EmperorWhenua

I've never really listened to the test. It's about how you use you character, not how you made it.

Ooc: Why is everybody going away just when I's here to start rolling the ball? it is fair and just. Ic: "Halt!" called a guard from the wall ramparts, unseen, and Stannis and Atiel obeyed. "Who goes there? What business do you have here?" "I am Stannis and this is Atiel," the Pa-Matoran responded. "We and several other matoran are here to look at clues about the Chrinicler's Company and the Makuta. We would like an audience with the commander, if he would be able to help us with our quest, as matoran to matoran, leader to leader," he said.

Ic: Stannis led the way through the door, and incredibly, the ice was gone on the other side of the sheer wall of ice. Instead, the team found themselves in the midst of trees and clearings, pristine and pretty. Nestled in the valley between peaks was the Kini-Nui, the tall towers surrounding the circular platform at the center, and the serene whitecapped mountains around the area gave the location a well-suited sense of solemnity. It was hard to think that below this place was unspeakable evil or that one of the greatest battles was fought by matoran in this spot a hundred years before. Near the temple was a small fortress, square with solid walls and a single robust keep inside it and a giant flame torch at the top. "That keep is where I will be going. Atiel, you come with me. The rest of you, go to the Kini-Nui proper and inspect for clues, but I warn you not to even think of entering it or even trying to. Stay alert, though; the fact that there is a fortress here is evidence of dangers, not proof of safety," he warned.

Ic: Acheno Acheno would have offered an explanation as to how he sensed the doorway, but it was clear by the fact that she had handed him a tool that she believed him. He began digging, against his body's will.Several hours later he had managed to dig a tunnel nearly six feet in. He would have gotten farther, but he was trying hard not to scrape the stone walls with the viciously sharp-looking tool. He idly wondered if it was meant to be more than a simple mining implement. Dropping the tool with a dull thud, Acheno rubbed his stiff arms and headed outside without a word. The sun had dipped below the horizon, but the clouds visible through the trees were still a fiery orange. He stretched, cracked his cramped neck, and took a deep breath. Much as he hated to admit it, he quite enjoyed being in a green forest for a change and without the familiar taste of ash in his mouth he found he could breathe better.He glanced over his shoulder. He could still hear Danerys digging. She had gotten quite a bit further than him that day. Acheno didn't care. It wasn't that he didn't have pride, it was just that he would have to work so much harder if he took his pride seriously.

Ooc: Oh, so this is why I didn't see any activity... Ic: Acheno had already stepped outside, but Danerys continued her digging, further entrenching herself in the mystery that loomed before her. Her rhythmic digging echoed the further she went in, deadening her senses to all but the sound of her shovel piercing the dirt, and it did not seem like long before she struck something hard. A sharp *kING!* alerted her to the fact, and she quickly called Archeno in. "If we work together a little more, we can open this doorway in! Then I can bring in the big guns."

What I would give for an Olmak... XP (Addendum: Spinny does not count.)

Aye, Tanma, I agree. Matoro may actually be quite helpful. Thing is, we'd have to approach him in a specific manner as to neither draw attention or suspicion to our asking him. Has to be natural.

Reality warping. Heck, I'm already insane, so it'd be perfect!

Ic: "And here we are," Stannis said as the group labored slowly up to the Gate of Ice. "All we have to do is get past the door to get to the Kini-Nui." He slowly turned to the distinctive slot in the door. "And all we need to get past the door is a key. Nichou, you're a carpenter. Surely you must have a block of wood or a spare disk with you to carve into a key of this sort," he said, motioning to the Onu-Matoran.

I do have a history of having double agents... But while I have been toying with the idea in my head, Stannis was created as a servant of the light, and I have so far been playing him with that morality in mind. If it changes, it will be later and you will know of it.

Ic: "Not new, just cautious," Stannis said before motioning for the group to follow after him. "To the Kini-Nui. And we shall doscuss the matoran of the Company as we travel." Ooc: Stannis and the matoran troupe to Kini-Nui.

AGAIN with the avatar? Don't judge a book by its cover. Don't judge a member['s brain] by his avatar.

