aionlogs | EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (GODSBLOOD)

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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?

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.

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[ Frustrating as that is, berating him for his efforts would earn no favors. One important quality in leadership is to know when to push and when to show leniency. Amos being willing to - and nearly - dissipating is certainly doing as much as he was able to do. There is no point in pushing. ]

You gave it your all. That is all we can ask of you.

[ He looks on. ]

You were outnumbered, then?

Not exactly.

[ His voice comes out as something of a sigh, resigned to the fact that he's probably not getting up today, at minimum. That he's a bit useless right now. ]

Misa and I cut 'em off, but they had the one guy fighting me and someone else slipped in to get the kid. And then... I dunno. Things just happened. He got in a good shot, and then they got away.

[ A pause as he shuts his eyes, as he lets frustration with himself slip in a little bit before opening them again. ]

I kinda hit a wall with the whole magic thing. So I stopped using that. [ A beat. ] I should probably get back at it.

[ He's used to a lifetime of fighting with just his body, and his abilities had developed instinctually, according to that. The rules of the world he came from aren't the default of play here, though. If he ever needed a wakeup call it was time to actively adapt, this'd be it. ]

It would only serve to benefit.

[ Interesting that he would bring that up himself unprompted. Perhaps coaxed by the recent brush with death? Or looking for an alternative way to make it to where that doesn't happen again. ]

If you would like to return to your practice, what do you intend on doing so differently to prevent you from quitting again?

Probably just putting in the work. Adding it to my daily routine.

[ But for the heavy lifting of his left hand, bringing it to rest atop his chest, he remains still, just as instructed. ]

I dunno if I quit so much as I got distracted. There's no magic where I'm from. I'm used to settling things with either my hands or a gun. [ And he still does not have one of those... ] I mean, yeah, I picked up a bit of magic, but I got stronger too. Stronger than anyone should probably be. And that kept progressing. Came to me naturally, so I kinda forgot about everything else.

[ Which he is only realizing now, as he says out loud. ]

That was getting the job done on its own. And now it's not.

[ He needs to be better; this is one way that's achievable that he's already got a head start on. ]

[ The look Emet-Selch gives is definitely not one of approval. 'Annoyance' doesn't quite articulate it properly either. Magic is his craft and his constant companion. To see it given such disregard is almost insulting. He huffs through his nose. ]

No wonder you've found yourself at a standstill.

[ Simply 'forgetting' about it is not dedication. It's treating it as some hobby that can be picked up and thrown out as he pleases. ]

Magic is a craft that must be respected. It requires dedication and practice. If you've the mindset that it is so 'forgettable', you will never achieve anything worthwhile.

[ ... He had no idea there was a nerve to be hit on there.

Amos watches Emet-Selch through emotionless eyes, taking all of him in without much in the way of empathy. Just, this is a sore spot. Okay. ]

Then I'll have to work on that.

[ Which maybe explains the standstill. Amos' voice is cool, blank. He isn't taking offence, he isn't rising to any challenge; he simply is, and that's all. ]

Back home, only thing that mattered was who had the bigger stick. When I was a kid, it wasn't me. When I got bigger, it was. That's the only way I got to survive at all. Probably why things turned out the way they did.

[ He's an instinctual creature; he's operating off of instincts. Even if he's stripped down of everything else, he'll always have those, sometimes for the worse.

It's just time to develop some new ones is all. ]

Cruelty is the unfortunate teacher of many.

[ So many towns, cities, kingdoms, and empires valued might over all else. It's sad to hear of the countless people who experience the same without knowing a better world, but at this point, it is expected. They are lost.

It's with that in mind that his expression loses its edge. ]

However, if you have adapted in the past then you are more than capable of adapting in the future. So you must reclaim your proverbial "stick".

[ He lets his eyes slip shut at the first remark, a small acquiescence. Yeah. Doesn't he know it. That's why he's here; he assumes that's why Emet-Selch is here, too. That's why they need to tear everything down, facilitate things so that they can start fresh.

Cracks his eyes open again at what sounds almost like encouragement. Fuck, he's tired, but this is important. ]

Sticks're different here too, aren't they. [ Where magic is the weapon of choice, more that regular might. It is something he's gonna have to wrap his head around. ] Yeah. I'll figure it out.

[ Amos lets his eyes shut again, and it could give off the impression that he's fallen back asleep, except for the part where he speaks up again, voice alert as ever. ]

Promise you I'm not gonna fuck around with it. I'm treating it seriously. Can't afford not to now — so you got nothing to worry about on my end.

[ He says, exhausted and having nearly died some mere hours ago, and yet meaning it all the same. ]

Oh?

