Duchy of Austria

[Ituralde]

Duchy of Austria

Provinces of Austria:

Vienna - Imperial Large City, Capital of Austria
Prague - Imperial City
Zagreb - Imperial City
Venice - Imperial Large City
Budapest - Imperial Large City
Ragusa - Imperial Fortress
Bran - Imperial Fortress

Austrian Nobles

Arnold - AussieGiant, Duke of Austria, Count of Budapest, Count of Venice, Count of Ragusa, Count of Bran
Karl Zirn - Northnovas, Count of Zagreb
Edmund Becker - Cecil XIX, Count of Prague

Dukes of Austria:
Leopold (1080 - 1228)
Arnold (1228 - )

Counts of Vienna:
Leopold ( 1080 – 1228)
Sigismund von Mahren (1240 - 1274)
Arnold (1274 - )

Counts of Prague:
Leopold (1120 - 1166)
4th Elector (1166 - 1212)
Jonas von Mahren ( 1212 - 1220)
Ehrhart von Mahren (1220 - 1226)
Edmund Becker (1228 - )

Counts of Zagreb:
Leopold (1154 – 1166)
3rd Elector (1166 – 1220)
Karl Zirn (1220 - )

Counts of Venice:
2nd Austrian Elector (1166 - 1220)
Arnold (1220 – )

Counts of Budapest:
Leopold (1174 - 1228)
Arnold (1228 – )

Counts of Ragusa:
Leopold (1184 - 1228)
Arnold (1228 - )

Counts of Bran
Arnold (1274 - )


Deceased Nobles:
Erhart von Mahren, 1226 - gibsonsg9212
Leopold, 1228 - Ituralde
Sigismund von Mahren, 1274, Cecil XIX

Inactive:
Bizzair, Verdizzy, ArchdukeEvan

Order of avatar assignment:
Whoever dies first!

[Ituralde]

Vienna 1138

Austrian Nobles, fellow Electors!

We meet today in the venerable capital of our Duchy to discuss matters of House and Reich alike. As you are all aware I have chosen to leave the Diet to its bickering. Clearly my recent arguments have fallen on deaf ears and it seems to me that my father, our beloved Emperor has made it his goal to alienate every Duke serving under him. I will not enter the Diet floor or partake in any votings until those differences are settled once and for all!

The Empire seems to have left us in our most dire hour. Vienna has been besieged two times now in the recent years and even as we speak another Venetian army is gathering to destroy us! It is time that we take things in our hands and show the Reich that we are true servants of the Reich and well capable of not only defending ourselves, but purging the Venetian threat once and for all!

I have already sent word to the Chancellor that he equip me with the money necessary to muster a force of mercenaries strong enough to attack the Venetians, not cowering behind our walls, but attack them on the field of battle where true glory lays! Already the guilds are in uproar over the recent sieges and the ensuing downfall of trade. You all know that trade and money have been the life blood of this city for a long time and I can understand their desires. However I can not understand that they have mustered an armed force that is currently occupying the Danube crossing into Bohemia! I believe in going on the offensive against the Venetians and crushing every army they send against us in the field we can prevent further sieges and hopefully the guilds will see reason and abandon their foolish plans.

The other problem I see is with the Polish thread to the North. So far they seem content with ravaging the Franconian lands, but Prague lies well within their grasp. Negotiations with the House of Franconia to coordinate our war efforts against Poland are already on the way. Still a large scale attack on Prague may well spell disaster for my plans to the south.

Well, here we stand now at the brink of destruction. What say you my dear Electors? What are your plans for the future of Austria and of the Reich?

Leopold looks expectantly at his Electors, before settling down.

[AussieGiant]

My Lord Duke Leopold!!

I whole heartedly support your strategy and will endeavor to make ours House heard in your absence.

We must be given the autonomy to defend ourselves and take the fight to our regional enemies independently of any other Imperial actions.

[Northnovas]

Yes, My Lord I also support your strategy and echo my fellow Elector that I will have our House heard in your absence.
Now that we are all together it is time to implement the details of your plan to defend Austria.

