The Magnaura

[pevergreen]

Michail fumes silently before standing up. He has been witholding his anger for a long time. He explodes.

"I hereby renounce my oath of loyalty. I can not stand my former house's actions any longer. This latest outburst was the last straw."

[_Tristan_]

Methodios stands and nods at Nevoulas.

Senator ek Philadelphias, it is nice to see some of our younger members step up and grab the reins.

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours.

The Empire is now as strong as it ever was. I will nevertheless warn you against the enemy from within. Some among our numbers have their own designs for the Empire and I fear they might use your inexperience to advance their own goals.

I envy your enthusiasm... Holding the position of Megas is a goal towards which all of us must strive.

I would have run myself but I fear many among my fellow Senators harbour too strong feelings about me...

[Warmaster Horus]

Are you talking about me, Methodios? I have always considered you to be an honourable man. Alexandria and the following troubles between you and me have been for the rule of law, and any insult you may have done to my name is forgiven and forgotten.

[_Tristan_]

No, I'm not talking about you... Though you certainly fit the part. I was thinking of people leading personal vendettas for reasons that remain unknown to me...

[Ignoramus]

Ioannis Komnenos stands up.

Senators of the Roman Empire, I wish to state my intention of running for the post of Megas Logothetes once again.

Under my leadership, I propose to return Roman control over all our former lands in the east, with the exception of Jerusalem itself. It is foolish to risk bringing the wrath of Western Christendom down upon our heads, misguided barbarians though they be. The allocation of the new lands will entirely up to those who conquer them, as has formerly been the case.

I also would strengthen our ties with the Kievan Rus. As you are all well aware, my wife is Kievan princess and so that task should not in itself be too difficult.

There have been many concerns that if I were given another term as Megas Logothetes, I would use it to destroy political rivals and feather my own followers nests. I wish to dispel these rumours by promising that I will not declare war upon either the House Asteri or the Order of St. John. Indeed, I have already written to my father asking for reconciliation to be negotiated between Antypatos Ksanthopoulos and myself.

We have expanded very rapidly over the past 15 years, and so after mopping up the last few Fatimid provinces, I will seek to reorganise our frontiers, basing large legions at four strategic centres, namely Tblisi, Aleppo, Sofia, and Corinth. A smaller force may quartered at Alexandria in order to protect Egypt. As you can see, this would enable houses to effectively protect their lands, and remove the burden from the Megas Logothetes from being responsible for the whole defence of the empire.

I also believe that reform is needed in our navy. Currently, we have scattered fleets, all of which are under the command of the Megas Logothetes. Such a concentration of naval power in the hands of one man is dangerous, and therefore I propose this Charter Ammendment.

Charter Amendment 5.1: The Roman Fleet, consisting of 8 ships, is to be stationed at Constantinople under the sole command of the Basileus. The Alexandrian Fleet, consisting of 6 ships, is to be stationed at Alexandria under the command of the Megas Logothetes. Each house containing at least one coastal province has a fleet consisting of 2 ships under the command of the house leader.

Senators, we cannot allow feuds to cause a catastrophic civil war. Let us move forward for the glory of Rome!

Ioannis resumes his seat.

[pevergreen]

Michail stands
"Apart from the lunacy that would come with your returning to the position of Megas, Charter Amendment 5.1 has already been made."

[Privateerkev]

While I will follow the will of the Grandmaster in this matter, I would rather vote for a dead dog before casting a vote for the Caesar.

He still has not explained his blatant lawbreaking last time. It is not a far leap of imagination to assume that he will break the "Rules" yet again. If CA 5.1 passes, he'll probably ignore all of our "PU's" in full violation of Byzantine law. And from his point of view, why should he follow the law? He wasn't punished last time...

Plus there is the matter of civil war. We all know the Caesar will pursue one if he thinks he can get away with it. Heck, he'll probably start one by accident like last time...

While it warms my heart to see him promise not to declare war on me, I've received enough of his 'bi-polar' letters to know he happily says one thing at one moment and then the opposite the next moment.

