BZPRPG - Ta-Wahi

[Razgriz]

IC: He heard a hitch in someone's breathing rhythm, followed by a very pronounced g u l p and shuffle.

"You alright back there, big guy?"

[shadow pridak money gang]

IC:

 

"Thought I heard..."

 

how to explain

 

"...a poltergeist."

 

-Tyler

[Razgriz]

IC: "A poltergeist?"

That was... weird. Those were restless ghosts, right?

"What coulda died here, though?"

The narrator held back many applicable wisecracks.

Edited March 5, 2015 by Uncle Chael P. Sonnen

[Void Emissary]

IC: Taleen

 

"Well, when the attack started I tried to help defend the village, I had choose a target, approached him from behind, was going to end his rampage against the city's gates. Unfortunately I didn't take into account that someone had spotted me from above, I got caught off guard. The flying Toa attacked me from above, and after a fierce battle he injured me as I said before. To escape I created a sonic boom at the flying Toa and attempted to flee. I didn't make it very far. Thankfully a nice Toa named Jalkron found me and took me to the hospital on the outskirts. When the hospital was evacuated I was taken here."

 

Taleen crossed her arms. "Now you know the rest of the story."

 

IC:

 

...

 

Wow.

 

I grunted once, a few moments after her final word, my expression pretty much unreadable, chin up, arms just as crossed as hers were. I held that position for a few moments, mulling over the mystery Toa's story best as I could. I didn't know much about the battle, if I were honest, but I didn't see anything glaring that shouted, "I'm a liar! I'm a liar!" so I was ready to believe her.

 

At that point, my face broke out into a smile.

 

Clasping one of her bicep's with my hand, I gave her a nod.

 

"Sounds like you did good work. Sneak attacks are rough, believe you me. Remarkable enough you made it out of there in one piece."

 

-Void

[Snelly]

IC: Taleen

 

"Yes, if Jalkron hadn't found me I would have either bled out or froze to death." Taleen said, rather nonchalantly. "I'll be the first to admit I'm not very good at open warfare. I prefer...espionage." It sounded better than saying she was a spy...or an assassin. That usually had mixed reactions. 

Edited March 6, 2015 by Grochi Cat

[25K Now!]

IC: Ril

 

"So, you spy on things."

[Snelly]

IC: Taleen

 

"Something like that." Taleen smiled. 

[Void Emissary]

IC:

 

Espionage skills, first-hand experience in the invasion of Ko-Koro.... I looked over at Reordin.

 

"I think we need this one, too."

 

-Void

[sunflower]

IC: Onuzek

 

The gigantic toa clapped his hands together, which honestly could have been mistaken for a pair of continents colliding, in obvious excitement.

 

"Onuzek thinks more friends are good," he confided not-so-quietly with those around.

[Snelly]

IC: Taleen

 

"I think you're absolutely right Onuzek." 

[Not Quite Dead]

IC Solvi

She too shivered imperceptibly at the vibes emanating from the big guy.

[They]

OOC. Skipping Drae and Mariko ahead in time to catch up with the rest of the plot and make up for lost time. 

 

IC (Mariko):

 

With no more clues to be found, the two Toa had abandoned the search for the killer of the Matoran and given an anonymous tip to the authorities, so that somebody would come by and lay the dead to rest properly. With that done, that investigation had officially ended and after a few hours of wandering the ash- and dust-covered streets aimlessly, quietly discussing the options for their next move, the two Toa decided to refocus their efforts on tracking down Kohra directly. Somebody like her had to leave a trail. If not one of direct clues, at least patterns would emerge if they kept their eyes open.

 

But even after splitting up to cover more ground, weeks of excursions, questions and cross-referencing what they knew already revealed little. The trail had gone completely cold. How cold?

 

Ice cold. 

 

A fact they only learned after well over a month had passed. News from the west reached Ta-Koro of the fall of Ko-Koro and that the Vortixx who had given them the slip for so long had been one of the attackers that had brought it about. Now they needed to decide what to do with the information. To that end, the two Toa were sitting in the Magma Lounge at a table with a map of the island spread out on top of it, drinks in front of them and the basic framework for future plans forming in their minds.

