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[Powder Miner]

:"We've been going around and rounding up the Royal Treasures of Alvada, more or less - or, at least, what we were able to think was the Treasures. I, ah... I actually ended up joining up with this whole group when they rescued me from pirates, who had... sort of captured me, since I'd been rooting around the Demon's Grin following rumors from the archaeological community that there was something pre-Reckoning there."

Fer paused for a moment, grew increasingly agitated by something, and then sighed.
:"I've been spending the last eight years out looking mostly for the Armageddon Tome in particular, and I had really got myself actually quite an archaeologist career for a while but..."
:"Honestly, to tell the truth, half of the reason I chose to go so heavily into archaeology is that I needed to get away for a while after all of the fighting between you three."
:"Because I couldn't stand... it's that I..."

Fer really struggled with his words for a few moments before he managed to finally find them... mostly.
:"It still kills me- This entire time- I really wish I'd been able to say anything, back then. Say anything to anyone, make any sort of difference, even if it was small. Instead of just... despite everything you taught me and did for me, standing there, and watching as, just, they kicked you out. I'm so sorry for that."

[Solymr]

Xanti pondered his response.

: I see... He then placed his hand on Fer's shoulders. Do you think yourself a coward, for not speaking up then? For not making a difference? In that case I have to say, that you're being quite disrespectful to my little brother.

: You did make a difference back then, Fer. Were you not the only one of the family to not drive against me in blind anger, but rather try to figure out another way? I took notice of that. I wanted you to be open minded enough to consider other possibilities, and your silence proved to me that I had gone through to you, that you weren't going to fall to the same blind anger the rest of the family did. Maybe you weren't mature enough to think of a way to defend me, but I don't hold that against you at all, and you know why?

: Because now that you've matured, you were able to find a way to make even more of a difference. After all this time, you haven't given up, and that patience has borne fruit. Isn't patience the most important virtue you need as a scholar and archaeologist? I couldn't be prouder of you.

: Brother, I think I can tell you now why it was that I joined the Cult of the Old Gods, and why I had to break away from the rest of the Jasso family. Xanti took a deep breath.

: Ever since eight years ago, I've had a theory that the Old Gods existed, physically on this earth, and they communed with humanity's ancestors.
: Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth... You're welcome to practice that here all you want, seeing that you saved the House of Scholars and all, but it'll all go to shit if you don't get the other Treasures in time, ain't it? I'll be in my office if you want anything-

: Actually, there is something I've been meaning to ask for some time, Abbess. Carmen interrupted the Abbess' flight. Does the House get much contact with other scholarly institutions?

: Damn straight we do, girlie! Who do you think we- The Abbess was again interrupted.

: Specifically, Domirian institutions. Like ones in Demura.

: I don't know what you're getting at, but let's see... Melchior the Scribe is a good source of basic tomes, and some scholars here come from there, but we haven't had any contact with them after... Zaku's meeting with the museum's curator- The Abbess was once again interrupted by Carmen's outburst.

: I knew it! I knew there had to be some connection. Ever since landing here I've had a theory that the fake Narius is a Domirian agent, and that this is a plot by Domiria.

[Sirus]

: "A Domirian plot? Do you think it could it be in revenge for the battle in Demura? Though, that only happened a short time ago. Surely a plot of this magnitude would have been in the works for years."

[Solymr]

: That's what I mean, this has been Domiria's end goal for a long time. They poisoned Alvada's Crown Princess almost 40 years ago, the White Doe sinks in a freak storm with almost all the royal family aboard... and now the throne is usurped after King Titus' untimely death. Regardless of who ends up in the throne, the chaos in Alvada will benefit them. This is not revenge for our actions in Demura, they planned to force us into that fight to justify their future retaliation. They used the Royal Treasures and their history against Alvada. Wasn't the ship where Ethan obtained the Orb from Demura as well?

[SOLDIER First]

"A plot of this magnitude... It's simply unbelievable, and yet it all makes so much sense. How long has Domira waited in the shadows for their chance to strike, like the most patient assassin...?"

[Haspen]

"I never liked Domirians in particular." Ethan thought for a moment.

"Maybe I will remain a King just so I can sink their ships in revenge. Maybe."

[Chevaleresse]

"A poor motivation for a reign, but I can't say I disagree with the sentiment. I felt regret for our actions in Demura, but if that was all orchestrated by Domira. . . well, that price was small compared to what I intend to extract from them if given half the chance."

[Gaterhyme]

"Seems like their big plans ended up getting a lot of their own knights killed fighting us back then," Lavinia said, crossing her arms.

She didn't think too hard about fighting most of the time. But back then, Claude had said something about those guards just doing their jobs. Even she could think there was something pretty rotten about it turning out that all of them were used in some grand plot.

[Caellath]

"That is disgusting."

Indignant was a polite way to put just how Claude felt about having that sort of bloody incident provoked for someone's interest. He could understand it on an intellectual level, but he was frustrated by it still.

[Praefectus Screptum]

"I can see they really don't have morals or limits."
"It is truly baffling someone would go that far...then again, at this point it is all too obvious they don't care about the costs considering it isn't their own lives on the line."

[Powder Miner]

There was a long moment of silence from Fer as he took in his older brother's words.
:"Hearing this all from you, it's... it's a little hard to accept."
:"Ah, but I guess I'll have to, huh? Ha ha..."
:"I'd built up this image in my head of how things could go in the very worst case, but you've turned out to be just..."
:"Tremendously understanding. Maybe... maybe we're finally going to get all of the pieces put back together with our family, after all this time. That would be wonderful."

Of course, the rest of what Xanti had said certainly merited a response too!
:"As for your theory... well, I could certainly imagine it making some sense, for such a very specific religion with such a clear and rich corpus of text and archaeological artifacts to have some grounding in direct historicity."
:"Should we bring Amberly and Vortai in here too to discuss this?"

[Solymr]

: Well, would you expect a Jasso that was anything less than "tremendously understanding" to join the Cult? Even then, I would like to be able to bring some evidence to them, so they can be convinced for good.

: Yes, let's see if they have something to add. I already knew Vortai previously, but I haven't confided this to him, he seems to be on an entirely different quest.

[Powder Miner]

:"Alright - I'll go get them, and we'll discuss your theory in more detail, then."

And with that, Fer walked out towards the others, immediately addressing Vortai and Amberly (and not quite picking up on the mood in the room).
:"Vortai? Amberly? I was speaking to Xanti, he started to share with me a very important theory of his about the Old Gods that I think the two of you probably ought to hear about if he's sharing it with me."

[Sirus]

: "Oh yes, of course. The Captain is just testing an ancient ring that the Abbess gave him; it lets him shoot magic bolts when he swings his axe, it seems."

: "But um, that's not important right now. What is important is that we're pretty sure that those fanatics were Domirian and that they've been involved in some sort of conspiracy against the Alvadan crown for a number of years now. In fact, Carmen has raised the possibility that they may have forced the battle at the museum as part of their plot. I don't quite know if I believe that part but if it's true it means that we just caught up in their schemes and we probably never had a chance of getting out of there quietly or peacefully, which of course would be something of a weight lifted from our souls." The nun inhaled, out of breath from her rush to get the important information out of the way.

: "Sorry for rambling on. How is your brother doing? He wasn't hurt, was he?"

[Praefectus Screptum]

"Ah, Fer. I do hope you managed to get along with your brother."
"And what is this information you wish to share with us? If Xanti was studying something in specific, he didn't tell me about it before."