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]

[ It's enough. Whether he isn't sure what to say or doesn't want to say, the shrug is enough. This is someone who is making an effort but the results? They leave something to be desired. Or maybe his standards are so high for himself that he can't see the progress that he's making.

Either way, he's not someone she would see give in to self-defeating thoughts. Especially after what he's been through. ]

I think that you keep trying despite not being sure is...admirable.

[ She moves that glow of healing light down to his hands and smiles. ]

It's easy to want to give up. It's easy to give up. Sometimes we're our own worst enemies. But that you're still standing up to the challenge shows how strong you really are, Rand. Definitely befitting a dragon. And I've known a few.

[dragonmount]

[ as soreness and pain recede from his hands, he can't help thinking how hard this kindness is to take.

this has always been the case in horos, to some extent. he's shied away from such open caring being directed his way, or has tried to. there's nothing in him that feels admirable. and, especially after the last day or two, there's nothing in him that feels strong either. for himeka, being a dragon might be a good thing; it doesn't sound like in her world — on her star — the name evokes the same kind of dread or hate as on his. she'd spoken of a champion of light, not a person who'd nearly destroyed the world and had the potential to do it again. she'd been happy to compare him to herself, a good person, and that says it all, doesn't it?

he had hated all of the kenoma who'd felt nothing of preparing a woman for execution while berating him for murder. but that had still felt, on the whole, more deserved than himeka's assurances do now.

but he doesn't have to agree with her to say, ]

Thank you. [ looking from her hands back up to her face as he offers, at least, that much. ] Really.

[ for saying all that. for the healing. for the food, too. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ He offers gratitude and she will take it for what it is--genuine. More-so, she won't beat Rand over the head with it either. In moments like this, it's important that the words matter when they're chosen. They weren't offered just in a desire to ebb his fears but are her actual appraisal--in the end, anyone who can pick themselves back up and keep going is someone worth lauding in her mind.

Especially after all he's been through. She only knows the very tip. ]

Of course. [ She gives him a gentle pat on his forearm. ] And if you need help standing back up, that's what we're for, hm?

[ Himeka then wiggles her fingers as the aether around them begins to sparkle like fireflies on a summer's evening. ]

Literally and figuratively. Though I'd recommend keeping all your limbs intact since I can't really fix that for you.

[dragonmount]

[ he makes an assenting sound, if a little bit of a noncommittal one. but what himeka says is going to stay with him, is going to be something he turns in his head over and over in the coming weeks. this, and a conversation he has with abel later this evening, and the lengths ernesto and akua went for him today — it's too much to simply set aside. rand isn't afraid of friendship because he doesn't understand it; he's afraid because he does, has been so loved, and knows how far people can be willing to go.

it's just that he isn't a safe person to care about. he'd rather spare them the pain.

but it's hard to dwell on that, actually, not with the sparkling lights himeka seems to summon, and even with that last thing she says — enough to surprise a brief laugh out of him. ]

I'll do my best, [ he promises. to avoid losing any limbs! but maybe, also, just in general. ] And that goes for you too. If I can ever help...

[ well, warriors/champions of light should stick together, no? ]

[aquaveiled]

[ Bonds are, indeed, a strength and a weakness. In forming them with other people, you put yourself and them at risk, but isn't live still just so much better with them? Himeka has never been the sort to try and sever those as someone who has always been incorrigibly drawn to people. But she has friends that do--ones that prefer to keep a distance, whether out of distrust, fear, or something else.

The laugh is important--it shows he's growing more comfortable, if even for a moment. Hopefully it lightens some of the weight from Rand's shoulders as well. ]

I will be sure to call on you for aid.

[ And she means it. She's seen an inkling of what he could do in front of the Regent and if he's born of legends, she doubts that is the extent of his abilities.

Warriors/Champions of Light (and redheads) do stick together.

Lowering her hands, the glowing aether around him dims until it disappears entirely. ]

I think that's all I can do for now. We'll see how your injuries fair in a couple hours. If I've done my job you should see your wounds closed fully by then.

[ Scarring is another issue entirely, but that's less important.

She glances down at his hands. ]

...Would you like another muffin?

[dragonmount]

[ he appreciates that.

because himeka might not be seeing him at quite his best today — or even this week, or even since they met in some ways — so it'd be easy to dismiss his offer, wouldn't it? he spent so long playing at normal. and even when he's stopped, the regent subdued him in an instant. amos, ciel, misa — he must've been laughably easy to overcome, to them. and that rankles in a deep place, if not a place he's examining right here and right now.

so her sincerity soothes just as much as her magic, in some ways, where it would've been easy to accidentally raise his hackles. helps him relax that incremental amount more. and he nods as she lets the aether disappear, says, ]

I know you have. [ done her job. ] Thank you.

[ himeka's a good healer, and he was never injured so seriously, really. that hadn't been the point. and...he gazes follows her, down to his hands and the fairly squashed muffin in his hands. light, that's embarrassing. ]

...Yeah. That's a good idea.

[ soft wheeze. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ Everyone stumbles a bit. She's made her own fair share of mistakes that have cost so, so much. But Rand has something in him that is promising--mayhaps that is part of what this Dragon title is about? She would ask Moiraine if she could. But she senses something in Rand that she's seen in many others...

His biggest hurdle will be himself. The very least she can do is try to reassure him that he's worth it. That he can do what he hopes to.

She chuckles and just reaches over to grab another muffin from her basket, handing it over to Rand with a raised brow. ]

I think this will serve you better in your stomach.