Six Kingdoms: Escapement - Gameplay

[Unreliable Narrator]

IC: Reliable Narrator | Ta-Metru

Zecrillia punched the combination in and waited.

Nothing happened. 

Ooc: @That Matoran with a Vahi

Edited March 12, 2020 by Unreliable Narrator

[EmperorWhenua]

IC Stannis | Taku, en route to the Coliseum

Theme music: Lunar Lullaby

18 hours ago, Tarn said:

Nale Vella rushed to Stannis' side as Arkius was pulled back into the ship. The Onu-Toa had...seen better days. "Can...can you heal him? I had no idea he'd gone off like that..."

"He went off to fight the abomination of a Hunter. Clearly such unnatural foes are not to be underestimated," Stannis said as he carried his torn and battered companion easily as if he were a bundle of wheat.  Someone else brought a set of crates over to a corner of the hold, creating, in the absence of a sick bay, a makeshift cot on which to place the body. Stannis gently laid his friend down and took stock of his injuries, then glanced at Nale studiously. "I will try."

His body was ravaged by trauma, bloodied both by his own and Vyarik's, and the damages dealt to his body were further helped by the enfeeblement the lack of his kanohi caused. The Mask of Kinetics itself had seemed to betray its user, and shards of it were embedded as shrapnel on Arkius' face as a painful reminder of what even the most familiar masks of power could do if pressed too far. Beyond that, however, Stannis could feel something else killing the earth toa from inside, a wound in pride, perhaps, or more likely something much darker, a poison in his soul that caused him to have such volatility beneath his bravado. The Wanderer sighed deeply and stifled a tear, but soon closed his eyes and began to pray. "Mata Nui, grant me the power..." he started, and then paused.

It grieved him; not the sight of injury or blood, nor even that it was his friend who had been nearly destroyed, but that he could not do as much as he wanted. Or needed. Toa Arkius' sufferings were a thing he could give some relief from, but he had no cures. It was a pattern he tried to subvert time and time again across the known universe, and despite his firm belief that he went where Mata Nui gently guided him like a boat along the sea's many currents he always sought to make a difference, to improve others, to fix their problems. He could not fix Arkius just as he could not fix Metru Nui, or the war, or much of anything. Still, he reminded himself, things would be worse had he not done what he could. Knichou was testament of that, the other Ghosts, even just the friends he had somehow become surrounded by again on the Taku. Surrender was not an option, not to enemies he could fight and not to feelings that clawed at his will. He would try, even when he felt he could not, else he did not have the Faith to truly be called a prophet.

"... Grant me the power to save life. Grant me the ability to heal bodily injuries, mend broken bones, seal armor breaks, and extract from the body the things that caused such harms. May I be able to do such healing insofar as the body will allow, and that I cannot restore what is incomplete. May the Great Spirit grant me this request. Amen."

Input: ... Accepted.

He exhaled and in the same turn gave new life into Arkius. His Kanohi glowed, dimly at first, and then brightly, pulsating with each breath he took as he touched the many tears, wounds, gaps, and dislocations all over the toa's body, leaving behind mended armor and sealed scars. Of the shards on his face, he plucked them one by one, and with a wave of his hand he bound those cuts as well. After what seemed to take forever, but was truly only the span of ten minutes, he was finished. Arkius was whole again, mostly. At least in body. Stannis had done what he could.

And then he wordlessly got up and walked to the cockpit.

14 hours ago, pokemonlover360 said:

[...] The protodermis protector slowly lifted itself off the floor. It turned to glance at Stannis. “Toa Stannis, when convenient this unit needs to speak with you.”

"It will not be convenient," he somberly replied to the Kralhi's statement, "but you may ask me what you wish after I rest, machine." Time would be short, but despite his dislike of automatons he knew this machine was deserving of some trust. 

[~Xemnas~]

IC, Kohara: Ga-Metru

Kohara breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad to be on dry land again. 

After tying up the boat and helping its passengers to disembark, Kohara looked at the Skakdi. 

“Thank you for your assistance. Our return to the island would have been more difficult had you and your boat not been there. I believe this is where we go our separate ways, however.”

She turned to the Matoran. “I believe it’s time for us to head to the Colisseum, or...” she turned her head towards Nixie and Vhisola. “...would you ladies rather have us escort you home first?”

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Onaku @Eyru @Dane

IC, Atamai: The Taku

After I had time for all the info Stannis gave to sink in, I went and stared out a window. My mind was racing. How would Turaga Dume use the machine? How would he chose...?

At that moment, a single thought rang over and over in my head  

What if he plans to use the machine on himself?

 

Edited March 12, 2020 by ~Xemnas~

[Tarn]

IC: Nale Vella - The Taku

She watched as Stannis healed the Toa of Earth, then sat down by Arkius to watch over him while he recovered. Nale felt almost selfish for having not checked on her comrade prior, unaware he'd even went off after the zombified Hunter. Too busy confessing my crimes, she thought. Perhaps if he'd have had back-up...no, the last thing she wanted to do was face the person she'd just--presumably--killed.

IC: The Swordsman - Great Furnace

Suddenly impatient, I pushed past Zecrillia, entered the second digit as five (an old companion's lucky number), and waited.

OOC: Speeding things up with UN's blessing. Doesn't hurt to have a character conveniently figure out the combination through metagaming intuition luck.

