The Magnaura

[deguerra]

I must say I agree that taking both Antioch and Anatolia seems rather feasible. Indeed, by taking Antioch are we not adding much needed income to our treasuries, income which can then be used to retake the rest of Anatolia from the heathen Turks?

[Privateerkev]

Once we start getting men to preach "the word", we can raise taxes in Antioch to the point where it will become one of the most profitable cities in the Empire within a few "turns".

[Csargo]

Would not the costs of defending Antioch from the Christians, Turks, and Saracen's be more than the city will gain? If the Saracen's or another country destroy your navy, what then?

[Ramses II CP]

Vissarionas has warmed to his topic now, and speaks without restraint or hesitation. His cheeks color, not with embarassment, but with passion, and his voice rises a notch towards shrill excitement.

I am extremely disappointed to continue to hear respected men in this chamber suggest that Antioch cannot be defended. What general looking at the terrain around that city could fail to see the possibilities? I say Antioch could be held against all comers, and I intend put my sword arm in harm's way to prove it.

Why, the Patriarch himself can see the justice in our cause, and who here would gainsay God's chosen messenger?

Saying Antioch cannot be defended is a blatant political fraud. Saying one of the richest trade cities in the world is too expensive to capture is another. Saying that we should appease the Turks and let them take it is at best a poor political gambit, and at worst cowardice!

With this last comment the young man appears to realize quite suddenly where he is, and whom he has been addressing. With a brief glance at Caesar Ioannis Komnenos Vissarionas excuses himself from the Order's table and adjourns to gather his wits and control in their chambers off the Senate floor.

[Privateerkev]

Philippos Eirinikos,

I am confident that in the long term, the money generated will more than pay for the cost to defend it. If we move soon, we will have some time to prepare and dig in.

[Northnovas]

Aleksios ek Ikoniou walks in the Magnaura with a clerk behind carrying documents and maps. He sees members of his House sitting at the designated area and then looks over to the Basileus seat and sees that it is empty. He has been told much has been happening but relieved that he is not late.

Dressed smartly in a military attire of a number one dress he bares no arms. He notices the young Caesar seated and walks before him and gives a deep bow.

“Greeting Caesar!”

The young Comes walks to the centre of the floor.

Strators, I see the debates have started and in good fashion. There has been a lot of debate and that is good to see. I see the members of my House have been busy and I encourage them to participate. For men showing enthusiasm and hard work will be rewarded in the Tamagata House. I would ask like all members in this chamber to be respectful of members with some authority and title. Just has those in authority should reciprocate the same respect.

Nobles I am in favour of Edict 1.2 because we need to look after our borders and much has been said already. I can see the need for the brothers of the St. John Order to fulfill their mandate but they must exercise patience. Such a venture could be risky on the Treasury at this time.

I would like to remind the members that there is Catholic representation by Templar Knights in the Outremer. I would favour our Order going to Antioch but not till we have prepared ourselves from our enemies at home.

Comes Markianos Ampelashas offered some sound advice in this short session. I have not had a chance to speak with him on this precise issue. Surly we can come to some compromise completing the mandate of Edict 1.2 with the option of allowing a journey to Antioch. We need something for the Megas Logothetes to have the flexibility to work with if the conditions are right that both mandates could be achieved.

This is our first session lets try to work together by cooperating and building a consensus for future session. Let’s get the talking over with so we can get to the real action in the field.

Now one of our young legal men here can form a new edict with the wording to get a consensus.

The Comes walks to his seat shaking the hands with the members of his House.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios sees that Comes Aleksios ek Ikoniou has finally arrived. While happy at first that the Comes's presence might instill some discipline among his vassals, he is sad to hear the same tired arguments repeated yet again.

Comes Aleksios ek Ikoniou,

Since you have just arrived, I will reply to each of your points.

Why exactly should we exercise patience? We have the men, the ships, and the leaders. We can have Antioch by "turn 8" if we move now. What possible reason could there be for not moving? It's not like Outremer will become safer if we wait.

How exactly will the venture be risky on the treasury? While I refuse to do something so absurd as to "promise that it will cost zero florins", I do believe the venture will be cheap. With the plan I laid out, it will only require what is already on Cyprus.

How exactly will preparing at home get us ready to go to Outremer? I have already showed that the other surrounding rebel settlements will take years to build up. While we can have a "minor city" in just 8 "turns". I fail to see how waiting will make us more capable of taking Antioch.

