Everyone from middle management and above is here. We can start the camera at any time.
Gnosis
Begin recording.
Karlan Trade Employee
Yes, sir. What is today's announcement about?
Gnosis
I have gathered you all here today to announce a major change in personnel.
Gnosis
As of today, Enciodes Silverash will no longer serve as Chairman and CEO of Karlan Trade.
Gnosis
Enciodes admits all responsibility for the recent occupational incidents and has resigned. The Board of Directors has already ratified his request.
Gnosis
At the same time, the Board has decided that I, Gnosis Edelweiss, shall take over all of Enciodes's duties.
Gnosis
Now, allow me to make the first proclamation of Karlan Trade's new era as a representative of the Board, to all our colleagues, and to the people of Kjerag.
Gnosis
...
Gnosis
Karlan Trade shall be ceasing all collaboration with Victoria.
Gnosis
As for the many past agreements that Enciodes insisted on signing, they shall all be temporarily paused until the Board has decided on further courses of action.
Gnosis
At this extraordinary time, I ask all our colleagues to work hard at their posts, to keep the development of Kjerag at the forefront of their minds, and to sweep away the lingering problems of the past.
First time we've been here, had to find the place.
Flippant Kjerag Guard
This lot been much trouble?
Impatient Kjerag Guard
Most of them aren't talking much. Just mind the lead geezer.
Flippant Kjerag Guard
Which one's he?
Flippant Kjerag Guard
Isn't the Vine-Bead Court all geezers?
Everyone bursts out in laughter before heading off, leaving just the two guards to take their shift.
Cautious Kjerag Guard
...You should ease it up a bit. How could you disrespect the elders like that? You're from Kjerag too, right?
Flippant Kjerag Guard
Still sticking up for him? It was this bunch of Schiisdräck who got us into this mess—
Cautious Kjerag Guard
Shut it, you got a death wish?
The two guards look towards Elder Adso as he sits within his cell. He is focused on the thick tome in his hands, playing with a corner of the page as he thinks.
Cautious Kjerag Guard
All's good.
Flippant Kjerag Guard
What're you so afraid of? They've been talking big for centuries now, but it's not like the Court's managed to flip Kjerag upside-down, have they?
Cautious Kjerag Guard
They're the vicars of Kjeragandr. Even if you don't respect the elders, you should still respect Her.
Flippant Kjerag Guard
What's the Court done that a guy like me needs to respect them?
Flippant Kjerag Guard
When my mom was sick, the clerics picked some grass for her to eat. Made me pray to the grass, saying that it would bring Kjeragandr's protection.
Flippant Kjerag Guard
In the end, we brought her to one of Karlan Trade's doctors. He told me, if we had kept going with the clerics' 'treatment plan', she wouldn't have lasted another day.
Flippant Kjerag Guard
I'd say the real vicar is Sir Enciodes!
Adso
...'The scholar known as Jürgen was an ardent follower of Her, and did much good. Out of resentment, evil men accused him of stealing courtly coin, and he was to be put to death a few days hence.'
Adso
'Jürgen's limbs were bound tight, and at night, he heard the clattering of soldiers' swords. He knew his death was near, and in his heart, he was anguished.'
Cautious Kjerag Guard
This is...
Flippant Kjerag Guard
Guess I found which geezer to look out for.
The guard raises his baton as he approaches Adso's cell, striking the bars over and over. Adso does not stop his recitation as he looks at the guard calmly.
Flippant Kjerag Guard
Hey, greybeard, shut your mouth while you're in that cell.
Flippant Kjerag Guard
Think about how you're going to explain all your sins to Kjeragandr when you meet Her.
Adso
...
Adso
'Jürgen looked up but saw no light. In his futility, he knelt upon the straw lining his cell, in supplication to Her.'
Adso
'O Righteous Kjeragandr, have I not done good in Your name? Have I not sought truth in Your name?'
Adso
'Do good men die in Your kingdom while the unjust gain salvation?'
Adso
'Why do the lawmakers only hear absurd falsities? Why do the people I saved stand in unspeaking silence?'
Cautious Kjerag Guard
...
Flippant Kjerag Guard
Schiisdräck! Have you no shame, you traitor?!
Flippant Kjerag Guard
I'm going to teach you a lesson—
The guard puts his baton away before taking out his key to open the cell door, though it keeps missing the keyhole as his right hand trembles in rage.
Adso
...'O Kjeragandr! Though my body be trapped in gaol, my soul still seeks Your mercy.'
Adso
'Whilst my eyes can still see, and my ears can still hear, stretch out Your righteous hands to me!'
Flippant Kjerag Guard
I swear, today is going to be the last day you can even open a copy of the Kjeragandr!
Cautious Kjerag Guard
...
Cautious Kjerag Guard
Wh-What have I done...
Cautious Kjerag Guard
I hurt another guard...
Adso
You have done well, my child.
Adso
Our divine duty is not limited to the three clans, the Saintess, or the Vine-Bead Court.
