Sparticus147

IC: Vulimai (Guard Captain's Office) "Ah, you knew about that. Well unfortunately, the absolute authority that is Turaga Sans has chosen war over peace, no matter how temporary one would've be. We have been left with an ultimatum, two days, the mask of creation, or Metru-Koro is gone...Huhh, honestly Jorak, I don't know what I should do. Any suggestions or useful news?" OOC: @Onaku

IC: Vulimai (Guard Captain's Office) Vulimai sat there for a long time, simply trying to work through the feelings she was going through. She had fought with her fellow matoran back in the siege, doing whatever she could. But it was a losing battle throughout, no matter how hard she tried. The only reprieve being whenever a toa or two would arrive, only for them to win the battle and to leave the rest of the war to the matoran as they ran off to save the day somewhere else. And now, it seemed like everything was repeating itself, Karz it wasn't repeating it's continuing. Like this spirit forsaken war. Lifting back up her head and wiping away the hot hateful tears that were on her kanohi, Vulimai dug through her desk drawer before pulling out the two-way communicator she kept in it. Tuning the communicator and hesitating for one long tense moment, she finally spoke, trying to her best to keep her voice level and stern, "Toa Jorak, copy?" OOC: @Onaku

IC: Vulimai (Metru-Koro Garrison) As Vulimai made her way towards the garrison, ignoring the intrusive honking that seemed to be coming from the turaga's hut, her thoughts were filled to the brim. She couldn't believe Sans, attempting something as foolish as to incite war with the League, and then there were all these toa galivanting about, never being around when you needed them. Although Vulimai's thoughts were clouded and distracted, she did make sure to tell every guard she saw to rally at the garrison for a meeting and to tell any other guards they saw on the way. Eventually Vulimai finally made it to the large stone structure that was built into the western wall, large enough to house the entire guard and then some, it was the most fortified building within Metru-Koro, behind perhaps the new archives if San's plan was too work. Entering the building, Vulimai immediately went to her office in order to have a brief moment to herself, before her world was to come crashing down all over again.

IC: Sala (Metru-Koro) Sala was slightly perturbed with the nonchalantness in Sorilax's word, as he wasn't sure if that was simply a quirk of Sorilax's nature or him not understanding the severity of such an occurrence. Regardless, Sorilax was indeed correct they needed to warn the guard, but the words of the other figure caught him in his tracks. "Mmmmm, will, even if the aspects may be less then moral beings, they are still sentient beings nonetheless. It would be wrong to kill them, wouldn't it?" Sala asked himself more then anyone else...Sorilax's words echoing in his mind over how those who commit harm to others for no reason other then to do so deserve to be put down. OOC: @Kal the Guardian @Burnmad

IC: Sala (Metru-Koro) "I..uh..um...Ok toa, have a good day?" Sala felt, no knew, something was wrong here. No real toa would have themselves a kraata, and unlike that toa of light, Sala felt a dangerous air around that toa. Moving out of the way of the ko-toa, Sala quickly made his ways to the gate and at last returned to Sorilax. "Ah Sorilax, I'm back. Sorilax, I met another toa with a kraata and I don't think this one is as innnocent as that toa of light was." OOC: @Dane-gerous @Kal the Guardian @Burnmad IC: Vulimai (Turaga Sans Hut) Vulimai throughout the entire affair between Sans and the two split toa, didn't once let her guard nor halberd down. It was only once the twi-toa left that Vulimai at last let her halberd rest within her hands. Turning towards Sans, Vulimai simply said, "If you are done asserting your dominance as Turaga and we are done planning, I'm going to get the matoran prepared for what is too come." About to walk through the door pass the fe-matoran and the skakdi, Vulimai quickly turned back towards the remaining visitors that had come with the twi-toa, "If you want to help prepare this settlement for the League, come to the garrison near the western wall." And with that, Vulimai left to make her way towards the garrison to rally the matoran guard and to prepare for their end. OOC: @Azibo @Snelly @Tarn @TL01 NUVA @Dane-gerous @Keeper of Kraata @Toru Nui @Smudge8 @Conway

IC: Sala (Metru-Koro) "Oh, oh! My apologies t-toa, it's just that..um..uh...Hold on, let's start over, I'm Sala, chronicler." This toa sounded harsh, almost threatening even, that scared Sala, but this toa also seemed wreary, maybe even ill looking. Sala would have to be careful here he could tell, he needed to get back to Sorilax. OOC: @Dane-gerous

IC: Vulimai (Turaga Sans Hut) Seeing Sans being grabbed by this toa, toas? Vulimai senses instantly kicked in as she pulled out her halberd and pointed it in the direction of the two. "Hey now, release Sans immediately. I would like to knock some sense into him as much as anyone else but I am not going to allow you to just give him up just like that. Surrender now, or else I will do something both of us will regret!" Although Vulimai knew she was no match for the toa, she was still not going to let these two get away with whatever their doing without a fight. It also helped that one of the other toa was also taking her side. OOC: @Tarn @Keeper of Kraata @Azibo @TL01 NUVA @Snelly @Toru Nui

