I suspect Scarlet is the personal nemesis. The actions of the Aetherblades and Inquest alliance sounds a bit too similar to the Molten Alliance’s development. Some figure in the background, not part of the group (as the name is definitely not asuran – sounds sylvari or human to me), gets two groups to join together.
My full thoughts on the matter, simply quoting myself from another thread:
If Scarlet is the personal nemesis, then there’s the Molten Alliance’s actions to be considered in Mai’s own actions. Scarlet would have made two powerful alliances in order to strike at the heart of norn, Iron Legion, and Lion’s Arch livelihoods. But more importantly, both groups have been advancing magitech to high degrees. Molten Alliance produced the Fused weapons, that jetpack, and so forth, as well as (most importantly IMO) the Azurite (gems that are highly magically conductive). The Aetherblades have the steampunk designs but with those incredibly deadly lasers, advanced golems (they used the “brand new” golem models from the personal story, and they seem to have gotten a good boost thanks to Frizz), and there were those dancing holograms among other things (leaping pads, for example).
It’s all seems to be boiling down to “what groups when put together can make a lot of improvements on pre-existing technology?” And then pitting them together with some sort of goal in mind. The Aetherblade/Inquest alliance goal? Likely for the Inquest to get a hold of the Captain’s Council like they do the Arcane Council – through Mai.
But what would Scarlet’s goals be? I presume she saw what the Pact accomplished, and is using underhanded means of getting some sort of technology to rival the Pact’s own. Combining Dredge and Flame Legion; Aetherblade and Inquest… who to be next, I wonder?
I like the idea of a single person setting up both molten alliance attacks on norns/charr and Aetherblade/Inquest attacks on Lions Arch, and it makes me wonder if the new pollution in Rata Sum (that came with the July 9th update) could also be related to this?
The Arcane Council has outlawed swimming in the waters beneath Rata Sum after reports of pollution by non-asuran races. Trespassers will be jailed!
At first I thought that was made to close an exploit/bug with a lore explanation, but why do they precise “by non-asuran races”? Asuran have proven to be very capable when it comes to pollution, with their numerous failed experiment. I think this may be the premices of an attack on Rata Sum, coordinated by the nemesis, who will take place in a future living story release. I am still reserved though since among the various ennemy factions the ones using industrial weapons and thus susceptible of emitting pollution (dredges and Inquest) have already been used in previous living story releases.