Friar Tuck

EW, I couldn't agree more. Thank you for that post, it was sorely needed. Gotta say, you're doing a wonderful job here. Glad to have you on-board. So yes everyone, please listen to him. I can quite assure you ninety-nine times out of a hundred Nuju and myself will agree with him and his statements; there is a reason we picked him as our new staff member. On to a lighter note: 100% Pure Win. ZHX, that was perfect. Thank you. You get a Tuck Point. What they do I have no idea, but you just got one. Someday I'll figure that out.

OOC: lol. Don't worry kiddies, there'll be time to RP with my group... just not ATM IC [House of Toa Noran/Toa Stannis, Po-Koro - afternoon] "Wanderlust is a powerful feeling... " I found myself staring thoughtfully at the shelf filled with the mini-Stannis', tapping my chin absentmindedly. I've felt the same feeling before; this is why when, as a matoran, I was rarely found in Ta-Koro doing my guard duties, instead off exploring or playing Kohlii in some remote location. Even as a toa I wasn't exempt from it, which made my quest that much easier to do - in enjoyed traveling, trying to avoid staying in one place too long. Maybe that's why I left the Massif? One of many probably. My thoughts abruptly returned to the present as I gazed around the table. Stannis was relaxed in his chair, cup empty, looking more calm after being able to vent a little. I smiled inwardly; never ceased to amaze me how normal all of us were, even those we held in such high regard. First Angi, now the Prohpet - my first meeting with him as a matoran and then again as a Toa left such an impression with me... it was nice to know the stoic stone guardian had hopes, dreams, and distastes like the rest of us. Cael meantime had somehow managed to turn her cup of cactus juice into a steaming glass of tea, a gift I still hadn't been able to figure out. Thanks to our previous adventures she was taking this in stride, and apparently enjoying being in Stannis' company. Merror... he was the only one that looked left out, his face a mixture of unbridled excitement and utter confusion. "Well that's good news," I continued, speaking of Stannis' comment of the temple, "At least that will take out a lot of time and searching. I cannot tell you how annoying it was sometimes to find those temples. Still, knowing where the temple is is useless until we find all the keys." With that I pulled out my knapsack and emptied out a side pocket, a pile of white stones cascading on the wood table. The charms struck a stark contrast with the dark wood beneath it, Merror reaching forward and touching one in marvel. "We still will need the three required to open the door before we head out, and that might take a while, depending on the cooperation of the populous - though that can be done tomorrow. Meantime I think it's only fair to bring our new accomplice up to speed." So for the next hour or so I - with the occasional interjection of Stannis from the Company's point of view - told the story of my quest to find the Temple Crystals, with the eventual goal of opening the Keeping Place for the Company's unique masks. It was quite the tale to recount, but it was done without much interruption from Merror, who seemed to grasp the finer details quite well. There were a few points I left out though: Heuani, Cael's death, and my temporary transformation. Granted, it took some fancy footplay to make some parts make sense (exchanging Heuani with a simple agent of Makuta, etc), but I didn't feel comfortable enough with Merror yet to let him into my full confidence. And it wasn't like I was being dishonest - I could see that he knew there was information he wasn't being told, but was respectful enough not to say anything... at least not now. I had no doubt he would eventually find out or be told, but for now that's what he was going to get from me. As I finished I picked up the Charm of Courage. "So that's why I'm here. Never got to go to the last one, so we need to find the last three charms to complete the set. Which we will start looking for tomorrow." The sun was still up, but the shadows were staring to become longer. I turned once again to Stannis. "As much as I would love to spend the rest of the evening touring the Koro, I need to know: what happened here? Why such the tight security? Refusing people to enter? I don't know if it's just me but I get the distinct feeling of slight... paranoia? This is, well, strange."

