BZPRPG - Ko-Wahi

[Geardirector]

IC: Mar (Ko-/Le-Wahi Border)

"We're supposed to head west from here" I answered, and looked towards that direction.

Only a little bit further south, well within our line of sight, the river that served as the final border between icy Ko-Wahi and tropical Le-Wahi glimmered in the sun. Behind it, the large trees of the southern jungle spread out, at last staking out their territory as opposed to the icy drift that we'd put mostly behind us. We were still walking through snow, but could see the green canopy of Le-Wahi stretch out on the horizon.

I got out of my skis, and saw Karv come very soon after, nostrils flaring as he seemed to be alert, perhaps something he'd picked up. I made a note of it, we needed to be ready for something to go wrong.

In fact, such a thing happened way sooner than I could have ever expected.

Karv managed to let out a yip before whatever else my trusty companion was going to say was drowned out by the sound of... buzzing. Of beating wings... way too many.

I looked up, and I knew very well what was going on before I even turned my head...

The Nui-Rama

A whole squadron of them, a dozen at least, had fluttered out of the nearby trees and were gathering before making a beeline for the three of us. I zoomed in to get a good look and their big, beady multifaceted eyes had it, that telltale sickly sheen that was a tell. This was no coincidence.

I grabbed my crossbow, belting towards the nearest cluster of snow-covered trees in surch of the most miniscule amount of cover I could spot.

"We've got infected!" I belted at Siika, Karv was signaled to follow me.

OOC: @Rahisaurus

Edited September 26 by Geardirector

[Rahisaurus]

IC: Siika (Ko-/Le-Wahi Border)

Siika heard the yell, huffed, and immediately un-stowed her tower shield again, wondering why she'd bothered putting it away as she strapped it firmly to her arm. Crouching behind a thick tree-trunk (which was still not quite thick enough to fully hide her) she braced her shield against the tree and brandished her spear. She figured she could spare enough energy for one vision shot at the bugs, so she signalled to Mar - pointing two fingers at her eyes and then at the Rama - before squinting in their direction and letting loose. A faint thunderclap-like noise echoed off the trees as one of the insects lost a wing, careening out of the sky and hitting a trunk. It was still moving though, so someone would have to finish that one off.

Realizing she wouldn't now have much hope at another ranged attack, she quickly unhooked some rope from her pack and tied it to the base of her spear. That way if she needed to throw it, it would limit her range but she could at least haul it back.

"Got any good ideas to take these down, Mar?"
 

ooc: @Geardirector

Edited September 15 by Rahisaurus

[Geardirector]

IC: Mar (Ko-/Le-Wahi Border)

While the Rama dispersed after Siika's eyebeam took out one, I was following the same script as last time. Hold focus, draw the noise within... master it, don't let it master you.

I grabbed my pistol, feeding a magazine into it as my own hand holding it started to feel unsteady, shaking with the power I was drawing into myself... *click*

Ready to fire, breathe, I let my power flow out into the sidearm as I rested against the fallen trunk next to Siika to take aim. I was bound to look like I was a nervous wreck, shaking and fumbling slightly, but all came through. I was steady, had to be. Like an angler, patient, relaxed...

whirr!

One diskette discharged from the barrel, then a second. The first hits its mark perfectly. A big orange Rama in the center of the pack, got it right in the abdomen. The flash of burning stralix powder was dwarfed by the waves that crashed through the air from the point of impact, multiple of the Rama getting thrown off their coordinated flight path, a couple even dropping out the sky entirely on wings that barely kept them aloft. It was not going to be a graceful landing.

The second missed altogether, and over half of them were still coming.

"I do have a plan but we need-"

whine, a whine like an animal in peril, it was...

Karv! One of the Rama had swooped and grabbed him. The Kavinika was thrashing, writhing with fangs glinting from bared jaws.

"We need him!" I bellowed, "we gotta get him free"

OOC: @Rahisaurus

[Rahisaurus]

IC: Siika (Ko-/Le-Wahi Border)

Siika peered over the top of her shield, quickly spotting the struggling Karv. She readied her spear to throw, but after a second to take aim, she cursed under her breath. There was too much movement, the two battling rahi rolling about in a flurry of snow and loose dirt.

There was no more time to waste. She jumped out from behind the log, shield held high against the remaining Nui Rama, running to the kavinika's aid. Two of the insects bore down upon her, one colliding with the shield and the other finding its way around onto her back. She roared, easily reaching the one on her shield with her spear, its carcass falling twitching to the ground with a hole through its thorax. She grunted with pain as the other's claws found away around her pack and her armour, scratching at her thick scaly hide while she continued running, trying to shake the attacker away. She bashed at it with her shield, once, twice, before a third impact managed to catch the infected kanohi over its eye casing. The mask popped loose and the bug went limp for a moment, dazed enough for the Skakdi to dislodge it. 

Reaching Karv, she hesitated for an instant while she tried to figure out how to pry the two apart, before plunging her foot into the writhing mass of chitin and claws, flesh and teeth. Thankfully she managed to land a heavy stomp on the Rama's abdomen, pinning it. She drove her spear through its head.

Karv rolled free and caught his breath for a second, before bounding off toward Mar again. Siika was left on the other side of the fray, looking up at the remaining five-or-so bugs. She dug the base of her shield into the dirt and hunkered down behind it, but stuck one hand out with a raised thumb for Mar.

ooc: @Geardirector

Edited September 16 by Rahisaurus

[ARROW404]

On 10/3/2023 at 9:13 PM, Light said:

OOC:  Anyway, after the longest wind-up known to man...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67HND-L9k-A

IC: Outside the Hideout

Safina's kick struck as the beast wheeled to get out of the way, a howl of discomfort coming--retracted, the creature's natural musculature tensed and prevented a devastating wound. Pushed beyond any sense of self preservation, the Muaka's reddened eyes refocused on Safina as it continued to press, seeking to use its proximity to finally slash at her with rending claws.

