Unreliable Narrator

Happy 2020! Metru-Nui is under threat from the League of Six Kingdoms and the brave Toa Mangia have been imprisoned after their betrayal alongside Lhikan. Turaga Dume searches for new Toa, offering to award the power of Toa to those lucky six who can retrieve the legendary Great Discs from each Metru. While the race for power begins across Metru-Nui, a war of intrigue and diplomacy brews as the great Barraki warlords gather their forces for a final assault after years of proxy wars with the last bastion of Matoran civilization. The Dark Hunters mercenary group led by the Shadowed One pit brother against sister for profit. The Great Spirit remains distant and uncommunicative save with their servants in the little known Order of Mata-Nui. TLDR: Fight for or against the armies of the six barraki warlords, assassinate POIs as member of the Dark Hunters with weekly posted bounties, search for the hidden great discs to gain toa powers, and try to uncover what dark secrets exist in the political web of Metru-Nui. Please note that during the first week this initial post might update frequently as I realize areas I've missed that would be helpful in telling our shared story. How To Play: Like many "Play By Post" RPG games on BZPower, we use a system of Out Of Character (OOC) and In Character (IC) for notifying readers when our writing is as ourselves or from our characters' perspectives. Please be patient between posts, allowing everyone else involved in the scene a chance to reply before continuing. The main focus of this game is a compelling narrative written together. This places more power in the hands of the players: you may describe the environments as you see fit, as long as pre-established in-game descriptions by other players, the GM, or Bionicle canon is not broken. By contributing our individual ideas we create a beautiful living world together. If you have an idea for plot, write it because I believe in you. If you get greedy I'll step in and bring things back into perspective. The Reliable Narrator: When interacting with the world of Six Kingdoms: Escapement (SKE), you may find your character is responded to by the Reliable Narrator. This is the game master describing the actions of your character and the responses to them by the rest of the world. Examples of the Reliable Narrator include descriptions of new locations your characters enter, rising tension, or sudden commentaries on events to shed new light on the story. Playable Locations In A Single IC Topic: Metru-Nui: all six metrus in their golden age, chute system and all, now stricken by the hardships of a prolonged war effort against the league of six kingdoms to the South. Somewhere in each metru is a legendary disc. Find it, and you can be rewarded with toa powers by Turaga Dume! Silver Sea: the protodermis ocean dotted with nameless islands is the theater of conflict between Metru-Nui's forces and the League's combined armies. Outstations on these islands are in constant flux between the League of Six and Metru-Nui. ... And so with all the fiddly bits out of the way, let's play!

Happy 2020! This is where you can post out of character about the Six Kingdoms: Escapement (SKE) game until the end of March 2020. Please see the general rules, common sense guide, and BZPRPG rules of play for how to behave in this and all SKE topics. Lastly, the hope is to have an elevated power level in this RPG when compared to the main BZPRPG, but not to reach final season fighting anime where blocks or cities are being demolished with a single punch. Remember, your characters are part of a collectively told narrative and no one has plot armor. I look forward to playing with you all! For the first week of January here are the narrative quests per faction: Metru-Nui: seek the great discs hidden somewhere in the regional metrus for toa power. Metru-Nui: explore the recently conquered island and plan the next assault. League of Six: Recover from the recent attack on your island base. League of Six: Take the merchant vessel to recover the lost tech. Dark Hunters: Assassinate

