Krayzikk

IC: "Sure we could find somethin' more fun." The Ta-Toa answered absently, staring at a strange duo that also inhabited the restaurant. Unlike her electrically oriented pal, she hadn't eaten so much she felt sluggish. And she'd been waiting eagerly for everyone to hurry up and get up, shifting impatiently from foot to foot. In lieu of anything else to look at, the Toa and Turaga had been a... Strange sight. And even stranger conversation to overhear bits and snippets of. All kinds, she supposed? "Come on, come on, let's go! Red if we don't move soon I'm gonna make you carry me so I can nap. Tor, get your fat butt up and going!"

OOC: Eisen will be handled separately, in the near future. This'll just be for Krayn in the meantime. IC: If Krayn believed Destiny had a sense of humor, he'd have had to laugh at being met with the Maru of the village he renounced. As it was he heard the Toa of Air coming before he saw him. He wasn't familiar with the specifics of the Maru's mask, but the sound of suddenly displaced air was unmistakable. And the man arrived quickly from the sky while he considered Kale's question. The situation wasn't quite what he'd envisioned before. There was a lot more actual fighting than he'd originally planned. There was no room to retreat to their erstwhile base; they would be overrun immediately if they stopped moving for even a second. And it was doubtful that Skyra would be in any shape to send Destiny back to pick any of them up. "The Maru are in there," The De-Toa pointed with the barrel of his weapon at the warehouse, and past the oncoming wave of foes waiting to tear them to bits as a lesson. "With the hostages. Stannis was holding them off last I knew. If you can get all of them out, we can focus on our own." "I think we can collapse that one, between us." He said to Kale, this time gesturing with his chin to avoid taking his aim away from the enemy. ""Buy us a little time. We're going to have to get moving and keep moving, they'll find a way around before long. If we get encircled we're dead. Praggos is going to have to help Cyrix here. You're going to have the best chance of creating an opening to escape, Kale. You should take point. I can bring up the rear, and Four and Arankhe can keep an eye on our flanks. Only shot any of us have got at getting out of here."

IC: "Not us. You." Krayn corrected simply, slipping the Toa of Air onto the Gukko's back. "Not enough room. Bird's never liked me, anyway. Destiny's going to be over capacity, Daring. You need to hang on, and tell her where to go. As soon as Kale's on, get to Ihu." "She will be," He added to Arankhe, dropping to a half crouch to offer Cyrix a hand up. A hit to the calf really, really wasn't going to help things. There were wounded. Worst were getting out on Destiny, but this Toa wasn't going to have an easy time walking. There was that Matoran, whom Krayn couldn't leave behind. And a whole village of enemies that didn't want to let them leave alive. The evacuation plan was never great, but it was going downhill fast. His expression stayed calm, but he mind was racing. "Get Kale on the bird." "Mister Cyrix, that bird seats two. It's going to carry three. Us fortunate souls get to leave on foot." Matter of fact, but decidedly more chipper than the situation called for. "I need your friend to grab that Matoran. And then we all need to leave. Right now. I'll handle the rearguard, but it won't matter how long I can do that if we're not moving." IC: For the first time since the fight began, Eisen was truly displeased and the soft rumble from his chest vocalized it. Not from the pain; it was uncomfortable, and forced him forward a little more than he had planned. Nor from fear, as he knew he could hurl the Toa away well before he could follow up with a truly lethal strike. But because it was sloppy. He had leaned too much on his new Kanohi, he couldn't move quite as swiftly as when he had possessed his Calix. Mata Nui's champion had managed to exploit that, even if only for a moment. The cut on his shoulder, courtesy of another Maru, was bleeding anew. Small indignities. Perhaps it was time to inflict one. A minute application of his power made the blade concealed in his gauntlet swing loose, low and adjacent to the Maru's face. Close enough he thought to draw a shallow line across the Maru's face in time with the pivot that brought the two front-to-front again, his sword drawn back into a ready position. His Kanohi was prepared, but he would not rely on it; with no distractions remaining, he could focus on the Maru himself and take his measure. "What are you accomplishing here, Wanderer?"

Took much too long but I believe I'm caught back up.

