BZPRPG - Ko-Wahi

[EmperorWhenua]

Ic: It made no sense to talk to the guards – they would only reply with ellipses – so Ambages said nothing as he led the way through the snows. The presence of company presented a new problem for him to deal with. They were not his plans or indebted to him in any way and had to be quite loyal to the captain if they were sent to "escort" the Hand. Korzaa was not stupid; she likely knew there was a game going on and took no chances. So, as he always did, Ambages weighed the situation and the solutions.

 

He could kill the guards easily, either by physically combating them and standing a chance to be injured in turn or by a brief use of his shadow powers, but doing so would raise questions when he returned to Ko-Koro or met with a Toa Maru, a possibility he began to consider more and more likely. Bodies could be linked, too, and Ambages already decided against such risks. Catching them in the environment, like with an avalanche or glacial air bubble, was nigh-impossible considering the Ko-Matoran's affinity with the landscape. Another possibility was attempting negotiation with them, but he had little in the way of leverage to control them. He had to think of something else that couldn't be traced, couldn't be suspected and wouldn't leave him with a little spy at his back.

 

And he had to get the men on his side before he reached his first destination.

 

* * * * *

 

The soft shuddering of snow gently compacting under his snowshoes was the only herald Ambages had in the Drifts. Sheer mountain peaks jutted out in all directions and pierced the pallid horizon. Ambages truly loved Ko-Wahi, the only realm as frozen and unblinking as he, and felt most attuned in the desolate parts of the wahi. It was haunting and serene, aspects of beauty he admired. A soft wind down around the alpine passes like a whisper and left a trail of flurries behind it, the body of a spirit caught in the prison of rock and ice that would forever be its purgatory. Ambages merely strode on. He was like the wahi; he gave the proverbial spirit no sympathy.

 

Pausing for a moment to drink some water and adjust his rucksack Ambages took the time to glance at his map. The trio had already covered a lot of ground but they had left later in the day than he liked and would not reach the massif before nightfall. While unfortunate in one regard it was still useful; it gave him a slightly larger window of opportunity to figure out what to do with the guards. He considered a couple places to camp and settled for a little grotto nestled between two alps with a stellar view of Mount Ihu – the sunrise would look utterly fantastic. After putting the map away he looked around to improve his bearings and made his way to the grotto.

 

The route was uneventful and still nary a word was expressed between the three men, even after Ambages found the grotto, laid out a bundle roll of kindling, his sleeping roll and the night's rations for heating over the fire. Stoic as all the guards used no sleeping pad and merely reclined on the ice as though it were a soft cushion; Ambages was a tough man but even he had his limits. These men, though, were no ordinary men.

 

Still no solution had presented itself to him, though. He was still stuck with the "escorts." Then, as hauntingly sudden like the squall that whizzed by him earlier in the day, a thought came to him: Why not ask them? He looked at them more carefully than before and judged them. One was the more subdued guard, more detail-oriented and proper – perhaps new? no, probably simply by-the-book as though being a guard wasn't his initial job – and reclined less naturally. The other bore more scars and relaxed as though there weren't any cares. His eyes were constantly searching for threats, though, betraying the natural poses he exhibited with an inner lining of trained and constant caution. He locked eyes with the latter guard and their exchanged gazes could have frozen the Mangaia.

 

Ambages quietly ate his dinner, which consisted of a mug of tea accompanying a kebab stick rolled in a flabread, simple protein to last him the cold night, and then said the first words since leaving Ko-Koro. "I'd like to know your names." A smooth, casual start.

 

"I'm Zurec," the first guard said. Ambages figured he'd be the first to speak. He tilted his head to the other guard, "This is Ardor."

 

"Mm," Ardor grunted. His eyes flitted from looking outside to Ambages and back constantly.

 

Zurec cleared his throat. "Where are we going, Lord Hand?"

 

"Just call me Ambages, please," he said. "I don't care for titles outside of court or anything." Zurec agreed and Ardor, once again, merely grunted in agreement. "We're making several stops: The Massif, Le-Koro, Ga-Koro, Po-Koro and then wait until the election for akiri is announced for me to officiate it."

 

These facts were met with silence as the two guards considered that plan of action and the details. They were no peons; Korzaa chose the sharpest ones for this mission. It was best practice to lure the targets with absolute truth in order to disarm them in preparation for the hammerfall of the lie afterward. Conversation was slim, as was to be expected, but as the Hand and the escorts finished their dinners and looked at the quickly vanishing light of day they still spoke, and in doing so Ambages could feel a certain level of trust developing.

 

Finally, he asked. "You know, I... have a problem. Have you ever been plagued by something you have to solve by yourself but can't, for the life of you, figure out what to do about it?"

 

"Yes!" Zurec said and sealed his own destiny.

[Hanako Herupa]

IC (Zadron)

 

The Vortixx looked up from the foot of the door to the Toa of Stone, orange eyes set in sharp features just visible in the shadows of his hood. The assassin's gaze was grim.

 

So he's called 'Braen'. At least I have a name now, even if it's not one I know.

 

He gave the Toa no more than a nod as he passed her, crossing the mansion's threshold. Warmth washed over him instantly, a not unwelcome sensation. Having hung his white cloak on a nearby coat-stand, he followed Lana through the house. The interior cemented the suggestions of the exterior; this 'Braen' was a wealthy man. It wasn't surprising, really; in Zadron's experience, wealthy men made for regular customers.

 

 

IC: (Braen)

 

After gathering the food and drinks Braen set them down at the table, sat down in one of the chairs.

 

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Zadron. Part of me was worried you'd turn the invitation down. However I'm glad to see that side of me was wrong. Have a seat, take a bite of my food, have a drink on me. My home is your home, during this awful blizzard," Braen said, smiling. Braen was in no hurry, but then again, Zadron looked like the kind of guy who was immediately suspicious of anyone who employed him, understandable, one could not be too careful in situations that usually called for assassins. Braen wouldn't be surprised if Zadron wanted to get to the point, most people did. No flair for theatrics.

[Franco]

IC: Goal achieved. "Onu-Koro market. Ta-Koro Guard headquarters."

[Ghosthands]

IC (Korero)

 

"Got it."

 

The Toa of Air turned away from his comrades and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath through his nose - and vanished into whiteness.

 

OOC: Korero to Ta-Wahi

 

IC (Zadron)

 

Zadron sat down opposite Braen, almost subconsciously positioning himself so that both the employer and his lady friend were well in his field of vision. Outwardly, of course, he looked perfectly composed, if somewhat guarded. He made no move for the refreshments.

