Vezok's Friend

IC: [Leah - Ga-Koro, Docks] “Well, messes are my specialty, Karoru. And...Daijuno, is it?” Leah started pulled up the list on the iStone and started to browse for Dastana Zyla, but paused when she heard Daijuno’s request. “Sinshi? I know that name, she’s one of the Ryuu’s crew. Though she mostly hangs out with Whitehot, so you might find her…” The Toa Maru paused, and started to turn in place, looking for the right hut to point out. As luck would have it, the Menti in question was just vaulting over the second floor balcony and onto the path below. “...right there.” If they all acclimatize like that, this’ll all work out juuust fine. She continued going down the list of names. There were a number of this clan Dastana, but if there was a Zyla, she didn’t see her. She asked: “Dastana Zyla...either I’m blind or your naming conventions are playing tricks on me. Just to make sure, is Zyla shorthand for a longer name?” OOC: @Krayzikk @TL01 NUVA @Void Emissary ----- IC: [Ayiwah - Ga-Koro, Beach] “Yes, your majesty. An excellent suggestion. Lead the way.” Ayiwah concurred. She was obviously playing along with the Akiri’s joke, but her tone of voice was that of someone playing it completely straight. She backed up her agreement by taking a step to the side and indicating with her hand for Hahli and Yumiwa to go ahead. "My honored Rora." She noticed that Toa Leah was taking care of Hogo Karuro and her companion. Good. Had the Menti waited she would have been forced to say something. This way everyone could continue with what needed doing without mandatory reprimands no one had time for. As the Akiri and Rora began to walk, the commodore lingered so she could bring up the rear, positioning herself behind the chojo. She took the opportunity to briefly put a hand on Desdemona’s shoulder as they walked. .:That was a timely warning, princess. Today would have descended into chaos if not for you. Thank you.:. She gave Desde’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. .:D###, it’s good to see you, kid! Both of you.:. OOC: @Caedast @Haman Karn: A Magical Girl

IC: [Leah - Ga-Koro, Docks] “Relax, you’re doing fine. And thank you!" The Toa chuckled again. "I’m Leah. And you are?” OOC: @TL01 NUVA

IC: [Leah - Ga-Koro, Docks] The Ga-Toa chuckled and shook her head slightly. “Ma’am, hm?” she asked, amused. “I knew this job was stressful but I don’t look that old already, do I?” She gestured towards the dock-side of the pier. “Come on, let’s get out of the politician’s way and find your friend. What was the name again?” As she moved, she started pulling up the list on the iStone. OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Void Emissary ----- IC: [Rhow - Ga-Koro, The Great Takea] Rhow shot Taoki a bewildered look. “You seriously would go in that glass coffin thing instead of something you can jump off of if it starts leaking?” OOC: @Palm

IC: [Kohra - Po-koro, Streets] Something in her had warned Kohra not to share her name, as if something terrible might happen if she did. But she’d pushed past that - and found nothing of the sort had happened. Why had she felt that way? She looked at the offered hand. “S-sure…” Datrox saw the Vortixx shrink back for a moment and shiver, before she started to reach out with her left hand, immediately stopped the movement before it could leave the confines of her poncho, and instead reached out with her right. She tried to stand up but wound up needing assistance with getting up, too. She was surprisingly light, lighter than someone as tall as her should have been. “...thank you…” she said, barely above a whisper. “...lead...the way.” OOC: @Tarn

IC: [Leah - Ga-Koro, Docks] Toa Leah Maru had been lingering on the pier a little ways away behind Hahli, letting the Akiri take the lead. She preferred to blend into the general Ga-Koro background crowd at this moment anyway, to keep an eye on the proceedings without drawing too much attention herself. That way, it was easier to spot if something was wrong, or someone needed help. Like a freshly arrived Dasaka warrior - a Menti, if she remembered right - that looked like she wanted to sink into Naho bay, because she’d stumbled across her people’s royalty accidentally. She didn’t even need her mask, the Menti’s blush was all the aura indication she needed. She also noticed the other Dasaka with her who'd managed to stay behind the larged warrior. Who knew how long the Akiri, Rora and Commodore would be in talks and how long these two would have to stand there and wait. Karoru felt a very soft nudge in her back. Nothing startling, just enough to get her attention in a discrete manner. Behind her was a cerulean Toa with shining aqua eyes, wearing a red sash around her waist and upper right arm covered in white tribal markings. Slung across her back was a silver protodermis quarterstaff. She was also carrying an iStone, identical to the one the commodore had used earlier. “If you two are looking for someone urgently, I can help.” Leah said, with a kind smile and her voice just loud enough that Karoru and Daijuno could hear her among the general noise level of the docks, but not so much that it would disturb the meeting in progress any further. OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Void Emissary @Caedast @Haman Karn: A Magical Girl ----- IC: [Rhow - Ga-Koro, The Great Takea] “Funeral...right, that happened.” Rhow said, the cheer going out of her tone a bit. She scratched her chin. “I was more thinking of when we first opened this place. Heh...awkward.” “Less evil Toa for sure, but getting a lot of side eye from the new arrivals…” she said, more thinking out loud as she noticed another of the newcomer Dasaka sailors stare at the group of Skakdi from aboard their ship. “The ones on the sub were much nicer. What’s up with that?” OOC: @Pteronura Brasiliensis @Palm @BBBBalta @Wade.

IC: [Ayiwah - Ga-Koro, Beach] Ayiwah was pleased to find the Akiri had managed to break away from her other important work just in time. That was good. She waited as the Hahli made her own introductions, gave a discreet wink to the Chojo at the mention of singing Desdemona’s praises, and when the Akiri had finished she added: “Akiri Hahli and the people of Ga-Koro have been most gracious hosts to the crew of the Ryuu since our arrival and have been of immense help in preparing for yours. Their assistance to our people has been and is invaluable.” She deliberately didn’t react to Karoru’s loud request, except for lifting a warning index finger on her left hand without looking at the other Menti. If the royal retainers had been on hand, this would not even have been possible, but right now, as long as there was no further interruption, this was a minor infraction. She hoped for Karoru’s sake that the message the gesture conveyed was clear. OOC: @EmperorWhenua@TL01 NUVA@Haman Karn: A Magical Girl

IC: [Kohra - Po-koro, Streets] The Vortixx blinked, straining to keep her thoughts on track. “I...yeah...I was...I was…” she started, brief images flashing before her mind’s eye. But she couldn’t get a hold of them, like trying to seize the reflection in a pool of water. “I...hurt and then...was left behind. Can’t remember...but crawled...here.” Something about here seemed familiar. Like she’d been here before. But when? And why? “Datrox...name.” she repeated, squeezing her eyes shut, concentrating hard. “I’m….I am…” Kohra. “Kohra. I’m Kohra.” OOC: @Tarn

