Palm

IC: Utu Kotore - Kumu-Islet Sea "What's in my memories that we need exactly?" I glanced over to Cael with a slightly bemused look on my face, "Is there information that might help us?"

IC: Utu Kotore - Kumu-Islet's Sea "Alright," I grumble, water still falling from my face. I make my way over, the weight of my body causing the tilt of the boat to change. I sit across from Praggos, not exactly happy to be back on board, but making an effort to remain somewhat civil, "What's your plan?"

IC: Utu Kotore - Kumu-Islets Sea "Ok, let me get this straight..." I said with raised hands, loud enough for the group to hear me, "I'm a wanted criminal in three different Koros, a rescue project by her invisible boyfriend and all around a terror to society in its current form and have been for the past 300 years." "Yes, Utu, and a few of us even used to be your coworkers in your reign of terror. Sometimes willingly, sometimes unwillingly, all of the time, without enough pay," I responded, gesturing to Dorian, Tuara, and myself. "And now we're trying to save your life." Tuara looked to Dorian, speaking quietly to him in response to Utu's loud recap, "Cael thinks it's best that Utu doesn't know about what your relationship with him has been. Or that you killed him... Or how he's affected me," she paused, " So Utu doesn't know anything yet. Might be best to keep it that way." "We also had a barbershop quartet thing going for a while with a few buddies," I pitched in, smoothly putting two fingers on Tuara's wrist and smiling. "We ripped the bassist's heart out in the middle of our reunion show. ###### of a time." "It was a pretty interesting thing to watch, I'll give you that much." "Praggos was our roadie." "You guys are ###### crazy." "Utu, you weren't in a quartet. He's lying." "Have you ever heard your baritone?" "I was never the roadie. I was the quartet's official doctor," I indignantly replied - it seemed Dorian still had an amazing ability to be annoying. "I had to come along with you all the time because you were always getting yourselves hurt. You didn't pay me enough, either." "Hot red said no, I'm going with her on this one," I stood up, winking at her. She shuddered a little. I had that effect on people. "Utu and the Iris Virus," I insisted. "We were a big thing for a while in Ga-Koro." I rolled my eyes, deciding to get down to business. "Anyways, Utu, you're dying. We're here to stop that from happening, and I'm not sure why." "I think it's because I'm too sentimental, Cael's just that good of a person, Dorian just loves having a vacation, and Tuara's here to smash our skulls if we do something stupid. Sound about right?" "Tuara's always down to smash." "Dor-" "Wait wait wait. Not sure why you're helping me, or not sure why I'm dying?" "Not sure why we're helping you, actually. We know why you're dying. We've only got speculation as to the former issue." "That Mark of yours is slowly eating you up. Praggos says it got damaged somehow and now it's using you as an energy source," Tuara said somewhat calmly over the lapping of the waves, "We need to get rid of it." "Get rid of it?" I exclaimed, "Without this Mark I would be nothing. Maybe even dead already! It has freed me!" "Oh, come on, we can't even shoot him in the leg a little? No one's gonna miss this dickhead." "And then it fattened you up like a Naming Day Gukko," I replied to what Utu said, snorting derisively. "Tell me, are you dark meat or white?" "Dorian, curb your instincts for the next few minutes, please." "Already have, doc. I have a two day chip in my pocket." "Since when were you an expert on me Dorian?" I spat off the side of the boat, "You don't know the last thing about me." "Actually, Utu, we know more about you than you know about you." I shrugged, smiling slightly. "That's why we're in charge and you're our patient." "Your spirit animal's a pufferfish, beeteedubs." "Really?" I scoff, leaning against the edge of the boat, "Enlighten me." "That means 'by the way'. Slang these days is weird." "Tell me about me." "Sorry, Utu, that's classified information." "So either you're lying, or you don't know who I was before all of this. If what you say is true, in the past 300 years I've changed a lot. I only killed those that deserved it. Not innocent people. And since I don't remember doing that, I'm still who I was before all of that. I'm not the menace to society. If you're right about the past 300 years, then society made me 'this way'. Society's the menace," I jabbed myself with my thumb, "Not me." I crossed my big arms, "So unless you people stop pretending you know anything about me I see no reason to stick around. Especially not with that Shaddix here." "Actually, no, the reason we're not telling you is because if we do, you'll probably go on a murderous rampage, throw your life away, and we'll lose all of our hard work." "I've already lost all mine." "None of us want that to happen, so sit down and shut up." I turned to Dorian, glaring at him again. "You too." "I'm talking about my bartending job. Gosh." "I've skipped work for two weeks. I'm so fired." "Did you even hear a word I said?" I glared at Praggos, "I don't care what I did in those 300 years. That isn't who I am now." "No, but you'll care what happened to you to make you do what you did and that's what we're worried about." "I'll say it again Praggos, I don't care.," I leaned forward, speaking slowly and loudly, "I don't care why you're helping me. What I do care is why if you're helping me, that waste of time keep threatening me? Not sure what I did to him that made him hate me so much but- hey you know what?" Utu turned his head to Dorian, interrupting himself,"I'm sorry Shaddix. Is that what you want to hear? Sorry! Sorry for trying to choke you out or abandoning you or standing you up on a date or whatever it is I did! I'm sorry OK!?" "Well, as long as you're sorry, I think we can give it another shot. Your favorite food is steak, by the way." "Dorian, you aren't helping." Tuara hissed to the Toa of iron before standing up, "Utu, the important thing is figuring out how to get that thing off of you. The fact of the matter is that your blood is literally into an acid. It won't be long before your organs begin to fail if they haven't already. You will die if you don't let us help you." I scowled at her for a moment, analyzing her posture. Even when she had a pleading tone she managed to have more than enough attitude to go around. After a moment of just scowling I looked away, sighing heavily. I turned to Praggos, "Fine. What's your plan." "Remove the mark, of course." Utu rolled his eyes, "Yeah. How Praggos." "Voodoo." I began to climb over the railing of the boat, "Alright, I'm out." "Don't forget your water wings." "Tell me if you find talking fish people." "For the last time, Praggos, we haven't seen your family." "I'm talking about