The Magnaura

[ULC]

Veronica ignores the comment about her heritage.

"The Organization is equipped with whatever they wish to be equipped with. While Ignatios was with us, we had samples of a liquid fire available to us for instance. And as for where they get there money, well, I find this humorous, but the Imperial treasury itself. I'll let you know of which counters are with the Organization."

[Northnovas]

Aleksios stands and looks toward the woman…

Yes I think a good question has been asked and if someone can formally produce the information of this “Organization” that I have heard about but know of no substance.

Perhaps a committee could look into this along with the Basileus report from the woman and then proper discussion and action can be taken by an informed chamber. Till then I request that out of confidentiality that she be removed from the room so that we may discuss real issues and that is the defence of this city from invaders.

I am willing to remain in Constantinople and arrange for the defence of the city by forming a Tagmata of Noumeroi to garrison the city. We must coordinate defenders of the city and scouts to track the movement of the enemy by watchtowers and actively initiate contact with the enemy outside the region to wear them down before they arrive here.

[Ferret]

Hypatios returns to the Magnaura, looking deep in thought.

I have one more question for the girl. What do you know of the man named Gregorias, who brought you to me?

[woad&fangs]

A messenger pidgeon flutters into the Magnaura with the following message
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have heard rumours that the Muhamedans are calling their own crusade against our capitol. If these rumours are true then I would like to offer my opinion on this matter. To my knowledge their are four routes that the Muhamedans might attack by.

*The Fatamids may attack northward from Acre. Luckily, God's hand has guided the heretics of the Reich into the Levant with a massive army. They should be able to prevent the Fatamids from using that route.

*The Fatamids may also attack by sea, sailing from the port of Alexandria. If this should happen then our brave crusaders will send them to a watery grave.

*The Moors may sail from the west. We currently have a large fleet in the Aegean. If it would sail to the southern tip of Greece then I believe we will be protected from the Moors.

*Anatolia is where we are most vulnerable to a crusade, or Jihad as the Muhamedans call them. My advice would be to attack and to continue attacking. Keep the Seljuks on the defensive and prevent them from preparing a counter attack.

~Solomon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Andres]

But more specifically, they have assisted in the extermination of Iconium which clearly violated an Edict. They have sent someone to assassinate me.

Savvas stands up, a smile on his face.

That's interesting. I've heard rumours, I've heard stories, but I never, ever saw an official report about an assassination attempt on you. Are you sure it wasn't something you imagined during one of your deliriums caused by your illness?

Anyway...

Savvas looks at Aleksios.

Wherever my lord needs me, I will follow him. I as well volunteer to defend Constantinople.

Savvas sits down again.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: Northnovas is allowed to move my avatar and the garrison in Arta.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios looks at Savvas.

No, I am afraid it very much happened. I didn't say anything at the time because I didn't know it was part of a larger effort. A grim smile preceded the next sentence. Also, with the tone of some of you in here, I didn't think you would care.

I'll give a quick overview. I had a watch put on my window after Veronica here snuck into my chambers. The watch saw a man crawling up the wall. My men alerted me and we laid in wait in my room while a straw dummy took my place in bed. The man put a knife to the dummy's throat and I announced my prescence. Veronica appeared in the window and distracted the man. A fight broke out, three of my guards died, my shieldbearer was injured, but we captured the man.

Veronica knew him as part of a criminal gang that Symeon used to belong to. Apparantly, I was getting close to something with my investigations into who was harrassing the Princess. I locked the man in a cell. When I went to question him, he was gone. The group he belongs to had found a man and threatened him to take my prisoner's place.

That is what happened. If you wish, I can present witnesses, including three people that are already present. Looks in turn at Veronica, Iakovos, and Nick the Shieldbearer.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Patriarchal Representative:

I wasn't suggesting anything one way or another. I was simply ignorant of the circumstances.

*The Representative goes over the transcripts again, sifting certain things.*

[GeneralHankerchief]

Patriarchal Representative:

Anyway, I was under the impression that Hypatios exterminated Iconium on inspiration from a dream, not because of any temporal urging. Can we get clarification on this?

[Andres]

Makedonios looks at Savvas.

