BZPRPG - Ko-Wahi

[Timageness]

"Sure," Verulas said, a smile forming on his face as he began walking towards the cable car.

He turned around when he had made it about halfway there, continuing to back-pedal before speaking again in jest.

"Unless, of course, you want to stick around here so you can stare at the snow a while longer..."

Edited October 24, 2014 by timageness411

[NorikSigma]

OOC: Yippee, breaking and entering!

Yeah, I hope for NPCs too.

 

IC: Arabeth(Dervish)

 

The invisible Toa said nothing as Ishi demonstrated his little trick. Apparently he had gained skills along with his time tramping around the island. Again.

 

Arabeth, still invisible, snuck into the building. It was pretty humble for someone like Ambages, but still pretty impressive. A large foyer greeted the intruder, a chandelier on the ceiling, and several bookshelves on the walls. A table was planted near the window, heaped with letters organised into piles.

 

At the far end of the foyer lay a long and low hallway that branched out to what were presumably the rooms. Adter a few seconds of Arabeth scouting the foyer out, she deactivated her mask and signalled for Ishi to enter.

 

"So what are we looking for?"

[ARROW404]

IC: Kimala

"Not nothing," she disagreed. Her voice was hard, resolute. "You have a Duty. We escorted out the healers and the injured, but Ko-Koro isn't empty. As far as I know, everyone in the Sanctum is still there." Her voice dropped. "Or dead." She didn't wait for his response, heading toward the exit. "I've wasted too much time already. Every second is another life that could be lost. Do as you please, but make your decision quickly."

[Nato G]

IC: Enforcer.

I say nothing; merely glare disdainfully at Verulas as I trudge after him towards the cable car. Hopefully he got the message: I am not the joking kind.

Edited October 27, 2014 by NatoGreavesy

[Rorschach the Absolute]

IC Veneras 

Veneras felt hiis breath taken away. The sanctum was where he grew up, where he studied. The teachings he learned there made him who he was today.

He was sworn to protect the matoran, and his heart longed to liberate the place of wisdom, a place that was supposed to be a sanctuary from war and murder. A place of learning. Watching Kimala leave he turned to the Veteran "I must protect my people" he said. Honestly he didnt know if it was a lost cause, or if he even possessed the strength to come back alive. 

[Nato G]

IC: Veteran.

Veteran looked away from Rekhyt, shooting an irritated glance towards Kimala before focusing his attention on Veneras. "I doubt there's anyone left in the city, mate. If what people are sayin' about these attackers is true, whoever aint been evacuated is probably long dead by now."

He hesitated, "That said, you do what you feel you gotta do." He rounded on Kimala. "As for you, if you keep comin' back an' forth across the bloody Break I'm gonna start chargin' you. We aint a bloody charity, ya know."

Edited October 27, 2014 by NatoGreavesy

[Timageness]

IC: It quickly became apparent that the Vortixx wasn't amused by his joke, and he seriously began wondering how hard it was to get on his good side, if he even had one at all.

Verulas sighed, turning around and rolling his eyes just in time to notice that Kimala had returned and to catch parts of her conversation with the Ko-Toa. What he heard made him stop dead in his tracks.

They were not seriously considering what he thought they were considering.

He listened for a moment longer.

They were.

The Bo-Toa made his way over to them, diverting from his previous path towards the cable car.

"Please tell me that my ears were lying to me when they told me you two were going back inside the city," he said, stopping just short of the pair. "Because that is, without a doubt, the worst idea I've heard in a very long time."

[Nato G]

IC: Enforcer.

"After eveything we went through to get out?" I follow Verulas, before confronting Kimala and the Ko-Toa, "and you want to go back in?"

It was almost definitely a suicide mission. I didn't have a problem with Kimala doing that, but Verulas was an asset, and considering how much time the Ko-Toa had spent with Veteran, I suspected he might be too.

If they were going back there, someone had to go with them to make sure they made it back. If that task fell to me... So be it.

Edited October 27, 2014 by NatoGreavesy

[They]

IC: 'Ahkmou', Ko-Koro (Ambage's Apartment)

 

As the po-matoran crossed the threshold of the Architect's home, the sight of his footprints in the snow outside caught his eye. He was passing through time, the past frozen in the street, the present closing the apartment's front door, and as time moved forward he came closer to answering a question begging for an answer since deciphering Ahkmou's journal: where did Ambage's keep the Makuta-follower's gift?

