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

[dragonmount]

[ he opens his eyes with a sudden alarm.

not that he's against resting. all earlier difficulty aside, he always was going to go back to sleep sooner or later. he isn't opposed to it now. but, irrationally, he watches abel stand, and thinks,

well, why wouldn't he leave? who wouldn't want to go, after all that, promises of friendship or no? and maybe that had been what rand had asked for, expected even, in the wake of these confessions. but...he finds, abruptly, that he doesn't want to be alone. so there's a swell of worry that seems to rise in his throat, as he says, ]

Wait —

1/2

[inutilis]

[ --ah.

that protest stalls his footsteps before he can get far, hand still clasped over the back of the chair. but he doesn't move it, yet, and just--

hesitates, looking at Rand in momentary surprise. ]

[inutilis]

[ ...

...this boy, is...

his expression softens, and there is a tug of something gentler than the lot that has been passing through their bond, now. it's awash with reassurance, a fondness, as Abel takes the bag with Ernesto's honeycake, takes the little paper to discard, and sets it all aside.

and then he starts nudging Rand delicately at the shoulder, goading him to lay down. ]

I promised I'd keep watch, make sure you got some half-decent rest - and I'm a man of my word! So...

[ is Rand getting tucked in like he's five?

he is absolutely getting tucked in like he's five. ]

I'm afraid you're stuck with me.

[ ...he isn't going anywhere. it's okay. ]

[dragonmount]

[ he has about as long as abel hesitates to feel — something. the briefest of fears of rejection, some embarrassment, something closer to shame, all at the same time. he swallows down that earlier worry with the intention of apologizing, letting the other man go, because he really is okay...

but before he can get there, and before abel even speaks, the bond tells him everything he needs to know, doesn't it? so he...breathes out. sets aside whatever's left of his own honeycake, once they got distracted by more serious confessions. feels that warm fondness and, for once, lets himself have this. so he's pliable about moving to lay down as directed, even being tucked in like a child with a fever. ]

Okay. [ softly, with a flush of hesitant gratitude radiating off him. ] Okay. Thank you.

[inutilis]

[ Abel will kindly pretend he doesn't sense that bundled churn of emotions as Rand gracefully accepts The Tuckening, letting the blankets be drawn around him like he were a small child instead of a grown boy. Rand is still a child, and sometimes... despite one's age, we all yearn for this. to be told it's going to be alright; to be reminded you aren't alone. to feel a kind, steady hand, secure and protective, ensuring that things are going to be okay. ]

Close your eyes.

[ soft; quiet. Abel has practice with this entire procession and it comes easy to him. ]

Everything'll be just a little bit easier next time you wake, so... just rest for now.

[ 'I'm with you.' ]