Max

When he was done Mendax moved off of the main platform and it began rotating anti-clockwise. The platform was only about 4 meters in diameter with hundreds of small runes engraved into its surface to create the rough outline of Nine giant entities.

These were the marks that belonged to each of the Nine and by the time the platform came to a stop after nine full rotations, each mark was in front of their respective attendants.

Mendax walked around the platform, taking extra care not to step inside it anymore while he orated the recently transpired events.

"The five that could not make it here today have also entered their own respective candidates for the ritual, but as we are all aware, unless they are present in person we can neither attest to their abilities nor loyalty. Therefore, they will only be present as witnesses to the rest!" he clicked his heels twice and the center of the platform opened up.