I will tell you with great pride that we in Outremer are holding against the mighty Byzantine armies. Even now, we are making plans to re-take Outremer, for the Byzantines have proven to be ill-equipped stewards. The extermination of Rome was the last straw. They need to be driven from our lands. I hope that the pressure we are putting on the Byzantines in Outremer, is helping the Bavarians. Maybe we can force the ERE to spread themselves too thinly.

Good luck and God be with you.

All of you are in my prayers,

Jan

[GeneralHankerchief]

Fellow Electors, Swabians:

In this time of crisis stability is needed, this much is clear. So far stability has been remarkably nonexistant, and look at what has happened.

The need for it in Swabia is clear. Hans has spent much too much of his time chasing down rogue Electors and trying to build his own legacy instead of focusing on external enemies. He is unfit to rule. The honorable Sir Dietrich von Dassel wishes to relieve him of this post and take command of Swabia himself so that competancy may be restored.

Hans is a cancer to his House and the Reich. While enemies have overrun the frontier, are putting the middle territories in mortal danger, and threatening the heart of the Reich, he instead marches around Swabia intent on killing fellow Germans. This is not the best way to act.

Dietrich von Dassel instead claims the title of Duke of Swabia for himself. With the abdication of Hans, he can then concentrate on driving the French off Imperial lands instead of killing countrymen. If Hans does abdicate, then he and his followers will be allowed to keep their Counties.

[Stig]

Announcement from Franconia

Today Franconia has given up Thorn, defending it would cost the Reich too much, and as soon as possible we will leave it. We plan on building a new defensive line to defend Stettin and Breslau from attacks, and furthermore we want to gain land against the Danes.
Electors from other Duchies are hereby invited to join an attack against Arhus, to bring down the Danes once and for all.

The Reich should stand strong, it should not have people declaring themselves anything and nothing.

[Privateerkev]

Dear Kaiser, Dukes, Counts, and Electors,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am proud to tell you that the Crusaders are holding Outremer against heavy odds. Antioch and Aleppo have been relieved of their sieges and the Kaiser has moved south to try to re-take Damascus. I hope the rest of you in the Reich are holding your own against the enemies arrayed against you.

However, some letters that have reached me through the IMS have caused concern.

The announcement by one Dietrich von Dassel to somehow claim the mantle of Duke of Swabia is particularly interesting. He is supposedly doing this to promise stability. How a man who gets the entire Reich excommunicated, can see himself as the purveyor of stability, is quite simply beyond comprehension. Electors only need to look so far as their own counties to see evidence of Dassel's "so called stability" embodied by the massive civil unrest excommunication has brought us. I am sure the thousands that have died from riots and lack of social order will rest easy knowing that Dassel is going to claim being Duke all in the name of stability.

Also of note is Duke Ansehelm's letter where he claims the need to abandon Franconian lands while simultaneously calling for a gigantic offensive against the Danes. Meanwhile his brother, Peter the Pretender, abandons Hamburg to the Danes. While I understand the need to consolidate defensive lines, in order to preserve forces, it makes little sense to then go on separate offensives into the heart of enemy territory. Thousands of our citizens are either caught behind enemy lines, or are under threat of being over-run. I urge the Duke to concentrate on protecting the citizens entrusted to his care and avoid foolhardy offensives that will only waste his resources and put more lives at risk. I also urge the Franconian Counts to take matters into their own hands to protect their people, if Duke Ansehelm refuses the responsibility.

I wish you all luck in protecting those under your care. It is up to us to bring the citizens of the Reich through this dark time. We must not fail. The fate that befell Rome is ample proof of what will happen if we falter.

God be with you,
Jan