☆ 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

[digiorno]

[It's supposed to be empathy. He's spent a long time not feeling much of it and expecting none to be shown; that's the trouble. Rubbing feeling back into this frozen limb is taking much longer than expected, especially since he often has no interest in working at it.]

[It's easier with Caren. He doesn't know why. Easier to stop himself from resisting, at least, even if the act of letting walls down is still painful.]

I'd like that. I don't want to be alone right now.

[In part because he's thinking too much, and in part because the anger will come back in full force, he's pretty sure.]

[showsnopiety]

[She gets it. She understands it far better then she's willing to admit. They're far too alike, since before...her empathy was almost in spite. So she wouldn't become the worst person in the world.

But it's easy to empathize with Giorno. Maybe because they're so similar.]

Neither do I.

[She leaned against him. Offering her heat, even if she wasn't as warm as she was usually. It'll be some time before she has that heat again.]

I'd also...like to take a bath.

[And from the look she gives him, she wants him in the room, if not in the bathwater.]

[digiorno]

[He doesn't mind that she isn't as warm as usual. She's still warmer than him. Sometimes he feels bad about that, how unpleasant it must be to touch him. But she's not hesitating, so he lets that worry drift away for now.]

[There's something else to think about that she presents right away, anyway, so that helps. For the second time in this conversation, he looks genuinely startled, although the reaction isn't as pronounced or dramatic as before. Something puzzled in the eyebrows as he parses this statement. Caren is awfully hard to read sometimes.]

[But then again, she doesn't lie. With a soft hum, he laces his warmly-gloved fingers through hers.]

I'd like you to get what you want. I think you deserve it. So, just tell me where you want me.

[It will all work out, whatever happens. Because — he trusts her.]

[What a strange thing.]

[showsnopiety]

[She was used to being warmer then other people. Vampires being cool is just a matter of course- she's used to the idea.

But it seems she's startled him- and he startled her. She...deserves something nice? And he's fine with this? Here she thought there would be teased or get a raised eyebrow.]

Just in the room would be fine. I'm not going to force you into anything. Just...I'd feel better if you were with me.

[Which is a strange thing to feel and admit.]

[digiorno]

I never thought you’d try to force me into anything.

[There’s a faintly amused tone in his voice. Not because he thinks she couldn’t, he knows better than to underestimate people like that. Not because he thinks he has the omniscience or even discipline to avoid spending time with people who might manipulate him. He’s clever until he’s stupid. But the thing is—]

I trust you. [Simple and complicated at the same time. He rubs his thumb against the side of your hand.] I’d feel better if I was with you, too. With you, I don’t feel so . . . obligated.

[To what, exactly? That answer doesn’t come. He’s quiet for a moment, chin tucked in to watch their feet as they walk.]

Just . . . as close as you want me. That’s where I’ll be.

[showsnopiety]

I haven't felt the desire to bully you yet. But it might happen.

[She says it dryly, but her gaze drops to their joined hands. It was funny. She had embraced more people then she ever cared to this week but- this felt warm. Intimate.

Gently, she brushed her thumb over the side of his hand. It was intimate, but she didn't want to let go. Her voice comes softer, far less sardonic.]

Or not. I trust you too. I feel....I don't have to make the effort to be...socially acceptable. It's fine that we're just ourselves.

[She's only felt that with one or two people, and that's a strange, uneasy, calming feeling.]

Let's just go back to my place. I realized getting food right now is too attention grabbing.

We can have coffee, clean up and...you can stay the night. The bed is big enough for the two of us.

Or we can make a bed. I just...I want you close now. I want the security.

[She says it slowly. It's difficult to say, since it's a vulnerable, if natural thing to say.]

But I don't know how easy I'll be to sleep with, all innuendos aside. At least I can't claw you.

[digiorno]

[It should be more surprising, hearing her say that, but — she’s been through a lot. Something like this, it breaks down walls or else it shores them up. Breaks them down selectively, sometimes. Maybe that’s what’s happening here. Maybe she’s willing to take this one chance on him, despite everything.]

