HRE NES

[Cyclotron]

Doge Orso Participazio of Venice to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
Indeed, I have a keen interest in resuming our trade. It seems for now that the Magyar threat remains largely in the east, so I am willing to tentatively reinstate our trade relationship, though I may need to cancel it in short order if the routes are directly threatened.

I will have to modify the commodity arrangement slightly, as the recent Bulgarian-Byzantine wars have proven disastrous to traders seeking eastern goods, but I am sure I can balance this with other commodities. The past few years have seen an opening in the Sicilian sugar trade that we are eager to enter.

We have recently noticed a sizeable increase in the demand for iron in certain markets. Please consider making this available to us; German iron returning to the Mediterranean market would be profitable for us both.

Our situation at present precludes us from assisting you further in a military fashion, but you can rest assured that, for what it is worth, you have our staunch support - both against the Magyars and the Emperor.

[appleciders]

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Doge Orso II Participazio of Venice
While I might consider making some portion of my iron supplies available to you, I must refrain for the moment- my iron mines are currently in a rather lawless part of Carinthia. Once I have retaken them (hopefully within the year) I will consider opening part of my supply up to trade. However, with your military support withdrawn, I may need to sharply limit the amount of iron available to you, at least until I can expand my mines.

[appleciders]

Oh, and minor nitpicks... How did I not spend my entire treausury last turn, loot 950 d. from von Nordgau, and still wind up with only 920 d. in my treasury this turn? Did I miss something, or did it all go to paying off my men?

[Cyclotron]

Originally posted by appleciders
Oh, and minor nitpicks... How did I not spend my entire treausury last turn, loot 950 d. from von Nordgau, and still wind up with only 920 d. in my treasury this turn? Did I miss something, or did it all go to paying off my men?

Inconcise writing on my part. Though I said that "Bavarians" looted the battlefield, in reality loot (and weaponry) is split between victorious allies, as would probably have been the case in such a battle historically (first come, first serve, with some prefernce given to whoever is the senior). The recovered treasury was only a portion of that 950 (von Nordgau frittered most of it away), which was returned to you in full, but you did not recieve all of that 950 d of loot (only a fraction, as around half went to the Franconians and a slice to the Saxons).

[appleciders]

Fair 'nuff.

[foolish_icarus]

Cool. Franconia got some money, and I didn't even notice.

[appleciders]

Bavarian orders (complete):

-Produce 40 sets of heavy armor with the 100 d. of iron from Bohemia. Produce 300 sets of light armor with the leather from Venice.

-Call up 800 new recruits. They should assemble at Regensburg and prepare to be deployed as soon as possible. Send my own chivalry home to their lands for the year, with the understanding that they are to be report back to Regensburg at this time next year. (So they're home for a year, can help reduce corruption, stabilize things, etc, then next turn are available to campaign.)

-Hire 400 Thuringian Woodsmen and 350 Lombard Axemen and use them under my personal command to help restore and maintain order in Bavaria. Take von Villach and von Leitbach with me as assistant generals.

-Retrieve Eberhard and his army from Carinthia. They're not helping anyone if they're besieged. Send der Kroat to Eberhard as an assistant.

-75 denarii from stone to rebuild the walls at Regensburg. Any leftover stone should be put towards repairing or expanding the church there.

-300 denarii to improve the salt mines near Salzburg. Expand the diggings, improve roads leading up to the mines, and get the best possible tools for the miners.

-150 denarii to hire secret policemen, enforcers, and spies to permeate Bavaria and diffuse rebellions, raise peasants' and minor nobles' opinion of me, and generally discourage corruption.

-400 denarii to begin to fortify the Bavaria/Bohemia border.

-200 denarii to improve the palisade wall around Passau to a ring wall.

-200 denarii to build a palisade wall around Salzburg.

-400 denarii to Eberhard, to use as he sees fit for the goal of freeing Carinthia from the Magyar invaders. I expect a report from Eberhard about how the money is spent.

-Keep both Gunnulf von Villach and Ansehelm von Leitbach available to command armies, and call up one more general to fill out my potentials roster. A reasonably young, loyal, charistmatic fighter is just what I'm looking for, a charge-leader who will inspire men. Doesn't need to be a genius, just not a complete moron.

-Trade Venice 800 d. of salt for 300 d. of leather, 300 d. of sugar, 200 d. of wine, and 150 d. of glassware. Trade 120 d. of tin for 100 d. of iron to Bohemia. Trade Swabia 300 shields and 500 spears for 700 d. Trade Saxony 200 spears and 300 pieces of light armor for 490 denarii.

[foolish_icarus]

Just a heads up, Arnulf, that I will be reforming my army and setting things to order in my own Duchy. I will be back next year with as much force as I can muster to fight the Magyar.

[appleciders]

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Doge Orso II Participazio of Venice
Are you ready to begin negotiations for this year's trade? Which resources have you run short on, and what do you propose to replace them with?

OOC: Cyc, I seem to recall from the manual on playing this NES that fortifying towns and territories helps to mitigate corruption. Does this still hold?

