Night Monarch Survivors Anonymous

Night Monarchs Survivors Anonymous, or SA to its members, is modeled after Al-Anon, a worldwide organization that supports, and offers information and resources to, friends and family of alcoholics. It is a mutual aid society that is not tied to any political organization or government —despite the fact that many high-profile Tome Knights, including heads of state, are members. It is not officially registered as a non-profit or charitable organization in any Protectorate, or any other nation. No one has even confirmed that it exists, although there are always rumours whenever a high-profile public figure is involved in anything, and the public is fairly certain that Queen Sable has something to do with it.   With only approximately 500 known literomancers in the world, membership in this particular group is, by its nature, extremely limited. Since the identity of the Night Monarch quickly becomes worldwide news, SA's members approach those likely to have been affected quietly, and privately, to invite them to the group on an individual basis. While this is reasonably effective in such a small social circle, it is not always perfect. For example, the members of Archon The Bard with Many Names' polycule were only approached after a significant delay of several months, since their polycule was not public knowledge for some time.   NMSA meets regularly once a month, and anyone may also call a special meeting off-schedule, especially in the wake of a new Night Monarch reveal. While she is not directly involved in the group and does not interfere, Dr. Velma Price is aware of its existence, and will see patients who are recommended to her from its membership.

Equality and Confidentiality

Keeping with the example of Al-Anon, meetings take place in the form of confidential support groups. Everyone at the meeting, regardless of title, social class, or any other consideration, is addressed by first name only, or a name they wish to be called. Unlike in Al-Anon, a "talking stick" is passed around the group for the right to speak and not be interrupted, and it is passed around in the order in which it was requested.   To preserve a safe space and confidentiality, and to avoid potential political or military ramifications, members are forbidden to discuss anything that happened at meetings with anyone who is not a member, even, perhaps especially, their closest loved ones. No one who has ever been a Night Monarch is ever approached with an invitation to join, even if they themselves have a close loved one who is, or was, a Night Monarch.   Locations of the meetings are arranged at the previous meeting, and communicated directly to any group members who were not present at the time. Locations vary so as to avoid closely prying eyes (and more importantly, overeager listening ears,) but often default to different locations within The Warren.   Often, a cover story is provided for the movement of some of the more high-profile Tome Knights in the group (diplomatic meeting, charity event, strategy meeting, etc.,) or, they use secret magical methods of transport known only to their personal security to get to the meeting site. Even the royalty among them see to it that security devices are disabled and that Bodyguards are not privy to the discussion.  

Oh, not to worry. Kit just can't help himself from trying to keep an eye on me, so I just sparked off a localized EMP on this room when I came in. Now I'm going to put up a force field as soon as the door is closed. That ought to buffer sound and generate enough white or pink noise to make eavesdropping impossible. I figure I might have to do that once more, and then at random intervals occasionally after that, and he'll figure out I'm serious and stop trying, whether he views it as part of his duty or not.

— Sable to her group

 

Focus on the Survivors

Much like Al-Anon, NMSA recognizes that the friends and families of the Night Monarchs are often traumatized and in need of emotional support and understanding. Their program takes the focus away from the Night Monarch and redirects it to the loved one. Members work on themselves and the ways that their relationship to the Night Monarch has changed their own thinking, as opposed to unsuccessful attempts at changing others. They believe that loved ones take on blame, hurt, and the guilt of the Night Monarch, which feeds the effects of trauma. The purpose is to have a community in which they can share experience, strength, and hope aiding in solving common problems, not fixing the Night Monarch.   The group focuses on problems common to family members and friends such as excessive care-taking and overprotectiveness, inability to differentiate between love versus pity and loyalty to abusers, and the deeply traumatizing effect of being required to engage in lethal combat against someone they love for the sake of their own survival, and the survival of others. They recognize that members may join with low self-esteem, largely a side effect of unrealistically overestimating their agency and control, due to their inability to control the former Night Monarch's behaviour, and subsequent self-blame.  

There are some problems no magic can solve.

— Queen Sable

NMSA has no assets. Every contribution is one of personal effort.

The Bunny Queen has been public about her PTSD diagnosis, which is, in part, a result of the Word Wars, and in part, childhood trauma. For several years she struggled privately with the psychological distress of her husband, close friend, and son all having been Night Monarchs. Recognizing that it was taking a brutal toll on her mental health, she tried reaching out a few times, only to have her attempts misunderstood or actively rebuffed.   In mid-2023, triggered by the death of her sibling in Operation GTFO, Sable Bright-Eyes finally broke under the weight of the trauma, and spent ten days in hospital, and several months in recovery. While the public was aware that the Bunny Queen was ill, the full nature of her illness was hushed up to avoid political fallout and loss of morale in the face of the next Word War.   Then AttorraRu, yet another close friend, began to show signs of becoming the next Night Monarch. When it was confirmed, AttorraRu's husband, Cheetya Ironfist, who was, and remains, one of Queen Sable's Owsla, spoke candidly with the Mother of Bunnies about his own personal struggles under the yoke of this burden. It was then that the queen realized she could help herself by helping others, and she conceived the idea of the group.   Initially, a quiet, off-record invitation to any and all Tome Knights who might want or need such a group was issued by some members of the Lapin royal family and Lt. Ironfist, usually by speaking directly to them, or by giving them permission to pass the word to anyone they couldn't speak to. The first meeting was held in a conference room at the Warren in early November of 2023.