 

"The village of ice has become a refuge for dark creatures." Mariko said, stating the obvious as he was thinking out loud. "Echelon chose a place he can defend effectively. Any direct assault would be a massacre, any covert operation a death sentence if uncovered."

 

"What do you think, Drae?"

 

IC: Draeverian Joskiir, Ta-Koro (Magma Lounge)

 

"That's all good and fine when you can see, but I'm blind and these paper jokes wear thin on me."  DJ commented while poking the map with a finger.  He leaned back in the comfortable wooden dining chair and began to pet the hilt of his sword, Rivet, laid across his lap.  The world was heat, and sound, and very dark.  The crackle of Mariko's posture realigning brought a thin smile to the de-toa's lips.  

 

"I'm ready to smash some skulls, maybe get rough on Kohra with a ten foot pole.  I'm up for to trussing her up and dragging her home: back to a cell in this dung hole."  The truth, if DJ felt like admitting, was more along the lines of slicing Kohra into tiny pieces and bring her back in a wooden box.  

[silo]

IC: (Mura/Ta-Koro)

"I'll just...see you guys in the morning, then." the Su-Matoran said, eyeing the crystal-clad stranger.

[Krayzikk]

IC:

 

Ta-Koro is a terrible place.

 

The Village of Fire was unbearably hot, the sun beating down upon earth that already radiated heat. This dual attack was sweltering, fatiguing, and downright unpleasant. The air was too dry, and it cracked the throat when one breathed too much of it. Only Po-Koro rivaled this complete and utter wasteland on earth. Ko-Koro was cold, but that could be dealt with. The signs of plant life remained even there, if you knew where to look. Ga-Koro, Le-Koro and, in its own way, Onu-Koro were absolute paradise in comparison. Ta-Koro was devoid of any real vegetation, and the Charred Forest was as dead as its name implied. One had to travel all the way to the borders to start finding signs of proper plant life.

 

Which, in a way, was ironic; Ta-Wahi's volcanic soil was more fertile than that of most of the island, but the area close to the village was simply too hot. It took a people with an exceptional fondness for suffering to live in a place such as this.

 

It was ironic, then, that the Toa's aim was to travel to the other extreme. Ta-Koro was one of the only expedient routes to Ko-Wahi that was still easily accessible, and would bring her close to Ihu-Koro. Onu-Koro's tunnels were an option, but she would have had to travel on foot much longer than she wanted to. Finding a job that would take her to Ta-Koro hadn't been too difficult. Ko-Koro's fall was making everyone more paranoid, and finding a Ga-Koran merchant willing to pay for an escort to the Village of Fire had been a piece of cake. Once they were through the gate, and the bag of widgets was in her hand, she had instantly made a move for the market district.

 

She didn't usually travel with many supplies. She could generate her own food, and hunt for whatever she needed in addition, so all she usually carried was a canteen and a few tools for her own survival. Ko-Koro was another story. If the Toa didn't want to die she would need to procure a sleeping bag, a tent, as well as a tinderbox. Her usual supplies would cover the rest. Everything she needed for an extended stay in Ko-Wahi. The real question was why she was going to Ihu-Koro in the first place. Every do-gooder with delusions of grandeur was headed there, more than enough cannon fodder for the more competent warriors to throw at the village. It was, she supposed, rather simple when she thought about it.

 

Makuta's legacy wouldn't stop there. It had struck Ta-Koro, the scars still visible. It had taken Ko-Koro away, and it loomed overhead, a threat to the entire island. She didn't have a stake in the religious dogma that fueled the conflict, the wars between the Lord of Light, Mata Nui, and his dark brother. The Master of Shadows was real, but as far as she was concerned Mata Nui either didn't exist or didn't care. Either way she owed him and his followers nothing. But the Legacy was a tangible threat, and their idea of a better world was pretty far from what she wanted. It wasn't she'd fought for, however briefly.

 

And it wasn't good for business.

 

So, much to her displeasure, Skrihen found herself walking through the streets towards the cable car, a lighter bag of widgets in her pocket, some extra supplies slung over her shoulder, and a dull scowl on her face.

Edited March 7, 2015 by Riku Tryon

[Razgriz]

IC: Ache.

A dull, total body ache. One that got a little worse around the ribs every time he tried to breathe in.