IC [Po-Koro - afternoon] To think I would never have been so happy to see the ever-serious Prophet again. Even as Stannis expertly guided us away from Hewkii the matoran followed, once again apologizing for the incident at the gate and offering any services we might require. I smiled weakly and thanked him as he left, promising to do so if I felt the need. After he had departed I finally felt myself relax in the aftermath Toa Maru's embrace, his rock-solid presence doing wonders for my psyche, already my confusion retreating as I felt myself center once again. I smiled sheepishly at him. "To answer your first and last questions, a mixture of both. It's the Temple of Creation... the one place I never went to." Immediately I could see the question in his eyes. He was one of the few people that knew the full extent of my former quest, and was the recipient of my success. My last statement however threw a hammer in the works, for how could I have gained all six crystals without visiting all of the temples? I raised a hand, and he remained respectfully quiet. "Let's just say our late mutual friend decided to cheat for me and managed to steal this temple's stone without unlocking the front door. While I know it's empty I guess I feel the need to open it myself and finish what I started all those months ago. You could say I don't feel ready to have the 'thirst for adventure' until I can put this behind me... you know? I... need to finish this. If not for my own peace of mind." I stared at the sandy ground, lost in thought. In the grand scheme of things it was a waste of time, but to me it was extremely important. I just had to do it, this drive that wouldn't go away until I completed my quest. Looking back up, my unnatural blue eyes piercing into his own, I smiled softly. "As much as Hewkii offered the services of his Koro, I would be honored if you joined us while I was here, or at least tagged along. Considering the role you and I played in Makuta's defeat I would not mind actually getting to know you better, or at least have a decent conversation or two. Besides, I feel like I owe you one, putting in a good word at the Massif and all that." I paused, my smile turning into a mischievous grin. "Though, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about. How is it that a Matoran of Plasma who hails from Ko-Wahi ends up becoming a Toa of Stone and defending the badlands of the island? Sounds like you're having a mid-life identity crisis if you ask me." I snickered quietly, having a joke at Stannis' expense. He might not know it, but humor was the way I dealt with stress. With everything that happened today I had a lot of it, so I took advantage of the moment to help dissipate of the the tension that had built up in the back of my neck. Besides, after working with Reodin I'm sure he could take a poke. If I was bad, that guy was worse. I almost felt bad for Stannis. Almost. "Know a good place we can spend the night? It's getting a little late now to search for charms and lost temples and I would not mind catching up."

IC [Po-Koro - afternoon] The first sign of change was apparent the moment we stepped up to the gate. There were a handful of Sentinels on guard - fewer than the last time I had been here - but the moment we came into view they stood to attention... barring our way into the village. To emphasize the point a pair of matoran-mounted kikanalos lumbered up behind us, their long lances pointed casually in our direction. "Name?" While polite, they were fairly stone-faced and rigid. I gave a confused and curious glance to my companions, who shrugged, just as lost as I was. "Uuuhhhh... Toa Joske? You know, the famous kohlii-star-turned-toa-hero? The guy who has his name chiseled into your Kohlii Grand Champion Tablet more times than anyone else?" One of the guards began to sort through a small stack of scrolls, and what came out of his mouth next I could not believe. "I'm sorry, sir, but your name isn't on our rolls of people to admit." To say I was floored barely did my expression justice. I stood there like a gaping imbecile, my brain unable to process what I had just heard. Had I just been denied access to a Koro? There was a list of people who could enter? Before I could make a reply however a familiar face appeared at the gate. "Why not, Kirel?" Hewkii asked, coming from behind. "He is a Hero of Kini Nui, after all. Let him pass, and then go put his name on there. Might I ask your name of your companions, sir Toa?" The Sentinels stepped aside, apparently relieved at not having to bar entry to such a famous person. Through my stunned stupor I managed to mumble out Merror and Cael's names, and theirs was quickly scribbled down as well. As we entered the Koro Hewkii walked alongside us, speaking in regretful tones. "My apologies for that incident, I'm not quite sure why your name isn't on that list. Might I ask the purpose of your visit?" As I formulated an answer I saw him pull aside a Sentinel and speak in a low voice, something about VIP's and the Dark Walk. By the time he turned back with a smile I had found my voice. "Um, well, I guess you could say it's, um, personal business... there were some things that I never had the chance to finish before participating in the battle of Kini-Nui... " Under normal circumstanced I would have been more concise and open, but my head was still swimming from the bizzare turn of events. Had that actually just happened?

Alright kiddies, time to make an announcement. I've been seeing a lot of posts that are simply OOC. That is not good practice. It slows down the game and eats up page space that is completely unnecessary. I've been getting rid of them, but more seem to take their place. If you need to say something OOC, please do so within a standard IC post, otherwise use the GD or PM discussions. It's considered bad form and against the rules. This needs to stop please. Also, on a lesser note, I've been seeing a lot of OOC: moving *blank* to *blank*, and that's it. This is also considered bad form. If you're moving to a new location, the post it in the last post you made! There is no reason to add another post simply to state that you're moving when you could have done so in your last one. That is again spam though I've been keeping those around simply because it IS telling people where your character is going. I would ask that this practice stops as well for I will begin removing those posts as well. Nobody's in trouble, I'm just reminding some of the new and newly-returned players that there are rules and unwritten rules concerning posting etiquette. Please observe what I have said and it will make gameplay flow a lot better and less work for myself. Thanks guys

