11522 replies to this topic

[Visaru]

IC- Sovos - Onu-Koro

The Reaper's focus on keeping Sovos suspended faltered for a moment as glass and metal framework went flying at Tarnok, and Sovos did not let the chance go to waste.

 

He threw his dagger with all the force he could muster, sending it flying at the Reaper, even as he dropped a bio towards the ground. He was so close to that darkened alleyway, so close to escape...

Edited by Visaru, Mar 10 2013 - 11:07 AM.

[The Snark Knight]

IC:

Metal was ripped from the storefront, and hurled toward Tarnok. His green eyes took in every detail of the glass embedded into the makeshift barrage as his reflexes flew into overdrive. 

 

Crossbow; ineffective. He thought to himself, dropping it and throwing himself forward into a roll. The projectiles flew overhead, missing him by mere inches, even as one of the longer shards of glass scrapped across his armor. He popped out of the roll to his feet, drawing his seax knife, and stabbing forward toward the Reaper's gut. His left hand grasped a second knife from his belt, ready to defend if need be.

[Content with Life]

IC: [Uyism]

 

"No."

 

She thrust her chest forwards, her muscles pushing the dagger out of her body, while thrusting her arm straight out of Voxumo's body. She grabbed onto him, and promptly slammed him into the ground with terrifying force.

 

"DO. NOT. RESIST."

[Vox The Shadow of Reality]

IC: Voxumo

 

Voxumo gasped lightly as he felt the force of his body meeting the ground. he then snarled loudly becoming honestly annoyed. even with his gaping wound and his shoulder he still stood, He summon some ice to seal up the hole in his abdomen. as he lookes to Ulysim he begins to grudging walk towards her 

"you know i gave you a chance, but no you had to insist on fighting me. Well i am quite tired of this."

He seems to be imbued with a extra bit of energy from his anger

"Long ago i learned from a vortixx how to use my anger to my advantage"

As he approached he moved swiftly seeming to ignore his wounds as he trusted upwards toward Ulysim with his elbow slamming into her chin while he kicked forward with his right leg thrusting into her abdomen with all his strength. He heard a slight pop from her jaw

[Content with Life]

OOC: I just realised we've devolved into auto-hitting.

 

IC: [Uyism]

 

Uyism leapt back, her opponent's moves missing her completely.

 

"Duty. Capturing you."

[Vox The Shadow of Reality]

OOC; oh crud your right

 

IC: Voxumo

 

Voxumo sighed as he missed ulysim

He snarled loudly

"Curses your a quick one." 

As he looked at her he seemed smile a bit as he looked around his area noting the pillars of dir nearby and the 2 buildings. he then summoned ice claws to form over his hand resulting in large claws of ice. he stood there in a defensive pose

[Dreadheart]

IC: Delta - Ninjyu's Stand

 

Though only the truly observant would be able to tell from her grim demeanour, a small smirk had begun to form on Delta's face as she handed the payment over to Ninjyu.

 

"Pleasure doing business with you, mate," she said, hooking the pick onto her belt, "And hey, if you're ever in the market for some equipment or materials, just look me up, 'kay?"

 

IC: Lux - Tunnel

 

Priority one: get Readra back to Onu-Koro, without further damaging him.

 

Priority two: focus on Priority one at all costs.

 

As soon as Servio said I would have to lift him, my brain snapped to attention, dragging itself out a despair-ridden stupor to tackle the problem at hand. Without a second thought, I nodded determinedly, before moving so that we were back-to-back, looping my arms under Readra's armpits and onto his shoulders.

 

Standing to full height, I felt the weight of my Vortixx friend sag behind me, nearly sending me toppling backwards. Only sheer force of will and some fancy footwork saved the day that time, and I ground my teeth, before glancing back to my companion, looking for some sign of preparation.

 

"This may be a bumpy ride, Readra," I announced, "You ready for it?"

 

-Void

[The Fourteenth Doctor]

IC: Norfa sighed and walked away from the ice wall, starting to put the finishing touches on her tree carving.

 

IC: Tarnok's blade scratched the skin, but nothing more. The instant it touched it reformed, spikes forming on the handle from what used to be the blade. Sovos was nearly successful, but the Fe-Toa sensed the knife coming and stopped it with a thought. He then picked up Sovos and hurled him at Tarnok using his powers, cloaking himself with a two dimensional illusion in the process. A quick dash away, and he was home free.
 

OOC: Approval gotten for all of this.

Edited by Elvis, Mar 13 2013 - 04:00 PM.

[The Snark Knight]

IC:

Tarnok growled, dropping his weapon as if it were red hot. He'd felt the spikes start to pierce his palm, but he'd dropped it before they could do any serious damage. Ignoring the pain, he brought his hands up to catch the thrown Sovos. He nearly toppled backwards, but a step back corrected his balance.

 

The Ko-Toa ran. Uyism should be able to handle him. The Onu-Matoran thought to himself, looking at Sovos. "Mind telling me why that one was so intent on having you as a hostage?"

[Constructman: Black Knight]

IC: Xenon

"No, no, I do not need-I already told you, I do not require-bloody karz mate, what are you doi-NO, are you insane! Get those drugs away fro-now you want to inject me? You don't have the best sanitation-CAN'T YOU SEE I'M ALREADY HEALED?!"

