Revolutionary Interest Check

[Lindah]

Originally a small group of rebellious, revolutionary 'Elevanists' who took part in the Silverwall Miners' Strike of 1824, the movement is becoming less radical and more rational, its ideals being fleshed out. One young man, going by the moniker, Arcald, had been growing the group, bolstering the ranks with supporters of the cause. He had also pooled funding for the group and even rented a humble space for group gatherings (555, 700, 1).

As far as newer members recruited after the mining incident are concerned, he is seen as the new face of the movement. Some may say he is even hijacking the movement itself, as under his name, an official paper has been posted, addressing citizens of Osrona and those within its domains, and in the title, he has discarded the Popular Essharan Liberation Front name with his own version:

People of Esshar's Liberation Front: Interest Check

Are you truly content with the current way we live? It's no different from how our society was organised for thousands of years. The cards may differ, but the game has always been the same. The is the ruler and the ruled, the aggressors and the defenders, the nobles and the citizenry, rich and poor. In our society, inequality has always been a defining feature, and still to this day, it persists.

There are four columns in the hierarchy of our society. The first one, at the very top, is the ruling class, the only class which we will discuss on this paper.

The ruler is the one who has control over large domains, ruling over their subjects. For most of history, we had an everlasting monarchistic family, and a group of reputable families deciding the fate of Esshar as a whole. They ranged from benevolent to cruel, from loyal to treasonous. We descend from the old empire of Astya, supposedly the pinnacle of our society, where might is right. Bestowed with ultimate power, the first archmagi of Petrakis and Elaide reigned. It was only because of these two figures, who walked different paths and feuded against one another, that the mythical Astyan land and its people were destroyed spectacularly. Poetic, because the same pairing between Petrakis and Elaide, millennia later, destroyed the Kingdom of Esshar in the 17th century.

Surely, we have learned from our extensive history? The age old monarchist kingdom of Esshar fell, and the nobles lost direct power over the land. But this changed only the governmental form - a new set of rulers in place of the old. Today, what remains of the Essharan state, with its capital Osrona, is a state ruled not by a king, but by an 'archmagi', advised by a council made up of noble families and the church, both of which still have influence over society to this day. Arguably, the fact that we have reverted to the old archmagi ruling system is a sign of regression. No matter how humble of a background Archmagi Amori hailed from, no matter how deities have selected him to rule, this cannot be a permanent solution. We cannot live on like this!

What we, the People of Esshar's Liberation Front demand, is revolution. However, we do not seek a political revolution. Our end goal is not to change rulers or governmental form. It is to change the structure of society as a whole, to demolish the old feudal order that has kept us and many parts of the known world from progression. What we demand is a social revolution, where the old hierarchy is toppled, where we catch up with Achyon in technological progression but without losing our values, where the common people have a say in the decision making processes of government, where all peoples are truly equal and empowered.

Ask yourselves, are you truly okay with the fact that a very small group of people, perhaps barely a dozen, can ultimately decide the fate of millions? Why should a select group of people, under the pretext of birthright, should keep their hoarded wealth and lands? Why should the church be allocated large swaths of land and special positions? And, who dares claim that our society enjoys freedom? When we magi think of non-magi, we think of those who we employ to sell our wares at market stalls. They do most of the work, and yet most of the time, the profits go to the magi. There are ways we can make our society a more equal one.

We, the People of Esshar's Liberation Front, advocate for all goods sold to non-magi to be subsidised by 98%, the number percentage that non-magi make up in our society. We also demand for the old nobility to relinquish their noble status and title, as well as 99% of their wealth and estates. 98% redistributed to the common people, 1% to lesser, non-ruling class magi. We stand against monarchism, as well as the current system of archmagi magocracy. We are in favour of a system where all citizens are able to choose their leaders and throw them out in the same day. The overwhelming majority must keep every ruler in check, else the rulers will oversee the masses, just like in Achyon.

We are tired of privileged people hoard resources and craft weapons of wars, when they could be used for innovation, for improving living standards. We hate privileged people who spend a commoner's average yearly wages' amount... on Arcana Cards. This overpriced game which only elitist magi are interested in must be seized and removed.

We are the ones responsible for the Silverwall Miners' Strike of 1824. There, down in the mining shafts, we heard of mining accidents. The tracks are incomplete, the ground has many holes. And the deeper you go, the more bones you will find. Dangerous monsters lurk beneath, the working conditions are horrific, and the miners' compesation for their work are insufficient. It was never about the 500 coin toll. Those in Achyon may claim we have Osronan ties, but this is a false talking point, as we also firmly stand against current Osronan society. Osrona does not necessarily tolerate dissent, but the consequences of it aren't as dire as in Achyon. We hope to revolutionise Osrona through nonviolent means, but if they make peace impossible, then they make violence inevitable. Whereas, in Achyon's case, peace was never an option.

