☆ Event Log: Snatched, Part Two

[faileas]

Event Log: January, Snatched - Part Two

I. A Great Escape (20th, Evening) It's been a miserable six days for the Mirrorbound and refugees kept locked away in a basement cell block, subject to all kinds of torment and experimentation. They're a resilient sort, though, and their efforts to organize and bolster each other are not in vain. As the time passes with no sign of the City Guard drawing close to their operations, the Rathmore family grows overconfident, and characters can hear them talking to each other about another mass-kidnapping in the works. The best opening comes late on the night of the 20th. A few of the family's numbers are out - notably, Thomas Rathmore, his wife, and his mother are attending an emergency meeting of Parliament, and Constance is making an appearance at the Coven. This leaves the more inexperienced cousins in charge, the lesser known Rathmores with no particular skill outside of cruelty. Changing of the guard begins as usual, a handful of Rathmores delivering some sparse rations and taking their time to choose a few prisoners to remove from their cells, but this time, the Mirrorbound bite back. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Daenerys and Asura, along with the prisoners preparing an organized revolt, a fire started in the torture room provides chaos and cover - and one dead Rathmore cousin, whose body gives up some of the keys to a handful cells. Time to play the cards you've held close to your chest over days of torture, your held-back spells, your tricks, your items that weren't confiscated. A mass escape isn't likely, with so many people still present in the building and so many of the captives injured and tired, but with enough of a distraction in the form of a prison riot, which may be enough to overpower the three Rathmores initially left in the cell block, a handful of scrappy Mirrorbound may make it out to safety before reinforcements arrive. a. The Escape Attempt There is one door out of the cell block, the main, heavy, warded door that the Rathmores enter and exit from every few hours. It's locked down tight - but it's possible to power through it, pick the lock, or charm it open. On the other side of the door, in the greater basement area, they'll find themselves free of the Bond dampening. Witch magic make take some time to return, depending on whether they were drugged or only charmed, but it'll be important to move quickly. The Rathmores' basement area is large - the size of the mansion above and the grounds put together, and they'll find themselves on the lower of two levels. The cellblock turns out to be a room within an even bigger room, with the stairs at the opposite end. The dangers are numerous: magical and mechanical traps set in areas marked off-limits, illusions intended to confuse and turn people around. There is only one completely safe path from the cellblock door to the stairs, unless they take the time to disarm the traps and illusions with their returning magic and abilities. That safe path is faster but more exposed, with two or three Rathmores in pursuit, and also the other people that could occasionally be heard outside the door - young aristocrats in on the kidnapping, who thought the Mirrorbound would be sent home. They're just as surprised to see you as you are them. In fact, it's not difficult to overpower these non-Rathmore kidnappers; they're obviously shocked to see Mirrorbound still here, in such states, and some are quite angry, or scared to learn what they've inadvertently gotten themselves into. A good handful flee instead of fight, but some others follow through on the shouted orders to go after you. Use the chaos your appearance causes to your advantage. Once escapees reach the upper basement level, up the stairs and through a hidden door, a few more traps remain, but up here, it looks more like a normal basement; servants' quarters, empty for some time now, storage rooms full of antiques, and winding hallways connecting them. It's easier to hide in this dusty maze to escape any pursuers, and eventually, they find the servants' exit out onto the back grounds. From there, freedom is just a run and a decorative, wrought-iron fence away. b. The Chaos Back in the cells, everything descends into chaos. The Rathmores are furious; while two or three of the cousins go after the escapees, the rest begin to gather down in the cell block, put out the fire, and the interrogations begin. They don't bother taking prisoners out to torment them now - they can't, with their torture room charred and smokey. Their main focus is forcing prisoners back in, and locking everything down with magic and heavy chains, to ensure no one else gets out. They grow more vicious now, and they begin speaking directly to the captives - they want to know which ones got free, how they managed it, who helped them, where they're going, who they're going to tell. Those who refuse to talk will be gagged or muzzled or simply beaten without finesse, and they'll move on to the next captive. Preying on the Mirrorbound's camaraderie with each other is the tactic they quickly turn to, hurting one to try and make another talk. The talk outside the main door grows louder in these few hours, angrier. Occasionally one of the Rathmore cousins will go out to spin some lies, or simply shout down any protesting. Some of the enchantments were damaged in the riot, though - they can hear you, just as well as you can hear them, muffled but still mostly clear. The more they hear from within, the more the confusion outside grows; all the better for the escaped Mirrorbound. ..."What's going on? Those were Mirrorbound that got out-" "We thought you were sending them home!" "You told us there was no risk, that this would make them leave-" "You don't need to worry about that! Go back upstairs!" "Someone needs to get a message to our Uncle Thomas immediately-"... They're all panicking as their grand plans, flimsy as they may have been, start to crumble around them. It's just a matter of time, now. The OOC post for the escape plotting is here if anyone needs to refer back to it! Eight characters will be escaping first thanks to a joint effort. The rescue will be underway within two hours of their escape, but those two hours are likely to be unpleasant for characters who remain in captivity. Any NPC maimings or proposed deaths need to be reported on the City Tracker; please note that mass murder / killing NPCs will still have consequences and needs mod approval first, but we're happy to work with players however we can.

