The Royal Council

[Adamantarius]

A rider from Damaskos rushes in with a scroll and begins reciting aloud:

"Highest of the High, Most Wise and Just Fathers and Brothers of the Council,

The city of Bostra in the neighboring country of Nabataia is besieged by an army of innumerable proportions: banners, shields, and engines of war as far as the eye can see! WHEN this city to the South of Damaskos falls, it will not be long till the leader of that great force looks North toward our valuable mines, seeking to seal off the Arche's might from the riches that are as of yet still untapped. Should I fall, defending one of our two passages to the Inner Empire, to the hordes, we must press Southward from Sidon to Hierosolyma, cut off the enemy's supplies, and maintain a front further from Imperial soil.

I am sending my best rider by swiftest mount; I pray this message falls upon sound ears and that a plan can be put into action posthaste.

Ever Your firm and unwavering adherent,

H. N. Syriakes"

The horseman awaits the response.

[kingsnake]

Yes, Kleoronomos Basileion, I will include your status on my report to my lord.

I predict Aratos will just camp outside Mazaka and resupply.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

The Council doors open and Antiochos walks in. Looking around he can see everyone's surprise. Looking towards the throne he smiles and understands this confusion. The man, sitting on the throne, looks exactly like him. Antiochos says to him..

You can go now, Telemachos!

The man, Telemachos, bows and leaves the room. Turning towards the rest of the room he says..

I apologize for this confusion. I left Telemachos stay here so that I could go to Ioudaia and see what is going on there myself. Things don't look in our favour I must say. Although Ptolemaioi forces besiege the city of Sidon, that we captured from them, I say that we don't need Emergency Council Session.
The men under Bithys Nisaias Parthiakes are ready to fight against Ptolemaioi and will serve the Arche under Timarchos Mysiakes.

Turning towards Euripides...

Now.. And what will I do with you! You have insulted a lot of people I've heard! The easiest thing would be just cut your head off...

One of Antiochos' bodyguards smiles and draws his sword..

.. but you will not get away so easily.

Smile from the bodyguards face disappears and slowly he puts his sword away...

You will rot in the dungeon until some better punishment comes to my mind!
Let it be known that if someone is here to represent their master then they really should watch their language! You are here only to tell us your master words and nothing else.

Taking his seat he looks how Euripides is dragged away from the Council room..

[Alerion]

A messenger enters the court and hands a note to Theodoros' servant. The messenger then waits at the door, while the servant reads aloud:

"Great Basileus, Fellow Strategoi, I have come aware of our town Sidon besieged my the Ptolemaic forces, but althoug I don't doubt the army I command would be more than capable of dealing with them, I won't be there in time to relieve the town. I suggest, some forces from Ioudaia should be sent there as I highly doubt the garrison will be able to fight of an early attack. As for now I will keep the Parthian Army marching towards Damaskos to defend our borders until the royal army arrives there and we can coordinate a plan to hit these egyptians hard.

Strategos Theodoros Syriakos"

The servant takes his seat and waits if there are any messages he should send to his master.

[navarro951]

General Ankyrikos rides in from Antiocheia after his seasonal absence.

"Good Basileus! I have come to report that my army is stationed within the walls of Antiocheia. While I know we must wait to be retrained by the Chancellor, I ask if my assistance will be required against the Ptolmy along with your Royal Army and the Parthian Army. As of now I understand our orders are that of defense...which it seems either way our current combats will be, but I offer my hand in soon to come engagements with Egyptian scum if you will allow it."

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Strategos Ankyrikos, If you think that you can beat the Ptolemaioi army besieging Sidon then do so.

Turning towards Theodoros' messenger...

Tell to your master that they should wait in Damaskos but if he thinks that he can defeat some of their smaller forces then he can attack them. Just stay away from the Ptolemaioi general near Bostra if he should come to your way. I want to kill him myself!

[navarro951]

"Good Basileus, if my forces are retrained in time...with the right amount of planning I believe and can deliver a good blow to the Ptolmy forces near Sidon."

[Alerion]

The messenger nods and takes a bow to the Basileus before leaving the council.

