Harvali

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Kanohi leaned over the crude mine, arms outstretched. In the pit Jovan outstretched his hands, slowly lifting up the latest patch of ore. As it landed in Kanohi’s hands Jovan spoke up. “I-I think that is all the ore I can get easily. The vein goes a lot deeper, b-but dislodging that ore would risk vibrations. The ground is less stable down there, might lead to a c-collapse.”

The Fe-Matoran nodded, making the ore jiggle. He swallowed as looked away, embraced, “M-maybe you and Arkius could work together to free it? We might not need it now but, we should prepare for the future.”

Jovan looked away and answered, “I-I can’t be responsible for him. I-I know he is a Toa, but h-he has to protect the whole village. He can’t w-waste time on me.”

Kanohi winced, that sentiment’s wording was familiar. Still he answered, “I-I understand, but you know that this will help the village. For now, see what progress you can make in figuring out how to dislodge it. Do not mine it yet, we don’t need it for now, just study it. Just is you know, we are making Disks of Weaken and Regeneration now, that might help free the ore. A-again no rush, but just, think about it.”

Jovan nodded vaguely and Kanohi slowly shuffled away, ore filling his arms. As the Fe-Matoran made his way forward he could faintly hear Arkius talking in the distance. He turned towards the Toa, before tripping, spilling the ore about the dirt. 

Kanohi blushed and dove for the ore, before getting back to stacking it. As he rebalanced it he resolved to head over to Arkius, but only after he laid the ore to rest in the forge. He shuffled away, still blinded by the height of the pile. 

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Kanohi nodded as Arkius left. Kanohi stared after him, before his compose collapsed and he falling flat on his back. He breathed heavily, trying to stay calm as he began to drum his mask-shaped armor. Trying, trying to use the beat to ground himself in reality. 

This, this was all on him. If the League attacked, or if the Skakdi came back, he had to lead them. It was, his decisions here and now decided if Po-Koro survived. And even if Arkius and Stannis believed in him he, he wasn’t experienced and he had no answers. He couldn’t know what would save the village, he couldn’t even make himself believe in the Kaita.

He, he tried. He really did. Brought it up at every chance, tried to make it an easy fix. But as much as he tried to focus on the Kaita as an answer to his doubts, that they could be worshipped even if Mata-Nui was dead, it rang hollow.

He, he kept thinking of the fall of Metru-Nui. The destruction, the chaos, Matoran screaming as the city collapsed around the. A-and Okoto’s swamp in flames. Mata-Nui had let it happen, he had ignored the destruction, the horror. And if he had, then Kaita had let it happen too.

He still could cling to Unity, but his faith was still shaken after the Turaga of Metru-Koro had fed into the war. How, how could the Turaga endanger his people so recklessly? His duty to his people, his unity with them? Seemingly thrown aside to spite the League. 

Kanohi swallowed, and shoved off the ground. Keep, keep calm. He needed to keep pretending he wasn’t so rattled, keep strong. H-he needed to, the Matoran of Po-Koro depended on him. And, and things were different here from Metru-Koro, Arkius continued to help the Matoran, Jovan did his best too, and the villagers for the most part stood united … perhaps too united. Bode, they should not ignore his crimes, not even for the same of unity. Not when he killed one of his own.

But the point was, he didn’t have the luxury to be overwhelmed. He had to protect Po-Koro, prepare it for raids, and hopefully find a way to appease the league. He shaking walked away, drawing his Kiril Staff to use it to support his weight. He walked away, he would do his rounds of the village, then go to the Forge. He needed to help forge more disks, and Sucordak wanted Him to learn how to make disks of weakening. He, he gather would learn something more constructive. 

As he walked along he could see Po-Matoran villagereally carving a stone sign for the Forge. The village had decided to honor the mask maker whose last act was trying to get help. The Forge of Vakama was small, humble, and a bit odd, which fit the Ta-Matoran well. He supposed it fit Kanohi as well. He walked on, to look for anything needing repairs.

IC Mahrika - Stone Suva

Mahrika nodded, before holstering her disk on her back. It still felt cold, it’s power was dormant now, but it seemed to have many uses left. But it would still take time to practice it, and she wasn’t sure how long it would take.

