Two Declarations in the City of Peace

[Barry Goldwater]

On most days, the central market of Jerusalem would be bustling with activity. Stalls and shops would be open all around it, men with their heads covered would be selling virtually anything from jugs of wine to new farming implements to Gentile slaves, and women would be buying fruits and vegetables and choice meats - all kosher, of course, which ruled out pork and shellfish.

Well, this day was not like most days.

On a hot summer afternoon that most of the native Hebrews had gotten used to but which he was still somewhat uncomfortable in, the armor-clad Timaeus of Aigai stepped up on a stone platform brought by his men in the center of the now-silent market and began to address the crowd gathered there, while his son waited next to him in fine robes of white and blue. Shoppers and shopkeepers alike, children and old men, beggars and the wealthy, and of course the priests and teachers gathered to his right - All my people now, whether I like them or not, he thought grimly. The old general had never been one for hours-long rhetorical speeches, in fact he was very bad at speaking outside of firing up his troops before a battle, so he resolved to keep this short as he unfurled a scroll and began to read it in his plain, but strong and loud voice.

"People of Jerusalem! Hear me now. You know me already as Timaios Makedonos, who was appointed to govern you six years ago by Megas Alexandros. And for six years, have I not ruled you well enough? Your roads are safe, your homes are safe, and your customs and Temple are all safe. But now the Great King who appointed me lies dead, his heirs also dead or missing." The crowd broke into whispers and hushed discussions at once, and Timaeus gritted his teeth. He raised a hand for silence and pressed on, "It appears that we are now about to enter a time of chaos, of anarchy, of a great storm that is likely to leave many dead - but I will see to it that Judea, Samaria and Moab-Ammon make it through this storm unscathed, and that order reigns wherever my word holds sway. None wield the authority to remove me from my post now save the gods or your God, and clearly as I am still speaking to you here and now, they have yet to judge me so unworthy of my role that they will do just that. Therefore, from this day forth I pledge my sword and the swords of all my men to you as the Protector of Judea! We shall do our utmost to defend your lives, your traditions, and your prosperity, until we find that there is indeed a new Great King on Earth for me to swear allegiance to as a mere Governor. In the meantime, to prove that I do not simply spout empty words, I have written here a set of laws to better govern this land:

1) I do hereby swear, on my blood and the honor of all those who have come before me, that I shall never infringe upon the great Temple of the Jewish faith, its priests and teachers, nor its practitioners.

2) I do hereby swear, on my blood and the honor of all those who have come before me, that I shall allow ceremonies and festivals held in the honor of your God, whose name I may not speak, to proceed without harassment. At this point I would sacrifice a mighty bull or a fine lamb to your God, but I understand that unbelievers are forbidden from doing so, and so I shall refrain from it.

3) I do hereby swear, on my blood and the honor of all those who have come before me, that the peoples of Judea, Samaria and Moab-Ammon shall be treated justly and equally under my rule. I shall give you no cause for complaint against my administration, and I shall see to it that you are treated fairly, no better nor worse than any Macedonian or Greek would be."

Timaeus cleared his throat and continued, "Moreover - I am done speaking, but my son Demetrius, who if the heavens are willing shall succeed me one day, now has words of his own to say."

Demetrius stepped into the same spot where his father was standing the moment Timaeus vacated it, and began speaking to the priests and teachers in particular. "I have spent the better half of my life here, in this holiest of cities. I have spent it not merely watching you, but also living among you, eating and reading and talking about the same things you all do. For nine years I have not only studied the words and deeds of Plato and Socrates, but also those of Moses and Joshua and Ezra. For these nine years, I have learned much from the priests and teachers of the Jewish faith. And I have come to the conclusion I was surely destined to reach, as any man who studies your faith most thoroughly is destined to reach - that there is only one absolutely just and righteous God, whose name cannot be spoken, who created the Earth and all things that dwell in it and who elevated the Jews to serve as His chosen people." His voice shook with emotion and he fell to his knees, head bowed as he cried out to the priests, "I ask of you, indeed I beg of you now to adopt me into the one true faith - whether it takes one year, ten or one hundred, it matters not to me - so that I may exalt the one God as is proper. I am prepared to dedicate my blood, my life, my soul to Him and His people, if He and you would have me!"

