This Is Madness 2 - Imperium Sine Fine (Interactive Mega Campaign)

[CzokletMuss]

SIXTH SENATE SESSION - OPENING

IIllustrious President of the Imperial Senate magistros Nikephoros Dalassenos hereby announces that

THE SIXTH SENATE SESSION HAS BEGUN​

SCHEDULE (WARSAW TIME)

• Opening of the Session – 06:00 p.m. 18 September (Friday)
• DEBATE (1 DAY) - 06:00 p.m. 18 September – 06:00 p.m. 19 September
• RECESS (1 DAY) - 06:00 p.m. 19 September – 06:00 p.m. 20 September
• DEBATE (1 DAY) - 06:00 p.m. 20 September – 06:00 p.m. 21 September
• VOTING (1 DAY) - 06:00 p.m. 21 September – 06:00 p.m. 22 September
• Closing of the Session - 06:00 p.m. 22 September (Tuesday)

AGENDA
The Sixth Senate Session is dedicated to the following matters:
RESOLUTIONS

1. Reform of the imperial administration (National Focus)

RESOLUTIONS

1. Imperial Navy – mothballing all fleets (budget )
2. Exarchates – raising tariffs (subjects)
3. Expropriation of the Jews (decision)
4. Enlisting privateers (decision)[/b]
5. Seizure of lands of the Holy Church (decision)

POLICIES

• Provincial Taxation System
• Lex forevetur Production Commercia
• The Naval School Act
• Streamlined Galley Production

SENATE POLICIES

• Issue: „Reducing expenses and increasing revenue of the Imperial Treasury” (20 points)
• Issue: „Increasing efficiency of the Imperial Administration” (20 points)
• Issue: „Increasing effectivness of the Imperial Army on the battlefield”(20 points)

ALBUM SENATORIUM

Spoiler

1. senator Decius of the noble House PYLAEUS (played by: ThetrueColt)
2. senator Leon of the noble House CORTEZ (played by: zqfrmb)
3. senator Iskander of the noble House OURANOS (played by: Blogman66)
4. senator Lodovico of the noble House DI CAPPONI (played by: Enlil)
5. senator Alexandros of the noble House MANDROMENOS (played by: Mach Twelve)
6. senator Lazaros of the noble House MELISSENOS (played by: McGrey)
7. senator Honorius of the noble House SCIPION (played by: varetta)
8. senator Leon of the noble House TAURINUS (played by: Ponce_The_Great)
9. senator Nonamark of the noble House WEDROVANDER (played by: Kingjerkera)
10. senator Alexios of the noble House COLOMBO (played by:luciusmalfoy012)
11. senator Valerios of the noble House RAOUL (played by: Attalus)
12. senator Duilius of the noble House ARRIUS (played by: TheAnguishedOne)
13. senator Harun of the noble House AL-ASKARI (played by: bigseb31213)
14. senator Marius of the noble House SERAPIS (played by: Serpent)
15. senator Alexios of the noble House ESTE-RAVENNA (played by: Undead Martyr)
16. senator Nikephoros of the noble House SALAMIS (played by: ParrotGuy)
17. senator Donasien of the noble House DE LA LUMIERE (played by: Tecumseh23)
18. senator Markos of the noble House VON HABSBURG (played by: GulMacet)
19. senator Zeno of the noble House MOJMIRID (played by: Teutonic King)
20. senator Kastor of the noble House KASTELOS (played by: Leandor)
21. senator Absalon of the noble House HVIDE (played by: Drucchi)
22. senator Alexios of the noble House VON HOHENZOLLERN (played by: zenphoenix)
23. senator Banoub of the noble House RASHID (played by: BanishTheSpleen)
24. senator Dooley of the noble House AZIZID (played by: TurtleShroom)

Illustrious President of the Imperial Senate magistros Nikephoros Dalassenos hereby announces that the required quorum is equal to 12 SENATORS

GENERAL RULES

Spoiler

Article 19 – Opening
1. The Session is opened by the President.
2. The inauguration includes the following:
- presentation of the agenda;
- presentation of the guests of the Senate.
3. The debate begins after the inauguration.

