aionlogs | EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (GODSBLOOD)

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EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (GODSBLOOD)

Sovereign Citizens

GODSBLOOD

At the height of the Sovereign's moon, Vaeka Lovenskol's execution is announced. Outside of the City Hall, a dignitary of Achamoth is flanked by an entourage of Kenoma, reading the words of Regent from an unfurled letter: Vaeka stands accused to conspiring against the Regent and abetting the fugitive menace known as the Pleroma. Though the details are not made public, rumors spread quickly, some far more wild than the actual truth. The full truth, after all, is something only the Regent's agents and the Pleroma themselves know, and even to them the manner of her exposure is unclear.

Though losing a proud daughter of an influential family, there seems to be little that the people of Godsblood can do besides accept it. After all, they are still a city of the Regent's empire, and for all the freedom they've enjoyed, there are limits. If she was truly aiding the Pleroma, the sworn enemies of the Regent - and in an organized manner, if the rumors are to be believed - can they truly object? Or would challenging the Regent's claim simply invite more death?

As with many things, the families of Godsblood are torn. Tensions are thick for the five days leading up to Vaeka's appointed execution by hanging, with everyone having an opinion and few wanting to go on record talking about it too loudly. As such, the people's frustrations come out in other ways. Bloodites are uncharacteristically unfriendly to strangers in this time, keeping to their own and treating everyone else with overt skepticism.

Those that have arrived as part of the Regent's official envoy, or seen guarding Vaeka, will receive a particularly icy reception. No longer are the Kenoma curious wanderers on personal business. Now, they are here as the hands of the Regent; few of the Godsblood citizens are foolish enough to challenge them outright, but they are ever an honest people.

Early on, the Kenoma and the rest of the Achamite contingent sent with them will be able to take over a jail in downtown Godsblood to hold Vaeka until her execution, clearing out all other Bloodite prisoners and employees in the meantime. This means they have a relatively secure position to guard their prisoner from, which is a good thing; after all, the Regent did outright invite the Pleroma to stop them, and Pleroma are nothing if not stubborn.

EXECUTION DAY

After five agonizing days of waiting and several high visible conflicts between the Pleroma and Kenoma, finally the hour of Vaeka's execution arrives. A gallows is set outside of City Hall, ready to welcome its newest victim, and a massive crowd has gathered in an spirit of anxious anticipation. Some worry that violence may break out in the streets, even without the Pleroma's agitation, but gradually the minutes tick by and the gallows remain empty.

First one minutes passes. Then five. Then fifteen. Slowly, it becomes clear to the people of Godsblood that Vaeka will not be arriving. Are the rumors true? Has she been saved? Have the Pleroma been successful, despite all odds?

As the hours pass and the crowds disperse, Vaeka Lovenskol is not officially reported as either living or dead. Fortunately, Godsblood is a place where information has a way of getting around, whether those in charge like it or not. Some are saying that she was seen being whisked away as if by powerful magic, following a bloody fight at the jail in which she was being held. Where did she go? Maybe her supposed connections to the forest people did her good, some surmise.

The days following Vaeka's failed execution carry a strange and uncertain energy. Where before there was tension and distrust, Godsblood now finds itself in a surreal reality where the Regent's word is apparently not absolute. Then again, do they really want a repeat performance?

QUESTIONS

What is the best way for Aions to travel to Godsblood?
For Pleroma, this is very easy, as they are likely to either already live there or be able to easy take Greentruth's portal. For Kenoma, they may come directly from Achamoth by boat as part of the Regent's envoy or arrive via Eustace's portal which is set up in a shed a fairly long jaunt outside of town. Once there has been some time to get established, Misa will be setting up another portal leading straight to the prison where Vaeka is being stored.

Are the Kenoma permitted by the Regent to kill other Godsblood citizens?
Though the Kenoma are authorized to kill any Bloodites that try to physically fight them, they are expected to keep things clean. The Regent prefers to only punish the guilty, and having the lines be clear will create less of a hassle in the future. Generally, Godsblood is not in a state where physical resistance is likely to happen unprovoked.

