Harvali

IC Po-Koro

Onunui sighed, rubbing the back of her head, “I’ve never been great at studying earth, better at doing detail work on electronics. Still, I think I can see a Protodermis ore vein? We might be able to forge masks and disks with it, make tools. That’s a lucky break. Though I’m … a bit surprised you were able to make that tunnel so quickly? Guess my knowledge of earth is even worse than I though.” She laughed.

OOC: @Onaku Hopefully this is okay. 

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Kanohi’s face was as scarlet as a Ta-Matoran’s hands. His heartlight flickering and flashed like a beacon trying to guide a ship through a storm. His hands trembled, and he … he couldn’t even look at Stannis. But … Stannis looked at him. Not with frustration, not even pity like Turaga Bomahri.

He … why did this great Toa see greatness in him? Stannis couldn’t be wrong, and he wouldn’t lie, not when Matoran depended on it, but … how? Hadn’t he seen how incompetent Kanohi was? They had traveled together before the fall, surely he … and he still th-thought Kanohi could do good? Real good, 

The Fe-Matoran attempted to speak, but choked up and struggled to form words. Finally he managed, “I … I thank you. I-I will try to support the Matoran. I hope I can … I hope we can help save our people.” He almost said ‘I hope I can not fail you,’ but he … he didn’t want to be annoying. Especially not now.

“I guess I should start to make my rounds, there still are a few more repairs for my … Kiril Staff,” Kanohi hesitated, thinking, “I … I wonder if Po-Koro could try to make more of those staffs, and proper Kiril themselves. I know the League wanted the Mask of Creation, and Po-Koro can’t give that, but, if they need to rebuild, maybe the power to regenerate damaged buildings, tools, and terrain would help. And Po-Koro could use more ability to mend their homes too.”

He shook his head, “it’s probably just a silly thought. But Vakama, he taught me a little of his craft, I-I helped make my staff, maybe it’s possible.”

OOC: @EmperorWhenua

IC “Collector” - Ruined Fort

Collector nodded as they began to scoop up some of the dead Skakdi in their arms, “Of course, the weapons are yours, Zadred. Except the ice one.” Then they paused. This might be a time to try to make a connection, “When I dissect and study the tool I scavenged, I will be trying to learn how to better draw out innate elemental powers. Even if my goal fails, I could try to use what I learned to upgrade your staff. Would you approve of that?”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Bode Po-Koro

Bode sighed with relief he … he should have know Ulkarr would not allow aMatoran to be sacrificed, or even for a Skakdi to be sacrificed unnecessarily. He … he should have more faith. He … he struggled to remember the rite, had … had he demanded Ulkarr go ahead with the ritual? Was he so impatient to use Ramaka that he rushed it? He … it was hard to tell what was real and not.

IC Po-Koro

Onunui lifted  her hand to put it on his shoulder, before setting it back down. She shouldn’t demean him. She sighed, “All of us are powerless, but to have the power of a Toa and still be unable to protect the Matoran? I can’t imagine that helpless frustration.”

She reached over and picked up a chunk of dirt, letting it sprinkle to the group like Matoran falling from a crashing god’s head. “Still, we survived the death of Mata-Nui, not too long ago I would not have believed us capable of that. We aren’t dead yet.”

”We can’t change the many enemies around us, resurrect Mata-Nui, or terraform the whole island, Bode aside, we aren’t powerful enough. But we can adapt, change things one step at a time. So let’s focus on what we can change. What can we do to protect Po-Koro now? Is the underground plan still viable?”

OOC: @Onaku

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

The anxiety-ridden failure of a Fe-Matoran had listened in carefully through Stannis’s wisdom. It was … to say it so bluntly, that Turaga were not inherently wise, that experience and great deeds did not gain wisdom, that greatness did not make a leads right. It was … it was stunning to hear. But it … it sort of made sense. He knew some Toa struggled under their responsibilities, and with Mata-Bui … dead, it was … become clear that destiny might be more complicated than he once thought. It was simpler on Okoto.

…Was it simpler on Okoto? Truly? For the first time in years, Kanohi wondered how accurate his memory was of home. Their had Toa failed to defeat the League, their Turaga failed to lead the Matoran to safety. It was … they weren’t great heroes like Stannis and Knichou, but they had still been anointed by Mata-Nui to become Toa. And they … failed.

And then Stannis’s closing sentence dawned on him.

Kanohi stumbled, struggling to balance on his staff. “I … I can’t lead. I-I’m a coward, a fool, I don’t understand importance decisions, leaders need to be smart. I … I can’t read people, I assume the best of them even when everyone can see the warning signs. And I-I fall to pieces at the first sign of conflict. Leaders n-need to have courage, to be strong. Leaders need to keep their village safe. I … I couldn’t keep Metru-Nui safe, I-I tried but I failed. And many of the people I did save from the invasion d-died in the Impact. If I had helped you and Knichou instead of just trying to be a bandage … And I-I couldn’t keep Po-Koro safe from the raid either. And in Okoto … I ran. What if I run again?”

OOC: @EmperorWhenua

IC Bode - Po-Koro

”Understood I … I will try to monitor things,” he swallowed, the next thing had had to ask was overwhelming. But he had to. He … he owed Ramaka that much, and far more. “I … I need to know. When the Skakdi did the Rite, it wasn’t another Matoran, was it?”