 

"Appreciated," he said, flatly. "I was told you wanted a meeting. I assume this is business?"

[Wotz]

IC: Desuka

 

Desuka found himself in mid-run, metal whips lashing at his feet on one side and a tidal wave of plasma speeding towards him from the other. Instinctively, he leapt forth and sprang off the boulder in front of him, using it to propel him into a back flip up into the air and over the blast of heat in an athlete's high jump. He came down a few feet behind where he had come in, and used this precious millisecond to attempt to assess the situation and find out exactly what in sanity's name was going on.

 

Two opponents, both armed, keeping their distance. They moved with ease, experience. Highly adept. But so was he.

 

Reaching out with his powers over sound-

 

Nothing. He tried again. Still nothing. Just to confirm his suspicions, he went out on a limb and attempted to activate his mask. It wasn't responding either. And then, he remembered.

 

...

 

The monster whirled around, gripping its head in pain, wailing. As it cried out, its tone shifted from a roar to something not far from a voice - an intelligent, tortured voice. Then, as suddenly as the screaming had started, it stopped. The beast looked up, the fury back in its eyes, the savagery of its movements returned.

 

Baring its teeth and claws, it growled at the two Toa who dared to oppose it, and waited for them to make their move.

[sunflower]

OOC: Jammyjamjam jammy.

IC:

Though Tehlin wasn't there to greet Savina as the Toa of Plantlife rushed into the house. Rather, it was a familiar face, one that she hadn't seen in a very, very long time.

“Savina?” Zauk said, as if disbelieving, “What are you doing here?”

A groan escaped the inert body of Tehlin, still sprawled out on the floor, the the Toa of Lighting standing over him payed it no mind.

Savina looked at Zauk, then back at the groaning body of Tehlin, then back to Zauk.

"I live here! What are you doing here!? And why is Tehlin on the floor!?" Savina tensed up, she was ready to fight Zauk if she needed too.

"He's fine, don't worry, he'll come to again in a few minutes," The Toa of Lightning replied, his head tilted slightly as he gazed down at his brother. "He attacked me."

Zauk stared for a few seconds more, though it was hard to tell what he was staring at exactly. He glanced back up at Savina, this time with a slightly confused expression on his face.

"Your house? You and Tehlin...?"

Zauk left the last part open ended.

"He's my boyfriend!"

The Toa of Lightning's expression changed even more into something unreadable, and it stayed like that until he cracked a smile. "I see, well, he'll be up in no time..."

"While we're waiting for that, would you mind helping me out a bit? He's made a right mess of the place, and I can't find a thing."

Savina nodded. "Okay! What are you looking for?"

The Toa of Lightning seemed ot defocus for a moment, a moment when he looked utterly confused as to why he was stinding there at that very moment. And then he snapped back into reality.

"Rope, going to need rope," he said, reaching down to haul the unconscious Tehlin up onto a nearby chair. "A map, too."

* * *

You ever been beat up. And then drugged. In your own house?

Yeah, well, before today, neither had I. And I had absolutely no intention at all to rectify that, not one bit. Of course, fate likes to play its games with me, so obviously that was how I was going to spend my time. Paralyzed on my chair. Staring up at the ceiling. Hoo-friggin-ray.

The world snapped back into sharp focus as I woke from semi-unconsciousness, the white ceiling deciding to finally say in the proper position. I bolted up right, as if prepared to ward off an attack, before relaxing slightly.

"The Karz Zauk!" Was the first thing that came out of my mouth, the phrase most definitely essential. "What were you thinking, it's me!"

The Toa of Lightning in question turned, a rather empty look in his eyes. Not like I was ever able to read him all that well.

"You attacked first..." He replied almost distantly.

"The Karz I did, you Brakas," I shot back, "You were sneaking up on me."

He didn't reply, and simply turned back around.

"Well, jungle boy?"

I directed a decidedly rude gesture at his back as he made his way into another room, before looking over, and pulling the poison dart out of my shoulder. My own poison dart. I shook my head, and sighed. Well this was fun.

I glanced at Savina with an apologetic look, before making my way to follow Zauk. "I'm going to talk to him..."

[Shadowhawk]

IC: [ Rhea ] - Ko-Wahi / Drifts

Cold heat in the blackness. Whirling snow.

She heard the cry, and she understood, but there was little mercy in the chill fire of her quick green eyes and when she moved, she moved with the prowling savagery of an angered panther, of a bloodied hawk. No forgiveness. No caring aura of feminine empathy. She was ready to kill.

One step backwards, feet steady in the ice. Stand. Muscles relaxed, ready. Blades poised.

Her voice was flat and hard, aggressive, but the words were clear, and they held the last chance the tortured soul before her would ever get. Ever.

"Beast-being. Do you hear me? Do you understand? Answer."

[Wotz]

Silence for a second. Two seconds. Then Desuka made his break for freedom.

 

The monster doubled over, clutching its head, writhing in pain, desperately trying to fight off the invasive mind of the Toa. It planted its claws in the snow and attempted to stand, but its muscles ached with exhaustion, its lungs burned. Where had its energy gone?

 

It opened its mouth to scream, but the cry twisted and morphed in the air like a broken record until it formed a chillingly familiar voice. "You've made me very cross," Kuhrin announced, his words ricocheting around the clearing. "Desuka here is a perfect example of what happens to people who make me cross." A pause as the creature rolled onto its back, its body shaking and lurching in the snow. "Very soon, he will change back into his usual self and continue wasting away in isolation. That is, if he recovers from his mental and physical wounds." For a moment, his voice switched back to the screaming of the beast, which was cut short by the return of his demanding tone.

 

"Stop following me, or I will dismantle every last foundation of your soul, just as I have done to my brother. Do I make myself clear?"

[Geardirector]

IC: Ferron (Drifts)

 

Ferron's metal whips fell limply into the snow as he felt himself become overtaken by horror and disgust, hearing the creature's blood-curdling wails of pain, mixed with the vile poison of Kuhrin's voice, was almost torture.

 

Within him, his will fought back against the infection, steeling his mind and forcing the metallic, powerful glow to pour out of his eyes and heartlight, Kuhrin would have to do better than basic fear mongering.

 

He looked at the whimpering monstrosity, taking in what Kuhrin said. There was a person inside it, somewhere. Immediately, Ferron felt pity for it, and more disgust towards Kuhrin in turn.

