The Royal Council

Gentlemen! There's no reason to be fighting over this! Mysiakes broke the constitution, yes, but my father has, in his great benevolence, decided to pardon Mysiakes of his offences. Perhaps he should extend that benevolence to the clerc as well, but like it or not, he has the right to punish him as he sees fit. The only thing you can do about this would be to propose an Edict forbidding us from doing this next time we formally gather to make Edicts, but that would only work from then on.

For now, however, there is no reason to take this any further. Lets just forgive and forget, alright?

Sarpedon sits down, shaking lightly with his head.

Basileus, I don't need such a big army to conquer Tarsos. I would not mind if you dispatch 2 phalanxes and 1 slinger unit to help reinforce the city of Damaskos until I return back to Syria.

Also, the Lydian army is already big enough to move against the other greek city, no need to be waiting.

After consulting with some of his scribes Antiochos speaks..

Mysiakes..next time ask before you do something like that. I was not aware of those brigands and I most likely would've gave you permission to take those units. I had a plan to send those phalangitai and slinger units to Ekbatana to my sons Royal Army. As you may understand I couldn't do that.
But since you had good intentions I will let it be. Next time however there will be punishment.

Arethousas Syriakes, Regular Armies must be in their minimum required strength. This is bureaucracy I know, but these things must be followed. We can not leave half the army to one place and the other half to another. This will make those armies easily destroyable. Cities and their garrisons must take care of themselves at the moment. I try to recruit a unit in Damaskos if possible but if not then I hope those Strategoi enjoying good life in Antiocheia will go and help Damaskos.

Also, since I'm an old man already I plan to stay to Seleukeia. This means that I will send my Royal Army to Syria and I need a Strategos to lead it. So, is there any volunteers?

Antiochos smiles..

Just remembered this.. Any Strategos can join the Regular Army IF the comanding officer, Strategos of Regular Army, allows it. This way those who wanted the fight will get one. They can't lead an army but they do can get to battle!

Attalos Peragmou Mysiakes smiles.

I would be more than happy to volunteer for your consideration, sir. I was just on my way east, as it happens, and I am to the east of Ipsos so it will be not too much longer for me to get to Syria.

Cunobelinus shoots up upon hearing the King's request My liege I would be extremely grateful and honoured for the chance to lead such an army in your stead. I make up for lack of years in determination and will. It would not take me long to get to Syria from my home in Ipsos, and I already have some experience in battle from before my employment in the Arche. Thankyou.

Alexandros rises immediately

Basileus, and dear uncle, it would be a privilege to lead your Royal army. I am currently well positioned in Damaskos, having forsaken the pleasures and luxuries of Antiocheia in order to better defend the Arche. I believe that with the Royal army under my command I could make a great deal of progress in removing the unwashed Ptolemaioi hoards from lands that should be ours. I would be honored if you would consider me for the command.

Alexandros makes a deep bow and returns to his seat

Antiochos smiles when seeing three men wanting to lead his Royal Army...

It would take nearly a year before my Army reaches Antiocheia and Syria. I would also mention this.. If whoever controls my Royal Army and face a defeat by his own negligence then that man can forget of leading another army for sometime!

Since Attalos Mysiakes was the first one to offer his services then I make him the Commander of Royal Army. You should get to Syria as soon as possible. I will station my Army near Antiocheia just so you would know where to look for it.

Other Strategoi shouldn't feel themselves left out because they can't lead an Army yet. I have said it before. Our current financial situation just can not allow more Armies at the moment.

This Chancellor position is giving me a headache!

Antiochos shakes his head and it's clear to see that he is upset...

It is one thing when just an ordinary Strategos breaks the law but if a member of the Royal Family and a Satrap do it then... This gives me a headache..
Andromachos Syriakos you have built 2 watchtowers in your Satrapy. Total sum is 3000mnai! Since you did not asked this before you ordered to build them then this is against the law!
This will not be unpunished! Your punishment shall be announced later because for now I need to rest!
This headache just don't leave me alone!

