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 Shops are open, and its people are withdrawn but superficially friendly when meeting strangers.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

[emblazer]

[ Why did it have to be ice? He strafes out of the way, already mourning his shield breaking and knowing he can't rely on that to give him much cover. He'll just have to keep his speed and reflexes up, though just like Kaeya had Rosaria to help him, he had Ayaka, so this isn't his first rodeo against a sword-wielding cryomancer. ]

If you insist–

[ It's his only warning before he charges at Kaeya and aims low, hoping to use the bottom end of his spear to sweep Kaeya's legs out from under him. He doubts it'll do much more than mildly inconvenience Kaeya, but he's trying to build his pyromancy quickly so he can switch to a more offensive tactic.

He only chances a glance to make sure that Kaeya's would-be victim is gaining more distance on them by the second. He thinks he can hold Kaeya off for a bit longer, but he also knows Kaeya will be able to catch up to them fast the moment Thoma stumbles curse that sprinting stamina reduction passive. ]

If Lumine were here she'd probably object to us squabbling, but she picked a good time to go home.

[ Right before this whole mess. He almost envies her at the moment, as he still doesn't like taking up arms against friends and compatriots from his home. ]

[subsist]

[ it seems that thoma has an appropriate reaction to every action that kaeya takes, which earns an appreciative whistle from the former knight of favonius. he didn't think this was going to be an easy fight, but he does understand that if he isn't taking this seriously enough, then thoma is going to get exactly what he wants — which is the inevitable escape of the rebel kaeya had been pursuing. one glance tells him that they are consistently gaining more ground the longer this goes, so... ]

And what makes you so sure she went home? There isn't anything to go back to.

[ it's not like anyone from within the kenoma had told him anything different, so he has no reason to believe that teyvat is exactly where lumine ended up after disappearing from here. whatever follow-up he has to this statement has to wait since he needs to dodge thoma's spear, jumping back to be out of its range.

he switches gears: now that he knows the pleroma aion is simply trying to delay him, then he goes for the offensive, infusing his sword with cryo before he sends a burst of ice straight for thoma. it's time to trigger either a melt reaction or a frozen status— either one, kaeya can work with. ]

[emblazer]

[ The ice slices through the distance between them too quickly for Thoma to properly move out of the way, most of it catching him on his non-dominant side. The edges make enough contact to hurt him substantially from the elemental reaction, as well as the way the sharp points cutting into his bare skin.

Thoma winces in pain as he stumbles back a few steps and tries to quickly regain his balance. ]

She was a Pleroma too, so we share the same connection as you do with your allies. I've tried reaching out to her, and I can still feel something there... enough to know she's not dead. Just far from here.

[ Maybe he's fooling himself, but Thoma has nothing else to cling to. He wants to believe more than anything that Lumine made it back safely, otherwise she'd be completely cut off from all of them, wouldn't she? ]

Are you still able to talk to any of those whose shards have been permanently destroyed?

[ The question is pitched to Kaeya before he lunges forward, using the end of his spear again and aiming to jab it straight into Kaeya's gut. ]

[subsist]

[ it says a lot that kaeya hasn't tried to contact her, but then again, being on the opposite side makes that a lot harder. thoma's claim that she only feels far away is something that makes him hesitate, long enough to consider it for a few moments. that leads him to get struck by the end of thoma's spear, staggering him back as pain blooms from his gut. he takes a sharp intake of breath, shakes off the ache as he tries not to lose his focus.

his eye narrows at the other man. if that had been the blade of his spear, then thoma would have easily drawn blood right there. he isn't fighting for keeps, is he? ]

Lying isn't a good look on you, you know. Where's your proof?

[ leave it to him to avoid answering the question thrown his way by asking more questions. and when he attacks next, he goes for the same area where the other had been grazed, aiming to make it worse.

they'll likely go back and forth exchanging blows like this until one wears out the other. ]

[emblazer]

[ Once again, he tries to block with his left side so he can still be able to swing and direct his spear properly after, but he knows there's only so much damage he can absorb with raw tissue and muscle now that his shield down. He'll have to rely on a stronger elemental burst, summoning it now to buy himself more time as the bright red armor encases him. It will probably remain intact just for a few seconds, but the fire pluming out of him should at least help slow Kaeya down from attacking at close range while he recovers.

He hears the steps of Kaeya's victim fade as they gain more distance on them, which does bring himself some modicum of relief, but he's not going to convince himself his job is done until they've reached the boats. He charges with a powerful swing, trying to slam the blunt end of his spear into Kaeya's ribcage. ]

Can't you see it now? We both can still use our visions, can we?