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[They walk. She does occasionally glance around on their way to survey the city and the behavior of any Bloodites her line of sight catches, the tension in the air is palpable. Businesses are nevertheless running, some have closed out of fear but others are determined to keep going. There is defiance in carrying on as normal, they will not be cowed or have their everyday routine interrupted simply from the Regent having announced a show in the form of public execution.]

How do you feel about Rand, and what do you know of his life in Godsblood?

[Amos' suspicion is not addressed. She doesn't deny it either though, and maybe the questions she answers his with are telling in their own way.]

I have, [Meteion responds, though instead of lighting on Gray's arm, the bird shimmers golden a moment, allowing Meteion to land fairly close to Gray in girl form. She looks up at the other girl's face, questioning. She can tell that Gray seems all right, though, and relaxes at that.]

It's very tense there. A bit like when the Legacy was around, but the feeling is different, too. More frightened, I guess.

[Not that the bird had to guess, not when she could feel it herself.] I guess like it is here, too. Have you been holding up all right?

[Just like Dokja, just like Abel. They're willing to take anything upon themselves, any scorn, any curse, any accusation, any damnation, any abuse, any violence. Takes one to know one.

But what drives them forward is others. What makes them Pleroma is that they have people important to them they don't want to let down, cannot let down. Suppose that's why she stands in opposition to them. All 'Ciel' has left is the specters of her own sins. That's what gives them strength and makes them weak, laughably easy to manipulate when the right strings are pulled. Threaten to harm the people closest to them, and they fold instantly.

He understands the message. He understands his position. He understands he can't just charge in halfcocked, not for his own sake, but for the sake of those around him. He understands there's no reasoning with his enemies, not this monster who stands before him. And with that, this lesson is complete. She will not bring him anything else or attempt to start another conversation. He can go see for himself how Eleanor is faring once he finds a way out of this, but no sooner. This is simply something he is better off learning sooner rather than later, and it is now soundly imparted onto him.

Behave, save his strength. He already knows how things will go if he tries retaliating in front of her again. But her shift will not last forever, she wasn't watching him from the very start. Just like how she came, she will also eventually leave, he needs to learn patience and how to bide his time.

Let the rest of this night be spent learning about that, then. He's still got a long way to go, after all.]

Even if I wanted to, it'd be challenging without a plan.

[ He'd still like to avoid jail time again, if possible. That means he'll likely have to employ the knowledge and aid of the other Pleromas if Gray won't give him much more information than that. ]

They're probably going to go back to Achamoth, aren't they? Do you know what the Regent plans to do with them?

[ Thoma isn't naive enough to think that anyone that's taken alive is going get five-star treatment. He imagines only torture awaits them, so maybe risking a break-in and possible death right now isn't as much of a worse alternative as he initially suspected. ]

N-now he's talking about embraces?? Mr. Childe, do you honest to God simply let this stand...? I-- I didn't realize you were someone who permitted others to take such advantage over him...

[ Abel is pointedly resting his hand on Childe's shoulder in sympathy. empathy. compassion. this is truly a devastating blow, the priest is sure, to Childe and Zenos' relationship. ]

Miss Himeka is NOT the sort of woman who would willingly involve herself in breaking up a happy home, so-- please, please don't think ill of her, alright? But you know-- she and I are surely both of the same mind that you don't deserve this sort of treatment... Ch-Childe, do you want to come back with us? Do you need to talk, my friend? I-is this whole thing a cry for help? We're here for you, you aren't alone...!!

[ it seems he is rattling right over Zenos and Himeka in the background; you know, let them work out their... uh. issues, while Abel deals with one that OBVIOUSLY deserves his full attention?? ]

[ The thousands of obsidian feathers covering Howl's body shimmer briefly as he tilts into a turn, catching the hot sunlight burning above. He spies the machinations of her hands, and although they do not match any spell he's familiar with, he's learned that he is unlikely to recognize such things in Horos. There is magic in this world, but it's not his magic — the fraction of power that he still has cannot even be called his power, he suspects, but the power of an Aion.