IC: [Ayiwah - Ga-Koro, Beach] “In that case, keep doing what you’re doing. Assist those coming ashore. The Matoran have been busy erecting shelters and providing food and medical supplies for them. But there is not enough for everyone yet, so we have to prioritize. Injured and sick first.” The commodore let that linger for a heartlight flash for emphasis, before adding: “And if anyone complains...send them my way.” That’s when the Rora made contact. Ayiwah’s eyes narrowed in concentration, then her expression relaxed. It had been a long time, but it was indeed Yumiwa. .:Understood, your highness.:. She simply acknowledged. There wasn’t much else to be said. However, she’d rather be up Zataka’s creek before she let the Rora just waltz in on Hahli. At the very least she would conduct a proper introduction to the ways of Mata Nui and handover of diplomatic relations. “Apologies, Hogo Karoru, but I am needed elsewhere.” She would have preferred to stay and talk with the other Menti a bit longer, but duty called. The commodore nodded her head once, slowly and respectfully, before turning around and walking back towards the village. Not in a jog, but as fast as her long legs allowed without looking like she was in a rush. The back of her coat billowed out behind her in the breeze. .:Tazera, the Rora and chojo are here. I’m on my way back to the docks now. How are things on your end?:. She entered the village and deftly moved through the crowds and across the floating walkways until she made it back to the piers. The evening sun caught on the Ryuu, scattering patterns of light across the water. But beyond a brief glance to visually assess everything was going well with the submersible, Ayiwah only had eyes for one ship at that moment, gliding effortlessly into the harbor. The Yukanna. The crystal lined trimaran dwarfed every other ship around it in almost every aspect, even the royal yacht following it. The Panda may have been more comfortable and luxurious, as was befitting of the Rora. But in terms of sheer presence and style, there was no equal. It was enough to make the commodore, usually reserved, smile broadly at the sight. But only until the twenty one gun salute. Good thing I warned the Akiri and Maru about the possibility of that. She thought, lamenting the waste of perfectly good powder for the sake of making an entrance. Not to mention the attention it garnered, though that was most definitely the idea. Oh Yumi... She watched as both vessels docked, noting with pleasure that the long journey had not lessened the crew’s efficiency, as they expertly moored the Yukanna and Panda, though she gave them a few pointers to help them navigate the unfamiliar harbor. When Yumiwa disembarked onto the pier, she did not need to search for the commodore. She stood at parade rest at the end of the pier, with a notable space in the crow around her. But: It was just her. No retainers, no bodyguards, not even Tazera by her side. Everyone was busy handling the other Dasaka arrivals. Akiri Hahli and Leah Maru were coordinating things on their end too, so they had not made it yet and she wasn't quite sure if the Akiri even had time to leave her office at this moment. Most likely they would have to go to her. As soon as the empress and her entourage were close enough, she bowed her head in greeting, the same way she’d excused herself with Karoru earlier. This was far less formal than the occasion might have otherwise demanded and most certainly wasn’t up to the royal court’s protocols for interactions with the empress. But they weren’t at court. They were strangers in a strange land, she was an officer in the field and the last thing the commodore wanted to do as her first interaction with Yumiwa here was to paint a Kanohi-dragon sized target on her back by acting out the entire routine she would have gone through back on Sado. And as much as she loved them, the crystal ships and gun salutes weren’t helping in that regard. What she really wanted to do was to take both Yumiwa and Desdemona and give her cousins the longest hug of their young lives. But, that was unfortunately far too informal too. And so Ayiwah simply said: “Rora Yumiwa. I am honored to welcome you to Mata-Nui and the village of Ga-Koro. I wish it were under better circumstances but I am pleased to find you in good health after such a long and dangerous journey. I once again and as always, serve at the pleasure of the Empress.” OOC: @EmperorWhenua @Ghosthands @TL01 NUVA @Haman Karn: A Magical Girl

IC: [Agni - Ta-Koro, Guard HQ] “I honestly can’t give one. Too many to count. If I had to hazard a guess...easily enough to empty one of our Koro and then some.” “If you haven’t heard, then it must be a very recent development.” OOC: @Krayzikk

IC: [Agni - Ta-Koro, Guard HQ] The fire Toa did as he was asked as he stepped past the threshold and into Jaller’s office proper. “Apologies for dropping in unannounced like this sir…” he started, sounding a little uncertain. That tangle of emotions was still balled up tight in his chest. Come on, focus! He forced himself to stand up straighter. Clear voice, eyes forward. Go. “Maybe you’ve already heard, but there is a very large fleet of those sparkly Dasaka types landing in Ga-Wahi as we speak. Saw them myself just earlier today on the way back from the Ko-Wahi border.” He hoped that would just come across as regular patrol activity. He didn’t particularly feel like sharing the actual reason for his being there in this particular circumstance. OOC: @Krayzikk

IC: [Kohra - Po-Koro, Streets] The Vortixx tried to look up only to immediately look away as the sun hit her face. It almost hurt. She was wondering if the voice she heard was talking to her. Who called her ‘ma’am’? “Water?” she rasped in response, then drew in a haggard breath before shakily adding: “...Sorry...no manners.” OOC: @Tarn

OOC: Agni from Ko-Wahi. IC: [Agni - Ta-Koro, Guard HQ] A puff of dust got kicked up when Agni’s suddenly appeared on the ash paved path outside the Ta-Koro guard main building. The two guard Matoran at the main door instinctively raised their spears, but the Toa of fire raised his hands, palms out. “Relax, it’s just me.” he said with a sigh. The guards exchanged a look, then one of them nodded his head towards the entrance. Agni gave a nod of thanks in return and entered the lobby. He quickly made his way through the building and to the upper floors until he stood in the anteroom to the Akiri’s office, once again faced with a duo of Matoran. Another nod to them. In greeting this time. He stepped up between them and cleared his throat. “Akiri? It’s Agni. Got a minute?” OOC: @Krayzikk

IC: [Ayiwah - Ga-Koro, Beach] “That was going to be my question to you.” Ayiwah replied, noticing Karoru seemed to recognize her as someone of rank, but couldn’t quite seem to place it. Obviously the commodore didn’t expect everyone on the archipelago to know her name, it was too big for that. But when someone had just stepped off a ship, that notion was a bit odd. “Commodore Umbraline Ayiwah.” she introduced herself. “Welcome to Mata-Nui. I wish it were under better circumstances. How are you holding up?” OOC: @TL01 NUVA

IC: [Kohra - Po-Koro, Streets] “Hey, watch it!” the Po-Matoran carver, carrying a half finished statue with both hands, called out, as the Vortixx stepped into his path, coming around the corner without looking up. In fact, he realized she was dragging herself along the wall rather than walking. The Matoran swerved, she stumbled in surprise, letting out a pained groan as her feet betrayed her and she fell forward, kicking up a small cloud of dust that settled on her already filthy oversized poncho. The carver paused, unsure of how to act with his hands full. He tentatively tried with: “Are you okay…?” The Vortixx pulled herself up against the wall, wincing as she did her head down in her lap. As she did, her poncho slipped slightly. The Matoran drew in a sharp breath at the glimpse of the hand, causing her to instantly adjust the garment. She finally looked up at him, purple eyes swimming and unfocused. “..sorry, I am…” she rasped. “I’m sorry...you - do you…” She winced again, then coughed drily. Finally she got the words out, slowly, putting the sentence together with great effort. “Do you...have any food...widgets...maybe?” The carver took a tentative step back. “Sorry, uh, I, ah...I have somewhere to be!” he stuttered and quickly began to walk away. The Vortixx’s head had already slumped back down again. She was hugging her knees with her right arm and rocking gently back and forth. OOC: Kohra open for interaction.

