~Xemnas~

IC, Aurax: Arena Vulcanus Aurax was unhappy. A few days previously, he had been doing his thing, scavenging old tech and selling it. It was his typical day-to-day life. But then he heard that there was an issue at his home village, some kind of sickness. Vulcanus was organizing a trip to investigate. Now, Aurax had gotten wind of that information and very strongly considered going by himself back to Ferrum to see what was happening. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that these other people were going to wander into Iron Canyon anyway, and likely end up getting slaughtered by wild beasts of various kinds, killed in a rockslide, or any other possible disaster that could happen. Aurax didn't care about that. What he did care about, though, was if he needed to leave the village afterwards- a bunch of Glatorian bumbling about in Iron Canyon attracting predators could cause Aurax a lot of unnecessary headaches. So, he begrudgingly decided that he would help the group navigate their way through Iron Canyon, in a way that the risk of death for those involved would (hypothetically) be lower. Aurax, after parking his Kaxium nearby, now found himself walking into the Arena Vulcanus. He knew he was probably a little early, and his suspicions were confirmed when all he saw was a dozing Fire Tribe Glatorian. He sat down a distance away from the other Glatorian and popped out his right arm's mantis blade; he then took a small cloth out of his bag, and began to clean it, keeping himself busy until it was time to leave. OOC: Open for interaction.

IC, Skrol: Iron Mahi freight car Skrol crouched down next to Quoribay. "Do ya see anything that could be our target?" he asked in a hushed tone. "If ya don't, we might have to split up to cover more ground." OOC: @BULiK @Krayzikk @a goose

OOC: Aurax and co. from Ga-Wahi IC, Aurax: Forsi Aurax and his merry band of travelers stepped off of the ferry at Forsi. It had been explained to him that the current fastest way to Po-Koro was the Iron Mahi, a kind of large transport that moved on its own power; a station for it was found here, yet another new settlement that had popped up after Aurax had died. He scanned over the unfamiliar town. I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised that this place exists, he thought to himself, Considering how much Ga-Koro changed while I was gone. Aurax turned around to look back at his companions. “So, where is the Iron Mahi station?” he asked. “Some of you are probably more familiar with this place than I am.” OOC: @Harvali @ARROW404 @Mel @Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @~Xemnas~ @BBBBalta @Umbraline Yumiwa @Rahisaurus

IC, Aurax: Ga-Koro Aurax smiled softly. “Thank you all,” he said. The thought of seeing his old home made him excited, but also a bit apprehensive; if Ga-Koro had changed so much during his absence, what would his home village now look like? “Very well, friends. Let’s grab a quick bite to eat and head out!” OOC: @Harvali @ARROW404 @Mel @Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @~Xemnas~ @BBBBalta @Umbraline Yumiwa @Rahisaurus Aurax (and everyone else who's coming) to Po-Wahi. I'll be making an initial post over there.

IC, Skrol: Iron Mahi Freight Car How long had it been? Days? Months? Years? It certainly felt like all three of those things, but it had only been a few hours. A few excruciatingly cramped hours in a box with Quoribay. The rumble of the train was very annoying to the Lesterin's sensitive ears. Not just because of how noisy it was, but because of how hard it made to tell what was going on outside. For a while, Skrol concentrated on what he was hearing. Quoribay probably thought he had gone into a trance, or was taking a nap. Then came a moment where he thought he heard a thump or two. Or did he? Was it his imagination, playing tricks on him to break the monotony of the train wheels rolling on their tracks? Whatever the case, Skrol was tired of being cramped in the box. His joints were starting to ache. Gently nudging Quoribay, the Lesterin slowly and carefully pushed out on the lid of their container, moving it out of the way enough for the two of them to fully rise out of it. OOC: @BULiK

IC, Aurax: Ga-Koro Aurax blinked. "Ostia? Is that a new village or something?" he asked. OOC: @Harvali @ARROW404 @Mel @Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @~Xemnas~ @BBBBalta @Umbraline Yumiwa @Rahisaurus

IC, Aurax: Ga-Koro The Dashi stood up. "Well, I think I know what I need to do first. I should go to Po-Koro. I need to check on my house- if it's still there!" Aurax said. "After that, well, maybe it would be good to take a page out of Stannis's playbook, and do some wandering. Try to see if we can't find some way to help combat Makuta's return. I would be honored if any of you wish to join me." OOC: @Harvali @ARROW404 @Mel @Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @~Xemnas~ @BBBBalta @Umbraline Yumiwa @Rahisaurus