[Roka]

The door opens and a stranger walks into the council

"My lord Basileus! Great men of the Arche! My name is Nikanor Kybiosaktes, or Niko for short, I have just arrived from Makedon to serve the children of Seleukos!"

He turns to the throne and bows.

"Do you have any orders for me?"

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Welcome Nikanor Kybiosaktes!

I must say that at the moment I don't have any orders for you. But since I plan to go to Ioudaia then perhaps you could join with me.

Antiochos nods..

[Roka]

"My Basileus, i would be honoured to accompany you to Ioudiea!"

With that Niko takes his seat in the council

[johnhughthom]

Lykikos stands to address the Basileus

My Lord, with you taking the fight to the Ptolemies and Sarpedon engaging the Pontic threat you will be needing somebody loyal to represent you here in the council. The business of court does not entirely depart with the Basileus and there will be some minor issues needing resolved here in your absence by somebody who would know what to handle himself and what to consult you over. I would hope my service to the Arche would show me to be the obvious candidate, however I simply wanted to bring the matter to your attention for you to decide on whether such a position is necessary.

The Babylonian bows before being seated

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Antiochos gets a message and stands up...

I want to make it public that Timarchos Anaias Mysiakes have been promoted to the rank of Strategos Epilektos due to the recent victories in Ioudaia. He lifted the siege og Sidon and thus we are finally getting control over that region again!

[Ibn-Khaldun]

One of his scribe coughs and whispers something to Antiochos..

Are you sure?

... Antiochos asks. Scribe nods. Turning towards the Council..

Looks like there have been some mistake made. Timarchos Mysiakes' correct rank would be Starategos Hetairos. He should mention what units he want's to be his bodyguard army according to the Law 2.4!
They must be recruitable in Sidon region. He could ask for some mercenaries to be recruited for him but it is not advisable since they can not be retrained. Anyway, I hope he sends note which units he wants very soon.

Antiochos takes his seat..

[00jebus]

*message from Timarchos Mysiakes*

Great Basileus,

I thank you for my recent promotion,
As a thank you to the locals who have faught valiantly in spite of recent failure's, and the skill they have shown, I wish to take 2 units of jewish spearmen as a bodyguard.

Strategos Hetairos Timarchos Mysiakes.

[The Celtic Viking]

A messenger enters the Council.

"Hail! lord Antiochos, and esteemed strategoi of the council. I come bearing a message from milord Sarpedon Syriakes."

The messenger clears his throat before he takes out a parchment from his pack and starts reading it.

"To my father, the Basileus, and for anyone else present to hear: I have good news! Ankyra is taken, and the last remnants of the Pontic garrison has either been killed, been chased off or taken as slaves. This was done with only few casualties amongst my own men.

As per my promise, I have come as a liberator to the Keltoi people, and have thus made sure that no unnecessary harm has come to the civil population here. However, the Keltoi here are not yet convinced of my good will, and it would be prudent to show our intentions by lowering the taxes and installing them as our allies. That is my recommendation."

The messenger folds the parchment and puts it back into his pack and bows low towards Antiochos.

[SwissBarbar]

Galaktión stands up and says: "A very wise recommendation from your master. As the representative of my master Nikarchos A. Syriakes i shall inform him immediately as soon as a desicion is made by you, most distinguished Synedroi.

In addition i'd like to bring word from my master concerning our hellenic brothers in the west. The honourable Macedonians are our allies. But the wimpy Koinon Hellenon and especially the treacherous Epeirote are NOT. Epeiros is an ally of our most abhorrent enemy, the Ptolemaioi. They deliver them weapons, soldiers, money and all kind of useful goods, they conspire and plot treason against us. They would only be too pleased to take control over our lands. We can not get them gain strength more and more. My master recommends to march to Bythnia and Thrakia as soon as possible. The people and the land of the region of origin of the hellenic civilization must be restored to their legitimate heir, wich is the Arche Seleukeia."

Galaktión bows and sits.

[GMaximus]

Alexander, who had quietly snuck into the council chambers some time ago, rose from his seat. It was evident from the frown on his face that he felt offended by Galaktion's speech.