The Senate can mark my words. If we are dumb enough to elect this man again, then we truly deserve everything he will do to us.

As for the Caesar's CA 5.1, besides being misnumbered, it is also not needed at this time. The real CA 5.1 already reforms the navy. Let's see how that works first.

[_Tristan_]

Having listened to both the Caesar and Arianitis, Methodios stands up.

I seldom agree with Arianitis but I must concede he has a point. nods to Arianitis.

Caesar, you state that you will not wage war on Asteri or St John Houses, fine... But your statement rings in my ears as if you would consider waging it against smaller houses or independant Senators, or at least leaving an open door for such opportunities. Surely I must be mistaken...

Though I consider myself a tenant of the lands of northern Egypt for the greater good of the Empire, I must say I do not take kindly to have a large fleet stationed in Alexandria and taken out of my command.

So I will not support your CA which is by the way wrongly numbered.

One more thing : what did I or any member of Ilios Korakas do to you that you should spurn us so ?

I'm quoting you :

Originally declared by Caesar Ioannis.

I will seek to reorganise our frontiers, basing large legions at four strategic centres, namely Tblisi, Aleppo, Sofia, and Corinth. A smaller force may quartered at Alexandria in order to protect Egypt.

Egypt will soon become our frontier, now that the whole Levant is in our hands. And you would leave only a token force there ? You want us to destroy the last of the Fatimids... I want it also but that requires taking Mecca and Medina, the two holy cities of the Muslim world. Do you think the Muslims will remain at peace while we desecrate their religious symbols ? We might be facing another Jihad, one that you would have us face with a "smaller force".

And how convenient your House or its closest ally will be holding three of our most strongly garrisonned settlements ? Corinth, Tbilissi and Nicaea... For I'm sure that you would not deprive your own settlement of its men to improve those you intend to strengthen...

What threat does lie on Greece and the Balkans that it should require a large army both in Corinth and Sofia ? Surely one or the other should be enough. And that may not even be the case as Constantinople is garrisoned by the Royal Army of our Basileos which should be up to the task of defending those settlements, once the Jihad under its walls has been turned away, as I am sure it will be. So I ask again what is your true intent in acting thus ? How will you fund the creation of those "legions" ? Or will you ask Senators to relinquish their hold onto their armies for the creation of these ? Leaving them without the means to defend themselves should your delusions of grandeur come knocking back again at your brain's door...

But, forgive me, my Lord, for I may have taken your whole speech seriously... But I recall now your last sentence...

Originally declared by Caesar Ioannis.

Senators, we cannot allow feuds to cause a catastrophic civil war. Let us move forward for the glory of Rome!

... and I cannot but think that all this was nothing but some cruel joke you played on us...

Have mercy, please, these are serious proceedings...

[Smowz]

Watching the events transpire, Nevoulas ek Philadelphius feels a knot well up inside his stomach. So, it is the Caeser Ioannis Komnenus himself he stands in opposition to his application for Megas. Nevoulas steels himself, knowing that whilst they may not be equals in terms of social standing or on the battlefield, inside the walls of this building perhaps they can be considered so. Even so, as he stands now Nevoulas shoots a nervy glance at the Basilues Aleksios Komnenus, Nevoulas claps his hands loudly...

Senetors, let us halt the bickering and bring the discussion round to more sensible subjects. We are all aware of the various controversies of the Caesers last Megas term and whilst some of us may have a problems his methods. These so-called infringements should be forgotten now, I do not want us to go over old ground once more.

We cannot deny that the Caeser and his house the Komnenodoukai have done wonderful work in last twenty or so years in crushing the Seljuk Sultanate that had plagued our past. We should not forget that the Seljuks had at one stage come close to taking over Anatolia and it is through successive military victories that they have been pushed back. Senators Pavlos Chrysovergos, Lisas Attaleiatis, Ioannis Kantakouzinos and even the infamous Hypatios Machonios, should also be heartily heralded as saviors of the region.

