I am the Captain
The stars above seemed to twinkle with mirth, as if they were in on some grand cosmic joke that Antigonos wasn't privy to. He felt small and insignificant, a mere mortal trying to play in the realm of the immortals.
Yet, there was something invigorating about the challenge, a sense that his actions truly mattered in the grand line of fate. Those three divine hags holding his golden string that can't be cut even as he dives into the sea of souls.
He felt like Heracles.
He knew he couldn't rely on divine intervention, not when the gods had shown time and again that their interests lay elsewhere.
"Useless gods." He mutters.
Antigonos turned his gaze from the heavens and back to the scrolls before him. The Council of Lions had to be a bastion of unity, a testament to the strength of Macedonian blood and resolve.
He scribbled a few more notes, his hand shaking slightly with determination. He would show the gods that humans could forge their own destinies, that they didn't need the capriciousness of the divine to carve out a legacy.
He looks at his face in the silver mirror and he noticed that he gained a few pounds since the last time he looked, his face was a little bit chonkier. Maybe that's because he hasn't been getting good sleep.
He left the table's mess and just slipped into bed without taking a bath, all the muscles in his back just relaxed upon contact on the soft cushions.
As he closed his eyes, Antigonos could feel the weight of the day's troubles melting away. His mind drifted to the scrolls, the words of wisdom and strategy dancing in his thoughts like stars in a midnight sky.
…
..
.
The next morning Antigonos jerked awake, the sun is already up in the sky and he realized it's the afternoon, and he slept in. He quickly writes up a draft on some paper, about how this council of his is supposed to work.
Without even bathing, he quickly clothes himself and hopes the dark clouds and the impending damn smell of the rain will mask the smell of his pits. There's no time for bathing when there's work to do.
Antigonos strides through the bustling city streets, the cobblestones echoing his determination with every step. The scrolls, rolled tightly and secured with a red ribbon, bounce against his side.
His eyes dart from face to face, noticing the subtle shifts in expressions as the citizens catch wind of his approach. Some whisper in hushed tones, others nod respectfully, while a few cast furtive glances before scurrying away.
The wind picks up, carrying the scent of rain with it. He can feel the first droplets kiss his skin, cool and refreshing. It's as if the gods themselves are trying to cleanse the city of its troubles in anticipation of his grand vision.
The clouds above are gray, their heavy bellies threatening to spill their burden at any moment. He doesn't bother with an umbrella or cloak; the rain will come and go, just as the trials of leadership do.
The skies look like they're crying for him, with sadness or joy?
He walks towards the round building with spires, a few new things were added to it here or there, but a patch of grass in front is still waiting for him, alongside Jason of Scodra waving at him animatedly.
"You're late." Jason smiled as he passed by, seeing the King's uneven gruff beard moving slightly as he grimaced.
Jason seems to have no qualms about latching on to him while discussing topics related to the propagation of language in the area, and experimenting with mixing the two local languages to see if making a new one that is heavily dominated by Greek is possible.
Antigonos nods politely, his mind still racing with thoughts of the Council of Lions. He knows the value of unity through language, but the urgency of his own task weighs heavily on his shoulders.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Ah..? Oh, I was just wondering about making a council." Antigonos hands over a paper to Jason, and it seems like all royal protocol has disappeared between them, well, it's not like Antigonos III has ever styled himself as a traditional King, and although he knows how Kings are usually, he can't find it in himself to be all high up and mighty when he knows for sure that his Kingdom is a mere frontier land, and he better act a frontiersman.
"The name is cringe." Jason raises his eyebrows.
Antigonos takes a deep breath. "I know it sounds grandiose, but we need something to inspire the people, something that'll make them feel like they're part of something greater than themselves, something that'll scare the shit out of our enemies!"
"Naive." Jason's tone is more serious.
"This institution will exist for more than a hundred years if our hard work pays off, and this naming is childish, and will probably be shortened in the future."
The King strokes his beard. "Interesting foresight.. Why do you think that is?"
Jason looks at him with a knowing smile. "Because history tends to do that to grandiose names. The Council of the Hundred Hands, the Great Assembly of the Unconquered, the Senate of the Invincible – they all start with a bang, but end up as the Council, the Assembly, the Senate. Names are just names. It's what you do with them that counts."
'I know so little now.' Antigonos sighs. Well spending a decade on a boat doesn't really help literature lessons.
They head into the hall where the other prominent families are, the Abydos, Epidamnus and the other Scodra.
Antigonos nudges Jason lightly. "You know a lot more than me about this, help me pitch this idea."
Jason nods thoughtfully, stroking his supple chin. "Alright, let's make it a council of equals, where everyone's voice is heard. But remember, you're still the king. You need to keep that authority intact."