No, I am afraid it very much happened. I didn't say anything at the time because I didn't know it was part of a larger effort. A grim smile preceded the next sentence. Also, with the tone of some of you in here, I didn't think you would care.

With sarcasm dripping from his voice, Savvas says:

You're breaking my heart, Grandmaster. Don't talk such nonsense. Of course we would care. You're such a funny guy and a joy to be around.

Have some more wine.

Savvas puts a goblet of wine in front of Makedonios.


It is of course unfortunate that Iaokovs isn't here to confirm the story. With all due respect to Veronica and your shieldbearer, but the word of a Senator carries more weight.

But I guess this "assassination attempt" will also be included in the report Veronica and her husband are going to give to the Basileus?

Anyway, we have more important things to discuss right now.

Savvas looks at the tables of House Asteri.

Mylords, House Tagamata will march whatever troops they can assemble towards Constantinople. Once we reach the Capital, we will combine our efforts with the Emperor.

Is House Asteri able to recapture Caesarea and if so, how much time will it take?

I suggest the the Caesar, House Komnendoukai and House Asteri wipe out the Turks as fast as possible.

Savvas looks at the tables of the Order.

Will the Order be able to hold Antioch and the surrounding settlements until an army of House Asteri or the Royal Army of the Caesar reaches you?

Savvas then addresses House Komnendoukai.

Gentlement, forgive me, but can you shortly brief me on the current military situation of your House? Would it be possible for you to send any reinforcements to Constantinople or to the Order?


In the meanwhile, I suggest that the Crusaders combine their forces. We have to deal out serious blows to the Fatamids and we should break them by conquering their main cities. Therefore, whoever is beyond these petty sabotage attempts, please stop this. Combine your forces and cause as much damage as fast as possible to the Fatamids. The Crusaders cannot afford the luxury of striving for personal glory.

Religious reasons should be enough, but if some Crusaders don't care much about religion, then they should work together for the sake of the Empire.

Savvas sits down again.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios first addresses the Patriarchal Representative.

Both Lady Veronica and Her Highness saw Hypatios working with men who belong to this 'Organization.'

The Princess included it in her report to the Senate.

Of interest is when she said, "Finally he revealed his true colors, working hand with a ruthless group who stoops to threatening children and aiding butchers in their bloody tasks. Some of you might have heard of this "Organization", well they were present at Iconium and at Machonios' side!"

I believe Hypatios was lying about getting a message from the Lord. He knew he was in trouble and he tried to make up excuses.

He then turns to Savvas.

I've already sent my report to the Emperor and had mentioned the assassination attempt. At the time, I didn't think it was something that had to be announced to the Senate. But I am touched by your concern and I appreciate it.

As for your questions about the Order's readiness, I am afraid it looks rather grim. We have 12 units seperated into 2 armies. The Caesar is finally delivering the rest of my army and it will be in Antioch this year. But the quality is woefully inadequate for the task at hand.

But my plan is to hold the 2 river crossings near Antioch. With two armies, we can block what ever path the Jihad takes to us. That should stall the enemy long enough for the rest of you to send a relief force to the mountain pass that links Adana to Antioch.

If the timing is right, we'll get some unexpected assistance from the Germans. At the very least, they should at least prove a distraction to the Fatimids.

What we could use is more spearmen. Even militia. Antioch can train hundreds of them in a short time. My own infantry are made up of peasants so any thing would be an improvement. We need units that can hold a river crossing. Our tactics won't be nuanced. We'll just grind them down at the rivers. Even if we lose we'll make a dent.

[Warmaster Horus]

Nikiphoros speaks in direction of Makedonios:
"Grandmaster, I thank you for saying the kind of thing we should be saying. I think the only thing to say is good luck, and may the Lord be with you."
He now turns to the others in the Senate:
"That is our first line of defence. It is weak, but it is there to stall the Fatimids. Now, we should start forming a second line of defence."

[deguerra]

I am glad to see things are moving on all fronts of debate once again.

Regarding the Caesar: While I can understand the need to strike at our foes, it is not always prudent to do so at the detriment of one's own defences. I am not fully confident in my position as the sole thing standing between an unknown number of Turks in a fortified city and western Anatolia. I would be most grateful for any assistance that could be provided.

