Six Kingdoms: Rebirth - Gameplay

[BULiK]

IC: Taku Crew, Po-Koro airspace, The Taku

The crew of the Taku was nervous as they watched their first trip turn from a simple cargo delivery into a combat drop in a warzone. They weren't warriors, in fact part of the appeal of being a crew member was being able to quick get away from the impending conflict between factions.

Berys was in the co-pilot's seat on the bridge, carefully watching the external camera feeds so the Taku didn't drift into any of the buildings below. Exuze and Suhaku were waiting in the cargo bay, worried some skakdi would try to jump up and board through the open cargo bay doors. Arnex was in the seat of the cargo crane controls on the upper deck, looking through the display to get a better view of the carnage below. All she could do is hope the battle would end quickly; there wasn't much point in her dropping the cargo since they weren't sure if this village was going to last long enough to use it.

Well...

... unless the large crates of cargo could seal that hole in the wall...

... and maybe hit a fleeing foe on their way out...

She called out to Suhaku.

"Hey Suhaku, help me get a pallet hooked up to the crane with a quick release hatch, I've got an idea."

The Turaga nodded and flew over to grab onto the crane as it descended over a large pallet of smithing supplies - a makeshift forging system kit, complete with an anvil and a molds for casting various common objects. While Suhaku quickly strapped the cargo on the crane, Arnex called the bridge over the crew comm system.

"Bridge, this is cargo bay, position us over the gap in the wall so we can uh... deliver supplies, over."

On the bridge Berys and Knichou were confused for a moment before realizing the Onu-Matoran's plan. Now this was the kind of out-of-the-box thinking Knichou wanted in a crew.

"Copy that cargo bay, getting into position. Direct us if needed, over."

"Roger," the Onu-Matoran replied, lifting the crane and moving it over the open cargo bay doors as the Taku spun in place to align the drop zone with the gaping hole in the stone walls of the village. "I don't have a good view Suhaku, you'll have to manually drop it when it's lined up," she said. Suhaku nodded, holding on to the crane with one hand and the button for the quick release with the other. The Turaga peered over the edge, looking for when the time was right.

There were a few skakdi that had been knocked out of their vehicles and were retreating on foot, slowly backing towards the gap in the wall while laying down covering fire with all sorts of weaponry. A brave skakdi with a crossbow was staying at the gap, defending it to keep it open for his allies to retreat. Unfortunately, teamwork like that was not something that was rewarded on the harsh battlefields of Zakaz. There was a reason most skakdi running for their lives instead of staying in a position to hold the way open for their allies. While that reason probably wasn't "there is a strange flying machine above me ready to drop a forge on my head," that is one of many valid reasons not to stand by the hole in the wall.

After a few seconds of waiting for the shot to line up, Suhaku released the crate and watched it fall towards the ground below. The skakdi holding the line looked up when he heard her excited cheer, and could watch with despair as the crate blotted out the sky above him and crushed him, killing him instantly. There was another skakdi running for the exit, who tried to dive out of the way, only to get a leg crushed and trapped underneath the pallet. While breaking his leg was only a temporary setback, the unbalanced anvil that tipped over the top of the pallet and onto his back hurt a lot more. The skakdi's spine snapped, the massive weight squeezing the air out of his lungs as he made futile grasps to try to push the anvil off.

The crew of the Taku let out a bunch of cheers at their success, as Arnex moved the crane over to another crate of supplies. The hole in the wall was large, and would take at least two more large pallets to fully 'seal' up. Hopefully this would make it easier to defend if there was a counter attack, and it might keep the skakdi inside from escaping, so they could be taken prisoner.

Edited April 17, 2020 by BULiK

[Burnmad]

IC: Barius - Po-Koro

He threw his head back and laughed; a deep, rumbling sound, that was known to make the light-hearted sick. "You're welcome to try and avenge her, if you like." He punctuated the sentence by smashing the wall of dirt behind him with a massive, steel fist, suggesting in no uncertain terms that the prospect was not so easy as his casual tone suggested. "If you want to save her, though, you'll have tribute ready."

He backed out of the semicircle of earthen walls, via the hole he had just made. "You've got--" he paused, ever-so-briefly, pulling a number out of his rear end. "2 weeks."

In case they were unconvinced, he waved the Matoran around again, sneering. Walking slowly, slowly backwards, towards the similar hole in the greater wall that surrounded Po-Koro, he spotted the E Street Wagon half-inside a building, totaled, several dead Skaks positioned around it. None of 'em Boss, unfortunately. He changed direction, headed for that instead.

OOC: @Onaku @The UltimoScorp @Nato the Traveler

[Eyru]

IC: Taja | Landing in Po-Koro

The De-Toa hopped lightly to the sand, waiting longer than her allies to drop from the ship. She wasn't yet confident enough in her elemental powers to try to cushion a long fall. Could sound even do that? She didn't know, but she was hopeful. It could come in useful.

Her disk launcher strapped to her arm, Taja looked around for some way to help. The Taku was already on the move, sealing up the broken wall with pallets of supplies. Two of her fellow Toa had cornered a Skakdi who was holding a Matoran like a living shield. And swiftly receding... she could hear the Warskaks's fleet of vehicles retreating. The chaotic din of whining engines and churning tires drifted back like smoke, polluting the air. Taja could track them if she had a vehicle, she was sure of it. She could almost taste the filthy trail of noise they left behind.

But for now—Po-Koro.

