Proposition 37

[Darien Fenner]

[[This thread is for anything relating to Prop 37, whether it be directly or indirectly related. If your character would like to stop by, write in, or protest, by all means, post here. If you have a SL that you would like to link to this one, by all means, post here. If you want to ask any IC or OOC questions about it, by all means, post here. More information to come.]]

[Angel]

It was just after sunrise when Angel took his morning walk through town. Iris sat on his shoulder, idly looking around, wishing he would hurry up and get them somewhere outside of town where she could stretch out. This tiny form was convenient, but she always felt cramped. Just as she was about to give Angel a reminding slap with her tail, she spotted something hung up on a wall.

"Hey, take a look at that..." Iris gestured, and Angel approached the flyer, raising an eyebrow as they both set to reading it.

"Are these guys ****ing serious?" the two spoke in unison, before Angel tore the flyer from the wall. "There's an address on here, babe." He stomped off in the right direction, and Iris had to dig a claw into his shoulder to stop him.

"Ow! What was that for?" Angel growled.

"Think before you just stomp in there, you big oaf. We could be walking into a den of fanatics and the last thing that will help is if you go off and smite someone. I'm sure a public display is just what they need to get even more people to listen to this nonsense." The dragon snorted, a puff of smoke coming from her tiny nostrils. "Besides, I have a better idea. Bring that, and let's go somewhere I can stretch out and think..."

Angel objected, but he knew she was right. With a sigh, he turned and headed off toward the glen to the south, muttering to himself about idiots and hatemongering.

[Tormay Eludes]

Tormay had heard some griping in the arena that night. He didn't pay it much attention, the duels had his focus. Besides, Old Man Tass was not someone you took lightly.

Even so, a break was needed halfway through. It would never be setteled who was waiting for whom. Tormay for Tass, or Tass for Tormay. It wasn't important really. Tormay was just glad to spend time with Tass, his Father-in-Law, even if he wouldn't ever say it out loud. Not in those words.

It was during this break that he overheard the others, Sivanna, Aja, and Anya.

"How does it feel to be illegal?" He didn't even notice who had asked that, or who they were asking. It was just an interesting question, enough so that who looked out of the ring.

"Illegal? Wha?"

In response, a crumpled ball of paper was thrown into the ring. He bent down to pick it up, opening it quickly to read. A frown quickly replaced his usual grin as he absorbed the meaning and implications of the flyer.

"Seriously? I'd like to see them try to make me register," He crumpled it back up and tossed it over his shoulder back out of the ring.

I might be a troublemaker and enjoy a good prank, but I have never broken the law. This is RhyDin, of course a lot of crimes have been done involving magic. There is just a lot of magic. They better not come after me, or my family, or anyone I know. Geez, this better not turn ugly...

"Hey, you done with your break?" using the duels as a distraction always worked for him.

"Me? I was waiting on you," the response from Tass drew a grin from Tormay. It wouldn't be so hard to forget about this. For now.

[Icer1978]

Pinned up next to one of these fliers was a response, written obviously in well, not a human hand as it was just in barely legible scrawl.

To whom it may concern.

Why is it just magic users,. hmm,? we are not the only ones capable of violence. This is a bad idea on your part, many of us are born of magic, and not once would we ever think of harming a soul, unless it was deserved.

In fact.., magic is what is helping to keep our young ones safe.

We will not be registering, even if this is passed, besides, just how would you enforce this?

There are many, many magical creatures, peoples and energies in this land, my kin and I being a few of them.

We already have been battling a misconception about our kind, due to those who do nae understand, this will only bring you anger, and misfortune in the end. Though not from my kin or I.

Sincerely, Icer, Matriarch of the Shimmerscale clan.
_________________
A little more peace is what the world needs

Trouble, me? ::making her best innocent face.::

[Niamh ODonovan]

"Don't be going out there right now, girl, you'll get your limbs ripped off!"

Niamh turned at the doorway of the little herbalist's shop where she worked to stare in confusion at her employer. He was dancing from one foot to another, gesturing out through the window at the people gathered in the marketplace to protest against something or other.

"Why would they do anythin' tae me? I'm nae involved -" she began, but he cut her off with an impatient wave of his hand.

