The Campaign Builder's Guild

Is anyone planning on responding to the discussion about Arnold and the removal of the Pope?

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EE- good point about including children and marital status in your backstory.
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To Polycarp--I am weighing whether to execute the SPOILERED discussion; at current it seems unwise, but if someone tries to get a last minute discussion that changes things, then I may want to activate the discussion, depending on what they say. (This is mentioned because I currently foresee someone posting something at the last minute that I may want to respond to...)

Quote from: Light Dragon
[ic=Speech Before the Senate]Would Godly man Arnold have us labeled heretics for eliminating the Pope? Would he give the Emperor and the Papacy's allies a cassus belli?  A Pope's demise must not be by the manmade mob but by God.

Let us channel the mob's anger instead toward civic pride; toward preparation to 'greet' the emperor and to prepare for the predations of Tivoli and Spidoni who so covet a reason to sack Rome; indeed, with rage properly directed, we could even raze Tivoli to the ground to bring other Papists to our righteous cause of service to all-as Jesus Christo came to serve all the Gentiles when the Jews would not follow.

The one who must speak to the mob must be respected. And he must be known to not be a Papist sympathiser. I am impressed by the Roman mob- we Romans are a hearty people who do great things- but Tivoli and Spidoni do not respect the Roman mob and they will challenge us. We must train and plan to dispose all Rats with one egalitarian blow.

My esteemed colleague, Bernardo Simone Di Fontane speaks of a tax. Whyfore should we institute a burden on the populace in these hard times? All fine Romans possess weapons do they not; the heart of the volunteers of Rome will strike fear into our enemies.[/ic]

[ic=Response by Bernardo]
And what then would you do when the mob grows out of hand?
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[ooc=Turn 1 Orders]
-Explore options for investing; if a low-risk avenue is found, dedicate two wealth to that.
-If a defense levy is raised, donate 1 wealth to that.
-Discreetly investigate what level of taxation could be easily borne by the people of Rome with little complaint.
[/ooc]

Quote from: Elemental_ElfCharacter

Well, that's quite a character background!  I only have one small issue to point out, which is that if there were any Counts in the Communal Senate of 1144, there certainly wouldn't be any after our fictional revolution of 1152.  Any noble senator would be titled Signore (Lord) or alternately Cavaliere (Knight), both of which referred to the same thing.  As a group they might be called baroni (Barons) but that was not an actual rank at the time.

Anyway, welcome to the game!

Quote from: Light DragonTo Polycarp--I am weighing whether to execute the SPOILERED discussion

The deadline isn't until Thursday, so I wouldn't worry about it yet.  You still have several days to decide.

Quote from: Stargate525Explore options for investing; if a low-risk avenue is found, dedicate two wealth to that.

Clarification: Do you mean options solely within Rome, or somewhere else?

Quote from: Polycarp

Quote from: Elemental_ElfCharacter

Well, that's quite a character background!  I only have one small issue to point out, which is that if there were any Counts in the Communal Senate of 1144, there certainly wouldn't be any after our fictional revolution of 1152.  Any noble senator would be titled Signore (Lord) or alternately Cavaliere (Knight), both of which referred to the same thing.  As a group they might be called baroni (Barons) but that was not an actual rank at the time.

Anyway, welcome to the game!

Oops, sorry. I'll switch it to Signore.

Within Rome, and then expanding outwards through friendly territories until a safe investment is found.

[ic=To the Senate]You suggest that the mob would have no civic pride?[/ic]

[ic=To the Senate]
Not at all.

I suggest that the mob is precisely that. A mob. One who elected the Caesars and overthrew the original Senate, ones which, when begun, are not easily stopped beyond bloodshed, violence, and tyranny. Civic pride takes many forms, including that of a desire for a King or, perhaps, even a pope.
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[ic=Response to Vittorio by Domenico]No one doubts the civic pride of the fair denizens of our glorious city however, it must be pointed put that the hearts of men are easily swayed - as easily by rhetoric as by coin...  I suggest that we do not raise taxes for now. Let us consolidate our hold over Rome. It is best we channel the anger of the mob towards our enemies and rivals than fall prey to our own creation and see those we would destroy bring ruin upon ourselves.  [/ic]

[ic=Message to Margrave of Verona]
Honorable Margrave

The world has changed greatly in the last three years since the Second Crusade. Sometimes I wish for the simple days of riding as a Knight under the late Emperor Conrad. These latest days have caught me supremely busy as I am Consul of the exterior for the newly reborn Republic of Rome. Now there have been many overzealous preachers, namely one Arnold of Brescia, decrying the Pope, he who called the Second Crusade, but I am a godly man and do not condone these excesses.  I entreat you as one former Crusader to another, please speak on the behalf of Rome to the Pope and the Frederick, the nephew of the late Conard.