IC: "Center of town sounds good. We ready to roll, guys?" Saeva looked around, bouncing eagerly on the balls of her foot now that a course of action had been suggested. "Red? Tor?" IC: The Akiri watched Agni go, and prayed fervently that the Toa could turn something up. The Ta-Matoran leaned against the hallway's wall, letting out a slow breath with half closed eyes. Solving problems this way... It wasn't his first choice. He wanted to help, needed to help. He probably was too close to this. But Drigton needed his help, whether she wanted it or not. And he owed it to her, his duties as Akiri be . Waiting for the verdict was almost physically painful, so he forced himself to breathe. Relax. Getting too worked up wouldn't help anyone. He needed to wait.

IC: "Don't blame you." Tarnok was more accustomed than most Onu-Matoran to the world outside Onu-Wahi, but being in a place quite as open as the Kinj-Nui still felt... Off-putting. The wide open sky troubled him, unimpeded even by trees, troubled him though the falling of night was an ironic comfort. Whatever shelter this monk had would be more comfort, still. But... His ears strained, the sound of movement somewhere in the dark. "Do either of you hear that?"

IC: "Excellent. I'll look forward to it." The Matoran turned and gave a nod, the hints of a smile pulling at the edges of his mouth. He continued back down the hall, adding before he turned the corner and disappeared from view; "You'll have all the answers I can give. You have my word." And then he was gone.

IC: The Po-Toa was fast. It was… Certainly inconvenient. Obfuscation took a distant back seat to pragmatism, and the imminent risk of losing a foot was not to be ignored. So his Kanohi activated, again, and stopped the halberd a matter of inches from his ankle. Not just stopped, but actively shoved away; with any luck, between the jolt and subsequent force, the weapon might actually be rent from his grip. Either way, the sudden wrenching motion would force his guard aside. Not for long. The Toa was much too quick for that. But perhaps enough… Keeping his shield in close, in case Stannis recovered his guard more quickly than anticipated, Eisen made a quick, exploratory stab at the Maru’s shoulder. It wouldn’t be grievous, not anywhere close, but if it landed it would inconvenience the other Toa. That was largely what it would come down to. Stannis was unlikely to reach Eisen, not unless he could discern the exact nature of the Crast in the next few moments. Without knowledge of its mechanics, he couldn’t determine its weaknesses. But the Po-Toa’s defense was solid, working in a counterattack where he could. With the aid of the other outsiders, Stannis had been able to keep the swordsman on the back foot. But now it was back down to one on one, and Eisen could begin to press. Time was on his side, now that his allies had moved to intercept the other Maru. He just needed to try and make Stannis bleed, and work from there. Already, the sound of approaching reinforcements could meet his ear, even above the din of battle. Time was running out. IC: The next words out of Krayn’s mouth were crass, even by the standards of the situation. What had been a chaotic, if potentially advantageous, situation was rapidly turning against them. The cultists’ reinforcements had begun to arrive, even if they weren’t yet in range to act. Daring was down. Perhaps Kale, too, he couldn’t evaluate the Toa’s state while Arankhe was holding him. Destiny was here, though. It was time to leave. “I haven’t got time to argue.” The De-Toa said, pointing the revolver’s barrel away from Cyrix’s head. “We all need to get out of here. Now.” A quick evaluation of the number of people in need of evacuation proved… Bleak. Triage was necessary, and immediate. Wounded needed to get out first, people of import second, and everyone else would get to fend for themselves with Plan B. Krayn got to his feet, paying little heed to maintaining a low profile; stealth was an issue long past. “That bird leaves in three minutes,” He pointed at Destiny with the tip of the knife in his left hand, eyes fixed on Cyrix. “With Daring and Ironshaper. Get that alien on it, or get her out of here. It’ll get her to Ihu. If you’ll excuse me, I have to save the island’s worst boss.” Without another word, Krayn dropped low and fired a shot in the direction of the incoming reinforcements. One dropped, a new hole in their head, but it wouldn’t do much to thin the herd that would arrive in mere moments. The Toa stayed low, and sprinted towards where Daring lay on the ground. No one was paying her much mind, fortunately, else he wouldn’t have been able to reach her. Getting her to Destiny might still be an issue. “Daring,” He commented calmly, shouldering the prone Le-Toa taking great care to keep his gun hand free and raised. “If I make it out of here, I’m going to kill you. Stay conscious. You need to tell Destiny where to go.” “Arankhe, get Kale to the Gukko! We’re getting out of here.”