Happy 2020! I am proud to announce Six Kingdoms: Escapement is officially live. This will be where we put all of our profiles over the next three months. At the end of the game's run, this topic will be deleted so if you have a character you particularly love make sure to have a backup before the end of March 2020. Remember, for discussions out of character about the narrative please see Six Kingdoms: Escapement - OOC Discussion topic. I look forward to watching how we all tell this story in character in the Six Kingdoms: Escapement - Gameplay topic. Please see the general rules, common sense guide, and BZPRPG rules of play (links incoming). We will abide by those unless otherwise stated here. Post your character profile in the “Character Profiles” topic for the game. Please await an approval post from the GM before joining the story. If an alteration request is made by the GM, please see to it before continuing to post with the character in question. The “No” of Character Creation: Characters must be approved in the Character Profiles topic before playing. This is to provide a fair narrative storytelling environment in a game with an elevated power ceiling. At this time only Legendary kanohi are banned. If other kanohi prove they are being abused in a way that destroys the overall player enjoyment they will be added here. Play nice. The Order of Mata-Nui is a secretive society known to very few. To join the faction, find a recruiter and roleplay the rites of passage discovered in-game. You cannot start your character in the Order of Mata-Nui. Nova blasts are banned, unless you PM the GM and explain why it’s absolutely necessary for plot reasons to blow up your character and they say yes. The “Yes” of Character Creation: All canon bionicle species are playable. Custom species from the BZPRPG that were approved are also available without need for further re-approval. New custom species need approval of the GM before playing. Kanohi are not moral or immoral in this alternate universe. They are tools. Some tools are more feared than others based on famous users. All elements are available for play. Think about how your character’s element would be viewed by those around them. All beings are lightly resistant to psionic powers. Attempts to use psionic powers requires player consent in the same way as landing any elemental power. Dasaka are just matoran, toa, and turaga of psionics again. If you want to keep the powers as specified in BZPRPG, you certainly may. Metru-Nui is more technologically advanced than Mata-Nui. Player characters may have a personal vehicle, and any amount of technological items that fit the character narratively. Please make sure to address any character approval questions from the GM promptly before continuing play with the character question. There is an elevated power level in this RPG when compared to the main BZPRPG, but it is not final season fighting anime where blocks or cities are being demolished with a single punch. Remember, your characters are part of a collectively told narrative and no one has plot armor. This is an altered league of six kingdoms era in Bionicle lore. Please remember this is a team game. We are all telling a story. What do you want your characters to contribute to that story? There will be an IC forum thread, an OOC discussion thread, and a character profile thread. Please post character profiles in the character profiles thread and tag me in them for a quick approval! Three Strike System: While this is a co-operative game, I expect there to be occasions where players disagree on how the story should go. That's fine and normal. However, if the GM is called upon to help facilitate, any participating player who is unwilling to listen to the GM or alter their posts or character to reflect requested changes will receive one strike. Once three strikes are met, the player is blacklisted for uncooperative behavior. Once the game ends in March, all blacklists will be lifted. If a player is listed in this section, players do not have to interact with their characters. TheLegoRoleplayer Character Profile template: Name: if a matoran, have they passed the rite of naming day Species: canon or approved custom Faction: Metru-Nui, League of Six, Dark Hunter, Untethered, etc. Brief Description: what’s their everyday or current appearance Background/Occupation: what do they do, where did they come from Flaws: character traits that hold them back, or where they break Powers: stick to canon for what your character’s species can and cannot do Approved Player Characters: Tarn: Jutori, Nale, Rose, The Obsidian Swordsman, Idlyx Haeve, Jutori (as toa) Xemnas: Atamai, Kohara Keeper of Kraata: Skorm Snelly: Vashni Nato The Traveler: Vyarik, Zaliyah, Sidra, Vyarik (Untethered) Darth Jaller: Varxii, Zecrillia, Jabali Dane: Thom, Kovac Krosfari, Leonn, Oryn Silvan Haven: Tallea Sunflower: Iona Conway: Irna Bulik: Knichou Click: Karista, Morah PokemonLover360: Kilo-M9 Emperor Whenua: Stannis, The Alpinist, Ambajes, Leklo (Alpinist as toa) XCCJ: Triki Smudge8: Mazor, Jephro, Informant, Paju and Ellie Baltarc: Aksa Eyru: Orieus, Taja, Taja (as toa) Toru Nui: Tekmo, Waveahk, Ostrox Crimson Jester: Cartographer, Fa'Atamai (Deceased), Fa'Amatai (Untethered), Korruhn (Carto as toa) Onaku: Arkius, Okuo, The Waif, Ardoku, Raz, Kal, Matrak, Aradra (Waif as Toa) Snelly, Skyra Azibo: Othorak, Sans, Mata-Nui Avatar (Untethered) Harvali: Kanohi, Ka Palm: Calia Biological Chronicler: Pardehi, Barak, Kareh, Tugarak, Amartakonen, Fenruki, Tinkerer, Vezok's Friend: Zataka Mr. House: Mons Shajs and Vestrixx For those interested in the player character demographics, I actively maintain a spreadsheet on Google Sheets.