A sickening crunch came from the darkness to her left as something impacted flesh and protosteel, one of the previously fleeing Matoran hurtling out of the darkness with a freshly broken chestplate and scraping across the ground with a cry. Evidently the Rahkshi wasn't just playing spectator to their fight.

IC/NPC: Rahkshi, inside the hideout

The clang of the staff on Kehuri's shield was far quieter than it should have been--and the THWACK of pain that came from his back hurt far more than it seemed like it should have. While the shield prevented the immediate impact, the staff almost seemed to phase through the metal only to once again become frighteningly tangible. The worst of the force was abated, but it was still going to leave a nasty bruise.

Somehow, that seemed better than paralysis, and didn't interrupt his motion. The Rahkshi chittered, swatting at the lightstone a moment before swinging again--this time for Rall, as the Ta-Matoran took to Kehuri's back.

The second Rahkshi to come from the shadows side-stepped the shambling of the corpse, though it had to take a much quicker step back from Skrihen's sword, a rasping sound coming from the creature as it batted the Tryna reanimated Toa back, looking toward Skrihen a moment and its eyes starting to fiercely glow, a  mindripping fear starting to burn into the Bo-Toa. Even so, it seemed more focused on keeping the ironclad dead man at bay--and seemingly, the Bo-Toa distracted. From behind Skrihen, a raging torrent of plasma ripped through the air from one of the Rahkshi near the door.

Unfortunately for Zueya, the other Rahkshi of the pair seemed to be expecting the head-on charge--and left the undead and the Bo-Toa to its companion, bringing its staff across with bonecrushing force to knock her charge to the side.

The Rahkshi jumped to the side, Plagia's lightning orb grazing it as it hissed and started to focus on her. The ground started to shift and stumble beneath her feet, a dull torpor of fog sweeping into her mind and jumbling everything.

IC/NPC: The Lieutenant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2L4r0Aelvg

"I'll buy you an apology dinner if we survive this, Dartakh," The clone said, the one carrying the shield tossing it to the ceiling. "But we don't die gloriously. Dying gloriously implies we didn't use all our options."

From his unseen position elsewhere, the Lieutenant aimed the rifle in his hands at the mirror like surface of the ice shield, hanging in the air.

Alka Torin had fought at the Rama Hive. He'd been in Pala-Koro when it was attacked. He'd faced Rahkshi, servants of Makuta, and true Shadow Toa alike. He'd seen the full array that the powers of darkness had at their disposal, and in response Mata Nui had given the side of light... Six Toa. Powerful ones, sure, and each was a person for whom he had nothing but gratitude. But there were only six, against a sea of Rahkshi. And there was no Toa of Light to counteract the darkness.

To bemoan that, however, would be counter to his spirit--and that of the village he had chosen to protect when Pala-Koro fell. Be grateful for help, but expect none. Expecting your faith to heal your wounds, to help you stand... ******. Mata Nui helps those who helps themselves. When you bleed, you put on a bandage. When you fall, you get up.

When you face darkness...

The Lieutenant pulled the Kaitahu Ra's trigger and a blazing torrent blasted out of the muzzle of the weapon, scalding the darkness, the afterimage burning across retinas. The Rahkshi closest to the door staggered a moment, shaking its head and shrieking in animal fury as the light pinged off the surface of the shield and into its eyes. The mental pressure on Plagia immediately ceased.

"Move. It won't be blind for long and that won't work as well ever again."

When you face darkness... You make your own light.

OoC: Oh crud, I never responded to this!

 

IC: Kehuri - Inside the Hideout

The Toa of Earth's shield wobbled at the Rahkshi's swipe at the lightstone affixed to the center, his grip weakened by the sharp pain in his back, but its smoothly curved surface was made to deflect attacks, meaning it held. 

For what little good that did. As his mind processed the fact this Rahkshi could phase through solid object- that was why his back hurt so much. That meant he had one shot at what he was going to do next. 

The Rahkshi swung at Rall, and Kehuri swung at it- not physically, but with his element. Earth surged powerfully around the Rahkshi, washing over it in and instant like a wave, but rather than try to knock it over, the earth clung to its face, first blocking its line of sight from its target. 

He prayed what happened next would work. The clinging earth wrapped around where he hoped its chassis would be physical- the hollow compartment that held the Kraata, and the face at the end of it, clinging and aiming to invade its space through any gaps- maybe the eye holes, or else force it open. If he could just get earth between the Kraata and the Rahkshi armor, it would at least be temporarily neutralized, unable to control its exoskeleton. That was the theory.

[Tarn]

IC: Savrehn - Ko-Koro - Streets

“Something like that,” Savrehn replied. Out of habit, he went to adjust his scarf and realized it was still with Kreigero. He looked at his empty hand and sighed. “Really, I might just be talking about myself.”

He looked out above the Koro, to the mountains surrounding. “I probably won’t go out again. Not that far, at least. Not for a long time.” He looked to Atamai again.

“What about you?” Savrehn asked, trying to keep his mind off worrying about Kreigero and other things. “Any plans on what you’re going to do next?”

OOC: @BULiK@~Xemnas~

[BULiK]

IC: Kreigero [Ko-Koro, