Eminor Macula Moderators (eminor_mods) wrote in eminor_info, @ 2008-03-31 15:32:00 |
|
|||
OFFICAL MINISTRY STANCES AND OPINIONS The Ministry is still in the very early stages of totalitarianism and is only just now beginning to instill doubts into peoples’ minds. The Minister still has a majority support in voters. The Ministry has repeatedly tried to feign a face of neutrality. At first, most of the populous held Minister Robards in high regard. The initial hold on Muggle/Wizard relations was met with a bit of disagreement, but he was so passionate and moving in his speeches that many (those who didn't adamantly study politics) felt inclined to agree with him. He's very charismatic, even now. However, his repeatedly delaying the release of the holds made it difficult for those of Muggle background to make monetary transactions and for businesses to import Muggle goods, etc. It seemed every time the citizens complained, the timetable for the release of the holds was edited and rearranged. The Minister and his advisors are behind the attacks - and like he wanted - the attacks made many turn to him for support, even though they were upset over the holds. As the "threat of danger from the terrorists" increased, the Ministry raised taxes, putting a strain on the already struggling Muggleborns. Still, the Minister promised protection from the terrorists and assured British citizens that the Ministry would find those responsible for the attacks. and that he'd find those responsible for the attacks - and he did. The blame for the attacks on Diagon Alley, Gringott’s and the Ministry of Magic was put on the already struggling Muggleborns – and any of the attackers that were identified seemed to have been killed during arrest. There was no questioning, no answers to be found aside from the Ministry's official statements and the Daily Prophet’s ‘continuing coverage’.
The initial holds on Muggle Imports were light. The Ministry still allowed major imports by large businesses, like St. Mungo’s, for anything used with magical purpose (ingredients for potions, etc.) The Ministry eventually started making it more difficult to acquire everyday Muggle goods. (Muggle cigarettes, for example, were vastly popular and sold as alternatives to rolling papers and loose tobacco in Wizarding tobacco stores.) More paperwork was required to import the simplest items. Since all large imports and exports are handled through the Ministry of Magic, most business owners opted simply to turn to only magical suppliers for the goods they needed. While the smaller, private magical suppliers were more expensive than commercial Muggle suppliers, the hassle of paperwork, and following taxes, made the price difference preferable. Many protested the holds, but the Minister promised they would be lifted ‘soon’. Now it has become fairly obvious that the Ministry does not have a time table for releasing the holds, but with Minister Robards granted full emergency power, many fear him finding a permanent home at the Ministry and there is a fear of protesting too greatly while he is still in office. Applications and all required forms for importing goods are available in the recently formed Department of Magical Blood Protections at the Ministry of Magic. Approval and turn around for imports is about two to three weeks. All legally imported items must go through a check at the Ministry before proceeding to their final destination.
The holds on Currency exchange were highly looked down upon by wizards and Goblins alike. The Minister was passionate about rebuilding Gringott’s and repeatedly stated that currency exchange was a non-essential concern during the rebuilding. His seeming concern for Gringott’s and Goblin livelihood please the Goblins. However, with the delay in the release of the holds, Gringott’s has lost a substantial part of its business. Conversion rates have faltered and the Muggle British pound has been increasingly losing value and as of March 31, 2000, it took roughly fifteen British pounds to equal one galleon as opposed to roughly five pounds per galleon just two years prior. While current currency exchange does not require Ministry approval, any large sums exchanged myst be reported to the Department of Magical Blood Protection via its Junior Secretary, Matilda Fitzgorkin. Magical businesses are allotted a galleon exchange allowance per month, depending on the size of the business and not to exceed 10,000 galleons a month. Businesses must, however, apply for this allotment and the Ministry will approve it and give them an allowance fitting to their size and profits.
Like the holds on currency and imports, travel holds began light and slowly progressed over the last fourteen months. The current regulations for travel between Magical Britain and the Muggle world are as follows: *All floos to Muggle residences are disabled per the hold on Muggle/Wizard relations, to be reopened at a later determined date. *Muggleborns may visit their families via portkey or allotted apparating after Ministry approval. If you are a Muggleborn, you may apply for travel papers at the Magical Blood Protection Department at the Ministry of Magic. (Please send all owls care of Matilda Fitzgorkin, Jr. Secretary for the department.) Muggleborns must pass through a magical safety inspection in the Magical Blood Protection Department before continuing on to their final destination on their return trip into the Magical world. Approval turn around is about two weeks. *Muggles wishing to travel into the Magical world must travel by portkey or apparation, and must travel with a registered witch or wizard at all times. All travel paperwork must be submitted one month in advanced and the traveling Muggle must pass through a magical safety inspection in the Magical Blood Protection Department before continuing on to their final destination. Approval turn around is about two months. [taken from the Ministry’s official press release in the Daily Prophet, February 16, 1999.] Of course, this is easy enough to get around and only the most law-abiding citizens deal with the Ministry.