[Onaku]

IC: Varah - Po-Koro

Prone within the claws of the mechanical menace, Varah considered her options. The skakdi was very sure in his position here, holding her hostage to avoid retaliation from the newly arrived toa. She was glad they were here, further deterrent was always good, but the fact that she was currently being hauled around by one of the attackers they were meant to fight put a bit of a damper on that. Varah squirmed. This position was uncomfortable. Pinned against her side was her pickaxe held by her right arm which was bent awkwardly, while her left arm holding the rhotuka launcher was hanging out of the machine's clutches, aimed away from the skakdi which she assumed was on purpose. She sighed.

Her launcher getting captured with her wouldn't be good. They'd probably take it for their own use or take it apart to see how it ticked. She couldn't have that. With what strength she had left, Varah flung the launcher way from herself and the machine, watching as it skid along the ground to a stop near the two toa trying to stop this mechanized marauder... well, one, actually. She wondered where the other one had gone, seeing a crumbling earthen pillar where he'd been standing, before the sound of rushing wind and a shadow overhead tipped her off to what was going on.

Dropping from up above was the Toa of Earth, Arkius, his axe in hand as he aimed to land on top of the machine while using the momentum to bring his axe down into the skak piloting it.

[Dane-gerous]

null

Edited April 17, 2020 by Dane-gerous

[The UltimoScorp]

IC Kathrine of the Flame - Po-Koro:

Time was a funny thing in a fight, or even the moments leading up into a fight. it stretched and warped in ways that could never really be explained afterward. So as the machine clad Skakdi began to back away, holding the Matoran aloft as a shield, he seemed to do so in near slow motion. She had to wait.

 

Wait until the moment was right. Until she had the best cha-NOW!

The Skakdi's eyes flicked away, and Kat moved. her arms threw backward, and all the power that she'd held onto released in a massive storm of fire as she sprinted across the sand, her feet barely touching the ground as she poured flame backward, propelling her ever faster in a direct, desperate line toward not the Skakdi himself, but the arm that held the Matoran. as she flew across the space, her mask activated and she leapt, a battle cry erupting from her mouth, fire still trailing from behind her as she reached to grab the offending hand, and wrench open it's fingers. The Thumb and forefinger were her intended targets, those being the usual strongest grasping digits. if she could get them open, the Matoran might be able to wriggle the rest away easily.

[Keeper of Kraata]

IC: Fyura (Po-Koro Outskirts)

Fyura had tried not to appear too crestfallen that their target was a settlement, rather than a rig or a convoy. She was a pursuit specialist, not a terrorizer. She held back with several other vehicles. Spare rides, reinforcements, outriders, they were sometimes called different things.

Rear guard, Fyura thought gloomily as she put her feet up on the dash. The door was open, and her crew were hunched over their weapons, observing the battle. Fyura picked a branchy weed out of the ground, sapping it for its strength. It was a just a pick-me-up, but it gave a little rush, like a morning cup of coffee. It just wasn't giving the same feeling anymore.

As the bosswagon turned and blared out a signal, Fyura and her crew scrambled to seats. They were heading out.

IC: Skorm (Expeditionary Convoy)

The Twi-Toa smiled. "I'll be honest, I think I only got half of that." Noticing Keitara glancing at the cargo compartment, Skorm's eyes widened.

"Oh, those kraata I found on those skakdi I killed are gone, I disintegrated them with light back at Metru-Koro. They were giving me the creeps. Never heard of this Shadow Sickness, but I'm guess of this expedition, you and I are probably the best-equipped to deal with it. Light and a little bit of shadow and all that."

They drove on, behind the cargo hauler. The Muaka's engine easily matching the speed of the cargo hauler. "I'm glad you're getting along with Irna. I've worked with her in the past; she's reliable. Though from my experience, most rumors about the Zyglak are just that, they're just people like everyone else. Nasty if they're aggressive, but that's hardly unique to Zyglak, you could say the same about Toa."

OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Toru Nui @Tarn @Snelly @Conway

[Burnmad]

IC: Barius - Po-Koro

Barius did not intend to keep his eyes off of the Toa for very long, and happened to look back at them just in time to see Arkius hurtling towards him in mid-air.

Cute.

His main hand - the one that wasn't clutching Varah - swung up in a flash of augmented speed and power, slamming fully into the airborne Onu-Toa, hard enough to knock him completely off course and into the ground. Hard enough to slightly deform the metal of his armor's fist. And hard enough to produce sparks-- his heart skipped a beat, and he thanked whatever heartless fate or cruel gods had decreed that the arm he punched with not have any gas on it.

It was at this moment that the energetic bundle that was Kat landed on his hand, and started trying to pry it open. Now, he hadn't been holding the Matoran particularly loosely to begin with, but now his grip became painfully, crushingly tight. The Toa was strong, no doubt, but no one person was as strong as the hydraulically-powered armor that he himself had painstakingly crafted. He had to be a bit mindful not to pop her like a balloon - the Matoran was, ironically, his lifeline when he was surrounded by so many enemies. If she died, he'd be up the creek with no paddle. But keeping a grip on her wasn't hard, and when he was done recovering from the colossal punch that had just slammed into Arkius, his main hand reached up paused in front of her eyes. Not doing anything; just sitting there, threatening all the things it could do.

"I'll squash you and that Matoran before I go down here. Give it up, Toa. Let's both live to fight another day."

Even as he was speaking to her, his eyes scanned his surroundings, looking for any other threats. She was firmly in his peripheral-- no sense letting her distract him.