IC: Sala (Metru-Koro) Sala was left waiting for a reply as everyone within the cargo hauler seemed to walk right past him, leaving the su-matoran to his own devices. Leaving the cargo hauler, Sala thought it was best to get back to Sorilax as soon as possible. Making his way through the streets of Metru-Koro, once again surprised and amazed at how quickly the place was built and how large the place was within a matter of a week, it was amazing. As Sala was making his way near the outer extents of the settlement when he spied a sight that he didn't expect to see yet once again, a toa, stumbling through the somewhat empty streets, with a kraata attached to his arm. Sala was stopped dead in his tracks, trapped in thought over the sheer implications that this sight brought to him, him not knowing that his eyes now laid fixed on the ko-toa. OOC: @Dane-gerous IC: Vulimai (Turaga Sans Hut) "Great, who is it this time, another person wanting to have a chat with our dear turaga on why we're going to war?" The Vulimai exasperated. OOC: @Tarn @Azibo @Snelly @Toru Nui @TL01 NUVA @Dane-gerous @Keeper of Kraata @Conway

IC: Vulimai (Turaga Sans Hut) "Unity. That is exactly what we need, first some odd company leaves, then you lot leaves, and then the airship that I thought was protecting the settlement from the League leaves. Metru-Koro is fresh out of toa, and compared to what ever armies the League have been able to rally since the crash, we matoran can't stop them as much as I hate to admit it. Vulimai by the way, captain of the matoran guard of Metru-Koro. Now if we're all done stating the terrible situation we all are in and how there must've been something to do, I recommend we start getting ready." OOC: @Tarn @Azibo @TL01 NUVA @Snelly @Keeper of Kraata @Toru Nui @Conway

IC: Vulimai (Turaga Sans Hut) Walking up from behind the turaga, clad in the garb of a matoran guardsmen, a badge of captain pinned onto their chest, the captain of guard spoke to the arriving toa and company, "Yes, it certainly seems like they did and don't waste your breath, I already tried, like it or not toa, the war is back on. As for when this happened, it occurred from what I been able to gather from the guard around the time you lot left if I'm not mistaken. Honestly, its a blessing you lot are back as soon as you are, with all that has been happening, we've been left practically defenseless." The vo-matoran stood there, a look of frustration across their face as they let out a deep sigh, hand on hip and palm in face. OOC: @Azibo @Keeper of Kraata @Snelly @TL01 NUVA @Conway @Toru Nui

IC: Sala (In the Cargo Hauler in Metru-Koro) Amidst the emotional turmoil of the toa of light, and the bombardment of question that came to Sorilax's way, Sala was too distracted to notice when the cargo hauler started to move. Sala only regained his grasp on reality when he was already half way to Turaga Sans hut, and not neccesarily knowing what to do, quietly waited till the hauler eventually stopped. Getting out of the back of the hauler, Sala looked around himself, surprised at the size of the settlement with only a week's time passing. Turning towards the rest of the occupants, "Well, looks like this is my stop, I got to get back to Sorilax with his scrolls. But I'm sure we, mainly him, would like to ask a few more questions if you don't mine, so where can we find you later?" The last part being primarily directed to the toa of light. OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Toru Nui @Keeper of Kraata @Conway @Tarn @Snelly

IC: Zak-Yak (Escaping in the Mesi Tunnels) Zak-Yak had been following the party has quickly as he can, his mechanical limb helping to propel him forwards but he was still pretty winded when he heard Providence said that his master wouldn't be able to fit and escape. "Oh no, Master can't fit, what Zak-Yak do, what Zak-Yak do, what...Zak-Yak know what to do!" As Zak-Yak spontaneously materialized within the middle of the party, most likely startling everyone around, especially the blue warrior. As Zak-Yak appeared, he focused his gaze on Varian, devoting as much mental concentration has he could in a moment of stress like this, till at last, two ethereal beams struck Varian, turning him invisible to everyone but Zak-Yak and allowing him to pass through the tunnel exit. OOC: @Vezok's Friend @Burnmad @Dane-gerous @Snelly

IC: Uraborask (Outside Po-Koro) Reaching down towards the bound skakdi, Uraborask removed both the gag and the blindfold and went to work cutting away the restraints. Ungagged, the tradeskak immediately started babbling to Ulkarr, "Yes, thank you, thank you almighty aspect, thank you for the mercy you have offered to me. I shall return to the Rig and tell every skaklet and their mother that these settlements are under your protection, great..great..uh, uh..." the skakdi paused for a brief moment, trying to draw up a name before Uraborask told him it, "ULKARR! Yes, the great and mighty Ulkarr protects these settlements." With the last of the restraints cut, the tradeskak immediately started to bolt away, but paused for a brief second, looking back hoping that neither Uraborask or Ulkarr would pursue him. Seeing that neither are making any moves, the tradeskak continued on his, hopefully being able to make it back to the Rig by himself. As the tradeskak ran, Uraborask immediately jumped into the car, not caring to waste a second longer, waiting for the aspect to hop in as well before riding out. OOC: @Toru Nui Have us start driving out whenever you want.

