I still feel like one of, if not the main, moves by this asshole is to force us not into paranoia but into secretiveness. That is, not to inspire "Should we doubt our allies? Should we doubt ourselves? Should we kill ourselves (which is crazy)?" but instead to make us go "We can't tell anybody about this."
Because, like, although it could be the case that the next update or two will confirm "Actually there is no more liminal realm there anymore; it vanished in a puff after you drained it" and thus we no longer have to worry about it? It could be the case that we
do have to worry about the liminal realm and thus also "Is there a birdbrain watching it, or near it, or doing something to it, or capable of acting if somebody enters or expands the liminal realm or...?"
... I mean, probably not, because I think liminal realms die if they aren't fed magic, so... And there is no more magic fed into this place, so. But it's still something that can be checked or ought to be checked. And which would require the Grey Order or whatnot.
Not like we necessarily need to tell everything. But, just... gah. Don't want to overcorrect in the other direction either.
Mgh. The Grey Order -- all the Colleges, really -- have liminal realms. They must know how to keep them safe, no. They might know how to fumigate them or secure them. Or collapse them, if need be, maybe? I wonder if the Hedgewise, or Krupfer (Kupther?) might have any relevant knowledge too. Laurelorn likely does, but, well.
... Hopefully this is 'just' a "You were tempted and word-gamed by a Daemon" thing. i.e. We don't have to worry about the liminal realm, or the place we conducted this experiment in, or etc.
Which means that the Winds can't be born of the mere inertia of what already is. Reality is being imposed upon Chaos by something other than reality.
The fact that the interruption happens immediately after this thought is telling, I think. An implicit clue to Mathilde of what chaos wants (to break) and how they might be ultimately defeated.
Perhaps it might be that "no, the Aethyr isn't inherently 'the Realm of Chaos'; the Aethyr is instead 'the Realm formed by the Great Machines.' It's just that the 4 Chaos Gods are the 4 immortals that are squatting over the Polar Gates and thus having a level of influence over the stuff to some extent."
Why do you think you were able to pull back so many of the generations born in Chaos from the Desolation Hold? Because the sweetest of victories was not those bludgeoned into submission and dragged off in chains, but those that would forge the chains themselves.
This one I think is another lie. The panic and disarray on the demon side when we cut off the power and everything crashed back into reality strongly suggests that there was never any intention of letting any of the dwarves born there go. So this would be the demon flattering Mathilde about her value again, while putting a happy face on what was a pretty serious loss. Chaos god egos demanding a loss be spun into a "we meant to do that" story.
While I think it's a lie from a "I meant to do that!" perspective, I think it's a half-lie half-truth from a "We want willingly-damned souls because it's
more fun (and for no other reason, honest)!" perspective.
The real reason to favor focusing on people who
can resist you over people who
can't resist you is; prioritization. People who can resist you, can stop you or defeat you. They're the ones you
need to bribe. People who'll do your bidding forever, you don't need to focus on as much. However. Obviously, it is only loyal people who will be granted
real power and responsibility or authority. That's just sensible. Not-fully-committed people will be tempted and bribed and threatened and blackmailed tho'.
Also, by setting up a "We do it for the pleasure" theme, they can then further advance that by going "You can depend on the Four to
not want to be bored." Even going "You'll be able to keep the whole world! ... So long as you amuse us."
