I had to think a little bit before reacting to that breaking news. I think I am ready now. Sorry for the long post coming, but it is a complex issue that is raised here.
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Preliminary note 1: I respect the decision whatever it is. However it must respect the Realm rules. In that regard, I understand that the Queen of Marind Bell has authority over the land of Marind Bell (including Angien shrine), but no authority over the Angiens themselves. I think the petition respects that, but we must carefully monitor things as they may evolve.
[quote][size="1"]Ann. 1681 - [2010-11-26 21:34:14 - Stage 10]
Clarifications regarding land authority of Kings
Any land technically tagged (lower right corner of location page) as belonging to a Land, is under the authority of the ruler of that land. Any other role related to that location are subordonated to the rules of the land and the king, unless stated otherwise explicitly. Non-player characters do not subordinate under human leadership (Angiens, Shades), nor can Kings decide anything about them. These are to be considered non-human, land bound forces, non tame-able, with no authority over people or king but also not under any other authority. [/size][/quote]
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I understand SoE were created to make research about Angiens and to worship them.
[quote]An entire alliance was made with the whole purpose to try and contact the angiens, to understand them, to uphold the values and principles the angiens may brings to this realm, they even worshipped the angiens.[/quote]
The AL also states that Angiens may help understand shades better.
I am not old enough to know what happened since the discovery of the Angiens and the creation of SoE. I would love to be corrected if I am wrong, but what I feel after that petition is that SoE failed. This alliance did not manage to make Angiens respected. And as a consequence of their failure they decide that Angiens and their shrine shall not be visible anymore to anyone.
It is one way to solve the problem. There might be other ways. And this part of the petition concerns me a bit:
[quote]We hope to gain respect and help other seek a bit of knowledge as well as strengthen the land of Marind Bell.[/quote]
I understand that SoE wants to gain respect by holding a "treasure" that is impossible to reach. I also understand that MB is using Angiens (by limiting access to their shrine) in a greedy way to get more strength.
That makes me wonder about the Seekers of Enlightment and Marind's Bell.
Are you seeking enlightment for yourself or to light the world by providing knowledge and diffusing positive values learned from Angiens?
I think to "Spread The Word of Angiens" was a better way to achieve your purpose. A difficult one, granted.
You are chosing the easy one that is to make "something" (if I may call Angiens "something") rare and inaccessible to give it a value. To me Angiens should not have a value because they are rare, but for what they represent. And I was expecting SoE to teach the world about what they represent.
I hope I understand wrong.
Respectfully.
EDIT: spelling