EmperorWhenua

IC Stannis | Onu-Koro It was a lie, an obvious fabrication from soldier's a nightmarish imagination, but it settled on Stannis' ears like a static-charged toque and his brow-ridges flinched in shock. Sulov began to move. "...You want some noodles, Private?" Sulov said, lumbering past Tarnok. "I could go for some noodles." He wanted to go with Sulov, to hear whatever it was he would say, learn whatever it was Tarnok had on his mind. The mention of Makuta pulled the weight in his heart like a chain to an anchor, urging him to chase it, but he restrained himself and his feet remained glued to where they stood as he chose not to insert himself where his presence may not be welcome, too overwhelming, his mind too opinionated, too transferable. Stannis, realizing he'd forgot to breathe, inhaled sharply, too quickly to be normal. "Should we meet later, brother?" he asked, though his eyes, implacable otherwise, broadcasted in their dim twinkle to Sulov alone that his words were asking for explicit permission to go with, instead. @Void Emissary @Emzee

Somehow, Wokiya returned.

IC Stannis | Onu-Koro "Then let's scout," Stannis concurred, stirring himself once more. "But just the three of us, plus any other toa who wish to join. Splitting in twain is unlikely to yield positive results with such a small group. "Sulov, I understand the Ussalry still manages to deploy extensively through the tunnels. Could we use the Ussalry's activity to desguise our efforts until we are well into the Walk from here? Po-Koro is not as thoroughly inserted, so if we entered from our ingress point our presence would likely be detected immediately."

Open casting call! Yumiwa's taking the Dasaka troupe mobile. For anyone who'd like to participate in official Dasaka diplomatic shenanigans across Mata Nui, here's your chance. Old characters or new ones alike are free to join, Dashi to Toroshu to Datsue alike. Also, if anyone wants to be a guide in these strange parts, that's also someone we'd like to have! Meet in Ga-Koro for all interested persons.

IC Yumiwa | Ga-Koro, Yukanna I let my lips curl in contentment, perhaps a little mischievously excited for receiving more Soulfire training—a niche expansion of the more traditional Dasaka art of Soulsword which I still had great difficulty with anything beyond the rudimentary. But just as it was so titillatingly close to mirthful exuberance, my nascent smile caught snags at the corners of my mouth and evaporated as I recalled my previous tutor back on Sado, the one who my family thought the world of, once. While my uncle never did seem to care much for my menti training, my teacher, Inokio, always did seemed to think I would become an esteemed Battlemaster just like him, one of the cream of the crop of Dasaka warriors and just shy of the ancient sages of legend. I was nothing like him, though, nothing like the conniving, treacherous swordsmaster-spy. Yet here I was, a world away from where we bade our last farewells, and I still grappled with falling short of his disqualified expectations of me. Maybe the truth was I didn't fall far from the tree, after all. I flashed a grin back and forced it to flourish, more born out of pain than joy. "I'd like that very much," I said, saying all that needed to be said about Dihunai's offer of training, then scanned the map one more time. "There," I said, pointing to the coastline just south of Naho Bay. "I hear there is a great tellescūpe at this location I would very much be interested in checking out, and then to Ta-Koro, supposedly a great fortress surrounded by a lake of lava. Then... I hear they have this thing called a 'cable-car' that travels up to vast mountains perpetually laden with winter's shawls, then through these alpine valleys to Ko-Koro, a place of learning and prophesy." I paused, realizing I was getting ahead of myself in my excitement for adventure, and recollected my spine to its proper erect posture. "We can take my yacht to the tellescūpe, but from there we will need guides, and other delegates. I'm sure there are some among our peoples who would appreciate a trek across this land as well. "Zafin," I bade, turning my quick gaze to my handmaiden, who appeared from a bulwark obediently and noiselessly. "Send a request to any toroshu you feel would be receptive to determine if any of they or their clans-people care to join me in traversing these Matoran nations, then let's try and find guides among the Matoran." "Ma'am." I sighed out through my nose as Zafin ran out of the hull to deliver my soft summonses, a long exhale of restrained giddy relief. I'd never have said it aloud around my mom (Dad was a different story), but I was looking forward to getting my cloak a little dirty again. OOC | Open casting call! Yumiwa's taking the troupe mobile. For anyone who'd like to participate in official Dasaka diplomatic shenanigans across Mata Nui, here's your chance. Old characters or new ones alike are free to join, Dashi to Toroshu to Datsue alike. Also, if anyone wants to be a guide in these strange parts, that's also someone we'd like to have!

