BZPRPG - Ta-Wahi

[Snelly]

IC: Mekana

 

"Oh there is for sure!" Mekana announced. "There is a pretty large demand for iStones in Ta-koro and well, pretty much every koro besides Onu. All I have to do is get to Onu-koro, go to my usual supplier for iStones...and then come back here and sell them discretely."

 

"I typically only buy and sell a few at a time so I don't get caught by the guard, it's the safest way....plus I can really only afford to buy a few right now..." 

Edited January 6, 2017 by D.Va

[25K Now!]

IC: Ophaim

 

"Especially with your tab."

[Snelly]

IC: Mekana

 

"Ugh...don't remind me." She didn't like being reminded that she owned Ophaim money...especially for all those cakes... "You'll get your money, I always pay my debts. You know that."

[25K Now!]

IC: Ophaim

 

"It's one of your better points."

[Snelly]

IC: Mekana

 

"Thanks, I think..."

[25K Now!]

IC: Ophaim

 

"You're welcome."

[Snelly]

IC: Mekana

 

"Well, I guess I'll head off to Onu-koro then...need me to get you anything while I'm out?"

[25K Now!]

IC: Ophaim

 

"Nothing in particular," replied the innkeeper.

[Snelly]

IC: Mekana

 

"Well alright then...I'll be going now..." She started to head out of the inn. "...bye." 

[25K Now!]

IC: Ophaim

 

"Later."

Edited January 6, 2017 by 25K When?

[shadow pridak money gang]

IC:

 

So...hey, babe.

 

How's school? You keeping your grades up? Still trying to get a good degree and earn your widgets the right way, instead of ripping out hearts and getting all your friends killed like me? That's cool.

 

...

 

How's the sex life?

 

Boring without me, right?

 

I know. I know. I dropped the ball. I was supposed to call you back. Did I give you fake contact info or something? Sorry. I haven't been at my best since...since lately. It's been a weird road from Ko-Wahi to here.

 

...

 

So, uh...tough year for celebrities, right? Seems like we've got one or two dropping every week. I mean, this guy I know, he just went down not too long ago. He was about our age, believe it or not. Healthy as a horse, apple of his mom's eye, and he suddenly caught a pretty sudden and fatal case of...uh...

 

Bullets.

 

...

 

Do I count as an island celebrity?

 

Uhhhh ohh.

 

You still there?

 

Did you miss me?

 

I missed you. I was starting to worry there was no one left alive to talk to. Feels like 444 days / 1 year, 2 months, and 17 days, not counting today eons since I had a captive audience. Truth is, I needed a walk in silence. I couldn't stand figuring out how I felt...or what I thought...about pretty much anything since Joske had died in my arms. There was just one thought, buoyant in my head, that kept rising to the top above all else.

 

Echelon has to die.

 

And repeating that over and over again on a walk through four Wahi would probably get old for anyone, even with my famed charisma and knack for impressions. The words Echelon has to die take one second to say out loud, and it's been 38,362,000~ (counting approximately the amount of time it takes to think all this out loud) seconds a good-##### while since I decided to go on my walkabout. Even my well of intonations and impersonations would have run dry by the time I took the layover in Onu-Koro.

 

Echelon has to die.

 

Echelon has to die.

 

Echelon has to die! (DUN DUN DUNNNN)

 

Plus, I know it doesn't look it given that I only ever wear leather or a cute Toa from the waist down, but I really don't like repeating material too much.

 

So...let's pick up somewhere more interesting than Dorian Shaddix, skipping record of vengeance.

 

...

 

I hardly even made it into Ta-Koro before things started piling up.

 

The first pair of Ta-Koro Guards seemed to recognize me on sight and let me into the village without much problem. That was a good sign; that, mixed with the general lack of wailing fangirls holding hands and free-falling into the lava flows, meant that the news hadn't yet spread about Ta-Koro's favorite son getting himself killed in the Drifts. I would be able to slip the news to the Guard and let them leak it however they wanted to; Echelon wouldn't get to spin this one however he wanted. Joske Nimil died a hero.

 

But these people didn't know that yet. For them, life was just...going on; there was the familiar hustle and bustle of people commuting or traveling into the island's most fortified Koro. People were seeking safety here in this ashy hellscape...and, just maybe, they'd found it after all. But for every five people who wanted into Ta-Koro, there was one person who was headed out. This place had its share of hotheads, too. 

