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.

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Emet-Selch looks at the dazzling array of butterflies around them. They dance through the air with wings of white that almost seem to make them glow in the dim of twilight. "The existence of all things is fleeting." He comments before looking back to his young charge and narrowing his eyes.

Something is wrong. And as he looks at his and sees the fainted sprinkle of white, it becomes obvious what it is. As if the mannerisms weren't indicative enough. The affliction is consuming him.

"Who asked that you show this to me?"

"I've no idea," Kaeya admits softly. He doesn't look all that sad about it. It's odd how easy it is for him to let this presence guide him into specific actions, but if he were of sounder mind right now, he'd be telling Emet-Selch to stay away. He continues on, "Someone warm... I think. Someone who wants to be rid of all suffering."

The more he talks, the more derange he must sound, and yet he doesn't see anything wrong with that all. He continues to admire the crystalflies, watching them all intently. It brings him back to better days, when things were much simpler and kinder. The tips of his hair are slowly becoming more ashen and pale, crawling upwards as the delusion continues to play. There's no mistaking the sound of boyish laughter once he hears it, and when he turns—

The crystalflies swirl to melt away the streets of Venera, shifting into a stretch of healthy vineyards and a distinguished house past them. In front of Emet-Selch now stands a much younger version of Kaeya, looking up at him with a curious eye.

"Are you lost...?"

The streets of Venera seem to give way to a lush vineyard. Even the well-tended outskirts of the city seemed a dull green in comparison to this place.

Emet-Selch looks curiously at the surroundings, at first wondering if they were somehow transported to another place. He focuses on the world around them and narrows his eyes in critical assessment. This new world had granted him the ability to see enchantments, and based on a glance, this did not appear to be a magically conjured illusion.

A memory, perhaps?

"So it seems..." He looks agreeably at the child and motions onward with an open palm. "Would you lead the way?"

Kaeya hesitates for a split-second, as if considering something.

"I would take you to where Master Crepus is, since he would know how to guide you where you need to go, but..." His voice trails off, gaze turning to look towards the house that's a few ways away. Somehow, he looks almost sad. "He is busy celebrating with Diluc. I'm trying not to disturb them."

When he turns to look back at Emet-Selch, he seems apologetic. "Is it alright if we wait?"

He looks at the nearby house to follow where Kaeya's gaze leads. The child's expression is not beyond him and neither is the tone. What significance is there to both?

"If we have no choice in the matter," Emet-Selch says flatly. Not because he has any desire to meet those who neglect their company, but because he must see this memory through to its end.

"In the meanwhile, I would do with a guided tour of your Vineyard." Emet-Selch follows that up with a glance of consideration. "I don't suppose you are so capable as to provide one?" His tone is not insulting, but a sincere curiosity that a child may appreciate. Something that says 'these adults are clearly not capable and I trust you can surpass them'?

That appears to catch Kaeya's attention, making him look up at Emet-Selch with curious eyes. It almost seems like he's about to deny him that request seeing as he isn't the owner of this place, so it would make sense to wait for Master Crepus or Diluc too, but something compels him to say otherwise.

"... Okay," he finally says, still unsure, but at least the sliver of sadness is gone. "I can show you where the best spot is, for the freshest grapes." Soon after he says that, he turns to lead the way, only glancing back every now and then to make sure Emet-Selch is following. They're going down a well-worn path surrounded by rows of grapes on both sides. Kaeya is taking them off to the side of the house, towards the back.

Moments later, however, this comes up: "Why do you seem so familiar? Have we met before, Mister?" It comes attached with afterimages of the streets of Venera, mixing in with the picturesque aesthetic of Dawn Winery.

To which he follows. It's not long before they find themselves amidst rows and rows of lush fruit-bearing plants. The trellises are filled with winding vines and dotted with clusters of green grapes - they are a little too small to be edible. But soon.

Emet-Selch stops and looks up at one such patch of grapes and his expression shifts. Like it reminds him of something...

His attention is soon drawn him away to the child's question and subsequent flashes of the familiar. "We have met before, yes, but you need not concern yourself now if you do not recall the time nor the place." They can work out of the memory soon enough. Apparently, he is meant to see something here and he would like to see it.

"In the interim, is there a place in this vineyard where I may see winged fireflies?" Since that is the only clue to go on.

When Emet-Selch asks him about winged fireflies, all signs of Venera are lost, shifting back to the vineyards of Dawn Winery. Kaeya's eye brightens up because he just knows where they need to go, so he reaches for Emet-Selch's hand and tugs him forward. "It's close to where we are now," he says quietly, looking over at the direction they're going. "I go there all the time."

He leads them towards the furthest corner of the area, somewhere far away from the house. Not so easy to spot from the path they were just traveling on a few moments ago. They have to go through the trellises to reach a small opening where the same crystalflies from earlier are flying about. He lets go of Emet-Selch's hand and looks up at the marvellous sight.

Just as he's about to say something, the voice of another boy and another man call out for his name. Kaeya! His gaze snaps towards where they're coming from, but instead of heeding their call, he stays right where he is.

"... If it's alright with you," he starts, his voice so incredibly small. "Please don't give this spot away. It's a special day today so I don't want to bother them."

Being lead by the hand is not met with an approving expression - more skepticism than anything - but he follows nonetheless.

The field they find themselves in is truly beautiful. Such creatures fluttering through the air against such a crisp-colored sky is truly a sight to behold, and it nearly coaxes a rare expression of sheer admiration out into the open.

Nearly.

The name being called cuts through his admiration. Emet-Selch looks back at the house, and then to the child in his company. "They call for you, yet you still worry of 'bothering' them?"

The general mood is a stark contrast to the pretty lights that are flickering about them. Kaeya hasn't moved an inch from where he is despite how many times his name has been called. He isn't looking at Emet-Selch, lone eye closing shut. It almost looks as if he isn't going to say anything, but after a while, he releases a sigh.

"I don't belong here," he says quietly. "They are father and son, and I'm just an outsider. I don't think there will ever be a day where I won't feel as I'm bothering them."

Despite what he's saying, his name continues to be called, coupled with promises of delicious food waiting for him inside the manor. It does appear as if the two care for Kaeya regardless of what he believes, but he stays right where he is.

"... If they knew the truth about me, they wouldn't want me anywhere near them at all."

If there is anything Emet-Selch can relate to, it’s the feeling of not belonging. Of being trapped in a world where everything is strange and wrong.

It makes him sincerely curious about this. Perhaps it is more drivel from another broken husk, perhaps it is more. So it seems inevitable to ask for clarification.

“What ‘truth’ is that?”

There is a brief moment where it looks like Kaeya wasn't going to tell him anything at all, but the contagion is quick to encourage him to speak the truth. Wouldn't that be so much easier? He wouldn't have to hold onto such a heavy burden on his own.

When he speaks, his voice is quiet and small: "That one day, I might have to destroy them all."

It's not long before he looks up at Emet-Selch with a pleading eye. Instead of feeling relieved, it almost seems like he's falling apart.

"Please don't tell them. They've been nothing but kind to me... I don't know what to do..."

Slowly, but surely, the illusion begins to fracture. Hairline cracks cut through the picturesque scenery until there's more of Venera and less of Dawn Winery. It won't be long until Kaeya is back to normal, given the way he's shifting back to normal, leaving the younger version of himself behind.

Destroy them all...? Such a proclamation coming from a small child is funny, in a way. If it weren't framed in this light he might even think that Kaeya was joking.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though the illusion stays long enough for him to ask for elaboration. Soon enough they are standing on the streets of Venera and soon enough his fellow Kenoma seems whole again.

Emet-Selch peers at him across the way. "Are you well?" He asks as a way to check and see if he is in his own mind once again.

When Kaeya regains full clarity, he is left looking at his hands, as if he'd managed to do something he wasn't supposed to. There's a split-second where he finds himself looking around in search of the crystalflies, and when he finds none, he realizes what has happened. Not that he has a full idea of what went down but it can't be good either way.

For a while, he has nothing to say. He tries his best to keep his breathing steady. Of course, he knows that Emet-Selch probably has questions so he can't remain silent forever.

"... I'm alright now." Slowly, he shakes his head. "I didn't think it would get to me the way it did."

There certainly are some questions that the memory has prompted. However, Emet-Selch is also capable of recognizing the obvious case of unrest in front of him. Whatever that memory was, it stirred something deep within.

It's with that in mind that he refrains from questions. "Be that as it may..." Instead, his voice seems understanding when he provides his following words. "...There will be an inn somewhere in town. Go there and get some rest before resuming your work. We will speak later."

There is a split-second where the look on Kaeya's face almost resembles the one his younger self wore, when he heard his brother calling for him and he didn't know whether or not he should go to him rather than hide. It's hard to pinpoint what it is exactly, but the closest thing is a feeling that overwhelms you when you realize you've lost your way.

"... Then, if you'll excuse me," he murmurs quietly, quick to look away in case he is betrayed by his lack of composure once more. "I'll try not to get in too much trouble while I'm there."

And there he goes. He won't say thank you out loud, but he doesn't think he has to.

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EVENT #3: THE COST OF INNOCENCE

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