Tabby: Toa of Cats

IC:Voriki's dagger sprung from its' sheath, his eyes darting to the latest arrival. "Who. . . are you?""That's what I would like to know," said the voice of another being joining the conversation.- - - -Kethrye had been loitering by the gate keeping his eyes out for anything, or anyone, that seemed to deviate from a normal day in the village. As if "normal means anything anymore, he thought, grunting dismissively at at the thought.He perked up a bit as a new element stroke up and though the gateway. Kethrye watched, compiled a detail report on his appearance. Skakdi, black and silver armor; possibly Earth-aligned? he thought, begin to trail behind him from a distance. Wields: Battleaxe, large. Scowling.The fact that the Skakdi did not start looking for himself or Madrihk to bug with a multitude of questions only raised his suspensions further. Better check this guy out, then. No such thing as being too careful, especially now.His mark turned down one of the alleys between Pala-Koro's huts, a place usually deserted. Only at this time it wasn't. Two Toa stood conversing there, one Kethrye had never seen before in his life, and the other one he knew all to well. While they appeared to be speaking, Kethrye noted that he heard nothing of it, even this close. Certainly not whispering, he thought, edging closer.. . .Now he could hear. Sonics field, that's it."You were asking for me?" said the Skakdi warrior.Voriki, at least, seemed surprised by his appearance. "Who. . . are you?" he said as he drew his dagger and pointed it's edge towards the first of the newcomers he noticed."That's what I would like to know," Kethrye remarked. His axe was drawn and held close to the ground, as nonthreatening as the Toa of Ice could make it. His face was grin. "Seeing as I only caught the last couple of sentences."IC:"That's my ally, who will be assisting us. And this one will be quiet." The previously established sonic barrier prevented Kethrye from crying out-walking in without getting help was a foolish mistake, and perhaps a fatal one. The positioning of huts around them created a dark and hard to see space, so that no one was likely to find them. The tight space would make fighting difficult, and sonics and impact vision were a perfect combination for breaking ice. In three on one, Ziraul stood a very good chance of killing Kethrye. Ziraul smiled as he and Tirax moved into posistions that would keep Kethrye from running. "Voriki-is it just me, or do I recall this one from the investigation? I think it's time we made sure he doesn't strike again." With that, Ziraul opened up with deafening noise. Tirax aimed impact vision bolts at the feet. The low level would prevent any stray impacts with the huts that could raise alarms, and stood a good chance of breaking the feet. OOC:I think Voriki has reason to potentially attack here, seeing Kethrye's past. For reference, I put us in between the huts (that's what they are, right?) near the team quarters, as that provides a difficult space to see and a cramped fighting area. Cy can spot them and drop by, potentially. Kivar is even more likely-a quiet spot is something he'll pick up on. If you ment D to be near his hut, we can work with that as it's on the outskirts of the village.The silence feild technique Ziraul is using is something like a dome over an area, that allows noise within, but not outside. Thus, don't expect to be crying out for help.

IC:"You're correct. Recruitment involves trial. Survive long enough, and you're in. Then we'll talk details, skills. If not...Makkan happens to be a slaver. Three on one begins now." The booming voice answered. From behind, Matatu and Makkan opened the fight. Makkan triggered his Kanohi, using it to trigger a telekinetic push, trying to shove his opponent to the ground. Matatu shot lightning into the air, powerful enough to wind the average Toa.

I'd suggest a slightly less hard to see color for Ziraul, as it is I have to highlight everything he says.IC:Ziraul answered, "Whatever floats your boat. There are two targets within this village that must be eliminated. One of them is the Toa of Air you see up there. The other is a Toa of Gravity with spiky armor, whom I have lost sight of. We will have an advantage in numbers by one, I suspect, unless that Gukko rider is on their side. If you wish to maintain a good reputation in this village, I suggest we take them outside. It would be the best way to deal with them. First however, Tirax must return to ensure our edge.""You were asking for me?"

IC:Three beings strode forth from behind Jyra. One spoke in a deep, booming voice. "Just what are you doing here? This is Inferno territory." The heat could be felt to rise as plasma appeared in Vilor's hands. Makkan's chains were already levitating, and Matatu's spear crackled with electricity.

