Order of St. John

[Privateerkev]

OOC:

I just had a look at the save. Makedonios is finally free of the dreaded Pneumonia that wouldn't die.

Unfortunately, Nathanail picked up the "slave to superstition" trait which whacked 2 of his piety. I propose we take everyone but him out of Aleppo and send them to Antioch. That will leave him in Aleppo and he can build churches and recruit priests to get his piety back up.

Plus, getting everyone back to Antioch will get them in position for the war that is about to start. Adana has been taken from the Turks and we'll hit them when the war starts. Plus, Antioch is now 47% Orthodox so we should be able to resupply soon.

I'll take the save and make moves tomorrow. So, feel free to take a look at the save and let me know what you think.

[Rowan]

OOC: We might need to keep some BGs in Aleppo to keep order. If you are doing the moves could you move Bart to the northern river crossing as he can't make it all the way to Antioch.

[Privateerkev]

OOC: The peasants should help Nathanail keep order. Cecil already moved Armatos. I'll move Bart like you asked. And I'll move Aero into Antioch and Iakovos as close to Antioch as possible.

[Privateerkev]

OOC: I moved Bart and Iakovos to the north river crossing. And I put that small rag-tag collection of men they call an army in their stack. I moved Aero to Antioch, Mak to Cyprus to resupply, and left Nathanail in Aleppo with the peasants.

Nathanail needs to update his SOT and ask for the castle to be upgraded and for a small chapel. This will help ensure he can keep public order by himself.

[BananaBob]

Nathanail strides into the Order chambers. An ornate cross hangs around his neck and his hands are covered in religious rings and tokens. He wears a white robe over his red tunic and equally iconic sword is sheathed at his left.

I hereby break my oath to Makdonios, and swear an oath of fealty to Armatos

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: yes, this is already in the Magnaura but i figured Cecil would see this here first.

It brings me joy to finally be able to call myself a full fledged Knight of our glorious Order!

[Cecil XIX]

I accept your oath.

[Privateerkev]

For paperwork purposes, I accept that Nathanail has broken his oath with me. This act has my full permission and blessing. Congratulations to Armatos for his promotion to Domestikos.

OOC: TC has made clear that when a vassal breaks from a lord, the lord needs to make clear if it was sanctioned or unsanctioned.

[Ramses II CP]

Vissarionas ek Lesvou returns at last to the chambers of the Order of St. John. After so long an absence he has grown into a tanned and confident young man. There is something else as well, something that perhaps only a warrior monk could recognize; the light of fervency shines out of Vissa's eyes.

Immediately on entering Vissa greets his brothers and goes in haste to the chapel to pray. Questions will evidently have to wait.

[TinCow]

OOC: TC has made clear that when a vassal breaks from a lord, the lord needs to make clear if it was sanctioned or unsanctioned.

OOC: For practicality, silence will be presumed to be sanctioning the break. The Lord only needs to speak up if it is unsanctioned. This is simply because the vast majority are sanctioned, so it saves us all some chores.

[Privateerkev]

When Vissa gets done from praying, the Grandmaster is waiting in the main chambers for him.

Vissa!

It's good to see you!

Makedonios walks up and warmly clasps arms with Vissa.

You look good!

Please tell me all about what happened.

[Ramses II CP]

Returning from the chapel Vissa's eyes shine brightly, and it is clear that he feels a great weight has been lifted from him. Vissa executes his usual textbook salute with a snap before speaking.

My Lord it is a pleasure to see you again after so long! My journey has been far more extensive and consuming than even I expected. I spent all of that time in Cairo, as you have surely heard, and the city is one of wonders, though full of infidels. My goal there was simple: To find a way into the power structure and discover what I could of the Caliph's intent.

As has been revealed, his intentions are black with regard to Orthodoxy, and Christianity as a whole. I must say I found the people of Cairo to be a cheerful and generally healthy lot, accomodating of strangers and with few obvious drunkards or otherwise dissolute members of the society. Islam's prohibition on alcohol has much to commend in it, though there are tolerated exceptions and... other substances which destroy a man's soul.

Oh! Before I forget, I have returned with a few small gifts.

Vissarionas fetches a series of small wooden boxes out of his travel bag, presenting five of them to the Grandmaster and one each to his brothers.

The box with the green design on top is a strange form of tea the Muslims favor, it brews very dark in boiling water, and there is a kind of reed net in the top to filter out the ground up bits. It serves remarkably to awaken the senses! (OOC This is the one everyone got.)

These other boxes, Grandmaster, are unusual spices and seasonings popular in the Muslim world. I have only heard their names in Arabic, so I cannot say what we might call them here in the west.

I have one more gift, for the library. It is in Arabic, which I have learned to muddle through somewhat, but I am told it is a precious thing, hand copied from a masterwork over a hundred years old.

Here Vissarionas produces a book bound in leather with a reddish cast, the pages of good quality papyrus, with a large Arabic title on the cover. I'll render it as best I can: Kanza al-fawa'id fi tanwi' al-mawa'id.

After the presentation of these gifts Vissa falls silent, perhaps lost in some recollection of the gathering of these gifts.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios smiles widely.

Ah Sergeant, you were on a dangerous mission and did not have to bring gifts. Never-the-less, I am honored you did. Thank you.

He gives a head nod to the Sergeant.

I look forward to trying some of this fine tea.

[Dafuge]

Here do I swear feality and service to the Order of St. John, and to the Grandmaster Makedonios Ksanthopoulos, to speak and to be silent, to do and to let be, to come and to go, in need or plent, in peace or war, in living or dying, from this hour henceforth, untill death takes me or the world end, I swear and unbinding oath. So say I Stavrer ek Arasidthou.

