Void Emissary

IC: Rynekk | The Fowadi At the first gunshot, Rynekk's hand was already on his axe; at the second, his vision tunnelled as his Kakama flared to life; at the third, the ball of his foot pivoting at sub-terminal speed had already left the deck smouldering. But by the time he had turned to take his first step, the wood under his foot splintering on impact, the source of the sound was clear: Krayn's friend Shaddix, pistol in the air, with nothing but smoke and seagull feathers in air to show for himself. Rynekk forced himself to slow back down and loosen back up, letting go of his axe with one hand and raising the other in the universal sign of: "Hey. What the ######, man? C'mon." Spotting Ember on the other side of the ship, Rynekk walked over, letting a mumbled, "Give a guy some warning next time, jeez louise," as he passed Shaddix. "You all set then, Ember?" he said, pretending to dust his hands off and cracking a grin her way. "Noticed you head belowdecks before -- you get a grocery list from ol' Muuk?" OOC: @Perp@Haman Karn: A Magical Girl -Void

IC: Gunner | The Dancing Crab "That oughta be the last of it," I said as I walked into the captain's booth and slid into the seat next to him. "We've got as many provisions as the ol' girl can hold without slowing her down, which is still a fair bit. Especially--" I shot a look at Lohkar. "--considering all the widgets we had to burn to get it," I added, pulling off my coat. "I hope you know what you're doing, Captain." OOC: @Ghosthands -Void

Hey everyone! I've been hoping to put a character onto Zakaz and play around in there for a while now, but I haven't been sure where to go and what to do -- exploring the Rift has seemed like a pretty promising path, but I was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions/recommendations? I haven't had time to pay close attention to the Zakaz topics, so I'm a little out of loop on what's going on there, any help would be much appreciated. Thanks! -Void

IC: Rynekk | The Fowadi "You mean during the Jazek Rehn affair?" Rynekk replied, hands on his hips. "Hopefully that hasn't soured her perception of us, eh? But I think I remember Ruuli -- spoke with her briefly way back when, first time I was in Ga-Koro with all of you. She might still remember me. But either of them sound like promising options, in that case -- if our friends ever get back to ship and we can set sail." He laughed, lightly, to show that he didn't any tardiness against them... too much. OOC: @Perp@Silvan Haven@The UltimoScorp IC: Gunner | The Infernavika "We should pick up some grain and a still, if we can," I added. "Not to toot my own horn, but I used to be in the bootlegging business for a bit in my younger days. Might serve us well to have a bit more of a sustainable supply of booze, considering--" I cast a glance over at Lohkar. "--some members of the crew." OOC: @Ghosthands@pokemonlover360@Snelly IC: Vyartha | The Iron Mahi "I had come to the desert in search of Castle Blackrock," I said, "the sanctum of the death cultists of Ak'rei'an. I had... wished to learn from them what lay beyond death. Whether there was anything to be found off this mortal coil. But the castle was naught by ruin and rubble when I arrived there... and the spears and shattered shields of the guards of Po and Ga. I thought, if I came to Forsi, where both armies meet, I might be able to find someone with the answers I seek." OOC: @Goose -Void

IC: Nika | Onu-Koro Nika raised the corners of his lips up and bared his teeth, in what someone who had never seen the real article before might have referred to as a "smile." To say that he mistrusted these cops would be an understatement -- if it weren't for Pae and for the mission at hand, most of them would be dead by now. But his partner seemed to have a plan, and that meant that he needed to play along. So, reluctantly, he handed over his rifle, and his two daggers, into the waiting hand of the closest guard. OOC: @ARROW404@Palm@Snelly -Void

IC: Daijuno | The Great Takea "Oh good goddess!" I shouted, definitely keeping my usual dignified composure and not clambering behind Rhow's thighs. I mean, don't let it be said that Dastana Daijuno (or Daijuno Dastana, depending on what side of the Endless Ocean you're reading this on) is discriminatory by any means -- but I had been on this island for months now, and never seen anything coming even close to the... the... the talking sea-serpent that was addressing the lot of us now. "I... suppose that we did, yes," I said, peering out from behind my bartending barricade, attempting to claw back any amount of credibility in this moment. "Can I buy you a drink?" OOC: @Vezok's Friend@Emzee@Mel@Rahisaurus@otter -Void

