Kal the Guardian

-Snip-

IC: Forgemaster Viltia NUVA - Toa NUVA of the Green Location - Kini-Nui, Opened Bunker With - Mazor, Mauka NUVA Proxima Viltia missed Mazor’s question, so wrapped up she was with experiencing the revival of her powers and the connection to the Kaita spirit trapped within the machine. He moved on his own, taking them from his bunker and out into the open space of the valley and the light of late-morning. He announced his presence, voice booming from the mouth of the mech, then he gave himself over to her control and suddenly a familiar feeling washed over Viltia. She saw from the mech as if its optics were hers, as if its sense of sound were hers. When she thought to move her hand, it was the mech’s that moved. Yet she was still able to move about the cabin while still having the mental capacity to pilot the mech’s body simultaneously. It was exactly like merging with her tethers, minus the actual tethers. It was incredible! Viltia looked around the valley, noticing that she was actually a little shorter than when she used her Legendary Mask of Growth. Actually, it was her innate power now, not a mask. Still, it was silly to realize she felt a little short in a 100 foot tall mech. Actually, she should be able to use her powers now on the level of a Kaita. Just how big could she grow with a Kaita powered growing ability? There were so many things to try out! But not now. Since she had her powers back, she needed to go wait for Korruhn and Whisper to arrive at the Wall of Prophecies. She hated to do this so soon, but she backed the mech into the bunker. Using its Kaita level control over the Green, she completely filled the bunker with freshly dried ironwood, enveloping it like it was submerged into water and ensuring it couldn’t get up and roam about on its own. Viltia opened up the cockpit and used her now half as powerful element to create a small tunnel for herself that closed after she moved past, keeping the wood seal perfectly whole. Upon exiting the newly sealed bunker she gave Mazor a quick look over, smiling. “Hey! The pure energized protodermis really did help you out. That’s awesome. Anyway, I need to go to the temple over there.” She pointed to Kini-Nui. “And wait for the others to show up.” Viltia started to walk that direction, continuing to talk as she did so, “So, about that Krom Sphere, since Sidra didn’t want to keep it, do you think I could see it for a moment? Maybe I’m supposed to or something.” She shrugged. Her Muaka rolled up alongside her, keeping pace. He was glad to have her back in his sight. OOC: @Smudge8

Would a Kaita mech be able to recognize that Zataka is technically a Rite-born? @Vezok's Friend

Kaita Mech Profile Name: Twekohui, Great Kaita of Strategy ACR Faction/Homebase: Builders/Kini-Nui Primary Pilot: Forgemaster Viltia NUVA Great Disk: Teleportation Physical Description: Stands 100 feet tall. Face of a Toa, specifically a Toa Mata head, except with six optics rising up the forehead. Made of a protosteel skeleton with additional ceramic, glass, and protodermis plating covering essential systems. Painted a deep and lush green with the glass being red. Breed Quirks: -Piloting is done via thought. Pilots sync their mind to the ACR via paranormal means. Due to the nature of the interface with the ACR, pilots are unable to personally use any other of their abilities, breed quirks, or other powers to affect anything beyond the walls of the cockpit. -Kaita ACRs ignore all but the strongest blows. They ignore damage from creatures less powerful than Kaita. -Great Disk Beam One of the Kaita ACR’s arms is capable of transforming into a beam-based range weapon that fires powerful mid-range blasts of the associated Great Disk’s power. Abilities: -Power Amplification Choose up to three abilities or breed quirks (excluding equipment powers) at a time from the combined powers and breed quirks of all onboard pilots (maximum three pilots). The Kaita ACR may use these powers as if they were its own powers or breed quirks and increases the overall strength and power of the chosen powers or breed quirks to the level of a kaita. You may take one post to change these three chosen abilities or breed quirks. This ability resets when all pilots fall unconscious, die, or exit the Kaita ACR. Flaw: the cockpit must be fully sealed for Power Amplification to work. Additionally, unconscious or deceased pilots do not count towards the available list of powers and breed quirks. -Suva Kaita Attunement You may choose to summon up to two one-handed weapons or one two-handed weapon from the Suva Kaita in Kini-Nui at any given time. You must return these weapons to summon different weapons from the Suva Kaita in Kini-Nui. Flaw: the Kaita ACR must be within the Suva Kaita’s range to use this ability. Flaws: Physical Flaw: While they can be put into a slumber while unmanned, Kaita ACRs are living machines and cannot be turned off. If not restrained, they very well may just wake up and wander off in search of a rite-born kaiju to kill (read: GMs may start writing your mech randomly when you are not piloting it). A Kaita ACR will refuse to start if the primary chosen pilot is not onboard. Pilots are unable to use their powers or breed quirks to effect anywhere outside the sealed cockpit while piloting a Kaita ACR. If the Primary Pilot falls unconscious or dies while piloting a Kaita ACR, the kaita inhabiting the machine itself will take over and go on a berserk rampage until it is destroyed or the Primary Pilot is removed (read: GMs will start writing your mech). Psychological Flaw: Kaita ACRs are inhabited by the conscious spirit of a Kaita, a spirit of great power. Kaita are proud and vicious beings, and have an incredible hatred for all rite-born kaiju made by Irnakk. If given the opportunity, a Kaita will pursue the death of a rite-born kaiju without concern for any collateral damage to their surroundings. Kaita ACRs cannot condone the destruction of Builder civilization. Kaita ACRs refuse to ally with any riteborn, even if it would be to their benefit. When berserk, Kaita ACRs treat other Kaita ACRs as Rite-born monsters.

IC: Hahvok - Za and Ja Krana of Ice Location - Kini-Nui Temple With - Nuju Hahvok pondered this response, looking at the swirling and shifting landscapes within the portal’s surface. He saw a field of ice dotted with jagged black spots. He saw a massive tree in the heart of a forest, towering over all others with large and rotting yellow fruit on its branches. He saw two planets long since collided, now slowly being sucked into a black hole, their swirl of colors mesmerizing. Zal scampered onto his head and both of him looked with one mind at the portal as he thought about things. In tandem, they turned to Nuju and both spoke at once, “I shall see if you are right, small white friend.” And another conversation expertly navigated, Hahvok, both of him, stepped forward and entered the Far Shore. OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Eyru @Vezok's Friend

Krrenchk is retired as a PC. He is not becoming an MC. In his place I decided to just have some fun with the last month of SKA and bring back Hahvok. PC Profile Port Name: Hahvok Breed: Krana Faction: Independent Brief Description: When active, Hahvok is an icy bright blue. When dormant, Hahvok is a pure white. Background/Occupation: The separation of Mata Nui’s head from his body and the subsequent crash into Zakaz has forcefully awoken him. To his surprise, he woke up on Zakaz and realized he is a Krana Za and Krana Ja that are now somehow linked. His connection to the rest of the swarm has apparently been severed. Somehow the Za made an emergency mental tether to the only Krana nearby at the time of the crash. Hahvok’s Krana can now speak Matoran and have slightly higher mental capability due to their connection. However, in a way they remain separate, with the Za needing to continually provide its power to remain connected and one mind. They are still two full Krana, capable of piloting two bodies separately, both with their own unique Krana powers. (Not sure if there’s a maximum range for a Krana Za) Flaws: Hahvok considers himself nearly invincible and is mostly dismissive of danger. Thus, he has no substantial regard for his own safety. He will carry on with his own business until he has no choice but to react. He has one true weakness: he will always confront enemies one on one, rather than as a unified force, forcing him to rely on his formidable individual skills. Mentally, Hahvok is a bit simple, never before needing to think of anything outside of his queen’s mission. He considers normal Bohrok to be lesser than him. Powers/Equipment: Primary Power: Krana Za - Allows its Bohrok to communicate telepathically with others within the swarm. It also gives its Bohrok the ability to read the minds of other beings. Secondary Power: Krana Ja - Allows its Bohrok to detect distant obstacles. Breed Quirk: Can assimilate biomechanical beings to his whim by latching onto their faces and controlling their minds. Krana cannot control organic beings as they do so by overriding their host's programming. Krana can also slow down their life processes. Like the Matoran and Toa, Krana are a form of artificial intelligence. All Rahi fear and avoid Krana as they sense something about them is amiss. Krana have both active and dormant states. Krana are active if they are inside an operating Bohrok or if they are attached to a being's face. When not commanding a host they go dormant, conserving energy and turning a different color. Weapons: None Equipment: 1 Kohrak Va To be clear. Hahvok is a Krana Za and Ja that are one mind that can pilot two bodies independently. The main body is a Kohrak (“vehicle”), the secondary body being a Kohrak Va (“equipment”). Vehicle Profile Port Name: Kohrak Owner: Hahvok Vehicle Class: Bohrok Brief Description: Kohrak is white and gray. Its eyes are a cold light blue. It bears resemblance to all other Bohrok, being squat and having a transparent head casing. Flaws: If his Krana is removed, Kohrak becomes dormant. Due to the shortness of its limbs, Kohrak is disadvantaged in melee battle. Powers/Equipment: Element: Ice (Channeled through their Ice Shields) Can even freeze even open flames. Breed Quirk: Kohrok’s bodies generated a cold presence, which kept other Bohrok away from them. Like all the other Bohrok, they are capable of rolling themselves into a ball for fast transport from place to place and can snap their heads forward as a melee attack or to launch their Krana at an enemy, which will cause that being to be brought under the control of the swarm, or in this case, under Hahvok’s control. Weapons: Protosteel Ice Shields Equipment: None Far Shore Rewards: Batch 1: - Hahvok's Ice Shields are now made of protosteel - +1 Psychological Flaw (your choice) and a pair of Shredder Claws (They are sharp enough to rip through almost any known substance, and can help him make a quick escape. He can sharpen them by running them against each other, which he sometimes does as a nervous habit.) - Kanohi Garai, Great Mask of Gravity - All wounds inflicted in the post remain when he returns - A Krana Su that allows him to connect to the telepathic hive mind that is formed of any character who wears a Krana they got in a Far Shore Adventure (Possess colossal energy, granting its Bohrok enhanced strength.) - An elemental bullhorn of fire. Shouting through the bullhorn magnifies one's voice and causes great bursts of flame. Focusing one's elemental energies through the elemental bullhorn of fire allows for Toa-level control of fire while speaking through the bullhorn.

