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Please see vehicle rules in the character creation topic. .... Hi everyone, these are my safe for consumption and SKR spoiler free GM notes from SKE. I included everything that did not provide spoilers for the current game. I’d love to discuss your thoughts. Synopsis: Metru-Nui is under threat from the six kingdoms and the brave Toa Mangia have been imprisoned after their betrayal alongside Lihkan. Turaga Dume searches for new toa, offering to award the power of toa to those lucky six who can retrieve the legendary great disks from each metru. While the race for power begins across Metru-Nui, a war of intrigue and diplomacy brews as the great Barraki warlords gather their forces for a final assault after years of proxy wars with the last bastion of matoran civilization. The Dark Hunters mercenary group led by the Shadowed One pit brother against sister for profit. The Great Spirit remains distant and uncommunicative save with their servants in the little known Order of Mata-Nui. Initial plot hooks Dark Hunters: Weekly Hits: start with Nuparu, move through NPCs who know disk locations and PCs. Metru-Nui: Find the Great disks, Silver Sea Conflict League of Six Kingdoms: Silver Sea Conflict, Sabotage Metru-Nui, Find The Orb Cast of NPCs Barraki: Pridak: angered by those who cannot see his perspective, but needs others to validate his choices and opinions. Kalmah: close friends with Mantax, both suffered at hands of matoran culture Ehlek: speaks to himself because he’s the “smartest in the room” Mantax: chooses not to speak a language different than his own, especially matoran. Carapar: Trying to climb the ladder Takadox: Out to kill everyone, wants Pridak’s throne Toa: Tuyet Alter: the core version, killed by Lhikan, haunts Dume, revived by Lhikan Tuyet Prime: the SKE version, killed by Nidhiki Turaga Turaga Dume: wants to use the time machine, is the current Cortex custodian Nidhiki: works with the League, will connect Nuju’s teleporter if able Lhikan: confused, in prison, tries to talk to those who are thrown in jail Matoran Nuparu: worked on the time machine for Dume, is concerned about the possibilities Nokama: knows Vhisola, studies ancient history and knows location of sunken temple Vakama: knows Dume and Nuhrii, was tasked with making a mask of time Nuju: secretly works for the League, knows Ehrye Whenua: knows Tehutti, wondering where he went Onewa: knows Ahkmou, wants help with cleaning graffiti off one of his statues Matau: knows Orkahm the taxi driver, needs help repairing a prototype bike he broke Vhisola: knows location of Ga-Metru disk Nuhrii: knows location of Ta-Metru disk Orkahm: knows location of Le-Metru Disk Ehrye: knows location of Ko-Metru Disk Ahkmou: knows location of Po-Metru Disk Tehutti: knows location of Onu-Metru Disk (was actually consumed by the disk in finding it) Nixie: Matoran Astronomer, survived the impact. Now resides in Metru-Koro Others: Brutaka: works for the Metru-Nui forces on the silver sea front lines Axonn: hangs in the background, mainly messes with people Tren Krom: Krom Sphere and shenanigans Great disk Puzzles Ta-Metru Location: The Great Furnace The location can be found by speaking to Nuhrii, one of the Smith's living and working in Ta-Metru, or by talking to Vakama at his mask making shop. While Vakama will point players to Nuhrii, Nuhrii knows the general location of the disc after having discovered something weird his manager doesn't want to talk about. First puzzle: The First Puzzle is a social puzzle. Players need to either use diplomacy with the vahki or the conveyor belts going into the Great Furnace. Second Puzzle: The Second Puzzle is environmental. Players need to realize the secret way in: swinging on the water extinguishers from cat walks on one side to the other. The Final Puzzle: The Final Puzzle is deduction. Players are presented with a three digit lock, values 0-9. Understanding the meta of what they're seeking will enable solving to lock with the code 159. Disk Location: The Great Disc is hidden in a whispering forest of blackened trees. Ga-Metru Location: underwater temple Nixie and Vhisola both know the whereabouts of the Great Disk. First Puzzle: The Giant Temple Squid guarding the underwater temple has a disk stuck to it. If players can get the disk, they find it’s not the disk they were originally looking for. This disk of growth can prove useful if players decide to go headlong into the main puzzle. Second puzzle: Inside the inner sanctum of the temple is a whirlpool. Carefully exploring the ruins they find the following: Three levers with three positions: up, neutral, and down. Three nearby statues of matoran with rahi heads are looking left, right, and center. Shift the levers to down, neutral, and up from left to right. This shuts the hole in the middle of the sanctum and stops the whirlpool. Players entering the sanctum see a glimmering portion of water in the center of the room, and swimming through takes them to the location of the Great disk. Alternatively, players who get the disk from the squid and slip into the whirlpool will see a strange event with six matoran wearing larger rahi masks over their heads, be told to go back, and then the disk will be exchanged for the Great disk. Disk Location: A small cave inside a waterfall. The sounds of matoran chanting can be heard coming from the other side. Le Metru Location: The Notch Matau and Orkahm both know the location of the Great Disk. The same puzzle is interacted with in multiple permutations. Puzzle Space: The Notch has several twisting tubes accessed through four chute entrances, one of which is broken. Several pieces of information are laid out with each chute entrance, as well as on wooden boards stacked by the chutes. From left to right: Four dots, black paint, a matoran Faith charm, wood board says “broken”. Three dots, white paint, a matoran Accuracy charm, wood board says “don’t go”. Two dots, green paint, a matoran Unity charm, wood board says “maybe”. One dot, red paint, a matoran Duty charm, wood board says “no”. The dots correlate to level of difficulty, the paint correlates to the first junction in the chutes, the matoran charms correlate to the second junction in the chutes, and the wood boards offer clues as to which chutes are safe and which could lead to danger. First Junction: The chute entrance tubes except the four dot tube all have a first junction puzzle. The one dot chute leads to a safe exit regardless of the choice at the junction: Left: white paint, continue to second junction Middle: green paint, continue to second junction Right: red paint, exit Second Junction: The second junction has four branching routes which correspond with the matoran charms found back at the initial entrance. From left to right: Faith: leads to the Great disk Accuracy: broken chute exit Unity: broken chute exit Duty: broken chute exit Broken Chute Exit: Players who choose Accuracy, Unity, or Duty are led through a series of chute loops and finally spat out in a dangerous waterfall of protodermis from a broken chute. Quick thinking will save players from dying. If they survive, it’s a long climb back to the chute station of the Notch to try again. Safe Exit: Taking the Red exit in the first junction or the Faith exit in the second junction leads eventually to the Safe Exit. This is a platform a few stories above the initial entrance chutes which is built into a derelict building. A small lizard lives here, but otherwise the players are safe from harm. Disk Location: Those who have faith in their journey will rush through a dangerous series of twists, turns, and loops before becoming magnetically charged and shot into the center of a Force Sphere. Being inside teleports the party to a strange temple in a foreign jungle where the Great disk is stored. They have a limited window of opportunity to grab the disk, jump back through the portal, and finish their chute ride in the safe exit. Onu Metru Location of the disk: Archives, level 12 Whenua knows Tehutti went in search of the disk. Tehutti successfully found the disk, completing the puzzle, but created a new problem. Each time the disk reconstitutes the Tehutti at random, it latches onto something else alive and slowly grows. This abomination continually tries to escape the disk only to activate it again. First Puzzle: The Archives is curiously missing data