yours, Dorian." I dived into the water, my powerful legs changing the direction of the boat slightly. "What is wrong with you two?" Tuara stormed towards the back of the boat, as Cael shifted her control of the vessel, "Utu!" she yelled, "Come back!" But I was already a decent ways away. My head underneath the waves, I couldn't even discern what she was saying. It was all just noise to me. Tuara turned back to Dorian, "Next time just kill him again. At least I'll have less problems of yours to take care of that way," she turned again, cupping her mouth with her hands, "Utu!" "Dorian, do you think we should bring him back now?" I asked, turning to the Toa of Iron sitting just a little ways away. "It wouldn't do well for him to drown or escape when we need to cure him." "No #### Praggos." "Tuara, please, be civil." "Yeah, I'll go." I peeled off my shirt and tossed it at Tuara. "Hold this." The sword, to Cael. "Hold that." The gun to Praggos. "There has never existed someone who had worse luck with this thing than you. In that spirit, hold this." I put my foot on the railing, sighed, and then fell face forward into the waves. I frowned, looking at the gun in my hands. "When have I ever used one of these things, anyways?" "You can learn by shooting yourself in the foot if you'd like." Tuara said sharply, "Keep you from scaring off the person you're supposed to be helping." "I didn't scare him off, he simply refused to accept my answer," I replied, setting the gun down beside me. "Besides, you know that my answer was true. We really don't know how that temple did what it did." There's something inherently satisfying about watching this play out again. Not that I know what I know now. Back then, it didn't matter of course. I didn't understand my history with Dorian Shaddix, nor the others of Joske's dream-team. But seeing it again makes me think a little bit more. Sure, they were coming after me because they had to. But at least this time it wasn't to kill me or toss me into prison for me to rot the rest of my life. With the knowledge I have now, I might've just spat in Shaddix's face and be done with him forever. Turn him away. Make him experience at least a little of what sorts of things I had to endure for him. But I didn't know. Now that I think about it though, I'm not even sure I would've spat in his face if I knew. He's got a good right hook. While I waited for Dorian to come back with Utu in tow, I started looking around the ship. And, in boredom, I decided I would see if my luck with the gun was as bad as Dorian thought it was. So I lifted it up, and aimed it in the water. "Praggos, what are you doing?" "Dorian said I had bad luck with this," I replied, frowning. "Don't worry, I know how to do this. Turn off the safety, front post between the two back posts, pull the trigger..." Praggos frowned, bringing the pistol back a little bit so that he could see the posts clearly; he was somewhat nearsighted. "Ah, much better." "Praggos, that's too close," Tuara warned. "Preposterous." I pulled the trigger, wincing slightly at the loud bang that I heard immediately afterwards - and then said a word I cannot repeat in polite conversation upon being smacked in the forehead with the barrel of the weapon. "Not preposterous; I forgot about the recoil," I said, as my eyes watered due to the pain. "Could've been worse." "Give me that!" Tuara swiped the weapon from Praggos' hands, and smacked him on the back of the head, "Quit dicking around!" "I need something to amuse myself while I wait." ***** Down here, where water stung my eyes and rushed into my ears, I really was the Prince of Xa-Koro again. It was tough to miss Utu, even under the ink-at-midnight colored bay; he was a musclebound torpedo, glowing purple across the chest. Everything about him looked wrong - his girth, his face, the indigo streaks that marked all that corrosion washing over his neck and chest like an ugly rash. He was a premature baby, all grown up but still looking the part. I had seen him die once and heard he'd died twice more. If nine lives were the sole province of felines, then Utu deserved a lifetime supply of catnip and a fine pair of whiskers. Something about seeing him bob like an apple in the current almost didn't seem fair. Like a cheap end, more ignoble than usual even for a being who had spent his entire life flaunting lack of nobility. Down here, where the boat looked like just another blob of darkness and your very thoughts were waterlogged, I could see him having second thoughts, right up until he saw me. But by then I was on him. Never get me wrong - for his size, Utu was quick, and strong too, but he wasn't exactly built for combinations of attacks, and he didn't have Brykon's natural grace to offset that bulk, so by the time he could put out a punch I could wrap my thighs around his forearm and put the metacarpal arch of my hand into his jaw. It flopped open like a fish, and I scooped his chin with my other hand and slammed it close, so hard I could feel his teeth chatter through the taut skin on his jawbone. With his free hand, he clipped my temple, and I could feel the world ring for a second before I yanked his head and steered him into the side of the ferry like a battering ram. The weight of him made the world ring around us. He bellowed through closed lips; his throat vibrated through my fingers. Utu, ]I remember you, I wanted to coo, like the benevolent grandmother we'd never known, when that tattoo was a little ink on your shoulder, and you were the one tossing me around like a marble. I remember you when you and I planted ourselves like trees and threw back four waves of Marines - while dueling to the death. I remember you when you first saw my face again, and when I first saw yours. His scalp smashed against the hull. The weight of him made the world ring around us. Utu, the oldest and the least of my shortlist of friends, I remember you while I was killing you, and it's tearing me apart to see you like this. But you can never know. Down here, where lungs screamed with empty breath and corpses swam like real boys, you could see that we were just conjoined twins, and you couldn't kill one of us without slaying the other. The iron gauntlet, pitted with rust. The silk glove, tearing at his seams. For all of two seconds I loved him, and then I threw him into the ferry one last shuddering time. The weight of us shook the world. He fell into my arms semi-conscious and lolling, a nesting doll chipped down to the last layer. Utu's muscle was an anchor, dragging us down to a level of the water where the boat looked like more like a bulky pipe dream than anything fit to carry someone like us. With screaming nerves and a swelling heart I whipped my arm around and created a little cable, thick and sturdy, to wrap around him. I considered putting it around his neck, but any noose for Utu