OOC: @Toru Nui

@That Matoran with a Vahi thank you so much for your kind words, I actually was left speechless when I read your comment. I have a real fondness for the Matoran, and love to explore their struggles, as well as their issues grappling with the lies the Turaga told them, albeit for a good reason. The villagers and their personalities were a big part of G1, and its why G2 did not grab me the same way. 

Hopefully I didn’t demonize the Turaga though, I genuinely love that the Mata-Nui Turaga were so close to their Matoran compared to Dume, makes it feel like they were trying to be better elders than how they were raised. And maybe one day the “Turaga Mahri” will continue to improve. Making each generation a little kinder.

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

The Fe-Matoran nodded, not that there was much more to say. Stannis seemed to believe these visions were real, which was reassuring. And he had whispered something at the mention of the two Toa. Did he know them? Why was Ulkarr untrustworthy? He … he was odd, but he had not seemed dangerous. In hindsight he seemed confused by masks, even though Klawne had one, Kanohi could believe he was not a Toa. But this offer of power … Kanohi had so many questions.

Finally he swallowed, “what do you think I should do now, to help Po-Koro? I can mend things, a Toa of Iron apparently built defenses to protect from raiders. and Arkius is building an underground refuge, but … there are more problems. I have heard some folks say that Po-Koro’s Turaga, Jovan, has lost hope after the attack. He just wanders the village, unresponsive. I don’t blame him, we all have suffered a lot, even Turaga and Toa might break. And it … it would be wrong to blame them for that. But … the village still needs a leader.”

OOC: @EmperorWhenua

IC “Collector” - Ruined Fort

Collector nodded, cremation was simple enough, saved space. They spoke, “I can carry the corpses outside before I will get to work on upgrading my bike. Zadred, can you create dry branches to burn their bodies with?”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Po-Koro

Onunui stared at Arkius, not sure how to respond. He was … it was like the fiery frustration that had erupted from him earlier had drained him of energy, and now all that was left was the dying embers. She grunted and sat down, sitting besides him. For now she said nothing as she sat besides him, whatever the Taku wanted, it could wait. And honestly, she thought she had heard it take off already. So whatever they had to say to him wasn’t that important. 

OOC: @Onaku

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Kanohi swerved as Toa Stannis appeared before him, nearly falling to the ground. Only his staff supported his startled legs, as his heartlight pounded. As his brain caught up to Toa Stannis’s words, Kanohi broke into a wary smile. “T-Toa Vashni managed to show you that vision then? That is a relief, I … I heard something about the first one.”

”That first vision of a flooding chain of islands, sorry, I know you know that, but … one of the Matoran here says it does exist, that it’s a group of islets to the south of this whole island. Toa Ulkarr apparently comes from those islands. I … don’t know if the islets have already been flooded or not though.”

”About the other visions, the second … was just of Mata-Nui’s death as h-his head was severed. A Ta-Matoran experienced it with me, but he … died in the raid the Skakdi had on Po-Koro. It … it doesn’t matter now, except to reinforce that these waking dreams might … might really have a meaning to them.”

”Then I had a third vision, only a little bit ago, after you left to go into the Taku after that Toa was injured. The vision was of a jungle, where two Toa were holding each other, dying in each others’ arms. One Toa was red, one Toa was green. I … I am not sure what their elements or masks were, the jungle was too thick.” 

Kanohi swallowed and spoke quietly with with a frantic energy, “I don’t know if Po-Koro or Metru-Koro can spare anyone to search for those Toa. Arkius — Toa Arkius is building an underground shelter for the Matoran here to hide in, I can’t just abandon them again, not so soon, and Metru-Koro is going to be a-attacked soon, if they cannot think of something to assuage the League.”

He shook his head, “why did the Turaga risk the w-war restarting? I … I know I am not smart, he probably has wisdom far beyond me but … but there should have been something he could have done besides antagonize them. I don’t know, maybe send an experienced Toa to use the mask to help the League rebuild, instead of outright giving it to them. I … I suppose the Toa would have just been killed by them but … but enraging them was … it … why would he risk his Matoran charges?”

The Fe-Matoran blushed, “sorry I … I know there never would be friendship between the league and us, too many have died. I wouldn't … I don’t want it either. Too much has happened. But … but so many died from the fighting, we don’t have the luxury of grudges, shouldn’t we focus on the living?”

OOC: @EmperorWhenua

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Kanohi was mending a broken hut when the Taku touched down. Quickly he grappled across the village to the landing site, only to see injured Matoran being unloaded. He stared in confusion, before wincing at the simple truth. Of course, with Metru-Koro likely about to be attacked, the wounded from the raid could not be evacuated to the city. Po-Koro somehow was the safer refuge

Kanohi quickly approached, helping the crew carry Matoran out of the ship before laying them down a safe distance away. Slowly but surely the Matoran were emptied, whisked away to be sheltered in … a large crystalline structure in the center of the village. Strange, Kanohi had not noticed it before.

