Commonwealt AAR:Diet sessions

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Even the most hardened military commanders let out a shocked sigh or scream when they see what lies on the plate... It is the severed head of the late Ioan Wisniowiecki... His fierce blue eyes stare right at the Diet Marshall. All secretaries stop taking notes, all eyes turn toward Bogdan, who still manages to keep his composion. He looks every noble in the eye, lingering shortly at the King, the Diet Marshall and pan Glinski... He takes a deep breath - the first sign of any weakness whatsoever - and speaks in a strong and clear voice:

Pan Kazanowski first looks pale, then his face turns red. He turns to one of his assistant, telling him semething very quickly.Colonel Wolodyowski, his assistant, runs out from the room,.
Shortly thereafter, he returns, with eight royal guards.
Pan Kazanowski stands up and speaks.
"Colonel Wolodyowski, arrest that man. I apologize, Diet Marshall, but you overstepped your righs. Therefore Jan Filipkpwski
shall also be held in King's prison. Barbarous action of Bogdan Filipkowski is shocking. What he though, that he have right to kill his own brother, his peer? Even his father would be punished for that. More such actions, and we would better restore Goldne Horde sovereign rule, and offer them our land. WE ARE NOT BARBARIANS!. I shall sent news to the King immediatly.They will be judged after the war, BY THE KING"
Shouting last words, Pan Kazanowski sits down. Colonel Wolodyowski and his soldiers walk out of the room, hurrying to arrest Bogdan Wisniowiecki.

 

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Pan Kazanowski, enraged, rises with hand on his sword hilt.

What the devil is this?Guards!

My lords, i fear we have strange mental disease spreading among nobles. Therefore i urge you to seek refuge in your estate, otherwise it seems that soon everyone will be arrested.I advise you,Marshall , to close this session.


[btw, you misunderstoo me apparently, income from gold mine is added each year]

 

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Deathly pale, the Prymas rises.

"Mental illness? Methinks it's gold that gleams in their minds, a new idol for them to worship. I agree with the king's representative: naught but evil will come this session, close it!"

"Let the king return, mete out his justice upon those who have suffered their sacriligious delusions, and then reform the Diet. For I say this only once: as such, the Diet is Godless and will not continue. And while I will pray for the souls of all concerned, I will seriously have to consider the Church's relations with some of the nobles who hold a seat here."

 

[Rictus]

Lubomirscy Speaks, breaking a long silence

"Milords, sorry for my long silence, I assure you, it was shock at the evident madness sweeping through the court.

May I guide you back to saner matters:

The proposol put froth by Achiles is a very-level headed one and something that we have become blissfully used to." He smiles to the man, "but I see only one flaw in his partitioning of these lands: the lands will be too fragmented, eventually becoming useless to rather than a benefit to everyone.

If you'll allow, let me put it this way: how much revenue can 6% of a land generate? And for some nobles, it would probably be better not to have the land at all rather than having to combat rebels for nigh on 30 years, who would only plague all there neighbours.

Unfortunately, with my lord still in the field, I am unable to propose another system in its pace, if you'll forgive me.

On the issue of the distrubution of the gold from the mine, I say this:
20 ducats to go to the King/treasury
4 ducats to each ofthe hetmen for 10 years
1 ducat to Sapieha, Glinski, Merchant League, and Zamoyscy for 10 years.

Once those ten years are up, the system be readjusted to allow each noble 3 ducats each, and the reminder to go tthe treasary/king.

On the final issue, I and my lord, would be honoured to support Jan Albrecht (sp?) to be the next king, if he is anything like his father, the commonwealths rise to greatness will surely be uninterrupted.

Thank you for your time. And I hope you recover."

Envoy sits.

 

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The Prymas speaks:

"Being a noble myself, I can put forth a proposition, like you. I second the proposal about gold division made just before now: with a repartitioning within 10 years. May I add to those lords that have benifited from the Catholic Church's assistance in this campaign, that a donation, or the building of a new church, would be very pleasing to the Church, especially to show that the recent madness upon some is not due to their worship of a golden cow."

