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Harvali

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Posts posted by Harvali

  1. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - The Edge of the Fau Swamp

    It was honestly more than a little inspiring how Hakari seemed unfazed by the ordeal with the parasite. Seeing a noble Gukko puppets by pulleys and strings of vibes, roses growing from its beak, probing for prey, searching for the glow of Heartlights, she could have been infested. And she could only focus on how pretty the Keea was.

    Kanohi … he was only a Matoran, she outclassed him in any term of power, but after he had neglected her in the fight … he did not want this carefree Lesterin to suffer. He wanted to protect her, her and all the people of Mata-Nui.

    He couldn’t let anyone else get infested.

    The vigilante shook his head and heard an unfamiliar rattling along with his wooden masks clanking. He looked at his still partly disassembled Volo Lutu Launcher … he could not help anyone if it was not perfect. The Fe-Matoran began to get back to work mending and modifying his grappling hook, readying it for the journey ahead.

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Onaku @Snelly

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  2. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - The Edge of the Fau Swamp

    Kanohi dipped his head to Itachi, this changed somethings. For one thing, they might actually be able to go the right way now. Or at least go the right way sooner than they would have otherwise. And with an aerial view, they may be able to spot danger far in advance.

    The Fe-Matoran vigilante turned over his tablet and pointed to the ‘yes’ he had carved into the back, before clicking his bracelet to say “Itachi will be big help. Thank you both for guiding us.” Hopefully they could make up the time Kanohi’s bad sense of direction may have cost them, and reach Ga-Koro in time to stop the Lesterin.

    Still, there was a danger here, and Kanohi might not have been clear. This was important, so this time he wrote with the graphic stick, “I am not sure if I was clear, but the parasite was able to control a Gukko, pull its wings and beaks from within like a puppeteer. It did not know how to fly, and its optics could only seem to see light sources not detail, it just flopped about wildly. I do not want anyone else possessed by such a thing. So do be careful for both your and Itachi’s sakes.

    He … he could not stomach the idea of a Matoran or another bird being puppeted. Not after he abandoned Hakari in her time of need. She survived, but clearly from his dreams, it haunted him.

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Onaku @Snelly

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  3. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - The Edge of the Fau Swamp

    Kanohi dipped his head in thanks to Lapu. This tablet should be useful on the days ahead. Then he winced as Okuo spoke, and his face beneath all of his masks heated up, the metal of his cheeks burning to a red glow.

    Embarrassed, he began to write on the paper for clarity. And not to strain Okuo to keep up. since well, he was already helping them. ”I am not the best at navigating Le-Wahi. When we left Le-Koro I got distracted, and became lost. The Mangai was impossible to miss, so I led us towards it, so we would not get more lost.

    He bowed low to Lapu and Hakari, “I am sorry for leading you astray, I should have spoken up.

    Still, if they had gone the proper direction, would they have bumped into Okuo, who may be able to help them in this quest? It was … Kanohi knew he did not have the great destiny of a Toa Maru, he knew he was not fated to be a Toa at all. But … well, all Protoderms were subject to destiny, and maybe he had gotten lost in order to run into Okuo.

    Perhaps it was a stretch, but maybe time would reveal that this stop had happened for a reason.

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Onaku @Snelly

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  4. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - The Edge of the Fau Swamp

    Kanohi nodded with an exaggerated head movement, hopefully the motion was big enough to be noticeable beneath his armor of many masks. Still, he could clarify more, so he sketched into the back of his tablet a big “yes.”

    The Fe-Matoran vigilante paused, then carved a “no,” and a “Kanohi” into the wood as well. This was the backside of the tablet, it might be useful to have some quick answers he could flip to. But in the meantime he pointed to the “yes,” while holding the tablet to face Okuo.

    With Okuo caught up to speed, Kanohi clicked his bracelet to say, “I am sorry, but since you are guard, and you have worked in Ta-Koro, and was exchanged to Le-Koro, you may be able to help. This may be affecting multiple Wahi. You linked to multiple Koro, and have experience working with different groups of guards. Might help us pass through Ta-Koro easier, help alert Ga-Koro.

    Kanohi paused, and then added, “I apologize for imposing.” But asking a favor of a stranger that was not the only reason Kanohi was a bit uneasy. The dangerous jungles of Le-Wahi felt safer than the cities. The heavily policed Le-Koro, the guards watching everyone’s every move, it felt too much like being imprisoned by that false Makuta. It was as he said to Ramaka, the Principle of Faith was missing. Not to mention what if he was found?

    He … he needed to be able to bolt as needed, respond to danger immediately. And he could hardly help anyone in Le-Koro, the guards already were upset with him for grappling up to their platform past the checkpoints that time. Whether or not that had been his mistake, he doubted he could use his Volo Lutu Launcher freely enough to help in the village proper. 

    Some might note the hypocrisy of asking this guard Okuo then for help. But he could not afford for the parasite to infest someone, he already had neglected Hakari’s life. He could not risk anyone else becoming like that Gukko. And while he was uneasy with the Gukko Force, neither Le-Koro nor Ta-Koro had anything on the stories he had heard of Po-Koro under Akiri Hewkii. If Kanohi had tried to be a vigilante then and there, he would be dead. He doubted such a thing could happen in Le-Koro.

