Sparticus147

IC: Drukarus (Northern Zakazian Wastes) To the East Drukarus went, the sight of Irrnak's Tooth looming over him. An unnerving feeling ran through Drukarus's form at the sight of it, for even if he didn't know its name, Irrnak's spirit still lingered over and around it. As Drukarus made his way evermore Eastwards, his thoughts lingered onto those two matoran and the words that Mahrika spoke to him. "...shrine of my people...few remaining relics...Skakdi wiped us out..." Drukarus risked letting out a growl of discontentment from his lips at the thought of this world's skakdi. Back on the Zakaz he knew, Drukarus saw countless warlords find equally countless ways to measure their personal strength and prestige; from the amount of women and children they had, to the amount of soldiers and armaments, to the amount of land and wealth...but one of the most common measures of status was slaves... Drukarus remembered many a time where his warskaks conquered the lands of his rivals, taking their wealth, people, and land...as well as liberating their slaves...actually, liberating was a misleading term, more like changing hands. Their purpose was to work, their god ironically enough, proved the truth of that concept. But the way Drukarus treated the matoran was indeed different to how other skakdi dealt with them. Other skakdi saw matoran as nothing-less-than tools, treating them however they wanted to and throwing them out if they no longer become of use. But Drukarus treated them differently. He knew that to get the best use out of a tool you had to treat it right, and Drukarus knew to treat matoran like people...granted, they were a people lesser to him, only meant to work as their chosen purpose was by their god command, but treated like people they were. Compared to the average skakdi warchief, Drukarus was a toa sent from above to save them. Some skakdi called his mercy a weakness, but they learned quickly that his mercy didn't extend to his fellow kin and that he was more than willing to demonstrate his strength when needs be. If there was one thing that Drukarus hated, it was waste, and these skakdi, on this Zakaz, were nothing if wasteful in Drukarus's eyes, and he was going to fix that. OOC: Open For Interaction, Drukarus is making his way into the Ash Barrens presumably in the direction of Nektann and gang, so use that as you will.

IC: Drukarus (Stone Suva) "Mmmmm, so there isn't much you know really, disappointing, but...not surprising. Unless there is anything else you know that you are willing to share with me, I think our business is done." Arising from his seated position, Drukarus effortlessly with one hand, swung the large maul of his onto his back as he approached the two matoran. Slowing his steps as he passed the stone obelisks that surrounded the suva, Drukarus stopped once he came within two arms length of the matoran. Pulling his travel bag over to his side, Drukarus began to rummage through the bag before pulling out a singular roughly half empty water canteen. Tossing it to one of the matoran, Drukarus then turned towards the East and began to walk away, but not without saying one last thing. "Thank you for your service Mahrika and unnamed matoran, may we meet again in favorable circumstances...and may we never if they are not." OOC: @Burnmad @Harvali

IC: Drukarus (Stone Suve) "Ah, good, this game of back and forth of ours seems to have finally turned to my side of things...What I want from you two is information, more specifically, what do you know of the skakdi of this world?" As Drukarus spoke, he began to lean towards the two matoran's direction with interest for the answer that was to come to his answer. OOC: @Harvali @Burnmad IC: Uraborask & Skrillix (Uraborask's Shack) "Flying rahi? Do you know where I would have to go to find flying rahi, assuming you do not want me to bring you scavenging Kewas." As Uraborask spoke, he reared one of his long arms to point towards the south before continuing, "The place where I would find flying rahi would be the Fau Swamp, and I do not care to go there. Last time I went there, it was with a foolishly brave band of skakdi who hired me as a guide. They all died, one by one. The only reason I did not die was because of my skill and the fact that the one that hired me died from poisonous plant gas that I was resistant too." OOC: @Kal the Guardian

IC: Uraborask and Skrillix (Uraborask's Shack) A snarled poured out of Uraborask now present frown at the mention for being hired for another job. Uraborask was about to perhaps rebuff the skakdi when a ruckus of a sound came from behind him as Skrillix somehow managed to make her way out of the truck and proceeded to dash back towards Uraborask, yaps coming out the little hapaka's snout before she took noticed of the other skakdi that was there. Stopping for a moment, Skrillix stared at the skakdi with a cocked gazed before coming over to sniff at the skakdi's feet before Uraborask called out at the hapaka. "Skrillix! Heel hound...Humph, what is it you want skakdi?" Uraborask said with arms crossed, the hapaka sadly walking back towards Uraborask. OOC: @Kal the Guardian

IC: Drukarus (Stone Suva) "Tren Krom, never heard of that one before...I do not know this name or title you speak of...T r e n K r o m...Interesting word it is..." Drukarus pondered the situation at hand. Maybe he was being too hasty in the situation, his statement seemed to do little to ease the matoran's nerves...and this game of back and forth was so far not going anywhere. At least not anywhere in his benefit. "As for the head you keep referring to as a mountain. Yes, I did indeed come from it, there lies a city within it...Metru-Nui was what it was called if I am not mistaken, the city of legends wasn't it called unnamed matoran? As for where the head came from..." Drukarus raised his clawed gauntlet straight up, pointing towards the waning sky and sun, "...it came from up there, in fact, the rest of the body is probably still orbiting this world..as well as..the rest of my world and people." Drukarus dropped his clawed hand onto his lap, his gaze going distant and his thoughts being silenced at the thought of his people again, the people that may as well be dead at this point... OOC: @Harvali @Burnmad IC: Apex (Fire Ruins) Surveying and taking in the scene that surrounded her, Apex's senses were drawn towards the sound of two sets of footsteps as they crunched against the charred earth. Reeling her head in the direction of the sound, Apex bore witness to...two more machines!? "Great, first skakdi, and now these things...What else, a tahtorak raging down the mountainside?" "Machines, cease your approach and identify yourself!" Apex growled out towards the two vahki, her stinger rising ever so slowly over her wings. OOC: @Toru Nui IC: Uraborask and Skrillix (The Rig) Uraborask and Skrillix left Yoshimak's with a full belly each, a bag of leftovers in one hand, and still half a pouch's worth of widgets to spare. Uraborask was having a good day, and coming back to his truck unmolested by looters or skaklets was also a good sight. Uraborask was honestly starting to show a real smile of joy with his lovely hapaka, Skrillix, sitting in the front seat with him...That is, until he got home and saw another skakdi standing outside it. Uraborask turned towards Skrillix, and with a stern voice, told the hapaka to stay in the truck as Uraborask got out of the truck and began to approach the skakdi. "Are you a looter, because if you are, then I suppose I need to put up more skulls and spines. Honestly, two in one day would be quite the deal." OOC: @Kal the Guardian