[Nimitz]

Bohemian orders:

-400 denarii to improve the Iron mines. Increased size, scope, and better technics.
-Send scouts into the occupied lands of Bohemia. Get an idea of the state of the lands and magyar strength and location.
-Set up mounted patrols on the edges of controled lands to watch for magyar incursion. Have set up to quickly alert army.
-100 denarii to improve road system.
-Set up a fast messaging system. Consiting of posts evenly spread apart, the distance a horse can gallop with out tiring badly, with fresh horse to allow quick relaying of important news.
-incourage and look into the cultivation of flax

[appleciders]

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Duke Burchard II of Swabia
I must inquire as to the cause of your recent massive military buildup- 2,000 new recruits is a massive new force. Are you planning to bring this army to help fight the Magyars? Would you like to purchase any arms to help equip your army? I have a large surplus of weapons, spears and shield in particular, at the moment.

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to King Heinrich of Germany
My lord, I must inquire as to the size of your forces that might be brought into Bavaria to help defend from the Magyars this year. With the Franconians leaving and the delay while I call up a new army, the assistance of your army in keeping order would be greatly appreciated.

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Duke Eberhard III of Franconia
While I understand your need to bring your forces back into Franconia, I would request that you keep your forces in Bavaria for a short period of time- half a year, perhaps? Enough time to allow a relieving force of Saxons or Burgundians to arrive.

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to King Rudolph II of Burgundy
I must admit that I've entirely lost track of where the army you sent is. Do you know where they are currently fighting?

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Emperor Berengar I
My condolences on the loss of your army and the Holy Nails at Porezen. The Magyars can prove to be a wily enemy, outmanuvering and outrunning Western style armies. If you have any remains of that army that you would like to commit to the defense of Germany and an attempt to recover the holy relics, I would accept their command- I have many years of experience in fighting these Magyars and know their ways well enough to avoid the pitfalls that befell your army. If you need your troops to defend your own borders, I fully understand.

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Duke Vratislaus of Bohemia
My brother, I congratulate you once again on Bohemia's full induction as a Stem Duchy. Now that Bohemia has become a stable, functioning member of Christendom, I would like to open up the possibility of trade with you. I realize that in this time of war, you may have full need of your iron supply, and I do respect that, but I would like to open up the possibility of a purchasing a quantity of iron from you. I would at this time be able to purchase 100 denarii of iron from you for the price of 120 denarii of tin.

[foolish_icarus]

hmm half a year. I'll take a look. I may be able to do that.

[Nimitz]

Duke Vratislaus of Bohemia to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
Thank you for your congatulations. I would be agreeable to this trade but have one condition. I must be allowed to suspend this trade in the event it becomes necessary such as a further incursion by the magyars. If that is allowable then we may begin trade. As a further question my brother my are you beginning to fortify our border?

[Cyclotron]

Originally posted by appleciders
OOC: Cyc, I seem to recall from the manual on playing this NES that fortifying towns and territories helps to mitigate corruption. Does this still hold?

Yes. The effect is indirect; that is, fortifications reduce raiding, and raiding increases corruption (as well as costing you money directly). Thus, fortifications effective against raiding will also lower corruption. However, border fortifications will do absolutely nothing by themselves, and must be garrisoned.

Doge Orso II Participazio of Venice to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
The problematic situation in and around Constantinople has made prices for silks and spices from the east explode. We are willing to substitute Sicilian sugar, of the highest quality, in like amounts. Thus modified, we have no problem with resuming trade as it was before.

Duke Burchard II of Swabia to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
You are correct. Unlike my timid predecessor, I am resolved to the destruction of this threat once and for all. I would indeed be interested in a weapons transaction. What from your stockpile are you willing to part with, and for how much?

King Rudolph II of Burgundy to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
My force is currently at Regensburg, though regrettably they arrived too late to assist in the battle there. I am mustering a second, larger force to relieve the previous one; I require one more year to make preparations, and then they will move out.

Emperor Berengar to Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
The most glorious Emperor wishes to remind you that, while the alleged relics may be in enemy hands, his army is not lost and is even now preparing for war. While he finds it inconceivable that such an important task as the recovery of these relics and the destruction of the heathen hordes should be entrusted to a mere Duke, he has noted the merit of your words and has resolved to a joint action with the Imperial Army and whatever army Germany can muster in two years, at which point the Imperial Army will be ready to act.

[appleciders]

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Duke Vratislaus of Bohemia
Done! 120 tin for 100 iron.

I fortify our border for the same reason that Duke Burchard's predecessor fortified his border with me- Magyar raiding parties cross it and raid the lands beyond. Rest assured that I expect no conflict with you in the future.

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to Doge Orso II Participazio of Venice
The deal, then, stands at 800 d. of salt for 300 d. of leather, 300 d. of sugar, 200 d. of wine, and 150 d. of glassware. This is acceptable to me, and I will order the trade to commence immediately. I have also secured a small amount of iron from Bohemia, which I currently require but will increase the chance and amount of iron I may eventually be able to trade you.

Arnulf of Bavaria to Duke Burchard II of Swabia
I could at this juncture offer you 500 spears and 300 shields for 700 d.