ITALY RPG/AAR

[unmerged(3980)]

Doge Giovanni talks before senate...

My brothers, we have come a long way it seems. I now am here before you as a child comes before a father. In humility and understanding of our nations great dispair. Please gentleman i beg you to draw in unity, a constitution that befits our needs. I mean one that meets all of our needs including the people. Be conservative in the rights of the people lest we challenge the church, but give them something. Im not saying throw them a bone, im saying appease them if you must. We just need to end this civil strife, it is killing us and our true enemy is the turks.

I cannot fight this war alone, nor can i win this war with no support. Gentlemen of the senate, i have tightened the security of the city of Rome and other areas for the protection of our noble citizens. We must have control in the chaos. God have mercy on us if we fail but we must do something. If we must borrow ideas from the Queen of England in how they appease their people, then so be it, i am not above any idea or solution, so long as we get peace.

Thank you, and please ask me any questions if you feel i have erred in any way. I want us to work this out for Italias sake...

The doge stood tall, looking around the senate waiting for senators to stand and challenge, question, compliment or throw apples at him. He definately was a changed man from a few years ago

 

[Emre Yigit]

Loud calls of "Hear! Hear! Gronchi as Doge for ever!" greet the Doge's words. Then suddenly, the hall erupts in boos as the senators reconsider his words. Silence. And once more, thunderous clapping and loud cheers greet his words, which quickly give way to calls of "Traitor! Child-napper! Hang him!"

The Senate of the Most Serene republic of Italy and her Overseas Possessions is a strange place indeed.

 

[unmerged(3743)]

Originally posted by Xanadu
Ok I will spare all of you the agony of miserable writing skills...

By-Tor is on the hunt for the woman from the market. He wants a child!

Better be careful, she could turn out to be a commoner, and with the way things are going in the Senate right now you might get lynched or censured...

 

[unmerged(3980)]

i goofed LOL, all this time i have been going after Antonia Maria and i forgot that i have a son listed. That means i was either married or i have an illegitimate child. Hmmmm ok he is a son who was born out of wedlock, so he is illegitimate and in the mothers care, yeah thats right. So now giovanni is still searching for his love

 

[unmerged(3980)]

Giovanni, poor giovanni as he sat alone in his dukal study, scrolls piled to the cieling from all the things going on in his country. He was under so much pressure, he had never dreamed ruling Italy would be so difficult or demand so much responsibility and wisdom and courage.

He always tried to be upright and strong in appearance but he knew his illusion of control would not last long the way things were going. He was a failure and everybody reminded him of this each waking day. Still some hardline senators would write demanding his resignation, the ripples of his past mistakes still haunted him and always would. He now realized he was too young to rule and never should have been elected. It was his fathers legacy that got him here, the drunken father that never visited him in Venice, that drove mother away. His father who had been murdered by cowards thus giving Giovanni his hatred for Turks and for alchohol.

Now Giovanni looked on his life as the same mess. He did not touch a bottle of spirits but he had taken a woman and made her pregnant, his youthful days of lasciviousness bore him a son that he never knew. Then his eagerness for power drove him to the senate and ultimately to the throne of power where he had no discipline or understanding because he had no father essentially to teach him. Giovanni was a young, loose cannon and it took the horrors of humiliation and rejection to put him in his place.

Now here he was, the most powerful man in the world, sitting alone, no one loved him, no one cared about his needs, not even himself. He was a poor soul, searching for the meaning of life after spiritual death. His spirit being crushed and his actions carried out by gods own mercy and graces. Now the woman with whome he saw hope in his life, was now gone, taken captive by the villains he swore to defend her against. He could not defend Maria, he could not protect or raise up Italy, he could not beat the Pope, or work with the senate, everybody hated him.....tears began to roll down his cheek as the pain life welled up inside of him. The confident man of iron was now a weeping child before his very lonesomeness, it seemed to him that not even the angels of mercy would comfort him.

"Maria...oh my soul does yearn for thy angel of heaven, help me oh lord god , save me from my own sins (sob sob) i cannot go on like this, my heart is broken and my spirit is weak, Jesus wont you do a miracle, if not for me, for Maria, for Italia. Take me father, my life is useless now but dont let my beloved Italia and the sweet Maria pay for my sins" (sob sob)

Giovanni wept and to his knees he sank in grief and for the first time in his life he began to pray to god asking in prayer for someone other than himself.

If only the Dude was around so Giovanni could release his frustrations out on the rockin Roman surf

 

[unmerged(3743)]

Vincent speaks again before the Senate...

