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> "A deck of cards that will decide your fate.
Will you be the next Joker... or the next Ace?
Let your wits prevail over your claims
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Or else your heart will be in the grave."
♠♣♥♦
> "What should we do then?"
Tanong ng isang misteryosong lalaki. Ang tinig niya'y banayad ngunit puno ng interes.
Ang kausap niya - isang lalaking may marangyang tindig, humigop ng tsaa at ngumiti.
> "With elegance, as always," sagot nito.
> "Let the cards decide their fate."
Kibit-balikat na sumang-ayon ang kausap, bago muling nagtanong:
> "But what if this person draws that card?"
The man only smiled.
> "Then... shuffle the cards."
At sabay silang tumawa.
Hindi dahil masaya sila.
Kundi dahil alam na nila-kung ano ang mangyayari.
♠♣♥♦
The Origin of Dolmere
Let me tell you a story about how this famous land came to be.
Once upon a time, Prometheus—the Titan of creation, known for his pottery—left his workshop unattended. He was preparing for a new project given by the almighty Zeus: a creation meant to restore balance between wisdom and fire.
In his absence, he entrusted his studio to his newly appointed apprentice: Dolus, the spirit of trickery, deception, and cunning.
Curious and ambitious, Dolus wandered through the studio, admiring the divine molds and unfinished blueprints of his master. Then, he saw the ongoing project. And in an act of arrogant imitation, he used his sly hands to shape and mold a perfect reflection of Prometheus's idea—claiming it as his own.
He was almost done, but he ran out of clay—leaving the feet of his creation unfinished. Just then, his master returned. Out of fear, Dolus quietly returned to his seat.
But to his surprise, Prometheus didn't get angry. Instead, he was amazed. He praised both creations and even wanted the gods to believe both were the result of his own divine skill. So, he placed them both into the kiln.
And when the truth prevailed, only one of the statues walked forward—with measured steps and a steady path. That was the original creation of Prometheus, the one who walked straight along the path we now call Medacium.
But this story isn't about Greek mythology. This is about how Dolmere was discovered.
It was Dolus who found it. After that fateful day, he realized he could create, too—even if it was through deceit. Maybe, just maybe, the counterfeit holds just as much power as the truth. After all, that's where he thrives.
Over the years, Dolmere thrived in its own way. The people lived based on their own twisted perspective of harmony. But eventually, Dolus grew bored. Slowly, he withdrew his blessings from the land.
And because of that, everyone began to crave his favor again. They grew desperate—fighting, rising above one another—until a hierarchy formed. At last, Dolus was entertained again.
So, he created the House of Cards—a system that allowed a chosen few to control the flow of all of Dolmere. A twisted blessing in the form of a deadly game.
But there's a catch.
Only one can truly hold his blessing.
Only the one crowned as the Ace.
And right now, Lethe is the current Ace of Dolmere.
His first project?
The founding of Cardinal University—the place where everything begins.