House of Asteri

[Zim]

House of Asteri

The House of Asteri started in meetings in the dining hall of Kosmas Mavrozomis’ estate in Athens, born of heated political discussions between the Comes and his friends. There they meet still. If you enter you will find a spacious hall, the walls covered in tapestries depicting famous battles spanning from Thermopylae to the Battle of Kleidion. About every 15 paces stands a statue in the style of Classical Greece, some worn with age, others in such perfect that they were likely well made copies. The bulk of the Hall is taken up by large table, upon which sits a feast almost fit for an emperor. It is seated at this table that you may find the members of the House of Asteri, drinking wine and still discussing the politics of the Empire. You may even find Kosmas himself at the head of table, ready to greet you. Guests of noble stature are always welcome at his table, although non-House members are asked to be polite to the regulars.

At the end of the table opposite of Kosmas' seat you find a scroll containing a roster of House members. They are familiar names, mostly senators, although next to each is an odd nickname.

-Antypatos Ioannis Kalameteros (deguerra)
-Hypatos Hypatios Machonios (Elite Ferret)
-Domestikos Zigavinos Vasilakios (rossahh)
-Strator Nevoulos ek Philadelphias (Smowz)
-Strator Kosmas Mavrozomis (Zim)
-Comes Anastasios Neokaisareitis (The Lemongate)
-Efstathios Laskaris (Ibn-Khaldun)

[Ferret]

I hereby swear fealty to Strator Ioannis Kalameteros

[deguerra]

I hereby gratefully accept Hypatios Machonios' oath of fealty, and in turn swear fealty to Comes Kosmas Mavrozomis

Ιωάννης Καλαμετερoς

[Zim]

I gladly accept Ioannis Kalameteros' oath of fealty, and welcome my fellow House members to this hall.

[rossahh]

I hereby swear an oath fealty to Hypatios Machonios.

[Askthepizzaguy]

A weary knight wanders into the hall.

I am Efstratios Monomachos, knight of the Roman Empire, a veteran of wars past against the rebellious traitors of the region.

I seek lands to call my own, and a lord to serve. Would anyone here have use of a nobleman? I have a small group of war veterans I used to command who now serve as my loyal bodyguard. We are skilled in battle and ready to fight against the enemies of the Empire.

I don't have any money or other troops to contribute, but I bring experience and strong arms. I am ready to lead, and to follow.

Who desires my sword? Name your price.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC- I am willing to contribute to other's quests for land, but until I have my own land and soldiers I will not risk my avatar under anyone else's direct command but my own. The more soldiers I command, the more risks I am willing to take for my master.

[Kagemusha]

So what does this house own?

[Zim]

Athens right now.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I'd prefer OOC statements in this thread be stuck in spoilers, please. As for your statement, we've all read the rules, and understand them quite well. Thank you

So what does this house own?

OOC: fAMILY MEMBERS DONT MEAN SQUAT NECESSARILY IN THIS GAME. Land will be far more important then place in the family tree.

[deguerra]

If the most noble Ioannis Kantakouzinos wishes to draw attention to the fact that the Empire is currently but a shade of its former glory, then that point is duly noted. Perhaps he will one day realize that the best course of action in that case is to go and conquer the heathen Turks, not conquer our ears with problems we are well aware of.

loαννις Καλαμετερoς

[Zim]

Kosmas smiles to the newcomers. I welcome you all, even our odd friend Senator Kantakouzinos.

Efstratios Monomachos, I do believe there is a man planning on joining the House who might have need of your services. However, I must warn you that the House is still small in resources, a mere seed of something that will become great. It is entirely possible that you may have to fight alongside or even under a fellow House member before we can provide you with soldiers. Whether that condition is too hard to accept or not is up to you.

[Ferret]

I hereby swear fealty to Hypatios Machonios.

Of course I accept.

edit:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: Isn't the title meant to be 'House of the Asteri', otherwise it doesn't make sense...

[Kagemusha]

Ioannis Kantakouzinos marches in the building with gray face and confused expression n his face.

"Gentlemen. I believe last nights banquet might have been bit too much for me. It seems my last coherent thought was the clear need of land and in my drunken state i decided to come ask if you had any, after i stumbled upon your esteemed building. Social drinking is a trait which can get out from control, specially in metropol like our Capital is, Im sorry for causing inconvenience."

[Zim]

Thank you four your courtesy, Ioannis Kantakouzinos.

Gentlemen, I have urgent business to attend to but I shall return in two days. In my absence, Ioannis Kalameteros will head the House fo Asteri.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Efstratios Monomachos sits quietly, reading the letters he has received from many noblemen requesting his services.

"HAH!" he snorted as he read one of the letters. He sets those letters aside, and stands up to announce:

I have decided to align myself with the House of the Asteri, for now. I will swear whatever oath of fealty you wish, although I should preface that oath with a minor note: I may decide later on down the line to surrender my arms and territories to the House and become a hired mercenary.