for floors 6, 7, and 12 from three months ago. If players go find an archivist and speak with Whenua, he will tell them Tehutti went down to check floor twelve after noticing a brief power outage. Second Puzzle: On floor 12 players encounter a hallway with a series of six doors. Three of the doors are empty and lead into large storage closets. Opening all six doors at the same time opens the secret entrance at the end of the hall. Beyond the secret entrance is the final puzzle room. Final Puzzle: The final puzzle got destroyed when Tehutti recovered the Great Disk and accidently used it. Players must find a way to stop the abomination Tehutti has become after witnessing it absorb a stray rahi. Strictly using combat will lead to a TPK as each PC becomes part of the abomination. Po-Metru Location: Onewa and Ahkmou will point players in the direction of the Sculpture Fields or The Wastes as locations they’d seen the Toa Mangai visiting in the past few months. A section of the Sculpture Fields has rings of graffiti with the tagged name “Lhii” in the colors of a rainbow. Going toward the center of the circle brings players to the first puzzle which involves a tall statue of Turaga Dume. First Puzzle: Turaga Dume’s statue is heavily graffitied. Some of the graffiti holds clues for what to do: On the staff is of the symbol on a Po-Metru kanoka. This is the decryption key. An arrow points towards the ruby-red glass prism set in the top of the staff. Turaga Dume’s statue is also pointing in a direction with his other arm. To solve the puzzle, players need to wait for the right time of day when the sunlight shines through the red glass, or they need to provide a form of illumination coming from the opposite direction the statue is pointing. The glass has a cipher written on it, which shows up in the red circular mark it leaves in the sands: “Srzhu fdq rqob uhdfk vr idu / Glj lwv judyh zkhuh lw hqgv.” Po-Metru is the third district, and adjusting the cipher back three letters in the alphabet reveals: “Power can only reach so far / Dig its grave where it ends.” The last part of the first puzzle is players realizing the red dot created by correctly illuminating the glass lies on the top of a large, buried, inverted pyramid. Second Puzzle: The main location for this puzzle involves the inverted pyramid. The pyramid is 100 matoran paces long on each side. The pyramid is missing its capstone, and an entry to the inside of the structure can be found there. The entry is a straight shaft to a central chamber approximately thirty feet cubed. The pyramid is not the most structurally sound sculpture in the fields. To solve this puzzle find the entrance and go inside. Pretty simple. Once inside the central chamber players are presented with the final puzzle. If the structure is cracked or broken, sand will fill it. This preserves the final puzzle for players who don’t give up. Third (Final) Puzzle: The interior chamber is completely covered on all the floor, walls, and ceiling surface area with strange hieroglyphics in a language unknown to any member of the party. These hieroglyphics are the same as others seen in complementary Great disk Puzzles. Near one of the walls is a rectangular table with the following clues: Four circular depressions on top Four small statues of matoran with the words unity, duty, creation, and strategy. All statues have a circular base of similar size to the depressions on the table. A poem is written in four lines on the side of the table facing the players: "In all of the world Metru-Nui stands / Bringing minds and hearts together as one / A plan devised to defend against foreign lands / A single path never undone.” The correct order of statues from left to right is: creation, unity, strategy, and destiny. Completing the table puzzle opens the stone gateway built into it and reveals the resting place of the Great disk of Po-Metru (339). Disk Location: A stony plateau overlooking a desert wasteland with a single lizard (important, do not forget lizard). Ko-Metru Objective: open the frozen door and collect the disk hidden on the other side. How to solve: open with at least two characters Clues: "In Unity, Wisdom" written on the plinth below the floating door coated that's frozen shut with a coating of ice. This suggests players unite to diskover Ko-Metru's wisdom. The door is frozen shut with a coating of ice. The door is floating 30 feet directly above the plinth. Most matoran cannot reach this height or jump from the walls such a distance. The notes of the deceased matoran offer three valid disks to use in solving the puzzle, and two that are very bad ideas. The digits graffitied on the plinth tell the power type and minimum level needed for kanoka, but the circle with three towers scribbled next to them suggests all disks must be from Ko-Metru. The weaken disk is for breaking the ice off the door. The enlarge disk is for the plinth. If the door grew, it would be too heavy to push open. The reconstitute disk could also be used on the ice.The frozen water would reconstitute into vapor. Setting information Someone tried and failed already, giving a sense of danger. They carried only a reconstitute at random disk. They were not alone in their attempt, but were abandoned as the Frost Beetles finished molting. The molted shells belonged to a clutch of Frost Beetles who moved out after molting from pupa to adulthood. The unknown hieroglyphics on the walls are a prophecy still uncovered. Disk Location: Solving the puzzles opens a portal to an icy peak with a red flag at the summit and the Great Disk held in ice. Etc. Final confrontation battlefield: Metru-Nui can be attacked by the Barraki if they get the Krom Sphere and players activate the teleporter. Metru-Nui can be attacked by the Barraki if they win the Silver Sea conflict battles. Otherwise they must wait for the teleporter. Eliminated Metrus will be replaced in SK2. Tuyet’s reveal Tuyet from another paradox travels to this dimension on her search to charge the Nui Stone. She arrives with 5 disks of time, having determined she needs six and a special machine to alter her own element from water to time. She kills Tuyet from this dimension, frames Nidhiki and Lhikan for it. They are brainwashed. Dume’s reveal Dume wants to make a toa of time in order to undo the league of six kingdoms through time travel as a way of eliminating the threat to his society. Lhikan disagrees, believing the effects of time travel should not be weaponized because the long term outcome is unknown. Lhikan shared his concerns with the Mangai, but Tuyet confided the secret to Turaga Dume. Turaga Dume imprisoned the Mangai he could find, with Nidhiki slipping away. SKE Endings Bad Endings: Makuta assumes control A player goes back in time and nova bombs the barraki (not a tpk). The Disks are found, a player makes the mask of time and uses it for personal gain. The Krom Sphere is found and is used to destroy all life and make an undead apocalypse. Mata-Nui’s avatar does not reach the Cortex. Dume lives and sends himself to the past. This will TPK the game. MAKE IT CLEAR. The Shadowed One gets the Great Disks and the Krom Sphere. Rebirth (future): If the Mata-Nui avatar sits in the captain’s chair in the Core Processor (“Cortex”) and the Krom Sphere is NOT used. Mata-Nui fully revives, the GSR begins to move Mata-Nui realizes they are an escape pod, or ark, lost adrift in space Tries to activate but the GSR is broken from millenium of floating in an asteroid belt Head breaks at the neck and begins drifting towards a planet Crashes into the ocean and onto an island called Zakaz. If the Krom Sphere IS used: Tren Krom fully revives the GSR Decides leaving the majority of the matoran universe adrift in space minimizes potential harm of allowing Mata-Nui to fully revive. Beheads the GSR The head of the GSR plummets into a nearby planet, crashing into the ocean and onto an island called Zakaz Impact (Past): Tuyet activates the Time Circle, gains element of time powers Tuyet explains the world is an alternative time paradox branching from the core timeline and she just needed to fill up the power of her Nui Stone. Tuyet leaves for another timeline dimension to continue powering her Nui Stone. The Time Travel is too much inside the GSR, creating a distortion and breaking the GSR at the neck. The GSR’s head falls back in time and crash lands into an island called Zakaz.

