BenLuke

IC: Feongulf~ "Good," I replied, a grin revealing fang-like teeth. "I'm sure we'll have a bright and profitable future ahead of us." And If we don't, then your disappearance can be. . . arranged. "So, what exactly got those guards after you, if you're wanted for something well know and insane then working with you might prove a bit difficult. Infamy and fear aren't traits my mission needs, though there are other ways you would be of use if if are." Not that that was a likely, but I though it best to confirm he was the petty thief he seemed to be and not another serial killer. Utter psychopaths had their uses, of course, but espionage wasn't generally wasn't one of them.

"Bring it on" seems a appropriate response.

The laws of physics need not apply, but common sense does.

IC: Feongulf~ Fumbling through the traffic, I lead my "new friend" through the streets, keeping the karz away from any guards we passed (No small feet, considering the buildup implied by the recruitment posters plaster around the village.) , and tried to ignore the stares the happily hissing parasite latched to my back brought. Passing through a market district, a hastily purchased a loose-fitting tunic from one of the stands line along the wooden platform, depositing the widgets market on the wooden tag without trying to haggle, then continuing on, quickly throwing the garment on over my armor. We then arrive at the front of the run-down boarding house I had procured a room from for the duration of my mission. I leave my payment at the front desk and claim my key, then head for my room to begin laying my plans. Closing the door on ancient rusted hinges behind us I turn to the vortixx, trying my best to keep a cool, profession expression. "I'm a. . .spy, putting it bluntly, here to slip into the Gukko Force and report on this Koro's inner workings, and I need someone to back me up and serve as a guide while I find my feat here." I paused for a moment to let him digest the information, this vortixx didn't seem like he'd be the sharpest blade between someone's ribs. "I can't pay you, but there are other ways we can make it worth your while in the future."

IC: Feongulf~ I leaned my head to peer behind the vortixx, catching sight of a patrol of guards slowing from a run to a brisk walk as they fought their may through the crowd in our general direction. Great. "Look, okay? I'll give you hand, but not for free," I replied, unclasping my cloak and tossing it to the vortixx with a swish. This loon might prove. . .useful. "I'm going to need your help in return, get it? Now keep your head down!"

IC: Feongulf~ I narrowed my eyes at the vortixx. "Sure you aren't. Let me repeat myself: Who the karz are you?"

Nominally yes, but he hasn't been consistently active enough lately to really do much I'm afraid.

For the three or people that'll actually care: Feongulf is back.

OOC: Theme for this post: Dynasty - Three Steps From Heck. IC: Feongulf~ The tranquility of an endless ocean hid the remains of the dead just as my face hid my mixed emotions at what I saw, or rather didn't see. Xa-Koro killed my family, shattered my life again and again, but it also was my home, and tough my lessons in survival that had kept me alive through all the nonsense the world had put me through lately. A blessing, or a curse? I didn't know what to think. With a shake of my head I turned back to the jungle. What I thought didn't matter, but what I did would. For now I was not just an aimless wanderer. Now I was a servant of the Makuta, a dead god of death, one that no one had any business trusting even when he was still around. Rebel without a cause? More like without a good one, as if there were any. One that contrasted itself with and opposed the self-righteousness of the Koros and their petty conflicts was "good" enough for me, I guess. Anyway, after my little fit of self-reflection I began to trek towards Le-Koro, pulling my hood up to shelter my head from the precipitation falling from the rain-forest's roof. the parasite bonded to my spine hissed and radiated feelings of hatred for the garment covering it. "Unless you'd like to get us both burned at the stake as Makuta cultists," I whispered to the parakuka, trying to project calm, reassuring images through my mind. Forests filled with frolicking rahi;The sea beating on the golden sand of a Ga-Koro beach; Dripping stalactites and the hissing of kraata and their brethren that had lulled me to sleep during the months aiding Onuzek's plots deep underground. "The cloak stays." Soon we arrive at the bottom of the village of air and joined the throng of beings waiting for elevators to be lowered from the fortified city above them. As the lines thins out and I finally stepped into one of the packed compartments ferrying an eclectic mix of beings, traders, mercenaries, wander and vagabonds, up and and down from the jungle canopy, I wouldn't help but notice the Gukko Force guards interspersed among us, and the tired, grim expression must of them wore. Tensions among my fellow matoran were still building, apparently, so I supposed that you wouldn't blame the great Akiri Kongu from stepping up security, after all without it some assassination attempt might do the island a favor and actually succeed in getting rid of a sixth of the mayor problems. Alas, things would never be that easy. I had barely stepped off the elevator platform when a tall, although all of them are, Vortixx dressed in a ridiculous black coat barreled into my with all the grace of a drunk Lesterin sailor. I pushed back s he collided with me, sending him sprawling on the wood of the walkway. My hand wondered to the dagger hidden my the fringe of my cloak. "Who the karz do you thing you are?" Whoever he did think he was, he wasn't getting the pleasure of meeting me in a good mood.

IC: Kethrye~ "Yeah, it was an. . . interesting experience," Kethrye said, raising an eyebrow as Kehuri roared barreled off towards Naru. "Anyway, how are things in Ta-Koro nowadays?"

