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IC: Taoki - Kini-Nui Taoki stopped midstep. His spines were straight up on his back and his face was frozen in fear. After a moment of listening without breathing - breathing just makes noise how can you hear anything when you breath so loud - he began to fumble into his pack. He reached in and pulled out a light-stone, filling the cave with light. The group looked down the tunnel to see...

IC: Taoki - Kini-Nui Taoki had no idea what he was doing. "That's ok. I'll stay back and..." he 'mmmd', "Throw knives or something. I won't hit you guys," he said quickly making a point to look at everybody, "Promise."

IC: Taoki - Kini-Nui Taoki scowled at his companions before softening up again, "Maybe. If the rumors about this place are true you guys will probably have to fight." He paused, "I mean we will have to fight ha ha!" ha ha h a h a hh a his laugh was clearly forced. Taoki shook his head, his fingers tightening around the strap of his bag. He gulped, "I hope we can avoid altercations?" IC: Tio - Kini-Nui I was silently objecting every step of the way. The land was beautiful, but I wasn't interested in taking the in the scenery. It wasn't until we were now at the temple that I spoke up, "We're no use dead Kajak," my voice was cold and hard as I passed my companions, "I won't let us get killed because we don't know what we're up against. It would be foolish." I stopped and turned around to face the others, crossing my arms, "At the very least, with the first sign of failure we should retreat. This place could be way out of our league just as likely as it is to be beneath it." my gaze was hot-cold.

Rumble on young man, rumble: Fear

OOC: Recommended listening: IC: Utu Kotore - Ko-Wahi - The Wastes The howling winds whipped snow around us in the icy drifts of Ko-Wahi. I didn’t turn my head but I did address Praggos, “Thank you.” I ached all over. The freezing air was the only sensation I could feel which alleviated my pain; if only in the slightest way. Ever since my Mark was damaged I had been regressing, but now the intensity of the damage was reaching its apex. Only 20 yards or so out of the cave I coughed into my closed fist. I use to wonder who I was. What did the world think of me? Did the world think of me at all? I thought that maybe I could find some sort of comfort in knowing. Not only that, but deciding what the world would think of me seemed - to me at least - irresistible. When I emerged from the splattered blood and scattered bones of Tu-Koro I believed myself to be incredibly powerful; as if I could take destiny in my hands and mold her to the image I wanted. I was high off of my own strength, craving more every day. But I wasn’t powerful. I was weak. I was afraid. Nothing truly changed. Fear shapes us. It forces us to make rash decisions. We lash out at others when we’re afraid, and if we’re alone we’ll attack ourselves instead. Fear can control, and fear can create chaos. Fear can be found in a politician’s speech or the response of their peoples. It is in the eyes of a sick child, and in the hearts of Ko-Koro’s cold and captive. It was in me for as long as I could remember. Dizziness took me and I lost my footing. I fell, just able to stop myself by clumsily putting my hands out in front of me. Now I could see that my right hand - which I had coughed into - was spattered with blood; a stark tainted red against the pure snow. I pushed myself up and continued walking. Every step sent a burning shock up my back. It felt as if I was trying to breathe through the head of a needle; unable to fill my lungs. The back of my eyes felt like they were on fire. My temples throbbed. My heart even felt sore and strained. I was never weaker than I was today. My eyes turned to the clouds overhead. I never felt more alive. I had faced death before, but now it was different. I began to lose feeling in my hands and feet. This made walking a bit more difficult. My lower appendages seemed to slowly fade away, leaving me with the sensation of walking on clubs. I slipped, this time landing in the snow without reacting quickly enough. I tried to push myself up to find that I actually couldn’t get much higher up than on all fours. I gave a couple grunts as I attempted to pick myself up, but simply found that it was impossible. “I-” I began, barely able to speak between breaths, “I can’t move. I can’t move,” I had to make it to Tu-Koro. I had to make it to Tu-Koro. I had to make it to Tu-Koro. I tried moving my legs, but I was mostly cycling my (partially unresponsive) legs through the snow. My right arm collapsed from under me, and my voice began to choke with oncoming tears, “I… I… I need to… I can’t-” I stood for a moment, watching as Utu tried, repeatedly, to get himself up off the ground. My heart sank further down every time he failed to do so, proving just how far his disease had progressed. I'd had my doubts that we'd even get him to the temple in time to help him, with everything we had to do first to be able even to get in...Now it seemed almost as though this quest to save his life had been doomed from the start. “I have to…” Wordlessly I bent down, getting on one knee and putting one of Utu's arms around my shoulders. I told him I'd stick with him, and now I had to show it. Grunting, I tried to stand, trying to pull Utu back up with me. I moved to Utu's side putting his other arm around his shoulder and pulling them back up. I activated my gravity powers. I had no idea how far Tu-Koro was away, but Utu could be our guide. It hurt watching that the guy couldn't even make back home on his own two feet, but we couldn't let it end here for him. "Alright Utu, just point us in the right direction. Praggos and I will do the rest." When Yuru launched me into the sea with a destroyed mask and an open chest I was afraid. When Dorian pinned me down in a hospital bed and smothered me with my pillow I felt fear. But today as I walked towards my own death, I felt no fear. I took a step as my eyes began to well up. 'My name is Utu Kotore', I thought, 'I am greater than the rest.' I took another step. Tears streamed down my face. 'I am the master of my own destiny.' Step. I faltered, my weight taken by my companions. 'Death may take me today.' Step. 'But it will be on my ###### terms.' Step.