Vokarda rubbed her spine and Mahrika made a giggle. She reached behind her and scratched her back through her dress. She shouldn’t get so hung up on what if’s. She had a heading now, to try to uncover the secrets of her people, from before the S-Skakdi.

She hesitated at that thought, “It’s been a while since I have walked the surface, I am not sure where the other ruins might be. I can try to remember, use my lens to scout ahead, but we might just be wandering blindly. I don’t think the Suva has any hints we missed, could other survivors like you have mapped the island?”

OOC: @Burnmad

IC “Collector” - Stone Ruins

As the group began to depart Collector turned to the group. “I am not yet full used to the layout of the island, but I believe Po-Koro may be close by. Should we head to that settlement, or return to Metru-Koro. Po-Koro is poorer, but they have mapped more of the north, and I have friends there.”

Their voice grew slightly more enthusiastic on the ending of that sentence, before adding, “I believe they have a few disk maskers there, they may have set up a Forge since I last was there. Though it would likely pale compared to Metru-Koro’s. I leave the choice up to you.”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @Tarn @Snelly @Onaku sorry if I forgot anyone. 

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Kanohi swallowed, “th-thank you, I will try to be worthy of that trust. If we can prevent the Skakdi or the beast from reaching us, that would be a great help. I do not know how straining it would be to manipulate the earth that way, so um, please pace yourself.”

The Fe-Matoran paused and said softly, “changing the terrain would not stop the League though, they have airships. I saw one when they announced they would destroy Metru-Koro after the Turaga spat in their offers of peace. And that high up, no disk launcher could reach them. And I, I don’t think either of us could survive another war.”

He fell silent for a time, thinking. Finally he said, “I will try to help the village, repairing damaged buildings and the ground damaged by the attack, and try to make a few more disks. Maybe finally get the telescopic lens Vakama gave me working. I believe we had a week from the raid before the Skakdi return, hopefully we can be prepared by then. I-if the Skakdi were honest I mean. Varah thinks they only want blood, she was there during the raid.”

OOC: @Onaku I don’t think Varah revealed Barius gave us a week for tribute, hopefully it’s okay if I fill that in. 

…

IC Mahrika - Stone Suva

Mahrika nodded, “That’s good to know, thank you. Maybe I can one day figure out how to return it to my hand.” She forced a laugh, before hesitating. As she paused she felt Vokarda massage her spine upward, producing her neck. Encouraging her to speak.

Finally she said, “I do not know if I have told you, my memory is not great nowadays. But, I do not know where to go from here. When my home was destroyed when the head crashed, I just wanted to find somewhere to hide. But it’s been millennia, I do not know where to look. Where would you like to go? Should we look for more ruins like this? My master, if they were alive they might encourage me to search through the ruins and remnants of our people, try to figure out ancient knowledge.”

OOC: @Burnmad

IC Mahrika - Stone Suva

Mahrika stretched, her back ached, “Yeah I’m fine. I … tend to adjust to my injuries quick.” She paused, looking at the disk in her hands. She had lasted all these millennia, enduring, adapting thanks to Vokarda. But this disk…

She looked to him and said, “Ollem, I am not familiar with Kanoka. My memory might be going, but I do not recognize disks with powers. But I think you do? They … they don’t run out do they? And do you know what the numbers written on it mean?” She held the Kanoka towards him, it’s paint had been stripped by sandstorms, but some blue paint still remained, as did the engraving of ‘223.’ 

OOC: @Burnmad

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Kanohi nodded frantically  as Arkius approached, and Sucodak slipped out to prepare, pausing only to stare back at Kanohi. The Matoran of Iron winced, before feeling Arkiys’s eyes on him. He managed, “I … any help you can offer could be good. I … I am not sure how much you are aware of, Jovan is mining what ore he can find in the tunnel, which is dangerous given the beast that carved them, but we’ve been making some of the ore he recovers into disks, mostly disks of regeneration, but Sucodak says he can make disks of weakening and freezing, to stop Skakdi rigs in their tracks.”

