The Magnaura

[Ignoramus]

Ioannis Komnenos rises to stand.

I am interested how the top bun of the Order wishes to explain the extravagent amount of money spent on hiring mercenaries for his forces.

Did not he whinge and complain that the Komnenodoukai had recruited mercenaries that were draining the empire's coffers? But of course, that rule doesn't apply to the Order, because obviously they are so incompetent to not leave a decent garrison in Antioch.

Ioannis resumes his seat.

[Privateerkev]

I'm not quite sure why the Caesar is talking about my rear end. Maybe he has something about himself he wishes to share with us...

But I had to recruit mercenaries because the Levant was left so woefully neglected last term. Not just woefully neglected. But criminally neglected. Without decent recruiting centers, and with only a barebones army that was criminally delayed, we have had to play catch up.

And our armies have suffered horrendous attrition since we keep fighting off Fatimid Jihad armies. Unlike the Caesar, we have done our part to protect the capital.

So yes, when the Templars attacked with almost 2000 men, I had to do something. I only had 600 or so men inside and outside the city. So, I recruited mercs. After the battle, I then disbanded them all.

If 2000 men marched on any of your cities, and there was inadequate defenses, I would do the same for you.

So, yes it was incompetence that left Antioch defenseless. But the incompetence was not ours...

[_Tristan_]

Methodios waits for the Basileos to speak and allow him to continue with the proceedings towards resolving the case of Scopia.

[OverKnight]

Aleksios speaks:

Now that both Senators have presented their case, each may pose a rebuttal to the other's claim if they wish. Once that is done I will render my judgement.

[TinCow]

*The Protoasecretes wakes suddenly from his napping. He stares around wide-eyed at the room, looking suspicious and wary. His head jerks back and forth for a while, searching for something which he does not find. Eventually he relaxes.*

I have had a vision from God! Yes! He appeared before me in the form of a monstrous elephant, the size of the Hippodrome itself! He spoke to me and said that his name was Arnold, and that he was displeased with the governance of the Empire. He made some comment about his... ah... 'big brass ones'... which I think he referred to as Brom and Gain, then he told me that I must listen well for he would tell me exactly how to fix our problems.

*The Protoasecretes looks confused for a moment and scratches his head.*

Problems? Do we have problems? Oh, yes... we must have problems! Arnold-God and his Brass Prophets said so in my dream! He told me to wake immediately and propose the following Charter Amendment.

Charter Amendment 5.1:

Rule 4.1 – Private Armies is deleted.
Rule 4.2 – Royal Armies is deleted.
Rule 4.3 – Army Replenishment is deleted.

New Rules will be added as follows:

4.1 – Armies: Except as stated in Rule 4.2, all Senators own all army units that begin a turn in a stack led by their avatar, in the garrison of a settlement they own, and in the garrison of a fort inside a province they own, regardless of how the units got there. Senators instantly own any Captain-led stack that their avatar moves onto. No one may move or disband any units owned by a Senator without his permission.

4.2 – Seizing Armies: Any Senator may move his avatar onto an army owned by another Senator from the same feudal chain. If this occurs, the Senator with the highest feudal rank instantly owns the entire combined army. If both Senators are of the same rank, the eldest Senator will own the entire combined army. The Basileus may instantly seize any army his avatar moves onto, regardless of the status of the Senator that previously owned it. A Senator may not move his avatar onto an army owned by a Senator from outside his feudal chain unless both Senators agree to the move beforehand. If there is a subsequent disagreement about who owns the units in the army, where the army is to move, or who commands the army, the Basileus will decide. This Rule does not apply to garrisons of settlements or forts. Avatars may never be seized.

4.3 – Naval Fleets: All Senators own all fleets that begin a turn in the port of a settlement they own, regardless of how the fleet got there. Otherwise, naval fleets are owned by the Senator with the highest feudal rank who is onboard the fleet. If there are multiple Senators of the same rank, the eldest Senator will own the fleet. No one may move or disband any ships in a fleet owned by a Senator without his permission.

The following line is removed from Rule 5.2 – Civil War through Oath Breaking:

If a Civil War begins in this manner, any Senator who would lose the right to own a Private Army as the result of the breaking of the Oath of Fealty will be allowed to retain ownership of his Private Army until the Civil War ends.

Rule 1.4 – Game Management is re-written as follows (changes in bold):

1.4 – Game Management: At the start of each turn, the Megas Logothetes will post an annual report on the events of the last turn, including a save game file for the new turn. After the annual report is posted, players will have 24 hours to download the save, and make their personal moves. Players can move their avatars, move any unit or fleet their avatar owns, and fight any battles against the AI that they are capable of fighting with their avatar’s army. Player may also move any unit, fleet, or avatar they have been given specific permission to move by the respective owner, as long as that permission is posted in a public thread. The Megas Logothetes may extend the time limit beyond 24 hours at his discretion, but all players are encouraged to act as swiftly as possible to keep the game moving. Players may not move avatars or armies into the territory of a neutral or allied faction without the permission of the Basileus. Nor may they attack the settlements or armies of neutral or allied factions without a declaration of war from the Basileus, a Megas Dux/Exarch or an Edict.

