The Magnaura

[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!

[Ituralde]

Pavlos shakes his head, chuckling silently. He strokes his beard gently, before he speaks. It had indeed been a long time since he last rode to battle.

Once you have grown to my age you won't jumped at every percieved threat. This Erotikos seems a nuisance, if those actions are true. I have heard too many slander in these chambers to jump to this conclusion as easily. Of course, if some man were to bring this Erotikos to this chamber, I would gladly supply said man with an army to be persuasive.

He looks at Senator Pigis.

Are you said man, Senator Pigis? Or do you just talk without letting actions follow?

[Rowan]

Vartholomaios looks incredulous

Pavlos, has your old age made you mad or is it all those magic potions you are reputed to be drinking!
Man is accused of murdering of the most esteemed and noble characters in the whole Basileia Rhōmaiōn and you say that he is a nuisance. Nuisance! He's taken command of one of our strongest armies and is now knocking on the gates of Tortosa and you call him a nuisance! I am past doubting if Erotikos did it. His actions speak clearly of his treason.

I demand that Megas immediately recruit troops in Tortosa to strengthen the garrison against imminent attack.

I will take my leave. I have lands to defend.

Vartholomaios leaves the chamber.

[KnightnDay]

Ammonathas considers what he has heard and rises to speak. His thoughts of his brother, now reported ill at sea, weigh upon him

Fellow Senators,

I had hoped that the Venetian campaign would receive the utmost attention of the empire. My own brother has been struck ill while answering the call against our dangerous foe in Latium. Yet this latest turn of events is too dangerous to ignore, despite the fact no evidence of murder has yet come forth. Regardless of the veracity to this story of murder, there is no doubt as to the strength of the army in which Senator Erotikos travels, and the potential danger to our position should this information be true.

In light of this, I fully endorse the proposal of Senator Vartholomaios that the garrison at Tortosa be strengthened, and that he and the Order be charged with demanding Senator Erotikos surrender himself for judgement of the Magnaura. Any failure to do so, including any action taken against our settlements or soldiers will immediately result in a charge of high treason against himself and those who carry his banner.

Finally, I call upon the Magnaura to urge the Basileus to immediately move his forces to this area. The Venetians can wait; action against rebellion or treasonous activity must not.

I thank my fellow senators for their attention.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

A message is brought from Theo Petzeas to Magnaura..

Senators,

There is only one thing I can say about this Erotikos and that is -

I declare War on Ioannis Erotikos!

May he burn in Hell!

Theo Petzeas

[Ramses II CP]

With a rather bemused look on his face Ioannis Erotikas strides calmly into the Magnaura. As he paces around the center chamber, passing each House's table in turn, he speaks in a clear voice,

"Well, this certainly sounds like a more active body than the dust covered lumps I found when I first attended! Gentlemen I have come, though more urgent matters demand my attention, to inform you of a black act. Former Grandmaster Armatos has been murdered, in my very own presence!"

A momentary pause allows Io to assess the situation before he continues,

"...but I can see this information has already been brought to the Senate's attention. I regret that I was much delayed in personally bringing word by the necessity of ensuring the orderly transfer of command of Aramtos' troops into my own hands. With his very dying breath Lord Armatos demanded that I take his men to the very ends of the earth if necessary to bring his killer to justice, and I mean to do exactly that!"

"As to the details of the death of my very great friend Armatos, they are simply thus; as I presented him with a gift in my very own command tent we were suddenly assailed by a team of assassins carrying poison coated blades. Armatos drew his sword and bravely charged into the fray, while I, unused to life at the frontier, dropped my wine glass, tripped over it, and was far too slow entering combat. Armatos' second, Sigismund I think his name was, fled the scene in great haste and has not yet returned to the army. By the time I managed to pull my blade out Armatos' own sword had already become trapped in the corpse of one of his enemies while a second hacked open his throat from behind."

"Of course I avenged him, slaughtering the remaining infidels while calling for guards and my personal surgeon, but it was too late. With blood pouring from his wound noble Armatos burbled out a few last words charging me to take command of his army and seek out the enemy who employed such vile means to end his life, and I swore an oath to do exactly that no matter the cost to my own life and goals!"

Briefly a smile crosses Io's charming face, before he resumes his grim expression,

"In order to make certain my words would not fall on deaf ears I had the Grandmaster's body packed in salt and shipped with me so that any Senator can examine my claims for veracity in the very flesh of my good friend and ally. I also have... this..."

With a dramatic gesture Io draws a heavy bladed knife, stained dark down it's whole length, and drops it crashingly onto the nearest House table, which just happens to be the table of the Order of St. John.

"I understand this body may have some questions for me, and I would very much like to answer them all, but I beg your understanding that my time is limited. I have undertaken a sacred vow before God to see the Grandmaster avenged and hell itself will not bar my call in that cause! If you have something to ask me, speak now, for I must soon depart."

Idly Io now casts about for a seat, but abruptly raises his eyebrows and speaks once more before sitting,

"Oh, and I understand that I am somehow at war with some little person or some such? Perhaps we could get that resolved before the next year sees a battle, hmm?"

[Rowan]

Varthlomaios Ksiros gets an annoyed look as Theo's letter is read but says nothing. He eyes the bloody knife on the table in front of him before speaking

An interesting tale, Erotikos, but quite light on details. First, could you elaborate a bit on just who, exactly, you believe was behind the murder. Also, where exactly are you going to find them? Furthermore, why is your army camped under the walls of Tortosa, just out of bowshot range? And why didn't you send messengers ahead of the army to inform us, the Order, his Brothers, of this foul action or what you were going to do so we might help you in tracking the killers?

And what exactly is the significance of this knife?!

Vartholomaios waves at the nearest Magnaura clerk

Get the best doctors in town and have them individually inspect Armatos' body. I want all of them to give official statements to the cause of death and the nature of wounds. Also if the wounds match that dagger. Also any traces of poison or somesuch. And start preparations for a funeral, his burial has waited long enough.