The Bishopric of Strasbourg was an integral diocese of the Holy Roman Empire. Soon after its initial setup in the 13th century, the locals and Archbishop were at constant ends with each other. Strife become the mainstay for Alsace. Frederick II was elected Archbishop of Alsace in 1375, but the people were dissatisfied with his service. He handled the churchely matters at arms' length, appointing an administration to do his work for him as he perused his own personal interests. Soon, even he became weary of the Alsatians and was transferred to the Utretchian diocese, where he became known as Frederik III.
In 1393, Ludwig von Thierstein was made Archbishop, but was quickly thrown out after caught in the barn with the village goats. Burkhard II von Lützelstein became the new Archbishop, and ruled for a period of several months. However, the populace of Alsace quickly became tired of his lax attitude toward the Catholic church and general ineptitude with public office. They petitioned the diocese, and in 1394 Wilhelm II von Diest was announced as the new Archbishop.
Wilhelm II ruled the church with a distant hand, much like Frederik II before him. However, he saw fit to come out of his bedroom every once and a while and stir the pot by donating church funds to secular lords, undermining the church's power. The devout population of Alsace saw this as sacrilegious and began to clamour for the removal of Wilhelm II. Upon noting this, Wilhelm II took it upon himself to spend a year travelling France dressed as a poor friar. Upon alighting in Paris, he quickly travelled to the Notre Dame where he paid what respects he would to Providence, dropping the requisite coins in the proper bin. With his head bowed over a candle and a sudoku book secretly tucked under his robe, he pretended to find solace.
The earth shook violently, heaving as though its very bowels were being ripped open. An unearthly sound emanated from the church as the stained glass windows fractured. Midsummer light poured into the shattered window, striking Willhelm II's eyes, blinding him. He held his arms up, squinting, just as a keystone loosed from the roof and crashed down on his exposed head. Wilhelm II crashed to the ground unconscious.
He awoke several months later, in Strasbourg, in his very room with servants anxiously hovering over him. Bladrick, his personal servant grasped his arm tightly as Wilhelm II's eyes fluttered open. He began to speak when Wilhelm shushed him. The other servants stared, scarcely believing their eyes.
"Gather the people," Wilhelm said, his voice cracking and raspy from disuse. The servants rushed out, Baldrick shuffling, not wanting to leave his master.
"Go!" Wilhelm shouted, coughing.
That evening, the people crowded in the town square to ascertain the truth of the rumour of Wilhelm II's recovery. As the sun began to sank lower, Wilhelm II finally appeared on the balcony. A quiet lull fell over the crowd, as they stared in awe at the man they hated, apparently fully recovered.
"I have spent a great deal of time asleep," Wilhelm II began lamely, "and I have had many, many dreams. Through all of them resonated a common theme. I have disavowed my church, disavowed myself, but most importantly, disavowed this great city of Strasbourg."
Wilhelm continued for a while, recounting many of his dreams to the citizens.
"Saint Arbogast came to me in my last dream, and he showed me two pictures. In one, Miachael and his angels fought a giant dragon, eventually wounding it so it fell onto the earth. In another, legions of angelic troops marched through the city square, an Alsatian banner held high. Arbogast beckoned to me, and said unto me:
Wilhelm, Michael's War in Heaven may have been won, but the dragon did not die. He fell to earth and yet still lives. You must unite the Heavenly Host and declare Holy War on the dragon himself. Providence has given you this monumental task. Do not fail.
"Together, Alsatians, we must form God's Legion here on earth, and declare a Crusade against the dragon himself!"
The crowd, riveted by Wilhelm II's amazing tale, began cheering. Words of praise floated up to Wilhelm's balcony, where he retired, feeling immensely lethargic from his speech.
The future of Alsace was forever changed.