Bzprpg - Ga-Wahi

[Krayzikk]

IC:

 

There was a brief pause, Liara's mind suddenly clicking, realizing who it was she was speaking to. The last time they'd spoken was, it seemed, a lifetime ago. Months back, before the destruction of Tillian Juturna's old home, before she turned over a new leaf. Before she hung up the her armor for the last time.

 

It was doubtful that he even realized the connection. It had been a while, and the event was in all likelihood not even a blip in his memories. And even if it was, she hardly looked the same. She didn't even sound the same. But one thing remained consistent; no matter how much she resented the being in front of her, he needed help.

 

"From the looks of things, the monsters have been hunting you." Her tone was slightly brisk, as she grabbed the bag she'd carried with her. "If you'd do me a favor and move your hand, I might be able to patch you up."

[They]

OOC: Continuing from HERE

 

IC: The Hapaka

 

The two companions moved across the beach in the orange and purple glow of the setting suns. Ishi followed slightly behind the toa of water, his head bowed in contemplation. He had spent an entire day dealing with an ordinary house fire and the disappearance of a toa. Sand gritted beneath his toes as he sauntered, Labelle's figure casting a shadow on his face from above. As the two ascended the small flight of steps leading from the beach to the main-gate of Ga-Koro, Ishi couldn't help but feel this game was a losing one.

 

"There's a loose thread I'm missing," He murmured, rubbing his wounded shoulder with his good hand. It had been a price for the information gained, but had the exchange been equal?

[Toa Fanixe]

ooc: sorry about that. didnt see it.

 

IC:

 

"What do you mean?" Labelle asked worringly. "What don't you understand about the fire?". She didn't show it, but an ounce of worry manifested itself in her mind. She didn't think much of it, but still, it was uncomfortable. She would much prefer it if the Dog took her statement without question. She couldn't have him distracted or chasing odd Toa across they island. Labelle needed focused on the evidence she'd shown him, so that they could quickly find the other Mark Bearers. Even without Marks they were dangerous, and Labelle wanted to face the rest of them with someone by her side, even if it was a Dog.

 

A pang of Hunger began in her stomach. She licked her lips.

 

We've got to hurry this up.

[Voutok S'Tythe (Ray)]

Lenat- Ga-koro IC: "It would probably be best if you waited until after the Turaga's funeral before asking. I'm sure he won't turn away a potential recruit but, due to his position, he probably will be busy with some thing or another for the entire event. Best not to wait to long after though. I'm expecting a flood of villagers will want join so they can avenge their leader." The Vortixx looked across the street where a group of Matoran looked like they did not know whether to cry or rage against the world for cruelly taking their beloved leader from them. "I would not wish to be that Skakdi in the coming months. Or a Skakdi, period."

IC: Voutok"That was the original plan, yes." the De-Matoran replied in a hushed voice. He did his best to keep their movements as quiet as possible as he followed the sound of the slowly-moving procession down the streets, keeping a steady pace and checking occasionally to insure his current companions Lenat, Firion, and Virin remained behind him. The noise slowly got louder, an indication that he was getting closer. He soon had to turn the dial of his headphones to the "three" setting, especially when he started to notice Matoran walking down the streets; another indication that the procession was close.After passing around a few more seaweed huts, Voutok saw what he had been looking for: the moving procession. One of the first (and most prominent) things he noticed was the casket being lifted by a group of Toa."Found it." Voutok said in a calm tone, mainly to pay respect to the solumn mood of the procession. He looked closer at the individual Toa carrying the casket and recognized a female Toa of Gravity; the one who had addressed the crowd when the streets went into an uproar shortly after the Turaga's assassination.Voutok turned to Firion. "The Toa Arete, I assume?" he asked before directing his attention back at the moving procession. He took a good look at the Arete and the casket."Well, they sure LOOK like they're as sad as the other people watching this procession." he thought to himself. "But there's no way for me to know for sure...Karz, where's a Toa with a Mask of Telepathy when you need one? Oh well..."He turned his attention the the mournful crowd, noticing several tears being shed and several clenched fists, all focusing on the slow procession. Some followed behind on foot, some collapsed on the floor crying...karz, some of them were on the rooftops!Voutok looked back at the coffin and tried to be respectful--tried to feel something. But no matter how sympathetic he tried to be, no tears were shed. Not even a hint of sadness could be found in his soul. To the people around him, this was the body of one of the wisest and most respected souls on Mata Nui being carried off for one last goodbye; an old friend to all whose life was abruptly ended by some twisted, evil being. But to Voutok, he saw little more than a fancy wooden box with the corpse of some old woman he knew next to nothing about, being hauled off by a bunch of equally-anonymous-to-him Toa whom quite frankly he didn't know what to think of. And he wanted to help avenge this corpse's demise? Meanwhile there were dozens, maybe hundreds of other Matoran who may be as adept if not more than he, flooding the streets with their passion for their fallen Elder and swearing on her grave that they would make the life of the fiend who did this a living Karzahni before being put to a horrible, horrible death. What was he hoping to gain from that quest anyways, assuming it ever happened? Fame? Fortune? The simple thrill of adventure? How base--how rude by comparison to the driving passion of these distraught Matoran and Toa of Ga-Koro.Ironically, it was this truth that finally brought a single tear to his eye; a sense of sadness--of regret--into his empty soul. He closed his eyes and took in the solemn atmosphere, feeling the rain tapping on his mask. After about a minute, he opened his eyes in time to see the casket passing in front of him and moving on. He quietly turned to the others."We...we should probably follow behind them...you know, so we can keep track of the procession...and to not lose sight of Ketan...right?"

[AlchemistMayCry]

IC: Lenzo

 

"Go ahead," I bowed politely to Stronin. "It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Stronin. Maybe if we cross paths again, we can get a nice drink somewhere. May fortune be with you on your journey."

[25K Now!]

IC: [stronin]

 

Stronin gave the other being a nod. "Same. Well then, I'm off."

 

With that, he activated his mask, and floated off towards Ta-koro.

 

OOC: Stronin to Ta-wahi.

[AlchemistMayCry]

IC: Crimeia

 

"Soooo Atonal, how'd you sleep? You hungry?" I went over to the table and continued chowing down. "Man, I'm so hungry I could eat a Manas! Oh man, can you imagine that? Giant manas for food? Mmmmmmm...."