Nothing that I gain from the House of the Asteri will come with me. My services will expand your House and bring you wealth, arms, and title, and the only reward I seek is the right to command my own forces, whenever possible. I've spoken with two members of the House and they find permission to command the troops on the field to be an acceptible condition.

If I should serve my House well, I would ask my lords who will profit much from my work to serve as a good reference, should I ever seek employment elsewhere. Should my contract expire with the House of the Asteri, I will grant my lords plenty of notice and turn over command of their armies, lands, and whatever other materiale to my feudal lord.

Being a soldier, a mercenary general, I do not expect to be positioned high on the chain of command. I will accept employment from Anastasios Neokaisareitis, himself a servant of our lord Kosmas Mavrozomis.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC- in order for it to be more realistic retaining command on the battlefield, I will need command stars. This means that those of us who have higher command rating may serve as reinforcements, which actually makes them safer anyway, because I'll still control them and they won't rout even if my general dies, they have their own command so therefore my units' morale doesn't affect them. If it looks like I will lose for some reason I can always make them flee without being harmed. They will still travel with the main army for protection.

If these terms are acceptible to my Lords of the Asteri, my sword is yours. Name your target.

(send me the target privately)

[The Lemongate]

Hmmph! I, Anastasios Neokaisareitis swear fealty to Zigavinos Vasilakios...

And I retain the services of Efstratios Monomachos. My friend, God willing, we will accomplish great things.

[rossahh]

I accept the oath of Anastasios. May his word be as true as his sword.

[pevergreen]

Michail walks through the shadows, noting the rather impressive statues.
Coming across no one he simply leaves a note on a table, and dissapears outside, not being seen. The note reads:

"Contact Michail, and you may gain an ally."

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I thought that would be more fun and fit in with my guy more than a PM.

[Smowz]

After a long ride from Anatolia, the nobleman Nevoulos ek Philadelphias arrives in Athens. The young man fresh from a recent pilgrimage of sorts to Constinantinople walks in wearing a rather tattered robe worn from the several days travel. A native of these parts Nevoulos gasps with stunned surprise at the exquisite designs of the magnificent tapestries and statues.

With as much granduer as he can muster Nevoulos strides into the hall, standing astride a bench, he clears his throuat loudly and has the following to say

I return a changed man from two years serving out in frontier lands to the East.
The Turks to the east are a grave threat to Rome and I have survived some of their attacks with mixed success. I am a man who grew up in these parts, when I left I confess I knew little of the politics and intrigue of the empire. I know now the path I must take - the glories of Rome must be reborn and here I notice the men around me whom can do such a thing.

I therefore wish to pledge myself and my loyal guard to the services of the House of Asteni.

[pevergreen]

Michail notes the newcomer to the House of Asteri, raising an eyebrow in interest. Staying in the shadows, he walks slowly around the man, appraising him. Obviously something triggers in his mind, as Michail steps forwards and initiates a conversation with the frontier general, gleaning that his name is Nevoulos. With a satisfied half-smile, Michail walks off to find a mug of mead, to ponder the possibilities of service, newcomers and his own fate...

[deguerra]

Nevoulos ! May I extend a warm welcome to you, and say that I would be honoured to have you in our house.

I will leave the formalities for Comes Kosmas, but in the meantime expect a private message from me.

[Ferret]

Efstratios Monomachos sits quietly, reading the letters he has received from many noblemen requesting his services.

"HAH!" he snorted as he read one of the letters. He sets those letters aside, and stands up to announce:

I have decided to align myself with the House of the Asteri, for now. I will swear whatever oath of fealty you wish, although I should preface that oath with a minor note: I may decide later on down the line to surrender my arms and territories to the House and become a hired mercenary.

Nothing that I gain from the House of the Asteri will come with me. My services will expand your House and bring you wealth, arms, and title, and the only reward I seek is the right to command my own forces, whenever possible. I've spoken with two members of the House and they find permission to command the troops on the field to be an acceptible condition.

If I should serve my House well, I would ask my lords who will profit much from my work to serve as a good reference, should I ever seek employment elsewhere. Should my contract expire with the House of the Asteri, I will grant my lords plenty of notice and turn over command of their armies, lands, and whatever other materiale to my feudal lord.

Being a soldier, a mercenary general, I do not expect to be positioned high on the chain of command. I will accept employment from Anastasios Neokaisareitis, himself a servant of our lord Kosmas Mavrozomis.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC- in order for it to be more realistic retaining command on the battlefield, I will need command stars. This means that those of us who have higher command rating may serve as reinforcements, which actually makes them safer anyway, because I'll still control them and they won't rout even if my general dies, they have their own command so therefore my units' morale doesn't affect them. If it looks like I will lose for some reason I can always make them flee without being harmed. They will still travel with the main army for protection.

If these terms are acceptible to my Lords of the Asteri, my sword is yours. Name your target.

