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

[vapour]

[ is this what therapy having friends people being concerned about you feels like? Kind of weird, for sure, especially with all the assumptions. ] It's okay, Father Nightroad. That guy and I aren't involved, so there's nothing to worry about.

Don't be too hard on him, either. I don't think he's ever had a cupcake in his life, to be honest.

[aquaveiled]

[ She frowns. Himeka knows how to pick her friends just fine, Zenos, thank you very much. (Just look at the Scions! All reasonable and well-adjusted people.) ]

You have no proof that what the Regent promises is even true. What would that world even look like? [ Do they want to know? ] And you'd risk it all, everything you can experience in this life, for that chance?

[ The answer...well, she knows the answer. But there's still a part of her hopes that he could reconsider. Zenos has the capacity to learn--she's seen it, even if it was only after...you know, several atrocities, some body-snatching, and a few dead gods later. It's just a hard, hard uphill battle.

To his question--and likely to his delight--she shakes her head. ]

No. But as long as they stand in my way...our battles will never take precedent.

[ That's a tease. Right? ]

[fightforthejoyofit]

[It is absolutely a tease, and one that renders his disparaging laugh at least a little affectionate]

If this [He gestures again to the picnic] is any indication as to what I can expect from them? Perhaps our battles should not.

[It is a bluff - mostly a bluff, at least - and a fairly transparent one, but the suggestion that she may have begun to bore him is definitely there. He hopes she might still find that prospect more of a Concern than a Relief.]

[inutilis]

[ ...hm. it seems there's something complicated happening between Zenos and Himeka. Abel's hamster-wheel-brain is turning, turning, turning, turning--

he leans into Childe again, whispering softly, ]

Mr. Childe, [ a pause, thoughtful, ]

...Do you suppose if you asked very nicely, Mr. Zenos might come sit and eat instead of saying extremely menacing and threatening things to Miss Himeka? You could, I don't know, use your wiles to charm him-- whatever it is you two do, I'm not here to get in the middle, you know?

[vapour]

[ flatly. ] No.

[ he turns and yells over to Zenos anyway. ] Listen up. She's not interested in fighting right now, so suck it up and come sulk over here and just eat a goddamn cupcake with her, already!

We can brawl later after this shit is done, and you'll just have to do better at catching her when she's ready to throw down, next time! Don't let her bring Happy McLucky over here next time, for starters.

[aquaveiled]

[ There is a part of her that does hold some concern over that threat. A Zenos unleashed on the greater populace is never something to take lightly...

...but he does have a leash now. Doesn't he? It's the Regent. Himeka withholding what Zenos wants isn't as dangerous as it was before. The Regent has made it clear that they know when their own fall out of line.

That thought is strangely powerful. ]

...Zenos--

[ Childe interrupts. Himeka turns, her tail definitely swishing a little more excitedly at the mention of cupcakes. (She wasn't lying when she said she hadn't eaten lunch yet.)

She cocks an eyebrow at her would-be opponent. ]

[fightforthejoyofit]

[He could leave. Find something to destroy, something that would tug at her heartstrings, punish her for disappointing him, make her think twice about repeating the insult.

He could.

He won't, because as she says, there's a hand on his leash now.

So he sighs, heavily, sheathes his blade, and stomps in the direction of the picnic basket, dropping to sit heavily beside Childe. He will endure this, but he refuses to enjoy it.]

[inutilis]

[ oh. oh, this is VERY interesting. this is very interesting indeed, and Abel is watching all of this unfold with another cookie frozen halfway to his mouth, all but forgotten in his intrigue.

and before Abel knows it - Zenos, in his massive and intimidating glory - is stomping not unlike a petulant child on over at Childe's behest to sit down... next to said Childe.

interesting. very, very interesting.

so what is a man to do in circumstances such as these but to encourage and foster the flames of love born of kindling on the battlefield...? we all know it's there. he's taking a cupcake out from the assortment before them, holding it out to Childe and nudging the Kenoma with his shoulder to whisper. ]

Look. Look, you can share this with him. He came just for you; I think you can make this work out, Mr. Childe. Come on. Who can resist a bit of sugar, if you catch my drift~?