IC: [Rhow - Ga-Koro, The Great Takea] Everyone knew that the Great Takea was run by Skakdi, but seeing most of the ‘horde’ as they had dubbed themselves, standing outside the building and watching the crystal ships come in, that was a less common sight and caught the eyes of a few Matoran passerby, though the incoming Dasaka fleet definitely was the star of the show. Amidst the group, Rhow ran a hand over her spinal fins and rolled her shoulders. The cartilage cracked satisfyingly and she let the longest fin snap back upright with a rumbling grunt. “Heck of a sight.” she commented. “Almost as flashy as the day we came to this village, eh?” OOC: @Pteronura Brasiliensis @Palm @BBBBalta @Wade. Not assuming all the horde PCs are back in action or starting here with the group right away, but just in case you want to ^^; ------ IC: [Ayiwah - Ga-Koro, Beach] The commodore watched as the first of the ships got close to shore and began to disembark. She would have preferred to coordinate this aboard the Ryuu, or better yet the Yukanna, but it had been obvious that having the ships come into Ga-Koro’s harbor properly would have been way too chaotic. So she and most of the other royal Menti guards were lined up along the beaches, ready to check and assist those coming ashore. She was just with them to see that the process got underway smoothly. Ayiwah felt somewhat reminded of the aftermath of Yusanora’s death. Locking down the palace, checking every guest before allowing them to leave. She didn’t let it show, but upon seeing the disembarking Dasak stagger in the surf, she was shocked to find that her vision of the crews aboard the vessels had been accurate. They’d been through the wringer. But they still persevered. There was a tall Menti with this lot, helping them to find their footing. She checked the name of the ship against the istone in her hand and found an overview of the names. Ga-Koro and the crew of the Ryuu had not been idle. With contact established, Ayiwah had managed to contact nearly all the navy captains with the fleet and they in turn had contacted all the ships in the fleet and provided her with a comprehensive list of nearly everyone aboard the escaping fleet. “Hogo Karoru?” the commodore called out to her. OOC: @TL01 NUVA

IC: [Agni - Ko-Wahi, Temple of Peace] The chill wind tore at the well-worn scarf, the ends flapping in the wind, threatening to untangle themselves from where Agni had wrapped the garment around his neck and lower face, to preserve at least a little bit of warmth while in the frigid Wahi. He could feel his elemental reserves dwindling just by maintaining a normal temperature. Normally he’d avoid coming here unless absolutely necessary. Which it unfortunately had been too many times in the recent past. And it was now. It wasn’t a casual visit. The Toa of fire stared at the cairn, piled up a foot from where he was standing, just a little ways away from the entrance to the principle temple of peace. Final resting place of one Joske Nimil. Kolhii champion. Toa of fire. Vanguard of the Maru. Victor over Heuani. His student. His friend. The story went that Joske had gone off alone to fight Echelon, leader of the remaining followers of Makuta. Apparently he’d found him - and paid the price. And nobody had known. Well, there was one. Shaddix. As if all the moral grey in the universe had come together and decided to become a real boy. Redeemed mercenary, killer, mark bearer. And then he chose to become a hero, just like Joske. And just like Joske, he’d confronted Echelon alone and then died. Only difference was that he managed to finish the job. The underground had stopped whispering the dark Toa’s name. He hadn’t said anything either, even when their paths crossed briefly back in Ta-Koro. No, in the end it had been Tuara who got stuck with breaking the news to Agni, like she didn’t have enough on her plate already. That led him to Cael who filled in the bits about Shaddix. She’d told him where to go, too. The rest came from rumors carried on the wind. Haven’t you heard? He blinked. His eyes burned. He wanted to do something, to say something, anything. Drop to his knees and cry. Set the memorial ablaze - the entire mountain. Use his mask to teleport himself over the nearest ledge. But the onslaught of emotions kept him frozen in place. Pain, anger, disappointment, pride, guilt. He’d tried to help them both. And now? “Karz it, kid.” ----- Agni didn’t know how long he lingered, but the sun was setting by the time he’d finally left the temple and cairn to head back home, taking the scenic route. Maybe the long trek would help him sort things out. He doubted it, but there was a non-zero chance. That feeling lasted exactly until cresting the first ridge from which he could see the entire eastern coastline of Mata-Nui. The Toa was certainly no expert on boats, but he knew a fleet when he saw one, especially one that glinted this much in the evening light. Crystal. Equal parts frustrated at the prospect of the island once again being plunged into chaos and thankful for the distraction, he activated his Kualsi, turned towards Mt. Mangai - and was gone. OOC: Agni from Ko-Wahi to Ta-Wahi.

