Jump to content

BZPRPG - Ko-Wahi


Nuju Metru

Recommended Posts

IC: Pae - Ko-Koro - Abandoned Hut

 

"Who's our target?" Pae asked simply.

 

IC: Agrona - Ko-Koro - The Citadel

 

After the two Piraka left, I let out a sigh.

 

"Their pretentiousness will cause me to take my own life before any Maru kills me," I said through a half-closed mouth. With a small shaking of my head, I stepped away from Karnakie and Rorg, "Now to inspect Ambages' corpse before he freezes over in this icy ######."

 

I wrapped my cloak more tightly around my body, musing a little over the idea of taking Le-Koro or even Po-Koro instead of Ko-Koro.

Edited by Palm

samusbzpsig2.png.4c2dcd02e48c2219fb375b936c4a17ee.png
| BZPRPG Profiles |

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC:

 

A general sense of annoyance and the urgency of the hunt was all that I managed to convey; words were still an issue at this point. Not that it mattered much, Hakann might be able to figure it out, if he ever started to consider anything other than himself.

 

Eisen was up ahead near the doorway, his back turned to our approach. For an instant I thought he was going to attempt to block our exit, but he wasn't that stupid. The small itch to remove his presented spine was quickly forgotten as my gaze focused on the man that he was actually speaking to. The situation couldn't get any more ludicrous, could it? Not with the shining red blister of a Toa, breathing perfectly fine, in the middle of the hall.

 

Needless to say, I picked up the pace, energy crackling in the air as the Rahkshi power built up between my fingers.

mnogsignature.png

BZPRPG -

Link to comment
Share on other sites

-IC:-

 

Solipsism seems a wiser and wiser choice every passing day.

 

I believe I have learned my lesson from fighting Maru. Tactics will be key here, especially in a space such as this. Immediate priority: insure survival. Mind Reading alerted of my intentions instantly. Rahkshi semicircle tightens. Mind Reading behind, assuming the role of carrier of commands. Ice Resistance and Fragmentation take point. Fear, Silence, and Insect Control as buffer. filling the width of the hallway.

Vezok moving. Offensi-

 

One moment. 

 

My apologies. It appears I have overlooked an extremely important detail.

 

This Maru, one of the more dangerous melee fighters if I remember Ta-Koro correctly, is talking to Echelon's lieutenant. Swords do not appear to be drawn (although Vezok will no doubt change this soon). This is not a usual occurrence. If anything, this is more proof of solipsistic existence. Disguise, supernatural or otherwise? Traitor? Likeliness unsure. Perhaps the reverse?

 

This will require some rectification: increase focus on survival, adopt defensive tactics. Lava and Zamor Launcher equipped and loaded. Lava Launcher charging begun. Mind Reading instructed to keep in my mind, ready to accept and disperse more commands.

 

I suppose if I die in the waiting room, there shall be poetry in my death. At the very least, I shall have the material for an infernal limerick.

Edited by Simulacrum

pNNgXax.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC:

 

"Negotiation implies that you have anything to offer in exchange."

 

Eisen couldn't miss the Piraka approaching the situation if he tried. Especially given that the more boisterous half of the duo was encroaching on Eisen's space, and control of the room, with all the subtlety of a raging thunderstorm. Rather apt, given the crackling he could hear. The Maru was no real threat, not now. Not here. But the Piraka needed to be handled carefully. Without taking his eyes off of the Ta-Toa, the swordsman gestured with an open hand for Vezok to hold his position. Whether he listened or not could prove to be a rather defining moment of their alliance, which was not a point that he wanted to push.

But certain matters of jurisdiction needed to be enforced. "Vezok, if you would stay there a moment, that would be appreciated. You as well, Hakann."

"The truth, Maru, is that you don't. You do not have the strength to threaten me, let alone all of my associates. You have nothing to offer that I can't just take." He gestured, with the same hand, towards the two Piraka a short distance behind them. "My friends would like to destroy you. I haven't ruled that out. You cannot win a fight here."

"But you won't run." Eisen locked eyes with the Toa of Fire impassively, the raging inferno meeting cold steel. "I've seen that look before. Usually on a Rahi, but I've seen it on the faces here in Ko-Koro. Rage past the point of control. It wouldn't let you leave even if you could."

"So tell me, Oreius, what you could possibly have to offer. Before I just take everything you have myself."

 

 

******

 

 

IC:

 

"I can't really say that I've thought much about it." Krayn said, weaving his fingers together behind his head. "Haven't had time. Find somewhere quiet, I think. I've had enough of fighting the day-to-day fight for a while. Maybe in Ga-Koro. I could visit Tillian."

"I have no intention of going back to Le-Koro. Or even Le-Wahi."

  • Upvote 1

fK5oqYf.jpg

 

On this eve, the thirtieth anniversary of that first colony, many are left to wonder; is the world fast approaching a breaking point?

 

 

  Breaking Point: An OTC Mecha RPG

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC:

 

I nodded, I could understand where Krayn was coming from, the reasons he didn't want to return to Le-koro were obvious, and visiting Tillian pretty much guaranteed a good time and relaxation. Well for the most part. 

 

"I've been thinking about what I'm going to do afterwards a lot actually...which feels strange because I'm not usually the type to do that I just...I miss Tillian and Liara. When they were around I'd feel...I'd feel like we could do anything if we put our mind to it. Now it's just like...like there's this void there that can't be filled by anything except a jolly surf rat and a savvy doctor." I chuckled. "Sorry I'm just rambling aren't I?" 

Edited by Lina Inverse

363513066_tobecont.png.5b057f495e0794e9450207c84546738e.png
My Bzprpg ProfilesGhosts of Bara Magna

Skyra | Hakari | Oceanna | Taleen | Arisaka | Zanakra | Kaminari | Drakkar

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC:Arankhe

Arankhe had no idea what, or who these people were talking about, and wasn't exactly in the best mood to care all that much.

She sniffed.

 

"I'm just stuck here until I get my recall order."

aBlR6jE.png

My profiles

 

Read my Epic:Tales of Aoris Nui!

Profile pic by Soulemn on DA!

 

I also have a custom species approved for the BZPRPG! Click here to read about them!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

-IC:-

 

"Let's not be hasty now, my dear Eisen. I am a reasonable man." The Rahkshi shift slightly, parting in the middle of their formation to establish line of sight. My smile hasn't yet left my lips: if anything, it is a touch warmer than usual. "Let's reach a beneficial outcome, shall we? We all have our interests here, we only have to satisfy them." I watch carefully for smallest hint of movement, focusing not only on the Maru. I have only made the mistake of overestimating an ally once, and I do not enjoy repetition.

 

The Lava Launcher is starting to purr now, almost impossibly quiet. I can feel its heat along the back of my arm, sending my nerves shrieking. It's been so very long.

pNNgXax.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC

 

How dare-

 

“I offer your life.”

