[EVENT; CHIHUELANS] Domestic Disturbances

[cherrywood]

Characters: Chihuelans + OPEN
Date: Starting Sept 8, ongoing through the month
Location: All over Keeliai
Situation: The Chihuelan contingent has arrived in Keeliai as previously announced, to begin their task of routing out the deserter Chihuelans on the turtle, and the Grand Justicar is not a patient woman.
Warnings/Rating: Non-descriptive mentions of execution.

OOC NOTE: Additional starters will be added to this post as the month progresses, based on what happens within the threads. Characters do not need to interact directly with the NPCs for every thread, the starters are just so there's an idea of what is happening with them at a given time and for general timekeeping. Please feel free to thread amongst yourselves anywhere on this post as well! Replies by Chihuelan NPCs will come from the cherrywood journal, just for Li's sanity of not needing a new journal.

Please direct any questions to the Itinerary questions comment, thank you!

---

A. ARRIVAL - SEPT 8th;

The Chihuelans arrive shortly after daybreak, on a small ship approximately the size and shape of a mid-length Coast Guard cutter. It bears only minimal armor, and some weaponry, but the configuration suggests defensive capability rather than offensive. Certainly, it's nothing with the ability to attack land-based targets, as if the Grand Justicar is very aware of the image they are presenting. They do not seem surprised to be met by the Woodsmen as they land, but they do not rush as they make berth with the ship, securing it to the beach, and approximately a dozen armed sailors take up guard positions around it. Any move by the kedan or Foreigners toward the ship will result in defensive fire.

The Grand Justicar herself is a tall woman, a touch over six feet, with inhumanly sharp features and a calculating gaze. She wears the same formal dress uniform in red and black, as she did in the console broadcast. It has little ornamentation, straight-cut lines, and those who visited Atamsichar will find it (and the rest of the outfits) in keeping with the militaristic, minimalist style of that city. Chosheni also wears a white and red sash across one shoulder, which seems to denote authority, and is armed with two blades, one long and one short. Her second in command, Eakoven, is a stocky, shorter man who wears a similar outfit in yellow and black, but no sash. There are two dozen soldiers who stand in rigid formation, and their outfits are simpler versions of the two commanders, in black with either red or yellow accents. Each is armed with a blade and a firearm, although what type is difficult to tell, as they all remain firmly sheathed and holstered respectively, at the barked command of Eakoven.

The soldiers will not speak to anyone even if addressed during the trek back to Keeliai, and Eakoven will inquire about the state of lodgings, but seem satisfied when the Woodsmen inform them of the area set aside on the College campus grounds.

B. INTERVIEWS - SEPT 10th-13th;

Once the Chihuelans have settled in, Chosheni will make a console announcement to the general populace (although she does, at least, get permission before making this one) regarding taking interviews from kedan and Foreigners who might be able to provide information on the missing Chihuelans. She will receive people one at a time in a sparsely furnished office, with two soldiers outside the doors, and another two stationed at the main entrance.

Even though the space is functionally an office, the Justicar's stern presence makes it seem more like an interrogation room, albeit one with much nicer furniture. Still, she will neutrally offer to have anything fetched that they might require to feel comfortable.

"Please have a seat," she says crisply. "What information are you offering?"

C. SEARCH TEAMS - SEPT 10th-17th;

Beginning in the days after their arrival, the Chihuelans separate into different groups to begin their search for the deserters. Sixteen of their number, accompanied by Eakoven rotating through the teams for the first few days, then both he and Chosheni once she's concluded taking interviews. The soldiers divide into groups of four, two groups taking the outskirts of the city and out to the Shell's wilds, and two groups remaining inside the city.

Sixteen Chihuelans in the search teams, and four guarding the College campus, however, does not equal the twenty-four who came to the city. Somewhere along the line, four of them have completely vanished. Inquiries as to their whereabouts will be met with practiced deferrals to speak with the Grand Justicar.

