Encampment of Berthold II Zähringen

[Zectorman]

Deep in the heart of the Germanic camps, Berthold had established his large tent. Within their were minor luxuries from actual furniture to pales of clean water from which to bath or drink. The Crest of Zähringen hung in the middle post that held up the whole site. There was enough room for many more men than Berthold himself, but it was only fitting that a high lord of Alamannia lived in such opulence even so far from home. Armor and food lay about, as well as a table filled with parchments. From letters home, to missives from allied lords, all the way to even loans taken that still needed paying. This was truly the heart of the Zähringen dynasty, at least until a more proper home could be taken.

[MuttonChops]

A visitor to the Zähringen quarter's, later identified as the Lord Richalm von Irmelhausen, waited patiently to pay a courtesy visit to one of the pertinent Germanic lords of this Crusade; Berthold II being one of them.

"Kindly tell his dread lord, I wait at his convenience" he told an attendant of sorts

[Dirty Chai]

A long-haired, blonde knight arrives at the tent of the Zahringen exile, informing his retainers that Siegfried of Mayen has invited Berthold of Zahringen to speak with him at his camp, after supper.

[Zectorman]

A servant leads Lord Richalm into the tent, where the man us greeted by two retainers wearing cloth but armed with blades sheathed at their sides. Sitting at a table, candle light and hearth fire shining upon him as he pens various notes, Berthold II lifts an eye to his new guest. "Who are you to think you can come barging into my home without so much as an introduction? Beyond that, tell me why you come to me and make the reason sound"

This might not be the German high court but Berthold at least expected a little discipline and honor to be kept regardless. The men of Christendom were not like the barbarians of the east that would walk and piss wherever they please. Their were courtesy to be had.

[MuttonChops]

Richalm gave a dipping bow, his chained leggings shimming its noise through the dim tent
"I offer no excuses; only apologies for the inconvenience. For I sought the introduction personally rather than through a letter, to make you certain of my character. I will soon, by Gott's grace to have the privilege of holding your battle side. Noble Zähringen, you should not have to doubt my being a warrior, and so you should know my sight, and come to judge me now than through a honeyed letter, certain to be filled with the crème of latin. And if that be presumptive to the shame of my family, then I apologize in full"

He said, offering another bow

[Zectorman]

Berthold waved his hand in a dismissing fashion, "The only shame is a lack of for thought. I would welcome any brother from the homeland. And i am happy to see you would rather let your own actions speak louder than those of a flattering letter. Lord knows how deceiving such things can be. Welcome to my camp. So tell me brother, who might you be?"

[MuttonChops]

Richalm returned to his footing

"Thank you, your lordship. I am Richalm belonging to the Imerlausen's of lowland Bavaria. We are a small house recently elevated by the Welfs of Bavaria to our local Barony. Prior to that, we were simple strongmen to the call of a local Count, nothing more. That is also partly why I came here, to pay my respect to my superiors."

Richalm was uncertain whether his former allegiance to the Welfs, who themselves had a complicated history with the Kaiser, much like Berthold had was a wise thing to mention.




((OOC: Tell me when the portrait combined with the conversation starts to get annoying. I'm trying it out))

[Zectorman]

Berthold considered his words for a moment, and dismissed a thought. A lower noble from Bavaria, seemed like from decent stock. "So tell me Herr Imerlausen, what brings you to my tent at this time? Merely to introduce yourself? That is a fine thing, a respectable thing, or do you have other motives?"

Berthold disliked flatterers, they made you soft and susceptible to being back-stabbed if you were not careful.

[MuttonChops]

"No, the city of Nicaea is why I came. It weighs heavily on my brow. I know people from Peter the hermit's force. Good men. But sinful men, like myself. Before we came here, we committed...undignified acts on our journey, I wont offer excuses - that is unmanly, but we did things. To the Jews and the poor, we soldiers of Christ we called ourselves and yet we robbed them all the same. I have changed since, gotten older yes, but still..."

