Lin

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First impression: Warm and inviting, like a freshly baked pie crust...until you bite into it, and find there's nothing but crumbly dryness left on your tongue.

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Born into a family of high class snappers (The House of ---), her family is among the council of O' Clock in the Light situated city of ---- (some time name or something).

Each member a head of household and originally voted upon to be a collective of inner circle leaders, they all receive a number that precedes the title O' Clock to remain anonymous to the public and when holding ballots. They work just underneath a single ruler, currently the Empress, and are utilized by said ruler as advisors as a way for decision-making for each city sector.

Once a member grows too old to continue serving the council (or suddenly and tragically expires before their time), they pass the nomination onto their child, who will then the go through the scrutinizing process of being judged by the remaining council members and later the city's ruler.

In the case that there is not one but several children, they must compete against each other. Not for their parents' favor, but that of the council's. Of course, if a child (only or not) remains uninterested in the position, the position will then go toward either of their siblings (if they have them), or up to non-blood related candidates.

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There are 12 positions that are regularly filled and aligned with the amount of city sectors. A council position has not remained empty for longer than 6 months on record.

This is due to how the judging works, as the candidates at present must complete a set of trials called The Quarterlies. They measure skills of governing, warfare, diplomacy, debate, composition, calligraphy, and of course, winning the favor of the public. Candidates are allotted the same amount of time to complete these qualifications in any order, with the deadline lasting up to 6 months if necessary.

The performance of quarterlies in front of the council usually take up to 2 weeks to review before they are given a 'grade', consisting of any of the following below:

Acceptable - A Good score
Pass - An Okay score
Undecided - The council is unsure and will need to garner a third party vote (usually the ruler)
Improvement - Candidate should consider trying again
Unacceptable - Candidate needs to try again

The council is not unforgiving of a botched Quarterly, and the candidates are encouraged to try again multiple times, but not without a limit of 4 attempts total.

As long as a Candidate receives at least a passing grade of 5/7 they will be considered up for review personally by the ruler. There will be time to teach any sub-par qualities to the fledgling council member in the near future.

If they receive less than the required 5/7 mark (such as having too many 'improvement' scores), they will have to under go a repetition of all quarterlies within their remaining time-frame.

However, if any candidate should receive more than 3/7 scores of 'unacceptable', they will automatically be rejected from the list of candidates. It shall also be formally requested by the council that the individual in question not participate again in the quarterlies, since they will be removed from the area as they are no longer considered qualified for any council position.

This ban will last for 10 years, period, and is thought to be a dishonor for any family of status.

Individuals not originating from the wealthy class are not excluded from entering the quarterly proceedings, but it is much more unlikely the council will (inwardly) approve of their choice to enter until the candidate's skills are made apparent.

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Governing: Acceptable
Warfare: Pass
Debate: Acceptable
Diplomacy: Pass
Composition: Acceptable
Calligraphy: Pass
Public Favor: Undecided

6/7. It was just the score she was hoping to receive. She could have sworn she might have gotten another acceptable lingering between warfare and diplomacy, but no matter. A pass was a pass, after all. Granted, her calligraphy was not the best due to her large form, and she absent-mindedly wished she had been born a pearlcatcher. Surely those slender wrists, those delicate, sharp claws would have given her an acceptable score...

But what Lin continued eyeing on her score sheet was not calligraphy, it was public favor. Just how could she have gotten an undecided? She was wonderful with words, her scores of debate and composition proved such.

Now, she would not be under review for her father's council position just yet. First, she would have to undergo review for public favor. Though both would gain her a chance to further aquaint herlsef with the Empress, Lin was not fond of her impression being marred by this minor setback.

An undecided. Please.

She could not help but roll her eyes at the thought, while reflecting on her short comings. She was a good speaker, a good listener, and even better at quick thinking. She was persistent, she was convincing, she was friendly. So where did she go wrong?

Could it be...?

Could it really have been something as trivial as...

Her looks?

Admittedly, Lin had been considered rather plain most of her life, much to her dismay. Her hair was not long, her skin was not ornate. Her uneven, smattered surface was not considered beautiful. Her freckles were not considered beautiful.

She thought of her brother, who was also a candidate in the running for their father's retired position. He was born with the same freckles. But he was much more vibrant, with an exotic banding to boot. Did they, the people of the empire, really prefer his looks more? Lin was dull in comparison, but in Light that wasn't necessary a bad thing.

She thought of her father, aged, burly, and Earthen in origin. Distinguished. He had a rich dark hue about him, but he wasn't a super model by any means. Lin supposed it was because he not only acted trustworthy, but looked the part as well. First impressions are important, if she looked one way did it not matter how she acted?

She thought of her mother, a slender pearlcatcher. A gem in her name and a gem atwinkle in her father's eye. She too was vibrant, and a child of the Lightweaver herself. No one could think her ugly.

Though Lin bore resemblance to her father, he was still well liked among the populace. Perhaps there was conflict on whether his daughter resembled Earth more than Light. Both flights revered history and the act of preserving it, but...Where Earth valued tradition, Light valued progress, and using the knowledge one gained to improve one's self.

Well, she would show them. Make sure no one had doubts that she advocated for improving the empire, for success instead of stagnation! Most of all, she would prove to the Empress that she was fit to be apart of Her Council.

Except there was still one little detail...

Her brother. Yugo. If he succeeded in getting a 6/7, they would still be in the running against each other. What if the Empress favored him? The people? What if he made a better first impression?

What if...

What if he got a higher score than her? A 6/7, but with more acceptables? A 7/7? Was that even possible?

Was Yugo better than her, in one way or another? It didn't matter what category, it only had to be one.

This would not do. At all. She had worked so hard to get where she was!

Well.

Let's not get carried away.

He hasn't even finished his Quarterlies.

Not like she had.

When the time came and he got his score, she could have worried over nothing. He might not even try to retake them. He knew how important this was for her. There was no confirmation that Yugo would excel beyond her.

Lin didn't have to act drastically.

Yet.

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Empress Omen and "Number Six" Councilman Bratwurst discussion, is it overheard?

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Wip

council corruption - bribery? Where the "You'll vote for me, right?" Quote comes from.
Hints at Omen's request for Bratwurst to retire, which he never reveals to his family due to the intentions of her request are to find a surrogate Heir to the Empire via a new young council member (one of his children)
This is a secret plan Omen is planning on her own, without the Council's approval or knowledge.
Lin frames Yugo and he is imprisoned? Or sent to serve Stormcatcher. Public is told it has become his new devotional calling and goes of his own regard. Or maybe they're told he decided to go on a spiritual pilgrimage and ended up staying, finding new purpose with Stormcatcher. Maybe Lin hires someone to kidnap him and send him to Lightning against his will?

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