In the Year of Our Lord, 1512, the Month of April

Ulrich von Württemberg was paranoid during the month of April (as was he in March, February, etc) and decided the best course of action would be to use the Ducal Treasury to create a private army of loyal, heavily armed Swabians. His first act would be to gather the Reichsritters of Württemberg to determine who would help head this band of Württemberg loyalists.

The scene begins with Ulrich von Württemberg sitting on his Ducal throne in the Great Hall of Stuttgart. Around him stood four Reichsritters from various knightly families.

ULRICH: "Reichsritters of Swabia, I welcome you to my hall. It's a happy sight to see all four of you made it today."

FRANCKENSTEIN: "You did warn us that not appearing would not be in our best interests, Herzog."

ULRICH: "I had to make you come, didn't I?" he said while shrugging, clearly unbothered by his own subtle threats against the Imperial Knights, "None of you will regret this opportunity, so stop complaining and listen."

The Reichsritters shifted uncomfortably in position.

ULRICH: "I'm enlisting a citizenly force dedicated to the Ducal lands of Württemberg and the protection of the von Württembergs. I have a need all of you to help lead and thus after train them."

ASSENBURG: "And if none of us wish to?"

ULRICH: "Let's not think of the consequences of that choice now, I can promise you it will not be in your best interests."

BERGA: "Well... May..Maybe we should hear the Herzog and his proposition." One of the Reichsritter stammered out quickly.

ULRICH: "Finally, a man of intellect." the Herzog said sarcastically with a scoff.

ULRICH: "I can promise you that under my service you will be rewarded far beyond even your most imaginative dreams. The coffers of Württemberg are deep and my generosity is known across the Empire," he paused, "However, my patience is thin and my wrath is great. Do not expect my kindness to continue on if you were to decline my offer."

FRANCKENSTEIN: "Herzog, I can see that you... Have a way with words. For a small pittance from your coffers I will move myself and my family to Stuttgart."

ULRICH: "Marvelous! As the first to accept you will be made Ortshauptmann and will head my force."

BERGA: "Uh... Uh... Me too.. Herzog! I accept!"

ULRICH: "The stutterer accepts! You shall head the Administrative Centre."

Ulrich then looked at the remaining Reichsritter from the knightly House of Assenburg.

ULRICH: And you?

ASSENBURG: "I think that you have already a great company of experts, I fear I am growing old and would not be the best to assist in your mission. I appreciate the offer, but I must decline." The old Reichsritter said quietly.

ULRICH: "Of course, a wizened man of your stature should be relaxing in his villa in the gorgeous green countryside! Please, safe travels home."

The old Reichsritter looked surprised then gave a soft smile before bowing and heading out of the hall. As he did, Ulrich called over one of his guards.

ULRICH: "Make it look like bandits."

The three Reichsritters stood there in silence, shocked at the cruelty of their new employer. As the day turned to night, reports from an outlying village would describe vicious bandits robbing and murdering an aged Imperial Knight, something that was unfortunately common in the rougher areas of the Empire.

The Lively Guild of Proud Swabian Lanzknecht

With the commanders and trainers now secured by the Duchy of Württemberg it was time to begin the process of developing a training grounds and subsequent barracks for the Military-Guild.

• A fund of 10,000f will go to the construction of a barracks capable of holding one Fähnlein, aka 400 men
• A fund of 9,000f will go to the construction of a training ground and equipment for the Feldweibel, aka the trainer
• A fund of 5,000f will go to the construction of a shooting ground and subsequent equipment, aka crossbows and bolts

In total, there will be 24,000f taken from the Ducal Coffers and to be used in the creation of and the training of The Lively Guild of Proud Swabian Lanzknecht.

The Lively Guild of Proud Lanzknecht will be equipped primarily with Pike and Crossbows as well as a small detachment of Doppelsöldner equipped with Zweihänders. The Fähnlein will be headed by the Ortshauptmann Franckenstein who will delegate to a locally elected Rottmeister for the majority of tasks.