Imperial Diet VII

[TinCow]

It is ironic that the 'noble' Swabians pillage their own lands, while we 'vile' Bavarians honorably occupy our lost cities. Perhaps Swabia would be better managed under Bavarian rule.

[_Tristan_]

Hughes de Cervole :

My lords,

My hatred of the French got me carried away but rest assured that only the people that collaborated with the French and got fat and rich from it suffered at my hands.

Only their assets were seized and those of the true Germans were left alone.

No building was destroyed in the process unless by riotous mobs.

From now on, and if this is the Kaiser's and the Chancellor's wish, I will refrain from such actions.

It seemed to me that our treasury had a great need of cash and I, in my simple ways, tried to help with that cause.

[Ramses II CP]

I will not restrain commanders in the field from taking such actions as they believe are necessary to ensure success. That includes sacking cities, executing our enemies in cold blood, and roughly handling rebels or other malcontents who may be nominally German citizens. It takes a firm hand to lead unruly people (continuing under his breath) ...and unruly nobles.

That being said, I do recommend against sacking cities that were formerly a part of the Reich and still have large populations of Germans. Hugo de Cervole will suffer no rebuke from me for his daring assaults on Paris or Rheims, but I will ask that Bruges and Caen be occupied peacefully if you believe that such will not hinder your operations in the field.

I suppose I should take sniping between houses over the reclamation of territory as a healthy, positive sign. Even so, there is ample room for Swabia and Bavaria to both advance together without spite.

Fritz von Kastilien

[FactionHeir]

Well said Fritz!

[AussieGiant]

I'm sure no one will mind me "staking" the Hungarian's in Zagreb for as long as it take to line the road from there to Budapest.

[gibsonsg91921]

No, friend Arnold. In fact, I encourage such behavior!

[AussieGiant]

Arnold

That is good to here my Kaiser.

Chancellor,

I'm concerned about the second Hungarian force lead by one of their nobles. It seems to be heading towards the Reich's interior. If I stray to far north I believe Ragusa maybe exposed.

What are your thoughts?

Once I've dealt with Zagreb I would like a strong contingent of professional regiments separated from the 2nd AHA and sent north to Johann. I will then return to Ragusa and replace those regiments with fresh one's...the lack of experience will be addressed in due course.

Are those Knights in Ragusa heading north also?

[Ramses II CP]

Indeed Duke Arnold, the cavalry from Ragusa (Sure that's what you meant, the Citadel) was added to your army as well as the catapults.

[AussieGiant]

Yes that is what I meant to say Lord Chancellor.

Do you have any opinion on the Hungarian force?

This offensive season is a #+%"ing frustrating endeavor Chancellor!! While offensive actions are taking place left right and centre, I'm spending my time trying not to kill any of the local population in Zagreb!!

[AussieGiant]

Duke Arnold

And while I'm here Chancellor, I'd like you to ask the Imperial Heraldry Office to cease changing my £$"£$ing name ever second year.

Inspiring, Cruel, Merciless, Mighty, Infrantryman!! It's turning into a bloody joke down here.

I've had every name under the god damn sun and there seems no end in sight!!

[TinCow]

Duke Arnold, I share your concern. Over the past few years, I heard my men calling me, in turn, the Merciless, the Mauler, and now the Mighty. The second one was my favorite, and it is a shame that I no longer hear it. Let us just hope that do not start calling either of us "the Ponce."

[Ramses II CP]

Noble lords, as you might be able to tell from my own shifting nicknames, this is a matter quite beyond my control. Your Chancellor can only do so much.

[Zim]

A letter arrives from Outremer

Nikosia has been captured. Some of the Greek engineers taken prisoner have told me that they developed a smaller firearm suitable for use on horseback. Such cavalry can now be recruited in Nikosia. I have been away from Germany a long time, and am not sure if such technology is in use there already. If not, I think we should start taking advantage of it. I am hoping this will give us a new counter to those damnable horsearchers so common here in Outremer.

I have included a sketch showing the equipment of one of these new "reiters",

Andreas von Salzgitter

[Ramses II CP]

Mmm, indeed, the facility at Palermo is capable of training such, but they have seen limited use thus far in the field. I believe Prinz Dieter used some in his march north, and I have just ordered some into the Bavarian theatre, but their addition could prove quite useful in Outremer as well. I will train a company of them, along with some heavy infantry, for you at Nicosia Count von Salzgitter.

The offensive season is closed!