With that in mind, Howl is relatively prepared for the chain of fire. He deftly swerves out of the way of the first volley, his wings tilting his body almost vertical as he maneuvers. The second comes quick; he feels its intense heat blow past his tail feathers in a near-miss. More fire is coming. Surely, she's either preparing another shield for when he strikes again, or has something entirely different up her sleeve. If only he had some idea of what she could do, he could try to formulate some sort of plan — if he can't take her out fast, this will be nothing but a waste of time, and he needs to get back —

A link in the chain of fire crashes into the underside of his right wing. It sets his feathers alight and singes the contorted, hastily conjured flesh underneath, sending a scorching burn straight to his mind. An animalistic, guttural wail escapes from Howl, from somewhere underneath the veil of black covering his face in the force of the air rushing past him.

In that instant, the strategic choice seems to be made for him: screw strategy and just fight. Go straight for the throat. He'd tried this exact same thing with Estinien and it had failed, but Howl is no tactician. Even in his efforts to stop the war in Ingary, he'd barreled straight ahead, tearing opposing wizards to shreds and crashing their warships without much care for whether he'd make it home uninjured, if at all. And it's all he can think to do as he channels more magic to his wing to regrow the lost lining plumage.

Opening his talons wide, he chooses an angle that would twirl past the additional fire already heading towards him and dives. He's aiming for her torso: primary talons into her chest and shoulders, hallux into her gut. ]

It's a good thing I don't need to be taught then.

[ She gets what he's saying— that so long as her conviction is steadfast, becoming stronger would only propel her further down this past. If she had to guess, it's the Kenoma's conviction that will have the most to do with their success or failure. That's how it'd seemed in the cavern, at least, and the way that the Regent has embraced those with strong wills rather than raw power. Misa gives a sigh, leaning back in her chair and going as far as to tip her head back over the chair's backing, letting her hair hang loosely back - as if she's stretching. ]

It's like I said. Nothing could change my mind.... I'm never giving up on the Kenoma.

[ Big words, perhaps, but she seems effortlessly confident of the fact, as if it's not a question to her. ]

I don't think that's true for everybody on our side, though. Not everyone has something they're fighting for like you and I.

[ Howl is silent. The remnants of Childe's words hang in the air as the words themselves sink into Howl's brain. Inside, a swarm of thoughts and emotions crash into each other. The wizard knows better than any other Aion what will happen to these 'traitors'. He worries for a handful of other Kenoma acquaintances, those whose well-being has feared for for a while now. But at the same time — good. It's good. Just as Xishen had said of Howl's imprisonment, it's better for them to be corrected now and get it over with. Better for it to be harsh and unforgiving, so that it won't be necessary again.

And had Childe really just admitted to Howl that he'd warned Barnaby to seek protection from the Pleroma...? That he had his own doubts about whether the Regent's side is the right side to be on? That this war isn't necessary...?

That, alone, speaks of treason as far as Howl is concerned. His loyalty to the Regent may have been implanted into his brain forcefully, but it is there now all the same. Perhaps Childe didn't know this, but if he did, he is incredibly foolish to admit to such actions in his presence. Now it's there, in his memories, for the Regent to happen upon.

The silence is broken by a growling, raspy chuckle. It emanates from somewhere in Howl's long, feather-covered throat, and seems to travel down into his hulking shoulders, making them shake with amusement. On a better day, when he wasn't in so much pain, so much fear, so much cynicism and hopelessness, he would never laugh at the idea of someone being caught by the government and tortured — not even Childe — but today is not that day. ]

[ At that, she pauses for a thoughtful moment, truly and honestly questioning over whether or not that's true. ]

To create peace, there has to be sacrifices sometimes, right? I believe that.

[ Nice as it would be to do things in a way where no one gets hurt, everyone agrees to become kinder, and the world organically chooses to start out on a path towards betterment, things can never be so simple. At least, it doesn't seem like it can, to Misa. What Himeka says about 'mass destruction' piques her curiosity far more, besides. ]

What do you mean, "seen," anyway? You've seen a conflict like this happen before?

