Imperial Diet

**Ituralde** · 03-07-2007, 21:34

Cloaked in a fashionable garment and once again wearing a stylish hat adorned with a peacocks feather Duke Leopold enters the Diet chambers. His face is set determined and he walks with a purpose. His gaze does not notice the other Electors assembled within the Diet. It is locked on Emperor Heinrich. Purposefully he moves to the middle of the Diet floor and draws a deep breath. Two more steps bring him closer to the Emperor, where he falls down on one of his knees, his head sunk in reveration. His voice rings out clear as he adresses the man in front of him.

"Mein Kaiser!

I have come here today to apologize for the mistunderstandings caused by me in the last Diet session. My pride and my selfish greed have made me say things and do deeds that I now regret."

Leopold raises his gaze to meet that of the Kaiser. His face is a blank mask showing no emotions at all except for a slight tension prove to the fact that he is barely able to control his feelings.

"I have come here to ask you for forgiveness in front of all these men. The same men in front of whom I have insulted you, so that they may all bear testimony to my penance. I hereby vow to be a better servant of the Empire than I have been in the past and do everything that stands in my abilities to further the glory of the Reich. I beg you to accept my apologies and accept me once more into this Assembly of men from where my pride and selfishness have exiled me."

His gaze travels to the floor again and a visible shaking can be seen that runs through his body. His shoulder blades are tensing visibly under the emotional onslaught. He remains kneeled, awaiting the words of his father, Emperor Heinrich.

**econ21** · 03-07-2007, 21:55

The tension in the Diet is palpable and no one dares speak. A nervous clerk quietly posts a list of all current proposed edicts and their first two seconders.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...92&postcount=1

His slightest sound makes the Electors angrily stare at the intrusion.

**GeneralHankerchief** · 03-07-2007, 22:11

Kaiser Heinrich:

Welcome back, Duke Leopold. I am glad that you once again grace this Diet with your presence. All is forgiven, my son.

And now my next announcement: I hereby seek the position of Chancellor once again.

Good Electors, this Reich that we all serve stands on the cusp of greater glory than the world has known in almost a thousand years. The past three wars that plagued the last Chancellorship have all turned the tide. Milan is a beaten people. They make one last desperate move to swing things around. They will be crushed. Venice's capial city now stands under threat. Those traitors and oathbreakers will face the full wrath of the Reich, and it will be terrible indeed. Poland is also now regretting turning on us, as Magdeburg is under siege, with certainly more cities to follow for the glory of Franconia and Austria.

These wars will be decisively ended under my reign, just so we have time to turn on new foes. France is foolish enough to make an advance on Dijon. Former Chancellor Sigismund will immediately make a march on their position (without attacking) in order to let them know they mean business. If they persist, then we will simply repulse them everywhere and let them foolishly get excommunicated.

I have not forgotten about the brigands that plague our heartlands either. Steward Mandorf's proposed House armies are excellent, I give him that, but there are several problems with his amendment. Mainly, Clauses 6-9. One stubborn Duke could endanger the entire Reich. I cannot support such an amendment that allows that to happen. Rest assured, Electors, that I promise to uphold Clauses 1-5 and 10 if I am elected and the Amendment fails.

I agree with most of the proposed edicts so far, with 5.3, 5.6, and 5.11 (not yet). In addition, I second Edict 5.16 as it is a good Edict and no one has done so yet.

One may wonder, with my views so similar to Mandorf's, why I am running? Well, in truth, it was his idea. If you Electors can recall, he was the one who criticized me for allowing Bologna to fall under my watch. Election as Chancellor would ensure that I have fuller control of all fronts so that events such as these can be monitored and properly responded to.

In addition, my candidacy offers to the Diet a choice that you can be sure is not influenced by any outside forces. I am affiliated with no House, so I will make sure that none of you are passed over in an effort to advance my own. In addition, I am not a pawn of the Papacy or a woman. The decisions I make if elected Chancellor will be made by me, with input coming from this body and this body alone.

Good Electors, I am getting old and I have not much longer to live on this earth. But, God willing, before I make my final home beyond the gates of Saint Peter, I can continue to improve the Reich and make it a jewel in the world for many years to come. This is the best way I know how.

**TinCow** · 03-07-2007, 22:28

A Bavarian clerk clears his throat.