    Plus Okuo seemed pretty nice. And he admired Kanohi. He … the Fe-Matoran would trust him. 

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Onaku @Snelly

  5. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - The Edge of the Fau Swamp

    Kanohi grasped his bracelet, and began to click it. He closed his eyes. Kanohi was not an expert in the Telegraph language himself, and after traversing the jungle, he might make mistakes. And if Okuo was not a perfect user either, he should move slow and simple

    Me and Hakari,” he paused to gestured to the Lesterin of Jungle, “spotted Le-Matoran trader falling from sky. Her bird was possessed by plant parasite. I saved trader from mud, Hakari killed the parasite. We took trader to Le-Koro.

    Lapu,” he pointed to the bark-covered Toa of Jungle, “came to us, we three decided to stop parasites. We spoke to trader, she said her bird given food by strange green Lesterin in Ga-Koro. Strange Lesterin said he came from faraway island of Seprilli, but I think he lied. Seprilli exists, Lesterin homeland, but to travel so far so quick, I think he lied, using his returned memories. Hakari had started to remember Seprilli too. Trader said he implied he had business with refugees in Ga-Koro, so we headed there to stop him.

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Onaku @Snelly

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  6. IC Kardaka - Po-Wahi - The Motara Desert

    The Turaga of Stone trekked slowly across the desert, her wide feet spirited from short legs, each step she took was small, and she relied heavily on her Badge of Office to maintain her balance. Every few steps she nearly toppled over her own feet, nearly collapsing under her staff caught her. Each time she let out a sigh, and then resumed walking.

    Kardaka … she knew she had needed to give up her Toa Power, to make amends. But even so, her body felt wrong in a way it had not for centuries. The proportions were awkward, her chassis felt weaker too, as a Toa she had greater than average strength, and she still was stronger than most Turaga, but it was clear that she no longer had much force behind her. Walking her clumsy body was exhausting, even without the desert’s heat.

    Still she continued to walk on. And as she continued to journey through the desert, a whistle broke the desert stillness. She turned to see a long teal mechanism snake its way through the desert, kicking up clouds of dust. A golden dome painted to recall a Kualsi was mounted in the front, and for good reason. While the Iron Mahi was far slower than a Mask of Quick Travel, it still was perhaps the fastest way to traverse Po-Wahi.

    As the Iron Mahi clanked past Kardaka turned towards it. She would walk to slowly to catch the fast locomotive, but its force had unburied the tracks, exposing a winding metal path through Po-Wahi. She did not know which way the tracks lead, but they would lead to some sort of civilization. Ideally a port like Ostia or Forsi, she was not yet ready to go to Po-Koro. But if she was to understand why the Akiri had betrayed the Virtue of Unity, she would … meditating had not worked. She needed to be among people. 

  7. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - The Edge of the Fau Swamp

    The cross-wired Fe-Matoran blushed again. People had heard of Kanohi? Word had traveled? Someone actually wanted to be his friend? He had been inspiring? And gave him a gift spur the moment to? Even how … maybe he did matter. Well of course he mattered, but he … his heartlight was unsteady as he looked down with embarrassment.

    Then he realized something. If this Okuo was a transferred guard dealing with inter-Koro matters, he might be able to help them with the parasite Lesterin. The mysterious villain might threaten both Le-Koro and Ga-Koro after all. Kanohi carefully began to sketch circles in the paper, before slicing them with lines and dotting them.

    Thank you, this is very kind,” the Matoran script he wrote said, “I am touched that you find anything I have done inspiring. Do you know, understand,” he paused to rethink his words, before writing again, “Maybe you can help us. But first, are you familiar with the Telegraph language? I can mimic it, and using it would save your paper.

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Onaku @Snelly

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  8.  

    IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - The Edge of the Fau Swamp

    The cross-wired Fe-Matoran felt his heartlight briefly freeze. He … had this Ta-Matoran tracked him down? Was he an ally of that deluded Matoran? But why would he approach when Kanohi was traveling with such strong Protoderms? And he did call him Kanohi, not Dece…

    It took time for Kanohi to register the Matoran of Fire’s excitement, but as it dawned on him he felt his face burn as his orange Great Ruru’s sides shifted to a maroon hue. Fortunately his embarrassment was buried under his wooden masks, hopefully sparing him the others’ judgement.

    First Hakari watched him save a Taku. Now a Ta-Matoran knew him on sight. His fingers drummed his sides. He … could someone actually know about his work as Kanohi? He … was he making a difference? He … no, he … um he… 

    Finally he dipped his reddening head to the Ta-Matoran, and pulled out the tablet Lapu had given him. With his chisel he carved, “Hello. Yes I am indeed called Kanohi. What is your name? What brings you to this part of Le-Wahi?