Edited March 13, 2020 by Tarn

[Unreliable Narrator]

IC: Reliable Narrator | Ta-Metru

As Zecrilia and the Swordsman entered the correct combination into the three digit lock, a solid mass of unknown metal extended itself out of the flowing molten protodermis in an inverted chevron. As it extended, the molten protodermis flowed around it, creating a burning canopy to reveal a portal to somewhere else entirely just behind the reach of the catwalk. To the two searchers of the Great Disc, they finally saw their prize stuck in molten rock in a dark burnt forest on the other side of some strange portal. Over the rush of the molten protodermis and the burning heat of the inner ring of the Great Furnace, they heard the softest haunting laughter of a child at play echoing from the burnt trees on the far side.

They’d come so far: would they jump across the divide?

[Tarn]

IC: The Swordsman - Great Furnace

"No point in turning back now," I said to Zecrillia, "and your disk is right there, lady."

I stepped across the threshold.

"Get in here and grab it. I'll have your back."

[Unreliable Narrator]

IC: Reliable Narrator | Silver Sea

About an hour after Brutaka’s announcement, when clocks showed the time as early morning but the sky insisted evening, the airships were packed and ready for take off. Boarding ramps and bulkheads closed, crew shouted out orders down the length of the ships, and the warriors who survived the bloodiest conflict in the history of the Silver Sea theater prepared to return to the home they thought they could protect from harm. Within minutes the two remaining airships were flying due North, bringing everyone aboard closer to their destined fates. The rumbling of the air against the hull calmed some and aggravated others. Several hours of speeding through the skies at the absolute limit the airships could sustain brought them to Metru-Nui.

The airships landed in Le-Metru, Brutaka maintaining active command of the bridge during the unloading process. As they landed he began to take stock of the information being presented: the city was in lockdown, even his military vessels would be searched by vahki for possible assassins hidden among the crew, and the heroes of the front lines were to report to the Coliseum parade grounds until needed.

IC: Reliable Narrator | Metru-Nui, Coliseum

In the prisons of the Coliseum, the Revenant Vyarik experienced a sensation of closeness to his goal. He felt the pull from somewhere deep in the Coliseum, deeper than the prisons. Deeper than whatever sub basement full of pipes and engineering machines existed below the prisons. What existed down below was part of him, but it was dead. He couldn’t merge with it, but he needed it like the parched need water.

 

Edited March 13, 2020 by Unreliable Narrator

[Eyru]

IC: Taja | Ga-Metru

The De-Matoran nodded at Kohara's suggestion. There was no time to lose, especially now that the skies had changed once again. Who knew how destiny might have shifted, just as the solar eclipse had abruptly shifted into daylight? Truthfully, she wanted nothing more than to join Nixie at her telescope and immediately start working again. But it seemed the stars had set her on a different path, and she would walk it faithfully.

"I think they can find their way home," Taja said with a rueful smile. "We should go."

[Unreliable Narrator]

IC: Reliable Narrator | Ga-Metru

Nixie nodded at Taja's comment. "We can find our way back to the Great Temple. Great Spirit guide your journey. I'd say to stay in the light too, but it looks like you have someone who can control that factor." 

She gave Taja an uncharacteristic hug and then started walking off in the direction of the Great Temple. Vhisola looked over at Okuo and at the Great Disc, and then he sighed. "I thought finding the Great Disc would give me the power to feel safe and protect myself, but now that we have it I realize becoming a toa would only make me even more alone. You three should take it to the Coliseum. You all rightfully earned it, and I swam away. Well,  you four if Patchy follows along. Maybe take him to the noodle bar in the event center? Anyways, well, bye...  And stay safe." She waved shyly and jogged away to catch up with Nixie. The two of them continued silently down the street until out of sight.

[Nato G]

OOC: mobile

 

IC: Vyarik/Revenant - Coliseum Cells

 

Despite its confinement in the cold cell, the Revenant felt no fear. It didn't feel much of anything, beyond an unrelenting need to reach the Dead God down below. The Revenant was close now. Closer than any of the others. 

 

It was time to summon the rest. 

 

Standing a mere hair's breadth from the front of the cell, the thing that had once been Vyarik let out a ragged, resounding cry that rippled and reverberated across reality, reaching out to the other Revenants, summoning them to where it stood.

 

With luck, they would materialise outside the cell. If not, they could form a Kaita and tear their way forth from the cell, which was likely designed to effectively entrap only a single individual. 

 

Either way, this place could not be allowed to contain them.

 

Their purpose had to be fulfilled.

 

@Azibo @Crimson Jester

Edited March 13, 2020 by Nato the Traveler

[Onaku]

IC: Okuo - Ga-Metru

"You too..." Okuo said quietly as Vhisola jogged away, leaving him with the three strangers. "So... noodle bar?"

 

IC: Ardoku - Silver Sea

The toa of plasma had a thousand yard stare going, and as Tekmo approached him, he seemed deep in thought, taking a moment to even register his fellow toa's presence. He shook his head and looked up at Tekmo, sighing. "Don't worry about me, brother, I may have one arm out of action, but I still have the other one working just fine." Ardoku gave Tekmo a smile and a determined nod.

Time moved on, and as the airships landed in Le-Metru, Ardoku disembarked with his limp arm in a sling, his other arm resting a hand on the hilt of his sword. As he stepped out of the airship and into the Le-Metru streets, an expression of concern grew on his features. There was something on the air, a tense atmosphere he hadn't felt in Metru-Nui before, but he also felt something more, something... just outside of his periphery. "I hate to be the one to state the obvious, but something's off..."

[Tarn]

IC: Rose - Le-Metru

The Ta-Toa stuck close to Skyra. She was still carrying her suit around, and her firework revolver was holstered on her hip.

