☆ 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

[fulgency]

[Waver's concerns are not unfounded. Even knowing where the kidnapped victims were with near-perfect certainty, Aefenglom's officials were unwilling to move or act instead of doing what needed to be done. Normally under such circumstances, Ozymandias would insist that the Mirrorbound do what needed to be done with or without Aefeglom's support, but they are in too weak of a position to take matters so fiercely into their own hands.]

[But it will not be that way for much longer. This cannot be allowed to happen again, and the Mirrorbound can no longer rely upon whatever good graces this city and its people might pretend to afford them. He has to push aside such thoughts for now though, drawing a steadying breath to quell the rage that has been growing since the fires. It's not an easy thing to do looking at the blatant signs of injury on Waver.]

We cannot simply rush in with sheer brute force or we risk casualties of those who have been taken. We need to be sure that everyone involved in this knows what is to come and what is expected of them in their roles.

[The way Ozymandias sees it, if the Rathmores have any sense, they will see the remaining kidnapped as their leverage. Their lives still have value to them as a bargaining chip. It's entirely possible that's not the case, but he doubts they have been pushed to the brink of desperation just yet. They are so keen on sending a message that they would have displayed evidence of their desperation by now, trying to intimidate the people gathered here into backing off and putting the power back into their hands. But they're not there yet.]

It will not be much longer before we recover the others. I will not allow it to be otherwise when among their numbers are those I've come to care for. [And chief among those still captive is a woman that he loves, though he does not say as much.] You have my word.

[tryhard]

[ The pharaoh's answer is a logical one, and one that Waver naturally expected-- though he doesn't seem particularly satisfied to hear it said aloud. The only thing that would have comforted him, though, is impossible. He just wants his friends out of there immediately, their torturers brought to justice, and he wishes it could happen now.

But 'not much longer' is as close as they can get to 'now' until it's time, and so Waver swallows his protests with only some difficult and finally returns Ozymandias's steady gaze with a small nod. ]

...all right. [ Voice a whisper, shoulders slumping, Waver seems to shrivel in his chair beneath the large blanket, looking even smaller than his already petite stature.

A pharaoh's word is more than any common promise, surely. Waver knows he'll do everything he can. ]

As soon as possible, then.

As soon as you can...

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias nods a little in a quiet, solemn cementing of his promise. When he speaks again, Ozymandias' voice is low and quiet.]

Let them treat your wounds in the meantime.

[He doesn't bother with elaborating that he means properly treating them more than what he's already allowed. He assumes Waver will understand the meaning without wasting his time on such words as it's fairly obvious the more difficult to treat wounds -- like the raw skin around his wrists and neck -- have been neglected. Likely through his insistence that it could wait until after he shared everything he knew that might be of value in rescuing the others.]

[Ozymandias doesn't anticipate that Waver will argue with him about it directly like that. He seems too tired to put up much of a verbal argument about anything other than the urgency in which others need to be saved. Gently, he brushes back some of Waver's hair that's fallen in his face. Even though he doesn't anticipate fussing like that, he still expects passivity where so long as no one bothers him, he won't go looking for treatment. So, he continues,]

I'm not commanding you to do this as Pharaoh. I'm asking you as a friend. It would put my mind at ease.

[tryhard]

[ The soft touch is more comforting than expected, and Waver automatically leans a little into it, letting it linger ]

I understand. Thank you... as a friend.

[ Once he's sure that he's done all he can, he won't postpone further treatment from healers who stay behind. They'll get a fresh wave of people who need help soon, and he'll want to make room for them, so any immediate care he needs, Waver won't argue against -- though anything less urgent can wait.

Still, he doesn't even try to protest, so Ozy might be a bit relieved by that, at least. ]

[fulgency]

[It's not a promise that Waver provides him with, but neither is it an argument. Easily, it's the best response Ozymandias could have reasonably hoped for.]

I will check on you after the others have been freed. [Ozymandias stands back up, placing a gentle hand on Waver's shoulder.] You've done well.

[He doesn't say it explicitly, but the underlying message is that Ozymandias is proud of Waver, of his bravery and resolve. His freedom and all the assistance he is providing will lead to the freedom of those left behind. It doesn't seem unreasonable to Ozymandias to credit Waver and the other escapees with saving all the lives of those who had been taken.]

[tryhard]

[ The weight of Ozymandias's hand on his shoulder seems to sink through his entire body, a slow heaviness in his bones that makes Waver slump in his chair, exhale shakily. With the breath, some of the tension seems to leave him, too. He doesn't relax, not yet, but for now--

He can wait. He can try to rest. He can hold those words close to his chest and tell himself he's done all that he can.

Waver blinks back tears that cling to his lashes, any attempt at words catching in the raw, scratchy ache that squeezes his throat.

His head tips slightly toward Ozymandias's forearm, though it's difficult to tell if it's a sign of affection trying to nuzzle closer or if Waver's simply so tired he tries to lean against him on instinct. ]

I just.... hope it's enough.

G-go. I'll be here. Thank you.

[fulgency]

[As Waver tips his head towards Ozymandias' arm, Ozymandias' free hand comes to rest on the opposite side of Waver's head, mindful of any injuries there. It's a wordless acceptance of Waver leaning on him as even after Waver has finally spoken, Ozymandias does not pull away immediately. If it brings Waver a small amount of comfort, Ozymandias wants him to have it.]

[But he must go both for the sake of his promise to Waver and his own conviction to bring back those who have been taken from him.]

[Ozymandias runs his fingers gently through Waver's hair after those few moments before he nudges him to sit back upright. The hand at Waver's shoulder leaves once he is no longer leaning quite so much on him, but his hand runs through Waver's hair a few more times as he reaffirms his promise.]

I shall return with the rest shortly.

[Ozymandias' hand falls away from Waver as he turns, leaving to rejoin the others as they review the final plan of how to as safely as possible extract those who were unable to escape.]