☆ 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

[freeing]

[ In part, he will have to. With their Bond reunited, there's echoes of her pain — echoes of her anger. It isn't fresh like a wound, like a gnawing thought he can't shake. Daenerys would apologize for it eventually, but the thought doesn't cross her mind.

She clutches to the cloak, using it as some kind of shield from the rest of the world. Jorah offered her many things in their time together, but this... this is the one she will most remember. It takes no sword and shield to bring her safety this time.

However, sentimentality and honor are only partially what she needs. He sees her at her weakest, much more than she was with the Dothraki and her child was stolen from her. It was a pitiful state for a Queen, but she survives — as he looks to her. ]

I need you to help them. There are others I swore freedom — they can not wait for it. [ The city guard is incompetent and she dares not trust them. Jorah, she trusts with her life. But, that wasn't what he asked. It was for her. She ignores. ] Our allies are suffering.

[heartsbane]

[ he's so empathetic to her and how she feels even without the bond, so there would have been some reciprocation of pain regardless. it's only intensified now that they reconnect. she may feel the anxiety and helplessness that has plagued him over the days, but it's no doubt overwhelmed by everything else she is still processing even now. their connection has done more to hurt them than help, especially when he could not use it to find her. another notch on the belt made of bitterness towards this world and its laws of magic.

she may feel pitiful, but he sees a woman that will eventually heal. she always does. nothing has been able to keep her down, regardless of how much has tried to bury her in the past. Jorah hopes he can do any and everything in his power to help her heal the wounds this place has left on her, but he knows that can't happen yet. there is much to do, and all he can hope for is that she remains somewhere safe. ]

Khaleesi. [ she requests him to help the others, and it's only then that he shows the first bit of hesitation. Jorah is willing to offer assistance, but not at the cost of leaving her in the care of another. only now does his mind grow cloudy enough to not realize how his hand has moved to clutch her knee, as if hoping she would understand why he seems so hesitant. ] I do not doubt that. But I have... I have already been gone from your side for far too long. I am not sure I am so willing to leave it again. Who is to say what may happen—

[ he only has to think the worst for a moment before the image of her disappearing again filters his mind. Jorah wouldn't live with himself if he decided to leave her only for that to happen again, regardless of if it was by her command or not. his palm applies a gentle amount of pressure into her leg, clearly growing more desperate in hoping she doesn't insist. ]

[freeing]

Jorah. [ Her words were firm, harsher than ice and more invigorated than fire. It takes everything in her to not collapse, to show a weakness unfitting for a Queen. He speaks her title so endearingly, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea – sworn to bring those who could not fight for themselves to salvation. His touch doesn't spur a reaction, one hand goes up shakily to grip onto his wrist. ] See me in the care of the city guards and then return into their house of horrors to help the others.

[ They meet in the middle ground, somewhere between her own vulnerabilities and her own sense of justice. If she can breathe the chilling air, feel the crunch of grass under her feet and the warmth of his hand on her – she would not be worthy of it until the others were free from their chains. ]

I command it.

[heartsbane]

[ ah. it has been a while since he heard her say his name with such a tone. she has always been kind and even biased to Jorah over the years, and it was only in moments of intense emotion did she find herself bringing his name out in such a way. he dreads to think about the time he stood before her by the stairs of the Great Pyramid, the intensity in her words as she exiled him from her army while clearly on the verge of putting an end to his life. even if it wasn't remotely the same, he always goes back to it anytime she gets this way.

to say he stops preparing to argue with her is an understatement. he doesn't get to have a say in what she wants from him. why should he? though he is sure she may realize why he doesn't want to leave, the wants of either of them cannot surpass those that are still stranded in the building.

Jorah lets out a heavy sigh and steels his jaw. he squeezes her knee once more before standing, moving his hand to instead offer it for her to stand. if and when she decides to do so, he only keeps his fingers laced around hers to ensure she does not fall over again. that's what he'll tell himself and her if anyone asks, anyway. ]

Of course, khaleesi. Once they are saved, though... you will have to exile me again if you want me to leave your side. I hope you understand.