"No #####," she said to Ardoku, crossing her arms. "There's somethin' going down."

[Snelly]

IC: Skyra - Le-Metru -

Skyra felt uneasy as she stepped off the airship. She thought coming home would have brought some sense of comfort. But with the sky all messed up and the city on lock down all she felt was a lingering sense of dread that she couldn't get rid of. 

"I don't like this." 

@Tarn@Onaku

[~Xemnas~]

IC, Kohara: Ga-Metru

”Okay, lets be off. “Patchy,” was it? You are welcome to accompany us. We’ll stop by the noodle bar before visiting the Turaga.”

Sometime later...

The group of four arrived at the bridge leading from Ga-Metru to the Coliseum. As they approached, Kohara noticed that there were several Vahki standing guard on the bridge. Several people attempted to get by them, but were turned away. 

The Toa approached one of the Vahki. “Robot, what is the meaning of this? My companions and I have come to present a Great Disk to Turaga Dume. May we enter?”

[Tarn]

IC: Rose - Le-Metru

"Sure is quite the homecoming, eh Sky?" Rose nudged the Le-Toa with her elbow. "I don't like it either...not like I was expecting a party when we got back, though."

@Snelly@Onaku

[Snelly]

IC: Skyra - Le-Metru -

“Parties...that’s right, I used to go to those a lot...I was kind of a party girl I suppose...” Skyra said, thinking back to very different times. Skyra glanced towards what was the resident district of Le-Metru. “I wonder if my house is still there...then again it wasn’t really meant for Toa...it would be kind of small now...”

...

...

”Weren't we supposed to report to the coliseum parade grounds or something, I forget.” 
 

@Tarn@Onaku

 

[Onaku]

IC: Ardoku - Le-Metru

"That's what the big guy said, yeah."

 

IC: Matrak - Ko-Metru

"Oh, a war you say? Hmmm..." Matrak stroked his chin thoughtfully. If there was a war here then that meant the world might be in an unstable condition. Even so, it might be preferable to the alternative, so Matrak decided to press on. "Do you know anywhere I could read up on world events, or perhaps news outlets I could look through?"

 

IC: Okuo - Ga-Metru

Okuo strolled along, looking content sucking up some noodles from an on-the-go bowl of noodles he was carrying.

 

IC: Arkius - The Taku

Arkius shifted on the makeshift bed, his expression fluctuating from worry to anger to sadness to shock. He seemed to be dreaming, and quite vividly at that, it looked like a nightmare.

[Tarn]

IC: Rose - Le-Metru

"Huh. Yeah, we were. Let's get a move on."

Rose started walking towards the Coliseum parade grounds, beckoning for her allies to follow.

IC: Nale Vella - The Taku

Arkius began moving, clearly distraught from a nightmare. Nale quickly grabbed hold of him. "Arkius? Are you alright? Arkius?! Wake up, brother--it's just a dream!"

She turned to Vashni. "Can you soothe his mind?"

@Snelly@Onaku

[Snelly]

IC: Skyra - Le-Metru -

“Kay...” Skyra followed next to Rose...wondering what it would be like to hold hands...

She felt her face get red at the thought and slapped her cheeks, no time for that kind of stuff right now, it was serious time! 
 

“Hey, do you think the Vahki would get mad if I just started flying around?” 
 

IC: Vashni - Taku -

“I’ll have to enter his dreams to do so, but yes, I can.” 

[Tarn]

IC: Rose - Le-Metru

"What are they gonna do? Give ya speeding ticket while you're up there?"

As they neared the parade grounds, a hearty laugh could be heard from Rose.

IC: Nale Vella - The Taku

"Then...then do it!"

@Snelly@Onaku

Edited March 13, 2020 by Tarn

[Unreliable Narrator]

IC: Reliable Narrator | Ga-Metru

The vahki allowed the group of four disc hunters to pass once they produced the fabled Ga-Metru Great Disc. One of the vahki kept staring at Thom, it’s opticals adjusting rapidly as it ran the skakdi’s face through a database. The facial recognition software for POIs couldn’t keep up with a few days adrift at sea though: Thom’s haggard face looked almost nothing like the crackshot assassin who had been booked for murder earlier that week. Time flies when you’re trying not to starve. 

Once inside the Coliseum, the vahki made it very clear the four were to ascend immediately in the elevators to the office level of the tower. Once the panic passed Turaga Dume would meet them there. Everything was under control, the Dark Hunters who’d attempted to assassinate the Turaga were captured and secured...

IC: Reliable Narrator | Ko-Metru

"The Metru-Nui Daily maybe?" The Ko-Matoran replied. "I don't really listen to the news, it distracts with studying the stars. If I were you I'd not worry about the war and focus on your own future. I'm Ehrye by the way. If you ever want a palm reading or star chart reading let me know. I can see you have much grief in your past. You've lost your sense of home, but don't worry -- home is wherever your heart is."

With that Ehrye bowed softly and continued on his journey home. There was no war in Metru-Nui. There was no war...

IC: Reliable Narrator | Barraki Fortress

Mantax leaned close to Kalmah and muttered something Mazor couldn’t hear. Then with a nod to the other Barraki he walked forward, patted Mazor on the shoulder, and left the throne room. Pridak watched him go with narrowed eyes behind his mask…

After the meeting with Mazor the Barraki parted ways. Takadox replied to Leonn’s message with a “K,” and summoned Amartakonen to remind him of their clandestine scheme. Mantax met with his subordinate Ostrox, and even the generally shy Barraki Ehlek made an effort to find someone of his own kind in Morah. Pridak donned his warsuit, Carapar inspected his troops, and Kalmah led his flagellants in prayer.

