Topic: Anti-Magic Proposition Response

Fiona ONeill

Date: 2013-01-31 20:38 EST
Bristle Crios sent out letters to its friends, members, leaders, the staff of its school, and those that lived on the grounds. The letter addressed many people's concerns regarding the recent anti-magic campaign.

On Monday, January 21, 2013, Rakeesh Sah Tarna, Baron of Old Temple, requested a proposition be addressed at the Government Advisory Council. His proposition would cause citizens to be screened to identify magic users. Anyone identified as such would be forced to register under the passed law. In 2009, a similar proposition was made, Proposition 37, which would have mandated the registration of all magic-users, officially called the Mage and Enchanter Registration Act (M.E.R.A.) Then Governor, Matt Simon, released his own response against Proposition 37. It was turned down before becoming law.

Bristle Crios encourages everyone to refrain from considering this a valid threat until this current anti-magic campaign goes further. We discourage our staff, members, and guests from making any hostile actions against anyone on either side of this matter, on and off the Bristle Crios grounds. We ask that you never reveal a magically known Bristle Crios member to anyone outside of Bristle Crios. Bristle Crios will continue to be a safe haven for all, just as it has always been. Our compound, located in the forest north of the marketplace, is outside of the city walls. Although Bristle Crios currently complies with city laws as much as possible for many reasons, it will not give the identities of magic users or any other specific group of persons in its care to the authorities under any circumstances. Grounds security will be increased during the proposal's consideration, with extra security around Mage House and the Mage Hall of the Bristle Crios Academy.

OOC: If you have any thoughts or concerns, please contact Miranda Branson or Fiona ONeill via PM. We always welcome support and new storylines from all. Please feel free to add to this thread regarding your characters' thoughts, responses, and related storylines.

Read more of this SL at http://rdi.dragonsmark.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=174066#174066

Rakeesh

Date: 2013-02-01 19:57 EST
((The Baron of the Old Temple District finally broke public silence on his position regarding this issue. Two public addresses were made in one day, partly in defense of the challenge of one Jay Capistrano to his Barony.))

Warlord,

Once your challenge is approved, I will be happy to defend against you, as is your right. It is an interesting propaganda machine that casts me as a villain for expressing the opinion that we track magic users in Rhy'Din. Many of my dearest friends are magic-users. However, magic can be dangerous, and registering those with dangerous weapons is an important step - I believe - to keeping the streets safe from those who would misuse their abilities.

Or does no one here remember Myr'Khul, Drakhar Vanion Shadowcast and his mage-army's genocide of the Catholics within my district' I assure you that those families torn apart in the Old Temple District remember those events. Greater awareness and understanding of wicked individuals like Vanion and Shakira could have saved many lives.

And so is my reasoning. I suspect that were I a Loyal Baron to the Overlady, my beliefs would not have been spun into this portrayal of me as a bigot.

I am a defender and a believer in the good in people. But weapons are weapons, and those who cannot defend themselves deserve our sincere efforts to protect them against those who would murder them in the streets.

Sincerely, Rakeesh Sah Tarna Baron of the Old Temple District

——

Injured and Aggravated Parties,

Surely, atrocity can be committed by a man, or woman, or elf - or mage. I vehemently oppose violence committed against innocent lives. And yet, I will not disregard my stance on this subject. There is no weapon capable of such destruction as magic. It exists purely on a tier of its own.

I have read that, in some worlds, it is not uncommon to demand the registration of particularly dangerous weapons, such as guns, or even swords. To me, magic is both the most wonderful thing that exists in this world - and the most dangerous.

Let us know who wields the power to destroy cities, worlds. Knowledge is our greatest shield against the horror that can be magic unchecked.

And so too, let us act with wisdom and not bring violence upon our neighbors, whether they be Powerless or Mage.

I will defend my Barony again and again to propagate my beliefs. Despite Tass' claims, the common folk of my district - and all of Rhy'Din - deserve our aid in this.