He stared, was this the newly grown knowledge tower? The one whose components they went on a small adventure to recover, along with a wounded Matoran. The building seemed … denser, sturdier, but also cleaner. It made sense for the injured to head there, unlike the rest of Po-Koro it was not caked in dust. Instead it was so shiny Kanohi could see the village reflected in it, from the field to … the Taku. 

As he looked at the reflection of the great ship Kanohi hesitated he … he wanted to make sure Knichou was okay, to speak with him, to ask what he knew of what happened in Dume’s office, plan how to help the two villages. But he … his legs were figuratively rooted to the ground, and his heartlight pounded.

Kanohi … last he had seen Knichou, Kanohi had abandoned the Nynrah Ghost’s plan to try to rescue Matoran. And he … he had saved Matoran. But of the Matoran he had endeavored to save, so few survived the Impact. Yes, he saved many survivors, but how many did he only prolong their deaths. How much of a difference had he actually made, when he abandoned the good Matoran?

The Fe-Matoran flicked open his Kiril Staff and planted it’s butt on the ground, trying to steady his swaying feet. He … he wasn’t sure he could face the Ghost. He … not after he failed so many. Not after he failed Po-Koro.

IC Po-Koro

“Um, I think he might be in a hole? I … haven’t seen him in a bit, I’ll send someone to search for him?” They turned to an Onu-Matoran adjusting some of the controls and asked, “Hey Onunui, would you mind looking for Toa Arkius?”

”Because I’m an Onu-Matoran, right?” She glanced at them. The Po-Matoran’s brown mask turned as red as clay, and they looked away.

She sighed, and pulled away from the makeshift console, “let me check.” She wandered off, heading towards the hole. With a grip of her arms she swung down from handhold to handhold, until she reached the bottom of the hole. “Hey, Toa Arkius, you still here?”

OOC: @Onaku @BULiK

IC Po-Koro

There was a buzz of static, before a voice answered, “Hello Taku, this is Po-Koro. What is happening? We understand some sort of Rahi hurt a Toa?” This was not exactly a lie, the town was aware of Taja being injured. But a portion of the town suspected a bit more. After all, the town’s Ce-Matoran guard had seen both Legion and Whisper, and based off her descriptions of the latter, and witnesses to Taja’s incident, some of Po-Koro were able to guess what had gone wrong.

OOC: @BULiK

IC “Collector” - Ruined Fort

Collector … did not disagree with Kilo, but they wondered if they should. So they said something practical they could believe. “Still, if the corpses remain exposed they could attract Rahi, which might pose a danger to Metru-Koro and Po-Koro. Might be best to dispose of them, and if it is necessary, it might not be too taxing to dispose of them in a way the Skakdi would approve of. If only because in this savage island, they likely don’t have time to perform elaborate rituals.”

Then to Zadred they nodded, “I have no objections. But how do you suggest we dispose of the bodies?”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Bode - Po-Koro

Bode swallowed, “I … I understand. T-too well. Just, please don’t use a Matoran. No matter how you … you justify it, it would be wrong.” The slipper weeds at his ankles seemed to coil around him, dragging him deep into the earth. 

Then telepathically he spoke to Ulkarr. “Toa Ulkarr, the Skakdi from before is here, with an offering. For you. He … he’s not dangerous to us, right? The villagers are not attacking him, n-not that there would be much they could do.” Not without … cheating.

OOC: @Sparticus147 @Toru Nui @Onaku

And edited.

Turns out Tuakana and Mahrika’s backstory just work well together. Here is the new PC.

Name: Mahrika

Breed: Descerated Ga-Matoran

Faction: Tuakana

Brief Description: she is unusually short and small for a Matoran, with longer arms than legs. She wears a sand blue Great Akaku, and has sand blue feet and a light blue torso and light blue arms. She now carries a Kanoka and Staff of Loyalty on her back, both scavenged from a Vahki.  

Background/Occupation: Ages ago, the Skakdi invaded this island and devastated the native Matoran. One such Matoran was Mahrika, a Ga-Matoran who lived in a small village with her girlfriend Vokarda. When the Skakdi came their village was helpless, their people slaughtered and their homes reduced to rubble. In the end only Mahrika and Vokarda were still alive, and it was then that the Aspect Tuakana approached them.

Tuakana offered the pair the Rite of Desecration, but not for power. They suggested that if Vokarda’s heartlight was sacrificed, a part of her would live on as a Kraata in Mahrika. That she would not be completely lost, and they would not be separated by death. The two Matoran were desperate, their tribe had always feared the Aspects, but their Tribe was gone, and their gods did not seem to care. So they agreed, and Vokarda became a Kraata of Adaption.

Over the ages Mahrika lived a life as a hermit, not hearing word from Tuakana. She spent her time weaving in an underwater cave, hiding from the Skakdi and waiting for her new god to return. Throughout the years she continued to believe her Kraata was Vokarda, every wiggle it made was comforting, reassuring her Vokarda was still here. And every squirming motion was advice, helping her know what to do. She did not doubt that she now carried Vokarda’s spirit inside her, she could not. 

Then the Impact happened, and the shockwaves collapsed her submerged cave. She escaped, and began to wander about, trying to find her and Vokarda a new home. In the process she discovered a broken Vahki, and careful scavenged it’s remaining stun staff and its Kanoka. When driving off a rabid Mahi she learned the disk has the power to freeze things, but she has yet to learn the power of the Staff of Loyalty. 

