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Senator Nikephoros II Salamis (Red Demes):
*Nikephoros speaks carefully*
I... believe the Blue Demes, as a group, is crucial to the Imperium as... almost as much as the other Demes. If there will arise reasonable Blue Demes, like previous Senator Arrius or, indeed, myself six years ago, I am of the opinion that we should cooperate with them. However, the current Blue Demes... Nay, lead by Colombo they are not to be trusted. The Whites are indeed true and good men of Rome, and I will be glad if we work with them. Indeed, if only we had a reasonable, loyal Blue Demes the Senate could stand united against... *Nikephoros' eyes move around the room, and he weighs his words*... those who would harm us.

Senator Philaretos Mandromenos (Red Demes):

*Mandromenos begins to laugh. It is a laugh one makes when he has heard a good joke, one without any trace of madness*

Dear Salamis, why do you fear being here, where the eyes and ears of the dynatoi are most apparent?

They have eyes and ears everywhere, I know of three such men in my century alone. They already know of everything. We are in no more danger here than we are anywhere else. And that is not because I believe us safe.
 
But I couldn't stay in the Blue Demes. Senator Hvide, my relative by marriage, was not present, .

{{Sorry dude, but life came in the way and i had no time to rp that session.}}
 
{{Sorry dude, but life came in the way and i had no time to rp that session.}}
{{No worries, real life always gets in the way. And, it actually helped my character deflect more easily :p}}

Senator Nikephoros II Salamis (Red Demes):
*Nikephoros nods to Speaker Este-Ravenna*
I agree, but it seems to me that each time a faction tries to gain the support of the unaffiliated they ignore it and start speaking of German affairs. Hopefully they will get more... involved in the future. By gathering their support in votings, a faction as big as ours can win a vote without the support, or with little support, of any other faction.
 
{{No worries, real life always gets in the way. And, it actually helped my character deflect more easily :p}}

Senator Nikephoros II Salamis (Red Demes):
*Nikephoros nods to Speaker Este-Ravenna*
I agree, but it seems to me that each time a faction tries to gain the support of the unaffiliated they ignore it and start speaking of German affairs. Hopefully they will get more... involved in the future. By gathering their support in votings, a faction as big as ours can win a vote without the support, or with little support, of any other faction.

Senator Philaretos Mandromenos (Red Demes):

Have you heard the posturing of those Germans? They speak of a Kaiser freely! They may be referring to the Emperor, long may be reign, but I am suspicious of their intents. They seem to refuse to assimilate into Roman customs and want to form a unrecognized Demes of their own to advance German affairs. It seems that Bavaria is intent on providing a distraction to keep us from dealing with them once and for all.
 
Leon Taurinus (Red Demes obviously)

*Leon has traveled far and his business is not simply a scheme forpower like other senators. He is traveling with the future of his family and that of the Imperium on his shoulders.
Away from Constantinople he has left behind his plague outfit and instead wears the simple uniform of a military officer. His face is scarred, he is messing a finger on his left hand, yet he carries himself with a sort of pride as the head of one of the oldest families in the senate.
He is optimistic that the Komeni will prove allies to preserve the Imperium, and the Taurinus family. He looks around with wonder at his fellow Reds as he joins them. Who would have thought a Salamis would be among them, he marvels. He always grew up with the tales of Blue treachery but perhaps amid all the madness in the senate a Blue has finally gained some sanity and joined the Reds.

He goes over to greet them. *

"Hail friends. Please excuse my tardiness but I am happy to be among this gathering, and I am happy to welcome our newest member of the noble Red Demes senator Salamis."
 
Eunuch Tomasz:

The door to the chamber you are in open and an eunuch enters the room accompanied by four guardsmen. He's wearing long silk robes but not those of the Sacred Palace you are so accustomed to – his garment is black with yellow belt and buttons. The man bows his head slightly, showing his yellow turban adorned with three feathers and a brooche shaped like the eagle of the Komnenoi.

– My master shall see you now, noble senators.

You leave the room and, escorted by guardsmen, you walk through the long corridors of the keep led by the eunuch. Finally you arrive before a ornamted door guarded by another two of the Komnenoi men. The eunuch turns around to face you.

– Welcome to the Great Hall.

He opens the door and walks inside.

Jj9GqwZ.jpg


The art style is off by several centuries but it should give you an idea.

You follow the eunuch – the Great Hall is huge and you can't help yourself but to look around, marveling at the ornamented ceiling and tapestries. At the very end of the room there is a long table prepared for you around which stand servants wearing Komnenoi colours ready to serve you. You approach it, uncertain where is your host for the seat at the top of the table is empty.

