The Mugbearer

IC: Sirius [Po-Koro] Sirius followed them into the inn. The atmosphere was pretty familiar to him: a 'wretched hive of scum and villainy' as someone said once. He squinted at Melna and followed her gaze with idle curiosity.

OOC: It's okay, and thank you. ^^ IC: Sirius [Po-Koro] "You're welcome," he gave her a polite bow and stepped aside to let her and her companions through: "Ladies' first."

IC: Sirius [Po-Koro] Barkeep raised his eyes at Vortixx as he sat by the counter and shrugged. "Bear it is," he said, turning around and taking a mug from the shelf. "That will be 20 widgets, money in advance, please." Sirius gave him a grin. "But of course, friend," he put the designated sum on the table, "whatever suits you". Tender shrugged again and gave Vortixx his beer and then took the money. Sirius took a sip. Beer was very appropriate at the moment: it was fresh, it was tasty, it cleared a mind a bit. After few minutes and another couple of sips, sailor addressed the barkeep. "Tell me, good friend, where can I find a good desert guide or a caravan that will lead me to Onu-Koro?" "Let me think," Po-Matoran became thoughtful for a millicycle, but then looked at Vortixx again. "I don't think you're gonna catch any today. Most of guides are currently out there doing their jobs, and it's unlikely for them to get back until the dusk, as for caravans, I haven't seen any today." "Well, that's a pity," Sirius sighed. "Then I must find an inn. Any suggestions, good friend?" "As far as I know there's only one inn," barkeep shrugged. "And it's at the opposite corner of the square." "I see," Vortixx became silent. He slowly finished his beer and stood up. "Farewell, good friend. Let your profits reach the heavens!" "Whatever." Sirius took his hat and limped outside. He made a look around, spotted the inn barkeep was talking about and headed there. He stumbled across the group of Mask-folk at the entrance led by an energetic female in Great Kualsi and almost collided with her as she's turned to her companions. "Excuse me, good lady," he addressed Melna, "but next time I strongly suggest you be more careful: I almost knocked you down." There was no anger on his face. He was completely friendly and even smiled to her.

IC: Sirius [Po-Koro] After some limping around, Vortixx has stumbled across the local bazaar. The biggest bazaar he ever saw, at least on this island. A loud noise of voices: someone was selling his wares, two others were arguing about the price on brand-new Kolhii balls, and so one, and so forth. Although Sirius's species was natural merchants, he found himself tired of the noise of marketplace. He searched for another canteen where he could know more about any ways to reach Onu-Koro without the risk to get lost in vast Matoran Desert. He found one: another clay dome, pretty big, with sign carved on it's wall. Sirius stepped inside and immediately looked for counter and barkeep behind it. After finding one, he limped towards it, giving the tender his usual friendly smile. "Greetings, good friend!" he said. "I'd like to have a drink. Make me something simple and refreshing, good enough for this old Vortixx to clear his mind from heat."

IC: Sirius [Po-Koro] The Iron Mahi was near the Po-Koro when Sirius woke up from his nap. He fell asleep while they still heading along the coastline, watching waves washing the sand. Old Vortixx almost heard gentle hiss, and the train went so smoothly that it felt almost like he was carried away on a lone boat into the great unknown. But now Sirius was already awake and with expression of boredom on his face watched endless desert, coming on walls of Po-Koro fitted into a canyon, and something that instantly took all Vortixx's attention: a communication relay placed on the top of the walls. Soon attendant announced that they are approaching the Po-Koro station so passengers should prepare to exit. Train began to slow down until it's reached station's platform. At last it stopped and everyone who was in a carriage started to gather their belongings and getting out. Sirius was one of the first, and as he stepped on the platform, attendant expressed her hopes that he enjoyed the ride and invited to do so again soon. Sirius said "Thank you" and limped towards the staircase that led on the hot sands of Po-Wahi. After descending from the platform, Vortixx took a brief examination of surroundings and discovered a road that led to a huge Matoran head statue built-in the Po-Koro's walls. It seems there was no other roads, so old sailor assumed that he will need to find a guide or join a caravan to make it to Onu-Koro. On the other hand, he has heard that Po-Koro has the biggest bazaar so he could look for some weaponsmiths. Without further hesitation, Sirius walked towards entrance to Po-Koro, towering over passing by Matoran that looked back at him with surprise.

