A dark, candlelit room, its block stone walls decorated with bookcases and tapestries filled occult symbols.
In the center of a room is an old, rectangular wooden table and around it sit figures wearing dark hooded cloaks, speaking with hushed voices.
They all go quiet as another cloaked figure enters, smoke trailing from its head. They watch as it slowly walks and sits on the head of the table.
In the twilight of the candles and the shadow of his hood, his face cannot be seen. There is only a long wooden smoking pipe coming out of the darkness of his face. The figure takes a deep breath from its pipe, proving that it indeed has lungs and it is not a mere shadow taking the form of a man. The illumination the burning tobacco in the pipe provides gives a chance to the most astute of the men gathered around the table to glimpse the smoker's features. Bluish skin. An eye patch. A big black nose.
The man exhales, releasing a puff of smoke before getting up and addressing the men around the table.
Welcome, friends, to another gathering of The league of Nikitian's friends. I am Nikitian, founder of-
Nikitian is interrupted by one of the men around the table who raises his hand and begins speaking without waiting for permission.
"Uuuhh, excuse me sir, but why do we always have to say that when we begin a meeting? We all know who you are and why we're here. We meet here every week to plot taking over the world. I think everybody in this room knows this by now."
That, my dear Abbradar, is a matter of safety. Nikitian replies calmly.
"How does that improve safety?" asks the man with disbelief. "Plus, what's with the cloaks? We all know who each other is, why do we have to hide our faces? I can hardly see with this thing."
It is a matter of secrecy. Nikitian continues calmly, almost joyously.
"What secrecy? You just said my name! You just said your name!" the man says incredulously, almost yelling now.
Ah, now, you see my friend, it is a way to see if anyone is willing to ask those kinds of questions. A way to expose a man who doesn't fully commit himself to this Legue, a man who doesn't value our secrets and could betray us with the right incentive. Only that kind of man would dare question my choices. Your inability to realize this saddens me, for it proves you are that man. Nikitian's voice reaches an ominous crescendo as he retrieves a wooden cane from the underside of the table.
And that is why you have failed me! He hits the floor with it, embedding the cane in one of the holes there, forming a lever.
For the last time! Nikitian exclaims as he pulls the lever, the malicious joy audible in his voice.
A trapdoor opens under the chair of the man sitting next to the 'traitor'. The man who is now left with no floor beneath him can only watch in horror and scream as he falls. His scream can be heard for several seconds, altered by the echoes of the narrow tunnel, before it suddenly cuts off and the trapdoor closes, leaving only perfectly smooth floor behind.
"Errr, sir?" Abbradar says, pointing to the now empty spot besides him. "That was Lw, sir. I'm still here."
Yeah, well, I can't see a thing with this hood. Nikitian says with a handwave.
Anyway, on with today's main topic of discussion. Our plans are coming along nicely...