The Magnaura

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Theo wants to say something but words don't want to come out of his mouth..

[deguerra]

Despite having kept a stone cold face during all of the proceedings, Ioannis cannot but give Isaakios a wide smile

[AussieGiant]

My Lord Isaakios,

Can you complete a few oversights in your monologue?

If you have the time please let me know so I can ask the questions in a timely manner.

[flyd]

Certainly, Senator Vringas, I do plan on sticking around long enough to defend my statements.

[Dafuge]

Ethymios smirks briefly before returning to his work.

[AussieGiant]

Excellent.

Just a few questions.

1) Who declared war on who?

2) Who has escalated this event most recently?

3) Did anyone at any stage request by way of edict or CA any changes to the Royal Powers of the Basileus prior to this event?

4) Define the different types of Royalty, if any, their different responsibilities, if any, and how we can tell the differences at this time?

5) Is there any ability to avoid the requirements and/or benefits of being part of the Royal Lineage?

6) Please state what parts of the Royal Powers warrant the title "some great crime" if they are defied, please also state what the categories of defying other powers are, and most importantly why?

[flyd]

A little disappointing, Vringas, that you ignore the main points and focus on the periphery of the argument, with unclear and misleading questions. Nonetheless, I shall indulge you as I promised.

1. An irrelevant technicality. If we accept that Tagaris acts out of love, which I claimed in my statement, then his hand was forced. And he didn't "declare war" outright as much as he sanctioned an illegal marriage. Certainly, you can argue if it was a right thing to do or not, but the actual declaration of the war is only a minor legalism.

2. Ioannis. It could have, perhaps, remained a conflict between Ioannis (and his followers) and Tagaris, but Ioannis called on all Senators to enter the war. He said, "I hereby call upon all senators and nobles of the empire to declare their hand - now. I will have no neutrality. You either will declare against the Caesar, or against me." This is an escalation.

3. No, perhaps they expected to be able to deal with Ioannis in a reasonable fashion, and did not expect him to merely declare his decision in the Senate without any consultation of the father. Perhaps they were too optimistic.

4. You can look at the charter if you want legal definitions of the different strata in our society. If you want a semantic definition, you can look in a dictionary (probably from Latin rex, meaning king). I know you're trying to get at something here, but I don't know what. You could speak more plainly.

5. Is there a need to exercise every power to your personal advantage, even when it causes animosity among Senators, and starts civil wars and endangers the Empire, i.e. just because you can, must you?

6. "Some great crime" isn't a "title" and gives no legal distinction when applied. I used it as a descriptor, the sentence out of which you pulled the phrase said "If he defied, he can be punished." For a man who so often speaks against excessive legalism, you are certainly clinging onto words and definitions with an uncharacteristic ferocity.

[Ramses II CP]

A letter arrives from Vissarionas ek Lesvou, stamped with his seal. The treatment of the previous messenger has not gone unremarked, however, as this one is given directly into the hands of Imperial scribes and the messenger who delivered it flees before they bring it into the Magnaura chamber to be read. The scribe who is selected, a young man who is obviously mildly retarded but has been trained to read slowly and loudly, bears the letter forward and stares stupidly at the Emperor for a moment before starting,

Senators of Rome,

I am disgusted that acts of assassination have been carried out within our Empire. Only the lowest, most depraved, diabolical, power mad sort of fool would engage the services of these foul beasts of Islam.

Which is why it comes as an utter shock to me to discover that our Emperor was not the man who engaged them against me. I confirm that here in the Senate for all to hear. It was not him. Truly. I doubted it at first as well, but the information I have really is quite reliable. Yes, extremely reliable, I checked it personally! Please believe me, he didn't do it.

In any case, if any are still listening credibly, I wish to personally disavow any use of the assassins in retaliation and I would expect every chivalrous member of the Senate to do the same. Further acts of assassination against me will result in retaliation of a more direct, honest kind, and rest assured as certainly as I know the identity of my current assailant I will discover the names of any future ones. I am already working out terms to bring a peaceful conclusion to the conflict unecessarily brought between myself and another House.

I have the oddest feeling that the Emperor would delight in having me join the Caesar's cause as well, but this too shall I decline to do. It is the right of the head of a household to assign those females of his line to whatever depraved fate his fancy finds entertaining. Alas that it is so, but it is so, and has always been. I will pray that a peaceful resolution can be found.

Of course I will also decline to attack the Caesar in the Emperor's name. If nothing else I lack the forces to do so successfully, seeing as someone had my best troops assassinated on the assumption I would be joining Methodios.

Go with God senators, pray for peace, and do not allow yourselves to be compelled to fight in this mad civil war. I happen to have met the girl in question, and while she has a wonderful personality I personally wouldn't so much as step into a leaky rowboat to fight a frog for her hand.

Vissarionas ek Lesvou

[AussieGiant]

Turning from the scribe who just read out the letter from Vissarionas, Apionnas address Isaakios.

I suppose what I'm trying to work out Isaakios, is how the Emperor of this Realm, using powers no one has disputed, ever, in fact does exercise one of these "said powers", which we all know is designed to increase the Komnenoi line, something the the specific power is designed to support.

At this time, a fully fledged member of the Royal Family and Caesar of this Empire no less, who has been a fully fledged member for some years I might add, and therefore someone we can assume that as a member of the Royal Family full well knows the benefits and limitations of holding such high office, decides that in this particular case the laws should not apply to his daughter, a Royal Princess of this Realm, with all the trappings, privileges and obligations that go with such a station.

So instead of marrying a direct descendant of our most beloved Emperor Aleksios, the 'sane' move at this time, rather than discuss things privately, is to now, in a fit of apparent love for his daughter, that instead of complying with the laws of the land, which no one has disputed or even discussed, even though such Royally arranged weddings were used to organise our current Emperor's wedding, is no longer appropriate.

So...rather than using any civilised mechanism of Edicts, Charter Amendments or other such devises, the Caesar decides, using all rational means at his disposal to 'instead'...'declare war', which is labeled a "minor legalism" by you, a somewhat understated comment if ever I have heard one.

Your defense of this 'minor legalistic' approach, is that the Caesar, was "forced".

Of course there is no mention of 'insanity' or 'flying pigs' in your defense, the actual defense you use is, "he was forced."

It does seem all rather dramatic, especially considering the level of sophistication and civilisation on display here in this chamber.

All in all, it is a rather appropriate way to go about the running of an Empire and certainly an excellent way of handling marriages as it pertains to Royal Princesses.

So go right ahead Isaakios, be disappointed in me, because that is certainly the most sane approach to this whole thing as far as any sane person would believe.

Taking a seat Apionnas glances up and continues;

"On a small administrative matter the following individuals have been admitted to the University.

Scholars:

Methodios Tagaris
Aleksios ek Ikoniou
Ioannis Kalameteros
Vartholomaios Ksiros
Tiverios Indikoplefstis"