IC ???? | Archives From the oppressive darkness a distorted but oddly cheery electronic voice came from the small speaker beside the door Okuo was trying to open. "Hello! You are not Toa Stannis of the Maru! Identify yourself! "

IC: Skyra Daring - Metru Koro - While Skyra was waiting, she flipped herself over and started doing a handstand, how she was able to do this while intoxicated was anyone's guess. "I don't know what's going on, but you guys are great~" @Keeper of Kraata@Conway@EmperorWhenua@TL01 NUVA IC: Vashni - Metru-Koro - "We have great power as Toa, it's true. But it's also a heavy responsibility." Vashni informed the Vortixx. "There are many things that are expected of you, and they're rarely easy." @Tarn @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Harvali

IC: Skyra Daring - Metru Koro - "Ah!" Skyra fell over. "The #### kind of slug is that!? That's not edible at all!" @Keeper of Kraata@Conway@EmperorWhenua@TL01 NUVA

IC: Okuo - Archives Depths At first ascending, Okuo quickly realised his error as he noticed the red mist trailing from the upper levels. Not only that, but whatever was emitting it seemed to be heading downwards. Okuo didn’t like the look of that gas, not one bit, and as he equipped his rebreather he began his descent down further into the depths of the once orderly Archives… well, more orderly than they were now. As he headed down again, he caught a glimpse of another being coming out of the tunnel he’d come from earlier. Praying that his invisibility was enough, Okuo continued his descent, eventually coming upon the bottom of the large open shaft he’d been traversing. It wasn’t the bottom of the archives, but either the architects of the place had decided to put an arbitrary stop to how far down this shaft reached, or the Cataclysm had redecorated. Either way, Okuo was forced to go down one of the tunnels leading from the bottom of the shaft, headed deeper into the Archives’ earthly depths. Carefully he continued his way down the dark and decrepit corridors, carefully looking around for either a way further down or something he could salvage. His heart had another start as his eyes, aided by the Mask of Adaptation to see in the dark, saw the shape of a nasty rahi, with Okuo’s whole body shifting into a combat stance before he realised it was just an empty husk. He sighed, lowering his rebreather off his mask and looking over his shoulder to make sure nothing was following him… To then realise something was following him. Something small scuttled along through the corridor, approaching Okuo’s general location. Then something else followed along into the tunnel, and then yet another. Listening closely and looking over to where the noises were coming from, Okuo realised there was a cluster of small creatures approaching him. He sighed, and quickly pushed himself up against the wall opposite to the rahi husk, still invisible and hoping that would actually be worth something this time. The creatures drew closer and closer until finally Okuo could see that they were… Ussal crabs. The small creatures gathered around the rahi husk, nibbling at the carcass for nutrients. The Toa sighed with relief, slowly moved away from the wall, and carried on down the tunnel. The twisting corridors of the Archives, which Okuo hoped weren’t an intended design feature, lead Okuo ever deeper into the maw of the now deserted earthen region, the undercity providing plenty of avenues to get lost. Noticing an intact vault door up ahead, Okuo cautiously approached it. Though there were some cracks in the walls around it, the door itself seemed to have been sturdy enough to withstand the Cataclysm’s effects. The Archives systems were down, which meant that the lock on the door was no longer connected to any security system. It would be lucky to even have power, but as Okuo discovered upon touching the door’s panel, there was still enough juice in it to show him a red glowing “locked” message. The Toa smirked. This was right up his alley. Okuo quickly unslung his deck from his shoulder and began dragging out its retractable plugs, slotting them into the panel’s interface ports. A holographic keyboard quickly appeared on his mask’s HUD, and he began to input various prompts, attempting to isolate the correct passcode to unlock the door. This was going to take some time, and Okuo hoped dearly that nothing would come at him through the dark corridors of the Archives while he was working, though he knew well how unlikely that would be. Parallel to working on the lock, Okuo kept his ears perked and shot the occasional glance either way down the corridor.