[vapour]

[ Well, that is a surprising turn of events, for sure. It's fine, though, since it's still keeping these two from being able to help Vaeka, but also he low key is concerned this impromptu picnic isn't gonna leave much of anything left over.

Oh well... he'll just... stop by the same places and pick them all up again before going back to Achamoth. No problem.

Abel's nudging gets Childe to pay attention, but he looks absolutely clueless as he takes the cupcake. Is this priest still going on about some fictional romance between him and Zenos? He doesn't know what the sugar appreciation meaning is at all, but he'll still do as Abel suggests. He'll reach for some beef sticks too before turning to Zenos too offer them. ]

Here. These are good. Try whatever you like. You never know when this sort of thing will matter on the battlefield. If you get low blood sugar while in the middle of battle, you can eat something like this cupcake to help get rid of the systems.

If you're injured or sick and aren't retaining fluids, you can eat salty things like this to force your body to avoid dehydration for some period of time. Just don't overdo it out it'll have the opposite effect.

Also this... [ he's reaching for some... (W
whatever Horos's version of mozzarella cheese would be) and offering it to Zenos too. ] ...helps thicken your blood so it can clot better. These are great to eat before a battle and also fit into your eating-training regimen rather than after something unfortunate happens so you're already prepared. one stick won't magically help a bad wound clot, but still, good to keep handy for your snacks along with nuts.

[ he's hoping relating the picnic to suggestions of how the things could be beneficial to battle situations that Zenos will at least be more content, even if not happy. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ That Zenos actually relents is curious indeed. How long will he be willing to play along with the Regent's rules, she wonders? Not that she really wants to test it, but...ultimately, if he could be persuaded to work against them instead...

Well. That's for another time. She didn't actually think it would be enough, but she's more than happy to take a few minutes and gorge. Much like Childe, she sees keeping both of them out of the foray as a worthwhile endeavour.

With that, she follows and plops down on the grassy knoll next to Abel. Himeka claps her hands together as she admires what Childe brought. ]

Eating before battle is essential...

[ Is all of this free? It looks like it should be. ]

[fightforthejoyofit]

[The look he initially shoots Childe, and turns to Himeka when she speaks up, is disparaging - he's been fighting almost as long as he could walk, and training to command an army for almost as long, he understands the theory at work here, he just has never found much pleasure in its execution (his sense of taste as beige and muted as almost everything else) - but softens (as much as anything about Zenos can be said to be soft, at least) as he continues because he's not used to people trying to reach him on his level, only Commanding or Deferring. That Childe tries to frame things in a way he thinks will appeal to Zenos' very-specific interests is...

... this is... is this almost pleasant? Is this friendship? No, probably not, that would be ridiculous (they've not even tried to kill each other once, they cannot be friends) but it's... certainly something.

(A coincidence, probably. They are something like kindred spirits, after all, aren't they?)

So he listens, and picks one of the cheese-things, pulling it apart before consuming it; his appetite for food is not remotely the equal of his appetite for violence, it seems (but then, what is?) but while he sets the cupcake aside for now, still somewhat distrusting the Niceness (and Abel's weird fixation on Childe getting him to eat one), is not-happy-but-maybe-something-like-content to try the other parts of the meal.]

Fish does the same thing, I'm told, and wine the opposite?

[Speaking of Abel, he glances to Himeka again]

You continue to keep very strange company.

[inutilis]

[ oh... would you look at this? it really is a sight to behold, isn't it? truly baffling, breathtaking, even, in Abel's humble opinion!! it isn't as though he is the sort of creature incapable of reading the room, even if he might not act like it. that Zenos' bloodlust had been abated in such a way and that he's humoring Childe's efforts at appeasement are both very, very interesting prospects.

...don't mind him if he simply takes a beef stick and hunk of cheese to make a beef-stick-sandwich where the beef sticks are the bread, and hands it to Himeka. ]

I-it's so beautiful, isn't it? Young love? Ah... I-- I'm honestly feeling a bit misty, d-does anyone have a tissue?

[ """strange company""" yeah,

yeah that's probably

...mm. ]