II. The Cavalry (21st, Very Early Morning) The City Guard is closer than the Rathmores think. Thanks to Mirrorbound investigative help, not always strictly legal but still appreciated nonetheless, they've all followed the clues back and determined a possible address. By the evening of the 20th, several members of the Guard and Witches from the Coven, along with any Mirrorbound who followed the trail, are camped out at a manse nearby, the home of a wealthy widow eager to see her nasty neighbors knocked down a peg. Without solid evidence, the Guard can't get a warrant cleared to search the property owned by a Mr. Barclay, assistant to Thomas Rathmore, but solid evidence comes as soon as eight Mirrorbound manage to fight their way out of captivity, returning to friends and Bonded. They are the last piece of the puzzle, and now legal action can be taken. Theodore Rosethorne, leading a small group from the Coven, sends out a magical message to just the Mirrorbound - they've been found. Anyone who wishes to help bring their missing fellows home, anyone who can help with much-needed healing, or anyone who wishes to bring their captors to justice needs to show up now, because time is of the essence. The Guard can't mobilize more men quickly enough in the middle of the night to be useful and they need all the hands they can get, without a floor plan of the mansion or solid ideas of the captors' numbers. They can barely wait an hour for more hands to arrive before it begins. a. The Rescue Sowilo, Theodore's Bonded Fae and a skilled hand at illusions (and seeing through such), leads the rescue efforts, along with some of Theodore's Witches from the Coven. With information from the escapees, they plan to go through the back, take the servants' exit, and make their way down to the basement levels, while Theodore's assault team will go through the front doors, making as much noise as possible. Sowilo's illusions will keep their presence masked at least until they get into the house. The aim is to get through as quietly as possible, find the cellblock, and secure a safe route to take the prisoners out without them getting hurt any worse than they are. It's easier said than done. Magical and mechanical traps of various types litter both basement floors, and heavy illusion work has been placed to obscure the way. Splitting into smaller groups to disarm the traps and deal with the illusions will be necessary, as the entire group will make its way down to the cellblock as quickly as possible. Sowilo hopes they face little to no resistance, with Theodore's group doing their job, but a few, Rathmores and otherwise, are bound to try and stop them; in that case, they will have to fight. "Make sure you can argue a case for self-defense, if you have to hurt them," Sowilo will tell the rescuers and later the freed prisoners on the way out, wings fluttering agitatedly. "Let them be arrested and publicly humiliated in court - ruin their whole family line for generations to come." He's not happy about it either, and will overlook some of the captors getting a taste of what they deserve, but deaths are not permitted on his or the Witches' watch: anyone who takes things too far will find that the person they're attacking has simply vanished - a convincing illusion - before they're handily knocked out with a spell. They face less resistance than the assault team, but less is not none; a few of the Rathmores are determined to salvage their efforts, and some of their unwitting aristocratic cronies have sided with them. Once they reach the cellblock, dismantling the enchantments that keep the prisoners restrained and addled is the first order of business for some. Others can start unlocking cells and helping people out of their restraints. Protection for the escapees on their way out will also be necessary, as well as medical attention back at the temporary base camp. The main focus has to be on those lost friends and loved ones, bringing them back out to freedom and making sure they're tended to - not on revenge. b. The Assault Theodore Rosethorne, along with some members of the City Guard and some Witches from the Coven, leads the assault. While the rescue team goes around the back, they plan to go through the front door, as loudly and conspicuously as possible. The mansion is large and needs to be swept from top to bottom for perpetrators and evidence that can be used in court. Those joining up with this team are warned that it needs to remain legal - the Mirrorbound and the refugees, all of them, have a very shaky, uncertain legal status within the city, and a mass murder could severely harm what good will they have from the locals as well as their status here. After all, many are still neutral to positive on the Mirrorbound, but that could change in an instant. The Coven will take as much responsibility as they can, but they cannot accept the blame for a senseless slaughter. Splitting into smaller groups will be necessary in order to cover more ground quickly. The aim is to locate, subdue, and arrest as many of the culprits inside as they can. The Guard provides magic-suppressing cuffs, and the Coven a basic knock-out spell, but since many will not go so willingly, some degree of force may be unavoidable. If there's one thing the rich fear, it's a legal black mark on their family name and reputation - the Rathmores will fight back harder than their underlings, but they're also the ones they need alive to face the justice system. Those outside the family, those who only knew about the kidnapping portion, are a mixed bag - some might fight back, siding with the Rathmores, but some might give themselves up once the realization of what happened in that basement sinks in. Once they make their entrance, things move quickly. Several wealthy aristocrats either flee or fight, but their attention is thankfully pulled away from the basement and toward the upper levels. There are dozens of rooms to search, and many are cluttered with an old hoarding family's antiques, furniture piled against doors and windows blocking access to some areas, hundreds of nooks and crannies among the sheer amount of stuff provide cover for culprits to hide in. It's going to be work to ferret them all out and bring them in. Worse still, the Rathmores have collected dozens of cursed or enchanted objects that may be used as weapons against the forces of justice. Some degree of force is expected, but still if anyone tries to take things too far, they might find themselves slapped into cuffs or knocked out with a spell themselves. Any NPC maimings or proposed deaths need to be reported on the City Tracker; please note that mass murder / killing NPCs will still have consequences and needs mod approval first, but we're happy to work with players however we can.