OOC: @The UltimoScorp @Onaku @Nato the Traveler

(Also Onken acquiesced to the big punch here)

Edited April 17, 2020 by Burnmad

[Nato G]

IC: Reson - Po-Koro

He didn't know what to do.

There was nothing he could do.

Time and time again he felt that he was burdened with witnessing disaster and tragedy, rarely able to do anything to prevent it. The skakdi had come, they'd attacked the village, and though it hadn't been a total slaughter like in his vision, lives had still been lost. 

And this monster was about to walk away with another innocent life in his hands, unless... Reson planted his staff tines-first in the ground, and raised his hands in surrender as he moved towards the exo-armoured warrior. 

"Let the little one go, and you can have me instead." 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

IC: Corrivalis - Po-Koro

As he worked his way back out of the village, following the last of the warskak stragglers, Corrivalis came upon the standoff between Barius and the Toa. He drew the Tahtorak to a halt near the hole in the wall, rotating the cannon to aim at the Toa.

He didn't say anything, and didn't need to. His actions were enough to convey his intent to stand in solidarity with his comrade. 

OOC: @Burnmad @Onaku @The UltimoScorp

[Tarn]

IC: Triage - Po-Koro

While his allies engaged with the warriors still present in the village, Triage got to work doing what he did best. The only thing he did, actually. 

The Bo-Toa navigated around collapsed huts as he tried to avoid gaining the attention of any Warskaks who might take the crimson crucifixes on his body as invitation, remains of those already past his help appearing through bits of wood and scrap--just more to step over. There wasn't anything he could do for the poor souls they hadn't arrived in time for. Ahead he could see a blue-colored Matoran lying on the ground, barely moving but seemingly still alive, her armor crushed by something heavy. Once he was near her, Triage could see she wore a Rau.

"Hi, hi there," he said, kneeling beside the Ga-Matoran, "don't move, I'm uh...I'm a medic." 

Triage sat his satchel down and started looking over her. Ribs were broken, that much could be surmised from the way her chest armor bent inward. Along with that, one of her legs seemed to be bent the wrong way. Did someone step on her? He needed to get to work fast. "This uh, won't be comfortable. But you'll at least be...less hurt." His Hauora began to glow, and the Matoran's broken body began to slowly heal. Triage grabbed his satchel and carefully lifted her in his arms, heading back towards the Taku. "Ever been on an airship before? 'Cause if not, today is your lucky day."

[BULiK]

IC: Taku & Co., Po-Koro walls

The Taku continued to hover above the breach in the wall, its crew preparing to drop another pallet of supplies to block the escape of the remaining enemies. Suhaku was once again in control of the release, directing Arnex to adjust the crane over the target area.

Suhaku was trying to align the crate when she saw another customer - there was a slender lizard-shaped ACR below with a long tail, it was moving towards the exit (and thus right under where Suhaku was ready to drop the crate) but it suddenly turned around to train its gun on the Toa below.

Unfortunately for Suhaku, the ACR wasn't right on top of the hole like those skakdi from earlier, so if she tried to drop the crate on top of the ACR, it wouldn't block the exit. If she missed or the ACR moved, it would all be a waste, and there wasn't much time to seal the exit before the remaining skakdi fled. Suhaku could still throw off its aim, and send a message in the process.

The Turaga released the crate, which loudly slammed into the ground, assorted electrical components and water purifiers chaotically clanging against each other inside their boxes. If the mech's long stabilizing tail had been extended out a little longer, it would have been pinned under the weight of the boxes. Unfortunately for the crew of the Taku, the mech was unscathed.

The loud noise and impact of the pallet of supplies, however, had done it's job. There was no way for the pilot of that mech to not be aware of the commotion behind him. The hole in the wall was almost completely cluttered with supplies at this point, and one more delivery from the Taku would force the remaining skakdi-aligned fighters to blow their way through said supplies or make their own exit in another section of the walls, slowing them down.

The Taku was silent aside from the whirring of motors as the crane went to pick up another drop's worth of supplies inside the cargo hold. The crew's actions were enough to convey the threat of locking the skakdi in: this ACR's pilot could leave its ally to fend for itself, or risk being trapped inside the hostile village with little backup.

Knichou and Berys watched the external camera feeds from the bridge to appraise the situation. They saw Triage making his way to the ship holding a matoran in his arms. Knichou ordered Exuze to greet the Toa from the hatch on the underside of the bow. While the ladder that descended from the hatch would be difficult to get Dalu up on, it would be safer than trying to enter through the cargo bay at the rear of the ship, where there was an enemy ACR. Exuze climbed down the ladder with brakas-like dexterity due to his Kanohi Faxon, and stood on the bottom rung ready to carry Dalu inside the ship once Triage made it to him.

Edited April 17, 2020 by BULiK

[Tarn]

IC: Triage - Po-Koro

Triage tried to move as fast he could while carrying a Matoran, and as he neared the Taku he could see a hatch open underneath it and Exuze appear from it to take Dalu. He handed over the Ga-Matoran. "Here, be careful with her," Triage said. 

@BULiK

[The UltimoScorp]

IC Kathrine of the Flame - Po-Koro:

 

Kat was in something of a bind. That Arkius guy had gone down hard. Which was unfortunate, but she wasn't too worried about him. Onu-Toa were pretty tough, after all, surely one hit wouldn't have him down for the count! It was the other Toa that had her confused. Surrendering to such a guy like this? When they had him three to one?! When they might still be able to save the Matoran and still have a good fight?????!

 

What kind of Toa did they have here, anyway??????

 

Well there was no point dwelling on it now. She had bigger issues, and she couldn't be sure if the Skakdi would even accept the offer the De-Toa had given. what she was reasonably sure of was that the other guy who'd shown up on what looked like a mix of Rahi and machine was probably not here to help them. But what he could do, well.... she had no idea. She just hoped against hope he couldn't hit her without also hitting the Skakdi.

Her frustration mounted and the air kept getting hotter, and fire danced in her, but she didn't dare let it out. That De-Toa had said this guy had flammable stuff on him, and she couldn't risk setting him alight just yet.

She didn't let off the pressure. If anything, her strength seemed to keep growing, like an oppressive tide slowly but surely encroaching on the shore. She couldn't just let go. What kind of Toa would she be if she just gave up and let this guy who'd attacked these people take one of them away and then have the gall to demand supplies from them?!

 

No Toa worth being at all, in her mind!

 

A manic grin slid across her face despite her predicament. "Just what kind of girl do you think I am, huh?"

 

[BULiK]

IC: Exuze, the Taku

The Ta-Lesterin carefully took hold of the injured matoran, who cried out in pain when exchanged into a different being's hands. "Don't worry lady, you'll be safe and sound in a moment," Exuze said as he began to slowly and cautiously climb the ladder with one arm, cradling the whimpering matoran in the other.

Edited April 17, 2020 by BULiK

[Burnmad]

IC: Barius - Po-Koro

Barius chuckled. "I think you're a karzin' fool," he answered, before stopping and squinting down at the Toa on his hand. Was she getting... stronger...? The fingers of his armor gave slightly, uncurling just the slightest bit. The air was getting hotter, too.

He raised his hand up, twisting it so that Kat was hanging down off of it, and then brought it slamming into the ground, being careful not to hurt the Matoran he was gripping too much. Just enough force to dislodge the stubborn woman that was still trying to fight, and maybe instill some respect.

Other than that, he didn't pay her much mind. Instead, he responded to Reson, as if nothing had happened. "You've got yourself a deal, Toa." He didn't feel great about it, but if it made the Toa stand down before they all killed each other, it was a win in his book. And he supposed a Toa was more of a... high-value prisoner, if you will. He made a come-hither gesture with his free hand, still almost mocking despite the situation.

OOC: @The UltimoScorp @Nato the Traveler @Onaku

[Nato G]

IC: Reson - Po-Koro

Leaving his staff in the sand, Reson cautiously approached the skakdi, hoping the other Toa would have the good sense to back down, and that the skakdi would make good on his word and let the hostage go free. 

[Burnmad]

IC: Barius - Po-Koro

The ever-grinning Skakdi, head visible at the top of his armor, thrust his free hand out, wrapping it around Reson's torso, holding him tightly-- more tightly, even, than he'd held the Matoran.

Speaking of which... He looked down at his other hand, where Kat was still hanging, apparently having avoided being smashed into the ground. Still clingin' on. He was almost impressed.

He finally loosened his grip on the Matoran, allowing Varah to fall onto the ground... or scramble, if she was still conscious. He started backing away towards the Tahtorak, hoping that the stubborn clinger would finally let go.

OOC: @Nato the Traveler @The UltimoScorp @Onaku

[Lady Takanuva]

IC: Keitara (the Muaka)

Keitara nodded her head. "I just feel that people should be judged for who they are rather than what they are." She looked back at the twi-toa again. "I'll be honest: I don't really know what shape I'm in. But with the rest of you preparing to head out I couldn't bring myself to stay behind. If anything happened... well, I'd never forgive myself. Long story short: to the best of my ability, I'll have your back. Heart's promise."

The toa turned a couple of locks on the side of her folded lance and examined the innards. More than half of its crystalline capacitors were damaged, with two being completely shattered. Now that she knew that lightstone was an effective energy storage material she wondered if some could be worked into a replacement. Beyond that, and with her tattered memory, she didn't have the know-how to diagnose the full damage to her primary weapon's unique systems. 

Clamping its cover shut again, she clipped the tool back against her shield. "Well, I won't be able to manage my usual party trick, but it looks like I'll be able to use her as a standard power lance and beam rifle. Scythe form would probably be out as well, it tends to freeze in that configuration anyhow, and I don't wanna deal with that in battle." She looked back at Skorm, and suddenly a lead weight dropped into her insides.

There was a feeling of... she couldn't place a finger on it, but she almost felt doom in the air. It was all she could do to keep her breathing level. What was going on? She was panicking like a rookie toa on their first mission. Sure she was still new to the mantle of toa, but she had quite a few battles under her belt... didn't she? But the memories felt scattered and distant. They were of little comfort. What if she had forgotten how to fight? Was that a possibility? What if she became more a liability than a help?

What if...

 

...what if her being there got the lot of them killed?

 

She sat there, stewing, distress plain on her face.

(OOC: @Keeper of Kraata)

[The UltimoScorp]

IC Kathrine of the Flame:
She did, though the temperature did not decrease and it was clear on her face that the Toa of Fire was not happy about the whole thing. She gave a glance to Reson, one that asked an unspoken question,

'You sure about this?'

She quietly built up power inside, ready for if the moment called for it. The Matoran had been taken by force, but Reson..... Well he had chosen to take her place, with all the risks that entailed.

 

Pretty gutsy, she had to admit.

 

[Nato G]

IC: Reson - Po-Koro

He replied to Kat's unspoken question with a grim nod. 

Too many times, he'd seen unwinnable situations. At least this time he could do something about it. 

