The Tribal Elders of Delphi

Melda · Oct 16, 2015

The Basileus assents to this request and it is thus duly enacted.

Melda · Oct 16, 2015

Election campaign will commence tomorrow. I'll have screenshots, the savegame, etc. then. But for now . . . please enjoy this offering: On the Rise and Fall of the Delphian Council.

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The Delphian Council.

More than just a council of aristocrats, it was an institution of the Kingdom of Delphi that had existed long before the kingdom, and long before the name "Delphi" had ever been uttered.

There were tales and histories that had been handed down throughout countless generations, and how much of this was truth or legend had become blurred over the years. Nevertheless, the common elements to all the tales were that back when the Delphi were but a single tribe, the greatest elders of the village came together to form a Council of Elders. Over many generations it became a legislative and advisory body second only to the ruler — be he chief, king or emperor as the tribe became a chiefdom, kingdom and briefly an empire. With the power to choose the heir to the throne, the Delphian Council acted as a check against royal tyranny, as dynasties could only form and continue with the express consent of this wise group of leaders.

The Delphian Council was a lynchpin that, in conjunction with the monarchy, held the Delphian state together over the centuries. It's importance as a brake on royal excess was best demonstrated during the generation-long suspension of the body, said to be the only time the Delphi were without the firm guidance of the Council. The Dualist Party of Emperors Rasputin II "the revolutionary" and Dostayer "the bloody" staged a coup and incarcerated the Delphian Councillors and ruled as despots. But nothing lasts forever, and after two decades of iron rule the Dualist Party collapsed and the Council rightfully restored to power, along with its authority to once again choose the monarch.

As time went on the Council was considered to have lost its way. Whereas once it was a beacon of progress and wise council, over time it become known for the greed of its membership. Many Councillors were accused of caring only for their own enrichment rather than the good of the kingdom and its people. A tension eventually came to exist between the monarchy and the Council which was resolved through the creation of a new body to sit between them: the Synedrion. This body, elected by the aristocracy and priesthood of the kingdom was initially welcomed by the Council, as it gave them a direct say in the direction of government, with the monarch of Delphi taking a back seat to the day to day running of the kingdom.

Over time, however, as the franchise for the Synedrian elections grew to include parts of society other than the Delphian aristocracy and Hellenic priesthood, including foreigners such as the Siamese and even the middle class, many Councillors grew jealous and alarmed as their power was diluted ever further. The possibility of extending the franchise ever further still had greatly displeased them. But the adoption of the hereditary monarchy, best epitomised in the rule of the Melodopoulos dynasty, was a major blow to the relevance of the once august body. The Synedrion, chosen by foreigners and other lesser born folk, passed a bill which the Basileus signed into law, stripping the last constitutional and legal power the body had control over — their ancient right to choose the ruler of the kingdom. Many in the Council could see the writing on the wall and realised that their once proud assembly had become simply a group of rich, old men without any real power. And they knew who were to blame: foreigners, the Synedrion, and the Basileus.

It was not without precedent that Councillors had acted against the monarchy. The assassination of the Mad King Alexander the Great was still fresh in the public memory. But that was the responsibility of individual Councillors and not the collective body — the Council hadn't killed their king. Ten years ago, during the secessionist crisis in the west there was a plot hatched that sought to restore the honour and power the Council had once enjoyed. Quite a many Councillors had been implicated in a scheme to capture the Basileus while the army was away from the capital and force him to use his royal sovereignty to permanently disband the Synedrion and turn the running of government over to the Delphian Council itself. The plot was foiled by the royal guard, and the perpetrators punished accordingly. But there was no evidence implicating the greater Council in the intended crime, and the body itself had always remained above reproach.

These were the facts as known to Phrenos Melodopoulos, the last Basileus of the Delphians and the Siamese. He knew there had been bad Councillors, but the Council itself had stood as a stalwart reminder of its important and noble history as the lynchpin holding the kingdom together. But all things come to an end, even such long-lived institutions such as this, and so it was that it came to pass that the Council would too end.

This is that story.

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Phrenos Melodopoulos, Basileus of the Delphians and the Siamese called for his royal secretary Melodios, who silently entered the room moments later. Despite an initially rocky start together the two had become an incredibly well honed royal apparatus over the years: the Basileus had realised in the three decades of his reign that he was not an intellectual genius and had learnt to rely upon those smarter than himself, such as his royal secretary.

"You called, Highness?"

"It's time to dissolve the Synedrion. Summon the Chief Minister."

"Which one, sire?"

The Basileus frowned. "The male one," he bristled.

"At once, Your Highness," Melodios bowed and left the room.

The sixty-four year old monarch was not any more sexist than most men in his kingdom, but there was something about the concept of a female Synedri that didn't sit right with him. It might have been the fact that as a woman without the right to vote in the Synedrian elections she had been permitted to participate as a candidate and won. It seemed incongruous to him that someone without the vote could sit in the Synedrion, but he'd had lawyers investigate the situation and confirmed it was not against the law. An oversight, surely, and one which must certainly be against the intended spirit of the electoral laws. The fact that this inconsistency could be resolved by simply giving women the right to vote was not a notion that even occurred to him, nor anyone else in the kingdom for that matter.