 

His golden eyes did not blink. They would not –could not– waver. Eisen was right in that regard. He felt the temperature in the room begin to rise as more beings entered. Felt the heat of the red Skakdi's gun as it warmed. Allowed it to wash over him like the tide; he was steadfast, shining like a lighthouse.

 

“I have gathered what heat there is in this place. I've wrested it from every torch and every stone –even the loaded gun in the hands of that reasonable man.”

 

Those two words wrenched themselves from his mouth, acrid with scorn.

 

“You can see it now, flickering on my skin, and the only thing holding it there is my own will. Should that fail, I will level this citadel in a firestorm the likes of which this island has never seen and shall never see again.”

 

His armour gleamed and his eyes blazed; he spoke with the icy clarity of flames so hot their kiss feels cold, searing nerves and skin before they know pain.

 

“The strength to threaten you? My strength eclipses yours as the sun outshines the stars. I have wrestled with gods and demons, and yet, here I stand. I have been weighed and measured by men far greater than any of you."

 

The ice-crusted stones wept, solid water melting into tears that traced their way down the walls. Oreius did not move. He did not blink; he would not –could not– waver. Not this time.

 

“You say you'll take everything I have? Let me make a counteroffer: release my people, or I will strip you of everything save the calcium in your bones, and you will meet Karzahni as a pile of ash.”

  • Upvote 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

IC: Pae - Ko-Koro - Abandoned Hut

 

"Who's our target?" Pae asked simply.

 

IC: Agrona - Ko-Koro - The Citadel

 

After the two Piraka left, I let out a sigh.

 

"Their pretentiousness will cause me to take my own life before any Maru kills me," I said through a half-closed mouth. With a small shaking of my head, I stepped away from Karnakie and Rorg, "Now to inspect Ambages' corpse before he freezes over in this icy ######."

 

I wrapped my cloak more tightly around my body, musing a little over the idea of taking Le-Koro or even Po-Koro instead of Ko-Koro.

 

 

IC: Greisk/Toros, Cyrena

 

Greisk exited the autopsy building, making his way back to the Citadel. Returning the way he came, he saw that the group of guards that were roughing up refugees had left, leaving behind a single corpse, a young Matoran with a large wound through their chest, and two others sobbing over the body.

 

The Toa could feel the rage of his Anxilia bubbling up inside his head.

 

Cyrena-

 

This is what you wanted, wasn't it? For some reason, your own skin is worth... worth that.

 

Would my death have forestalled any of this? Would your-

 

Enough. Let's just get the out of here.

 

Greisk continued onward.

 

They finally reached the Citadel. His footsteps echoed throughout the empty hallways, the sound reflecting back into his ears and his soul.

 

He found Agrona waiting.

 

The body is ready for dissection, he signaled.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC: Agrona - Ko-Koro - The Citadel


I nodded to Toros, and said, "Good, Toros. Thank you."

With another tightening of my cloak, I noticed something. The hallway was not nearly as cold as it was before, and the closer I got to the entrance of the Citadel, the warmer it was getting. What was Eisen and those fools doing now? I picked up my pace, happy for the warmth, but not as excited to find out what was causing it. I quickly absolved to spit in that fire Piraka's face before I punched his teeth in if he was melting our fortress.

Coming around the corner, I saw Vezok and Hakann standing, poised and ready with their Rahkshi. But there was a tension that sat in the heating air which wasn't coming from the Piraka. I looked past them to see Oreius Maru standing at our front door, Eisen calmly before him.

I grit my teeth and signed to Toros curtly and with some urgency, 'Fetch the others.'

As Toros turned to get Rorg and Karnakie, I hissed into Hakann's ear, "You're aiming a heat based weapon at a Maru of fire," then I slipped between them, my feet patting the light layer of pooling water on the floor, "For your talk of strategy, I'm not sure if you're making the best choice, Piraka."

I stopped between the Piraka and Eisen humming ever so softly, watching my comrade, awaiting his judgement. Edited by Palm

samusbzpsig2.png.4c2dcd02e48c2219fb375b936c4a17ee.png
| BZPRPG Profiles |

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC: Maeloc deactivated his mask; he had seen enough spying through the floor down onto this meeting. So, he thought, this is a hostage exchange. He was a bit light on his end, so he decided to take some of us hostage. Appropriately bold and foolish for a Toa Maru. As the turaga got up off the floor, a clinking noise drew his attention; one of the elemental amulets, the Ices one. Delicately picking it up, Maeloc cursed that skakdi that had held Eisen's attention. Still...

The times, they are a-changing...

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC:

 

I locked my gaze onto the Toa Maru of Fire, though stayed stationary. My Rahkshi paced about behind me, the mechanical terrors dragging their staves along the slowly melting ground. It didn't take the mental ability I borrowed from dark Toa before to figure out they weren't fond of the subtly-glowing being just out of their reach. Undoubtedly a trait left over from their previous master. Eisen was keeping the Maru's attention, and analyzing the Toa's power a second time was far easier than it had been back in Ta-Koro.

 

I smiled.

mnogsignature.png

BZPRPG -

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC (Rorg)

 

Agrona's servant signals me to attend to the front entrance. I do not savour the idea of spending more time in the Piraka's presence, but I have learned that Agrona is the most reliable of my associates. Karnakie and Eisen are often preoccupied with matters of ego. Echelon and Kohra are bent entirely to the will of a being whose existence is not certain. The Lesterin, however, pursues knowledge and power above all else. Her dissections are gruesome, often gratuitously so, but tolerable because her motives do not change. She is a pattern I understand.

 

I do not subscribe to faith, which requires belief in what is neither seen nor heard. I choose instead to place my confidence only in those patterns I can fully comprehend. If I do not fully understand a pattern, there is a chance it will betray my trust. This is the way of all things; it is a simple pattern on a grand scale. It is why I do not trust the Piraka, whose motives are uncertain and chaotic. They are variables, and variables cannot be trusted.

 

I allow myself to dwell on these thoughts while I approach the entrance hall of the Citadel, but banish them as I enter the hallway. There are other things to dwell on, such as this: our fortress is built of ice and stone, but I am warm. My eyes flicker from wall to wall and note the condensation. I round the corner and am greeted by the backs of our two visiting Skakdi. Agrone stands beyond them, as does Eisen. The guards are nowhere to be seen. There are no weapons drawn, save the guns in the hands of the Piraka, whose actions are their own. That, at least, conforms to the pattern of their identity.

 

Standing beyond our crew is a being whose presence does not conform to any pattern I know. Toa Oreius Maru.

 

I am surprised.

