They

IC; Ahkmou, Onu-Koro (The Golden Pickaxe) Ishi turned sideways in the armchair and tossed his legs over the side, crossing his feet in a sort of comical repose. He was disappointed. Ferron seemed a tome of information, the most crucial being his transformation. Toa turning into turaga always left some a certain by-product; a toa stone would be a marvelous acquisition. "I'd expected more, to be straight with you." He wrapped his arms behind his head. "The forgemaster isn't just some old mab from what I saw, more likely a warrior turned tutor given the way that toa of stone was hanging around. Oliphko, right? Oh well, what's done is done I suppose." He paused and shifted positions to stare better into the flames. "Better get some sleep, we'll go see my contact tomorrow morning after getting our gear. I want you ready to fight."

I have to say ELVES may be one of my favorite themes in a decade. I'm definitely buying a significant number of them, or at least pushing them down my friends' throats. The colors are fabulous, and who doesn't want to live in a tree house?! Here's to seeing more Elves-like sets in the future. Now, if only they'd do away with those fem-figs that looks like Brio characters and just go back to using normal mini-figs...

Follow your dream!

IC: Ahkmou, Onu-Koro (The Golden Pickaxe) In the semi darkness of the stairwell to the rooms, Ishi paused. His weight wavered, and then he leaned against the stone wall and let out a long sigh. A palm pressed to his brow, the informant thought how best to remedy his situation. Dervish was an ally, but a mercenary. Hiring Sucogu to remove her was a smart tactic, if risky. Everything hinged on each player not fully knowing the truth, and with powerful warriors and devious spy masters a smooth resolution, one with the blood of Arabeth spilled quietly in an alleyway, was less gamble and more drunken grab for success. "Pickle me in a bula berry, but I do love gambling," Ishi grumbled, and made his way up the stone stairs. Their room was modest, with a fireplace. Ishi took over a chair near the flickering warmth and gave Dervish a once over. "So," he said, "anything to tell about our forgemaster?"

Hmm... I thought it was mentioned to Surina during the court proceedings... too bad the posts were from the Book 1 arc. Krayzikk, any chance you know how to dig those back up even though they're wiped?

Leah used her kanohi in a public trial to tell if Surina was lying... just saying.

OOC: Slight bunnying? I'll edit if you don't like this, Norik. You said you were looking for Ishi, so... Also, I'm puddle hopping today on planes. Perfect time to do quick posts in response. IC: Ahkmou, Onu-Koro (The Golden Pickaxe) She found him quick enough. All Dervish needed was to find the inn Ferron mentioned, the Golden Pickaxe, and there Ishi was: sitting at the table in the middle of the room, surrounded by miners done for the day. He was without food or drink, but seemed unaffected by his physical handicaps. "Ah, you're here," he noted as she strode up. "Great, take the keys on the table and let's go check out our rooms. Today's been exhausting, and I could sure use some good rest."

Do you mean dual, or duel? Dual is when two the same thing is wielded at once; duel means a fight using strict rules to uphold some code, or redeem oneself where there has been injustice. There is a discrete difference. If they're each foreign tech, I would assume they do count as separate pieces. An exception seems to be Jin's electric palms. In the end, though, it comes down to how well you can sell your pitch to the staff.

I'm so confused.

IC: Ahkmou, Onu-Koro (The Golden Pickaxe) "I thought we'd already been doing business," Ishi commented dryly, his eyes narrowing at the telltale signs of suspicion flickering across Sucogu. Was this plan doomed from the start? Time would tell, but the wily informant was willing to bet the game was still in his favor. Ishi let the matter come to a close with a swift tug on his money pouch. The snap closure popped open, leaving him free to toss the small collection of jewels in their bag from his mutilated hands to the Sucogu's lap. They made a dampened sound as they landed. "As promised, enough to start. The meeting's in two days, although I don't know why I have to sit around and wait that long to deliver my message. Sounds like a power trip to me, but I'm just the messenger: not my job to ask questions. I'll pass by Ferron's Forge -- you know the place? -- on the way to the meeting. Watch from the rooftops, and do your best to stay out of sight. Hopefully I'm just being paranoid, but if my companion really is a spy, well... It's good to take precautions." Sliding off the bar stool, Ishi turned and gave his mercenary a final look. "Be seeing you," he said, and went to rent a room.

