ARROW404

Currently we don't have a deadline, but we're working with tighter internal deadlines and, as far as I'm aware of, adding new ones as work gets done. Episode 2 should be out muuuuuch more quickly than episode 1.

The first episode of the titular show is now officially out! I was surprised there isn't a thread for it yet, so I figured I'd make one, on the off-chance someone in here hasn't seen it before, and/or to create a space on BZPower to discuss is. Episode 1 By the way, I'm the voice actor for Kodan (not in Episode 1, but the narrator of the MOC Showcase and Tales of the Mangai) and will be the voice actor for Nihu starting with episode 2. I have little insight on the workings of non-VA members of the project, but I'm eager to talk about what I can (maintaining confidentiality, of course). So what are your thoughts? Hopes for future episodes? Constructive criticism?

I would have changed it to just the mask of Breath, allowing you to breathe clean air in any situation, rather than specifically Water Breathing.

OoC: Whoo, when this place moves, it moves! IC: Gashril - Fort Razorfish;Vaa Gashril tilted her head to the side slightly as the gauntlet whizzed past her, rapidly growing bored of the bout, though she didn't allow it to show. Pure bouts of power held little importance to one of her philosophy. After a few more traded blows between the two, she acted like someone had called her and walked away from the Sarke ring. Where had Sohmak gotten to, exactly? Glancing off the way he'd gone, she figured he must have decided to pay T'harrak a visit. Time to eavesdrop. She made her way through the hall to the fort's walltop, looking out toward the forested region to look for signs of activity. The work was kicking up plenty of dust to give their position away. Based on that, she reached out with her vision power to see if she could get a hit on T'harrak. Ah, there she was. And talking to Sohmak. Bingo.

IC: Gashril - Fort Razorfish;Vaa Gashril had been using her time to its fullest throughout the events of the day. As Sohmak had bellowed to assemble, she had growled at a few feet-draggers to pick up the pace. As the cheer for the fort arose, she took it up loudest of all. As roles were called, she made eye contact with her 'former' party to confirm they were to do as Sohmak said. They dispersed each according to their abilities. Miraule to help with quarrying, Yavonna with the wood, and so on. When Sohmak led the troops in unarmed combat, she fell in with them. She had unarmed training, but new techniques never hurt. Though these were basic enough that they offered her little benefit as it was. When Sohmak went off somewhere, she made sure the rest of the trainees kept up their forms, and ensured they did them properly, offering a tip here and there. The strategy was set for them: Loyalty to Sohmak until necessity should dictate otherwise. Her enthusiasm served a twofold purpose: Entrench him as the rightful leader of the fort, and making herself valuable. Should the time come when they had the opportunity to seek answers about Kvere;Ivi, she would need all the goodwill from Sohmak and T'harrak she could get. And if trouble brewed, she wanted them on her side. Drilling done, she sat back to watch the Sarke match, and was simultaneously surprised, yet not, to see Jojax step up to the Scorpion. Well, having nothing pressing to do at the moment, she drew her blade and set to polishing it while watching the scene unfold.

OOC: Definitely cool with me IC: Gashril - Fort Razorfish His answer impressed her. Word play, metaphor, and most likely a lie, but delivered with enough charisma to distract from the thought. She chuckled. "Well put." And then he was gone- just as well, she had nothing more to say. As before, she reflected on things once she was back at her cot. Given the information she had on Sohmak and T'harrak, his answer couldn't be true. If he was treating Zakaz as a Sarke ring, making T'harrak his 'dragon' would violate the principle of honor the Spineless Slugger was known for. And Fort Razorfish made little sense as a starting point. She could only speculate as to his true motives. Clank. What was with those metal arms of his anyway? The 'Slugger' was famous for using his bare hands, not gauntlets like those... Had something happened to his arms? That would give him reason to leave the Sarke ring... Though not to make T'harrak the shadow leader of a fort. "Hmm..." she huffed quietly. There was still so much she didn't know. It was normal to draw few conclusions. But one thing, she could say: she liked Sohmak. He gave off the vibe of a bruiser that the people of Zakaz loved, but he was smart under it. A different kind of smart than T'harrak. She could see in it the tactical thinking that went into a Sarke match. Weighing advantages and disadvantages, spotting weak points and exploiting them. She was not 100% convinced- though she rarely ever was- that he and T'harrak could be the new Irnakk:Dii, but the conversation had increased her faith in him. Much remained still to be seen, but the plan remained on a steady course. She and the rest of the Tahtorak crew (the name was sticking) were going to remain loyal to Sohmak and aid him in keeping the fort in line if need be.

