505-04-30 Final Necromancy Council Meeting

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Final Necromancy Council Meeting
RL Date	May 12, 2008
Players	Empress Mena, Brody, Helena, Azurios, Phoenix, Serath, Arianell, Jenoch, Viola
Location	Imperial Audience, Gateway Isle
Crossroads Time and Weather
IC Date	April 30, 505 A.G.
Season	Spring

Audience Chamber - Imperial Tower - Gateway Castle
The audience chamber has an air of formality to it, despite its comfort. The large room is done in soft blues and golds, and a marble fireplace occupies a prominent spot between two tall glass windows overlooking Gateway. The windows are reinforced with wrought iron worked into elegant whorls of leaves, tendrils, and flowers.
A table to one side has four tall, wing-backed chairs framing it, with one of the chairs slightly larger than the rest. A grouping of velvet couches and chairs for less formal conversations is placed closer to the fireplace.
The standard of Gateway at one wall is framed by the crests of each of the four duches, and another wall holds an elegant tapestry of Gateway castle itself. A sidebar oft holds a variety of refreshments.

This eve, there is a larger table set within the room, able to seat at least twelve people comfortably. It is at the head of this long table that the Empress sits, Azurios to one side of her. There are four knights in the chamber itself watching over this meeting.

Brody tips his head to the Empress. "I'll let you know how she's doing, midway through. She'll be very tired tomorrow, as you can imagine. Good eve, Empress." He turns his head to stride for the door.

And as usual for these sessions, a long table with a number of chairs has been set up within the audience chamber for those attending the meeting. The Empress already sits at the head of it with a small stack of parchment in front of her. She inclines her head to Brody's words, then looks toward those entering for this last meeting of the committee. "Good evening to you all."

Brody departs with naught but a distant, impassive glance over the arrivals.

Helena arrives with her satchel slung over her shoulder. She offers a proper curtsey to the Empress as she approaches. "Good eve, your Majesty," she greets with a slight smile. Helena rises and moves towards the chair she has claimed at each meeting and unpacks her things for taking her usual notes.

Azurios enters the room stifling a yawn, unhurried. He executes a slow and perfunctory bow, somehow managing to infuse it with grace, before he proceeds toward a chair next to the Empress.

Following a few moments behind Helena, Phoenix enters the chamber. He offers a murmured greeting to the Empress, dipping his chin respectfully before making his way towards one of the seats farther down the table.

Serath eases into a cordial bow before Mena, "Good evening, your Majesty." And then he passes for the table, bowing his head as well to those gathered in greeting before he takes the same seat he did last week.

Azurios sinks into his chair and proceeds to let his languid eyes play across each arrival to the room. Either he is unimpressed, bored, or both.

Mena waits in silence for the arriving committee members to settle in their respective seats, her gaze touching upon each one. "Again, a good evening to all of you. Thank you for coming, and for your patience through this process," she starts with a formal tone. "At the upcoming public council, Necromancy as a sphere of magic shall be made legal. Tonight, we will finalize the restrictions that shall be put upon the legalization. Shall we get started?"

Duchess Arianell is looking rather green as she arrives; twelve hours on a ship have not treated her well, as usual. But she moves to take her seat, still a little bit subdued, if not so much as at the last meeting.

There's a look about Helena as she glances up from her notes and watches the other arrivals. It is the look of one who wishes to speak, but isn't certain that the time is right. This look firs emerges as she glances towards the reclusive Forester and lingers as she looks up at Serath. Arianell's arrival brings a bit of a smile back to the Soranus' lips and as the Empress' words open the meeting she looks back to the head of the table, pen in hand.

Serath's gaze moves across the room in quiet apprehension. He leans back in his seat casually, his hands folded across his chest, listening.

"Very good," Mena says, since everyone does seem ready to go. "The first restriction is that regarding subjects. That anyone who is willing to donate their body, after death, to a necromancer would be informed of the process that would happen and have complete consent. Furthermore, that body, once animated, would be kept far away from the family members or friends that the deceased has left behind. Arguments or revisions?"

"May we presume that it must be kept away only if family and friends object? There may be some who would not," Azurios says in his mild fashion.

Helena glances up at the Empress as her pen stills. "Who will arrange the consent? Will there be a legally binding contract presenting? Who will oversee it?"