Since the LPMBH was set into action in November, the Ministry has begun increasing taxes to fund the ‘War on Terror’. Not paying one’s taxes is considered a lack of patriotism and treacherous. Warnings are given to initial offenders, followed by the threat of arrest and eventual arrest. There is a 20% tax on all property, 17% on all income and 12% on all imports and sales. This has not only put the bind on Muggleborns and Half-Bloods at an all time high, but has made it truly hard to get by for many witches and wizards who are not very wealthy or permanently employed (retirees, those who are handicapped, etc.) Even the very wealthy have begun laundering money, rearranging assets and altering bank statements to avoid spending too much of their money on taxes. In the event of emergency and war, and given a majority vote by the Wizengamut, a Minister can be allocated the power to make immediate laws and changes therein. He has the ability to appoint new members to the Wizengamut without a preliminary vote and with a Ministry controlled Wizengamut and another majority vote, he has the ability to extend his term indefinitely. The last time full emergency power was granted to a Minister was during the last Goblin rebellion. The LPMBH was passed in November and there was outrage. The Ministry gave everyone a month to register, all the while maintaining their stance that "this is not persecution. Everyone must register." Many registered willingly, many refused to register outright. Many lied and forged false birth certificates, registered as Purebloods when there had been a Muggle in their past, etc. Neighbors turned on neighbors, reporting unregistered Muggleborns and Half-Bloods to the Ministry. Entirely convinced that the protection of Magical blood is essential to the further existence of the Magical populous of the United Kingdom, and inspired by the uncompromising determination to safeguard the future of the United Kingdom's Magical citizens, the Ministry of Magic has unanimously resolved upon the following law, which is promulgated herewith: By Order of Gawain Robards, the Minister of Magic, all witches and wizards must report immediately to the Ministry of Magic to register their Blood Status. Those failing to comply will be assumed traitors to the British Ministry and promptly arrested, stripped of all titles and accolades, sentenced to ten days in Azkaban and thereafter released under watch by the Magical Blood Protection Department for a time of one year, wherein they will be brought to trial to reassess their loyalties. Regulations, Sub-Articles and Amendments: When any witch or wizard goes in to register their blood status willingly, they must report to the newly organized and formed Department of Magical Blood Protection and its head. *All Muggleborns and Half-Bloods who are arrested are marked without stupification and are (usually) tortured. *Muggleborns and Half-Bloods that register willingly are marked while stupefied. *Purebloods are never marked, whether registered or arrested. Those registering their blood status must fill out the following form, listing all family members in the last three generations, specifically including Muggleborns, Half-Bloods and squibs. They must provide a copy of their birth certificate. Registereds are then given a registration number, and if a Muggleborn or Half-Blood, they continue on through the process and receive the mark of Eminor Macula.
EMINOR: to threaten, menace MACULA: stain, mark, spot/blemish, fault, flaw Literally this spell can be interpreted multiple ways, including: to mark the threat and a menacing/threatening blemish/flaw. Those arrested as traitors are not only marked as threats, but they are considered blemishes on the wizarding populous because of their blood. When arrested the Ministry magically and physically marks the witch or wizard as a traitor by performing the spell Eminor Macula, which leaves a raised scar and a magical trace that monitors all the witch’s or wizard’s use of magic. It is irremovable with magic and is used for Ministry checks. If they arrest anyone for a crime, the first thing they do is check the captive for the mark by moving their wand over the person's thigh. The Auror's wand will glow red on the end if the person carries the mark of Eminor Macula, pale blue if they carry the mark but are not a blood traitor and gold if they are Pureblood. Unregistereds will cause no change in the wand tip and will be promptly arrested. It, and it's permanence on the body, is meant to be humiliating and degrading. Anyone who refuses to register and is later arrested, whatever the circumstances, will receive this mark. The Ministry is tending to be a bit lenient on Purebloods who are arrested, as there are not many. They arrest them, but certainly do not torture them or mark them unless they are particularly resistant and combative. It has been rumored that the Ministry has tortured many of the Muggleborns and Half-Bloods they have arrested with Crucio and other dark spells, though many are too scared of the Ministry to talk about such things to others. IMPERVIOUS TO: *the scar has been rumored to be able to be removed with Muggle means, though this does not remove the magical trace. PROCEDURE OF EMINOR MACULA The procedure of arrests is obviously varied. The witch or wizard is brought in bound by multiple Aurors. They are placed ahead of anyone else in line (in order to expedite the process and get the traitor onto Azkaban.) The time for second chances is over and the prisoner is brought to the center of the interrogation room. They are asked (often forcibly) for their information, and if they are persistently combative, veritaserum and torture are implemented. A curse of choice is the cruciatus curse. The prisoner, after giving the information on their heritage to the committee, is body-bound and given the mark, the pain of which is likened to a hot knife, singing and cutting the X into the thigh simultaneously. They are not healed by magic, though the wound is bandaged for cleanliness’ sake, and they are immediately transported to Azkaban. Given the amount of defiance and torture received, many continue onto Azkaban while unconscious.