  • Upvote 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

-IC:-

My smile widens. If a laughable negotiation is to turn into mirthless intimidation, so be it. It's been quite a while since I've seen a hero willing to engage in murder-suicide: let us hope that, for the sake of our entertainment, this is not a case of feigned brutality. As the rest of the Sanctum's inhabitants empty into the hallway, I note their appearances and comments, gaze still fixed on the Maru. My weapon, having not strayed from reverse grip since first adopting the position (despite the worries of my dear comrade), now settles back into coldness. 

Using Mind Reading's quicker tongue, I send all newcomers the message they will no doubt be less than glad to hear:

 

Elemental dead man's switch. Delivery of hostages or activation.

pNNgXax.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC: Greisk/Toros, Cyrena

 

At Agrona's command, Greisk immediately turned back and ran towards the aforementioned Nightfall members.

 

Stunned doesn't quite cover what I'm feeling right now.

 

Greisk didn't answer. He reached the pair and immediately signalled, Emergency. Come now.

 

Even if Rorg and Karnakie didn't learn sign language, the worry in Greisk's face and the anxiety in his signals tipped them off.

 

The mute Toa followed Rorg and Karnakie as they headed back towards Agrona. And there he was.

 

Oreius. ######. Maru.

 

Greisk resumed his place beside Agrona, silently removing his Escrimas from his hip. The new Glaives he had been given were sitting in his quarters, and they would have to wait.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC (Agni):

 

I tightened the scarf around his shoulders and pulled it back into place over my mouth, while continuing to trudge through the snow, alongside Merror and Praggos. Over the last couple of hours, we had not spoken much. Probably the effect of our surroundings. Icy peaks and chilling winds do not inspire talkative moods.

 

I think I just figured out the deal with Ko-Toa.

 

I could feel myself sinking a little deeper into the snow as my heated foot broke a more compact layer of snow and I stumbled, cursing under my breath. I hated this. No Ko-Wahi, but the wandering around. Sure, we had a destination, but to me, despite my initial feelings on the matter, it felt like it was merely the next best thing to do.

 

I pulled my foot back out of the hole it was stuck in and regained my balance, feeling like a blundering novice on his first day out of the village. I looked at my companions, with an urge to say something in my throat and at the same time knowing that it was going to be awfully close to whining.

 

"You know what, Merror? I'm getting frustrated." I said, calmly, forcing down my bad mood before venting it. "I don't really know what in Karzhani we are doing right now."

 

 

Lillith.thumb.png.4ea877d95fad8df467748273ab43bc36.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC (Agni):

 

"I set out on this mission to find the Turaga's murderers. Ordered by the captain himself. That's why dear Dorian got his early release in the first place."

 

I let out a deep breath.

 

"Don't get me wrong; I know that when we had that chance to take down Echelon it was the higher priority, but at the end of the day, I still feel lost, wandering from adventure to adventure, each taking us further from what we set out to do. That's what's bothering me."

 

Another pause.

 

"I guess... I guess I just need someone to tell me we're still doing the right thing, that it hasn't been a waste of time..."

 

 

Lillith.thumb.png.4ea877d95fad8df467748273ab43bc36.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC: Lunefeld

Now isn't this just interesting.

 

With the sudden appearance of Oreius, Sylus was supposed to be escorted out of the Citadel to someplace safe, which was something Lunefeld was far from happy at. He wished to see the proceedings first-hand.

 

Fortunately, Sylus was willing to stay and watch, so after letting him take position beside a sturdy pillar, Lunefeld left to join Hakann at his side.

 

Silently, Lunefeld had to consciously stop himself from shivering as the temperature slowly dropped, every joule of heat energy drawn into Oreius' body. The fiery gaze of Oreius made it clear that his threat was far from empty.

 

What a way to go.

 

Lunefeld's hand strayed to his weapon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC: Pae - Ko-Koro - Abandoned Hut

 

"Who's our target?" Pae asked simply.

 

IC:

 

"Professionally speaking, wouldn't be able to pass up taking on their sniper," I said, knuckles brushing against my chin. "One of their weaker numbers, easier to take out if we can get him out in the open. With him out of the picture, we could operate without constantly looking over our shoulders."

 

IC:

 

Arms crossed, shoulder propped against that pillar that Lunefeld had found for him, Sylus watched events unfolding with a finely-wrought smile. If the prospect of imminent and fiery death unnerved the so-called "czar of the polite transgression," he didn't show it at all. Black eyes took everything in with the cold glimmer of a camera lens.

 

He knew that this was going to be exciting, after all. Full of information. 

 

A little death was worth that.

 

-Void

 
 
[ BZPRPG ]

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC

 

Oreius waited as the ultimatum settled over those listening. He watched his enemies fill the room. The warped Toa of plants. The dead-eyed Skakdi sniper. Abominations and murderers. And Eisen watched him all the while, his face drawn and calm as the sea after a storm. The Piraka — he wondered if either of these Skakdi were the one who had painted Ta-Kini in blood. The memory of that scarlet blasphemy made his gorge rise. He wanted them to scream like she had surely screamed.

 

"Now," he said huskily. "Are we done making threats?"

 

 

* * *

 

IC (Jin)

 

"Not a bad idea," I mused. "He's big, but if I remember right, he's all about that gun. If we could catch him up close, I think any of us would have the upper hand."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC: Pae - Ko-Koro - Abandoned Home

 

Pae was a little nervous knowing that chipping off members of Nightfall was only an effort to attract the attention of certain mercenaries, "Fallout," Pae said simply, "Echelon's team will be attention-grabbing," and be good for the city in all likelihood. "Though dangerous."

 

Pae briefly regarded the safety of the island. Echelon was a threat to a lot of people. But so were any Akiri or being of power. However, his thoughts lingered on Kino longer. They fled Echelon together once before, and now they both would likely live in danger for a long time. Swearing lives to a dark god and turning your back on him wasn't the best move the pair had made, though it certainly was necessary. Should he get more involved again? Should he face Echelon from the shadows? What will happen to he and Kino? Or was this for the welfare of the island? Did Xa-Koro deserve to burn? Did Ko-Koro now deserve that same fate?

 

Of course, there would be no answer to these big questions. The choice was there to make, implications or not.

 

"Is the sniper our decision?"

 

IC: Agrona - Ko-Koro - The Citadel

 

So he came to demand we turn-over the city's former citizens?

 

If I had not held my composure I would have snorted at Oreius' comment about threats, considering the irony. But now was not the time to puff up my chest. There had been enough of that already today. I did however, begin to wonder where the other Maru were. It was possible - likely in fact since it was something we might do - that Oreius was just a diversion. Had his band of toa discovered the location of their hostages? I relaxed my muscles, noticing how tense I had become just thinking about it.

 

Toros stepped up beside me and showed his weapons. With one hand I reached into my cloak for a small vial, and with the other I reached for my bone-knife. However, I did not bring either of these forward. No sense in spoiling anything for Oreius. I glanced at Toros, wondering to myself how he felt about all this but my attention quickly returned to the task at hand.

