The Magnaura

[Privateerkev]

Annoyed at the bit of theater going on, Makedonios had hoped to just stay quiet. But when two of his sergeants stood up and spoke because of the specter of fear that the Caesar created, he knew he had to say something.

With all due respect Caesar, I do not swear to someone because a third party asks me to. I swear to them directly. When the Basileus arrives, I will make it perfectly clear where the loyalties of the Order lies. As will I to you when you are Basileus. Until then, I find this exercise... distracting...

[ULC]

Iakovos pulled out a roll of parchment and a quill, and quickly began scribbling something on the paper. Quickly finishing, Iakovos read it over and then nodded to himself before rolling it up and calling over one of the pages and handing over the paper. Iakovos whispers something to the Page in a whisper, and smiles to himself. Iakovos listens to Makedonios, nodding in agreement but saying nothing.

[Andres]

Savvas ek Militou entered the Magnaura. His face was pale and he was clearly feeling sick.

Suffering from the grandmother of all hang-overs, he entered just when Makedonios made his rebellious statement.

Savvas calmly smiled at Makedonios.

"The Caesar merely asked to swear allegiance to the Basileus. Why wouldn't you want to do that?", he said, with a raw voice.

He walked a bit further and said with a louder voice: "I swear allegiance to Aleksios Komnenos, Basileus of Rome."

He walked towards the seat between Philippos and Michail, nodding at them. Before sitting down, he turned around.

"I would like to propose an Edict. Before the beginning of each Magnaura, every Senator present has to swear allegiance to the Basileus of Rome. He who refuses, will be tried for high treason. A commission of three Senators, picked by the majority of the Magnaura will decide over the fate of the traitor."

Savvas calmly took his seat.

[Kagemusha]

Ioannis Kantakouzinos returns to the Senate and walks back to the same seat he had yesterday.After reading what has been said so far he smiles to himself and thinks.

"I wonder what kind of argument there will be before the Basileos enters the session, or maybe thats exactly what he is planning. Monitoring who will go after whom´s throat. At least it seems that the Cypriot has no respect towards the Caesar, i guess its easy to grow an independent mind in a far away island. Maybe the master of order will soon learn that he is in fact in Constantinopol and not in his island."

[_Tristan_]

Methodios Tagaris stands up to speak.

I will swear allegiance when and only when the Basileus will be in attendance. There is no point in swearing allegiance without looking to your Lord so that he can the bottom of your soul at a glance.

When this session will be duly opened, I will second the Edict proposed by Savvas ek Militou. Until then, I suggest we all remain queit and wait for Our Emperor to make his appearance before this noble assembly.

Methodios sits back down, with a nod to Savvas ek Miilitou.

[Andres]

Savvas nods back to Methodios Tagaris and stands up.


My dear Methodios, I'd like to remember you that the word of the Protoasecretes is decisive on the opening and closing of the Magnaura Sessions.

This session has already been duly opened by the Protoasecretes and my Edict has been validly proposed. It can be seconded as we speak.

Savvas sits down again, waiting for Methodios' response.

[_Tristan_]

Methodios rises and answers the waiting Savvas.

While I do not seek to demean the work of the Protoasecretes, I do not believe that a session is truly opened until the Basileus has made its appearance and declared it so (this said with a finger pointing to the empty Throne).

So until then, I will reserve my secondment of your Edict. But second it I will... Then...

Methodios sits back down. His gaze remains on the large doors through which the Basileus should appear, a patient look settling on his face.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Strator Efstratios Monomachos arrives in the Senate wearing full clown regalia. His shoes are large and floppy, his bowtie enormous. His nose is a large red ball, and his face painted up like a prostitute on a drinking binge. His wild and curly hair is rainbow-coloured, the buttons on his shirt are all different colours. His oversized pants are held up only by a small bit of rope. After several Senators notice his appearance, he somewhat inaudibly and embarrassingly mutters in their direction;

My apologies, but I have just come from the local hospital, where I was performing my duties as a public servant by entertaining orphaned children who are very ill. Rest assured, I am ready to serve the Emperor by swearing allegiance to him and by serving our people as a Senator.

