The Magnaura

[ULC]

As the envoy moves to retort to Nikitas, a cold presence pervades the Magnaura. A tender hand lays itself upon that of the envoy, who looks up startled to see Chara staring back, her eyes cold and pitiless. "You speak no more for my Lord, and if you do not leave now, you will speak no more for anyone. Is this clear?"

The envoy nods meekly as Chara firmly pushes him from his seat and towards the Magnuara's exit. After the envoy leaves, Chara turns her attention to the Magnuara.

"Senators of the Roman Empire, forgive the fool who spoke before. He was neither empowered to speak for my lord, nor was he given permission to do anything beyond relay a message even by the man who sent him."

"His speeches, not only presumptuous of my lord, carry only few grains of salt. From here on in, no one speaks for my liege, except himself. Anything you here of his intentions hereafter, will be considered falsity."

"My liege owes you all an apology, for more then breaking Imperial Law. It has been alleged my Lord has lied about his identity - this is true, but not of his character. There was a man named Helarionas Anargiros, who lived in Durazzo. When he was but 20 years of age, he died from a terrible sickness. Then there was a man named Sergios Echter, who was from Bran. He was but 16 and almost nothing but a servant, a child conceived through adultery, his mother a married noblewoman, his father a pariah. One day, a man from Durazzo of the name Nikolaos Aristenos came to see this boy, and handed him a new identity, so as to fulfill the request of him by that boys father."

"And so it came to pass that Sergios Echter ek Kallipoleos, son of Aleksander Echter ek Kallipoleos, took the name Helarionas Anargiros, took the senatorial papers given to him, and he came to Constantinople. It was here that he reunited with the one person whom he cared for - Aleksandra Tagaris."

"In 1161, Sergios, along with his mother, were given sanctuary in Alexandria. It was there, for a year, that Aleksandra and Sergios first met, grew to know each other, and fell in love. That love never disappeared, carrying on even when the two were separated by oceans and borders. It was so strong, that Sergios was willing to defy Imperial Law to marry Aleksandra."

Chara takes a moment to gather her thoughts before continuing.

"Few men have I met, that compare to Sergios. Few men have I met, that would fight for what eh has, let alone die for it. Sergios's youth and innocence maybe the very reason he has not lost his heart, or his compassion. Few men do I know that would risk their lives for the love and affection of one woman, yet he would do it for any stranger, any commoner, for nothing in return."

"But he is also a stubborn man, an idealist. He believes in an Empire that was told to him by the fire when he was a child, one filled with Heroes that worked selflessly, tirelessly to preserve the Empire, stories told of men that served not themselves, but the people of the Imperium. That is what Sergios fights for, and why he still holds an army, and why he is not here before you, waiting to be shackled in chains."

"He will fight for his beliefs, to the last gasp. And he will continue to fight, until he sees that the Empire is what he heard in those stories when he was a child."

Chara bows respectfully, if coldly, to the Senators from each House, and then turns and walks calmly out of the Magnuara.

[Ituralde]

Nikitas pretends to wipe a tear from his eye as he watches the woman leave.

Oh what a moving story. All falsities and hearsay as the good lady told us herself. Helarionas Anargiros had now twice betrayed the Empire. I am finished with him whatever he may call himself now.

[_Tristan_]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

A man in Ilios Korakas livery steps into the Magnaura, a downcast look upon his face.

Lords of the Empire, Senators,

I am the bearer of news that some will consider sad while others will rejoice...

Caesar Methodios has died and his son Ioannis with him. Ioannis had learned that the German Crusader Athalwolf that roamed our territories for countless years had in his possession the Holy Chalice.

Hoping that taking it from the German hands might save the soul of his father who had long despised the teachings of our mother Church, Ioannis rode alone and tried to rob this most holy of containers from his owner. Only he was caught by Athalwolf and put to death most gruesomely.

