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Vezok's Friend

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  1. IC/ Skrall/ Bonehunter Stronghold/ Markets/ The bone hunters had no army, no regiments. Not even a glatorian presence to speak of (as far as she knew). Yet they survived in the wastes. That alone warranted caution. She wondered how long the prisoner would last - and banished the thought as fast as Tirveus had banished him. He had been skrall - and skrall didn’t break easy. Focusing back on the task at hand, she also looked to the wagons. The amount of supplies being loaded gave her a pretty good idea of the length of the remaining trip ahead - If everything went well. She sidled up to skrall and asked: “What are the odds they will honor the deal? Like you said: They know exactly which routes we can take.” It wouldn’t be smart to draw the ire of the legion - but they were greedy enough to deal in people. They might well be greedy enough to accept the trade and then try to reclaim the supplies down the road. Caravans disappeared all the time. And bone hunters knew the difference between an ambush and an animal attack. She wouldn’t put it past them to attack and then make it appear like the work of Vorox. OOC: @a goose@BULiK@Nato G@oncertainty@Burnmad@Mel@Toru Nui
  2. IC/ Skrall/ Bonehunter Stronghold/ Markets/ The crampons on her feet dug hard into the compacted soil behind Atakus as skrall stepped into the path of the wretch. For a moment, it looked like the not-sister was going to challenge skrall for the honor of escorting the prisoner. Skrall thought he detected a twitch in her shoulder, maybe to draw a weapon? But the rest of the posture didn’t match. A comforting hand for the prisoner then in his last quasi-free moment? But whatever movement she’d contemplated, she checked it. Instead, she just waited until the wretch’s eyes met hers once more before she spoke in a low voice. “All is as he wills it.” Not quite a whisper. Just loud enough for the other to hear. But what her words lacked in volume, they made up for in tone - which was that of stone-cold certainty. And then she was gone, briskly walking away to rejoin the others in their exploration or just observation of the markets. She shared in her fellow skrall’s general dislike towards the stronghold - but it wasn’t what she saw that made her frown. Despite the chaotic appearance of the stalls littering the area, she could at least discern patterns among it - some kind of method to the madness. No, what got to her most was the smell. She’d almost forgotten it - or perhaps subconsciously repressed the memory. Produce and livestock (both animal and sentient), meat and spices, sweat and sewage. Individually familiar perhaps, in some way. But back home, each was confined to its own proper place. But here they formed a rancid miasma that she could have done without. Good thing Atakus had specified fresh provisions. She glanced back to where he was meeting their bonehunter contact - just to make sure everything was still going according to plan - as well at her fellow skrall, taking note of their eyelines to see where their individual attention had been drawn. “Why does the Legion negotiate with these creatures?” He asked the others, whispering. “The Renegades are weak, preying only on those weaker. The full might of the Skrall would destroy them easily.” The statement hung there for a moment. Then she replied: “Like a fist closing around quicksand.” OOC: @a goose@BULiK@Nato G@oncertainty@Burnmad@Mel@Toru Nui
  3. IC: [Leah - Ga-Koro harbor, aboard the Yukanna] Leah was indeed relieved to hear the empress’ words, but Dihunai’s glowing, shifting aura was impossible to miss just behind her. Not that she could blame the Dasaka for feeling the way she did. In a way she could relate. The time of universally good Toa heroics was long over, she knew. But it’d be hard to deny that believing in them wasn’t something that was still part of most Matoran’s programming deep down, her’s included. Which made the current state of affairs hit that much harder emotionally. But even so she also knew as a Maru they’d still be held accountable for it, even if the circumstances weren’t entirely within their control. For her part, Leah had quickly adapted to the situation. She had, even if just subconsciously at times, expected something like it ever since learning Stannis had kept the truth from her and the others. It still hurt. In that regard she was in the same boat as everyone else. There was a brief moment where their eyes met across Yumiwa’s shoulder. And the wyvern found that behind the current pain, there was a storm looking back at her, kept in check until the time was right to unleash it upon those deserving of its fury. Then the Toa’s attention returned to Yumiwa. Finally, she had names. Eyewitnesses to Makuta’s return. “I imagine you'll seek them out and hear the tale from their own mouths.” “Yes, that is what I will do. The sooner the better. If what they know is of use to us then maybe the danger isn’t over for them yet either…” Just then, Zafin took a step forward, a brief glance from the empress to the Toa, before settling on speaking instead of ideatalk for the benefit of the Maru. “Apologies for the interruption, your majesty, but Toa Maru Korero is asking for permission to come aboard.” Leah’s eyes lit up. OOC: Eyy! @EmperorWhenua @Ghosthands @BULiK
