Magnus Greel

IC: Parched Wastes Vertan felt something moving on his left shoulder. He looked down to see his Kanohi quivering. Growling, he put it back into place on his armor. ''Who dares?'' the red Skakdi asked, glancing back at Starkad. ''Is it you, Toa?'' he said as he prepared a charging force bolt. IC: Parched Wastes Fortunately for Greel and Rocky, they had seen the sand forming before them, and came to a skidding stop. Rocky's head hit the wall just enough to get him angry, causing his mane to burst into white-hot flames. Greel moved back a little as a sand was either incinerated or transformed to glass. He held out his hand, about to destroy the wall. Then a sharp, painful sensation appeared in his shoulder, arm, and side. This seemed to affect his pet too, who was angrier. A small smile formed on Greel's face. Someone was attacking, and judging by the sand formation, they obviously controlled the stuff. He would fight whoever was around, but if it could control the sand - and the surroundings as well since it was all sand - he better get help. Under his telekinetic powers, a section of the wall crumbled, big enough for Rocky to dash through. His group was just ahead. In fact, he was sure he could see them, and Rocky's brilliant mane would definately alert the rest of their presence, as a light that bright and close would catch his attention in the dark.

IC: Parched Wastes Vertan turned back, heading in the direction of Ashring. He would make sure that Toa was dead, and see if the cache he stole survived. The sound of something being planted into sand reached his audio receptors. Whirling, he saw a javelin of ice, its blades stuck in the sand. His eyes shifted up, and caught the being in sight. A white-armored individual, hefting what looked like an ice shield... ''Toa!'' Vertan roared into the air. His colors marked his as a wielder of Ice, even if his tools had revealed that. Ice, cold. Two things to which the Fire Skakdi was weak against, direct opposition to the flames he commanded. This Toa was definately a dangerous foe. Vertan's eyes lit up, and twin beams of power lanced from them, shattering the ice javelin into crystalline dust. They flared again, glaring directly at Starkad, and shot out.

IC: Parched Wastes Vertan dashed through the Wastes, holding his prizes up high; a Kanohi and some sort of metal broom-thing. He had never expected to claim so much in the time he was here - a new trophy, a new weapon, and a victory over perhaps the strongest Toa on the island... well maybe two. He wasn't so sure about that Lightning Toa. Toa, he spat the title in his head. So proud and believing they are above everyone. They, who think they can escape any kind of situation - be the victors of the day. But I will show them the errors of their ways - no Toa will leave my presence triumphant, unharmed, or not corrected. The Skakdi smirked, attaching the Mask of Slowness to his left shoulder armor. He was happy, and those others would be dealt with at some later time. Although, the fate of that Toa of Lightning stilled nagged at him. Perhaps it would be best to check Ashring for his remains... or tracks. Too occupied with his thoughts, Vertan was oblivious to the presence of Starkad... IC: Parched Wastes Greel and Rocky moved through the sands and dunes of the desert. Sand grains flew around in the air as the wind picked up, obscuring visibility somewhat. Though after passing over several dunes and through the winds, Greel thought he saw a several buildings, a good distance away. The Rock Lion dashed forward, bringing the sight more into view. Ruins - was there water in them, perhaps? Maybe even some supplies. This information had to be brought back to the group immediately. Turning back, Rocky ran back in the direction of the others with Greel.

IC: Parched Wastes Immediately after the Muaka took the mask, Vertan shot his eyebeams at him, freeing the Kanohi from his teeth. He leapt at his prize and grabbed it, and held it firmly in his claw. ''Go ahead, cat. Run away, take the body, then. I have more than proved that I am mightier than the strongest Toa!'' Vertan took off, running farther into the Wastes.

