I like the intent of Filament's plan, though I think it needs some more specificity and to be based more properly in the context of Ferelden political and economic realities.
(This is a long one....)
Ostensibly, the Chantry is a religious organization that draws its extralegal authority from its initial incorporation under Emperor Kordillus Drakon, the founder of the Orlesian Empire, and apparently the acceptance of that incorporation by the Fereldens as customary law.
The issue here is that the Chantry operates in a difficult legal limbo in which it exerts authority over Ferelden citizens, assumedly at the assent of the King, the Landsmeet, or the individual nobles.
Considering the dearth of detail concerning politics in Thedas and the obvious analogous relationship of Ferelden to the Chantry and England to the Catholic Church, and the reality that the Chantry operates within individual territories of the Banns and exerts authority
across Ferelden territorial lines I would assume the Chantry has some form of legal incorporation authorized by the King and the Landsmeet.
The problem is that the Chantry is a sovereign entity with a supra-national political hierarchy that is based in a foreign state and yet nonetheless operates a full-scale military force within the sovereign borders of Ferelden.
I would argue that the Circle system needs to be secularized, the Ferelden-citizens within the Circles brought under domestic legal controls, and the Chantry itself reduced to an actual religious organization within the domains of Ferelden.
First, the Landsmeet and the King would need to alter the terms of Chantry incorporation in such a manner that it reinforced Ferelden sovereign authority over its own citizenry. This would functionally suspend the extralegal authority the Chantry wields within the country. This includes the suspension of the Chantry's monopoly on the Lyrium Trade and its authority to use Templars as anything other than Chantry guards. Templar authority now extends only to the outer-walls of the Chantry itself.
Second, the Landsmeet and the King would need to pass a law that necessitates the mandatory training of all Magic-capable citizens. However, this training would not be that of religious instruction, but that of a secular academy system that would mirror Ferelden's own political traditions.
In order to ensure secular oversight, the rule of law, and proper instruction, there must be a meeting of representatives between the Throne, the Landsmeet, and the
Mages. The Landsmeet can appoint a duly authorized representative and the Enchanters can similarly appoint a representative for their concerns.
The Circles of Magi would submit to domestic legal oversight that includes as established law:
1) The recognition of the necessity of mandatory training for all
mages
2) The complete outlaw of Blood Magic in any and all forms.
3) The retention of Aeonar as a prison for criminal
Mages.
4) Tranquility retained as a form of punishment if a Blood
Mage is captured alive.
5) Abominations shall not be suffered to live; Death Penalty for all Abominations.
6) The formation of a Templar-force commanded by the Throne that will hunt criminal
Mages.
7) The acceptance of secular oversight (inspectors, not guards) over all training facilities.
8) A formal system of education and graduation.
9) The retention of Phylacteries until an Apprentice
Mage "graduates."
10) Continuous reports to a specialized committee that includes representatives of Throne and the local Bann.
In exchange the
Mages would receive the authority to administer training in the Magical Arts.
A conclave of Enchanters would be necessary and it would need to agree upon general principles of Arcane Doctrine and Hierarchy. It could be based in the current Circle at Lake Calenhad and serve as a center for Magical knowledge and the training of
senior mages.
Regional academies created under the oversight of the local Banns would be created. The Bann would receive a stipend from the Royal Treasury to maintain the academy and would be authorized to levy a specific tax for the maintenance of Royal-Templar forces in his lands if the stipend is not sufficient.
This would necessarily represent the suspension of a greater portion of the Chantry's tithes for Templars and its transformation into a legitimate tax; therefore functionally Freeholders would see little major change from the manner in which they maintain the Knights and soldiers of the Bann.
Magical instruction will include alterations to the Harrowing Ritual, which better equip Apprentices for the experience, and continuous inspections by Senior Enchanters and Royal Templars of all academies would be a common occurrence to ensure policies are being followed.
Apprentices would be entered into formal Master-Apprentice relationships and placed under the direct charge of a veteran
mage, however they would still be allowed to have access to their families and go out into the world, though supervised by their mentor.
If done properly the suspension of religious zealotry and the substituting of domestic secular authority and the force of law as wielded from the Throne and the Banns would hopefully alleviate much of the tension between the new Royal Templars and the
Mages.
Furthermore, the
Mages would be allowed to handle their charges with a much freer hand, and in a manner that seems like
instruction and not
imprisonment.
However, in the case of a fallen Apprentice; either a
Mage who uses his powers for crime, dabbles with Blood Magic, or becomes an Abomination, there are failsafes.
The presence of a professional Royal-Templar force at the call of the Bann ensures immediate and local response to any issues. The
Mages of the local academy will be legally required to notify the Bann and the Royal Representative immediately of any such violations under the penalty of complete revocation of freedom for all involved.
Abominations and Blood
Mages are dealt with accordingly
and Senior Mages whose charges fall are sent back to the Circle for review by a full Conclave of Senior Enchanters and either suspended from education and severely restricted in their duties or charged with a crime and dealt with accordingly. Overall, the goal is to treat the
Mages as citizens of Ferelden, place the Landsmeet and the Throne in their proper place as the sovereign authority, but at the same time retain oversight and control.
You retain your Templar force, strict rules for dealing with criminal
mages, and in the process hopefully improve relationships and alleviate major points of tension.
The difference is that the authority comes from legal principle and not religious zealotry.
And at the same time the Chantry retains its
religious incorporation therefore the Reforms have no detrimental effect on the ability of Freeholders to see to their religious convictions.
The best part is that if the Freeholders find the new system is not protective enough,
they now have the ability to alter it through the influence of their Bann at the Landsmeet.
Domestic legal oversight
and responsiveness to Freeholder concerns.
Why an extralegal organization with its headquarters in a foreign state is allowed to operate a military force inside Ferelden and exert absolute power over Ferelden citizens is beyond me.
I cannot think of any civilization in history
that was not a vassal state that retained such a reality. Not even the Catholic Church at the height of its power managed such influence and interventionist authority.
Modifié par IceHawk-181, 24 juin 2013 - 03:16 .
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