Told by Yin Zhizhen, Steward of the Vigilance Pavilion
The Inkbound Order holds the Ten Sages in highest honor, with the Twin Mavens standing foremost among them, and the Laureate taking precedence over the Champion. Save for the Twin Mavens, the remaining eight Sages are ranked neither above nor below one another. All matters great and small within the Order are brought before the Ten Sages in joint deliberation. Should any dispute arise, the Ten Sages are convened to reach a collective resolution. Should a seat among the Ten Sages fall vacant, the sitting Sages are gathered to select a worthy soul from within the Order to fill it. As for the succession of the Laureate and the Champion, three conditions must be met: first, nomination by the preceding Laureate; second, unanimous approval from the Ten Sages; third, the candidate must have rendered distinguished service to the Inkbound Order. The Inkbound Order is not lacking in talent - yet those truly fit to serve among the Ten Sages are exceedingly few. By this system of selection, the Order holds to the principle of leaving a seat empty rather than filling it poorly, and in the end, only the truly worthy are chosen - to the wholehearted accord of all.