"Although a mere messenger, I believe my Lord Mikithion would speak the same words I do now - I would ask you to be more careful with your choice of words. Both my Lord and I, and all of his companions, for that matter, are former citizens of Athenai, and soldiers of the very Koinon Hellenon you insult. Neither I nor my Lord bear any love for the Epeirotes, but the soldiers of the Koinon Hellenon in Attike are of the same flesh and blood as my master, and by calling the Koinon, calling its soldiers, calling sons of Athenai 'wimps' you insult my Lord and his heritage. I do not try to threaten you cowering behind the disguise of speaking for my Lord - I am merely stating something that every Hellene, indeed every civilized man should remember: words are like fire, and should be treated as such."

[SwissBarbar]

"Dear Alexander, not the soldiers are to be mistrusted, but the royal family of the Koinon Hellenon. And the same counts for the Epeirotes.
This is why my Master proposes to FREE those people and not to annihilate them. The Hellenes should be under our control, as we are true Hellenes too! In fact, WE are the legitimated heirs of Megas Alexandros, not the Ptolemaioi, not the Koinon Hellenon and certainly not the Epeiros. Or do you deny that? I am a true Makedon, as was Alexandros! And my opinion is, that Seleukos is the true heir of his empire including Greece, and no one else.

I apologize if I the words I've chosen to pass on my masters message caused a misunderstanding"

[Celtic_Punk]

A young Celt walks into the council with haste, he is clad in mail
"Sire, Strategos Cunobelinus has laid seige to Sinope. It is garissoned only by the King of Pontus' royal cavalry, and he asks, "what is to become of the populace?"

[GMaximus]

"I am glad it was a simple misunderstanding, and will make it known that Lord Mikithion would fully support this view; the rulers of the Koinon are indeed not to be trusted, and that is the reason I am here and my Lord is in Ankyra. The favoured city of Athena gains no glory through their leadership which only leads to Athenai becoming a mere shadow of what it was before even Megas Alexandros. Perhaps the only way for Her to regain this former glory is to become a part of the Arche, who can tell? The Gods' designs are not for mortals to predict." With this, Alexander sat down again.

[navarro951]

General Ankyrikos rides in out of Antiocheia lightly rested from his fights in Sidon

"Good men of the council, I am sure we are all well aware of the victories we have been gaining against the Egyptians and the soon to be former Kingdom of Pontus...however lets not allow ourselves to be overly confident. At anytime more Ptolemy forces may arrive in larger numbers as before yet I have heard discussion about warring with the Hellons? While i agree they should be saved, if that is what you wish to call it, we are in no position to think about expanding our empire so quickly. With the situation in the far eastern nations, further campaigning that must be done against the Aigyptions, and getting the conquered people of Pontus to coincide with our empire will be challenge enough.

Ankyrikos clears his throat

Not to mention the replenishing, rearming, and regrouping costs of war. Construction alone is a hefty toll on our coffers. We must first establish a much more firm situation in within our borders before we make plans for an invasion of the Greek mainland or the Epirote held territories near to us. Maybe this will be a better and more necessary discussion at the next council session.

With that General Ankyrikos seats himself and sips from a cup of water.

[SwissBarbar]

"Well, Ankyrikos, i agree that the Koinon Hellenon can wait. But Epiros is an ally of the Ptolemaioi. They support them! And mark my words, they will march against us soon, whether we attack them first or not. Wenn Pontos is gone, they will have to attack us if they want to keep their territories in Asia, and they have to do that as long as the Ptolemaioi are not too weakend - wich means soon. They will not let us finish them off one after another. They are Hellenes after all, they are not stupid."

[navarro951]

Ankyrikos nods his head

True...I suppose if our armies finishing off the Pontic forces are ready, the Basileus may order an attack on the Epiro's provinces nearest to us. That can be justified sensibly.

[SwissBarbar]

"If he does, my master will be ready to follow his order."

Galaktión seats himself.

[Celtic_Punk]

A young Galatian enters the room"Cunobelinus has defeated the Pontic King in single combat! The Pontic Dynasty is no more, and 1500 protesters were rounded up and sold as slaves. Cunobelinus' Contingent of the 1st Syrian army desperately needs reinforcements from the battle before Sinope's capture, including his own cavalry unit. Unrest in Sinope is astronomical, and can only be solved by instituting our own government, lowering taxes, and leaving a more competent governor he says. He requests new orders, or he asks if can return to old home in Galatia, to live and command a garrison there." The young boy kneels in wait for a reply to bring to his general.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

A Magistrate rises from his seat and says..

