ARROW404

IC: Onepu - Onu-Koro city limits The Ussalry commander breathed a sigh of relief at the surrender. Toa were hard targets to catch, and he honestly didn't even know what these two had been up to, other than that it had been violence. He again ran over some possibilities in his mind- gang violence, vigilantism, a botched assassination attempt, mercenary work... Of course, they had ran when the authorities showed up, so he figured it must have been criminal in nature. "Book 'em, boys!" he called. "Delgo, read them their rights." The Toa of Gravity named Delgo floated down to the two soon-to-be detained Toa. "Your crimes currently stand at resisting arrest and injuring Ussalmatoran." He recited. "An investigation for the reason of your flight will be conducted, and any further crimes discovered will be added to your sentence. You will be tried fairly before a jury of your peers after a thorough investigation is conducted. You have the right to contact a lawyer if you have one, otherwise one will be provided by Onu-Koro. You are to remain silent during the process of detainment, and may plead your case once you are incarcerated. Know that you cannot be turned free until- at the soonest- the investigation is concluded, which may take upwards of 24 hours. However, any defense you make for yourselves will be noted and taken into consideration." OoC: If you want to try something, feel free to interrupt the above spiel.

IC: Gashril - Tahtorak Encampment A blind attack was the usual response, though this was a fast one. The shrewd fighter edged back, though the blow did catch her square in one thigh. Powered by whatever tech gave Jojax her strength, it made the Skak:Dii of Sonics wince as she felt her armor plating dent, but rather than tumble, she carved a furrow in the sand as she skidded away. With any luck, her opponent had stubbed her toe. Mind over muscle was Gashril's way in the ring, but she couldn't tell how much effect her screams were really having yet, and in terms of actually landed blows, Jojax had one up on her now. She held back on her voice for a beat, not giving Jojax the chance to get used to it by keeping her use erratic, and instead leaned in for a quick double-slash at her deadly hands.

IC: Priicu - Wise Man's Archive He gave a genuinely pained expression to the Toa, then sighed, rubbing his temple and visibly mulling the matter over. "That had been my first idea," he muttered. Then with a sigh he decided not to overthink things. If he was going to be an accomplice to criminal activity, he would be an ignorant one. Plus there was, as far as he could tell, a lawyer on site. The words 'conflict of interest' muddled about at the back of his mind, but he ignored them. "I'll have a message sent." He caught a glimpse of Saat returning from the philosophy aisle and snapped his fingers again, approaching him. "I have a message to be taken to the Sanctum," he told him, walking to the front desk. He spread out a scroll and hastily wrote on the outside- "To Toa Kalta Cyrix" and on the inside, "Syzygos has returned. He is making copies. He should be here for another few hours if you wish to come investigate." He showed the message to the Toa in question, then rolled it up and handed it to his assistant. "Make sure this gets to Toa Cyrix." Then, turning to 'Syzygos', he suggested, "Would you like to get started on the copies?"

IC: Kimala With a sigh the Toa of Crystal exited the Akiri's hut. Something else came up, and yet again, she had found herself waiting. Well, enough of that. Hahli could call on Leah for a testimony if need be. Kimala was needed elsewhere, probably.

IC: Priicu - Wise Man's Archive He didn't react as positively as Muir might have hoped. The Toa was waxing philosophical, and while such a thing would have been agreeable enough to Priicu in most circumstances, at the moment he had other preoccupations. As such, he averted his gaze, looking back to the Toa of Crystal, trying not to look uncomfortable. Which was easy enough. Chattier than the average Ko-Matoran, he may be, but he knew how to be stoic. His stoicism didn't last though. His eyes widened at 'Syzygos's proposal. "Lead... a Kalta into a trap?" He glanced between the two nervously, then around the room to make sure once again that no one could hear them. Then again, one could never be certain of even that, in the favored location for De-Matoran, Toa, and Turaga on the island. He wrung his hands. "I couldn't do that. Not unless I had very good reason to believe the Kalta are corrupt." Sure, Cyrix had personally tried to bribe him, but that didn't say that much. He had more proof that Cyrix had been dishonest with him than 'Syzygos' or Muir, but that was just one Kalta, and for all he knew, these two were also lying or omitting the truth. "Now, if you would just like to speak with him..." he suggested. IC? Saat "One week. How may we contact you for a reminder if you do not?"

