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With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

Reader mode
Mr Zoat said:
8th November 2012
14:18 GMT +1

I look around Magnificus's repurposed workshop, my eyes skipping over the positron beam projectors that deployed in response to my arrival. In the middle distance I can hear the sound of a dozen welding torches working, knowing Magnificus on the end of multiple robotic arms.

I raise my right hand to my mouth.
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Oh, dear. This level of activity doesn't look good. Is Mags going to do something stupid? Because he's smart enough to know better... On the other hand, he's a man who's lost his whole family, and that doesn't make for the most stable or rational of decisions...

"Magnificus! You've been skipping your therapy sessions and I want to talk about it!"

"I don't need therapy! I need to work!"
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Which means you need to talk all the more.

Ah, darn it.

"Would you mind if I come a little closer?!"
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I mean, it's not like you couldn't steamroll in and stop him the hard way... But that would do more damage to his psyche than being nice.

"Do what you like!"

I nod calmly, fold my arms behind my back and walk slowly in the direction of his shouts.
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Making no sudden moves, of course. Just because you can't see the guns trained on you doesn't mean they're not there.

Careful, Lantern Grayven. A man like Magificus Sivana should not be underestimated, even irrational as he is.

Yes, I know.
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Any more blindingly clear observations to make, Ringnestro? :rolleyes:

And yet you came yourself. Alone.

This is my responsibility. The buck stops with me.
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And that is why you're such a good boss. Also why your people actually like you.

Yes, and I'm glad that you realise that. What I mean is that you didn't send one of your many more empathetic employees. Or a pony. I may not see the appeal myself, but they appear to be of great comfort to emotionally wrought humans.

I don't think that's what he needs.
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Ah, the macho method of grief-displacement. Hit something until the pain in your hands hurts more than what's inside.

At some part, the door to the electronics workshop has been… Removed? Torn off? Cannibalised for parts? Not sure. The point is that it's not there, and I get a clear view at the… Jetsons flying saucer thing that he's working on. Several hatches on the underside have been opened up, and two robot arms are spot welding… Additional modules that look like they're going to be mounted on the hull.

"Looks like it's going well."
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Classic styling. After all, presentation counts for a lot.

"Yes." Magnificus walks in, heavily reinforced canister of something under his left arm and a weirdly glowing pistol in his right hand. "It's nearly complete. Once I add the suspendium and mount the time drive modules, I'll be gone."

"So it is a time machine, then?"
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Planning to go somewhere quieter, Mags? Or picking someone up? ;)

"I spend my eighth birthday in the Sulurian era, making fish with bony jaws to confuse future paleontologist. I may just be copying Father's work, but at least I'm doing something-." His pistol snaps up, pointed precisely at my face. "Stay back!"

I nod, raising my hands and planting my right foot firmly back on the ground.
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Right. He's not in the mood to be crowded right now.

"There's nothing you can do to stop me."

I nod again. "When are you planning to go?"
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Of course, since time travel is involved, that's not departure time he's asking about, but the destination.

"Before they die. Turret mode." He releases the pistol, and its grip unfolds into an anti-gravity flotation device. "Before any of them die. I'm not going to be the last Sivana."

"Alright, but the Sheeda destroyed your family's holiday home during your annual family get-together. It wouldn't have done that if they weren't there. You'll needs to get them out between it hitting something vital the place disintegrating."
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And that's going to be a very small window of opportunity.

"I know that! I don't need you-! I don't need you trying to explain temporal manipulation to me."

He crouches, laying the temporal manipulation module down on the floor and picking a panel up from the floor. That gets moved to one of the saucer's lower hatches, then he reaches inside and starts connecting the interior cables to the panel's sockets.
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A gravity-shielding emitter of some kind, no doubt. Perfect for resisting the Huntsman's attraction.

"And then, when Mom and Thaddeus and my sisters are safe, we can go and pick up father. And then-. And then we'll be fine again."

"I saw your father die, Magnificus."
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Pretty painfully, too. Not much left afterwards.

"A hologram. Or if it wasn't the first time, it will be after we've changed things."

"Magnificus, I'm a New God. I know when a living person is sacrificing themselves for-."
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To be fair... Survivor's Guilt is a thing... And Mags, well...

