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"As much as anyone is, yes. Though I won't be the commanding officer of your recruits past this event, and to that end I'd like to see their performance under the commanders they'll be serving." The Ko-Toa crossed his arms again, the pale blue of his eyes flickering appraisingly over the newer arrivals, maintaining an even keel throughout. A motley crew they might be--probably a function of the new Ko-Koro Akiri's recruiting drive--but the Highlanders were at all times roughly this... irregular. And working with Vortixx and Skakdi, he found, could be at least as tactically advantageous as a Toa Team, provided you knew their individual talents and equipment: the forces of Makuta tended to find their particular brand of mayhem a little less predictable than elemental control. He just hoped these people had the minimal level of experience necessary to know their own individual talents and equipment. "If you missed my introduction, I'm Lieutenant Alka Torin. Our aim is to retrieve a notebook stolen by the Fe-Toa Rekhan Senemos, a known but peripheral associate of the Legacy and the Skakdi group that provided the village's former occupiers with many of their more eclectic toys. He has since been slain, but the notebook in question was vanished from his person and likely rests in his hideout within the Dark Walk, which... until recently I would have merely taken some of our forces to retrieve. But the game has changed." He didn't have the heart to tell the recruits that the Highlanders had an over-under on how long the entire "Makuta returning" thing would take to happen. Call them cynics at heart, but Echelon's Legacy, the Nightfall--even the feral Rahkshi proved things weren't as over as everyone would like to believe. #### paranoid Skakdi. Bad enough to be facing darkness all over again, worse still to be in the hole because the Makuta returned a #### decade early. "If you're curious as to the contents of the notebook, they're notes relevant to an artifact in our village's possession that may prove useful in confronting new menaces." His eyes flicked back to Skrihen and Plagia, two figures he recognized somewhat--the former from helping Ko-Koro get back on its feet, both from his short stint in the ILF before its dissolution had led to his wandering to Ihu. Back when he was more fun not a commissioned officer. "We have a decent amount of experience between us at fighting individuals like the Legacy, I fear running into more... direct opposition in those tunnels. But your troops are trained and we have a fairly accomplished accompaniment. If anyone has experience with these tunnels I would fain hear from them, otherwise we should coordinate our talents and prepare a descent." OOC: @Krayzikk @Void Emissary @ARROW404 @Daniel the Finlander @Perp @Visaru if i missed someone i'm sorry, hopefully future posts should be a shorter wait

IC: "It's a garden," the Bo-Toa said quietly, his yellow eyes flicking over the Toa of Crystal with faint amusement but a stronger tone of warmth. "My intent was as an offering of fresh food to the refugees you are welcoming from a long journey." He considered for a long moment, no words coming in the silence, before finally speaking. "I would move it rather than see the food go to waste. Do not let them forget my meal, yes?" The haggard Toa limped out of the door, before a faint pop---and then a minute later, another, limping back in. "I moved it." He had. His offbrand Kualsi did wonders for going long distances in a moment, and the boat was actually fairly fast--helped when every root could be used as an oar. He'd moved it a ways away and out, resting distinctly out of the incoming Dasaka fleet's path and rooted to the ocean floor. "Thank you for the notice. Is there anything I can do for you otherwise?" OOC: @ARROW404

IC: One Seeking... Nothing. The craft that found its way into Ga-Koro would have perhaps been of note on any other day. A craft it was, for to call the floating mass of mangrove roots and plantlife bound together on the bare semblance of a hull could hardly be be called a boat, ship, or even a sloop--it seemed to lack any sort of propulsion, and seemed more a collection of small quarters and orchardry than a vessel. As it reached a dock, the vines that covered the deck reached out, tendrils grasping like so many elongated fingers to snag the pier and anchor the ship in place. Its only occupant put down his fishing pole with a weary sigh, climbed out onto shore, and padded toward the Great Takea. His wooden plates clattered as he limped toward it, one of the few that hadn't been scorched or otherwise carbonized flowering with a few purple blossoms that sprouted from remaining twigs on the plate's surface. He frowned beneath his battered Kualsi. A bare thought and mall sprouts spread from the ruined skin beneath his wooden armor, securing it to his body and stopping the clatter before he pulled the door open. He moved to the bar where it had begun the years before, and sat down, his warm yellow eyes drawing across the new island arrivals before he rasped out in a ruined, quiet voice for something to drink and the catch of the day, dropping a few widgets on the bar. OOC: @~Xemnas~@BBBBalta@Mel@TL01 NUVA@Tarn feel free to ignore battered bo-toa : P

NPC: The Lieutenant "Yeah, that's me," the Ko-Toa responded, his Kakama-masked face tilting downward to regard the new arrival. His voice was clipped and precise, his pale blue eyes appraising the Vortixx--though not without a strangely comforting warmth. "You aren't a Highlander and I don't recognize you from the battle... Mmm. Sanctum irregular, I'm guessing. Lieutenant Alka Torin, at your service. You're here to help with this rookie training endeavor? Have you been told what we're up to?" OOC: @Daniel the Finlander

NPC: Ihu-Koronian Highlanders: The Lieutenant There wasn't much of a mystery as to why the Lieutenant had been chosen to lead this excursion. Sure, his time was more valuable than the ice Skakdi he normally worked with--and likely, the Sergeant would be more useful in the dark--but certain things couldn't be trusted to his cigar-chomping, disgruntled second-in-command. Namely things that required speaking. Or diplomacy. Or really much of anything that wasn't shooting things with the repurposed ballista he called a crossbow. There was also the matter of the Sergeant having heard about Rahkshi of all things and ensconcing himself with the Coroner, claiming Ihu's mortuary was the most secure place on the island. Course, if Ihu intended to resist another of Makuta's occupations, they could use what was in those pages. Theoretically. If that nutjob hadn't just filled his entire notebook with "all work and no Kohlii makes--" He was rambling again. The Ko-Toa leaned back against a fence on Ko-Koro's streets, looking up toward the ever-present snowfall. Oh well. Diplomacy still had a point.

Ihu-Koro has been reapproved and as at the top of my profile post! I'll be adding it to the wiki later. Or here.

