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 Shops are open, and its people are withdrawn but superficially friendly when meeting strangers.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

[zauneyete]

[ It had all been going... so well, before. This target had been a nurse, which was little concern for Silco, not someone to be protected -- although Silco didn't really consider that people should be protected out of the goodness of ones heart. Perhaps if they had the means to force it -- as he had -- but not simply because of the job that they held.

The nurse was slowly passing out, when he held her in the crux of his elbow, and he'd silently turned, when he heard the door out in the hallway open and close.

Concerning, but hopefully it was just a civilian. They wouldn't be willing to fight the Regent's forces, particularly an Aion, and he'd already prepared himself to bark an order to leave, when who should darken the door but the man with bad eyesight, who'd spoke of a light during their shared dream. Nonsense.

He smirked, and tipped his head, holding her up. ] Look at you.

[ He doesn't speak with authority, but he doesn't have to. Silco sounds confident. and he continued to hold her. ]

Coming to save one of the traitors? I suppose I should have guessed someone would drop by, eventually. I didn't expect it to be you.

[ Stella's eyes flutter, airloss enough that she's already passing out, but Silco holds her in front of him still. ]

[coupris]

[Kim's jaw sets when he sees Silco is behind this. He should find it relieving-- according to Caitlyn, their world lacked the kind of powerful magic other Aions possess, but he still likes to run his mouth. Kim's gut churns as he does it, and knows better than to assume it's because of the presence of Kenoma. As Silco goaded him into some petty argument, that only made less time for Strella to breathe.

If Silco didn't see any light, Kim would provide. The firebolt at his fingertips reflects in the lenses of his glasses, blotting out any sort of expression in his eyes. Still, he almost smirks at being called unexpected.]

Good.

[The firebolt launches at Silco, but bursts into the shelf just above his head. Kim didn't dare for a direct hit while Silco still had Strella in his grasp, only aiming to shock him into dropping her for now.]

[zauneyete]

[ Silco didn't jump. Oh, he flinched, but he first of all doubted that the man would try to shoot through the woman he held in his arms, but second... Silco didn't think he had the fortitude for a killing blow. When the firebolt didn't hit him, but instead the shelf above him. He smirked, in response.

His arm tightened around her, a little bit more, and Silco felt her stop to go limp. ]

Trying to scare me? [ He asked, his tone a touch idle, and there was no lack of mockery to be found in his tone. He was shaken, slightly. His breath was quicker, and his eye filled with a manic look, but he wasn't letting it show, beyond that. ]

Please. Your threats need to be more effective, if you want to make me lose my footing.

[coupris]

[Kim's stomach fills with ice when Silco still doesn't drop Strella. Anxiety curls up the muscles in his chest, but none of it reaches his face, either. His mind races, and his eyes dart about in the dim light for his other options.

He had gambled on the fact that Silco was at the top of his old food chain; criminals at the height of their power often lost a taste for the dirty work that got them there in the first place.

A more effective threat. Fine. Kim drew a knife from his pocket, the kind he'd found abandoned by the docks, most likely used for carving wood and bone. He knew damn well it didn't look that intimidating as he bore down on Silco, but it was much more noticeable than the off-kilter flask on the burned out shelf above him.

The telekinesis cantrip wasn't one he'd fully experimented with compared to summoning flame or water, but as he concentrates until he can feel the wrinkles in his brain, the flask wobbles and tips over, sending it and whatever contents were inside bearing down on Silco's head.]

[zauneyete]

[ He didn't feel like talking, which was fine for Silco. He didn't need Kim to respond, he just had to listen, didn't he? He was about to say something about the knife he pulled out, small, and simple. There was nothing particularly wicked about it, pure utility, like something a dock worker would use. Silco knew what those were like, after all, he'd stolen one as a boy.

He felt the breath go out of her -- not dead, because the Regent wanted them to see a trial -- but she went limp in his arms, and he'd been about to drop her, and deal with Kim in earnest, when something hit him from above -- rubbing alcohol from the smell -- and he narrowed his eyes, before he unceremoniously dropped the doctor before him.

He pulled his own knife out from within his coat. Longer, wicked, a serrated point on his knife, and he held it with a practiced hand. It wasn't ornate, unlike most of the clothing he had on -- more function than form -- and he swiped the air, testing it. ]

How cute. You aren't the only one who's been playing with our new abilities, you know.

[ He didn't try for one of those little fireballs, or to pull something on top of Kim, but instead, with the crook of a finger, he let the door clatter behind him, before he rushed him, trying to distract him with the presence of possible companion or enemy, before he went low, to swipe with his knife. ]