Nightstand Guard (AoC Universe)

Nighstand Guard is a magophobic vigilante organisation that operates chiefly around the Eastern Kingdoms (specifically Laudrin and Dinith, though the organisation is truly global and thus its activities are around New Vigrith as well. Their stated goal is the eradication of sorcerors and their practice (sorcery), as well as the non-proliferation of all form of magic.

Their most common form of activity is, contrary to popular belief, simple protesting. Actual violence, vandalism and arson is limited to rare occasions and usually develops in response to a specific event. Marching on town halls, petitioning the authorities and lobbying for magic schools to be shut down are other forms of protest. Despite this, the phrase has a toxic connotation even among those who dislike magic, and at least one kingdom has outlawed them entirely.

Origins
The order developed around -4,000 in response to the Arcanum Incident. Humans had been taught how to use arcane magic by the high elves in return for their help against the jungle trolls of the Sulebian Empire, and the use of this magic had now spread across all of Anthromor. To harvest this magic, the mages had a reactor built in the north of the capital city of the empire, Arathor, where the chemical element arcanum was to be processed. Arcanum is considered a rare element, and the basis of arcane magic on Middle-Earth.

In August of -4,000, the arcanum reactor, Scyther, suffered a meltdown. The cause was later established to be an overload; the mages were letting their greed dictate their judgement, overextracting from underground reserves where the element was thought to be. The meltdown was the most severe peacetime incident in Anthromor's history, let to the Rune Rebellion, and caused Anthromor to fracture into several different kingdoms, all with their own attitudes and approaches to the arcane.

But while the kingdom split, leaving bureaucracies to do as they willed, some members of the citizenry felt increasingly concerned for the safety of the world. They were partly led on by teachings on the ancient history of Middle-Earth, where they learned that the misuse of magic had led to the War of the Ancients and subsequent sundering.

Eventually, these concerned citizens set up the Citizens Against Magic organisation, dedicated to the lawful - and transparent - de-platforming of mages in positions of power, with the excuse that these "privileged spellcasters" were "damaging society". They also peacefully lobbied for anti-magic zones, or safe spaces, in city centres.

The organisation turned militant after their efforts to stifle magic were met with resistance.

Trivia

 * The activist tactics of the Citizens Against Magic are similar to those used by groups that advocate intersectionalism.
 * Their support of "safe spaces" is a reference to modern progressives.
 * The Nightstand Guard's tactics are more along the lines of the far-right KKK group.