Eventually the time of departure arrived. The unified armies of the League stood on the sandbar stretching out and away from the airship docks. Their banners and colored armor showed the might of the Six Kingdoms. The crew of The Ripple stood among them, ready for the next adventure. Ahead of the assembly of warriors rose a large triangular device stuffed with teleportation discs. Pridak stood by it, taller and resplendent in his warsuit of white and gold and red. He held a memory crystal in his hands that looked like a sprouted potato. 

“Today we walk on the path of victory. Today we take what has always been ours. Today we remove those who would seek to hold back our civilizations, our cultures, and our individual freedoms. Today we show Metru-Nui that their Spirits are nothing, that their codes of honor are hypocritical, and that there are no chosen people: only free people.”

He placed the crystal into a terminal near the large triangular gateway, the interior of which rippled to life as the coordinates were provided on both ends. Then, leading the charge, Pridak took one small step from the sandy beach into the warehouse beneath Ko-Metru, and one giant step towards his life’s goal.

 

OOC: All League players, welcome to Metru-Nui. Your goal is to raze the city to the ground. Have fun!

Edited March 13, 2020 by Unreliable Narrator

[EmperorWhenua]

IC Alpinist | Coliseum

On 3/10/2020 at 7:14 PM, Azibo said:

"Hey!" Sans elected to just yell with his actual voice this time.  The titan looked back, and Sans pointed to his head as the elevator doors closed, then thought the next step.  "Find that Dark Hunter or anymore lurking about.  I don't know what happened to Dume but since you aren't panicking right now I don't think a bad guy got him.  We'll go find him, you take out any hunters!" Before any response could be heard in his thoughts, Sans rapidly poked the next three floor buttons, and the elevator was moving again.  He turned to his three friends.  "Now's the time to be the heroes you were all born to be!  Don't despair! We need to split up and find Dume before someone bad does.  If you see Dume or a Dark Hunter, start screaming as loud as possible.  Maybe think as loud as possible too; that blue one can read minds.  Make as much noise or a signal or anything you can do as you can.  I promise, I'll be there before you can even miss me." The first elevator door opened.  "I'll go on this floor.  It's more likely Dume and danger both are still closer than further away.  I'd prefer you three stick together but do what you feel is right.  And guard the discs."  Before anyone could get a word in- a usual- Sans ran ahead, doors closing behind him.  He ran down the hall then followed it around a corner.  "I may be past my prime, but I've got enough fight left in me to be the Hero of Metru-Nui!" Staff in hand and Kanohi glowing from concentration, Sans was ready for whatever lay ahead.

The Alpinist was not a warrior—fighting was not his forte, though it might have been the Waif's if her weaponry was any indication. This was not what he expected to happen, he was only supposed to come to the Coliseum with his friend the Cartographer and their new allies the waif and the turaga, meet with Dume or his liaison, hand over the Great Disc, and then... who knows? 

To be truthful, he did not really have a good idea of what would happen to him, or where his fate would unravel towards, but being placed in the upper levels of the Coliseum and looking for Turaga Dume while also being wary of Dark Hunters and whatever else would do the elder harm was not an eventuality he suspected. While greatness was something he had come to somewhat hope for, this was not his idea of it. He imagined he looked somewhat silly as he pulled his twin ice axes out and held them at the ready, as if he was preparing to punch them into some imaginary ice wall to climb it. 

In the absence of Sans' guidance and any helpful instincts he looked to his friends for consensus, if not leadership, but as soon as he saw the look in the Cartographer's eyes he realized even that was asking too much. They were all loners, the three of them—one a thrill seeking climber, the other a selfish surveyor, and the last one a leper, all Ko-Matoran—and there was no reason any of them had any idea how to work effectively as a true squad. And yet, it felt as though some great doom was held in the balance of their collective fingertips. It took all his willpower to not scream for them to split up and search on their own. But hadn't they also learned that to succeed they had to work together? 

The Alpinist and the Cartographer figured out the riddles of the hideaway by working together. The knotted dangers of the Notch were unraveled only by talking amongst each other and realizing what was missing. For the Alpinist, this new danger was only a third test of their Virtuosity and rights to bear the Great Discs. "We have to stick together," he said in a firm tone. "We stick together, and we stay in a bio of each other. We didn't come this far just to die apart. Deal?"

"Deal," the Cartographer agreed. The Waif simply nodded. 

The Alpinist was not ready to lead, but he also wasn't ready to give up control after earning a small amount of it so quickly. Such was the difficulty of being a stubborn Ko-Matoran, always getting stuck in his brain and knowing too much without the words to share it properly. He knew they would need some sort of way to keep in tune with one another. The rope was a possibility, they could tie themselves together and have to tug to go anywhere, but that posed too many challenges, and he knew in the end they might cause more tension than it was worth. He pondered other options for a moment more until the Cartographer, even the master of the transect, realized what was going on in his fellow's brain and offered a solution. 

"We need to not get lost," he said, pointing out that none of them had been where they were before. "This is uncharted territory for us, so... let's map it." The other saw a cunning glint in his eye. This was what he lived for. "Stick to the left wall; whenever there is a turn, we go left; we clear the rooms one by one. I'll keep track of where we go." They started by taking the next lift to the floor directly below where Sans left them, hoping to start fresh there while the other more powerful allies roved their own separate floors. 

