The Republic Reborn

[Nomadic]

[ic=At the lesser council]
Whatever we do I fear that we must either exile the man and face mass riot, or make it appear that he has vanished perhaps in fear of the return of the pope. None should know the truth of the matter until after Fredrick has come and gone. The king does not aid the pope out of any true love, rather I believe that he sees this merely as a means to an end. He will help the pope up until he has been crowned in Rome. Once he returns to Germany I have no doubt that he will feel little desire to return. Rome is not his, it is under the Papal States. When he is gone there will be little this barbarian pope can do to enslave the believers in Rome. Let us call Arnold before the lesser council and discuss these matters in person.
[/ic]

[Polycarp]

[ic=To Consul De Vinti]Consul, I have never wavered from my conviction that the Senate and People of Rome, not the corrupt princes of the Church, must be invested with all civil power; accordingly, if it is the Senate's wish that I take refuge somewhere, I will comply so long as my safety is guaranteed.  I wonder, however, if it will accomplish anything - will my absence truly appease this cruel barbarian Pope, and will my sudden disappearance be perceived any differently by the Romans than my deliberate expulsion?

Arnoldo da Brescia[/ic]

[Magnus Pym]

[ic=To Arnoldo da Brescia]Arnoldo, you bring a good point. No, we cannot be sure of anything, but with a carefully constructed story we could deceive the Pope into believing that you, in fact, fled for your life.
But the story of your departure, whether it has to be explained to the Pope, the King or the popolo, is the least of our troubles. What is to be carefully thought out is the story of your return, and how the Senate will openly deal with it.
Between me and you, we are well aware that the Pope currently has great leverage, but it is only temporary. As soon as Frederick is crowned and leaves Rome, he will have very little interest in meddling in our affairs; and the Pope will have lost his leverage.

Of course, we could deliberate forever on what people will or won't do, but the fact is that we have very little time to act.

Hugo De Vinti, Consul of the Interior[/ic]

[LD]

[ic=Inner Council]Consider before you decide Arnold's fate that Frederick wishes to punish a city that is in rebellion against the Pope. The Pope apparently finds Arnold to be in rebellion. One way to appease Frederick is to hand him Arnold-which is a cowardly option. Frederick will likely still punish the city if we hand over Arnold like Judases. Or, we could follow the lessons of the Milanese and oppose Frederick--which will cost many lives.

Frederick seeks to punish the cities in rebellion. I foresee he will demand fealty, and recompense. He will hear those with complaints against the commune. He will listen to the Pope who wants to do away with Arnold- permanently. He will listen to the Frangipane, who will likely make claims against the city. he may listen to the claims of Tivoli, the Abbot of Farfa and more. Can we oppose him? Will we oppose him? He will raze the fields surrounding the city, slaughter the sheep of Sissmondi, and more. If we are to oppose him, we must regroup and prepare now- and it may be too late. I defer to Consul Calafactus on matters of military and external relations given his familiarity with our forces readiness. What say you Fortis?

If Rome does not wish to stand against Frederick in battle, then Arnold of Bresica has a choice. To become a martyr here when Frederick arrives and to meet him gladly, or to flee. It is not in the interests of this Commune to hide him in Rome.

If Arnold is to be hidden it should be obvious to all that he is NOT in the city of Rome or else Rome will find retribution from Frederick. Even if Rome does not assist in his hiding, then Rome may find retribution because Frederick will think we have hid him. If he is found after being hidden, Frederick will have the heads of those who failed to hide him well.

After Arnold has made his choice, we must make ours. Will we stand beside Arnold when he meets with Frederick? Or will we disavow him?

We should act as one. If we disavow Arnold, the Popolo will remember and what will remain to support the Commune? Nothing. The Commune is built with the support of the Popolo.

If we stand beside Arnold, then we may fall, but the people will have seen us accompanying him to Frederick and Frederick making the decision- not us. We will be blamed for inaction and perhaps for not protecting him- but we will not be Judases. We supported Arnold- he chose to remain- to be a martyr- to make the Commune something greater than it had been before.

I speak for letting Arnold decide to flee or to remain. If he does remain, we must accompany him to meet Frederick.

