The UltimoScorp

IC Drokk - Tower of the Water Suva: Nothin up here, and no one to come down and disturb her. the view was grand, but Drokk could not appreciate it with her mind elsewhere. The great carving elicited a grimace. her people and the matoran tribes had rarely interacted, her own people out of lack of need or disdain, and the matoran for reasons Drokk could not begin to guess at. Either way it made no difference. The Rigger's outpost being gone was news, however. They had been a powerful tribe. With a sigh, and no small amount of creaking of both stairs and her own joints, Drokk made her way back down to the ground floor, and then down to the lower level of the tower. @Eyru

IC Drokk - Suva Tower: Perhaps those legends held some truth after all. Someone clearly lived here at one time. The stairs down could lead to a dead end where she could be cornered. Better to go up first. The Skakdi Matron gently tested each step as she ascended, making sure each of the decrepit steps would support her weight before taking it upward. @Eyru

Things were going very well for Nova. They were making good time, and keeping the enemy on the back foot. But all battles have an ebb and flow, and the tide came quickly and fiercely to bear upon the team. For Artur and Julia, a banshee slipped “under’ their Booster frame, and a wash of plasma drained their shields before a fuel rod vaporised the entire nose of the small craft. Radiation and electrical feedback danced across Julia’s armor, her armor locking up. Her visor polarised completely and her comm unit fried. Artur was left more or less alone, with a booster frame that no longer functioned, a pilot that could not respond, and several hundred kilograms of explosive ordinance that may as well be a sitting duck for the banshee that was already swinging around for a second pass. It was Spartan Herrera who ultimately made the ultimate sacrifice, however. The wash of plasma fire that caught his Frame’s ‘wing’ boiled away the maneuvering pod and cooked off several of the warheads on the strut, sending the former Bullfrog spinning. Miguel did not quit. His entire right side was scorched from the explosion, and his HUD let him know in no uncertain terms that his suit had been breached. Pain told him that his body had similarly been breached, bits of shrapnel digging into him, and breathing gave a hitch as the soft tissue of his lungs caught on the edges of a broken rib. Automatic seals kept oxygen in his lungs, but parts of his body were still exposed to vacuum, and he felt the decrease in temperature, as heat slowly began to be leeched from his body by the bitter temperature of space. The burning sting of biofoam filled his veins and cavities, a familiar but unpleasant companion. Far worse was the feeling of ebullism in the exposed sections of his body. His armor had bought him time, but not enough of it. There was a grim certainty he’d be dead soon. Shock came for him, and after that, stuck in the vacuum of space, he’d die. But Miguel did not quit. The certainty of death did not sway him from his task, nor did it quell the fire within his soul. He would die. And they would die with him. After a breath and a cough that was more blood than saliva, he opened TEAMCOMM, “Nova 2-1, 2-3, I’ve been hit bad, but I’m clearing the lane for you. Make it count, buddy.” Managing to turn the frame toward the corvette’s hangar, he threw the throttle wide open, loosed the remaining warheads on the left spar, then let go. The doomed booster frame screamed into the hangar, taking a few of the defending Kig-Yar with it, and then enveloped the entire hangar in flame as it impacted. The explosion set off fuel tanks stored in the hangar. But Miguel did not quit. Having jumped from the craft before impact, the proud son of New Toledo drew his side arm and began making work out of exterminating every living thing remaining in the hangar. 12 rounds. 14 dead jackals. He was peppered with plasma burns now. But he did not quit. The blunt forces of the Magnum’s frame netted him two more kills, and it’s mangled remains were thrown at a third, and then his knife came into play. In the end, Miguel Herrera was personally responsible for the deaths of over 100 enemy combatants before plasma fire overwhelmed his broken body, and he fell. To the very end, he did not quit.