Good sirs, it appears there has been some confusion with Edict numbering. The Fourth Elector of Bavaria proposed two edicts which he numbered 5.15 and 5.16. Steward Mandorf had already proposed an edict under number 5.15. Accordingly, the Fourth Elector of Bavaria's edicts should read as follows:

Edict 5.16: The nobility of our foes are subject to assassination.

Edict 5.17: Any aggression via the Papacy towards the Reich will result in an offensive against Rome via our field armies and the Pope will be subject to the proposed Edict 5.16.

I would be grateful if the Diet clerk would update the Edict list to reflect this.

**Warluster** · 03-07-2007, 22:38

Count Jobst Von Salza stands up, shaking his head

once again we concentrate on Italy... Jobst keeps shaking his head

But!

Steward Mandorf, A while ago when you commented on Shuffles through papers 5.11, about the French and Swabian lands??? Swabian Electors have prposed that edict because one,

Recently two French armeis invaded the lands around Dijon, and heading towards Bern. Dijon is a very economic place, providing hundreds of florins for the EMpire, if we lose it it will be a great blow, to Swabia and the EMpire, we are proposing those edicts for our own good! I hope you an understand that,

Now executing is sometrhing of a distaste to me, and as I said before, italys trapped, Polands weak and France is coming. But we always are concentrating on war! Why not more peaceful edicts? Like one for-

Edict 5.18 - Every city and castle of all levels in the Empire are to have built at least 1 type of Economic help in that city, in 5 years limit

That edict is much mroe peaceful and will give us plenty of money.

**econ21** · 03-07-2007, 23:05

Prinz Henry (in a sombre tone): It is with regret that I learn of my father's candidature for the post of Chancellor. Unfortunately, I have already pledged on my honour to support Steward von Mandorf. Nonetheless, I wish my father well with his campaign and, regardless of the outcome of the election, I stand eager to fight under his command against the Milanese who are besieging his beloved Florence. (bows to his father, not daring to meet his gaze).

On a happier note, I am pleased to announce that I have made Sir Jobst von Salza the Count of Dijon. I think this appointment sends a signal to the French that we are committed to the defence of that city and I urge whoever is elected Chancellor to send Count von Salza to join Count Sigismund in shoring up our Western defences.

**Kagemusha** · 03-07-2007, 22:30

Dietrich Von Saxony sips his wine slowly after witnessing the reacent events, but doesnt say anything,just sits there and waits what will happen next.

**Ituralde** · 03-07-2007, 22:31

Duke Leopold mumbles a quiet: "Thank you my Grace" before he rises again slowly and walks to the stand of the House of Austria. After short deliberation with his fellow Electors and the Emperors latest announcement he raises again to adress the Diet.

I fully support my father's ambitions to take the post of Chancellor a second time. He has shown in his recent Chancellorship that he is well able to guide the Reich against its various enemies. Now that armies are once again approaching us from all sides I consider it of utmost importance that the next leader be an impartial judge on the happenings within our Reich. I believe that Charter Amendment 5.1 will do enough for the different Houses and that Steward Mandorf will always be honoured for proposing this Amendment.
I think the recent Chancellorship has shown that the advancement of certain Houses can well be accompanied by a neglect for other Houses. The reason the House of Austria and the House of Franconia had to fight with inadequate forces in the past can not be explained by our Imperial Charter alone.
Every one of you should consider well whom to vote for when faced with a man that is willing to stand for his convictions and will be an impartial leader to all of us or if you decide to cast your vote on a man that has been known to change his complete agenda at the whims of some woman. You may never know what she'll be whispering in his ear next.

**GeneralHankerchief** · 03-07-2007, 22:42

Kaiser Heinrich:

Er, it seems in my haste to make a speech I fumbled over my words. The following passage:

I agree with most of the proposed edicts so far, with 5.3, 5.6, and 5.11 (not yet).

should read as:

I agree with most of the proposed edicts so far, with 5.3, 5.6, and 5.11 (not yet) being the exceptions.

My apologies to any confusion.

**TinCow** · 03-07-2007, 23:12

Steward Mandorf listens to Jobst von Salza's words, nodding and shaking his head casually during the speech.

Elector von Salza, I do not know quite what you expect of me. As I have said before, France remains neutral with us. Though they may eventually declare war, they have not done so for the time being. Until they do so, the decision as to whether to attack them first must be made by Swabia and Swabia alone. I will respect whatever decision the House of Swabia arrives at, but I cannot do so if you all disagree with one another! Prinz Henry is the Duke of Swabia and accordingly he speaks for your House. Accordingly, I will abide by whatever decision your Duke makes in regards to the French armies. If you disagree with your Duke's decisions, I suggest you take that issue up with him, not me. In any case, you can be assured that should I be elected, Count der Stolze will be ordered to move immediately to defend Dijon to prevent it falling to a French attack.