was a noose for me, so I wrapped it around his massive bicep and closed my eyes at last. The cable whipped up of its own accord, and Utu Kotore was a catfish, thick and bristly with droplets of water spelling out his lines. I heard him land on the deck with a sickening lurch. A bullet pierced the water beside me, rending a wound in the current. Down here, where the sea tried to shoot you and all the world had the lights turned off, I looked like just as much a hero as anyone else. The second cable formed in my hand, and then I was flying, soaring, like a bird - spat up by the whale into the big wide world, with grand new tales to tell of God. I raised an eyebrow as Dorian and Utu came up not feet away from where, in the water, I'd been aiming. It really was murky, if I couldn't see them, and they'd started on the opposite side of the boat from me. "Now that really is preposterous." Utu began coughing up water on the deck. "Welcome." "Thanks." I let out a particularly hard cough, spattering the side of the boat with a much-darker-than-usual blood. It was hot. I could actually feel the warmth from it, and I was a good few inches away. I reached forwards with shaking hands and touched it. It felt different than blood. Like Tuara said. Acid. I spat to the side again, wiping my mouth as I pushed myself up to stand. Tuara was still yelling at Praggos, "You're gonna get somebody killed you ####!" I turned around to look at the crew on the ship. Breathing in deeply, I pumped out my chest proudly, towering over them. Tuara held up her hand to me, "Don't speak." I had trouble holding my tongue from the anger inside. I had trouble holding my fists at my side. I had trouble turning around again and moving slowly to the front of the ship, where I sat, my legs dangling over the edge. "Praggos, Dorian. A word with you please." Tuara said coldly, turning on her heel and moving towards the very back of the ferry, "Now thank you." "Last I knew they were on the other side of the boat. I have no idea how they got over to my side like that." Regardless of whatever I said, it seemed that Tuara was implacable in her want to yell at Dorian and I, so the two of us walked to the back of the ship - myself relatively calmly, Dorian with his usual amount of implacable humour. "Look, I get it. I'm a rotten ###### who's too uppity to have a good time right?" "Not really." "You also sleep with me, so I can't say yes." "Turns out, I don't give a flying #### about what you think of me, regardless of our relationship. The point is you two are making my job harder. Near impossible maybe. There is an unstable giant on our boat who's life we're trying to save and so far all you've done is mouth off, be useless, and shoot at each other," Tuara held up a hard hand to silence a response, "Don't talk. As far as you go," Tuara pointed at Praggos, "You haven't figured out if this is even going to help him. At this point, your guesses are as good as ours. I could easily drop you off in Le-Koro and send a messenger pigeon back and forth and it'd be more useful than you've been so far. You knew full well that Utu wasn't going to react well to a simple "voodoo" without explaining further." She turned to Dorian, "And you. You've only caused more damage- no, stop - I could have easily pulled Utu out of that water myself. The water he would never have jumped in if you two weren't on this ferry in the first place. I don't want to clean up your messes for you and I'm not going to start now. I don't care who you are. You don't get special treatment. You agreed to this. You said you'd help. But this isn't about you. This is about the person you owe a life to. But I don't see you helping anytime in the near future judging by all this, and unless you at least stop making things harder you can swim back to your hospital bed and keep Praggos company." Her attention shifted again to the both of them. "Argue all you want, but you're pushing me to a place I don't want to go," Tuara looked at the pair with hard eyes, "I've had a gig like this before. Real similar team. A team with one too many morons on the job. And last time I walked out of that, I lost a friend, my lover, the respect of a colleague, my job as the Deputy of the Guard, and my ability not to crave drowning myself in liquor every waking moment I was alive." Tuara paused, the silence only accenting the quiet thunder in her voice when she spoke again, "That isn't an option for me. So either get out of the way of yourselves, or get lost." She finished by jabbing her thumb over her shoulder towards the mainland, "I'm not saying you can't have your fun, but your fun isn't fun anymore when somebody has to drag the giant back to safety." All that was heard on the boat was the quiet running motor and the lapping of waves on the ferry as it crossed the sea. Tuara asked without asking, "Do we have an understanding." After painfully long seconds, I clapped my hands and bounced to my feet, picking up my shirt from Tuara's shoulder and sliding it on over my soaked upper half as I walked towards the exit of the cabin. "Where you headed, Shaddix?" Tuara asked bluntly. I turned at the waist and holstered my gun at my waist. "Well, I've realized I'm far better at doing lines with people than I ever will be at doing good for them. But it looks like it's too late for me to go kill Echelon, and the ship's sailed on going back home any time soon. So I'm probably just gonna walk to my cabin. Puke up some seawater. Keep things simple. This was a blast." I slipped out the door and hung a left, then another left, walking into my cabin and casually kicking the lock on the door with my heel. "Praggos?" "I felt like asking who made you queen bee, but that'd probably get me punched," I admitted, shrugging. I was relatively unwilling to either agree or admit to anything Tuara had said (blame my prideful nature), so instead I attempted to half-heartedly change the topic. After Tuara glared at me, I realized that wouldn't work out well. "Fine. My jokes didn't help, and I'm sorry for that. Though regardless of any mistakes I make, I don't plan to 'get lost' at any point in the near or far future. I already have too much invested in this for that to be a viable option, and so I'm going to stick on with this group regardless of what you think of myself, my actions, or the repercussions of them." I stood, starting to turn back to my earlier position on the ship. "I'll try to be a little more helpful to our memory-challenged friend, and if it seems like I'm starting to get too snarky or sarcastic, throw something at me." With my distinctly noncommittal answer given, and trusting Tuara not to pick me up and throw me overboard, I strode back to my seat, waving Utu over. "If you want to know the actual plan for getting rid of your mark, come over here so I can tell you without having to yell too much."