IC: Sorilax Life Seeker - Aspect of Light and Silence Location - Elemental Temple of Light With - Mahrika, Bellicus Kastus, One, Two You are quite welcome, Sorilax mentally replied to Mahrika. He then shifted around his arms and legs for a moment. One remained silent, but Two hissed a reply to Kas, should he be able to speak Kraata. Sorilax finished adjusting to his new form. Cravious really did amazing work replicating many of the systems of a body. Kas’ form was not that difficult to adjust to after being in his latest vessel for so long. The arms were a little short, but other than that, everything else was in working order, if a little damaged. But Kas’ spirit, that was hard to keep contained. He would have to work on that. In between Kas’ questions, the voice of Sorilax emerged once more, “Well, the body as a whole is not that hard to control, but it seems the mouth will require some more work. Bear with me.” Sorilax began to move, One helping to support the weight on his, Kas’, right side. It seemed the Administrator had decided not to answer him. But that did not make sense. No. It was more likely that he had not said the right thing to get it to respond. As he walked, he tried again, “Administrator, define the purpose and functionality of these pillars, the Ignika, the cables, the wall of text, and any other unseen and/or hidden features of this space.” He finally finished sloshing through the water to get near enough to one of the pillars to inspect it up close. OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Harvali IC: Hahvok - Za and Ja Krana of Ice Location - Kini-Nui, Jungle Valley Hahvok peered out the side of the mountain, both of him did. It had taken a month and several individually defeated Mesi, that did not know his purpose, to get here, but he had finally found his way out of the tunnels. He knew he would find a way. There was a massive opening in the mountains, with the sea swirling between. It almost seemed as if the mountains had just been cut off, but that would have taken a very large Bohrok to do that kind of cleansing and he doubted that had been the case. Well, he still needed to find his purpose. There was no reason to stay where he was any longer. So he lifted his Ice Shields and fired his cold blue-white beam of energy, ice forming where it struck the water below. Hahvok stepped out and let himself fall, landing on the ice with a crunch. Zal scurried down the cliff behind him, easily traversing the surface with his Ice Claws. Hahvok noted the chunk of ice he was standing on had broken off from the rock next to him as he landed. He raised his Ice Shields once more and blasted away, creating a path towards land along the cliff face. It only took a few minutes of walking and he and himself both arrived at a jungle. Rahi big and small hurried away from both hims, the larger ones peering back as if trying not to show that they were disturbed by his presence. Hahvok didn’t notice, simply walking along, Zal scurrying on ahead to scout things out. His Krana Za didn’t sense any sentient minds nearby, so he was content to continue on in the direction that his Krana Ja felt had the least obstacles. Perhaps his purpose lay in that direction. An hour or so later (Hahvok was certainly not paying too much attention), he, both of him, emerged into a large clearing, the humidity of the jungle falling away, thankfully. Six bunkers sat around the valley’s edge, with a whole village off to one side. In the very center of the valley, a small temple sat in a cool looking lake. Hahvok liked colder temperatures. That seemed like the place to be. He resumed walking, Zal now sticking close to himself since he could now sense other minds nearby. As he drew closer to the entrance to the lake temple, he noticed a few beings standing off away from it near a big shiny silver thing. He paid them no mind, crossing a few bridges to get where he needed to go, which was the exact middle with the rainbow portal that had caught his four optics. He would have gone straight there, but one of the bridges was destroyed for some reason. As both of him walked up, he noticed a being standing there, kind of short and white like him. He liked the being already. Zal scampered around the large portal, messing with one of the Kanoka receivers. Hahvok attempted to read the thoughts of the small white being as he asked, “Do you know my purpose?” OOC: @Unreliable Narrator

IC: Sorilax Life Seeker - Aspect of Light and Silence Location - Elemental Temple of Light With - Mahrika, Bellicus Kastus, Two Two snapped his spine casing closed and quickly backed up. He tried to put on the bandolier, but it wouldn’t fit around his hunched neck and spine blades. So he settled for placing it over his left shoulder with the sack of Kanohi. Then he held the firework shotgun in the same way he had seen Kas do it, oblivious to the fact that he had to pull the trigger to get the weapon to fire. =---------= The dream moved back into Sorilax’s control as he felt a new Desecration connection form in his mind, and to the one he shared this dream with. That was… absolutely unexpected. They were suddenly on old Zakaz, far before there were elemental temples. The island was lush and bursting with life. The air was clean and pure. Tall tan grasses moved in a slight breeze. They were on a small cliff, looking down at a natural Tahtorak as it foraged for food. It took a step and the ground vibrated. It was a light green that was more reminiscent of a beetle than a predator. Sorilax was in his ancient, heavily armored body just like the one he had seen at the Mangaia. A stone tablet was in his hand with several observations about the Rahi before him chiseled into it. Beside him sat several scientific instruments that he did not remember ever using, let alone owning. Sorilax scanned the tablet, then looked around at his surroundings. He mumbled to himself in awe, “This is one of my forgotten memories.” Yet even now he had no recollection of the event ever taking place, only a feeling that this was real and had actually happened to him. He had known there were non-Rite-born Tahtoraks, but to think that he had been able to actually study them. How stupendous! He wished he remembered it at all. The sound of Kas drowning on dry land brought him back to the present. Sorilax regretfully tore his attention away from his memory and to the matter at hand. “It seems you shall pay a different type of penalty than I had originally intended.” And he shut off the Rite of Repose. =---------= Back in the server room, both One and Kas’ bodies started to stir in the water covering the floor. One got to his feet, droplets dripping down his sleek blue and green form. Kas sat up, coughing and hacking. Water spilled out of his throat and ran down his mask and chin. His breathing was raspy and pained. He too slowly got to his feet, cringing at his injuries. Two looked between One and Kas rapidly, unsure which one was Sorilax. Were they all still in danger? Kas stood up straight and rigid, then looked down at his hands like he had never seen them before. He opened his mouth, and Sorilax’s voice emerged, “Great jumping Mahi! This is what pain feels like?! I say I do not like that at all. No, not one smidgen!” Sorilax had never possessed someone with a true feeling body. Even the Rahkshi were mostly armor. So all these sensations were new to him and he was not sure how to process them. And on top of it all was the Life Kraata. It was momentarily overwhelming as Life vibrated through the room. So he took a moment to try to attune to it and he realized that all the abundant Life energy was calling to him. Waiting for him to rightfully claim it. It was with that realization that the surge of Life seemed to abate from overwhelming him and he also felt slightly less pain in his injuries. Perhaps the increased healing factor from the Life Kraata? Sorilax’s thoughts moved back to the body he now shared. Speaking of sharing, sharing a mind with someone was odd as well. His Kraata were so subservient as to be near non-existent while he possessed them. But Kas could actually talk and potentially fight back. It was very distracting. Sorilax took a step forward and yelped in pain, falling to his right knee. One teleported to his side and helped him up. He brushed himself off after getting back to a standing position, groaning as his left shoulder moved. What exactly had happened to Kas on the way here? He supposed he could just ask the Toa. They shared the same mind space. But he doubted he would get a straight answer after his forced possession of the Toa. Not to mention there was still a matter of the wires plugged into the pillars. Something was still afoot in this place. They were not entirely safe just yet. Two mentally spoke to his father, explaining his actions. Sorilax nodded, right hand stroking the middle of his Illuminated mask, which he left glowing. After his creation was finished talking to him, Sorilax looked to Mahrika, who was probably confused by all this, and mentally spoke to her, I have forcefully Illuminated and possessed Kas to keep him from harming us. I hope you see I had no choice. Well, no choice other than killing him in self defense, of course. A choice which I was informed that the Administrator said was a very bad idea considering our surroundings. Sorilax looked around the room, What I need is here most definitely. Now we just need to find it. Out loud, he said, “Administrator, define the purpose of everything important in the room, please.” OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Harvali

PC Profile Name: Voracious Breed: Zivon (Riteborn) Faction: Whira Appearance: An average Zivon with dark blue patterning that is almost lost in the shimmer of its chitinous armor. Breed quirks: Hex Effect: when a Zivon enters a given hex on the game map the veil thins between the realm of nightmares and the Time Between Time. All characters in the hex -- PC, MC, and NPC -- experience traumatic nightmares from their past as if walking into Irnakk’s Tooth. All characters are unable to sleep in that hex, and all characters become distrustful of even their closest companions. These effects end whenever the Zivon leaves a given hex on the game map. Planar Vision: the Zivon can see from the Realm of Nightmares into the Time Between Time. The realm of nightmares is a twisted mirror world of pain and toil filled with the disappointments and unfulfilled desires of Irnakk’s Prized. For the Zivon, this is home, and the plane of the Time Between Time is akin to a pantry or fridge. Planar Walking: the Zivon can freely choose which plane it exists on, the Realm of Nightmares or the Time Between Time, so long as it is not restrained. If you kill a Zivon while in a plane different from your home plane you are returned to your home plane when it dies. Aspect Killer: a Riteborn Zivon is capable of flickering its physical form from the realm of nightmares to the planar limbo where gaseous aspects reside, allowing them to directly harm aspects when they are weakest. Four Rhotuka spinners with differing abilities: On the head of the Zivon is a Rhotuka that can blind targets on contact. This effect remains active until a new target is blinded or the current target finds a way to remove the effect. On the back of the Zivon is a Rhotuka that can deafen targets on contact. This effect remains active until a new target is deafened or the current target finds a way to remove the effect. On the right claw of the Zivon is a Rhotuka that can mute targets on contact. This effect remains active until a new target is muted or the current target finds a way to remove the effect. On the left claw of the Zivon is a Rhotuka that can numb targets on contact. This effect remains active until a new target is numbed or the current target finds a way to remove the effect. This ability cannot be used across the veil between planes and can only target creatures on the same plane as the Zivon. Tail Stinger: The barbed stinger on the Zivon’s tail can inject a poisonous venom into a target, or can form a ball of venom and hurl it up to one hex at a target. This poisonous venom slows those it contacts, making them tired and incoherent. This ability cannot be used across the veil between planes and can only target creatures on the same plane as the Zivon. Six Legs: Legs can create a spray of webbing that ensnares. The webbing is resistant to all but Kaita level damage, and can be used across planes to capture prey and pull them back into the Field of Darkness. The range of this attack extends across the veil between planes, allowing the Zivon to ensnare a target before ever entering the Time Between Time. Flaws: Former Life Flaw: If given the opportunity, will take large sums of money to betray anyone. Psychological Flaws: They are intensely sadistic, and love to toy with captured prey They are paranoid, and distrustful of all others Like all Riteborn monsters, the Zivon quickly loses all but the faintest memories of its former life The Zivon must listen to and obey commands from their creator. They cannot knowingly cause harm to their creator. Physical Flaws: The joints of their tail are fragile and prone to breaking They are not immune to their own venom A Zivon cannot see directly behind itself Being ambush predators, Zivon do not have nearly as much stamina as other Riteborn monsters

IC: Cravious - Skakdi of Lightning, Mind Reading and Quick Healing Location - Irnakk’s Tooth With - Whira Cravious strode down the tunnel with purpose, fueled by hate and rage. Voracious was by his side, sticking close in the unfamiliar terrain. Cravious had originally never wanted to set foot in Irnakk’s domain again. It had seriously messed with his mind the first time, even with mental training. He had spent a month trying to forget his experience here. When Whira had told him of her need for a Zivon, all the emotions from Irnakk’s Tooth had come rushing back to him. But there was no longer any fear of Irnakk in his mind. And when the nightmares came, they were just more of the same. His body twisted and warped, as did his surroundings. He felt like he was melting, like he would collapse in upon himself. He was afraid beyond belief to lose everything. He had lost all control. He was mortal. That… that suggestion of mortality gnawed away at his mind like a Stone Rat through rock. That was unacceptable. He would live forever. He would own the world. He would rule the economy with a protosteel fist. Those few, horrible moments in the Fire Ruins as it started to come apart played over and over in his head, as it had since it happened. It was consuming him and he let it. It only fueled him more. The anger that sprung up because of it was bubbling like lava, waiting to spew up and out of the volcano like when the Rite-born had arrived. Cravious grabbed a hold of it with both hands and was hanging on, taking it for a ride. Voracious meanwhile was tormented with visions of always being under Cravious’ heel and never making something for himself. He saw himself as coming number two in all aspects of his life. He saw it with certainty, as if the vision had not just come true but had always been true. It crushed him as negative emotions swarmed him. He slumped to the ground, no longer able to function, let alone walk. Cravious growled and grabbed him by the back of the neck, dragging along his hireling. To Cravious, the walls of the tunnel were swimming and swirling. Everything was melting. His hands were down at his sides, yet stretched up beside his head as the floor became the wall. Gravity was all wrong and tugged on his insides, yet each anger-fueled step still brought him closer to his destination. Time was meaningless. There was simply doing and not doing. There were no breaks, no rest times, no meals. There was a task to accomplish and time was something to use up to get the task done. The tunnel ended, opening up into the cavern. Cravious’ nightmare did not end. It was simply joined by the presence of Irnakk as he breathed on Cravious’ neck, as his hand rested on his shoulder. The Pit Witches cackled off in some unseen corner, the noise echoing around the chamber and seeming to only get louder. The spare parts of dead Skakdi rattled, the hollow metallic noise invoking thoughts of doom should Cravious focus on them. Cravious threw down Voracious on the edge of the drop-off. He landed with a thud, optics dancing around to stare at the nightmares that kept him from reality. Whira could have her way with him now. The briefcase Voracious clutched in his fear was a fraud. The real one was still hooked at Cravious’ waist. Cravious looked at the ground, whispering to the presence he felt next to him, in his own way crying out to his god, “Irnakk, we have brought you an offering. Last time we were here, you gave Whira a way to create Great Discs. But I got nothing.” His voice was filled with hate and spite, though the feelings were directed at himself and his lack of ability, “I can’t use Taboos, and so here I am. I ask of you to show me a way to create Great Discs without a Taboo. To be able to kill those set against me and send them back to you.” OOC: @~Xemnas~ @Unreliable Narrator