Doge, I commend your decision to pursue the path of peace. I present to you the Constitution demanded by the Italian Freedom Coalition. It is very similar to the one already under consideration by this Senate, with the addition of Articles 2 & 5 which provide for a General Assembly of the Common People to be established as an advisory body to the Doge and the Senate. Notice that the Senate still retains superior legislative power to the Assembly and the Doge remains the ultimate decision maker in Italy. I believe that this document may well meet the restrictions of the Pope's recent bull on the issue, though I eagerly ask for clarification from him if it does not. May I stress again that this proposal comes not from myself but from the people themselves. Vincent directs a withering glare in the direction of Senators Sharur Medaken and Alessander Storia.

Here it is in it's entirety:

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ITALY

Agreed in Senate on xxxxx, acclaimed by the people, and promulgated by the Doge on xxxxx.

We the Doge and Senate of the Republic of Italy, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, and to maintain and defend the One True, Holy and Catholic Church, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Republic of Italy.

1. The Senate
a. All legislative functions are vested in the Senate. The Senate may present bills to the Doge to be passed into law upon his ratification.
b. All functions not specifically given to the Doge are given to the independant provinces and city-states within the Republic and specifically to the Senators who act as representatives of their state.
c. The Senate shall be composed of those hereditary members of the noble families of their province appointed by the Lord of said province and approved by the acclamation of the people of that province. Senators are appointed for life or until such time as they resign or are unable to fulfill their duties.
d. No person may be a Senator who has not been born an Italian, or who has not reached the age of eighteen.


2. The General Assembly
a. The General Assembly shall serve as an advisory body to the Doge and the Senate
b. The members of the Assembly shall be elected from among the male Italian citizens of common birth; two representatives may be elected from each city of Italy, and any cities of her overseas provinces. All freeborn, land-owning citizens of Italy may vote in these elections. Elections are to be held every ten years.

3. The Doge
a. All executive functions are vested in the Doge.
b. The Doge shall be elected from among senators of good standing. In keeping with platonic principles, election shall be by drawing lots. The Doge shall serve for ten years, and may not be re-elected, though he may resume his Senate position if desired.
c. No person may be Doge who has not been born an Italian, or who has not reached the age of twenty-two and been a member of the Senate for a minimum of three years previously.

4. The Senate shall have power to:
a. Lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the Republic.
b. Formulate and pass laws, acts and resolutions, subject to official approval by the Doge, regarding domestic, foreign, military, and commercial affairs.
c. The Senate may, by two-thirds majority vote, remove the Doge from office.
d. The Senate may, by a two-thirds majority vote, veto any act of the Doge.

5. The General Assembly shall have the power to:
a. Present bills and petitions for the consideration of the Senate and the Doge. These will be passed into law upon ratification by the Senate and the Doge.
b. The Assembly may, by a two-thirds majority vote together with a simple majority vote of support from the Senate, veto any act of the Doge.


6. The Doge shall have power to:
a. Declare war, make peace and approve treaties.
b. Appoint and accept representatives to and from foreign nations.
c. Regulate the development of trade and infrastructure and the instruments of war; as well as the colonial enterprises of the Republic.
d. To act as commander-in-chief during war.
e. To raise and support armies and navies for the defence of the Republic.
f. To borrow money and regulate commerce with foreign nations.
g. To veto any act of the Senate.

7. The civil and religious law of the Republic are as follows:
a. The One True, Holy and Catholic Church is the sole guide and determinant of faith. All Italians owe a duty of obedience to the Vicar of Christ.
b. All Italian citizens are entitled to the freedom of non-seditious speech, equality under the law, freedom from enslavement or forced labor, and protection from foreign domination.
c. All discussions in the Senate or General Assembly are extralegal, and no-one may be prosecuted for sentiments expressed within the Senate Chamber or the House of Assembly.
f. All natural born residents of any province belonging to the jurisdiction of the Doge and Senate of the Republic of Italy are to be considered citizens of the Republic and entitled to all the rights and privileges state herein.

8. Amendments to the Constitution:
a. The Doge or any three Senators or Assembly Represenatives may propose an amendment to the Constitution.
b. The amendment shall be deemed incorporated if it passes the Senate and the General Assembly by a simple majority, with the Doge's approval. Should the Doge withhold approval, an amendment requires a three-fourths majority to pass.

 

[unmerged(2952)]

Vince Lombardi Jr walked to the front of the Senate, his face set, blond hair combed back in a dignified manner. He walked forward, the Senate grew quiet. Vince pulled out a prepared speach.

"Fellow Senators, and yes I do say fellow. I have been asked by my good friend, and brother in law, to take over the reigns of his Senatorial seat until an end to hostilities and his return to Rome. No doubt in truimph".