 

IC: Lenzo

 

Stronin levitated off towards Ta-Koro, and I waved goodbye. "What a friendly fellow," I said to nobody in particular. "There's some definite good in him."

 

"Always with the moralizing and goodness aren'tcha" Ferum piped up. I had forgotten he'd even existed. "Still, betcha you would've gotten a good fight outta him if you pressed him a bit further."

 

"Now now Ferum," I replied curtly, shaking my head. "A little fight every now and then may make life more interesting, but it is not necessary to live."

 

"I'd beg to differ," a dark voice said, laughing. I turned and saw a blood-red Toa walking towards me. He wore a long red coat that was charred in several places, and the same color as his armor. Well, in general his whole body was charred. I was amazed he was still walking. A pair of swords were on his back. "Fighting is my reason to live. Always did enjoy a good fight."

 

I put a hand on Fenrir. The newcomer grinned. "Don't mind me, just thought I'd give my two cents as I was passing through. Go back to talkin' to yerself." He walked past me, smiling that insane smile. I stepped away and stared, waiting for him to disappear into the woods. When he was gone, I exhaled in relief.

 

"That guy had some seriously bad aura about him," Fenrir said quietly. "I might be a fight-happy mask, but I wouldn't be caught dead in a fight with that guy."

 

"Some restraint for once? I'm amazed, Ferum," I replied, chuckling.

 

"It's not restraint. It's fear. That guy just screams 'crazy'."

 

That's not a good sign. If he's going into Ga-Koro...oh no. I leaped into the trees, boosting myself up with a blast of air and started swinging, hoping to catch a glimpse of the blood-red Toa. He was nowhere in sight. I cursed. "He's gone. Clearly fight happy. What if he attacks the village?"

 

"The guards can handle it?"

 

"I must warn them. Get ahead of him." I swung faster, boosting through with air. I saw the blood-red Toa nearing the edge of the forest. He had stopped, sitting down on a rock to eat some fruit. I stood in the trees motionless, waiting for him to make a move. Minutes passed like years. He finally rose, raising a hood on his coat and started walking into Ga-Koro. I dropped from my hiding spot, using a cushion of air to land softly. The blood-red Toa seemed benign enough, heading off in the direction of an inn. "I suppose travel takes its toll on everyone, even fight-happy lunatics," I murmured.

 

"Oh forget him, Len. Don't you have some meditating to do?"

 

"That I do." I continued on my way into Ga-Koro, heading towards the Suva. I hope that Toa and I don't cross paths again. I fear what he might wreak.

[25K Now!]

IC: [Atonal]

 

"I've never been one for seafood," replied Atonal bluntly, taking a seat at the table. "I've been more of a poultry person."

 

"Sadly, Ga-koro is rather lacking in that respect."

[AlchemistMayCry]

IC: Veros

 

"Well, food's food. That's all that I could need!" Crimeia said, grinning from ear to ear.

 

"She's incorrigible," I said, taking a drink. "She'll eat anything if she can. She just loooooves her food." The back of my neck prickled. Something's wrong. Maybe I'm paranoid, but something's coming. I brushed the thought aside and went back to my food.

[25K Now!]

IC: [Atonal]

 

"Hopefully she doesn't devour the entire contents of the inn. My wallet isn't limitless."

[AlchemistMayCry]

IC: Veros

 

I glanced at Crim with a knowing look. She held up her hands in a gesture that said "What?!". Her mouth was full, so she couldn't exactly talk. "I'll keep her in line," I replied, grinning. "I'm sure she'll love washing dishes should you suddenly run out of money."

[25K Now!]

IC: [Atonal]

 

"Good, because I'm only running on the wages from odd-jobs here and there, and the small amounts of money my daughter sends randomly."

[They]

OOC: Fanixe, I'm moving us along slightly. Hope the up-speed is okay.

 

IC: Hapaka

 

 

We've got to hurry this up, Both beings thought as they walked through the verdant fringe of Ga-Koro’s entrance. To Labelle’s relief Ishi gave her comment no more attention than one would a trivial annoyance. Beneath them, water bobbed the thick pads of vegetation in rolling swells, and suddenly Labelle could see how unsteady Ishi was on his feet. He shuffled sideways on occasion, saunter amputated to nothing more than the occasional swing of his hips. Not having his left arm for balance was a weakness Ishi was learning to regret more with each passing step.

“Forget it,” Ishi said after they had searched for an hour fruitlessly. The Matoran Ishi questioned had heard nothing of a Lazerbeak since Tillian had been married all those months ago. “Let’s move on. I’ll find healing when it fits into my --” He paused, licking his lips slightly at the prospect before him, “Our schedule.”

“Then are we going to go after the Mark Bearers,” Labelle asked, a hint of urgency trailing into her voice. Ishi nodded and stuffed a hand into his pocket.

“First though, we’re going to the Marines.”

--

“You sure about this,” Labelle hissed in the dark, stopping Ishi’s plan from advancing with a firm hand about his shoulder. Peeling her clutching fingers from his lava-eel coat, Ishi snorted with annoyance. Turning quickly about to face his soon-to-be partner in crime, he looked upwards at her face. It was a new moon. Without the faint light from the stones in the windows up above, her face would have been entirely obscured from view, vanished into the bluish darkness of the watery background. How useful is she, really?

“Why would I be here then,” Ishi whispered back. Rolling his eyes, Ishi pressed on; “I’m a wanted man in most Koros right now. Secrecy is my ally. I just need to pop in for a bit, take a look at some confidential records, and then we can be on our way. Police reports from across the Island are filtered to the guard stations of each Koro. Anything of use from the past few weeks will be here.” He waved lazily in the direction of the front of the building they were crouched behind, the stench of a dumpster pervading their nostrils. “Just, go make some noise out front, will you?”

[Toa Fanixe]

IC: Labelle

 

The beautiful Toa of Water pouted. She might not be strongest Toa on Mata-Nui without her Mark, but she was certainly the best at disguises. Not that she usually needed them - a beautiful Ga-Toa could work her way to places to no army could - but that wasn't the point. She was not about to allow a half-dead Dog order her around, especially with that aweful stench of garbage overpowering her sense of smell. And now with the Hunger beginnning to pick up again.

 

"Actually, I think I'll come with you."

