The Magnaura

[OverKnight]

The Basileus reenters the Magnaura. Oddly, his shoes are a bit dirty.

Balance has been a recurring theme presented in this Session. Yet there seems little of it to be found among accussations and wordplay.

We must find a way to go forward. To keep what we have gained intact. To make sure we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.

Aleksios pauses, he looks very tired.

It is clear that Makedonios Ksanthopoulos was the selection of the majority of Senators, if not the most powerful. Now it appears we also have some unorthodox manuevering of oaths as well in order to influence the second round of voting, which I'm not sure is legal in this situation.

With all this in mind, I intend to change my vote. I endorse Makedonios Ksanthopoulos for Megas Logothetes. The Empire would be best served by a Megas who has the support of the majority of the Senate behind him.

I mean this as no insult to Senator ek Militou. His repulsion of the Egyptian invasion was masterful, and I value his service to the Empire.

I hope the Grandmaster can live up to his rhetoric.

[Kagemusha]

Kantakouzinos mutters to himself with a voice others cant hear.

"Now we will see what the Grandmaster really is."

He sips the rest of his wine with one swallow and raises his voice.

"Congratulations Grandmaster!"

Ioannis looks at the last rays of light shining through a large window of the Senate and building and then leaves the senate, without waiting for an answer.

[Andres]

The Basileus reenters the Magnaura. Oddly, his shoes are a bit dirty.

Balance has been a recurring theme presented in this Session. Yet there seems little of it to be found among accussations and wordplay.

We must find a way to go forward. To keep what we have gained intact. To make sure we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.

Aleksios pauses, he looks very tired.

It is clear that Makedonios Ksanthopoulos was the selection of the majority of Senators, if not the most powerful. Now it appears we also have some unorthodox manuevering of oaths as well in order to influence the second round of voting, which I'm not sure is legal in this situation.

With all this in mind, I intend to change my vote. I endorse Makedonios Ksanthopoulos for Megas Logothetes. The Empire would be best served by a Megas who has the support of the majority of the Senate behind him.

I mean this as no insult to Senator ek Militou. His repulsion of the Egyptian invasion was masterful, and I value his service to the Empire.

I hope the Grandmaster can live up to his rhetoric.

Savvas looks perplex when he hears the words of his emperor.

There is nothing unorthodox with the changing of oaths and it has nothing to do with the current elections. The oath switching you are mentioning, is the result of long negotations, which were conducted with the interests of the Empire in mind.

Mylord, I am very, very disappointed.

Savvas leaves the Magnaura, an angry look on his face.

[Andres]

Savvas re-enters the Magnaura, and speaks, his voice trembling with anger and rage.

Years, no, not years, decades of loyal service. Decades! My whole life!

I have always (Savvas screams the word) defended you and I have always defended the actions of your son! Out of loyalty and out of love for the Royal family.

And what do I get in return from you, Basileus? Disrespect. Yes, my emperor, I feel disrespected! I will remain loyal to the Royal family, as I have always been, but I will never forget the insult and the ungratefullness of Emperor Aleskios Komnenos.

I am utterly disgusted!

[OverKnight]

The Basileus sits stone faced through Savvas's tirade and then responds:

It is unfortunate that you feel disrespected, that was not my intent.

[Andres]

The Basileus sits stone faced through Savvas's tirade and then responds:

It is unfortunate that you feel disrespected, that was not my intent.

Not your intent? That's all you have to say?

Well, thank you mylord. It was a pleasure serving you for many, many years and it seems like it will be even more pleasant to continue my loyal service.

Savvas shakes his head and continues with a soft voice, filled with anger and rage.

You are giving your empire in the hands of a man who despises your son and who lets his vasals insult the Caesar without consequences!

You give the inheritance of your own son in the hands of his greatest enemy, a religious nutjob who lives in an ivory tower and has no feeling whatsoever with reality.

Why don't you just adopot Makedonios and make him your heir?

Bah!

With all due respect, but your vote for Makedonios is foolish, my emperor.

By making Makedonios the next Megas you make the biggest mistake in your live.

[ULC]

A booming voice is heard from the rear if the Magnaura. A man in red and white, with long black hair tied back, a scar across his left eye, and a piercing gaze of sky blue steps forward.

"Foolish? IN what way Savvas? Foolish is the man who would insult the Basileus without knowing half of what goes on. You think the Basileus took such a decision lightly? Were is your loyalty? Does it evaporate when you don't get what you want? Yet another reason Makedonios makes a better Megas then you."

The man walks further into the light, his voice strong, demanding the attention of everyone in the Magnaura.

"But I think I err here, now is not the time to hurl petty insults. Now is not the time to let personal ambition get in the way of what is right, what is good, and what must be done in the name of the Empire. I know none of you would see what we have all strived for, all built, what all of you put your lives, work, time, effort, blood, sweat and tears into, but the Empire will burn just as surely through neglect, incompetence, short-sightedness, and simple ignorance."

"I can promise you this, things are coming to a head. We are facing a crisis, but not one that many of you seem eager to acknowledge. Civil war is upon us all, whether we like it or not, and we will either take the steps to prevent it, or be consumed by our own egos. Even now, many of you are being manipulated into a course of actions that will rend the Empire a sunder, with you completely ignorant of your part until it is to late and you weep as you have lost everything."

"We must work together, here and now." The man looks over at Aleksios. "I am sorry for forcing our hand so early, but I have lost one of my contacts, and I fear I am next. Better that I speak now, then be silenced so the world may burn."

[Andres]

Savvas looks at the perpetrator.

What's this? Trying to influence the Emperor by making him fear things that are not there?

Civil war?

Ha!

There won't be no civil war if the Houses don't grow too powerful and if they all stay more or less equally powerful, now would there?

Can't you all see, you bunch of blind morons?

The Caesar was busy preventing civil war! As long as the Houses don't grow too powerful, there won't be no civil war. At best there will be some petty House with a small army that will be crushed soon enough by the imperial forces!

Now you have given the Empire in the hands of the Order, which has close bounds with another powerful House, the House of Asteri.

Civil war? You are talking about civil war?

By giving so much power into the hands of the adversary of the heir of the Throne, you will indeed get civil war.

Take your petty conspiracy theories out of here, you raging fool.

You are all just too blind to see that the Caesar had a vision. He didn't make the Empire instable during his last term. No, he ensured that the royal family will stay strong and that alone will bring balance.

By making the Grandmaster Megas, you destroyed all he has worked for.

Conspiracy theorists and religious nutjobs running the Empire... Bah.

OOC: since I used the word "morons", I'll add the obligatory to ensure you that it was meant IC. I still love you all

[pevergreen]

Michail calls out

"Savvas my man, sit down you are making a fool of yourself. This 'ere dagger entertains me when I am angry, perhaps thou should find a similar hobbey? Make no mistake, I do not support Makedonis. I will not go as far as to say I despise him, but safe to say I would choose Lucifer himself before Makedonis. You have proven in the past to be an honourable man Savvas. As a relative independant party here, owing no allegiance to any major house, I can say that the cause of the Empire would most likely be served by Savvas, no disrespect to Aleskios intended. Too bad this is all I have to say, my mind has been distracted as of late, my chariot team grows lazy."

Michail has a sly grin over his face, while cleaning his nails with his now ever present dagger.