HRE NES II: Der Aufstieg

[Cyclotron]

Originally posted by Micha
Wow. That was... harsh.

So the Frisians expected cavalry, but the little they had proved ineffective due to terrain? Is the Count a fool or was is just bad luck with the weather?

Not so much bad luck with the weather as bad luck with the terrain. Your commanders expected to be able to fight nearer to Groningen where the fields were less marshy; they didn't count on being intercepted in the middle of a peat bog, and the Count decided that it would be too damaging to morale to withdraw without engaging the enemy. More cavalry might have turned the tide if the battle had been fought on drier ground. An infantry slog with light polearm troops vs. vikings can really only end one way without an amazing stroke of luck.

[foolish_icarus]

25 Berserkir (polearm, insanity)

I want to see a gigantic Magyar-Viking battle

[appleciders]

Originally posted by foolish_icarus




I want to see a gigantic Magyar-Viking battle

The real question is, can we hire those guys? Or do the Jomsvikings come with insanity too?

[Cyclotron]

Originally posted by foolish_icarus
I want to see a gigantic Magyar-Viking battle

That may be more the province of CS NES

...though certainly Viking mercenaries are available.

The real question is, can we hire those guys? Or do the Jomsvikings come with insanity too?

The Jomsvikings are elite, very disciplined, highly trained footmen; they do not enter berserkergang, a state of bloodthirsty fury. Berserkir are brave shock troops who work themselves into a frenzy with magical rituals, spirit possession, various herbs and drugs, or plenty of alcohol - and perhaps some blend of all of these. It is the opinion of most Christians that these men are simply possessed by demons. Even if they were readily available for recruitment, it is doubtful a Christian leader would risk taking the tremendous public relations hit of quite literally hiring servants of the Devil to do his work.

Historically, entering berserkergang became prohibited quite soon after Christianity became the predominant faith in the region.

EDIT: I just realized this wasn't a very good answer to your first question, "can we hire them." The answer is that, while they are not available for mercenary recruitment, it is conceivable that you could gain their use if they were provided to you by a friendly Viking lord. This is unlikely given the present diplomatic relations between the Germans and Vikings.

[Cyclotron]

Anno Domini CMXXI

This year’s Pope: John X
This year’s Emperor: Berengar I
This year’s King: Heinrich I

Successions

There are no successions of note this year.

Family Business

Markgraf Burgund von Magdeburg, general of Saxony, has died of a heart attack. He will be missed by all loyal Saxons.

Heidolf von Dortmund, whose body was lost during the Battle of Tirol, has been found by a Bavarian scouting party – though not alive, and not in one piece. A handful of German prisoners from previous Magyar engagements have been found wandering over the border, apparently released by the Magyars not long after the reconquest of Vienna. They were discharged from Magyar custody only after being mutilated in ghastly ways, and given pieces of von Dortmund’s body to carry back to German territory. He was apparently crucified with one of the nails reported to be a relic, stolen from the Imperial baggage train, which the released prisoners also have in their possession.

Land und Leute

Few have any complaints this year; it was by all accounts average, save for fierce storms in the North Sea. Though the Vikings and English may have had some trouble with shipping, the Saxons and Frisians were largely unaffected.

Krieg und Frieden

Vienna has been liberated by the combined Imperial and German army. There were no signs of Gyula Levente’s troops; he seems to have withdrawn from the Mark entirely. Almost as soon as the combined army liberated Vienna, however, the Carinthian border was violated in force. Small groups of Magyar raiders have poured over the border spreading destruction – whereas most Magyar raids are focused on targets of profit, these raids seem focused on mayhem and destruction. Though the raiders have not actually challenged the Imperial-German army, they have dealt tremendous damage to what infrastructure remains in the Mark. The result has been that, while Vienna is secure, the rest of the country is in flames and no effective control exists anywhere outside the city walls. Apparently frustrated with the use of the Imperial Army as a garrison, and citing the continuing expense of fielding a force of its size, the Emperor has withdrawn his army from Carinthia and German Territory. The Burgundinians in Bavaria likewise withdrew as promised just before the onset of winter. One positive note is that Bavaria’s newly built border defenses seem to be effective in keeping these small raiding groups from penetrating any further into German territory.

The leader of the Polan tribe, Siemowit, has led the Polans to victory over the Slavic leader of Warszawa, conquering the region of Masovia to the east of their present domains. Though the Polans were already a large and dynamic tribe, it is believed that Saxon weapons have given them an even more significant edge over their neighbors.

