EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (GODSBLOOD)

[aionmods]

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.

Comments

[lifespanned]

[ Perhaps because of their shared Legacy, she feels that shock of disgust more potently than she might've with communion with anyone else. To bury the emotion so quickly, she can recognize it's something he'd rather not show so openly to her. Oh, so that's how he really feels...?

She's always gotten the sense that Ernesto takes this all quite seriously, despite his affable surface personality. The peace talks had only confirmed that, when paired with his tight lips and evasive attitude, visible since the Lover's shrine. Misa lets a contemplative silence fill the air, kicking her feet back and forth from where she's laying. ]

To change the world, there must be sacrifices, right?

[ It's that simple to her - a very black and white view of the matter at hand. To kill an important member of the resistance is the lesser of two evils - the alternative would be, what... that the Regent cracks down on all of Godsblood? On all of Venera? To her, those in Venera being targeted, and even Vaeka herself don't register as "innocents," which drains any of the lasting (very small) reservations she might've had.

To get to the end goal of changing the world, there would always be people who needed to be killed to get taken out of the way— that's something she accepted long before she ever set foot on the soils of Horos. ]

This way, the least amount of people will get hurt. I believe that. It'd be nice if there were an easier way, but...

[ If Vaeka is executed.... yes, she's certain it'll be for the better. Not just for the Kenoma, but for everyone in the continent. ]

[goldendeceiver]

[ It is, and maybe it would have been smarter to play the long game, but it took Ernesto years to really master the art of deception and lies; learning to stomp down on his very emotions is a new challenge he still hasn't fully grasped.

But maybe, just maybe... being more honest here isn't necessarily a bad thing. He doesn't think he's going to win Misa over to his point of view, especially when she's already admitted to supporting the Regent on this one, but trying to connect with her over this isn't going to hurt his cause, right?

He'll be slashing any connection to ribbons later on, but he's no seer, and isn't aware of that fact yet. ]

You know? I used to think that way too.

[ Well, not exactly the same way Misa sees things. Ernesto has always seen things in shades of gray, rather than staunch black and white, but the need for sacrifices to achieve something greater? Sure. It's just that he didn't ever have that strong conviction that it was the morally just thing the way that Misa does. ]

But I don't think that's actually true at this point. It's the quicker and more brutal way for sure, but it's definitely not the only option you can pick.

[lifespanned]

[ "Used to?" That piques her curiosity, a strong note of interest running like a shock through their connection. She can't help but be more and more questioning about Ernesto's efforts in his home world, ever since learning about his situation. She's sure he has the same questions about her— after all, why would a relatively normal teenage idol be so at ease with all this? It's far more difficult to rationalize it to people who aren't familiar with the political state of her world... ]

Oh? Then what do you suggest? Since you're so sure.

[ She's careful to keep a challenge out of her voice— leaving only a genuine sense of wonder. She really wants to know. Not that she thinks it'll sway her opinion, honestly, but it'd be nice to hear from a Pleroma themself what the ideal solution would be, if not this. ]

[goldendeceiver]

[ He definitely has questions about Misa's past, but some of it he can fill it for himself, even without knowing her world. Whether it's as troubled as his own or not, it must be troubled enough for Misa to be willing to end the universe over it. More than that, Misa herself must have gone through something pretty awful to give it that nice, personally twist that would have someone clamoring to get their hands dirty in this fashion.

But that's too general to say he really understands her and her plights. And maybe he's wrong? She could just have a really unusual sense of right and wrong. ]

The Regent and their supporters seems strong enough as they are. Is there really a need to force the rest of Horos to bend to their whims? It'd probably be easier to go about their business in peace rather than cracking down on every little perceived slight. There isn't even a real reason the people of this planet would even have to know what the Regent's end goals are, right? It'd be easy enough to carry the plans out without having to quash any potential rebellions while keeping up trade between the other cities as needed.

[ Though as much as that might be true... ]

Hindsight is twenty-twenty though, isn't it?

[lifespanned]

Hmmm...... I always thought they needed control because of the matter of Aions?

[ Not every Aion can immediately be brought into Achamoth, right? Having control over the continent at least makes it harder for Aions to escape the Kenoma permanently. For whatever reason, the Aions are needed for the Regent's goal, not that Misa is certain as for what just yet. That much is obvious in the slightly airheaded, questioning way she answers, the puzzled look on her face almost visible for her voice alone. ]

They're something about us that's necessary for their goals. It'd be way easier to find us all if they could watch the whole continent, right?

[ Which is the point of the execution. Still, she sounds like she's unsure, like she's just guessing. ]

Besides, I'm pretty sure they know what they're doing. How else would they have been ruling for so long?

[goldendeceiver]

[ No, not every Aion can be. For one, not every Aion wants to ever go to Achamoth ever, and there's a tinge of disappointment that bleeds through at that response, even if it doesn't really surprise him either. The fact that it doesn't seem like the full line of the Regent's logic has not been revealed to the Kenoma (or at least not to Misa) is interesting though, and Ernesto is going to file that away to mull over more later. ]

If diplomatic relationships were good, I'm sure the Regent could still approach most of the shrines without too much fuss. Besides, if they sent scouts out to talk to the Aion instead of attacking them, I'm sure a number would still sign onto their plan.

[ Look how many of the Kenoma were fast to hop on board, and since Misa is so ready to agree with what the Regent is doing, surely she of all people can appreciate that there would be volunteers without the rest of them being voluntold. ]

Without making enemies out of the rest of them.