Name: Aurax Species: Glatorian Tribe: Iron Gender: Male Appearance: Tall, lanky, but not lacking muscle, Aurax wears armor of typical Iron Tribe colors, orange and dark grey. Equipment: Being a scavenger, Aurax carries tools related to his profession: a pickaxe, shovel, brushes, other assorted digging tools, and a couple of knives. He carries a thornax launcher for defense as well. Cybernetics: Aurax’s right arm has a mantis blade that can fold out of it. His left arm has a jackhammer in order to help him with excavations. Vehicle: Aurax rides a Kaxium with the sidecar modified to carry cargo. Personality: Aurax is a natural loner, and prefers the solitude of looking for old Great Being tech and artifacts to the company of others. He’s not necessarily unfriendly, but he’s often curt. Biography: Aurax found that he had a knack for finding Great Being technology, artifacts, and ruins early on, which was perfect for his loner attitude. He acquired his Kaxium bike after a particularly fruitful haul of tech. He stays out of Ferrum for large periods of time, only visiting it and other settlements to drop of cargo and resupply. Weakness: Aurax’s antisocial tendencies come with drawbacks; for example, he’d be an easy target for a group attack out in the desert by himself.

IC, Aurax: Ga-Koro Aurax listened and watched Ranok intently. Much had happened in his absence; the information was a lot to take in. He was relieved that Stannis and the others had succeeded, if only for a bit. The Matoran-turned-Dashi assumed that he had been replaced after his death. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that thought, although the fact that he had somehow returned from the dead quickly drowned out any negative emotions that he might have been feeling The mention of six peculiar Skakdi also piqued his interest a bit. He had a feeling that Ranok spoke of the same six Skakdi that had caused trouble in the Archipelago some time ago. Aurax made a mental note to inquire more later. “But we do have a spirit that mysteriously has returned from the dead. And I don’t know about everyone else, but that sounds like a story to me.” Aurax smiled softly. “Well, you may say that you’re no Takua, but he never serenaded us with music,” the Dashi said. He blew air out of his nose. “I suppose I should start at the beginning, then. Unfortunately, I don’t have the same musical skills as you, Ranok, so please bear with me.” He looked around the room and began his tale. “For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Aurax. Before I lived in the Kentoku Archipelago, I was a Cy-Matoran living in Po-Koro. I was a blacksmith there. Weapons were my specialty, although I also dabbled with inventing new tools for others to use. “One day, Turaga Onewa sent for me. He showed me a letter he had received from a Matoran named Stannis, who was interested in finding volunteers to help him delve into the circumstances surrounding the First Toa’s failure to defeat Makuta. To this day, I don’t know what exactly the Turaga saw in me that made him suggest that I go, but that’s precisely what he did. Maybe he thought I needed to leave the forge more… Anyway, I go and meet Stannis at the Temple of Courage near Ta-Koro. More Matoran show up after me, including Nichou and Lekua.” Aurax gestured to his fellow Matoran. “Others included Matoran named Dece, Lepidran, and Atiel. We together became Stannis’s Companions, and we set off on our epic quest. “After some misadventures taking us around the island, from Kini-Nui to Po-Wahi, we found ourselves in Po-Koro proper. It was there that we learnt of the death of Tamaru of the Chronicler’s Company.” Aurax realized that Timak likely lacked the context regarding Takua’s former companions. The Dashi turned to the Toa and addressed them directly. “The Chronicler’s Company were Matoran who journeyed with and helped Takua, the Chronicler, who in turn led the charge in uniting the villages in a battle at Kini-Nui that ultimately ended in the disappearance of the First Toa.” Aurax’s brow furrowed as he recalled the next part of his journey. “Tamaru’s death was deeply troubling, because it meant there was one less person who could help us find the answers we sought. And then we came to another realization- it was entirely possible, even likely, that Makuta’s servants were deliberately targeting the former Chronicler’s Company. “As it happened, I had come to be good friends with Hafu, another Chronicler’s Company alumnus. We took it upon ourselves to act as bodyguards for him. Turaga Onewa informed us that Hafu already had guards, but he allowed us to assist anyway, probably due to Hafu and mine’s friendship. I was inside Hafu’s hut acting as his final line of defense while the others were around the hut alongside the Po-Koro Guard. “While we were there, Hafu confided in us that each of the Chronicler’s Company held a piece of a verbal puzzle, that when completed could hurt Makuta. He encouraged us to seek out the other clues the other Chronicler’s Company members held, and gave us his own: Only the most creative can unlock it. “Makuta’s servants came that night. A Tryna user was among them, who killed and reanimated some of the guards. I tried to stop them but…” his voice trailed off. Aurax looked down, tears in his eyes and regret in his voice. “They took Hafu. We never saw him again. Most likely dead, like Tamaru.” The Dashi sighed, pausing for a moment. “We left the following morning. Our journey took us to the rest of the villages. We learned more of the clues, and we ultimately went to Ko-Koro to gain Turaga Nuju’s assistance with the clues that Taipu and Kapura had held. The Turaga imparted to Stannis Taipu’s clue, but before he had a chance to impart Kapura’s clue… Makuta himself extended his reach into the Sanctum and snatched the Turaga away before our very eyes. We were now one clue short, with no hints as to our next move. “And it was at this point of hopelessness that Destiny itself seemed to step in. For it turns out that Nuju had also imparted a Prophecy onto Stannis.” Aurax closed his eyes and recalled the words that the Wanderer had relayed to him on their way to the Charred Forest. At the darkest hour, In unrivaled power, The greatest foe will stand. His servants grim, They flock to him, Shadows grip the land. Yet hope has remained, As goodness ordained, A light must spread anon. New heroes unite, The darkness will bite, Still the truth will awake at dawn. Tests they must face, Dark foes give chase, All places the heroes shall look. Enduring their strife, Mortality’s knife, The heroes will find what he took. The Wanderer’s tread, Leads to what lies ahead, A place of shades and deceptions. To seek hidden lines, And follow the signs, Will make them the only exceptions. At the darkest hour, In unrivaled power, The greatest foe has stood. United as one, The foe is undone, His malice defeated by good. The Dashi continued his tale. “As we were considering our options, a messenger showed up and told myself and Lepidran that we had roles to play in the Great Spirit’s destiny. Him and I were both unsure at first, but we agreed to it, especially after learning that we were to continue following Stannis. Unfortunately, this also meant that we had to leave our Companions behind.” Aurax looked at Nichou and Lekua, regret creeping back into his voice. “I don’t regret following Stannis, but I do regret the way we left things off. I wish… I had said different things,” he said. “I’m sorry, and I want to make things up to you, somehow.” He cleared his throat, focusing back on his story. “Lepidran and I followed Stannis as we gathered the other three members of the Wanderer’s Company: Reordin, Sulov, and Oreius. At the courier’s request, we went and met him in the Charred Forest, where he revealed that he was none other than Takua, the Chronicler himself, returned from hiding. He explained our path: to find the Essence Stones of the First Toa, which contained the power and a bit of the spirit of each of them. No sooner had Oreius taken possession of Tahu’s Essence Stone did the Rahkshi attack. And then my story seemingly ended when I got run through by one of them.” Aurax sighed, then chuckled a bit. “I assume that the “Mortality’s knife” part of the prophecy referred to me, but I guess Mata Nui took pity on me. Next thing I can remember after losing consciousness in the Charred Forest is a beach, on Iki. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was in a new body in a new place, with no memory of who I was. I was lucky enough to be picked up by a trader and adopted into Clan Kinzoku. Ironically, Clan Kinzoku specializes in metalworking; although I had no memories, I still retained my blacksmithing skills. The leaders of the Clan were impressed, and I was given the title of Master Metalsmith. “I lived among them for a year, assimilating into their culture, and all was well. Until it wasn’t. The Rahkshi appeared, and everyone in the Clan, people who I had grown to care for, were wiped out. As far as I’m aware, I’m the only survivor. I’m extremely lucky. That, or Destiny is toying with me again.” The Dashi stood up and stretched. “That brings us to the present, to this very moment. Now I’m here, wondering what to do with this second chance I’ve been given.” OOC: @Harvali @ARROW404 @Mel @Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @~Xemnas~ @BBBBalta @Umbraline Yumiwa @Rahisaurus

congrats Bulik!