IC: Cravious - Skakdi of Lightning, Mind Reading and Quick Healing Location - Ash Barrens With - Whira Cravious put the finishing touches on the large iron vat, angrily banging a stubborn part into place. Clash called from above at the controls, “We’re almost there.” Cravious threw away his tools, which went clanging off into some random pile Sagacious had created. He grabbed his equipment, then paused for a moment, staring at his hands. He could still feel them warping, even now that they were free of the temple. The memory haunted him and anger filled him even more. That place would pay for what it had done to him. He would strip it of its secrets. He grabbed the elemental weapon the Kaita Credence no longer needed. As he gripped the Harpoon Hacksaw, he felt his element open up to him in a way he didn’t normally feel. Power surged through him, but he knew it wasn’t enough. Not even close to enough. Cravious lifted up his radio to show it off, “Clash, once we drop, keep yourself at a safe distance. I’ll radio for pickup. Sagacious, every time Clash says you’re losing altitude, send a single jolt through this handle.” Cravious pointed to the elemental handle wired to all the Levitation Kanoka striker boxes. “Asperity, keep on the guns. Kill anyone who looks threatening.” Voracious stirred and Cravious pulled him to his feet. The Ga-Skakdi flexed his hands and groaned, the sound seemingly muffled. Cravious shoved a briefcase into his hands, “Keep this safe. You’re coming with Whira and I. I need you to make sure that even if I don’t make it, the Heartlights do.” Voracious opened his mouth to shoot down the ludicrous idea, but Cravious continued, “And I’ll make it worth your while, don’t you worry.” Voracious sneered and grabbed the briefcase. Fine. Cravious moved to a side door, one not near the garage ramp, “Whira, it’s time.” =---------= The rivers of lava and pools of obsidian were both stark to the optics and yet lost to the dark of an encroaching evening. Shadows flickered and flitted to and fro like a large, slowly seething mass. There were dark purples, blues, and reds. All were equally hard to discern. The lava gave off its noxious fumes, further obscuring the air with distortions and bits of smoke. The air sometimes seemed to shimmer and sometimes seemed to be moving in waves. Despite being so open, the whole region felt like it was chopped up into smaller parts. So it made sense that the Cube remained hidden despite its size, cloaked in shadow as it was. And it was only once the shadows were stripped away and the Cube jumped into view with the light of the lava glinting off of it that it became apparent the vehicle had been there the whole time. All who saw the Cube knew it meant five things: weapons, vehicles, ACRs, Aspect bodies, and repairs. And they also knew that the Cube was a land vehicle. Few were the ones that knew it could be submerged in water. For it to be floating… that was impossible. It was far too heavy. And yet, it was. And moving quickly away at that. In the Cube’s sudden appearance and departure, it was easy to miss the three shadows that had flitted down from the shadowy mass before it had been revealed. And even harder to see as they slipped into the mountain entrance that was clothed in shadow as the lowering sun lit up the opposite side of the mountain. OOC: @~Xemnas~

IC: Cravious - Skakdi of Lightning, Mind Reading and Quick Healing Location - Ash Barrens With - Whira Asperity floated the engine over the access hatch. Cravious was working his Improbable Machine and hooking up belts, cogs, and small metal boxes with hidden contents to the propulsion engine. He slotted in several protosteel bars that stuck out at odd angles. Any sane engineer would tell you this abomination wouldn’t work. But Cravious just reached down into the sea of churning gears, pistons, and tubes. He pulled on something, then brought up a clear tube, securing it to a receiver on the engine. He stepped back as the engine slowly lowered down through the access hatch. The sea of protosteel parts rose to meet the engine, then enveloped it. Cravious threw the maintenance doors closed and went for the elemental handle he had just wired up. He worked his element and sent a single surge of electricity through the wires. In quick succession several thunks rang out around the Cube, and suddenly gravity felt heavier for a moment. Cravious yelled at Clash, “Turn on the backup power!” Clash sounded confused and a little shaky, “But-” Rage filled Cravious’ voice, “JUST DO IT!” Clash leaned over and wound the primer. Then he spun a nob until it clicked loudly and fastened in place. The view on the thermal imaging cameras somehow showed the trees getting rapidly shorter, and now it seemed like there had been a major increase in speed. Clash felt the sensation too. Whatever Cravious had done, it had worked. Sagacious felt the increase in speed and switched off the overdrive, the vibrations caused by it disappearing. She took off her hand from the elemental handle and realized it hurt. She had been holding the handle with all the force she could. She came over to where Cravious was, a little dazed as she flexed her hand. She had been close to death many times, as was the way of life on Zakaz, but having your very being warped and twisted… The memory of it haunted her. She looked to Cravious, who seemed to be silently fuming. “What did you just do?” Cravious scowled at the interruption of his calculations as he tried to figure out the next best thing to accomplish to keep them all safe so that they could make more money. He vaguely motioned to the metal boxes now set up around the Cube’s walls, “Those boxes have Levitation and Weight Increase Kanoka in them. The Cube is currently flying. Well…” he turned to the boxes and ran some more calculations in his head, “more like floating. They aren’t evenly distributed enough for real flight, and there aren’t enough of them, but as you can tell, we’re going much faster than our old speed limit.” Clash listened in best he could, then checked the gauges before him. Incredible! They really were floating! And going faster than the Cube had ever gone before, just like Cravious had said. Cravious barked out, “Voracious, update!” When he didn’t get an immediate reply, he looked around and spotted Voracious asleep on the floor, partially covered in all the loose parts scattered everywhere. Cravious cursed him and chucked a particularly heavy tool at him. The tool impacted the hibernating Skakdi with a painful sounding thud, but it did not wake him. Asperity’s chilling voice spoke up. Cravious jumped at the sound. She had been right next to him, when had she gotten over to the gun controls? “The Zivon is engaging a giant. We have no pursuit.” A giant? It didn’t matter, they were close to freedom. Surprisingly, he didn't feel any better from the news. Cravious responded, “Alright, Clash, take us west. Sagacious, clean up what you can. Just make piles, it doesn’t matter.” Sagacious frowned at that. Organization always mattered. Cravious continued, “Asperity, watch our flanks and rear from the guns. Whira-” he turned to the Aspect, “-keep up the cloaking. I have an idea.” The Cube hovered around 15 feet up, rapidly covering ground with a singular propulsion engine sticking out of the center of its bottom side. It was cloaked as a massive shadow flitting through the charcoal trees and hills of ash, now silent except for the rushing of air. It moved like that for some time, Cravious hurriedly getting things ready as Sagacious cleaned in an organized fashion. OOC: @~Xemnas~

IC: Sorilax Life Seeker - Aspect of Light and Silence Location - Beyond the Server Entrance With - Mahrika, Bellicus Kastus, Two Kas came to holding a cup in his hands, a being made entirely of constantly fractal-ing golden light pouring it up to full. The being set aside the glass jug of water and sat down at the small stone table next to Kas. Wooden plates with a few utensils were there, along with a bowl of fruit to serve from. Kas’ weapons were gone. As were his injuries. They were inside a temple. One from the Kumu Islets, based on the basalt and obsidian used as building materials for the large structure. The walls had murals of life across the island. A Mahi on a boulder eating a tuft of grass. A Shallows Cat peeking through reeds. A Nui-Rama racing through a canopy, optics infuriated. Each one seemed almost alive, like they were snapshots in your mind of something that you had just seen happen. They were at a third story balcony overlooking a lush forest below, full of vivid greens and browns that sparkled like jewels. Insects could be heard buzzing, going to and fro. Rahi scampered through the underbrush as momentary flashes of color. The sun shone in from above through several skylights, lighting up the inside far more than it should have. An overall feeling of peace resonated through the space. Everything just felt so alive and full of hope. It seemed like it was a perfect summer day. The golden being of light sighed, staring off at the life below but finding no enjoyment in it. The patterns of his golden fractals were mesmerizing. He turned to Kas, “I wish I could say that I regret what is about to come next, but it is entirely justified based upon the morals that I believe. You have given up your right to your life by actively threatening to take another’s with a show of force. If I allow things to continue as they are, casualties are likely, and I cannot let that be. What comes next is part of the sad state of this universe. But it is necessary. Farewell, Toa of death.” Kas knew that voice. The golden, Toa-like being was Sorilax. =---------= As soon as both Sorilax and Kas fell asleep from the Rite of Repose, Two swiftly moved forward with the grace of a Muaka deep in the jungle pouncing on its prey. He wasted no time, nor any movements. He would obey his father with absolute severity and with haste. He questioned nothing. He understood the danger this newcomer presented and he knew he needed to protect both his father and the one called Mahrika. His staff swung down at Kas’ head behind the mask, its sharp blade popping and crackling with explosive Fragmentation that was begging to be released as he powered it up. Once it met Kas’ head, there would be no holding back. It was aiming to be a killing blow in one strike. There was no need to cause suffering. Life filled him, it moved him. He could feel it in the air as his body passed through the medium. It touched every fiber of his being. It was almost visible, so dense it was. And then the Administrator spoke, as if directly to him. Two paused, inches from killing the Toa. His father had ordered him to mete out justice upon the interloper, but Two felt the surge of Life in the air, the way it clogged his senses and gave him energy. Kas could very well just not die from any blows he received. And if they were not ready for that to happen, then that might end up leading to the deaths of the others in the room at some point in the future. Suddenly Two’s iron will was the thing that shattered. What should he do? What was best? He had to obey his father, but not obeying might help keep his father alive. Two had to act quickly. And he had to act without being able to ask his father what to do. Two looked behind him to Mahrika’s small form. As he gazed upon her kind optics, his determination returned and he realized that justice could still be applied. He turned back to Kas, putting away his staff. He went to grab the firework shotgun from where it landed after Kas fell asleep and attempted to strip the Toa of Fire of all the ammunition he could find. Then Two leaned in close to Kas’ mask, inches away once more. He hissed angrily at the would-be murderer. Cursing the red being for causing him to doubt his father’s instruction; yelling at him for the pain he would have inflicted on those in the room. But Two was still able to obey his father’s command. Justice would be meted out. Two took away the Toa’s life… ... ...by opening up his spine and moving to Illuminate Kas’ Kanohi. Kas’ life was no longer his own. He had given it up with his foul intentions. And now he was about to be bound to another. OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Harvali IC: Forgemaster Viltia NUVA - Toa NUVA of the Green Location - Kini-Nui, Opened Bunker Viltia put a hand on the machine and spoke with a soothing voice, “Don’t worry, trapped stars. I’ll at least get you out of here.” She climbed up the machine, the maneuver made easy after spending a month doing the same thing on Sidra’s mech whenever she wanted to get away and practice her Time Duplication Kanohi. Once she reached the shoulder blades, she eased herself down inside the open hatch. OOC: @Unreliable Narrator