IC: Drukarus (Stone Suva) "Oh, there you are, glad to know you went trying something that was going to fail..." Drukarus said with a level, unalarmed voice, taking a few moments to take in the matoran's words, wondering if their is something from that he could use for his benefit. "You are from the same place as me as well matoran...Then do you know who I really am? Because if you did, then you would know that I was once apart of the League, that I was a great and capable warrior, one that toa and other members of the League feared. And, if you knew of my home of Zakaz, then you would know that I was once a warlord myself, one who demanded discipline and obedience from my skakdi, that I was one of the few capable of making the savages that are my people into soldiers, being able to contain their destructive nature for...better causes." Drukarus said this and more, although his words spoke of someone to fear, he hoped that the subtler meaning within his speech would translate to these matoran, whether both of them are from the head or not, he hoped to say that he is against the League, that he is not like other skakdi, and that he is someone who can put the skakdi back in line. OOC: @Harvali @Burnmad

IC: Apex and Zak-Yak (Fire Ruins) Zak-Yak was glad to be free from the tunnels, the wrath of a Shagrak Spawn was nearly as legendary as Shagrak himself. Upon reaching the surface, Zak-Yak was greeted by the blinding, searing, and horrific light of the sun. At least, that was what Zak-Yak was told it was like, but when Zak-Yak was exposed to the light of the sun, he only felt, big, powerful, and warm. But Zak-Yak didn't have time to bask, as it seemed that Providence had his attentions caught onto something and so, Zak-Yak followed alongside his master Varian. ... Apex was beginning to get annoyed at whatever this being was, their talk of heretics and apostatized meant nothing to her and their refusal to reveal themselves did not help the irritation that was gnaw at the back of her mind. Her thoughts were only dragged away by the sound of another one of her kind making their appearance, alongside an entourage with some..blue creature, a..machine?..and a...Skakdi! The pale, pathetic thing was seemingly hiding and clutching behind the legs of this, machine, and it was this skakdi that reminded Apex why she was here. "Alright then administrator! If the promise of power and strength that I came here for is not to be given, then I have other places to be instead." And with that, Apex exited the chamber, giving a snarl towards Xane and Enra and a glower towards the pitiful Zak-Yak, eliciting a yelp of fear from the wretch. Exiting the Ruins, Apex took a moment to survey her surroundings, breathing in the ash and char filled air and the sight of barren trees and rock, the now hideous volcano bellowing out its stacks of deathly air. All of which reminded Apex of her goal, and the falsehoods that the Skakdi Xane spoke of. OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Keeper of Kraata @Nato the Traveler @~Xemnas~ @Eyru @Onaku @Toru Nui @Burnmad @Vezok's Friend @Snelly @xccj @Edelgard @Jakura Nuva IC: Drukarus (Stone Suva) "Good, good, these matoran were willing to speak, if not reveal themselves. That was...acceptable, for the moment." As Drukarus thought to himself, thinking upon the matoran's words, the sun bore ever on against his back. Although Drukarus had endured the sun's heat, simply standing as tall and as proud as he did, did not make it feel any less hot. Pulling out his maul, Drukarus dropped it, head first, into the sand. His hand slidding down the thick metal handle of it has he allowed his full weight to drop into the sand, him landing in a crisscrossed position as he sat a distance away from the matoran. Drukarus could at least trust that this matoran was willing to speak with him, but their invisible companion filled him with far less trust. With an ease garnered through experience, Drukarus ever so subtly channeled his elemental strength through the head of the maul, making a several bio radius around him increase in gravity by three times the normal amount. "That should stop any wanna-be assassins." “You … don’t look like the Skakdi I remember…I…I couldn’t have forgotten that much, could I?” "No Mahrika, your memory does not fail you. If you are a native to this island then I would be considered a foreigner, as I hail from a world far-off and now displaced from here." Drukarus spoke, smoothly and calmly, a matter-of-factness lining his tone as he pointed towards the head in the distance. "You say the skakdi of this land destroyed your people..." Drukarus paused once again, taking in the words they spoke, thinking them over and formulating a proper response. "That is...unsurprising. If the skakdi of this land are like the skakdi I know, then destruction is most certainly within their nature. To be honest, I can guess the destruction they have caused is more then just towards your people, I can guess at how this island has suffered from their hands...Senseless, wasteful, disappointing...Truly a shame what they have done." OOC: @Harvali @Burnmad

IC: Sala (Metru-Koro) Sala ran as fast as his matoran legs could carry him through the streets of Metru-Koro, passing other citizens as he ran. Sala needed to get to Second Skin, before the League finally arrived and started their attack. Eventually, Sala at last made it to the Southern Gate, with no one seemingly here, most likely taking cover or preparing to defend the Western wall. And standing near the gate was Second Skin, exactly where they left it. Approaching the ACR, Sala climbed up the leg of the machine, inserting the heartlight key within the chest of the ACR before climbing inside of it. "Okay, now time to get back to Sorilax." And so striding through the streets of Metru-Koro inside of Second Skin, Sala made his way back to the garrison to meet back up with Sorilax. OOC: @Kal the Guardian

