BZPRPG - Onu-Wahi

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kirgan, Khervos & Onoraza

(Onu-Koro):

 

"Entirely black, muscular and atheltic, has hints of rust all over his body, like the type you find in infected masks", Khervos explained. "Wears a Kaukau as you know, and always retains a good posture."

[Nato G]

IC: Lash.

 

Lash cursed inwardly. The guard was willing to pay her now? This was a problem. 

 

"That really depends on how dangerous this job turns out to be," she replied smoothly, "I'll decide how much I want when I know what we're up agaisnt. And unless you can give me an idea of what that is, I'm not sure I want to continue helping you." 

 

Surely the Matoran would leave now? She was part of the Ussalry. Couldn't she just find some more guards, or even a crab like the idiot sound Toa had. They didn't need Lash. 

 

IC: Reson.

 

"I haven't seen anyone like that around..." Reson mumbled, "...but someone like that should't be too hard to find." he turned to Curmudgeon. "Stay here, watch this place to see if anyone comes out. The rest of us are going hunting." 

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kavala

(Onu-Koro, pub):

 

"Perhaps we should take our discussion somewhere more... private", Kavala said to Lash and Sajis with a smile. "We have been blocking the entrance for enough time."

[25K Now!]

IC: Sajis

 

"There are private booths within this locale."

 

They were catching onto her suspicions. And they were not responding well.

 

"Surely assisting the Ussalry with the search for a single Toa is not beyond your capabilities?"

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kavala

(Onu-Koro, pub):

 

"The booths are so cramped and far from cozy", Kavala said. "But my home is nearby. We can continue our discussion there, over some tea and cookies."

[Nato G]

IC: Lash.

 

Tea and cookies? What the karz was he thinking? "That sounds like a great idea," Lash commented. "But perhaps we can simplify things. If Kavala and I were to help you find your missing Matoran, in return, you help him find who he's looking for? Does that sound like a good idea?" 

 

Obviously, Sajis wasn't going to give up now. The two mercs couldn't kill the Matoran in the cramped bar, so the only thing Lash could think of to do was carry on travelling with Sajis until an opportunity arose to either slip quietly away, or kill her without any witnesses showing up.

 

Right now, there was no easy way out of this without further arousing Sajis' suspicions. 

[Smarty35]

IC: Vesun

"When we confront Kavala, we'll need a plan... I have an idea for one. Listen carefully." Vesun looked around, making sure their plan could be secret. "When we find him, we split up. Onoraza, you'll go straight at him, confront him directly. You'll distract his attention and try to put him to sleep. Also, if he's in a crowded place, try to limit the damage he does. I will sneak around behind him, and as he gets more sleepy, make him heavier as well. I'll also be the reserve in case he causes you trouble, Onoraza. Reson, you'll be the cavalry. Once he's going down, you charge in with that Kakama and knock him out if he isn't out already. Remember what I said about vibrating the head. Also, if he uses his darkness powers, you'll have to find him with echolocation. Can everyone do that?" Vesun looked one by one at his companions. "And do any of you have an idea where to find him?"

[25K Now!]

IC: Sajis

 

"Mutual assistance is acceptable."

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kavala

(Onu-Koro, pub):

 

"Let us go", Kavala said, leading the two out of the pub."I'll lead us to my place."

 

IC Kirgan, Khervos & Onoraza

(Onu-Koro):

 

Onoraza was clearly annoyed by being used as a first-line tank by Vesun, but decided not to complain. After all, when Kavala was dead, he would target the Matoran and Vesun next anyway.

 

"What shall we do?" Kirgan asked, referring to himself and Khervos.

[Nato G]

IC: Lash.

 

"If you say so." Lash said, following after Kavala and Sajis.

 

IC: Reson.

 

"Sounds like a plan. Besides, I haven't been in a good fight since..." Reson trailed off, suddenly remembering how he'd initially met Vesun, "...this morning." he finished disappointedly. "But no, I don't know where to look for this Kavala character. Curmudgeon and I have been patrolling the outskirts of the village, and so far the only interesting thing I've found is this inn." he pointed behind him. "It's got a bit of graffiti in the shape of the Rahkshi symbol at the bottom of the door. Dunno if that's important, or just some really nasty vandalism..." 

