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.

Quote Originally Posted by Tristan de Castelreng
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.