He Agora (The Forum)

[Iskander 3.1]

Archon Basilikou Stolou Alkaios storms into the Agora, outraged
What in the name of Hades has happened to my fleet? This is an outrage! Basileus, I demand that those ships be reassembled, immediately! Perhaps Krateros Argeades should be forced to fund the reconstruction? At the very least, I suggest that we place his head on the mast of my flagship. He must really want us to lose this war with the Hellenic Alliance by ceding the seas to them.

[The Celtic Viking]

A messenger enters the Agora and walks up to Agathangelos. He hands him a letter, speaks a few words with him and then leaves. Agathangelos reads the letter and then speaks out with a loud voice to all.

"Word has come to us from our Basileus, Antigonos Gonatas, in Thessalia. He wish to announce first and foremost that he has defeated an army of Greeks led by a man who called himself Rhouphos, who himself was slain by Antigonos' own men when he did as all cowards do, and ran. Out of the more than 8000 man strong army, only a mere 120 Greeks ever got to see their homes again.

Secondly, he also wish to let it be known that Krateros is no longer a Strategos commanding our southern forces. He has himself decided to retire from his military career, and the Basileus has named Alexandros as the new Strategos to take his place instead. May the gods favour him in battle for as long as he serves our kingdom!"

[johnhughthom]

Letter from Krateros to each member of the Synedrion.

Friend, due to the edict ordering war taxes I enacted taxation across the Empire at what I felt was the maximum sustainable level. As it is the Epirotes have abandoned our territory and the Athenian/Spartan alliance appear unable to launch a sustained threat. I propose to reduce taxation to low levels in Mytilene and Chalkis as our prohibitive taxation is hindering growth. I am thinking long term, we will have less income now but the benefits in the future will be great. May the Gods be with you.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Generally I like to keep any city with less than 2000 population on low tax. When a city reaches this stage it can usually handle very high and still increase in population (probably because I always favour buildings that enhance population growth)

[mini]

(OOC: as the synedrion is only used for specific debate during the winter turn, i've posted this here)

A public letter from Alkyoneus to his father, Gonatas


Dearest Father

My greetings from the lovely city of Pella. Mother sends her love.
When word reached the city Phyrrus turned around, I've given some festivities in your name.
The people celebrated the averted threat joyeously.
As to why he turned around, it is my opinion that he wanted to stay close to the Adriatic Sea because of Roman activity in the southern Italian Peninsula

The defences we prepared in order to stand up to this Epirotean yokel however, have presented us with near-empty treasury coffers. This needs a solution or we face bankrupcy.

Either we disband the newly recruited parts of the army, or we use our increased military power to establish our ruling in southern Hellas. Athens and Sparta must be made to see they will fare much better under Macedonian rule, like it was during Megas Alexandros' time.

I shall propose to this effect in the next Synedrion. I only wished to apprise you of my intentions in advance."

[/Bean\]

A messenger enters the Agora, and seeks out the representatives of the Basileus and Basileus Grammatikus. Passer by's overhear his loud proclamation.

Sirs, I bare a message from my master, the young Strategos, Alexandros Argeades. He comes to ask for reinforcements for the southern army, now that the threat of Pyrrhus has been avoided. He requires some heavy infantry and cavalry, so that he may combat the large combined forces of Sparta and Athens, that at this very moment ravage the land around Olympia, and threaten Korinthos itself.

Although Alexandros' army blocks passage across the Isthmus, his forces are not adequate to even defend Korinthos, let alone the whole of the Peloponnese, should the Hellenes decide to attack further, of which they are sure to do so.

Alexandros asks for a unit of Phalangites to be transferred from Pella, from whence they are little needed any longer, and for either the Thessalyian cavalry or the allied Greek cavalry from Antigonos' forces to be transferred to him, along with any other forces the kingdom can spare. Athens is barely defended, and unlikely to receive any relief force. Alexandros is sure some of Antigonos' forces can be loaned to the army in much further need of them at this present time.

What say you, sirs?

[The Celtic Viking]

"Antigonos may send him some of his cavalrymen, but you will not receive any of his infantry, nor will you get any from Pella. He does not have so many men himself that he can just up and give them all away on a whim, and Pella barely have enough to garrison itself. Are you forgetting that we still haven't achieved peace with Pyrrhos? And that barbarians may still come from the north? Would you have us leave Makedonia defenceless?

Nay, I say. The mines of Makedonia bring in a great deal of our money, and we must not lose it. I will not have it risked foolishly, and Korinthos would be the lesser loss. Have Alexandros know that he should focus on the Spartans and if peace is struck with Pyrrhos, I believe Antigonos will deal with Athens himself. Until then you will have to make do with what you have, just like the rest of us do."

(OOC: I will answer your letter, mini, but I don't have time now.)

[/Bean\]

The messenger answers.

I will take that message to Alexandros, sir. Can I be so bold as to pursue that Alexandros receive the first reinforcements when they are released?

[Maion Maroneios]

Antisthenes Pellinios walks in the Agora of Pella and, upon finding a good elevated place to stand and face the people around, speaks to the gathering crowd

People! Friends! Noble Sympatriotai!

My name is Antisthenes Pellinios, and I am one of your representatives in the Synedrion. I am here today to discuss with you the matters of the state. As you may know, the very person who threatened our beloved capital, has now abandoned his arms and retreated to the dark woods of Epeiros. At the same time, the Southrons have assembled a large force and are threatening our holdings in the region of Achaia, Peloponnesos.

While many would say the best course of action would be to turn our attention to the south, I believe we should not let our guards down. Pyrrhos and his fearsome elephantes are still on the loose, with the Koinon Epeiroton probably deciding their next course of action.

On the other hand, we cannot completely turn our backs to our southern holdings. Our Basileus, Antigonos Gonatas, was forced to abandon his campaign in Attike to protect Pella from the Epeirotic incursion, leaving behind the hopes of returning Southern Hellas under our control. This gave the Southrons the opportunity to assemble an army and regain hopes of "liberating" themselves from rightful Makedonian rule.

So this brings me to the core of our discussion. What I would like to hear from you, is what you believe should be the rightful course of action. I am not trying to emulate the workings of the Synedrion in any way; don't take me wrong. I have always thought it wise to consult the common people for matters of the state. For sometimes, I admit, we tend to forget the oppinions of the citizens of the Basileion and their needs. We just need to open our ears more.

Antisthenes looks out for anyone among the crowd who want to discuss with him