The Magnaura

[Ituralde]

Nikitas Moschos can be heard laughing loudly.

This is just perfect! So the one outlawed Senator thinks that the punishment inflicted upon him by our Basileus is not enough and instead wishes to be sentenced by the former Caesar, now self-declared Despot of Egypt, handing him an army in the process! Am I the only one who finds this funny?

Well maybe this will mean the Caesar will actually mean what he says and wage war and not just sit around in his country home entertaining his daughters, who seem to be at the source of every problem we had recently.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

A message from Theo Petzeas...

Senators,

I would like to announce my neutrality in this Methodios Tagaris' 'rebellion'!
Also, I would like to call Kousinos Sophianos to serve Order and, instead marching together with this Erotikos, march south to aid me against those vile Turks!

Theo Petzeas

[Zim]

In a corner Arintheos can be seen whispering to one of his aides. Arintheos seems agitated, and the aide fearful. After a few moments, the aide walks to the center of the room.

The Megas is distraught at this turn of events. He had hoped that his term would see an era of unity within the Empire, especially as it is threatened by outside forces. Instead it seems it is to be split asunder.

Megas Arintheos is committed to resolving this peacefully and will continue to focus on his duties of protecting the Empire and ending its current wars. However, he understands if the main participants are unable to come to an agreement and instead seek a resolution through battle. His only demand is that Imperial settlements captured in this war not be sacked or exterminated.

This isn't to be interpreted as the Megas declaring his neutrality, merely that in addition to his personal loyalties he recognizes a general duty to the Empire that comes with his position. He strongly backs the rightful Basileus Ioannis Komnenos, and will support him in whatever decision he makes to resolve the secession issue.

[KnightnDay]

Will Senator Markos ek Sinopis who swore an oath to the Caesar, please acknowledge where he stands on this grave matter?

[TheFlax]

My fellow senators,

Although my lord's plan to secede from the Empire was not known to me when I swore an oath to him, I will nevertheless stand by that oath. When one does not come from the many great families of the Empire, he has only his honor and his word. I choose to keep both intact, even though it might cost me everything in the end. You may ask me if I agree with my lord's decision or not, but I will choose not to answer for it is not relevant. I will only say that I have some understanding of my lords motives. I wish I could have served in this illustrious body for a great many more years, but my time with you is at an end.

Now that I am not only no longer a Senator but also a traitor, I would ask of our Basileus if he could have me arrested.

Markos waits passively in the center of the Magnaura for the guards to seize him.

[TinCow]

*The Protoasecretes eyes Markos suspiciously.*

In the Magnaura, I command the guards, not the Basileus. This is a place for debate and diplomacy, not violence, and I will not allow the armed men of any faction to violate this sacred place. Not even the Basileus can call these guards to action if I do not permit it.

Still, it is not every day that a Senator declares himself a traitor in the midst of the Magnaura and then waits passively to be arrested. Treason itself isn't much of a crime; why all the greatest of our Roman ancestors committed a treason at some point in their lives. However, in my day traitors had enough of a spine to actually rant about injustice and how they had been slighted, before either getting themselves killed or taking their own lives. Usually some spectacular battle or melodramatic speech came first, but it was always entertaining. This new-found passivity in treason is very un-Roman. So, for this violation of the traditional Roman laws on the proper way in which a traitor is to comport himself, I hereby order that you be arrested!

Guards...

*The Protoasecretes gestures to the armed men standing at the various doorways.*

...take this man into custody and... do whatever it is he wants done with himself.

*The guards hesitate and look a bit confused, until one shrugs and moves forward to grab Markos ek Sinopis.*

[ULC]

Demetrios quickly gets out of his seat and pushes his way to the guards, where he stands before them, hand on the hilt of his sword. "As proxy for my Lord Anargiros, I am allowed to declare our neutrality in this "secession". As such, Markos ek Sinopis is no longer at war with my Lord, and as per my Lords wishes, Markos now has sanctuary in my Lord's army. If a single one of you take one step further towards Lord Markos, I will severe that offending part."

[KnightnDay]

Ammonathas is visibly perturbed at this pitiful spectacle of Markos being led out of the Magnaura and the intervention of Demetrios.

Senators, perhaps Markos ek Sinopis is still suffering lingering effects from his recent combat with the renegade Helarionas. I had hoped that he would see things more clearly, but there seems little doubt that he is not of his right mind. I would leave it to men more wise than I to determine his fate.

And as for you Demetrios, you may tell your lord and master that I care not a whit of his wishes. It was only through an act of compassion of our emperor that both of your lives were spared.

To the matter of Methodios, now a traitor to his people, I see this as a most despicable act. To him I say, do not fool yourself into thinking that our Basileus stands alone and without allies in this open rebellion. If it has now become necessary to abandon my campaign against Venice before it starts, so it shall be. As long as I live, I will fight any foe who threatens to tear apart these lands through their blatant usurpation. Each of us serves the empire. If some have other designs, I tell you that their intentions will ultimately be revealed and it must surely lead to their just reward.