Geardirector

IC: Salwa (Precipere) "The disturbances at Ferrum have upset the area" I answered with no hesitation, "I couldn't find as much as I'd like but some was found. We will need to reconsider our hunting routes. Would have come back sooner otherwise" I didn't much worry about bringing Sohmok mixed news. As long as something went right, it was usually good enough for our tribe to find reason to keep going. OOC: @Nato G

IC: Salwa (Precipere) By the time I had made it back to the village, I was feeling slightly better. I had managed to track down one more nest on the way, and nothing else had gone wrong. The fact that Gatog had the privelige of his own private den to stay in was passed off as merely appropriate for a Rock Steed, so I could at least leave him satisfied while I delivered the supplies to storage. Most of it wasn't going to last long in any sort of container, but it was better to eat this early than dip into more permanent food stocks. We worried about that often, all of us. Heading towards the Guard house, I could spot the unmistakeable figure of Sohmok, hobbling also its direction a little ahead of me. The old man was definitely going to have something to say to me, as "Head Scout" or something like that. I had not grown very attached to the title myself, but if there was anyone I didn't want to say that to out loud, it was him. OOC: @Nato G

IC: Akiri Nuparu (Nuparu's Office) After returning to his office having delivered the speech, Akiri Nuparu was sitting at his desk, and had returned to his usual tinkering habits. There were hopefully some improvements he could make to the Ussalry's equipment, or to Exo-Matoran designs, or improve their supply of Rakshi parts to make more... He stopped himself. This was an old habit, but he wasn't convinced it was going to serve him best. He'd seen pretty reasonable dividends from the relatively simple welfare systems he had set up some months back. The point was that everyone had the basics covered, and could work to apply themselves from there, it wasn't the most complicated or glamorous setup, but he had to respect results. People who felt like they were being looked out for, had reasons to stick with you. But he couldn't resist imagining what was going to come next. His mind was his greatest asset, and now he needed to put that towards the safety of his Koro, and make sure he could find support from the other Koros. Him and Renaka had been getting along just fine so far, and that was a start, though he knew very well that she had her misgivings. He could not blame her for that. "Akiri! Onepu says he has someone waiting to see you, said he had mentioned something to you about 'the gentry'" He looked up, blinked a couple of times as he searched his mind... Aha! Yes, he remembered now. This was good timing. "By all means, I can see them right away" OOC: @ARROW404 @Void Emissary @Palm