IC:"If it suits you better, we can leave it as leisure-unpaid, if you won't enjoy it otherwise. Does that offer better fit you?" Ziraul asked. IC: Cy nodded and strode out into Pala-Koro, taking to the air, and joining Kivar as they circled the village from above, flying in complete silence via the powers of vaccum and Sonics. Though their eyes were keen, they failed to notice the two Toa talking in the shadows.Tirax strode into Pala-Koro, looking for Ziraul. Huts stood around him, half built in state, and countless workers continued to labor on the walls. He smiled-enough Skakdi that he could blend in.OOC:Finally found a color that would work for Tirax. Trying one for Ziraul, too.

Don't we still need a reason for their existence, what unique spin their going to have, how they're going to meet etc. I don't see how we can make entries with out that stuff.We can still make entries. The plot just might start right off the bat once the judging is finished, that's all. In my opinion, once we know who the characters are going to be, it'll actually be easier to figure out how they'll meet, the reason for their existence, etc.First off, I apologize for my inactivity this week and in weeks to come, with school and all. I will get back to any posts on Friday/weekend.Secondly, about these Angcora-what are they, and what posistions are open? I doubt I have time for a full-blown member of the team, but I do have a number of resources both upcoming and current that could be useful as allies for the team if on the side of Mata Nui. (1.6 Toa teams, eventually to be 2.6, a custom species faction once I finish approvals, and some other concepts to run by staff that will be useful for light-aligned characters.)

IC: "You mean, 'someone who once hunted you', not someone who you once hunted. As I said, I was falsely a member of Miraul's team, the one that chased you from Onu-Koro to here, working undercover for the criminal organization known as the Black Inferno. We see potential in you and wish to recruit you. This is in your benefit in at least two ways. You make a profit by working for us. We assist you in eliminating Miraul and others who happen to be aware of your past if you so wish. You continue to fight Makuta, as you do now, if that interests you at all. My experience with your psychopathic tendencies indicate you enjoy causing death-another trait that makes you ideal for us, not here, a place full of Toa with morals. I think those all make sense. That ought to give you enough reason to care." Ziraul answered.OOC:And Voriki should remember Ziraul, as he was part of the chase for him, even if he doesn't know the name.

IC: A wall of silence prevented their conversation from being overheard. Ziraul answered. "I am someone who once hunted you-I had no choice in the matter, being undercover. You do not recognize me, of course." The Vortixx melted away to reveal a Toa of Sonics. "I am Ziraul, once falsely called a Toa of Miraul's team. I am certain we share a dislike of them. I am here to recruit you for the tasks of revenge and profit. I think we would both like to defeat Miraul's team. And making a profit is in your best interest. Thus the Black Inferno offers you membership, to our criminal enterprises. You will have the chance to fight Miraul's team, and continue on to make a profit with something I think you very much enjoy if our past experiences are anything to go buy. Killing people."

IC:Cy said, "The best bet for peace would be to make an agreement to leave them mostly alone in exchange for leaving us alone-with a caveat that if we're desperate to coordinate ops against Makuta, we can send a message. In return an offer to replace Vorok could contain his anger against me so long as the offer stands-if you can find someone shady enough to do it, that is. It's not a direct allegiance, so it has less potential to backfire, and we can keep them at a distance unless we need them. You may not know Vorok, but I do, and I will vouch for him. Though he is still something of a confrontational pessimist, he has changed greatly from what he once was, and with the right people around he will stay very non-confrontational.""As for Vilor's gang, they are nasty-but having them contained and at arm's length may be better than having them engage us in full scale war. They might not be a threat to our fortress, but they are to roving members. If they can't get us as whole, then they'll get us one by one. The only other option as I see it to capture every last member. "OOC: Ziraul post tomorrow. Sorry for my time limits.

IC: Divan finished drawing the foil off the knives, and compressed it into a ball. Since all the stains were on the surface, removing the foil layer removed them as well. Divan then absorbed this foil, and used the acquired elemental energy to sharpen the knives to a razor's edge. Miraul then lifted the results with his magnetism, and each knife hovered and spun in the air for a few seconds as he inspected the resulting balance-using knives himself, Miraul knew a thing or two about a blade's balance. Seeing that the knives were well-balanced, he allowed each of them to hover handle-first so the Toa of Crystal could grab them. "Good enough for you?" Divan asked.

IC:"The problem is you aren't really making your moral alignment clear, that's what, and you're confusing us with something about Toa of Crystal. We don't serve Makuta followers, criminals, that kind of crowd. I think Hikari would like to know what you're talking about-I've never heard anyone talk about some kind of competition between Toa of Crystal, and neither has she." Miraul answered. "If you can say exactly what you mean, that would be greatly appriciated."OOC:You basically need to come out and say that you think Toa of Crystal like to kill each other, and you're self-defensive. Then Divan can clean up your knives.

