Victoria may be the strongest nation on Terra, for now, but there is no guarantee that such prosperity will last forever.
Elegant Young Man
We are all familiar enough with the history of Victoria's four golden decades, nourished by the legacy of Gaul.
Elegant Young Man
Times have changed, however. When Victoria's productivity advantages eroded, and her ambition to expand went unsated, the cracks of internal strife began to emerge beneath the surface.
Elegant Young Man
The last king attempted to mediate between the factories and the merchants, but failed to propose a new path out of the dilemma.
Elegant Young Man
His end was inevitable. The same was demonstrated by the coup in Leithanien not long after.
Elegant Young Man
Who emerged as the victor of the bloody struggle? No... it has been more than a decade since they hanged the Lord of Lions, but the repercussions of the coup linger to this day.
Elegant Young Man
The Wheat of Brighton... the River Mersey Incident... have the dukes been able to set aside their conflicts for even a moment this past decade?
Elegant Young Man
Everyone believes they will emerge the better for the struggle. Not one believes they're digging Victoria's grave together.
Elegant Young Man
If we do not see change soon, an intensifying civil war will be what defines Victoria in this new era.
...
Powerful Old Woman
I heard that a most eloquent young man stole the show today.
Powerful Old Woman
One would be forgiven for mistaking you for today's headliner.
Elegant Young Man
I meant no offence, Your Grace, Duke of Caster.
Elegant Young Man
I had hoped to make the acquaintance of more people of wisdom at your manor, but I confess I find myself disappointed.
Duke of Caster
Do you consider yourself worthy of a position as a duke's advisor, or even the Speaker of Parliament, then?
Elegant Young Man
Anyone can point out the ills that plague this nation. Curing it, however, calls for the proper means... a stroke of luck, even.
Elegant Young Man
It seems that I am hardly the one who should be worrying about these things, though. What do you think?
Duke of Caster
Heh...
Duke of Caster
I remember your mother... you have inherited none of her humility or courtesy, but all of her boldness and irreverence.
And She stood upon the highest peak, pointed to the lake in the distance, and spoke:
'Remember the path you walked, and let not yourself forget;
Fear the blizzard that has yet to come, and let not yourself be arrogant;
Clutch your bows and arrows, pickaxes and hoes tight, and let not yourself be careless;
Love your brothers and sisters; love your neighbors and friends, and love the rocks and hills, the grass and trees, as you would love your own siblings.
Heed these words, and no calamity shall befall you, and your home and hearth will be safe forever more.'
The dying man's chest barely moves as he lies on the bed. He seems to hear the sound and cocks his ear with great effort before opening his mouth meekly.
Great Elder
Enya... is that you?
Enya
Great Elder...
Enya
How are you feeling? Would you like some water?
Great Elder
No...
Great Elder
Listen to me, Enya...
Enya
What is your wish?
Great Elder
This day... has been too long in coming...
Great Elder
Do you think that? This day has been too long in coming...
Enya
Of course not...
Enya
You taught me many things.
Great Elder
You have done well...
Great Elder
But I was a poor teacher... a poor elder...
Great Elder
I was not even... a pious child of Kjeragandr.
Enya
Great Elder?
Great Elder
I haven't heard Kjeragandr's voice... for many years...
Great Elder
I prayed day and night... recited the scriptures over and over... but She never answered my call.
Great Elder
I was lost... I was afraid...
Great Elder
But I had to keep going...
Great Elder
I thought... if Kjeragandr's will was to protect Her people... it was not against Her will to act in such a way...
Great Elder
I wanted to strengthen the Vine-Bead Court's authority... I wanted the hearts of Kjerag to be united and firm...
Great Elder
But I erred... in many ways...
Enya
'One can lie to a man, but no one can deceive Kjeragandr.'
Enya
She sees all that we do.
Enya
She knows all our errors, and our repentance.
Great Elder
I know... I believed...
Great Elder
But a long time passed... and I thought that I had not been punished by Kjeragandr...
Great Elder
And so... I stopped believing.
Great Elder
Until last night... Kjeragandr came to me in a dream.
Great Elder
She did not reproach me... She simply walked in front of me, leading me to the lake whose surface was like a mirror...
Great Elder
And She said, 'All the rivers shall converge upon this place...'
Great Elder
And then I knew, my time was up...
Great Elder
I want to repent... I must repent... but it's too late for me...
I'm sorry, Matriarch... but I just can't help myself at a time like this...
Yucatan
There's nothing I can do for her but pray.
Ratatos
Always so uneasy, you and Sciurus.
Ratatos
She is my younger sister, and the future Browntail Matriarch. A little thing like this should be no trouble at all.
Ratatos
That idiot's in excellent health. You remember how she sneaked out to climb Mount Jungfrau when she was eight, and ended up breaking her leg when she fell?
Ratatos
They thought she'd never walk again. In two months, she was running and jumping around like nothing ever happened.
Ratatos
No one gave it a second thought... are we really sure there were no lingering effects?
Ratatos
No, no, of course there wouldn't be...
Ratatos
It was so long ago, and the doctors say she's healthy as a burdenbeast...
Ratatos
But can those Victorian doctors really be trusted? I'll have their heads if anything happens to my stupid sister...
Ratatos
Gopferdammi... it's been four hours! Why haven't they come out yet?