 

Two particularly dumb (or sketchy) people apparently thought that Ta-Koro just didn't run hot enough for them in the first place, so they had both decided to don cloaks that covered up most of their bodies and even most of their faces. Unfortunately for many a lover, the garment hadn't been stitched that could keep Dorian Shaddix's wandering eye bamboozled. I identified them at a glance as in-shape and attractive enough - the guy was built, the chick was stacked - and one had her hand tightly clasped on her partner's upper arm. If they hadn't been wearing the cloaks.

 

...Okay, maybe I would've. She had a killer .

 

...A very...familiar... killer .

 

I began to run the numbers. 

 

Let's see...dah...divided by chika wow wow...calculate the radius...this variable here is the hips...

 

(Commercial break from this boring math: What do Ga-Koran teachers wear to the beach? Algae bras! I'm back, baby!)

 

...and carry the 1.

 

I did know that .

 

Tuara Drigton, erstwhile girlfriend, was leaving Ta-Koro of her own volition. Clutching another guy's arm.

 

Ouch.

 

I turned on my heel to go follow her when I heard the call:

 

"Shaddix!"

 

I ignored it for a second. Wasn't Tuara's voice. Didn't matter.

 

When was the last time I'd held Tuara?

 

I'd get around to it when I tossed this other guy into the lava for her.

 

"Tua--"

 

"Shaddix!"

 

I turned in frustration at the sound of the Guard's raised voice, just in time to catch Tuara's cloaked face turning back to me briefly. 

 

"Shaddix! The Akiri was about to send people out of the Koro to look for you," the sergeant said, huffing up to me and looking over my shoulder. "Who the Karz are you looking for?"

 

I turned over my shoulder; both cloaked figures were gone, and the roiling temptation to snap this idiot's neck welled up in their place.

 

"Forget it," I grumbled, rubbing my forehead. "The Akiri? Don't care. I want to sleep--"

 

"--and the head of the RRF--"

 

"--and drink--"

 

"--and the Captain of the Guard put in another request for you specifically. He said that if it would motivate you, I could say he was pleading for your help."

 

...

 

i  l i k e  t h e  s o u n d  o f  t h a t

 

"Who first?" I asked, noticeably more cheerful.

 

"The Akiri and Detective Loren are together. This way, Shaddix. We'll escort you." 

 

I turned back to the place where Tuara and her mystery man had disappeared. This time, I missed the glance being aimed my way - a glance uncharacteristic of most people who had worked in the Ta-Koro Guard over the last few years.

 

It was a look of sympathy.

 

-Tyler

[Palm]

IC: Tuara Drigton - Ta-Koro Streets

 

Kitea's silent protests meant nothing to the firm grip Tuara had on her elder brother as they made their way into the street.

 

She knew the Guard. The second they found what was at the smithy, was the second Tuara would be placed on a first immediate priority list. It was impossible to get there and move some of the remains before they would find them. This was the only option. "Stay close to me." Tuara hissed.

 

The streets were a little busier than usual. It was noon, with high traffic. Anybody one lunch, or anybody with a late start to their day was out. The markets would be packed. Unfortunately, that meant the crowd would be slightly thinner as the pair made their way towards the gates. The markets were in the other direction.

 

Brisk steps carried the Drigtons through the ocean of people, navigating the crowds as efficiently as possible, without having to shove anybody aside. Though Tuara was already running the scenario through her mind. If all went well, they would pass through the gates without a second glance. She was a household name among Guardsmen. However, if the word was out to look for her, that would put her at a disadvantage immediately. They needed to bypass that as quickly as possible.

 

"Shaddix!"

Tuara's brow furrowed. What did she just hear? Focusing so strongly on what was next for her and Kitea, she wasn't paying close enough attention to the crowds.

 

"Tu-"

 

"Shaddix!"

 

Tuara turned her head towards what sounded like the start of her name. There, across the street, with a dozen faces between them, was Dorian, standing, just starting to turn away. Tuara nearly changed direction, but stopped completely dead in her tracks when she realized who he was now talking to: A Guard. One of the sergeants. Tuara's heart pounded like a drum.

 

Kitea growled under his breath, "What are you doing? Aren't we in a hurry?"

