The Magnaura

[Rowan]

Vartholomaios addresses the Magnaura

In my capacity as a dean I would like to remind all Strators that the University is accepting new students at the moment. The deadline for applications is 2nd February 12:00 GMT.

Please include a description of the field you would like to study.
Priority will be given to applicants of honorable character. Thank you.

[Northnovas]

I proposed the following edict:

Edict 8.2 The settlements of Theopolis and Damascus are freed from their current sieges, The settlements of Zagreb, Kosomopolis and Edessa are brought back into Byzantine control.

[Zim]

I second Edict 8.2.

[_Tristan_]

I second Edict 8.2

[Ituralde]

Nikitas strolls into the Magnaura.

I hope I'm not too late for the discussion, am I?

He walks over where the recordings of the recent discussions are kept and glances over them.

Well, well I see there's a lot of men vying for the post of Megas. I wish all of them good luck, may the best politician win!

[TinCow]

"The time for proposing legislation has now expired. Voting will begin soon and will continue until Wednesday, February 4th at 24:00 GMT."

[Rowan]

University clerk comes in and makes the following announcement

The scholars accepted into the University for the next term are Markos ek Sinopsis (TheFlax) and Theo Petzeas (Ibn-Khaldun).

[Andres]

A pale looking young man enters the Magnaura, wearing expensive silk clothes of the latest Byzantine fashion. His red and blurry eyes make it clear that he's suffering from a major hang-over.

He looks around him, seemingly intimidated by the older and more inexperienced Senators.

Evmathios Komnenos nods to nobody in particular and murmures an apology and something about not feeling too well and then sits down, asking one of the servants for a glas of water.

[Zim]

Arintheos' aide rises. The Megas had noted that Senator Kousinos Sophianos has continued to march westward, in the exact opposite direction from his beleagured House. With thousands of Imperial lives lost at Damascus and more likely to follow could the Megas at least some some hint as to your intent in abandoning the Holy Lands when your presence would easily turn the tables against the Turks?

[ULC]

An envoy enters the Magnaura and takes the center of the floor. Pulling out a scroll, the scribe begins speaking without the slightest bit of hesitation.

"His Lord Anargiros wishes it to be known, that he has gained the blessing of Caesar Tagaris, King of Jerusalem and Aegyptus, Lord of Arabia, Captain-General of Ilios Korakas, and successor and heir to the lands, powers, and righteousness of the Ptolemaic Kings of the successor kingdom of Megas Alexandros, to marry the most beautiful, fair, gentle, and wise Aleksandra Tagaris. As such, he does not require the Basileus's forgiveness, his reconciliation, his blessing, or his 'mercy'."

"By the powers specifically vested in me by my Lord Anargiros, who has just recently returned from Jerusalem both to seek Caesar Tagaris's blessing and from pilgrimage, I am to let it be known that Lord Helarionas Anargiros swears fealty to Caesar Methodios Tagaris, and by proxy and intention, declares not only neutrality with Markos ek Sinopis, but considers him an ally."

The Envoy rolls up the scroll with a huaghty twist of his hands, and with his chin held high, walks gracefully over to House Ilios Korakas and takes the seat reserved for him.

[Ituralde]

Bah! Helarionas Anargiros apparently spits upont the very ground we walk! He will ask for mercy and forgiveness soon enough. How can the rest of this body stand aside while the Empire falls apart around them. The largest armies we command are now of the hand of open rebels and those marching on Constantinople itself without voicing their motives. It is time to take action, for those who are true Romans to stand together united in arms!

[Andres]

Somebody gives a note to the pale Evmathios Komnenos. He sips from his goblet of water and stands up. After clearing his throat by making some rather distasteful sounds, he starts to speak.

At the request of our honourable and beloved Basileus, I hereby swear an oath of fealty to Senator Arintheos Voutoumitis.

May our Emperor and my Lord life long and prosper!

The young Senator sits down again.

[Zim]

I accept Evmathios Komnenos' oath of fealty.

[KnightnDay]

Ammonathas moves to the center of the Magnaura to address the assembly.

My lords, as you have now all witnessed, the envoy from Helarionas Anargiros has sworn an oath of loyalty to his new master, Caesar Methodios. I trust that you all find this as amusing as I do. Imagine, one man swears an oath to another who has demonstrated to the entire world that he holds no value in such a thing. A supreme irony indeed.