  4. IC: [Leah - Ga-Koro harbor, aboard the Yukanna] The Maru stood still, as if gazing at the stars overhead, but instead was fully absorbed by the sudden mental flood the empress shared with her. Each image was tinged with its own mix of associated emotions. She couldn’t feel them as directly through the psychic link, but signs of them played across her face just the same: Awe, longing, anger and loss. Then Yumiwa arrived at Rayuke and the gate. The Toa’s eyes widened as she told her of the Matoran, body tensing up and hands clenched into fists. A sea breeze began to whistle through the Yukanna’s rigging, the ship gently swaying where it had floated perfectly calm before. The waves died down as quickly as they had risen, as Leah made a conscious effort to relax again, accompanied by a deep, deliberate breath. She held it for a long moment, then exhaled and turned to face the empress once more. “I’m sorry.” “I’m sorry for your loss. Your people’s and yours. I’m sorry we were unable to stop this evil here; that it could spread to your home.” Both lands had suffered under Makuta. Mata-Nui far longer than Kentoku. But seeing how much had been lost in an instant. It hit hard. Without thinking about what kind of faux pas it might be in her culture, she placed a hand on Yumiwa's shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. “I will do whatever is in my power to make it right.” The words hung between them for a long moment. There were a myriad of questions swirling in her mind right now, but when she finally spoke again, Leah only asked one thing: “The Matoran with your uncle - what happened to them?” OOC: @EmperorWhenua
  5. IC: [Agni - Cael’s house] “I think that was my formal introduction to Korero Maru.” the Ta-Toa deadpanned, amused that despite Kini-Nui he could count the encounters and words he’d had with any of the Maru on one hand still. IC: [Leah - Ga-Koro harbor, aboard the Yukanna] Once again the guards on the pier only gave a single nod. A glance was exchanged. Then they contacted Zafin in their usual quiet and efficient manner, who could then inform the Rora she had another visitor. All in proper order. Up on deck there was no verbal communication either besides the empress and her guest. The only change Leah noticed was that one of the sentries in her field of view paused in their patrol and looked out over the port side, aura shimmering slightly from blue into violet and back. But since there was no alarmed reaction and being in the middle of a conversation, she paid it no further mind in the moment. Part of her was curious what had prompted the change and briefly wondered if it was possible for her to dial into the psychic link the Dasaka shared with each other. Something similar had worked once before after all…in Mangaia. Which led right back to the question at hand: Where was its equivalent on the archipelago? IC: [Rhow - Inner Port] “Others…” The Skakdi looked pensive for a moment. Make Zakaz better? In this universe? Then again, she had witnessed entire islands sink and dark gods fall. Odds were higher Makuta or whatever Yukie’s version of that one was would fall again before Zakaz improved - but hey: anything was possible. She slowly rose to her feet and turned to the Dasaka once more. “I’m…not good at this. Sharing feelings.” Despite everything, the trademark grin made first subtle signs of reappearing. “Well you saw why. No surprise, eh?” “Anyway…thanks. Guess I better go talk to some people…” She wasn’t sure if they should shake hands, or hug it out or whatever. Ultimately, Rhow settled on a respectful nod, before turning and making her way back through Ga-Koro. Night had fallen, but thankfully the Matoran of Ga-Koro had made clever use of lightstones and their little bioluminescent jellyfish, indirectly lighting the floating walkways from below so one could see where they were going. Rhow followed them back to the great Takea, lost in thoughts of a distant place she had a hard time calling home. No, home was still that always busy inn she and the others had managed to keep running since washing up on these shores now. Pushing through its doors, she absent-mindedly acknowledged the regulars, then started looking for the rest of her crew in the back. “Iraanus? Taoki? Where you at?” OOC: @EmperorWhenua @Ghosthands @Mel @Eyru @otter @Palm and @BBBBalta if Iraanus is still active ^^ no worries if not.