Never forget Shakira. Never forget Vanion. Vigilance and compassion for all citizens are the way forward.

Your Public Servant, Rakeesh Sah Tarna

Ammy Spiritor

Date: 2013-02-02 17:00 EST
Issued quietly to the head of the Bristle Crios Academy and the Coven was a formal letter in Ammy's hand writing and sealed with her personal seal as well as the seal of the Senior Governor of Den City. Within is a short notice.

~It is with a heavy heart that I must see these events coming to light again in our realms. While I am still the acting Senior Governor of the Den City and a valued teacher of the Bristle Crios Academy I am informing both the Academy and the Coven that you have our support.

I have passed a neutrality act on Lupinossai territory. Den City and Fang Wood Academy will harbor anyone feeling threatened if they cannot make it to your facilities safely. We will convey them magically to your grounds from there. We share your caution and concern about the events and how they play out. No actions will be made and all citizens have been informed to refrain from participation in any riots Rhydin may create. The Lupinossai citizens watch with you all and offer safe harbor. May the storm blow into gentle seas once more.~

Ammy Spiritor, Senior Governor of Den City, Diplomat of Fang Wood Academy.

The letter would end with a small hank of Ammy's glowing crimson hair. A sure sign of her sincerity.

Arthour

Date: 2013-02-02 21:05 EST
Seeing the Announcement by the Baron of Old Temple. Arthour stormed into his office at Mage House, locked the door and ordered no one disturb him. The glare in his eyes had been enough to convince people that it would be a very bad idea to do so. He had a copy of the Baron's recent announcement in his hands.... There was no apology. Nothing along those lines. No remorse for the mages killed because of this, nothing about the dragon killed just....Shear, pure a** covering!! That was all it was!

He took a deep breath, settling into his chair behind his desk and glared at a hard copy of both the announcements on his desk. Okay, he'd admit it. Here in the privacy of his own mind right here and now......He couldn't fault it. Tracking those who wielded dangerous weapons was a good idea, and he'd seen the same thing before, mages that were part of a guild were the only recognised ones, those who weren't....Well...And being able to know the person who misuses their powers would be a great way of stopping such atrocities. Arthour had never heard of the mages that the Baron named in his announcement, they clearly had been before his time, just as Proposition 37 had. But....

Reading on, the Baron stated that ' weapons are weapons '....If Arthour knew one thing, then it was that he was NO damned weapon!! He was a person, freethinking and acting, his magic wasn't exactly a weapon ether! Yes, he could kill with it, just as anyone can with their own bear hands!! and yet....A person can do wonders with their hands too, just as Arthour could with his fire magic, his origami was proof of that! But what stopped him from using his powers to do bad things" Threat of reprisal" That Watch' To a degree, yes. But what also stayed his hand was Morals. A sense of right and wrong. Honour. That's what.

Three mages....Murdered in the street, in cold blood. Because of this proposition. Where was the Baron's wish to defend them' What of their families" What of those with magical skills who can't defend themselves ether" Those who chose a path of Peace!...But are prosecuted and attacked regardless, by those that supported the registration act.



' Injured and Aggravated Parties. ' Indeed.....Just as many crimes were committed by people who used knives, swords and other weapons. Real. Actual weapons. Magic was on a tire of it's own and those who practised it were as well. Not 'above' or 'aloof' compared to those who had no magic, and certainly not better....But Mages were held to a higher standard than many people, and many held themselves to that regard. More was expected of them than what many people thought, to use their magic appropriately and safely, to help and heal. They were often looked upon to be a force of calm in the storm, and when one mage want bad....It spoiled the bunch.

And still, even here....While reading through those announcements again....Arthour could find not one, single, sign of remorse for those killed. Oh, he spoke of being ' a defender and a believer in the good in people. ' But it was clear. All he saw in a mage was a threat. All he could see was a weapon, not a person but something to fear and hate. There wasn't an attempt to separate the good from the bad. This mage 'Shakira' was clearly the meter stick by which the Baron of the Old Temple judged all mages, and deemed them all below par......In almost every paragraph, there was at some point a statement that Mages were weapons. Or that they were bad. Or that they must be tracked, because of something someone else did.

