Order of St. John

[Ramses II CP]

Vissarionas ek Lesvou returns at last to the chambers of the Order of St. John. After so long an absence he has grown into a tanned and confident young man. There is something else as well, something that perhaps only a warrior monk could recognize; the light of fervency shines out of Vissa's eyes.

Immediately on entering Vissa greets his brothers and goes in haste to the chapel to pray. Questions will evidently have to wait.

[Privateerkev]

When Vissa gets done from praying, the Grandmaster is waiting in the main chambers for him.

Vissa!

It's good to see you!

Makedonios walks up and warmly clasps arms with Vissa.

You look good!

Please tell me all about what happened.

[Ramses II CP]

Returning from the chapel Vissa's eyes shine brightly, and it is clear that he feels a great weight has been lifted from him. Vissa executes his usual textbook salute with a snap before speaking.

My Lord it is a pleasure to see you again after so long! My journey has been far more extensive and consuming than even I expected. I spent all of that time in Cairo, as you have surely heard, and the city is one of wonders, though full of infidels. My goal there was simple: To find a way into the power structure and discover what I could of the Caliph's intent.

As has been revealed, his intentions are black with regard to Orthodoxy, and Christianity as a whole. I must say I found the people of Cairo to be a cheerful and generally healthy lot, accomodating of strangers and with few obvious drunkards or otherwise dissolute members of the society. Islam's prohibition on alcohol has much to commend in it, though there are tolerated exceptions and... other substances which destroy a man's soul.

Oh! Before I forget, I have returned with a few small gifts.

Vissarionas fetches a series of small wooden boxes out of his travel bag, presenting five of them to the Grandmaster and one each to his brothers.

The box with the green design on top is a strange form of tea the Muslims favor, it brews very dark in boiling water, and there is a kind of reed net in the top to filter out the ground up bits. It serves remarkably to awaken the senses! (OOC This is the one everyone got.)

These other boxes, Grandmaster, are unusual spices and seasonings popular in the Muslim world. I have only heard their names in Arabic, so I cannot say what we might call them here in the west.

I have one more gift, for the library. It is in Arabic, which I have learned to muddle through somewhat, but I am told it is a precious thing, hand copied from a masterwork over a hundred years old.

Here Vissarionas produces a book bound in leather with a reddish cast, the pages of good quality papyrus, with a large Arabic title on the cover. I'll render it as best I can: Kanza al-fawa'id fi tanwi' al-mawa'id.

After the presentation of these gifts Vissa falls silent, perhaps lost in some recollection of the gathering of these gifts.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios smiles widely.

Ah Sergeant, you were on a dangerous mission and did not have to bring gifts. Never-the-less, I am honored you did. Thank you.

He gives a head nod to the Sergeant.

I look forward to trying some of this fine tea.

[Dafuge]

Here do I swear feality and service to the Order of St. John, and to the Grandmaster Makedonios Ksanthopoulos, to speak and to be silent, to do and to let be, to come and to go, in need or plent, in peace or war, in living or dying, from this hour henceforth, untill death takes me or the world end, I swear and unbinding oath. So say I Stavrer ek Arasidthou.

[Privateerkev]

I accept Sergeant Stavrer. Stand and be recoginized!

I had heard you were coming. It seems the Crusade has spurred many good men like yourself to get involved with politics.

Come! Let us adjourn to the Order's private chambers and we will get you up to speed on current events.

[Dafuge]

OOC Woops messed up my name, I'll do it again,

Here do I swear feality and service to the Order of St. John, and to the Grandmaster Makedonios Ksanthopoulos, to speak and to be silent, to do and to let be, to come and to go, in need or plent, in peace or war, in living or dying, from this hour henceforth, untill death takes me or the world end, I swear and unbinding oath. So say I Stavrer ek Amarinthou.

[Privateerkev]

OOC:

I think it was close enough.

Also, I PM'd TC to see if he'll allow this oath swearing in the beginning of the senate session. If he doesn't allow it, then it technically won't take affect until the senate session is over. But for IC purposes, we'll act as if it was allowed.

[Dafuge]

OOC: Crap completelty messed it up, wish I could edit.

Stavrer walked slowly through the magnificent wooden doors of the Order. He took off his helmet and basked in the humidty of Asia. Slowly he walked forward, and entered a great room. He saw the Grandmaster near by, he walked up to him and kneeled. He held this postition for a minute before getting up and taking a seat next to Makedonios.

'Greetings Grandmaster, I am interested in the current events of the Order and Empire, it would be a please to hear them from you.'