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Onaku @Snelly

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  9. @ARROW404 @Snelly okay confession time, another player had to point out to me that the Fau Swamp is to the west. Luckily Kanohi canonically has a bad sense of geography, so we maybe can excuse it. @Onaku is the one who noticed the issue, credit where it’s due, and has suggested we make the red path our route. Which kind of makes sense, the volcano should be visible for kios, so it makes sense Kanohi might want to use it as a landmark to not get lost. Plus it does cross into the swamp
    3A280AA9-E032-4ADE-A493-205924575E2D.png.d8ecada904ade6c3a73a84571c099280.png
    My apologies for my own bad sense of geography. 

  10. IC Kardaka - Po-Wahi - The Motara Desert

    The desert stretched as far as an optic could scry. Even a mask equipped with a telescopic lens would struggle to see anything but a sparse few Mahi herds and a few plant species that dotted the terrain, the landscape was flat and barren. Dust coated the ground, even the Iron Mahi tracks were camouflaged by a layer of sand, visible only when one of Po-Koro’s locomotives passed over them.

    In this desert sat a Turaga of Stone. Her body was bulky, her arms thick compared to her hands, her feet wide and flat. Her feet sat sole to sole, their toes facing her chest. Her Badge of Office was planted in front of her, her arms clenching it. Her heartlight flashed in spurts as she struggled to meditate.

    A circle of pebbles surrounded her as she closed her optics. She tried to feel instead through the rocky terrain, sense every stone. Try to connect to the island, channeling her spirit first through her Badge of Office, then into the pebbles, and then maybe into the island itself.

    Mata-Nui, please guide me,” her words were not spoken with confidence, but with a desperate plea. She was a Turaga now, she was meant to be wise. But she was more confused than ever.

    Why would the Akiri turn on each other? Why would Hewkii try to isolate Po-Koro from the island? The Virtue of Unity was the only reason the Toa Maru defeated the Makuta while the Toa Mata had failed. Unity was the greatest of the Virtues, how could the Matoran throw it away?

    As she continued to meditate her optics wrinkled and her fingers tapped her staff with impatience. Finally she sighed and shakily stood up, nearly tripping over her big feet. She caught herself on her Badge of Office, before shoving herself fully upright.

    The Turaga extended her hand and the circle of pebbles lifted into the air, chasing after each other like a Bog Snake winding through the roots of a mangrove. Her free hand fell to her waist were pouches hung, and pulled one open. With a twist of her fingers the pebbles flew into the bag, before she pulled it taut.

    She hesitated, the pouch was beginning to fray again. She leaned on her Badge of Office and pressed her hand to her mask, focusing its power. The Noble Kiril began to shimmer faintly, and the woven fabric began to stitch itself back together, the fibers sharpening.

    As a Turaga of Stone, these were her powers. Limited control over her element, and the ability to use the powers of Noble masks. This was what remained of her strength of a Toa after she gave her powers to try to bring the villages closer together

    How could Akiri Hewkii do it? How could he cut off Po-Koro from the world? How could he enforce his will on the Matoran, force them to be loyal, like a common servant of the Makuta? Stockpiling weapons, isolating his people, expanding his territory over Po-Wahi, he defiled the Matoran’s Unity. How could he divide the Koro?

    How could this happen? How could the Matoran, the supposed chosen breed of Mata-Nui, how could they fall so far?

    After what felt like years in the Motara Desert, Turaga Kardaka still did not know the answer. But what she finally was realizing, was that this isolation was not granting her insight. Looking inward had not helped her understand the Matoran and the Akiri, she … she was as lost as ever.

    She supposed it made sense. Being alone in a desert was not going to help her better understand why the Matoran had failed the Virtue of Unity. She needed to be among people for that. Again the wisdom thought to come from the Turaga escaped her.

    Still, she had come to the correct conclusion, this wasn’t working. So she began to bundle up her bedroll, hoisting it onto her back. She nearly smacked into the dust from heaving it onto her, barely managing to catch herself with her Badge of Office. Slowly she pushed on the staff, using it as leverage to stand again.

    Kardaka sighed, before beginning to waddle through the flat arid landscape. She … she did not know where she was going, but she had to go somewhere at least. She needed to find the answers, figure out what she should do. What she could believe in.

    Because she struggled to believe in the Unity of the Matoran anymore.

    OOC: Kardaka open to interaction.

  11. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - The Edge of the Fau Swamp

    The Fe-Matoran vigilante slumped against a tree, taking a moment to rest. He was no Le-Matoran, traversing the trees did not come as easily to him. But that helped cloak his past a bit, and well, it was the fastest way to get to people to help them. 

    After a short rest Kanohi took the medical supplies he had purchased, and got to work. First he became to bandage up his right arm with the hard brace he had gotten. He bound it in the cast, covering everything but his hand.

    Then he took the reinforced splints, doused them in his flame resistant concoction, and got to work. He attached the splints to the brace, bolting them to the cast, before similarly attaching them to his Volo Lutu Launcher. The work was slow, he could only use his left hand to assemble this, and he had to be careful not to damage his gadget.

    Finally he nodded, the Volo Lutu Launcher was now effectively attached to his arm. Even if his hand released it, he would not drop it. Know came the part he should have done before he attached it to him. Kanohi held his right arm out, and began to tinker with the launcher’s mechanisms, mending and replacing the components. It honestly would be easier to do with two hands, but well, he supposed he would have needed to get used to using only one hand regardless. This only gave him practice earlier.  