Hey everyone, my apologies to any player being delayed interaction due to my absence. I hope to be back in the swing of things within the end of this week. I've been moving to several different locations over the last month, and the constant packing and unpacking has made playing a game rather difficult (especially once I finally broke down and bought Skyrim on sale, watch my blog for a review sooner or later), along with ups and downs with my health. It's been like a pendulum with some infernal deity deciding to stick a hard, sharp object on the string mid-swing. That said and done, I look forward to getting back into the game with all of you! Also, what is going down these days in plotiness land?

Exo-Force meets Bionicle, finally. I was hoping for boxors, but this is far, far better. Go Onu-Koro!

OOC: ooh, crafty.. IC: Ahkmou, Onu-Koro (Golden Pickaxe) "No," Ishi stated bluntly, shrugging the black bag on his shoulder further from Sucogu. "You certainly may not look at my collection of ga-matoran centerfolds and courier mail. However," as he spoke he patted the pouch strung to the straps of a thigh sheath for a small rod-like device, "You're welcome to have what's left of my widgets for the time being. The room's going to be on the business tab, after all. So, we have a deal?"

OOC: the plot thickens.. like cream of mushroom soup. IC: Ahkmou, Onu-Koro (Golden Pickaxe) Ishi nodded, mulling over Sucogu's answer. The toa was a veteran of conflict, the Informant had little doubt, with both the wisdom and skill to testify past successes. A pragmatic warrior fit well with Ishi's plan. He sighed, tapping his palms on the bar. It was a movement of distraction, designed to seem innocuous while the rest of his senses were bent on seeking out potential listeners. There were none. "Sounds like you're committed." Ishi replied. "Put simply, I'm being tailed. It's really like an elaborate game of tag, but with knives in the back instead of tapping someone on the shoulder. You see, Sucogu, I've got a business meeting with a colleague of sorts at their home here, but they've been monitoring me through a spy. She's a toa of electricity like yourself, wears a kanohi of invisibility, and has been traveling with me for some days. Naturally, I didn't catch on at first, but now I'm sure of it: they mean to put me down at the meeting. I need you to trail us silently, and if conflict arises incapacitate the spy. Can you do that? He paused, as if remembering something important. "You asked how much I was willing to pay, and the truth is not much, but I'm not the one doing all the paying. Do the words Polzin and Company ring a bell? I'm a courier for their business enterprise, and I'm sure Lady Vera would be able to suitably reward you for services rendered. At the moment, I have only a few gems and baubles you might convert in the bazaar, but that should be enough for the trip to Ga-Koro and then some."

IC: Ahkmou, Onu-Koro (The Golden Pickaxe) With the question of payment hanging in the air, Ishi placed his palms against the sides of the shot, and raised the glass to his lips. The liquid was red, deep red, almost as much as the mercenary's armor. In a flash, he drained the glass and slammed it back down on the table. It was fire going down his throat, but the warmth was welcome after the cold of Ko-Wahi. "Guess I made do without the straw. You're certainly forward I'll give you that, Sucogu. As you've been so honest and up front, I'll give you the same courtesy." He winked. "I'm on the trail of deceit, like a hapaka you could say sniffing out a sand tarakava, and it smells more rotten the deeper I dig, savvy? Tell me something: you a man of morals, of faith? Ever watched someone's eyes fade by your blade? A warrior and mercenary you may be, but toa have a habit of letting their enemies see the dawn."

There's a set-based RPG/fight game called Arena over in Games and Trivia, and over the years there's been some Bionicle RPGs involving dice or a d20 system, but the BZPRPG is a text-based rpg, bound only to the limitations of current rules and one's imagination.

What's the current news from Kentoku?

OOC: OH HEY THERE KNI! Let's get this party started. :3 Question about your last sentence: how does he know Ishi is going by Ahkmou, or even Ishi? IC: Ahkmou, Onu-Koro (The Golden Pickaxe, first floor bar) The few lookers turned aside as the odd colored matoran joined the red toa at the bar. After hopping up onto the toa sized bar stool, he gazed at the wizened lines of the matatu buying him a drink. "You're too kind, Sal's are my favorite," he said while sliding his hands for the shot. Then, with a wry laugh, he added; "Well, this poses a problem... any chance you got a straw?"

Any mercenaries in Onu-Koro who want a gig, see Ishi in the Golden Pickaxe. He's gonna' be needing to hire some muscle.