IC: Sirius "Oh, I will, good friend, be assured," Vortixx took the ticket. "Let your profits reach the skies, friend." He then limped towards the train. Sirius asked steward about his place in the cars, and after he's been directed to the first-class carriage, he entered it and took a seat at the window facing the shore. He took off his hat and put his pipe in the bosom. After that, he just sat there, waiting for Iron Mahi to drive off.

IC: Sirius "Well, you charge pretty fair price for such a luxury," he reached his purse and looked into it. There was about one hundred and fifty widgets - savings from last few jobs. He could afford to go first class and still have money for living. "Here's your forty widgets, good friend. This machine deserves to be enjoyed at full."

IC: Sirius That question took Sirius into a stupor. He blinked and then said: "Well, you see, good friend, this first time I will use the Iron Mahi for travel, so I am not familiar with benefits of first class."

IC: Sirius After that they didn't say a word until boat made it to Forsi. <<<TIME SKIP>>> IC: Sirius [Forsi] Vortixx went off the ship in the port of Forsi along with Toa of Water and other passengers. "Farewell, pretty lady. May the tailwind follow you and the sea be supportive towards your crew." After saying this, he limped away towards the Iron Mahi station. He wasn't intent to stay in this town for long, so he decided to go and board the locomotive right away. As Sirius approached the railroad, he was amazed by the view of locomotive and carriages. That was truly a masterpiece. He went to the ticket window and hunched a bit to look in it. "Greetings, good friend," he said to cashier, "How much will it cost me to take a ride straight to Po-Koro on this beautiful machine?"

IC: Sirius "Well, that's for sure determines my destination, at least for now," he smiled and saluted her with his pipe. "Actually, if you will be in need of navigator's services, I will gladly enlist for a one-time job. Consider this my way to say 'thank you' for useful information you gave me."

IC: Sirius "Splendid!" he exclaimed with enthusiasm. "If I remember correctly, the best way to get to Onu-Koro is to head for Po-Koro?" He didn't want to deal with Skakdi if it not necessary. Those brutes with shining smile capable of chewing off fingers even in armored glove weren't very trustworthy.

IC: Sirius "I wish I could share some of my luck with you," he made a helpless gesture and continued to examine his device. "Actually, do you know someone who can identify tech?" he suddenly asked.

IC: Sirius "Fortunately, so far I haven't encountered any pirates while I was doing jobs on ships," admitted Sirius. "I guess, this old Vortixx still got some luck in his pockets." He smiled again, bad thoughts vaporized. However, some memories of his life on Vortixx homeland still bothered him. Sirius remembered that he had a lot of money, he's been respected for some particular skills. And those skills led him in trouble. And then he left never to return. To dissolve in the crowd, never to be found. Sirius reached his hand behind and grasped on the chrome-silver barrel of a rifle-like device. He examined it thoroughly. There was a round, disc-shaped socket for something Vortixx could only assume to be.

IC: Sirius Toa's reply made Sirius give her a short laugh and a friendly smile. Then she asked him if he would like to enlist in her captain's crew and the smile washed away. "I don't really like to get into law-against-crime business. Don't get me wrong, lady, I encourage anyone and anything that fights the piracy. But consider it to be a gut feeling: I don't deal with law enforcers until it's heavily necessary. For any other case, I have my own weapon to defend myself." He sighed and leaned towards railing again and made a deep inhale of a smoke.

IC: Sirius "Ah, a peace-officer," Vortixx nodded and inhaled some more smoke and then released it through his thin nostrils. Then he looked at the Toa, and at the sea, and then again at the Toa. "Must be a tough job for such a pretty lady as yourself?" he stood, removed his hat, fold it to the heart and made a polite bow. "My name is Sirius. Eternal wanderer, seasoned sailor and a gallant gentleman."