IC, Aurax: Ga-Koro Timak spoke in hushed tones, "So... You were killed by a Rahkshi? I've only seen one dead, and that looked frightening enough. I dread to think what that was like for you. Are you gonna be ok?" Aurax sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said. His hand unconsciously moved to the placed he had felt the Rahkshi's staff skewer him. "I'm alive, somehow, and I guess that's the important bit." The Dashi turned and looked at what Kanohi had written on his tablet. He looked at the Matoran, then furrowed his brow after letting the words sink in. "We'll discuss Destiny in a moment, but first... Toa Maru? I take it that Stannis and the others succeeded, then. To an extent, anyway." Aurax scratched his head. "When I, well... the last thing I remember from here is when I was with the others in the Charred Forest. The Wanderer's Company had barely begun their quest. After that, all my memories up to this moment are of my life on Iki." He looked around the room. "What exactly happened on Mata Nui while I was gone?" OOC: @Harvali @ARROW404 @Mel @Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @~Xemnas~ @BBBBalta @Umbraline Yumiwa @Rahisaurus

IC, Aurax: Ga-Koro "Aurax is back? That's great!" Hakari said cheerfully. "...who is Aurax?" "I am! Aurax is me," said the Dashi. "my actual identity. I..." His voice trailed off as reality began to hit. He sat down a little shakily. "The Rakshi. The Wanderer's Company. I died. But then I... came back. Somehow." Aurax looked down at his crystal armor. "In this body, on Iki." He looked at Hakari. "I don't know if you believe in miracles, but one must have happened to me." OOC: @Harvali @ARROW404 @Mel @Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @~Xemnas~ @BBBBalta @Umbraline Yumiwa @Rahisaurus

"I RETURN TO YOU NOW, AT THE TURN OF THE TIDE"

