Sequestration

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Information is power,<ref name="WBR">To draw on Pale stuff, the guy that set up magic Ebay and an online library for practitioners has five different metaphorical guns held to his head at all times by international powers. Seeing 6/10 of the subreddit's posts be about this magical forum seems like it would impact a lot of perceptions of someone who then goes into the Pactverse or Otherverse. [Edited to add] It's a setting where information is literal power and suspected diabolism is a 'kill them now just to be safe' case, and OMO people are sharing their magic diagrams and joking about demons like it's a punchline. - Wildbow on Reddit.</ref> especially in the Otherverse where any half-truth can risk being declared a lie and risk loss of all power.<ref>An accomplished liar remembers his lies.  I cannot, of course, lie, but I do tell half truths, and a half truth could be said to be half a lie.  Just as I piece thirds of truths together into a whole, others might piece half-lies together if I am not careful.- Excerpt from Interlude 13</ref>

Examples

Exclusionary detailing is rife in this setting.

Rad Ray Sunshine can not take up a meaningful position given that he has been allowed to operate an information network.<ref name="WBR"/><ref>Some of the most powerful practitioners and families in the world were strict with Raymond as they were because information was power, and Raymond had made it a project to disseminate and share information.  Taking the power of practice from textbooks and paper to the digital space.  The moment he suggested a stance, or looked as though he might withhold that kind of power from certain groups while supporting others, the balance was shattered.  He could play kingmaker if he chose.

It didn’t matter that Raymond had little interest in such.  It mattered that he could. - Excerpt from Gone Ahead 7.x</ref> For many many people this is considered dangerous.

Practitioner families are know to have secret practices and more that can achieve things most practitioners can not.<ref>In some cases, through means not known to the greater population of Practitioners, Heroic families have bound and enlisted Keepers to help find items relevant to their heroes and families. - Pact Dice: Collectors</ref> These family secrets are closely guarded.<ref>“What can you tell me?”

“That’s a pretty big question,” Verona told him.  “A lot of practitioners would be protective of their family stuff and secrets, I think.”

“They are.” - Excerpt from Vanishing Points 8.1</ref><ref>““There’s a cool trick you can do where instead of using a certain material to turn something into something else, with the light blue flame telling you it’s working, you use practices to turn the flame blue and kick start the process,” Verona said.  “Except, bummer, the book doesn’t actually explain that.  It’s a secret held back by many families.”

“Like the binding of Night Hags,” Lucy said.  “It requires specific steps but I don’t think the book names them?”

“Nope,” Avery said, “Not unless I missed something.”

“The good knowledge is going to be family secrets.” - Excerpt from Cutting Class 6.2</ref><ref> Pale Implementum Text on 'Digital Implements'

The Digital Implement is any device normally in the Technomancer’s province, including blackberries, handheld televisions, and radios. Too unfamiliar to spirits to have a ‘diagram’, the digital implement foregoes the upsides and uses of an implement for a material means of connecting one’s Self to the digital reaches and better extend that self through those spaces. The item’s value can be expected to sit at middling to low values and then plummet when the item falls out of common use, dragging one’s Self with it. Technomancer families may have the means by which to extend this ‘shelf life’ and protect the Self when using such devices, but many choose conventional implements regardless. - Excerpt from implementum text</ref> It's part of a larger calculation keeping secrets in house makes the family more unique and arguably powerful it also can mean dangous opponents can adapt to them.<ref>“Some of that’s going to be family practices.  There’s a value in putting a text out there, making it part of a greater pattern, but there’s something to be said for having it in-house.  The releases, the shorter practices, that’s stuff we’d have to have family meetings over.  That’s harder to do.” - Excerpt from Summer Break 13.9</ref>

Lessons are a form of exchange and are expected to be paid for, a very profitable route for Patrons.

Keeping details about ones capabilities under wraps is a large advantage,<ref>A Literal Cat:
…We tell Mr. Belanger to put his forms up his bumpipe and we’ll attend and pick the classes when the time comes.
Why give him information on us?  For his convenience?

L♪Ell:
…
Ok.  Not the bumpipe part, but ok. - BHI Information Packet</ref><ref>You’re talented and sharp and you’re largely unknown, and being unknown is a sharp edge in this world. - Excerpt from Cutting Class 6.7</ref> and used in diverse permutations.

Fell was reticent to answer any questions that Blake asked him.

Sir Toadswallow is an extremely knowledgeable goblin that always tries to keep another trick up his sleeve.<ref>“Feels less like he’s been that knowledgeable about stuff all along and we’ve ignored it, and more like he’s been keeping a lot up his sleeve.”

“That’s unfair,” Snowdrop told Lucy.  “He doesn’t do that sort of thing.”

“Seeing more of this world like we are, I’m feeling like it’s a necessary thing for survival,” Lucy said.- Excerpt from Gone Ahead 7.7</ref> As a tutor for young practitioners he's in danger from parents if the child tells him something they consider precious.<ref>“Because, I think, each and every one of them had grown so weary of what lay out there.”

“Out there?”

“In our world.  Other and practitioner.  John spent most of his existence on the run, his Yalda in tow.  Goblins often get exterminated in their sleep, and they can sleep twenty hours a day.  It’s a big weakness.  They’re also bound, bartered, coerced.  Gashwad has been bound twice.  Bluntmunch ran from a Goblin Queen who wanted him for his muscle.  Toadswallow always runs the risk that he’ll be asked to tutor a child, only to have the parents try to kill him, in case he could leak any small family secrets a child could share.”

“Couldn’t they make a better contract with him?”

“They could.  But that’s not what it’s really about.  For some, it’s about having knowledge and denying it to others.” - Excerpt from Back Away 5.4</ref>

Nibble pointed out that answering questions could easily lead to destruction.<ref>“In this world, when an enemy knows you they can destroy you,” Nibble said.  “Questions are dangerous.” - Excerpt from Shaking Hands 9.2</ref>

The Garrick family have constant meetings over what to keep as family practice and what to release to the greater Finder community,<ref>“That’s expected.  Just make sure it’s legible, in order, and that it works.”

“Some of that’s going to be family practices.  There’s a value in putting a text out there, making it part of a greater pattern, but there’s something to be said for having it in-house.  The releases, the shorter practices, that’s stuff we’d have to have family meetings over.  That’s harder to do.” - Excerpt from Left in the Dust 16.8</ref> for example they discovered and named the path "Bound to the Party" and sold the information on how to access and navigate it to a select few.<ref>“A path?” Florin asked.

“Yeah.”

“They’ll send people to me.”

“It’s a pretty exclusive Path.  Found by colleagues of mine, sold only to me and two others.” - Excerpt from Left in the Dust 16.8</ref>

Henniger Family has many secrets such that its members find it hard to leave.<ref>“And my big thought, the thing that nags at me, is I know family secrets. I know bits of practices our family designed and refined, and it’s the family business,” McCauleigh said. “So I asked Anthem. Would they protect those family secrets and practices?”

Verona sat against the edge of her desk, facing McCauleigh.

“He’s not sure and I’m not sure,” McCauleigh said, quiet.

“So you’d be on the run?”

“Maybe. Probably. But…”

The bed creaked as McCauleigh shifted her position.

“But?”

“But… might go back,” McCauleigh said, eyes moving across the various pieces of art Verona had put on the wall, willfully avoiding Verona’s gaze. “Do the ritual.” - Excerpt from Crossed with Silver 19.1</ref>

Trivia

• Sequestration in the sense of hiding something away preferably to protect it.
  • It is used here in place of many other possible terms, such as information hygiene, if a better one presents itself it could change.

References

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