The Magnaura

[Ignoramus]

The Varangian Guard enters the Magnaura and immediately flanks the Basileus, who rises to speak.

AS they have disobeyed my commands, I will do as I have promised.

I hereby declare war on the Order of St. John, for completely ignoring my calls to declare their hand.

I also declare Michail Arianitis a traitor for renouncing his oath of allegiance to the Basileus, which he swore in this august body. I also hereby declare Durazzo confiscated to the empire, and anyone who brings this upstart to account shall be granted Durazzo as a reward.

I also strongly rebuke Aleksios ek Ikoniou and Tiverios Indikoplefstis for closing their provinces from the Megas. I hope that reason will soon rise over petty politics.

Senators, you may have wished to ignore my calls to chose sides before, but you cannot do so now. Choose you this day whom you will serve.

The Basileus leaves the Magnaura, escorted by the Varangians.

[deguerra]

Ioannis nods approvingly and finally stands to speak himself

I agree entirely with Alexios and Tiverios. That said, I hereby declare war on Methodios Tagaris. I do so entirely unconvinced that war is in any way, shape or form the best course of action and with the strongest appeal to both parties to solve this conflict in a diplomatic fashion. We are Romans, after all, not barbarians or heathens.

I declare war because I believe in the laws of this Empire, and the laws of this Empire, as Apioannas has correctly stated, were broken by Methodios Tagaris. Basileos Ioannis does not have a clean track record with regards to laws, but that is not a matter that needs consideration now. Nor are matters of love and emotion, as Savvas correctly pointed out, even though I too suspect that they are the underlying currents of this conflict.

But I will not judge matters on suspicion and I will not apply law on personal feelings. I will apply law to facts, and the fact is that Methodios' actions were illegal under the laws that we, the Senate of the Roman Empire created. Without these laws there is no Roman Empire and if we start letting emotions and personal grudges get the better of our judgment then we are crafting our own downfall. As far as my application of law is concerned, Methodios is guilty and my declaration of war is the correct response.

Beyond that, however, the law requires naught of me, and I remain increasingly hesitant to follow my declaration with deeds, encourage others to actively wage war or even support those who will seek to do so.

Rather, and this is my initial point, I would like to instruct Nevoulas as the man in charge of Asteri building and recruitment to notify the Megas Logothetes Pavlos, and may I congratulate him on his victory and voice my support in these difficult times, that neither Athens nor Thessaloniki will be available for recruitment of soldiers for the duration of this war and that their taxes should be set to low until further notice. Furthermore, I encourage the other members of House Asteri, our close allies in House Tagmata and indeed all other land-owning Senators to do the same.

With regards to an Emergency session, I have to say I do not think that anybody has the power to call one, nor do I really deem one necessary at this point in time.

Upon hearing Ioannis' latest words, Ioannis (:P)frowns

Basilos, with all due respect, let's not have this get out of hand. And I would like to be included on the list of those rebuked.

[flyd]

Ha! Now who didn't see this coming?

Let's see then. The Order of St. John, and old rival of our dear Emperor, gets a war declared on them. Their leader has not stated his position on this issue, the rest have been neutral, and Basileus' most vocal detractor has declared for him.

Meanwhile, the other people who have declared neutrality get "rebuked". Senators who have pledged to starve the war of resources (a move against the Basileus, since his follower is the Megas Logothetes) get a warning, while the Order, who have not even taken that action, are enemies.

Oh, what were we talking about before? Was there some princess or something? I forget. It doesn't seem to have much bearing at all.

[deguerra]

Quite, Isaakios. Whoever said politics couldn't be fun.

I have addressed, I think, the issue of the Princess, of love, of old allegiances and grudges in this matter. If you would like to discuss it further, I can only encourage this.

However, you are quite correct on the matter of neutrality. I would like to make it very clear that I do not declare war on the Order of St. John and as far as I am concerned see these two wars as quite separate. If I am wrong in my interpretation, then I will immediately seek peace arrangements. Furthermore, I sharply condone the declaration of war on the Order for its neutrality, as well as any verbal attack on those who show their neutrality otherwise, a group to which I have tied myself, I might remind you.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Klimis Dokeianos:

Let me first reaffirm my undying allegiance to Byzantium and thus its leader, Basileus Ioannis Komnenos.

I hereby declare war on Methodios Tagaris, the Order of St. John, and Michail Ariantis.

[OverKnight]

Tiverios gapes.

What has the Order done to deserve a Declaration of War? The Basileus's Nemesis is in exile on Cyprus and the new Grandmaster has shown no hostility or any sign of treason. This has crossed from a legitmate complaint, though one that should be solved through diplomacy, to a crass land grab.

