Megas Logothetes' and Senators' Reports

**flyd** · 07-16-2008, 08:38

Report for 1108 and End-of-Term Report

1108 was the last year of my term as Megas Logothetes.

There were only a few events this year. Ioannis Kalameteros has besieged Iconium, while I have proceeded onward into their territory, the way now being clear after the Turks withdrew one of their armies and sent it to help at the siege of Adana. The Saracens have sent four ships into the Aegean. The German crusade is near Sofia. Caesar Ioannis has had a son.

My term has been characterized by the expansion of the army and the navy, both of which have doubled in size. At the start of my term in 1095, the army comprised approximately 2400 troops, if garrisons are not included. In 1110, that number is 5000. The navy underwent a serious expansion as well, with the fleet growing from 5 dromons in 1095 to 11 in 1110.

The military infrastructure has also been improved. Roads now connect all the cities of the contiguous part of the Empire, except the recently (re)conquered Pontic coastline. During the term, we have gained the ability to recruit dismounted lancers in Corinth, byzantine cavalry in Sofia, and ballistae in Nicaea. There was also significant civilian construction, especially with ports and churches.

Of course, the drawback to all these wonderful improvements is that they were very expensive. The treasury reserves reduced from 20600 to 10000, and the yearly income from 9200 to 2900.

However, I did claim during the last Senate session that I would pursue a policy of preparation for expansion, and I believe that that policy has been successfully pursued. Even I am surprised at the rate at which our military power has grown, especially with the setback posed by the Revolts of 1095.

Some of you will be glad to hear that I will not be running for the Office of the Megas Logothetes again in 1110. Despite all the fear-mongering by certain parties, the westerners have remained peaceful neighbors. I, for one, will welcome the help of our German friends against the Muslim heathens, who are our true enemies. It has been near 500 years now that we have been at almost constant war with them, and we have lost much. By comparison, it has only been 50 years since the churches split. I dare say it's a minor and temporary rift. It is impossible for any moral man to justify aggression against them, and I do hope the Senate will decide on a policy of vigilant defense in the west.

It has been my very difficult and irritating pleasure to serve as the Megas Logothetes for these past 15 years.

Μαρκιανος Αμπελας

http://mizus.org/files/pbm/LOTR-1110-0.zip

**Ignoramus** · 07-22-2008, 23:33

Opening Report for 1110

The only significant changes at the start of my term, is that the Eastern Mediterranean Fleet is no longer under the control of the Order of St. John.

(OOC: We'll have to wait until TC puts the Crusade-save up.)

**TinCow** · 07-23-2008, 02:07

$&%#$@!

Yeah, I just realized that I forgot to upload the save game that I created that had all of the edited traits and whatnot for the end of the term. That save game is located on my home computer, which is about 500 miles east of me at the moment, and not likely to get closer for some time to come. I am going to try and get my wife to upload it for me later tonight when she gets home, so hopefully that will solve the problem.

I am very sorry about this.

**TinCow** · 07-23-2008, 02:48

Saved! All hail my wife. Here's the file:

http://mizus.org/files/pbm/LOTR-1110-1.zip

The game is now open for play, with the following provisions:

The Crusaders are:
Vartholomaios Ksiros (Rowan)
Methodios Tagaris (Tristan de Castelreng)
Stavros ek Amarinthou (Knights_of_Palma)
Annios Solomon (woad&fangs)
Kosmas Mavrozomis (Zim)
Vissarionas ek Lesvou (Ramses II CP)
Efstathios Laskaris (Ibn-Khaldun)

(If I missed someone, please let me know ASAP.)

None of these avatars may be moved by anyone. When all other turns are completed, I (or, more properly, my proxy OverKnight) will take the save and make the necessary changes for the Crusade. Once that is completed, the game can advance. The game may never move onto the next turn until I have made the necessary changes. As I mentioned before, my temporary absense from home complicates this process a bit, and turns will probably be a bit slower until this coming Sunday. I apologize for this once again.

**Privateerkev** · 07-23-2008, 02:55

taking the save.

(and I believe Ibn-Khaldun is going on Crusade.)

**Privateerkev** · 07-23-2008, 04:16

LOTR-1110-2

Sorry for taking so long. Had 2 battles to fight. (Ah the joys of releasing your prisoners...)

I'm sorry but I had to move Vartholomaios. He was in my army stack and it was besieging Adana. I had 2 choices. I could move him one space out of the stack, or I could leave him in and fight battles. I didn't want to get him traits (or killed) so I moved him out of the stack before I assaulted. Hopefully OK can just reset his movement.

Adana was occupied and Mak released prisoners in both battles. Iakovos was left in Adana with a garrison. Mak and army are now headed back to Antioch where they are blocked, yet again, by the Templar general.

**TinCow** · 07-23-2008, 04:58

Moving Varth is not a problem, PK. The 'dont move' order was just to keep the Crusaders from doing anything I didn't want them to do, not to preserve their movement points. I don't want anyone fighting or doing anything else with the avatars, but it doesn't matter at all whether they keep their full movement points. The actual in-game movement points will have no impact on their movement for Crusade purposes.