Imperial Diet

[GeneralHankerchief]

Elector Conrad, I believe you yourself proposed the edicts which was a mandate for me not to conquer the parts of Italy and the east of the Adriatic that were to go to Austria.

Please do not go proposing edicts which deny your House territory and then complain that the Kaiser is not allocating that same House territory in the lands that he is forbidden to conquer.

[Ituralde]

Conrad von Schüsselen is shaking slightly and take several deep breaths. With control regained he rises and faces Emperor Heinrich:

I beleive you are referring to Edict 2.4, which merely states that we should not break agreements sealed by our word. Once the Venetians greed grows too strong and they attack us, I'd be last to oppose their complete annihilation and you should know that.

His frustration seems to have risen once more and he opens the mouth as though to speak further before closing it again.

I have nothing more to say on these matters.

He casts glances to his own Liege and the Dukes of Bavaria and surprisingly also Franconia, before returning to his seat.

[OverKnight]

Otto looks up at the mention of Bologna, he appears to have been studying a map. Rolling it up he stands and addresses the Diet:

My lords. Let me first reiterate that Bavaria is grateful for the gift of Bologna. I will not have others imply that we are not!

Otto turns his head to stare briefly at Conrad von Schusslen.

Perhaps we were surprised by the gift, but we were not ungrateful.

Otto pauses, tapping the rolled up map against his hand.

The question of "where do we go from here?" has been asked in this Assembly. The Diet wisely chose to subjugate rebel holdings before moving on to our more powerful neighbors. Soon, however, that work will be complete. What then? Before I answer let me show you this map:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...870_Europe.jpg

This, fellow Electors, was the division of the Empire by the sons of Louis the Pious. After the death of their father they fell upon each other and the great empire of Charlemagne, father of Louis, which stretched from the Pyrenees to the Oder, was divided and lost. Eventually most of the Italian holdings were reunified with the Kingdom of Germany, and that is the Holy Roman Empire today.

What I propose is that we return the Empire to its former Glory! That we return to the golden age of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor! That we take our rightful place as the leaders of Europe!

Otto pauses to draw a breath, and his voice returns to a calmer tone.

It is a very noble goal, but how do we do it? First, we must finish our consolidation of the rebel lands. Second, we must improve our standing with the Pope so that we may move unhindered against our fellow Catholics. Third, we must increase the size and quality of our military. Then, and only then, can we begin to take back our greater Reich!

The first move should be against Milan. As many of us have said, they have defied our authority for too long! We would be able to pin them between our forces in Italy and, I hope, our forces in Bern. We would take Dijon last so that the forces gathered there could continue on the next step, the conquest of France!

This will prove more difficult. I am under no illusions that what I propose will be easy. But with Dijon and Metz as bridgeheads we could launch a two pronged attack against them. Perhaps an alliance could be sought with England? Though that would leave Caen to them. Either way, with the men in this room I have no doubt we will be successful!

Ah, but I can hear our good Duke of Franconia ask, what of Antwerp? That will be our third step, war with Denmark. The taking of Antwerp will be the primary goal, with Jutland a target of opportunity. Granted it was not a historical part of the Reich but we must, at the minimum, mortally wound the Danes.

Otto rolls up the map.

What say you mein Kaiser and Lords of the Reich? This endeavor will be a hard, long struggle. I am not sure if I will be alive to see its completion. I realize no plan lasts beyond contact with the enemy, but it is a good frame to build upon. Shall we take our destiny? Shall we return the Reich to glory and dominion? I say yes!

Otto sits and awaits the reaction of the Diet.

OOC: Edited to substitute Oder for Danube.

[Braden]

Leopold, enters the chambers. As last time, clearly tired and dirty from the road.

I apologise for my appearance, but I feel I must do my utmost to attend as much of the Diet proceedings that I can whilst my forces besiege Prague.

Otto, I am indeed heartened by your proposal. I feel it is a pious and righteous goal for us in this room to work towards regardless of status. Perhaps we should all leave tonight and consider how best to achieve this goal, what armies we will need and how we must build our infrastructure to finance this worthy aim.

For my part, I have not been made to believe I have “failed” my father in not taking Prague immediately! On that point though I will have to say that the time when we will storm it is close, re-enforcements are nearly with my men and I grow confident that we will be victorious soon.

Conrad, please make note that certain “negotiations” are underway between Austria and other noble houses as to the outcome of our inevitable victories in the East but I strongly feel that the House of Austria will rise soon. We are without a Castle of our own, that is true but, as I have told you before, Vienna will be the “coin of the Reich” and we must work to further that aim for now.

With me I have the requirements for Vienna’s next building requirements and will hand them to my father shortly.

[Lucjan]

Dietrich sits, a wild smirk on his face. He's amused by something, but before he starts dully clapping his hands together it isn't quite clear what.

"A gracious attempt at peering into my head brother Otto, but a failed one." He says, standing. "It is firmly in my belief that, as a newly resurgent power, we are at this point our most vulnerable. While the ideas proposed by Bavaria are ambitious, and not without merit, I believe they are perhaps too ambitious, to the point where they put the Reich in more danger than good. No amount of florins could cast the Pope's eyes away from our engagement in a three front war against three fellow Christian kingdoms. And even if it could, it could not do so and still leave us with a single florin for our armies."

Dietrich stands upright pointing a finger towards the sky. "While God sits upon the golden throne in Heaven, we have charged ourselves with the task of taking up the mantle of his representatives on Earth! Some would charge us with rebuilding old dreams, rebuilding old empires, trying to ressurect the history of Charles the Hammer and make it our own. I would disagree. With the world we live in today, that is not possible."

Stepping down from the Franconian side of the diet he begins to walk, slowly, full circle around the diet floor, staring into the eyes of each and every diet member he passes as he speaks. "This plan would charge us with rebuilding an empire that disintegrated of its own volition, because of its own petty bickering and squabbles. You can point to the goodness and the grandeur of Charlse's Empire until you're blue in the face, but that does not change the fact that it was an empire that fell! Do you really want to model our resurgant strength after a kingdom that is historied to have fallen to petty infighting and domestic squabbles? I for one do not."