"Furthermore, I still, and will always, support the king's candidate for the crown."

"Lastly, I agree that splitting up each province amongst all the ruling nobles will fragment those lands to much, even to the detriment of those commoners, Orthodox though they may be, at least they should have clear, just government. As I also support total military annexation, and liberation from the Muslim yoke, I would suggest that each of the 5 provinces supply the required sum and control to the king, but be actually controlled by a collective of 3 nobles, this collective then of course being different for each province. Since you can see that I support the gold mine distribution, this should not cause a mad scramble over that territory."

 

[Achiles]

I would just like to say that this new proposal on how to devide the gold is a most just and fair one and I support it completely and totally. I must say though that his math is incorrect. The first ten years would be taking 44 ducats out of the mine each year when it can only produce 40 ducats a year at it's best rate. So may I propose a small adjustment. 15 ducats to king each year and 1 ducat to ZadZik as well.

On the second matter of the devision of land I would like to ssy something. it appears the clerk at the library has failed to put my map in the proper place. I'm not sure when he will finish but I hope that time comes soon. Now I know the division of the land sounds very fragmented but I believe that is the way it will have to work out unless a number of the nobles drop their claims to the new land. I believe that the plan I have put forward is a good one and you will undestand and support it once you see the map I have made. On the wise Prymases's proposal I afraid I must dessent. It is simply to complicated and I believe would only be more confusing.

Thank you gentlemen for your time and I hope we can quickly resolve this issue as a madness seems to be spreading throught this diet. I fear it has infected our king's representitive.

 

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Another great insult was dealt to my position and to Diet. I therefore place Pan Kazanowski under arrest, for removing a man away from my custody.

This Diet session is officially closed. No laws are passed and no decisions decided. Our next meeting might or might not be convened on Jan 1st 1490.

[Session is closed! Post somewhere else!]

 

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Jan Zamoyscy.

Welcome my dear friends, I'm overjoyed by news from East about our total victory. I hope we can devide the lands justly between us. I am open to any suggestions put I favor Pan ZidZak's proposal. He even drew a map with all the new estates equally drawn in. But, let him present it himself.

On the other issua that bothers me. I propose for creation of a Judicial body in Commonwealth. This will be our high Court that can trial any peasant or noble for commiting a crime or violating our law.
Here is the system that I propose.

The Supreme Commonwealth Court will be held by Five Justices.

One Supreme Justice - head of Legislative and Judicial bodies. Supreme Justice is Diet Marshall. Will hold his position untill next Diet Marshall is elected. Five votes.

Two Senior Justices - one is elected by Diet, the other one is appointed by King. Each holds the office for the remaining of life. Three votes each.

Two Junior Justices - one is elected by Diet, the other one is appointed by King. Each holds the office for the remaining of life. Two votes each.

The Supreme Commonwealth Court can try any civil or criminal cases. The Defender will have the right to present himself, or have someone represent him in the court. When the desicion must be carried out, Court will take a vote. The majority of votes wins, and the defender is prosecuted accordingly. Supreme Commonwealth Court's desicion can only be overturned by King.

I hope that you agree with this proposal.

 

[Brad1]

I like the diet marshals proposal, but what I would like to know, what are the qualifications for becoming a justice. If anone can become a justice, there might be trouble. A person who will vote because that is the way that the nobles tell him to could be dangerous. But if only certain people can become justices, there might be the problem of unfare rulings, discriminatiing against certain groups. Be it Catholics, or Orthodox maybe? So Deit marshall, what qualifications do you need to become a justice?

 

[Achiles]

First I would like to say that I like Our just and wise Diet Marshal's proposal for this "Supreme Court" I think it is a fine idea and I support it fully. Although I would like to hear what our king thinks of this before we pass it.