Richalm paused, seeing a memory or perhaps struggling to find the proper word

"We took the city Belgrade, out of greed. And I along with some others looted the cathedral there. They were schismatics, so we didn't care; It was duty, we thought. But from those group of men, only I remain. I think I am cursed. I came here to ask, that If I perished, I'd like for you to take what remains of my force. It isn't much, but I promised to take them to Jerusalem. And I would not think to give my men to a Frank, an Italian or some other. At the least they can understand your speech."

[Iron Aquilifer]

The duke of Lorraine descended upon Berthold's tent without the usual fan-fair. Alone and humbly-garbed, he brought only a small servant and casket of wine.

[Zectorman]

.... But from those group of men, only I remain. I think I am cursed. I came here to ask, that If I perished, I'd like for you to take what remains of my force. It isn't much, but I promised to take them to Jerusalem. And I would not think to give my men to a Frank, an Italian or some other. At the least they can understand your speech...."

Berthold's eyebrows furrowed at this admission. he put down his pen and finally deigned to stare Richalm in the eye. He had heard of the previous "crusade" to have walked through these lands. Leading many to their inevitable ends but leaving a trail of woe as it passed. Not holy warriors fighting for the grace of god but no better than ravaging barbarians in their nature, their greed superseding their righteous fervor. He grimaced at the thought, horrified at the prospect that maybe this venture could end the same way. No, this was no peasent rabble that was assembled. This was an army of Christendom , lead by powerful nobles including he.

"You would place a burden on my shoulders to lift the guilt off of your soul? No that will not do. Yours sins are for you to bear with you, even into the afterlife. What you can do if become apart of my camp. you will still lead your men, but you can support me as overall leader of the Holy roman armies within the crusade."

The duke of Lorraine descended upon Berthold's tent without the usual fan-fair. Alone and humbly-garbed, he brought only a small servant and casket of wine.

The Lord of Lorraine was shown in as berthold was in the middle of his supper, and luckily could go for something to wash it all down. Berthold stood as the man entered, showing him the proper respect, "Lord Theodoric, welcome to my humble abode. and i see not alone! Too kind of you to share your drink with me. What brings you here at this time?"

[MuttonChops]

"You would place a burden on my shoulders to lift the guilt off of your soul? No that will not do. Yours sins are for you to bear with you, even into the afterlife. What you can do if become apart of my camp. you will still lead your men, but you can support me as overall leader of the Holy roman armies within the crusade."

Richalm was careful past this point

"A serious consideration to be sure. Yet if my life and my afterlife is bound to the success of this expedition, and the promise of atonement in the taking of Jerusalem my only hope, then I have to ask: Why you and not some other German, for the Lord Palatine and the Lord Lorraine has as much men as you. What faculties do you have that they do not? "

[Iron Aquilifer]

The Lord of Lorraine was shown in as berthold was in the middle of his supper, and luckily could go for something to wash it all down. Berthold stood as the man entered, showing him the proper respect, "Lord Theodoric, welcome to my humble abode. and i see not alone! Too kind of you to share your drink with me. What brings you here at this time?"

I have come to find that drinking alone does not do any good to one's well being. If you would have me, I would like to share a few glasses.

[Zectorman]

Berthold neither smiled or scowled, it was a fair question. One he posed to himself once or twice when considering moving forward. But he did have a history, and it involved Lord Theodoric in one way or another. "I was a Duke once, i throw the title around now but it really has no meaning. You see, i backed the wrong king, and therefore lost everything. It was a humbling experience, one that taught me humility among other things. It also taught me to choose my friend betters and find out who were the vipers in the rose garden. Lost everything, but now have the chance to regain it all back, but more importantly gain back favor in the eyes of the Lord. Me and the Duke Lorraine were on opposite sides at one time or another, he gained favor with the current emperor as my family moved against him. I was in line for the Crown at one time, but a short time it was. Ambitions hurt us, i am not above saying their is some ill will. But i am trying to move past that. Trying to use my skills as a warrior, a leader and my extensive knowledge to the crusades benefit. Lorraine has more soldiers but i did not gain anything i couldn't take for myself. I never used the favor of the court to gain power, i won respect on and off battlefields."

