ITALY RPG/AAR

[Warspite]

A messanger who had traveled to Rome from North Vespuci arrived to see Doge Giovanni. He came with a message from General Antonio who was head of the colonial efforts there.

"Lord Doge, i trust this message will reach you in time. I have terrible news of events taking place in the North colonies. Much of the gains i have made in establishing colonies is being destroyed by angry native indians. Our friends the Iroquis indians are not involved, however they point out that other indian tribes have formed an alliance against our expansion. I am doing my best to fight them off, however they come by surprise and destroy our villages. I barely escaped a raid myself. I have so far lost 10 colonies to the indians and i fear there will be more before i can gather forces to fight back. I will give my next report as soon as possible. I pray Italy at least is safe in the arms of mother mary at this time, pray for me there."

Your brother in Faith,
General Antonio

 

[Sharur]

After Appari's speech, Sharur shook his head in disgust. He'd rather have anyone, anyone, as Doge, rather than have him.

After McCollum spoke, Sharur walked to the podium.

"Friends, fellow Senators,

I would just like to tell you that I agree with our distinguished colleague, Senator Appari, wholeheartedly! He's right! We SHOULDN'T vote for him! Instead, we should vote for Senators who've been around for longer than, oh, 3 days! Well, alright, he's been here for 5 days. So I exaggerate a bit." Sharur got a few chuckles from that. "Anyway, we need someone with experience, with leadership capabilites, and someone who genuinely cares for Italy, and not just his own personal power. Could this be Senator Forster? Perhaps Senator Corniglia? Or perhaps our three Generals, McCollum, Rex, and myself, would make good candidates? It could be that it's time for someone with a new perspective: perhaps Senator Kantekauzenos of Crete, or Senator Selim of Tangiers? Well, not Senator Selim." Laughter erupted in the Senate; the Senator from Tangiers was disliked by almost all factions in the Senate. It was all the Senate could do not to change the Senatorial election rules just for Tangiers, to get his fanatical Muslim views out of Rome. "Anyway, the point isn't so much who as who not. And to the question of who not, aside from our favorite infidel, there is only one answer: Senator Appari. Why, he said so himself!"

Sharur stepped down from the podium to the cheers of all who opposed Appari. He hadn't really made much of a point; instead, he'd just ridiculed Appari and Senator Selim. Nonetheless, many Senators considered it a great speech.

 

[Warspite]

DECEMBER 2nd, KING FERNANDO AT THE DOGES PALACE

Nestled together around a large table in the solar of the palace were King Fernando, Doge Giovanni, and numerous representatives of Senators including Forster, Appari and others. They were discussing the past two weeks of events with the murders of six prominent Italian senators and kidnapping of the King of Spains son.

Doge Giovanni was the middle man while accusations flew from one end of the table to the next. Mostly, King Fernando belowed at Forsters man, calling his lord the perpitrator of kidnapping his son. Forsters man only demanded that the King come forward with the truth about his reasons for coming to Italy at such a time. Of which the King would say with interest of how, the Republic he desired to get closer to, operated.

Appari's representative on the other hand brought messages from his lord claiming Senator Forster was using his power to create diversions to slow the elections and gain more support out of it. However Appari pointed out it seemed to be backfiring on the old man.
The main points that Appari's man stated were that somehow the King and Forster were conspiring in a way to gain power in Italy. Thereby turning italy into a Spanish and Sicilian dominated government.

Giovanni cut in multiple times when the arguement got to loud. He demanded that all the parties present work together to find out the truth behind what was going on. For poor Giovanni however, he was nigh respected, and the fact that he was on the way out made him more of a mute figure in the matter. The real power lay in the senators who wrestled for power. Giovanni had lost touch with leadership so much that the army was considered to be in the hands of three men, Rex, McCollum and Medaken, instead of the Doge.

Giovannis failure to control the situation only led to all sides blaming each other. No one left that day with an idea of who had done or would do something next.

Further pressure came upon Giovanni, this time from France. The nobles of france desperately wanted to mend the wounds of old and begin healthy relations with King Fernando after years of strife. However now those efforts were comprimised by this situation in italy. It was fast becoming a tangled web of politics and accustations.

 

[Sharur]

PRIVATE letter from Senator-General Sharur Medaken to Senator-Generals Donal McCollum and Gustavus Rex

Dear Sirs,

Our state government is falling apart at the seams, and it could be just a matter of time before it fragments entirely. Doge Giovanni now has almost no power over the Appari and Forster factions, and King Ferdinando's presence is making things worse. Something must be done about this, and I believe that we have the ability to do it. I invite you both to a meeting at my estate to take place on the 5th of December. Italy is in dire straits, and we must be the ones to guide her out.