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly 

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  12. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - Le-Koro

    Kanohi nodded and holstered the tablet onto his back, before firing his Volo Lutu Launcher at a lower branch. He was wrenched from the platform and hurtled downward, tumbling onto a lower branch. As he rolled he hooked a lower branch and descended further down the tree.

    Before he hit the forest floor he fired his gadget, hooking another tree. His body creaked from the sudden lurching but his chassis endured it and he grappled to the next tree. He hurtled through the jungle, heading Eastward.

    It would take some time to trek the jungle, and his sense of geography was not great. Still, he was not unfamiliar with the layout of the island’s south, he knew the general direction. And while he still had time, when thet reached it he would know the signs of the dangerous Fau Swamp.

    He would need to have his Volo Lutu Launcher as best as it could be before heading through the swamp, let alone Ta-Wahi, and then to face whatever the villainous green Lesterin was planning. This stretch of the journey would be relatively fine, but the rest might be more sketchy. So if the others were alright. he would stop on the edge of the swamp, and begin cobbling together his upgrades. 

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly mind stopping us just outside the Fau Swamp?

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  13. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - Le-Koro

    Kanohi nodded, then began to rewrite some more. “Okay then. I must admit, before we leave Le-Wahi I will need to do some preparations for the journey ahead, but I will not need to do them in Le-Koro. They just will need doing before we journey too far towards the Fau Swamp.

    If he was heading to that swamp so soon, he would to make sure his Volo Lutu Launcher was functioning in peak condition. If he fell in the swamp and it failed to drag him out, death would be painful. And he … he did not want to die.

    After he modified his grappling hook though he would be fine heading for Ga-Koro. Well, mostly fine. Admittedly it was daunting to possibly encounter Nichou and the others again, but well, destiny clearly was pushing him to the Village of Water. It was inevitable.

    Hopefully the vigilante Kanohi could handle it, while Dece could not And hopefully he … if he had to confront his past, he would not be exposed by his old colleagues. He … Mata-Nui shield my identity.

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly 

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  14. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - Le-Koro

    Kanohi felt his face burn underneath his mask, shuffling awkwardly. This was a kind gift, hopefully he would make good use of it. And indeed almost instantly he had a thought to add. His sense of geography was not the greatest, but even he saw the problem.

    With his chisel he wrote. “I know you two might already realize this, but I will say the obvious just in case. To cross into Ga-Wahi, we will need to pass from Fau Swamp over to the thin strip of land that is Ta-Wahi. Would you be okay with this, Lapu? The burnt trees, and your wooden armor, I do not know if it would be stressful, let alone dangerous.

    The Fe-Matoran vigilante was not particularly worried about his own wooden armor, he had treated it ages ago with chemicals he bought from a Bo-Matoran he had saved. They were resistant to flames, they would not burn. He was maybe not as safe as Hakari, but he would likely be safer than Lapu. 

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly seriously whose idea was it that Ta-Wahi would split up Ga-Wahi and Le-Wahi, those environments bare more resemblance to each other than any other region.

    • Like 1
  15. Well, the BZPRPG is back, act 3 has begun. It’s been like a decade since I was in act 1, and things have changed both in-universe and out. For one thing, Dece has adopted the identity of Kanohi, much like in Six Kingdoms. Although actually I originally created the plot point ofKanohi for BZPRPG Act 3, it just took a while for BZPRPG to get started so I adapted him fir SKE in the meantime. And it did require some adapting, the rules are a bit different here, Mata-Nui lacks the Kanoka of Metru-Nui for one. So to help setup the Kanohi of act 3, and flesh out an off screen adventure, I wrote this short story about him. I am posting it today for the one month anniversary of act 3 beginning. It’s a standalone adventure, it’s not needed to read his adventures in Le-Wahi or vice versatile read this story. It just adds some context. I will say this story takes place three days before my first Kanohi post, for anyone following the timeline. With that said, enjoy this little story.

    What do you see, Dece?

    Kanohi bolted upright and swiped up his Volo Lutu Launcher, his heartlight flashing and his many wooden masks rattling from the violent motion. His lungs pumped out a hacking gasp of air, as his optics darted around him. Their lens searched through the gasps in his masks, his head pivoting on its socket.

    There was nothing there, save the early morning sunlight that lit Le-Wahi. A beam of light had merely drifting across his head. He could hear crackling, but his optics identified the sound as a pair of Brakas chattering to themselves

    The cross-wired Fe-Matoran slumped against the tree, rustling the crude hammock he had made of vines and the trees branches. He lay there, tracing his metal fingers through the grooves in his masks, trying to stabilize his pounding heartlight. Another dream, another nightmare of that wicked Matoran with the Hau who thought himself the Makuta.

    Finally he sighed and holstered his Volo Lutu Launcher, before he began readjusting his armor, making sure each mask was secure. The straps for each wooden mask were made of braided plant fiber, each mask acted as plate of armor, greaves, shoulder pads, chest plate, he even wore one over his true mask.