[ Emet-Selch sounds skeptical enough. This rationale seems much too casual to be truly dedicated to the craft. ]

And how do you intend to "overcoming" the challenges you've faced with magic?

[ Because for all his complaining and correcting, he's never offered to teach - which is what he implies here. It would be an assumption to assume that he would. ]

Like I said, gonna put my all into it. Make it part of my daily routine. I had to do that back home; if you didn't exercise regularly, your muscles would atrophy. This is just like that.

[ Maybe not entirely, but that's the life he's used to. That's the easiest way for him to interpret something that had been unthinkable to him only a few months ago: it's another muscle. He's gotta build it up, then work to keep it built up.

He can do that much.

Amos exhales, opening his eyes again to look at Emet-Selch. ]

You helped me get started on it. It worked. You wanna help me get better at it, I'll follow your instructions. If not, I'll figure it out on my own.

[ A beat. ]

I'm not letting this happen again.

[ He has to bristle at the invitation to "want" to teach him. As though he wants to "teach" anyone magic. What he wants is far beyond this place, far beyond this little prison cell with its dingy cot and worn walls. He wants to go home. Not babysit some worthless hostage.

Emet-Selch sighs. ]

Your dedication to magic has proved wanting in the past, but there is no doubting your dedication to this cause, at any rate.

I will teach you for two weeks. If you manage to show enough dedication to show up for an entire fortnight without fail, then I will give you lessons as long as seems necessary.

[ In other words: prove his dedication to wanting lessons. Yes, he had offered them to the group at large, but that still does not mean he does so without some scrutiny. ]

[ Yeah, he really doesn't get where the source of that bristling is coming from. The sigh, though, he thinks he gets. He's tired. This is all tiring. That makes sense, as does the criticism against him.

Though at the mention of a two-week trial period, there is a bit more life to Amos' eyes. ]

That's fair. I'll come find you when we're back home and I got my strength back?

[ When all this is over with; when Vaeka's execution is the only remaining eventful thing to happen here. Of course. ]

Fine.

[ He's content to leave it at that.

He sits without saying anything more for a while. Emet-Selch even closes his eyes again, and by all intents and purposes, it might look like he's opted to try and doze off again.

But after a while, he finally asks something else. ]

You've not mentioned how you feel. It helps to know what is amiss for when I heal you again.

[ Fine is good enough for him, and Amos lets his eyes drift shut again. Alright. He's got a plan of action for the near future. That's good.

They can just doze together now, apparently — or at least until Emet-Selch speaks up again, and Amos cracks his eyes open for it. Seeing that he's still in the same position, though — that he doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon — he lets them slip shut again, letting Emet-Selch's words fall on him. ]

Sorry. I'm tired I guess, mostly. Never lost that much blood before. [ He rolls his head slightly; somehow manages to get a little more comfortable. ] Pain's not so bad. Maybe like a four? Doesn't feel like I'm gonna split open again. All the blood's where it's supposed to be. So you did a good job.

[ Really, a fantastic one, all things considered. ]

Think it's just gonna be a matter of getting my blood replenished. I should be out of the woods. So. Thanks.

[ He looks off, silently grateful for the gratitude. For once. Perhaps it's that reason and that reason alone that he doesn't make his way out quite yet. In fact, his tone eases up from the sharpness of before. ]

You'll need to eat if you want to recover that.

[ He pauses. ]

I don't suppose you like dishes with red meat in them. They are very effective in supporting a quick recovery.

Yeah? [ There's a noticeable uptick to Amos' voice, that much brighter and more intrigued. ] Fuckin' love meat. Can't get enough of it. It's one of the best parts about being here.

[ On Horos. Meat that actually came from something living was practically unheard of in space; everything here tastes so good, whether it's from the Citadel or some shithole. ]

Don't think I got it in me to get up just yet, but I'll always have an appetite. I can stuff myself with red meat for as long as it takes.

[ ... And longer than that. It's so good. He doesn't think he'll ever get over that. ]

[ He gives a small smirk. ]

Good man.

[ With that, he stands. It's not the easiest thing to do, as immediately putting a hand on the wall to balance himself may indicate. ]

I'll see to it that the guards bring you something suitable sooner rather than later.

[ Amos tracks him with his eyes, head tilting back a little to follow his change in elevation. He blinks at Emet-Selch's apparent need to steady himself, but nothing more than that — he'll be fine. Probably isn't the kind of person who pushes himself any harder than he needs to. Too practical for that.

His eyebrows rise in clear interest. ]

Sounds good. You know where I'll be.

[ Yeah he isn't getting up for a day at least. It sucks being this useless, but they only gotta make it through this day and the next. It'll be fine. Things'll be fine. ]

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EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (GODSBLOOD)

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