IC: Gashril - Tahtorak Encampment Gashril shifted her stance, allowing the Impact Vision to strike just a glancing blow. She had been hoping for heat or laser vision- something for her blade to counter- but it seemed her powers and equipment weren't a great match for the well-armored slugger. Distance would be her ally here. Not wanting to get close and personal with Jojax's fists, she swiveled and parried the left-hand punch while stepping right, out of the right fist's reach, hoping her blade could catch a chink in her armor but not banking on it. And as she moved, once more aiming to put her back to the middle of the sarke ring, she let out another wail, a brief, concentrated blast of sonic power aimed straight at the berserker's ear. She wasn't pouring it all in, saving her voice while observing what it did to her opponent in little doses before chancing a big one.

IC: Priicu - Wise Man's Archive (still the most peaceful place in Ko-Koro, I assure you!) Unlike the Toa of Crystal, Priicu didn't know what he was doing. He held a hand up with a little nod at the offered piece of certification. Whether he trusted Muir or not, he wouldn't have known the difference between an authentic Po-Koro tablet of authentication and a broken Kolhii ball, so looking would have served no purpose. He glanced at 'Syzygos', little escaping his eyes or ears when in his library. He had hoped his potential associate would have been the one to explain things to him. He had wanted his input, when it came to the matter of partnership. The question would have to wait though. Muir was speaking. He sighed neutrally, pensively, feeling more like a Turaga than a Matoran, himself. "Thank you, Muir," he said genuinely. "But your assessment of me isn't quite..." He searched for a short way of putting it, but had to forego Ko-Koro directness to better convey his meaning, "On the mark. I don't care much for honor, at least my own. I'm just... simple." His eyes wandered across the books, to the Toa of Crystal, then back to Muir's. "I'm good with numbers. Money. I have a sharp memory. But I'm not a complex man. And the 'Wise Man's Archive' isn't named for me." He allowed himself a small smile. "Right now I'm torn between staying out of trouble, and keeping my Koro out of trouble. Or getting it out, I suppose. If the government is corrupt." He sighed again. "Torn right in two." He tapped his hands, the metal ticking dully together, and looked aside in thought. "What use would I be to you?" he asked eventually, looking back up to the lawyer. He was friendly. More so than was customary in Ko-Koro, but not uncomfortably so. He wondered if it was this sort of attitude that had endeared Kopaka to Pohatu, once. Again, he wasn't sure what to make of it. Friendliness, a carrot to win him over? It was surprising for a Toa in his situation to be forthcoming, but Priicu didn't detect falsehood in his words, for whatever that might be worth. He wished he could spend more time speaking with him, to be honest, though he doubted they had the time. He had many questions. IC? Saat - also the Wise Man's Archive The Ko-Matoran nodded in what passed in Ko-Koro for sheepishness. He raised his head a little as the Toa chose to read his book, a mix of feelings displaying subtly, and he nodded. "I... I appreciate it." Judging by the table of contents, the book opened with the theory that minds fundamentally operated on the same functions, borrowing assumptions from other philosophers to build an argument that a person was both nature and nurture, nature playing the role of exactly how the nurture took root. From there, it presented the problem: lack of understanding between opposing philosophical and moral viewpoints. The solution addresses through the rest of the book was presented in the following steps: self-examination to determine bias and the source of these biases, projection of that self-examination onto the other person to determine how they could have arrived at their position, a breakdown of difference in worldview and arrival at understanding of terms and starting point before engaging in debate, and then a process of leading others through the same or similar steps that led one to one's conclusions. It capped off with an added section advising one to place extra emphasis on critically evaluating one's biases and mental framework, developing an openness to rejecting theses that did not fit, and a detachment from one's convictions replaced by an attachment to a pursuit of truth, no matter the cost to one's personal beliefs. Ko-Matoran were actually quite chatty. Just not with their mouths.