 

"I get the message," he said harshly, "I'm not afraid of you"

[sunflower]

IC: Tehlin

 

I walked back out into the room, my fist clenched. No, I didn't like what was going to happen, not one bit. Though I was backed intoa corner, and I wasn't about to let an opportunity like this pass by.

 

"We're going to Ta-Koro," I said to Savina, grabbing a bag I'd previously filled for our planned hike up the side of the mountain. "Come on."

 

We left not long after. Getting out of Ko-Koro was not easy in the slightest, but both Zauk and I had been here long enough to make it through. And so, we started our trip towards the Village of Fire.

 

OOC: Tehlin, Zauk, and Savina to Ta-wahi. Time skipping, ACTIVATE.

[Wotz]

"Good. Now run along, like a good boy. Leave this place."

[Geardirector]

IC: Ferron (Drifts)

 

"Don't make presumptions about me, Kuhrin" Ferron said, rumbling.

 

"I'm not running anywhere, you're the one who's running. And you can't do so forever"

[Snelly]

IC: Lana

 

Lana sat down at the table next to Braen, the closer she was too him the better she always felt. She looked at their visitor and kept her friendly demeanor and smile on her face, but she wasn't particularly thrilled with him. What she did like was that the mercenary seemed to be the type to get straight to business, which meant things would go quickly and he wouldn't be here longer than necessary. Then it would be just her and Braen in the house.

 

Lana knew this was important to Braen and to their mission, a mission that Lana supported fully. But she couldn't help her feelings, she could only hide them when necessary. She was naturally wary and distrustful of strangers, and right now that was what Zadron was to her.

[Shadowhawk]

IC: [ Rhea ] - Ko-Wahi / Drifts

The green-eyed bounty hunter spun her right-hand tactical longsword in a deft whirling arc, raw plasma crackling from the blade as it spun a complete three-sixty and settled firmly back into her grasp, locked tight and ready against her chain-mailed palm. Her voice cut the wind like a razor, ringing clear as ever it had in hard-fought battles past.

"Enough, Kuhrin! You speak with assurance, but have you courage to face your end, you spineless craven cur, you gutless spawn of a rabid Kinloka, you beast, you murderer? The hot pits of Karzahni hunger this night for their rightful victims; show yourself and die!"

[Wotz]

IC: Kuhrin

 

"How dare you speak to me of cowardice," Kuhrin whispered, his voice coming from up ahead- no, to the left- the right- everywhere at once, its source darting to and fro. "I suppose your ego is too swollen for you to understand that you are inferior," the voice was circling them now, a Muaka toying with its prey. "To understand that you are not worth me lifting a finger to come to you, that you cannot see me because I will it to be so, that you cannot kill me because that is the way I like it." Finally it came to settle directly behind Rhea. "Let me show you the error of your ways."

 

Kuhrin lifted his hand to her head-level, and unleashed a torrent of incredibly high volume white noise, which spread out, unseen, into a rough trumpet shape from his palm. Snow was flung into the air by the sheer force of the vibrations, but Kuhrin remained stock still, absolute, not moving whatsoever from his position - standing there, arm outstretched, open palm. His empty face showed no remorse, no satisfaction, no acknowledgement whatsoever that the world existed.

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Khervos and Tuli

(Ko-Wahi, Drifts):

 

The sudden change of temperature made Khervos' organic components crawl uncomfortably as he, Tuli and Noka left the tunnels of Onu-Wahi and stepped on the snowy Drifts. Tuli shivered, but suppressed it with annoyance. Military training in Ta-Koro had taught her more than just fighting skills and protocol - it had taught mental discipline.

 

"How can we hope to find Ferron here?" Tuli asked, looking around. There was a snowstorm raging and it seemed to grow in strength every second.

 

"We should stop by Ko-Koro first", Khervos suggested. "We'll rest there for a moment and look for more tracks. If Ferron and Rhea stopped there before continuing the pursuit of Kuhrin, we'll know about it."

Edited March 27, 2014 by Toatapio Nuva

[Shadowhawk]

IC: [ Rhea ] - Ko-Wahi / Drifts

The voice was unimportant; the words it spoke, every bit as arrogant and irrelevant as Rhea's own had been. She knew it, she hoped Ferron knew it, and if Kuhrin was half as cunning as he'd been described as being, he would know it as well. In combat with a wielder of Sonics, it was the source that counted, a source that was alive and warmblooded and therefore detectable... the source... the source...

Her eyes narrowed, emerald slits in the ice-hazed blackness.

"...Let me show you the error of your ways."

There. The telltale heat signature, muffled by chill and cloaked with ice, faint but distinct.

She dropped and rolled, fast, running on intuition, feeling the first invisible front-running ripples of sound vibrate from her quarry's uplifted palm as he summoned his element to his bidding. Milliseconds later, the true waves themselves lanced harsh and brutal into the void, and although no longer in their direct path of fire, she felt her eardrums shut down almost instantly, wrenching agony hammering in an abrupt crimson inferno through her skull. Snow exploded, whirling in the narrow confines of the alpine canyon, and against the haze of pain and her muscle's cries to flee, to run, to anything, she clenched her jaw and knew what had happened and what she was going to do.

And then the world swung and blurred about her in a searing whiteness, and she was huddled in the drifts and she wasn't moving.

OOC:

Your move, Geardirector.

[Geardirector]

IC: Ferron (Drifts)

 

Kuhrin’s shape appeared to slice through the gray haze, like an omen that tore through anything in its path, piercing through his outer shell and cutting a swath right to the heart of his very soul, digging its way to the bottled emotions of anger and hatred that Ferron had nurtured since the instance he’d seen Kuhrin return from the dead.

 

Rhea was struck down, Ferron following her as she fell into the snow.

 

And there it was, brighter than ever before, the brutal fire glowing in his eyes like a force consuming his being, licking the edges of his outer shell with hot anticipation of what was to come, filling his vision with red anger and black hatred.

 

He knew, deep within, that his rage came from the pain Kuhrin had already inflicted upon him, seeing Rhea attacked was simply the catalyst, the rush of adrenaline that opened all locks on his person as he lashed out at Kuhrin.

 

At the ends of his metal whips, two heavy, spiked metal balls appeared, and without saying a word, Ferron swung his new flails at Kuhrin, getting in between him and Rhea as he did so.

[soularin]

OOC: About time I pulled her back off the shelf. Now's the perfect chance to try something new: I'm experimenting with first person! *inhales sharply* Wish me luck...

 

 

IC: Rune

 

 

I hate snow.

 

Cold. White. Monotonous.

 

Not to mention boring.