Other News of Christendom

One of the supposedly holy nails found by an Italian fisherman has been returned to Christian hands. Though the Emperor doubtlessly would have claimed it himself, the departure of his army before the arrival of the released prisoners bearing the nail has led to the relic falling to the Duke of Bavaria. The location of the other nail found is unknown.

A planned meeting between the Kings of France and Germany to formally outline their borders and recognize each other’s sovereignty has collapsed over the issue of Friesland, chilling diplomatic relations between the two monarchs. The subsequent failure of Saxon forces to liberate Friesland has embarrassed King Heinrich I of Germany, whose efforts to show himself as Friesland’s rightful protector have rang hollow in the wake of the battle at Martenshoek. Duke Gilbert, ruler of Lotharingia and vassal of the French King, is rumored to be massing troops on the Frisian border, but has yet to issue any threats.

Swabia

Swabia’s contingent in Carinthia has continued to aid Duke Arnulf and his men, though they have yet to see combat in the March. Swabia has continued to manufacture arms and armor to equip their large army, but otherwise little has occurred within the Duchy. Magyar raids have dropped off dramatically since the ousting of the Gyula from Germany, though some still make their way to Swabia through Italy and the Alps.

Corruption in Swabia has remained constant at 16%.

Franconia

The Duke of Franconia has made a serious attempt to recover some of the unity lost in the wake of Conrad’s death. The Duke’s meetings with nobles, church officials, and others may have some impact on the situation in the Duchy, though real improvement may have to wait for implementation. Admittedly, problems exist: a skirmish between armsmen of von Mellrichstadt and von Ingelbeim in Mainz was only stopped when Herigar, the Archibishop of Mainz, personally intervened, and by then six men had already been killed. Nevertheless, the nobility is not all so committed to conflict, and the Duke’s agents have found that at least the Duke has strong loyalty from the clergy of his Duchy. More detailed reports have been relayed to him.

The Franconian army has met up with the Bavarians and Saxons at Vienna, and though tensions within the army are present, most levy soldiers are more interested in doing their service and going home than in aligning themselves with any noble feuds. They have yet to see action and seem in good spirits for now.

Corruption in Franconia has remained constant at 16%.

Bavaria

The Duchy has been abuzz with multiple building projects – fortifications, churches, and walls have all been built throughout Bavaria. Most have been successful, though the Duke’s men at Passau report that at least 100 more denarii will be necessary to complete the expansion of the chapel there.

Vienna has been transformed from a burned-out husk to an expansive armed camp, complete with a repaired ring wall, a chapel, and barracks facilities. Though the forethought in constructing barracks has paid off – the large numbers of troops stationed there would have been hard to deal with otherwise – the sheer number of forces there has severely taxed the resources of the Bavarians, who have been forced to ship massive quantities of supplies downriver (as Carinthia is unsecured and unproductive). A sustained military presence there of this size will require more expenditures for said supplies. Vienna itself is devoid of civilian life, save camp followers, and will need some effort to return to a productive, peaceful township.

The money provided for the development of Innsbruck, commanding the Brenner Pass, has helped the town to repair some of the damage from the recent Battle of Tirol, as well as attracting merchants through the pass that might have stayed closer to home otherwise. The local Ducal agent reports that some money might be well applied next year to repairing the Roman highway through the pass which fell into muddy disrepair centuries ago.

Von Leitbach has reported that the Roman onager, as well as its more current derivatives, is largely unsuitable for action against troops in the field. He has been looking into ballista designs to explore a lighter ballista, similar to the Roman “scorpion,” but believes that the engineering expertise of the Germans is simply insufficient to the task. He has recommended that foreign engineers be brought to assist him, especially Byzantines or others with experience in Roman siege technology.

Corruption in Bavaria has decreased by 1% this year, to 17%.

Carinthia, as it has not been recovered past a small parcel of land around the Danube and Vienna, is not represented in the stats this year.

Saxony

Saxony’s foreign affairs have suffered this year; not only has the defeat at Martenshoek reflected badly on the Saxon commanders, but the King appears to have been snubbed by the Emperor, who departed from Carinthia before Heinrich and his army could even arrive. The Saxon army, though in high spirits and well equipped, has yet to see action in Carinthia – the small bands of Magyar raiders have refused to face the German forces, and Carinthia is only under control along the Danube as far as Vienna.