Flaws: She is deeply obsessed with the belief that Vokarda is her Kraata, and to hear someone suggest otherwise would be enraging. She firmly believes that Tuakana’s goal to “conquer death“ is just, and if they returned to ask her to serve, she would follow with a zealous desperation. All her years in isolation hiding and waiting have left her body weaker and smaller than the average Matoran, and she remains terrified of Skakdi.

Powers/Equipment: As a Matoran of Water she has enhanced lung capacity, and is naturally a better swimmer than most Matoran. While she cannot use her mask power, the telescopic lens built into it alone her to magnify her vision, letting her spot threats off in the distance, as well as do detail work with her weaving. 

Mahrika has a Stage One Kraata of Adaption, allowing her to adapt quickly to environments of extreme heat or extreme cold. The latter power allowed her to survive in her underwater cave, despite the lack of warmth.

She currently carries a Ga-Metru Level Three Disk of Freezing, as well as a Staff of Loyalty from a Vahki, though she does not know the latter’s power. She has some equipment for weaving clothes and wears a dress made of kelp fibers, and has a sleeping bag made of woven algae. 

IC “Collector” - Ruined Fort

Collector paused, they personally didn’t care that they were stealing from these Skakdi, the natives were dead, they couldn’t use these tools or vehicles any more, and at least some of the Toa seemed alright with looting them. Not Jutori, he seemed to care, but the others appeared to not be as wary.

But, should they care more? Was it wrong not to care about some unknown corpses? They wanted to asked for clarification, but this was not the time. So instead they said, “I am struggling to find any clues to funeral practices on this Skakdi, I fear it would just be guess work. I will check the others, but I suspect we will need to dispose of them as Zadred’s people would. It would be better than nothing at least.”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Bode - Po-Koro

As Bode laid in his field, he heard a roar of a motor. Was … were the Skakdi back? He bolted upright to see a Skakdi was indeed driving up, why … why weren’t the Matoran stopping him? He looked around, a few were watching him for a safe distance, but they weren’t attacking yet at least.

Bode looked at the Skakdi, he … he was unfamiliar with other breeds, but was this the Skakdi who had been spying on Arkius and Ulkarr? W-who walked over with Ulkarr, and spoke alone. And … and Bode could hear movement in his vehicle. Someone squirming.

He wadded through his field, fresh weeds sprouting with each step. Cautiously he approached the Skakdi, still locked inside the fence built around the field and goats. He swallowed, and asked the question he probably already knew the answer to, “S-Skakdi, w-why are you here?”

OOC: @Sparticus147 @Onaku

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Had … Kanohi said something wrong? The Skakdi seemed annoyed, but maybe it was just the frustrating news. His fingers drummed the air, he really did not know much about the Skakdi of this land. Turaga Klawne revealed they slaughtered the indigenous Matoran, but this Uraborask did not seem too hostile. Maybe he wasn’t a part of the genocide, maybe he wasn’t even alive at the time.

It … once again he wondered how many Skakdi died when Mata-Nui’s severed head crashed to this island, and how many of the few Matoran survivors of their genocide had been crushed. So many had died. It … and now the war might begin again. So much death.

Kanohi swallowed, there was not much he could do. But he could at least help the village rebuild, try to mend the damages they faced, and prepare them. And he … he could only hope that the two Toa he foresaw were not in danger yet. 

Meanwhile the Po-Matoran departed for the tower, and worked to signal the airship that hung above the village, “hello, the Taku? We have a message for Toa Ulkarr. A Skakdi approached the village, said his name was Uraborask the hunter. He did not attack, Kanohi recognized him as someone who helped him rescue a Matoran. This Uraborask says he has an offering for Ulkarr, and that his promise is nearly set.”

OOC: @BULiK

…

IC “Collector” - Ruined Fort

Collector nodded as more Skakdi corpses were found, “It did seem unlikely that two Skakdi could maintain a fort on their own.” They crouched besides the Skakdi of Ice and began to search his body, looking for any hints of burial practices. As they searched the carcass they said, “I do not need a vehicle, I still have my hover bike. But … if there were any spare parts, I would like to try to adapt my vehicle to the terrain of Zakaz.”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn feel free to decide if they find any ancestral teeth on Thok. 

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

“Oh, um, thank you,” The coughing laugh was unsettling, but the way he described Kanohi was far more distressing. Not majorly, but being brave was … not something Kanohi associated with himself. Foolish sure, but bravery? He was far too easily overwhelmed by fear and failure. He supposed it was a nice thought though, and it was nice that this powerful archer thought that of him. 

“I believe Ulkarr is up there,” Kanohi pointed up towards the airship. “A Toa was injured, I think it was because of a strange person with many tentacles and teeth. I thought she was a Rahi at first. Ulkarr went into the airship with some other Toa to discuss what to do with the stranger and the injured Toa. I … don’t know the specifics.”

Kanohi paused, “I know they were planning to head to Metru-Koro, it’s roughly a day and a half’s travel to the southwest, that village is far bigger than Po-Koro.” He turned and strained to look at the flying airship, trying to gauge if it was moving. It was so hard to see, it was clear why Vakama said he needed a telescopic lens.