 

After three weeks of travel and misadventures, Ishi finally felt he knew.  The Architect was a man of self-reliance, and his distrust of The Spider proved his lack of allies.  They were both Peers, two of four bound to a terrible mystery Ishi couldn't glean.  Ambages was alone in the shadows and haunted by the light.  It made sense for him to keep a prized possession in a safe place, and where safer than his own home?  The Island Liberation Front searched it thoroughly once; where better to hide the very object sought once the hounds were gone?  

 

The foyer was a square room, floored in a checkerboard pattern.  Ishi wondered if there were similarly sized pieces hiding somewhere in the closet under the stairs but didn't waste time checking.  The bookshelves on the far wall were bisected by another door invariably leading to a kitchen or cellar.  Architectural manuals played shelf-fellows to novels and traveling guides, with odd island curios, from the Architect's travels Ishi assumed, placed artfully in places needing bookends.  If the Informant wasn't planning on tearing the apartment to pieces he might have enjoyed several of the titles while sipping a cup of tea on the second floor.  

 

Ishi Polzin flipped through the letters under the window as he observed the room, finding little of interest in the small stack of papers.  General notices about Matoro's passing still lingered in the tray next to a vase with wilted flowers, followed by non-sensitive notes and motions for the Ko-Koro government.  It was all old news now, and worthless on the black market: Echelon would own the city by nightfall.  He covered his mouth with a palm, thinking hard on how to smuggle one of the most powerful masks on Mata Nui under the nose of the Necromancer.  Of course, Dervish still had no clue as to their true purpose, and as long as that fact could be maintained Ishi was in control.

 

"Tell me," Ishi asked suddenly.  His words carried up the carved stairwell.  "Do you have any practice with hidden object games? We're looking for something that could hide a metal safe about, oh," he sketched the rough proportions of his head in the air around with his hand, "this big?  We're going to start here and work our way in until we find something."

 

Any further dialogue was broken by the explosion of activity from the upper floor, and before Ishi could call warning they were beset by a trio of house guards.  One was a toa of ice, quickly making use of his powers to stopper the stairs with a frigid blockade.  The other two were matoran, taking defensive positions from the banister before getting clear shots with their patero launchers.  Ishi felt a bamboo needle pierce his right arm in the first volley, and immediately he regretted not having his coat.

 

OOC:  Here we go!

[ARROW404]

IC: Kimala

She lowered her gaze. "I don't believe I will be able to accomplish anything on my own, or even with a small team of ordinary Toa. Ko-Koro itself may be lost already..." Her hand went to the injury at her side. She looked back out at the path they had followed. "But that means that sooner or later, the Maru will be there." She clenched her jaw. "I'm going to be there when they are, and offer my services. If there is anyone who can wipe the Makuta and his worshipers out once and for all, it is them." She didn't bother addressing the issue of crossing the break. It had brought a slight smile to her face, but there was nothing more to discuss. She started walking again.

[Timageness]

IC: She was so going to get herself killed one day...

Verulas sighed, scratching the back of his head in frustration before speaking.

"Well, if you're going, then I guess I have to go to. Part of the hospital job requires me to watch the backs of the other defenders until everyone makes it out, and I just don't see how that would be physically possible from the inside of a bar in Ta-Koro. And don't go trying to talk me out of it either; my mind's made up."

The Bo-Toa quickly checked to make sure that his knives were properly sheathed before following Kimala.

"Besides," he said, his mouth half smiling. "If I don't go, who's going to show you guys to the secret sewer entrance that'll lead you right past the majority of the Makuta-worshipping crazies?"

Edited October 25, 2014 by timageness411

[Toatapio Nuva]

IC Hile

(Ko-Koro):

 

Deciding that Oreius' task was more interesting than Korero's, Hile followed the Toa Maru of fire through the empty streets. While the Toa had little confidence about rescuing the village, Hile had enough for both of them. The presence of the strongest of heroes made him feel secure, and knew that they would face whatever threat they had to in order to bring Ko-Koro back to its feet.

 

While Hile didn't hide his following of Oreius, he attempted to be quiet, lest he disturbed the Toa's mission.

[Nato G]

IC: Enforcer (and Veteran).

"That's two of our recruits walkin' out on a suicude mission," Veteran points out to me.

"I know..." I growl, knowing I have no choice here. Someone has to ensure the pair make it back alive, and Veteran isn't up to a task like this. "I brought our team back from Ko-Koro once before," I sigh to Veteran, "it seems I must do it again. If I don't return, tell Zero I'm sorry that I failed her."