Your Majesty, I served with your Father. Basileus Aleksios, God rest his soul, would be shamed by this.

I am under no obligation to join in this mercenary act of piracy. You are the Emperor, but your Majesty is not the Law and the Senate is not ruled by decree. I reject your call to arms as it is not for the defense of the Empire, but for settling an old grudge.

Tiverios turns to the rest of the Senate.

I implore my fellow Senators to step back from the Abyss. Do not be a part of this unjust and unworthy persecution. Do not let tyranny flourish in our beloved Empire.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

So.. The Basileus is finally showing what kind of mad man he is! Declaring War against the Order?! That's a bit stupid, don't you think? But.. If war is what Ioannis wants then war shall he get! I decided to be neutral in the matter of that Princess thing but this...

As long as my Grandmaster says otherwise or signs a peace treaty with Ioannis then this 'Basileus' of ours can count me as his enemy!

[AussieGiant]

Apionnas shakes his head in resignation and stands.

I hereby declare war on Methodios Tagaris.

The law is clear.

[Smowz]

Nevoulas looks pleased. He rises from he position amongst the senators of the Kommandaukai.

So we can now see who is for whom. I applaud the High Chancellor Vringas and Patrikos Kalematros here for making their voices heard. It seems their may be a future for our empire after all.

I now need to make arrangements for my fleet that currently is out chasing enemies of the empire. I will make haste now, leaving my aide here to receive any new information and make any new announcements.

As Nevoulas leaves, he walks with this aide now and hands him a slip of paper.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Btw.. Will the 'Basileus' Ioannis fight against his own son?! Since Ioannis III mentioned to Michail Arianitis that he might go to Epirus. So.. will Ioannis really fight against his own son?! Now.. let me say this.. Your beloved Basileus is crazy, stupid and power-hungry person! I'm sure that soon he will try to kill he's own sons and everyone who could have claims on the throne! So all of you in the Royal Family - Be warned!!!

[woad&fangs]

The slander and disloyalty eminating from the House of St. John has become unbearable. Theo and Vissaronios have less honor than common whores. Furthermore, I fail to believe that Grandmaster Armatos has such little control over his vassals. Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I declare war on the Order of St. John.

You have chosen a side. Now suffer the consequences.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Theo looks Andronikos and asks..

So you declare war against us?
Hmm ... Can I ask with what army your going to do that? With your peasant bodyguards riding on their donkeys and using their pitchforks?
And don't talk about Honor. It's something that the Basileus knows nothing about!

Theo smiles...

[rossahh]

The slander and disloyalty eminating from the House of St. John has become unbearable.

I would think that you would wait until the Grandmaster, the voice of the Order, speaks before you tarnish the entire house. The slander and disloyalty eminates from two members from the Order of St. John, not the house itself.

[deguerra]

Ioannis Kalameteros (OOC: that was directed at Smowz, though he may be merely retaliating for me never spelling Nevoulas the same way twice) rises

Well said Zigavinos. I also note with satisfaction that Apionnas did not declare war on the Order of St. John. This little extra has absolutely nothing to do with the law of the Empire, and merely shows that there is good reason behind my and other Senators decision to disallow the recruitment and funding from our cities for the purposes of this war.

[pevergreen]

"I shall make my final comments for now then. Ioannis, I never swore an oath to you. Please, point out the record to others here where I made such an oath. Oh, you can't you don't even bother to stay around and listen. Apionnas, I will not fight you, I remember the day when you entered this chamber, over 25 years ago. I defended you on that day, when others would not."

Michail stumbles around for a few steps.

"Oh, I seem to have been struck down with a madness. The madness of Ioannis. I...I feel the need to declare war on The Order of St. John, The Ilios Korakas and...why not! The entire Orthodox Church!"

Michail walks over to the Basileus' chair, and pulls his pants down.

"I piss on this reigeme and its ruler. I declare war on Ioannis Komnenos."

After Michail is finished urinating on the Basileus' chair, he leaves.

[Smowz]

Michail enters the Magnaura.

"I swear to defend and uphold the crown!"

The aide to Nevoulas ek Philadelphius reads from a note it was these words uttered by Comes Michail Arianitis. These words were uttered after the Basilues took to the throne and thus had the crown.

[Andres]

I hereby declare war on Methodios Tagaris and Michail Arianitis.

The Megas is allowed to use the troop training facilities of Arta and the enemies of Methodios Tagaris and Michail Arianitis are allowed passage over the territory of Arta.

[Dafuge]

Seems like you've finally been pressured into war Senator Militou.

