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

gray | kenoma | innocent | godsblood

[gravings]

Oh boy...... Gray should be going to Godsblood to help guard Vaeka! This will probably be her one and only task because she'll have no appetite for trying to hunt Pleroma down for kidnapping. She isn't at all gung-ho about public executions, but she'll be taking this job seriously from a defensive standpoint because her fellow Kenomies are counting on her. If for some reason, some Pleroma want to come up to her to talk, she'll be cautiously open to doing so... but if they try to fight her, she will aggressively fight back until they withdraw.

I will also note that Gray has regained Add, her obnoxious talking box friend that can transform into a variety of over-the-top weapons. It means that she'll appear unarmed but is definitely not. It also means a return to form for her, so she'll make a formidable opponent! She's much quicker than a human should be, highly mobile, strong, tanky, and so on — though she'll only be able to maintain significant fighting capabilities for about 30 minutes at a time.

From an emotional standpoint, Gray will be unhappy with the oppressive tone of this mission and her support for the Regent will take a hit. Where this takes her, I'm not quite sure yet, so I'll be happy to see how IC interactions are able to sway her! It would be a great opportunity for Pleroma to plant some seeds of doubt in her for a possible defection down the line. I'd also love for some Kenoma to notice that she's unhappy and try to toe her back in line by reassuring her that the Regent is totes right. Or hell, Kenoma can encourage her to defect too, why not lmao. Basically she needs some help to figure out how she feels!

I'll probably be top-leveling so I'll see y'all there, but otherwise feel free to hit me up here, on Discord, or at chipsnfish!!

[goldendeceiver]

Talking to her and planting seeds of doubt, you say?

[gravings]

She's heard of you....... Eustace's maybe kin

But yes please!! Gray hasn't had much exposure at all to the Pleroma creed, so slap her in the face with it Ernesto!!

[goldendeceiver]

Just because they both have fuzzy ears!! SHAKES HEAD

He's not super gung-ho about all Pleroma ideology or anything, but he's happy to point out how fucked up what the Kenoma are doing regardless.

[gravings]

I'll take that too!! She's had some [concerns] about the Regent's methods already, but that isn't something she can talk to other Kenoma about, so it will be illuminating for her to be able to talk to someone who is open about their opposition.

[vapour]

I can have Childe try to pull her back on track, although he's not as willing to persuade with half-truths or colorful versions to convince her because it's a lot more complicated than simply good or bad.

But...uhm... he's at least used to talking to girls her age and communicating/understanding their emotional turmoil.

[gravings]

dfgmdg Childe, teen girl whisperer...

She's definitely willing to listen to his, hm, unique viewpoint. She's used to hearing cutthroat logic, so if anything she'll be able to parse that better than anything overly optimistic or flowery!

[vapour]

Ahaha, he won't be cutthroat exactly unless telling her the hopes and dreams of the Pleroma are statistically likely to fail anyway and help absolutely no one in the end. He'll do his best but I admit he won't want Gray with the Kenoma if she's hesitating or disillusioned. He doesn't want to see her killed or kidnapped (her or her shard) by the Pleroma and then "influenced" by them over her own self. He'd much rather she defect on her own and have the conviction to fight rather then persuaded by others, so... A little more complicated I guess since he will tell her that.

[gravings]

CHILDE... that's nice of him actually... but I would love that talk too! Any kind of direction she can be given on how she needs to steer her own fate will be great for her development and I am here for it.

[baltimores]

Amos would definitely want to try to give Gray a pep talk and help her realize she's doing the right thing... he might not be good at it but his heart's in the right place (i.e. wanting her to feel good about what she's doing, c'mon, let's get that morale back up there). Also she helped him out earlier so this is returning the favour... right...

[gravings]

Thank you Amos..........(??) She'll deffo be very interested in hearing what he has to say since he seems like a a pretty sweet and gentle guy (ugly laughs) and she sees some of herself in him! I'm eager to see her realize that maybe....... they're actually pretty different......... It will be an interesting metaphorical mirror for her to look into.

[baltimores]

god I will be so happy to supply Gray with this metaphorical mirror

BUT YEAH maybe they have this talk before everything with Rand and Abel goes down... would that help add a little extra encouragement for her to help him so he can take their new prisoner back,,

[dragonmount]

holds out hands for gray

[gravings]

so (cough) I may have volunteered Gray to help run interference on Abel so that Amos can get away with nabbing Rand........... I'm not sure how Rand's exact timeline will look, but maybe she can guiltily chat with him while he's captive?? She can........ give him some water or a snack maybe lmao

If it ends up not being a long enough time for that, maybe they can get up to something before then?

[dragonmount]

lmao GRAY oh my goddd....i'm going to take so much psychic damage when he's inevitably mean to her but yes i'm super down for guilty conversations while he's imprisoned 👀

WATER AND A SNACK she's so pure. he'll probably refuse but she's so pure ;;

[lockedon]

place me down for a post-event thread, thanks

or i guess they can do another communion while they're both doing their jobs and have a Talk, whichever sparks the most joy for you

[gravings]

Let's say a post-event thread... She'll probably just be in her head for the duration of Godsblood stuff, but she'll be happy(?) to talk about all the things she Learned afterward...

[lockedon]

good luck gray..... don't die inside too much

[subsist]

parks my butt here for a post-event thread so he can apologize for the cat melting

[vapour]

...I'm sorry you melted a cat?

[subsist]

yeah, he gave gray a sculpted cat made out of ice during the mingle and has been keeping it from melting... it'll melt after his shard gets taken away though.

[gravings]

she'll shoot him a communion ping at the very least once she notices the cat melted... she'll worry that he is DEAD

[subsist]

it's a valid conclusion!! but he's gonna be fine. :) don't worry.

[epiprocta]

also places my hand here to request a post-event thread

[gravings]

granted

excited for another meeting of depressed teens