The Senate vote of 892

Political event

Times are desperate and desperate times calls for drastic means! At least that was what the proponents of the vote said. The election regarded the removal of the sanctuary status of the southern forest on l'Ile hence making it possible to harvest and remove the forest, creating a new large area to be used for agricultural purposes. Advocates against the removal said that this would only a very shortsighted solution, that would not solve anything and would have terrible, irreversible effects. Some even said that it would be too costly, both in money and lives to remove the enchanted forest compared to what would be gained.     The vote was previously postponed five times because of riots, motions to postpone by the Senate due to investigations and even a murder of a senator and partial burndown of one of the wings in the Senate buildings. This time, however, things were different; by law, it was now no longer possible to postpone the election, no matter what happened or how many cast their vote. This had never happened before, and many Senators, on both sides, feared for their lives due to the removal of a minimum turnout and extremely close polls.     As expected by many the vote turned out extremely bloody and three Senators, Jean-Claude Rochefort, Gaston Lavaud and Julia Vallée, was assassinated during the negotiations in the week up to the vote. Due to excellent investigation work by private mercenaries, hired by a part of the opposition, Nathan Chappelle was convicted for these crimes. He was personally arrested by Simon Boulet, and his guilt was displayed on the very day of the vote, he was stripped of his seat in the Senate and thrown in prison by His Royal Majesty himself. Despite this show of power, the vote was extremely tight with only 1 vote making the decision fall out against the removal of the sactuary status.    

There was a reason we made the forest a sanctuary, to begin with! It is holy and a fountain of knowledge that I and my fellow priests we have only just begun to tap into. Removing will not only upset the gods but also remove the only path we currently have into the knowledge of solving the problems of Plaisir!

— Jean-Claude Rochefort

I have been campaigning for the preservation of the l'Ile forest for quite some time. I intend to keep the forest as pristine and natural as possible. With my staunch support of the forest, I am certain that the Senate will entrust me with the responsibility, nay personal honour, to oversee the protection of the area. I see this as an opportunity to provide the elite of Chambéry tours of the idyllic area, as the cities surrounding area, much of it owned by my estate, is continually misused in the city's lust for resources. There will of course be a cost to these tours, nothing is free in this world, but the people crave the green of nature! If I am to make a bit of money while satisfying that need, who could blame me?

— Amaud Caron

The clearing of the forest of l'Ile is a senseless and stupid endeavour. Doing so will come at an immense loss of lives that are going to be far larger than any gain we will get, granted that it is even possible!

— Simon Boulet