Theo had been entirely supportive of Nauda's demand for clear answers, but given the amount of cleanup, they didn't come immediately. He'd almost thought that they'd been forgotten when they were summoned back to House Blacksilver. Yet when they entered the lush central chambers, the one to greet them was the last Authority. Karchibol, he thought the old man's name was.

"Take a seat." Old as he was, he stood with his back straight and his arms tucked behind it. "This information will eventually become public knowledge, but for now, it isn't to leave this room."

After exchanging a glance with Nauda, Theo sank onto one of the low cushions. Fiyu folded her legs under her beside them, hands on her knees awaiting instruction. The old Authority looked as though he was about to break out a chalkboard to lecture them, but merely spoke with his arms behind his back.

"I know the three of you are outsiders to Fithe. Do you know our world outside of Norro Yorthin?"

"We've barely seen it except for a few trips," Nauda said. "I know this city is just one of many city-states known as the Ruling Cities."

"Norro Yorthin is one of the most powerful, controlling a large region of these plains, but yes, we are only one of many. I'll not lecture you on local politics, but you should know that all cities worth naming have at least one Stronghold-tier soulcrafter, while there is only one Dominion in all of the Ruling Cities. He sits in Dris Kolonb, which is a relatively small city that dedicates itself to matters that affect all cities."

He hadn't known anything about the specific continent, but it was a familiar story to Theo. "I'm guessing that the Ruling Cities are rivals except when it comes to outsiders... such as the Asplundat Movement?"

"Then you understand." Karchibol's lips thinned in displeasure, but he soon continued. "The Asplundat Movement is the second largest region on the Norron continent, controlling almost all the north. Their founder is a Dominion, and they have enough Strongholds and other soulcrafters to crush any individual city. Norro Yorthin doesn't border their territory, but we still faced them today."

"Is it because of the Chasm of Lamentations?" Fiyu asked.

"That's the secret we would prefer not get out. Usually, Chasm Invitations are divided among all the Ruling Cities. This year, the Asplundat Movement has been far more aggressive. They've stolen many Invitations from other cities, in some cases entirely removing them from the competition. It seems they intend to dominate the Chasm and use its sublime materials to further their conquest of the continent."

"This is not.. against the rules? They cannot be removed?"

Karchibol shook his head slowly, white hair rippling. "The Invitations aren't arbitrary limitations, they're required to enter the Chasm. Besides, the Ruling Cities make so much noise about anyone being able to earn their way in, it would look hypocritical to oppose them directly."

"So this year will be different than normal." Theo sat forward, considering the consequences. Odd past statements had all fallen into place, but he was unsure of all the ramifications. "Does that mean that the Ruling Cities will be working together? Lasaa Anklon's soulcrafters seemed eager to fight with us."

"Of course it cannot be that simple. We will still be squabbling with one another while the Asplundat Movement presents a unified face. Though today's conflict does have another upside: we've begun talks with Lasaa Anklon and they may be more amenable to cooperation."

"This Asplundat Movement uses common blueprints, and they saw our techniques... do we need to be worried that they'll be fully prepared for us next time?"

That earned an immediate snort from the Authority. "The Asplundat Movement's method of adaptation is to return with a larger army. Did you see their soulhomes? No imagination among them, just brutal force. Their souls are as dull as their architecture. If they had their way, they'd dominate the entire continent and force everyone to follow exactly the same blueprints."

Theo sat back, somewhat mollified. Since the default Asplundat blueprint didn't defend against his gravitational fields or singularity, he had much less to fear from the Movement than most. He shouldn't have been surprised they wouldn't adapt, since few could soulcraft countermeasures as quickly as Esaire had. They would also be a more predictable opponent, though their stronger soulcrafters no doubt branched out from the base blueprints.

Meanwhile, it seemed that Nauda had been thinking along entirely different lines. "Who else will be present at the Chasm?" she asked. "There are other forces on the continent, right? I heard something about a place called the Wavefront. Who all should we expect to be dealing with?"

