The Nold

IC(Moeru, Rida, NPC Messenger(Iki)): "No." "Yes." "Absolutely not." "Rida, I'm never going to get another chance like this. I'm going." "You have a job to do, Moeru. A job here, on Iki. I'm your Toroshu, and I say no." "You may be my Toroshu, but you're also my little sister. You can't make me stay here." "With all due respect, Toroshu Rida, this isn't your choice. The expedition needs a crew, and it's too late to get replacements." "Shut up!" We were in my sister's home, where I'd been working as usual. The poor messenger had arrived at least fifteen minutes earlier to notify me that it was time to go to the docks to begin the expedition, and had been forced to stand by a listen to our bickering over the matter ever since. Now, I turned to him. "Tell the Commodore I'll be there shortly. I just need to take care of something." As the messenger exited the door, I turned back to Rida. She fell into a chair, weary. "Why?" There was a short pause. She looked back up at me. "Why did you wait until now to tell me about any of this?" I shrugged. "To avoid this conversation as long as possible. After the ensuing storm of fists and screams, Rida fell back into the chair, even more tired than before. "Don't worry," I said, "I'm sure you can find someone else who can do my job just as good as me, a sword-for-hire or something. Mamoru will be fine." "I'm not worried about Mamoru, I'm worried about you. What if Mata Nui is just a nest full of being like the Chaotic Six? They'll tear you apart! You'll become a meal!" "I don't think it is," came my reply. "But even if it is, I think you're grossly underestimating my abilities. After all, I didn't become your bodyguard for no reason." "You were appointed to be my bodyguard because you were my brother, and all my other options were even more insufferable than you are." "Granted, but I can still take care of myself. Who knows? There's a decent chance the inhabitants of this place, whoever they may be, will pay some nice prices for some good Mamoru crystal." "Well," she sighed, resigned, "just promise me you won't get yourself killed." "That won't be a problem. I'll see you when we get back." As I stepped out the door, I looked back at my sister one last time and gave a final nod, which was returned. Upon nearing the docks, I couldn't help but wonder. Wonder what lay between us and Mata Nui. Wonder what lay on Mata Nui. Wonder how many of those who set out would return. Wonder if there would be war or peace between us and them. Wonder if I could keep my promise. Well, too late to back out now. I approached the submersible. Mata Nui, here I come. OOC: No, I don't know why the last part is back, it's supposed to be navy like the rest of Moeru's stuff. So... I guess we'll all just have to deal with it.

IC(Ignitus(on board the Inika)): "As long as I've got a sword at all, I think I'll be fine." I glance over at the Toa of Plantlife, already nearly halfway done fixing the crack. "I wonder if any of this ship will still be the original by the end of our voyage," I say Jarkale, "or if the whole thing will be made by Tuarn by then.

IC(Ignitus(on board the Inika): Spotting Jarkale and Lai Lai sitting on a rock, I remember the strange lack of weight at my hip, a spot that has become so used to occupation by a sword and scabbard. Curious, I approach the Matoran. "Jarkale," I say. "I think you may be able to help me with something. Ever since I lost my sword, I just don't feel right. Do you think we might have a spare on board somewhere I could use?"

Yeah, that's about the last thing that happened before I left.

Aaaaaaand I'm back. So, has anything real major happened since Sunday?

Leaving in a few hours. See all of you Friday night.

IC(Ignitus(on board the Inika)): "Well, then someone needs to go find Tuarn and get the wood-doctor's opinion."

IC(Moeru and Rida): ######. That...just...######. One second, the best fireworks display I've ever seen is shooting across the sky in front of me. Then, screaming, and I see the Rora, dead. ...######. Rather than verbalizing any of this, I instinctually materialize my Soulsword and analyze what's going on. The faint smoke emerging from the hole in the Rora's chest suggests a Soulsword was used. The Commodore and the guards are locking down the party. Toroshu Hogo is attempting to calm the crowd, with some success. Not seeing any immediate danger, I allow the Soulsword to dissipate, but remain prepared to summon it again if needed.

IC(Moeru and Rida): My sister. My. . Sister. Rida may be my Toroshu, but she's still my sister. My younger sister, too. Thus, her scolding and lecturing me as if I were her son is a little frustrating, to say the least. "Yes, okay?" I say, a bit agitated. "I came here when I was supposed to be working, and when I got here I got yelled at by Princess Desdemona. Point is, it's over and done. You want a drink?" CRASH. I'm not super-connected to the mental plane for a Menti, but . That hurt. Okay, Moeru. Pull your head together. Breath in. Breath out. Okay, I'm alright. My sister, on the other hand, stumbles backward, surprised. Her connection to the mental plane is already less than stable, and this threatens to sever it. Within a couple of seconds, however, she regains her balance and straightens back up. "You know what, fine. It's done, for better or for worse, so we might as well enjoy the party." Her Imperial Majesty the Rora, Yusanora! Oh, you have got to be kidding me. OOC: Moeru and Rida open for interaction.

