these are my assumptions-
1- i think Lilac is similar to Lily in the first game, she is literally a "homunculus" or "clone" (not an actual robotic Homunculi like Nola or Yolvan but an actual human clone made from the dna of the frost family / ancients) that was made with the purpose of being a blight purifying container?

2- Declan was always freaky, its just the moment he found clues to eternal life that he started openly showing his true malicious nature. Abelia was also "evil" i think? I mean she was planning on body-snatching Lilia but things happened and Nola killed Abelia during the tuning, and Joran ended up containing Abelia's soul inside himself (probably in his eye).

3- i have no clue why the two families were in conflict. maybe it was cause of how the Milius family basically made the jobs of the Frost family sorta obsolete so they had to adapt into becoming tuners or something like that? i can't really remember.

4- probably like what you assumed, my guess was also Joran. I think i recall Lilac saying how the one coming after them in the bio facility wasn't a homunculi so that ruled out Gilroy, the only other one who would chase Lllia down is Abelia, who was in Joran's body at that time (Declan was too busy being freaky in his estate to bother, so it was most likey Joran possessed by Abelia).

Based on my deep study of Lore, I also have a couple of thoughts about the first three questions.

Since the events of Ender Lilies, it has been established that the birth of Priestesses is far from a natural process, as we understand it in the real world. Notes scattered across both games mention cultivated body parts and limbs used in experiments involving the Blight and its effects, with a notable absence of any paternal lineage only references to clones derived from a maternal organism. This leads me to a single conclusion: Priestesses are born through a process akin to "budding".
Perhaps not in the exact biological sense, but something strikingly similar. This theory is further supported by the franchise’s heavy emphasis on flowers, often spotlighted in the narrative, and the fact that some Priestesses bear floral names. These elements strongly suggest a deep connection to plant-like origins. While the games provide no definitive information on who Lilac’s "true mother" might be, many speculate that she is a clone of Abelia.

Declan was not only obsessed with attaining eternal life but also craved the power he gained upon replacing Cain as the head of House Milius. Though his rule was meant to be temporary, as the heir, Motley, was growing to eventually lead House Milius, I believe Declan took drastic measures to ensure Motley wouldn’t interfere. Likely, he subjected the heir to brutal torment, transformed him into a Homunculus, and cast him out from the Upper Stratum into the depths of the Final Desposite Site. Declan maintained his leadership until the catastrophe caused by the Blight unfolded.

As for Abelia, she remains a deeply controversial figure. I think it was under her leadership that the Frost Mages reached their zenith, becoming the formidable force they are in the game. According to in-game documents, the Frost Sorcerer's were not the original inheritors of the power that granted resistance to the Blight. Their clan sought this magical source, which also allowed for the control and manipulation of Homunculi, eventually giving rise to the Attuners. While Abelia was humane toward her people—for instance, opposing the use of the "Light of Silence" her contradictory nature is evident in her involvement with the "Pillar of Purification". This ritual, by all accounts, appears to have been a deeply unethical, possibly cruel method to save the Land of Fumes. We can only speculate on the true nature of its horrors, but Joran witnessed the terror firsthand. Had the ritual not been interrupted, the outcome remains unknown. However, an Ancient’s note, speaking of vengeance on Abelia’s behalf for those who died fighting for occupied lands, leads me to believe that Abelia herself became a vessel for the Ancients entities now working through the Priestesses to bring about the downfall of this land.

There’s no precise timeline, but the reasons for the conflict are numerous and layered.

First, Nola, as a Reaper of House Milius, killed Abelia, the leader of House Frost—an act alone sufficient to spark a war. Whether Abelia was a benevolent or malevolent figure is irrelevant in this context. Survivor accounts and records reveal varied perspectives on how vital Abelia was to the Frost Mages. They know little more than the player does, as the full truth gradually unfolds. When a significant leader is slain by a Homunculus belonging to a rival clan, it’s enough to ignite widespread hatred. This resentment is palpable in the words of Shackled Beast and Wolf Veol, who, upon encountering Nola, speak of her with venom, reminding her of the blood on her hands. Like the Frost Mages, they too are unaware of the broader truth—a ignorance that fueled the war’s escalation. Joran stands as an exception, privy to far more of the truth than most.

Second, House Milius’ inhumane treatment of their own creations played a significant role. The abandoned, tortured, and broken Homunculi of the Lower Stratum were already a potential catalyst for conflict. After the Blight’s influence took hold, life in the Lower Stratum became a living hell, nearly impossible to survive. This likely prompted the decision to abandon the Old City and its residents, leaving them to their fate and the risk of death. In this dire situation, House Frost extended a hand to both the residents and the discarded Homunculi, who had been deemed useless by their former masters. For the Homunculi, this act of kindness became a reason to turn against their creators, forming hostile factions to oppose House Milius. I believe House Milius bears significant responsibility for the Rain of Death and the Blight Miasma, which further contributed to the rift between the two Houses of Mages.

Smaller factors also played a role. For instance, Abelia disapproved of House Milius’ invention, the "Light of Silence," which likely strained relations further. Other events only added fuel to the fire: House Milius’ intrusion into Tethered Steeple—a refuge for abandoned Homunculi—and their actions in Azure Forest, where they turned the forest into a "testing ground" (a territorial battle between the two Houses). The genocide of innocent civilians orchestrated by Gilroy, among other atrocities, only worsened the situation.