 

I think it started to get to me after three weeks spent away from any trace of natural warmth. No leaves. No sun. No kicking back in my apartment to the sound of frolicking Le-Korans. Happiness seemed like an all but distant memory in this confounded dump.

 

I would've preferred a different location for my extended vacation. A foot message and a fruit smoothie sounded more like it. "Living the dream" in my forsaken hotel room every day for far longer than anyone should have to endure was downright miserable, to say the least. I would much rather have enjoyed a nice chat with a dead corpse who's been jolted into silence by yours truly.

 

Ok... I definitely had a case of cabin fever.

 

But it wasn't entirely my fault. I would've left sooner if the Akiri hadn't been a brakas and gotten himself murdered. I couldn't even walk outside for a smoke without laying eyes on a security patrol unit.

 

Seriously. Not fun AT ALL.

 

You'd think I'd aquired a permentant scowl by the way people stared as I made my way downtown. Okay, maybe I did scowl constantly these days, but c'mon. Female Toa of Lightning aren't that uncommon. I don't understand why people decide to be so... Irritating.

 

Snowflakes swirled around me as I opened the heavy wooden door. The place reeked of fried food and alcohol, and the sounds of laughter and merriment washed over me in a wave of relief. Most hunters prefer the silence of solitude, but not me. No thank you. I prefer to hide in plain sight (sometimes literally). Here, in a cozy room full of cackling drunks, I felt much more at home than out on the bustling streets.

 

Oh, and by here I mean Faust's Tavern. It's the only interesting place to spend a dreary afternoon in Ko-Koro. Not to mention the only other place I dared venture to other than my room. I'm not saying I'm a social Nui-Rama or something like that. I conversed with a few, sure, but they were only brief exchanges at most. I tend to keep to myself.

 

And listen.

 

For what, you might ask? A golden ticket, of course. A way out of this frozen wasteland.

 

You'd be surprised how many thugs still showed their faces under a lockdown like this. Unfortunately I hadn't caught onto anything useful yet. I needed the right job, with enough pay to haul my out of Ko-Koro. Not an easy task, even for an expert like me, but it was only a matter of time before someone approached me. I was pretty much begging for attention what with the mysterious cloak and all. Usually I don't wear one, but like I said before...

 

I HATE the cold.

 

OOC: Open for interaction

[They]

IC: Riaril

 

"Well done, well done," I stated. Mock praise. At the time I wondered if he'd clean the chimneys next (he didn't need to know the NMRH didn't actually have chimneys).

 

OOC: short post, but pushing the plot along Norik.

[NorikSigma]

OOC: Right, I was wondering about that. Also, there were a lot of typos in my previous post, so if some sentences didn't make sense that's my fault.

 

IC: [Greisk/Cyrena]-[NMRH]-[Not so freezing now]

 

Greisk usually didn't show his emotions, so he managed to mask the fact that he was a teeny-bit annoyed. Not at the fact that he was made to clear a yard full of snow in the middle of a snowing mountain wasteland. It was because this doctor was trying to mock him without him knowing it. Of course, many other people thought of him as an obedient, slow type, and he was used to it, if not proud that he was able to evade...

 

Wait, what other people? Greisk didn't know anything about his past any more than a few days, then why...

 

Greisk, is she trying to sarcasticate us?

... You made that word up.

 

He decided to play along anyway. No use making the person who healed him angry.

 

Outwardly, he nodded.

 

"Thank you. Is there anything else I can help with?" Greisk made like the obedient, average-soldier-type.

[Mr. House]

IC: (Sukot urn Voyuk)

 

Sukot at upon the little-used balcony of the bar, a cup of Merlot in hand. It was brisk that evening, as evidenced by the wind nearly biting through his coat. But it-it was worth it. In the distance, the smoke rose into the night air. He had engineered it as good as he could, fire, rising to the heavens. It was fueled by glass bottles of grain alcohol, strategically placed in the outside of a home. It was, in fact, the home of a bureaucrat on vacation.

 

A servant or two was likely asleep inside, most likely, but their deaths were sadly needed. Charred bodies and rubble in a district of wealth in marshal law wouldn't help Korzaa in the least. The incident would reveal gaps in patrolling and security. And cost the Cap'n campaign contributions.

 

He smiled, and took a sip.

Edited April 6, 2014 by Rhaegar Targaryen

[Visaru]

IC- Captain Korzaa

 

Korzaa stood on the wall, looking out into the vast expanse of drifts beyond.

 

It was a familiar sight. She could pick out familiar rock formations in the canyon before the Koro, find unusual icicles that she remembered, and notice everything changed in the shape of the snowdrifts. She could remember the travellers she had seen in the distance, recall the Rahi that had charged the gates.

 

A Sanctum guard grows to know the sight as they stand motionless and stare out at it. It becomes so familiar you almost stop noticing it, like one’s home- it becomes the standard background to one’s life. Looking at it made Korzaa feel at home, feel comfortable, and helped her let go of the troubles that plagued her now.

 

Below her, she could hear the gates grind open, a symbolic gesture showing that the Koro was open to travel once again. It was a long overdue decision, but Korzaa was like a glacier- she moved only infinitesimally slowly. She had spent a long time making sure that the report from the morgue checked out, spent a dozen hours poring over the reports and the story of Koloktos, the guard who discovered the dead body.

 

Now, she was convinced, or convinced at least that the murderer was not going to be found in the Koro and that the assassination was not the first step in some scheme to attack and destroy her village.

 

She stared out at the view for a little bit longer, recalling with nostalgia her days as a sentry, remembering the numbness one began to quickly feel to the fact that one could not move a muscle and the uncomfortable stiffness. She wondered far too often if that was the role that she belonged in, not the position she is in now. She didn’t feel like a good leader- she had none of the confidence or wisdom that she had always imagined they had. And she had failed her Akiri, and done nothing to let the village she lived in find a new one. How had Ambages thought that she was the one that deserved to take the mantle of her former leader?

 

“Captain Korzaa,”

 

She turned around to look at the messenger, a thin young cadet sucking in huge rasping breaths, exhausted from his run to the wall.

 

“Fire.”

 

She turned around at the word and immediately spotted the red glow flickering angrily from within the village. A house was burning. She cursed. In Ko-Koro, there was only one source of fires: Arson.

 

IC- Sanctum Guard

 

Fortunately for the guards, the village of ice was one of the hardest to set fire to, mainly due to the subzero temperature. Most structures were made from ice, and those that weren’t were usually made from stone. And even the wood in buildings like this one was usually frozen solid, forcing any flames that wish to spread to thaw the wood before trying to spread to the damp substance.