He stops, planting his hands on the desk in front of Prinz Henry and staring him in the face. "Brother, it is your father that begins our reconstruction, you who will carry it on, and your seed who will see us into the future! Shall you have us follow the course of fallen kingdoms and try to replicate the past, or will you help push us to a better future? A future where the world knows the Reich as the undeniable voice of God and the seat of Heaven on Earth, or will you let an attachment to nostalgia and falsely named "good old days" guide us to yet another loop in history's vicious cycle?"

Quickly stepping back and stopping in the center of the room, looking all around, he casts an open palm towards Bavaria. "This noble house has good intentions, and ambitious thoughts, but opening a book whose end has already been written to try and rewrite a few pages does not, in my eyes, deem itself to be the right path for the Reich, for us, for our posterity, for our history, or for our God!"

Falling silent for a moment, he looks around the room, taking note of the expressions on people's faces and the murmurs between electors. "I make my case now!" Dietrich, lowering his arms back down to his sides, begins to take on a much more somber tone. "First things first. The investiture crisis has left the Reich alone in it's feelings of being the rightful voice of the Lord. This new Papal authority holds absolute reign over the morale and religious values of the Christian world. No man here in his right mind can deny we have lost that power.

Secondly, we are an empire surrounded by Christians, who, should we take to offence too greatly for the Pope's comfort, will bear no qualms or pities for us in the event of an excommunication. We are all familiar with what happened during the last one. We are only now recovering the territory we lost to the rebellions, are only now beginning to make attempts at stabilising our Papal relations, and are only now beginning to come to grips with what to do in regards to our former territories that have declared themselves their own sovereign states altogether.

We cannot afford another excommunication, lest all of Christendom look to the center of the world, look to us, and raise their sword with vengeful hate for the atrocities they will claim we have committed against the followers of God.

Furthermore, we are the namesake of Rome, not Rome itself. Rome, and later Charles's empires had one great benefit in common. Their greatest enemies were far from powerful, unified states of equal size and power, and far more along the lines of disorganised, petty, infighting tribes, clans and fiefdoms. We have already seen this point in our history. We have conquered the neighboring rebels, the fractured people whose inclusion into the Reich makes for us the foundation of this new empire. Now we must discuss how to deal with the actual challenges that threaten us in this world. The world is a very, very different place than it used to be, than it was in our ancestors times. Our neighbors are strong, they are unified, they are rich, and they are every bit as cunning and courageous as we are.

I propose instead not to lay out overly grandiose visions for a future reminiscent of the past, and instead make our own future. I suggest we pave the way for a new Reich in the manner of a wise empire. Be patient, make plans, but do not overestimate ourselves, and take our oppertunities when they present themselves. Already there is talk of conquering all of Italy and all of France, and turning on the Danes in the meantime. But the fact stands that the vast majority of our men have barely a shield and the shirts on their backs to call armor. How are men such as this supposed to stand up the thundrous charge of mailed knights or repel an arrow with mere flesh and bone? How do we fund such campaigns when already our economy looks bleak due to underdevelopment of our infrastructure and trade?"

There is a stern look on Dietrich's face as he walks slowly back to his seat. "I must urge this diet to do one thing, as it considers what direction to take in regards to the future of the Reich.

Let wisdom guide you, and let your passion push you onward. Do not sail blindly into the sea with the most glorious looking ship at dock only to discover once you've set sail that the hull is incomplete, and you're taking on water before you've even left the port.

The next many, many years will be years of actions and reactions, by both our neighbors and by us. So think hard, and think clearly about what place you will hold in the Reich's history ten years from now, and what tragedy you can avoid by making wisdom the order of the day where brazen and thoughtless impulse would bring us shame.

I want to see this Reich begin its journey from the start with strong men, and strong council. To let blind ambition tear it apart in its infancy would be to deny our people their rightful heritage, their rightful place in the world. We have been denied this twice already when Charles's empire splintered and again with the Investiture crisis. I will not see us denied our place in the world a third time.

This is our heritage.

This is our birthright!"

With that, Dietrich ends his speach, empassioned and pleased with the points of patience, wisdom and oppertunity that he advocated throughout the rather lengthy oration.

[OverKnight]

Otto's expression becomes increasingly stern during Dietrich's speech. He makes a notation or two on a piece of parchment and then stands. Otto speaks in a voice void of its usual enthusiasm:

I would hear from the rest of the Diet on the plan I proposed, if they wish to speak, so I may respond to all comments at one time. Thank you my lords.

Otto sits.

[Kagemusha]

Fifth Elector of Swabia stands up and speaks:

"We welcome the words of Dietrich as true and just.If we are to stand above other Nations,the visions of the past and ambitions of Glory should have no place in our minds. As if we were building a castle.First we have to lay down strong foundation,then we can start building walls and towers that touch the sky. The Reich should not be a terrible Empire that sweeps over the land and puts all nations under its boot. Rather it should be the glorious beacon of light among christian nations,which all others look in awe and amazement.Let us leave the ambitions and agressive politics to lesser Nations and let them also be struck down becouse of those errors in their ways. "

Swabian Elector sits down on his place.

[Lucjan]

The words of the Swabian elector are welcome. The Reich will be leader of the Christian faith, and will be the most powerful empire in the world, but it will not be so by playing the role a blatant aggressor. We must take our time and act prudently. The glory of this Reich will surpass anything we have seen in the past, but not by modeling ourselves on the past. Why take to blatant aggression and be hated by our people and deplored by our foes? We can choose our battles wisely, pick our enemies cautiously, and instead be respected by our people and feared by those who would wish us harm. Do not forget, when dealing with an enemy, hatred will embolden him, but fear will make him cower.

Dietrich looks to the Bavarian electors. You are as much a part of this diet as I or any other man here, and for that I respect you. So speak your mind good electors, do you agree?