That may be true, but in this case its COMPLETELY accurate. Glad you guys like it so far. And this is just the tip of the iceberg...

Htat saw my skllu you saw, not my barin. If it was ym barin, I htink I'd teg dxylxeia or soemhting leik it.

AGAIN with the avatar? Don't judge a book by its cover. Don't judge a member['s brain] by his avatar.

ugh... the mercs are finding everything. come on EW lets get moving!

What is the worst that could happen with a pair of mercenaries learning the secrets to defeat Makuta first? They destroy the evidence and force the other heroes to pay them in order to learn anything? What are the chances of that happening? But yeah, the Matoran need to move out. I suggest we head towards Kapura, since we are already in Ta-Koro. Though since we might need to talk to Jaller to find him, we will need our best diplomat to do the talking.

We are moving. Think of us as the mobile think tank of the island, traveling and figuring out clues as a committee. Of course it will seem slow, but our combined abilities and resources will shine the light on the path of illumination and we will cast aside all that is dark, whether it be merc or Makuta. (Wow, that was sagely.)

Ic: "Matoran from the six Koro," Stannis replied. "Xa-Koro wasn't around yet." He ignored the remark about matoran of light.

Cosmic Love is the best, hands down.

"I might know something, maybe. I have been getting these...visions, though more often than not they are confusing. The Toa Mata are in one of those dreams, confronting a vortex. Then both the vortex and the Toa Mata vanish, leaving only a soft breeze." "But I am not sure how much help I can give beyond that," admitted the Fe- Matoran, "I...only remember the last two days, nothing prior. Could you fill me in on who the Chronicler's Company was? And perhaps something on the Mangaia?"

IC: Atiel chuckled. "Well, we're talking about mysterious ancient ruins, the disappearance of great heroes, and an incomprehensible evil. It doesn't take a genius to realize they're connected!"

"So, where should we go? and why did you call us here?" Nichou aksed

IC: "If we want connections between ancient ruins, disappearing heroes and an incomprehensible evil, then should we not start at the Kini Nui?" Lepidran suggested, eager to help, "That is all three."

IC: Dece froze, as the Le-Matoran added his piece. "Is this Kini-Nui the color of sand?" he asked, "with four towers around it?"

Ic: "Somehow, your reason leaves more to be desired, Atiel," Stannis countered. "We will investigate the temples, but I think Lepidran has a good idea. The Kini-Nui is where the toa went before descending to the Mangaia, and it might be the best place to start. And Nichou, if you were paying attention, you would have had your latter question answered," he said, his tone betraying his otherwise stoic face. "Dece, we will have to investigate your visions," Stannis said slowly. "Whoever sent you here has to have a reason, and we will have to use your gift wisely, and please tell us as soon as you have any others. But the memory... The Kini-Nui is our great temple and gathering place for ceremonial occasions, and it also has the gateway to the Mangaia, which we have learned is the lair of the Makuta. That is where the Toa went before they vanished and where the Chronicler's Company stood watch for that time. The temple itself is safe, however. The Company was formed by Ta-Matoran chronicler Takua and included matoran from all the villages as a small escort force, and it is since disbanded."

Yeah, I meant 12. My bad.

IC: "I have come across empty temples in my travels across the island, but never have I found an explanation." Atiel declared. "Perhaps they might hold a key to this mystery."

Ic: "Maybe," Stannis said, "but as enticing as empty temples are, I wonder if we can find something that can link us to more immediate answers. Unless you saw something at the temples that especially sparks your imagination and catches your eye?"

Ic: Cersei was amused by Anavel's imagination. "I think I understand," she said slowly, still digesting the ideas, "but as far as I know, we have not been able to actually master surreal torture to such an extent. See, we can only trigger mental breakdown if the subject allows us to, and in serious cases there is no way to break them down without some sort of physical interaction. The helm device at least allows us to limit the injuries externally, but it's still way too powerful, obviously. But while your idea is our -- and by that I mean my -- ultimate goal, we're still unable to master that sort of technology."

