Imperial Diet VII

[AussieGiant]

Arnold:

I will never be oblivious to the loss of my nobles, no matter how many fall in battle. The fact Johann was my nephew and was therefore the first of my fathers blood to lose his life for this Duchy and for the Reich as a whole should prove just how much the House of Austria is prepared to sacrifice for our Empire.

The next generation have begun to pay the ultimate price for being born into nobility.

The fact I still live seems a miracle. It is especially poignant when I look at the Imperial heritage documents and see that I am the only one of my lineage left alive.

I ask you all to add Johann to your evening prayers for the next few months. Maybe our thoughts will help him in the after life for which I’m sure he was unprepared for due to his age.

[gibsonsg91921]

May Johann rest in peace! He died magnificently, a true soldier's death. May his soul make Hungarians fear to tread this land!

[gibsonsg91921]

*from Orders and Reports thread... c'mon people let's Diet it up!*

There is truth to what you say, Duke Bresch, but only if the verdict is the result of a fair and honorable trial. Chancellor von Kastilien clearly seeks nothing of the sort. He clearly wants me dead and will do whatever he sees fit to achieve that end, even if it requires attacking and imprisoning the man we have both previously agreed upon as an impartial judge. I do not doubt that if Count Becker finds me innocent, that he will declare the trial a fraud and seek to have me executed anyway. When faced with such a situation, I have no choice but to prepare myself for a proper defense, both in and out of the court of law.

Lothar, why would we have a quarrel with you other than for the murder of our brother? You have done honorable things for the defense of Bavaria. Surely we would not seek to find a scapegoat for public death, but rather the true mastermind of the assassination. Your logic is flawed.

If Becker, should he ever conduct the trial, finds you guilty, you would not come quietly either and you know this.

Becker's loyalty is held in question - he has fought honorably for Bohemia, yet there is something I do not trust in his submission to Duke Arnold after his secession from Austria. If disloyalty is an issue, I will not hesitate to suspend the Charter and exercise the extent of my power to save the Reich.

[Ramses II CP]

God willing, with me at your side as Chancellor my Kaiser.

Fritz von Kastilien

[GeneralHankerchief]

Herrmann Steffen:

Correct me if I'm wrong gentlemen, but by your two previous statements it seems as if you're almost anxious to start another civil war.

It heartens me so that the Reich's two leaders - its Kaiser and Chancellor - are so willing to go down this path of continued toil and destruction.

[Ramses II CP]

I am eager to see the men who killed a Kaiser of the Reich brought to justice! If it requires meeting them in battle, then I will surely relish that, but that does not mean I seek to do the Reich harm! It would be unwise to impugn the von Kastilien name just now Hermann Steffen. Has the Reich not advanced under my hands, with the guidance of my Kaiser? Has Bavaria not grown and driven off her enemies?

Peace can exist only where the land is just and well ruled!

Fritz von Kastilien

[GeneralHankerchief]

Herrmann Steffen:

Chancellor, make no mistake, I respect you for what you have done. The Reich has truly grown and prospered under your guidance.

However, I believe it all comes down to one thing you said:

It would be unwise to impugn the von Kastilien name just now Hermann Steffen.

That's all it's about with you people, isn't it? Honor and vengeance, anyone who stands in the way of your eternal quest for it be damned. Well, I've got news for you:

I'm sick of honor!!!

Honor has been used as a crutch to further one's own interests over those of the nation for far too long, and look where it's gotten us! It was because of honor that Kaiser Heinrich launched the entire Reich into war with the Papacy and prolonged excommunication! It was because of honor that Ulrich Hummel exterminated the population of Metz when he retook it for the Reich! It was because of honor that Duke Arnold abandoned his post during a critical time just to travel to Outremer and try to kill Jan von Hamburg just because some insults were thrown in the Diet! It was because of honor that Elberhard continued to follow through with your brother's horrible plan for reunification, just to spite the Diet! It was because of honor that Dietrich von Dassel and Hans couldn't put aside their differences and destroy the French overrunning Swabia instead of killing each other!

You take your pathetic honor, gentlemen. I'll take a stable Reich.

[Zim]

A letter arrives from Outremer.
Fellow Electors,

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

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

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

Andreas von Salzgitter

[OverKnight]

Matthias Steffen enters the Diet Chamber. After reviewing the minutes he stands to speak.

Becker's loyalty is held in question - he has fought honorably for Bohemia, yet there is something I do not trust in his submission to Duke Arnold after his secession from Austria. If disloyalty is an issue, I will not hesitate to suspend the Charter and exercise the extent of my power to save the Reich.

Kaiser Peter, did I hear you say "Suspend the Charter"?

By suspending the Charter, you would be dooming the Reich to Tyranny, not saving it. You may be Kaiser, but you are not some eastern God-King, the Charter binds us all, Electors and Emperor.

I understand that a strict adherence to the Charter has never been your Majesty's strong suit, but you have no right to suspend it. Such a gross seizure of power would be unprecedented and far more of a danger than the decades old accusations against a Duke.

Matthias turns to the rest of the chamber.

This is only one of many claims of Imperial power that have been made by Kaiser Peter, he has implied that he has the power to detain Electors without a trial, strip Electors of their titles and appoint their replacements all without the consultation or permission of the Diet. No such executive powers have ever existed in the Holy Roman Empire. Yet, he claims them, even though no such measures have been passed.

Is the Diet willing to cede all its power to the Kaiser? Abandon it's traditonal rights as a body to one man? Fortunately, such claims are still only words, alarming as they may be. But if the Charter is breached by the Kaiser, I shudder to think what might happen.

[AussieGiant]

Arnold:

von Salzgitter,

Your request is noble but I don't feel it is necessary. Lord Becker simply needs to get his arse into gear before satisfaction is achieved through more "traditional" means.

I'm certainly in favour of a trial by arms and let God decide who's right or wrong.

And young Steffen,

making comments about my actions towards Jan von Hamburg shows just how "removed" you are from how certain things must be accomplished in life. If I had of "removed" him from proceedings can you imagine the impact it would have had on the civil war!?

There is no place for religious fanaticism in this Reich and history has proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

As for the Kaiser and his brother the Chancellor…it does seem to be a rather convenient double act that the von Kastilien’s are now rattling their sabres about disregarding the Charter while that "family" controls the two most important positions in the Reich.

Think on that my fellow nobles…

[AussieGiant]

Travel stained and covered in mud, Arnold makes his way into an essentially deserted Diet Chamber. He moves quickly to the Speaker chair and they talk quietly for a moment. With a nod the Diet Speaker motions for the Duke to approach the Imperial scribe.

"Make a note will you my good man...Max Zirn is now Count of Vienna and he is taking command of the 1st Austrian Household Army."

[TinCow]

*A nervous looking Bavarian messenger enters the Diet. He opens a sealed document and begins to read.*

Electors of the Riech,

News has reached me that the summary court set up by the Kaiser and the Chancellor has reached a verdict and declared me guilty. I am sure that you are all as disturbed by this news as I am. I would ask that you remain patient for a short while longer. A full response to these charges and the verdict will be distributed across the Reich later this evening. For the good of us all, please wait until my defense has been heard before taking up arms against me. I assure you, all will be explained shortly.

Lothar Steffen
Duke of Bavaria