[center][b][u]Hall of Elders, Homestead, Lumenor,[/u][/b][/center]

The Hall of Elders was the most iconic structure in all of Homestead. It was a black, towering stone monolith, with sharp, straight edges and an architectural precision that mirrored the dedication to order that characterized the Lumen. The exterior of the building was windowless and featureless, spare a massive wrought-iron door that by law remained closed, locked and guarded during any and all meetings of the Elders. The featureless, soulless rectangle was a perfect representation of the ideal of law: clear and hard as rock, empty of emotional susceptibility or abstractness. Sadly, what went on inside of the Hall was rarely as orderly and structured as the exterior hoped to impose. Each of the Elders had their own goals to meet and agendas to see realized, and more often than not, one Elder's agenda might conflict with another. It was a guaranteed recipe for conflict.

"The project is advantageous to all..." began one tall, well-dressed member of the Hall as he rose from his seat. The Hall was organized so that there were fifteen members on either side of the Kuunin's seat; totalling thirty-one in all. Three of the seats were granted out by the Guildmasters of the Guild of Sailors of Silver Port. The Guildmasters themselves rarely occupied the seats. Usually they were filled by lesser-ranking representatives of the Guild, given clear indication beforehand of the Guild's stances on whatever topics were due to be discussed in the Hall. The Guild's seats were on the Kuunin's left side, accompanied by ten elected seats and two seats occupied by members of the Faith of the Light. The Faith was heavily involved in Lumen politics, integral to Lumen society as they were, and were granted two seats on either side of the Hall. Their seats on the Guild's side of the hall flanked the Guild's own seats. Similarly, their seats on the opposite end of the Hall flanked those granted to the Lumenistic Order. The Order, historically a militant component of the Faith, had evolved into Lumenor's de facto military force. The Kuunin held direct authority over the Order, capable of sending their men out as he saw fit, regardless of actions demanded by the Hall of Elders. The Guild had no likewise direct connection to the Kuunin, acting as an independent civilian trade organization that merely happened to have a reserved position in the Hall of Elders. Despite their independence, though, the Guild was at a political disadvantage due to their cool relations with the Faith, an organization that the Order had always been able to easily warm up to. This left the Guild dependent on the support of the elected officials in the Hall in order to get a motion passed. While in less scrupulous countries it might have been easy for a rich trade bloc like the Guild of Sailors of Silver Port to win the support of politicians, that was not the case in Lumenor. Any identifiable tie with the Guild would make the official in question very, very unpopular. The discipline of Lumen society made corruption a rare and scandalous occurrence. This usually meant that the Guild ended up having to use its silver tongue rather than the silver in its pockets to get the political wheels rolling.

The Guild representative continued with a handsome grin, "...Guild, Faith, Kuunin and Order alike. The economic advantages of the operation alone would facilitate a massive expansion of infrastructure in the country, which in turn would allow for an increased dividend of royal funds to be given to the Faith and Order, to perhaps allow another military excursion into the e-" A man on the opposite side of the Hall stood up and glared at the Guild representative, and at once he stopped speaking and rolled his eyes. The newly standing man was seated in a spot reserved for the Lumenistic Order, and his outfit made that all the more clear. He appeared dressed for battle, bereft only of his sword (weapons of any kind weren't allowed in the Hall) and his helmet, which rested on the small table in front of his seat. "I will have the Hall know that the Lumenistic Order does not require an increase in funds, and certainly not at the expense that the Guild is offering. Our men could have all of the Steppes conquered and subdued in a year. Furthermore, a monopoly on trade in Lake Etala would only further stunt the growth of enterprising independent merchants and fisheries in the Lake, and allow this corrupt farce of a trade union even more undo influence over the Lumen economy. Kotka won't stand for this. Let the Guild try to enforce a monopoly without Order men on their ships". The Guild representatives all narrowed their eyebrows as the warrior finished speaking and sat down. His two compatriots were clapping in support, alongside the Faith representatives and about half of the elected members of the Hall. The Guild and Order had a long-running feud.

The Kuunin rose, and immediately the Hall of Elders was silent and all eyes were upon him. Eetu Nevalainen was his name, and he was an eagle-eyed young King, with bright white short-cut hair, brilliant golden eyes and the most honest determination of any man in the room. Eetu's voice was slow and deliberate, but calming, and just authoritative enough not to seem patronizing. He was a perfect orator. "The Lumenistic Order has a duty to serve aboard Guild vessels enforcing their trade rights wherever the Hall has deemed them to exist. The forces that be in Kotka can not and will not ignore their obligation to the Kuunin, and in turn to the Guild of Sailors of Silver Port. With that said—I am opposed to the institution of a Guild monopoly on trade in Lake Etala. Although their monopoly in Lake Lairreen has been to the benefit of not only the Guild but all of Lumenor, I would not support the extension of such privileges to another region. Smaller fisheries and sailing outfits must be allowed to develop outside of Guild patronage, or we'll end up with a completely one-sided market and total Guild control. I cast my vote against the extension of the Guild trade monopoly to Lake Etala, but would like to reaffirm that the Lumenistic Order has a duty to grant its power of enforcement to Guild vessels operating within the confines of their legal privileges. It's time for a final count; all in favour and all opposed?"

The count numbered nine for and twenty-two against. The Guild representatives grumbled, but in discontentment rather than defiance. It didn't take long for the doors of the Hall to be swung open, and the Elders to quickly file themselves out. Another day in the Hall of Elders.