Vakama.

The Fe-Matoran swallowed and added, “I don’t think they have left for Metru-Koro yet, though I am unsure how you could reach them up there. And if you do follow them to Metru-Koro, be prepared for trouble. I fear a war might break out there soon.” Though if war broke out, it would likely travel to Po-Koro. 

”We might be able to contact the Taku,” interrupted a Po-Matoran, stepping forward, “some of the Toa built a radio tower, it can’t reach Metru-Koro since their village doesn’t have a tower, but the Taku might be able to receive it.”

OOC: @Sparticus147

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Kanohi did not hear a reply from Arkius, how deep underground was he? He planted the button his staff down to help him stand, he would normally wait for the Toa, but if these Toa in his vision really were in danger…

Then the Fe-Matoran heard shouts elsewhere in the village. Kanohi spun around and fired his built-in Volo Lutu Launchers, hooking a stone hut. He launched himself forward, hurtling through the air, before hooking another. His heartlight pounded as he launched through the air, another attack?

And then he spotted a Skakdi, with Supaka aiming Kanohi’s old disk launcher at him, while a Ce-Matoran gripped a Vahki staff pointed at him. But that … Skakdi … seemed familiar. And that bow, could it be?

”C-calm down,” Kanohi urged the Matoran as he hurried in front of them, moving between the guards and the stranger, “I-I think I know him, he helped us rescue Voka.” Then to the Skakdi he swallowed and managed to say, “Hello, I-I am K-Kanohi, I did not get the chance to introduce m-myself earlier. What brings you to this village?”

OOC: @Sparticus147

…

IC Bode - Po-Koro

Bode sat down, tired from pacing. He shuddered as his hands touched his field of weeds, their texture was slippery and slimy, like they were caked in grease. He tried not to gag, the plants weren’t poisonous, they just were disgusting. He heard the Bo-Matoran, he wouldn’t get sick from touching them. Well, get sicker. 

As he laid there he winced as he felt that squirming sensation once again. Not from the plants, but his lower torso seemed to shift unsettlingly. Did he have a parasite? His hand went to his chest he … he first felt this when Ulkarr empowered him. Was … was there something inside him that had given him this power?

@Onaku

…

IC “Collector” - Ruined Fort

Collector winced as Zadred started pushing, before joining her. As a Vortixx they had few traits worth talking about, for one thing they could use masks and were not weakened without them, and for another the Vortixx breed possessed great strength. They … had forgotten the latter ability, Toa did not have it, so it seemed pointless.

Together the group heaved and shoved the debris to the side, and Collector then looked towards the fallen Skakdi. “We … should not leave him to rot,” they muttered, “that would be against the Toa Code, right? Maybe we can find clues on his persons or in the hut about how they treated their dead, and if not, we can use what Zadred knows of her people’s treatment of the dead. I mean, if you all agree.”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC “Collector” - Ruined Fort

Collector thought things over. They had no love of these Skakdi, they never even met this one, but their roughness with the corpse seemed to make this a Toa uneasy. And that meant it would make Matoran uneasy. They did not want to make Matoran uneasy, they wanted Matoran to be their friend.

But what was wrong with scavenging a body? It’s what you would do … on … Xia.

They flinched at that thought, they … they slid their new weapon away, avoiding eye contact. It was too … reflective. Finally they spoke up, though their words soon devolved into a stammering sputter, “You are right, my apologies. I … should have not been so callous. I … I apologize, I — Karzahni, the words I want to say are … difficult.“ 

They backed away from their discomfort and began to speak with an imitation of their usual demeanor, though the tempo of their words was slightly more frantic, “Well, I cannot change what I said, apologies are pointless. But I can do better for the future. Do we know how the native Skakdi treated their deceased? I know some Matoran will wear the masks of their dead to have a link to them, while others will bury their masks in shrines?”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Kanohi mumbled to himself, still a bit thrown off by that altercation at the field. He hadn’t meant to be rude, but that was no excuse, he should have waited for Varah to respond in her own way. He wandered around, tapping the huts and walls of Po-Koro with his Kiril Staff, when realization set in. If that island chain did exist, then his visions seemed indeed to be true. Which meant those two Toa were indeed in danger.

His fingers drummed his staff with unease, Toa Stannis still had not returned, and the village could not spare anyone to leave it. With the recent attack, they needed everyone on hand to try to defend the village. Still, Arkius might be able to find a solution, there was no harm in involving others.

Quickly Kanohi hooked a hut and launched himself across Po-Koro, rushing to find the Toa of Earth. He slung balls of gravity, and the spheres ripped him from the ground to fly. He traversed back to the hole where Arkius had stood, and he called down, “Arkius? W-we might have a problem. Not for Po-Koro, but elsewhere.”

OOC: @Onaku

…

IC Bode - Po-Koto

Bode continued to pace in his field, even as the Mahi slept. As he walked the ever-sprouting weeds eroded the stone terrain, grinding it into more of a loose gravel. Maybe he could terraform all of Po-Koro one day, make it actually habitable. In the meantime he say the Bo-Matoran studying the field stand up and walk away. Then, then was it safe? That would be a relief, he was helping the village.