The city search teams will move through the various Sectors with a confidence that suggests the layout is not entirely unfamiliar with them, stopping people on the streets and asking questions. Although their methods are brusque, they're very careful not to use violence-- although they will defend themselves if attacked first.

Despite resistance, at least some of the searches and at least a few interviews have produced results. By the end of the week, 11 Chihuelans -- seven from within the city, and four from the outlying areas -- have been caught, dragged back to the College campus, and summarily executed. At least the Justicar had the consideration not to do it on the front lawn.

---

UPDATES
Several interesting developments have happened as a result of the Foreigners' interactions with the Chihuelans!

First of all, Klaus negotiated with the Justicar in regards to the executed deserters, to see that their bodies were properly disposed of, which did however come with a cost: the news of forfeited technology, which was intended to be delivered at the conclusion of their stay.

Secondly, an arrest warrant has been issued in response to Lapis' attack on a search team around mid-month. They have her name, courtesy of Deon shouting it -- but the warrant remains for her specifically, not for a group at large.

---

D. SEARCH TEAMS - SEPT 17th-24th;

The search for the next few days runs slow. Despite the thoroughness of the searchers, the Chihuelans from the turtle seem to have grown savvy and are more difficult to find. For all that, the search patterns have grown more directed; still led by Eakoven, the places searched are no longer on a systematic layout, but appear to be cherry-picked.

After the brusque treatment previously, many kedan eye the searchers with belligerence and most outright refuse to help -- in some cases, borderline obstructing the search. Though in public the Chihuelans are still careful not to use violence, there are some instances of breaking and entering, and unsolicited searches, which occur only when the residents are absent.

Exactly where those four Chihuelans are gone is still unknown, but in spite of their apparently diminished numbers five more Chihuelans have been captured and executed. Though this still isn’t done publicly, and the bodies are at least properly disposed of, there is a growing crowd of kedan present near that area of the College campus, and they never look happy.

E. OBSTRUCTION OF ‘JUSTICE’ - SEPT 20th;

On the morning of the 20th a kedanese family refuses to let a group of Chihuelan searchers into their home, despite the fact that the Chihuelans claim they have good reason to believe clues can be located inside. The kedan object on the basis of Keeliai not being part of their empire, and therefore having no right to force their way into private dwellings, regardless of suspicion.

Another search-party will eventually arrive to back up the Chihuelan searchers, but kedanese supporters are generally either uninvolved or on the side of the kedanese family. Still, something dramatic is unlikely to happen without an instigation.

F. NEW ORDERS - SEPT 27;

On the 27th, two of the sailors which had been minding the Chihuelan ship come into the city, seeking the Justicar. It seems that they've received a transmission from Vesquesam. Those who are in the vicinity of the College to see the exchange will see Chosheni reacting with genuine frustration and anger at whatever the message contains.

Despite this, runners are shortly thereafter dispatched to the search teams, and they're recalled to the College campus. By the top of the hour, the campus is abuzz with Chihuelans who are readying things to depart. The word, should anyone ask the Chihuelan soldiers (the Justicar herself is a thundercloud, and therefore it is probably not wise to inquire with her directly) is that they're being recalled from Tu Vishan's shores.

G. DEPARTURE - SEPT 29;

Early on the morning of the 29th, the Chihuelans and their commander re-board their ship, and it casts off from Tu Vishan's shoreline.

---


OOC: Players are welcome to NPC the interrogated kedan and have them react in any way they choose (some will be quietly resentful, some actively belligerent, some intimidated into talking, etc) as well as their characters' reactions to these incidents.

Please keep in mind that ICA=ICC!

Comments

Brave Vesperia - Sept 10th - 17th

[wolfstrike]

As discussed here, those in Brave Vesperia, and others who decided to volunteer, will be keeping an eye on the Chihuelan contingent.

