Re: Order of St. John
Members of the Order,
It has been a long journey. And it has been a hard one. I first conceived of the Order not long after Manzikert. Our defeat there made me realize we needed a group who could defend the Holy Land and spread the Word.
I inherited Nicosia through my family and a plan formed. A Charter was written that would codify a group who would be up to the Holy Task. I sent letters out to like-minded men and got our first Sergeants. The first Senate Session was a challenge. I learned that many saw the Order as a threat to their own plans. Legislation was proposed that would keep us from fulfilling our duty.
Through a lot of hard work, legislation, yelling in the Senate, politicking, and some luck, the Emperor allowed us to sail over to Antioch. The city was taken but not without tragedy. Slowly, we expanded throughout the Levant despite supply problems, lack of army units, and neglect.
A rebellion flared up through the Empire and we were the first to re-secure our area. A Crusade was called and we sent more members than any House. A Jihad was called against the Empire in response and we have fought more Jihad armies than anybody.
But despite the enemies without, we have also learned about the enemies within. We suffered from criminal neglect from our Caesar when he illegally and immorally denied us our rightful armies in a time of war. And we uncovered a plot by this same criminal to declare war on us and kill us all. Together, as we always have, we voted as a brotherhood and made it much more difficult for this evil plot to come to fruition.
Another enemy within we have fought is the evil Organization. Like cowards in the dark, they took one of us from this world. Iakovos exemplified what it was to be in the Order. But like we always have, we suffered that loss together and recruited new members.
Finally, we have defeated the first "faction" in the known world in these times. The Templar thought we were weak. They struck when we were spread out and had just lost the province of Adana. But, like all of our enemies, they underestimated us.
For our strength comes not in our armies or castles. It comes from our Brotherhood. For we are all Brothers. Forged through the hot crucible of battle. We have all saved each other's lives more times than we can count. The other Houses have plotted, schemed, and stolen land from each other. But the Order has stood as a cohesive force for good.
But there comes a time when one must take medium-term gain and turn it into long-term gain. For the Order to survive as a long-term force for good, there must be changes. While I was the obvious choice to create the Order and get it started, I believe someone new should usher us into the next phase.
With this in mind, I enthusiastically pass the torch on to my second-in-command, Marshall Armatos. While fire-breathing rhetoric and blunt stubbornness were needed in the early Senate Sessions to get us started, his even temper and softer touch will guarantee that the Order will continue to do it's good work through the generations.
I hereby break Marshall Armatos from his oath to me. And I now swear an oath of fealty to Grandmaster Armatos.
I also hereby give Grandmaster Armatos the province of Dongola.
I brought forth the proposal to pass on the torch to a new Grandmaster and the Knights of the Order of St. John have supported this decision. I will serve the Order, as I always have, for the rest of my life. It will simply just be in a different capacity.
With the warmest and sincerest of regards,
Makedonios Ksanthopoulos,
Knight of the Order of St. John
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Originally Posted by TinCow
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