Imperial Diet

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

In this situation, everything is related. If we put more pressure on the Venetians, they will naturally be forced to go on the defensive. If the Venetians are fighting for their lives on their home turf, then they obviously can't afford to tromp a valuable army all the way to Vienna.

TOO MUCH emphasis has been placed on Northern Italy and the damn Pope in my opinion.

This was not our doing. In case you can't remember, we were the victims of unprovoked attacks from both Milan and Venice. Do you suggest it would have been better if we simply had yielded to them?

Remember, good Electors, as much as this war is hurting us, it is hurting our foes even more.

[ArchdukeEvan]

stirs... and finaly wakes and stands... with sleep in his voice...

how can this war be Hurting them more?...

Have we not lost Bologna... and we have Venitians on the very door-steps of Vienna... do we not?...

that doesnt seem hurt to me...

much more awake now

and i belive my previous statment was miss-interpurted... so let me clarify... i wanted a withdrawl to more defesible positions... but i only ment in Italy... with the rivers there... we should be able to force them into River assults... this would allow us to take the offensive agianst the weaker Poles... should we not destroy the minor second Front... before we attack the stronger one without our full strenght?

i once advocated an attack on the Venitians... i was in the Haste of celebration... excuse my rashness... and my change of thought... i have now more fully study the maps... and this seems much more plausible...

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Simple. The Venetians have not made as much progress as they had hoped they would make. Bologna is lost, sure. But what they have gained is a hornet's nest surrounded on most sides by enemy territory. Surely they will realize that the capture of that city is only temporary.

In addition, they have lost many lives in Vienna with nothing to show for it. These attacks are surely bleeding them out, and their supply lines are long. They will soon be burned out if they have not been already.

[TinCow]

Electors! The situation we find ourselves in is entirely due to neglecting the defense of the Reich in favor of strength in Northern Italy. This is a mistake!

What purpose does a strong offensive serve, if our enemies can strike at us freely from the rear? We must be strong on our borders and in our attacks. If the circumstances determine that we cannot supply the needs of both offense and defense at once, then the attacks must wait! The security of the Houses is of far greater importance than the pursuit of any war, no matter who it is against.

At this moment, Franconia, Austria, and Bavaria are totally insecure and subject to the whims of those who would kill our children, rape our women, and pillage our lands! In the north, the Franconians fight the might of Poland on their own. In the South, the Bavarian city of Bologna is occupied by the Viennese, and two groups of rebels sit outside of Nuremburg itself, terrorizing the trade routes. In the east, Vienna is under near constant siege and a large rebellion has occurred north of the city!

At the same time, Imperial forces in Northern Italy are strong and will surely bring us many victories in the times ahead. Yet, these victories will be hollow if the Houses are not protected! I say to you now, Electors, that the Reich must do all in its power to give the Houses the resources with which to defend themselves. The Houses must have their own armies, capable of defending their territories at all times! So long as all of the forces of Austria can be stripped and sent south, Vienna will remain vulnerable. So long as monies are denied to the Franconians to allow them to assemble an army to defend their territories and retaliate against the Poles, they will remain vulnerable. So long as all Bavarian forces stream southwards, our merchants and rural citizens will continue to be plagued by highwaymen!

I say to you now, that I will not allow this to continue. We are still a few years away from the next election for Chancellorship, but I cannot restrain myself given these circumstances. Electors, I will be placing myself before you as a candidate in 1140. I promise you that, should I be chosen, I will do all in my power to ensure that all Houses are secure. All Houses will have their own armies to command at all times; armies that cannot be removed from their lands without the consent of the Duke himself.

In addition to putting myself forward as a candidate, I will be proposing Charter Amendments that will make the formation of these armies permanent law. However, I swear to you that even if these laws do not pass, I shall uphold them for the during of the Chancellorship. No matter what occurs, if I am elected to the next position, no House will ever be left vulnerable, without the means to defend its cities and strike back at rebels and invaders.

It is the responsibility of every Christian to protect his family. It is the responsibility of the Houses to protect their subjects. It is the responsibility of the Chancellor to ensure that the Houses have the means with which to do this. I swear to you, Electors, I will give you the means.

