The Campaign Builder's Guild

[ic=To the Lesser Council]
I feel like the addition of yet another Consul is unnecessary. The new consuls duties can be performed by the Consul of the Exterior quite easily, more so now since the Pope has effectively removed our ability to campaign. This reform is a waste.
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[ic=To the Lesser Council]
A waste? Senator I respect you greatly yet I will not permit the senate standing around doing nothing when some reform or another is necessary. I offered these drafts as a possible solution but they are not the only one, so come bring forth your alternatives so that we can discuss them. Do not however say that we should maintain the status quo, I will not and do not accept that as a valid answer. We are at a critical juncture in the future of Rome and to sit idly and do nothing would be to commit a grievous crime to the citizens of Rome.
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[ic=Before the Lesser Council]I find myself in concurrence with Senator Calafatus. The appointment of two Consuls alone has served Rome well, and I have seen no reason that gives us cause to institute change in this regard. The return of His Holiness to Rome should not itself bring us to unnecessarily dilute the power of the Consuls, or set precedent for the inflation of their number.

As to this proposal of electoral process, I cannot in good conscience agree. We as Senators must remain focused on the governance of our Great City, not on the needless expenditure of our time, focus and resources on fighting for election. All of us, I am sure, recall such system when the Patrician ruled in Rome. Shouting, violence, and ill-feeling would abound at such gatherings. Is it true that the man who shouts loudest is the most deserving to be heard? To this I will give a resounding no. Under the guidance of this Senate, our Commune has achieved greater strength, prosperity, and legitimacy than ever before. I deem it unwise to tamper with such success simply out of idealistic desire.[/ic]

[ic=Before the Lesser Council]
If you call constant riots, crumbling of public faith in roman law, and the internecine bickering amongst the various representatives of Rome strength then I fear for you senator. We have gotten by by the skin of our teeth in many situations. Is this acceptable? Does it speak to legitimacy? Legitimacy is found in the presentation of one face and a united body, and by the good that body brings to those it represents. You once sought law for Rome, a most noble venture. Yet we cannot have governance for the common man and yet neglect it for the senate. What do you think the Romans will think when they must abide by rules when the senate is free to go this way and that without direction. No! We as faithful Christians must see that our actions are codified. Only from such a thing can you have a legitimate senate and not a collection of disparate voices.
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Quote from: TMGWe as Senators must remain focused on the governance of our Great City, not on the needless expenditure of our time, focus and resources on fighting for election.

Weren't the Senators elected, already? I might be mistaken, but otherwise this point is a bit pointless.

Or perhaps they are, but for life?

It is my understanding that either none or a very few of us were actually ever at any point elected. So far as I know, at the behest of Arnold of Brescia, we seized power from the previous elected senate; since that time we have held no elections.

[ic=To the Lesser Council]
Senator Sismondii, if you think creating the position of a new Consul will stop the people of Rome from rioting you are delusional. I know for a fact that the Consuls in the past have severely mitigated the effect of these riots and I have faith that Consul Basile and Consul de Vinti will be able to do so without some new Consul to get in their way. Rome needs a solid leadership, and adding another high office will just splinter what we have now.

If anything should be done to unite us, it should be to punish those who refused to obey Consular authority in the past, not create another Consulship for them to ignore. The problematic equites should be taken to task for ignoring their duty to Rome.

As for the legitimacy of our Senate, you say that as faithful Christians we must codify our actions? The Pope himself just legitimized our Senate, as good Christians we should have faith in his Holiness. Who are you to contradict the Pope?
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 [ic=At the Lesser Council]
Very interesting arguments that Consul Basile and Senator Calafatus brought up. Indeed, Calafatus is right in that we already have been legitimized, by none other than the Pope himself.
In light of recent discussions, I propose we focus our efforts on other things, for the time being.

The idea was interesting, nonetheless, and could very well  prove necessary in the future.[/ic]

QuoteWeren't the Senators elected, already? I might be mistaken, but otherwise this point is a bit pointless.