 

The Dark assassin made his way through the halls of the hospital he had been healing in. All around him, doctors and nurses were flocking him and trying to offer him treatment or even put him back in a hospital bed. Which Xenon did not understand at all, seeing as he had been treated by a doctor with a mask of healing and was in perfect condition. Okay, he did force his way out of the treatment room, but he was perfectly fine! No need for further healing. Which is what he siad. "I'm alright, can't you see me walking? Perfect condition mate!" Throwing a handful of widgets onto the counter, he walked out of the hospital, shaking his head. "Doctors," he thought to himself. "So obsessive." Making a turn, he began walking in a random direction. "Welp, time to get back to base." He had kept his word; the whole time while he was in hospital, he had ranted about his so called "assailants". Describing Ashala, Jaceren, and Kutukan in perfect detail, he falsely claimed that they ahd tried to mug him and that when that failed, they had set fire to the warehouse. Fortunately for him, nobody had commented on his strange accent or the visor on his mas, and thank the Powers that Be that they hadn't discovered his claws. Sighing in relief, he began to make his way out of the village. Just another hard day's work.

 

OOC: Xenon to somewhere?

[Visaru]

IC- Sovos - Abandoned settlement

But Tarnok's words fell upon empty air. Sovos was gone. The only trace of him ever being there were the black knives scattered across the street.

[Varren Rehn]

IC:

 

"Tarnok. If you're not busy. I could use your assistance," Karkhalm said from up above, still stuck to the ceiling via gravity.

[Holden Caulfield]

IC

 

A single lightstone glittered in Caerus' house.

 

It was not a particularly large or fancy dwelling; in basic shape and size, it was almost identical to most other Onu-Koran huts: a dome built of stone and earth. Who could guess that the contents of this single hut were more valuable than half of Onu-Koro?

 

That depended on who you asked, of course. If you were to ask the current occupant, he would respond by ordering one of his half a dozen bodyguards to take you out, because how could you possibly know anything about the value of his hut? You couldn't. It simply wasn't possible.

 

And it wasn't because Caerus was paranoid. He was just careful.

 

He had taken Ambage's last command seriously: I would have you use your abilities to ensure there are no loose ends. His little birds had been set to the task of watching over the Peers' plot (though none of them knew it, of course), and had already done much towards said cause. It was his sparrows, for example, who had given the architect a small warning in advance of the ILF's coming, enough for him to prepare his house for investigation.

 

And it was his little birds who now brought him news of the only known Komau in existence.

 

A brief knock sounded on the door. Caerus turned from his work to see a slender, attractive Matoran enter, closing the door silently behind her.

 

"Atia," he said warmly, his eyes brightening. "What news?"

 

The woman smiled in return, but did not bother with pleasantries. "The ILF found your mask."

 

The Onu-Matoran's smile disappeared, replaced by a thoughtful frown. "Was it not in the bank?"

 

"They attempted to rob it. Laryn, male yellow-green Toa of unknown element. Garai. Kato, female Toa of ice. Akaku."

 

"Successful?"

 

"Unknown. Our next message will tell."

 

Caerus swore under his breath. Unknown? Impossible. He knew everything. He couldn't afford to wait on a information as vital as this.

 

The master of whispers sat, silent, his fingers steepled under his chin. At last, he sighed.

 

"Send a messenger back to ensure the situation is being dealt with."

 

"Understood."

 

The Matoran left as quickly and quielty as she had entered.

 

His birds knew that Ambages' safe was to be guarded at all times, though, of course, they had no idea who it belonged to. They would not stop at watching the theft; they would surely engage  the perpetrators and recover the mask. The odds were in their favour: the law was on their side, after all.

 

And his messenger had surely contacted Ambages; that was another stipulation the Matoran had made. Again, none of his birds had any idea who Ambages was; to them, he was just another link in the web that Caerus had woven over the island.

 

Still... insurance was needed. Caerus let his mind roll back to that last meeting, many days ago now, when Ambages had revealed the names of those who could be trusted. The poet had not worried about forgetting them: as with all useful pieces of information, they were etched into his brain.

[Vox The Shadow of Reality]

OOC: ok i had asked Friar tuck and he had given me permission since it has been 8 days since i posted my reply to ZHX last action. He had said given the time it is reasonable for Voxumo to try and make a run for it

 

IC: Voxumo

As Voxumo was in his defensive stance he saw a small window of opportunity. He quickly summoned a snow flurry around him to cover his movement. As soon as the flurry subsided. he was gone

 

 

Elsewhere

Voxumo had not been able to get far away. He had managed  to only get semi within a long and dark tunnel and was able to hide in the shadows. So as not to be tracked by the blood he was oozing he froze his wounds to stop the bleeding. He debated that if he moved quickly and conserved the supplies he had he could make it to ko-wahi within a day. He hoped he may be able to find someone foolish enough to treat his wounds

[Shuhei Hisagi]

OOC: this was a quick write, so please excuse the poor quality

IC. Kyju.

Left foot. Right foot. Left foot. Right foot.

Peace. Relative justice. The end.

Left foot.

Blood on his hands. One of his swords was stuck, wedged into the eye of a council member on the other side of the room.

Right foot.

An assembly had been called. The Council of Thirty had gathered. The pure political potential was often dangerous.

Left foot.