The 6th Elector bows to his Duke and temporarily excuses himself for Sunday morning prayers...

[Bizzair]

I also second this, we need to defend Austria's land!

Lets get too!

[ArchdukeEvan]

Lordship!

this is a good plan... and i do so support it

but do you suppose it would be possible to attack Zagreb... or to move north to Krawkow (ooc... polish capital... idk sp) ?

more than just the glory of the Feild battle... the horrors of a seige are the most profitable i belive...

[Ituralde]

A courtier enters the chambers where the meeting is held and walks up to Duke Leopold offering him a sealed letter. Swiftly Leopold brakes the seal, bearing the crest of the House of Franconia, and scans the page in front of him. A thin smile creeps on his face and he stands to face the Electors once again.

It is good to hear that you support my plans, now I only need the Chancellor to follow my suggestions and soon I will be on my way to the Venetian heartland. I agree that either Venice or Zagreb should be besieged eventually. With Venice excommunicated the time is ripe to act against them.

It is good that you mention the Poles to the north. I can announce that my plans for our Bohemian border have been successful. Dietrich von Saxony Duke of Franconia has agreed to send the noble Knight Jonas von Mahren to defend Prague against any Polish incursions. In return I will grant him powers over the city and its garrison.
While I agree with you that the Poles should be punished eventually, we have to be careful with our advances against them. Our standing with the Pope could hardly be worse and it looks as though there's only a shred seperating us from Gregory's wrath and excommunication. Strangely enough he holds the Polish oathbreakers in much more favour. You know I have been and always will be opposed to excommunication. As long as this thread looms over us we should be cautious in our advances against Poland. I believe the capturing of Magdeburg to the north should take precedence and will anger the Pope enough. With our northern border secured we can instead focus on Venice now, which now longer enjoys Papal protection.

It is of utmost importance that one or better all of you deliver these concerns in front of the Diet. I have deliberately left some of you in the Diet so that I will have some influence on the happenings while I'm away. I'm sure I can entrust you gentlemen to represent my oppinions and those of the House of Austria adequatly.

He casts a concerned look at the Electors, as though doubting their ability, before giving an encouraging smile.

[Northnovas]

The 6th Elector having returned from personal matters is elated by the Duke's news and rises to speak.

My Lord this is most excellent news and I am glad to see that my Lordship as remained on top of matters in his absence.

The assistance from the House of Franconia with the leadership of Knight Jonas von Mahren is most welcoming. The concern for our northern boarder and the Poles can rest for the time being.
We can now concentrate our efforts towards those swine Venetians. I will do my upmost to represent you in the Diet.
However, my Lord I must say that our work against the Venetians must be a most meticulous calculation and that we do not leave ourselves exposed in Vienna.

The members sits smiling to the other members......

[ArchdukeEvan]

i will try my best to represent your feelings in the diet lordship... even though they go some-what in a differant direction than mine...

Austrian Army... feild battle... venice... zagreb... prague and franconians... yes i belive i have it... thank you lord...

sits and starts writing notes

[Ituralde]

Leopold faces the Fifth Elector of Austria:

What are you mumbling about man? You have a different view? Well let's hear it then! What good is a ruler that doesn't listen to his advisors or an advisor that doesn't speak truthfully with his liege. So speak up man, voice your concerns so that we may look at their validity

[Northnovas]

The 6th Elector stands after receiving a message from the page....

My Lord this maybe the best time for a recess as the 5th Elector composes himself. It is my understanding that the troops are heading out to deal that rebel scum outside the city and your men are waiting for you.
I wait with anticipation to here of your victory hear in the house. We also may need to have a consultation on who we may wish to elect as the next Chancellor. From the last meeting in the Diet there could several candidates for the position.
Good luck and Godspeed my Lord.

The 6th Elector sits .....

