[sub][indent][i][h3][color=d8cfbe]𝕀nterlude[/color][/h3][/i][/indent][/sub][hr]There was something frightening about large rooms. Even more so when they were not empty, but filled with equally frightening people. On a certain day, four of such individuals were seated around a table much too big for so few. A rectangular table, intended for banquets. There was no food laid out. The real meal was each other - for this was a gathering of hawks, all waiting to feast on their companions the second they let down their guard. [color=d8cfbe]“Where is Myrised?”[/color] said the one at the head of the table. [color=d8cfbe]“You know she cannot come. Please, let her rest. She will need it.”[/color] The man in the middle of the table bowed his head at the empty seat opposite to him. The space of the absent ‘Myrised’. [color=d8cfbe]“Very well. We shall continue without her. Let it be known that her holiness does not approve. I shall seek out her guidance for a suitable punishment.”[/color] [color=d8cfbe]“You don’t need to ask her about everything,”[/color] came the response from the bottom of the table. [color=d8cfbe]“Just tell her to come next time. You can do that much on your own.”[/color] [color=d8cfbe]“Her [i]holiness[/i], Sieng. She requests you show a little more respect for her, and she will grant you her blessing in return.”[/color] [color=d8cfbe]“Blessing? I already have that, right? Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”[/color] Sieng leaned forward. A loud sigh from the middle of the table. [color=d8cfbe]“Please, there are more important things to be doing than arguing. If we could begin.”[/color] The one at the head of the table stood. Silk robes fell around her, the image of regality. Her head was held high. She did not dare look either of her companions in the eye. [color=d8cfbe]“Very well. Stand, my brothers. We have been instructed to carry out her indomitable will.”[/color] [color=d8cfbe]“For her holiness, lay down your lives!”[/color] she roared. Her voice echoed around the chamber. [color=d8cfbe]“Until the end of time,”[/color] the other two muttered back. [color=2E2C2D]words words words words[/color] [sub][i][h3][color=d8cfbe]𝕋he 𝕋alks[/color][/h3][/i][/sub][hr]The talks were to take place on the second floor. The monks had cleared the Minor Library's space, setting up the room with a large table, multiple whiteboards, and many comfortable chairs. The first round was to run from 8 am to noon. Any points not resolved would be tabled for a later day. All the results and decisions were to be sent to the capital - to be put into effect immediately. The lords would then be free for the rest of the day to relax, make behind-the-scenes deals, and do other lordly things. Everything was set. The shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, the 16th of Anais, 1648, changed the course of Croanian history and set it on a new course, one that was impossible to predict. [hr] [color=d8cfbe]sᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀ CHAPTER 3 - Nationality & Citizenship[/color] Definitions Individual; A self-aware being capable of intelligent thought. [color=d8cfbe]Policy Change ( a ) :[/color] Delete or define 'intelligent'. [color=2E2C2D]words words words words[/color] Codes 3.1 - Any human individual born on Croanian territory (2.1.4) is considered a citizen of the State. [color=d8cfbe]Policy Change ( b ) :[/color] Delete 'human'. [color=2E2C2D]words words words words[/color] CHAPTER 5 - Civil Rights 5.2 - The rights of Croanian citizens shall not be abridged on account of sex, age, or race. [color=d8cfbe]Policy Change ( c ) :[/color] Append 'species'. [hider=ARGUMENTS] [hider=REINA YOUNG]Reina Young: “Any individual who does not vote to remove the ‘intelligent’ part of the definition of ‘individual’ does not deserve to be recognized as one. What ‘intelligent’ means is subjective. This word had no business being in Croanian law in the first place. Besides, what about children, the elderly, or the mentally impaired? Are they refused their rights because they do not meet societal standards of ‘intelligence?’”[/hider] [hider=ARTHUR KOTHLIN]Arthur Kothlin: “Allowing the beastmen in Croania citizenship negatively impacts both public morale and the economy. We have more beastmen now than any other time after the Exodus. A sizable number of them suddenly requiring proper documentation, registration, and citizenship would place undue burden on our workforce. Recognizing them as citizens would drive their birth rates up and increase sub-human immigration. The beastmen do not know how to work mid to high-level jobs, and there are already far too many people for the amount of low-level jobs available in Croania. As they would be proper citizens, the governments across the land would need to provide unemployment benefits for a far larger number than what we currently face. We should focus on our own species’s problems before we try and fix another’s.[/hider] [hider=RUEL IMMOLIS]Ruel Immolis: “As it is, beastmen don’t do anything for order! They cause more problems than they solve. There aren’t any at all that work for House Immolis. But compared to the amount of them there are, we have to spend a lot of time and money on dealing with the countless crimes they commit and problems they cause. These changes will only encourage immigration and increase the beastman population. It’s like you all want a country filled with filth and crime.”