BZPRPG - Ko-Wahi

[Jakura Nuva]

IC: Transient

 

Transient nodded at Zero and began to obey, when suddenly he heard a strange voice peep up from behind. Turning around, he saw the ugly little imp from outside the outpost earlier.

 

The Toa looked down disdainfully at the little... thing that had offered to carry Forger.

"Uh... no, thank you, I've got it. Besides, I think he's a bit too heavy for you."

Edited December 11, 2014 by Jakura Nuva

[Dane-gerous]

IC: Crab

This made Crab chuckle. A lot. "Ok then." He said.

[Jakura Nuva]

IC: Transient

 

Something in the being's laugh annoyed Transient. He raised a metallic eyebrow in question.

.

 

"What - you disagree?"

Edited December 11, 2014 by Jakura Nuva

[Dane-gerous]

IC: Crab

"Nope. Just your judging of someone you have not even met yet amuses me."

Edited December 13, 2014 by VahkiDane

[Jakura Nuva]

IC: Transient

 

"Well," Transient grumbled as he hoisted Forger out of the room. "I'm very intuitive."

 

He headed towards what he remembered as Forger's quarters.

 

"You still have the same room, right?" He grunted. This Toa was heavy.

[Light]

IC: "Then we'll certainly help. That cable car is something of a lifeline. One of many, but a lifeline nonetheless."

 

The Sergeant reappeared from a distant building, a light green Toa of Plantlife with the unmistakable form of a mask of Healing on her face in tow. Tamara turned to address her. "Murrae, see to this man's friends, then hurry back. We can't have you gone for long. Sergeant, if you're well enough to travel, escort Ms. Murrae to the outpost, then take the cable car to Ta. We need someone to get down there."

The Sergeant's gave shifted to Enforcer. "Lead the way, mate."

[Nato G]

IC: Enforcer.

 

"Let's go," I say, as Champion and I begin to make our way back down the mountain. 

[Light]

IC: The two Ihu-Koronans followed Enforcer, the Sergeant continuing to bandage his hand as they walked.

Neither Highlander looked like they were going to say anything until spoken to, but Murrae looked especially nervous.

[Nato G]

IC: Enforcer.

 

"So, any news from Ko-Koro?" I ask casually as we walk. "We haven't heard anything since the refugees came through." 

[Light]

IC: "Came from there, mate." The Sergeant sighed, holding up his arm. Only his fingers, covered in burns, were visible outside the bandage. "Repulsed from the walls. Too late to help the old defenders."

[Nato G]

IC: Enforcer.

 

The sergeant's words confirm my fears. "So the city has fallen?" 

[Light]

IC: Sergeant

 

"No idea. Ko-Koronans were tough sons of #######, doubt they went down easy."

Edited December 11, 2014 by Joseph Cooper

[Nato G]

IC: Enforcer. 

 

"But were they tough enough?" I reply. "We heard some stories from the refugees. Beings with impossible powers..." 

[Daniel the Finlander]

IC: The Champion (Obsidian Outpost/Ihu-koro/Slopes of Mount Ihu)

 

I go get my equipment ready. I don my armor and strap my shield on my left arm. While Ihu-koro isn't that far away, we might still get attacked by hungry Rahi or by one of those strange 'Rahkshi' creatures. I also hope that we won't end up in a snow storm or in an avalanche, but I don't have any means of preparation for those events, so I can only hope it will go well. I walk outside, where Enforcer is waiting for me. We set off immediately.

 

---

 

The village of Ihu-koro is much smaller than the town of Ko-koro. Surprisingly, the hamlet has walls surrounding it. Over them peeks the top of a large tree, which might be a religious shrine. The place seems fine, certainly isn't burning like Dur Ammu or Ko-koro. Although the fires might've been extinguished, and some raiders still lurking in the ruins, so I unstrap my mace while Enforcer approaches the gate. A Vortixx appears, possibly a guard. He seems injured. I notice some peasants moving around, some of them wounded and all of them depressed. Refugees. They're never a pleasant sight. Enforcer answers the guard's question and requests a healer, while I stand nearby, quiet. I doubt they can give us a healer if they have this many wounded.