Not for the first time, but hopefully for the last, I'd like to apologize for inactivity on my end. There's been a lot going on. Nice to see some new and returning faces, I'll be trying to get some of the posts on my docket done over the weekend.

Things have slowed down, but there isn't really a way to expedite them. Part of a collaborative game is the fact that speed is always going to be limited by people's schedules. In this case, mine especially; I had a busy few weeks with family matters, and that really limited my ability to sit down and write a post. Especially one that needed to react to so much. The staff are working to reach the next arc. The main storyline is nearing its end phases, for that. As long as we can keep up the rate on certain posts we need, we should get there before too long. In the meantime, we appreciate everyone's patience.

IC: Eisen's situation was growing a little more complicated. Stannis' attack was simple enough. The Fe-Toa's left foot dropped back, twisting his stance with it to bring his side out of the halberd's arc. Blocking a strike like that, force against force, was inefficient. An amateur would meet it, a seasoned professional knew better. His sword danced out, striking its haft to push the strike away even further from his body. The same backstep that shifted him out of harm's way interposed his shield arm between himself and his opponent, in case Stannis tried to follow up with a different strike. This was an opportunity, with the Po-Toa's weapon extended, that he would have preferred to capitalize on. But yet another Toa joined the fray, sparing his ally from Eisen's attack. A Kakama user, clearly. The cloak at Eisen's side snapped up like a thing alive, batting the board out of the air but the Sentinel was already closing in at great speed. By himself, little threat. But he could take precious attention that he needed in order to match the Maru. The time for restraint, for discretion, had rapidly disappeared. Obfuscation would serve no purpose if it brought him to harm. Stopping the Fe-Toa was almost an afterthought, a simple activation of his mask solved the problem. The Toa went from rapid forward motion to thrown backward, struck by a great unseen force, quickly enough to cause whiplash. Such a rapid change in acceleration wasn't good for the body. In the best case, he would need a moment to recover from the air being so violently forced from his lungs. And the feeling of hitting the ground. That was one problem solved, for the moment. But until the other followers in the village arrived, he was still outnumbered. As much as he disliked Lantz, the Ba-Toa was keeping some of the other Toa occupied. That needed to continue. The enemy Fe-Toa would not be able to concentrate, not for a moment, so he 'grabbed' the same board he had thrown at Eisen by the nails and hurled it at the Toa of Air's head. She was so focused on pinning Lantz with her element, the Ba-Toa drawing her attention away from him, that she wouldn't see it coming until it was too late. It was too much to hope for that such an impact would kill her, but disrupt her? That it would do. And Lantz would again be free. Perhaps the Ba-Toa could be competent enough to use her disorientation to finish the job. The Matoran in the fray was brave, Eisen could admit that much. But if it was required, he would target the diminutive being in a heartbeat. It would occupy his attackers trying to save him. Lantz would make the same decision, he suspected. He only needed to keep them all at bay for a few minutes. The tide of cultists and mercenaries was closing in, and then the tide would turn. IC: "Three minutes," Krayn hissed, using his element to ensure his allies could still hear him. His gaze was trained on the distant street, where the enemy was beginning to come into view. He could slow them, a little, but they were far too many to keep occupied for very long. "We all need to be ready to go by the-" The Toa of Air jumping up onto the roof, an unconscious foreigner in tow, cut him off. The former Guardsman trained a revolver on his head immediately, finger on the trigger. "And who are you?"

IC: "That you are needed," The Matoran answered, flashing an enigmatic smile. He shrugged a little, as if in acquiescence, and lifted a hand palm-up in the same motion. "Perhaps not for something as grandiose as Stannis, but no less important. If the Maru needed to protect the body, then I suppose you could say that you're needed to restore the Spirit. I've already met with your companions for this task. I imagine a few of them have already reached the Great Temple, though they won't know where to go next. Yet." "Join them. When you get to the Temple, you'll find them there. And me, once I tend to a few other matters. I'll show you all to the Keeping Place when you arrive." His smile widened a little more. "Your own Destiny isn't meaningless, if you can have faith one more time. I have to be on my way." The cloaked Matoran pushed off from the railing, taking a few steps away from Lekua before looking back over his shoulder. "I trust you'll be there, Lekua?"