IC Yumiwa | Ga-Koro, Yukanna “It is that which concerns me,” I murmured, referring to the disruption my entire people’s presence was sure to be causing on this land, this Mata Nui. Things looked pretty okay in Ga-Koro, but beneath the sympathetic cordiality in welcoming refugees there was bound to be simmering resentment and weariness. We were the strangers in a strange land, and we could only stumble around trying to regain a footing for so long before the native people began to have their patience stretch thin. The Dasaka nation’s cultural strength was a fortifying influence on the Archipelago, a result of centuries upon centuries of carefully cultivated social maneuvering for only the strongest of norms to prevail, but that sort of stubbornness could very well doom us here, where we are not at home and deprived of the world we grew our strength in. Assimilation would be hard to do already, and our lust for a vengeful return home would make it unwise to truly make ourselves too comfortable. But if we cannot find a way to endear ourselves to the Matoran nations and obtain their alliances in a war effort, if we could not at least make ourselves more than mere listless refugees feeding off the hospitality of the akiri and their toa caste’s sympathies, then how will we have any hope to return home? We who were masters of statecraft and diplomacy at home were confronted with an entirely different cast of characters to contend with here, and the balance of power between these petty kingdoms was about to be questioned by the Dasaka’s foreign influence. I shared my thoughts on the whole of the matter directly to Dihunai with a tilt of my head, my thoughts pouring out of my mind and into hers like water cascading from vase to decanter, accepted and mingled with freely in trust. I spoke again, saying, “By now, my cousin the commodore must have departed in search of harbor for us to place our own pylons. I have a strong desire to explore this island myself, but as a matter of diplomacy. There are five other cities we need to befriend—I want to visit them all, meet their leaders, and present the case of our friendship." I smiled a little, a stifled laugh from an amusing realization. "And I’m sure the are equally as curious about us as we are of them. “It would please me if you accompanied me, of course. Perhaps we can find a place for the Tajaar to reside as well, on your own terms, should you prefer somewhere other than where Aya places the imperial banner. If you would like.”

IC Sigrus | Po-Koro The Fa-Matoran had thrown his woolen cloak all the way back on his shoulder and bunched the belt around the hem to let the mass of fabric cascade on his back. His hammers and bamboo disc were open to be seen, and he regarded the matoran team's suddenly dangerous situation with an underwhelmingly calm aplomb. He looked north, then studied the shadows on the ancient architecture with Nichou. "Hmm, lots of tragedy has transpired here. And where is the Wanderer when we wander to his doorstep, hm? United we can stand, divided we can fall... but stand with y'all I will, yes." @BULiK @~Xemnas~

IC Inokio | Sado, an izakaya "Yes," he said. "And... thank you." The ronin finished his quail eggs and sipped his drink, then leaned back and folded his hands behind his head in an effort to be relaxed, or appear to be relaxed at any rate. .:It's tragic that the Fursic Clan is all but ashes,:. he continued. .:Truth be, they were one of the last bastions that maintained balance in the realm and kept a lookout for threats. Now that the Umbraline power is clattered like flax chaff to the wind and the Fursic spymasters are dead, the historical turf wars are, well, history, and now we're all fighting to stay alive instead. Power is now such a precarious thing, settled with all the surety of a domino on sangen strings. If played too hard, it'll fall... right... off:. He sighed, relishing in the heaviness of his alcohol-tainted breath, then changed the subject, suddenly weary of hearing his own thoughts on politics and power plays. .:How many active healers are there on Sado?:. he asked. @Keeper of Kraata