 

A Matoran woman approaches, and says that they can indeed spare a healer. I'm somewhat surprised to see a Matoran in a position of authority. Do these people have.. democracy? Akanga was the only republic I know of.. and their nation collapsed in a violent civil war, which of course was profitable to mercenaries like myself. Enforcer answers her question about Obsidian while we wait for the healer to turn up. He's a competent liar, thankfully. Soon, the healer arrives. She's a Toa wearing a Mask of Healing (this island has more Toa than any other place I've been to.. odd). The Matoran orders the wounded soldier to accompany her, and we set off.

 

---

 

"The Ko-koroans are dead", I state like it is a proven fact. "I saw Ko-koro yesterday. The gate was breached, the city was burning. At that stage it's too late for any settlement. Sure, some might still be alive in the central keep, but they're doomed. No reinforcements can make it in time through the harsh, cold terrain around the city. No matter how brave the defenders are, they will eventually starve to death, but I saw the keep smoking. They are likely to be dead. And if not, enslaved or captured."

[silo]

IC: (Vandal/Obsidian)

 

Rekhyt retired to his quarters, trying to ignore the pain from his ribs. After a while, he fell into the closest thing he'd had to sleep for days.

[Not Quite Dead]

IC: Transient

 

"Well," Transient grumbled as he hoisted Forger out of the room. "I'm very intuitive."

 

He headed towards what he remembered as Forger's quarters.

 

"You still have the same room, right?" He grunted. This Toa was heavy.

 

IC Forger

 

"Yes, second room on the first hallway, east bulwark."

 

...

 

"And have you ever met a blacksmith that wasn't big guy? I don't remember carrying you off the battlefield being any easier."

[Jakura Nuva]

IC: Transient

 

Reaching his friend's room, the Toa gently set Forger down on his bed and took a step back. He crossed his arms and tilted his head, his left brow lifted in question.

 

"Oh, really? I don't recall that..."

Edited December 11, 2014 by Jakura Nuva

[Nato G]

IC: Enforcer.

 

I shoot Champion a warning glare; we don't want to tell these too much. "The closest we got to the city was the hospital," I add context to his statements, "it looked pretty bad from there, but we didn't stick around to see how bad it was inside the city." 

[Light]

IC: Murrae's eyebrows went up, her face communicating pure shock. The Sergeant, on the other hand, merely sighed. "Never said they wouldn't go down," he said, finshing wrapping the bandage around the tips of his fingers. "Said it wouldn't be easy."

 

From their reactions and the way Murrae's badge sat lopsided on her shoulder, it was obvious the difference between them. Murrae was a town medic- maybe technically part of the military, maybe very experienced at her craft, but the woman had obviously never seen actual combat up in the isolated village of Ihu-Koro, where even Makuta seemed to be a far off rumor until the new path had been built and leveled and the militia became regulars. Her spine was always stiff and at attention, the perfect military posture, her poise and carefully maintained grace an attractive quality- but not an experienced one. The Sergeant, however... Despite his injured arm, some blood soaking through the cotton white bandage, he carried himself with an ease known only to the most experienced of soldiers. But there was something in his slouch, in his easy and crude way of speaking, that seemed to suggest that he wasn't an ordinary army veteran, that he was used to giving his own orders and not being regimented in their execution.

 

He had been a mercenary. It would be painfully obvious to anyone else who might happen to find themselves that profession, and had been one for a long time before he joined the Ihu-Koronan military.

 

One had to wonder what he was looking for, in a military position in the wastes of Ko-Wahi.

[Keeper of Kraata]

IC: There is not a great many things a being can do when suspended over a gigantic canyon by a hook being slowly carried by cable. Fyura didn't mind at all, she whistled and rocked from side to side on the cable. Vayde did mind the height; every time the cable shook, an image popped into Fyura's mind of worry and of her falling to her death.

 

"Oh, shut up, zyou stupid slug. Ve are fine!"