OOC: A little BZP-Time, but this post takes place before the public arrival of news from Ko-Koro. Sorry for not posting sooner; life has a way of sweeping one up in the flow. IC: Ahkmou, Onu-Koro (Outside Ferron's Forge) The road outside Ferron's Forge was a winding tributary of the larger highway heading south to Le-Koro, breaking from the dark pavers into small meandering alleyways of packed dirt, wooden crates, and increasingly developed stone homes. The glowing lightstones dangling from the eaves of every roof illuminated the streets, giving a soft light bright enough for the surface dwellers to see, but not too bright to blind the natives. In it, Ishi made out the hazy outline of business logos printed along the sides of ussal carts, some common like Horseman Shipping and Polzin Company (seeing his name reminded Ishi of the unfinished vendetta with his sister), others less known and owned by private merchants yet to sign over their souls to a corporation. "Waiting's never been my strong suit," Ishi admitted to Dervish, "unless it's at the deli counter, or while a ga-matoran's removing her armor... to be fair I'd probably be taking it off, so forget the last one. You, however, get the chance of a lifetime. Why don't you try and find out more about our Turaga friend while I rent a room? Meet you at the Golden Pickaxe tonight." He watched her face briefly, looking for a sign of treachery, then bounced back a few steps before turning away. He strolled down the road, following it back to the highway, and from there down to the Bazaar, while softly singing: How many eyes How many eyes How many eyes do I see in the dark Those eyes in the dark are mine The Golden Pickaxe was a three story development, each floor from a different era. The bottom, round and squat, was beginning to sag to one side from the weight, while the middle looked like a strange ship had landed atop, supported by pillars, and the upper story clung against the side of a massive stalactite. A motley crew of patrons sung miner's songs on the open veranda of the second floor, complete with pan pipes, bells, and drums. A great pickaxe, the inn's namesake, hung over the front door. Ishi wondered if a vortixx had ever impaled themselves on it. "How can we help you?" Called a bulky onu-matoran as Ishi entered the hubbub of the Inn's drinking area. "Needing a room, or just a drink?" "Both, if you got them. Been needing a stiff one since I got here." Ishi replied. OOC: Open for interaction. Anyone want to buy Ishi a drink? Preferably a merc. wanting to get hired.

IC: Ahkmou, onu-koro (Ferron's Forge) Business concluded,Ishi looked at Dervish, awaiting her cue to leave.

IC: Ahkmou, Onu-Koro (Ferron's Forge) Dervish pulled the widgets from a familiar purse. The Informant gazed at the luscious fabric, a rich brocade of stylized muaka, and imagined its original owner seething at the loss of such a fine object. Despite knowing the chance was slim after Echelon's capture of Ko-Koro, the thought of Ambages' returning to his mangled apartment pleased Ishi, and the markings of a web he carved in the icy floor would hopefully aid in his carefully concocted conspiracy. He hoped the other two Peers would reveal themselves if The Architect and The Spider came to blows. Someone would slip up, someone would poke their head out of hiding like a cornered rahi having to choose between jumping off a cliff or fighting to the death, and Ishi would know. Ferron's words brought Ishi's gaze from purse to person, and he looked into the warm eyes of the forgemaster. There was a great tiredness, but also hope. The turaga's apprentice stood in the shadow's of the forge, lingering in the area where darkness flickered much like Ishi's insubstantial boon. The light played across her kanohi, cutting a stark contrast with those hidden from view. "An apprentice? You have quite the growing business, Forgemaster, and the locals certainly recommended you highly. As for my coat, it's nothing difficult, just plates put together. You're bound to see the pattern from what little of it isn't smashed to Karz. However, why don't we give you a couple hours head start and come back for your story? I'm rather fond of scolls and books, and making them more so, but a man must have food and rest. I heard there was an inn closer to the village center with a reputation for good accommodations and decent meals. You recommend it?"

Please stop talking about Stannis that way. It's not a fan fiction I want to read. In more serious terms, are there any mercs. for hire in Onu-Koro right now?

I dunno if anyone has said this yet (not bothered to go back and read the last tons of pages), but what does the alteration from hiripaki to warua mean for Makuta and The Legend? What does it mean for what Joske learned? Any thoughts? I'm really curious about what people might be thinking...