Frederick likely will not meet him and he will order us to disavow him and his teaching. We must be prepared for that eventuality- to speak in words of support for the good that Arnold has done and to frame any disavowal in neutral terms- for example, we can all agree that we support the Right of the Emperor to decide the rule of his subjects. The people may think us weak with this disavowal and I am open to other wording suggestions- but I think we can all agree that if we do not disavow Arnold when asked- that we will all be slain.

In close-Arnold has helped this commune, but if he will not flee, we must stand by him until Frederick orders his death. We must not be ashamed of him and hide him. We must celebrate what Arnold means to the people and if god smiles on him and allows him to survive, then so be it. But if he becomes a martyr- Rome itself must not also be martyred-Peter denied Jesus three times before the cock crowed-yet he was the greatest of Jesus' disciples, spreading the word to the world. Not all of us can be like Jesus, but all of us can be like Peter, who came to Rome to found the Church-and like him-we will found a strong Commune on a good foundation.[/ic]

[Magnus Pym]

[ic=At the Lesser Council]Any military action at this stage is ludicrously ridiculous, insanely idiotic! The Pope and the german king already call us rebels! But at least they tolerate us to a certain extent... Calling on the militia would be perceived as an audacious act of rebellion and Frederick would not stand idly. Rome -MUST- be peaceful when Frederick arrives, and any military action, I will greatly sanction!

There is nothing to be ashamed of in keeping Arnold safe, even if it means to hide him to guarantee his well-being. Manzinni, you said the popolo is the strongest supporter of the Commune, and I agree. Needless to say, the majority of the popolo greatly supports Arnold and his philosophies. This is exactly why Arnold must survive Frederick's visit.

We, as the senatores consiliarii, have a duty in regard to the people of Rome. We have to take responsability for the politics of the Republic of Rome, not this Arnoldo.
As much as I respect him, and that is alot, he cannot be the one deciding the fate of Rome. This is our mandate.

I would ask that anyone else who has something to say on this matter speaks up soon, time is of the essence. Again, I am for hiding him in a safe location until Frederick is gone.[/ic]

[ic=Privately talking to Senator Basile during a pause at the Senate]Senator Basile, I was wondering whether you had previously received estimations on the repair of the Aqua Virgo and the walls, especially the Aurellian walls. Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.[/ic]

[ic=Privately talking to Romolo Vanetti during a pause at the Senate]Dear Romolo, I'm not sure I remember this one right, but are you able to apply glinter and do artistic works with your gold? I wish to beautify my palazzo, and thought you could come in handy. Of course I would be providing payment.

[ooc=Important]Actual information would be quite handy, Turin, as I am writing my orders for this turn.[/ooc][/ic]

[Llum]

[ic=Letter to Arnold of Brescia]
Greetings Arnoldo

From you latest speech to the Inner Council I gather you are not interested in Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Simply informing us of this would have been fine, there is no need for all this fanciful drama. You say the Council is going to condemn you to death? If we had wanted to, we could have done so without asking you to leave Rome. If I had wanted it done, you would be dead the day I decided it. But you know I am fond of you and not one to waste lives so easily.

Now as a monk and a preacher you have said multiple times that you do not wish to make the decisions of a ruler, leave to Ceasar unto Ceasar I believe you had said. Yet when Ceasar makes a decision you lament and cry. I will give you a simple lesson in politics. The Emperor is coming to Rome and will attempt to punish us because we are disobedient towards the Pope. He does not care that the current Pope is an unreasonable fool and an Englishman who knows nothing of Rome. The Pope is set to decry and punish Rome, the whole City, unless you leave. I do not wish you send out the gates to die, nor does most of Rome.  As such you must leave, in good faith and of your own will.

This leave from Rome will not be permanent, only for long enough to crown the new Pope, crown the new Emperor and let them depart. Once Frederick has been crowned by the Pope he will not care a whit about Rome, because it is part of the Papal lands and not his own. As such Rome must bide its time until Frederick is gone, then we can deal with this englishman Pope.