“I … I have never fought, don’t have the strength for it, and I fear, I am unsure, I don’t know, it’s clear that Skakdi are extremely powerful. And if, if one of them is able to manipulate that beast that carved the tunnels, maybe using a Rahi control ability, we would be helpless. That might not be a danger but I don’t know if you are aware, this island used to be inhabited by Matoran. But almost all of them were wiped out by the Skakdi. And Varah believes the Skakdi still want blood, that they would wipe us out if possible. I … any advice you have in driving them off would be helpful. We are Already going to stockpile disks, wait, I kinda said that already, sorry. But I don’t know how..“

The Fe-Matoran looked away suddenly, “I … I know I am … not great at this, so um, even if we can withstand against a Skakdi Raid, I don’t, I know we cannot survive the League. I don’t think Metru-Koro can either. I know that if we fight, we will die. Maybe them too. And with fighting going to resume in maybe a few days over Metru-Koro, I don’t, I don’t know what to do. Other than fighting will only lead to more dead Matoran, and there are too many dead already. I-I think we might need to pay the League off to leave us alone, if that is even possible. I know there is a Toa in the League who tried to negotiate with Metru-Koro, she might be able to listen. But it’s, I don’t know enough. I don’t even know if I understand why the war happened. I’m a fool.”

Still unable to match Arkius’s gaze Kanohi said, “sorry if all I am doing is complain. I’m not good at this, don’t know why Stannis wanted me in charge. What do you think we should do? I-I know we  have some defenses from the ground, but the League has airships, they could bomb us easily. What do you suggest?”

OOC: @Onaku

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Kanohi swallowed and sighed. “I suppose I should have known that. Not sure if you know, but a Turaga came with us in that expedition to rescue the Matoran. She comes from this land. Many Matoran used to live here. But she said that the Skakdi wiped them out, slaughtered all but all of them, destroyed the island’s environment, and renamed their island to Zakaz. They have committed genocide on the Matoran once already.” 

He paused and rubbed his head, not so much as thinking as trying to massaging his pounding head. Finally he said, “one of the Skakdi of the island did help us rescue Voka, but then he came here looking for Ulkarr. If he knew Ulkarr could offer pacts, maybe he just wanted to impress him. But why did Ulkarr help then?”

Kanohi turned to the Matoran of Plasma and said, “okay. Okay okay okay. Um, if the Skakdi can’t be reasoned with, we should prepare. The tunnel beneath the village, it’s dangerous, as a giant beast must have carved it, but if a Skakdi attack is on the way, it would be a better temporary refuge than being out in the open. At the least, we will need to be ready to evacuate those of us who were injured in the last raid down there. We will not do it yet, but if sentries spot them coming, we need to prepare.”

Sucodak nodded and Kanohi rubbed his head again, “We still should make Kanoka, I can only make regeneration ones, but, can any of us make the more offensive ones? Freezing, weakening, reconstruct at random?”

”Weaken disks have similar principles with disks of regeneration. I can make them, probably teach it to you too. I have made disks of freezing before as well. Between the two of them, we could stall their rigs in their tracks.”

Kanohi paced about, “okay, um, feel free to start. And, this might be futile, but do try to stockpile some regeneration disks, okay? At the least we might be able to have a supply in case the giant beast or the Skakdi attack.“

Then to Varah he said, “I am not sure if you are aware, but recently a Toa who served the League approached Metru-Koro to try to arrange peace, in exchange for the Mask of Creation. A high price, but maybe it could have been negotiable. I … I do not know all the details, but the Turaga insulted her and refuted any attempt at peace. So the league gave them two days before destroying Metru-Koro.”

”My island was wiped out by the League, as were so many. But, too many of us are dead now. I cannot let more of us die in a renewed war. I know I am a naive fool , I still struggle to understand why a Toa would join the league. I fear I know too little about the war. But if we try to fight both the league and the Skakdi, we will die.”