Village at the Top of the World: Ihu-Koro Staff approved. What used to be a small village of approximately 30 composite ice and wood houses, the small Koro atop Mount Ihu has grown quite a bit of late. A massive tree grows in the middle, large enough to shield the center, older part of the town from the worst of the weather. While similar to the native tree species of the region, the gargantuan tree is plainly not natural. The core of the settlement is protected from attacks by a 5 bio tall, 3 bio thick iron coated wooden wall that surrounds the first huts, the only gate facing the path down the mountain. The inn, tavern, grocery and smithy shops are located in a central square around the tree, though other establishments have started to spread through the village, particularly in the section between the two walls. The hospital, which has finally had its additional wings made more permanent, also clutters the interior of the village. The refugee “tent city” of sorts that had sprung up around the interior wall has been replaced with wooden, stone, and ice homes. Most of the residents of the outer ring are former Ko-Koronians who decided they'd like to stay in Ihu, as well as the various immigrants who have come in since thanks to its increased prominence. The larger exterior wall furnished by Po-Koro surrounds this section, sheltering it from wind but not snowfall. Locations of interest include the graveyard nearby, where the previous residents of the village are buried, and the Forge in a ravine, where the rena is mined and smithed. The elevator up from a newly dug tunnel that goes toward Onu-Wahi is also found a good distance inside the exterior wall, allowing for commerce between the village of Earth and its highest neighbor. A Gukko platform has also been added of late, allowing Gukko riders from Le-Koro easy landing and take-off, which accompanies the port down on the Hura Mafa--really more of a glorified dock--as the easiest ways to get goods into and out of the Koro. Principle Export: A gold material called rena is mined from a vein under the town. Rena is much tougher than protosteel under normal conditions, but it's also more susceptible to heat and less susceptible to cold. The physics of its state changes dictate that it's a little lighter than protosteel. Fe-Toa affect it as normal. It's too rare and difficult to work with to forge entire weapons out of, but the smiths of Ihu edge weapons with it- for a fee. Relations: Ihu has established trade treaties with every Koro save, ironically, their nearest neighbors--though that is likely more a matter of wanting an Akiri to make a deal with than any rivalry. Ta-Koro: The Guard of Ta-Koro has been furnished with Rena edged weaponry in exchange for a detachment of the best-trained military in the Koro seeing to the training of the small ice village's Highlanders. These more disciplined troops were also used as part of the core of the Ihu-Koronian assault on Ko-Koro and acquitted themselves valiantly. Le-Koro: The treaty with Le-Koro has somewhat been reworked to bring the villages closer together. Rather than a small exchange made for aid with tree care, Le and Ihu now do cooperative training exercises in case the Highlanders once again need to serve on the same battlefield as the Gukko Force. Gukko fliers also serve as couriers for the Koro at the peak of the world with regularity, and Ihu has provided Le with the resources necessary to make the journey through the perilous ice with regularity. Po-Koro: As well as furnishing the stone wall that surrounds the exterior of the Koro, Po-Koro provides a telegram line for Ihu as well as certain other network advantages in exchange for providing security for the line in the icey wastes of Ko-Wahi. Onu-Koro: The Onu-Koronian treaty provides for the elevator that leads down into the depths of the mountain as well as the trading of technology for Rena ore. Ga-Koro: <Need to talk to Ty> History: Ihu-Koro is, in truth, the second village to bear its name. The first was massacred, its residents left to freeze where they fell in the bloody snow until finally being buried only a few years ago. The village was rebuilt by exiles and rejects, a band of Toa who didn't even stay in the village long enough to be considered its Toa Team, leaving it in the hands of similar rejects and exiles that found the idea of a mountain haven too appealing to pass up. For a time, it was more of a lawless settlement than a true Koro. This changed with the discovery of Rena ore. Flocks of miners, smiths, and families came, and the rule of law finally took hold--along with their election of Ahka Tamara, a Vo-Matoran with a distinctly community mindset, to lead them. The Koro still languished, small and relatively insignificant, until the fall of Ko-Koro. The Ihu Koronian Highlanders lost a quarter of their number in the fall. However, the necessity of good relations came to the forefront with the followers of Makuta so close by. While fighting a... questionable guerilla war effort, Ihu established itself as an ally to many of the other Koros, trading their horded Rena for supplies, aid, and troops. And when the time came to retake the village of Ice, its small neighbor provided much of the military regulars who participated in the assault, serving as the ground accompaniment to the Gukko Force. Similarly, a detachment of Highlanders stayed in Ko-Koro until a new Akiri could be elected--and only recently returned up the mountain. Disgraced Toa-Hero: Kaithas “Look, I don’t know about destiny. I’m no Turaga, and my opinion is probably worthless anyway. But everything in me screams that my mistakes, my wounds--I dare not give myself the respite of claiming they’re all part of a cosmic plan. They’re mine, and mine alone.” Name: Kaithas--Goes by Erith. Species: Toa Gender: Male Appearance: A battered Toa, Erith’s armor seems to be made of wooden plates, worn to the point of appearing smooth--apart from gashes and slashes among the covering that mar the surface and occasionally reveal his true green protosteel components beneath. The wood is blackened from repeated exposure to the elements and flames, each slash telling the tale of another battle--and two large, blackened and cracked marks in the middle of his chest could have only come from a Rahkshi of Heat Vision. His mask, while no less battered than the rest of him, is fairly well taken care of and his glowing yellow eyes are kind. Ordinarily he wears a canvas tabard to cover up the worst damage to his armor--at least part of the tabard seems to have been stitched from a torn ILF flag. He limps slightly, favoring his left leg. If stripped of his wooden shell, the protosteel underneath is broken