aionlogs | EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (VENERA)

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EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (VENERA)

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 Shops are open, and its people are withdrawn but superficially friendly when meeting strangers.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.

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[ Why would they intentionally send letters to the Regent? He frowns, wondering if there is more to the story he hasn't heard yet. As far as he's aware, those who'd been targeted had no knowledge that they would be and had no prior contact with the Regent. While they'd opposed the Regent, they wouldn't put themselves at greater risk by threatening him. I

I doubt you'd be willing to show me any of it, but how could you tell they weren't fabricated?

[ He'll keep his shield up until he can intensify it even further ...or until it breaks, which it just might. He's not used to testing its might against bullets from other worlds and is still maintaining a defensive stance, waiting for Eustace to fire first.

He can feel his own muscles riddled with tension as his gaze remains locked on Eustace's gun rather than his face. The moment his hand shifts, he's ready to skid his way out of danger –theoretically. For all he knows, he might end up not moving fast enough, and a bullet would wind up lodged between his eyes. ]

[ Words, words, more words. Eustace lets them flow through one ear and out the other, dismissing them as soon as they're spoken. As far as he's concerned, there's no point in debating this topic, not when they'll likely never see eye-to-eye. If there's anything he should be focusing on, it's the shield that surrounds Thoma, flickering faintly as it forms a bubble around him.

A number of thoughts run through his head, coming and going within the space of a few seconds. Is it safe to shoot at the shield or will his bullets simply ricochet off, their speed not enough to pierce through the barrier? Is size and force more of a factor in breaking it down? How much energy does it take to maintain that shield and can he simply wear Thoma down if they fight long enough?

For now, he withholds from shooting at Thoma, opting instead to lunge forward and strike the barrier with one end of his gun, testing to see how tough the shield actually is. ]

[ Oh, that's a surprise...

Thoma is already moving before his brain can even register what's going on. The hand that's not holding his spear rises to block the gun out of reflex, allowing his leather vambrace to absorb some of the shock. It hurts, but it doesn't fracture his forearm, too used to being on the receiving end of damage to be that easily compromised.

Why Eustace didn't unload most of bullets into him is a mystery he's trying to unravel, unsure if it's because Eustace also doesn't want to really hurt him or if he's trying to catch Thoma off-guard. It really only makes Thoma all the tenser and more paranoid, but he thinks if he keeps Eustace at close range, then Eustace won't be able to make a clean shot.

Forcing the gun to one side, Thoma flips his spear over with the other hand and catches it so he can force the pointed end downwards, aiming to stab the edge of Eustace's foot as hard as he can while he's still near. ]

Sorry about this–!

[ Sometimes you have a big gun but you don't actually enjoy killing people? Don't think about it too hard, don't perceive him and his actually soft core.

Though Eustace is certainly perceiving Thoma, brows pulling down at the sudden apology casually tossed into the air between them. He barely manages to avoid being stabbed, sidestepping so that the tip of the spear digs into ground rather than flesh, but the movement places more distance between the two of them, giving Thoma a little more room to breathe. (Maybe that'd been the plan all along, to distract him with apologies and platitudes? It certainly doesn't make him feel better about what he's doing, though he's far past the point of trying to find salvation for his actions.)

Well-versed as he is in fighting by this point, his concentration reforms near immediately and he's lunging back in without delay, free hand reaching down to pull out a dagger while his main weapon remains trapped. Instead of a strike this time he goes for a slice, aiming for the inside of the arm holding the spear to try and disable Thoma. ]

[ The dagger is a surprise as is the way it strikes down on his arm. The dinosaur leather on his vambrace absorbs most of the impact, but it's still not strong enough that the blade doesn't also cut into the surface of his skin, making him wince and clench his teeth in pain. Blood starts gathering at the wound, quickly ignored as Thoma tries to recover his footing. ]

You could have plunged it in my chest but went for my arm instead.

[ That means Eustace also isn't fighting to kill him, which does put Thoma slightly at ease... not by a whole lot. There's a prisoner at stake, one he can't allow to be injured. He can't lose sight of her, and he's already aiming to see how he can reach her and at least snap her bindings so she can run.

His eyes shift back to Eustace as he charges forward, flames lighting up his spear, aiming to swipe low and knock Eustace off his feet. That should hopefully buy Thoma some time to reach the prisoner. ]

[ There's no satisfaction at seeing blood well to the surface after his dagger slips off, only a grim resignation. ]

We were told to capture you and return you to Achamoth

[ It's not really a reassurance, just a simple statement of fact. Truthfully (at least in his opinion) death would be far more merciful than a return to Achamoth, to be thrown in a jail cell and subject to the Regent's whims and cruelties. After all, if the Regent is willing to go this far for simple citizens merely aiding the resistance, how much worse would they be willing to be for someone actively trying to destroy the Kenoma?