 

She activated her Mahiki, and where once stood a former Mark Bearer stood instead a rather menacing member of the Ga-Koro guard. Labelle couldn't be quite sure where she had seen this particular Guard member, but it didn't matter. Any would do for what they had planned.

 

"If anyone asks, I finally manged to catch you and am escorting you to a cell." Labelle was surprised her new voice. It was surprisingly masculine and quite unlike her own melodious speech. But it suited their scheme perfectly.

 

"Now, let's go, shall we?"

 

An ache began to hurt her head. She shook it away. Now was not the time to be feeding her Hunger. Or maybe it was?

[They]

OOC: Typing on a very slow computer, Fanixe. I'm off to work, but let's get this party started. Also, if anyone has a guard character and feels like jumping in, plesae note these little bits:

1) The time is NIGHT, and it's still the day Casa Juturna burned down.

2) Nokama isn't dead yet, but there can't be any interaction with her, since she's not back from Pala-Koro (destroyed) yet either.

 

IC: Hapaka

 

As Labelle morphed with her mask power Ishi let out the tiniest whistle. "What'd I'd give for one of those sometimes," He whispered. Stepping up to his position, Ishi pulled a pair of small cuffs from within the folds of his coat and clipped them around his wrists. "Lead on."

 

Labelle was all to happy to oblige, playing the part of captor all too well. By the time the front door was in sight, Ishi was beginning to wonder if he hadn't been tricked all along. "Hey," He muttered, trying to keep his lips from moving, "Just who's side are you on? Mark bearers, remember?"

[Silvan Haven]

OOC: I can't help but notice that Labelle seems to have used her Mahiki to perform a physical transformation. You do know that you can't do that in the BZPRPG right?

 

Lenat- Ga-wahi

 

IC: "If you wish to" The Vortixx replied softly. He felt sadness at the sight of the casket and it's bearers mostly because of what he could see in the villages future. Namely, darkness and uncertainty.

[~Xemnas~]

IC, Marohi: Marohi slowly opened his eyes to greet the new day- a gray one, at that. Marohi put on his hood, since the possibility of rain was increased due to the gray sky. After a quick bite from the fruit he had found the previous day, he picked up his trekking pole and headed off for the village of Ga-Koro, intent on gathering information as to what the current events were and to possibly buy some food. After all, Marohi only exiled himself from Po-Koro- not any of the other villages…

 

***

 

When Marohi first entered the village, he noticed that the place was virtually… empty. There was nobody in sight, and it was dead quiet. Marohi kept walking, and he finally found people- a crowd, more precisely. One half the crowd was on one side of the street, the other half on the other side. Approaching a Matoran near where he was standing, he quietly asked, “Pardon me for asking, ma’am, but what is going on?”

 

The Ga-Matoran turned tearfully to the ex-Guardsman and replied solemnly, “Today is Turaga Nokama’s funeral. The entire village has turned out to watch the procession…” With those simple words the Matoran turned away from Marohi and waited for the funeral procession to make their way down the street.

 

The Po-Matoran nodded his thanks and walked around the length of the crowd, to nearly the front of the crowd, until he found a suitable position to watch- or so he thought. He tried to squeeze his way through the crowd, and although he was a Matoran, he found that it was too packed for him to get through. So he looked around and saw a tree nearby. He ran over to it and climbed until he could see over the people’s heads and positioned himself so that he wouldn’t fall. Now he could see what was going on- an ornate wood casket (presumably Nokama’s) was being carried by four Marines and was surrounded by seven Toa- the Arete that Marohi had heard of from his fellow Guardsmen while he was still a guard. All of them looked solemn as they walked with the casket.

 

Marohi looked on sadly, and a thought egged the back of his mind. Where was Hahli? Wasn’t she supposed to be here, being the leader of the Marines? Marohi looked around and still couldn’t find her. He came to the only logical conclusion- she was missing, possibly exiling herself like Marohi had done himself. But he couldn’t understand why she would leave- she was the leader of the Marines, for sakes! The Po-Matoran assumed that Hahli was supposed to be in charge of the village, just as Hewkii was in charge of Po-Koro now. Marohi would have to ask around after the funeral was over.

 

Marohi continued to watch the procession, saddened by all the madness that had taken place recently, and shed a tear…

OOC: Marohi (sitting in a tree) open for interaction, I suppose.

[They]

OOC: From here

IC: Hapaka

“State Your Business.”

The words floated from the orange glow of lightstones, two sentries speaking in unison. They held the traditional tridents of their rank; bulging bags of bamboo disks strapped across their backs. Ishi licked his lips and though; things could get messy. Labelle walked forwards cooly, never once admitting to her true nature.

“I’m bringing the suspect in for detainment and questioning,” She said firmly, a gruff tone conveying the urgency. “It’s to do with the Juturna Fire.” The two matoran glanced at each other briefly, then began their usual round of questions.

Ishi admired the architecture while Labelle in her visage talked with the Marines positioned at the gate. Their conversation was trivial anyway. The building was three floors in a massive ring shape; built out of light materials capable of withstanding the heavy winds which so often rolled across the sea into port from the East. Wonder if the place would set fire or just hiss and fizzle, Ishi contrived as the smell of salt and fish wafted from the front walls, bringing the ocean smell of the bay to a pickled distillation. Ishi let out a small cough and determined to breath through his mouth for the remainder of the night.

The Green Lilypad they stood on was massive, acting as the central waypoint between the Old-District and Nokama Docks. Unlike Nokama’s Lilypad in the Old-District, the Marine’s Headquarters floated directly on the water, carrying over the slow ripple pattern from the street-pads of the ocean’s lapping tide. Ishi shivered involuntarily. Hope I can make this without getting sick, He thought as the combination of motion and smells made him gag.

Without fanfare, the front door was pulled open, revealing the open-air halls of the compound, which surrounded a central garden and training space. Labelle gripped him by the shoulders and Ishi was steered between naturally occuring pillars of jasmine vines and bamboo. Labelle had to duck on occasion to avoid the coral chandeliers which housed small jars of glowing light-bugs. Marine’s glanced up from their evening meals on wooden benches, but little more was done save the occasional rude gesture or coarse laugh towards the informant in chains. To each offender Ishi simply smiled. Their time would come, and He’d have the last laugh tonight.