[ArchdukeEvan]

firstly though i wish you the best of luck if you do so travel to defeat the rebal scum outside of Venice

and... uh... yes I do somewhat have differant ideas

stands

I belive that Venice... shouldnt be the Reichs main concern... in fact I velive that a strong defensive stance there will be enough to hold them while we deal with the weaker threat to the north...

once you said that the rich halls of Italy are vastly supperior to the Icy halls of Poland... but these Icy halls are a nusance that is causing us to fight a two front war... they are a drain on our recources that is easyier to kill than well equiped italian Militias...

are troops are on a more equal footing with Poland...and the gain of Eastern Lands will allow us to pool more money... to train Knights... to annihilate the Venician Militias...

we can continue to try to fight better armys... and will eventualy win at a huge cost of lifes and money... but Poland can easly be defeated by a well balanced army with archers... cheaper than armored troops... archers to shoot the horses of Polish Nobelmen... take Magdeburg... in the middle of Germany itself... take Krawkow... take Thorn... push them ever eastward... the Francionians have proved that we can take them on with small... spear-based armys... why not throw in some more Sergent Spears... some Peasentry that shoot Bows... a few Armored knights... and there you have an army... ineffective versus Italians because of Italian Militas... can run rampant over weak polish infantry...

that is my veiw... but as I said... everyone seems focused on the Riches of Italy and not on the potential of Poland to hit us unprotected...

sits... and seems a-little nervous

[Northnovas]

The 6th elector receives a message from a page and smiles...

I have some preliminary good news. Our Duke was victorious on this day annihilating the traders on the Danube. I also hear the Bologna was retaken by Prince Henry with no siege engines! There has also been victories over the Venetians in the Alps. This is definitely good news.
To address the 5th Electors concerns I think the help from the House Franconia to police Prague will alleviate our northern border concerns regarding the Poles. When the Duke returns we continue some training of our men and prepare for the Venetians. They surely must be hurting with our latest victories and their current standing with Rome we must utilize to our advantage.

Member sits and pledges a drink for all his friends tonight...

[ArchdukeEvan]

obviously you wernt paying attention
anyway... that is exactly what i am talking about...
dissmissing the Poles as a minor threat... do we know how far into Russia they own?... they may own Kiev... and Vilanis... Riga if they fight the Russians themselfs... now they own at least as many citys as Veince and are a weaker power... why should we strike at the Lions... if the Misquitoes will kill us?...

I am sorry i dont share your love for Italian wealth... but i do share your idea for a good drink...

orders some small beer to be brought forward for him to drink

[Northnovas]

Raises his glass to the member and sips from his frothy mug of ale..

I have no desire for Italian wealth when we can generate Austrian wealth here in Vienna. You make a very good point about the east. What is Russia up to? and what about our neighbour Hungary? I understand they have a large crusading army that is returning home.
The Poles will be dealt with but we must remember the Duke's feeling on excommunication with his Holiness. The Venetians are fair game at the moment. Reviewing the latest intelligence report kotr1938-2 the Poles have a higher standing with the Pope. A few more skirmishes with the Poles could lead to some warning from his Holiness. Once we start with the Poles we do not want to stop because of a threat of excommunication. The Venetians are looking vulnerable and we have the chance to ease the pressure on Vienna from Venetian sieges. We will see what the Duke's thought are on his return.


Sits and finishes his ale ......

[ArchdukeEvan]

Aye the pope...

the bane of our existance... isnt Greogory old as of yet?... he may just die sone anyway...

[Ituralde]

Duke Leopold, who had not returned after his battle against von Holstein, was now entering the Council Chambers again bearing a smug grin on his face.

Gentlemen!

I am joyful to announce that my campaign against the Venetians in our lands was successful! I just defeated the Venetian Heir Councillor Bartolomeo in battle. His troops have fled the field and those we were able to capture have been put to the sword. This shall serve as another example that every Venetian oath-breaker daring to cross into our realm has nullified his existence and will meet his end at the hands of an Austrian sword!!

Leopold too raises a mug, passed to him by a servant, in triumph

I was informed what has transpired here since I left and our 5th Elector raises some important points. However I believe most of your concerns have also been adressed by the 6th Elector.

I agree that a two-front war does not suit us well, that's why I have taken action to improve our cooperation with the House of Franconia that will help us defend against the Polish. This cooperation is not limited to defense however and while any action against the Polish will be commanded by a Franconian, they will be fought by brave Austrians!