 

My song echoed off the walls of the Citadel exciting the insect swarm all over my body. I awaited some kind of signal from Eisen.

samusbzpsig2.png.4c2dcd02e48c2219fb375b936c4a17ee.png
| BZPRPG Profiles |

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC (Agni):

 

"I set out on this mission to find the Turaga's murderers. Ordered by the captain himself. That's why dear Dorian got his early release in the first place."

 

I let out a deep breath.

 

"Don't get me wrong; I know that when we had that chance to take down Echelon it was the higher priority, but at the end of the day, I still feel lost, wandering from adventure to adventure, each taking us further from what we set out to do. That's what's bothering me."

 

Another pause.

 

"I guess... I guess I just need someone to tell me we're still doing the right thing, that it hasn't been a waste of time..."

 

IC (Merror)

 

"I wouldn't call laying Utu to rest an 'adventure'," Merror observed. "Nor helping a lost man find food and shelter. But I do see your point."

 

He paused for a few strides, letting the crunch of underfoot snow fill the silence.

 

"I suppose all I can say is that we're doing the best we can. We couldn't just leave Utu to die alone, and we can't just leave this poor soul to freeze in the Wastes. Once we've helped him reach civilisation, we can get back on track. We'll get back to that glacier where Echelon's made his home, and then Aerus can—"

 

Merror stopped speaking abruptly, his brow creasing in a sudden frown. He looked around sharply, eyes roving across the snow all around the group.

 

"Where's Aerus?!"

 

The Matoran was nowhere to be seen.

sig_panel_bzprpg.pngsig_panel_profiles.pngsig_panel_flickr.pngsig_panel_steam.pngsig_panel_n7.png

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OOC: Aparangi, Rewera, and Kythera from Le.

 

IC: Kythera

 

Absently, Kythera thanked whatever Power That Be that was bored enough to pay attention to her, because they'd been in Ko-Wahi proper for well over a few hours, and had yet to come across any debilitatingly-high drifts. It made their progress through the frozen landscape all the quicker, though she wasn't expecting the clear skies to hold out for long. She wasn't that lucky.

 

Not to mention the fact that mountains tended to make her... uneasy. Long story.

 

"Any plans on getting into the village itself?" the vortixx asked her two traveling companions, they might've had the whole "know what each other is thinking team telepathy" thing going on, but just the sound of the icy wind whistling past was getting to her. "As much as I'd love to play the part of a bored, lonely assassin stuck out in the cold, not sure how well you two could pass."

mnogsignature.png

BZPRPG -

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC (Aparangi & Rewera):

 

The two Aitua exchanged a meaningful, dark, look. They had done their fair share of questionable things. Murder was pretty low on the list.

 

"We could do that," Aparangi said, coming out of the momentary trip down guilty memory lane, "but I was thinking of something more subtle. Here, I'll show you."

 

He nodded to Rewera, who stepped up and produced the current Ko-Koro map they had bought from some hidden compartment in her sleek armor. Unfolding it, she held it so that Kythera could see and Aparangi could point.

 

He circled an area close to the fortified wall, where a building was nestled right up next to the inside of it.

 

"That was the humble abode of Ambages. Me and another of our team - Tupua - scouted it out after the attack on Pala Koro and figuring out the architect might have had something to do with the sabotage that brought down its walls."

 

A hint of a satisfied smile crossed the dark Toa's lips. "And if that snake of a Matoran is as clever as I think, he's probably got a back door into his home for slipping out quietly during the night."

 

 

Lillith.thumb.png.4ea877d95fad8df467748273ab43bc36.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC (Jin)

 

I shrugged. "I guess so — I mean, it's the best chance we've got. We don't really have any other leads."

 

IC: Pae - Ko-Koro - Abandoned Home

 

"Rest for now?" Pae asked, looking to his comrades. The trip was long, and Pae himself was more than happy to get some rest.

samusbzpsig2.png.4c2dcd02e48c2219fb375b936c4a17ee.png
| BZPRPG Profiles |

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC (Agni):

 

"I didn't mean helping others, but the constant dragging of heels after we started this 'mission' and..."

 

I stopped mid sentence, annoyance forgotten. No trace of the Matoran.

 

"It's ice. If we stretch out our feelers we might find a heat trace from him."

 

 

Lillith.thumb.png.4ea877d95fad8df467748273ab43bc36.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

IC:

 

I nodded, I could understand where Krayn was coming from, the reasons he didn't want to return to Le-koro were obvious, and visiting Tillian pretty much guaranteed a good time and relaxation. Well for the most part. 

 

"I've been thinking about what I'm going to do afterwards a lot actually...which feels strange because I'm not usually the type to do that I just...I miss Tillian and Liara. When they were around I'd feel...I'd feel like we could do anything if we put our mind to it. Now it's just like...like there's this void there that can't be filled by anything except a jolly surf rat and a savvy doctor." I chuckled. "Sorry I'm just rambling aren't I?" 

 

IC:

 

"A little. But talking things out is best, sometimes. Helps to keep me awake to stand guard, at least." The De-Toa shrugged slightly, still keeping his eyes fixed on the stairwell and the gloom beyond it. Consciousness was harder than he was inclined to admit, after the exertion of the past few days. But he would have his chance to sleep soon. Just a few hours. "Easy to see why you would miss them. I miss them too, sometimes."

 

"We drifted, once we weren't needed. After the Aggressors disbanded, after the Mark Bearers were stopped. I think they were the smart ones, to be honest. They knew how to cope with not being needed."

fK5oqYf.jpg

 

On this eve, the thirtieth anniversary of that first colony, many are left to wonder; is the world fast approaching a breaking point?

 

 

  Breaking Point: An OTC Mecha RPG

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC: Pae - Ko-Koro - Abandoned Home

 

Pae said nothing, and instead moved to sit against the wall, his head leaning up on a broken book-shelf.

 

Through half-closed eyes, Pae looked at Jin sitting in her chair one last time before letting his exhausted body fall into slumber almost immediately, with one hand on a single hammer.

Edited by Palm

samusbzpsig2.png.4c2dcd02e48c2219fb375b936c4a17ee.png
| BZPRPG Profiles |

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC:

“I refuse.” The Fe-Toa stated in a voice like he was speaking to a casual acquaintance, a business associate, or perhaps a respected peer. He was unruffled; the ultimatum had been unforeseen, but he carried himself like he still had a hand to play. He relaxed a little more, in fact, taking his hands away from his weapons and holding one out, palm up, to gesture at the room. At the Toa of Fire himself. “Because there is no reason you would do it.”

