Whatevereth principle of the Vile Scribe: It Must be Current. No one cares how clever your comment is, if the conversation moved on. 

One patron of the cafe is an ordinary pamphlet seller, chatting with the radicals. Totally not the Vile Scribe. Of his merchandise, only one of his many pamphlets is the most recent work of that Vile Scribe. No point selling it earlier, the trial was the main event so no one cares about the ports being closed. But maybe it'll sell now.

Of course, he's not really here to sell. The main event is fresh convention gossip. He wants to hear what's happening and see if he can get a response on the streets by the dinnertime, instead of next morning. 

The cafe patrons recognize a familiar face. The annoying but funny political arguments guy who keeps changing opinions. Wasn't he being chased by the street crusade last time we saw him? Someone ask how the kid is doing.

The Vile Scribe is not to be called 'the kid'!  Look at the almost-facial-hair.

Psh, not gonna let something like that stop a pamphlet seller. Doing okay, that wasn't be the first time and won't be the last. The free pen has haters, but they can't stop the presses.

"THEY'RE BANNING PAMPHLETS!" a man yells, running from the convention center. 

Calming down and explaining the censorship bill that just passed.

Asking some detailed questions about what exactly is banned. 

Right now, this isn't a decree, just something the convention recommends to the queen. So nothing is banned. If the queen accepts the recommendation, it might be decree'd. If that happens, bans all printing unless approved and arcane marked by a publishing house with a 6,000 coin bond. Or approved by one of these lawful countries. Or if it's a boring apolitical cookbook. It hits copying and distribution. Hand out a pamphlet without a good mark, there's fines and the pamphlet police puts you away for pen crimes. 

"Sorry kid, looks like you have to get a real job."

The Vile Scribe is not to be called 'the kid'!  Look at the almost-facial-hair.

Calamity! Thus ends the Vile Scribe. Unless there's something here. Something to be done.

"Damn, kid, you look devastated. Having a real job isn't that bad. There's other things to sell."

Whatevereth principle of the Vile Scribe: There is a line, get as close as you can without crossing it. Don't be safe, safe is boring. Don't get yourself beheaded, unless you personally possess fell hydrasome means. 

The statute bans copying and distributing pamphlets without a publisher mark. It doesn't ban writing them. More importantly, there's no retroactive crime. So, until and unless  a decree goes out, there's a window where it's still legal to write and copy and distribute. Enough time for one last batch of pamphlets, circulating in private and read in small groups. One last hurrah for freedom of the pen, before the death of the Vile Scribe. 

Does that hold up? Does he really think no one will ever read one of his pamphlets in a public house ever, once it becomes illegal? Can they read his thoughts and take him in for having done an action which was intended to cause other actions that in the future would be crimes?

His sorcery has been growing ever since he started pamphleteering. If they bring time wizardry against him, he will counter it with his own.

That doesn't actually make sense. But the case is ambiguous. Which is the best place for a Vile Scribe. Let's do this.

Quiet prayers to Shelyn for inspiration, to Milani for thorns bleeding the powerful, and to Cayden for foolish bravery. Then a prayer his brother said to say before doing anything that might get in trouble with the law. Hey Norgorber. Hey. Watch this. 

Never ask for help, he said. That one prayer, that's the only one worth a damn to him. For a moment, the Vile Scribe wonders what happened to–

poke "You okay? Say something, stop just staring blankly."

"Behold, the Vile Scribe Revealed."

???

Explanation that he has been the Vile Scribe this whole time, just pretending to be a pamphlet seller. Well, no pretending, he did in fact sell the pamphlets. You know what I mean.

"That checks out. But how do you find anyone to copy the things?"

"The Vile Scribe would never reveal such a secret. But today, today in the waning hours before the free pen is crushed under the boot of the state, you will find the copyists."

He asks to borrow a soapbox to stand on for speechifying.

"Yes, you. You and you, and you. You too. I am pointing at specific people, to avoid the trap of crowd non-action. But you are not pointed at arbitrarily, you people who I know to be friends of the revolution, filled with bravery and will. Who, during our cafe sparring, I have provoked multiple times into defending the right to the press and free expression, even for the worst yet somehow funniest of scribes. We have some time before this proposal becomes a decree, time in which copying and distribution remains legal. Hold to the ideals you spoke out in favor of."

"I can see what you are thinking right now, having taken a side in a political argument does not hold one to aid a random scribe in rushing to publish. Especially when the legality is perhaps dubious. That is true, but betray the cause now and I will scourge your hypocrisy in my next pamphlets and depict you as Simplicio. What is this you say, I cannot do that because there will be no next pamphlets? Very well then, I will offer rewards. Firstly, behold the ill gotten coins of my vile scribing. Second, I will grant you the rarest of my treasures and secrets. A single sincerely held and plainly stated political opinion."

A few of them go along with this. Here is a very impromptu desk, made from that very same soapbox. The first paper-and-ink urchin runs off with the coins and does not return with extra sheets of paper and ink. The second pockets a third of the coin but does. In the meantime, first drafts are what the backs of random other papers are for. The coffee cart guy is keeping the cups filled, fresh and hot. A small crowd has gathered around, with several volunteers ready to run off to the most pliable copyists they know as soon as a pamphlet is ready. 

The Pharoj is Confused

Pharojio: I am Pharojio, the Pharoj of Osirion. I rule the Kingdom of Abadar with Reasonable Law.

Scrivulus: I am Scrivulus, a humble scribe. I wish to publish but have been afflicted by Confusing Laws.

Pharojio: I hold court in my prosperous Kingdom, all must bow before me. Approach, petitioner.

Scrivulus: I am a humble scribe from Far Avistan. I bow before you and ask you to approve of my Pamphlets.

Pharojio: What would Far Avistan have to say in my Kingdom? 

Scrivulus: O great Pharoj, these are not for your kingdom, they are to be published in my home in Far Avistan.

Pharoj: I am a great Pharoj but I rule over Osirion, the Kingdom of Abadar. Only the Cyprian of Galt claims rulership over the whole of Avistan. Unlike him, I only fight Lawful and Just wars. So I have not conquered Far Avistan and brought my Reasonable Laws there.

Scrivulus: I have spent weeks at sea, for I must find a Wise and Just ruler to approve my Pamphlets. Pharoj most humbly do I beg you. Approve them.

Pharoj: I am Most Wise and Most Just and Most Flattered. Present your pamphlets to be judged.

Scrivulus: Behold my first Pamphlet. I wish to suggest that Codfish, the Paladin King of Andoran, marries the Pirate Queen of the Shackles. They both share Common Interests and should make Alliance.

Pharoj: The Wise and Just laws of Osiron condemn Piracy but celebrate Marriage. I would hope that Marriage to a Lawful Paladin would restrain the Pirate Queen. But I cannot say I know either of their characters.

Scrivulus: Behold my second Pamphlet. I wish to accuse the Empress of Taldor of a Scandalous Affair with the Geryon of Stygia. 

Pharoj: The Wise and Just laws of Osirion say it is right for the affairs of women to be of concern to the public. A woman must have a Lawful Husband not a Lying Geryon. But I cannot say if this rumor is true. 

Scrivulus: Behold my third Pamphlet. I suggest that the Vampyres of Geb replace the Skeleton of Geb with one of their own. It is better to be ruled by Vampyre because they have Flesh and Blood while a Skeleton lacks both.

Pharoj The Wise and Just laws of Osirion are fair to both Good and Evil. Both Skeleton and Vampire may live in the Kingdom of Abadar, so long as they pay rent on time. But I cannot say which rules best.

Scrivulus: Three pamphlets before you, o great Pharoj. Choose which are Lawful to publish.

Pharoj: I cannot say! I cannot say! I cannot say! These are not matters of my kingdom, why do you confuse me?

Scrivulus: Why have I come so far from home, to hear that you cannot say? You are Wise and Just, how are you unsure?

Pharoj: I am sure there is another ruler whose job it is to do this.

One of them has scriveners chant. Six copies to six conspirators, all conspiring to commit entirely legal publishing and distributing. Each takes a copy and a handful of coins, and heads towards a different copyist.

"Remember the most important part. As soon as the decree hits the walls, stop. You only have one head! I only have one head! Get them out then get back here for more, but if you see a decree then get you gone."

"more coffee"

more coffee

All Men are Free?

Galtonius: I am Galtonius, the Great Wizard of Galt who believes in Voting and Rights. I would be a more subtle and less dangerous allegory if there was time for a second draft.

Sortitio: I am Sortitio, a Common Farmer conjured by Spells and forced to participate in Politics. I would have a better name if there was time for a second draft.

Galtonius: Behold, Simple Peasants, I give to you Rights, to protect you from the Crown. Every man should be Free. It is Evil for any Tyrant to force his Will on others just because he is more powerful. You should be free to do what you Will. For this I summon you to an Assembly to vote on what Rights to have.

Sortitio: We can vote for any Rights we want? To be free to do as we Will?

Galtionus: Yes, any Right.

Sortitio: We vote for the Right to Leave this Assembly.

Galtonius: No, not that one.

Sortitio: We vote to Abolish Slavery?

Galtonius: You have voted Correctly. It is Evil for any man to be Kidnapped from his Home and forced to Labor. Every man should have the Right to choose who he Labors for, and the right to abscond without being Forcibly Held by a tyrant Master.

Sortitio: Is this true?

Galtonius: Yes.

Sortitio: It is against my Will to labor in this Convention, I will instead return to my Home.

Galtonius: With my Spells do I Conjure you. 

Sortitio: Calamity! I am Conjured.

Galtonius: I did not permit you to leave. Now vote for more Rights to protect you from the Tyrant Crown. 

Sortitio: We vote that Rights should also protect us from Great Wizards.

"Don't take this one for copying until they actually vote to end slavery. Everyone knows it's going to happen but if it doesn't I'll look stupid."

"Nah, I'm doomed anyway. Copies now, ahead of the news. If I'm right I'm an oracle, if I'm wrong and look stupid, I already have a plan to flee the country. 

"Tell me, what of the workings of the convention? Where shall I next turn this pen?"