”If you mean to surrender…”

“No,” Kanohi answered quickly with a shake of his head, “I am not that much of a fool. My people were destroyed, and we never had even met an outsider who wasn’t a Matoran or a Toa. But, Po-Koro is not Metru-Koro, we are not a proper city. We can’t survive the league. So we might need to prepare for if they come here. And if they sought the mask of creation to rebuild their captured city, offering disks of regeneration would at least be something they could use that would not endanger us. It’s … not a good thought, but it’s one to consider.”

He swallowed and said, “I don’t know exactly what to do. Feels kind of like I am bandaging a severed arm. I think my heartlight is in the right place, but I can only think to treat the most shallow injuries. I … I have to focus on small tasks to survive, but if you have any suggestions, I will listen.“

 OOC: @Onaku

IC Mahrika - Stone Suva

Mahrika threw her disk while she waited, freezing the ground before her. Might as well practice more. She began to skate towards it, still stumbling and swaying. With some strain she extended her arm, trying to grab the disk to throw it again. But she slipped, and smacked against the ice, sliding on her back. 

She heard a shout off in the distance. The Ga-Matoran glanced over to see Ollem calling out to her, but she couldn’t make at his words. “I can’t hear you,” she called back, even as she shoved against the frozen patch of desert to crawl back to the disk. Ollem groaned in frustration, and attempted to run to her.

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator I doubt he can use the Kakama, but I figure it’s worth checking. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator hopefully using the artifact like this is okay.

IC Mahrika - Stone Suva

Mahrika stumbled and sweated along the ice as she skated, trying to practice. Her body was off balance, her long arms and stubby feet were not the stuff grace was made of. But still she tried, it was all she could do.

But despite her inexperience she still was learning. Maybe it was Vokarda, or maybe it was Mahrika herself, but she fell less often, and was beginning to learn how to steer. It was clumsy and awkward, a lot of flapping arms, but she was improving.

The ice below her was starting to melt under the desert sun, so she broke for the Kanoka. She reached out her hand, only to stumble and kick the disk as she fell. The Kanoka went flying, smacking into the ground fifteen bios away, freezing it up. The Ga-Matoran winced as she dragged herself upright, before waddled towards the disk. As she moved she mumbled to herself, “I … I guess the boots work then.”

As she grabbed the disk she paused. ”Tuakana?” She thought, reaching out to her Aspect once again, “I do not know if you still live or are too busy. But me and another Matoran have unlocked a Suva in the region of Stone. It has given me boots that let me do powerful kick. I … I hope if you still live, you are any closer to conquering death and time. If I can help, me and my new friend already solved one puzzle. So if you still live, let me know what you need me to do.”

OOC: @Eyru Mahrika is reaching out, if you think she can help you advance in Stage, she is willing. And it’s not like she and Ollem have any current plans. 

IC Mahrika - Stone Suva

Ollem did not speak for a time, and for a moment Mahrika wondered if she had only imagined she had spoken. She only had Vokarda for company over the last few millennia, talking had always been a one-sided thing. 

Finally he spoke, “the Skakdi back home, they were scoundrels, warlords, brutes. But they were not the ones who almost wiped out the Matoran. That was the League. Some Skakdi were in it but,” he hesitated, “you are a Matoran of Water right? Guess you can’t tell if that canteen is poisonous?”

”I cannot,” she admitted, “but I … he left, why would he leave if he was going to poison us? And if he’s hiding nearby, used an illusion to trick us, why bother poisoning us? And he, he is from the head, yes?”

”I think so. Why did he let us go, just to mess with us?”

”[color=blue]I am not the smartest Matoran, but, before the Skakdi came, we knew of another race besides us. Trickster spirits. Our Turaga told us they would trick us, manipulate us, corrupt us. But the only one I ever saw, came to me on the worst day of my life, and saved my beloved. And they have never spoken to me since. Maybe, maybe if an Aspect can be good, maybe some Skakdi, from your universe, can be different.[/color]”

”It’s not like the Toa are as perfect as the stories say,” muttered Ollem.

Mahrika nodded and then looked away, “sorry. I, well you can see I took the boots from the Suva. I thought I could use them to fight back, maybe freeze the ground and skate on it to get momentum, before kicking with that force. The great mask is yours if you want it. I know you can’t use it, but a Great Kanohi is valuable, maybe you could trade it to someone? Like give a Toa it in exchange for a powerless mask and some tools?”