[He will be careful with it. He has to be careful with it. The way her thumb brushes against his hand makes the hair at the back of his neck stand up, but in a good way.]

I’d like to be close to you, personally. It would seem . . . artificial, setting up another bed. When I want the same thing you do. To be close.

[To her specifically, but also just — close. The idea of being alone right now is cloying and horrible. It makes him want to claw his skin off.]

So I’ll sleep in your bed. Or not sleep. I don’t think I could sleep tonight in any case. [He purses his lips.] I’m too angry and . . . wired. The anger will go, but the rest won’t. So I don’t mind if you keep me up. [A huff of amusement.] I’ll probably just enjoy the warmth, honestly. I run so cold on my own.

[showsnopiety]

You might stay up all night anyway. I like my coffee strong.

[No promises about staying awake or asleep. Her body feels worn out. Mentally she's alert as she could be, physically not so much. Besides, it might make Giorno more anxious if she forced herself to stay up.]

But...I know, too, that you're going to be angry for me. That will keep you up too.

Normally this would be the point where as a joke or a tease, I would offer a carnal distraction.

[It's a rather matter of fact thing, and she supposes it's normal. But...she has to be honest, for both of their sakes.]

However...I don't know if you'd be interested. And if You were...I don't think it would be simple, physical stimulation.

[They'd both be warm but there's also this...weird, strong energy between them she doesn't completely understand.]

More then just being...close.

[digiorno]

[There's nothing to deny there. He's certainly angry for her. For so many people who deserved better than this. At himself for not being able to do more. To do better. To fix it before any of this happened.]

[So he just nods. Watches the ground as they walk, feeling heavy, and only glances sideways at her when she . . .]

[Well. How does he answer that? Biting the inside of his cheek, he stays quiet for a confused few seconds, not because he doesn't know the answer but because he knows it only in feelings, not in words. When he does speak, it's stop-and-go.]

I'm not sure I'd be very good at simple. Not when it comes to you, certainly. I . . .

[Could he? In general? The idea is frightening and freeing at the same time: to just let go of the fear and let someone in for a few hours. To not care. But when it comes to Caren, the question's moot anyway. It's just different.]

[He's also pretty sure he should be embarrassed, at least a little bit, but he isn't. Not talking about it with her. Just uncertain. But he wants to be honest with her, or else what the fuck's the point?]

I would be interested. But I don't think I feel simply about you. Whether or not we do anything, I feel strongly about you. . . . I would feel it more if you let me in that way. That's the truth. But it's a feeling that exists regardless.

[showsnopiety]

[There's a lot she could say about his anger, but she doesn't. He's entitled to it, completely. But she's not going to talk about what she went through just yet since- there's nothing they can do about it. Not right now.]

I don't know how to summarize my feelings about you. Intense perhaps? But...

[She considers. Their steps feel slow. As if they're slowing down to give themselves both time to think.]

I want to let you in. My feelings won't change, regardless the situation, unless it's in its intensity.

We can see what happens. No pressure. Regardless what happens...I will be thankful.

Because you're here.

[digiorno]

Intense is the right word for it.

[He smiles, although it’s a gentle, rueful thing, entirely at his own expense. Sometimes it feels like everything he feels is intense. Too much, most of the time. She makes it easier on him, though, by being so straightforward. So open and honest in a way he would struggle to be if she didn’t initiate. And yet he doesn’t entirely believe this is normal for her.]

[Maybe they just communicate well. Some kind of synchronicity. Regardless of the reason for it, it helps. So much. It’s comfortable, like . . . well. Sinking into a warm bath.]

[Hm. He ducks his chin and looks at her again, careful to keep his expression from shuttering. Then he nods.]

I’d like that. To just see what happens. No matter what, this is where I want to be right now for as long as you’ll have me.

[A moment’s pause, before he nudges her gently with his elbow, careful not to jostle her off balance.]

Thank you for being honest with me. It means a lot, it’s not . . . well. It means a lot.