EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (VENERA)

[aionmods]

Sovereign Citizens

VENERA

In contrast the Aion's last visit, they now arrive in Venera on a completely average day... or so it seems. Unlike Godsblood, Venera has been given no warning as to what's about to befall it; the Kenoma are simply authorized to arrive and begin their bloody work without fanfare. Even their entourage of Achamite soldier don't stick out that much; in the time since the plague left, the city has refilled with occupying forces. Notably, the Hylician ones seem to be keeping out of the way, almost as if they've heard some things and would rather not be involved too closely in what's to come.

As opposed to the ghost town it was during the plague, Venera is now reasonably active, with most attending to their usual business. Shops are open, and its people are withdrawn but superficially friendly when meeting strangers. Initially, the targets of the Kenoma hit list will have no way of knowing what's coming for them, but after the first couple attacks word will begin to spread. Those that have recently been engaging in seditious behavior will become harder to find, leaving their usual homes and workplaces to stay elsewhere, and making other attempts to escape the Regent's attention.

Once those alerts have been raised, the Kenoma will have to engage in more detective work to find their targets, questioning other Venerans and seeking out fugitives in the homes of their family and friends. In the meantime, some of those who believe they are in danger may become desperately enough to seek out the Pleroma directly, imploring them for aid. Unfortunately, seeking out one sect may just as easily draw the attention of the other. Most uninvolved Venerans will be too terrified to intervene one way or another, reluctant to aid in the persecution of their neighbors but fearful of consequences. If your Aion travels openly, it will take some effort to pin them down long enough to hold a conversation.

SEEDS OF DESPAIR

Several days into the culling of Venera, the Aions will have witnessed the city gradually withdraw into itself. The streets become vacant as more and more people decide it isn't worth the risk to be seen outside, abandoning work and play alike to hide out in their homes, refusing to answer their doors to all except the most desperate pleading. Those that can't avoid their daily obligations are quiet and morose, trying their best to remain unseen and unremarked upon.

If your character has been observed as a Kenoma, either now or in their previous visits to the city, the citizens will look upon them as if they are the messengers of death. If you are seen as a Pleroma, they will resist your gaze, as if fearing your presence alone might leave them marked. In rarer cases, you will see those with stronger spirits, with glares of hatred or determination. They are powerless now, but seeds have been sewn, and whether they are the seeds of despair or of action are yet unclear.

By the time the Kenoma's hit list has been fully addressed, several have been killed and several more have been rushed from their homes to flee the city entirely. There have been holes left in the tapestry of the community they were once part of. One way or another, their absence will be felt keenly by those they left behind.

QUESTIONS

What is the best way for Aions to travel to Venera?
Estinien has plans to get an early start for the Pleroma by teleporting to the Lover's shrine and flying somewhere closer to set up a portal from the ocean caves near the Godsblood Lodestone to a spot of farmland closer to Venera. Paul will be setting up a portal directly from Achamoth to one of the Achamite outposts in Venera.

How much force can the Kenoma use while interrogating Venerans?
While they are generally not permitted to kill Venerans who haven't tried to physically fight them, they will be permitted to apply both physical and mental pressure upon those that refuse to provide them with information regarding the whereabouts of their targets. This duress should be proportional to the resistance the Veneran is offering. The Regent is not inviting them to terrorize Venera on a level to a level they cannot reasonably blaim themselves for.

Comments

[sterngaze]

[Liem shows no outward signs of noting Dokja's increasing suspicion. Behind his dark glasses, his expression remains steadily neutral; his voice as he continues is even and unhurried.]

The catch is that I cannot help you directly without risking being found out, so you'll have to take action on your own.

[Slowly, deliberately, he slides one hand into a pocket and withdraws a small piece of folded paper.]

I'm not asking for anything in return. The less I know about what you intend to do with any Venerans you relocate, the better. I just want to use my time in the Regent's sect productively before I leave it for good.

I know you have no reason to trust me. But you're here to thwart the Regent's plans, yes? This is an opportunity for you to get ahead of them.

[salvageable]

[ It's almost too good to be true. A Kenoma betraying their side and offering up information to the enemy isn't something that happens often. Dokja's left conflicted, tensing for just a moment when the stranger reaches into his pocket, then easing up when only a piece of paper is produced. If this is real, if this is genuine, then it's an opportunity that he can't afford to lose.

But... he can't understand the why of this situation. ]

They're going to find out, you know.

[ Not because Dokja will tell them. Should this information prove true, he'll have nothing but respect for this stranger. All he wants right now is to keep Venera from crumbling and its citizens from disappearing, because that's the goal of his allies in the Pleroma. Anything to make that easier for them will be met with gratitude. ]

Aren't you afraid of what they'll do to you?

[sterngaze]

[Liem has very little familiarity with any of those who count themselves among the ranks of the Pleroma. With only a single exception, he doesn't know which of them arrived in the same month that he did, and which of them endured the strange ritual and its terrible effects in what has been described to him as "the throne room." This man might never have experienced the Kenoma's torment—or, he might be well acquainted with it already.

