The Magnaura

[Ramses II CP]

Io shrugs without saying a word and departs the chamber while making a rather flippant 'write me' gesture at the general assembly.

[woad&fangs]

Kousinos Sophianos, your claim to the throne is a farce. But it is no matter. Your army will soon be crushed and your limbs scattered to the four corners of the Empire to serve as a warning for all those who dare to slander royal blood.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

After many years Theo enters Magnaura. He is brought here on a chair by some of his servants...

I don't have much to say. For a crippled man like me it's hard to fight against our enemies, the Turks, and it's even harder to come here, Constantinople, from Levant. But what hurts me the most is how some of you act.

At the moment I'm willing to sign peace even with Erotikos! And the reason would be our foreign enemies - Venetians and Turks. Once all of you have decided who becomes the Basileus you may not have an Empire to rule! The Turks will over run our, the Orders, last defences in Levant if they keep sending those armies against us and Venetians might soon attack our holdings in Greece. We have already lost 3 provinces because of Methodios Tagaris' actions. He was a good man in his heart I think but it can not be ignored that his small 'rebellion' is the cause of our current financial situation!
I don't know what kind of man you are, Ioannis Tagaris, but if the lives of Byzantine people are important to You then You will help me getting back Damascus and if you return it to the Order then you will earn not just my gratitude but also my loyalty.

Loyalty... it's a word that have lost it's meaning to many of you! Kousinos, or Constantine, what you did was nothing but simple theft. You, and your partner, stole from the Order like those lowly thieves that you can see here in Constantinople! Why should anyone follow you even if you might become a Basileus? A thief, bastard and a rebel?

Theo spits to the ground...

I go back to the Levant now and just hopes that it's not too late to save the Empire!!! At least 'real' Romans would do it!!

His servants take the chair and take Theo, who mumbles about stupid Senators, out...

[Ignoramus]

Ioannis Komnenos III, after glancing at his father, motions to a Komnenoi man at arms. Immediately a company of Komnenoi soldiers enter the building.

"Good senators of the Roman Empire, I wish to inform you that I will not serve the son of the traitor, Tagaris. As my late uncle wished, I declare myself to be the true heir of the late Basileus Ioannis Komnenos, and do call upon all loyal Romans to swear loyalty to me as rightful ruler of the Roman Empire in the west. My uncle, Anronikos Komnenos, is also rightful ruler in the east, as per his brother's instructions.

I hereby secede from the rule of Ioannis Tagaris, with the provinces of Thrace(Constantinople, Bithynia(Nicaea), and Mysia(Dardanellia), and do designate the fair city of Constantinople as my current capital.

I offer a free pardon to Ioannis Tagaris, if he will relinquish his non-existent claim to the throne and swear loyalty to me, the rightful ruler of the Romans in the west."

Ioannis approaches the Basileus' dais and sits down.

[ULC]

A cold wind blows through as Sergios, covered in a woolen cloak enters, mutter more to himself then to anyone else. "So long have I been parted from these halls, yet soon I maybe forced form them again. The Empire is so quick to fall apart when it needs to hang together, so many of you vying for power that does not belong to you. In your greed and selfishness, you will lose everything."

Sergios takes his seat under the House Ilios Korakas banners with a determined gaze.

"I hereby declare my loyalty to Emperor Ioannis Tagaris, and assume control of House Ilios Korakas - all men still loyal to the Empire are welcome within the House."

[flyd]

I find that capturing the two nutcases marching around a lot in the interior of the Empire to be of the highest priority. It is no time for an armed resolution to the matter of succession, and I would prefer a peaceful one anyway. I declare neutrality.

[TheFlax]

Ioannis rises with an odd gleam in his eyes, a somewhat twisted smile appearing on his face.

You too, brother in-law?

He chuckles

If I am the son of a traitor and you married my sister, the daughter of a traitor, what does that make you? Another "traitor" by association? What of your children? If you have any, will they be branded likewise as myself?

The Basileus seems to laugh at some private joke before stopping abruptly and becoming more somber.

I had hoped with could settle this without bloodshed. I even offered Andronikos to share power with me, like some of the emperors of old, in an attempt of compromise. I had hope that his reply saying he was considering it was genuine. Apparently not.

My time here may be limited, before Ioannis' lackeys try to arrest me, but I will leave you with a few words. I will not bring this war to my people, I will not tear down their cities in a quest for power and I will not waste my men fighting my fellow Romans, unless my hand is forced. While you bicker and gloat, destroying the Empire in the process, I will follow Senator Petzeas' example and move my army to fight the Turks. At least it will be a fight that makes sense.

Also, I will be moving the capital to Jerusalem, temporarily, as I am surely no longer welcomed here. The Magnaura and all other establishments will henceforth be held there until further notice.

He turns to leave, but stops for a moment and faces Ioannis.

I almost forgot, I will not surrender to you or swear any oath, for to do so would be accepting your cause as just. That I cannot do.

With those words the Basileus leaves the Magnaura in haste, heading for what is left of his empire.

(Edit: Forgot I could move the Capital for real, so I thought I would lose Jerusalem when I left with my army. Thus I have chosen Jerusalem over Gaza.)