”Maybe,” he answered. Ollem hesitated, and then focused to exchange his powerless mask with the Great Kakama.

As the Onu-Matoran traded his mask, Mahrika threw her disk, freezing the ground. With a shove she slid on to it, trying to skate on her boots. Very quickly she slipped, smacking on her back. She grunted, before shoving herself back up, and attempting to skate again. She needed to practice, if she was going to use this technique. 

OOC: @Burnmad @Unreliable Narrator 

IC Mahrika - Suva of Stone

Mahrika stared after the Skakdi, trembling. Finally she collapsed to her feet, her heartlight flashing frantically she … she survived. Vokarda survived. And the Skakdi had given them water? It was … unthinkable. The only reason a Skakdi would keep you alive would be to play with you, give you hope and then dash it.

But this felt different.

As she laid there, sweating fiercely from stress, she realized while she didn’t understand, another might. She spoke up, “Ollem, why do you think he spared us? Are … he said he was a warlord, like the Skakdi who invaded by home but then he … he spared us? And gave us water? Wished us well? I … is this normal for the Skakdi of Metru-Nui?”

OOC: @Burnmad

…

IC “Collector” The Ruins of Stone

Collector swallowed, “Administrator, I … I only want this power for the Matoran. Is … this power, is it a mask? Or is it … a power to wield? An element maybe?“ They were blushing now, trying not to look at the others. They … they especially couldn’t look at the Toa.

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @Vezok's Friend @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Mahrika - Suva of Stone

Mahrika felt Vokarda crawl in his chest, squirming and thrashing. The Ga-!atoran could just about make out her own heartlight pounding too.

Finally she swallowed and admitted, “It-it has been millennia since I left my hiding place, and I only left because of the crash, I do not know exactly what had happened to the Skakdi. They had elements but could not access them without help, vision powers, and they were strong. Had frills instead of your spikes. I … I remember stories during their invasion, before I hid, that they treasured teeth above all else, ripped them from Rahi, tore up masks to remove the Kanohi’s fangs…”

She shuddered, “They have wheeled vehicles too, used them to swarm and raid villages. I don’t they they can levitate though, only drive. But I … I saw an unnatural dust cloud earlier, to the East, I hid so I didn’t get a good look, but I think they still have those vehicles, powering them somehow.”

OOC: @Sparticus147 @Burnmad

…

IC “Collector” The Ruins of Stone

Collector spoke up now, “Administrator, I have a question. What exactly lies behind this door? Is it a sort of power? And can more than one of our group share in it, if a key is forged?“ They shuffled and said, “I will be willing to help make this key, but I need to know. If … if it is worth it.” They seemed a lot more skittish now, avoiding eye contact, their hand clutching their Kanoka Blade not to brandish it, but almost to remind them that it is there.

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @Vezok's Friend @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Mahrika - Suva of Stone

Mahrika swallowed it … it seemed impossible that such a gigantic being could exist, one so colossal their severed head was a mountain. She struggled to remember what she knew of her people’s gods, it had been so long ago. She remembered Tren Krom, Mata-Nui, the Kaita as a concept, but the details were sparse. The millennia lurking in her cave had ruined her sense of time and the past. 

She remained wary as her thoughts raced, even if he was not a part of the Skakdi who destroyed her home, she knew the powers they could weld. If he went aggressive, she would die. Maybe keeping him calm was the right move? After all, she had no practice using these boots, she wasn’t sure she could rely on them to escape or fight. 

The Ga-Matoran swallowed, “What do you want?” She was going to say more, when Vokarda thumped against her chest. She took that as a cue to stop talking, let him say what he wanted before she risked revealing anything too valuable. 

OOC: @Sparticus147 @Burnmad

IC Mahrika - Suva of Stone

Mahrika stayed mostly behind the Suva, but still spoke up, “What is the head, is it connected to the creation of that new … mountain…” She trailed off, as she finally saw the glint of the sun reflected on the colossal mountain, now finally looking at the mountain at a different angle. Could … could it be … was it possible?