"MY FATHER WAS FOUR FOOT FIVE! HE HAD ARMS LIKE PIPECLEANERS! WHY THE HELL WAS HE ANYWHERE NEAR THE SHEEDA!"

He stopped working while he shouted, but I watch him take a claming breath and rededicate himself to his work.
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Because sometimes, you need to see the life in their eyes fade, to know they're gone, to feel satisfied with vengeance...

"Because he wanted to kill her himself, I imagine."

"He was a scientist and mechanist. If he-." Magnificus sniffs. "If he wanted to kill her, he could do it with an army of super robots."
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Would you be thinking rationally, with all the anger Thaddeus Senior had built up?

I nod slowly. "Probably. So why do you think he-?"

"He didn't want to live anymore. With the others-. Others dead, he didn't want to stay alive himself." He slumps, his hands dropping to the floor. "I needed him. Why wasn't I enough?"
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Because he thought you were old enough not to need him. And apparently he was wrong.

"I don't know, Magnificus. I'd… Guess that he… Thought you could cope without him, but that I might make a mess of things if he wasn't there in person."

"He could do this more easily than I can? Why isn't-? Oh-."
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Because he knew what you are probably about to learn...

He thrusts his hands into the hole in the saucer, then makes the final connections and slots the panel into place.

"Is this machine your own work?"
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No doubt hoping it can be easily replicated? It'd be a boon for archaeology and palaeontology...

"No. I just renovated it. I never-. I mean, it's a time machine. I understand how it works, but I don't-. There's nothing… Until now, there hasn't been anything that I've wanted a time machine to do."

"Magnificus, you do know that the Sheeda had time travel technology too?"
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And they'd had it for a long time. Even if they didn't completely comprehend how it worked, they knew how to abuse it...

"Yes, of course." Another panel gets the same treatment, only slightly faster. "I was listening when father explained where he went."

"He didn't try this. Do you think he just overlooked it?"
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Thaddeus Senior was an extremely smart man, Maggy. If he didn't do something, there was probably a good reason.

"I don't know why he did it!"

He closes the panel and plugs in the suspendium module before moving around to the near side.
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Last chance to talk him down, Renegade...

"I don't know why he didn't try this, I wasn't in-. I wasn't in any state to ask him, but I'm going to try, and you're not going to stop me."

I nod slowly. "You're right. I won't. I hope that you're successful, Magnificus. Your mother and your twin seemed like good people, and I'm sure the younger two grow on you." I cautiously hold out my right hand as the drone gun hums unhappily.
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It'll hurt, but you'll understand, Maggy. And if you want to do something else afterwards... Then the Renegade will understand that.

He plugs in the second module, reaching inside to press a button and then turns back to me as the saucer activates. He watches me for a moment or two, then walks closer and takes my hand.

"I'll be back."
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We can but hope it'll be in a happier mood, but we all know better...

Then he lets go, climbs into the saucer and with a shimmer of light the saucer's gone.

And then it's back, panels torn away and smoke rising from the interior! I lunge forward, grabbing the dome and tearing it off before reaching inside and heaving Magnificus clear! He's beaten and bloody and the one eye that isn't swollen shut isn't focusing properly. I take a firm grip and then run from the workshop as the suspendium modules go critical and something very strange and organic-unfriendly happens to the saucer.
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Well, Maggy? Happy now?

I prop Magnificus up against a wall, purple healing ray out and firing at his face. He's a Danner enhancile so he shouldn't need it, but I don't want to take chances. After a moment he stirs, his eye focusing on me.

"Why? Why can't I-?"

I sit down next to him and wrap my right arm around his shoulders.
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I know it hurts, Mags, but just remember, you aren't alone.

A grim day for the Sivana family. But, perhaps, a turning point for Magnificus. Maybe he can find the strength to stop looking back, and turn his attention to the future. Because if he can't... Then the Sivana family may well fade from history entirely. This is pretty much his lowest point, and though he probably can't see it right now, there's always a way to climb back out of the hole.

...knowing Magnificus on the end of multiple robotic arms.
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A comma here might improve the flow of this sentence...
"I spend my eighth birthday in the Sulurian era...
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"I spend my eighth birthday in the Silurian era...
...between it hitting something vital the place disintegrating."
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...between it hitting something vital and the place disintegrating."
...but I watch him take a claming breath and rededicate himself to his work.
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...but I watch him take a calming breath and rededicate himself to his work.
 