The Seante remained quiet, this was not an unprecedented move, and was not fully unexpected. Everyone knew that, either through admiration, cronyism, or just a common mind, Vince Junior shared many of the opinions of Donal McCollum.

"It is with great certianty that I must declare my support for the Constiution as described by Senator Cornigolia who has been filled with wisdom as to how to solve our current problem. Conratulatiosn Seantor, the city of Ravenna stands firmly behind you as does, I am sure, the rightminded members of this Senate."

He walked from the podium back to his seat and caused a small uproar in the Senate. His speach was not all that ssuprising, but it did seem to indicate that General McCollum either did, or would, support the Constitution, and that did matter. Yes, things never ceased beign interesting in the Italian Senate.

 

[unmerged(3743)]

Wow, great writing Jeep... you almost drew tears to my eyes for poor Doge Gronchi. Keep it up!

 

[unmerged(718)]

I second that WOW! Geez jeep when did you get so mushy you got us getting all soft for this Doge character now

This is supposed to be cut throat and no emotions no love stories just blood, guts and politics No really jeep great stuff you just put a new twist to this AAR, i can see it now, maria runs to you with love and you two fall deep in love and i can give her hand in marriage to the guy Chevy once loathed

First i think we all have to survive this war though and get our country back in order. Chevy Driver is stuck on the front lines of the civil war and just got whooped by his son grrrrr. (Not good warspite )

OOC i want to comment on the papal bull, i think the Pope is talking about freedom for the people like the rebels want to have. where they can just break free of the bondage of servitude to the nobles which is totally uncharacteristic of the times. the papal bull does not in my opinion stop us from giving the peasants some limited say in politics like the english do. The Pope is just probably affraid the revolt against the government will spread to the church and a new reformation take over or something. Anyways, we can work around this bull.

 

[Xanadu]

Ya a broken government situation wouldn't sit good with the Pope. We could be forced into Protesant or Reformed. Not good in the Popes' eyes.

 

[unmerged(718)]

Astorio gathered some of his things while his men burried the bodies of the dead. He was feeling the worst inside though he would not admit it. He had won the battle against his father but at such a price. Astorio began to think about his hatred for his father, the things that tore them apart, the years of abandonment. Now Astorio took his hurt and pain to the battle field, and men faught and died for Astorio. They thought Astorio was a man of honor fighting for freedom and a better life. Infact Astorio knew deep inside that the fight was not anything about the people. It was about his own deeply rooted bitterness. Part of him loved this power he had, he hated life so much that life in general meant nothing to him so dead men were of no concern. On the other hand Astorio knew what he was doing was wrong and would lead to his downfall like others before him.

"General, your guards are ready, we can begin moving while the darkness falls."

AStorio "Ok sergeant, make sure the men know nothing while i escape this place, we cannot fight another battle so i will move to another area of support for my cause and build another army. "

Astorio was leaving nice because he knew his weakened rebel army would be crushed so he moved to another location to escape capture and to build another army for the revolution. So much for regrets

 

[unmerged(718)]

ChevyDriver knew he was not cut out to be a general so he withdrew his commision from the army and went back to Rome. chevy was in his early 60s and could not move so well. He was of no use to army. He could be of use in the senate however.

Chevy didnt know anything about his son but his interests were not for his son so much as thoughts of his country were. Chevy wanted to do all he could to save the republic he worked so long for. The word of a new constitution in the senate had him rushing to Rome to debate the issue.

chevy reached Rome in April just in time to get involved with the constitition debate. The Doge had given his support for a drafted document that gave the people greater liberty and detailed the role of each member of government. What Chevy was affraid of was the senate going to far to appease the foolish commoners.

Chevy walked on the senate floor with a small two year old child. He was about to give his speech. The senators looked on, some laughing and others mocking chevy for they did not all like the old fool.

"You can mock if you like... but observe this child that i have brought. do you see how he wanders about without any clue where he is."

Chevy then sat the boy down in a chair and began talking with the boy, but the boy just seemed to look this way and that and was oblivious to anything, he began to cry when chevy forced him to stay seated.

"Do you see how this little boy is crying because he is not getting what he wants, he has no idea what im doing with him. He has no idea what i am saying right now. He is blind and ignorant of the truth and of the big picture. he does not have the capacity to understand it all. He is after all, like a commoner......"

Chevys demonstration was herolded with some laughter and scorn, now the senate knew what he was doing. The boy represented the commoner and how clueless the commoner is to reality.

"YOu see, we are the enlightened ones, we are the parents of this great nation and it our duty to take care of our house and for our children the commoner to live in it, under our laws. We cannot give into crying and whining, we must discipline these little ones and be the leadership in their lives...."