  6. IC/ Skrall/ Bonehunter Stronghold Skrall had followed skrall’s lead and disembarked the lead carriage, but on the opposite side, sword and shield at the ready. Thusly flanked, the spikit cart passed under the stronghold gate. She was curious what kind of welcome the bonehunters had in store for them. Mainly, she was concerned with the nasty possibilities and scanned the gate and ground nearby for any signs of traps: Buried nets, spike pits and whatever else came to mind. As for the civil options for the encounter ahead…well that was Atakus’ business. He was Tirveus' Ordinarius, he had been assigned to ‘make the arrangements’. So he would have the dubious honor of doing the talking in order to sell one of their own into indentured servitude. It still didn’t sit right with her. Not enough to do or say as much, but the feeling was there, especially after hearing his account of events. At least she was determined to see the once-skrall off well. OOC: Hello there! @BULiK @a goose @skrall
  7. IC: [Vasquez] Myra similarly stopped when Vali came into view. She’d caught glimpses of the sangheili around from a distance. Scuttlebutt made ‘em sound pleasant enough for a hingehead. Even so, an ultra like ‘Sakuai was best met with a healthy amount of respect. In general, elites could usually back up whatever title they held with the expected skills. So far those skills looked like they served Madrigal well - so for her part Myra was glad they were allies these days. In fact she was curious what working together with Sangheili would be like. But however rational her thoughts were on the elite liaison and however nice she wanted to play it, almost two decades worth of training, live fire exercises and combat had drilled into her that that silhouette ahead in the corridor was the enemy. She felt her shoulders start to rise. She checked the motion - hoping the bulk of her armor masked the split second of tension - and placed her hands casually on her hips instead, accompanied by a greeting nod that coincided with Markov’s offered hand. OOC: @Krayzikk @sunflower
  8. IC: [Rhow - Inner Port] The Skakdi flinched at the sound of the voice. “I…I don’t know.” she answered after a moment, the reply a low, uncertain growl. “Something’s…it’s calling. To go back. Hard to explain…” She steadied herself, clawed hands digging into the edge of the bench. “But you saw it…why go back to…” She looked up at Yukie, something haunted behind her eyes. “…to that?” OOC: @Mel
  9. IC: [Kohra - Iron Mahi, First Passenger Car] Kohra saw Dolbren gesture in response. So-so. Could be better. Yeah, that tracked. Then, she watched him fling himself over to the cargo carriage and hoist himself back up to the roof. Her shoulder flared up in pain just from sympathy. Or maybe it was actually hurting again. Stopping her fall earlier had almost dislocated the whole joint. She paused for a moment, closed her eyes and pressed her forehead against the cool metal of the carriage for three breaths, before scouting out the next best handle to continue her own climb. It felt like forever, and whatever what might be going down could probably have been over in the perceived time it took her to finish the rest of the climb, but eventually the vortixx arrived back on the part of the train people were supposed to go, between the passenger cars. She’d have to try and find Datrox again. Best way to do so was to call him she supposed, so she pulled open the first passenger car’s door and did just that: “Datrox!?” OOC: @Tarn, but also open for interaction!