 

She got an image of herself boiling in lava. Fyura snorted and rolled her eyes. There were bigger things to worry about, such as the upcoming end of her little cable car ride: she had been warned about someone charging a toll on the Ko-Wahi side of the cable car. She had presumed it was some bandit squatters. The outpost that she was steadily approaching did not look like bandit squatters. She could spot some figures moving; not close enough to discern anything else.

[Nato G]

IC: Enforcer.

 

"Well, here we are," Enforcer said to his companions, as they came over a rise. He pointed down at the open outpost at the edge of the cliff, "and it looks like we have company," he added, noticing the cable car heading across towards the Ko-Wahi side of the Break. 

[Keeper of Kraata]

IC: As the cable car approached the ledge, Fyura narrowed her eyes. Vortixx; the whole area smelled of them. Fyura hopped off onto the ground, her clawed toes digging into the surface. Smothing her leather skirt, she walked clear of the cable machine, drawing her axe to rest it on her shoulder. It was made from the shaft and one end of a Vorahk staff. She was large, even for a skakdi; she had an entire disc launcher mounted on her left forearm. She was primarily orange, but the color of some of her spines had diminished into a dull gray. She had a small bag tied to her belt, along with two smaller axes on hooks, alongside a volo lutu launcher. She carried her axe in a way someone carries the tool of their trade; familiar, an object of comfort.

 

Fyura snorted, and spat on the ground. "Vell? I am not seeing an exit sign anyvhere. Or seeink any directions."

 

OOC: If I am posting later today, it will be from mobile, just FYI.

[Daniel the Finlander]

IC: The Champion (Near Obsidian Outpost)

 

I respond to the guardsman: "It doesn't matter how easily you go down. Battles are about survival, not heroism or feats of strength and tenacity". I gesture towards his bandaged wounds, "You should know that." Before he can reply, Enforcer announces that we have arrived, and points out that we have a visitor. I don't say a thing and walk towards the entrance of Obsidian. I hope that the visitor won't bother us.

[(Daedalus)]

IC Zealot

 

The De-Lesterin usually spoke softly, but had he not been listening he would not have heard her entirely.

You could have more than just family,"

Zealot looked up and smiled, "I once had such blessing" Zealot reached his hand back into his pocket; not nervously this time, but softly "Before."

His eyes suddenly downcast his voice ran cold "But Mata Nui saw fit to take that all away"

 

 

IC: Faora

 

Click.

 

Why it had taken so long for everything to come together was a mystery to Faora. However, it now seemed obvious. She didn't know what exactly it was he had in his pocket, but it had someone to do with his "blessing."

 

Mata Nui gives, and he takes away. A time to laugh, and a time to weep. A time to embrace...

 

Faora closed her eyes. "I'm--" Her voice cracked. "I'm sorry."

 

What else was there to say?

 

OOC: Credit to Job (first sentence) and Ecclesiastes (second and third) for that third line/paragraph.

[Rorschach the Absolute]

IC: Faora

 

 

 

Click.

 

Why it had taken so long for everything to come together was a mystery to Faora. However, it now seemed obvious. She didn't know what exactly it was he had in his pocket, but it had someone to do with his "blessing."

 

Mata Nui gives, and he takes away. A time to laugh, and a time to weep. A time to embrace...

 

Faora closed her eyes. "I'm--" Her voice cracked. "I'm sorry."

 

What else was there to say?

 

OOC: Credit to Job (first sentence) and Ecclesiastes (second and third) for that third line/paragraph.

 

 

 

IC Zealot 

 

The zealot of Mata Nui pursed his lips, pressing in the emotions tightly to keep them from escaping.

"I am thankful" he looked at her with burdened eyes "for your sympathy."

Removing his hand from his pocket he brushed his knuckles across his mask, wiping the frozen glimmer from his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I do not mean to bring you down" he apologized, 

Edited December 12, 2014 by Rorschach the Absolute

[Light]

IC: "Not making any remarks on whether that matters, mate. Stating an observation of fact. If I had delusions 'bout heroism, it'd be me on the pyre, not the old LT."

 

The Sergeant glanced up at the incoming cable car and the outpost, still walking toward it. "Hope it's friendlies. Left the bazooka at home."