There already is a compromise worked out. And that is to vote for both Edicts 1.2 and 1.4. That would put Antioch on the list of provinces the Megas can direct his early attention to. The only way to improve this compromise would be to amend 1.2 to put Antioch in to the list directly. Thus only one vote would be required.

Looking at the identities of those who have been the loudest opponents of the Order taking Antioch, it seems almost as if House Tagamata itself is against the Order. Which is regrettable. I hope we can bury our differences and work together to rebuild the Empire.

[Csargo]

Philippos Eirinikos,

I am confident that in the long term, the money generated will more than pay for the cost to defend it. If we move soon, we will have some time to prepare and dig in.

I truly hope you are right Comes Makedonios, because if not many men will die for nothing more than one man's ambition.

Philippos returns to his seat amongst his fellow house members

[Privateerkev]

I hope your not talking about our Patriarch.

I don't know if you noticed, but he just issued a proclamation to take Antioch.

This is not about "one man's ambition" and I am getting a little tired of hearing the same "red herrings" and "weasel words" over and over from members of House Takamata.

[Csargo]

Philippos sighs

[Askthepizzaguy]

Efstratios Monomachos sits bewildered by the endless bickering, trying to make sense of the sheer volume of petty disagreement. He feels as though he is trapped inside of a very hot and heavy cloth sack filled with dozens upon dozens of rabid chickens, all of whom are pecking and scratching at his ears. He stands up suddenly and shouts,

These bloodthirsty hens are trying to eat my brain!!!

Suddenly aware of the dead silence, Efstratios slowly sits down.

[The Lemongate]

Anastasios has been getting more and more restless as the discussions grew around him. Nearly getting up and leaving on many occasions, he finally bursts, unable to contain himself any longer, and walking into the middle of the Senate he intones in a clear and loud voice:

ENOUGH!!! I have heard enough of this senseless politicking! You all act as a bunch of scared and greedy old men heckling each other with base insults! You should be ashamed of yourselves! If I had only you for examples I would feel ashamed to be a Senator in this City!

You all act as though Rome was left defenseless after Manzikert! It has been nearly ten years since that terrible day and we have recovered! Have you all forgotten how over fifteen hundred years ago our ancestors began conquering the world with the forces of a single little city on the banks of the Tiber? Were has your fighting spirit of old gone? Have you suddenly all become cowardly little children even afraid to invoke the name of the O-so-mighty Turks, Normans and Lombards that have dealt us stinging blows? Where has the willpower of the Great Justinian gone?

I hear some of you say we must preserve our strength for trials to come. That our treasury cannot support so many fronts. That we should concentrate on securing a few cities close to our homes and let the rest of our glorious Empire in the hands of barbarians and heathens! Nay! Thrice nay! We are from a race of warriors and conquerors and conquering we should be doing rather then throwing worthless accusations at one another!

It is not the lack of military might I hear echo through these halls, but the fear for the personal safety of a few scared Senators who have more in common with little girls then with men of valor and courage! Since when does a Roman need to overpower his enemies two to one to win a war? Let them outnumber us two to one, three to one even! And God being on our side we shall vanquish! Have we not overcome the limitless armies of the Celts? Have we not crushed the mighty elephants of Carthage? Have we not brought about the fall of the timeless Persian Sassanids? What fear can Saracens, Franks and Normans bring to our hearts? We have triumphed over greater evils!

No it is not lack of military might that holds us back, but the will to use it. The will to take the handful of brave men we have and march strongly onto those who would defy our Emperor. To crush those who rebel against our authority and to defy any so-called foreign powers to take those cities and castles away from us. The more land we conquer, the more gold will flow into our coffers, you all know this to be true. Be it Antioch, Bari, Scopia, Smyrna. Be it Crimea or Egypt. Be it even distant Iberia. The further we extend our reach, the more powerful our armies will become and the richer our lands be. There is no need to antagonize our neighbors by walking into their lands, but there is certainly no justification into shirking away from rebellious settlements simply by fear that our might will not be enough to hold them or that our coffers will be so taxed that we will not be able to reinforce them. A city produces its own defense either in gold or through the valor of its defenders. And should one of us fall in defense of the Empire, glory to his name and his family! It should be an honor to fight and die for the Empire of the Romans and the Greeks!