 

Unfortunately, the house chosen was one of the few kept at a relatively warm, non frozen temperature, owned by a rich bureaucrat that enjoyed the heat, and the fire was spreading faster than it usually did. The guard has surrounded the burning building, armed with buckets of snow and making sure the fire did not spread to any nearby buildings and putting out as much as they could.

 

A few braver guardsmen smashed in the door and charged into the painfully hot building to try to rescue anyone still alive.

 

OOC

TL;DR The village is no longer on lockdown and the guard is doing it's best to deal with the fire.

Edited April 6, 2014 by Visaru

[Relapse]

IC: (Icha)

 

The first into the building was lieutenant Icha, smashing through the door with all the power of a Kane-Ra. He immediately set to work clearing a path to the nearest living area, his overarching priority being to rescue those inside. "Secure the building's integrity!" he shouted over the crackling flames, "make sure it doesn't come down over our heads!" It was a fairly obvious order, but there were practically never burning buildings in Ko-Koro, and thus he wasn't keen on taking chances. As his men did their best to neutralize the situation, he carefully navigated his way to the sound of screams.

 

The steps to the upper level, where at least two occupants of the house were trapped, were testy at best. Short bursts of cryogenic energy would allow them to cool off long enough for him to step from one to the next before they immediately began to flame up. He was making slow progress, but the screams for help were getting louder; more desperate. Five more steps. A blast of energy made the step in front of him stable enough to step on..........................................the sound of a crack was all it took, and he was hanging from a wooden plank, some twenty feet above flames. He was clinging to a loose board in the naive hope that the fire would take it's time getting to him. Just one slip and he was dead.

 

Dead with Matoro and Nuju. The marks on his arms represented each man who had died fighting alongside himself and his Koro. Maybe joining his brothers wouldn't be so bad...

 

No.

 

Icha banished these thoughts. He could not afford to think those thoughts. Not when innocent lives were depending on his survival. In a feat of determined strength, he hefted himself onto the top floor, just in time. The boards below him crashed to the ground, feeding the fire. He briefly felt some pain, but adrenaline was rushing through him. He found himself sprinting down a hallway towards the nearest voice, kicking down the door. Inside was one of the servants kneeling by the corpse of another. "Help!" Without a thought, Icha scooped the Toa into his arms, ignoring her protests as she struggled to return to her dead colleague, seemingly oblivious to the burning household around her.

 

"NO! YOU CAN'T LEAVE HIM!"

 

"I'm sorry. Your friend is dead."

 

He headed for the doorway, but fire had consumed the hall. There was no way to get back the way he had come. A shiver of fire and a pang of guilt struck him as he looked into his rescue's eyes, to the window, and then back again. "This is really, really going to hurt," he warned, charging the window full-speed, careful to see that his shoulder was the first thing to make contact. The last thing he remembered was hurtling towards the snow, glass shards protruding from his body, and the Toa he was desperately trying to save slipping from his hold. Then the cold grasp of darkness as he hit the ground.

 

OOC: More on this later. Feel free to have your character notice the lieutenant jumping from a high window, but don't interact just yet.

[EmperorWhenua]

Ic: "You know, I... have a problem," Ambages eked out almost painfully. "Have you ever been plagued by something you have to solve by yourself but can't, for the life of you, figure out what to do about it?" he asked meekly as he snuggled by the lightly crackling fire. All the conversation made before had led up to this vital moment wherein Ambages relied on the empathetic abilities of the guards, or one of them, and asked for their help. They owed him nothing, but by opening himself to their judgement he hoped to appeal to their compassionate sides. After all, there was the village leader placing himself in a position

"Yes!" Zurec said, the more talkative of the guards escorting the architect. Despite his penchant for formality Zurec was more keen to display his emotions and was truly passionate about what he did, aspects of personality that both lent to effectively guarding but also became weaknesses for Ambages to exploit mercilessly. Mentally, Zurec was preparing himself like a doctor, rolling sleeves up and slipping gloves on to help the beleaguered patient. "Though I'm not sure what we could do for you."

 

Ardor, however, glowered at the other guard. His face reeked of caution, both at Ambages and Zurec's enthusiasm to help. Nevertheless he remained silent and stoic.

 

"Perhaps nothing," Ambages said quietly. "Though, say you have a private puzzle... how do you go about solving it yourself?" he asked. "I preface this with the confession that I am not a Ko-Matoran no matter how much I've tried. I've adopted your culture in many ways but your intricacies—some still elude me." Ambages was a devious fox; instead of asking the two guards for answers to his problem he was asking them for a way to find the answer to his problem. It was a shot in the dark, though his hope was the learned Zurec would have the key he was seeking.

 

"Ah, now, that's an interesting question," Zurec said with a tight, little grin, but stopped at that as though he was waiting for something. Ambages, too, remained rapt at attention, expecting some sort of answer to come forth, but there was nothing. Finally, Zurec prodded his fellow guard on the spine as if urging him forward into a crowd. "Go on, Ardor, tell the Hand your method!"

 

Suddenly, Ambages realized what Zurec was waiting for. His attention shifted from split between the two matoran to laser-focused on Ardor. The two men again locked eyepaths, both investigating the other's intentions. Ardor's were like the glowing glaciers he was born from, cold and calculated, while Ambages' seemed more akin to Zurec's with his studious curiosity. Neither gave in to the other but neither tried to overcome, either, but rather to learn in their own ways. This persisted for what seemed like a very long moment, but finally the stoic guard's barrier was broken and he severed eye contact to adjust his posture on the cold, hard ground.

 

"It's simple, really," Ardor released at last, then teased the architect. He had heard of Ambages' prowess from the philosophers and scholars of Ko-Koro and had never doubted it for an instant since, in his line of work, doubting only led to apatheticism towards very real possibilities, but he wasn't going to allow his koro's presumptive leader to have all the fun; he needed to make his own test to check the rumours out. Zurec mocked a moan, knowing what his friend was going to do next. "It's a mollusk with no eyes yet it sees everything, but it cannot be seen and it makes you more than who you are." He began to raise a strip of dried meat to his lips.

 

Ambages widened his eyes at the surprise of having to handle yet another riddle before casting them down pensively at the fading fire as though the embers would provide him with the answer, then shut his eyes into total darkness as he fell into his mental library... Mollusk: a creature that dwells in a shell—could be crustacean or an allegory. No eyes: clam? oyster? some sort of shellfish? Negatory; all are physical and can be witnessed so the 'mollusk' must be proverbial. If the mollusk is not real then it must be a mental construct. Imaginary? Likely. But more than who I am? Not more than what I am but who I am. It must be an additional identity. An inner identity, one that—ahhh. "It's an imaginary companion who lives in your skull and sees through your eyes. By giving it artificial life it thinks on its own, essentially making you more than a single man."

