Martius, 263R
The Council have gathered in the spacious Hall of the Towers. The Senex Princeps, Chief of the Centuria, The Highest Judge and Master of the Coin are all here, along with 41 Towers. The Senex Princeps begins to speak once everyone is seated on the low stone benches, which form a wide circle around the center of the hall. The Senex and the three other Crowns, as they are called together, are seated at the northern side.SENEX: "Councilmembers, welcome. Today we have to discuss and decide on three topics. First of all: Ragona's Centuria is asking us to enact a law that will temporarily allow the Centuria to conscript young free-men aged 18 to 35, who are jobless and do not have a family, into their ranks for basic training and one-year post as the city guards. The law would be in force for half a year."
The Chief of the Centuria rises to speak.CHIEF: "Noble Towers! I ask you to let us do with the conscription. The Ningard Empire grows stronger and bolder each day, and so does the Cult of the Black Sun. While officially we're at peace, their soldiers - or hired thugs - are causing trouble on other eastern and western borders. By allowing us to temporarily conscript young, healthy men, we could strengthen our ranks, which might serve as efficient detriment to the foreign agents.
"More than that, an additional garrison force would help deter future riots such as the one we suffered last month, not only with their presence but by drafting the very malcontents most likely to incite such a rebellion. Let us not forget that whilst we only suffered that one riots last month in the whole of last year, the year before we had three separate riots."
He sits, and the Senex continues.SENEX: "Second of all: The engineers' guild have sent us a project for a new aqueduct that would transport the clean water from the Lavia's Hills in the southwest to the Cupola District, where the poor and sick have been dwelling for centuries. The plebs, as you might remember, were rioting last month because the clean water in the district has been scarce."
The Master of Coin rises.MASTER: "Fellow councilmembers, I have reviewed the project and it is far too costly. The proposed aqueduct would cost nearly a third of the city treasury. There are numerous extensions of the aqueduct in the project that offer nothing but luxury to the plebs! Ragona already supports several public luxuries such as the city baths and marketplace, to say nothing of infrastructural upkeep on the city walls. Would a new aqueduct truly add to the rest of the city, or simply spoil the members of this one district? I ask you to reject the project in the voting, and I shall talk with the engineers' guild so they change the project into something smaller and cheaper."
The Chief rises.CHIEF: "I ask you that you, this time, do loosen the purse, Towers of Ragona. The damage that was done during the rioting was quite costly. I would argue that repairing of the damaged premises is just as expensive as that one aqueduct - not to mention replacing the brave city guards that have been killed. Please consider my words."
MASTER: "I assure you, the damage costs do not match the cost of that aqueduct. We would need at least three such riots to match it."
CHIEF: "And without it, we will have them!"
SENEX: "Order, gentlemen."
Both Crowns bow their heads apologetically and sit. The Senex continues.SENEX: "Third and last: A messenger from the Ningard Court have arrived. The Ningard Emperor, Xorin the Third, wrote a letter in which he asks that we consider giving the Empire a loan of 6,000 golden ducats at flat interest rate of 12%, for the duration of six months. Master?"
The Master of Coin stands again.MASTER: "Thank you, honoured Senex. As many of you know, we have been on less than cordial terms with the Ningard Empire in recent years, but they continue to remain one of our biggest importers of Ragonan goods. With better relations, they might loosen their quotas on our wares. We have made similar, smaller loans before and they have had an excellent record of repayment. Nevertheless, the amount requested is a serious drain on the treasury. I cannot possibly permit the extension of a loan
and the construction of the aqueduct."
The Master sits.SENEX: "Thank you, Master. Indeed, the two issues are mutually exclusive and I declare voting on the Second and Third issues to be mutually exclusive - if you vote Yes on one, you must vote No on the other.
"If any Towers wish to speak on these proposals, you may begin."
The Senex lifts the iron staff that is his symbol of office and strikes the marble floor thrice - Clang, Clang, Clang! - The time of discussion is now.Morning Phase has begun.
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Topic: Towers of Ragona [Game Thread] (Read 19065 times)