Originally posted by Fla1myC:

Based on my deep study of Lore, I also have a couple of thoughts about the first three questions.

1. On the Origins of Priestesses and Their Connection to Plants

Since the events of Ender Lilies, it has been established that the birth of Priestesses is far from a natural process, as we understand it in the real world. Notes scattered across both games mention cultivated body parts and limbs used in experiments involving the Blight and its effects, with a notable absence of any paternal lineage only references to clones derived from a maternal organism. This leads me to a single conclusion: Priestesses are born through a process akin to "budding".
Perhaps not in the exact biological sense, but something strikingly similar. This theory is further supported by the franchise’s heavy emphasis on flowers, often spotlighted in the narrative, and the fact that some Priestesses bear floral names. These elements strongly suggest a deep connection to plant-like origins. While the games provide no definitive information on who Lilac’s "true mother" might be, many speculate that she is a clone of Abelia.

2. On Declan’s Ambitions, Abelia’s Legacy, and the Frost Mages

Declan was not only obsessed with attaining eternal life but also craved the power he gained upon replacing Cain as the head of House Milius. Though his rule was meant to be temporary, as the heir, Motley, was growing to eventually lead House Milius, I believe Declan took drastic measures to ensure Motley wouldn’t interfere. Likely, he subjected the heir to brutal torment, transformed him into a Homunculus, and cast him out from the Upper Stratum into the depths of the Final Desposite Site. Declan maintained his leadership until the catastrophe caused by the Blight unfolded.

As for Abelia, she remains a deeply controversial figure. I think it was under her leadership that the Frost Mages reached their zenith, becoming the formidable force they are in the game. According to in-game documents, the Frost Sorcerer's were not the original inheritors of the power that granted resistance to the Blight. Their clan sought this magical source, which also allowed for the control and manipulation of Homunculi, eventually giving rise to the Attuners. While Abelia was humane toward her people—for instance, opposing the use of the "Light of Silence" her contradictory nature is evident in her involvement with the "Pillar of Purification". This ritual, by all accounts, appears to have been a deeply unethical, possibly cruel method to save the Land of Fumes. We can only speculate on the true nature of its horrors, but Joran witnessed the terror firsthand. Had the ritual not been interrupted, the outcome remains unknown. However, an Ancient’s note, speaking of vengeance on Abelia’s behalf for those who died fighting for occupied lands, leads me to believe that Abelia herself became a vessel for the Ancients entities now working through the Priestesses to bring about the downfall of this land.

3. On the Causes of the War Between House Milius and House Frost

There’s no precise timeline, but the reasons for the conflict are numerous and layered.

First, Nola, as a Reaper of House Milius, killed Abelia, the leader of House Frost—an act alone sufficient to spark a war. Whether Abelia was a benevolent or malevolent figure is irrelevant in this context. Survivor accounts and records reveal varied perspectives on how vital Abelia was to the Frost Mages. They know little more than the player does, as the full truth gradually unfolds. When a significant leader is slain by a Homunculus belonging to a rival clan, it’s enough to ignite widespread hatred. This resentment is palpable in the words of Shackled Beast and Wolf Veol, who, upon encountering Nola, speak of her with venom, reminding her of the blood on her hands. Like the Frost Mages, they too are unaware of the broader truth—a ignorance that fueled the war’s escalation. Joran stands as an exception, privy to far more of the truth than most.

Second, House Milius’ inhumane treatment of their own creations played a significant role. The abandoned, tortured, and broken Homunculi of the Lower Stratum were already a potential catalyst for conflict. After the Blight’s influence took hold, life in the Lower Stratum became a living hell, nearly impossible to survive. This likely prompted the decision to abandon the Old City and its residents, leaving them to their fate and the risk of death. In this dire situation, House Frost extended a hand to both the residents and the discarded Homunculi, who had been deemed useless by their former masters. For the Homunculi, this act of kindness became a reason to turn against their creators, forming hostile factions to oppose House Milius. I believe House Milius bears significant responsibility for the Rain of Death and the Blight Miasma, which further contributed to the rift between the two Houses of Mages.

Smaller factors also played a role. For instance, Abelia disapproved of House Milius’ invention, the "Light of Silence," which likely strained relations further. Other events only added fuel to the fire: House Milius’ intrusion into Tethered Steeple—a refuge for abandoned Homunculi—and their actions in Azure Forest, where they turned the forest into a "testing ground" (a territorial battle between the two Houses). The genocide of innocent civilians orchestrated by Gilroy, among other atrocities, only worsened the situation.

Thanks,

As for the "budding" I can agree that it is plausible explanation to the artificial priestesses, in the notes we can found that ancients and then the house Millius/Frost can create life by magic. Also "Purifier" contains priestess soul (probably the baby like Lilac) and I doubt that those babies was naturally born. But it was also empathized that the priestess power is in the blood. Maybe originally priestess can be born in the lineage of the ancients, but the copies could be created only artificially.

You points on the war reasons are really solid, I didn't think about all that happened in this way. Thought, I think Abelia was not happy about "Silencing Light" (which was created using Frosts knowledge, if I remember right) since it leaver Frosts Mages without the work of blight purifiers and forced them to become Attuners, so Belforks's idea regarding rivalry due to decreasing of House's influence might be part of the scheme.