Well...Arthour was an upstanding citizen of the community. He was the current Mage House Leader of Bristle Crios. It was time to find out how much political power he had because of that. Standing, he straightened his tunic, collected his cloak and left the office. Leaving the House and heading for home, he made a mental note. He would, with no shadow of a doubt, be attending the GAC meeting on the second Monday of February. He would argue against the Act, and whatever else came his way.

There was no chance he would allow this thing to pass......If he did.....It would mean leaving Rhy'Din. Not permanently, but he and Mai...And their child, would never live there. Not with something like that hanging over them. Walking down the street, brazen and unafraid, his sword on clear display, he had fire in his eyes and dangerous tick to his step as he went.

Rakeesh

Date: 2013-02-03 13:39 EST
The following public announcement was distributed throughout the city, to the press - and to the Mage House.

Citizens of Rhy'Din,

After reviewing the transcripts from the last GAC Meeting, which I was unfortunately unable to attend, it has come to my attention that my proposition was not taken seriously - nor was my proposal read in the context of which it was sent. At the bottom of this announcement is the proposal as sent, with my reasoning for putting it forth. To note is that I am not suggesting a city-wide mandate at this time, but specifically a mandate for the Old Temple District, where investigation has led me to believe that there may be a significant and dangerous faction of mages in hiding.

To show my good-will, I will defend my Barony against Jay Capistrano on Saturday, February 9th at 10pm on Twilight Isle . Should I defend my position yet again, I will hold a public forum thereafter where I will be happy to answer any questions and concerns regarding my proposal.

I believe that the Overlady, Candy Hart, and her loyal Barons of the other districts have distorted my proposal and are using it as political leverage; their fear-mongering tactics should not be ignored, as innocent people have died from this ignorance. As the only renegade Baron, I hold a responsibility to offer an alternative to their politicking - and to the good people of the Old Temple District who have suffered enough throughout the years.

I intend to defend the challenge to my station with sword, pen and word. I intend to protect the people of the Old Temple District with faith and dedication, whether it be from ignorant bigotry or from Myr'Khulian conspiracy.

Your Public Servant, Rakeesh Sah Tarna Baron of the Old Temple District

————

The letter below is an exact copy of the original proposal, as sent to the GAC prior to the last meeting.

Good day, effendi,

I, Rakeesh Sah Tarna, Baron of the Old Temple District, would like to submit for your agenda a widely ignored issue in the heart of the Old Temple District. As you may, or may not know, just five years ago the district's streets ran red with blood as a religious war between the Catholics and the Temple of Myr'Khul ensued. It was nearly a genocide, perpetrated by Myr'Khul and its spiritual leaders - many of them mages.

I have noticed, upon returning to my seat, a rise in the number of magic-users in the Old Temple community. I suspect, gravely, that after Myr'Khul was forced to disband, war-criminals and monsters may be hiding in the community, pretending to be regular people.

I believe that it is necessary to bring in some powerful aid in this matter. We need to spend the coin necessary to run screens in the streets of the Old Temple District to scan for magic-users. Then, I believe that if we take down their names, not only can we keep track on them to avoid future conflicts, I can investigate their backgrounds to ensue that old war criminals and perpetrators of genocide are not hiding within our community.

Humbly yours, Rakeesh Sah Tarna The Baron of the Old Temple District

Wanda

Date: 2013-02-03 18:18 EST
This was Copied to Bristle Crios by virtue of her bond with Kaius.

Rakeesh Sah Tarna;

Magic-user Registration....Scanning for magic-users. This was done on my world....It was called the Mutant Registration Act. The MRA allowed for scanning and neutralization of people with an X-tra gene.

I watched whole families gathered up into internment camps. I watch children slaughtered for being born with an X-tra Gene. I have experienced prejudice and hatred for being born different.