IC: Gunner | The Infernavika "No matter how much we tried," I lamented, shaking my head as I joined Lohkar, Yasurek and Taleen further a-bow. Taleen was a new recruit, picked up from that same battle of Ko-Koro, who was young enough to still a pirate's life as one of freedom and adventure, and not the place you end up when you realize you have nothing left in this world to lose. Unfortunately, I knew that, like those cultists of yore, there was no reasoning with the youths. "Well," I said, "I suppose that the opportunities have gone a bit dry over here. Being heroes of the island two years in a row doesn't exactly lend you much credibility amongst the criminal class. Might be nice to visit a place where no one's seen us chumming it with the guards. When do we set off?" OOC: @Ghosthands@Snelly@pokemonlover360 IC: Rynekk | The Fowadi Rynekk, like any experienced Aggressor, had no such discipline, and beamed a mighty smile at the news. "You had me worried there for a second," he said, tipping his hat to her. "But I sure am glad we'll be having you aboard. Especially considering our first stop is supposed to be over in Ga-Koro. You reckon any of your old connections are still in the Marines down there?" OOC: @Perp -Void

IC: Daijuno | The Great Takea "And there actually dragons outside?" I added, leaning in as close as I could to this fellow's face (which, hardy-har, isn't that close at all, size difference, etc.). If this guy started lying to us, I'd be the first to know. ...I was definitely starting to think that ale was affecting me. OOC: @Vezok's Friend@Emzee@Mel -Void

IC: Vyartha | The Iron Mahi For a brief moment, I believed in miracles again. "Where is there to go?" I said. "Only a horizon." OOC: @Goose IC: Gunner | The Infernavika "Ah, so we're headed into enemy territory with a blood price already on our heads," I said, stepping up and out of the hold, shielding my eyes from the bright noon-day sun. "At least there won't be cultists this time. Worst part of the Ko-Koro fight was the cultists." OOC: @Ghosthands@Snelly@pokemonlover360 -Void

IC: Rynekk | The Fowadi Rynekk was still having a bit of trouble getting used to Kale's new mask -- and the little homunculus that it seemed to... spawn? The nomenclature would be something to brush up on, come an appropriate break in the conversation. Until then, there were still niceties to attend to elsewhere. "Don't mind Kale, he's a busy man," he said, placing a hand on Ember's shoulder. "Thanks a bunch for your help up there. I've already mentioned to ya that I don't exactly have a lot of experience on even this ship -- but I've never seen our crew put together quite like that before. You absolutely sure we can't tempt to stay aboard a little longer?" OOC: @Silvan Haven@The UltimoScorp@Perp -Void

IC: Daijuno | The Great Takea "A dragon?" I said, tapping the side of my empty glass idly and wondering if all that ale was affecting my hearing. "By 'Taka, didn't think they had those, even out here! But all the more reason to stay indoors for a little while longer, I think -- let the soldiers handle something like that. Still, would be nice to have had a witness who could describe...." It was then, by chance or destiny, whichever showed up first, that someone new stepped into the bar: a tall, snow-white figure, Toa by the looks of him. Fighter by the looks, too, considering the rather dashing scars he was sporting, along with the sword and shield he had on him. The big Muaka was just standing around, as though he was lost and trying to figure out where his wrong turn had been -- maybe not the best witness, but the best I had on-hand. "Excuse me!" I called out, waving a hand to get his attention. "Yes, you! Come over here for a second? Want to ask to you something." OOC: @Vezok's Friend@Mel@Emzee That's Makua that she's calling out to. -Void

IC: Nika | Onu-Koro "No mask for me, I'm afraid," Nika said, shrugging as far as his manacles would allow. "Vortixx don't believe in them." OOC: @Palm@ARROW404@Snelly -Void

IC: Nika | ??? "Yeah, yeah," Nika said, walking right up to this jumped-up crab######er, hands still up and gaze as cold and steady -- one got the distinct sense that this was the same look in had in his eyes while looking through the scope of his rifle, searching for a killing shot. "Let's just get this over with." OOC: @ARROW404 @Snelly @Palm -Void

IC: Nika | ??? Occupied as he was with trying to load his rifle, Nika didn't even sense that hunk of earth aimed for him before it was knocking him barrel over buttstock onto his back. That his gun had clattered out of reach probably would have been an issue, but given the rapid change of plans by Pae, it wasn't proving to Nika's greatest obstacle. He simply wiped the dirt from his eyes and raised both hands above his head. "Yeah, yeah," he grumbled. "I surrender, too." I sure hope you know what you're doing, Pae. OOC: @Palm @Snelly @ARROW404 -Void