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Lysimachos Siomaios, Co-Chief Minister of Delphi watched as the Basileus affixed his seal to the writs for the Synedrian elections. And with that act the Fifth Synedrion was dissolved and with the issuance of the writs the election campaign had begun. The royal secretary collected the writs and strode out of the room, leaving the monarch to have a private conversation with his head of government.

"Congratulations are in order, Lysimachos: the kingdom is booming and the war is going exceeding well."

"Thank you, Highness. General Pompey is truly doing a spectacular job."

"Yes, he is. You were right to advise me on having him lead our forces."

"You are far too kind," Lysimachos waved off the royal praise. After skilfully defeating the Baron of Old Apollonia with a minimal loss of Delphian troops the General had been the natural choice.

"So tell me, what are your plans for the election campaign? If my sources are to be believed it looks like it will be a very close contest with the Stathites."

"Well, I'm not—"

"HIGHNESS!" the word echoed throughout the halls of the Palace. The Basileus and Chief Minister rushed out of the antechamber into the hall to see what the commotion was all about.

Melodios was running toward them, his eyes flared open in panic. What he was going to say next was cut off as he fell to the floor without apparent cause. Until they saw the archer who'd felled him.

"MELODIOS!" the Basileus roared and rushed forward without heeding his own personal safety. "GUARDS!" he called out, looking for all the world like an avatar of wrath at this attack on his friend and secretary.

"Highness, wait!" Lysimachos called after the older man, realising the true danger of the situation: no one would burst into the Palace to kill a royal secretary; his monarch's very life was in danger.

Before the Basileus could cross the distance to where his friend lay on the ground, men armed with swords and spears appeared from seemingly nowhere and surrounded him, forcing him to stop. He glared back at them in anger and defiance. "GUARDS!" he bellowed agin.

"I'm afraid they won't be coming, Your Highness," came the silken tones of Nikolas Theodoros, one of the leading members of the Delphian Council, who strode up to him, stepping around Melodios's prone form, from which a pathetic moan issued.

The blood haze of rage started to lift from the Basileus's mind, as he suddenly realised the seriousness of the situation. The army was many miles away, attempting to secure territory in what was until recently part of the Netherlands. He now recognised that this was a coup, exactly the same as the one planned during the secession crisis.

The Chief Minister was jostled by armed men and pushed to the ground. He did not protest, not wanting to escalate the situation further. There had to be a way for he and the Basileus to make it through this situation alive. At least long enough for his sister-wife and Co-Chief Minister Lysistrate to recall the army to launch a rescue.

"This is treason," the Basileus growled ominously.

"Yes," Councillor Nikolas conceded, "but you will grant us a royal pardon once this is all over."

The blood haze started to return. Phrenos felt the blood pulsing through his veins. He could hear his heartbeat in his forehead. His vision started to cloud around the edges as his entire being focussed on the face of the traitorous Councillor before him. "No. You're going to die."

Nikolas looked genuinely confused and stepped forward to try and better gauge the intentions of the imprisoned monarch. "We'll all die one day, Highness. But you will grant us a royal pardon. After you've disbanded the Synedrion. And after you've invested executive power in the Council."

From his vantage point on the floor, looking up Lysimachos could see the Basileus was becoming angrier than he'd ever seen him. At this rate things weren't going to end well at all. He had to speak up and try to defuse the situation, he had to think of something before— And with a roar the Basileus hurled himself bodily at the traitorous Councillor.

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At first he heard raised voices.

Phrenios Phrenopolous had been summoned to a meeting by the Co-Chief Minister Lysistrate Siomaios. He'd kept himself out of the political sphere since his retirement but he came at once when he heard there was an emergency.

He entered the room to witness a terse scene. A woman who had the exotic appearance of both Delphian and Siamese lineage was castigating an armed guard.

"I'm sorry my lady, but that's all we—"

"Sorry isn't good enough! How could you have let this happen?!"

"We don't yet have all the details—"

"Details! Here are the details: Lysimachos and the Basileus have been taken prisoner in the Palace. That should be the safest place in the kingdom!"

Despite being far taller than her, heavily armoured and armed, the guardsman looked defeated and wearied. "My lady, please! We have conflicting accounts: that some guards were drugged, that there was an ambush. We just don't know exactly what we're dealing with."

Her piercing glare looked to be soon matched by a further tirade until she realised Phrenios had arrived. The guardsman was forgotten immediately and she moved past him to greet her guest. The guardsman, thankful for the reprieve, seized the opportunity to make himself scarce.

"Phrenios?" she asked with a hint of uncertainty.

"Yes, my child," he replied, feeling an almost grandfatherly disposition toward this fiery and distressed young woman.

Despite both moving through the circles of power in the kingdom, the two had never actually met. Phrenios had retired as royal secretary before she had come of age, and Lysistrate had not visited the capital much during her childhood in Old Apollonia or after marrying into the Kirrhan aristocracy.

