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[Sacasco]

Metellus stood outside the central armoury of Constantinople, admiring the building that was, to him, as truly Roman as anything could be. He smiled, a lopsided grin that never boded well for anyone nearby. They were ideally suited. He walked in and demanded to see the commander. Surely his high name and lineage traceable back to the glory days of the republic, before decadence and corruption laid low the once-mighty Roman Senate, would allow him to start at a glorious position. He deserved nothing less.

[Ghazkull]

Metellus

[95], [67 -10 Wroth +30 Fellow Green] As you waltz into the central armory and demand to see a commander you are immediately recognized by the captain in charge, he immediately moves you to a waiting room and promises to come abck a bit later. 15 minutes later you are sitting in an extensive gold-adorned room with none other than Strategos ton Scholai Caius Obtus. The man himself is much less than his title. Overweight, sweating and generally oozing incompetence from every pore you internally facepalm at his sheer sight.

Well then what can i do for you?

[Sacasco]

"The House of Metellus deigns to offer its services again to the Empire in its time of need. I understand you have lost many good officers due to recent... events... and feel you could do with an skilled, upright general who knows about the vaunted forefathers and how best to emulate them and, by doing so, restore the Empire and your army to their former glory! Of course, the formalities of installing a new senior officer will no doubt take up a good deal of time, so, as is right, I offer this small token to pay for the inconvenience to your exalted personage."
Offer 1 hyperpyron as a bribe.

[Ghazkull]

Metelli
[39+30 Fellow Green+??? Bribe] He looks at you for a while, then grins broadly leans forward first to take your hyperpyrron and then to shake your hand with his sweaty one.

Welcome in the Tagmata ton Scholai, taxiarches!

Tiberius Mettellius has been granted the title of Taxiarches in the Tagmata ton Scholai.
Tiberius Mettellius recieves 1 Influence (one time)

Explanations:

Tagmata ton Scholai - "The Schools" are the most senior and (arguably) the best Military Tagmata of the Byzantine Empire...currently they are also the only Tagmata...

Taxiarches - A Commander of a taxiarchia a one thousand men unit. The Tagmata Scholai consists of five such units.

also mistake on my side here, dear Caius Obtus here should actually be a Domestikos and not a Strategos, the difference here being: one is in charge of a Tagmata, the other of a Themata (Themata are local militias and garrisons)

[micelus]

Ah, the Greek priesthood...so very familiar and yet so very foreign.

The food was of course, excellent. While some men of the cloth disdained from such excesses, clearly these ones did not and Zachary did not feel inclined to bring it up. As such, he joined in with the feasting and conversation that went around the table until he had the perfect moment to interject with a new topic.

"Now, how many of you esteemed gentlemen have been in the palace recently? Anything new under the sun?"

[Ghazkull]

Grafeas
[+???] There is silence at the table. Then the Metropolitan leans forward.

"The situation in the palace? It's a veritable blood bath. Over the last month more than a hundred officials have been burnt, castrated, blinded or hanged. The Emperor is cleaning house. Very thoroughly and very meticulously. The Church has seen it prudent to not interefere at the moment. The only ones not affected by the purges are the Sueboii. And that is because they are the ones doing the purging for his most holy imperial Majesty."

[Beneviento]

Diomedes:
It was good to be back in Constantinople. Diomedes could remember many of the days he had spent in the city, especially the day he had killed the wrong man over a misunderstood comment about said man's wife. In fact, that had been his last day in Constantinople. The Scrinium Barbarorum had provided his escape then, and he would aid it now. The Serboii were at the gates of the Empire, but they were Christian sons, and could be made friends of Constantinople. Diomedes would apply for a posting there, and also get his name back in with the Logothetes tou Dromou. Afterward, he would visit prominent Italians living in Constantinople, and ask for their advice, and perhaps favors, in dealing with their mutual neighbor.

Hektor:
Hektor had never liked Constantinople as a boy, so it was somewhat ironic that he would be staying while Diomedes planned once again to dash off across the world. He exchanged the secret handshake Diomedes and he had developed as boys with his brother, and started down the street to talk with the priests at the Hagia Sophia. He hoped to gain a position either in a church in Constantinople or as a chaplain attached to the Tagmata. He stopped to press a silver coin into a beggar's hand, and continued on his way.

[Ghazkull]

Makris

[91] You are immediately left in and sent to the Logothetes personally. Logothetes tou Dromou Nikomedes Phokas didn't seem to have aged much. You remember him as the Regional Supervisor of Gallia, it seems the purge has allowed him to advance his career.

After exchanging old stories you are immediately promoted to Regional Supervisor of Thracia, although the Logothetes warns you that the situation there is less than...optimal.

[36+20] Having recieved your new posting you make your way to the few Italians you know that live in Constantinople. Over the decades and centuries under barbaroii rule the italians have taken on more and more mannerisms of the lombards so much so that they have more in common with the Bavarians than with their former Greek brethren. After speaking for a long while with them you cannot find out much about the Serboii. The most important information you decipher is that they refuse Iesu Kristo and instead still pray to their Crippled Smith Svarog. Pagans the entire lot of them, no matter if they are Croatians, Bulgarians or Serboii...

--------

[23]Hektor is not as lucky as Diomedes and as it turns out the Church is in no need for new priests.

Diomedes Makris is now Regional Commander of the Scrinium Barbarorum
Diomedes gains 2 Influence at Court.

[micelus]

Zachary raised a brow.

"Interesting. Forgive me for not knowing the Empire's state of affairs, but if the Emperor has done such a thing, does this not also mean there are open positions within the palace? Surely the Church could stand to gain by offering aid to the Emperor's new administration. Of course, they'd have to be worthy enough to avoid the same fate as their predecessors."

[Ghazkull]

Zachary

There was a low cough from the Metropolitan.

"Well...the Church isn't as favored as it used to be under the new administration..."

the Metropolitan goes on to explain that the Church was a major crutch to the old regime...which would in part explain this sumptuous banket. Even as the Metropolitan speaks the fifth course of the evening consisting of camel hump filled with young beluga sturgeons which in turn are filled with caviar.

[micelus]

"Quite a shame that, quite a shame indeed...in which case it would be most prudent to ensure that the Church gets a hold of some influence elsewhere...Of course such an undertaking would require some funding. If somehow a group would aid the church in acquiring some power, would the Church perhaps look favourbly on such a group?"

[Ardas]

Despite his new position as chief of regional intelligence in the north, Sidonius still held by his conviction that he was a soldier, first and foremost. While awaiting for his reports from the north, it was important to organize some inroads in the military.

Pay a Visit to Caius Obtus of the Scholai unit.

[Ghazkull]

Zachary

"Indeed...such a group would recieve much support from the church."

Valerian

[51+20 Veteran +20 Position] You are immediately let into the bureau of Caius Obtus.

"Well then. What can i do for you?"

[Ghazkull]

Caius Obtus raises an eyebrow. "Well? Have you swallowed a cat? Speak up man!"

[micelus]

"Ah...I see. In which case, I have business to attend to. Perhaps we should meet again at another time..."

After dinner finishes, go out and determine via common knowledge and gossip who are the most affluent and pious merchants in town.