I feel that this house have the task of 'mopping up' firmly in hand and themselves and the Order should be able to handle things from here with minimal extra help from the Megas other than funds to be diverted toward reinforcements and missionary work.

It does sadden me that the Caeser feels the need to run against myself, however that is his prerogative and I respect that.

Nevoulas turns to the Caeser, and offers a bow.

Good luck to you Caeser.

I like you feel the need to strengthen our power bases in the west as well as elsewhere to protect against rebellions from within and the still powerful but muddled Christians to the west. I feel your proposed fleet charter however is somewhat unneeded and would prove cumbersome to implement at this stage in time.


Nevoulas turns now to address the Illes Korakas delegates headed by Methodios Tagaris and Nikolaos Aristenos.

I feel for your loss of Senator Annios Solomon , his campaign toward the holy sities of Mecca and Medina whilst poorly planned was indeed the kind of strategy I wish to follow in Egypt. I will fully support yours or any other house if they can pursue the followers of Islam down to these places, for they seem to be the spawn of these fanatical Muslims that seem to hate us so.

Annios did reveal some of the strengths of the Fatamid Caliphate in the region, and I believe that unlike him you shall require a fleet to transport your troops efficiently down to these core areas. I believe it is important that these places are held and strengthened for it will eventually eliminate the threat of the Fatamids and the Seljuks once and for all.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios explodes at Nevoulas's words.

"so-called infringements!"

So called infringements!!!!

The Caesar broke the law! And not some Edicts which few seem to give weight to anyways. But Rules. The very thing that is actually against the law to break.

I refuse to "forget" the issue when the very man who broke the rules refuses to answer for his crimes and then wishes to run again.

I can only assume, that if the Caesar somehow becomes Megas again, he will continue to break the rules. And since we all know he is planning, plotting, and dreaming of civil war, his rule breaking will be in the furtherance of this goal.

These "so called infringements" need to be brought up and debated because they are at the very heart of what the Caesar's future Megas term would look like.

These "so called infringements" were laws that were clearly broken. If Nevoulas would like a lecture on the law, and how the Caesar clearly and willfully broke the law, then I will happily give him one.

And these "so called infringements" put people's lives in danger! We were at war at the time and the Caesar's law breaking illegally denied us an army at the very time we were being attacked. To hear something so serious passed off as a "so called infringement" really pisses me off!

Any man who wishes to be Megas better know the law. And more than that, he better love the law. Because it is actually against the law, to break the law. If we ever lose sight of that, we will degenerate into either anarchy or despotism. Neither of which will be good for the Empire.

I am fully convinced that the Caesar does not love the law. He only sees it as an impediment to his dreams of power. During his term, he did everything he could to see to it that people who voted against him suffered. And in doing so, he broke the !@#$'ing law!!! And the Senate absolutely refused to hold the man to account. So, from his point of view, he clearly got away with it. Therefore, there is nothing stopping him from breaking the law again.

Some of the same people who whine when an edict is broken stood silent when the Rules were broken. We must love both Edicts and Rules. And if we are forced to defend one over the other, it must be Rules that have primacy. For our whole system of government is based on the Rules.

I am almost tempted to offer a CA that would actually punish someone for breaking a Rule. But if I have to do that, we have reached a sad and dark day in our history. For the Rules shouldn't have to be defended in such a way. And if the Rules can be broken, then that CA would just get broken as well. Is that really where we want things to go? Where things that are supposedly sacrosanct have to be protected by something else that is supposedly sacrosanct?

[_Tristan_]

Methodios stands and adresses the Order benches.
Now, Makedonios, please calm down...

Go easy on our colleague Nevoulas here... He's caught between the rock and a hard place... So I understand that he doesn't want to antogonize any of the powerful factions here, though it seems he failed in not antagonizing you.

Surely you can see you'd better off supporting him and denying the Caesar his wish than berating him. I agree with that his choice of words was tactless but it is the spirit of it that counts.