[Privateerkev]

I accept Sergeant Stavrer. Stand and be recoginized!

I had heard you were coming. It seems the Crusade has spurred many good men like yourself to get involved with politics.

Come! Let us adjourn to the Order's private chambers and we will get you up to speed on current events.

[Dafuge]

OOC Woops messed up my name, I'll do it again,

Here do I swear feality and service to the Order of St. John, and to the Grandmaster Makedonios Ksanthopoulos, to speak and to be silent, to do and to let be, to come and to go, in need or plent, in peace or war, in living or dying, from this hour henceforth, untill death takes me or the world end, I swear and unbinding oath. So say I Stavrer ek Amarinthou.

[Privateerkev]

OOC:

I think it was close enough.

Also, I PM'd TC to see if he'll allow this oath swearing in the beginning of the senate session. If he doesn't allow it, then it technically won't take affect until the senate session is over. But for IC purposes, we'll act as if it was allowed.

[Dafuge]

OOC: Crap completelty messed it up, wish I could edit.

Stavrer walked slowly through the magnificent wooden doors of the Order. He took off his helmet and basked in the humidty of Asia. Slowly he walked forward, and entered a great room. He saw the Grandmaster near by, he walked up to him and kneeled. He held this postition for a minute before getting up and taking a seat next to Makedonios.

'Greetings Grandmaster, I am interested in the current events of the Order and Empire, it would be a please to hear them from you.'

[Privateerkev]

Of course Sergeant, like I said, let us adjourn to the Order's meeting place. We'll fill you in on everything.

[Dafuge]

I will gather my stuff and head there now.

[Privateerkev]

OOC:

TC just made clear that the "oath" is not valid at this time. We don't allow the feudal chains to change during senate sessions. However, we'll just RP as if it already happened. Just do it again when the voting ends.

[Privateerkev]

OOC:

KP, Since TC has put Stavros in the feudal chain in the Senate Library, we'll just assume you don't have to re-swear once the Senate session is over.

[ULC]

I hereby break my Oath to Grandmaster Makdonios, and swear an Oath of Fealty to Brother Nathanail.

[Privateerkev]

After the two battles for Adana, Makedonios walks into his command tent with dented armor and dust coating his usually clean cape. Iakovos is summoned to him.

Sergeant Iakovos!

That was very well done! You fought well and saved my hide a few times.

The other Knights and I have been talking about you. Because of your service to the Order, and your decision to stay behind and protect the people, we have decided to make you our next Knight. I am here by giving you Adana. Serve the people well, protect them, and build up the settlement so it can aid us in our Holy Mission. And as a point of bureaucracy, I accept your breaking of your oath to me with my full blessings.

I hereby Knight thee Brother Iakovos!

Come! Let us celebrate!

[BananaBob]

And I accept your vow, Iakovos.

[Privateerkev]

Iakovos, I require you to apologize to the Emperor and the whole Senate for your outburst. Whether you apologize to Kantakouzinos is up to you. But your actions were conduct unbecoming. I expect better out of you.

And Stavros, I saw you try to stomp on Kantakouzinos's head. Consider yourself warned. I better not see that again.

[Dafuge]

I apologize fully Grandmaster. Rage overtook me and I did not control myself, I take whatever punishment you give me.

[Privateerkev]

You didn't make contact and it seems no one noticed. I simply do not want to see it again.

There will be no punishment but I ask that you attempt to combat these fools with words, instead of fists, when your in the Magnaura.

Like I told Iakovos, you are better than that idiot Kantakouzinos, and he is simply not worth your time. You have much better things to do, like go on Crusade to save innocent lives.

[Privateerkev]

I'd like to announce that Iakovos Kallipoleos is planning on getting married this year. As per our Charter, he is hereby a Sergeant. Being a Knight requires a certain commitment to the Order and the Lord that is incompatible with marriage. Iakovos has found new priorities in life and I wish him all the best.

He is still a member of this Order, just at a different capacity. He retains Adana in recognition for his faithful service to the Order.

If anyone has any questions about this, they may ask myself or Iakovos.

OOC: The avatar isn't getting "married" in the M2TW game but the character is getting married. So, for IC purposes, Iakovos is now married to Veronica.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios finally leaves his room. With the aid of a cane, he slowly walks into the great hall. His hair is disheveled and he is in dirty robes. He hobbles over to the main wall where the charter and roll is. He looks at the roll with a pained expression. His hand darts into his belt and he pulls out a dagger. His guards get alert but don't move. Looking at Iakovos's name for a long moment, Makedonios peels the name off of the wall and moves it to a new spot. He drops the knife on the floor and turns around.

Scribes! Take this down...

I hereby grant Adana to Vartholomaios Ksiros. I ask that he break his oath of fealty with me and swear to Armatos ek Naksou.

Makedonios heads back into his room and he is not seen for days.

[Rowan]

Vartholomaios enters the Chamber. There are dark casts under his eyes. He is clearly expecting to see some of his brothers here but the hall is empty except for a couple of servants and scribes. Staring at the parchments on the wall he shakes his head up as if to clear his thoughts and then intones loudly and clearly.

I hereby break my oath to Makedonios Ksanthopoulos and swear a new oath to Armatos ek Naksou.

Dropping his head again the whisper is too silent to be heard even a few feet away.

I will keep the castle safe in your honour, my friend and brother.