Rhodes 1086:


The siege continues, Nevoulas ek Philadelphuis and his bodyguards are beginning to find the going tough as stubborn resistance fighters continue to hold up inside their fortifications. Isolated out here on Rhodes and now its seems supplies are beginning to dwindle. Nevoulas and his guards have been allowing the commander and his troops access to the prime foraging spots, the thin pickings elsewhere has led to the men beginning to use up some of the surplus supplies.

Despite this mood remains spirited, the close relations better Nevoulas and Ioannis Kalematros is helping and both the young strators are excited by news of conquests elsewhere in the empire. Indeed the two have been discussing a great many things of Imperial ways in particular the politics.

Nevoulas I fear your shy and retiring ways will not gain you much currency in the senate

Nevoulas frowns, this has been a familiar topic of Ioannis and he has been pressing Nevoulas about his lack of involvement in the Senatorial discussions in the last couple of chats they have had.

Like I have said Ioannis I preferred to keep quiet on the floor of the senate last time, I believe much energy was wasted by some strators venting nothing but hot air. I prefer to watch and wait…

Nevoulas watches Ioannis as he steps up and grabs the jug of wine and pours deliberately into Ioannis cup…. Nevoulas knows that Ioannis is not satisfied with this answer and sure enough…

Come now Nevoulas, now that I have come to know you better, you have a far greater understanding you let on and beneath that quiet exterior is a deeply thoughtful and passionate fellow. You have spoken of your pride of your position in the senate but you sat there as timid as a mouse. Sorry to be hard on you here but if you have a story to tell lets hear it.

Nevoulas heart flickers, his past is not really something he wishes to reveal to anyone he is unsure that he can trust. However the long siege has enabled him to get to know Ioannis really well and he is certain he can be trusted.

My friend you have been pressing me about this for days you are correct I do have a story and I do wish to get it off my chest if you have the time and the patience to listen to me tale.

Ioannis lets a satisfied grin appear on his face. He says

You and I have plentiful wine and this siege isn’t going anywhere tell me what troubles you so about the politics of the imperial world…

Nevoulas takes a large gulp of wine

Have you heard of a place called Trebizond, it is deep in the heart of Anatolia…

Trebizond 1076


My long travels across Anatolia had brought me to this point. I was about to enter through the gates of Trebizond. I had decided that if I could find no further information about the fate of my brother I would now turn back home. I was entering my 16th year and it was occurring to me that my mother had been left to run our modest estate near Athens for some time now and I was beginning to realise that there truly was nothing but desperation awaiting me at every turn on this godforsaken land mass.

I had seen several disturbing things in my times travelling, I was increasingly appalled at the apathy of Roman citizens and their simple surrender to incoming settling tribes. Waves upon waves of Turkish immigrants were moving in and seizing neglected lands and settling in the areas. No-one seemed in the slightest bit bothered that these people were here illegally and encroaching on rightful Roman land. Landowners seemed content just simply to pick up sticks and retreat to townships.

Upon entering Trebizond I was now no longer surprised by the distinctly un-Roman feel to the place. After a few days of starting to ask around about the whereabouts of soldiers from the battle of manzikert, I was pointed in the direction of a fairly well to do district of the city. Here, I would have the luck to meet a man who was a member of my father’s century and whilst the fellow did not know my father or brother personally he could get me an audience with the governor of Trebizond who had given much support for the great battle.

As I wandered around the district I would meet more veterens of the battle of Manzikert, these men I regarded with mixed feelings – I knew them to be contempliaries of my father and many looked tough war hardened soldiers. But their seemingly care-free manner bothered me, did they have no concern for the empire. My mind was full of questions and I resolved to get the answers. But every time I started a line of questioning I would be waved away or shouted down. It seemed my young years and fresh face gained no currency with these would be deserters. Perhaps I thought I would get the information I sought from the governer.

I walked into his dwelling with anger and bile swelling through my veins, therefore I was taken aback by his friendly nature. ‘Young Philadelphius’ he said ‘Your father was indeed a great warrior, I miss him greatly. It pleases me so that you would join me at my court’. I was taken aback by this, I wondered what to say I had come to his palace full of questions but I realised after spending some days in the mans company again I would have to bide my time as the governor would repeatedly bat away my questions.

Ioannis would interrupt me here…

So you do not stand up to say anything for you fear no-one will listen he says

That in part may be true I reply but it is what happened next, which is why I choose to keep a more reserved counsel. Nevoulas replies

Anyway here I was now because of the governors respect for my father I was accepted at his court. I thought if I stuck around and gained in influence I may come across a veteran who would give me the answers I sought.

Things came to a head at an emergency counsal meeting when news of a large Seljuk army would be approaching the city. This was my first experience of senatorial type politics and I assure you Ioannis I was anything but quiet then.

It was a gathering of the best of the veterans certainly nowhere near as grandiouse as the Magneura but close enough for a boy of 17 years as I was by this time.

I recall lamenting the veterens, laying into their laziness and apathetic attitude towards imperial matters. They wished to barter a peaceful solution with the Turks, I asked why make a stand, there must be armies back closer to home that can be brought forward to chase off these fiends. They would laugh at my niaviety. Later the governer explained that these men no longer were bothered or had any faith in matters from the Capitol, in fact he had said neither did he. I looked in shock, I was seeing the complete break down of the empire in these parts

Nether-the-less the next day it seemed as if my words had caused some inspiration as 2/3 of the veterens would show up in full battle gear and were fully prepared to fight. It was as if my enthuisiasm had turned back the clock for these men and had reminded them of their duty and Roman pride.

Ioannis was looking more eager now… interrupted again


You have fought against the Seljuk Turks!!! he exclaimed Nevoulas I am impressed

Ioannis there is more to say Nevoulas looks sadly as much as I wished this to be an inspirational moment, it is a time I look back on with deep regret, my lustful battlecries had just signed away many men’s death.

I don’t understand he says

SIRS an excited bodyguard enters the tent We have message from the mainland…

I will explain another time Ioannis Nevoulas says to Ioannis, to which Ioannis nods thoughtfully.