“We need to get to the central communications building,” Ishi said, nodding towards the open walls of the lanai, then shook his head to void any further communication. Labelle was on her own now. The illusion of a toa guard had worked to get them in, but could she keep up the facade to reach their destination? I probably should have done it my way, Ishi thought, annoyed with having to keep pace with the larger steps of his locomotive companion. However, his eyes constantly scanned the room for alternate ways of escape or incapacitation. A hallway branched off into the orange glow of more lightstones, probably a kitchen or barrack. Here he was, one matoran of stone in cuffs. There they were: over thirty matoran armed to the gills with their standard tools, and a few toa in the shadows as well. Oh yeah, my left arm is useless too. Ishi grimaced as he glanced back with his peripheral vision at where his wound hid beneath the scales of his coat. Not having pursured a course of healing before this heist had been a poor decision. But it sure adds to the act.

[BBBBalta]

IC: Iraanus watched in silence as the funeral procession shuffled solemly toward the docks. It was a sobering sight, even for the battle-hardened Skakdi - this elder, once among the wisest beings in all the vast expanse of this island, once the head of one of the few bastions of light in the face of the rapidly encroaching darkness, now lay lifeless in a box of wood.Iraanus unconsciously pulled the Rahkshi staff from his pack, running his palm across the length of the weapon as he contemplated the scene before him. A seemingly endless sea of blue rolled before him, every imaginable shade of the color rising and falling as the entirety of the village made its somber way forward - Toa, Matoran, Skakdi, Vortixx, and even a few rahi had come to pay their respects to their fallen leader.Who will lead them now?Iraanus' gaze settled on the seven Toa marching in grim formation around the casket. Though they seemed to be of various elements, these beings clearly held positions of prominence in the village of water. Its protectors, perhaps?If so, they must not be very good at it.How could they, if they had allowed the Turaga's life to be taken? Iraanus felt a wave of elemental energy welling up in his chest, a perfect complement to the tide of frustration and resentment that had begun to do the same. Iraanus was certain that leadership of the village would now pass to these seven, a group that evidently was incapable of protecting even a single life. How was it that-"Iraanus." Rhow's voice pulled him back to the present. He cast a questioning glance at the other Ga-Skakdi. Rhow simply pointed to the water at the edge of the lilypad that housed the hut. Though it had been calm when they had arrived, it was now churning restlessly, stirred by an unseen force. With some effort, Iraanus brought his power back under control. The water settled.It was now that he noticed the staff in his hands. A faint smile played across his lips as he remembered that day in what now seemed like the distant past, the day he had acquired this weapon - which, coincidentally, was the day he had met Rhow. He glanced around at his companions. Had Makuta not sent his Rahkshi to terrorize the island, the Horde may not have formed at all. The idea that even the dark one's plans had unintended side effects brought Iraanus a considerable measure of satisfaction.Still, that knowledge was of little importance to the situation at hand. Iraanus jabbed the staff in to the ground in frustration and began to pace. Everything in his being cried out for him to take action, for him to do something.But at the moment, the only something he could do was wait.

[Toa Fanixe]

IC:

 

As they walked down the corridor in search of the records room Labelle felt a pain in her head again, greater than the headache she'd had before. She winced as her veins throbbed against the confines of her skull. She wanted to yell, let out all the pain but she knew she couldn't. Her Mahiki could create illusions, but not dampen a high pitched scream of agony.

 

She tried to push it away again, but could not. She sighed heavily, which caused futher discomfort, and continued walking. The pangs were something she had began to learn to live with. Unless she had completely fed her Hunger Labelle regularly felt a low level of torment, which she knew would slowly becoming increasingly unbearable. Luckily there had been Matoran to satisfy her Sadism, but here? There was nothing she could do in the Guard Command, not without risking her life.

As she and the Dog neared the room they were looking for, Labelle eyed their surroundings.

 

Well actually, maybe there was something...

 

Labelle grinned devilishly in delight.

 

She wasn't going to be hungry soon.

 

Labelle knocked on the records room door. A Guard inside opened it.

 

"What do you want?" the Guard asked gruffly.

 

Labelle shoved Ishi forward, grabbing his burnt left arm and causing the Matoran to scream. "I need to... question this criminal and file a report on his booking, so I thought I'd kill two Gukko with one stone. You mind giving us some privacy?"

 

The Guard screwed up his face to think for a moment, grunted and stepped outside.

 

"I guess I could go and have a quick snack. Just don't make a bloody mess, 'cause those papers are a pain to file!"

[AlchemistMayCry]

IC: Veros

 

"Don't worry, I'll keep her in line. I'm sure she won't enjoy washing dishes to pay for her food." I glared at Crimeia, obviously daring her to disobey what I had said. She shrugged and continued munching. I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, resting for a second.

 

My rest was interrupted by the inn's doors crashing open. My eyes snapped open as I saw a blood-red Toa enter, staggering slightly. He wandered over to the innkeeper and slammed his hands on the desk. "Ale. Cheapest you got," he said gruffly, and the innkeeper nodded wordlessly, leaving briefly and returning with a bottle. The Toa grabbed the ale and tossed the innkeeper some widgets and turned around, taking a swig from his drink. Our eyes locked and I recognized him instantly and my heart skipped a beat. The Toa's eyes widened and a grin formed on his face. He swaggered over, the grin growing ever wider. It can't be. That's impossible! The Toa stopped at our table and took another swig of his drink.

 

"Veros," he slurred.

 

"Fuse," I replied quietly.

[25K Now!]

IC: [Atonal]

 

"Another friend of yours, Veros?"

[They]

OOC: B/C of Krayzikk's post in Ko-wahi, I wrote appropriately as promised.

IC: The Hapaka (The night after Casa Juturna’s arson, the death of Greed, and Anthyn’s Sandwhich.)

Ishi stumbled across the dividing line between corridor and records room as Labelle gave him a curt push on the back through the open door. The floors on the upper stories were all made of tightly woven reed mats, no doubt supported by the latticework of plantlife seen on the ground floor. Ishi couldn’t help but recognize the skill Ga-Koro’s natives had at organic architecture. The three virtues surrounded by a spiraling nautilus shell were woven into the center of the otherwise yellow-green floor; the silver insigna of the Marines. Ishi found himself lost in the wicker and driftwood furniture, the armrests and backs of chairs lined in old rigging. Everything had a coastal and nautical feeling, down to the letter opener on the desk made from a navigational tool. Four large windows looked out at the darkened gardens and training ring in the center of the compound below, closed jars of light bugs gently strobing with yellow dazzle for illumination. The guard on duty stiffened as she saw the two beings enter, her trident placed rigidly with the butt digging into the floor.