I call to all reasonable Citizen's to cast down this proposition.

This will lead to a bad end. I have seen this happen once in my lifetime. This has happened twice in My father's lifetime and both times it did not protect the people.

At least 6 million people have died from such ill advised attempts.

Those who do not learn from History are doomed to repeat it.

Wanda Lensherr The Scarlet Witch Mutant Sorceress

Apple

Date: 2013-02-03 21:39 EST
Baron Rakeesh,

Fear-mongering? The only one causing fear in this community is you, Baron. Differences is what makes this city thrive, and putting a boundary on one group of individuals will do nothing but hurt all in the end. Many have said this already, but what would stop others from demanding registrations and citing your proposition as reason to allow for it' Those like you, Rakeesh, could be targeted. Those like my partner, an Elf, could be targeted simply because they are different. As long as I hold a seat on the GAC I will vocally oppose all propositions that strip the rights of others.

A hunch or personal vendetta against the Myr'Khul faction is no reason to take a citizens right to anonymity.

The Baroness of Seaside, Andrea Anderson

Lahan

Date: 2013-02-03 23:33 EST
A letter, dictated by Lahan Freya, Ley Line Witch of Mage House and written by a helpful mage was sent to the head of Mage House, one Arthur to let her often silent voice be heard on the matter at hand.

~Dear Arthur, Head of Mage House,

I write this letter in hopes that you will see it made public to the Bristle Crios Coven. Oft times I remain quiet and pensive in this Coven. This matter moves me to make a sound.

I wish to let people know that my own personal Coven was well known to the village I hail from. Every sister and witch known by name, deed and ability. We did what we must and helped the village many times. We were known far and wide beyond that village. You could say we were registered without it being set in stone.

All it did was mark us for as the nearest target for religious persecution. My Coven was burnt to the ground. I am the sole survivor because men who could not understand magic feared it as something vile, evil and heathenish. The Coven was not spared.

Registration offers nothing. No guarantees to peace, protection or life. Was the woman who murdered the three mages registered as a lethal weapon' No, she was not. Did she escape freely' No she did not. I applaud the Watch for not tolerating people who believe they are above the law to kill as they wish. I also applaud my fellow beings who show mercy to each other.

You all must keep this in mind. Light and darkness, good or evil, the power to let live or kill rests in the hands of every living being magical or not. If you wish to stop the killing, the harm, the hate, the persecution stay your own hands first before trying to shackle a strangers hand. Respect each other and show the other person the respect you want.

Regards in the Weave of Magic, Lahan~

Arthour

Date: 2013-02-06 07:04 EST
::Lahan's letter was copied and put up on every Notice Board within Mage House for all to see, as well as being made available to be seen by anyone visiting the Bristle Crios Coven grounds. There was also a message of his own added for all to read::

To the members of Mage House, Bristle Crios and any who read this,

I have thus far kept my own silence in the issue of the Mage Registration Proposal put forward to the Governor's Advisory Council by Rakeesh Sah Tarna, The Baron of the Old Temple District. However, I now find myself compelled to say a few things about this issue.

Firstly, I wish to extend my condolences to the families of the three murdered mages, on behalf of Bristle Crios, Mage House and personally. I have every wish that the murderers are brought to justice with all haste and have every confidence in the Watch, and the Officers investigating the crimes. I am disappointed to find that I appear to be the First to have done so publicly.



Secondly, I would like to assure all the members of Mage House, that I intend to personally attend the Governor's Advise Council where the proposal will be discussed and argue against it if I must, even the Governor herself has denounced the proposal so I doubt that there will be much need for anyone to argue against it, but I will be there regardless not only for that purpose, but also for another. The Baron says he was unable to put forward his proposal as he wanted it, due to being absent at the last GAC meeting. I would therefore wish to hear out the full proposal in the Baron's own words, I will not comment on whether his words have been twisted or not as that will not matter if he should choose to voice his proposal himself. While I feel the Baron has the right to make proposals for the betterment of his people, and in an attempt to protect them from further harm, I can not agree with this proposal, nor the way in which the Baron went about it. I have every hope that the war criminals Baron Rakeesh of the Old Temple District fears are hiding with in the community are brought to justice, and again, I offer the condolences of Bristle Crios to the victims.