Thank you to all the judges. I'm excited to get the ball rolling! I hope you all try it out.

Is this still open for new players?

Hi Tyler, Thanks so much for the review. I've addressed your points by updating the original proposal.

Love it!

Six Kingdoms: Escapement Pitch: Players have three months (January 2020 through March 2020) to find the six great discs for Turaga Dume in exchange for toa powers, uncover the secrets of Metru-Nui, and fight for or against the League of Six Kingdoms in two diverse locations to conquer or protect the island of Metru-Nui. Goal: GET THE WRITING FLOWING! This game is about letting loose a little, snapping each other with wet towels, using often perma-banned elemental powers, and having someone play a pizza delivery character on a hover-bike who probably ends up saving the universe. I hope we all can tell a strong narrative together over the course of three months. Synopsis: Metru-Nui is under threat from the League of Six Kingdoms and the brave Toa Mangia have been imprisoned after their betrayal alongside Lhikan. Turaga Dume searches for new toa, offering to award the power of toa to those lucky six who can retrieve the legendary great discs from each metru. While the race for power begins across Metru-Nui, a war of intrigue and diplomacy brews as the great Barraki warlords gather their forces for a final assault after years of proxy wars with the last bastion of matoran civilization. The Dark Hunters mercenary group led by the Shadowed One pit brother against sister for profit. The Great Spirit remains distant and uncommunicative save with their servants in the little known Order of Mata-Nui. TLDR: Fight for or against the armies of the six barraki warlords, assassinate POIs as member of the Dark Hunters with weekly posted bounties, search for the hidden great discs to gain toa powers, and try to uncover what dark secrets exist in the political web of Metru-Nui. Playable Locations In A Single IC Topic: Metru-Nui: all six metrus in their golden age, chute system and all, now stricken by the hardships of a prolonged war effort against the league of six kingdoms to the South. Somewhere in each metru is a legendary disc. Find it, and you can be rewarded with toa powers by Turaga Dume! Silver Sea: the protodermis ocean dotted with nameless islands is the theater of conflict between Metru-Nui's forces and the League's combined armies. Outstations on these islands are in constant flux between the League of Six and Metru-Nui. Rules of Play And Character Creation: Please see the general rules, common sense guide, and BZPRPG rules of play. We will abide by those unless otherwise stated here. Post your character profile in the “Character Profiles” topic for the game. Please await an approval post from the GM before joining the story. The “No” of Character Creation: Characters must be approved in the Character Profiles topic before playing. This is to provide a fair narrative storytelling environment in a game with an elevated power ceiling. Legendary kanohi are banned. The Order of Mata-Nui is a secretive society known to very few. To join the faction, find a recruiter and roleplay the rites of passage discovered in-game. You cannot start your character in the Order of Mata-Nui. Nova blasts are banned, unless you PM the GM and explain why it’s absolutely necessary for plot reasons to blow up your character and they say yes. The “Yes” of Character Creation: All canon bionicle species are playable. Custom species from the BZPRPG that were approved are also available without need for further re-approval. New custom species need approval of the GM before playing. Kanohi are not moral or immoral in this alternate universe. They are tools. Some tools are more feared than others based on famous users. All elements are available for play. Think about how your character’s element would be viewed by those around them. All beings are lightly resistant to psionic powers. Attempts to use psionic powers requires player consent in the same way as landing any elemental power. Dasaka are just matoran, toa, and turaga of psionics again. If you want to keep the powers as specified in BZPRPG, you certainly may. Metru-Nui is more technologically advanced than Mata-Nui. Player characters may have a personal vehicle, and any amount of technological items that fit the character narratively. Please make sure to address any character approval questions from the GM promptly before continuing play with the character question. There is an elevated power level in this RPG when compared to the main BZPRPG, but it is not final season fighting anime where blocks or cities are being demolished with a single punch. Remember, your characters are part of a collectively told narrative and no one has plot armor. This is an altered league of six kingdoms era in Bionicle lore. Please remember this is a team game. We are all telling a story. What do you want your characters to contribute to that story? There will be an IC forum thread, an OOC discussion thread, and a character profile thread. Please post character profiles in the character profiles thread and tag me in them for a quick approval! Character Profile template: Name: if a matoran, have they passed the rite of naming day Species: canon or approved custom Faction: Metru-Nui, League of Six, Dark Hunter, etc. Brief Description: what’s their everyday or current appearance Background/Occupation: what do they do, where did they come from Flaws: character traits that hold them back, or where they break Powers: stick to canon for what your character’s species can and cannot do

Okay, here's the rough. Six Kingdoms: Escapement Synopsis: Metru-Nui is under threat from the six kingdoms and the brave Toa Mangia have been imprisoned after their betrayal alongside Lihkan. Turaga Dume searches for new toa, offering to award the power of toa to those lucky six who can retrieve the legendary great discs from each metru. While the race for power begins across Metru-Nui, a war of intrigue and diplomacy brews as the great Barraki warlords gather their forces for a final assault after years of proxy wars with the last bastion of matoran civilization. The Dark Hunters mercenary group led by the Shadowed One pit brother against sister for profit. The Great Spirit remains distant and uncommunicative save with their servants in the little known Order of Mata-Nui. To sum up, for those storming the castle in a little less than half an hour: fight the armies of the six barraki warlords, assassinate POIs as member of the Dark Brotherhood with weekly posted bounties, search for the hidden great discs to gain toa powers, and try to uncover what dark secrets exist in the political web of Metru-Nui. Playable Locations for 1st Game (all locations in a single IC topic, so specify where you are when posting): Metru-Nui: all six metrus in their golden age, chute system and all, stricken by the hardships of a prolonged war effort against the league of six kingdoms to the South. Silver Sea: the protodermis ocean dotted with nameless islands and the field of conflict between Metru-Nui's forces and the League's combined armies. Rules of Play: Please see the general rules, common sense guide, and BZPRPG rules of play. We will abide by those with the following differences for character creation: All kanohi are available excluding legendary kanohi (i.e. ignika, vahi, etc.). All canon Bionicle species featured in comics, books, movies, and short stories that existed within the GSR are playable. PM Unreliable Narrator if you want approval for a custom species. All beings are lightly resistant to psionic powers. This means any attempts to use psionic powers requires player consent in the same way landing an attack requires player consent. Since the tech level at Metru-Nui's height was also much more advanced than Mata-Nui's in canon, I figured we could look toward the canon when establishing availability of vehicles, tech, and gear. Please make sure you’ve received a character approval message via PM from Unreliable Narrator before you add to the story. The hope is to have an elevated power level in this RPG when compared to the main BZPRPG, but not to reach final season fighting anime where blocks or cities are being demolished with a single punch. Remember, your characters are part of a collectively told narrative and no one has plot armor. This is an altered league of six kingdoms era in Bionicle lore. "Wacky races" are perfectly acceptable if they are canon to both Bionicle story lore and BZPRPG lore at large (i.e. lesterin). Entirely new species need approval. Please remember this is a team game. We are all telling a story. What do you want your characters to contribute to that story? There will be an IC forum thread and an OOC forum thread. Please post character profiles in the OOC topic thread and tag me in them for a quick approval! Recommended Character template to submit in a general discussion topic for the game: Name Species Faction Brief Description Background/Occupation Flaws (character traits that hold them back, or where they break) A Few Powers

I can make a note of it in the game proposal. Any other ideas regarding lore, story line, or power levels of play?

What if we said mask powers accessing the mind of another player comparable to auto-hitting if they're done without player approval?

I feel that's a good point. Do you think there are good counters to the suletu, or maybe ways to keep it in with bends to its power level? Or should it be omitted entirely?

Which kanohi do you feel there should be restrictions?