And then it was the Waif who suggested a marching cadence, quietly and in a very pained tone, but apparently relishing the feeling of forcing the words out all the same. One-two, one-two; left, right, left. Each repeat was a bio, each five bio a dot on the Cartographer's map, and each new room on the map a sign of their swift exploration. Somehow, despite the odds, three hermitlike Ko-Matoran found themselves working together.

Mata Nui, the Alpinist wondered, might be proud of them.

Quote

:Top floor is clear for now. No sign of Dume yet. I’m heading back to the gardens.: [Zataka] informed her Matoran allies, matter-of-factly, before briskly continuing her walk, leading her back around the top floor to where she had started, and a little further.

The words echoed silently in the trio's mind, but beyond simply understanding it they did not respond. They continued their search, moving from one room to the next, one left turn at a time. 

[Nato G]

IC: Zaliyah - On The March At Last

“Today we walk on the path of victory."

For so many years, Zaliyah had been without a goal. She had been just another Toa, sworn to protect the Matoran until she someday accomplished her intangible, arbitrary destiny and became a Turaga. She'd had no purpose beyond getting through each day, nothing to strive for.

But now she had something. Pridak had given her a purpose. The League had given her a legion.

The word victory finally had meaning to her. 

"Today we take what has always been ours. Today we remove those who would seek to hold back our civilizations, our cultures, and our individual freedoms."

She thought she'd been a hero, protecting the Matoran from all of the horrors of the world. But her time with her League had given her perspective, shown her the true nature of the other species and civilisations that lived in this universe. They weren't savages or monsters, they were people, with dreams and needs and feelings, many of them stronger and more deserving than the meek Matoran Zaliyah had wasted so many thankless years protecting. 

I was on the wrong side... I have to get it right this time.

"Today we show Metru-Nui that their Spirits are nothing, that their codes of honor are hypocritical, and that there are no chosen people: only free people!”

Zaliyah raised her banner overhead, joining her comrades in a defiant, wordless roar of support, and as Pridak stepped through the portal, Zaliyah moved to follow.

"Forward, to Metru Nui!" 

And in a single step, she was transported thousands of kio, into the city whose legend was about to end... 

[Dane-gerous]

IC: Thom - Coliseum (Delivering The Disk)

The Skakdi had wolfed down two noodle dishes quite ravenously, and was already looking a little better physically. He was still skinny and unkempt, but he looked less on the verge of passing out.

As they entered the Coliseum, multiple thoughts were racing through the Skakdi's head. Some of it was anxiety around the Vahki, but a good chunk of it was wonder at where his Fa-Toa nemesis might be. He could just about deduce things were heating up in Metru-Nui, and the past few days had awakened a very odd sense of fate. He could almost sense that Nale would also arrive at the Coliseum, the epicentre of whatever was about to kick off. 

But for now, he'd stick with the disk hunters. He'd stick with the disk hunters, and he'd wait.

"...Thanks fer gettin' me somethin' to eat." He said, finally, as the four waited.

[Vezok's Friend]

IC [Dume, Coliseum - Upper Levels]:

The duo came to a junction and Dume signaled a halt at the sound of approaching footsteps, but relaxed as he realized their synchronicity. Approaching from both sides were three of the latest model Vahki each. “Priority Alpha beacon received. Standing by to assist.” the lead unit stated after halting next to the Turaga.

Dume nodded approvingly, tapping his staff on the floor . “I must return to my office.” he stated. “Make sure I get there. Anyone who tries to stop us is to be treated with extreme prejudice.”

“Understood.” came the reply. The Vahki took up flanking positions and together, they made their way down another corridor and a few turns. This level was not open to the public or for administration. It was merely functional in purpose and design, with a much less streamlined layout. There was an industrial edge to everything. Eventually, their path led to another elevator - one meant for cargo and other goods - not people. It was heavy duty and utilitarian,  devoid of flourish or style and way larger than the other lifts Jabali had seen. The entire team of Vahki was able to file in alongside them once the lead unit had summoned it and the door slid open.

Once inside, the squad mother used its staff to unlock the latch hiding the control panel for the lift, which had a red indicator light above it. “Voice key required to access top level.” the Vahki stated. Turaga Dume sighed, cast a Why, spirits, why? look at the cabin ceiling, then stepped closer to the panel and leaned down towards the panel. He cleared his throat and spoke into the microphone: “Turaga Dume is my name. And the heart of Metru Nui is my game.”

“Voice key recognized. Access granted.”

The lift began to move, less smooth than it’s fancy counterparts as well and Dume stood, both hands on his staff out in front of him. After a few seconds of silence, he tapped it again, once. 

“It occurs to me I have not properly thanked you for rescuing me. It was very brave of you to interfere with a dark hunter’s business.” he addressed Jabali, without looking her way. His tone was even, with just a hint of gratitude in it before returning to normal. “Your timing was fortuitous as well. Very fortuitous indeed."

"You knew they were coming for me, didn’t you?”

Now he turned his head.

“How?”

 

OOC: @That Matoran with a Vahi
 

[That Matoran with a Vahi]

IC: Jabali - The Coliseum

Well, she could hardly say she hadn't expected that question to come up sooner or later.

Perhaps wedged in a service elevator along with what felt like half a squad of Vahki as well as the all-important Turaga was a less ideal setting than Jabali might have hoped; but she had only herself to blame for that. The Matoran adjusted her Miru slightly, cleared her throat.