It is important however that we delegate this theater of war, as we do not have enough able generals that could command our armies in the field. If I were to go north on an extended campaign against Poland, Vienna would be undefended in the meantime. You have seen how easy it is for the Venetians to attack us here in our very heart. We have to deal with this thread first, before we can cast our eyes elsewhere. An offensive campaign against Venice is imperative to give us a buffer against their attacks.

I hope these reasons make my decisions clear to you. Although we disagree on the importance of Italian against Polish lands, these are strategic considerations that you can not deny.


OOC:
Just like to throw this in just in case it hasn't become clear through my IC text. Any battle without an avatar as general will be autocalced. Vienna would fall quickly to a sizeable enemy force if we have to autocalc it so it is important that Leopold remains close to Vienna.

[AussieGiant]

Gentlemen,

A toast to our Duke Leopold for another Heroic Victory as befitting the Reich's greatest General!!

And we must remain mindful of our situation. With only one general we must protect our greatest asset which is Vienna.

However, we must all support our Dukes attack on Venice as it is they that have directly attacked our Ducal capital.

[Northnovas]

Here,Here!!

A Heroic Victory from the greatest General in Reich! We must press for Imperial Florins to reequip our troops and muster so more men to the roll to finish off the Venetians.

[ArchdukeEvan]

Congragulations!

drinks the toast

now as to what i said... i ment not in an Austrian way... we have very few capible commanders beyond yourself... and so obviously House Austria can not single handedly take on Poland... i ment in the more general sence of the whole of the Reich to field armys agianst them...

but still... one land is as good as the other i guess... and the Poles will be whipped sone enough...

but as i said before... i will support your campiagns to the fullest... im not an revolutionary or anything...

but now... i here that the time for a new Chanceller is comeing... who are we to support if more than one runs?... will you lordship... run for the office?

OCC...I really dot care this much... but I exagerate because i think that Poland is being slightly ignored... anyway i have an extreem Medivial 2 disslike of the Poles... always defeating my hopes of a huge Russian nation... ... nothing agianst real Poles in anyway

[Bizzair]

Here, Here,

Forget about war tonight, lets get a beer and some fine women!

[Ituralde]

My fellow Electors, I think it is time that you return from Vienna to attend the nex Diet session in our capital of Frankfurt. Important decisions are to be made and I have passed along a letter to each of you, outlining the agenda of the House of Austria for the next Diet session.

I am sure that you will agree with me that it is important that we work together to achieve the listed goals for the future glory and strength of the House of Austria.

He raises his goblet and proposes a toast!



OOC:
No need to apologize ArchdukeEvan. With Duke Leopold intent on Italy I think it's quite important to have people with other priorities in the House of Austria, so I really like your agenda. It's always a good thing to give one's character a goal he wants to obtain and push for it in the Diet and within the House.
It would be quite boring if everyone of you would always agree with me, so just follow your agenda ahead. Austria needs to expand its view over the Italian peninsular sooner or later.

[Northnovas]

My Duke, I have received your message and am prepared for the trip to Frankfurt. We must get our voice in the Diet and finish this Venetian business.

Leaves to join the convoy for Frankfurt.

[Jalf]

The guards enter, followed by a Franconian messenger
My lords, I bring a message from Knight von Mahren. He is making the last of his preparations now, and attending to matters in the Diet, and will leave for Austria and Prague very soon. He would like to ensure you that your city will be in capable hands, and he looks forward to working with your people to repel the Poles and bring prosperity to the lands of the Reich that lie outside of Italy.

[ArchdukeEvan]

OOC... no apologys needed... lol... im always the person thats a little odd...

[Northnovas]

The Electors reviewing maps and intellegnce reports at a secret location....

Austrian War Council

My Duke, I see the reinforcements are on there way to Vienna. I have reviewed the map and the Venetians are looking to be hard pressed around Zagreb. Is there a time table for our offence against them?