Leah Maru Species: Toa (Maru) Alignment: Lawful good Gender: Female Appearance: Slim and athletic, Leah fully looks the part of the Toa Maru of water; her element reflected in her piercing, aqua eyes: Calm, but with the power of the ocean behind them. Her armour is mainly cerulean, her legs & arms are light blue with a hint of turquoise. Smaller gaps and vents reveal an underlayer of black muscle tissue and silver mechanical parts. Her right shoulder and upper arm are covered in white tribal markings that tell her story, from her Le-Matoran past to her present role as protector of Ga-Koro. She often wears a dark red cloth, sometimes wrapped around her hips like a skirt but mostly riding low on her waist as a sash. Weapons & Equipment: Brushed Protosteel Bo-Staff, held in a sling on her back. Gali Mata’s hooks - inherited from her predecessor and clipped to her belt. Multipurpose pouch, hanging from her belt and secured to her thigh. Mask: Kanohi Ruhaku, The Mask of Intent The Kahoni Ruhaku allows its user to sense the intent of other beings in the form of a colored aura around them. The Ruhaku does not read minds or reveal what concrete actions someone will take; it is merely lightly clairvoyant, telling the user - or someone else designated by the user - what others might do or may already be doing, based on their emotions. The mask is always on at a low level. The aura colors and their corresponding intent are as follows: Red – Angry/intent to attack Orange – Lying/intent to deceive Yellow – Afraid/intent to flee Green – Helpful/intent to aid Blue – Indifferent/no intent Violet – Passionate/strong, unknown intent No color - Mask is being blocked Powers: Leah is one of - if not the - strongest wielders of water on Mata Nui, commanding her element with the skill and nearly the power of a Toa Mata - thanks to the essence-stone that transformed her into one of the Maru. In addition, she is extremely agile and a tremendous martial artist, both with her tools and unarmed. Having trained long before becoming a Toa, her transformation gave her the boost to turn a skilled Matoran into a full-blown fighter. Traits: Leah is among the kindest people one can encounter on Mata Nui. A good-natured optimist, she is humble and hard-working and tries to maintain as positive an attitude as possible, reasoning that there is enough darkness in the world already. Darkness, that, as a Maru, she has the power to stand against - for Ga-Koro and all of Mata Nui. She has a strong sense of duty and devotion to the people under her protection - traits that go back to her days in the Gukko Force. Originally a Le-Matoran, she has a thing for humor and her bright laugh often helps the morale of the Toa Maru, though recent events have dampened her spirits somewhat. Still determined to do her best, Makuta’s apparent return, an island in turmoil and unresolved tensions within her team are weighing heavily on her. Biography: Though she is the Toa Maru of water, Leah’s journey began in Le-Koro, as a Rahi tamer in the Gukko Force. When not on duty, she practiced her martial arts, or helped other villagers, many of whom she’s still friends with. Most notably among them is Sisk, a fellow tamer, who heard his call to adventure after the untimely death of Tamaru and left to investigate. With her friend on leave, Leah was promoted and put in charge of all the Gukko support crews. Not soon after, fate found her as well: When the Turaga were kidnapped and held captive inside a massive Rama hive - one of Makuta’s strongholds - the Gukko Force, Ussalry and others attacked it. Leah found herself flying into battle alongside them. And though the day was won, the Turaga were lost. In the aftermath a strange Obelisk was discovered in the hive’s ruins, but its importance wouldn’t be realized until later. Leah spent a short time after the battle in nearby Pala-Koro, reuniting with Sisk, as well as Lashev, Verdi and Lans, before returning to her duties in Le-Koro. Just a few nights later, Stannis ‘the wanderer’ and four other Matoran - Reordin, Sulov, Oreius & Lepidran - showed up on her doorstep with a prophecy: Mata Nui had chosen the six of them to follow the first Toa’s footsteps and defeat Makuta. Reluctant at first, Leah joined the wanderer’s company. A trail of clues left behind by the late Takua led them all across the island to six special Toa-Stones, containing the very essences of the Toa Mata. Makuta’s minions were always close behind, but they found allies too: Joske - former Kolhii-champion turned Toa and their prophesied vanguard & Korero - a Ko-Matoran following his own destiny, and appointed chronicler of the company. With the six stones retrieved, they returned to the Obelisk in the ruined Rama-hive - revealed to actually be a Suva - their Suva. But that wasn’t the only surprise: Korero, not Lepidran, was to pick up the mantle of Lewa. And so the six Matoran placed their respective stones in the Suva and were Matoran no longer: The Toa Maru had arrived! And they did not go unnoticed: Almost immediately, they were ambushed by Rahkshi. They defeated Makuta’s children and made their way to the great temple at Kini-Nui, where they met Joske again, who fulfilled his destiny and opened the gateway to the metaphysical ‘keeping place’ for them. In this realm, the Maru were tested and found worthy, emerging with new masks, finally ready to take on the Makuta. Descending down into his lair, Mangaia, they faced off against the fearsome Manas, and - even more terrifying - the corrupted shadow forms of the first Toa themselves, before finally reaching their target. Makuta attacked them physically and with dark visions, but united, the Maru ultimately drove him back, allowing Stannis to finish him with the power of his Kanohi Hiripaki. Victorious, the six heroes returned to their respective Koro with the good news. Though it took time, Leah earned the trust of Ga-Koro under Akiri Hahli and settled in as their protector. But the new peace was cut short by the arrival of the Piraka. They attacked Ta-Koro; then the fight became a chase that led Leah, Recording & Sulov back into Mangaia once more. Despite having sealed off Makuta's lair after his defeat, the Piraka managed to gain entry. The three Maru engaged them again, but were forced to flee when the Piraka somehow took control of a horde of Rahkshi. Using most of her power, Leah flooded the cavern, allowing the outnumbered Maru to escape and regroup. This defeat caused tensions within the team, which hit their breaking point when Stannis confessed that Makuta had not been truly destroyed; merely banished to another realm of existence - ‘the legend’. Feeling betrayed by their leader, the Maru went their separate ways. Returning to Ga-Koro, Leah was just in time to witness more newcomers arrive on Mata-Nui's shores: the Dasaka. Luckily, first contact with their delegation played out much smoother than initially feared and the Dasaka settled into Ga-Koro. As it turned out, they were enemies of the Piraka too, and it had been in pursuit of them that their empire had discovered Mata Nui. But before the new allies could decide on how to deal with this common threat, an old one struck: the remaining followers of Makuta, united under the dark Toa Echelon, conquered Ko-Koro in a surprise attack, turning it into their new stronghold. Despite their team spirit having been shaken to the very core, Leah and Korero reunited the Maru once more and they, together with allies from all over the island, launched a counter attack to liberate Ko-Koro and rescue its remaining inhabitants. She has since returned to Ga-Koro and resumed her duty as the village’s protector. Weakness - Too hot to handle: Despite her immense power, Leah is still a Toa of water. As such, heat and fire and drought are her weaknesses. Agni Species: Toa Alignment: lawful good Gender: Male Description: Agni stands a head above the average Toa; his face an intimidating study of hard edges; orange eyes glowing with a fierce determination behind his Kualsi. His body is primarily dark red, with black muscle tissue and silver technical details. He wears dark golden armour with a brushed texture. It has a strong collar and the right shoulder-plate sports the red insignia of the Ta-Koro guard. He usually wears a red scarf around his neck that has definitely seen better days. Weapons & Equipment: A pair of butterfly swords adorned with red, flame-shaped inlays, which glow when channeling elemental power. Agni carries them in sheaths on his lower back for easy access. Multipurpose with sheath attachments and pouches hanging from either side, for storing healing herbs, widgets, lightstones and other common items. Masks: Kualsi, Mask of Quick-travel, in the same dark gold brushed finish as his armor. Advanced Mask of Psychometry, given to Agni by Toa Joske. It works on the remains of dead organic beings as well as inanimate objects and can reveal information about their last moments, depending on the state of the remains. Powers: Agni is a veteran Toa of Fire, wielding his element with great skill. He’s an expert swordsman and capable hand-to-hand fighter, backed by his long experience as a guardsman. Traits: Agni has seen much in his time. Perhaps too much. He’s often hard nosed, cynical and even disillusioned on bad days. But not without reason: He is an idealist, determined to give it all he’s got to protect those in his care and do the right thing when push comes to shove. But ideals have a hard time when faced with the ways of the world - and his were tested, to their breaking point - and beyond. To atone, he became a strict adherent to the Toa code. While he often comes across as a curmudgeon at first, he does in fact have a dry sense of humor and has notably lightened up over the course of recent adventures, something he blames on Joske and Dorian for rubbing off on him. Biography: Agni used to be a Matoran in the Toa-Koro guard. He became a Toa seemingly by accident, after nearly being killed by a rockslide while on patrol near the Tren Krom break. Badly bruised he dug himself out of the rubble, only to discover a Toa-stone - which promptly transformed him. Turaga Vakama proclaimed it providence, yet destiny seemingly had no other plans for Agni: There was no further call to action for the young Toa. So he remained in the guard, now a warrant officer, pondering his fate while investigating crimes, fending off Rahi; gaining years of experience - and frustration. Until the Toa Mata disappeared and Makuta began eliminating the former chronicler's company. It was then that Agni encountered Toa Valria. She had escaped the clutches of a terrible slaver, Telric, and was seeking justice. Agni left his post on his own authority to aid in her quest and together, they set out to bring Telric in. Yet after witnessing his brutality firsthand, Agni consciously broke the Toa code, leaving the villain to burn alive aboard the ship they’d cornered him on. Shaken, he and Valria parted ways, even though they’d grown fond of each other. Realization sunk in that he had failed to live up to his ideal of a ‘true Toa’. And so, Agni vowed to do better, with Telric becoming his personal cenotaph. That’s