Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Dragor23]

Flavius shaked his forefinger and responded in a calm voice

"Fellow senator, they insulted us right away in the face. What do you with a kid, which spits you in the face? Giving him sweets? Of course not, you punish it for his insolence.

The Whitepeak Alliance formed their pact, because they fear us like barbarians. Are we that? Of course not. Do they think they can scare us with their petty try to make them look intimidating? No, of course not. They think we are uncultured barbarians, laughing at our glrious emperor. Will they agree to a peaceful annextion? No, they won't.

Like the obstinate and defiant child, they will laugh at us and spit us in the face again.

It's time for their punishment.

[Terenos]

Derahoc unfolded himself from his chair, speaking to address the entire senate.

"Your proposal is foolish indeed Crassius. The populace will march to war regardless of what you decide to push in terms of proposals. We must keep in our minds the ...nature of those beneath us. They will weigh us down for decades with false claims to further their own greed. Perhaps men will 'die' in battle, yet return hale and hearty and draw a wage at whatever job, plus whatever benefits your proposal would hand out.

We need not bribe them, or pander to them. By all means provide for them out of your own purse should you ever be appointed governor. But there is no way I, or I think any others outside your own faction will support your attempts to provide wealth to your fellow plebians by funneling it directly from the Empire's coffers.

Insofar as the Whitepeak alliance, yes. I must agree with my esteemed colleague Flavius. Clearly their acts must not go unpunished. If we do not answer this clear threat obviously they will attract more into their so called confederation. Or seize lands that are better used by the Empire. Better to strike now in the infancy of this rebellion and make it clear that we shall not back down when a paltry force is raised against us. We are an Empire, and an Empire must look to its borders for new lands to conquer, when all sits well within."

[Caellath]

Durant would have stood up to better listen to the debate, if it was not for the fact he was already standing, always the vigilant defender of the emperor. His stance was dignified, the black armor of the guard throughly polished and kept in its finest shape while his helmet, the purple of nobility coloring its crest, rested under his arm.

In the Senate, he was also wearing a purple cloak which served the dual purpose of showing proper respect to the rest of the Senators and displaying the colors of the Guard.

"Sir." he said as the emperor walked away from the scene, following him dutifully.

[Azthor]

The Emperor turns to Drant Aleron, beckoning him into the chamber of the Senate.

"At ease, Praefectus. The Senate is now deliberating the motion, I assume you will want to participate in the decision process? Do not worry, I am sure of which your fellow Praetorians can take care of my safety for an hour or two"

[Shootandrun]

Kaeso got up once again after a short discussion with the other representatives of his race in the hall. He did not seem calm, contrarily to his habits - in fact, he looked furious. He took his place on the podium, and started speaking loudly while glaring at the Populars.

"Some of us here have less knowledge of the ways of wars than others, it seems. Redistributing the shares to the plebs? Bah! Shall we start giving away our wealth for charity, while we're at it? A war is expensive, and the looting will help finance it - perhaps turn a profit, if we are expedient and we take light losses in battle. If we are to ride and meet the enemy upon the field, then we need efficient and competent decision makers taking care of the state - not idealistic fools who are blind to the ways of the real world! The Novi Homines will vote against the redistribution of wealth!"

Still furious, he returned to his seat.

[Dragor23]

Marcus sat back on his seat and leaned to Lucullus, so the wise man could hear the words

"I think the populares lost some of their popularity now... Hehe, this is perfect."

[Caellath]

The Praefectus followed his Emperor until he was given orders to contribute to the matters of the Senate on his own. He left after bowing to his commander, returning to the scene of the Senate and now prepared to give an speech to try and rally the Imperials' support.

Durant wasn't a hulking man, but his figure was greatly enhanced by his carefully-maintained physique and the well-kept armor of the Guard. He silently took his spot at the podium and rested his helmet to be able to use both his arms during his speech. Gestures were always part of good speeches; if words sometimes spoke with the mind, the body spoke with the soul.

"My colleagues of the Senate. I stand here not to warn of you of the threats the Whitespeak Alliance offers to our honored Empire and its people, but to ask of you: should we really be arguing so heatedly amongst us while there is a foreign enemy which would take advantage of strife?"

As he said, his hands moved and his expression changed, trying to convey to the fullest what he was attempting to show to his "audience". Matters such as these were delicate, and although his experience was mostly limited to his men, he was still able to  convince and sway men of higher echelons, if at a less efficient rate.