IC Katrin Nuva - Hospital: "We'll be ready when he comes back." Kat said, firmly. "I just.... hope I don't end up the same way....y'know....?" Her eyes drooped as medical staff came for her next, and she drifted into dreamless sleep as a new mask was placed over her face, and the medical staff began to tend to her wounds in earnest. @Tarn

IC Katrin Nuva - Hospital: "You gave it your all, and more, right? No one could ask more than that!" Kat grinned over at her companion, though with her face swollen and bruised it appeared almost like a grimace. "And we did it! Kilo got to that machine and we all made out of there! He even got his body back!" She weakly held up a hand in a thumbs up, "Sounds like a win to me!" @Tarn

IC Katrin Nuva - Kini-Koro Hospital: Bruised sternum. Abdominal organ damage. A microfracture on two ribs. Bruising on the cervical vertebrae. Small fractures in the orbital bones of the face. Blunt trauma to the trachea and larynx. Bruising of the face, arms, chest, and abdomen. Partial liquefaction of flesh and metal components. Minor Concussion. Katrin was by all accounts, a mess. But her bright personality and optimism were untouched. She looked back at Jutori from her own bed, through swollen eyes, and with a grin still plastered on her battered face, "Heh heh heh! Me too! But hey, you did great back there!" @Tarn

IC Drokk - Tower of the Suva of Water: With each stroke of her oar, Drokk grew closer to the tower, and yet she seemed to be ever further away. The shore behind her grew more distant, but the tower before her seemed to remain out of reach. It was frustrating, and a younger Skakdi might have simply turned around. Drokk was not a younger Skakdi. She continued paddling. Eventually, after what seemed an eternity, she reached the tower, and dragged her makeshift boat out of the water. she then turned to inspect the tower, looking for a way into or up the structure. @Eyru@Vezok's Friend

IC Katrin Nuva - Kini Koro: "Melting...?" She looked down at her arms and sure enough, the machnical parts of her body sagged as if the metal had been held in a forge. "That explains it." Kat was helped up to her feet and onto a stretcher of her own. On the way, she helpfully explained the situation once more to Nale, including the adventure to the ruins, the puzzles, and of course, the fight that had happened deep within the earth. The strange spear that had split the Toa of Earth in twain, and the strange otherworldly transformation that she'd caught only a glimpse of, and a taste of herself. "I don't really know what the NUVA thing means, but it fixed Kilo right up! I just.... I just hope it doesn't mean him or I will start being more like Arkius was, y'know?" @Tarn

IC Katrin Nuva - Kini-Koro: "I-agh! I dunno. I kinda went all out earlier." The young Toa of Fire winced, managing with great effort to sit up. "I used a.... well... I used a technique I'm not supposed to use unless it's really important. Guess it has a heck of a drawback, huh?" Those observing Kat might note that her body seemed to be sagging slightly. @Tarn@Sparticus147@BULiK@Onaku

IC Katrin Nuva - Kini-Koro: Familiar voices reached her ears, and the newly born Nuva of Fire looked over excitedly and waved, "Hey! Knichou! it's good to see you again!" Arkius shifted unevenly across her shoulders, and Kat realised a little too late and she toppled, her legs still not obeying her. Luckily for Arkius the guard were able to keep him from hitting the ground, but Kat fell hard. "Ouch, agh.... man, I probably shouldn't have used that technique..." She struggled to rise once more. @Sparticus147@BULiK@Onaku

IC Katrin Nuva - Kini-Koro: "Well, I would, but uh.... I think my legs just locked up on me! I feel like I couldn't take another step! Also.... I feel.... kinda.... droopy?" Kat frowned again. "I don't think I'm s'pposed to feel like that."