IC, Eita: Ga-Koro hotel Eita opted to wait until the tea was finished, seeing as Nichou had quickly passed out after eating his slice of the fruit. With a smile and nod, he took the cup offered by Ranok and took a sip. The tea was, surprisingly contrary to what Ranok had said about the fruit’s bitterness, a bit sweet. Eita let the tea’s warmth fill his belly for a moment before glancing at the piece of the cactus fruit next to him on a plate. After a moment’s hesitation, he popped the slice into his mouth. He frowned slightly, confirming Ranok’s statement. He washed the taste down with some more of the tea. “Yeah, I’m glad I waited for the tea,” he said with a little chuckle. He sat back in his chair, sipping his tea as he watched the others take in the spoils of their little encounter. Timak started crawling on the floor, asking where their mask was; Eita unintentionally let out a little giggle, even though the sight was more sad than funny. Not long after downing the last of his tea, the Dashi felt a migraine begin. Eita groaned a little, then clutched his head between his hands as the pressure grew. He began to feel pain in his skull like he had never felt before. “Ugh, I’m feeling… I’m gonna lie down,” he said. He got out of his chair, initially intending to find a bed or couch, but instead slowly got on the floor, resting his head against the cool wood boards. The world started to spin around him, and Eita’s mind faded into blackness. *** The Dashi gasped as he awoke with a start. He was laying on hard ground. Above him, blackened trees rose up into the dark sky. He sat up with a groan, rubbing his head a bit as he did. He looked around. He was in the middle of a dense forest of burnt trees. There were no houses or structures of any kind in sight. The air had a stench of ash or charcoal. Eita stood on shaky legs. “Hello?” he called out into the trees. There was no response. Eita wasn’t sure what was going on, but he knew he had to find a way back to civilization. Looking around, there was no clear path. The Dashi grunted and started trudging forward. *** After what felt like an eternity (but was probably only fifteen minutes), Eita heard some voices in the distance. “Hello? Who’s out there?” he called. He continued to hear the voices, but it didn’t seem like they were responding to him. The Dashi jogged in the direction of the voices. He came to a small clearing, sighting a group of seven Matoran who were discussing something. “Hello! Would anyone mind telling me where I am?” Eita asked aloud to them as he approached. The gathered Matoran continued with their discussion, seemingly ignoring him. “Hey! Hello?!” Eita said again, louder this time. He walked up to one Matoran, a white-armored one, and waved a hand in front of his face. He reached out to grab the Matoran by the shoulder, and was shocked to find that his hand passed right through him. Eita took a step back. “W-What in the world is going on?” He shouted aloud. As before, none of the Matoran stopped to pay him any mind. A noise suddenly caught the attention of the gathered beings. The Dashi looked around, and soon found himself and the Matoran surrounded by the same lizardlike monsters that had ravaged the Kentoku Archipelago. Rahkshi, the Dashi thought grimly. He drew his crystal sword and prepared for battle. Most of the Matoran gathered did the same. One of them, one with an odd mix of red, yellow, and blue armor, spoke up. "Begone, slime of Makuta, or feel us bite." The scene was tense for a moment, until a brown Rahkshi began the attack. It leapt at the Matoran who had spoken. Eita leapt at the creature and swung his blade low, aiming for an ankle. The blade simply passed through the creature’s limb, as the Dashi’s hand did with the Matoran earlier. Eita sighed and clenched his teeth. He turned his head just in time to see one of the Matoran, a green-and-gold one, get skewered by one of the Rahkshi. “NO!” Eita exclaimed. His heart sank, his breath quickened as he raced over to the fallen one. He found that he still couldn’t interact with him. His eyes darted around, and he saw another Matoran, this one an odd mix of red, yellow, and blue, dart away. The Rahkshi turned and pursued the fleeing Matoran, with one Rahkshi, the one that had stabbed the now-fallen Matoran, tripping into lava and melting. The fallen Matoran’s companions rushed over to see what they could do, but the situation was sadly hopeless. Eita helplessly watched as the Matoran coughed up some blood, while the rest was pooling from the wound he had sustained. The dying Matoran opened his mouth and spoke. “Darn. I was worried something like this would happen." His body shuddered as it began to shut down. The Matoran coughed again, and his voice left his mouth once more, but a little weaker, quieter. "May Mata-Nui guide you on your journey, brothers..." he whispered faintly. His eyes closed, his breathing stopped, and his heartlight dimmed. Eita bowed his head and began to sob, confused as to why he was seeing such a sight. Then everything froze. The ragged breaths of the other Matoran stopped, the