  10. IC: [Vasquez] Myra considered the suggestion. Rigging up ships for remote piloting was hardly new tech. It was a sound strategy. But depending on what kind of snags they’d hit it could well backfire. Of course they could attempt to capture both ships entirely and then hard dock with Madrigal after. But Kig-Yar pirates were capable of all sorts of nasty surprises. Always had been, back to the earliest encounters humanity had had with them. Depending on how gung-ho D'vorra was, she might well decide to overload the ship's reactors rather than risk capture. If that happened while docked...Hopefully their recently embedded jackal crewmate could share some insight there at the final briefing. She rapped her armored knuckles against her harness. “Either that, or I take the second bird in myself. Valk’ll make it dance as well as any booster frame.” Despite her confidence in her flying abilities, her mind already conjured up worst-case scenarios: spartan fireteams stranded on either pirate ship with jammed comms, meaning they couldn’t call the remote pelican. Or if they took the dropship in directly and it got busted. Either way meant it’d be them plus a bunch of prisoners unable to go EVA. Far from ideal. It’d also mean taking a step back from the initial assault. She didn’t like that idea either. Nik could see her jaw muscles tighten as these new thoughts came to mind, then, they suddenly relaxed. “Actually, scratch that. Bet those pirates got a dropship or two of their own.” There wasn’t much raiding and looting to be done with Seraphs and Banshees alone. And using their corvettes directly for that would put their capital ships at great risk. Unlikely. They had to have other support craft. Which her armor was very adept at interfacing with, thanks to some dedicated RnD folks that probably spent way too much time with covvie flight-sims. But, it meant more options, which put her at ease again. She shot him a mischievous glance as the clearly labeled passage leading to the hangar appeared ahead. “Think these guys are more the spirit or phantom type?" @Krayzikk
  11. IC: [Vasquez] “Sure, but hopefully the Kig-Yar will bring some semblance of normalcy back to the team.” she deadpanned, with a glint in her sidelong glance, before replying seriously: “As long as they’re pointing their guns at the pirates I’m happy to leave those kinds of concerns to you-know-who.” That would be whoever had supplied Markov’s Mjolnir rig. Gen2, sure, but Myra could tell the difference between something confidential like her own Valkyrie suit, and something completely off the books. She let out a small sigh. “Honestly, a second Pelican would be nice. Make sure we have a way to get any prisoners off of both those ships.” OOC: @Krayzikk
  12. IC: [Vasquez] - Aboard Madrigal “Markov.” The voice spoke up in the corridor from just to the left and a little behind him before closing the distance, footsteps falling into rhythm beside him. In his peripheral vision the voice’s owner walked smoothly in her valkyrie armor, but sans helmet. The scanner with its distinctive square enhanced imaging system was clipped to her side still, leaving the brown-eyed spartan beneath free to enjoy the soft breeze of Madrigal’s environmental system through her hair. The fact that there was a spare clip was equally unsurprising and impressive, given the amount of extra pouches and webbing mounted on the search & rescue specialist’s armor. Her DMR was securely mounted across her back, SMG and M6 sitting in their respective thigh mag-holsters. Checked and ready. She mentally ran through the checklists for the booster frames, but caught herself lagging by a fraction of a second, causing her eyebrows to narrow by a similarly miniscule amount. The brief had mentioned the possibility of captives aboard the corvettes. It was a secondary objective, but it was nagging at the back of her mind. What if they were held on the other corvette from the one she would board? She wasn’t the biggest fan of simultaneous boarding action. But it was the logical plan of action. Anything else would just carry too much risk. Still, what if it came down to letting the matriarch get away and rescuing prisoners…it was an incredibly remote scenario for a spartan op. And yet… She squashed the thought with banter. “Ready for another EVA?” OOC: @Krayzikk
