Chapter 14 – Successful Re-education
With the same élan you are starting to get used to, the Pontifex Maximus storms into the council chamber, but not exactly in a good mood. No, the Butcher is visibly angry. But no matter how imposing his powerful presence, the woman following him in quite some time after immediately catches your eyes.
The woman wears an Illuminatrix' toga, and takes quite a lot of space. One could safely say that while Theodosios gained weight in muscle, she gained it in another way. She is munching on some meat, and wipes her greasy fingers on her toga. It may depend on your taste in women, but she either is a sight of beauty to behold or once may have been – and still may become, should she lose some weight. Poets may be able to get lost in the features of her face – or once have.
“Zsófia the Heavenly”, Theodosios grumbles. “Illuminatrix of Nauplion. And, theoretically, much more.”
The huge woman nods in deference. “It's an honour to be in the same room as Promelux' chosen. I serve the gods in another capacity, so I have long dreamt of that moment.”
“She is our current point of debate”, the Pontifex Maximus addresses you. Another demon? No. No, she doesn't look the part. “A question of her Hungarian heritage. It shall concern you later.”
Theodosios unrolls a new map. “The Empire's reach has grown much in the past seven years; not as much as I hoped, but we will come to that. With my trusty commanders, I have conquered Sicily, Nagya, and... you shall see. I have to especially name Agne's and Liuva's assistance in battle, with my dear sister's horrific wounds sustained in my name and Liuva's death, after he brought the wrath of the gods down on them in many confrontations.
Sylvisorexny's hedgehogs were in civil war for the throne, and so I only had to face the Ursulaians in battle. Once dislodged from the mountains, they were unable to mount a strong defence.”
Zsófia agrees. “Their leader carried Animus Animalis' guile, and thus we decided to perform a divination with his remains. The vile influence still lingered there, and we Illuminators were able to extract the names of some of his agents working against the Pontifex, preventing him from harm.”
“The enemy never sleeps. After a demon, a gate full of them, a dancing plague... His attempts to destroy the New Empire will never cease”, Theodosios announces gravely. “But his ducks – are weaker than expected. Even with the signs in their favour, they only sent armies of around 3.000 men to Sicily, where they were swiftly crushed. The island is liberated of them.
And will remain closely tied to Greece. For I installed Achila as count of most of the island, after he agreed to marry Amália Dávid on matrilineal terms. With my brother Radagaisus nearly driving out Dávidia of Greece, once this kingdom has come to an end, the Hungarians may reassemble under the Sicilian banner on our side.”
The Emperor sighs. “Dávidia would be close to destruction already. And now we come to Zsófia's presence here.”
“My father was king of both Dávidia and Duroland”, the Illuminatrix explains. “Once a dog prince laid claim to Duroland, I sought out the Pontifex to present my claim. We can't let the kingdom fall back into their paws.”
“I led my retinue into the Nile Delta. Imre was weakened and struggling against Prince Laddie, so I didn't see the need to bring the full power of the realm south and offer the Imperial core lands a resemblance of peace. I did end up defeating Imre, after he had sacrificed Laddie, without high losses nor great trouble.”
Theodosios sighs. “As terms of his surrender, he presented Duroland's crown. That is ALL that we apparently won. He claims to be unable to surrender Duroland's actual territory, as it is in the hands of a duke which is inseparably loyal to Dávidia's crown.
I am tempted to just melt down that golden circle and drive every single Hungarian out of Duroland, to their 'rightful liege' myself.”
(Well, that didn't go as planned. My explanation is what Theodosios says above – the descendant of the duke who invaded still holds it and one county in Dávidia. He was unwilling to part with his lands for some reason. So I am giving you this additional choice:
Option 1 – leave it as it is
Option 2 – seize one county
Option 3 – seize all of Duroland (it's basically the Nile Delta)
I was tending to just grab a county to prevent Imre to simply re-usurp the title whenever he's got the money to do so, but then again I've been thinking that Theodosios may not exactly be happy about the outcome. And thus it offers an additional vote.)
He takes a deep breath. “To answer that, you probably do need to know the state of the empire and my reign. As for the latter, there isn't much to say other than that it is absolutely secure. Nobody dares oppose me, and I have been able to use my power for the benefit of the vassals.
Case in point, Taoeliland. Saurus' son Theudis isn't much more capable than his predecessor, but he did attack the Cumans. So I prevented the duke of Ikonio from fighting him. When my friend – and highly capable duke – Theodat of Slavia claimed the duchy, I didn't intervene. While I don't expect Theudis to win against the Cumans, both Theodat and Kyrillos of Symmachia may have the power to.”
Theudis is apparently a popular name amongst Gothic nobility again. And so we have this vassal constellation:
“A wise course of action, great Pontifex”, Zsófia agrees.
That seems to remind Theodosios of something. “Ah, that's right. Amália and Zsófia aren't the only successes of our education. Lancelot has become duke in the realm of the Cumans. Or well, it would have been a success one day.” He sighs again, massaging his temples. “He only inherited a duchy title for a barony. Due to duke Kyrillos' conquest of Shotaia, while Lancelot's hedgehog father was rebelling against the Cumans. At least it is under Imperial control now, though we missed a chance to disrupt a hostile realm from the inside.”
He's been released immediately upon succession, but sadly won't be able to do much.
The fat woman nods. “And then there's Chito, your Imperial Majesty. A shining beacon of faith, the new diviner of the empire. Her Duckling ancestry completely in the past, she has used that fact to great effect in the conversion of her birth people, the Georgians of Rhodos. The example of us prominent new citizens of the empire might have played its part in inspiring the Arberians of Herakleia to adopt the superior culture.”
The Emperor, back to his energetic self, gives her a powerful clap on the back, upon which Zsófia struggles not to fall down. “True! A smart one, Chito! She doesn't just read books and cower in a corner like a certain someone that I might name – or no more, for the son I no longer have has apparently found his death over wherever he was. I cannot say that I mourn him. He was dead to me as soon as he fled!
Another loss was more tragic”, he adds with much more grief. “The horses banded together to fight my youngest brother Innokentios, and overwhelmed him and his men. He will be missed. Radagaisus has already launched a campaign to avenge him, after I gave him Innokentios' titles.”
“But speaking of family, I have reason to be proud! Which may make the choice of succession a little more difficult, but that's a good problem to have!” He laughs heartily. “Together with the earlier question, you can answer me that of succession today.
Shall I name Antonios my heir? He doesn't have great physical strength, so I doubt he would be a warrior himself. But we have plenty of promising commanders in the empire, that isn't a problem. Antonios has presented me with an idea to more effectively organize cleansing the empire, but that needs clear leadership from the emperor – I will not do it with my engagement in the Olympian Champions on the battlefield, but he might if he succeeds me.
Or Ioustina may follow me on the throne. She hasn't even come of age yet, certainly, but she is close. And shows so much promise in following in both the footsteps of her grandmother and mine! Surely she will lead the men into battle by example, and be the terror of every abomination we have sworn to fight!”
Who shall Theodosios name his heir?
Option 1 – Prince Antonios (Stoic path – send out trained extermination squads into every beast-cultured Imperial province)
Option 2 – Princess Ioustina (Olympian path – never know a moment of peace longer than necessary)
Voting ends Monday, 22:00 CEST.