OOC: we're off adventuring, we're off adventuring... weeeee! From Ko-Wahi IC [Outside Po-Koro; The Dark Walk - afternoon] Well that was a terrible start for an adventure. Wouldn't have it any other way I guess. The day had started out great. After hooking up with Merror we decided to strike out from the Massif after three months in seclusion. We had spent the morning following the small path that wound around the mountain, descending in altitude until near sea level, where the cool steppes gave way to dryer, stonier ground. Soon after that the frosty air of Ko-Wahi was gone, replaced with the hot, dry air of Po-Wahi as we approached the Tiro canyon, the unofficial border between Ko, Po, and Onu-Wahi. Up until that point the trip had been very pleasant, marveling at the rapid climate change and listening to Merror. Yes, Merror was a decent storyteller, or at least a news brief; unlike Cael or myself, he had at least for the most part kept up with island happenings during his seclusion, while we had not. Granted, everything he knew was second-hand, but even so listening to his descriptions of how the Koros had changed, the marvelous and strange new technologies, and even the current politics was fascinating. In that morning walk he had more or less brought us up to speed on the major happenings of the island, but I was confident there was a plethora of details that we were missing out, details that would make for very awkward moments down the road. Speaking of awkward moments down the road, it had appeared we had already found one. Or to be more precise, a lack of one. At the Tiro canyon, the road ended. Literally stopped. The three of us just stood there for a while, gazing out over the rocky crevasses and badlands, trying to wrap our heads around this predicament. I mean, why would the road just end? "Huh." My companions looked as me as my musings came forth as a confused grunt, and then blinked as once again disappeared, my Kakama glowing for a brief second as I shot over the rocky dues. A few moments later they saw me return, and the look on my face was all they needed to know. I said it anyway. "It's not just this one. I checked all the roads along the border. They're all gone... as if, scrubbed away on purpose, the sands naturally flowing over what's left. A few hundred bios later there is nothing to go on." There was a long silence before Merror spoke. "I had heard rumors that Akiri Hewkii made an effort to hide the Koro. Not completely, but make it extremely difficult to find. Apparently there was more truth to those than I gave credit for." There was a long silence. "Well, I could find it in a flash," I mumbled, speaking to the ground, "but then trying to mark the path to allow both of you to find it would be extremely difficult and time-consuming... and with the shifting sands my path might disappear by the time we get there." I kicked a rock. Sometimes being the only one in the group w ith a Kakama was a problem- "There is another way... but you might not like it. It involves a tunnel dug by an army of Rahkshi that appeared outside every Koro. Guaranteed to make it there - but we'll need to go underground, through-" My audible groan cut him off as I realized where we would be passing by. Not my favorite place on Mata-Nui to be sure, but if that was the only way to get to Po-Koro... "Fine. I suggest you tell the story behind the 'Dark Walk' in detail to pass the time. I'm not a fan of deep, dark places." * * * So here we were. In order to get to the nearest elevator to the subterranean "highway" was an hour backtrack, followed by re-tracking our footsteps but underground. Not to mention it was a slower walk, darkness and possible hidden Rahkshi around every corner. Thankfully though our trip was uneventful, and eventually there was a light at the end of the tunnel. I did my best not to grumble, but instead of arriving around noon we were showing up mid to late afternoon; it was impossible to tell without the sun. We'd have to find a room first before looking for the charms, which pushed our plans back by a whole day- Suddenly I felt a hand in mine, and in the dim light I could see Cael smiling gently at me. Instantly I could feel my growing frustration melt away as I gave a sigh and smiled back. If there was one thing she was good at was reading my emotions and very quickly being able to diffuse them. Loss of my powers did not equal loss of emotion and temper. Just simply meant when I got mad I would say some bad words instead of throwing fireballs. I guess that's better? The three of us squinted as we entered the sunlight once again as we exited the Dark Walk, before us the Path of Prophecies. Even with Hafu gone they kept his creations in good repair, something I was grateful for, the road still flanked by carvings, the path eventually leading to the village of Po-Koro itself. Even at this distance I could see the entrance to Po-Koro, it's gates carved into the mouth of a large Matoran head. We were finally here. "Welcome to Po-Koro." I said quietly, grinning as we made our way to the stone gates.

