The Magnaura

[pevergreen]

I second Edict 4.2

Truly, I had no idea that I had been insulted by Vissarionas, there is no apology needed towards me.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios raises an eyebrow at Michail.

Let me get this straight. You stand outside of a town... for decades... and then come back here after a long absence... and then vote to order us all to sack?

[OverKnight]

Aleksios leans forward.

Leaving aside the insults and inane accusations that seem to make up a majority of this Session, I have a question for the two candidates:

Considering the current strategic situation of the Empire, what would be the military and diplomatic goals of your term?

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios thinks on it for a moment.

Diplomatically, I would keep pursuing trade deals and map exchanges for any money we can get from it. I say we keep our alliances with the Orthodox, be cautious about making any alliances with Catholics, and not make any with Muslims. An alliance with Catholics could fall apart if we ever get a Crusade called on us. As for trade deals, I would pursue them with any Catholic nation. We have a network of diplomats already so I would just send them on tour. We are currently at war with every Muslim kingdom and I don't see those wars ending anytime soon.

Militarily, I will go by specific regions:

West: I would watch our borders with the Catholics. I believe one day they will hunger for more land and we will be attacked. They can attack us without worrying about their Pope complaining. If they stay peaceful, then we will simply continue being watchful. Watchtowers should go up where needed to give us warning of any incursions. As the Fatimids have shown us, we will always need to keep a military presence in the west no matter how peaceful the Catholics are.

Constantinople: There is still a Jihad going on. While it continues, this city will never be truly safe. We will need to keep watch on the borders and intercept these armies before they reach here like Savvas, Armatos, and I have done. But in case any slip through, there will always need to be a force in the city itself.

Anatolia: I will help House Komnenodoukai and House Asteri pursue war against the Seljuks. I would love to see all of Anatolia freed from the grip of Seljuk tyranny and converted to Orthodoxy. I would see that both Houses get the resources needed to pursue their territorial goals there. Someone needs to administer the provinces there and those two Houses have taken up the call.

Levant: I will bolster the Order's armies to their full legal level so they can defend the area and make strikes against the Fatimids. We will need a land route to Egypt and I will start one during the next term. Damascus is an obvious next step. Hopefully, the Templars and the Germans will stay peaceful. While I am not thrilled with the idea of Catholic Kingdoms having a foothold in the Levant, at least they aren't Muslim. The Germans now possess the Holy City of Jerusalem. Again, I admit I am not thrilled by this. Their Kaiser is so crazy, he might attack the Pope, take Rome, and then give Jerusalem to the new Pope to secure a cease-fire. (OOC: ) But, again, I rather see the city in German hands, than under the Caliph.

Egypt: The Crusade is ongoing and needs to be completed. Once completed, those settlements need to be protected from Fatimid counter attack. A priority would be given to the conversion of the area to Orthodoxy. Besides the obvious benefit of spreading the Faith, this would allow our armies to resupply. As mentioned, I would work towards establishing a land corridor to Egypt.

Navy: I would develop our navy into a logistical tool, as well as a military weapon. Instead of the one giant fleet we currently have chasing it's tail, it would be split up. Smaller fleets would have sectors. They would be responsible for transporting units and agents in the area. As well as serving as a picket force. If resources allow, I would have a larger rapid response fleet to send to trouble areas.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Efstathios listens what Makedonios have just said and the raises..

Good plan! That's all I can say. I doubt that Savvas would be able to make a better one.

He nods to Makedonios and smiles..

[Ituralde]

As the letter from Vissarioans ek Lesvou is read, Pavlos barks a short laugh!

"Hah! Bloody coward, not even showing his face in the Senate. But we're all heroes on paper, eh?"

He looks at Makedionios, his face set in its eternal downcast.

"Surely you condemn the words of your vassal or do you agree with them?"

[Warmaster Horus]

Has Makedonios not already spoken of this, Pavlos?

Vissa was rebuked. He is not even here. If he wants to send letters, he can until the Emperor says he can't. I say again, take it up with the Emperor if you want Vissa banned.

These attacks on the Grandmaster using his vassal as an excuse are becoming ridiculous. We are free men, are we not? If we say something out of line, then we are rebuked for it, and the matter should rest then.

[_Tristan_]

Still looking drawn, his skin with a feverish sheen, Methodios stands.

My Lord,

If you please, seeing how I should be the one to claim Alexandria, if God wills it... I think I should be asked if I wish to enjoy the Patriarch's company...

