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Post by Admin Bob on Feb 17, 2023 13:30:51 GMT
The time for the Imperial Diet had come. From across the lands came emissaries, representatives, dukes, kings and other gentry. For this Diet, the leaders were meeting in the Popes grand banquet hall, which had been repurposed as a huge meeting chamber. Inside the massive room there had been arranged three separate dockets. On the left, those who held votes via blood, Kings, Prices and Dukes. On the right, those who held votes via land, republics, city states, various oligarchies. While last, but not least, the clergy sat in the center. At the very back of the room, on a raised stand, stood an empty chair reserved for the Emperor, a seat which had sat empty for hundreds of years. Sitting next to the empty chair, his Holiness the Pope Sixtus III looked over the assembly. A stout man in delicate white robes, Sixtus III was in his late 60's, already one of the oldest Popes on record. He was the one who had taken the initiative to call the Diet for the first time in a century, hoping that perhaps peace and prosperity could be found through mutual respect and dialogue. As the various leaders and emissaries found their assigned seating, the Pope rose and spoke to the assembly: Gathered goodfolk! Lords, leaders and everyone else. We welcome you to Reme and thank you for accepting our invitation to this most auspicious of events. We are gathered here today to rekindle an old forgotten flame at the very heart of Christendom, the institution and culture of the Imperial Diet, which we have so sorely missed in the last century. We believe it is now time to reassemble the Diet, and reach for a better future, where Christians do not fight, but trade and talk. As you all know, we hold no special power at this assembly, and are merely observers, but we take great pride in the Diet, and hold great respect for the power it can project. Let it be known by all that Christendom watches and waits on the restoration of this great parliament.
As this Diet has not been assembled in anyone's lifetime, we will presume to set in motion the meeting by calling for any candidates for the position of Speaker, who shall be standing in for the Emperor in choosing a topic, guiding debate, and calling for formal voting. Further, we would remind the Diet that time marches on, and as such there should be taken steps to ensure that the Diets time is not wasted. We recommend that only one final vote is held on all topics presented, so that the ending of any Diet is impactful and efficient. Again however, this is beyond our power to dictate, and we look with hope to this new Diet to set in stone such measures.
Now Brother Mathias shall say grace, and I shall take my place as an observer. For this session of the Diet only, I have presumed to have brought a scholar, Brother Francis, to answer any questions about the ancient Diets and the customs of the Emperors, but please.. Do not bombard dear Brother Francis with questions on formalities, that is up for you to decide on.After a thin haggard looking monk opened the prayers for the Diet and beseeched the Lord's blessing for the assembly, the Diet began:
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Post by Thravok I on Feb 17, 2023 15:58:33 GMT
His Holiness, Lords and leaders. my friends. I call upon you to discuss a serious matter. A horrible war is waging between Christians. I know, and your holiness and every good Christian know, that it can be tolerated. Even less when there are plenty of food, lands and resources to claim. Many of you have met me. We have been signed treaties for our borders. I am sure you can tell this chamber that I have always been fair and generous. However, when I tried to find an agreement with Marq Luq d'Jean, king of the Eriburn, I only found threats and greed. None of them to be find in a good Christians. Here are the letters and claims we exchanged when I send my emissaries. (Throw the letters in the table to the audience to read) Since them, many men have died and he is trying to stifling my kingdom and force my people to starve. So, I ask to His Holiness and the honorable people in this chamber to intercede in this matter and end the hostilities between Christians. I pledge this border to be maintain, which first was established, and the kingdom of Eriburn to draw back the lands in that zone. My sincere thanks to the members of this diet for hearing me. I wish we can find a peaceful solution.
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Post by Marq Luq d'Jean on Feb 17, 2023 16:31:37 GMT
The Crown Prince raises, clapping his hands slowly before turning to bow his head to the Pope
"Your Holiness, I did not realize that you had provided for entertainment for the Diet this day. Because what we were just subjected to was nothing less than a most spirited, comedic dialogue. Much like the plays or poems set on historical events, there is a kernel of truth to what we just heard, though most of it was the orator's fiction.
"Allow for me to give the fact where thus far has been provided only fiction, no matter how entertaining it may have been. I do not pretend to hide the fact that as the Crown Prince of the Most Holy Kingdom of Eriburn that I defend our ancestral borders vehemently. I do not pretend that I am not a God-fearing Christian. And I would never think of standing before the Holy See and spouting such utter, diabolic nonsense.