The news is better on the domestic front. Though raids from the Wends and Danes continue to increase, the death of Grimmdolg at Martenshoek and the loss of several hundred Frisian Vikings has almost totally ended raids from Friesland into Saxony. The generous allocation of funds to road-building efforts has resulted in a serious expansion and upgrading of Saxony’s somewhat unimpressive road network. Though the secrets of Roman surveying and road-building have been lost, decent paved roads have been established between major cities and dirt roads have been widened and extended to all corners of the Duchy.

The granaries of Saxony are full, and well supplied for any future famine. Saxony’s sound agricultural policy has paid off before and may continue to prove its value if weather turns for the worse.

Corruption in Saxony remains constant at 8%.

Bohemia

Bohemia has continued to avoid warfare in these turbulent times, instead focusing on repairing years of war damage and investing in a homegrown flax industry. Roads have been expanded as well, especially important for a province which lacks Roman roads. The Bohemian army, reinforced with armor and hundreds of new knights and their retainers, now lies poised to strike into occupied Moravia from their fortified positions across the border from Brno. One worry for Bohemia has been increasing trouble from their other Slavic neighbors; while the Polans have maintained their peace with the realm, other minor tribes have stepped up their raids and migrations into Bohemian territory, displaced by Polan expansion. So far, the increasing disorder caused by these invasions has been counteracted by the expanding of Ducal authority into previously anarchic areas, but the problem shows no sign of abating.

Corruption in Bohemia has remained constant at 16%.

Friesland

The defeat of Frisian forces at Martenshoek, despite Saxon assistance, has damaged the rebellion and caused considerable doubt within the country as to whether the Count is a capable leader. Strategically, the Vikings are not in the best position; they are far less able to replenish their losses than the Germans or Frieslanders, and one of their warlords was slain at Martenshoek. The tactical defeat, however, has seriously eroded local authority and done nothing to help Friesland’s financial situation.

Corruption in Friesland has increased by 1%, to 14%.

[Nimitz]

Duke Vratislaus I of Bohemia to Siemowit of the Polans
I wish to begin formal relations with your great people. In fact I would like to begin trade and discuss how to bring our mutual borders under control as it seems that a far number of slavs have started raiding into our lands. Your reply in the possitive would bring us much gladness. I will await what you have to say.

[Cyclotron]

Siemowit of the Polans to Duke Vratislaus of Bohemia
I welcome peace with you and your house. We have no quarrel with you and do not seek one - your great chieftain, the Saxon king, is known to us and is considered a friend.

My people are a growing tribe, and need more land to support their families - alas, if other tribes seek respite in your lands, there is little I can do. I have no wish to make war upon you, but we are a free people and my subjects move as they see fit.

We would welcome trade with your people, especially for iron; we have much amber to trade, as well as some silver.

[Nimitz]

Duke Vratislaus I of Bohemia to Siemowit of the Polans
You have need to fear that we are angry. We find that your people are among the most well behaved of all those that come into our lands, our concern is for those not of your people the ones that have caused problems for both of us.

Now we would ask exactly how much iron do you think you could use we have a large supply and can sell you a portion of it? Also we have Linen a fine cloth if you feel you have need for it.

[Cyclotron]

Siemowit of the Polans to Duke Vratislaus I of Bohemia
We believe a trade of 200 of your iron for, say, 250 of our amber would be fair. We easily clothe ourselves; I can see no present need among us for your cloth, fine though it may be.

[Cyclotron]

I owe PMs to virtually every player that posted last round, so stand by.

[appleciders]

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Duke Vartislaus I of Bohemia
My brother, a situation presents itself in which I believe we may be able to help one another. You have an excess of Slavic peoples migrating into your lands, and I have an entire Mark nearly depopulated by Magyars. I suggest that you might suggest to your peaceable Slavic settlers that land aplenty is available to those who would move south to claim it.

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Emperor Berengar I
At this news of your departure from German lands, I would thank you for your assistance these past two years and hope that we might work together successfully in future. Should you find it in your heart to offer any continued aid to Germany in the years to come, even a small contingent of Imperial troops (even as few as a single thousand) would be an immense help in securing Carinthia as a buffer between the heathen Magyars and your own Italy.

[Cyclotron]

Emperor Berengar I to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
You are welcome, but your request is regrettably impossible. Italy requires my complete attention at this time.

