As you walk through the city it is quiet and the moon is covered but the city has always been well lit, in this section by magic.
Aianna says to you: "Master Asinjin, as I am sure you know little escapes my notice and I learned what I could of you once I heard your name announced but what little I have heard does not encourage me to share information with you. So I can only judge you by your companions and as Lord Arishimoto is a man of honor and a true servant of good, though, she turns to Ari, somewhat lacking in etiquette, so I see no harm in explaining the Council of Succession. This will be the third such Council. The first occurred during the War of Technology when the heir was too young to take the throne. The second when the High King was so incompetent, and possibly corrupt that there was call for his removal. The Council is made up of the heads of the high noble families and the lesser monarchs. There are currently 16 high noble houses. There had been 13 for many years but Darscon elevated three families from noble to high noble status. Traditionally the Grandmaster of the Knights of the White Sword would be on the council, but there has been no Grandmaster in generations. Likewise the Lord Protector would sit but there is no Lord Protector, as Lord Thanis resigned his position. Finally the High Cleric of Stasis sits on the council as well.
It is not an election. The heralds and scribes present the royal line as it exists to the council and then they review each candidate beginning with the closest blood relation. At this point there maybe a dozen relations of equal claim so they will each be evaluated. A two thirds vote is needed to eliminate a candidate completely and a unanimous vote is needed for selection. Relations can be eliminated, or simply passed over, for a variety of reasons including gender, religion, especially true since Baliol, Cleric of the Oldest Orc reigned during the War of Technology, profession and personal history. On the whole the Councils have fared well but this will be as important as the first, perhaps more so."