[ULC]

I hereby declare war upon Michail Arianitis. There was no need to perpetrate such a foul act, it only works to fan flames that have no purpose. However, this idea of declaring war upon the Order of St. John is preposterous. I refuse to lay one hand on a single man of the Order of St. John, no matter his station.

[Andres]

Seems like you've finally been pressured into war Senator Militou.

ek Militou, not "Militou", ek Militou.

[Dafuge]

Senator ekkkk Militou.

I believe I prounounce my name Senator Herakliou so I simply assumed yours would be the same. Nice way of avoiding my comment though.

[deguerra]

I have a further announcement to make. I remain strictly outside of the conflict between the Order of St. John and the Basileos and those who support him in it. While I will not judge the actions and beliefs of others, it is my own firm belief that this conflict is unnecessary, undesirable and completely without basis.

In this spirit, I hereby decree that the territory of House Asteri is closed to any army partaking in that conflict. As far as I am concerned, any army entering House Asteri territory hereby commits itself to staying strictly neutral in that war. Any transgression to this neutrality will be considered as an attack not only on the honour but on the territorial integrity of this House and will be met with any and all legally available measures.

[OverKnight]

Tiverios stands.

It gives me no pleasure, but I cannot be a part of the Basileus's unjust vendettas. Therefore I must break my oath of loyalty to Apionnas Vringas and declare my neutrality in all of the current conflicts.

While I believe Senator Tagaris defied the Basileus, he was most likely goaded into it by our Majesty's unilateral and uncaring actions concerning his daughter. The declaration of war against the Order and Michail Arianitis with little or no just cause reinforces the tyranny of our leader. His unprovoked attack on the Order to settle a score forgotten by everyone else is a naked land grab. Have you all forgotten his infamous letter as Caesar?

Of particular concern is the list he proposed for Imperial lands, lands subject directly to the Throne and no one else:

Imperial Provinces:
Constantinople
Rome
Nicaea
Dardanellia
Antioch
Jerusalem
Alexandria

In warring against the Order, the Basileus is seeking to resurrect his dream from a generation ago. Basileus Aleksios, in his wisdom, and the Senate curtailed such ambitions. But now the new Basileus has found Senators willing to do his bidding. Blind loyalty to one man, even the Basileus, does not equal providing true and beneficial service to the Empire as a whole. By allowing the Basileus to rule by decree, intimidation and brute force the Senate is playing with fire. Once he is done with the Order, Tagaris and Arianitis, what will stop him from turning on others who do not meet his, ever more strict, standard of obedience? Will Ioannis Kalameteros's careful dance of neutrality or family connections preserve the Asteri? Will Apionnas Vringas's refusal to war against the Order be remembered? Will Nikolaos Aristenos's refutation of his former Master be enough in the long term? Has Pavlos Chrysovergos been too careful as Megas Logothetes to please the Basileus? What about the unaligned Senators who have not declared against Tagaris at all, such as the Basileus's own brother Isaakios? Is he safe? Are any of us truly safe from the Basileus? Ask yourself that before you turn on your fellow Senators.

We must preserve the balance established by Basileus Aleksios between the Emperor and Senate. It has restored our Empire. It has made us great again, but we must stand on guard against those who would seek to return the Senate to nothing more than a sham and figurehead that it once was. Such a threat is upon us. I ask that an Emergency Session be opened so that we may deal with all these matters diplomatically. Yet, I despair of that happening.

The Empire, this new Empire that we have brought about, is in mortal danger. I pray the Senate realizes this and acts before it is too late.

Tiverios sits.

[Northnovas]

I Aleksios ek Ikoniou, declare my neutrality on the present internal conflicts and will concentrate all my resources to fight the real enemy of the empire, the Venetians.

Though I see the law in the original conflict too many issues have that the justification appears to have been watered down the original cause.

Therefore. It is with deep regret that I must break my oaths to Ioannis Kalameteros and my vassal and good friend Savvas ek Militou.

[Andres]

As he hears the words of his Lord Aleksios ek Ikoniou, Savvas stands up. He looks like a man who has lost everything.

Dear Lord, this is a sad day.

Savvas stares at Aleksios.

We shared more then a bond of loyalty and mutual respect. We also shared friendship.

Savvas looks over at Ioannis Kalamateros.

The same goes for us, dear friend.

Savvas turns to the seat of the Basileus.

And us.

Savvas sighs.

The three of you are like brothers to me.

Savvas sighs again and leaves the Magnaura.

[_Tristan_]

A messenger wearing a Tagaris tabard walks into the Magnaura and delivers a message to the Protoasecretes. Unfolding the parchment, a scribe strolls forward.

