The Royal Council

**The Celtic Viking** · 06-13-2011, 21:39

Philadelphos smiles towards Bothos before turning to Alexandros, his face now turning more disappointed.

"Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? I am your king! You owe me your loyalty. As the Basileus, the Royal Army is my personal army. I decide where it goes. I decide what it will do. I also decide who will command any regular army in the field. You have no more influence in this than I decide to give you. This is not a democracy, and if you don't like that, then you should get off my land immediately and never return. If you do stay, however, I expect you to apologize and to get with the program.

As it is, I will not support your Edict. Instead, I shall make a new one:

Edict E1.11: The Garrison of Hierosolyma and Sidon shall be combined and made into a Regular Army. This army will march down to reclaim Paraitonion, while the Royal Army stays in defence of Syria."

One more thing needs to be cleared up."

Philadelphos turns to a scribe standing nearby.

"You are supposed to hold expert knowledge on the law. Would it be possible, if my son doesn't show up, for me to act in his stead, deciding instead of him who shall control his army? If not, I think I might have to undo my decision and let Leontiskos be the heir again, until such time as my son feels ready to enter the political scene and fulfill his duty."

**LeoCordis** · 06-13-2011, 21:49

I would ask who would command this regular army, Basileus?

**The Celtic Viking** · 06-13-2011, 21:58

"I have not decided that yet. Leontiskos Thraikikos is my first choice, but I expect him to take command over my son's Royal Army. If my son actually shows up and declares this will not be, then he will take command of it. Otherwise, I believe you would be the best choice, comrade.

If this edict passes, then this would mean that the heir's Royal Army would have to leave less men behind, strengthening our positions everywhere."

**LeoCordis** · 06-13-2011, 22:03

It is a good proposal. I will leave my edict standing however, on the basis that it will be the will of the council for what choice we make.

**Ibn-Khaldun** · 06-13-2011, 22:45

Eunostos discusses something with one of his scribes and then turns towards the Council..

My scribe told me that Edicts E1.6, E1.7, E1.8, E1.9, E1.10 and Law E1.1 do not have enough seconds. That means, when the voting starts you can't vote over them.

**Myth** · 06-13-2011, 23:09

"You are right Basileus, I spoke rashly, the eagerness for battle has made me hotheaded. I took offense in your words, where I though it was implied I would steal troops from your Royal Army, but It appears I was the one who did not understand. But what of the siege of Tarsos?"

**johnhughthom** · 06-13-2011, 23:12

Leontiskos returns to the chamber.

"I have checked with my scribes and I can give 1500 gold to start production on a unit on Triereis to combat the Seleukid fleet, the other 4000 would need to be met by the rest of the Council, and we would need to share the upkeep. The 4000 wouldn't necessarily need to be paid this season, we can spread the cost over most of the year. Do I need to propose an edict for us to do this, I am unsure of whether the Basileus' edict 1.11 over-rides the previous fleet related edict. We need to ensure we have enough money pledged before we begin, this would be a very costly venture and running out of money halfway through would be unnaceptable.

Though I am honoured by your faith in me my Lord, I feel we should give your son time, he has been ill and perhaps he is not ready to participate fully in state affairs. I have no desire to usurp his title, even temporarily, I have enough on my hands teaching my older brother the meaning of respect.

I'm not sure on any of the edicts, or the law, needing seconds so I will not be seconding them.

My dear Bothos, I am confused, if you are from Sidon why did your father name you as a Cypriot? Nevertheless, my point still stands, if anybody is to take a detachment to retake Paraitonion it should be me. In no way did I call the army mine, I stated I have held it in readiness for our future Basileus, I wish to hand it over to him. Still, I may have spoken harshly, I would welcome you as second in command in the event Eurgetes is unable to take his command and I lead his army in his stead."

**LeoCordis** · 06-13-2011, 23:28

Strategos Leontiskos, my family comes from the town of Side, not Sidon, as I have stated. We are Asiatikons, though the family name comes from one generations old, like your own uncles I believe. The edicts shall speak the truth, for it shall decide who commands what and where the Royal Armies shall go I believe.

**The Celtic Viking** · 06-13-2011, 23:40

Philadelphos Ptolemaios sighs.

"You are right, Leontiskos. I've spoken too rashly about my son and in a way he doesn't deserve. Let the record show that I apologize for it. If you do not wish to be the Kleronomos Basileios, even if only to ease the beurocratic process, then I will respect that position. Lets hope that the scribe's silence means that I can hold temporary control over it while my son is incapacitated by his illness."

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

"On the matter of the fleet, you speak wisely. The kingdom is stressed for money so we all need to chip in. This includes me, though I have none to offer immediately. I shall make up for it by putting in extra as soon as my trading investments have paid off. I don't think my Edict E1.11 has any implication on ships or ship building at all, beyond Law 4.3. I, however, will allow the Chancellor to ignore this rule and order the construction of Trieries, so it shouldn't be a problem."

Philadelphos now turns to Alexandros again.

"I see. For the sake of being clear, I was not accusing you of planning the theft of any soldier from my army; I was merely enquiring where you planned on getting those 6-8 phalanxes your edict speaks of, when there are no phalanxes in the area to get hold of, save those who belong to me or the enemy. I'd still like to know.

In regards to the siege of Tarsos, I had thought that my... was it the first or second edited edict? I forget. In whatever the actual number might be, I proposed that the heir's Royal Army would go by ship to relieve that siege. That remains my position even now."

**Zim** · 06-14-2011, 04:21

Of course I will be leading my army where you or the Council wishes, father. No need to appoint a proxy.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**Ibn-Khaldun** · 06-14-2011, 08:29

Eunostos looks towards Euergetes being a bit surprised how the Heir managed to get into the Council chamber so undetected..

It's good to hear your voice here, Kleronomos Basileios!

Turning towards Meleagros..

True, the Basileus can give this position to anyone. However, a Law that gives specific provinces to the Nomarchy could prevent any Nomarch in the future claiming more land than he is allowed. And you know where that leads us? Into the Civil War.

**The Celtic Viking** · 06-14-2011, 12:32

"It's good to see that you're healthy and present, my son."

The Basileus turns towards Eunostos.

"Apparently I am suffering of the terrible affliction known as incompetent servants. 'Permanent Edict' is the old word for 'Law', the one we had before the reformation which you might be too young in this Council to know about. My servants apparently didn't change the word in my papers, so I used the old word instead of the new. I've now had the scribes correct it for me, so the same mistake shouldn't happen twice."

**Myth** · 06-14-2011, 14:49

"These phalanxes I wanted to form out of the garrisons of the city I govern and the city where you currently reside Basileos, though you have wished them to go conquer elsewhere. Who will lead them then?"