It's 2020 and I had an idea! I'd love to hear your feedback on things you might like to see, but: Metru-Nui is under threat from the six kingdoms and the brave Toa Mangia are lost after the betrayal of Toa Lhikan. Turaga Dume searches for new toa, offering to award the power of toa to those lucky six who can retrieve the legendary great discs from each metru. While the race for power begins across Metru-Nui, a war of intrigue and diplomacy brews as the great Barraki warlords gather their forces for a final assault after years of proxy wars with the last bastion of matoran civilization. The Dark Hunters mercenary group led by the Shadowed One pit brother against sister for profit. The Great Spirits remain distant and uncommunicative. To sum up, for those storming the castle in a little less than half an hour: fight the armies of the six barraki warlords, assassinate POIs as member of the Dark Brotherhood, search for the hidden great discs to gain toa powers, and try to uncover what dark secrets exist in the political web of Metru-Nui. Who do you play? Since this is a side RPG while we all wait for the next arc in the main BZPRPG, I felt it could be fun to let power levels start to creep a touch higher than normal. I think canon races to Bionicle lore could be allowed with one exception: actual makuta beings. Likewise, I think all great masks that are not legendary (i.e. ignika, vahi, etc.) would be playable. Since the tech level at Metru-Nui's height was also much more advanced than Mata-Nui's in canon, I figured we could look toward the canon when establishing availability of vehicles, tech, and gear.

I was going to say it looks like a quick silicone cast with dust stuck in the mold judging by the back. Nice collection!

I love how you incorporate family into a leveling-up style post! It was really wonderful to read Kale's personal journey coming home.

OOC: @Razgriz IC: Arero (Ga-Koro) Cipher’s expression while ruminating is brooding. Looking at him hurts inside my chest. Strange. I’ll deal with it later. I gesture toward the road, navigating to nowhere while we continue to talk. I’ve learned he does his best thinking while walking. “If friends of friends is a dead end, maybe there’s something else we can work with, like finding his favorite bar or sunset viewing spot,” I reply. I’m surprised he knows so little about his friends. It’s only been a few days and I feel I’ve learned so much about Cipher and his life. Maybe that’s because I listen. My thoughts turn inwards to my own friends. I’m glad to have reunited with Kotzu. One of the few over the years I’ve been able to be genuine and friendly with. She was the first to know. And she waited until I was ready to admit it to myself. Cipher’s bird screeches me back to the present. “What do you think?”

IC: Arero (Ga-Koro) I don’t wait long for Cipher to exit Gaksi’s hut. Only long enough to read how a certain Akiri of Fire pressed his friend’s back to a wall and leaned in close, hand on… I close the book and look up to Cipher’s chirping backpack companion. “It likes you. Thanks for all your help Ciph. I really appreciate you making sure the journey was safe. I wouldn't have been able to do it without you. And,” I get distracted by putting the book away in my satchel, “um, it’s been really nice learning things from you. Did you really mean what you said about my left hook? Actually don’t answer that, I’m getting distracted. Now, you said earlier who your missing friend is, but do they have other friends in Ga-Koro they might be visiting like Kotzu did?” OOC: @Razgriz

Ooc: @Razgriz IC: Arero (Ga-Koro, Gaksi's bird store) "I guess with Wairuha's wisdom we'll all find our destinies intertwined." It was a paraphrase of something I read long ago. I found myself going back to that book -- a small and unbound tattered manuscript -- whenever I wondered if the Virtues were still applicable. During the Dark Times it felt like the Virtues brought us together. Now I wonder if society's glue is only the threat of something worse than us. "You know, I might have one more thing I need to do here," I say to Cipher. And then to Kotzu I ask, "how much for the bird?" "Which one?" I point toward the small rahi flapping on the back of Cipher's backpack. It's tiny, has a small beak, brightly colored plumage, and very loud. Cipher seems mildly annoyed. It's a classic trope. It shouldn't be this easy for him. "Uh, not sure. Gaksi? How much are your smaller birds?" "Depends on the variety," Gaksi calls back from behind the curtain, then returns having put the teapot down. "Oh that one?" "Mhm." "The Screamer is twenty-five widgets, plus ten for food, plus fifteen for jesses and a bell. So, fifty widgets in all." I pull my coin pouch out from my satchel. "That works for me. I'm sure Cipher will love his new friend." Gaksi takes my payment, equips the small Screamer with it's jesses, and offers it to me. It's adorable. But also very loud. I try holding it close to my heartlight. That seems to work. Quiet now, I offer it to Cipher. "Okay start thinking of a name for your new friend while we find your old friends." And then I walk out into the street, leaving Cipher with his bird.