    They can’t recognize me, I don’t look like Dece, I am Kanohi; the Mask. I help people. Dece couldn’t help people. Dece … Dece didn’t save people. I save people.

    He drummed his masks, trying to recenter himself. The thudding of metal fingers tapping wood centered him, helping him calm down. He was safe. He … he was safe.

    Kanohi sat fully up, he could hear the hammock creak and buckle beneath him, he wasn’t surprised. The rush job he made it in almost guaranteed it could not last to support the Fe-Matoran another night. It wasn’t the first time. So for now as it held, he would focus.

    The Fe-Matoran reached underneath a mask, pulling out of a slot a Takea’s tooth. The sharp fang had been gutted into a shell, housing a mechanism of metal and stone. He flicked it, and a small flame erupted from it.

    He stared into the flame, he could hear his vocal processor already beginning to sputter. S-still, he was Kanohi, he needed to help the travelers of the jungle. B-because then, maybe one day, he… 

    The flame danced before him, rising and falling. His mechanized throat began to hack as he remembered that all consuming flame, even as the lighter’s fire seemed to grow, embers stretching from it before snapping off, like straining rope from his Volo Lutu Launcher. His heartlight was pounding again, imagining smoke gushing from the fire into his chassis.

    Finally the Matoran of Iron snapped shut the lighter. A vision wasn’t coming. But his visions were … it was the only thing valuable about him. It’s the only reason the False Makuta cared about him. It’s all he could offer. 

    S-still, he was Kanohi, he would help the Matoran. He stowed the lighter away and shakily stood up, nearly toppling off the branch as he did so. Fe-Matoran were not meant to enjoy the treetops, it was not his environment. But that made it safer for him. And he could do more good here.

    Kanohi drew his Volo Lutu Launcher and steadied his aim at a nearby tree’s outstretched branch. He squeezed the trigger, and the iron hook hurled from its barrel. Trailing behind the hook was a tail of braided cord, linking the projectile to its launcher. Then with a thud the hook latched to a tree branch, wedged in.

    Springs in the Volo Lutu Launcher straining, yearning to draw close again. With a lurch Kanohi hurtled forward, yanked through the air on the rapidly recoiling rope. With a smash he smacked into the branch, the hook slotting back into the gadget.

    He climbed up onto the branch and fired again, launching to another tree. He was a Matoran of Iron, he could endure much more physical exertion or abuse than other breeds of Matoran, even without his armor. So he kept grappling from tree to tree, smashing through the twigs and leaves of the jungle’s canopy, the broken shards tumbling to the forest floor.

    Kanohi barreled through the jungle, startling Taku from their nests. He tried to call out “sorry” to the fleeing Rahi, but all that came out was a hack. Talking was still a luxury he did not possess.

    The jungles of Le-Wahi made up a large chunk of Mata-Nui, roughly the southern two-fifths of the island. All sorts of Rahi lived her, foraging and hunting among the trees. Le-Koro was here too, though Kanohi did not head into town much. He … there were multiple reasons why.

    Then he heard a cry.

    Immediately he grappled around towards the shouts, hurtling and smashing through sticks and twigs towards the sound. The tree branches smacked and scraped his armor, he flinched, but he had to keep going. Someone needed help. N-Nichou would understand. He had been unworthy of the Wanderer’s Company too.

    No, that wasn’t fair, that suggested the Wanderer’s Company was wrong. But Stannis and the other Maru, Kanohi had seen their deeds, had visions of their heroics. Had visions of … the ones who fell short. The Toa Maru were great heroes, the greatest in the history of Mata-Nui. Him not measuring up to them was because of his flaws. Not a fault of theirs.

    But even if he was not destined to be a great Toa, he would still help people as best he could. Because he was Kanohi, the vigilante of Le-Wahi.

    He slammed into a tree branch and scrambled atop it, before looking around. There, an orange Ta-Matoran was clutching his mask, screeching out a static squeal. His heartlight was pounding violently. He was in distress.

    The sound sent Kanohi’s heartlight pulsing, the noise making him unsteady. But he knew firsthand how overwhelming things could be, and Kanohi was “cross-wired” himself after all. He had experienced sensory overload before. It was not fun.

    And the simple fact was that Kanohi needed to help him. He sounded really hurt, and much pained noise might attack a predatory Rahi.

    Kanohi grappled down, coming to the Matoran of Fire. His first thought was to speak comfortingly, but his vocal processor was as rough as gravel, what sound he made was strained and indecipherable. 

    The vigilante Fe-Matoran raised his hands to embrace the Ta-Matoran, then pulled back. Getting squeezed by a stranger was never comforting, he knew that from experience. And if his pain was physical, he might hurt the other Matoran. Ta-Matoran were not as sturdy as himself.

    What should he do? The screeching was jagged as gravel, it sent his pistons flexing with unease. He … the sound was overwhelming to the vigilante’s sensors. But Kanohi had to help. He clutched his head and drummed his mask, trying to help himself think.