But then he saw Varah again, and flinched. He … he was allowed to do this for now, but the villagers had to know of his crimes. If he was locked up, or executed, his help would end. Po-Koro would be down two Matoran with nothing to show for it. He … he couldn’t be arrested. But he … he knew what he had done, and the villagers did too. He could not remain free for long.

He … he wanted to go to Varah and confess, end this unresolved tension. But each time he looked to her, the realization of what he did sunk in. And he could not face it. Only … only continue to help the village as long as he was free to.

As he stared at her a Bo-Matoran approached Varah. Bode’s sensitive ears listened in as the Matoran of Plantlife whispered to her, “[/color=green]His weeds aren’t poisonous. They aren’t very nutritious, and their texture is disgusting, but there are no toxins, let alone any dangerous to Matoran or Mahi.[/color]”

Bode let out a sigh of relief, Ulkarr did want what was best for Po-Koro. He … he should have no doubt in the stranger. 

OOC: @Onaku

…

IC “Collector” - Ruined Fort

Collector and the others began to trek through the ruined fort, though the Vortixx was quiet, not sure what to say. They were unsure how to break the metaphorical ice, and they were honestly still a bit drowsy. They basically wandered like a Matoran hit by a Staff of Erasing, unsure what to do.

And then they stumbled upon a dead Skakdi, pinned by rubble from the fort. The debris sealed off the passageway, and the corpse was surrounded by a thin puddle. Looked like a Skakdi of ice, and he was … clutching a strange weapon seemingly glowing with an cya  aura. Could it be?

Collector all but tackled the carcass, their hands shaking. Ice. If they could harness this weapon, they had experience harnessing the cold thanks to their Kanoka Blade. It was Destiny for them to weld the element of ice.

They wrenched the weapon free of the corpse, tearing off a few fingers from their violent strength, before pressing the weapon to their chest, clutching it like a Matoran clinging to their late Turaga’s Mask. 

Then they remembered others were here, and they managed to say, “My apologies, I just never have had the opportunity to study this kind of weapon.” They did not release their grip, even as they said, “Can one of you move aside the debris, so we can continue looking?”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn let’s get started

So I rarely make MOCs, let alone full scale ones, but I felt the urge to make a Turaga. I rarely make those folks, but I am considering playing one in Six Kingdoms Rebirth over in the rpg section. I am thinking of her traveling about the island, using her medical knowledge and her mask to repair broken homes and heal the injured. She became a Turaga in fact after using up her Toa Power healing someone, and would have been the Toa of Stone to build Po-Koro. 

Basically of my limited number of Noble masks I made her a Turaga of Stone, an element I don’t usually use. She carries pouches full of pebbles and gravel, which she controls with her remaining elemental power to corral and irritate Rahi into leaving her and her charges alone.She wears a Kiril, Noble Mask of Regeneration, and walk with a long Badge of Office that can be used to grab far away objects. Remember, Matoran and Turaga can look a lot alike, so it’s important to give your Turaga giant walking staffs. (Otherwise you get Dume, who simply looks like a buff Matoran)

She has a heartlight and nine points of articulation. Please ignore the fact that her left hand is missing a piece. (Maybe it’s her thumb?) I choose her name from the word Karda (Heart/Core) and Ka (Spirit) so her name means Spirit of Heart, since she is a healer. I also call her the Mender.

Now here are some images of her finding a hidden Miru, Noble Mask of Levitation. 

So yeah, enjoy this little Turaga. 

IC Kanohi and Bode - Po-Koro

“Is … is something wrong?” Kanohi asked, confused, “I … sorry. I will just um, I guess I should get my things?” He picked up his disk and shook off the dust, embarrassed and ashamed. How long had she been trying to contact him, and he just ignored her to ramble on and on. He should be more mindful

Bode meanwhile shook, he had seen Varah’s gaze from here. He … Kanohi wasn’t desecrated, that much was clear. And Bode … was a Piraka. Still he … he had to help the Matoran, Ulkarr wanted that. So he called out to the two of them, “those islands are real, they lay to the south of Zakaz. It is there that Toa Ulkarr hailed from?”

”Tren-Nui,” mumbled Kanohi on instinct as he started to walk away, then to Varah he managed, “sorry I ignored you, it was rude.” He began to run off, he … the excitement and stress of seeing a vision had disoriented him. He needed to contact someone else. Toa Stannis said he would return to Po-Koro, right? Maybe he would be able to help? 

OOC: @Onaku

IC “Collector” - Ruined Fort

“Um, alright then,” Collector was a bit taken aback, “okay. Together then.” They hesitated as a thought touched their mind, and they said, “I hope it will be alright, but if we can find a tool that can channel a Skakdi’s elemental power, I would like it. I might be able to learn something useful from studying it.”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC “Collector” - Ruined Fort

Collector nodded simply. They had hoped for help from Zadred, but they knew that they still made her uneasy. And talking one on one with one of the group was still part of their goals to getting friends. And a Toa of Psionics should be able to find out what they are doing wrong, with her powers and all. 