Article 20 – Debate
1. During the debate the Senators may present their statements, discuss subjects of the Session with other Senators and propose amendments to bills.
2. The debate lasts at least 72 hours.
3. The Senators have to begin every post written in-character using the following template:

[b][size=4]Senator <name> (<name> Demes):[/b][/size]

4. During the debate, Senators may not:
- carry any weapon with themselves;
- be accompanied by any servants or slaves;
- bring any items without the permission of the President.

Article 21 – Recess
1. During the debate the President may call recess of the Senate.
2. The recess lasts at least 24 hours.
3. During the recess the Session is suspended.

RULES ON AMENDMENTS AND POLICIES

Spoiler

Article 25 – Amendment
1. Every Senator who is a member of a Faction may propose motion to amend a bill during the debate (amendment).
2. Amendment must include the following information:
- name of the amended bill;
- proposed amendment of the bill;
- statement of reasons for which the motion was proposed.

Article 26 – Proposing amendment
1. Only one amendment may be proposed by the Senator during the Session.
2. To be put under vote by the Senate such motion must by supported by at least five other Senators.

Article 27 – Supporting amendment
1. Every Senator may support an amendment.
2. The Senators may support as many amendments as they wish.
3. The Senators support amendment by using the following template:

[b][size=4]House <NAME> supports the amendment of Senator <NAME>[b][/size]

3. In the same post the Senator have to state reasons for which he supports the amendment.
4. Additonally the Senators who support an amendment have to use the „✓Agree” button in bottom right corner of the post which contains the amendment.

Part 3: Policy

Article 28 – Policy
1. Each Senator may propose motion to enact available Policy.
2. Articles 25-27 apply accordingly.

Part 4: Senate Policy

Article 28 – Senate Policy
1. Each Session the Senate may present one Senate Policy to His Imperial Majesty for His approval.
2. Senate Policy approved by His Imperial Majesty is enacted.
3. Only Senate Policies passed by the Senate may be presented to His Imperial Majesty.

Article 29 – Proposing Senate Policy
1. Every Faction Speaker may propose a Senate Policy in the name of his Faction.
2. Senate Policy must include the following information:
- name of the proposed Senate Policy;
- two bonuses chosen from the list of ideas in the Custon Nation Designer for EU4;
3. The total cost of two bonuses provided by Senate Policy may not surpass 15 points.

Article 30 – Supporting Senate Policies
1. Every Speaker supports the Senate Policy proposed by him.
2. Every Speaker may also support Senate Policy proposed by other Speaker.
3. To be put to a vote Senate Policy has to be supported by at least two Speakers.

VERY IMPORTANT

• Senators have to begin every post written in-character using the following template:
  

  [b][size=4]Senator <name> (<name> Demes):[/b][/size]

• Example:

  [b]Senator Exemplus Testus (White Demes):[/b]

• Everything written in-character has to be written using italics.
• Everything written out-of-character has to be written using {{ double brackets }}

THE DEBATE STARTS NOW
***​

 

[CzokletMuss]

1 January 1560
Magnaura, Sacred Palace, Konstantinoupolis

A middle-aged man sat silently on ebony armchair placed on the lowest step of the dais surrounding the throne from which high imperial officials used to welcome foreign envoys centuries ago. The throne itself was not visible, hidden beyond a heavy red curtain. As per tradition, President of the Senate was dressed in white silk robes with paludamentum cloak, both decorated with simple gold embroidery. Before him on a table made of heavy and luxurious wood lied a single piece of paper, silver inkstand and ivory box for quills, all neatly ordered. With jovial expression Dalassenos was observing Senators slowly taking their seats, now after the fire changed to even more comfortable than before. His once long black hair was know cut short, as it was fashionable among the domestikoi of the Imperial Army. Calmly awaiting the moment in which he will be able to open the session, Nikephoros let his mind wander undisturbed and as always his thoughts carried him away from Magnaura.