Penalty 1 is deleted from the rank of Strator.

Penalty 1 is deleted from the rank of Comes.

The rank of Domestikos gains the following Power:

If this rank is held during a Normal Senate Session, can Prioritize a total of 2 units per full 10 turn Megas Logothetes term, unless the Domestikos is loyal to another Senator.

Power 4 is deleted from the rank of Hypatos.
The rank of Hypatos gains the following Power:

If this rank is held during a Normal Senate Session, can Prioritize a total of 4 units per full 10 turn Megas Logothetes term, unless the Hypatos is loyal to another Senator.

Power 4 is deleted from the rank of Antypatos.
The rank of Antypatos gains the following Power:

If this rank is held during a Normal Senate Session, can Prioritize a total of 6 units per full 10 turn Megas Logothetes term, unless the Antypatos is loyal to another Senator.

Power 4 is deleted from the rank of Patrikios.
The rank of Patrikios gains the following Power:

If this rank is held during a Normal Senate Session, can Prioritize a total of 8 units per full 10 turn Megas Logothetes term, unless the Patrikios is loyal to another Senator.

Powers 5 and 10 are deleted from the rank of Dux.
The rank of Dux gains the following Power:

If this rank is held during a Normal Senate Session, can Prioritize a total of 10 units per full 10 turn Megas Logothetes term, unless the Dux is loyal to another Senator.

Powers 5 and 12 are deleted from the rank of Megas Dux/Exarch.
The rank of Megas Dux/Exarch gains the following Power:

If this rank is held during a Normal Senate Session, can Prioritize a total of 12 units per full 10 turn Megas Logothetes term.

Power 4 is deleted from the rank of Caesar.
The rank of Caesar gains the following Power:

If this rank is held during a Normal Senate Session, can Prioritize a total of 2 units per full 10 turn Megas Logothetes term. This Power is cumulative with the ability to Prioritize units under any other rank held by the Caesar.

Powers 4 and 14 are deleted from the rank of Basileus.
The rank of Basilues gains the following Power:

If this rank is held during a Normal Senate Session, can Prioritize a total of 15 units per full 10 turn Megas Logothetes term.

Power 2 and Limitation on Power 4 are deleted from the rank of Megas Logothetes.
The rank of Megas Logothetes gains the following Powers:

(2) The Megas Logotheses is responsible for all monetary expenditures in the game. The choice of what to build/recruit and where is entirely up to him, except as stated in the Limitations on Powers.
(3) The Megas Logothetes can move all armies that start a turn led by a Captain except as stated in Rule 4.1.
(4) The Megas Logothetes can move all fleets except as stated in Rule 4.3.
(5) The Megas Logothetes can move and use all agents.

The rank of Megas Logothetes has Limitation on Powers 2 is re-written as follows (changes in bold):

(2) No money can be spent on any construction until all Prioritized Buildings have been funded, unless the Senators who Prioritized them agree otherwise. If there are multiple Prioritized Buildings, and not enough funding for all of them, the Megas Logothetes may choose which to construct first. Prioritized Buildings cannot be funded until all Prioritized Units have been funded.

The rank of Megas Logothetes gains the following Limitation on Powers:

(4) Prioritized Units – No money can be spent on any recruitment until all Prioritized Units have been funded, unless the Senators who Prioritized them agree otherwise. If there are multiple Prioritized Units, and not enough funding for all of them, the Megas Logothetes may choose which to construct first. Senators may specify the Type of Unit to be recruited and the Location for the recruitment. The Type of Unit is restricted to the broad classifications of infantry, foot missiles, and cavalry. Artillery and Mercenaries cannot be Prioritized. A unit may be retrained instead of recruited if the unit is already located in a settlement where it can be retrained in some fashion. Except for the Basileus, the Location is restricted to any settlement owned by the Senator requesting the Prioritization or any settlement owned by a vassal in his feudal chain. The Basileus may specify any settlement in the Empire as the Location.

Rule 1.6 - Game Balancing is deleted.

The following line will be added to Rule 3.3:

Edicts are only binding on the players to the extent that the Senate chooses to enforce them.

A new Rule will be added as follows:

3.4a – * Amendments: Rules marked with a * can be permanently modified via an Amendment if TinCow gives his approval for the modification.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios walks into the chamber and strides to his new place at the Order's table. He sits down and it looks like a million pounds have been lifted from his shoulders. An aide shows him the transcripts of what has already been said this session.

Senator Nevoulas,

You speak of people possibly questioning your "credentials" to be Megas.