When they split up into search parties, Yuri assigns at least one person to each party, with the instructions to report anything that's suspicious to the others via radio. Meanwhile, Yuri himself keeps an eye on the Justicar and those around her, sticking around the college campus and getting a feel for what's going on there.

Yunxu | Forward dated to the evening of the 14th | CW: None

[redlightgreenlight]

At Skulduggery's prompting, Valdis made her way to the fire sector, but it was only out of sheer courtesy that she even deigned to speak with the leader of the Snakes. Still, the action was not without logic. She expected the Justicar to retaliate and putting their 'allies' on guard was purely tactical.

The large black hound, padded through the street toward the mansion, her head held low, tail held level to her back. She curled her lips back, showing her teeth to the Snakes that stood guard outside the grand headquarters and to their credit, they barely flinched, although their fear scent was quite strong. Instead of reaching for the unfamiliar minds, she simply went straight to the source.

Kongen av Slanger. She projected her thoughts outward, lifting her head as she did so, I must speak with you.

CW: Yunxu freaking right the heck out

[ironrule]

One moment, Yunxu was alone in his office, sipping a mug of tea while he looked over his notes.

The next, that mug flew out of his hand, smashing quite spectacularly against the wall, throwing tea everywhere and utterly ruining all of his papers.

Once Yunxu had a chance to calm down, he knew, he wouldn't be happy about that. As it was, he'd leaped out of his chair and very nearly made it to the door of the room before he forced himself to stop and smooth down his suit.

His suit was stained, too. Someone would pay for that.

Yunxu stepped carefully over to the sideboard, reaching out to open the top drawer. Then he stopped, glancing around the room, his hand frozen inches away from the handle.

Hello? he thought. It was worth a try, no matter how ridiculous it made him feel - and no matter how fast his heartbeat still was. Who am I... speaking with?

That made my day

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis dropped her head and cackled out loud, causing a fresh wave of fear scent to drift from the guards. Yunux had forgotten their conversation in the Courtyard of Public Opinion so long ago, it was evident in his mental distress and it was highly amusing. What wasn't amusing was that he had figured out how to speak back so quickly.

Your cleverness really is beyond compare, She mused, Few have figured out that they don't have to respond out loud. She sighed, sitting down, but keeping a careful watch on her surroundings. This is Valdis.

SEPT 8; OPEN

[wintershepherd]

It was a good thing that the Chihuelan procession into the heart of Keeliai was orderly, because Jack didn't want to think about how much of a tinderbox the city was at the moment. He was back slightly from the crowd, standing under one of the shop awnings watching them as they marched by. Unnoticed, frost had begun to pattern around his bare feet on the stones, and the beginnings of icicles were starting to drop down from the edge of the canvas awning.

September 14th - Choshenshi and Klaus

[purered]

Klaus's fury at the executions was a bitter and cold thing, knotted somewhere in the vicinity of his ribcage. Klaus didn't get angry very often. It took a great deal for him to be even mildly annoyed. But this? This was more than enough to invoke his fury.

But Klaus was a rational man as well. He knew that inciting the Justicar's wrath would simply bring another war down on the heads of everyone in the city, and that was the last thing they needed. So he locked his anger up tight, and strode up to the college. He didn't particularly care who saw him or what they assumed.

Something needed to be done about the bodies.

He stopped when one of the guards moved forward, and Klaus raised his hands to show he was unarmed. Not that he needed the knuckledusters and Shield of Sanctification to be a force to be reckoned with. They just made things a bit cleaner. Still, it was the principle of the thing, and Klaus wanted to make it very clear he was here to talk, not fight.

It took some convincing - even unarmed as he was, Klaus was a mountain of a man who looked as though he could still pose a threat. However, without actually lying, he had convinced the guard he had information and was briskly led to a small office.

When she asked him to sit, Klaus took one look at the chair, and highly doubted it would support all three hundred pounds of him. He stood instead, as rigid and unmoving as the inquisitor herself.

When she asked him what information he was offering, he shook his head.

