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

[aionpcs]

[ Their path is clear and Vaeka almost can't believe it. It's hope mixed with relief that moves each foot after another and once they hit the street she feels like she's going to cry. But she doesn't. No, the Aions that came to her rescue have shown nothing by courage for a girl that they only passingly knew if at all. She will be as strong for them as they have been for her.

She half-expects there to be some ambush as Syrlya leads her to the alleyway with her head snapping back and forth across the street to be aware of any threat. No threat comes. Instead, she's greeted by an Aion she knows as "The Spice Guy" in Godsblood. He's here too...

They really all came out for her. ]

Sp...Mister Ernesto?

[ She follows without question. ]

[chronosynthesis]

[Syrlya slips into the alley with a sigh of relief, glad that things have begun smooth sailing. He hopes they keep that up.

Unfortunately, business isn't done. He straightens up, directing his attention to Vaeka first.]

Ernesto will get you to safety, out of the city. [And then his gaze drifts over to him.] I can cover both of you in a veil of invisibility to give you a head start, but it won't last more than ten seconds. So let me know when you're ready.

[goldendeceiver]

[ There’s a lot of relief in seeing the alert and able state that Vaeka happens to be in right now. Without having any access to her when the Kenoma had her trapped in that prison, there was no telling what she was going to look like when they busted her out. Ernesto had a handful of ideas of how to try and sneak her through the city if she was incapable of running herself, but like this it’s going to be so much easier.

Especially considering as he pulls a draping bit of fabric off his arm, he reveals the sling it has been in since Amos snapped his arm like a twig just a couple of days prior. Carrying someone in this state would be difficult.

But offering someone who is still capable of running a loose fitting cloak with a handy hood that can be pulled up over her head? Much easier. ]

I’m ready as soon as you two are.

[aionpcs]

[ Hungry and exhausted as she is, Emet-Selch had made it a point to heal her through each of his "interrogation" attempts so she could be a lot worse off. Now she is running purely on adrenaline and revitalized hope. It's more than enough to carry her as far as Ernesto is willing to take her.

She looks to Syrlya and offers him a grateful smile. He's brought her this far after all. ]

Thank you.

[ Vaeka knows better than to shout it excitedly over her shoulder this time. Her eyes widen when she sees the injury that Ernesto has sustained but she takes the cloak without a word. Tugging it over her shoulders and fastening it carefully, she pulls the hood up to conceal her face. Hopefully no one will recognize her this way. ]

Yes, I'm ready.

[chronosynthesis]

[His expression twitches with a brief smile. He raises a hand, purple magical energy concentrating around it.]

Be safe, and good luck. [The magic releases, washing a wave of magic over them that clings to their skin and removes them from view. While they can still see each other, there is an obvious enough tinge of magic that will let them know for how long the spell is holding up that it's there.

Syrlya turns and bolts out the alley, running back to the prison, and giving no delay for them to get going as well.]

[goldendeceiver]

[ The trickiest part of this plan might be behind them, but they weren't out of danger yet. But Ernesto's smile is relaxed, even when the rest of him is holding in every ounce of tension he feels, and he nods in signal to Vaeka.

It's better for both of them to remain silent while Syrlya's spell is in place, and it's also best for them to hurry. Though considering Ernesto is the one that knows which way they're going, he'll have to go first and pace himself in order to let Vaeka keep up.

They've got a bit of a trek to get them to the waiting Greentruth rebels that braved an approach to Godsblood in order to help save their ally, but Ernesto intends to get her there without another hair on her head being harmed. Not after what she's gone through. ]

[aionpcs]

[ Vaeka returns the smile bit by bit and watches Syrlya disappear back towards the prison from which he had helped free her. There are still people fighting in there, people risking it all. She can't let them down by faltering at the last step.

They are heroes, every one of them.

She nods back at Ernesto, wise enough to figure out that silence is important. Keeping her head down is instinctual even when they can't be seen but she falls into step behind her guide without a peep. ]

[goldendeceiver]

[ And there it is, the last step of the rescue as they slip out from immediate danger. All the while Ernesto leads Vaeka through the city of Godsblood, to the relative safety of Greentruth rebels ready to take her under their protection. To say it went off without a hitch would be a gross exaggeration, but the fact that most of it fell into place at all is beyond lucky for the Pleroma.

Maybe it's too soon to truly breathe a collective sigh of relief about all of this, but Ernesto is at least glad they could save one more person from the Regent. ]