 

“Let’s think this through, Oreius. I’ve called your bluff. If you follow through, we all die. But so do the hostages. For all your desperation, I still don’t believe that you would kill innocents. It would defy the principles you came here to defend.” He held up a single finger, letting the other hand rest easily at his side. “But if I did bow to your will, you would still have no way out. You’re powerful. Powerful enough that I have little doubt you could carry out your threat. But you’re still one man, who would need to guard several Matoran on your way out of here. You would never make it alive. They certainly wouldn’t. And then you would either have to accept that fate, or carry out your threat and take the hostages out with you in your final, suicidal defiance.”

 

“It’s a no-win situation. For everyone, actually. But I respect your will. Walking through my front door to demand the return of your people? Bold. And understandable, given how you must feel. Hostages are a dirty tactic. Necessary, but unpleasant. Which brings me back to my point.”

 

“Your bluff is up. You’ve got two choices. Or you take my counter-offer.” Eisen pointed past Oreius, to the courtyard outside of the Sanctum’s doors. No one had closed them when the Maru stepped in, so the white expanse beyond was plainly visible. Wide and long, intended to be a regal approach to Matoro’s seat of power. Indicative of how the leader used to think. “A level playing field. I outnumber you, but I willingly reduce my forces to just me. In exchange, you refrain from releasing that inferno. Disperse it, if you can, for I think you shall need your element for other matters.”

“My will versus yours. No tricks. Single combat, and the last person standing, literally, is the victor. If you win, I will agree to release the Ta-Koran hostages. I will guarantee their safety, sworn by Makuta himself, and let them go free. I cannot release them all. But they are your kin, and saving the lives of some is better than killing them all, don’t you think?” The swordsman drew back both his arms, crossing them easily across his chest. “If I win, on the other hand, you are subject to our mercies. No further harm will come to the hostages, though your very presence would mandate a death by the rules we set forth. No lives forfeit but yours.”

 

“What do you say, Oreius? A chance to save your citizens, or will you burn us all, the guilty and the innocent?”

Edited by It's A Gundam MkII
  • Upvote 7

fK5oqYf.jpg

 

On this eve, the thirtieth anniversary of that first colony, many are left to wonder; is the world fast approaching a breaking point?

 

 

  Breaking Point: An OTC Mecha RPG

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC: Mura - Obsidian Outpost

I shiver as a wind even colder than the already freezing static air rushes through me. Unusually, my admittedly short attention span comes through as aggravated impatience...

Why can't someone just answer?!

Edited by The Silent King

.


Kathok

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC:

 

Lantz looked from Oreius to Eisen, then back to Oreius. 

 

Here was a Maru, one of the vile beings that had blunted their Lord's expansion across Mata-Nui, all alone without any of his allies. In the centre of political power in Ko-Koro, surrounded by Makuta's most unswerving servants. And Eisen was willing to let him go if Oreius could beat him in one-on-one combat?

 

"We should all just attack and kill the fiery little Toa" he whispered to one of the Piraka.

Quiz by TheQuizzery.com

 

kalmah.png

You are strong and kinda smart, but not too much

Which Barraki are you?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IC (Agni):

 

"I didn't mean helping others, but the constant dragging of heels after we started this 'mission' and..."

 

I stopped mid sentence, annoyance forgotten. No trace of the Matoran.

 

"It's ice. If we stretch out our feelers we might find a heat trace from him."

 

IC (Merror)

 

Merror nodded briskly.

 

"You try northwards, I'll try southwards."

 

The two Toa of Fire strained their elemental senses, searching for a blip of warmth that might be their missing Matoran. But try as they might, they felt nothing: nothing but the empty cold of the Drifts.

 

"It's no use," Merror groaned. "He's gone. Back to his old master, I'll bet..."

 

The Ta-Toa cursed under his breath.

 

"How did he give us the slip so easily? How could I have been so blind? We'll never find Echelon's lair without him, let alone get inside safely. This puts us back where we started."

Edited by Ghosthands

sig_panel_bzprpg.pngsig_panel_profiles.pngsig_panel_flickr.pngsig_panel_steam.pngsig_panel_n7.png

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OOC: hub is literally the best person right now
 
IC:
 
Absently, Dehkaz prodded the slowly growing fire, which he had lit moments before with careful application of his Kanohi, and some firewood they had sensibly taken with them from Po-Koro.  Satisfied that it wouldn't go out anytime soon, he settled against the wall of the cave which they had found for shelter.  The frozen wasteland outside was surprisingly calm, but even so, the temperature tended to drop dramatically from the evening hours.  He'd spent more than his fair share of freezing nights back with the Sanctum Guard, and didn't fancy any more.
 
It had taken the better part of the day for them to trek from the mouth of the Onu-Wahi tunnel, and while they had managed to stick to the well-worn paths in between for the most part, they didn't extend to where they were headed.  Save for the short exchange on their direction of travel, little was spoken between the two of them since leaving Roth's.  Even so, Dehkaz was becoming increasingly agitated, whether he realized it or not.
 
Shouldn't be much further, the village, that is,” Or what was left of it. “We'll get there by late afternoon, sundown at the latest.
 
Good.
 
The lieutenant's laconic reply was clipped, overly unemotive. An undercurrent of intense worry had been running through her throughout the trip, and as the pair came closer and closer to their goal, those emotions had begun to flare. Clamping down on them was the best she could do in the situation, which she feared could be compromised if she allowed herself to slip up. It was a case of severe personal importance to her, and it was difficult trying to stay as professional as possible.
 
She rose to her feet, the glossy brown of her Kakama glowing against the flames. In this lighting, it was almost impossible to make out Naona's expression, but it was clear from the manner in which she had begun to quietly pace around that the entire mission was affecting her more than she thought it would have. The constant flickering of her eyes towards the entrance of the cave, the grim line that her mouth had settled into ... she wanted to go. She wanted to find Hari as quickly as possible, no matter what nature threw at her.
 
Yet she couldn't.
 
If he noticed his companion's restless pacing, Dehkaz didn't comment.  Though not out of a lack of concern, he had stopped them for the night even before the cold got unbearable because of the fact that Naona would have continued on through the unforgiving wasteland with little regard for her own well-being.  He was lost in thought, or just tired from the unrelenting clip which they had marched from Po to Onu, and now Ko-Wahi, given the glazed look over his eyes.
 
He started out alright,” Dehkaz muttered, the words disturbingly distinct given the still air.
 
Naona glanced towards her companion. A slight expression of confusion and concern was present on her face.
 
Who?
 
Dehkaz's brow furrowed for an instant, puzzled, the exchange didn't register as corresponding lines of conversation.  “Tykoh,” he stated, eyes still firmly fixed on the fire. “Started out like the rest of us-
 
Sorry,” He back pedaled. The fact that he was speaking about it at all was something, as he hadn't yet seemed comfortable discussing what Roth had divulged. “Mercenaries, hired muscle.  Back in Xa-Koro.
 
