Brainstorm

[Meg]

Alright, I know we're busy and no one's been on much, but we keep mentioning how we should start the plot and we don't know where to start. I came up with a general guideline about how we could proceed -- it does not need to be followed exactly and these are just my personal ideas. You can add your own ideas/interpretations, I know we're supposed to have an Umbridge character at Hogwarts, but I wasn't sure how that would work out.

I tried to find a way to include everyone since it seems like we forget about characters that aren't students sometimes. Keep in mind that even if a law isn't really bothering your character, there might be family members or friends or lovers who are being affected.

So, we obviously don't have to start right away, but here's an outline...

Step 1.
Establish a law or two. All persons within Wizarding society must register their blood purity with the Ministry of Magic. Those who do not appear will be sorted accordingly or found. Those thought to have lied will have their family trees and ancestries examined. [Blood traitors aren't going to register themselves as such, obviously, so that will be determined at the discretion of the Ministry]

Step 2. Muggleborns, Squibs/Anomalies, and Magical Creatures must wear something to identify themselves to other wizards (i.e. a star, hourglass, or some other symbol - can be fabric or badge, just as long as it is visible)

Step 3.
[Hogwarts] Separate the purebloods and halfbloods from the Muggleborns, blood traitors, Squibs/anomalies, and magical creatures as far as classes. Still allowed to eat and live together (at the moment), but the purebloods and halfbloods are strongly discouraged from associating with the lower classes.
[Society] Beginnings of segregation in society...Muggleborns & Co. have to eat in certain sections of restaurants and can't shop in certain shops, etc.
[Within the Ministry] Most Ministry workers are not feeling the effects of the laws on their jobs, just in society. So far, working in the Ministry is a steady, nonsegregated job as long as you don't object to the Minister.
[All the while] Anyone who objects to the Minister's new laws is silenced or just disappears. Resistance is not an option.

Step 4.
[Hogwarts] Mealtimes are changed so that the higher classes (purebloods/halfbloods) do not eat with the lower classes (everyone else). Learning for the lower classes is restricted to theory, no practical magic allowed - Squibs/anomalies treated as mentally disabled. Prejudice emerging among the students. So far, any teachers that are registered as a Muggleborn/Squib/Anomaly/Blood Traitor/Magical Creature are not being affected, although rumor has it that the Ministry is protesting to the headmaster.
[Society] Segregation has become stronger. Being a member of a lower class means that you can be dismissed from your job without any other reason.
[Within the Ministry] Muggleborns/Squibs/Anomalies/Traitors/Creatures are quietly being "reassigned" to different jobs - unimportant, boring desk jobs, despite their previous statuses. They are considered not worthy of holding important positions. Purebloods/halfbloods are being promoted, despite lack of qualifications. Objecting to the Ministry's new policies is an automatic dismissal.
[All the while] There is confusion and resistance, but no one wants to be investigated. If the Ministry cannot dispose of a family/person quietly, their status changes to Blood Traitor or they are labeled as criminals. Pureblooded families and even halfbloods generally do not object and are even supporting the new movement.

The Minister is justifying his actions in a very logical manner. He claims that the last Minister was murdered by a foreign influence, and the country needs to be strong to withstand any further attacks when the UK has already been infiltrated with spies. Society needs to be ordered and cleaned of anything that will weaken society, hence the registrations and classes.

Step 5.
Everywhere there is panic and suspicion about the "attacks" from the "foreign aggressor nation". Britain is preparing for war without a real enemy, except themselves. Purebloods/halfbloods seen associating in a friendly manner with lower classes are punished or regarded as blood traitors. Purebloods are more likely to be forgiven; halfbloods are seen to be giving in to their "weaker side". Teachers at Hogwarts are being closely watched to ensure the safety and proper education of students.

And so on and so on.

As always, I'd love to hear feedback, since I have no idea what you all have been thinking for the past few weeks.

**Edit:

I am also posting a few ideas about other plots or other ideas that we could incorporate if we don't feel like a big plot or need something to get our minds off the big plot. *Stars designate things that should be decided by the public (or the three other persons on the site).