[TinCow]

Maximillian Mandorf nods to the Duke and rises. He stands in contemplation for several seconds before beginning.

I see wisdom in the words of both Elector von Kassel and Duke von Saxony. It does not seem to me that either of their plans is wrong nor in fact that they are even opposed to each other. Perhaps my perception of the situation would aid in a more agreeable view on the matter.

First, it is undeniable that the lands of which Elector von Kassel speaks rightfully belong to the Reich. We are the rightful heirs of Charles the Hammer, who was himself the rightful heir of the Roman Empire. Those Byzantine fops proclaim their own rights to the title, but they have inherited nothing both togas and decadence. The greatness of Caesar’s Empire lay in Rome and the western territories. We are the western territories. Though we have lost control over many of the provinces, our ordained rights to them have never ceased.

Some territories, like Milan, have recently rebelled against us and our right to them cannot be questioned. Others, such of England, have been lost to the Roman people for many ages. Indeed, the only lands to the west or south which we cannot lay valid claim to are those held by the Scots! All others are splinters of the Roman Empire. Do not forget that the title held by the noble Heinrich is that of the Roman Emperor himself. He is Kaiser because he is the rightful heir of Caesar. It is because of this very reason that he enjoys the divine right of Papal confirmation! That right was given to the Roman people, of which he is the supreme embodiment. We have lost Rome, we have lost many of the territories, but we remain Romans by right to this day! We have every right to reclaim our lands.

That said, it is also undeniable that there would great opposition to the Kaiser’s authority amongst our neighbors. Simply having hereditary rights does not endow the ability to enforce them. Accordingly, Duke von Saxony’s caution is prudent and should be respected. The great Augustus was not afraid to recognize the limitations of his power, nor should we be. War on three fronts would bring devastation to our lands.

Milan is rightfully ours and this cannot be disputed. I do not doubt that the Usurper in Rome will agitate against such a move, but those lands belonged to us not long before our last meeting in this very room! The only people who do not remember our rule in Genoa and Milan are babes, not yet able to take up arms. No just reason can be given to oppose our authority on these lands. The Milanese will certainly fight, but our liberation of those lands from the blasphemous bankers is assured once it begins.

Once these lands are consolidated and are again loyal to the Kaiser, we can turn our attention to our other lost provinces. We all know the Usurper will force all of Christendom to oppose us if we go against those who bend knee to him. So, Rome itself must be the first of the provinces we reclaim! This would also surely result in opposition or perhaps even war with some of our neighbors, but Gregory would soon lie dead and with him the Papal authority to oppose us. If we were then to assert our rights, put an approved man on the throne, and relocate the Papacy to an area deep in our homelands, we would surely have the proper Papal blessings for our future plans.

If the Diet is worried about war on multiple fronts, let us make good friends with the Dutch and the French! Let us send money to them to ensure the security of our borders, rather than funding the Antipope. Surely they would not attack close friends, even if they were encouraged by Rome. Besides, any monies sent to these areas would be used for improvements that would be ours eventually anyway! I do not believe such a course of action is necessary, but it is an option that should at least be considered. Indeed, we could even attempt to cause discord amongst the ‘Kings’ who control our provinces. If Denmark and France were pre-occupied with England, they would be of little threat to us.

We are Romans by all the rights of man and God, my lords. We should not forget this. It would be a noble and virtuous thing to reclaim the provinces lost to us for so long. Yet, such an endeavor will require much planning, more time, even more money, and vast amounts of blood. We should proceed slowly and with caution, striking when we are strong and using diplomacy when we are weak.

[Ituralde]

Loud clapping can be heard at the end of Mandorfs speech emenating from the ranks of the House of Austria.

"Wise words, Duke Mandorf, wise words. I have to agree with them completely!"

[OverKnight]

Otto can be seen scribbling furiously on some parchment. He had looked up when Maximillian addressed the Diet, and his eyes widened when the Bavarian Steward mentioned taking Rome. Otto places his quill down, stands and speaks to the Diet:

My fellow Electors, I apologize for my delay in my response, but I wish to speak as clearly as possible, and it took me several drafts of this speech to do so.

First, I will respond to the comments on my proposal to reunite the Reich. Duke von Saxony has implied that I would immediately send an unprepared army out on a fool's quest and then we would all be excommunicated. Let me respond by quoting from my original speech:

It is a very noble goal, but how do we do it? First, we must finish our consolidation of the rebel lands. Second, we must improve our standing with the Pope so that we may move unhindered against our fellow Catholics. Third, we must increase the size and quality of our military. Then, and only then, can we begin to take back our greater Reich!

These were the goals I set before we began reunification, this noble task would not start until they had been accomplished, I set no time frame. As for whether there are florins enough to have the Pope "indulge" us, I think there will be.

The Duke also mentions a "three front war". This is inaccurate. What I proposed was a series of one front wars, Milan, then France, then Denmark. Not all at once.

As for the accusations of nostalgia and raising lost empires. . .

Otto pauses, some of the restraint he has shown dissipates.

There are dreams worth rebuilding my Lord! There are Reichs that should come again! Maximillian speaks true, Milan is only recently lost to us, but should it always be so? The Capetian usurpers reign in France, with not one drop of Carolingian blood in their veins, should we allow this to stand because it has already come to pass? The Danes have taken Flanders in the last few years, should we let them tread upon our ancestral lands because they have the most recent claim? I say no!

The unified Empire fell not because of a military defeat but because Louis the Pious had three sons! The old Franks did not practice primogeniture as we do. Kingdoms were split among the sons, not inherited in full by the eldest.

Otto smiles sadly.

As a second son, I am regretfully aware of this change, but it is for the best. We shall not repeat that mistake. Our Reich shall not split. We shall not rebuild the old Empire, we will forge a stronger one!

Otto pauses again to collect himself.

You spoke well Duke von Saxony, but your wit was matched by your lack of specifics. How is this "new" Empire to work? What would be its goals? How would we accomplish them? Are we to sit within our realm until we are struck by our neighbors? . . .Yet, we both agree that the Reich must be readied before embracing its destiny, however we view it. Perhaps I speak too harshly. I apologize.

