Prohibition of Magic Usage

Purpose

This decree was meant to eliminate all magic and its dark arts from the kingdom of Nimtra. Stemming from the desparate situation that was brought on by the Bloodchill Plague and magic misuse under King Yngvarr, it was a document written to protect both the kingdom's body and soul, as all magical practices are forbidden.

Document Structure

Clauses

1. Total Prohibition Of Magic
2. Demolition Of Magic Institutes
3. Seizure Of Mystic Artifacts
4. Punishment For Practitioners
5. Immediate Execution For Necromancy
6. Creation Of The Inquisition
7. Reward For Informants

Caveats

Duration:

The decree was supposed to be permanent and unchangeable.

Scope:

It applied to all inhabitants of the kingdom of Nimtra, regardless of status or position.

Consequences:

Immediate and severe penalties, including execution.

Publication Status

The decree was widely available and must have been proclaimed throughout the kingdom to enforce obedience. It was supposed to be widely known and rigorously implemented.

Legal status

This decree was deemed legal under the laws of the kingdom in accordance with King Soren I and subject to Crown jurisdiction, enforced by a newly created royal inquisition.

Historical Details

Background

It was a period in which history, culture, and politics were volatile. Accompanied by the use of dark arts, particularly necromancy, the Bloodchill Plague was unleashed during Yngvarr's reign. This disaster caused massive suffering and death, which seriously weakened the kingdom. The non-magical family ascended the throne, and it dramatically altered and shook up the political landscape thereafter. It was the end to a time of darkness and the start of Morová Doba.

History

The Reign of King Yngvarr

1612 PD: King Yngvarr began his now notorious reign on the throne. He was the power-hungry ruler, whose necromancy proclivities had already made him a notorious figure in the Nimtra.
1665 PD: Fueled by his craving to build an unstoppable undead horde, King Yngvarr ordered his blood mages to produce a disease known later as the Bloodchill Plague.
1675 PD: After many years of terror and destruction by the Bloodchill Plague, a turning point wass reached. Yngvarr was killed with his own creation, as distrust and paranoia had festered within his council. The death of Yngvarr had brought about the end to the Proklatá Doba; a new age began for the kingdom.

The Aftermath and Soren I

1 MD: After the death of Yngvarr, the kingdom was for a long time trying to establish itself and restore order. The continued spread of the Bloodchill Plague only worsened, continuing to ravage both land and its population. In the midst of this, Soren I was declared as the new king. He was born into a non-magical family and devoted to erasing all magic from his realm.
5 MD: King Soren I suffered a personal tragedy when his sons fell to another outbreak of the Bloodchill Plague in the capital. Their death, followed by further atrocities, only served to reinforce his views that magic was a vile thing in the lives of men. Those events had only strengthened his will to declare war on magic of any stripe, and he could see no other solution but dire retribution upon the mages. This led to this decree being created.

Public Reaction

The reaction from the public was a bit mixed. Most were simply relieved and supportive, full of hope that the banning of magic would mean an end to all the pain, grief and turmoil caused by the Bloodchill Plague. The universal fear and distrust of the mages helped to ensure that this was taken for granted. But there were also holdouts—those who still secretly practiced the art of magic or sought to use its power for benevolent purposes.

Legacy

The lasting effects of the decree cannot be overlooked. It established a firm ideology for anti-magic practices that affected future generations, forming an ultra-puritanical society bent wholly against any form of magic. It also led to the rise of the Royal Inquisition and later the Order of Witch Hunters, which quickly became an important faction in all corners of the kingdom.

Term

The decree lasted almost 15 years, from the start of year 6 MD to the end of year 20 MD. During this period, its content was enforced with an iron fist by royal inquisitors. In the Mage Decree of 20 MD, Queen Helga I had imposed new laws that expanded upon the policy of prohibition and brought about worse punishments for the use of magic. This new act also established the Witch Hunters, who would now hold official power to discover and extinguish any form of magic within the kingdom's borders.

Read the Document

Prohibition of Magic Usage

Whereas the practice of dark arts and magic has wrought immeasurable damage to our realm for many years; let it now be known - in the interest and protection, wellbeing, good health it hereby decreed as such:

1. Total Prohibition of Magic

As from this day all things magical are banned in the realm. This applies, but not limited to spells, enchantments and rituals being casted and practiced by anyone or the use and possession of magical artifacts. All magic practices of any kind are banned and will henceforth be considered a capital crime.

2. Demolition of Magic Institutes

Any and all institutions that are in existence to practice or teach magic shall be disbanded at once. This also applies to academies, guilds and other schools or gatherings that study, learn, and practice magic. The Crown shall seize their records, tomes, artifacts; and repurpose their facilities for the advancement of the kingdom. Now the homes of heresy will house righteous merit for our people.

3. Seizure of Mystic Artifacts

All magical artifacts (including but not limited to every enchanted item, spellbook and otherwise) must be handed over to the Crown immediately. Those who disobey this regulation will be punished with the utmost severity. The dark forces have tainted objects that are to be collected and destroyed in order to rid these lands of their evil.

4. Punishment for Practitioners

Whoever practices magic, helps it to be practiced or has objects for this purpose will be declared an enemy of the realm. Such individuals will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. According to the crime, punishments will be either imprisonment, exile, or execution. Be it known to all that the use of magic constitutes a capital offense against both Crown and kingdom.

5. Immediate Execution for Necromancy

All those indulging in necromancy or the vile practice of raising dead bodies would be executed at sight. There is no kind of magic as vile, wicked and dangerous as necromancy, and such practice will not be permitted whatsoever.

6. Creation of the Inquisition

This decree shall be enforced by the institution of a royal inquisition. The inquisition is to be conducted by the Crown, who shall name trusted and pious individuals as inquisitors with permission to investigate, arrest and bring any suspect criminal before justice. The inquisitors shall not allow anything heretical to enter our country, and they shall have the most intense vigilance and fervor.

7. Reward for Informants

Should the use of magic or magical artifacts come to their attention, citizens are expected and encouraged to report it immediately so that they may be handsomely rewarded by the Crown. In order to keep them safe, their identities will not be publicized. Make no mistake that the Crown treasures and respects those who work with us to rid this evil from our society.
This is a decree passed to purge our lands from the tainted miasma that wraught pain and plague across us.
I pass this into law by my hand and seal, never to be undone, for the safety and sanctity of our land.

King Soren I

Close

Type

Decree, Royal

Medium

Paper

Authoring Date

21st of Traven, 6 MD

Ratification Date

23rd of Traven, 6 MD

Expiration Date

Never