Many Senators seem to have brought a political agenda into this Senate session which seems to constrain the Empire, to force us into a defensive position where we appear weak and vulnerable, where our lack of action will let our enemies grow stronger while we take only tiny steps into restoring a portion of our former glory. We should not fear another Manzikert. No! Instead we should sharpen our swords to win the next one!

I say march forth into rebellious lands Senators and bring with you your best horsemen and all your retainers and conquer in the name or Rome and her Basileos! The nay-sayers are the vilest of cowards! Blasphemous wretches who forget that God Himself, in his magnanimity has given us His Word to guide our actions. Our Lord commands us to war! Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

And unless someone in this chamber is such a fool as to doubt our victory over rebel forces and over the foreign powers that might want to rob us of our lands, then there is no question that our soldiers should assembled at this very moment to march out towards those rebels and assure our control over them before someone else moves into those areas. From the Levant to the steppes of Hungary, from the isles of the Mediterranean to the shores of Italy, we should be the first to pacify our disgruntled subjects and reap the rewards of these conquests.

A free town cannot call reinforcements, yields taxes and is a possible outpost against further invasions. If every Roman soldier kills two enemies, who should we fear? And in truth any commander worth his rank can beat a force four times superior to his.

So are you the Senators who will lead Roman arms to renewed glory? Or are you just a bunch of robed monkeys, more apt at throwing insults then arrows and javelins?

I know where I stand.

I urge you to strike down those vile legislations that would bind all of our hands and push our Empire to its knees.

Face flushed with anger, his fists clenching nearly uncontrollably, Anastasios exists the Senate before anyone has had any time to recover from his tirade. The guards even take a step back as he passes them, sensing that the man could probably kill someone with his own bare hands should anyone challenge him at this moment. As he leaves, nearby Senators can hear him mutter curses on the foppish, paper-pushing fools that would have us refrain from fighting rebels camping outside this very city, for fear it would anger the Rus or the Scots...

[Northnovas]

After that outburst the Comes feels no further words are needed for the he looks at his thinks of his men and thinks the only discipline they need is in the battlefield. Wishing not to continue this tired argument he motions to the clerk to present the current legislation that has been propsed so far to the Strators.

Edict 1.1.: Before the beginning of each session of the 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.

Proposed: Savvas ek Militou
Second

Edict 1.2: All military assets will be devoted to the conquest of the rebel settlements of Canakkale, Arta, Durazzo, Scopia, Sofia, Sinop, Smyrna, and Rhodes before they can be released for other purposes. Bari and Trebizond may be included in this list at the discretion of the Megas Logothetes. No attack will be made on any foreign nation until this reconquest is complete. This Edict does not apply to any of the above settlements which are conquered by a foreign nation before they are reincorporated into the Empire. This Edict is void if a foreign nation attacks the Empire.

Proposed: Khristophoros Diogenis
Second: Pavlos Chrysovergos Markianos Ampelas

Edict 1.3:
A Priest is to be sent in the region surrounding Caesarea to help our Orthodox brethern against their Muslim overlords.

Proposed: Pavlos Chrysovergos
Second: Makedonios Ksanthopoulos Savvas ek Militou

Edict 1.4 to read: If Edict 1.2 passes, Antioch will be added to the list.

Proposed: Makedonios Ksanthopoulos
Second: Vissarionas ek Lesvou Iakovos ek Kallipoleos

Edict 1.5: The training of a boat or hiring of a mercenary craft is required outside of Athens in order to transport men to Rhodes, as per Edict 1.2. The fleet we already own further North may also be used if it has no other orders.
Proposed: Hypatios Machonios
Second: Armatos ek Naksou Makedonios Ksanthopoulos

Edict 1.6 That a ship be sent immediately towards Epirus to ferry a commander and a battalion of spearmen to Apulia with the intent of capturing the castle of Bari.

Proposed:Anastasios Neokaisareitis
Second:

The document was placed to let members know what has been proposed so far.

[Askthepizzaguy]

The Strator Efstratios pores over the legislation for a bit, and after a brief discussion with his master, decides to declare a position on the legislation in question, now that there has been some semblance of order and due process restored to the Senate.

A senator cannot think with the whinnying of horses, the squealing of pigs, and the screeching of hens suffocating his mind.

Edict 1.1:

Vote: Abstain.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Reasons: I highly support anyone who wishes to swear allegiance to the Emperor and question those who do not, but we should not risk alienating those who are hired soldiers for a living. I do not believe allegiance should be forced upon the unwilling. You might attract more soldiers to fight for you if you don't force politics upon them.