(And yet, at the same time, Eustace is grateful for the orders to capture instead of kill, his resolve to follow the Regent wavering more violently with each passing day.)

Thoma's spear succeeds in what its meant to do, the wide fiery swing enough to cause Eustace to stumble backwards, feet ungraceful as they try to move him swiftly away from the flickering flames. By some miracle, he manages not to get set on fire, but he can feel the afterimage of heat searing past his legs, a reminder of how close he'd come to being roast dog.

There's an opening now — will Thoma take it? ]

[ Yes, he will. It's what he came here to do as he sprints with as much energy and focus as he can muster towards the prisoner. His spear, still lit up with bright flames, swings downwards, both cutting and melting through the metal to give the prisoner freedom to run.

However, he's not out of the woods yet as he turns around to break out into a running tackle, hoping to keep Eustace pinned for as long as he can manage to buy the prisoner time to run. He knows if he lets up, a bullet is going to wind up chasing that lady, and Thoma would rather he bear it than anyone else.

He's also surmised the same as Eustace– ]

It'd be better for the both of us to take me out here rather than draw things out any further. I don't know enough about this world and the rebel movement that I'd even be of no use for interrogation.

[ There would be nothing to gain from having him as a prisoner unless they plan to steal his power/vision somehow –which is honestly pretty terrifying. ]

[ —Huh. That's surprising.

Not the way Thoma moves immediately to free his prisoner (and after he'd gone through all the hassle of tracking them down too, what a waste of effort) but the way Thoma willingly throws his life on the line, already agreeing to barter himself despite how little the fight has proceeded.

Eustace slows his movements, weapon dropping an inch but no more. He doesn't believe for a second that it's safe to simply agree to such a thing without careful consideration, but at the same time he can see the truth in the other man's words.

(And truthfully, he's tired of fighting and has been for some time now.) ]

Are you willingly offering yourself for capture?

[ He'll consider it but......what's the rub? ]

[ Thoma's arms remain in place too, gripping onto his spear and pressing it heavily onto Eustace's chest to continue to keep him pinned. He's not a big guy himself nor does he have Eustace's muscle mass (~~thank you summer Eustace for blessing us with the true extend of his buffness~~), but if he puts his whole weight into it, he thinks he can keep Eustace from scrambling out from underneath him.

He's more concerned with the captive running away to safety and is continuing to buy her as much time as possible. ]

Only if you let her go. I'll drop my spear, and you can turn me in. I'll even let you get in a few good blows to make it look like I put up a good fight.

[ It'll be worth it if she reaches the other rebels who can secure her passage into Greentruth, and maybe the Regent is more interested in having more Aions than Venerans anyway, even if Thoma maintains he has no actual useful information to contribute nor is he likely to talk after being tortured. ]

[ Eustace thinks about it for a good long while.

Both elimination of the targets on the hitlist as well as the capture of any present Pleroma had been part of the mission objectives for those sent to Venera. Ideally he would succeed at both, but given his current position on the ground he doesn't exactly have room to negotiate, and he's not foolish enough to think he can keep an eye on both Thoma as well as his prisoner.

Eventually, he gives in. The opportunity to capture one of the Pleroma far outweighs the potential capture of a Veneran rebel with no powers and little money to their name. He's not fully convinced this isn't some sort of trap still and the tension in his body remains, his grip tight around his weapons even as he remains pinned. ]

How do I know you won't run if I do?

[ He's always been a man of his word, but he's well aware Eustace has no proof of concept on that. They've only interacted once before, and though it had been favorable, it's difficult to gauge someone's true nature in such a short time. He also doesn't know if he can trust Eustace in return, but Thoma has always had fairly good instincts when it comes to judging others and can usually sniff out a lie.

However, something tells him right now that he'll have to be the one to surrender first if he plans on getting what he wants. It's a gamble, but Thoma nods and rolls off Eustace before dropping his spear, letting it clatter noisily on the cobble stones. He then takes a step back, hands lifted to show he's about as unarmed as he can be. It's a bit harder to relinquish his pyromancy, so this will have to do. ]

You can tie my wrists up and secure them to make sure I can't move or cast any magic on you. If I wasn't serious about this, I would have never released you, knowing you could put a bullet in my head at any moment.

[ Many would call him very stupid ...including his lord, and maybe Thoma is being too soft about this, but he sees no other way out of this that won't end with someone dying –either him, Eustace, or the Veneran rebel. ]

[ Even after Thoma drops his spear, Eustace hesitates, narrowed gaze shifting between the blond man, the still sputtering woman, and the street that they're on, currently devoid of people. He's never sensed any sort of deception from the man, even back when they'd met in Venera the first time, and he doesn't sense any now. He'd be hard-pressed not to take this deal.

