The Magnaura

**Ignoramus** · 09-01-2008, 01:45

Reentering the chamber halfway through Kalameteros' words, Ioannis speaks after him.

How can I rule when this most esteemed body insults me endlessly and my father does nothing. Now he condemns me too. I have always been loyal to my father, but now that loyalty ends.

I trusted Kalameteros, I even promised you the position of advisor to me when I ascended the throne, because you were one of the few senators I could trust. Now it seems your confidence is meaningless. You speak of your high expectations in me, yet now I cannot even be sure they are spoken sincerely.

For too long have I had to bear the insults of that fiend, Makedonios. I hereby declare war upon him. I care not what my father thinks, as he has constantly refused to defend my honour. This is a private quarrel, and I ask that the rest of the empire leave us to it. If they do not, then I will not back down.

Ioannis hurls his glove in Makedonios' face and marches out of the Magnaura.

**Cecil XIX** · 09-01-2008, 02:21

Armatos stands to address the Magnaura

The Caesar continues to show not just poor judgement, but recklessness. He just just declared war on a Megas Logothetes whose term is not even half over. Let this show this august body the wisdom of voting for the Basileus's Edict E2.1.

I shall wait for the Grandmaster to dictate the Order's response to this rediculousness. The Order shall stand united behind him.

**ULC** · 09-01-2008, 03:29

Nikolaos reenters the Magnaura in a heavy and warm overcoat and cloak, protecting from what seems to be an unseasonal chill in the Capital. Yet still he strides in with confidence and a smile, turning to one of the senators and waves cheerfully, and he almost accidentally stumbles into the Caesar. Nikolaos huge frame and size, easily dwarfing anyone in the Magnaura by several inches and pounds, blocks most of the exit and Nikolaos awkwardly moves to let the Caesar pass. Nikolaos finally takes his seat and begins writing while taking a bite from a cookie.

**Ignoramus** · 09-01-2008, 13:29

Returning into the diet, Ioannis Komnenos indicates his desire to speak.

"I must apologise to Antypatos Makedonios Ksanthopoulos for the grievous insult I dealt him. He is well within his rights to seek satisfaction, though it was of my making. My action was foolish and unbecoming of my rank and position.

Though I fear I cannot make it up to him, I offer to provide the Order with 5 catapults from Nicaea in order to strenthen the eastern frontier. I had neglected the the Syrian frontier during my tenure as Megas Logothetes, and must do what I can to make ammends.

I also apologise to this august body for my proposed violence in order to restructure the empire. You have a natural right to despise me, though I trust I may regain your respect.

To my father, forgive me. I deserve banishment for my words to you - such disrespect borders upon treason. You may do with me as you will.

I believe in order to display my sincerity, I must step down from the leadership of the Komnenodoukai. Rest assured that Anypatos Chrysovergos is a true soldier of the empire, and will guard our lands well.

I believe inappropriate to listen in on my judgement, and will retire to my quarters. My scribes will relate all the relevant information to me.

Ioannis Komenenos bows and walks slowly out of the Magnaura.

**Ramses II CP** · 09-01-2008, 14:58

Vissarionas watches the departing figure of the Caesar with considerably more interest than his face bore when the previous, brief, announcement of civil war was made. Vissa shakes his head ruefully and then glances up at Aleksios before speaking.

'That may well be the best defense he could possibly have made. In any event, I must again congratulate the Emperor for his cleverness. Our Empire has been blessed with brilliant leadership these past decades; perhaps when God tested the Roman soul at Mazikert it was in his mind to bring forth men such as our mighty Basileus in response.'

'Unless any other man would speak on behalf of the Caesar I suggest to the Protoasecretes that we proceed with the vote, all parties having now been heard to the extent necessary. I have anxious business awaiting me in the desert.'

**Privateerkev** · 09-01-2008, 15:35

I notice that through all of his fluffy rhetoric, the Caesar has not rescinded his declaration of war.

Ok, if it is war he wants, it is war he will get.

It seems CA E2.1 is now more important than ever. I truly believe that if the Caesar gets an automatic term, he will use it to plunge us into conflict that will set back the Empire for decades.