They were all felled. Kyju was a trained killer. He was incredibly efficient. Each man was dealt one strike. Each fell with this strike.

Right foot.

He had fooled them.

"Now, Council, we gather for a powerful reason. Things are beginning to get out of control. For this reason, I must step down. Though things may be chaotic in my absence, know that this chaos will not exist in any of you. Know that my last gift to this Koro..."

Left foot.

"...was annihilating every last one of you."

He dropped his cloak, appearing at full height, in full glory. Two swords were sheathed at his back, plus an arsenal of smaller blades. He leapt from the stage, onto one of the tables where the council sat. One arm extended a sword, the other crossed over to extend its twin. Two heads hit the ground. As he raced across the table, slicing at the politicians, he had mixed feelings. He knew what this meant- his power here was over. But that was going to happen as it was. He was useless to the Cultured Gentry, so that was the end of that. This left merely one option. He would make his name known across the island. This time, though, it would be written in blood.

He stabbed a sword into the eye of the last man standing, and bolted. Someone had alerted the guards, and he did not have time for that. He burst through the street, straight to the border.

Kyju had lost everything willfully. It was time to move on, and he had to do it himself before he was forced to.

[The Snark Knight]

IC:

 

Unaware of the chaos breaking out in the main village, Tarnok glanced up at Karkhalm. "There's no way to get to you. The Toa should be out of range shortly, or his control of the mask broken. Once that occurs, you'll be returned to normal."

 

No sooner did he finish speaking, the Vortixx would find that gravity was once more in effect.

[Vox The Shadow of Reality]

IC: Voxumo

 

Voxumo hastily made his way through the tunnels towards ko-wahi. He did not bother with lighstones as his mask's heat vision function worked well enough. 

He had long ago stopped caring about his pain keeping up with the ice to stop the bleeding. He could begin to feel the drop in temperature as he neared the tunnel exit

[Varren Rehn]

IC:

 

With a shout, Karkhalm landed face-first on the ground. Groaning, he stood up, brushing the dirt and dust off his armor.

 

"We should point out an all-points-bulletin," He said, frowning, "Sooner or later, one of those criminals will enter a village, and then that village's guard will have to deal with them. We wouldn't want them to be unprepared."

[Vox The Shadow of Reality]

ooc ok since the messenger is not up i will ask this here. do you think i should wait a day before actually transferring over to the ko-wahi board?

 

IC: Voxumo

 

Voxumo kept on pushing forward even though it was proving difficult

[Ghosthands]

IC (Zadron)

 

Zadron's orange gaze met those of Demothi and the Lesterin in turn.

 

"You're here because you want to help start a little chaos," he said.  "So.  This is what we're going to do.  We start raiding trade caravans.  We start heisting banks.  We hit economic 'nerve clusters' to strike fear into the people of this village, and meanwhile we reap the rewards and - "

 

Zadron cut off his sentence, instantly alert.  Both his keen hearing and Demothi's natural affinity for sound picked up a sound from the Koro's centre: the ringing of an alarm bell.  A shout became audible, evidently a message magnified by a Toa of Sonics.

 

"All available Ussalrymen!  All available Ussalrymen!  The Council have been murdered!"

 

Zadron whirled around and headed for the exit of the warehouse.  Just before exiting the door, he paused and turned to look at the beings he'd gathered there.

 

"Don't follow me," the Vortixx warned them.  With that, he turned his gaze back towards the source of the shouts, disappearing into the village's deep shadows.  He narrowed his eyes, already guessing the cause of this.

 

Kyju.

[Draezeth]

OOC: YAAAAAAAY!

 

IC: Demothi

Confusing the Illusionist was a difficult feat to achieve. To get him to display surprise (even beneath his illusions) was even more difficult. The sudden announcement of the council's murder achieved both, although his external appearance didn't show it. He shifted to take the shape of a female Toa of Air wearing a Rau. "Well, you heard the big man," he said in a child's voice (to mess with the others' heads), "Let's start wreaking havoc." He headed for the door. "One of you guys gonna keep an eye on me?" he asked in a regular female voice to make his disguise more effective in public, "You'd be wise not to trust an illusionist. We're tricky by nature."

 

OOC: Are all the thieves under your control? If so, could/should I take control of some of them? 

Edited by Draezeth, Mar 22 2013 - 06:06 PM.

[Dreadheart]

IC:

 

I once heard that there's a type of insect who only lives for about a day. It was called a mayfly, if I'm not mistaken. I assume, from experience, that when most people learn that particular tidbit, they'll respond with a lovely mixture of pity and egotism, à la "That's too bad, but at least I don't have such a short lifespan." Seems likely enough; people love being able to claim superiority over someone, or something, that isn't them, no matter how big or small that difference may be.

 

To that, I reply with this: When did quantity start overshadowing quality?

 

Does having more time on this world mean that we're gonna be happier? Does it mean that we won't completely waste the "vast" amount of years granted to us, rather than the mayfly, who must savour each moment given to it? Besides, does the mayfly even know how little time it has left? If it has never known life beyond twenty-four hours, can it even comprehend existing any other way? 

 

Can we understand what lies beyond the 100,000-year-threshold?

 

Does having an even harsher timeline limit one's happiness, if they don't even realize how harsh it is? Does fruit lose it's sweetness to a mayfly? Does their sun lack in warmth, or does their wind lack the chill ours does? Do their colours dim in comparison to ours, if they have less time to savour them?