IC [Massif - morning] I glanced at Cael, then to Merror, then back to Cael. I snorted slightly, feeling my shoulders sag as I did. Well well, they're both ready to go. Looks like the joke's on me. As usual. I rolled my eyes to myself as I straightened up. "Then if you don't mind I'll be right back." Before either could make a response I was just a cloud of dust, my body already materializing in my room as I turned down the juice in my mask. I too traveled light... just wasn't ready yet. Give me about five seconds. First was my disk launcher, a gift given to me by the late Turaga Vakama. A very ornate weapon - polished metal, extreme detail, and complete with fire-inspired etchings - being of the finest craftmanship. Extremely accurate too, which was a plus in regards to ranged weapons. Perhaps an odd gift for a former Kohlii player, but it proved its worth in versatility during the course of my last adventure; I could have used to channel his fire powers (sadly never got the chance) and could also be used as a jetpack that was triggered by my thoughts... that is, if I still had my powers. Every time I looked at it it was a reminder of what I sacrificed, of who I used to be. Yet it was still a useful weapon if not practical, and looked pretty awesome. With a magnetic tug I could feel it attach firmly to my back. That secured I turned, facing the far wall. Every time I looked at it my breath was taken away. The flamberge, Heuani's former weapon, now mine by right of combat. As deadly as it was beautiful, it had a sturdy, elegant metal hilt – a basic T-shaped crossbar, an unadorned ovular pommel, all crafted out of smooth lines – but what was remarkable about the weapon is its transparent, rippling blade. The blade itself suits me perfectly, as though it was made for my arm, crafted perfectly for my fighting style. The blade looks like it is made of glass, but infinitely stronger, and its edge is so sharp that it almost disappears into the air. The only other person to see this blade since the battle at Kini-Nui was an Onu-Korian appraiser, and after looking closely at it had some interesting details. The seemingly smooth surface of the blade was actually comprised of exceedingly minute flat polygons that bend so subtly that their edges are imperceptible - unless closely examined. Inside the blade, there is a tiny crevice, an angular-looking air bubble; it is the sword’s only flaw. From his viewpoint it was made of crystal, but a crystalline substance he had never seen before. A blade as marvelous as it was mysterious, the way it captured any light and diffracted it splendidly. A blade I did not want anyone to know I had... not yet. With a single fluid motion I snatched the blade off the wall and slid it into a vary plain sheath - the point where any observer would believe it to be any normal sword, the transparent blade completely hidden beneath the tempered metal and leather. I attached it to my belt, threw some supplies in a knapsack, and about seven seconds after I had left I appeared before the duo. I took in a small breath, the cool mountain breeze filtering into the training room. I smiled mischievously. "Sooooo... who's up to go to Po-Koro?" Five minutes later we were taking the trail down the mountain. OOC: Joske and company to Po-Wahi

Correct. The old Mark-Bearer plot? They wanted a special power to go with a plot, so that needed to get approved. Was it part of the Staff arc in any way? No. But since we were giving them some neat toys to play with, it needed to get approved... just like everything else special. Just like currently there is a ring-based plot and a necromancer cult under review currently, both asking for special things in relation to their arc... You know, maybe I should go back and finish my critique of those *sigh* Sometimes there's too much to do... So yes, there is no need to approve your own plot/arc/whathaveyou unless you wanted something different to go with it.

Alright kiddies, just an update: all player-shop submissions have been updated, and now there is just enough that I can start adding sub categories. Starting to look kind of nice if you ask me Lately I have been noticing of named locations that are frequently used but I haven't gotten any information about (most specifically the Lavapool Inn, but I've seen others ). If you know of a place that is frequented a lot by players, and it was an establishment/locale created by a player, don't be shy and be a friend to that player and at least get me some of that information if possible for them. I like my information to be as up-to-date as possible. Also, the staff is in the process of accepting several cults/organizations/player-based mini-storylines, so if they have a base of operations and basic information their too will be added to the list - if they get approved That said, I would stress that this list ISN'T just for shops - I'm willing to put down ANY player-invented/run locale, such as Pala-Koro since it is a frequented locale (whoever wants to get that information to me would be a minor hero). You guys get my drift? I'm aiming to get all these little places that people go to frequently down on paper so that everyone knows what and who and where and is on the same page... literally Also, even though it isn't the start of the game anymore our PM boxes are still open for approvals year-round. I would suggest you use it. I remember reading something about a laser somewhere, lightstone-powered... yeah, that kind of thing should be approved, or at least run past a staff member first That's about it for my updates. Gotta admit, I'm enjoying playing more administrator and less storyteller...

Ahhh, Lloyd, always the realist Indeed, there is much truth in that statement. I'm sure though if everyone is too careful and nothing happens either myself or Nuju will MAKE something happen. I'm quite positive. All it takes is a pebble to start an avalanche... *walks away, whistling innocently*

Deep down inside of me I know this to be true. Locus Abeo, while good on paper, was a GM's worst nightmare come true. I should know. I was the GM. Should that mask be destroyed I am all in favor of that being the consequence. Would serve this game due punishment for that idiocy. Though, because I can, I'm pinning the blame for that year fiasco on Sera Weavers. Blah. That will come when it comes. I am all in favor to see how the inter-Koro politics work out before that comes into play.

