The Magnaura

[TinCow]

*The Protoasecretes furrows his brow at this grave announcement.*

This is most horrendous news. I expect the Senate will treat such an action with the seriousness that it deserves!

I have been informed that according to the last will and testament of Armatos ek Naksou, the province of Tortosa is now the possession of Kousinos Sophianos (Cecil XIX). Acre has remained within the Order and is now the possession of Armatos' Lord, Vartholomaios Ksiros (Rowan).

[_Tristan_]

After years of absence, Methodios walks into the Magnaura. Stepping into the center of the room, he calls for the attention of his fellow Senators.

Senators, the wolves are at large in our midst.

The death of Armatos at the hands of one who would claim to be one of us is a sin against all that we stand for. Armatos was among the first to lead the fight to reclaim the Holy land from the Muslims. He lived a live of service to the Empire, through hard times, fighting many battles, only to die at the hands of one of us.

I ask all of you to make a stand and take actions against the vile Erotikos and bring him to justice or hang him from the nearest tree without judgment.

These actions have led out of my voluntary seclusion in Kosmopolis, a city that has always been a volcano waiting to erupt, which it did as soon as I departed. The city is lost to us and though it has no organization, the faith of Islam runs anew in its veins.

But I would not have left my home in Kosmopolis if the incapable Ioannis had still been Megas Logosthetes.

I am here to appeal to Lord ek Ikoniou for help. Help for Egypt... This part of our Empire has been neglected for too long.

Egypt has been left in its sorry state since Ioannis has sat himself on the throne of his father. I see it as retaliation against my stand against him but it is not I who suffers but rather our people in Cairo and Alexandria.

These are some of the greatest cities of the world, yet people live there without the barest of amenities. The walls of Cairo aren't even wide enough to contain the mass of its people.

Lord Megas, turn your benevolent gaze upon Egypt and save her before she follows the fate of Kosmopolis.

[Ituralde]

Pavlos stares ahead glumly before raising his voice. Much of his vigour has left him and the listeners have to strain to catch his words.

These are grave insults against Senator Erotikos. I don't even remember his name, but if these allegations are true then a call for war against this traitor is the least we can do. But before we do anything so rash, what is the proof for these acts, and what does the young Senator have to say in his defense?

[Northnovas]

Senators,

The issue in Egypt alarms me and I hope it is not too late. There is too much invested and would be a great loss to our economy if we can not control it. I may give the direction but you are all the eyes of the Empire. If there are issues that need resources let me know and I will do what I can. Egypt is on the top of my agenda.

The death of Armatos is very disturbing and the circumstances have not been explained. I would recommend a military Board of Inquiry to look in to his death and to find if Erotikos is truly responsible for his death.

[Rowan]

Fellow Senators!

It greatly saddens me to hear about Armatos' death! Long we have been friends and together have we driven the infidel Muslims from the holy lands! That such a great man could be killed by a traitor sounds preposterous! I demand a formal inquiry into this, especially as the accused is one of the members of this most august body!

I demand that this man Erotikos lay down his weapons and surrender to my custody! He must send his army to the nearest Order held city, Damascus, where it can keep the Basileus' peace. Then he must at once report to the nearest member of the Order. I will guarantee his personal safety if he does this and let Magnaura decide if he truly is guilty and decree the punishment.
If he does not do this I will take that as an admission of guilt and hunt him down myself!

[Andres]

Here we go again.

Blahblahblah...

Quit wasting your breath.

Stares at Pavlos, Methodios and Kousinos.

It seems like you are all angry with this man? Well instead of sitting here and paralysing this esteemed body for the next couple of years with endless talks about how evil and bad Erotikos is and how we should punish him without bloodshed (did he hesitate to spill some Roman blood?), you should get off your lazy , grab your arms and go get him.

[_Tristan_]

Which is exactly why I left Kosmopolis, Senator ek Pigis.

Would you remind this august body what your accomplishments have been so far that allow you to throw insults at your betters ?

[Rowan]

Vartholomaios Ksiros turns to look at the new speaker, listens to his words with a growing amusement, then turns to his aide and asks in a voice just hushed enough to be a whisper, but still loud enough to be heard across the hall:
Whose paige is that and who let him in here?
The reddening aide whispers into his masters ear and this time the rest of the Magnaura can't hear what is said. Vartholomaios turns back towards Aleksios ek Pigis.

Strator Pigis. It is considered polite to introduce oneself when addressing someone for the first time. Especially if that something is the Magnaura with many members with far higher rank and power than your own.

With a few more years burdening down your shoulders you would know that things are seldom as black and white as they seem. There are certain... rules to be followed. Laws, if you wish. As of yet we only have a single Frankish Knight's word of what happened in the desert. It wouldn't be wise to start a civil war over some outlanders claims.

However, rest assured that I intend to take action if need be. I am perfectly positioned to take the matter into my own hands if need be. If Erotikos does not co-operate with the investigation like I specified I will know him guilty and he will face the full might of the Order!