"Melodios . . . ?" he asked with trepidation.

"We don't know much at this stage," she fretted. "I've had the city guard and royal guard set up a perimeter around the Palace, but it will be some days before word even reaches the army to recall them. The Basileus's heirs are all accounted for and under protection."

"Who has done this?"

Her eyes blazed at the question. "We don't know exactly. But if they hurt Lysimachos I will personally put them to the flame."

She said it softly, but Phrenios didn't doubt her capacity for it. He'd heard, like everyone, that her first husband had died in the fires of Old Apollonia. That he'd ordered himself. That knowledge alone would surely have toughened this woman.

He thought for a few moments silently. She waited patiently.

"We can't wait for the army," he resolved.

"No, we can't," she replied, looking angry but helpless.

"I have an idea, though."

Her eyes lit up. The old man's reputation would hopefully live up to expectations. "Tell me."

"Well," he paused for thought. "You're going to have to parley with them."

Her eyes smouldered. "You're not serious."

"Fear not, young one, they'll all burn. But you need to meet with them first."

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Phrenios was an old man. He wasn't as strong or as agile as in his youth. Why, before he was even a grown man he'd become so accomplished a warrior he'd been the sole survivor to walk away from a bloody melee that claimed the lives of dozens of men, including his own father. So while he didn't possess the vitality of youth he had experience on his side. And he had not remained idle in his retirement, he'd kept fit and active. He was not going to let his son remain in captivity.

For most of his life he'd served in the Palace of Delphi Nova. He doubted even his own son knew the place better than he, and he knew of ways to get himself in and out and to move around undetected. He'd not lost his silent footing, either; he'd taught this skill to his son, too, even though Melodios did not have a warrior's aptitude.

And so it was that an old man had managed to sneak into the Palace under the cover of darkness through an entry point no-one knew about, while the Co-Chief Minister summoned the hostage takers to parley. He quickly and silently moved between the halls. The Palace was quieter than he remembered. He stalked through the darkness.

He stopped, hearing voices. It sounded like an argument, or a heated discussion. Slowly creeping forward he heard snippets.

"—trap."
"—realise he's dead—"
"—trust her?"

He moved slowly, approaching the large room where he could see a single hostage was sitting down, surrounded by armed guards.

The voices echoed over to him:

"We have no choice, if we delay they'll storm the Palace and kill us all."

"But if we meet, what then? What are we possibly going to say?"

"They don't want to lose their Basileus. They know if they attack he'd be killed."

"But can we—"

"This wasn't what Nikolas planned—"

"Yes, but Nikolas is dead. He didn't plan that, either!"

This continued for a while until "It's settled. We will meet with her. But we're not going to trust her, we'll go heavily armed."

"We can't leave the hostages unguarded."

"No, we can't."

"How many guards will they need?"

"Well, the dead don't need any, that one's not going anywhere with an arrow in him, and I don't think this one looks like much of a fighter."

"Okay, three, then."

"Yeah, three."

"Let's go."

He heard the voices trail off as they withdrew. He snuck a furtive glance around the corner and confirmed that all of the hostage takers had left, except for three guards. This was his one and only chance.

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Lysimachos sat on the floor, defeated. When he'd refused to go along with any of his captors' hare-brained schemes to collude, they'd beaten him. But he was still better off than others. Melodios was still alive, but unconscious. He'd lost a lot of blood and the arrow remained where it had landed in his back. Lysimachos hadn't dared touch it. He still held out hope that he'd make it through this alive, but that hope was fading with each hour that passed. He thought about Lysistrate and how much he loved her. He knew she'd be upset. Probably furious, he thought with a wry, sad smile. He thought about Seleukos, Lysistrate's son and wondered if he'd even see his adopted child again.

It was while absorbed in this melancholy that he was snapped to alertness by the guard in front of him grunting. He looked up and realised a knife had landed in the guard's throat. He gurgled and grabbed at it with his hands, to not avail. The guard fell to the ground. The remaining guards rushed to their comrade's aid until they realised he'd been attacked from the shadows. They drew their swords and spun around, covering each other until a flash of silver elicited another laboured groan, as another knife landed in a guard's chest.

"Come out, you coward!" the last guard standing called into the darkness.

Out of the darkness stepped a most unusual sight: it was an old man holding a sword.

The guard was taken aback, that this old man had mortally wounded two of his comrades. Even now they gurgled and moaned as they bled.

"Who are you?" the captor called out incredulously, wondering if he was actually asleep and the whole day had been a dream.

"I'm Phrenios. Royal secretary."

The guard's eyes widened at the realisation. Phrenios strode up to him with his sword drawn. "Put the sword down, son."

The guard felt so conflicted. It was just an old man, he could overpower him, surely. But it wasn't just an old man. This old man had within moments grievously wounded two guards and was none other than Phrenios Phrenopoulos, the legendary Lone Survivor.

He wondered if he should just throw down his sword and beg for mercy. Far too late he felt the presence of someone behind him and felt cold, sharp metal upon his neck.

Lysimachos's voice was the last one he heard. "This is for Phrenos. And Melodios."