"You're magic, that's all they need to know." He pulled her away from the door, locking it quickly, and sat her down. "And it shows now, more than it did when you were fighting it."

"But ... why would bein' magic put me in danger durin' a protest?" Niamh was utterly bewildered.

The old herbalist sighed and sat down with her. And she listened, as he explained the Proposition that was being proposed to regulate magic users and the reasons behind it.

"But that's ridiculous!" she exclaimed. "Ye may as well arrest th' whole town if'n ye're goin' tae do that! The good that comes from magic here far outweighs th' bad, they're pickin' at cobwebs tae make themsel's popular!"

"Aye, but there's nothin' you or I can do against it at present," the old herbalist nodded, waving his hands in agitation. "Forty years I've lived here, no fear of being caught out in my casting. They think I deal in herbs only, but you know better. You do what I do, girl; we're both in danger."

But Niamh's thoughts were elsewhere, with Lilli and Brish. The sister who exuded magic with every step she took, and the brother who had no control over his own power except when he had great need of them. And the countless others in the city and surrounding lands ... how many of them would be persecuted for the wrong-doings of just a few?

"Aye, that we are," she agreed. "But we cannae jus' stand by an' let this happen. There must be somethin' we can do, if'n we all pull together."

The herbalist looked at her hopelessly. "Aye, that there is," he muttered in defeat. "We can all go to the gallows together."
_________________
You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.

[Angel]

Later that day, a missive arrives on the doorstep of the Proposition 37 campaign HQ.

To whom it may concern,

You are making a grave mistake.

Not only will your so-called 'proposition' spread discrimination and fear (indeed, it has already begun to do so), it will be ineffective. Only those magi who respect law and order will agree to such measures. Restricting those citizens only ties their hands when they already serve as your most powerful shield against the dangerous elements that you believe such draconian control will affect.

Furthermore, active measures to enforce this proposition, should it become law, will undoubtedly cause needless conflict, destruction, and death - not just of the wizards you fear, but of innocents on both sides. Even the most peaceful of men will often resort to violence when threatened by an angry mob.

Finally, the very language used by your campaign seems deliberate in its message of fear and distress.

Yesterday there was a peaceful demonstration, which fortunately remained so. However, as you engage in your fearmongering, how long will it be until peaceful demonstrations turn to bloody riots? If such is your goal, you are truly deluding yourself if you believe any good will come of this.

We implore you to turn away from this course of action and seek a more rational solution. We understand fully that the malevolent use of magic is dangerous and reprehensible - however, this is not the answer.

We only hope you come to understand that before it's too late to reverse the damage.

~ Angel Avarian & Iris Silivistar


Far overhead, Angel sat upon Iris' back, watching the demonstrations below.

"You think they'll listen?" Angel spoke, with little conviction.

"If they do not, this will get ugly." Iris sighed. "Hopefully such a silly resolution will never pass into law in the first place."

"If it does, you'll have to register for us to stay here."

"Of this I am aware. Although registration would likely be just the tip of the crag."

[CherubicMagic]

Desolation, despondent, deep in thought...

'Don' le' them in anymore, Lilli ol' girl. Don' le' them see ya' cry, don' le' them ea' away a'yer hear'..' Breathe in, breathe out; the witch's days since the events as of late were very meager things. To have one's very self be subject to evil was a loathsome realization, even more so that on some primal, forgotten level of herself, she'd enjoyed it.

Proposition 37 was just another needle threatening to break her mental haystack. Though the fiery buxom was wrought in her own self pity, the spark that always glowed within her gypsy heart kept her going, kept the wheels turning.

Perhaps a sabbatical was in order. The likelihood of one grew more and more each day, and though the witch was not one to flee from conflict, the fragile part left of her spirit was threatening to snuff out with all the endless days of piteous monotony that strangled her thoughts. Even simple tasks that once came with the snap of a well placed pair of fingers was becoming tiresome; her magic was suffering, the connection with her Goddess seemed so cold and distant despite the warmth of the earth beneath her feet.

It was time to leave the populous for a while, the witch decided. Time to seek the forgotten paths of the wild and find their hearts. Such paths would lead to her own rekindling and enlightenment.