Until then, join with me in praying for those who face battle. The Lord is with us and will hear our voices. So long as we remain true to the Word, we shall prevail in these difficult times.

Mandorf crosses himself, says a brief prayer, and sits down.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Thank you... Steward Mandorf (this was said with a slight smile) for the declaration of your candidacy. However, I must reprimand you for doing so. While there is no punishment in the Diet, it is grossly impolite and dishonorable to publicly declare one's intentions of candidacy while the current Chancellor is still in office.

I also remind you that the formation of these armies, while important, also cost money. Lots of it. And right now our best chance of improving our financial situation lies in continued campaigning in Northern Italy. Both Bologna and Venice are rich, and the real prizes are their seaports which provide us with some much-needed access to the rest of the world. If we were to reduce the strength of our forces in Northern Italy then our chances of success would be jeopardized and it would still take much longer to create these House Armies.

[TinCow]

My Kaiser, if I have offended, then I apologize. Though I must admit, I do not see how offering myself for candidacy can possibly be of insult to Chancellor der Stolze. We have spent much time in this Diet discussing the future while waiting for news on the expectant battles. Given the relatively short time until the next election, I believed it was prudent to move into more constructive discussions, rather than continuing with complaints and plans without direction or solution.

I would point out that I did not suggest that we reduce our strength in Italy. The Imperial Treasury is capable of funding the recruitment of the maximum number of the highest quality of soldiers from Hamburg, Innsbruck, and Staufen, with much more to spare on the side. I believe that Household Armies can be created and dispatched from new recruits very quickly, without the need to reduce the size of the Northern Italian forces.

My Kaiser, you have three large armies at your disposal in Northern Italy, and only one large enemy army to oppose you. Surely you are a capable enough commander to gain victory there without further reinforcement?

[AussieGiant]

Excellent Mandorf!!

You've got my vote, and I'm damn sure I'm going to do everything in my power to get the rest of Austria to support you!!

Turning to gaze at the Kaiser

With all due respect Kaiser, it is your very wish to continue chasing "Rich" cities in Italy that will maintain the present vulnerability in the rest of the empire.

Take Bologna fine...then cease and desist all offensive actions.

Create the 4 House Armies immediately by redistributing the current armies and reinforcing them from our three castles. This should continue for as long as it takes to have 4 equal standing armies of similar composition under the control of each Duke or Steward of the four houses.

And even if that takes 20 years it should be done!! Think of your sons and daughters gentlemen!! It is their future we are talking about here!!

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

Elector Mandorf, it is simply tradition that aspiring candidates hold off, and nothing more. It has been followed since this Diet has existed and even farther back, to the time of the Roman Republicans.

As for your suggestions, if you believe that these Household armies can be created without a serious drain on our resources in Italy and our treasury, then by all means we should do so. However, I am still a little uneasy about the possibility of you becoming Chancellor mainly because I am unsure if a pious Christian woman is capable of both running a country and manipulating its leader's strings.

As for the esteemed Second Elector of Austria:

Take Bologna fine...then cease and desist all offensive actions.

Cowardice! Sheer cowardice! The candidate you support says that Venice should be easily crushed with our available forces, the Pope has given us his blessing to attack, and these are the same people that brazenly break an alliance with us and try to capture YOUR capital trying to kill YOUR Duke. What more incentive to make the Venetians pay can I give you?

This war must see Venice in our possession at the very least. If we were to follow your lead then the nobles of the world would look at us and laugh!

[nazgul3]

5th elector stands quickly

Such blatent disrespect to our chancellor. He is Right!! We must act on the Venetians and accomplish both. With the money we get from the Venetian cities we can distribute that money into making new soldiers to fortify our borders, but like the Kaiser has succinctly said we need money and pillaging cities is the best way to go. Hail Mein Kaiser! salutes and sits

[TinCow]

*Maximillian Mandorf's face grows red at the Kaiser's words.*

What exactly would you know of governing a country? Under your watch, half the Reich rebelled against us! You failed to resolve the Investiture Crisis and had to grovel before Gregory so that he would recind your excommunication! You have personally commanded in Italy for the entire duration of our war with Milan and Venice; yet where were you when the Viennese took Bologna?