 

If their world pales against ours, how do our lives stand before those of the mountains, or the oceans, or the wind whistling around us? They have remained in this world since times immemorial, and look as if they aren't going anywhere - what does that make us?

 

We are the cosmic mayflies. When the universe thinks of us, they will do so in a mixture of pity and egotism. I'm sure of it. They will say, "That's too bad, but at least I will last much, much longer than them." And they will remain to watch us all die, nameless and easily forgotten.

 

...

 

Jeez, that certainly got dark.

 

...

 

But yeah, we all die.

 

None of us will last beyond the rocks, or the waters, or the darkness between the stars at night. We will outlive the mayflies, though, for the most part. We don't have to like that fact, but we have to accept it.

 

We will all die. But while we live, we may as well have fun.

 

And, I guess that brings us here - a dark, dim tavern, with smoke and sweat clinging to the walls like unwanted guests. A glass of ale in hand, feet propped up on a table, I felt the stares of the closest patrons being sucked towards me like light around a black hole. I guess these guys had never seen such a sharp-dressed Skakdi in a trash-heap pub like this, especially one who looked so uncharacteristically calm, which was a real shame - everyone should have that chance.

 

My permanently-affixed smile was now flexed into something akin to happiness, and my dodger blue eyes were most likely flickering dangerously in the low, yellowish light. I peered through the semi-darkness at the assembled arrangement of mercs, outlaws, undesirables and other rabble of Onu-Wahi, only occasionally split up by the plain-clothes Guard trying in vain to remain inconspicuous.

 

"Here, here, let me help you with that," I heard wafting through the chatter and smoke, tempting me to turn my head and search for the speaker. When I finally did, I was greeted by the sight of bronzish-gold Toa grinning at the collapsed form of an inebriate. It was clear enough to a trained alcoholic that the duo had been in a drinking competition, and Goldielocks had come out on top. Another few folks looking for happiness, I guess. Fair enough.

 

With a final sip of my drink, I set it down on the table, slipping my feet off of it's surface at the same time, before striding over to Goldie's seat.

 

"That's some liver you've got yourself there," I remarked, tapping the Toa on the shoulder to catch his attention, "I suppose another game wouldn't do you much more harm, eh?"

 

OOC: That would be Dendron he's talking to, Grochi.

 

-Void

[The Snark Knight]

IC:

 

"Come on, Leli." Tarnok said, returning to Helios, and climbing back on board. He idly wrapped a bandage around his right hand, tying the ends tightly to stem the slow loss of blood.

 

"We need to get to Ko-Wahi. The sooner we do that, the sooner we can come back. Because I get the feeling that something big is going to be going down."

[Floridian Citrus]

IC: Leli

 

The green-armored Matoran hopped onto the ussal's rugged shell next to Tarnok.  "Right, I don't like this," Leli agreed, though if she was talking about the current situation or just the fact that they were still underground was unknown.  She glanced down to where the Onu-Matoran was bandaging his hand, and made a short soun dof disapproval, before grabbing his wrist.  Silencing whatever protest he may have been forming with a look, Leli unwrapped the bandage, before reaching inside her pack.

 

She was not about to let Tarnok try and treat his own wounds while she was there.

[Vox The Shadow of Reality]

IC: Voxumo

 

Voxumo stopped he had been travelling the last 2 days non-stopped. He looked around at his current location. There were 2 tunnels branching off. From what he could read from a sign one led further down into the tunnels while the second tunnel kept going towards ko-wahi. He thought for a second before smiling. 

He walked along the path leading downwards removing the ice from his wounds. As much as it hurt he let the blood drip onto the ground and at some points letting it pool into a large pool. He the used his ice and froze the wounds agin making his way back to the fork. He went one step further and let the blood drip while walking into the ko-wahi tunnel. He made a u-turn making it look like he decided against it and let the blood drip before going back into the other tunnel. He stopped while re freezing the wound before heading back into the ko-wahi tunnel making sure not to step in the blood. 

[The Snark Knight]

IC:

 

Tarnok tapped the ussal on the shell with his free hand, sending him into a trot towards Ko-Wahi. The escaped Ko-Toa had gone that way, and if they were really lucky, they might even catch up to him. But that was besides the point. Ihu-Koro was that way, and that was where he needed to be.

 

OOC:

 

Tarnok and Leli to Ko-Wahi

[Draezeth]

IC: Demothi

The Lesterin leader of the thieves gestured for two of his lackeys to go with the illusionist. The thieves seemed apprehensive, but intimidated enough by their leader to go. A Matoran of Crystal and an Iroiit. Demothi appraised them silently before heading outside. 

 

"So. What are your names?" he asked.

 

"Tell us yours first," said the Matoran.

 

"Lore," answered the Toa of Sonics, using the alias he decided on. "At least, today it is." There was a groan from behind him. He smiled privately at their frustration. "Well, you know my name for today, now tell me yours."

 

"Vall," answered the Matoran. After a moment, the Iroiit gave his: "Huldro."

 

Demothi had no doubt the Iroiit was lying out of spite, and was about half sure the Matoran was doing likewise, but he didn't mind. He would deal with it. You couldn't truly be difficult unless you could handle others being difficult. 

