The Myth of Alexandros Mistborn

The True Rise of the False Prophet

From the secret archives of House Thermopolis~Written in the 267th year of Air Travel

For family eyes only

I write this account knowing full well the danger it represents. Should these words be discovered outside our family vaults, our lives would be forfeit. Yet the truth must be preserved, even if we cannot speak it aloud.

The fifth Etherwave Civil War seemed, at first, merely another tedious struggle between minor noble houses over water rights and collection territories. Few paid attention to the young officer who began winning small but crucial victories in the northern territories. Few saw his potential for anything more than a military commander.

Alexandros, then still using his minor family name of Krotus, showed a particular talent for using our pressure systems in combat situations. But it was not his small successes that truly shaped our nation's fate. It was the attention of my cousin, Atavat Thermopolis, heir to one of Etherwave's most powerful families.

Atavat saw what others did not - the potential for radical change in our society. The chance to stop fightong each other and instead join together against a bigger for.

He approached Alexandros with a vision: unite the squabbling noble houses under a single banner, using the eternal threat of the mists as justification. No one had spoken of a potential Emperor but the idea was there.

The plan was brilliant in its simplicity. Who could argue against unity in the face of our ancient enemy?

Atavat provided the funds, the connections, and most crucially, the grand strategy. Alexandros provided the charisma, the military acumen, and most importantly, a compelling story.

The tale of his survival in the mists as an infant - a clever manipulation of old records and paid witnesses - captured the public imagination.

The success of their partnership exceeded even Atavat's ambitious expectations. Alexandros's influence grew rapidly, his followers becoming almost fanatical in their devotion. Victory followed victory, each one carefully planned and resourced by Thermopolis gold.

Then came the day that haunts our family still. Atavat, proud of their success and secure in his position as the true architect of this revolution, attended what he thought was a strategic meeting. His body was found three days later in the lower reservoirs. The official story claimed accident. We knew better.

What followed was both fascinating and horrifying to watch. Alexandros, now free of his secret patron, began consolidating power with remarkable efficiency. He presented himself as a man of the people while systematically outmaneuvering the noble houses. By the time he marched on the capital, resistance was futile.

His "mercy" in allowing the noble houses to retain their positions was perhaps his craftiest move. It gave us just enough to lose to keep us in line, while his popular support made any overt opposition impossible.

Now Alexandros rules twenty-nine peaks, his power seemingly unassailable. His "Great Expansion" doctrine, first conceived in conversations with Atavat, has become holy writ to his followers. They truly believe he will lead humanity to reclaim the surface.

House Thermopolis maintains its position and privilege, carefully navigating the new order. Our attempts to expose the truth or remove the usurper have met with failure. His power base is too solid, his support too fanatical.

To my descendants who may read this: Be cautious. Be patient. The truth of Alexandros's rise remains our most dangerous possession. He has grown far beyond the weapon we thought to create and control. His power now eclipses that of all the noble houses combined.

Remember, but do not act rashly. The time to reveal these truths may come, but it is not now. The people love their "common" leader who rose from nothing. They celebrate every peak he conquers, truly believing in his mission to unite humanity against the mists. We who know the truth must wait, watch, and remember. That is our burden, and our duty to history.

Addendum: Recent attempts on his life have failed. Extra precautions recommended. His personal guard appears to have infiltrated our network. Exercise extreme caution in all communications.