In the original commune under Patrician Pierleone (1144-1152), senators were elected annually by public assemblies in each of the city's districts.  In the coup of 1152, however - when our game began - this senate was overthrown by a new senate of 100 members.  Since then, there have been no elections, nor have any provisions been made for them.

Some of the current senate's members belonged to the former senate under Pierleone, so they were elected at one point, but most of the present senators were never actually elected.  They seized power in 1152 and have remained in office perpetually since then.

[ic=At the Lesser Council]
Take note how the senators are more interested in attacking my drafts and me than considering the actual words I presented. I have requested that we consider an organization of the senate, I have presented but one possible solution for this as nothing more than an example of what direction we might take. I would have gladly accepted alternatives, I will not suffer to be shutdown without consideration and in such an insulting manner. I brought this first privately to each of you out of respect for your positions and in the hope that amongst us we could consider the organization of the senate and present a finalized idea to the greater senate for consideration. If you will not even look at it, even offer your own drafts, then I will simply take it to the senate as a whole. Perhaps they will shut me down, perhaps not. Even if they do however it will be through consensus and not through one or two people trying to shout louder to drown out my voice.
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[ic=Private Letter to De Vinti]
Hello my friend I hoped that we might have been able to discuss openly the possibility of organizing the senate and making clear its separation of authority and responsibility but it seems that Senators Basile and Calafatus are not interested in even discussing it. I respect them for what they have done for Rome but I do not respect the way that they attempted to dismiss me without willingness to even discuss the possibility of what a future senatorial code might look like. What I do now I don't do out of hate or spite but out of the simple desire to have the senate consider a problem and what its solution might be. I would hope that you would perhaps support its debate at the greater senate here shortly. Even if you feel that we are better off focusing elsewhere for now, I support that even if I disagree with it. I merely ask you to consider it. Even if we do focus elsewhere, giving time to consider this is important for the moment when we do have the time to undertake such a task. I hope that you will be willing to consider the future of Rome and help me in preventing those against it from simply shouting it down without consideration. You have proven yourself a friend of Rome and a good man and I thank you for all you have done. Your willingness to hear me out earlier and to consider my ideas is why now I contact you in hope of further positive discourse between the two of us.

Your friend and brother Roman,
Arrigus Sismondii
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[ic=Letter to Manzinni]
Good day my fellow senator I was very happy to see your support of my ideas and your willingness to consider the future of the senate. Even now we can see the importance of having checks and balances on the senate in the fact that two senators against it attempted to shout the possibility down and sweep it under the rug. To use their undefined authority to bash down a presented idea without offering it due consideration. I do not think necessarily that this was done out of spite but I do think it is a side effect of us having unclearly defined powers and limits amongst the senators and the consuls. I ask that you would join me at the greater senate in opening a discussion on the topic. I am ok with the senate choosing not to support this, I merely ask for the support to present my ideas unharassed and to garner discussion on the topic amongst the senators.

Your friend and brother Roman,
Arrigus Sismondii
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[ic=Letter to Pierleone]
Good day patrician, I hope this letter finds you in good health. There has been much going on in the past and not much time for proper meetings but the more I have heard and seen of you the more I see you as a noble man with noble intentions for the Romans. I would very much like the chance to meet and discuss the future of Rome with you. I understand that there are some reservations about meeting at a senator's home, understandable regarding past incidences. Still I would invite you if you are willing to be a guest at my table and to discuss the future of Rome. If you do not feel safe in this I offer that in turn would be willing to entrust myself in your hands believing you to be a man of honor whom I can place such trust in. I would never presume to invite myself to your table I simply offer an alternative if you feel concern towards accepting an invitation to mine.