I have one final point I wish to make to all member of Bristle Crios and any who may read this notice.

Even if the proposal for Mage Registration were put forward, passed and ratified as law and then enforced, no member of Mage House would be at threat of being turned over to the authorities responsible for collecting the registrations as they would not have the power to force us to hand over any member of this House. We are outside the City Limits, and the City Laws. If you have any doubts on this, then please re-read the letter's sent to you ((The first post in this thread)). It already states the position of Bristle Crios on the issue.



::There is also a copy of a letter pinned up on the Notice Boards, which Arthour sent to Baron Rakeesh. The letter bears the watermark crest of Bristle Crios in one corner of the paper, but in the centre is the seal of Mage House, showing that the letter had been written on stationary straight off of Arthour's desk::

Baron Rakeesh.

I have read through your announcement that you sent to Mage House, as well as the press and I find myself needing to say something to you directly, about what was stated in your announcement,

Surely you must understand that, whether you meant it to or not, your proposal would be considerer for the entire city and not just your district' Such a proposal would have to be considered for the whole city, for the very reason that you have stated. If you suspect the Temple of Myr'Khul still has followers, ones you that are war criminals, then I suggest you turn over your evidence to the City Watch, after all it is their job to find such people, is it not' Rather than your's to demand that every mage in you district be registered so you are able to review the information, instead of an Independent and Impartial authority.

And if your proposal in The Temple District were passed there, and there alone, how many of the mages that have been coming to your district will stay, do you think" How many of them will leave for other parts of the city' Your proposal would have to be enforced in the rest of the city to find these war criminals, war criminals your blatant and clearly, not well thought out proposal will have now alerted. Do you really think that, after you announced this proposal, they wouldn't then go underground even more" I fear, Baron Rakeesh, you have made the job of finding these war criminals even harder than it was before. And in doing so, you may well have alienated the entire mage community of Rhy'Din against you.

I sincerely hope Baron Rekeesh, that you are able to find a way of bringing those responsible for the war crimes to justice without bringing yet more innocents into the firing line and causing more pain to them.

Signed,

The Leader of Bristle Crios' Mage House, Arch-Swordmage Arthour Chazore-Silverblood.

Kitty

Date: 2013-02-07 22:31 EST
Lady Kathleen of the Hextro family house, and recently admitted to a Mage house which she refuses to detail, has recently informed me that she has come into possession of a letter not long ago, which she feels the need to reply to in letter form. As such she has asked her family's caretaker - myself - to scribe for her. What follows is the unedited form of her....'Reply'.

Dear Rakeesh Sah Tarna, Baron of Old Temple, Lord of Unneeded Titles,

My name is Kitty Hextro and I'm writing to voice my own thoughts on your....Madge, what was it called" ....Right, proposition. I understand that people have tried this before, but I really don't think that you should try and control people like that. Magic users are just the same as a swordsman, and just as everyone with muscles can hit somebody with a sword, anyone with bloodline can hit somebody with some....magic, I lost my train of thought for a sec' ....Anyway, like I was saying, I don't think you should round up everyone with magic. Magic has been a part of our world, and most worlds, since almost the start of time, and to try and control it would just be stupid. I'm not saying that you shouldn't try, and from what I read, it just looks like you're trying to keep everyone safe, but you're not doing it right. If you want my advice, then just start training everyone in the Watch with the potential to use magic to actually, y'know, use it. If people are using magic for harmful reasons, then fighting magic with magic is the best idea, and rounding up and labeling mages won't get you anywhere.