"Tsk, look at my draft first. Equality… there's no such thing as equality. All people need to be led, and giving them too much equality will make them forget what their place is in society, they start acting out of line, and how will the realm survive if that is?"
Jason nodded solemnly, acknowledging the truth in his words.
Antigonos took a moment to gather his thoughts before addressing the assembly. "My esteemed family, generals, and advisors," he began, his voice echoing through the grand hall.
"I stand before you today with a proposal that will shape the very fabric of our realm." He paused, watching the curious faces of those gathered, some leaning forward in anticipation, others skeptical.
In the crowd, Princess Pero, wearing her royal garments is already present, although she's still 12 and only holds a little role in it for now.
"The... Forum." he announced, his eyes scanning the room. "A body of governance that mirrors the strength and unity of our great nation. Each member will lead a faction, not based on political whims, but on the backbone of our kingdom - its regions and resources."
Last minute he decided to change the name to just the Forum, because most of the people in the Forum would be a rabble with no real power, and only members of the Royal Family would have real power.
Naming it the Council can give some people ideas.
The room grew silent, the only sound being the rain pattering against the windows. Antigonos waited, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. Then, one by one, the whispers started. Some nodded in approval, others frowned, stroking their beards in contemplation. (yes, they all have beards)
"Each faction will have equal say in matters of state," Antigonos continued, his voice steady despite the doubtful murmurs that began to swell. "But fear not, for I, Antigonos III, will remain as the guiding hand, ensuring that our decisions are made with the best interest of the kingdom at heart."
Kingdom building is built also with flowering words, but Antigonos does hope he can just go off to battle right about now.
The whispers grew louder, and several of the lords and generals exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of surprise and suspicion. The idea of a council where everyone's voice was truly equal was almost heretical in a time where power was so heavily concentrated in the hands of the few.
But Antigonos wasn't deterred. He knew that a council of equals was a lie, but the illusion of it would be enough to bring them together. He raised his hand, and the room quietened. "This is not a democracy," he clarified, his tone firm.
"We are not Romans, no citizen gets special rights that separate them from others. As our forefathers say, give the crew the right to choose who mans a ship, the ship will sink, as only the captain can steer the ship."
He clears his throat.
"I am the Captain of this Macedonian ship, and this Forum is just for choosing which crew rows, and which crew fights off the boarders."
The room was a mix of nods and furrowed brows, some of them looked like they're trying to figure out if they're the crew that's rowing or fighting.
Pero looked at him with a sparkle in her eyes, she's too young to understand the politics, but she knows that this is a big deal, she's been reading about this in the books she borrowed from the Palace, and she knows Antigonos would probably be relying on her heavily…
The room was a cauldron of tension, the kind you could cut with a sword. Antigonos took a deep breath, his heart hammering in his chest like a blacksmith's anvil. He knew this was a risk, but he also knew that without change, their kingdom would stagnate and fall prey to the vultures of the world.
Look, the Seleucids also adopted Roman style legions after a while didn't they?
"Now, I know that this may seem a radical shift from our traditions," Antigonos continued, his gaze moving from face to face. "But we live in a time where the old ways are being tested, where new powers rise to challenge us. We must adapt to survive, and to thrive. The Forum will be a beacon of unity and strength, a symbol that we stand together, as one."
"Isn't this just copying Athen's system?" Eugenios Abydos asks, his portly figure shuffling on the chair, his fat ass making it creak.
Antigonos smiles thinly. "No, it's not copying. We are simply taking inspiration from different systems and making it our own, tailored to our needs. This Forum is not a Senate that is full of old men squabbling over their wealth, it's a Forum that takes the opinions of individuals who have the knowledge on making the Kingdom a better place.."
"I'm pretty sure that is what copying means-"
"Anyways, this will be implemented in a few days, so all of you better form groups now and think of ideas." 'So I can go on campaign instead of looking at you guys over here.' Antigonos sighs.
The room buzzed with the sound of chairs scraping against the marble floor as the assembly members stood up to form groups. Some approached him eagerly, others with a cautious curiosity. Antigonos felt a strange mix of pride and fear. Was he making the right decision? Would they see through his charade?
Well, to be honest with himself, Antigonos is scared, and a bit pessimistic, but he has little choice but to shoulder all of this as an autocrat. People will follow him as long as their interests are aligning with his, and there's no shortage of zealous people who would defend his every word.
He watches as the assembly members form their groups, their discussions growing more heated with every passing minute. The scent of rain still lingers in the air, a reminder of the tempestuous nature of their current situation.
He looks at Jason. 'I suppose… Alexander had a Perdiccas.'