IC: Priicu - Wise Man's Archive He studied the business card with mixed interest and distraction. He still had so little idea of what to make of what was going on. At least he agreed with Syzygos that something was wrong about this. Someone in the legal profession being involved made some sense... If the Ko government was in legal trouble, sending someone to sleuth the matter out did make sense... He thumbed at the edge pensively, then slipped it into his... oh, his satchel was at the front desk. He just held it then, for the time being. "Truth be told, I don't know what my judgment is telling me," he said. "I simply figured that telling the truth would be the the least messy choice. And I still don't know what is going on. I still do not want to be found in conspiracy against the government, unless there is a very good reason to do so." He folded his hands behind his back. "If you don't think the reason would convince me, it may be best to leave things as they are. Use the library as a customer, keep me in the dark, and... regrettably, terminate your employment." He would have to find another Toa of Crystal, if that was the path he chose. "Or else, let me in on the matter, and I will be more tight-lipped with the authorities." There was a small part of his brain that was on alert. These two Toa didn't seem like bad people, but they were, as far as he knew, in trouble with the law, and faced with a weak little Matoran who might know things they didn't want getting out. On the other hand, sparse as this section was, there were witnesses. He didn't like being put in this situation... NPC: Saat As a fellow ice-aligned individual, Dahkapa would notice the muted glimmer of interest in the Ko-Matoran's eye at the question. He nodded, "Of course, sir. This way." The philosophy section of the library was quite robust in fact. What Ko-Koronans did not say (which was quite a lot), they wrote down instead. And so instead of debates, Ko-Koro had amassed a strong history of written polemics. Essays, anthologies, published dialogs, treatises, and more lined the shelves of the well-stocked aisle. As he approached, the Ko-Matoran slipped a telescoping wand from his pocket and extended it. "I recommend..." he said, as the entered, and tapped a book on the left-hand side, "This..." then one lower, still on the left, "this..." And on he went in a similar manner. As he approached the end of the aisle, he paused in his step, hesitating, then tapped one more. "And... this." It was a decently thick book, with an unadorned spine. It was his thesis. "Fundamental Similitude: Introspection as the key to understanding and being understood." Having finished recommending books, he collapsed his wand back down and stowed it away. His tasted showed in his choice of recommendations. Most were on analyzing people's thought processes, with some attention given to skepticism and self-criticism.

OoC: Apologies for the wait. Distracted by other things. IC: Gashril - Tahtorak Encampment, Spineless Bay Her vision flashed white as she struck the ground, her brain seeming to rattle inside her skull, and the sand doing nothing to cushion the crushing blow delivered from her impressive opponent. So the strength actually matched the attitude. As Jojax showboated a little, the Shrill Blade rose to her feet. She raked the back of her falchion against her gauntlet, sparks flying, then twirled it in a little show, reciprocating Jojax's theatrics with a little of her own as she brought the tip down into a high guard stance, point down between them. "Correct," she said. "And you haven't heard anything yet either," she added with a grin. That little yelp was nothing compared to what she was about to unleash. But much as she hated bravado, she did need to put on a good show for her future employer.

IC: Priicu - Wise Man's Archive The workaholic, for his part, wasn't sure how to take his associate's reaction. It could go many ways. So as per usual, he went with the truth. Lies and secrets usually had a way of coming back around on you- as he had learned from the Archive's former owner. "As I said. One of the Toa Kalta was here looking for... well, he didn't know you specifically. He did not ask for you by name. He attempted to bribe me," he said, trying not to sound too derogatory of the Koro's official protector. "I figured it was some sort of mistake, so I gave him what answers I had. I showed him the section of the archive you looked in, but nothing specific." He tapped his folded arm, "I did leave out the documents in the back room too. And I left out our business proposal. He doesn't know I expected you to return here in the future." He delivered this information in a hushed tone, stepping away from the entrance, expecting them to follow as he walked to an empty section. Not hidden, just out of earshot. NPC: Saat the librarian "Yes, sir," the Matoran answered in stereotypical Ko-Koronan bluntness. He shifted through the widgets quickly to double-check then sum, then opened up the money drawer and filed it away. OoC: Sorry for the wait. Been distracted by other interests.

