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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[ Abel will kindly pretend he doesn't sense that bundled churn of emotions as Rand gracefully accepts The Tuckening, letting the blankets be drawn around him like he were a small child instead of a grown boy. Rand is still a child, and sometimes... despite one's age, we all yearn for this. to be told it's going to be alright; to be reminded you aren't alone. to feel a kind, steady hand, secure and protective, ensuring that things are going to be okay. ]

Close your eyes.

[ soft; quiet. Abel has practice with this entire procession and it comes easy to him. ]

Everything'll be just a little bit easier next time you wake, so... just rest for now.

[ 'I'm with you.' ]

[ This is a bizarre sort of man who has the luxury of worrying about her when so much else is at stake — including his own safety. The look she gives him is openly communicative of that thought, bewilderment tenting her brow. For a moment, she isn't sure how to respond. ]

Um... Why are you asking me this?

[ They're supposed to be enemies and all. If she ends up not being okay, it'll be the fault of him and his allies, almost certainly. ]

[ Something... something doesn't feel right about that response, but Misa can't put her finger on exactly why, the more she looks up at Ciel herself. Her brow twitches with the effort of trying to decipher it, knowing that something just doesn't fit right. As calm and collected as Ciel acts, it's almost a little unnerving at times, how easily she's able to discard her own struggle, and how easily she erects this image of a reliable, dependable class president type, even in these dire situations.

Because yes, it feels like an image, at times. Perhaps it's Misa's own nature, and her own attunement towards being cognizant of such subtle changes in others (it's the only way to survive in her trade) that makes her question it, from time to time. Still, under the thrall of Ciel's ability, it remains only a blip on her radar, passing her by without the further applicable will to investigate. There's no need to be afraid. ]

Oh, yeah, I'll hang in there... but even if I died, it'd be okay.

[ Misa lays limply in Ciel's arms as they make their way inside, unable to look away from her, though her stare seems a bit more vacant than usual, her words more characteristically light, careless, than how weighed down they'd been outside. She's right, there is no need to be afraid. The slight hypnosis loosens her tongue, reminds her of all the reasons why she hadn't been afraid of dying in the first place. In her day to day life, yes, it's fun to make people worry over her or be at her beck and call. But the truth of the matter is when push comes to shove, her life isn't something she's scared of losing in this conflict - it'd really be fine if she died here. Actually, it wouldn't be scary at all: Ciel's there to take care of things, isn't she? She's in safe hands, no matter what. ]

Don't feel bad if I can't hang on... [ With her body limp, and her eyelids heavy, it makes death feel all the closer, even though she's just the same as she was a few moments ago. ] It wouldn't be your fault.

[ It isn't her fault that she's here like this in the first place - she hopes Ciel knows that. Perhaps she wants to offer her own piece of comfort to her friend. ]

[ He presents an interesting contradiction as someone who acknowledges that it's bad for people to feel nothing about killing, but who would happily take on other people's killing for them anyway. Between this and his previous sentiment that losers have an important function in validating winners, she has to say that he has more romantic notions that she first expected of him. Not naive, but perhaps bent, justifications that veer off the road of standard sense. ]

I wouldn't like to reach that point... but I don't want to run away from my responsibilities if I can help it.

[ A beat. ]

... Though I wonder if the rest of you can see it that way. I'm sure I must seem like a child.

[ Second only to... maybe Majorita? And that's a big maybe. ]

[ if only she knew just how far off the road he's actually veered.

he hopes she never has to see that.

he knows it's only a matter of time before they all see it.

he smiles playfully in response with an airy chuckle, and his tone is highly encouraging when he speaks. ]

It may be hard for me to see it, but that's only because I'm past the point of no return. I can't do such a thing myself, even if I wanted to, and neither can many of the others.

The truth is... our opinions on this particular choice of yours don't matter because of this very fact. It's not you being a child other than that you still can decide how and what you wish to live by.

The only thing I ask is that you don't let anyone sway you away from this ambition until you prove to and decide yourself that you can't do it.

I know it doesn't mean much coming from me since we aren't very close, but I'm cheering you on all the way, and will support you in whatever you ultimately find out about yourself, Gray.

[ Akua -- despite being in the body of a swan -- is still a brilliant woman, and she can see what Himeka is trying to do in the moments before it happened. The magic is there, and although she can't really cast in this form, her wings spread, and she starts to take off, her feet leave the ground in the same moment that Himka's magic spreads out before the guard.

He tried to trudge through, not really knowing where it's coming from, what it is, or even what would cause it, so he slipped just as the right time, his hands only shifting through feathers, in his uncontrolled fall.