[Smarty35]

IC: Vesun

"Whatever it is, it won't move for an hour or so," Vesun said. "Perhaps Kavala's closer to the center of the village." Vesun and the others started walking deeper into Onu-Koro."Once the fight starts," he explained to Kirgan, "you will have to get all the bystanders out of the area. I want as little collateral damage as possible. Khervos, you will go to the Ussalry and bring as many as you can to help us. Once we've brought him down... I expect the ideal would be to imprison him, but he might be too powerful for that. We'll discuss it when the time comes." Having finished his explanation, he looked up and stopped. "Wait..." he leaned over towards Khervos, pointing a finger. "There. Is that him? Coming out of the pub there?"

[Nato G]

IC: Reson.

 

Reson followed the pointing finger and frowned. "Isn't that Lash and... Sajis... with him?" 

 

IC: Lash

 

"Ahem," Lash coughed, tapping Kavala on the shoulder and nodding towards Reson and the others, who seemed to be looking and pointing in this direction. "Are they friends of yours?" she asked. She slowly began to work one of her daggers out of its sheath...

Edited October 8, 2014 by NatoGreavesy

[25K Now!]

IC: Sajis

 

"Those are ours, at least," said Sajis.

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kavala, Kirgan, Khervos & Onoraza

(Onu-Koro):

 

Kavala looked at Reson, Vesun and the rest as Lash tapped his shoulder.

 

What the... h-how did they break out so fast?! Kavala thought in alarm, all the while struggling to keep his exterior cool and formulate a plan.

 

At that moment, Kavala realized a huge mistake he had made earlier. No one had seen him in action except for Onoraza, and Khervos knew him from before. Letting those two in the same space together had been a terrible error on his part.

 

"That's him!" Khervos exclaimed. Onoraza said nothing, but her expression confirmed the Ba-Matoran's statement. Kirgan instinctively took a few steps back.

 

Kavala turned to Lash. They had been spotted. Something had to be done and soon. He looked around, weighing their options. Then, he said something he was sure neither Lash or Sajis had expected.

 

"We're getting back in the pub."

 

Without waiting for an answer, Kavala did exactly this, walking the few steps required to get back inside the pub.

[Nato G]

IC: Reson.

 

So that was Kavala? The others started moving towards him, but Reson hesitated. What were Lash and Sajis doing there with him?

 

IC: Lash.

 

Sorry about this Lash thought bitterly, drawing her dagger and swinging it...

 

...at Kavala. 

 

The moment he turned his back to start heading back into the pub, she struck out at the back of his head with the pommel of her weapon, intending to knock him out before he had a chance to say anything else. His cover was blown, but Lash's wasn't. Not yet. 

[Smarty35]

IC: Vesun

Vesun started off towards the back entrance of the pub, glancing for a moment back at the others. "Let's go. As we planned." He dashed off as quickly as he could manage, using his powers to make himself lighter and faster.

Edited October 8, 2014 by Smarty35

[Toatapio Nuva]

OOC: I assumed Kavala was already inside the pub at the end of the post, so I'm not sure how to react to Lash's attack. I think I'll just assume Lash attacked before he made it inside, to make things clear.

 

Also, I think Vesun and the group are quite far from the pub?

 

IC Kavala

(Onu-Koro, pub):

 

Curses! Not again! Kavala thought in rage as he felt pain at the back of his head, effectively knocking him over. In that split second, his mind fought against blacking out with all it had, even as he fell inside the pub through the open door.

 

I cannot fall as easily as I did last time, he thought in a haze, remembering his bitter defeat at the hands of the Ga-Koro marines. His mind won against unconsciousness, but he was not in a good condition.

 

Kavala turned on his back, still lying on the ground, looking at Lash with eyes of hatred.

 

"I'll get back at you for this", he whispered so quietly only he (and perhaps Sajis) could hear.

[Smarty35]

OOC: I didn't know exactly how long returning to the pub would take. Time is a little abstract in these kinds of games.

Also, Vesun has a very special skill known as running. I'll fix my previous post to make him arrive later.

 

IC: Vesun

Vesun opened the back door of the pub to find Kavala already on the floor. Reacting quickly, he made the Toa of Earth five times as heavy to pin him. He called to Sajis across the pub. "He's the kidnapper! Arrest him."

[Nato G]

OOC: Oh, whoops. My bad. We'll just go with what you've done to save us from both having to go edit stuff. 

 

IC: Lash.