And then the knife opened up his throat and it was too late for mercy.

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"Melodios!" the aggrieved father sobbed as he saw his wounded son lying on the floor. All pretense at calmness had left him.

"How did you get in here? Can we get back out?" Lysimachos asked urgently. He knew the other guards would return soon.

The old man looked up at him with tears running down his face. As much as it broke him to see his son hurt, he realised he would probably be okay if he could get him to safety and reach medical care. Knowing this allowed him to shake his mental paralysis. "Yes, yes, we can. But we first need to find the Basileus."

Lysimachos didn't answer and wouldn't meet Phrenios's eyes.

"Tell me," Phrenios asked softly.

Lysimachos couldn't speak, merely gestured off to the side where Phrenios saw the body of Phrenos Melodopoulos, Basileus of the Delphians and the Siamese, who appeared to have been impaled many times in the torso. Even in death the monarch looked enraged. And then there was another body of a man he didn't recognise, whose bulging eyes and crushed neck indicated he'd been strangled.

"What happened?"

"The Basileus was a man of his word," was all he replied, cryptically. "We really must leave. I'll help you carry Melodios."

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The siege of the Palace ended shortly afterward. Lysistrate, true to her word, had successfully stalled the hostage-takers long enough for Phrenios to get in and retrieve Lysimachos and Melodios. Once she'd received word that they were out safely and that the Basileus was dead she ordered the Palace stormed. Many of the traitors died in the assault, but not all of them.

True to her word, Lysistrate personally lit the funeral pyres of the traitors. Many of them were alive when she did so. They didn't live for long. She would forever remember their screams. She found the sound comforting.

Markos Melodopoulos, eldest son of the slain Basileus automatically became the next Basileus in accordance with succession law. He chose to be crowned as "Basileus of Delphi".

As for the Delphian Council, all members had been arresting pending a full investigation into each Councillor's knowledge of the crime. Many were calling for the Council to be disbanded, but there were still some within the kingdom who felt that such a tradition should not be discontinued because of the actions of a few.

As a sign of respect to the slain Basileus, and also as a practical measure, the Synedrian elections were postponed by a few weeks. The Co-Chief Ministers remained in power as a caretaker government in the meantime.

And slowly Melodios Phrenopoulos started to recover from his wound. But he wasn't expected to be up and walking around for quite some time.

This ended the Delphian Council and Phrenos Melodopoulos, the last Basileus of the Delphians and Siamese.

Gurra09 · Oct 16, 2015

Before the Synedrian elections we the Chief Ministers would like to bring an issue forward to the Synedrion. According to our electoral laws, the newly captured cities in the Netherlands would be allowed the vote. While that is the long-term goal for Utrecht, which is intended for incorporation as a self-governing city, the city of Rotterdam is currently officially annexed while the city is being razed which technically would allow those still residing in the city the same voting rights as our capital.

It is also a fact that both of these cities are currently in post-siege resistance and according to information from Protostrategos Pompey it might not be safe to set up electoral operations at this moment. We therefore propose the following act to be passed by the Synedrion:

Electoral Exemption Act

(1) Neighbourhoods of cities in resistance, regardless of whether they are settled, annexed, or self-governing, are not allowed to vote in Synedrian elections.

The Neo-Dualist Party votes Yes on this act.

Wyverncraft · Oct 16, 2015

The Stathites vote Yes on this act.

Melda · Oct 17, 2015

Was hoping to have the election starting tonight but had to go out. Will have it done by around this time tomorrow.

Melda · Oct 18, 2015

Okay, here's the save file.

Getting the pre-election details organised now, hope to have them out within the next few hours.

Given that each neighbourhood having dominant issues is starting to take up a lot of time and slow me down I'm thinking of abandoning them after this election. The neighbourhoods do respond to everything you propose and do anyway, so I might simplify/streamline this by taking out the dominant issues.

Let me know if there are any objections to this.

As said, this wouldn't apply until the next election after this.

Melda · Oct 18, 2015

Okay, the dominant issues are taking me longer to generate than I anticipated, so I'll have them, along with the hints out tomorrow.

In the meantime, some info . . .

Research (this screenshot is from 208, two years ago):

Spoiler :

Social policies:

Spoiler :

Trade routes:

Spoiler :

I'll get the new city screens (with neighbourhood maps) out tomorrow.

Do you guys actually need the production lists per city since you refer to the savegame?

And now attitudes!

Summary of attitude types

Attitudes per neighbourhood

Boldface indicates most favoured candidate.
*Indicates minority group has franchise.

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Delphi Nova

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Kirrha

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Dostana

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Soukotai

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Alexandropolis

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Muang Saluang

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; New Apollonia

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Provinces

The Utrecht and Rotterdam neighbourhoods are all murderous and riotous.

Melda · Oct 19, 2015

Hints have been distributed. Not many this time since the two factions are now so equally matched.

Sorry to have to push the neighbourhood maps back yet another day. I don't think they're as essential as the hints to the election campaign. But I will get them done.