Nevoulas argues for leaving the past behind us and stride towards a brighter future. That will only be achieved if we are able to deny the Caesar access to the position of Megas Logothethes and thus put aside any risks of civil war.

But maybe I should Nevoulas speak for himself as I am sure he is most capable of.

[Privateerkev]

No Methodios I will not calm down.

We lost men because of the Caesar's "so called infringments." And thousands of lives were put at risk. We took more losses than normal protecting Constantinople from the Jihad because we were cruelly and illegally denied a perfectly valid private army. A capital that the Caesar has singularly failed to protect. He took the money he saved by breaking the law and sank it into a useless army that he has done absolutely nothing with. It now garrisons a city far away from any fighting.

I will berate anyone who attempts to belittle the sacrifice of soldiers who were only doing their job, despite a total and complete lack of support from their Megas at the time. Calling the Caesar's crimes "so called infringements" is a slap in the face and a dishonor to those who protect us. While I am sure Nevoulas did not mean it that way, his casual attitude makes it clear that some in here have forgotten what the Caesar has done, and what it cost us.

[rossahh]

If you were so outraged Makedonios, why did you not even attempt to punish the Caesar? You are a senator, you could have proposed a motion to punish the Caesar but you did nothing. Justice was yours for the taking, yet you could not find the strength to reach out and grab it. Kicking over the bones of this issue is pointless. Save your breath and just vote for the candidate who you feel will act in the best interests of the Empire.

I of course, shall be voting for my colleague and friend, Nevoulas. That said, I will still listen to the Casesar and what he has to say without screaming at him. The time for that has passed. Holding on to this petty hatred is not the way you would want history to remember you, is it?

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Theo stands..

I will propose the following CA to prevent any further law braking:

CA 5.2: The following lines will be added to the rule 2.5:

2.5 – Oaths of Fealty: In order to become a Vassal of another player, a Senator must take an Oath of Fealty by specifically swearing allegiance to that player in a public thread. The prospective Lord has the right to refuse to accept the Oath. An Oath of Fealty can be broken if either the Lord or the Vassal specifically revokes it in a public thread. If a Vassal breaks an Oath of Fealty without the permission of his Lord, he cannot swear a new Oath of Fealty until 5 turns have passed. A Senator can only have one Lord at a time, but he may have an unlimited number of Vassals. Oaths of Fealty cannot be sworn or broken while the Senate is in session. If Senator brakes the law his Oath of Fealty shall be considered invalid and he will be thrown out of his House. He can not swear a new Oath until 5 turns have passed. His land will become the property of his Lord. If he doesn't have a Lord then his land will become the property of Basileus.

Now this should make people think twice before the try to brake any law!

[Andres]

Savvas enteres the Magnaura.

15 years of self imposed exile hadn't change his handsome features at first glance.

A closer look at him however revealed a certain sadness on his face, as well as bitterness and well hidden anger.

Senators, I didn't think I would ever say these words: I've missed this place. I really did.

I still have to read all the reports, but I already learned that over the past 15 years, the Order has grown and has become very powerful, just like I predicted.

Makedonios, a long time ago, you asked the Caesar this question:

Can you tell me how sinking all of the Empire's resources into one corner of the Empire was good for the Empire?

Makedonios, can you tell me how sinking all of the Empire's resources into one corner of the Empire was good for the Empire?

I'll await your response. In the meantime, I'll catch up on the reports of the last couple of years.

Savvas walks to his chair, hesitates and stops.

Oh, and I've noticed that the vassal of my vassal will run for Megas. Obviously, he has my blessing. But I also consider the Caesar a personal friend. I must be getting old and melancholic, but to me, friendship is important and it does influence my political stance.

Therefore, I will abstain in the next election. I have full confidence in both candidates and I wish them both the best of luck.

Savvas sits down and starts to read several documents.

[rossahh]

I see one problem with your CA, dear Theo. What if the Basileus is the one who breaks the law? He has no house to be thrown out of and any lands he is stripped of will be promptly returned to him.

