Diet of Sullibon

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The Diet of Sullibon was a general assembly of the estates of the One True Faith that took place in Sullibon, a small town in Xanth Grange. It was conducted from January 28 to May 25, 168 AR, with Pontifex Ostien IV presiding. Although other issues were dealt with at the Diet of Sullibon, it is most memorable for addressing magic (especially that performed with herbs or by use of celestial bodies), witchcraft, demonic possession, and how they may affect differently the magical races.

The previous year, Pontifex Ostien IV had issued the Pontifexian bull Exsurge Domine, demanding that the definitions of magic be clearly explained so to protect the souls of the pure from the potential malevolence of witchcraft and warlockery.

Edict of Sullibon

The Pontifex issued the Edict of Sullibon on May 25, 168 AR, defining the relationship between demons and devils and magic.

The Apostolic Nuntius at the Diet, Girolamo Sisturio, drew up and proposed the Edict's fierce denunciations, which declared banned the performance of ill magics. However, not all magic is considered malevolent; insights into the One True Faith's definition of magic can start to be understood by these two passages of the Edict:

"There are some things in nature which have certain hidden powers. The reasons for which they have these powers, man does not know; for example, the lodestone, which attracts steel and many other such things. Accepting that there are things in this world that have such powers, men and women who bring about changes in the bodies of others sometimes make use of certain things, which exceed our knowledge. This is without any aid of deviltry. And because these remedies are mysterious, we must not therefore automatically ascribe them to the power of the Underworld, as we should ascribe evil spells wrought by witches. Hence, it is plain that those who perform works of healing may well perform them by means of such good influences, and this has no connection at all with any evil power."
"Demons and devils can bring about an effect of magic without the cooperation of any witch or warlock. Bodily ills and ailments are certainly not invisible; they are evident to the senses. They can be brought about by devils. Many things that a demon can accomplish do not require a manifestation by means of witchery. Rather, the devil makes use of a witch, not because he has need of such an agent, but rather because he is seeking the perdition of the witch."

In other words, magic is not inherently good nor evil. That is defined by how it is begotten. It is also clear that witches and warlocks are not required tools of demons and devils, rather it is the goal of these evil spirits to seduce the soul and disfigure the being. It is that corruption that can overtake any and all, because no race is any more susceptible to the guile of demonry than any other; a devil has no care whether their instrument be man, woman, elf, dwarf, or anything else with beating heart. It is the damnation that it wishes to savor.

Results of the Edict

The Edict permitted anyone to kill purveyors of these magics without legal consequence, so long as the reason for death was justified and substantiated by an High Inquisitor of the One True Faith.

It also charged the Pontifexus with increased assignment, through Letters Apostolic, the creation of more High Inquisitors in order to protect the souls of the faithful.