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

[gravings]

[ He presents an interesting contradiction as someone who acknowledges that it's bad for people to feel nothing about killing, but who would happily take on other people's killing for them anyway. Between this and his previous sentiment that losers have an important function in validating winners, she has to say that he has more romantic notions that she first expected of him. Not naive, but perhaps bent, justifications that veer off the road of standard sense. ]

I wouldn't like to reach that point... but I don't want to run away from my responsibilities if I can help it.

[ A beat. ]

... Though I wonder if the rest of you can see it that way. I'm sure I must seem like a child.

[ Second only to... maybe Majorita? And that's a big maybe. ]

[vapour]

[ if only she knew just how far off the road he's actually veered.

he hopes she never has to see that.

he knows it's only a matter of time before they all see it.

he smiles playfully in response with an airy chuckle, and his tone is highly encouraging when he speaks. ]

It may be hard for me to see it, but that's only because I'm past the point of no return. I can't do such a thing myself, even if I wanted to, and neither can many of the others.

The truth is... our opinions on this particular choice of yours don't matter because of this very fact. It's not you being a child other than that you still can decide how and what you wish to live by.

The only thing I ask is that you don't let anyone sway you away from this ambition until you prove to and decide yourself that you can't do it.

I know it doesn't mean much coming from me since we aren't very close, but I'm cheering you on all the way, and will support you in whatever you ultimately find out about yourself, Gray.

[gravings]

[ Does she still have a choice? It's starting to feel like she doesn't with how the Regent is becoming.

If there were other kids in the Kenoma even younger and less prepared to fight than she, then she would see all sense in sheltering those kids from having to participate in violence for as long as possible. It's really only her distaste for people bothering themselves over her that keeps her stubborn. As soon as possible, she'd like to stop seeming like a child in need of protection. ]

Thank you. You're always so supportive...

[ Though she doesn't know why. ]

[vapour]

[ he nods at her thanks before he's going to stand up and stretch now, figuring he should get back to patrolling.

Childe gives a wave to her before moving to go off but stops just before he gets too far away. He'll turn around and speak a little quieter. ] Of course... if all else fails for you... The Regent's way isn't the only way. Don't forget that.

[ of course that's traitor talk so be can't elaborate on it nor is he willing to risk anyone hearing him saying such a thing to her. He hopes Gray can figure out her path here and not be afraid to walk down it, whatever it may be.

With those words he leaves. ]