Lilliana would not leave the city she'd come to know as a home without some sprig of protection either; oh no. Those who knew the gypsy lass on a more personal and friendly level would feel a comforting presence even in the darkest of hours. A glow of warmth in the coming cold front, a flicker of flame in the moonless night, a sliver of brightness in the impending darkness; while her presence was not corporeal, it would feel so. Lilli's spell was a thing meant to calm and embolden, to keep emotional minds clear and dark thoughts at bay.

A note would be left for those both friend and foe who came seeking the witch, tapped into the grain of her caravan's door ever so neatly with a fine iron tack.

'Into the wild I go
Seek abandon I must
My power suffers
In the Goddess I will trust
Bare feet will carry me
The wind will kiss my skin
Magic will set the spirit free'

~ Lilliana McClae
_________________
"Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
New-made friendships, like new wine,
Age will mellow and refine."

[Darien Fenner]

Page four of the Rhy'Din Post had the following article for Friday, August 28th.

Ignorant is a creature so careless as to waver in the face of adversity.

A woman named Margot Fonteyn back on Earth said that “the whole point of magic is that it in inexplicable.” But “inexplicable” doesn’t necessarily mean bad, does it? After all, thousands of religions have been founded on the basis of abstruse events or obscure philosophical inquiries. These have evolved into societal unions, organizations, and, in some cases, wartime alliances. In fact, only a scant twenty percent of Rhy’Din is considered non-religious. This has not stopped many zealots from launching deleterious crusades on their brethren-- all for the sake of something intangible, and often impossible to understand. But the theme of that conflict is this: That power was incorporeal. It was inconsequential, driven only by human and mortal fanaticism and fallibility. And that we live now in an age of religious tolerance does not obscure the fact that mortals have every right to fear something they have no control over, even if it is illusory as belief.

Enter Proposition Thirty-Seven, which many have come to blame on the ignorance of non-magic folk. Some have even gone so far as to condemn its supporters as “mortally envious,” “panic-mongering,” and “distrustful” of magic “gifts.” But is this “panic” so groundless? Death tolls have escalated exponentially in Rhy’Din in the past three years courtesy of magic-related crimes and incidents. Anti-Prop 37 individuals seem to have likened its supporters to those same religious zealots. One mage claims “they are performing violent acts out of fear of something they obviously have no comprehension of! These people are ignorant, ruthless, and are bringing us back to the prehistoric era.” But is it so wrong to fear something so detrimental and unpredictable?

After six interviews and three hours of footage, we still have no clear answer.

“Well, the way I know it, dark and light are just elements. Just like earth, fire, wind, and water. And as for wild... I think that refers to magic cast using mana, the free energy in the air around us,” said a famous Keeper on Rhy’Din. Here is someone who makes his living off of magic, and he only thinks wild magic deals with the use of mana? How impatient can one be to launch into such a risky profession without a full comprehension of the forces he is working with?

A university-trained mage claims that the categorization of magic is “a difficult question to answer, because every race will give you a conflicting response.” She proceeded to rattle of four different explanations of magic and its properties, each more dubious than the last. This is a woman who attended and was trained in an alchemy and sorcery university for over three decades. Reassured? Neither are we.

To see evidence of hazardous effects of magic on society, one needs only to look to the news. Two weeks ago a thirty year-old Elvish girl unintentionally murdered over three dozen of her kin because her enchantment proved impossible to control. A well-known, criminal slaver was recently resurrected in the Southern Glen thanks to the work of dark magic. Seven unexplainable deaths in the past week alone are currently under investigation and are being considered magic-related homicides by the town Watch. The Prankster’s Paradise shop on Lolaine Lane was recently reported as robbed of all magical paraphernalia.

And still, “magic is more than just a weapon”?

“You will always have those kinds of people,” said a full-time magic-user. “Some use a kitchen knife to prepare and serve meals to the impoverished, while others will use that same knife to cut their neighbor down.”

Do we not license weapon-owners? Is a background check not run for every firearm purchase in the state?

“We are not the only ones capable of violence,” said a correspondent to Prop 37 headquarters. “This is a bad idea on your part. Many of us are born of magic, and not once would we ever think of harming a soul, unless it was deserved.”