Another thing - your proposition seems to be really scaring some people. From what I know about politics, your job is to keep people happy, and happy is not the same as being scared! Safe is happy, but if the route you're taking to safety leads to fear, then I say to try another route. If this does pass, I will go get myself numbered, but just because I know I'm not a bad person! Anyway, I don't think I have the power to do anything about this, so I'm just having this written up so that I know I'm at least heard. And....that's it, thanks for reading ....Madge, you can stop writing now. Are you still writing out the last lines" - Reply ends as the girl in question attempts to read my transcription of her reply.

- Signed, Kathleen "Kitty" Hextro

Despite her many protests, I will not, under any circumstances, sign this under her nickname, just as I refuse the same to the Lady's siblings. Whatever the case may be, I will be sending this reply to whomever the Lady deems fit to receive her ramblings. If I must, I will even post it onto the kitchen wall - such is my duty to the children of the house. - Madge Prima

Arthour

Date: 2013-02-12 05:53 EST
::A notice is placed up around the Bristol Crios Notice Boards. The notice bears the Mage House crest and the seal of the House Leader::

To all;

Yesterday evening, I attended the Governor's Advisory Council. While there was limited time for me to speak, I was able to speak out against the proposal. However, it was not fully needed.

At the start of the meeting, Baron Rakeesh of Old Temple District retracted his proposal. As well as it being out right rejected by the majority of the council. There is no longer a need to fear being forced into registered and I have every confidence that the violence that has been gripping the city recently will pass now. I do urge caution however. We are not out of the woods yet and I ask that everyone take no unnecessary risks.



Signed,

Arthour Chazore-Silverblood. Mage House Leader.

Rakeesh

Date: 2013-02-13 21:40 EST
The following letter arrived in the morning to major press venues and public forums throughout the city.

Citizens of Rhy'Din,

While there was a great turnout at the GAC town hall meeting earlier this week, the vast majority of you are unaware of what occurred there. I spoke first in turn, with a long line of speakers thereafter, and retracted my original proposal to register magic-users in the Old Temple District. I believed, initially, that this proposal would yield the best chances of uncovering dangerous religious insurgents that I know to be living in the district. These insurgents are mage-followers of Myr'Khul, a particularly twisted and blood-hungry God of Death and Damnation.

Events now mirror the warnings that we overlooked five, six years ago when Myr'Khul overran the Old Temple District and committed genocide against the Catholics residing there. For those of you who recall, the blood that ran in the streets for that prolonged period of time was the blood of every day men, women, children - and even innocent mages.

In an attempt to keep this from happening again, I acted in haste. My proposal might have been effective, but it riled up old bigotry and hatred and has caused harm to some innocents who became victims to the irrational fear of others. And I am truly sorry for that error. I am no stranger to being persecuted and the horrors it brings.

As some who have known me should know, I myself am a magic-user, though my white magics are novice compared to those truly devoted to the Arcane Arts. It was never my intention to create a string of events that would cause others, like mages, to become persecuted. I am reaching out to those that have been harmed by these events personally and plan on working with the mistress of a school in the Old Temple District to support the self-defense classes that the school holds to teach children, mages and non, to defend themselves and to look upon those different than they with understanding and respect.

But the time to act against the darkness stirring in the Old Temple District is now. At the GAC meeting, I shared the evidence that I have obtained through blade and blood in the underbelly of my district - four slain Khul-din, demon-servants of Myr'Khul that are invisible to the eye of adults, and that feed on children.

These beings have been used by Myr'Khulian mages before, and it takes a particularly powerful cultist to summon one. Because of their invisibility, they sneak into homes while children are sleeping; to feed, they sit atop their victims and insert their tongue into the child's ear canal, then literally feed off of their dreams. The child screams and suffers terrible nightmares, but the Khul-din comes back night-after-night, growing stronger and larger the more it feeds. The Khul-din will feed from any child, though it prefers children that are magically inclined. When the Khul-din drinks the last of its victims' dreams, sometimes over the course of a month, that child becomes a vessel for other demons of Myr'Khul and acts very much as a sleeper agent for the cult as a whole.