 

"Well, now that we're all acquainted," he said jovially, "Where should we start? I think the Rahi could use some help stopping caravans."

 

He turned around to see the two glance at each other, although to them (s)he appeared to be headed straight ahead. The two agreed after a couple of seconds, and they made their way to a well-used road headed towards Ta and Le-Wahi. They split up when the road parted ways, Demothi going towards Le, and the other two going towards Ta.

 

Halfway there, Demothi sat down and waited, altering his appearance to that of a rock. Multiple people passed him by, although he paid attention to none. He did go out of his way to pickpocket a wealthy-looking Su-Matoran, though.

 

Eventually, a trade caravan passed by. It carried various herbs, spices and plants from Le-Koro, as well as a shipment of throwing disks. It was time to move.

 

Changing his appearance to a Skakdi of Earth, he got up and stood in the way of the caravan and held up his hand. "Get out of the vehicle and turn back. This shipment is now under the control of the Hand of Chaos." He'd just made that up, but it had a nice ring to it.

 

The Matoran stood defiantly. A Toa of Plantlife that seemed to be the caravan's guard stepped forward, brandishing his spear, "We don't have time for this. Stand aside."

 

The false Skakdi's grin widened, illusory blood dripping from his teeth. "Keep resisting. My pets love snacks that fight back." At his words, a horde of illusory Mystix revealed themselves clinging to the ceiling. His sonic powers provided all the intimidating noises the caravan needed. The Toa aimed his spear at the ceiling, and the illusions snarled back. It wasn't long before the caravan was vacated. Taking the form of a Toa of Air, Demothi sat on it and got the Mahi pulling the cart to move. His two accomplices appeared empty-handed at the road split. Demothi switched back to his Toa of Crystal form to let them know it was him and their jaws dropped.

 

"Hop in."

 

---

 

Before an hour had gone by, the cart and its goods had been moved to the warehouse. The others were still about, so Demothi helped himself to a fruit as he waited. He kept an eye on the other two to make sure they didn't try to make off with any of the stuff, while he, behind illusions, pocketed all the rupees he could fit into his wallet.

 

He decided that this line of work was worth staying in after all.

[EmperorWhenua]

IC (Jin)

 

"Sorry for the disturbance, ma'am," I said, vividly remembering for a moment the first time I'd met her, under Xa, and said almost the same thing. "The Captain and I are on some business here. He can tell you more about it."

"Oh?" Aurelia said, casting her eyes back on Brykon, who gathered his wits and breathed deeply.

 

"Bad Company was able to assassinate the turaga effectively," Brykon said slowly, measuring his tone well.

 

"I heard about a couple of the operations," Aurelia said caustically. "They proved to be not quite as smooth as I expected from the professionals..."

 

"Each assassin simply did their task according to their personal strategies," Brykon said, defending his wards despite now knowing the details of what Aurelia was saying.

 

"Including you?" she pressed. "Marching into the Sanctum and fighting Turaga Nuju with tooth and nail and seemingly sacrificing yourself on the way out was not as elegant I imagined you to do." Brykon began to speak but Aurelia steamrolled over him, saying, "And Dorian? Captured in a Ta-Koro prison. Liacada? Likewise here in a Ussalry--"

 

"Enough! I have not survived a fierce battle and days of restless sojourning just to be ridiculed for my actions by a girl so posh she spits cottonballs." Brykon said loudly, getting up and flexing his formidable frame to lord over Aurelia's much smaller body. It seemed much like the very first time the two met, when Brykon followed a spying little twerp through the Onu-Koro streets to ambush her and break her neck to never speak of the battle Brykon fought. Aurelia was in control of the moment, though, and cooled Brykon with a single set of words.

 

"Even in darkness, there is light!" she screamed at him in the passcode of the Peers as her fingers reached for her breasts and the cruciform dagger she kept nestled there. Her two lancers at the door behind her stirred and leveled their polearms at Brykon as they walked forward and flanked their leader with determined faces. Two more entered through the same door and did the same movement.

 

This time her passcode didn't work, however. "Even now I can cut through the four of you like carving a cake!" Brykon replied coldly. He kicked the overcoat he dropped on the floor into the air and snatched it quickly, then withdrew the white Noble Matatu he still had inside its inside pockets and tossed it on the floor before Aurelia. "Here, woman; proof of my success to shut your face. Hang it on the walls and add it to the others. As for my operatives, they will answer for their individual actions to me and I will give you a report after I have heard their own words, not before."

 

Aurelia's mask drained of colour as she withstood the colonel's sudden burst of anger. Her eyes were steely glued on Brykon's but her fingers quivered slightly and she stepped back a little as if seeking refuge under the protection of her lancers' weapons, but none in the room doubted even they were absolutely no match for Brykon's might. Still, she did not resign herself to the colonel. "Noted. But if you didn't come to give a report, then tell me why you came here then be on your way."

 

"Gladly," Brykon said, slowly sitting back down. "We're here for Liacada. Where is she housed and who knows the most about her?"

 

Aurelia shrugged a little. "I don't know much, but I know who does. Look for a poet in the darkest bar in town. He will know everything about Liacada's status." For a moment, nobody moved, though the tension was kept thanks to Brykon remaining stoic as if he had something more to say. "Anything else?" Aurelia finally queried.