IC: "I see. Thank you, anyway." It had seemed like a long shot that the elder Matoran might know, but it was worth a shot. A shelter, at the very least, would be much more welcome than a tent. As the Ko-Matoran noted, Kini-Nui still wasn't an especially safe place to be without a group. "That would be much appreciated, elder. I would be more comfortable staying the night in something a little sturdier than a tent, at least in a place like this. We would be happy to offer a hand while we're here, too. If anything does decide to wander to the surface overnight." From anyone else, he would have doubted that a collection of monks had reclaimed much of anything from the Rahkshi. But the old Matoran had a steel behind his bearing, a sturdiness that didn't speak of a peaceful history. Everyone's path took them along different twists, but Tarnok would have bet that the Ko-Matoran's was a little more checkered than most. With a little guidance from such a man, it made much more sense. The Onu-Matoran's expression was polite, but he didn't do much to hide that he was taking measure of the man either. He'd seen much the same look in the Ko-Matoran's eyes. "Perhaps a little conversation, too, if you have the time."

IC: "Well, that would be a long list." The Onu-Matoran commented dryly, crossing his arms loosely across his chest. But the monk offered up a good question. He supposed that to a man of faith, the story wouldn't sound quite so far fetched. But there was still the matter of how best to explain it. "We were... Approached by a Matoran. One who knew some things that would have been hard to learn. We would've ignored him, otherwise. He directed us to come here. Find something he called 'the Keeping Place'." "Supposedly we were supposed to know what we were looking for when we got here." Tarnok shrugged a little. "Nothing so far. We were going to wait and search in the morning."

IC: "No disrespect, elder, but considering its environment until Makuta's fall it's not hard to see why." Nevertheless, the older Matoran's introduction did much to ease Tarnok's suspicion. It had the ring of truth, and matched his appearance and bearing. He felt no need to press the subject. If anything, it was reassuring to know that others were present. Safety in numbers was an old, primal notion that still held sway in the hearts of most Matoran. Unity was one of their most basic impulses when confronted by a threat. He relinquished his grip on the blade entirely and inclined his head in greeting, both to reassure and indicate a degree of deference. Anyone the Ko-Matoran's age had earned a degree of respect. "It isn't a place I would normally visit." The Onu-Matoran paused a moment, thinking. "But if you have spent some time here, you may be able to help us."

IC: Tarnok almost jumped out of his skin. The hand that had been resting on a knife drew it immediately, pivoting so it was held ready to engage whatever threat emerged. The three pools of light illuminated each Matoran, ethereally perhaps but at least clearly. Once he had a look at the Ko-Matoran, the Ussalry member relaxed a little. He was still a little suspicious, but the other Matoran wasn't an immediate threat. The temple's environment was getting to him, making him over-cautious. Something to bear in mind. "Neither, per se." He answered, slowly sheathing the blade again. "Ussalmatoran Tarnok. Major Leli. We were... advised to pay the Kini-Nui a visit. You are?"