Are you OK

IC: Agrona - Kini-Nui - Mangaia "Unlike most, I'm not afraid of pushing the limits of knowledge or power," Agrona pulls back to get a more overview look of Toros' face, revealing that his mouth had been stitched shut in both corners, "Intentionally or not,Toros here has been a hindrance to both you and us," Agrona gestures lazily to the others in her party, "Toros is a victim of circumstance. And yes, we could easily have killed him and left his body to the worms," The Lesterin pulls out a secondary needle, reaching for a vial in her bag, "But that would be boring, not to mention a waste." She fills the needle and injects it into Toros' cheeks, pointing at the injection points to interrupt her own explanation for another explanation, "I'm dumbing down all the nerves in his face in order to minimize pain," Agrona puts away the medical needle and vial, "If he feels too much, he will wake up." She waits, still seated on Toros, but takes the moment to sharpen her bone knife, "You see Syvra, we're all opportunists here," Agrona looks up from her blade sharpening, "Even you. In a different way perhaps, but my point still stands. This victim of circumstance can help us expand our knowledge and power." Agrona leans forward, taking the knife to Toros' lips, cutting just under the most exposed part. She then takes her free hand and places her fingers in the wounds, feeling for them. She decides the cuts were not deep enough and goes in again, "The nerve endings in the lips are very sensitive," Agrona explains, deciding that the drugs have certainly kicked in by now and are in full effect, "Hence the much stronger pain-killer." The witch-doctor then covers Toros' mouth and closes her eyes, letting her mask of healing take hold. She pictures the mouth, all the nerve endings it contains. Normally, one would picture these things returning to their natural state before healing them. But Agrona visualized them the way she intended them to be. She could see very clearly, Toros' nerve endings in the top lip meeting with the nerve endings in the bottom lip, crossing over what was once a gap, sealing it with skin from the Toa's mouth. She pictured them broken, and forged again to remove Toros' mouth. Heal. Agrona felt her energy flow through her, dancing into the fingertips, where the pulsating power began to push into Toros' face. In a moment, she had healed the damage caused exactly as she wanted it: Wrong. "In this case, Toros is our means to garnering power Syvra," Agrona reached for the small steel pick and pulled it from the torch she had lit, the hammer-like end now red hot. She placed the burning steel over Toros' mouth, cauterizing it shut entirely from the outside, the sound of hot flesh filled the air. Agrona spoke over the hissing, "This is an opportunity."