After all the support I have given you over the years, you attack me here and now? Perhaps I have been wrong to believe that you were the victim in the conflict with Gregory. I see now that you have no loyalties to anyone but yourself! Indeed, it pleases me that you are uneasy at the prospect of the Chancellorship being held by a proper Christian who knows how to govern a realm. If you do not support me, then I must be doing something right!

My Kaiser, out of respect for the unwavering loyalty I have shown you over the past decades, I urge you to seek penitence for your sins. It is clear to me now that your soul has been corrupted. Take action immediately, lest you spend the rest of eternity in damnation!

*Mandorf points at the Kaiser and makes the sign of the cross.*

[GeneralHankerchief]

*The Kaiser's complexion gradually turns to that of Mandorf's during the Steward of Bavaria's most recent speech, and then some. It is evident that a nerve had been struck. The Kaiser starts bellowing in Mandorf's face.*

Kaiser Heinrich:

How DARE you suggest that I have not even the slightest of loyalties to this Reich, this Reich which I have poured my blood, sweat, heart, and tears into these past fifty years?! My words and my actions have said and implied over and over that my actions during the Investiture Crisis have been my greatest regret! Tell me, Mandorf, are you using that against me just to gain an edge or are you just that stupid?

You do not know how much I have put into this Reich. I have constantly written Chancellor Sigismund (who, by the way, controls all military operations) asking him to take a more aggressive stance, including my placement. Yet still I have not been in any battle, major or minor, since the capture of Genoa. This is also a regret.

All I've ever wanted was for the Reich to prosper! If you cannot see that then you are deluded! But things have not always gone the way I would have hoped. Mainly, you damned Dukes and Stewards for years now have been nattering away with requests and demands, all for your own house's concern of course, since apparently the needs of the Empire is second to those of its Houses!

My concern, Good Elector, is that one as malleable to outside influences as you would ascend to the office of Chancellor and allow our Reich to become weak! That... woman has sucked out your ambitions and your beliefs and instead made you a simple tool of the Papacy! Pope Gregory has already wrenched Rome from my grasp, I shudder to think what he would do should he take the rest of the Empire!

*The Kaiser sits down, shaking in a fury.*

[AussieGiant]

Standing abruptly after the furious exchange between Mandorf and the Kaiser

You're calling me a coward Heinrich!!??

It is only your position as Kaiser of this realm that is preventing me from "calling you out" SIR!!

There is a perfectly good jousting range outside!! Maybe this should be settled outside like men?!

I demand an immediate retraction of your statement?!

The 2nd Elector of Austria remains standing staring intently at the Kaiser.

[Warluster]

Jobst von Salva stands up, a look of disbelief on his face

THis is absurd, fighting within the Royal Imperial Diet. Aye, if I was you I would be ashame dof myself. Both the two Austrian ELectors and our Great Kaiser, can you please not fight, this diet is for wisdom knowledge and deicion making, not fury,anger and fights! If you have a conflict to resolve amognst eachother, please take it outside!!

With that Jobst von Salva sits down, absolutely stunned that people would fight in the diet, let alone the Kaiser fight

[AussieGiant]

Turning slow towards von Salva

So...von Salva, are you a coward too??

Maybe you'd like your honor sullied in front of your peers would you?

Standing defiantly the 2nd Elector continues to look at the Kaiser

[OverKnight]

Otto stands to speak, his face has gone white since the Diet has descended into bedlam.

My Lords! We are doing the Venetians work for them if we continue to argue so! They will not have to lift a finger if we destroy ourselves!

Insults will get us nowhere. Have we forgotten who our true enemies are? The Venetians are oath-breakers, turncoats who have dared to besiege Vienna and have taken Bologna from us. They deserve no mercy or quarter! I say we drive them into the sea, until all they have left is the island of Crete.

Yes, our distribution of forces is not ideal at the moment, but the next Chancellor, whoever that may be, will have the resources to set that right. I understand the House of Austria's frustration, but I beg them for patience. Remember, Bavaria has lost Bologna, yet I am confident it will be returned to us. Victory is never easy, but if we go forward as one Empire, and not four Duchies, we will crush our enemies!

