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]

[ the nail bursts when struck by the lightning, unable to hit its target; the other two strike the bindings, precise despite Johnny's haphazard flailing, eating through whatever ties are restraining her. Rope is simple; metal takes a bit more effort, but, unexpectedly, that aspect might have saved Vaeka. The bullet hole lingers a little bit longer, and its black hole-like rotation draws in some of the energy of the lightning bolt as it arcs towards Vaeka, as it had before with the fire. Fortunately, Johnny's not in there to get burned even more. Unfortunately, poor Vaeka is still going to get a pretty shocking wake-up call. ]

-- Run! There's backup outside!

[ his voice is strained from the pain still prickling huge swaths of his skin, but he cries out to Vaeka nonetheless, desperate for her to get out of the cell and make this suffering worth something. It's all he can do as he tries to flip himself onto his back, hissing with every point of contact on the floor, and keep his eyes on Ciel again. His other hand is half-lifted, threatening, and the apparition of Tusk stands behind his shoulder once more. ]

[aionpcs]

[ After enduring long hours alone in her cell and even longer hours undergoing the "interrogation" of one of the Kenoma, Vaeka is exhausted in both body and soul. She has heard commotion outside several times throughout her imprisonment, even heard that a guard had been killed. But today seems to be worse than the other days...

The lightning? It's terrifying. She's a member of the Resistance but she is not an Aion, a witch, or any sort of engineer. She was a guard at a portal, knowing that danger could come at her any moment but never once witnessing it like this. Bound in her cell, Vaeka flinches and hopes that maybe this will just strike her down before it can get any worse. The clock is ticking and they are trying so, so hard for her...

But then her bindings are free. She can feel the weight of the rope falling from her shoulders and her legs. Her mouth hangs open in shock as she she looks down at them. ]

It...wh...!

[ A choked sob falls out of her mouth as she struggles with the bindings around her feet. These she can handle with the rest gone. ]

I'm going! I'm going!!!