It is in those words exactly that the problem lies! Whether or not a human being deserves punishment is up to authority. It is up the legal system of Rhy’Din-- the established authority that has been set for the purpose of keeping peace. It is the use of this weapon that worries and motivates Proposition 37 supporters. Magic is inherently unstable, and the fact that unregistered, and often-untrained users wield it like a toy has more than a few citizens concerned.

“They are taking a force that belongs to the planet and using it to their own ends,” claims Diedra Vall, Assistant Campaign Manager. “Even the use of healing magics is dangerous in the wrong hands! What we want to do is have these magic-users register, to ensure that they are capable of using such a powerful force safely!”

A correspondent to Prop 37 headquarters recently expressed concern as to whether these peaceful demonstrations would soon “turn to bloody riots.” In response, Vall had this to say:

“We do not want to instill more fear than is necessary into our community. But there is fear. Magic is a dangerous tool, and it should be regulated as weapons are. Users should be licensed and documented, and if need be, secluded until the threat is contained.”

Of the latest Anti-Prop 37 campaign, Vall had no comment.

So far, the petition has accrued over fifteen hundred signatures. With the support of the Assistant Attorney General, that qualifies it for legislative consideration. Where does the Governor stand in all of this?

“We will be allowed to vote this spring,” said Vall. “If the Governor decides to veto the legislation, we will attempt to press on to the House. Whether he is for or opposed to the legislation, though, we would be interested to know.”

No word yet from the Gubernatorial Office, but we will keep you informed.

[SulissurnXukuth]

Chaos.

This city reeled with it everyday. The eddies and swirls of it ate up the sun and cast shivering shadows, slivers of discord from alleyway to bright streets, dark buildings and dingy corners. It is what made this city live, to Suliss'urn, it is that which made it bright and almost home--though the drow would not admit the latter to anyone, rarely even herself.

So when it was stirred up beyond the usual point it whet the dark-elf's appetite, curled around her mind like Sal's little piece of living armor clutching her thigh behind woolen breeches: intimate and clinging. Her mind was all abuzz about the current fliers. She watched at night as one gathering group would tear some of them down and another would return to paste more over the half-torn replacements. A never ending cycle that began to pump closer and closer to an all out rising tide. Just a muttering of disbelief and shock for now, outrage in expressions and written words--but it could get ugly fast.

And she so adored it when things got beautifully ugly.

Plotting and planning and spinning her little mind-webs, the drow watched the city and its reaction to this Proposition 37, good and bad. Gorging herself in the cacophony of voices or pieces of paper flooding every square, she pondered muchly on what she might do to further this. How could she, Suliss'urn, most beautiful and obviously best drow in the entire realm (ego? What ego?), could throw everyone into a further frenzy.

One night it came to her.

-------

Corpses blatantly left on the main road in plain sight. It was the baker woman and the butcher that found them first, as they were usually the first to arise and begin work to have their shops ready for morning opening.

The baker woman had to be carried off by the watch, as when she found them she would not stop screaming and the sound of it carried several blocks, spooking livestock, horses and people to the bone alike.

One Watch member had to leave the scene, sobbing into his gauntlet hands over and over he could not stop saying, "Someone chewed on them, gods be damned, chewed! They were children, for the love of all that is holy--children!"

Two children, taken from local orphanage-- only recognizable (and later identifiable), by the body parts not mangled. They were taken from from the streets they worked and deposited proudly. Teeth and claws and broken bones and marrow sucked out--chewed on like cats chew on mice.

At first, the Watch was going to pin it down on yet another large, wild animal wandering around Rhy'din unchecked. It wasn't until one of the boys saw the morning sun crest on the red-brick of a building across from them that everyone froze.