  13. IC/ Skrall/ Stronghold imminent Skrall glanced toward their destination as well, but only briefly. She’d seen it before, and Atakus had it well in focus. So instead she began to scan the landscape off to their right. “Eyes up. Check where you look.” She said, to encourage the others to do the same and keep all other angles covered. The tops of the larger dunes made for good cover. Good for bone hunter scouts. Also good for an ambush. Maybe it was Ex-Skrall’s story fresh in the back of her mind that had her particularly weary of the possibility. Relaxing now would be a mistake. She had mulled it over as the others spoke. He said ‘slashed’. By blade or by claw? The respective wounds would look different, even at a glance. Either way, slashed meant close range. Which in turn meant someone - or several someones - had managed to get close enough to a group of Skrall without being spotted and were skilled enough to dispatch them all. There were many in the wastes that could fight well enough to survive, but to do this? She definitely ruled out Vorox. They might be formidable ambush predators - but they couldn’t have killed them all without a trace and gotten away without incurring losses. There was simply no way. Was it possible then that there were Glatorian capable of this level of stealth and brutal efficiency? Or had it been someone - something else? If there had been more time, maybe she could have determined as much by questioning their cargo. But with the hunter’s fortress ahead, time had run out. From here on out, they would need to stay alert and not take chances on the road. Regardless, it all led to the lesson her other companions’ stories amounted to: ignorance rarely went unpunished - and hubris was lethal. Skrall superiority was not an immutable truth of the universe. It didn’t take the ‘witchcraft’ of the sisters to realize as much. Just as they had to maintain and hone their bodies to fight, they would have to hone their minds and add to their knowledge to stay ahead down south. OOC: @skrall @BULiK @a goose
  14. IC/ Skrall/ Caravan He was right. Judgment had already been rendered. That was not their duty. Arguing beliefs and philosophizing was getting them nowhere either. What they needed was actionable intel. Something they could use if they encountered the same or similar enemies. “Facts, then: How did they die? What wounds did they suffer, if any - and from what weapon, if you know?” OOC: @a goose @BULiK @Burnmad @Nato G @oncertainty @Toru Nui
  15. IC/ Skrall/ Caravan “I’m listening now.” She replied, calm but firmly. First person. Individual. “What happened?” OOC: @BULiK @skrall
  16. IC/ Skrall/ Rocky Road out of Roxtus They left Roxtus’ gates behind them, the convoy moving in relative quiet. Skrall felt tense. It was irrational, this close to home. But there was something about leaving the fort after being inside for a while plus the excitement and anticipation that made it seem every possible threat from the badlands was waiting just outside, ready to devour them. It took a few minutes to get calibrated to the actual reality again. She didn’t let it show and kept an easy hold on the Spikit reins, while constantly scanning the environment ahead. She kept that up to the end of her shift. Then it was her turn to rest. She sat down across from their passenger, taking a sip from her canteen. Minutes and miles passed in silence. Who knew how long it was before he noticed she was studying him again. No particular expression on her face. “Why’d you do it?” A beat. "You stood up for your shield. Outnumbered." "You’re no coward. So, why?" OOC: @BULiK @skralll
  17. OOC: Content warning: Some heavy implications regarding survival extremes in this one. Mood IC: [Rhow - Inner Port] The mists closed in again. And Yukie found the hand he held had disappeared. As had Rhow. He was alone, standing on rough gravel ground. A feeling crept in along with the mist - utter and complete desolation. Finally, after what could have been seconds or an eternity, he spotted her silhouette in the fog again. Moving closer, more Skakdi resolved out of the haze alongside her. All strange - and familiar simultaneously. The crowd around the throne. We tried to make it work. We had hope. Thought we had what we needed, too. But it went bad. Fast. The image cleared up just long enough to catch a glimpse of them arguing. A cavernous space. Crates of supplies. Dwindling before his eyes. Not enough to go around. Not for all of them. Wondered how we’d managed before. Maybe Hyrak;dii knew things we didn’t. Secrets. Kept my own too. Prevent a panic. Tried to defy the odds. Mists roiled as the scene changed. Torn up ground. Earth. Dirt. Crouching figures, Rhow among them. Planting seeds. The air grew cold and dry. Not exactly freezing - but enough to make it clear nothing could ever grow on this soil. Shadows circled. Eventually the assembled Skakdi turned, dejected, shouldered their farming tools and marched into the mist. When the Menti caught up again they were on a ridge, prone in the mud. Fewer this time. Sometime later. They were holding weapons. A