 

"Yes," Brykon said, getting up. He pointed to Jin. "She's my new leftenant. Dorian is fired and we're leaving," he announced as he turned around and walked out of the foyer with Jin close behind. The butler gladly opened the door for them to exit, leaving Aurelia alone with her four bodyguards still protective around her as she stared at Brykon's back with dripping hatred.

 

* * * *

 

Outside, as the two leaders of Bad Company walked away from the mansion's entrance, Brykon was walking with a new swagger and confidence despite his tiredness. "I don't know about you," Brykon said, "but that felt good."

Edited by EmperorWhenua, Mar 30 2013 - 02:52 AM.

[Baltarc]

IC: The vast expanse of Onu-Koro stretches beneath me, sprawling for kio in any direction. A thousand orbs of light illuminate the subterranean village, each completely unique - some flickering while others are steady; some stationary while others hover back and forth; some a dozen stories up while others remain at ground level. Each light seems to have a life of its own - and it occurs to me then that they do, indirectly. For every light, there is a Matoran, a Toa, a Skakdi... Each light has some sort of being to maintain it. So much life in such a dark, inhospitable place. So many hopes, so many desires. So many experiences, so many choices, so many lives.

Why am I here again? I glance around at the rooftop I'm sitting on. My legs dangle over the edge of the building, hanging in the void. It doesn't really bother me that this is one of the tallest buildings in Onu-Koro - living in the trees all your life kind of makes heights seem irrelevant.

And there I go again. Distracted, distracted immediately from my purpose. A simple question, Lekua. A simple question.

I shake my head, forcing myself to focus. Why am I here? Mostly I'm here because I have nowhere else to be. Because I have nothing else to do. Maybe because I can't see the big picture, because going somewhere high up will help me get a better perspective. Maybe.

Maybe.

Because when it comes down to it, I don't know. I don't know why I'm here, just like I don't know much of anything else at this point. I don't know why destiny chose Stannis instead of me, chose Lepidran instead of me, chose Aurax instead of me. I don't know why Nichou and I couldn't find who we were looking for here. Don't know why we couldn't find anyone else who would join us. Don't know why we could find nothing of importance to do on our own.

And I really don't know why I stayed here, of all places, when we finally decided to go our separate ways, to pursue our own destinies. Honestly, Onu-Wahi has to be my least favorite place on the island. The air is completely stagnant, barely breathable at times for a Le-Matoran like myself. It's closed off, isolated from the rest of the island - in short, everything that air is not. I don't belong here.

Maybe I stayed because when I knew that when I left, that would be the end. The end of my journey. The end of my chance to make a difference. I know, after all, that when I depart from Onu-Koro I'll have no place to go except back home. Back to the old life that seems so distant now. Could I really go back? Could I really just rejoin the Gukko Force after everything I've seen, after everything I've experienced?

No. No, I couldn't. I know that much. So maybe that's why I stayed.

Maybe.

"But what do I do now?" I wonder aloud.

"Good question," answers a voice from my left.

My head whips around, settling on the dark form now seated next to me. A Matoran, eyes and heartlight glowing green. His features are indistinguishable in the darkness, but I recognize him immediately. The Matoran who had appeared in my dream that last night in Ko-Wahi.

"Who are you?" I demand. "Is this real, or am I dreaming again?"

"As before, you ask-inquire two questions," the Matoran notes, a hint of amusement in his voice. "The same-identical two questions, in fact."

"And you're still not going to give me a straight answer for either, are you?"

"In eventual-time, you will know-understand, Lekua. But for now: Yes, this true-real. As in, you are awake-sitting on this building-roof."

I sigh. "Fine. What do you want?"

He shrugs. "I think-suppose the real question, Lekua, is: 'What do you want?'"

I absently drum my fingers on the side of the building, looking out over the expanse of the village. "The last time I answered your questions, followed your advice - it didn't go so well, did it? I wound up here. Nothing to do. No purpose. Nothing."

He pauses for a moment, probably organizing his thoughts. "Your come-traveling here was your own doing, Lekua, not mine. You heart-knew that this was where you should go long before you dream-slept in Ko-Wahi."

"So this is my fault, now?" I demand as I turn to face him, anger rising in my voice.

"What did I tell you when we last met-spoke?" he replies calmly. "Did I guide-direct you to travel to Onu-Wahi?"

I say nothing.

"I merely tell-informed you that your friends had already left-gone. You chose-decided what to do next."

He's right, of course. "So it is my fault, then." I turn back to my view of the city sprawling beneath me. "Typical."

"As I said, it was your idea-thought to come here."

We sit in silence for a few moments.
 

"But perhaps," he says suddenly. I turn to face him, still able only to see his eyes and heartlight. "Perhaps your journey here has a purpose-goal after all. Maybe you do just need a different sight-perspective." He waves his hand out at the glowing city beneath us.

How could he have-

"And that bring-takes us back to my question, Lekua: What do you want?"

I see no point in evading the question again. "I want to have a goal," I tell him. "I want to have a purpose, a real purpose. To do something that'll actually mean something."

"Haven't you done that already?"

"No." I sigh, turning away again. "No, not really. Stannis and the others - they could've gotten on without me. As they proved when they left us. Left us to do something that was actually important."

He nods slowly, contemplating my answer. "And you can't accept that - that you weren't the one who did-performed the important deeds."