[freeing]

[ It was different than in Meereen — she did not wish to toss his head over the city's walls nor burn the vision of his face from her mind. He needs to listen to her, he needs to push aside his feelings as she did hers. She wants so badly to collapse in his arms, to be carried away from this torment... but she steels on. She shouldn't need to, it was a destructive desire of self-assurance that she was not so broken by this world that she was anything less than the great Mother of Dragons.

Her coldness was not for Jorah, but for herself.

She takes his hand and stands on unsure legs — a moment of pride in herself. ]

Until that time, guide me away from here.

[heartsbane]

[ he doesn't fight her any farther. he never would. Jorah has always been sure to give her criticism and advice when the situation calls for it, but this is not one of those. she needs him to listen and obey. and so he does. he escorts her somewhere same, where the first responders can provide her aid and safety while he joins the strike force through the front. there was a want to say more than he could — not because he was concerned for his own life, but because of how much pain he felt just from seeing her in her condition.

a few hours pass. it was a blur; far different than what hours most likely felt like for Dany while trapped in a cage. Jorah helped where he could, assisting the other Mirrorbound in capturing the family at fault for this as well as looking for any stragglers left behind.

when he returns from the mansion, his cheeks are black and grey from soot and ash, faint trails of blood caked onto his skin that thickens on his armor and hands. it isn't an uncommon look for a soldier; especially not one for a knight serving under a Targaryen's rule. he's made many people bleed in Daenerys' name. today would be no exception, even if the city of Aefenglom tried their hardest to avoid that from happening. ]

Khaleesi. I return to you.

[ whether she's sitting or standing, he appears at one of the tents setup that were meant to tend to the wounded. hopefully she's been bandaged and given some sort of care, but regardless, he doesn't make eye contact with her yet. she needs to feel like the woman of power she still is to him, even when she might be at her weakest. as such, Jorah takes a knee, eyes cast downward towards the ground. ]

All prisoners have been freed and accounted for. Those responsible are in custody. Today was... as much of a success as it could be, barring the circumstances.

[freeing]

[ It was a different feeling. From chains against her wrist to bandages. Daenerys was tended to the best she could, but she refused heavier instances of magic. Doctors, medicine men — she preferred those.

Time passes and all she does is rest and worry. It feels wrong to remain idle, but her limbs can not help it. After being healed only enough to summon her fire, the reality is she was drained. Laid back upon soft cushion, she's bundled up tightly with blankets and heat compresses against her stomach and chest.

That beautiful silver-gold hair was still a mess, sprawled against the pillows that prop her. She hears her title, eyes parting enough to see the source — as if she had doubt. The pressure in her elbows feel heavy as she sits up, breath catching from the pained strain. If her Knight was to return to her and kneel, she could sit up stubbornly. ]

No casualties to our people? [ 'Our people', it's natural. Them versus 'us'. The Mirrorbound, she implies. The news was digested more thoughtfully, her gaze strong to him now, especially when she sees his state. ] They still opposed you, ser?

[heartsbane]

[ it isn't surprising that Daenerys wishes she could do more. she always wishes she could do more. even when she was a true queen, when she had the power to make decisions that shaped an entire city, she had always longed that she could bring happiness to everyone in said city. the poor Targaryen still has much to learn about the world and the burden and weight of one's decisions. all Jorah could do is try and chip in where he can. so he did.

he is quick to close the distance between them as she remains seated, bending the knee even when she doesn't command him to do so. she probably didn't even care. who could blame her? she was hurting, emotionally and physically. so much was no doubt plaguing her mind and heart right now, even as her body ached and reminded her of how human she still was, scales or no. ]

The mirrorbound seem to be intact. Others are... afflicted, similar to yourselves, but no deaths that I have been made aware of.

[ Jorah continues to refrain from looking up at her. part of it is because he fears how concerned he will grow from seeing her in her current state. it is mostly out of guilt above all else; guilt that he could do very little both past and present. ]

I will not lie to you, khaleesi. They did not... oppose me, per se. But I inflicted justice upon them in a way that I felt you would.

[freeing]

That... is good. [ Her words linger, a sigh of relief softly huffed past her nostrils at the news. She had feared the worst — that people would be trapped still in their cells and never make it out.

She looks to him, with sadness in her eyes but still a warmth that allowed her to feel safe. For once tonight. ] Raise.

[ It was a command. ]

Tell me how.