IC: Drukarus (Stone Suva) Good, he was getting somewhere, he doubt the matoran were going to start trusting him like that but maybe he can at least get something out of these two. "If we are to speak, then may we do so face-to-face? If not, then at least tell me your names and what this structure is?" Even though he had not seen anything but these matoran since he had left Metru-Nui, he still didn't trust the open expanse he was in, and having to essentially shout to speak to these matoran didn't help keep their presence hidden to any patrolling skakdi or lurking rahi. OOC: @Harvali @Burnmad

IC: Drukarus (Stone Suva) As Drukarus approached the two matoran, he took care to be as unthreatening as he could manage, keeping his hands to his sides, open palms to his side, and his gaze off of the two matoran directly. But even these attempts proved fruitless with these two matoran, unsurprising really, neither was when one of the matorans disappeared. Whether or not these matoran were from the head or not, he could guess that the disappearing act was either some piece of Metru-Nui technology or some odd trait that these native matoran had. But Drukarus knew that his approach has put these two matoran on high alert, the opposite of what he intended. If these matoran were natives, then he had hoped to get information from them, and if they were from the head, perhaps they would still know something. Left with no other choice, Drukarus stopped his approach, just out of the estimated range of the ga-matoran with the kanoka, and spoke up. "I am Drukarus, I do not intend to harm you, all I simply desire is to speak. Reveal yourself and lay down your kanoka, neither shall do you any good." OOC: @Harvali @Burnmad IC: Gore Fury (McGrokk's Shop) Gore sat back down into his seat before taking off his shades, staring back towards McGrokk with a unusually gentle and...sad look for a skakdi, "I swear, I swear upon the grave of my mother that all I want to do is to show this world what real good food can taste like." Finishing his plea, Gore put back on his shades, waiting for Kunok's response. OOC: @Vezok's Friend

IC: Drukarus (Suva of Stone) For several days Drukarus has been making his way across the vast desert of Zakaz, looking for where those two skakdi emissaries came from, and hopefully, claim for himself another warskak to command. Drukarus had ensured before he left Metru-Nui and the League to pack up on as many supplies as he could carry and get away with, but even he didn't expect the harshness of this island, but he was strong, and he endured nonetheless. So far, he had seen hide nor hair of any traces of his fellow kin except old tracks and a few long-dead and desiccated corpses here and there. He had not seen anything or anyone of interest, till he made it over the crest of a sand dune and saw it, six tall pillars, jutting out of the barren wastes of this land. But that wasn't all, he also spied figures, too small to be skakdi, but maybe...matoran? "Matoran, out here? Mmmmm, no point in hiding and no way to hide, might as well approach openly." And so Drukarus did as he said, he approached the matoran, crossing the long distance between him and thin with slow methodical strides. OOC: @Harvali @Burnmad

IC: Vulimai (Taku) "Well, if we are going to attempt to board them, it might be best we know what we're boarding." Vulimai said as she put the communicator up to her mouth and begin to speak in it, "Jorak, this is Vulimai, I am aboard the Taku and we are currently making a plan to come and assist you currently, but we need to know the capabilities of the other three ships and the current crews of them as well. Can you give this to us Jorak?" OOC: @Tarn @The UltimoScorp @BULiK @Keeper of Kraata @TL01 NUVA @Onaku

IC: Vulimai (Taku) "I know if that ship is on our side, I have been in contact with a toa Jorak since we crash landed here. He has been conducting reconnaissance on the League for me for the past week, the last time I communicated with him was earlier today after I left turaga Sans's hut. If I'm correct, that is Toa Jorak piloting that vessel right now, ALONE, and he is going to need our help if we are not going to take the opportunity to discourage the League into leaving before things get out of hand. I can contact him right now even." As Vulimai finished her statement, she pulled out the two-way communicator out of her satchel and waved it for Knichou to see. OOC: @Tarn @The UltimoScorp @BULiK @Keeper of Kraata @TL01 NUVA