Dalassenoi traced their origins back to doux Damian, who ruled Antiocheia as a doux in the end of 10th century. House Dalassenos was among the Dynatoi - the Powerful - providing countless strategoi, domestikoi and other officials to serve the Imperium for almost five centuries. It's no surprise that during that time the Dalassenoi ammased a great fortune. It was said that latifundia covered two-thirds of arable lands in Armenia and almost one-fifth of those in Anatolia, with thousands of Romaioi sowing thier fields and reaping their grain. But even including their quarries in Aegyptus, copper mines in Dalmatia and other possessions the wealth of Dalassenoi paled in comparison to this of the House Komnenos, whose domain covered more than a half of Anatolia and extended across the Imperium from Abyssinia to the newly reclaimed Aragon. By securing position of the President of the Senate for one of them – the first President who was not a membe of the House Komnenos – the Dalassenoi greatly improved their standing among other Houses.

Nikephoros wasn't eager to join the Imperial Court. His hands weren't soft and pale like those of the eunuchs, his thick fingers more accustomed to spear or sword then a quill pen. He would rather spend his time hunting for beasts and Mongol raiders or seducing noblewomen then to rot in the Great Palace, surrounded by bureaucrats with dreary voices and indifferent eyes. But more than 20 years have passed since he arrived in Konstantinoupolis for the first time. The road to the true power was long and dangerous but step by step he was getting closer to his goal. Although office of the President was prestigious the truth is that the President didn't have that much to do between the Sessions.

And so Nikephoros spent his time feasting and hunting, getting closer to other high officials and their families – sometimes too close, especially if the official in question was bless with a beatiful daughter or wife. He spent years on getting their trust, making promises and breaking them, laughing at unfunny jokes and listening to boring stories with fake smile and feigned interest. Nikephoros made sure that everybody knew that he was always there for them, a young dynatos from a powerful House always eager to help by giving advice, recommendation or gold. Although he spent years serving in the Army and as imperial legatus sent wherever the local administration had to be put under scrutiny, again and again he politely declined every title and every office. Instead he was promoting his men - promising young nobles, friends of a friend, progeny of influential Houses – always with his eyes fixed on a distant goal. But finally the hour was near and soon his patience will finally be rewarded. Nikephoros shaked his head and looked to his left.

There, on another side of the dais, behind the desk sat Vice President of the Senate – Decius Pylaeus, the White Speaker, one of the handful senators who survived the Plague. When His Imperial Majesty Basileios III issued decree reforming the Senate over 10 years ago and created the office of the Vice President Nikephoros was sceptic. After all, who were the senators if not small aristoi from minor Houses, merchants and foreigners, upstarts of lowly origin? And there he was, sitting on ebony chair on the same level as his better. But – Nikephoros forced himself not to smile – not for long.

Finally, when every Senator took his place and was given documents prepared for them, Dalassenos nods towards the members of the Imperial Senate Guard, who close the heavy doors to the Great Hall and silence fills the room. Nikephoros rises from his armchair, with the Vice President rising after him, and the door to Mangaura opens again as three eunuchs wearing ceremonial robes enter to the Great Haull slowly moving toward the President of the Senate. All Senators rise from their seats. The eunuch in the middle holds in his hands the Fasces of the Imperial Senate. Almost as tall as the man carrying him, the sceptre consists of twelve ebony rods bound together by silver strans criss-crossed over the length of the pole. Atop is a single-headed axe on which sits an intricately cast solid golden aquila – the Imperial Two-Headed Eagle. Having approached the President of the Senate, eunuchs bows deeply and hands over the Fasces to him, then turns to his right and walks away to the aisle where the rest of the eunuchs writing down the record sit.