How well did you know him?
 
Not as well as I thought, apparently.”  Dehkaz sat back, bringing his hands together to ward off the biting chill that was creeping through the air.  The temperature was beginning to drop steadily now, an inevitable progression as the last remains of sunlight disappeared.
 
I came face to face with...him... a few times, never liked what I saw looking back at me.  Driven, sure, but for the wrong reasons.  Mind set towards a goal, though with some idiotic notion that wealth or notoriety would achieve it.  Driven, but lost in the life that he'd taken up.”  He took a moment to watch his breath crystallize, mulling over the thought.
 
Not a bad man, not really.  He didn't go looking for it, he wasn't some deranged psychotic that got some kind of sick thrill from the work, though there were plenty of those to go around.  The world had done him wrong, and he struck back at it the only way he knew how.  Doesn't help when you're good at that, and many payed very, very well for that kind of skillset.  You do what you can just to keep going, when you can't go back to the life you had before.
 
Naona's pacing slowly ceased as she observed her friend. There was emotion in his words, a side of him that she had rarely seen in the time that they had worked together. Silently, she moved to sit by him, feeling the chill of the ice and snow work their way into her back. It was difficult to describe how she was feeling about the entire situation, but it was ... different, seeing Dehkaz seem so ...
 
.. so ...
 
... vulnerable.
 
It is a difficult path to escape,” she said, voice quiet as it escaped into the wind.
 
We were creatures of habit.” It was difficult to tell whether or not Dehkaz was actually responding to Naona's comment, or just reflecting on what he had said. “Empty shells just going through the motions. No time to stop and think, no chance to really consider your lot in life. Not a conscious decision, it just is.
 
Sure, you can try and justify it, try to give any other cause than a lack of will to change it. Some say it's just who they are, get called a killer enough times and you start believing it yourself.  Doesn't matter how you started, what your background is, who you used to be.
 
You were like him.
 
A statement, not a question.
 
I changed.
 
Dehkaz let the words hang in the icy air for a moment. His tone was raw, unfiltered. No calculation, no refined edge, just speaking his mind with scarcely any conscious thought to regulate it. “I had to be... better than that life, move past it.
 
Keeps coming back, though, doesn't it?
 
Sometimes ... only when you allow it to.
 
Naona's voice was tinged with a sense of melancholy. Her own regrets and her own failures ... they too had pursued her for so long. Every step she took, they would be there: waiting, accusing, a constant reminder of who she had once been and what she had tried to leave behind.
 
She placed a single, comforting hand upon Dehkaz' shoulder.
 
They were the same, really.
 
I trust in your ability to triumph over it.
 
It's no- I appreciate it, Naona.
 
His voice was low, though his tone was sincere. For once, Dehkaz didn't return to the distant, closed off state that was the norm for him.
 


* * *

 
Dehkaz glanced up from watching his footing in the freshly fallen snow, raising and arm to block some of the midday sunlight. Without the winds whipping around and clear skies, the area was surprisingly... peaceful. They had been making their way to the village for the better part of the morning, and came across fresh tracks about an hour ago. It only made their spurred their advance even more. After all this time, they had to be only a few hours behind Hari.
 
A frost-bitten and weathered sign marked their entrence to the remains of the village, the words once inscribed on it's face long since disappeared. Not that he needed the sign.
 
We should split up, check each building.” He knew where to look.
 
Where will we rendezvous?” asked Naona, studying the cold scenery with an analytical gaze.
 
Would her wayward protégé still be here, in this peaceful hamlet? She knew that they could not be too far behind, mere hours at best, but could Hari have already discovered what she had come for and left? Was there anything in these fields of endless white that could have harmed her? These were the questions that dominated the guardswoman's very mind. Where was Hari, and was she safe?
 
The village center,” Dehkaz replied, raising an arm to indicate one of the larger buildings that was still standing, if not exactly intact. “Say, in an hour or so if we don't find Hari. We'll try and pick up her tracks from there.
 
She was here, this was the end of the line. “I'll start on the west side.
 
Understood.
 
That left Naona the east side.
 
She nodded to Dehkaz, before stepping away in the direction of the worn-down houses to her search area. Her feet tapped against the cold snow with light crunches, the sounds falling into a quiet, staccato rhythm. It was time for her to work.
 
He watched her walk away, not immedaitely moving towards the ramshackle collection of dwellings. His chin dropped to his chest. They were too close, too close to turn back. He hadn't come this far to give in, look away and pretend it didn't exist. Dehkaz ignored the gut-wrenching pang that shot through his stomach and started forward through the snow. He didn't bother starting at the outer edge of the village, it wasn't where Hari would be.
 
He could have explained, he had the chance. But you didn't.
 
Vaguely, he registered the set of small imprints in the snow next to his own footsteps, their edges fuzzy as nature began the process of wiping them away. They were close, spaced together as if to suggest their owner had moved cautiously through the ruins, checking corners and stopping to glance around. There wouldn't have been anyone around, though. Dehkaz did his best not to glance around, it was... unnerving. His focus was on one of the smaller houses, occupying the space just outside the village proper. The door was ajar, the hinges bent and the wooden face broken halfway down. Two windows, their crystalline faces having long since disintegrated, peered out towards him. The stone roof was collapsed, filling the right side with rubble, and the front wall looked close to following.
 
The pair of prints gave way to a fine trail of snow on the steps leading up. Dehkaz followed them up, pushing the door aside enough to walk though.
 
A pale green form stood near the back.
 

* * *

 
There was nothing. The western portion of the village had nothing. It was empty, devoid of anything but time-worn huts, slowly eroding away to the snow. She had searched every corner. She had overturned every stone. Hari wasn't there. Only the ruined remains of a ghost village.
 
She stepped away from the last hut. Her eyes were hard, full of worry.
 
She needed Dehkaz to have found something.
 
An hour had yet to pass. But she turned back to where she had come.
 
And she started walking.
 

* * *

 
Hari turned, her Kanohi was unfamiliar though the face behind it was not. Her gaze was glassy, not quite registering the fact that he was standing there. She looked worn, though not just from being unaccustomed to the cold. Even so, there was an air about her, a sense of self-assured confidence that hadn’t been there when he had last seen the girl. It showed in her posture, she’d found what she had been looking for, made peace with what it turned out to be.
 
You knew.” It wasn’t a question, he didn’t know the answer. Not that he could have come up with any that was remotely suitable, not when he couldn’t fathom why himself. Hari gave a mirthless laugh, a quiet sound born from the aftereffects of whatever had brought the rings of red around her eyes. A moment passed, the silence filled with the soundless conversation of the implied.
 
Why?
 
The word hit like a punch to the gut, the charged question slicing through the air. He blinked as it impacted, brow furrowing as the remains of the thin façade of calm that he had held together for the past few days abandoned him completely. Why?
 