I think I've found the evil version of DOMS.

And there sat one Gevenne, confined to his bed and ordered firmly to rest at the Ta-Koro hospital. Despite his pleas for at least some motion and worries about the atrophy of his gains, the nurses, doctors, surgeons, and even Riaril were hearing none of it. Ria!

In fact, she'd even flatly told him to "worry about your health gains before your aesthetic ones."

And you know what? He took some offense to that. Sure, his muscles looked excellent, and were a love letter to the ideal of masculinity, but that didn't mean they were JUST for show. He put in the work for them, and had always trained the core strength lifts, before he even worried about anything else for his aesthetics. After all, he had to be able to at least be as strong as he looked in order to protect people, right?

"...Protection." he mumbled, rubbing the sheets between the tips of his fingers as he thought.

For once avoiding making any ill-placed jokes (condoms ayyyyy) he mulled that little word over.

He'd certainly failed at it, that much was as plain as the fact that his ribcage was mostly shattered by said failure. Never mind the fact that he'd quickly, all too quickly had the odds stacked against him, to put things simply: He had failed. Nothing like anyone else had failed him, he had failed. It was a fight he had picked, and he found himself sorely in over his head. He had only bought a scant few minutes before it ended in, what he had at the time assumed to be, his death.

Why had he survived, anyway? His foe didn't look like the type to leave a threat like him alive without good reason.

Then again, outside of those opening second i really wasn't much of a threat at all, was I?

That stung. That was a shot to the ride right there, and those hurt the muscular Ta-Toa more than any ever could.

He'd need to get stronger... no, he'd need to get better.

If he wasn't at the right place at the right time like he was for Ko, it really wouldn't have made a difference in the end. He needed to change that. If he really wanted to live up to Tahu Mata like he always said he did, he needed to get much, much better at everything there was that he could have done.

The now familiar lines of a frustrated scowl creased his face. That was hard to make happen when you were stuck in a hospital bed.

"Fuaaaaaark."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IC (Cancer): With Brontes and his Skakdi comrade leading the way, we made our way through the streets to the Ta-Koro Guard Hospital. And not a moment too soon. Seriously, Kellin's pace can sometimes be leisurely, but it wasn't like I was the one half-dead here. Those would be the pair I was dragging.

I was worried in particular about the Skakdi, our comrade from the fight. He had gotten really messed up since we'd last seen him, gawking at our--no, Kellin's, this was his breed of madness and his alone--plan for that little hospital scuffle. I good feel him slowly inching closer to death. He would need lots of care before he was better.

In any case, it was good that the two had shown up. The City of fire, even when hit by catastrophe, was still bustling and full of aroma. Trying to pick out whatever smelled the most sterile would have taken forever for a Kavinka, let alone a noble Ussal such as myself.

Edited March 7, 2015 by Uncle Chael P. Sonnen

[Void Emissary]

IC:

 

Ta-Koro is a terrible place.

 

So, much to her displeasure, Skrihen found herself walking through the streets towards the cable car, a lighter bag of widgets in her pocket, some extra supplies slung over her shoulder, and a dull scowl on her face.

 

IC:

 

Now, anyone who's ever spent any time with me knows that I'm the worst person for remembering people (see: that time I forgot who Ril was for, like, a whole hour) that Mata Nui's ever seen.

 

But.

 

I could not forget the face that had been manning the bar (AKA my one true beloved) in Pala-Koro for the last God-knows-how-long. I mean, I would've seen her every day, many times a day, for months after Makuta's fall and when I was looking for decent pain medication for my body-full of fresh wounds.

 

Which, for the uneducated in my history, meant booze. And lots of booze.

 

So, really, it would have been more surprising for me not to have recognized this particular Toa of Plantlife when she came a-walking through town.

 

(Now, just wait for it....)

 

A long, sharp whistle shook Skrihen from her reverie.

 

-Void

[Nato G]

OOC: Natharius timeskip with permission from Krayz.  

 

IC: Natharius - Ta-Koro Guard HQ.

 

After a long hour of negotiating and explanations, Natharius finally left the office and stepped out into the hall where Septima was waiting for him. Having just paid a fine of all the money he'd had on him, his pockets were now a karz of a lot lighter. 