Additionally, I am told that you have one of the holy nails I recovered in your possession. I would appreciate its immediate return.

[Cyclotron]

I believe all PMs have been... well, PMed. If I owe you further messages please notify me.

I have only a few more days at home before I fly back to college on Sunday. In the interest of spending these last few days with my family, I will not be completing the update until my return to school, at which point I will attempt to complete it before Tuesday.

[Nimitz]

Duke Vartislaus I of Bohemia to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
Your idea intrigues us while I can not say whether the slavs will move I will attempted to convince them to do so. It sounds like it might solve both of our problems.

Duke Vratislaus I of Bohemia to Siemowit of the Polans
We would be agreeable to that infact we will go with 200 d of iron for 240 d of amber as a token for the beginning of our new relations.

[Cyclotron]

Giovanni Wine has not posted at Apolyton since 09-27-06 and has missed two updates. I've decided to re-open his spot for anyone else who wishes to join (no offense Giovanni, but we've got to keep moving). I know bipolarbear is around, so if he's reading this he'd better drop by to make sure he does not suffer... a similar fate.

Edit:

While I'm on it, I'd like to point out that New Year's Day was the first anniversary of this NES. In the spirit of constant improvement, I'd like to welcome anyone who has a comment or suggestion regarding the NES or how I run it to tell me what they think! I'd prefer any comments in a PM to avoid cluttering up this thread any further, but if there are any ideas to consider I'll post them in another thread. I'd like to hear from you if you have ideas, constructive criticisms, and so on.

Edit2:

Map updated! The return of Carinthia, French cities, and some more tweaks.

[Cyclotron]

Your moderator has been stricken with the flu and may be out of action for a while.

[appleciders]

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Duke Vartislaus I of Bohemia
By all means, do; during your predecessor's reign, I was regularly settling Slavic refugees in Carinthia. Granted, things are a little more chaotic now, but hopefully Vienna can be kept safe enough for settlers.

EDIT: Flu? Very
Further EDIT: How would I go about hiring Byzantine engineers and architects, now that two of my projects would seem to require it? Do I open diplomatic negotiations? Would the Venetians be a good source for this? Or should I just fund a dispatch to go over there and hire some?

[appleciders]

Still the flu? Or is it more schoolwork?

[Cyclotron]

The flu was pretty short, but it ruined my schedule. I'm still dealing with the reprecussions from missing the first few days of school. I am aware of this and the update will continue when I have the time.

[appleciders]

Sounds good.

[Cyclotron]

I can probably answer this

Originally posted by appleciders
Further EDIT: How would I go about hiring Byzantine engineers and architects, now that two of my projects would seem to require it? Do I open diplomatic negotiations? Would the Venetians be a good source for this? Or should I just fund a dispatch to go over there and hire some?

The most straightforward way would be to ask the Byzantines.

Keep in mind that Byzantium is merely the "authority" in the field. You don't need them to build a cathedral; lots of cathedrals were build without their aid. Because Germany has few native architects and quality stonemasons at this time, however, some outsourcing is neccessary. You could try and get the needed professionals from France, Italy, Venice, or Rome; they might not be as good or as cost efficient as their Byzantine counterparts, but it's an option. A more long term solution would be to fund the expansion of native, local scholarship and study of the architectural (and other) arts. Germany is looked at as a cultural backwater by the rest of Christian Europe - for now you need to work around that, but opportunities exist for that to change dramatically in the future with some competent stewardship and investment.

[Cyclotron]

Greetings nobles of our beloved HRE (and associated territories),

As you may have noticed, updates have been rather sparse as of late. There are a variety of reasons for this, but one stands out above all; I have become a caged, sedentary shut-in since day 1 of this semester on account of my senior thesis, which - combined with the hunt for grad schools and post-college employment, has severely limited my free time to do things I enjoy on less academic levels, such as this NES.

I intend to fully keep my promise regarding this NES - that is, to keep it alive. This NES will only die when I run out of players (at least, in the forseeable future - let's be realistic, we won't be here forever ). I enjoy modding here and I find it unfortunate that I don't have the time I'd like to do it on a regular basis.

I'm not suspending this NES, but it's going into "glacial mode" for the next few months to accomodate my schedule. I may be out of contact for a few days at a time, or forced to - as I have done recently - postpone the completion of updates for a while.