IC: Lapu - Charred Forest The shore. That had been his first memory too. It was dim though. How long ago, he was not sure. What he had done or thought, also not sure. He had embraced a duty as the Jungle's protector, but whether it was self-imposed or given by someone or something else... Of that too, he was unsure. But uncertainty was fine for the Toa of the trees. The Gukko does not know what the mole does, for it does not need to. He knew the jungle. If something else was important to know, then somebody else knew it. Lapu looked around at the trees. The charred forest was a scar of nature, not of intentional destruction. This he knew. What destruction Kanohi referred to however, he did not know. It was just as well that they were leaving.

IC: Priicu - Wise Man's Archive, formerly the most peaceful place in Ko-Koro "Right here," he answered Dahkapa, retrieving one of said cards. He looked up as someone entered, and the eyebrows on his Ruru shot up with surprise. "Syzygos," he said. He glanced around and snapped his fingers. One of his assistants looked over and he waved them close. "Please help this Toa register a library card, and help him find whatever he needs," he said quietly. He gave the purple-eyed Toa of Ice a respectful nod. "Apologies, I must speak with these Toa. Saat here will tend to your needs." He bowed lightly and walked toward the entrance, leaving him with a pure white Matoran wearing a Rau, who greeted him with a silent bow, taking the card from the establishment's owner. "60 widgets for a card, 10 widgets for a day," he said quietly. Priicu, meanwhile, approached the Cy-Toa and the Akaku-bearing friend with him. "I did not expect you back so soon," he said not as amiably as he wished he could be. "There was a Toa here looking for you. Cyrix of the Kalta," he told him.

IC: Gashril Her eyes widened. What the devil? Woah! Her shoulder nearly came out of its socket as her masked opponent yanked her up... With her fingers. This was something else, she had a weapon Gashril didn't understand. Probably the mask. Too late to do anything about that though, right now she had to focus on not slamming into the ground. If her opponent was using her tools, then it was time Gashril did too. She tightened her grip on Jojax's arm, aiming to pre-empt any attempt to throw her outside the ring, and clicked her sonic amplifiers on. Her elemental energies surged in her throat, and her cry of surprise and alarm suddenly burst into a concentrated blast of sonic power that washed point-blank into Jojax. Gashril could feel her arm caught in the blast, skin already going numb from the vibrations on her gauntlet. This was not a nice attack, but she was on her way to getting stunned... might as well stun her opponent too.

IC: Gashril Looks like this was one bruiser she had underestimated. She didn't panic though- she was still testing her, getting to know her fighting style, and hadn't overcommited on her last attack. As soon as she felt Jojax trying to slip from her own grip to grab at her armor, she flinched back. The grappler's fingers found purchase on a ridge in the heavy plate armor, but it wouldn't be enough to stop her from keeping her footing. Raising her blade, she widened her stance and circled swiftly to the side, putting her back toward the center of the sarke ring, mindful of the edge and wary to keep from ever getting too close. Her titular blade gleamed unusually in the sun as she held it between them, the reflection on its mirror surface as difficult to look at as the sun itself. She didn't strike yet though. Jojax still had a grip- even if a tenuous one, and she wanted to see what she would do with it.

IC: Gashril She leaped- reckless move. Gashril loved it when they jumped. Altering course, rather than punch, she grabbed, catching the clothesline, her gauntlet clacking as it absorbed some of the impact. Her palm smarted a little. Feet planted solidly on the ground, she had all of her stability though, while Jojax's only tether was gravity. Why sacrifice your mobility just for a little air time? Trying not to grin, she swiped her sword back the way it had come, the back of her single-edged sword intended to catch her legs and send the slugger head over heels.