IC Katrin Nuva - Kini-Koro: "Well, we made it to the ruins, and solved all the puzzles and stuff, but Arkius was actin' real weird and then he got angry when Kilo tried to use the disc thingy and he hurt Kilo pretty bad, so Jutori and I tried to fight Arkius off, but man, he was really strong! And then Kilo hit him with a weird beam from a spear and Arkius split into two guys! One was still pretty mean, and the other was this guy!" She said, gesturing to the unconscious Toa. "Well we kept fightin' and then I guess Kilo used the disc thingy. The Arkius we were fightin' threw me at him, and Kilo and I got transformed. then that other Arkius kinda exploded the room we were in, filled it up with dirt! And then uh.... we dug this Arkius out, and came here! Jutori is still askin' the Administrator if she can close the portal behind us!" @Sparticus147

IC Katrin Nuva - Earth Ruins > Kini-Koro: "Sure hope there's someone to help on the other side!" Kat said brightly as she hefted Arkius up and onto her very shiny shoulders. Her aura of fire dissipated, though she still seemed to be brightly lit, somehow. She spared a glance and a grin to Jutori before stepping through, "Don't take too long, okay?" And then she was gone. And then she arrived. Kat stepped out of the portal, blinking in the sudden sunlight, but the warmth of the day's sun was absolutely invigorating. Light danced off of her new armor, and she looked around at the assembled group, and took note that most of them were actively armed. "Uh...hello! Could we get some help with our friend here? He took kind of a beatin' on the other side!" A sudden weariness took the Toa Nuva of Fire, and she stumbled slightly, with a frown. "I dunno if I'm doin' so hot, either, come to think of it."

IC Katrin Nuva - Earth Ruins: The young Toa of Fire managed to get to her feet, light glimmering off of her armor as she looked down at her body. There was a brief moment where she said nothing at all. "I think.... I think I'm taller?" She said at last. "Definitely taller. And.... And I feel.... A whole heck of a lot of power. Almost as if to accentuate the point, flames wreathed her form again. But these were different, instead of obscuring her body, they seemed to part wherever the eye fell, illuminating her and casting the room in dazzling gold tones. "Whoa...." Any other thoughts she had were swiftly cut off by the eruption of earth around them, and Kat instinctually threw her arms forward, and as if brought forth merely from the motion, a wall of flame erupted forth, reducing the soil to nothing as it came for them, leaving Kat and Jutori more or less alone, cut off from Arkius Nuva. And also Arkius. But the two Toa were safe, for the moment. Kat brought her hands up to stare at them in wonder as the inferno flickered away. "That's uh.... Way more powerful than it used to be."

It is indeed the BS01 mask, and I'll put that in, as for the Nuva thing well She uh. She can revert to 'base form' to prevent the increased energy from running out of her control when she doesn't need it. @Eyru