Akua, of course, continued, flying up, and about. She did a circle above his head, before she flew off, aiming to circle back to their vantage point. ]

[ It burns, it hurts, Akua can feel her body, pinned beneath the tree -- how it squished, and collapsed -- she can feel her body fighting and struggling, but the tree is large, and she knew it would be. She should have -- she thought -- been less prideful, and stayed back.

She fights, even so. A growl of frustration, of pain, escaped from beneath the tree, but she's still here. She died twice before, what was another one? And she would not go out without a fight. She looked up at Howl's frame, golden eyes alight with fire, anger -- respect, perhaps -- and her mouth moved, one word -- burn.

It was an easy spell, but through the blinding, searing pain, she could manage that. It's a working -- a twist on the one the academy had -- fire that lit white hot, and seared its way to Howl, only to explode on contact. It's meant to burn and raze an army if necessary.

She wanted to take him down with her. She wanted to make him burn, hurt and wither, and her flames are hot -- nearly blue, when she cast them, almost an unending wave that hurled themselves toward Howl, lighting and exploding on contact, to try to make him seared from her own pain and fury. ]

[ Himeka isn't exactly convinced. Open-minded as she is, Misa can probably feel a little bit of the disconnect on her side of the communion as she's doing her best to try to see things from the younger woman's side. A successor, another singular individual with this sort of power sounds just as terrifying as one.

But Misa supported them. Maybe some good did come from their hands and their actions...but how long would that last? Misa may not be able to imagine someone becoming a monster, but Himeka has seen it. More than once, both literally and figuratively once they had the power. ]

The world you're describing does sound safe. But also a little scary at the same time.

[ he nods, pursing his lips. That's helpful, yes, but he's not sure it'll really get him the info he needs. ]

Like I said, I think I can get in there - but I gotta be able to get straight to the target. I can't move around much, and I can't take anyone else in or out with me, so there can't be any detours. But I can do it fast. I could unlock the door for someone else to get in, or something... as long as I can find that room.

[ it's hard to explain how his power works, so he speaks in generalities, hoping that his ideas still make general sense. ]

If you think you know anyone who might've been in that building before, like some crooks, maybe, or a cop...

[ ... then if they're lucky, they might be able to find out without actually going in themselves. ]

[ As sweet as his gesture is — and it isn't unappreciated — it brings on a swell of frustration that he feels it necessary to make a promise like this when he's the one at risk here, low on resources and wanted by the Regent. He needs to watch out for himself now more than ever... but here he's still worrying about her because she just seems that small, and weak, and helpless.

She says nothing more, doesn't manage a smile as he departs. She just returns to waiting at her post, trapped in her thoughts. ]

[ He probably wouldn't bother with posting his own think pieces, but she's not far off in thinking he wouldn't agree with her boyfriend's mass murdering ways. Sorry, Misa. He's just not down for that.

The response earns a laugh, but there's not much humor behind it. If it was a lighter conversation, then her response might be funny, but given the weight of what they're discussing here? Her comically dismissive attitude is somewhat disturbing to him. ]

You think that's my reason for picking it, huh?

[ Well, it is kind of what he implied with the joke, wasn't it? Maybe it's easier to let her believe that, because he's also getting the feeling that any moralistic argument he could make on this one would fall on deaf ears. ]

I don't have any regrets regardless, no.

[ She's calm under his hand, familiar enough with him now to not shy away. It doesn't quite comfort her, but she can feel that he's trying his best to. She's more struck by how solid his hand feels, gentle as it is.

There's logic in his reasoning. One life for many, it's only economical. It also strikes her as mage-like thinking, political, goal-oriented. She understands it even if she wouldn't be able to make that judgement for herself.

As he looks at her, her expression remains not-quite-satisfied, fixed as she works through the smaller protests that drift through her mind. ]

Do you think they're wrong for wanting to be free? ... Or for still wanting to live in this world?

Oh, it was like that. Sort of. There was someone in my world already in the middle of changing it... and the world was already changing for the better because of them. Crime and wars were becoming less common. Before it was destroyed.

[ Misa sing songs, still fussing with her shard in her hand without a care in the world. Unlike Akua, she doesn't speak of the world being destroyed with any notable sense of loss or regret— it really comes across as if it doesn't bother her that the world is no more. ]

I really supported them, so.... [ She peeks out a little further— Akua might be able to see her head by now. It's been long enough, and no conflict has arisen, so Misa thinks it's safe for her enemy to get a look at the woman she's talking to. ] All I have to do is see their dream through.