Written in the fluids and brain-matter, bits of bone and hair on the wall were the words:

Frightened for your children?
Frightened for yourself?
YOU SHOULD BE.
Without magic; more of us
shall be free to slither along the shadows
hunting, without stop
eating, until gorged full
feeding, until sick
feasting, until there are nothing left but bones
say yes, please oh please, say yes, vote yes
go ahead
37
YOU'RE NEXT

_________________
2PG |GR | ME | SULISS'URN
_________________

[Neo Eternity]

It was early afternoon, and Neo was going about his rounds as city guard. None of the Seraphim Knights were hired for any specific job, so they just spent the day guarding the city. As he walked through the Marketplace, he could hear a lot of ruckus. He'd been hearing it for a while; the protests in favor of Proposition 37. A debate that had gotten extremely ugly in a hurry. Neo turned a corner, ocean blue eyes falling upon the protestors, surrounding a magic shop. He frowned a little bit. Man... what the heck are they even yelling? It was obvious why they were all there; in support of Prop 37. But why were they all in support of Prop 37? What were the individual reasons for each person there to want magic-users treated like criminals? He didn't understand how a city like RhyDin, which has such a heavy magic influence, could have so many supporters for a proposition like this. He wanted to figure out what kinds of things could make these people so opposed to magic. Curiosity killed the cat, but he was tempted to go in and check it out anyways. He succumbed to that temptation, and walked toward the crowd.

The individual voices were indiscernible as he drifted through the crowd, trying to figure out what they were yelling. Then, for some reason, one of the voices suddenly jumped out at him, a female voice. It somehow seemed louder than the rest. "It's a magic-user!" He looked around, as if to go, "where?!" He was actually kind of curious who they were talking about... "That's the Keeper of Water!" Oh, you've got to be kidding me. In all the time it took him to think that phrase, the area of the crowd that he'd been walking through had turned upon him, yelling at him. He still couldn't discern any voices, ocean blues looking around kind of frantically. It wasn't long before things were even being thrown at him. Just wads of paper, forunately. Wait, no; one guy was so hacked off that he put a rock in one of those. Ow. Ugh, forget this... time to get out of here. He turned around and started to make his way out, backtracking the way he came.

Another voice stood out, this one male. "Wait a second! Wait a second! Stop!" Neo stopped and looked around for its source, but he couldn't find it in all the chaos. "That's one of the members of the watch! He's a city guard!" A few voices could be heard replying with things like "So what?!" or "Who cares?!" but others started to figure out what the guy meant. The volume of stuff being thrown at him started to decrease. Another voice stuck out. "That's one of the Seraphim Knights!"
"You mean those three mercenaries?!" another voice exclaimed with outrage. A mercenary?! Using magic?! He apparently didn't really know what the Seraphim Knights were about.
"No, not that kind! They guarded some researchers who were exploring some treacherous ruins!" He remembered that one. And what they found there, too. All sorts of exotic gems, metals, other sorts of unique materials, that would have been lost to the world if they weren't found there. His magic knowledge was actually helpful in getting past some of the obstacles there. He'd used it to disarm some traps, disable some barriers... strange that they were still functional at that time, though.
More voices started to chime in. "Wait, I know him! He found my son and saved him from some monsters!" He remembered that one too. He had been sent out to look for a little boy named John, and found him cornered by a pack of eggbears. He drove them away, and kept the little boy safe. Turns out eggbears aren't too fond of the Aserian arte, Raging Mist. They turned tail and left after he cast it on them. Killing them outright might have traumatized the poor boy.
"He found my cat for me!" That was actually really hard. That cat hid like a ninja and was really feral.
"He stopped a bank robbery!" The robbers were really novice, though.
"He fought an army of super-demons!" Yeah, actually, no. Probably some guy just trying to be funny. Ocean blues looked around, trying to figure out what was going on all of a sudden.

Some of the protesters were becoming conflicted. They had come in with this hardcore anti-magic stance. All magic is bad. All magic-users are bad. But the man who had wandered into their protesting crowd was undeniably good. Yet he used magic... a lot of it. Of course, most of them didn't care, but gears were turning in some of the heads there. The vigilante mercenary stood there, a little bit dumbfounded. What the heck did he just do? He turned around and made his way out of the crowd, walking off and continuing his shift. I think I've caused enough trouble... On the contrary... I think what just happened was very important for our cause, replied the Ring of Klytus, via thought.

