A gray robed figure approaches the dais where the coveted WOW award rests. His features are obscured by the latest in the fashion of facial covering devices, the Cowl of Uninhibited Evil™. Slithering almost like a snake, which is quite difficult considering he has two more legs and feet than most belly crawling reptiles, he moves to touch the award. He glances to the left and sees the microphone. A thought crosses his mind. Yes, it might just work. An acceptance speech can be used to influence the minds of others into doing ones bidding.
“WritAARs, readAARs, and other assorted ruffians, lend me your ears. I come to accept an award for Secret Master, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred in their threads. So let it be with Secret Master. The noble grayghost hath told you Secret Master was ambitious in the writing of his AARs. If it were so, it were a grievous fault. And generously hath Secret Master been rewarded for it. Under leave of grayghost and the rest (for grayghost is an honorable man, so are they all), they do say that Secret Master was ambitious. That he hath brought many captured provinces to the capitol of his rulers in his AARs, and the ransom of his dead characters is enough to fill Rome’s great coffers full. Did Secret Master in this seem ambitious? When the widows in his threads hath cried, Secret Master wept. Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. I speak not to disprove what grayghost spoke, but here I am to speak what I do know. But yesterday, the word of Secret Master might have stood against the French, now he stands here with an award in his hand….”
The Messenger appears next to gray robed figure and speaks briefly. Words such as “not a eulogy for Caesar”, “it’s only an acceptance speech”, and “Bill will sue over plagiarism” can be heard issuing from the microphone.
Turning back to the audience, the figure whose face is behind the Cowl of Uninhibited Evil™ smiles. At least, he is probably smiling. It could be an evil sneer, or perhaps a befuddled grin. It’s really hard to tell with the lighting on the stage.
“I have just been informed that due to copyright infringement, this acceptance speech has to be ended. I will just say thanks, and everything is going according to plan. Stay tuned for further world domination updates.”
The award is snatched from the dais and disappears under the robe. The figure departs the stage, muttering, “They suspect nothing, and everything. It was a huge success.”