The following article appeared throughout the week in local newspapers and magazines, and was read on radio and television news programs.

Protest at Academy Leaves 8 Dead, 3 Wounded, 1 Comatose. Headmistress to Answer for Possible Involvement.

In December, Pro-Human protesters were welcomed onto the Academy of Bristle Crios campus. Within moments of their demonstration, a violent onslaught came from the Mage Hall building. Eyewitnesses recall seeing small balls of flame the size of grains of rice that exploded on impact, incinerating limbs of hapless victims, falling from its windows. Soon after, what one observer described as "long tendrils of dark magic" began to pour out from the building itself, sadistically thrashing at anyone in the area. Campus security and medical teams arrived to the scene quickly, leaving some to become victims as well. The incident left a total of eight dead, three wounded, and one that remains in a coma.

In what appears to be the most damning evidence, the Headmistress of the Academy, Miss Lydia Tolmay, was found unconscious on the top floor of Mage Hall immediately after the attack. While she has maintained that she went to investigate the occurrence as it was happening, some speculators believe her to be the source of the disturbance. Denying being hit or attacked during the event, she has yet to justify the reasoning behind her sudden unconsciousness. Adding fuel to the flame, rumors have been circulating since she started at the school as to possible abilities and an inhuman nature of the Headmistress. It is suspected that such a blatant use of magic was too draining on her, causing her collapse.

Since the incident, Miss Tolmay has been banned from the Academy grounds. Despite some parental requests, the ban is set to be lifted on Tuesday, January 3rd, three weeks to the day after the attack. She will remain on probation pending an investigation set to occur sometime this month.

OOC: Related protest thread at http://rdi.dragonsmark.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=31666 THIS THREAD IS OPEN to all who would like to correspond relating to the protests and subsequent news articles, letters, etc.

A letter appeared in local papers commentary sections, and signed copies were also sent to the local addresses of all enrolled students, and the Headmistress.

Dear Concerned Students & Parents,

I write to you concerning the recent violence which manifested on the Academy grounds. First and foremost, this was an unnecessary loss of life, and a tragedy. Secondly, the truth of the saying, 'those who look for trouble often find it', can be seen in what unfortunately transpired.

The Academy and the very grounds that it was erected on have long been places of solace to all, without judgment based on race, color, or creed. The recent Protests, while in general peaceful, address a growing schism in RhyDin; a divide which has for years been becoming larger, quietly, subtly, without drawing our attention. In prodding that wound, the unspoken divide between humans and non-humans, (or as I would prefer to call them, Awakened and Sleepers, given that the former implies judgment based on appearance, while the latter based on ability) the worst of what was within was forced to the surface - fear, envy, mistrust, hatred, and violence.

To those of you who have chosen to temporarily withdraw, or take a leave of absence - I realize the safety of you and your family is your first concern, and so cannot judge your actions. Please know, however, that the safety of you and your family are also our primary concern. While the exact nature of the events, aside from their outcome, remains within a cloud of obfuscation, no students or other members of the Academy of Bristle Crios were harmed; the entire roster of casualties consisted of those who, given the Academy's inclusion of humans, should not have been there in the first place.

Situations like this are not sequestered however, to our domain. To be more colloquial, you can choose not to drink and drive, and teach your children to do the same, and be safer for it. However, you cannot ensure that others will do the same, and remain in danger from the mistakes of others. To remove yourselves from the community in fear is merely the first step to becoming a shut in, with equally shut eyes; you may find that when you open them again, you yet remain, but everything else will be gone. That is not to suggest that you intentionally throw yourselves into harms way, any who read this, but merely take into consideration - and hopefully join with me, us - in the attempt to find common ground with the Pro Human movement and their perceived oppressors.

That being said, for the time being at least, I believe - and hereby petition the governing body of the Academy of Bristle Crios to enforce - that Sleepers, or as the case may be 'unawakened' humans, be banned from the grounds of the compound until such a time as a protocol can be created to ensure the safety of our staff and student body. In order to determine the correct path forward, I also move that the Academy hold a town hall style debate, with all interested parties invited to participate.

Cordially,

Atticus, Lord D'Arcstorm High Mage of the First Sword Magus Laureate, Bristle Crios

((OOC: Hey all, everyone reading along for fun or for invested interest! Just a heads up so to speak, in roughly a week-ish we'll turn this thread into the earlier mentioned 'town hall style' debate: throw down some setting dressing and such, and let anyone interested add from there - it will probably be easier to accommodate anyone who wants to say something doing it this way than in live play. The thread will remain open in it's original form, literal correspondence back and forth, news headlines, and such, until the setting changes 'officially' in-thread. Thanks!))

((OOC: p.s., I've been told to make clear that it's alright for anyone to respond directly to what Atticus just wrote as well....and to my nay-sayers, no, I cannot be more blunt than that. :) ))

A letter to all pertinent professors ...

To Whom It May Concern,

Since it seems as though I - a completely human student with no special powers, abilities, or bloodline - am no longer welcome at Bristle Crios, I have removed myself to somewhere I am welcome for the time being. I have no family in the city; I am lucky to have friends who care what happens to me. Should Professor D'Arcstorm decide not to follow through on banning me, and others like me, from the only home we have in the city, as well as our studies, I will happily return. But I will not stay where I am not welcome.

Yours, regretfully, Cassiopeia Delaney

Hologram devices were sent to all across the campus. With rather obvious instructions on how to operate them.



The flickering image of a throne is seen as is the cloaked figure upon it.

"Human or not, all identified offenders against this establishment will be met with lethal force."

She leaned forward.

"Any to all identified offenders will be hunted until they are brought to justice. And trust me, you don't want that."

The hologram cuts short as she stands.

On official Academy letterhead stationary, the following letter went out to all students, parents, instructors, and staff for the Academy of Bristle Crios. Copies also made it into small newspapers and other print sources.

March 1st, 2017

To the Students, Parents, and Staff of the Academy of Bristle Crios,

Thank you for your continued support through the trying time of the campus protests last December, my required absence during the investigation, and my recent tribunal.

I regret that I have not been able to provide updates on campus events as is my typical practice. During the passed few months, the Board of Education for the Academy of Bristle Crios has maintained the campus during its investigation.

I am proud to announce that the Board has officially declared my innocence of the incident at Mage Hall on the day of December 15, 2017. The guilty party was identified over the course of the investigation and has been terminated.

From this point forward, as my promise to you, I will do all that I am able to ensure the security of the Academy of Bristle Crios and all that visit its grounds. While the Board of Education will be issuing new security measures and personnel, I will be enacting several new tactics to enhance security at the campus, as well. I will begin by preparing training for Academy security volunteers. It is my hope that many staff and students will participate in the training, which will include self defense education and practice. Details on the training will be provided as it develops.

I hope that you will feel encouraged to bring any further concerns to me personally so I may have the opportunity to speak with you directly. I am honored to hear any concerns or suggestions as we all begin to move forward.

Thank you again for your overwhelming support. I will do all I can to return your kindness.

With sincerest regards, Lydia Tolmay Headmistress of the Academy of Bristle Crios