with the big jam post finally live, it's time to unveil Kat's new profile! Name: Katrin of the Flame Breed: Toa of Fire (NUVA Proxima) Faction: Tobduk-Koro/Kini-Koro Description: Standing 1.4 bio tall with a dense, lean physique, Katrin has spent years of her life training as a monk of the Order of the Kanohi Dragon, and it shows. Her colors are usually quite dull, dark reds and greys, with the brightest colors being her striking purple eyes and heartlight. A Calix accentuates a face that is youthful and cheery. Katrin simply looks friendly. She has an almost unshakable relaxed demeanor that lends an air of trustworthy confidence. NUVA Proxima Form: Following the Earth Ruins adventure, Kat has unlocked her NUVA Proxima form. Her entire body has become slightly taller(now 1.6 Bio), more muscular, and her colors brightened up, greys becoming black, and her dull red gave way to fiery primary red. Parts of her armor became alive with a metallic shine that seems to shift from brilliant gold to a dazzling polished chromium. Her eyes and heartlight now flare brightly, having turned an almost pink color. Background: Hailing from an island to the south, far from Metru Nui and it's politics, Katrin led a fairly peaceful life, part of a monastic order of Toa who had trained to link themselves more closely to their elements. These monks, the Order of the Kanohi Dragon, maintained a fierce neutrality, opting instead to open their teachings to all who chose to walk the path of the Dragon. Trained from her earliest days as a Toa by a Master Lhii and the other Dragons of the Order, Kat has abilities beyond that of a normal Toa. Aside from sparring sessions with her fellows and her victory in the tournament held among the students, however, her only real combat experience was a fight against a Manas Crab which had made its way to one of the island's caves. When the world ended, she found herself on a pilgrimage to the great city of Metru-Nui and afterward, among the refugees of Metru-Koro. It was here she met Arkius, a Toa of Earth gathering warriors, an endeavor that was interrupted by an attack on Po-Koro. Arkius and Katrin rushed to an airship called the Taku to rush to the defense of the village. They arrived slightly late, and Kat found herself in a standoff with Barius, a Skakdi with an ACR who had taken a Matoran hostage. The fight was short-lived, however, because Reson, a Toa of Sonics native to Zakaz, gave his own body in exchange for the Matoran's. Kat found herself rushing away again, promising to return as the Taku returned to Metru Koro following a breakdown in negotiations. There she witnessed the result of Taja's Desecration by Whisper, and participated in the Battle above Metru-Koro, where she severely damaged the Razorfish. She then returned to Po-Koro herself, as she promised, only to find the settlement was moving. She tagged along, and learned of a potential murder in the village, and had a brief sparring session with an Aspect named Ulkarr, and met Vahki for the first time. Her spar was cut short by the return of Arkius, who had become a NUVA Proxima, and promised Kat that she too could achieve such power. Flaws: Kat has an almost pathological need to test her strength against high caliber fighters and beings. As such, she may throw herself into unwinnable situations just for a chance to get stronger or to fight someone powerful, whether as a sparring match or something more. With the power of NUVA Proxima, this has only become worse, with much more power to rely on, she feels more confident to take on even greater challenges. She also has an unfortunate habit of lowering her guard when she maybe shouldn't. Kat is notably not very good at puzzles, her straightforward thinking often leaving her completely lost when abstract problems are presented to her. Finally, her elemental abilities are so powerful that should she let them run unchecked, she could very well 'burn out' or more literally, start melting her own body. Powers/Equipment: The Fighting Flame of the Dragon - Katrin's Elemental power of Fire is linked directly to her spirit. So long as she maintains the will to fight, her flames will similarly remain lit. This also means that the more determined she is to fight and win, the more powerful her elemental and physical abilities become. The upper limit of this ability is not known to her, yet. NUVA Proxima - After her encounter in the Earth Ruins, Kat received a minor blessing of the Krom, unlocking new power within her. Her abilities are, by virtue of the way she is linked to her element, stronger than other NUVA Proxima, but are not on par with a full NUVA. additionally, because her powers have increased so suddenly, her body hasn’t quite figured out how to handle the new strength, and she struggles to gauge the proper level of power to use at times. Teachings of the Dragon - These techniques, taught to Kat during her time with the Order, while not necessarily separate from her elemental abilities, allow her to use those abilities in certain ways, and fight effectively. They are a large part of her life. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vBelD-hIlDGePBG_7xEcIta6ye7Ev7sdfAUayOL5ziE/edit?usp=drivesdk Tuning Fork Staff - After an encounter in Po-Koro, Katrin has a simple protodermis staff tipped with blunt metal tines, similar to a tuning fork. This staff once belonged to Reson, a Toa of Sonics who bargained his own life in exchange for that of a captive Matoran. Kanohi Calix - This ordinary Great Mask of Fate was a gift from Katrin's mentor, Master Lhii, and has all the abilities of any other Great Calix, allowing her to perform at the very peak of her abilities. It has since fused with her face, a permanent reminder of who she is and where she comes from. Kanohi Hanumi - Mask of Fusion - After her Calix fused with her face, Kat found herself in need of a new mask. She found one in the form of a Great Hanumi, Mask of Fusion, which she obtained from KKini-Koro This mask allows Katrin to fuse two or more living beings together, and help to maintain such fusions. To fuse with another person, Kat must have the consent of the creature.