I do not know how many of these fiends are in the district, or what the cult's plans are. Based on the size of the four that I have slain, it seems almost impossible that there are not already a number of possessed children already in the district.

Many have asked why focus on the Old Temple District and not the others, and while we may need a city-wide solution, my answer is simple: during the last conflict with this cult, they laid their curses upon the ground of this district and shed an incredible amount of innocent blood upon it to hallow it. Then, they summoned a temple of bones and demons to solidify their power. This temple has been destroyed, but the Old Temple District gives the mage-cultists power that they need and will utilize. To them, the district has become a holy land of sorts.

And now you, too, know what is at stake. Unfortunately, so little more than finger-pointing was accomplished at the GAC meeting that despite the retracting of my original proposal, no counter-measures have been planned. If you believe that you have information relevant to this situation, or wish to become involved in helping to forming a new proposal to deal with this grave threat, please reach out to me at the manor of my Baronial home.

I will give each of you my ears, and promise to do what my aging body can to protect the children of the Old Temple District, who are the ultimate victims in this insidious plot. I have known and experienced persecution; do not let us accept the persecution of the children of the Old Temple District. Do not allow monsters to feed on their dreams and take their souls.

It is time to take action, Rhy'Din.

Your Public Servant, Rakeesh Sah Tarna Baron of the Old Temple District

Rakeesh

Date: 2013-02-13 21:40 EST

Arthour

Date: 2013-02-14 07:38 EST
::A response to the Baron Rakeesh's letter is posted upon the notice boards of mage house. It is available to be read to anyone on the grounds of Bristol Crios::

Members of Mage House,

Before anyone begins to panic or worry, I have this to say about the Khul-din, these demons of Myr-Khul.

Mage House is safe. The building is warded against infiltration, the House Security is equipped to deal with any threat that should arise and then, there is the House its self. Mage House has the ability to defend its occupants. If there is a threat, it will be removed.

I have one other issue concerning the Baron's news paper announcement. In it, he stated that the GAC did little more than finger pointing. That is a lie as far as I am concerned. The GAC made a series of offers to help the Baron, offers he ignored. The threat that he has brought to their attention, they did address, as well as making changes to their pre-written statments in order to adress the issue the Baron brought up.

I advise everyone read the transcript of the meeting when it is released so you are all aware of exactly what was really said.

Signed, Arthour Chazore-Silverblood, Leader of Mage House.

Miranda Branson

Date: 2013-02-16 10:40 EST
A letter was sent out to all houses with the Doyle and Branson crests, posted in the open for all to see. Fluid writing scrolled in straight lines in black ink with a green wax seal at the bottom.

To all the members, friends and family of Bristle Crios,

As with all life, it is through hardships that we learn, adapt and prove our character by our actions. The recent resurrection of a Mage registration act is no different. The registration of any person for the sole reason of what they can or could do comes down to one issue. Ignorance. Without asking questions about what we do not understand we are left in the dark. In darkness breeds fear from ignorance and will cause unnecessary reactions by the people.

It was in ignorance that the Witch Trials of Salem Massachusetts took place. People turning against what was their friend and allies in the community out of sheer fear over what they didn't know. Leading to families being torn a part, shamed, people tortured and killed without just cause.

In Europe the hysteria over witch craft caused not only community, but religious leaders to persecute innocent people in the hopes of bringing calm. Without a single fact, a book called The Hammer of Witches was published. Used exclusively to blame, convict and kill hundreds.

The Trail of Tears was the collecting and seclusion of the Native American's on a single plot of land with little to no supplies. Their culture and history lost as a fearful culture imposed itself on them for their own peace of mind.

All of these times in history were caused by ignorance compounded by the lack of others to stand up not just against the acts in the first place, but against those who took advantage of the situation. Turning their backs on common sense and morals to save themselves. Out of all the things we could fear in this life, I choose to fear ignorance. For it will blind and destroy the best of us if we let it.