III. The After (21st On) Activity continues all through the night and late into the morning at the former Rathmore estate. All the Rathmores and a couple dozen other wealthy aristocrats are brought out in cuffs over the course of several hours, while all the prisoners are liberated to receive medical attention and reunite with their loved ones. The Guard take statements from everyone who will give one - what they witnessed, what happened to them, what they know - and all who were affected are told they will be invited to testify at trial. A gathering crowd forms at the end of the street, wealthy neighbors aghast at the horrors they're learning had occurred right in their District. Most are disgusted with the once-prominent family. On the steps of the Parliament building, Thomas Rathmore, his wife, and his mother, all sitting members of Parliament themselves, are publicly arrested in front of colleagues and on-lookers early in the morning. Constance Rathmore is taken out of the Coven roughly in magic-suppressing cuffs, surrounded by a small group of furious Witches, students of the Coven who spent the week trying to find the missing Mirrorbound and refugees with Divination. They escort her to the prison themselves. All who are arrested are transported to holding cells of their own within the City Guard - all except those requiring urgent medical attention, who will remain cuffed to their hospital beds until trial. Nessie and Mhairi make an appearance at one point to give the Mirrorbound their sincerest apologies for what happened, and Mhairi delivers the news that they're pushing for an expedited trial in Parliament, in order to keep Thomas Rathmore from bribing any contacts. They, along with Theodore and Sowilo, and the Guard, are all open and forthright with what will happen next: public trial and a certain conviction, followed by sentencing. They don't expect that the Rathmores will get away lightly; what they did is too public and too horrific for even the anti-Mirrorbound wealthy to stomach. Those others who were involved, who weren't aware of what was going on behind that metal door, they'll still face justice themselves, no doubt. In the meanwhile, those kept hostage will need all the help they can get to reach something resembling normal again. Hug your loved ones, nourish your Bonds with each other, and begin trying to heal together.

Welcome to Part Two of January's event log, Snatched! An aftermath summary of the trial and sentencing will go up on Feb. 4, the day after the City Tracker deadline, so get your submissions in if you have them! More politically-oriented characters may find an opening in the near future to enact change within Parliament and provide their own representation within the city...

And as a general reminder, please make sure to use content warnings where necessary in your headers!

Comments

[fiddlestick]

Pretty sure the infirmary workers get growled at every day, Caren.

[So yeah. If anything, it's sweet you held that much restraint.]

I see...then how about you sit here while I heal you, and you can keep watching?

[showsnopiety]

True. I didn't screech either. It was tempting.