”That mountain, it couldn’t … is it a head? You came from inside it?” She hung back, still wary, optics darting back and fortune. Whether or not he was not one of the Skakdi who destroyed this land, his breed’s natural power alone, and he talked of being a warlord, she had to be ready to bolt. Maybe he could control the worst of the Skakdi, but she only had his word. And she … she was too far out of practice interacting with people. She couldn’t reliably know if a Matoran was lying, let alone a Skakdi.

But while she felt her heart pound, she needed to know, “Where did the head come from? I … there was a great quake, collapsed my refuge. The head it’s … it couldn’t be a Tren Krom, could it?” 

OOC: @Sparticus147 @Burnmad
 

IC “Collector” The Ruins of Stone

Collector shook their head, “It is more and more clear, our universe and this new one are connected. But perhaps not all is lost. There could be other Great Disks, if they were from this land. They are just Kanoka, high quality ones, but they were created, manufactured, though I not know by who. Might it be possible that more exist?”

They paused, thinking. “Toa Atamai, you are a Toa of Iron, and you wear a Mask of Conjugation, yes? And you have exposure to those disks, you may have even handled them. Could you use your element and your mask to change a disk into a Great Disk?” Their knowledge of Toa limitations was itself limited, but it might be worth suggesting at least.

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @Vezok's Friend @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

OOC: GM said go ahead with the trade

IC Mahrika - Suva of Stone

Mahrika felt the weight on her back vanish, as a pair of boots manifested over her feet. The boots fit oddly well despite her Matoran nature, did she really have feet like a Toa’s? Or could Vokarda habe adjusted part of her body to fit better? Mahrika knew she adapted to the cold of her underwater cave as well as a Ko-Matoran, though it had taken longer, and it had taken only a brief exposure to the desert to adjust to the heat. Vokarda helped her adapt. But could her partner change her body?

Regardless that wasn’t important now. Mahrika … she had her plan. A crude one, but it was better than nothing. Shakily she peered her head around the Suva and startled as she finally caught full sight of the Skakdi. “You … don’t look like the Skakdi I remember…” She swallowed, where were his frills? “I … I couldn’t have forgotten that much, could I?”

OOC: @Sparticus147 @Burnmad

IC “Collector” The Ruins of Stone

Collector glanced up, they had been dissecting the weapon when apparently Atamai solved yet another puzzle. They eyed the Skakdi weapon, they were no closer to unlocking its elemental unlocking capacities, a waste so far. Still, they would keep at it. But later.

They reassembled the weapon crudely to at least be able to carry it as they spoke to Atamai, “Congratulations, Toa Atamai, you are highly logical and creative to solve both puzzles. I can see why you were able to find the Great Disks. I apologize for not being of much help on the puzzles.”

They hastily stood up and followed after the others, hopefully not forgetting any components in their speed to keep pace.

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @Vezok's Friend @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Mahrika - Suva of Stone

The Ga-Matoran swallowed, not coming out yet. Instead she answered, “I … I am Mahrika. This is a shrine of my people, one of our few remaining relics left after the … the Skakdi wiped us out.”

She swallowed she … he might not have gotten a good look at her, and this staff was useless except for shoveling sand. It would not help her. Did she dare…?

And then as Mahrika his, thinking, she almost could felt Vokarda press against her neck, encouraging her to turn her gaze to the Suva. If … if her beloved said so...

Mahrika focused, and attempted to switch her Stun Staff for the Boots of Impact.

OOC: @Sparticus @Burnmad I mean, Suva does mean shrine

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator she’s using it.

IC Mahrika - Suva of Stone

Mahrika swallowed it … it was true, if this Skakdi already knew what a Kanoka was, it was entirely useless. But maybe these relics stood help? Or would that just make the Skakdi know about them and steal them? It’s not like she could use them, or at least use the mask. Matoran couldn’t use masks. Could they? She … she vaguely remembered the name Dume, was … was he a great craftsman?

No she … she could not use a mask. But the boots maybe could help. Not that she could run far, but if she could use the Kanoka to make ice, and slid along it…

Her heartlight flashed frantically she … she knew she was helpless, she knew that. And if she tried to fight, Vokarda would die. She had to protect her. And maybe if the Kanoka was useless, she could s-still stall for time.