He grasped at the lines of thought that raced through his head, searching for an answer that he believed himself. He knew why, but his ability to parse the purely emotional reasoning into logical answers disappeared. The explanation he had gone over countless times in his head fell apart. It sounded empty and insufficient now that it was needed. Here he was, exactly how this whole thing had started, too paralyzed by fear to act, afraid of not doing anything at all.
 
For you.” If nothing else, that much was true. “The past shouldn’t catch up with you, shouldn’t have.
 
Too late now.
 
Hari nodded solemnly, he still felt like his own execution had just been ordered. She had to have gone through all this already, and managed to pull herself back together from it.
 
How did it happen?
 
Roth must have told her, maybe she just didn’t listen at the time. At the very least, that much he could provide her with. Dehkaz let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, and prefaced with a simple, “Hari, I’m so sorry.
 

* * *

 
:k:  :y:  :h:  :r:  :i:  :l:  :i:  :k:
 
Golden eyes narrowed behind her Great Mask of Speed. Her gaze lingered upon the inscription carved into the sign situated right outside the ramshackle hut, the faded text almost taunting her with its presence. It was but a name, nothing dangerous or scandalous, merely simple and innocent in every way, but what it represented to her ... what it represented to this case they were on ...
 
Kyhrilik.
 
It was a name she was very familiar with.
 
Naona stepped forward, her heavy footsteps crunching against the snow. She reached out, lightly brushing a gauntleted hand across the sign, fingers peeling away the layer of frost that had gathered upon the protodermis. The inscription had not changed. It was still the same arrangement of letters, an indentation that, despite its seemingly innocuousness, changed the very dynamic of her situation.
 
Dehkaz's behaviour over the last few days ...
 
I came face to face with...him... a few times, never liked what I saw looking back at me.  Driven, sure, but for the wrong reasons.  Mind set towards a goal, though with some idiotic notion that wealth or notoriety would achieve it.  Driven, but lost in the life that he'd taken up.”
 
“Some say it's just who they are, get called a killer enough times and you start believing it yourself.”
 
“I changed.

 
Kyhrilik.
 
Thought he was dead, to be honest.  Beginning to doubt that, now.  If you find him... when you find him, be careful, would ya?”
 
“Then again, I suppose he wouldn't want to be associated with the bad rep.”
 
“Quite like yourself, and your young friend, to be honest.

 
Tykoh. Kyhrilik.
 
The pieces fell into place. It made sense. It made far too much sense. Naona's gaze rose to the door that waited tantalisingly before her. The door that would provide confirmation, provide the answer that she knew and dreaded. The truth.
 
She took in a sharp breath, the cold air rushing through her lungs.
 
It was inevitable.
 
She had a duty to the truth. She could not simply avoid it, no matter how much she wished to do so.
 
The quiet murmurings and snatches of conversation emanating from the hut ... the voice she could recognise as her beloved student's ... she was so close to the end ... so close to finishing the case. She had a duty to Hari ... a duty to her profession ... a duty to see it to the end.
 
No matter what.
 
Yet ...
 
Her fists tightened. Her heartlight pulsed slowly, the quiet beats resonating through her ears.
 
Why was she so reluctant?
 
...
 
...
 
...
 
She breathed out.
 
Lieutenant Naona, guardswoman of Po-koro formerly assigned to the defunct Aggressors task force, approached the door.
 
...
 
...
 
...
 
Why did it hurt?
 
Words drifted out from the frozen cracks in the structure which nature had reclaimed, the voices which sounded familiar were alien in tone. A man’s voice; almost resigned, followed by that of a young woman’s; bearing a solemn confidence that wasn’t there before.
 
…wanted me dead, they still do, and you had gone through enough. I made Korari a promise, and being nearby just put you in danger. I did what I could to prevent that.
 
They said I had a benefactor, I just thought it was whatever my parents had left me, you were…
 
I sent what I had, well, until you joined the Guard. I still had some friends in Po-Koro, they made it work. A bounty hunter from Xa-Koro wasn’t particularly welcome around the rest of the island, let alone when cultists were still roaming around.
 
There was a pause, the words drowned out by a whistling wind that wound its way through the deserted village.
 
…she’ll want to talk to you.
 
The door to the hut creaked open, and Naona quietly strode into the room, amber eyes unreadable as she glanced at the other figures present in the room. Her gaze lingered on Dehkaz for a second, but she immediately broke it off, her attentions moving towards her protégé. Nobody spoke, the silence that gripped them all broken only by the battering of wind against the walls and the cold drafts.
 
Her lips pursed. Hesitatingly. As if she was struggling to find something to say.
 
And after what seemed like an eternity, she spoke once more.
 
Hari.
 
There was a moment where the aftermost mentioned Toa didn’t respond, her eyes glassed over and fixed on the battered floor. Only a moment, before she glanced up to Naona and gave a warm smile that only she could give, one that melted away the frozen landscape around. For an instant they weren’t in Ko-Wahi, the ruined village falling away to leave just them.
 
It’s uh, really good to see you- Naona,” there was a fraction of a second where the Toa of plantlife nearly defaulted back to “ma’am”, and she gave a small, nervous laugh that was all just relief. They had only arrived mere hours after she had reached here, but it was still hours she had to herself. “I know I asked you not to… but I’m kinda glad you came for me.
 
I would not have left you,” was the guardswoman's whispered reply. The slightest flicker of a smile - warm, bright and full of relief and happiness - crossed her face, before disappearing from whence it came, leaving only an unreadable expression in its place. Her eyes seemed to bore into Hari's, almost singlemindedly, as if her protégé was the only thing that mattered to her.
 
Here and now, that was the truth.
 
... I wanted to make sure you were safe.
 
Hari glanced down once again, though breaking off eye contact felt like a stab to her gut. “I know… You always have,” she began, her voice quiet. The time preparing, going through it all in her head. It was for the best that the two of them had followed her here, but made explaining it all that much more difficult. Did it really, though? She was just afraid of what to say, what she wanted to say.
 
I-
 
It was all she got through before forming thoughts into words failed her completely, stopping with a caught breath. She didn’t want to continue, didn’t want to follow through. Almost tentatively, Hari stepped forward to embrace the one person who was far more family to her than any other soul, past or present, on this island.
 
She didn't know how to react. For a moment, Naona was frozen, the sudden warmth of her protégé's hug catching her utterly off-guard. Her mouth opened to speak, but as Hari pressed against her, she decided against it. It ... whatever she needed to say, whatever response she could give ... it didn't really matter. Her own arms slowly wrapped around the other Toa's, returning the embrace. She didn't need to say anything.
 
Not right now.
 
The Toa of Stone gently caressed the back of Hari's head, a soft smile flickering across her mask.
 