[Ituralde]

Frankfurt, 1140

Duke Leopold had been pacing across the chamber floor set aside for the Austrian nobles in the Imperial Diet. A goblet of wine in one hand he was waiting for the last of the Austrian Electors to arrive and the scribes to scurry in. A short glance seems to show him that all he wished to be present have appeared. Abruptly he stands gesturing with the arm holding the goblet, not caring about the wine sloshing over is wrist. He looks infuriated.

What were you thinking, gentlemen, what in the world were you thinking back there?!? Don't you think it has been humiliating enough for me to growel in front of Emperor Heinrich like some lowly petitioner for his attention. To show weakness in front of the assembled Dukes, Counts and Electors?
I have promised him, promised him to have the House of Austria back his Chancellorship, and what do I get from you? What do I get from you after drafting an agenda for you to follow and several reminders that the upcoming elections will be important? ONE! One single vote came from the House of Austria besides mine! His fury suddenly subsiding he smiles friendly... For which you should be commemorated dear Sixth Elector ...before continuing in an angered voice. Our dear Second Elector even had the gist to vote for Mandorf! No wonder that he has left for an extended vacation on his Estates in Austria! How he can dare to do such a thing!

Leopold continues his pacing, breathing heavily after the outburst. Finally he slams the goblet down on a nearby table and casts a concerned look over the assembled Electors.

Now, I believe some of you, like the 5th Elector had valid reasons for not participating and our 3rd Elector has taken this inopportune moment to resign from my service for an indefinite amount of time. Has anyone of you heard from the 4th Elector lately? Well, neither have I. The state of our House is a mess if you ask me. Not only is our capital besieged more times than I can think of, but our political power is also waning.

Well, it is time to consolidate our holdings, economically and politically. We have not supported Mandorf openly, but I believe he will be competent enough to lead the Reich in the future. The promises he made for swift military aid sound promising. I have pledged for the Kaiser in the recent Diet for reasons, that I don't care to elaborate here, but I can assure you that I had the best of Austria in mind, but that does not mean that we can't cope with another reality. We should support the current Chancellor in his endeavours and hopefully we will soon be able to seize the Venetian cities to the south.

Once again, I'd like to bring the Sixth Electors efforts in furthering our agenda to the fore and with other Electors leaving you will be rewarded by promotion to 3rd Elector!
Once new lands are assigned to our control the title of Count may even be considered. Let that be a reminder to all of you that obedience and discipline can have their advantages.

To the matter at hand, as the Six.. 3rd Elector has pointed out rightfully we should leave for Zagreb as soon as possible, but the situation in Vienna will not allow a swift departure. Mandorf will be sending troops from Innsbruck and Staufen to aid us. I will join with the troops from Staufen most likely. Once the situation in Vienna is secured I will advance on Zagreb and crush any Venetian resistance!

[Northnovas]

The newly Third Elector slowly rises with a look of astonishment..

My Lord, I am truly humbled by your words and recognition. My allegiance and duty has always been to your father, Austria and the Reich. I thank you and I will not disappoint my Duke or his House.

The Elector bows deeply towards the Duke and sits...

[ArchdukeEvan]

stands... and falls imediatly back down indignatly... stands agian

My... L... My Lord!...

Trys to compose himself

My Lord... I must say this is unexpectated... since I have more experiance... and then I have been by-passed for promotion...

stands there... thinks over the past

which I guess I can except... with my many absances and rather Anti-Polish agenda... it isnt unexpected really...

Looks very sad

as for Zagreb... this seems viable to me... but if we use the Ducel Army do we conqueor in the name of Austria?... or in the name of the Reich?... it seems if our army takes the town it should be gathered into our possetion imeadatly... please correct me if im wrong...

sits and orders a strong beer

[Northnovas]

The members of the House sit down and try to comprehend the most recent and astonishing events..

My Duke, are we still looking at Zagreb?? The actions of your father has put the Reich in a spin. I am concerned about public order and our neighbour Hungary. They are in good standing with His Holiness and I cannot read what action they may take.
Would a defensive action of our forces be the most prudent at this time? I am afraid there are some dark days ahead.