Regarding the organisation the questions that have been asked are good ones. Strator Makedonios' list of charges are quite accurate, to which I would only add that they threatened my infant children, just to demonstrate the lows they would stoop to.

Because I had a good relationship with the late Strator Ampelas I would like to note that as far as I have been able to ascertain, many Strators were approached at one stage or another, and I never found any proof that Strator Ameplas' connection went beyond that.

I also happen to have a great deal of respect for Strator Vringas, and would caution anyone from making judgments and decisions based on the words of this woman, who, while clearly having some knowledge, seems unable or unwilling to provide any sort of concrete insights.

Finally, must Iakovos really be represented in the Senate by his wife? I understood this august body to be one weighed in tradition and formality, not some sort of discussion circle where husband and wife are interchangeable. I realize Anna has spoken here on my behalf on one occasion, but she did so only that once, only because I myself was indisposed and only because of the great importance of her report.

[ULC]

Veronica closes her eyes as she listens to the politician's discuss the matters at hand.

"First, I would like to address Senator Kalameteros, whom I'd like to thank for his hospitality. I answered the questions posed to me fairly, and if it has not occurred to you that I stated that the Organization has any equipment available to the Empire, and that it has been withdrawing funds from corrupt Imperial money counters, then this will: the Organization long ago, even before Symeons coup, began placing it's members within Imperial armies and recruiting soldiers into the Organization, and currently, a significant portion are still on Organization payroll. I can also lead you to the Organization's burned out library in Cannakle, although i do not know what you will find in there."

Veronica glares at Hypatios though.

"Yes, I knew of the thing called Grigorias. Aleksander recruited him on the basis that he be put under watch, since we did not trust him, but nor could we leave him to his own devices. Grigorias was, I must put emphasis on that, was an Imperial diplomat. If you will check your records, I believe he was exiled for his "eccentric" tastes and "conduct unbecoming a representative of the Imperial court." Considering you Hypatios are still here, then Grigorias must be a man ten fold more terrible then even you."

Veronica gazes across the room, looking at each Senator in turn.

"I hear talk of expelling me, or sending for Iakovos. May I ask why you wish to pull a man who has put his faith in me to represent him to the fullest from the frontlines to discuss something that he has already known? I do believe it was him and Grandmaster Makedonios who brought up the glaring weakness of the southern Anatolian and Levant front. My husband has chosen to stay in Adana, since he sees no point in debating something that there truly is no discussion too, and defend the people as best he can, with what little men he has."

[OverKnight]

The Basileus reenters the Magnaura. He appears gaunt and tired. His fingers are ink-stained.

The loss of Markianos Ampelas is a tragedy. He was a good man and a capable Megas Logothetes. I came to respect him a great deal. We are poorer without him.

The Lady Veronica is under Imperial protection. Please be courteous to her during her stay in the Senate.

The Basileus slowly turns, his gaze sweeping the chamber.

The Empire faces a dire threat. Hordes of infidels, driven by religious fervor, will try to storm our lands, making their way to this very city. At the same time, many of our men are committed overseas.

There has been much division in this chamber. We have argued over the merits of the Crusade, over pride of place when it comes to recruitment and buildings, and searched for traitors in our midst.

In the face of the Jihad, we must cast aside these differences and defeat our true enemies. Come the four corners of the Earth, if we stand united, we will defeat them all.

Aleksios stands grim and resolute.

I say let them come. Let them dash themselves against our walls, bloody themselves against our bravery and die when faced with our valour and arms. We will emerge from this crucible stronger than before. The Empire reforged and reborn, with this time of troubles serving as the birth pangs of a new age of triumph.

We will persevere. We will win. Because we are the greatest Empire the world has ever seen.

The Basileus finishes with a hushed intensity.

We ARE Rome!

[GeneralHankerchief]

*During the last speech, the Patriarchal Representative lets out a snort and, chuckling, makes his way out of the building.*

[Kagemusha]

Messenger enters the diet and reads from a note.