faint hissing of the nearby lava quieted, and the cinders in the air stood still where they hung. Eita paused in the middle of a sob, looking around. He stood, examining the ashes that had frozen in their descent to the ground with confusion and curiosity. “Why…?” he muttered to himself. From behind him came a rustling, then a grunt. The Dashi turned, startled to find the fallen Matoran getting back up. “Now that’s a good question, one that I don’t really have an answer to,” the Matoran said, blood dripping from his mouth and his still-open wound. Eita took a readied stance with his sword. “What the **** is going on? I just saw you die,” he said to the walking corpse. “How are you up and talking?” The Matoran let out a little smile. “Well, from what I gather, all of what you see here- this forest, these Matoran, and myself- are all part of a hallucination brought on by the Miracle Cactus.” Eita lowered his blade. “Okay, that I can believe,” he said. “But what exactly am I being shown? Who are you?” The green Matoran let out a sharp breath as he looked around with dim eyes. The other Matoran present were still frozen in their kneeling positions as if nothing was happening. “What you just saw was the moment of my death,” the Matoran said. “As for my name, it’s Aurax. And it’s really your name too- because I am you.” The Dashi’s crystal blade fell to the ground. He tried to let out words but found he couldn’t. Aurax approached him and led him to a rock, where they both took a seat. “This is all very hard to process, but it seems that after I, you, we, died, somehow, we were reincarnated on Iki, in a new body.” Eita furled his brow. “But why didn’t I have my memories? And how exactly did… we get reincarnated?” he asked Aurax. The Cy-Matoran shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine for both of those questions. Personally, I think we were blocking our own memories off.” Eita looked at him quizzically. “I don’t know why, but I think that maybe it was the trauma of dying that scared us from thinking about the truth. But I guess part of us still wanted to know, which…” “Which explains the migraines,” Eita said, finishing Aurax’s sentence. “I see. I shouldn’t have any more of those, right?” Aurax smiled and nodded in confirmation. Eita sighed a breath of relief. Aurax stared off into the distance. “As for your second question, I don’t know how it is exactly we came back. Maybe the Great Spirits took pity on us?” Now it was Eita’s turn to shrug. “Maybe. But why would we be brought back in the first place?” The Cy-Matoran said nothing, but gestured to the still-frozen Matoran. “Now, do you remember their names?” He asked the Dashi. Eita looked at each Matoran in turn. “…Lepidran. Sulov. Oreius. Reordin.” He glanced at the last one, a Matoran of Plasma. “Stannis. We were his Company, and before that…” Eita paused as the world began to whirl around him, save for Aurax and the rock the two of them were sitting on. Suddenly, they found themselves in front of a large structure shaped like a Toa’s maskless face. A group of Matoran was gathered in front of it. “…there were his Companions.” He scanned the gathered beings. Two of them he instantly recognized as ones that were currently with him, and the names of the others came back to him quickly. “Lekua, Nichou, Dece, Atiel,” he stated. “I wish I had left them in better circumstances,” he said, recalling that those who were not chosen to accompany Stannis to find the Essence Stones of the First Toa were not happy at the group’s disbanding. Aurax put a hand on Eita’s shoulder. “What’s done is done,” he said, “but now you- I mean, I, have a chance to move forward, and figure out what my new Destiny is. And perhaps, make things right with some of your old friends.” Eita nodded. “Maybe I’ll take a page out of Stannis’s book and do some Wandering,” he stated. “Maybe they'll join me. Just like old times.” The Dashi turned and noticed that the Cy-Matoran had disappeared. Only Aurax was left. *** First the first time in a long time, Aurax opened his eyes, letting the rays of the early morning sun fill his vision. It was as if a curtain had been lifted, or a door had been opened. He was keenly aware of what had happened; his mind felt at rest, with not a hint of pain. Rather, a feeling of wholeness had come upon him. Letting out a small groan, the Dashi got to his knees and surveyed the scene. His friends, new and old, were scattered around him, sleeping. He quickly walked over to Nichou first and started shaking him. “Nichou! Wake up! I’m back! Aurax is back!” he said in a slight whisper. He moved over to Lekua next and started shaking him, trying to rouse him. How eager he was to share the news! OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly @Rahisaurus @Harvali@Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @Umbraline Yumiwa @Mel @BBBBalta After over a year of this Arc being up and running, Aurax has officially, finally, fully returned, memories and all. If you want your character to try some cactus, don't let my post stop you; BZPTime is wibbly-wobbly, after all.