I myself loathe politics.

That being said, I've pledged my support for the Emperor and I am disinterested in this edict.

Edict 1.2:

Vote: Support.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Reasons: I am a veteran of the wars which split our empire, and I fought on the side of the Emperor, and won many battles. It is only because of a lack of will and leadership that we have so many of our brethren disconnected from us.

We must bring law and order back to our own people before we risk any wars with other nations.

Edict 1.3:

Vote: Against.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Reasons: I do not like politics or religion forced upon the unwilling. While I myself am a Christian, I would not risk conflict with the Muslims over religion. Rightful claims to our lands and citizens is one thing, faith in God is not the business of States.

Would we be like our would-be Papal overlords and try everyone we see as a heretic? I think not. Surely we are more enlightened than they.

Keep our priests here in our own lands, because the Catholics may send priests of their own to convert our own people! Surely we should establish a Rome First policy. Take care of the citizens of our empire before we try to convert those unlike ourselves.

Edict 1.4

Vote: Support.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Reasons: Antioch is home to our people, ruled by a rebellious criminal tyrant. Surely if Constantinople were held in the clutches of a madman, every true Roman here would rise as one to free our citizens from his evil grasp. This is true of our second great city, Antioch. We must reclaim this place from the hands of criminals and outlaws at all costs.

I will take the city myself if it came down to that. But I trust our easternmost brothers can handle themselves without my modest arms.

Edict 1.5

Vote: Support.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

How could we not help our brothers reclaim the empire? Hire the bloody ships!

Edict 1.6

Vote: Support

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Same as above. Surely if we are to act as one mighty empire, we should not skimp on the hiring of transit vessels. They can be docked and decommissioned later.

[OverKnight]

As Senators argue, a scribe leaves the chamber with a scroll in hand. A few minutes later, the doors of the Magnaura open, and the Basileus walks in among a phalanx of guards. Making his way to the foot of the Throne, he dismisses them and begins to speak.

Senators, it heartens me to see this antique body so alive again with debate. For too long have these halls been silent, with the title of Senator only being an honorific. I had hoped that by resurrecting this assembly, giving the Senate an actual voice in the running of the state, the passions of the noble families would be redirected to serving the Empire, to expanding it, rather than machinations surrounding the throne itself. Such self destructive manuevering has led to four Emperors and even more pretenders to the Throne in 10 years, and during that time we have lost much.

The Basileus's expression grows more resolute.

That time of chaos is at an end. The Basilea will no longer be a bauble to be passed about and the world will learn once again to fear and respect the Roman Empire. What has been lost will be recovered.

Yet we must tread carefully in the infancy of this Restoration. Potential enemies and rebels surround us. The roads of the Empire lie in ruins, markets in our cities are empty and barracks have fallen into disrepair. The military has not yet recovered from Manzikert and the subsequent civil wars. Our once unmatched trading network has collapsed, superceded by barbarians.

But there is hope. We are still unconquered. Many have tried to storm the Walls of Theodosius and failed. We are at war with no nation. We have breathing room to rebuild and bring rebellious settlements back into the fold.

The passion of this body is inspiring, yet it is also dangerous. If our reach exceeds our grasp, we will merely repeat the hubris and disaster of the past. The restoration of the Empire must begin in Greece, Anatolia and the Danubian frontier. Once the traditional heartland of the Empire has been reclaimed, then we can turn our eyes to far off horizons.

With regret, I must say that involvment in Italy or the Levant would be premature at this time. While Bari or Antioch could be taken, defending them would be another question entirely. The need for an extensive navy, the increase in our borders at the periphery of the Empire with no land connection and the increase in potentially hostile neighbors make these enterprises unfeasible considering the current state of our treasury and military resources.

Make no mistake, all the lands that once were ours will be again. Yet this will not be our task alone but for our sons and their sons as well.

My thanks to you Senators.

Aleksios sits on the Throne and awaits a response.

[pevergreen]

Michail jumps up, eager to respond.

"My liege, may I present my response?

When you said

Bari or Antioch could be taken, defending them would be another question entirely.

I do believe you are correct, we have two settlements already quite close!

I propose Edict 1.7: The Empire shall strive to capture Durazzo and Arta utalising the General's Anastasios and Michail respectively, within the first "term".

What are your thoughts my lord?"

[Askthepizzaguy]

Efstratios rises again and addresses the assembled Senators, while moving toward the center of the Magnaura...