”It would be good to have your help, Toa Vashni,” they stated, then to Toa Atamai they said, “Understood, it is good that we still have time to adjust our course. Some of us plan to look around the fort, see if there is anything to scavenge.”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Bode spoke suddenly, “K-Kanohi, these … visions you see, I saw some maps of the south of Zakaz once, do … can you draw those islands?”

Kanohi hesitated, if … if there was confirmation that two of his visions were true, then they would know if these Toa were indeed in danger. And … if Toa were in danger … he swallowed and said “I … I can try?”

He placed one of his disks on the ground and lifted up a pile of dust, dumping the dust on it. He then began to trace his fingers through the dust, hesitating every so often to refer back the vision that haunted his head.

But this was not precise like when Toa Vashni plucked the fresh memory from his head, he struggled to remember the exact details. And the dust was difficult to shape, it kept rolling back under the faint breeze. And with each delay cost by the dust shifting, he questioned his memory more and more.

Finally he pulled back and managed, “I-I think this is right? I … a Toa of Psionics could probably pull the information from my head better. I … I do not know if it matters, but the islands had villages made up of small huts, they were smashed by the flooding.”

The image he drew in the disk looked vaguely like this.

OOC: @Onaku

IC Bode - Po-Koro

Bode of course knew nothing of the geologic layout of the south of Zakaz. The north and the west was partly mapped by the Po-Koro scouts, but the south? As far as the Matoran knew, it ended in a swamp. But Ulkarr should know. And if this was relevant to the Toa, Bode … Bode trusted him. He had to, just as he could no longer trusted himself.

The issue was he could not just transmit an image. He had to describe it. So, his full will focusing on the image, Bode described the rough image of the islands to Ulkarr, starting with the number of islands he could see and the rough design of the big island and the peninsula.

”I can … I think I see sixty islands, it’s hard to tell. They are coming off a peninsula that has three segments of different width, each segment progressively thins out as it approaches the island chain. So the second segment is bigger than the bottom one but smaller than the biggest. The middle segment also has a notch in its east coast.”

”The islands themselves curve out from the peninsula, they are not all in a line but their general shape curves to the East, until it is perpendicular with the direction of the peninsula. So it firms a fourth of the curve of a circle. The biggest island has a big bend in it, the widen segment goes East to west, and the west part bends slightly northward.”

”Does … does that make sense?”

OOC: @Toru Nui

IC Kanohi - Po- Koro

Kanohi scrambled through Po-Koro, confused and concerned. Two Toa may be dying somewhere in the southern jungles. Or maybe they will be dying. He needed to contact someone, warn them. But he couldn’t just abandon Po-Koro. Not again.

Finally he stumbled upon a Po-Matoran staring at the field. Varah. Maybe she had the free time to help. “Listen,” he managed as he ran up to her, “I can’t explain it exactly, but I had a vision. There are two a Toa, one red and one green, dying in a jungle. I … I don’t know what we should—”

”You had a vision?” The De-Matoran in the field asked, rushing over to the edge of the fence. Bode, his name was, “h-how?”

Kanohi swallowed, “I-I know it sounds unbelievable. I-I don’t know how I get these visions, I-I had my first vision right before the League invaded Metru-Nui, then there was one during the invasion. V-Vakama had visions too, he saw the second with me. At the time I thought I was hearing Mata-Nui’s thoughts but … if I have one a-after everything that happened.” He trailed off, his foot swirling against the dusty ground nervously.

”…And these visions, what were they like?” Bode was urgent, frantic.

”Um, well the first was of about three islands off the southern coast of a landmass, and the three islands were flooding rapidly, and there was a red banner that hit me in the face,” Kanohi’s hands wiggled with unease. He … he did not speak of the visions out loud to most people, he rarely direct spoke about it with Vakama. “The second was … Mata-Nui’s head ripping off from a point of view outside his body. That happened as the tremors hit. The third was … well the two dying Toa. Listen, I … it’s silly I know, maybe it means nothing, but … if there are two Toa dying, we should do something!”

OOC: @Onaku

IC Bode - Po-Koro

Bode looked at Kanohi, curiosity briefly overriding his guilt. The Fe-Matoran could not have made a pact with Ulkarr if he had his first vision in the old universe. He didn’t seem the type to lie, or at least lie well, and he didn’t seem the type to kill. But Bode won’t have either once. Would he? He … Bode’s memories were fuzzy.

Ultimately Bode did not know the answers … but Ulkarr would. Bode focused trying to connect his mind to Ulkarr. “T-Toa Ulkarr. Did … did Kanohi do the ritual with you? He says he’s had visions, is that a power the ritual can give? He says he had his first two visions before he came to Zakaz, a-and the first one was of a chain of islands south of a larger landmass? And the islets were flooding?”

OOC: @Toru Nui you can decide if Ulkarr realizes right now that the flooding archipelago might be the islets where the Aspects come from. 

IC “Collector” - Ruined Fort

“Hello, Toa Vashni,” Collector nodded at the Toa as she walked up, “I was thinking of some of us investigating this fort more thoroughly, just in case there are any tools or maps we might be able to use on our journey.”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Kanohi strained as he shoved the caltrop into position, it’s metal beams grinding against the rocks. Finally a Po-Matoran called, “okay, that should be enough.” Kanohi nodded and released the metal device, before falling limp. He was no Po-Matoran, his strength was more limited. He laid there, looking up at the sky and breathing heavily.