IC, Eita: Ga-Koro "I...have to leave soon, but I guess it won't hurt to try some cactus?" "Wait, we're trying the cactus?! Can I try some too?" Eita smiled and nodded. "Yes, you're more than welcome to have some of it," he said. "Same goes for all of you. You all helped, so you all can have some if you want." "What exactly is so miraculous about it?" Kimala asked. The Dashi shrugged. "Guess we'll have to find out," he said. *** The group ended up going to a nearby hotel to have their fruity meal. Eita had paid for the room with some of his crystal currency, leading to the bewildered receptionist giving the group a big enough room for them all to sit in. The group spread around the main room, choosing spots where they felt comfortable. On a nearby dresser Eita put a little stack of the small plates he had requested from the receptionist. He pulled out his metal knife and offered it to Ranok. "Care to do the honors?" OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly @Rahisaurus @Harvali@Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @Umbraline Yumiwa @Mel @BBBBalta If anyone wants their character to try some of the cactus fruit, you're free to do so once it's all chopped up or whatever. What effects it has on your character are up to you!

IC, Eita: Ga-Koro "Well. That sure took much less time than I expected! When you said 'cactus', I was sure we were off to Po-Wahi!" "Yes, I suppose we did get lucky that the Lesterin that Kanohi was tracking had one in his possession," Eita said with a slight smile. “I don’t suppose any of us actually have a house here?” Eita shook his head. "'Fraid I'm obviously no help on that end," he said, referring to the fact that he and his people had only barely arrived in the village. He turned to Nara. "You have a home nearby, right? Would it be okay if we all went back to your place for this? I mean- if you don't feel comfortable with that, that's okay. We can visit an inn or something instead. You've already been so gracious today, helping me and all, and I'd hate to impose an impromptu cactus-eating on you." OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly @Rahisaurus @Harvali@Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @Umbraline Yumiwa @Mel @BBBBalta

IC, Eita: Ga-Koro Eita glanced down at the bandages Kanohi was offering, nodding as he took them, understanding that the Matoran was giving them as a response to his query about tying the Lesterin up. Eita walked to behind the Lesterin and grabbed his arms. The Lesterin recoiled a bit, but relaxed as the realization that he was well and truly caught set in. Eita tied the bandages around the Lesterin's wrists, binding them together behind the being's back. *** It wasn't long until the Stone Ape had been dealt with, and some Marines had shown up to investigate the warehouse and take statements. Eita and the others were standing off to the side under the setting sun. The Dashi was holding the small potted plant in his hands. His eyes glanced around before settling on Ranok and Sigrus, since those Matoran seemed to have intimate knowledge of the cactus. "So I guess I just slice up its fruit and eat it, then?" OOC: a little bit of light timeskipping and bunnying @Snelly @Rahisaurus @Harvali@Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @Umbraline Yumiwa @Mel @BBBBalta