    Okay, first, check the Ta-Matoran’s symptoms. Kanohi looked over the Matoran, he seemed fine, outside of the screaming … wait.

    Kanohi focused his optics, this Matoran’s chassis was not orange, his frame was actually red. The front of his torso had been plastered with some powder. A narcotic? Or pollen from a plant?

    Le-Wahi was home to many carnivorous plants, but could he recall one whose pollen caused pain? He was not really a botanist, but … he could vaguely remember once hearing a Le-Matoran telling the story of spores that made Brakas scream, until the Rahi was attacked and eaten by a Muaka. The spores would take root in the Rahi’s chassis and grow, they needed to be ingested by the large beast. The plants would eventually strangle the Muaka’s gears and it would be paralyzed, and as it lay dying the plants would bloom and release their spores.

    He … did not do the story justice, it was very nice, accompanied by panflutes. But the point was, if this powder was those spores, this would not only kill this Matoran but a Muaka too, along with Kanohi if he wasn’t careful. He had to move quickly to save three lives.

    The moral to that folktale was not to blindly accept an easy meal, it said nothing of how to treat the afflicted. The story would not help him here. Instead Kanohi grappled to the treetops, and yanked on the branch. He was dwarfed by the strength of Po-Matoran or Onu-Matoran, but the vigilante was active these days, he had some power behind him. With a rip he pulled off a leafy branch.

    He hacked out an apology to the tree, before grappling back to the forest floor. He grabbed his canteen and doused the leaves, and then slowly, carefully, he began to brush the Matoran of Fire.

    Theoretically Kanohi could try to burn the pollen away with his lighter, Ta-Matoran after all had resistance to heat and flames. But resistance was not immunity, and if he burnt another person…

    The Ta-Matoran stuttered out a scream, and his optics began to focus again. The wet leaves mopped and swept away some of the pollen, helping the Matoran’s heartlight steady its glow. He was breathing heavier, but he was breathing.

    Soon enough the branch’s leaves were all coated in pollen. Kanohi hooked a tree’s roots and grappled away, before pulling free a chunk of moss from its roots. Coughing out an apology to the mat of plants, he returned to the Ta-Matoran and wiped him down.

    “Th-thank you,” the Ta-Matoran managed, his optics clenched tight. He was still in pain. But before Kanohi could wipe down more of his chassis, there was a large thud behind them.

    Kanohi’s masks rattled as he swerved behind him to see trees shaking. Something big was coming towards them. Quickly Kanohi crouched and pointed to the Matoran of Fire, before pointing to his back.

    “I … if the pollen is still on me—” But then a closer tree shook, and the Ta-Matoran scrambled onto Kanohi’s back, trying to grip the notches in he mask playing his back.

    Kanohi swayed under the weight, and the sensors on his back seemed to prickle. But discomfort or not, the vigilante Matoran knew he had to hurry. Shakily he raised his Volo Lutu Launcher, hooking a branch near the top of a tree. In a rush the two Matoran were wrenched from the forest four, landing in a heap in the tree.

    Below them was a roar, and a yellow and black shadow broke through the clearing before smashing into the tree, cracking the trunk and shattering dark wildly. Kanohi staggered but fired his Volo Lutu Launcher again, hurling away from the Muaka.

    He thumped against the next tree but launched his grappling hook again, barely slowing to recover. The Ta-Matoran grunted and groaned with each collision, but he still held on.

    There was a roar in the distance, Kanohi tried not to guess if the Muaka was still pursuing them, instead focusing on moving away and keeping the other Matoran secure.

    His servos and pistons strained from the weight, the leaves blinded him, his back tingled uncomfortably, and the branches slashed him. But Kanohi kept moving, he had to.

    “Th-thank you, again,” the Ta-Matoran managed as Kanohi continued to grapple them along, “ m-my name is Tarama. I … I was just trying to scavenge a Muaka carcass, then everything was pain. I tried to run away, run anywhere, but eventually it got too much.”

    Kanohi nodded vaguely. He knew how dangerous Le-Wahi could be. It’s why he stayed here, to rescue travelers, explorers, even wanderers. To be there for those Matoran and other breeds that otherwise could have been lost and forgotten in the Jungle.

    Finally Kanohi collapsed, thumping into a tree. He lay among the branches, heartlight pounding, even as Tarama looked around with his telescopic lens.

    “I … I don’t see the beast, I think we got away. Thank you, so much. Um, but who am I thanking?”

    Kanohi lay there hyperventilating for a time, before shoving upright. He was tired, his body ached, and his back was on fire, the pollen irritating his chassis. Still, he had saved a Matoran, helped someone. It was worth it.

    Shakily he lifted his finger, and pointed to one of his masks.

    “Ruru?”

    The vigilante shook his head, and pointed to his masks again, as well as Tarama’s own Arthron. “Kanohi?” the Matoran of Fire guessed, and Kanohi nodded, slumping back down.

    “S-should we wait a bit, Kanohi?” Tarama offered, and the vigilante nodded. The Ta-Matoran awkwardly shifted onto the branch, trying to stay balanced.