"I used to think that, yeah," I reply. I flick a pebble off the roof and wait for it to clatter onto the ground below. "But maybe not so much now. They all were better equipped, better prepared to do it than I was. Me, I can't even find anyone willing to follow me. Can't even figure out where to go next." I look over at him, wondering how he'll respond.

He nods, almost as though he'd expected me to say something like that. "You know, Lekua, there's a word-name for that trait-feeling." I raise an eyebrow. "It's called humility."

Slowly, understanding begins to seep through my mind. "So maybe that's why I came here. To learn that."

"Maybe."

I glance at him, but he's no longer looking at me. Just gazing out at over Onu-Koro. I do the same.

His voice comes again. "Your Duty will be revealed in time, Lekua. Sooner, perhaps, than you realize. When it comes, be ready."

I turn to look at him again, about to ask how he could possibly know something like this. But the space where he'd been sitting moments before is occupied now by nothing but the dark void.

Edited by Baltarc, Mar 25 2013 - 11:25 AM.

[Vox The Shadow of Reality]

IC: Voxumo

 

Voxumo sighed a bit. He had reached another crossroads. This time he decided why bother with heading to ko-wahi. He headed down the tunnel that lead down into the cave system. He kept walking until he found a small cave. He looked around making sure there were no inhabitants.

 

As he reaches into his pack he pulls out some supplies 

I never thought i would be needing these but i will have to stitch up these wounds myself

With that he set out all of his supplies while carefully he began stitching up the large hole in is abdomen. He winced as he felt the pain but kept going.

Oh i am going to have a pleasant scar. At least that beast did not tear off any armor just made a decent gash.

 

OOC: Voxumo is up for any interaction

[EmperorWhenua]

Ic: "Aurelia's not gonna forget that, you know," Jin said.

 

"I hope she doesn't," Brykon muttered. "She has sought to control me and use me like her puppet, but I'm not going to let her do that anymore. With the removal of Dorian from the equation I am free from her total jurisdiction." Aurelia had used the possible promotion of Dorian as a way of bullying Brykon according to her wills, and considering how vain that man once was there was no doubt that he would take the offer if it was presented to him. It prompted Brykon to do everything in his power to remove Dorian from the line of succession and make him a better man in the end. When he was finished, Dorian had a conscience, shattered powers and had no motivation to linger. And so he left. While that caused Jin's blood to stir it was something Brykon expected and anticipated.

 

Now Brykon was completely in charge of Bad Company with none to challenge him and his (for once) loyal leftenant. Aurelia was his handler but he had nothing to fear from her anymore. He walked with renewed confidence. "We'll take Aurelia's tip and find this poet, then get our pickle out of her jar."

 

"And then?"

 

"Back to Po-Wahi where we meet with the others. They should be congregating by now."

 

They continued walking in silence. Neither really felt the urge to speak anymore. They were too tired, too exhausted after everything to want to say anything more than was was necessary. They checked the bars again, fluttering from one to another in search of the darkest one. After finally agreeing on one that was as small and empty as it was gloomy. A keep wiped glasses from behind the counter and just a couple people lingered within. Jin tugged at Brykon's elbow and nodded at one of the customers, a single matoran in a corner table with a sheet of parchment and a quill before him. "That must be our guy," she whispered.

 

"I'll distract the keep in case he doubles as guard," he said, knowing too well that oftentimes the people who wanted to be hidden employed safety from the inconspicuous. "You talk to the poet." He patted her back as she stepped forward. You're on for this one, he thought.

Edited by EmperorWhenua, Mar 25 2013 - 07:14 PM.

[Content with Life]

IC: [Uyism]

 

The being staggered through the streets of Onu-koro, blood dripping from the large wound in her chest. She had been trying to ignore the pain during the fight, but she doubted she could really hang on for much longer. It had been reckless of her, trying to go after the escaping Toa by herself. Now she was barely capable of standing, and as energy continued to seep away from her body, she felt that soon she would not be able to move at all.

 

Her legs buckled. Uyism collapsed. Lying in a pool of her own blood, the Iroiit simply stared down at the dirt below. She'd probably die here, with nobody to help her. The hospital was too far away, and even if she managed to get up, there was no way she could get there in time. There was hope that Tarnok and Leli could get to her in time, but she quashed that hope. No point in wishing for the impossible.

 

All she could do was wait now.

[Ilyusha Blokfase]

IC:

 

However, there was one person on the streets who was able to help Uyism, both at the scene and at the hospital. However, the hospital was within running distance, and for one with legs as long as a Toa's, and a Kakama, they'd get there rather quickly. So Combat Medic Training wasn't really needed.

 

"Um...You know, you're almost dead, but I'm still supposed to ask: Permission to get you to the hospital?"

[Content with Life]

IC: [Uyism]

 

There was no answer.

[Ilyusha Blokfase]

IC-Dendron:

 

Even as Dendron was bending down to pick up and transport Uyism, he was saying that "I have fulfilled my legal obligation of asking you if you need aid; now I am fulfilling my other legal obligation that technically only counts in war that I must aid and transport to further aid any wounded member of a military service in whatever way possible, as befits the Ga-Wahi convention..."

 

Having used his Kakama, he was at the hospital, dropping Uyism off to get worked on by the doctors and nurses and such who worked there and whose job it was to keep people alive, by the time he finished his monologue.