Entry #10 freaked me out the first dozen times I saw it, especially with The Operator just standing there in plain sight of everyone.

The Text Based Role Playing Game known as "Scarscrape" is hereby granted the Imperial Seal of Approval of His Royal Majesty, EmperorWhenua, the first of his name. This approval shall be known as the Fourth decree of its sort, and shall direct the member known as "Your Friend Doctor Robert" to go pester Sisen, for it is good.

IC: "I like to believe that I'm quite good with it, actually." Atiel said. "I don't believe I've told you about the time that I saved a three Matoran from a crooked Skakdi that had invaded their home." He laughed. "By the time I was done with him, he couldn't even move under his own power!"

IC: Plucking up his courage (he was around the temple of it after all) Lepidran walked up to the steadily growing group of Matoran. "Um, hello. Stannis, I presume?"

Dece approached the Ta-Matoran(Stannis) who seemed to be in charge and clicked, "Hi, you are the adventurers gathering here, correct?"

Ic: "Impressive, if true, Atiel," Stannis said with reserved approval. "Regardless, welcome to the team." Three new adventurers came back to back suddenly, and two on the same crab. The group was swelling. One seemed a little hesitant, saying, "Um, hello. Stannis, I presume?" The other two, who traveled together, queried if they were adventurers. "I am Stannis," he declared yet again. "And if you feel like calling us adventurers, feel free. To each his own; I am not sure what we will take the shape of, but for now, adventurers is about as close a description as we can have. "Now then, I believe we are properly assembled. Most, if not all of you, were sent to me by turaga or other high-ranking individuals. I have faith in your leaders who sent you to me that you are all fit and able for the task at hand. I asked for the best and the brightest, and I expect you all to act to the requirements set for us. Our task is simple, but not easy: find the Toa and save the island from the Makuta. But to do this, we will have to match wits with fate itself and work as a team, for where we tread, the Toa did, too, and we don't know what became of them. Some underestimate us, believe us inferior, and I was laughed off by many for trying to put us together. We are but matoran, they said; we cannot succeed where the Toa failed, they said. But they do not know what we can do. "As you all well know, I am Stannis. I am a Pa-Matoran (Matoran of Plasma), and I come from The Massif. I called us together, and it is I who will coordinate our efforts. I have wandered a lot and found some information on our task, but for now, I ask that if you have anything to share about our goals or ideas of where to investigate, or maybe even some information about the former Chronicler's Company which guarded the Mangaia entrance when the Toa descended, now is the time to speak."

As for the Makuta quest, I'd love to get rolling on that...as soon as EW comes back from wherever he's vanished off to.

Hi. I took a vacation over the weekend to the land of Nodata, but I'm back. (Until next weekend, but I will have data then.)

Ic: "Yes," Cersaei said quickly. "On my homeland of Xia, we've created something called a Kanoka Sword that is capable of channeling Kanohi powers much like it were a mask being worn. Using this idea, I have created a machine that clamps onto the subject's head like a diving helm, and whenever the subject tries to use even a little bit of willpower, it triggers the power of a Kanohi that can assault the mind. Now, to do this, we have to administer some sort of outside source of terror, whether it be holding a match to the skin or poking it with a needle, and that terror is amplified by the mind into a vision that appears tangible. As such, we can effectively give the subject immense amount of fear with limited physical harm, although everyone it's been used on suffered from retardation afterwards, so it's not perfect," she admitted.

Ic: "We begin right here," Stannis proclaimed to Atiel, stomping his foot for emphasis. "Three is a crowd, but we can only assume that the Toa failed and they were six. So for now, we wait for others to come, and the arrival of the two of you gives me confidence that others will come." "Skills?" Aurax said. "I'm resourceful: I find ways out of things other people don't even think of. I also invent things, like my bamboo disc magazine. I'm also good with a blade," he said while pulling out his shortsword. "I practice while I'm not running the shop. Unfortunately, this blade hasn't seen the light of battle yet." "Practice makes perfect. I hope you will be perfect when with us as you are in your shop," Stannis observed. "As for you, Atiel, how are with that hammer of yours?"