IC: Uraborask (Outside Po-Koro) "This is starting to get out of hand." With a scowl, Uraborask responded to Ulkarr's offer, "Fine, if that will get you to trust me, then sure. But that still leaves this one, what am I suppose to do with him, keep in the back of the truck, let him go, or just simply kill him." Squatting down over the defeated figure of the tradeskak, Uraborask started to pull out his machete, ready for whatever may come next. OOC: @Toru Nui IC: Sala (Outside Metru-Koro) "Actually yeah, that probably would be the best for you all, Sorilax and I actually have our own business here in Metru-Koro as well. Speaking of which, do any of you know any good mechanics or fe-toa and or matoran who can help repair Sorilax here?" OOC: @Kal the Guardian @Tarn @Keeper of Kraata @Snelly @Conway @Toru Nui @TL01 NUVA @Burnmad IC: Apex (Ash Barrens) Apex followed the trail through the mixture of sand and volcanic ash till nightfall. As a being born of shadows, Apex never felt fear from it, she knew she would one day rejoin it but she didn't think she would ever be afraid of it, that had changed since her confinement. She now feared nothing more then her inevitable death and return to that empty void, and she now swore to never succumb to it. Taking a brief moment to survey her surroundings, and to make sure that she had not lost the trail, she spied what appeared to be the light of a small campfire within a rocky outcropping. Slowly approaching, she took note of the skakdi lowrider parked outside of it, and hidden within the cover of night, noticed the red skinned skakdi inside, cooking what appeared to have once been a mahi. At last, her prey was in sight and she would take pleasure in the kill. Working her way ever so closer, taking heed to stay out of the fire light, she loomed on the rock wall just outside the entrance above the lowrider. Using one of her long powerful forearms, she launched a quick punch at the vehicle, causing it to topple over and devastating the engine of it. The red skakdi, hearing the commotion, quickly made his way out, a long scimitar in hand, caked with the blood of many victims. Not giving the skakdi a moments notice, Apex lunged forwards, knocking the skakdi onto the ground and disarming him. Trying to brute force his way out, the skakdi eventually blasted out a beam of heat that struck Apex in her armored shoulder, but fury was all that she felt. Slashing downwards with her smaller arms, Apex managed to eventually slash out the eyes of the skakdi, her powerful forelimbs preventing any further assault or escape. The skakdi, now blind and disarmed, did nothing else but string along curses and swears when he wasn't howling in pain and agony, the sounds of which truly brought joy to Apex's senses. But then a thought made it's way into her mind, the skakdi respected one thing for sure, and that was fear. Leering back down towards the crawling figure, Apex leaned down, her breath smothering the skakdi and his words as she spoke, "I am Apex, and though I doubt your pitiful history would remember me, I was your predator. You are too live, if only to spread my name to your kin." Grabbing the skakdi by his limbs with her mighty claws, she took off and began to fly northwards into the vast desert, making her way towards the mass of shacks and huts known simply as the Rig.

IC: Sala (Sitting Awkwardly in the Cargo Hauler) Although Sala took heed to listen to Sorilax's words, it was hard to look at the situation with an analytical eye with the quiet sobs of the toa before him. Overall, Sala felt uncomfortable at the situation but he knew some input would at least be appreciated by Sorilax. "Well, although these are mainly legends and I haven't ever encountered one myself, there are legends of toa and matoran of light, av-toa and av-matoran to be precise. From what I've read and heard they are able to channel the elemental power of light and were usually clad in white and gold armor." The sobs of the toa briefly made Sala pause before he continued, "Well, if this toa is indeed a toa of light, wouldn't that make her existence directly counterintuitive to your nature and by extension to a kraata's? Would such a union even be possible without some alterations to the ritual or the individuals involved in it?" Sala ending his statement by looking back towards Sorilax, but also looking back towards the other people currently watching, hoping they may be able to comfort the distressed toa better then him. OOC: @Kal the Guardian @Toru Nui @Tarn @Snelly @Conway @Burnmad @Keeper of Kraata @TL01 NUVA IC: Uraborask (Outside Po-Koro) Uraborask was starting to get annoyed with this aspect's self-righteousness, exactly why he chose to be separated from all of this, but he knew his place in the pecking order and simply said, "So far, I think I have lived my live pretty worthwhile without any one telling me what to do, but that is not the reason we are out here." Getting out of the truck, Uraborask dragged out the near violently struggling skakdi trader from the backseat before dumping him onto the ground. "This is why we are out here, this welp. An offering of strength, as much as you can get out of him. To be honest, I was not even planning on having him for myself, I was simply going to hand him off to you for later use." OOC: @Toru Nui