The Senators continue to stare, so Efstratios takes several pomegranates he had hidden in his enormous pants and begins to juggle them. The Senators turn their noses up at this silly man and look away, ignoring him.

Good. Let's just focus on the legislation, shall we?

Satisfied, Efstratios puts the pomegranates back in his huge pockets and sits down.

[Ignoramus]

Ioannis smiles, and then rises to address Comes Ksanthopoulos.

Ah, Makedonios! It is good to see someone hear who cares for the plight of our fellow Christians under the bondage of the heathen.

But do you really call me a third party? I am suprised at your tone. Surely you must know that I am my father's son and his heir. My father and I are very close; we trust each other. Indeed, I am Caesar of the Romans. Such a position is not bestowed lightly.

Perhaps you had overlooked these things. Swear your allegiance to my father, and I will bear no grudge. I am not a man to hold grudges.

The Caesar resumes his seat.

[Andres]

Savvas stares silently at Makedonios, his lips forming the word "traitor".

He smiled and waited for the Basileus.

[Ferret]

Hypatios enters and smiles widely at the Caesar, apparently oblivious of the tension between him and Makedonios. Hypatios takes a seat in the Asteri benches, though not too close to Anastasios as the man seems to be talking to himself.

[Andres]

Savvas calls a servant. He whispered something in the girls' ear. The servant nods and quickly puts what looks like a little piece of parchmant in her sleeve. She walks away.

[Rowan]

Vartholomaios ambles to the Order's table, relieved that someone has noticed him. He sits down and nods to his comrades and then concentrates on watching the various speakers.

[Sultan II. Mehmed Han]

bizansı unutun artık bizansı sultan mehmed tarihe gömdü

[pevergreen]

Michail glances up at the odd intrusion as well as the odd man

"Good question Sir, who are you? I must be losing my perception for what Civil War do you speak of? Apart from bickering between the two Megas candidates and Senators berating the Ceaser, I see no Civil War."

[ULC]

The man turns his head to look sternly at Michail. "I am Aleksander Echter ek Kallipoleos, former head of the Organization, Imperial Noble, and Informant for the Basileus. As to your question of civil war, I never once said one was going on, I send it was imminent, meaning it will happen, if we do nothing but continue down on the same road we have before."

[Andres]

Blahblahblah.

Petty schemes to influence the Basileus.

To prevent civil war, all we need is strong leadership.

The Caesar was on his way to ensure this strong leadership and to protect his future empire.

All you did was hindering his efforts.

The Grandmaster, the greatest foe of the next Emperor, becoming Megas is the first step towards civil war.

Dear Basileus, don't let yourself be influenced by conspiracy theorists and religious nutjobs all striving for personal glory and gains. You are much wiser than that. Don't let yourself be misguided and focus on the most important thing: stability in the empire, which can only be obtained by strong emperors.

[rossahh]

And just what sides will there be in this supposed civil war?

[pevergreen]

"Savvas you are tempting me to come over there and reason with you...outside. You do realise that at this point it is a lost cause. To you though Zigavinos, I presume it will be the throne versus all those who are unhappy with the royal family and it's members actions. From the Order no doubt..."

[Rowan]

The orders newest sergeant enters the senate quietly. A simple looking nobleman from the remoter part of Greece, he is somewhat intimidated by the magnificence. Vartholomaios Ksiros walks a few steps inside, then decides not to enter the company of his peers at the Orders table but instead keeps standing by the wall, trying to not lean too obviously to the wall.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios sees Vartholomaios holding a wall up and smiles at the sergeant while waving at him to come over and sit with his comrades.

[Cecil XIX]

Armatos enters the Magnaura. After scanning the room he takes a seat with the rest of the Order.