Gurra09 · Oct 19, 2015

To introduce the Neo-Dualist Synedrian campaign, Lysistrate Siomaios held the following speech on a public meeting in Kirrha:

"Delphi is a kingdom beloved by the Gods and blessed by its own greatness. During the last term of government, our Neo-Dualist administration has raised crop yield by 25% and as I stand before you today there are 1,3 million more Delphians than last time we elected a new Synedrion. All these new Delphians are great and valuable assets to this kingdom, and our population is more literate than any other known to us - an impressive feat considering that Delphi was the most illiterate country on this continent only 40 years ago.

The truth is that when I say Delphi is the greatest power on this continent it is not just something I believe - it is a fact. Delphi has the highest production of all. Delphi has the highest gold income of all. Delphi has the highest, most well-fed and most literate population of all. Hail Delphi, mother of power and progress, may the world bow to our might or be crushed beneath it!"

This was accompanied by a short policy program, printed with help of the newly acquired printing press technology:

The Delphian Army should be expanded with more units to increase our kingdom's military might so that we can stand our ground against any other power on this continent. Our barracks in Kirrha and Delphi Nova would serve as the perfect training ground for these new units.

The war against the Netherlands should continue until Amsterdam is a city of Delphi! Any attempts by other powers to resettle the Rotterdam area should be stopped, and the route between Amsterdam and Delphi should be protected by our soldiers.

A policy of Rationalism should be adopted to increase funding to our scholars which will lead to an overall improvement of scientific research and development.

A Trireme should be built in New Apollonia, ready to be upgraded to a Caravel when astronomical research uncovers new navigation and shipbuilding techniques. Said new fleet would allow us to explore the vast ocean and see what lies beyond this continent.

Our scholars should research Economics to improve our gold income and further strengthen the Delphian economy.

Aqueducts should be built in Soukotai and New Apollonia to bring their infrastructure up to speed with that of the other Delphian cities.

Hellenism has spread throughout the kingdom at rapid speed but there are not nearly enough places of worship in our major cities. There should be built a Shrine in Kirrha and Temples in Delphi Nova and Dostana to increase Hellenic culture and faith.

Delphian workers should build farms along all unimproved riverside land and trading posts in all unimproved jungles - for more food and gold to feed an ever-growing population and economy.

Melda · Oct 20, 2015

Okay, here are the neighbourhood maps as at 210.

Spoiler :

I realised I hadn't actually given a deadline for campaigning. How does everyone feel about twenty-four hours from now? Or maybe forty-eight hours from now? Open to suggestions.

That would give me all of the weekend to play turns assuming orders are agreed to fairly quickly.

Gurra09 · Oct 20, 2015

Considering the Neo-Dualist campaign is pretty much presented in its entirety, I would be ready whenever. Would be nice to see some activity from other factions before we close though since we're already so few players at the moment.

Melda · Oct 20, 2015

Also does anyone have any formal response to the fact that the Delphian Council tried to stage a coup detat, killed the sitting monarch (accidentally), took the Chief Minister hostage and grievously wounded the royal secretary? Not to mention whatever they did to the royal guard.

Wyverncraft · Oct 20, 2015

The Neo-Dualists are smart people, and I am glad to work with them. I agree with all of their policies, except I think that it is still important to establish a trade route to Zurich or Quebec, and that Patronage should be adopted instead of Rationalism. We must support our allies!

In addition, I should make clear my intent to, upon conquering of the Dutch and recooperation of the army, embark on further conquest of our world, beginning with the Chinese, who, so often, have insulted our people. They are our enemies, and they should not be permitted to exist.

((This is all I really have to say. Elections can be done now.))

Gurra09 · Oct 21, 2015

Lysimachos Siomaios speaks out on the Delphian Council question:

"The Neo-Dualist Party believes the Delphian Council has played its part as a royal institution and that it should be disbanded. It has time and again shown its loyalties lie elsewhere than with the Kingdom of Delphi, as twice this decade has a coup d'etat been planned by Councillors and in their last attempt was Basileus Phrenos brutally murdered along with the imprisonment of myself his Chief Minister. This is high treason and we as a society cannot accept that. I cannot accept that.

I do however acknowledge that all Councillors may not have been involved in these events, and those who have not already been sentenced to death for their direct involvement should be given a fair trial after an investigation into their actions."

Melda · Oct 21, 2015

Interested to also see what the Stathites propose regarding the Delphian Council.

My intention is to unveil the election results before this time tomorrow.

Gurra09 · Oct 21, 2015

The Neo-Dualist Party are equally glad to be working with Stathis and his faction, and hope for this common understanding to continue in the future even if we don't always agree on all issues. We want to stress that we too want to support our allies and the fact is that Delphi is fully capable of putting together at least one new trade convoy for a trade route to either Zurich or Quebec. Just like Stathis, we would like to see this happen.

We do however believe Rationalism will give Delphi aswell as our allies a greater advantage sooner than Patronage would, because with increased science and research we have the means to develop new technologies faster.