"None, I'm afraid. I've come to discuss the handling of the bodies of those you executed."

[cherrywood]

Chosheni wasn't troubled by the fact that Klaus didn't sit, but nor did she make the offer to rise and greet him. Her posture was calm and authoritative, but not arrogantly so. When Klaus revealed that he didn't, in fact, have information of the whereabouts of the deserters, her mouth thinned a little.

"I dislike deception, sir. You should have just said so to the guards when you arrived. What of them?"

[purered]

He wasn't about to argue that it was the guard who made the assumptions. Regardless, he gave a bow.

"My apologies." He straightened. "The bodies cannot be left as they are, especially in this heat. They present a risk of disease to both the denizens of Keeliai and your men. If you are unwilling to have your men tend to them, I am sure a mortician could be persuaded to come and handle the matter."

C - Closed to Deon

[oceantier]

The executions have not eased Lapis' mind.

The sight of the bodies, executed neatly and left to rot under a bare cover under the sun roils in her brain. Churns, festering. Executions . . . the strangers are here to kill, to despoil -- and who knows if they will be content with just their kind?

It's all too familiar, this scene, and it sets off an electrical storm inside of her, thoughts racing fast and faster until they scream, arching through her nearly too fast to parse.

She can't remember returning home, but she huddles in the seaside cave she has come to claim for her own, balled and shaking, trying to calm the heaving in her gut.

It's hard to say how many hours she stays there. Or days.

[craftlife]

Deon's been wandering the beach again, ever since that audio-alone post. Lapis Lazuli. That had to be the gem-woman; at least, it would make a certain amount of sense. He knows the Chihuelans will question him if they come across him, but he's just going for a walk. That's all.

"Lapis?" he calls out from the shore, and the wind carries his voice along the lonely coast.

[oceantier]

She can't hear him over the sound of the ocean, over the thoughts churning through her own head.

But she does hear the footsteps at the mouth of the cave -- and the growled query from one of the members Chihuelan search party who has discovered it. There's someone in the cave, and they haven't determined who yet, but they mean to find out as they look between themselves for a proper light.

Here. They're here for her, as she knew they would come. It had been inevitable, only a matter of time; they're coming, coming for her, this time for her . . .

A sound, strangled somewhere between a sob and a shriek, pierces the air, and a hand rises from the water itself, massive and dripping with cold seawater. The Chihuelans barely have time to react before it smashes into them like a tidal wave, pinning them to the rock under its weight.

Sept 16th; Fire Sector; initially closed to Arno, likely more as the situation develops

[inkulcation]

It's a matter of some curiosity when one of China's informants tells her he knows where to find two escaped Chihuelans. She goes alone, at first, since her informant is reluctant to do anything himself but did give her very detailed instructions on how to locate the pair, and while they're understandably wary they're willing to talk to her. China listens, feels out their sticking points, and leaves them there, since for the moment they're not willing to move, even if she exerts her charms. They feel their lives are threatened, after all; she's not entirely surprised, though she was hopeful.

She retraces her steps with caution, spends some time thinking about her next move. They're hidden, but they're not well defended. It's going to take some time for her to get anything like a consensus out of other Foreigners, and in the mean time, China wants to ensure they're protected.

Ordinarily... ordinarily she would take it to Skulduggery. She is not currently thinking about Skulduggery. Nor is she talking to anyone else from her world, plans to wreak some kind of imaginative vengeance on Wreath aside. What she wants, however, is someone physically capable, and slightly more subtle than the average Dead Man.

China thinks about it. And, later that day, approaches a specific café in Fire, looking for the man she's been reliably informed often spends a good deal of time there.

"Monsieur Dorian," she greets him, when she does spot him. Smiles. "May I assume you're somewhat recovered?"

Re: Sept 16th; Fire Sector; initially closed to Arno, likely more as the situation develops

[stubbornlittleshit]

Arno's not been well since his letter, and the reveal of everything, but the last few days have, well, time hasn't healed the wounds exactly, but it's let a scab form over them, comfortable enough that Arno's been able to function, for the most part, evidenced by the fact he's drinking coffee at the moment, not drowning his sorrows.

He glances up, somewhat surprised as she enters, standing briefly, unsteady only in his uncertainty of what's going on, and embarrassment at the situation, and he nods.

"Enough to understand the damage that I've likely done." he answers, his smile tight, although..."I doubt you've come to me for reasons of my health alone. What IS it I can do for you?"

[inkulcation]

She approves, quietly, of the fact Arno stood to greet her. China tilts her head a little, still smiling with nary a drop in her attitude. "I may wish to retain your services," she says lightly. So long as those services are of a piece with what she has concluded his skills are. Her gaze slants over to his cup, checking what he's drinking, then back to his face. "Although, I will admit, not for your speechmaking. You have some hand for combat, don't you, Monsieur? Quick hands? And our talks before, I must confess, have led me to believe you know something of subtlety. Certainly more than some I might name. I have some use for your skills, if you still find yourself at loose ends."

B - September 12th

[wrathfulkhan]

While Gene's no fan of the Chihuelans' presence, the opportunity to talk to Chosheni one-on-one is intriguing. And he thinks he'll be able to get some information of his own out of her, if he plays his cards right.

So he waits, quite patiently and diplomatically, to be seen - all the while sizing up the Chihuelan forces on guard.

Re: B - September 12th

[cherrywood]

Gene isn't kept waiting long, as the Justicar is nothing if not efficient. "Come in," she says crisply. There are a large number of children among the Foreigners, weren't there? But she valued capability more than age, and so there was no prejudice in her tone.

"You requested to see me."

E

[wolfstrike]

When Yuri spotted the Chihuelan search party trying to muscle their way into one of the Kedan's homes, he definitely stopped to observe. Perched on one of the rooftops and keeping himself carefully unseen by those below as he listened in.

When it became clear that the Kedan did not want the Chihuelans to come in, but they were determined to get in anyway... that's when his blood started to boil. The Justicar at least had the sense to keep this crap from getting out of hand. If there was one thing he couldn't stand, it was the bullying of innocent people.

Thus Yuri made a quick call over his handset to the other foreigners and then sprang into action. Leaping down from the rooftop to place himself in the midst of the Kedans and the Chihuelans.

"Alright guys, I'm pretty sure you weren't invited to dinner."

Yuri's hand tightly gripped the strap of his sword. He didn't draw the blade, but he made no secret of the fact that he was armed and ready to defend these Kedan if he needed to.

[redlightgreenlight]

It didn't take the large hound long to reach the location. She prowled out of an alley, her head low, showing her teeth to the Chihuelans as she approached, her hackles raised, making her appear even larger.

I am here, Yuri, she growled, moving toward the gathering.

The kedan moved out of her way, but the Chihuelans stood their ground, for now...

[edgeoftheknife]

Erskine, remarkably, wasn't far away from the location Yuri gave. He'd been out in the city anyway, drawing moisture from the humid air to make it rain over a small courtyard, when the radio he'd taken to carrying with him buzzed to life.

Not all of the kedan liked him. Hell, they had every right to hate him. But Erskine hadn't fought in a war for a quarter of a millennium because he enjoyed seeing innocent people pushed around.

Quite the contrary.

He was still wearing his hooded jacket when he arrived, slowing from a full tilt run a good block away so that he could edge up into the growing crowd quietly. Force of habit, maybe. Black ops wasn't always flashy. It was about making sure you were in the right place at the right time.

I'm here, he told Valdis. Your three o'clock, in the crowd. Is there a plan?

Between the 17th and the 27th - after the warrant for Lapis is issued

[oceantier]

A. Closed to Yuri and Gene - [Apparently at least a few of the kedan are afraid enough of the Chihuelans that they offer information . . . and so, even though she hasn't returned to her cave, the search party knows where to find Lapis.]