[ There — that, there, the way Dextera lifts his shoulder and stumbles, wincing as the wood splinters against his body — is the right opening. The massive creature housing Howl's mind and soul leaps forward suddenly, talons open wide and wings bared behind him, its shape casting a dark shadow across his foe. He doesn't aim to gouge the other man with his claws, but to knock him to the ground and pin him there. Dextera had not been quick enough to dodge the box, and he had not responded to it with any sort of ranged attack, either — and while that hardly constitutes complete information on what he's capable of, Howl feels confident enough to make this sort of move. But Dextera's sword does not truly register in his mind. It looks odd, but it's nothing more than a sword from what Howl can tell.

He'll surely try to strike back at him with it somehow, even if he manages to pin him, but it's a risk Howl is willing to take. He does, at a minimum, have a considerable size advantage. If he's lucky, he can end this quickly with a single merciful blow and spare both Dextera and himself the anguish of what they're doing. ]

No... I'm afraid I don't know any of the specifics, it was just mentioned in passing. But if you reach out to Mr. Ryunosuke, he might be able to give you some more information.

[ Ryunosuke is a strange little fellow, but a good soul, Abel thinks. ]

I'm sure our friends over there are using all due caution, but it wouldn't hurt to see if there's anything we can do on our end to help, you know?

Oh, yeah?

[ "The only things that matter to him?" Things (or people) from his home planet, she must assume, though as their last conversation in Venera had touched upon, it's very unclear whether or not everything is still there, and Misa's higher attunement with the Kenoma leads her to believe it isn't. At the Regent's address, they'd also only tried to hammer home that they destroyed everything that had been there before. ]

The only thing that mattered to me was someone from my Earth. If you win, then I feel like I'm losing him. I believe this is my only way to get him back. If that's the kind of thing you're fighting for, trying to save someone or something from your world... I don't know if the Pleroma is the way to get it.

[ And that's her honest opinion, an opinion which she has shared with multiple Pleroma at this point. She really only says it on whim based on his lack of an indication that he's close with the Pleroma— maybe that's because he doesn't agree so much with their ideals, or isn't "alike" to them? Maybe they're similar somehow, and for a brief moment, they can understand each other. She doesn't know. But she does know she can't best him in a fight (probably?), since he believes that's the only option - so her only option is to say what has caused a reaction in that side in the past. ]

[ Since he continues to be genuinely curious, and not outwardly abrasive, she refrains from dipping back into seriousness, instead settling back into a more subtle version of her brighter, more upbeat persona. That is her natural self, after all - when she's not being weighed down by serious things such as "moral dilemmas," and "taking a hostage situation seriously." She looks up briefly in thought, taking another crisp bite of her apple. ]

Maybe... we're destined to be friends after all? [ Well... probably not. Her light tone implies she's not 100% serious with that one. Closer to 30%, since she can still manage to be (a little) sensitive about his current predicament. ] Or, to at least know these things about each other. I don't know about you, but I've never met anyone else who was supposed to die, and then didn't. It's kinda hard to explain to anybody without sounding crazy...

[ Misa seems frivolous and downright delusional to most - but she really does believe in such things as love at first sight, and that things can be destined to happen. She's convinced herself to believe that evading death the way she had must have been for some bigger purpose, too, and even though she hasn't explained to him the finer details of her situation, the certainty with which he'd spoken of his own demise tells her much more than she really had to be in order to believe they're the same. It's perhaps better, that it doesn't need to be laid out. ]

[ Not long, but well. Yes, that's certainly a sentiment she can understand. Bonds can form quickly--strong bonds that withstand the turmoils that are set upon it. She's feeling that kinship with some of her fellow Pleroma as well, so she can only imagine the events that brought both Rand and Moiraine together.

To his question, she nods. ]

Not long or well, unfortunately.