[So she was...almost polite. She sighed, and shook her head.]

If you treat me, you won't have the energy to treat those who need you more. I'm not in dire straits.

I've treated myself before. I know.

[fiddlestick]

Is that so?

Well, if you're not in dire straits, then I should have plenty of energy to spare when I'm finished with you.

[In other words, nope]

Honestly, a lot of the people have been giving that same reasoning. So someone has to set an example and go first. Please Caren?

[showsnopiety]

[He's stubborn. Then again...he'd have t be, to stay her friend. Especially when she's armed with such a withering look.]

You just had to say please...fine.

[She dropped her blanket, and started shivering. Her dress wasn't designed for the weather, and it was ragged. And all her fur, her feathers...they were gone.]

Does this help?

[fiddlestick]

[This is why he's the big guns ok. He's a soft, but one with an iron core. When she relents, he gives her a thankful smile]

Thank you, Caren.

[He makes no remark at her lack of feathers and fur, but it does get a look. He kneels down next to her. The first thing was to take care of that shivering. Healing her would do no good if she got a cold. He touches her gently and hums a little to cast a warmth spell. It'll feel like she's been wrapped in warm blankets fresh out of the dryer.]

It does help, yeah.

[Now it was time to assess the injuries. He won't be able to regrow her fur and feathers overnight, that'll take time. But injuries he can care for]

Cw: injuries via past torture

[showsnopiety]

[He knows too how to get her with a word. He's way too good at this.

She stiffened for a few moments after the spell took place- she thought that it'd be a prelude to...She wasn't sure what. But something.

Not that Elliot would. It's been a rough week.]

You may want to look at my back.

Electric burns. Thought you should know.

[There's more then that, but he can see most of the rest. The whip marks, the cuts. The skin rubbed raw on her wrists, ankles, around her neck and jaw. The state of her hands. She's a mess.]

[fiddlestick]

Back...got it.

[The injuries...were pretty extensive. He imagines it's shock, adrenaline, and sheer willpower that's allowing her not to react to the pain she must be in. He's glad she can't see his face, because it's impossible to keep a positive face in front of this.

Just...What kind of people would do such cruel things? He's no stranger to terrible things, but still he couldn't understand what would compel someone to do this to people.

But this really wasn't time to get worked up. Instead, with shaking hands, he holds it over her back as he starts to quietly sing a soothing song. It channels his healing magic, and the pain will ease as the magic starts to heal her. ]

[showsnopiety]

[She was likely still awake and aware by sheer temper. Though...as always, she kept so,e of the uglier answers from him.

Sometimes, it was better to avoid speaking certain truths.

Still, the lack of pain had her breathe easier, even as she pressed a hand to her forehead.]

I'm sorry Elliot.

[fiddlestick]

[He keeps working, healing her. Easing her pain as much as possible. He's glad he's been pretty good about practicing his training and building his magic stamina. It makes things a lot easier....especially knowing that so many others will be like this

His response is gentle, between his singing]

Hey, you have nothing to be sorry about.

[showsnopiety]

That's a lie.

[She's glad he can't see her face . Her eyes are stinging.]

Not only did I push you to see...this...But I left them behind.

I ran .

[fiddlestick]

Is that how you see it...?

[He sighs a little, continuing his work. His tone is still gentle]

You didn't push me to see this. I'm a healer, I want to heal you.

As for the other part...if you guys hadn't run, it would've taken longer to find everyone. How would that be better?

[showsnopiety]

I was being stubborn. I couldn't stand the idea of strangers touching me.

[Even with their magic. Maybe especially with their magic.]

It wouldn't have been better but...I wanted everyone else to get out.

[fiddlestick]

Considering what you've been through...that's understandable.

[Being tortured by witches she didn't even know for a week. That'd traumatize anyone]

Everyone else is getting out. And it's thanks to you guys. [The burns have been soothed and healed up, now he's moving to the whip lashes] I know it's hard leaving people behind, it feels wrong, but you did the right thing.

[showsnopiety]

I suppose so.

[It's not logical but...then again, she's not feeling very logical right now. It explains how she's been so snappish and snarly.

Her back does feel better though, having been healed. She'd been worried they'd fester.]

It feels...incredibly wrong. I wouldn't have minded if I hadn't been the ones to make it out. I can take the pain. I've been doing that half of my life.

Helping people by being the sacrifice...that was my purpose.

