aionlogs | EVENT #3: THE COST OF INNOCENCE

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EVENT #3: THE COST OF INNOCENCE

The Cost of Innocence

INVESTIGATION

As the Aions arrive in Venera, they will find the natural beauty of the city in sharp contrast to its uncomfortable aura. Though the sun still shines and flowers still bloom in a place filled with physical vibrancy and life, the air itself is impossibly still, as if wind no longer blows. You can taste the stagnancy of it when you breathe, and the pleasant sights only make that feeling of absence more haunting. The streets are mostly empty, with most of the city's residents hiding away in their homes, fearing the touch of whatever illness has caused this. That is, all the citizens besides those most affected, who wander the streets in a lifeless and painless daze.

Normally, Venera would be occupied by both Hylician and Achamite soldiers, but it quickly becomes apparent that both have abandoned the city, only guarding its furthest outskirts. Their reasons vary: the Achamite soldiers seem to take religious objection to the feeling of the city, believing it to be some trickery of the Innocent, while the Hylicians simply see it as a plague they have no interest in catching or spreading. Because of this, it will be easy for Aions of both sects to explore with little pushback from any form of law enforcement. The Kenoma will be directed into the city with warnings about the potential physical and spiritual danger while Pleroma will be able to sneak in mostly unbothered. After all, no one is eager to follow you.

Most shops and businesses are currently closed, though some uninfected individuals still nervously keep watch over their workplaces, fearing potential looting. It's difficult, but not impossible, to find people to talk to, and while the most plentiful wanderers are the infected, the reactions from those with their minds still intact will vary. Some will be eager to speak to anyone who looks like they're trying to do something about their situation, desperate for any source of outside help. If revealed you are an Aion, this may either entice them even further or cause them to retreat, as if fearing that you are somehow to blame for their plight. For those that are enticed, it will become clear that they hold onto faith that Aions are in Horos to save them, and will tell these new arrivals whatever they can without discriminating between sects.

The base level information that can be found is thus: the infection began at the same levels it has been in the rest of Horos, only for the numbers of the afflicted to rapidly accelerate upon the coming of the Innocent's Moon. Some see it as a form of divine punishment for their cooperation with the Regent, while the less cooperative citizens see it as a malady brought about by the Aions themselves, their only hope being that they will be able to clean up the mess they made. Some citizen have managed to corral their inflicted loves ones into their rooms and will be willing to introduce you; most of these individuals are past the point of conversation, and seem fully lost to whatever fantasy world they are experiencing. They are disinterested in eating or drinking and it seems like, without help, they are destined for a slow death of starvation and atrophy. That is, if their apathetic state doesn't result in a severe accident, as it has in many cases already.

Any other clues will take more dogged investigation. It will be a day or so after the majority of Aions have arrived in the city that the first signs of their own infections become clear.

HEAVENLY BODIES

The first to feel its effects will be the Innocents, Lovers, and Celebrants; like a voice has fully awakening to them, whispering of how their touch can be the cure to the others' pain. It bids them to take their fellow Aions into their loving embrace, to share this gift, as only suffering lies ahead. It expresses without words that it will be a shield for their Aion kindred, and that those that accept will become their outstretched hands to a cosmos that craves peace. Any form of physical contact with those three Legacies will either introduce or rapidly accelerate the infections experienced by the others, this effect only becoming more intense if the wielder intentionally forces the power of this strange entity into their victims.

Even without that accelerating touch, however, other Aions are not necessarily safe; the infection will still seep in, albeit more slowly. All Aions may experience a growing feeling of connection to the infected Venerans, as if the energy within them is being drawn into their their own bodies. As the Aion's symptoms worsen, the the ones suffered by the Venerans will gradually lessen, though not go away entirely. It seems that the Aions soaking up this strange power is enough to take the edge off of what is happening to the citizens: but at what cost?