"It was kind of coincidence. This group had come onto my sculpture field looking for one of the Great Disks, and one of them - the famous Toa Stannis - was being pursued by a Dark Hunter. The Hunter confronted them; but before he was killed, he told the group of Toa that he'd just received a contract for your head. And we all knew that someone had to come and warn you, and, well..."

She trailed off with a little shrug.

"I volunteered to do it," she finished lamely as the elevator continued to rattle upwards.

 

IC: Zecrillia - Ta-Metru Great Furnace

"...I was getting there."

When three hadn't done anything - good or bad - Zecrillia had been intending to work upwards; trying 149, 159, 169 etc. until she'd covered every combination. That the Swordsman had a sudden desire to skip her second attempt and leap right to the third was surprising; but no so much so as the fact that turned out to be the right combination. The Vortixx gaped, jaw hanging wide open, as the metal canopy extended through the fire, creating a shield that allowed the pair to reach a... a portal of some kind?

This was not what she'd expected. Anything could lie beyond that portal along with the Great Disk; not to mention, it could well be a one-way trip and she'd have to find a much longer route back.

Still, common sense hadn't stopped her from getting this far, and it wasn't going to take over now. Plus it might be at least a little less sweltering there than it was in here.

Stooping to make sure she cleared the portal fully, Zecrillia followed the Swordsman through.

Everything, down to the very air, seemed different the instant she emerged into the charred landscape. Under other circumstances, Zecrillia might have taken the time to adventure further into the strange land, to follow that sound of childish laughter that she could faintly pick up to wherever it might lead her. Here and now, however, the Vortixx had eyes only for her prize, embedded as it was in molten rock.

With barely a nod at her companion to acknowledge she'd heard him, the lady stepped forward, got a grip on the disk's rim, and tugged on it with her considerable strength in an effort to pry it loose.

 

IC: Varxii - On the Warpath

This was not what she had signed up for.

Granted, she hadn't signed up at all. She had been beaten to a pulp and forcibly conscripted; and when you were a mass of bruises and broken bones, and a hulking warlord was towering over you with a look in his eye that said he'd be glad to finish what his troops had started if she'd refused to aid his cause... well, one couldn't exactly say no to that if she wanted to live through it. But Varxii had, so far, just been put to work taking on some of the League's toughest enemies, being in the thick of fights against beings who would have threatened the safety of her people, ultimately, just as much as they impeded the Barraki's ambitions, or else on relatively 'routine' missions like retrieving cargo from that Nynrah wreck. Nothing that made her compromise the morals she liked to think she held.

This was different.

This was too much like walking into the centre of a village and slaughtering defenceless Matoran; just the sort of thing she had always protected her own home against.

Again, of course, there was no saying no; she'd proven herself a capable fighter with the League, and as soon as she'd woken from her exertions of a few days ago had received word that she was expected on the battle lines for the attack on Metru Nui itself. No-one had specifically mentioned civilian casualties being part of the deal, but Varxii knew they didn't need to: that was practically a given when you were marching on possibly the biggest metropolis in the known universe.

Matoran - her own people - were going to die. Maybe even by her hand.

She felt sick to her stomach.

Still, she had geared up, and she was as ready as she was ever going to be. Swallowing a wave of nausea, the Vo-Toa nonetheless followed Pridak, Zaliyah, and countless others through the portal.

She'd never been to Metru Nui, had never cared to. The big city held little interest to her, besides the dark and shadowy corners where unsavoury beings doubtless lurked, waiting to pick a fight that she'd be glad to oblige them with; otherwise, from what she had heard, it was all too regimented, too authoritarian for her tastes. Still, it was home to so many people...

In the heat of the fight, Varxii was sure, she would have little chance to think of such concerns. Maybe she could at least try to limit civilian casualties, only fight those robot guardians who were supposed to be everywhere, and the Toa--

The Toa. Her childhood heroes. As a tiny Matoran, she'd looked up to them, longed to be one of them, and now here she was... a Toa herself, but on completely the wrong side and, likely as not, about to find herself going head-to-head with those she had revered.

Hands curled into fists, stray sparks dancing around her clenched knuckles as Varxii struggled to control her thoughts. Whatever happened, whatever she would do here... she couldn't afford to go to pieces.

[Unreliable Narrator]

IC: Reliable Narrator | Ta-Metru

As her hands closed around the Ta-Metru Great Disc - 159 - and pulled it free from the puddle of molten rock,  Zecrillia turned behind to see the Great Furnace on the far side of the portal they’d come through beginning to fade: they needed to hurry back or become forever lost in the unknown. The soft sounds of wind chimes and the tinkling of bells echoed from deeper in the burnt forest of charcoal trees.

@Tarn, @That Matoran with a Vahi

[Tarn]

IC: The Swordsman - ??? (Great Furnace portal)

"Come on," I said, turning to leave. There was an urgency to my step but I kept a calm demeanor as I headed for the portal, wondering in the back of my mind where exactly this forest of burnt trees was located--had we been taken somewhere else in the Matoran Universe, lost and forgotten? Or, was this somewhere further, some place less familiar...another world outside our own, with a people all its own, that we were not meant to tread in?

I crossed back over the threshold and waited expectantly for Zecrillia, not exactly happy to be back inside the sweltering furnace, but it was better than being trapped somewhere alien.

