{My question is why is he taking the popcorn out of his mouth.}{{The gif is a three to four second clip from Michael Jackson's music video Thriller.}}
{My question is why is he taking the popcorn out of his mouth.}{{The gif is a three to four second clip from Michael Jackson's music video Thriller.}}
The Naval Reforms had secured the Imperium’s first victory at sea against the Xenoi. More importantly, they had benefited Venice- site of the Empire’s finest Naval Academies and shipyards- which had made his in-laws, the Dandolo, very wealthy. They, in turn, had made him wealthy; some of the silver he had paid to taxes, some to invest in good lands in Venetia and Thrace, but the lion’s share were spent in the capital, in an endless string of parties, political or otherwise. His cousins on the mainland were fools. The merchants were a golden teat, a font of wine, women, wealth- and information. The Empire’s financial woes were an endless source of consternation for the money-grubbers, and several cities had responded by pooling their resources, in banks. Yet even this was not enough- in Rome they gilded coppers to save gold, and in Genoa the merchants had started using banknotes instead of coins, trusting in Italian paper over Greek gold. The shiftless Greeks, in their profligacy, were bleeding Rome white, and something had to be done.
{{Ok, thanks. Historically this sort of thing started happening around this time in Renaissance Italy and the Netherlands, though TTL obviously things are substantially different I imagined the instability would see some local merchants trying their hand at it... it's not a universal or widespread thing, more to illustrate that *interesting things* are happening, some might work some might not}}{{@Undead Martyr - while I appreciate your dedication please remember that you as participants of this AAR are playing your characters and Houses, not I have nothing against some minor but juicy details entwined in your characters' backstories or history of your Houses but within reasonable limits. This piece:
Is not really about your character or House but about your interpretation of what's going on in Italia. I'm not saying that you shouldn't write something like this but please if you want to describe some important changes from a world-buidling perspective - like introduction of banknotes - I would appreciate if you would ask me first in the future }}
Simply delete that extra spoiler [] thing in your sentence to get rid of the two spoilers.Senator Maximos Wedrovander:
I'm afraid that these calls for peace fall on deaf ears for I am still wroth by the base treachery of my fellow "Reds" I will not breathe more personal insults but quite frankly the betrayal and weakening of our hand came from the half of the faction that decided that it would be a lark to simply fold to the demands of the blues and their pet naval commander. Honestly that entire session was so easily taken over by the bluish tint it is nearly unforgivable therefore I say no matter what else may come we must force the blues in whatever position that they may have to bow to our wishes in this session. Either through power or through persuasion it matters not. As for allegations of blindly following the White demes, I admit that I have long been a support for some of their activities. However, it is not for the love of their ideals that I suggest to align with them, it is their power over gold and the wages of our soldiers that I seek their help. For without gold we are undone for despite in a more perfect world that man would serve God, Emperor, and fellow man without the need of lucre we live in this world where men's hearts are foolish and most unwise. Therefore an alliance with them is far more tolerable due to the fact that they hold the purse strings and they are relatively weaker than the monstrous legion of blue demes senators. Yes, I concur they are less than they were, but they are still enough to be a threat.
As for the emperor, long may he reign in peace and prosperity, he called a senate meeting to learn the will of the senate. This means he sought our advise and wished to know our thoughts on the subject that he thought valuable it doesn't mean that he thought that we ought to be yes men and vote to his beck and call. Indeed Markos the Third, may he find heaven to be a paradise forever and ever, made clear that our institution should be used in order to advise and be a help meet for the emperor. As for your veto. I welcome it. Go right ahead. My ambition this day needs not to be fed for I have no desire for that power. For power has thusly proven to be a fickle friend indeed. Instead I wish to make clear that your matter factly treachery harmed our cause greatly and I see no point in allowing you or your kind to take over and make our dreams dust. Lastly, I suggest that we at least agree that no matter the temptation, we must take a hard line against any unwise use of the treasury for now the loans that I had feared in the past have now made a crisis in our good imperium that could doom us all. So long as you have good words speak and know that I watch so that I may guard our faction from yet another betrayal. Also know that I will support Taurinus should he decide to become faction leader for he went above and beyond than what he could of done. Also I suggest that you ought to be more careful with your speech for your butchering of the last name could be seen as an insult not only to myself but yourself.
*Maximos ceases speaking and hands a eunuch a letter*
I'm afraid to ask this but my house has a problem. One of the family's daughter, a second cousin once removed, has become a problem. We need a safe harbor away from Italia and from the western mare nostrum for that matter that can take the child in and keep her away from any politics. She tried to sneak in with a dyanstoi family and create a scandal to have them try to ruin us. They're not too powerful but thankfully they have other things to worry about than her now. If the price of keeping her away is that of marriage the house would be indebted to you. Whatever you think of this and decide to help, do not for the good love of the church let her near powerful people. She is beautiful, smart, and has the tendency to dominate weak to flesh men. If you don't have a good situation for her I will understand for we have a another option available. Maximos Wedrovander. \
{{No I don't know why it decided to work this way with the spoiler and I can't seem to fix it but it does have the benefit of more drama to it. Also I think columbo was pure blue through and through but had his eye on power and was able to be flexible.}}
Ma- Saint Markos obviously willed that they would win their invasions.