Drachenburg Chancellery Decree 8/7/308

FROM THE DESK OF HIS HIGH EMINENCE
THE LORD CHANCELLOR OF THE REGALIAN EMPIRE
A DECREE
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Following recent events in the Empire and after consultation with various groups for further understanding, it has become necessary to reform areas of State Law and the Government, in order to more effectively guide the Empire into the next chapter of our history.

• On the Subject of Arcane Law, it has been determined that the current response to regulating magic and Occult Persona has been ineffective in working towards the goals outlined in the Imperial Decree of the Magi, which in my declaration of intent were to be a guide for legislation in this new chapter of our history. Magic exists around us, and it will continue to exist long after all reading this have breathed their last. With consultation from the Imperial Seat, a singular phrase speaks stronger than any other statement that I could write: subjugated pragmatism is preferable to violent resistance. The current State Laws have done as they were written to do, but they have failed to encompass the full intent of the Decree of the Magi. As his Worship Harhold best summarized in a recent correspondence to my office: "An open hand to those willing. A firm fist to those who resist." We have shown a firm fist in the current Arcane Laws, and now is the time to follow through with our Unionist duty to provide a hand of invitation to those who will serve. To provide both the carrot and the stick, as His Imperial Holiness remarked in the Decree.
  
  Therefore, the following shall hereby take the place of the current Arcane Laws:

1. To subject oneself or another to the aberrations of Undeadism, Vampirism, or Werebeastism is illegal.
2. Noble Houses are permitted to employ up to two Court Mages.
3. To cast Occult Abilities in a building while there is a bar by the owner or head attendant of the building is illegal.
4. To utilize Occult Abilities which are harmful, unwanted, or negatively affecting another is illegal.
5. Occult Persona may not use Occult Abilities to attack another citizen or non-citizen resident, save in the case of self defense.
   1. Occult Abilities used in self defense must be non-lethal and harmless, with an intent to incapacitate, restrain, or defend against an assailant.
6. There exists three statuses of Occult Persona within the Regalian Empire:
   1. White Status Persona are Occult Persona given special disposition to utilize Occult Abilities in return for service as stipulated via a permit through the Regalian State.
   2. Gray Status Persona are all Occult Persona lacking White or Black Status.
   3. Black Status Persona are those Occult Persona who are deemed enemies of the Regalian Empire, who seek to use their Occult Abilities to fight against or destroy law and order, or are otherwise considered terrorists or dangerous to the Regalian citizenry.

With these amended laws, we have provided a set of legislation that is not only firm in upholding the intent of the Empire's future course, but allowing opportunity for us to warm up to and dictate the sight and use of magic, in order for us to advance and innovate in order to control this aspect. Those of Gray Status shall be the majority of Occult Persona, able to exist in this empire in adherence to the law, while those that wish to prove exceptional shall dedicate their services to the State. Further remarks on the latter point will be addressed later in this decree.