OOC: @ ToD: Thanks. IC: Parched Wastes Rocky looked hungrily at Telmerk, and moved into pounce position to tackle the newcomer. However, a tug from his makeshift reins told him to stop. The master obviously didn't want this one dead. He instead lowered himself to the ground, somewhat upset. Greel looked at the Toa - definately a new one here. Water and other resources were on his mind, and they probably weren't a bad thing to be looking for now. Turning, he looked at the spanning desert. There was water out there somewhere, he knew it. ''I'll be back, too.'' Greel said, directing his pet towards the dunes to his right. He wasn't worrid about getting lost from the others; he could simply use Rocky to track them down. IC: Parched Wastes ''Hey, wait! I'm not done with you!'' Vertan yelled as Trian and Felix tried to escape. He began to pursue them, but noticed something on the ground - that Toa of Stone's weapon. Being dead, Kuy'saz'ra would've dropped it, and now the Skakdi snatched it. Then he blasted force bolts at the head in Felix's mouth, succeeding in knocking the mask off. He dove for it, grabbing it in his claws. True, he couldn't used its power, but it would make a great decoration on his armor to display his triumph over his enemy.

IC: Parched Wastes Vertan was prepared to fire more eyebeams at Amalia to stop her, but noticed something. He squinted as he looked at Kuy'saz'ra's body. His limbs were dangling in the air, and he did not seem to struggle. Unconcious? No. A closer look at the Toa revealed his neck akwardly tilted... broken... Dead, he seemed. Vertan raised his hands into the air, smiling and bellowing, ''Skakdi, Skakdi! Conquerors of their enemies!'' Then he turned, smirking and hunting for that Vortixx. Now she would die.

IC: Parched Wastes He was slightly surprised at first when the raptor-like Rahi appeared, because Vertan knew that Vortixx that commanded them wouldn't give up. Since the sand screamers were an easier defeat, the Skakdi fired his eyebeams again until they were completely knocked out. Then he grabbed both the creatures on his head and ankles and crushed them in his claws. After spotting the Sand Tarakava, he said, ''Hey! My kill, you animal!'' and proceeded to launch both eyebeams and force bolts at its head and chest. The Rahi flew back, unconscious. His scarlet eyes shifted back to Kuy'saz'ra to see if his attack decapitated the Toa - if not, he was already preparing his eyebeams again...

IC: Parched Wastes These attacks by Rahi were getting increasingly annoying. Vertan's head whirled all around in different directions, his eyebeams shattering the hardened magma to fragments. Their remains rained on him, but their damage and the pain that came with it were decreased greatly. Still holding onto his charging force bolt, the crimson Skakdi ran to where Kuy'saz'ra and Amalia were. He making the Rahi to follow him, causing them to form into some group as they attacked. And now that they were closer together... Vertan fired his eyebeams at full intensity and hurled more force bolts from his free hand, picking them off one by one. They fell, all of them, too dazed to continue their assault. He turned to the two Toa. Amalia, who had Kuy'saz'ra on the ground, would be dealt with later, if he felt like it. Vertan came as close as he needed to to Kuy'saz'ra, and aimed his claw at him. The charging force bolt was now deadly, stronger enough to snap a head off someone's shoulders. He fired it directly at said body part, along with his impact vision at full power. IC: Haven Cove Reya, dazed from the assault, waited until she could stand, barely able to hear the Caretaker's words. Once she did, a horrible expression of pure anger was seen on her face. ''You machines cost me my freedom. Know that this is a mistake, letting me free - as was imprisoning me on this deathtrap of an island. I will find a way out, even if I must crush you Caretakers and your masters, and that dome with you all.'' The Observer floated back into her hands, and she vanished into the shadows.

IC: Parched Wastes Filthy beasts! Vertan thought to himself as he swatted the raptors away, wincing as they scratched, even grabbing on and crushing one with his free hand. He then fired more eyebeams at the scorpions, this time at their heads, and didn't stop until their head plates were dented into their skulls. The Skakdi glanced at his charging force bolt. Almost done now. He then proceeded to launch a volley of force bolts at Kuy'saz'ra. OOC: Last post for today.

IC: Parched Wastes Vertan was thrown off balance as sand screamers popped up out of the ground beneath his feet. This problem was easily solved; the Skakdi merely jumped into the air. His great, clawed feet came crashing down on the Rahis' heads, snapping their necks and ending their threat. The Catapult Scorpions were a little easier to deal with. Before they could materialize their magma, Vertan hurled his charged force bolts at their tails, breaking them. Then he fired impact beams at them, knocking them out and driving them into the sand. He was taken by surprise by the Tarakava, though before he could be severely hurt, he shot his eyebeams at full power at the Rahi. He laughed as he did so, stopping when he heard numerous cracking sounds coming from the creature. Now he turned back to Kuy'saz'ra and Trian, firing his impact vision at full intensity at both. One claw held a charging force bolt while the other hurled normal ones at the two beings.