CS3 spoilers

[fiddlestick]

[Well, if Caren wanted to find the one thing that'd shake Elliot enough to pause in his healing, it's that. Being a sacrifice as your whole purpose? The whole idea makes him flash back to the Gral. Hearing what Millium and Altina's purpose was, watching Millium die in such a....]

P-Please....please don't talk like that.

[His voice cracks, this is clearly a sensitive subject going on here]

No one should have that be their whole purpose.

[showsnopiety]

[She hadn't thought that it would make him break down like that.

She twisted around, looking at him, startled. She hadn't expected this.]

Elliot...?

You don't have to....not for me. It's fine. It's fine.

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot looks paler than normal. Whatever effect Caren's words had, it hit something painful.]

N-No. It's not fine. It'll never be fine-!

[He knows this must feel like it's coming out of nowhere to her. He knows on some level, he's being irrational. Caren just went through a traumatic experience, of course she'd say things like that. Most things, it would've been easy to brush off.

But well, the wound was just still too fresh. His eyes squeeze shut, trying to fight back tears]

You're important because you're you, Caren. Not because you're a sacrifice. It's because you laugh, get mad, get upset ... you impact so many people just by living and being around. Not by being sacrificed.

I'm...I'm so glad you got out of there. And I strongly believe...you're the only person to think you should've stayed behind.

[showsnopiety]

[This came straight out of left field. Elliot was usually unruffled, calm and taking most things that Caren said with reassurance and sadness. Not panic and tears.

She turned, with startling quickness, moving to squat in front of him and touch his cheek. Her other hand clamped onto his shoulder.

She didn't understand this. Couldn't. Even though he spoke the words, he might as well been speaking another language. But that would make things worse.]

Elliot. Take a moment and breathe.

[She stared at him for a few moments before her gaze softened.]

Take a minute. Take as much time as you need.

[fiddlestick]

[He knows that he's overreacting. He knows he's getting too overemotional, and that this really isn't a good time to having one of his panic attacks. And now Caren was trying to comfort him, when he's supposed to be the one taking care of her.

Ugh. He's so useless. he will take a moment to breath, as advised, but he still feels the intensity of the emotions.

He knows he must seem like a crazy person right now.]

...I'm sorry.

[He basically has to cough out the words.]

[showsnopiety]

Don't be sorry. Just...feel better.

[She's not good at this. She huffs, and moves to thunk her head gently against his shoulder. It's a lot more touching then she usually does but-it's partially because she's so tired. And too, because Elliot is a touchy...person.

Maybe this will help???? Maybe???? She has no idea.]

Just breathe.

[fiddlestick]

["Just...feel better." He sighs and slumps his shoulder, not reacting when she thunks against him. He won't pull away but...it's not like this is something that can be fixed with a head bump and some breathing.

Though, a moment of quiet breathing does make him more able to regain enough of his voice to speak]

...My friend got sacrificed. They said...it was the reason she existed, to be sacrificed.

She was younger than all of us, and always so full of life. She....She seemed to think she'd protect us all by doing it, that it'd...help.

[He swallows]

But it didn't help anything.

[So yeah, Caren's words? Were like salt in an open wound. ]

[showsnopiety]

[Well, it made her feel better to cuddle up to a witch and know he wasn't going to hurt her. But...ah.

Ah. She went still, listening, and sighed. She was the worst person to tell this to, because well...she'd do it to help and it worked.

She took a moment to think. Two.]

Did I ever tell you, that I was born with a condition? A condition I didn't know until I was ten years old?

I inherited it from my mother. But they hoped I would take after my father, with his magic.

[There's a reason she's telling him this.]

[fiddlestick]

[......

Elliot takes a deep breath, and tries to say very calmly, but his voice is still shaking]

If this is gonna a story justifying why it's okay to think of yourself as a sacrifice, I don't want to hear it right now.

[He cannot. handle this right now Caren. The wound is too fresh. He can't be reasoned with on this one.]

Please, stop.

[showsnopiety]

Fine. Fine.

It's done. Don't think about it anymore. It's done.

[And she'll start to pull up, and away from him with a hard sigh. Where's her blanket, she needs that again.]

Where's your watch? We should call one of your friends.

[fiddlestick]

Caren-

[Crap. His own emotional weakness got the better of him. He takes a deep breath, and shakes his head and forcing himself to get back to composed. ]

You still need healing Caren. I'm not going anywhere yet.