IC: Zelvin and Farzan (Po-Koro Tech Emporium) "I need to restock at the very least" Zelvin mused to herself as she sat with a mug of ice tea in a quiant establishment nestled in Po-Koro's Middle Ring. Her decision to walk here made her desire for a cold drink spike something fierce, and it was the first thing she secured once she made it inside and started to look around. At the moment, Zelvin decided to keep herself inconspicous. So the Kru-Toa had refashioned the crystalline polearm for her weapon into something more like a cane, leaving only the metal blade itself which she could easily hide on her person, and she took on the affect of a slightly cluless, doting old woman. It was a fine guise to take on when she was in more civilized mood and locale. Simply supply a twittering "Thank you dear" to the staff, and hope to be largely left alone, and it worked swimmingly. She made some mental notes at first, before remembering to pull out her iStone and make the notes on that instead. She was actually getting pretty used to this little device, not as regrettable of a purchase as she first feared, thankfully. She sometimes forgot that "clueless and elderly" was supposed to be her putting on a face. She'd made sure to inform herself of the various locales she could hit up on the island for shopping trips. Some of them more reputable than others, but she was alright with either, depending what she was after. Today, she was in the market for the deadly sort... Some time later, at the Technology Emporium The day after our laborious work order had been concluded, Jokaro and I had been quite happy to pat ourselves on our collective backs. I could have deigned to pet Wiremu's and Kreff's as well if there should be room to give myself an extra arm sometime. After the shop was opened the next day, Jokaro had gone off to get some important business done, he said, and he left us to watch the desk. He was probably out getting himself a nice hat. I was sitting by the counter, sketching out some ideas for a development I'd recently gotten into my head. If this was gonna work, I'd need to pump Jokaro and Wiremu most vigorously for information, but that was only fair game. I knew they were most eager to get their hands on my secrets as well, mutually assured pumping. The door chimed, and a presence came through the entrance. I glanced up, and I gained a pair of most inquisitive purple eyes glancing back. The **thunk** of her walking stick on the floor resounded notably as she approached. A little too much, perhaps. And then she just lifted it up from the floor and held it aloft with her hands by her waist, all casual. No significant walking problems there. "Farzan, isn't it? I saw the sign outside" she ventured, and I nodded most vigorously. "I'm sure you did, with that piercing gaze of yours. What can I get such a distinguished lady who has deigned to peruse our fine selection?" She looked around, regarding weapons, tools, equipment and other gadgets as they stood on display. This was one of those times when my background really kicked my instincts into waking up and paying attention, she clearly had a clue what these things could be used for, including in ways not-so-nice. The sort of person I never crossed in my previous life. Well, things are a little different nowadays, aren't they. I had one of my pieces right next to me on the desk and it was gonna be all I would need. "Tell me, how good of a sight do you think you could make?" she asked as she turned to regard me again, "something to improve aim over distance" I winked with the shutters on my mask in response, no problem there. That was just the sort of thing that I was going to have the wherewithal to put together without problem. "Oh, that's absolutely going to be doable. But... what were you looking to make it for, ma'am? I would need some knowledge about the dimensions of whatever you're going to be using it with" The Toa nodded, and the cloak she was wearing rustled as she pulled something from where it was held on her back under the clothes. She had looked a bit bulky in them as she walked in. She placed the item on the counter, and I immediately drew all my attention to it. Now this was a fine piece of hardware: clearly it fired crystals as its ammunition, but it was no Lightstone Rifle. Was this of her own make? She certainly looked she could be a Toa of Crystal, with that cane especially. "I'll have to keep this with me for a little bit" I said, looking it over, "but I get what you're after. Something to aim with at longer distances, hmm?" she nodded sagely. "You can count on me and my colleagues. Return in the afternoon at the earliest and we should have something cooking." I guaranteed. "Thank you very much, my dear" she said with a smile and a knowing nod, and turned to leave the store. OOC: @Perp

IC: Salwa (Iron Canyon) I muttered something foul under my breath as I once again spied an empty nest. I had hit up every one of the spots that I knew so far on the trip, and there had been very slim pickings. The Cave Shrike Nest - in a small cave, understandably - gave off every sign of being recently abandoned, and this one didn't even have the decency to let there be some foraged food left that the creature had abandoned in its haste to find safer nesting grounds, just a feather or two on the stone floor. I pulled my head back out of the entrance and skid the short distance down to the ground where Gatog was waiting. He had been very on edge lately, and for once I had a good idea about why. Ferrum was not too far away from where we currently located, and the disturbance there had to have really been something for all the local wildlife to abandon their nests. Cave Shrikes were ideal to hit up on a foraging trip. The birds didn't fight to keep their food if you came, as long as you didn't intrude on a nest with an egg in it, you could help yourself. Had always managed to at least find something to bring back, but now even that meagre take was being undercut. I heard one of the creatures over me, as it was in flight towards whatever new nest it had located. I would have to at least try and follow them to see if I could find their new homes. The wings on the bird twitched almost imperceptibly, and just as I was convinced it was going to take a right turn, it swung left. I had never gotten the hang of predicting their paths. I'd stayed away from the village for some time by now, I couldn't afford to keep this up much longer. I had to at least bring back with me what I had found, but Ancestors be with me it would be mere handfuls. At least it was something. Gatog seemed entirely oblivious to my qualms, the Rock Steed instead produced something between a growl and a hiss as I took my position on his back. I glanced in the direction I dearly hoped Ferrum would be. If I was going to head there, I absolutely was not going to do so alone. Better to hope Somok saw fit to send someone along if he felt it necessary to investigate the place. The direction to Precipere I at least knew by heart, we turned in that direction.

