The Council of Wyrms, is just that, a Council controlled by dragons who have lived for longer then a millennia, and are considered wyrms, or even great wyrms. The council is divided into two parts. The Platform of Wyrms, who can cast votes, and the Platform of Dominates, who cannot cast votes but can participate in any debates. The Council Custodian rules over all of this, and her word is law during council sessions. She may not cast any vote except in the case of a tie. A member of the Platform of Wyrms is called by the title of Councilor, or Grand Councilor if they are a great wyrm. Every clan has the right to send one representative to the Platform of Wyrms, although not all can exercise this right. Only those who have a Wyrm among them can use it, and younger clans may not have one.

     The Platform of Dominates is open to all adult dragons who have passed thier vigil. These younger dragons may participate in all phases of decision making, except for the final vote. Only the Councilors are able to vote, and the younger representatives must try to sway them during the debates which rage before a vote is called. Attendance to a council meeting is theoretically open to all adult dragons, but in practice is restricted by the size of the grand hall. On occasions of great importance a council meeting is moved outside onto one of the large fields to accommodate larger attendance. Half dragons, kindred, and vassals are often excluded from meetings, and hold no official possession in such meetings. The meetings themselves are often closed to any non dragon upon the penalty of death.

     Thus is the political arrangement of the Council of Wyrms, in a nutshell. It may not be perfect, but it has prevailed for the past few millennia. You may think that the vassal clans receive no representation, which is not entirely the case. A wise dragon clan does all it can to keep its Vassals happy. Including interceding on thier behalf during a council meeting. Now, I come to the part which is most important for myself and Lord Sutton on this journey. The head of any dragon clan, no matter what thier age, may petition the council. This petition must be made directly to the Council Custodian, and it must be dealt with before any other charge, or even Council Decree against, or for, the petitioner. This is upon which Lord Sutton was banking.

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     Time seemed to freeze for a moment as Jean and Laureine both stared in shock at the smug elf standing before them. Jean was the first to recognize the colors he wore as belonging to Clan Bloodtide, the clan of the late, and not lamented, Malice Bloodtide. Drawing back his hood, which negated the magic of the cloak, Jean revealed himself and took a step forward. The dwarves stood grimly to either side, as did the other three elves, watching with intent. The two Council custodian guards were also focused on the exchange with quite a bit of interest. Jean studied the elf across from him for a moment, then smiled suddenly.

     "You're Flamestrike's kindred aren't you? She always did like the ones with a quick temper, and little minds." Jean's smile grew as the elf across from him shifted his stance from one of gloating to one of anger. So, his guess had been correct. Now to get past this delay.

     "Too bad she didn't complete your education, or else you would know that such a charge must be delivered by a dragon. Not a kindred. She truly should have looked up her rules a bit more before sending you to waste my time here." So saying Jean took a step to the right and moved as if to step through the loose line of elves and dwarves standing between him and the council Aerie, Laureine, with a grin, moving to follow him. The male elf growled as his temper flared, and he laid a hand on the hilt of his sword.

     "My mistress commands that I hold you here, and so I shall. Do not try my patience, outcast." Jean's left eye glimmered silver for a moment, studying the elf across from him. With a soft snort of dismissal he took another step past the elf, Laureine a few steps behind him. The elf, his face going red with anger at this dismissal from one whom his mistress had described as an outcast, drew his blade. The sound of metal singing against leather as he did so was loud in the suddenly silent path. Jean stopped at that, his eye narrowing as he slowly turned around to face the elf at his back. Laureine had laid her hand on her own sword, but had not drawn it, as had the other elf's companions. The Council Custodians were watching silently.

     "You just drew a blade on a dragon, on All Clans Isle, in view of Council Custodians."

     The beginnings of fear appeared in the kindred's eyes and he looked towards his companions for support. None of whom would meet his eyes. Jean stepped forward, grabbing the elf's neck in a swift grasp as he did so.

     "You know the penalty." At those words the luckless elf opened his mouth to argue. Instead of his voice, however, there was a snap as the elf's neck was broken. Releasing his grip Jean let the body hit the ground and turned to regard the dead elf's companions. With a glance he made sure none of them would be so stupid, and strode into the Aerie itself. Laureine following, and returning the solemn nods from the Council Custodian guards.

     It took them nearly ten minutes of walking to emerge from the labyrinth of passageways into the Grand Council Chambers. The chambers took up the majority of the above ground room in the Aerie. Jean threw open the double doors and stepped into the Council chambers proper. He and Laureine emerged into an already assembled council meeting. Silence replaced the debate as the two elven forms walked through the council towards the gathered Wyrms in the center. Dragons towered over the small forms to either side, as Jean came to a stop infront of the Council Custodian herself. Mykell, an amethyst dragon, regard the silver in an elven form as if she had expected him, even as the other stared in surprise. Jean bowed formally to them all and then spoke, almost yelling to make sure this forms voice was heard throughout the cavernous chambers.

     "As Jean Sutton, head of Clan Cloudkill, I claim the right to petition the Council for the removal of the patrols on Cloudkill lands." And with those words the Council erupted into chaos.