Your comrade-in-arms,

Fortis Calafatus
[/ic]

[ic=Message to Frederick I from the Consul of the Exterior of the Roman Republic]
Great Frederick

As a fellow former crusader and Consul of the Exterior of the Roman Republic, I entreat you come to our fair city and be crowned as the Holy Roman Emperor. Do not listen to those who decry Rome for it's recent actions. Let us open a dialogue between yourself as leader of the Empire and myself as the representative of a small but loyal part of it.

Your faithful servant,

Fortis Calafatus
[/ic]

[ic=Speech to the Roman Public on the Palatine Hill]
Fellow Romans, the great Arnold of Brescia speaks wisely and justly. Let Rome benefit from the wealth of Rome. However, all that is in Rome is Roman. We should not ransack and despoil the beautiful churches of our fair city. Good christians the world over travel to our beloved city to see its splendour! We cannot in good conscience deny that which we take for granted from our fellow christians from afar! Let us instead turn our eye two the fat priests of Tivoli! They who dared attack our beloved city! I call upon Arnold of Brescia to lead the faithful of Rome to Tivoli and descend upon it! Scour it with fire!

I, Fortis Calafatus, Consul of the Exterior, pledge that if Arnold will agree to this request, I will send the might of Rome with him and the faithful! I will ensure his well being by making sure he is surrounded at all times by a faithful guard. And more! I will arm the faithful who march upon vile Tivoli with weapons, to be their possession until they return to Rome, payed from my own coffers!
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[ic=Speech before the public at the foot of the Senate]
Faithful Romans, the Emperor Frederick I is coming to our glorious city! But fear not! I, Fortis Calafatus your Consul of the Exterior am here to protect our great city of Rome! I have sent envoys to Frederick, as well as my past comrade in arms the Margrave of Verona to negotiate political alliances. Beyond that, I work tirelessly to protect our city from its past enemies. The city of Tivoli is to beware! And many of our past enemies will soon be our friends!

On the matter of the former Patrician of Rome, Pierlioni. While his confidence in great Rome has been shaken he is not our enemy! He is still a great son of Rome. He need not fear for his life from any in our city!
[/ic]

[ooc]
Orders Summer of 1152
-Send a group of 20 armed house guards, led by a trusted nephew to Tre Fontane. Tell Abbot they are nominally there for the protection due to rising anti-Papal sentiment.
-Send a messenger to the Margrave of Verona, carrying a sealed message, enquiring for political support for the new Roman Republic, on behalf of one survivor of the Second Crusade to another.
-Send a messenger to the Frederick I on behalf of the Consuls of the exterior, entreating him to open dialogue between us and that as a Crusader I have nought but respect for the Poep.
-Incite the mob against Trivoli with a Speach. Beseeching Arnold of Brescia to lead his faithful. If Arnold agrees to lead them, arm them with weapons bought from my own coin (no more than 1 Wealth) and send the Roman Militia along with orders to loot and raise. Returning wealth to the Senate/Consuls.
-Create Honor Guard for Arnold of Brescia from Roman soldiers who are the most loyal to myself.
-Send a messenger to Pierlioni  and inviting him  to meet with the Consuls privately and secretly. If Pierlioni accepts, send a  secret messenger to Oddone Fragipione that Pierlioni will be at the time/place of the meeting; so that Pierlioni may be handed over to Oddone.
-Public Speech to all of Rome, "As consul of exterior will do the best to protect our great reborn Republic, already in negotiations with the Margrave of Verona, the Emperor and past hostile enemies to bring them to our side".
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[ic=To the Senate]I second the words of Fortis Calafactus that he spoke to the public this noon on the Palatine Hill. Tivoli is Rome's greatest enemy-it and other states {read-the Papal States} and families that are using the Pope as a pawn to extort the people of Rome and to put gold in coffers instead of to fair use![/ic]

[ic=Letter to the Tusculani]To the Head of the Family of the Tusculani (Tolomeo),
I write as a concerned Senator of Rome. Concerned because the Pope is absent from his Roman seat. If God is with the Pope, then the Pope will be in Rome and the Pope will be protected. Rome is the Pope's seat. Why will he not return? Is he not a true Pope that he would not trust in God's protection or that he would not be willing to become a martyr to effect the greater glory of God? If he is no true Pope, then it would be very dangerous to shelter him indeed for God's wrath may descend upon the one who shelters the untrue man. I do not know at this time if he is a true Pope or not, but many in Rome fear that he is not. Indeed, Arnold of Bresica, a very holy man, a very wise man- is concerned this Pope is not truly select by God. But- If the Pope is true, then he has nothing to fear from Arnold or from Rome-God guides both the Pope and Friar Arnold and God should also guide you.[/ic]

And here's the revised SPOILER thing- This is what I'm going with...because...why not:
[ic=Letter to Arnold of Bresica]One may wish for a Caesar because a Caesar is like a Pope. But although this Pope has not yet done so, a Pope may do greater good than a Caesar, for a Pope's power stretches to the Divine--even when that Pope renounces great wealth. Do you seek spiritual power or temporal? All save Jesus, King of Kings have never held both. And when an unholy Pope passes, as all men do eventually, only a Holy man may succeed him, no?