Sincerely,
Senator-General Sharur Medaken,
Senator from Nova Illyria,
Commander of the Naples Army

 

[Sharur]

PRIVATE letter from Senator-General Sharur Medaken to Doge Giovanni Gronchi

Dear Sir,

Italy is in dire straits; our government is falling into disarray. I have asked Senators McCollum and Rex, the other commanders of our armies, to meet with me at my estate on the 5th of December. I now invite you as well. I want to make absolutely sure that we can establish an authority over the Appari and Forster factions, whose actions have gone much to far. However, I want to avoid a situtation like that in the Roman Empire, in which whoever controls the army controls the government.

Sincererly,
Senator-General Sharur Medaken,
Senator from Nova Illyria,
Commander of the Naples Army

 

[Warspite]

Hmmm , that sounds very familier Sharur. A triumverate in the making, however who will be julius ceasar

By the way, nobody knows that Forster has taken the kings son accept Forster himself, all else is speculation. Nobody knows who did what, they are all just getting in the mode of accusations and mudslinging. Sort of like last years american election

 

[Sharur]

Don't worry, warspite, the point is that I'm trying to PREVENT the Roman situation. I want not to have to step in, you see.

 

[unmerged(2952)]

Donal McCollum shook his head to the servent as she attempted to pour him more wine. Pushing the golden gobblet away, he looks down apsently at the finished meal before him. Sitting on all sides where some of the Greatest politicians Italy had ever seen and, to be perfectly honest, he was almost as giddy as a child to have been counted amongst their number. Of course, such emotions would be very unpolitical and, in this company, dangerous. Swallowing what ever fear was gnawing at his heart, and there was fear there!, he looked at Medakan.

"I thank you for the meal, it was delicious. Perhapse we should exchange cooks sometime, mine makes the best Apple Pie I have ever had the good fortune of tasting"

Sharur nodded "Perhaps, perhapse". He seemed a bit appsent, as did everyone else. They all knew why they where hear, they all knew how much of a defining moment this could be and, somewhere, they where all scared.

Donal sighed "Well, this has to be said. I think we all know why you've called us here today."

The others around the table nodded.

"So", Donal continued, "What do you propose that we do about it? We must keep Italy secure and stable, no matter the cost."

*Your Turn Sharur *

 

[Warspite]

DECEMBER 3rd, Christmas speech given by Pope Gregory VIII at st peters square

Pope Gregory had called for a christmas celebration and speech for the 3rd in his effort to defray growing fears of spanish mettle in Italian affairs. He did this successfully on this mild winter day infront of thousands of Italians however he slipped one other thing in that made some listeners quake.

"......I love-o Italia, and all that she stands for-o." the pope spoke in his low, accented drawl of bologna discent, he had repeaters in the crowd to help him with the masses. "Why-o must we fear da spaniardos when we have a good man like-o Senator Appari."

It was there that the mouths of many senators and three distinguished generals mouths dropped. The Pope had not mentioned anyone elses name in his speech, but he gave praise and much of it to one man.

"Italia need-o a leader of great faith-o to make us strong again. We look for wisdom in o a maddening world. Appari is such a great man"

The Pope went on to talk about other things but just that short bit about Appari had people thinking. If the holiest man in all europe endorses Appari, how could anyone else deny him. Senator Dude stood next to some other senators incuding his summer surfing buddies Medaken, Donal and Rex and said it best when he said. "Dude, like totally anti christ and stuff, like that Appari freak must a paid mondo surfboards to get the Holy Dude to say that!."

The three generals looked at each other in disbileaf at what they heard from the Pope. This whole Appari rhetoric was starting to get out of hand. One muttered "We gotta find out where this joker is getting all his cash, even if we have to turn italy upside down"

Together they said "Right then"

 

[Emre Yigit]

Blessed are the roof-menders

Pope Gregory XIII (Ugo Buoncompagni), b. 1502, Bologna
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

3rd December 1581, The Vatican, Rome

Gregory XIII was very very happy with Senator Appari, who had appeared out of nowhere like a blessed apparition of the Almighty’s goodwill. It had been so fortunate that Senator Appari had happened to be visiting a minor Cardinal – loosely related to the Senator by marriage – and that the Cardinal had mentioned that the roof of St Peter’s badly needed mending. The Pope’s correspondence the present leadership of the Italian Republic was so sporadic (and his letters never received replies) that, in truth, Gregory XIII was getting more than a trifle irritated. Senator Appari, on the other hand, was a charming, personable man, totally orthodox in his religious beliefs and quite willing to make a tremendous personal financial sacrifice for Mother Church. The Pope was beginning to like him very much indeed.