@That Matoran with a Vahi

Edited March 13, 2020 by Tarn

[That Matoran with a Vahi]

IC: Zecrillia - Ta-Metru Great Furnace

A more passionate adventurer than Zecrillia might have risked it. Even for her, the gentle sounds on the wind - of a child's laughter, of the soft tinkling of bells - enticed her; but the Great Disk was solid in her hands, and her exit back to reality (if, indeed, this place was outside of it) was rapidly shrinking. Curiosity wasn't a temptation that Zecrillia could often be accused of, and it certainly held no pull over her when she had somewhere else far more important to be - like putting this Great Disk to some very profitable use. Waving the disk in the Swordsman's direction, the Vortixx dived past him, landing in a crouch back on the catwalk, once again in the smothering heat of the furnace.

"I say... we should get out of here now. Before I literally fry to the inside of my armour."

For as ecstatic as she should have been to have one of the priceless Great Disks literally in hand... Zecrillia found herself decidedly irritated that the Ta-Metru disk didn't have at least the common decency to be a freeze disk if it was going to be hidden in a place like this.

[Tarn]

IC: The Swordsman - Great Furnace

I nodded and headed for the nearest catwalk, looking below at the Matoran workers who now seemed to be disturbed by some event happening we were not privy to (a particularly vocal foreman was using language I would not). I started observing the area around us, knowing it would certainly be...interesting if a Toa of Fire and a Vortixx woman suddenly climbed down with a disk in tow, and began searching for an alternative.

Near the end of the catwalk I noticed an emergency exit, presumably put in place for if something went wrong in the furnace and it'd be too dangerous to take the ladders down. I quickly headed outside through it and found myself at the top of a staircase in an alley beside the building. Turning to Zecrillia, who I imagine was relieved to escape the impressive heat, I asked, "So, what are you planning on doing with that disk? Are you taking it to Dume still, or selling it to make a quick profit?"

@That Matoran with a Vahi

Edited March 13, 2020 by Tarn

[Dane-gerous]

IC: Kovac Krossfari - Coliseum (In A Bad Spot)

"...Gnnngh....."

The taste of copper spattered all over the vigilante's mouth. Metal bones twisted in unnatural ways, and a horrible ringing assaulted his head.

An elevator door continously opened and closed, an outstretched arm laying on the floor blocking it from fully shutting. Part of the elevator's roof painfully sat on Kovac Krossfari's body, pinning him down.

He wasn't sure what floor he'd ended up on.

Edited March 13, 2020 by Dane

[Void Emissary]

IC:

Did Irna have doubts?

She hadn't liked when Mazor had been taken into the sanctum of the Barraki on his own, without her or -- Spirits willing, even Ostrox -- to back him up. She didn't like Lord Pridak's words of useless Spirits, no matter which he might have been referring to. And she didn't like the idea of going into the heart of a city and--

Of course, she had never lived in Metru Nui -- even the townships of the Northern Continent had been beyond her means, beyond the limits of what the Matoran would allow her people to go. And she supposed that Pridak could be correct, that the people of Metru Nui were nothing but hypocritical monstrosities who had to be fought, who had to be--

But she had been from a village, and that village had seen invading forces, invading forces that had taken neighbours, friends, family--

But this was different, this would be different, this would surely be--

Irna stepped through the portal.

-Void

[Tarn]

IC: Idlyx Haeve - Coliseum

The Hunter was beginning to feel increasingly claustrophobic. Returning to the elevator he'd arrived on, he pried the door open and...huh.

The elevator had fallen down the shaft in what seemed like a freak accident. Oh well. Idlyx leapt down and landed on top of the wreck, what was left of the roof creaking under his weight. Another sound could be heard beneath his feet that definitely wasn't creaking, and the Hunter began to tear it open like a tin can to reveal the twisted form of Kovac Krossfari, barely clinging to life.

"Well, isn't this serendipitous?" the sadistic Hunter said, getting down on his haunches to get a closer look into the pile of metal and injured Toa. "I could make this very easy for both of us right now, but...oh, Mata Nui that's no fun! I'm not here to put people out of their misery, I'm here to put them in misery!"

He sighed. "You probably don't even understand what I'm saying, broken little thing. Pains me to do this, but..."

The Hunter reached down and carefully plucked Kovac from the wreckage, and if anyone were to witness this odd moment of respect between enemies, they'd see the dramatic pose struck by Idlyx as he held the Toa in his arms. While the events must have been a blur to the concussed Kovac, the next thing the Vo-Toa would have been cognizant to was being propped against a wall in the Coliseum surrounded by Matoran, one of which was already checking his injuries and telling him to lie still. The Kekamaire, meanwhile, had vanished back into the crowd trapped inside the locked down building.

...

Edited March 14, 2020 by Tarn

[Snelly]

IC: Vashni - Taku -

With nothing but a nod, Vashni delved into Arkius' dreams, a mental projection of herself appearing inside whatever nightmare he was having. 

IC: Skyra - Le-Metru -

"They'd probably do that, and try to get me on half a dozen violations that they'd make up on the spot..." Skyra sighed. "Who the heck thought it was a good idea to leave law enforcement to a bunch of stupid machines?" 

@Tarn@Onaku

[Tarn]

IC: Rose - Le-Metru to Coliseum Parade Grounds

"Heh. I guess Dume did, or chief engineer Nuparu. Whoever suggested the idea first..."

The trio soon reached the parade grounds, presumably linking up with the others who had made it there as well. "Here we are," Rose said. 

@Snelly@Onaku

[Toru Nui]

IC: Tekmo (The Coliseum, Parade Grounds)

Tekmo joined Ardoku down at the Coliseum. "Ah, the parade grounds. If only we could be here under better circumstances..." His expression abruptly changed from a weary grin to a more concerned look. "How are you feeling?"