IC: Daijuno | The Great Takea "Someone has a bad relationship with Saihoko? May Artakha forfend." As I said that, I couldn't help but follow Rhow's gaze out to the entrance, where -- huh -- the crowds had cleared out fast. I immediately felt my hand fall to the knife at my belt. The last time I'd seen folks move that fast, someone had tried to unleash a psychic slug on me and my friends, and I wasn't in the mood for a repeat of that. "You know what's up out there, either of you?" I asked. "Something with the refugees?" OOC: @Mel @Vezok's Friend -Void

IC: Rynekk | The Fowadi "Please Kale," Rynekk said, grinning. "I don't need any help in that department." OOC: @Silvan Haven IC: Vyartha | The Iron Mahi "As... do you." Since I had first seen her on this train, I had been warring against myself and my own nature. Pride by name and pride by nature could very well have been a motto for me these past few months. I was to be Vyartha Vena -- untouchable, implacable, peerless. And yet, what I wished to do and say to her would mean the end of all that. But then, perhaps all that had ended months ago, when Nikarra had first left me. Or even earlier, when we had met. Maybe there was a destiny. Maybe this was always where mine ended. "I would follow you," I found myself saying, almost without realizing, and certainly without being able to stop. "If you would let me." OOC: @Goose -Void

IC: Rynekk | The Fowadi "Leah...," Rynekk said, resting his chin in his hand. "That's not a bad idea. Tabloids say she used to be Gukko Force, right? Maybe Daring or Krayn can get us a lunch date with her--" “O break the waves, toss the nets, and fill yer lungs with air About the seas, the likes o’ me would naught be caught awhere The lubbers stand upon the sand and beat the drums o’ war Till Ol’ Takea pulls to port and brings me back ashore!” Rynekk stopped when he heard it, and he looked up to the rigging with a small smile that grew despite him. He had crewed the Fowadi for years now -- for the better part of his life on the island -- and the ship still found ways to surprise him. He found himself only wishing that the others could have been here for this: Krayn and his friends from the days of the Mark Bearers, of course. But Naona, too -- and Tillian, Emotia, Four, Arankhe. Tadris and Rucia. The ones who never came back to shore. He stood up suddenly and put his hat back on, the shadow of its wide brim hiding his face, and anything he might have wiped away from. "We should get her on this ###### ship, Kale," Rynekk said, turning back to his friend and grinning. "You and the Captain can't be the only ones aboard who have their sea-legs." OOC: @Silvan Haven IC: Vyartha | The Iron Mahi "We falter at the sight," I sang. "We stumble in the mire-- "--fools who think they see the light, Prepare to balance on the wire--" And as I sang-- no. It was not the act of singing. It was the act of her singing, of singing to me -- in that voice that she tried so much to sound hardened, but could not hide a lightness as fine and delicate as the fractal pattern of an ember fluttering in the wind. It was me-- it was listening to her sing with me that I began to feel something within my breast which I had not felt for many years now. Perhaps not since that night in the Charred Forest, staring through the dead eyes of that infected Kanohi into a sky without stars. For a moment, I forgot that feeling of drowning in that sky, that horizon owned by the void they called Makuta that had lingered in my lungs all these years, and from which I had always been trying to breach. "--but we learn to watch together, And feed on what we see above 'Til our hearts turn like the seasons And we are acrobats of love...." For a moment, I could pretend that all the world was in this compartment. OOC: @Goose -Void

IC: Daijuno | The Great Takea A blessing from 'Taka! "That's very generous of you, Shuuan, extremely generous," I said. "Tell you what, if one of your cousins needs a little, ah, financial encouragement--" I drew another two slivers of shale from my pocket, another two business cards, and slid one to Shuuan and one to Rhow. Never did one poorly to let people know you're around, after all. "--you just send them my way." OOC: @Mel @Vezok's Friend -Void

IC: Vyartha | The Iron Mahi Thanks to my years of military training and experience in the roughest parts of this island, I caught the stuffed sloth (oh, how droll, Nikarra) easily. "When I was younger," I said, "there was a folk song that my mother sang -- of a great Toa of Air. Not Lewa the Toa, for this was before any of the First Toa had arrived on these shores, mind you. But it was a hero who must have been able to command the winds, for they walked on threads high above us. I don't recall the name of the song. But I remember the tune--" And so I hummed it for her, quietly, as best I could recall it from the days of my youth. OOC: @Goose -Void