 

The split second in which Tuara decided to turn away again and continue on her path to the village exit lasted a minute. How long had it been? She couldn't remember. Tuara had spent the last month drowning in alcohol. Wallowing in a series of failures. A ruined career with the Guard, ruined friendships, the failure of Utu, and the personal failure to never pull herself fully out of it all. Always, back to the only consistent comfort in her life: Vodka. What had Dorian seen? Where had he been? There were many questions she wanted to ask him. There's soon to be many that he'll want to ask her. Tuara turned away, giving Kitea another yank on the arm to keep up.

 

'Not yet, Dorian. Soon. I promise.'

 

They were about halfway to the gates. Tuara's heart began to pound harder still.

Edited January 7, 2017 by Palm

[Snelly]

IC: Mekana

 

Mekana took one last look at the inn which she'd spent the past month recovering, she was going to actually miss Ophaim...a little. 

 

Eh whatever, I'll had enough of him to last a lifetime...I'll see him soon enough. And with a flash of her mask she disappeared, only to reappear some distance away. It wasn't as fast as traveling with a Kakama, but the Kualsi was still better than walking the whole way. She headed toward the tunnels to Onu-Wahi and promptly left the village of fire. 

 

OOC: Mekana to Onu-Wahi

Edited January 8, 2017 by D.Va

[Vezok's Friend]

OOC: Agni and Merror from Ko-Wahi.

 

IC: [Agni, arriving in Ta-Koro]

 

When we showed up at the gates, there were no questions, even though we must have looked as terrible as I felt. Sore and tired after a rather fruitless stint in the mountains of Ko-Wahi, Merror and I had finally agreed to break of our scouting trip and return to the village of fire. The team we'd initially set out with had broken up after the funeral of Utu. And our Matoran informant with information on Echelon's retreat in the snowy region had disappeared without a trace. And infiltrating Ko-Koro with two Toa of fire and nobody else as backup was guaranteed suicide. So we'd stayed outside. Freezing our behinds off and using as much of our elemental reserves to stave off a frosty, unmarked grave or winding up as a meal for a Rahi, all the while monitoring the Makuta follower's perimeter patrols and defenses as much as possible.

 

I wasn't happy with the result. We'd gotten intel, yes. But compared to what we had set out to do, we had almost nothing except a good case of exposure and frostbite.

 

So I wouldn't have been surprised if the Matoran standing watch had led us straight to the infirmary. But maybe our looks had warned them not to get in our way. But my bad mood didn't last too long.

 

Or more accurately, it was temporarily suspended upon setting foot into Ta-Koro again. It may have been a pit full of ash and vaguely smelling of sulfur, but it was our pit. It was home. I'd worry about the bad stuff tomorrow, after a good rest.

 

"Shaddix!"

 

Scratch that. 

 

My mood dropped back down to Ko-Wahi temperature levels. I shot Merror a look that said everything and then turned in the direction of where the call had come from, ready for anything. 

[Ghosthands]

IC (Merror, Ta-Koro streets)

 

It was difficult to imagine anything making Agni look more beleaguered than he already did, but hearing that yell managed it nonetheless. Merror, for his part, mustered only a resigned shrug.

 

"Look on the bright side, Agni. Whatever Dorian's been up to, it can't possibly be worse than what we've already seen today."

[shadow pridak money gang]

IC:

 

"No way. Are those my favorite gay granddads I spy? What, are you two lost on the way to the shuffleboard league?"

 

Even though I hadn't brought any news that wouldn't take kaleidoscope vision to construe as good, the sight of the two old Fire Toa at least brought a smile to my face. Even in today's world, where it seemed like every other day someone knew had bought themselves the farm...even in a world without Joske...

 

Some people just wouldn't die.

 

Even if they both looked about as tired as I felt inside. They should both try managing their food intake a little more carefully. I do, before every job.

 

That's my secret, Cap.

 

I'm always hangry.

 

I got within reach of both Toa and clapped each of them on a different shoulder, letting out a long, relieved breath as my hands hit armor and their realness became assured.

 

"Good to see you two. I need--"

 

"Shaddix!" It was the sergeant, impatiently turned around on one heel. "The Akiri shouldn't be kept wai--oh."

 

He looked nonplussed at the sight of Agni.

 

"Ah...Detective. Pardon me, I didn't realize you wanted him for...actually...you may need to come along as well," he said, becoming more awkward as he spoke. "It's important, ah...may be important. To both of you."

 

-Tyler

Edited January 9, 2017 by April Schwarz

[Ghosthands]

IC (Merror, Ta-Koro streets)

 

"This sounds serious," Merror remarked, aware he was stating the obvious. "I take it my presence won't be a problem, Officer? I know the Akiri, and Agni can vouch for me."

 

He gave Dorian a weary smile.

 

"It's good to see you too, lad."

[Krayzikk]

IC:

Upon hearing Loren call for Arnai, Jaller began walking into the alley behind the old forge himself. If it was safe enough for the investigator, it was safe enough for him. That wasn't to say that he was careless; the Ta-Matoran's hand rested a blade at his belt, ready to draw it at a moment's notice.

"What do we have, Commander?" He asked, glancing about the alley warily. "Tell me that, and I'll start giving you some answers. Cloak and dagger isn't my speed."

[Silvan Haven]

Loren- Ta-koro- Old Smithy

 

IC: "I've uncovered what looks like the finger of a dead man. Was going to leave it to the Investigator here to begin processing but I can keep digging if you want. What do you know about this, Sir?"

[Vezok's Friend]

IC [Agni - Ta-Koro streets]:

 

I was ready for the snark. What I wasn't ready for was Dorian Shaddix, genuinely happy to see us - and letting it show. Something was up. 

 

My hand found his shoulder, returning the welcome gesture and we made brief eye contact. This close it was hard to miss the weariness in his look.

 

I decided on some words of comfort, the only way I knew how:

 

"Kid, you look terrible."

 

Letting go of Dorian, I turned to the waiting guardsman and Merror, then nodded, indicating for the officer to lead the way.

 

"Let's go then." 

 

Time to get more troubling news.

 

I have a bad feeling about this. 

[shadow pridak money gang]

IC:

 

We trailed the sergeant as a trio into one of the more industrial areas of Ta-Koro, populated by what felt like dozens of varying smiths and forges, each similar enough in passing while promising wild variations on the exact same types of armor and weapons. The sergeant led us as far as one particular shop - a decrepit looking armory marked with a pitted, faded Zyck's Armory sign - before directing us around to the Akiri and Loren behind the back of the shop. With one meaningful look at Agni, the sergeant had turned around and gotten out of Dodge like his life depended on it.

 

I wasn't really in the mood for an ugly murder right now.

 

At least, some Matoran's ugly murder.

 

"This is nice. A blacksmith who isn't whining at you to make a purchase before you walk in the door. I might shop here for--" I stopped to read the old metal pledge by the front door "--every armoring need under the sun! For heroes who need armor as strong as their word an--"

 

"Get moving, kid."

 

Hrmph.

 

Agni and I walked shoulder to shoulder up to the crime scene, obstructing Merror from view sightly on the off chance that he wasn't supposed to be there. When I arrived, though, I didn't see much of a body - much of anything, really. Jaller, standing by and looking perturbed as Loren asked him what knowledge he had of the crime. Was the Akiri a suspect or something? Did he get framed?

 

...

 

Was he getting some on the side? Maybe Hahli found out and killed thi--

 

a-

 

"--hem."

 

I blinked lazily, wondering if maybe the action would reveal the body to me all at once. Still nothing, for the most part...nothing except a finger.

 

One. Finger.

 

Why I was needed for this one was starting to come into play...but that didn't make it less irksome.

 

"Nothing personal, gang, but I had a long hike to get here and you guys are behind on my cashola anyway. I need the money for a--"

 

Jaller's eyes turned to stare at me - equal parts weary and disturbed.

 

"--for a job--"

 

I blinked again.

 

"What's going on?"

 

-Tyler

[Vezok's Friend]

IC [Agni]:

 

Straight back to work then...

 

I looked from Dor to Jaller, waiting for his response. But having taking in the scene, my hand dropped to my satchel. In it I carried a Kanohi that Joske had once given me.

 

It was a special mask, not carved by any Matoran hand, as far as I know. A mask of psychometry that allowed me to see not just the past of an object, but of recently dead things as well.

 

It would come in handy.

[Krayzikk]

IC:

Halfway through pondering his response, the cavalry arrived. None of the three Toa were unwelcome faces for once. Normally Jaller disliked spending time around Dorian Shaddix, for a long list of reasons involving information most of the island didn't have, but in this case... He was needed, no matter how little the Ta-Matoran wanted to admit it.

 

Merror and Agni, particularly the latter, on the other hand were always a welcome site at a crime scene.

 

"What I know, Commander," He began with a nod of greeting at the trio of Toa. "Is that finding anything here is the last thing I wanted. Because Tuara Drigton tipped me off that we might want to look into one of our Guards behind the old smithy, and it was with a great deal of stress. Not in the reporting of a crime."

"Which means that the only person that knew about this before us, as far as we know, was her."

[Palm]

IC: Tuara - Ta-Koro Streets

 

The Drigtons turned the corner as the crowd began to thin out. They were maybe halfway to the city gates.

There was still time to turn back. Turn in Kitea and herself. Work out a deal. He was an enemy of the state afterall. Kitea, as if thinking simultaneously about her, placed his free hand on the one over his bicep. The pair looked to one another, and Kitea nodded. Tuara released her grip, and Kitea stayed right next to her, keeping pace. He had accepted her choice.

 

She did too.

[Ghosthands]

IC (Merror, Ta-Koro back street)

 

Merror had taken a grim look at the severed digit, then turned to listen to what Jaller had to say.

 

"Tuara?" he said, his face showing his surprise. He had travelled with her as fellow companions of Joske, and she had been among those that later tried to save Utu (although they had parted ways after Utu chose his own fate, and he had not seen her since). If Jaller was right, the implications were not good.

 

"Any sign of the rest of the body?"

[Vezok's Friend]

IC [Agni - Ta-Koro back street]:

 

Tuara? my thoughts echoed Merror's words.

 

"I know she had some problems to deal with, but nothing that would take her this far outside the law..." I was more talking to myself, than the others, while looking at the finger. Tuara certainly carried a great deal of baggage and none of our group had exactly been saints, but from what I knew she would never take it out on the innocent - no matter how deadly her stare could be. 

 

Snapping back to the present I looked at Merror. "Let me give my other Kanohi a try..."

 

While speaking, I retrieved the mask of psychometry from my satchel and switched it for my Kualsi. Kneeling next to the appendage and touched it lightly with my own finger and let the impressions wash over me. 

 

For a few heartbeats I crouched there. Nothing concrete manifested from the mask's power, just a wave of feelings and blurry images hit me. And just as fast as it started it was over and I was on my feet again, feeling disturbed.

 

I shook my head, sorting the impressions I'd gotten, then looked grimly at Jaller. "I can't give you any details, but from what I could glimpse this Matoran may have had dealings with the guard before, he seems familiar somehow. But there's also something darker. Pain, anxiety, a feeling of betraying someone and a dark sensation I can't place. I can not confirm anything from just a finger, but this doesn't seem like an innocent victim."

[Krayzikk]

IC:

"His innocence doesn't matter. I see guilty people, evil people, all the time. Everyone here does. This Matoran will get his investigation, but what worries me is what it means." The Ta-Matoran paused a moment and took a deep breath, visibly reining in his temper. "We haven't found the rest of him yet, no. The three of us only arrived a few minutes before you did."

Jaller glanced at a timepiece on his wrist, ordered a while ago from Onu-Koro. "Tuara came by my office a little over half an hour ago, said she was looking for work. She was acting odd, and I had reservations anyway. But I said I'd find her something. She asked if I felt safe, and when I pressed her on it she covered by saying Ko had everyone uncomfortable."

"When I gave my appraisal of Ta-Koro's chances, I told her pessimism didn't suit her. She said that I should have someone check on a Guard behind the old forge, and all but ran from the room."

[Silvan Haven]

Loren- Ta-koro- Old Smithy

 

IC:"Sounds like she was more involved in how this fellow got here than she was comfortable admiting to you. I'm not sure what that might mean but but my gut tells me it's nothing good."

 

"I don't suppose you have any clue where she was heading when she left your office, Sir?" He asked, only wishing it would be so easy. Tuara had run the Guard for a time. If she wanted to vanish for some reason it would not be easy finding her.

[Krayzikk]

IC:

"I don't. If she were anyone else I'd have detained her until I had someone look, but..." Jaller had wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but that clearly had been a mistake. If Tuara wanted to go to ground, an hour was long enough to disappear. "Hurry to the gate, Commander. Tell them not to let her leave, if she hasn't already."

"Chances are she has."

[shadow pridak money gang]

IC:

 

Tuara wouldn't do this.

 

I know her.

 

Besides, she was already gone - with her mystery beau.

 

I said nothing, just focused.

 

You know you're all I have Dorian. Sometimes I don't think I'd make it if something happened to you.

 

###### ###### me raw.

 

-Tyler

Edited January 18, 2017 by April Schwarz

[Palm]

IC: Tuara Drigton - Ta-Koro Streets

 

There were only two blocks left to traverse, halfway to the gates. Tuara picked up the pace a bit. There was no getting around at least showing her face to the Guard at the gate. In terms of appearing suspicious, that wasn't going to matter soon, so long as the pair weren't crossing a line of suspicion. There was going to be a point when there would be a call for her. They needed to leave before that time arrived. The trust the Guard had in her would be an asset in getting out quickly, bypassing a proper look-over or run-down.

 

She looked to Kitea as he too increased his walking speed. They rounded the corner, and down one of the longest streets in Ta-Koro, the gates came into view. Tuara reached up to her hood and pulled it off to increase recognizably. This was it. This was the test to see whether or not the word had been put out for her yet. She took a deep breath and suddenly felt herself focus. On the breath out, Tuara relaxed while keeping her pace. Already, she had constructed exactly what she would say.

Edited January 19, 2017 by Palm

[Vezok's Friend]

IC [Agni - Ta-Koro backstreet]:

 

I switched out my mask of psychometry for the usual Kualsi then, replacing the Kanohi safely in my satchel. If the gate was where we needed to watch, that could be arranged. Part of me didn't even want to know what Tuara was involved in. I knew I wouldn't like it. And I hated thinking about potentially bringing someone in that I considered a friend. Unfortunately with body parts strewn across the Koro's seedy underbelly and nothing but open questions, what else could we do?

 

"I can intercept her at the gate." I said. My eyes wandered over to Dorian. My thoughts were reflected in his expression. I feared finding some ugly answers.

[Silvan Haven]

Loren- Ta-koro- Old Smithy

 

IC: With a nod and a look to the skies the Toa was gone. The protective bubble of elemental energy preventing others from hearing their words vanishing with him.

 

Before gravity could fully reclaim its hold on him Loren turned his head toward the koro gates. The smoke and haze filling the air made his vision less than it might have been. Not enough to deny him this though. With another thought he vanished from the hazy sky above the smithy.

 

He reappeared about a yard off the ground in front of his destination. His knees flexed slightly as they absorbed the impact from the short drop. When making longer ranged jumps it was best to leave yourself some margin for error. Letting out a slight sigh the grey Toa straightened up and looked around. His mission was likely to be of limited usefulness. Chances were good that Tuara had already passed through the imposing stone arch.

 

He was about to go ask the guards if they had seen the former Deputy pass through already when his gaze passed over her. She had a companion beside her, both of them wearing traveling cloaks. Judging from their build Loren guessed that the one with their head covered was a male.

 

Turning to fully face the pair the new Commander called out. Not loudly enough to draw the attention of the entire courtyard, but certainly loud enough for his target to hear him.

 

"Tuara Drigton? Would you mind coming with me? Jaller has a couple questions."

 

He did his best to keep his tone and wording friendly. What they had found suggested dark things but he could at least give her the benefit of the doubt.

[Palm]

OOC:
Loren section provided by Silvan

 

IC: Tuara Drigton - Ta-Koro Streets

 

Tuara hardly faltered. She had been preparing to be stopped. And of course, it was Loren with his mask of quick-travel. Commander of the Rapid Reactionary Forces sent directly by Jaller. Tuara didn't even waste time looking at Kitea to gauge a response. She knew what was going on, and Kitea previously being close to a nervous wreck certainly did too, even if he didn't know who Loren was. Which he probably did, considering he'd been apparently working as an information broker here in the city recently.

 

The gates were right in front of her, Loren in between her and freedom. Every second she wasted was a second more that escaping become more and more unlikely. If Loren was involved, there was no way he was the only one. More would be on their way if they weren't already here in the streets.

 

There would be no running from a man who could teleport. That was what they were dealing with now.

 

Tuara's expression was completely unchanged as she continued towards Loren, "Commander, I don't believe we've formally met." She stopped and reached a hand out to shake his. "I spoke with Jaller this morning. Is everything OK?"

 

Loren took the proffered hand, giving it a firm shake before he replied.

 

There would be no running from a man who could teleport.

 

"It's something of a followup to that actually. We found something that raised a few questions and were hoping that you could come in and clear them up for us." His gaze turned to the cowled figure beside her. "Who is your companion, if you don't mind me asking?"

 

There would be no running from a man who could teleport.

 

Tuara didn't answer Loren's question. Instead, the grip on his hand tightened hard and in the same instant that she yanked downwards with Pakari assisted strength, she sent her other palm upwards into his chin. Hopefully she could incapacitate him if not force his mask from his face.

Edited January 19, 2017 by Palm

[Vezok's Friend]

IC [Agni - Ta Koro gates]:

 

"Tuara, stop!"

 

As soon as Loren had disappeared, I had taken off after him, reaching the main gate a few seconds after him. I felt bad for leaving Dorian and Merror behind without a word, but we were in kind of a hurry - and I wanted to know just what Tuara had gotten herself into.

 

Apparently so far she had gotten herself to the gate and now into sucker-punching Loren. Just what you want in a reunion meeting. Now Tuara beating the great spirit out of someone wasn't too troubling in itself - it kinda fit her. But usually the recipient wasn't a commander in the guard and was a lot more sleazy.

 

I stood at the ready, facing Tuara and her stranger of a companion, the arch of the main gate behind me.

 

"What in Karzhani is going on?"

[shadow pridak money gang]

IC:

 

Tuara's Plus One was in the crosshairs of a sniper rifle.

 

Who needs to catch up to them?

 

-Tyler

Edited January 19, 2017 by April Schwarz

[Silvan Haven]

Loren- Ta-koro- Koro Gates

 

IC: Benefit of the doubt or not, Loren had still been dealing with a potentially highly dangerous suspect. There was no way he was to let his guard down completely.

 

Even so it was mostly a mistake on the former Deputy's part that saved him from having a Pakari enhanced palm send him flying.

 

Had she replied to his question his gaze naturally would have returned to her and then the incoming palm when she tugged him down. Instead, he was only just starting to look away from the unknown figure beside them when she acted.

 

With an almost instinctual thought he vanished from Tuara's hand with inches to spare. Reappearing several yards away and behind the pair he completed the downward movement her pull had sent him on. Pushing off of the ground with the hand that now rested there he rose to his feet.

 

The blades at his sides whispered from their sheathes as he turned to face now hostile pair.

 

So much for the benefit of the doubt.

[Palm]

IC: Tuara Drigton - Ta-Koro Gates

 

Tuara wasted no time in responding to Agni's shout. Instead, she gripped Kitea's wrist, and wrenched it around his back and lifted. Hard. There was a sickening pop as his shoulder broke. He howled. If Agni's shout hadn't gotten the attention of people at the gates, that did. Tuara pulled Kitea backwards as she stepped towards the gates, using her other hand to pull out one of his knives. She pulled him very close so their bodies were in full contact and pressed the knife up against his neck.

Kitea, likely not playing along in the slightest shouted, "She's ###### crazy!"

 

Tuara grit her teeth, looking into Agni's eyes. "Not a single step or a hop with your masks. Not a single weapon aims towards me. If anybody so much as flinches, so will I." The pair was now underneath the archway. Kitea was still growling in pain. Tuara nodded to the guardsmen at her sides as she continued advancing. "Stay where you are!"

Edited January 20, 2017 by Palm

[shadow pridak money gang]

IC:

 

Oh, sweetheart.

 

You're as bad a poker player as you are a kidnapper.

 

"She's ##### crazy!"

 

That's what makes the sex good, hombre.

 

The sound of a sniper rifle round cracking through the air sent a few pedestrians running and Guards stiffening up. A small handful of pebbles, no larger than breathmints, rained down on Tuara's head from where the shot had pierced the hard black stone of the gate.

 

-Tyler

Edited January 20, 2017 by April Schwarz

[Palm]

IC: Tuara Drigton - Ta-Koro Gates

 

Tuara looked up the street as people ducked away from where the gunshot sounded. Some were shouting amidst the confusion.

Dorian.

 

Tuara grit her teeth harder. Things just got a lot more complicated. There were far more variables in play than there was meant to be. Dorian was always the wild-card, but with their synergy and thorough understanding of one another, Tuara understood this well. That was a warning shot, but it wasn't for fun. Tuara did her best to make Kitea and her the same shape relative to Dorian up the slope without sacrificing her line-of-sight on Agni and Loren.

She hastened her steps but didn't take her eyes off Dorian. Through the opening in the crowds her eyes pierced the air between the two. He wasn't above incapacitating her like she was incapacitating Kitea. The intensity in her eyes as they matched gazes said to him that she understood this. She knew what she was doing.

Tuara hissed into Kitea's ear. "Listen to me."

 

Kitea responded in between his yelps of pain as if it was he she was talking to. " off!"

 

It wasn't.