At the Tarot Club gathering, Klein, the Fool, sighed inwardly. The Hermit has laid bare the source of the Gods' conflicts so thoroughly that it's hard to feel any reverence for them anymore.
Cattleya, the High Priestess, also marveled inwardly. I never expected the conflicts underlying so many high-level questions to be so simple. Even the struggles between Gods can basically be explained by the laws governing Beyonder Characteristics.
Alger, the Hanged Man, realized that although this was only the Hermit's conjecture, it sounded reasonable.
Odys, the Hermit, continued, "You could say it was the conflict among the Six Gods that kept the Underworld Emperor safe in the Southern Continent for a time.
"The Six Gods could hardly form an alliance to attack the Southern Continent.
"And just after the Night Emperor fell, the Underworld Emperor lacked the strength to invade the Northern Continent.
"So for a while after the Age of the Four Emperors ended, there was a period of relative peace.
"Peace, mind you, didn't necessarily mean calm. During that period, the churches attacked the Trunsoest Family and the Sanguine. The Blood Moon Queen fell as well, and the Sanguine went into hiding again.
"The Trunsoest Family must have been systematically purged. That would explain why news of them is so rare now."
Emlyn, the Moon, clenched his fists. "Mr. Hermit, could you tell me more about what happened? I can pay another 300 pounds."
Odys thought for a moment before answering, "I don't know the details. But for 300 pounds, I can give you another important piece of information."
Emlyn nodded at once. "All right!"
Odys said, "The Solomon Family, the Tudor Family, and the Trunsoest Family have all but vanished from public view under the Orthodox Churches' attacks. At least, I rarely hear news of them.