Efstratios returns, this time in the proper attire deemed fit for a Senator.


Anastasios, that would seem reasonable.

If I might attempt to understand my political opponents in this debate, their point of contention is not that my house expands, but that the Basileos will be "forced" to accept expansion at our demand.

I would be willing to see my name and others removed from the edict, so long as the other houses would kindly make a gentleman's agreement to declare which provinces they seek to claim for the emperor so we can all expand without stepping on one another's toes, and actually cooperate as brothers for the good of the Empire.

My house seeks to claim the settlement indicated in edict 1.7a. Does anyone have any just cause to dispute that claim?

Also, it would be fair if all houses made a list of territorial claims, that we might discuss them honourably instead of resorting to this petty bickering which denigrates the august body assembled here today.

Would that we do this, my faith in the deliberative process might be restored, and we all might be blessed and multiply our holdings for the Empire.

Would the other houses understand that the Silver Hawks perhaps do not even require the specific settlements here in question, and that if they might cooperate in our taking of the settlement, and we expand further elsewhere, they might even be able to negotiate for the settlement in question? The point is cooperation.

I'm sure that we would wish to have contiguous territories, so it makes sense that down the road certain houses would wish to trade their land titles. Or am I being naive in my assumption that diplomacy and cooperation can win the day here?