Conseil du Royaume

[Zim]

A nervous looking functionary makes his way to the dais in the center of the Council Chamber.

"The 2nd Conseil du Royaume. It shall close for voting on the 10th of September at 21:00 PST, so make your edicts, amendments, and announce Seneschal candidacies while you can."

[_Tristan_]

The King takes a scroll handed out by a scribe and reads aloud.

Edict 2.1 : The settlements of Marseille, Frankfurt and Antwerp will be incorporated into the Royaume. The settlement of Caernarvon will also be incorporated insofar as it stretches the extent of Edict 1.2.

Edict 2.2 : No further attacks are to be made on the Reich for the next Senechal term and suitable negotiations will be held with the Kaiser to regain a state of neutrality. Defending against attacks from the Reich doesn't impinge on this Edict.

[OverKnight]

Hugues speaks.

I second both edicts.

I know I don't want to be denied communion. I assume that attacking German forces that enter our lands is allowed by this Edict, mon Roi?

I'll have more to say once Reeves gets me the latest reports.

[_Tristan_]

Another scroll is handed to the King by the scribe.

Edict 2.3 : A diplomat will be sent to Rome at the earliest opportunity. It is important that we build back the best of relations with the Holy Father, in the wake of his threat of excommunication.

Proclamation 2.1 : Any settlement bought from a foreign power (OOC : AI faction) will be automatically incorporated into the Royaume.

Edict 2.4 : A treaty will be signed with Guillaume of England concerning the return to the French crown of the settlements of Caen and Angers. Negotiations will be held also for the return of Bordeaux.

[Ignoramus]

Gaspard de Neufville rises to speak.

"Bons messieurs, during the time of Duc de Alain as Seneschal, the royaume has expanded considerably. Land to the east has been reclaimed from our German neighbours, and the lordships of northern Spain have been returned to Frankish rule."

Pausing for a moment, Gaspard continues.

"However, during such a rapid expansion, we have had little time to build up the royaume and bring prosperity to our lands. Only now, having brought florins into the roi's coffers, do we have enough wealth to improve this land for the better.

Churches, markets, ports - not to mention barracks, stables, and headquaters for siege engineers - can and should be now built across the realm. Such expansion of our towns and châteaux will strike fear and respect into the hearts and minds of all the roi's enemies."

Looking each noble in the eye, Gaspard pause before continuing.

"Bons messiuers, I am willing to take upon the office of Seneschal, and carry out the faithful governing of the royaume in the interests of our roi and this assembled conseil.

I will see that due resources will be sent to the nobles fighting on the frontier with the Holy Roman Empire, while securing our other borders with sufficient men and supplies to ward off any sudden attack.

I also pledge to begin the construction of a royal navy. This navy shall be under the command of the roi, and will be initially built in the excellent ports of Bruges and Antwerp, once they be properly furnished. We cannot allow our royaume to be without either naval transport or a suitable defence against marauders that come across the depths as the Vikings of old.

As Seneschal, I would seek to maintain a healthy relationship with His Holiness and the Holy Sea, and begin to organise emissaries at all the major courts of Europe. Such communication is vital for the swift conclusion of diplomatic affairs, and will increase our contact with neighbouring royaumes.

As Captain of the Order de la Fleur de Lys, I also pledge to lead mon fellow chevaliers into battle at mon roi's command. I will serve where he wishes me to, and we will uphold the honour of our roi's name.

Finally, I pledge that if elected, I will govern fairly and equally among all the Duchies and the Order. I am not interested in favouritism, but will govern in the best interests of all.

Merci, bons messieurs."

Gaspard de Neufville resumes his seat.

[AussieGiant]

Alain folds his arms and leans back in his seat, with a rye smile and a look of some contempt he glances around at any other nobles who may run for the position.

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

Yvon Looks up


Ahhh, I second Edicts 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and Proclamation 2.1.


but on 2.4 I have to disagree. The English have already proven to us they do not want a fair deal. We can blame Duc Alain de Rohan all we want, but in the end it comes down to the fact that the English enjoy having France in a stranglehold.

[_Tristan_]

As Yvon finishes, the King answers.

Not a fair deal ? Who are you to question the fairness of a deal when this deal has been brokered by your King ? Don't you think we'll benefit from this more than it will cost us ? Have you taken into account the costs of maintaining troops on our borders with the English and the current length of that border ? If we minimize one then we can minimize said costs, money that can serve to improve our lands and pay the upkeep of our soldiers fighting against the Reich.

And we can excuse Duc de Rohan all we want but I concluded a deal with my cousin Guillaume and it is only through the fault of our diplomat, chosen by our Senechal, that the deal could not be sealed.

Hence the need for this Edict to finally seal that deal, a deal which will much benefit France as a whole, returning to her bosom provinces that had been lost.

And as strangleholds come, I had hoped to have a similar stanglehold on England by way of taking both Caernarvon and Dublin, forcing Guillaume's hand in restoring to us our mainland provinces, but it seems the odds were too great for the men of Bretagne.