IC: Vulimai (Taku) "Who the Karz are you?" "I am Guard Captain Vulimai of Metru-Koro and I request access to your ships radio if it has a working one. It appears that one of the League ships has turned against the other three and this might be the chance we need to settle this conflict with as little loss of life as we can." … Making their way through the stone halls of the garrison, Juno and Sorilax headed down the stairs into the lower levels of the garrison and into the armory. Entering the dimly lit armory, rows and rows of stacked kanoka disks and masks and weapons filled the space as multiple matoran went to work at high alert, taking supplies to guards on the walls. One onu-matoran stood out, for unlike the rest, he was standing in one place, surveying the whole scene delivering commands to the rest of the matoran working within it. Approaching the onu-matoran, Juno spoke to Bronk, "Bronk, what's the count on kanoka's? How many of them are useable against an assault?" "Oh Juno, well we've counted and recounted them and we got around eight dozen disks, about half of which can be genuinely or potentially useful in a combative sense. We have mainly onu-disks but we are lacking in po-disks with a roughly equal amount on the other four types." Turning towards Juno after giving a quick command to a duo of matoran moving a crate, Bronk took notice of the other figure within the chamber. "Whose this Juno and why is he in my armory?" "Oh he's..." "Oh, I am Sorilax, I am here due to several variables. One being the severe structural damage inflicted upon my vessel by a giant centipede located within the Fau Swamp, which is south of here. Very nasty creature, I might add. you should do your best to avoid them...Do you have anything that might be able to help? Your Turaga implied as such." Bronk looked at Sorilax with the same disinterested look that he gave everything else for several second before finally barking out to a passing matoran, "Go retrieve me a regeneration kanoka, no special type, level...6 if we have one. Hopefully that'll be enough to repair the damage. You there, uuuhh, Sorilax, stand where you are so you don't get in the way of anything, we'll get you fixed up in a second." And so, Sorilax stood there, not wanting to offend these helpful lesser... equal beings who have so kindly dedicated a portion of their time in his assistance. Eventually, the matoran returned with the disk as requested, although it was one level lower than sixth. With a grunt of dissatisfaction at the failure to get his exact request, Bronk waved the matoran off before turning towards Sorilax, "Ok now, hold still, this might...hurt?" Tapping the disk onto Sorilax's chest, a sudden effect immediately took hold, as servos and motors and bolts and plates and pistons all began to mend and heal and realign. The melted patches from Torch retreated, the chest cavity ballooned back to its full size, the color even partially returned, till at last, Sorilax was once again restored to his full range of motion. Sorilax's mind was left racing at that moment, just the miracualousness of such a seemingly simple device. A simple disc could do this much? It was outstanding, something that he would have loved to examine himself if it wasn't for another thought that stopped him...Sala, his apprentice, he needed to get back to him. Thanking the Bronk (Either the Matoran's name or rank, he wasn't sure), Sorilax was guided back up the stairs of the armory, into the garrison, to meet with Sala when the Matoran of Plasma returned. As he waited, Sorilax inwardly thanked the Matoran again. The amount of money needed to repair his body would have been immense. It was custom, delicate work, and most Skakdi mechanics wouldn't have been able to handle it. Either due to temperament or skill. Yes, he owned much to the Matoran species and his friend Sala, who helped him navigate where he might otherwise be shunned. One simple disc fixing so much. Incredible. Le-Metru Nuva needed supplies like this. The Kanoka they had currently were not of much help he had been told. Hopefully the mines they had been preparing to dig when he left were faring well and they could figure out someplace to set up a forge. OOC: @Tarn @The UltimoScorp @BULiK @Keeper of Kraata @TL01 NUVA @Kal the Guardian Jammed out with Kal.

IC: Sala (Metru-Nui Garrison) As Sala was about to respond to Juno, the sound of a loud horn resonated throughout the entirety of the garrison, a look of shocked surprise sweeping across Juno's face. "What's that?" "That's the signal horn of the garrison, to announce to Metru-Koro that an attack is on its way. The League is here. Listen, you two need to get into the New Archive as soon as possible, it'll be safe down there." Juno said to the two with a commanding certainty. "Wait, I friend here needs his chassis fixed first, isn't there anything we can do to get that done?" "Listen, it's not safe for you two, but if he needs his chassis to be fixed, he can follow me to the armory, maybe we can spare a regeneration kanoka or two. Come along now, you get to the New Archive though." Juno said to Sala, but Sorilax stopped Sala before he left. "Sala, wait, take this." Sorilax said as he passed Sala the keys to Second Skin, "Sala, I need you to get Second Skin, we left it by the South Gate. Where is this armory Guard Matoran Juno?" "It's actually within the garrison itself." "Good, in that case Sala, meet me here outside the garrison and we can make our way to these New Archives." And with that, Sala and Sorilax split ways, Sala going to the South Gate to retrieve Second Skin and Sorilax going with Juno to get his chassis hopefully repaired. OOC: @Kal the Guardian Puppeting approved by Kal the Guardian IC: Vulimai (Metru-Nui Western Wall) Vulimai needed to get to that airship, she needed to at least attempt one to make peaceful contact with the League, to if not save Metru-Koro then to buy them time. It was only when Vulimai heard the confused shouts of the guard matoran that she passed that she slowed her pace and looked to see what the commotion was. What she saw left her momentarily stunned, the sight of one of the League ships, seemingly turning on all the others. Seeing that, Vulimai's mind went to one thought, "Jorak, you son of a visorak." But Vulimai knew that this wasn't over. One airship against three, any and all damage these League ships were going to sustain were only going to work with the element of surprise, Jorak has most certainly lost that. But, with their ships damaged, they might be more willing to halt their assault. So once again Vulimai continued to run, now with a new found vigor and hope driving her, as she arrived at the Taku and entered it, hoping to find the captain of this vessel. OOC: @BULiK

IC: Gore Fury (McGrokk's Shop) "What do you mean by strange, you don't like Takea tacos? Hah, I'm just messing with you. Listen, I don't think I've even introduce myself honestly, names Gore Fury great to meet you." As Gore introduced himself, he took a bite out of the taco, the mixture of vegetables creating a sensational feeling within his mouth alongside his flavor sauce exploding from the tender Takea filet within it, a sound of satisfaction coming from his mouth. "Oh, that's a good taco, mmm yeah, but, back on topic. The reason I came here is because I need help. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not from here, I'm from that big head, crazy right? And, for my entire life, I've had one passion, food, and now, I've been given a whole new world of food to explore. But, I don't know if there is anything to be found to be honest. And yeah, I know this place got itself a fair few food dens, I was just at Yumiwak's just a second ago, but I could tell that the cooking spirit wasn't quite there, the showmanship of it all, it's missing. So I think, it might be time for this old skak to set up shop and open an establishment of my own, to show these skakdi how it's done, one where I can show everyone the real meaning of food, and I need help getting something like that set-up. So what do you think?" Gore finally ended, standing from the table, a half-eaten taco in one hand, his hands spread out in an odd gesture as a feignly confident grin was plastered on his face, his shade starting to slip off his snout. OOC: @Vezok's Friend IC: Apex (Fire Ruins) Apex laid there on her side of chamber, curled upon the floor and sulkily thinking over her situation and the words of that foreign skak. She laid there unmoving, unbreathing even, until the shocking feeling flowed through her form, the sense of entrapment leaving her mind. Rising to her feet, Apex let out a joyful trill, the sound reminiscent of the tropical birds that once dwelled within the jungles to the south. "Maybe I will allow those skakdi to live..." Apex thought to herself, before being interrupted by some new and unknown voice. “Wow. Three in one day. You all decided to get a life again? Oh. Oh no no no. Why do you keep bringing apostates and heretics into these hallowed chambers? I am the Administrator. Please state your names. And while I can’t make you leave, you heretics are not welcome.” "RARGH! Who are you, are you the one that attempted to trap me within this prison?! I am Apex, predator of the skakdi, and I shall not be trapped, by skak or by whatever being you are, now reveal yourself!" Apex roared out into the chamber as a whole, trying to illicit a response from this administrator. OOC: @Onaku @~Xemnas~ @Eyru @Nato the Traveler @Keeper of Kraata @Toru Nui @Unreliable Narrator IC: Vulimai (Metru-Koro Garrison) Vulimai blew on the horn with all her breath, till she couldn't blow on the horn anymore. Slumping over the railing next to the horn, Vulimai looked down towards the whole of Metru-Koro for one last time, the sight of the matoran and inhabitants making their way to the New Archive, just as she ordered them to practice that day. Her matoran guards were quickly moving into position, taking up the walls and preparing to sling out their kanoka's if the enemy dared to get in range, she just hoped that they could do something, anything, against this threat. As she looked across the whole of the settlement, she spied the Taku, located by the northern gates. She knew that she should stay with her matoran, to command them against this threat, but that airship...if it has a working radio, then maybe, just maybe, she could perhaps, at best, buy the matoran time. Turning back towards the hatch, Vulimai quickly descended the stairs, stopping by her office to grab her halberd, and taking the exit that ran along the walls, she made her way towards the northern gate, towards the Taku, as fast as she could.