Duchess Arianell makes no comment, watching the discussion quietly.

Serath doesn't seem suprised or moved by the question, though his gaze does move toward Azurios and then Helena as they reply. He seems content to remain quiet for the moment.

Mena inclines her head to the questions. "As long as there is written testimony from the family of the subject that they do not mind, then I see no issue," she says to Azurios, then turns her attention to Helena. "The consent will be arranged by the High Council of Mists. There will be legal and binding contracts to be signed, yes. All of the restrictions hammered out for this will be more closely overseen by the High Council of Mists, as this is a magical issue, and that is their purpose, to preside over such things."

"Thank you," murmurs Helena as she returns to her writing. She makes no further argument on that matter, so the lady must be content with it, right?

Azurios gives the barest of nods to signal his own assent and draws his bejeweled wand out from one sleeve. Holding it lightly, he taps it against his thigh with a careless rhythm.

Mena looks around to see if anyone else has questions on that point before she moves on. "Next," she says, glancing down at her papers. "Animation, for now, shall be unregulated for animals. If this becomes a problem, then we reserve the right, of course, to make changes to that condition. As for animating human bodies, an application and licensure process would be mandatory, and each necromancer given a limit of animating five bodies. If they wish more, they would have to appeal to the High Council for such, and have good reasons."

Helena glances up again from her note-taking and poses a second question. "What of things that are neither human or animal, your Majesty?" Helena sets her pen down. "Providence forbid, but should anything else come through the Gateway into this realm and is killed, will a necromancer be permitted to try and reanimate a demon?" Her tone is stern in this, her opinion on this is far more obvious.

Pale eyes flick briefly towards the Soranus sister, but Phoenix's expression is unreadable, his gaze reflecting nothing this evening of his thoughts. In his hands he has produced a small square of paper which he begins meticulously folding in his dexterous fingers. Despite the leather casing on his left hand, he manages the delicate folds, pressing the creases tightly. His attention flicks up at the mention of unregulated numbers for animal re-animation, but he says nothing to contradict the empress's words, listening.

Azurios bestows his opinion as he agitates wand to thigh yet, the jewels standing out against the dark fabric of his garment. "I do not think that the animation of demonic forms should be attempted but with the specific assignment of the council to do so. I can see where they might consider learning about its movement or other factors relevant, but that is not something I would expect my own order to decide."

"I think that, for the safety of the Empire which I must always put first, that for now, the reanimation of anything that is non-human in nature, shall remain forbidden in general. Unless given /specific/ permission from the crown to do so. I do not include the normal animals that are seen in our own lands, of course. I speak of different races."

For the first time this evening Helena gives the mage more than a passing glance. Her eyes fix on him as she speaks and when he finishes she offers a nod. "I would be agreeable to that," she says before making a few more quick notes. "I would hate to see a panic caused by a demon thought dead come back to life," she adds.

Nell looks from face to face as the meeting continues, an almost absent look on her face, as if she's checking things off on a mental list.

Jenoch steps quitely nto the chamber and offers a quick bow to Empress Mena, before assuming a posiiton near the left wall.

Azurios meets Helena's gaze as it is turned upon him and a slow nod is given to her. "Indeed." The words of the Empress earn a thoughtful look and a slow concession in the bow of his head.

Mena nods to Helena's words, then looks down at her papers. "As for the sustaining of one person by another by the sharing of essences, the only restriction to this is that the soul of either not be tampered with in the process. This is meant to be a healing practice only. Anything else would be considered experimentation, which does have its own restrictions that I will address next, if no one has issue with this."

Helena glances up and shakes her head, once again pausing from her note-taking.

"And consent, of course," Nell chimes in quietly. "There must be consent if it is possible to give it."

"As Her Grace says," Azurios says, the turn of his wrist indicating Arianell with the gesture of his wand.

Mena inclines her head to Arianell. "If it is possible to give it, yes. If a person is unable to give consent, then the next of kin should make that choice. If there is no time for such things, it will be up to the individual necromancer to make the call whether such is needed or not. Yes?" she asks of Arianell, eyebrows lifting. "Is that amenable?"

Nell looks a little uncomfortable with the judgement of necromancers, but nods. "Though as with anyone else, if they judge poorly, appropriate consequences should follow."

