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

[aquaveiled]

[ This.

This is absolutely the best thing she's seen in moons.

It takes all of her self-control--what little there is to begin with, if we're being honest--not to just outright laugh out loud from where she's hidden. Himeka has to settle with holding a hand over her mouth and muffling the sound as much as she can.

Well, if a little wind isn't enough, he'd hate it if it rained on his parade, right?

Unfortunately Himeka can't actually conjure up rain, but she can form a suitable bubble of water above his head...which does feel like a sudden downpour once dropped. ]

[wolof]

[ When he looked up, Akua made her move. The guard peered upward, his hand covering his eyes as he squinted into the sudden downpour, and Akua -- brilliant though she was, just pulled on the keyring. Surprisingly, it has a loop, so with a tug in the right direction, it's off into her mouth.

She flapped her wings, and started running. The guard, who hadn't noticed until the black swan started waddling into the yard, exclaimed loudly -- Hey! Get back here! he yelled, while Akua, with her wings outstretched, started to move toward the shoreline, to take off.

He's fast, though, faster than a swan with keys in her mouth, at the very least. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ She did it! She really did it! Watching a swan waddle off with keys is, admittedly, still extremely comical. But this is also serious business. (Very seriously.)

It's the moment they've been waiting for! Akua has the keys and Himeka knows that a little rain isn't going to stop a man in his tracks. Time to up the ante.

A small blue orb appears at Himeka's side as it starts to orbit her like a moon to it's star. Holding her hands up in the air, she pools a cool, freezing current of aether to her palms before casting it out towards the guard a few seconds later. A slick sheet of ice...conveniently in his path! ]

[wolof]

[ Akua -- despite being in the body of a swan -- is still a brilliant woman, and she can see what Himeka is trying to do in the moments before it happened. The magic is there, and although she can't really cast in this form, her wings spread, and she starts to take off, her feet leave the ground in the same moment that Himka's magic spreads out before the guard.

He tried to trudge through, not really knowing where it's coming from, what it is, or even what would cause it, so he slipped just as the right time, his hands only shifting through feathers, in his uncontrolled fall.

Akua, of course, continued, flying up, and about. She did a circle above his head, before she flew off, aiming to circle back to their vantage point. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ It's another series of comical snapshots--Akua, the swan, taking off just in time that the poor guard loses his balance and falls flat on his ass as he grapples with his unruly charge. Akua's victory lap as he tries to gain control of himself, slipping once again on the icy ground with an audible shout.

The day...is theirs! Himeka gives a quiet cheer from her hiding spot and even pumps her fist into the air before ducking back down to make sure she stays hidden.

With the keys...this is a big deal. They can open SOMETHING! ]

That was perfect!

[ It's a whispered but excited appraisal once Akua is back with her. ]