Harvali

Hey just realized, if the main topic grows two more pages before the end we would have doubled the pages of SKE. Nice.

OOC: lost this whole post, cranky now

IC Kanohi and Bode and “Collector” - Po-Koro

Bode focused his thoughts, “I do not know where they are going exactly, I think some of them mentioned teleporting there.I will try to learn more. But, the vision, maybe it is a metaphor? Like the islands aren’t literally teeth, but from the islands something powerful will arise? Maybe you? Or your breed?”

Kanohi did not notice, instead answering Arkius, “I think we don’t need to worry about that now, this Toa can teleport us there. And maybe, maybe that’s for the better. If we had to walk, we might leave tracks, and the Skakdi might find us if they came back to raid.”

The Fe-Matoran shivered, so much death, so much horror. They still didn’t know how many had died from the flood. And after everything. He swallowed, he did not have the luxury to mourn yet. He focused and said, “One of the first sent to heather Ruins should be a warrior who can protect the Matoran we send there. Would any of you Toa—”

Kanohi stopped short, and his heartlight froze. In the chaos of the storm, he had forgotten. Matoran had sent the Vahki to slaughter Kilo’s people. Murder them all, because they were supposed to be obsolete. And … and from what the leader of the Vahki had said, the League believed the Matoran had done that again and again to other breeds. Sending pawns, maybe … maybe even Toa.

Even in Okoto the Turaga taught that the Matoran were the chosen of Mata-Nui. That uncaring god. But if the Matoran were chosen, then that implied other breeds were Unchosen. He, he had assumed that was an oversight, since Okoto did not know of other breeds. But now…

He swallowed, he-he had to continue, “My apologies, I am a fool and slow to learn. Would any of you heroes be willing to go first to protect the first groups of Matoran we send? If I had to suggest, Arkius could make quick shelters for the Matoran, but if you are winded from draining the village rest first. Kilo, you seem to, well you seem to have better senses than me at least. Do you think you could spot if a danger approached the ruins?”

Meanwhile Collector lumbered in the underground tunnels. Clinging to his back was a Matoran of Light, her hands aglow. In their left hand they cradled a Matoran of Stone, who was still coughing from almost drowning. As the Matoran on these back lit the tunnel Collector punched through a wall of ice and shattered it, before quickly drawing their Kanoka Blade as water slammed into them. With a quick slash they froze the flood, encasing a chunk of their body in ice as well as a portion of the tunnel ahead.

The Vortixx sheathed their blade and punched through the ice, freeing first their torso then their legs. They began to move forward, kicking and punching to tear down the ice.

Behind them the tunnel was full of shattered ice, and five drown Matoran. They had been too slow to come down, most of them had been beaten by the flood. The flood threatened even the Vortixx too, freezing and breaking the ice was the only way they could move through the torrent of water. Po-Koro was not the only place ripped apart by the rain, water had rushed into the tunnels from all over the wasteland.

Collector paused to pant. Their shivering legs were almost blue, their fist was numb from punching the cold ice. They were no Toa of Ice. But they had to keep going. For the Matoran.

The Matoran of Light tapped on their shoulder, before illuminating a chunk of ice where a Matoran lay frozen, clutching something. Quickly Collector kicked and tore towards them, before using their Kanoka Blade to hack at the ice, digging through.

Finally this frozen Matoran gasped as he tumbled out of the ice, panting. “Sorry,” Collector winced, they should have known freezing the tunnels might endanger Matoran. Conniving monster, they should have thought of the needs of others more. 

 Still they reached over with their left arm and adjusted to hold two Matoran in their left arm. As they did they spotted what the Matoran was holding, Jovan’s Noble mask. Collector nodded, that was good at least, before sheathing their blade and continuing to dig. Who cared about masks of power, when Matoran needed help?

OOC: @~Xemnas~ @The UltimoScorp @pokemonlover360 @Toru Nui @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn 

IC Kanohi and Bode and “Collector” - Po-Koro

Kanohi nodded shakily, “Right, that sounds wise. Thank you, Toa Kat. I have misunderstood situations before, visions might be more confusing. I-I should not fixate on the details. But I … I still have to decide.” He swallowed, he hated this pressure, he was no leader. But he had a duty, he could not pass the duty to another. He was Akiri, and he would have to try.

The cross-wired Matoran cleared his throat, “…If you heroes who have been to the Ruins of Stone have no concerns, I think we will try to settle there. It would have infrastructure, and if the vision is real, it might, it might be good to listen. But if not, we still need to move, and Metru-Koro, I do not believe we can find refuge there. I … I have to ask, can any of you help us leave and maybe get established in the Ruins? I know you have your own missions and lives, but could give us a better chance to survive.”

”For now taking care of the injured is more important, we can try to understand the vision later,” Kanohi drew his Kiril Staff and said, “I … I need to make repairs to the city, I am good at that. We can’t stay, but if it takes time to leave, we will need shelter in the meantime.”

To Toa Kat had said, “If you need water we would do what we can, but I fear we don’t have much clean water. We never had a lot, but I worry the rest may have been ruined in the flood. But we will help with what we can. It is the least we can do.”

He hesitated, “Toa of Iron, you teleported here, right? Do you think, when the time comes, you could help us move the Matoran more quickly to the ruins, or wherever we go to settle? If you can transport the Forge as well,” he shook his head, “no, focus on the Matoran first, the forge, it can wait.”

To Collector he said, “Um, if it is not too much trouble, can you search the flooded underground? Some Matoran may have gotten trapped in the current, and I think Jovan’s mask is still down there.”

Collector nodded, “Of course.” They turned to go towards one of the remaining pits in the ground, to search for the Noble Mask of Flight and anything else lost to the flood.

Kanohi nodded, but then hesitated once more. With halting words he asked, “Oh, um, Toa Varian, if you need it, you have permission to search my mind for information on the visions, you would probably know my mind better than me.”

