Hanako Herupa

IC: Hey! Hello if you're reading this it means that this is either published or you're just some stranger reading my work. Either way I'm happy that you're reading my journal. Perhaps we should start with some simple introductions. My name is Scylla and I'm a Vo-Matoran! Specifically of Ga-Koro, the Village of Water, on the island paradise of Mata Nui. I grew up here all my life but I was actually born in Le-Koro, it's where my father said my love of stories, music, and art came from. Since he often told me jokingly behind my mother's back that she had no concept of music. Oh my mother? She's a Vo-Matoran like me, grew up watching Kohlii games and was a weapons maker in Le-Koro, crafting all sorts of weapons, mostly bows, they were always a special talent of hers. They're gone now...the Rahkshi took them in the attack...but everything's fine! I mean they got a proper funeral like most people in Ga-Koro after that mess had been sorted. Well in the ensuing months I made my mother and father proud. My mother would be ecstatic to find that I was working as hard as ever with Kohlii my natural talents with the stick and my agility honed by constant practice, it was her hope that I would represent my village in a tournament someday. Though to be honest as much as I loved Kohlii, I loved stories more, my father. He loved stories as well. Tell me all kinds, stories about the Toa Mata, stories about matoran, stories about Vortixx, Skakdi, and all the other species that populated our beautiful landscape. Some of the stories were true, but most of them fictional, but to me each story spoke a truth. It was in these stories I had hoped to find the truth that could help me people, and by that I am not simply talking of Ga-Koro. Our island is ailing for the tenets that were given to us by the Great Spirit Mata Nui were not being upheld, most of all the virtue of Unity. For each Koro had started to drawn clear borders around themselves and their respective Wahi, some dipping deeper into isolation such as Po-Koro while others seemed on the verge of starting a island-wide conflict at the drop of a hat. Needless to say with Makuta gone, without his forces pushing the Koros to work together people started doing things only for themselves. Mata Nui was absent as well it seemed for when Makuta vanished it seemed as though he did not return. Instead there was this emptiness that filled the air. Now I had been taking notes, extensively on each piece of document I could find and I was considering a trip to Kini-Nui for I heard of a great door, whispers had been spoken extensively about it, but that was all they were for now. I needed to find the truth. So now I was walking through the village, supposedly a matoran had been sentenced to die. While sad, I had heard she something about a conspiracy to murder Akiri Hahli and if such a thing were to come to pass a great darkness would fall over this Koro. I wore my father's dark green cloak, withe insignia of a writer emblazoned on the back, a pen scribbling on a piece of paper, that embroidered in with a gold fabric. With my papers in my satchel and my father's favored rapier at my side I would find adventure. Or it would find me.

IC: (Hari) "Thanks ma'am!" Hari replied, surprising her leader with a hug. The Toa with turquoise eyes walked past her commander and to the door closing it behind her. About 10 seconds later Hari walked back in. "Where are we going to meet before we head out? I'm going to have head home first," Hari said, sticking her head back through the open doorway smiling a little bit sheepishly at forgetting this one important question.

IC: (Hari) "Sounds good ma'am. Is there anything I should bring with me? Should I talk to Krayn before we go?" Hari asked as she checked to make sure she had all her Sentinel gear on. Mainly her knife and crossbow at hand. Even though she had never really needed to use them during her time as a Guard and now as a Sentinel.

IC: (Hari) A trip? A training trip with Naona? After Hari had been stuck in this Koro for nearly three months straight? Was Hari in? Definitely. Hari stood up immediately, her chair sliding back as she stood up almost immediately. "That sounds great ma'am! What time do we leave?" Hari asked, standing up and already looking like she was ready to leave Po-Koro right at that very moment.

IC: (Hari) "Yes ma'am?" Hari said, perking up. For the sea green Toa of the Green had slumped forward over her desk, on the verge of nearly falling asleep of boredom, after sorting through the mess that was the backlog of paperwork, with the new peace things had only seemingly got worse when it came to paperwork. "What are you planning ma'am?" The protege of Naona asked, her enthusiasm quickly returning.