"From the dirty, scattered remnants of letters that have been thrown on the table, you will no doubt see that as the Crown Prince, seeking a peaceful existence with my neighbors, I reached out to them to explain the historical and God-given claims that we had to the lands around our Kingdoms, no doubt as everyone in this room has done. When told that there was some overlap between what were considered historically Eriburnian and what is now considered a part of the Old Kingdom, I released my claim to those lands.
"But....just as they have laid claim to a means of free and fair passage that has stood for hundreds of years, the Old Kingdom wasn't satisfied with just that. They wished to restrict Eriburn to a small holding on the side of a mountain, claiming for themselves lands vast and mighty. Even the nature of their initial message is telling. Here is a line on the map you shall not cross, everything else is mine. Are these the words of a ruler...or a child?
"But although I did my best to resolve this diplomatically, the stubborn, brutish nature of the Old Kingdom refused to allow them to see reason, to see the Christian way of handling the situation. Which is why you can imagine my shock when I received the word that the Old Kingdom had burned a path of wanton destruction, pillaging and...ungentlemanly treatment of women, throughout the Eastern reaches of my Kingdom.
"The...man standing before you here today is trying to say that is the fault of the Most Holy Kingdom of Eriburn that he was forced to pillage my lands, plunder our fields and debase the women of my realm. He is here before you today because his Army was caught on our lands and were dealt a savage blow, as the Almighty Hand of God guided our blades against the perfidious, diabolic ways of the Old Kingdom's men.
"But even when this happened, we have not raided his lands, sacked his cities or devalued his women. We handled this conflict like true Christians, not expecting to see this issue drug before the Imperial Diet, where a mighty yarn of a tale was laid out before the body.
"The Old Kingdom cannot stand here today and use the Imperial Diet to try and salvage its failed war of conquest against Eriburn. I call upon the Diet to reject the attempt at forcing their savage ways on my people and ask for a condemnation of their actions, their words and their insult to the Holy See."
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Post by Consul Allectus de Gallia on Feb 17, 2023 16:42:23 GMT
Allectus entered the meeting hall of the Imperial Diet with his entourage and advisors. He directed some to sit in the audience stands while he and one of his more trusted advisors took a sit on the right along with the other fellow republicans and oligarchs. Before making his way to the stands, he approached the Pope of Reme to pay homage to his Holiness, bowing and kneeling, kissing the Pope’s ring, if offered, to give deference to God’s representative on Earth. He then took his assigned seat with his advisor sitting behind him whispering words, thoughts and opinions only he could hear. He observed the recent arguments between the representatives of the Kingdoms of Eriburn and the Old Kingdom. He mostly keep quiet only exchanging a few words with his advisor but darting his eyes from one side to the other as both parties made their arguments. “A conflict betwinxt princes Dominus, nothing more” his advisor whispered. Allectus maintained a stoic composure and waited to see what happens next.
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Post by Duke Gary da Carlsen on Feb 17, 2023 17:45:40 GMT
Duke Gary of Green Castle would also show his respects to the pope before going to his seat and listening to the Imperial Diet.
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Post by Lord-Archon Trajan Evander on Feb 17, 2023 18:18:49 GMT
A man in his early 40s rose from his seat, adorned in hues of silver, purple, and leather. Everything about the ruler was designed for notice, for majesty, though when he walked it was apparent his boots were just a little too big for him. This was the Lord-Archon Trajan Evander, the self-proclaimed Emperor-In-Waiting. He had previously paid his respects to His Holiness without over-indulgence.
His Holy Vicar on Earth, Lords, Governors, and Assorted Merchants of some status, we all conduct diplomacy as necessary for our realms. Some for trade, some for land, some for defense. While some may see Lord d'Jon's diplomacy may have been... over-stated, this is not a sin against God or Man. Do we wish for this body to limit our sovereignty as rulers on this matter, at this time?
Furthermore, many of us have worked to expand our realm claims to ungoverned and lawless territories across the peninsula in recent years. Often without conflict. Lords d'Jon and Thravok had no such agreement on boundaries, and Lord d'Jon directed his armies to secure territories vital to his realm.
Lord Thravok, however, launched heinous and violent raids, unprovoked by direct action, and a full invasion of his neighbor without any further attempt at diplomacy. This is uncivilized! Furthermore, by God's Grace, the marauding armies of the Old Kingdom were swept from the field and ejected from the Holy Kingdom of Eriburn. Is this not a clear indication of our God's Divine Favor?
