Tyranny of Steel

Within the Kingdom of Italy, in the city of Florence, there lies the Holy Roman Emperor, who was also the King of Italy. Sitting upon his mighty throne, within his palace, the middle-aged man of Italian descent gazed upon his ministers who reported the situation across the Empire.

One of the ministers was a tall and lanky man with a narrow face and a large hooked nose; he had a dark, unkempt beard that made him look particularly hideous. The man was dressed in silk robes imported from the Byzantine Empire. Currently, He held a document in his hands that he read from to the Emperor.

”The German-Speaking regions are embroiled in a war for the title ”King of Germany, ” so far Duke Wilmar and the main Habsburg line has been eradicated, and with their deaths, so too has their claim ended.

The man who seized power in Austria is a young upstart by the name of Berengar von Kufstein. As you may be aware, he is commonly referred to as Berengar, ”the Accursed. ” The man is a kinslayer, womanizer, heretic and has been excommunicated by the previous Pope Simeon II.

With his rise to power, the German Reformation spread from Southern Germany into the neighboring German Duchies. Saxony and the Rhineland, in particular, are being converted at a rapid rate. ”

Upon hearing this information, the Holy Roman Emperor, a man by the name of Balsamo Corsini, began to frown. As a devout Catholic, and a man with close ties to the current Pope, the Holy Roman Emperor, dreaded the idea of the Berengar heresy spreading throughout the realm. However, the man contained his rage and spurred the minister to continue reporting.

”Go on… ”

Noticing the Emperor ’s fury, the minister gulped down the saliva accumulated in his throat before continuing his report.