The Senate will stand behind a Caesar as a leader of war and it would support you in freeing other lands from exploitative taxation made for mere accumulation of wealth and that are not ruled by Senates but by Tyrants, but a Caesar has never been a holy man. Would you be a Caesar, or a holy man? Would you speak of these plans before the Senate? Would you speak of your plans to greet the Emperor as a Holy Man or as a Caesar? I invite you to do this, so that all may greater learn from your teachings.[/ic]

[ic=Public: Loudly after Arnold's Speech]This Friar Arnold of Bresica speaks Godly words! It is time that God brings truth to Gentiles! Not only Rome but other Cities should share in the glory of Senates! Godless Tivoli and Spidoni should be confronted by the people of Rome and by a Caesar of Rome to lead their vanguard. If Friar Arnold would lead the battle, this will be good--but remember, Friar Arnold is a Holy Man-if he seeks to inspire and not seek to lead to war, but if war must happen, then I suggest Costa Oliveri, who you have dubbed the "Amici," to lead the force, for he like Arnold, has been a friend to the populace of Rome![/ic]

[ic=Spoken to Costa Oliveri]If you are willing to lead a force, I trust that you will use your not small powers of persuasion to rein in the mob and to preserve the vital parts of the cities... Rome needs allies or vassals, not devastation.[/ic]

[ooc]Dispatch fleet of trading vessels to Sicily (Naples) and stock up on food supplies (1 wealth) [with plans to deliver in 2 seasons] and weapons (1 wealth) [with plans to deliver in one season-next season], hopefully at relatively good prices. If the weapons would be too expensive, just buy food [/ooc]

[ic=Letter to Roger II of Sicily]A letter of greetings my good Cousin In Law. Frederick the Second may soon be marching his way to Rome to be crowned, so we will certainly have an interesting time ahead of us. I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am in good health and I was recently made a Senator in Fair Rome, which puts me in an excellent place to negotiate trade deals between you and the Senators of Rome should you have an interest in our latest styles of pottery, of which I have sent several on the most recent ship. We also have excavated more of the ancient ruins and have several saintly relics aboard, all blessed by Priests and intended to consecrate new Churches. [Every church is supposed to have a saintly relic in the altar].

Blessings and Salutations to you;

-Vittorio Manzinni[/ic]

[ic=On the Palatine Hill]A great throng cheer and shout as Consul Calafatus speaks of attacking Tivoli and crushing the vile Tiburtini...[/ic]

[ic=Arnold of Brescia approaches the Senate house with a great host of followers, to speak before the Senate...]Some among you have questioned what it is I want, or who it is I imagine myself to be - let these men open their eyes, for what I am is before them.  I am a monk who lives by the charity of others, who owns nothing but his habit and staff, who lives only that he may preach the truth of God and expose the lies of the Devil!  I wish no corrupting riches, nor power, for in Christ is vested all power spiritual, and in the Senate is vested all power temporal.  Some have said that I hate the Pope, but this is not so - I do not hate the man, but the sins within him, the sins of greed and pride that turn men of God into men of gold, wearing the robes and furs of princes instead of following the example of the Apostles.  I hate these sins because God hates these sins; I do not presume to strip the clergy of their spiritual power, for God has done it already, and their sacraments are worthless so long as they cling to riches.  Let Eugene come to Rome, in the simple robes of a priest; let him give his bread to the starving and his gold to the poor, and I will be the first to kneel before him and kiss his feet and call him Father, for then he will be worthy of it.  Yet not before!  Not while the Devil has him and his Cardinals seduced by wealth and prideful arrogance!

