AlchemistMayCry

IC: Crimeia "And he didn't bring me up? Shame on you!" I mock-slapped Veros, who faux-recoiled in mock horror. "Though seeing Veros pick up another couple followers brings me right back. Back to that gang of free-runners we had back home. You were always so magnetic. Funny that you ended up being a Toa of Plasma and not of magnetism. So what's your story, Mister...?"

IC: Veros "First, it's not love. We kinda buried that a while ago," I said, trying to wriggle free of Crimeia's death grip. "Second, Crim, when the karz did you become a Toa? Third, keep hugging me like this and I'm going to snap like a twig." Crimeia thankfully released me and I bent back, cracking it. Ow. "Your hugs were always back-breaking." IC: Crimeia "Not my fault you've got a twig for a spine!" I shot back, smiling wide. I glanced at the Toa of Ice. "And like he said, Mister Toa of Ice or whatever your name is. We're just friends. Good friends. That's all." I glanced back at Veros, my smile fading. "it's a long story about that. Some other time, maybe? But I found you! And that's why I'm here."

IC: Crimeia Well, so much for the stealth route. I leaped from my not-so-hidey hiding place, de-stealthing as I landed gracefully on the forest floor. I held up my hands. "Just a passing-through hunter who's not looking to start a fight," I replied, glancing at the Toa of Ice and the Toa of Iron. "Since it wouldn't end well for either of us. I'm looking for someone, and I think it might be one of you three." IC: Veros Wait a minute...that voice...it can't be. I dropped down in between Natalia, Atonal, and the newcomer, sheathing my staff and knives. I threw back my hood and stared into her emerald eyes. There was something definitely familiar about this Toa. "Who are you looking for?" I asked slowly, a hand under my poncho on a throwing knife in case of deceit. Those green eyes sparkled. And the Toa of Fire grinned. "You," she said. I didn't expect to get a very sudden, very big hug from the Toa of Fire. She practically lifted me off my feet. And that's when it hit me. "Crimeia?" What.

IC: Veros I glanced down at Atonal and sighed. "And where did Skyra go? Let me guess. Far away from here?" I wouldn't be surprised. They always disappear and go off somewhere on the other side of the island. I hate jobs like these. Practically a wild Gukko chase half the time...heh. Wild Gukko chase for the Gukko Force captain. "I'm unsure if we should get moving or not, seeing as we've still yet to do some info-hunting on that Toa that rescued me." IC: Crimeia I swung from a vine, through the forest not far from Ga-Koro. Either it was just the wrong day, or something mucked up my sense of direction, since I was pretty karzing sure I was lost. Maybe it was the humidity, playing tricks with my mind. I wasn't sure. I landed on a large branch and took a break from all the swinging and running and jumping, frustrated at the lack of progress. I should know this forest like the back of my hand. I should've been in Ga-Koro by now, getting information. I know he passed through here! At least that's what the rumors say. I stood up and closed my eyes, letting myself feel the forest, my hunter's sense calming me. Focus Crim. You're so close now. You'll catch him. I heard birds chirping, the branches swaying in the wind. I heard other rustling of smaller animals running through the forest floor. Nothing out of the ordinary... And then I heard it. It was faint, but I could tell what it was. Voices. Not distinct enough to know how many beings, but voices nonetheless. I opened my eyes and grinned. "At last, some luck! This cold lead just got hot." I tree-ran through the canopy, following the direction of the voices until I found the source. I hovered high above the three beings on a branch, engaging my Volitak to keep myself hidden. No idea if these are friendlies, or enemies. Or if it's even him. There was a white Toa of Ice on the forest floor chatting with a light grey Toa of Iron. Another Toa was on the tree just below me. A Toa of Plasma, reddish brown in color with a white poncho and reddish brown Kanohi Kualsi. It had to be him. I leaned for a closer look, moving my feet and accidentally snapping a branch with a loud snap. Karz. The Toa of Plasma snapped to attention, pulling several knives from his poncho (or at least something hidden under his poncho), and readying the staff in his other hand. This wouldn't end well.

So tomorrow I'm going to be out of the country for about 10 days. I'm not going to have my laptop, but I'll still be able to check in and possibly make posts, but they might be short since I'll be restricted to my tablet (which isn't the best for typing on). I don't think bunnying will be necessary, since one of my characters has yet to debut (still waiting to find a good moment to get her in), and Veros is all fine. Thanks everyone!

IC: Veros I see...I sat down on the branch, lost in thought. "Seems like every day something else is getting attacked. Some other village getting destroyed..." I just want there to be some sort of peace. Some calm so I can do something good without having to fight. Is that so much to ask for?

IC: Veros "Hrm...I see. It's not my problem. Leave it to whatever's left of the ILF." That's not my fight. I leaped up, catching a branch and swinging higher. I looked around more, hoping to find something. Calling out didn't work last time..Skyra must be trapped somewhere where she can't hear. Or at least call back. Hrn. "Any other events that I might've missed? I've been a bit preoccupied. First in Ko-Koro, now here."

IC: Veros "I see." I grimaced as well. "Anything left of the ILF or the Followers? Or anything in general around that battlefield?" I can only imagine the carnage.

IC: Veros“I never liked the humidity here, but it’s still nice, I’ll agree.” I dropped lower, stopping and looking around before looking at Natalia. “Where did you say you were coming from? A big fight? You’re not injured are you? I’d hope not.” Though she does have a Mask of Healing...so I guess she’d be fine. “I wish there wasn’t another crisis to deal with. Not after that...” I shuddered. “That event that happened to me not too long ago.”

IC: Veros I took to the trees, following Natalia but on a slightly higher level. "So Natalia," I said, swinging on a vine and landing on a branch. "What brings you to Ga-Koro?"