IC: Parched Wastes Shaking his head, Greel said, ''Sadly, I don't think he'd fall that easily. But that is a nice thought...'' He turned his head back, looking at the vast desert before them. ''What do we do now?'' OOC: The Parched Wastes at last. =) Last post as well.

IC: Stony Leap Greel and Rocky shot forward. If there was going to be another problem, they'd make it to the desert instead of returning to that hazardous forest.

IC: Haven Cove/Sea Reya's thought's were scrambled as she spun around, and around... and around... again and again. She couldn't think straight while in the cyclone, and nearly fell unconscious as it made its way to the beach. IC: Parched Wastes Vertan cursed - the shell was not completely destroyed, but another blast of impact eyebeams at full intensity would do. He fired them again at the rock while charging two force bolts in his hands.

IC: Haven Cove/Sea Reya felt herself being pulled back, and kicked to the surface. She was just in time to see the clipper phase through the Dome (thanks to her Observer, capturing the whole scene on the projected map)... and the spinning whirlpool. The Toa of Water strained to reverse the flow of the water to counteract its effects, as well as using the water to propel her away from the maelstrom. IC: Parched Wastes Two, scarlet eyes watched the battle from behind a dune. While searching and running around the desert to find Levacius, Vertan heard the sounds of a fight, which, being a Skakdi, had attracted his attention. At first he didn't want to let the Toa get away, but then he assured himself that his enemy had fallen and drowned in lava, or been buried with rubble, or fainted from the heat. Whichever the case, he was sure the Toa was gone, and the cache with him. The skirmish before him was utterly bizare: Rahi attacking, a huge Muaka, some sort of flying Toa, a determined Vortixx, and a massive, brown-armored Toa. This Toa apparently had Stone powers, as he had concealed himself in a stone shell. He actually made Vertan nervous; he was equal in size, if not taller, and had enormous muscles - which meant he was probably stronger. Vertan decided he was a big threat, and had to be taken out swiftly - it was nescessary for survival. His eyes flared, and twin beams of Impact Vision lanced from them at full power. That would take care of the stone shielding Kuy'saz'ra, then the red-armored Skakdi would finish him off before the others could.

IC: Haven Cove However, this slipping under her power didn't go unnoticed by Reya. That had given her just enough time to avoid their blasts of Stasis Fields. And now she relinguished her hold upon them, and directed waves of water from the shore to the beach. They came suddenly, sweeping away the nearby Caretakers and shorting out their mechanisms. Reya knew she couldn't hold them all off, it just wasn't possible alone. So she had the waters pull her into the sea, and push her towards the clipper underwater. She felt strange at the moment. She couldn't described it, but she didn't feel all right. Oh, no. Hoping this was any effects of the Caretakers' powers, Reya tried to shake it off and kick to the boat. OOC: This may be my last post today, I'm afraid.

IC: Toothy Bane/Haven Cove Reya put her plan into action. In quick motions, she summoned her Observer with her mask, and threw the activaded machine it into the air. It darted around high in the air, recording the whole scene for all to see on the projected map: the Caretakers and the fleeing ship. Especially the ship. Now Reya ran through the beach, willing the remaining Caretakers with her mask to follow her orders, which attacked any of their fellow workers that weren't under her power. She made it to the shore, and reached out with her hands and Element. The very water around and underneath the clipper churned, rising up, threating to hurl the boat back to the shore. The few remaining Caretakers moved by her side, ordered to negate any forces tossed at her or used to move the ship forward. In order to devote more concentration to the waters, Reya turned off several robots. ''Kono!'' she cried. ''We need your help!''

