Greyashe chapter 277 is entitled 'Strict rules and regulations'.

Previous chapter 276: Successor. II

Next chapter 278: Strict rules and regulations. II

Summaries page.

-Short summary-

The rules of the election are outlined, and the Triad begins their scheme. Between politics and revenge plots, where does Iselia stand?

-Long summary-

One of the staff members Hydon has summoned objects to the idea of an election. If they are to pick a successor to the successor they'll need something faster than an election by the people. By the time they get the canidates together, count the votes, and swear the new person in who knows what kinds of schemes their enemies would have concocted and carried out?

Hydon agrees that a normal election would take far too long for them to carry out, but this isn't a normal election. Yes the people will be the ones who inspire the choices of candidates, but they will not be the ones voting on them. This response elicits a wave of confusion from the staff which is silenced by Hydon raising his hand and doing nothing more. Acheron was both powerful and intelligent so he had planned for such things (at the staff's prodding), well in advance.  It is now that Hydon reads his last will and testament for the group.

In it is a list of magicians who have attained a certain level of proficiency in their respective fields, may it be battle or medicine. Hydon reveals Acheron's intent to have people 'recommend' magicians by their conduct. What not even they knew is every accolade another person gave a magician was dutifully recorded. It isn't hard to do since most magicians who don't just use their agape level for bloodshed end up in contact with Acheron sooner or later. The staff is amazed at this -Acheron actually kept up with that many magicians? Hydon shakes his head and repeats that a magician had to be above a certain threshold. There was no point in following every Tom, Dick or Harry. In total, there are probably only about 50 or so magicians that could be considered successor material. This number is whittled down even more when consider their conduct. Simply not being a psychotic killer isn't quite enough to be thought of as a successor. A magician who goes out of his way to study magic, help people or advance virtue in the face of evil would obviously be more likely to be considered than a magician who doesn't kill but also doesn't bring anything useful to the table. So in total that brought the number to about half the original estimation. Of course there's no way to tell how many of that number are still alive....

...No matter, they would extend the invitation to the lucky ones immediately. Haydon would give them a certain amount of time to show up, and then begin the election with whomever shows up. It would be in their interest to show up even if they don't want the job, as with a normal election they could still vote to support the magician of their choice. Hydon commands Lea to start getting invitations sent immediately, as the time they have is limited. He doesn't expect a huge turnout as with the strange behavior of magicians and more specifically their agape has lead him to believe more are dead than alive. He then glances at the last will and testament, wondering just how much of the truth he should tell? Besides the triad, he knows there are plenty who would take the rules and bend them to their will.

I: If the current kaiser mage should be unable to serve -Through death or dearth of ability- The successor will take his or her place immediately.

   However if the successor cannot take his or her place other stipulations take effect.

      A) The kasier mage select will choose among themselves if the successor is unable to take the post.

      B) If for any reason the kaiser mage select cannot serve then an election for a successor will occur.

II: Election.

    Once the chosen successor and the kaiser mage successor have been deemed unfit, an election for a new successor to the kaiser mage title will take place with these stipulations.  

     1) Only those with considerable conduct in advancing studies of magic, humanity or justice are considered.

     2) Beyond that the people's own reviews of magicians will be considered.

     3) An election will be held with those who show after being invited. The staff will take the votes and the one who has the most will succeed the kaiser mage title.

Besides what is obvious, that was the gist of what Hydon told them, but there is still more. Those with malicious wills would more than likely exploit these guidelines, but in order to keep things balanced they had to be kept in the records.

     4) Magicans who have already been selected can decline the position and nominate someone else. The new nominee does not have to be a magician listed in the last will and testament.

     5) The new nominee does have to win at least 92% of the vote from all magicians present.

     6)  And then at least 70% of the vote of the people in a later election. If they are unable to do this, the election will be considered null and void and will be re-run from the beginning.

     7) The new kaiser mage will have to abide by the will of the people and will no longer be a 'free practitioner'.

     8) This will mean their former positions will be erased and they will have to relocate to 'Dover tower'. 

     9) By no means are the 'triad' to be considered for a post at any time whatsoever.

     10) Rule 9 goes for the staff closest to the kaiser mage. They are not to be considered for a post nor are they to be nominated.

III Kaiser mage select.