Bode meanwhile wasn’t speaking out loud like Kanohi, merely sending his thoughts to reach Ulkarr, “he just had another vision, though I do not know how literally you should take it. He saw a village by a ruined temple, between an eastern mountain range and a western coastline, then a starless night being extinguished by light, and then he saw islands. He thought they were the ones I told you about before but it, even he was unsure. But in this vision, the islands rose out of the water, becoming the teeth of a gigantic jaw.”

The De-Matoran continued his telepathic update, “And, um, speaking of gigantic teeth. Well, um, Po-Koro was devastated by the monster’s presence, the ground collapsed and became a quagmire, most of the buildings sunk, the land is now unstable. We are planning to leave the ruined landscape to found a new village, and because of that latest vision, Kanohi is considering going to a nearby ruins that had already been visited by some of the heroes who saved ours in the storm.” 

OOC: @~Xemnas~ @The UltimoScorp @pokemonlover360 @Toru Nui @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn 

IC Kanohi and Bode and “Collector” - Po-Koro

Kanohi winced, “I-I sorry, did not mean to worry anyone. It’s … sometimes I see things. Visions. It started right before the Invasion of Metru-Nui, when Knichou was making me my Volo Lutu Launchers. Stannis knows. He-he knew when he appointed me in charge.” He said that last two sentences almost defensively, averting his eyes from everyone. 

Collector spoke up, “What did you see?” They cocked their head at Kanohi, they had heard a little of these visions, but when he had been lost in his thoughts, they thought they had heard Kanohi whisper something about the ruins of stone. This might be relevant.

”Oh, um,” Kanohi’s face turned burnt red, “well the first vision in the Taku was of a chain of islands sinking below the waves. Bode claims they match the archipelago south of this island. The second was in the Invasion of Metru-Nui, I … I saw Mata-Nui’s head be ripped off, before we landed. The next was after I had returned to Po-Koro, when I saw two Toa dying in each other’s arms in a jungle, one Toa had red armor, the other one was green.”

Collector glanced among the others, “And now?”

”It started with a peaceful village, one that stood besides a ruined temple. There was a coastline to the west, and a mountain range to the east. Could … could I have seen the future of Po-Koro?”

”Was the head in your dream?” They pointed to the west, towards the colossal severed head of Mata-Nui, still bleeding that strange fluid. 

“I … not that I recall. But it was hard to focus, I didn’t think to search for it. Then there was an all-encompassing starless darkness that was overcome in a burst of light. And then I saw islands, I think they were the ones I saw before. Only this time, they rose, grew sharper and taller, and then I realized they were teeth on a massive jaw.”

Collector looked at the group, “I … I have heard there are masks that give visions, I suppose it is not unheard of. And Dume had sought power over time. But for a Matoran to see the future … still, you saw the death of Mata-Nui from the outside, and the geography of this island before you had stood on it? That is … and you are not getting the order of events mixed up?”

”I … I am sure.”

Collector looked at the Toa and Vahki, ”What do you all think? I … if this vision means something … the head was not there, so it might have been the past. I can’t imagine it would be easy to miss the head. But if it was the past, then there might be foundations of an old village to rebuild. And given Kanohi’s … Kanohi-ness, I suppose it is possible he could have not noticed the head. It still might have been the future.”

Kanohi swallowed and looked at the group, “I know you saw there would not be much room in the ruins itself for all of us to live. But what is the terrain like? Could we build homes nearby the ruin, at least with the help of the Toa present?” He … he had not really followed the visions closely before, took this as warnings not advice. But this, Stannis trusted him and put him in charge. He said it was because Kanohi cared but, if Stannis trusted in these visions, then Kanohi should trust the visions too. Right?

OOC: @~Xemnas~ @The UltimoScorp @pokemonlover360 @Toru Nui @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn 

Gosh I need to replay the Voya-Nui Online Game. Hope I remember my BioMedia password.

Fun fact about my latest post, I had written Collector’s suggestion About where to resettle first, and then right before posting I realized I could tie a vision prompt into it. 

IC Kanohi and Bode and “Collector” - Po-Koro

Collector approached Kanohi and the group, before laying the injured Matoran down. “I … I am sorry friend,” they said to Kanohi, sitting down, “I … I never should have abandoned this village. If I had been shuttling supplies back and forth regularly, the damage would not have been so bad. The raid would have been dealt with quicker too.”

”I … we don’t know that,” answered Kanohi, blushing beneath his mask, “and you were here we we needed you the most. You saved lives. But um, I am afraid there is some bad news. This Toa has been to the fort more recently though, it has been attacked since you were last there. It is no longer safe.”

The Vortixx paused as they pulled out the telescopic lens, wincing. Karzahni, was there any break? They strained their mind, trying to think of anywhere else the village could go, even as they tinkered.

”Toa Atamai” they spoke up suddenly, “There is another structure we encountered that the Matoran could take shelter in. An older one, one that is theirs by birthright. Could we transport them to the Ruins of Stone? We would need their help there regardless, if you think the ruin and it’s landscape could provide them shelter, it might make sense to take them with us there. If it has lasted this long despite the Skakdi, it might be a safe refuge. And I … I do not think I can leave them again.” 

At that suggestion they stood up and handed Kanohi the lens. “This may need adjusting, but it should work.” Kanohi blushed a burnt orange under his mask, even as the lens began to extend and retract, letting him zero in on the surrounding landscape.

”Th-thank you so much. I … I am sorry we have so little to pay you with,” Kanohi’s hands flailed like weeds in a storm, “I … when we are resettled and have a new forge, I promise I will make you a useful mask. Though it’s not enough.”

As Kanohi’s gaze wandered over the ruined landscape with his new telescopic lens, he felt his heartlight pound. So many buildings destroyed, so many lives lost. They had more Toa now to help them rebuild, but still. To be unmoored again…

But as the cross-wired Matoran’s optic passed over a slumped over corpse, the body’s heartlight reignited. It grew brighter and brighter, Kanohi stumbled back but he could not turn his head nor relax the lens. The light consumed the world, until he was floating in a white void.