IC: Arero (Ga-Koro, Gaksi's Bird Store) "He's been good to have around," I say after Cipher removes himself from the conversation and awkwardly stands among the birds with his gear. "I can image." Kotzu replies. She stares at me and understands. "Ambitious." "Yeah," I grumble. "Okay enough of that tell me about you. Really, what happened?" Kotzu and I spend the next few minutes talking about her escape from the battle of Ko-Koro. Her tea shop is gone but she saved her birds. We talk about her future plans. Kotzu wants to stay in Ga-Koro. I ask about Kentuckit, and she laughs. "It's Kentoku, silly. They're an archipelago far east of here. Rumor had is they can read minds." "Oh," I reply. "This is why I read books more than I talk to people." "Books can be wrong too." "True." We're quiet. Then, "would you be able to send a letter for me? I'm helping Ciph find some of his friends next." Kotzu nods. "Sure." I pass her the letter I'd written yesterday while on the road. "Thanks." "It's the least I can do," she says. "Thanks for checking in on me. And hey, best of luck with…" I laugh at that. It's a genuine laugh. Rare for me. "it's good to see you Kotzu. Can you send me a letter if you learn anything about Kentoku?" She nods and we hug. Kotzu hands me a small package of tea and I join Cipher by the door. My friend is safe. I'm happy about that. I hope she makes a good new life here in Ga-Koro. "Okay. Let's find your friend."

OOC: @Razgriz IC: Arero (Ga-Koro) Congratulations to me. I’m not arrested for property damage, assault and battery, assistance with violence on private property, or banned books. Ga-Koro is very different from Po-Koro. Walking out of Rhow’s tavern I see the sculpted mask of toa Gali to the far left across Naho Bay. Her kaukau spews the waterfall from the hills into the ocean. Like toa spew the Code before violating it. I don’t have to look back at the address Corporal Shajs gave so I give the note to Cipher for safekeeping. He’s got his classic silver cloak tossed over his shoulder. Very debonair. “I’m sorry but I have to ask: where did you get the cloak?” I lead on while Cipher answers. On the right are the boats in the harbor. Engines are rumbling as others come in from an early morning fishing excursion. The strange vessel from Kentuckit glitters in the sunlight. It seems to be made entirely of some sort of crystal? Maybe once I know Kotzu is safe I’ll find out about the far away cultural techniques of Kentuckit’s shipbuilders. Sea birds are cracking open palm fruits on its hull. “This is it,” I say as we reach a traditionally made shop nestled between more modern buildings. A wooden sign dangles above the door. It sways in the wind with the beaded shell chains that make up the door screen. The sounds of screeching birds bursts from within. “Yep. This is it. “Hello, excuse us,” I say as I step into the shop. My voice is drowned out by the whistles, caws, and chirps of rare birds. They line the walls in cages or are tied to wooden posts. Small birds flit between rafters-- probably not actually for sale but birds that got stuck in the shop by accident. Small birds, large birds. One cage in the back of the shop is covered with a dark blanket. “Um, hello?” The covered cage echoes my hello back. Two masks pop out from behind a second beaded curtain behind a small counter. One I don’t know. The other is a teal akaku. A bird lands on her mask, pecks at it, and chirps. “Oh hello welcome can I help-” “Arero?” She steps out from behind the curtain and puts a tea cup down on a nearby stool. The gold bangles on her arms glitter and jangle as she rushes forward. “You know him?” “I’m so glad you’re safe!” I say and bounce forward as Kotzu rushes up for a hug. I accept it. It’s not every day I know my friends are alive. “ Kotzu, how did, are you, I mean what happened?” “I’m okay,” Kotzu replies, shushing me. “You don’t have to worry. Gaksi here is renovating their house so I have a place to stay until I make enough money for a tea shop in town. Oh it’s so good to see you. How did you know I was here though? I was still writing a letter to tell you about it.” I break the hug and look back at Cipher. I realize now that a dwelling constructed for matoran might be a bit cramped for him. “Well, he helped. Told me about the problems in Ko-Koro. Cipher, meet Kotzu.” “Hello Cipher,” Kotzu says as she offers a fist to bump. “Thanks for taking care of my friend. I hope you were able to get him out of his books at least for a minute.”