IC: Lumune - Outside Po-Koro's walls The parting could have been worse. Acquaintances with a Toa. She chuckled to herself. Well, she supposed that wasn't terribly unusual these days. In many ways, Skyra had been a tall Matoran with powers. Clearly moving at a different speed than the patient Lumune though. Heroes and trappers were a different sort. "Well, Idas," she said, strapping the bags to the lion's side, "I guess that answers the question. You're alone." Oof, that was a lot more depressing to say than it had been in her head. "That's fine though," she added, patting his side. He purred deeply. "We can be alone together." His large, orange eyes turned to her, and she thought she saw something there. But he was just a Rahi, she reminded herself. Still as she went around him to strap down his other side, he actually nuzzled her. That was new. She stopped as he did, and rubbed him under the chin. His eyes closed, and his jaw opened wide into an intimidating yawn. "You're getting lazy," she chided him with a smile. He flicked an ear. She finished strapping him up, picked up her long spear, and climbed onto his back. "Alright. Back into the wilderness we go." And off they went. Out of the shade of the rock wall of the city, into the endless dunes, in pursuit of their next catch. OOC: Feel free to catch the odd couple before they're out of sight. Or bump into them in the wilds as they ply their trade. That is to say, open for interaction.

IC: Lapu - Charred Forest The Toa's idle scanning of the dead treeline was interrupted by the feeling of the Le-Toa's gaze burning a hole in his armor. He turned and caught his eye. He was about the same height, he noticed idly. His bio-mechanics whirred softly as he turned, and tarnished metal gleamed dully through the gaps in the root structure that guarded his neck. A first glance indeed made him look like a sentient tree, but further scrutiny would first reveal that the wood that covered his form came from multiple species, cobbled together haphazardly, and second that there was still metal underneath. What was he? He was unique. A Toa in body, but not in mind. He was in between Toa and Rahi in soul. There was a word in Matoran for a creature like him, although his isolation had caused him to forget it: Hordika. The click of Kanohi's bracelet drew his eye. He was still nervous. Lapu couldn't imagine why. He knew little of his small ally, though that was just as well. He knew little of the ash bears, brakas, fikou, and the rest of the rahi he protected, too. Mulling over the masked Matoran's mental state for a moment, he eventually reached out elementally to the wooden tablet he had given him. On its surface, circles deepened and took shape. "Courage." It said. He didn't know exactly what he meant by it. Kanohi could take it however he liked. But it was one of those words that could hardly be taken in a bad way. Maybe it would help.

IC: Priicu An interest in philosophy and ethics? Fascinating subjects, though a little more high-minded than Priicu himself tended to be. He was a student of literature in its raw state, and something of a mathematician, which helped in his book and inventory-keeping. But he knew enough that religion often accompanied these pursuits. He tried to keep the suspicion out of his voice as the chances of this individual being a member of the Brotherhood proper began to rise. Still, there was the chance he was a man of orthodox faith who was simply engaging in polemics, or some such foray into faiths other than his own. "Ah, philosophy and ethics we do have," he said. He stepped out from behind his desk, noting that his assistants were both busy, themselves, with arranging book returns, and so taking the matter into his own hands. "If you wish to read them here, you can simply pay the entrance fee, but if you wish to borrow, you will need a library card," he said as he came around his desk.

OoC: As long as they keep it down! IC: Priicu - Wise Man's Archive The archivist had been reciting a poem to himself in his head, wearing a barely perceptible smile on his mask when the Toa of Ice entered. The first Ko-tatsu had been ordered, which was good. He would be needing more though, before he could set them out. It would be awkward- and not peaceful- if there was only one to go around. Either only one person would sit at it, or nobody would, not wanting to be 'that guy'. A few days and they would be ready for business. He looked up and gave at respectful bow as the Toa entered. A Toa of Ice, and not one he was familiar with. His eye and heartlight color were odd, he noted privately- a useful way to distinguish him that he filed away mentally. He smiled at the Toa's greeting and nodded slightly- indeed, although the Archive had been damaged, very little had been taken. However, what had been taken was mostly quite valuable. The Brotherhood that had once ruled Ko-Koro did prize its knowledge. He straightened up slightly at the mention of that same Brotherhood, his mind quickly exploring the possibilities as to why one would want to research them. That was irrelevant though. "Regrettably, I do not," he said. "Any books I might have had on them would have been taken while they ruled the city. I had several books that mentioned them but offered little else, but the Sanctum has since requested that any books on them be brought to them. At least until copies can be made."