IC: Vulimai (Guard Captain's Office) "Toa Jorak, Vulimai speaking, do you copy, over?!" As Vulimai spoke into the communicator, hoping for a response, she wondered if the last time they spoke was the last time she was ever to hear from the toa. Setting down the communicator down onto the desk, Vulimai sat there, contemplating all that was to happen for several long stressful minutes. Knowing nothing else to do and needing to be alone with some fresh air, Vulimai made her way out of her office, taking the communicator out of some desperate hope. Heading down the hallway, Vulimai turned towards the stairs that lead to the tower extending out of the fortress, hoping that no one is up there at the moment. Moving open the hatch to the tower's peak, Vulimai walked out into the twilight light of the down casted head, looking over Metru-Koro as a whole taking in the cool night air. … Making their way across the dunes and hills towards the shattered head, within lies Metru-Nui and the terrible enemy that now dwells within it. Gree and Paya walked for several hours in silence, the tension of the whole affair making the normally chatty couple move in utter silence. It was only when they were a one third of the way there that the silence was broken, as the po-matoran Gree turned towards his partner Paya, a ga-matoran. "Paya, why did you come along with me? Why didn't you stay within Metru-Koro, where it is safe?" "Because Gree, I wasn't going to let you do this alone kolhii-head. I don't trust you wondering off without getting in trouble, and...and..." "Hey, hey, Paya, look at me, nothing is going to happen, I'm sure of it. Let's just think of that beach house we always wanted, us weaving baskets made out of dried kelp, me keeping a pen of ussal crabs." "Yeah, yeah, I remember, do you think we should set up camp since it's getting dark or should we keep going." "Well, let's first get over this hill and see...how..much..farther it is..." "Gree, what is..it..." The two matoran stood in stunned silence, as in the distance, around halfway from Metru-Koro to Metru-Nui and closing swiftly, were the silhouetted navigation lights of League airships. It was Paya who finally regained her senses first, with Gree following along as Paya shook him out of his stupor as the two quickly got to work setting up the signal fire, hoping that someone, anyone would spy the smoke trail or the dim light of the fire as they finally got it alight. Standing there, doing everything they can to keep the fire alight, the two matoran held each other, praying heedless prays to a dead god, for both their safety and the safety of those they knew. … Eventually, Vulimai's eyes were drawn towards the vast expansive desert beyond the city, her gaze shifting across the entirety of the island, stopping upon the constant mockery to their failure, the head of Mata-Nui. For a long time, her gaze held fixed the half-closed eyes of a now dead god, the sense that she was also staring into the eyes of a deadly predator niggled at the back of her mind. Until another sight got her attention, a thin, barely seen trail of smoke snaking high into the sky coming from a dim light in the distance. But that was not the only thing she saw, she also bore witness to the impending lights of several League airships, getting closer to Metru-Koro every second. "Karz." Was all that slipped out of Vulimai's lips as she grabbed the alarm horn placed upon the top of the tower, and taking in as deep of a breath as she could, she blew. The bellowing sound of the horn began to sweep across the whole of the settlement, alerting each and every single person within Metru-Koro, alerting them, that their end has come. OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Toru Nui @Kal the Guardian @Onaku @Eyru @ZippyWharrgarbl @Nato the Traveler @Keeper of Kraata @Tarn @A-tak-nid @Conway @Azibo @BULiK @The UltimoScorp "We're in the end game now."