There was once a Patriarch in Antioch : why isn't there one now ?

I do not like to have decisions forced upon me. Cairo would be a better seat for the Patriarch, as his views are closer to those of the Order who are about to claim it.

With a slight bow to the Basileos, Methodios sits down.

[Ignoramus]

Ioannis Komnenos rises to speak.

Strator Tagaris, Alexandria has always been a patriarchate. Cairo is a city founded by the infidel, populated by the infidel, and in essence is infidel.

Sitting back down, Ioannis begins to write.

[pevergreen]

Makedonios raises an eyebrow at Michail.

Let me get this straight. You stand outside of a town... for decades... and then come back here after a long absence... and then vote to order us all to sack?

Michail flips a dagger in his hand calmly, not even bothering to look at Makedonios.

"Sir, I have but been outside of my town for a few years now, conducting field training for my men. I have not returned as I have received multiple letters about how the city is no longer safe to me.

I did not order you to sack, I just despise you and everything you stand for Makedonios. Needless to say, my vote is for Savvas."

[Privateerkev]

I seem to recall Protoasecretes saying something about weapons.

"Finally, violence will not be permitted in the Magnaura! Limit your attacks to verbal sparring only! Any Senator bringing a weapon into the building, or raising his fist to a fellow Senator, will be forcibly removed by the guards. This is Constantinople, not Rome! We do not stab each other to death in this Senate!"

So, put your dagger in your chambers or I will ask the Emperor to remove you from the building Michail.

[OverKnight]

Aleksios looks up from some correspondence.

Verbal sparring only please. If you two wish to knife each other, take it over to the Hippodrome, they'll wager on anything.

[TinCow]

A scribe rushes over and hands the Protoasecretes a scroll with the tally from the election for Megas Logothetes. The old man unrolls it and squints at the writing. Eventually he clears his throat to speak.

"The Senate has chosen and the next Megas Logothetes will be Senator Tied."

After a few moments of silence, the Protoasecretes glances around the room suspiciously.

"Well, where is the buffoon?! Late for his own victory celebration! Hmph... why, in my day..."

A scribe rushes over and whispers in the man's ear.

"WHAT?! What do you mean the vote was tied?! Votes for Megas Logothetes are never tied! No, I've never heard of such a thing. Not in Roman times, before the coming of that fool Servius Aemilius. Not even in that barbaric Germanic cesspool that calls itself some kind of Roman Empire! No vote for a leader has ever been tied before!"

The Protoasecretes glares at the scroll again for a moment.

"Fetch me the Byzantine Charter!"

Two scribes duck out of the chamber. The various supporters of the two candidates for election eye each other nervously from their various vantage points. Eventually the two scribes return carrying a massive tome. They lay it down in front of the Protoasecretes on a portable table which is brought in by a third scribe. The old man opens it and begins leafing through the dusty pages.

"Let's see here... ah, yes. Rule 3.7 - In the event that a vote for Megas Logothetes is tied, the Senator who can correctly guess the weight of a freshly plucked, still living duck will be given the right to jump from the back of the Imperial Elephant and... oh, wait, no... that Rule was changed by a Charter Amendment in 833. Ah, here it is... a tie in an election will lead to a fresh ballot! Well, that's a bit boring, isn't it? I remember by grandfather telling me about the election of eight-ought-five, when the vote was tied between no less than seventeen different candidates and each of them was an expert duck farmer. Why..."

A scribe whispers in the Protoasecretes ear again.

"SHUT UP!"

The Protoasecretes smacks the young man in the head, and the boy recoils quickly.

"Ehem, yes, where was I? Oh, right. The election is tied, therefore a new ballot will have to be taken. As this is unprecedented in the history of the entire Known World, I will re-oppen the Senate floor for debate for a 24 hour period. This period will expire at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday, August 19. After that period of debate is over, another 48 hour period of voting will commence. In accordance with the Rules, if the vote remains tied at that point, the eldest candidate for Megas will be chosen."

[Kagemusha]

"I would have preferred that Basileos could have decided the outcome in case of a tie..."

Ioannis glances towards the grandmaster with a teasing smile on his face and continues.

"But im happy to cast my ballot again."

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios sits at his table looking at election returns. He sips from a glass of cool water and it is clear from his puffy eyes that he has been awake all night following the election. When he hears the news of the revote, he sets the water down.

I see this will continue then. Alright, if anyone has any further questions for me, I'd be happy to answer them.