The Ga-Matoran lowered her disk, her heartlight a frantic drum. “W-what do you want?” She did not doubt he would still hurt her, but if he kept talking, that was time he wasn’t hurting her.

She backed up further behind the Suva, grabbing the Vahki staff by its edge, not to brandish it. Without hesitating she sheathed it. After all, it was powerless. She began to pick up more of her objects, trying to get her precious mementos safe

 OOC: @Sparticus147 @Burnmad

IC Mahrika - Suva of Stone

Mahrika finished shoving the Suva in place, when Ollem cursed and vanished. She startled, what was wrong? And then she caught sight of someone walking from off in the distance. He was tall like a Toa, but those thrills and those teeth, he was no Toa.

Her heartlight began to flash frantically, a mad beat so violent it made a terrible buzz. She … she couldn’t move at first, fear overwhelming her. “Vokarda what … what do I do?“ She croaked our, her hands shaking as the Skakdi advanced. As she shook she felt Vokarda press against her right shoulder, her arm? Arms throw - the disk?

She dove for the Kanoka, her body rattling as she picked it up, before scrambling back to her feet. She dove behind the Suva, almost strangling the disk as she pulled it back.

Mahrika knew the disk at best could only stall for time. The Toa of Xa-Nui had been unable to protect the Matoran from the Skakdi, even with all their powers. A disk with a fraction of a Toa of Ice’s abilities? At most it could freeze his legs still, to give her a chance to run. And he could outrun her, not to mention he would have many abilities beyond a Toa.

She shook, her hands struggling to steady to aim. She … she couldn’t, if she died, then Vokarda would die with her. She … she had to live for both of them. Mahrika had to … she was going to die. She couldn’t fight a Skakdi. And she couldn’t hide like Ollem. 

“Tuakana, please, save us.” She thought, desperate enough to reach out to the Aspect who had saved her beloved once before. Would they finally respond?

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Sparticus147 @Burnmad @Eyru

IC Mahrika - Suva of Stone

“What?” Mahrika turned around, “Um, sure, it’s worth a try. Rise like the sun? So we should align ‘I rise’ with the East, and ‘I fall’ with the West? Like sunrise and sunset?” At least she thought thats where sunrise and sunset where, she hadn’t seen either in some time.

But still, that wasn’t where Vokarda gestured. Maybe she had misunderstood Vokarda’s message? Maybe she meant ‘opposite direction,’ like East and West? That must be it, Vokarda was so smart, always several steps ahead. Mahrika scratched her back to massage her partner, before getting ready to push again, should Ollem agree.

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Burnmad

IC Mahrika - Suva of Stone

Mahrika had almost tripped as she pushed, the Suva was so much easier to move now. But when they had locked it in to position, it seemed to do nothing. “What are we missing?” She muttered, less to Ollem and more to Vokarda. The Kraata seemed to squirm around behind her head, and Mahrika spun around, but there was nothing in sight. She began to use her lens, looking in the distance.

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Burnmad
…

IC “Collector” The Ruins of Stone

Collector meanwhile had sat down, and was beginning to study the Skakdi weapon they had scavenged from the fort. They had waited long enough to investigate it, they would wait no longer. Not to mention that they had helped on the prior puzzle, admittedly their idea was wrong, but it led to a solution. They could afford to let the other explorers come up with some ideas, while they studied the strange frosty tool.

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @Vezok's Friend @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Kanohi rubbed his head, trying to process this. Bode had guilt? That was … a relief at least, but then Bode had indeed killed a fellow Matoran. In a time when Matoran were nearly extinct. Guilt was too little too late. Why wasn’t he locked up? Varah had been guarding him, but was the village really so desperate that they had to overlook his crimes? Why had Kanohi abandoned them.