Various symptoms will manifest in afflicted Aions with outcomes far more diverse and devastating than what the Veneran civilians have experienced. Visionaries, Firebrands, and Artisans will suffer the most catastrophic symptoms, the clash between their spiritual natures and that of the Innocence being the most extreme. This malady is characterized by its innate desire to quell its victims of their resistance, smothering them in artificial peace, even if it has to deprive them of their bodies and minds to do so.

It is not without treatment, however. It will gradually become apparent that feelings of intense suffering or upset are capable of purging the infection, that clash with painful reality seeming to wake them up from their trance and reduce or eliminate physical symptoms. The more intense the distress, the more effective it will be. Fortunately, this heightening of Aion spiritual energy has the added consequence of making empathic communion connections far more acute. Instead of just transmitting and receiving emotions and thoughts, Aions will find themselves more easily able to enter the delusions and memories of their kindred, drawing them out and manipulating them for this purpose. The catch is that they will only be able to access what is on the surface of the other Aion's mind.

When an infection is reduced or expelled this way, the energy causing it seems to be dispelled from the city, lowering the intensity of its ambient effects. While similar can be done to Veneran citizens to help treat them, the energy will not leave, and will either go into the Aion casting it out or return to the nebulous source of Innocence and eventually infect someone else. Something about going through the Aions specifically seems to act as a filter, as unpleasant of a way as it is to help.

IN THE SILENCE

For those unlucky enough to develop complete, or near complete, infections (IE. a full Innocence petrification) a presence will awaken within them regardless of their Legacy. It will urge them to join with it, to embrace the peace it offers, and to become the extensions of their will in this ravaged world. With an infection of this intensity, there will be little they can do but to hear its call. What exactly this would ultimately entail is unclear, but there is the sense that his entity is looking to join with you on a spiritual level. If your character becomes infected to this degree please let us know under the Committed Actions toplevel below along with the context of that transformation and whether or not they are being cured from it. You may receive some additional information in return!

QUESTIONS

What is the best way for Aions to travel to Venera?
The quickest travel paths are for Kenoma to take a boat from Achamoth, which will take about a day, and for Pleroma to teleport to the Celebrant's shrine and take either a carriage or river boat to the city (there are offshoot rivers not marked on the setting map). The riverboats would be the faster option option of the two, and would also take about a day. The carriages/delivery carts would be slower and take a couple days, but have relay access to horses and therefore could keep going overnight. Characters with flight are also able to use that, though flying right into the city might cause a bit of spectacle. Then again, none of the local law enforcement is eager to chase you at the moment.

Are Veneran civilians experiencing the same symptoms as the Aions?
Veneran civilians are only experiencing apathy/loss of self/daydreaming and maybe the loss of pigments/color for advanced cases. The more body horror orientated effects are Aion only and are being caused by their body's spiritual makeup.

Can 'cured' Aions be reinfected?
Yes! Even if cured or treated, symptoms can return or worsen again. This will keep happening until the build up of Innocence energy in Venera is entirely expunged, at which point the illness will fade away across the continent. Whether or not the Aions mere presence will be enough to trigger that is yet unknown, but it does seem to be helping lessen the effects suffered by the civilians, at least.

How long does the infection period last in Aions?
Chronologically, we are considering the infection period of the plot to last 2-3 days.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Abel's pulling a faux serious, sober expression, a flat affect crossing over his face. ]

I'm dark and brooding despite my charming dog ears. --Ah, wait, this is already inaccurate... I don't think he'd even say as much aloud at one time without combusting internally.

[ Misa bursts out into genuine laughter at Abel's impression, something more boisterous and sudden than her typical brand of cutesy giggles. ]

No, exactly! He's really just like that. Always frowning or scolding me somehow...

[ She releases one of her arms from hugging his, but only to clap her hands together at his very accurate portrayal of Kenoma's premier dogboy. ]

People like that, it's like they want to stay mad, right? I bet there's a Eustace on your team, too.