– Please, noble senators, take your seats. His Excellency will be with you shortly.

Eunuch smiles gently.

– Now excuse me, I must leave you for a moment. The slaves are at your service.

The eunuch bows and heads toward the exit. You sit in the armchairs and look around. The Great Hall is filled with paintings and other pieces of art – the content of this room alone must be worth a fortune. You notice however that there are more than sculptures in niches of the Hall – there must be at least ten Komnenoi guards in the room. Despite their presence – or perhaps because of it – you don't feel safe...
 
Senator Philaretos Mandromenos (Red Demes):

*He gives himself a moment to absorb the atmosphere of the room*

I ate before my arrival. I thank you for your generosity, but I will not be needing food or drink here.

*He gazes at the guards in the room*


They are very well equipped. I wonder if any of them have pistols made by my gunsmiths. They do make the best money can buy after all.

I wonder why the master of the house isn't here to greet us, he must be very busy. The President is also a Strategos and the Head of the Komnenoi is a member of the Imperial Council and second only to the Emperor himself, so it may have been an certainty.
 
{{Czoklet are we allowed to retire characters voluntarily, if for instance a regency ends or something like that?}}
 
Leon Taurinus (Reds)

*He marvels at the wealth on display. The family estate in Taurica is nice yes, but he knows that it is unlikely their ancient castle would ever be able to match the show of wealth the Komnenoi casually display, especially with the constant threat of the Horde that has forced his family to begin moving their family treasures and wealth to other sites throughout the Imperium to avoid their capture by the Mongol hordes.
He is uneasy but then again, he reminds himself, he and his fellow Reds are rather powerless at the moment and so he sits, though he refrains from taking any food or drink. He looks to his fellow Reds,*


"So, good senators, what business do you think our host has with us today?
Also on a personal note, do any of you good gentlemen have at your disposal any number of good ships to transport certain items of my family out of Taurica. If so I may have some business to arrange after this meeting with the good president."
 
{{Czoklet are we allowed to retire characters voluntarily, if for instance a regency ends or something like that?}}
{{ I think it's after 50 I think check it out on the front page it's been changed a bit since last}}
Senator Petrus Wedrovander (Red Dems):
"Thank you good eunuch.

*After the eunuch leaves*

"I think this was a terrible idea senators I can only think what the other Dems are thinking now. With us neck deep in intrigue with one family whose is notorious for hating all the senate stands for. I don't know why on earth I let you all convince me here."

"Taurinus we of the Wedrovanders have ships but our main estate is not quite well. We are attempting to buy land on Sicily but... a complication with the local lord will make a hard endeavor but possible. As for Mandromenos I would hope that you don't gape too much we have at least to attempt some decorum here." At this point you all notice that Petrus's hands are shaking.
 
Leon Taurinus (Reds)

*He marvels at the wealth on display. The family estate in Taurica is nice yes, but he knows that it is unlikely their ancient castle would ever be able to match the show of wealth the Komnenoi casually display, especially with the constant threat of the Horde that has forced his family to begin moving their family treasures and wealth to other sites throughout the Imperium to avoid their capture by the Mongol hordes.
He is uneasy but then again, he reminds himself, he and his fellow Reds are rather powerless at the moment and so he sits, though he refrains from taking any food or drink. He looks to his fellow Reds,*


"So, good senators, what business do you think our host has with us today?
Also on a personal note, do any of you good gentlemen have at your disposal any number of good ships to transport certain items of my family out of Taurica. If so I may have some business to arrange after this meeting with the good president."

Senator Philaretos Mandromenos (Red Demes):

I have friends that will happily transport any goods, provided they are fairly compensated for their troubles. I assure you that they are most capable. I myself happen to have a vault that was emptied six years ago, so I can provide a safe place for their storage. Morea is one of the few places that hasn't had any troubles with Rebels, you know.
 
Leon Taurinus (Red Demes)

*He nods appreciatively towards both men*
"I thank both of you, we of the Reds must work together in these dark times. Up to now we have been storing what we have transported out in a monastery at Mount Athos that my family has provided funding for over the years. The Mandromenos vault may indeed work well, and Petrus, I hope both of us will find safe harbor for our houses against the storms that beset us. The Taurinus family will fight to hold our home and keep Taurica out of the hands of the Horde, but we are also looking for a new home should worse come to worse. House Taurinus endures, Taurinus endures."
*he repeats the phrase, more to reassure himself than for his fellow Reds.
He recalls the rain of arrows, the horrors unleashed by the Horde, and shudders*
 