 

"Alright, we're done," he told her, "let's get out of here." 

[Krayzikk]

IC:

"I know Ko-Koro fell, inside of a day. I know the force was commanded by Echelon, a dick that people insist on calling the Necromancer. I know the general outline of how the attack began, and what prominent players were involved." The Ta-Matoran, for the first time that hour, stopped tapping his fingers against his desk and crossed his arms across his chest. "And I know no one thought you were alive."

"All second hand reports. You have no idea how thankful I'd be to have some solid first hand accounts."

 

IC:

 

A sharp whistle penetrated the dull misery of the local Karzahni. Such a sound always prompts everyone in a crowd to turn and look, but only the Toa of Plantlife could honestly say that the signal was meant for them. Blue green eyes picked the other Toa out of the crowd easily, though she wasn't really paying much attention to who was with her. She could see a giant towering above everyone, easiest landmark, but she couldn't really make out the others very well. Looked like a Ko-Toa and... Was that Ril?

Son of a .

"Hey, Plagia, look what the Muaka dragged in. Can't really mix you a drink here, girl."

 

IC:

 

"You ."

 

Instantly, the temperature of the room spiked a few degrees. No doubt about the source, given the fact that there was only one Ta-Toa in the room, but the expression on her face didn't match the rest of her body. Her face was wide, cheery grin, but not quite right. What should have been cheery was almost feral, less a grin and more the look of a Muaka about to pounce. Saeva's body language reinforced the image, a mess of taut muscles and balled fists. She'd been prepared for a fight before, but now she looked raring for one, as if someone had insulted her own mother.

 

The brawler swaggered forward a few steps, the degree of her smile just like the temperature. 

 

"How ya been? Find a few more kids to take candy from?"

 

Stepping out from her perch near the counter, there was no doubt that she was addressing the Po-Toa Guard. The goblet she'd been drinking from lay on its side, drink leaking from it onto the counter, but she wasn't looking. She wasn't even looking at the Toa that apparently owned the house.

Only the Guard.

[Perp]

IC: Torana

Still a little tense, but twice as confused, she looked over to Erzu, her expression hoping for an answer from him.

[shadow pridak money gang]

IC:

 

Reordin started to casually make for the alley.

 

IC:

 

Even Redhot looked slightly put off by whatever was happening before him.

 

-Tyler

Edited March 9, 2015 by tylerlicious definicious

[25K Now!]

IC: Ril

 

"This is turning into a real reunion here."

[Razgriz]

IC: Oh.

Oh this is happening?

Yeah, no. If I gotta behave in your town, you ###### well better be behavin' yourself.

"The karz are you doin', Sareta?" he demanded lowly through his teeth, steeping forward. "Now ain't the time to..."

The waves of heat coming from her began baking his face, and he suddenly became much, much quicker on the uptake. This was nearly as mad as she'd gotten at that inn in Po-Koro, for Nui's sake! Who in the blue ###### could possibly...

Toa of Stone. Manages to look down upon you even if you tower over her like Redhot. Someone with obvious personal history with her. That's...

Oh.

Well, this just went from "bad" to "a karz of a lot worse" in record time. 

Oh if you could only see me now, Wukong.

Catching Torana's look, he urgently shook his head.

"Not good. Not good at all." He needed to think of a way to stop her from exploding, and he needed to do it yesterday.

After a moment's contemplation, he stepped into the line of fire, with a pair of long strides carrying him not directly between his companion and her sworn enemy, but within the former's field of view. 

What was he doing?

He glanced down to the sword, entombed within white knuckles, as if searching for an answer.

He found none. Great.

Edited March 9, 2015 by Uncle Chael P. Sonnen

[Snelly]

IC: Taleen

 

"We're gaining quite a party aren't we?"

[Timageness]

OOC: Natharius timeskip with permission from Krayz.  

 

IC: Natharius - Ta-Koro Guard HQ.

 

After a long hour of negotiating and explanations, Natharius finally left the office and stepped out into the hall where Septima was waiting for him. Having just paid a fine of all the money he'd had on him, his pockets were now a karz of a lot lighter. 

 

"Alright, we're done," he told her, "let's get out of here." 