Chojin Patriarch said:
Because he thought you were old enough not to need him. And apparently he was wrong.
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Thaddeus Senior was never good with people.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Thaddeus Senior was an extremely smart man, Maggy. If he didn't do something, there was probably a good reason.
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Eh, Magni may believe that his father wasn't all that smart in certain areas.

And to be fair, he did become a criminal instead of a legitimate scientist and he also fought a super powerful demigod, so, yeah...
 
What about going back a month beforehand, and initating a Siviana protocol to ignore him, or something, and just waiting for that time to arrive rather than trying to arrive at that time?
 
Ngamer11 said:
Mr Zoat, I thought Sivana Sr. tried to save his family and then failed but didn't die?
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Renegade Timeline for everyone:
  • Magnus is infected by a spine rider mind killer on Earth.
  • Most of Sivana's kids die to the gravity creature that destroys the Venus base.
  • Sivana Senior returns from the Sheeda future and learns they killed his ex-wife and kids.
  • Grayven discovers (and removes) Magnus' spine rider shortly before it makes him commit suicide and ramps up anti-Sheeda plans. Sivana Senior summons Grayven, threatens him with two radion weapons, and they improve anti-Sheeda plans.
  • Sheeda invasion. Grayven storms the castle, wins a god-duel, and Sivana senior comes to the scene with a bomb to kill the Sheeda queen. Bomb goes boom. Grayven and Artemis are FLUNG INTO THE FUTURE, WHERE MY EVIL IS LAW!
  • The fools return to the past (present day) after frolicking with the future-Sheeda.
  • Today: Magnificus has an idea.
 
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What about necromancy? At least to get Sivana himself back, since he died on Earth. Might be way harder without an active thaumosphere on Venus (and Sivana died in a space-time explosion which probably doesn't help) but New God abilities aren't limited by that per se, so it could be an important avenue (not sure Renegade knows/trusts anyone uniquely equipped to become New God of Necromancy, though what happened to Dark Druid in this timeline?). Plus Renegade has ties to his timeline's Nyssa, who might also help Magnificus out emotionally (romantic or otherwise) and Lazarus Pit research.

Getting Magnificus involved in the New Light seems like a good way to keep an eye on him, even if he doesn't currently have any interest in benefiting/ruling the world at large. If Renegade orients him towards researching the White Light, that could be good for both him and the overall enterprise (studying the Black Light could also be interesting...)
 
DrThoth said:
Getting Magnificus involved in the New Light seems like a good way to keep an eye on him, even if he doesn't currently have any interest in benefiting/ruling the world at large.
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It seems to me like he'd lose out to Luthor due to the latter's business-savvy ways and resource base. Admittedly only Grayven knows Luthor's in the new Light (he's disguised as an AI) so the competition between them for renown would not immediately start up.

You know what might be fun? A scientific research base in the Shadowlands! Grayven knows the Shade, the Shade likes Grayven, and Magnificus will get to test himself against new threats. Plus, Magni will get a break from other people for a time.
 
AmericanNumbers said:
Sigh. I feel for Magnificus. It was obvious to Renegade that the Sheeda must have somehow hardened their excursions against outside interference enough that even Sivana senior couldn't break it. Magnificus must have known too but Grief makes us fools.
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If you take the long road, is possible, they cannot harden all of the past, but you would need either to be a New God or an inmortal caveman to have that kind of patience.

As in, go far back enough the timeline isn't protected, take advantage that you are in the past, do things exactly as you need so your past self ends going back in time to do that and make sure to not screw up your rescue because you only have one chance.
 
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Is someone going to call Twilight or some other pony this is a severe friendship problem.
 
Oh, poor Magnificus. He really needs help and social support. Even Billy at this point would be a big step up. Actually, given Billy lost his parents too...

NightmareWarden said:
It seems to me like he'd lose out to Luthor due to the latter's business-savvy ways and resource base. Admittedly only Grayven knows Luthor's in the new Light (he's disguised as an AI) so the competition between them for renown would not immediately start up.

You know what might be fun? A scientific research base in the Shadowlands! Grayven knows the Shade, the Shade likes Grayven, and Magnificus will get to test himself against new threats. Plus, Magni will get a break from other people for a time.
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Luthor's business savvy might be the exact reason for Magnificus to join. For one, Magnificus can work on solely research instead of managing a multinational, soon to be multiplanetary business. Though Dr. Cranius is also there for that, I feel Magnificus has other things to offer since Cranius is more biology. For another, can't have too many brilliant scientists as long as they can handle themselves.

