As the last light of sunset shone down upon the steps, Pater Deorum Roland appeared with several other deities, most notably the Twin Deities of War, Marik and Maryse, the Great Protector, Rikart, and the Guardian of Slaves, Seline. Also present is a woman not previously seen at such events.
Roland spoke to say “I hereby introduce to the Empire, my grand daughter Alexis, who has ascended to become the Goddess of Divine Protection.” at this point, the newly introduced goddess walks to stand beside Roland.
Alexis speaks saying “Let it be heard this day that I am in partnership with the Divine Rikart.” At this point Rikart steps forward to stand on the other side of her. “Our aspects are both compatible and complementary. Let it also be known that I consider my aspect to be one that encompasses voluntary slavery. Protection in its purest form is a service to another that is total and selfless, and for that reason I have chosen to ally myself with the Divine Selene, and have taken for myself a gold collar.”
Roland then steps back and Selene steps forwards to stand beside Alexis. “Let it be heard and understood by all, that I speak for my partner, my mothers, my father and my grandfather, as well as for myself when I say that the gods hereby state that the final clause of the Senate’s second declaration on the keeping of slaves is without reason or purpose. There are no grounds to fear that a slave who uses magic will be any more dangerous to the Empire or its people than a free person who uses magic. Further, this clause prevents a loyal slave from using an potential means to satisfy the aspects of both the Great protector and myself, by defending their owners against potential dangers. I therefore speak to say that the interdiction against the use of magic by a slave is set aside forthwith.”
“Let it also be heard that the keeping of infants and minors as slaves is distasteful to the gods and is hereby prohibited. Those infants and minors who are currently slaves are to be surrendered to the Temple of Seline, where accommodation will be found for them until they reach majority.”
Ending the enslavement of infants and minors is at least a step in the right direction.
Potentially. But it looks to me like a tactical retreat followed by re-entrenchment. In practice, there’s not a great deal of advantage to enslaving children or (especially) infants, as the financial incentives go the wrong direction.
Adding another “deity” who explicitly takes an aspect of slavery into her portfolio and also glosses it as a positive, selfless act is notable. The Empire appears to be dropping a PR negative with little practical upside (the enslavement of children) while attempting to show slavery in a positive light, rather than as a powerful method of control that perpetuates the current elite while serving as punishment and coercion of the lower class.