IC: Gore Fury (McGrokk's Shop) Being given consent, Gore immediately went to work within the kitchen. Clearing away the kitchen to allow for a cleanish workspace to cook upon, Gore went looking for whatever this kitchen had to cook with. Going through the cold storage unit, Gore was greeted by the sight of...fish, lots and lots of fish. Although fish didn't have a lot of options to in cooking, it did help narrow down the potential dishes that he could make. Checking the various cabinets and drawers for further ingredients, Gore was greeted by the most miraculous sight, spices of all sorts and varieties, more than he had ever seen within a singular kitchen. With all of this, Gore knew exactly what he needed to make. Going through the fish selections, Gore saw the usual suspects, Ruki Fish, Cave Fish, Razorfish, and then, he noticed some (relatively) fresh Takea meat. Pulling out the long filets of shark, Gore placed the flanks onto cleared table and pulled out his special flavor sauce and lathered the filets thoroughly within it. Leaving the fish to soak in the sauce, Gore went to work on making some homemade flour tortillas and filler the dish. Managing to find some vegetables within the mess of kitchen, Gore proceeded with superb skill and intense concentration dice peppers, onions, tomatoes, lettuce to make killer filler for some special Takea tacos. Slapping the Takea filets onto the suspended grill within the corner of the kitchen, the flavor sauce soaked deeper within the filets from the searing heat, infusing the filets with ever more flavor as Gore looked on towards the cooking fish with delight. With the Takea filets done cooking, and cutting up the meat into shredded bits, Gore artfully laid the meat within the soft flour taco shells with the mixture of peppers, tomatoes, onions, and lettuces before presenting the two dishes before himself and McGrokk. "Ok friend, I think this meeting can really get started now, what do you think?" Gore said as he gestured towards the tacos on McGrokk's plate. OOC: @Vezok's Friend IC: Sala (Metru-Koro Garrison) "That certainly would help them I'm sure, and it would also help us as well." Sala said as he led Sorilax towards the garrison building. As the two entered the stone structure, the glow of lightstones illuminating the interior as they entered what can be presumed as a main meeting hall, the two were quickly spotted by a po-matoran guard coming down from a nearby set of stairs. Approaching the duo, the guard spoke to Sala first, "Hey there friend, what brings you and your..." the matoran paused as he looked past Sala towards the odd figure of Sorilax, "...companion to the garrison? If you're here specifically for Guard Captain Vulimai, I assure you she has her own business she needs to attend to, but I, Second-in-Command Guard Juno, can help you with whatever you need." OOC: @Kal the Guardian

IC: Gore Fury (McGrokk's Shop) "Oh, I know this ain't a restaurant, no offense but I can't imagine one happening here. But you see that isn't why I am here you see. That thing you mentioned, on having being clever to hide your own food, bah, not my style. You see, I'm on a quest, to see the greatest diners, drive-ins, and dives and use that knowledge to create the single greatest epicenter for food anyone has ever seen, and word on the Rig is that you can help me on that." Gore said has he made his way towards the kitchen, the mess of it momentarily repelling him before he turned back towards McGrokk. "Hey, you mind if I whip something up for the two of us as we talk, I do better when I got a plate of food in front of me?" Gesturing towards the kitchen. OOC: @Vezok's Friend

IC: Sala (Metru-Koro) As the two beings walked out of the turaga's hut, passing the various individuals outside of the place, the two of them began to make their way through the roads of Metru-Koro. Guards and citizens alike busily ran to and forth, carrying supplies, arms, or other such goods to their needed destination. The entire city was alive with anticipation for what might be coming, unknowing the direness of their situation truly. "Okay Sorilax, the garrison should be coming into sight any second now." Soon, as they neared the walls themselves, the sight of a large stone rectangular building came into sight, empty windows placed upon the second floor of the building allowed for kanoka throwers to attack anyone on the ground and a large tower came out of one side of the garrison, granting sight across the settlement the whole thing being built into the walls themselves. OOC: @Kal the Guardian IC: Gore Fury (McGrokk's Shop) "Oh, why hello there my illustrious friend, you must be Mr. McGrokk? I've heard a few things about you good sir and I came to see it for myself." Gore said, using his presence and charm to essentially invite himself within McGrokk's shop, taking in the full crowded and dishevel sight of McGrokk's shop. "Seems like you got quite the plentiful establishment here, but I got to ask this, what's your opinion on...food?" OOC: @Vezok's Friend IC: Uraborask and Skrillix (The Rig) Admiring his handiwork for a brief moment, Uraborask returned to his truck, giving Skriliix a scratch on the head before driving into the Rig itself. Going slowly over the various wide walkways and gangplanks, Uraborask eventually reached the garages, where skakdi pay to keep their rigs out of the public parking and secure. Remembering the last time Uraborask had a run-in with a garage worker, Uraborask chose to risk the public parking lots and the thieves who might try to rob him. Finding a relatively isolated lot, Uraborask parked his truck, and with Skrillix, made his way towards Yoshimak's Hotspot'n'Sushi to get some food.

IC: Vulimai (Guard Captain's Office) The two of them sat there within the office, simply taking in each other's company. Eventually, Vulimai began to straighten herself within her chair and turned towards Juno, her soft exterior returning to the cold hard look of a leader. “If you want to help me carry my burdens then you can go find Twesh and his chosen kanoka throwers and give them their posts along the western wall, we need to have the entire western side covered by at least two matoran at any point. Also, go check in with Bronk, give me the exact numbers we have on what’s in the armory from him.” Juno, standing up from the floor next to Vulimai, gave her a mocking salute before heading towards the door, being stopped by Vulimai just before he left. “One more thing, go check on the New Archive, see what fortifications there are currently and keep an eye on anyone who can assist on the fortifications.” “Got it Captain.” Juno gave one last cheeky smile before heading out the door. Once again left alone, Vulimai sat there in contemplation within her office, pulling back out the communicator and looking down onto it thoughtfully. With a final sigh, Vulimai pressed the button to open communications and spoke into the device, “Vulimai speaking, Jorak you there?” OOC: @Onaku IC: Apex (Fire Ruins) Glaring at the purple skak, Apex's eyes lingered away towards the shadowy tendrils that surrounded her. Noticing the tendrils, Apex seemingly…recoiled at the shadows under her own control, the tendrils quickly recoiled back into where they came from. Turning away from the room's occupants, Apex curled against the wall, a light chuffing sound coming from her maw. “You tell me my hate is misguided, but I tell you this. Before the skakdi ever came, there were matoran, and those matoran knew the balance between nature and their own civilization. They never experienced my wrath, but the skakdi…You say what they have done is in the name of progress, but the only progress I have witnessed is the progressive destruction of this island and its people.” OOC: @~Xemnas~ @Onaku @Eyru @Nato the Traveler @Toru Nui @Keeper of Kraata