[ More time. She had wished they'd had more time. ]

But we were able to distract one another a bit when we were first captured. I'm to understand she's...a mage of sorts? And she told me a story about a dragon from her world.

[ Himeka cannot help but smile at that. This girl has it right and she won't pretend otherwise. Being honest with each other can be the road to finding common ground, can't it? Even with the disappointments along the way, she doesn't believe that most of the Kenoma are lost.

Far from it--their reasons for joining with the Regent need to be understood. That's the only way they can come together.

Or...die trying, she supposes. ]

If it's their choice to do so? Yes.

[ It's a part of war, unfortunate though it is. But the fact that this girl is able to say as much without flinching makes Himeka wonder how often she's seen this play out. ]

We're putting our lives on the line for something we think matters. That's what you're doing too, isn't it?

[ he opens his mouth as he nods, thinking to say something like, yes, aes sedai, and then

this close, it has to be obvious when he stops breathing for a second.

and then he chides himself. hadn't amos said something similar when rand first arrived in horos? moiraine had spoken some amount about her quest, about their world, and why shouldn't she? ]

What did she say?

[ The laugh he gives at that knife comment is sharp, and honestly completely devoid of humor. The way she said that makes it sound like he's better off not knowing just what ways Miss Ciel happens to be fond of knives. His one interaction with her hadn't been so bad...

But the way she had decided to treat Rand left a pretty sour taste in his mouth about her.

Then Caitlyn gets to the question about Misa, and Ernesto hesitates for a moment. Misa had made that claim when she'd seen him in Venera, and even after he attempts to stop him from taking Rand it wasn't that he hated her either. Her ready acceptance of the Kenoma doctrine did unnerve him though.

She didn't seem like an actively awful person though, and Ernesto realizes it probably makes him a bad one to suggest this to Caitlyn. ]

Not really. I don't dislike her, but she's a pretty strong backer of the Regent. I don't think she'd hesitate to do what she felt she had to.

[ What did she say? Well... ]

That it's not a real dragon at all!

[ Yes, that was really the biggest takeaway from that whole tale. She's a big fan of dragons, alright? They've made some very good friends and earnest students of her craft. (That being cooking, not healing, for the record.)

Himeka purses her lips as she moves the focus of her magicks once again to a new bruise. It will slowly discolor along the path of healing. ]

But it's a title or some-such given to the "Champion of Light". Does that ring a bell?

[ Himeka nods at that even though Misa can't see it. She does think it's important to mark the points where they have common ground. ]

There often is, yes. I just think that should be left to each person to decide. It's their sacrifice to make, isn't it?

[ As much as she would love to bring Ysayle, Haurchefant, and so many others back--their choices where their own. Their loss is tragic, but their actions speak volumes and helped create a better world through them. ]

I have.

[ Himeka exhales slowly, taking a moment. In truth she's often terrible at describing places and events, usually much too blunt and leaving out too much detail that she just rambles on. This is important so she needs to try and find the right words. ]

I've fought in several wars...found allies on either side. I've seen people rise up against the greatest of odds and plenty fall at the finish line. Not long before coming here, my star was facing it's own apocalypse, all born out of...out of fear, despair, believing that there wasn't anything in this world left. It turned people into monsters, Misa. Literal monsters that devoured their loved ones and neighbors alike.

[ She leans back against the side of the building, thinking back to those times. Not long ago, but they do seem far away now, don't they? ]

You may think that what came after all this awfulness would be better, right? But we chased down the power that set the end of days to our star and followed it to the very edges of the universe. And there...there...there were these half-words--remnants of civilizations that had sought perfection, or annihilation, or ultimate peace. They, too, wanted only the best for their worlds. And they only found their own demise in the end.

[ well.

he'd barely known what a dragon was before arriving in horos, so he supposes that's a takeaway that makes sense. it's still incredibly strange to him, associating the word with creatures instead of a channeler of mythical importance. (instead of, well, with him.)

champion of light is one he's heard before, actually, but not in a while. it's only a title, but it still feels like praise from moiraine, coming from beyond. she'd spoken of this, knowing she meant him. he wants to make that mean something, here in horos. to be worth something. ]

Yes.