IC: Vilda Mako (Ga-Koro docks) "Looking stupid without being called on it is part of the fun for people our age" I remarked with an amused smile. It had been a long time since I even thought about going for a swim. Ever since I started serving as Kama's mobile perch as she aged right behind me, that sort of thing had become a bit less convenient. "At least back home it was, I'll have to build up a bit more courage before I dare attempt the same thing here. Maybe if I get as drunk as you I can" OOC: @Mel @Endless Sea (Alaki Nuva)

OOC @That Matoran with a Vahi @oncertainty your characters can hear Nuparu just fine IC: Ferron (Papa-Nihu Reef) "I'm glad to hear it, it's roughly what I was hoping we could achieve by trying this idea." He calmly shook his head with a gentle expression when Oliphko raised her second query, "No I tried instead to focus on maintaining calm. I... well I didn't really feel the need to try and reach out to my element at the moment, that was for you today. I managed to make myself feel a little better, though, so we both achieved what we were going out to do." The Turaga smiled as he lifted the rod he'd placed in the ground to mount the lightstone on, and decided to keep it as such while he walked out towards the mouth of the cave. OOC: @Daniel the Finlander

Name: Salwa Gender: Female Species: Agori Tribe: Ash Age: Approximately late 20s Appearance: Salwa’s physique is bent towards the wiry and gangly. She stands rather tall for an Agori, and the customary ashen grey of her armor that reveals her Tribal allegiance has highlights of a maroon red appear on her gloves, shoulders, across her waist and around the eyeholes of her helmet. Her usual choice of helmet is a compact and stubby piece, meant to be a functional piece of protection and little else. Such is the case with a lot of Salwa's gear and equipment, all seeming to be geared towards not drawing attention toward her. The biggest exception to this principle are her weapons, which all carry imprints that reference predecessors in her family or friend circle these tools were passed down from. Traits: Salwa’s upbringing in the tribe centered her training on the skills of a scout and hunter: maintaining silence, moving for long stretches of time alone, observing great distances, precision shooting, trapping, finding food, riding. These were her duties in the tribe, and while she performed these entirely competently, her recently-gained prominence was definitely unexpected. Salwa's greatest strengths, the fields where she genuinely is a peak performer are: - First aid for her and her mount - Precision shooting (not while on the move) - maintaining silence and moving undetected (as long as Gatog doesn't ruin things) The duties she is expected to perform have taken on an increasingly high-risk character, but Salwa is unwilling to shirk her duties, for she understands that her kin is in a troubled spot at the moment. She is a stoic type, not given to speak very often despite feeling like she should do so more often. She is very concerned with trying to live up to the expectations that have been placed on her, and she is determined to learn as fast as possible. Equipment: The primary ancestral heirloom that has been passed down Salwa's family is a hunting spear, light and meant for one hand. It is said that this weapon felled many beasts to feed the tribe, a tally that Salwa herself has added little to so far. Much more to her liking is the Thornax Launcher she inherited from a childless mentor who insisted she was worthy of it despite her attempts to argue. The weapon's capabilities are not in themselves impressive, but it is very well maintained. She also carries a pair of bone knives that are meant as tools, not weapons. Salwa's mount, Gatog, is a Rock Steed, the only one of its kind in the Ash Tribe's ranks. This alone makes Salwa stand out, for surely one who is capable of taming such a beast is a talented hunter? The truth is far less impressive. Simple luck led Salwa to happen upon a wounded Rock Steed with a dead rider still in the saddle. Gatog's companionship was earned by nursing the wounded creature back to health, rather than besting it in single combat. Gatog is affectionate and protective towards Salwa, and a fierce warrior, but Salwa's own inability to fully understand how to train and to control the creature makes their partnership volatile. Biography: In a word: Luck. This word describes Salwa’s path through life so far neatly and consistently. Her family had a sterling reputation in the tribe's recent history, and Salwa's older cousin was among the recent fallen that left the tribe bereft of its best and brightest. Salwa seemed marked for great things from the beginning of her career, with the entirely unexpected taming of a mighty Rock Steed and the consistent success she had finding food on her hunts. Salwa herself knows it's been a series of increasingly unbelieveable lucky breaks. Now that the Tribe is so short on capable members after the recent tragedy, Salwa has been catapulted to something approaching head Scout in the tribe's ranks, a position she is not at all feeling prepared for. Weaknesses: She is out of her depth. She has a steed she is not fully trained to handle, her skills at close range are lacking, she is nervous and lacking confidence in her own abilities.

