Nevoulas the archaeologist


Whilst the empire was battling rebels, launching blistering campaigns against the turks and moving swiftly on, little has been heard of the emotionally torn Nevoulas ek Philadelphius .

Following the hard fought political votes in the second senate, Nevoulas simply vanished completely from the political sphere. His reasons are clouded, never one to toast the spotlight the desperate (and in truth hasty) plea to attack the Seljuk sultanate had one him friends and enemies in equal measure. Nevoulas had returned to his now homelike Rhodes a confused and conflicted fellow.

Still doubts struck his mind... questions racked through his head and they were not the kind he could answer or discuss with any soul....

Nevoulas love and link with the empire was jaded, doubts racked him at every turn. Could the empire be so great when he saw such evil and treachery at every turn? Was this what had caused his brother to turn? The incompetancy that had led to the death of his father was still so prevelant?

He needed time to think... or maybe to withdraw from the public eye... his mind raced to the old ruins near the port of Rhodes dilapidated and untouched he had become quite taken to wandering through the area at his troubled times.

It was a travesty that such articles were left to rot and he decided to spend some time digging through and properly excavating such places.

As time passed, Nevoulas grew more and more withdrawn from the events of the empire and more into the ancient artifacts he was finding, records from years passed and stories of the old greeks fascinated him more than the events of real life. Indeed real life was proving more and more bothersome, he started to take actions that would result in Rhodes effectively being cut off from information from the mainland. To ensure no distractions, Nevoulas made the communities of Rhodes entirelly self sufficient and directed fishing vessels out into its own waters. Monies would be paid ontime, but he would accept no information or indeed incoming vessels.

At first there was concern that the Comes Hypatios who had been given charge of the isle would return. Fat chance of that thought Nevoulas.

Years passed... Nevoulas allowed his beard and hair to grow freely and his soldiers took wives and enjoyed their peace. Nevoulas never indulged himself as some of his guardsmen had but indeed was now completely involved in the complete excavation of the ruins of Rhodes.

Events of the empire though would one day put a halt to this as Nevoulas most faithful bodygaurd came to see him. Nevoulas was very reluctant to accept the incoming information but he knew his bodyguard would only interrupt him if it was something really important.

"Well then, what is it?" Nevoulas exclaimed "Nothing short of the Basilues visiting asteri's isle of wonder itself should interrupt me"

"My lord, thats just it, Rhodes is no longer the possession of the House of Asteri"

Nevoulas had a look of shock on his face... that snivelling little Hypatios...

"What has happened for this to be so?"

"The details are unclear but we recieved message today from Athens that the colours of the Asteri are to be taken down at once"

Nevoulas let out a sigh and turned to look at the ruins... he had barely scraped the surface of what he hoped would be his life's work. He knew Hypatios would come to Rhodes soon enough and he tremored to think of what he would do to the isle... one things for sure he did not want to be here himself when that happened.

"Call the guard together, we leave at dawn"

"But sire...."

"I admit it is troublesome, but fate has forced our hand we must leave!!!"