"I have scattered a small rebellion in Nicae. Released the few survivors.- Ioannis Kantakouzinos"

[Askthepizzaguy]

A messenger arrives and informs the Imperial Senate that Efstratios Monomachos has been spotted near Durazzo, apparently a captive of the rebels in the region.

Given his doomed state and his recent departure from the Senate, the unnamed Senator from the house of Tepaki (in place of Monomachos) suggests that we simply ignore him and leave him to his fate.

[Warmaster Horus]

Senators, I will depart at the soonest to join Ioannis Kalameteros' army. I think the reason is self-explanatory.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios walks into the Senate in his armor.

I bring news from the front. Marshall Armatos was in overall command of a battle involving both of our armies versus the 2 Jihad armies. Unfortunately, due to years of blatant neglect, we did not have the resources to defeat these armies. But, while severely outnumbered, we did make a dent. I personally slew the general in one of the armies. Hopefully, without their general, this army will drop out of the Jihad. So one half-strength army, led by the Sultan himself, is still headed here.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios returns from the front.

I come to deliver a new report. The Order has just met the second Fatimid Jihad in battle north of Antioch. The army has been destroyed and the Caliph was slain in combat. The first Jihad army, leaderless from the last battle, are now in boats. And the second is gone. Fatimid forces in the area are no more.

But they will be back. Our armies are severely depleted. I ask again for the Caesar to reinforce our armies. I noticed he started a church last year in Yeravan. While I always welcome the spreading of the faith, I am afraid that the Caesar has yet again broken the Rules. Army recruitment must come before any building. Period. No exceptions.

I am afraid the Caesar is only paying attention to one corner of the Empire during his term. One corner has had settlements built in it and armies reinforced. He's even conquered new territory. Meanwhile, the rest of us are left with barren settlements and remnants of armies. Forced to defend the Empire with what we can scrape together or squeeze out of a reluctant Megas.

For the good of the Empire, I again call upon the Senate to Impeach Caesar Ioannis. We can not trust him to lead us through these times. Lets get someone in charge who will look after the entire Empire, instead of just one corner.

OOC: Please reinforce our armies please before you spend on anything else.

[Ramses II CP]

A bored sounding scribe reads another letter from Vissarionas ek Lesvou into the record.

I write to denounce the Caesar once again for his willful neglect of our laws and to once again ask that his father, our Emperor, act in the best interests of the Empire and call an emergency Senate session to impeach him. The gross incomptence demonstrated yet again is just further evidence of the utter inability of the Caesar to...

Here the scribe gets a nasty look on his face, rolls his eyes, and says,

Blah, blah, blah, no reason to waste anymore time on this lot's whining. Not like any of us would ever come to harm from it! Hail the Caesar! Say, send some more opium back from Yerevan soon, eh?

So saying the scribe wads the letter up and casually discards it in a corner.

[Ignoramus]

A Komnenodoukai page leaves the chamber.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Patriarchal Representative:

Right, I'd like to straighten out a few things:

First of all, did anybody not expect this sort of pandering and creative interpretation from the Caesar when they put him in office? I will refer you fine gentlemen to his initial announcement that he was standing for Megas. Even there, in a time when most politicians weave a blanket of promises saying that they will create miracles that not even Jesus Christ could perform, the Caesar clearly mapped out his supporters-only agenda. He even went as far to declare the Holy Crusade itself as nothing more than a "novel venture", but I shall speak no more of this, as the subject has already gotten me banned once and it has been proven that the Crusade has not drained the Empire's coffers in the slightest.

No, Senators, you knew what you were getting when you elected the Caesar, and don't try to say otherwise. What concerns me most, however, is not that a politician is *gasp* pandering, for it is in their nature to pander the same way as it is in a mosquito's nature to suck blood and as it is in a rat's nature to spread its pestilence throughout; but rather, it is the Caesar that is doing the pandering. Gentlemen, keep in mind that this man will eventually rule over us all. When that day occurs, he is charged to be a fair ruler, acting always for the best of the Empire. I don't see that happening. Do you? Not when he scoffs at Edicts, rules of the Charter, and even religion itself, considering them all nothing more than petty impediments in his quest to rub his stinking boot in his opponents' faces.

