The Magnaura

**ULC** · 02-12-2009, 04:31

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** · 02-12-2009, 05:02

Originally Posted by some foolish envoy

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** · 02-12-2009, 05:07

Originally Posted by rossahh

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".

**rossahh** · 02-12-2009, 05:14

Originally Posted by some foolish envoy

Considering your willingness to look down on a man such as Markos

And how would the envoy of a lowly Senator know what I think of the noblemen of the realm?

Your excuse is rather thin. Loyal Greekmen on the way to fight Venetians for the Empire are in no mind to join a rebel's cause.

**KnightnDay** · 02-12-2009, 05:54

Ammonathas stands to reply to the envoy of Helarionas.

Yes, your tone and manners now betray your thoughts and what you know to be inevitable. Your masters plot will fail. You may shout, you may scream and flail, you may howl at the moon this evening for all the good that it will do. I shall not waste my time answering these empty rantings. History will judge how this trail of lies, deceit and treachery met their end in due course, and your protestations will count for naught and be forgotten. What will be remembered is this: men who respected the laws of their lands did not hesitate to act once the naked hand of aggression was raised. Byzantium will overcome the lawlessness that these traitors and would-be kings seek to breed.

**ULC** · 02-12-2009, 05:57

"And how would a man blindly loyal to the Emperor know of what cause Markos serves? In any case, the men will be returned to the Empire once Markos reaches safety - this is the word of my Lord Anargiros."

**Zim** · 02-12-2009, 06:19

Arintheos looks up bemusedly at the men debating.

I don't believe Helarionas' chances of gaining Andreas' army are much of a concern at this moment. Andreas has confiscated the rebel's ships and set sail into the Adriatic.