Azurios puts in his never-ending opinion by stating, "Agreed. The enactor must be held accountable." His hand returns to now circling the tip of the wand on his kneecap.

Duchess Arianell looks to Azurios, perhaps a little weirded out by repeated agreement from the mage.

Mena picks up a nearby quill and makes a couple of notes herself before she goes on. "Agreed as well," she murmurs, then looks up again. "Alright. Now, the more difficult issues. Experimentations with souls. First, as with the rest, anyone willing to give their soul over to a necromancer must have signed forms that were witnessed by an unbiased party. Under /no/ means may a necromancer tamper with the soul of a living being without this consent. Or a soul of someone already departed. Absolutely not. Just like the animation of bodies, a necromancer is allowed only five caged souls, obtained through legal means, at any one time."

Helena's lips purse together and deep lines form across her brow. Her pen presses hard against the paper as she continues to write. She only glanes up briefly and that is as the Empress speaks. No, now her focus is solely on her own notes and whatever might be going on her mind to contort her face so.

Azurios makes no comment at this point other than to glance down at the sparkling glitter of the magical wand in his hand.

There is some surprise that flashes through the dark eyes of the Empress as no one speaks up upon that matter, but she does not linger on it. "And finally, the necromancers themselves. Any wishing to learn or continue to practice this sphere of magic must be registered with the High Council of Mists. Those wishing to take on apprentices must be approved to teach. Any who circumvent any these restrictions on the sphere will face severe penalties, including, but not limited to, the stripping of their magics, time imprisoned, public lashings, and in extreme cases, execution for crimes.

Helena glances up at the Empress, still bearing that focused and unsatisfied expression. "Your majesty," she says, begging a moment.

Mena looks up toward Helena, eyebrows lifting in a curious fashion. "Yes?"

Serath's gaze shifts between Mena and Helena, his expression unreadable.

Helena sets her pen down and draws in a deep breath. There is some conflict in her eyes as she looks up at the Empress and a hesitation in her words suggests that she's still wavering. That is until she actually speaks, then there is no doubt to her conviction. "I had thought to remain quiet, I know that my position on this is not the popular one and I expect that mine voice on this will likely be voted down, but I would be doing a great disservice to Providence is I do not at least state my feelings on the matter. I apologize to you and to Her that I had to think it over first."

Helena folds her hands together atop the table. "I would wish to state that I am against the keeping of a person's soul. I am of the opinion that the soul, once this mortal skin is shed, is the property of Providence and it is returned into her care. More bruised and battered than when she placed it into our bodies, but still hers. I find the idea that a soul is ripped back from her to be a disgrace and were the deision left to me, I would insist that a soul be left untouched in such a matter."

Azurios's eyes lift to consider Helena through a fringe of his lashes, and the shadow of a smile edges at the corners of his features. "Your belief is thus, about Providence and souls. What about one who does not believe in Providence, are they to be subjected to your views, Milady?"

Mena does smile a bit at Helena and shakes her head. "You need not apologize for stating your opinion, Lady Soranus. For that is the whole purpose for this committee, that I am not just grasping at straws and making these decisions myself." She quiets then, waiting to see how this soul-debate pans out. This is more what she was expecting.

"I..." Nell frowns slightly, grimacing. "I'm just not sure I can imagine a situation in which a person would willingly hand over their soul and it /wouldn't/ be considered under duress, honestly."

Helena glances again towards Azurios and inclines her head. "As I stated, I know that my beliefs in this are not popular or commonly held," she admits. "It is my hope that some day it will be, but it is not my aim to force," she explains. "No one can be led to Providence's truth in shackles. If the decision were mine and mine alone I would see it outlawed, but I know that it is not. I do not have such delusions. I simply wish it known that I do not agree with this part of the law." She pauses and looks to Arianell. "Some that have no or little faith would not see the harm in it and do so without consideration." She sounds saddened by that.

"I have had someone offer me such in recent days, of clear mind and volition, for reasons which are his own. Is it not his right to determine?" Azurios spreads both hands with the question. "Or is he forced to abide by what you think is the appropriate path for his soul?"

Unsurprisingly silent, Phoenix's attention rests on Helena.

In this debate, Mena remains silent, just listening.