Many Thanks,
Senator Arrigus Sismondii
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[ic=Letter to the Pope]
Your eminence I wish to thank you for the mercy and kindness you have bestowed upon the senate and the people of Rome. We have had many troubles and the way in which you were able to bring peace to the city fills me with hope for the future. I am but a single man, one who hopes to represent the people and see that they are cared for yet I see his holiness' regard for the Romans and I see now that hope bearing fruit, that with his guidance Rome may find itself in a new age of prosperity and goodwill amongst brother Christians. I am glad of this and wish to merely present myself to the church as a loyal follower of god who strives daily to make sure that god's will is done in our work. If the Pope ever needs anything, either of the senate or of just myself, I will be here, ready to listen.

In hope of honoring god and his church in all things,
Senator Sismondii
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[ooc=Orders]
-Go on campaign with the Pope
-Re-hire my 150 heavy infantry, we are going on campaign.
-Hire 100 light infantry for scouting and help in the campaign
-Bring Consul de Vinti's 50 Heavy crossbow Infatry on campaign
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[ic=At the Lesser Council]I implore you not to do this, senator Sismondii. Just think about the mess that may follow. We have experienced dissension in the Senate before, and it was not pleasant.

Furthermore, this idea of yours is a great political chip. If ever we were to lose a bit of legitimacy, for whatever reason, we could play this card to appease the poppolo.

Again, I implore you not to give in to your urge to share this great idea with the Senate at this moment.[/ic]

[ic=Letter to Senator Sismondii]Friend, you have indeed piqued my interest with this draft of yours, and I understood when you said you merely wished the subject discussed. I also understand that the manner in which Senator Calafatus and Consul Basile replied might have seemed insulting. However, I think that they understand your point and that, as I do, they thought it best to discuss such matter when the time is right.

The Pope Adrian only recently blessed us with such legitimacy. Only, it does not have those limitations you wish for. I strongly suggest that you save your idea for when the Senate is in a tough spot. This code might very well save face, one day.

However, having said this, I will not be in your way should you choose to share this with the Senate. Though, be aware that as Consul of the Interior, it is my duty to see that Rome, and its Senate, remain in a state of peace. Should your eventual sharing cause havoc in the councils, I will not hesitate to cut the head of the beast, so to speak.

On to another matter entirely, I might have something that will interest you, business-wise. But you must promise me that you will keep what I say to yourself, and yourself only.

Your friend,
Hugo de Vinti

P.S: And friend, I am always available to discuss the content of an eventual code.[/ic]

[ic=Letter to Senator Calafatus]Senator Calafatus,
I have a request that I think could end up benefiting both of us. You are going on campaign, and my men need experience. I would gladly put my fifty heavy infantries under your command for the expedition, free of charge, if you would be willing to take them with you, under your command.
What's more, they have crossbows with which they have intensely trained for two or three seasons. I am fairly sure they are ready for real targets.

Yours truly,
Hugo de Vinti, Consul of the Interior[/ic]

[ic=Letter to De Vinti]
Thank you senator. I understand your concerns and while I cannot not present this to the senate, I can and will do my utmost to make sure that the discussion is done calmly and professionally. I will not incite riot. I do not demand to be obeyed, I merely ask to be listened to. I ask simply that you will help me present my case calmly to the senate without individuals attempting to block my right to be heard. I understand and respect Senators Basile and Calafatus' concerns regarding this but this is a discussion for all of us to consider, not merely two senators to decide on. As to the possibility of a business deal I am always open to such things. I will of course keep anything you say between us.

Your friend,
Arrigus Sismondii
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[ic=Response to Consul de Vinti]
It would be my pleasure to bring your men on campaign with me. I will see to it that they gain valuable experience and I will try to minimize casualties.
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[ic=Before the Lesser Council]Senator Sismondii, I think perhaps you misunderstand. It is not my intention to to prevent discussion of this topic. Indeed, it is the responsibility of our Council to discuss and determine when a member of our company brings forward a matter of import. However, it is in turn each Senator's duty to truthfully express his own thought on any matter in order to better serve the People of Rome. If it is your desire to bring this before the entire body of the Senate, you have as much a right to presenation as any other Senator, though I am afraid I still cannot support your proposal.[/ic]