IC: Tuara Drigton - Ko-Wahi Tuara watched as one by one each member of their party left the cave. She was angry. It wasn't easy to have brought back Utu, and it wasn't easy not to kill him herself every day. Tuara wasn't exactly left unscathed after her long encounter with the Mark Bearers and Utu. Of course a part of her blamed him for the Iris virus somewhat partially, but at least she knew that she wasn't expecting Utu to do anything about it. It just so happened to work out in his favor, and he was dead during most of it anyway. Nobody really got out of that not guilty in some fashion. She knew that's what made Dorian angry about the whole situation. He seemed to believe that Utu was being given a chance he didn't deserve, but as far as Tuara was concerned by the same logic Dorian shouldn't have been given the same chance. A world without Dorian wasn't one Tuara would have been pleased to live in. Not now at least. She knew that idealism wouldn't always be healthy. But a good part of Tuara truly believed that Utu wanted this. She was angry when Dorian killed him on his own. Did he not struggle for another breath? Did he accept Dorian's murder openly? So as Agni hopped down into the snow and towards the others, Tuara stood there with clenched fists. Maybe that was it. Utu didn't choose to die. He was forced to die. She relaxed a little at this realization, but it wasn't enough to follow them. Tuara stepped out of the cave, but carved her own path in the snow, one which would lead her away from the others and towards her own destiny.

A giant's long walk begins: The Last Kotore

IC: Utu Kotore - Ko-Wahi I remember looking hard into Praggos' face as if scouring it like a map would give me something tangible, "Don't be sorry," I said very quietly, "Maybe you're right. Maybe I can help you change this world," I took a deep breath, "But that isn't who I am." I looked from Praggos to Cael and Tuara, "You put your faith in my ability to change. Or into somebody who thought the same of me. Either way, I must fail you." With another look to my comrades, I continued, "I remembered everything at the temple yesterday. Most of it anyways. From the moment I fled Tu-Koro's ruins until Dorian killed me again in Le-Koro: I can see it all," I paused, "A lot of it stands out, but from my memory the one thing that I know the most is I wasted my life chasing something I could never have. "I've lived longer than I should have. ######, I've been killed twice but still I'm given life. It's exactly what I wanted really. I wanted to become immortal; for my name to be remembered for all eternity. But nobody lives forever. "Not even me. My time is up." I stepped out into the cold blowing winds and turned around, "If I remember right, I refused to let anybody but Tank come with me to Tu-Koro. Anybody that wants to come with me may. I might not make it there anyways." I was quiet as I began walking away in the cold. The world had heard enough from me to last an eternity.