IC; Sirius "Destination... anywhere," he shrug. "I just travel to see something new. Preferably, a new device, a piece of machinery that I never saw before. In between, I just study people. And offer myself to any captain in need for steady hand on the steering wheel or sharp-sighed navigator. What about you, lady? Do you know your destination?"

IC: Sirius Toa came by from the blind side of Vortixx, so he was forced to turn his back towards the majestic view and lean on the railing. He inhaled some smoke and released it up in the air. "It sure is," he replied wistfully. Sirius squinted his eye to have a better look at his occasional companion. "I can't remember for how long I've been in travel by now. This is some sort of pilgrimage for unbeliever," he gave her a barely perceptible smile. "Actually, I can't even remember most of my past."

IC: Sirius "Good information flow must always be encouraged," replied Vortixx and put on the table four widgets. "Three widgets for a drink, and one widget as a tip," He smiled to Po-Matoran, and then got up, put his hat and took his pipe. "May your profits reach the skies, my friend." Sirius turned around and limped out of canteen into a sultry noon of Po-Wahi. He then went to the port once again to buy a ticket on a ferry boat. Vortixx has felt sorry for himself, because he still haven't cracked his own diary. At least, he suspected that this was his diary, because his memory still remained in mist. Maybe he already met such thing as Iron Mahi? Under other name, and other circumstances? He didn't know. He payed the cashier and stepped on board. The boat took off and Sirius felt a little sting of nostalgia as he stood on the nose of the boat, looking forward into a horizon. An endless sea around the huge, yet single island.

The Hyena Wallpaper by The Mugbearer, on Flickr Recent innovations in Corpus robotics has led to surge in productions. The newest breed consists of small unrelenting animal-like proxies that stalk their prey in packs. Code-name: 'Hyena'. Hyena is the final boss of the Neptune system in the free-to-play third person shooter Warframe. It can be found on the mission Psamathe. The Hyena resembles a smaller light blue version of another Corpus proxy, the Jackal. Armed with the same twin machine guns and a shockwave emitter, also able to shoot homing missiles which can cause a formidable amount of damage.

IC: Sirius "Fascinating!" said Vortixx with admiration. "The engine must be a technological masterpiece!" he finished his flagon and reached his coinpurse on the belt. "How much do I owe you, good friend?"

IC: Sirius "Oh, is that so?" Sirius raised his brow. "That's no good at all. But wait a minute," he seemed to change the subject really fast, "did you say Iron Mahi? What's that? A new vehicle?" it was as if Sirius was interested in new mean of conveyance more than in Ko-Koro's condition. He made a good sip of ale. "I know, it sounds weird, but I am a sailor. Always out in the sea, never actually in land business."

IC: Sirius. "Indeed. Enjoying my salary," Vortixx nodded. "Say, what are news around here? It's been days since I had a chance to catch any gossip or rumor."

IC: Sirius. "But of course," - answered Sirius before barkeep asked his question. - "Oh, no, I am but a humble traveler." - He smiled again, - "I offer my services to local captains as helmsman or navigator. Just got down from one of those cargo barges," - he made another sip and exhaled a little ring of smoke.

IC: Sirius Vortixx caught the ashtray with his fingers and took his pipe to knock it out. Then he took out a purse with tobacco and began to carefully fill it. Just as flagon with Motara Moonraker was brought to him by a barkeep, he finished and lit the pipe. "Thank you, friend," - he said to barkeep and took a sip. The ale was strong and refreshing, just as Sirius wanted it to be. He then hunched a bit and inhaled fragrant smoke.

IC: Sirius. Vortixx gave the barkeep a tired, but friendly grin and came closer. He dropped his hat on the counter and sat on the tall bar stool. "Greetings, friend," - he said, - "Would you be so kind to pour this old sailor your best?" He unbuttoned his trenchcoat's collar and put his pipe next to his hat. "And pass me the ashtray, will ya?" - Sirius added.