Gradually the light began fade in its radiance, and Kanohi began to recognize details. Huts, homes, he could see a village carving out of the light. He turned his head to see a ruined temple standing besides the village, tall and proud. “The … the Ruins of Stone?” His optics widened at the thought, as his lens searched through the landscape. 

As the light faded he could recognize it had become the sun, traveling across the sky. And if that was the sun, he scanned around with his lens, recognizing a mountain range ran from the east of the village, and to the west lay a long coastline. This was … was this their future home?

Night fell in this vision, the stars empty and missing. Just endless gloom. But just as darkness consumed everything a burst of light erupted into the darkness, blinding Kanohi with radiance once again, “The Light,” he muttered, clutching at his optics as the light slammed into him.

When the burst of radiance faded, he found himself floating above a chain of islands. Islands that he had never visited, but he had indeed seen before. In another vision, a vision where they were swallowed up by the rising ocean.

But now, now these islands grew. They rose through the water, cleaving the ocean as they grew taller. These islands grew pointer, sharper, and as the cross-wired Matoran shuddered he could see them met into a large curved jaw. “The islands,” he managed to squeak out in growing horror, “they were teeth!”

And then the vision ended, and Kanohi found himself panting among the Toa and Vahki, his heartlight pounding and his optics wide.

OOC: @~Xemnas~ @The UltimoScorp @pokemonlover360 @Toru Nui @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn Vision time

…

IC Mahrika - “The Mask of Water(fall) Breathing

Mahrika’s hand flew to her Kanoka, her breathing halted. She winced, that was suspicious, and bzp she tried to casually release her grip on it. Keep it subtle. But why was she worried, this thing had encouraged the two Matoran getting desecrated, hadn’t it? But, it had been cagey on the nature of the Aspect and Matoran’s connection. She … she did not know anything about this place. Or this Admin. Who had at one point implied he had not originated here. 

Still she swallowed her fears and changed the subject. “This Admin earlier mentioned that while the Virtues combined form a civilization, the Virtues individually are important. I think, I … I don’t remember the exact wording. But, the Principle of Purity is derived solely from Unity. And, I do not remember much of the other cultures, but I think … I think there was a Principle derived solely from Duty, and a different one from Destiny. I think Duty’s Principle was … bravery? Maybe? And Destiny’s was peace? Or tranquility? Sorry, neither were valued as highly in my tribe. But maybe we have to assemble these symbols into their corresponding principle?”

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Burnmad @Eyru

IC Kanohi and Bode and “Collector” - Po-Koro

Kanohi hesitated, this Toa knew him? He … was this a Toa he knew as a Matoran? One of the group that had gone to Dume’s office? He swallowed, that did not matter as much, “It was hard to see, the thick rain distorted it. I … I believe it had a crest with many horns and spikes, thick legs, I believe it walked on four legs and had a long tail. And it’s size…”

He thumped his masks, trying to focus his thoughts. Finally he said, “it was hard to tell from far away, but it looked taller than a fully grown Knowledge Tower, and longer than the reach of Po-Koro. If … you know the massive … head we came from? Maybe the beast would be the size of one of the head’s eyes.”

The Fe-Matoran spoke firmer now, “one thing I am pretty sure of though is that it did not purposefully flood and sink the village. It just walked on past, never stopped, it was too busy heading south. I … I am not even sure it was aware we were here.”

”Kanohi?” Sucordak approached, “”we have recovered what disks you and I have crafted. The Forge of Vakama is still ruined, although,” the Matoran of Plasma paused to eye Kat and Atamai, ”maybe these Toa could mend it.”

”Maybe,” Kanohi admitted, “But … the ground is still unstable. Arkius drained it, but the underground water will erode the ground, much of the homes have sunken, and we would have to rebuild huts from scratch. I … but if the fort is damaged then we cannot take refuge there.”

Kanohi paused, “I have a foolish question. My homeland never developed the technology of Kanoka. I only learned that disks were reusable during the invasion of Metru-Nui. My question is, can disks of regeneration mend any inorganic material, including the ground? Or only materials that are synthetic? Some of the heroes who helped us in the crisis came here originally seeking a Great Disk of Weakening, they hoped me and Sucordak could forge it. It was beyond my skill level, I have only managed to craft low level disks of regeneration. But … if we could make a Great Disk of Regeneration, could we restore the ground, strengthen it back to how it was before the storm?”

Elsewhere, Collector wrenched a Matoran free of the mud, and cradled them in their arms. They slowly laid them down besides some Ga-Matoran medics, before wandering away as they pumped mud and water from the small person’s lungs.

The Vortixx was a greedy monster. Just like their people. When they had returned to Po-Koro, a they were upset that the Matoran had flourished without them. They should have been supportive of their friends, not made it all about them. Then in the storm they were excited to help, cheerful, even as Matoran died and drown. And only now did they realize what had happened to the village, and how much of it was their fault.

There was a cry, and they sprinted towards the sound. As the Vortixx charged they could see a chunk of ground collapsing, the crumbling land carrying a hut with it. Quickly they thrust their Kanoka Blade down, plastering the ground together with ice. 

As they soldered the land together they called out, “Hurry, Matoran. Get to safety.” The Vortixx pulled free their blade and struck another patch of ground, sealing it together even as a Matoran poked their head out of the hut.

”Help,” the Onu-Matoran pled, “my charge can’t walk.” With a simple nod Collector bent on one knee and stretched their free arm inside the hut, before grabbing a bedpost. They slid the bed towards the door, before scooping up the Matoran and lifting them into their arms.

They cradled the injured Matoran, sheathing their Kanoka Blade, even as the Onu-Matoran ran out from behind them. Collector followed after them, walking away even as the hut completely collapsed into the rushing underground river that coursed below. 