IC: Utu Kotore - Ko-Wahi "I'm going," I told the toa of fire, a weakness in my voice, "Whether you come with me or not is up to you." "Yeah right," Tuara said as she stepped up to the group, "We're not going to waste what little time we have to save you by dicking around." "Maybe I don't want to be saved," I said, "When did anybody here ask me what I wanted to do?" Tuara gave a little scoff, "It doesn't matter what you want to do. We're getting your ##### into that temple whether you like it or not." "Why?" "Why? To save your life!" "I don't want to be saved!" I yell into her face. My echo and the sound of the wind was the only thing heard over my suddenly soft voice, "I want to see my home," I looked to the others as my knees give a little wobble and my voice breaks, "I want to see my home." IC: Agrona - Ko-Koro - The Citadel I watch as Echelon vanishes behind the door. The man was always a bit of a dramatic. Not that it was a bad thing. If one with drama was charismatic then they could easily draw power (or at least attention). Luckily, Echelon knew how to handle both. A capable toa, and a capable leader. Even without the others, it wouldn't have been too difficult for Echelon to convince me to join him here. Echelon was going places, and he'd take all of Mata-Nui with him too if he could. I believed he could. As far as taking care of the village went it was an opportunity to stress test everybody. We knew how to work together, but without Echelon where would we stand? I was eager to find out. "You're right Kohra," I begin, "Although I'm more concerned about these Piraka," there was a slight trill in my voice as I said the name of the skakdi, "They might have let us into their vault but if Echelon wants us to keep watch on them, I doubt they're people we will bed with." No promises. "Their powers are enigmatic as well, but there's no way to tell if antidermis was their poison," With those of us in the group who took the essences of Makuta there were visible changes as well as powerful changes, "Every specimen was changed visibly by it, but the Piraka share no signs of ours other than their alleged powers." I was getting off track. There were still a lot of questions about antidermis that I had. I had begun to notice that my saliva was almost sap-like in consistency now. There seemed to be effects that we were not aware of. But that was another issue to be dealt with at another time. With a flick of my fingers I returned to the subject at hand. "Splitting up responsibilities is a good idea as well if it can be done."

rocks are rocks, crystals are crystals "wow but that's not true, they're literally the same in real life" yeah we know, but here they aren't

IC: Pae - Ga-Wahi - Polzin's Mansion "Captain of the Ta-Koro Guard," Pae said, "Jaller will know."

IC: Agrona - Ko-Koro - The Citadel I wasn't too surprised. It was bound to happen at one point. I let out a low purr, "Hm," the insect wings beneath my cloak hummed along with me, "Shall we greet him Echelon?"

IC: Agrona - Ko-Koro - The Citadel Before entering the sanctum where Echelon was likely waiting, Rorg and Eisen joined us in the hall. Rorg of course gave no thoughts on Larikon. At first I couldn't pin down the skakdi when I first met him, but it didn't take too long to figure out. He wasn't interested in doing anything other than his job; which he fortunately was very good at. Initially I was uneasy about bringing a mercenary onto the team but of course I didn't have any say in it. I felt better once I saw him work. I didn't know him as well as the others at the time, but I knew Eisen was brilliant. The group was full of reliable people, but something about Eisen made him seem especially so. "You won't need to be curious much longer Karnakie." I say as we approach the final doors. I took a deep breath and pushed open the door with Toros close behind me. "Echelon, what did you call us for?"

IC: Agrona - Ko-Koro - The Citadel I was about to respond to Kohra myself when Karnakie's low voice boomed within the Citadel halls. Everybody within our group was a specialist in some way. While we were all capable of holding our own in combat, Karnakie had a... unique experience. I was always curious about his species but never found the time or utility to ask. All I knew was the history with his people was as bloody as any could be. When it came to Karnakie, the man had seen things most people on Mata-Nui hadn't. But he had a disposition that allowed him to paint those unseen pictures of violence himself. To give you a better idea, he was disappointed when Echelon let Larikon go instead of kill him. I gave the Kaiakan address by nodding to him, "I haven't heard anything." I cooed.

IC: Pae - Ga-Wahi - Vera Polzin's Mansion "We rescued the leader," Pae said quietly, "She is with Ta-Koro's guard. She offered information, but nothing we did not already know. I have a friend watching her, I can undo any damage she could do. Unknown Matoran killed the Matoro: No affiliates: Perceived suicide shortly after: Very clean: Very Efficient. The kill is exceptional." He paused, "Jin went to speak to a contact. Potential information." "Echelon and Kohra are known attackers on the Koro. Strange powers and strange equipment. Each member was formidable," Pae became somewhat tired of speaking so much and he looked to Nika, "What did you notice?"

