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

[comelately]

[ he really wants to ask about the ears... but they're talking about important things right now... but damn, he wants to ask... ]

Well, I'd prefer not to jump into a big pile of angry Kenoma folks, if that's what you're asking.

[ that's part of why he's snooping around. He's hoping he might be able to find the place where they keep the prisoners - or somewhere close to it, anyway, and out of the way. ]

[goldendeceiver]

[ One day, Johnny, when things are less tense. Ernesto's happy to answer, even if the answer is mostly just "sometimes people have dog ears where I'm from."

Ernesto laughs appreciatively at the comment, nodding a couple times. ]

I think we'd all rather avoid that for you too.

[ Though.... ]

But if not knowing where interior walls and objects are isn't going to be a problem for you, then it sounds like what we really need to do is make sure all the Kenoma aren't inside when you teleport in.

[comelately]

[ he makes a small noise of vague agreement deep in his throat. ]

It's more like I'll go through the wall. If there's something in front of it, I'll just go through that, too.

[ he's not so worried about those things - furniture or what have you would be much easier to penetrate than the outer of the wall of the building. That's why he needs to make sure he picks the right wall. Johnny pauses, regarding Ernesto and his comment for a moment. ]

... You're kind of like... a dog person, right? You got any kind of super-smelling powers or anything?

[ is that offensive? too bad he said it anyway ]

[goldendeceiver]

[ Any confusion on Ernesto's face is gone in a second when he starts to consider that Johnny might be using the word teleportation very liberally. Is he phasing through the wall perhaps, or does the mass of something just force his body more forward when he takes a blind leap like that?

It's handy either way, and Ernesto is glad to hear this guy won't end up stuck inside a wall from making a risky jump.

Even if he's asking a kind of insensitive question. His laugh is weak as he shakes his head just once. ]

Perro.

[ Not that he expects anyone to know the phrase for a dog-person, but might as well toss it out there so he doesn't get stuck labeled "the dog man" instead. ]

But there's nothing particular special about my nose, sorry.

[comelately]

[ he didn't take Spanish in fancy little lad school, so the connection is lost on him - and, in fact, he looks somewhat puzzled by the nonsense word Ernesto just said for a second or two before making the connection. ]

Uh, Perro. Whatever.

[ bummer about the sense of smell, though. ]

So you can't figure out where they're keeping her or anything...?

[goldendeceiver]

[ It doesn't matter too much to Ernesto that people actually know the etymology of what to call him, but it sure is nice to be called the right thing. He'll even give a little friendly wag of the tail at Johnny's hasty (if not somewhat dismissive) agreement to it.

Though it doesn't last long, because unfortunately for them right now, the answer to that is no. He does laugh a little uncertainly at that question though. ]

I'm not sure an actual dog would be able to either.

[ Prison walls tend to be built thick. ]

I do have pretty good hearing, but unfortunately the Kenoma haven't had any need to detail the layout of the prison anywhere I've been able to overhear them.

[comelately]

[ his tail wagged, like an actual dog, as he put it... that's pretty cute... but it would be weird to say that? Actually, Johnny feels weird just thinking it. After a brief pause, he shakes his head as if to fling the thought from his mind, then waves a hand dismissively. ]

Yeah, they're not that dumb. It might be a trap, but they're not going to make it easy for us to waltz in there.

[ a pause. ]

You hang around in Godsblood a lot?

[goldendeceiver]

[ It wouldn’t be any stranger than some of the ways that people tend to stare openly and intensely at his ears and tail. At least complimenting them would be less socially awkward than all the blatant staring tends to be. Right now might not be the most appropriate time for compliments like that though, so it’s for the best that Johnny isn’t dwelling on it for long.

In fact, the direction he’s taking this conversation seems like a good one. He certainly has Ernesto’s undivided attention right now. Whatever reason Johnny might have for asking that question, Ernesto has a good feeling he might be of some help here after all, poor sense of smell or not. ]

I live in Godsblood. My guess is you’d be hard pressed to find an Aion that knows it better than me.

[ His head cants slightly to the side, so that just leaves the question… ]

So if you’re looking for someone with a good grasp on the city, I’m your man.

[comelately]

[ 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. ]

[goldendeceiver]

Aha, well... not any cops, no...

[ Though there is an implication he might know a few criminal types.

Johnny did specifically ask about crooks though, so here's to hoping he won't judge Ernesto too much for some of the connections he's made for himself here in Godsblood. Still, even if he doesn't want to get directly involved in some of the seedier aspects of things in this city, it's good to have your finger on that pulse, and an in with some of the people that are part of that world.

At the same time... ]

If all you need is to get in near the door though, we might be able to do that without knowing the layout inside. We just need to locate whatever door they're likely to have the smallest number of guards on, right?