Weirdly, I can see another non-Light route for Magnificus, if he decides that joining the League/Team to help make sure threats like the Sheeda never come back and that leads to him innovating on a lot of hero tech.
 
Wait, did Paulragon's futzing around with changing the nature of time for the local multiverse affect enough that Sivana's time machine won't work? Or is Magnificus just struggling to work because of his grief?
 
Whenever Possible said:
Wait, did Paulragon's futzing around with changing the nature of time for the local multiverse affect enough that Sivana's time machine won't work? Or is Magnificus just struggling to work because of his grief?
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Neither. Rather, as time travellers, the Sheeda have ways of preventing their enemies from using time travel against them. Otherwise, Dr Sivana could have done it, since he was clearly able to work despite his grief and I think he came back from the future before Paragon changed the laws of physics.
 
I do like seeing Paul and Grayven dealing with maniacal and megalomaniacal personalities who set their sights on something but aren't necessarily Evil with a big 'E'. I don't know who posted it but the saying of "what do you want and how can we achieve it together" comes to find.

One benefit that Grayven has is that he is more attuned to the mentality of villains (or eccentric personalities), how the villains want to achieve their desires, and finds a way for the villains to 'win' in a way that doesn't bring harm to regular people.

On a final note:
Mr Zoat said:
Careful, Lantern Grayven. A man like Magificus Sivana should not be underestimated, even irrational as he is.
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This is missing an 'n' in "Magificus".
 
I forget, wasn't the nature of time travel changed by time trapper Paul?
 
It was, but Grayven wasn't abducted, and thus was not informed of the change.

He did -sort of- have an impact. He managed to shank Korna's finger tip with the Sword of the Fallen when they grabbed at him, which is what weakened him for the Rest of the Paul's.
 
Question for longterm readers: what was the name of the book Paul recommended to Lex Luthor to read. I have a space in my reading queue and i lost the link.
 
False Dawn (part 10)
  • Threadmarks
    • 8th November 2012
    17:28 GMT +3

    I look around what appears to be an open market, stalls arrayed in all directions and the noise from hawkers and potential buyers near deafening.

    "So, how many of these are real people?"

    "What do you mean by-?"

    "Real. Actual people, whether they have material bodies or not." I look over to a stall that appears to specialise in dates, ceramic pots filled with the things arranged on a wooden stall. "Did al Raschid send actual people here, or parts of their personalities, or… Alter the structure of the Dream by… Burning part of reality?"

    A small bullock with a balloon tied on its midsection floats by, using flippers strapped to his hooves to control its forward movement.

    "And where the heck did that come from?"

    The bullock turns its head towards us. "Excuse me?"

    "I'm sorry. Where the heck did he come from?"

    "Hmpf." He tosses his head, then swims away.

    "I do not know, and I do not know." He shrugs. "I was not there when the Caliph made the pact with Morpheus, or to observe the transition. If you want to know, you could make the time to ask him yourself."

    "Ah, Doctor?" Sanderson is looking around too, but in his case his expression is one of wonder rather than the suspicion I'm sure is on my own face. "What are we looking for?"

    "A map would be useful. Tools thet will assist us in entering the Tower, or finding John Constantine."

    Alan nods. "What do they take for currency around here?"

    "This place is the dream of a great trading city on the silk road, between Europe and China. They will take any currency, speak any language and honour any agreement. You can trade with American money."

    The Demon raises his eyebrows. "Take card payments, do they?"

    Dr. Balewa looks surprised. "There is a bank thet gave you a credit account?"

    The Demon reaches into his coat and pulls out a wallet.

    "No, but they gave one to… 'James Robinson'."

    Alan frowns. "Who's that? And why do you-? Oh."

    The Demon rolls his eyes as he slides the wallet back into his coat. "If it makes you feel better, he doesn't need it any more. Amazing how much money there is in dead accounts."

    Alan's frown escalates to a glare. "Are you-?"

    The Demon tries to look innocent, and naturally falls far short. "He made a deal with Satanus. It was practically a victimless crime."

    Alan's clearly not happy, but recognises that it's not pertinent to the mission. "Okay, Doctor, but how do we find those things?"