Since our Basileus is currently occupied with his army then he have instructed me to open the new Council Session. So here it goes...

I declare the Council Session open! It will stay open for debate and legislation until 21.00 GMT on Saturday, December 6th, at which point there will be 48 hours allowed for voting.

The Magistrate smiles and sits back to his seat..

[Alerion]

Theodoros enters the hall, clothed in the garments of a servant to take his place under the mighty of the Arche.

"Strategos Theodoros Syriakos reports for the Royal Council Session."

[Celtic_Punk]

A substantially taller (from the last time he entered this room) Cunobelinus enters the council chamber. He has a grim look from the many bloody battles he's fought, and his reddish blond beard is now full. He also has a bandage over his left ear. He looks around the room for a suitable seat, and finds one next to Sarpedon. He sits and waits a few seconds before once again standing to address the council."*Ahem* Since nobody seems to have started, I guess I shall. The campaign went well. Pontus is removed. Their King is dead as you all know... However now that we've taken his former kingdom, the city of Sinope does not support our presence. We need a larger garrison there also. My men need reinforcement desperately, though I am confident I could defend the city from attack from a significantly larger force, we would be eventually slaughtered by any force numbering in the thousands. My own cavalry needs new equipment, and we also need more men. I came here with a less than a dozen men. I know where I can find some, back in the homeland, but I'd need the money to acquire their services.
Cunobelinus clears his throat and takes a sip of water, recently poured by a servant.
I believe we should continue to keep the Armenians on our side. They provide an excellent buffer from the brutal steppes, and they've aided us in battle before, which is a honourable trait to have in an ally. They are not cowards by any means, in fact are exceptional warriors. We should help them in their troubles when we can, economically and militarily. However our biggest threat (other than the Aigyptians) is the bastards from the Hella's proper. Pyhross, I believe his name is, Has expanded East and is challenging our dominance of Asia Minor. I propose an edict...
EDICT 4.1 A campaign to the West against the Epirotes to take their holdings in Asia Minor, and to take Byzantion.

Byzantion will act as a buffer from further attacks West. If we decide it be necessary to expand from there, it will not be a problem... I volunteer to lead any expedition West, against this new threat. This campaign could be completed by a small force... the Royal army under Sarpedon would be overkill. The contingent of the 1st Syrian Army I lead to Sinope would be sufficient I believe, once it retrains and is reinforced.

[navarro951]

General Ankyrikos rises, looking much more like a man now, and addresses the council.

Good men of the Great Arche, let me first say that I extend my applause to Cunobelinus in his dominance over the pretender king in Pontus. Ankyrikos gestures with a nod I believe he is right about our Armenian neighbors...they are honorable friends and would be deadly as a foe indeed. They are also expendable as Cunobelinus mentioned...they can indeed be our buffer.

Now on the Edict he has proposed...4.1, I feel he is a little over confident about the Epirote military power in Asia Minor. Our spies have just reported to us that their forces in that area are in great numbers. However, I will second the Edict, because as my army in Antiocheia is now fully retrained I would like to extend my assistance by bringing my men along into the fight. I feel confident that with enough men committed to the battle no force can beat us.

I would also like to raise the question we had discussed briefly about what should become of the Greeks to the west. Some say we should rescue these people from their own leaders as they are Hellons like us and are improperly treated. Their leaders, I believe, cannot be trusted! Or aloud to continue to lead! I believe we should do our Makedonian friends a favor and give them a new border with us whom have been a great Ally to them for many years now. Some here have spoke of the fact that those Greek kings have helped our Aigyption scum of an enemy in trade and helping their commerce. No wonder those bastards can throw such formidable armies against us in continuous waves at cities like Sidon.

So I propose the following Edict:

Edict 4.2: That a fleet of our cheapest and fastest ships available be constructed so that we can liberate our Hellon brethren, in essence, I believe the great Arche should conquer Greece while not interfering with our Allies (Makedonia) interests.