IC: Agrona - Ko-Koro - The Citadel I saw Kohra as clearly as I could hear her footsteps. It usually didn't bode well for somebody to get such a knowing glance from the woman. Kohra was sharper than any knife I had ever known and was as tough as the best of us. I never wondered what it would be like to take on Kohra since many people had already done that terrible work for me. So as far as I was concerned, when Echelon first spoke to me about this group I was nearly elated to find out she was a part of it. No issues there. I took larger steps to catch up to my colleague vortixx, "Kohra," I said melodiously, "Acclimatizing to new citizens I see." I knew Kohra could certainly take care of herself. That wasn't the issue. My chief concern was potential dissenters. It was inevitable that creating a new Ko-Koro would invite people which could potentially threaten Nightfall's balance (as power should). I didn't think it could happen easily, but as long as I was alive, there was nothing wrong with keeping tabs on each other and the people around us. Watching and keeping the others healthy was my job after-all. With a chuckle I continued somewhat sarcastically, "Terrible bunch we've brought to the village haven't we?"

IC: Agrona - Ko-Koro Ever since we had taken Ko-Koro for our own, I had made my home in one of Ko-Koro's taller buildings. What was once an office space had become something entirely new. I had - with Toros' help - filled the basement with cold storage equipment in the first morning. Hours later - with some lackeys - I claimed a number of corpses my colleagues had killed at the gates. These bodies have lined the bowels of my home and I spend most of my time working on them downstairs. Toros sits in the corner as I ask him questions to improve his signing skills. My level floor became my mixing room. I had given directions to a number of more than willing servants to fetch my things from Le-Wahi and bring them back here for me to use again. It was filled with pots and cauldrons and other raw materials. Without my vials and poisons, I might still be capable (particularly with meat by my side) but no good doctor is without her mixes. The second floor was my living space. With a fire maintained and closed off entrances, it was always kept warm. With a large window, I had turned the place into a sort of greenhouse. It was filled with flowers and lined with thick blanket walls and doors to maintain the warmth and correct moisture. The summons came to me midday. At noon I was found on the roof of this home of mine, meditating in the sun. The cold might have been unpleasant, but the sun warmed my insides and offered to me her energy. The cold bit, but the power soothed. I would ruminate here each day at the same time unless the cloud coverage was particularly bad; which it often was. The toa must have been very quiet about coming up the steps because I was even a bit surprised by the soft opening the hatch and the rustling of feet. "Agrona," began the messenger, "Echelon calls for you and the others." Ignoring its sharpness in my chest, I breathed in and out cold air before leaning forward from my cross legged position. The toa must have been a bit surprised to see that my cloak was undone, leaving my front naked to the sun's healing rays. I stepped past him, a slightly unsure look on his face, "Good," I said in response to his news, "Do not delay in leaving. I don't like visitors in my home I myself have not invited." Stepping down the stairs behind the messenger, I reached across my chest and began clasping shut my armour again, making my way to the waist and pelvis, "Toros!" I said loudly, "Gather your cloak, we are going to the Citadel!" 'What was the Dark Toa wanting?' I wondered as my personal servant met me at the front door. I wrapped my cloak tightly around my body, feeling the insects underneath adjusting accordingly as I commanded Toros to, "Open the door." * * * * * I was the third member of Nightfall at the Citadel, and the second one to walk through the door.

IC: Akiri Kongu - Onu-Koro - Nuparu's Office "No," Kongu began with a stern look at Ahkmou. His eyes were hard and warning, "I was not."

IC: Akiri Kongu - Onu-Koro - Nuparu's Office Kongu was about to respond to Ahkmou when another visitor stepped into Nuparu's office.

IC: Akiri Kongu - Onu-Koro - Nuparu's Office Kongu looked at Ahkmou with a similar hardness, "The island is under duress Ahkmou," Kongu began, "Do not force the island to turn against you. Even a beaten down Mauka still has a bite," his eyes softened, "Not a threat: A warning."

IC: Pae - Ga-Wahl - The Polzin Mansion Pae also entered without a word.

IC: Taoki - Dark Walk Taoki almost leapt out of his armor, "Brakas, Viloz!"

IC: Pae - Ga-Wahi Pae was completely silent as he looked back at Nika.

IC: Pae - Ga-Wahi "Fair," Pae agreed, "Do not delay."

I won't pretend to speak for every follower, as they all might try to justify taking Ko in their own way, but I can speak for Nightfall (with maybe SOME exception) that they took power in the name of Makuta in a bid for political, social, and military strength to further their plans. Not because they're angry for losing Xa-Koro.