IC: Apex (Ash Barrens) Apex had spent her first few days of newly found freedom simply seeing all that had changed since her imprisonment, and she was equal parts horrified and enraged by what she saw. The Ash Barrens had truly succumbed to the corruption caused by the witches of the Nightmare Pit with only the Dead Forest alluding to what once was. Climbing to the peak of the volcano, Apex would look across the rest of the island. The bay, once pure and crystal clean, now polluted by the runoff from some ramshackled amalgamation of wooded structures and pontoons, home to what she assumed were the verminous skakdi. The savannahs that once pocked the northern regions had since all fallen victim to the vast desert that now dominated the north, the skakdi and their crude vehicles galivanting about it. And the Fau Swamp, now a twisted terror of its former self, home to what Apex can only guess as being true monsters that even the skakdi would fear. The worst of what she saw was the massive head that now blotted out the western horizon, and although Apex could figure that it was the landing of this monolith that had freed her, she knew that the damage it had already wrought was just the tip of it, with some silver liquid now oozing out of the machine's cracked skull. Truly what has happened to this island is beyond a shame, and the idea of its redemption would be nearly impossible, for anyone besides her. The power that an aspect can achieve is immense, and all she needed now is those willing to join her in her goal...And heartlights to use. Out in the distance, Apex saw slowly tracing up into the sky a trail of smoke. Following it she found the burnt out remains of some sort of makeshift home in the rockface and what appeared to be two small graves. The matoran, although Apex cared little for them unlike her kin, she still respected them for they tried to live in harmony with nature as best as their civilization would allow. It is that care that has put them on the receiving end of Apex's favor many a time, whether it is warding off predatory rahi or leaving desperately needed supplies for them. And for that, she was saddened to see them destroyed by the skakdi nearly as much as the island itself. Looking around, she found three sets of tracks, two appearing to be made by some large unknown entity, most certainly now a skakdi by how they seemed to be the ones that may have made the graves. The other was the wheel marks of some vehicle, the smell of motor oil and fuel lingering where the tracks went. Following the wheel tracks, Apex knew that eventually she'll come across whatever made them, and if the creator of them be a skakdi, Apex will finally have an outlet for her building rage. IC: Uraborask (Outside Po-Koro) Uraborask laughed for a brief moment before regaining his composure and staring back at Ulkarr, "Order is not going to save them, what they need is strength, power, the will to survive no matter the cost. I have seen that you have made a promise with one of their kind, but that one, I can tell he fears the power he has. They need to understand that the power you offer is something they need to survive...As for me, I am not so sure if I am willingly to be made into a lapdog, even to you. I left my warskak to be my own alpha, to be seperate from this whole business, not to find another alpha to kneel to." OOC: @Toru Nui

IC: Uraborask (Po-Koro) Taking a brief moment, Uraborask let out a deep sigh before turning towards the aspect with a hard glare, "What do you want from them, what do you want with me, what is your grand wish aspect?" OOC: @Toru Nui IC: Sala (Outside Metru-Koro) "Oh right, we still need to fix your neck." Sala said looking up at his friend, before looking back down towards the huddled form of the toa. "H-hey, are you alright. If you need a moment that's ok but there is something on your back that my friend here needs to look at." Sala was left there to sit somewhat awkwardly, trying to comfort an emotionally distressed toa while simultaneously drawing all this attention to them. OOC: @Kal the Guardian @Snelly @Toru Nui @Keeper of Kraata @TL01 NUVA @Conway @Tarn @Burnmad

IC: Uraborask (Po-Koro) As Ulkarr started to walk away, Uraborask let out a sort of cough to catch the aspect's attention, "I think it would be easier for us to take my truck, I do not want to cause any problems inside of here." The two of them hopping into the front of the truck, Uraborask taking a second to look at the still bound struggling skakdi in the back seat, before driving outside of the settlement a far enough distance away that no one could tell what is happening. OOC: @Toru Nui @Harvali IC: Sala (Outside Metru-Koro) Sala had been sitting within the back of the vehicle while Sorilax worked his magic and healed these people, "He worries that he isn't good enough, but honestly, whatever darkness that nags at him can't possibly be as awful as he might think it is. Sorilax really is a good person from what I've seen...and I will do my best to help him." Startled, Sala looked at the toa. In his long career as a chronicler, he had never seen anything like this, at least not coming from a toa. Placing his hand onto the gold and white toa's back, Sala attempted to offer any form of comfort that he could...That was when he noticed...a kraata, located beneath the plating of this toa's back! But this one was unlike anything that Sorilax had wrote in the scroll. Looking back towards Sorilax and the group surrounding him getting healed, "Sorilax, I think you might want to see this!" excitement and a ting of worry lacing Sala's words. OOC: @Kal the Guardian @Toru Nui @Tarn @Snelly @Conway @Burnmad @Keeper of Kraata @TL01 NUVA