[ To make the world being destroyed worthwhile.... yes, helping the Regent and molding the world to the vision that could've been would be the best action she could take. She's honestly a bit surprised the other woman doesn't feel the same way, if she'd really been helping out with changing the world... shouldn't she feel some sense of duty? Some sense of wanting to finish what she'd started? That's what Misa feels, anyway, and thus she assumes everyone else should feel the same. ]

Yep, it was becoming a lot less common.

[ ...Sort of. Her smile grows a little wistful, widening even more as she takes another sip from her cup of now lukewarm tea. Thinking about the direction the world was headed before she came to Horos is such a motivator for her to stay close to the Kenoma; she's happy to talk about it, even hopes that talking about it may help others see how possible it is to change the world. If it'd been possible for herself and Light, two regular humans... who knows just how much good the Regent could do, changing the world from the foundations up? It's exciting. ]

There was someone in my world... who had the power to kill almost anyone, at any time. They started punishing all kinds of criminals, especially ones that went unpunished by the judicial system. People started noticing really quickly what was happening, you know? And I'm sure you can guess what happened to the crime rate.

[ Does she still have a choice? It's starting to feel like she doesn't with how the Regent is becoming.

If there were other kids in the Kenoma even younger and less prepared to fight than she, then she would see all sense in sheltering those kids from having to participate in violence for as long as possible. It's really only her distaste for people bothering themselves over her that keeps her stubborn. As soon as possible, she'd like to stop seeming like a child in need of protection. ]

Thank you. You're always so supportive...

[ Though she doesn't know why. ]

... They sound a little like a superhero.

[ Misa's description just seems to fit that mold... with a little added killing. But the cheesy superhero shows Gray would see on television were aimed at children, so it isn't a stretch to think that people in real life wouldn't be quite so nice about their vigilantism. And Misa seems very happy to talk about them, so they must be a decent person at heart...? ]

Agh!

[ although howl isn’t trying to hurt him, the force with which he springs back is enough to pierce through dextera’s flimsy clothes. he hadn’t gone into this expecting a true fight, and ‘armor’ has never been on his list of requirements—the neuro tower has never provided anything like that for him, either, only ever littered with the inventions of the research angels for a more magical slant of protection.

none of those things would have stopped howl’s talons, even if he had them. dextera drops his sword and cradles his stomach, already beading up with blood. experience suggests no internal organs were pierced, but that doesn’t stop it from hurting. it’s a pain he hasn’t yet endured here in horos—his eyes brim with tears as he squeezes them shut.

if howl wanted, he could kill dextera now without a problem. howl’s escape, however, gives dextera a moment to breathe. ]

…

[ dextera thinks he’s just about pushed her to her limits. he doesn’t know what this has accomplished, if anything, but he now knows something about the kenoma he didn’t before: there’s a mild-mannered young girl among their ranks, who despite her ominous entrance, doesn’t seem to be entirely willing to jump to violence. ]

…

[ he nods, and the moment she puts any force into trying to pick him up, he gently removes her hands and starts to walk away on his own. ]

[ Being anything other than straightforward when trying to take someone else's life would be fucked up. It isn't supposed to be a whole thing. You kill someone else for whatever reason, they're dead, and you move on. That's it. That's all it should be.

That's all he's trying to do.

He would take advantage of anyone in a prone position. He would expect anyone to take advantage of him in a prone position. If Yuuta wants to open himself up to being killed by a descending bear (because I am fully ready to commit), then that isn't for Amos to question. It's for him to use. Anyone else would — should — do the same, especially in a war. Neither of them should have time to try to merely incapacitate.

But the job isn't done; not until he gets ahold of Yuuta's shard. Thanks to their shared legacy, that fear hits him, spurs him on. He'd lived through his own before. It's easy to live through that of an enemy's. The whine just tells him he's getting closer, as Amos uses his mass to keep himself on top of Yuuta, keep giving him the upper hand, let him put an end to this—

That ethereal voice strikes him with something Yuuta will probably recognize as horror. For Amos, he doesn't know what it is, other than that something is going horribly wrong.

He is left suddenly at the mercy of. He doesn't know what. Amos thrashes, doing his best to pry himself free; he needs to get out of here he needs to get out of here he needs to get out of here and he can't, forced off of Yuuta, forced upright, forced in the air, and between the terror that's unrecognizable to him and all the blood loss he'd suffered the day before, Amos is left truly, completely helpless.