((Collaborated with Darien Fenner's player on this one. Thank you, Darien-mun! ))
_________________
Neo Eternity
Seraphim Knights, Leader
Duel of Magic Assistant Coordinator
17th Keeper of Water
Former 29th Baron of Dockside
2010 Tour de Rhy'Din Red Jersey Winner
Five-time Holder of the Ring of Klytus

[Peacemaker]

A large poster is left on a wall near the site of many of the protests both for and against the supposed 'Proposition 37.' It is printed on parchment paper, as tamper-proof as any flier can be, and marked prominently with the seal of House DeMuer, a sun cross with a symbol in each quarter. Nothing like it has been posted since the conclusion of the gubernatorial election.

It reads as follows:

To the legislative bodies responsible for Proposition 37,

House DeMuer, the Barony of Saint Aldwin, DeMuer Exports and its subsidiary, Greyshott Applied Magicks & Engineering, do not and will not consent to be governed by you, and there are no contracts in place that require us to respect whatever authority over us you may claim. Your legal control over all residents of RhyDin City is an absurd idea, and if you insist on any authority over members of our aforementioned organizations, it will be met with the appropriate legal action.

Magick is by nature dynamic and amorphous, and its regulation is impossible in a city tied to dramatic shifts in the Nexus and the Multiverse itself. Proposition 37 is not only an oppressive measure backed by no legitimate authority whatsoever; it is also without any merit. Magick allows many technologies to proliferate that would otherwise be impossible in practice or expense in RhyDin; it also enables incredible life-saving measures to be taken by healers, where most medical technologies would fail. Anchored rifts and gates that depend on magick are vital to our strong economy, and bring goods in infinite variety into the city. Additionally, RhyDin and the West End in particular are famous as a shelter for those who do not wish to be found, often fleeing from violent persons or regimes in other realms.

If regulation of magick use and users were actually acknowledged by the general populace, the results would be nothing short of catastrophic.

Should the measure pass by whatever methods you subject it to, we will not acknowledge it as a contractual obligation of any of our organizations or their members. Any attempt to to seize any of our property will be treated as theft, and we will respond to it by involving the Watch and local militias dedicated to the common respect of life and property; we will also exercise our right to "castle law," such that any persons coming onto our property with violent intent will be met with force. Any attempt to seize any member of our organizations, even to coerce them to register as a magick user, will be treated as a kidnapping, and we will take the actions we are entitled to in order to protect and/or rescue them.

Any person who feels they are being coerced by these legislative bodies is welcome to come to us for aid; our holdings can be found by looking for the seal of House DeMuer, usually carved into a cornerstone.

As another body of people who were interested in protecting their rights to life and property once said to an oppressive power, do not tread on us.

Signed,

Alain DeMuer
Baron of Saint Aldwin, Chief Executive Officer of DeMuer Exports, Leader of House DeMuer

Trea Daviin
Speaker for the Council of the Barony of Saint Aldwin

Dib Jaster Aurene
Deputy Executive Officer of DeMuer Exports

Silas Greyshott
Master Mage of Greyshott Applied Magicks & Engineering

At the bottom of the flier, the motto DO NOT TREAD ON US is repeated, intertwined with the image of a serpent.

[Wen]

Grown-ups said a lot of things that did not make much sense at all. Wen spent her days wandering the Marketplace more often than not. There were a great deal many curious things a young girl could discover in the crowded square. Many pretty things that could be purchased and taken to her room at the Inn, squirreled away with all her other random treasures that she had accumulated over the course of her stay in this City.

There was no finer treasure in all the world than knowledge, however, and this was something Wen learned early on. She was eager to learn, to listen to what some of the men and women who frequented the Market had to say. These days, though, the things she heard were more confusing than anything at all.

Today, Wen had the opportunity to overhear a conversation between Miss Madge the washer woman and Mister Kenton who worked the front desk of her shop. Sometimes she took her clothes to Miss Madge, because she did a better job of washing than Wen could in the tub in her room. And little girls always got their dresses dirty some time.

"Dja here about those poor children what got butchered?" Miss Madge whispered fiercely to Mister Kenton. Wen had wandered in with an armload today and neither of them had yet to spot her.

Wen did the appropriate thing and shuffled sideways to hide down at the end of the counter. She was small enough that when she ducked she was well hidden. Mister Kenton shuddered noisily and said, "Oh aye. An' that horrid message what was left on the wall? Don't know if we should be thankin' the butcher fer makin' that statement or not?"

