EVENT #3: THE COST OF INNOCENCE

[aionmods]

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.

Comments

[epiprocta]

Minegishi.

[ Gen's own introduction is terribly curt; no need to give more than just a name to go by, right? Liem's own name is noted for now, though he gives no other verbal acknowledgement of having heard it.

Instead, Gen idly trails two, three paces behind Liem -- casting about at their surroundings, trying to get some sense of where they are (even if he gets the worrisome feeling that he's going to forget it again in a few minutes).

It sounds careless, almost incidental when he speaks next, though Liem might feel the prickle of a surprisingly sharp gaze fixed on him from behind. ]

-- so what's your deal, then. If we're supposed to be colleagues now.

[ 'Colleagues.' He says that word with some level of derision, just because he still finds it ridiculous when people here treat it like some sort of job they've been enlisted in. But well -- either way, Liem was the one to float the idea first, so clearly it's his responsibility to spill some personal details first, too. ]

[sterngaze]

[Having something to do makes Liem feel more at ease, and he walks down the quiet city streets with brisk energy if not any great deal of purpose. He's hoping that he'll know his purpose when he sees it, or when it sees him, so he's keeping as keen an eye as he can on his surroundings, squinting through the afternoon sun and clinging as much as he can to the shadows cast by the tall Veneran buildings.]

What is it you wish to know?

[Liem glances back at the young man looming a few paces behind. He doesn't miss the naked derision in his tone, nor does he begrudge it. Resigned though Liem may be to the necessity of this existence's destruction, every new thing he learns about the rule of their new employer makes him trust the Regent less and less. He can't imagine a young man who presumably had his entire life ahead of him before coming here would be any more pleased to find his world upended like this.]

I was educated and ordained as a priest at Abadar's temple. My service was temporarily interrupted by a civil conflict that demanded my participation, and then permanently interrupted when I was brought here.

[epiprocta]

[ For that, Liem is granted one of those withering, contemptuous stare that only horrible teenagers are capable of. ]

... seriously? You think I give a shit where you went to school?

[ Granted, the mention of a 'temple' does elicit some interest, but for now he just files it away at the back of his mind. ]

I mean what's your deal. Everyone here seems to have some sort of ridiculous deal, like they fell out of a movie. So what're you -- a demon, or a wizard, or an ... elf, or something?

[ His ears don't seem quite like the stereotype he's used to from movies, or that he's seen on the covers of those otaku jerk-off fantasy manga he's seen in bookstores, but it's not like he expects those to be accurate, anyway. ]

[sterngaze]

[Although the cadence of Gen’s reply makes it more than obvious what he thinks of the information that Liem volunteers, fortunately, his contemptuous stare is aimed at the oblivious back of the older man’s head. Liem makes a small ’hmm’ under his breath in answer, but he doesn’t stop his brisk walk through the quiet streets, nor aim any further looks back at the horrible teenager following him.]

I’m a priest, [he says mildly.] And a businessman. Though neither vocation seems especially relevant anymore.

[He’s perfectly aware that Gen wasn’t asking about his profession, but somewhat refreshingly, for once he doesn’t feel like the line of questioning is born from fear and suspicion. It seems, bluntly speaking, like the young man simply thinks that he looks weird. And for that reason, he doesn’t feel at all obligated to give him a straight answer.]

In any case, I’m not any of those things. I’ve no aptitude for the arcane, and my parents were both human.

[At least, they were when they were alive. It’s just a technicality that one of them died days before he was conceived.

After a moment, he adds,] What’s a movie?

[epiprocta]

[ ... well, at least that gives him part of an answer.

Gen had opened his mouth to give some sort of snippy response asking why the hell he should care about Liem's parents, but hesitates when Liem floats that question. His brow furrows deep as he closes his mouth. Then he heaves a dramatically exasperated sigh, set to the sound of him rustling through his pockets. ]

... like a story, but with moving pictures instead of text. They're super common where I'm from -- like, nobody wouldn't know about them.

[ i.e. 'You're a fucking weirdo for asking that.'

There's the sound of a soft clicking noise, then Liem might smell the gentle waft of cigarette smoke coming from behind him. ]

And look, I bet you think you're being cute dodging the question, but we're colleagues, aren't we. [ Liem was the one who'd said that word first, so he's sure going to get as much mileage out of it as he can. Gen takes an idle drag of his smoke before continuing. ] It'll be useful if I know what your deal is. Especially if we run into any hostile Pleroma here. So spill.

[sterngaze]

[Gen's description is not especially thorough, and Liem is left imagining something like a magical scroll or book with moving images on the pages. He hums wonderingly, then frowns at the harsh scent of smoke that begins wafting from the boy walking behind him. The scent isn't kind to his sensitive nose.]

That's very pragmatic of you.

[He pauses to peer through a broken shop window, listening to the stillness inside and eyeing the ransacked interior. The place has clearly been looted, but it seems like the perpetrators have since moved on. After a moment spent regarding the barren shelves, he looks back at Gen.]

I'm half-vampire. I'll spare you the sordid details, but my deal means that positive energy is harmful to me. That is, the kind of energy that makes the living thrive, but scorches the undead. So if you've any facility with such power…

[He smiles faintly.]

Please use it well clear of me.