IC: Gashril - Spineless Bay, Fort Razorfish She took the implication. She looked around- too many people. She stood up and stepped closer- close enough she could speak at a low murmur, but not enough that she was within reach of his pincers. Her sword remained on the ground by her cot. "Maybe it isn't my place. Probably isn't, actually. But, you're the first sarker I've heard of taking control of a fort. Why'd you do it? Why not let someone else take up the role of leadership, while you bask in the glory of the ring?" She tried to convey by her tone her deference to him, and her respect for the chain of command. He didn't owe her an answer. But she was curious.

IC: Ushadra A Chameleon Rahkshi. Funny coincidence, that. Bofen had just set out and had met two illusionists before anyone else. What could this portend? If anything. But no, her master had returned. The Rahkshi followed his will. Perhaps this was a sign. She would watch for further insights. Bofen fought hard. There were several moments where she thought the Rahkshi had won, but ultimately, the Toa proved the victor. Surprising, but not terribly so. Chameleon worked well for a first strike, but not so much in battle. Bofen had been lucky to face a non-combat Rahkshi. What to do now, though? Should she rejoin him? Approach from a distance and regroup? She pondered her options a while, while Bofen waited for her to show up. She didn't have a Kraata to infect him with- he had seen to that. Another may show up in the future, but... did she really want to keep sticking with him? Every additional minute she stayed by his side was another risk he would discover her true element and mask power... and allegiance. It was risky. No, she ultimately settled. She had gathered information on the Toa of the Bog. That would do for the time being. She would leave him be. Still under the illusion of a bird, she dropped from her perch to the forest floor. The sun was dipping. She ought to return to her brother's camp in the Dark Walk. Oh, but why not indulge one more mischievous impulse? Her voice, whispered as softly as the wind, carried towards Bofen on her elemental power. "You have taken your first step," she murmured, her voice layered over by echoes of her words, as if the trees around Bofen were speaking. She wondered what he would think, smiling to herself, and vanishing for good. Perhaps he would take her to have been some sort of jungle spirit. Or an emissary of Mata-Nui. What were they called? Valkyr? Whatever conclusion he reached, she would be happy to let him have it. She looked forward to meeting him again. Maybe next time he would make for a willing convert. Or an unwilling one.

IC: Gashril - Fort Razorfish She gave a grin back as good as she got. But there was a pause there, her spine tensing, spikes standing on end as a feeling of danger welled up. But it was no more than a passing sensation, gone as soon as it had come. Had she imagined it? Perhaps. "Will do, boss," she said as he left. Again, she had been honest in what she had said. She had just left much out. As she did as he ordered- got some rest- she reflected on their conversation. Sohmak was cautious. She knew that. But the extent of it had exceeded her expectations. This was acceptable, but confusing. Why take up the mantle of leadership? Why a sarker? It occurred to her... perhaps she could just ask. "Boss?" she said, opening her eye and sitting up. He hadn't gotten far yet. "I actually just thought of a question, if you don't mind."

IC: Ushadra "Luji" "Sure, sounds like a good idea," she said with a nod. As she turned to leave, she heard another sound beyond the slow purring of the sleeping Muaka. The whir of Rahkshi armor hydraulics. She hummed quietly to herself. How would this Toa handle it? The Muaka made a sound. It sniffed the air. Then, shaking off its sleep, it began to paw at the ground before rolling off on its treads to look, undoubtedly, for the Rahkshi she had just heard. Depending on the Rahkshi's power, it could be the Muaka's last attempt at a meal. Or it could be the end of the Rahkshi. If the Rahkshi survived, though... she smiled privately as she sliced her way through the underbrush, slowly and silently circling around back toward Bofen. How would the upstart Toa of Fungus handle a Rahkshi encounter? Maybe if she played her hand right, she could get the Kraata to infect him! She shook her head. She was getting ahead of herself. She extended her hearing through her element and listened, halting her progress. The Muaka had found its prey, but the Rahkshi had noticed it as well. There was a sound of confusion from the Muaka, then... Clank! It yelped, then retreated with a dripping sound. Undoubtedly injured, and deciding this prey wasn't worth it. The Toa of the Bog was now alone with a Rahkshi, and a Makuta follower. And he didn't even know it!

IC: Luji - Obelisk, former location of the Rama Hive "Something there?" she asked, humming pensively. Her mask glowed and she peered at it for a while, studying it. "Seems to be a Muaka. It must have claimed this territory for itself. Sleeping to digest a recent hunt, I'd wager," she said. "It's definitely not safe to get close with that Rahi there. What do you want to do, though?" she asked, looking to him. "You wanted to come visit the place. How badly do you want to see the Obelisk up close?"

IC: Gashril Her eyebrows rose in a look of genuine pleasant surprise. Getting a plan shut down never felt good, but his reasons for doing it were good. Again, he proved he had a good head on his shoulders. Although honor could only get one so far on Zakaz, so that part she was less enthused by. "I respect it," she said with a nod. "I wouldn't suggest we fake it, mind you, but..." she waves a hand, "doesn't matter now. You've made your point." Her stance straighted a little more respectfully now, hand that had previously sat casually on her hip now hanging more resolutely at her side. "You're different from the leaders I've followed until now, I'll definitely give you that," she said with a slight nod. "I and the rest of the gang will remain loyal as long as you keep steering us toward greatness in a smart way. I promise that." She clanked a fist against her chestplate. "Please consider them your own men and women, not mine."

IC: Ushadra - Approaching the Obelisk She laughed with him at the mental image of the couch mishap. It had been a long while since she had partaken in enjoying some good old slapstick comedy. "Oh I still visit the Koros now and then- mostly Le, obviously. But frankly, since my... I guess I could call it an 'awakening', I've found most of that stuff stuffy. Suffocating, even. Except the food," she chuckled. She spread her arms. "The jungle, though... The jungle is freedom. Because of the danger lurking within it. I risk my life every day out here, but for the freedom that comes with it... it's completely worth it." A bold-faced lie. She was a willing and joyful servant of Makuta. She spent most of her time in the shadows of the Dark Walk, not the jungle. She had paid several Koros some surprise visits, however. "Oh, the Obelisk shouuuuuld beeeeee... right there!" She pulled back a curtain of leaves and revealed a less dense forest glade. Hardwoods were growing up from the floor, already taller than either Toa by several Bio, but between them, peeking through, was the stark, dark shape of the Obelisk. "The spot where Matoran became Maru."

IC: Ushadra "Luji" - slowly approaching the former location of the Rama Hive At the explanation of his mask power Ushadra had to consciously restrain herself from feeling nervous. She was used to faking her emotions. Had he used the power on her? No... If he had, he wouldn't have told her what he could do. She'd never encountered such a mask before. She restrained herself from thinking 'how troublesome'. If ever there was a mask that countered her illusions, that had to be the one. Instead, she forced herself not only to smile, but to focus on positive emotions, herself. Though she did smirk behind her illusory mask as he talked about the kind of life Mata-Nui wanted them to have. Oh if he knew... "Oh, that old stuffy life?" she scoffed humorously. "Impossible. I've seen too much. They'd brand me a heretic and throw me out for just what I've told you now." Which wasn't the half of her beliefs. "Coming back to what you said before- about bad coming about when people upset the harmony of the cycle of creation and destruction. I think that's actually why Makuta is so powerful now. Think about it. Before Makuta rose, the island was all about building, building, building. Prosperity, peace, and all the principles and virtues. You know how people say 'too much of a good thing isn't good', right? I suspect- just a theory of mine- that Makuta became so powerful, probably because the inhabitants of the island suppressed that destructive part of themselves so much that the proverbial dam broke. And... I don't know, I guess it broke so hard that Mata-Nui had to take a nap." She laughed. "Sorry, sometimes I make light of serious subjects. I hope that doesn't bother you." She held up a finder and added. "The reverse of this theory being that, after too much destruction, the reverse might happen. Makuta takes a nap, and Mata-Nui rebuilds. Like Ta-Wahi's edges after a volcanic eruption."

IC: Gashril - Spineless Bay, Razorfish As a fellow De-Skak, she could hear the edge of distrust in his voice. She'd be careful not to lay it on thickly. "I've seen a few times, when a leader goes down, the one who rises to fill the vacuum often ends up questioned by others," she explained quietly. "It's a delicate time, what comes next. You did a good job putting T'harrak in her place and galvanizing the troops, but what if we did something to really establish you? Show that you're not meant to be messed with. Like causing an upstart to try to take the 'throne', so to speak, then humiliate them enough to discourage anyone else from trying?" She shrugged. "Well I mean, I say 'we', but I don't wanna be too bold. I haven't really done much to earn anyone's trust yet, I get that. But what do you think, sir?" She tacked on that 'sir' with as genuine a nod of deference as anyone had seen.