Act of Solace

Issued in 237 AS, the Act of Solace was meant to address the growing problems from casters sickened by the Shards of Zolgar, the after-effects of casting magic. As these pains were increasingly degenerative, ending with the mind becoming crazed and unstable, casters were rapidly becoming a public menace in many areas.
As the sickness became better and better documented, and a treatment found using the mineral Aspium, one that could stave off the effects for many years, King Gaetan moved quickly to acquire all Aspium mines in the Valdare Mountains, effectively securing a monopoly on the treatment. At the same time, the royal casters uncovered the technique for recreating an Age of Magic relic, the Casavar Hand Flower. This device could contain and control the magic of any caster. Intended for assistance in training, Gaetan quickly saw its other possible uses. He was then able to leverage these two items to give himself the power to issue this decree, causing all casters to become property of the crown.

Document Structure

Clauses

The document starts out on a positive note. After the standard greetings and address, the King first clause acknowledges the problem of sickened casters running wild, and offers the King's supply of Aspium as a treatment to all casters in the realm.
The second clause sets out the conditions of this generosity: all casters are to become 'indentured' to the crown, regardless of their wishes, dressed in a highly obvious uniform, and housed in a central location. It is mentioned that this new locale will provide everything a caster needs from the issuing of the decree until death, but that did little to ameliorate the blow that casters felt from this.
The third clause lays out the various likely duties that a caster would undertake in service to the crown, including but not limited to military action. Then it orders the authorities to immediately begin rounding up casters to ship off to the new "King's" Tower. One assumes that this was not terribly effective until the King's tame casters came along to help confine those who resisted.

Historical Details

Public Reaction

The reaction to this decree was overwhelmingly positive from the average citizens. After years of dealing with magically-induced hardships, the idea of corraling and treating casters seemed to be a good thing. This belief has persisted to the current day, where it is common for neighbors and even family members to turn in a person suspected of being a caster.

Legacy

The system set in place by the Act of Solace is still active to this day. Casters are identified and taken to what is now known as the Sanguine Tower as soon as possible, so as to train them to their roles. With anti-magic sentiment being so ingrained in the culture, some casters even turn themselves in so they do not pose a danger to their loved ones. The one overwhelmingly obvious effect of the Crown having access to all the casters in the realm has been Polira's increased military strength and firepower. The kingdom has not lost a conflict since the Act was decreed.

Read the Document

Act of Solace

Act of Solace: Addressing the imminent danger to the public from sickened magic users and the limited availability of Aspium, the common treatment for such malady, from King Gaetan to the citizens of Polira.
Being master of the government of the whole of the realm of Polira, and charged with its overall welfare, We are not unmindful of the current crisis before Us, and that acts done by Us should be fortified, recorded and proclaimed to the people. Wherefore everyone present and future seeing the present page or hearing its contents should know that We hereby decree that henceforth all those of magical talents, the individuals known as "casters," shall be granted access to Our stores of Aspium, a known remedy for that affliction of magic which is known as the Shards of Zolgar.
In exchange for this generosity, and for the good of all the realm, all casters shall become indentured unto the crown for the duration of their existence. They shall dress in an appropriate livery of red to allow for visibility and identification. To ensure the proper care and effective use of these casters, a special fortification is designated as their official residence and operational headquarters outside Vercour, which shall be known as the King's Tower. In return for their service, casters will be provided with housing, sustenance, and all necessary provisions to live comfortably. The responsibilities of the casters will encompass a wide array of tasks, from defending the realm against external threats to furthering scholarly and technological endeavors. Their involvement will be pivotal in upholding the kingdom's supremacy and ensuring the well-being of Our citizens. This decree is to be promptly enforced, with all local authorities directed to aid in identifying and relocating magical individuals to the Sanguine Tower. Let this decree stand as a testament to the crown's dedication to mitigating harm to Our citizens and harnessing magic's power for the realm's greater good.
Done here this Feast of Tabris, in the year Two Hundred and Thirty Seven After The Shattering, being the Twelfth year of Our Reign.

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by Nightflyer0ne via Midjourney

Type

Decree, Royal

Medium

Vellum / Skin

Authoring Date

237 AS

Location

Sanguine Tower

Authors

• Gaetan Leroux