House of Komnenodoukai

[Ignoramus]

House of Komnenodoukai

As you walk through the streets of Nicaea, you cannot but notice the Komnenodoukai banner. This is the seat of power of the powerful Komnenodoukai family, who has recently risen to power in Constantinople.

The tightly-knit house is naturally staunch to the current Basileus, Aleksios Komnenos. Led by his son and heir, Ioannis Komnenos, Caesar of the Romans, it has friends in high places.

As you enter the imperial palace of Nicaea, you are escorted into a chamber and a parchment is given to you to read. It reads as follows:

If you desire to join the Komnenodoukai, you must note the following statutes of this house:

I. You must swear an oath to protect the interests of the Komnenodoukai, which includes loyalty to the Basileus, if he is either a Komneni or a Doukai.
II. If you break your oath of vassalage at any time, without being absolved by the leader of the Komnenodoukai, you shall not be permitted to rejoin the house, and you shall bear the emnity of the house.
III. Succession falls first to the Komneni, then the Doukai. If there are no other Komneni or Doukai in the house, then the leader may choose his successor.
IV. Those who do not bear the Komneni or Doukai name are equal in all aspects to them, save the succession falls to them last, unless they have been members of the house for 25 years.
V. We will strive to increase the true faith throughout our holdings.

After you have read the statues, you give your consent. You are then marched to the main banquet room of the palace. There sits the leader of the Komnenodoukai, Ioannis Komnenos, Caesar of the Romans. You tremble as you approach, but his kind face dispels your fears.

After you have sworn you oath of fealty, you are seated at the Caesar's table and begin to partake of the banquet.

Public information concerning the Komnenodoukai:

Provinces:
Bithynia(Nicaea) - Large Town(Capital), Ioannis Komnenos
Mysia(Dardanellia) - Wooden Castle, Ioannis Komnenos
Paphlagonia(Sinop) - Large Town, Pavlos Chrysovergos
Pontus(Trebizond) - Wooden Castle, Lisas Attaleiatas
Georgia(Tblisi) - Castle, Pavlos Chrysovergos
Armenia(Yerevan) - Small Town, Ioannis Kantakouzinos
Rhodes(Rhodes) - Wooden Castle, Hypatios Machonios
Epirus(Dyracchion) - Small Town, Michail Arianitis

Family:
Ioannis Komnenos, Caesar of the Romans, Antypatos
Andronikos Komnenos, Strator
Ioannis Kantakouzinos, Hypatos

Generals:
Pavlos Chrysovergos, Antypatos
Lisas Attaleiatas, Comes
Hypatios Machonios, Comes
Tarasios Sarantinos, Strator
Michail Arianitis, Comes

[Ituralde]

"I, Pavlos Chrysovergos swear an Oath of Fealty to Ioannis Komnenos lord of the House of Komnenodoukai."

Pavlos raises and claps a fist to his heart.

"I swear to protect the interests of the Komnenodoukai. To serve the Basileus Aleksios Komnenos and his appointed Ceasar Ioannis Komnenos!"

After a curt nod he seats himself at the table.

[Kagemusha]

I Ioannis Kantakouzinos pledge also my loyalty to the Imperial house of Komnenodoukai. As descendant of the Vlasto family, Kantakouzinos family as a branch of same mother family then Komnenos and Dukai families, will remain as solid supporters of our relatives.

[Byblos]

I, young Sarantinos pledge my service to you o'great Caesar. I may not have matured as of yet but after 25 years I will be in my prime.

[Byblos]

I would be delighted to undertake any missions for the greater good of the House of Komnenodoukai as is my duty. My main worry though would have to be travelling away from home. I like living with my mother as paterfamilias and I am not too sure what she would say to me going on dangerous missions.

[Ituralde]

Pavlos chuckles lightly

"Well lad, 'tis up to you!

You can either gain glory for yourself and the Empire by marching to war against that rebel scum or you can stay put in cozy Constantinople and cry on your mother's bosom all day!"

Now he roars loudly

"I can't promise you anything yet, since it's all in the making, but should the Basileus grant my request I'll make a man out of you sooner than you know and your mother shan't worry about a thing!"