IC, Eita and evil Lesterin: Ga-Koro The Lesterin scowled and made a hissing sound between gritted teeth. "Not particularly, no," he spat, responding to Hakari's inquiry. Eita withdrew his katana from in front of the Lesterin's throat, but kept it pointed at him still. "We should probably tie him up, or something," he said. OOC: @ARROW404 If Kimala and Lapu could help Timak stop the Stone ape, that'd be great @Snelly @Rahisaurus @Harvali@Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @Umbraline Yumiwa @Mel @BBBBalta

IC, Eita and evil Lesterin: Ga-Koro The Lesterin slunk back into the foliage and reactivated his Volitak, content with leaving the intruders to deal with his "pets". "Oh no you don't!" Eita shouted as he began to run after the Lesterin, seeing as his allies who had been grabbed by the plant Rahi were okay. Meanwhile, the Stone Ape paused briefly to look at Hakari, who was shouting at it to get its attention. The possessed primate snarled, took a step forward, and then was immediately distracted by a high pitched whistle coming from outside of the warehouse's door. The Rahi began lumbering toward the sound. The Lesterin heard the whistle as well, and ground his teeth in irritation. "What? No..." he muttered. He sucked in a breath to let out his own whistle, but his muttering had unfortunately allowed Eita to pinpoint his location. Eita leaped and slashed with his katana. The blade caught the Lesterin's leg. The being yelped in pain and fell to one knee. Eita glared at him and lifted the tip of the sword to the Lesterin's throat. "Don't move," Eita growled. The Lesterin let out a crooked, wicked smile. "You wouldn't run that blade through my throat. You Matoran are all cowards." Eita's eyes narrowed; he moved the blade a little bit deeper into the Lesterin's throat. A small drop of blood began to trickle. "Try me." At the same time, the Daikau was almost fully absorbed by Lapu. As the last bits of its leaves and "mouthparts" disappeared, the plant Rahi let out a dying, unearthly hiss. Certain vines and foliage around the warehouse immediately withered and died. The vines holding the warehouse door closed turned to dust. OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly @Rahisaurus @Harvali@Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @Umbraline Yumiwa @Mel @BBBBalta

IC, Eita and evil Lesterin: Ga-Koro Another shrill whistle reached the group’s ears. Unbeknownst to them, while they had been focused on trying to find the source of the voice, they hadn’t noticed the vines snaking along the ground toward them. At the sound of the whistle, the vines grabbed ahold of the ankles of Nara and Nichou, and lifted them high into the air. A sickly gurgling noise was heard next to them; the large bulbous plant opened, revealing itself to be a Daikau, albeit one of unusually large size. The assembled group looked back and forth between the infected Stone Ape and their friends who now found themselves dangling upside down above a very hungry plant-Rahi. “I am doing research here,” said the voice. “Research that I intend to take back home. You’ve been having those memories of home, too, I take it? Memories of Seprilli…” A rustle of leaves was heard, and a tall, slender figure appeared out of the foliage next to the Stone Ape. He wore green armor with yellow highlights, and wore a Volitak, but was very obviously the Lesterin that Kanohi had been in pursuit of. “As for this Stone Ape here, well, I needed something to test my latest creation on. Of course, a more sentient being like one of you would be better, but I have a feeling that none of you would be willing,” the Lesterin continued with a scowl. “So, unfortunately, you will all have to die now.” The Lesterin puckered his lips and whistled one last time. The Stone Ape next to him roared and charged at the group. OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly @Rahisaurus @Harvali@Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @Umbraline Yumiwa @Mel @BBBBalta

IC, Eita: Ga-Koro Unfortunately for Hakari, it wasn't going to be that easy. Before anyone else had a chance to speak, a shrill whistle pierced their hearing. The plant life around them began to shift and stir, as if it were a single organism awaking from slumber. At the entrance of the warehouse, several vines sprang out in front of a very startled Ranok and yanked the door shut. Smaller branches grew out and covered the front of the door. Another rustling caught the group's attention. Footsteps. The Matoran, Toa, and Lesterin all readied their weapons as a large Rahi lumbered out of the growth. Timak and Eita didn't recognize it, but the more seasoned inhabitants of the island did. The animal's brown coloration and spines indicated that it was a Spiny Stone Ape, but one that was both out of its natural desert habitat and also covered in a plant's foliage. A plant, in fact, that Kanohi and Hakari would recognize as being extremely similar to they encountered parasitizing a Gukko in Le-Wahi. The beast paused before the group, several flowers that Kanohi had previously surmised to act like eyes pointing directly at them. But it did not attack- was it waiting for something? "Hrrmmmm..." The collective beings heard a mumble from somewhere around them. "I don't recall inviting any guests to my abode..." The owner of the slightly raspy voice did not appear, nor could the group pinpoint where it was coming from. "Who are you, and why are you here?" OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly @Rahisaurus @Harvali@Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @Umbraline Yumiwa @Mel @BBBBalta