Some in the senate stood to applause the great peacemaker others just sat and shook their heads in disgust at the old fool...

"I say if we must ratify this constitution for peace then let it be done. But i do not think we should free the commoners to their wishes because they must be dealt with like children and taken good care of and disciplined and ........" chevy was interupted abruptly by an angry senator..

senator "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BEING A FATHER!" some of the senate began laughing out loud, others who liked Chevy just hung their head in shame knowing that chevys own son was the biggest rebel of them all.

Chevy stood their for a moment, speechless, the tension in the court air could have been cut with a knife, chevy knew he had been greatly insulted and the conviction cut him deep.

"I want the best for my country (his voice rough with ambarrassment) it is true my family was not always the priority in my life, that is why i stand here now, i sacrafice all for the sake of you, for the people, for Italia. I abandoned my family mistakingly, but i will not abandon my country which i love so much as well. Th.... Thank you Gentlemen"

with that Chevy walked out of the senate hall, he sent an invitation to members of senate to discuss matters of the constitution with him over dinner that night.

 

[Xanadu]

*Note to Senator ChevyDriver*

I would be pleased to spend a dinner talking about the constitution.
Welcome home friend.

Senator By-Tor

 

[Demetrios]

Demetrios sat in his chair in the Senate, listening to the various speeches being made. He did not rise and give an oration of his own, knowing that his views would be quite unpopular among his collegues. Well, they were not exactly his views, as he had some sympathy for suffering of the peasant and the worker. But She had been quite specific on this point, and he didn't dare go against Her advice when she was so exact. Of course, making speeches advocating the immediate enslavement of the entire Italian peasantry for a life similar to the laborers on the sugar plantations back in Crete would not have endeared him to anyone in the Senate. So he kept his council to himself, hoping that silence would not be considered disobedience. Shudder...

His mind wandered back to the events of the last few days, especially to the strange affairs concerning the Lady Antonia Maria. He hated that he was more or less attempting to force Thomas upon her, almost as much as Thomas disliked it. That had been an uncomfortable evening to say the least. To top it all, he had been contiually giving disapproving looks and descrete kicks under the table to his neice Anna, who had suddenly seemed to take quite a liking to Senator Storia. Given Anna's overly-romantic nature, that could only end in disaster.

Now the Lady Antonia Maria had disappeared. Rumors said that she had been attacked while shopping, although details were fuzzy. As for her fate afterwards, no one had any clear idea, although Demetrios had heard dozens of rumors, many of them quite far-fetched, such as she had been willingly kidnapped by the insurgents so she could meet and marry the handsome and romantic leader of the movement. Demetrios shook his head in disbelief. He didn't know what had happened to Antonia and her son, but he hoped that they were safe and in good health. He couldn't think of anyone whe would wish to harm such innocent and delightful people...

 

[Demetrios]

An extract fron Lady Anna Kantakouzenos' Diary

Dear Diary,

I've got the most exciting news for you! Tonight we went to the Doge's Palace for dinner, and I saw the most handsome man there. His hair, is eyes, his shoulders, his shapely legs, everything is perfect! And, he is a Senator. Oh, he is just such a dream! I can't wait to see him again and talk to him some more. His voice is like music! And he is ever so smart; we talked for hours about the most interesting things! I'll have to make sure that I go with Uncle Demetrios to all his Senatorial functions, so I can see him more often. I could just spend hours gazing into those lovely eyes...

 

[Sharur]

OOC Note: normally, Emre, I don't say anything about applause and whatnot, but you have to admit that the Senate isn't likely to be thrilled with the idea of giving rights to commoners, especially given the Pope's views on the matter. Anyhow, everyone else seems to like to write about how beloved their Senators are, and that's fine w/ me, everyone's gotta give themselves some credit

Sharur Medaken ascends to the podium following Chevy's speech

"Senators, we have been presented with a proposal by Senator Corniglia which I believe has some merit. But only in one way: that it could bring about a quick peace with these rebels. However, they are not yet truly a threat to our great nation. So, we must ask: dare we give them these concessions, no matter how small? Think about this for a minute! By giving in to these commoners, we are admiting truth in what they say! And yet there is none! Senator Driver has just shown us a beautiful analogy to the current situation: they cannot perform duties like ours! They are not capable! The Lord has placed all of us on this earth to perform certain duties, and a poor man, let alone a serf, was not placed on earth to work in government!