With that, he headed off after Veneras, Kimala and Verulas... Back into the battlezone...

Edited October 27, 2014 by NatoGreavesy

[Dastan]

IC (Dastan):

 

While helping to load the cable car again and again, the Ni-Toa was involuntarily listening to the speeches of Veteran and Venras, who seemed to ignore him. After all, they weren't obliged to be happy to see to see this odd loner.

Then this Crystal Toa came. First Fastan thought it was a male, but doubt went away as she started talking.

"What about a Toa of Lightning covering your back?" He adressed to Kimala and Verulas at the same time, approaching to them: "anything's better than sitting my bottom of here, doing nothing."

[silo]

IC: (Rekhyt)

 

"Tell you what, why don't we all go back into the koro, and while we're at it, we could make a truce with Makuta's followers and incidentally awaken Mata-Nui and fulfill our destinies." the Fa-Toa said sarcastically; he had had enough of righteous heroes doing things for the good of matorankind, and, more importantly, him sitting around doing nothing. 

However, he hadn't done anything of interest recently, and now was his chance: teleporting after the three toa and the vortixx, he said:

"I thought I'd come along too, seeing as this wasn't pointless enough already...anyway, I've got to kill something soon."

[Nato G]

IC: Veteran.

Veteran shook his head in disbelief. Now three recruits were walking off to their deaths? It was his job to look after them until they became new members, but going after Rekhyt and Veneras would mean leaving the others behind.

Veteran knew he couldn't abandon the outpost, or his other recruits. He would just have to hope that Enforcer managed to keep everyone alive...

Edited October 27, 2014 by NatoGreavesy

[ARROW404]

IC: Kimala

She stopped again and stared in disbelief at the group of followers she had suddenly, accidentally accrued. She smiled and actually teared up a little. Maybe she was a better leader than she thought. She laughed breathlessly, completely speechless. "Well... Uh..." She shook her head  and started walking, her hard stare gone, replaced with a confident grin. So much for 'small group of Toa', this what a whole team, plus a Vortixx! 

 

OOC: What just happened? o___________o

[Nato G]

OOC: well, Veneras wants to help in Ko, Verulas seems to have some kind of crush on Kimala, and Rekhyt and Dastan are bored. Enforcer is coming along just to make sure the Outsider recruits survive. I think that's everyone...

IC: Enforcer.

With her back to me, I am sorely tempted time and time again to shoot, bludgeon or stab Kimala, but I excersise restraint. I'd made a deal with Verulas: if she didn't attack The Outsiders, I wouldn't kill her.

I have little in ways of honour, but I did have this: I do not break a deal that I have struck.

So, despite my misgivings about Kimala, it seems I am now following her out onto the battlefield, just to keep a pair of Veteran's recruits alive.

He so owed me for this...

Edited October 27, 2014 by NatoGreavesy

[Eyru]

IC (Oreius, Inu)

 

The Toa of Fire soon returned to the meeting place. He was accompanied by the Ko-Matoran chronicler, as well as half a dozen villagers who had missed their chance to evacuate. With no way out, they had barricaded themselves inside their huts and made ready for a last stand. The years of darkness had made sure that every man and woman on Mata Nui knew how to hold a spear; though the Guard was better trained and equipped, there were few helpless Matoran.

 

They had been suspicious at first, but followed him willingly once they recognized him. No other Toa wore that peculiar mask, walked with a slight hunch, and carried the sword of Tahu himself. So they followed, quickly and silently, as Ko-Matoran are apt to do, still carrying spears and blades.

[Not Quite Dead]

IC Forger

 

The cable car grinds to a halt, I disembark.

 

The titan is a large and watchful presence in the dwindling group of refugees from the hospital and Ko-Koro, I make my way to him. Up close, he is rather intimidating. His facial expression gives away little, his body language none. He could be a statue carved from ageless stone for all an onlooker would know.

 

I have come to realize several things over the past day, one of them is that the titan is likely to remain a presence on the island, whether or not we meet again soon or later on. I have a feeling our lives will cross again. Knowing this, I would like to be fight alongside him if we meet under those circumstances, rather than have him as an enemy.

 

"Titan, I will not mince words. I can see you are wary about our group, this outpost and the circumstances surrounding the two. I am not going to confirm or deny any of your suspicions. Take that as you may." His angular visage stares down at me, through me.

