You are the leader of the People of the Dark [vampires, liches, and all other undead]. You are loyal, honest, trustworthy, and caring -- for anyone who is of the People of the Dark. Everyone else is food. You feel as much moral obligation to a living creature as a human being does to a cheeseburger.

You've worked and planned for thousands of years in order to lead up to this evening's events. Here some of the pieces of the puzzle that you're bringing together:

• With hints and encouragement, you forced the rapid development of the human race. You did this specifically to irritate Gaia to call for an early Meeting. She's actually calling for it a little earlier than you expected; you thought it would take another century of wars, overpopulation, and loud music to get her to scream, "Enough!"
• You know all the secrets of the People of Fire (in fact, you know everyone's secrets; the People of the Dark lurk in every shadow). You can use this information however you like: you can blackmail Grimtooth into doing anything you want, or you can have his secrets revealed -- and if the People of Fire are forced out of the Cycle, you intend to take their place.
• You interfered with the training of the representatives of almost all the races, and intercepted or mis-routed as many invitations as you could. As a result, almost everyone at the Meeting is completely unaware of why they're there or what they're supposed to do. You couldn't entirely stop people from coming -- the force associated with a Meeting is too strong for that -- but you can make them think they're going to a birthday party instead.
• You have arranged for the removal of, and stole the rings from, powerful adversaries who would have otherwise opposed you at the Meeting.

• Taurus, leader of the People of the Hills [Minotaurs, Centaus, etc.] was killed by one of your servants during a raid by barbarian humans.
• Titania, leader of the People of the Mists [Fairies], was tricked into drinking a potion that turned her into a baby.
• Belladonna Took, leader of the People of the Burrows [Hobbits], was killed by a slow poison.
• Argelius, the leader of the People of the Plains [Rakkarins], was killed when his house was looted and burned.
• Darius, leader of the People of the Air [Elves], was driven insane by an drug that you addicted him to.

• You have created the entire notion of "vampire chic," the romance of the undead, "ghouls are cool," Goths... you don't care what the humans call it. What matters is that the People of the Trees no longer fear the People of the Dark. They will not be bothered by the notion that your race will become part of the Cycle. You can even manipulate them, holding out the possibility of making them into an undead slave as a reward.

  (Humans are so easy to manipulate; that's why you picked them for your plot to take over the earth. You don't have to use any mystical powers of domination; just whisper into their ear, "Betray those you love! Murder your friends! Sell your soul for money!" and they do it. They are such a wonderfully stupid food.)

• By sending false messages, you have arranged for some of the people at the Meeting to perform according to your will:

• Neo the assassin (disguised as a 12-year-old boy) thinks he's working for a US government organization called Bureau 13. If someone gives him the pass-phrase "The Bureau sent me," (he will respond "Then keep the wardrobe shut") he'll think he's getting orders from the Bureau.
• John Steed and Emma Peel are agents of British Intelligence. If they receive the pass-phrase "How's mother been lately?" (they will respond, "She's stuck on the roof and she can't get back down") they'll think their getting orders from "Mother", their boss.
• Puck thinks she's following the orders of Oberon, King of the Fairies (and husband to Titania). If she receives the pass-phrase "The petal of the rose hath many virtues," (she will respond, "And love is the least of them") she'll think she's getting more orders from Oberon.

• A minor detail: One of your vampire servants, Vanessa, fell in love with a human named Priscilla Purple (there's no accounting for taste). At her request, you've commanded Neo to kill every one of her husbands until Vanesa can claim her for her own.

Your overall strategy is to control the Meeting. You will arrange to have two motions put before the representatives:

1. The People of the Dark shall be permitted to join the Cycle of Races. You'll give the impression that the People of the Dark won't get a chance at custody of the world for another billion years or so.
2. The People of Fire are removed from the Cycle of Races. If it seems appropriate, you might instead blackmail Gnasher Grimtooth into giving up all claim to custody when the People of the Trees are forced out by Gaia.

The result: With the People of the Trees out of the way, and with the People of Fire forbidden to take their place, there will be only one race ready to take over the world: yours. The other races (the Peoples of the Sea, Plains, Desert, Burrows, etc.) are either already retired or are not yet ready.

If this plan doesn't work, you're not concerned. You've got other plans that will come to fruition at a later time. But for now, the People of the Dark are prepared to feast tonight!