IC Yumiwa | Ga-Koro, the Yukanna I had chosen to remain on the Yukanna after my conversation with Maru. A moment afterward I'd received word that both she and her green friend disappeared in a flash of light, a glimpse into the kind of power these 'toa' possessed which both astounded and concerned me. If these toa, powerful as they were in elements of nature with abilities beyond any a Dasaka had seen, had been unable to halt or destroy the being named Makuta, what chances could my people hope to have? What hope did we have? And what of those clans who remained on Kentoku, either by choice or fate? I'd sighed and watched the sun set over the mountainous horizon, appreciating that at least this foreign land shared the same sun. *** As a the flagship of the Imperial Fleet, the Yukanna had been outfitted with the best equipment to support the coordination efforts of its flag-level staff for the rest of the navy. Notably, this included maps and charts in the ship's main room, where officers had wasted no time in importing the best cartographical representations of Mata Nui for study and comparison with Kentoku's islands. I'd wandered there to do the same and stood over the maps strewn over the low tables. My eyes drifted from shore to mountain, across the center and to the other shore, noting the scribbled demarkations between the 'Wahi' and labels for landmarks and roadways from Naho Bay to the Fau Swamp, and up to the pockmarked coastline of Onu-Wahi. My gaze fixated on the volcano at the center of it all, both in awe of its size and in apprehensive fear of the volcano it reminded me of. Did the Mangaia hold secrets of its own like our Mount Koshiki? "Dihunai," I beckoned, calling my advisor and friend. "Tell me, what are your thoughts on Mata Nui thus far?" @BULiK

IC Stannis Maru | Onu-Koro What's next? was a question that always stuck around the Maru like an anxious memory, popping up when least expected or, more like than not, when an answer was not imminently clear. Advice for what happened next was frequently asked of the Maru as anointed toa-heroes, and few more than Stannis himself, the Wanderer, the Prophet. He stood outside in the koro street with Sulov and Ra'lhen and chewed his lip in thought. Over time, he'd became used to the question, and though he never became comfortable giving answers he'd grown to embrace his fallibility. Answers came with more thoughtfulness now, more collaborative council than the oracular wisdom he'd dispensed in his earlier years as a leader. It would take time to formalize plans between koro, messengers to exchange information and akiri to drum up plans, efforts left to people better suited for the tasks leaving time that could be spent doing other things. He turned to his brothers for input. "Well," he said slowly, "I'm... not certain. We could try recruiting other toa for the effort, or scout the Dark Walk, or something else. But what do you think?" @Emzee

Maybe I'll get to 10K after all.

IC Inokio | Sado, izakaya ::Just Inokio,:: he corrected. He'd lost the right to call himself a Korae when the rora stripped him of honour and privilege. ::I wish for an audience with the Mashtet and speak of the future—I cannot say more. But I will need assistance in both getting smuggled out of Sado to Hanaloi and unraveling the mystery of the 'lost clan's disappearance. And if you help me, I can promise you riches of plant and herb regardless of my own success.::

IC: Sulov | Sulov Maru’s Trail Mix and Hookah Bar "What the koro and our leaders do in the future is something we can influence in time," Stannis said calmly, making a plea for pragmatism and patience with his tone. His eyes belied his fierce determination, however; usually dull pearly grey, they suddenly glowed with a brilliant intensity of fiery determination. "As a warrior, I know there are current threats below that need contending. I intend to stem their danger. Do you require something before lending your strength, brother?" @Void Emissary @Emzee

IC Sigrus | Po-Wahi Road "Of course he doesn't go into detail," the often silent but always observant administrator said with a stir. "Speaking plain ruins his brand as a ✨prophet✨." Accustomed to the high-elevation forests against the Ko-Wahi slopes and their cool climes, Sigrus was absolutely suffering under the sweltering Po-Wahi heat. His hopsack woolen cape, usually kept close and tight, was now thrown wide open, its cloth bunched together on his back, and exhibited his rarely-seen twin meteor maces dangling at his sides—for some, it was a glimpse that even the most peaceful of men could be dangerous. "There's a lesson that even Stannis, in his 'wisdom,' is still learning, yes—That is: Not everyone who performs miracles is holy, no."

IC Umbraline Yumiwa | The Yukanna I dismissed the toa's gesture with a disarming smile and gently guided her hand off my shoulder. "Maru, your apologies, well-intentioned as they are, are of no use to me," I retorted, perhaps in a tone considered too curt for imperial court manners but probably welcomed on Mata Nuian's ears. "I trust that your people will make things right because such is right to do, and not out of any remorse that your actions affected realms beyond your own. If your great enemy is ours too, and our cultures are not alone in this world, then how many other nations may have failed to end this darkness?" I let the thought linger a moment, like a seed falling to the earth and left to be watered later. "The matoran who accompanied my uncle in the prophesy's fulfillment sailed with us—our exodus was their return," I finally said in answer to Maru's question. "Their names are Lekua, Leli, Tarnok, Soraya, Kellin, and Seven, and they are likely still here in Ga-Koro. I imagine you'll seek them out and hear the tale from their own mouths." @Vezok's Friend @BULiK