IC: Cravious - Skakdi of Lightning, Mind Reading and Quick Healing Location - Outside the Fire Ruins With - Whira The four oversized Rhotuka flew towards the field of shadow hidden in the trees. The first one clipped a particularly large charcoal tree, turning it to dust. But it also sent the Rhotuka off course, where it threw up a spray of ash and water as it dug into the ground before dissipating. The second one entered Whira’s field of shadows and struck the side of the Cube, dispersed along the protosteel side with a burst of energy and a loud crack of sound. The third one entered Asperity’s gravity well and was thrown off course, tumbling into the Cube’s interior and causing the Nui-Rama’s collected pile of parts to be thrown around, making the organized mess inside more of an actual mess. The fourth one also entered the shadowed gravity well. It cut through the air with force, its altered course sending it spinning right into Voracious. As it struck, he opened his mouth to cry out in pain but found that no noise emerged. Then they were inside the Cube, sliding along the floor due to their momentum and the return to normal gravity. Cravious, still full of anger, sprung to his feet as soon as he could, as did all others except for Voracious. He quickly got the garage lamp to start lifting up and then called out more orders with harsh clarity, "Clash, drive! Sagacious, engines. Asperity, with me. Voracious, man the Cordak." Except for Voracious, who slowly rose to his feet, body sore after the impact of the Rhotuka, everyone else sprung into action. Clash ran to the controls, turning up the Cube’s engine, which had been idling this entire time. A low hum filled the air and the whole vehicle lurched as it began to trod through the ashen landscape, fueled by the element of Lightning. Lightning, which Sagacious now sent a surge of into the reserves of the vehicle as she grabbed a handle designed to allow someone to channel their element through it. Off to her right, she flipped up the casings on several switches and switched each one in succession, lights above them turning from green to red. Once finished, the Cube started vibrating as it picked up even more speed. If it ran for too long like this, it would cause damage, but that didn’t really matter right now. Asperity picked up large, metallic boxes and pushed them towards the walls, making them float along the way. As she did so, Cravious ran wires from all of them. He didn’t care what type, he grabbed whatever was lying around. Wiring for engines, wiring for weapons, wiring for bodies; it didn’t matter, with the Improbable Machine running as he hooked everything up, things somehow worked out, just like they always did. He wound all the wires together at one end to an elemental handle. That was part one. Time for part two. Cravious rushed for a large propulsion engine that was recently completed but not installed. Beside it sat its twin, only in partial completion. He had wanted to test it first, but it seemed like that wasn’t an option. “Asperity! Engine, access hatch, now!” He popped up a small panel in the floor and pulled the yellow handle found inside. With a grind of protosteel gears and a rush of sound as the internal workings were revealed, in the middle of the Cube two matching doors opened up in the floor. Inside was a sea of rotating gears, sliding pistons, and large, clear tubes that had what looked like lightning coursing through them. None of it looked like it should have allowed any vehicle to move, let alone be able to swap from treads to legs. Voracious stopped halfway from getting up as pain flowed through him. So he settled down onto the floor, letting himself fall into hibernation. The pain had to stop. Then he could worry about living. Clash flicked through the camera settings. Normal vision was entirely black. Night vision wasn’t any better. He couldn’t get them to safety if he couldn’t see where he was going! He smacked the desk the console was on with a shaky hand in frustration and fear of messing up and getting them all killed. He turned the knob again. Okay, thermal vision seemed to work. It wasn’t the easiest to wrap his head around in his current panicked state, but it allowed him to at least point them away from the ziggurat and the Zivon. From the outside, it seemed as if a large shadow was moving through the many dead trees. It was hard to notice it when viewed directly, but when seen from the sides, one could tell there was movement happening and that something was amiss. The ash and the unique electricity based engines kept the vehicle very quiet compared to the gas guzzling and fume belching ACRs that most Skakdi raiders drove. The shadow was quickly moving away from the Zivon that sat perched on what remained of the Fire Ruins. OOC: @Gecko Greavesy @~Xemnas~

IC: Sorilax Life Seeker - Aspect of Light and Silence Location - Beyond the Server Entrance With - Mahrika, Bellicus Kastus, Two Sorilax’s mind was completely torn from what he had been saying. His burgeoning connection to Life was drawing him to the Kanohi floating in the center of the room. He was speechless as he tried to take everything in. Two was holding his head spine casing, trying not to be overwhelmed. It was like being in the Fau Swamp, surrounded by millions of insects, except ten times worse. Life was exuding from the Kanohi in giant swaths of pure, unfiltered Life. Two paused at the realization. This Kanohi had a direct connection to Life, as did his father and as did he. Two shifted his perceptions and realized the common thread that tied them all together. Something clicked in his senses and suddenly he was in tune with the power of Life in the room. It gave him a sense of power. His senses seemed to expand; his fit and able body seemed even more so. Sorilax stared in awe at the Kanohi, his senses telling him this was definitely the place he was destined to be. His future lay here. He forced himself to look at the rest of the room, intrigued and confused by what he saw. But he could not ponder much before someone interrupted him. “Ah, we meet again at last. I knew you’d find this place and take care of the traps. I’m so proud of you, friends.” A voice spoke behind them. Sorilax turned and saw Kas duck through the door behind them and slowly rise to his full height. He looked injured, with some strangely colored spray that was dried against his right ankle and calf. In his hands was a heavy looking shotgun, and he raised the barrel until it was level with the closest Rahkshi. “Now, my friends, I’ll be taking what’s rightfully mine. Hand over the Ignika and no one gets hurt.” Sorilax could only guess that the “Ignika” was the mask behind them. Unfortunately for Kas, with his actions he had threatened not just Sorilax’s life, but the life of Mahrika as well. Sorilax mentally gave Two a command, then mentally spoke to Mahrika, Kas has threatened the life of another sentient being with lethal force and so has forfeited his own. A poem raced through Sorilax’s mind almost as an afterthought. Goodbye One by one you all will fall Your past and future all will dance In this moment you will stall As we stare you lose your chance Hello Sorilax looked at Kas and activated the Rite of Repose. OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Harvali

IC: Sorilax Life Seeker - Aspect of Light and Silence Location - Mi-Kiri Puzzle Room With - Mahrika, Two Sorilax mentally frowned and paused in his passage to what lay beyond. He thought back to her, They were two bodies sharing one soul. It had been painfully split in half. I… He paused, the feeling of it washing over him again, It was a horrible mockery of life. Far worse than any Taboos I have come across. I know we must figure out how to stop the island from disappearing after this, but hopefully we will be able to apprehend or stop in some way whoever has been doing this to these Vahki. It is not right and my own soul yearns to set things straight. OOC: @Harvali