[ Which seems worth bringing up. ]

The Regent has been ruling for a long time, but for someone who has been trying this as long as they have, they sure haven't made fast progress.

[lifespanned]

[ She makes an aggravated, tired, annoyed sound over the connection. ]

Agghhh, I don't know! How am I supposed to know what would've been best? It already happened!

[ Her upper limit for thinking seriously about strategy and politics has been reached, evident in the very loud sigh that comes next. It's about half her actually having no idea who's strategy would've been better, and half her worrying she's about to spill something by accident that the Pleroma don't know about the Regent's history or something like that. Or the way they seem to think, and act - mostly things that are more privy to the Kenoma, who see them more often. ]

If that's really true, and they haven't made fast progress, isn't that all the more reason to do things the fast way right now? What did you say? The "quicker and more brutal way?" I'd want to get things done fast too if I'd been doing it for so long.

[goldendeceiver]

[ It's a real shame that she's managing to bring herself up short, because Ernesto would be very interested in hearing those little tidbits the Pleroma aren't supposed to know.

Then again, that's probably why it's important that Misa brings herself up short though.

But he will give Misa a little tidbit here. It's not something particularly useful to know about him, and not something he's really trying to keep a secret even if he doesn't actively tell most people, but he thinks it does give him more authority on the matter than he might otherwise have.

Though he doubts it'll actually convince her. ]

I gotta say, I've tried it that way before. Lucky for me someone stopped me before it got too brutal, and I'm pretty grateful they did now. Having the blood of other people on your hands is a pretty awful thing, isn't it?

[ He has... absolutely no idea who he's really talking to right now. ]

[lifespanned]

Not if it's bad people, probably? Some people deserve it.

[ She says, bluntly, and honestly? Kind of like an airhead. It really is that simple to her, and she spills her honest opinion without thinking much of how that may change any kind of perception of her. Misa's not ashamed, after all— she's admitted to the police themselves that she thinks "evil" people should be punished by death, at the hands of a supernatural killer without any oversight. Perhaps that's why her response comes as carefree and with so little thought behind it as it does - she just really doesn't care whether people disagree with her on this point. ]

I mean, I don't get it. Are you saying that right now, you're in the exact same situation you were before, but on the other side?

[ Is that why he feels guilty? This is probably the only concrete piece of memory she's ever heard from Ernesto, so she wants to get to the bottom of things, greedy as she is despite his tact in keeping his cards close. Besides, she thinks the situation with Vaeka is fundamentally different — she's a rebel, and thus distinctly their enemy — so he's right in assuming that his story does little to convince her of any error in her ways. ]

[goldendeceiver]

Even if they're bad people, it still doesn't feel good.

[ He's still approaching them from the false assumption that she hasn't actually killed before, and that she doesn't know the ways that it can plague a person's mind long after the deed is done, even if you witnessed that person committing atrocities first-hand.

At least, it can plague some people's minds. It would genuinely shock him to know just how well Misa slept at night after some of the things she's done.

He does pause as he mulls over her question. He already knows the answer to it in simple terms, but it starts to get complex if he really compares his past apples to his current oranges. ]

Not exactly, no. I guess no matter the ideals or methods, I've always preferred to work with the ragtag underdogs.

[ He actually laughs at his own very bad joke. Most of the army he was part of were Perro though, dog people like himself. ]

[lifespanned]

[ Since he can't see her, she half rolls her eyes at his first comment, thinking that this is the type of guy who would post think pieces on the internet about how Kira was actually evil, or whatever. What a lame way of thinking... ]

Oooookay then, I guess you'll have fun over there.

[ Because the Pleroma are the underdogs, no matter how they slice it, right? Very "suit yourself" vibes in her response, because she has no intentions of trying to make him see her side of things for good. If it's to defend her position, that's that, but trying to convince the Pleroma that she is in fact right? It sounds like it's more trouble than it's worth. If he's happy siding with the underdogs, then so be it. Most unfortunately, his little dog joke sails right over her head. ]

I kinda think it's dumb to pick who to side with that way, but whatever! As long as you have no regrets, right?

[ Because she certainly has none. ]

[goldendeceiver]

[ 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.

[lifespanned]

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. ]

[goldendeceiver]

[ She might not be wrong about that. He's certainly picked the side with a lot less fire power and support behind it, and the only reason he hasn't struggled as much as someone of his fellow Pleroma is that he has a good deal of business sense.

Still, the group that wants to literally end all existence? Feels like that's walking himself off a much bigger, and much more dangerous cliff that way, and he wonders how much Misa really understands that. It's hard to tell with how flippant her attitude is, though it's giving him something to think about.

Not any of the points she made here admittedly, but about her as a person. Despite the tone, nothing at all about what she just said sounds like a joke to him. ]

I'll keep that in mind, Miss Misa. Please take care yourself. Things here are likely to get ugly sooner or later.

[ And though those particular parting words are going to become painfully ironic in a couple of days, he does still mean in sincerely.

She might not be what he originally pegged her as, or she might be, but the Kenoma has gotten to her enough to warp her. It's hard to say really, but he does know that as unsettling as he found this particular conversation, it doesn't mean that he wants to see active harm come to her.

But with that final warning, he ends the connection. He'll head off for now, but he's sure to be back another time, ignoring her own warning to him. ]