”Okay. Okay okay okay. If we have to give them tribute,” Kanohi talked himself through his thoughts, “I think we have two possible resources to give them, if we have to. Mahi, and Regeneration disks. Skakdi eat with their mouths, right? Maybe we could try to prepare the Mahi as food. And out here, I don’t imagine there is much resources to mend their vehicles with, so regeneration disks would be useful, without giving them a weapon against us…”

”But they are cowards? Varah, do you think they left because they did not expect Po-Koro to fight back?” If they were too cowardly to face foes who would fight back, then maybe Po-Koro would be able to scare them off with those recently built giant caltrops. They might not need to give a tribute after all.

But if the Skakdi came back, and with more force, it might be wise to set aside some resources the village could spare. The Skakdi killed twenty five villagers before they left, fifty seven had been injured, Po-Koro could not afford more fighting. Not until they had recovered from the first raid. 

OOC: @Onaku

IC Mahrika - Suva of Stone

Mahrika stood up, dropping the stone staff, before joining Ollem in pushing the Suva. Her short legs and big feet had once struggled to get traction, though with the sand gone now she should be able to actually shove the mechanism.

As she pushed she grunted, “What — argh — do you think is in the Suva anyway? Looks like it’s been here a while, but with my bad memory, I don’t recall it. Might not even have been built by my tribe for that matter.“

She … she wasn’t sure why she was bothering to dig into this relic. Did she honestly hope to find traces of her people here? And if there was a Great Mask, she couldn’t use it. And she wouldn’t want it either. She supposed she could pop off her lens and clip it onto a new mask, but its power would still be useless to her.

It was so long, was she still unknowingly following the commands of Tuakana? Commands she had long forgot? All she remembered was that they wanted to kill death and conquer time. And it was not like the answer to that just quest would be here? Right?

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Burnmad

IC Mahrika - Suva of Stone

“Okay, so the direction of East is a part of the puzzle,” muttered Mahrika, “You think that is where we have to align the pillars to lock each in place?” She rubbed her head briefly, “But in what order do you think we need to spin the Suva, which pillar needs to lock in place first? And which way do we need to turn them?” She continued to shove aside the sand as she spoke, trying to move aside the sand so that it would no longer clog up the Suva’s mechanisms.

OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Burnmad

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

The timid Fe-Matoran let out a sign like a valve releasing pressure, as he turned the disk over in his hands. It had not shattered, so none of the Protodermis was wasted, and with it the proper size it’s balance felt better. Admittedly he had not thrown it yet, and he had nothing to test it’s power on, but still, progress.

“Kanohi, meeting time,” Sucordak’s voice cut through Kanohi’s relief, even as he swung the disk around in his arm to test its balance. The Fe-Matoran nearly dropped the disk but dove to catch it, before dragging himself up and heading over to the Matoran of Plasma.

Sucordak led Varah over to a stone slab, one with scores of symbols carved into it — each a letter or number in the Matoran language. “This should let you spell out any message you need to, point and I will follow along. It’s a bit simple and bulky, one of the Le-Matoran was going to make a more portable one, but well, she died. Speaking of her death, we should deal with that first. What have you learned from that Piraka?”

”Piraka?” Kanohi eyed the symbols he … he sort of understood them, but he was not familiar with the Metru-Nui style of writing

Sucordak winced and looked around as his voice dropped low, “guess you should know. Some of us started hearing rumors of a sacrificial ritual that could give folks power, from creatures called Legion and Whisper. Around that time, Bode began to grow weeds with each step he took. He made that grazing field. And then we found a dead body in his hut. We can guess what happened.”

”Karzahni,” Kanohi whispered, cursing for once, “are … are you sure he … there are so few of us left, and he…” the Fe-Matoran struggled to support himself despite the shock, relying on his staff to stay upright, “Why … I spoke to him, why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“It’s Po-Koro business, most of us prefer to keep things quiet.”

“But … what if it wasn’t these creatures, what if it was Toa Ulkarr? Bode knew where Ulkarr came from, and Toa Stannis said that Ulkarr would tempt us with powers.”

”…Yep we should have told you, that would have been nice to know. We will have to alert the guard. In the meantime, Varah, would you mind telling us what you observed while monitoring Bode, before explaining what you know about why the Skakdi left, and if they had any demands?”

OOC: @Onaku