Melda · Oct 22, 2015

The new Basileus of Delphi, Markos Melodopoulos waited impatiently for the election results. As far as he was concerned the whole process took far too long and he had ideas about how to speed the process up in the future. It was a source of instability not having a government sitting for so long.

Some aristocrats already had a sense that he would be a bit of a radical, which concerned them greatly. At forty-two years of age, he was almost a decade older than his late father when he was first crowned. But that he'd changed his royal title and also insisted that people call him "Majesty" instead of "Highness", well, there was just a sense that he didn't have much of a respect for tradition or the old ways.

The royal secretary Melodios was still recovering from his injuries at the hand of the traitorous and murderous Delphian Council, a body Markos was going to heavily pressure the government to abolish --- he held the entire body responsible for his father's murder. Markos knew his father had been most excellently served by Melodios and he had a sense that his replacement was not anywhere near as good. Still, he'd take whatever help he could get until Melodios was healed and back on his feet.

"Your Majesty," the acting secretary called.

"Yes?" the Basileus said eagerly.

"The results are in."

"Well, don't keep me waiting. What is it?"

The page handed him the tabulated results. Markos frowned as he read them. His eyebrows shot upwards and he clapped his hands together suddenly, startling his underling.

"Very well, send for the twins!"

------------------------

Congratulations again to Gurra for yet another victory! The part about speeding up elections is an allusion to some strategies I'm going to implement to make the calculations a lot faster in the future. I'll go into details about that another time.

For now, though, here are the results! As you can see, it was another closely fought election.

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Delphian Synedrion election, 210

An election was held to choose members of the 6th Delphian Synedrion in 210. It was the sixth Synedrian election held in the Kingdom of Delphi. Suffrage was predominantly limited to the upper class of all cities, specifically the aristocracy and the priesthood as well as the three middle-class artistic neighbourhoods in Kirrha.

Results of the Delphian Synedrian election, 210

Franchise: All aristocratic, priestly and artistic neighbourhoods in the kingdom eligible to vote in the elections. Cities administered by the capital returned two Synedroi for each neighbourhood while cities with self-government each returned only one Synedros per neighbourhood. The exception were priestly neighbourhoods which returned one extra Synedros to what they would otherwise have been entitled.

| Number | Change | % | Change Eligible neighbourhoods |36|+5|36.4|-10.6
Eligible voters |201,500|+120,913|3.5|+0.5

Delphian Synedrian election, 210 Summary of votes per candidate

| Allegiance | Seats | Change | % | Swing (%) ██ |Lysimachos and Lysistrate Siomaios|38|+7|52.8|+0.3
██ |Stathis Agos|34|+6|47.2|-0.3
| Total | 72 |+13|||

Results by city; Delphi Nova

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Demia

Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, Build a Temple, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism
>:(

Abolish Delphian Council

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|-18.6|1|-1
██ |Stathites|50|+18.6|1|+1

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Lithos

Trade with Zurich

Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Build a Temple

War with the Netherlands, Adopt Rationalism, War with the Chinese, Adopt Patronage
>:(

Abolish Delphian Council

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|100|+60.9|3|+2
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|0|-60.9|0|-1

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Telos

Build a Temple

War with the Netherlands, Adopt Rationalism, War with the Chinese, Adopt Patronage

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|100|+39.1|3|+2
██ |Stathites|0|-39.1|0|-1

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Feros

Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, Adopt Patronage
>:(

Adopt Rationalism, Abolish Delphian Council

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|55.1|+15.6|1|±0
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|44.9|-15.6|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Kenetrios

Trade with Zurich

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Local troop recruitment, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|50|-9.3|1|±0
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|+9.3|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Valua

Trade with Zurich

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Research Economics, Local troop recruitment, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|50|-9.3|1|±0
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|40|+9.3|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Kalkis

Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, Build Temple

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|-15.4|1|±0
██ |Stathites|50|+15.4|1|±0

Results by city; Kirrha

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Primos

Research Economics

War with the Netherlands, Adopt Rationalism, War with the Chinese

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|61.1|+12.1|1|±0
██ |Stathites|38.9|-12.1|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Galacta

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, Local troop recruitment, Build Shrine, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|-12.3|1|±0
██ |Stathites|50|+12.3|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Gesta

Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, Build Shrine

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|-13|1|±0
██ |Stathites|50|+13|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Halos

Train moer troops, War with the Netherlands, Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, Local troop recruitment, Build Shrine, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|50|-19.6|1|-1
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|+19.6|1|+1

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Asteris

Adopt Patronage

War with the Netherlands, War with the Chinese

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|52.2|+2.2|1|±0
██ |Stathites|47.8|-2.2|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Helion

Explore the vast oceans, Abolish Delphpian Council, Adopt Patronage

War with the Netherlands, War with the Chinese

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|85.7|+13.7|2|±0
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|14.3|-13.7|0|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Kromos

Explore the vast oceans, Abolish Delphpian Council, Adopt Patronage

War with the Netherlands, War with the Chinese

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|50|+50|1|+1
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|+50|1|+1

Results by city; Dostana

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Bromia

Research Economics, Trade with Zurich

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|-6.8|1|±0
██ |Stathites|50|+6.8|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Archa

Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, Build Temple

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|-12.3|1|±0
██ |Stathites|50|+12.3|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Kipos

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|50|-3.3|1|±0
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|+3.3|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Loquia

Build Temple

Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area

War with the Netherlands, Adopt Rationalism, War with the Chinese, Adopt Patronage

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|100|+20.6|3|+1
██ |Stathites|0|-20.6|0|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Mera

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Research Economics, Explore the vast oceans, Trade with Zurich, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|±0|1|±0
██ |Stathites|50|±0|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Nomenia

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, Build Temple, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|50|-4.5|1|±0
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|+4.5|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Basa

War with the Netherlands

Train more troops, Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|50|-10|1|±0
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|+10|1|±0

Results by city; Soukotai

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Baan Haat Krai

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Research Economics, Explore the vast oceans, Trade with Zurich, Trading Post, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|-9.3|1|±0
██ |Stathites|50|+9.3|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Baan Non Buan

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, Trading Post, War with the Chinese
>:(

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|-13.2|1|±0
██ |Stathites|50|+13.2|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Baan Non Luit

Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area

Adopt Rationalism, Adopt Patronage

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|63.5|-2|2|+1
██ |Stathites|36.5|+2|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Baan Na Ma

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, Trading Post, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|65.3|-0.2|1|+1
██ |Stathites|34.7|+0.2|1|+1

Results by city; Alexandropolis

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Baan Kaw Too

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Burning Rotterdam for the moment then denying the territory to other powers (but wants to keep the city if the heathen element is burnt out of it), Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|±0|1|±0
██ |Stathites|50|±0|1|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Baan Doi Phu Luit

Trade with Zurich

Research Economics

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|61.2|-25.6|1|-1
██ |Stathites|38.8|+25.6|1|+1

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Baan Baan Koo

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Prevent re-settling of Rottedam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|-14.6|1|±0
██ |Stathites|50|+14.6|1|±0

Results by city; Muang Saluang

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Baan Na Koo

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50.1|-13.5|1|±0
██ |Stathites|49.9|+13.5|0|±0

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Baan Na Daam

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|51.7|+13.5|1|+1
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|48.3|-13.5|0|-1

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Baan Non Tai

Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area
>:(

Adopt Rationalism, Adopt Patronage

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|69.4|-11.2|2|+1
██ |Stathites|30.6|+11.2|0|±0

Results by city; New Apollonia

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Agos

Patronage

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Reserach Economics, Trade with Zurich, Trireme, War with the Chinese
>:(

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|66.2|-31.8|1|-1
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|33.8|+31.8|1|+1

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Bromata

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Trade with Zurich, Trireme, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|50|+50|1|+1
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|+50|1|+1

Delphian Synedrian election, 210; Bellios

Train more troops, War with the Netherlands, Prevent re-settling of Rotterdam area, Research Economics, Explore the vast oceans, Trade with Zurich, Trireme, War with the Chinese

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|50|-11|1|±0
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|50|+11|1|±0

Results by city; Provinces

Delphian Synedrian by-election, 210; Province of Quebec

Trade with Quebec

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Neo-Dualist Party|56.1|-2.4|1|±0
██ |Stathites|43.9|+2.4|0|±0

Delphian Synedrian by-election, 210; Province of Zurich

Research Economics, Trade with Zurich

Adopt Rationalism

| Faction | Votes (%) | Swing | Seats | Change ██ |Stathites|59.4|+7.5|1|±0
██ |Neo-Dualist Party|40.6|-7.5|0|±0

Summary of attitude types

Attitudes per neighbourhood

Boldface indicates most favoured candidate.
*Indicates minority group has franchise.

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Delphi Nova

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Kirrha

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Dostana

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Soukotai

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Alexandropolis

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Muang Saluang

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; New Apollonia

Neighbourhood attitudes, 210; Provinces

The Utrecht and Rotterdam neighbourhoods are all murderous and riotous.

Gurra09 · Oct 22, 2015

OOC: Can't I catch a break? Fifth election won by me in a row now...

IC: We are happy to see that this Kingdom approves of the Neo-Dualist administration and will continue to serve you for another decade. It is our hope to see the Synedrion up and running soon, but before that we want to make some announcements regarding the nature of this government compared to the last.

First of all, this administration will seek the abolition of the Delphian Council in response to the attempted coup earlier this year. Its remaining powers shall be transferred to the Synedrion and the Basileus.

Second, we the Chief Ministers will take on separate responsibilities. I, Lysimachos, will be the Chief Minister of Delphi while Lysistrate takes on the title Chief Minister of Siam and the Delphian Netherlands.

Third, the Neo-Dualist Party would like to invite Stathis Agos as Minister of Trade and Provincial Affairs. If he were to accept, Stathis would be given the responsibility of working out this administration's plans and orders for trade routes and city-state relations.

Melda · Oct 22, 2015

Ooo, interesting!

Gurra09 · Oct 26, 2015

Now let us open the Synedrion with some acts to keep this Kingdom running!

We will leave it to Stathis to confirm, but he has accepted the position as Minister of Trade and Provincial Affairs and we the Chief Ministers will therefore not be presenting orders on those matters.

Construction and Military Training Act

(1) Train a Caravan in Delphi Nova, followed by building a Temple and then training a Musketman.

(2) Upon completion of the Garden in Kirrha, build a Shrine followed by training a Crossbowman and then building a Temple.

(3) Upon completion of the Workshop in Dostana, build a Temple.

(4) Upon completion of the University in New Apollonia, build a Trireme and then an Aqueduct.

(5) Upon completion of the Colosseum in Alexandropolis, build a Workshop followed by building a Monument and then a University.

(6) Upon completion of the Aqueduct in Soukotai, build an Aqueduct.

(7) Pay 460 gold to recruit a Crossbowman in Delphi Nova.

War Orders Act

(1) The war against the Netherlands should continue in accordance with previously given orders.

(2) Protostrategos Pompey can promote as he sees fit units that are under consideration for first-level promotions only.

(a) If a unit is under consideration for a higher-level promotion, Protostrategos Pompey can give a recommendation to the Synedrion who will then rule on the matter.

(3) It is prohibited by law to resettle the Rotterdam province after the city has been razed. Units that can be spared from the offensive forces are to block any foreign Settlers attempting to enter the area.

(a) If a blockade is unsuccessful and foreign Settlers reach a possible settling position, their home country should be immediately denounced followed by a declaration of war and the Settlers are then to be captured.

((OOC explanation of the promotion legislation: a previously unpromoted unit, newly built ones for example, can be promoted by the general according to his needs in the war, but if an already promoted unit gains another promotion the Synedrion should be consulted.))

City Neighbourhoods Act

(1) Upon city growth in Delphi Nova, establish first a new scholar neighbourhood in connection to the city's University and second a new farming neighbourhood one tile west of Feros.

(2) Upon city growth in Kirrha,

(a) move the neighbourhood Antrhopa to work the farm one tile northeast of its current location.

(b) establish first a new artist neighbourhood in connection to the Artists' Guild and second a new farming neighbourhood one tile east of Hygria.

(3) Upon city growth in Dostana, establish first a new farming neighbourhood one tile west of Archa and second a new scholar neighbourhood in connection to the city's University.

(4) Upon city growth in New Apollonia, establish first a new farming neighbourhood and second a new labourer neighbourhood in connection to the city's Workshop.

(5) Upon city growth in Alexandropolis, establish first a new farming neighbourhood and second a new mining neighbourhood.

(6) Relocate the neighbourhoods of Soukotai back to their former locations, as they have moved without being given the permission to do so. This is done by relocating the Baan Na Ma neighbourhood to work the horse pasture north of the city.

(7) Upon city growth in Soukotai, establish a new farming neighbourhood one tile northeast of the city.

Worker Orders Act

(1) The Worker on the road west of Kirrha should build a farm one tile southwest of Khiros, and then cut down the forest two tiles south of New Apollonia and build a farm on that tile.

(2) The Worker on the road east of Kirrha should build farms on the unimproved grasslands southwest of Delphi Nova.

(3) The worker on the road west of Delphi Nova should cut down the forest east of Delphi Nova, build a mine on that tile, and then build a Cotton plantation one tile northeast.

(4) The Worker on the road north of Delphi Nova should build a farm one tile northeast of its current location, and then build a trading post one tile east of the Soukotai neighbourhood Baan Non Luit.

(5) The Worker cutting down a forest south of Alexandropolis should when it is done build a farm on that tile and then build a farm one tile west.

(6) The Worker building a farm east of Soukotai should when it is done build a farm one tile southeast of the city.

(7) The Worker building a trading post north of Soukotai should when it is done build a trading post in the jungle one tile west of Baan Non Buan.

Research and Exploration Act

(1) Upon completed research of Astronomy,

(a) upgrade our then built Trireme in New Apollonia to a Caravel and send it westward to explore the unknown.

(b) send our embarked Scout southwest to explore any landmass our Caravel may or may not uncover.

(c) start researching Economics.

(2) If Agent Ninurta is given the opportunity to steal technology in Beijing,

(a) steal Architecture if the Chinese have that technology.

(b) steal Chemistry if the Chinese have that technology but not Architecture.

(c) steal Metallurgy if the Chinese have that technology but neither Architecture or Chemistry.

(d) steal Navigation if the Chinese have that technology but neither Architecture, Chemistry, or Metallurgy.

(e) steal Economics if it is the only technology available to steal.

(3) Adopt a policy of Rationalism at earliest opportunity.

The Tribal Elders of Delphi

Wannabe Psephologist

Wannabe Psephologist

Emperor

¡Viva la Revolución!

Wannabe Psephologist

Wannabe Psephologist

Wannabe Psephologist

Wannabe Psephologist

Emperor

Wannabe Psephologist

Emperor

Wannabe Psephologist

¡Viva la Revolución!

Emperor

Wannabe Psephologist

Emperor

Wannabe Psephologist

Emperor

Wannabe Psephologist

Emperor

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