"Kenton Freely! Don'tcha dare say such a thing," Miss Madge shrieked, horrified. Wen peeked cautiously over the counter in time to see the woman slap the man on the arm. "I don't much care what sorta message was tryin' t'be made. Those were children what were butchered! Children!"

"Aye, aye, Miss Madge." Kenton submitted, rubbing his arm where Madge had slapped him. He bowed his head meekly. "I don't mean no disrespect or nothin', but y'gotta admit it's a fine point t'be made. Should those blokes in favor o' that there Proposition get what they're wantin', who's gon' pertect the lil' ones from savages o' them likes?"

"I don't know what good magic's done anyone." Miss Madge scoffed. "I don't use no wards or nothin' on my shop," she insisted. "An' nobody's come an' caused me no trouble like that poor Bill with his joke shop."

"Nobody's found 'im yet 'ave they?" asked Kenton.

"Not as far's I've heard. Though I've heard rumors of some girl out lookin' for 'im. Gods willing he'll be found whole an' not torn apart like those poor darling children."

Wen watched as Miss Match made a religious gesture over her heart. The whole conversation was terribly disjointed, and she only understood a little. So she deemed this the right moment to clear her throat and make herself noticed. "Excuse me, Miss Madge?"

"Sakes alive, child!" The washer woman jumped in surprise, pressing a strong hand against her breast. Kenton squeaked his shock. "How long you been standing there?"

"Not long, Miss Madge. Long enough to hear something about a proper zishun?"

Kenton chuckled and shook his head. "Proposition 37, lil' Wen. Ain't nothin' y'ought be worryin' yerself over none. Jus' some fools thinkin' i's a good idea to go an' make mages register themselves is all. What've y'got f'r us t'day?" He smiled kindly and held out his hands for the girl's bundle of dirty clothes.

Wen handed her load off to him and scratched her nose. "What's it mean, to register?"

"A fool's errand," said Miss Madge stiffly. "These daft pushers got it in their heads to think they can go about demandin' everyone magical, or who can sling magic, into signing some paper to tell what they can do. Sounds like government control if y'ask me, but not really such a bad idea."

Kenton argued first with a snort. "Y'know that Riverview Clinic's got doctors on staff what use magic," he protested. "They ain't done no 'arm t'no one, Madge. Fact, the lot o' them doin' more good than 'arm."

Madge begged to differ. "You give me a good old fashioned mundane doctor, Kent. I don't trust no magic being worked on me should I go losing a limb in my presses. Better off using what the gods done gave me. Leave the hocus pocus and miracle working to them, I say!"

"So they'll be done tomorrow morning?" Wen asked, stepping away from the counter. She found this whole argument still to be confusing.

"Oh yes, sweet darling," Miss Madge confirmed with a smile. "Tomorrow morning. Same time. You run along now." She dismissed the child with as much concern as most adults do. Grown-up talk was not something a little girl like her should be overhearing, but for reasons Wen could not completely comprehend what she heard that day disturbed her.

[Onyxia]

Another parchment was posted much in the same fashion as the House DeMeur poster:

Lest we forget.

The Committee for Proposition 37 lies to the populace of Rhydin and resorts to fear mongering likes the which have not bee seen in decades.

House Uth Dravon stands with House DeMeur in it's refusal to abide such an oppressive motion. The stances House DeMeur has taken hold true for House Uth Dravon. All who seek refuge from this Coercive action are welcomed to come to us for Aid


Lady Onyxia Uth Dravon Dragonbane
Magistrate of Order, Council of Elders

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"United we stand, divided we fall; Unity amongst diversity."

((For More see: Taking a Stance - Proposition 37))

[Darien Fenner]

The Post sat down today with Assistant Campaign Manager Diedra Vall at Proposition Thirty-Seven Headquarters in an effort to make sense of the legislative debate that is sweeping the nation.

Reporter: “Thank you for meeting with me, Ms. Vall. I know these days you and your associates are very busy trying to get this legislation to pass.”

Vall: “We are, but it is imperative that the record be set straight. And please, call me Diedra.”

Reporter: “All right, Diedra. Proposition Thirty-Seven. What is it, and what will it do?”