I note that Count Erlach has been moved into siege of Genoa (TC?) and that the Byzantines remain in position facing the Kaiser. I am frustrated that they remain, but I will attempt to position the Kaiser's army and Duke Steffen's forces so that they could potentiall aid in an assault on Genoa or in an attack on those Byzantines next season.

Also I will be moving forward with the planned motions in Swabia, sending Count Ruppel west to hold the river crossing, and Sir von Luxemburg north towards Rheims.

Sir de Cervole you will get another chance at Caen in the near future, but for now I will send you north to reinforce Count von Bohmen.

Duke Dieter you will be marched into the forest southeast of Madgeburg. Tancred will remain at the citadel.

Any other business of consequence? Make yourself heard if you have specific requests!

edit: Oh, and Duke Arnold will move to hold the bridge east of Zagreb.

Fritz von Kastilien

[_Tristan_]

I didn't expect to go so fast and I would like to be sent west and in hiding in the woods south of Caen

[OverKnight]

Chancellor, what is to be done about the Greek threat against Adana? Am I to proceed to the Citadel, or send a unit of horsemen ahead and lead the relief force which would arrive next year?

[Ramses II CP]

Sir de Cervole there are now two vast and experienced armies near enough to strike Antwerp, the one at Bruges and another southwest of that city. I fear our chance to strike Caen was lost this season when the French lined the road there. I too would prefer to be on an offensive footing, but Count von Bohmen and the city of Antwerp may need your aid. (Deguerra is out of town and unable to fight, so I need an active commander there. You won't be far out of range of Caen, we'll get you there, and if, as I hope, they attack the bridge you'll have a great chance to put a bloody massacre on the French.)

Viceroy Matthias my preference is for you not to enter the citadel of Adana. Given the scaricity of commanders on the ground in Outremer it is much preferable to risk that facility rather than risk our Viceroy. I have moved a few small companies into the citadel and you will lead the relief force. A small blocking force will remain at the Iron bridge, but most of the men will march with you.

Fritz von Kastilien

[AussieGiant]

Duke Arnold

While the new Reiters certainly have a nice ring to their name, they are ungodly expensive and I find they do not shoot well once you've shoved an 18 foot lance up their arse!! I suggest we concentrate on Canon as far as gunpowder regiments are concerned. Those unholy artillerymen are some of the best killers I've ever encountered!!

And your quite right Lothar...Mauler was one of the better names I've heard.

I just wonder which complete £$"%wit, in the Imperial Heraldry Office makes up these god awful names!!??

It really is quite frustrating. It's as if the bastard has nothing better to do that draw a wage and make totally preposterous shiet up!!

In fact, it would be all "fine and dandy" but the bloody bastard seems to have the ability to influence the entire god damn world.

It's not as if it's an isolated incident, if you know what I mean...

One moment I'm walking along the peer in Ragusa with some bright young tart on my arm, telling her all about Arnold the bloody Inspiring...and by Geroge did that moniker get me some crumpet!!

Then all of a sudden I'm Arnold the god damn Cruel!! Of course then I go through total £$^£ing purgatory for about 18 months. Not a single woman would even consider talking to me...then, all of a sudden I'm back in the good books because some small snotty nose kid runs up and says;

"Oh look mummy there's Arnold the Mighty!"

Then wham!!

I'm back "ON IT" boy's. I've got "MYLF's" all over me! I can't even get one night alone just to settle my thoughts, there's more rodgering going on that a rabbit burrow on weekends...

of course then the bastard decides I'm Merciless....at this point I nearly go off the deep end and simply throw myself at a line of Hungarian spears!! Luckily Grom and Bane pull me out of that depressing idea just in time to find myself now as "The Infantryman!"

The Infantryman!? On what £$%^£$ing planet does this guy get his £$%ing material from?? I mean seriously...Infantryman...I've been riding a horse since I was four and suddenly this total twat in Nuremberg decides I'm Arnold the Infantryman...what in the "wide world of medieval sport's" is going on here!!??

What's even worse now is that Infantryman gets me no women and embarrassingly it's a totally underwhelming title on the battle field...

I'm stuck half way between pulling hot foreign Diplomat wives and being so totally intimidating that now I'm neither!!!

£$^% me with a barge poll!! I need a drink!!

[TinCow]

Chancellor,

I stand ready to take the field against both the Byzantines and French next year. I swore that Bavaria would be the first Duchy to liberate all of her lands, and I will not back down from that statement. The Byzantines will be destroyed once and for all and Genoa will be recaptured immediately afterwards.