OOC: @~Xemnas~ @The UltimoScorp @pokemonlover360 @Toru Nui @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Kanohi and Bode and “Collector” - Po-Koro

Kanohi sighed, of course, he should have known it would not be so easy. Still he tried to put on a brave face and said, “Noble Toa, thank you for the warning. I am afraid Po-Koro has suffered a lot of damage. A great beast wandered past our village, and while it did not attack us, it radiated a torrent of rain. The village became a quagmire, the ground collapsed, and now I fear that the land is not stable enough to depend on. And since the Skakdi have already raided us once…”

The Fe-Matoran tapped his masks, trying to calm himself down with the rhythmic clicking of metal on metal. As he stimmed he looked over the newcomer, eyeing his orange armor. It resembled Kanohi’s own armor, but, but maybe…

Finally he shook his head, “you are a Toa of Iron, right? Not Stone?” Kanohi had briefly hoped this newcomer might be just an well armored Toa of Stone, in which case between Arkius and him, maybe the ground could be stabilized. But once again, no such luck for Po-Koro.

Still, he was Akiri, he had a duty to lead, “Well, do you know of a place we could make a home?”

”We — hack — aren’t going. Po-Koro is our home, no outsider is gonna make us leave—” A Matoran of Plasma started to speak up, before being slugged by a Ga-Matoran. He fell hard, even as he coughed up more globs of mud. 

Kanohi sighed, “Supaka is … many of us are tired of having to flee from village to village, trying to find a lasting home. I … do you know of a way we could mend our village’s grounds?”

“I … I can reach out to my master,” De-Matoran spoke up suddenly, “maybe he will have advice, or be able to protect us.”

Kanohi sighed, “I … it’s Ulkarr, right? He … he helped us rescue a Matoran once, he knows this island more than any of us, he’s from here. It … just advice. Do not ask to make deals or sacrifice any of us who are dying from the storm. We-we will need to take care of the dead, that’s another thing.”

Bode nodded and focused his thoughts. Telepathically he spoke, “Master, Po-Koro has managed to survive, the beast is gone and so is the rain it brought, they have both traveled south. But now the ground is weak and the village devastated. And Master, some of us are dead as well. D-do you know of a place we could take refuge in? I think you said Metru-Koro has survived, but could we find sanctuary there?”

Elsewhere Collector worked to assemble the telescopic lens. Though their arms were thick with muscles, they moved their fingers with the precision of a flutist, carefully adjusting and tweaking the lens. Slowly fitting the lens in place, tightening the mechanisms, testing the sensors. Not just sensors for seeing things with the lens, but a telescopic lens had to be able to detect some of the desires of its wearer. Otherwise, how would the machine know when to focus, and when not to?

They held the lens to their eye, focusing it. The machine shifted slightly, but not much else. It was too tight. They sighed and began to tweak the telescopic lens, loosing parts of it so it could extend and open up like a proper iris.

They held it up to their eye again, the lens adjusted more now, perhaps slightly too much. And it’s image was a bit blurry. They popped out the individual lens, cleaning them out, before slotting them back in in a different order. They retightened the device, not too much but enough to be stable.

As Collector looked through the telescopic lens once more they sighed. They … they had not tinkered on something besides their bike for a long time. They winced, hopefully it and the rest of the company’s vehicles had survived the storm. They should check, after they have done what they could here.

They sighed and shoved upright, they would do more fine tuning on the lens later, but for now it was working okay, and they were more rested. And as they walked across the village they could hear Matoran crying for help. They took great strides towards the sound, readying their Kanoka Blade as they walked. Hopefully, this was one Matoran they would not fail.  

OOC: @~Xemnas~ @The UltimoScorp @pokemonlover360 @Toru Nui @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Kanohi and Bode and “Collector” - Po-Koro

Collector thrust a broken Vahki staff into the mud, using it as a shovel. Slowly he hauled away the frozen ground, as Matoran pushed and shoved against the pinned door. Finally they broke through and a Matoran hurled out of the hut. She fell to the ground, panting.

”Toa Arkius thank — oh,” the De-Matoran glanced at Collector, “you came back.” The Vortixx looked away, and the Matoran pulled herself up, adding, “come on, there are a few wounded Matoran who were trapped inside. And don’t get any funny ideas.”

Collector did not respond, merely leaned in and scooped up the three Matoran in their large arms. They walked away from the Matoran of Sonics, headed back towards the gathered group of Toa and mechanical lawmen. As they did Collector overheard snatches.

They laid the Matoran down, letting medics rush to them, before clearing their throat and looking away. “My comrades, remember that abandoned fort we took refuge in? It would have been less close to that monster’s storm, would have come out unscathed, but it is still close by. Closer than Metru-Koro at least. It would be sturdier than most of Po-Koro at least, and more defendable. Though it may be slightly closer to the League.”

Kanohi nodded, though he let out a sigh, “Thank you. Maybe, maybe that would work. Sorry, thank you so much. It’s just, the cantrips, the walls, the mine, the field, the forge: Po-Koro was finally beginning to grow. And then, wiped out in a moment by a m-monster that didn’t even seem to notice us.”

Collector did not reply, merely walking away towards a group of digging Onu-Matoran. With a swing they thrust their sword into the dirt, ripping it apart, before pulling free a Ga-Matoran, her face purple from lack of air. They cradled her and carried her back to the main group, laying her down so the medics could tend to her. 

They remembered how they felt during the flood. They had been excited, eager to play at being a Toa, to save the Matoran. To make them their friends. And meanwhile Matoran had drowned and been buried alive. Screaming as they beamed.

How many Matoran had they failed? How many died without Collector shuttling supplies and news back and from Metru-Koro? The Matoran were right, they were no Toa, just a greedy conniving Vortixx who abandoned the Matoran for the mere hope of power.

They sighed and continued to pace the village, blooming for trouble. They passed by Matoran who were tiring braided rope to the few surviving Mahi of the village’s herd, attaching carts to them. Other Matoran were gathering whatever food, tools, and personal effects they could find to put in the cars, to prepare for whatever journey that needed to take. In one cart they stacked a number of salvaged disks and tools from the Forge, ore too. They were all preparing to move again. 

Collector sighed, it was as Kanohi said, a waste. As they walked a Ce-Matoran crying outside of a sunken hut. “What can I do to help?” They asked.

”It … it was all I had left of h-home. The Lightstone I used to flee the League.”

The Vortixx did not answer, nearest began to dig into the hut, shoveling away dirt with their barehands. The sludge began to slid back into place, so they thrust down their sword, freezing it. They resumed digging, ripping up the now solidified ooze with their powerful arms.

Finally as they dig light spilled into their face, they stood back up, and handed the Matoran the Lightstone. She bowed her head low and ran off, clutching it in both her hands. Collector meanwhile laid down, a bit winded from all the digging. As they propped up against the hut they resumed tinkering with the telescopic lens.

Meanwhile to Toa Varian, Toa Jutori, and Kilo, Kanohi asked, “wh-what do you think? Do you think this fort would be a good shelter? What is it like?”

OOC: @The UltimoScorp @pokemonlover360 @Toru Nui @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Mahrika - “The Mask of Water(fall) Breathing

Mahrika clutched her eyes, her telescopic lens had only made the light more blinding. As her head throbbed she tried to think. She was not good at puzzles, that had been Vokarda’s skillset, her was simply weaving. “Any ideas?” she muttered to her partner. The Kraata seemed to massage her spine, was she pointing to something? But between Mahrika’s headache and her dazed eyes, she could not see an answer. She was somewhat on her own.

”Give me a moment, I am still slightly blinded,” she apologized, before her exposed optic widened, “oh, that is an idea. Do you think you can turn the disks only partway? Like, maybe turning it less or more will affect how bright it is, and how much it focuses in on the stars?”

As she spoke she averted her eyes from the light, to let her adjust. To not waste time she slowly drew her disk of freezing, and cautiously tapped it in the floor of doorway. As frost covered the edge of the floor she began to trace her finger in it, using her metal finger to carve the symbols of Unity, the Three Virtues, Purity, and Speed. “This should be a start,” the Ga-Matoran said, before turning back to the constellations. Covering her telescopic lens with one hand, she used her unpowered sight to search for familiarity in the stars.

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Burnmad @Eyru

IC Kanohi and Bode and “Collector” - Po-Koro

Kanohi heard the Toa shout as he was mending at the walls of an eroded hut. He turned and grappled over to her, tumbling as he landed on the damp ground. He shakily stood up, using his Kiril Staff to support himself, and dipped his head.

“Um, h-hello, Toa. I am sorry for the state of the village. We … the fringes of a storm swept through Po-Koro, it wasn’t even the full force of it and it reduced the ground into a quagmire, some of the village collapse or sunk underneath. The rain … there was a titanic beast was in the center of the rain, I think … I think it may have been generated the storm.”

Collector coughed from behind Kanohi, who turned to face them. “I will begin trying to unearth any Matoran buried in the mud, along with any disks, as well as Jovan’s mask. But in-between tearing up the earth to search for Matoran, I might need to take a breaks to rest. If you give me the telescopic lens, I should be able to tinker with it when I am resting, get it working.”

Kanohi winced, “I … I doubt the Forge is working now, I will not be able to make you the disks now. And as Po-Koro likely will have to be evacuated, I do not know if I will ever be able to.”

”I understand. I will manage.”

The Fe-Matoran blushed beneath his mask, but still extended his hand and dropped the pouch of components and the unfinished device in the Vortixx’s hand. Collector nodded and pocketed the pouch, before walking away, their Kanoka Blade dangling from their waist.

 As they walked away, Kanohi turned back to the Toa. “Um, I hate to impose, but if you could help us rescue any Matoran partly buried? Or … you are a Toa of Fire, right? Do you think you could help relight the Forge? I think there should be disks of regeneration there, possibly submerged in the mud, they could help.”

OOC: @The UltimoScorp @pokemonlover360 @Toru Nui @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Mahrika - “The Mask of Water(fall) Breathing

Mahrika rubbed her mask, trying to massage her brain. “I … you are not from this island either? You followed the Skakdi here, but … but you inhabit our ancient ruins? These ruins are ancient, aren’t they? I … I thought they were around before me, but I remember the arrival of the Skakdi. I … I don’t understand the timeline.”

Vokarda prodded her gaze towards Ollem, and she made a weary smile, “I suppose we might have to solve the rest of this chamber’s puzzles to fully understand.”

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Burnmad @Eyru

Thanks for the heads up. I’ll consider the rain ending. If anyone else in the village wants to post the rain dying down feel free. Especially since Jovan still needs rescuing. 
 

Hope it was okay to have this mini event, thought it could be an opportunity to show just how terrifying Boss is even when he’s not targeting you. 

IC Kanohi and Bode and “Collector” - Po-Koro

Kanohi grappled back to the Le-Matoran, and slammed his Kiril Staff to the hut. The stone roof and walls regrew from his touch, that should buy more time. Bracing himself, the vigilante turned Akiri hoisted the next Matoran onto his back. He strained under the weight, stumbling in place.

“H-hold on tight,” he urged the Le-Matoran, even as he struggled to aim. He dropped down, using his Kiril Staff as a cane. His optics squinted as his back ached, before he fired his Volo Lutu Launcher. A ball of gravitational force launched from it, smacking into a hut. Kanohi swallowed, before being ripped from his perch over the flooding buildings. 

Below, Collector waded through the mud with two Matoran sitting on their shoulders, clinging to their head. On their waist a Le-Matoran clung to them, holding for dear life. As they approached the transport they periodically stabbed their Kanoka Blade into the mud, freezing more of the ground.

”Do you have an instinct for the direction of storms?” They turned to ask the Le-Matoran cling to their back. She shook her head, and they mused, “Shame. It would be nice to have confirmation. I think the rain is beginning to thin out, the storm may be moving away.”

Overhead Kanohi soared through the air, before grappling onto another hut, and another. He swung across the sinking village, before tumbling onto the Vahki transport.

