EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS

[aionmods]

Sovereign Citizens

All across Horos, even in lands that have long since forsaken the Legacies, Soviseri is a month of political action. Most years, this simply means annual elections; for the faithful, organizations and governments big and small take this opportunity to bask in the wisdom of the Sovereign while reassessing their leadership and strategies, while the more secular simply see it as a convenient waymark on the yearly calendar. Soviseri allows them to face the remainder of the cycle with fresh eyes.

Most years, these customs will pass uneventfully, barring the moderate confusion that can result when too many leaderships change at once. This year, however, is not like others: for the one that considers themself the most sovereign of sovereigns has witnessed the seeds of revolt take root in the most fertile soil. Though they have not yet begun to sprout, let alone flourish, the Regent knows full well where such small things can lead. It's because of this that they intend to salt the earth and remind the cities of Horos the value of the 'peace' they've experienced while allowing them their reign.

This event will last from the 13th to the 25th of Soviseri.

❖ INCLUDED EVENT PROMPTS

◆ THE REGENT'S ADDRESS: On the eve of the 13th, near the height of the Sovereign's Moon, all Aions will have their spirits summoned into a metaphysical court of the Regent's making. They'll only have enough time to seat themselves somewhere before the vision overtakes them, bringing them into the Regent's presence for what will be the first time for many. It is in this meeting of souls that the Regent will express their intent to punish the Pleroma's supporters in Godsblood and Venera, and to declare that it will be at the hands of their Kenoma followers. The Pleroma will be able to leave the communion unharmed, but the message is clear: without intervention, Godsblood and Venera will suffer.

◆ AN EXECUTION (GODSBLOOD): The 15th would normally be a day of public debates and speeches, a time for those in power to prove their worth in full sight of the Sovereign, but all of that will be thrown into discord at the public announcement that Vaeka Lovenskol is to face public execution for her crimes against the Regent. What crimes? Well, apparently she has been working as part of a resistant unit intent on aiding the Pleroma menace... a fact that any Pleroma in Greentruth will know to be true. Vaeka has been one of the brave souls working to keep the entry to Greentruth concealed, guiding what new Pleroma they become aware of to its gates.

How she was exposed is not exactly clear, but she is scheduled for a public execution in Godsblood's main square on the 20th. That means there are five days to snatch her from the Kenoma sent to guard her, lest she be made an example to her people.

◆ TRIMMING THE VINE (VENERA): While the execution in Godsblood is a public affair, what happens Venera is far more insidious. Despite the meek and escapist nature of its citizens, a spark has been lit beneath the surface, spurred by the Aion's actions within the city during the Innocence's contagion, as well as the Achamite's and Hylician's inaction. Some Venerans that were either spotted supporting the Pleroma or that seek to resist the Regent's will have been rooted out, and will be made to pay for their transgressions by the Kenoma first and foremost.

From the 15th to the 25th, the Kenoma will be ordered to work their way through a hit list of sorts, finding and imprisoning Veneran troublemakers, with the intent of essentially 'disappearing' them. Prisoners will be held for a day or so after capture for a meaningless trial by the Achamites present, and then be executed.

◆ MARCHING ORDERS (KENOMA): As the Regent has observed there is a finite limit to what the Kenoma will do without orders, they are now being explicit; all Kenoma are required to participate in the subjugation of either Godsblood or Venera during these activities. Whether or not Kenoma players are available to play out things on an OOC level, all must be at least handwaved to ICly participate in this mission by signing up for duty in either Venera or Godsblood down below. Failure to perform IC will be met with IC punishment.

In addition to their mission duties, the Regent is also ordering all their Kenoma to attempt to lure out and capture as many Pleroma as possible. How they go about this is up to each individual, but the Regent expects that most Pleroma will not be able to resist making an appearance at either location.

Comments

PLEROMA SQUAD

[aquaveiled]

For hashing out how the Pleroma will be handling this. What are the strats we're hoping to use to get in and save the NPC! Are certain characters that are working together? Are there Kenoma they are hoping not to run into? Do they have a specific strategy they want to employ to try and break Vaeka out?

[chronosynthesis]

In as far as getting Vaeka out, Syrlya has a lot of magic spells available that he can use to either A) create a distraction or disrupt/daze or B) actively stealth Vaeka to get her out of there. He's also a strong fighter and willing and able to fight in close quarters, so he can also help with defense/offense holding back Kenoma to ensure other Pleroma can act or escape.

His opinion will be a split group of distractions/fighters and rescuers would be best, but he's pretty flexible on the plan as long as it's solid.

[comelately]

ayo! johnny's plan would honestly be to just... take out the guards. Obviously, getting in and out would be an issue for him, but he's something of a glass cannon: he has a really powerful Stand ability. He can fire his fingernails with the velocity and power of a bullet, and they home in on their target, even if the nail bullet itself is blocked or destroyed - the "hole" caused by the impact of the shot will continue to track his target for up to 8 seconds. This can only be blocked if the bullet is somehow redirected to another plane of existence or melted/destroyed entirely. Of course, the caveat is that he only has 10 fingers, and his nails have to grow back, which takes time, so he only has 10 shots.