"Matters such as motions and laws about the distribution of our gains are secondary matters when confronted with what our Empire may face with such blatant enemies preparing for a fight on our doorstep. If we must talk about conditions and favors to appease to the hearts of men, we shall do it after the same hearts are serene, our greatest enemies at the moment laying crushed beneath our boots. "

"Each second we spend without plunging our swords into their hearts, they are sharpening their blades to do it to ours. Thank you for your attention." he completed, before taking back his helmet and leaving the podium to join his Emperor.

[adwarf]

Wulfric shook his head slightly as he listened to the man beside him, a high-priest from the temple here in the capital, they whispered back and forth for a moment before Wulfric stood and voiced his vote,

"Though it pains me to say this, I vote against the redistribution of wealth, and I vote for a war against the Whitespeak Alliance in the name of the Gods, and the Emperor they have guided to lead us. The Council of Seven, and the order would also like voice their backing of the Emperor's proposal. May the Gods let this choice be the right one."

[Shootandrun]

At the end of the hall, an old man got up as Wulfric sat down, and upon seeing this no other senator started speaking as the ancient slowly walked towards a podium. There, he uttered a few words, relatively quietly; many did not hear them, but all knew what they were.

"The Senators have spoken. It is time for the Emperor to speak once again, before this assembly votes for or against the motions presented today."

[Azthor]

The Emperor again stands audiencebefore the Senate, waiting for the collected body to give him a summary of their deliberations.

[Ardas]

Curio stood up, and spoke direclty to the emperor.

"Imperator, the Senate have spoken. The motion for war has passed, although senators also saw it fit to deprive honest men of Hadria of their blood and sacrifice. A motion to ensure that a share of war spoils goes to the poorest was refused. It was well argued, but heartless and something that is not befitting a true Hadrian citizen."

[Sheb]

Lucullus stand up and start speaking in a loud and well-articulated voice.

Ave Caesar!

Many opinion were exchanged. Crassius the populare wanted one third of the spoils of war to be set aside for the soldier and the plebs, but he was turned down. With the exception of the Isolationists, the whole Senate stand behind you as one man in this just war.

However, many among the Senate think that Whitepeak should not simply be added to your juridiction, as you have much to do already, and that a governor should be appointed to rule over it.

[Azthor]

The Emperor raises his right hand, indicating that he will start his speech.

[4+2=6] "Ave! It is good to see that the representatives of the people of Hadria are no foreigners to the justice we must now deliver unto Whitepeak, as is it that you've not forgotten about the needs of those who fight for you. However, there is a time for everything, and dividing the spoils amongst the plebs, would, indeed, be counterproductive, if not downright damaging, to Hadria at this stage. The state's expenses during this invasion will be numerous, and these funds would be best employed helping finance the soldiers' wages, at least until we consolidate our domain over Whitepeak"

"Nonetheless, I agree that Whitepeak be administrated by a governor, lest the Imperial bureaucracy be overburdened by the effort of managing too large a swathe of land. Still, I believe that, when Whitepeak could possibly come to account for 40% of all Imperial possessions, having a single governor preside over it would empower third parties to dangerous levels. I propose that the land of Whitepeak be partitioned in two provinces, two cities and the hinterland around them for each province. I'd also like to appoint Senator Marcus Julius & Senator Derahoc as the prospective Legates of Legio II and III for the purpose of this campaign; they would, in turn, have preference for the first term governorship for the two provinces in Whitepeak"

"I realize that the aforementioned distribution privileges humans, and those dwarves amongst you may feel that you are not being properly represented amongst the military. For that purpose, I compromise to appoint a Senator of the Novi Homines as Legate for Legio IV, once it is created, and with it, guaranteed first term governorship over our next territorial acquisition after Whitepeak, whatever it may be. These guarantees are also extended to the Populars, in succession to the Novi Homines"

[Sheb]

"Well spoken Caesar. I think I speak in all the Optimates' name when I say we agree to your proposal."

[micelus]

Marcellus had little opinion on the matter of war on the Confederation; Hadria would either take victory and enrich the house, or lose and thus enrich the house. Truly he would have probably stayed silent if not for the Imperator's offer. By all means it was an acceptable offer, but a man could aways be persuaded.

"A good offer Imperator, good for the empire and all Hadrians...if not for those of the Confederation. Regardless, I would ask how my Imperator exactly plans to deal with the Confederation and its people? I am of no military mind but I do believe they won't be at all pleased with their estates being divided and their riches taken. Further, who shall aid in the conquest? Surely in recognition of our equality you would give a dwarf amongst any of us some form of command?"

Marcellus felt eyes fall upon him as he asked questions that were out of place and out of order. Still, Marcellus persisted.