[ULC]

Nikolaos returns to the Magnaura with a bottle of wine in hand. He sits back down and pours himself a glass, muttering under his breath.

"If I have to listen to everyone bicker about the past before we get anywhere, then might as well pass the time well...anyone else for a drink?"

[Andres]

Savvas looks up, and whispers something to one of his scribes. The scribe gives him a document, which Savvas starts to read.

If Senator brakes the law his Oath of Fealty shall be considered invalid and he will be thrown out of his House. He can not swear a new Oath until 5 turns have passed. His land will become the property of his Lord. If he doesn't have a Lord then his land will become the property of Basileus.

Our ancestors had a saying: necessitas frangit legem.

Sometimes, gentlemen, necessity forces one to break the law...

I can think of many examples, but I'll give just one: let's assume that during the invasion of the Fatimids in Corinth, I was not allowed to use the garrisons of Aleksios and Ioannis Kalameteros, because both Senators were not able to communicate with me (e.g. the messenger gets killed, they were too far away, they were wounded and not able to write a message, etc. (OOC: they were offline)).

I can tell you that I would have taken both garrisons anyway to defeat the Fatimids.

Obviously, my action would have been illegal. If the proposed charter amendment would have been valid, I would have been kicked out of my House for breaking the law...

And for acting as a prudent Senator and preventing the people of Corinth to suffer under a Fatimid siege...

The Charter Amendment as proposed is too strict and doesn't take into consideration exceptional circumstances.

Let's try to put some more common sense into our legislative work, shall we?

[Ignoramus]

Ioannis Komnenos stands up and bows courteously to Nevoulas ek Philadelphius.

I thank you for your acknowledgement of the service my generals have made to the empire, especially Pavlos Chyrsovergos, who has been exemplary in his service to the empire. I would like to return the favour, seeing how valiantly the men of the Asteri have fought against the Seljuks of Iconion and Caesarea, now honouring the fallen Markonios Ampelas.

I apologise for any sadness my running has caused you, and I wish to indicate that it is not that I disrespect you, but I desire for a healthy contest between two or more candidates. I believe you would manage the empire very well, and would have no hesitation voting for you myself, if I were not running.

Ioannis resumes his seat.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios, can you tell me how sinking all of the Empire's resources into one corner of the Empire was good for the Empire?

I didn't sink all of the Empire's resources into one corner of the Empire. I fear your exile has left you unable to read basic Megas Reports. After you read those, feel free to get back to me.

If you were so outraged Makedonios, why did you not even attempt to punish the Caesar?

I did try to punish him. I asked repeatedly for an emergency session. It seems your own absence has left you unable to read Senate transcripts. After you catch up on those, feel free to get back to me.

Holding on to this petty hatred is not the way you would want history to remember you, is it?

I don't give a good !@#$ how history remembers me and nor should you or anyone in here. And how dare you call my feelings "petty hatred." Do you claim the ability to look into my soul and know my thoughts and feelings dear Ziga?

And yet again, the Asteri are white-washing the suffering the Caesar caused. I propose that both Nevoulas and Ziga go and talk to the widows and families of the soldiers who died because the Caesar did not give us a legally mandated private army that the law demanded he create, and not only create, but deliver in a prompt fashion. Not to mention the fact that it was very much AGAINST THE LAW to break this law. And he did it no less than THREE MOTHER!@#$$'ing TIMES!

Now, does anyone else want to even attempt to tell me that criminal neglect is just fine and dandy?

[pevergreen]

Michail's laugh rings out around the Mangaura

"Oh yes he broke the law Makedonis, we are aware of that. I like to forgive and forget in most cases. What I find hilarious is you harping on about it every time it is brought up! Law this and Law that! You make me laugh. I'd also like to keep the language civil, I dont envy the amount of editing you are making the scribes do."

[_Tristan_]

Methodios stands up and claps his hands slowly.