OOC: Zelvin from Ko-Wahi IC: Zelvin (Motara Desert) The sun beating down on her was the last thing on Zelvin's mind as she strode across the desert, following the road headed towards the City of Stone. "Village" was really becoming an obsolete term in Zelvin's eyes. The main settlements on the island had their own offshoots nowadays, Po-Koro in particular had two. Not very village-like. Her face obscured under her hood to shield it from the sun, Zelvin traversed the snake-like trail of the old road towards the Koro. Once she arrived, she'd need a good, stiff drink of something cold, and she could find a nice tree to provide some shade. She did rather like the new, lush, greener direction Po-Koro had taken recently. It made it quite the picturesque place. She was not above taking notice of that sort of thing.

OOC: 12-hour rule Also, Zelvin from Ta-Wahi IC: Zelvin (Ko-Koro) "It was my pleasure, officer" Zelvin answered cordially as she took in hand the payment for bringing in the two ruffians she had tracked down in the Charred Forest. All told, she ended up with a slight net gain after having compensated Jolek and Chiaki for their hand in the arrest. Just how it should be. She sat at an establishment a short walk away from the Guard Office, once again making a valiant attempt at getting used to her iStone and its various functions. A steaming cup of herbal tea sat by her. What should she do next? The Kru-Toa had many different thoughts, as she often did. It was mostly a question about who and what interested her the most. She'd just gotten her fill of sampling the "Ko-Koro is rebuilding" spirit, so she was satisfied here for now. The tea fully drank, Zelvin had made her decision as to where she was going to head. It was a simple flight of fancy, nothing more. But, Zelvin could afford to indulge those now and then. Once the situation got a bit more serious, and she had every reason to believe it would, she could harden with it. She passed through the Koro's gates, and found the best road heading due north. OOC: Zelvin to Po-Wahi

OOC: 12-hour rule IC: Akiri Nuparu (Onu-Koro) The day had started with Onu-Koro's citizens awakening to finding fliers posted at street signs, bulletins in the newspaper and even the occasional Ussalry member with some sound-based power making their voice heard in some of the large public spaces of the Koro. The marketplace, the plaza near to Late Turaga Whenua's hut and so on. The message was the same through every venue: Akiri Nuparu had an important announcement for later that day. Nuparu had been mulling over how to break the news he'd recieved from Tarnok for some time. The Ussalmatoran was of course right that it could not be kept secret for long, if at all. Nuparu didn't know much about how informed his fellow Akiri were, but he calculated a very high likelihood of the news already beginning to spread somewhat at this stage. There was no point in delaying the inevitable. He tapped apprehensively the microphone he'd had prepared for this occasion. He was standing on a podium on a raised platform, but his voice could carry much further with this to amplify it. He and his team had made some very great strides with the microphones they had supplied to Ko-Koro back before its siege and capture. He would have to ask their new Akiri if they were interested in an upgrade at some point... His train of thought was interrupted by the piercing whine of the microphone, and Nuparu remembered what he was actually here for. "Citizens. I don't want to take up too much of your time, but I'm glad to see so many turned up today. I trust you can bring this news along to any who miss this today." He swallowed. He suspected he had already made some people in the crowd a little on edge just by virtue of assigning this casual responsibility. They would soon understand. "I won't mince words, everyone. I have learned recently that the Makuta has returned" Now the crowd gave him a real reaction: silence. Absolute, total silence for a few moments, which then degenerated into a buzz of voices and cries and shouts and whatever else one could wish to describe as everyone started talking at once. The Makuta was back? Did he really say that? What's going to happen now? "I know these are grave news", Nuparu spoke up, and waited for the crowd to quiet down again, "We never hoped this day would come, but I want to offer some encouragement" The sea of attentive faces before him gave him some strength back in his voice as he continued. "I say look at us. As our old enemy returns, we are stronger than ever. We are wealthier, more populous, potential allies arrive from beyond the sea. Ko-Koro has been liberated. This island is our home, and we defended it once, we'll do so again" Nuparu neglected to add some endcap in the way of saying 'thank you' or invoking the Prosperity rhetoric he'd been adopting recently. It felt like his statement spoke for itself. The crowd gave him a loud cheer, and Nuparu felt satisfied he'd done about as well as he could have. Onu-Koro, at least, was going to face the future.

