Swiss Arms-Chapter 148

Swiss Arms-Chapter 148

Swiss Arms
Chapter 148
-VB-
The Compact in its original form, sometimes called the First Compact, lasted six years.
When the Compact of Seven Towns was formed in 1301, it was a true defensive pact between seven villages, not even towns. It was an emulation of the Forest Cantons whose formation had come about a decade earlier. We know this to be the case because the chief founder of the Compact, Hans of Erstfeld, came from Uri and used a similar language in the founding charter and constitution of the Compact similar to what was used in the Forest Cantons' own defensive pact declaration.
While this pact remained true and equal for the first year through what is known as the Unruly Year (1300 - 1302), the end of this crisis brought about a change within the Compact that could not be dismissed: its founder, Hans, was elevated to a baron by the emperor for his role in quelling unrest and given the new Barony of Fluelaberg, receiving the name von Fluelaberg. Next, Fluelaberg became important in the local trade. So much so that it overshadowed the economic might of all other members of the Compact, including those who had recently joined it like the Prince-Bishopric of Chur. Then the baron defeated all of the Compact's rivals and incorporated most of them into the Compact as a member or the territory of another member. And finally, Baron Hans von Fluelaberg managed to purchase enough territories to become a count. If that wasn't enough to pad his achievements, then the count formulated alliances with the powerful House of Gorizia and then defeated the Duke of Upper Bavaria
By 1307, Count Hans von Fluelaberg's meteoric rise in politics, economics, military, and social standings outshined everyone else in the Compact and also the entire region of Central Alps. At this point, most of the initial village members of the Compact had become satellite villages of the Compact's big names like the County of Toggenburg, Prince-Bishopric of Chur, Abbey of St. Gallen, and the County of Fluelaberg. Klosters, one of the small villages, recognized that it would be easier on them economically and militarily if they depended on Fluelaberg instead of continuing to try to operate on their own, and so agreed to become a part of the Barony of Fluelaberg when the count offered them the chance.
And so, starting in the summer of 1307, with the majority votes from all members of the Compact, the defensive pact was reorganized. From this reorganization, five states were formed.
The Abbey of St. Gallen remained unchanged because it didn't have villages and towns dependent on it.
The House of Montfort, the latest member to join the Compact, remained whole and intact, keeping control over Feldkirch, Schellenberg/Vaduz, Montfort, and Jagdberg.
The County of Toggenburg, having conquered the County of Sargans, kept control of it, but gave up control over the lesser baronies in the Grisonian Rhine Valley to the Prince-Bishopric of Chur in exchange for certain church lands within its borders.
The biggest change was felt by two states: the Prince-Bishopric of Chur and the County of Fluelaberg.
The County of Fluelaberg, under Count Hans von Fluelaberg, accepted the fealty of Davos, Klosters, Schiers, and Castels as new territories of the county. At the same time, Chur transferred its rightful claim over the Lower and Upper Engandin Valleys to Fluelaberg in exchange for Maienfeld. This mattered at the time because unlike the Engandin Valleys that were considered harsh and unproductive, Maienfeld was the center of the Compact's paper production at the time.
The Prince-Bishopric of Chur, meanwhile, absorbed everything south and southwest of Chur itself, including the Abbey of Disentis, Albula, and Thusis.
Once the reorganization was completed at the end of the summer of 1307, Chur, St. Gallens, Toggenburg, Montfort, and Fluelaberg became the five member states of what is now known as the Second Compact. And in the coming years, the Second Compact would be instrumental in dictating the flow of history.
Excerpt from
The History of the Alps
by Doctor Jeanne de Malaisse, University of Zurich
-VB-
Isabella von Fluelaberg
She smiled as she watched Hans play "upsy daisy" with their son Louis and her ears tickled with happiness as she heard her baby squealing in joy.
Her mother always did tell her that there wasn't a joy quite like motherhood (including pain unlike anything else), and now, she was happily living it.
"Milady?"
She looked up and saw Alvia. The long time resident of Fluelaberg and her right hand lady for local affairs as well as the "Gem Lady" for her astounding gemcraft and being pretty, Alvia was a woman of many fortunes.
Her new husband was one such fortune, and Alvia was supposed to have been on her honeymoon vacation funded by Hans himself.
So why was she back so soon?
"Alvia? I thought you were on your way to Zurich," she said in surprise as she stood up.
Alvia looked troubled. "I … I heard something that I thought was much more important," she replied with a bow.
Isabella nodded. "We'll talk about this in my office," she said as she stood up. "Hans, don't drop Louis." With that parting shot, she left the room with Alvia in tow.
Once they were in her office, she asked her friend-slash-right hand woman to speak.
"You know how my husband is a merchant?"
"Yes," Isabella replied. "Johan is very blessed to have you as his wife."
A small smile curled up the Davos native. Isabella wondered if she was aware of that and if she also smiled like that whenever Hans walked into the room.