[Onaku]

IC: Varah and Arkius - Po-Koro

Varah fell to the ground with a grunt, crawling away a bit before getting to her feet. As she turned around, she saw the tall and imposing form of Arkius between her and the skakdi, the earthen toa holding his axe and glaring at the marauder. For a moment. Arkius' one eye moved to Reson, a look of regret, but also of deep respect, before he went back to glaring at the skakdi. "This won't be the end of it, Skakdi. What you and your brethren have done here today will not be forgiven, or forgotten."

[Void Emissary]

IC: Irna | Waveahk's Hauler

"It's a big island," Irna said, "and, keep in mind, we've barely even left Metru-Koro."

OOC: @Tarn @Snelly @Toru Nui

IC: Parnassus | Po-Koro

Parnassus sidled their hover-bike up next to where another of Boss' war party was idling, and where the both of them could watch the big Skakdi attempt -- could it be? -- a hostage negotiation.

"You planning on helping him out?" the Aspect said, leaning their elbows on the handles of the Call.

OOC: @Nato the Traveler That'd be Corrivalis that Parnassus is talking to

-Void

[~Xemnas~]

IC, Aurax:

Oh great, a fanatic, Aurax thought to himself. Just my luck that I get paired with this guy.

"Well, I unfortunately have the great displeasure of knowing Stannis, and I can tell you that he's very devoted to being a Toa and protecting Matoran. There's no way he'd be here in the city. He's probably in one of the refugee villages. I say we check out the biggest one first- what was it called, Metru-Koro? We check there first, and if he's not there, search the other villages. But first..." Aurax trailed off as a pilot-less ACR lumbered towards them. 

"Saybo, this is the Takea. It's got an extendable arm blade, a plasma cannon, and an AI I call OTIS that can autopilot it when I'm not inside." The mech suit's dome and front opened, beckoning the Toa of Plasma inside. Aurax hopped inside and flexed the arms of his suit. 

"Let's go."

OOC: @Kal the Guardian

[Dane-gerous]

IC: Mega - Zakaz, Po-Koro

Just as they'd gotten there, it was too late. 

She wasn't sure how many had died; ultimately it didn't matter. Too many, was the cynical answer. She'd manage to wound a few Skakdi, and kill another, but in the end it amounted to little. 

Yaushe would feel Mega's head against the headrest as she silently wept a little, covering her face with the bandana on her head. She just wanted to be a hero, but in the end she was just a Matoran. How could she have saved anyone? She was so stupid.

The van was stopped outside the slowly gathering crowd that had negotiated the hostage trade. Mega would later be glad that the windows were still tinted. Nobody could see her in the state she was in.

OOC: @ZippyWharrgarbl

[Unreliable Narrator]

IC: Reliable Narrator  | Po-Koro

The supply pallets landing in the way of the departing warskaks were the crew's attempt at halting their progress. Once the first one broke open on contact like a pinata thrown off a high rise though all bets were off. The skaks saw water, and medical supplies, and food, and they took what they could  -- about half of what dropped -- on their way out as they worked to open up the hole in the wall for their fellow warskaks stuck in Po-Koro. Some of the war rigs saw the pallets of supplies piling up, weighed their options of stopping for some, and instead elected to drive out of town via the main gate. A skakdi of fire grabbed a chained skakdi by the back of the head tried to the war rig he stood on, laughed, and sent a flaming ball of fire toward the rest. Someone would need to prioritize saving the supplies now as the skakdi drove off with surprise loot.

 

OOC: The Taku dropped a bunch of civilian supplies near the hole in the wall. Based on other writings, there seems to be an open gate house or roadway at another gap in the wall that Nale, Kanohi, etc. left from. I just want to make sure I have that correct before I mention it again. As for the supplies, the defenders now have an alternative objective: save the supplies.

[Tarn]

IC: Datrox Karvan - Metru-Koro

"Al...right?" I replied. I felt no less confident against the League, even alone, but I confess I preferred that Falh would be by my side at the moment. I turned back to the purple Toa. "I don't believe I've caught your name yet. Familiarity can go a long way between people, I think."

@Toru Nui@Dane-gerous
 

IC: Triage - Po-Koro

The Bo-Toa nodded to Exuze in thanks before parting, returning to the village to find more wounded. Remembering what he'd been taught in drills and seen other soldiers do, Triage dropped to the ground and crawled through debris to avoid being spotted by a nearby looting Warskak wandering around. The marauder took no notice of him, and once far enough that the medic would be out of his line of sight, Triage booked it towards what at first he thought was a still-standing hut until he realized it had...wheels? Is that a ###### van?

Slowing down, the medic crept up on the vehicle and cautiously knocked on the door. "Uh...anyone in there in need of help?"

Do Skakdi drive vans? I hope not.

@Dane-gerous@ZippyWharrgarbl

[Toru Nui]

IC: Ostrox and Navu (Metru-Koro, Outside Sans's Hut)

"I am usually referred to as: 'Ostrox'. Universally." Now, this was not the Hand of Mantax's real name, merely a pragmatic translation from his and his lord's own language.

OK, things seemed to be dying down a bit now. The other Toa didn't seem as diplomatic as Datrox, which was concerning, but he was leaving now anyway.

@Tarn

[Tarn]

IC: Datrox Karvan - Metru-Koro

"I see. I'm usually referred to as Datrox," I replied, imitating Ostrox. "There. Now I know your name, and you know mine." I glanced over my shoulder to see if Falh had returned yet. He hadn't.

"You came here with another, did you not?"