[/hider] [hider=VECTOR SELER]Vector Seler: “Well, I’ll bet that none of you have ever spoken to beastmen before. I’ve been to Ashket countless times before. Just because they have a different culture to ours that you don’t understand means they deserve to be treated as sub-human. More beastmen is a larger workforce. If humans were truly superior, then why would beastmen be able to take their jobs? Their animalistic traits mean that they’re more suited to certain jobs too. They are a valuable asset, and we can’t let that go to waste.”[/hider] [hider=MELODIA LAPSEUS]Melodia Lapseus: “Strangely, I’m with geezer Seler on this matter. While there aren’t enough numbers to speak from a concrete perspective my studies have found that beastmen are sometimes better fitted for some jobs— to be completely honest, I would say on a biological level they are far superior to us, but I digress. As for the intelligent bit, I agree with Reina— not enough wiggle room on that choice of words, sir. And Lord Kothlin, who knew you were such a chauvinist?”[/hider] [hider=DRAKUS SOLARIS]Drakus Immolis: “Being born on Croanian soil does not make you a citizen! Being Croanian is far more than the ground beneath our feet. We are more than that and to say otherwise is an insult to our history. Yes Lady Reina is correct and intelligence is a subjective term but so are many others, what is important is that we as a council and country understand the intention of the law. And the intention of this law is to honour our forefathers and Anais who guided Ishtar to take these lands for her children. Don’t let her fool you into voting on word play, Croania is flourishing now the way it is. Why risk that all? Why now when we have peace would you insult the mage queens legacy and jeopardise everything we have achieved. We all have a place, you are all aware I hold no reservations against the akeshans. In fact, I owe my very life to one. Now I’m sure you all here understand just how much importance I put on my own life, in fact I unashamedly further assure you it is probably greater than you imagine. Yet still, just because of the actions of one singular akeshian I would not grant the entire race free reign over a country we have worked so hard to build. Reina, I am shocked you would try to attack others intelligence to make your point, it only makes me question what you already think of us... Your family has always considered yourself smarter than everyone else, but still I can’t imagine you’d put a broken cog from an unknown craftsman into one of your devices just for the sake of inclusion. Why do it to Croania? Let the beastmen prove their worth, ensure they will be a valuable citizen and a benefit the state. They can register their family name, prove loyalty for a set timeframe, be tested on skill and knowledge and then allowed to be one of us. This should appease all sides. Also, to sate the fears that they may impose on our economy the council should reconvene at next meeting to decide on the max percentage of our population that we will allow as Akeshian citizens. Limiting this ensures we can not be overthrown and that we only get the best. It also allows for our people who we are here to represent deal with the changes gradually and monitor their reaction. This all will of course require further time and dictation, we cannot rush such important matters. If still after all that they are unhappy with those conditions allow Vector to sail them back home at his own expense. I might even consider joining him on such a journey one day.[/hider] [hider=AELIOUS AUREOLIN]Aelious Aureolin: “Yes, Lady Reina, children, the elderly, and the mentally impaired are indeed refused certain rights, often for their own good. The complete abolishment of the requirement of intelligence seems rather hasty to me, because certain civil rights are naturally suppressed in lieu of the lack of capacity for sound judgment. After all, I’m sure we’ve all encountered at least one individual in our life that was capable of thought, but certainly not ‘intelligent’ thought. Intelligence is subjective, though, so perhaps we should define that requirement in clearer terms? As for the beastmen, was Croania not strengthened with each new nation that joined it? The majority of us here are descendants of what was once foreign and different, and yet, here we are, all working towards collective prosperity. The beastmen cause problems because we allow our civilians to treat them as a subspecies to be abused, rather than potential allies possessing unique capabilities. If we were to grant citizenship only to those beastmen who are able to prove their worth to Croanian society, then we ought to eliminate racial barriers that prevent or discourage them from doing so. Who would want to contribute to a society that treats them like vermin? Who would be able to become a skilled worker when any chance at being trained is denied on the basis of their race? Who would be able to assimilate into a new culture if no one is there to offer them the education necessary for it? We’re quite literally handicapping the potential of the nation, dealing with this situation as if it were an existential threat rather than a chance for further wealth.”