But for the first time since he called him over, Liem's sober expression twists into a mirthless smile. Of course it's obvious that the Regent's faithful don't harbour a single shred of mercy. There couldn't be any in the Kenoma's ranks that wouldn't know that already.]

I'm aiming to leave before it comes to that—but if I'm caught…

[He tips his head slightly, eyebrows lifting in a brief, helpless expression. What can he do about that, really?]

There's little left that anyone could take from me. The Regent already saw to that.

[salvageable]

[ Oh... Well, isn't this depressing.

Dokja's well aware of the Kenoma's poison, having been part of the first wave and left to suffer on the floor of that cave, his arm branded with the Martyr's symbol. He still thinks about that time every now and then, of how much soul-crushing despair he'd endured. And then he'd watched on in agony as people succumbed, one by one, before they'd turned their attention to him in an effort to have him do the same.

He hadn't, of course. Which is why he stands opposite of this Kenoma, expression grim as he frowns in response to what the other man has to say. He knows. He knows better than most what it's like to lose everything.

So at the very least, he should try to help others going through something similar. ]

Come with me, then. It doesn't have to end here. I can take you to where you'll be safe.

[sterngaze]

[The speed with which this man transitions from suspicion to offering Liem sanctuary makes him pause briefly in surprise. Of course, sanctuary might just as easily be a Pleroma prison somewhere, but even prison would certainly be an improvement over whatever awaits him back at Achamoth should he be recaptured. It should be a tempting offer regardless, and perhaps would be to someone with more to lose.

Liem simply holds out the folded-up piece of paper.]

If you see me again, perhaps then I’ll consider it.

[He would rather continue to live a little longer, at least if it means he can prove more of an obstacle to the Regent’s plans. If the enemy of the enemy is his friend, then it’s not inconceivable he might seek refuge with the Pleroma before his time here is done.]

But I have things to do here while I’m still counted among the Kenoma’s ranks. I would feel remiss if I didn’t attend to them.

[salvageable]

[ Maybe this would have worked out if Dokja had been a more convincing person with a talent for stringing together encouraging words. As it stands now, though, he's just a guy with a penchant for fucking things up. ]

I don't know whether to think you're brave or stupid.

[ Probably both. He tries to offset his borderline insult with a wry grin, but there's no hiding the very real doubt in his eyes. He can't imagine this Kenoma is going to get far with his efforts, all the more reason to try and get him back to where he'll be safe, but... That's not Dokja's choice to make.

After a brief pause, he accepts the offered paper, glancing at it for just a second before he tucks it safely away in his pocket. He'll deal with that in a moment. ]

I don't suppose I'm going to get a name out of you?

[sterngaze]

[Liem raises a brow at the man's unadorned honesty, but he can't be insulted when it's entirely likely that he'll end up suffering for his efforts. His stubbornness isn't leading him down the wisest path, admittedly, and truthfully his desire to redeem himself might be clouding his judgement. But he's not counting himself out just yet.

When the other man asks for his name, he considers the question for a long moment, regarding him unblinkingly behind his dark lenses. It might, perhaps, make his information seem more trustworthy if he's willing to be a little more forthcoming in other areas. And if the man has any reason to contact him later, knowing his name might make him easier to track down. His mouth thins to a pale line.]

It's Liem.

[salvageable]

Nice to meet you, Liem. I'm Dokja.

[ Because despite how he presents himself, Dokja does still have manners. He's pleasantly surprised to have gotten a name at all, and it's... a little hopeful, isn't it? That someone from the Kenoma is offering this much help.

It makes Dokja's cold, basically dead heart wonder if there's a chance for some of the others. ]

When [ when, not if ] you come over to our side, give me a call and I'll treat you to a meal as thanks for this.

[ But make it inexpensive because he's poor. ]

[sterngaze]

[That’s a bold level of confidence coming from a man who has only just learned Liem’s name. What’s he going to do if they part ways in this alley and he opens up that piece of paper only to find “you fell for it, idiot” written on the inside? Or even information meant to lure him into some kind of trap? Liem has done basically nothing for him at this point, yet he doesn’t hesitate to extend that hopeful promise on the chance that they’ll meet again under better circumstances.

The short, sharp exhale Liem gives could possibly be a laugh.]

Thank you for the offer.

[If he succeeds here, if he lives through Venera without getting dragged back to Achamoth for his treachery, might he consider that offer? Maybe. Probably not, but then cheating death might change his mind about that sort of thing, at least for a short while.

For now, he straightens away from the alley wall with every intention of departing now that his information has been delivered.]

Take care. I would hate for my information to go to waste.

[salvageable]

[ Maybe things would have gone differently once upon a time ago, and Dokja would have held more suspicion in his heart and mind and gone about this entire situation with a more hesitant approach. As it stands now, however, he's seen too much good in people to have that same cynicism he'd held on to for a large majority of his life.

So... yeah. He'll believe because he wants to believe. For the first time in a long time, he's feeling a little hopeful. Just the knowledge that there are those in the Kenoma willing to go this far has some of his darker thoughts shifting gears. ]

It won't go to waste. I'll make your efforts worth it.

[ And he will be expecting that call. ]

See you later.

[ Dokja will head out first. He's got a Veneran to save now, after all. ]