#cause they all could’ve had what they wanted if the Pontifex didn’t decide to commit the equivalent of Candy genocide

[magical-misfit]

Rewatching ACOC and I am OBSESSED with Calroy Crueller. Not in like a tumblr sexy man way but like a “this guy genuinely had a good plan that could’ve worked if he and everyone around him wasn’t so obsessed with revenge and power”

Cause I fully believe Calroy intended for Jet to ascend the throne after he eventually killed Amethar so he could rule through her.

He’s never outright condescending or rude to her and even encourages her curiosity and questioning regarding the laws of Candia and the Concord. Liam and Ruby would follow wherever Jet led and so Calroy not only had the future Queen of Candia in his pocket, but the future Archmage AND the future Duke Jawbreaker.

By all intents and purposes, if the assassination attempt had worked, Cal would’ve gotten everything he wanted because he got Jet, Ruby, and Liam to trust him.

But then Amethar wouldn’t. fucking. die. And so his plan became more about fulfilling his own personal revenge against Amethar than gaining power.

But still the Catherine Ghee plot worked in his favor because if Amethar, his daughters, Caramelinda, and the heir to House Jawbreaker in the eyes of the Bulb all met a fatal accident due to the hands of Ceresia and there was no Emperor to handle the issue of succession, then the Pontifex (as the de facto ruler due to their accrued power and the people’s belief in the bulb) could appoint a new ruler of Candia, one that supports the Bulb and opposed the “heretic” daughter of King Amethar and the rebellious Duke Jawbreaker. One who supported the Concord.

And Calroy already has an in with the Pontifex. But where it all falls apart is that each person in the betrayer’s circle had their own agendas. Plumbeline wanted to be Empress, Ciabatta wanted to be Imperator, and the Pontifex wanted to wipe out the entire race of Candians.

God I’m just…I forgot how good this season was and how Brennan does such an immaculate job with setting up these characters to fall later. It was their own ambition that undid them and that shit is like crack to me.