IC: Stannis was probing Eisen just as much as he tested the Maru himself, and the swordsman knew it. To obfuscate matters, he did not simply activate his Kanohi and be done with it. He twisted so that the rightmost boulder would pass him by, batted the middle aside with the flat of his blade, and let the last graze and bounce off of his shield at an angle. That wasn't exactly how it happened, of course; each movement disguised a use of his Crast. It repelled one from his blade, making it appear that his strength alone had knocked it aside and pushed the other from his shield as though his strength did not even falter at the impact. Let Stannis try and sort out its power, he would not be permitted the time. Though apparently another hero had the time to yammer. "Who are you?" He asked rhetorically, hurling the same collection of sharp implements at the Toa of Air without bothering to look. The brunt of his attention remained on Stannis, the greater threat, A few more paces would bring the other Toa within the reach of his sword, though as a polearm user he had already stepped into Stannis' reach. Let the Toa of Stone make a strike, if he was willing, it would be informative. He was more concerned with the overall number disparity than the Maru's immediate threat. That Sonic attack had been unexpected, and cleared out most of the allies watching his rear. The Le-Toa's presence was proof of that. "Lantz, deal with the Le-Toa to the best of your ability. If you would be so kind." More reinforcements would arrive, quite quickly. Even if they hadn't heard the initial alarm, they couldn't have missed that Sonic blast. Once they arrived, the tide would again shift in his favor. All that remained was to hold until then, and hope that the optimistic and opportunistic band of heroes wouldn't realize that themselves. IC: Oh, you've got to be kidding me. Krayn's attack had worked better than he'd hoped, but his optimism was quickly dashed. In the quiet that followed his element's roar, he couldn't miss hearing Skyra's proclamation. This was exactly what he had been concerned would happen. They didn't have the manpower to retake the city, they didn't even have the manpower to evacuate the hostages by themselves. They were in the Village of Ice for reconnaissance, not a fight. The former Guardsman could hear the clamor of approaching reinforcements on the wind, and the element of surprise was gone. Reconnaissance had become a sneak attack, and a sneak attack was about to become a stand-up fight. And that wasn't something they could win. "Kale, we have about four minutes until we need to begin extraction." The De-Toa drew both of his revolvers, accompanying the grim statement with the priming of the hammers. He borrowed the same crate Skyra had used as a stepping stone to jump up onto the roof of the hut, surveying the scene in front of him while keeping his head low. "Daring just tossed away our cover, so we're going to have to pull her out. We're about to have way, way more company than we can handle. When we get her out, you need to make sure she follows the plan. Praggos and I will cover your exit." Despite his calm demeanor, he felt his heartrate kick up a few notches. The situation was rapidly spiraling out of his control, and there wasn't much he could do about it. The path was set. It was time to face whatever came along the road to follow it. A minute application of his element ensured his voice could carry all the way to the Le-Toa's ear without raising it, though it did nothing to add any range to his flat tone. "Daring, we have four to five minutes to fall back. Do what you can, and disengage. We're all going to have company soon." There was no time for recriminations, so he didn't bother. From his perch, though, he could see something he didn't expect; a Matoran that seemed to be trying to escape the village. His path would take him down the same street they were gathered on, he could address it then. Still, he relayed the fact to his friends still on the street with him; "I think there's a Matoran trying to get out of her. If he comes this way, get his attention. We'll try and get him out of here, too." Now we get to race the clock.

IC: "Might be best," Tarnok admitted, pulling a lightstone out of his pack to illuminate their immediate surroundings. The new light did nothing to alleviate the shadows around them, permitting the shadows to play further tricks just outside its revealing circle. But it was much better than nothing. Camping out at the Kini-Nui wasn't his preferred option, but it was the most sensible. The Darkwalk would be even more treacherous at night, and at least at the temple they had an unobstructed line of sight. It was a more defensible position, should anything come to disturb them. By morning they could check their surroundings in daylight, and head back if they didn't find anything. "We can camp out here." "I brought supplies for a simple shelter, should keep us from getting cold." He indicated his pack again, within which he knew a square of canvas was folded. Heavy Squadron might not exist anymore, but old habits died hard and he stuck to the tradition. "One of the stones should be adequate for the line to keep it up."

For better or worse, major story events have been on hold for around half a year as the staff deal with real world issues. However, it's always worth a try to kick things back into motion. At the very least, you end up increasing your post count. Regrettably, it's not the only holdup. Some of the things we're trying to accomplish require action from specific people before we can proceed. We're working to resolve it. As always, I'm happy to see some new-old-faces here. It's great to see people popping up again.