The passing of such and act was withdrawn during the GAC meeting, but that does not mean there are not other issues to be contended with. From this horrible situation, I hope that we as a community will rise above it. With open arms, hearts and minds. Personally, I feel it is my duty to help. As leader of Bristle Crios and a member of the Rhy'din community despite what or whom started the series of events that have lead us to our current state. To stand by idly is as tragic as the attacks that have happened to magic users in the weeks that have gone by and so I with a loving and understanding heart offer my own talents and hope that we ban together for our community, our future, our children.

The Knights of Bristle Crios are more than just added protection for the coven grounds. We should offer our services. The volunteer Knights to work with the Watch of Rhy'din to help with the recent over reactions of people. By no means am I encouraging force unless absolutely needed for self defense, but merely a helping hand to the diligent and over taxed officers that do so much to keep us all safe. A hand I believe we would also extend to the Baron Rakeesh with the Myr'Khul in their appalling attacks on children.

I myself am a mother of a magical child and would hate to see their innocence's exploited for gain by any means. Children are our future and I intend to protect it with my life from the Myr'Khul or anything else. For any who wish to join the cause please send me a letter and I am certain that talents will be used to their fullest in this situation.

Leader of Bristle Crios, Miranda Branson

Arthour

Date: 2013-02-23 06:18 EST
::A letter, addressed to all the the Barons of Rhy'Din, is posted to where they are able to find and read it. It's also sent to all the major newspaper venues to make sure the public are aware of it's contents and a copy placed upon the Notice Boards of Bristle Crios for them all to read.::

To those whom it may concern,

The question of Rakeesh Sah Tarna being Overlord has been answered. To be honest, the only reason I would care about the question is simply because I would be worried, as a mage, as to what authority being Overlord would give Rakeesh and how that would affect any new proposal he may make towards registrations. I worry about this only because experience has told me he is prone to making decisions that may not be fully thought through.

However, in my opinion at least, that is a wholly secondary issue.

What you all should be focused on, is the apparent threat to Old Temple District and the rest of the City from these demons thus far only known as the Khul-din. Surely you can all agree that this is something that is more worth your time than constant threats and promises of reprisal"

Surely you are all above causing more hate than has been caused by the Failed and Withdrawn proposal"

At any rate, prominent and upstanding members of the mage community of Rhy'Din have put that aside to look at what appears to be a greater issue and threat that we have been told is looming before us. While I commend the Wrecking Crew and Team Beat Down for getting together to bring in money for a charity to those that were harmed in the recent months, I am disappointed that it has taken this long for such action to take place, and that it appears to have been done simply to spite the new Overlord. Again though, this is beside the point and I digress.

Would it not be better for the Barons, loyal, renegade or undecided, to help the Overlord in facing this threat' If the mages, some of whom have been driven out of the city through fear, like myself, are putting what has happened and been put to bed aside to look at what has happened in Old Temple with open minds, or at least be prepared to try to can you not do the same" If not, then can you not at least look at this will something approaching a clear mind"

A time will come when the Overlord will be challenged, just as that Overlord, or lady, will be challenged. And so it will repeat, time and again. This, we all know. And what we also know is that children, Children, are suffering while you all argue over this and continue with your words. For some, words aren't enough. For myself, I must await a decision from the Coven Leader of Bristle Crios before offering the full support of Mage House, however I am willing and able to give what aid I can, to finding and eradicating the menace that plagues the City, in support of those who are also seeking to help, I have every intention of attending the meeting on Overlord's Isle on Monday. I will be very interested in seeing who else will be in attendance. And who will be absent.

Any that wish to speak to me about this can ether find me at the Red Dragon Inn, or send me a letter ((PM me)) at my office in Mage House.



Signed,

The Leader of Bristle Crios' Mage House, Arch-Swordmage Arthour Chazore-Silverblood.

((Posted in reply to messages to Rakeesh, the new Overlord of the Duel of Swords on the RoH site's thread Challenge to the Overlady ))

Please continue this storyline at http://rdi.dragonsmark.com/forums/viewtopic.php"p=174066#174066