“What do you want?” The guard asked with a gruff voice, her tone made it obvious they weren’t expected.

“I need to... Question this criminal and file a report on his booking, so I thought I’d kill two Gukko with one stone. You mind giving us some privacy?” Labelle rattled out as it were standard procedure. Ishi decided to play cheeky.

“Yeah, and what sort of questioning requires being GRAAAOOOW!” Ishi shouted as Labelle viciously squeezed his wounded shoulder. He dropped to a knee, panting as the pain rushed to his head, temporarily mangling his vision into sharp bursts of red. The guard barely flinched, and continued her dialogue with Labelle as Ishi attempted to regain composure, taking deep breathes through clenched teeth. Once the door closed and the two were alone, Ishi let the manacles fall to the ground in a jangle of chain, the key still damp from having been under his tongue.

“That was... Painful,” Ishi said as he rose to his full height. “I’d advice not doing that again. I shouldn’t have to remind you you’re still a wanted conspirator in the Mark Bearer fiasco.” Ishi strode into the room, right hand stretching and contracting to release the remnants of the pain. I can’t get distracted, not right now, Ishi thought to himself. With a sweep of his eyes, he quickly gathered his surroundings into a mental picture. Pointing towards the rack of records behind a large desk, Ishi said; “Labelle, why don’t you point your currently ugly face that direction and read some scrolls. I’ll start with the bulletin board,” Ishi finished as he walked towards a wall of damp clay, matoran letters indented across its surface haphazardly.

IC: Kriigata (Pre-Nokama’s Funeral

Moonlight pierced through clouded horizons murky grey, the southwestern bank of the Naho River cast with an eerie illumination in the late hours of the night. Kriigata’s cautious footsteps across the river rocks was broken with a quiet splash as she slipped for a moment.

“Raxvit,” She whispered forcefully as her body was caught in the grey illumination of the moon, silver tattoos lacing across her armour glittering in the ghost-light. She shrank away from the moon as if physically pained by the encounter, feeling a blanket of darkness wrap around her body as she retreated further up the bank. Cautiously, she moved forwards, keeping her stance light on the bank. The roar of Naho Falls boomed through her skull, pulsing through her body as the raging torrent of her element fought for control. Kriigata hated it. As the falls grew closer Kriigata’s memories overtook her mind. With each creeping step towards the edge Kriigata felt the power of being pulled off the deck and thrown into black, frothing depths. Her body involuntarily shivered from the cold spray of the river dashing off the edge. She crouched, fingers curling over the edge of the monolith carved into the falls. Kriigata was on the forehead, water rushing on either side like long flowing hair. The granite surface had grit. Wind buffeted the young toa of water, but never once was she pulled off the rock.

Below was Ga-Koro. The city of lilpads spread out like a virus from the edge of Naho Falls, overtaking the beaches and bay with glittering lightstones and the sounds of sea chanties. Sailing vessels lined the edge of the spreading community, their propellers lulling with a dull thrum barely audible above the sound of breaking water around her. Kriigata stared deeply for a long time, taking in each street and watercorner with the yellow eyes of a predator. Tonight she had business in the city.

IC: Riaril (Nokama’s Funeral in effect)

Riaril’s world was empty and black, devoid of anything but her immediate surroundings. Riaril’s hand glided along the dark iron railing of a spiral staircase, metal rail polished and smoothed from countless use. Above was a doorway, bright luminescence filtering down to where she was. Try as she might, Riaril could move no faster than a leisurely pace, each footfall seeming to take minutes. Every so often a single water droplet the size of her head would fall down through the center of the spiral. Drip. Riaril took pause, noting how perfect the droplet was. The orb had no deformities, a perfect sphere mirroring her face as it passed, showing the tears she shed on an unmasked face.

“What is going on,” Riaril asked. At first, only a deep chuckle responded, until finally the basso voice of one she knew all too well replied in a loving tone.

“You’re sad,” He said, voice floating down like a cloud from the doorway above. “You may not allow yourself to feel it, but your heat is breaking. All you once knew is lost. It’s time to build something new Riaril.”

Drip.

Riaril’s breath came out in a long woosh of air. Her heartlight was beating rapidly, called almost magnetically to the voice above. Her pace increased until Riaril found herself sprinting up the stairwell, which swelled in width the farther up she went, until before her was the massive doorway stretching an eternity in either direction. Golden light enveloped her, and in an instant she disinegrated into a new vision: him. Her face pressed deeply into his chest, feeling the muscle of her unarmored champion. A hand descended and gently landed on her shoulder, digits reaching all the way to her spine. He was here with her. The two stayed in embrace, letting their heartlights speak all.

Drip.

She blinked, feeling the silver scars across her left eye squirm. Riaril pulled herself up in the chair, peeled her face from the dinner table with a yawn. Brilliant golden light flushed through the kitchen window, making her remaining eye squint. Sleep still passed through her mind like a drug, dulling her senses. Her tongue felt thick and useless. Beneath the kitchen window the faucet prepared to loose another droplet of water.

“You stop that,” Riaril muttered, her glare causing the water to crawl back into the pipe like a frightened animal. Leak fixed, Riaril leaned back and stretched, arms reaching above her head with the crackling of realigning gears. She rolled her neck a few times, feeling the tension leave her body.

“Stupid dreams,” She muttered and pushed herself onto unsteady feet. Outside the kitchen window, Riaril saw fishers and sailors hawking their wares on the Nokama Docks. The calls of avarian rahi looking for hahnan crab shells pierced the midmorning air. With a dull voice, she commented; “Welcome home, Riaril. Yup, just you again.” The smell of ocean wafted through the house from the open pool in the center of the floor. The smell of salt was refreshing after so long in the land of smoke and sulfur. It’s a wonder I ever took that job, Riaril thought, remembering how naive she had been those years ago. Back when Team Kanohi Dragon was the best medical ensemble on the island. Dragons don’t exist, that’s what Taki said. Oh the irony.

