Simon had spent most of the council session meditating. He was perhaps among the youngest of the magi assembled in the room, but he appeared as their elder. Like most man in his twilight years, wrinkles and grey may adorn his face, as many testaments of past laughter or tears. If not for the stigmata on his skin, glowing mystical symbols that were slowly shifting as his thoughts wandered. Suddenly, he smiled as he thought:
"More often than not, the truth is not what it appears to be. Anyone entering this room at this moment would be dumbfounded to learn that we are all approximately the same age."
However, the conversation was moving on, and he wanted to be heard:
"Fellow magi, and archmagi. I agree that we should delay the decision on how the land shall be ruled until after we have explored it. Perhaps, however I should let you know where I stand. Some of you have mentioned that we should rule over the land as nobles do here in Europe, and I firmly disagree. This ... system is so unjust! It is designed so that the powerful take advantage of the weak; either by the force of arms, in our case, eventually, by our magic."
The Criamon suddenly stops, interrupted by a violent bout of cough, which eventually subsides.
"History repeats itself, cycle after cycle, this is inevitable. However, we are fortunate enough that in this one, we can lean of the experience of our ancestors. In my apprenticeship, perhaps as you did, I learned of Rome, Athens, Corinth, and many more. For a while, at least, before the succumbed to strife, to the rise of tyrants and emperors, they were governed by citizens, tfree men. It is my deepest belief, that Atlantis should be governed this way."
After unfolding a parchment he had kept near his seat, he says:
"Before we do raise the island, there is something that I want all of you to hear, words that the wise Plato once wrote about. Excuse me, as I would probably not render them justice as this great man would certainly have, but let me try nonetheless:
[i]"For many generations, as long as the divine nature lasted in them, they were obedient to the laws, and well-affectioned towards the god, whose seed they were; for they possessed true and in every way great spirits, uniting gentleness with wisdom in the various chances of life, and in their intercourse with one another. They despised everything but virtue, caring little for their present state of life, and thinking lightly of the possession of gold and other property, which seemed only a burden to them; neither were they intoxicated by luxury; nor did wealth deprive them of their self-control; but they were sober, and saw clearly that all these goods are increased by virtue and friendship with one another, whereas by too great regard and respect for them, they are lost and friendship with them.
However, the Atlanteans became corrupt as:
...when the divine portion began to fade away, and became diluted too often and too much with the mortal admixture, and the human nature got the upper hand, they then, being unable to bear their fortune, behaved unseemly, and to him who had an eye to see grew visibly debased, for they were losing the fairest of their precious gifts; but to those who had no eye to see the true happiness, they appeared glorious and blessed at the very time when they were full of avarice and unrighteous power. [/i]
Let us heed this warning, so that our doesnt have the same fate."
OOC: Yes this is a copy/paste from wikipedia. I though that would be relevant 