IC: "Nothing over here yet, either." The Onu-Matoran blew a breath out through his teeth, pausing his in his route and scanning his surroundings. By all rights, there was no reason to keep searching. Especially not after dark. If Kini-Nui required caution in daylight hours, staying past sunset was inviting disaster. It would already take a little time to find their way back to the relative safety of Onu-Wahi's tunnels. The Matoran's claims were proving unfounded, and they hadn't been based on anything but a gut feeling before. Neither of them felt comfortable in this place. It was time to go back, and forget about that strange Matoran. But he couldn't quite shake the feeling that wasn't what he was supposed to do. Tarnok wasn't much of one for faith, he preferred things that were concrete. Things you could prove. Decisions based, at the very least, on things that were real. But the feeling wasn't one he could dismiss. Or he might just have hoped it was true. That there was a purpose in mind, something he was supposed to do. Something material that he could affect in some way, beyond his day to day existence. Risking both their lives on such a foolish notion wasn't just unwise, but selfish. He needed to acknowledge that, and decide when he was willing to give up. "Let's give it a little longer." He said finally, turning and headed back towards where he had deposited most of his gear. "I've got lightstones in my pack. If we don't find anything in the next few minutes, we'll start back."

IC: "Absolutely." The easy answer as they started towards opposite ends of the temple grounds belied the turmoil that still simmered below the surface. Immediate surroundings aside, though they didn't help, he still hadn't worked out everything he needed to say. He'd said some, and it helped. It relieved some of the weight on his chest. But there was still more. Best saved for less dangerous surroundings, probably. The dying light no longer cast the temple in sharp relief, rather it showed the world in muddied hues of gray. Not very conducive to locating much of anything, but even less conducive to spotting a threat. Even eyes adjusted, as his were, to the dark started to strain as the sun went down. Leli's question caught him a little off guard, so he spent a few extra moments searching while he pondered his answer. "I'm not sure," He began, reaching the edge of his invisible tether to his partner and working to the side, rather than further out. "But I'm not sure it matters, either. You found it in the Darkwalk. It could have been made by a Toa captured by Makuta, who decided their last chance was to empower someone else to carry on the fight. It could have been made by one of Makuta's followers, as punishment for failure. It's impossible to know. But I don't think it matters much. As soon as the Stone was created, the power within ceased to be theirs. Even its future ceased to be their choice. It passed into the hands of fate. Whoever made it doesn't have any bearing on who inherits it, or how they use it." "It becomes the prerogative of the inheritor. That power's yours, now."

IC: “Anything,” The Fe-Toa answered easily, drawing his sword back into a ready stance. Not that he halted his advance; it was important to keep the engagement at his chosen range. His opponent was Stannis Maru. Eisen was confident, but he was also stepping onto the field having already fought one of Stannis’ brothers. A victory, to be sure, but not one without effort. Overconfidence would be his undoing if he let it. Stannis’ intent was to buy time, but now that was Eisen’s own game as well. They both believed that their comrades would be able to take the day, as long as they just had enough time. As long as each kept the other from intervening. Amusing, that a stalemate was an outcome both sought if they couldn’t have outright victory. “I do not seek fame nor fortune,” He continued as he reached out with his element. This was the site of a battle, minutes previous. A weapon abandoned was as good as his. It didn’t take more than a few moments to find them, an eclectic collection of arms dropped by the building’s previous defenders. “Or do you mistake me for the Necromancer?” With a thought, the assorted weapons rocketed towards the Toa of Stone from their respective angles, seeking to skewer him upon their points. Eisen himself quickened his advance, shield still interposed between them. A few steps put Stannis back inside the range of his Kanohi, but Eisen did not reach for its power; not yet. The less he used it, the less Stannis could do to surmise its workings. IC: “Oh, Praggos,” Krayn muttered, while the Ko-Toa was still close enough to hear. The medic was as good as his word, and his hearing had already returned despite the itching inside his ear. The smile tugging at his mouth seemed amused, if tired. “You wouldn’t be so glad if you knew what it meant for you and me.” The elemental energy he absorbed itched underneath his skin, as though every nerve ending fired just to try and burn off some of the excess. The feeling would’ve been enough to drive him crazy if he tried to contain it, but thankfully he had a perfect outlet. Kale was already prepping the second wave. This time, he funneled much of what he had absorbed back into the gathering energy. His ears didn’t thank him for the sound, but this was easier to contain; he was focusing it, after all. He didn’t dare fire into the building, not with friendlies inside. But outside it? That was easy. After a few moments of concentration, he let loose a concentrated wave of sound at the Followers gathered outside the building. The concussive force would be unpleasant, for sure, but the real suffering would be to their ears. The amplitude alone would be enough to deafen them, not to mention the pain. De-Toa they might not be, but they were about to feel what Krayn had themselves.