    "It is the way of these places. The merchants we want will find us, if we do not find them first."

    Sanderson looks uncomfortable. "Are they gunna want… Other sorts of payment?"

    The Demon looks away, making a choking, snorting noise. Sanderson edges away from him, then looks to Alan for a sensible answer.

    Alan looks levelly at The Demon. "Constantine."

    "Dreams don't go in for virgin sacrifices, mate!"

    Sanderson blushes, prompting Dr. Balewa to hold up his right hand to forestall Alan's retort.

    "But, they may ask for ideas, memories, or even capacities thet you possess. They are not quite so bad regarding such matters as the fey, but it is not a foolish concern. I cannot tell you how to respond in every instance thet could arise. You can ask me for advice, but it would ultimately be something thet you will hev to decide for yourself."

    Sanderson nods, slightly mollified.

    "How circuitous do we need to be when we make our enquiries?"

    "I am sorry?"

    "How do you rate the chance of John Quinn monitoring the Dream, or us? I'm asking because I sort of assumed that Boss Smiley wouldn't be able to eavesdrop on my conversation with Liberty, and that got us in a bit of trouble."

    "Yeah." Alan nods. "That's what got us into trouble."

    "Slim to none. I hev spent time with him, and I hev felt nothing of the Dream from him. Using magic here for such a purpose would draw the ire of the Dream-wizards who live here. And if he can monitor us in such a fashion without us knowing it… Then we are already doomed and there is no sense in worrying about it."

    "Ah." Sanderson shrugs. "I haven't written a Will. I mean, if we're doomed, I'd feel a little bad about leaving a mess for everyone."

    "If you just tell me what you want done, I'll forge it for you."

    "I'd like the house turned into a museum and the money put into a trust to keep the place going."

    "Not a problem." I look at Dr. Balewa. "Should we look anywhere in particular?"

    "I believe thet the established shops will prove more useful than the market stalls." He looks around once more. "This way, I think."

    He leads the way through the market, ignoring the stall holders as they try to persuade us that theirs are the fruit, the rugs, the coffee, the jewellery, that will make our day worthwhile. I-.

    I stop, and the stallholder immediately orientates on me.

    "How much for one jar of figs?"

    "These figs, sir?" He grins. "Only the finest-."

    "Yes I'm sure they're lovely; that's why I'm offering to buy them. How much?"

    "For one jar? One dirham."

    Excellent. I've got plenty of silver, and I know the design Kahndaq uses for its commemorative coins. Fabricate, and… I offer the coin to the stall-holder, who checks it visually and then bites it before passing me a jar with a smile.

    "Tell all your friends!"

    I nod and step away, looking for-.

    No. No no.

    Come on, there's no way they could have gotten that far away that quickly. I fly-.

    No, apparently I don't. Impellers? No. Flying carpet? Yes. Alright, let's-.

    "Sir!" The stallholder frantically shakes his head. "Those are banned in the market, except for official purposes!"

    Okay. Dismiss the carpet and toss him another dirham by way of thanks, and…

    "Which way to the speciality shops?"

    "Speciality? Like…"

    He makes what I suspect to be an obscene gesture. Huh. I remember that while prostitution is illegal in modern Iran, it's perfectly legal to have a short-duration marriage with a non-refundable matchmaking fee. The Egypt of this era had slavery, but I'm not sure what the rules were on sex.

    "Magic arcana."

    He pointedly looks away. "It is not proper for a good Muslim to involve himself in such things." He points towards a bridge a short distance away across the market without looking at it. "But since you are a foreigner, it may be that some other foreigners who may be in that direction may be able to help you."

    "Thank you." I turn to march away. "I will consider you for all my future fig purchases."
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • Not surprised that demons have access to bank accounts. Hell, this might be the best time in history for demons to act on Earth without having to show themselves to anyone.


    With banks going digital, the large number of bank accounts opening each day, and the billions of transactions done day, how could anyone or anything trace an account's activity to a demon.

    I like that magical items and services can be found in black markets, there would be a demand for it and it's not likely that these businesses would be operating out in the open.

    Though with magic being much more prominent lately (age split Earth and all that) I could see politicians wanting to regulate what magical products and services are being offered. Something along the lines of needing a licence to sell offensive spells and implementing a waiting period to purchase them for example.
     
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