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Entry tags:
- !event,
- #npc,
- abel nightroad: martyr,
- akua sahelian: sovereign,
- amos burton: lover,
- caitlyn kiramman: champion,
- ciel: martyr,
- emet-selch: champion,
- himeka sui: wanderer,
- howl: celebrant,
- jayce talis: visionary,
- johnny joestar: firebrand,
- koriel xii (dextera): lover,
- misa amane: lover,
- rand al'thor: martyr,
- syrlya: champion,
- tartaglia (childe): firebrand,
- yuuta okkotsu: lover
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?
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.
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.
no subject
If I did that for you, and there were prisoners here... you and your companions would try to break them out?
no subject
[ Thoma doesn't want them to reach Achamoth and become the Regent's problem. Not only would all of the Pleroma have an even harder time of breaking in to Achamoth to find and release their allies, if they don't make it in time, there's a good chance the prisoners would wind up executed, same as all the Venerans they'd already failed to rescue. ]
Are you worried you'll be injured when they do? I can tell them to avoid you in exchange for the assistance. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you anyway.
[ He'd do his best to vouch for and protect her, even from his own people, although he's not sure if he'd consider the Pleromas as more than allies of circumstance at the moment. While there are a few he's fond of and gets along with, he still holds them in a separate regard than his friends from his own world. Maybe time might change that fact, but Thoma isn't naive enough to think they're all faultless. ]
If the other Kenoma suspect anything, you can pin it all on me. I'll take the full blame. You can even say I held you at spear's point.
no subject
It's the other Kenoma I'm worried about. I don't want them to get hurt.
[ So many of them already took a beating in Godsblood, and they failed in their mission to defend the prison besides. She can't express as much to Thoma, though; even if they're friendly as individuals, she can't compromise her companions by revealing that they're in a less than ideal state at the moment. ]
I'm sorry, Mr. Thoma. I can't do anything that will expose them to more danger. And I can't do anything that will make them more angry at you, either.
[ She'd rather fall on her scythe than throw Thoma under a bus. Kaeya probably wouldn't buy that story, either... though it might be worse if he did. ]
no subject
What if the imprisoned are executed? Are your companions worth more than them? I know they may be strangers to you, but they're good people, too. Some of them aren't even fighters at all –just ordinary people. Most of us Aions can take blows, but the rebels of this world can't.
[ Thoma would feel terrible if he got to live while they perished; has already seen just as much transpire with those he couldn't save in time. Even if he has to put himself back in harm's way, he has to do something to help them. ]
I already survived capture and imprisonment, so you don't have to worry too much about me. I'm pretty sturdy, but everyone else is a more vulnerable position.
no subject
But. Frankly, Gray isn't as concerned with them. She doesn't like to see people hurt or suffering under any circumstance, but she isn't equipped to make calculations about who's quantitatively wiser or more moral to save. She only knows how to protect the people closest to her. She isn't a professional hero like Barnaby; she has no ambitions about saving as many people as she possibly can. ]
... I can't judge the worth of anyone's lives. Not the prisoners'... and not us Aions'. But I know how I feel about the people in front of me.
[ That includes her allies in the Kenoma, and it includes Thoma and the few people she's come to know in the Pleroma. ]
I can tell you that we probably do have prisoners. But I also have to discourage you from attempting to rescue them.
no subject
[ 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. ]
no subject
[ And that's the truth. And the Regent is wise, because they know that weak links like Gray are still in the Kenoma.
Seeing how hard Thoma is trying to figure out how to help his allies, Gray comes to a realization. It isn't much of a happy one, but she feels like it's true, and maybe it will help Thoma too. ]
I think that if you're really worried about them, you can't treat any of us like friends. Not Mr. Kaeya, and not me either.
no subject
His head shakes from side to side stubbornly. ]
I can fight if I have to, but I don't want to lose the few pieces of home I have here.
[ He doesn't know when he'll get to go home again, but he doesn't want to sever all ties to Teyvat. It's who he is and where his family lives. Where the Kamisatos are waiting for him. ]
Not every fight has to be to the death, and there must be some better way to resolve our differences.
[ Though he already fears that he may have to end a few lives to end the conflict for good. ]
no subject
... I hope you're right. But I think it will only get harder from here. It feels like the Regent is tired of waiting.
[ It would be nice if no one important to her had to die... but even she knows that's soft-minded thinking in a game of hard action. Though she wouldn't mind being proven wrong. ]
no subject
[ The Regent has taken it upon themselves to play judge and executioner rather than giving people the freedom to choose their own destinies. What if he's wrong about rebirth? What if there's nothing after all this? Shouldn't that make them all more willing to enjoy every last moment? ]
Though I'll probably fail, I can't stop aiming for a peaceful resolution.
[ They might have to take the Regent down at some point to achieve it, but one death to save millions of lives might be worth it. ]
no subject
Good luck, Mr. Thoma... Though, um, you really should go now if you're trying to avoid violence.
[ They've been lucky enough to avoid being seen so far, but she knows for a fact that there are some lookouts to be feared within the Kenoma... ]
no subject
He reaches out to rub the top of her hood affectionately like he's rustling her hair, except there is obviously fabric in the way. ]
Be safe, Gray. If things get too bad... I'll still try and come back to rescue you.
[ He's not sure if the Pleroma will target her as aggressively as the others, but Thoma is ready to stop them if he has to. She's still too young and hardly a warrior, and maybe he's too soft about this whole thing, but he doesn't want anything bad to happen to her.
Once he pulls back, he offers her a parting smile for the road. ]
no subject
She says nothing more, doesn't manage a smile as he departs. She just returns to waiting at her post, trapped in her thoughts. ]