A Speech Regarding Magic

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

On Magic

 

Artimec stepped onto the root at the base of the motherstump in the city of Laurelin, elevating himself to gaze briefly down on the crowd that may gather, he takes a deep breath and begins his speech:

 

Mali of Laureh'lin,

 

I see our nation progressing. The Sirame grow in number by the day, as bandits and others who wish to prey on us are chased off with elven arrows with increasing efficiency. The old way spreads, and our people are rapidly rediscovering an identity, a culture, and pride to be who we are.

 

We are all individuals with our own lives, but we are also one people. We are all part of a larger creature, this nation, and working as one we will make all our individual lives better off for it.

 

I come today to clarify and elaborate on a law regarding the arcane. Bare in mind, this is not a debate, merely an explanation. One you are free to disagree with, though the law shall still apply to you.

 

Why have we restricted Arcane Magic so? There are several reasons, many of which have roots deep in the past...

 

The older mali among us will remember Malinor, specifically, the rotted out, dying state it was in before its eventual demise towards the end of Anthos. In Malinor, there was no unity and no culture. Near everyone had split personalities or a penchant towards violent crime or vigilantism, cultist abominations with the wings of bats and fangs of a wolf walked the streets freely, and dark beings such as Wraiths and Liches raided daily, along with the valah and uruk.

 

Malinor had no unified core, and our lack of a standardized doctrine and way of life was the reason for this. It's 'citizens', and I use that word lightly, lived to serve purely themselves.

 

Arcane Magic is a reflection of this poisonous state of mind. Almost all of Malinor's citizenry possessed some form of it. Clerical arts and druidism is a committment, a service to something greater than yourself. Power is granted to Clerics and Druids as a rewards, and a means to uphold something to better society.

 

Magic is the opposite. Magic comes from nothing, it is not a power granted by deities, it comes from the deep void, a dimension of nothingness. Mages are not bound to serve anyone, or better any society. Void magic is naught but a tool used to increase your own personal power, your ability to look down upon others. Mages are often individualist, caring little for any greater goal. They have a skewed sense of morals and priorities, seeing non-mages as lesser and considering such an act as to throw a fireball at someone for annoying them casual.  

 

The individualism of Malinor had other factors contributing to it, but it is the very nature of arcane magic that helped it flourish the most. This is why we must restrict it, why those who are given leave to use it must prove they only do so for the good of their society, given that there is no non-magic alternative available.

 

There is, of course, more.

 

Laurelin is a city closely connected to the natural order and the aspect spirits which uphold it, the pillars of the old way. Any who follow the aspect's teachings are taught of magic's corruptive nature upon the natural order.

 

Arcane magic can leave a mind warped, or a forest burning. The damage it can do to the natural world is both obvious and visually apparent. However, there is a deeper level that we as elves may not be able to understand. Magic comes from the void, a dark abyss of another dimension. By blurring the gap between two worlds, we create distortions in our own reality that perhaps we are unable to see, but still do lasting damage to the natural state of our world.

 

It is for this reason that arcane magic is, on principle, dangerous to use. Another reason why it is restricted, and a reason why we must always search for the conventional, non-magic way to do things.

Lliran, I have seen a few misunderstand the motivation behind the laws of voidal magics, and perhaps now it has been made clear to you. As our nation continues to grow, and the old way of our people continues its revival, perhaps more of you will know why it is important to keep away from such corrupting acts.

 

My condolences are with you if you disagree with the laws still, but now you at least know the reasoning for which they exist. As they shant be changing, my only suggestion to you is to recommend you adapt to them.

 

With that, Artimec stepped off the podium, giving any crowd that had gathered an opportunity to ask questions with a simple nod.

[Your Favorite Impure 736]

Aenor idly looks around after the speech is given, before looking to Artimec with a firm nod of agreement. 

[hex37 737]

"Ungrateful hypocrite." Nienna mutters, having this speech retold to her by a friend.

[Paleo 298]

Aeras'd quietly stand in the crowd nodding "Not bad."

[ThumperJack 927]

Demagol being there for one reason or another, huffs "Idio'."

[GodEmperorFlam 3447]

Katari grunts in mild approval as he glances around the crowd for any troublemakers.

[Lyuin 65]

Lyuin nods slowly "It is cruel but it should hopefully lower the number of child evocationists carelessly slinging spells of a lethal nature around. I'm surprised nobody has thought to create Arcane Scholars in an environment where they might be educated of it's detrimental nature. As for the previous law about using it in a public space...I struggle to understand why someone would even /need/ to use magic in a public space...unless for self defence..."

 

[ℤ∃ʁ∅ 823]

Ramza pops his coat collar, with a smirk. "Clerics.."

[Moot 1719]

"I'm unaware of the laws in question or debate at hand - but magic should never be treated as if it's a toy, or play thing. It's a tool, and much like any tool, like hammer and saw and knife, it can be used as a weapon all the same. Be wary of what magic you toil with, Art speaks truth in that. It may not be apparent now, but improper and wide usages of magic can, and have damaged our natural world.

This is advice coming from a practitioner, and teacher of magic. Use it with prudence, lest you condemn us all."

Kalameet grumbles, agreeing with Art largely.

[CupCwakez 125]

Iyath shakes her head unsure.

[gab 163]

"Perhaps living with the wood elves was a bad idea," A perturbed, blue-haired elf mutters, "Tch."

[mitto 2312]

Ezure takes a swig from a silver canteen.

 

He turns around to face the crowd, having not been paying attention.

 

"Sounds like a load o' **** to me." he chimes in ignorance.

[Farryn 860]

Elvira would listen to the speech and sighs, shaking her head. She soon leaves to her home at the winery outside of the city and once there, she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. 
"RUBBISH! Magic can be used to help defend the city and to aid others, and you have a lot of mages in the city! I get where you are coming from in some areas but you are bloody damn wrong in most areas! Not all mages are bad, they do not see non-magic users as inferiors! We do have morals and we do care! Yes there are some magic, like necromancy and such that SHOULD be banned, but by banning all magic, you are making us mages useless and unable to aid the city! We would help you if you needed it but nope! You just had to go and make a law banning it, didn't you?! This is RUBBISH! UTTER RUBBISH!"

After  her rant, Elvira would calm down and grumble to herself, heading to her lab.to create some potions.

[Lirinya 4021]

Ash simply listens. Her head shaking in silence at his words. She could say something inappropriate, but decides against it, opting for something a little more publicly acceptable

"You can not generalize everyone like that. You and I both know there are mages who do not abuse their powers. Or act as you speak. Though I will not argue the laws, they are as they are." she says with a huff before glancing around the crowd.

[Taylor 504]

Asher lets out an exasperated sigh, both of his pale hands lifting to drag down his face. He'd drop his arms back to his side and pause all of his movement for a moment before speaking, "Though Artimec may be correct in the fact people use magic as a toy, he's overgeneralizing all mages. I for one can confirm that not once have I used my magic for anything other than good in this city, however I s'pose that means nothing. Instead of putting in the work to weed out the disgusting mages, let us put each and every single one of them in the same position." The half-elf would grunt a moment after, rotating on his heel as he'd continue speaking, "Though I'm just a half-breed, therefore a waste of life. My input means little to nothing, though I'll continue following these laws.