IC [Massif - morning] Toa of Light. Simple phrase. Simple question. It was all but simple. Those three words had a lot of memories attached to them, and few of them pleasant. My mind raced as fast as I moved with my Kakama, re-living those few hours as the single-most powerful Toa on the island. The fight with Heunai... the fight within myself... learning about Cael's murder... the defense of the Kini Suva... while I may have been at my peak physically and elementally, that brief window had been the lowest emotional point of my life. And when I say low I mean Naho Bay rock-bottom. Cael's death granted me the power of light. Her resurrection snatched it away. The fact that I kept a calm demeanor was proof on how far I'd come, but there were still too many strings attached for me to talk about it openly - even with someone like him. At least... not yet. "Only that: rumors." I said, crossing my own arms, my lips in a half-smirk. "Besides, there's no concrete proof. The Toa Maru came back. Those that helped defend the entrance also came back, ourselves included. I'm glad and honored to have played my part, having been the Vanguard the Wander's-Company-turned-Toa-Maru, helping them get their masks and completing their destiny, but as for this Toa of Light... he never came back, if he existed in the first place. I'm not gonna lie, in the heat of battle things can get confusing... " I closed my eyes and smiled to myself, shaking my head. "But I suppose there needs to be a good myth or two about every epic battle, including this one. I'm content to leave it at that: a legend. But back to the original topic - thank you for your kind words. I never know if my past actions have been already accounted for or not, so I've decided to walk into such situations expecting the worst. And I appreciate you giving us our space; it was needed." I glanced around the room myself, my eyes briefly meeting Cael's. It was a pleasant relaxed neutral, but I could read deeper than that. If I wasn't going to say anything, she would respect my wishes and not speak about it either. As few people had seen me as a Toa of Light, fewer knew that she had actually died... and been brought back. Trust me, I'm one for crowning my own achievements, but that's two things I would rather for now keep under wraps. No point in proclaiming things that nobody even knows about, right? "Anyway, despite the initial greeting, I do believe your timing couldn't of been better. We were just discussing plans on a possible trip to Po-Koro. There's some... personal matters I would like to put to rest, and I've been ignoring it for long enough. Not to mention we've been secluded here for three months; might as well see what happened afterwards and witness the fruits of or labor, eh?" Already I was getting excited. It seemed as though another adventure was brewing, this time with new friends. I could smell it.

IC [Massif - morning] "Even?" The look on his face as I gripped his outstretched hand was proof enough that he realized he had spoken too soon. The tiniest of tugs and he was off-balance, and from there there was a nearly limitless amount of possibilities I could have taken this. Left, right, straight down - even an attempt on his part to re-balance I could take advantage of, shifting his own momentum to my benefit. I could show him the wonders of my knee when it impacts a gut, give him an up-close-and-personal tour of the stone floor with his face, or even grant him the ability to fly for a few feet. It wouldn't take much as he stood there over-extended. But I didn't. Even as he felt the imbalance, I hoisted myself up as he pulled me upward, and in a bizarre twist of sixth sense he knew what I wanted and planned to to, but knew I didn't. I had heard about his martial abilities so it didn't surprise me that he seemed to know what has going on around him in a very intimate way. I squeezed his hand tight as I could, my grin telling the rest of the story. "Yes, but only because my over-competitiveness has in recent months been slowly exchanged with the need to be more mature... and fix some of the mistakes I made when I was a complete chauvinist. If it wasn't for the fact that I felt the need to apologize for my actions over a year ago and this is the first time we've met since then I'm quite convinced this would not of ended here and now. Actually... " I furrowed my brow. Yes, we may have met over a year ago, but that was in passing. Really that didn't count. Besides the stories I had heard, I knew nothing about the guy - just a name, mask, and rumors of his skills. My brilliant blue eyes hit him with fairly serious stare, my lips curled in a half-smile. If I was going to get myself re-acquainted with the island at large I was going to run into people who deserved explanations at minimum and full-blown apologies at best. After all I HAD made some enemies. Might as well start here and practice with him. About as safe as its ever going to get. "Hello Merror; I'm Toa Joske. Nice... to make your acquaintance." I gripped his hand respectfully.

OOC: wondering when you would show up IC [Massif - morning] "Good morning." I jumped. Few came to visit us, NONE before noon. During our stay we were let relatively alone outside of the scheduled appointment or if say we wished to seek someone out. I was not expecting someone to be standing in the doorway, let alone speak. To top it off I was enjoying a more personal moment with Cael, which further reduced my attention and visitor expectations. The owner of the voice, simply put, freaked me out. And in my defense, I had been training. Hard. Without elemental powers all I had was my mask, so I had been elusively training with it, trying to master it's strengths if not to make up for the lack other abilities. My speed and reaction time were incomprehensibly fast, to the point where it was almost freaky. So if danger presented itself, such as say the basic fight-or-flight mechanisms activated, even unwillingly or subconsciously, I would react accordingly, with my mask at my full disposal. I had been through enough beatings NOT to take this seriously. And even though the voice and myself were a whole room apart, that's not saying much to a guy who can get from here to Po-Koro in less than a minute. Yeah, I jumped good. No sooner had the "-ing" escaped his lips did he receive a face full face of fist as I clocked him one right across the jaw. Now don't get me wrong, the Calix is great mask; it gives the wearer the ability to absolute peak of their natural physical abilities so that they move and react better than almost any unenhanced member of their species. Anyone else and he would of had at least SOME warning, if not the chance to attempt a dodging maneuver. Unfortunately, the Kakama allows the user to move and run at incredible speeds on all surfaces, far faster than the eye can follow... or in other words as fast or even faster than standard thought in many cases. Which meant that I had heard him, jumped, reacted, crossed the room, and in simple reflex struck him before his eyes or even his brain had the chance to conceive the notion that I had moved. As far as his body was concerned, I had teleported, or simply materialized before him sometime after he got hit. Apparently by an invisible force. Funny how the brain works that way. Speaking of, by the time my own brain caught up to my reflexes I was standing rigidly in the doorway, arm outstretched with my hand balled in a fist, a Ta-Toa laying awkwardly on the hall floor by my feet, stars dancing in his eyes. The colors, the face, he looked... Great Spirit I HAD seen him before. In Ga-Koro almost a year ago. This was Merror. "Mata-Nui... I-I am so sorry!" I stammered. My balled fist resumed its hand shape as I bent down and picked a very disoriented Merror, doing my best to brush him off. "It's just that... oh, my bad... you alright?" Brilliant Joske, just brilliant. You're oh-for-two with this guy. First you're a complete prick and brush him off, now you nearly knock him out cold! Hope and pray he has a decent personality and sense of humor or this "friendship" will end before it eve got off the ground. I smiled sheepishly and grimaced at the same time. "Oops?"

