The Magnaura

[Northnovas]

I Aleksios ek Ikoniou, declare my neutrality on the present internal conflicts and will concentrate all my resources to fight the real enemy of the empire, the Venetians.

Though I see the law in the original conflict too many issues have that the justification appears to have been watered down the original cause.

Therefore. It is with deep regret that I must break my oaths to Ioannis Kalameteros and my vassal and good friend Savvas ek Militou.

[Andres]

As he hears the words of his Lord Aleksios ek Ikoniou, Savvas stands up. He looks like a man who has lost everything.

Dear Lord, this is a sad day.

Savvas stares at Aleksios.

We shared more then a bond of loyalty and mutual respect. We also shared friendship.

Savvas looks over at Ioannis Kalamateros.

The same goes for us, dear friend.

Savvas turns to the seat of the Basileus.

And us.

Savvas sighs.

The three of you are like brothers to me.

Savvas sighs again and leaves the Magnaura.

[_Tristan_]

A messenger wearing a Tagaris tabard walks into the Magnaura and delivers a message to the Protoasecretes. Unfolding the parchment, a scribe strolls forward.

Senators,

You will excuse me for not being here in person but I fear it would not be long before I found myself in chains in the darkest dungeon of Constantinople.

Our Basileus has proven to us that any doubts we had on his accession to the Throne has come true. The man always kept in the back of his mind his plans to make his all our holdings his own.

First, he had to find an excuse for a war to erupt, and make himself seen as the aggrieved party. What better excuse but to try to wrench from a loving father his daughter and throw her into the arms of his manhood-deprived brother for no other reason but to force me to refuse him, creating a de facto casus belli out of thin air

... Because I can assure you, fellow Senators, that the fate of my daughter was not once discussed with me prior to the formal announcement... How was I to react to this ? I have the deepest respect for the laws of our Empire but not for those like Ioannis who would hide behind them to commit their crimes against the people of the same Empire. I would even have submitted to any punishment this august body would have deemed necessary for my transgression, though I fear it is too late now... The devil is out of the box and can't be put back in... Ioannis has played his hand and won't take it back...

Now the spark has lit the fuse... Ioannis has now declared war on the Order of St John, a House of our Empire with which he has been at odds for decades. He now sees an opportunity to get back to them under pretenses of their not answering his call to arms, while ignoring others' declaration of neutrality. But for how long ?

I ask you, fellow Senators, how long before Ioannis turns against you ? Won't you wish at that time that you made a stand before ?

People have been faced with the same question throughout history when confronted by tyranny : whether to stand and fight... or grovel and wonder when your turn will come ?

I see many here who have chosen to grovel... So you should start wondering when your turn will come...

I will make a stand and should I lose, I hope my words will be remembered.

Methodios Tagaris
Caesar of the Basileion ton Romaion
Defender of the People

The scribe then hands the parchment back to the Protoasecretes.

[TinCow]

*The Protoasecretes clears his throat.*

I have received word that former Megas Logothetes Nevoulos ek Philadelphias has perished in battle. As he did not have a valid last will and testament, his provinces of Markiople and Belgrade are now the property of his Lord, Zigavinos Vasilakios.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

A message is brought to the Magnaura..

Senators,

I think you all have already heard that I have seized the fleet that was near Crete. But to be honest, those men were unwilling to serve the Empire as long as no one stands up the 'Basileus' and they joined with my fleet voluntarily! They promised to do what ever I decide to do, even if that means going against the rest of the Empire.
To those, who might say that I don't allow the war against Venice to reach Italy, I say this - there is always the land route to the holdings of Venice! If Isaakios Komnenos want to leave Crete then I can spare him one of the ships, though,but in mean time I will proceed my voyage to east!

'Admiral' Theo Petzeas

[_Tristan_]

The same messenger wearing Tagaris regalia walks into the Magnaura. Exchanging a few words with the Protoasecretes who gives him a nod, he then proceeds to the centre of the floor.

My Lords,
Senators,

My name is Nikodemos Parientis. I am a friend and retainer of Caesar Methodios Tagaris who cannot come before you for the obvious reasons you all know

I know that my own life may be forfeit by appearing before you but I am more than willing to take the risk to make the voice of my friend heard.

Methodios wishes to express his deepest regrets for the loss of ex-Megas Nevoulas ek Philadelphias. He sends his condolences to his family and friends.

Methodios has told me Nevoulas had seved the Empire to the best of his abilities as Megas and had always been available whatever other pressing matters may have occupied him. Even with is latest declaration of war against him, Methodios bears him no ill will, for the man acted according to his conscience, without second thoughts but following his idea of how best to serve the Empire.

It is a shame that Nevoulas' dream of bringing the fight to the last remnants of the Muslim faith in Moorish lands has failed through his death. Methodios only hopes that some other will take up the flame that Nevoulas held so high.

Let us all mourn the passing of such a noble man.

His message delivered, Nikodemos walks to the bench formerly occupied by Methodios and sits in his place, visibly ill at ease and wary of the menacing presence of the Varangians at the Senate doors.

[rossahh]

Zigavinos listens to the representative of Methodios speak and nods absently at the man's last words. As Nikodemos sits down, one of Nevoulas's aides hands the keys to Belgrade and Markiople to Zigavinos. Remebering the words of the funeral, Zigavinos twirls the key to Belgrade around his fingers while looking at the Basileus, thinking hard to himself. Eventually he puts the key into his pocket, and beckons his scribe.

"Send the following to Belgrade and Markiople:

Fire all tax collectors. Cancel all military training and recruiting. No soldiers are to enter or exit the settlement.

Zigavinos Vasilakios
Comes of Smyrna, Iconium, Markiople and Belgrade