The Royal Council

**Celtic_Punk** · 11-12-2008, 03:41

Euripedes after watching the three men bicker for a time stands up with a look of slight distaste
"SHUT UP! STOP YOUR PETTY BICKERING! You are men! ACT LIKE IT! Andromachos, those cities are the heart of the Arche, without them We cannot function. Sarpedon, you misunderstood what I said. When I said the East, I meant the far east, bordering the Persian scum and the Baktrians. The great core cities dwarf the East AND West in importance. You are SATRAPS! You are not accomplishing anything by disputing who's Satrapy is more important. We have a new issue here. A large army at Petra. We should not provoke it by taking Jerusalem. Leave the Jews to rot. I would not trade 10 000 Jews for 100 of our soldiers. We should hold the line, Pontus must fall before we can continue into Egypt...Eurpides takes a breath and a sip of water."Another issue. The Armenian threat! After Pontus is dealt with we will have extended our borders with them. This new border needs to be enforced. I propose that after the Pontic campaign is through we raise a small contingent as a delaying force if the Hai decide to make an incursion on our lands. Euripedes looks to the similiarly aged King Your thoughts sire?

**00jebus** · 11-12-2008, 03:56

*the clerk speaks up*

The... Egyptian army that Mysiakes reported is beseiging Bostra, not Petra sir, a small oversight, given that they are both desert town's nobody seams to care about..... in any case its the one north-east of Jerusalem

**Celtic_Punk** · 11-12-2008, 05:16

"my mistake, please do not call me sir, I am no officer. Just merely a philosopher of sorts appointed by the young Arrhenides Gedrosianos Cunobelinus to act on his behalf in this council."

**Incitatus** · 11-12-2008, 05:16

Alexandros rises and speaks to the clerk

That is quite a different matter. While the towns themselves might be of little value their geographic positions are significant. In other words, Petra is well within Ptolemaic territory – Bostra is not. Indeed, Bostra opens up an additional front. If Bostra is taken, the town could be used as a staging ground for attacks on the Levant or even across the desert into our heartlands. I am not familiar with the current positions of our forces assigned to the area, but I believe that the Ptolemaic threat must be dealt with.

In a larger sense, we have only ourselves to blame for this. We decidedly underestimated Ptolemy’s strength and cunning and we are now suffering the consequences. We also suffer from the lack of an organized strategy of defense. I believe we would ensure the security of our lands if first the Bostra threat is dealt with, and if troops can be spared the town should be taken for the Arche. Second, Hierosolyma should be taken as soon as possible. This will allow the establishment of a much more comfortable perimeter that can be held until the Invasion of Aegyptos. If anyone has a different understanding of the situation, and I believe it to be grave, let him speak. I do not see any other way to proceed.

**The Celtic Viking** · 11-12-2008, 11:09

"Lykikos, watch your mouth. I am the best administrator there is in this whole kingdom, and no one comes close to matching my skill - not even my father. Why should I pretend like this is not the case? It is not out of any supposed arrogance that I'm saying this, it is out of my unwavering loyalty to reality. All I want is for the rest of you to catch up on that as well."

Sarpedon turns to Euripedes.

"Were you not the one who said we shouldn't "abandon the jews", and now suddenly you're on the opposite side of the fence? You have come to the right conclusion, of course, but I'm just wondering why you didn't value our soldiers so much before.

Also, if you hadn't heard us already, Lykikos and I had already agreed to stop before you started shouting like that. Disgraceful, and pointless."

**SwissBarbar** · 11-12-2008, 11:58

Galaktíon, messenger of Nikarchos Asterias Syriakes enters the room

My Lords, once again i bring word from my Master, who has heard of the important discoussion concerning how to face the dangerous threat of the Ptolemaioi. He instructed me to bring in his opinion of his matter.

Galaktíon grabs a scroll and starts to read

My Lords

I am crossing Assyrie at the Moment and advance towards Phyrgia to join the army of Sarpedon Syriakos near the border of Pontos.

Pontos, the Kingdom founded by Mithridates the first, adherent of Antigonos, enemy of our divine father Seleukos. They may look amicably towards us now, but not because they have respect but because they fear us. I'm sure they just wait for an opportunity to extend their Kingdom at our expense!

If we draw back our Armies from the border of Pontos and bind them in the war against the Ptolemaioi, the pontic King will take his chance and attack Ipsos. Should the strong Ptolemaioi decide to send all their armies with might and main against our walls to crush us, we cannot afford an enemy like Pontos to stab in our back.

Pontos could be taken in short time, if we act swiftly. Many hellenic people live there, who could join our armies. If we'd liberate them soon, we could take the offensive against the Ptolemys without sorrow, and the western border would be save, wich is of significant importance to us and of course to me personally, as the true Makedon I am.

For now i will continue my journey and my messengers will inform me regularly about the desicions and discussions made in this council.

May the Gods protect you all

Nikarchos Asterias Syriakes

He finishes and looks expectantly to the Council

**kingsnake** · 11-12-2008, 19:20

Akakios Euthymios, Strategos Aratos Representative, takes his chance and stands.

"I have recieved an update on the progress of the 1st Syrian Army.

My lord, considering all the problems with Ptolemy and the need of an efficient and quick conquest of Pontus, wishes that any modification to the plans be known to him, immediately, as he is at striking distance. If Aratos is not sent anything, he will engage the war."

The representative, now adds a more grave tone to his voice.

"Finally, Strategos Epilektos Aratos Syriakes manifests, with great respect towards Strategos Arrhenides, his discontent towards Euripedes, for insulting his roots. Calling them "persian scum", was very insulting and not how a true philosopher should behave. Aratos demands a public apology from Euripedes, here at the Council and in Aratos' presence. Additionally, he asks the Basileus, for the immediate expulsion of Euripedes from the Council, forever."

Euthymios looks seriously and directly at Euripedes. "Consider yourself lucky."

Now, turning towards the Council. "This was my master's message." Euthymios bowed his head and sat.

**MerlinusCDXX** · 11-12-2008, 20:16

I agree completely with your superior, good Akakios. Had this toplofty blowhard made such a statement in my Satrapy, his head and neck would immediately part company. Glaring at Euripides you call yourself a philosopher? Come try your philosophy in Parthava you lily-livered coward. I'd be willing to bet a mint that I wouldn't need to give the order to shorten you by a head, since one of those "Persian scum" you keep referring to would continue the conversation through your respective seconds. I happen to rule over many of those Persians you like to call scum, they have fought bravely to rid the Satrapy of all manner of lawless scum, hell, if you met one of the Daha nomads we kill regularly face-to-face, you'd crap your chiton right before you grew an arrow out of your arse. I've done nothing but promote law and order in the Arkhe, mostly at the point of a sword, what have you accomplished? Besides fancy, well articulated lies.