Anima, Ch.30: Tangled Webs

[Anima, Ch.30: Tangled Webs]
----------------------------
--01-- [Scene: Tir Chonaill] <BGM: The Dance of Leaves>
Price angrily slammed the binder containing the letters shut, and rose to his feet in a fury.
Something written in there had clearly set him off.



--02-- <BGM: The Dance of Leaves>
(Price)
They set me up! I don't believe this...
That letter... It was a forgery...
They just wanted me out of the way...!


--03-- <BGM: The Dance of Leaves>
"Price? What's the matter?"
He clecnched his fists, barely containing his rage.



--04-- <BGM: The Dance of Leaves>
(Price)
...See for yourself.




--05-- <BGM: The Dance of Leaves>
He handed me the binder. I read the last few letters.
Esras plotted with someone named Colbha to bring about the tragedy of Emain Macha,
and arranged for Redire to be conveniently out of the way...


--06-- <BGM: The Dance of Leaves>
And if Price was so enraged to learn about this, then does that mean...?
"Wait a minute... You're not just some wandering novelties merchant, are you? Are...*you* Redire?"



--07-- <BGM: Today I Wander>
(Price)
Well... I used to be...
After the tragedy at Emain Macha, I was a wanted man, and I had to take on a new identity...
I did say I knew him well, and who knows you better than yourself?



--08-- <BGM: Today I Wander>
"Sometimes I'm not so sure about that..." I sighed.
"But this collection of letters doesn't make sense. Why would Esras have the letters she's sent,
and their replies, all in one place?"


--09-- <BGM: Today I Wander>
(Price)
Hmm, that's... You're right...! This contains both the letters received AND letters sent...
Just before the Fomors attacked, the letters stopped.
I could never find this Colbha person, either...


--10-- <BGM: Today I Wander>
"Maybe she had him killed, and then took all the letters he had to cover up their plot?"
I handed the binder back to Price...or maybe I should call him Redire now?
"What do you think?"


--11-- <BGM: Today I Wander>
(Price)
You may be right. If so, I guess we can't use Colbha as a witness then...
But why would she keep these incriminating letters?
If I were her, I'd have just destroyed them... I can't figure it out.


--12-- <BGM: Today I Wander>
"Blackmail material, maybe?
Maybe there are other co-conspirators alive...and more evidence we don't have that ties them in?
I don't feel that she would leave loose ends hanging like that..."


--13-- <BGM: Today I Wander>
(Price)
So we know what she's done. Let's not dwell on the reasons why.
There's one more piece of the puzzle...
I left it with Priestess Kristell in Dunbarton a while ago.
I hope she's done with it by now.

--14-- [Scene: Dunbarton]
After a short jaunt through the Moongate and up the west alley of Dunbarton, we arrived at the church.
When Kristell saw us coming, she went into the church, and came back out with an old book.



--15-- <BGM: The Bell That Never Tolls>
(Price)
Did you finish the translation on it?




--16-- <BGM: The Bell That Never Tolls>
(Kristell)
Yes, I finished last night. It's mainly about Tabhartas, the gatekeeper of ancient wisdom.
If someone is after this...then I fear something terrible is about to happen...
Please be careful...


--17-- <BGM: The Bell That Never Tolls>
The book had a green cover, and didn't look to be very old.
Redire quickly scanned through it, his expression growing more grim with each word.
Finally, he slammed it shut, and handed it to me.


--18-- <BGM: The Bell That Never Tolls>
(Price)
Ancient wisdom...?
Esras is trying to obtain the ancient wisdom of the gods? To...become a god herself?
And the Fomors seem to be aware of it, too...
They mentioned her by name in that book!

--19-- <BGM: The Bell That Never Tolls>
(Price)
She's plotting something involving Tabhartas, the prototype for all Golems...
I wonder if there's anything going on with the Golems on Ceo Island...?



--20-- <BGM: The Bell That Never Tolls>
"Um, I was just there on Ceo Island a few hours ago...
They were...anything but inert. Most of them were just standing around the island...
Waiting for something, I guess? I didn't get too close."


--21-- <BGM: The Bell That Never Tolls>
(Price)
Really? Those Golems were intended to be left to sleep there forever...
Hmmm... This may not be enough evidence to pinpoint Esras's plans, but that helps me understand them...