Congratulations, My lord Caesar...

Truly masterful...

In two short sentences, you've managed to recall to our attention the successes of your House and those you wanted as your allies in your "civil war". Maybe I'm becoming paranoid after having been too long in these halls but I can't help thinking that there is a lot of double-entendre in that speech of yours... It sounds almost as if you are trying to send Asteri a message... Plotting another civil war, My Lord ?

Masterful also, how, while flattering Nevoulas and wishing him the best in the upcoming election, you manage to tell us that you will be running against him.

I cannot but think that this is only some sly way to impress upon us the need to vote for the right person... That is you...


Truly masterful...

Clapping his hands once again, Methodios sits back down.

[Andres]

Savvas has an amused look on his face when watching Mak's show.

Ah, Grandmaster...

Yes, I know you're no longer the Grandmaster, but to me you'll always be "Grandmaster"...

And what's with all the swearing lately? Why are you upset? Is it old age which causes your bad temper? Your pneumonia perhaps?

Or is it because you don't like being in a House that holds roughly one third of the entire territory of the Byzantine Empire?

Or are you a bit frustrated because you're no longer the leader of the Order?

You know, dear Grandmaster, you should have a few drinks with me once this session is over. It'll do you some good.

Savvas raises a large goblet of wine, sips on it and puts it down again.

Anyway, dear foe, I see you still like a good bit of slander, eh? What is it now... Oh yes, I can't read.

Well, well, well.

"Basic Megas reports"? I don't need no "basic megas reports" to see that the Order has expanded excessively under your reign, dear Grandmaster.

I'm glad we have now two capable and more trustworthy candidates running for Megas. I urge whoever wins the elections to keep a close eye on our friends of the Order. I'm sure the Order won't mind a bit of "assistance" and "special attention" during the next Megas term...

With such a large empire, sorry, territory, they surely won't mind somebody watching a bit over their shoulders...

[OverKnight]

Aleksios raps his fist against the Throne three times, the sound echoes through the Magnaura. He stands to speak.

Order! Order! I will have order in the Senate!

Aleksios looks slowly around the Magnaura, making eye contact with each Senator.

Is this what we have come to? Old grievances rehashed and sarcastic asides in place of debate and legislation?

Whatever troubles that have plagued us, they have been resolved to my satisfaction. Considering that no new laws have been proposed this session to address the frequent complaints I have heard, it seems most of the Senate agrees with me.

We have a blank slate Senators, I suggest we use it.

Whatever inequalities that might still exist, the Empire has managed to reclaim, with exception of some of the Levant, all the Eastern territories that belonged to Constatine. We are again a world power. This has much to do with the men who were elected as Megas Logothetes, all of them. While each man has his detractors, each has advanced the boundaries and might of the Empire.

The system we implemented in 1081 is working. While tensions exist between Houses, between Senators and the Imperial family, and even within the Houses themselves, such competition has served to propel the Empire as a whole forward. Do not lose sight of this. Do not take it for granted.

The question is what do we do know? Do we continue forward, a fractious but succesful Empire, or do we let petty squabbles and bruised egos consume us? Our enemies lie in wait, hoping that we will destroy ourselves.

Once the Turks and Fatimids are finished, we must continue to reclaim all that was once ours. The West beckons to us Senators. Rome itself, the cradle of our Empire, calls to us for liberation. One day we will return there, one day will reclaim all that was lost. But that day will only come when we can put the Empire above faction and division, when the ambition of Romans is turned to reconquest and not against each other.

We have come too far to fall again.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Protoasecretes:

Right now, right now. It seems as if my memory is failing me, almost as if I have never done this before. What is the next step?

*A scribe leans over and whispers something into the Protoasecretes's ear.*

Ah, of course, of course!

Ahem, Senators, the period for the proposal and seconding of legislation has now passed. It seems as if there is only one piece of legislation to be voted on, and it appears to be... erm... mine! Or, rather not mine, but Arnold-God's and his Brass Prophets! In any case, I was the one who proposed it. Ha! Haha! Hahahahahahaha!