So it comes to this, where would you be willing to take a pilgrimage to? Sicily? Byzantium? Your safety will be guaranteed wherever you choose to go. If not, are you so determined to stay in Rome that you could choose for the lives of thousands to be lost in the coming conflict? Would you be willing to claim yourself Anti-Pope and begin a campaign against the englishman? Arnoldo of Brescia, there is no easy decision in this situation. You have brought yourself to a situation that will test us all, so what will it be?
[/ic]

[Polycarp]

[ic=To Consul Calafatus]Consul Calafatus,

My hope, shared by many, has been that the coming of the Emperor might be a blessing rather than a curse, that we might bow to him to escape the shackles of the Pope and his vulturous cardinals, and offer him with great celebration the crown he has come to our city to find.  It troubles me greatly to hear that his mind has already been poisoned against us.  One of my pupils, Wetzel the Bavarian, insists that the Emperor will see the light of Christ and change his ways like Saul on the road to Damascus, but man cannot know the mind of God nor divine his plans.  I have been willing, Consul, to flee my home, to have my writings burned, to be anathematized and excommunicated that my words might inspire men to reform the blessed Church and restore it to its original and Apostolic holiness, and if it should come to it I am willing to accept martyrdom for that same cause.  I do not fear for myself, but for my sacred mission and for the souls of those honest Christians who labor under clerics who place silver before Christ.

You say, Consul, that I lament the decision of the Senate, yet I have seen no such decision, only letters from Senators asking me what I think of sailing to the Holy Land.  I have answered truthfully, that I think it would mean my death.  Let not the Senators begrudge my opinion after soliciting it from me themselves!  If you, Consul, are asking me to whence I should travel where I will be safe from the grasping talons of the Englishman, I must answer truthfully that I do not know; it is you who have been across the world wearing the Cross, not I.  I have never seen Sicily, nor set foot in Greece, and cannot say whether I should be welcome there or delivered back to my enemies.  This choice is in your hands, Consul, and those of your fellow Senators, for on my own I do not think I would make it far from the city before being set upon by the Curia's lackeys.  If you wish me to say to the people that my choice is my own, I shall, but we both know that it must ultimately be yours.  My life, as you have written, is in your hands; I am a guest of the Romans and shall be obedient to their laws so long as I am privileged to dwell among them.  Pray, Consul, for God to reveal His will to you, for He alone is the source of holy wisdom.

In faith, Arnoldo da Brescia[/ic]

[Llum]

[ic=Letter to Arnold of Brescia]
It would be my strong suggestion then Arnoldo that you take a Pilgrimage to Sicily for the time being. You need not visit the king, but those lands are the ones most likely for you to avoid being arrested and given to the Pope. I will also authorize you to take up to [4 WP] from the treasury if you deem fit to help pay for the cost of the pilgrimage and for security as well. Feel free to return to Rome after Frederick is crowned and left. We will see what we can do for negotiation with him while you are gone and you will be sent for in you are needed.
[/ic]

[ic=Letter to Senator da Vinti]
Greetings Consul

You are correct in knowing that I have acquired a copy of De Re Militari, however I am currently busy studying its contents and as such cannot part with it.

Fortis Calafatus, Consul of the Exterior
[/ic]

[ooc=Orders]
-Authorize up to [4 WP] for the use of Arnold of Brescia for paying for his pilgrimage, ensure some of it is spend on security
-Investigate Senator Manzinni and da Vinti
-Send a scout to locate Frederick and his forces
-Send a message to the lord of Ardea saying that if he would like to visit with his daughter that I would be willing to help him find an appropriate match for her hand.
-Invest as much WP as possible in to acquiring more workspace, preferably in the Colosseum.
-Get my House Guard to do some extra training
-Study De Re Militari looking mainly for defending a siege and other such defensive tactics
[/ooc]

[Túrin]

[ic=Answer to Da Vinti]It would be my honor to enhance the beauty of your palazzo. My smithee can provide nearly anything you might want to have made of gold, silver, or other precious metals, at a fair price. Just tell me what you need and when, and I will make it happen.[/ic]

OOC: I'm about to travel to Europe for seven weeks, where my internet access will be intermittent. Please excuse any slow replies or lack of orders.