--- Another school is visiting! For this month-long* event, everyone is allowed to make two* completely new characters without worrying about the 30-post rule as an influx of new students are visiting Hogwarts and meeting Britain's magical students.

--- Prank Week (unofficial, student organized) - self explanatory?

Feedback is lovely.

[Kat]

I like the ideas, they'll work. As for other smaller plots, I think student organized things should be included quite a bit, since in a real school that is what happens.

Ok, as much as I love the masque, I think that to get the site going again we should bump it up a week and introduce Step 1. Possibly we could keep just the dance topic running since I think a few people are currently in the middle of things.

Anyways, school's starting soon so I know we're all busy, but I'm not ready to give up on keeping this site active.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Alright guys... I'm in desperate need of an update of events because I've read everything but I'm still kinda lost...

Also, what do you guys think about a spy within the ministry? A double agent like Snape! I was thinking my Kevin could be it because he's the kind of guy that would be very against what's been going on but he's also a good actor and he's good at making people think he's innocent.

I already reposted Kevin's app in the app forum and I also posted Mari's app because I want to bring them back since they're my favorite characters... I need someone to change Mari's last name back to Delaflote since I want her to be a student... Oh and also Conor Jr. has to be changed to Raul so that we don't have two Conor O'Reillys running around... They can be cousins though!!! lol

[Jesse Aksel]

I vote to set all the steps into motion! lol.

My suggestion for the identification of non-purebloods would be an armband of some color with this symbol on it. Feel free to tell me if that's dumb, just something I thought looked cool. Its supposed to represent the divine judging eye of God banishing evil away to four corners.

[Skylar Yench]

I reeeeeally like the idea of that symbol, Katie. :3 I vote in favor of that.

[Mari Delaflote]

I concur with Katie on all things... surprised?? don't be! lol

[Meg]

Katie, I really like that symbol, so you've got my vote.

We don't have to start right away, but if we want to continue with this plot, then we should probably (I think maybe in Rose's Daily Prophet articles?) list somewhere "We are now on Step 3. Laws and restrictions are this. You should be doing this" everytime we move up a step. Just so everyone's updated, even if they can't get on all the time.

So happy to see y'all again.

[Conor O'Reilly]

I would definitely like to jump into step 3 if that's alright. Although I think everyone is of the same opinion that we want to get things moving...lol. Rose, if you would be so kind as to update the daily prophet for us? I'd love you even more times forever if you did =]

I'll have Jesse hang up some signs in Hogwarts, informing students about the new rules of course. *Just as a way to put them out there*

If the symbol is a go then I guess what we need are color coded arm bands for identification. I was thinking maybe something along these lines:

All arm bands must be worn on the left arm at the level of one's heart. All arm bands are white in color with the same symbol upon them. That symbol's color is different based on someone's blood purity.

Mud bloods - white arm band with a mahogany symbol.
Magical creatures - white arm band with an azure symbol.
Magical abnormalities - white arm band with an onyx symbol
Blood traitors - white arm band with a scarlet symbol.

Opinions?

And I'm glad to be back too, sorry I was away for so long. I missed everyone. <3

[Aethelind Hyde]

I'll actually try to do that now, before I finish getting ready to go to class. (This is the only time I tend to get things done.)

I'll go ahead and put up an article in the prophet about step three.

[Kat]

I agree with everything so far. I also have a question. Do half bloods have to wear an arm band? And if so what color? Thanks.

[Kendra Russen]

I believe we agreed (correct me if I'm wrong) that halfbloods would be considered part of the higher blood classes (and do not have to wear arm bands) because they still have a pureblood line - they are still not as likely to get away with things as purebloods are and if they are seen associating too much with the lower classes, they are considered to be giving into their "weaker" side.

Yes?

[Jesse Aksel]

Yes, half bloods are with pure bloods =]

[Sebastian Cairo]

And just to clarify another point, Hogwarts teachers are somewhat protected by their status at Hogwarts (or we could say the headmaster is protecting them), so they don't necessarily have to worry about losing their jobs or being classified as "lower class", correct?