Please... guys... only warning... Take this to PM.

IC [The Massif - morning] "To be contributing members of society again... " I murmured quietly, almost a snort. "For the record, I contributed enough to matoran society at large in my opinion, them ignorant little runts... " While my words may have said one thing, the grin on my face said another, abundantly clear that I did not believe what I had just said in the slightest. All I got was in response fro Cael was a "tsk", a eyeball, and a hand resting on her hip. I rolled my eyes, grabbing a nearby rag and wiping up the table. "No, you're right; I agree with everything you said. It's been good here, but it's time we moved on; we're whole enough to face the island and whatever it may throw at us." I paused, throwing the towel over my shoulder and staring at the far wall for a moment, hands on my hips. I could feel my lips twitched as I thought. "Yes, I for one would like to see this hard-earned peace in action... if not to get re-acquainted our old friends. They're smart enough to know we're not dead, but I don't think it's fair to leave them in the dark after falling off the face of the island for three, four months now? Ever since that fateful day in Ko-Wahi..." My adventure flashed before my eyes in rapid succession, taking only a few moments in real-time. I smiled vaguely, taking in a deep breath before I turned to look at my striking significant other. "How long before you're ready to go?" If there's one thing I've noticed, women have a tendency to take a little longer when preparing for a trip...

Alright everyone, update: I've deciding to actually slot this information in this post, the Region Index. Not only will it make that hidden post a bit bigger, but it a categorical sense it's better there. I would suggest you all take a quick look at the few places, the headings, and the layout... I will continue to make it look like this, so when you send your PM please submit accordingly. As I get more places I will expand the categories to better fit the establishments.

this actually seems like a good idea. I'd even compile it all and link it in my sig. Eeeck Gads! WHAT IS THIS BLACK MAGIC? A good idea brought forth by the players on order to foster better communication, RPing, and knowledge between the player base!?!? I am in approval of such a measure! *throws on Star Trek costume* LET IT BE SO! If fact, I'll do ya one better: I happen to have a "Blank" post at the end of the Rules and Index topic just waiting to be used... why not apply it and make it useful? If players have an establishment that one of their character's run (and therefore stay in that location explicitly) PLEASE PM ME with the name, location, owner, a brief description, and any other relevant pieces of information. I will begin to populate a list of player businesses and other player-based/created locations for your convenience. Might as well do my job serving you guys eh? Good job everyone, smashing idea.