[ o-oh, he's getting a standing ovation... Abel is coloring a bit and allowing himself to preen a moment, the momentary Stoic look completely disappearing from whence it came into the void, ]

Oh, yes, absolutely~! --Ah, Miss MISA. Miss Misa, that reminds me!! Goodness, do I have a story for you! But-- listen, we need to have a snack and a good spot of tea if we're going to dish all the delicious details befitting of this reunion, right?! --Come with me!

[ and without further ado, Abel is unceremoniously grasping Misa by the hand and beginning to tug her off toward an Unknown and Mysterious destination!! gasp, ]

Oh, yay, let's go!

[ She agrees readily, clasping onto his hand tight as he pulls her along. Abel seems innocent, so she's pretty sure he's being honest about tugging her to go have food, and not into like.... a Kenoma wrangling trap. Plus, how can she not be interested in hearing hot goss from the Pleroma side??? ]

But nothing too fancy, okay? I don't have very much money...

What...? Are you saying you're broke?!

[ he's shooting her an incredulous look over his shoulder as he continues pulling her along; w-what, no way, is she trying to pull the wool over his eyes?! he thought the Kenoma had a pretty sweet deal under the Regent's wing, but maybe he was wrong... ]

O-oh, well, in that case I suppose it will simply have to be my treat-- um, as long as we can find somewhere still open, that is... And in my price range... Jools do not grow on trees, you know, and some of us have to arduously slave for a living, it's terrible!! I'm not cut out for this kind of manual labor, you know...?!

[ She just can't help but laugh more when she's around him. Abel is so cute and animated, that there's hardly a moment whenever he pauses from talking that she isn't idly giggling, unable to contain it. ]

I guess you guys don't have someone to give you an allowance, huh? Poor Abel...

[ And she plays up just How Very Sad it is by saturating her words with a saccharine sympathy, because poor Abel, poor, poor Abel, having to do some manual labor. She relates! ]

I promise I won't buy anything expensive, so you don't have to slave away. We can even share something. [ Despite the fact that the jools she does have probably equal his, and she is not bringing that up or offering to pay for half.... it's wrong to steal from him, but also, what if she gets in trouble for feeding the enemy side?? She suddenly points out some shop a ways away that actually has someone standing in front of it for a change. ] There! There's someone who's open! Yoo-hoo, excuse us!!

No, not even a stipend or salary or-- ah--

[ god, she is feeding directly into his Woe-Is-Me melodrama, and boy does he love her for that, nodding his head along in the UTMOST pitiful ascertain his life is just so hard?? so hard. she must get it, mmhm. she just Understands what it's like out here when you just want to get paid and not have to like, work? disgusting.

but the sight of a shopkeep who hasn't yet completely closed up and said Bye, Felicia to their Aion interlopers is like striking the jackpot - and Abel is immediately following up on Misa's enthusiasm-- ]

--Please! Please, would you be kind enough to-- yes, I'm just going to help myself in here for a bit, I promise we'll be out of your hair in no time-- I have jools, of course, and perhaps you need some help in the back, miss? We're in desperate need of some nourishment, and surely you'd be kind enough to offer succor to two pitiable souls...? Did I mention your hair is lovely today~?

[ yes, he is just muscling his way through the door before it can be closed on him rather shamelessly; the shopkeep is looking at this man like she might be considering getting her broom and thwacking him with it, but...

after heaving a heavy sigh, she moves aside and ushers them in.

what a convenient surprise that this is, as it turns out... a bakery!! Abel is holding the door open with a flourishing bow, as if rolling out the red carpet for his companion. ]

Ah~! Miss Misa, after you, if you'd be so kind. Please. I insist. Ladies first, chivalry is not dead, I assure you.

[ This poor shopkeep, having to deal with not one but two nosy types barging in like this. Misa has the tact to give a small half-bow and a friendly wave to the woman, ushering herself in with a wink in Abel's direction at his comment. It's the smell that clues her in to the shop's nature first, and, ah— ]

Oh, a bakery!

[ Curiously, she ambles on over to some of the displayed loaves, looking back over her shoulder once to Abel himself - though, when she speaks again, she keeps her face turned away. Whether she likes it or not— it does draw forward the memory of the cavern, much as she's kept herself from thinking about it these last few months. Her chatty way of joking has less effort behind it as a result: ]

This is good stuff for sharing. Lucky us, huh? Maybe I should try to guess what kind of breads Abel likes...

[ And while she doesn't acknowledge the parallel outright, there's a barely noticeable dip in her excitement and merriment, her brighter nature dimmed as though a light. ]

[ Abel carries right along as if oblivious of Misa's more demure response; he's chattering with the shopkeep as they head a bit deeper toward the back. apparently, she is heading behind the counter to go and fetch something for him; he waits until she disappears behind the doorway leading to the kitchens before turning to his blonde-haired companion, leaning over her shoulder to admire the wares on display in the cases. ]

Ah, hey, Miss Misa... did you know that legend tells of an amazing, ethereal and extremely handsome creature known only to the locals as... the Bread Fairy? Shh, shh, you didn't hear this from me-- but supposedly he's a rather big deal around these parts. They say if you touch your nose three times and go, "kyaa~!" in a cute voice, something magical and delicious may be granted to you...

[ Now it's her turn to look faintly surprised, because she hadn't been expecting him to bring that up at all. And in such a fun and light manner, too. From time to time, she's thought about everything she'd said to Abel before parting ways, before the teleportation spell, unable to forget how steadfast his attitude had been, his concern, his care. It's very foreign to her, in a way. And it continues to be foreign here, too, especially after spending months around people that are so unlike the both of them.

There's a beat where she just stares at him, so unlike how she might immediately play along, and unwillingly, there's a slight clench in her chest, a feeling eerily sentimental. ]

[ The smile she breaks out into is small at first, her fingers tapping at her chin. ]

Ehe... is that true?

[ It's obviously not, and inwardly, she's thinking - Abel likes this kind of fanservice? Or probably more likely, he's just joking around? In either case, it's funny, and adorable, and not creepy despite the fact that she doesn't have a clue how old Abel is. He's simply not like the many, many company executives or directors who have asked her to do similar things, so it doesn't bother her - she's only surprised he's able to feel this lighthearted about everything...

Her smile broadens, donning a cutesy affectation as if it comes as naturally to her as breathing. She's an idol through and through. ]

In that case, one, two, three—

[ She taps her nose with the point of her index finger three times just as instructed, then gives her best, picturesque smile: ]

Kyaaaa! How's that?

[ sh...

she--

...she actually did it.

it should be obvious that he was expecting to be told off or laughed away and swatted like he's an idiot or a weirdo; that is the kind of response he'd get in these situations, you know?? a great deal of his closest friends at home would rather kick him in the ass (affectionately) than humor his shenanigans, after all, no matter how much they were Ride or Die and all that. one does not HUMOR Abel Nightroad.

but Misa--

Misa...

blessed, perfect Misa...

he is melting. he is melting, his insides slowly but surely becoming the consistency of liquid goop that is singularly smitten for this girl (in the way a man feels the incessant need to take one under his wing, to keep them safe, with paternal fondness)...... ]

Y-you... you really did it...

[ he sure did just whisper that aloud, frozen, touched, MOVED, and apparently experiencing some kind of fatal shutdown error-- ]

[ Luckily, a career in doing such cutesy acts means she feels no embarrassment at doing it, nor at his stunned reaction. It's all very natural, the way she breezily laughs, folds her hands behind her back, studies him curiously. ]

Well, of course I did. I saw how much you get cheered up by this kind of thing before... are cute girls your type or something, Abel?

[ A cheeky tease, while she rocks back and forth on her heels. It's simply adorable watching him, and moreover, Misa gets a sense of satisfaction whenever she feels she can get someone wrapped around her finger. In an innocent, fun-having sense, of course. Her charms don't work so well on the people she spends the most time around now, she can't help herself. ]

[ wh

what haha imagine being weak to cute girls?? imagine?? his face is such an impressive shade of tomato red as he laughs - laughs, a little too boisterously, a little too raucously to be believable - and waves his hand in fervent dismissal, ]

--Please~! P-please, it isn't anything like that at all, of course-- I was simply swept away in the magical charm of your cuteness, that's all~! Any man with a pulse would fall victim, you know?! It's only natural...

[ oh thank God; he's saved from further embarrassment by the re-appearance of the shopkeep from the back room; she has a parcel in hand, and is looking at him as if she very much expects him to take it and Get Out. so he's digging into his pocket, jools clinking from the small pouch he has tucked away; an exchange is made, and something that smells quite delicious - wafting the scent of freshly baked bread - might escape as he pulls it across the counter victoriously. ]

Come! Come, let's get out of this good woman's hair, shall we~?

[ So cute girls are his type... noted. Mercifully, she refrains from teasing him anymore, though she does cover her mouth to try to stifle her laughing from seeing how beet red he is. While no more verbal attacks come out, it seems she's not done encroaching on his physical space to pester him, as she immediately leans over into him to try to get a peek inside the parcel. ]

Okay, okay, fine. But let's hurry, I want to eat some already, it smells good. [ It sounds like it's time for her to latch back on so she can drag him around some more?? So she does just that, linking her arm with his and giving a firm tug towards the direction of the door. ] Thanks, lady!

[ When she's done waving with her free hand and blowing a kiss to the shop owner, she turns back to him, to say more earnestly: ]

And thanks a bunch to you too, Abel. You're a lifesaver!

[ he's holding the bag away at such a position that Misa can't get any sneak peeks inside - obnoxiously, at that!! you know, just to make sure she knows he is doing this intentionally. ]

Please, this is the LEAST I can do in my high-profile and extremely important role as Bread Fairy, Miss Misa...!

[ --oh, they're back out the door, aren't they? he will give the shopkeep a little smile over his shoulder (but the woman is already rolling her eyes again and attempting to shut the door behind them and swing the "closed" sign over it), all too happy to let Misa drag him wherever her heart may desire. ]

H-hey, do you know a good spot to eat this? --And we really do need to talk, okay? Find somewhere nice-- somewhere nice, mm~?

Hmmm. Let's find somewhere to sit down. My legs are tired...

[ She drawls out a hum, scanning the area - mostly to look for places that don't seem to have a lot of infected citizens near them. Or other Aions.

But luckily, there's an iron table with a few chairs set up nearby it, not too far off - it's even in the shade. Actually, there's quite a few of these tables set up, as it must be an abandoned food court-esque area. ]

Kinda creepy with no one around, but I guess that's to be expected? With the sickness and stuff. I hope none of the germs are on here.

[ And she finally releases him!! But only to dump her purse on the table and sit in one of these slightly dusty metal chairs, eyes still on the Prize. ]

[ he isn't especially picky or discerning, so anywhere will do - it's his company that matters, so long as Misa's happy? this spot on the eerily empty street is perfectly suitable for him! thus, Abel plunks the bag atop the table-- and look at this, he'll even pull one of the (slightly dusty) chairs out for her like a gentleman. let it never be said that chivalry is dead, mmhm, mmhm, ]

There we are...! Ah-- now, where were we...

[ he digs into the bag, peering at her to make sure she can't see its contents before he's ready for the ~grand reveal,~ before--

he pulls out a golden brown and delicious-looking set of pastries, wrapped in thin paper to avoid one's hands getting sticky from the glazing. it isn't bread, exactly, b-but... listen, they deserve something a bit fancier, okay?! ]

One tasty morsel for my lady, as promised... see~? I am a man of my word, mm!