Otto turns to face the Steward of Bavaria

The audacity of what you propose in seizing Rome is breath taking my Lord! I know that Pope Gregory humiliated our Kaiser, making him stand in the snow clad only in a hair shirt for four days, just to gain admittance to see him and beg forgiveness, and that act of hubris sickens me! Yet, if we move against him the price will be high, very high. Even if we do put a pontiff more to our liking in power, they are rarely grateful for long. This is just one mortal man, powerful as he may be! Unless he provokes us with a new act, let him rot in the Lateran palace.

Thank you my lords.

Otto sits.

OOC: Edited for grammar and spelling.

[Lucjan]

There is a smile on Dietrich's face, he doesn't bother standing this time, he just speaks.

"You're counter arguments are well made and take the facade of direct rebutal to my statements, which would, to many men who could not look more directly into the nature of the rebutal themselves, seem a successful maneuver."

He stares at the elector for a moment.

"You have good potential to be a strong statesman, Otto, but maybe it is your youth that still troubles your understanding. Let me explain.

While you have, correctly, quoted yourself on your intention to consolidate our lost land, improve papal relations and the quality and size of our military before we embark on a reconquering of Charles's empire, you must understand the swiftness with such a task can be completed. Such a task could be easily completed within the next ten years, but, for the sake of arguement, let's make it twenty.

Assuming, in the next twenty years, we have accomplished these goals and then seek to retake Milan, there is a severe error in believing the world will not change around us. As I have stated, this is a whole new world than we've ever dealt with before. Times are changing, quickly. The world around us living, breathing, and reacting to every movement we make, the same way in which we react to every one of theirs. I leave you with this potential problem.

Firstly, we accomplish your goals within the next twenty years, the error there is that within the next twenty years, all of our neighbors will have done the exact same thing, and we stand to have no advantage over them that we did not have before. Then, secondly, we move on Milan. Where will the riches of Milan's trade routes have gotten them in twenty years? Far beyond the confines of northern Italy I'm sure, they already spread deep into the heart of Burgundy and the isles south of their mainland shore. But we attack them, regardless of their position in twenty years time. What happens then? If we score several successes, the Pope will see the tide coming, and will threaten us, if not outright declare, our excommunication. Excommunicated or not, Venice, the Pope, Sicily and France will directly stand to suffer from a stronger presence of the Reich in Italy. Venice, the Pope and Sicily being directly affected by our actions there, they stand to lose the most. If they feel threatened, they will strike when we are at our weakest, that point being immediately after our conquests, in the rebuilding process when our florins are diverted, our soldiers depleted, and our morale in that lingering state of relief that the battle has been won, but grief over the loss of so many friends. A war coming at this time against people previously assumed to be neutral, would be devastating to the resolve of our armies. Depleted regiments, defending battered cities, with no florins to spend on swift reinforcements, would be a disaster waiting to happen. You see, even in an intended "one front war", two or more fronts could swiftly open beside it. War is like a vacuum, it sucks everything in.

My ideas run contrary to yours only in that I believe we should be more careful and prudent in our choice of time and place to engage in foreign campaigns. Strike Milan when it's standing with the Pope is low, or excommunicated, hit them where they are weak or where we have superior strength and can stand to fight more enemies than we had initially prepared for. Do not overexpand too rapidly. Conquer, stabilise and rebuild, plan and reinforce, then move on.

You are also correct in saying that the Frankish Empire fell because Louis had three sons. Exactly as I said, it fell of its own volition. Louis chose to divide his empire, his sons chose to bicker and squabble over it. Louis's faith in his progeny was ill placed, and the empire fell of its own internal, familial squabbles. Brother no longer saw brother as brother, just as an unrightful neighbor. So, in this respect, are we not both correct?

You also said yourself, we will not rebuild an old empire, but a new one. Is this not what I have clearly proposed?

In regards to how this new reich will work and what its goals are, why change the workings and the goals from what they are now? I believe the intelligent debate that occurs in this diet is exactly the kind of debate that will be required to deliberate the runnings of a much larger empire, and why change our goal from being the leader of the Christian world? As far as accomplishing that goal I have already outlined that. Patience, prudence, wit and wisdom. Take our oppertunities when they present themselves, but don't go in over our heads.

As well, in speaking of the old Frankish lands. I have never said that these lands should not be taken into the fold of this new reich, only that when and if they are, it should be done as all our conquests should. Wisely. They are rich agricultural lands, and we will not be the only ones with our eyes on them.

The general reasoning for my urge towards caution and prudence is that we no longer have the safety Charles enjoyed. In his time there was no unified power in England, in Italy, in Iberia or in the east. We live now in a time where our actions can provoke an enemy on any potential corner of our borders, and in doing so, there is no guarantee that our expansion will swing one way or the other. It is entirely feasible that we may only ever retake a portion, or maybe none of Charles's old western lands, but may stretch across the whole of Italia and a conflict with Byzantium could arise out of our contradictory claims to the Roman title. Our resources could be sucked south, and our attentions focused in the Balkans instead. And then there is the holy land, which is sorely in need of being rescued from heretical control.

This talk of our expansion is, mind you, solely hypothesis and conjecture, they do not necessarily reflect my views or desires, but they are very real possibilities given the situations that can emerge.

It seems then, Otto, that the only point upon which we disagree is a definate goal for the reich's expansion. You say retake the old lands.

I say stick with prudence and take the circumstances as they come. We may well be able to retake Charles's lost lands, but we may also see an opening to expand into previously uncharted territory for the reich instead, and if that oppertunity arises we should take it, not ignore it in favor of throwing florins and lives away at a potentionally much more difficult undertaking.

My warning is much more of a deterrance to laying too many plans too early. For even the best laid plans last but a few seconds when the world is changing around us. Hopefully, now, you understand my original intentions."

