Imperial Diet IV

[Northnovas]

A messenger arrives and walks up to the Speaker. He is given permission to read the letter to the Diet...

Electors! I bring word from the Outremer. As you are already aware Jerusalem has been recaptured by Count Zirn and the Crusading Army. There is a rebuilding phase to the holy City and some minor clean up of enemy forces.

The Count would like to bring to your attention the following...
..that the men and nobles leading the battle fought with bravery and skill. In particular our Chancellor Mathias Steffen. He has truly demonstrated the skills of a knight and exemplified the bravery that the men of Bavaria are well known for.
I am letting this body know that Sir Matthias is truly a knight of the Reich and ready to lead his own command.
God save the Kaiser and the Reich,

Karl Zirn

[Stig]

Ansehelm stands

Meine Herren, I bid you a fond farewell. I am going now to join up with the men from the Teutonic Crusade. Next year we will break the Russian border, and I expect to have past Riga in about 1270, from that point on there will be no turning back. If things go as planned Moscow should come under siege at around the years 1280-1285 and we should return to the reich during the start of the new century.
Goodbye, meine Herren, I will see you all in 40 years or so. Note that we'll be putting up one heck of a messenger service so message will reach the Heimat about what is happening, and visa versa.

I salute you.

Ansehelm leaves the Franconian benches and walks out the Diet, mounts his horse and speeds out of town. He's happy, not having to come to Rome for many years.

[OverKnight]

Matthias arrives in the Diet looking tremendously sea-sick. He takes a swig from a glass vial and slowly regains some of his color.

Godspeed Duke Ansehelm. It's about time we sent an army into the Steppe rather than have them invade us.

Will you be naming a Steward in your absence?

Matthias turns to the rest of the Diet.

My fellow Electors, the Mongol threat has been ended. I wish to thank Count Fredericus von Hamburg. Without the rebuilding of the Outremer armies and the many attacks wearing the Mongols down during his term, our victory today would not be possible. I also salute King Salier and Prinz Elberhard, who also have been central to our triumph.

I also wish to congratulate Count Hans, Count Karl Zirn and Count Jan von Hamburg. Because of them the Third Crusade has retaken Jerusalem and taught the Egyptians a hard lesson. Victory is ours this day, no one shall doubt the superiority of the Reich!

[Ituralde]

Ah, so much good news, but yet one so sad. I mourn for the passing of my father and in his memory I will be lenient with the intruder into the Diet. You may stay and speak your piece. I will see to it that you are placed under protection from the Roman garrison and I shall speak to Dieter about this.

I congratulate the Crusaders for completing their task and defeating the Mongol threat. Hopefully those Horse Lords won't bother us a third time.

[AussieGiant]

After being handed a battle report Arnold smiles broadly

Ahh, another foul mouthed, swearing laced report from Elberhard!!

Good to see the man back in form finally.

All those priests and pink suited knights over there are starting to worry me.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Conrad Salier:

Duke Arnold, you will find that very few people in Outremer wear the pink suit. Indeed, the only reason we came out here is to kill as many people as we can without fear of reproach from the Papacy.

[AussieGiant]

With clear startlement in his eyes

I'm pretty #$^#ing surprised to hear you put it like that King Sailer.

Grinning widely he continues

I feeling a vibration...a pull if you will...and it's not the local tavern wenches charms...it's the thought of going to Outremer...the sun, the sand, the swearing from Elberhard...it's all very tempting.

Plus, plenty of killing...battles, mayhem.

What do you think of me requesting a little trip out East Sailer?

[OverKnight]

Matthias smiles.

Outremer already has a capable Austrian representative Duke Arnold. There is plenty to be done in Europe. Besides with the vanquishing of the Mongols and the retaking of Jerusalem, I'm sure Outremer will be quite peaceful for years to come. There might be a border skirmish or two with the Mohammadans, but nothing that would hold your interest.

You wouldn't want to leave Sigismund as the only Austrian General left in Austria would you?

A messenger rushes into the Diet and makes his way to the Chancellor. After a brief conversation, Matthias frowns and speaks agains.

Excuse me, there are some. . .rumors I have to check into.

Matthias walks out of the Diet at a quick pace.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Conrad Salier:

*watching as Matthias walks out of the Diet*

Well, Duke Arnold, Matthias sums it up pretty well, but if you were set on coming I'm sure we'd find something for you to do... I can't speak for Jan or anybody else but I'd be happy to have you.