These are just a few of our main talking points. Find them agreeable? Join the People of Esshar's Liberation Front today. We accept people from all walks of life, regardless of background, regardless of strength and wealth. Even those who disagree with our stances are welcomed to attend our revolutionary recruitment drive, taking place on the New Year of 1826, evening at the upper floor of the Mana Pot tavern in western Osrona. Go up the balcony, then go to the door at the furthest right. That is our meeting location.

I hope to see you there soon, my compatriots!

- Arcald
Compatriot of the People of Esshar.

(This will take place at the Mana Pot tavern (555, 700), upper floor, third room to the right, 7pm EST)

[Lindah]

The gathering was rather eventful. Below are the main talking points, official transcripts:

"We are opposed to the concept of might is right, the existence of an Archmagi. In our ideal society, all citizens regardless of class or creed will have a say in the governmental processes. We will collectively select our leaders and representitives, discarding the notion of strength and or birthright."


"It does seem confusing that we had gotten involved in Achyonian affairs, then suddenly shifting to Osrona today. But, in fact, the answer is in our name, the People of ESSHAR'S Liberation Front. We are opposed to Achyon, and we are also opposed to Osrona. In Achyon, there is no room for civil gathering, and so only violent revolution can solve its woes. In Osrona, we can remain civil... as long as the ruling class remain civil, too. Common people may be passive, but this does not mean they will freely take abuse for long. Every household should bear arms, to hold any form of governments accountable."

"They say it takes five trained non-magi soldiers to take on the average Magi. The vast majority of our population is non-magi, but stricken by poverty, and not trained in combat. If they were empowered, if properly trained and properly armed, then no doubt, their numbers alone would make a difference in our inequal society."

"Saying that being a Magi is a 'burden'... that is taking it too far. Instead of saying that being Magi is a ticket to conflict, you must instead ask yourselves, why... why does conflict exist? At the end of day, conflict is the Magi's own fault, isn't it? Monsters exist, sure, but from my time in the academy as an alumnus myself, I can say with confidence that we ourselves are our own threats. In the end, all conflicts are mere quarrels between the ruling classes of two different nations, almost all of whom are Magi. It's not fair that a very small group of above average, powerful magi, get to decide all of humanity's fate."


"Non-magi shouldn't have to be grateful to live a humble life. They shouldn't be the merchants who Magi employ to man their stalls. The non-magi understand this world, far more than you think. They must be educated, trained and armed, to hold everyone accountable. Minority rule must end."

"Our society is run as a hierarchy. Non-magi at the very bottom, the rulers at the very top. In between are two classes, lesser magi and greater magi. Greater magi are often aligned with the ruling class, while also commanding lesser magi to do their bidding. Lesser magi are the enforcers, the people who make generic, weak potions and runewriting. They do not have resources to hoard, unlike greater magi and rulers, who hoard so many precious resources... only to create weapons of destruction, instead of nation-building investments."

"At the end of the day, we, the People of Esshar's Liberation Front, seek to abolish this old feudal hierarchy once and for all. I ask of you all, will you join our cause? Which side.. are you on?"

- Arcald

"You act as though we intend to prop up ONLY non-magically attuned leaders. That is a gross misunderstanding of what is being said. We intend to give the power to the people to decide!"


"Be it Magi or mason! Caster or cobbler! Alchemist or artist! The people deserve the right choose the leader they think would benefit their country the best."

"Ask yourselves people of Osrona; is it right that those with a differing opinion on how we should proceed as a society be cut down for dissent? Is it right that we have to put our lives on the line to merely SAY that the commonfolk of Esshar deserve a say in the political process?"


"We are all magi in our own right. We are jealous of nothing. What is truly dangerous is putting the power over the many into the hands of the few. You simultaneously denounce us for standing up for the people, then say that we are asking others to do our fighting for us? You cannot have it both ways!"

- Atlas

"Better to have a leader who'll die easily, yet stand for their people. Better that than cowards who hide behind nobility and wealth in their great walls to keep the little folk out."


"Doesn't matter how hard your fancy archmagi is to kill, he ain't gonna stand between you when his enemies come for you. This movement is about making sure YOU decide who's leading you. Who YOU believe has your back. This is about nations being led by the people who will die to see it prosper."

- Camie

While the expected assassination never came to be, there was some commotion. One Drakanite, Alkhea, threw an egg at a non-magi, rendering them unconscious and in need of medical attention. And, a cadet of the order, Teagan, was passionately throwing profanities, cursing the movement's ideals as a whole.

The People of Esshar's Liberation Front seems to be at odds with the Order of the Second Dawn. However, both sides remain peaceful for now, and so there were no crushing of dissent happening in Osrona, unlike the dire situation in Achyon. Was this movement just a bump in history, or will it turn out to be something more..?

Either way, the next step for the group would most certainly be activism. Recruitment will always be open to all, of course.