when his path crossed with the novice Toa of Fire named Joske and the Ga-Toa Cael. Recognizing something of himself in Joske, Agni offered to teach him how to fight and use his element, while Cael focused on the many important non-physical aspects of being a Toa. Over the following months, Agni was officially assigned to train Joske (a quasi-punishment for going AWOL). And as Joske’s skills developed, so did his friendship with his mentor - and his love for Cael. So when he was called to aid the wanderer's company in their quest to defeat Makuta, they accompanied him. Joined by fellow Toa Angelus and Tuara, the group began to retrieve crystals from each of the Koro's principle temples, which Joske needed to unlock the keeping-place for the Toa Maru at Kini Nui. While they faced Makuta below, Agni helped to defend the great temple, and later assisted the Koro against attacking Rahkshi. Despite this great victory, the villages were still in dire straits after the assassinations of the Turaga - and Agni found himself assigned to the mercenary Dorian, on a mission to track down his former allies who had carried out the hits. They would never complete that mission however, as they encountered Joske once more and were drawn into his quest to find and stop Echelon - leader of the remaining Makuta followers and a far greater threat. They tracked the dark Toa to a hideout deep in Le-Wahi's jungles, but Echelon managed to avoid capture. Agni and his companions survived the encounter, but found themselves faced with new problems: Ko-Koro had been overrun by Echelon's forces and a terminally ill Utu - former mark bearer and villain, was now with them. Severe arguments ensued over how to deal with him and the group’s course of action, causing Dorian to leave while the group traveled to Ko-Wahi, in order to find Echelon's new lair - and to assist Utu on a final journey home, where he joined his ancestors in death not long after arriving in the snow covered ruins of his former village. Distraught after witnessing yet another traumatic event, the remaining group split up, leaving only Agni and fellow veteran Ta-Toa Merror to eventually return to Ta-Koro after gathering what intelligence they could on the occupation of Ko-Koro. But upon their return, instead of a debrief, the two Toa found themselves in the middle of a murder investigation - alongside Dorian, Toa Angelus and Akiri Jaller. The suspects? Their friend Tuara, haunted by personal demons - and her supposedly dead brother Kitea. Tuara was determined to plead guilty, but Agni’s detective work revealed the truth: Kitea was the culprit and Tuara was covering for him. With the truth laid bare and her brother under arrest, Tuara broke down. But her friends would not give up on her. Dorian, her partner, impressed upon her that she deserved a good life. Jaller and Angelus made sure she would have a chance at redemption - and Agni was determined to be by her side to help her take it. He currently spends his days back at his old job with the guard while keeping an eye on Tuara - unaware that a greater pain is lying in wait for him. Weakness - Chill out: Water and cold, duh Commodore Ayiwah Species: Dasaka Caste and Clan: Menti, Clan Umbraline Gender: Female Appearance: Ayiwah is tall, slender and toned, her body colored dark blue and silver. Her eyes are bright grey, like froth on stormy seas. If her posture and bearing didn’t give her away, her uniform and armor would leave no doubt as to her identity: Her perfectly tailored naval coat matches her dark blue color and is adorned with gold trim all over, indicating her rank as commodore. Above that, she wears silver/gold protodermis armor, covered in crystals on her chest, shoulder pauldrons and vambraces. Mask: Kanohi Arthron, mask of sonar, in the shape of a great Matatu (without scope). Discipline: Soulsword. While the majority of Umbraline's Menti are powerful Willhammers, there are exceptions. The Commodore is one of them. Trained since earliest youth by the best tutors, she has become a master soulsword. So adept is she in her discipline that many an opponent have been defeated in duels without her ever taking a step or raising a hand, defeated by her psionic rapier swordplay alone. Weapons & Equipment: Ayiwah carries no additional primary weapon besides her soulsword, though she is skilled with traditional physical swords as well. Crystal knife, a valuable tool on any sailing ship and emergency backup to her soulsword, carried in a sheath on her hip. Her uniform has several pockets and attachment points to carry her personal belongings: a small first-aid kit, a compass, crystal timer & spyglass as well as other commonplace items (lightstone etc.). Personality: According to imperial navy scuttlebutt, there is no Dasaka sailing the high seas tougher than the Commodore. While she herself would humbly dismiss such claims, there is the usual kernel of truth to them. Indeed, there aren't many that rival her in her focused discipline and no-nonsense attitude - the result of her upbringing and an acute awareness of the responsibility placed upon her. Her looks and demeanor reflect this: Her armor and uniform are kept immaculate and she moves and speaks in an energized, yet controlled and precise manner. Valuing professionalism & thoroughness, she sets the baseline standard the sailors under her command adhere to. She does not suffer fools nor insubordination and will consequently hand out fitting punishments for misconduct, but never unjustly so. Her judgment is fair and understanding. She does not demand unattainable perfection, but rather the willingness to strive towards it. While at first glance, she may appear cold and sometimes harsh, Ayiwah feels great compassion for her fellow Dasaka. Some even claim that the Commodore possesses a sense of humor and has been known to smile and joke every now and then. Biography: Ayiwah's bloodline within Clan Umbraline is of some repute. Her mother was one of the few to have offspring with Mune, legendary Menti Soulsword, Sighteye, and head-bodyguard to the previous Rora. Out of her blood-sisters (children of the same male Dasaka, not to be confused with clan-sisters), Ayiwah was one of only a few with a similar affinity for the soulsword, like their father. Eager to learn and showing early promise, the Toroshu allowed her to train directly under Mune himself, until his death during an attempted coup by Clan Fursic. Not content with merely having an exotic discipline within her clan, she pushed herself far beyond the regular training of soulswords. Using physical weapons, Ayiwah prepared her mind for the requirements of psionic swordplay, from which she later developed a fighting style best described as psionic fencing. Already a skilled warrior, Ayiwah discovered another talent in the aftermath of her father's demise, while hunting down the instigators of the attempted humbling of the Rora: Sailing between the Archipelago's islands, she fell in love with the high seas and tall ships. With her true calling found, she officially joined the imperial navy shortly after the end of the campaign against the Fursic. Putting the same amount of effort into her military career as she put into her soulsword, Ayiwah proved herself to be an exceptional officer and strategist, eventually rising to the rank of Commodore. Only answerable to her Toroshu and the Rora herself, she has been the supreme commander of the imperial naval forces for many years now, leading the fleet from aboard its flagship, the Yukanna. The incursion by the Piraka and subsequent discovery of Mata Nui threw the Kentoku archipelago into upheaval and it was decided to establish formal contact with this strange new island - and track down the Piraka. Ayiwah and her first mate, Tazera, were tasked to escort a delegation to Mata Nui aboard a prototype submersible vessel: the Chisaii Ryuu. But their departure was overshadowed by tragedy: Rora Yusanora was assassinated at a party in her daughter’s honor and princess Yumiwak suddenly found herself thrust into the role of empress far sooner than expected. Despite wishing to stay, Ayiwah had to assemble a crew and set sail. And so she did. They nearly didn’t make it, as the Ryuu was beset en route by a massive Kraken-like Rahi and only saved by the exceptional work of its crew, barely escaping the arrival of an even larger leviathan of the depths. Eventually, an astonished Ga-Koro bore witness to the arrival of the Ryuu. Ayiwah spent the next months ensuring peaceful relations with Mata-Nui and tracking the whereabouts of the Piraka. Eventually, she and Tazera learned the six resided in the Mangaia vault, and led a taskforce of Menti to Kini-Nui to bring them to justice - only to bear witness to the unexpected return of the dark spirit the Mata-Nuians call Makuta. With refugees inbound from Kentoku, things will certainly be interesting for the commodore. Weakness - Glass Cannon: Besides her prodigious soulsword, Ayiwah does have very little besides her own strong will that she can put up against the other Dasaka disciplines of the mind. In addition, she has no protection against elemental attacks aside from her armor and fighting-skills. Kohra Species: Vortixx Alignment: ??? Gender: Female Description: Tall like most of her species, Kohra is very slender in appearance, and while once physically fit, she now appears sickly, with bloodshot, purple eyes. Her body is mainly black, clad in worn-out, pitted dark-blue armor and retains little of its original good looks, mainly due to her left arm. Once a powerful tool touched by Makuta’s corruption, it has now turned into a black, sinewy, clawed appendage that hardly seems to belong to a living being. This change in appearance began on her left shoulder, but has since spread to her torso as well. Even stranger, these parts of her body are covered in oily, black feathers. Kohra tries to conceal these features as much as possible by wearing a large, hooded poncho she salvaged. It is equal parts disguise, travel wear and sleeping bag. Weapons & Equipment: "Crow's Talon" This strange glove is fused seamlessly to Kohra's hand. It is evil in design, with sharp spikes protruding from the knuckles and feathers around the wrist. It was acquired by unknown means and once granted Kohra telekinetic abilities, including razor sharp telekinetic currents with its claws - literally slicing through the air, damaging beings and objects in its way. But cut off from Makuta and his antidermis essence, her powers have become unstable and nearly inaccessible. Energy-Crossbow. While exploring the treasures of the Mangaia vault, Kohra found several weapons-grade components and a self-recharging energy-cell that she turned into a collapsible forearm-mounted crossbow. It requires no ammunition to be loaded to fire its energy bolts. However: the longer the shot, the longer the recharge time. There are three firing modes: Single shot, Rapid fire (shooting three smaller bolts in quick succession) and a scattershot (many small bolts simultaneously in a spread). The crossbow arms can fold flat while being worn, or the entire weapon can be stored as a compact rectangle. When in use, the two