IC: Septima - Ta-Koro (Guard HQ)

Septima jumped up from her seat as if struck by a bolt of lightning as Natharius stepped back out into the hallway.

"Where did you have in mind?"

[Nato G]

IC: Natharius - Guard HQ.

 

"Not here would be great," he said, shrugging, "the sooner I can say goodbye to this city, the better." 

[Timageness]

IC: Septima - Ta-Koro (Guard HQ)

"Okay...," she said, hoping for a more exact destination. "I'll follow your lead, then."

[Nato G]

IC: Natharius - Streets.

 

He headed out of the building, stepping out into the street and breathing in the fresh air. It was hot and heavy, and made his lungs burn, but it was still air. "Anywhere in particular you wanted to go?" he asked as he started towards the city gate. 

[Timageness]

IC: Septima - Ta-Koro

"Anywhere but here," Septima said, pulling her scarf back down around her neck, fairly confident that she was in the clear. "And obviously Ko-Wahi..."

[Nato G]

IC: Natharius.

 

"Oh yeah.... I guess we could try for Ga or Le?" he suggested. 

[Timageness]

IC: Septima - Ta-Koro

"Either's fine with me."

[Nato G]

IC: Natharius.

 

"You ever been to Ga-Wahi?" he asked, "I went through there a while back. The beaches were great." 

Edited March 9, 2015 by Roman Torchwick

[Timageness]

IC: Septima - Ta-Koro

"That sounds nice," the Fe-Toa said. "I could use a vacation."

Especially after dealing with Verulas, she added mentally.

[Nato G]

IC: Natharius.

 

"Let's get out of here, then," they'd almost reached the gates. He would be glad to be out of this city at long last.

 

OOC: Feel free to be the one to timeskip us to Ga topic. 

[Void Emissary]

IC:

 

"Hey, Plagia, look what the Muaka dragged in. Can't really mix you a drink here, girl."

 

IC:

 

The corner of my mouth twitched at the mention of drinks, but otherwise I was smiling.

 

"Not today, Skrihen. Not today," I said, walking towards her. "What're you doing in Ta? Didn't think it was your kind of place."

 

-Void

[Timageness]

IC: Septima - Ta-Koro

Septima took one last look towards the city as she and Natharius eventually departed. While it clearly hadn't been a pleasant experience for the Skakdi, she couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the place.

It had been her home once, after all.

OOC: Septima and Natharius to Ga-Wahi.

[Krayzikk]

IC:

"It isn't. It's a ###### Karzahni, actually, and anyone who chooses to live here's misguided at best. No offense, Ril." Concluding that she'd be sticking around for at least a few minutes, she swung her pack down from her shoulder and set it on the ground next to her feet. "Just passing through, thank God."

"Granted, Ko-Wahi isn't much better." Skrihen jerked a thumb at the Ko-Toa attempting to disappear down an alley. "Dunno if he's anything important to you, but you're losing the Ko-Toa over there."

Edited March 10, 2015 by Riku Tryon

[Snelly]

IC: Taleen

 

"I have to admit I question the wisdom of putting a village right next to a volcano." Taleen shrugged. "Nevertheless from a military standpoint it's in a very strategic location, very defensible." She said with a nod.

 

"Oh, how rude of me, I never really introduced myself, I'm Taleen." She figured it was only fair, since she'd overheard most of their names already. To help build that mutual trust she heard groups were supposed to have. She usually worked alone, so it would be a new experience for her overall. 

Edited March 10, 2015 by Lara Croft

[Not Quite Dead]

IC Solvi

While this Ta-Toa clearly had some special place of hatred in her heart for Solvi. She did not share the sentiment. From this initial exchange she garnered no recognition.

 

With one of those irritating "what are you talking about?" faces that only police could pull off, she replied. "Ma'am, I do not believe we have met." Before producing a set of handcuffs for the bo-toa. "Sir, stand down before I am forced to used detain you."

[25K Now!]

IC: Ril

 

"Dunno if he's anything important to you, but you're losing the Ko-Toa over there."

 

Ril started coughing intensely.

[Nato G]

IC: Wisp - Home.

 

While Mirra and the others waited for the Cy-Toa to finish, Wisp went straight to their house and headed inside, moving the furniture around and bringing the spare mattresses down from upstairs.