T - In the last few months, your campaign has seen you say many things you might have to walk back regarding the Holy State.
H - I’ll walk nothing back, but they will be given an olive branch. We’ll be helping with the investigation into their Seijin’s assassination.
S - Our mutual friend has been told to provide them with all assistance necessary.
E - I’m glad to hear it.
T - A shame Darius turned down the vacant position on the board, he would’ve been an ideal replacement for you, but we’ll have a new Member elected to the board shortly, once the candidates have been vetted.
H - Darius made his intentions clear, he has other goals to pursue, another 6-8 years of study, but he’s got a lot of influence and as soon as he’s ready, I’ll have a position waiting for him.
E - You mean to appoint him Honoured Council? When the position isn’t yet vacant?
T - Before he becomes a Grand Master?
H - Do you know how many Grand Masters there are? At last count, twenty-two, and none of them under the age of 140.
S - The first Honoured Councils weren’t Grand Masters either. June Unurka didn’t become a Grand Master until 20 years after he began serving on the governing body, but he was the right man at the right time.
H - We’re going to need fresh blood, and the people hold him in high regard, so as soon as he’s ready, the position will be his.
T - And what does our current Honoured Council have to say about this?
HC - Times change, and we must change with them. My council is no longer sought as it once was, and I’m not getting any younger. I’ve seen many changes in my time. The world I knew when I came into this position was radically different to the one we now live in. Darius understands this world. He is a product of it, a fusion of cultures - Phoenician and Baunari, Craft and Janisism. He is the balance you seek.
E - You only need to put in another 20 years and you’ll get a rebirth.
HC - I am reborn every day. In heart, mind, body and spirit. You never did seem to grasp that about the Craft, did you?
S - And whether he makes the century or not, you’ll be rewarded for his services Arwen.
HC - Which I appreciate, but decline. I see no need for a second life, when I know I couldn’t live it any better than the first.
H - Darius will make an exceptional Honoured Council, when his time comes.
E - You don’t think it could be seen as nepotism, appointing the nephew of a governing body member to a position he isn’t fully qualified for?
S - He’ll be ready.
E - Naturally you’d jump to his defence, but I don’t know if the president has thought this through properly… your political opponent, given the second most powerful position on the governing body - with the right to cast the deciding vote. Are you trying to undermine yourself?
S - He only gets that vote if we’re deadlocked.
H - And there’s a lot more to the job than just casting a vote and making public appearances, not that you’d know as you’ve never even studied the Craft
E - Just because I subscribe to one less belief system than anyone else here, doesn’t mean I don’t know one when I see it. It might be a religion without a god, but it’s still a religion.
S - It’s not a religion, it’s a philosophy of life, the guiding principle of which is to do no harm.
T - Essie, even I have to admit, your understanding of the Craft is atrocious for someone so highly placed in the Corporation.
TLDR - Meurig still isn't a fan of the Holy State, but the PCG is helping them investigate the recent assassination of the Seijin.
Aslo, Darius ap SaZi is being positioned as the future Honoured Council, placing a younger man in the role who is uniquely qualified to navigate the present political and religious climate due to his background, upbringing and evident popularity (having missed out on the presidency by just 1.5% of the vote)
Also, also, I think I'm going to start using the term "Phoenician's" to refer to the people of the Corporation. It's sorta been used elsewhere by others and it's better than just calling them "citizens", like they were drones. Phoenician is a nicer label to wear and implies an established cultural identity beyond that of the usual corporate-speak used to describe ourselves. (It's only taken 900 years to settle on it, lol).