"When Johan and I were at Zurich, he met an old acquaintance of his. He was also a merchant but from Zurich. And I heard from him that the Habsburgs are looking to attack the Forest Cantons."
Isabella's eyes widened. "You are certain of this?"
"I am. Johan and I spent a week making sure. Zurich… Zurich is preparing for war. And that's also why we came back quickly; the council of Zurich wants to hire the count's rangers and use them to gain significant land from the Forest Cantons," she said and pulled out a sealed envelope.
Her eyes widened.
She didn't open the letter. It wasn't addressed to her, and opening her lord husband's letter without his permission was a breach of noble conduct, even if he was sure to let her do so. However, the more important a matter became, the stricter a noble needed to follow through with the tradition and procedures, lest they implicate themselves and be forced to become responsible for the matter.
And this matter was indeed important.
Not because it was an opportunity but because of the danger Zurich and the Habsburgs have placed themselves in.
The Forest Canton was Hans's childhood home. His parents, siblings, and their families all still lived there. If war came to pass, then Uri would call up the men to fight.
And if a war initiated by the Habsburgs killed Hans's siblings and nephews…
A shiver ran down her back.
Forget the current triple alliance between Gorizia, Fluelaberg, and Habsburg.
Hans would burn Swabia and put to the sword whichever Habsburg was responsible for the war.
"Can Johan come to my office to testify to Hans?" she asked Alvia, and the woman agreed readily. "Good. We're also going to have to find out
which
Habsburg had this brilliant idea. The former empress should know that Hans came from Uri. I told her that!"
It definitely couldn't be the former empress. Her cousin-twice-over was very much occupied and very aware of Swabia.
"Sophia!" she raised her voice to get her attendant's attention outside her office. The door creaked open and the young lady peaked in.
"Yes, milady?"
"I need you to go get my husband. It is an urgent matter."
"Of course, milady."
But Hans didn't show up.
Apparently, in the short duration of time she had been talking with Alvia, he'd handed Louis to the wet nurse and disappeared.
-VB-
Hans von Fluelaberg
Four months.
Seventeen weeks.
One hundred twenty days.
Four hours every day.
I practiced every day, literally.
And I
finally
had something.
A tingling sensation.
A blur in space.
A faint aura not unlike the morning mist clinging to my body and whiffing away.
I did it!
I -!
Ping
.
[... please wait.]
Wait, what?
[System Admin review in progress]
Huh?
Wait, what? My power had an administrator?!
Silence.
Nothing.
Nada.
Nein.
…
"Hello, is anyone there?" I asked, and almost froze in surprise at how quiet my voice was. Was I nervous? Probably! Everything I knew about the Gamer just got turned upside down. I thought it was a power expressed … uniquely. Not that it had an
administrator
, which implied that this was not a unique system.
Were there others out there in the world with Gamers, too?
…
Was I handicapping myself?
I waited.
…
Nothing.
"I guess I'm just going to have to wait, huh?" I grumbled. I took the horse stance again and punched with
intent
.
I felt the mana condense as I pulled my fist back and then burst harmlessly when I punched forward.
Poof
.
… Had I already acquired a spell or even a skill for this, then I wouldn't be making magic farts. Look upon ye doom, the Magic Poof!
Heh. That sounded funny.
… Oh.
I just made a dad joke.
And I laughed at my own joke and couldn't wait to tell it to Isabella.
'Oh dear,' I chuckled. 'I'm becoming a dad.'
With a smile on my lips, I punched away at the air, content to eat away at the hours with magic poofs.
Heh.
---
Ping
.
I stopped.
Oh, Gamer was active again.
"Hello?"
I looked around and saw a new notice screen.
[System review complete].
[System update complete].
[Split complete].
Well, that last notification was ominous.
[New Skill Acquired]
[
Soul of Mana
] LvL.1, passive
Allows the user to manipulate mana. Certain mana manipulations require a higher level of this skill.
Warning: users in possession of this skill will exude mana into the surrounding area. This phenomenon cannot be stopped until you acquire a high-level mana fine control skill.
I took a deep breath in and let it out slowly.
Finally
.
Not just a single skill or trick but something far more substantial.
I relaxed out of the horse stance and took another deep breath.
"Alright, how do I do this?" I muttered as I experimentally brought my hands together. "Um, [Soul of Mana]?"
… Nothing.
I tried it again, but I moved with
intent
to shape mana that flowed out from me. It did… something. Like I can feel the mana swirl along with my intent but not necessarily how I want it to. I wanted a ball of mana.
I got a small mist that held together for exactly half a second before breaking and dissipating away.
I sniffed.
This was going to take a while to learn how to use properly, wasn't it?
Shrugging, I climbed out of my underground experiment chamber … and came face to face with my irate wife. Even angry as she was, she was beautiful.
"Uh… did something happen?"
-VB-
The System desires.
The World denies.
The System argues.
The World denies.
The System proposes.
The World considers.
The System rearranges.
The World considers.
The System reproposes.
The World accepts.
The System accepts.
The World adjusts.
The System adjusts.
SPLIT.

Chapter 148