 

It was impossible to tell if he was joking or not.

[Nato G]

IC: Enforcer.

 

"I didn't," I reply calmly, tapping the barrel of the plasma weapon hanging from my belt. "Anyone here!" I shout as we enter the Outpost. "Oh great..." I notice the new arrivals getting out of the cable car, and my gaze is immediately drawn to the big, scary skakdi with the Rahkshi staff axe. "...why is it always skakdi?" 

 

Sure, my boss and my best friend are both skakdi, but so is Marauder, and that thought alone was enough to put me immediately on edge. 

[Constructelf]

IC: Tracer

Tracer had been sitting outside the Outpost; she had been feeding her Kavinika (how many times had it been today? Two? Three?) and making sure Guanhumi didn't fall into the Break (he was a little tipsy) when she caught sight of movement with her Infrared vision.

 

From the direction of Ihu, Enforcer and Champion were returning with two unfamiliar figures; since the two of them were with Enforcer and Champion, there shouldn't have been too much issue.

 

In the direction of the Cable Car, however, a Skakdi had appeared. Was she coming from Ta? Usually they were going the other way. Oh well. Somebody had to enforce the toll.

 

Gesturing to her Kavinika to follow, she walked up to the (apparently Parakuka bonded) Skakdi, saying: "You going to Ko? Might not be the best idea; it was recently conquered."

[Keeper of Kraata]

IC: Fyura sized up this de-skakdi. She looked like she was modified; maybe not as much as Fyura herself had changed, since she still saw the glow of a vision power. At times, Fyura missed her laser vision. An image of her in full Parakuka-enabled fury popped into her head, with a note of sarcasm.

Fyura ignored Vayde. "Conquered, you zay? Vell, zat is interesting." Fyura shifted her axe, choking up on it. "Who are ze lucky new masters of Ko-Koro?"

Vayde was not a fan of this skakdi. Her two pets didn't look particularly inclined towards it, and he wanted to smash the almost alien implants in her forehead. Fyura shook her head subtly; she needed a little bit more of a reason to attack.

Edited December 13, 2014 by Keeper of Kraata

[Not Quite Dead]

IC: Transient

 

Reaching his friend's room, the Toa gently set Forger down on his bed and took a step back. He crossed his arms and tilted his head, his left brow lifted in question.

 

"Oh, really? I don't recall that..."

 

IC Forger

 

"Concussions tend to do that."

 

The Fe-Toa props himself up, glancing about the room. It wasn't quite spartan, he had some amenities dotting the shelves. The only thing that would separate it from your average barrack in a well funded koro-guardhouse were the blacksmithing tools in the corner. He had a full sized forge in the western storeroom, this was little more than an anvil and small furnace. He didn't feel comfortable with the smell of burning iron.

 

Another oddity were the walls, dozens of swords hung from them. Mostly his more interesting or exotic ones. Some were his own recreations or modifications, most were ones he had one, bought or inherited from their previous owners. It was a veritable armory. 

 

Silent for a moment, the duo took had a moment of peace. "It really is good to have you back brother, the last few years have been... Difficult. I had-" he stopped. When he had first met Transient and Zero, they had helped him see some of the good and purpose in life again, kind of funny to say about a mercenary group, right?

 

But, they had given him a family of sorts. And Zero... When he had lost his way, disillusioned and grown dark in mind and actions, she had shared her dream with him. Most people would say she wasn't much more than violent merc, a snake or just plain greedy. He felt like one of the few that understood her, her methods and motivations. Even with him she had not shared her past, it remained secret. But he could surmise enough to see why she was the way she was.

 

It wasn't an impossible goal, nihilism, evil or anything else people could decry it as. It was the truth, pure and simple. Sometimes he felt it unfortunate that her only path to her dream was through associating with some of the... Unsavory parts of society. He could only hope that those of them with less scruples would go through the same revelations he had.

 

In the intervening years, they had had difficulties and failures. He had almost let himself fall back into his old mindset, "one casualty to save ten is acceptable, ten for a hundred. A hundred for a thousand." A world without people with one of peace, wasn't it? Karz, he had let himself side with the Legacy to attack a hospital!

