Idea for a fantasy novel
The Emperor's Proclaimers are blessed with a spell that makes their proclamations immediately effective. Everyone always does what they are told. A young Proclaimer in a distant province is influenced by a friend to start introducing fun little extra elements into his Proclamations. Gradually, though, these little jokes start to warp their community, having long term effects that they could not have foreseen. By the time the government hears of this and sends troops to bring things back under control, they have accidentally created a happy little community outside of the Empire. Now the Proclaimer must decide whether he is going to use his powers to rally the people in defence of their new identity or do the right thing and let them decide for themselves.