041: beard

"Order! Order! This council shall come to order!"

The slamming of the gavel echoed throughout the cavernous hall, as the various members of the assembly, startled out of conversation by the sudden thunder, turned their attention to the towering marble podium. Within mere moments, the clamor and cacophony amidst the rows upon rows of seats silenced, as each individual, in unison, began stroking their various lengths of facial hair.

"The Council of the Beard shall begin its annual meeting in earnest," spoke an older gentleman from the podium, his own beard longest of any present. "We have much to discuss..."