Helena narrows her pale gaze on Azurios she leans forward a little. "Let me repeat," she says calmly and slowly. "Since I obviously was ignored the first two times. I am stating this for the record that I do not agree with this part of the law. I know that my opinion is not the popular one and that this law will continue through as it is. I do not have to like it, but I felt it necessary to state my opinion, as that is what we are here to do." She doesn't flinch, she continues to look at the mage. "Again, since I was ignored the first time, no one can be forced to come to Providence, all must come with a willing heart to know Her. I never once suggested that anyone be forced to my will."

"I just think it's hard to take back," Nell says quietly, uncomfortable. "You're sick, or you're hurting, and you make an agreement to do something, or pay something. And then later, you're more in your right mind, but...Well. It isn't at though you get more than one soul."

Azurios's teeth show in his broad and beautific smile for the smooth response of Helena. "Your open-mindedness is noted, lauded, and applauded, Lady Soranus," he says with a soft hand-clapping to validate his words. "The Duchess of Guardian is the one that remains a dissenter, then. Do you claim that nobody who is ill or uncomfortable is capable of reasoning clearly, then? That all adults must immediately become victims of irrational expedience in discomfort? It seems a sweeping statement to disallow something because of the potential of irrationality, rather than to vest adults with the trust to make their own decisions, even in pain."

"Is not everything a part of Providence, and Providence apart of everything." Jenoch shrugs his shoulders, "Mages control and manipulate other parts of Providence. Should all magic be outlawed? Jenoch smiles, "Of course not, It would be silly to do so."

If the mage's comments to her are meant to be sincere Helena doesn't look to be too accepting of them. She says nothing more to him, but rather looks to the Duchess Guardian, her expression softening somewhat.

"I am uncomfortable with it," Nell says calmly to Azurios. "While the /bodies/ raised by necromancers will eventually return to the natural cycle of things, souls, I would imagine, have a longer shelf-life, do they not?"

"So you intend to tell someone they do not have the right over their own body and soul? You stray dangerously into the very area that necromancers first transgressed, Duchess. We are a people of freedom, and the freedom to choose our own destiny, flesh and spirit both." Azurios expresses his own mild disapproval of Arianell's stance with a shake of his head.

"Why not just simply add a clause that the person offering up their soul must be of sound mind?" Viola suggests to the group. "And something that says the person can back out of it even after a contract is signed, should they so wish. That way no one is trapped in a deal if they suddenly decide that their soul must find it's home with Providence."

Nell shakes her head slightly to Azurios. "I am suggesting that souls may be held no longer than bodies can be held," she says with a steady gaze. "Though I agree with the citizen speaker, as well."

Azurios gives a single nod to Viole, his brows rising as if in counter to the lower of his chin. "It seems reasonable. No necromancer should ever be intimidating anyone by implying that he owns their soul. That sort of behavior will lead to sharp and decisive discipline."

"Who is it to decide that they are of soul mind?" Jenoch says, "Since this is a controversial issue, a third party might have its own agenda. They might find everyone willing to give up their soul as being insane. I do agree that a person should be able to get out of the contract whenever possible."

Mena breathes slowly as she listens to the different arguments for a few minutes, then lifts her hand in a graceful gesture of pause. "I understand that it is this issue of the keeping of souls that is the most troublesome and bothersome. For now, unless the Keeper deigns to change it, we shall put in the provisions that Miss Allen has offered, and add the caveat that a soul can only be kept for a specific period of time."

While not completely satisfied, Helena does nod with the Empress' decision on the matter. Picking up her pen she resumes her note-taking.

Duchess Arianell nods to the Empress, looking back down to the table now and absently popping a knuckle.

Azurios gives his concession nod toward the empress at her statement and returns to the mode of listening, subsiding in his chair somewhat.

Serath merely licks his lips and he leans back in his seat, having remained unusually silent throughout the entire debate.

"That was the last issue," Mena then says to the group. "Does anyone else have /any/ other issue? This is your last chance."

"Except that the laws will be amendable, yes?" Nell chimes in again, looking up with an arch of her brow. "So it's not /really/ our last chance."

Mena nods to Arianell. "Yes. The laws are always at the whim of the Keeper, and amendable. I meant merely the last chance for this committee."

The lashes of the ex-Mogur lower to veil his eyes and anything they might reveal of what's behind them.