IC: Sorilax Life Seeker - Aspect of Light and Silence Location - Mi-Kiri Puzzle Room With - Mahrika, Two Sorilax nodded in agreement. He turned to the open hatchway door, lit from within and contrasting the dim red light of this hallway they were in. He took a couple steps toward the sound of running water and then paused. He thought about it for a few moments, then put away his staff and Kanoka to pull out his Echo Forks. If his Ice Longbow still did not work in the next room, then these tuning forks would at least give him some measure of mid range damage more devastating than his Chain Lightning. His Rahkshi Staff was still within easy reach. All he needed to do was be gripping it to receive its power and then use that power, even if it was with his other hand. The power did not have to manifest from the staff itself, thankfully. He gave one last look to Two and Mahrika, then cautiously approached the door, peeking his sleek head around the frame to see what awaited them. Two quietly came up beside him, staying out of view of whoever might be in the next room. There did not seem to be any immediate threat that he could see. Sorilax carefully stepped past the doorway and into what lay beyond, Two following behind. OOC: @Harvali @Unreliable Narrator Okay, we're as ready as we can get. Let's see what lies ahead! IC: Cravious - Skakdi of Lightning, Mind Reading and Quick Healing Location - Inside the Fire Ruins With - Whira Something was wrong. This was very bad. Cravious warped like molten metal. No, everything was. Like some insane dream, the world was collapsing around them. There even was a voice from nowhere to cement that this wasn’t real. But Cravious wasn’t waking up. And he knew he hadn’t fallen asleep. This had to be the work of the Zivon. It was destroying this place. It was destroying them. A fire of determination lit within him, hotter than any amount of fear. No one would kill him. Not Whira, not a Zivon, not anyone. He would be the richest Skakdi in existence. He would own the island itself. He would figure out this idiotic Great Disc thing. Cravious yelled in defiance, the noise distorted too as even the air came undone. He moved, legs somehow still able to touch the ground, though the ground was partially on the wall now. There were blurs of color around him, no doubt his hirelings. Indiscernible noises came from them, and when he bumped into them, they stuck together for a moment like hot rubber before finally coming apart. They piled through the portal and into the main room. The distortions weren’t as bad here, but they were worsening. Cravious ran as he yelled, “Clash, Voracious, take us down this tunnel! Wash away whatever venom comes our way. Asperity, take us to the Cube once we’re clear of the ziggurat! Whira, cloak us in shadow as much as you can, maybe it won’t be able to see us. Sagacious, go immediately to the engines and set them into overdrive. Pour in all the Lightning you have!” The sound of many feet running filled the massive room. The lava pool started to warp too much and poured out onto the ground, sending out noxious fumes. Then they were at the hallway, their breathing heavy and anxious, yet they spoke not a word. Clash and Voracious clasped hands and a massive flood swept up the group in its pull. A rushing, deafening gale swept them along even faster along the top of the water. They all felt that electric tingle and suddenly the water turned brown and grey. Paranoia filled their minds, a sign that Cravious knew meant a Zivon was near. He used his X-Ray Vision and automatically flinched as he saw the Zivon atop the ziggurat, ripping it to pieces. It’s movements seemed… slower than he remembered of the other Zivon he had seen. Maybe they had a chance after all. The water around them seemed to tug at them, trying to slow them down. Or perhaps it was what the water was picking up that was giving them that feeling? Had the Zivon coated the hallway with venom? The flood and rushing wind could not be slowed, however. They all raced down the tunnel as if it were some kind of slide, only gaining speed as they reached the end. Then suddenly they were airborne. Suspended in that moment where one remained weightless for what felt like several seconds but was really only an instant. Then Asperity took over and the inside of the Cube became down instead of the ground. They all started to freefall sideways towards Cravious’ vehicle and the large open garage ramp, the water below them obeying the normal laws of gravity and disturbing large amounts of ash that clumped at the surface as it found the lowest elevation it could. Cravious didn’t realize it, but they all collectively were holding their breath, ready at any moment to be snatched from the air. The only noise was the dying wind, the slowing water, and the horribly loud noise of giant stone blocks being tossed around like they were twigs, settling in the ash mounds. OOC: @~Xemnas~ @Gecko Greavesy Xemnas, I have Whira running with the group, but I feel like having her use her powers is a little too much bunnying. Would you mind writing up a post for her so Nato can respond?

IC: Sorilax Life Seeker - Aspect of Light and Silence Location - Mi-Kiri Puzzle Room With - Mahrika, Two Sorilax sagely nodded, “A wise choice.” He got down on his knees, then sat back on his feet to even further lower his body to bring it to Mahrika’s height. He opened the spine casing once more, revealing the Quick Healing Kraata inside. His voice still came from the Rahkshi armor’s face, “Let One touch your mask and he shall Illuminate it.” Mahrika leaned in and One crawled over to meet her mask with his mouth. Once contact was made, a sudden, creeping change came over her mask. Then with a surge of power, her mask changed to a transparent pearlescent cream and white. It seemed to be glowing faintly in the dark red light of the corridor. With it came a feeling of rejuvenation and health. Sorilax pulled away, closing up his spine in the process. It latched into place with several satisfying clicks. He looked down at Mahrika, feeling in his mind a new connection to her forming. It solidified and he mentally activated it, speaking to her without audible words. Mahrika, he said, should you ever need to remove my Illumination, simply use the disc of Removes Poison on your mask. Or use purified energized protodermis. Both will cleanse the mask. As for its glow, you can mentally turn that off, should you choose. And just so you know, that error earlier took away my ability to use my element or my inherent Kraata power of Silence. He motioned to his heater shield, I do not even know if my Rhotuka shield of healing will work. But I still have One and Three’s powers at my disposal, and we have Two here. He motioned to his Rahkshi, who was wondering why they were both so quiet now. Should anything happen to me or him, you should know the tools I carry. He lifted up the Rahkshi Staff in his hands, If you hold and concentrate on these staffs, you can use the Kraata power of the Rahkshi they came from. The one I hold is Fragmentation. The one Two holds is Teleportation. He motioned to the tuning forks at his hips, These Echo Forks produce a sonic shockwave that destroys when struck together. Be careful where you aim them. For the Rhotuka shield, Rhotuka are different for each individual. Yours might be healing like mine, or something that injures another. The longbow is an elemental weapon like your sword. It shoots icicles that can change shape once they strike something. Should whatever elemental dampener is in effect be lifted. Sorilax turned to look at the doorway once more, then back to Mahrika, It seems whoever placed these cables was already in the next room. We might very well be attacked since I have no way to cloak or silence us. Are you ready to continue? Sorilax wondered if she should even come with them, but the safest option was to keep her in his sight. Otherwise he had no idea what might become of her if she stayed here. What if the Vahki showed up? Or whatever the larger thing was. No, it was better for her if she stayed by his and Two’s side. OOC: @Harvali Mahrika's mask has been Infected with Stage 3 Quick Healing.

IC: Sorilax Life Seeker - Aspect of Light and Silence Location - Mi-Kiri Puzzle Room With - Mahrika, Two “Oh um, forgive my rudeness. My name is Mahrika.” Sorilax dipped his head in greeting, “I am honored to make your acquaintance, Mahrika.” She shook her head in awe, “I had not realized you were so strong I … I do not think I could take in a Rahi’s heartlight, unless it was a dying pet. I want to save lives, not power. But to be able to adopt four lives…” That right there was the reason trust continued to bloom in him regarding Mahrika. She was so selfless and caring. It was a shame she was Desecrated by another. Mahrika swallowed, “We do need to prepare for danger though. And ... I ... to share in the power of life you have, to have sway with Life ... if it is ... you may des— Illuminate my mask.” Sorilax held up a finger as if to say “wait”. He popped open his own spine to reveal the Kraata inside. There was no hint of the gaseous body of an Aspect. He then sealed it shut and said, “These Rahkshi of mine are not my true body and I can jump between them. Should you prefer Quick Healing, I can provide that as well. And you should know that you can cleanse your Kanohi and then have it Illuminated by another Kraata, if you wish for a different power, at any time.” He was so humbled to have her trust him enough to ask to be Desecrated by him. He just hoped the other Aspect would not mind, nor try to harm her for doing so. OOC: @Harvali Choose whatever you think is best. Like Sorilax said, we can always change it later.