My friends, let us think about the future, a future in which we agree to this revised Constitution. The commoners, seeing their success in this endeavor, will demand more and more! And each time that we deny them what they do not deserve, they shall wait for a bit of external strife, and then revolt! Pretty soon they will gain the right to vote for Doge! Or, worse yet, the right to BECOME Doge!!! Can you imagine such a twisted world! Of course not! Because it should not exist! Senators, we MUST uphold the values of our forefathers and our Church! Slamming his fist into the podium Vote NO on this ridiculous new Constitution! FOR ITALIA!!!!

The pro-noble faction of the Senate screams in approval at Sharur's speech. Sharur descends the podium and walks over to Senator Driver to discuss the matter in further detail.

 

[Warspite]

1577 APRIL-MAY

APRIL

2nd, Trade post is rebuilt in Rimouski once again solidifying all of the known territory of north america that isnt claimed already. This is why Antonio is so important to discover more land for Italy to claim.

5th, Order is restored in Micmac, however the colonies continue to riot increasingly more because of war taxes and freedom movement leaders spreading their agenda around.

21st, The Italian scout ships sink a few more turkish ships in the med sea. With no emmediate threat from the turks, it is clear that Italy has control of the sea at the moment.

28th, Donal is still recouperating his army in Bosnia after the big battle against Pizani but then a stray cavalry unit of Oman of 3000 horsemen attack donal by surprise. The cavalry is elite but it does not phase Donal who completely surrounds and obliterates the muslim unit. Donal then realizes he is low on men and begins his march west to Illyria for replacement troops. Scouts reported to Donal that atleast 60,000 turks led by Pizani and Mustapha, were preparing an attack into the front lines for the main push into Italy. He had to prepare to stop it.

29th, News comes to Rome that Poland has struck a peace deal with Sweden which ends the war completely. Sweden,denmark,norway are no longer at war against italy,france,poland,hungary. Doge Giovanni is exctatic over the news and now all that is in the way of peace is the turks. Once that war is over the peasants would surely calm down. Poland however critisized Doge Giovanni because they lost Ingermanland to sweden for that peace.

MAY
Revolts spring up In Guayaquil,and Ayacucho south america. Also apparently Astorio had gone to Tyrol and started another revolt there.

2nd, Giovanni raised another 29,000 troops but he was limited due to lack of manpower now. The fact that Italy was giving up all its son for more war further infuriated the commoners who grew increasingly angry at the nobility and lack of freedoms they were once promised.

THREE NAVAL BATTLES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA in May

The navies of Turkey and Italy at last clashed in full force. Admiral Quirini with 26/21/0 engaged 0/12/1 turks in the Gulf of Cagliari. By May 28th the turks had lost 9 galleys and were defeated.

The second seperate naval battle at the time was in the Ionean Sea started in May 21st, where Italy had 0/38/0 galleys with new crews against a turkish force of 9/25/0 the battle lasted until July 2nd and Italy lost 6 galleys to turkeys 3 galleys lost. However the turks lost morale and retreated from the battle giving Italy another victory.

The third battle began in the cyclades sea on May 25st and lasted until June 21st. Italy started out with 17 new warships against Turkeys 9 ships. Italy again took the advantage by sinking 4 turk ships losing only 1 of their own. This third victory for Italy really tipped the scales of naval supremacy in favor of Italy. It would not be the end of the struggle though.

*********June coming later********

 

[unmerged(718)]

Originally posted by Xanadu
*Note to Senator ChevyDriver*

I would be pleased to spend a dinner talking about the constitution.
Welcome home friend.

Senator By-Tor

Y...You mean i actually have a friend in senate still? not everybody thinks im a raving lunatic and a drunk?

At dinner Chevy talked to By-tor about his dream to reunite the nobility of Italy. The country would not be able to expand like it had in the past if continued strife ruled the government. They also talked about Astorio and how he was rebeling up north and the turk war and religion yadda yadda, but when the dinner was almost over
By-Tor commented that chevy seemed troubled about one other thing. chevy had heard the news of Antonia Marias disappearance and he now felt he not only lost his son, but now he lost his adopted daughter so to speak. Things just werent going ChevyDrivers way but he was holding his composure better than before. maria taught him how to be strong when the going got tough. She was a good woman he always said.

By the way By-Tor, when are you going to get hitched, you seem so quiet in all of this?

 

[unmerged(718)]

GO NAVY! good to hear we are starting to kick some turkey butt, thanksgiving is around the corner so we could use a good cooked bird

 

[Sharur]

Well, I hope it's not too late for me to say this, but I accept your dinner invitation, Chevy. While we have disagreed in the past, I admire your dedication to Italy, and am always willing to discuss politics with a fellow Senator, especially one as knowledgeable as you.