President of the Senate Nikephoros Dalassenos:

Nikephors Dalassenos stand in silence in the centre of the Great Hall for a moment. He raises the Fasces and hit the floor with its iron ending, then turns toward the senators.

- The Sixth Senate Session has begun - take your seats, senators. His Imperial Majesty, Sacred Emperor Theodoros I Angelos, basileus basileon by the Grace of God, king of kings and rulers of rulers, Caesar Augustus of the Romaioi and all Men, Autokrator[ of the Holy Church and Protector of the Christendom, decided to seek your counsel. The first matter you will discuss...

Nikephoros suddenly pauses, his eyes fixed on senator Azzizid. Of course. First came the small aristoi, then merchants, then Pisans and Aragonians and other foreigners and now here he was, another Mongol bastard comfortably sitting in the Great Hall. He shaked his head and continued.

- Firstly you shall debate on the bill introduced to the Senate by His Imperial Majesty. Reformatio de Administratio Romanorum shall give special powers to His Excellency megas logothetes in order to increase effectivness of the administration. Amendments may be proposed.

Dynatos pauses and looks at the senators to make sure they understood.

- Then we shall proceed to the resolutions. Those concern mothballing of the fleets of the Imperial Navy and tariffs for Exarchate Africanus and Exarchate of Abyssinia. The most important issues however are the resolutions concerning enlistment of privateers...

... the Jewry...

... and Our Mother the Holy Church.

- The recess will be called after that and when it's over we shall proceed to the policies.

- His Imperial Majesty wants your counsel and you will provide it. You have been provided with materials concerning the matters which will be subject to the discussion today, make good use of them.

Spoiler: MATERIALS FOR SENATORS

Nikephoros hits the floor of Magnarua with the iron ending of the Fasces.

- The debate begins now - may Theotokos give you wisdom.

Nikephoros hands over the Fasces to the eunuch, who stands on the dais between desks of Presidents and Vice President, and sits down in his armchair.

 

[Enlil]

Senator Lodovico di Capponi

*A lonely Senator sits in the chamber where so many have come and gone before. None of the servants and guards know when he arrived. They simply saw him there. He simply was.

The Senator sat there.

He had come far to make it where he was. He had survived

The Italian sat in the room, watching now as others slowly filled into the chamber..

Yes, the Senator sat there.

Alone.

Grinning.

Alive.

 

[Mach Twelve]

Senator Alexandros Mandromenos

*Two members of the Imperial Senate Guard are carrying a chair to the chamber. On that chair is a man, bound and gagged. That man's name is Alexandros Mandromenos. Over the last two days he has been interrogated by the Athanatoi, starved, denied water, and forced to soil himself. However, this has given him the ability to speak again, although he seems to prefer shouting obscenities these days. A Red would notice that Alexandros is still wearing the same clothes and in the same chair as he was in the Red meeting. He enters the room and sees di Capponi and begins to thrash in his chair madly. The guards set him down at the Red section but make no move to remove the gag*

 

[CzokletMuss]

{{ @Mach Twelve - as a general rule you can describe only what your character and/or your servants do, not what NPCs do. Keep this in mind in the future }}

 

[Mach Twelve]

{{Do I need to change my entrance then?}}

 

[CzokletMuss]

{{ Nah, let it be. Just remember this in the future - this rules was made to prevent escalation ("You say you bring 20 bodyguards? I have 50 bodyguards!") and the thing you did right now ("Here's what other people do"). This can easily lead to argument ("Why he can say that Patriarch gave him his castle and I can't?") so there is a good reason why this rule exists. }}

 

[Mach Twelve]

{{I'll make sure not to do it again in the future, besides who would want to put their character in a even worse position than mine right now?}}

 

[Ponce_The_Great]

Senator Leon Taurinus (Red Demes)

*Arriving after the two men of madness who have attracted so much attention of late, Leon Taurinus, still dressed in his long black robe, gloves and mask to ward off the plague, enters and takes his seat among the Reds. He looks around the room, his family has told tales of this place since his honored ancestor Decius first crossed the threshold. He grips his father's cane and vows that for the good of the Imperium he will not allow the traitorous Blues to ruin them this day.