IC: .:Deniability will not be necessary.:. The Executioner regarded her quietly for a few moments, though his expression seemed less stern somehow. Contemplative, rather than judgmental. Rayuke was not known for rushed decisions, and this looked to be no exception. His options were carefully considered, their ramifications mapped out with as much certainty as he could manage. The Umbraline was not overly fond of politics, but his actions could not be entirely divorced from them; his choice would impact the world around him. The considerations seemed to last an eternity, but at long last he nodded faintly. .:You will be released, as my responsibility. You will be free to go, but for the foreseeable future you will answer to me or anyone that acts with my authority.:. He uncrossed his arms and nodded once more, this time to himself. A set of keys appeared from his pocket, and he unlocked the cell door without paying it much mind. The bars swung open with the soft scrape of crystal on crystal, Askha's gateway to freedom. .:It will not be popular, if it becomes known to some. I will handle that. But you must understand that I am responsible for your actions. If you stray too far from the line again...:. He left the rest of the thought unsaid, but the look he gave the Menti made it clear. .:Proceed towards the exit. The guards there have your belongings..:. He set her own carving on the same slot as before. .:You may go. I am sure your aunt is concerned. If you elect to leave the city, leave a way to find you. I must see to certain matters of my own.:.

Good to see you! Ga-Koro has mostly been dealing with the Dasaka, of late. Things have meandered a bit, but it mostly has been about the Dasaka and the people they interact with for a while. Ta-Koro has been mostly about a murder purportedly committed by Tuara Drigton, her subsequent capture, and present interrogation. If there's anything in particular you're looking for I would be happy to help. Simply not a lot going on, I suspect; if there is somebody you've been waiting for a response from, PMing them is a good idea. I know with how slow things have been not everyone always checks in on what may have happened.

IC: When you hear a loud noise, a truly loud noise, you feel it as much as hear it. It reverberates throughout your being, resonating in your chest and your head. It travels through every fiber of your being, using the matter that composes your existence to propagate. Your own voice does the same, explaining why it sounds different to you than everyone else. But truly loud, consistent sound amplifies the effect, it’s that same reverberation that gives you a headache when you’re too close to the source. Now imagine that so much as a friend talking is loud enough to be painful, if you don’t take steps to dampen the sound. That a clap of thunder is agonizing if you’re unprepared. Krayn was prepared for the sound, he had to be in order to be ready to absorb it. But he still underestimated the wall of noise, and for a single moment it was excruciating. Like the waves were shaking him apart at his very core. Deconstructing him at a microscopic level, ripping any thought to shreds, and preventing them from reforming. The former Guardsman dropped to a knee, one hand clutching his ear the other bracing against the frozen ground. The cold cut through haze, just a little, a tether to the reality of the situation. It was probably just a second, a few breaths where he couldn’t think, but it stretched out into an eternity. An eternity of agony before he could assert his intentions once more. As quickly as the sound began, it simply… Tapered off. Not in a natural way, there was no gradual decline in the amplitude. It simply stopped. The street, so loud at first, simply went quiet. The only clear sound was his ragged breathing, trying to catch a breath while the sound’s energy flooded into his body. It was a paradoxical state, coming down from excruciating pain and rocketing up into an unstoppable rush without any cessation or disconnect between the two. It was disorienting. It was confusing. … And he wasn’t sure he could hear, his ears were ringing. Was the street actually silent, or was he just unable to hear it? Or was he dampening the sound still…? A deep breath, ice clenched in his fist. “Praggos.” He managed, in a hoarse whisper just a hair too loud to really be intentional. The De-Toa was pale, a little dazed, but his eyes had regained their focus. He could feel the surplus of energy he had to work with. He just had to regain complete control of his body. He pushed off from the ground, unsteadily, and braced against the building next to him while he tried to regain his footing. “Ears. Please.” Deep breaths. That was step one. A little rough, but he had everything he needed for step two.