[OverKnight]

Otto listens intently to Dietrich's speech. He mutters something under his breath, ". . .sounds like my father. . .", while he rises to speak:

Thank you for your response Duke von Saxony. I see your views more clearly now. I only hope that caution and wisdom do not turn into passivity and folly. I would not abandon the initiative to our neighbors, yet it would not hurt to watch and wait, for a while at least, for a moment of weakness.

As for being a statesman, God forbid! I would much rather have a sword in my hand and a saddle beneath me.

Otto chuckles to himself and sits.

[Lucjan]

Dietrich, still smiling, can't help but chuckle.

Brother Otto, what more is a statesman than a warrior who is also adept at wielding the quill? It's a compliment, trust me.

You'll have to forgive me if my speech sounds like a lecture, I was just trying to touch on all points.

As far as caution and wisdom turning into passivity and folly, well, even I have a more anxious sword arm than that. And I imagine we'll all be given the oppertunity to use them soon enough. Besides, it would make me a fool to do all this lecturing on striking only when the time is right, then watching that time arrive only to do nothing when it presents itself. You can trust the lust for valor and honor to get the better of me when the time is right, as I believe I can trust that from all of you.

Oh, and Otto, I hope this little misunderstanding wasn't taken too harshly. I will be looking forward to meeting you and Steward Mandorf in the near future.

[AussieGiant]

Gruß Gott Mein Kaiser, esteemed Lords of the Reich,

Due to a small administrative matter in Vienna during the week, I would like to introduce myself as the new 4th Elector for the House of Austria.

Unfortunately my predecessor Lothar von Austria has had to take an unexpected leave of absence.

So with those administrative duties completed I would like to echo my Liege Lords concerns regarding the east.

Without a regional castle in the near future, I fear for our ability to exert and maintain influence against the Poles, Viennese and Magyars will be tenuous at best.

With our expansion opportunities against rebel provinces now completely exhausted due to the Keiser confirming Breslau has fallen to the Polish, any further eastern expansion by the House of Austria will be at the expense of our neighbours. Doing this with Militia and peasant archers will not bring results in an offensive war.

Additionally if things turn defensive, I’d like to draw the gentlemen of this Council’s attention to the map on the wall behind us.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...ap/KOTR009.jpg

If you would please note the distances needed to rapidly respond to any future threat from our current castles in Innsbruck and Staufen…that is some distance is it not?

I am entirely sure Prince Leopold will capture Prague, however the fact that he needs to conduct an unorthodox assault should not be lost on anyone gathered here today. Some here have made remarks regarding the delay in taking Prague but, having read the reports I can only say Prince Leopold is an astute and gifted commander given the situation. The fact that rebel settlements are fielding superior troops must be of concern to all.

I realise the expense, but I believe we must seriously consider our general position on this matter. Most, if not all Houses have a regional castle…if we don’t pursue this in the east…then…well…lets just say property prices might start dropping in Vienna soon.

Given most of my esteemed colleagues here have summer holdings in wonderful Vienna, that can’t be good for anyone…can it?

I would propose a more aggressive covert solution for the moment. That being spies for the regions of Venice, Poland and Hungary. The border towers are excellent, but static. We would have a much better chance of responding both tactically and strategically if we knew more about our 3 eastern nations.

Finally, I’d like to commend the Kaiser on his selection of wine. It really is excellent here in the Diet, far superior to what I am used to in Vienna.

[OverKnight]

Otto looks up from desk and rises to answer the new Elector:

Greetings Fourth Elector of Austria, welcome to the Diet!

You raise a valid point, the closest Castle to Vienna and Prague, may God grant it to us, is Innsbruck. As Castellan of Innsbruck I can assure you that troops raised and armed there are available to the entire Empire, not just Bavaria. Even now we near completion of a Smithy, which will make the Sergeant Spearman we arm the finest foot soldiers in the Reich. Yes, they are few years march from your frontiers, but I'm sure the Kaiser will see to deploying them before they are needed. If we are caught flat footed, may I suggest we could recruit routiers, mercenaries, to fill the gaps until the Castle trained reinforcements arrived.

I know this is not an ideal solution for Austria, but the alternatives available are less desirable. Your House would be within it's rights to convert Vienna or Prague to a Castle. However, that new fortress would only be able to arm and recruit peasant rabble and a few knights until better quarters were built. Considering that spear militia from either city would be superior to peasants and that we would lose revenue from converting the Town, it would be a poor trade.

Other Castles in the area, such as Magdeburg, already belong to other powers as you pointed out. I would advise patience. It can be a bitter pill, but sometimes it is necessary. I'm sure the Kaiser has this situation well. . .

As Otto is speaking a messenger arrives in the Diet and runs up to him. They speak in urgent whispers. He claps the messenger on the shoulder and sends him running out of the chamber. Otto turns to address the Diet again:

Pardon me my lords, I must leave! The next time we meet I hope to give you good news! Farewell!

Otto turns and sprints out of the chamber yelling for his horse to be saddled.

[AussieGiant]

Greeting to you von Kassel, thank you for such a prompt response to my inquiry. Although, as you have now left and I am essentially speaking to a rapidly closing door, I'll address my follow up comments to the rest of you.

von Kassels words are both concerning and comforting.

I am greatly appreciative of his immediate support of troops should our eastern borders be threatened in anyway.

However he did say it would take “Years” for these troops to arrive…now that is sobering.

This is certainly not ideal for Austria as he has mentioned. Or might I add, for the Reich as a whole.

In my deliberations it comes down to this. I realise that converting either of our holdings into castles would not be beneficial to the realm as a whole. However, for our own immediate well being we must have a solution in the east.

I ask our Kaiser and the gathered Lords for their opinions on the matter?

As I have just arrived…can someone please tell me were von Kassel is going in such a hurry??

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich: I welcome the new Fourth Elector of Austria, may he bring much honor to his house.

Sir, I am very much aware of your concern. Austria is indeed somewhat cut off from the rest of the Reich, but as Elector von Kassel has just stated before he left to take Bern, you will not be alone in this fight.