halves of the prod and iron sights flip open; the stock splits in two, with the grip, trigger and brace between them. The brace secures the crossbow to Kohra’s lower right arm. This permits greater stability as well as making it difficult to disarm her. Powers: No innate powers, besides a natural affinity for technology and the telekinetic powers granted by her glove, which are virtually inaccessible at this time. Personality: Kohra is a lost, corrupted soul. Once she was Makuta’s agent - twisted, cruel and hating all of Matoran society. But after the events in the dark walk, she remembers little of what she’s done, as her mind was nearly broken by her ordeal. Biography: Kohra remembers only fleeting shadows from her life before she woke in a dark cave with an immense pain in her left arm. Escaping the labyrinthine caverns underneath Mount Ihu, she found that a strange glove had fused with her hand, which could not be removed. To her horror, her arm began changing as well. Slowly at first, it progressively decayed - but didn’t die. And then the whispers came. Whispers in the back of her head, so subliminal she didn't know at first whether they were her own thoughts or someone else's influence. They began to guide her, promising rewards, influencing her views and driving her to commit heinous acts. Eventually the whispers grew so strong, Kohra realized they came from Makuta and pledged her allegiance to him - the only one looking out for her interests. She used this connection and her own cunning to actively work against the three virtues, in order to spread mistrust and divide the Matoran - starting with poisoning Po-Koro's water supply and flooding the great mine - and always pointing to other Matoran as the perpetrators. Faithfully serving the darkness, she was captured after Makuta's defeat, which almost killed her. With the connection to him severed, she developed severe antidermis dependence, which nearly drove her insane, until Echelon broke her out of prison. Joining forces, she soon became his second in command and together they pulled off their greatest coup - conquering Ko-Koro. But their success was short-lived. Just before the counter-attack to liberate Ko-Koro, Echelon asked Kohra to accompany him on a mission that led them towards the Mangaia vault once more. But when her antidermis dependence flared up again, the dark Toa decided her usefulness had come to an end and abandoned her to an uncertain fate in the depths of the dark walk. Weakness: Kohra’s powers have gone haywire and are unstable and dangerous to try and use at this time. She is also in chronic, almost debilitating pain. Sisk "The Tamer" Species: Le-Matoran Alignment: Lawful Good Gender: Male Description: A wiry Matoran, Sisk is colored in the traditional Le-Koro greens. His upper torso, shoulders and arms are adorned by tribal markings. His mask looks like a Zatth. His left leg is reinforced with a brace after an injury that never quite healed. Mask: Non-functional Zatth (shape only) Element: none, but has an affinity for the air and green and the associated perks of being a naturally skilled climber with a keen sense of balance. Weapons & Equipment: Two Bamboo-Batons, however Sisk's prowess in combat is that of an amateur at best. He has a talent for improvising with items found in nature around him for self-defense however. Backpack: a small versatile bag made from tough leaves, also featuring sheaths for his two batons on either side, which holds many common items. Once an inseparable part of him, he rarely wears it these days. Personality: Sisk used to be called "the tamer", and with good reason. Despite boasting about his various encounters with the wild-life of Mata Nui, rumour has it that he once got his rear handed to him by a Ghekula of all things - and the nickname stuck as a reminder. Back in those days he was ambitious and a thrill-seeker; skilled and quite knowledgeable in the Wahi’s flora and fauna, but also socially awkward - though that never stopped him from talking. But after many battles, ever greater dangers and a serious injury, the tamer has mellowed out. He still tells tales of past exploits, but is content just doing his job in Le-Koro, where he can be found at the Gukko Force HQ. Biography: Sisk has been on Mata Nui his whole life, which is almost as long as he has been assigned to take care of Le-Koro's Gukko, Kahu and Kewa. But at some point, that wasn't enough anymore and Sisk began to venture into the jungle, hoping to become an accomplished Rahi-tamer. He studied the various Rahi found on Mata-Nui thoroughly and knows much about their behaviour. Among his greatest accomplishments is the fending off of a full-grown Muaka, earning him the first of many scars and a promotion within the Gukko Force. Despite the slightly humorous moniker given to him by his fellow guardsman for the Ghekula incident, he has proven himself both a skilled tamer and Kahu Rider. After Tamaru’s murder, Kongu permitted him to join the group hunting for his killer. But when they finally tracked them down in Po-Wahi, Toa Merror, whom he had befriended, asked Sisk to find and protect Kapura and the remaining chronicler's company instead. He joined up with the Ga-Koro Marines in Ta-Koro, as they had the same goal. Kapura proved too elusive for them - but not for Makuta. Sisk only found out about his death days later. In response, together with the Matoran Lans, Verdi and Lashev, Sisk formed the "Rahkshi-hunting squad". They assisted in the attack on the Rama-hive and during the following battle for Pala-Koro, after which they immediately got caught up in the defense of Le-Koro. This many battles so close to home and the assassination of Turaga Matau eroded the villagers’ trust in the guard’s ability to protect them. Sisk, together with Commander Skyra, began to rebuild and win back hearts and minds. Shortly afterwards, he assisted in evacuating the village when Makuta's Rahkshi-Legion attacked, but was seriously injured. It took a long time for his leg to recover, during which he remained in the village of air, eager to take to the skies once more on Skyscratcher, his Kahu companion. That opportunity arose when Ko-Koro fell into the hands of Makuta’s followers. Sisk took part in the united effort to liberate the village of ice. Leading a Gukko-Force unit, he provided air support during the attack. In Ko-Koro, he was reunited with his old friend, Toa Leah. But though the village was freed, Sisk found that his leg still gave him trouble, decided to stay in Le-Koro for the time being. This may change in the future, but for now, his adventuring days are behind him. Weakness - back to basics: With no elemental control, no mask-powers and no skill in martial arts, Sisk has to rely on his wits to get him through his adventures. Despite a lot of experience in taming various Rahi, he has little chance to put up a real fight against an opponent with access to powers. Rhow Species: Skakdi Alignment: Neutral Good Gender: Female Appearance: Rhow's appearance mirrors her tough attitude. Her face has the characteristic Skakdi grin and prominent cheekbones. Two bright neon-green eyes with slitted pupils scan her environment for prey or foes. While she is not as buff across the shoulders as other Skakdi, she is still extremely ripped and covered in scars. Her dark blue armour is equally dented and scratched. Her spine is lined with long fins that are almost lime green at the tips and worn with age and battle. Element: Water (in combination with another Skakdi) Vision power: Thermal Imaging Weapons & Equipment: Blade, though that gives this weapon entirely too much credit. It is a sharpened piece of scrap metal, with a crude handle that Rhow salvaged sometime before her coming to Mata Nui. It is entirely practical and without any special properties - a barbarian’s tool, unclean and deadly, akin to the tooth of some large predator, cast in metal. Leather pouch strapped to her thigh, with room for many common items (light/heat stones, etc.) - and an assortment of cooking utensils and spices. Personality: When she arrived on Mata Nui, Rhow was just as wild and rough as the seas that carried her ashore. Conditioned by her homeland to be a ruthless fighter, it took some time for her to shake this brutal streak. Stranded and free of the violence of her homeland, Rhow started to long for something more than bloody survival at any cost. And when the Horde formed, it looked like she’d found it. But lately, her nights have grown restless with dreams of Zakaz, the homeland she never forgot but couldn’t remember. Questions about her origin plague her mind and demand she find answers. Biography: Rhow washed upon Mata-Nui's shore one grey morning and began her stay focused on nothing but survival. She roamed the forests along the border between Ga-Wahi and Po-Wahi, ventured into the Motara desert as well as climbed the flanks of Mount Ihu. Staying on the move she hunted Rahi of all kinds, land, sea or air. Anything weaker than her was prey and anything stronger, prey that would be weakened in time. A brief encounter with the Hordika Lantz brought her to Le-Wahi, but they parted ways soon after and Rhow wandered aimlessly for a time - until she stumbled across the pit trap where Kapura had been killed. There she was attacked herself by one of Makuta’s dark Toa, but their fight was cut short by the arrival of several Rahkshi and Rhow was forced to flee. This was her first real encounter with others on the island and she began to realize there were bigger things at stake, things she could not face alone. Fortunately, she met Iraanus, a fellow Skakdi of water. And after finding they had a lot in common, the two of them agreed to work together moving forward. They jokingly dubbed their fledgling group ‘the horde’, since they were anything but, hoping to rally more like minded Skakdi around them. They traveled to Le-Koro, and while there, attended a meeting informing them and others of the recently come-to-light activities of a secret organization: "the peers". Willing to help and hoping to build up some goodwill, Rhow and Iraanus returned to Ga-Koro, to warn the village about the danger posed by the peers. But Ga-Koro was in trouble already: They arrived at the time of the late Turaga Nokama's funeral and almost immediately were caught up in the Toa Daedra’s infighting for control over the village, and only ended when a legion of Rahkshi attacked the village during the seemingly final battle with Makuta. Rhow and Iraanus aided in the village’s defense and have since made Ga-Koro their adopted home. The horde grew too, joined by Destian, Mortis, Taoki, Viloz, and Kahlynn. They occasionally serve as mercenaries for just causes, but most days they serve food and drinks, running a bar and restaurant in the village, named the "Great Takea". Weakness - a hammer for every nail: Rhow isn't much of a tactician in the heat of battle. She isn't stupid by any means, just very straightforward and single-minded, and does not think ahead much. After all, she never had much need to before, her brute strength and ferocity were usually enough. She just needed to hit her enemies harder than they could hit back.