Maximillian Mandorf turns and looks at the Diet. His eyes rest upon Duke Leopold for several seconds, before he turns to face Kaiser Heinrich.

Some in this body have made slanderous comments about my loyalty to the Reich and my ability to be a fair Chancellor. The gist of these insults is that I have fallen under the sway of a woman of questionable worth who will turn me against the Empire. They refer to my spiritual guid, the nun Hildegard von Bingen.

These people find fault with my new found faith in God and respect for Christian morality. I will not hide my past nor try to obscure reality. Indeed, I am proud of it. I was a corrupt sinner before she found me; interested only in wallowing in the pleasures of the flesh. I was a foul and loathsome man. Now I stand before you as a righteous tool of God. I have taken a vow of celibacy and seek to spread the word of Christ to all corners of the world. I have sworn to protect Christians everywhere from the corruption of heathens and pagans.

If some individuals find fault with that, then I can only believe that they have fallen to their own corruptions. I am loyal to the Reich and I am loyal to Christ Almighty. Those are two links which do not conflict with one another. The mere fact that I no longer wish to see Pope Gregory's head on a spike does not make me his puppet. Many of you had the wisdom to propose closer relations to the Pope from the very beginning. In essence, those who doubt me also doubt your loyalty to the Reich.

Ask yourselves this, noble Electors; would you prefer to have a reformed sinner who has been brought back into the light, or one who still seeks to lead the Reich into a bloody war with all of Christendom?

**GeneralHankerchief** · 03-07-2007, 23:29

Kaiser Heinrich:

If I may address some of Elector Mandorf's comments:

The gist of these insults is that I have fallen under the sway of a woman of questionable worth who will turn me against the Empire. They refer to my spiritual guid, the nun Hildegard von Bingen.

I have no doubt that she is your spiritual guide; I was just wondering if she advised you in any other matters aside from religion. After all, it would not be proper for an aspiring Chancellor if she did.

I have taken a vow of celibacy and seek to spread the word of Christ to all corners of the world. I have sworn to protect Christians everywhere from the corruption of heathens and pagans.

That sounds more like a priest than a leader of a great nation to me.

If some individuals find fault with that, then I can only believe that they have fallen to their own corruptions.

In essence, those who doubt me also doubt your loyalty to the Reich.

Huh? You're starting to sound like Servius Aemilius, Elector Mandorf. Those who doubt you doubt their loyalty to Bavaria, surely, but not the entire Reich.

Ask yourselves this, noble Electors; would you prefer to have a reformed sinner who has been brought back into the light, or one who still seeks to lead the Reich into a bloody war with all of Christendom?

Milan and Venice have been excommunicated. Surely they don't fall under your definition of Christendom. Since that only leaves Poland, I will remind you that they were the very same people that sought to see the noble and glorious House of Franconia wiped off the face of the earth along with all its people, from its Duke, Dietrich von Saxony, to the lowliest peasant.

I only seek to destroy those that wish us harm. Surely your beloved Pope sees nothing wrong with that.

**Northnovas** · 03-07-2007, 23:34

"The 6th Elector of Austria stands holding a book and looks towards Mandorf..."

Lord Mandorf, "there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.. Luke 15:7 and to continue with the parable Lord welcome back to the flock.

Looking to the rest of the members...

On a more pressing business manner I second edict 5.18 to get the Reich's economy stimulated.

"The members returns to his seat.."

**TevashSzat** · 03-07-2007, 23:57

I propose Edict 5.19: All agent training is to be suspended in order to cut back on royal spending Our treasury is not very impressive to say the least, and I have voiced my concerns before. While the Fourth Elector of Bavaria and the Fifth Elector of Swabia's proposals do make sense, we have no immediete needs for assasins. Two of our major enemies, the Venetians and Milanians have been severely weakened by our conquests in Italy and will pose no major problem to us. Should we use our assasins against the French, we may accidentally start off a war should one of our agents fail. The Polish are the only noteworthy target, but it takes many years and much effort for a skilled assasin to be trained and those years paying for him will surely be better for spending on other more importants things