and cracked, covering masses of scar tissue and flesh mottled with old injury. Horrible scars mark his body, scars that seem to have robbed him of something of the agility he once had. Weapons: A heavy machete made of protosteel, covered in scratches and battered by frequent use from the curved end to the hand and a half hilt. He also has a katana-shaped blade strapped across his back, but seems reluctant to remove it from its vine and canvas wrapping. If drawn, it reveals itself as a golden blade with a flawless edge, made of pure Rena ore. It lacks the glow it once had, its more magical purpose already achieved. Mask: Huna-shaped Kualsi. Powers: Control over plantlife, teleportation. Abilities: Experienced with his blade, has an unorthodox fighting style that takes advantage of his blade’s weight and heft rather than using the more agile strikes of most sword fighters. Strangely specialized when it comes to his control over plantlife--rather than focusing on quantity of material produced, he manipulates the variety and properties of plants created. Fighting style: Minimalist and pragmatic. While his strikes are brutal and he displays creativity with his abilities, he keeps his power contained, usually focusing his elemental prowess through his blade or armor rather than using large displays of force. He wastes no energy in combat, preferring to not use his element if he can avoid it, and fights to avoid damaging anything he can. His agility is somewhat lacking--old wounds slow him down--but he makes up for it with skill with his blade. Personality: Quiet and terse, Erith doesn’t speak much. His face has the lines of someone who was once laughing and expressive, but he now saves his words for when he needs them. Despite his reticence, however, his most common expression is a small, kind smile. He’s quick to leap to the defense of those who need it, especially threatened Matoran, and his soft voice has a pleasant tone. Bio: Erith is not deserving of his name or his history. He must earn them once again. Weaknesses: Fire, as it burns through his element. He seems somewhat rusty at combat--swordplay in particular--though this will diminish with time. Rising Leader: Ahka Tamara Name: Tamara Species: Vo-Matoran Mask: Powerless Kakama Faction and position: Leader of Ihu-Koro and thus ostensible head of the Ihu-Koronian Highlanders. Weapons: A protosteel short sword edged with the golden material that is Ihu-Koro's principle export. Words are etched into the metal, reading "For the many, One." Appearance: A slender, short Matoran, Tamara doesn’t strike a very imposing figure. Her light armor is a dull black with light blue highlights, its stormy coloration often matching her countenance of late. She looks world-weary, worry lines appearing around her eyes and mouth earlier in life than a vainer Matoran might hope. Her violet eyes are always active, either focused with a keen intensity on the person she’s speaking with or glancing around, keeping attention on everything around her at a frenetic pace. Weaknesses: No special powers above those of a normal Vo-Matoran. Biography: Through competency and wisdom, a Vo-Matoran rose to lead a village of misfits atop the mountain. Her tenure has not been remotely without trouble. Ko’s fall has taken its toll on her, the stresses of an enemy settlement so close to her border weighing on her as she was abruptly thrust into preparing her village for war and rapidly increasing relevance to the island as a whole. It was her decision to send the forces of the Koro to liberate Ko-Koro, and her decision to withdraw them after. Her stresses have since decreased--her nearest neighbor no longer wants her dead--but her activity and general excitement have not. The Loyalist: Sentinel Commander Tera Name: Tera Species: Toa of Stone Appearance: Tera is an obvious soldier, her body honed by millennia of service in the Po-Koro Sentinels. She tends toward the thick, bulky side, her element's natural strength exhibited in her form. Her wide, broad hips compliment the strong legs of a longtime Kohlii player, her armor fitted to her body but still fairly heavy. It's plain her strength is meant to compensate and give her a quick, full range of motion despite the sturdier make of her outfit. Her eyes are a light, sky blue, shining out from behind a tan Kakama, the rest of her armor shades of brown and pale beige. Her skin, where it shows beneath her plating, is usually very tanned on top of a naturally dark brown. Personality: Tenaciously loyal and convicted, Tera's love for the city of stone and her people is second to none. She's stood by the Sentinels since before they were the Sentinels, defended the city from the Rahkshi, mourned those who died, and survived an Akiri. While stoic, her reticence is mostly something she learned from her old partner rather than a natural behavior. It is worth noting that her loyalty is to the city and its people--not necessarily the Akiri. Nowhere was this more obvious than her reaction to the activities of the previous Akiri when he threatened to start a civil war that would likely have destroyed the city of stone. When off-duty she tends to be friendly and easy-going: her favorite activity was her daily donut run with Prei. She's seldom simultaneously off-duty and awake. Mask: Kakama Weapons: Protosteel longsword and rectangular shield, about 3 and a half by 2 and a half feet. The former is edged in Rena ore from Ihu-Koro and has a rib of elemental stone that runs along its length. Her shield has a Rena ore filigree and a similar affectation of stone--both can serve as her Toa Tool. She additionally has a repeating crossbow of Po-Koronian make. Alignment: Lawful Good--to her own code and ideal of what Po-Koro can be. Weaknesses: Tenacious loyalty and an unwillingness to bend can both be one's undoing. In combat, Tera has difficulty with ranged attacks--even with her crossbow, she's had comparatively little training with it and does not have anything like a mask of accuracy to compensate. Bio: Tera has lived her entire life in Po-Koro, joining up with the Sentinels early on in life and serving without interruption since. She gradually rose in the ranks, eventually leading the defense of Po-Koro against the Rahkshi, and has since become the Sentinel commander (approved by Lloyd and later Silvan). Hewkii excluded her from his plotting, assuming--rightly, as it turned out--that she would not take kindly to scheming against the other villages and inviting their wrath upon the village of Stone. She survived his deposition, and now serves Akiri Renaka as a vigilant protector of the golden age Po-Koro has entered--a spear, forever pointing outward from the village.