IC: [Ayiwah - Ga-Koro, aboard the Chisaii Ryuu] In her dreams, the ship cut smoothly through the waves, and with each crest, mild spray launched into the air and hit her face. Spirits, she had missed that feeling. The commodore stood tall aboard the Yukanna, watching over the deck from her favorite spot on the quarterdeck. The crew was abuzz, working diligently, performing well rehearsed tasks with crisp efficiency and in unison where required. And on the horizon, Sado’s spires glinted in rays of light cutting through overcast stratocumulus clouds, notably moving on a stiff breeze. And behind the crystal city, Odaiba’s silhouette rose to frame it. Home. It seemed perfect. Which put Ayiwah on alert. Sleep did not come easily to the commodore. She knew how to effectively rest in the field by grabbing winks whenever an opportunity presented itself - one of the most important skills a Menti learned early on in their training - but she only ever slept lightly. Especially now: With the Makuta’s apparent return, she had doubled the number of Menti standing watches aboard the Ryuu at all times. It allowed her to relax just enough to lie down and recharge for the next shift. But fully passing out like this, under these circumstances, that was unthinkable. And she rarely, if ever, had dreams she remembered. Especially not lucid ones like this. With narrowed eyes, she looked again and was instantly taken aback by the many irregularities: Lines and equipment were haphazardly stored and the crew was in a terrible state, languishing about the deck. They all had thousand-kio stares and seemed utterly exhausted. Their uniforms were unkempt, dirty and singed. Some didn’t wear theirs at all...were they even sailors? That didn’t seem possible. And yet, many of the haggard faces were unfamiliar to her - which just didn’t happen aboard her ship. Even if she didn’t interact with every deck hand, whether aboard the Ryuu or the Yukanna, she made a point of knowing exactly who served aboard her ship. What in Zataka’s lap was going on here? But it was when Ayiwah’s eyes found the horizon again that her heart sank. It was not the skyline of Sado she had seen. The glinting spires became the masts and sails of ships sailing off their bow. In fact, she noticed the Yukanna was surrounded on all sides by a myriad of vessels that lacked any kind of tactical formation. Some she knew well - frigates of the fleet, like the Aozame. Others were civilian ships and clearly belonged to the different clans. But the majority were unmarked smaller cargo and fishing vessels that by all rights should never have been this far out to sea. And up ahead in the distance, the island she had seen… Mata Nui? She turned to look at Tazera, but found her first mate conspicuously absent. “Suhei, report!” she demanded of the nearest sailor to her. The Dashi looked at her. There was no recognition in her eyes - she might as well have been talking an alien language. Ideatalk then… The moment she tried to telepathically contact the sailor, she was instantly overwhelmed by the singular presence occupying the mental plane at this moment, sending a spike of pain through her neocortex. Her hand shot up to her throbbing temple. Wincing, she broke off the attempted contact. Breathing deeply she tried to gather her wits again and realized she’d felt that presence before, but never like this. .:Ayiwah?:. It was a thin, tired whisper of a voice, one that had dogged at Ayiwah’s heels throughout the entire young life of its vessel; strained as it was, it radiated with a power that frightened all but the Menti closest to her. The commodore, as one of her lifelong heroes, was among that number. .:Ayiwah...the dragon…:. it murmured through her brain. .:I saw Uncle...Rayuke…:. .:Desde!? How is this possible?:. .:Ayiwah?:. the girl asked again, Ideatalking into the void of the commodore’s dream. .:You shouldn’t be here.:. Umbraline Desdemona’s voice still sounded exhausted, but now there was a power in her words too - a power the waifish, wide-eyed Menti had never wielded in life. .:It isn’t safe. But don’t worry, Ayiwah. I’m coming.:. The commodore shot up in her bunk, wide awake. The words were out of her mouth before she was fully upright. “Beat to quarters!” ----- “Akiri Hahli.” the commodore said, standing in the spacious hut at the center of Ga-Koro. She was flanked by two royal retainers, originally meant to guard the empress’ envoy, but now reassigned. Before her, leaning against her desk with a tired, dark expression, was the leader of the village of water, also flanked by the marine who’d had the unfortunate duty of rousing her in the middle of the night. A single luminescent jellyfish in its container lit up the meeting, creating a soft circle of light around the desk. “I apologize for the lateness of the hour, but there is grave news: My people - my home, are under attack. We don’t know who exactly is behind this invasion, how they managed a surprise attack at such a massive scale, or why - but we know they came from outside the empire. The description of the hostile forces matches that of the creatures you call ‘Rahkshi’.” She let the word hang in the air for a moment, the implication clear. Rahkshi were sons of Makuta. “They’ve overrun every major population center. Our capital has fallen. Most clans were forced to abandon their homes. Those who managed to escape are currently fleeing to the only other place they can - here.” The Akiri went rigid. “Here? How many? How soon? How do you know this? In fact - how do you know any of this?” Ayiwah waited a second to let the initial shock of the news pass. She certainly didn’t blame Hahli for reacting this way, she had just dropped a bombshell on her. “I don’t have an exact number.” Ayiwah admitted. “Many. My kind can communicate telepathically, even at great distances, given a strong enough will - but not across an entire ocean. I was contacted less than an hour ago by one of the strongest telepaths I know, someone I trust with my life.” “She’s telling the truth.” another voice spoke up. Beyond the circle of light produced by the jellyfish, underneath one of the high mounted circular windows and silhouetted in the moonlight falling through them, a Cerulean armored Toa sat cross legged, hands resting palms up in her lap. She watched the Dasaka with a neutral expression from behind her Kanohi Ruhaku - mask of intent. “Toa Leah.” Ayiwah addressed her, bowing her head slightly in acknowledgement. The Toa Maru returned the nod, then said: “I felt something in the sea earlier, far to the East, very faint. I was debating whether or not it needed looking into. I assume that’s your...fleet?” The commodore nodded. “If they are in range to make contact, they must be close. I reckon they’ll be here in less than two days.” She turned back towards Hahli and made firm eye contact. The commodore had tried to keep the Dasaka presence contained to Ga-Koro as much as possible since their arrival to keep disruptions to the Mata Nui way of life to a minimum. But that was no longer an option. There would be too many of them for that. And they’d need a place to stay. Not in the existing Koro. The cultures were too different to be immediate neighbors. Zataka’s cheeks, many of our own clans are not even ready for such close coexistence yet. But they will have to learn, and fast. The arrival itself will be complicated too, we will need an accurate headcount, places for the ships to dock… In the back of her mind, her brain continued to as much as possible to identify every possible task that would be part of the enormous challenge ahead of them. “We have to contact the other Akiri. They must be informed.”