As Demetrius retreated, still bowed, Timaeus stepped forward once more. Your mother will be less than pleased at this turn of events, boy. Fortunately, I have already spent the last six months preparing myself to sleep in a chair for the next six when she inevitably kicks me out of our bed. "Well. He has said his piece, and so have I. That shall be all. You may reopen your shops, go back about your business - and remember our words."

Edit: OOC: Just to be clear, I'm asking for rolls for my acceptance of local customs, respect for their God (otherwise Tim here would've gone ahead & sacrificed to Yahweh even though he isn't a Jew ) and if possible, the effects of his son's attempt to convert to Judaism.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Did the actions of Timaeus please the Locals?

Roll Range: 10/20
Modifiers:
- The acceptance of their customs: +1
- The acceptance of their religion: +1
- Son's suddenly desire for conversion to Judaism: +2
- Foreign Dynasty (due to event): -1
New Range: 14/20 (1 - 14; Accepted; 15, Neutral; 16 - 20; Unaccepted)
Result: 20, Unaccepted

Due to the bad roll, a severity roll will be added to see how much revolt risk you get this year. The roll will be 1-10, with 1 = 10% and 10 = 100%. Anything above 50% is a direct revolt, with 50% as a minor revolt and 100% as the whole country rising up against you.

Rolled: 3, minor revolt. 5,000 rebels pop up.

The people of Jerusalem are in a great uproar despite the offered conversion by Timaeus's son, Demetrius. The Jews demand a King of their own people be placed, not this foreigner. The streets are filled with a riot that is being suppressed by the troops of the Macedonian King. Soon, rumors are afloat that a rebel army of 5,000 is attempting to march upon Jerusalem (from province 49; Moab-Ammon). They are declaring a Jewish male who assumed the name Hezekiah II, the King of Israel and Judah.

If this revolt can be smashed, the Jews may very well be silenced and obey their overlords.

[Barry Goldwater]

"Great Protector, many men from our eastern province of Moab-Ammon have mobilized to challenge your rule - around five thousand, we think. They have at their head a Jew who has proclaimed himself 'Hezekiah II', king of these lands, and they clearly intend to cast you out in favor of him."

As the courier retreated with a small bow, Timaeus placed a hand on his forehead and sighed with frustration. "Wonderful. Precisely what I wanted to wake up to this morning, after having spent the night in this highly uncomfortable chair no less. I offer them their freedom and my son offers them his soul, yet their answer is to spit upon both and take up arms against us? Does the Jewish tongue have no word for 'gratitude'?"

"Hikarat hatov," Demetrius supplied from his smaller seat near the doors. Timaeus just stared at him for a few moments before groaning, "That was a rhetorical question, boy." "I am quite aware," Demetrius answered with a grin.

"Very funny. In any case, the Jews themselves clearly remember it less well than you do. They will have to be punished." Timaeus rose from his simple 'throne'. "I will of course lead our armies to crush this Hezekiah. He will die, and those who followed him will be given the choice to either join him in the grave or swear loyalty to me at last. And you will be at my side all throughout it." When Demetrius raised an eyebrow at this last part his father explained, "You quite publicly asked those foolishly stubborn priests for the chance to enter their faith. If you were to come with me and witness my own glorious victory, those old men are likely to take it as a sign that it is in their interests to accommodate your request - and that their God is clearly with us, or at least you, and not this pretender." He shouted at his servants now, "Ready a pair of horses for me and my boy, and send word to the men to assemble in full panoply! We have some rebel locusts to squash!"