The Royal Council

[The Celtic Viking]

"Greetings to you all, noble Strategoi!

I am very glad to see that this Council is a strong one, and many good points and suggestions have already been made. Be assured that none of them have fallen on deaf ears, comrades. For example, I was not aware of the weakness of our naval forces before, but thanks to Eunostos, the silence has been broken. However, if admiral Naukrates has become a bleeding-heart pacifist since his loss and thinks this is his ticket out of war, he is quite mistaken if I can have a say in it, which I of course can. I very much agree with Ankhwennefer Philometer and my brother when they voice their view that we should all be selfless enough to chip in when the kingdom is in need. I have decided to take matters on my own and spend my money to build some ships for him to finish the job with. Any strategos who, out of his own free will, donates his money to help this cause will earn my gratitude. As such I withdraw Edict E1.1 and replace it with this:

Edict E1.1: The Basileus Philadelphos Ptolemaios, and any strategos who so chooses, may spend his own money to build a fleet in order to eliminate the immediate threat that the Seleukid naval supremacy now pose us. If this is done, the recruitment cost will be repaid by the Kingdom as soon as possible; the fleet will be disbanded as soon as the threat is dealt with, though.

Until that is done, though, I have decided to Change Edict E1.2 as well. It shall say this:

Edict E1.2: The heir's Royal Army shall be escorted by admiral Naukrates to Kilikia where they shall relieve or reclaim Tarsos from the Seleukids.

I will add that I support leaving a few units from it in Aigyptos to defend Alexandreia, though I am quite sceptical as to the wisdom of going on the offensive on a second front at this moment.

Now onwards and forwards, comrades. The idea of creating a Nomarchy in the upper Nile has been suggested and proposed, and it is one I can say I neither outright reject or endorse. Meleagros, my brother, you seem to be the main objector to this idea, and I take your opinion of this seriously. I have in fact decided that, should Law E1.1 pass, I will indeed grant it to you. Does this influence your position on the matter at all?"