IC: Jorena Kaal, The Mossy Badger So this wasn't much better than a hunch on the Twi'lek's part either. Perfect. The Pantoran's voice didn't change inflection as she spoke, still that same professionalism tinted with urgency. "Very well. Let's hope this keeps working out then, as we'll need a speeder. The Badger should be mostly okay if it's empty, they'll come after us first. E3 will stay with it in the event we need to get away quickly," she continued, then rubbed her eyes. "I need a few more things from my room, then we should be landing. Let's hope both of you can do what you say. We just need to avoid suspicion for as long as possible." "Bweeeeoooo," the droid affirmed as he rattled off into the passageways of the ship, the captain following after him far more quietly, retreating into her quarters, and only exiting a few minutes before the landing. The landing itself passed without incident, the Badger's paperwork evidently solid enough to reserve a dock temporarily, and while the motley crew gathered a few looks as they exited no one came to arrest them. Not yet, anyway.

IC: Jorena Kaal, The Mossy Badger ####. The wave was sickening, perhaps not as much as it should have been. Kaal found herself grateful for her physiology, though perhaps... Had she really lost so much? Were these others so much stronger? Her expression didn't change, but for a moment before she talked her eyes flicked up to the ceiling of the Badger, almost seeming to plead with the rivets and plates of the hull before returning to the others. When she spoke she responded to the last thing Tallik had said to her, a tone of urgency marring her usual professionalism. "Good. Our relationship will become a more personal one. I assume you intend on following that--" she pointed at the blinking chip with an accusing finger. "No matter what advice a woman you barely know gives you." Tallik's eyes narrowed. "My closest friend sacrificed himself to the Inquisitorius so I could escape with this thing," he said quietly. "I owe it to him to follow through on that." There was a long moment of silence as the Pantoran woman considered, her red eyes not leaving the Twi'lek, before the R2 unit sitting quietly in the corner released a small, quiet "weeeeoooh", his focus firmly on his 'owner'. "I know," she said, almost under her breath, then looked the Twi'lek up and down once as her mental attention returned to him. "Very well, I will not waste my breath on arguments for abandoning the call before it is too late. While we are not currently hunted, that will change. Gather your things. We will need to hit the ground at a non-suspicious but brisk pace. I will have E3 take care of the ship. Deviation at this point will lead to losing time rather than gaining it." She stuck her thumbs in her belt loops. "And like it or not, it is 'we' now, as we are all complicit. I think all would prefer if I was not captured and tortured for information, and considering my profession, I think I will remain of use to you."

IC: Jorena Kaal, The Mossy Badger Kaal smiled faintly at the Wookie's offer and nodded her gratitude. Despite her frequent presence in the common areas of the Badger, the "Pantoran" had been remarkably quiet for the journey, her azure lips rarely parting to say much other than brief, polite statements for the sake of coordination and cordial pleasantries. Rather, her strange, crimson eyes were intent and interested when others were speaking, her preference obviously for listening. The same could not be said for her droid companion. E3 chattered along while doing ship maintenance, while helping Kaal pilot the craft, and while watching Sue fix the caf machine. In fact, the droid's preference for surprisingly in tune warbles lended an almost singsong quality to his blathering, giving the distinct impression the stubborn cylinder of rusting metal and electrics was whistling while he worked. He even tried to speak to passengers in the halls, to as good effect as he could manage. --- As they neared Dantooine and began their final descent, Kaal padded back into the common area, clipping her holster back on her belt and checking over her blaster before sliding it in. Her crimson eyes moved over the pack she held in her hands. "Beeeeoooo," E3 said, an almost smug tone to his sound as he looked from Tallik to Kaal. Her gaze flicked up to the droid, narrowing, then moved over to the others, the unnerving, barely there rings of her irises and pupils the only indicators as to where she was looking. "I presume once you're landed safely, this is where our business relationship ends," she said quietly. "Lest your intentions actually require a service of mine, I do not believe you will need me to run to ground."

IC: Jorena Kaal, The Stray Tach The Chiss smiled faintly, sweeping the credits up and slipping them into her pocket. "I know the name you go by. Didn't know if you had some new name you wanted me to use considering the situation." And, you know. If there wasn't time for manners what was the galaxy coming to? "Suppose waiting for the ship is a better idea," she acknowledged. In fairness, this kind of transport wasn't exactly her area of expertise. Normally she would be asking them to come along with her. Asking with her blaster. And some durasteel cuffs. Or a crowbar and plastic ties, in one instance. She stood and stretched, her back popping a time or two, then adjusted her belt holster to sling low around her hips, where it should be. She beckoned for the two of them to follow her, then started to walk off toward the ship docks. A few minutes later they arrived at Dock 17-B, where the Badger was already warmed up. A few spacers Kaal knew had problems with their droid having the level of authorization to fly and perform maintenance that E3 had, especially with no restraining bolt, but as far as she was concerned... The crusty jerk of a droid couldn't get that far with it, he knew the consequences, and he was more trustworthy than almost anyone she'd ever met. Always knew where you stood with him, at the very least. The Badger itself was a reflection of her captain--she looked like a mostly ordinary YT-2400, admittedly an older and fairly battered one. An experienced eye could tell she still flew well, though. On the other hand, the same experienced eye would be downright disturbed at the weapons that took up a few of her 13 gun emplacements. 2400s had a huge hull for their class and significant power generation, and the Badger was no different--but those guns definitely didn't look like they were of Correllian make, and the emplacements had heavy alterations to allow the strange, thick cylindrical weapons to be fitted properly. The astromech was already rolling down the walkway onto the ship. "You go ahead and handle the power reassignment, E3?" "Eeeee. Oooo." Her crimson eyes narrowed. "Just make it easy to reverse. We don't need the internal fields generated, and I'd prefer to have some more power to work with. In the event of any difficulties." "Bwaaaaaaab," E3 responded, rattling angrily before trundling off again into the depths of the ship. Kaal nodded to the other two, leading them into the ship and to some relatively well outfitted cabins. They were nice enough, if a little spartan and infrequently used. "These are yours. Feel free to settle in, we'll set out for Dantooine soon enough. I'll come get you when we're eating, but otherwise feel free to relax or hang around in the common room. I'll be around. Need anything else from me?"

IC: Jorena Kaal, The Stray Tach The Chiss looked back at her evenly for a few moments, then shrugged. "That's acceptable if you're willing to help around the ship. Nothing major, but E3 is notoriously bad at mixing drinks." She smiled faintly, tapping the droid on the head. Don't argue with a Wookie unless you have some way of defraying the situation. Choohoo had taught her that much. "Bwab. Bwab bwweeeeeeooo." He trundled off, access panels rattling as he hit the threshold and left into the access passageway. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, looking over the Twi'lek a moment, then returning her gaze to the Wookie. "You've not told me names, though I care for that little more than having something to refer to you. Mmm. The eyes are not contagious. Just something I have to deal with. We can follow E3 when you're ready."