IC:"Can you elaborate, please?" Hikari continued to press the matter. This fellow was making her nervous, and she wanted to find out why. Divan paused work completely. "Yes, please do."

OOC:Understand that the situation is slightly more complex then Cy describes, because he can only work with what he knows. Ziraul used to lead Miraul's team until literal minutes before they showed up here-he was trying to recruit them to work for the Inferno. That means he knows Voriki's criminal background and will try to play that card to his advantage. He came here, and formed something of a tense allience with Aparangi in route, so it's possible he, Mariko and DJ might pop into this little plot here too. IC:"Vorok is with us, the ILS-but low on elemental power right now-Gravity is the only element that cannot absorb-he has to wait for a natural recharge. You're right that they'd be crazy to try a head-on assault-that may be exactly why they have Ziraul here. If you play your cards carefully in this situation, you might be able to convince Vilor that your allegience would be beneficial for him, but that means quelling his rage. Finding him a new member of the Inferno in Vorok's place might help but wouldn't be foolproof. He'd still be angery-just contained. A fragile peace at best. Also, I should note that the Inferno has a base of operations over in the Kumu Islets-but not out of Xa-Koro itself."-----Ziraul prowled the village, looking for two beings in paticular. He smiled when that he spotted a familiar Toa of Lightning. The Vortixx known as "Vilorus" slipped between several huts to serve as camoflage, and bent the shadows with his mask to help conceal himself. Then he sent a quiet sonic whisper at Voriki."D, would you care to discuss some buisness that could prove favorable to you? It might lead to a chance an wiping out Miraul, his team, any others who have wronged, and a general chance to....kill people. If so, then meet me between the huts to your left."----Tirax began to draw near to the gates of Pala-Koro, looking to see if they were open or closed. His battle-axe sliced through the foilage in his path.---Vorok began patrolling the village carefully, keeping an eye open for any of Vilor's servants. OOC: Are the gates open right now?

IC:"What would that be?" Hikari asked. Miraul looked quizically at the Toa before them now.

IC: "As a Toa with morals, I'd feel more comfortable knowing who I serve. If these knives are meant to kill rather than injure-you'll be getting them back in about the same state you had them in." Miraul answered the Toa.Divan's work rate slowed, trusting and anticipating Miraul's potential decision in this matter. He began to remove another foil layer from the rest of the knives-this served to remove the stains, and would provide him with scrap metal he could absorb for fresh power. The peeled knives would remain dull, however, unless he resharpened them.