 

As soon as Vesun shouted about Kavala being the kidnapper, Lash kicked out at his head, intending to knock him out properly this time. He couldn't be allowed to give her away. Not now. Her plan hinged on her remaining hidden until the Piraka launched their attack. Once the chaos began, her first stop would be the prisons. Hopefully Kavala would forgive her (or at least not want to kill her), once she'd busted him out. 

 

But for now, she needed to keep him quiet. 

 

IC: Reson.

 

Reson moved forward upon seeing Lash attack Kavala. He stopped outside the pub, staff at the ready, in case Kavala wasn't defeated yet.

Edited October 8, 2014 by NatoGreavesy

[Toatapio Nuva]

OOC: I guess there isn't much Kavala can do in terms of movement.

 

IC Kavala

(Onu-Koro, pub):

 

Kavala was about to get up when he suddenly felt like his weight had been increasen tenfold. Unable to move, he could only lay down as Lash prepared a final strike.

 

In the moments before he was struck, he thought about what he could do to escape the situation. He could've weakened the earth beneath him to make him fall through it and buy time, but the floor of the pub was wooden. He thought about unleashing a fist of earth to strike at Lash, but he was too dizzy to focus the power. He thought about using the Shadowstone to cloak everything in darkness, but he would still be unable to move to safety due to the increased gravity.

 

Makuta, I have failed you again, Kavala thought somberly as he was knocked unconscious.

 

*

 

Khervos watched as Kavala was captured in a heartbeat. It made no sense to him, that someone as powerful-looking as Kavala could be downed so fast, without opposition.

 

And why were Lash and Sajis coming out of the pub with him? he thought, his natural detective's instinct kicking in.

[Smarty35]

IC: Vesun

Vesun cautiously approached the downed Toa of Earth, keeping the gravity distortion up in case he wasn't as unconscious as he seemed. He knelt down and disarmed Kavala, then began to search him. Besides some relatively benign items, he found an odd stone, but he wasn't willing to test it with no foreknowledge, especially in a crowded pub. He looked up at Lash. "Well done. I don't know what they promised to pay you, but you did your money's worth." He looked back down at Kavala. "I don't know the Ussalry's practices," he said, to Lash or anyone else close enough to hear. "Should we remove the mask?"

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kirgan, Khervos & Kavala

(Onu-Koro, outside a pub):

 

"You should take the mask off", Khervos advised, although he was still thinking about Lash and Sajis and the suspicion he was feeling towards them.

 

"He doesn't seem that frightening now", Kirgan commented. "For all that trouble and fear he caused, he fell easily."

 

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Kirgan turned around. "Wait... where is Onoraza?"

 

IC Onoraza

(Onu-Wahi, Onoraza's Cavern):

 

Onoraza reached her hideout after a long walk through the tunnels. She knew she could have kept her threat to the Matoran and challenged them after Kavala went down... but all this time, she had still been recovering from her earlier battle in Ko-Koro, and didn't need a new one to rush into. There would be time later to hunt down and kill Matoran, she knew that much.

 

There was something else about her decision too, that she would not have admitted if anyone asked. But somewhere deep down inside her heart, she felt that Kirgan and the rest deserved a moment of rest, after going through what they had with Kavala. It was a strange thought for someone who practically lived to kill Matoran, but for now she was content with creating her own excuses for it.

 

Besides, it wasn't over. Someday, Onoraza would hunt down Kirgan and his friends, and that day would contain enough pain and terror for all.

 

Someday, Kirgan. Someday.

[Nato G]

IC: Lash.

 

"They aren't actually paying me anything," Lash growled, "this guy here was an old friend of mine, a fellow merc. It seems he's thrown his lot in with the wrong people." she nodded down towards Kavala, "He was looking for some Matoran. We were arranging for him to help us look for the missing matoran, and for Sajis to use her Ussalry contacts to find who he was looking for. Since he appears to be the kidnapper, it seems I'm not getting payed for this."

 

She noticed the stone in Vesun's hands, and she recalled seeing Hakann take it from the Vault after he'd escorted her there. That must be Kavala's shadow weapon, she realised. "That rock looks like it might be worth something," she commented, "I'll take that as payment. If you have no objections, that is?"

[Perp]

IC: Gatanka

 

Using the tools from Thunderous' kit, Gatanka carefully made minute adjustments to the firing mechanism, and made sure to adjust the trigger assembly to allow a lighter trigger pull. Finally, the Lesterin carefully oiled the drum magazine intake and the release mechanism, ensuring that the gun wouldn't jam when he needed to rely on it.