In truth, the Pope was seriously considering instructing his diocesan priests to preach the virtue of giving to the Church more regularly, and for them to mention the example of Senator Appari as well.

However, Gregory XIII was not willing to intervene in the ducal elections more openly than that unless some higher Authority gave him directions.

 

[Emre Yigit]

The benevolence of Senator Appari

Pope Gregory XIII (Ugo Buoncompagni), b. 1502, Bologna
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

4th December 1581, The Vatican, Rome

Gregory XIII was speechless with delight. He had just received a letter from the good burghers of Bologna, asking him whether to proceed with plans put forward by Senator Appari to erect a statue to the Pope – at his own expense! Delighted with the filial devotion shown, the Pope decided personally to write a letter to the Senator:

To the most honourable Senator Appari

“Beloved child in the Lord,

We write to thank you again for your charity toward poor Mother Church, and the many instances of your true fidelity and benevolence. We have need of such true and steadfast people as yourself.

We now hear that you have proposed to the Council of Bologna that a statue be erected in Our honour, at a place of their choosing. The Council has referred the matter to Us before proceeding.

While We much appreciate the gesture, We are mindful of the need for modesty in Ourselves, and would prefer to decline this particular instance of spontaneous devotion. We are grateful, however, and will write to the Senate of the Republic of Rome to express Our pleasure at you, one of Our most beloved children. To you, We send this medal to remember Us.

Gregory, Servant of the Servants of God.”

 

[Sharur]

"Well, Donal, the first thing I want to do is make ABSOLUTELY SURE that NO force is used in settling the dispute between Forster and Appari. I wanted to invite Forster here, to see if he'd dug anything up on Appari, but with all of the accusations involving him, I thought it would be better if we just went with what we have. Anyway, the problem is that the two factions each, on their own, have the political clout to run right over Giovanni." Sharur sent the Doge a sympathetic look. "I really wish now that the whole 'Roman Empire' thing had never happened, Giovanni, because the backlash behind that caused you to lose far too much of your power. But that's neither here nor there." Sharur turned back to face McCollum. "The two factions, in fact, have the political clout to run everyone in Italy over, save each other. However, we do have one thing that they don't. And that's military force. But, as I said, I want to avoid the use of force at all costs. That would set such a horrible precedent... I don't think I need to explain. So, here's what I'm proposing. Donal, you've got quite a little following of your own. Rex and I don't have much in the Senate, but we, too, are generals, and that should help. And Giovanni still has some support. What we need to do is unite, and put and end to this, politically. And once we get it sorted out, the Constitution needs to have an amendment added to cover this issue."

"That's all well and good, Sharur," Rex broke in, "but how do we do it?"

"Well, that's what I want to know." Sharur shrugged sheepishly, then turned to look to Donal. "Donal, I think you're the most politically adept one of us here, and I was hoping you could be the head of this group, since you, as I said, have more of a following than the rest of us. Meanwhile, we need a conclusive investigation into everything that's happened: the murders, the attempt on my life, and the kidnapping. And it needs to be run by the government; we can't rely on Forster for this. My suggestion would be to start with Pope Gregory; he seems to be getting something from Appari. Donal, what do you think?"

 

[Xanadu]

Originally posted by Sharur
....or Senator Selim of Tangiers? Well, not Senator Selim." Laughter erupted in the Senate; the Senator from Tangiers was disliked by almost all factions in the Senate. It was all the Senate could do not to change the Senatorial election rules just for Tangiers, to get his fanatical Muslim views out of Rome.

I was working on this, but my term ended. I just couldn't kill those Muslims fast enough .

 

[Xanadu]

Originally posted by warspite
DECEMBER 3rd, Christmas speech given by Pope Gregory VIII at st peters square


"......I love-o Italia, and all that she stands for-o." the pope spoke in his low, accented drawl of bologna discent, he had repeaters in the crowd to help him with the masses. "Why-o must we fear da spaniardos when we have a good man like-o Senator Appari."

Senator By-Tor was shaken by this very statement. He begins to think hard on why the Pope would openly support a Senator. By-Tor & Pope Pious many years ago reached an understanding on seperate affairs with the church and state.
Now By-Tor ponders why the sudden shift is so obvious....