[ and maybe, just maybe, this might keep the sour taste of the circumstances all around them from their mouths for a while. just a little while... just for a moment, they can pretend they're meeting over happier times. ]

[ Oh!! Being treated like a lady... how wonderful. She beams up at him, widely and warmly, feeling an odd sense of nostalgia at being offered the treat with such a flourish. It's funny, it wasn't all too long ago. And the situation was worse, too... but it still feels so familiar. ]

So, I guess that legend about the fairy was true? Hee hee.

[ She jokes, being patient enough for him to get settled to start eating, swinging one of her legs underneath the table idly. The pastry is sweet, and delicately crispy— despite the high life provided to the Kenoma in Achamoth, having a sweet like this is something rare to Misa, so it makes it all the more special. ]

If you're a man of your word, then it's your turn to tell me everything, [ Is what comes out first after her first bite, ] You said you had a story!

[ he's wasting no time in taking a rather large bite of his treat, and it should be obvious that he's enjoying himself; it doesn't get much better than this. ~~cute girl~~ excellent company, a delectable pastry, some pleasant outdoor seating ~~in a creepily, eerily empty city fallen to plague~~, man. living the high life.

but her prompting has him giving an exclamation that leaves him in a muffled 'ah!' around a mouthful of goodies, ]

--Yes! Yes, of course! Yes, you have to hear this one, alright? Okay.

[ he's trying to chew and swallow at a breakneck pace so he can tell his tale without, say, spitting crumbs all over her; what a gentleman. truly. ]

--Have you met Miss Hayame, by chance? Um--she's like. [ a gesture, swooping and broad, and then tall, and then wide-- it's very confusing. ] --Large?

[ and a centaur?? but apparently 'large' is covering that detail, ]

Um.... what?

[ This description.... Misa does nothing to hold back her confusion, simply just imagining a really huge woman when he makes that sweeping gesture. Like, an orc or something? Trying to puzzle it out distracts her from eating more of her treat, furrowing her brows at him. ]

Large how? Are you saying she's a giant? I've never met anyone like that before...?

No, no-- not quite a giant, per se, but--

[ hm. HMM. how does one describe Miss Hayame...

he's giving this a good and momentary mull-over before he walks his fingers across the table like they're legs, making horse...... noises, ]

She has an equine body? Sort've. I mean-- I think the torso is entirely human, but the bottom part is all... horse? Yes, like a centaur~!

Oh, wow.... there's no way I would've forgotten someone like that. I've definitely never seen her!

[ This is what she gets for not keeping track of all the Pleroma that were at the shrines, she guesses. A centaur? Misa spends a fair amount of time thinking about how she's supposed to face off against regular human shaped Aions, but thinking about there being such a mythical creature on the other is.. hm.... ]

I mean, she's gotta be taller than even you then, right?

Oh, yes-- taller and far more terrifying than I could ever hope to be...? Miss Misa, when I say this woman is... is some sort of nightmarish-- h-haha, nightMARE, do you get it-- nightmarish, um... sh-she's like the boogeyman, I mean it!! Horrible!! She... she smashed me right on down under one of her giant hooves and nearly broke my tailbone in twain, I'm not kidding you!!

[ ""friendly"" fire...?! wow, those in Achamoth are having cute parties and enjoying the finer things in life while the Pleroma are out here literally kicking one another's asses,

help, ]

Huh? She kicked you?

[ Misa sounds a bit— well, incredulous, because on the one hand, getting trampled by a horse(girl) doesn't seem like something someone should be able to dust themselves off of so easily, and on the other, had she really just done it randomly? ]

What do you mean, she just attacked you unprovoked? That's scary...

[ now she's scared she's gonna get attacked by this phantom horsewoman if she makes eye contact??? ]

EVENT #3: THE COST OF INNOCENCE

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kween,,, he will die for her. goodbye

and i, me, will die for abel... goodbye

no........... jams, don't leave us for the undeserving...

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oh my god this icon. poor meowmeow

misa please pity him (do not do this)

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