I was aiming for a more introspective/character-driven/story-driven plot, since I wanted to break away from my usual style of rule-of-cool fueled action scenes in my own writing. I still love a good over-the-top fight scene, it's just I don't really want to here. At least, not yet.

IC: Veros "All I know is that she's the Commander of the Gukko Force. My friend and I found her bird and it, well, told us she was missing. As best it could, it is a Gukko after all...though it might have been a Kahu. But that's all I know. Like I said, my friend is getting info over in the Koro. Hopefully he might find something." I gestured towards the forest. "You've got a mask of healing. That's good. Skyra might be wounded for all we know. Let's see what we can do. After you."

IC: Veros I shook Natalia's hand. "Thanks for the help. Short version: Commander Skyra of the Gukko Force is missing. Somewhere around here. My friend is getting info back in Ga-Koro, and I'm searching around to see if I can find anything." And so far, not much luck. "Any suggestions where to start would help. At this point I've just been blinking in and out of existence trying to find anything."

IC: VerosHm? I glanced down, seeing a light gray Toa of Iron was at the base of the tree. I leaped down, landing in front of the Toa, getting a better look at her. She carried a spear and a bow. Should be useful, should we get into a scrap. “Well, even though you’re not Skyra, I suppose you could help,” I said, my voice hoarse from the yelling. I coughed for a second. “This is what I get for yelling like a madman. Well then, what’s your name? I’m Veros.”

IC: Veros Atonal started heading towards Ga-Koro, and I turned my eyes towards the forest. Let’s think this through. Skyra must be around here somewhere. But where is the question. This forest isn’t that big. I blinked out of existence, reappearing on another branch, and spun around, looking in all directions. Nothing. I repeated it, moving farther and farther into the forest. No sign of life from what I could tell. I stopped in a nest of branches to catch my breath, the strain from so many teleports fatiguing me. Alright, nothing yet. I’m practically at the canopy. I should’ve found something by now. Though it’s worth a try. I leaned back, taking a break for a few minutes. Calling out to her might work. I might get some response. I stood up and blinked once more, reappearing on another tree. I took a deep breath and yelled out, “COMMANDER SKYRA! SKYRA! SKYRA!” I repeated the name over and over, screaming. I could feel myself tiring. All right, I can’t yell any more. One last yell. “IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, SEND ME A SIGNAL, SOMETHING!” I sat down on the branch, winded. That better have been worth it.

Holidays do lead to slowed gameplay. Grass grows, birds fly, sun shines, yadayada, holidays lead to slowed gameplay. In the oh-so-quotable words of Kurt Vonnegut, "So it goes."

IC: Veros "Well then..." I looked up and blinked out of existence, reappearing on a tree branch high above Atonal. "Better get moving." I started leaping through the trees, leaving my friend behind. Now the hunt. Skyra was a Gukko Force commander. Bound to be around here somewhere.

IC: Veros I stood up and cracked the knuckles in my hands and my neck. "So a missing Gukko commander. You can levitate, I can teleport and tree-run." I glanced at Atonal. "If we split up, we might be able to find Skyra quickly. And if we find something, send up an elemental blast so we can meet up and compare notes." And hey, there might be a reward in this. "Sound like a plan?"

Yes. yes it is. Onto something else. ....anything going on that we should know about?

One does not simply "get" the art of Hubert. It is a...paradox. To know is to learn the meaning of the art of Hubert, and the meaning of the art of Hubert lies in the gates of madness. Ergo One must simply bask in the glory of the art that descended upon our little forum from on high. And rejoice!

And then the art descended from on high, heralded by angels and heavenly choir. And there was much rejoicing.

IC: Veros "But...even then we still don't have much of an idea where to start, or what happened."

IC: Veros "A commander? Well then...that makes our job easier at least...." But she doesn't know where Skyra is...

IC: Veros I blinked out of existence, disappearing from one tree and reappearing in the branches of the next. Another tree had fallen on top, creating a downward slope. I sprinted down the trunk back to the forest floor, leaping into the waiting arms of another tree. It was taller than the others, and I grinned. Throwing caution to the wind, I launched myself higher and higher, mixing up climbing and brief bursts of teleportation, until I arrived at the canopy once more. I dropped back into a nest of branches, somewhat exerted from the effort. There's something different about being able to free-run with a Kualsi. Not that it ruins it, but there's a certain...something lacking. I could climb it myself, but then I rely on the mask to get higher. I remember when I got to the top of Ta-Koro by myself. That was effort there. But now I could do it without even trying...My thoughts turned back to Crimeia. Atonal's right. I should try to find her. Maybe after we're done her in Ga-Koro and done some investigating into the Toa that rescued me, I can start searching for her. I looked back at Atonal, who was some distance away, but not far enough to be hard to see. He was talking with the Gukko, at least as best as he could, probably trying to find his/her Rider. Might as well go help him...I blinked, reappearing on the ground, and then once more, reappearing a few feet from Atonal. I walked to the bird and knelt down, patting it on the beak. "Sorry about earlier," I said, giving it a small smile. "I wasn't in a right state. Feeling better now." I glanced up Atonal. "Any luck?"

IC: Veros "Har. Har. Gukko meat's not bad, but I've had better. That's besides the point. How the karz do you plan on finding this one's rider?" I glared at the Gukko who glared back, clearly annoyed with getting a little burned. I'm really not sure if doing this is a good idea. I stood up, stretched my legs and leaped into the trees before Atonal could respond. "I'm going for a run...swing...climb. You know what I mean." I grabbed a vine and swung away, alighting on a tree branch. I assessed my surroundings the way I always did, finding an optimal path through a V-shaped tree trunk. I need to run. Clear my head. Remembering Crimeia, Lara's death...I thought I was clear before...