Better would be if he tied up Thoma and then still kept his original prisoner close. There's nothing that says he has to be fair, nothing in the rulebook that says he has to abide by any verbal agreements made. His priority is his mission, after all, and his mission says to capture both rebel Venerans as well as any Pleroma that come knocking.

But in the end, he's also a man of his word, and as soon as he gets up and finishes tying Thoma up, he turns towards his previous prisoner, head jerking to the left as if to say get lost. The woman turns with alacrity, scrambling off down the streets and towards safety.

Surely the Regent will forgive him this one transgression.

(And maybe, just a little bit, he's tired of having to send largely innocent people to their deaths.)

Thoma's spear he picks up, if only so other potential rebels won't stumble across them and make use of them. It's a bit awkward, to have so many weapons stashed on his person now, but provided no further interference arrives, it shouldn't be a problem. ]

Let's go.

[ It's a relief to see her scurry away, making this whole ordeal not entirely a lost cause. He knows he can't save everyone, but he still has to try. And while being held captive will make it difficult, he knows he's not the only one here getting imprisoned. One of his allies is bound to break him free.

...Or he gets taken all the way to Achamoth for what he assumes will be an unpleasant trip.

Either way, he's secure he did at least one thing right and is trying not to panic internally about it. As a last resort, he could always burn himself free if he needs to, but he'll politely refrain from pointing that out as he follows Eustace quietly. ]

I know you probably have some more people on your list, and I know I've run out of bargaining chips, but a lot of them are old people, shop clerks, bartenders... they'd only fed and clothed us rebels and offered basic hospitality.

[ They shouldn't be put to death for that. If the Regent is going to target anyone, they should have put the hit out on the Aions. ]

Are you really okay with killing the unarmed and untrained?

[ For the longest time, Eustace doesn't answer, keeping his mouth shut as they march down the empty streets, their footfalls the sound noise to break an otherwise desolate silence. Odd, because while it certainly is quiet in Venera these days, it's not the type of silence that brings him any joy at all. How can it, when it comes at the price of so many lives lost?

He tells himself it's for something greater, that the casualties sustained here are more than worth the lives that will be made better. How many children will be able to grow up in the company of their families rather than in the company of strangers and their own bitter tears? He thinks of himself, of Misa, of Gray and the way her village had seen her as nothing more than a figurehead for their strange religious fervor.

But somewhere deep inside, his heart still wavers.

Eventually: ]

This is a war. There are always going to be casualties.

[ But he doesn't sound happy about what he says, his voice soft and brooding. ]

There doesn't have to be any.

[ A good commander always tries to limit casualties –not that he fancies himself one, and he's not sure about Eustace's status. But he knows a thing or two about strategy from working so closely with lord, and preserving as many lives as possible is always the first thing on his mind. ]

If there have to be any at all, they shouldn't come from civilians, but the Regent probably doesn't mind putting them all to death to get to us. It's just more stepping stones to reach his goal.

[ He'd hoped the Kenoma Aions would reconsider when innocents were brought into the picture, but the lives probably don't mean as much to some of them because the Venerans are outsiders. No one of consequence to them.

He falls silent, unsure how to get them to see otherwise. Maybe they're all desperate to reach the end quicker because they think they'll see their loved ones only to find out there might not be anything else after death. ]

[ That's the ideal, isn't it? For no one to die, for there to be peace across the land. It's not even that he disagrees with Thoma on this point, because it's something he himself has wanted for so long. But the longer he stays with the Kenoma and does as the Kenoma - the Regent - asks, the more comfortable he is with taking a few lives in order to achieve the bigger picture.

He almost doesn't answer Thoma. Almost. It's never been his style to engage in arguments he can't win. But he responds anyway, after another bout of silence, his words soft but steady.

Maybe he needs to convince himself as much as Thoma. ]

Don't assume that this is solely about you. That's the mistake we all make, being only able to see what's directly in front of him.

[ He leaves it at that, silent the rest of the way no matter how much Thoma talks, until they make it to the transformed storehouse. ]

[ Thoma also senses that's about as much as he's going to get out of someone reticent like Eustace. His shoulders droop as he continues to trek behind Eustace with his hands bound, unsure what awaits him once he reaches the storehouse. With the chance he might be dragged all the way to Achamoth eventually, he's even more deeply unsettled, but he'll cross that bridge if they get there...

For now, he tries to steel himself for what is likely to be a long, boring wait in a windowless room with no food and only scowling Kenomas who aren't interested in chatting. Still, it's the best choice he could have made in this situation, and he harbors no regrets even if others might think differently. ]

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EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (VENERA)

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