Conseil du Royaume

[deguerra]

Mes Seigneurs,

The siege at Berne is broken. The Imperial Army has been routed, their ransom rejected and survivors cut down to the last man. They were lead by imbeciles, but their individual soldiers fought bravely, and French casualties were high. I would especially like to mention Sieur Chrétien, without whom I would not be standing here today.

I would ask that as many of my troops be retrained as possible, with special focus on the armoured knights who took heavy losses. But really, I would ask that we finally cease hostilities with the Reich. We have slain several Kaisers. We have taken a large chunk of their lands. What more do we want?

That said, I care not how many more armies are sent to Berne, they will be smashed like the ones before. And from this day, there will be no more rejected ransom demands. Any Imperial soldier who enters Switzerland bearing arms against me and is caught will be killed. I will block the mountain passes with their bodies if need be.

[Braden]

A messenger arrives wearing Henri's colours

My Lords,

The seige of Frankfurt has been broken. We are victorious this day but I have dire news to report...

...The Duc of Lorraine was killed in action.

My lord the Prince Henri will arrive in a few hours to deliver the details himself.

[Cecil XIX]

Raymond lowers his head in mourning.

The Duchy of Lorraine continues to suffer terrible trouble. My prayers are with dear Thomas, as my condolences are with his survivors.

[Braden]

Two men open the doors to the chambers. One is in his late forties, stocky and calm looking the other is younger..perhaps 30…tall and lean, his armour, for they both wear full plate armour, appear to hang from his frame rather than fit him correctly. His eyes dart about the hall as they enter. They are followed by Prince Henri, eyes reddened and face dark. He too wears his battle armour, battered and tarnished but carries a breastplate. He enters to the centre of the hall and throws the breastplate to the ground for all to see, it has clearly been punctured with small square holes

Henri speaks with a quiver in his voice.

This is the armour of Duc Thomas Saint-Amande of Lorraine. His body was foully pierced by crossbow bolts. He died fighting the Germans he hated, their army is now destroyed its…survivors…Henri glares at the older of the two knights with him…have retreated to Nuremburg and now cower in its walls.

I bring the counsiel nearly 5,000 florins in “tribute” from the German Kaiser. Let me say now that no amount would be enough to pay for the offence Lorraine has been given by these men to our East and they will rue the day they dared to strike at us.

I had retreated, we waited within our own borders and I almost believed that after the trade of Nuremburg that the Germans would allow peace to develop…but no, they decided that they would STILL prefer war and outside Frankfurt we met them with what militia forces we had at our disposal.

By the skill of the Duc, we were victorious that day though half our number lay dead on the field…1,500 Germans lay rotting outside the walls of Frankfurt!

I ask the counsiel and the Seneschal my father for the coin to replenish our losses ((OOC: Retrain)) and permission to pursue the war these Germans clearly wish to continue.

Henri sits with a slump on the Duc’s old chair, flanked by his men

[Braden]

Henri still sits, but has had some wine and has been persuaded to remove or loosen some of his field armour, he reads a message, sips some wine and begins

My Lords,

he starts and sounds paced and considers each word

It appears the young Duc did not leave a living will for the continuation of his Duchy. What happens to the holdings of Lorraine and its vassals is now to the consideration of the King.

I will ask that the blood spilled in defence of the Duchy and France be considered and that a continued threat exists in the East with the Germans. Who is to say how long it will take them to find such an army as the one just defeated again?

Also to this, I ask, for I only have knowledge of my own Barony at this time, that Metz have its walls upgraded once the local population warrants it.

Henri nods to his father before resting again

[Ferret]

André looks suspiciously at Prince Henri, but holds his tongue.

[shlin28]

Villain, his clothing immaculate compared to his two peers in the Duchy of Lorraine, walked into the Conseil.

My lords, it is an honor for me to stand in the presence of such illustrious men, men who have safeguarded and expanded France's influence despite the best efforts of our tenacious foes.

Indeed, it was one of these men of legends, my own liege lord, the Duc of Lorraine that fell in battle outside of Frankfurt. Such a hero deserve to be honored, and I will honor his memory till the day I die.

Villain bows to the assembled nobles, before moving to sit beside his comrades. He did not speak to either of them.

[_Tristan_]

Mes Seigneurs,

I am saddened at the loss of Duc Thomas. I feel responsible for his death, for while I am off in these wretched islands, men of Lorraine are dying defending our lands.

Lorraine will have everything it needs to stand up and fight but I will make everything in my power to obtain a ceasefire. This war has lasted long enough and if the Germans won't have enough to lay down their arms, we will show sense for both and make them an offer they cannot refuse. I cannot suffe to see another death in the House of Lorraine.

The price in blood we've paid is too heavy.

Now the House of Lorraine finds itself leaderless once more. If the other Dukes are not opposed to it, I will appoint the highest ranking member of the House to the position.

I hereby nominate Henri, Prince de France, Seigneur de Metz, Duc de Lorraine.

Stand and be recognized.