The Le-Matoran crawled off his rescuer, but Kanohi just laid there, panting. “I … I need a moment,” he managed, “I am sorry, I h-haven’t done this really since the Impact. There … there is a Le-Matoran who climbed up onto a roof in the west side of the village. If … if someone … can get them…”

The Fe-Matoran couldn’t distinguish the pain he felt much, but was vaguely aware that his foot ached worse than the rest of his throbbing body. The same foot that he had sprained in the impact. Was the injury acting up on him again? The same injury that had kept him from grappling much after the Impact, the reason he was rusty?

Suddenly he felt someone lift him up, and cradle him in their left arm. “We will go together, friend, I will carry them, you will help me keep the terrain stable, and scout for trouble,” Collector said as they carried him. They had dropped the three Matoran on the transport, they should be safe there.

”Funny,” Collector smirked a toothy grin, “You are a Matoran, a great Matoran. You should know the greatest power you have is friendship, your Unity. We are stronger together.” Kanohi didn’t reply, still panting but he still made a faint smile beneath his many masks. He … he would take this time to rest, then scout.

Elsewhere Bode was dragged out of the mud, his feet off the ground for the first time since the raid. He looked up in front of him, to the Toa who saved him. Even after all he had done. A shiver went down Bode’s spine and he whispered “Th-thank you, Toa. I … I am so sorry.”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @Toru Nui @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

…

IC Mahrika - “The Mask of Water(fall) Breathing”

Mahrika ran over to look at the basin, Though she tripped and hand to fling out her arms to rebalance. Then she walked over to the basin, too late to see anything but the few last ripples in the water.

She paused, and said, “I can freeze the water, but I don’t know why we would want to. And it might take a while to thaw. And I’m not sure the puzzle would depend on the solver having ice powers. What do you think we need to do?” This was directed not just at Ollem but at Vokarda and Tuakana, in the hope one of the three would have an idea what to do. 

As she waited she swept her telescopic lens around the room. The last puzzle had details buried under the sand, they had almost missed vital clues. Were other hints to the puzzle somewhere around the chamber? Or were there places were a hint could be buried, to be uncovered?

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Burnmad @Eyru

IC Kanohi and Bode and “Collector” - Po-Koro

Kanohi grappled over to Collector and called out, “I can carry her to higher ground.” The Vortixx nodded and held out the Ta-Matoran, who Kanohi hook with his arm as he sailed past. He made his way back up the tower, dropping her off. She and the other Matoran huddled in the Knowledge Tower, even as the village was destroyed.

The vigilante turned Akiri panted, his arms sore from lugging around Matoran. But he couldn’t stop. Below he could see Ga-Matoran helping carry their fellows to the Vahki transport, some climbing on top, others ducking inside. And was that, Dalu?

The Ga-Matoran warrior had been carried onto the transport, and now hung by the edge, using her scavenged Vahki staff as leverage for Matoran to climb on. She still looked pretty busted up from the raid. 

Kanohi sighed out in relief, at least some injured were already being helped. Maybe, maybe he should prioritize them, look for the Matoran who were injured in the raid, the most vulnerable to the storm. He aimed his Volo Lutu Launcher and hurtled down, heading to search for more Matoran.

Meanwhile Collector was thrusting their Kanoka Blade over and over into the ground around the Knowledge Tower. It was a sturdier building, but it’s size put it at risk of sinking into the growing quagmire. They needed to freeze the mud before it could spread too far. 

As they stabilized the ground they heard flailing, a Matoran of Plasma was flailing in the water. They lumbered over and scooped him up, and Sucordak spewed water And mud, struggling to clear his mouth. “Collector, thank you,” he managed, “listen, the disks we have been forging, and the Forge, if it’s at all possible—”

“Karzahni,” Their optics widened, “the disks, the forge. Without them we will be back to where we started. It was so close, that power…” They sighed, looking over the village. Any forge was likely ruined by now, only good for spare parts. The disks might be salvageable though. But once again, their plans were dashed.

Then Collector heard the cries of the Matoran, and tightened. Power or not they … they should help the Matoran. Support them for nothing in return. Like the friendship they craved, “When things are stabilized I will try to recover the disks and anything else that can scavenged from the Forge. And where ever the Matoran go, I will try to help you build a forge there. But right now, it is more important the Matoran evacuate to safety.”

Sucordak swallowed, “I … I suppose you are right. But please, at least take up the ones I was carrying.“ Collector nodded and reached their long arm into the water, dredging up four disks, two of regeneration, two of weakening, the latter would be useless now, but they still would take them. They slid them away, before resuming their task keeping the ground solid. 

Elsewhere Kanohi hurtled over to a hut a few Le-Matoran had climbed atop. As the stone structure cracked he drew his Kiril Staff, regenerating the shelter’s walls. “I can only carry you one at a time,” he swallowed, and leaned down to let one get on. One almost pounced on him, her long ape-like arms clamping on. He struggled under her weight, before he grappled away, heading to drop her off to safety. 

Below the grappling Matoran, Bode could barely focus on anything But the overwhelming roars of gushing water. As he huddled water filled his mouth, making him gag and lurch. The motion helped him catch sight of a Toa, leaning over him with wisdom and kindness, his hammer extended. Bode shakily grasped the handle, letting the Toa pull him upright.

As he pulled, Bode felt his body quake. It was all consuming, the screams and boiling water, the violent rain, it was like the world was ending. Was … was this destiny punishing him for his crime? Was the village suffering because of his murder? And … and the raid, did his evil cause it too? He … he thought he killed her after the rays, but now in this storm, his already breaking memory failed him. 

Kanohi meanwhile laid the Le-Matoran onto the Vahki transport. “M-more will be coming,” he stated, before hooking a hut and grappling away. As he hurtling through the air he brandished his Kiril Staff, striking the huts as he ricocheted between them.the buildings mended under his touch, buying the village a little more time.

And they needed all the time they could manage.