He's able to transport himself through these travelling holes as well, since he can't be hurt by his own Stand power, but he can't bring other people through them (they would die.) So if Vaeka is being held in a cell, he can potentially break in this way, provided he has a clear shot into the cell. The problem would then become getting both of them back OUT... but maybe it would be a good distraction LMFAO.

He wouldn't necessarily be aiming to kill unless it became obvious that it was the only option.

it's likely he'll be working together with Yuuta, or at least being piggybacked around by him part of the time! kenoma he'd like to avoid would be gray and misa and maybe eustace.

[chronosynthesis]

Jut to solidify, since Syr also has teleport abilities he and Johnny could both make the attempt to slip in and get Vaeka out. If he can also hone his target on something like the lock or hinges of the door that may be the smoothest way to clear her out, and Syrlya could cover him until she's clear and then get at least Vaeka under stealth to get out of there!

... But Johnny will probably want Yuuta on standby because Syr doesn't have the physical strength to carry him, sorry.

[superbshot]

I can offer Caitlyn as someone who'd be happy to take up a sniper's position and provide covering fire from outside. I need to submit more powers for her, but for now, she's at least a T2 Pleroma and she's...very good at shooting and hiding.

[chronosynthesis]

If you're looking at being part of the final push honestly some sniper cover would probably help a lot. Especially since it sounds like Misa's abilities will be dangerous for anyone in direct confrontation with the kenoma.

There's a tentative plan for Syr and Johnny to sneak in via teleports while other pleroma stage a distraction so surprise sniper support would prolly be super helpful.

[superbshot]

That could work out! She'd be happy to work with Syr and Johnny in that capacity. Is there anything else planned along with that?

[chronosynthesis]

It's a work in progress! Current possibility is that they'll have a group of Pleroma act as a distraction/direct confrontation to draw Kenoma away/out from the building proper, so Syr and Johnny can more safely use their teleport abilities to get inside to free Vaeka. And then... I think Johnny may be needing Yuuta or something else to help haul him out because Syr is kind of scrawny.

[dragonmount]

i'm still hammering out timelines on some things BUT

1) rand would definitely want to be involved in this
2) he could offer some subtle distractions at Key Moments, like, inducing a small earthquake around gallows area or (closes eyes) setting a fire/lightning strikes...the way channeling works, he can do these things from a distance and With His Mind so it'd just seem like a spontaneous fire/lightning/earthquake happened around there and/or can be framed to look like it happened by non-magical means, maybe.
3) i would,,, like him to kill an npc guard (or guards) so if there's a way to work that in, that'd be cool!

i would tentatively like to avoid aion outing in the city, but if he's involved with ranged magic in this way i don't think that should be an issue 🤔

UPDATES:

now that his plotting is more firmed up, on day 2 rand will be on a scouting mission with abel and get into an altercation with an achamite guard. rand will kill him (by accident) and get captured by amos, with gray intervening to fight abel.

on days 2-4 he'll be held by the kenoma and interact with amos, ciel, misa, and gray.

on day 4, ernesto and akua will break him out, fighting off amos and misa.

plans for the final rescue attempt are more tentative, but he and syrlya will be fighting gray at close quarters inside the building where vaeka is being held in the final attempt to save her. prior to that, he'll be available to offer ranged magical support.

[passio]

dextera will split his time between godsblood and venera once it seems that other people have a stronger handle on the “active” portion of rescuing vaeka. that said, he’ll contribute the traps he’s made (despite discord discussion, think of them like regular sleep/poison powders) to anyone who might find them useful, and he’ll also kill and/or incapacitate any NPC guards he needs to.

[wolof]

i put this in your personal thread, but obvs Akua wants in!! She'll have ideas for planning, but would prefer to be support rather than the main attack line!

[recursive]

Yuuta will be here! As Sib mentioned, he will likely be helping cart Johnny around for at least part of the rescue attempt, though at some point he might have to separate with him because it isn't super feasible for him to fight with him on his back (sorry, Johnny).

He primarily brings two things to the table: he's an incredibly strong and swift and durable melee fighter, and he can summon Rika. He will be unwilling to use most of his more destructive abilities, given that there might be civilians nearby, but he is incredibly good at engaging powerful enemies and keeping them distracted/locked down.

Probably the more useful thing he brings to the table in this scenario is Rika. She is a cursed apparition that he can command mentally that moves invisibly through space and can partially manifest to interfere and fight. She can, for example, reach out to punch, block attacks, or temporarily grab and restrain someone. Yuuta's instinct would be to pick a fight with one of the Kenoma Aions and keep them distracted while directing Rika to standby near wherever Vaeka is held and use her to keep Vaeka safe and assist whoever is trying to extract her.

[comelately]

i'm late but yes i was assuming they'd get separated at some point GHKJD thanks for the lift bro...

[inutilis]

The only plans I have thus far are:

Abel and Himeka are up for playing distraction - since they are getting nabbed after the execution, we figured we would be happy to let the actual attempts at rescuing the NPC go to other chars as not to hog limelight and make sure everyone gets to do Fun Things. YEAH, fun things!!

Abel and Rand may be running into an altercation with some Kenoma-aligned soldiers which may result in Rand killing one. Amos may also be involved.

If you'd like the distraction team to factor into a plan to rescue the NPC, feel free to let me or Freya know! We're pretty happy to roll with anything.