IC: Triki - Northern Desert "Hmm," Triki mused, watching the incoming bug approach. "Wounder if we can find-seek tread-parts on that thing, make Yaushe super-speed across sand!" @Edelgard@Jakura Nuva@ZippyWharrgarbl@Toru Nui

IC: Rose - Metru-Koro (Love Shack) "Nice kid. Kinda weird." Rose waved goodbye and then turned back to the window. She wasn't worried about Skyra, the Le-Toa could obviously handle herself, Rose just missed her. And she was a little bored. @Dane IC: Datrox Karvan - Metru-Koro (Navu's Hut) "...three?" I replied, taking the pillow and testing its softness in my hands. I sat down on the floor, cross-legged and placed it by me. "I don't have to go to sleep just yet, perhaps we can talk further before we have to retire for the night." @Toru Nui

IC: Okuo - Archives Depths Okuo had never really been to the Archives as a Matoran. He'd read about them on the infonet and intercepted some juicy intel on them from confidential sources, but actually visiting them had never really been a top priority for him. So now, as he carefully wandered its broken maze-like ruins, he came to wonder what he'd missed while it was still in its prime. Okuo sighed. One never could know what one could lose until it was gone. Though to be fair, taking the continued existence of Metru-Nui and the Archives for granted still didn't feel like it had ever been an unreasonable outlook. These circumstances really just felt like a ridiculous non sequitur to the life he'd lived before this. As the Toa of Fire discreetly moved a piece of debris out of the way, he briefly wondered if things could ever return to the way they'd once been, before shrugging off the thought. Okuo suddenly perked up. The familiar shape of a kanoka sat wedged in the wall, ripe for the taking. As he pulled on the disk, he briefly wondered what power and level it was, gasping with excitement as he successfully pulled it free of its earthly confines… only to find it was broken. A sizeable chunk of it was missing out of the end that had been in the wall. Letting out a disappointed sigh, Okuo threw the broken disk away, returning to his search for anything of value that hadn't been destroyed or already looted... Only to then register a sound coming from down the twisted corridors. As Okuo turned to look, he recognised it as a repeated tapping of metal against earth, and the faint whirring of pistons and servos. The sound was getting closer. His heartlight skipped a beat, and there was a sharp inhale through his lips. Something was scuttling this way. Quickly the Toa turned himself invisible and crouched down in a collapsed section of the wall. For a brief few but tense moments, Okuo waited on the sound as it drew closer and closer and- Deep down the dark corridor, Okuo saw a large multi-legged shape come from around a corner, rapidly moving closer and closer. Okuo took a deep breath and held it. The only sound he could hear was the scuttling of the creature's legs drawing ever nearer, and the quickened thumping of his own heartlight. Nearer and nearer, Okuo could make out more details as the creature drew closer, a row of razor sharp mandibles and hook like teeth lining its slobbering maw, a row of white glowing eyes on its enormous head, the massive legs each drawing to a point he suspected could pierce the toughest armour. Okuo screamed internally as the creature finally came up next to him in the corridor, its multitude eyes gazing about the corridor. The toa was at least secure in the knowledge that the creature couldn’t see him. If he just stayed here a few moments longer, waited for it to pass… The creature’s head then sharply turned to look directly at Okuo, its white eyes narrowing upon him, its crooked maw contorting open in a terrifying display as its rows of mandibles twitched back and forth. For a brief fraction of a second, Okuo cursed to himself. The creature’s head darted forward, punching into the collapsed wall where Okuo had been standing but a moment earlier. Meanwhile, the Toa of Fire had leapt out of the way, swiftly retrieving his shield off his back before shifting it into its hoverboard form. The creature reared back its head and screeched a cacophonous roar, but Okuo had by then jumped onto his board and whizzed off down the corridor, the creature growling and sprinting off after its prey. As he whizzed down the corridors of the shattered and rearranged Archive ruins, the Toa saw a corner coming up which he swiftly turned around with a practised grace, only for the multi-legged monstrosity to impact the wall right behind him and then keep barrelling after him. Okuo remembered this part of the ruins, having passed by here on his way in, and sure enough, there ahead he saw the larger open space that led further up and down through the earthen catacombs. He then noticed the ground coming up to meet him at high velocity. The creature had managed to catch up to him, grabbing the hoverboard from under him and sending him flying down to the ground. After a rough tumble, Okuo crashed into the side of the tunnel wall, groaning weakly and gasping as he tried to get up. He could feel something twisted, and he was scuffed all over. He’d probably be covered in bruises after this. But now was not the time to think about bruises, as the large creature drew ever closer, having discarded the hoverboard it now drew closer and closer to the fallen Toa. Okuo cursed again, only this time outloud, trying to crawl back away from the creature but realising it was futile. Okuo closed his eyes. Was this it? Would he die here in the dark depths of the Archives, having found nothing for his troubles? NO! Opening his eyes, his vibrantly azure gaze locked onto the incoming creature. He swiftly raised his hand, and with an exerted yell, a concentrated spout of blue fire erupted forth from his palm, the intense flames filling up the corridor and singeing the creature. It roared, screeched, howled in agony, before turning right around and fleeing in the opposite direction. Okuo groaned, collapsing on his back again, and sighed. He couldn’t stay here, all that noise was bound to have attracted attention from other sections of the Archives, and he was not eager to meet any other denizens of the depths. Turning over and clambering to his feet, Okuo limped over to the scuffed hoverboard and got on, turning invisible once more as he flew off and out of the cramped corridor into the larger space up ahead.

