Asherons Call: Soapbox - Mana Stone Dependency on the Rise

I don't usually post entire Soapboxes here, but the Sho Man's, "Mana Stone Dependency on the Rise" seemed of such importance I felt it should receive front page news.

[i]Archmages around Dereth have been shocked by a sharp increase in Mana Stone consumption by the general public within the last few days. Many relate this to the introduction of such mana draining items as the Taulandoi and Saulandoi. Others say its because Derethians are stockpiling on Mana Stones because of a rumor that Mana Stones stockpiles are running low.

Master Archmage Shoyannan comments, "The increase of Mana Stone purchases has jumped up nearly 20% in the last few days. The decoy tower north of here stopped working a long time ago, I'll probably have to put another tower up with something even more nasty inside. Oh, don't print that last part."

The introduction of Superb Mana Stones has also aroused speculation that the new mana stones are causing more and more people to become hooked. These suspicions were confirmed yesterday when we interviewed a rather extreme mana stone junky outside the Master Archmage Celdecynd's cottage.

"I was 'Stoning on a regular basis before the Superbs showed up...it was all cool though, I wasn't doing to bad. Nobody would know I was a 'Stoner 'less I told 'em I was. But then...then the Superbs came and I couldn't get enough...it was...the thrill...the...." The person interviewed, Affro Choch of Thistledown, wished his name not be used. Affro trailed off and whimpered uncontrollably, presumably because he had just pumped six Superb Mana Charges into himself during the course of his explanation.

The discarded shells of used mana stones are also causing problems, especially in the bustling metropolis of Hebian-To. Members of the Hebian-To maintenance program, having most of their abilities taxed by cleaning up the mess made by the average Derethian, says "The used mana stones are clogging storm drains and are polluting the air we breath with burnt mana. If this behaviour is allowed to continue many of Hebian-To's regular inhabitants will be forced to move, or will develop problems because of mana stone pollution."

Experts have stated that the problem will only get worse before it gets better, and even now Queen Elysa and her council are being pressured to pass a bill making 'Stoning above normal levels illegal. At this moment we are ensure exactly how she would enforce the new law. Or anything else, for that matter.

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