Holy cow, @Perp that is an amazing looking map! Brilliant work!

Echoing the above post 100%: UN has kept an overview over this game and the plot and all that GM stuff throughout a lot of IRL challenges. An absolute trooper! Hey @pokemonlover360! I asked if they'd reply to you directly, but Icarax is quite busy again already so they unfortunately don't have the time. Concept phase is about to start here and they're already up to their neck in brainstorm meetings. But, I'll try to answer your question as much as possible: Iccy is ancient and has been aware of the narrative for a very long time. Long enough in fact, that they've been actively helping us GMs keep an eye on the game from the IC perspective, to make sure the narrative could proceed unhindered. Their many Rahkshi were quite handy for that. They were on the last step of their grand wish when player characters first met them - and they have been on that step for a long, long time: To witness the end of the cycle and to see a renewed universe come to fruition before being recalled to the caldera. Hence their willingness to help other player characters out if their goals aligned with that desire. And you all sure did deliver on making an ending worth witnessing! Iccy was up all night following the topic and to make sure nothing was overlooked. I talked to them yesterday (we share an office since their ascension) and they were just blown away by the flood of posts and the final twists and turns. So big kudos from them to you all! =)

IC [Zataka - Kini-Nui] The last portal...she had made that one for herself. Well, herself, Scarrow and Weaver. Yes they were monsters, and yes they were not of this world. But they had not asked to be made such and she could not bring herself to condemn them to remain on Zakaz. So she brought them along. She could feel their presence as ever in the back of her mind. Even here there was the veil. Zataka emerged from the dimensional passage and stepped onto a land she knew. Her land. She blinked away a tear against the bright light that fell through the tall, scattered clouds and onto her face. She felt it's comforting warmth, the one she had long missed. Below her feet was long, soft grass. Wind played in the blades and created mesmerizing patterns that stretched far and wide before her, gently arching away to a distant shore, hidden from view somewhere behind the slopes’ curve and brilliant sandy dunes. Beyond the white dune beaches, the ocean glittered in the sunlight like crystals. Way, way out in the distance, the clouds drew together, hinting at a brewing storm. Then, above the windy breeze, a familiar voice suddenly rang out behind her, calling her name. Zataka turned and smiled. She was home.

IC [Zataka - Kini-Nui] The first thing she did was to send out Scarrow and Weaver in opposite directions, to scout as far and wide as quickly as they could. To find all those that they knew did not belong on this land, those who had come from the sky and to let her know where they were. The Zivon complied and rushed off beyond the veil, two nightmares to save a bunch of dreamers. While they scouted, Zataka switched her masks once more. She needed to make an announcement. With her Suletu back in place, she reached out across the mental plain to every being she sensed was familiar in the area. The Nuva and their Kaita felt alerted at the touch of a riteborn on their minds, but the titan was undeterred and sent out her message: :”I am Zataka. You may or may not know my name. You may or may not trust me. You might even consider me an enemy. But hear this: This world is coming to an end. For good or for ill, I can not say, but I hope for the best for all of us. But if hope fails, there remains home, for all of us. I have found a way to return to the sky. If you want to go home as much as I do, follow me. I am opening a portal nearby, you can not miss it. It will remain open for as long as possible. The choice is yours.”: That took care of Kini Nui. Only an entire island left...best get to it! ---- [Irrnak’s Tooth] If the Taku hadn’t seen enough wild things this day already already, a Zivon suddenly emerged in their field of view. It only lingered for a moment, then disappeared back into the realm of nightmares from whence it had come. It was shortly after followed by a portal opening, and a tall, dark figure stepping through. Once again, Zataka transmitted her message to everyone her Suletu could reach, before switching back to the Olmak and opening another self-sustaining portal near the airship. ---- And so it went. Tobduk-Koro, Le-Metru Nuva, the Aqua Sphere - anywhere the Zivon detected signs of habitants of the Matoran universe, Zataka soon followed, opening portals for each location. She knew she might not be able to save everyone. Maybe reality itself was coming to an end. But the titan was determined to make well sure everyone at least had a chance. OOC: @Everyone, if you have an character in a MU inhabitant dominated location, there is a chance for them to return to the ark via the dimensional portal. It's been a pleasure playing with you all, see you in whatever comes after this cycle!

IC [Zataka - Kini-Nui] :“Yes, I did. Do you know where all of them are?”: Zataka replied, looking at the Lesterin. She knew of the species’ homeland. Then she looked up to the sky above. Once again, starkly outlined by the light still reaching it in its orbit, the headless body drifted. :“Might as well start with you then, eh? But first…”: The titan briefly opened a portal and stuck her head through. Beyond, Exuze could indeed see his homeland. :“Okay, so we can still breathe back up there.”: she said. It had been a question that had been bothering her for a while and it gave her hope for her own land. She had hoped for that to be the first thing she would see, but this was more important and it was reassuring to know she would not return home only to freeze and asphyxiate on the spot when arriving. :“This portal will remain open for you until you decide to use it.”: Then the titan turned away and got to work. OOC: @BULiK

IC [Zataka - Air Suva/Kini-Nui] While Viltia set back to work once more, Zataka headed to entrance of the Suva ruin. She wanted to practice some more, and seeing as they no longer needed the airship, she opened a larger portal below the craft, sending it back to Kini Nui, but not to the temple. Instead the airship reappeared outside Viltia's Kaita bunker. So that worked too. Excellent! Just then, Viltia came up behind her and Exuze. “Okay, now I’m ready.” Zataka noted she was wearing another new mask. Truly remarkable. Without another word, she opened a portal for the three of them and bade them to step through. ——- Back in Kini-Nui, the air near the Kaita bunker rippled once more, and a moment later the trio re-emerged near the previously sent airship. ...there was a lot going on in the Valley. Zataka turned to her companions. “Let’s get to work! And if I don’t see either of you again ere the end...thank you. And good luck!" OOC: @Kal the Guardian @BULiK @Unreliable Narrator

IC: [Nixie, Vhisola & Co. - The Taku] The Le-Matoran was suddenly flustered. “M-Me? Actually fly...this ship?” “No, the other plane nerd.” Akamu cut in from behind. Vhisola chuckled. Vican shook his head and straightened up. “Yes, yes of course!” he said - almost yelled in fact, before scrambling to get into the copilot’s seat. He figured out how to adjust it so he could reach all the controls, then looked in front of him and out the windscreen. There was an ominous volcano and the world was in serious trouble. But he was at the helm of an airship, right where he’d longed to be. “...just like the simulations.” he muttered, then looked at Arnex. “I’m ready.” OOC: @BULiK