Senator Marius Serapis of the White Demes
Marius walks around the courtyard carrying a glass of fine Hohenzollern beer. Of all the deals struck last session that one had probably been the least profitable, but nevertheless his own personal favourite. At least the "gift" of an entire shipment had been enough to dissuade the rabble from burning his mansion in Hierusalem to the ground. He spots senator Hohenzollern conversing with Habsburg, Muzaka and Rashid and smiles graciously, raising his glass slightly in greeting.
He walks past Colombo and Desmerti, the smell of their barbecue drawing his attention. Colombo's madness had long been apparent, but Desmerti had made some good points in the debate. His ideas of breaking and humiliating Sophia were perhaps reckless, but close to Marius' own thoughts. It would be a pity if Colombo gained another crony, but he was far too unsubtle to be a real threat.
He walks on, the stench of searing meat suddenly turning his stomach as he spots Arrius stadning nearby. There was a heretic just waiting for the bonfire, but how dared he be so bold? His predecessor had been a man of reason, a worthy partner and rival, but this man... Marius shakes his head. Only another sign of the decay of the Blue Demes. At least Salamis was still formidable, a balancing influence in a pack of madmen and heretics. To think that house had once been the openly proclaimed enemy of Serapis.
His thoughts turn once again as he approaches Speaker Pylaeus. He had been an admirable leader of the White, far outplaying his opposites in the Blue and Red Demes. In many ways he had been the ideal senator, and that had always annoyed Marius. For while Pylaeus was doubtless a great asset for the Demes his very competence was standing in the way of Marius' own chances for advancement. Oh, Serapis was still a great house, perhaps the wealthiest in the senate thanks to its freedom from taxation, but that had been his fathers doing and not Marius' own. Alexios had even named Pylaeus as the most suitable successor for leading the Demes, not accounting for the possibility he would die from the plague before Pylaeus was too old to succeed him. To Father he thinks bitterly to himself as he raises his glass in greeting to his Leader and drinks.
He moves on, not wanting to interrupt Pylaeus conversation with Mandromenos and instead approaches Senator Mojmirid. "Theresa sends her regards. She was greatly saddened by hearing of the loss of Zeno Urbicus, as am I. He was a great man. How fares my dear cousin Livia?