Senator Nikephoros II Salamis (Red Demes):
*Nikephoros sits down, but is extremely disturbed. Surely the Emperor will be very discontent with House Komnenos should they murder a whole Demes of the Senate... Or will he? Nikephoros thinks again about Colombo and his Komnenoi relatives, about the past Komnenoi presidents all showing their disapproval of the Senate, about the heads of Senators Scipion and Mandromenos landing on the grey grass of the yard of the Magnaura, spattering it with red blood after Nikephoros Dalassenos took it off, about the screams of Bishop Azizid and Senator Di Capponi as they were being flogged on the orders of the Dalassenoi... And Nikephoros starts sweating.*
S... Senator Taurinus. Indeed, my house's seat is on the island of Salamis, and we have a nice amount of ships. House Salamis will be glad to aid you in any way it can.
 
{{You know I think Komnenos was going for intimidation and instead he's going to drive the Reds insane with paranoia. That would probably be a little snag in his plans, or would it...}}
 
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Senator
{{ I think it's after 50 I think check it out on the front page it's been changed a bit since last}}
Senator Petrus Wedrovander (Red Dems):
"Thank you good eunuch.

*After the eunuch leaves*

"I think this was a terrible idea senators I can only think what the other Dems are thinking now. With us neck deep in intrigue with one family whose is notorious for hating all the senate stands for. I don't know why on earth I let you all convince me here."

"Taurinus we of the Wedrovanders have ships but our main estate is not quite well. We are attempting to buy land on Sicily but... a complication with the local lord will make a hard endeavor but possible. As for Mandromenos I would hope that you don't gape too much we have at least to attempt some decorum here." At this point you all notice that Petrus's hands are shaking.

Senator Alexios Este-Ravenna (Red Demes Speaker):

The presence of the guards is undoubtedly meant to intimidate. Alexios pays them no mind.
"The fact that the Komnenoi are appealing to us directly says much about the dynatoi's conflict. Let us hear what is offered before we consider our time wasted."
 
President of the Senate Isaakios Komnenos:

Suddenly what you think was just another part of the wall moves – a hidden postern opens and Isaakios Komnenos enters the room, followed by two guardsmen and the eunuch. He no longer wears the robes of the President of the Senate – instead you see him in red doublet with white shirt underneath and black tabard. The tabard is adorned with intricate golden pattern and you can see a beautiful penannular silver brooch adorned with rubies, shaped like the Komnenos eagle. You notice something different about him – his beard is no longer red but black with patches of henna. As he approaches the table, Isaakios waves at you with gloved left hand.

- Senators. You must excuse my bad manners, I bring news from the Sacred Palace.

4FwF1XX.jpg

Isaakios is much older (the man is in his 30s and Isaakios is in late 40s-early 50s) and doesn't wear a hat but besides this that's how he looks

The eunuch steps before him and moves the chair away, allowing his master to take a seat. Isaakios stops however – still standing, he starts to remove his gloves and cast them at the table while adressing you.

- The heresy of Angelodoulism continues to spread. More and more of the Italian hoi polloi join her followers every day.

OxM6FOu.jpg

He leans on the table, now with his hands ungloved.

- Therefore it was decided that the Synodos will be convened in Ravenna and His Imperial Majesty himself is going to preside over it. Sophia Angelos shall be summoned before the Emperor r to renounce or reaffirm her teachings. Such is the will of the Throne.

DMWNGju.jpg

Isaakios waves at the eunuch and while he pours wine in golden chalice Komnenos gazes at each and every senator, pausing for a moment at the Red Speaker. Then he raises the chalice in a toast and speaks.

- For the Emperor. Long may he reign.

Isaakios empties the chalice quickly and finally takes a seat.

- I have invited you here and you arrived. Good.

He points at Red Speaker.

- As you can certainly imagine, I had a purpose in doing so. We shall not waste time on pleasantries or flattery at this table. I have no patience for such things. I am your host and you are my guests however, so please, enjoy your meals. One should not discuss politics on an empty stomach.

The President of the Senate gives a sign to the eunuch who pours him more wine. The servants approach you, ready to serve beverages or meals of your choosing.
 
Senator Nikephoros II Salamis (Red Demes):
*Nikephpros stares at the food and drink. President Issakios is doing this to check if we trust him, surely the Komnenoi will never break the sacred guest right. But as he orders roast suckling pig and some pigeon pie, along with a fine wine, the face of Speaker Colombo floats before him, with those shark-like teeth. And he thinks of Senator Herakleios Salamis who was poisoned on the Senate floor, and he eats, and he drinks.*