IC: Uraborask (Po-Koro) Standing straight back up, Uraborask let out a harsh chuckle at the matoran's words, "Do not you worry your little head, Ulkarr made it very clear that you matoran and your toa are off my list, as if I would bother with the limping mahi that is you matoran though. But, you talk about justification, when I highly doubt that you got that heartlight from a skakdi..." With that last phrase, Uraborask stared towards the Taku at as it descended and landed within Po-Koro, not to far from him and the matoran. "Yes, I have brought what is needed, but from the looks of it, you have already got yourself a following without my help." taking a brief moment to gesture down towards the matoran next to him. OOC: @Toru Nui @Harvali

IC: Uraborask (Po-Koro Taking notice of the approaching matoran, Uraborask thought for a brief second to scare the matoran away, until he saw the odd patches of weeds that were growing with each step of theirs. “S-Skakdi, w-why are you here?” Staring down at this odd matoran, Uraborask wondered for a brief moment if he had seen them once before, responding, "I am waiting for the aspect Ulkarr to return," Uraborask leaned down over the matoran, half squatting, not just to get closer to the matoran's height but also to cut a more intimidating presence as well, "I have a little offering for him if you know what I mean." The last words hissed out in a whisper. OOC: @Harvali

IC: Apex (Ash Barrens) In ages past... These skakdi, these foreigners as they were, they were the bane to Apex, an anathema of nature, for how could something born of it be such a destructive force to it. Even now as she prowled after this rampant gang of skakdi, the effects of their destruction can be seen. These Ash Barrens as they are now known as, were once fertile and verdant, bolstered by the ash given off by the island's volcano and lave flows, but are now clouded by toxic smog and vicious eruptions. All caused by those witches within their Nightmare Pit, them and their monstrous rituals, and affront to nature and it's design. This particular gang of skakdi were particularly atrocious though, simply starting fires within the jungles for no apparent reason, she will show them, she will show all of them what happens when you rebel against nature itself. For three days now she has been tracking them, and for three days she has slowly and methodically picked them off, whether by simply plucking them off the ground and dropping them, tearing them limb from limb, swallowing them whole, or stinging them and leaving the poison to do the rest. What was originally over several dozen skakdi has now been reduced to nothing more than a few dozen. Soon this game of hers will have to end, as enjoyable it is to fill fear and trepidation into the hearts of these heathens, that his a task more suited for her other kin or even for these filthy skakdi. Lurking within the rocky ridges of the volcano, Apex witnessed as the gang of skakdi made their way into a cavern within the side of the mountain. "Fools, they attempt to hide into the darkness, they do not know the truth of my nature and for that they shall all die." Making her way down the cliffside, Apex approached the cave entrance, entering it, using her powers over shadow to easily sense the various skakdi attempting to hide from her, "They are to die as they lived, cowering in fear, cowering from the dark, cowering from me." And so the slaughter ensued, as desperate fearful skakdi did all they could to survive the onslaught of not only the great beastial aspect, but from the darkness itself as it lashed, striked, and pierced their forms. Nearly all of them were dead when Apex felt the earth itself shake and tremble. Staring up at the entrance Apex witnessed two dozen skakdi, seemingly lead by a massive imposing skakdi. Then in that harsh and brutish tongue of theirs, the leader gave some sort of command that Apex did not hear over the sounds of the earth and stone being forcibly warped and twisted by the skakdi elementalists, attempting to block off the entrance of the cave. "Simple rocks will not stop me monster, I will take pleasure in tearing through the earth before me and crushing your skulls with it!" Apex roared as she charged towards the half built stone blockade before a great, blinding beams of light was blasted through the openings within the cave's entrance, dissipating the tendrils of shadow that were about to strike against the skakdi and forcing Apex to recoil from their intensity. Although her vision was now filled with spots from the beams and her shadows had been dissipated, she knew which skakdi said the next words to her, his voice seemingly blocking out the other noises, "Hah, let it be known beast, that you have been bested by I, the great and mighty Nektann, now go and wallow in your newly made whole." As those words ended, so too did the light, as Apex lunged forth for the exit once again, she was blocked by the sudden surge of molten earth that filled the cracks and crevices within the obstructing edifice before her. Reeling back, Apex was forced to watch as the lava began to cool into a harden wall of stone, followed by another tremble of the earth as what can faintly be heard as several explosions rocked what she could guess as the cliff above her For days, weeks, months, maybe even years she tried her best to free herself, clawing, pounding, and striking at the stone ward that trapped her, but no matter what, she could do nothing, not even using the full extent of her powers over shadow could free her. She was trapped, by the very earth she swore to preserve, within the darkness that made up her being, and there in darkness she dwelled, for decades, centuries, millennia, time was meaningless, all there was is darkness. ... During the crash of Mata-Nui The first thing that Apex felt was the rumble of the earth, this was nothing new, she had felt the shifting of the lands and the shuddering of the volcano many times before, but this one, this was a tremor like no other, for within seconds the very walls of her prison were shifting from the sheer magnitude of it, startling joints and servos that had not moved in countless ages to respond in kind. Falteringly, she attempted to maintain her balance as the island itself seemed to shake, as if struck by some tremendous force. And then it was done, just like that, but something was now different, "Was that...Light!" tumbling forwards on ancient limbs, Apex inspected the walls of her prison, and indeed, there was light. With a ferocity that she herself thought had died long ago, Apex dug fervently and desperately at the stone, till at last, it gave way. There, before her, the sun, beautiful and high in the sky. If she was capable of it, tears would be streaming down the aspects face. Making her way out of her prison, she surveyed what was around her, and what she witness horrified her. Although the Ash Barrens were in dire times when she was imprisoned, hope was still a potential, but looking over it now, redemption for this desecrated landscape was impossible. Filled with such utter hopelessness and rage by what the skakdi have done, all she could do was roar, one that would travel for miles across the barren landscape, announcing to all her return, that the Apex of the island is once again free, and that her vengeance would be one that is swift, brutal, and unrelenting.

