The Magnaura

Makedonios sighs.

Comes Savvas, could you at least attempt to not mischaracterize my statements? My offer to Hypatios has nothing to do with requiring him to hand Rhodes to me. If you check the transcripts, you'll see that I quite plainly would have required him to hand it back to Kalameteros. My offer was simply to give him a chance to repent and work towards forgiveness. All I would have gained materially, would be a noble in my army.

But, he refused my offer and His Eminence has a task for him. So, now that we have beaten this particular horse to a pulpy soup, we can get on with Senate business.

Efstathios's scribe sniggered and says quietly..

I doubt that Machonios will give away his province. He is a mad man but not that mad!

Makedonios sighs yet again.

He's already refused. It's done. Over.

Why don't we discuss something more important like why your lord felt the need to attempt to sabotage one of my Crusaders? I thought those on such a Holy Mission were beyond such petty manuevers.

He gave Efstathios's scribe a pointed look.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: don't worry, I got this info IC and not through the story thread. :beam:

Well, since the Basileus has declared that the matter with Hypatios has been dealt with by House Asteri, I assume there will be no Emergency Senate Session.

Savvas stands up, nods to the Senators who are still present and leaves the building.

Efstathios's scribe started to stutter ..

Well .. umm .. perhaps it was .. umm .. a mistake??
These things happen?!

He just wished to disappear...
Saying quietly to himself..

Me and my big mouth!

Makedonios raises an eyebrow.

A mistake? He accidently tried to sabotage Stavros? And these things just happen?

Please tell your lord to see that it doesn't 'happen' again. If it does, I will become most annoyed...

The scribe is near a heart attack ...
This is the first time someone important ever 'talked' to him that long..

As much as I know my Master was in the port and was.. umm .. admiring the ships when two .. umm .. shady characters dressed as sentries approached him..
My Master thought that it is best to run .. umm .. walk away and .. umm .. admire someone elses ships..

The scribe takes his seat and hoping that this is the last time he have to speak ...

The doors to the Magnaura swing open and a captain from the eastern armies barges in with a pair of soldiers in tow. He speaks loudly.

Antypatos Markianos Ampelas has captured a member of the so-called "Organization", one who made the most grievous mistake of thinking it a good idea to approach Sir Ampelas with an offer of cooperation. To approach him in the middle of the army camp of all places. The man has been conducted to Constantinople and placed in the custody of the Varangian guard, for the Emperor and the Senate to interrogate and otherwise do with as they wish.

Markianos Ampelas remains with his army and is nearly upon the fortress Caesarea.

Not being much interested in the reply, the captain does an about-face, and marches out of the Magnaura with the same sense of purpose with which he came in.

(OOC: Yes, this has happened. Talk to YLC if you wish to interrogate this man.)

Patriarchal Representative:

Let it be known that His Eminence strongly denounces the repeated sabotage attempts by the Crusade. It is not at all within the spirit of the Holy Mission. Keep in mind that once you take up the Cross, you represent all that it stands for. And it most certainly does not stand for hindering other would-be Holy Soldiers in a childish attempt to get to Egypt first.

If the member of this so-called Organization is found out to be behind the sabotage, he will be religiously prosecuted with vigor in addition to whatever may happen politically.

A messenger in dusty clothes enters the Senate and reports:

"My Master Ioannis Kantakouzinos of the House Komnenodoukai has annihilated near the Carpaths a rebel army of over 400 men, with only his personal men. He reports that he has executed all the prisoners."

I thought rebel armies just go back to their farms when they are defeated. And I certainly have heard no rumors of a mass execution. Are you just making this up to provoke some of us?

OOC: The above sentences are purely IC. You don't get the option to execute so you don't get any execution traits. So on one hand, one can argue IC that rebels aren't executed. On the other hand, you can certainly write stories about executing. The game doesn't give you the option since you can't ransom rebels. So, I guess my point is to simply support or refute my IC point purely on IC grounds. :beam:

The messenger turns around on the door and consults the Grandmaster.

"Do you wish to rely a message to my master? I am his shield bearer and second in command, Hector Karamaitis. Or dont you believe his word? I was there, there is a hill covered with over 190 hanged rebels between Bucharest and Carpathian mountains. I repeat, does the Grandmaster wish to send a message to my master about his treatment of the rebel scum which were raizing the villages of the area?"

OOC: We dont have a clue what will happen to the rebel prisoners, but i have little doubt that rebels would be spared once caught, so i dont see anything historically wrong with that kind of treatment.After all Bysantines blinded whole enemy armies or what was caught of them during their time:smash:

If your master truly did this, then why does he not have the reputation? Sounds like a lot of empty boasting to me.

OOC: I totally agree with the historical context. But without those traits, it basically devolves into a "he said/she said" kind of debate. :2thumbsup:

Hector bows and replies.