@Toru Nui

IC: Rose - Cargo Hauler

"Aghhh," was Rose's response. "Fine, I'll be patient."

...

...

...

"...are we there yet, Waveahk?"

@Snelly@Conway

[Toa of Plastic]

IC: Pardehi Central Mountain @Harvali@Toru Nui@Tarn

"Just keep an eye out for trouble. It looks like Kanohi's friend here was injured pretty badly. It might be a while before she fully recovers."

He had carefully disenfected the vomatoran's wounds, wrapping them in harakeke bandage. He had tied two straits stocks of bamboo to her torso, setting her deformed body back into tis proper shape. It would only be a matter of time before the damage was fully healed, but time was not on her side.

"We will have to seek shelter soon. We cannot risk leaving her out in the open like this."

IC: Karai - Po-Koro

He stepped outside the Taku, warm sunlight reflecting off his kanohi. The damage to the koro had not been severe, but there was still rebuilding to be done.

"Anyone need a hand?" he asked.

IC: Changua - Po-Koro

As soon as the raiders had arrived they had left. She landed softly in the center of the village and looked around. Already, the matoran were hard and work rebuilding. This was what she admired about them, their resiliance and their work effect. They might have suffered some losses, but they were already working together to recoup those losses. It wasn't like home at all. Vortixx would have spent wasted days arguing over costs and shared responsibilites, and nothing would have been accomplished. She wondered idly what had become of Xia and the vortixx. She had seen no evidence of large vortixx settlements on Zakaz, and if they had stayed in the Matoran Universe they would surely have perished. There was a very real possibility, she realized, that she was among the last of her kind. All the more reason to help the matoran survivors in any way she could.

IC:Balkan - The Rig

Balkan thanked the Janitor and moved on. After turning a few corridors, he soon found himself at the Mall. He decided to go to McGrokk's. There was always something interesitng going on there.

 

 

[EmperorWhenua]

On 4/15/2020 at 3:02 PM, Onaku said:

IC: Okuo - The Vault

"... That works too." He then turned around to the inner door, and made his way over to try and go through.

IC ???? | Archives

Okuo found himself within what would be considered somewhat between a vestibule and decompression chamber. It was illuminated by the now-steady bar of bluish white overhead light that laid bare the age of the structure. It was ancient, clearly made with engineering and technology already considered old by the time Onepuparu patented his first invention, but despite its age it all remained immaculate and clearly maintained. Nary a speck of dust was on any surface, and the gentle hum of what sounded like a ventilation machine that constantly changed pitch suggested it was the vault itself that ensured the level of cleanliness. Ducts and piping of different gauges could be seen in the metallic walls, and if Okuo felt the material he would sense that it was strangely warm and crystalline to the touch though it appeared metallic. Whoever had created this vault was likely long dead and a master of a craft all but forgotten in the present day. 

The door ahead was obviously sealed just as the one he stepped through had been, but unlike the one without there was no holographic keypad. There was, however, another camera and speaker, and on eye level a small screen that displayed a screensaver of a fruit logo that bounced off the sides of the screen in a constant motion. It was tempting to see if it would ever directly hit a corner, but who knows if that mythical occurrence would be even possible and Okuo wisely did not become entranced by the strange pattern. 

"Toa Okuo, Scavenger of Metru Nui, welcome to The Vault! You are safe here for any and all harm outside.  Speaking of—did you know you were being followed? or is this one of your friends? " On the screen in front of him, Okuo could see the mostly-discernible image of a toa standing outside the vault, just as he had before. 

 

21 hours ago, Vezok's Friend said:

IC [Kunok McGrokk]:

Kunok watched Yumiwak’s reaction and frowned, eyes narrowing for a second, then widening in realization. “Oh! Oh, you think…!? HAH!” He continued to deeply laugh for a few seconds.

“No, nothing quite so...sinister.” he said, still chuckling. “A mere delivery. I told you I saw your mystery woman on a supply run. Small tribe, very folksy. Bit odd, but who isn’t? We did a bit of business, see? But unfortunately they needed furs, which I did not have with me at the time.” The trader paced back and forth a few steps, before spinning in place, only to come to a stop facing Yumiwak. He took a few steps closer to her. “And since you’ll be heading out that way...well, I trust you can handle a quick delivery, hm?” On the hm?, he lifted a finger and booped her on the nose.  

IC Yumiwak | Ye Olde Shoppe

I recoiled my head to avoid the boopage but failed to evade it. I scowled at the trader for a moment, disgusted at the insolence and audacity of old men like him that somehow gave them privilege to violate my personal space, but I did not butcher him like I did my last anger management coach and simply bent my mouth back to its previous warm smile. 

As much as I detested doing simple chores for people this was a small thing to ask in exchange for a chance to find and capture this elusive powerful warrior. It was a pursuit of greatness but, more importantly, a chance to do something truly challenging and claim a priceless prize for my own. And since Kunok McGrokk did look like he had shared this information I was after with anyone else before, there was a decent enough chance I would be the first to arrive on the scene, or at least make a purposeful pursuit for the alien warrior. With the Tactical Panda and its retinue there were good odds, too. I liked the sound of all that.

"I'll do it," I said, almost blurted, and then recovered enough to add, "What's the catch with this, though? I'm no Kiki—there's something more to your delivery service."