Browntail Guard
Matriarch, report from Captain Monch—
Ratatos
Shut up! Don't bother me, whatever it is!
Browntail Guard
Understood...
Yucatan
L-Let's take a deep breath, Matriarch...
Yucatan
Kjeragandr will protect Rus...
Yucatan
She's the gentlest woman I've ever met... who would Kjeragandr watch over, if not her?
Ratatos
*sigh*...
Ratatos
You're right... you're right...
Ratatos
Kjeragandr...
O Kjeragandr... hear my prayer...
I am hardly the most pious of Kjeragandr's people, but now I muster all my piety, in the hopes that Kjeragandr will grant this one favor.
If Clan Browntail must be punished for our past transgressions, then let all that punishment fall upon me.
Dear travelers, please note that train KT392 departing from Lake Silberneherze bound for Brig Pass will be delayed by one hour due to inclement weather.
Kjerag Rail sincerely apologizes for the inconvenience.
Please speak to a staff member at the information desk if you require assistance...
...
Impatient Tourist
Are Victorian trains ever NOT late? Looks like they've rubbed off on Kjerag Rail.
Leisurely Tourist
It's just a little wait. Frankly, I'd rather stay here for a while longer than deal with those investors back home.
Leisurely Tourist
At least they have good cystymilk here for free... *burp*.
Leisurely Tourist
But inclement weather, they say? Doesn't look like it's snowing...
Agitated Woman
...
Impatient Tourist
What's the hurry? The trains aren't running.
Agitated Woman
Sorry... excuse me...
Impatient Tourist
Wait a minute...
Impatient Tourist
I've seen this trick before! You're a pickpocket, aren't you?
Impatient Tourist
Stop right there! Let me make sure you didn't steal anything...
Agitated Woman
—!
The woman breaks free of the hand grabbing her shoulder and runs in the direction of the crowd, vanishing into a sea of people.
Impatient Tourist
Huh! Hey! Somebody, help! Thief!
Staff
Did you lose something, ma'am?
Impatient Tourist
My purse, jewelry, terminal... huh? Everything seems to be here?
Impatient Tourist
But that one...
Leisurely Tourist
Probably some unfortunate sod trying to get on without a ticket.
Leisurely Tourist
I told you, this is pious Kjerag, not postwar Londinium. No one's after your purse.
Leisurely Tourist
By Kjeragandr...
Leisurely Tourist
Does trying to ride without a ticket get you hunted down by warriors, in Kjerag?
Perfectly fine. Your sister's taking care of them.
Yucatan
Rest now, and don't worry about a thing.
Sciurus
*sigh*...
Sciurus
Yucatan... there were a few times there I thought I was going to see Kjeragandr...
Sciurus
Every little bad thing that I ever did came flashing back before my eyes... even that time when I climbed that tree to steal fowlbeast eggs when I was eight...
Sciurus
What would Kjeragandr punish me for...?
Yucatan
She already punished you, remember? That time you spent two months in bed.
Yucatan
Don't worry about it, Rus... we've made it through so much. Now we've got another reason to keep going.
Yucatan
We have to see Oak and Berry grow up.
Yucatan
Kjeragandr won't separate us...
Sciurus
Yucatan... is it snowing outside?
Sciurus
It's a little cold...
Yucatan
I'll add some firewood and get you another blanket.
Yucatan
Sleep well, Rus.
Yucatan
The winter will pass... and we can go see the flowers by the lake when spring comes. All of us, together.
Sciurus closes her eyes and falls asleep quietly.
It should be a moment of happiness...
But Yucatan feels a rock in his heart.
He looks outside. The clouds are thick and heavy, but the snow refuses to fall. This kind of weather is rarely seen in Kjerag.
Maybe we're in for a cold winter this year, Yucatan thinks.
We need not question Her existence. She is there when we choose to follow Her.
Enya
...Do you remember this from the scriptures?
Great Elder
No... this is not how it should be...
Great Elder
If She is omnipresent and cannot be sought, then who hears Her will, and who—*cough* *cough*!!
Enya
You should rest, Great Elder. Don't let yourself suffer.
Great Elder
I see it, Enya...
Great Elder
I see unprecedented calamity descending upon Mount Karlan...
Great Elder
I see Originium bringing ruin to the land...
Great Elder
I see... I see Her abandoning Kjerag!
Enya
...!
Caught up in a bout of excitement, the old man stares outside the window, his face warped and twisted, seemingly seething in anger, or engulfed by a terror that defies description.
He raises his withered arms, trying to grasp something, only for them to fall back down meekly.
Finally, he quiets down, as though he has expended the last sliver of strength he had...
You have no hope of escape. The people of Kjerag know the wind and snow better than any outsider. Your Arts are not effective here.
Monch
We don't want to damage our relationship with Rhine Lab. Otherwise, I would keep you here by any means necessary to retrieve the military secrets that you stole.
Carolin
...
Carolin
...I'm not carrying your military secrets.
Monch
I have no reason to believe you.
Carolin
You don't understand.
Monch
Don't understand what?
Carolin
You don't understand what these data mean...
Carolin
How long do you think your 'god' will protect you?
A loud crack moved the mountains that had remained dormant for many years. Snow poured down the slopes, mixed with rocks and black crystals, and all creation was obscured by gray and white.
The mountains trembled, the echoes lingered in the valley.
Few could comprehend what had just happened—
It was the first Catastrophe in history to strike this place.