*After this fit of laughter, the Protoasecretes calms down somewhat.*

In any case, voting for this wonderful piece of work as well as the election for Megas will commence shortly. As always, the voting period will be 48 hours.

[flyd]

Isaakios slumps in his chair as he realizes that this new Protoasecretes, whether he be a replacement for the old one or just filling in, is no less strange. It seems the entire Protoasecretian Corps has collectively lost its mind. He grimaces slightly at the thought that they actually seem to have an important administrative function, but shrugs the whole thing off and nods off again.

[Cecil XIX]

Without announcement, Armatos ek Naksou bursts through the doors of the Magnaura. His armor, having normally born numerous marks and scratches from dirt and sand, is now polished to mirror sheen.

Gentlemen! Lords of Rome and Constantinople! At long, long last I have arrived! Please forgive my tardiness, for enroute to our fair capital my dromon was beset upon by a storm that could only have been sent by the Devil himself! Fortunately our Lord was with me and my men, for instead of being sent to the bottom of our sea we were merely set adrift. Indeed, it was the lord who guided my ship to my own homeland, the isle of Naxos, where we were able to make the necessary repairs and finally complete our journey.

Still. Armatos sighs It seems I missed the period of debate for this Magnaura. No matter, those laws which were necessary have been seconded, and we have an able candidate for Megas Logothetes in Nevoulas ek Philadelphius. With all due respect to the Caesar, the revelation of his intention to declare war upon the Order, denounce us as traitors, end our lives and take our land is far too recent. Considering that his plan could have gone into effect this very term were it not for the robust health of our wise and measured Basileus, it would be unreasonable to support him now.

I am sorry to see the term of my predecessor come to an end. He improved the infrastructure in twenty-seven different provinces, with each house receiving development. We should all hope that subsequent Mega should show such fairness, budget allowing.

I am also grateful for Makedonios for retiring and giving me his blessing to become Grandmaster of the Knights of St. John. I pledge to lead the Order into further prosperity, and it is deepest wish to see the Empire and Orthodoxy grow ever stronger. I shall enjoy working with you all to further that task.

[Smowz]

Nevoulas ek Philadelphius enters the chamber from the Asteri offices and strides towards the centre and nods his head in direction of the Grandmaster.

It is always good to have the support of our beloved Order of St. John.

Gentlemen we await the full results of the election. I am overwhelmed by your support and by my calculation you have indeed elected me Megas. I cannot thank you enough for this honour.

Turning now toward the Basileus and the Caeser. Bows and then says:

However all this could not be possible without the Senate that you have maintained here my lords. You may not have voted for me, for obvious reasons but make no mistake my loyalty remains toward the empire and your family. I thank you for this opportunity and I hope you find my megas term to your satisfaction.

Caeser, may I say that we have conducted one of the fairest elections with the upmost respect for each other.

[Smowz]

Fellow senators,

One of my main agendas as Megas will be to eliminate those which do us harm. The losses we have suffered, the children who have dies, the women who have been abused at the hands of these fanatics is unacceptable.

The nature of this beast is three pronged, we have the Fatamid Caliphate to the south, the mysterious Moorish threat and of course our oldest enemy the Seljuk Sultanate.

In the years of my term at office I intend to update you all on our progress in these areas. I admit in the past year I have been unable to make too many funds available to our campiagning troops and wish our my fellow senators all the best in their efforts on the frontier.

Let me start with the Fatamid Caliphate, after the recent successful crusade, the formation of the House Illes Korakas and the adventures of Vissarionas ek Lesvou the enemy has been forced out of its Egyptian outposts.

The siege of Gaza by Stavros ek Amarinthou continues, the Fatamid Sultan Bakr himself remains trapped inside. However Stavros' supplies are running dangerously low and his health seems to be wavering.

We know of a further major Fatamid settlement to the south of here known as Mecca, an important religious site for these heathens. It would be a great prize and a fatal blow to these Muslims if this was taken from them.

