conspiracy
The shadows kept me hidden
from the light that calls my name
Joaquin sat in his dingy basement room. The room had a stale air to it, like it hadn’t felt fresh air in some time. Papers and photos were strewn across the floor, and multiple rock specimens cluttered the shelves. A single lamp lit the documents that he was pouring over.
He was going to prove this conspiracy once and for all.
The Council of Subeta was corrupt and were bent on destroying the ecosystem of Riverside for their own monetary gain.
He’d grown suspicious when Gregory Watson had been elected as the ambassador for Riverside. Why would a miner be elected to represent the area, and not someone who would promote the environment and tourism? And not just any miner, Watson oversaw one of the most invasive mining operations in Riverside’s history. But, as councilor, there was no one who could overpower him politically.
And then there was Dmitri Char. His prolific family from Darkside had bullied their way into his seat as councilor. Watson mostly employed Ji Meneb workers for his mines, and from Joaquin’s research they seemed inexplicably connected in so many different business ventures over the years. Likely, the Char family, which Joaquin suspected may have mafia-type dealings, had some financial backings into Watson’s often risky mining opportunities. He had also found evidence of Char financially supporting Watson’s campaign for ambassador.
It went deeper than that on the Council. How had Dominic Saggitarius and Rosemary Kelly maintained their wealth? Were they just as deeply invested in Watson’s mining ventures and profiting from it? Why was Connor Rainsong- born and raised in Centropolis- representing Shadowglen, as opposed to a true native of the area? How did Contessa Nukilik maintain her position despite never being lawfully elected?
And what connection was there to Steele Excavations? Joaquin had only been able to find tidbits on that. Why was Steele being sent all over the map with vague hints at what he would find? Was the Council setting him up- knowing he could never turn down an adventure- to find something? Maybe new mineral deposits, maybe something else- something that could make the Council powerful beyond belief. And what were they looking for in Riverside? Yes, the mineral deposits were worth the risky operations, but what if there was something more that they wanted?
Joaquin had gone over these questions in his head hundreds of times. He knew the answer lay somewhere in the scraps and photos he had managed to obtain. He would find it, and somehow he would bring the Council down.
overlay: frederick
profile: boogleloo
story: Trithie
song lyrics: crawling towards the sun//the hush sound