The Ministry certainly has no love for non-human magical creatures, but they are being very careful not to burn all their bridges at once. Although the Ministry hasn’t released any new laws and regulations against Non-Human magical Creatures at this time, this is certainly and will be more opinionated stances concerning this group in the near future. “Ironically, the Fountain of Magical Brethren in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic shows a goblin, along with a house-elf and a centaur, gazing admiringly at a witch and wizard.” (HP Lexicon - http://www.hp-lexicon.org/bestiary/gobli GOBLINS: The Ministry has very tentative hold relations with the Goblins at the moment due to the holds on currency transfers at Gringott’s. However, the publicity surround the rebuilding of Gringott’s and the Minister’s passion speeches at the time of his election calling for the ‘rebuilding of this fine Goblin managed institution’ has fed the Goblin’s egos and they support the Minister, albeit skeptically. The Minister personally thinks Goblins are filthy, nasty creatures, not much higher than house elves in the hierarchy of magical creatures. In the future, after the Ministry has determined the right time for things, they will more than likely take of Gringott’s and cause another Goblin Rebellion. However, they are sure to want to have the Muggleborns and Half-Bloods under control before attempting such a thing. WEREWOLVES: The Ministry regulates werewolves, as it has for centuries with the Werewolf Code of Conduct, Registry and Capture Unit. While the current government has not restricted Werewolf regulations laws any further, it would be remiss to say that werewolves are safe from being affected by Minister Robards slow campaign to become an entirely Pureblood society.
There have been many public protests concerning the Ministry’s new stances, but as of April 2000, the Ministry has not revoked the peoples rights to free speech and public gatherings, the more often than not, protests are broken up by Aurors and those considered a Ministry threat are arrested and held until their release is deemed acceptable or a bail is posted. The Order began secretly reorganizing in February of 2000 - more info to come as the game develops. Because of events in Deathly Hallows, Grimmauld Place has been deemed unsafe for hiding Order members at the present time. Current Order members are currently spread throughout Magical Britain, hiding where they can. More information on the Order will be forthcoming once the game progresses. ARRESTED and RELEASED All Muggleborns and Half-Bloods arrested for refusal to register receive the brand of Eminor Macula without stupefication. It is very painful to a conscious person. Particularly resistant 'traitors' are cruciated and tortured. All of their magic is thereafter monitored; their travel is heavily restricted. They are denied travel papers to the Muggle world. Apparation is monitored. Portkeys are hard to come by and using a floo is a hassle, but allowed. Titles are stripped, possessions confiscated. Muggleborns and Half-Bloods who have been arrested and forced to register will cause the Auror’s wand tip to glow red during a check. Because of all of this, many traitors simply go into hiding and disappear from the magical world. They make their means smuggling imported goods or just living quietly off a family member, as they are not allowed to support themselves legally. Unless they are using their magic in the Muggle world, or are using questionable magic, they are not a primary concern of the Ministry. UNREGISTERED Registered Muggleborns and Half-Bloods receive the brand of Eminor Macula while stupefied. The brand of Eminor Macula is placed on their left thigh. All floos are tapped. Aurors performing a check on a registered Muggleborn or Half-Blood will be able to check their registration status simply by moving their wand over the person's thigh and casting a checking spell. Registered Muggleborns and Half-Bloods will cause an Auror’s want tip to glow pale blue. NEW DUTIES -Aurors are responsible for seeing that no illegal trades or transactions are performed. -They're responsible for making sure that every unregistered witch or wizard is arrested. -They are responsible for maintaining the peace at this difficult time, by any means necessary. -They are required to patrol all Ministry Protests and investigate all Anti-Magic and Anti-Ministry sentiments. -They will be required to collect and destroy all banned books and all prior versions of newly edited books. -They are required, by new schedules, to participate in one branding day a month, or more (in the earlier months of the law.) Of course, there are always two sides to every group, and not all Aurors are as aggressive and Ministry-sympathetic as others and vice versa. The above rules are not entirely applicable for Aurors-in-Training, though it is safe to assume they will come into contact with these things as a requirement of training.
