Imperfectionist

A Wizard's Pilgrimage

His theory isn't all about the Dark Arts, though. I mean, that's the point, isn't it? That there are no "Dark Arts", just magic. You say he's quite friendly, so apart from keeping his indiscretions secret, what problem would he have with casually discussing the results of his research with someone who was genuinely interested?

It's fine, if you'd prefer having no prior interaction, but I think there's some real potential here.

A Wizard's Pilgrimage

Ah, I like him! Just the kind of person Emma would seek out.

:) If they have any kind of prior history, I bet they taught each other quite a bit. Emma really is supposed to be closer to the "core" of magic than most people, hence the aptitude for wandless spells and rituals and that kind of thing, but it's more intuitive, more instinctual, while Michael is the colder, methodical, sciency type. So, his perspectives on the nature of magic could have been broadened from his conversations with and observations of her, while her understanding of how she does what she does, and what magic really is would be fostered in return!

Does that sound plausible to you?

A Wizard's Pilgrimage

:) Fair enough. I could go into timelines and historical reference vs. a modern state as proxy of a different modern state, but I don't think I will. Obviously, it will be more fun for you to play Johann as-is, and I can't argue with that.

Now I can get to planning how Emma's going to react to all of this. :P She thinks that wizarding Britain is too stuffy and conservative, for Christ's sake!

A Wizard's Pilgrimage

I keep thinking, throughout all of this, why not make it Russia? I understand that you know more about Germany, but really, you're just using it as a proxy for your obvious opinions about the current state of modern Russia... What would really be the problem with getting rid of the proxy and simply making our "conservative ally that's also pretty scary" (and marginalizes Muggle-borns) Russia to begin with?

EDIT: Wow, I say "just" way too much... Edited.

A Wizard's Pilgrimage

:) I like the first paragraph, but the second one lost me. Yes, Voldemort was never officially Minister of Magic, but after the fact there HAD to be books written and interviews with the remaining Order members and Harry and all those people, in which they would very emphatically say, "Yes, Voldemort was in charge the whole time! Thicknesse was a puppet, completely controlled by means of the Imperius Curse." And I'm sure that would get international attention. Maybe not as much in this conservative Germany, I'll give you that, but enough that the International Confederation of Wizards would know (and be appalled that a Dark wizard such as he managed to take over a prominent wizarding country).

Anyway, now I truly understand where you're coming from. Marginalization, not discrimination. Well-meaning fear mixed with ignorance and more than a hint of pride and superiority. Not a second coming of the Germany of Grindelwald, but perhaps, over time, given the right conditions... it's hard to say. I like it.

A Wizard's Pilgrimage

Well, the wizarding world is nothing if not conservative, suspicious and slow to change, so I can certainly see a country where the predominant view is that magical people are superior to Muggles, and the insidious distrust/dislike of Muggle-borns that goes with that... BUT, Belasco, it's a matter of degrees, and it comes down to the specifics.

How is the average Muggle-born is treated in this Germany? Is it "I can't find a job and people give me dirty looks" bad, or "cornered and cursed in a back-alley" bad? Is there actual legislation from the Ministry restricting the rights of people who aren't Pure or Half-bloods? Generally tolerated, Voldemort's Ministry-style persecution, or somewhere in between?

My point is, if it goes too far, it starts to make less sense. There is the International Confederation of Wizards to contend with, after all, and if there are overt hate-crimes against Muggle-borns that are supported by the German Ministry, I believe they would step in, and point to what happened fifteen years ago in Britain (even if they do dislike Muggles, I don't think they'd appreciate being compared to Voldy). So, it would have to be a bit more subtle than that, I think... And it's entirely possible that subtle disapproval is what you're going for. I just don't know. Maybe the Germans were more sympathetic to Voldemort's cause than the Brits. What's your thought on that?

EDIT: For example, that new law in our Russia against non-traditional propaganda has spurred a lot of new violence and hate towards the LGBT community over there. Is it that bad?

A Wizard's Pilgrimage

VenatrixXII said Can you at least put the school above all the history, etc., so no one has to search the CS to know where each character comes from?

:) Done.

To throw my two cents in on the Germany thing, I have a counter-thought. Having a German Ministry with undercurrents of expansionism and social engineering just doesn't make much sense to me... What if we make it more conflicted, with a loud fringe group of aristocrats and others with some Death Eater-style philosophy/rhetoric (the aforementioned people that are feeling oppressed), and a more mild (read: scared) establishment that doesn't really want to support such things overtly, but doesn't want to lose the power/influence/money that these groups have.

You know, more internal conflict within the country than "oh, the Germans are hankering for another war"... But that's just me. Something about an overtly right-wing, master-race Death Eater Germany rubs me the wrong way.

EDIT: Vena, it was me. I was going to have Veronica, Emma's older sister, as a character, but she'll be an NPC (at least for now).

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I'm still thinking no London, no England or Scotland at all, instead starting with a meet-up somewhere on the continent.

As for what place, France works for me, I had ideas for it as well.

A Wizard's Pilgrimage

Doctor Belasco said
@Imperfectionist: are you a competitive player or a collaborative one? By which I mean, when it comes to a duel that I'm anticipating will happen at some point between Johann and Emma, will you be trying to get Emma to win through posting better combat than I can or would it be your preference to pre-arrange the outcome of the battle so as best to suit the plot and yield the most interesting character development?

The latter, definitely. :) I'll still be trying to get Emma to win, of course, but I'll do it by arguing a better case when we plan the duel. Would that work for you as well?

A Wizard's Pilgrimage

:P Then I'm sure a good punch to the face will suffice.