Therefore, he must not get that term. Let him be elected if he can find the support.

It seems the Caesar has put rules 5.1 and rules 5.3 into full effect. If his House wishes to avoid war, they will need to break from him the moment the session ends. Any who don't, will feel the effects of this war. Antypatos Pavlos should consider voting for CA E2.1.

In fact, since the Caesar will use his automatic term to prosecute a war, I will see any who vote against CA E2.1 as supporting his war against the Order.

Know that the Order does not want war. We will make no offensive moves. And will be willing to sign a "Peace Treaty" along the lines of Rule 5.3.

A Peace Treaty will be contingent upon the Caesar's, and his House's, full throated support of CA E2.1.

Otherwise, when my term starts, there will be war...

And the Caesar, and those who stick by him, won't like it...

**Privateerkev** · 09-01-2008, 16:27

Alright, now that I have taken some time to process this, I will lay out my case.

According to these words:

Originally Posted by Caesar

For too long have I had to bear the insults of that fiend, Makedonios. I hereby declare war upon him. I care not what my father thinks, as he has constantly refused to defend my honour. This is a private quarrel, and I ask that the rest of the empire leave us to it. If they do not, then I will not back down.

The Caesar invoked Rule 5.1 which states:

A Senator must make a Declaration of War towards a specific Senator in a public thread before they can attack any of that Senator’s armies or settlements. A Declaration of War applies to all Senators of lower rank in the vassal chains of both the Senator who makes the Declaration and the Senator who is the target of the Declaration, including vassals who swear an Oath of Fealty after the Declaration of War has been made. A Declaration of War does not apply to any Senators in the vassal chain who are above the declarer or the target. Neither the Senator who made the Declaration of War, nor anyone below him in his vassal chain, can attack the target of that Declaration, or anyone below the target in his vassal chain, until the target(s) have been provided with one full turn's worth of movement. This rule does not limit movement in any way, nor does it prevent the target(s) of the Declaration of War from attacking the declarer(s).

As a party in this "war," I hereby move that we invoke Rule 5.3 which states:

A Civil War will end when all Senators on one side are dead or all living Senators on both sides publicly agree to a Peace Treaty. So long as it is limited to changes to the provinces, settlements, armies, Oaths of Loyalty, and retinue of the Senators signing the Peace Treaty, it will be considered binding law. All terms of a Peace Treaty that go beyond these limits, particularly those that increase a Senator’s influence or powers beyond those allowed by the rules, will only be binding if adopted by a two-thirds majority of the Senate at the next normal session. Individual Senators may unilaterally remove themselves from a Civil War within one turn of the Declaration of War that brought them into it by breaking all Oaths of Loyalty that tie them to any Senator involved in the War and by publicly declaring Neutrality. Neutrality cannot be claimed by a declarer, a target, or any Senator who has been involved in a PvP Battle during that specific Civil War.

I now present a Peace Treaty to be signed by both sides:

As of the end of the Emergency session, war between the Order and the Caesar shall end. This Treaty is null and void if any member of the Caesar's feudal chain votes no on CA E2.1.

Signed:

Makedonios Ksanthopoulos

If the Caesar does not agree to this, I strongly urge that his whole House invoke the part of Rule 5.3 that gives them a way to declare neutrality.

It is time to stop this madness before it is too late.

I now wait for everyone's signature.

OOC: It's up to TC on how to handle the logistics of this. Does he want us to all state in here? Will he put up a poll? How do we handle inactive members of the chain?

**Kagemusha** · 09-01-2008, 16:48

"Grandmaster.Still you cant think anything else then rules and laws. A man of God should not be so blind to feelings of men and let edicts and laws blind from the hearts of others. Caesar has stepped down and placed himself in front of this senate to be punished about things he has confessed and still all you can think of is the law. Why would you not even bother first wait for the new leader of Komnenodoukai, Pavlos Chrysovergos to speak, before you start spilling poison again to the ears of the senators. Caesar Ioannis clearly stated that the plan was his and he now remorses about his ambitions and actions, while you Makedonias Ksanthapoulos can only think of letters of the law codexes of the Empire. I pity you."