 

[Sharur]

Sharur leaned over to Xanadu and whispered, "You know, all of the hard work you put in during your term is in shambles. Something's got to be done about this..."

OOC: this is before the meeting

 

[Demetrios]

Senator Kantakouzenos walked away from the Senate chambers in a qunadry. Right now the Republic's politics were a mess, and he was torn on how to proceed. He usually leaned upon his Grandmother's advice in these times, as much as he hated to received it. But other than the almost ghoulishly delighted letter he had received after Helena's death (which also informed him of Anna's betrothal), he had not heard from her in some time. It was almost as if she were to busy to contact him. But how much does an 84-year-old woman have to distract her?

 

[unmerged(2952)]

Donal sat and thought for a few seconds before nodding, "I agree". Was it just him, or did Sharur seem to sigh from relief. "I do owe you for giving me a chance when no one else would, and besides Appari's dangerous and nees to be brought down...one way or another"

Sharur nodded "Yes, but I don't want any military action, we have to keep the military out of this"

Donal shrugged, "We'll just have to make sure it doesn't get that far, won't we?"

Everyone around the table just looked at him. Realizing he was now in charge of this meeting, McCollum smiled inwardly. "Now, as you said, we need a government investigation. One lead by a neutral party, and well respected by everyone."

"Do you have any ideas?"

"Actually I do. How about Cornigolia. He wrote the Constitution, is most likly the most honest man in the Senate if not in all of Italy, loyal to the nation, and I can't see anyone disrepecting him"

Around the table people nodded. "And as for the Pope....I believe that I shall make a meeting with him"

Everyone just store

"No, it will be civil. My problems where with Peter II and Pius, may they burn. The current Pope has yet to make a mark"

 

[Warspite]

DECEMBER 4th, MESSANGERS BEGIN ARRIVING WITH REPORTS

The Dons best man in Rome was keeping his eye out for things while the investigation of events continued. One of the possible leads they thought of would be this Diegla girl who had been acting suspiciously. Now Forster had extra reason to think Diegla the servant girl was up to something. Apparently the girl had been talking with Theresa the past couple days asking her questions about the Kings son and if she knew or heard anything if Forster was behind it. Theresa thought it strange and in conversation brought it up among others. Something that might just be just gossip, perhaps, however she was given more attention and Forsters spy waited for her next move.


In Crete at the Kantakouzenos residence, the first messanger arrived with a report. Ionia was alive and well, but there was a twist. In the past two years there has been a rash of murders and assassinations. Over 200 people killed and most of them had their heads cut off in death. The local rumor was that this was the work of the infamous Headless Horseman, but who the headless horseman was is yet to be determined.

 

[Emre Yigit]

OOC

Is anyone having difficulty opening this thread - and this thread alone in the EU forums - or is it just me?

 

[Emre Yigit]

A request to meet the Pope (denied)

Pope Gregory XIII (Ugo Buoncompagni), b. 1502, Bologna
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4th December 1581, The Vatican, Rome

The Papal Chamberlain greeted Senator-General McCollum’s envoy warmly. After a few courteous enquiries into the well-being of their respective employers, the question of whether the Pope would grant an audience to Senator-General McCollum was broached. Looking distinctly uneasy, the Chamberlain replied that he would have to refer to his Boss, and asked McCollum’s man to wait. The Chamberlain then retired into the adjoining office, where the Pope was in impromptu conference with various members of the Curia, and the heads of the major monastic orders.

Suddenly, raised voices could be heard through the double doors, and McCollum’s representative – after making sure that no Swiss Guard was nearby – stuck his ear to the crack. While he was unable to hear everything that was said, he was certain that he heard the following, from at least two different speakers:

“….. impaler…. has not been to the confessional in over five years…. this near to being excommunicated…. heretic…. enemy of the Church….”

Having decided that he had heard enough, and unwilling to be caught eavesdropping, McCollum's aide moved silently back to his seat. Soon, the doors opened, and the Papal Chamberlain came through, sat behind his ornate desk, and, smiling weakly, said:

“I regret very much that the Pope is very busy these days – you know, the calendar reform and the new martyrology – so he appears unable to grant an audience to the esteemed Senator-General. By the way - ” and at this the Chamberlain leaned forward, and an earnest expression came to his face “you might want to tell your master that a show of piety would not go remiss with the Holy Congregation.”

And soon, the interview was over.