[ Sure, he's lost the physical jewel, but he hasn't lost his power. The moment he attuned to the Pleroma at Greentruth, he regained it, which shouldn't be possible if Teyvat and everything inside of it was destroyed. ]

I don't know if they really came from the archons, but they are tied to our world. As far as I know, no one else has ever heard of visions at all.

[subsist]

[ buying the would-be victim more time is definitely what thoma succeeds in getting, if only because kaeya's focus has shifted. fire and ice have always made for an interesting combo, and while kaeya himself would like to say otherwise, their tug-and-pull interaction with one another is exactly what makes them so evenly matched. the armor protecting thoma does the trick: no matter what burst of cryo comes from kaeya, it thaws and melts upon immediate contact.

even if he were to summon his icicles now, he knows all it would do is chip away at the shield without doing any lasting damage. frustrated, all he can do is block the blunt end of the spear from coming for his ribs, locking his sword against it in an effort to push the man back while he speaks. ]

So what? We've also gained new tricks.

[ as if to prove his point, he summons a small ball of water to float besides them. it lingers for a while before he makes it go away. ]

The fact that we've lost our Visions and yet we're still able to use our powers could also there's something else at play here. Try again.

[ really, what he wouldn't do to believe in everything that thoma is saying here. it's just unfortunate the kenoma makes it that much more difficult, because it's easier to think that everything is gone than banking on the perilous concept of hope.

he pushes back at the other with all his might, hoping to dislodge their weapons. once there's enough distance, he coalesces the frost in the air, summoning icicles to revolve around his person. he knows that if thoma's shield is still up, this isn't going to do much, but that's why he combines it with a flurry of attacks with his blade, leaving little to no room for counters. there's no doubt that thoma would be able to keep up with him easily, and that's fine.

if he can disarm the man, then... that'll be enough. ]

[emblazer]

[ The barrage of sword blades outlasts his shields, leaving Thoma to bear the tail end of Kaeya's attacks, trying to stop them by holding his spear perpendicular to his body. The spear's shaft manages to take some of those blows before it slips out of his grip without warning. Thoma's hand had been too injured before to maintain a solid grip, and the icicles are dissolving the last of his flames until he's completely defenseless.

But it's enough.

He bought Kaeya's target enough time, and by now, one of the other Pleromas has likely intervened to direct them to the boats. He can go down in peace knowing that much as he catches Kaeya's sword with his left hand mid-swing, letting it slice through his vambrace and cut his palm.

His smile is tired as he glances up at Kaeya. ]

How come you didn't just freeze me and keep running after them if you had access to hydromancy powers now?

[subsist]

( ooc. this was short... but thoma can call out if you'd like to keep going or smth. or i will just touch your butt during the raid. 🙇‍♂️ )

[ what thoma says appears to break kaeya out from his frantic reverie. it's a loaded question, one he isn't sure that he has an answer for right now. regardless of that, it manages to stop all of his attacks, makes him take a step back, followed by another, and another until he's created enough of a distance between the two of them.

it's true— he could have just as easily put an end to this soon after the fight begun, because isn't that what he always likes to say? that cryo is more effective when it rains. so why didn't he just go for it? ]

...

[ it looks like he has nothing to say for himself. this fight is over, he decides, because he knows his targets are long gone by this point. thoma is coming out of this much worse than he is, but he realizes that this is his loss no matter what. he turns to leave before anyone else comes, leaving the pleroma to figure out how he'll get himself out of here.

he's sure someone will come help the guy out. or so he hopes. ]

[emblazer]

[ ooc: No worries! They can butt-touch during the raid. In the meantime, Thoma sent a gift with Childe. ]

[ His body aches too much for him to do much then watch Kaeya retreat quickly as if Kaeya himself had now just realized he'd been holding back. It might have been an unconscious gesture, but it's one Thoma appreciates as he's sure he wouldn't have been able to save Kaeya's target otherwise.

At least it's proof that Kaeya's humanity hasn't been completely stripped, but Thoma isn't naive enough to think he'll be fortunate the next time they meet. As much as he'd like to avoid to fighting, it's getting less and less likely that he'll survive long if he doesn't, and he can't afford for his shard to be broken in this world.

There are two people waiting back home for him, just like he knows Kaeya has his own allies, even if he may not believe they're still alive. Maybe next time they meet, he'll have better proof to offer that Teyvat still stands. ]

Goodbye, Kaeya...

[ It's murmured more to himself as Thoma sinks even further and catches his breath, already anticipating the next fight up to come. ]