The Cabal of Eleven

"You claim you are heroes and your actions will prevent tyranny. But this court finds you to be traitors to your race. In truth you are more than that, you are traitors to all the Terra"

Judge Markus Pulchrum

The spread of powerful weapons in the Sky Sea has been a topic of controversy since the first, the lightning projector, was created. Many still wonder why this ship disabling artifact spread so rapidly. While the Confederacy of High Nova Clans has tried to erase the conspiracy from their history, their tale is still a widely circulated contemporary myth.

Summary

The Confederacy of High Nova Clans commissioned Eusebius Mirabilis, Quinta Ferrarius, and others to create defenses to protect the Archipelago from a Naga attack. This attack, the artificers were told, was imminent. The Confederacy wanted a weapon to disable ships attacking Deepwell and other port cities. After working tirelessly for over a year, the artificers were able to present the Confederacy with a cannon-like device that projected a ball of lightning 750 yards away. 
 Then they were asked to create a reliable formula that a journeyman artificer could follow to reproduce the magical device. Again the artificers worked with deliberate haste delivering the formula the following year. Toward the completion of the project Eusebius and Quinta became concerned with the confederacy's fixation on size and portability. Both had contacts in their clans and Deepwell's city government. It didn't take long to find out that these weapons weren't being used as port defenses and never had there been any plan to do so. Instead, they were being placed aboard Novan ships. Some were military vehicles but many were merchant and whaling vessels. The two artificers and nine other magic users protested to the Confederacy leaders. Unfortunately, since they had already delivered the formula, the protest was ignored.
For some time, the magic users were undecided about what they should do. Then, their contacts told them that Naga ships were being fired upon: sometimes, without provocation. Worse yet, a few reports told of friendly ships in competition with the High Nova Clan merchants being fired upon. The group felt they had to act. Since they couldn't un-invent the lightning projector, they needed to even the playing field. Quinta and two other artificers went to the Ventus Clans and then the Sidhe. They taught them how to create the new weapons. Even though it was dangerous, Eusebius and the rest of the group went to the Naga. They too successfully taught them to create the new devices. 
It didn't take long for the Confederacy to discover they had been betrayed. Almost as soon as they arrived back in DeepWell, the conspiracy's members were arrested. They were given a trial but weren't allowed to explain their actions. Even so word spread of why the cabal had given such powerful technology to other governments. Perhaps if it hadn't the court might have quietly imprisoned the traitors on small island. Instead, to send a message to anyone who might agree with the faction's choices, they were executed. Many accounts give grisly details of horrific deaths though no two accounts seem to agree as to the exact method used.

Historical Basis

The tale is accurate as far as the broad strokes go. Since both the artificer's work and the trial were secret, the details are lost. For instance, it is well known that Eusebius and Quinta were members of the conspiracy but the exact number and names of the others are not. Even the execution details are absent. The only surviving record is a note in the daily digest of Sextus 461 that Eusebius Mirabilis, Quinta Ferrarius, and seven others were executed.

Spread

The Confederacy of High Nova Clans has tried to burry any knowledge of how people outside the Nova got ahold of the lightning projectors. However the Naga, Sidhe, and Ventus have not kept silent about the conspiracy. So a large portion of the world knows that Nova's artificers shared the secret of their construction.

Variations & Mutation

With the tale mostly being whispers in the dark, the details depend more on the culture telling the tale. The names Eusebius and Quintus are always used but others are sometimes added. The tales all make it clear the artificers involved int the plot were Novan and the original creators of the lightning projector. Beyond that, pretty much every other detail varries depending on the teller.

Cultural Reception

The tale as told amongst the Nova views the artificers' actions as misguided to downright traitorous. It is seen as a cautionary tale of substituting one's judgment over one's rulers. 
Outside of Nova-controlled areas, the artificers are seen as brave men and women trying to right a great wrong. It is a tragic tale of people trampled by a corrupt government. The Naga especially see Eusebius, Quintus, and the others as heroes deserving of great honor.  A few have even added this tale to their cannon for their Rememberance Day.

Date of Setting

458 - 461 A.A.