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

[expiera]

[Like an ill-fated star, they fall, they sink.

...And so does she; for all her acrobatics, Ciel cannot teleport or fly. At this height, she can make a standing landing by further reinforcing her body, but knowing her limits on Horos, she will cause a crater in concrete and have her legs (temporarily) crushed in the process, if not punch straight through wood and join their targets in the ocean beneath. She braces herself for impact despite knowing Emet-Selch's stance over how he treats his allies, and it is not a question of trust. She should simply be able to handle herself regardless of circumstance at all times, expecting help from others is not something she is in the habit of doing. Thus it's something of a surprise to be caught, and she accepts the assist as it is. Her face is still in pain, but the disfiguration caused by the caustic blood is already healing. In a few hours at most, it'll be gone completely.

They land, and she steps away from him. Her attention quickly shifts from the point on the ocean's surface where their targets have crashed back onto Emet-Selch, the instant she feels prickling on her skin the enormous amount of magical energy he's begun gathering again. He intends to—]

Emet-Selch.

[She turns to face him, standing firmly in front of him with her arms lowered >(for now) at her side. (Does her face look bad? She shows no hint of acknowledging her fading wound.)]

We can take them back for questioning. They will also help us bait out the Innocence Entity better alive.

[As hostages, it goes unspoken. This is a recourse made with rationale and reason. Will he stay his hand? This may not be completely over yet, but it's undeniable that they already have the upper hand. If he goes any further...]

[aquaveiled]

[ In some ways the water is a blessed reprieve, especially after the blizzard spell has cooled it to a more reasonable temperature in their vicinity. The force of the impact is something she can still feel in every bone of her body, but her concern isn't for her own state--it's Abel. He took the brunt of the impact and several others besides, shielding her from the worst of both of their adversaries.

In the water his wings look no better than they had in the air, raw and mangled even if they are no longer actively burning. His hold on her has lessened considerably as they continue to sink and she can see bubbles of air leaking from his mouth. He looks dazed, but not fully unconscious.

Himeka grunts as she pushes back against him, separating herself further from his hold, but just for a moment. She's feeling weakened from the blood loss, but it's not enough to stop her from scooting around him so that she can wrap her arms around Abel's torso from the back. She inhales deep, the water filtering without issue thanks to the Kojin's blessing she's had throughout her life, and with a few kicks and powerful lashes of her tail, she pushes them upwards towards the surface.

When they break the surface, it's far from graceful. Red starts to stain the water around them and Himeka is vaguely aware of their adversaries still on the docks, keeping them in her peripheral. Her tail moves with an ease that the rest of her cannot as it moves like a snake beneath the waves, directing them towards the shore. There, she can attend to his wounds...or die trying, if the static in the air is any indication of the next impending onslaught from Emet-Selch. But she can't risk going under water again. She can't risk him. ]

H-Hold on just a moment longer...

[ How could this have gone so terribly? ]

[inutilis]

[ their plummet into the water (water--? he had been so sure they'd hit the docks; Himeka... she truly is amazing) is one he barely feels for the way his nerves are already taxed from their efforts in regeneration far slower than they should be. maybe he is mildly concussed after taking the downward blast to the head; even so--

though he isn't aware... the feeling of Himeka's arms winding around him beneath the temperate water (not boiling; again, she'd manage to save them a most unpleasant fate) is accompanied by the more virulent tingle of genuine, faster recovery. the blood she oozes clouding the murky water is unwittingly providing a boon from one Aion to the next... and by the time his head is bobbing above the surface -- Abel's wits have recovered enough he can actively aid in his own salvation.

he takes in a breath of air, coughing, spluttering momentarily and prepares to tell her to swim, to flee if she needs to--

--and instead, the only thing that leaves him is a choked, strangled sound as a burning, familiar pain shoots up from his right hand across his body, rippling like a wave permeating muscle, sinew and bone alike. the unnatural glow from the Innocent's sigil has spread -- a faint but unmistakable light as his ears fill with the sound of cacophonous screaming.

--Estinien.

smoldering red eyes falter, flicker, and fade back into blue as the disorienting and nauseating assault steals his newly regained sense from him as well as vitality. Estinien. --Estinien. a panicked flood, urgent and heavy, becomes his sole focus.

something has gone horribly, terribly awry with their friend... and the vow they had made to protect him is being tested.

they are being found unworthy. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ A shock comes, but it's not from the veritable storm Emet-Selch is about to unleash.