IC: Apex (Fire Ruins) Apex glowered from her spot on the floor, not yet readying to pounce but certainly eyeing the two skakdi and this...reptilian creature with a cautious predatory gaze. Apex focused her gaze upon this being, inhaling deep its scent when a word sprung to her mind...Zyglak. The smell reminded her of moist sea salt, of howling caves, and of an ancient neglected people. "Ah, now I recognize what you are." Apex said, leveling her gaze towards Rangi, her gaze actually softening somewhat, "You are one of the zyglaks if I am not mistaken. I remember your kind, sometimes they hunted me, sometimes I hunted them, but they never did anything to truly draw my ire, and for that, I shall leave you with mercy as a courtesy." "As for you." Apex's attention was now drawn towards the skakdi, Xane, "Even if the skakdi of this land took the time to at least record the history of their greatest predator, I'm sure even you wouldn't of heard of me within the short time you have been upon the island." As Apex spoke, she begin to rise from her position, ascending to her full height, her wings spread as far as they could within the chamber, "I am Apex, one of the ancient aspects of this island. I have existed long before the skakdi ever came here and ruined it the beauty of this land." "You see, before the skakdi ever came to this island,it was lush, alive, and beautiful. The bays were filled with cool, pure, fresh water so clear you could see the sparkling reefs that lined the coast. The jungles were a host of twisted vines, roots, and branches where host to the most colorful birds, insects, and flowers. The mountains were like great stoic sentinels, capped with white snow as glaciers moved between them. But then the skakdi came, and destruction followed in their wake." "And so, I fought back, destroying their settlements, shattering their vehicles, and sundering their people to the very last, till, a skakdi warlord by the name of Nektann imprisoned me. And now, after so many eternities later, I come to see the bay are now so polluted that the fish within them are choking on their own breath. The jungles are now home to the most blighted and monstrous of flora and fauna that only the skakdi could dream of them. And the glaciars, the GLACIARS, whether they were crushed by that head or simply melted from the vicious heat expelled by the volcanic heart of the island, enraged by the vile witches and their Nightmare Pit...Now then, do you see why I hate the skakdi." A terrible roar left Apex's throat as she ended her rageful rant, each word she spoke descending ever more so into a horrid growling bellow, the monstrous form of Apex seething with a wrathful hate as tendrils of darkness had slowly made their way from every corner of the room to surrounded Apex, like vines staining the chambers floor. OOC: @~Xemnas~ @Eyru @Nato the Traveler @Toru Nui @Keeper of Kraata @Onaku

IC: Apex (Fire Ruins) As Apex glared towards the two skaks and the other being with them, looking past Tuakana, the stinger of her tail twitched as another unknown entity entered the room from behind her. Nearly striking out, Apex reeled her tail into check as she realized the entity was another aspect, this one bearing the same unfamiliar and fresh scent as the other aspect she met alongside Tuakana. This new arrival seemed to immediately take control of the situation, imploring the non-aspects to tell of their names and business, both of which Apex did not care for...till the purple skakdi revealed their foreign nature. "You hail from that blot in the horizon?" Sniffing the air, Apex took in deep the skakdi's scent, and although it was recognizable for that of a skakdi, it was most certainly off from the usually scents of motor oils and caked grime, "Yes, both your scent and visage is not like that I know. But, if you and your kind are anything like the skakdi I already know, then you are just as much of a threat to this island as they are." Moving away from the door, keeping her side next to the wall and moving parallel to the non-aspects within the center of the chamber, Apex laid down against the wall to the left of the door. Laying her head upon one of her large foreclaws, Apex gestured with her smaller arms towards the trio before continuing. "So, I am not only trapped, but the promise of power and strength that I was expecting is not here, so tell me this skakdi, If we are trapped within this chamber with no way out, what keeps me from killing you as a final pleasure before I am trapped for another millennia?" OOC: @~Xemnas~ @Eyru @Nato the Traveler @Toru Nui @Keeper of Kraata @Onaku IC: Gore Fury (The Rig) As Gore made his way through the Rig, he was constantly and continually surprised by the splendor the Rig had to bare offer, food stalls, market stands, warehouses, and all galore. From first impressions, one wouldn't know what to make of the Rig on first sights, but to Gore, it was a land of potential adventure, and Gore loved every second of it. Asking several skakdi in order to get directions to McGrokk's, each with varying levels of success, Gore eventually made it outside of the shop, a large somewhat garish sign on top of it. Rasping onto the door, Gore waited excitedly for the whoever may answer the door, hoping they could help him with his quest for food. OOC: @Vezok's Friend IC: Uraborask and Skrillix (Uraborask's Shack) Another day passed as Uraborask drove in relative silence, having to make occasional stops in order to allow the hapaka, Skrillix, to relieve itself. More then once, Uraborask had to chase after the hapaka after it started to chase after a stray insect or rat. Although the Skrillix's wildness brought annoyance to Uraborask, he did find enjoyment in the brief moments with Skrillix, and he was glad for the company. Eventually, the two of them finally returned to his shack, the two entering the hut with Skrillix immediately taking a spot upon the couch. Looking at the hapaka with a bemused look, Uraborask returned to the truck, carrying the dead tradeskaks corpse to his carving house before he went to work...By the time Uraborask was done, it was late at night, a severed skakdi skull and spine in one hand and a headless body in the other. Reaching the front porch of his shack, Uraborask hung the skakdi's skull on the roof, a sign saying "PREY" hanging beneath it, joining the other heads and spines hanging and mounted out front. Heading inside the shack, Uraborask was immediately greeted by Skrillix, a hungry whine coming out of the hapaka's snout. Picking up the hapaka, Uraborask returned to the truck, dumping the headless skak and a large spiked pole in the back bed. With Skrillix sharing the front seat with Uraborask, the two of them made their way to the Rig to get some food with some well liberated widgets, stopping outside of the actual entrance to the Rig to mount the body onto the pole, a sign that says, "Beware the aspect Ulkarr and his realm to the west, Po-Koro."

