*As the last vote is slipped into the slotted box, a quiet falls over the room. The crowd outside goes silent as well, the Sounding Glyph repeating every word to them. Arnigus stands slowly, his chair creaking with relief as his great mass leaves it. He reaches out and takes the box carefully, as if it is made of glass, though the thick, iron strapped, wooden sides are in no danger of breaking. It is the peace he is afraid of shattering. Once the votes were counted, there was no turning back.
He signals to Had and the big Kran walks over. Had bows his head formally and offers Arnigus a small key. The key to the future, as it were. With slightly trembling hands, he gives the box to Had for the Kran to hold while he opens it. It takes two tries to get the key into the small hole due to Arnigus\'s wobbling hands.
Then, there is a click. The box\'s lid slowly opens of its own accord, due to small springs in the hinges. Arnigus reaches into the box and pulls out not the folded votes, but a flat, slate covered book. He nods to Had, the Kran nods back and sets the box on the table and returns to the door. As Arnigus holds up the book, some may notice that there is a large Glyph imprinted on the cover. A simple but powerful Glyph meaning one thing... Truth.
Slowly, Arnigus opens the book, revealing the votes inside, neatly bound into the binding by heavy thread. The ink of the votes has been replaced by raised platinum, the paper by gold. Each page is marked by its own Glyph, also Truth. Arnigus begins paging through the votes. He clears his throat and begins speaking.*
I see that some of you have signed your names. A good precaution is most cases, but unnecessary here, as every vote was bound to its caster by the Glyphs in this book and the ones hidden in the box. I know that you are all...
*He stops at a page, one of his eyebrows rising. He then glances at Am-Heh before returning to the book.*
...honest and honorable people...
*He again glances at Am-Heh*
...though you must agree such precautions were needed.
*He turns to the eighth page. One that contains no votes...just the names of two people. One of whom was going to be the next Octarch. The hope of the people. Two small Glyphs appear on the page, one over each name. Every colored Way marks their surfaces in a complicated weave. Long leather cords pass through holes in the top of each. Arnigus takes the Glyphs and closes the book, resting it on the table.*
These two Glyphs are to be worn be those that you have chosen. They are badges, but also they are protection. No harm will befall you while they are worn, and they can not be removed by any power but that of the final election. They then lose all power. I tell you this so you know you have no fears. Please stand.
*All in the Council stand, some slowly, some fast. All gaze at the two Glyphs dangling from his grasp, slowly spinning at the ends of their cords. Arnigus waddles around the table towards a grinning Am-Heh. Am-Heh?s grin slips as Arnigus passes on, continuing until he reaches Nilaya. He reaches up and places one of the Glyphs around her neck, careful not to catch her ears.*
Nilaya Kaeli, you have been chosen by this council. Wear this Glyph with pride, and carry it with honor.
*Cheers can be heard outside. The fenki reaches up and touches the Glyph, then bows to Arnigus. Arnigus bows back and moves on, still holding the one Glyph. He passes by a smiling Tybalt, but instead of the smile fading as it had with Am-Heh, it grows larger. And for some reason it seems to be directed in Nilaya?s general direction. Was he?!?no, he couldn?t be?Arnigus shakes his head, thinking that it would be impossible for anyone to flirt in this situation. He must have been imagining things. Realizing Tybalt?s distraction had taken him past his other goal, he turns back. He reaches up and places the other Glyph around another neck.*
Netrhys Tanhren, you have been chosen by this council. Wear this Glyph with pride, and carry it with honor.
*Before she can react, Arnigus waddles back to the head of the table as swelling cheers begin out side.*
Kaeli?Tanhren?Kaeli?Tanhren?
*The cheers do not seem to be choosing between them?but celebrating the names equally. Arnigus smiles. So the people would accept either of them. Truly, this was a good sign. He turns to the Council, still smiling.*
With that, this Council is disbanded. Know that I am proud to have known and conversed with all of you. I take my leave now, for my job is done, as is yours?er?except for Netrhys and Nilaya of course. Soon, the voting shall begin, and one of you will be Octarch. I know that either you will do well. You will be receiving the official papers soon. I bid you all a good evening.
*Arnigus bows and walks stately out of the room?well, stately for a man nearly half as wide as he is tall. The damping Glyph is released, and Had enters. He begins handing back weapons with a look that tells all that they had better not use them in his presence. He then strolls back to the door, waiting for the Council to disperse while the cheers continue on outside.*
[ooc]Thank you all for participating. You all did so amazing I am sorry to see this cycle end. The goal of this endeavor was to bring role-playing back into the spotlight for a time, and in that, it has been a great success. Mostly due to you. Again, thank you. Now it is time for the final cycles. PMs will be sent to Candidates and a poll will be started sometime soon (hopefully within a few days).
Don?t forget to vote!