As if to reinforce his sentiments, he sees an unmistakably Mongol senator dressed in the robes of a Bishop sitting among the Blues, he frowns but resolves to solve that problem later. The Blues he already distrusted, the fact that a Mongol had joined their ranks hardly surprised him.

After a short time he gets up from his seat and very carefully with his cane he knocks the gag out of Alexandros's mouth, trying to avoid a chance of infection from the senator before saying,

"I hope you are ready to do good for the Imperium senator, the enemies of the Imperium will likely be at work in this session and we must all stand united against the threat."

 

[CzokletMuss]

{{ Does anyone even bother to read what I post?

VERY IMPORTANT

• Senators have to begin every post written in-character using the following template:
  

  [b][size=4]Senator <name> (<name> Demes):[/b][/size]

• Example:

  [b]Senator Exemplus Testus (White Demes):[/b]

• Everything written in-character has to be written using italics.
• Everything written out-of-character has to be written using {{ double brackets }}

Enlil, Mach Twelve and Ponce_The_Great - all of you get a warning. Next time you break the rules you will be banned from voting. }}

 

[Mach Twelve]

Senator Alexandros Mandromenos (Red Demes):

*Alexandros takes a few deep breaths now that the gag has been removed. He turns to Taurinus and croaks out one word*

Water.

{{Surprised someone removed the gag immediately. Oh well, time to convince you that the gag should have remained }}

 

[McGrey]

Senator Lazaros II. Melissenos (White Demes)

*Lazaros II. Melissenos, Senator of his House, Direktor of the Melissenos Bank, took his seat. Again he shrouded his figure in wide white senatorial robes, the fine fingers gloved, his features hidden behind a thick veil that concealed not only his face but his emotions as well as he was looking over the other senators.
Di Capponi was here. Saddly in much better shape – at least from his outward appearance – that the likewise present Mandromenos. Both could hurt the white Demes. What to do about this, what to do...
And what to do about the matters at hand? Lazaros took the materials presented to him and the other senators and studied them for a while. So much dead in the provinces. So much dead in the city. In his family.
Such a bad state of the empire. A broken economy, insurgents crying for independence or for food, an army that was bleed dry in terrible wars. Alas, Lazaros thought, not everything was hopeless. The rudder could still be turned around, the empire saved. It all...
It all depended on the men in this very hall.

Lazaros wasn't sure if this was a blessing or a curse.

He rises from his seat and clears his voice, before speaking with his soft voice, that would be hard to hear at the other end of the hall.*

Esteemed President of the Senate, fellow Senators.
It' is an honor for me to represent my House in such respectable company. We have lot's to discuss and a big responsibility lies upon our shoulders. I appeal to all of us that we will be able to stand up to this responsibility and give the council that is necessary to help steer the Imperium through this dark times without descending into petty bickering between us.

*Lazaros bows lightly, before seating himself again.*

 

[Undead Martyr]

Senator Alexios Este-Ravenna (Red Demes):

*among the first to arrive, Alexios opens his eyes, finishing his silent prayer with a quiet Latin verse and the sign of the cross. He wears a thick tunic of deep crimson, well made but simple. His only adornment is a golden Roman Eagle, the mark of an officer commended for courage in the field, worn around his neck on a loose silver chain, and a fine leather swordbelt, weapon absent as per the rules. His gaze turns, distastefully, to the bound Alexandros. "Give him water then gag him again. He is mad, plainly, and should not be allowed to speak lest he harm the Senate's dignity."

He stands, and presents himself to the Senate. "Before we begin, august President, I request that the Senate consider the disbarment of Senator Alexandros Mandromenos, on grounds of insanity and incompetence, with his seat to be taken by some other relative in the next session. I understand that this situation is... unprecedented, however, my faction feels it necessary for the health and benefit of our Faction and the Senate as a whole."