    Kanohi leaned against the tree, his heartlight unsteady. As he laid there, Tarama coughed, “um, I hate to ask, but I don’t do well in the cold. I know it’s not that cold but my damp armor and it’s still barely day and all. Do … do you have a Heatstone I could use?”

    The Fe-Matoran flinched, but helping was the right thing. Shakily they pulled free their lighter, and offered it to the Matoran of Fire. He dipped his head in thanks and ignited it, huddling around the flame.

    The flame seemed to shift and twist in Kanohi’s optics, the flame shooting out like the cord of his Volo Lutu Launcher. It stretched and retracted, stretched and retracted, almost mimicking the beat of a heartlight. It seemed to reach closer and closer to Kanohi, growing thicker and thicker. 

    Smack. Kanohi tumbled as a long wind smacked into him. He careened out of the sky as a Gukko flew above him, a Le-Matoran riding atop. A caravan trailed after the four winged Rahi, knocking about its cargo of lumber. Suddenly the Rahi bucked, and a log fell from its cargo, hurtling at Kanohi’s face.

    He rolled away, the log smacking right where he had been laying. Shakily he stood up, even as the log ignited. He stumbled back as smoke erupted from the chunk of lumber, the inferno engulfed his sight, blinding him to reality.

    Fire latched onto him like tendrils, strangling him in a cocoon. As he was dragged into the binds of smoke he flailed, his chest crushed between the gas. Then suddenly the gas condensed tightening into cords of vine. He slid out of them, thumping onto the roots of a tree.

    Before him he could see a fallen Le-Matoran, her goods scattered like the stars in the sky, her Mount impaled on a tree. She lay limp caked on mud before suddenly jerking upright, staggering on two legs. But her movements were unnatural, and in the gloom of the swamp, he could faintly see thick strings puppeting her limbs.

    There was a rush of wind and Kanohi was knocked off balance, nearly tripping again. He steadying himself, before realizing in horror he stood before the Gukko. The Rahi was still impaled by a jagged tree, oozing green lubricant dripping from its pierced chassis. The vigilante stumbled backwards, only to thump into someone his height. 

    He spun around, and his vision seemed to blur and slow. He fell to the ground as the world melted before him, standing before him was the Le-Matoran, her body raising from the ground, strange arms suspending her upright, each of the limbs holding her bursting from a tree, and each vaguely resembled a Toa’s arms—

    Kanohi gasped out, heartlight panting. A vision. A Le-Matoran merchant was going to fall out of the sky? He … he had to get her—

    He fell back down, still too exhausted. He shuddered, closing his optics. He … his visions were vague, confusing, he had no idea when this vision would occur. Nor did he know if this vision was literal. Maybe it wasn’t a Le-Matoran trader crashing to the ground. Maybe it was the Le-Koro economy crashing, or the Gukko Force failing in a future battle. 

    Regardless, Kanohi was too drained to do anything about it now. And Tarama was in trouble right now, he still had to get the Matoran of Fire to safety. He … he needed to get his fellow Matoran to the safety of a settlement first, then look for the Le-Matoran. And to do that, he unfortunately had to rest first.

    Weak, failure, what kind of Fe-Matoran struggled after only this much trouble. He was too weak, he was never going to be worthy. 

    Still, his optics drifted to Tarama, huddling around the fire. This Matoran was alive because of him. He helped save him. He had even lent him his lighter to stay warm, the one relic he had kept from his life as Dece. He … he had done good. 

    Kanohi sighed, heartlight still unease, but steadier now. He was no Toa Maru, no Akiri, he was not a great hero. But he still was a hero, and he still could do good. And helping out in small ways, saving singular lives, that mattered too. 

    He just wished he could believe that.

    • Like 3
  16. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - Le-Koro

    Kanohi paused, thinking it over. He did not really have more to say, and Ramaka had always seemed like she could understand Matoran telegraph language. Was taking the tablet from Lapu really necessary? He shouldn’t impose on the stressed Toa…

    Still, what if something did come up? Would he be imposing on Ramaka to require her to translate? Her Principle of Faith already had been taken advantage of, he should not add to that. And if he did not fill the others in, would he risk alienating them? Making them distrust him?

    Finally he took the tablet and scratched into the wood, “thank you. I do not think I will need to write something right now, but I will use it if I have a suggestion. I am sorry to impose on you again, I will be sure to return it shortly.

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly

    • Like 1
  17. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - Le-Koro

    Ramaka’s optics widened beneath her powerless Rode, and she looked away. “I … I want to help you. And I will try. But um, I may wear the Mask of Truth, but we’ll, it’s not like I can use it. I can be a bit too trusting. A bit um, naive. Foolish.

    Kanohi sat down beside her and offered her his hand, but she did not take it. “I … I do not know his name. But he was a man. I did not see his mask, or if he even had a mask, but I could see his hood stick out with the shape of a Lesterin’s crest. I did not get a good look, he wore a long cloak, most of his body was hidden. Oh, like he was trying not to be identified I guess.

