Weekend, Week 1The City Square.
It has been, traditionally or at least in the last Pentade, a venue for public speeches, discussions, demonstrations, fistfights, or in general any kind of dispute resolution which couldn't be done before a judge. It was known that the first casualty of the First Mage War was caused here - A seeking fireball hitting its intended target as he is trying to blend into the crowds.
Usually it was miners asking for a pay raise, apprentices calling for free trade. Today it took a bit of... Academic flavor, as a large number of mages has gathered . It looked like it would erupt into something worse at any minute.
"Welcome, Daytwister Tanova. Thought you would never show up."
"Thank you. Temporal Mages are usually known for their punctuality," replies Ivica. "But it looks like you are doing this better than us today." Behind her there are a large crowd of supporters: Most are underclassmen, but some are junior mages of full graduate ranks.
"Certainly. After all it is all hard work," referring to his supporters behind him. Their attire told it all: Exquisite robes, adorned with symbols and non-symbols in the elements, with tall non-rimmed hats, which are formal clothing of those high in the Conjuring Orders. And there are a few very finely adorned oars, symbolizing guidance for the death, as signs of necromancers thrown into the mix. "And yes, it is where I begin. We do our work and preparation honestly, and not you kind who keep stealing time."
"I don't understand. We don't steal time. We change them, just as you change all the elements. But I think this is not the point of discussion. As I said then, the main point is encouraging integration of magic in the society of commonfolk. And while the demonstrations are more akin to a performance, they have been and are, in fact, practical uses of magic. These uses have certainly helped the live of both commonfolk and magicans a lot, for example, magical treatments have improved the long-standing overcrowding of hospitals. Certainly Evoker Schmidt..."
"That is a title that Lucius gave to me. And I never need that title. I AM Bernard Schmidt, and should remain the same. And what had the improved hospitals bring to all of us? What do the Chronocoach service promoted by your kind, you proud time mages, have brought benefits to the people? You must remember the Schalass incident, which tragically 115 was still recorded as missing in official records, due an error which left them forever drifting in time.
"No," Schmidt cleared his throat and continued, "Commonfolk should be protected from from tragic incidents like this. And this is only part of the progress of you folks from the so-called 'progress club' had made. And in the name of progress, you actually made everyone worse. Accidents are just a part of it; loss of jobs another, and perhaps should be of higher importance, Daytwister."
(Dwarmin: 40<44<60.)
"Back to the point," An Fresh Graduate, known as Dwarmin, spoke from the ranks behind Ivica. "And that is why demonstrations like this are exactly needed. The Schalass incident was too much a scar for commonfolk to bear, that is a fact, but how are you going to reverse that? Banning them? Making that exclusive for the Magickind? It is not something that the commonfolk will come to understand, and unless we open up, we will end up with a revolt from the commonfolk. And either way, someone more enterprising would just gather people around his cause, and as the stone started rolling down a slope, there is nothing to stop it save a violent crash." As he spoke, signs of approval has come from his ranks, with the occasional jeer from the opposite side.
(Doombound: 10<50)
"And that's why we have to keep them under guard." Yelled Doombound Snarforth, who rose his plain oar, signifying his intention to speak and calling for attention. "We have to stop this from happening..."
(Quarrion: 100!)
"This will happen. This will exist."Replied Quarrion Ellis, a conjurer standing in the Temporal Camp. "I agree with this Temporal fellow, we are not going to stop this anyway. The only way to prevent tragedies like this is to make sure everyone know the advantages and disadvantages of applied magic. And as incomprehensible as it stands, we might have to abandon our rigid structure, and try to retool ourselves to face the present challenges. I actually suggest we establish a working group on applied magic and develop standards, measures, procedures and anything else for a more sustainable and co-habitable future."
He was greeted by "Hear him!" "Excellent!" from the ranks, partly for his eloquent speech, and partly for his courage to cross the bench.
(Bernard's Reply: 3! Your discussion did not help with this critical failure.)
"To Clarify our case," Bernard interrupted the underclassman, with an expression of half disdain and half indifference. "We are prepared to defend our point. Certainly, people are and should be defended from the horrible forces of... this."
Putting his hand before him, he continued. "Miss Tanova, to protect the people from further destruction, the Traditionalist Pentagram has to step in and stop this, by words or by force." As a axe of flames appeared in his palm, he concluded. "We have to prove you incapable of handling the art of magic."
(Julius: 60>40. Auto success, anyway as the Bernard took this too seriously.)
"So much for discussion," Replied Julius the Outlander, from the Tanova Camp. Pointing at the mass of mages, as they are preparing for a fight, he quipped, "As expected of you."
It looks like there would be a fight, anyway. What you know for certain is that there would be a battle-ready army within a minute - Conjurers holds on the war ministry for a reason, and they even have a standing Mage Company in their order. Ivica probably won't fight, since she has already proven her point, but this would probably lead to both sides claiming victories. A fight may break out anyway, and participation may make you more famous, even your victory or defeat probably mean very little. Alternatively you may try to contact the Magical Constabulary to quell the situation, but its front-line staff consists of a majority of conjurers. Or any suitable method.
This would probably be the last decision you will make this weekend.
Buy book of faces -38
Buy Mystical Cube, rename the Companion Cube -50
Buy 5 tomes -50
Buy 1 alchemist's potions: -20
Attend the debate, support Bernard
"Magic is a powerful force that should not be used frivolously for the entertainment of peasants"
Tomes: 75, 83, 18, 19, 20.
You received a set of recipes of the Ethereal Lobster, A Diviner's Journal, 3 Books of Accounting.
(Update for everyone else and other tome lottery results in next update.)
Note: The Schalass Incident is, simply put, a Traffic Incident concerned vehicles travelling within a time bubble created temporal mages. A human error left the boat Schalass left presumably "lost" in time.