Franco

...Urye, just what are you doing? That chapter gave a lot of questions without matching answers, alongside Franco being a leader. So it was very interesting.

 

I'll null vote.

IC: "You heard her," Gyn said, warm again. Darling Dalrin was doing splendidly. He gestured to the wall where antidermis has been detected. "We need to probe the wall, dig into it and see what's happening, but caution comes first." A child of the darkness much as Gyn, Dalrin doubtlessly knew not to compromise structural integrity. Yet there were other risks that came with this territory, and if the rumors were true, they were risks Gyn did not believe he could take in good faith.

If there are 36 at just one building, I wonder how many Dreads there are in total.

 

In any case, this was a nice chapter with a fun little scene at the Regolith, and the first on-screen blood spilling, which did not happen to include me.

 

...

 

Chapter Survival Progress: 1/6

I use too many usernames to briefly talk about all of them, so I'll just discuss my first and last. Mangai-Hau was my attempt to make a heroic Bionicle name ("Protector-Shield") for my self-insert. Carson Chambliss is the name of the insidious antagonist of Wiley Cash's A Land More Kind than Home, which is a character I love from a book I enjoy.

 

I've come a long way.

I liked that chapter.

 

For voting, I'd say B is obviously contrary to the group's interest (we're losing members and splitting up is a bad way to ensure that doesn't happen). A is a step up the totem pole, but only C is appropriate when the group is hurting so badly as it is at present, so I'll go with that. Bonus points for providing an opportunity to introduce new characters.

IC: Caught by surprise, the Tympole was cut multiple times, scraping through exhaustion and damage purely on Aqua Ring. He was disheartened and Cero knew it. "Supersonic," the trainer called. With his waning strength, the Tympole flipped his body over and tried to confuse the Dewott again.

A character in this game has about as much money as its player wants it to, so I doubt PCs will be unable to pay, though I am unsure of how well the toll will be received.

IC: Cero decided he had underestimated his enemy--not Kyle, but the otter. The Pokémon not only followed each order, he expanded on it, turning a two-word attack into a sequential assault. The letter of his orders would not be sufficient for someone so devoted to their spirit. For that, Cero supposed there was one more thing in the world to be happy about.

 

That said, he had to work on his bonding first. He turned his attention to his newest companion. Supersonic wasn't liable to work if that shield was there. The Tympole would have to pierce it, then try, meanwhile keeping the otter away just long enough to not sustain serious damage. Cero didn't know if that was a tall order for his friend or not. However, it was the only option.

 

"Hydro Pump." The tadpole abruptly stopped singing and started spitting. The liquid he had absorbed earlier came out in a jet he aimed, as hastily as possible, at his opponent.

I predict that Gurk will win his fight purely for his sheer guts. I also predict that Makaru will be saved by someone, but I haven't many clues as to whom...

 

Where's an Urye when you need her?

IC: Cero pursed his lips. That was no good. At this distance and with that speed, the otter would simply dodge the narrow Supersonic. In the meantime, it would be able to set up so that even its weaker moves would be sufficient for the Tympole. The abating sandstorm and the green tadpole could hardly do much now.

 

Still, his enemy was increasing its physical power, not its special. Likely it planned to smash his companion in close quarters. That was good. The Tympole liked long-range attacks--and if the enemy approached to an uncomfortable proximity, it would find dodging Supersonic more difficult. One way or another, Cero saw weakness in his opponent's strength.

 

"Hyper Voice," he commanded, choosing the move least repeatable but the one that would do the most accurate damage. The Tympole obliged only too happily. Grinning, it loosed an agonizing song upon the otter.

I will survive m8

 

I swear on me mu

Very nice recap. Now to answer the questions...

 

The first to die will be an Agent. I think you'll start with the expendability level of a trash bag and work your way up.

 

I am definitely a narrator for two reasons: one, I am but a meek Assistant and thus provide a more detached view than any other prospective narrators; and two, I will still be a meek Assistant when all y'all are corpses.

IC: Cero quickly considered leaving Aridez in, putting the Curse to good use with some quakes, but he discarded the idea just as fast. No matter how powerful Aridez was now, he didn't think it was worth risking his signature versus a super-effective attacker. He opened the ball. The Hippowdon only had time to roar defiantly at his opponent before he was forced to retreat.

 

Cero summoned another instead. His Tympole appeared, sucking up the Water Pulse. "Aqua Ring and Supersonic." The tadpole spat out the absorbed water, forming a ring to heal in the raging sand, then blasted the Dewott with a perplexing sound. Cero hoped it would do. Though several of his Pokémon had advantages on Water-types, Tympole with Water Absorb included, most of them were inexperienced and unevolved--hardly matches for even a first-stage evolution in a conventional fight.

 

So he'd have to rely on attrition. Water Absorb blocked a Water-type's favorite attacks, while confusing a samurai-like warrior would hopefully cause it to only hurt itself. Meanwhile, the sand would chip away a little longer, effectively nullified on his side of the field by the Aqua Ring. His tadpole didn't need to do much damage if he could compound what was already being inflicted.