Her vision suddenly goes white--a harsh, blinding white that mimicks the pain shooting up her arm. Minutely she can feel Abel stiffen in her hold, but it's like every onze of her body is being pricked with fine needles all at once. Himeka lets out a choked scream but she doesn't hear it, deafened by the chorus of discordant accusations and howls in her own horns and mind.

Estinien!?

You brok--

--BETRAYAL!

You FAILED!

The water reflects the strange glow from both of their bodies. Her scales burn like they have been caught in that fire that encompassed them once again, patches bleaching a stark white all over her body. She feels as if she's being tossed about in her own body, turned upside down and around and sickened to the point of passing out.

She's still got Abel, but--

--but...

Her screams suddenly die in her throat, as does all the momentum she'd gathered to bring them to shore. The shock of the onslaught against her very soul combined with her blood loss is too much. Though she instinctively tries to hold on to Abel, Himeka's form goes limp as she is left to the mercy of the waves. ]

[lachtara]

[ The look he gives Ciel upon her interference is poisonous. It may read as contempt on the surface level, but it does not express the layers of reasons why: Himeka claimed to defeat him at some foregone time. She claims to be the reason all his efforts were for nothing. To take everyone from him.

He tightens the grip on his staff. Through the stifling emotions, he is still able to think through the situation in its nuance. They wanted hostages and faces make more compelling bait than jewels. What's more, they needed no more fighting among themselves. Venera has seen to enough of that for his liking.

After a few short moments, he huffs out a breath and lets his staff fall to his side. The electricity in the air cuts out leaving a worrying absence of sound.

No sooner than he resigns do both adversaries emerge soaked in diluted blood. Emet-Selch's gaze shifts to them in preparation for what else they could have on offer. Instead, they begin to writhe. His adversaries twist in pain from some unforeseen force. It coaxes unspoke screams and a strange (distantly familiar) light.

And then, they collapse. Leaving the two Kenoma left standing on the crumbling docks. There is a pause as he takes in the sight of what just happened. What that light implies. Though he was not there in person to witness the summoning of Innocence, he has sorted through the memories of his allies. ]

It seems our work has been finished on our behalf. How lucky. [ His Mage's staff is dismissed with a simple gesture of the hand. He rounds Ciel and goes to observe the two of them up close in order to ensure that they are, indeed, unconscious as they seem.

Emet-Selch checks Abel first with a firm nudge with his foot. Once, twice, just to make sure. ]

[expiera]

[Emet-Selch is truly... furious. Since their initial arrival to Achamoth, Ciel has witnessed countless shades of tired and exasperate cross the Ascian's expression, but not once had she seen such baleful scorn. It instantly confirms something: this is personal for him. Something had changed recently, and she doubts a bumbling fool like Abel was capable of driving her Kenoma companion to such a point. Which leaves only one possibility, but those are thoughts for another time. Right now, she only focuses on standing in Emet-Selch's way unflinchingly without the slightest intention of backing away. They've already overpowered their opponents, dissipation is NOT needed.

Finally, he gives, and only then does Ciel allow herself to look back towards the ocean. Drowning may not kill them, but what Emet-Selch was winding up surely would have. She barely has the time to locate their fallen foes in the water before a unpleasantly bright light swallows them both, it then ebbs away with the water to spit out a once monstrous but now human (and tattered) body ashore. Himeka's efforts have seen her companion to safety, but she's lagging behind herself. Ciel is not taking any chances: leaving Emet-Selch to prod and step on Abel as he pleases, she enters the waters to pull Himeka out before the waves get a chance to swallow her back in. Her horns and tail are noticeably brighter than when they last met a brief few weeks back, and while she is very much bloody, unconscious, and badly injured, she is alive nevertheless. Ciel lays her down on her side next to Abel, her tail making it... unwieldy to position her stomach up. Should she minister a bit of healing, to stabilize her vitals just in case...? The thought lingers at the back of her mind as she scans the Pleroma Aion's still-glowing body from head to toe, turning her arm and hand over in her examination before noticing the sigil of the Innocent marked in her palm.