 

Ardor seemed genuinely pleased for the first time since meeting the Hand of the Akiri but also somewhat astonished; the jerky was held precariously between his teeth; he hadn't had time to even take a bite. He paused for a few seconds, then completed the motion, bit and chewed slowly as he silently lauded Ambages with his facial expression. "I have to admit, Ambages, I'm impressed." Zurec, too, seemed utterly elated to see the ever-brief display of mental faculty. "You are right: An imaginary alter ego. It's how I think and how I see so much when I'm not apparently doing much at all. There's more than Ardor in here," he said and tapped his head twice with a fingertip. "Whenever I'm faced with a problem, I and the 'other me' think about it together. I've taught Zurec to do the same, and you've proven yourself worthy of it, too."

 

Suddenly, Ambages realized that all the while that Ardor was seemingly staring him down it wasn't really Ardor looking, it was the other guy inside Ardor's head who was doing the real thinking. The architect felt oddly humbled with the prospect of being in the company of four minds and not just two, though he equally felt a tinge of paranoia; four minds could discern his tricks if they knew where to look. The fear of uncertainty was a beast released by Leah's eyes Leah's eyes Leah's eyes and it lingered in his head like a bad dream, assaulting his clarity of thought and corrupting it.

 

Perhaps Ardor's secret was just the thing he needed? To compartmentalize his mind and think on more things, to divert the paranoia to another soul and remain pure on his own? Perhaps it was, after all. "How do I go about making another 'me,' as you describe?" he asked.

 

"Meditation," Ardor replied. "It's not easy to create another person, granted, but for you it might be simpler. You're an architect, you design things, you have an imagination. I'm just a guard; Zurec handled it better than I did; you can do even better. Just... close your eyes, think about someone, and make them a reality to yourself."

 

"What's your other you like?"

 

Ardor frowned. "I reused something from the real world. As I implied, I'm not the creative type. In my head, Turaga Nuju still lives."

 

Ambages cast his eyes away and turned his lips down in disdain, masking his thoughts with a few gentle nods and a pacific contemplation of "He will always live on." It seemed to do the trick and he perked back up to Ardor with a smile of gratitude. "Thank you," Ambages said graciously and reclined for the night just as the last tinges of light shone on the top of distant Mount Ihu. "Meditation is something I have adopted from your people, so meditation I can do."

 

An imaginary alter ego, he thought to himself. Brilliant. The idea never crossed his mind before but somehow it just felt... right, as though there was a vacancy in his head that needed to be filled and this was the ideal fashion to fix it. He shut his eyes to the real world and soothed his mind to ease as he created.

 

 

* * * * *

 

The ground was black and brittle as far as the eyes could see. Swirling obsidian knolls were all over and created a wavy horizon that contrasted with the sickly orange sky illuminated by a dying star beginning to set. Tall and immense castles dotted the landscape with vacant windows like empty villas of thought. This was his dream, a world in which life was dead and light was dim, a beautiful world where destiny and gods didn't matter.

 

He spoke into the Darkness and called someone forth.

 

The Darkness responded.

 

They were imperceptible at first, starting with just a small spark of purple that divided and grew, but a pair of disembodied eyes fluttered into existence beside Ambages. Like an artist's sketch lines began to form around the eyes and solidify into a form, first with the mask and then the rest, and within a moment the being had a thought-out body.

 

Welcome to my mind.

 

It is beautiful. The voice was androgynous, a composite of multiple memories pulled into a single identity, yet it spoke with such vivacity it couldn't be discerned as anything less real than Ambages' own.

 

You think so?

 

I know so. The Darkness... speaks to me.

The architect's unblinking eyes glowed brighter out of joy.

If I am to exist I will need a name. I will be Clades.

 

Scourge. Calamity. Disaster. Ambages nodded once approvingly. We are one.

 

We are one.

[They]

OOC: Woah, nice post there EW!

 

IC: Riaril

 

"Well," Riaril said with the characteristic tone of having something in mind. Greisk had found her with one leg dangling out of a storage closet, the other balancing deftly on a step ladder as a claw arm extended her reach for a glass jar. "I could really use a - aha, got you!- a pickup." The jar slipped from tool to hand to coat pocket, the claw arm went from hand to tucked under her arm. There was a moment where she was airborne, a hop off the step-ladder, and then the soft echo through the vaulted ceilings as her feet touched the warm stone. She looked at him.

 

"You see, Greisk, the pharmacy is running low on some of the tinctures for burns and the like. We've got most of the stuff here, but one of the ingredients requires an aquatic environment. Naturally that sort of plant wouldn't float in a Ko-Koro garden. Would you be up for taking a trip to Ga-Koro and purchasing some water-weed from Akiri Hahli? I'll send you with a letter so we get the bill and everything of course, but I can't have any more healers slacking off and taking a holiday in the sunshine while there's work to be done here. You don't even need to make the return trip. Just, you know, tell them to ship it."

 

OOC: Mini-quest, I guess.

 

EDIT: I changed the post significantly. It was originally 1st POV, but I really can't stand writing Riaril in 1st POV anymore so I'm switching her back to 3rd. Sometimes experimentation clarifies things.

Edited April 9, 2014 by Hatachi

[NorikSigma]

OOC: That's what experimentation is needed for, to disprove or prove hypotheses.

 

And I am eagerly following Ambages' dark descent into Split Personality Disorder.

 

IC: Greisk

 

The Toa of Magnetism listened closely.

"Will that be enough to pay off the bills?" he asked.

[They]

IC: Riaril

 

The doctor in her long coat gave a terse nod as they walked toward the front door from the South Wing. Occasionally she would let a hand slide along the carved railing ailing patients used for support, more often feeling the inscriptions on the stone than to hold her weight.

 

"Of course. But, oh, just a minute..." Riaril replied as they reached the Core, entering the checkered marble floor with a click of their heels. She paused at the main counter to write the shipment order on a pad of special stationary as Majit the secretary looked on stony faced at the loss of something to do. "Here, take this and deliver it to Akiri Hahli. Also, if you ever make your way up north toward Po-Wahi, feel free to send me some smokes. I'll pay you back." She winked with her one eye, what would have been a roguish act turning into a macabre blink.

