The Magnaura

[GeneralHankerchief]

Patriarchal Representative:

The men that the Basileus's daughter testified, in this very building, to seeing, if I'm not mistaken. The men reported to be a part of this Organization.

[Ferret]

Ah thank you. Those men I met only after the city was well secured and the Infidel inhabitants had been taken care of. Those men offered to round up a group that had been framing "those men" and hindering the empire as a whole, I allowed them to do so and have had no contact with them since.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

The entering of Annios Solomon makes Efstathios a little bit nervous ..
He looks away and starts reading more reports about the last years events..

[Ignoramus]

Ioannis stands up.

Senator Ksanthopoulos, do you realise that one of your vassals has just insulted the Basileus' family. Yet it causes no concern to you? Maybe the Imperial family is no longer as high in your eyes?

Ioannis sits down.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios shrugged.

He left the Senate building. What more do you want? If you wish, you can ask the Emperor to ban Vissa's scribes and aids so he can't send letters.

While I don't condone his words or actions, your criminal neglect has aroused strong feelings in some people.

Makedonios stands.

On behalf of my vassal, I apologize if his words insulted the Royal Family. I will speak to him personally.

[ULC]

Iakovos jerks and sputters blood. He clenches in pain and his breathe is a warped gurgle and rasp. He seems to stare into nothing, mumbling something to himself, something only Makedonios can hear.

[OverKnight]

Finally seeing Iakovos in distress, the Basileus makes his way to him, summoning a Physician. He speaks to the Varangians.

Secure the building and then search it, anyone who is not a Senator is to be detained for questioning.

As armed men spread out, the Basileus pauses to peruse the papers Iakovos was carrying.

Poison and knives in the dark, the tools of cowards.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios's eyes go wide when he hears Iakovos's words. Looking down at him, he doesn't know what to do. A doctor comes in and starts to bind the man's wounds. Seeing that there is nothing more he can do for him at the moment, Makedonios stands up. As the Emperor approaches, he gets as close as the guards will let him, and says something so low only the Emperor can hear. He stands there waiting for Alexsios's response but can not resist glancing over at the Caesar.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Patriarchal Representative:

This is highly alarming.

[OverKnight]

The Basileus looks at Makedonios intently raising an eyebrow. He takes a step back and shakes his head. After a moment he leans in very close to Iakovos and says:

Who attacked you?

[ULC]

Iakovos slips into a bloody coughing fit. He speaks in a raspy, almost volumeless voice after it passes, which only the physician, Makedonios and Aleksios can hear.

[deguerra]

Perhaps someone would have the courtesy to call a doctor. If it is too late for that, can we at least remove the man from this chamber. It is neither a fitting place to die, nor to watch someone die.

[Cecil XIX]

Armatos strolls into the Magnaura.

Greetings, Senators. I am here propose a Charter Amendment, but first I must mark the passing of two-

Armatos stops abruptly when he realizes there is a commotion which has the attention of both the Grandmaster and the Basileus. Armatos briskly walks over to see what the fuss is about, and finally notices Iakovos.

Good Lord, Iakovos! Are you all right? What happened?!

[ULC]

Iakovos smiles weakly and replies in a raspy voice.

"Tis only...a flesh wound Armatos...I had some difficulty at work...getting along...with...some co-workers..."

Iakovos suddenly coughs up more blood and groans.

[Ituralde]

Pavlos enters the Diet after a long absence. He seems to be wanting to speak, but as he notices the commotion his face sets in a grim expression and he walks quietly over to the benches of the Komnenodoukai.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Now could someone stop this whispering and tell the rest of the Senate what Iakovos is saying there!
Or do I have to propose an Edict to hear his words!!

Efstathios is getting annoyed because of the secrecy and that there is still no doctor here..

[pevergreen]

Patriarchal Representative:

This is highly alarming.

"T'would seem the representative has an ability to understate..."

Michail says as he walks into the Magnaura;

"He will be fine, I am sure. We will all need him later on. To be safe though, let us hope that doctor still lives. If he doesn't turn up soon, I would hate the chance to change that state myself..."

[OverKnight]

OOC: Please don't let the drama interfere with legislation. Any exchanges have been taken to PMs.

IC: An Imperial physician and his aide attend to Iakovos as the Session continues. The Senator is removed from the chambers in a stretcher eventually. Aleksios leaves with them grasping the papers the wounded man had brought with him.

[Andres]

During these days of troubles, when confronted with Crusades, Jihads and war, the Empire needs strong leadership.

Leadership that holds dear the overall well being of the Empire. Leadership that looks further than personal ambitions and glory.

During the term of the Caesar, Makedonios has been constantly complaining about how the Order has been treated by the Caesar.

How many times did we hear "the Order this", "the Order that", all of it in a nice package of "being concerned about the law".

I am under the impression that our dear Grandmaster will abuse the office to gain as much benefits for the Order as possible, all of this with the excuse of "rectifying" the so called "damages" and "injustices" done to the Order by the Caesar.