(send me the target privately)

Hypatios ignores the man's apparent ramblings at first but after he hears the outrageous speech he cannot contain his loud laughter.

Of course you can retain command of your own forces my lad! You'll just have to make sure that your orders match the orders of the man in command of the army!

I am glad you at least see sense in the Feudal Chain, if you decide to join you will be placed at the bottom and hold the privileges of that rank, which ,I'm afraid, does not include command of any army. If you truly wish to be given such great responsibility then you will first have to prove your skills in battle and loyalty to the House by serving the Comes under his command (or the command of the General he appoints) and by looking after any settlement you are considered worthy to govern.

I am sorry to disappoint you but you cannot storm in here and demand to control our armies and be given wild targets to heroically combat like the Greeks of ancient mythology. For your information this House already holds a Head of the Military and as far as I can see Strator Kalameteros is a far more worthy man to hold that position than yourself. Though of course I am willing to see you prove me wrong. If not I am sure you can find employment elsewhere, the Empire is a large place after all.

[Smowz]

After long discussions with Ioannis about some of the protocol of the house Nevoulos retreats to a small room for prayer and contiplation of his situation.

There is much to be mused, in his time in the East he had made friends that had now politically formed a new order. However he felt somewhat honour bound to at least return home and contribute toward rebuilding there. The rather mixed crowd that he has met here somewhat dismays and confuses Nevoulos. He is unsure in which direction the house is being led and is concerned with some of the attitudes of the fellows around.

Nevoulos scolds himself not to judge a book by its cover and hopes to evaluate his comrades soon on the battlefield where true compainship can be realised.

Meanwhile news has arrived that a senatorial session has been called in Constantinople.

Nevoulos sighs to himself, another occasion of regal importance, politics and bureaucracy. He wonders how he will conduct himself at such an event of high importance and ceremony. He feels barely part of this new house and it seems so shame on his bodyguard whom he was looking forward to showing the benefits of a good greek life. Some of his hardy servents had been plucked from the streets of the great city and he feared another return would send the wrong message.

Still it is all part of a noblemans lot and he feels he must show solidarity for the cause of his home. He calls in his most loyal retinue and tells him that he is to remain with much of the guard and to call on two of his longest serving servants to prepare themselves for the journey back to the capital.

Nevoulos then sets his mind to his conduct in the city itself, he muses on earlier discussions with the young Michail a young sturdy pup whom he recognized much of himself in some 4 years earlier. He bemoaned the politics and the chatter and he wondered aloud how he would cope with such a purpose. With a chuckle Nevoulos suddenly felt more comfortable with his plight realizing that many would be in the same boat as him.

It was then that the servents arrived with suitable robes - simple and plain - no need to attempt to exhibition himself on his first arrival to such a place. Without further ado Nevoulos mounted his horse and rode with his two servents into the sunset.

[Ferret]

Hypatios smiles widely.

Ah Nevoulos! Kosmas has spoken highly of you, it is good to finally meet the man I have heard so much about. Tell me how are you finding life in the Western edge of the Empire? I hear the East is very different indeed. Please excuse my rage at the madman over there, not all understand Feudal structure as well as you and me.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Efstratios hears of the words spoken in his absence from the other members of the House.

Hypatios would seem to disagree with some of his loyal knights as to who should retain command of the army, which is fine. Should he wish to command the forces in battle himself and risk his neck, that's his noble right.

I couldn't be more disinterested in politics, and I'm in no position to argue. So my forces will serve, reluctantly, as heavy cavalry, until such time as a command position becomes available, or my services are retained by another master.

With that, Efstratios leaves the House, in search of something.

[Zim]

Hello,
I have returned from my errand. I would like to thank Ioannis Kalameteros for watching the House while I was away. I am glad to see some new faces in here, and welcome all new members, as well as our guest Michail. The House roster will be updated within the day.

[pevergreen]

Indeed! I wait upon a message from you Kosmas, I was promised one.

[Zim]

For give me Michail, it has bee hard work catching up on what has happened while I was away*. I will see to that message for you immediately.


*

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Especially while stuck on a dial-up connection.

[pevergreen]

Thank you Kosmas.

I do however, have a point to make to my soon allies. The Order. They have numbers, we need to band together.

I propose one of two edict ideas:

1. something delaying how fast the order can expand
2. going for the immediate surroundings of us, Arta and Durazzo.

I have no military power here yet, what troops do we have at our disposal.

I put myself forward to lead the fight towards Arta.

[Askthepizzaguy]

If we begin attempting to make edicts which hinder other areas of the empire, even our rival houses, we could set a precedent which will hinder our own efforts.

We are in the west, a superior position over the east. Let the East have what they want, and let the West have what they want.

Should we start by making enemies of our own people, or friends?

-Efstratios

[pevergreen]

True Efstratios, you may not be the man you claim to be...

I have, however proposed Edict 1.7. I do suggest everyone take a look, as it benefits all who reside in the House of Asteri.