The way things are shaping up in the east, it seems that we will soon see ourselves in a conflict with Poland. Two armies are already in that theater, one commanded by Duke von Saxony and the other one by Duke Leopold. In addition, as you most likely know, watchtowers are present on Vienna's southern and eastern border, allowing us to see far. Once Prague is taken, I also intend to place watchtowers on the borders, as well as our spy into Polish territory.

Rest assured, Austria shall not be lightly abandoned or even surprised by the enemy should the worst come.

[Ignoramus]

Sigismund der Stolze slowly gets to his feet and adresses the new Austrian:

Greetings, noble elector of Austria, I am sure that your presence here at this Diet will be beneficial to the Reich.

You speak about the vulnerability of Austria; it is true that she does not, as yet, have a castle in her realms. Surely that, however, is up to Duke Leopold, is it not? Your point, however, is a valid one and I am sure will be appreciated by the Diet here assembled.

I know that the Poles threaten our borders. Why then, did we foolishly sign an alliance with these people? Surely the elector who proposed this edict must have been misguided in his sincere attempt to benefit our Reich. Nevertheless, I have no doubt that brave Austrians and Franconians will beat back the foe.

[Lucjan]

Dietrich looks aggitated as he stands to engage Sigismund's blatant insult.

"I am far from misguided, nor am I foolish. If anything, you, young knight, are misinformed. I am not convinced that Poland truly desires war. I am staunch in my belief that they desire peace, but there are other forces here in the Reich who it seems are working against this. I still believe they are making a simple, predictable responce to our own swift expansion as a precaution to protect themselves from, what they, as earnest Papal follewers, feel is an uneasy situation developing in the Reich. The Pope does not trust us, and his distrust spreads such words to the ears of all Christian men, and makes us look like enemies to the faith.

Let me backup my claims.

Firstly, we have strong garrisons in Hamburg and Prague, a deterrant to any potential action by the Polish.

Secondly, the Polish have responded to our forces in Hamburg and Prague favorably. Their own garrison in Magdeburg consists of a single unit. How could we expect war from such a pitiful force? Like I have said, they are there because Poland fears us, not because they want war. It's a precautionary measure, meant to slow down an assault. It's really a very simple tactic, but an effective one.

Thirdly, Kaiser Heinrich has not yet sent a diplomat to Poland in order to negotiate the alliance the edict requires, so we, as of yet, have no alliance with the Poles, one they would surely accept.

My concerns are not limited to this, but the Emperor has also failed to fulfill edict 2.6. We are six years into the second half of the Emperor's term already and yet he has consistently held me at Hamburg despite the edict's time frame, and has informed me I will not be receiving the requested units, which, compared to the allotment given to our other generals, was a pittance. In four years time we could have marched, and by 1110 Stettin would have been ours. Instead, we're being forced to sit around in Hamburg, waiting around and doing nothing. For what purpose? We cannot reach, besiege, and take Stettin in four years, it's not possible. Perhaps, given the order to march immediately, we can reach Stettin before the Danes set their sights on it, and before too many years past the edict's required date. Then, perhaps this issue can be overlooked.

However, my immediate concern is the purpose for holding me back. Kaiser Heinrich has pushed for war with Poland, and held me back from Stettin despite the edict. It would appear that this is an attempt to scare Poland into going after Stettin, in an attempt to give us a reason to attack them contrary to the diet majority's wishes, but in congruence with the Kaiser's.

Also, we still lack a spy in Milan! This edict was proposed as edict 1.16, but has yet to be fulfilled, despite the enormous amount of time we've had to accomplish it in! However, the Kaiser has clearly stated his intention to send a spy to Poland as soon as possible, despite edicts pushing for an alliance and peaceful trade rights with the Poles. Why is the Kaiser's attention not focused on fulfilling diet edicts? It appears that recent events are instead moving in a manner that appears to be contrary to the diet edicts, or at the very least more favorably to someone's private ambitions than for the good of the Reich? I do hope there is a rational explanation for the Kaiser's actions, despite how this situation looks."

He pauses, taking a deep breathe, and does not sit. Instead, he remains standing, an action implying that he will hold his ground, and will not budge until he is pleased with the answer he receives.

[Ituralde]

Castles, hm, my fellow Elector?

Conrad shudders visibly at the thought.

Nice drafts in the evening, while you're surrounded by nothing but cold stone and the only place to warm is a fire burning in the hearth. The only diversion from freezing is to watch your men exercise, flogging straw puppets to death.
Do you really want to sacrifice the warm interior of an Alehouse, the merchants haggling on the market and the splendour of theaters and bard tales for that?
Well, everyone to his liking, I say. This is indeed a matter of the House of Austria and should not trouble this Assembly any longer.
I extend a warm thank you to our fellow House of Bavaria. They're mighty castle at Innsbruck has always offered protection for our merchants and I'm convinced it will do so in the future.

Conrad coughs politely.

I'm glad to hear that all of you seek glory for our Reich and my old bones grow warm at the though that the fate of my ancestors rests in such capable hands. I can't wait to see the day when we finally see the Duchy of Milan brought back into our domain.

But troublesome news reach us from the East. Breslau has succumbed to the vile Poles. How convenient for our Emperor, who now doesn't have to stand by his word of giving that County to the House of Austria. Maybe he should have granted lands that were already ours instead of promising foreign ones? The sparrow in the hand is better than the dove on the roof. Is this not what they say in these parts?
I say we leave those Poles to try to cultivate those harsh lands, they seem much more used to it than we are. We, who have tasted the fruits of Romes former glory should focus on their fruits. Our interest and our position in Italy must be strenghtened. I may look old and wiry, but I have campaigned in Italy for many years, who better to attend to the land than someone knowledgeable in the Italian customs? But alas, it seems like my requests fall on deaf hears.