Senators,

You will excuse me for not being here in person but I fear it would not be long before I found myself in chains in the darkest dungeon of Constantinople.

Our Basileus has proven to us that any doubts we had on his accession to the Throne has come true. The man always kept in the back of his mind his plans to make his all our holdings his own.

First, he had to find an excuse for a war to erupt, and make himself seen as the aggrieved party. What better excuse but to try to wrench from a loving father his daughter and throw her into the arms of his manhood-deprived brother for no other reason but to force me to refuse him, creating a de facto casus belli out of thin air

... Because I can assure you, fellow Senators, that the fate of my daughter was not once discussed with me prior to the formal announcement... How was I to react to this ? I have the deepest respect for the laws of our Empire but not for those like Ioannis who would hide behind them to commit their crimes against the people of the same Empire. I would even have submitted to any punishment this august body would have deemed necessary for my transgression, though I fear it is too late now... The devil is out of the box and can't be put back in... Ioannis has played his hand and won't take it back...

Now the spark has lit the fuse... Ioannis has now declared war on the Order of St John, a House of our Empire with which he has been at odds for decades. He now sees an opportunity to get back to them under pretenses of their not answering his call to arms, while ignoring others' declaration of neutrality. But for how long ?

I ask you, fellow Senators, how long before Ioannis turns against you ? Won't you wish at that time that you made a stand before ?

People have been faced with the same question throughout history when confronted by tyranny : whether to stand and fight... or grovel and wonder when your turn will come ?

I see many here who have chosen to grovel... So you should start wondering when your turn will come...

I will make a stand and should I lose, I hope my words will be remembered.

Methodios Tagaris
Caesar of the Basileion ton Romaion
Defender of the People

The scribe then hands the parchment back to the Protoasecretes.

[TinCow]

*The Protoasecretes clears his throat.*

I have received word that former Megas Logothetes Nevoulos ek Philadelphias has perished in battle. As he did not have a valid last will and testament, his provinces of Markiople and Belgrade are now the property of his Lord, Zigavinos Vasilakios.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

A message is brought to the Magnaura..

Senators,

I think you all have already heard that I have seized the fleet that was near Crete. But to be honest, those men were unwilling to serve the Empire as long as no one stands up the 'Basileus' and they joined with my fleet voluntarily! They promised to do what ever I decide to do, even if that means going against the rest of the Empire.
To those, who might say that I don't allow the war against Venice to reach Italy, I say this - there is always the land route to the holdings of Venice! If Isaakios Komnenos want to leave Crete then I can spare him one of the ships, though,but in mean time I will proceed my voyage to east!

'Admiral' Theo Petzeas

[_Tristan_]

The same messenger wearing Tagaris regalia walks into the Magnaura. Exchanging a few words with the Protoasecretes who gives him a nod, he then proceeds to the centre of the floor.

My Lords,
Senators,

My name is Nikodemos Parientis. I am a friend and retainer of Caesar Methodios Tagaris who cannot come before you for the obvious reasons you all know

I know that my own life may be forfeit by appearing before you but I am more than willing to take the risk to make the voice of my friend heard.

Methodios wishes to express his deepest regrets for the loss of ex-Megas Nevoulas ek Philadelphias. He sends his condolences to his family and friends.

Methodios has told me Nevoulas had seved the Empire to the best of his abilities as Megas and had always been available whatever other pressing matters may have occupied him. Even with is latest declaration of war against him, Methodios bears him no ill will, for the man acted according to his conscience, without second thoughts but following his idea of how best to serve the Empire.

It is a shame that Nevoulas' dream of bringing the fight to the last remnants of the Muslim faith in Moorish lands has failed through his death. Methodios only hopes that some other will take up the flame that Nevoulas held so high.

Let us all mourn the passing of such a noble man.

His message delivered, Nikodemos walks to the bench formerly occupied by Methodios and sits in his place, visibly ill at ease and wary of the menacing presence of the Varangians at the Senate doors.

[rossahh]

Zigavinos listens to the representative of Methodios speak and nods absently at the man's last words. As Nikodemos sits down, one of Nevoulas's aides hands the keys to Belgrade and Markiople to Zigavinos. Remebering the words of the funeral, Zigavinos twirls the key to Belgrade around his fingers while looking at the Basileus, thinking hard to himself. Eventually he puts the key into his pocket, and beckons his scribe.

"Send the following to Belgrade and Markiople:

Fire all tax collectors. Cancel all military training and recruiting. No soldiers are to enter or exit the settlement.

Zigavinos Vasilakios
Comes of Smyrna, Iconium, Markiople and Belgrade