[The building she's using is abandoned, silent, located in the Water Sector -- a hiding hole scouted out from her early days when she'd made note of numerous locations in case of need. Unaware that there's a search warrant out for her capture, she huddles in the dark, trying to recoup and sort out the race of her thoughts.]

[She knows they'll be back. Knows they'll be angry. She doesn't know they're coming now -- two guarding the front while the remaining two sneak towards the back.]

B. Closed to Klaus - [Late at night, there's a tap on Klaus' door -- first lightly, hesitating, then louder, firmer. A kedan woman waits on the doorstep, arms braced around herself as though to fend off a cold that doesn't exist, glancing over her shoulder to the silent street with wide eyes.]

[She is quite blue.]

C. Open - (Interested in an encounter with Lapis while she's on the lamb? Give me a poke on PM and we'll see what we can start up. :) )

A!

[wolfstrike]

Yuri hadn't stopped in his spying of the Justicar and her forces. So when he caught wind of her merry little band going off to arrest one of the Foreigners, he wasn't about to sit idly by. Who were they to arrest someone outside their own territory anyway? But instead of going it alone, Yuri called in Gene to help him out. After deciding on a vague little plan, they went in.

Teleporting was weird. That's all he had to say about that. So when they appeared inside the building with a zapping sound, Yuri could only hope that they could find this supposed 'blue girl' and get out before the Chihuelans even suspected they were there.

[wrathfulkhan]

Gene normally did not love vague plans and ill-conceived rescue missions, but he couldn't pass this one up. Tony was really beginning to rub off on him. He sent the armor away; he could pull it back up with a thought if he needed to, but it wasn't exactly reassuring to see.

"I think I hear something," Gene said quietly. But was it the blue girl, or the Chihuelans?

B.

[purered]

[Klaus had been working late in the greenhouse when he heard a light tapping on the door. At first he thought nothing of it, and then it came again, more insistent.

Setting down a sack of compost, he opened the door and saw a frightened young lady on the stoop. And then he realizes it's Lapis. Wordlessly, he ushers her inside, and casts a hasty glance around for any sign of Chihuelan soldiers. Shutting the door, he breathed a sigh of relief.]

You're safe, Gott se dank.

[It was rare for him to revert to German, but the warrant had him fretting and searching as much as he could.]

[oceantier]

[Perhaps it was telling that as soon as he opened the door, as he filled it, her shoulders slumped with the exhaustion she'd been holding back, ducking into the house.]

You knew me. [Her tone verged towards pleased; she couldn't help it. He knew without her having to explain. But the pleasure faded again quickly with the released worry in his voice. He'd been worried. About her. She didn't need to understand German to understand that.]

[She also wasn't quite sure yet what to do with it.]

I just need to rest. [She offered the words as though she suspected he might still refuse her.] Just for a little while. I . . .

[She wasn't sure how to explain what had happened. Her eyes shifted away, fingers tightening at her elbows.] They surprised me. I . . . hurt some of them.

[She would explain if he wanted, but it seemed right to say this directly -- to give him the chance to refuse her, knowing the naked truth of it. She'd made trouble . . . there was no getting around that.]

C: Location to be decided by you!

[12goingon113]

Like everyone he'd heard the rumors. The tale of a foreigner who dared to stand up to the invaders. He tried not to listen, because gossip isn't right speech, but Aang found it hard to ignore when it was said that she had control over water.

His first thought, as always, was Katara. But then they'd said her name was Lapis, and instantly Aang thought of her. The sad, blue, girl he met by the Turtle's Head. The one that was skittish and afraid, convinced someone was to do her harm.

Thinking of her, Aang knelt down and placed his hand upon the ground. He cleared his mind and focused on the threads of the universe that keep us all connected.
everything is connected
His tattoos glowed a brilliant blue as a bolt of energy flooded the turtle seeking her out.