IC: Nika | ??? Had the Toa said something? Nika hadn't caught it, occupied as he was with staying alive. The brief moment that the Toa spent tumbling to the roof where used by Nika to push himself back onto his feet. This wasn't the sort of fight that he was primed for, wasn't the kind of job he had trained himself to do -- and so, without time to load another lightstone into his rifle, he simply grabbed one of the daggers from his belt and hurled it at the Toa. In another life, he might have taken off running at the same time. Unfortunately, Pae was still there. Karz! OOC: @Snelly -Void

IC: Nika | ??? Nika may, indeed, have lost track of the flying Toa after his initial attack -- a mistake that he would regret if he made it out of this mess alive. But he had spent most of his life on his own in dangerous territory, and so he had figured out how to keep his wits about him no matter what. He could, for instance, note the subtle pull of a flyer's slipstream as she passed over him, and the shadow of a figure blocking the lights of the surrounding buildings -- or the harsh whistle of a weapon coming down for his head. Nika whirled, bringing his rifle up to block the incoming weapon -- a Rahkstaff, as Spirit be his witness -- with enough force to block it from cracking his skull open, but not enough to keep the sheer weight of the strike from driving him onto his back. With few options, and even fewer aces up his sleeve, all he could do was swing one of his legs up in a kick at his flying opponent. OOC: @Snelly -Void

IC: Vyartha | The Iron Mahi "I...." It was like walking to the executioner's block -- I could see myself about to die, but simply could not stop walking forward. The best that I could manage was to cling to some measure of dignity. I carefully, meticulously, leaned my elbows on the table, clasping my hands together in front of my face, and regarded Nikarra over my knuckles. "...yes," I said. "Would you... please... play your guitar for me?" OOC: @Goose IC: Rynekk | The Fowadi "Frankly, I don't think Stannis would tell us anything that wasn't already in the public record," Rynekk said. "He's the de facto leader of the Maru, which means that he writes the party line -- he wouldn't suddenly break it for a couple of mooks like us. I think that if we want to figure out what happened down in Makuta's den, we need to find someone close enough to Stannis that he'd confide the truth in, but not close enough that they wouldn't be willing to blow a whistle or two if need be. Have you heard any rumours about a schism in the Maru, or-- Karz, does Stannis even have any friends beyond them?" OOC: @Silvan Haven @NorikSigma -Void

IC: Plagia | The Dark Walk Karz! The last time I had faced down a Rahkshi had been at the Battle of Le-Koro, during Makuta's last desperate attack before the Maru had defeated him. I had been outnumbered and outmatched -- and I had only survived by the skin of my teeth, but I had the mountain range of scars as a keepsake from it. I knew better than anyone else here that we needed a fast exit, and one that meant the least contact with these demons. Which meant having to fight at distance. I brought my knuckles together, scraping my gauntlets one against the other, listening to the crackle and pop of static electricity growing and growing between them -- before throwing my fists forward, letting two bolts of lightning fly loose from them, aimed directly at the Rahkshi blocking the exit. OOC: @Light @dark walk crew -Void

IC: Daijuno | The Great Takea I took another drag on my cigar, now little more than a smouldering stump, before putting it out in a nearby ashtray and tucking it into a pocket. "You ask me, you're better off forgetting," I said. "Not much from back home that's worth remembering for me, at the very-- Ach, you must think I'm being insensitive, which isn't my intention. Tell ya what, we've got people from the archipelago that we call Willhammers -- people who're trained to, ah, get into other peoples' minds. I can ask around, pull some strings, maybe get one of them to go 'round and look into this. Given that the imperial coffers are halfway 'cross the world, I think most of them would appreciate the work. Shuuan, you wouldn't happen to know anyone for the job, would you?" OOC: @Vezok's Friend @Mel -Void

IC: Vyartha | The Iron Mahi "I... didn't know," was all that I could say -- an insipid repetition. "What...." What happened before us? What happened after us? What drives you from place to place like this? What must I do to follow you? What must I do to keep you from leaving me again? It was all so insipid. All so stupid. I was Vyartha Vena, the Pride of the New Daedra -- and I wasn't-- I couldn't-- Nikarra would leave if I kept being stupid. "What... should I do to get you to play?" was all I could say. "Now. On your guitar." OOC: @Goose -Void