 

"...Also. I would like to thank you for allowing us to help you, I do not pretend that my words or vows are worth more than wind. But the events that have transpired between our groups over the last day have woken me in a way. I can see through the fog that obscured my vision then, I see that the path I was taking, the path I was leading my men down, that it was the wrong one."

 

Silence, even the wind and sounds of movement in the makeshift camp seem dulled.

 

"So, what I mean to say is.. That if we meet again under circumstances such as these again, our blades will be with you."

Edited October 25, 2014 by Tiragath

[silo]

IC: (Rekhyt)

 

"So...why are we actually doing this again?"

[Constructelf]

IC Avsa (Tracer)

Having arrived back from Ta, Tracer went to the kitchen to get food for her animals, but stopped, and went back. She then dragged the two Kavinika and Guanhumi inside, away from the refugees.

[Timageness]

OOC: I wasn't expecting a group that size when Verulas joined the "Kimala's crazy suicide mission" bandwagon either, but hey, it happens. And can we stop with the whole "Verulas has a crush on Kimala" thing? Because it is so not like that. At all.

IC: Verulas shrugged.

"Fine with me," he said. "I hearby grant you the title of Sparky the Second, which is what I'll be calling you until we're on a first-name basis. Or, you know, whenever I feel like it. Just try not to zap me like the last Sparky did, and we'll get along just fine."

He then turned his attention to the teleporting Fa-Toa.

"As for you, welcome aboard! It's always nice to know when there's another pessimist on the team. And to answer your question, apparently we all want to die horribly today, and there's no better place to do that than in a city that's currently under siege by a bunch of psychopaths. I sure do hope that I get gutted with a spoon!"

The Bo-Toa had spent years perfecting his particular brand of sarcasm; he could do this all day.

[silo]

IC: (Rekhyt)

 

"Seems reasonable..." the Fa-Toa grinned: he was liking this guy already...

[ARROW404]

IC: Kimala

She turned to Verulas with a slight smile. "What side of the city is the secret entrance? I want to get a bird's eye view from outside before we try to enter." She then addressed Sparky II. "We're going to find the Maru first. After that, whatever happens happens."

[Palm]

IC: Pae

 

Pae dropped to the ground, using his legs to absorb the shock. With the billowing of his cloak he stood up and began running down the path away from Ko-Koro. He couldn't help but feel some level of irony about what it was he was doing. Not long ago, Pae had taken part in a raid not much different than the one currently being made on Ko-Koro.

 

Pae had wounded and even killed a few people during the attack on Pala-Koro - led by Echelon even. Yet here he was now, with the live village leader in his arms running away from the danger Echelon himself had created.

 

He would have grimaced if his disposition allowed for it. Yet now he skimmed across the snowy surface of Ko-Koro, plotting out a path that would lead him to Ta-Koro, and hopefully - if he was right - to Kino-Ihu.

 

OOC:
Pae and Korzaa to Ta-Wahi

Edited October 25, 2014 by Palm

[Rorschach the Absolute]

IC Veneras 

 

Veneras was torn. Self-secrifice was a noble act. At the same time, he wondered how helpful he would be if he were dead. 

He led Kimala to above the city entrance. The sight of the broken city in the daylight was too much for him to bare. 

He pointed to the Citadel in the northermost point of the city, silently.

Edited October 25, 2014 by Veneras

[silo]

IC: (Rekhyt)

 

Rekhyt looked to where Veneras was pointing. "What are we doing?"

[Rorschach the Absolute]

IC Veneras 

 

The Ko-Toa shook his head, in a long and drawn out tone he replied "I have no idea" in a tone of hopelessness

[Timageness]

IC: "It's near the back, outside of the wall," Verulas said, resting his hand on his sword as he spoke. "I had to make an extra little trek around the other side of the mountain to get there, but I didn't have to go through an entire army to do so, so I'm counting it as a plus. I should also point out that it has a bit of a rat problem, Frosty over here might have to make an ice bridge at some point, and the members of the Ko-Koro guard that were stationed there during my last visit were about as friendly as a hungry Takea Shark, so they're going to need some convincing to let us by them."

He paused, catching his breath as he caught sight of the burning village and pointed to the approximate location of where he found the sewer grate.

"Right about there," the Bo-Toa continued. "I'm not saying that it's going to be an easy journey, but it sure as Karz beats the alternative. Last chance to back out, people."

[ARROW404]

IC: Kimala

She stopped. "Wait..." Her eyes narrowed, focusing on something in the sky. "There's someone flying over the city... green..." She broke in a run, "Korero!" She had no way to be sure it was him, but she had to hope.