 

"By the way, you're here."

[Content with Life]

IC: [Uyism]

 

Of course, one has to be careful when lifting up a person with a hole in their chest, so running at high speeds with their body would be incredibly harmful. Fortunately, the Iroiit was rather stubborn, and despite everything that had happened, was still clinging onto every bit of life she still had.

 

Which wasn't that much, really.

 

OOC: Okay, retconning because I have ideas of even more suffering.

Edited by ZHX, Mar 26 2013 - 02:38 AM.

[BenLuke]

OOC: Trying my hand at writing in 1st person, FOR SCIENCE! Oh, yeah, open for interaction, too.

 

IC:

 

Pretty much catatonic, I dragged myself. or what's left of me, through the tunnels to Onu-Koro, trying to avoid thinking about what had just happened behind me as I stumped though barely broken darkness. 

 

It did't work, and blinked to dislodge the tears. Come on and get a hold of yourself, I though, cursing softly. As if anyone would hear.

Edited by Javert, Mar 31 2013 - 08:45 PM.

[Vox The Shadow of Reality]

IC: Voxumo

 

Voxumo sighed a bit as he laid on the rough floor.

He had been succesful in treating his wounds but needed several days to heal. He suddenly heard what sounded like dragging from outside the cave.

He hesitantly pokes his head out the cave when he sees some toa dragging himself across the ground. 

"He you look pretty beat up."

[EmperorWhenua]

Ic: Aurelia watched coldly as the butler calmly ushered Brykon and Jin out from the mansion, her eyes spilling with spite at the colonel's back as she imagined a knife in his spine that oozed blood through his black armor. Her four lancer guards still stood protectively around her, their weapons yet pointed severely at Brykon, if only as a determined display of force.

 

Finally, the butler closed the doors and locked them dead and the guards collectively sighed in relief. Servants, previously silent and invisible, appeared from the woodwork and cleaned the mess made in a flurry of activity. And Aurelia looked down at her feet and saw Turaga Nuju's former Kanohi Matatu, that square mask that held so much history and wisdom, and smirked. She poised her foot above it then crashed her heel heavily upon the mask, dashing it to shards in a loud CRUNCH!, and its power of lore with it. The turaga were old men loyal to the Great Spirit's existence -- Aurelia held no reverence to their beliefs and no regard for their taken lives. Without the turaga in the way anymore the path to victory was clearer than a Po-Wahi sky.

 

But every series of victories had to come with a reminder that defeat lingered still. Brykon was gaining confidence and attitude, and with Dorian in jail there was little Aurelia could do to wrest control from Brykon to herself. The electress was conflicted however; the colonel did not seem to indicate a loss of loyalty as much as an acquirement of self-esteem. The dog was becoming aware, and Aurelia knew that could be a dangerous thing indeed. As she turned on her heel and walked up the long flight of marble stairs she wondered what she would use to put Brykon's autonomy in check. A man of his strength and conviction could not be bought, not when she already tossed money rather liberally at him, and the same tricks would not work; Brykon was many things but he was far from stupid. No, she would need to be more clever than Brykon to ensure his dedication.

 

She paused at the upper floor and leaned over the banister to survey the end of work in the drawing room that expanded like a great hall before her, the furniture almost toy-sized to her from above. Gleaming lights from exquisite chandeliers shone rays of pure white across the room, meeting nicely with the alabaster marble walls and clashing elegantly with the black stone floor. It was only by chance that she picked up the sight of a little maid scoop up the shards from Turaga Nuju's Kanohi in a dustpan and slip it like typical trash into a canister. She smiled to herself and turned to one of the manservants at her side. "Make sure that the dustbin that peasant is using is not disposed of, and see to it that the soiled overcoat is preserved without effect."

 

"Yes, mad'm," the servant chimed as he went to do her bidding.

 

Aurelia knew how she was going to control Brykon. Maybe he was stupid after all? she wondered. After all, he had practically handed her enough evidence to write the a piece of blackmail she wouldn't have been able to pull of without his unwitting assistance. Deciding she had done more than enough in a day's work she retired to her room and shut the door behind her.

[Floridian Citrus]

OOC: Trying my hand at writing in 1st person, FOR SCIENCE! Oh, yeah, open for interaction, too.

 

IC:

 

Pretty much catatonic, I dragged myself. or what's left of me, through the tunnels to Onu-Koro, trying to avoid thinking about what had just happened behind me as I stumped though barely broken darkness. 

 

It did't work, and blinked to dislodge the tears. Come on and get a hold of yourself, I though, cursing softly. As if anyone would hear.

OOC:  interactin'

 

IC:

 

A colossal shape loomed in the darkness, it's immense bulk hardly fitting within the confines of the labyrinth of earthen tunnels that extended for thousands of kios under the land.  The faceless shape drifted across the floor of the tunnel, it's steps utterly silent despite it's considerable girth.  A faint aura of amethyst light that rippled across similarly colored armor was the only characteristic that defined it from the walls of compacted soil.  Two bloodred orbs burning under a geometric Kanohi pitted with scars and rust were fixed on a diminutive aqua form not to far away.

 

Suddenly, the sound of an armored boot hitting the ground echoed out from the ominous form.  It was a calculated misstep, one designed to draw the attention of the blue-armored one it was following.  But who would know that?