IC [The Massif - morning] I stood there, hunched over, dripping wet. My fist clenched in instinct as I raised my- Oh, wait. That's right. Inwardly I sighed. Old habits die hard. ... At least now I won't need a shower. And it was at this point I burst out laughing, the futility of the situation hitting my funny bone. The sound of my wet feet sliding across the stone echoed across the chamber as I strode up to a smugly-smiling Cael, arms outstretched. "You're right darling, you can remember farther than I can run... " Here I paused taking her hand and lifting it above her head, gently pushing her hip with the other one as she spun lazily before me, her lithe, graceful body moving like element she represented. Together we danced slowly for a few moments, enjoying each others close proximity in the cool morning air before I took her and bent her backwards, swooping her down, nothing but my damp arms holding her horizontal body mid-air. "... and considering how far and fast I can go these days, that's saying something." I finished, pulling her closer and laying a passionate one on her lips. It was these kind of tender moments that we had re-discovered over our time here, and in fact crucial to our overall mental recovery. It was amazing how dependent on each other we had become. "Morning beautiful," I finished. "Mmmm." was all I got out of her as she absorbed the moment. She pulled her head back slightly, and as I held her there she studied my face intently. She raised an amused eyebrow. "Your eyes are exceptionally clear today." That's right. My eyes. I pulled her back to a standing position, the gears in my hind churning. When I became a Toa of Light for that brief time I underwent a lot of physical changes, but the one thing the lucky few who saw me during that time can remember was my eyes. My blue eyes had taken on a brilliant glow (along with my body), but the intensity and the clarity of the blue had been rather unusual. In fact, I can remember when I pulled Stannis aside to speak with him privately he practically had to glance away due to their brilliance. I may no longer be a walking, glowing lightstone anymore, but the uncharacteristic brightness in my eyes did not dissipate; if fact, it was light someone had stuck a lightstone in the back of my skull and cranked up the juice, and as Cael had discovered a type of barometer to my inner thoughts. The intensity, clearness, and brightness was apparently directly tied to my disposition - the better I felt, the brighter and clearer they were. If I was troubled or depressed, they would literally darken and become cloudy. I of course had to take her word on this; the Massif had a rather lack of mirrors, and even so I had no way to observe myself from the outside all the time like she did. It was... a mark of my transformation. A leftover of the event. Not that I minded. On the other hand it DID give her endless amusement, if only for the fact that it was now almost impossible to lie to her. I literally wore my feelings on my face. And she could read them like a book. So much for trying to worm my way out of situations... I thought dryly, chuckling lightly at it. I stepped away and back to the table, tossing her a piece of fruit. "So, given it any further thought?" "Given what further thought?" she remarked as she took a juicy bite. "Going to Po-Koro. Well, more specifically, the Temple of Creation. We both know there isn't any crystal there, but I feel the need to visit it anyway. We spent two weeks running around the island and as things went it was the only place we didn't go... thanks to Heuani." I paused, speaking the name quietly as my face darkened. It wasn't as though it had any power over us anymore, but I still preferred not to think about him as much as I could... which was easier said than done considering all that the Shadow Toa did. Just as quick however I felt myself brighten again as I looked at her. "It's something I've been meaning to do, actually finish that quest. I guess you could say finally put the past behind me; something that I feel is personally important. Not to mention I would no mind touring my old stomping grounds, the Kohlii field... I still hear the Bazaar is the place to go for unique and... special items." I smiled coyly at last statement.

I was the one that actually I shot down. I don't remember which one of us approved it, but this is one power I do not want in the game. Tuck saying outright no? Unusual, yes, but I have my reasons Sorry, but it'll be clear later.

Please everyone refraining from discussing the current situation. The staff is aware of what is happening and is currently trying to resolve the issue. I would highly recommend everyone log off in order to help the process.

Then my inner-GM is pleased with that statement Good to have you back and looking forward to seeing your work. About time we brought back the guilds, or at least the shadows of them eh? Good times, good times... Two please *braces for the impacts* As to how the game is progressing, so far everything looks good guys. Granted, we're only a day or so in but I haven't heard any complaints despite the massive influx of activity here. I'm seeing a lot of excellent starts and I'm really exited to be your senior staff on this next installment of the series. Good luck to everyone and remember, Play Well!

Agreed. I like how Aaron described it and set it up, so this should be fun and interesting. That said, an entire village isn't going out of play; it's still a viable and visitable and playable location. Unless Lloyd you decide to make an announcement that you're sealing the village, people can still come and go as they please... within the bounds of the new topic description. And I REALLY wouldn't recommend that this early in the game. Oh, by the way... hey Wysp. Long time no see Also, finally got Joske edited, updated, and running again. Let's see what this new arc holds in store from him, shall we?