With a sigh, Riaril removed her kanohi from the kitchen window. Brushing her hand against a fern growing freely in the wall, Riaril smiled sadly. It was deepest green, but the tips had become golden from lack of water. Closing her eye for a moment, Riaril felt the power of the sea beneath her feet, and summoned a light mist around the withering plant. Her smile became one of content as the fern responded with a flush of color. “Everything just needs a little care, huh?”

The silence was stifling. Riaril realized she was talking to a plant. I need conversation with a protoderm, for Mata-Nui’s sake. Grabbing her medical coat, Riaril slipped the whitened flax garment on with practiced ease. She buttoned the front up to her chin, feeling the rewarding fit as the handsewn coat fit to her figure. Stepping out the front door, a light ocean breeze swept the bottom half of Riaril’s coat about her knees, billowing like a sail from below the waist. Beautiful day, Riaril thought as she gazed at the world, the sunlight livening her mood. For security’s sake her right hand floated to her thigh, causing relief at the metal sai held in place by its leather sheath. Chuckling softly, Riaril set out across Nokama Docks.

OOC: Riaril open for interaction. Yes, that’s right: Riaril.

[AlchemistMayCry]

IC: Veros

 

I laughed coldly. "He's the farthest thing from my friend." I stood up quickly and unsheathed my machete, holding the blade an inch from Fuse's neck. "And by all logic, you should be dead and burned."

 

Fuse laughed and finished his drink, throwing the bottle aside, shattering it. "You tried to burn a TOA OF FIRE. What did you expect?"

 

"I. Broke. Your. Neck." I moved away from the table, Fuse following along, running a hand across one of the twin swords attached to his back.

 

"Oh that. I got better," he smirked. "You didn't twist far enough."

 

I jabbed my machete closer. "Perhaps I should finish the job then. And this time not bother with the neck-breaking and go straight to chopping your head off!" Fuse stepped back, hand tightening around his sword. He looked me over and starting laughing. "What's so funny?"

 

"Your getup. I miss that duster you had. Went well with the tunic. Also, where the karz is your sword? What was it called again? Bloodlust? Dystopia?"

 

"I left that where it belongs: in my memories."

 

Fuse laughed again. "Oh that's rich! You're not a staff fighter! You deny your weapon its purpose! It yearns to bathe in the blood of your enemies! And you hold it back, leaving it in some cave to rust!"

 

"Was there a point to you talking to me?" I asked coldly, my free hand unsheathing my long knife. "Or can we move on to the point where I decapitate you, cut off your limbs, and then throw them into the ocean?"

 

Fuse grinned and he relaxed, taking his hand off his sword. "Yeh. There was a reason for me seeing you. I'm bringing back the Burnouts. After I got better, I thought it was time to replace the ones you killed, and I'm willing to let bygones be bygones if you join."

 

Now that, that was a laugh. I couldn't help letting out a long and cold laugh. "No chance in karzahni," I replied. "Not even if you gave me a mask with the powers of all the other masks, or a magic stone that gave me all elemental powers."

 

"No hard feelings then," Fuse said, unsheathing both his swords. "I really did like you, Ver."

 

"Don't call me that. Only my friends can call me that. You are not my friend. You are my enemy."

 

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" the innkeeper yelled, getting in between me and Fuse. "If you're going to fight, take it outside where you won't burn down my inn!" Fuse and I nodded in unison and sheathed our weapons. Fuse started walking towards the door.

 

"Let's do this! Come on!" he said, cracking his knuckles.

 

I can't fight here. It's not good terrain, and while tossing Fuse into the water would certainly render his fire powers less than useful, it's far too easy to get caught in the crossfire. And who knows if he has backup outside.

 

"I have a better idea," I said slowly. "Ga-Koro isn't the right place for this. We should fight somewhere...out of the way, shall we say. And I know where."

 

"Where?"

 

"The Charred Forest. We'll meet there. And besides, that will give me a chance to obtain my sword. That's what you want right, a sword duel, in the way I used to fight?"

 

Fuse grinned. "Deal."

 

I held up a finger. "No interruptions. No backup. No minions that'll backstab me or shoot me when I'm not looking. This is between us alone."

 

Fuse's grin widened. "You'd think I'd let some other person shed your blood? Ha! I'd kill them first!" He opened the door to the inn. "Charred Forest. Be there."

 

"I will." Fuse left, and I turned to my companions. "I'm going alone. I won't put you three in danger." Crimeia opened her mouth to object, but I silenced her with a glare. "This is between us alone. Not you, not Atonal, or Natalia. This is where I put my past behind me for good."

[25K Now!]

IC: [Atonal]

 

Disappointed Father Mode: ACTIVATED.

 

"Really Veros?" said Atonal with a sigh. "You're going to continue a feud like this? Really, there's no point in trying to kill him. Just because he turned up now, you're going to fight him again?"

[AlchemistMayCry]

OOC:

 

 

IC: [Atonal]

 

Disappointed Father Mode: ACTIVATED.

 

I think my brain just exploded from hilarity.

 

IC: Veros

 

"I have no intention of killing Fuse," I responded quietly. "I follow the Code. But I will not sit idly by while Fuse rebuilds the Burnouts so he can raze villages and slaughter innocents again. If there is anything I intend to do, it is to cripple him. An arm and a leg. He's ambidextrous, but he prefers his right arm. That's the one that will go. And he often starts with his left leg. That will go too. I'll use plasma to cauterize the wounds. It will be quick. It will be relatively painless. He will never be able to fight again." I glared at Atonal. "I know that you're a pacifist, but would you let a mass and unrepentant murderer live, or rather, still be able to use his tools? This isn't vengeance. This is justice. This is to prevent anyone else from being harmed by Fuse. And as I said, I'm going alone. I don't want anything to happen to you because of my past encounters with Fuse. You three are my friends. And if I have to sacrifice my own life to cripple Fuse, so be it."

[25K Now!]

IC: [Atonal]

 

"I'm perfectly fine with you trying to bring him to justice, but by yourself? Tell me, do you think you can defeat him?"