Who knows? The Horse Lords might even come back for another round. Hah!

[AussieGiant]

Arnold is handed a note by his first advisor the ex Count of Venice and Merchant Master. Skimming through the note, he laughs

Ahh, there seems to be a small issue out East again.

As I said;

I feeling a vibration...a pull if you will...and it's not the local tavern wenches charms...it's the thought of going to Outremer...the sun, the sand, the swearing from Elberhard...it's all very tempting.

Plus, plenty of killing...battles, mayhem.

What do you think Sailer? I'd be quite good roaming around knocking heads and generally terrorizing our enemies.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Conrad Salier:

Hmm, it seems as if some people know something that I don't.

If there is, as you say, "a small issue out East again" then of course you are welcome to come and combat it. I think further discussion with your House before you act on this impulse would be good as well. Coming East is no small commitment.

[AussieGiant]

Arnold

I'm sure Lord Zirn wont mind me coming out for a visit. I'm not replacing him.

I'm not going out to go on Crusade or become a Crusader Count. I'm going out as myself.

That's why I'm asking Sailer.

[Privateerkev]

I can't speak for Jan or anybody else but I'd be happy to have you.

Happy is such a relative term...

Duke Arnold, what I wrote in our last exchange of letters still stands. I would never deny someone the chance to come visit the Holy Land. We can always use skilled fighters. The only one you really had to convince was the King and you've already done that. If it is ok with him, it is fine by me.

Just one thing...

Jan says the next with a wry smile

You may want to suggest that Grom and Bane refrain from hanging priests from church towers during the course of their stay. People in Outremer are touchy about that sort of thing...

[OverKnight]

Matthias walks slowly into the Diet and speaks.

The Mongols have indeed returned. They lay siege to Baghdad. I refer the Electors to my updated report.

An iron resolve enters the Chancellor's features.

I say let them come. Let them come with all the forces of Hell behind them and we will still crush them! Let them empty the Steppe and they will still all die on our swords! Let them keep coming until they learn the simple truth, that to face us in battle is to perish!

[Warluster]

Athalwolf von Salza stands, nervous at speaking in front of the Diet for the first time.

I have been persuaded to say... we have no reason to fear these men who rain from the steppes. We've defeated them before, I see no reason it can not be done again?

Gaining some confidence, he continues

I also hope, that while we are somewhat... saving our behinds in Outremer, we do not lose control of the situation in Christendom.

Athalwolf sits

[OverKnight]

Matthias nods at Athalwolf's words.

The Mongols are the primary threat, but I will take steps to ensure the Egyptians do not recapture Jerusalem. I believe a small to mid sized army could be used to break an Egyptian siege by fighting with the Papal garrison against the Saracen. Acre would be the staging area for this force.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Conrad Salier:

Their weakness is overconfidence. The past two waves have plowed through the lands between Outremer and the Steppes, but when they reached us we were a challenge and they were not prepared. They believe that they can simply steamroller over us, but this is not the case.

Ideally they would take Baghdad and use it as a base of operations, including possibly a source of reinforcements. Considering that Baghdad is once again sacked, it appears that they did not learn their lesson. Therefore, considering that we are even stronger, I see no reason why we will lose.

[Warluster]

Athalwolf coughs and stands again

But, we are worried about them coming at these small nuymbers already, what if more come?

lets sa, we have hundreds of armies these sizes, they can oming roaring through, and wipe all in its path. Most unlikely, but we do not know there numbers.

Or, or they, if they were smart, come elsewhere? How do we know that they're coming up from the Moorish Lands? What if they come through Russia and into Christendom?

I say, DUke Ansehelm, when you somewhat capture Moscow, you send at leaat a Regiment of men, to scan the known horizon. Just to mkae sure.

Athalwolf sits, fingring his sword nervously

[Privateerkev]

Athawolf,

First off, let me welcome you to the Diet. I am glad to see those so young get politically active.

Second, if hundreds of armies come, we will still make our stand in Outremer. The more we can stop there, the less all of you will have to fight them in Germany. I am sure at some point, those of us out east will be overrun, but we can make a dent in their forces. It will become a war of attrition. This is one of the points that tends to be lost on those that believe Outremer to be a folly. One of the purposes for having Outremer, is to be the front line against the barbarian hordes that come from lands far far East. It is just not the Holy Places of Christiandom that we protect, but our very homeland as well.

This group of horse lords will fall just like the last ones did. Then we will continue to be the wall that watches over the western world as is our duty.

[Warluster]

Athalwolf stands, a smug look on his face.
But Mister von Hamburg, may I please clearly state, every wave is as diffrent as the next.

To be able to overun the fcountless counties and countries before it, you have to be a able General, and a able army. Outremer is coruppted I say, and we should not trust the populace. They shall do anything to save their own, filthy skin.

I say we have to be certian, Io shall not repeat again.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Conrad Salier:

We only look to "save our own, filthy skin" as you so nicely put it so that the Horse Lords do not come rampaging throughout Europe and threatening the heartlands.

Please get an idea of Outremer's purpose before you continue to besmirch its name and its people, Athalwolf.

[TinCow]

King Salier is completely correct, Athalwolf. You have clearly forgotten that the purpose of Outremer is to drain all of the florins and professional soldiers from the Reich itself so that the 'Crusaders' can enrich their estates. Protection of their own skins is merely a happy coincidence.

[Privateerkev]

Count Lothar,

Were not you the one that so kindly advised me to look after the affairs of my own house? So funny that you consistently fail to take your own advice. Kind of like how you keep failing to vote. I guess those voting booths are hard to find...

As for enriching our estates, are you including your own brother in that calculation? All expenditures for Outremer go through him. Now that you can not accuse us of accumlating influence, you have to find something else. So now we get too rich? If we do, I have certainly not seen any of that money. If we all took vows of poverty, you would probably just think of something else.

So, yes Lothar, I have just gotten so filthy rich from this. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to go put on my solid gold armor that is painted pink and go fight people so you will not have to.

[TinCow]

Need I remind you, Jan, that Outremer is not a House of any kind? It is a simple Reich protectorate and therefore its management is the concern of all electors.

As for enrichment, I suppose a fortune in 'holy relics' and command of the best armies in the Reich counts for little. As for yourself, you have gained a County there, something which you have not managed to achieve in your own House. If you do not believe that you have personally gained much from your presence in Outremer, I can only conclude that you are still a minor figure, of little importance in the East. I am sure that once you grease the proper palms, wealth will flow to you just as it has done to all of your colleagues.

As for my brother, you are clearly an immense fool if you believe that I approve of his conduct of affairs. Perhaps you have been smoking too much of King Salier's Eastern tobacco and have forgotten the most recent election.

[Privateerkev]

It seems that it is you that needs reminding that Outremer is not a house. Your the one that pushed for legislation that only strengthed that claim.

As for where I have lands, that is up to others to decide. Luckily for me, it is not up to you. Again you are failing to follow your own advice. Continue to do that, and I will not be as inclined to take you so seriously like I do now.

And I have gained much from my presence in Outremer. It is just that material wealth means little to me. There are many ways to be a rich man. They do not all have to involve florins. I would explain it to you if I was confident that you would understand it.

As for my fellow Crusaders being rich, I am going to have to insist that they start letting me borrow the gold armor and diamond swords.

As for the chancellor election, it is fairly obvious that you threw the election. Anyone who thinks that you "lost" anything is not paying enough attention...

[GeneralHankerchief]

Conrad Salier:

Feel free to insult Outremer all you wish, Lothar, for I am used to it. But please do not insult the Chancellor's conduct of affairs. So far, he has continued the work of Kaiser Jobst and Fredricus in getting the Reich back on its feet. The only thing you have to match for it is getting your brother killed under your watch at Ajaccio.

[Privateerkev]

Jan says this with a smirk

My King,

Lothar has made it clear that you have been holding out on me. I want my gold armor and diamond sword. And I want them right now.

[TinCow]

*Lothar's grin vanishes from his face and his voice grows icy.*

You will regret those words, Salier.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Conrad Salier:

Yes, I'm sure I will.

This discussion has carried on for too long. The recent Chancellorship election and the passage of Edicts should have settled this matter. The great majority of Electors view, as I do, Outremer as a part of the Reich worthy of sustained defense. All you are doing with this continued blasting of Outremer is bringing up an issue few people wish to discuss, while the matters more pressing fall by the wayside.

[Cecil XIX]

Much as it pains me to come to Count Steffen's defense, I must agree that King Salier went to far. It is an insult unworthy and uncharacteristic of the King.