IC(Ignitus(on board the Inika)): Ah, fighting. Even watching a practice fight is enough to take my mind off of the nightmares I've been having, filling my head instead with the closely observed techniques executed by my crewmates. Remembering that Vulcan is now lost, I can't help but wonder when I'll be able to get some other sort of weapon to replace it. Maybe we have a spare sword or two on board that I could take; I'll have to ask Jarkale later. CRUNCH Next thing I know, I hit the deck. Hard. "Son of a ..." I groan, picking myself up. Immediately, I make my way to join Lai Lai and JL in examining the islet we crashed into. "Land ho. I guess."

There is a mining clan(Mamoru), but I don't know about any that are specifically good with technology. Dastana, maybe?

Thanks.

The second Mata Nui expedition's still open, right?

IC(Moeru): For a split second, I freeze, staring at the Chojo, upon the mention of Mata Nui. Another expedition? And a bigger one? And I know one thing: When that submersible leaves the Archipelago, I will be on board. Whether I can get into the crew legitimately or whether I'm forced to resort to... shadier means, I can't know for sure that anyone on board will even try, let alone suceed, to keep a war from breaking out unless that person is me. Of course, ideally I will be able to get in legitimately; if at all possible, that will be my goal. But I do not fear alternate options. For now, I'll continue to plan on legitimacy. Chances are, assuming the crew isn't already complete, I'll need some sort of recommendations. Perhaps I could get one from- "Toroshu Rida of Clan Mamoru." -yeah, her. Wait, what in the ?! I spin to face the entrance and see my sister entering, wearing a dress made to resemble a dark crimson dragon. Then we make eye contact. :What in Zuto Nui's name are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be on Iki!: Quickly, she walks over to me. "I could say the exact same thing about you. You're supposed to be my bodyguard, how exactly is that carried out from Sado?" "Come on, you live underground. Literally. You're the Toroshu of a minor clan, I decided you could probably go one night without me there. Besides, I thought you weren't interested in parties." "Normally, I'm not. Normally, they're not thrown by the Chojo." "So you were planning on coming the entire time?" "Of course. I don't make decisions on a whim like you." Aggravated, I decide to drop the subject. "Look, we're both here now, so why don't we just enjoy the party?" "Well, it looks like I'm late. What did I miss?" "Toroshu of Vilda got kicked out for starting a fight or something, First Son of Vilda's servant slapped someone, he and I got yelled at by Princess Desdemona, the Chojo announced a second expedition to Mata Nui. Y'know, normal party stuff." "Wait, you got yelled at by who?!" OOC: Moeru and Rida open for interaction.

...... ... ...#### it, I've beat worse odds before. I'm goin' for it.

At least the Rode, Pakari, Kakama, and Arthron. Maybe more, I don't know.

As far as them not being on par with deities, that's why I said I doubt I was right. But, the more ideas we bring to the table, the more those ideas can be played with and modified and melded with other ideas, and, if we're lucky, one of them will be the right one. As far as the Vault and "keys" and such: if you've ever seen that magic trick where you have to try and pull the two entwined rings apart, I'm starting to think of it as sorta like that.

Six notes, to be precise.

The more I try to figure out the Abettors, the less sense everything makes. EDIT: Wait. Two Abettors+Two Great Spirits+Makuta+Zataka=Six really, really powerful beings. I doubt this is what the whole "there are six of us" thing really means, but hey, the more ideas we throw out there, the more likely for one of them to turn out right.

IC(Moeru): Perceiving the situation more or less defused, I decide to slip away in the most subtle way possible. Looking around, I spot the Dastana twins once again. I still can't help but smile at their costumes; the nerve required to pull something like that is admirable, to say the least. Still grinning, I find myself beginning to make my way in their direction.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. The information's all there, but it's buried pretty deep in big long staff posts with little to no pointers as to where to find it. I say again, we need an obvious and clear topic for new players. Motion seconded. A 'Quick Start' guide, if you will. Right up front and obvious, with flashing lights and 'READ ME FIRST' and all that.Motion...thirded?

Oh, don't get me started on the entire "which landmasses exist" thing. I'm still trying to write over my mistakes from early on because of the ambiguity involved.

IC(Moeru): Oh . Oh. . Oh oh oh oh oh ... Okay, okay. Get it together, just slow down and think. Princess Desdemona, third most powerful person in the Empire, has gone out of her way to scold a group of people which I just happen to be part of. Not the Rora or the Chojo, but still probably powerful enough to make my life suck on a cosmic scale, if not just end it. How did I get myself into this one? No, how am I going to get out of it? "My apologies, Princess Desdemona. I deeply hope we haven't disturbed anyone too greatly." I throw in a respectful bow for good measure. Fingers crossed it's enough.

Being relatively new to the BZPRPG(joined a few months into the first part of the 2013 arc, if memory serves), I'm just glad I happened to immediately stumble upon a player like Tapio and then half-accidentally wind up gathering a crew of other players to help guide me in how to do all this. But yeah, had things happened differently, I probably wouldn't have stayed long and the Inika might not even exist, just because of the enormity of everything even before the introduction of Kentoku.

IC(Moeru): "Not bad, certainly not bad. I just wish my sister hadn't been too busy doing... whatever it is she's doing to come." Only then do I realize what had been going on here before the slap. "So, some sort of drinking game? Mind if I join in?"