☆ 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

ventus | turnskin | rescue

[callmeven]

[ a - attempted escape / helping the successful escapees | closed to kidnapped ]

[when the riots started ventus couldn't run like some of the others could, seeing the opportunity to escape and going for it. the wound in his leg was most certainly infected if the discoloration and pain around the open wound said anything. still, even through the fever and throbbing coursing through his body he limps down one of the hallways to try and open cell doors still containing other victims. he wasn't going to escape by leaving someone else behind.]

Can you move? Let's go!

[ b - rescue | closed to vanitas & aqua ]

[he didn't expect to escape with some of the others during the big escape, not with his injuries slowing him down. all he knew from the timid whispers through the cell walls that a few of the others had managed to escape. it was obvious especially when they could hear their captors sounding panicked and frantic.

all ventus could think was good. he hoped the people he had met down here were the ones who got to escape and he hoped with their escape they would bring others to help.

ventus is left in a cell, curled up in one of the corners as he floats in and out of consciousness. fever has left his skin burning hot and drenched in sweat. what was left of his bandages, covering the skinned areas on his back and neck where gold fur used to be and the numerous open wounds on his arms and leg, were dark red with slowly drying blood. his muzzle was the last piece of silver still left on him, every attempt to try and break the piece off in vain and leaving the metal bent uncomfortably against his already scarred skin.

his ears, one cut at the tip and now smaller than the other, twitch at the sounds happening outside the basement cells but it's the only reaction he can muster through his feverish state of mind.]

[ c - hospital | open to all ]

[there's a lot to recover from, physically, for ventus that leaves him in the hospital for a few days. the worst of it is the infection from injuries and the fever that still leaves him shaking even after he's bundled in clean clothes and bandages.

[ c-1 ]

[the worst of his fever is over and ven is feeling restless. one of the nurses had been kind enough leaving him a crutch next to his bed while his leg was still healing and ven was intent on trying to walk around if just to stretch his legs. probably not a great idea...]

[ c-2 ]

[he's been told his teeth will grow back, but until then he has to be mindful of what he eats or risk hurting the sensitive gums still healing from having the canines ripped out. right now ven is sitting up in bed trying to eat a bowl of oatmeal and wrinkling his nose at the taste - or lack thereof.]

Gross...

[ d - wildcard ]

[hmu on plurk if you have something else in mind for ven!]

C

[fiddlestick]

[Working shifts at the Coven's infirmary meant that Elliot had a hand in helping heal a lot of the kidnapped victims. It was an upsetting job, seeing all these people with such pain both physically and mentally. If he left himself sit and think about it, it'd be so easy to get swallowed up in the horror of it all. But he wouldn't be any use that way, so instead he just focused on doing what he could to heal them.

Ventus...well, even if he never met the kid before, the age alone was enough to make it feel like a gut punch. He couldn't be any older than Rean's students, maybe even younger. So to go through all this was just...horrible.

But he's not going to voice any of that. When it's his shift to look after Ventus, he'll be approaching the bedside, sitting near him while trying to keep a positive energy up]

You're Ventus, right? [It's right on the chart, but it's good confirm] I'm Elliot, I'll be your healer today.

[callmeven]

[he'd been on the verge of nodding off again when elliot takes up the seat next to his bed. ven rubs at one of his eyes with the palm of his hand and tries to sit up against the pillows, but with the bandages on his back the effort is poor.]

Oh! Um, hello. [he smiles at elliot.] It's nice to meet you. Um... thanks for helping me.

[fiddlestick]

Hey- easy, you don't have to sit up.

[Please don't hurt yourself more on his account!! ]

You don't have to thank me. I'm happy to help. How are you feeling today?

[callmeven]

[he falls back into the pillows again with an exhale.]

Still really tired and sore... I guess is putting it lightly. I- um, I've never been hurt this badly before. At least not that I can remember.

[fiddlestick]

[Ven you got sawed in half once like the world's crappiest magic trick. Not that Elliot has any knowledge of that, so he takes Ven at his word]

Yeah, I can imagine that...you were put through the ringer.

[The poor kid.]

Well, I'm gonna see if I can help with some of that pain, okay?

[callmeven]

[it's fine he doesn't remember that so it doesn't count]

I'll be okay. It just takes some time to recover, right?

[if he's positive and smiles it'll help...]

Hah... thank you. [he doesn't know what to expect really. up until now the healers that have been hovering over him have all come around when he was still passed out.] Should I... try and move?

[fiddlestick]

Right. It might take some time, but you'll be back on your feet soon enough.

[That's right, gotta go for the positivity! Elliot is willing to go with the reassurance if this kid is.]

Oh, you're okay. Just...hold still, okay?

[He will pull back some bandages on Ventus, humming a soothing tune as he starts to heal the injury underneath. Elliot can't fix him in one go, but the pain he feels will definitely lessen as he works. ]

[callmeven]

Yeah... Yeah.

[if he repeats it over and over then it'll become a truth.

ven tries to relax when elliot starts to work on some of the injuries, still sensitive skin has him flinching reflexively.]

Were... were you a healer before coming here?

b

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas hadn't actually come for Ventus. Instead the Darker half had come for another reason entirely. However the cells aren't too far apart, now are they? So it is no wonder that Vanitas catches sight of Ven in that cell, curled up. Broken and bleeding. It's a similar sigh no matter where he goes in this place. Again, perhaps he should be appalled. Maybe he should feel something.