IC: (Hari) While the Guard had been previously called to greet the visitors, Hari found herself back at her desk in the Headquarters, sorting through various papers that were either jokes and were promptly sorted into the trash or important issues that she would need to forward to Tera or one of her other superiors. It was great to have the Lieutenant back and honestly she wished she was leading the Gu-The Sentinels instead of this one time hero, because honestly Naona and Dehkaz were among the only people she could stand to take orders from. Tera had went along with all these rules and these backwards ideas, the others did, but you could tell they found something inherently wrong with the once warm village having a colder reception to strangers than Ko-Koro. Now that was saying something. An audible sigh escaped from Hari's lips as she sorted through more papers, writing down notes for Tera, and clipping them to the paper, mainly bullet points listing what the party wanted from the Sentinels. Some of it was insulting, treating the Sentinels as if they were common mercenaries and not people that were suppose to uphold the law. Hari's pen continued to scribble away at her notes, the current one being a specist Po-matoran angry that a "thieving" Vortixx had just moved next door to him. Which the lady was anything but, she followed the law, and currently was caring for her three children, two Vortixx and one Po-matoran girl orphaned by the Rahkshi attack. It made the Toa of Plant Life start to boil red with rage as she crumpled the paper up and before unfolding it, and proceeding to starting to right down a venomous letter back to the matoran. This was injustice and by the spirits Hari hated injustice.

I'm not sure anyone would dare risk that. Considering they would probably have a lot of bodyguards both obvious and not as obvious as Kapura here says. Anyways the Akiri shouldn't be the players, other characters should, preferably matoran. Personally which I think a Kohlii tournament would be great for this RPG, seeing as it was seemingly absent from last season. Which is why Vera is personally going to be funding this one.

IC: (Kino) As he left I saw the sigil emblazoned on the bed of his green cloak, a ring with a crossed rapier and sabre over it. I as I hear the door click shut, I stood up and went to the dresser, pulling out the silken robe, and laying it upon the bed. A few minutes later the soft thud of leather could be heard against the wooden floor and I had the robe wrapped around my slender form. Probably should have asked the Vortixx to make it a size bigger, far too defining as I looked over myself. I gathered up my leather armor, hanging it a small rack against the eastern wall of my room, I noticed something in my case, before I returned to my bedside. A small white pebble sat in the middle of the case, my smile fell flat and I picked up the pebble, rolling the smooth stone around my fingers and closed the case. I climbed into bed, preoccupied with the stone for a few minutes before setting it aside on the nightstand and closing my eyes. My breathing slowed down as my body relaxed into the warm mattress, and I slipped into slumber.

IC: (Kino) I sat there a few seconds completely nonplused by his immediate response. Then he actually said his real name, and I reactively smirked to his little joke. "Very funny Mr. Xilecki," I chuckled softly. "Alright then, but I'm going to need a little privacy first. Mind giving a girl some time alone?"

IC: (Kino) "Oh, okay. Just thought I should clean up after myself. You're a very kind and gracious host though. Thank you for all this." I said, sitting back down for I also noticed myself wobble a bit as I tried to stand up. My body wasn't exactly too keen on the idea of leaving a warm bed it seemed. I handed the bowl to the owner, and realized something. "I don't think we every introduced ourselves, my name is Kino. What's yours?" I asked with a warm smile across my lips.

IC: (Kino) "Alright, water sounds good, alcohol would just dull my senses anyway," I replied, I wiped my face one more time with the cloth and left the chopsticks in the bowl. I moved to get up from my spot on the bed. "Where should I take this bowl to get cleaned?"

Well Bane of No Isles I definitely have a character available that could be a diver, and a plausible reason why she would want to do such a thing. Currently I have some notes on the whole riddle but I am reluctant to share anything until I believe I have something more concrete to share with you all. We all need to understand that logically after the whole debacle with the Daedra. Then with the Rahkshi attack soon afterward that the Marines would be very serious about their work. Their Koro was attacked and betrayed in the worst of ways. Ga-Koro is not going to be an easy target, karz, none of these Koros are going to be easy targets. Look at the writers who are writing the characters. They all are veteran RPers (two of them are BZPRPG staff) and most of the people on their side are also experienced. Killing an Akiri isn't impossible, but it requires a lot legwork, and I mean a lot of it, even then you will have to improvise. Plans are not perfect as Tuck's Guide says. Don't get discouraged though. Sometimes all it takes is a pebble to start a landslide.