hunting party preparing an ambush. One of the Skakdi jumped up and charged down the slope, even as Rhow hissed for them to wait. Too soon. They all followed. He did too. Only to find himself falling into the mists. The next instant he was face down in the muck, the spined fallen figures dotting the landscape in his peripheral vision. Barely moving - but still alive, crawling away into the fog again. Kept sending hunting parties. Further each time. No luck. Soon everyone knew about the supplies. Another crowd. Agitated. A shouted challenge. Flashes of steel. Red specks on rocks. I tried to keep them working together. Keep them in line. Punishing rulebreakers, thieves. Worse each time. More red droplets stained the barren ground. Dripping from Rhow’s blade as he walked beside her. Yukie could hear voices echoing all around now. Some clearly, others just hissed whispers. They all said the same thing: Hyrak;dii. Hyrak;dii. Hyrak;dii. I heard the name more and more. They cursed it before. Now they revered that monster - but they hadn’t faced starvation back then. We were all hungry. We wanted to live. Then, just as we had come for him, they came for me. Yukie found he was alone again. Just the crimson trail showing him where to go. At its end he emerged into the stronghold’s courtyard - with yet fewer numbers of Skakdi occupying it. There was a clear division: Those standing tall and menacing with weapons - and Rhow and a handful of others at their mercy, their hands tied. They were beaten and cut. Rhow looked up at him with sunken eyes. Said if I couldn’t bring in food or loot all I was good for was prey. Then they told us to run. They hurried out of the gate, back into the fog. He followed. Saw them run as far as their legs would carry them. Heard the distant shouts of their former allies mocking them as they hunted them across the barrens. Saw Rhow’s allies collapse, one by one. First they tried to carry those too weak to walk on their own. Then when they got too weak to carry them in turn they were forced to leave those that fell where they lay. Their bodies disappeared into the haze behind them. Yukie followed Rhow’s silhouette. Her pace had slowed notably. Each footfall heavier than the last. She wanted to stop, to avoid whatever was coming next, but knew she couldn’t. When their vision cleared again, they found the last three other survivors huddled around a fallen fourth. They were emaciated. Hunger and sickness had taken hold. Before he could see more, Rhow stepped into Yukie’s line of sight, blocking it. He heard her shout. Voice raspy. Urging them to stop. They argued an impossible choice. Angry. Driven mad. Frenzied expressions on stained faces. Suddenly, the voices of the hunters closed in again in the distance, much closer this time. They all stopped, stood up. Rhow took a step back. Another one. Then she spun, seized the Menti by the arm once more and dragged him back into the mist, chased by the mad cries behind them. He could see her face was just as stained as the others’. She kept moving, dragging him along with her relentlessly, away from the sounds of struggle and pain and the sudden silence that followed. It was just me in the end. There was a familiar sound in the air now. Half remembered and half real, he could hear the crashing of waves on a beach. Rhow had brought them back to the coast again. Night had fallen, but the moon was out, making the shore dotted by spiky rocks look even more alien. In the distance, Yukie could occasionally spot movement. A glint of moonlight caught on armor, or of the hunters’ eyes as they searched the area. Slowly, methodically. Meanwhile, Rhow and him were sneaking between the rocks, evading their stalkers. Occasionally she stopped, picked up pieces of debris that had washed ashore over time. It wasn’t a lot - just barely enough for a raft for one. Crouching together in the shadows, Rhow began to assemble the pieces in front of the Menti. Suddenly there was a cry. Rhow’s head snapped up, briefly looking to where one of the pursuers had spotted her. Then she turned to Yukie once more. I knew what’d happen if they caught me. Also knew what most likely waited for me out there. Didn’t wanna give them the satisfaction. So… The Skakdi, little more than her skin and bones, got to her feet and staggered out into the surf. By the time her pursuers had all made it down to the water as well, she was too far out, finally beyond their reach. Their eye-beams cut through the night, but missed, sizzling out in the waves. Their cries of impotent rage faded into the noise of the sea. Then the image itself faded out as well... They were sitting across from each other, on a bench in Ga-Koro. OOC: @Mel Thanks for your patience!