IC: Vilda Mako (Ga-Koro, Docks) The walk back towards the dockyards gave me a chance to ask a bit more from our new acquaintance Cephala about her and the island in general. "I must admit, I would have loved the chance to sample some of the more colorful spirits you mentioned, Cephala" I said, concluding an exchange about the most important subject, "but for now it seems like some of us have other plans" ::Oh, absolutely. If Clan still means anything at this point, it's still worth an attempt:: OOC: @Mel @Endless Sea (Alaki Nuva)

IC: Mar (Ko-Koro) "If you hold off on the fishing puns, I could be persuaded" I answered with a slight nod. Well, I was in it now, time to back up what I just said. OOC: @Rahisaurus

IC: Krex (Fort Garsi, at the walls) "Run, run like the Heu:Nii you are!" Krex loudly encouraged the retreating fighters. They could run, but they would not get far, not if she had anything to say about it. Zanakra had made it through the boulder-toss, but it had let Kirik gain an opening. Krex's job there was done for now. Her first target was the cloaked runt who had shoved the one called "Seeker" as a distraction, to shield themselves with the body. From her vantage point up on the wall, Krex saw and knew better. Ahuum disappeared from sight quickly, but Krex knew this terrain, it was her who knew where all the nasty surprises were hidden. She fired her heat vision at several spots in the immediate area they had disappeared in, detonating four mines. The rest of the would-be escapees had been a bit smarter. They barrier that Miraule and Yavonna erected to cover the retreat was not so vulnerable, but there was only one exit from it they were guiding their comrades to. Krex grabbed her launcher and opened fire on the conjured arms, pelting them with kohlii-sized boulders. OOC: @Mel @ARROW404 @Sparticus147 @Visaru @Snelly @Smudge8 @Zeal @Nato G

IC: Mar (Ko-Koro) "Very little," I answered, quite truthfully, "I wasn't in the Koro when it was ongoing. I've been staying in the area recently, pitched in a little to help with the cleanup-operations. Catching a straggler or two, finding some lost property or people. Whatever's needed" It sounded a lot more grandiose than it was. I hadn't actually caught anyone, at best I had helped clear some debris and find some lost pets, and then it was actually Karv doing most of the work. OOC: @Rahisaurus

IC: Mar (Ko-Koro) "It's a bad habit, I don't mean to be rude" I answered, but the rest of what I was going to attempt to say to defend myself got interrupted when the Skakdi gave me a hushed whisper and beckoned me somewhere else. I wrapped my fish up as well as I could, and Karv could just eat his when he had a free moment. He wouldn't take long to get it all down, bones and all. His stomach was made of strong stuff. "I get the impression that you've got more to do than a 'little errand'" I remarked as I approached her. OOC: @Rahisaurus

IC: Farzan (Tech Emporium) "Oh, Jo, you spoil me" I answered quite genuinely in response. It had been quite a day, and if there were going to be more like it, that was all fine by me. I rather liked my job, thankfully. "It'll be our little secret for now, I'm sure"

IC: Ferron (Papa-Nihu Reef) "Just a few moments" the Turaga answered, and stood up from where he had been sitting. "I'm glad to hear it worked so well for you. Mind if I ask, did you try what I suggested? Did it work?" OOC: @Daniel the Finlander

IC: Mar (Ko-Koro) I accepted the fish she handed me, and held it by its tailfin as I presented it to Karv. The Kavinika took a moment to sniff at it, with evident interest, and soon gave off a sound I recognized well. He was satisfied, and that was enough for me. "Two, then. One for him and one for me," I informed as I fished for the widgets to pay her quoted sum, "I'm not staying here long, I need these to make a living" Karv took one of the fish to hold in his mouth, not eating it just yet. I handed the Skakdi the money, and glanced at her with a little bit of a smile evident. "I suppose you could say I'm also versed in the business of pummeling, in some sense" OOC: @Rahisaurus