 

IC: Waveahk (The Coliseum, Prison Level)

Seeing that Vyarik clearly wasn't in the mood to talk, and knowing personally the baggage that comes with a strange new form, Waveahk shifted focus to the red and gold one. "To answer your question - I'm here because I surrendered."

 

OOC: The following was acted out in private messages between me and Unreliable Narrator.

 

IC: Ostrox and Mantax (Barraki Fortress)

A short while before Leonn activated the teleportation device, Ostrox found Mantax's private retreat in the fortress to be a calm oasis of home. A soft candle burned in a hanging lantern near the middle of the ceiling. Unlike the others, Mantax cared little for personal possessions. A tea pot made from the clay of his hometown rested on a low table of dark teak. 

"Ostrox, you've come at last. Forgive me for delaying your report. My presence was requested by Pridak earlier. How did Carapar's expedition go? Anything unusual outside of the Captain's report?" Mantax spoke with a deep resonance to his voice, which filled the whole of the chamber even as a whisper. He spoke in their native tongue, a fact often found annoying by the other Barraki save Kalmah. Mantax chose to refrain from speaking in the common Matoran whenever possible, saying it proved painful on his tongue and throat.

Ostrox bowed, and began to speak in their true language as well. "My Lord, it seems that the Captain neglected one detail. On our voyage to the island, our ship was accosted by two others, boarding us with Visorak. Their attack was, of course, a failure and the two ships made a retreat, but not before they... well, I think you'll agree I've looked better." Ostrox gestured to the scarring across his body that was left by the Vohtarak Rhotuka.

Mantax looked over the scars Ostrox presented. After a while he replied; "did you win these scars honorably?"

"Well... I wouldn't say that. Vile little creatures got me with an Agony Rhotuka. Not my finest moment, I'll admit."

"Then you'll need to earn more to cover your shame," Mantax disciplined. The honour of their culture demanded scars in combat come from honorable kills, not dumb accidents or mistaken moments on the field. Mantax's own body was covered in the history of his honorable adventures. "You said the Visorak ships attacked your ship. Were there others aboard those ships, or just the web spinners?"

"I would presume so. They don't seem intelligent enough to operate a ship on their own. But if there was anything else aboard those vessels, they operated purely from the inside, as no-one saw anything."

Mantax nodded. "Why do you think this was not reported?"

"If I had to guess, Captain Tugarak found it insignificant compared to the recovery of the artifact."

"I can understand that. The artifact recovered is something we've been trying to find since the beginning of our campaign." Mantax paused, poured another small cup of tea from the clay pot on the table, and considered Ostrox's report. It explained the reported damage to the hull of The Ripple. "Anything else to report?"

"Yes, my Lord. You see, Mazor has been behaving... erratically, since the artifact's retrieval. He tampered with it, causing the second change in the sky, tried to go to sleep with it still in his hands, putting it in his bag, rather than somewhere secure in the cargo hold, and stalled bringing it to the throne room for as long as possible. In my opinion, he seems unhealthily obsessed with it."

"That's concerning, keep your eyes on him for me," Mantax replied. He stroked his chin and nodded, satisfied with his order.

"Yes, my Lord. Is there anything else?"

"Nothing else, no, except to fight honorably and win your new scars with valour." With a wave of his hand, the Barraki dismissed Ostrox from his chambers.

Now, Ostrox had nothing but loyalty and respect for his king, but he even he had to admit there was something to be said about his lord and master essentially telling him to get wounded in battle. Still though, scars tended to make for rather entertaining stories - for himself, at least.

When the time came to invade the so-called 'City of Legends' through this remarkable new device the League had constructed, Ostrox's attention was squared solely on Mazor, as per Mantax's orders. He would shadow the living carcass through the invasion, and if either he or his new 'friend' Irna had any objections... it wouldn't be the Toa or the Vahki or Mazor's fellow undead they'd have to worry about.

Watching as Irna stepped into the portal, Ostrox waited for Mazor to do the same.

[Smudge8]

IC: Mazor- Into Ko-Metru @Conway

As the League army stepped into Ko-Metru Mazor patted a pocket in his bag, where he still had the cube. Mazor shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He stepped up next to Irna. "Hey, is everything ok?"

IC: Jephro-Collusium

As the gathered army stood in the parrage grounds, Jephro shifted as he stood. He was visibly nervous. 

OOC: Jephro is open for interaction.

[Dane-gerous]

IC: Kovac Krossfari - Coliseum (Concussed)

A large blurry shadow walked away from Kovac Krossfari's peripheral vision.

Matoran asked questions, but he all he could respond with was involuntary groans and incoherent mumbles. Something soft wrapped around his number hand.

He lay, in limbo outside conciousness.

IC: Leonn - Ko-Metru (Greeting The Army)

Despite already knowing how powerful the portal's prospects were, Leonn couldn't help but whistle as an army was transported right into the warehouse in Ko-Metru.

A mutated creature, resembling a Toa came through the breach. Zaliyah might catch Leonn giving her an odd look, unfamiliar with the species but seemingly interested.

OOC: @Nato the Traveler

 

Edited March 14, 2020 by Dane

[Nato G]

IC: Zaliyah - Ko-Metru

Odd looks were something that Zaliyah had long grown used to. 

"Never seen a Hordika before?" She asked, approaching the skakdi. 

[Dane-gerous]

IC: Leonn - Ko-Metru (Meeting a soldier)

"...No. Apologies, I haven't had the pleasure." He lowered his shades, offering a hand to shake. 

"Welcome to Metru-Nui."