I will now deliver the long awaited stat block update. Thank you for your patience.

[Cyclotron]

The Stat Block has been updated!

Ducal Herald to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
My lord, your daughter, Judith, has reached an age where she is considered suitable for marriage into another noble family. Such marriages can promote good relations between countries or increase the loyalty of your generals and retainers, but those married into your family may gain a claim to your lands.

[appleciders]

Fair 'nuff. I've got a really busy schedule this semester too. Back to the orders, I suppose.

[appleciders]

Bavarian Orders (complete):

Rejoice, O Christians! The first of the Holy Nails has been recovered from the heathen, and the Duke, along with an honor guard of Bavarians and Saxons, triumphantly travel to Rome to enshrine the Nail in the Vatican!

For this coming year 922, the Duke has planned a continuation of the ambitious building projects that have characterized Bavarian domestic affairs for the last few years. The chapel at Passau and city walls at Linz will continue the upgrades recently started, while two new projects are ready to begin: a monastery at Regensburg and a long-needed expansion of the old Roman roads and poorly-kept dirt roads in the Duchy.

The monastery at Regensburg is being built in preparation for a later cathedral; the Duke intends that a corps of learned and pious monks may be formed to tend any relics that may be entrusted to Bavaria's care in the immediate future, and to use their mathematical and organizational skills to help house, feed, and supply the stonemasons at the cathedral, and to administer the cathedral once completed. An attempt will be made to populate this monastery with monks from other German monasteries who will be best able to jump-start the process of getting the monastery up and running.

While Saxony has demonstrated that it is indeed possible for a Duchy to overhaul its entire road system in a single year, Bavaria's finances are on a war footing and do not permit such a lofty goal. However, a majority of Bavaria's foreign trade passes between Salzburg and the Brenner Pass through Innsbruck, and so the Duke has decided that developing roads in this area will have the greatest effect.

Finally, Bavaria has to this point been tied down in fighting pagans from the East, and so has neglected the also-important German campaign to liberate Friesland from the Viking invaders. While no Bavarian troops can be immediately spared to fight in this endeavour, the Duke has reasoned that these same Viking invaders regularly hire themselves out as mercenaries, and so Bavaria might serve two ends by hiring peerless Viking footsoldiers to fight Magyar horsemen, who will be severely outclassed in hand-to-hand combat with Viking warriors.

Arrange army as follows:

230 Frankish Chivalry, 120 Norman Adventurers, 75 Dalmatian Cavalry under Markgraf Eberhard
790 Medium Infantry (light, spear, shield, sword), 150 Danish Vikings under von Wein
500 Heavy Infantry (heavy, spear, shield, sword) under von Villach
200 Long Axemen (light, axe, shield, polearm) under von Brenner
500 Seige Archers (light, bow, Magyar bow, pavise) under von Leitbach
400 Thuringian Woodsmen under der Kroat
50 Medium Infantry (light, spear, shield, sword) under my personal command as Nail Guards

Call up 300 more soldiers to serve next year. Keep the mercanaries already hired in service. Hire 150 Danish Vikings.

Produce 60 sets of heavy armor, 30 swords, and 100 bows with 215 d. from iron.

200 d. to Eberhard to continue his spying efforts in Carinthia and to maintain his useful spy and reconnaissance efforts.

100 d. to continue building the chapel at Passau.

100 d. to the Emperor as a tax for using Italy as a by-way for trading with Venice.

200 d. to ship supplies down the Danube to maintain the garrison at Vienna.

115 d. from stone to build a ring wall at Linz, to help further protect this town from any Magyar raids.

225 d. to construct a monastery in Regensburg. Bavaria has been without the benefits of a center of learning for too long, and a monastery will be an excellent place to store the Nail for the time being, and may eventually pay for itself by providing the Church in Bavaria with a useful source of income from pilgrims' gifts and by attracting pilgrims who will stay in Bavarian inns, eat Bavarian food, and purchase Bavarian goods.

200 d. to begin construction of a system of border forts along the Bavarian/Carinthian border. I realize this is not enough to finish the project, but should make a significant start.

275 d. to repair the Roman road through the Brenner Pass and well into the surrounding area. Whatever's leftover should be spent in improving the road towards Salzburg. Don't mindlessly follow the track of the old Roman road, but feel free to skirt around especially steep hills, use switchbacks where nessecary, and keep the grade reasonable for carts and wagons. If any additional money is left, spend it on improving the dirt roads in the area, including the Bavarian holdings south of the Brenner Pass.