  18. IC/ Skrall/ Roxtus/ Stables/ She made sure their cargo was sitting properly and to make sure there weren’t any more surprises in store. As she did, their eyes briefly met. Nothing but resolve in her eyes. She held his gaze unblinking until she was sure he’d realized that. Then she moved forward to take up the Spikit’s reins. Once the last few supplies were stored and everyone was mounted up, their little caravan pulled out of the stables and onto the road out of Roxtus. OOC: @BULiK @skrall
  19. IC/ Skrall/ Roxtus/ Stables/ Skrall only acknowledged the little speech with the barest of glances. Her attention was firmly on securing their cargo still. She tied his wrists firmly behind his back, cut the rope and then did the same to his ankles, with slack enough to walk almost as normal - but not enough to run. If you couldn’t run in the wastes, you’d be dead. Once the restraints were in place, she first removed her grappling line, then pulled him up by the shoulders from down prone, to kneeling. She indicated the wagons. “Get up. Get in.” OOC: @BULiK @skrall
  20. IC/ Skrall/ Roxtus/ Stables/ The moment their cargo went down, she moved again, the winch in her arm reeling to keep tension on the grapple. Once-skrall heard articulated crampons digging into the ground to his sides and then felt a knee between his shoulder blades as she straddled him. “Resist - it’ll hurt.” She doubted physical pain could match the feeling of having his shield taken and then being wrangled by her of all people. She looked back up at the other skrall, either watching or talking, then around the stables again. Plenty of rope, spikit harnesses and other belts on hand. “Fetters.” She demanded. OOC: @BULiK @a goose @skrall
  21. IC: [Leah - Ga-Koro harbor, aboard the Yukanna] “Not quite the first, no.” Leah replied. “Your people have shared much with mine, but my duty has often kept me from being with them. So I know less than I would like.” A beat. A sideways glance. Just a hint of mischief. “Definitely noticed a deep affinity for all things draconic. That much I know.” “But back to the point: The swords are keys that open locks. The lock for ours is deep-buried right in Makuta’s lair. It’d be good to know where it’s counterpart is on the archipelago.” OOC: @EmperorWhenua
  22. IC: [Agni - Cael’s house] Seeing just who was waiting outside, Agni’s hand dropped away from the small of his back and his shoulders relaxed. He’d spun with a start upon hearing the sudden knock and was now mentally chiding himself for overreacting. But beyond that, it didn’t take him long to put two and two together. “I assume you’re here for your sister?” he asked, then looked over to Praggos and Cael. “Did she say where she was headed?” IC: [Leah - Ga-Koro harbor, aboard the Yukanna] “Judging by your commodore, he won’t be the only one remaining any longer than he needs to be.” The words may have seemed presumptuous coming from anyone else, but when the Rora looked at the Maru again, the Toa’s face projected nothing but kindness, reinforced by a quiet confidence in the way she bore herself. Then, carefully returning to the matter at hand, she asked: “Sado…is that where the sword key was used?” IC: [Rhow - Inner Port] “What you want!?” a voice challenged the notion. Not Rhow’s. One of Skakdi apparitions in the mist. “What about us? We’re starving!” Rhow’s eyes squeezed shut. When she opened them again they looked at the Menti with resigned despair. The fight had been one thing. There would be no rest. What followed would be worse. She squeezed Yukie’s hand in turn. You sure you wanna do this? OOC: @Ghosthands @Palm @Eyru @Mel @otter @EmperorWhenua
  23. IC: [Rhow - Inner Port] The Skakdi was crouched, her back still pressed to the cover the remembered rock provided. She was clutching her blade to her chest as if it was the only thing keeping her alive. He hurt us. No more. He’s dead. No more. He hurt me. No more. He’s dead. Because he hurt me. Suddenly, Rhow sprang back to her feet, then spun on her heels. With a bestial roar and her blade raised high, she hurled herself past Yukie and through the veil of petals. When the Menti caught up to her, the Skakdi was in the middle of a pitched duel with what looked like three or four other Skakdi fused into one. Several heads and spines whirled, half obscured by the mist still, while Rhow hacked and slashed at them. It was hard to make out the details in the chaotic movements. Then, Rhow managed to grab a hold of the central spine with her left. She yanked back as hard as she could, continuously bellowing with rage. Then, her blade flashed, and the monstrous memory collapsed like a puppet