Eita nodded. “Alright, let’s head out,” he said. *** Using the map Ranok had obtained, the group was able to quickly reach the suspected hideout. It was an older building in typical Ga-Koroan style, made of a mixture of wood, metal, and plant material. Overgrown plant matter poked out through holes and darkened windows. From the outside, it appeared that nobody had occupied the building in a long time. Eita approached the warehouse’s door and unsheathed his crystal katana. He turned back to the group. “Be on your guard,” he said in a low voice. “We don’t really know what to expect in there. If any of you don’t want to come in with us, you’re free to stay outside.” With a small grunt, the Dashi slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside. The interior of the warehouse was what could only be described as a miniature forest, one that the overgrowth on the outside of the building had only hinted at. Small holes in the ceiling allowed light to filter through to feed the photosynthesis of the plants inside the building, and where there were no holes, lightstones were instead hung from ropes attached to ceiling beams. However, there was a very clear path through the manmade forest that lead to what Eita presumed to be the main focus of the hideout. A small area clear of foliage save for a very large plant off to the side of it. Within the clearing was a table with several lightstones around it, as well as a shelf filled with books, empty vials that were stained green, and several small plants in pots. One in particular caught his eye. A small, spiny plant, with several flowers and a single fruit growing out of it. The Dashi pointed it out to the group. “I think that’s the cactus,” he said in a hushed tone. He began to make his way forward toward it. OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly @Rahisaurus @Harvali@Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @Umbraline Yumiwa @Mel @BBBBalta

IC, Eita: Ga-Koro "Praytell, to what end it is that you seek that cactus?" "It was recommended to me by a healer in this village as a cure for my migraines. I've been having them as far as... as far as I can remember," Eita said. He conveniently left out the part about his memory not going back very far. "I'm planning on this being a one and done thing, so you can put your concerns to rest." He turned to the mute Matoran named Kanohi, who was showing him something he had written. "Ah..." The Dashi murmured as he read what Kanohi had written. But before he had a chance to say something, Ranok spoke up: “I am definitely aware of where one can pick up some miracle cactus. Usually I’d advise splitting up, but with the guards occupied with the new fleet I think we should be alright as long as we keep our heads down.” Eita scratched his chin. "Hmmm. I think I have an idea," he said, gesturing to the gathered beings to come closer in order to hear him. "The inhabitants of this island have been so kind to me and my people, I think I would like to help Kanohi out with his problem, and potentially kill two Janu with one stone. If that would be alright with the rest of you, of course." He looked back at Nara, Timak, and the others. "If this Lesterin has no miracle cactus in his possession..." his voice trailed off as he glanced at Ranok specifically. "We can pay a visit to wherever Ranok has in mind." He winced a little as he began to feel another migraine start to well up. "I don't think it's a coincidence that we've all met each other," he stated. "If fate has brought us together, then maybe we could find out the reason, together." OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly @Rahisaurus @Harvali@Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @Umbraline Yumiwa @Mel @BBBBalta

IC, Eita: Ga-Koro "I am Eita of Clan Kinzoku; it's a pleasure to meet you all," Eita said, acknowledging each of the newly arrived beings (how many people were here now, thirty?). "My companions are Nara, Nale, Timak, Kimala, and Lekua, although it seems that a few of you know each other already." Acknowledging the ones called Kanohi and Ranok, he said, "Well, I don't quite know what a Lesterin is, but perhaps you could help us with a problem of our own- myself, Lekua, and the others are in search of a plant called the Miracle Cactus. We have a general idea of where to find one- Po-Wahi- but perhaps one of you all know of a more specific location?" OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly @Rahisaurus @Harvali@Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @Umbraline Yumiwa @Mel @BBBBalta

IC, Atamai: Temple of Peace The Ta-Matoran stared at the cairn, lost in thought. He had never personally visited the Temple of Peace before now, but even he knew that the structure in front of him was relatively new. Fairly large, so not a Matoran... he mused. His fiery eyes darted around. In certain places, he could see broken bits of rock. Signs of a struggle. Ironic that the Temple of Peace appears to have been the site of a skirmish. But the question is... He glanced back at the cairn. Who lost? OOC: @BULiK @Tarn