IC [The Massif; dawn] I took in a full drought of air... ... and shakily released it in a slow, regulated exhale. Pain is weakness leaving the body. I sat crossed-legged on the stone ledge, my back as straight as though pressed against a wall. I would feel my thighs twitch under the hands as they rested casually on my leg, my muscles grateful for the rest. Even as the sun rose I did not see it, content to have my eyes shut as I felt the golden rays slowly rise over my body, the new day promising a fresh experience. As was every day here at the Massif. It had been three months to the day. Three months ago today I suffered the greatest loss I had every experienced, and then witness the greatest triumph of my existence. Three months ago today myself and Cael walked out of the jungle of Kini-Nui not the same as we had gone in, deciding that we needed some time away to sort out these new feelings and unfortunately, scars. Three months to the day that we came to the doors of the Massif and beseeched it's guardian, Toa Antrim, for sanctuary and rest, a place to recuperate and heal away from the prying eyes of the island at large. Three months ago to the day that the two of us quietly faded from the public light, obviously not dead but no-where to be found either. Three months to the day that we had been exploring and developing this new relationship. It had been as satisfying as it had been frustrating. It had taken almost two full weeks for it to finally sink in I had no powers... I was a Ta-Toa without an element, and avatar that represented nothing. When it did sink in it hit me rather hard, and had it not been for Cael I don't think I would have been able to crawl out of my depression as well and as quickly as I did, not to mention adjusting to life after becoming a powerless toa; I admit it was almost harder that becoming a toa in the first place. On the the other end Cael had her own set of problems, though it's not my duty to mention them here; let's just say she had her own adjusting and healing to do on her own. Were we fully recovered? No. I don't think anyone walks away from what we did without some sort of permanent alteration, but we didn't have to do it alone. We had the resources of the Massif to lean on. We had Antrim to look up to. And we had each other to draw on. Most of all we had each other. And she was amazing... in more ways than one. Let's just say now up here in the cool mountain we spend every night together under the stars without fear of losing each other the next day. Commitment. Confidence. Safety. It's what we needed most after that ordeal and we got it her in abundance. And after two months here things started changing for the better, becoming more obvious with each passing day. In that respect I have Atrim to thank for that, getting me into a routine that was reminiscent of my old life but applicable to my new one. Which is why I was sitting here on a stone ledge in meditative reflection as the sun rose. I may no longer have those powers, but as Antrim put it: "You're a creature of light, having touched a power few could dream and less comprehend. It has changed you, and while you may no longer be a part of it it is still a part of you. It is best to remember and reflect then to forget and fade." My daily routine was brutal, but constructive. Every morning I would get up one hour before dawn and engage in sword practice. Not only did this teach me the ways of a new weapon, but it also forced me to hone in on my skills with my mask, the only special ability I had. And I had to do it myself. No partners. Not equipment. Just me, my blade, my mask, and my shadow. The only person that needed to learn was me, and I was the best teacher; my superiority and competitive complex managed to survive the ordeal, my drive to be the best at whatever I did, so I pushed myself. Hard. Harder than I probably should have, but no-one could argue with the results. I was a decent swordsman now, granted. But if people thought I was fast BEFORE... I've beaten Pohatu's record. Crushed it, actually. Repeatedly. And let's not forget the physical part of it too. Somehow I had actually gained some muscle mass - not much, I still wasn't massive like a lot of toa you see out there, but I was definitely more toned than I was before. I like it. I think Cael likes it too. Wait, where was I... oh yes, the routine. Immediately following that hour I would spend the sunrise in meditation, facing the rising sun in quiet reflection. I was definitely a creature of the day now, an early riser, my attitude depending on the amount of sunlight shining. It had been terrible at the beginning, first going a million miles an hour then coming a complete standstill; I viewed it as a complete oxymoron. Over time however I realized the lesson in this, what Antrim was trying to instil in me: balance. As much as I needed to be fast, there were just as many times I would need to slow down and take my time... something Cael had been trying to hit me over the head with for quite a while now. Figures. After this would be breakfast, my morning walk and meetings, followed by studies until the noon meal, and then further training by whoever felt it was their day to teach me something. Usually in the end painful and cryptic, though I was used to that by now. Really I only had a handful of ours in the evening to myself, and most of that was spent with Cael, but I didn't mind. My day and mind was kept full, and that kept the distractions at bay. I enjoyed being focused, even at the cost of my luxury time. I snorted. Boy had I changed... I opened my eyes to greet the new day. Yet I remained the same. Crazy huh? With a stifled yawn I stretched out, the sun's warm rays illuminating the Massif's grandeur and temperate atmosphere. Slowly I stood, making sure to chase away the stiffness that had tried to settle in. With a sigh I turned around and headed back inside the stone chamber, the lightstones fading as the daylight became stronger. Inside the training chamber tucked away in a corner was a small table, each morning a plate of fruit and a pitcher presented there. The food was courtesy of the Massif, but the pitcher was from Cael. Every night she would pour out and fill the stone container with the pure protodermis from her flask and let it sit overnight, developing a delightful chill by the time I came to consume it in the morning. It had become our little ritual, and to our surprise it had yielded some interesting results; I felt stronger and performed better after consuming pure liquified protodermis than regular water. Cael had her suspicions as to why this was the case, but I really didn't care; if it worked, I took it. Leave the sciency-medical-mumbo-jumbo to her - I didn't much care for it. Not my strong suit. But it was hers. Beauty AND Brains... How did I get so lucky? With a smile plastered on my face I poured myself a cup, giving thanks to Mata-Nui before consuming the drink. With a sigh I leaned back, swallowed the last few drops, and then inspected the assortment of fruits laid out before me. If my timing was correct I half-expected someone to walk through that door.

ATTENTION PLAYERS: UPDATE The Official Bzprpg: Rules and Index is finally up to code! Please take the time to carefully review the rules as well as take a tour through the new and improved indexes. You'll note that some posts have stayed almost exactly the same (Common Sense Guide; FAQ, etc), while the rest have undergone significant changes. GO AND READ. VERY USEFUL KNOWLEDGE AND LINKS RESIDE THERE. Besides, fixing every link that was damaged due to the dataclysm was maddening, so I at least want some people to appreciate all the work that goes into that. That index is for your benefit, a one-stop shop for useful info and link (not to mention RULES) so please make good use of it. And with that the game is fully up and operational! Enjoy kiddies!