He took a deep breath and slouched in his chair some. A far away look in his eyes, saying much about what he had been threw, losing all that his family had left to him. "All i have now is my family name, and those that follow me and that name. I promised them a new beginning much like your own men. We have that in common, its why i truly ask you to work with me. The Count Palatine seems like a good man but with a troubled nature, while the Lord Lorraine has yet to show his true colors. I will always be upfront and honest with you. I am not a man to say one thing and stab you in the back with the other hand. I treasure loyalty about anything, maybe that is my weakness, but it is something i think God would approve."

[MuttonChops]

He took a deep breath and slouched in his chair some. A far away look in his eyes, saying much about what he had been threw, losing all that his family had left to him. "All i have now is my family name, and those that follow me and that name. I promised them a new beginning much like your own men. We have that in common, its why i truly ask you to work with me. The Count Palatine seems like a good man but with a troubled nature, while the Lord Lorraine has yet to show his true colors. I will always be upfront and honest with you. I am not a man to say one thing and stab you in the back with the other hand. I treasure loyalty about anything, maybe that is my weakness, but it is something i think God would approve."

Richalm gave a sigh, lifting his head, he gave a brief smile before he spoke

"There is a truth in this journey of ours. Why a man born with the blood of Royals, destined to rule - who was cast out by greater forces, should now find himself with the power to restore his place. Well, the king of heaven truly works in mysterious ways. And by that, I think you have a follower in me. I believe your sincerity, and if my support should give you command of us men of thick blood, then I give it to you freely. I only hope you give me the honor of leading at the front, my sins are great, and I don't believe I occupy the same place in God's mind as you do, but perhaps fighting at the vanguard will give me his ears. "

[Zectorman]

Berthold motioned for the lord to take a seat opposite him as a servant pulled one up for him. "Please take a seat my lord. And share with me your wine. It would be most delightful."

Berthold was too well versed in politics to think this was a mere drink. But te gesture was nice, he needed time to relax some and taste something that reminded him of home.

[Iron Aquilifer]

Berthold motioned for the lord to take a seat opposite him as a servant pulled one up for him. "Please take a seat my lord. And share with me your wine. It would be most delightful."

Berthold was too well versed in politics to think this was a mere drink. But te gesture was nice, he needed time to relax some and taste something that reminded him of home.

Lowering himself in to the seat, Theodoric allowed his host to take the first sip before draining his own cup. The benefits of this crusade are getting away from the intrigue of court and of earning glory in the name of God. And yet, it seems that I miss home. Allowing his cup to be refilled, the Duke went on. I am going to make a new life for my family in the land of God and Christ His Son. The only enemies I intend to have to face are Saracens and Turks, heathens and heretics in the eyes of God. Will I have a problem with the brothers that I march beside?

[Zectorman]

Berthold could only smile as he took another swig of his drink. He turned to is companion, "we are all main new lives for ourselves or at least hope to in the holy land. We left everything behind including our titles. Or at least we try to leave our old lives behind but sometimes we bring that baggage with us. No Theodoric I have no grudge against you. Maybe our former king but not you in particular. That being said every man here has an ambition or two. I am not a man to use deceit to get what he wants but I am not a quiet man neither. I intend to lead if I am chosen. But that being said I want no trouble to arise among the both of us. We are both remade by this undertaking, I want a fresh start."

[Iron Aquilifer]

Smiling as he refilled his own cup and that of his host, Theodoric nodded. I am glad to hear it. We are the true inheritors of the Roman's legacy and as such I know that it is God's Will for us to remake the Holy Lands in His image. To have a fellow kinsman, no matter how great a distance the delta has forced between our lineages' rivers, is a blessing unto itself. As long as pious thoughts and shared glory is a goal common to kin, then I will be glad to witness your ambition.

[Zectorman]

Berthold raised his glass in salute to lord Theodoric, "Toast then to the crusade and all that we will accomplish together in the name of God"