These are repetitive, asinine and thoroughly annoying. Supporters and Anti-Ministry rebels alike loathe the trite and blasé words of the Minister each day and he has become a running joke in many circles for his repetition and lack of any new or truly forthcoming information about the war. No news is good news? The Ministry has been repetitive and not very forthcoming regarding information on the ‘War on Terror’. The Ministry asked those at St. Mungo's and other major wizarding establishments (hotels, inns, the Ministry itself, Hogwarts) to make sure people were registered when they arrived, and if they weren’t, to encourage them to register as soon as possible. Since the deadline has come and gone as of December 5, the Ministry is requiring St. Mungo’s and other establishments, to turn in all Unregistereds to the Ministry by alerting an Auror to their presence so that an arrest can be made. There are many notorious witches and wizards who have remained unregistered and the Ministry has begun requiring Wizarding establishments to keep Wanted Posters visible in all main entrances. An constantly updating list is also placed in the Daily Prophet and with heads of departments at the Ministry and St. Mungo’s.
Hogwarts reopened after the final battle. They spent the rest of the 1998 school year and summer rebuilding, but reopened in the fall of 1998 with no major difficulties, though some of the staircases were a bit bent out of shape and left several students stranded on the fifth floor on their fist day of classes. The Ministry is planning on releasing new regulations with the upcoming school year that will require Hogwarts students to buy all new editions of school texts. They also are requiring the cancellation of Muggle Studies. (“We wouldn’t want to put ideas into any impressionable minds," Minister Robards.) The reason for this is that the Ministry has been altering past texts, changing famous Half-Bloods to Purebloods and so on. There is a new Ministry list of banned books from Hogwarts, Flourish and Blotts and all major Magical books sellers. BANNED BOOKS ALTERED BOOKS PREMISE: It is well known that the Ministry has tapped floos and is intercepting owls, but the Ministry has been developing new ways to spy on the citizens of Magical Britain. Using the income of taxes, the Ministry has been able to fund a team of the top wizards and witches in the nation to develop several new items for monitoring and intercepting communication, the first of which is a new series of publicly interlinked journals. The magic for these journals seemed to mix the magic of several items, from interlinked magical portraits and magical mirrors to floors and portkeys. The journals were released in a trial run at Flourish and Blotts over the last six months, sold under a false business called Mathilda's Friend Speak. It is not public knowledge.The journals sold transmitted anything written in a journal to the public network where others with journals could read and reply. Anything written in the journals was available for others to read on the public network - and for the Ministry to read. The Minsitry was surprised with the amount of information they were actually receiving and had already made several arrests because of the journals. While it couldn't pin point the writer and repliers of the entries, it could pinpoint the location of the magic as it was being used and Aurors were able to apparate to the location of the journal's use. The magic used on the journals is very powerful, and though they probably could be hexed and charmed to be private, it would take a truly powerful wizard or witch to override the journal's intricate magic. Until it is overridden, the journals are always public, whenever written in. This leaves room for people to hack the journals magic as the game progresses. Hacks and overrides must be discussed in the OOC before initiating them in the game. At this time, all private communication must be done using pre-established forms of canon communication. There are so many things that can be utilised that JKR has already set into play; objects like Sirius's magic mirror, owls, paintings, pensieve memories. This should come as an opportunity to utilise more things and the journals, and not as a form of limitation. We want people to be able to interact in a comfortable and familiar setting, but forcing our characters to seek out more forms of communication will help build plots and heighten the game experience as well. Of course, as always, all things are open for discussion, but for the moment, the mods have decided that this is the best solution to meet everyone in the game's needs - those who want journals, those who are open to either side and those who do not wish their characters to have public journals. FORMATTING: Anyone who wishes their player to be the owner of Mathilda's Friend Speak Journals must format their entries as follows: [lj-cut text="Entry to the Friend Speak Network"]TEXT[/lj-cut] All those wishing their characters to have a plain, private, paper journal should format their entries as follows and disable comments: [lj-cut text="Private Journal Entry"]TEXT[/lj-cut] USE, FIDELIUS CHARM & MINISTRY LOCATORS: Anyone may purchase a Friend Speak journal. The Ministry locating spells in the journals are much like Muggle cellphones and the monitoring of Underage Magic. The Ministry can only locate someone who is using the journal and until first written in, the journals are not considered activated. When bought, they are registered by the purchaser. There is no limit on the number of journals one witch or wizard can by. Until written in, journals receive information only and cannot transmit the location of the possessor to the Ministry. Those writing in journals, but staying in a location protected by Fidelius charm, can write in the journals. The Ministry could apparate to the general location of the journal, but could not find the journal or the owner without knowing the location of the place under Fidelius charm. |