And now, what do we hear? This same Helarionas Anargiros, who publicly proclaimed that he would abandon his army and set sail for Egypt to join his master, has instead landed his forces in our lands and set upon the army of Senator Andreas Dermokaitis. I trust now that any man here, regardless of where his loyalties lie, see this loathsome criminal as nothing more than a rank opportunist. His words shall always ring hollow, and any fool that would heed them will in time pay the price for their idiocy.

Ammonathas moves to approach the seats of the House of Ilios Korakas and now addresses the envoy for Helarionas.

And as for you good sir, if you would be so kind as to inform your lord, when he has finished his business with Senator Dermokaitis, and attempts to return to his haven of ships waiting to carry him off to safety....he will not find them. You may tell him that rather than look to the waters for safety, he should look below them. For his means of escape now lie at the bottom of the Adriatic.

[ULC]

The Envoy gives Ammonathas a curios look.

"When has my liege ever lied? Maybe your ears are so thick with propaganda, your eyes clouded by ignorance, you do not understand or perceive it at all? My Lord Anargiros said he would surrender his army, to Caesar Methodios, no one else, and travel to Aegyptus to be judged before him, as is Methodios's right as father of Aleksandra the Fair."

The envoy takes a moment to lean forward and tent his fingers, his tone changing to a more condescending note.

"Fact. Methodios has given his judgment - He has accepted my Lord Anargiros. Fact. My Lord Anargiros surrendered his army to Methodios, hence his declaration of an oath and the binding of Helarionas's army to Methodios's cause. Fact. My Lord has never lied about his intentions. Fact. Helarionas Anargiros is demanding the surrender of Andreas Dermokaitis, not his destruction - if Andreas refuses, Helarionas will be forced to act, to insure the safety of Markos ek Sinopis. Fact. You are distorting the facts in an effort to slander my Lord."

The Envoy finally comes to his full height, his eyes gleaming with smugness.

"If you had one ounce of the same bravery, humility, and moral fiber as my Lord Anargiros, you'd have realized what kind of person he is. What has he fought for so far? Love - he has made off with Lady Aleksandra, yet repented and came to the father when she asked him so. Honesty - He has been nothing but truthful in his actions. Fellowship - he released Markos, and bears the man no ill will, and even now looks to his welfare. Justice - he has committed several violations of Imperial Law, and has refused at every turn to be pardoned, and instead wishes to be tried."

"What on the other hand have you fought for? Land...Power...Prestige...all in the name of a sick Empire, a bloated Empire. You know little of the terrible crimes your own Basileus has committed against the people of the Empire, do you? 4500 florins and more for 3 years, for a backwater castle from the Normans. Yet people in Alexandria, Athens, Iconion, Antiokhiea, Kosmopolis, Cairo, Sinop, all suffer from lack of food, clean water, even shelter. Our roads are made out of dirt, our trade centers suffer from inflation, our military, both inefficient and expensive, soaks up money year after year!"

Anger seeps into the envoy's voice, cold as ice and deadly as acid.

"And yet you will stand there and flaunt your "loyalty". You are loyal to power, nothing more! Loyalty to the Empire is what comes first, and as Basileus Ioannis Komnenos has proven, they are two separate entities with incongruous goals! To serve the Empire is to serve the people, and to not be a slave to power! To serve the Basileus is to serve only to power, and damn the people!"

The envoy finally sits down violently, finished.

[rossahh]

Helarionas Anargiros is demanding the surrender of Andreas Dermokaitis

Can I ask exactly why is your lord demanding my vassal surrender to you? He is enroute to Ragusa to bolster the western defences, a journey he has been on for many a year. Indeed, his journey began long before you made off with the princess. What is the point of attacking him, save to get some more Imperial blood on yor hands?

[ULC]

Can I ask exactly why is your lord demanding my vassal surrender to you? He is enroute to Ragusa to bolster the western defences, a journey he has been on for many a year. Indeed, his journey began long before you made off with the princess. What is the point of attacking him, save to get some more Imperial blood on yor hands?

The envoy shrugs. "My Lord wishes to procure men for Markos ek Sinopis for his safe travel to Aegyptus - Andreas has the men for that. Think of it, as an exchange of arms. Consdiering your willingness to look down ona man such as Markos, my Lord Anargiros has decided not to leave him to your "good graces".