IC: Gore Fury (The Rig) "Tsk, noice!" Was all that Gore could say as he dug into the plate of eggrolls that he had bought within Yoshimak's Hotspot'n'Sushi. The sharp crunch of the eggroll shell giving way to the textured mixture of shredded vegetables and savory chopped meats that was loaded within the eggrolls. The savory dark sauce next to the platter adding a whole new layer to the intense flavor of this finger food snack fest. Looking up from his plate, Gore waved his hand to the skakdi bartender who served him the plate in the first place to get his attention, "Listen, Yoshimak, right? This, I gotta tell you, has to be some of the BEST eggrolls I ever had in my life. Truly, you got a real good deal with this place going on but, don't mind me, from one chef to another, I think I might know what would make these eggrolls go through the roof." Looking up from the glass he is cleaning, the brown skakdi Yoshimak addressed the bombastic figure before him, "Oh really now? What would that be stranger?" Yoshimak replied with feigning interest. "Well first off, you're going to need some gukko eggs, and then..." laughter broke out from the Yoshimak's grinning maw as Gore spoke, "You really are a stranger ain't'cha? Listen, I like your enthusiam, really I do, but ain't no way in Irrnak's cavities is anyone going to be willing to brave the Fau Swamp just for some eggrolls. Honestly, you sound as mad as ole' McGrokk." For a brief moment, Gore was incensed that someone would suggest that something wasn't worth it for the food, but, this skakdi did make Gore a very nice plate of eggrolls, and it wouldn't be very guest-like to assault the host for such a transgression. So, taking a moment to calm himself, Gore simply stood up, look Yosimak in the eye, and said, "Well, maybe I should give this McGrokk fellow a visit." And like that, Gore left, leaving Yosimak to laugh at the thought of that skak getting himself killed. OOC: @Vezok's Friend IC: Apex (Fire Temple) As Apex surged into the chamber, finally freeing herself from the stone aperture, a feeling washed over Apex. She felt a sensation that she didn't expect to feel so soon and to feel ever again, the feeling of being trapped. Turning back towards the entrance, Apex attempted to enter the hallway once again, but was repelled by some unknown force as a blazing sensation swept its way through her form and into her very core being. Apex made several more attempts to break free, ramming and clawing against the invisible force, being repelled by the same electrical shock that rocked her system before turning back towards the individuals within the chamber. A beastial rage shimmering in her eyes, Apex glared at the two skakdi before letting out in a low hostile growl, "What vile trap have you laid for me once again filthy skaks? Releashed me now, and I will allow you to live till we meet again." OOC: @Eyru @Nato the Traveler @Keeper of Kraata @Toru Nui @Onaku

IC: Torak (Irrnak's Tooth) As Torak was dragged behind the rest of the band of skakdi, left to his own devices once again, the smell of ash disappeared. But it wasn't just the smell that disappeared, it was also the feeling of being pulled along, the touch of another skakdi fleeing away from his. His hearing, first building up into a high pitch whine that seemed to be nearly unbearable, suddenly stopped and left Torak with a deafening silence that he hated more than the whine. Even his sense of taste left him, as with each swallow felt hollow, empty, and cold with a stone ten times his weight collapsing within his own gut. And so, Torak, stripped of his sight, was slowly stripped of every other sense he could possibly rely on, till the void consumed him. And then a hand clasped itself onto the back of his head, and Torak's internal cries of desperation and terror became vocal, "Oh by IRNAKK'S BLOODY TOOTH! I've seen it, our doom, our end, our predator! Not that beast that calls itself Apex, NO! For this is the predator above all, the nightmare beast, the void itself and host of the dark! So run, RUN, run while you still can! By this point, Torak had managed to pull free from the two skakdi that had been dragging, shrieking and babbling incoherently and hysterically about things from the void and nightmare beasts, with him clawing at his own eyeless sockets and ears, forcing the two skakdi to physically restrain the mad red skak before he injured himself even more, his wails and shrieks descending into quiet sobs and moans. OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Nato the Traveler @Keeper of Kraata @Conway @Burnmad IC: Apex (Fire Temple) Apex, following the promise of power and her fellow aspect, entered the temple last, her claws digging into the ancient stone to pull herself forwards, her wings tucked tightly against her body. As she strolled through the halls, gazing at the long ancient architecture of the temple, her mind went back to an earlier time, a time before skakdi, a time before...the matoran even. When the island was a pure virgin, unspoiled and ripe with verdant growth and life. When the gukko birds soared in flocks and the dermis turtles sung their song by the sea, when the fikou spiders built their elaborate webs and the kikanalos ran in their herds. These memory came to Apex unbidden and without pause, like she would've wanted to not see the beauty that once was. These visions merely bolstered Apex's desire, her grand wish. Eventually making it into the end of the halls and into a large chamber, the size of which could potentially fit two or more of herself within its space, but the size was not what she noticed, for even through the scent of ash and brimstone, she could recognize that smell a mile away, the smell...of skakdi. Halfway into the room itself, having to claw her bulk through the arched entrance, Apex's eyes laid fixed and bound on the two skakdi within the room, ignoring the zyglak and his hound companion. Attempting to force her way into the room with as much force as she could muster, her claws digging and shattering the ancient stone, Apex let out a single word, masked under the terrible roar she bellowed out alongside it, "SKAKDI!!" OOC: @Eyru @Toru Nui @Nato the Traveler @Onaku @~Xemnas~