[TheMeanestGuest]

[ic=With Consul De Vinti]Ah, Consul. These matters are dear to my heart, and I have indeed investigated them in some detail. As to the Aqua Virgo, to repair the portion of it in Rome, and to repair the collection basin in the countryside would cost the Commune no less than an amount of silver equal to [15 WP]. As to the Aurelian walls... well, I have had some work to repair the most egregious decay carried out, but to restore them completely? An extravagant sum, surely. Additional repair is certainly within our means, but I do not think we could do much beyond that.[/ic]

[ooc=Orders for Spring 1155]- Should Lord Bariotes make his promised visit to Rome spend 1 WP to hold a dinner function at my estate to welcome him to the city. Extend invitation to the potentates of the city, including the Patrician Pierleone, Consul Calafatus and Consul De Vinti, Signore Colonna (should he be in the city), as well as all members of the lesser council.  

- Pay the Roman smiths an additional 1 WP as they have requested with the caveat that they prioritize the production of the armour I have ordered above all others.

- Ensure that my fishing venture begins in proper this season. Send my agents among the poor labourers of Rome - perhaps those expelled from their lands by the wool gathering efforts of Senator Sismondii - so as to entice them with the opportunity of employment as salt gatherers. Send my agents among the poor fishers of Rome to entice them with opportunity of employment, cheaper rent and better equipment should they work with me in my venture. Invest an additional 2 WP in this regard.
[/ooc]

[Nomadic]

[ic=To the various members of the lesser council]
Greetings friends. There is much talk of and much to be done about the coming of the German king but there are also lesser things of importance to be dealt with. Rome does not cease functioning economically just because such things approach. I pray indeed that King Frederick will come peaceably and that we may see him crowned in our fair city. For the time being though I have been focused heavily on my ventures (as many of you know). The current wool trade is a small stagnant thing closely guarded by inwards looking groups. It is not the only opportunity for the expansion of our trade beyond local markets but it is perhaps the quickest and easiest one. So I am seeking to first establish strong local wool production and to then look to establishing trade routes that will in time bring Rome into the greater world as a respected center of commerce. With this barbarian pope such as he is I do not trust to us surviving on the charity of pilgrims alone.

This is why I come now to you all. I have run into a difficult issue. The turning of simple wool cloth into the valuable and most richly dyed cloth (similar to the beauty of Senator Basile's most marvelous silk cloak) requires a mordant, a mineral with which to fix the dye to the cloth and thus make it permanent. There are all manner of mordants on hand but most fade soon and thus does the cloth lose its splendor. There is one though, well known amongst dyers for its lasting power and the rich hues it may fix. The strange mineral known as alum. I have heard rumor of its use. They say the Egyptians use it, that the Greeks have stock, that our neighbors in Sicily claim some small amount. Even I hear that there are those amongst the community of Rome that have alum. Yet it is a preciously guarded material. If we are to ever compete with the quality found in the great markets of Venice Milan or beyond access to alum is necessary. I say now to each of you if you have any information regarding where alum might be purchased I would be most deeply in your debt. If you have contacts who might be able to discover where it might be purchased I would be deeply indebted to them and you. Let us not allow the Roman economy to stagnate while focused locally, we must build it up into a thriving outwards looking market that will bring merchants and trade agreements from afar to the benefit of all.
[/ic]

[LD]

Magnus- did you see my response to you regarding the crossbows before the end of last turn- I was asking what price you wanted them at.

I'm also taking a little leeway here

[ic=Private to Arrigus]
(This is based on my character's backstory regarding his investments in Egypt and his origins in Sicily)

Certainly, I have knowledge of where to acquire alum and I have several contacts who could be quite useful in those matters. Would you be interested in a joint venture, sharing expenses and profits for its acquisition in (Sicily/Egypt) [Polycarp please choose the more appropriate one]?
[/ic]

Orders
[ooc]
1 WP maintenance of armsmen.
2 WP acquisition of grain from Sicily.
1 WP in expenditure on Alum negotiations with Egypt (e.g. purchase ship- indicate authority to purchase on my behalf as well).
Sell 50 crossbows to Da Vinti (+2 WP)
[/ooc]

[Nomadic]

