//Several players received Pre-Day 1 instructions and info.
VIII.V.MCDLXXVII (Day 1)
The Council have gathered in the spacious Hall of the Towers. Senex Princeps, Chief of the Centuria, The Highest Judge and Master of the Coin are all here, along with 41 Towers. Senex Princeps have begun to speak once everyone was seated on the low stone benches, which formed a wide circle around the center of the hall. Senex and the four other Princes, as they're 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."
Chief of the Centuria rose up 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."
He sat down, and Senex Princeps continued.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 pleb, as you might remember, was rioting last month because the clean water in the district has been scarce."
Master of the Coin stood up.MASTER: "Fellow Councilmembers - I have personally reviewed that project and I have to say it is too costly for our treasury. There are numerous extensions of the aqueduct in the project that offer nothing but luxury to the pleb. 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 pleb have waited so long, that few more weeks won't change anything."
He sat down, while Chief of the Centuria stood up quickly.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."
The Chief sat down, while Master of the Coin grimaced. Senex Princeps coughed.SENEX: "Third and last: A messenger from the Ningard Court have arrived. Ningard Emperor, Xorin the Third, wrote a letter in which he asks that we consider giving the Empire a loan of 10.000 golden ducats at flat interest rate of 12%, for the duration of six months. I have spoken with Master of the Coin beforehand, and we believe that we can lend the money to the Empire, which might warm the rather cold relations between our city-state and them. We should consider, however, that sending the money will probably do not allow us to start the construction of the new aqueduct I have mentioned earlier. Thusly, I declare the voting on First and Third Issue a mutually exclusive vote; those that vote Yes on the First will then have to vote No on the Third, and vice versa. Now, if any of Towers wants to speak on any of the matter, now we have the time."
Senex Princeps lifted the iron staff, symbol of his office, and struck the marble floor three times with the lower end of the staff. Clang, clang, clang. The Time of Discussion is now.//Morning phase have begun. It is 9:10pm local time, and this phase shall end between 9:10am and around 9:10pm tomorrow. If needed, I can extend it (please tell if you need more time later).//EDIT: Fixed the interest rate of that loan.