However he doesn't. There is a thought that Vanitas should just move on. After all, doesn't Ven deserve this? Now he can understand a bit of the pain that Vanitas had dealt with. How many times had he been torn apart by his own Unversed before he had gained control over them? How many times had he been injured in his "training" because of lack of guidance? Really it would serve him right to sit there.

On the other hand... Who knows what would happen if Ven died here. So it isn't out of affection or anything that has Vanitas breaking into the cell. It's self preservation. ]

Well they certainly have done a number on you, haven't they, brother?

[callmeven]

[a familiar voice is speaking to him and ven isn't sure if it's the product of a dream or reality. it's hard to tell when his vision feels like he's trapped in a fog.

he manages to turn his head to look up at vanitas, the image of him taking a moment before it really focuses for him.]

V... Vanitas?

[darkcharge]

It's certainly not Sora.

[ That's when Vanitas kneels, as if assessing Ven's condition. By far it is not the worst he's seen, but the blood loss is enough to slow anyone down. Then there is the muzzle... ]

That thing about your face is a good look for you. Too bad, really.

[ Since the first thing he is going to do is remove that silver contraption from Ven's face. If that means freezing some of the clasps and then breaking them? Well that's what he is going to do. ]

[callmeven]

Sora...

[that name was familiar to him. was he a friend too? ventus couldn't remember, the face with the name just as fuzzy as everything else right now. he closes his eyes and breathes out slowly, his voice coming out quiet and raspy.]

You aren't the first to think that.

[the muzzle doesn't come away cleanly, pieces of burned skin and blood clinging to the metal after having been in contact with ven's skin for so long. no doubt there will be scarring later.]

[darkcharge]

Won't be the last either. Now shut up and hold still.

[ Or it won't scar too bad. Since Van gives a little 'tch' before removing his gloves and holding onto Ven's face.

He's not super proficient at healing... But he can handle a few burns to this dumb guy's face. ]

[callmeven]

Vanitas...?

[he has no idea what's happening, nor does he know what he's feeling when vanitas takes his face in his hands like this. still, the contact feels nice and ven leans his face into his palms.]

Soft... [he says, voice fading into a mumble.]

[darkcharge]

[ Soft. Now what in the world is that referring to? That Vanitas himself could be getting soft? Um. No? This is just convenient and it would be stupid for Ven to have a reminder of his own stupidity right there on his face?

Again, it's not like Van can do much more than this. Maybe with a little more time and patience he could patch Ventus up completely it's easier because he knows Ventus inside and out but when he's done what he can for Ventus' face, he immediately releases the other. ]

I'm choosing not to be offended by your use of that word. Now come on.

[ Too bad for Ventus that Vanitas isn't entirely gentle. After putting his gloves back on, Van is going to be hefting Ven up. ]

Your mother hen probably isn't too far behind...

[callmeven]

[whether the healing process hurts or doesn't, ven hardly reacts to the magic being done on him. he fades in and out of consciousness until vanitas speaks up again, nearly falling over when his face is released. he barely catches himself against the wall with a shaky hand.]

W-wait-

[standing up, even with vanitas helping, takes enough effort on ventus' part that his world goes spinning from moving so quickly. putting any pressure on his injured leg is near impossible and he ends up leaning against vanitas' side, hand clutching at his arm.]

Is everyone- is everyone else okay?

c-2

[princessascended]

I might be able to help.

[Kairi stands in the door of Ven's hospital room, a wan, weak smile on her face as she holds up a small cloth bag. Ventus's nose may be strong enough to smell what's inside, but as she walks up to him she opens up the bag to show off what she's got for him to liven up that hospital food.

Berries. Delicious, colorful, definitely out of season (it being winter and all) berries.]

[callmeven]

Kairi!

[he perks up when he sees her, both ears standing alert. of course when he wrinkles his nose and takes a sniff of the air he can guess what she has-

and it's only confirmed when she opens the bag when she gets close enough.]

Oh wow, those look delicious! Where did you find these?

[princessascended]

Had to hunt through the market for a while, but I got them in the end.

[She keeps her smile despite the sight of him... and the throbbing in her head, but he doesn't need to know about that.]

How are you doing, Ven? Aqua was out of her mind...

[callmeven]

You didn't have to go to all that trouble for me. I'd be happy with anything you bring me.

[because anything is better than bland oatmeal at this point.]

Oh, um- I'm doing great! [he smiles for her, a little awkward when he can still feel the gaps in his teeth showing.] The healers have been really nice and my leg is almost completely healed too! I'll be running around in no time.

[princessascended]

These were just what you needed though, it looks like.

[She sets the bag on his bed and reaches in to pull out a handful of berries, which she begins to sprinkle onto the oatmeal.]

Exactly how long is "no time"? Did they tell you when you'll be able to stand again?

[callmeven]

Thanks a lot, Kairi.

[his tail slowly wags beside him when she pours some of the berries into his bowl.]

Um, probably another week before I can try to run again. I can walk pretty well now if I take my crutch with me.

[princessascended]

[She just keeps going with them until she's certain he's going to get plenty of berries in every bite. Nobody deserves to be stuck with nothing to eat but unadulterated oatmeal.]

A week? That's not... too bad, considering what happened.

[Her face falls a bit, and she reaches out to lay a hand on his shoulder.]

Ven... how are you feeling? Not physically, I mean... how's your heart?

[callmeven]

[om nom nom...

he slowly chews on one of the berries, falling quiet when she comes out with that/i> question.]

I'm- it's okay. [he looks down at his bowl, pushing his spoon through what's left.]

I'm here now so... that means something, right?