The Magnaura

[Ignoramus]

The Basileus replies.

I willingly accept your oath, and I thank you for your previous acts of loyalty.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Klimis Dokeianos:

I hereby swear fealty to my Basileus, Ioannis Komnenos.

*Klimis pauses before continuing.*

I also swear fealty to Apionnas Vringas.

[_Tristan_]

Methodios stands and adresses the Caesar.

Lord, I ask you to reconsider the ban of Senator Petzeas.

Would you rather have him swear his undefectible loyalty while planning behind your back to remove you ? Or do you prefer to have speak his mind freely and thus know where to stand regarding him ? How many of those who have pledged their loyalty will be ready to challenge you in the years to come, without you being the wisest, secure in your belief of their undying loyalty ?

This ban of yours will not endear you to the people of the Empire nor to our fellow Senators. Your father, may he rest in peace, created this august body so that all the parties that composed the Empire, all opinions were given a voice, a voice that could be heard by the low as well as the mighty, so that our Empire did not live again the dark days of internal strife brought by behind-the-scenes scheming that preceded his accession to the throne.

By shutting off Petzeas' voice, you create a precedent that casts a shadow on your reign. It foreshadows a reign where ,as it was in the past, people will be afraid to talk openly and afraid to talk in the open, people will resort to playing cloak-and-dagger games to express their opinions, their anger unchecked and uncheckable, until the worst happens.

Who will you ban next ? The man that will dare question one of your proposed legislation ? The man who will dare question your authority on any matter ? Is this truly what you want ? To give yourself the image of a tyrannic leader who cannot bear any discording voice among the Empire nobility ? Surely you must see that not all Senators here present are of one mind on all matters of state... Dissent and discussion is what sets us above the barbarians...

Is that the image you want to give of your reign ?

Let Petzeas and others like him talk... Let the people hear what they have to say... Refute yourself their lies or have one of your followers refute them if you find that task too low to be accomplished by your august person.

But enough on that...

One more thing though : I am still willing to hear about this Privy Council, its composition and purpose if you would be so kind as to enlighten me on the matter.

[Warmaster Horus]

Nikiphoros wakes up from a long slumber, in the back rows of the Magnaura. Reading the latest reports, he rises, and says loudly:
"I will always support the crown, and as the crown is Ioannis Komnenos, I swear fealty to him."
Under his breath, though, he says:
"The things we do for an Empire..."

[OverKnight]

Tiverios glances about the chamber, as if trying to understand the lay of the land. He pauses and then speaks.

I swear fealty to Apionnas Vringas.

[Ignoramus]

The Basileus eyes the new Caesar curiously.

I will not reconsider my decision. Senator Petzeas has been banned from this session for the reasons I have previously stated.

The Basileus turns to address the Magnaura more broadly.

I am pleased to inform the Magnaura of the Privy Council. The Lords of the Privy Council are my brother, Andronikos, Pavlos Chrysovergos, and Apionnas Vringos. They are my personal advisors and give me their counsel on matters of state.

And I hereby appoint Apionnas Vringos as Lord High Chancellor, Pavlos Chrysovergos as Lord High Steward, and Andronikos Komnenos as keeper of the Privy Seal.

[Ituralde]

Pavlos nods gracefully.

"I thank you for this honour, Basileus!"