The Magnaura

[Northnovas]

Megos Aleksios having listened to both sides, the frustration of getting no answers begins to show on his face...

Ioannis,

Where do you plan to march this army that will not surrender to any man? This army will not be supplied unless I am satisfied that you are avenging the death of Lord Armatos and are not the one responsible for his death.
The concern of you being at war will be of little concern to this Senate if your you no army. They may not surrender to any man but they will desert if they are not paid and fed.

Stop with the ambiguity and give us the answers we are looking for! Are you or are you not responsible for the death of Lord Armatos. If you are not then I demand to know who is so this matter can be dealt with and done!

[Ramses II CP]

Another quick little nod is directed at the Megas before Io speaks again,

"I sympathize with your concerns my Megas, but as I've said, I simply cannot let the brutes behind this crime have any warning. Thus I can't announce their names or where I intend to march. Pure necessity demands that I keep these things a secret so that I can uphold my vow.

As far as money and food... well... let's be frank, gentlemen, an army of this size has ways of finding what it needs. At least for awhile. I don't want to go down that road, but, as I've said, nothing will bar my course on my quest. Nothing.

Besides, the army is legally mine. Why should we not be supplied as the law requires? If the Megas can withdraw support from my armies over some petty dispute who would he target next? The law of the Emperor and Empire must come before the personal whims of any one Megas, surely.

I will say again, I am not responsible for the death of noble Lord Armatos and I intend to deal with this matter as quickly as can be so that the Empire can return to good and profitable progress."

[KnightnDay]

My lords, I have heard enough. Senator Erotikos has asked for a resolution be offered. I shall offer one now. I call for a vote of the full senate over whether this man shall undergo trial by ordeal. Let his hands be immersed in boiling water, bandaged, and then examined after several days. If it be judged by men of the cloth that his injuries have sufficiently healed, then it is a sure sign from God that the sentor be innocent. At that point he should be free to do as he sees fit, with nothing held against him.

If however, the injuries are not deemed to have healed sufficiently, then he be judged guilty by God's will and suffer the consequences of his crime.

[Ramses II CP]

A faint look of discomfort mixed with amusement crosses Io's face before he replies,

Hmm, yes, good idea that; let's subject any senator who stands accused by a non-noble to this treatment. As a matter of fact I think I tossed a coin to a beggar just past those doors who was muttering that someone by the name Ammonia, or Ammerinia, or maybe Ammonathas had murdered a half a dozen men the other day. Let's boil that chap up and see if it's true!

Let me propose a simpler solution! I take note that the Order has accepted a new man into their ranks, a man who has yet to take on any responsibilities for defense of the eastern front. I have been in contact with this man, and I find him to be caught in the same web of destiny in which I am bound. If he will vow to avenge Armatos by the same vow I have taken, if he will embark on the same quest upon which I have embarked, then I will go where he goes, even surrendering some part of my troops to his command. Would this not fulfill the request that I 'give back' the men Armatos charged me to use to seek revenge for his murder?

Would this not give the Order's little war sufficient cause to come to an end? If not, well, the Order may even find itself ignobly attacking an ally...

That man is Kousinos Sophianos, and I must now adjourn from this, well, simply splendid session of the Senate to negotiate the exact terms of our agreement just beyond the walls of Tortosa.

If anyone seeks me for any serious cause (Here Io pauses to wink at Ammonathas) simply send word and we can arrange to meet. Good day gentlemen!

With a somewhat flippant suggestion of a bow Io then rises and walks calmly from the chamber without looking back.

[Rowan]

For a man accused of murder Erotikos sure isn't too worried. I do not trust him. While Theo's declaration of war was maybe a bit premature I shall support it for now. I'll let Kousinos Sophianos decide for himself if he wishes to follow that man to the desert. If he does, I insist that Erotikos give at least half of his force to Kousinos.

[ULC]

Helarionas strides in to the Magnaura, a grim look upon his face, Demetrios right behind him. "Fellow Senators, I have word as to who has killed our most dear and beloved Lord Armatos." Helarionas snaps his hands and several of his aids bring forth a body wrapped in a white cloak, covered in slash marks and bloodied beyond imagining. "I am sorry for the mess, but this coward refused to speak the truth, even after his attack - no, assassination attempt, upon me, and some persuasion was needed. I admit, I was rather brutal to him...but I am not a man to tolerate such people."

Helarionas strolled over to the dead body. "I am sure you will recognize what I am about to show you, and I am sure it may come as a shock. Long ago, two men conspired to kill both the Caesar and the Patriarch, and nearly succeeded. Had it not be for Basileus Aleksios, all would have been lost. Thanks to our great Emperor's thinking, he was able to extract the information he needed to find all the other members of this group, and they were purged from the Imperium, their leaders killed or exiled. However-"

Helarionas pulls the blood-soaked cloak off of the body, and holds it out between his hands. A large, black raven emblem is seen on the back. "-as you can see they have returned, and seem to have some support among the Islamic assassins. This does not bode well, for it seems they are back for vengeance. I believe anyone still alive from that time is a possible target, and we may soon suffer even more deaths..."

Helarionas throws the cloak back onto the body, and turns to leave. "I have important business to attend to, and I am sorry I cannot stay. If you have any questions, please ask Demetrios."

[TheFlax]

A letter comes in and is read to all.

Noble senators of the Magnaura,

I apologize for being the bearer of bad news. You may not know me, as I have only been inducted into the Senate recently. While doing my duty to Empire in joining the war against the Venetians, I took part in the battle to liberate Ragusa at the side of Antypatos Magnentios.

Sadly, while lord Magnentios acquitted himself with the utmost honor and prowess in battle, he feel to wall of Venetian spearmen. My men and I immediately rushed to his side, alas I was too late. Apparently the young man had taken ill during our voyage and by the time we got him to a healer, he had succumbed to his wounds.

I will join you in due time, my lords, in order to introduce myself more properly. For now, I must secure Ragusa against the Venetian, lest noble Magnentios' death be in vain.

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