IC: Uraborask (Po-Koro) Uraborask quickly returned to his truck, he didn't want to risk his prey getting away. Returning to the truck, he could see that the tradeskak had tried his best to get away, with him being several feet away from where he was dropped onto the sandy earth. But being blind and bound didn't do them any favors. Picking up the skakdi by the frills of their neck, Uraborask tossed them back into the backseat of the truck, "Admirable effort I will admit, but your time is up. We are just outside the village where the aspect dwells and when we meet him, your fate will be left in his hands." Strapping into the driver's seat, Uraborask carefully drove the truck into the center of the village, mindful of the buildings and matoran within. Once he was parked in the middle of town, Uraborask got out of the truck, and pulling out some chewing weeds, he leaned against the outside of the truck keeping an eye on both the airship for any movement and for if anyone were to approach him. OOC: @Harvali OPI

Name - Apex Breed - Aspect Gender - Nonbinary (Uses Female Pronouns) Factions - Aspects of Makuta Appearance - Apex's appearance is similar to that of the legendary Rahi-Nui. Her body is supported by two sets of armored treads and her two long, burly, clawed arms. Her head is attached to a saggy, but extendable neck. Her head is horned, her eyes dark sockets, and her teeth a jagged maw. Two pairs of large buzzing wings lie on her back, alongside a deadly two tipped stinger. Her body is nearly black, with traces of other colors including; red, green, orange, yellow, blue, and purple being located throughout. After claiming the Kraata Creation Taboo, the upside-down triangle is now branded upon the forehead of Apex's skull. Personality - Apex, unlike the rest of her kin, cares little for the affairs of others, rather, she solely dedicates her time to the preservation and growth of nature itself. She is usually calm and ponderous of her surroundings, taking time to pay attention to even the smallest of insects. But she can be incredibly vicious and brutal when the natural world is upset, but the worst of her rage is dedicated solely to the skakdi, who have poisoned and destroyed the islands ecosystem. Backstory - Apex is extremely old, older then when the Skakdi first appeared on the island. When the Skakdi first appeared upon the island, their senseless destruction of the island's beauty and ecosystem enraged Apex, so she hunted the Skakdi and killed any that she came across who despoiled the landscape. Being as great and powerful as she was, the Skakdi could not kill her and as such, trapped her inside of a cave within the Ash Barrens. There she laid, trapped and alone, until the head of Mata-Nui crashed upon the island. The seismic quakes caused by the crashing head disrupted the rubble trapping Apex and allowed her to once again go free and claim her vengeance upon the Skakdi. - Powers - Elemental Power of Shadow - Apex, like all aspects, has the elemental power of shadow. This allows her to create, control, and absorb shadows. But, since her confinement in absolute darkness, she has grown wary if not uncomfortable when subjected to darkness and will rarely use her innate elemental powers because of it. Kraata of Rahi Control (Level Two) - Apex has the power of Rahi control, allowing Apex to passively ward away Rahi attack, as well as pacify less intelligent Rahi. Kraata Creation Taboo - Apex has claimed the Kraata Creation Taboo and is able to now create independent Kraata from another being and Energized Protodermis. - Equipment - Clumsy Flight - Apex is capable of prolonged and sustained flight through her two pairs of wings. Unfortunately, this flight is clumsy and slow, making it not suitable for use in combat and only for traversal in difficult terrain. Lunging Jaws - Apex is able to swiftly extend her neck forwards in order to strike at prey with her deadly jaws, the biteforce of which being on par with that of a Muaka if not greater. Apex also has a pair of horns, but these aren't as useful in combat and are better at clearing through debris or digging in refuge. Punching Claws - Apex has a pair of long, clawed arms that she can swiftly swipe and punch with, as well as use for locomotion. Apex also has a secondary pair of arms within the first pair, although these arms aren't as capable of inflicting arm, they are at least dexterous enough to pick up and handle simple tools. Venomous Stinger - Apex lastly has a deadly stinger located halfway up her back. Although most of the time the stinger itself is tucked in and folded away, she can retract it to make deadly strikes who get within range. The stinger itself is able to punch through most armor and can deliver a deadly venom that can most prey in a matter of days if not hours, slowly crippling them as time goes past. Two Canisters of Defiled Energized Protodermis - Flaws - Beastial Body - Due to Apex's large size, it is difficult for her to fight against small swift opponents. In addition, the plating on her underbelly isn't as thick as the rest of her, being easily pierced with sufficient strength. Beastial Mind - Apex, after her extended imprisonment by the skakdi, has grown an intense and beastial hatred for them, this usually causes her to fly into a feral rage at the sight of them. Additionally, even before her confinement, she was always far more comfortable with rahi and as such, it is hard for her to socialize with others. Grand Wish - Apex's grand wish is to restore the natural beauty and ecosystem of the island, with her establishing herself as the peak apex predator and provider of this newly restored ecosystem. - Step One: Desecrate a follower (Morangad). - Step Two: ??? - Kraata Profile - - Type - Shattering - Maker - Apex - Stage - Level two Name - Drukarus Breed - Ba-Skakdi Gender - Male Factions - Refugee Appearance - Drukarus is an imposing example of how big the skakdi can get, standing around 8'9" and weighing over half a ton. Drukarus's black body is covered in a variety of purple ritualistic lines and markings, most of which denoting his history and strength in battle. These tattoos coupled with the plentiful amount of scars, scratches, and notches within his frame helps translate to anyone his extensive life as a warrior and combatant. Drukarus also wears a sturdy set of armor consisting of a large pauldron over his right shoulder and chest, the massive gauntlet on his left hand, the two greaves around his shins, the iron collar around his neck, and the tassets around his waist. The furs and hides of various rahi also wraps around his neck and waist. Personality - Drukarus is stoic and prideful, responding in a sort of impassioned neutral manner. Drukarus rarely shows his emotions on his face, the only time he let's down his wall of neutrality being when he is in the depth of battle, usually expressing cries and shouts of either rage or pleasure. Drukarus is extremely proud, only ever submitting to another if left with no other choice or bested in the ring of battle, otherwise he will stubbornly uphold values to the end. Drukarus is also domineering and disciplined, demanding the same discipline from his underlings. Backstory - Drukarus was an imposing and powerful warchief upon his former home of Zakaz, that was until the League arrived. Drukarus, like most of his fellow warchiefs, initially resisted the attempts of the barraki to subsumed them into their armies. Eventually, Drukarus was one of the last remaining independent clans and was only forced to join the League after they killed or captured all of the women and children within the clan. Forced to fight for the League, Drukarus unleashed his rage against their enemies, granting the League several key victories, that was, until the crash. After the crash and the destruction of Metru-Nui, Drukarus was filled with such rage at the barraki, not just for forcing him to leave his home, but also for failing in their ultimate goal and leading to the utter destruction of the universe. Left without any hope of returning to his people, Drukarus nearly fell into a deep depression if it wasn't for the appearance of the two skakdi emissaries sent by Nektann. Now knowing that his people live on, Drukarus has since left the League and Metru-Nui to seek a clan of skakdi of his own. - Powers - Elemental Power of Gravity - Drukarus carries the latent elemental power of gravity, this passively grants Drukarus an extreme resistance to gravitonic and pressure changes. In addition, with the assistance of another skakdi, Drukarus can unlock the full extent of his elemental abilities. Subservience Vision - Drukarus has the vision power of subservience, this allows him to force those he stares at to bow before him. This vision power works when Drukarus concentrates his gaze onto a target, overwhelming them with the thought that Drukarus is a superior being and compelling them to prostrate before him. The effect lasts for as long has Drukarus maintains line of sight and concentration, with it lasting up to a few minutes after words depending on the time the individual is subject to the effect. But, the effect does have limited range, only effectively working when eye contact is established, otherwise it fills a target with hesitation and inferiority but does not compel them to prostrate. Although the vision power has limited range, directly looking into a target eyes will guarantee subservience in all but the strongest of wills. Kinetic Growth - Drukarus can, when struck with kinetic force, absorb some of the impact, reducing the harm and allowing himself to grow in size proportional to the damage. This growth allows Drukarus to nearly double in height and quadruple in weight. The downsides of such increased strength and size is that his movements become slower and sluggish and if he absorbs too much kinetic energy, he will explode in a kinetic wave of force, blasting away any near him and severely injury himself. - Equipment - Elemental Maul - Drukarus carries a great two-handed maul that he has carried as a badge of strength and leadership ever since he first became a warchief. This maul, on top of its immense weight and size, can also channel Drukarus's elemental energies through the head. This allows Drukarus to utilize his elemental powers in a variety of ways, including; making anyone struck with the hammer momentarily weightless to send them flying, to create a localized cone of increased gravity around Drukarus to restrain and pin nearby opponents, and to create explosive waves of anti-gravitonic force when impacting the ground. Irnakk's Fist - Drukarus's left hand is clad in a massive clawed gauntlet that can be used to both defend Drukarus and to strike out against aggressors. The fist itself is strong enough to take direct blows from most weapons and the claw itself can be closed with biting force. - Flaws - A Warrior's Greatest Enemy is...Time - Drukarus is exceptionally old and weathered, this has lead to his sense and reactions to be numbed over the years, in addition, his various wounds and injuries that he has suffered over his decades of fighting have also limited his speed and strength. Prideful to the End - Drukarus's pride is so great that he actively refuses to retreat or back down in the face of adversity, this pride usually only ever being overcomed with great loss at Drukarus's expense, whether that being the loss of his warriors and people, or suffering from severe injury and humiliation.