[NorikSigma]

IC: Greisk - NMRH

Is she trying to wink? Or did a fly land on her eye?

Cyrena, be nice.

 

Outwardly, the Toa of Magnetism took the letter and put it inside his hobo bag-on-a-stick.

 

"Right, I'll remember that, Doctor Gabel. I'll be back in maybe a few weeks," he said.

 

He looked out at the village. He was going to explore this place. This island, after a week of convalescence.

 

Without another word, he picked up his hobo-bag-on-a-stick and walked out into the cold, heading towards the Dark Walk.

Edited April 21, 2014 by Just Norik

[EmperorWhenua]

Ic: By the time Ambages woke up the two escorts were already up and ready to go. The soft crackle of a new fire warmed the Hand's spirits as he sat upright to gladly receive a cup of tea and a breakfast ration from Ardor while also attempting to wave a billow of smoke away. He thanked them outwardly while his mind again thought of ways to dispose of them.

 

They trust you more now, Clades said, standing next to Zurec at the exit of the grotto and imitating guard's rigid posture. You have an empathetic link to them.

I don't think it's that easy. Just telling them I have a problem can't sway them to be my friends, Ambages replied.

No, but it let them see you're not an insufferable prick. And look at you! Clades blurted, now stepping gingerly towards Ambages

What about me?

You get it. He rubbed his hands next to the fire and held his face over its flames as though trying to roast his cheeks. You're like them and they can see it. You've impressed them by not... you know, wimping out. These guys don't see many non-Ko-Matoran who can boss through the cold alps like you have so far.

Okay, so they like me enough to make me a fire and give me food. That's not the result I'm looking for.

True enough. But what I'm saying is maybe you don't have to get rid of them. Maybe you can get them to be loyal enough to you that they turn a blind eye to your more, ahhhh, 'questionable' activities.

Maybe.

 

"Will we make it to the Massif today, Ambages?" Zurec asked, still erect and staring at the sun as it crept up from behind Mount Ihu's dominating profile. Ambages found it serene, too, and the morning chill had not yet thawed away because the sun had yet to reach over the great mountain and into their nook, but the other peaks that lined the stretch between them and Mount Ihu were blazed with golden energy at their crests like beacons. Morning breezes still lazily whipped down the ravines and through the gulleys with a slow whistle and carried with them the distant caw of a kahu.

 

"I don't see why not," the Hand replied and checked his wristdial. "We're about a third of the way there so we should be there by early afternoon, I think."

 

"Well, the earlier we leave the better," Ardor stated sternly as he put his few items into his rucksack; the firestarter, his cup, his spoon. "The drifts are dangerous and dangerous rahi roam free, even in the day. The sooner we get to the Massif the greater our chances of safety."

 

I have a question: Why not get a snowscooter?

The nearest station is Ihu-Koro.

It would take you as much time to get the scooter and then go to the Massif as ignoring Ihu-Koro...

... But make us swifter afterwards.

"Ihu-Koro is just over those passes," Ambages observed. "Ihu-Koro also has a snowscooter station. I'm thinking we should go there first."

 

"Yeah," Ardor said in his deep, mellow tone as he stretched his calves. "We could make it there by noon and use the machines to get to the Massif from there, but that only saves us energy, not time. So why bother?"

 

"The Massif isn't out first stop. Those machines can get us to the other destinations quicker." Ambages shrugged. "A side trip now to make the rest of the trip easier wouldn't hurt."

 

"Mmm," Ardor murmured and stared off at the walls of the grotto.

 

Ambages quickly finished his tea, handed the cup back to Ardor and wiped his hands clean with a pinch of ash from around the fire before dropping his heel and crushing the little flames. Taking a cue from Ardor, he bent backwards and heard his spine crack and pop into place before grabbing hold of the wall with a hand and performing quad stretches. A short moment later, with the Hand once again at point, the trio left the grotto and made their way towards Ihu-Koro.

[Hanako Herupa]

 

IC (Zadron)

 

Zadron sat down opposite Braen, almost subconsciously positioning himself so that both the employer and his lady friend were well in his field of vision. Outwardly, of course, he looked perfectly composed, if somewhat guarded. He made no move for the refreshments.

 

"Appreciated," he said, flatly. "I was told you wanted a meeting. I assume this is business?"

 

IC: (Braen)

 

"Yes indeed it is, one of my biggest concerns is meeting an acquaintance of yours, he's not exactly the easiest man to find, and I was hoping that you would be able to put him in contact with me, relay a message of sorts." Braen smirked. "There is much work to be done, and the sum of money for simply being a courier to him for me, well you'd find that pretty profitable. I will need men and women of a high caliber, at least in the beginning, I need no fools to ruin what I've been planning for a long while." Braen sipped his teeth, the Vortixx awaited his response from the other Vortixx, Zadron was a talented men, such skill could be put to great work. Lana would do anything to please him, her loyalty was assured. Zadron in the meantime was a man whose loyalty primarily relied on coin, something Braen had much of, so as long as he was paid, Braen hoped he would complete orders to the letter.

[Geardirector]

OOC: Taking control in Toatapio's absence.

 

IC: Tuli and Khervos (Drifts)

 

Tuli could naught but nod at Khervos' suggestion. Ko-Koro seemed like a good idea. For someone of her hot-blooded manner, Ko-Wahi was like a strange land, she'd never been part of the North March.

 

Khervos nodded back and turned his attention to Noka.

 

"What do you think?"

[EmperorWhenua]

Ic:

 

The walk towards Ihu-Koro was not completely silent. Since the previous night, Ambages and his escorts became more comfortable with conversation. Zurec, as it so happened, was eager to bounce his thoughts off the fellow erudite and he was not disappointed. Ardor, on the other hand, remained steadfast and only spoke when spoken to. Even so, though, Zurec spoke freely enough that Ambages was able to pick up pieces about Ardor just the same.

 

And he did take notes.

 

The Hand was less measuring them for weaknesses and more stacking their strengths and deducing which one to use for what. Neither were typical guards, both had individual traits that could be corrupted, and Ambages was determined to handle them without killing them. Anything that aroused suspicions back at home would throw his plan for a loop; this had to be done diplomatically.

 

He knew Zurec believed in the unfailing nature of law and honour: "I joined the Guard because I wanted to do something more than ponder over books. I wanted to spread justice and live by the sword because in every prophesy I read the sword is there."

 

He knew Zurec also would never betray his rules: "I will follow a leader who shares my views until the end and will defend him until I am not able. That is my pledge."