--22-- <BGM: The Bell That Never Tolls>
(Price)
If Esras is trying to become a god, then Tabhartas stands in her way...
So she plans on taking control of it to remove it as an obstacle...and is using Golems at Ceo Island to develop a method...



--23-- <BGM: The Bell That Never Tolls>
"Well, what do we do about this then?"

She's using my friends as a tool to aspire to godhood? Who knows what she'll do then?
There's no way to free them other than dealing with Esras directly...

--24-- <BGM: The Bell That Never Tolls>
(Price)
Do you know James from the Church of Emain Macha? He's actually an investigator sent by the Royal Court.
He's been inquiring into Esras's activities too, but for different reasons...



--25-- <BGM: The Bell That Never Tolls>
If we bring this information to him, he might be able to sway the Paladins to take action against Esras.
Otherwise...it's up to just the two of us.
Let's go.


--26-- [Scene: Emain Macha]
We wasted no time going to Emain Macha, and found James standing right outside
the great cathedral in his usual place.
He regarded us with some suspicion as we approached.


--27-- (James) <BGM: Reflected Scenery on Water>
Price. It's been a while. So, still investigating allegations of Esras's tyranny?
Have you learned anything new?
Oh, who's your friend here?


--28-- (Price) <BGM: Reflected Scenery on Water>
Esras has to be stopped.
She's using Marionette Potion to control Lord Rian and the Paladins,
and she's using Paladin trainees to gather gold to resurrect the Golem Tabhartas.


--29-- <BGM: Lymilark (James ver.)>
"She's using the trainees as literal slaves!
She has them mining ten, twelve hours a day, every day, with no breaks for weeks!"
I handed James the green book.
"She's after what's described in this."

--30-- <BGM: Lymilark (James ver.)>
(James)
That would corroborate with my own findings...
On the surface, all seems well. Esras's service as regent has been impressive.
Emain Macha has prospered, and she even pays her own taxes properly...


--31-- <BGM: Scene 00>
(James)
However, one cannot easily deceive the Pontiff's Court.
Mysterious potions? Unauthorized mining? Her suspicious activities during the Tragedy?
And Lord Rian has not been himself...
It bodes ill.

--32-- <BGM: Scene 00>
(James)
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to convince the Paladins to act.
Craig accused the Church of sedition when I approached him with my own evidence!
They won't cooperate. Esras has them controlled.


--33-- <BGM: Scene 00>
(James)
My hands are tied. It would cause an uproar if the Church acted openly against Emain Macha's leadership.
The only option is to address Lord Rian directly. He has the authority to dismiss Esras...



--34-- <BGM: Scene 00>
"But he's under the control of Marionette Potion. Isn't there any way to counteract it?"

Would it even be enough to get the Lord free of Esras' influence? How many others are being manipulated?


--35-- <BGM: Scene 00>
(James)
There may be...
Regardless, we need to get Lord Rian out of Esras's control.
That means getting him out of the palace so a healer can see to him.
Esras has forbidden anyone else from tending to him...

--36--  <BGM: Hate>
(Price)
So... You want to sneak Lord Rian out of the palace and bring him here so you can cure him,
then convince him to dismiss Esras and divest her authority?
Pretty bold idea, James...


--37-- <BGM: Hate>
"Then it sounds like you need an unaccountable operative or two, to take matters into their own hands."
I took a deep breath.
"...I'm willing."

If that's what it takes to save my friends...
--38-- <BGM: Hate>
(James)
I know I'm asking a lot.
If anything goes wrong, the Church can do nothing to aid you.
Though if something were to befall Esras while you save the Lord...
Well, that would be a pity now, wouldn't it?

--39-- <BGM: Hate>
(Price)
That's a dark avenue of thought for a holy man...
We'll do it. We'll get Lord Rian to safety.
I have a score to settle with Esras, too...
If we run into her, I can't make any promises...

--40-- <BGM: Hate>
I might regret this later, but I see no other way to save my friends from servitude...
Even if it means I have to...kill Esras...

No, I'll definitely regret it later...but I will do what I must...

[chapter end]