He brings his arms up to try to pry at the hands on him. His legs kick uselessly. He grits his teeth and bucks and snarls like a wild animal caught in a trap, knowing that their end is near but fully intent on fighting to their very last breath. And he remains completely at Rika's mercy all the while. ]

[ ... This is so fucked up.

Ciel is talking about hurting an innocent woman — someone with truly no stake in any of this, someone who deserves to go about her life as normal until they bring everything crashing down, but on everyone, not targeted individuals — all to get back at someone else. If they need to be getting at Rand, then they should be getting at Rand; Amos has done that a couple of times already. He thought that was doing the trick.

But Ciel would know better, wouldn't she.

And he really can't argue with a single thing she's said. It's fucked up, but the logic is intact. And it isn't something she's getting off on. She's doing it simply because it has to be done.

Amos hesitates for a long moment, well aware that Ciel is gauging his response. He just needs a little bit of time to think it through. Piece things together. Make sure every single thing she said makes sense.

And once he does that, ] Okay.

[ A cool, clinical acceptance in turn for her. Because he's familiar with the type as well. Martyrs care about others more than they do about themselves. That's true. So if this way means a better chance at properly converting Rand already, then it's okay.

He can tamp down the unease pretty easily, at least. He cants his gaze back in her direction. ]

You said nothing drastic?

[ ... Because maybe that part is still kinda important too. ]

[ Fine is good enough for him, and Amos lets his eyes drift shut again. Alright. He's got a plan of action for the near future. That's good.

They can just doze together now, apparently — or at least until Emet-Selch speaks up again, and Amos cracks his eyes open for it. Seeing that he's still in the same position, though — that he doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon — he lets them slip shut again, letting Emet-Selch's words fall on him. ]

Sorry. I'm tired I guess, mostly. Never lost that much blood before. [ He rolls his head slightly; somehow manages to get a little more comfortable. ] Pain's not so bad. Maybe like a four? Doesn't feel like I'm gonna split open again. All the blood's where it's supposed to be. So you did a good job.

[ Really, a fantastic one, all things considered. ]

Think it's just gonna be a matter of getting my blood replenished. I should be out of the woods. So. Thanks.

Oh, but it wasn't scary at all!

[ The hesitation she can feel from Himeka's side be damned, she actually seems enthusiastic about this part. Perhaps because she feels a bit of passion to speak highly of the world she came from, to keep it from being scrutinized. ]

The only people who needed to feel afraid were the ones who wanted to do evil... people with kind hearts didn't have anything to worry about. I never felt scared of them.

[ And she really believes that - that everyone would feel the same way. People who were kind would go on living as usual, and living under an all powerful judge, jury, and executioner wouldn't be so frightening at all. ]

All that is probably why I'm not so scared of the Regent, either...?

Pfft. Me neither.

[ Contrary to his humorless laugh, Misa's snort actually sounds mirthful here, lighthearted in the face of all this seriousness. It's condescending, almost, as if she's dismissing his viewpoint entirely. Sure, he might not have regrets. But she can't help thinking he's walking himself right off a cliff while staying with the Pleroma. To each their own.

From where she's sitting on the roof, she peeks her head up a bit further so he can see a bit more of her - a last little courtesy. ]

I've got stuff to do, so catch you later, Ernesto. I'll let you off with a warning this time, but next time, I might not feel like being so nice!

[ The way she nearly sing-songs the phrase makes it sound like a joking, careless threat, but with the situation around them... maybe she's not being as playful as she appears. ]

[ he makes an assenting sound, if a little bit of a noncommittal one. but what himeka says is going to stay with him, is going to be something he turns in his head over and over in the coming weeks. this, and a conversation he has with abel later this evening, and the lengths ernesto and akua went for him today — it's too much to simply set aside. rand isn't afraid of friendship because he doesn't understand it; he's afraid because he does, has been so loved, and knows how far people can be willing to go.

it's just that he isn't a safe person to care about. he'd rather spare them the pain.

but it's hard to dwell on that, actually, not with the sparkling lights himeka seems to summon, and even with that last thing she says — enough to surprise a brief laugh out of him. ]

I'll do my best, [ he promises. to avoid losing any limbs! but maybe, also, just in general. ] And that goes for you too. If I can ever help...

[ well, warriors/champions of light should stick together, no? ]

[ He looks off, silently grateful for the gratitude. For once. Perhaps it's that reason and that reason alone that he doesn't make his way out quite yet. In fact, his tone eases up from the sharpness of before. ]

You'll need to eat if you want to recover that.

[ He pauses. ]

I don't suppose you like dishes with red meat in them. They are very effective in supporting a quick recovery.

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EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (GODSBLOOD)

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