Antiochos stands up and just before he leaves the room he turns around and says..

I will leave my scribe Patroklos here to answer your questions..

Saying that Antiochos leaves the Council Hall..

"3000 mnai?! what are these towers built out of? solid bronze?! It would be good form and prudent however to build a network of watch towers along our current borders as soon as possible. We cannot allow our enemies to sneak in an wreck havok on our lands. Such incursions could prove costly and dangerous to both our people and future."
Arrhenides sits down and mutters to Phanias Laodikeias Lydikes"3000 mnai! Bloody Hell!"

Lord Attalos bows to the Baselius.

Thank you, my lord. I will not disappoint you.

If I may be so bold as to ask, what types of soldiers will I be commanding? I realize that the constitution mandates 6 infantry divisions, 2 ranged, and 2 cavalry divisions, but it would be most helpful to know in advance what kind of army it is.

Scribe Patroklos stands and speaks..

Attalos Mysiakes, when our great Basileus is doing his Report then he will write down all the current units in his Royal Army. He will also write down all the units in Regular Armies as well. And once it's time for Satraps Armies he will do the same and send letters to the Satraps. He would appreciate if those lists will be mentioned in your 'Orders'(OOC: SOT). It would make his life easier if he can see whether he need to recruit new units to those armies or retrain them depends which is cheaper.

Also I will check whether the man in question really spent 300 mnai to those watchtowers and why did they cost so much.

Scribe bows and takes his seat..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ibn-Khaldun

Scribe Patroklos stands and speaks..

Also I will check whether the man in question really spent 300 mnai to those watchtowers and why did they cost so much.

Scribe bows and takes his seat..

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If the man spent 300 mnai on 2 towers then he should be placed in charge of construction of all the arche's projects!

I think you have misread scribe Patrolkos, Andromachos Syriakos was roumored to have spent three-thousand mnai.

Hello fellow Strategoi, I announce that, today, I will leave to campaign in Mikro Asia with the 1st Syrian Army. My first objective will be to conquer Tarsos and then the Island of Kypros from the Aygiptians. I will send a messenger to deliver any news and I will do my best to be present in any Council Session.

I'm going now.... see you this life or at Elysium!

Cunobelinus stands up abruptly Aratos, perhaps you would need some support? I could command your flank and cavalry wing. I'd be more than happy to accompany your campaign.

Andromachos rises from his seat and throws a glance through the hall.

"Yes, it is true that I have commissioned the building of two watchtowers at the borders of Pârsa. However, as Cunobelinus stated --" Andromachos throws a quick glance at Cunobelinus " -- this is for the overall good of the Arche. I do accept the punishment, whatever it may be. I could repay the lost money from my personal treasury, however."

Andromachos is seated again.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: Hey, somebody had to break the rules for the first time ;D
I could also have said; hey, why not burn Parsagadae again?

Patroklos, after reading the letter all over again, says...

Strategos Timarchos, you are right. It is really 3000 mnai! How could I missed that last zero?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: It's a typo ~:D

Strategos Syriakes, Our Great Basileus wish you the best of luck and a good campaign!

Also, Basileus wants al of you know that he really like if more than one Strategos is present in the armies. This way if one of them can't fight the battle then the other one, second in command, will do it for him.

The Punishment of that law breaking is following: Basileus will use his power to destroy one building in the full Chancellor term in any settlement. The settlement is Persepolis but the building is not decided yet. Perhaps it will be that Parsagadae or what ever it was.

OOC: If you have any questions about the rules or what you can move or build then just ask me. If I'm not at work then I'll try to answer as soon as possible. ~:)

Aratos turned his head to Cunobelinus.

"I don't see why I should reject such request, I would be grateful to have you riding by my side.
However I remind you that I'll be in charge of this campaign. Also the enemy forces won't prove to be challeging enough, according to my scouts, and I will be completely honest with you, I really don't need much more aid, my army is big enough by now.

I recommend you support the 1st Lydian Army in conquering the other Egyptian Mikro Asian city and then Halikarnassos... that campaign will prove much more thougher than the one I'll be commanding.
Or that you support Damaskos, that city's garrison is weakened, and we must hold it.