[/hider][/hider] [hr] [color=d8cfbe]sᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ʙ[/color] Policy: 40% of education funding is allocated to the Northern Houses. [color=d8cfbe]Policy Change ( d ) :[/color] Increase to 60%. Amount can be negotiated as: 55, 50, 45, 40. [hider=ARGUMENTS][hider=ALEXANDER REASON]Alexander Reason: “This shouldn’t even be a debate. The North carries over half the population. It’s illogical to give them less than half of our funding. Even I can see that! Furthermore, funding isn’t even based on statistics! It’s something like, what, five percent of the funding goes to House Reason? We’ve already got the highest literacy rate and less than three percent of the population. We don’t need all that money, and I guarantee the rest of you don’t need it too. Your hired administrators are probably embezzling the runoff. I’d bet one of my senses on it, and it wouldn’t be my sight. Education funding should be by population percentages, plain and simple. Give a little extra to the North so they can make up for the years we’ve been stifling them.[/hider] [hider=ELISE DALRIS]Elise Dalris: “Oh my, oh my! Sixty percent, for fifty-five percent of the population. Skimming a little extra off the top, I see. Well, I don’t think that’s very fair. Forty-five percent is good enough. The South needs that ten percent. Why, House Dalris is completely dependent on having educated and competent people around. If our education funding is cut, operations may be even more chaotic than they are now. I hadn’t had a proper meal in months until this evening. We may give the North a little more, but sixty percent is simply unreasonable!”[/hider] [hider=DRAKUS SOLARIS]Drakus Immolis: “Are we a unified country or not? What did all our ancestors die for in those wars? Education and knowledge must be shared throughout all of Croan fairly so all ‘Citizens’ have a chance. But!!! When it comes to research and innovation that money should go to the houses that have proven worthy. We must always seek to further our understanding of the world around us. Let’s split the educational funding up into more focused detail. 1-Give basic early literacy and history lesson funding out evenly based on population. 2-Advanced learning is based on ‘citizen’ population. 3-Further funding and training must be put aside and distributed based on a states mageborn population. Mages need extra attention that cannot be ignored. Their powers need guidance to reach full potential and that they may be safe. This structure may see the south with a bit more funding per person but overall I imagine the disparity to close and everything be fairer. Lastly, the last piece of the pie will be put out to vote based on what each house has produced with previous years fundings. Cases should be put forth detailing what they have achieved and why it is important to us. Mostly what I want to see is shared knowledge and a united educational system. A smarter Croan for all.[/hider] [hider=AELIOUS AUREOLIN]Aelious Aureolin: “Has the South not always had lower education levels than the North, due to disparities in technology and culture? As far as I see it, it’s rather short-sighted to base this off population, or even off what new research or innovation comes from such funding. As things stand right now, the vast majority of commoners in Croania can only enter into the labour force due to their lack of education, something that must be amended swiftly if we wish to progress as a nation. The illuminating research done by the highly educated elites may serve as a catalyst for advancement, but it is only by improving the baseline education of all our citizens that we can hope to improve Croanian society. After all, though we are bound to our respective lands, our citizens are free to move and choose which House they wish to serve under. The improvement of the education of the South’s citizenry will bleed into the North, as educated individuals will naturally gravitate towards such Houses. The 40-60 split in funding remains as is.”[/hider][/hider] [hr] [color=d8cfbe]sᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄ[/color] Policy: Funding for, and research of, the following subjects is restricted: Artificial Intelligence, Atomics, Material Science, Robotics, Space Travel. [color=d8cfbe]Policy Change ( e ) :[/color] Lessen or remove restrictions on research. Robotics and material science are favoured for removal. [color=2E2C2D]words words words words[/color] Policy: The usage of magic alongside technology and the research thereof is restricted in the following areas: Artificial Intelligence, Atomics, Chemistry, Material Science, Robotics, Space Travel [color=d8cfbe]Policy Change ( f ) :[/color] Lessen or remove restrictions on research. [hider=ARGUMENTS][hider=ERIC GRANIS]Eric Granis: “Material Science is something that everyone can benefit from. I know our ancestors (may they rest in peace) thought that the Northern Houses would develop some sort of superweapon and use it against us, but that’s clearly not the case! None of our three tech lords would hurt a fly. We could develop better roads, bridges, infrastructure, but only if we open up the sciences for further research!”