The Royal Council

Your highness, may I have permission to use our spy in Edessa to assess the strength of Sarpedon's army?

"You may."

A message arrives from Lysimachos Ptolemaios, regarding past events:

It has been two years since I have seen any of you in person. I have spent much time abroad, and have spent much time learning the customs of the western Hellenes. As you know, embarked on what was originally a diplomatic mission to our allies in Greece. What transpired here on Krete was manifestly not a diplomatic mission, but it was based on diplomatic discourse. While visiting our allies in Sparta, they told me of their long conflict with the numerous pirates and villains on Krete, who had been harrying their, and other regional powers's merchant flotillae. In addition, their king, Areus Agiados, had been unpleasantly holding out in Krete for almost a decade- A sea storm scattered his fleet, and none had heard from him for a long time. On my journey back, My ships were attacked by the Kretans, and many of our sailors and marines were injured. So, I landed on Krete to try to find our allies and help them defeat the Kretans. Originally, I intended for our allies to take possession of the town of Kydonia and the surrounding country, and that is why I have sent this message to you. I realized that in my impetuosity I ignored orders. But I did not do so out of selfish vainglory. I wanted to prove to our allies that we are not entirely lost in our war with the Seleukids, or other eastern ventures. That we still wished to see them prosperous and safe, and that we have not abandoned them due to our other ambitions.

My occupation of Kydonia is assuredly provisional. I request that we send a Diplomat to Greece to arrange for Kydonia to be transferred to the Hellenic League. Once this has been done, I will sail back to my father's lands.

Your Royal Highness, honourable council members and family.

I have retaken the city of Antiocheia from the Seleucid invader. Our domination of the eastern Mediterranean is once again assured. They have seriously damaged some of our buildings in this city when they assaulted it however and they require immediate repairs. Additionally, I would recommend the Galatians I hired to be sent away again. They have done their duty and they have done it well, but they are too expensive to keep around for garrison duty.

Honourable members of the council,

I have defeated the Seleucid invasion aimed at Antiocheia, by re-taking the city and crushing any remaining Seleucid units in and around Syria.

Now, my own personal army is once again ready to take to the offensive. However, the situation in the east is precarious. My army is all that stands between the unwashed Asian hordes and our prosperous cities along the Mediterranean. Our enemy is both to my north, in Mazaka and to the east, in Edessa. I do not view Palmyra as being a threat since the town has sworn its allegiance to the Arabians. Indeed it may prove a useful buffer between ourselves and the Seleucids. Edessa has been used frequently as a staging point for attacks into our empire. I was attacked by an army from Edessa when I laid siege to Palmyra and the army that took Antiocheia came from Edessa as well. Edessa is also closer to Antiocheia. Should the Seleucids counter by striking at Antiocheia from the north, I can return to the city in time to prevent it from being taken.

So, if it please the council, I shall assemble my armies and march off towards Edessa tomorrow.

I have taken Edessa. I request the council raise a garrison for this city, so that I may take my army south to Palmyra to reclaim it.

I also request a provisional military government is established in Edessa and that an Agora is built in Salamis. The increased goods that it will offer us will greatly increase our profits from our merchant fleets. Additionally, it may be wise to recruit an assassin to rid us of those Seleucid "diplomats" who bribe our troops and our settlements.

deleted

Basileus Philadelphos steps into the Council, and before he sits down he - seeming in haste - announces that:

The Fourth Council Session has begun! It will last for three days, until 12:00 GMT on Monday 19th of September.

"I would like to notify all that I will not be running for Chancellor this term, and will leave that honour to someone else."