IC: Agrona - Kini-Nui - Mangaia Agrona gracefully stepped back to accommodate for the added weight of Toros. She hummed soothingly as she turned the Toa of Magnetism and lowered him onto his back. Not sparing her attention from the unconscious Toros, she spoke to Eisen, "Don't mind him. He is angry about something he does not understand," Agrona, seated herself atop Toros, using her hands to inspect the Toa's face, "He is angry that I promised the man his life." Agrona reached into her pack and pulled out a short torch, lighting it expertly with two chunks of flint, "However," She planted the torch next to her subject, and looked up, the flickering light hit her cheekbones intensely, giving her face a skull-like appearance, "He us far more useful to us alive than dead." Agrona's attention was drawn back to Toros, "Dead men are not very useful to me," she paused, as if recalling something, "...usually." She clarified. The Lestrin took a metal rod with a hammer-like end on one side from her pack. Agrona placed the heavy end into the fire, leaving the handle exposed, "We are on the clock this evening Syvra, so unless you have any questions for myself," Agrona glanced up, brandishing a thread and needle, "Feel free to discuss our business with my colleagues." She leaned over Toros' face, and began working.

IC: Agrona - Kini-Nui - Mangaia Agrona stepped forward as Toros did, and took hold of his hand with her own. She pulled her towards him and used her remaining hand to swiftly prick the Toa in the abdomen with her small needle.

IC: Agrona - Kini-Nui - Mangaia "Good," Agrona's tone returns to one of warmth, "Unfortunately, your presence here raises a few issues. Most of which are not very simply solved," She gives him an encouraging look, moving towards the Toa. In her spare hand, ever since Toros first pulled away from her, she had let a very small and very short needle fall into her hand. It wasn't enough to kill or permanently injure somebody. It was a concoction of anesthetic design. Agrona didn't lie about not wanting to kill him. But the problem was, he was where he wasn't supposed to be, and letting him go unchecked for the duration of the meeting could prove problematic. They had agreed on her plan before Echelon had even broken up the fight, "If you cooperate, you will walk away with your life today Toros." Agrona made another advance towards him, "I don't promise many things to people. But I can promise you that," Agrona is close him, close enough to pull him into an embrace, "Do you understand?"

IC: Agrona - Kini-Nui - Mangaia "No, you wouldn't be stupid enough to attempt to escape," Agrona says with a little eye-roll, "And you wouldn't be stupid enough as to believe that you are in a position to negotiate either would you?" Her face becomes sharp and commanding, "I told you to drop your weapons Toros. Don't waste any more of our time."

IC: Agrona - Kini-Nui - Mangaia "Well Toros," she makes no move to get closer to the Toa, "Your cooperation is very appreciated here," Agrona's voice becomes slight harder, "Most people try to make things difficult for us. They scream and shout, and sometimes try to fight," she glances at her companions, "I know it might seem like there is no hope with this many of us but I would like you to know Toros," her attention returns to the Toa of magnetism, "We aren't going to kill you." She starts to move closer to him again, "But I will ask that you would please drop your weapons for me." OOC: Mobile, no formatting.

IC: Agrona - Kini-Nui - Mangaia "Hm," there's a lull in her step, "But you are relevant to me," Agrona moves closer to him, lifting the bone knife up to his face, "You are very relevant right now, with all these eyes on you." Despite maintaining a warm and kind quality, there are undertones of malice on her tongue as she continues, "Darling, you may very well be a victim of circumstance, but that doesn't make you unimportant," She gives another inviting smile, "Besides, you should never be afraid to speak," Agrona runs her finger along his abdomen, dragging it across his to side, "You never know when you will get another chance." Agrona opens her palm, allowing her hand to rest on Greisk's waist, "So I will ask you again." She looks up to his face again, whispering, "What is your name?"

OOC: I missed that, that's my bad. How I missed that I do not know. IC: Agrona - Kini-Nui - Mangaia I move closer to the Toa of Magnetism, "Ooh," I coo at him, "In tune enough with your surroundings to know when to step down," I begin to circle him, "That is a skill even the most brilliant of warriors do not boast," Our eyes meet, and I smile warmly, "What is your name Toa?"

http://www.majhost.com/gallery/MicroSnipe/gifs/tumblr_inline_minl14gxsk1qz4rgp.gif this is going to be fun Edit: Please link to images over 500 kB. -Wind-