IC: Jorena Kaal, The Stray Tach Jorena raised one dark eyebrow, looking over the two of them again. So one needed to go somewhere, the other just wanted to get out. Not such a unified front. Still, if their money was good, that really didn't matter much to her. Hopefully the rat ####### that called itself her brain-stem was guiding her toward coin rather than destiny. She'd asked for the former, and no one had time for the latter. Still, the certainty with which the Twi'lek stated his desire to go to Dantooine was... troubling. Very troubling. Her eyes flicked across to E3. The astromech rattled a bit and looked back at her with his visual sensor. "To that backwater? Suppose it's as good a place as any to run to ground, if this place isn't good enough," she said. "2000 credits seem fair, all told? That's a private cabin for both of you, few questions, quick departure. We can leave when you're ready. The Badger's no blockade runner, but we'll get there fast enough." Dantooine wasn't a very long trip, but it was still a few days. That, combined with leaving fast and whatever trouble was chasing them upped the price. Her crimson gaze fell on the suitcases a moment, then returned to Sue's face. "Seems you're in a bit of a rush as is. If you've got the credits I'll have E3 go ahead and prep her."

IC: Jorena Kaal, The Stray Tach Jorena's crimson eyes opened again, looking over the Wookie and the fairly shabbily disguised Twi'lek. Not that she had any idea who he was, mind, but a good disguise was usually a bit less obvious than... that. To be fair, however, there were a lot of reasons one went disguised in the underbelly of Taris, and she wasn't one to judge. Not when she might be one of ten Chiss on the planet. The Wookie was one of the bartenders here, she seemed to remember, a relatively stable job in a place like this. One could only wonder why she'd be leaving that kind of comparative stability, least of in the company of a bounty hunter. And she seemed to be intent to do so quickly, as well, judging from the presence of her luggage. Probably something to do with that hole in the wall. Maybe she wanted to go on vacation, she thought sardonically. Naboo was great this time of year. "Mmm," she said verbosely after a few moments, reaching out and tapping the disk once to turn it off, palming it before patting the astromech on the head, putting gentle pressure to get him to move away from obstructing the booth. "We'll go with yes." She looked down at the droid a moment, her eyes and his blinking indicator light exchanging a glance before he rattled to the side with a faint "bweeeeoooo" of protest at being made to move so Tallik could sit. Far more polite than he usually was. Then again, E3 tended to be a lot less disruptive when credits might be about to exchange hands. The Chiss turned her attention back to the Wookie, scratching at an azure cheek with a nail as she sat back in her seat. Her metabolism tended to give her an advantage whenever alcohol was involved, but the Wookie almost certainly had her beat on that front regardless. And hopefully she wouldn't need to leverage much in the negotiations, these people must be really desperate if they'd come to this bar and asked her of all people for passage. "I'm Captain Jorena Kaal, of the Mossy Badger. This is R2-E3. Pleasure to meet you both." It was pointless to ask why they needed her services, of course, that much was obvious. Might as well skip to the point. She lowered her voice. "How many, where to, and how careful?"

IC: Jorena Kaal, The Stray Tach "Bwab bwab bwab bwweeeeeeeooooo bwab." Jorena rubbed her face, looking over at the astromech sitting next to the table, its servo arm pointing at the hole in the ceiling as it rocked back and forth angrily. Its cobalt paint job was chipped, she noted idly, her crimson eyes tracing over E3's dented and batted dome with their usual inexpression, and there was a hole in one of its containment slats. "Mm. It does seem to have gone downhill. But no, we're not leaving." The arm rattled back into its sheathe. "Bwaeeeoooo?" Jorena didn't bother answering questions E3 already knew the response to. She had a hunch. That was all she ever had these days, the faint inkling of a need to be somewhere for some reason. She looked at her faint reflection in the back of an azure nail, scarlet looking back at her, mocking her. Those eyes could see so much more so long ago... Could see clearer, see what she was interested in. Not these random sparks that tried to pull her around to wherever they wanted her, for whatever stupid reason. But she still listened to them, except when it got too dangerous to do so. She and E3 hadn't had employment for a bit, so she'd sat on her bed a while and focused really hard on trying to find a job. It wasn't her preferred method--too much usage of that talent and eventually someone might come for her--but the remnants of the skill that had given her such an esteemed position as a little girl were certainly helpful now. Speaking of people coming for her, word had it there had been Inquisitors around here. Still, no one that would be interested in her, not these days. "Dooo," E3 cooed quietly, settling in next to her seat. She patted the astromech on the dome, flicking a small holographic disk onto the table before sitting back and letting her eyes go half-lidded. Just a Pantoran with a of an eye condition, waiting for someone who probably wouldn't come. SHIP FOR HIRE, the sign read. Non-serious applicants will be spaced. It had been a gag gift from some old colleagues of hers sometime past. Served its purpose well enough now.

Name: Jorena Kaal Age: 39 Gender/Species: Female pantoran with an eye condition. Female Chiss. Appearance: Skills: A natural acrobat and agile combatant, gifted with a few decades of experience with blasters and combat maneuverability. The remnants of her Force sensitivity enhance her agility further. Kaal’s gained a reputation for difficult target extraction from hard-to-navigate locales. Force Abilities: A typical force sensitive Chiss, Kaal was an ozyly-esehembo, one of the girls identified at an early age of having the Second and Third Sight, marking her as a telepath and precognitive respectively. While she guided their starships as a child, these abilities have faded with age--at this point, she’s only subject to the occasional vision, and her telepathy sounds very fuzzy unless she strains herself. Her most useful talent is the last remnant of her precognition applied to her blaster aim and movement abilities, allowing her to fire more accurately and move more deftly across difficult or moving surfaces. Equipment: A well-taken care of DL-44 heavy blaster pistol with an extra power cell where the scope should be. Climbing spikes, extendable from both her gloves and boots with the proper gesture, carbon rope and durasteel-shackles. Assorted exploratory gear in the Badger. Technically speaking, R2-E3 is ‘equipment’, though E3 would deny it if pressed. Personality: Quiet and thoughtful, Kaal seems one who has been burdened with responsibility from a young age. Most of her communication with E3 is unspoken, the two of them sharing a glance before each goes off to their respective duties, E3 noisily complaining about how much work he has to do along the way while Kaal just quietly takes care of her chores. Almost all the sound aboard the Badger is due to the astromech, not its mistress. She does attempt to talk to prisoners, once captured, though few ever want to return the conversation unless the boredom finally takes them, but her words are always carefully chosen and concisely said. Though easy to make smile or even laugh if met under friendly conditions, her humor is far less than straightforward. History: Kaal left the Ascendancy as soon as she came of age, her usefulness expired. She first became active as a bounty hunter around 15 years ago, quickly gaining a reputation for “hunches” as to where her quarries were hiding, seemingly predicting where they were going to go before they’d decided to. As time has gone on that talent seems to have faded, but it’s been compensated for by experience and a growing proficiency in tracking. At some point she acquired R2-E3 and the Badger, expanding her operation to prisoner transfer and contract transportation. Operating out of Taris has its perks--no one really wants to pick through that place to find you--but it’s certainly no Coruscant. Ship: A modified YT-2400 light freighter. The Mossy Badger has been extensively recrafted to allow for Kaal’s particular brand of bounty hunting as opposed to transportation of freight, with the cargo capacity mostly replaced with a few holding cells that are… reasonably comfortable, all things considered. The YT-2400’s incredible power generation system is mostly used to drive containment and stasis fields as opposed to the more common hyperdrive modifications, though some of that power is diverted to the shield generators and dorsal and ventral cannons. You know, in case someone wants the prisoners back. The Badger is also capable of being flown by only an astromech and a single pilot, though doing so while using its gunnery options is far less than optimal. Affiliation: A bounty hunter. Highest bidder. Rank: N/A Position: Captain of the Badger. Admittedly, the only other member of the Badger’s crew is a very modified R2 unit. Alignment: Chaotic Neutral. approved by grav I am not a Chiss