Begin trading 100 d. of glass for 100 d. of Saxon lead. I seem to recall that lead is useful for some building projects- if so, feel free to substitute some d. of lead in where appropriate.

Bohemia is encouraging excess population in his lands to settle in Carinthia. I officially saction this, though I can offer no support right now.

I personally will go to the Vatican with the Nail Guards, via the Brenner Pass, then by land from Verona to Ravenna to Perugia to Rome. I will give the Pope the Nail, collect my reward, and return to Bavaria. Even though the Pope has issued a bull for my protection, maintain constant vigilance during this trip, and before leaving Rome, ask the Pope to extend the bull to cover my return to Bavaria. On the way back, if Markgraf Eberhard seems to have the situation in Bavaria and Carinthia well in hand, make a stop in Venice for a few days to call on the Doge- we've had enough correspondence over the years and he's helped me out of the nasty situation with Luitpold, so I think I owe him that if I can spare the time.

OOC: Oh, and a question: the old Roman roads are paved with flagstones, right? So should it be assumed that, being a good half-millenium old, they're in some disrepair, but still mostly usable?

[Cyclotron]

Originally posted by appleciders
OOC: Oh, and a question: the old Roman roads are paved with flagstones, right? So should it be assumed that, being a good half-millenium old, they're in some disrepair, but still mostly usable?

Some are better than others. Some parts have been stripped of stones for walls and farmhouses. Roman roads are also mercilessly straight, even if it involves going directly over a steep hill, making them acceptable for marching but not ideal for drawing wagons or carts. They are better than nothing, but in need of substantial work.

[appleciders]

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Emperor Romanos I and Constantine VII of Byzantium
My friends, through the grace of God I have kept the heathen Magyars from overrunning the Christian lands of Germany. In my deep gratitude for God allowing me to hold these lands, I have decided to build a cathderal, worthy of standing in His grace forever. My architects and engineers have all declined to design such an edifice for me, claiming that only Byzantine craftsmen would be capable of making this cathedral truly worthy. I come to you to ask that you refer me to a properly talented and learned architect and his chosen team of engineers, that I might truly serve God.

Another of my generals, in the quest for new weapons with which to push back the heathen hordes, has also recommended that I seek to hire Byzantine siege engineers, who are well known as Christendom's foremost experts on the subject, being heirs to the knowledge and experience of more than a millenium of Roman warfare.

I come to you to ask for a complement of craftsmen and engineers, for purposes both secular and holy, that I might further God's domain. Will you help me in this quest?

[Cyclotron]

Emperor Romanos I to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
While We are usually inclined to seriously consider such requests, the status of your liege as an ally and vassal of Our archenemy, the Tsar of Bulgaria, makes granting your request impossible. Perhaps you seek Our engineers for the construction of military edifices and devices contrived with Our ruin in mind, or the ruin of Our allies. We cannot in good conscience trade with or provide assistance to those who collude with enemies of the Empire. The very insolence of suggesting that you are "furthering God's domain" while at the same time conspiring against God's domain on Earth, the eternal Roman Empire, is astounding to Us.

We would be moved to reconsider your request if your liege lord, King Heinrich of Germany, renounced the alliance between the German and Bulgarian thrones announced by his predecessor. Anything short of this will not move Us to your assistance.

[appleciders]

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Doge Orso II Participazio of Venice
My friend, I come to you once again, asking for your help in securing resources that I need. This time, however, what I need is knowledge- specifically, experienced, talented, learned engineers and architects who will help me design both a cathedral to glorify God and house the relic of Our Savior that has passed into my possession and help me to develop small scale siege engines to defend Christendom against the Magyar onslaught. I come to you asking for your assistance in hiring such men from more enlightened domains than the dark frontier that is Germany as we know it. Would you be willing to refer to me such architects and engineers as I will require to complete my project?

[Cyclotron]

Doge Orso II Participazio of Venice to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
We would be happy to assist you with your building efforts. We have some architects and stonemasons skilled enough to be of service, though their services are not cheaply bought.

As far as your research into siege engines, however, we can regrettably be of little assistance. We are not well versed in such technologies; the Byzantines are the masters of those devices. Even were we able to help you, the Emperor would be unlikely to allow the passage of military engineers and weaponry through his territory.