[ic=To Manzinni]
I would be greatly interested in this of course. I am not sure about sharing of profit but that is mostly because there is not much profit to be made. Much of the profit from this venture that isn't funneled back into expanding it I am planning on funneling into Rome's coffers. If this were merely for my own needs I would of course be happy to share profit. But I don't currently stand to make much and could not offer much to any such partner. However I am also willing to fund the entire venture. If you want to join me in this with funds of your own in search of your own alum I would of course welcome that manner of partnership as together two capable Romans might certainly attain a goal where one alone would fail. Furthermore I would be most indebted to you. I do not have such far reaching connections, but when it comes to Rome's merchants few can match the connections I have. If ever you required such things I of course would be at your service.
[/ic]

[Polycarp]

I'm also taking a little leeway here  ... (This is based on my character's backstory regarding his investments in Egypt and his origins in Sicily)

Sounds legit to me.  As Sicily does not sell their alum, Egypt may be a more appropriate subject for an inquest.

[Magnus Pym]

[ic=Letter to Senator Manzinni]Dear Manzinni,
I still wish to purchase these crossbows. I will pay the sum you previously stated [2 WP] for fifty of them.
If they could be delivered to my palazzo, it would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Hugo De Vinti[/ic]

[ic=Letter to Signore Cappocci]Greetings Signore Cappoci,
I hope this missive finds you in good health.
I would like to inquire as to the possibility of acquiring lands near your castles. Their purpose is legitimate and peaceful, of course.
Should you agree, and should the offer prove reasonable, I will invest in the lands this very summer.

In good faith,
Hugo De Vinti, Consul of the Commune of Rome[/ic]

[ic=Privately talking to Senator Sismondii]Sismondii, I share your view on the economy of our Great Republic. There is a great need for diversification. Right now the city is at the heel of the Pope, and he only keeps demanding more.

I, myself, have started an enterprise about two years ago. The idea is imported, somewhat, but the work is entirely Roman. Maybe you have heard of it.

I doubt anyone in my circles know of the alum trade, but I'll keep an eye out for it.[/ic]

[ic=At the Senate]Senators,
I often spoke of prosperity in the past. Rome, right now, is stagnant. Efforts have to be made to diversify our economy, so that we are not at the heel of a select few. Indeed those powerful trades that we've had and still have should be nurtured still, but there is a need to widen our exports.
As vague as it may seem, this matter needs to be discussed thoroughly, for if we unite our efforts and focus on a certain agenda, the wealth would grow exponentially.

I hope that discussions among senators can spark up potential ideas upon which we can build for the greater good of the Romans and the Republic.[/ic]

[ooc=Orders Spring 1155]
Flax
[spoiler=Covert Op]Pretty much keeping the pressure for one more season, same plan as last.

Send 3 Masnadas to plant fear in the lands near and around Labarum. They are to make strange, eerie and guttural sounds; move things around without breaking them; break small things like tools; draw pentagrams and other devilish symbols and phrases on surfaces. All this under the cover of night and stretched over the entire season as to raise the suspicion that it may very well be the devil's work and that the place has become haunted.
A report needs to be made at the end of the season, or before if the situation develops rapidly.

[Absolute secrecy is required in this matter. Better do mundane things, or even wait when the cover is not entirely right than get caught. Huge emphasis is placed on this order; subtlety before anything else][/spoiler]

Keep the pressure on Labarum by continuously making offers to buy land.

It's the harvest season! I make sure my men are ready!


Naples
I didn't get my report last season (which was very unusual by the way), still waiting to hear from my agent.


Ostia
Send an agent to investigate Pisan activities in Ostia for the Spring. Any increase in activity compared to usual should be immediately reported.


Arnold
Task an agent with following the movements of Arnoldo da Brescia, so I know where to send for him in the future.


Palazzo
Beautify my palazzo by hiring Romolo Vanetti to apply a good dose of gold, although soft in style. Veining the columns, changing some accessories from their current material to golden, painting frames, e.t.c are good ideas.
[Spend 5 WP from my Savings for this]


Military
Pay the Upkeep for my 50 Heavy Infantryman [1 WP]

Purchase 50 crossbows from Manzinni and train my infantry in its use during the Spring season [2 WP]


Consular Duties (In order of priority)
Start work on the repair of the Aqua Virgo, starting with the collection basin [Funded by the Treasury]

Continue work on the repair of the Aurelian walls at the most sensitive and strategic spots; notably the walls of the Porta Ravenna [Spend up to 3 WP from my Savings][/ooc]