Adso
All children of Kjerag must be ready to carry out Her will at any time.
Adso
Just like you did.
Cautious Kjerag Guard
I remember... 'Jürgen the Confessor'.
Cautious Kjerag Guard
When I was young, I was lost in the snowy mountains. Just as I was about to black out, a cleric saved me.
Cautious Kjerag Guard
When we were on his burdenbeast, he took off his coat and wrapped it tight around me, telling me the story of Jürgen, and how Kjeragandr will save all the innocents...
Adso
Where are the other clerics imprisoned, my child?
Cautious Kjerag Guard
Nearby.
Adso
Find an opportunity to free them. Let them escape, then save yourself.
Adso
Conflict brews atop the mountains. The Vine-Bead Court shall rebuild everything upon the ruins.
Adso
Allow me to tell you the end of the tale of Jürgen the Confessor.
Don't force my hand, Great Elder. We are armed, and we will not allow anyone to leave!
Adso
...I will walk by you.
Adso
If you insist on using bows and crossbows to run counter to Her will, then aim at your own hearts. Try it.
Kjerag Guard
You...
The guards who rushed over look at their comrades with raised eyebrows as they form two lines. Many of them have chosen to stow their weapons, opening up a narrow passage.
Adso lowers his head as he walks through the guards, leaving behind faint footprints in the snow.
'As the words left Jürgen's mouth, the entire gaol began to sway, as wind and snow entered through the cracks.'
'The walls around the imprisoned devotee were as rotten trees, shattering into dust as his body was enveloped in blinding light.'
'The soldiers were thrown to the ground, their weapons shattered, but they themselves were unharmed. They prostrated themselves at Jürgen's feet, weeping as they confessed their sins.'
'Jürgen the Confessor then walked the lands of the three clans, preaching this miracle the rest of his life.'
'And thus, Kjeragandr stretches out Her hand to those who call for Her, to enact Her justice.'
She has slowly lost all sensation in her joints as her shoes sink into the soft snow, step after step after step, yet her legs do not stop moving, even as she gulps lungfuls of frigid air.
We have been ordered to receive you, Madam Carolin.
Victorian Agent
Though there should be others with you here.
Carolin
...
Carolin
They got taken by the locals.
Victorian Agent
Then, are there any issues with the intelligence?
Carolin
You can tell Her Grace that the power hiding behind Kjerag has disappeared.
Carolin
I've observed and recorded the fall of some extraterrestrial object to the surface. The ensuing Catastrophe is further proof of my conclusion.
Carolin
Whether it's the energy field theory or the Feranmut hypothesis, it explains the changes that happened to Kjerag.
Carolin
Take this folder, all my research into several hypotheses about Kjerag is in it. You can—
Carolin
What the—?!
Victorian Agent
I am terribly sorry, Madam.
Victorian Agent
Did you really believe you could hide your personal communications with the Maylander Foundation from us?
Victorian Agent
Her Grace has asked us to bring back only the data.
Victorian Agent
I believe she is very interested in the fact that Kjerag has lost its protection.
Carolin
You—
Carolin
...
Carolin
Extraterrestrial objects, Feranmut legends...
Carolin
There are still so many marvelous things we don't know the truth about across this great land.
Carolin
But all you care about is deception, robbery and murder. Everything else is worthless to you.
Carolin
If I didn't need you to escape from Kjerag...
Carolin
I would never work with people like you!
Victorian Agent
I shall pass on your complaint to Her Grace, verbatim.
Victorian Agent
Goodbye, Madam. Thank you for your patriotic 'service'.
She sighs deeply, unsure of whom she is actually feeling sorry for.
Victorian Agent
A smoke grenade?
Victorian Agent
Enemy attack! Look for cover!
The night is enveloped in smoke and gunfire, leaving the snowfield in utter chaos.
At least, until a black off-roader courses out of the smoke. In its wake are the Victorian agents, futilely shooting at the vehicle as it drives into the distance.
Maylander Foundation Agent
Sorry to put you through that, Carolin.
Maylander Foundation Agent
Had to take our time so the Victorians wouldn't spot us.
Maylander Foundation Agent
Got all your stuff?
Carolin
...
She lowers her head, pulling out a marked file on the extraterrestrial object from the various documents before handing it to the agent sitting in the front seat.
Carolin
...So, when can I start my research?
Maylander Foundation Agent
No need to be so hasty, Miss. My boss wants to have a chat with you first. He's really interested in hearing what you're studying.
Maylander Foundation Agent
I think you'll be working with us for a long, long time.
Carolin nods her head, before she suddenly realizes something.
She never had the chance to actually hand over Victoria's 'Kjerag report'.
She rolls down the car window, heedless of the cold wind blowing in. She takes out the papers she so painstakingly wrote in Kjerag, one after the other, and throws them out the window with nary a moment's hesitation.
The paper is all the more white under the black night, like fresh snow falling upon the wilds.
They spin through the air, buoyed by cold wind and political maelstrom both.
