The retirees meeting was a celebration, as well as a ritual. Every esteemed member of the Howard Family would participate.
Gathered together, they drank and made merry, praising Roy Howard's abilities, admiring his contributions, and thanking him for his sacrifices to the family. In essence, the occasion was a grand facade, designed to gracefully strip Roy Howard of his power while all maintained a facade of harmony and happiness.
Except for Damian Howard and two aged great-uncles who stayed behind due to poor health, nearly every other person of note in the Howard Family was in attendance.
And then, an unexpected explosion claimed the lives of all these people!
If the Howard Family was a juicy piece of meat, then its members were like wolves guarding it. Now, with the majority of the pack gone, how could they protect this meat?
In the wake of such a disaster, the Howard Family was bound to be unstable for a long time.