If you decide otherwise and join me, I must say that I plan a quick offensive and won't wait for you and your bodyguards to merge in my army. So you may plan to join while I'm sieging, I plan to siege them for 1 or 2 seasons. Of course you may leave your bodyguards behind and travel now with me alone."

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: If you want to be there with your "internet character" and not with your "in-engine-game character", to contextualize some stories you may want to add, etc

Aratos now turns to the rest of the council and gestures a man sitting next to him to stand up, he obeys.

"I want you to meet the man who will represent me while I'm away." Aratos nodded at the man.

The stranger cleared his voice and said. "Greetings. I'm honoured to be in the presence of the great Strategoi, my name is Akakios Euthymios and, as my lord said, I'll be his representative, I'm responsible to send him any news and to forward his messages back here."

"Yes." said Aratos. Akakios sat. "I will be leaving soon, Strategos Cunobelinus what is your final decision? And Scribe Patroklos, send my best wiches to the Basileus... he doesn't seem very well."

Cunobelinus stands up Well I'd have to wait for the commander of the 1st Lydian to join his army. I do not know if he'd allow me to or not. Cyprus might prove a costly battle however. I think I'll move with haste to you.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: My game isn't loading the saves for some reason, could you move me to your army kingsnake? thanks bro.

Cunobelinus smiles maniacally

"Got it Strategos Cunobelinus. We will meet again during my siege of Tarsos.

One last thing I want to point out is that the 1st Lydian Army is already ready, yet I do not hear any news from its commander Theodotas Pisidikes,I hear that it still hasn't moved from the fort and hasn't moved either against Side or Halikarnassos. I'm dissapointed... I visioned a quick attack on the Egyptian Mikro Asia lands and Kypros, that completely cut Egyptian access to Mikro Asia when I proposed Eddict 1.4 and it is my fault I didn't express this more clearly. I beleive a new commander should be nominated if we don't hear from the current one anymore.

Edict 1.4: After a succesful mission against the Egyptians on Mikro Asia. The 1st Lydian Army is to conquer independent Halikarnassos. Only if the diplomatic relations with the Makedons remain peaceful, if not the army is to retreat and defend Sardis. The Syrian Army will board transportation ships (the cheapest fleets we can build) and invade Kypros. After a succesfull mission they board on the fleet back to Antiocheia.

I will leave now."

Aratos left the council.

Patroklos turns to Akakios..

Please thank your master Aratos for caring Basilus' health. I'm sure he will not forget this.

Turning to the hall..

As for the Lydian Army... I have instructions that if Theodotas Pisidikes will not move to attack Side in this year then another Commander should be found! Basileus also have said that he hopes Theodotas Pisidikes is just preparing his men for the last time and will head against Side later in this years summer.

Patroklos bows and takes his seat..

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: I'm writing a story why Antiochos left and what happened to him after his leave from the Council.

A milatary map is distributed, first to the royal family

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6267/requestgu9.jpg

The messanger who brought it then speaks

I come before you today to formally request a detachment of troops from the royal army to the attached service of Strategeos Mysiakes to eradicate the rebel's led by Byzantinosm whom you can see by the middle bridge, just south of the mountains on this map.

By our calculations, they could arrive join with my lord Mysiakes in one season, assuring the scurge on trade in the region would be wiped out before the next year.

My lord Mysiakes also requests that if a detachment is sent, it be made up of two units archers, and two units infantry.

He also asks that I inform you, pre-empting any questions, that Arbela's garrison is too small to lend troops, and though Karkathiokerta does have a larger garrison, moving troops out of it would lead to riots at its current rate of tax.

Antiochos enters the Council hall. After taking his seat he says..

I allow you to use those units. Take them all since I don't want to have just couple of units running around the Arche. They were meant for the Kleronomos Basileios' Royal Army so please try to avoid any unnecessary casualties on our side. After you have defeated those brigands I would like you to escort them to the river crossing between Antiocheia and Damaskos.

