Alvaro Molinero was a Merenae sailor who in 440 went to Rokugan in the expedition of Teodoro Cornejo. Molinero was a devout member of his nation's religion, and in 441 he was seen performing his religious rituals, which the Rokugani considered alien and possibly blasphemous. He was forced to submit to a test of jade, which Molinero passed. This event troubled the pious members of the Empire.