[AlchemistMayCry]

IC: Veros

 

"I know him. His weaknesses. He's arrogant. He's overconfident. He likes to do ridiculous attacks when simpler, more effective ones will do, though if those attacks connect, it's a one-way trip to karzahni. His strategy can be summed up as "BURN STUFF!" and "SLASH STUFF!" or "BURN STUFF WHILE SLASHING STUFF!". But that's also his undoing." I shrugged. "The last time we fought, it wasn't a fight. I snapped his neck when he wasn't looking. Clearly that wasn't enough. And then I had to contend with his minions, who, thankfully, weren't all that bright. Fuse is not some apocalypse-bringing demigod. He's a Toa of Fire with an ego. Get him angry, he'll make mistakes, which will leave him open to crippling attacks. Which is what I intend to do. I can't stop all three of you from not coming, but the last thing I want is for him to reveal that he had minions at the ready the second you three show up." I rubbed my chin, lost in thought. "You could hide in the trees. Just to be safe."

[25K Now!]

IC: [Atonal]

 

"If you go alone then maybe he'll have brought minions to deal with you. We're coming along as well."

[AlchemistMayCry]

IC: Veros

 

"What he said!" Crimeia piped in. "I'm not letting you walk into a trap!"

 

I smiled. "I guess with you guys around, they don't stand a chance. And should I get injured, Natalia can be on hand. After I finish Fuse. While I'm fairly certain he'll come alone, since he'd rather not let anyone else take credit, or even give me a minor injury. But be careful."

[25K Now!]

IC: [Atonal]

 

"Don't worry. We'll be fine."

[AlchemistMayCry]

IC: Veros

 

"Thank you, Atonal. Like I said, I want to go to my old house in Ta-Koro. I know Fuse, he's probably going to have plenty of extra weapons. Better to be safe than sorry." I sat down. "You can finish your food though. It'll take some time to get to Ta anyways."

[25K Now!]

IC: [Atonal]

 

Atonal nodded, returning to his meal.

[Toa Fanixe]

IC:

 

Labelle scanned the scrolls of seaweed on the shelves. There didn't seem to be anything very interesting.

 

"What is it we're looking for again?" she asked the Dog.

Edited March 24, 2013 by Toa Fanixe

[Hanako Herupa]

OOC: Riaril open for interaction. Yes, that’s right: Riaril.

 

IC: (Vera Polzin)

 

Clunk, clunk, clunk.

 

The sound of footsteps on wood came from behind the Toa of Water and then to her right. If the remaining yellow orb looked a little to the right and down the doctor would find the sources of those footsteps.

 

A Matoran women dressed in a honeydew-coloured dress shirt, over that the Matoran woman a navy blue vest with golden buttons was fastened around the shirt. The dress shirt was tucked into a tan pencil skirt that stretched as far as her knees. Her mask was pure white, and shaped like a noble Rau. Remarkably the matoran had enough dexterity in heels to keep pace with the Toa of Water, the both of the seemingly heading in the same direction. At first the Matoran seemingly paid no heed to the much taller woman walking beside her, until her focus wavered and her head turned left, her lilac eyes scanning the Toa of Water.

 

To the matoran, the Toa of Water must have seemed like a giant. There had been enough Toa on this island however, that nearly all Matoran had become relatively desensitized to the sight of a Toa. That did not diminish the beauty of the woman walking to her left. The Toa of Water wore a long white coat, similar to one that she had seen other doctor's in. Like most Toa she was physically fit. The Matoran's eyes traveled upwards realizing one thing, unlike most Toa (and people for that matter) she only had one eye, a brilliant yellow to be particular, but the other was missing, a mass of silver flesh where the other eye should have been sitting. The Fe-Matoran averted her eyes for a few seconds, unsure of whether the woman had seen her glances. After a few more seconds had passed, the Matoran finally spoke.

 

"Hello. You don't happen to be a doctor, do you? I was wondering because I have seen doctors wear similar coats over in the Ga-Koro hospital." Vera asked, her voice soft and somewhat soothing to listen to.

Edited March 28, 2013 by Master of Masks

[Toa Fanixe]

 

 

IC: Skaarn, Right Before the Funeral Procession.

Skaarn walked through the empty streets of Ga-Koro, his destination not too far away. Normally he would have worn concealing clothing and perhaps have taken side streets, but not today. Today nearly all the residents of Ga-Koro were marching in the funeral of their dearly departed leader, Turaga Nokama. Which mean't no one would be around to see him pilfering through the Turaga's house. They would be here soon enough - where else would the Turaga be buried but near her own house? - but it would take some time before the crowd arrived.

He reached the hut soon enough. Not much had changed since he - or rather, Lantz - had been there. It was fairly small and rested on single lillypad, clearly set apart from the other houses nearby. Skaarn moved over and tried to open the door, but found it locked. He took one look to the left, then to the right. There was no one in sight. Bending his knees, Skaarn rammed into the door and broke it open.

Despite its diminuative size, Turaga Nokama's hut was surprisingly full. Shelves on the walls had scores of knick-knacks on them, some with an apparent function, others not. There were some books that Skaarn thought would be fun to be burn, but his focus was on one thing, and thing alone. He began clearing the shelves in search of it, throwing everything to the floor, oblivious to the damage he was causing. He smashed open the two chests that lay on the floor but found only blankets and two swords in them. He turned his attention to the back wall. He realized there was a seaweed curtain there, completely blending into the walls on either side of it. Skaarn smiled. He walked over and moved them aside, revealing a back room. He entered it slowly.

... At Nokama's Hut, Once The Procession Has Arrived

Skaarn growled as he returned to Turaga Nokama's hut. He'd made sure to put the door back as before, reparing the locking mechanism fairly well so that it wouldn't swing open. Now that the funeral procession had arrived, and the door stayed firmly shut, Skaarn knew that he'd done a better job than he'd thought. He took his place in the crowd, listening to various people talk and whisper, some even crying.

He grew rather angry. All that work, for nothing. He was sure Turaga Nokama had kept that Toa stone in her hurt, but it seemed he was wrong. Now he was here, waiting for her corpse to be dropped into a watery abyss empty-handed and lacking any definite direction. Makuta had failed to give him directions on what to do next. True, he had managed to infiltrate the ILS, but it seemed they had nearly been destroyed. Which left Skaarn back at square zero.

He sighed. As he watched Matoran carry Nokama's coffin forward, he resigned himself to thinking happy thoughts, namely imagining the burning of Ga-Koro to the ground.

Edited March 25, 2013 by Toa Fanixe

[Eyru]

IC (Ketan)

 

The procession wound its way through the village, heading for Nokama's Pier, the site of the old docks that had been rebuilt after the attack of the pirates. It was a long, pristine structure of lacquered wooden planks that floated gently on the water, providing a place for Ga-Koro's boats to berth.