IC Katrin of the Flame - Earth Ruins: The monk of Fire managed to pull herself away from the carvings in time to hear the Administrator's response to Jutori. "Died servin' his people.... wonder what it was that killed him then...?" She shook her head, and looked to the others, "Well, now what? We're supposed to earn new powers, right? How do we do it?" @Onaku@Tarn@pokemonlover360

Music IC Katrin of the Flame - Ruins of Earth: Upon entering the chamber, Kat was struck by the change in the atmosphere. The air felt.... different, as if charged with energy, waiting to be unleashed. The strange machine in the middle of the room was interesting, but Kat found herself drawn to the carving on the far wall. "Nuva...?" She asked, absently, and she reached out to touch the carved letters, tracing them with gentle fingers. "What.... what does Nuva mean?" @Onaku@Tarn@pokemonlover360@Eyru

IC Drokk - Ash Barrens: After some 30 minutes, Drokk sighed and relented to the inevitable conclusion. She was going to have to make a boat of some kind to get across to the tower. She could not make a bridge large enough to cross on foot, she was not skilled enough to simply float over on a bit of iron, and despite her efforts, the Sea had no powers of its own to seal away to ease passage. She grunted and turned away from the coast, concentrating. she had seen many boats in her life, had come to this place on one, many, many years ago, and had been on and around her fair share of the craft. Surely, she could make one that was seaworthy enough to make this short crossing? with a snort of air, she smacked the sand, and iron flowed from her gauntlets, slowly but surely shaping itself as if alive into a a crude dingy. A single beam made up it's keel, curving up at both ends, a rim of metal, hollow to keep the weight down connected the top of the curved portions of the beams. And at last, the beam warped and stretched, forming into a thin sheet on each side to complete the makeshift craft. Drokk exhaled, and she raised her hand, and then struck the earth once more to form an oar. Truth told, she wished she'd been a Bo-Skakdi. Wood was easier to make a boat with. But she was not, and there was no point dwelling on things that could never be. With much fuss and noises from various parts of her body, Drokk managed to push her tiny vessel into the water. It rode high in the water, unleaden with her weight, the waves nearly throwing it back onto the beach. Drokk grit her teeth, careful so as to not damage the carvings, and pushed one final time, before stepping into her boat. It sank lower in the water, but to her satisfaction, did not capsize or slip under the level of the water. She raised her oar, and began to paddle the dingy toward the tower....

IC Drokk - Ash Barrens - Coast: The walk back was long, and arduous, but not overly complex or interesting. The Fe-Skakdi Matron stood now on the beach, staring out at the water, and beyond, to the tower. She was not a boat builder, and there was no wood in a condition usable for such things even if she were. She frowned, pondering her problem and what possible solutions she could use to solve it.

IC Katrin of the Flame- Earth Ruins: "We did okay on the first one, I'm sure we'll do great on the other ones, too!"

IC Katrin of the Flame- Earth Ruins: "Great job, guys!" The monk called, and with a whoop of joy, she leapt from her spot on the crystal, turned over once in the air, and just before dropping neatly through the hole, yelled, "Last one through is a Makuta-fish!" Once she had passed through the hole, she let a burst of flame erupt from her feet and hands, to stop her fall, and then another that sent her toward the open door that lay beneath the floor. @Onaku@Tarn@pokemonlover360@Eyru OOC: LEAP OF FAITH

IC Katrin of the Flame - Earth Ruins: "Whoa Arkius, what are you- wait what? The floor is see-through? How did you guess that?" Kat didn't leave her position, but at Kilo's urging, she hopped up onto the crystals around the gear she had been next to. She was very confused, but trusted her friends judgement. @Onaku@pokemonlover360@Tarn

IC Katrin of the Flame - Ruins of Earth: "Huh? Giving up, what do you...." Kat looked around the room again. "Wait... this is the door we came in, huh?" She walked back toward her gear, and scratched her head. "But we lined up the reflection, I wonder why it didn't work.....?"

IC Katrin of the Flame - Ruins of Earth: "Woo-hoo! We did it, guys!" The young monk cheered, jumping once in the air(quite a high jump, at that) with joy. "Hey, maybe I'm not as bad at puzzles as I thought, huh?" she said with a laugh. "You're probably right, though! There wasn't much we learned in the Order, besides the lessons of the Dragons. What other things did he do? You said he had a bunch of accomplishments!" She released the lever, and began to walk to the now open door. @Onaku@Tarn@pokemonlover360@Eyru