    She sighed, “Kolhii-headed Brakas. I just … I should have known. Just a fool

    Kanohi’s optics were clenched in thought. He … trust was … he couldn’t even face Nichou, let alone Stannis. Not yet. He had to, needed to prove he was important, that he mattered. That he was not useless. That they could have Faith in him. And this Le-Matoran had so much Faith, and this Lesterin abused it. 

    Finally he clicked his bracelet, replying, “Do not be mean to you, that Lesterin has been mean enough already. Remember, Faith is a Principle, in fact it the Principle of Le-Koro. Although…” He glanced towards a circling Gukko overhead, “I … I think the Koro had forgotten it. Believing in people is … it’s a good thing. It’s not your fault he exploited it.

    Th-thanks,” Ramaka looked away, her heartlight unsteady, “I … I did try to chat with him, asked if he was of the Air element like me. He … I saw green armor underneath his cloak, so I figured he was either of Air, Plant Life, or maybe Crystal.

    Kanohi nodded and looked to Hakari beneath his masks, he … he did not know the Lesterin elemental attributes well, hopefully she could explain the abilities of those three types of Lesterins.

    In the meantime Ramaka continued, “I … there is something else. I think … well after he gave me the Gukko food I kept talking, and talking, I think I irritated him a little. I mentioned the refugee situation in Ga-Koro and he interrupted me saying that ‘I know, I need to go there’ and then left in a huff. He um, he might be still in Ga-Koro then?

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly

     

    • Like 1
  18. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - Le-Koro

    Kanohi bowed to Ramaka as she looked up. “Oh, my heroes,” she tried to fake a smile, “um, you didn’t happen to salvage anything from my crash, did you? Like, my papers or my ID? Or any goods? I … um, I got in a bit of trouble with my boss, for losing the cargo, my Mount, and that Onu-Matoran’s work order. Kinda got demoted. Might get fired.

    She laughed, but even Kanohi could tell how unsteady that laugh was. He extended his hand to hear, then hesitated. He … he did not know what he could do. What he should do? He struggled to speak, and he did not have any proof that could help support her. He could not advocate for her easily.

    Still he could offer compassion at least. He resumed reaching, offering an embrace. She tackled him, knocking him on his back. “S-sorry, just having a bad day,” she climbed off him, “The medical bill wasn’t great either. But it was better than becoming a walking corpse puppeted by a rose bush.

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly 

    • Like 1
  19. @ARROW404 @Snelly given the recent site problems, I just want to let you know I have been manually copying all of our ic posts in Le-Wahi (for Kanohi, Hakari, and Lapu) and posting them in a pages doc. As of right now I am currently caught up. So if BZPower crashes and loses like a month of posts (like it has in the past) we can manually repost all the Kanohi, Hakari, and Lapu interactions. So we won’t go back to square one even if a datacylsm hits.

    …I might be a tad paranoid.

     

    • Like 4
  20. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - Le-Koro

    The cross-wired Fe-Matoran was not the best at reading the expressions of others, but even he was able to notice Lapu was uncomfortable. No wonder, even Le-Koro was a rush of hustling and bustling Matoran and other breeds moving about. And the unease of a Toa mattered more than his.

    Pausing his shopping, Kanohi pulled out a cloth of woven plant fibers, and pretending to wrap it around his own face. He tried to mimic steady breathing and slow his heartlught’s pounding, in an attempt to suggest that muffling the sounds and sights of Le-Koro might make them less overwhelming. He then offered the plant rag to Lapu, if it would help.

    At the same time Kanohi had gotten the medical supplies, lubricant, cord, and a few gears and springs for repairing his Volo Lutu Launcher. He was effectively broke now, but at least he could helpfully get his Volo Lutu Launcher working. As he stowed away the last of his goods, he spotted Ramaka, sitting glumly outside at he storefront for a lumberyard. 

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly 

    • Like 1
  21. IC Kanohi - Le-Wahi - Le-Koro

    Kanohi wore many wooden masks, one large one even hung on top of his true mask. He did this for a few reasons. One, the masks gave him protection from collisions with trees or hostile Rahi. Second, it made him feel stronger, more heroic. And finally, it hopefully helped Dece hide.

    And right now it hid his shaking optics.

    He hadn’t even been there for Aurax when he was killed, he … and if a Matoran like Aurax could be killed so easily, despite being chosen by destiny, could Kanohi even hope to compare when he had been less worthy? He shuddered, and began drumming his masks anxiously.

    For now though he had work to do. He moved among the stalls, he was no good at haggling, another reason money would be tight. Still, he knew how to tinker, and he approached a seller of surplus medical supplies. He clicking his bracelet, “I w-will require an arm brace and seven splints.

    Wait, I know you…” The Bo-Matoran muttered and Kanohi’s heartlight sputtered, before the Matoran of Jungle continued, “you are that Kolhii-head that brought in that sick Ta-Matoran four days ago. You found someone else messed up?

    No … getting better prepared for possible trouble.

    Humph. Odds are you will need that for yourself, trying to outrun a Muaka,” Kanohi winced, that wasn’t how it had happened. Not really.

    OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly Little hint of one of his adventures that I wrote a stand-alone story about. Will post it on the twenty eighth for the first month anniversary of act three. 

    • Like 1
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