IC: Sorilax Life Seeker - Aspect of Light and Silence Location - Mi-Kiri Puzzle Room With - Mahrika, Two Sorilax watched as the Ga-Matoran took some of the Kanoka, yet not all of them. Instead she offered them back, saying, “It might be good for you to have some disks too, in case the next room blocks more of our resources.” Sorilax nodded slowly, thinking about future potentialities, “Yes, that would be wise. Thank you.” He took the disc of Freezing and handed the disc of Shrinking to Two, who probably had much better aim than he did. The Matoran surprised Sorilax by continuing, “Sorilax I … I think we have stumbled onto something important. Something dangerous. Deadly. I do not … I do not know if our friends are safe. I … worry for Ollem, he was the first person I met since my home was destroyed. My first friend outside of Vokarda. I … I worry if he … he could be k-killed, and I don’t want to lose him.” Sorilax nodded in agreement. If they had found what they had been looking for, then Kas and Ollem could very well be in trouble at the other end of the cables. He noticed his companion was unable to meet his gaze as she said, “My beloved Vokarda was dying in a Skakdi raid, all those millennia ago. I … everyone in the village was dead, no one was left to help. But my brother came. And they offered to preserve her life in mine. They told me they sought to one day overcome death. We agreed out of desperation. And they saved her.” ”Ollem I think is mad at me, I think he knows I have kept secrets from him. About … Vokarda. But … I don’t want him to die. And I don’t think … I don’t think my brother will come in an emergency. They can be slow to respond, sometimes taking millennia. They are more active now but … I don’t think they will come. I … if Ollem somehow is near death will … will you help me save him? I still can carry one more life. And I … I trust you. With … us.” Sorilax stroked his Rahkshi head, deep in thought. He mumbled to himself as he stared at the railing to his left, “Taking Millennia? Almost sounds like the Eldest, Tuakana. I wonder…” There was so much he did not want any Aspect to know. And even the Administrator was listening in now. Anything he said might be used to harm other lifeforms. Sorilax turned to face his puzzle companion, the one who had yet to tell him her name. She had continually shown love and care. She had run to his aid with no hope to actually help. She constantly was aware of and sought to help others. She understood the nature of Aspects and respected his refusal to talk more. His emotions told him to trust her, but logically he knew that was not enough. There was no knowing what Aspect was on the other side of her Desecration. A compromise then. Information without detail, no matter how much it hurt him to do so. “That is beyond kind of you to ask me of such a task and I appreciate the notion. If we find Ollem in a state where there is no other option for his healing and he is about to die, then yes, I will use his Heartlight to Desecrate you, binding his soul, in new form, to yours.” He paused, looking at Two as he weighed what more to say, “But just so that you know, I am able to perform Desecration with Rahi Heartlights. And in addition to that, I can Desecrate someone up to four times.” Sorilax motioned to Two, who obeyed a mental command and popped open his spine casing to reveal the golden Kraata within. “Also, with my unbound Kraata, I am able to Illuminate masks, granting the power of the Kraata to the wearer without having to use a Heartlight at all. For other Aspects, this would be called Infection. Either way, there are some downsides. Which, well, just know that they are no worse than being Desecrated.” Sorilax looked around, as if he could spot the Administrator listening to them, keeping him from really going into detail. Two closed up his spine casing. It latched into place, secure once more. Sorilax continued, “And should you seek the power of Darkness as a Kraata power, my change to the Element of Light also came with a change of Darkness to Life. Actually, Two here has a Kraata of Life. I feel its golden shimmer is very appropriate to my color of elemental Light.” Sorilax sounded proud. The kind of pride that came from a creator looking at their creation and seeing it functioning better than expected. OOC: @Harvali IC: Past Forgemaster Viltia NUVA #3 - Toa NUVA of the Green Location - Kumu Islet Past Viltia #3 looked around, waiting for Sidra to show up. And she waited. And waited. Where was Sidra? Time was running short. Very soon, present Viltia would- A smoldering campfire gave off a little puff of smoke that joined the swirling mists above. There was no one there to appreciate its simple beauty. IC: Forgemaster Viltia NUVA - Toa NUVA of the Green Location - Kini-Nui Valley, Opened Bunker With - Mazor, Muaka NUVA Proxima Viltia shivered, finally free from the horrible paralyzation of her body coming back to life. The whole thing had just been full of this stomach wrenching pain that went beyond description. Worse than she had ever felt in the Fau Swamp. Worse than she had ever felt as a slave. It was a surprise she wasn’t dead. Wait…. She let out a giant, pained groan, full of anguish, as she slowly got to her feet. She brushed herself off, pure EP dripping from the jungle plants that adorned her body. Actually, the jungle plants and vines seemed more alive than even when she had created them. “UGH!” Viltia turned to see her Muaka at her side, large face full of concern. She pat him on the head and his instant purring made her feel slightly better. She turned to Mazor, not paying attention to what changes the pure energized protodermis might have caused to him, “Well that absolutely stunk. I didn’t even get to remember what death was like. LAAAAME. Ugh!” Viltia moved about a little bit, trying to finish waking up her body. It felt so empty. She was hollow. Where her Element, Kanohi, Breed Quirks, and Kraata were supposed to be, there was only a void. There- No, wait. As if sensing she was alive once more, Life reconnected to Viltia’s Life Kraata, infusing her with its power. It was only a small reprieve from her hollow feeling, but a welcome one. Had its direct connection to Life caused it to preemptively leave her while she gave her power away to the bunker door? There was definitely something that made it different from her other Kraata, which were drained dry of power. Something to ask Sorilax, she supposed. Viltia’s tethers lifted her into the bunker. Only after they did so did she realize she still had them. That was a pleasant surprise! But, well, that might actually mean they weren’t as much a part of her as she thought they were. Their power must be being provided outside of herself, like with the Life Kraata. She… didn’t know how she felt about that. Her tethers were, well, hers. She was them and they were her. There was no beginning and end, there was just Viltia. To have that notion potentially be proved wrong was very disturbing. She didn’t dwell on it. She couldn’t. Viltia turned to Mazor again, “Okay, gotta go get my powers back. I’ll be one sec.” She trudged off into the dark of the bunker, still trying to wake up her body fully. She called out to her mech, “Hey there, I’m Viltia. Give me a moment, I’ll wake ya up.” She knew what needed to happen and was ready to climb into her mech, should she find something comparable to what Sidra had. If there was something more or less than what Sidra described, then she supposed she would have to investigate it first. OOC: @Unreliable Narrator @Smudge8

IC: Sorilax Life Seeker - Aspect of Light and Silence Location - Mi-Kiri Puzzle Room With - Mahrika, Two Sorilax turned to the Ga-Matoran, looked back at the room, and walked away from it to better hear her. “Oh, yes. I did indeed have him bring Kanoka discs. Thank you for reminding me. I wanted to make sure you were able to defend yourself.” With a mental command, Two unslung the sack on his shoulder and revealed the contents. There were three more powered Kanohi and five Kanoka. The Kanoka were the slightly translucent white of normal discs, though they lacked the Metru stenciling. What still was stenciled on them were three numbers, indicating their Metru-designation, their power type, and their power level. There was Freezes, Weakens, Removes Poison, Shrinks, and Regenerates. Sorilax pointed out their powers and what each of the Metru-designations present meant. Then he had Two gather up the three remaining Kanohi and put the sack back on the Rahkshi’s shoulder. Sorilax motioned to the Kanoka on the ground, “They are all for you. Freshly made, so they should last a long time even with many uses. I hope they offer you protection and some amount of offensive capability, should you need it.” At his mention of offensive capability, Sorilax took stock of his weapons. Everything seemed fine except for his Ice Longbow. It seemed that it too was having its powers blocked. It did not even leave mist behind itself as he moved anymore. And come to think of it… his heater shield, he wondered if the block on his powers also blocked his Rhotuka from working, as it drew the power from his unique bodily quirks. He supposed there was only one way to test it, but that would have to come later. Still, with Two here now, he should be able to hopefully keep the Ga-Matoran safe despite whatever they might face next. OOC: @Harvali @Unreliable Narrator Harvali, you can go ahead and decide both the Metru-designations and power levels of the discs should Mahrika accept them.