On another matter, I hear that a strong force is assembled to take Bern soon. How great to hear. It's led by a Bavarian commander, I beleive? Now I'm wondering what our Kaisers plans are for the future of it's surrounding lands. As much as I would like to grant the Bavarians a well-earned reward for their oncoming victory, it would seem hasty to other houses such as Swabia or Austria, if Bavaria be given yet another province, a castle at that.
Of course my fellow Elector would clearly like to see Bern in our hands, which I'm not opposed to, but seeing that we have no stakes in the coming assault it might be imprudent. Still there are newly given lands to the south of Bavaria. The cultivated plains surrounding Bologna. Surely Austrian merchantship can take care and multiply the profits of that city, while the Bavarians can focus on their military leadership within our Empire. Someone has to fight, and someone else has to finance those wars.
I think the possibilities are clearly given for our Kaiser to act in a manner that would be statisfying for all participants, it's only a matter of whether he decides to do this.

Conrad bows slightly to the fellow Electors and a little deeper for Emperor Heinrich before settling down.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Now look here, Dietrich.

Your boundless ambition and goals are simply impossible to fulfill. You would have the Reich bankrupt in order just to have enough men to take one measly castle.

First of all, you specifically asked for two units of mounted sergeants and four units of peasantry before an attempt on Stettin was made. This takes time. It also takes money, of which this Diet seems to have little grasp of the importance of.

You must remember, dear Dietrich, who cannot even father one measly child, that Franconia is not the only house. I must obey the wishes of the governors in what to build. Building up the interior of the Reich is most critical. Once that has been managed, recruiting units, such as your ridiculous demands for taking Stettin, as well as the stupidly large amount of priests this Diet has required me to take along with Cardinal Scherer, and the spy (never mind that none of the governors nearby will build the buildings that allow for the recruitment of these) becomes secondary.

So Dietrich, something must give. The timeframe you set combined with the troops you requested was impossible to do. So you will either be content with the progress we are making, or you will not and further action will be taken against you. I urge you to take the first option if you know what's good for you.

[AussieGiant]

Kaiser, My Lords,

Firstly many thanks to the warm welcome and honourable comments by Kaiser Heinrich and Sir Sigismund,

It seems that while having a brief luncheon things have developed quite rapidly here in the main hall.

I must first concede the need for a castle in the holdings of House Austria for the time being and defer to 2nd Elector Conrad.

I am please to hear the Kaiser will send a spy to Poland. Equally a diplomat might be wise in order to force the outstanding issue of Poland’s intentions towards us. With a request for alliance on the table we could dispense with the “theories” about Poland’s intentions here in the Diet. Either they ally or they don’t. Which ever they choose will allow us to react accordingly.

I will note this idea down as a possible edict request.

My only other thought is that we should begin to formulate our opinions on the Reich’s “Standing Armies”. I firmly believe a number of house controlled standing armies in conjunction with smaller city and castle garrisons would be most efficient in the future. What say you all to this idea?

I must also say that things seemed to have diverted to other topics rather rapidly.

I understand Duke Dietrich’s intentions and desire for expansion but I believe the Kaiser is correct. We have limited resources at this time and we must wait our respective turns at achieving goals.

A small bite to eat and some refreshments might be prudent at this time. It seems tempers are starting to fray.

Gentlemen, as is custom in Austria might I invite you all to sample some of the excellent wine I brought with me from Vienna?

[Lucjan]

There is a wry look of sarcasm of Dietrich's face as raises an eyebrow to the Kaiser's retort, particularly the comment on children. There's a look in the Duke's eye that implies the Kaiser knows far from the truth on that matter.

Actually, if you look at the facts, my supposedly ridiculous demands for raising two meager regiments of peasantry, and three regiments of cavalry sargeants could have been accomplished in 4 years time, the regiments of peasants in the first two, and the sargeants in the next two. The fall of Stettin could have occurred in the next 6, hence the ten year timeline outlined in the edict. In total, increase in our previous upkeep would have been a meager 705 florins. The fall of Stettin, according to my reviews of the area's demographics, prior to the castle's conversion to a city, would still have netted us over 700 florins every two years. The upkeep increase, with the recruitment order I mentioned, would, for the entire time prior to Stettin's fall, have cost us 2,295 florins in total. Stettin would have repaid this in its entirety in a mere six years.

This was the purpose of the ten year timeline. Nothing I do, and nothing I propose, is not without its purpose Kaiser. All I have requested, is that you explain why so many of these recent events are seemingly so closely related. And why, if my requests were so outlandishly absurd, am I sitting around Hamburg very well past the time I should be, waiting for the arrival of what my scouts tell me are two militia regiments that are nothing but an unnecessary expense and an unnecessary waste of time.

And as far as things costing money. I need no lectures on costs, as you can clearly see. Just as well, let me deliberate and explain my position! You will see that it is clearly, far from the strain on our coffers that you imagine it to be. The Reich pulled in just shy of 5,000 florins of profit every two years. In the ten year timeline for capturing Stettin we would have made, roughly, 50,000 denarii, in profits alone. A measly 2,295 florins over the entire course of that ten years comes out to an average of 459 florins every two years. The bottom line, is that the capture of Stettin has been grossly delayed, diet edicts have been ignored, and even if every one of our settlements were to spend 1,600 florins on projects every two years in the same four years we could have recruited the peasants and sargeants, we would still have had twice the entire increase in the upkeep cost due to the recruitment to spend as we pleased and even more money beyond that. And these estimates even include all our other upkeeps thrown in as well!

So you see! My supposedly boundless ambition and goals are far from "impossible", and instead are extremely plausible. Besides this, I must wonder what ambitions and goals I have Kaiser? What have I ever done that has not been to the benefit of the Reich? What have I ever done that has not strengthened our overall position? And do not wrongly accuse me of being ignorant of our other noble houses needs. I have been, and will continue, to be in communication with our other houses at various times to work out what is, overall, in the best interests of the Reich.

Now that I have spoken my mind, do kindly answer my questions, and don't snap at me like some child.

Dietrich leans forward, the look of an inquisitor about him.