 

Nialus was giving him a curious look, his introspection seemed to have passed in real time.

 

"Well, I won't regale you with too many stories right now. I'll leave it 'I'm glad to have you back.'" Feeling a little better, he stood up and bent to pick up a weapon off the ground. It was the flamberge he had failed to recreate before their last mission. The blood shattered at the half way point. The internal grain looked more like crystal than steel; hard and sharp, but brittle.

 

"Crystalline protodermis is a little out of my league."

[Constructelf]

IC: Tracer

"Followers of the Makuta. Lead by one of his former lieutenants." Tracer paused. "I wouldn't go further if I were you. Normally there's a toll but if you want to go back-" Tracer took a moment to cough. She had been talking a lot recently. "-it's free. Unless you're going to Ihu-Koro, in which case toll still applies."

[Dane-gerous]

IC: Crab

Crab snapped his claws impatiently. He was sick of being judged. He wanted to prove himself.

Edited December 13, 2014 by VahkiDane

[Keeper of Kraata]

IC: Fyura received a feeling of glee from Vayde. Come to think of it, it wasn't such a bad idea.

 

"Vhere I go is my business. Now, how much is zhour operation shaking me down vor?"

[Jakura Nuva]

IC: Transient

 

Transient nodded slowly. Only a moment or two had passed, and yet, he could see a hundred thoughts had passed through Forger's mind in that time. The Onu-Toa couldn't help but wonder...

 

Realizing that the Toa was waiting for an answer, Transient replied.

 

"Well," he remarked, patting his friend on the shoulder, "I'm glad to be back."

 

Forger picked a sword off the ground and commented on it's material. Personally, Transient cared little for the art of forging. It seemed only the beings accustomed to high temperatures were suited for it - they could spend the longest amount of time in front of their furnaces, allowing them to create much more effective weapons and tools than could be forged by others.

 

Still, after surveying the room, Transient was amazed at Forger's collection. He wondered if the Toa would mind parting with one or two for Nialus's own collection...

 

Then, he had an idea.

[silo]

IC: (Vandal/Obsidian)

 

Vandal wandered outside after resting.

Stepping into the courtyard, he saw an unfamiliar skakdi conversing with the others. She seemed hunched, her fingers extending into claws. As Rekhyt circled round, he realised: Parakuka.

Probably another cable car goer. Tracer seemed to be saying it was free...we didn't want a fight now, so the Fa-Toa wasn't about to intervene. 

He needed to find Silo...and somehow, bust him out. After all, he had done the same thing for Rek. And what about Vaulta and the other Mahara? Were they still on the island? If so, it would be good to find them. Or some of them. Were Mawloc still around? He could live without Mawloc...

[Constructelf]

IC: Tracer

"In that case, twenty widgets."

 

Seemed fair enough.

[Keeper of Kraata]

IC: Fyura made a pondering noise from deep in her throat, scratching her chin.

"If I vere to, zay, run into any of zese... Makuta followers, how much vould my silence be vorth? Your band here does not zeem, ah, too fond of zem."

Edited December 13, 2014 by Keeper of Kraata

[Constructelf]

IC: Tracer

"We're defending the border. We're not looking for a fight; we're just supposed to hold off against an attack. Your silence doesn't really matter."

[silo]

IC: (Vandal/Obsidian)

 

Oh, this newcomer was making threats, now?

Rekhyt stepped towards the skakdi, he hand subtly going to one of the many knives about his person. Hopefully it wouldn't be needed, but you could never be too careful.

"If you met a Makuta-worshiper, I doubt they would let you live long enough to tell them anything...or perhaps they would, but just kill you after your use to them had run out."

He looked the female skakdi in the eyes. "Do you really want to find out which?"

Edited December 13, 2014 by Sil

[Nato G]

IC: Enforcer

 

I see that Vandal and Tracer are handling the new arrival, so I focus on dealing with my own charges. "Champion, could you go find Zero and give her the good news. In the meantime, I'll show our guests around the outpost or something."