[Azibo]

IC: Sans, Turaga's Hut

Sans spent awhile tending to his burgeoning settlement.  He witnessed Kapura's Sea Shell Shop growing, and saw that Onepu had acquired more Ussal Crabs for his upstart cavalry.  After one day of long, tedious work, Sans retired to his humble hut and enjoy a simple supper.  After eating and cleaning, he heard a new knock on his door.  Sans invited the guests in, glad to see it was his old friends Leklo and Korruhn.

"Back from exploration?  Good.  We need to know all we can about this new land.  I trust you've grown more acquainted with your powers as well?"

Their reunion was cut a bit short as more knocks pounded through the door.  Sans opened it and... stared.  Stannis was back, and with him a being Sans knew to be the Hordika within Ehlek's armies that Stannis and others had fought during that final battle at the end of the universe.  Sans never met this creature, but there was no mistaking her Hordika form.  Behind them both, some other League member- it had to be, for the being looked of a kin to Mantax.  Perhaps some successor?  Sans ushered them in without a word, though the Matax-kin stayed outside.  "Leklo, Korruhn, please remain with me, here, and witness these talks.  I'll be sending you both out again, before too long, and I'll rely on you to spread the word of whatever this meeting entails if you happen to encounter any other Metru-Koro peoples wandering about the countryside."  The old Turaga walked up to within inches of the Ce-Hordika and stared straight up towards her primal face.  "Tell me true: why have you come?"

OOC: @EmperorWhenua @Crimson Jester @Nato the Traveler

Edited April 17, 2020 by Azibo

[Kal the Guardian]

4 hours ago, ~Xemnas~ said:

IC, Aurax:

Oh great, a fanatic, Aurax thought to himself. Just my luck that I get paired with this guy.

"Well, I unfortunately have the great displeasure of knowing Stannis, and I can tell you that he's very devoted to being a Toa and protecting Matoran. There's no way he'd be here in the city. He's probably in one of the refugee villages. I say we check out the biggest one first- what was it called, Metru-Koro? We check there first, and if he's not there, search the other villages. But first..." Aurax trailed off as a pilot-less ACR lumbered towards them. 

"Saybo, this is the Takea. It's got an extendable arm blade, a plasma cannon, and an AI I call OTIS that can autopilot it when I'm not inside." The mech suit's dome and front opened, beckoning the Toa of Plasma inside. Aurax hopped inside and flexed the arms of his suit. 

"Let's go."

 

IC: Saybo - Toa of Water - Barraki

Location - Nearby the Coliseum (4, 9?)

With - Aurax (Currently in his ARC Takea)

 

A very impressive looking mech lumbered up to the two of them. Saybo whistled in appreciation after Ohrash had climbed inside, “Impressive, my friend! You sure are lucky to have this baby!” Saybo circled it in admiration, but really he was checking out its capabilities. How can he have a mech? They cost so much that almost no one can afford them. Is it Pridak’s personal reward or something? It doesn’t matter, back to the task at hand.

Saybo took note of the mech's features, adding them to a mental list of current mission assets. After that was taken care of, Saybo addressed Ohrash’s earlier comments, “Anyway, back on the Stannis topic, if he’s not in the city, then do you think we need to cross the sea and head back south to find this 'Metru-Koro'?”

Looking out at the noxious protodermis lake, Saybo straitened a little in unease, “Or do you suppose he left… the universe?”

Saybo let the question hang for a moment, “Either way, we will need some type of airship. I refuse to go by boat. And that’s a fact. Hahaha!”

This time Saybo’s grin didn’t reach his eyes, his fear of deep water shown through his disguise like the setting sun through stained glass, distorted but still there.
 

OOC: @~Xemnas~

[Harvali]

IC Kanohi - the Mountains

Kanohi tried not to look up at the sky. The Taku would be long gone by now, barely a blip on the horizon. His anxiety was starting to fixate on the Taku. Was he sure Knichou still piloted it? A lot had happened. Maybe it had even been commandeered by the League. No, they would have displayed their flag on it by then. Though there was some design on it — no just, it’s Knichou, and he has come to save Po-a Koro. Have some faith.

He couldn’t make out what was going on in the zone of shadows, but he could hear snatches. It sounded like they were going to head for shelter. But … where should they go?

Kanohi swallowed and called out, “I … Po-Koro and Metru-Koro are roughly the same distance from here. Po-Koro might be a little closer, but it has suffered some sort of emergency. There should be rescuers there now, but the region might still be dangerous, and they may not have much shelter left standing there. Metru-Koro might be the safest bet to get her aid, but … Po-Koro might need help. We m-m-may have to split up, some to head north to help Po-Koro, some west to get her aid in Metru-Koro. It’s … it’s just a thought though.”

OOC: @Biological Chronicler @Sparticus147 @Toru Nui @Tarn

[Toru Nui]

IC: Ulkarr and Klawne (Mountains)

"I will go back to Po-Koro. I'm sure none of you can doubt my power."

"I... well, look at me. I'm old. I'd be no use in a fight. I'll take her to this 'Metru-Koro'... if one of you will point me in the right direction, 'cause I have no clue where it is.."

@Harvali@Biological Chronicler@Tarn@Sparticus147

 

IC: Ostrox and Navu (Metru-Koro, Outside Sans's Hut)

"Oh, she went inside to speak with the Turaga... where did your friend go off to?"

A good question. Where had he gone, exactly? What could be so important at a time like this?

@Tarn

 

IC: Tekmo and Waveahk (Northern Desert, Cargo Hauler)

"Does 'patient' mean something different where you're from?" Waveahk's gaze was fixed on the path ahead. "We should be there soon - I was told this model was known for its speed. Told, anyway."

