Buy a Little Mercy [Open; Potentially Graphic Material]

[cityship]

Less than an hour after the ship leaves Agrestic's orbit, an announcement is broadcast throughout Stacy.

|| Attention, crew. Your crewmates, Howard Bassem and Charles Merriman, have been apprehended attempting to desert. They will now be given Punishment. According to established guidelines, you are all requested to report to the Observation to witness the Punishment. Attendance is not mandatory, but highly suggested. This will serve as a reminder of the consequences of treason and desertion. ||

On the observation deck, Archon Yavek, Archite Rekkti, two other Daligig and a handful of Kessek soldiers stand outside a spherical force field. Inside the bubble, Orc and Howard are suspended by tentacles looping around their wrists. Orc's ceased thrashing around and struggling against his restraints; rust-colored fissures have developed around his shoulders and forearms from the strain, but now he simply hangs there, looking defeated. Howard's nose is bleeding, and every time a drop falls to the bottom of the forcefield there's a small sizzle. He's weeping and begging the Daligig with every plea possible, but they act as if they aren't listening. Instead, they wait for an audience.

Comments

[meat_mooks]

If Yavek feels intimidated, he doesn't show it, but the Kessek do move to surround N'tho.

"The meaning is a public demonstration of the consequences for treason. Do try to listen when Stacy broadcasts."

[warriorraceguy]

N'tho flares out his mandibles a little in response, in particular bristling when the Kessek draw around his right side. He's especially defensive there because of his bad eye.

"How is this treason?"

[meat_mooks]

"By deserting the ship, they are disabling the fate the Tapestry states will bring our worlds back. They're damning us all to do so."

The Kessek tower over N'tho, a threat in every aspect of their body language.