Truly the wisdom of our Basileus is revealed by his words. Not only does he rise above the fray, but he brings order, foresight, and a noble presence to this most solemn and sacred place of governance. It is with his grace and dignified leadership that we might...

At that moment, Efstratios trips over his big floppy clown shoes and is knocked unconscious in the middle of the floor.

[flyd]

Most honrable Basileus, it is heartening to hear such wise words from him whose position requires him to be the wisest of all. I must say that you would have saved us my vicious argument had you arrived earlier, but I suppose it was good exercise in political debate.

I believe I speak for all the Senators when I ask you to tell us how, strategically speaking, you plan on approaching that which you have proposed. How plan you to deploy our troops and in which order to attack the target settlements?

[Ituralde]

Pavlos had been leaning over towards Ioannis Komnenos, a worried frown creasing his forehead while he whispered urgently to the Ceasar. His attention immediatelly turned to the entering Basileus and a rare smile appears on his face as he hears the words of Aleksios Komnenos.

[OverKnight]

The Basileus replies:

Part of the answer to your question, Senator Markianos, will be determined by the Edicts passed by the Senate. As for my part, once my scribes have presented me with some logistical information (OOC: I'm at home and have access to the save) I will provide the specifics.

As for saving this body an argument, well such debates are enlightening.

Senator Michail, again I am waiting on my scribes before I can answer your question.

[Zim]

In the back of the chamber, a man of average height and equally average appearance waits patiently for the Basileus to finish, nodding at many of his points. He then walks slowly towards the table of the House of Asteri. Friends and acquaintances recognize him immediately as Kosmas Mavrozomis, Comes of Athens.

As he passes their tables he nods towards Makedonios Ksanthopoulos and more deeply towards the Caesar Ioannis Komnenos. As he reachs his House's table he converse briefly with one of his scribes, eyes widening at some of the news he receives. Turning to face the assembly, he clears his throat and speaks.

"Fellow Senators, I must admit to feeling rather disturbed by some of the reports I received from the period of my absence. This resurrection of the Senate's powers and purpose is a great event that will long be noted by historians. The Empire of New Rome stands at a crossroads. The Battle of Manzikert has weakened but not destroyed us. The Turks are divided, with many petty emirs ruling what once were their provinces. If we act quickly we can easily recapture much of the heartland of the Empire before they can react, and so regain the strength needed to expel them. The Balkans and much of Anatolia are ours for the taking.

And yet here we are bickering over a single province. The Order has many nobles and their retinues. They believe they can take it with minimal resources. Antioch! One of the seats of the Patriarch, and a city far richer than any other within reach. Our very own Patriarch of Constantinople wishes that we would take it. I say why not let the Order attempt it? Little would be lost if they fail, which is unlikely in any event. It would be far better for it to go to the Empire than the Latins to the south or, worse yet, the Turks to the north, who would use the riches of the city to fund a mighty army to attack us. Let the Order take the city, and they can garrison it themselves, even if it takes all of their retinues. They can hold it and defend it without the use of further resources of the Imperial Treasury. I wager the city will pay for itself imediately, and as the population is converted it will need no great garrison.

This will prevent our enemies from using its wealth against us. It would be both blasphemy and dangerous to let such a former jewel of the Empire fall to Turk or Latin when we have the power to take it for no cost.

I fully support Edict 1.4, and add a second to Edict 1.6."

Kosmas bows and sits down.

[deguerra]

I say it now for the third time, I second Edict 1.6

[Kagemusha]

Ioannis Kantakouzinos enters the Senate, with an elder scribe. After few brief words with the Caesar and other Komnendoukai he takes the speaker stand.

" I Ioannis Kantakouzinos as Senator of Roman Empire, hereby pledge my absolute loyalty to the Roman Empire, Basileos Aleksios Komnenos and Caesar Ioannis Komnenos."

Bowing first to Basileos and then to Caesar, he returns to his seat in the Komnendoukai section.

[Andres]

Savvas stands up and bows for the Emperor.

"Mighty Basileus, I hereby repeat my oath of fealthy."

Savvas stares at the Grandmaster of the Order, seemingly amazed that the Comes still hadn't pledged his loyalty to the Basileus. He shrugged and spoke further.

"Our Patriarch is right about the Catholics. It's not good to have this apostate, this Pope, sitting in Rome. We call ourselves Romans, but Rome is not in our hands. It is in the hands of this abomination of christians, those Catholics!"