"Mighty Basileus, we have not met yet. I am Akakios Euthymios, representing Strategos Aratos Syriakes while is campaigning, it is an honour to be standing in your presence." he bowed his head.

"I have news from the 1st Syrian Army. The Strategoi, Syriakes and Cunobelinus, have succesfully conquered and occupied the city of Tarsos from the Aigyptians. We suffered 88 casualties and no enemy soldier survived. Strategos Syriakes plans to remain in the city, with the Syrian Army, until the transportation fleet arrives at the docks, then he will part to Kypros. He asks what are the Basileus' plans for the city's defensive garrison.
As a reward the Strategoi humbly request that their bodyguard cavalry units are to be retrained, for the price of 2 mnai.
That is all, I will deliver the original message and battle report to the Magistrate soon."

It's good to hear that Tarsos have been conquered! Our fllet will get there soon. they are about couple of months away from the Tarsos port. As for the garrison I will try to find money to recruit some Pandotapoi there.

Antiochos calls one of his slave who quickly run away. Just moments later he returns with a beautifully designed sword. With golden engravings it is a masterpiece.

Give this sword to your master, Akakios Euthymios. It is a reward for capturing Tarsos.

General Panaitolos Ankyrikos stands to be recognized

Gentlemen! I am here today to ask the commander of the 1st Lydian Army's permission to join in his ranks so that i may do my part in helping out with upcoming campaigns! Me and my bodyguard are bored,tired,and anxious for a fight! Thank you and i will await a response!

Sits down and mumbles..."My men simply need to be off their fat ass's!"

Council,

I write to report you of my success and a complication,

firstly the success, the Rebel army has been routed with only 11 dead on our side, a significant victory by any standards.

secondly the complication, a force I suspect reports to either Hai or Georgian king has marched south and is now camped outside Karkathiokerta, and to rout this force I will need another turn with the royal army.

My apologies if this action holds up the plans regarding this army yet more than I predicted, however I am sure everyone can agree this is better than allowing minor kingdoms to invade our land at will.

yours in service
Strategos Epilektos Timarchos Anaias Mysiakes

Antiochos smirked when hearing Timarchos' report..

I can see that he already elevated his rank from Strategos to Strategos Epilektos..

Well.. to make it official I promote Timarchos Anaias Mysiakes to the rank of Strategos Epilektos! Now he have the right to run for Chancellor on the next Council Session. Looks like we will see some interesting election then.

Smile crosses Antiochos' face..

But let it be known that I will give the permission to use these units against those 'bandits' who dared to threaten our city. If Sarpedon have other plans with those units then unfortunately Timarchos must step down as a commander of that army.

Basileus, this is a magnificent sword I'm sure my lord will take it as a war trophy, I will send it, right away, through my messenger, may I ask if this sword has some other significance or story behind it and where was it forged?

Also this same messenger has just arrived with a message from Strategos Aratos Syriakes. It announces that my lord will leave from Tarsos and land on Kypros by the end of Winter or beginning of Spring, the island's city will then be sieged.

This sword belonged to the last Satrap of Tarsos before the conquests of Megas Alexandros.
It's been said that he himself used it in some battles later in Asia.

I'm good to hear that soon the conquests in western parts of Mikra Asia will be over. I have another campaign in my thoughts ready for the Syrian Army once Kypros is taken.

Also I hope to hear that in the next 3-6 months Side will fall and Lydian Army would march against Halikarnassos.

Sarpedon, raising a hand, stands up and beckons to speak.

Much has happened, it would seem, since I left nigh five days ago. As one of the magistrates has informed me, I am now heir to the throne, a position I will hold with to your honour, great Basileus, father.

The first thing I will do is to recall my royal army back to my own, personal control. I do not know where my army is currently stationed - I have come straight here and haven't had time to check the reports yet - but if Timarchos wish to command it on it's way back to me, he has my permission to do so. Otherwise I expect him to appoint that task to the best able officer. Order to be executed immediately.

I will speak again once I have seen all the facts.