Imperial Diet VII

[Zim]

A letter arrives from Outremer.
Fellow Electors,

I have tried not to get involved, as the issues involved took place long before my joining this assembly, but I am beginning to become worried over the progress of this investigation. When I first heard of it, I thought it was a folly that could possibly plunge our nation into another civil war, but I understood the motive behind it. Whether the accusation is true or false, it is best to determine it now, and not let old wounds fester. However, the investigation is going on a decade now with no results one way or another.

I do not presume to question the loyalty of Edmund Becker, a man who has sacrificed much for the Reich and his city of Prague. However, I fear recent events have been depriving him of the time neccessary to carry on the investigation in a timely way. Therefore I offer my services to aid in the investigation. Between campaign seasons I can return to Germany to help with the investigation, and even during the season when I'm in Outremer I can review documents for the case.

If it please the Diet, I would help with this task,

Andreas von Salzgitter

[Ramses II CP]

A stable Reich must stand atop a stable base, one composed of just men and good rulers, ready to sacrifice their own blood to advance the cause of the nation. If there are snakes in the base, men who would press their own interests over those of the nation, they must be struck from that place before the nation on which they rest can be stable. It has never been a secret that I found Siegfried's policies badly mistaken, but what other course was there than to argue with him, debate with him, and try to sway him to see righteousness?

A stable Reich will require that this issue before us be settled, and quickly, so that the nobles of this great land can complete the dominance of Europe which we have begun to recover under myself and my brother.

I will concede that honor is not the Reich's first concern, but if we become a nation without honor, a people without justice, we will surely lose God's favor and be destined to fall.

Count von Salzgitter I would find your presence at the trial a comfort. You appear, to my eyes, insulated well enough to render a capable verdict. Just be wary of undue influence from some members of this body, and do not let Becker drag this on too long.

Fritz von Kastilien

[TinCow]

Count von Salzgitter,

I thank you for your offer, but I see no need to proclaim a substitute at the moment. Count Becker has vowed to move this trial forwards, and both sides in this... dispute... have previously agreed that he was a good candidate for the position. It would be unjust to remove him from his role at this point in time. I am certain that he will come to the proper decision eventually and he need not be pushed on the matter.

[Cecil XIX]

Villains, the whole lot of you! Is this what the Reich is to be? Are these the two options we must choose from?

On the one hand we have a secret society, which was content to rule the Empire without anyone’s knowledge. Now they spout pretty–sounding words about republics and freedom. How convenient. Tell me, how long has this cabal existed? Certainly at least since the Cataclysm. And after all that time this is the first you’ve said of it? Half of what you proposed could be implemented via Charter Amendment, but you didn’t even try. After all, why bother with a real legislative body when you can just create your own?

And then you have the temerity to insist you admit members only on the basis of merit. Might I ask whose definition of merit you are using? Forgive me, but I can hardly consider a group who approved the escalation of Swabia’s insurrections to be a reliable source on merit. What’s worse is how you then describe that all members are admitted only by unanimous vote.

This may come as a shock to some of you, but all these arguments we’ve had over the years are the signs of a [i]healthy/[i] system. What in Damnation do you call a republic made up entirely of like-minded people? I should think “Holy Roman Oligarchy” would be a better name for your little project, but that doesn’t sound quite as noble does it?

A secret organization which has never shown respect for the Reich’s laws and has even fermented Civil War between Electors is not fit to rule the Rich.

The von Kastilien brothers are no better. If I say fewer words about them then forgive me, for unlike the Illuminati they have never felt the need to hide their nefariousness and as a result much has already been said about them. Indeed, the four of them have never had any use for laws, morals, or anything that could give them pause. They have always believed that their actions are justified simply by virtue of being theirs.

The von Kastiliens have the law on their side for now, but that will change. Peter and Fritz will use their positions for whatever suits them to win this crisis, but it will not stop there. Any extralegal power they seize will not be given up, for they lack the good Roman qualities to even consider voluntarily g giving up power.

Electors, I refuse to make a choice between dictatorship & oligarchy. I urge those who care about the Reich to ignore this petty squabble and concentrate on matters that are important, such as ensuring the safety & prosperity of our people, for that is how we are able to justify the Reich’s existence.

No one else should risk their life & property, or those of their men, to help either side. They have proven themselves to be unworthy of their positions.

[Warluster]

I shall not stand for this blasphemy!

I hereby shall support the Kaiser in his campaign to rid the Reich of disloyal blood. I will kill if every scum; as I have been trying to uncover those $%^ing Illumanti for a bloody 2o years.

Kaiser; I will aid you in any battle against these traitors.

I also announce any man helping the Illumanti will be banished from the House of Swabia forever. We shall not stand to have those who go against tradition.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Herrmann Steffen:

Count Becker:

The consistent arguing may be a sign of a healthy system, but it is the supression of argument that we are against. It is the supression of argument that has occurred all too often.

How many times has the Kaiser ignored the Will of the Diet to do his own thing, no matter the cost to the rest of the Reich? After Peter's latest "speech" essentially dissolving all form of deliberation, I've lost count, but I can think of one other instance:

Re-unification.

Ring a bell?

Kaiser Siegfried IGNORED the will of the Diet, ignored the calls to stop the nonsense, ignored the pleas for reason. He instead kept charging his horse right into the spearwall, mainly because he had already begun the charge and he thought it would be foolish to break off course. Had Siegfried von Kastilien listened to the Diet, the entire Cataclysm and all of its effects would have been averted.

That is what we are aiming to prevent. That is what we stand for.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Herrmann Steffen:

Tradition, Duke von Salza? Is that why you fight?

The only tradition here is the abuse of power by men who earned none of it in the first place. This tradition is so corrupt and evil that I suppose many of us simply take the fact that the Kaiser is repressing his subjects for granted.

If that's what you mean by tradition, I fail to see why it's worth fighting for.

[AussieGiant]

Arnold:

Nice middle ground Becker. Petty squabble you say. Why DON'T you actually look outside the walls of Prague for once.

THIS IS NOT a petty squabble. The entire Empire is involved Becker...if you can't see that then you truly are isolated from reality.

You've conveniently boxed things to suit your agenda and describing a Republic as an Oligarchy is ridiculous. My first point would be to ask why the words Republic and Oligarchy exist if in fact that are the same thing as you suggest.

As for the mechanisms the Order has used to reach this point, then again we have remained behind the scene's because our ideals would NEVER have been attainable if we had simply stated them in the beginning. The Order was secret and now it is not. It was secret for a number of obvious reasons and I'm sure you can work those out.

You said to me all those years ago that you lost faith in the system...I tried to tell you that is was the Kaiser's you should lose faith in not me. That seemed to strike a cord with you...now I'm asking you what your alternative is then!!??

Simply denouncing both sides without proposing your own idea smacks of weakness and certainly is not going to help the people you apparently represent. Standing on the side lines while the greatest event of this Reich's recent history unfolds around you does reflect well in my view.

It's also good to see the slumbering von Salza stagger in this chamber, pull his pants down and try and rodger the nearest Royalist in the room.

Well done sir!!