OOC: It is next year, alright. IC: Mar (Ko-Koro) After I bade farewell to the Toa I'd run into at the ruined mercenary outpost, I'd decided to make my way into town itself. I could actually use a few supplies, and a place to offload some of what I had picked up on my last outing. It wasn't for the money's sake, that was still well taken care of by the take from that last job with the Heartsflame woman, but it did me no good to let my skills dull. The market was loud, no surprise there. The trick to get through places like this, for someone like me, had always been to be a bit proactive. Walking in the midst of your element should never be a disadvantage. I saw someone in the middle of making a row. A skakdi, haggling with a salesman over the quality of her catch. Well, if she needed a buyer. "I wouldn't mind taking one of those off your hands, if you're hurting for customers" I said, making sure she could hear it

IC: Ferron (Papa-Nihu Reef) Ferron didn't have quite the same results as Oliphko during his own meditative session. He wasn't, personally, in much need to get back in touch with his element. But calm, a moment to focus and to clear the mind? That was very welcome. There were those things that Ferron even now, at his age, had to work to hold on to. Such things were an endless process and you didn't ever stop learning to do so. Learning to find one's centre was something he couldn't quite live up to. There was a bit too much that hurt in his heart for that to be an entirely clean process. He'd learned to live with that some time ago by now. When he opened his eyes, Oliphko remained absorbed. Ferron just sat quietly and waited.

Seconding Bulik on that one. We all come back. I'm gonna miss having Onepu in your capable hands o7.

IC: Nuparu (Akiri's Office) Nuparu remained silent for a while, partially because he didn't quite know what he was going to say, and Nuparu was always at his worst when he didn't have the answer. His hands found something to hold on to, and he opened his iStone to seemingly spend a few moments actually taking notes. It wasn't much of a surprise, perhaps. Having a lot to think about was something Nuparu was getting increasingly used to. At last, he spoke up: "For your negligence and absence, Tarnok, you are to report to Onepu for return to duty immediately. Leli, you too. The best way to make up for your, uhm, insubordination is to get back to work" OOC: @Krayzikk @sunflower IC: Ferron (Papa-Nihu Reef) "Well, there's always going to be a degree of your own particulars involved in something like this," Ferron answered, giving the Toa a nod as he folded his hands. "I can't tell you the way you get there is wrong, as long as you do it" "But yes, let's begin. We'll close our eyes, and breathe..." OOC: @Daniel the Finlander

IC: Zelvin (Charred Forest) Zelvin had long since bid her farewell to the people who had either accompanied her or gotten pulled into the aftermath of her little arrest action in the forest. The two criminals were firmly secured with bonds that she had just conjured up out of her own power, and their weapons were coming along slung over her back. She glanced back towards the forest before she turned for good towards the west and the way upwards. Time to cash in the bounty. OOC: Zelvin to Ko-Wahi. Just needed to get this one out finally. @Razgriz especially thanks for coming along. @Zasshu you can assume Chiaki was also compensated for his help with this little caper.

IC: Krex (Assault on Fort Garsi) It had been a lot of activity in just a few moments for Krex. She often had a problem going even a day or two without wishing for a real fight to break out so the days would pass by a little bit faster. Testing her perimeter defenses could only provide so much amusement for a day or two. She didn't regret wishing for that now that they had someone foolhardy enough to actually put the fort's reputation to the test, just that she hadn't done even more tests. As Kirik rode out to lead a bike squadron on an intercept course, Krex had been piling fire and the occasional explosive onto the main scene of the action she saw. That was rapidly proving less and less effective, the attackers were pairing up, using their elemental powers to respond and keep the damage being sent towards them well out of reach of them. Krex privately wished she could have that sort of ability just by herself. The walls were getting hammered. Not much was sticking, but the shockwaves of the action coming upon the ramparts and the piles of churned and upturned earth and mud and dust were almost burying it, if it kept up like this. "Right, boss" Krex andswered to Ipsudir's command. Her mind was already taken with an idea that she was formulating. "Srednak," she barked, "help me out here. The Skadki of Iron she had been left beside nodded, and they approached each other, purpose clear with just a few gestures from The Fuse. The large boulder that Zanakra had used as cover for the landslide earlier shook and wrenched itself loose, rising out from the dirt, and was tossed right at her. OOC: @Snelly @Visaru @Smudge8 @Nato G @Sparticus147 @Zeal @Mel @ARROW404 here we are. Apologies for the long wait. Do absolutely let me know if anything here needs to be fixed up.