IC: Xane - Irnakk's Tooth "There is little either of us can do to revoke the sins of our forebears," Xane replied, with the conviction of a man who'd spoken the words before. It had been a different time, to a different Skakdi, on a different world, but they were still applicable. "All we can do is try to be better than they were." @Toru Nui

IC: Datrox Karvan - Metru-Koro (Navu's Hut) "If you could spare a pillow or the like." @Toru Nui IC: Rose - Metru-Koro (Love Shack) What the-- This kid was a light sleeper. "You already up?" @Dane

To confirm, yes I wish to play as the spooky haunted van. Let me drive my van into your heart

IC: Providence - Metru-Koro Providence went silent, fixing his attention on the colossal effort of keeping up with Vent. It was almost eerie, the way he bounded after his newfound friend without the huffing and puffing most would be doing.

IC: Mahryo - Northern Deserts Mahryo grinned, clapping Lueiji on the back. "We're gonna stop a ne'er-do-well, brother mine! You heard this fine robot - they need all the help they can get! And we can help!" @ZippyWharrgarbl@xccj@Toru Nui@Jakura Nuva

IC: Skorm (Metru-Koro) As one of the other toa that had gathered shifted color, for some reason Skorm felt a primal surge of panic, and at the same time deep sympathy. Extending his elemental awareness, he sensed that the color-changing toa was, unsurprisingly, another light elemental. And there was another being attached to her spine, like a bright reflection of the parasites he had removed from the dead Skakdi. He also felt the lingering presence of the dead slugs. They felt eerily insubstantial; Skorm dropped the corpse back into the bag. "As I mentioned, I took these off the corpses of a pair of local Skakdi that tried to capture me. I think they were going to use me as a power source, I had trouble with their accents. After I killed them, I sensed these things were still alive, and that they were beings of elemental shadow." "... So no, I don't think they're edible. Especially after being attached to skakdi for Mata Nui knows how long, and being dead in a bag for three days." OOC: @TL01 NUVA @EmperorWhenua @Snelly

IC: Datrox Karvan - Metru-Koro (Navu's Hut) Slave-drivers...? Immediately I felt an anger rise within me. "Those monsters...did you escape when the..." I paused, clearing my throat, "...the head crashed?" @Toru Nui IC: Nale Vella - "Po-Koro" She nodded. "I guess you can come on in." Nale sat down on the bed, still holding her spear. "It was a...well I was shot by a Skakdi. He had some issues but I think we almost worked them out." @Biological Chronicler IC: Triage - Sanso's Saloon A Bo-Toa sitting nearby with a satchel in his lap leaned over, a drink in his hand. "Sorry to uh, intrude, but did you say a crew?" he asked Knichou. @BULiK

Metru-Koro, outside Sans' hut IC: Keitara's eyes widened as she saw what the Toa had pulled out of their satchel. They were kraata! Whithered, but still recognizable. She had a horrible sinking feeling as she wondered how many had been sentient before their demise. But they said they had been found attached to... a skakdi? That made no sense. She attempted to step forward, but in her addled state caught her foot on the hem of her cloak. She pitched forward violently, slamming hard into the foot-packed earth with a grunt and the muzzy realization that she was losing conciousness. The last thing she saw was a green kanohi Calix resting... upside down? Was it the green toa? She ferverently hoped she had not made a fool of herself. Then, her vision went black and she knew no more. As she lay there, the armor on her exposed arm, leg and mask shimmered and changed to a riot of gold, ivory and electrum. (OOC: @Keeper of Kraata@Conway@EmperorWhenua

this is max's fault Name: Triage Species: Toa of Plantlife Faction: Metru Nui Refugees Description: A figure of average height, his main color is an off-white, with crimson crucifixes painted onto his shoulderpads and the forehead of his Kanohi, and yellow/amber eyes. He carries a large brown satchel that he tends to keep close. Illustration of his Kanohi and the "crimson crucifix" that adorns his body by @Onaku (based on this unnamed mask). Powers: Can create, control, and absorb plantlife. His mask allows him to heal others (but not himself). In order for the Kanohi to work, he needs to have a basic understanding of the wounds or illnesses that need curing. The speed of the healing depends on his own willpower and the condition that needs curing. Equipment: Great Kanohi Hauora, Mask of Healing. Various medical supplies in his satchel, such as bandages, and herbs to make medicine. A pair of defibrilliators that can, in the odd situation, possibly double as weapons. Personality: Triage often feels overlooked, and that he's only needed for his services as a medic. Someone always asks, "doctor, how is he?" and not, "doctor, how are you?" Now that the war's over, he hopes to become recognized for his life-saving work and as a person. In between drinks, that is. Background: Triage survived the League war, the impact, and even got to be at Rose and Skyra's wedding! Now he goes to bars and tries to help people when he can. Flaws: Has an intense paranoia about others touching or trying to steal his satchel. Shaky hands.

IC: Skorm (Metru-Koro) Skorm once again reached into the sack and pulled one of the desiccated slug corpses out of the bag, taking care not to expose it to direct light. "Never saw anything like it back inside the... back when... in the big giant head. One each was attached to some skakdi locals that tried to abduct me." OOC: @Snelly @TL01 NUVA @Toru Nui

IC ????? | Archives "Thank you, but some of this information is actually not new! " A pause. "But the rest does explain the significant uptick in Rahi sightings... " @Onaku

In a way, it adds to the fun – it's like how Lego sets used to have "inspiration models" where they just gave you a picture and you had to figure out how to build it. No two people will build the Brakas in the same way, and I think that's beautiful. Eh, who am I kidding? It's frustrating. As Peri's post shows, it's kind of a tricky build. I didn't know the gray piece used for the abdomen even existed before now. Got another post for you today! Short, marginally interesting, and with little-known trivia, it's probably the truest I've been to this blog's mission statement. Also, if you're into speedruns, Derek M.K. will be running this game at not one, but two marathons tomorrow! His first run starts at 11:30 AM EDT at https://www.twitch.tv/calithon. His second is at 10 PM EDT at https://www.twitch.tv/esamarathon. It's a fun run to watch and it showcases a bunch of interesting glitches. Check it out!