[epiprocta]

[ Half-vampire. There's a brief pause as Gen makes sure he heard that right (yeah, probably), then responds: ]

... forreal?

[ If it's any comfort to Liem, Gen doesn't sounds fearful or disgusted or suspicious at all. If anything, that brief question's edged with a disbelieving laugh. Because seriously -- half-vampire. Not even a full vampire, but a half? What kind of anime bullshit is that.

Gen does stifle a low laugh with his next exhale of smoke, speeding up for one, two paces to walk alongside Liem. ]

What, so you can't go near crosses? Need blood to live? That kind of shit? [ Honestly, while he's still extremely tired of all the fantasy garbage he's had to acclimate to so far, there's something kind of funny and comforting about bumping into some bullshit that's vaguely familiar. Even if it's just through media. ] Dunno about scorching the undead -- [ there's a note of sarcastic dramaticism as he echoes those words ] -- but some people here do use healing magic. Guess that's a no-go for you, huh.

[sterngaze]

[Liem opts not to comment on Gen's assumptions about what being half-vampire actually entails. Partly this is because he's not keen to earn another withering answer to a question like what do you mean by "crosses"? But mostly he just doesn't want to get bogged down in a bunch of trivia about his habits and physiological particulars. Instead he sticks to his initial topic, which is at least relevant information for a potential ally to know.]

No, most healing magic doesn't agree with me.

[By which, of course, he means it causes him significant pain and injury. Liem looks up at Gen as he comes abreast of him, taking in the cigarette with the curiosity of someone who is not especially familiar with cigarettes as a concept and isn't sure that he wants to be.]

And what about yourself? What's your "deal"? [he asks with all the credibility of Steve Buscemi masquerading as a highschooler, but with slightly more self-awareness.]

[epiprocta]

[ The fact that Liem only answers one out of three questions doesn't go amiss. Gen does give a soft exhale at that, the stifled started of a droll laugh, but decides to let it slide for now -- the fact that Liem admits to being hurt by 'healing magic' like some sort of movie zombie is funny enough that Gen will afford him some leniency.

And as a bonus, he even answers that return question earnestly. Or as earnestly as a shitty delinquent teenager can manage. ]

Nothing. There's no deal. [ Gen gives a noncommittal shrug, glancing off at the streets around them as he drawls out that careless response. ] Things've changed a bit since I got here, but I was just a student before I ended up here. Unlike all you crazy fantasy people, there wasn't any magic or space travel or monsters or demons where I'm from.

[ There. He's given Liem enough leeway, right? So Gen barely lets his own answer sink in before jumping right back into attack mode. ]

So d'you drink blood or not?

[ That's the most pivotal part of being vampire, isn't it? And ... possibly what he's most touchy about, if this guy cares about seeming civilized, Gen would guess. ]

[sterngaze]

[For a moment, Liem just frowns in Gen’s direction with a slightly mystified expression. It’s not immediately obvious to him what is so fantastical about coming from a world with vampires (or magic, or any monsters at all, apparently). He may as well have suggested that the world he came from didn’t have any animals any larger or more vicious than golden retrievers. The idea of a planet not populated by zombies or dire bats or man-eating plants sounds outright bizarre.

He does at least seem to know what some of those things are though—enough that he’s keen on drilling down on the most shameful aspect of Liem’s background, even if all of his vampire knowledge is apparently from moving-picture scrolls. Liem’s bewildered frown slowly fades into a deliberate blank look. He breathes a small sigh.]

No.

[He says the word flatly. It doesn’t really matter if it’s true or not; he’s not going to discuss the particulars with this nosy teenager.]

And I’m not bothered by “crosses,” either.

[Whatever those are.]

[epiprocta]

[ Gen might not know what kind of world Liem hails from (one he'll inevitably find ridiculous once he hears about it), but he does recognize that blank look for what it is -- he'd hit a sore spot, hadn't he?

The question is whether Liem really doesn't drink blood and has some sort of complex over it, or if he'd lied. Something hes admittedly curious about. ]

No? Not much of a vampire then, are you. [ It's said more out of amusement than any real derision, for better or for worse. ] I thought that was the whole deal with vampires. So you're basically just cosplaying as one?

[ Bet this guy doesn't know what 'cosplaying' is. So, of course, Gen just forges on without explaining the word. ]

So you don't drink blood, you get hurt if someone tries to heals you -- any upsides to being what you are? Can you turn into bats or something, at least?

[sterngaze]

[It’s tempting to heave another sigh as Gen prods further about Liem’s vampire-blooded nature, but this time Liem swallows it down, simply regarding the taller man steadily in the face of his questions.]

I’m not a vampire, [he reminds him patiently.] So there’s no reason why I should be required to act like one.

[Gen might find the very idea of vampires amusing, but to Liem the subject is nothing but tragic. He’s fortunate enough to be only related to a vampire, instead of having been killed and turned fully into one. Because of that, he can at least choose which of his bloodlines to follow. Rather than a man “cosplaying” as a vampire, he often feels more like a vampire masquerading as a man. But if a dutiful mimicry of humanity is the best that he can manage, it’s an act he’s determined to stick to.]

I can’t turn into a bat. But the reverse is true of what I said before; powers that harm the living but bolster the undead also heal me.

[He pauses, tipping his head pensively.]

I can also see and hear better than humans can. Especially in the dark.