Conseil du Royaume

**Ramses II CP** · 10-07-2009, 03:52

With a wry look Prince Louis addresses the Council,

So, now that the Moors trouble lands other than House Aquitaine's they are finally seen as a threat? Perhaps if the Seneschal had taken my requests seriously Aquitaine would have the forces in place to meet them, but in truth recruitment has been insufficient to replace my losses from the previous Moorish invasion. No matter, we all know who places grudges ahead of the good of their people.

A sneer crosses the Prince's face before he continues,

I do not know how the English reinforced Pamplona, but I mean to consolidate my forces and secure that front first at this time. If any other House wishes to ask aid against the Moors I pledge my House to answer as best we are able, next season, dependant on what men are available to us, of course.

As to how the Moors reached the position they have... do we need to hear charges of treachery and treason again? I am not fond of some members of this Council, but even at that I cannot imagine they would stoop to treating with infidels, much less aiding them in crossing our lands. Some other trickery is at work. Fortunately the solution is simple, we should prepare a line of fortifications blocking passage from Iberia into France proper. Eh, a matter for the future anyway.

It is well that the German front seems quiet, as the English are rallying large armies to the defense of their King. We'll put them to flight soon enough, and the more the merrier, eh Mon Roi?

As I've said all along, training requests for Toulouse and Bordeaux, once the latter has been assigned to House Aquitaine, will be entertained fairly no matter who issues them. The defense of the realm cannot be left in the cold over petty disagreements.

**OverKnight** · 10-07-2009, 04:30

Hugues shakes his head.

All the companies your Highness requested last season were recruited, as well as all your prioritizations met.

Hugues stands, back straight and head high, with a flash of rage in his eyes.

I tire of your baseless slanders. I tire of your holier than thou attitude. I tire of you blaming everyone but yourself for the problems facing your Duchy.

You are a mindless bully. A wart on the face of this Kingdom. Your heedless aggression has landed you in trouble and now you whine like a child whose toys have been taken away.

You pushed for a war with the English, you have it. You pushed for a war with the Moors, you have it. You have attacked on all fronts, leaving your Duchy without a reserve, and now events have overtaken you. That is not my fault, but your own.

So if you wish to impeach me, try it. If you wish to challenge me to a duel, I'll accept. But for the love all that is Holy, cease your snide insinuations and focus on the challenges that face all of us.

**GeneralHankerchief** · 10-07-2009, 06:23

*Raynaud soundlessly licks his lips at the Seneschal's last statement, but says nothing.*

**Braden** · 10-07-2009, 08:42

My lords please! Now is not the time with a Moor army deep in our own territory…surely you can both see this?

Brother, to say the German border is “quiet” is a bit of a misnomer seeing as a German army threatens Antwerp as we speak? Not only this but my sources tell me it is an army raised from Hamburg’s own garrison…leaving the castle largely undefended.

However, the watch towers also see another large Imperial army at Magdeburg just across the border.

So, it would appear the Germans are more active than first assumed huh?

Have we brought the English to heal yet in our own country? Do we know what holdings the English have in Spain? I suggest we find out urgently so that large forces such as those at Pamplona have come from deeper territories? Without intelligence we are likely to charge into the darkness and be consumed!

I request that we try to find an agent to investigate before we commit more to this theatre.

My lord of Champagne, I thank you for allowing the recruitment of spears for the Kings army. With greater German forces ahead of me I feel I may require further re-enforcement before I take Hamburg.

I also agree that we are again in a significant position to sue for terms with the Germans. However, to ensure this I strongly believe both Nuremberg and Magdeburg should be captured for potential exchange.

Gentlemen, now is the time to focus and consolidate our forces. Look to garrisons and take the field with as much as we can as we have Germans and Moors to repel from within! Dijon AND Marseille are threatened by the Moors large army…I care not HOW they got there all I care about at this time is HOW we are to remove them!

I cannot, in good conscience, leave the Eastern front to combat this new threats. Should I leave Magdeburg and Hamburg unchallenged the armies from these regions would surely threaten Frankfurt, Antwerp and beyond.

Brother, it seems the coin you got for us will be used up faster than we all envisaged huh?

**_Tristan_** · 10-07-2009, 10:23

Mes seigneurs,

The Moorish threat has been proven true... While we bickered among ourselves, us Christians, our lust for battle fueled by the Pope's writs, the Mohammedans have gathered their forces and are now walking our lands, desecrating them... This must stop.

Now, England has almsot been brought to heel. The Order knights and myself are in position between Nottingham and London, poised to strike the killing bow to the heretical self-styled English King.

We've taken back the lands Guillaume and his minions had taken from us or we are about to do so.

I know that I've been pushing hard these last years for a Crusade to be called upon England. But I did so only to have our foray be done with his Holiness' sanction, allowing us to do God's work unopposed and not be seen as acting out of selfishness and with the wish of claiming lands for our own.

Now, it is time to consider if this Crusade is still required. Would it not be better if another target was chosen ? I can almost already hear some of you say "I told you so" (looks pointedly at Xaintrailles and Rethel) but the duty of a King is to look to the greater good of his Royaume before loking to the good of his soul.

Now, the Moors are desecrating our lands and we need our Senechal to alter our boat's course, steering us away from the shoals, only his hands are tied by our legislation.

So I'm calling to you my Lords. Do we need to change our legislation ? Do we need another Emergency Session ?

I'm waiting on your views, mes Seigneurs. Should you wish it, I'll be calling that session myself.

**OverKnight** · 10-07-2009, 11:03

Hugues looks drained.

If the Conseil chooses another target by something approaching acclamation, I will have the Crusade called on it.

I would suggest Granada or even Marrakesh. If we cannot come to a consensus on a target, than another session might be required.

Hugues sighs at the thought.

As for England, an option, barring a peace, is to withdraw our forces from the Island to focus on the continent. We could recruit a fleet and blockade Dover, keeping them from an easy crossing.

While we are considering our options, should we have peace for our time with Germany? What should we give if this palatable?

**_Tristan_** · 10-07-2009, 11:10

Looking to Hugues.

I concur with you. Another will only be needed if we have dissension on the Crusade target. Granada or Marrakech would be fine.

As for England, I'm not prepared to leave until Guillaume has been brought down. Once this is accomplished, and if a Crusade is called upon the Moors, I will certainly join, though it may take some time for me to reach those God-forsaken lands.

Finally in the matter of the Reich, I dearly hope their new Kaiser will be more amenable to peace than their last one. As to what offers we can make them, I would propose lands but that will have to wait as the lands taken from the Imperials are not yet ratified and thus cannot be traded yet.