IC:"Ziraul is the one who's presence I can confirm. He can look like whatever he wants with that Mahiki of his. He has something of a reputation as a killer of Makuta servants-the average ones duck for cover if they hear his name. If you've heard of him, wouldn't be surprised. Has a katana, throwing knives, a six blade slicer and maybe a poison dagger. Only distinctive feature of appearance is a burlap cloak. Current alias is likely Vilorus, if our last encounter is anything to go by. Very agile. Toa of Sonics. Tirax is his Skakdi assistant-black, battle-axe, impact vision, and more of a brawler than anything else. A little bit of brain on his shoulders, though, compared to his type. If you see one, the other is likely to be around". "As for my freinds-Vorok is a Toa of Gravity, with a Calix that has an odd vision scope for both eyes, like you sometimes see on the Akaku. Uses a sword, shield and crossbow. Armor has a number of blades-elbow blades, shoulder spikes, that kind of thing. Sharp-expert marksmen...personality is somewhat sharp-negative and pessimistic-Vorok is still, as he describes it, struggling with inner darkness. Very dangerous if he employs his air-melee style, and still tough if he does something else. His full name is Dovorachk, but don't go around telling people that. Kivar, a freind we made after Vorok's defection, is a naturalist with a love for Rahi, and wears a Zatth. Can speak most Rahi languages, so if Nuju ever needs a translator around here after this ordeal is over, let him know-Nuju ever-speaks Bird-talk. Has a pet Gukko named Echo, and happens to be keeping an eye out for Ziraul via the air right now. He's the one who wanted an apology for the Hive, if you wanted to know. He knows our past, and his element is Sonics. Sheild and sword, enough skill to keep himself alive if it comes down to that. Knows our pasts. I have another friend named Aelynn as well-she's a Toa of Iron with very little skill, and I don't know much about her yet. No idea if she could get involved, but I don't know where she's at or what she's up to." "As for the Black Inferno themselves, about six members from what Vorok has told me. Leader is Vilor, a giant Toa of Plasma with a Pakari, and not someone to mess with. Uses weapons that are somewhere between clubs and torches. Or just his strong-hands. Personality is something between brutal rage and sadism. Don't expect to survive a fight with him unless you have the right moves-with that mask, you might. Has an elite guard, normally composed of three, called the Matatu, who wear the mask and are Toa of Lightning. One's dead, according to Vorok, and another is fiercely loyal, nameless, and mute. The second living one is named Takari-don't know all his weapons, but he talks, and happens to be quite confident-but that may be a surface-mask- Vorok thinks he happens to have some insecurities about breaking the Toa Code. He's a thief, more so than a body guard. Like him, Makkan, a Toa of Stone, may also have some insecurities about work for Vilor. He's a dark-slaver with a preference for chain-like weapons, and a Matatu wearer-just not a card-carrying member of Vilor's guard. I'd really like to get them both to quick-change their ways-they might be open to it.""And for myself, my actual name is Cyclonis-Cy for short, but please call me by my alias, Green Tornado-I still wish to hide from the Inferno as long as possible-trust me, after hearing Vorok talk about Vilor's torturous tendencies, I think you'll understand why. I've ever-worked indirectly as a protector of Le-Koro for quite some time-never officially joined the Gukko Force-I just can't find a sharp-knack for military's structured lifestyle. I'd probably qualify for rank by now if I had bothered to quick-join. Basically done that until Vorok showed up in the tree-village, and I was able to fast-turn him around. We wound up defending the high-skies together after that. The only other thing you should know about is that I love to sky-jump...flying, as you ground-dwellers called it."OOC: Will post as Vorok, Kivar, Ziraul and Tirax later tomorrow. Longest post ever.

IC:"That really depends on what you do about it-if you can find someone to replace Vorok, then they might find that satisfactory-but Vilor is not an easy sell. Since the death of one of their three elite, the Matatu, and Vorok's defection, they are rather short-handed. Either that or hand them my head on a platter. First task is to find them, though. We're dealing with one of their better ones-Ziraul, disguised as a Vortixx with speaker-hands-Sonics. Tirax, the Skakdi who works for them, could show up as well." OOC: If you wanted to slip Voroki into Xa-Koro, now is the time.

IC: "A few minutes. Divan is a Toa of Iron. How did you get the blood on them?" Miraul answered.Divan focused, starting with the first knife, and a small outer layer, foil-like in nature, began to peel off the throwing knife.

IC: A few seconds of silence followed, as the Toa of Air shaped a protective vaccum around the hut to prevent them from being heard by Ziraul. "Vorok used to work for a Xa-Koro organization known as the Black Inferno-opposed to Makuta, but still selfish dark-criminals. I helped him see the bright-light, so to quick-speak. That got them ever-mad, which is why I use the name Green Tornado, and Vorok took up his nickname. Made us harder to track. Since they assassinate anyone who defects or happens to be an enemy, we became targets. Good enough for you?"

OOC: Intended as a fair price.IC:"About twenty-five, I'd say. If that's good enough, then pay up and pass them to Divan." Miraul answered.

OOC:Sorry for my leave-School makes me busy.IC: Cy shouted, "Green Tornado, Toa of Air. I think we have an assassin running around the village, if that justifies quick-breaking into your buisness. If not, then permission to deal with the matter myself? I am fast-guessing that he is after me and my friend Vorok."

We don't know that for certain, unless staff has confirmed this somewhere I don't know about. So don't jump to conclusions just yet about that.Also, Produced by Onu-Koro's engineers seems to imply that they can indeed make small computers. How advanced, however, is another question.

My theory on this is that it works in one of two ways-either the klakk transmits a specific frequency that does the barrier breaking, or there is coded sonic pattern in the screen that transmits a "virus" (not the Makuta kind.) to the brain that does the breaking. I think this kind of coded transmission could be likely, considering the fact that all Rahi languages are programming languages. Either way, it could be replicated by sonics.A Klakk scream could potentially affect a Makuta-they have a simaler barrier because they have meditated out their moral light. But you'd be right to say that they'd just go back to what they were.What book is that, Spock? This could be handy for the BZPRPG in Heauni pops up near Ziraul...

IC: Miraul answered, "What do you need?"

Kal, if you ever run into this, I would say just break the glass.