You make a good point; nice catch there! Though perhaps the “military spender vs welfare spender” province comparison could be an outcome we achieve by the time of Game 5’s epilogue, right? (after the post-Hegemony war is concluded, and the game world has had several decades/centuries to test the limits of its new world order).
I was imagining that the future conflict would most likely be between cousins; but yeah, rival siblings makes sense too.
#1: How would Cerlota feel about MC’s proposal/dream that the future post-Hegemony Theurges should be repurposed to become the XoR version of GoT’s Maesters? (serving as advisors to nobility/royalty while also advancing scientific progress throughout the realm), but are barred (by policy) from ever directly holding a Thaumatarch-level monopoly on political power)
(And on a separate (but possibly related note), Homelander Theurge Helot MC can already imagine himself becoming an eccentric Rasputin-inspired mystic of the Laconnier royal court (perhaps even to the extent of gaining the job of the royal court’s Archwisard?), while also having close relationships/implicit trust from both King Abelard and Queen Suzanne.)
#2: Alternatively, how would Cerlota feel about MC’s (other potential) proposal/dream that all post-Hegemony Theurges should be repurposed to become a nonpartisan border security force/monastic order that swears an oath to defend the entire realm? (with GoT’s Night’s Watch being my chosen analogy in mind)
In game worlds where she’s not executed/imprisoned, if Calea could somehow be meaningfully reformed/rehabilitated in MC’s imagined new world order, Calea (and other aristos with her similar skillset) could also come in handy for developing the future nation-state’s intelligence/espionage agency.
Plus, there’s also the potential Laconnier-Kryptast connection for our MCs to consider! (and potentially co-opt)
What could be so shocking/scary at Aveche that’s as equally urgent as helping Erezza fend off (or negotiate a ceasefire with) Halassur?