IC: Gashril - Tahtorak Encampment "I misjudged you," Gashril noted, raising a brow. She hadn't expected a move of 'mercy' like that. But it gave her the perfect excuse to not hold back. She could win now, and the stronger could remain ambiguous, Jojax having handicapped herself. That was all the time she had though, as the bruiser closed the distance. Twirling the blade to her right, she swung it forward in a broad horizontal slash that left Jojax with three options- leap, duck, or step back. It was an easily-read move, but that was on purpose. This was an opponent she had never seen fight before, and each moment she spent reading and learning about her opponent, her chances of winning increased. In battle, what you don't know is often what hurts you most. Her right arm, free and gauntleted, reared back into a prepared strike, ready to put some distance between them if Jojax chose option A or B.

IC: Lumune She quirked a brow, "Hmm, Toa romance?" she mused to herself quietly. She realized she knew very little about Toa- or rather, she knew more than she realized. They essentially were Matoran, in terms of their minds and habits. "Do you come by Po-Koro often?" she asked, before Skyra could leave earshot. "Just... out of curiosity. I'm not really one for social visits, but..." She shrugged.

IC: Gravity Ussaltoa As Onepu held the ranged attack below, the Toa of Gravity floated toward the fleeing suspects. "Put down your weapons and surrender!" he commanded. With a wave of his hand, he absorbed the gravity in the area of the fighting, each combatant losing their ever-present anchor to the ground. The Onu-Toa could fly, so she would be unperturbed by it. That put the advantage solidly in the Ussalry's court. His eyes narrowed through the eye slots of his Iden. "Your crimes stand at assault and fleeing the authorities. If you surrender, you will be treated fairly, and your sentence will most likely be light!"

IC: Priicu - Wise Man's Archive The Ko-Matoran nodded in traditional Ko-Koro stoicism, "I will." With the immediate element of this matter concluded, Priicu was now left with time to consider the road ahead. "Syzygos" had agreed to a business partnership that could be very lucrative for him, and as much information has he had surrendered to the Cyrix, and his Toa team by extension, he wasn't ready to just give him up. He still felt that he had no ill intent, having taken his offer that would get the attention of the Akiri, but unfortunately couldn't reveal this fact to Cyrix without exposing his prospective partner beyond what he was comfortable with. He didn't want the authorities to know that his library would be the most likely place "Syzygos" would turn up again. Of course, he also wanted to remain cooperative with the authorities. Chances were, this was little more than a misunderstanding. At least he hoped so. And frankly, of the two, he found Syzygos to have made the more trustworthy first impression. But Cyrix's station did speak for itself. Complicated situation. He still had to work out the installation of his Ko-Tatsus though... Maybe if he focused on that first, more answers would be forthcoming. OoC: Priicu once again open to interaction within the Wise Man's Archive - the most peaceful nook in Ko-Wahi!

IC: Gashril "We'll see," she says back simply. A wrestler, interesting. Unlikely this one would be using her vision power, but a possibility nonetheless. Hands were dangerous weapons- shorter in reach than a blade, which gave her an advantage, but if she did manage to grab hold, limbs were far more maneuverable and versatile. Gashril would have to drop her blade and go toe to toe with someone with more unarmed combat experience than herself. And then, the question was, what to do if she did get the upper hand. Should she let Jojax win anyway, as a show of humility before a new leader? Or should she go through with it and prove her usefulness as an asset for Razorfish;Vaa? As far as it concerned Jojax, she could tell the Skakdi opposite her wanted a real fight, but the more important factor was Zanakra. Not much time to think about that though. She twirled her blade and adjusted her stance, blade between her and her opponent, holding her falchion more like a rapier than a slashing tool. It cost her a lot of striking power and weight behind her attacks, but at least in theory, would give her greater maneuverability to fend off the grappler's attacks with.

IC: Lumune - Po-Koro outer wall Her heart sank at Skyra's change in tone. Only a little though. She did feel sorry for her lion, alone and unique on the island, but she was also just sort of confused. About what to do now, mostly. They might have a lead, but was it worth looking into? Or should she just carry on as she had for the past couple weeks, as Lumune the Trapper-with-a-lion? "Well... thank you for coming to look anyway," she said with a nod of gratitude. "I guess I'll get back to work," she said with a shrug. She didn't move yet though, wanting to bid the Toa a proper farewell, and also hoping a little that she would have more to say.