 

[Mach Twelve]

{{For the record, I'm allowing this. Alexandros is gagged again}}

 

[CzokletMuss]

{{For the record, I'm allowing this. Alexandros is gagged again}}

{{ Lol. }}

 

[Enlil]

Senator Lodovico di Capponi (White Demes)

*Upon seeing Alexandros brought in, Lodovico suddenly fills the entire chamber with shrill, shrieking laughter*

*The Italian stands up*

Alexandros Mandromenos! I will admit I see you followed up on your threat to leave the White after all. Interesting...

I think the rest of the Whites, when they see this sorry, pathetic display will believe my honesty. My truth.

Perhaps they will heed my warnings of the Antártes.

*Lodovico turns to the rest of the Senate*

Brothers! I think we see who the real madman was here! He turns grinning to his fellow Whites. My, dear, dear, companions. Oh you who would never harm me. *Lodovico throws a glare only Decius Pylaeus could see*

I believe we simply must begin debating the pertaining topics! I look forward deeply to dealing with the Reds and Blues, I hope that poor, disturbed Alexandros did not mar my image too irreversibly. We certainly should be able to form a set of terms which help all the houses.

*Lodovico turns around*

Am I correct, my brothers in the White Demes?

 

[TheAnguishedOne]

Senator Duilius Arrius (Blue Demes):
*Duilius raised an eyebrow at the actions of Senator di Capponi and Mandromenos.*

"Esteemed President Nikephoros. Vice President. Fellow Senators. We have much to discuss, however... Tell me, did something happen during your Faction meetings? It would seem we Blues are in the dark."

 

[Enlil]

Senator Lodovico di Capponi (White Demes)

I would be delighted to explain, good Senator Arrius! The Wicked Alexandros, seeking to undermine and destroy the Imperium, planted a letter in the White Deme's meeting. Quickly driving the other Senators mad with fear, Alexandros, fearing his cover to be blown, fled the Faction House. By then, the rest of the White Deme had been driven to the point of hysteria, and decided to make me the scapegoat of their sins. I barely escaped from their madness and made it here, while Alexandros apparently tried to spread his poison in the Red Demes. I have come to the conclusion, both from Alexandros' message, and the corruption of the Whites that there is treason in the Imperium! What do you think Arrius? How fared the Blues' Meeting?

 

[Mach Twelve]

{{Alexandros not Alexios}}

 

[luciusmalfoy012]

Senator Alexius Colombo:

Alexius walks into the room, finishing off his pre-session snack in a hurry. He wears back robes with a blue undershirt, and is sipping on an unknown flask of red liquid that he keeps on his belt. "So close, so close to the forbidden fruit, the ultimate prize and victory", he thinks.

"I am very glad to be here in the Mother of all Cities, and especially glad to see fresh mea- faces all around me. The trip here was wonderful, but a little claustrophobic."

*He turns to Lodovico*

"It is good to see that not all Whites are boring, kleptocratic, corrupt idiots. I see a spark in you Lodovico. Be careful that it does not go out."

"Of course, it is equally as important to not let that spark result an inferno. Alexandros over here is a prime example. Too much flame can consume a man, twist him into something unrecognizable."

"He looks thirsty. Has anyone given him something to drink? We do not want dead bodies in the Senate. Things might get out of hand..."

*Alexius brings his flask of liquid over to Alexandros, lifts the gag slightly, and puts a few drops of liquid into Alexandros' mouth, then fastens the gag once more.*

He whispers to Alexandros:

"We wouldn't want any madmen running around here, now would we?"

*Turning to the rest of the Senators*

"This man is clearly insane and should not be released for any reason. His words are poison... and blood."

{{ Can we make it a thing this session that we can do things to Alexandros? Pretty please?

Unrelated, of course: I wonder what bottled blood would taste like? }}