[ he lets that settle a moment, before admitting, ]

It should. [ ring a bell, that is. given: ] She was talking about me, after all.

[ it's alright; how does the saying go...? Rome was not built in a day and all that. these things take time and change... acceptance... forgiveness is a process many men struggle with. God knows Abel is the last to preach about such matters considering the embarrassing span of his life and how little he has to show for it.

...he leaves the handle of the sword where it lies at Rand's side on the bed, slowly pulling himself back up to his feet. ]

I think... I've dumped quite a lot to mull over in your lap for one day, haven't I?

[ a slightly sheepish, apologetic smile steals over his face; the edges are lined by a genuine sorrow. he doesn't like to see Rand this way... truly. ]

Let me make you something to eat, alright? And then I'm going to chivy you for some sleep, and-- I don't want to hear any protests. This is non-negotiable, okay?

[ Himeka blinks. ]

...E-eh?

[ All this time...the person that Moiraine was speaking of with hesitation and reverence is here?

She remembers well how the woman had said with weight to her words that the Dragon would be destined to either save the world...or destroy it. Such a thing should not be taken lightly.

And yet, somehow, Himeka's whole being seems to brigthen. ]

Is it really? How lucky! I've been wanting to meet you.

[ time is another problem, isn't it?

maybe he has more of it than he'd been expecting. maybe being an aion means he has more of it than he would've at home. but channeling more in the past day, the past week, than he has in the past month means he

can feel it, sort of. something a little bit wrong inside of him that hadn't been there before. or maybe it's just in his head, given all the wrongness he feels right now. or maybe that's what he's afraid of trusting: his mind.

or maybe,

he's just spent. tired. which isn't to say he doesn't open his mouth to protest; because, of course, abel knows him well enough by now. ]

I haven't done anything but eat and sleep all day,

[ he grouses without any heat, and which is only sort of true. very early this morning he'd still been in ciel's hands, after all, and — this is much better care. ]

But, alright. [ and: ] Can you cook?

[ is there some real, vague concern? maybe. imagine if ernesto left for a few hours and rand accidentally let abel burn his apartment down. ]

Edited 2022-07-31 02:09 (UTC)

[ it's rand's turn to blink. ]

You've what?

[ himeka absolutely has to be the only person, in any universe, to have this reaction to the dragon reborn. to a boy born in a world where the dragon is equally feared and hated, this is

deeply strange! ]

[ Predictably, Misa lets out a short, choked out scream at the impact, nearly toppling over a second time - but she bears it, digging the fingers of the hand on her good arm into the wall, fraying splinters into the pads of her fingers from how she claws at it. Without pause, she half turns, trailing her eyes through the neat hole the bullet had made through the window's glass, out to the puzzle of buildings outside.

She says nothing more, too deep in the throes of pain, and now cold resent to come up with anything to say. And she leaves no mercy, either - as soon as she follows the trail to Caitlyn's location, she pins her gaze on that arm she can still see, petrifying it to cold, numbing stone, beginning with the tips of the fingers and moving down into the hand. She goes as far as she's able while Caitlyn is still in vision - as far as she hopes will prevent her from handling her weapon with as much precision and accuracy as clearly comes easily to her. If allowed, she'll go much farther than is even really necessary up her arm, purely out of spite - otherwise, she greedily takes whatever she's able.

Her words had fallen on an unwilling listener, after all— Misa doesn't believe, or perhaps can't accept what Caitlyn has to say, so at odds with her own ideology. Because the conflict is personal to her, all her motivations run on a matter so very personal to her, that any affront (allegedly neutral or otherwise) to that motivation can feel like a personal attack. The last thing Caitlyn will be able to feel from Misa's side of communion is a frustration, bone deep and years old, before she shoves her shard back in place to free her hand— solely so she can clutch at her new wound. ]

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EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (GODSBLOOD)

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ffxiv 6.0 spoilers

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