 

Satisfied with his maintenance, Gatanka reassembled the Energy Cannon and put his tools away. He slid the drum magazine into the intake without charging the weapon and clipped it onto the bandolier-strap across his chest, getting up from the stone bench he was sitting on.

OOC: Open for interaction.

[Smarty35]

IC: Vesun

Vesun reached down and pulled the Kanohi off Kavala. He stood, mask in one hand, stone in the other, and shrugged. "I haven't found the shadow tool on him, unless we can't recognize it... but I don't know what this is, either. I won't give away anything I don't understand. Let's go test it - and once we understand it, perhaps it can be your payment." He turned to Sajis and Reson. "Shall we take him to the prison?"

[Nato G]

IC: Lash

 

Lash did her best not to curse. That was clearly the shadow tool. She didn't know how it worked, but if Vesun figured it out, then he likely wouldn't give it to her. She would have to bide her time. 

 

IC: Reson.

 

"I think this guy deserves his own private cell," Reson suggested, "for the safety of the other prisoners." 

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kirgan, Khervos & Kavala

(Onu-Koro):

 

While Vesun and Kirgan seemed blissfully naive towards Lash's words, Khervos knew there was something shady about her. The way she had walked out of the pub with Kavala... and more importantly, the way she was immediately prepared to take the strange stone, as if she was in a hurry to get it.

 

That stone..., Khervos thought. It must be what caused the darkness.

 

He remembered the clanging sound before darkness had enveloped him and Kirgan. There had to be an activation mechanism to trigger the stone's power, but whatever it was, he did not know. What he did know was that he would need to talk with Vesun in private before he did anything foolish with the stone.

 

"We should haul Kavala to the Ussalry now", Khervos said. "They will imprison him as they see fit."

[Nato G]

IC: Reson.

 

"Yes," Reson growled, "we will."

 

IC: Lash.

 

"I'll go with you," Lash decided, keeping to her quickly-concocted alibi of her and Kavala both being mercs, "if someone payed Kavala to kidnap matoran, I want to know why." 

[25K Now!]

IC: Sajis

 

"It would be far simpler to kill him."

 

Sajis looked over at Reson's ussal. "Let's carry him off. Time is not to be wasted."

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kirgan, Kherovs & Kavala

(Onu-Koro):

 

The Fa-Matoran's cryptic comment reminded Khervos to look out for her as well. After all, she had walked out of the pub with Kavala just like Lash had.

 

"I thought the Ussalry was supposed to honor justice", Khervos said sternly. "Killing your prisoners is far from that."

[Nato G]

OOC: Ah, Reson left Curmudgeon to watch the inn. The Ussal isn't with him.

 

IC: Reson.

 

"We don't kill our prisoners," Reson said adamantly. "Let's put him in a cell that isn't made of earth, just to be on the safe side." 

[25K Now!]

IC: Sajis

 

"Killing prisoners is a disruption of order," she agreed. "However, it's true that energy would be saved, making things far more effortless."

 

"Also someone pass me his mask."

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kirgan, Khervos & Kavala

(Onu-Koro):

 

"Why you?" Khervos asked pointedly.

[25K Now!]

IC: Sajis

 

"You could give it to Reson then, if you lack trust in me."

[Nato G]

IC: Reson.

 

"Fine, if you don't trust Sajis, give me all of his stuff and we'll put it in an evidence chest for later." Reson grumbled. Clearly, the others were suspicious of Sajis as well as Lash, so he would have to step up and take charge. Sort of. 

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kirgan, Khervos & Kavala

(Onu-Koro, Ussalry HQ):

 

The group reached the Ussalry headquarters.

 

"Wait, he's allowed to wear his mask in jail though, right?" Khervos asked.

[25K Now!]

IC: Sajis

 

"No."

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Kirgan, Khervos & Kavala

(Onu-Koro, Ussalry HQ):

 

"That's torture."

[25K Now!]

IC: Sajis

 

Sajis paused. "That is standard Ussalry methodology. The risk of elemental power usage is too great. Nor is he a Matoran."

[Nato G]

IC: Reson.

 

"Well..." Reson considered his option, "it's just a mask of water breathing. He won't be able to use that to escape from prison. I say we let him keep it." he turned to Sajis, "what did you tell me earlier about mistreating prisoners? You don't want to get sued, do you?"