[/hider] [hider=ESMERALDA NOLS]Esmeralda Nols: “Allowing robotics as a research subject is incredibly shortsighted. I’ve seen the reports on workforce numbers in the North. Arthur, you say you don’t want people to lose jobs, but I see here that your unemployment rate went up after you developed a certain mechanical arm to help create screws. Isn’t that contradicting what you said before about the beastmen? I can’t help but feel like you’re interested in developing robots for… other purposes.”[/hider] [hider=ARTHUR KOTHLIN]Arthur Kothlin: “You’re right about the numbers, but this is exactly why we need more funding for education! With more funds in that sector, we can produce highly-skilled workers who can do the jobs that robots can’t. We can still restrict research to non-combat applications, in case you’re worried.”[/hider] [hider=REINA YOUNG]Reina Young: “Magic and technology together can create amazing things. I’d like to use my daughter as an example. She’s able to power her own devices using her magic. Imagine if we could use our physics-breaking abilities to push the bounds of what science can do. It would push Croania into a future of technological superiority. We could even solve the Ledgermann Problem of Limited Propulsion! We could create proper flying machines, or even go to space!”[/hider] [hider=DRAKUS SOLARIS]Drakus Immolis: I know none of you here are fond of my arrogance, so trust me when I say I am trying my hardest to sedate it. But how can you not see the solution here? Do not let fear hold our great country back. I’m sure across the seas other races will eventually do what we will not. I believe for our safety and future every field of forbidden research should be relaxed but not removed. Applications for tests should be put in place and monitored while fines are disbursed for non-compliance. Any house who opposes or has concerns with certain work has full rights to have a representative present and educated on the matter. In fact no field of research should be governed by one house alone but a mandatory three. That of an opposing house and of course the neutral and unbiased law keepers, Immolis.[/hider] [hider=AELIOUS AUREOLIN]Aelious Aureolin: “Who needs flying machines when we have wyverns? ...I kid, I kid. Flying machines would certainly be a sight to behold, but I would recommend that we only remove restrictions on research upon matters that are immediately useful. Space Travel seems like a sinkhole for funding, especially when we hardly even established sea routes to Ashket and Nolore yet, while I question whether we’re at a state in society where Artificial Intelligence is all that beneficial; being able to replace the work of labourers is one thing, but to replace the work of our scholars and scientists too? That’s dangerous territory to be treading in. The study in Material Sciences should definitely be undertaken though, as I’m sure Heir Granis would agree, and while Robotics may serve to replace human labour, couldn’t a balance be struck too, as we acquire machinery that accelerates construction efforts and such? We’ll have an employed population AND an accelerated work flow. A beautiful match, if I do say so myself.”[/hider] [/hider] [color=2E2C2D]words words words words[/color] [sub][i][h3][color=d8cfbe]𝕋he ℝesults[/color][/h3][/i][/sub][hr] [hider=THE RESULTS][table][row][cell]POLICY[/cell][cell][color=8dc73f]YES[/color][/cell][cell][color=ff4f57]NO[/color][/cell][cell]VERDICT[/cell][/row][row][cell]Policy Change (a)[/cell][cell]Pachel Seler Balaur Aureolin Kothlin Young Granis Lapseus Reason[/cell][cell]Nols Dalris Immolis Solaris[/cell][cell][color=8dc73f][i]PASSED[/i][/color][/cell][/row][row][cell]Policy Change (b)[/cell][cell]Dalris Seler Aureolin Balaur Young Granis Lapseus Reason[/cell][cell]Pachel Nols Immolis Kothlin Solaris[/cell][cell][color=8dc73f][i]PASSED[/i][/color][/cell][/row][row][cell]Policy Change (c)[/cell][cell]Seler Aureolin Balaur Young Granis Lapseus Reason[/cell][cell]Pachel Nols Dalris Immolis Kothlin Solaris[/cell][cell][color=8dc73f][i]PASSED[/i][/color][/cell][/row][row][cell]Policy Change (d)[/cell][cell]Balaur (60%) Kothlin (60%) Young (60%) Lapseus (60%) Reason (60%) Seler (55%) Granis (55%)[/cell][cell]Pachel (45%) Nols (45%) Dalris (45%) Solaris (45%) Immolis (40%) Aureolin (40%)[/cell][cell][color=8dc73f][i]PASSED[/i][/color] • Average = 51.54 • Final Amount: 50%[/cell][/row][row][cell]Policy Change (e)[/cell][cell]Seler Aureolin (Material Science) Balaur (Atomics, Material Science, Chemistry) Kothlin Young Granis (Material Science) Lapseus Reason Solaris[/cell][cell]Pachel Nols Dalris Immolis[/cell][cell][color=8dc73f][i]PASSED[/i][/color] • Material Science • Atomics • Robotics[/cell][/row][row][cell]Policy Change (f)[/cell][cell]Dalris Aureolin (Material Science) Balaur (Atomics, Material Science) Kothlin Young Granis Lapseus Reason Solaris[/cell][cell]Pachel Nols Seler Immolis[/cell][cell][color=8dc73f][i]PASSED[/i][/color] • Material Science • Chemistry[/cell][/row][row][cell][color=2E2C2D]-------------------------------[/color][/cell][cell][color=2E2C2D]words words words words[/color][/cell][cell][color=2E2C2D]words words words words[/color][/cell][cell][color=2E2C2D]words words words words[/color][/cell][/row][/table][/hider]