Turning away from Himeka, Ciel leans over and lifts Abel's arm to check for the inside of his palm as well, in full view of Emet-Selch so that the other man doesn't need to lean down or get his hands wet. Her fellow Martyr bears the same mark, but it somehow grew and has snaked its way up his arm. ...Hm.]

We should head back to Achamoth.

[These physical irregularities obviously caused by the Innocence are a footnote. They've accomplished their objective, and after losing both Rand and Vaeka, there's no more taking chances.]

[lachtara]

[ It seems they are unconscious as one could hope for.

He spares a look in Himeka's direction as Ciel retrieves her. It's obvious the wound made by their onslaught needs tending given its severity. Emet-Selch's face turns dips to wistfulness and he simply looks away in silent refusal to do it himself.

Instead, he looks up toward the faint lights of town in the distance. It would benefit them to leave as soon as they could. They had done a thorough sweep of the city but there is no telling if there are other Problems waiting for them. ]

Indeed. Let us -

[ He reaches down and begrudgingly grabs Abel by the scruff of his collar. He begins to drag him in the direction they need to go for a quick escape - The portal was this way, wasn't it? It's obvious he struggles to pull such a weight given his staggering steps but he manages in his own way. For the moment. ]

- make for Achamoth. I'm sure these captives will be sooo much less bothersome than the others we've dealt with as of late.

[ At least the return of sarcasm in all its glory means he is no less himself. Obvious in his frustrations, but still willing to put them aside to complete the job he needs to do. ]

[expiera]

[As expected, something happened between Emet-Selch and Himeka.

It is not her business, it has high odds of relating to something that happened in their home worlds, this is also a terrible time, so Ciel doesn't ask. Rerouting her attention to the woman with striking reptilian features, she begins amassing mana again. Just... a bit, to ensure Himeka survives their return to Achamoth. They are not getting dissipated, stopping Emet-Selch's earlier spell would be pointless if she lets one of them die now. Thus she proceeds to expend some of her own magical energies to heal and revitalize the selfsame sorceress she skewered through the torso just a while earlier, and once she's made sure the other woman's breathing is stable, readies herself to get back to her feet with Himeka in her arms.

Until Emet-Selch's action has her stop and stare, at least. Ah, he's...

...

(The collar......)]

Yes.

[Professional as it may be, he still doesn't look like he's having an easy time...]

I can carry them both, if you'd like. I'll manage.

[It will be... unwieldy, but possible. This is also a completely serious offer, now that they've bested their opponents and have no reason to remain in Godsblood any longer.]

[lachtara]

[ He pauses for a moment while he looks out on the decks at large. They still flicker with embers here and there as residual splash damage from his spell. Emet-Selch rolls his hand through the air and brings forth a rush of wind that will snuff out the rest of the fire. That should be suitable enough.

So he continues onward.

As soon as he steps off the docks and into the surrounding sand it makes his steps difficult. His feet sink and it takes more effort to move on while someone behind. He sighs and his posture sinks like his feet in the sand. ]

I am not attached to the concept of carrying dead weight all the way to Achamoth. [ He looks back to Ciel. ] If you think it manageable to carry both, by all means.

[ He's not going to say 'yes', but he certainly won't refuse. ]

[expiera]

[Ah, of course. Emet-Selch's usual way of sidestepping and form of concession or what could possibly pass off as accepting assistance from someone else. His emotional allergies, that's how Ciel chose to view it since their talk about team morale.]

Please let me try.

[And if the Ascian would be so kind as to drop the unconscious idiotic pacifist on the sand, Ciel will come over and try to make this work. If Abel is laying flat on his back, and Himeka is deposited on her side atop him... As long as they can fit each other well enough, she should be able to carry them both like this. They wouldn't mind it, probably; he was already supporting her, throughout the entirety of their altercation.

Scooping one arm beneath the lanky man's knees and the other behind his shoulder blades, she tilts both bodies inward towards herself before carefully lifting them both up. Ciel gives her cargo an experimental nudge; they hold, Himeka's tail is left to sweep unimpeded too.]

This should do. Let's go.

[Don't mind how she's awkwardly managed to stacked two bodies in her arms. This should hold, until they return to Achamoth.]