On the subject of our great King I would like to speak. Our king is not well and has asked on many occasions to attend to the matter of electing a new king before he passes on. I feel that we have avoided this issue long enough. So I put forth a motion before this Diet calling for the election of Jan Olbracht as our new king. If noone dessents then the motion shall be passed and Jan Olbracht will become the new King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. I believe that this matter must be attended to now and I also believe that jan Olbracht is the man for job.

Now on to other important business. Such as the division of the new lands and the wealth within them. I have drawn up a plan which I believe is fair and equitable towards all parties involved. It has two parts.

Part one deals with the division of the land.
I have made a map which acuratelly details how I believe this plan should be carried out. You will find the map in the National Library under the heading http://www.systemvoid.com/maur/screenshots/Achiles_CommonwealthRPG2.bmp. Please note that the province of Samara goes to the crown.

Part to deals with the division of the wealth. More specifically the gold. I have been informed by reliable sorces that the exact anual income of the Samara gold mine is 33 ducats. I have formulated a plan for the division of this wealth and I will present it here.

7 ducats go to the Crown of Poland-Lithuania.

3 ducats go to the Catholic Church of Poland-Lithuania.

3 ducats go to the Orthodox Church of Poland-Lithuania.

For the first ten years the rest of the remaining 20 ducats will be devided like so.

3 ducats to Ostrogski, Radziwill, Wisnowicky, Lubomirscy, and Cossacks.

1 ducat to ZadZik, Zamoyscy, Danzig, Sapieha, and Glinski.

After the first ten years all noble families, the Danzig Merchant League, and the Dneipr Cossacks will get 2 ducats each.


These are the things that I propose this Diet session. I hope you fine and good gentlemen will see the reasoning behind these proposals and accept them. Thank you for your time. That is all I have to say for now.

 

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A small man, tiny in comparison to the others enters and stands by the Ostrogski seat

The man is obviously not a noble, but carrys about him an alomst divine aura. He is sure of himself, almost cocky. He bows to the nobles, and to the Diet Marshall

Ahem, milord apologizes. He is making all haste to arrive here before the Session is closed. He has asked me to speak in his stead. I should introduce myself. I am known simply as Simon, the Simple. I serve milord in an advisory position. I can promise all assembled here, I am unlike that boy, Jan. I know my place in the world, and serve milord with all the honour one possibly can. I am in awe of the nobles assmbled here, and shall always keep my head about me. I was sent ahead of milord, to make his wishes, his hopes, known to the honoured nobles who sit here.


Simon takes out a piece of paper, and begins...

I have been advised thusly:

1) In reagrds to the division of land, I would only ask this, Is Samara to belong wholly to the King? If this is so, it is acceptable. If not, then a decision must be made on it.

2) In regards to the gold, this seems a wise distribution of the gold, but were others to object too strongly, lessen the years that the Hetmans recieve 3d each. Mayhaps, 8 years as opposed to 10?

3)Although milord made no mention of this Judicial Body, I would wholeheartedly submit milord for a post in said board. It is well known that many love milord, in his lands especially. This would show that there was a kind heart on the Board.
I, of course, do not insinuate that other nobles are not as loved. I would hazard to say that they are loved more perhaps. But milord is also wise in his old age. He would willingly serve however was wished. And he, if I may say so myself,is a man above corruption, above petty disputes. He is a man of honour, and of truth.
One more thing, I acknowledge most Honoured Glinski, and his worries. Sir, what you speak shows how wise the nobles here are. Milord, as has been shown, does not favour one religion over another. He has married one his daughters into most honoured Radziwill family, a Catholic. Surely this shows he is a tolerant man?

But I have taken up your valuable time. I shall be silent now, and allow myself to bask in the wisdom that permeates this room.

Simon sits down, and clasps his hands together. Many nobles are unsure what to make of him. Wasn't it Ostrogski who sent that damnable Jan Filipkowski. Why wasn't Simon sent instead?

 

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The Polish Foreign Minister completes his introduction and steps back, the Count steps forward.

"Your Majesty, Honoured Nobles of the Commonwealth Diet, it is my great priviledge to serve as his Imperial Highness, Frederick III,
Holy Roman Emperor and Duke of Austria, as representative to your esteemed Diet and Sovereign Nation.