Savvas paused and took a deep breath.

"Yes, we should conquer the Holy Lands! Yes, the Holy Lands belong to us, true Romans. But if we want to revive our Empire, if we want to bring back the glory of the Roman Empire, then we need to take ROME! Our priorities are in the West, my fellow Senators. The Patriarch needs to be reinstalled as head of the Church, the only True Church which is the Orthodox Church and Rome is where he should be installed! Once we have conquered Rome, taking the Holy Lands will be but a formality."

I hereby withdraw the text of Edict 1.1 and replace it by this:

Edict 1.1.: At any given moment, the Basileus can decide to use all resources of the Empire for a direct assault on Rome. Every nobleman who is ordered to join this assault on Rome, will have to follow the call of the Emperor and will use all his available resources for the conquest of Rome.

[_Tristan_]

Having gone from the chambers, tired of the political bickering about taking this or that province, Methodios Tagaris returns and gladly sees that the Basileos has made his appearance. Walking purposefully in front of the raised dais where the Emperor sits, he drops to one knee, fist to heart his face upturned to his Lord, locking eyes with him.

"My Lord, I swear my loyalty to you. My life and my sword are yours to command. Do with me as you see fit. I am yours."

Keeping his eyes locked with those of the Basileos, Tagaris only bows when a nod from the Emperor aknowledges his oath.

Rising, he goes to resume his seat on the benches nearest the throne.

[Zim]

The Emperor has my private oath but if it pleases my fellow members of the Senate I shall make my pledge here in public as well.

Kosmas bows deeply to the Emperor, only getting up once his oath has been acknowledge.

I, Kosmas Mavrozomis, pledge my life, my arms, and my loyalty to Aleksios Komnenos, divinely appointed by God to be Emperor.

As for Edict 1.1, I cannot support it at this time. Rome is a shell, destroyed by barbarians most recently during the Gothic Wars and now inhabited by barbarians. It was lost to the Empire hundreds of years ago. It pales before the glory of the New Rome founded by Constantine.

It would be a pit to throw our money in, would require at least as large a garrison as, say Antioch, and as it is home to the religious leader of the barbarians we would soon find ourselves the subject of these "crusades" they are talking about. We also have no forces anywhere near it.

Contrast this with Antioch, which could be captured with little cost by the Order, is still quite wealthy, and was lost a mere couple years ago to Armenian rebels. We have an immediate duty to make an example of these rebels before rebellion spreads even further throughout the Empire.

Someday Rome and all the seats of the Patriarchs will fall under the rule of the Empire again. For now, however, we must choose our conqests more carefully. Antioch is near, easy to capture, and a more important city of the Empire than Rome, despite the latter's illustrious past. It also just recently, within the memory of all of us, was taken by rebels. If we do not take it back now the Turks will surely capture it and use its wealth against us.

For these reasons and more, I cannot support Edict 1.1 as it has been rewritten.

[_Tristan_]

Methodios Tagaris rises up to speak.

My Lords, I have listened to your positions here before the Senate.

The whole world has its eyes set on Constantinople as the remnants of what was once the greatest of Empire, what remains of both of the greatest civilizations that mankind has created.

We stand at a crossroad both in history, geographically and religiously.

In history, the next years will decide if the Roman Empire has lived past its usefulness and die a merciful death or if as a phoenix, it will rise from the ashes of Manzikert.

Do not misunderstand me, I wish to see our Empire reborn to all its glory but to achieve such a goal we must put an end to all the bickering and the power play between the Houses and the factions.

Thus, Our Basileos (bowing to Aleksios Komemnos) is the embodiment of our new found unity.

But we also stand at a crossroads geographically and religiously, between a Catholic West and a Muslim East, religion that cannot be reconciled and ready to go at each other's throat.

I have heard here mentioned the risk of a Crusade being called on the Holy Land. Nobody has mentioned the risk of a Jihad unleashing hordes of Muslim fanatics in Anatolikon and beyond, threatening Constantinople itself.

All this I'm sure you all know... yet, it seems to me as if you cannot see the bigger picture and focus on details.

Here Antioch, there Bari, over there Rome...

Seeing the bigger picture means acting for the overall good of the Empire, something we cannot do if all pull and push in different directions.

Our first step is to reclaim any and all of the lands gone rebel in our vicinity. And define what will be our foreign policy.

We have to choose for the once whether the greatest threat lies in the Catholics or the Muslims. Then we will have to make allies of the chosen ones and wage war on the rest.