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @Toru Nui @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Mahrika - Stone Suva

Mahrika leaned against the cave wall, panting. The climb was rough, and her body had been shriveled by time and neglect. She had made the climb, but as far as she was concerned, she made it solely thanks to Vokarda.

She breathed heavily as she rested, pulling out a canteen of water salvaged from the wreck of the Skakdi kingdom. She drank it, drooling it over her face, before gagging. The water tasted foul, It was not poisoned, not dangerous, but the quality was low after being polluted by years of the Skakdi mutilating the landscape. 

As the Ga-Matoran coughed she paused, staring at the door, and the canteen. Shakily she stood up and waddled over to the obsidian door. She her hand to the words carved into the glassy barrier, tracing them.

“I … ‘without flaw.’ I-I do not remember much of my people’s culture, but I think there was a principle we respected. The Principle of Purity. I think it was associated with the three breeds of our tribe but other … other tribes only connected it to the Ga-Matoran. Given the Mask of Water breathing built into the waterfall, and that it’s a waterfall, could this be a puzzle involving that principle. Maybe to open the door?”

She felt Vokarda massage her spine, it must be approval. Mahrika smiled and reached over to her back and scratched, trying to show affecting to Vokarda through the layers of Mahrika’s metal skin.

As she scratched her girlfriend Mahrika tried to focus and remember the superstitions of her people. The superstitions that ultimately failed to protect them, “‘Many Together,‘ I think our tribe also believed in a virtue called Unity. And ‘Hastened Arrival,‘ I think, I think they believed in a Skill of Speed too? I … I think that fits the phrases? Though I have no idea how to use those phrases. Or what to do with the basin. What do you think?”

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Burnmad @Eyru

IC Kanohi and Bode and “Collector” - Po-Koro

Kanohi flinched at the Vahki’s word of ‘evacuation,’ but quickly nodded. He let out a whimpering sign, his fingers drumming his armor anxiously. It … it was the right thing to do. The Vahki, maybe Nu only meant for them to evacuate temporarily, get to high ground, then return and rebuild. But between the Skakdi raid, the threat of another raid, and this horrible beast ruining the landscape, Po-Koro was not safe.

They might have to find a new home. The Fe-Matoran trembled in the storm. Maybe they could come back and salvage things, or maybe they could only scavenge the remains, the village too ruined to rebuild. M-maybe they would find refuge in Metru-Koro. But it was going to be attacked by the League.

Would they have to start over from zero again? Could they? Even if they scavenge the remains and carried them elsewhere, how could they rebuild the forge, the fields, the knowledge tower? 

He had failed this village even faster than Metru-Koro and Okoto.

Then Arkius spoke, and Kanohi’s optics widened under his mask. He had to focus on the here and now. The Matoran nodding frantically. “I … I hadn’t even, A-Arkius, c-can you try to save him? If possible, you c-can try to stabilize the ground while you are there, keep the village from collapsing.”

Kanohi did not wait for an answer, hearing a cry from the village. Quickly he aimed his built-in Volo Lutu Launcher and fired, hurtling himself at the gate. He flew over the wall before hooking a house, flinging himself back into the air above the quaking ground. 

With a lunge he shot out his arm, wrenching a flailing Po-Matoran from the growing quagmire. The vigilante’s arm strained under the weight, Kanohi hadn’t been grappling as much lately, but he managed to hold on. 

With a tumble they landed on a stone hut, which immediately began to crumble. Kanohi’s heartlight pounded as he drew his Kiril Staff, tapping it against the hut. The crude shelter strengthened, at least for the moment.

Below Collector waded through the growing quagmire on their long legs, brandishing their Kanoka Blade. A smile was on their lips, like a Muaka spying an elderly sick Kane-Ra. As they approached a crumbling patch of ground they stabbed their Kanoka Blade into the mud, freezing it solid. They nodded and shoved through the flood of mud, using their ‘element’ to stabilize the earth lives. 

Kanohi panted on the hut, his arm aching from the strain. As he looked about he spied the Knowledge Tower, it’s crystalline walls up scratched by the rain, and fairly far from the crumbling tunnel. Mustering his strength he squeaked out a shout, “head to the Knowledge Tower, it’s withstanding the storm.”

Then he dropped to his knees, saying, “climb on.” The Po-Matoran nodded and clung to the vigilante’s chest, who grappled away. Kanohi hurtled through the air, before latching his Volo Lutu Launcher to a relatively flare part of the roof of the crystal.

He leaned over, letting the Matoran of Stone climb off, before grappling down. As he landed on a hut he tumbled, still out of practice. He hooked his launchers to stop his careening, before scanning the reaches of the village, looking for more needing help.

Then Kanohi launched away, passing over Collector as the Vortixx froze more of the ground. While Collector shoved aside the flood they spotted flailing. They leaned over and scooped up a drowning Matoran, lifting her onto their shoulders. They smiled a massive grin at her, before continuing to wade, blade at the ready. 

Kanohi meanwhile scooped up a Le-Matoran onto his back, before grappling away. As he hurled and flung across the village, they passed over the field. Kanohi passed overhead without stopping, he had to return to the tower, and in the flood of mud, the gray of a Matoran of Sonics was all but invisible.

Bode fell to his knees in the mud, clutching at his head. His mind was flooded with screams and pounded by thunder and rain, the raw sensory power of a De-Matoran overwhelmed him. He struggled to speak, shouting both mentally and verbally, “Ulkarr, please, it’s … it’s too much. The screaming is too much.” 

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @Toru Nui @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Kanohi and “Collector” - Po-Koro

Kanohi began to pace, his mask-like armor jingling with each step. Finally he said, “I … we can pay a tribute if we have to, and the Skakdi might not even come back for some time. But Metru-Koro, they are in immediate danger. I … think it’s best if you and your squad go to them with Toa Jutori and Vashni. If you wish to. Um, Collector and Kilo, if you wouldn’t mind staying behind—”

And then came a sound like the mad beating of a thousand drums. Kanohi turned to see a darkening as thick droplets pounded into the wasteland, deforming and mutilating it. The layers of dust from the impact were pounded by the rain, flung skyward before mixing into a torrent of mud.