• On the Subject of Vampiric Duress, I remarked in a previous statement, in fact the very proclamation that created the Arcane Law Section, that this concept opened the door to several negative consequences in regards to law and order. Through the use of this heretical curse, one would have the potential to avoid justice from being served through a claim of duress, even if one's intentions were to violate the law in the first place. For the sake of avoiding such an action from occurring in this Empire, I uphold my previous stance and hereby declare that the Vampire Duress Argument is hereby removed from any existing State Laws, and cannot henceforth be used as a legal defense.
• On the Subject of Court Mages, with the amendments to Arcane Law, I wished to provide a copy of the Imperial Laws in regards to this subject, unaltered from their initial phrasing:
  • Mages who are not currently wanted by the State or considered terrorists or dangerous to the good righteous people of the Empire, may be recruited by Noble, Imperial and Aristocratic houses, as their Court Magi. The Family in question is then charged with the proper education of the Mage to an acceptable public behavior standard, as defined further down.
  • Being a Court Mage officially registered with the Secretary of the Magi (who purely checks for the legal status of the Mage), will be allowed to wander the city freely without constraints applicable to them because of their Magic, and may accompany their Noble or Aristocratic liege to any place, including the Imperial Palace, as long as their presence is championed by their Patriarch or Matriarch in personal presence.
  • Being a Court Mage allows one such Mage to use their Magic to combat either other Mages that engage in hostile attitudes to the state if directed and under the guidance of their liege family, or use their Magics to aid the family they serve in their daily godly tasks to further the cause of Ailordom, or to protect their liege family from any harm with their Magics.
  • Being a Court Mage allows a Court Mage to engage in a Magic-Duel against any other Court Mage either in streets that are wide enough to accommodate no-danger to property and non-Mages, or any public arena (including the Palace Arena), to settle a duel of honor or purely for entertainment for the onlookers, as long as at least 2 Regalian Guards are present to act as referee, and to ensure the Magical Duel does not damage properties or people. These duels may be to the death for the Mage if need be, and the Families in question are responsible for any irregularities that may occur.

The inclusion of these Imperial Laws aims to demonstrate that there is at least one such outlet to offer the Magic population servitude in exchange for privileges, and that the Arcane Ministry shall use this as an example for White Status permits going further.

• On the Subject of the Arcane Ministry, I have amended his Eminence the Prince-Elector of Calemberg's right and duties as listed below:
  • The right to investigate Occult events on the Crown Isle on behalf of the State
  • The right to safely secure Occult objects on behalf of the State
  • The right to register all Noble Court Mages
  • The right to grant White Status permits to Occult Persona on the Crown Isle.
  • The right to declare Black Status on Occult Persona on the Crown Isle with adequate and presented proof of severe Occult-related crimes against the Regalian Empire.
  • The right to declare a public area of the Crown Isle permissible for Occult Ability usage.

In closing, I as the head of the government make this statement to the Empire: the Imperial Spirit has guided our most Holy Emperor in presenting this new objective for all the faithful and loyal servants of the Regalian Empire to follow. Just as the common soldier follows the order of his officer, so too shall we heed the will of the Spirit. We have been taught that the occult is a corruption of the natural world, and that it in and of itself can corrupt those around it. Therefore, we must train ourselves just as a soldier would with his weapon, to hold firm in our faith, so that we may control this force, and prevent it from corrupting those around us.

The rulings of this decree take the full effect of State Law.​

SIGNED AND STAMPED,
His High Eminence Dietrich I by the Grace of the Spirit
Lord Chancellor of the Regalian Empire
Elector in the Waldmark
Grand Duke of the Drachenwald
Defender of Cadar's Legacy
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OOC Notes/Summary

• Rather than ban all public casting, the laws have been amended to permit a controlled usage of magic in public. Businesses/Temples/etc can now dictate if they allow the usage of magic (which for practicality's sake include all aberrant abilities under the blanket term "Occult Abilities")
• Public casting is permitted, so long as those around are comfortable with it's usage. Buildings can overrule this based on their internal policy.
• White, Gray, and Black Status are a subtle return to older Regalian statuses, with modern twists. Gray Status should end up being the vast majority of all aberrants, while White Status gives out state-determined elevated rights in exchange for specific services. An example of this are the Court Mages, but may also be granted to really any aberrant who can convince the Arcane Minister that they are deserving of the privileges, and have substantial services they can or have offered the Regalian State.
• Vampire Duress has been wholly removed. It was technically removed a while ago, but this just confirms it. No more drinking the red drank to avoid that smuggling charge.
• The Arcane Ministry has been given the ability to set certain areas as magic zones, which can mean really anything the Minister wants it to be (arena for magic combat, magic research zone, etc.)
• Purity hardliners are still able to avoid magic usage by banning it in businesses and by having their groups publicly requesting for it to cease around them. Puretek Permits can also still be requested via forum pm to the Lord Chancellor.