In doing so, we stand a chance of survival and more than that a chance of supremacy... Our faith will spread to our newly claimed lands and we will stand a chance to spread it even further.

So let us not divide our forces too much and let us stand united.

United we stand, divided we fall.

Forgive for such a long winded speech, but seeing some of you relentlessly going over some points forced me to intervene.

(Once more bowing to the Basileos) My Lord with your permission.

Methodios Tagaris sits back down, the look on his face going from hopefulness to dejection and back again.

[Zim]

Senator Tagaris,

Although there has been some argument over whether certain settlements, such as Bari and Antioch, are close enough to be in our "vicinity" I believe that we are all in agreement that reasserting control over nearby rebel territories is of the utmost importance if our Empire is to regain its strength. Whether we take Bari or Antioch....or Rome is important to the point that it would establish the Empire's outer boundaries for the very near future, but perhaps we have gotten too caught up in that single issue.

The problem you have noted is largely the result of our failing to get past the issue of whether certain settlements warrant taking, I think.

As for broader foreign policy, I think that the Muslims to the East are the biggest threat. They are larger and richer than our catholic neighbors and know more of our weakness since Manzikert. I also see the threat of a jihad as much greater in the near future than the threat of a crusade. Our main rival in the region for the forseeable future will likely be the Turks, and we should seek to contain them first. There is also the issue that regions very recently held by the Empire are under Muslim control. Catholics are still Christians of a sort, and Christian cities under Muslim control are a far greater affront to God. I would recommend a hostile stance towards the Turks, with an emphasis on containing them and eventually preparing to fight them.

In the West I believe more flexibility is required. Peace may not be possible with the greedy Venetians and barbaric Hungarians, but we can likely sign treaties of trade with the nations past them, and with the Russians, recently converted to Orthodoxy. In the meantime taking the rebel settlements in the Balkans would give us a secure border beyond the Greek heartlands of the Empire.

What say you on these issues, Senator Tagaris?

[_Tristan_]

Methodios stands up to answer the question adressed to him.


I gladly hear a voice that adresses the true questions that we mus ask ourselves.

I agree fully with you that the Turks are the main threat. And beyond that the Egyptians.

In the west, the Venetians are money-grubbing fiends and have taken profit of our difficulties to lay claim to the Isle of Crete, the nexus of sea traffic in the Mediterannean Sea.

As for the settlements that warrant taking, I would advocate claiming all that our within easy reach, be they situated in the Levant or closer to Constantinople. Our main concern should be to concentrate on employing our ressources in strengthening defensible positions and not waste them in keeping settlements that will cost us more than they will gain us.

If the Order wishes to claim Antioch for the Empire, let's not bar them from doing it. But let them understand that it will perhaps be a long time before any reinforcements come their way.

Does that answer your question, Comes Mavrozomis ?

Looking at Komes, Methodios sits back down.

[Zim]

Indeed it does, Senator Methodios,

It is pleasant to my thoughts shared by another. The Turks concern me the most right now, and the Venetians to a lesser extent.

It seems the Order can take Antioch for almost no cost, and are willing to garrison it and defend it with their own bodyguards if necessary. Meanwhile I sit in Athens with a garrison more than capable of handling that of Rhodes, and much closer as well. With the Prince in northern Anatolia, and the Comes' of Corinth and Thessalonika close to different parts of the Balkans, we can easily grab many rebel settlements quickly and set the Empire on the road to recovery and the strength needed to counteract the Turks and the Latins to the west if need be.

Methodios stands up to answer the question adressed to him.


I gladly hear a voice that adresses the true questions that we mus ask ourselves.

I agree fully with you that the Turks are the main threat. And beyond that the Egyptians.

In the west, the Venetians are money-grubbing fiends and have taken profit of our difficulties to lay claim to the Isle of Crete, the nexus of sea traffic in the Mediterannean Sea.

As for the settlements that warrant taking, I would advocate claiming all that our within easy reach, be they situated in the Levant or closer to Constantinople. Our main concern should be to concentrate on employing our ressources in strengthening defensible positions and not waste them in keeping settlements that will cost us more than they will gain us.

If the Order wishes to claim Antioch for the Empire, let's not bar them from doing it. But let them understand that it will perhaps be a long time before any reinforcements come their way.

Does that answer your question, Comes Mavrozomis ?

Looking at Komes, Methodios sits back down.