What you need to be Megas is the ability to read and write at a frantic pace. You also need impeccable book keeping because you being sued for breaking the footnote of an addendum to an index of an amendment to a law is not a matter of 'if', but 'when.' If you have any friends or loved ones, you must say good-bye to them for 15 years. I'd also give up on the notion of 'sleep.' If you think you've read through our laws, best to read them at least 8 more times before your term starts. You will also need a picture perfect memory. It would also help if the idea of dreaming about people's SOTs doesn't bother you. And finally, you need to reconcile right now with the fact that, no matter how hard you work, or how much you do for others, you will receive no thanks, praise, or recognition what-so-ever.

If you can understand, accept, and internalize the above paragraph, then in my opinion your as ready to be Megas as anyone can be.

Protoasecretes,

I find it regrettable that we are getting inspiration for legislation from pagan Gods. I have never heard of this Arnold God but he sounds like a whiner.

Despite that, I do see merit in the CA itself. Private armies are turning into a legal nightmare. And the possibility of 'garrison dumping' is just an accident waiting to happen.

I'm not sure if legislation inspired by heretical whiny elephant Gods need to be seconded, but I will do so anyways.

I second CA 5.1

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC:

To AG:

[AussieGiant]

Senator Apionnas Vringas stands abruptly, throws his head back, raises his hands to the ornate ceiling of the Magnaura. A faint red glow of his eyes is a disconcerting sight to those in the chamber.

With a physical blow his voice fills the chamber...deep...resonate...foreboding.

HEAR ME MEN OF THIS PLACE...!!

The shock wave of his voice brings all movement to a stand still. A few moments pass as every eye trains itself on what should be the figure of Senator Vringas.

HEED THE WORDS OF YOUR AGING DECREPIT, ADMINISTRATOR...WHILE I DEPLORE MEN OF HIS ILK, THEY ARE NECESSARY FOR THEY GIVE STRUCTURE AND ALLOW YOU TO LIVE OUT YOUR LIVES AND DREAMS ON THESE SACRED GROUNDS.

PASS THIS LAW...

OR I SHALL STRIKE YOU DOWN!!

...I AM THE DREAD LORD. I SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT.

The room is silent, Senator Vringas slumps back into his chair and is immediately attended to by members of the administration. He's taken from the chamber with help from a few guardsmen.

[_Tristan_]

I also second CA 5.1

Muttering to himself :"Seems like I'm not the only heathen in these halls..."

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios hears Apionnas's strange possession.

Why do I suddenly have the urge to strut around in obsidian armor, kick puppies, and stick the heads of Hungarians on pikes?

He shudders and goes about listening to the Senate session.

[Smowz]

Nevoulas watches the theater with a smile on his face. He was pleased, his announcement had gone largely unnoticed thus far and had not caused the waves of protest he had thought it would. In fact on the contrary, others had almost been encouraged by Nevoulas stand. Using the comments of Nikolaos Aristenos as an opening he raises to address the young senator, but first he reassures the flustered looking Comes Vringas.

Comes Apoinnas, do not fear I am sure most like me will be in favour of such an amendment, too many hours have been wasted arguing over petty administrative matters for the old ways to stay.

Turning to Nikolaos and the Ilios Korakos delegates.

Nikolaos, you may be aware of my deep respect for the late Kosmas Mavrozomis a friend and a mentor to me in my early years. It was he who brought me into these halls as a young lad and nurtured me into the man I am today. It was his wish that the empire would sieze control of Egypt for he believed it was the key to complete control of the east and the untamed wilds of the great continent to to south of it.

The Fatamid Caliphate and the Seljuk Sultanate have become mortal enemies of the empire and simply cannot be allowed to continue to exist. Whilst I do have an eye on these Moors, I apprieciate logistically they will not be a long lasting threat. I am ambitious that one day a group of us will venture to bring them to justice but first support will be given towards completing the task at hand.

The fine economical work of the man sitting over here.

Points to Makedonios Ksanthopoulos

Has meant that the next Megas should be able to show some support towards noble continuing crusades.

As far as the west is concerned, by this my concern is with the lack of trained troops in the Balkans. I do not trust the bishop of Rome in the current climate, I would not be surprised to see some sort of attack launched from that direction. I intend to continue to develop our resources in that area and expel any catholic influence.

[Privateerkev]

I can answer as to why the Balkans has no troops. Quite simply, they weren't needed there. The Catholics were peaceful and troops were needed in Anatolia, the Levant, and Egypt. But with the treachery of the now-disbanded Templars, I do not know how long we can trust the Catholic Kingdoms.

Luckily, there are forces in the center of the Empire that can be re-located out to the west after the Moors are defeated. Both the Emperor's army and Alek Ikoniu's army are at Constantinople. And Nicaea now has an absolutely ginormous garrison for an inner city. I'm sure if we ask very nicely, the Caesar won't mind if we get his army dirty.