IC: (Kino) He arrived quickly with food in hand, speaking about how quickly I had gotten everything in order with a smile while handing the food to me. I took the chopsticks, quick unrolling the cloth and laying it across my light green armored thighs, taking the bowl from the Toa. A warmer yet still tired smirk crossed my lips as I looked up to the standing Toa. "It's rather easy when the owner has done such an excellent job of making it feel so homey." I sniffed the bowl and was award with a variety of smells, a steamed medley of vegetables next to lightly roasted chicken with...was that an orange sauce? All of this over couscous. "Thank you, it smells amazing!" I said to him, before taking a few bites. The steamed vegetables tasted good, but not satisfying as the chicken, which an orange sauce that really completed the dish, the couscous beneath it all just took it too another level. Perhaps it was the long travel, or perhaps I had been eating a few of the inns that really didn't take pride in their meals among other things. There was also the third and mostly likely option that this guy was an excellent chef. I leaned towards this one. After a few more bites, I swallowed my food and wiped my mask before speaking to the owner again. I was slightly crestfallen that my training wouldn't begin soon, but his concern was noted. "Alright, I'll get some sleep after I finish my meal, what would you suggest I drink with this excellent meal you made?" I asked as I deftly picked up more of the couscous with the finely crafted chopsticks, bringing it to my lips without having to look down, swallowing as I awaited my host's answer.

IC: (Kino) "Really? Well I'll keep that in mind sir." My hand dropped to my side, guess I had to earn the right to shake that hand. I could respect that. He treated me as warmly as any inn owner had, though honestly a bit better. Everyone was suspicious of mercenaries, being for hire across all the Koros meant the leadership only trust mercs as far as they could throw them. Considering all the Akiri were Matoran, they couldn't really throw people like me at all. So now you understand their trust level of a woman like me. I nodded to the owner's answer and picked up my case, carrying it with me to the back of the main hall, and opened the room farthest to the left. The room was quaint, but the bed was tall enough for a Vortixx and wide enough for a Skakdi, and therefore was more than enough room for me. a dresser of sorts sat at the foot of the bed and it was there I started unpacking my case, but not before closing the door behind me. I popped the locks each click as I opened the case and pull my dresses and outfits out of it, and on top of the dresser. Then I opened the false floor in my case. First was a canteen of Madu Cabolo oil, carefully I tucked that into a corner of the bottom drawer, placing my uglier sets of clothing down there with it. In the next drawer above, I set my brass knuckles there. Setting a few more showy dresses on top of them. In the top and final draw I placed some more dresses and other types of clothing, including a silk robe, crafted by a Vortixx in Le-Koro, one of my favorite purchases in recent the recent months. I left out the carton of Po-Koro cigars and cigarettes along with a few matches. Wasn't much of a smoker, not really one initially anyways, most of them their purpose was for show, or for bribes, many people loved that Po-Koro brand, especially now that it was harder to get anything out of that village. Lazily I activated my mask power, focusing hard to turn it and then sweeping the door open as if I was actually standing there. I sat on the cushiony bed, and although I tried my best I could not help but yawn. I would rest easily tonight, but for now I had to wait until the owner was finished preparing the meal and then sending me through his brand of training. The way he worded his last sentence had me interested, what was going to be so unorthodox about it? I would have to wait for that surprise I suppose.

IC: (Kino) "To rest." I replied, not even trying to steel my eyes, to hide how truly I felt. I was tired, I just wanted a place to rest, to lay my head, and find something, if there was anything to find. I was exhausted spiritually and mentally. The last three months I wandered about this island, trying to find a purpose. It didn't feel like I had one anymore. From what I heard of the Crucible it was one of the greatest places to drink, to rest, and to train. Warm beds, delicious drinks, and proper training The training yards would ensure my skills with the blades never dulled. I heard the drinks that the owner made were excellent, and very few could match his skills. "And to train so that my skills do not get weaker from time. I had no intentions of trying to buy your land sir, just finding a place to rest for a while. Though I could see why they would want it, you put a lot of work in this place and it's very beautiful." I reached my hand out to shake his hand, with a tired smile crossing my lips.