Otto sits, his hand rubbing his right temple.

[Warluster]

Exactly, exactly what I was trying to say it! And elector of Austria, how did you get that i was a coward out of the few words I said? No, I shall not bite back as have others, and your harsh words do not harm me, but I warn of you, if you keep your sharp tounge you shall gain many enemies.

[TevashSzat]

Fourth Elector of Swabia stands up seeking a compromise

Both the Kaiser and Mandorf brings up excellent points. Our western border is weak and undefended. Should France decide to attack us due to their war with our fellow Sicilians, we would easily lose significant territories before mustering the forces to stop their onslaught. The royal treasury though is not very full with us well below 10,000 florins for many years now. Such a large empire that we have surely ought to have a better financial status. As a compromise, I propose that an audit is to be done of all forces within the Empire. All cities are to be switched to militia if possible with the exception of border cities where extra troops shall be stationed. All mercenaries are to be disbanded and be replaced with normal troops unless they are pivotal to the war effort and the construction of agents to be stopped until we have much more gold at our hands.

[Bizzair]

I agree with the Fourth Elector of Swabia, we need to get an income to secure our nation. This can only be done by cutting down on mercenary costs, replacing troops to Free Upkeep militia units, and replacing some dwindeled units with Fresh men,

Ready to fight for the Riech!

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kaiser Heinrich:

I will have no more challenging people to duels in the Diet. To the second Elector of Austria, I was simply expressing my opinion. If you wish to call me out then by all means, do so.

I see little reason why we should stop taking the fight to the Venetians after Bologna is reclaimed. If we relent then they will simply gather strength and continue to ravage us on our own territory. If we continue to press the offensive then this scenario need not happen.

The Fourth Elector of Swabia presents an admirable plan.

[Kagemusha]

A knight in full armour carrying Franconian colours on his tunic, enters the Diet.

"My Lords,i bring message from Duke of Franconia: There are no more Polish troops between Stettin and Magdeburg. Franconia claims the day and both i and Knight Gunther Von Kastillien are alive and well!"

The Messenger hands a scroll to Chancellor Sigismund,bearing the seal of Franconian Duke, bows and leaves the Diet.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[econ21]

Prinz Heinrich: By God, Dietrich, you have put us to shame again! You faced terrible odds and, to be frank, I had some doubts about whether you were the same man that took Hamburg with such panache. But you have prevailed and never before has the label "heroic victory" been more deserved!

I urge the Chancellor - reinforce Dietrich with men from Hamburg and Stettin, then he may march on Magdeburg!

[Kagemusha]

Dietrich Von Saxony enters the Diet again in full armour,steps on the speaker stand and hits heavily the table with his gauntlet.

"This situation is unacceptable! My good Franconian knights are fighting for their lives continuosly, not far from this place and dying and you are challenging each others here into duels. Maybe you should next time leave with me to the North East and see yourself what the situation is like there!
Im a man of peace,but wars end only by fighting. Im happy to see that our Prinz Henry has the clear vision to see what kind of threat we are facing,fighting the Polish with no support from Reich,outnumbered and outmatched in quality of our forces. Do you gentlemen understand that if my Franconians are defeated,there is nothing between Polish and this place, our capital.
Some of you are talking about consolidation of our lands here. While we fight the Polish armies,they build new armies of elite troops all the time,while we get no funds to even retrain our forces. There is a limit how much our brave men can do. And if we fail,the heart of the reich is for the Polish to take. Last year i send letters to Chancellor requesting to fight a small Polish army of unsupported infantry and then move either to Stettin or get considerable reinforcements from there. I did not get the promision to attack the Polish force and i was granted the considerable reinforcement of single unit of armoured spearmen. After that my army was left for the Polish to encircle and to destroy,whether it wasnt the unbelievable bravery of my Franconians. We would be all dead now. Support us honourable Diet,or atleast let us coordinate our efforts if we wont get any support from you."

Dietrich takes his seat looking furious.

[ArchdukeEvan]

Yes!... congratulations for the most heroic and honerable victory

now...

to Magdeburg!...