"Destroying over 400 men, including Magyar cavalry with little more 20 men should be deed enough, i cant see what boasting there is in executing scum and brigands, who threaten the population of empire, but it it is my masters place to comment on what has been said, not mine, so if you will excuse my humble presence, so i will take some rest, before departing back to my master."

Hector sits down near the door, in order to listen to verbal messages or take letters back to Kantakouzinos.

I have it on good advise that Lord Kantakouzinos actions are being looked upon favourably by the royal family.

I have heard that as well. But I think that has to do with actually defeating the army.

What I don't agree with is boasting of executions. And what puzzles me more is why would you boast of them when absolutly no one else speaks of your claims?

In my opinion, he should simply bask in the victory, and drop these ridiculous claims of murdering captured farmers and tradesmen. Because even if the claims are true, they are nothing to boast about.

But defeating 400 men with just you and your guards? Now that is something to boast about and I congratulate the Senator on his victory. Gives a head not towards the shield bearer.

Hectors cheeks slightly blush with anger when he listens to Grandmaster about murdering peasants, while he himself knows what the army had been doing before they had destroyed it. Led by Hungarian tribesmen, whether or not approved by King of Hungary, most probably the army was financed by some Hungarian nobleman. Still knowing his place he keeps his mouth shut and only presses every word Makedonias says into his brain, so he can report it to Ioannis.

Clearing his throat to create some type of distraction.

Indeed. Let see what comes of the victory.

Time will tell.

Efstathios's scribe hits with his hand against his forehead and says quietly..

Gah! Mad man kills some people and he is thrown out of his House. Another mad man kills some people just for fun and he is greeted as a hero!? The ways of these senators are to complex to me!

He looks around and hopes that the Grandmasters good ears didn't hear his words again..

Armatos glances at the scribe.

The difference, my good man, is that in the former example the people in question were peasents and other civilians. In the latter, they were brigands and highwaymen.

And they were prepared to fight.

Keep in mind that I find it doubtful that anyone was executed. These kinds of things tend not to stay quiet for long. Everyone knows that rebel prisoners get sent home because there is no kingdom to pay the ransom.

Kristophoros, one of Savvas' bodyguards enters the Magnaura, followed by four servants carrying two barrels of wine.

He nods to Hector.

My master heard about the heroic deeds of Senator Kantakouzinos and wishes to congratulate him. These two barrels of wine are a gift for Lord Kantakouzinos.

A message is posted at the entrance of the Magnaura.

The newly appointed Dean of the University of Constantinople is now accepting applications from any Senator who wishes to partake in scholarly pursuits. All applicants have until Thursday 31st of July, 5:00 PM EST to submit their application in the form of a letter to the Dean. Stating reasons for applying and as to why the applicant should be accepted may positively influence the choice of the Dean.

A list of those accepted into the position of scholar will be posted on the following day.

After listening the last statement of Makedonias with a disbelief in his face, because Hector quite cant understand what the Grandmaster is speculating. He humbly accepts the gifts of Savvas ek Militou and thanks the Senator on Ioannis behalf.

Iakovos stops on his way into the Magnaura to read over message about the University, and after reading it over carefully, Iakovos makes his way to his seat.

Kosmas sits in a corner of the Maganura, drumming his fingers on the table in front of him. He seems to be becoming increasingly agitated the longer it takes for the crusade to set off to Egypt. The debate between Makedonios and Kantakouzinos' servant fails to interest him, until a messenger arrives and delivers a letter to Kosmas, stopping to talk to him for a minutes before leaving.

I can vouch for the truth of Kantakouzinos' man's claim. Some of my servants in Scopia are Hungarian, and word has traveled quickly to them of the rebellion to the northeast and Kantakouzinos' treatment of the prisoners he caught. A few of my messengers in the area have even seen the bodies of the dead rebels hanging. Hundreds of them, apparently.

As for what the point is of boasting of such an act, when hanging rebels is the standard way of dealking with them, I cannot say.

I will inform my master of Lord Kantakouzinos' gratitude.

He winks at Hector with a grin on his face and whispers to him.

Don't let your guy drink all the wine. Make sure you manage to get a goblet or two as well. It's great stuff.

Kristophoros bows for the Senators.

Gentlemen, thank you for accepting my humble presence in this esteemed body. My master sends his regards.

Kristophoros bows again. On his way out he stops to read the notice about the University and then continues his way.

Makedonios raises an eyebrow at Kosmas.

Hanging rebels is "the standard way of dealking with them?"

Since when? I fought a rebel army outside of Antioch and I didn't hang them.

These people deserve full quarter once they lay down their arms. Even if Kantakouzinos's claims are true, it is no act to boast of.

I would say the same as Makedonios... I fought against rebels in more battles than any of you here... At no time did I kill any of the men that wished to surrender though none tried to neither, I'll admit...