IC: Agrona - Kini-Nui - Mangaia I run my hand along Echlon's side teasingly as I brush past him, "It would seem that your pest has cause a little more than an annoyance." I say, glancing to the Toa of Plantlife. I turn my attention to the Toa of Magnetism, suspended by Echelon, moving closer to him. I draw my knife made from bone, adorned with beads which clink softly against the hilt. My warm entrancing voice sounds, my tone pure and inviting, "If you cry out, you will be opened up," I meet Griesk's gaze and I smile, my sharpened incisors appearing. Power - as we know - is as fickle creature. It has a mind and matters of its own that adhere to no one. Power changes with the time and circumstance as it chooses, with no regard for those too weak - or unwilling - to change with it. Many have attempted to tame power to no avail. And in a world that has developed a habit of changing as often as the sun sets, this fickle beast is once again prepared to change hands. I have heard those that consider themselves to be prophets or philosophers speak on the nature of power as if they found a way to cheat the system. Some say power is maintained through an iron fist. Others claim that power cannot come into your hand if it is closed. From politics to pillaging and from economics to embezzlement, many a thinker believe that they would outsmart power. As if they themselves could correct or control it through a series of tricks or crackpot theories. But I know that this animal should not be leashed. I myself have looked power in the eye and wept. The beast can not be tamed. Power, in the purest form, is a chaos. Not even Echelon can wield it. Trembling in the darkness at the fear it inspired, I cried out to the shadows, praying with a servant's heart, begging for it to make me its mistress. But power has made me more than a simple mistress. My name is Agrona, and I am power's queen. My voice becomes sharp and chilling in an instant as I address Griesk once more, "If you have anything to say meat, speak now."

Hey team! A little while ago I realized that I had started putting a lot of pointless Rama-war history into Le-Koro's NPC posts. As I don't want to clutter up those, I thought I'd start a little writing project. ___ Bionicle: Moirai By Alex Palm Bionicle: Moirai follows some of the original defenders of Le-Koro during their war with Makuta, including Kongu. Kongu is the newest addition to one of the oldest teams of Le-Koro. who's made a name for himself as a capable warrior and Le-Koro's fastest leaf-runner. Struggling with ideological battles and the constant threat of death by the Swarm, Kongu's friend and fellow soldier Karata is searching for a last-ditch solution to the problem on everybody's minds: They cannot survive much longer. ___ Please check it out the topic for the project itself, including a larger explanation of the narrative as well. And if you'd like to discuss it, please leave your comments in the discussion topic. It'll update as I finish chapters. Thanks fam, <3

Chapter 3. . The Knot Chapter Select Review Topic Maro dropped down. Kongu leaned on her for support as they moved through the branches. Kongu began to feel unsettled. They had stopped a number of times previously to listen for danger or rest. It wasn’t long before they reached their current encampment. It was unusual for guerilla defenders to stay in a place for a few days at the most. But the Captain’s team had been set up for weeks now. Their camp was minimal, as being spotted by the enemy was almost a guarantee of death. The notoriety of the merciless swarm had forced much of the force to focus solely on remaining unseen. The camps reflected this idea just as well. The place that members of a force would sleep or take shelter (if their camp remained unmoved for more than a few days) was known as a “knot”. The knot was designed from the outside to appear like a growth on a thick tree, disguised even further by branches and leaves to minimize being seen. The strategy proved somewhat effective. Kongu had a difficult time picking it out, and in this light would not have noticed it had he not been looking. They took to the lower entrance, Maro chirping as she helped Kongu up. The inside of a knot was characterized by the small tunnels that wrapped up the trunk in a spiral formation. Most of the time, teams would sleep in these hallways, but if a group stayed put long enough, the camp would once again be modified by burrowing into the tree itself to make small compartments. Crawling up the narrow tunnel, they were met with another voice, softened by the acoustics of the nest walls, “Kongu?” The voice called. Tora, a much younger member of the team poked his head out of his sleeping hole, “Maro? Why have you returned? I thought you were tracking a swarm?” He asked rather worriedly. She didn’t answer, only helping Kongu to a more comfortable position against the knots wall, “Maro, you know what might happen if the swarm turns this way! We will have no-“ Maro responded quickly, giving a look to Tora, “First encounter alone,” she said flatly. To Le-Koronians, your first fight alone had a lot of implications. It meant you were initiated. A true member of the family that roamed the jungle. But more than that, it was another reminder that you were closer to death. On average, your time on Mata-Nui would come to a close before the season was over, “I am sorry. How many?” “One,” Kongu said meekly, “Just one.” Tora opened his mouth again to speak, but Maro chose to cut him off, “He handled the Rama by tricking it to break its own wings off.” Tora did not smile but nodded instead, “Good quick-thinking new-leaf. Always knew you were a smart one.” His attention shifted again to Maro who was already turning herself around in the narrow space to leave again, “Are either of you hurt?” Tora asked. Although all defenders were trained to deal with emergency medical situations, none in the force was as well-equipped as Tora. He had saved more lives than he could count. Tora, like Maro, was another small legend back home. “No,” Maro responded quickly, “Where is the Captain?” Tora nodded, “Higher in the knot,” he began to speak more rapidly, “Just finished a meeting with scouts from Boreas’ squadron north of the hives. They just left. She is not in a pleasant mood. She will not be happy to know you-“ Maro pushed past Kongu and crawled towards Tora, hissing slightly, “You would not have left him. Remember your first time Tora?” “I did not say I would have,” Tora scowled, his voice hushed, “I am simply stating a fact. Maro, if that swarm moves this way-” “Then I will take full responsibility for it,” Maro said, a commanding intensity in her tone, “But for now, the Captain must know we are unsure of the swarms location.” Tora nodded, suddenly much more business-like, moving aside to allow Maro a better pathway up the knot. He turned his attention fully to Kongu, crawling towards him. He put a firm hand on his shoulder, and spoke warmly, “I hope you do not think that I disapprove of Maro’s actions Kongu,” he said, “It is simply part of the job to question our own and others’ actions in the jungle. I would have stopped for you as well... even if I was not the Captain’s field medic.” Kongu murmured in response, still too exhausted to really pay attention, “Thank you Tora.” Tora nodded before lifting up Kongu’s arm and feeling his ribs with a free hand, “Any cuts I should know about?” It was protocol for Tora to check those that returned to the knot for injuries and ask some standard questions. Kongu used to flinch, but just one week with Tora and he was already comfortable with him. Kongu shook his head. He didn’t have any cuts that he knew about at least, “Bruises or sprains?” Kongu pointed to a few sorer places on his torso. Tora lifted up a finger, after checking the sore spots, “Follow,” he said simply. Kongu obliged as well as he could. Tora seemed pleased, “I am surprised you are this responsive, new-leaf.” “You are?” “Yes. Maro was not poking fun or exaggerating when she asked me to remember my first lone encounter. I was in a state of shock that lasted all the night. Maro had to carry me through the jungle on her back. I felt as if I was already dead.” Kongu spoke breathlessly, “I felt as if the life left the stars.” “Cold?” “Yes. Very cold.” “I could hardly will myself to move…” Kongu shook his head in frustration, “Oh it seems so foolish Tora, I had fought Rama before! I-” The doctor interrupted, “It is true that you have fought them before. But you had not fought them alone until tonight,” Tora said, rather teacher-like. “You would think that the risk of fighting Rama would be enough to cripple us. And for many of us, it is. Fighting the swarm is truly a nightmare. But if there is one thing that is more frightening than Rama, it is dying alone,” Tora’s serious tone became very soft and quiet as he held Kongu’s shoulders in his hands, “Nobody wants to die alone.” Kongu’s brow furrowed as he frowned slightly. Tora’s smile vanished before patting his patient on the shoulder. He turned away and moved back up the knot, leaving Kongu behind to rest.

