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 Shops are open, and its people are withdrawn but superficially friendly when meeting strangers.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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Barnaby's expression softens in sympathy. He understands all too well what it's like to have family assassinated, and even if Tristan never knew Helico personally, to suffer under the Regent's influence since then is the kind of thing that would scar a family for generations.

"Then it's all the more reason for you to flee. It might seem like you're abandoning Venera now, but you stand a better chance at saving the city's future in the long term, if you wait to return when the time is right."

"And for us to facilitate that." It's a good way to foil the Regent's plans. Throw a wrench in the works, so to speak. But Meteion does have a bit of curiosity, and she can sense Tristan's irritation. He might balk at the idea of leaving the city, if he considers it his home.

"Do you want to put one in the Regent's eye, so to speak? It is not as if I don't understand that urge, but it might be better to pass on that for the moment, and return when their gaze has passed...elsewhere."

Not that she is sure it will. Then again...

She glances at Barnaby and Liem. It might be that Tristan won't even trust them. Since most of them are Kenoma. What if he thinks they're trying to trap him?

Meteion won't give voice to it, but she doubts the Veneran is an idiot, by how he's acted already.

“If the Regent’s soldiers found you here, they’ll be able to find you again elsewhere in the city, given time.”

Liem knows well how thoroughly someone can disappear into a busy city, but he also knows how easy it is to slip up and get caught if one continues to live in the same place they did previously. It’s not enough to simply move to a different address; keeping ties with an old friend, maintaining business with a certain vendor, or visiting a favoured plaza could be enough for those seeking Tristan and his grandmother to find them again.

“But why is the Regent so keen to exterminate her line? Is it just because you still know who she was?”

Though he's curious about the answer to the question, Cid assumes it's because Helico had the power to inspire her people. Besides, he thinks something is immediately much more critical.

"We must needs move quickly, then, and secure you and your grandmother safe passage out of the city." Even if Tristan doesn't consider himself proud of his lineage, the fact remains that he's like to be one of the only capable of inspiring Venera to return to the greatness of its past.

He hesitates, because it risks revealing too much to people who are still his enemy, but after a moment he relents, because it's important Tristan understand where he's coming from. "I will not abandon Venera to its fate. We will free your people, even if I am the one leading my allies."

Both Barnaby and Meteion are correct; the last thing Tristan wants to do is leave Venera. It is his home and the home of so many others who are suffering under the Regent's hand. The very notion itself makes him sneer.

"No, I'm not leaving." He levels his gaze on each of them. "Not yet. You'll take my grandmother to wherever the other Aions are escorting people out. But I have to stay here."

Liem's question is sound. Tristan seems to consider if he wants to answer it or not, but eventually relents.

"Helico died long before I was born. The Regent could have just left it at that, but something about this reeks as personal. They don't do this for every city they take over. They just want people to forget Helico ever existed. It's a vendetta."

Tristan grabs the hilt of the sword once again and yanks it out of the ground which closes up seamlessly immediately afterwards.

"And that's part of why I can't leave. They won't erase every bit of Helico from this city."

He turns to Cid, the only Pleroma of the group.

"Come back to me and prove that she's safe. Then we will see what you and your allies can really do for Venera."

Barnaby nods his understanding. It's noble of Tristan to want to make a stand, heedless of personal risk, and he won't try to talk him out of it when his mind is clearly made up.

"Then, shall we give the two of you time to discuss particulars in private?" Cid and Tristan, he means. He reaches down to pick up the guard at his feet, still unconscious, and scoops them up in his arms. He understands why Tristan wouldn't want to divulge anything sensitive to anyone other than a Pleroma. "It might be too risky for the rest of us to render our assistance directly, but if there are other ways we can help, I would be glad to."

And in the mean time, they can get these Achamites out of Tristan's hair before they cause any more problems.

The bird can't argue. She's not a fighter, but those who can, do, and Meteion appreciates that. She also appreciates that she, Liem, and Barnaby should not be privy to any plans that Tristan wants to make.

The less they know...

"I can't drag him out," Meteion says, with a look to the other unconscious Achamite. "We probably ought to move them a bit of a way from here, too."

Give Tristan a proverbial head start, assuming the soldiers he'd whacked even remember what they were doing when they wake back up.

“What assistance we can provide, we will.”

Liem nods in agreement with Barnaby, regarding Tristan for another moment as he considers his refusal to leave. The Regent would probably like their followers to believe that everything they do is for the sake of this shining, perfect reality they intend to create, but he has no doubt that there is room in their ancient heart for an old grudge or two.

After a brief pause, he returns his attention to Meteion.

“I’ll help you. If they’re to go into Pleroma custody, we can at least facilitate that.”

He crouches, but looks back at Cid and Tristan before making a move to heft the remaining soldier.

Cid nods, keeping his focus on Tristan. "Then I'll personally see your grandmother out of the city." He understands where the man is coming from. It wasn't so long ago that he'd...

No, he won't dwell on it. There's naught he can do.

With the other three preoccupied, he motions to nothing in particular. "Whatever I can do for you, I'll do it."

Barnaby is right, Tristan is hard-pressed to trust agents of the enemy fully even if they have shown some promise. If they will give him the privacy that he needs then maybe they are proving themselves something more to Venera's cause. For that they earn a sharp nod as they tend to the unconscious soldiers.

To Cid he turns his focus, gaze hard as it has been throughout their entire discussion.

"When she's free, I want you to tell her to write a letter. Bring it to me, I'll know if it's really from her. Once I have proof that she's safe..."

Tristan steps forward, his voice low and to Cid only.

"You can help build the resistance here in Venera."

Cid glances away from Tristan, just for a moment, long enough to confirm for himself that the Kenoma are all otherwise occupied. He meets Tristan's gaze with a sharp nod.

"You have my word," he says lowly. "I'll bring her to safety, and give you the proof you need."

It's mere words now, but it's been a long time since he was so resolute about something of this magnitude. Not since the moment he chose to defect, fled under the cover of darkness. "We can speak again then."

EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (VENERA)

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