The Royal Council

[kingsnake]

Aratos claps his hands three times and lifts up.

Yes.

I share Strategos Cunobelinus' opinion. Our war agaisnt Ptolemy is total! We must not stop until Egypt is fully under the rightful control of the Arche.

So I second Edict 1.4!

[MerlinusCDXX]

Basileus, my apologies for my outburst, it was inappropriate for a meeting such as this. Though, could someone PLEASE tell me that we are looking to our defense while we conduct this campaign. I realize that many of you would love nothing more than to march down the Nile like an armored juggernaught, but we can't afford to give the Aigyptoi dogs ANY back doors into our lands. And what about the rumors of previous Edicts being overturned? Taking Petra is vital, oh, I know it's nothing but a desert craphole, much like the rest of Aigyptos below Memphis, but its strategic position is vital.

Cunobelinus, you do speak some sense about things, but , If you could perhaps re-word your Edict to be less vague, perhaps giving Dispolis-Megale as the new defensive line, I would give it full support. The rest of Aigyptos south of there is filled with nothing but naked barbaroi, it would be more expensive to keep them under control than to just let them burn in the African sun. The problem I see with taking too much of the Mesogeios (Mediterranean) coast is that we would eventually piss off the Qart-Hadastim, and from news that I've heard, they are a pretty advanced people. We are already on the wrong side of alliances as far as they are concerned anyways, and I'd hate to see us at war with them over land we don't even want.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: The naked barbaroi comment is due to my characters extreme xenophobia (hates strangers trait), not any prevailing attitude on my part.

Please fell free to correct my horrible Greek.

[SwissBarbar]

I also think, that our war against the Ptolemaioi is an all-out war. But i think we are able to handl the Ptolemaioi AND Epeiros at the same time, once we have captured Byzantion

[Incitatus]

Alexandros enters the council and speaks

The war against Ptolemy will ultimately end with his defeat and our conquest of Aegyptos. We all know this. I see no reason why this should not happen sooner rather than later, but a premature strike could turn into a major setback. If the Basileus is committed to marching on Alexandria, then every effort must be made to put Ptolemy in a position from which he will never recover. I am personally not a fan of nasty surprises. The way I see it, the war with Epeiros is to provide an easy defence of Asia minor. As soon as this has been accomplished I believe that all our attention needs to lie with the permanent subjugation of Aegyptos. Does anybody disagree?

[SwissBarbar]

The war on Epeiros is the beginning of the liberation of my masters people !

[MerlinusCDXX]

Well said, Alexandros, I do not disagree at all, but do we wish to rule the naked barbaroi south of Dispolis? I think that if we must raid those settlements, we would be better off inviting the Arabs in to take control of them after we leave. Like I said, it would cost us more to govern them than to leave them. I say let the Arabs come in and pay the bills. In time, they could provide us with profits through trade, instead of costs.

[Incitatus]

You are quite right Phanias, we need not interest ourselves in the desert south of Dispolis as long as the area does not pose a threat. If the Arabs would be willing to mop up Ptolemy, who are we to stand in their way? My only concern would be the Arabs building up their forces and attacking us when we least expect it. However, this is not a pressing matter. We need to focus on a quick, decisive victory on the lower Nile.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Yes, it's true that we can fight against both Epeiros and Ptolemaioi but how long??
Also, people are forgetting that we have three nations in east that are not happy if we get even stronger. Recently Baktrian Army crossed our border. Pahlavan Army have also done that several times. What will happen if they find out that our Army that supposed to protect us in east is not there anymore? Do you really think that they are scared of Lydikes' Army?? No offence, Phanias, but against those steppe horsemen Parthavan Satrapal Army don't have a chance!
Why I am talking about east?? The reason is simple - East will attack us if we stay too long to West.
And that's why I don't want to go down the Nile and make the war last longer.

Antiochos sighs...

Now, I must say that unless I hear from Theodoros before this Council Session is over he will loose his command over 1st Parthian Army. If someone wants to lead this army then please let me know.

Antiochos sighs again...

And one more thing for you to think about.. Unless I see Andromachos actually governing his Satrapy I am forced to propose an Edict that will take away his Satrapy. The entire Satrapal Army of Persis is just standing there and they do nothing! Brigands are camped just next to them and they still do nothing! If things go on like that then people of Persepolis might soon think about rebelling against our rule!

[The Celtic Viking]

Hilarion stands up and turns towards Antiochos.

"Apologies, sir, but Sarpedon is not here. He could not leave his duties back in Bithynia, so he sent me some messages with instructions. One of them were to propose those Charter Amendments.

But for what it's worth, yes, you have it exactly right. CA E1.1 would add to Rule 4.1, and CA E1.2 would alter Rule 3.10, point (4)."

Now turning to Alexandros, Hilarion continues.

"Yes, the war against Epeiros is mainly to secure a more easily defensible front, but it is also to help out our allies, the Makedons. They are, as I have said before, our only western allies and without our help, they will fall, and we will be set against a much stronger enemy when they turn their attention to us instead."