IC: Sorilax Life Seeker - Aspect of Light and Silence Location - Mi-Kiri Puzzle Room With - Mahrika, Two Sorilax stepped forward hesitantly, pulling out his Rahkshi Staff, voice sounding grim “Take care. I know not what awaits us. And now I have reason to believe it may cause us harm.” Sorilax went to Silence himself and realized with shock that he was unable to. When had that happened? It was different than with his element, which just felt blocked off. This felt like his element and power had been squashed and sealed away. That was very concerning. But his connection to the force behind Taboos seemed intact, and by extension so were his Rahkshi’s Kraata powers that he was remotely possessing. But to not have Silence… He had always had that. He had used it so often while traveling. It was beyond second nature. And now it was nearly gone. It was like having a gaping hole in one’s soul. Perhaps… if that error had caused this, then there might be a way to reverse it ahead. He moved forward, wanting to be the one to take any surprise attack so that he might keep his Ga-Matoran companion safe. His footsteps were drowned out by the sound of running water as he walked down the hallway and peered through the open doorway, trying to hide his body the best he could and just peek his head around. Two turned to Mahrika and hissed happily at figuring out the puzzle, the meaning behind the speech completely lost on her. He tied his sack so that it was slung over his left shoulder like a backpack. Then he gripped his own Rahkshi Staff and moved forward to join his father. He kept his mind focused on his Life sensing. If there was someone in the next room, whether on this plane of reality or another, he would know. OOC: @Harvali @Unreliable Narrator

IC: Forgemaster Viltia NUVA - Toa NUVA of the Green Location - Kini-Nui Valley, Unopened Bunker With - Mazor, Muaka NUVA Proxima Viltia nodded emphatically, “Yup. At least for a little bit. Mata-Nui apparently used to have tethers like this-” She wiggled her many tethers, looking like a bed of sea grass, “-and I think that might have something to do with it. I really have no idea how I was able to do it. I just felt that I could and so I did. Hopefully I did the right thing.” She turned and motioned with her arm, “We’re almost there. C’mon.” As they continued walking, they passed thick jungle vines and clumps of moss that dangled from the boughs of crooked trees. These all thinned out and dropped away as they walked to reveal a massive gray bunker before them. The closed door to the bunker was gigantic. It stood a hundred feet tall by almost half that in width. Its metal surface was scored with scratches, covered with a couple bits of faded graffiti, and full of dents from particularly hefty boulders. As they were walking up to it, two past Viltias showed up, handing their wooden sheets to Viltia before she dismissed them back to the past. She looked at the wooden sheets and tried her best to place the notes in her mind. But her focus was elsewhere currently. They had arrived. Viltia placed her hand to the bunker, feeling not just it’s cool touch from being in the shade of the mountain in the mid-morning light, but also feeling the near insatiable hunger Sidra had described to her a month before. She knew what needed to happen next. She turned to Mazor and said, “Excuse me for a moment, I need to die real quick,” before pouring all that she had into the door. Element, Disc power, even her breed quirks. She placed both hands on the door and let it consume all it wanted. She was anticipating the feeling of no going back. She was ready to barrel right past it and see if maybe this time she could touch death. Who knows, with the Krom Sphere so close, maybe something cool would happen again. OOC: @Smudge8 @Unreliable Narrator

IC: Sorilax Life Seeker - Aspect of Light and Silence Location - Mi-Kiri Puzzle Room With - Mahrika, Two Kas was right, there were a ton of errors. Something needed to be done here. He was just confused beyond himself, however. At least he had understood part of what was happening with the Far Shore. This predicament was far beyond what he had spent his life studying and thinking about. Sorilax picked himself up from the floor and directed Two back to the yellow room. They both removed their masks and Sorilax called out to the Ga-Matoran, “Well, that did not quite work. Let us try red, white, then yellow. Go ahead and place your Kanohi when ready.” OOC: @Harvali @Unreliable Narrator Harvali, go ahead and bunny Sorilax and Two putting in the Kanohi. Unless you wanted to try a different combination, of course. IC: Forgemaster Viltia NUVA - Toa NUVA of the Green Location - Kini-Nui Valley, Jungle With - Mazor, Muaka NUVA Proxima Viltia walked through the jungle, roots and branches moving to allow her passage. For every few steps she took, she took a couple using her tethers. They grabbed the trees to pull her along or planted themselves into the ground to support her weight as they lifted her up for a moment. As they moved along, the jungle rearranged itself back to the way it had been. Mazor spoke up after rejoining her, “Who exactly are you?” Viltia cocked her head to the side for a moment, “Did I not introduce myself? I thought Sidra did. I’m Viltia. It’s very nice to meet you.” She turned and smiled at him, not looking where she was going for a few moments. Not that it mattered, as everything still moved from her path. The jungle started to thin and Viltia got her bearings as she viewed more of the valley. She changed course slightly, still leading Mazor. Soon after, their destination could be seen off in the distance, even through the moss hanging from the trees and the thick ferns that were around their feet. OOC: @Smudge8 IC: Past Forgemaster Viltia NUVA #1 - Toa NUVA of the Green Location - Kini-Nui, Amaja Circle With - Past Viltia #2 Past Viltia #1 gazed at the Amaja Circle of Kini-Nui, confused as to why bits of Diamond were scattered in the stands. Had something happened here? Had it to do with the Administrator and Sorilax? Not having the Diamond was very bad. And she couldn’t make more on her own. She would have to ask the Administrator what to do to be able to make more. Or perhaps she should ask someone more trustworthy. Of course, it wasn’t like she was going to remember this. So she created a small wooden sheet, inscribing on it important notes present her would need to know. Past Viltia #2 was looking down at the Far Shore portal, “You think that’s Muju?” #1 looked at her, “Wasn’t it Juju? Or… Nuju? Or something?” #2 glanced back, frowning, “I don’t remember.” She brightened up, “But I could go ask him.” #1 thought hard for a moment, then made a decision, “No, not right now. You should go check the Grand Fau Temple, see if the Amaja stone there was destroyed. I’m going to place the Muaka’s Optic here. Hopefully it will keep any future rite-born in the volcano. You should place the-” #2 cut in, “Emerald. Just in case there are any already near Le-Metru Nuva, we have to give them the option to get away for the village’s sake.” They both nodded in agreement. #2 teleported away. #1 grabbed the Muaka’s Optic, weighing it in her hand and momentarily thinking of her NUVA Proxima companion before placing it in the circle. She needed to figure out how to get those Diamonds back. Or perhaps go and kill all the active rite-born except for Nektann. She inscribed more on her wooden sheet and teleported away. OOC: The Muaka's Eye has been placed in the Kini-Nui Amaja Circle. IC: Past Forgemaster Viltia NUVA #2 - Toa NUVA of the Green Location - Air Ruins Past Viltia #2 welcomed the feeling of entering the Suva space of the Air Ruins. It just reminded her of so many good things. As she walked to the NUVA room, she saw the portal nearby and realized she hadn’t needed to teleport here on her own. Oh well, maybe next time. At least she wouldn’t remember making that mistake. To her disappointment, the Diamond was scattered around the bleachers here as well. That really stunk. She shook her head and let it drop for a moment before collecting herself. It didn’t matter. Le-Metru Nuva had survived through Nektann and the Untethered without the Amaja Circles. So anything additional would help. She picked up the Emerald and placed it in the Amaja Circle. That done, she wrote it on her own sheet of wood and started her exit. OOC: The Emerald has been placed in the Air Ruins Amaja Circle. IC: Past Forgemaster Viltia NUVA #3 - Toa NUVA of the Green Location - Kumu Islet Past Viltia #3 stirred the ashes of the fire she had been at the night before with Korruhn, his Aspect, Grime, Stannis/Caedast, and Whisper. Things looked so different in the light of day. The temples looked less imposing, while still looking aged and decrepit. She looked at the card present Viltia had given her again. She was supposed to wait until Sidra got here and then go and confirm it. If present her opened the bunker before then, then that was a shame, but nothing could be done. OOC: @Gecko Greavesy

IC: Forgemaster Viltia NUVA - Toa NUVA of the Green Location - Kini-Nui Valley, Jungle With - Sidra, Mazor, Muaka NUVA Proxima Viltia smiled warmly, “Farewell, and good luck to you, too. Stay as safe as you can. I'll see you soon.” She turned away, now focused on the task ahead. She had a couple things to check while she walked Mazor to the bunker she was going to unlock. Three small wooden cards formed in the air, text already inscribed into them. Viltia called upon the power that flowed within her like a hidden stream and three duplicate Viltias were called from the past. One was from before the NUVA transformation, but that one was quickly dismissed and replaced. Each past Viltia was given a card that floated to them. They all read their cards quickly, looking back up at Viltia, eager to go. With a nod from their summoner, the past Viltias flew into the air, the jungle branches parting temporarily to allow them passage. Viltia turned to Mazor, deciding to leave the table of food for the Rahi here, “Okay, come on. It’s not that far.” She set off into the jungle, Muaka by her side and keeping an optic out for any danger. OOC: @Gecko Greavesy @Smudge8