His Highness is most pleased with our mutual alliance. His Highness was most pleased to hear of your great victory over the infidel Khanate to the East.

I am here to humbly serve the Commonwealth in matters reagrding the Duchy of Austria, the Holy Roman Empire, as well as the Duchy of Burgungy. Maximillian the Duke of Burgundy, King of the Romans, and heir the Austrian Throne sends his highest regards to the Commonwealth.

We wish, as the closest of allies, to disclose two matters of Austrian foreign affairs. We trust these matters, highly secret in their nature, will not leave these walls.

1) Austro-Venetian relations worsen as we speak.
2) The French King has false casus belli on our holdings in the
Alsace. These holdings are where some of our Noble family had it's
origins.

His Majesty wishes to let the Commonwealth understand, if a declartion of War should be issued in either matter, we only wish the Commonwealth to honour our great alliance. The Commonwealth must not feel obligated to send troops to aide Austria.

We look forward to humbly serving the needs of the Commonwealth. Please do not hesitate to ask for our assistance in any matter that we may be of help.

The Count von Klagenfurt takes his seat next to the Foreign Minister.
(thinks to himself, that went well, much more civilized today a good omen. That Simon person something about him...)

 

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The Prymas has taken obvious notice of the recent events in the Diet. Maybe it's calming down, this would be good.

He's obviously intrigued about Simon. But, during the speach, he seems to have had an idea. He stands.

"Noble lords, I would like to lend my positive vote to the following:

1. The division of territories as proposed by the new map in the library, the province of Samara going wholly to the crown.

2. The division of the 33d from the gold mine as proposed by Zadzik, with a redistribution after 10 years. If neccesary, I will also support the 8 year limit.

3. I support the proposal of the Judicial Body, but would like to counter-propose that the supreme justice have 4 votes instead of 5. I would also be honored to serve a post in this body, but I will not propose myself, as there are valid questions about equal representation. Note that some of our petty nobles [Well, maybe we have none, but at least that might get people interested in joining.] may be a good choice for one of these posts.

4. As stated before, I support Jan Olbracht's nomination for King.

I have 2 issues I would like to bring forward. While I have no doubt as to the validity of all those present, I am unsure about the way presence at the Diet is now regulated. As everyone I think agrees, the previous disruptions should be avoided. Diet Marshall, can you tell me the exact way the Diet location is guarded, and in which manner the credentials of representatives are checked?

The second issue is a response the the ambassador for Austria: I would like to put the proposal that if they go to war, we will honour the alliance, but, as requested, send no troops, unless France has in her alliance members which we think would rest better under Commonwealth rule. In that case, we should send our troops to these allies of France, but if I remember correctly, France has no noteworthy allies.

 

[Rictus]

Envoy stands:

Once again, milords, I must apologise for my lords abscene. I have just sent word to him of the distrubution of the new lands and I'm sure he will want to visit them and check the defencibility of the area, on acount of being so damn close to those pesky russians.

He should be back soon.

If I may, i will continue with the proposols.

My lord fully supports the layouts of the new lands.

The distrubution of the gold mine is a fair and honourable plan, but it would please my lord if it remained at 10 years.

A judicial body would be much appreicated, too many ruffians have appeared since the war, they need to be treated [could the provinces with one of the Justices in have a free legal council...? then, when the term is up, remove it] But, my lord has one gripe, five members are to form this commitee yes? But I only see about 11 people here...

My lord continues to support the nomination of Jan Olbracht for King


One final point, these new lands, what forces do we have stationed in them to see of nationalistic rebels?

 

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A stocky, weathered figure with a long, thick black beard enters the chambers during a lull. He is the Orthodox Bishop of Podolia, a younger brother in one of the noble families, and thus the Metropolitan's envoy to the diet. The Bishop gives an identical note to each of the Orthodox noble families present:

1. The Metropolitan is satisfied with the proposed division of riches in Samara, and thanks you for your commitment to the Church.