IC: Skorm (Metru-Koro) "Fairly sure he's not talking about these slugs. In fact, I think they may be parasites of some kind."

IC Stannis | Metru Koro The old man, however, took the steltian's accusations in stride. His eyes narrowed further. "If you know half as much as you think you know, then you should know to be careful about wielding that knowledge," he said. "Or did Sans tell you to assemble your little expedition yourself?"

Loving the usage of classic BZP emoticons by @EmperorWhenua for this new AI thingie

IC ????? | Archives "Not your dungeon, not your questions! " the voice chirped back. "Who are you? And"—the voice changed to that of a deeper and more menacing tone suddenly, as though spoken by a great ogre—"what are you doing in my swamp!? ...That was a joke. "

IC Stannis | Metru Koro "So you would attempt reasoning with somethings you know nothing about and have not effected us," Stannis wondered aloud. Waveahk had the right ideas, perhaps, but the august toa was still incredibly wary. He knew the dangers the Aspects posed, and he knew that Mata Nui's folk were woefully ill-equipped to handle them, or even the premise of them. Tensions were high and the former denizens of Metru Nui, citizens and refugees alike, had all come from pure unadulterated war before they were unceremoniously placed upon Zakaz; to them, violence may be a solution all too easily achieved. The wrong ideas placed in the right directions could result in disastrous results. Waveahk, however, seemed more intent than to just understand the Aspects as a foe. His perspective was already skewed. Why? His eyes narrowed. "This is quest of yours, it's personal..." he murmured.

IC: Lueiji - Northern Desert This Takadox person sounded pretty formidable. Lueiji gulps. "Well, uh, good luck findin' this fugitive of yours! Seems like a real tough guy." @Edelgard @Toru Nui @ZippyWharrgarbl @xccj

IC: Achro (Onu-Metru, The Archives) There was nothing. A gaunt quiet, that seemed to mock him. He was promised a chance to test his might. The noise below promised him a mighty beast to slay. Oh well. He had his mission. No amount of personal dissatisfaction changed that. Achro continued to go deeper into the Archives, the Red Smoke worming its way into every corridor he passed by. @Onaku@Azibo IC: NU-8020 (Northern Desert) "The fugitive is-" If these people were sympathetic to the League, they'd be in Metru Nui. It was unlikely that the truth would make them more co-operative. "-a high-ranking member of the League of Six Kingdoms. His status grants him considerable affluence. He possesses the power to hypnotize intelligent beings into becoming his slaves. No-one on the island is safe until he is apprehended." @Edelgard@Jakura Nuva@ZippyWharrgarbl@xccj IC: Tekmo and Waveahk (Metru-Koro, Outside Sans's Hut) Waveahk rolled his eyes at the ridiculousness around him, and turned to Stannis. "I never said anything about an attack. I said evaluate. Scout. Observe. Perhaps, even open a dialogue. We have other options besides violence and just ignoring the problem and hoping it goes away." "...So is there still a line-" "YES. There is still a line. Speak with the Turaga with you wish to join this mission. Or don't, if you do not." Waveahk began to drink more water out of his canteen. Tekmo turned to Skorm. "Well. We live in a society, after all." Tekmo got into his place in line behind everyone else, inviting Skorm to join him. @EmperorWhenua@Keeper of Kraata@Snelly@Conway@TL01 NUVA

IC: Skorm (Metru-Koro) "Hmm," Skorm grunted. "Centralization has its perks, but I've been out there; the wastes are treacherous, and not everyone could make the trip here. Plus, so much land here can only support so many people as is. Not to mention the danger of an attack." The Twi-Toa glanced at the sun's position. "Metru-Nui's centralization didn't work out too well, if I recall." OOC: @Toru Nui

Keitara- Metru-Koro, outside Sans' hut IC: Keitara turned to look at the figure who had emerged from the dwelling. "That sounds... problematic." She turned to Irna, trying to gague the zyglak's reaction, then turned back to the speaker. (OOC: she waits for a gap in the conversation for the next bit.) IC: "Um... sorry to intercede, but I'm a new arrival here. I'm... well, currently not affiliated with a toa team, but if this is causing danger for the settlement I'd be...ngh... happy to assist in any way I... can..." Keitara winced, a shiver running through her body. The injury to her back was throbbing painfully, as though a barely healed wound were being pulled upon. She shot an apologetic look to Irna for the scene she was making, and reaching into her pack she withdrew her photon lance. After some minor coaxing and a good smack against its dented side, its blade and handle unfolded. She resisted the urge to sigh in releif as she braced herself against it. (OOC: @Keeper of Kraata@Conway@EmperorWhenua@Snelly @Toru Nui)

IC: Lueiji - Northern Desert "Have we seen - you're the first person we've run into for a long while, miss," Luigi addresses the Squad Mother, sticking his thumbs into the pockets on his chest. He cranes his neck over Mahryo's shoulder to get a better look at the picture. "Good ta know that guy ain't one of us, eh, Mahryo?" @Edelgard @Toru Nui @ZippyWharrgarbl @xccj

IC: Triki - Northern Desert "He-be lousy player of hide-and-seek if he near-close to here," Triki said, gesturing out to the barren desert around them. "Can see incoming thingies from Kios out." He paused for a moment and asked, "Why-be you seek-search for him? He is hiding good treasure on his person?" @Toru Nui@Edelgard@Jakura Nuva@ZippyWharrgarbl