OOC: Just adding some detail to Highlander actions. Po-Koronian crossbows obtained in dealings with Po, authorized by Silvan. IC/NPC: Ihu-Koronian Highlanders, a few moments past The battle was going far more in the Highlander's favor this time rather than last. The Legacy were scattered and disorganized, and the gate belonged to them. It also helped that they weren't trying to capture or stop the flow of people leaving the village--unless they had seen violence, the Highlanders couldn't very well distinguish fleeing Legacy from fleeing refugees. They were keeping the gate open, and looking for an opportunity-- Air support. Doesn't get better than that. The lieutenant grinned and waved for the Ta-Koronians to hold the gate, leaving a few of the Skakdi with them. The remainder of the Ihu-Koronians roared as they charged forward, expanding their advantage into the city. They needed to be ready in the event the Maru showed, and a wider field of vision--while harder to hold--could only benefit them. It was proving easier than expected, in honesty, perhaps he had underestimated what kind of disarray they'd be in. Strangely, however, they all seemed to be running toward the Ihu Koronians or the village warehouse, away from the citadel. "I don' like this, Lieu," the hulking Ice Skakdi to his left grumbled out, his impressive mouth turned into an equally impressive frown. He had a massive Po-Koronian crossbow gripped in his hands, already winding it again. "They're runnin' scared, which probably means we should be rushin' off too. Maybe they let somethin' loose they shouldn't." "Or maybe..." The Po-Toa paused, then smiled and slapped his companion on the back when the first shouts of "Maru!" came from their front lines. They might actually win this battle after all. "You worry too much, Sergeant. Gather your squad. Highlanders, rally!" They rushed forward, meeting up with the Maru and ILF. Integrating with them was easy and welcome--most of the Highlanders treated the Maru with something approaching awe and deference, and they were happy to fight alongside their Pala-Koronian brothers and sisters. The battle was hard fought, with the flanking Highlanders encountering most of the pockets of resistance--but they had momentum, and the living embodiments of Mata-Nui's will standing beside them. They would not be denied. The barrier presented its own issues. They had no supernova to blow it up with, and the launchers above were hailing fire down. The lieutenant grit his teeth. "Sergeant, can you--" A chorus of THWIP-THUDs echoed around him, the Skakdi and the rest of his squad kneeling in the snow to reload and rewind, their barrage of fire wilting the crew of one of the launchers. It wasn't going to be enough, not to breach them--he prepared the order to charge-- ... Oh, right. They had something far better than a supernova. They had Sulov Maru. The Ihu-Koronians poured through the gap, admittedly with some hesitation to ensure that whatever Maru tier sorcery and teamwork had just happened with the raincloud and Reordin's mask wasn't going to happen to them. They secured the barrier after a skirmish, waiting for the Maru's lead to progress.