Pounds fist on table

We shouldnt need to Argue over Italy if the Poles are going to colapse... we should go after these back-stabing fools and destroy them once and for all... i have spoke for these attacks for awhile... now... the greatest victory agianst the poles is possible... as for troops and money... we should impliment the Fourth Elector of Swabia's plan... but instead of dispersing extra troops we need to send them to the north

so stop agruing fair Countrymen... and to arms... to Magdeburg...

paces in excitement

[TinCow]

I am in agreement with the Fifth Elector of Austria. The Franconian frontier with Poland will remain difficult to defend so long as the Polish castle at Magdeburg restricts movements between the northern lands. The Franconians must be reinforced with sufficient regiments to allow them to both hold the border and besige this castle. If we fail to give Duke von Saxony the support he needs, we may find Polish outriders suggesting edicts at the next Diet session!

[AussieGiant]

I see history is repeating itself.

Not long ago I said in this very building, that it is only the impressive feats of our generals are able to conduct in the North, East and West of our realm that save us from destruction.

Dietrich's unbelieveable victory shows once again the state of this Riech outside of Northern Italy.

Magdeburg must be taken, then we must make the necessary steps in the next Diet session to ensure these Heroic Victory's don't turn into Heroic funerals.

Three cheers for von Saxony!!

[Kagemusha]

After a good night of sleep,Duke of Franconia enters the Diet. After getting updated of the last speeches from his clerks,he takes the stand.

"Mein Kaiser,Prinz,Chancellor,my fellow Dukes and Electors. I am most happy that the Diet is starting to understand the dire situation at the Polish front and would like to thank my Austrian and Bavarian friends for their kind words. While the current situation needs to be adressed soon and Magdeburg to be taken from the Polish hands. I would like to ask the general opinions of the Diet of our current campaign against the Polish. To me the most optional situation would be,since i know the stubborn mentality of the Polish, to get free hands campaigning against the Polish and only stop,if Pope decides to interfere. My good friend Leopold and i have agreed that a Franconian knight will be sent to lead Austrias forces in Prague. This would allow us to open a second front against the Polish in Breslau. Also if we succeed on taking Magdeburg. I would be more then happy to send one of my Counts to take Thorn castle on the Baltic coast. This would create a buffer zone between the heartland of reich and would also grant us most of the baltic trade. I would be most intrested to hear about your opinions on these suggestions."

Dietrich steps down and takes his place among the Franconians, he seems to be on lot better mood then yesterday.

[Ituralde]

A messenger wearing the household garb of Austria enters the Diet unfurls a message scroll and starts proclaiming its contents after clearing his throat:


Seventy-Eight brave Austrians lie slain on the banks of the Danube while 22 more of them were severly wounded! We mourn the loss of Johann von Kärnten, Eusebius Schultz, and Fredericus Schultz.
Three-Hundred florins of the Imperial treasury have been lost due to the death of Fifity-One Mercenary Spearmen!
They were send against an insignificant rebel force led by previous guildmaster Gustav von Holstein by the orders of Chancellor Sigismund!
Due to Duke Leopold of Austria's bravery and skill the enemy could be crushed and the loss of more Austrian lives be prevented. The ringleaders of the rebellion were flogged to death while the combattants were released.
Duke Leopold is on his way back to Vienna, awaiting another siege by the Venetian forces under Councillor Bartholomeo advancing unhindered from the South!

[Kagemusha]

Dietrich Von Saxony:

"Congratulations to Duke Leopold on his victory against the rebel scum! I hope that Duke of Austria will be reinforced so he can go meet the bloody Venetians and bring the war to their lands. About rebels further. Maybe it would be time for our Bavarian Steward to destroy the rebels around Nuremberg?"

Duke Von Saxony sits back on his seat.

[Bizzair]

Rebels are priority in my books, not only are they enemys, they are of the same blood,

The House of Austria is showing some success, I see us becoming a stronger house overall

[TinCow]

I have heard reports that Prinz Henry has retaken Bologna, without even the use of siege equipment! The House of Bavaria is in his debt for returning our lands to us.