IC: Sala (Southern Irrnak's Tooth) As Sala and Sorilax stood just outside of the rock outcropping, the two scouring the sky for a bright red star, Sala spoke up to reply to Sorilax, "Well, theoretically speaking, it shouldn't be that hard as it is a bright red star. As for what it will reveal, that depends on where it is in the sky. Depending on the position of the Red Star to other constellations it could foretell a variety of prophecies, unfortunately, most of my notes were lost in the crash and as far as I can guess the only other place where such astrological prophecies would be found would be the knowledge towers within the ruined remains of Ko-Metru." As Sala continued to look at the stars, a disconcerting thought came into his mind, "Before the crash, before the League, many of the ko-matoran mentioned that the stars seemed to be changing, faster than they should be, and after the League attacked. Who knows how accurate those star charts were anymore, to be honest, how accurate were those stars anyway? If they were inside of a giant machine this entire time, whose to say that those stars they saw weren't just some form of internal lighting, if the Red Star itself was nothing more tha...By the Great Spirit!" Sala suddenly said, breaking out of his downward spiral of existential dread. Pointing high above the northern horizon, amongst the countless stars and constellations, some of which surprisingly enough looking familiar but still somewhat different to Sala, was the Red Star, shining bright as always. "By the great spirit, I can't believe it's still there, maybe the future of the matoran people isn't as unknowable as we might think." a look of absolute relief washing across Sala's face. OOC: @Kal the Guardian IC: Uraborask (Po-Koro) Uraborask looked up at what the matoran, Kanohi, was pointing at, that was when he noticed the flying airship, suspended over Po-Koro. Uraborask could not lie, he was impressed by the device, solely for the fact that no skakdi that he knew of could possibly create anything remotely capable of the same feat. Uraborask didn't care for the words that Kanohi was saying for war was not something new or something that concerned him, but the words of the other matoran, that interested him. Turning over towards the po-matoran, Uraborask spoke, "Tell them that Uraborask the hunter has returned, tell Ulkarr that I have his offering and that our promise is nearly set." Spinning back around, Uraborask made for the gates of the village before looking over towards Kanohi and saying, "I am going to get my truck and park it inside of your village. I will be waiting for either Ulkarr to show himself or until that ship starts to leave." And like that, the skakdi-xa left just as quickly as he came. OOC: @Harvali IC: Zak-Yak (Mesi Tunnels) Batting away several other mesi who clung onto Varian, Zak-Yak felt the sudden shift as Varian made his way out towards the exit alongside Providence, Vent, and the blue warrior. That was when one of the other mesi clinging onto Varian got knocked off of their head and, desperately trying to grab hold, managed to pull Zak-Yak off as well. The two briefly dazed on the ground, the other mesi, either not registering Zak-Yak as an enemy or simply not caring, charged at the receding back of Varian. Zak-Yak, readjusting and getting his bearings straight, saw the mesi's attempt towards his master's life, and not willing to allow such a thing, launched himself forward with his mechanical appendage, landing on the mesi's back before pulling out his lucky shiv. "No one...touches...MASTER!" each point being emphasized by the dagger digging into the prone mesi's chest, till at last Zak-Yak pulled out its heartlight. About to break out into cheers at his success, Zak-Yak was reminded of the fight at hand, and although most of the mesi were now distracted by the newcomers, there were still many eager to kill the initial intruders. So turning ethereal, Zak-Yak, with heartlight, in hand dashed back towards his master and his group of companions. OOC: @Vezok's Friend @Burnmad @Dane-gerous @Snelly @Toru Nui @Edelgard @Jakura Nuva

IC: Uraborask (Po-Koro) The second Uraborask entered the settlement, he was already being stopped by two armed matoran. Ulkarr the last time they talked insisted that the matoran were to be off his list, like they were there in the first place. Uraborask could easily subdue if not kill these two matoran if he wanted to, but if Ulkarr was here, attacking the matoran would not be the best idea. About to tell the two matorans that he comes in peace, another one of these matoran came flying in. "C-calm down, I-I think I know him, he helped us rescue Voka. Hello, I-I am K-Kanohi, I did not get the chance to introduce m-myself earlier. What brings you to this village?" Uraborask stared down at the matoran for a few seconds, trying to remember where he last saw them before reorganization spread across his face. "Ka-no-hi, hah, Kanohi. So you are the brave little mahi that jumped into a muaka pack. Brave, and foolish, I can respect that." Uraborask gives a chuckle at the of the brave little matoran, one that would make the Kanohi shiver with the harshness of it, "I am here for the aspect Ulkarr, I have brought an offering for him. Where is he?" OOC: @Harvali