with cut strings. Rhow dropped the carcass - which dissolved back into the mist and was left standing on shaky knees, panting. Yukie noticed they were no longer on the coast. They were now inside somewhere. A room with a roughly carved stone floor that rose at the center, still spattered with the signs of the fight that had just happened. Atop the raised section he saw…well, not a throne - there was nothing remotely regal about it - but it definitely was a seat of authority of some kind. Limping, Rhow ascended the steps, then slumped into the chair. In the smoke and mist swirling around them, more Skakdi silhouettes appeared, but did not approach further. Rhow looked at Yukie with tired eyes. There was uncertainty in the expression. Doubt. ----- IC: [Leah - Ga-Koro harbor] “Tsu-ru-gi.” Leah echoed Yumiwa’s word for the sword. It felt unfamiliar to her mouth and Yumiwa could tell by the awkward pronunciation. “I’m afraid the parallels continue. I know little about the sword or it’s original owner - but as far as my people are concerned: It was given to, wielded by and survived Makuta’s favored servant - Heuani. In his hands it brought death and destruction to our villages. Until Toa Joske stopped him. After that…it’s path becomes unclear. As far as I know Joske kept possession of it - until his death.” She paused for a beat, expression visibly pained. “He was…the Maru’s vanguard. I don’t know who took up the blade afterwards, or if it remains in the Mangaia.” The Toa Maru glanced out to sea for a moment, finding her focus again. “Your uncle…is he here?” OOC: @Mel @EmperorWhenua
  24. IC/ Skrall/ Roxtus/ Stables/ Skrall had watched the scene unfold from her spot behind and to the side of the confrontation, half obscured by the wagon she’d helped to load. When it became clear their cargo was committed to being unreasonable, she stepped away from the cart, just far enough to have a clear view and quietly waited for an opening. Trying to run the other legionnaire over with his shield provided one. As one more appeal to reason was being voiced, she widened her stance, lifted her arm and fired her grappling hook cable at the disgraced skrall’s legs, ready to yank him off his feet. Hopefully that’d put a quick, non-lethal end to this. He was gonna wind up tied up anyway. OOC: @BULiK @Burnmad @oncertainty @Toru Nui @Nato G @a goose
  25. IC: [Kohra - Iron Mahi, First Passenger Car] She watched the Toa leave, quite literally gone with the wind to track down a weird noise, then she lowered herself back down to the train roof and rolled onto her back, laid down with arms spread wide, breathing heavily. She’d managed to do what she meant to, she’d found someone who could help. Without the adrenaline rush, the exertion of the past minutes instantly caught up with her. Everything ached. At least the wind tugging at her poncho was somewhat comforting under the circumstances. She squinted up at the sun overhead, burning angrily. What even is my life… Despite wanting to, she couldn’t stay up there forever. Datrox was probably wondering what happened to her. And the sentinel had asked her to go back down into the train too. So she had to figure out a way to get off the roof again. Initially she wanted to go to the engine, but that was at the far end and against the wind for her. So she decided to go back to the junction between the first and second carriage. They weren’t designed for people climbing all over them, but maintenance did require the occasional trip topside, so there were a few handles here and there for use by those with the proper know-how. Kohra wasn’t one of them, so it took her a bit to scout out the best route back down. She considered asking the sentinel for assistance, but he was standing on the roof of the second car, so an entire wagon down from her, she couldn’t tell what he was focused on, but he was clearly focused on something else. It was as she swung over the edge to lower herself down to the first set of handles, that her angle of view widened enough that she noticed the broad-shouldered nonsense talking Toa from before clinging to the outside of the second car’s far end from her position. Not a good place to be, she’d just learned that lesson. She had assumed he was with the mercs based on his interference, but she had been forced outside the train against her will and she couldn’t imagine he was doing it for fun either. She still figured him as a merc, but she also didn’t want to see anyone fall to their death from a train. So she called out to him, hoping he could hear her: “Hey! You alright?” OOC: @Krayzikk @oncertainty
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