That would seem to be what the Fidelis are referring to when they mention some group that approached them as friends (though the Custos was wary) and later betrayed them (this is after the Great Betrayal, so it's not a reference to that), after which Stone found them and gave them purpose.

Might not be, but it certainly reads that way.

Using a reliance on Latin is a very, very weak case. Lots of other people use it; heck, an entire nation is based on a recreation of Rome! Authors tend to use Latin because it sounds more noble or exotic or whatever. (Plus, the folks in the nomenclature division of WoB obviously flunked their Latin courses, 'cause some of that stuff makes me cringe.)

And, BTW, neither "Seraph" nor "Preta" are Latin. The former is Hebrew and the latter is Sanskrit.

Agree with Rooster on this. I think the novel kind of points out that the Fidelis were allied to the WoB for a time, but were betrayed and taken in by Stone.

But Blood Avatar indicates that Stone himself is in league with the WoB.

Anyway, I hadn't really thought it over before my first post on this thread, but it's still interesting to think about. And the Latin reference is more of a side note, but the timing is interesting.

you are wrong , the republic is alive and strong as ever and has in fact expanded. if you will direct your attention to pg 291, you will see the fortress republic border has engulfed the duchy of andurien and the same planet where they found thomas mariks remains

It doesn't actually say that in the novel, especially not on p291.

What the novel does say is that the flags flying over Kwamashu in 3156 are "different than those that had flown over Kwamashu two decades years [sic] earlier; different than any then known." (p282) And the epigraph for that chapter refers to Kwamashu being in the "Former Duchy of Andurien" but doesn't say who holds the world now. Might be the Republic, might not be. Considering where Kwamashu is, I tend to doubt the Republic has spread that far. Note too that after the Fortress came down, there was a "Great Liberation"; if the Republic now included worlds as far away as Kwamashu, that's no liberation, it's a conquest.

Maybe, maybe not. In-character speculation means little. There is no real evidence of any Blakist/Stone collaboration at all, just some minor characters on a backwater world trying to make sense of things greater than themselves.

Liberation and conquest mean the same things many times. I think it is entirely plausible that The Republic has expanded. It may be the same Republic that exists now but is still based (in some form) Deviln Stone's ideals.

Note that Stone still seems to be highly thought of 21 yrs later. So...i doubt he is in bed with the WOB.

Lol, I suppose Blaine Pardoe expected us to make all these assumptions, and we'll find out the truth one day. I wonder how much of our assertions will be proven right........

yes, but from the facts gathered , it IS fortress republic still

No, Fortress Republic is specifically said to have been "broken".

THEN WHY WOULD it say
fprmer duchy of andorian
fortress republic
i believe there was a internal war to ope up the borders

Because it used to be the Duchy of Andurien, now it's something else.

That doesn't mean it's now the Republic. Might be, might not be.

Maybe, though I don't think it sounds like it from the limited info we got in that chapter.

BUt it does say Fortress republic for the territory

No, it doesn't. It says:
Contaminated Zone A1 (Previously Breezewood)
Kwamashu
Former Duchy of Andurien
Fortress Republic (+21 years)

In keeping with the other chapters in the books, the line "Fortress Republic (+21 years)" is a reference to the time, not the place. It's 21 years after the fortress walls went up.

Then, a page later, it says: "after Fortress Republic had been broken".

A page after that: "a strapping young man untouched by the chaotic years of Fortress Republic" (implying those years are over)

Later on the same page: "Hunter Mannheim's children had played important roles after Fortress Republic"

And on the next page: "Fortress Republic was a necessary and dark time for our people." (Note the past tense.)

All it says for the territory where this chapter takes place is: "Former Duchy of Andurien".

I guess we'll have to wait for the next chapter to get more answers,Damn BPardoe for making such an good book and hangig us with suspicion