IC Stannis | Metru Koro No sooner was old toa was about to engage with Skyra on matters of relative levity that the steltian emerged from Sans' hut, apparently invigorated about an expedition to the south. He held up a finger to Skyra, hoping to pause rather than end their interaction before it began. Stannis, having just a moment earlier shared with Sans the sensitivity of such an undertaking as getting to understand the southron foes and their toxic temples, and furthermore the danger of spreading fear of them before they could be at all comprehended, saw this as a mistake to happen so soon and unchecked. What was the old diminutive thinking? he wondered harshly, hoping the turaga was not going senile already. "And what do you propose to do?" Stannis said, gently weaving himself into the conversation, wary of the ill regard Waveahk likely had for the toa who at one time almost sentenced him to death. "Travel to islands even the local populations refuse to visit, attack beings you have never seen? Everything on this land poses a threat, Waveahk... if we choose to make them so. Do not incense emotions or war—speak only careful truths." @Toru Nui

IC: Mahryo - Northern Deserts "Can't say that I have," Mahryo says, squinting at the photograph. "Takadox, you say? And what sort of villiany has this scoundrel been up to?" @Toru Nui@ZippyWharrgarbl@Jakura Nuva@Toru Nui

That's a fair point, but to me, the appeal of the Bionicle story is how well put together it was despite being centered around toys. It never gets so good that you forget it's all to sell toys (except maybe towards the end with some of the serials, but then those aren't the best in terms of storyline always...) It's impressive what the writers did to make it feel real even though it does get a little thin at times. (Collect all the Krana because... it uh... stops the Bohrok. It just does. We totally don't want your money...) So for franchises like this, half the enjoyment I get from the story is being able to have physical representations of the characters, because again the story never gets so deep that it's totally self-sufficient. I can enjoy the exploits of the Toa while also knowing to some degree everything they do is driven by a need to sell toys, so if that's the case might as well have some of those toys. I cannot see a fiction-only Bionicle working that isn't incredibly edgy and self-important or one that doesn't completely lose all the charm that made the original so awesome. Similarly, very, very few of the sets would interest me at all without knowing the stories behind the characters. Brutaka may look cool but what really drives me to that set is his interesting character. This is a franchise that's co-dependent on toys and stories and I cannot see myself getting interested with just one or the other involved.

IC: Irna | Outside Sans' Hut "I ... see," she said, cocking her head to one side, but she did not follow her doubt any further than that. This woman might have been peculiar -- to put the matter lightly -- but it wasn't as though anyone in Metru-Koro was a stranger to peculiarity, after all. "It is a pleasure, Keitara. I am Irna, the sixth-born of Perror of the Northern--" It was then that Waveahk emerged from the Turaga's hut, bearing news of-- "An expedition?" she said. "Sans authorized one?" OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Toru Nui IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann "What does someone like me always have to offer?" Parnassus raised an eyebrow at Boss and rapped their knuckles against the hull of the Call. "And let's be clear," they continued. "I'd be after a full check-up of my baby here. Inside and out. Not to mention mechanical service from this establishment of yours from now to ... oh, let's say, perpetuity?" OOC: @Unreliable Narrator -Void

IC: Lueiji - Northern Desert "It uhh, it certainly looks like one," Lueiji replies, leaning around his brother's shoulder. It was a good thing the thing's speed was decreasing, or he may have just hightailed it then and there. "And it's too big for any o' my equipment to deal with." @Edelgard @Toru Nui @xccj @ZippyWharrgarbl

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro Kanohi’s fingers drummed against his armor made from failed masks as he waited, his metal fingers making a sharp clang against them. He … he hated sitting here, the slightest sound made his head buck, the slightest movement made him swerve. He … what if Matoran needed him while he lounged around? What if that Vo-Matoran was dying? It’s funny how he clung to his armor. It wasn’t very strong, the noise it made would never let him move quietly, and it was made up of his failures as a mask maker on Okoto. But it was also all he had left of Okoto. And he … failures or not, he had made them, and they had helped protect him from debris during the invasion… He glanced at his staff. Made of one of the last disks of Metru-Nui, forged in Po-Koro, crafted by a Matoran Kanohi had saved. And Kanohi had even helped forge it. That … it meant something too. It was … hard to put into words, but it mattered beyond its powers. It was … it was memories given form, it was his few successes in the face of annihilation. And that … it was dear to him. ”Hey, bad news,” a voice called out, Kanohi turned to see Supaka as the Matoran continued, “I can’t make it, long story. But this is a sketch of what the Crystal Impact Launcher should look like.” Supaka dropped a tablet engraved with a weapon onto Kanohi’s lap, making the Fe-Matoran flinch. As the Matoran of Plasma left Kanohi lifted it up slowly, it looked … odd, had six crystals stored on it, three on each side, and it’s design reminded him of what Skakdi weapons he had seen. He would have to show it to Pardehi and Toa Ulkarr, but he would still head south. The other refugee camps could still use help, and Po-Koro seemed fairly stable now. … IC Collector - Metru-Koro ”Now, when should we head out?” Collector glanced around the group, ”Day will be approaching soon, after all. And then there is the matter of direction. If we should search spots similar to where the Great Disks were hidden in Metru-Nui, I must confess I was not a part of the hunts for the disks. Would any of you know where the disks were hidden? Or have you heard of somewhere else to go?” OOC: @Snelly @Onaku @Tarn @~Xemnas~ … IC NPC - Sanso’s Saloon, Metru-Koro ”Ugh, get me a drink,” a diminutive Turaga scrambled up the stool besides Toa Knichou. She was orange and white and wore a Noble Kadin, and had a few bruises on her face. “Oh, hey Toa,” she said as she adjusted into her seat, her posture was tense like a tightly wound spring, but not wrathful, “you just get back from some epic adventure?” OOC: @BULiK have a NPC.