"The Wavefront is a neutral power that protects the continent from the mud Fithans." Karchibol waved them aside. "Someone else can brief you on other cities that might oppose us, though many of our fiercest rivals will be right here in Norro Yorthin. But you're right, there will be others."

"From the Norron continent?"

"Well... no. There are credible rumors that a great empire of Tymetron will be sending representatives. Some say that the mud Fithans have stolen Invitations, though I'm skeptical of that. We've received word that the House of the Lost will be present, but they have often joined in the past."

"Then something's different this time." When Karchibol looked uncomfortable, Nauda pressed him further. "You've conducted this contest for decades and it's never been so intense. All sides sacrificed lives today. That doesn't make sense unless there's something more to it than a mere contest."

Karchibol was silent for a long time, then sighed. "I believed that it was better not to speak of this, but the other two overruled me, if you insisted. Yes, something is different. The last time we ventured into the Chasm, there were a number of... irregularities. It seems that the knowledge has spread much further than we'd hoped."

The three of them sat and waited, clearly expectant. Karchibol watched them for a time... and then actually sat down, abruptly looking far more human than he had before. When he spoke again, he'd lost his precise diction.

"Ten years ago, the soulcrafters venturing into the Chasm of Lamentations unlocked a great vault that had never before been opened. Though they didn't get far, they did retrieve an ancient armament of troubling power. It has been called the Scepter of Separation, though we do not know its true name or who created it. When pointed at a soulcrafter, it... uncreates the bonds within their soulhome, at least temporarily. This could be used for reshaping work, but..."

"It could be used to kill," Theo said as the last facts came together. "Anyone struck by it would be temporarily crippled. I'm guessing that every Dominion on Fithe wants to acquire it in order to defeat their rivals?"

"I'm afraid it's even worse than that." Karchibol cast him a weary smile. "The scepter was activated several times before being lost in the Chasm, and it appears... remarkably easy to use. Even an Archcrafter is fully capable of wielding it, potentially against someone of a higher tier. And, no matter their tier, it still produces the unbonding effect."

"That's unbelievable. It was used enough that you're completely sure of its effects?"

"It can't entirely ignore cantae intensity, of course. Ten years ago, a Ruler used it to kill an Authority, and the scepter was damaged in the process. But the reverse... an Authority was able to instantly disable Rulers with it, possibly endlessly. So yes, Dominions could use it to break the balance of power, but it could also leave them vulnerable to Strongholds. The Ruling Cities hoped that the Scepter of Separation could be quietly controlled, but now it has become a threat that no power can ignore. Worst of all, everyone will be seeking to claim everything else the vault contains."

For a time Karchibol just sat wearily, and Theo didn't blame him. There were multiple questions, but they all spent a while turning that thought over in their minds. Armaments that could level the playing field between tiers were extremely rare, so he understood why a contest for sublime materials had become a war by proxy.

"There are additional complications." Karchibol's control abruptly returned and he rose to his feet smoothly, again an untouchable Authority. "If House Blacksilver were to acquire the scepter, we would give it to the leadership of the Ruling Cities in return for immense resources and favor. Such a power is better kept as a deterrent against warmongers. But others may not make the same decision. It is widely believed that if House Crimson acquires the scepter, they will use it to rule Norro Yorthin."

"So you need us to get it first," Nauda said, but Karchibol immediately shook his head.

"You will do nothing of the sort. The battle for the scepter will be among Authorities, if not Strongholds. You will participate in the Chasm as normal, acquiring sublime materials. Just because there is a greater prize does not mean that we can overlook all the other profits to be had."

That was more or less what Theo had been anticipating. Though Nauda looked displeased, she couldn't deny that they were out of their league in such a fight. Theo fully intended to ask about the exact location this scepter had been lost, in case his knowledge of the Chasm could bring them there first, but he didn't like the sound of the conflict at all.

Because of the risk, of course, but also because this sounded very much like something Vistgil might have schemed to strike his enemies...