Then a large shadow passed overhead and he bolted upright, flipping out his disk of freezing in his hand. He looked about, panting, he … he thought … that maybe it was that airship. , how were they going to save Po-Koro, let alone Metru-Koro?

He stood there, panting. His body numb he swallowed and plopped down, dropped the freezing disk at his feet. As it touched the ground dust splashed up like a icy wind, which began to spin and spiral. Kanohi crawled back as a cyclone of ice and dust whipped around him, and Po-Koro melted into the whiteness.

Kanohi shakily stood up, picking up the disk, as the white winds began to subside. From the wintery vortex out melted … a jungle? A great jungle, harsh with green and alive with screams and shrieks. Kanohi staggered forward, unfolding his staff to push aside vines and branches. He … he could see a hint of red in the green.

He slid aside a branch with his Kiril Staff, to see two Toa. One of the Toa was red, and the other was green. They clung to each other in an embrace. And they both … they seemed to shake. He … Kanohi knew they were dying in that jungle, these two Toa, dying with no one but each other.

”Kanohi? Are you okay?.”

Kanohi blinked, he was back in Po-Koro, the Po-Matoran was staring at him. “I … I am alright,” he managed, his face crimson beneath his mask, before saying, “I … excuse me I need to go, um, sorry.” He ran off, unsure where to go. Only that he needed to get help. He had not had a vision since … since the Impact. This was important. 

IC Bode - Po-Koro

They knew. They had to know. The Bo-Matoran prodding his weeds, the Po-Matoran watching him. They knew. And he … he was … glad. No, not glad but … relieved. They knew so … he would be punished. It would be resolved. It would end. He … he should go to Varah, beg only to keep walking in his field, keep helping Po-Koro. Continue to try to make something good come out of his … mistake. That was the least he could do.

He turned, and started to walk towards the guard. But when he saw the Po-Matoran he … her eyes, he felt them peer through him like a Skakdi’s vision power. He trembled was … it had to be just his imagination. But after what he did … he flinched. He turned and resumed walking in the field, shaking.

He … Bode wanted this to end. He did. But at the same time, he was terrified of that end.

OOC: @Onaku

IC “Collector” - Ruined Fort

Collector had … not slept well, and was still a bit drowsy when they heard voices. They groaned and tapped their Kanoka blade to the ground, freezing it over, before planting their face against it. The raw cold was a jarring shock, and their mind jerked awake. They sat back up, breathing heavily, before pressing their hand to the ice. Just … feeling it, imagining it was their power, that they had formed that ice the right way.

They stood up, and looked towards the two sentries. They … one of the Toa seemed to be awake, Jutori. They … were not sure if they could speak to Zadred now. But maybe … they could still. They walked up, still clinging their Kanoka Blade in their hands. “Anything eventful happen in the night? Should some of us search the fort more thoroughly, try to look for any clues left in the ruin that might help our hunt?”

OOC: @pokemonlover360 @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Snelly @Tarn

IC Kanohi - Po-Koro

Kanohi made his rounds, mending the huts and structures. As he went about he glanced after Arkius, he seemed to have vanished? Was he already underground? The kind of command over his element that would take…

A thought brushed against him, Arkius had been in the Archives with Nale during that massacre. He might know what had occurred then, and what had traumatized Nale so much. Though he still seemed unbothered, had he missed whatever had hurt Nale? Been elsewhere at the time?

“Hey, Kanohi,” a Po-Matoran interrupted his thoughts, “mind helping us haul this caltrop?” Kanohi shook his head out of his daze, right, he should focus on helping the village. He grappled over and began to heave, working with the Matoran to slid the metal spikes across the rocky ground, 

“Hey, You were working with Vakama, right? You know how to make a disk of shrinking? Might help us move these things.”

Kanohi flinched at the Po-Matoran’s words, his heartlight beat elevating. Finally he managed to choke out, “I … I am no Vakama. My homeland did not have the knowledge of how to make disks, it was r-random what our masks would turn out to be. I think … I know some basics on disks of regeneration, and maybe I could manage to forge Kiril out of one, he tried to teach me how to do that when he made my staff, but I-I do not have the resources to make even those disks, let alone disks of shrinking.”

“Shame.” The Matoran fell silent as they kept skidding the caltrops around to the outside of the wall. Kanohi closed his eyes, hoping to the Kaita that it would give the village protection from the Skakdi, at least until the underground was built. 

IC Po-Koro

”There he is.” The Av-Matoran pointed to a small field that had cut through the tan plain plains. In this field laid a few Mahi, their stomachs pull of the plants. A few Bo-Matoran were crouched in the weeds, plucking the plants and turning them over in their metal fingers, while a few Po-Matoran built a fence around it. And in the center a De-Matoran was pacing, each hand rubbing his forearms, his head low.

”Nod twice if you need me to stand on guard for the village,” he said to Varah quietly, “I recharged the Lightstones yesterday, they should hold for now.” With the universe … dead, some Lightstones had started to flicker. Luckily the Av-Matoran could charge them with what light elemental energy they possessed, though given the Skakdi attack, it might make more sense to have them at the ready to use their element for battle.

OOC: @Onaku