 

He knew Ardor respected actions over words: "Any man can call himself a saint, but the real thing will prove himself with more than words."

 

Over the hours as they trekked up to Ihu-Koro Ambages and Clades conversed between themselves, poking and cutting the guards' words as though they were meat being baked. And truly, the two matoran were experiments. By the time they reached the minor village, Ambages had a solution. It would be tricky, but he could push the soldiers into their places like checkers and retain his honour and dignity to them and the village. And nobody would know otherwise.

 

"Ahaaaaa. I know what you're thinking—and I liiiiike iiiit!" Clades said, playing with a nugget of food in his mouth.

"You think it'll work?"

"They're not stuuuupid, but their delusions can misguide them."

"Good. So you do."

The trio finally came up to Ihu-Koro at just before midday. They were ahead of schedule.

[Light]

IC: A Ko-Toa on skis shot past Ambages' party,cackling madly.

 

A breathless Toa of the Green ran up a few seconds later, Calix already deactivating.

 

"Excuse me, have you seen- Oh my."

 

The Lieutenant blinked twice before saluting. "Ambages, sir. I apologize, I did not recognize you. What brings you to Ihu-Koro?"

[EmperorWhenua]

Ic: "Good morning," Ambages greeted warmly in response. "I hope my appearance isn't an intrusion."

 

"No, of course not. Ihu-Koro is always open." The lieutenant glanced over Ambages' shoulder before refocusing on his face and smiling.

 

Noting the toa's look, Ambages took the moment to explain what was happening. "These are my diplomatic escorts, guard Zurec and sergeant Ardor," he said and pointed to each. "I'm just passing through today, I'm afraid, and would like to borrow three of the personal speeders the koro lent to your village. Is Akha Tamara around?"

[Light]

IC: "Yes, if you'll follow me right this way, sir."

 

The Lieutenant started to limp back into the village, the shelter of the massive tree starting to take the bite off the wind as the ground started to get warmer. A small salute to another guard and the said individual rushed off. "Ordinarily I'd have the Corporal go ahead and get the speeders ready, but he seems to have disappeared. Again. Sir, have you perchance-"

 

"Lieutenant, I'm sure the Hand has better things to do than worry about the illustrious Corporal," a female voice said, Tamara appearing from behind the much larger Bo-Toa.

 

"Ambages, I'd like to welcome you to Ihu Koro. It isn't often we have visitors of your fame."

[EmperorWhenua]

Ic: "You're too kind," Ambages modestly accepted. "I haven't done anything of fame since recoiling in the corners of the Sanctum, but you honour me nonetheless." He marched up from the wind into the protective alcove of trees and leaned in to kiss both Tamara's cheeks with grace, then charmingly said, "Though... maybe Ihu-Koro deserves more visits than it gets so far."

 

After Tamara recovered from Ambages' gentlemanly disposition, he added, "Unfortunately, Tamara, I can't stay for long. I have need of three of the motorized speeders my city gave you—unless you object. The lieutenant is readying them already... Just send a radio message to the koro if you need replacements before I return them."

Edited April 17, 2014 by Jenny Quantum

[Ghosthands]

IC: (Braen)

 

"Yes indeed it is, one of my biggest concerns is meeting an acquaintance of yours, he's not exactly the easiest man to find, and I was hoping that you would be able to put him in contact with me, relay a message of sorts." Braen smirked. "There is much work to be done, and the sum of money for simply being a courier to him for me, well you'd find that pretty profitable. I will need men and women of a high caliber, at least in the beginning, I need no fools to ruin what I've been planning for a long while." Braen sipped his teeth, the Vortixx awaited his response from the other Vortixx, Zadron was a talented men, such skill could be put to great work. Lana would do anything to please him, her loyalty was assured. Zadron in the meantime was a man whose loyalty primarily relied on coin, something Braen had much of, so as long as he was paid, Braen hoped he would complete orders to the letter.

 

IC (Zadron)

 

Zadron inclined his head, giving a short and humourless laugh.

 

"I should've known," he said. "You're with the Company, aren't you?"

[EmperorWhenua]

Ooc: In part a jam with Kaithas.

 

Ic: The blush faded from Tamara's cheeks quickly, her composure reasserting itself.

"Of course! I won't deny you your own property. Is that all you need?"

 

"I won't deprive you of anything else," Ambages said with a smile, "material or temporal." Tamara had the hallmarks of an excellent leader. From what Ambages could understand she led her little village with strength and character and encouraged personality from her wards.

In a way, she was like a reflection of the architect, an opposite and yet similar figure. She was good and kind in a genuine way, tough as nails but capable at court (despite her thoughts to the contrary), and carried herself with a level of humility admirable from such a cunning leader. In another life Ambages would even consider truly courting her, though even in the current dimension he still found her favourable and attractive in part because she relished living on an edge just like he did. In short, Tamara was the sort of woman Ambages could appreciate and not at all the deceptive queen that Aurelia was.

"How are things in Ihu-Koro? We haven't spoken since we crossed paths in the Sanctum."

 

"They've been well. The other villages are snapping up ore almost quicker than we can smelt it, and with the addition of the ducts from Ta-Koro it's actually hospitable enough for people to live here again, and not just for the summer or for a temporary job. The Koro is prospering." Tamara smiled slightly but genuinely. "How are things down in your village? I know there was some... Turmoil when I was last there."

 

"That's really great to hear, congratulations!" Ambages proclaimed, then turned less certain when confronted with his own city's progress. "It's... better now," Ambages said. "Things have calmed down now that the assassin of Matoro was found—dead, no less, but found—and the people feel a bit safer. They'll be electing a new akiri soon, and in the meantime I'm visiting the other cities to repair the friendly ties Matoro was so suspicious of. Everything takes time, I suppose."

Three villagers, the lieutenant among them, brought the speeders up to Ambages and his delegation and left them idling next to them. "I suppose that's our cue. Akha, it's always a pleasure to see you," he said gingerly took her hand in his. "The town is in good hands."

 

"'Time heals all wounds,' is how the old saying goes, isn't it? I wish you well in the coming election, for your sake if you participate or that your candidate will be a good fit if you don't."

Tamara paused, dismissing the Lieutenant to his earlier errand.

"I won't keep you any longer. Six villages is a long circuit to run. It's been an honor having you."

 

"The honour is mine, Tamara, and I hope your fortunes continue to rise," Ambages said and straddled his speeder with the escorts following suit. He tipped his proverbial crown to the akha before throttling away towards the Massif.

[25K Now!]

IC: Iegasa

 

Iegasa sipped from a cup of tea.