Helena glances up at the Empress again, though looks to Arianell as well when the Duchess speaks up. When she might catch Mena's eye the Soranus lady nods. She has had her say.

Jenoch starts to pace around the room, "Nothing further from me."

Folding the last crease in the paper he's been working on, shape as yet unidentified in his hand, Phoenix glances up at Mena. A slight dip of his chin indicates that he has nothing to add. His presence in the committee's meetings a curious thing for a man who has said barely anything these last weeks. And while he does not appear especially enthused about the discussion, he is neither obviously bored by it.

Serath bows his head in deferrence to the Empress, obviously he has nothing more to add either this last evening.

Nell shakes her head slightly, her own ending gesture.

Azurios lifts his eyes to look toward the sideboard and the bottles there. The wand resumes its taptaptap against his thigh.

Mena gives another look around before inclining her head. "Very well. I thank you again for all being a part of this and assisting me to work through this list of restrictions. Should any of you have a need that I might assist /you/ with in the future, do not hesitate to come forward, as my door will be open to you. I hope to see you all in council, and until then, I bid you a good evening. May Providence be with each of you."

Azurios rises once the Empress has granted permission. It is the sideboard he visits and a bottle of brandy that is become the object of his affections. He lifts it to examine the amber liquid within, sniffs savouringly at the bottle as it is opened, and spills the precious libation into two small glasses.

Helena offers the Empress a small smile and inclines her head before she begins packing up her notes. She does pauses to re-read something she wrote, but soon enough she's returning everything to her satchel and rising to leave.

Jenoch bows and departs.

Rising easily from his chair, Phoenix moves towards the door. The paper he had folding throughout the meeting vanishes into on of the hidden pockets on his vest. He nods to Mena, communicating some unspoken message in the look before dipping his chin. Turning away from the table and the others in the room, he departs.

Helena provides a departing curtsey and then pauses as the Forester departs. Again there's that odd look on her face, the same she wore earlier and she pauses, waiting a couple of minutes before finally departing herself, frowning as she goes.

Duchess Arianell rises as the meeting is dismissed. She dips a polite curtsey to the empress, then, quiet, turns to depart.

Serath bows his head to the Empress and he rises from his seat, his gaze moving to those in the chamber for a moments. His expression is still unreadable and he makes his way toward the door.

Mena blows out a breath as the committee members take their leave, then looks over at Azurios. "Did you ever hear about the supposed marriage of Lazarus those twenty-odd years ago?"

"You mean Myrddin? No, I heard nothing of it," Azurios says as he picks up both glasses and bears one toward the Empress.

Mena purses her lips a bit. "Interesting. You know.. there are people on Mists that claim remembering something like it. Vague things. Like a fairy tale or a... legend."

"How could the marriage of a marquis be a legend? It sounds perverse in some fashion," Azurios declares, setting down the glass before the empress and retaining his own. "Although I see a true mage when I look at him, and not an elven hybrid."

Mena smirks as she looks at Azurios. "Well, he didn't /start/ that way. We find odd legend, but nothing of fact to uphold his claim, other than the documents he produced himself, which could easily be faked. How are we to know if we cannot find the person that supposedly signed them?"

"Can you find someone who knows the person? There should always be a trail if you are dealing with officials. If the only trail is legend and word of mouth, nobody with any first or second-hand factual experience, then it is a lie." Azurios offers his opinion before knocking back his snifter full of liquor and freezing still, just enjoying the burn and the fumes.

"You should drink it more slowly to savor the flavor," Mena mentions to Azurios with a slight bit of humor. "Alright. I'm done asking you questions tonight. I have something else I need to take care of."

"Do you require my presence, Empress? There is something small I wished to attend to, but I am ever your faithful servant," Azurios says with his mockery oddly fond rather than cutting.

Mena shakes her head as she gets to her feet. "No, nothing that requires your presence. I'm sure I shall see you at council, Azurios. Thank you."

With flowing and exaggerated courtesy, Azurios bends in half and says, "It is always a privilege, Empress. I will savour the brandy more slowly next time. There are instances when the raw rush is appropriate." He straightens and slowly gives a wink to her before he withdraws.

"Good night, Azurios," Mena says with a chuckle as she gathers up her papers. "Thank you again."

"And you, Empress." Azurios departs with a lazy smile quickly schooled to ambivalence.