I respect every man in this room Kaiser, but there is one man that is mandated to follow the edicts this diet passes, and that man is the chancellor. So answer me now, not as the Kaiser, but as the chancellor, explain to this diet on what grounds the wishes of multiple houses are being ignored?

Why has Stettin not fallen? Why has Milan not been infiltrated by a spy? Why has the distribution of lands not been more in line with the earnest requests of some of the houses and their interests, their expertises? Why is your focus not on fulfilling the diet edicts? Why have recent events contradicted, delayed and ignored them? What is your rational explanation for this string of occurrances?

[AussieGiant]

while remaining seated the 4th Elector for Austria raises an eyebrow

....I presume then...

...that drinks are entirely out of the question at this time my lords!!??

If so, then I think I need to order some Scotch to get myself through this session...

turning with great exaggeration, the Austrian 4th Elector flags down a passing page man, and whispers

a bottle of that irish stuff I saw earlier today...and make it snappy old chap...I'm in great need of a drink!!

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Dietrich, the bottom line is that we have not had 705 florins. I have sometimes seen our florin count fall in the double, even single digits after fulfilling the wishes of the governors. I understand the profit that would have occured, but I cannot spend the money that does not exist. Before you get all whiny and angered at me, I suggest that you review the basic lessons of economics.

As for your other "complaints," let me address them simply:

The time has not passed yet.

Unless the Diet rules have suddenly changed without my knowledge, I believe that I have until the end of my term to fulfill the required edicts. So stop crowing needlessly to this Diet and shut up.

I will not tolerate this insubordination. Every man here aside from you knows that my greatest desire is to see the Reich prosper. Yet you continue to needlessly pressure me and then dare to insult me in front of this entire Diet for failing to fulfill edicts that have not yet expired.

Maximillian Mandorf will now lead the attack on Stettin. And before you yell at me for saying that Edict 2.6 called for you to lead the attack, please realize that it only recommended that you lead the attack. Well, I took the recommendation into light and disagreed with it.

Your new duty is to fulfill the requirements of Edict 2.9, since you are so concerned with me executing them. Hopefully during that time you will come to realize the importance of loyalty.

[Lucjan]

The duke, were he staring an enemy in the face on the field, would be cleaning his sword of blood right about now. This was precisely the blatant display of incompetance he was hoping to get out of the kaiser. Admittance of misunderstanding an edict that blatantly stated Stettin "shall be taken in 10 years", not two, or four, or six after, but within the clearly worded time frame of ten. When an edict mandated a time period, there was no waiting beyond that. Then to remove him from the position at the head of the army for the purpose of slowing the Reich's progress even further by forcing the conquest of Stettin to wait for Mandorf to arrive only added to the Kaiser's own injuries. And what was more, was the Kaiser's total misunderstanding of what the Chancellor's duties truly entailed. Governor's build queues were suggestions, they were not mandates, they could be ignored for the good of the Reich when there were more important things at hand, and Dietrich would have traded a few years of Hamburg's build queue in order to take Stettin and make up for it exponentially in the next few years thanks to Stettin's fall in a heartbeat. It was all Dietrich could do to avoid from laughing in the Kaiser's face.

"If that's what must be done, then at least one important edict will get done." Dietrich, content with the Kaiser's self ridiculing display, turned and departed the diet proceedings. He would have to lay low for a while, keep out of the fool's hair. When the elections came soon enough he would have to run for chancellor, if not to right all of the kaiser's foolish errors than to at least place somebody in the position who understood the law and what their duties entailed. As the diet doors closed behind him, he looked towards the sky.

"God save the Reich if that fool doesn't die soon. Henry must bring an air of competance back to the throne. How can we follow a man who claims to be the lord of the Reich when he doesn't even understand the law?" Dietrich shook his head, then departed to make his plans for the necessary watch tower placements.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

If I may direct everyone's attention to the Imperial Charter. Then we will see that I am not, in fact, an incompetant leader.

2.1 The Chancellor... moves all the units and agents on the map; he decides all the buildings and which units/agents to be trained.

Here it would seem as if the Chancellor (me) had full power over what to recruit as well as build, and perhaps you are right. But the next provision corrects that:

2.2 However, he... follows the build queues and tax policies of players with governors.

Notice the numbering of that provision. It is 2.2, and comes before the following provision:

2.3 He also must obey Imperial edicts and the constitution (these rules) or face political consequences.

Now, it seems we have a dilemma here. There are two contradictions in the Charter, because my fulfilling one provision would make it impossible to fulfill the other one. Keeping that in mind, as well as the fact that the "must obey governors" provision comes before the "must obey edicts" provision, I made the executive decision to follow the wishes of the governors. It was clearly *not* an illegal move considering the financial situation the Reich was in, so I had every right to delay the move on Stettin in order to keep us in the black.

It seems now as if I made a terrible mistake in marrying off Agnes to this fool. At least he has spared us all of the misfortune of having idiot offspring trouble the Diet in the future.

[AussieGiant]

....are there any consitutional lawyers in the house, I think we are in need of some at this point...

there's a pause for some minutes...not a sound is heard

...alright then, that's a no I take it.

Into the next gaping silence, the 4th Elector from Austria breaks the tension yet again

I still think drinks are in order gentlemen...would anyone care to second the motion??

[econ21]

Prinz Henry stands, unsure of himself, clearly appalled at the situation.

I remind the Diet that constitutional disputes are decided by the Emperor and the Emperor alone.

For my part, as someone who helped draft the constitution, I would volunteer the view that governors' build queues are, in a sense, optional. If the Chancellor wishes to build any building in a settlement, they must build what is first on the build queue. However, the Chancellor is quite entitled to build nothing in a settlement.

On the wider issues of Poland, Stettin and the speed of our expansion, I would caution the Diet. We have expanded rapidly already. My father is to be congratulated on orchestrating this. However, all good things must come to an end and it is inevitable that the easy gains will soon be exhausted - whether by our hand or by that of our neighbours. Florins do not lie on street pavements for long.