http://www.majhost.com/gallery/MicroSnipe/gifs/tumblr_inline_mx3tfszw0m1rrnzns.gif Edit: Please link to images over 500 kB. -Wind-

My apologies for my lack of interaction recently. I'm just dropping in to say that it will continue until next Sunday. Big stuff happening this week (and the last week) in my life, so I'll be sparsely on. Thanks! <3

As somebody who uses music in my posts fairly often, I feel like I should at least contribute to this discussion. I always use a rule for it. It's the same rule I apply to most forms of storytelling I do. Always ask yourself "does this enhance the experience or narrative?". And if the answer is no, then I don't. However, often I write posts to a specific track, and afterwards I do a lot of tweaking so chances are you'd read the post as it was intended to be heard with the accompanying track. I've done this before with movie scores and some songs. If it does not make it better, I avoid using music, which I think is a good rule. But that's just me. Although it is everybody's right to do this, I would suggest applying a similar rule. But again, that's just me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

IC: Akiri Kongu - Le-Koro - Village Edge "I spend most of my free time here," Kongu says, stopping at the edge of the platform. To any other this position might seem dangerous, until one reminds themselves that this was Le-Wahi and this was a Le-Matoran, "The village edge I mean," he says, glancing at Ambages, "It is much like watching a life begin and end." The breeze rustles the leaves softly, "Matoro was not the most vocal of us six. I think because of that, he did not speak when he should have. Ko-Koro suffered from poor communication. Poor communication caused many to fill in blanks where they need not to. I called the Summit in an effort to correct that." "You see Ambages, Akiri Matoro and I had an agreement. We all made an agreement that day. We put the likelihood of war to rest because we knew that there would never be a Mata-Nui without a Makuta. Whether Mata-Nui is real or not matters not to me in this example because the point is not whether or not the force of good is constant. We know that the force of evil is the true constant, no matter the circumstance. We agreed that there would be another battle to fight, whether implicit or explicit. "The day Matoro died was the day that we were proven right," the Matoran of Air paused, "Ambages, there is a constant here, and it is working against us. I worry for the well-being of all who hold political importance on Mata-Nui," Kongu points respectfully at Ambages, "And that includes yourself and Korzaa." His voice lowered more, "I would not suspect that this has been wide-spread, had there not been recent attacks on set-pieces villages. The monorail bombing in Ta-Koro was not random. If it was, Ta-Koro would not continue to keep the details of the attack secret. I cannot convince Akiri Jaller to explain further. Not long ago, a Toa-villain attempted to poison Le-Koro's water supply. Akiri Hahli had an attempt on her life. Individually, I would consider these attacks in an isolative manner. But these attacks cannot be of isolation. They are multiple and of similar purpose. I wish to uncover whoever it is that took Akiri Matoro's life. "If I am to properly protect my friends, I must know Ambages. I ask of you whatever knowledge you might have of Matoro's murder. I can provide protection if it is what you seek, asylum from those who may wish to keep this information a secret. A name, an organization, I would even accept a guess as to who you believe could have done this." He sighed, "With Matoro fallen, the other Akiri are becoming less cooperative again, so I appeal to you now. If you cannot provide me with information, than I must request you help me uncover this poison so we may destroy it before it's power grows too great."