IC: Toothy Bane Reya noticed the action by Suicavel and took the oppurtunity to try and pull Kono away from the border of the beach. They were safe away from there. ''Kono,'' she said, her voice so quiet he might just barely hear her, ''you have Shadow powers, right? I need you to teleport me to the water - not the beach or shore of it - but the water near it. I need you to do it when I tug your arm, and then hide and wait for my signal - you'll know when you see it.'' The Water Toa prepared her plan, just about ready to put it into action as soon as Kono responded.

IC: Toothy Bane Cautiously, Reya moved around the border of Haven Cove and Toothy Bane, still not putting one foot on the beach. She could see clearly many things around here, such as the ''people'' there were all Caretakers, with a few apparently surrounding something, but she couldn't tell what. She also spotted the great figure before them, although she didn't hear what it was saying. What was going on here, she couldn't tell, but she somehow knew the Shepherds were behind this. And then she considered how she could hurt them with the situation. Reya readied her equipment, in case there was going to be a skirmish. Then she noticed Kono was with her. ''Good, Kono, you're here,'' she said in very quiet whispers. ''Yes, those are Caretakers, and I think we have a big advantage here - especially with my powers. Just be prepared - I think there's a boat over there, and we may have to move soon...'' IC: Stony Leap ''We did.'' said Greel, who was stroking Rocky's powered down mane. ''I say we cross now, before any more trouble shows up.''

IC: Toothy Bane Reya had finally made it, Haven Cove just before her... but the blast of energy told her to go no further. Her eyes pierced through the dark, and she saw the source of the attack: a Caretaker. Reya smirked: Caretakers were mechanical beings, which automatically put them under the control of her mask. She would activate it at any sign of another attack. She also began preparing a Water assault, which was also quite useful here. Reya could control some robots - should she have to - and destroy the rest with water, which would short them out. Plus they were by the sea; a good wave would ''kill'' them all. Warily, she moved around the perimeter of Haven Cove, not stepping onto the area, but roaming by it to get an even better look, and still ready to defend herself.

IC: Toothy Bane Reya moved hastily, but caustiously towards Haven Cove. She wasn't sure if Kono was behind her, because she was too eager to get to the beach. Things had become much more clear and detailed as she descended the mountain, but she wasn't close enough to tell exactly who was at there. ''Almost there,'' Reya whispered to Kono, if he was there. She began looking for a safe spot to watch from once they arrived.

IC: Toothy Bane Reya squinted to see what was happening. ''Kono... I can see things moving around down there... and maybe a boat!'' Thanking her night vision, Reya gestured for Kono to follow. She wasn't sure if there was a boat or not, but something interesting was happening down there, and she wanted to get a closer look. Maybe if they moved fast enough, the two might get to see the action from a hiding spot.

IC: Parched Wastes ''You know you can't hide, Toa! I will tear that cache from you and then toss you into the lava!'' Vertan screamed as he ran at top speed through the sands of the Parched Wastes. He launched more force bolts in spots he thought Levacius was hiding at. IC: Toothy Bane While leading Kono to Oura's cave, Reya thought she saw a light break through the darkness somewhere below, somewhere by Haven Cove. This intrigued her enough to move around to get a better look at the beach area. ''Kono,'' she said, believing the Shadow Toa was still with her, ''did you see that? Did you see any light from over there?'' Reya pointed to the direction of the Cove.

IC: Ashring/Parched Wastes Vertan came coughing and stumbling out of the smoke. The thought that Levacius might be dead made him happy, but the idea was gone when he couldn't find him. Furious, the Skakdi shot his eye beams everywhere, and fired force bolts in every direction. ''Where's that Toa!'' Still angry, Vertan headed in the direction of the Parched Wastes, where he thought his enemy was going. OOC: A boat?! A boat has come!

IC: Ashring Vertan kept running, hurling more and more force bolts at his enemy. Then he began charging one in his claw, one big enough to down the Toa. He waited several minutes, and then threw it ahead... ...only if flew past Levacius, and struck a weak point in the ground, shattering it. One that happened to contain a small pocket of volcanic gases... Oops.

IC: AshringVertan frowned: this Toa was good, but he wouldn't last against him. This time the Skakdi waved his hands, sending a volley of force bolts raining down on Levacius like falling meteorites.