IC: "Toa Sulov!"

 

A courier appears, panting. I set my eyes on her and listen.

 

"Private message," she gasps out. I open my door and we step in to our reflections on ceramic mirrors. They follow us into the living room.

 

I pull up a chair at the table and slide into mine. She falls into hers thanklessly, too tired for niceties or urgent for them.

 

"Ko-Koro is about to fall. Echelon and his followers have breached the gates."

 

...

 

Get up, get her some water. Don't be tired, don't be angry, don't be anything, just think.

 

"Rest quickly." Give her the cup. Sit down again, hands set on chair arms. "Go to Ussalry HQ and tell Onepu."

 

When she leaves, I watch her white reflection cut to fractions on the wall. I look at the mirror in front of me. There's a dark hunchback folded into a seat.

 

Onua.

 

I sit straight. It's been a long day. I'm emotional. I want to go, right now, but I can't with this amount of time. So I can't blame him. 

 

I pray until I calm. Then I go to my room and sleep.

 

Gavarm grunted. "Would ya mahnd pausin' th' wax a sec?"

Because Kentoku wasn't a battleground between deities for over a century. When the Toa Mata failed, Mata Nui put more Toa on the island. In response, Makuta summoned Skakdi, Vortixx and anything else likely to bring chaos or evil. Each side couldn't stop attracting reinforcements while the other did so. Meanwhile, Kentoku hasn't had a war between gods recently--least of all, one including an unprecedented outcome that forced its Great Spirit's hand--so it lacks the draw of Mata Nui.

This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.

Alright!

Finals are over, and I have an entire month of nothing to do. I fully feel able to jump headfirst back into the BZPRPG...

...except I don't want to pick up any of my old characters, and I lack ideas for new ones. Coupled with the fact I don't know where would be the most...opportune area to jump in, and it makes the task of rejoining much more daunting.

So. Any suggestions for someone to hop back in?

You could join the Ussalry. A new squadron is being formed, and between the ready access to cutting-edge tech (soon to include mech suits) and a border with the Wahi containing the highest concentration of Makuta worshipers, it promises not to be dull.

 

You could also join the Ihu-Koronan Highlanders. It is looking for people to fill positions and near to the wretched Koro of scum and villainy also.

Many escaped to greener pastures in Ta-Koro, Ihu-Koro and (I assume) The Massif.  

Given the location of Onu-Koro versus Ta- relative to Ko-, I would guess it would make an ideal recipient of refugees as well.

IC: "Yeah." Gavarm smiled, then paused for a moment. "Ah don't presume y'all've seen any o' yer squadmates about?"

 

I get up. I told Captain all I can. "I'll be back tomorrow," I say, then go.

People seem to really like to die when Bionicle is involved. Hopefully not Wrinkledlion because I like Yoda.

 

But this is nice.

 

I will vote C, Exo-Toa. Bonus points if we use the defeated suits.

The Piraka attack on Onu is off.

 

Speaking of the Motherland, the Ussalry is middling in size. It's kept great by its apparent ability to attract recruits and keep them, but it faces stiff competition between manufacturing, mining, innovation and even agriculture.

IC: "Ah been lookin' fer ya," Gavarm explained. "We need ta talk about th' squad."

 

I nod.

... In other news, was Skorm really the first PC to be harmed by the Abettor? Because if he is, that kind of explains why Nuju went all out.

No. Ishi was likewise abused.

IC: I put it in notes for him. I pull the tablet out and pass it to Onepu. I can't say that much.

 

I've been watching all my tags. Closest has been going far.

 

I can say enough for that.

 

"Thok left."

 

"Hello, Aar," Gavarm drawled, approaching.

IC: Gyn sighed, thinking. It was obvious that what he was about to say would not be easy. For an observer, it was an extreme departure from the smiling man renowned for his mellow bearing and simple lethality.
 
"When I joined the force, the only thing we fought was Rahi," he soughed carefully. "Everyone--minus an exception we'd slapped on the wrist--had been too busy holding out for Destiny to deliver us for conflict. There was no criminality.
 
"Then others came to Mata Nui." He had been one of the first, as he later learned. But an evident Matoran had not generated the same hubbub as Skakdi or Vortixx, and he had watched their effect on the insular society raptly, like the aliens were himself. "The newness brought unrest. Soon there was a murder in Onu-Koro..." He trailed off.
 
It wouldn't be very becoming to mention the details of such a very troublesome case.
 
"A sapient killing another sapient was unprecedented. We didn't know anything like it. So what did we know?" What do you know?, he thought, peering into Dalrin's soul. What did you already see of the other side? What bloody revelation sent you reeling into the arms of iron men on leather saddles?
 
Gyn poked his subordinate's Ussalry insignia. "'To protect and serve,'" he murmured fiercely. "That's what we knew. It brought us through that and it'll bring us through this.
 
"Our strategy's solid; this is just a tactical spot of bother." Gyn winked. "So, for the love of God, let's keep calm and follow Leli's lead."