Your tabletop sourcebooks aren't the finale say in the matter, Basilisk. Even Lovecraft himself wouldn't be a finale say, since that kind of concrete answer is counter to everything the Mythos stands for. If we want the eldritch nasties in a game to be as powerful as we are compared to ants then it can be so, and if we want a light Cthulhu punching romp (Which by the way I'd also be interested in.) then that works too.

IC: Kethrye~ "Oh, we met your sister in Ko-Koro. Elysi? That happened," came his reply. "Other then that it's been boring, for once. Turns out I like boring, less people trying to stick you with pointy bits of metal." The Toa of Ice swung his head and watched as another old acquaintance stepped through the village gates. "Hey Naru," Kethrye greeted the Toa of Plasma, nodded in her direction.

IC: Kethrye ~ "Rebuilding the village and our usual antics, I guess." Kethrye replied, finished his burger and rising from his seat. "You?"

The negotiation is over and as far as I know, everyone in the room is open for interaction.

IC: Kethrye nodded. "Yeah, things aren't looking good. You'd think Makuta's death would bring us closer together, allow trade and expansion to flourish and it has done that, but it's also forced old conflicts and grudges to drift to the surface. Kehuri did have a point, without a grand enemy to rally against-" . Kethrye sighed. "Anyway, there's really nothing we can about that. Apart from reading ourselves, whether by rebuilding Pala-Koro or forming alliances, to weather whatever gets thrown at us." He reached for the burger on the plate in front, rising it up to his mouth and biting into it, chewing it, then swallowing. It was edible, which said a lot about Esao's culinary prowess when you considered what he had to work with. "Speaking of alliances, how about we check in on our good neighbor Akiri Kongu?" He turn his head to sweep his gaze at the room of friends. "After we've finished eating, 'course."

IC: Kethrye paused, his boring inspecting the Ga-Valkr's face, looking for cracks in the fade he wouldn't find. She was truthful, as far as he could tell, about what she believes, but whether reality matched remained to be seen. He sighed, deciding that gambling on whether Daylaria was a blinded zealot or not was the only option he had. "I can agree with an alliance only on the terms that Ga-Koro avoids agitating the current political situation and attempts to calm the other Koro's nerves, which, if your Akiri Hahli is as noble as you say, should be the course of action she's already pursuing. I'll also refuse to side with Ga-Koro if they declare war unprovoked by another Koro's aggression. "In exchange, I can offer our full cooperation against enemies of the Ga-Koroan people, and use of Pala-Koro as a neutral meeting place for negotiation and trade." Then the Toa of Ice shrugged, still unused to being the one forming a political connection instead of hovering behind Madrihk as his predecessor negotiated, "An acceptable deal?"

IC: "I'm sure there's plenty," Kethyre replied with pursed lisps. "I can agree perfectly with any sort of anti-hostility pact, and to provide assistance against any unaffiliated enemy of the Matoran, sure. Strengthening official ties between Pala-Koro and the larger village would also be great." Mata Nui, even I sound like a politician now. "But anything beyond that would be a serious break of neutrality. We've kept our nose out of the inter-Koro conflicts so far, and if things escalate we'll try our best to continue the policy." A blunt edge entered his tone. "Akiri Hahli and the rest may decide sending their subjects off to slaughter each will work out for the greater good in the end, but we'll have no part in it if we can help it."

^^And if you can make fireworks you can make a gun. . . .An effective gun is another matter,

IC: Suspicion confirmed. "Ah?" Kotaran said, attempting to remain nonchalant in the face of the madness he'd no doubt have to face. "Good for him them it's the middle of the night-" A nervous guffaw. "-and speaking of which, can I assume we can now carry out your earlier order and get some sleep, ma'am?"

IC: "Greetings, commander" Kethryes replied, grinning professionally at the winged being even as his mind was racing dig through her data her words and appearance granted him. She stood with solidness that only years of military training could bring, which suggested that she was a solderer at heart and not a politician who whiled themselves into command, which seemed odd contrasted with her beauty, Kethrye knew warriors when he saw them, and "conventionally hyper-attractive" was usually not the mark of one. Interesting. "Yes, fire away," he continued, gesturing for her to sit. "You can also cut the "most prestigious"-type nonsense, please. Talk may be cheap, but that's no reason to waste it."

IC: Kotaran nodded, a tad apprehensive about the fact that the rest of the crew seemed to complete crazy people. "Aye, nice to meet you too."

IC: "But "master diplomat" is still not featured in your impressive resume, I assume," Kethrye said. "But that reminds me. Amendment: There are two things we're good at, beating the crud out of people and wisecracking."

IC: Kotaran~ "Wha-Oh, yes," replied the Ga-Matoran, stirring myself from a state of half doze. "What dae you need me for?"

IC: "Always the idealist, aren't you," Kethrye remarked with a twitch of his eyebrows, taking a seat to await whatever rations Esao would succeed in incinerating. Apparently he Toa of Earth's innocence, or naivety, hadn't changed, a fact both heartening and depressing. Heartening that people like Kehuri still existed, and depressing because Kethrye knew that the wild world the lived in would either kill that idealism, or kill Kehuri, in the end. "We are good at one thing and one thing only: beating the ever-living-crud out of people. Atox is right, we're soldiers, and at least for now it's peacetime."

IC: "Do i dare to ask why one of your eyes is sealed shut, then?"