The Witch of the Rotten Borough
(So many thoughts, gonna try and order them in a chronological order!)
In regard to worldbuilding, this is a fantastical setting with some early 19th century vibes. We've got steam engines, poufy sleeves, and plenty of political intrigue. The longstanding monarchy has lost power in favor of a divided parliament, but only wealthy landowners have representation.
Despite having little jurisdiction over public policy, the queen still runs a branch of "magic practitioners," (or witches with the right to cast spells under federal law.) If a vassal petitions her with a problem that calls for magic aid, she may send out a small team to assist the afflicted area.
Magic practitioners are usually the children of wealthy families who hold favor with the royal family. They receive licenses to practice at prestigious academies, (kept afloat by the queen's treasury,) and work in various government jobs.
Those who practice magic without a license are just called "witches," or occasionally a "villa." If you are caught, the punishment ranges depending on the severity of the spells you cast, and more importantly, your social status. Peasants practicing magic are one of the few crimes still punished by death.
Last thing to note about magic, though it's innate, it cannot be done without the proper equipment and education, which is how the wealthy keep it out of the hands of commonfolk.
The story primarily takes place in a town called Monsbury. For years, all the land there was controlled by the local duchy, but a financial scheme by parliament led some of it to be sold to private sectors. So, about a third of the land falls under the jurisdiction of the duke, where the rest is subject to the local mayoral government.
The land owned by the duke is rented out to the commonfolk who live there. Because they technically are not landowners, they are not able to vote in local elections. The private properties not controlled by the duchy are easily bribed into voting in the duke's favor, because there is no secret ballot.
In regard to characters, there are two of the most importance. Joanne is the second daughter of a wealthy businessman. She is in her early thirties, and has held her license to practice magic for over ten years. Her job requires her to deal with an assortment of magical creatures that occasionally encroach the kingdoms northmost borders. Her average encounters are frazzled pixies and affronted trolls- truthfully, her jobs biggest headache is the people. Lordships, mayors, angry farmhands, all hinder her efforts to her work to the best of her ability.
Joanne is passionate about her craft. And while she's not crazy about politics, she doesn't give much thought to it unless it directly affects her ability to do her job. She's regarded by her peers as the best of the best, and she spends her travel time on a variety of magical projects and studies.
Susanna, or "Susie," lives and works on land lent to her family by the local duchy. At eleven, she has a fascination with all things magic, but no avenue to learn anything about it. Her current plan is to save up a meager amount of money to attend a higher school and "become an academic." It's only beginning to dawn on her the logistics of such a feat. Her family gently encourages her to put such hopes aside.
In regard to plot, the story starts when a dragon makes roost in a mountain near Monsbury. Though there have been no confirmed casualties, only apple trees scorched and cattle snatched, a young girl's (Susie's) disappearance is supposedly connected to the dragon's arrival.
Joanne is called upon to deal with the problem. Perhaps the toughest challenge she's faced yet, she must work together with the locals to scale the mountain, slay the dragon, and save the missing child. This is the initial conflict of the story.
But, after the dragon is defeated, it becomes apparent that there is something more at work in the land nearby Monsbury. There has been a sudden increase in magical creatures. Joanne is forced to stick around longer than she planned.
(I'm really excited for this year's nanowrimo! Cheers to a productive November!)
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