IC: Akiri Kongu - Le-Koro Streets Kongu nodded affirmatively, "Yes of course," he said, turning on his heel, "The perimeter of the village is much quieter and provides a great view of the sunset this time of night." Moving alongside the edge of the village Kongu moved along with his hands held behind his back. He didn't say anything, pretended to be looking into the jungles below. Letting Ambages guide the conversation.

IC: Akiri Kongu - Le-Koro Streets "It is our duty to help those in need," Kongu said somewhat warmly. He leaned in slightly, speaking rather quietly, as he had yet to make a statement about the death in Ko-Koro, "Matoro was a personal friend of mine. I cannot help but feel a sense of responsibility for those affected by his passing. He would have appreciated whatever help others were able to give... just not through word or embrace." He breathed in, "But no matter. What has happened has happened, and although it grieves me greatly we must move forward to a brighter future." Kongu clasped his hands together, "So what brings you to Le-Koro?"

IC: Akiri Kongu - Le-Koro Streets "Le-Koro has changed?" Kongu chuckled, "Le-Koro is just trying to keep up to the rest of the world!" He winked at the joke, putting both hands behind his back politely, "How are things? It has been long since we last spoke. I heard you became Matoro's Hand not long after he became Akiri."

IC: Akiri Kongu - Le-Koro - Akiri's Office Kongu quickly nodded to the guard who had opened his door, "I will be out soon." He turned back to his desk and took Hewkii's twin blades in his hands, spinning them into their leather sheaths. He took one glance at his Akiri Robes folded neatly on his desk before deciding he'd rather not wear them today. Today was of a little more personal a nature. Instead, he took just the Akiri belt buckle and clipped it on. Kongu stretched back, his tribal tattoos from the Rama-conflicts bearing many complex shapes and symbols moving across his pectoral muscles. He breathed out and crossed his arms, each tattoo that symbolized his Captainship of the Gukko Force on his shoulders. Kongu closed his eyes, just to be still for a moment. He felt oddly at peace. Turning towards the door, Kongu pushed it open with gusto. He took big strides out into the Gukko Force's grounds, taking a turn towards the gates into the streets of Le-Koro. The setting sun glittered through the trees onto his body, feeling the last kiss of warmth he would take in for long. He whistled loudly and motioned to the guards at the gate. Ka swooped down from the branches above and landed next to the Akiri as the large gates opened wide. He clicked a few times, and the Kahu heeled to move alongside him. Despite his casual waving to those that acknowledged him, Kongu moved with a sense of determination. Each step was on purpose, each stride was with reason. The Author was writing. And the Author was looking for others to add to his sermon. He spotted Ambages from across the street and waved to him. Kongu smiled brightly at the arrival of a representative of Ko-Koro as he crossed the crowd, "Welcome to Le-Koro!"

Not exactly... Ok, yes, people are smart. But there are far different powers in our human nature at work here. The point isn't that the story is meant to reflect society in the current state it's in. The point is that storytelling will affect society in a later state. It's the idea that those that control and run mainstream forms of media (ie. books, news, television, movies ect.), will inherently over time, have their own views and ideas implicitly placed upon the masses or those that consume mainstream media. Whether this is intentional or not, it doesn't matter. It's referred to as Hegemony. The Power of Representation talks about this rather thoroughly. Putting things in spoilers to avoid clogging up the entire forum here. I really hope that throughout this discussion I haven't/don't come off as pretentious or condescending in any way? I don't think I'm better than you or anybody else, and I do seriously apologize if it comes across that I believe that. That being said, I'd like to source some things here cause this is a topic that is extremely interesting to me (and something I'm sorta passionate about. It... it probably looks that way already :/) and I'd really like to be clear on what my point is. Unfortunately this might require slight tangents, although they do all relate directly to my point. Anyways... I'm not saying your story has to fall apart just to conform to the ratio. It's that there is almost never a good reason not to have the ratio. It's extremely rare for a story to fall apart as a result of changing your gender representation. You'd have to be in very specific cases for this to even apply. I'm not going to stop complaining until people start writing women of all different kinds with all sorts of different stories. It makes for a better future. Representation, as studies show, will change the course of social history whether you like it or not. But despite my fancy wall of text, I think Makaru says it best.