NationStates Jolt Archive


Behind Those Impregnable Walls...[EM]

The Gupta Dynasty
12-12-2005, 00:25
OOC:Every time I refer to "Roman", I mean "Byzantine". They just called themselves "Romans" and so did everyone else. This includes all EM RP's.

BIC:

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The Court of Alexius Comnenus
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The throne was made of marble, stone and cold. It was covered in gaudy cloths, tapestries, and other such ornaments of fabric. Pillows littered the ground around it and men stood in rows around it. The stone pathway which led up to it was granite and worn down; worn down by the generations of princes and queens who had strode upon it.

But the many who sat upon the throne did not seem to match the grand scale of the place and the palace. He was quite short, very petit, in fact, and his robes hung down, as if they had been made for someone much taller, as indeed they had. But if the man standing there had had any interest in how he looked, well, then, he would have looked splendid.

Alexius Comnenus was a man of unusual energy. He was the lover of the woman who had captivated two emperors before him, as indeed she did to him, and he had fought in campaigns of war. He ruled a mighty empire by curtosy of his military progress and that of his clan, the Comneni, but he was ruled by his mother, Anna Dalassena. She ruled him like he ruled the empire.

But he was married, to a young woman of twenty. His future daughter by that selfsame woman would call her "An Athena made manifest to the human race". That very woman stood to the right of the throne, her back straight and tall, and yet she was taller than her husband. A glint of...something echoed in her light blue eyes and a twinkle of a smile was upon her face.

But the face of Alexius was nowhere near a smile. Indeed, it was much more akin to a thundercloud, on the horizon, brooding, and cold. Alexius had much on his Imperial head, for the Roman people needed him as much as he needed them, or more. He was the last able emperor in years and that was a rarity, even with the incessant slaughter of failing emperors.

But this was a time where something was moving in the world...something...and Alexius was ready to wait and watch....
Kaduna
12-12-2005, 00:41
Message From Prince Yuroslav II, the Pious

To Emperor Alexius Comnenus,

Emperor, There is a large force, what the Moslems call a Jihad, on it's way to destroy Christian morales and a way of life that has served us for nigh on half a century, I am sure you are aware of this threat and as a fellow Orthodox Christian and an ally myself and a neighbouring Prince have put together a force to aid in the defence of the Romans, it is not much but it is all we can spare for God, I myself will travel amongst the army to lead them in whichever way god see's it fit for me.

Your Ally and Friend Prince Yuroslav II, the Pious
The Gupta Dynasty
12-12-2005, 22:20
Official Roman Response [OPEN - To All Allies]

So we have heard. But do not despair: the Islamic world is divided. The Mameluke is a Shiite and no one aids him. The Seljuks are under heavy pressure from their men to do something and the caliph (in Baghdad) is powerless. The Moors and being driven back and the dawn of a Christian Age has begun.

But, friend, I mean CATHOLIC Age. The true Orthodox are few and far between and the Patriarch is old and dying. We need to band together and let our souls unite against this Papal threat.

You must know that he excommunincated our entire church. This is a crisis, friend Yaroslav, a crisis in the midst of crises'.

~Signed~
Emperor Alexius Comnenus of the Roman Empire.

Putting the last flourish on the letter, Alexius dropped his pen and called a messenger to deliver it to those, he hoped, were his allies.
Kaduna
12-12-2005, 23:06
Message From Prince Yuroslav II, the Pious

To Emperor Alexius Comnenus,

My friend, I do mean any insult by saying that I believe the Moslems pose a more immediate threat, the Papacy has yet to declare a war on us and when such a time arises I am assured that God will protect the true Christians.

Signed Prince Yuroslav II, the Pious
The Gupta Dynasty
12-12-2005, 23:10
The Emperor read the message with a smile.

Official Roman Response [Private - Open Only To Kiev]

It is okay, friend, for I take to anger sparingly. But both are threats; we must be ready on both sides, not one.

~Signed~
Emperor Alexius Comnenus of the Roman Empire.
Cantelmium
13-12-2005, 00:31
Emperor Alexius of the Romans,

I, Duke Robert de Malta, have sent this letter to you, asking for your aid in a grand endeavor. The Isle of Rhodes is threatened and the Knights of St. John and the Knights of Malta have decided to unite to launch an assult into the Seljuk capital of Iconium. They are still rather fracticous and we feel that if this major battle can be won, we can begin the first of a series of events to push the evil of Islam away from Christian lands. Should you aid us in this quest, we will return to you all lands West of and including Iconium, whereas we shall seize any further lands for the sake of Chiristendom. I personally am I a vassal of Sicily, who has rather good ties with Rome. Should you aid us, I assure you that pressure from the Papal See will be eased and perhaps strong relations can be developed for our nations.

I await your reply with trepidition,

Duke Robert de Malta
The Gupta Dynasty
15-12-2005, 00:44
"We need it." was the emperor's only response.

Official Roman Response [Closed - Only for Malta]

Agreed.

~Unsigned~