BenLuke

So I'm back, maybe, and deciding on jumping back in with a fresh character, less baggage that way. Look forward to having fun writing with y'all again.

IC: Enyo I pick my way carefully through the wave of Dasaka-kind breaking itself across the stalls and shops of the market, my pack heavier than usual. The Palace’s atmosphere is stifling, too many people packed on one piece of rock on the sea, but business is business, and I’ll have to get used to it until I can find a buyer willing to pay enough for my cargo to be worth the cost of the ferry from Iki. Prospect hadn’t been good, so far, but that wasn’t going to stop me. Persistence is a businessman’s greatest virtue, my father would always say when he was in high spirits about a deal, and we had hopes for a warm meal and to sleep in a bed that night. By Zuto Nui, I miss him, sometimes. I idly dig one hand into my pack and produce one of my wares to examine: A carved red protocrystal gem, cut by one of the highest skill gem cutters of the Ringti cast. The glow of the sin and the lightstones hanging overhead shine into it spilling refracted red lines of light across the group. Pretty. Reasonably uncommon mineral. Somebody has to want it. My other hand rests on my sword hilt, thieves are rare, compared to other places I’ve been, in the Imperial Palace, but caution was another virtue, I’d learned . If were a thief I’d rob me, I’m not exactly what most people, any people, would call intimating, which is often an advantage but mostly just as much a problem. Nothing to be down there, I think, and sigh. There have been times a more dread-inspiring present might have helped. Father had one, when he wanted to. I shake my head clear and deposit the game back with the ten or so other in the pack. It was closer to nightfall then not, which means I’ll have to find someone interested sooner, not later. I smiled, and began shifting my mind into the salesman’s mode while I scanned the market around me for potential customers. I’m not in a sleeping under the stars in a ditch somewhere mood ever, but I'm especially not tonight. OOC: Open for interaction

IC: ""Official" isn't a word I'd associate with us, for better or worse," Kethrye replied with a chuckle. "Probably best off going around meeting meeting everyone else before we going."

IC: The Marine nodded at the new crewmate. "Name's Kotaran."

IC: Kethyre Kethrye smiled in welcome, taking the hand vortixx's hand and shaking it. "Good to have you," he said, "We're in a bit of disarray at the moment and I apologize for that. We should be heading off to actually do something shortly, hopefully."

IC: Kethrye ~ "Alright, try to avoid getting killed out there. Things may be safer then they used to be, but I'd stay vigilant. Never hurts to be carefully "

IC: Kethrye ~ "If only more people saw things that way," Kethrye said, a somber expression creaking cross his kanohi, his voice dropping to a mutter. "Less crud we'd have to deal with. . ." He sighing. "Anyway," the Toa of Ice continued, clearing the melancholy from his face as easily as we wished he could in his mind. "You tacking along with us to Le-Koro? Or do you have to head back to Ta asap? Wouldn't mind have you along again for as long as can be spared."

IC: Kethrye ~"No, you just made insinuations about people's relationship statuses, that's all."

IC: "Yeah, that's exactly what we need, more gossip," Kethrye said, grinning.

IC: "We were on our way to Le-Koro at one point, before all the sudden reunions," Kethrye replied, head titled towards Ril. "To offer Akiri Kongu and his village any aid be can give them without remaining out of the political quagmire as best as possible. After that we'll probably make the same offers to the other Koro, either after or while we aid Le-Koro. We've became aimless and without purpose, since the battle of the Rama hive really, and it's high time we change that. Quelling the hostilities between the village leader in what little ways we can seems a like as good a purpose as an-" "Where's Kethrye?" someone shouted much louder then really was necessary, disturbing a flock of fishing birds nesting in the trees surrounding the lake they fished in, who took flight over the village like a swarm of Nui-Ram hive only with chaotic squawks instead of an incessant buzz. A white armored Toa with a Kakama on his face and a scroll clenched in his hand. A messenger, then. "I'm Kethyre," said Kethrye, and the courier handed off the message, which Kethrye folded up and pocketed as soon as he saw who had sent it. Whatever Vorok and Co. wanted this time, it could wait. The courier nodded and vanished in a blur of motion, Kethrye turned back to Ril. "Uh, anyway. I know you need to get back to Ta-Koro sometime, your boss ain't as lax as he used to be, and when you do is there anyway you could keep us up to date on how things are going over there? Not asking you to be a spy or something, just, you know, tell us what you can."