OOC: @Mr. House, @Mel, @Vezok's Friend, and @Razgriz thanks for being patient. I had a trip over the weekend and then needed time to catch up on some other projects. Also wow, all these wrap up posts are awesome. I'm excited for arc three to start. IC: Arero (Ga-Koro, The Great Takea) "Thank you," I say as I read the address on the note. I remember the street name. It's not far away. "I'll check there first. "In Onu-Koro I asked a stranger if they knew a blacksmith, and it turned out they were a blacksmith," I reply to the other Marine. "It may just be luck, or maybe Destiny is real. I certainly wouldn't assume everyone knows everyone. I'm lucky to have met Cipher though. he seems to know a lot of people." I glance back at Cipher sitting in the booth talking with Rhow. "Well, I better go find my friends. Thank you, again, and sorry to be a bother." I walk over to Cipher. He and Rhow are talking about something. I wait in peripheral view until it seems they're finished and then say, "excuse me, but, um, thanks for the drink. Very nostalgic. You really didn't have to. Ciph," I turn my attention to my new friend, "I have an address we can look into. Is now a good time or do you need a few more minutes? I'd go ahead but..." The compass shouldn't leave the mariner.

OOC: Trying this tagging thing, @Mr. House IC: Arero (Ga-Koro, The Great Takea) “Nice to meet you, Corporal.” I say reflexively. “How to explain my friends…” How to explain my lack of trust in upholders of systemic injustice? I am an academic bookworm. I don’t appreciate systemic oppression by a ruling class of powerful beings whose original purpose was perhaps misaligned. Punishments are unfair and unjustified in most koros. In Po-Koro, the justice I saw was more of a fascist mob held at bay by a gang of armed toa as protectors of their own self-interest. I moved. In Onu-Koro it’s the highly trained and militarized Ussalry. There must be a better way. Perhaps Kentuckit has an equitable alternative? I have plenty of protections in the koros as a matoran. But do I trust Corporal Shajs or the system he perpetuates? No. I trust Cipher to get lost. I don’t trust the Marine’s smile. I don’t trust the smell of his breath. I don’t trust the little umbrella in his glass that keeps waving at me. We all pick our poisons. “... Well, I’m looking for...” My hand hurts. I ignore it. I know there’s nothing there. Answer his question. Answer the drunk Corporal’s question. There’s nothing wrong with being honest. I have Cipher to back me up. Maybe I shouldn’t have tried being around so many strangers just yet. I miss the bench with the flickering lamp in Onu-Wahi. I miss my home with its metal address sign. I miss my friends. “... an Onu-matoran who was on an architectural tour of Ko-Koro, and a Ko-matoran who runs a tea shop near the Great Sanctum. Oh no. Should I say ran? I hope her shop is okay. It was always so lively inside. Her name’s Kotzu. She’d probably be obvious to spot because she really likes birds. There’s no way she’d leave with her birds. She wears a pale akaku. I got a letter from her a few weeks ago saying business was good, but I hadn’t heard from her since. She had another friend here, a Ga-matoran bird seller. Do you maybe know of anyone like that? Or better yet, is there a place where refugees go to report they’re safe and get housing?”

IC: Arero (Ga-Koro, The Great Takea) "I'm so sorry can you say that again?"

IC: Arero [Ga-Koro, The Great Takea] "Yeah. Yeah I can totally do that. It's not like I've talked to more people this afternoon than this month. I'll go talk to the Marine. The Marine with the Marine badge. Be back soon?" I nod and walk over toward the Marine sitting at the bar interviewing brawlers. Hopefully I don't walk to stiffly. Hopefully I don't look anxious. Of course I look anxious. "H-hi. I'm Arero. I'm traveling with Cipher and," the words come out like a waterfall, "I'm looking for some friends from Ko-Koro. I'm not sure if they got out, but I'm trying to find them. Do you know if Ga-Koro has any refugees from Ko-Koro? Somewhere I could look for my friends? My friends are short. I mean they're matoran so obviously they're short. Why did I say they were short? Sorry am I saying too much?"