To avoid having a Megas whose only concern is his own House while the Empire is still threatened by enemy forces, I have decided to run for Megas myself, since nobody else seems eager to fullfil this noble yet difficult task.

I will communicate with the royal family and the heads of the respective Houses during my term. I will see to it that all royal and private armies will get the required military regiments, within the boundaries of the treasury of course.

If florins are scarce, I will extensively negotiate with every House leader to chose money generating investments over armies and buildings. Those who will be able to put aside their personal benefits and who will be able to distance themselves from following the law too stricty, will be rewarded. I'll explain myself: if a certain House would ask me to build a market or a port instead of replenishing his army, I will see to it that it'll be compensated for this favour.

I will follow the law when it is required, but I will also use diplomacy and negotiations with the Royal Family and the House leaders.

My term will be based on communication, communication, communication, not just strictly following some rules.

But rest assured : the law will never be broken. Exceptions on the rules will only be made if all parties involved agree.

If you want a dynamic rule instead of static, strict leadership which is not able to anticipate on difficult situations, chose me over Makedonios.

Whoever will hold the interest of the Empire in higher esteem than his personal glory and ambitions will benefit from my rule.

I thank you for your attention.

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios nodded to the Emperor and said some things in a low voice. Satisfied that Iakovos was being cared for, he addressed Savvas's platform.

Mischaracterizing me already Savvas?

As I have stated, I will treat all fairly. No group will get favored over another. I guess you had to make that up about me to try to set your platform apart from mine.

I will operate in full transperency as Megas. If there is favortism, it will show. And then I am confident all of you will voice your displeasure.

Savvas offers nothing different, except the promise to slander me and my goals. How noble...

[Andres]

Makedonios nodded to the Emperor and said some things in a low voice. Satisfied that Iakovos was being cared for, he addressed Savvas's platform.

Mischaracterizing me already Savvas?

As I have stated, I will treat all fairly. No group will get favored over another. I guess you had to make that up about me to try to set your platform apart from mine.

I will operate in full transperency as Megas. If there is favortism, it will show. And then I am confident all of you will voice your displeasure.

Savvas offers nothing different, except the promise to slander me and my goals. How noble...

Did I ever complain about being mistreated?

You, dear grandmaster, blatantly complained and demanded for resources to be allocated to your House, in a period where resources were scarce and when the Empire was more important than strictly following the law with all its' comma's.

You have shown that you lack the flexibility and the open mind that is an absolute necessity in order to succesfully accomplish the task of a Megas.

You live in a dream world outside reality where you think everything will work out fine if you just follow rules.

You, dear Makedonios, do not have a vision nor an open mind.

You are a great general and a brave man, I will grant you that, Grandmaster, Savvas nods at Makedonios, but you do not have the necessary qualities of a good Megas.

Being a good leader means much more than just following a few rules.

[Privateerkev]

Can you tell me how sinking all of the Empire's resources into one corner of the Empire was good for the Empire?

I promise to restore balance. That means all the corners get resources. Again, you are mischaracterizing my stance.

Oh what will you say next to win...

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Let me just say one thing..

Who ever becomes Megas can't be worse than the previous one...

Looking towards the Caesar...

[Privateerkev]

Makedonios looks at Efstatios.

You have a point young Senator.

While I have not approved of Comes Savvas's debating style, I will admit that he can not possibly do a worse job than the Caesar.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Efstathios writes a small message and gives it to one of his assistants who walks to the Grandmaster and gives the message to him..

[woad&fangs]

Ah Laskaris, there you are. Luckily for you, your murder attempts were conducted on the open sea where our laws don't apply so you have nothing to fear from me while we are here.

Again I ask the senators, what is our policy with regards to the Seljuks and Fatamids? Do we wish to eradicate them or to force a ceasefire out of them?

[Privateerkev]

I think for the long term, we need to work towards a full conversion of Seljuk and Fatimid lands to the Orthodox faith.

In the short term, we need to protect what we have and develop it. If we can make measured gains against them, we should do so.

[Andres]

Before we can invest in conversion, we need money.

Why not combining two things: sack the Fatimid and Seljuk settlements, use the florins to a) invest in money making buildings b) send priests.

I'd like to propose a simple Edict:

Edict 4.2.: Each settlement conquered upon a non Orthodox faction should be sacked by its' conqueror.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Patriarchal Representative:

At last, two men who talk sense! I do have hope for the future of the Orthodox faith then, after all!

[Privateerkev]

To me that is not acceptable. It is wrong to force people to sack. We need to renew the old edict 3.2.

Edict 4.3: No settlement can be exterminated. No Orthodox settlement can be sacked though sacking of Catholic or Muslim-held settlement is authorized. Crusade targets must be occupied.

Leave the sacking of non-Orthodox settlements to be an option to those who feel it must happen. But do not mandate it.