IC: One Seeking Redemption: Ihu-Koro He watched the Aggressors see to their friends, feeling a slight pang for people he hadn't seen in some time. Business he'd left unfinished. The last shards of who he was that stood between him and beginning to rebuild. And he knew what he had to do. Erith stood, shaking his head and walking off, the plated Toa leaving Ihu behind him. Sparks of his past flickered through his mind as he left, the limping pain in his left leg a constant reminder of what he'd done in the interim. One year past. “This was always how it had to end, Kai.” The Bo-Toa groaned from his position on the ground, his senses fading in and out. One of his hands found purchase on the stone floor, attempting to push his form up, shaking from the effort. He didn’t know where his machete had gotten off to, it had skittered across the surface and vanished beyond his narrowing vision. Rekhan stomped on his back, then his hand, fresh, shooting pain spreading through his chest and arm. “Stay down. This is what destiny decrees. You came alone, without your team. You left your charges to face me. You have no virtue, Toa.” The Fe-Toa drew his foot back and activated his Pakari, kicking Kaithas in the side. There was a sickening crunch--he hoped it was the wooden plates that covered his steel armor, not his ribs or his back--and he was launched across the ancient hall, clattering into the wall and coughing blood. Karzahni. Maybe it was his ribs. He pushed himself up against the wall, lying broken against the cold stone surface. Dull pain spread through his chest, through his arm. His leg felt shattered, he didn’t have the heart to look at it right now. Fading yellow eyes looked up at the other Toa--he’d staggered Rekhan, sure, but he was still in far better shape. He gritted his teeth as the midnight black ironshaper walked toward him, willing the wood of his armor to bind tighter around his leg, push the bone back into place-- He screamed. Panted. Looked up again, after managing to wince away the stars in his vision, only to be faced with Rekhan activating his Pakari and grabbing him by the chestplate, picking him up off the ground. “Let’s recap, Maasi. You failed to protect Matoran.” He was slammed into the wall, another bloody cough coming. “You caused an entire village to fall to evil.” Another slam. “You fled captivity and justice. Then you fled your second chance. You have nothing. You are nothing. You have deserted unity and duty, and in turn destiny has forsaken you. It is my obligation to purge you.” Kai’s wooden armor cracked in the other Toa’s grip as Rekhan hurled him, hitting the ground and bouncing with another crunch as more of his plates were destroyed. He gasped, writhing and trying to move out of the way as Rekhan pulled out his quarterstaff, twirling it above his head and bringing it down, aiming to break his opponent’s back-- It was over. He couldn’t move, couldn’t muster the willpower to activate his Kualsi and escape. No. There was impossible pain. No, it couldn’t end like this. He was alone. There was no one to protect. He could die, and no one would suffer for it. For the first time, no one could fault him his failure. And yet. In the stillness. In the silence of incoming death. Some small part of him screamed in defiance of destiny. He poured everything he was into the wood of his armor. The image of a Matoran wracked with pain as she was disintegrated by lightning. The Daedra casting him out as a villain. Tarnok’s reprimand. The months spent rotting in prison. He spent it all. He was no Toa. He had no courage. He was desperate and afraid. He deserved this, deserved his death. There was a deafening crack and moan of fiber on fiber as the Pakari enhanced blow struck down on the last remaining splinters that protected him from paralysis. But his armor still held. Roots sprang forth from the wood, yanking him away from the second blow, tumbling him across the floor. He saw sparks, but he managed to haul himself to his feet, rooting himself into the ground and reinforcing the plates on his legs to remain standing, to avoid staggering back to the floor. He dug the tips of his fingers into his palms, panting with the exertion. He swallowed hard, Rekhan’s head only tilted to the side in mild curiosity. The Fe-Toa had a faint smirk on his face. “I have failed, brother. You’re right. Failed at everything that counted. Except one.” He willed his power into his right hand, his wooden sword reforming slowly. “I have no honor. Have no Toa code. But I reject destiny too. I will not die here, virtueless and alone. I will get back up again, like I always have.” Rekhan’s smirk vanished, a snarl taking residence on his ebony face as his quarterstaff swung again--Kai gripped his wooden blade in both hands, holding it firm against the swing of his opponent. It cracked with the impact, shatter lines spreading through the wood as their weapons met again. He pushed harder. Vines sprouted from his armor--binding his body, pushing into his flesh. The pain brought clarity. The bindings brought motion. His shattered bones and fatigued muscles were useless. His mask was there, but it felt powerless. All he had left was that defiant scream, and the elemental power it sustained. He was something less than Kaithas, something less than a being. But he was still standing. His will puppeteered him, the armor he wore pulling his broken body into action. He shambled forward, roots attaching to and detaching from the ground as he advanced. His blade swung, wide and awkward--Rekhan parried it easily, chunks of wood and detritus flying away--he let go, the blade flying from his grip, his yellow eyes glowing with animal fury as he reached out to the splinters. Wood sprouted from them, roots lancing out, grasping for the Fe-Toa. Rekhan stepped back, forming a shield in his free hand and throwing it forward, catching the roots--he spun around behind it, another Pakari enhanced strike coming for the Bo-Toa’s side. It landed with a crunch, more pain shooting through Kai’s ruined torso. He grit his teeth, pushed again, and in that sinking instant--grappled the Fe-Toa’s staff with the splinters of wood at his side, lunged forward. Thorns sprouted from his fists, poison dripping from them as he finally landed a solid uppercut on the other Toa. Rekhan growled, Kai tackling him to the ground and getting his hands around his throat. Rekhan shoved him to the side, but he’d already rooted in--he raised his fist again, slamming it down into the other Toa’s mask, vines already sprouting up from the ground to bind him. Rekhan tore himself free, stabbed a shard of iron into Kai’s left hip, stabbed another into his right shoulder. The Bo-Toa could feel his muscles stiffening, locking--but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t using them anyway. The Fe-Toa rolled over on top of him, brought a knife down to stab him in the chest--his blood spurted out--then grabbed him around the neck. A collar of iron started to form, choking him. His hand lanced out, grabbing Rekhan’s mask, desperately trying to push him away. Vines started to sprout from the palm, wrapping around his face. His narrowing gaze focused on his hand, forcing hemlock thorns out of the vines. They wrapped around Rekhan’s mask, seeking for some fleshy part of the other Toa. He couldn’t breathe, his vision was closing in. They found it. Stabbed in, released their venom. The pressure stopped. The collar remained. He gurgled, grabbing at it, writhing, trying to pull it off. The iron hadn’t formed all the way, yet, he was able to force some wood growth between the gap and start wedging it apart-- Kai gasped as he could breathe, sitting up quickly, looking for Rekhan. The Fe-Toa had succumbed. His words were gone, the smirk as well--he was lying on the ground, twitching and spasming as the poison coursed through him. His arms moved without intent, without control--iron grew and bent around him, in twisted, warped forms. Kai forced what remained of his elemental energy into a wooden dagger, pulling himself over to the convulsing Toa with his left hand--then stabbed, finally putting his brother out of his misery. He collapsed, in the final silence. *** He remembered why he didn't believe anymore. But if that storm was any indication... Someone would need to do something. Perhaps he was too flawed to do it. But he had to try. He owed them that much. Owed him that much. OOC: And that's a wrap on Kai for the time being and Rekhan forever, putting my first character ever into a worse spot than he's ever been and killing off my first villain. You all are my oldest friends, and I'll always appreciate you. I'll have an ihu post up soon. Nick