IC: (Hari) "I'm not exactly sure myself ma'am...wait! That's Joske Nimil that just walked past. Hero of Kini Nui, and the healer, Cael, I've heard she saved many lives not only in Ga-Koro but around this island! And they came to Po-Koro of all places!" Hari answered, already growing excited, but remembered what Naona had previously said, and calmed herself down before continuing on. "That other Toa he was talking to is Toa Stannis of the Toa Maru. They were the ones who managed to defeat Makuta, and he is their leader. Exciting to see so many famous people in Po-Koro, huh ma'am?" Hari asked, already getting giddy again. OOC: If that was a nod to the Toa Noran I played you made my day EmperorWhenua.

IC: (Kino) I felt the corners of my mouth tug slightly as if to form a smile for a second, but it dropped almost immediately afterward. The Kakama masked owner had sprinted past me. I thanked the stars above I wasn't wearing any loose fabric, as I was buffed by a strong gust of air shortly afterward, left by the Crucible's owner. I made my way through the training yard, various dummies, stood at attention while wooden swords and other mock weapons sat neatly in their racks. It had taken me about a minute to reach the door. I reached the door handle, turning the brass knob and pushing the door open. Closing it gently behind me as I stepped into the mead hall. As instructed I stood at the head of the largest table I could find, setting my case down against the floor as I crossed my arms and waited. That Kakama must make maintaining the place rather easy. I get this uneasy feeling the owner's gonna catch me off guard again.

IC: "Yes?" I nearly jumped a foot in the air when the voice came from behind me. People normally didn't get the drop on me, must have been getting careless. I turned around but not before taking a second to regain my composure. He was a tall Toa for he had a few inches over me. He also took pride in his appearance, for his armor was well polished, so much that the bronze bits of his armor were hard to look at, especially when the Ga-Koro sun shined so brightly in the reflection, the rest of his armor was a forest green. He also had came back from a recent harvest as he carried a massive basket filled with grapes. My eyes moved upwards to see a green cloak upon his shoulders, until the light greys behind my my Matatu met his own, I could tell the mask immediately for I had see it on my other Toa, the Kakama. "Umm...hello, my name is Kino sir. I came here looking for both a place to rest and to train. Is this place the Crucible? For that is the place I am looking for," I said, straight to the point. My tone was flat, monotone, where previously I had always noticed such a melodic and bouncy tone. I knew why though, for it was hard to take much joy anymore, after everything that had happened. After everything I had heard about these uneasy alliances between the villages. "Are you the owner perchance?" I added, in hopes of gleaning his name.

IC: So that's it, came all this way to end up like this. I went from naive young Toa of Air to survivalist to killer to schemer to leader, and barely to Priestess. Where was I now, if we're speaking metaphorically, I'm nowhere. All roads lead to nothing apparently. No friends, no family, no glory. I believed in Makuta like I once believed in Mata Nui. I believed Makuta was deep down a good god, but I didn't see the warning signs when I should have, how he cultivated the chaotic and violent. How we dealt with an organization that kept people repressed. I believed that these means were justified by the Utopia they would bring about. Until Makuta's Rahkshi attacked Ta-Koro, a village where families resided, where children and their parents were in danger. Where friendships were to be cut short by a pronged staff. He crossed the line I never thought he would. I'll be lying if I told I only broke a little that day, for the Dark God, Makuta had destroyed my faith in that one instance. So I attacked with the others, I killed about two Rahkshi, didn't claim any spoils though. Didn't care anymore, what was the purpose. The people of the mainland celebrated while I was made aware of the destruction of my home, a lone lighthouse sticking above the ruins. I went there, I thought of the graves my friend dug for my family and how those now rested at the bottom of the sea, and my friend, the man I had known all my life, Pae. He disappeared, he was gone, vanished like he was just a figment of a unstable Toa of Air, desperate for friendship. The serrated blade I carried sickened me, I threw it into the waters along with a few other things, the sea claimed them as it did many others. In the past three months after those first few weeks I found work in a variety of jobs around the various villages, some of it mercenary work. Like protecting miners in both Po-Wahi and Onu-Wahi. I remember all the annoying bureaucracy I had to deal with just to deal with these simple jobs. In that time I rebuilt something that resembled a life if only partially, and now I was deciding to take a holiday, rest for a bit, the place was a mead hall, and it boasted comforts few places did. Perhaps I'd find some purpose here in my wanderings, but I doubted that, for no place truly filled the vacuity in my heart so far, and why would this place be any different. I traveled the foliage-filled forest at the outskirts of Ga-Wahi, following the path that I had been told. It was an annoying and arduous trek, but nothing that could have possibly been worse than the marshlands of the Kumu Islets. As I continued on eventually I carefully maneuvered around some poisonous-looking plants until I had reached it. The Crucible as I saw it was a long squat mead hall, surrounded by golden fields of grain, lush grapevines bearing their fruit, the sound of bees buzzing from the direction of a couple of beehives situated some distance away from where I was. I stood at the path leading up to the entrance. I called out, hoping to find the owner. "Hello! Is anyone here?" I called, raising my voice in hopes of attracting the attention of somebody at least. OOC: I always wanted to visit this place last season but never did, shame really. Well ball's in your court now, Ilyusha Blokfase.