It was going to be okay.
 
Hari didn't need to explain or prove anything to her.
 
I can’t…” The utterance was barely a whisper. Hari stopped, pulling back from the Toa of Stone to collect herself, beginning with a short exhalation to steel herself for what was to come. “Naona… I can’t go back with you. I can’t go back to the Guard, not yet.
 
A dull ache began to form in her chest, even as a knot unwound itself in her stomach. “I need some time, time to take it all in. I’m not ready to go back to being Private Hari. You… okay?
 
Though a small part of her knew she was asking for the sole reason of not understanding herself.
 
Silence.
 
There was only the noise of the icy wind.
 
Naona's eyes stared back at Hari, unblinking. Can't go back. Three simple words, almost an echo between the two. Can't go back Her protégé ... the girl she had all but adopted as family ... Hari was leaving her. Leaving her behind.
 
... again.
 
Why?
 
Almost a choking reply.
 
She could understand. She could understand the need for time. For time to adjust. For time to just ... be alone. Intellectually, she knew.
 
But ... why?
 
I need… I have to figure this out on my own. You don’t deserve to be dragged down by me, no one does. You’ve done so much for me already.
 
She blinked, and was half surprised to feel the biting tracks of tears slowly being cooled in the icy wind again. She’d told herself she wouldn’t break down again, it didn’t help her at all that she couldn’t get a full thought out without stopping to get a hold of herself. “I need to, I have to stop relying on you being there to fix my problems.
 
You shouldn’t have to… Not you… Dehkaz… Krayn… Tillian… Skyra.
 
Hari ...
 
Naona felt like she was watching a part of her detach, like she was watching another loved one abandon her. She knew what her protégé wanted. She knew, intellectually (but it still hurt and hurt and hur-) that the girl would have sought independence one day. She could ... understand the pain, the motivation behind it. But ... but ...
 
Why did she have to walk such a path alone?
 
Why did Hari have to abandon them?
 
Her?
 
I have a responsibility to,” she choked out again. “You are not ... you are not dragging me down at all ...
 
Helping Hari ... it was something she gladly did. She cherished the other Toa. It never troubled her.
 
Then why was the girl ... why was she leaving?
 
A responsibility, but not just to me, to everyone else too,” Hari took another step back, the steady resolve slowly creeping into her voice at odds with the trepidatious motions she displayed. “...It's not forever.
 
Though with as much as it felt like a final goodbye, she couldn't fool herself into thinking that her shaky position was merely for Naona's benefit. She didn't have to do it... She could just go back with them. It was just a silly idea, no one would hold it against her.
 
They wanted her back, all would be forgotten.
 
But her own demons would remain, buried beneath it all, a disease slowly working its way through her.
 
You'll look after them for me, right?” She knew the answer, but still needed to hear it, “Make sure they all stay in one piece?
 
She could.
 
They were her friends. She loved them. And Hari ... Hari was one of them. One of those she would never leave behind, no matter what obstacle dared to stand in her way. She couldn't leave her behind. She wanted to help them all. Every single one of them. It was her duty ... her role as a friend.
 
Please ...
 
Naona took a step forward.
 
Hari was her friend. Her protégé. Her little sister. Her daughter.
 
The Toa of Plantlife stayed where she was for a moment, her legs were beginning to feel as though they’d give way, as if someone had placed the entire mountain they were standing on atop her shoulders. Only a moment. Hari moved forward with a shuffling step, catching Naona’s hand in both of her own. Her grip was soft, though far from the desperate, frightened hold from a scared child all those years ago. “Naona I love you; and I always will. Nothing will ever change that. I promise,” Her gaze was fixed on Naona’s own, the silence that followed heavy with words that didn’t need to be spoken.
 
Hari took a step back after what felt like an eternity, or maybe it was a few seconds, still holding onto Naona’s hand. She couldn’t stay here, it was too painful; couldn’t leave, but it was only going to get worse.
 
Naona I… could you keep an eye on Dehkaz? I think he’s taking it harder than I am. I don’t want- he might hurt himself.” She released one hand, her other just a tenuous grip on the Toa of Stone’s fingers, until even that slid away. Hari didn’t offer a farewell, this wasn’t goodbye; this wasn’t the end. She refused to believe that.
 
Just a pause, a breath. Some time to let things settle.
 
I ...
 
The words were caught in her throat. Naona could only stare helplessly at her own hands, at where the faint sensation of Hari's touch was disappearing. Like the young girl herself. Hari was slipping further and further away and she just ... she just couldn't do anything to stop it.
 
I ...
 
If Hari loved her, then why was she pulling away. If Hari loved her, why was she leaving Dehkaz in her hands (they seemed so small and weak and-)? Why was she being left behind? For a moment, she could remember the anguish of a younger Naona, of a rookie guardswoman who was left to drift astray, lacking in the strength to fix anything. She couldn't say anything. She couldn't beg for her protege to stay.
 
I ...
 
They kept leaving, and there was nothing she could do to stop them.
 
She gazed up at Hari, and smiled weakly at her from behind her mask.
 
I shall ... endeavour to do so,” said Naona, her words hesitant and stumbling. “I ... I promise.
 
All she could do was smile and accept the pain.
 
Hari returned the gesture, gracing her with a final (but not the last) brilliant smile that had been testament to her incessant positive demeanor, her eyes lighting up with warmth. And then she was gone, stepping out of the ramshackle dwelling and into the biting cold of the frozen Wahi. She stopped only to give Dehkaz, where he had been waiting outside, a quick hug, before making her way through the small village and out into world.

  • Upvote 6

mnogsignature.png

BZPRPG -

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

IC (Agni):

 

"I didn't mean helping others, but the constant dragging of heels after we started this 'mission' and..."

 

I stopped mid sentence, annoyance forgotten. No trace of the Matoran.

 

"It's ice. If we stretch out our feelers we might find a heat trace from him."

 

IC (Merror)

 

Merror nodded briskly.

 

"You try northwards, I'll try southwards."

 

The two Toa of Fire strained their elemental senses, searching for a blip of warmth that might be their missing Matoran. But try as they might, they felt nothing: nothing but the empty cold of the Drifts.

 

"It's no use," Merror groaned. "He's gone. Back to his old master, I'll bet..."

 

The Ta-Toa cursed under his breath.

 

"How did he give us the slip so easily? How could I have been so blind? We'll never find Echelon's lair without him, let alone get inside safely. This puts us back where we started."

 

 

IC (Agni):

 

"I wonder, Merror," I started, realizing I sounded very tired, "if it might be of more use to focus on Ko-Koro itself. We started this part of the mission before Echelon took over the village. I doubt he will be lounging in his old lair at this point..."

 

 

Lillith.thumb.png.4ea877d95fad8df467748273ab43bc36.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
×
×
  • Create New...