 

"We need a faster way than the sewers," she called back. "The walls won't be guarded, we'll climb them. If that really is Korero, then we have to hurry. He can teleport as soon as they're done and we'll never catch up!"

[Rorschach the Absolute]

IC Veneras 

 

The Ko-Toa began walking towards the city that was once his home.
Once a place of learning, now a den of robbers and thieves. Makuta worshipers.
He gripped his staff tightly in his anger
 

Edited October 25, 2014 by Veneras

[Timageness]

IC: "Okay, then," Verulas shrugged. "Wall it is."

A vine shot from his hand, wrapping itself around one of the battlements as he used it to climb up. He groaned in pain as he pulled himself over the edge, leaving the plant tethered in place for others to use as he made two more so the Ko-Toa wouldn't end up doing all of the heavy lifting. Whoever this "Korero" person was, Kimala was sure as Karz making reaching him a very big deal.

Wait a minute...

The Bo-Toa turned around, looking back up at the flying Toa in the distance.

Air powers? Teleportation?

No, it couldn't be... Only one way to find out...

Three mist-bomb plants appeared in both of his hands, only to impact the side of a nearby building moments later. Hopefully the ensuing green cloud would be enough to catch the Le-Toa's gaze.

[Nato G]

OOC: Dayeth and Mortem from Kini-Nui.

IC: Dayeth.

"We made it," Dayeth laughed jubilantly as she and Mortem emerged from the darkness and out into the cold Ko-Wahi sunlight. "So, where shall we go from..." she trailed off, seeing a group of beings scaling the Koro walls, "...there."

She pointed at the group; some of them looked very familiar, and that made her blood boil even more than it already did.

IC: Enforcer.

I reach the top of the wall and look around. Verulas is trying to attract the flying Toa's attention. Everyone else is in the process of climbing. I turn and help them up one by one.

When it comes Kimala's turn, I hesitate. It would be so easy to cut the vine, or shove her down to her death. But I don't. A deal is a deal. I grab her hand and pull her up, letting go as soon as is safely possible.

Just because I promised to let her live, doesn't mean I have to like it.

Edited October 27, 2014 by NatoGreavesy

[Rorschach the Absolute]

IC Veneras

 

Standing on the wall overlooking the city added a whole new sense of reality to the situation. He looked across the city to the Citadel. Zeal burned in his heart, it burned like dry ice, sending shards through his veins and steeling his resolve. The desolation of the Sanctum would be avenged.

"Do you think anyone survived?"

[ARROW404]

IC: Kimala

She was no fool, and didn't trust Enforcer any more than he liked her. As soon as she saw he was the one at the top, looking down on her, she made herself crystal hand-holds for the rest of the way up. A hiss of pain slipped past he teeth as she let him pull her up, the stitch in her side protesting painfully. Clenching her jaw, she knelt on the ice, looking up, trying to see, but still unsure if she was right about the Toa's identity. She glanced over her shoulder, and beheld the answer to Veneras' question. "Yes." She pointed at where a small group of Matoran and a Toa of Fire stood. Still too far away to judge, but she wanted to hope it could be Oreius. She rose. "Maybe we could split the group, half going to see if they need help," she suggested. "I'll stay here and try to get in touch with the Toa of Air." 

Edited October 26, 2014 by The Fifth Spoilers

[Nato G]

IC: Enforcer.

"No," I reply, "no splitting up. My teammate lost an eye because we split up." I'm not blaming Kimala this time; it was mine and Forger's fault for splitting up the group. "I don't want any other crippling injuries or deaths on my conscience today.
IC: Enforcer.

"No," I reply, "no splitting up. My teammate lost an eye because we split up." I'm not blaming Kimala this time; it was mine and Forger's fault for splitting up the group. "I don't want any other crippling injuries or deaths on my conscience today."

Edited October 27, 2014 by NatoGreavesy

[ARROW404]

IC: Kimala

She winced. "Easy, I meant in a group of three."

[Nato G]

IC: Enforcer.

I still don't like it, but if the others agree I will have no choice. It doesn't take a genius to realise that if we split up into trios I will be unable to keep track of all three of the recruits.

"What groups do you suggest?" I ask.

Edited October 27, 2014 by NatoGreavesy

[Rorschach the Absolute]

IC Veneras

Veneras did not much like the idea of seperating, but he knew that he needed to speak up "I will lead the front group to aid the Fire Toa and matoran" he volunteered