IC: (Valria) "It does Akiri Matoro, I thank you greatly for such wisdom in such tense times." I replied with a smile, bowing slightly and moving my back up against the wall again. Sharing traditions, military might, and technological advancements? That sounded a lot like cultural expansion to me. Still I bit down those thoughts, it was probably just all the anger. I had previously thought things would have gotten better with time. Well no big surprise, they didn't. Instead of feeling sad, I just got angrier and angrier...and I started seeing things. Telric mostly, he would just appear, and always in a variety of states, each time mocking me, taunting me on, and I just wanted to break his neck, her that satisfying crunch for everything he did to me and my friends. I wanted to hear him gurgle and scream. I wanted to hear the sound of his bones breaking again, and yet I'm also sickened by it. I wanted to let it go, but I can't it's not that easy, no matter what anyone tells you. I leaned against the wall, now waiting for this meeting to be over. Perhaps then I could talk to Iulius and LoJak, Sur was still nowhere to be seen. She had been remarkably absent for a bit.

IC: (Hari) "I'm fine, great in fact, especially now that you are here ma'am! The Po-Koro Gu-I mean Sentinels wouldn't have felt right without you here. Krayn here is the Ambassador from the Gukko Force to the Po-Koro Sentinels, isn't that right, Krayn!" Hari smirked, wrapping her arm around the Toa of Sonic's shoulder for a second. Dekhaz, Kale, and Rynekk have busied themselves in a variety of ways. We missed you Naona, if we knew you were coming perhaps we could have throwing a party for you!" The Toa chattered away, everything was alright now that her commander was back. Tera might have rebuffed the Rahkshi attacks with the others, but she wasn't Naona. Naona was the stalwart example that all young girls joining the Guard looked up to. She chased down criminals with a conviction unmatched by all the Guard forces on the island combined. She was tough and protective of her men and women. Now a few people had been taken in by Tera's heroics but to some, like Hari it didn't jive with her as much as it would have with Naona. It was a good day in Po-Koro, Lieutenant Naona had returned, and with that a little more light returned to the Lost Village.

IC: (Valria) "Hello, I'm Toa Valria, I just have a single question at the moment. You talked about spreading unity throughout the island. In what manner does Ko-Koro plan on doing so?" I asked, apparently being the first one to speak up, as most of the room remained silent for a few minutes after Akiri Matoro began the open discussion. I wanted to know if the Akiri had a plan in mind, but mostly I was judging the Koro's intentions. My team had lost two good people, and Iulius had been severely injured by a Rahkshi, the cost already felt too high for such an uneasy peace. It was also plain to see that while the island enjoyed peace, it remained terse as it did under Makuta...perhaps even worse. I didn't really expect Matoro to have an answer ready, but if he did it would make it easier to decided whether I wanted to remain in this Koro or not.