IC: Mahryo - Northern Desert "I say, is that a... Metal bug?" Mahryo asks. He peers into the distance, raising his hand to shield his eyes from the sun. "Triki, Lueiji, can you see it? Or am I going mad?" @xccj @ZippyWharrgarbl @Jakura Nuva @Toru Nui

IC: Xane - Irnakk's Tooth "A little bit, yeah," a sheepish grin took up residence on Xane's face, "Call it morbid curiosity."

IC: Xane - Irnakk's Tooth "If I didn't know better, I'd say you're trying to dissuade me from investigating this mountain," Xane's eyes narrowed, "If this place is of significance to warbands you claim are your enemies, why come here, and challenge the first stranger you come across?" @Toru Nui

IC: Sidra - Earth Temple Her conversation with the Turaga seemingly concluded, Sidra cautiously approached the temple entrance, glancing at her iStone screen to check if either of her nektann had spotted anything beyond the curious lizard. @Unreliable Narrator IC: Xane - Irnakk's Tooth "The level of technology the warbands have would certainly suggest they originally came from somewhere more advanced," Xane mused, "Do you know if your beliefs came from that homeland as well? Is the idea of Irnakk something your kind brought from home, or found here?" @Toru Nui

I actually got Krekka the other day, and I have to say I don't actually like the design much, frankly he seems kind of OVERdesigned.

I actually tried this once a really long time ago, but it didn't come out looking quite right. Come to think of it, it might actually still be intact in one of my big bins of dismembered Toa, Rahi and other miscellaneous MU inhabitants.

While it's nice to have merch to collect, I find this to be a rather shallow take on all this. No franchise ought to be defined by material objects over the scope and significance of its narrative; if the toys are more important than the story, then the writers have failed at their craft. And, frankly, our wallets will thank us all if we're buying less bonks.

IC: Zaliyah - Throne Room "Under our current circumstances, I feel eradication is beyond our grasp," she replied, choosing her words carefully, "But their god is dead. They're not the chosen race anymore - if they ever were to begin with. They're stranded on an inhospitable alien world, just like us. We have things they need, and they have something we want." She took a step closer to the warlord, wary of the very real possibility her head might be forcibly detached from her body before she could finish speaking. "We have united so many races under our banner. Perhaps it's time to consider welcoming one more... or, at the very least, making peace with them. They call us savages and monsters to justify their hatred and prejudice, but if we are the ones to show mercy, to extend the hand of peace... then we prove wrong their entire ideology." The thought of letting it all go made her insides burn. She didn't share Pridak's desire to wipe out the Matoran species entirely, but she had wanted to see them put in their place, made to pull their own weight and contribute to the collective good, instead of lording it over everyone else. She'd always hoped she might be able to sway Pridak's temper when the time came; it appeared that time was now. @Unreliable Narrator

IC: Pridak | Coliseum Throne Room “Diplomacy. You suggest diplomacy with the people we’ve sworn to eradicate because of their intolerance? We tore their sky apart, albeit not in the way I had hoped, to reveal their lies. They weren’t interested in diplomacy for the past two centuries, but now you think after they’ve lost their final city and live on the edge of a toxic lake made from the blood of their so called god they will open their doors and speak freely of peace? I watched Dume spit on my father’s grave and proclaim the matoran were the chosen race, that the great nations who after formed into the League existed as inferior denizens. He said we were unfit caretakers." He leaned forward in his seat, eyes burning with the rage and guilt weighing on his conscience. “I watched Brutaka lead Dume's crusade against Kalmah and Mantax’s people and forced them to work in the mines of Artakha and the slaughterhouses of Destral. They drove Kalmah’s people to the brink and pushed them ever further off the edge. The Order pleaded they stood for peace among all nations and remained neutral to the slaughter despite their warriors on the battlefield. They once stood against the tyranny of these hateful manifestos. They once,” Pridak paused, his temper rising. He caught his breath, leaned back in his throne, and continued. “We took arms to burn away that regime of hate, and shame, and shackles. The Dark Hunters removed Dume, but the stragglers have new heroes and a dead leader often becomes a martyr for their people. But sure. Fine. Visit their new leader and see if he’s willing to talk. In fact, invite him to visit me. We can offer him a warm welcome. Have him come alone. Take as many as you think necessary to travel safely, and a small airship to travel across the lake. Ostrox, do you know if the ship you flew on under Carapar’s orders is still operating? A merchant vessel may be better than a warship.” He waved his hand dismissively as he thought of the little blue turaga his spies said led the new village of Metru Koro. He hoped Ehlek would enjoy building a warm welcome especially suited for Sans.

IC: Sans, Turaga's Hut "I'll see what I can do then. It might be better for you to approach anyone you think might join you. Head down to the main street to start looking, I suppose. If that's all, then thank you for your time. Send the next one in once you leave. And come report back to me before you leave, if you find your own companions before I can find some for you. Stay safe, big blue, huhuhuhu." OOC: @Toru Nui

He's not being cryptic. He said next time he gets back to us, there will either by a "yay" or a "nay". He is talking to people, was supposed to be attending meetings with them before the pandemic went widespread. I have to assume there is some sort of NDA attached. He doesn't own Bionicle, so I don't think he would be able to discuss the talks he's had with his potential partners freely. He was being vague but at least we know something is happening behind the scenes. Regardless of who came up with the initial concept, there was no singular mastermind behind the creation of Bionicle. Faber was a huge part of the franchise from beginning to end; the visual style we know and love comes directly from his mind. So to me, he's one of, if not the most influential creators behind the line and someone I absolutely trust to deliver us something worthy of the name. -NotS

nope! it was Alastair Swinnerton! nice try tho!

As soon as the announcements hit, I packed as much up from my apartment as I could and moved back home. While I don't like having to be alone, I'd much rather be alone out here than in the city. It's much safer, and I think it's better for my mental health too. At school, I felt lonely unless I got out and socialized every day. Here, I feel less lonely overall even though I'm actually all alone most of the time. That said, I do miss seeing people on campus every day in person, and I've lost contact with most of the acquaintances I wasn't all that close with. And I much prefer in person classes to online.