     The group will serve the new kaiser mage unless they are instead elected to the position. In which the others will then serve the elected member, however if they do not respond to the first call to action, they will have to undergo the same election process as other magicians. Despite this however;

     1) A member of the select automatically carries 40% of the vote should they appear.

     2) They do not have to be in the book to be voted on, nor do they have to be recommended.

     3) If they do ultimately decide to nominate someone else their 40 percent can be given to the new nominee.

IV: Successor.

     The successor deemed worthy by the current kaiser mage gets the position with no election necessary. They must however;

     1) Answer the call for the position within 48 hours.    

     2) If they do not answer they are immediately considered unfit for the position and cannot be nominated.

     3) They can turn down the position, but cannot be reconsidered for it for any reason whatsoever.

     4) If the person is unfit to be kaiser mage the kaiser mage elect will assist them until they are ready.

Hydon can all ready imagine what kind of tricks unscrupulous magicians would try if they found out about the section he had omitted. He's even positive that some of them already have an idea of these stipulations, but that doesn't matter now. He had made it sound like the current successor's life was in danger so that the search for this person would be considered a high priority, but in truth they'd probably just be kept somewhere for 48 hours and then released. The captors would want the election to happen no matter what, and they'd gain nothing from killing the successor since they can't be reconsidered once the time is up anyway.  So for now he could be assured that the current successor is alive, but the 48 hour deadline is creeping up upon him. Hydon will need to start the election process immediately, which means calling magicans from all over into Aerhaart. If it is an order from Acheron's staff, he knows some will come running willingly, while others would would begrudgingly saunter in at the last minute. Magicians are a capricious bunch, and while the new position of kaiser mage would grant them power, there are very few of them who would want to relocate to Aerhaart willingly, and give up on their freedoms just to have said power. Acheron had built this last will and testament in a way that would weed out those who are just power hungry and -hopefully elect someone who would be just. If not Hydon would eradicate the problem himself. He'd like to run, but the rules strictly forbid him from doing so, and besides such a position doesn't fit him. He is the sword of flames that rests in the sheath of the 'kaiser mage'. He's perfectly fine with being described as such, and will stand back to run the election with no complaints.

Meanwhile Iselia is surprised at how laid back Delaney is and doesn't hide it. She asks why he or one of his siblings doesn't just take the position? Delaney smirks and shakes his head. He had already said that he and his siblings can't do that, since it's written in the rules. If they do anything against the rules Hydon will metaphorically and literally have their heads. He's hella strong, and none of the three have a death wish. He then asks the teenage magician to give up her rights to the successor position, as that's why they're here. Aithene concurs, commenting that a while ago she might have had the power to oppose them, but now she's weak and by extension useless. She has no right to succeed their father anyway. He had written them out of his last will and testament, just like he hadn't been in their lives. Delaney comments that this is enough reason for them to ruin his legacy by turning the city where he headed his operations upside down. Iselia refuses to denounce her candidacy, as it would be her one way to make up for the maliciousness that had possessed her before. She had a feeling Acheron was priming her to be his successor, and she had gone with it at first to gain the power to enact her revenge. Now however, she would use her position to atone for her ignorance and hatred. They'd have better luck killing her before getting her to denounce her status.

Delaney sighs and raises his hands in surrender. He really didn't want it to come to this but, these things happen. He turns to the stoic Willard and asks him to begin 'Public relations plan number 1'. Willard stares down at his brother and his eyes glow from behind the oni mask. He does an about face and then walks out of the alleyway, all with the rigidness of an army soldier with a set of commands to follow. Iselia glances at Delaney questioningly, and he simply points in the direction that Willard went. Iselia looks back at Aithne who glances at her with the same detached look. She finally follows Willard and sees that he hasn't gotten far as two Police officers have stopped him to ask if he knows about the successor's whereabouts.

In response Willard strides over to the officers, and slams his fists into both of them. An electric shock wave pulses a wide breadth around him and the two go flying several feet, one slamming into the nearby patrol car which then bursts into flames, while the other hits a lamp, the force cracking his skull and bending the lamp's base. Iselia can only watch in horror as more authorities appear and circle Willard. She turns to Delaney and begs him to stop Willard, to which he asks her to denounce her candidacy. Iselia remains silent, and the audible screams of more police officers being killed echoes through the air. Aithne opens a pocket watch and states without emotion that there are still 36 hours left. Delaney glares at Iseila with a slasher's smile and asks Aithne how many people does she think will die in 36 hours?