What is even more intriguing, or perhaps terrifying, depending on how one looks at it, is how the Caesar became such an incapable leader in the first place. After all, his candidacy was greatly assisted by many, foremost of all, his very own father, the Basileus Alexios...

...Ah yes, his father. The man heard the same speeches we all did, Senators, back at the start of the most recent Magnaura session. Surely he was able to discern his son's true agenda, the same as the rest of us. But he did nothing, endorsing his son's transgressions against half the Empire. Indeed, he did more than endorse. He voted for his son, threw out those who would speak otherwise against him, and has stood idly by whilst the Caesar has overseen the neglect, as promised, and whilst half the Senators in the Empire were screaming for his impeachment. This calls into question the Basileus's neutrality and competency to lead the Empire much like it does the Caesar's. It appears to me, Senators, that the apple has not fallen far from the tree. Unfortunately for us, we are subject to both men's whims and otherwise.

Secondly, I would like to bring the topic of the Organization into the forefront of people's minds once again. It has been proven that, during the extermination of Iconium, the party responsible has been seen working with reported members of the Organization, never mind that they have also been rumored to be behind assassination attempts, bribery, sabotage, and the like, generally undermining the fabric of the Empire, *sotto voce* not like it needs help. Whatever goals they may have, it has become clear to His Eminence and me that their aims are directly opposite that of Orthodoxy's teachings as well as good, moral, law-abiding life. These members need to be more aggressively persecuted and their aims need to be laid bare for all to see.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Ioannis, the represantor of Efstathios, sighs with relief..
SO far no one haven't been even little interested about the incident with the Annios Solomon's ship..
Ioannis hopes that this news will be soon forgotten by people because of the Jihad threat...

[TinCow]

*The Protosecretes posts a notice at the entrance of the largely empty Magnaura.*

Scouts from the Crusade have confirmed that Kosmas Mavrovias perished in a failed assault on Alexandria. The exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unknown, but his army has been completely destroyed and the city is no longer under siege. In accordance with Kosmas Mavrovias' last known wishes, the province of Scopia is now the property of his adopted son, Methodios Tagaris (Tristan de Castelreng).

[Ibn-Khaldun]

This is a sad day to all of us. Kosmas Mavrozomis was a great man. Just like Markianos Ampelas who died not so long ago. The House of Asteri will remember their deeds and will not forget them!
My Lord Efstathios will conquer the city of Alexandria to the honor of Kosmas Mavrozomis!

Ioannis sits and sigs..
Another one have died..
Another member of the Asteri..
Who will be the next?

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios hears the news and grows pale.

So the rumors are true...

We've lost a good man today. A man of God. A selfless man.

Kosmas was always giving of himself. He formed House Asteri. Nurtured it through it's crucial first steps. When he felt he could not lead effectively, he stepped down and let someone else take over. When the Crusade called, Kosmas answered.

I am proud to call him my friend. I don't know why he assaulted the city when reinforcements were on the way. It will be left as one of life's many mysteries. But I do know that Kosmas is with God now.

Sleep well my friend, sleep well...

After bowing his head for a good amount of time, Makedonios adjourns to his chambers where he is not seen for some time.

[Kagemusha]

My condolences to the family and friends of Kosmas Mavrovias. Yet another noble soul has fallen in a fight which could have been prevented. Roman blood stains the hands which initiated this "crusade".

[Andres]

A tired man enters the Magnaura.

My master, Comes Savvas ek Militou, reports that the army besieging Corinth has been defeated. 178 prisoners were ransommed back for 768 florins.

The Crown Prince of the Fatimid Empire has been slain in the battle.

The messenger turns to the tables of the Asteri.

My master offers his sincere condolences with your loss. He would have offered you his condolences personally, but unfortunately, he got severely injured during the battle near Corinth and was not able to make the journey towards Contantinople.

The messenger sits down to drink some water.

[Kagemusha]

" I applaud Savvas ek Militou, for his victory against the Egyptians in Corinth. He has shown that attacking our heartlands will result in swift defeat. I hope he will soon recover from his wounds and i will send a barrel of wine which has been added medical herbs to him, so his recovery will be more swift."