Vall: “Simple. Proposition Thirty-Seven is a bill that began as a widely circulated petition to regulate the use of magics. People are frightened, you see. In this day and age magic use has gotten out of control and is very assuredly causing more harm than good among magic-users. People who have no right wielding such a potentially detrimental force are using it with abandon, untrained. The M.E.R.A. will put an end to that.”

Reporter: “The M.E.R.A.?”

Vall: “The Mage and Enchanter Registration Act. It will make it mandatory for magic-users to register themselves with the government so that they can be monitored for illegal activity.”

Reporter: “What kind of illegal activity?”

Vall: “What is causing all the trouble right now, obviously. Registration will make magic more detectable and easier to regulate. Take parolees, for instance. When they are released from prison, they are kept under close watch by the government in case of repeat offenses. The M.E.R.A. will not be so extreme, but it will allow the government to be prepared should any magical crimes be committed.”

Reporter: “Are you insinuating that all magic-users are inherently criminal?”

Vall: “Not at all. I am merely suggesting that with such a commanding force, magic-users can on a dime pose a very real threat.”

Reporter: “I understand there has been a lot of anti-Prop 37 propaganda. I have here a copy of a poster by the House DeMuer that insists the bill is ‘absurd,’ in that magic forms the rudimentary foundation of RhyDin itself, and you cannot possibly hope to encroach upon its activity. What do you have to say about that?”

Vall: “We have no intention of removing magic from society. RhyDin’s economy would crumple if we did. As they so eloquently pointed out, many technologies and transport systems are run by magic in RhyDin. In fact, mana is one of the most important resources we import. We do not want to abolish magic- certainly not- but to regulate its use. After all, do we not regulate the use of electricity through generators and various electrical companies? This is to prevent the misuse or abuse of industrial power. The M.E.R.A. is virtually the same.”

Reporter: “How do you plan to enforce the M.E.R.A. if it is passed, and if there is such an overwhelmingly strong voice against it?”

Vall: “You underestimate the amount of supporters we have. As of yesterday, the number of proponents exceeded two thousand.”

Reporter: “But the fact remains that the opposition is incredibly strong. What do you plan to do for those who do not ascribe to the conditions of the M.E.R.A.?”

Vall: “If it is made into law, then it is just that- a law. And the government will be obligated to enforce it, strong opposition or not. We also plan to induct a new squad of enforcers for specifically that purpose.”

Reporter: “And what those enforcers do?”

Vall: “Swiftly and precisely deal with law-breakers.”

Reporter: “That sounds like a threat.”

Vall: “If it is law, then the law must be abided by, else our society would collapse.”

Reporter: “What do you have to say about the latest gruesome ‘display’ against Proposition 37?”

Vall: “We are disgusted, and we are enraged. Not two days ago we received a letter from an opponent of the bill who claimed our actions were going to lead to bloodshed and violence in the streets. Thus far, we have staged only nonviolent demonstrations and have borne criticism resolutely for our cause. I say do not point out the splinter in your brother’s eye without first removing the plank from your own.”

Reporter: “I understand that you plan to hold a debate regarding the legislation in the next few months?”

Vall: “We do. As of now, we cannot disclose many more details, but we will forward the information soon.”

Reporter: “Do you have anything else to say to your constituents or fellow citizens?”

Vall: “We will not succumb to acts of terrorism or prejudice. This bill is being proposed to protect RhyDin citizens- not to ostracize, and not to intentionally oppress. And as long as our opponents remain peaceable, we can prevent havoc in our streets.”

End Interview.

Breaking News: A twenty-eight year-old wizard was assaulted today outside of the Augury Artifices bookstore by two men said to be of average build and height, and wearing “Curses KILL!” campaign buttons. Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the local Watch immediately. The victim’s status remains critical.

[Shariane]

((Continues here - Cost of Hatred - Proposition 37))

Medics were on the scene along with the watch. It was a grim sight to behold. The young man had been doing nothing more than shopping. His only crime? Being able to access magic.

The medics made a decision to bring the young mage to Riverview where there was at least one Healer known to be on staff.

"Rhydin EMS to Riverview Clinic. Transporting Caucasian Male, Late 20s. Multiple contusions, blunt force trauma. Subject in critical condition."
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"United we stand, divided we fall; Unity amongst diversity."