Regarding Count Erlach, I did not give him any orders to besiege Genoa. He must have made that decision on his own, for he is a bold commander. (OOC: I saw that when I loaded up the save for my battle. I thought you moved him there, because I didn't.)

[Ramses II CP]

OOC: Hrm, if I did it was not deliberate. I did consider moving forward with that siege, and decided against it due to the Byzantines, though I moved your cannon into range of Genoa. Unless someone else wants to fess up to goofing off with the save, assume it was a Chancellor's error and accept my apologies. Gibosn is still on reserve duty, so I relieved him of his command and ensconsed him in Bologna for the time being.

Has anyone heard from Stuperman lately? I don't want to delay the defensive season 48 hours for a battle that almost certainly needs to be a withdrawal and may, in fact, be my own screwup.

[Zim]

He's on active duty, but hasn't been online in over a week.

Has anyone heard from Stuperman lately? I don't want to delay the defensive season 48 hours for a battle that almost certainly needs to be a withdrawal and may, in fact, be my own screwup.

[Ramses II CP]

OOC: Okay, unless there are some objections I'm going to do the obvious thing in ~ an hour (After dinner) and withdraw Count Erlach from this battle so we can proceed.

[Ramses II CP]

Nobles of the Reich! Pope Pierus the Missionary has approached me about a matter of great importance. He believes the French King may have fallen afoul of an especially persuasive heretic, and may even be placing the immortal souls of all of his subjects at risk. With this in mind the Pope has asked that the Reich consider a French Crusade with the goal being none other than the wholesale elimination of the nation of France and the incorporation of her people into the Reich.

Considering the method of his appointment you can see how our influence with the Pope is very great, and I do not believe he will call for a crusade without our approval. This is not a decision for the Chancellor alone. I would like to hear from everyone on this matter!

My own opinion is that this opportunity is too great to be passed up. As usual the Papacy will provide funds to support troops involved in the crusade, which could greatly improve our financial situation. The Swabians are, if I may say so, as pious and chivalrous a collection of nobles as currently exists in any house, and well deserving to answer God's call to war. Additionally the Pope has made it known that he is not considering any Muslim cities for Crusades, and so no advantage is at stake in Outremer.

What say you?

Fritz von Kastilien

OOC: We have the option to declare a crusade for any French city, and the Pope will agree. The Swabians are some of our most chivalrous characters, so I see nothing inappropriate in their benefiting from a crusade. There would be no question of abusing the crusade mechanic, obviously, but this is a chance to increase interest again and maybe spark some controversy as well. What say you?

In particular I'd like the old hands who really 'own' KotR to speak up about it.

[gibsonsg91921]

Nuts to the Pope! We'll kill the French because we want to, not because some zealot tells us to!

[GeneralHankerchief]

Herrmann Steffen:

Kaiser, the point is that we will have the backing of outside influence, something which we have been dearly lacking for a great many years. I for one would appreciate the benefit of the faithful soldiers who would not otherwise fight for us.

I know that Count de Cervole will certainly embark on this mission. I will also volunteer my services in hopes that we cut a wide swath through France and continue to make matters worse for them.

[AussieGiant]

Duke Arnold

$%^$ it, if the god damn French want to get themselves excommunicated then lets rip the bastards a new one!!

Free troops for everyone!! Good god men, what else could we ask for.

I say "call the ball" and lets kick some frog arse!!

I'm tempted to join in actually.

[FactionHeir]

If a crusade were called, I would take up arms in the name of God and strike down our worthless foes.

[Warluster]

Chancellor; I encourage this much; such a Crusade will enable so many oppurtunities! It benefits us so much; troops the cost of armor, permission to give the French the lesson they deserve. Any such Crusade and I shall join!

I say we fight! Fight for the freedom fo our nation!

This last bit was seeminlgy yelled as the Duke jumped enthusaiasticlly up. A unknown Knight tugged him down and the Duke was tkane outside for several minutes before being brought back in.

[_Tristan_]

Lord Chancellier,

I will take up arms in the name of our Lord if only to prove true to my vows as a Templar...

If the French are the target of such a holy war, I will join gladly...

I would suggest Caen or Rennes as target the better to drive the nail into the French coffin...

[FactionHeir]

I would suggest our crusade be called on Bordeaux. It is as deep in the heart of France as we can get and will allow us to attack their frontlines from within, pinning them down from both sides.