2. Orthodox nobles must raise the issue of religious tolerance in this Diet. Petty officials believe the State favors Catholicism, so these officials discriminate against True Believers. Orthodox nobles are encouraged to support Jan Olbracht for King, but should first ask to hear his views on tolerance to Orthodoxy in Poland.

 

[Achiles]

I support the Prymases suggestion that the supreme justice have 4 votes instedead of 5. I did not forget the wise and sagely advice our Prymas and our Metropolitan have given us in the past. For I am a humble sevant of god and would never forget his command that 1/10 be given unto the lord. On that note I am very pleased that my great compromise is going through. I thought you all would see the wisdom of it and agree to pass it. I am also pleased to see that this matter of electing a new king will be brought to a conclusion at the end of this diet session.

I thank you my wise and gracious lords for your time.

 

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Speaking for the Radziwill family, Jerzy Wolodyowsky,their Military General

[I am speaking for Hjarg, as was ordered. I shall vote for him as I hope he would vote for himself]


A broad shouldered man, a giant, Jerzy carries about him an aura of determination, of order, of respect. He seems to command attention. He stands by the Radziwill seat, and begins...

Ahem, I must apologize for milords absence. He has recieved word of possible troubles at home, and will be indisposed for a while. I shall speak in his stead.

In regards to the distribution of land, as suggested by pan Achilles, it is acceptable.
In regards to the distributon of monies from the gold mine. I also suggest 10 years is more palatible then a shorter period. This seems fair.
In regards to the Judicial body, I would suggest that milord is one of the best, if not the best choice for one of the positions. The idea of allowing memebers of the Church to be allowed in, if this does not lend itself to persecution, I support it.

One final thing. I would suggest we move against Crimea as soon as possible. They are very dangerous, and could tkae our newly conquered lands if they had the chance. We should raise levies in the conquered lands, and attack Crimea with all due haste. With them conquered, we can prepare for the inevitable war with the Russians.
For those who are hesitant, I would only say this. When war with Russia comes, and come it will, would you have us facing foes on 3 sides(From Crimea, and from Russia and possibly Ryazan)?

This is all. I am finished.

 

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Alexei, speaker for the Wisniowieccy family

[ok, me again, this time speaking for SilentEagle. Whew! ]

Alexei, an elderly man of perhaps 50, his white hair falling gently over his brow. He exudes a wisdom not seen by many in the Diet for a long time. He is sage, and works as an advisor of sorts for Wisniowieccy

Noble lords, I must apologize for milords absence. He will be away for a short period of time. I am to speak in his stead.

Ahem, ahem!

In regards to the distribution of land, I must say that the map given to me does not seem to give more land to the Hetmans. This is unfortunate. But I will not push the matter furher. I will vote for the lands to be distributed as shown.
In regards to the distribution of monies, i agree wholeheartedly with the idea of 10 years. After that, let it be divided evenly.

In regards to nominating one for a Judgeship, I must admit, I cannot speak on this. As such, I will abstain from voting on any nominatios for Judgeship.

I thank you, honourable nobles, for allowing me to speak

 

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Jan Zamoyscy.

As I have stated previously I support Pan ZidZak's proposal for division of lands. I support the division of gold. I support Jan Olbracht's nomination for King.

However, I do not support the idea of lowering the number of votes of the Supreme Justice. After all, he shall be the head of our Legislative and Judicial bodies. Or don't you trust the man who you yourself elect? Do you doubt your votes? I hope that it is not true, for I truely wish that I have met your expectations. And I hope that every Diet Marshall shall do so too.

 

[Rictus]

Envoy stands again

Milords, I may have missed something, and forgive me if I have, but how will the Justices be elected?

[Ok, I'll say this again, since everyone ignored me Have legal councils in the provinces of nobles whohave been elected Justices, eh? Then, when the term is up, remove them. Simple. Perhaps, to even things out, only have 1 provonce 'legalised' rather than all the lands belonging to the noble.]