You have asked not just my words, but my service as well.  Though I was not born a Roman I feel the liberty granted to their hallowed race by God in my own heart, and I feel blessed that a simple monk such as I is held in such regard by the lords of Rome.  Nevertheless, mighty and true though the power of the Consuls be, I have sworn my life to Christ first, and none before.  I may yet serve Rome as I serve God if the Consuls desire my presence on their endeavor.  If they ask, I will follow, and tend to the souls of good Romans, but I am no knight and will not be as Caesar ordering men to battle.  I will not be a captain under arms, nor have I any desire to be.  I care for the souls of men, not their swords.  Knowing this, then, what does the Senate ask of a simple man of God?[/ic]

[ic=Count Tolomeo II to Senator Manzinni]I have little patience for commoners trying to play the part of lords, and no more for commoners trying their amateur hands at theology.  You "senators" of all people should know why he has left, for it is you who have forced him into exile.  If my protection of His Holiness troubles the Romans, than they must be content with my apologies unless their words are backed with not hot air alone, but silver.[/ic]

[ooc]Llum, I have sent you a War PM.[/ooc]

Quote from: Light DragonDispatch 1/2 fleet of trading vessels to Sicily (Naples) and stock up on food supplies and weapons, hopefully at relatively good prices. If the weapons would be too expensive, just buy food (Would this cost 1/2 of a wealth point?)

At present Wealth can only be spent in integral sums, and not fractions.  Spending 1 Wealth will buy a large shipload of grain.  You could also spend 1 Wealth on buying weapons (which would be bought from local smiths, not abroad - there aren't really any bulk exporters of weapons).

As a general rule, 1 Wealth is the minimum amount required to "make a difference" in some way.  It will buy a good quantity of weapons (e.g. enough to cheaply equip several hundred men) or a good quantity of food (enough to help alleviate a famine in a meaingful way), but splitting 1 unit of Wealth between them would not be effective.  Such is the nature of an abstract system.

[ooc=Assessment]How much would it cost to either purchase or fund the creation of a Chamber-style Chapel within the Basilica of Saint Mary (or a similarly large and pro-Senate church)? I wish to dedicate the chapel to Blessed Godfrey of Cappenberg, a German Saint, related to both Charlemagne and the Dukes of Swabia.

I wish to use this as an olive branch to help secure the friendship of King Fredrick I for Rome. [/ooc]

Quote from: Elemental_ElfHow much would it cost to either purchase or fund the creation of a Chamber-style Chapel within the Basilica of Saint Mary (or a similarly large and pro-Senate church)? I wish to dedicate the chapel to Blessed Godfrey of Cappenberg, a German Saint, related to both Charlemagne and the Dukes of Swabia.

For construction and other large projects, it's usually best to ask in OOC orders ("find out how much would it cost for me to...").  In this case, however, it costs as much as you want it to cost.  The more you spend, the grander it will be.

As for the church, there are a bewildering array to choose from; to my knowledge, at least seven were built in Rome in the 12th century alone, and in the present day Rome has nearly a thousand of them.  The Basilica of Saint Mary is fine - certainly I can't fit them all on my map. :)

[ic=To King Fredrick I]
To his Majesty the King of Burgundy, the King of Germania and future Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Fredrick I,

I write this letter with the hope that it finds you and your House in good health. Much has changed in the Eternal City over the course of the last few months - where there was once a Pope, there is now a Senate; where there was once an enemy, there is now a friend. I am one of those friends, or rather I wish to become such a friend to Your Majesty. My name is Domenico DeRosa and I am a Senator from Rome. My voice carries much weight in the city and I will use my talents to win the hearts of the masses, just as your benevolence and grace has won myself. To illustrate my friendship, I will be commissioning a chapel to be built within the Basilica of St. Marry, which is the largest and most glorious Basilica in the Eternal City. This chapel will be dedicated to the Blessed Godfrey of Cappenberg, who was, as I am sure you are aware, a German Saint, directly related to both the greatest Holy Roman Emperor (until such a day as your take up that mantel, of course) Charlemagne and the Dukes of Swabia, homeland of your House. I pray thee to look upon such an act of companionship with a kind heart and look upon me henceforth as friend.

Your ever loving friend,

Senator Domenico DeRosa.
[/ic]

[ooc=Constructing the Chapel]
Spend 1 Wealth to secure the rights to a Chapel within the Basilica of St. Mary located in a prominent location (i.e. not around the corner where no one will ever see it) and hire a Mason to beautify the chapel using marble taken from the Roman Baths or other similarly abandoned Roman buildings (if necessary). If peasants are needed to help ferry the marble, pay them in cheap food. Spend 1 wealth to hire a painter to adorn the chapel with many beautiful Buon frescos exemplifying the life of Blessed Godfrey of Cappenberg AND hire a sculptor to create a statue of Fredrick the I in his royal attire. If funds are low, the statue can be small but given a large pedestal, with marble taken from the baths, if necessary.
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[ooc=Orders, investigation]
We have many enemies on our borders and few allies. It would be for the best if we ascertained the true nature of the defenses of the Eternal City. For this defenses is used as a broad term meaning walls, fortifications, towers, the militia, granaries,  water supply, etc. I hereby order an investigation into the defenses of Rome using the criteria stated previously.
[/ooc]