Tell me, would any of us suffer the indignities of our neighbors scouring our lands and then pleading before the Imperial Diet for recompense when they were defeated? If Lord Thravok had approached this body before launching hostilities, I believe the Diet would have sought solutions. The sword has already been draw, however, and should be settled thusly between these two realms.
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Post by Admin Bob on Feb 17, 2023 18:23:17 GMT
The Pope rose.
"My lords, please, it is not my station or duty to say so, but first a speaker must be elected before the Diet debates this matter further. If not, the Diet will get nowhere, and will spend the rest of its allotted time bickering. There must be order like God intended, and a speaker who chooses the topics, recognises those who would want to speak, and calls for votes is what is needed here"
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Post by Duke Gary da Carlsen on Feb 17, 2023 19:16:49 GMT
"How about Grand Master Johann Georg Wolfgang von Lüttwitz for speaker? He's far away from the current wars that're sure to be a major point of discussion in this diet and should therefore be a relatively neutral candidate, unless I'm mistaken?"
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Post by Guildmaster Anatolius on Feb 17, 2023 19:29:24 GMT
Guildmaster Anatolius arrived at the meeting hall only to immediately hear the condemnation by King Thravok of Marq Luq d'Jean and frowned slightly. This was supposed to be a meeting of Kings, Counselors, Princes, Legates and Dukes, the brightest of the land and best hope to re-establish the Empire to support peace. Instead of looking forward to the resumption of trade and opportunities that would come, he now had to look forward to a session where every grievance, every slight would be brought up and magnified due to those gathered disagreeing with the outcome. He was already worried about the events in the Republic, wondering just what the Legate and the Council had been thinking before disrupting the peace. Negotiations with the High Kingdom has not been going well, but surely not to such immediacy that the deaths of so many productive people were necessary.
He remained standing and after hearing the Pope's words along with those of Duke Carlsen, addressed the assembly.
"In respect of His Holiness, Pope Sixtus III and of those gathered here to seek the restoration of the Empire, I believe the simplest and most important matter to be decided is thus, who wishes to assume the role of Speaker knowing the responsibilities and obligations such a role carries? Duke Carlsen has already nominated Grand Master Johann Georg Wolfgang von Lüttwit and I am sure this Diet would like to hear from others their intentions or who they may support.
Certainly we can agree on the merits of Grand Master Johann Georg Wolfgang von Lüttwitz as Speaker, but only if he wishes such a role."
He proceeded to his seat amongst those in the right side of the chamber, wondering what was happening at home and what impacts, if any, this session of the Diet would have.
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Post by Thravok I on Feb 17, 2023 19:33:58 GMT
"How about Grand Master Johann Georg Wolfgang von Lüttwitz for speaker? He's far away from the current wars that're sure to be a major point of discussion in this diet and should therefore be a relatively neutral candidate, unless I'm mistaken?" The Duke Gary da Carlsen is right. The Grand Master of the Canton of Helvetia could be a good candidate. I will vote for him to help bring order to this Diet. We need to find solutions before the king of Eriburn continues to posion with their words. I will like to defend myself from their lies and let the truth flourish
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Post by Duke Gary da Carlsen on Feb 17, 2023 19:40:04 GMT
Certainly we can agree on the merits of Grand Master Johann Georg Wolfgang von Lüttwitz as Speaker, but only if he wishes such a role." *Duke Gary would nod at this line.* "I would like to confirm that I'd like to hear from the grandmaster that he actually wants to be speaker. I put his name out to start discussion on the matter as someone who I think would be a good potential speaker."
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Post by Johann von Lüttwitz on Feb 17, 2023 19:52:51 GMT
My fellow advocates of Christ and attendees,
Should the body wish for me to serve as Speaker, I shall certainly carry out these functions to the best of my ability.
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Post by Admin Bob on Feb 17, 2023 19:59:52 GMT
The Pope stands once again:
I know the Grandmaster to be a pious and diligent servant of Christ. Do any stand against his candidacy? If not, I propose to the assembly that we recognise the Grandmaster as the Speaker for this session of the Diet.
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Post by Marq Luq d'Jean on Feb 17, 2023 20:02:51 GMT
The Crown Prince nods his assent.
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Post by King Percy LXII of Percia on Feb 17, 2023 20:13:30 GMT
I would be hesitant to elect a Speaker before I know what terms we are electing him to. With the length and nature of his role unestablished, I cannot support any man for the position. If we are to elect a Speaker before deciding his priviliges and responsibilities, I would not like him to, through power as Speaker, give himself any favour.
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