The Royal Council

[The Celtic Viking]

Sarpedon Syriakos storms into the Council, almost knocking down some scribes who were unlucky enough to get slightly in his way. He was closely followed by a group of soldiers, and of which a tall, scarred and proud Cadeyrn stood out amongst them, and yet not one of them were clad in anything but the finest of armour and lavish cloaks. They all had a serious look on their faces, and none said a word until Sarpedon reached his throne and began to speak.

"Strategoi! You have all heard the magistrate, so you know the reason why I call for an emergency session! It will last until 22:00 GMT on Monday 9th February, at which point there a vote will be held.

So as you know Persepolis, Gabai, Prophthasia, and Karmana has rebelled against our rule and joined the Pahlavans, who have declared war on us. The situation is dire. The only army we have near is the Royal Army belonging to the Kleronomos Basileios, and it can't leave his satrapy unguarded, nor could he split up and hope for victory that way. Something must be done, and it must be done quickly, or we will lose cities quickly, and that may spell the end for us.

Yet we can't direct all efforts east just because of this. Epeiros are still strong to the west, and though the Ptolemaioi are no threat anymore, they would become one if we foolishly let them take back Alexandreia. That means we must still also hold a presence left in Aigyptos.

So lets look at the armies we have left. There is my own Royal Army, strong in infantry and equipped to fight an infantry based enemy such as would be found in Greece. Still, it is probably a good candidate - though a big problem is that it is currently too far away to join in on a good while. We can't rely on it getting there in time.

Next is the 1st Syrian. It suffers from the very same distance problem as my Royal Army, and if my army is to leave, then it must stay.

Then we have the 1st Lydian. It has suffered great losses in the disastrous campaign to take Tylis, and is currently not in a fighting shape. It could retrain on the way, but if it leaves, there will only be Nikarchos' satrapal army left to defend us against the west. Can we take that risk?

Nikarchos' satrapal army's duty is to defend his satrapy, and even if that wasn't the case, it could still not leave the 1st Lydian to defend Mikra Asia by itself as it is now.

Then there's only Phanias' Royal Army left, and I think I have already covered it.

Those are the facts. Now it is up to you to earn the trust that my father showed for you by creating this council, and that I continue to show by retaining it."