The landscape peeled away, the ground ripped asunder. Mahi sprinted madly in an attempt to flee, as the sparse desert vegetation was swallowed. The sun was devoured as thick storm clouds dominated the sky, leaving the world below an dull haze. And then came the echoing roar, 

Kanohi trembled, as he saw a massive shadow tower over the wastes. “Th-the beast,” he managed, as the rain began to pound against Po-Koro. This … this must be the beast that dig the tunnels. It had to be. It was the only thing big enough. 

The raw intensity of the rain was not upon the village though, it was the fringes, a rough onslaught, but not the full rage of the maelstrom. That was surrounding the beast, seemingly obscure him like a fog.

Collector drew their Kanoka Blade, standing in front of Kanohi. They tried to stand firm even as their heartlight matched Kanohi, and their hand rattled. They had to be strong and protect the Matoran, like they imagined a Toa would. As they stood guard the beast lumbered in the distance, seeming to walk past the crude village.

Kanohi stared up at the distant beast, his optic’s wide, his body threatening to shatter from his trembling. He … he never imagined such a beast, such power. Was … was that one of those Kaita?

Then he heard cries. The Matoran. He swerved to face the village. They were on the outskirts of the storm, but even then the stone buildings of the village were pounded by rain, and the ground was begin to turn into a quagmire.

He swallowed and brandished his Kiril Staff. As he readied to grapple he shouted over the storm, “We-we need to move. C-Collector, can you freeze the ground solid, keep it from crumbling? Vashni and Jutori, do you think you can help reinforce the buildings and try to block the flood? Kilo, Nu, other Vahki, would you be willing to help me rescue the Matoran?“

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @Toru Nui @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

…

IC Bode - Po-Koro

Bode trembled as the roar filled the crumbling ‘streets’ of Po-Koro, and the very sky began to unleash its full fury. The De-Matoran swallowed and thought, “M-Master, I … a storm is brewing, a massive one. And I … I think I can see a colossal monster marching through the epicenter.”

Elsewhere the Matoran at the Po-Koro radio tower suddenly interrupted the conversation that had been planned. “Taku, Taku, there is some sort of massive maelstrom ravaging Po-Koro. We are only in the fringes, but it’s devastating the wasteland … Taku, there was just a massive roar. I … any help you can spare, please.”

OOC: @Toru Nui @BULiK

…

IC Mahrika - Stone Suva

Mahrika waddled after Ollem, her telescopic lens probing the surrounding waters as she climbed. She … she did not see the beast returning, nor spy any Skakdi moving, but she held her Kanoka at the ready just in case. As little as it would do against even a Skakdi.

Strange, to think of a Skakdi as the lesser of two evils. The weaker of two powers. Only a few hours ago, she feared nothing more than the Skakdi. And now? They were barely stronger than her. All but helpless. She shivered, and continued up the path.

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Burnmad @Eyru

IC Mahrika - Stone Suva

Mahrika looked around as they landed, stealing a glance at the storm clouds in the distance. “You … you are right. There is no way we could get there in time. And we are already here, it would not make sense to leave this ruin as swiftly as we arrived.”

She climbed off the raft, helping to secure it to the beach, even as she mentally reached out to her master. Her god to be. “Tuakana I … I know you wish to prevent death. If it is at all possible, if you find refugees from the gigantic head, please warn them about that beast. It … I don’t even know if the Skakdi who butchered my people deserve to face that monstrosity.”

The Ga-Matoran paused and mentally added, “I … I do not remember the ways of my people much, but I recall what your Great Work was. And I think I remember that great works require different steps to be completed. If I may be so bold, what do you need to get closer to becoming the master of time and death? Is there a way I could help?”

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Burnmad @Eyru not sure if Tuakana is allowed to just say what steps they need to do to grow stronger, but I figure since the desecrated are meant to help their master complete their goals, I might as well ask. 

IC Po-Koro

As the radio operators of Po-Koro peered outside their window, searching for signs of the Skakdi or the League, there was a buzzing of static. The operators scrambled to react, “Yes this is Po-Koro, what is the situation at Metru-Koro?” As an operator replied Onunui stood up to ready herself to sprint to Kanohi.

OOC: @BULiK

…

IC Mahrika - Stone Suva

Mahrika tried not to look at the rocking water as they passed the many bodies of dead Skakdi. She swallowed, gripping her Kanoka tightly as she asked, “Ollem do, do you think we should try to send a message to other survivors from the head? If … if they are unprepared for that beast, they will end up the same as these Skakdi.”

In the meantime their boat drew closer and closer to the great whaterfall. Strange, that it seemed untouched by the Skakdi here.

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Burnmad @Eyru 

…

IC Kanohi and “Collector” - Po-Koro

Kanohi nodded, wincing, “I more than understand, Toa Jutori. Metro-Koro is more important than a Great Disk. Before you depart, would you like to check our village for supplies. Again we have begun making disks, a disk of weakening might help disable an airship’s engine, and a disk of regeneration might help rebuild any damages Metru-Koro suffered.”

Collector spoke up as well, “There is something else we need to consider. Metro-Koro has many Toa to protect it. Po-Koro seems to have fewer warriors. If the League or the Skakdi decide to attack the village, it might be wise to leave some to guard it. I will be staying behind to try to forge the disk, would anyone else wish to stay behind to help?”

The Fe-Matoran winced, his mouth shifting and opening beneath his mask. Finally he said, “I … I hate to bring this up, but um, when I went to Metru-Koro and heard the news of the league attack, there was a Skakdi raid on Po-Koro. Twenty five Matoran died in the attack, many more were wounded. And the Skakdi demanded a tribute from the village. That’s partly why we starting stockpiling disks. To either drive them off, or to … to pay them off.”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @Toru Nui @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn