The Magnaura

[Privateerkev]

I have seen nothing wrong with Vissa's last two letters. As for your request that he come for questioning, you can make it to the Emperor or simply ask Vissa himself. My office has no authority of it's own to bring in witnesses to the Senate. The Office of the Megas acts as an enforcement arm of the Senate itself. If the Emperor requests it, or if there is an Edict, then I will act.

[AussieGiant]

I'm not particularly interested in anyone's opinion of his last two letters.

You are the Grand Master and head of the house he is a member of. Is it not possible in that capacity to ask him to present himself here?

[Privateerkev]

I am not particularly interested in your opinion of my opinion of his last two letters.

I could ask him to be here if I was convinced his presence was needed.

I know you and the Emperor are building a case against the Patriarch. And it is obvious that Vissa fits into that case. If you two have a case, then make it. Call him as an official witness.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Patriarchal Representative:

Hearsay and lies, none of which can be proven. What they are doing would shame any legitimate prosecutor.

[Cecil XIX]

Senator Vringas, you can send a letter to Vissarionas, can you not? If he is unwilling to answer your questions by letter, than the Grandmaster cannot force him to answer your questions in person merely by request. To have him suffer such a disgrace would require, as the Megas Logothetes has pointed out, either a decree from the Magnaura, a decree from the Basileus, or a uniquely compelling and urgent reason.

As for the letter from the Caesar, I shall wait until he presents his defense before going into specifics.

Still, there is one thing I must say: We need disagreement. That is a requirement of all civilizations. Every idea that makes it's way into these chambers must be allowed to be opposed, with reason or what have you, else it becomes impossible to strike down the bad ideas and praise the good.

I should hope that there are none in this change who see such disagreements as indicative of treason. I will not bore with platitudes about how it instead indicative of loyalty and patriotism, but as I said it is indeed necessary for an empire to function.

[Cecil XIX]

Armatos is suitably awestruck by the annoncement. Let's out a very quite, appreciative whistle.

[ULC]

Nikolaos, having been stirred from his slumber a while ago by the constant banter, turns back to his flask. As he takes another sip from it, he raises it towards the Basileus.

"To Aleksios the Great!"

Nikolaos looks to the other senators.

"I am deeply sorry for my rather late announcement, seems my trip left me rather tired. I am Nikolaos Aristenos, and I am here from the great city of Kiev, by Imperial request, to help further cement our two great nations together! I do hope you all received the presents I sent for you and your families, courtesy of the Royal Court back home!"

Nikolaos takes another swing from his flask. I second CA E2.1!

[Ramses II CP]

Vissarionas ek Lesvou once more enters the Senate chamber. Yet again he is dressed in travel stained garmets, boots covered in old mud, and he enters with none of the pomp the more prominent members of the Magnaura display. Still, many notice him, and a whispered conference breaks out amongst the scribes, though it is quickly shushed by one of the white haired senior men among them.

Vissa strides through the chamber without looking left or right to see who is present; his eyes are fixed on the Basileus alone. As he moves closer, into the better lit region near the center, many begin to note that his hair is wild, and his normally neat goatee has grown out into a very ugly and unkempt beard. The somewhat absurd looking cap he always wears to cover the scar on the top of his head is loose, and dead white twists of scar tissue show unpleasantly around the edges.

The closer he gets to the Emperor the more nervous some members of the senate grow, but there is no menace in Vissa's face. In fact his visage is uncomfortably empty of any expression, and his gaze is utterly devoid of emotion. He looks simply blank, disinterested, and yet he travelled a very great distance to be here and logically must have something to say.

Three paces from the Emperor Vissa stops abruptly and lowers his eyes before sinking to both knees like a supplicant before a priest. In a quiet, emotionless voice which carries well enough through the chamber to be heard by all he says,

'Basileus Komnenos I ask your pardon if letters received and read publically in this body in my name gave you any offense. I could see no other way to call attention to what I believed to be a deadly danger to our very existence, a danger I did not imagine you could see.'

'I was wrong.'

Without waiting for a reply Vissarionas then stands and speaks more loudly, addressing the whole Magnaura, though without any more expression in his voice,

'You should hear it directly from a man who was there, the Crusade is complete. Cairo is taken, but there were no Christians left there to save, God rest their souls. The Sultan, whose signet ring and seal I now present to our Emperor, is dead and his capital occupied.'

Of course the ring is, in truth, newly minted, the previous Sultan having lost his on jihad near Antioch, and of little enough value in itself, but the symbolic power of the presentation is only undermined by Vissa's relentlessly inflectionless tone.

'Better news of the Holy Sites near Cairo. Though some few fools made casual attempts to desecrate them there was no concerted effort to destroy them, no doubt because of the jihad, and my men are even now restoring them so that they are suitable for visits by the faithful on pilgrimage. Praise God that he preserved these most holy places for us.'

The last, which should have had some sort of emphasis, came out sounding quite hollow instead. Slowly Vissa begins to make his way towards the Order table in the chamber, but quite suddenly he turns back to address the body once more, and for the first time a tiny edge of impact has crept into his voice.

'I hereby second Charter Amendment E2.1! God save the Emperor, and God save the Roman Empire!'

Then, with a visibly disjointed gait, Vissa strides the rest of the way to the Order table and collapses into a seat.

[OverKnight]

Aleksios nods his head at Vissarionas.

How could I be angry at someone so skilled with pen and word?

He speaks in a more serious tone.

I welcome all the Crusaders back to the capital, and salute the fallen among them. Take your ease while in the city.

[AussieGiant]

You're a particularly pedantic individual Lord Ksanthopoulos, in addition you seem wholly arrogant in your approach to a simple request.

How the Emperor or I wish to proceed in any investigation is entirely at our own direction and not subject to how you seem to wish it.

I've asked you as the head of the house if you can request his presence here. I would say that is not beyond the bounds of what can be consider reasonable.

It seems that is beyond you at this point in time, or at least beneath what you consider important in your current position.

If that is the case then please state so formally if this is not too much trouble?

Apionnas smiles ruefully at the Patriarchal Representative.

I was certainly not expecting such an early appearance your Grace. It seems the a simple brushing of the Orthodox cage has elicited a response.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Patriarchal Representative:

Yes, the "Orthodox cage" has been brushed. You speak of it as if you are not one of us.

[Privateerkev]

Sorry Apionnas but I do not recognize your authority to subpoena witnesses. If you have this power, please point out the relevant section of the Rules. If you don't, then you are merely grandstanding.

So, either ask the entire Senate or the Emperor to subpoena Vissa. Or convince me that his presence is absolutely essential.

You have done none of the three. Now, if you have nothing more of substance to say on the matter, I consider the matter closed until the Emperor wishes to make his case.

[AussieGiant]

Can we dispense with comments about an investigation. One has not been called as far as I can remember. It seems more than a few people are making assumptions about things.

I do not think it is beyond the bounds of one senator to ask questions of another, independent of any investigation here in this chamber. Especially this chamber actually.

Is anyone refuting this claim?

Does this need to be discussed at length using more pedantic reasoning, or can we make the assumption that the Magnaura is a place to discuss and inquire into the activities of the Empire.

Something I think we can all agree to no?

Turning to the Megas

Yet again your demeanour is extremely condescending Lord Megas. "A" matter is not closed simply because you wish it.

So I ask again, can Lord Vissa be requested to attend here personally by the Head of his house or not?

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Appionas, is this some kind of 'secret' investigation that you conduct?
If not then I, as a Senator, demand you to show me all materials and evidence that you have found so far.
If you don't then I'll propose an Edict the next Senate Session that will force you show all those evidence.

Now.. About this Caesars letter.. Where is he anyway?? Hiding in one of his cities?? Could Basileus sent a word that he would come here and answer to these accusations and the reason why he wrote that letter! Only a mad man would do that! Only a mad man would want to drive our Empire into Civil War!
I, as a Senator, demand that he would be brought here!!

About the sack of Alexandria.. We shouldn't forget this! People are talking over the letter and Caesar but they have forgotten what Methodios did! So far he haven't heard any good reason why he did what he did. He shouldn't get away from punishment!

[Privateerkev]

After hearing Efstathios

Yes, lets look at the letter some more for it truly gives us insight into the man's mind.

Aides kindly distribute the copies again in case the newly arrived Senators have not seen it.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Greetings, dear friends.

I will soon ascend to the throne. The Order have insulted me and the royal family flagrantly and yet we have been powerless to bring them to account.

What is more, the Order have shown themselves increasingly disloyal as a whole.

For the good and stability of both the empire and the nobles, I have a proposal I wish to offer to the both of you.

It is simply this:

As soon as I ascend to throne, we three form a Triumvirate. The Order's insults are a legitimate and just causus belli for us to declare them traitors and their land confiscated. Once we have defeated them, we shall be able to redistribute the land of the empire amongst ourselves. If the independent nobles, such as Methodios and Micail remain out of the conflict, then they shall keep their land. If they cast their lot with the Order, then their land shall be forfeit too.

As a result, the Asteri would control the western half of the Empire, the Komnenodoukai the East, and the Imperial family the centre plus all the patriarchates.

This would require some exchanging of land between House Asteri and House Komnenodoukai, but I'm sure negotiations could be entered into.

Imperial Provinces:
Constantinople
Rome
Nicaea
Dardanellia
Antioch
Jerusalem
Alexandria

House Asteri:

Athens
Thessalonica
Corinth
Arta
Dyracchion
Belgrade
Bucharest
Rhodes
Zagreb
Sofia

House Komnenodoukai:

Sinop
Caesarea
Smyrna
Adana
Tblisi
Yerevan
Nicosia
Diyarbakir
Aleppo

We would then control the Magnaura and be able to propose legislation which would change the structure of the empire.

War may only be declared by the Basileus.
All new provinces are at the disposal of the Basileus.
The cities of Rome and Constantinople can never be held by anyone but the Basileus.
The Basileus army consists of a minimum of 8 infantry units, 2 missile units, 2 heavy cavalry units, and two artillery units.
The Imperial Fleet is under the command of the Basileus.
The Imperial Fleet consists of a minimum of 8 ships.
The Caesar’s army consists of a minimum of 6 infantry units, 2 missile units, 2 heavy cavalry units, and two artillery units.
A member of the House Asteri is always the Lord High Chancellor
A member of the House Komnenodoukai is always the Lord High Steward
The Caesar always holds the Privy Seal.
The leaders of the Asteri and Komnenodoukai are on the Basileus’ Privy Council along with the Caesar.
Constantinople alone can recruit Varangian Guards.
The House Asteri commands the Western Legion, which consists of 12 infantry units, 2 missile units, 3 cavalry units, and 2 artillery units.
The House Komnenodoukai commands the Eastern Legion, which consists of 12 infantry units, 2 missile units, 3 cavalry units, and 2 artillery units.

What say you, my loyal friends?

Ioannis Komnenos,
Caesar of the Romans.

First, lets look at the provinces the Caesar wants to own personally:

Imperial Provinces:
Constantinople
Rome
Nicaea
Dardanellia
Antioch
Jerusalem
Alexandria

By having Rome and Jerusalem on there, the Caesar is making clear that he wishes to declare war on both the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy. Also, I see Alexandria is on the list. I am sure Methodios would be thrilled about that...

Now lets look at the provinces he promises to House Asteri:

House Asteri:

Athens
Thessalonica
Corinth
Arta
Dyracchion
Belgrade
Bucharest
Rhodes
Zagreb
Sofia

From the presence of Zagreb, it is clear that the Caesar wants to declare war on the Venetians as well. Also, I see Sofia and Bucharest on here. Something tells me that Senator Apionnas and the current Emperor were not consulted before this list was made...

Now lets look at what the Caesar has in mind for legislation:

War may only be declared by the Basileus.

So, the Senate will no longer be able to pass Edicts declaring war? A blatant power grab...

All new provinces are at the disposal of the Basileus.

This means that House Leaders will no longer be able to distribute provinces to their own vassals. They would have to go begging to the Basileus even though it was their own armies that conquered the settlements.

The Basileus army consists of a minimum of 8 infantry units, 2 missile units, 2 heavy cavalry units, and two artillery units.

The Emperor already gets a Royal Army.

The Imperial Fleet is under the command of the Basileus.
The Imperial Fleet consists of a minimum of 8 ships.

Fleets are under control of the Megas. The Emperor already has a way to get ships under his command.

The Caesar’s army consists of a minimum of 6 infantry units, 2 missile units, 2 heavy cavalry units, and two artillery units.

The Caesar already gets a Royal Army.

A member of the House Asteri is always the Lord High Chancellor
A member of the House Komnenodoukai is always the Lord High Steward
The leaders of the Asteri and Komnenodoukai are on the Basileus’ Privy Council along with the Caesar.
Constantinople alone can recruit Varangian Guards.
The House Asteri commands the Western Legion, which consists of 12 infantry units, 2 missile units, 3 cavalry units, and 2 artillery units.
The House Komnenodoukai commands the Eastern Legion, which consists of 12 infantry units, 2 missile units, 3 cavalry units, and 2 artillery units.

This basically destroys the chance of there ever being more Houses. The Caesar is trying to bribe these two House Leaders in order to secure despotic power for himself.

The Caesar wishes war on the Papacy, Venice, and the Holy Roman Empire. While also killing his own people. Not to mention the fact that we are already at war with the Moors, Turks, and Fatimids.

If he gets to implement this plan, he will rule a throne high up upon a pile of skulls...

Addresses Apionnas.

Convince me why he needs to be present.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

I congratulate the Order for taking Cairo!

The Crusade is over now!

[Ferret]

House Asteri:

Athens
Thessalonica
Corinth
Arta
Dyracchion
Belgrade
Bucharest
Rhodes
Zagreb
Sofia

Judging from the fact that Rhodes is also on this list I guess the Ceaser would like to dispose of me?
I'm going to have to reconsider my membership of the Komnendoukai while such a blatant idiot commands it.

[_Tristan_]

Also, I see Alexandria is on the list. I am sure Methodios would be thrilled about that...

And the Caesar and better be prepared to get it over my dead body...

About the sack of Alexandria.. We shouldn't forget this! People are talking over the letter and Caesar but they have forgotten what Methodios did! So far he haven't heard any good reason why he did what he did. He shouldn't get away from punishment!

I never intended to get away from punishment... But I'll expect a fair jugdment and sanction... Machonios got off lightly by getting kicked out of House but keeping his lands... And that was for killing more than 6000 people.

Anyway, our scouts should now have brought you reports of what truly happened at Alexandria and why I acted the way I did...

(OOC : battle report is up)

[ULC]

Aleksander leans back in his chair and sighs, clearly bored. A knowing, smug smile crosses his face when the Caesar's treasonous letter is announced to the senate, and Aleksander shakes his head in mild disbelief.