The army sighted by the Nile has disappeared into the wilderness, I find it difficult to believe that the army could be maintained for any length of time in the land from where they were spotted.

I continue onto the Seljuk Sultanate, despite endless victories in recent times we must continue to pursue these turks relentlessly my freinds for they will return. The last well known Turkish settlement lies in the Levant at Damascus. The capture and conversion of this area will surely be the last bastion of Islamic strength in the Holy Land.

There are rumours of further Seljuk lands to the East of here, at some stage during my term I hope to send some scouts to explore the area.

I finally move on to the Moors, an invader from parts unknown to us, the colour of their skin suggests their roots are deep in the vast continent to the south of us. We have reports from Venetian traders of ships bearing their markings sailing as close to the Italian peninsula and further more that they have a base in Cordoba in far off Espana. I intend to gather more information on this enemy.

[Ramses II CP]

An ancient scribe walks slowly to the center of the chamber bearing a letter on which can clearly be seen the personal seal of Vissarionas ek Lesvou. He still speaks loudly and clearly enough for all present in the senate chamber to hear,

Nobles of the Empire a dark and terrible day has come upon us all for that mightiest of Emperors, Aleksios the Chivalrous, Restorator of Legacy of Rome and Guardian of All Orthodoxy has at last fallen prey to that rough beast who stalks us all, time. I pray, as I am sure we all do, that he has gone to his just and well earned reward! I pray also that his like shall someday come again! I pray for the merciful gaze of the Creator to be turned upon us to spare us the coming storm!

For if any one thing is certain, it is that a vast and terrible storm builds beneath the sinews of the Empire. During the reign of Aleksios the Bold only one man among us plotted to drag down the Empire; only one man skulked in the shadows making ready for war betwixt Romans. That man is now, in name at least, Emperor. I put forward now that I will never bend knee to that snake, that false King, no more than I would turn my back on him!

I put it to you all, repudiate his claim! Reject his lies, steeped in the venom of civil war, and cast him out! It is not the way of Romans to scrape before their Lords, but to challenge them, to bring forth what is best in them, or the scatter the dust of them if they prove unworthy! This man is unworthy. It is not merely that he sought to destroy noblemen of the Empire and embroil our lands in war, not merely that he ignored and abused the law, nor that he repeatedly demonstrated cowardice in the face of the Muslim jihads. No, all that might be enough, but that is not all.

He has also-

The scribe's elegant flow of words is cut off, abruptly, by a shudder which swells through his body and causes him to collapse on his face. Two of the younger scribes rush out to see to the old man, and when they hastily flip him over the parchment he was holding flutters into the air and comes to rest with the seal down and the blank side, which the 'letter' of Vissarionas had been read from, visible.

As for the scribe, his eyes have filmed with blood and it's quite clear he is no longer breathing. The other scribes gather up the body reverantly and begin to carry it out of the chamber, pausing only to turn his effects over to the Varangians at the entrance.

(I'm sure it's rather obvious what they are, but if you care to ask the guards I'll put them in spoiler text.)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Item 1. The personal seal of Senator ek Lesvou.
Item 2. A small purse containing various personal effects such as chalk, charcoal, bit of wax wrapped in paper, a pair of fine stone writing instruments, and several old and well worn letters.
Item 3. The sole letter of note is dated from two Senate sessions ago; it is written in a crude, child-like hand, and reads,

My good friend Issakios,

I am not a writer. I can read when I must, but no more. I do not intend to return to Constantinople unless Aleksios himself calls us. Pissed the Caesar right off with that speech. Figure he'll have me killed anyway. Won't make it easy.

So I need someone to fight for me here. There is no one else. Father swears by you. I beg you, speak in my name, write in my name, carry on the struggle.

God will watch you. I know it. I have much work to do to atone. I pray I will see you again someday.

Maybe you could call yourself Isaeus. I always liked his limericks.

Vissa