IC: Kotaran ~ "No way that'll go wrong, not at all."

IC: Kotaran~ "Easier said then down, I'd assume," the marine replied. "With Xa-Koro gone, where do you plan on looking, Captain? Hope we're not just wondering on across the seas without any sort of plan. . ."

IC: "Sure," Kotaran replied, nodding.

IC: "What do you mean by "how far have you gon-" oh, like thaaaaaat," Kethrye replied, shooting a murderous glare at his old friend. He glanced nervously over at Plagia to ensure she was out of earshot. "I um, haven't had time, too busy rebuilding the village and, uh, stuff like that."

IC: "I doubt we'd find anyplace on Mata Nui like that, not nowadays," Kotaran said, wincing. "And even worse, their mistrust is probably well founded."

IC: "So all he has left is blowing things up?" Kethrye remarked. twitching an eyebrow in mock-bemusement. "Good job reducing RIl's life to a shadow of its' former self."

Yes, which are some of the Mole King's subjects, of course.

IC: Kethrye~ Kethrye nodded. "Yeah, let's get moving," he said, raising his voice to address the others. "Don't want to keep Akiri Kongu waiting, do we?" Akiri Kongu. Maintaining a healthy relationship with him and is village would be vital to keeping Pala-Koro safe and hopefully neutral through whatever conflicts might rage across the island like wildfire. Their best shot at keeping the peace was to someone reach a stalemate where none of the Koro dared attack another for fear of provoking the others, a cold war being preferable to hot one. Should be fun, Kethrye thought, knowing it wouldn't.

*Sophisticated.

IC: Feongulf~ "Good," I replied, a grin revealing fang-like teeth. "I'm sure we'll have a bright and profitable future ahead of us." And If we don't, then your disappearance can be. . . arranged. "So, what exactly got those guards after you, if you're wanted for something well know and insane then working with you might prove a bit difficult. Infamy and fear aren't traits my mission needs, though there are other ways you would be of use if if are." Not that that was a likely, but I though it best to confirm he was the petty thief he seemed to be and not another serial killer. Utter psychopaths had their uses, of course, but espionage wasn't generally wasn't one of them.

"Bring it on" seems a appropriate response.

The laws of physics need not apply, but common sense does.

IC: Feongulf~ Fumbling through the traffic, I lead my "new friend" through the streets, keeping the karz away from any guards we passed (No small feet, considering the buildup implied by the recruitment posters plaster around the village.) , and tried to ignore the stares the happily hissing parasite latched to my back brought. Passing through a market district, a hastily purchased a loose-fitting tunic from one of the stands line along the wooden platform, depositing the widgets market on the wooden tag without trying to haggle, then continuing on, quickly throwing the garment on over my armor. We then arrive at the front of the run-down boarding house I had procured a room from for the duration of my mission. I leave my payment at the front desk and claim my key, then head for my room to begin laying my plans. Closing the door on ancient rusted hinges behind us I turn to the vortixx, trying my best to keep a cool, profession expression. "I'm a. . .spy, putting it bluntly, here to slip into the Gukko Force and report on this Koro's inner workings, and I need someone to back me up and serve as a guide while I find my feat here." I paused for a moment to let him digest the information, this vortixx didn't seem like he'd be the sharpest blade between someone's ribs. "I can't pay you, but there are other ways we can make it worth your while in the future."

IC: Feongulf~ I leaned my head to peer behind the vortixx, catching sight of a patrol of guards slowing from a run to a brisk walk as they fought their may through the crowd in our general direction. Great. "Look, okay? I'll give you hand, but not for free," I replied, unclasping my cloak and tossing it to the vortixx with a swish. This loon might prove. . .useful. "I'm going to need your help in return, get it? Now keep your head down!"

IC: Feongulf~ I narrowed my eyes at the vortixx. "Sure you aren't. Let me repeat myself: Who the karz are you?"