Upon learning the news, blinded by grief and rage, Caesar Methodios has ridden himself to confront the killer of his son, only to be met with the same fate.

All of his men were freed before he rode out, knowing he was doomed and didn't want his men to lose their blood trying to avenge him or keep the dream of his kingdom alive.

Now, some of you will rejoice, knowing that the man that tore the Empire apart is no longer of this world.

But I hope that some of you will be sad for the loss of one of the greatest, if not the greatest general of the Empire, a man who cared enough for the people of these lands that saw him brought into the world that he stood against those that threatened the very fabric of the Empire by forver grabbing fro more power...

So rejoice or cry but please remember Methodios Tagaris, General, Crusader, Chivalrous leader, Champion of the People, Conqueror of Egypt and Arabia, King of the Free Kingdom of Jerusalem, Palestine and Northern Egypt.

The man slowly walks out, discarding his liveried tabard on the floor of the Magnaura.

[Zim]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Arintheos looks momentarily startled at the news. After a few moments he regains his composure, sheaths the dagger he had been playing with earlier, and stands.

Well, I can't say that I'll mourn the passing a man who betrayed the Empire Alexios Komnenos worked so hard to build, nor any son of his that would resort to petty robbery. However, it is not the business of any Latin barbarian to execute Roman nobles. Were they concerned about justice they could have released them to the Empire to deal with.

I consider this an act of war by the crusaders and support any who would face the army of this Athalwolf and kill him in battle or capture him.

At least one good thing may come out of this. With Methodios and his most likely heir gone I see little need for the rebellion to continue. I encourage all remaining rebels to consider opening negotiations to rejoin the Empire.

One of them, Markos ek Sinopis, has contacted me. I believe his actions to this point to have been made from his sense of honor. He kept to his oath despite being left in an impossible situation by his Lord, surrounded by enemies and one ally who abandoned him to fulfill personal ambitions. He has never attacked loyalist forces and instead sought to surrender to them.

He is now free from his oath with the death of Methodios and I believe we would be remiss in not giving him a chance to rejoin the Empire. He has agreed to come to the Magnaura today to place himself before the judgment of the Senate. A few of my men should be escorting him in shortly.

[TinCow]

OOC: As noted in the Megas thread, Tristan's most recent action was illegal and I have invalidated it. For this reason, the events that the above two posts refer to have not occurred for IC purposes. I have spoilered them to remove any confusion.

[Zim]

We have a fairly new issue that is troubling. Despite my requests that they help out in the Levant where a single Senator fights the Turkish hordes alone Senator Erotikos and his Kousinos continue to march in the direction of the capital. With the lack of communications from them I can only assume they are following their scamming of two armies from the Order of Saint John by marching on Constantinople.

I dearly wish to be proven wrong in this assumption. Perhaps either they or one of their representatives would care to explain what their intent is?

[Ramses II CP]

Io returns to the Magnaura in something of a rush, with a very obvious look of alarm on his face,

Good noblemen of the Empire, I believe I have just been painted with a most unpleasant brush by my former competitor for the position of Megas, Senator Voutoumitis. Did you seriously intend to imply that I am a rebel just because I happen to be making use of the largest road in the Empire?

I would have you know that I hold no grudges over the technicality by which you invalidated my campaign for Megas. We need not be enemies, you and I, if you will but restrain yourself from slander. Our nation has enough true enemies not to need a leader casting about for more!

I will repeat myself here for all, new and old, to hear; I am pursuing the killer of Grandmaster Armatos, whose death directly precipitated the extermination of Damascus. I wish to praise the good men of the Order, even the one with whom I may technically still be at war, for working to pay back the Turks for their crimes, but there are other crimes, greater crimes, which too must have a price taken in their name. I move to make that a reality, and the right thinking man at my side, also of the Order of St. John, moves with me.

If there are further questions about my intent please put them to me directly without the need of these petty insults!

Io looks about the chamber expectantly, remaining on his feet.