Yes, Skorm was indeed still following them, Keitara riding alongside him. That's a relief. Not that he thought Skorm wouldn't follow them, but it was nice to have confirmation... what was everyone else talking about? Oh, right, the hauler.

"It's an impressive piece of engineering. We didn't have anything like this back in my village. Granted, we didn't have skyscrapers and robotic enforcers either."

@Tarn@Snelly@Conway@Keeper of Kraata@TL01 NUVA

[EmperorWhenua]

IC Leklo and Stannis | Sans' Hut

Leklo had never met the old wanderer, but he knew of him. In his mind it was an honor to be present in the moment.

Stannis, however, saw this a par for the course, and stepped into the small hut (which was already crowded) and stood as a granite guardian. "Lieutenant Zaliyah is here... to parlay," he said, looking to Sans. 

[Dane-gerous]

IC: Falh - Zakaz, Metru-Koro

The Ko-Toa's symptoms were getting worse. As he took a moment to breathe, trying to fight it off, it became clear that he wasn't going to be able to just will it away. He needed a moment. 

No. I'll tear out my answers from that scum, only then can I rest.

And so, scratching at his wrists again and breathing funny, Falh approached his Ta-Toa companion again. His condition had not softened the glare he gave Ostrox, though.

"Mind your business." He snapped. 

OOC: @Tarn @Toru Nui

IC: Vent - Zakaz, The Tunnels

Vent, though they were very interested in the strange slug creature, was even more interested by the thumping noise, and so followed his friends down into the tunnels. They stepped past Zak-Yak cautiously.

"Baa." Rufus said.

OOC: @Sparticus147 @Burnmad @Snelly

[Tarn]

IC: Datrox Karvan - Metru-Koro

"He'll...return soon," I said, not sounding very confident. "Nothing to worry ab--"

Before I could finish, Falh came back, scratching at his wrists. "Ah, brother," I said, turning to him. "That was quicker than I thought." I leaned over to him and whispered, "When we're done with this one, I'd like an explanation."

@Toru Nui@Dane-gerous

IC: Nale Vella - Mountains

"I'd like...to return to Po-Koro. See what I can do to aid the Taku, and help rebuild. It's my home now, after all."

@Harvali@Biological Chronicler@Toru Nui

IC: Rose - Cargo Hauler

"Where I'm from got wiped off the map, so..." Rose trailed off, then picked up again, trying to think about the good times on her island, and not how those times ended. "But it wasn't any where near Metru Nui tech, either. Just some loosely-connected villages and a few Toa to protect it. I was one of 'em, for a bit. My family was proud of that..."

She paused, and stared at the floor of the vehicle.

"But, yeah. No Vahki. Kinda liked that."

@Toru Nui@Snelly@Conway

Edited April 17, 2020 by Tarn

[Nato G]

5 hours ago, Conway said:

IC: Parnassus | Po-Koro

"You planning on helping him out?" the Aspect said, leaning their elbows on the handles of the Call.

IC: Corrivalis - Po-Koro

"If necessary," he replied, with the Tahtorak's cannon still pointed past Barius, towards the Toa. 

27 minutes ago, Azibo said:

IC: Sans, Turaga's Hut

The old Turaga walked up to within inches of the Ce-Hordika and stared straight up towards her primal face.  "Tell me true: why have you come?"

1 minute ago, EmperorWhenua said:

IC Leklo and Stannis | Sans' Hut

"Lieutenant Zaliyah is here... to parlay," he said, looking to Sans. 

IC: Zaliyah - San's Hut

"I am here on behalf of Lord Pridak, to negotiate a ceasefire," she spoke up, "In particular, Pridak desires the return of the Mask of Creation. I'm hoping we can organise a mutually-beneficial arrangement that could include the Mask's return." 

[Toru Nui]

IC: Ostrox and Navu (Metru-Koro, Outside Sans's Hut)

Well, the activity of his enemies was his business, but it seemed like this Toa wasn't in the mood for the truth. His disappearance and reappearance, breathing oddly and scratching at his wrists, raised questions. Questions he didn't care to have answered, at least for now.

Navu did care, but although she knew and trusted Datrox, this other Toa seemed unstable, and, well, she didn't want to get any closer to the League's emissary. He was... unsettling.

@Dane-gerous@Tarn

 

IC: Tekmo and Waveahk (Northern Desert, Cargo Hauler)

"Why? What's wrong with Vahki?"

"A lot."

"Yes, well, you would think that, wouldn't you?"

"Yes, I would."

@Tarn@Snelly@Conway

[ZippyWharrgarbl]

IC: Yaushe - Welp

Well, that sucked. Turned out it was all over already. Some part of her felt relief that she didn't have to worry about being damaged or scrapped, but-

She felt something thud against the dashboard. She froze, and then felt whatever it was heave in quiet sobs. She tactfully rolled up the windows as she parked near the crowd.

"Hey, you... uh... okay?" Since there was a crowd nearby, she kept her voice down, drifting through the air conditioning system like a whisper. She figured the thing to do would be to offer a hug to Mega, but her current form made that kind of hard to do. She settled with unclicking Mega's seatbelt to rest it on her shoulder. Yeah, that'd do. Yaushe wasn't too good at this sort of thing, but-

Tap tap

"Uh...anyone in there in need of help?"

There was someone knocking on the door. She hissed at Mega, "We got a visitor. I can, uh, tell them to go away, if you want?"

OOC: @Tarn@Dane-gerous (the whisper isn't audible outside the van, it's not her usual creaky machine noise voice)