IC/NPC: Ihu-Koronian Highlanders Murrae Ismae, combat medic for the Ihu-Koro guard force, was never paid enough for the level of strain the unorthodox soldiers put her under. True, injuries--whether self or conflict inflicted--had decreased overall since the Ta-Koro Guard had sent a detachment to train the ragtag collection of mercenaries and militia into actual soldiers, but that had been more than adequately compensated for by the influx of refugees. There had been a bit of a lull, but judging by the crashed Kahu in the center of town.... That was about to change again. Murrae grabbed her kit, sprinting to the side of the Le-Toa, beginning the process of checking her over. Blow to the face--likely a concussion, she'd need rest for that. A cut to the arm, however, Murrae could do more with. She drew a scalpel, cutting away the iron it had been sealed with before stitching it up, activating her mask of healing to seal up the bleeding--both external, and possibly internal. *** Meanwhile, Tamara was faced with a decision. Last time they had attempted to aid Ko-Koro, they'd suffered nearly one quarter in casualties. They'd had to nurse their wounds as they escorted what refugees they could back up the mountain, through the cold and ice. And yet... She turned to the Po-Toa next to her, one of the few veterans remaining from their founding. "Lieutenant, gather the Highlanders. Take the Guards too. We have an opportunity I doubt we'll see again. Ride for Ko. Do what needs to be done." *** They were fortunate that the Ta-Koronans were such quick studies. The Highlanders skied down the mountain at breakneck pace, their charges traveling along behind them--the walls of Ko-Koro were visible now, sprays of snow rising up as the small guard force halted. "Highlanders!" The Lieutenant said, turning to face the rest of them after watching the situation for a few moments. "We charge the gate. Once it's held, we can start focusing fire on the Legacy harassing the Gukko for--" There was a blinding flash, and the gate ceased to be. The Lieutenant paused for a few seconds, then shook his head and grinned. "There's our opportunity, men. CHARGE!" They advanced quickly, the more disciplined Ta-Koro Guards presenting a front while the Highlanders--many of whom were Vortixx or Skakdi--offered supporting fire from the flanks. They suffered little resistance until they got to the gate, the Kalta's explosion providing a more than adequate distraction for their approach. By the time the Legacy members holding the gate got the stars and flashes out of their eyes, the Highlanders already had momentum. They exploded into the village, weapons at the ready--a stone blast from the Lieutenant and two of the Skakdi combining their powers into a flow of lightning and water leveling two Legacy members closest to the gate. "Force them out of cover if you can, but keep your distance," the Lieutenant barked. "Let's give them something to think about before they take shots at our air support. When we see the Maru, we rally to them--they are our heroes, our symbols. They are not allowed to fall. Keep them alive and this gate open at all costs before worrying about taking the city. If it comes to it, we retreat again--but not like last time, not in disarray. We are Ihu-Koro. We will keep our brothers safe." The Highlanders shouted their assent, and dove into battle.

IC: A Pilgrim Erith took a breath as he stepped through the exterior gates to Ihu-Koro, the winds of Ko-Wahi finally ceasing their never-ending battering of his disheveled form. A few pairs of eyes followed him as he entered and he sighed deeply. Perhaps he should have repaired his armor after all, looked less like the walking zombie he felt. He clenched his fist at his side and willed the suit of wooden armor he wore to stitch itself back together. To their credit, the blackened and dried timber plates tried. But it was too dead, too cauterized, and he was too out of practice with bulk usage of his Toa energy to force it over the edge. Besides, he'd need the remaining power he had. For some use or another. He adjusted his tabard to cover the worst parts of his armor, trying to look as presentable as he could given how tattered even it had become. In a few short seconds, though, his concerns were forgotten. Something fell from the sky, a shape screaming with motion that resolved into a Kahu, landing somewhat gracefully on the edge of the village square. The eyes watching him were no longer interested--and for a moment he took a breath, relieved to escape notice for just a moment-- Karzahni, he was supposed to be taking an active role! Grinding his teeth, he ran forward. His hand clutched at the katana on his back, then he shook his head and kept sprinting until he got to the wounded Le-Toa's side. He dropped to one knee, checking her pulse, before-- "MEDIC!" he shouted, looking around. NPC: The Ihu-Koronans had a much more measured but less trusting response. Only after a few moments--when it was clear that the stranger who had fallen from the sky on the back of Kahu was no Ko-Koro agent here to kill them all--did they run off to retrieve a healer and the Ahka. It would take a few moments, at the least.

IC: One Seeking Redemption His thoughts were more calm and controlled now. Months in the jungles of Le, in the darkest caves of Onu--years of solitude and meditation had seen to that. He wasn't prepared to pass on his power yet--much still felt undone, still felt incomplete--nor was he quite comfortable enough with who he was to enter the public eye. Moral concerns aside, the foul remnants of his memory might still be echoing in the minds of the Matoran he was sworn to protect, Matoran he had failed too many times to feel offended. His bounty may have been lifted, his name restored in the eyes of the law, but public opinion cared little for legal absolution. He would remain Erith Deverim for a time longer, and perhaps longer still. The question then became why he had chosen to end his self-imposed exile to the wastes. The wind battered his face and body, his tabard fluttering as he continued his trek toward the very peaks of Ko-Wahi, to a village he'd rebuilt after its previous destruction. It had far outstripped and abandoned him now, become a settlement in its own right rather than a temporary hideout for a group of wanted Toa on the run from a group of people they'd rightfully offended. Perhaps that was why he was limping his way back into events--tired of the world passing him by. Perhaps he finally felt like he could earn his place among the Matoran again. He adjusted his Huna against the bitter climate. Perhaps his exile had been another failure in and of itself. Tarnok had charged him with being the first of the next generation of heroes, and he'd responded with vanishing into the wastes. The Bo-Toa's teeth ground together as he took another step forward, the pressure of the wind throwing him this way and that. The walls of Ihu-Koro were before him, the massive tree that protected its interior from the worst of the elements standing proud in the center of the well-fortified village, scraping the sky. He set his jaw. Enough of this. He would not allow his fear and self-rebuke to rob him of anything further.

IC: "Sick! I always wanted to be named after a night stick or a Vegas game," she exclaimed. If she was being sarcastic or insincere, she was doing an excellent job of hiding it. "They said I was assigned to you but not what my call sign would be." She looked up at the two of them, just barely not standing on her tiptoes in an attempt to draw closer to their heights. "Yeah, I'm, errr... Sorry about the delay, but I hope I'll be a good fit for your squad. No one's ever complained about my piloting ability, at least, though most people don't think I'm up to it for a while..." She shrugged, her momentary frown coming to an end as her grin widened. "It's great to meet you both though! Seems like I'm the only American here."