 

Crowds filled the boats on either side of the longest finger of the pier that stretched out from the village, pointing to the distant horizon. The procession itself walked slowly along the pier itself, the sound of many footsteps on wood drowning out the faint pitter-patter of occasional raindrops on the water and the boats.

 

At last, the Arete and the Marines reached the end of the dock, the farthest place from the heart of Ga-Koro. Waiting for them there, at the outstretched tip of the pier, was a small, unadorned coracle.

 

Stepping aside, the Toa Arete allowed the four Marines carrying Nokama's coffin to move forward. Gently, lovingly, the four Ga-Matoran lowered their casket into the small vessel, leaving it floating on the still water.

 

The Marines retreated, allowing Ketan to take centre stage once more. Standing at the edge of the pier, he faced back towards Ga-Koro, took a deep breath, as though to temporarily quell his grief, and lifted his hands.

 

“Brothers and sisters,” he began, his powerful, sorrowful voice floating on wings of wind over the calm ocean. “It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of our esteemed leader, Turaga Nokama of Ga-Koro. She will always be remembered for her kindness, her wisdom, and her bravery in standing against any threat to her people.

 

“She passes on now, but we will not forget her. Even as her spirit leaves Mata Nui, her memory will remain in our hearts and minds. Let it be so.”

 

He stepped aside, and Toa Caidae stepped forward. With a sweep of his arm, the hooded Toa summoned a current that stirred the still waters, and gently pushed the Turaga's funeral vessel out to sea.

 

The small coracle bobbed on the artificial waves, gliding effortlessly through the water until it was about a hundred feet out from the pier. Then, at an unspoken command from Ketan, Venedico mentally reached out and touched the wood the boat was made of.

 

Unseen by anyone on shore, the Toa of Plant Life coaxed a small hole to form in the bottom of the boat, as though the wood grew around an invisible object. Quickly, water began bubbling up inside the coracle, and within seconds it began to sink beneath the waters.

 

“The Turaga is dead,” Ketan murmured, his eyes fixed on the drowning coracle. “Long live the Turaga.”

 

The crowd was silent save for the quiet sobs of grieving villagers as they watched the vessel sink, returning their leader to the waters that had sustained her, until finally the coracle was entirely consumed by the ocean, and could no longer be seen.

Edited March 25, 2013 by Eyru Bieber

[Legolover-361]

IC: KynaeraDaytimeGa-KoroThe wind grew oddly chilly. Kynaera retreated a little farther into the cover of her cloak and, from there, observed Nokama's casket sink as though she were watching an animal be dissected: emotionless as always, but also unaffected by the gravity of a life lost. She had not been part of the event; nor had she known Turaga Nokama; thus, she felt no empathy toward the crowd of grieving Ga-Koroans, only a subconscious understanding that the Matoran, having known Nokama, had a right to be sorrowful.She thought then of being at a funeral for Dorian, but immediately shoved the thought back into the darkness from whence it had emerged. Besides, he wasn't dead. Right?For the moment, no one present said a word. The casket had already disappeared, but perhaps the fond memories of Nokama hadn't yet faded. It took effort, time, or both to leave those memories in the dusty attic of the subconscious mind and remember them, and the death of the person in them, as only shadows of the actual events. It was like tossing a rock into water: The splash was large and loud but soon disappeared in favor of small, unremarkable ripples.Kynaera turned her eyes, not her head, to glance across Anthyn at Ketan; the Toa of Air's expression was dignified and regretful and somehow hilarious, all simultaneously. Anthyn's expression was perhaps more comical, for Kynaera hadn't known the Valkyr could look so somber. Anthyn was also, however, taller, and her presence was more commanding than Kynaera's.The casket was ten seconds gone now. Kynaera waited for Ketan to speak again, wishing a little guiltily that the event would soon conclude.

Edited March 25, 2013 by Legolover-361

[Vezok's Friend]

IC:

 

"That went down pretty fast..." Kehua said, just loud enough for Ravage and Rewera to hear, the latter of which nodded slightly. They were standing among the crowd once more, three dark figures that should have stood out more, considering their appearance, but did not, blending in with the gathered Matoran seamlessly. Rewera's yellow eyes narrowed as she looked in the distance to where Nokama's last journey had ended. Unlike most present, she had no trouble making out what had happened, even from so far away. The small boat had definitely been sunk.

 

As if somebody couldn't wait to see her gone completely. Not just dead.

 

In younger years, she would have assumed her feeling to be mere paranoia, but by now, Rewera knew pretty darn well when she was just imagining something and when there was actually something wrong. And something in this village was definitely wrong, she was certain of it. They just needed to find evidence...and unfortunately, she knew where to find it. Rewera turned to Ravage. "We should wait until the crowd disperses, but afterwards we could use a boat. We could use your knowledge again, to rent or borrow." she told him, once again only loud enough for the other Toa to make out the words clearly.

 

"Why?" Kehua asked. "It makes no sense to leave here when we don't even have any leads on where to..."

 

His expression suddenly changed. "Oh no. You are not thinking of doing what I think you are thinking of doing."

 

Rewera glanced up at him. "Afraid so." she said. Kehua sighed. The Matoran around them had not noticed anything of the exchange.

 

Sometimes I wish we were still bound by the code...

[AlchemistMayCry]

IC: Veros

 

I sat down and had a few more bites from my meal. Suddenly I didn't feel very hungry. I practically felt like I wanted to vomit. Crim poked me lightly with her fork. "Widget for your thoughts?"

 

"Fuse. He should be dead. How the in the blackest pits of karzahni did he survive me SNAPPING HIS NECK?!" I replied angrily.

 

"Maybe you didn't do a good enough job?"

 

I gave Crim a long, hard stare. "No. I killed him. I'm positive I did."

 

"It doesn't matter now, does it? You're going to finish him off when we get back to Ta-Koro. And then it'll be over."

 

I folded my arms. "I'm not going to kill him Crim. I follow the Code now."

 

"But you're still going to cripple him."

 

"The Code's against killing, but it's a might fuzzy on the subject of crippling, especially if the subject in question happens to be a psychotic lunatic who's better off in a position where he can't kill things. I won't kill him. I'm going to leave him in a state that he'll want death, but I won't give it to him." Assuming I don't fall once again. I won't. I won't let that happen.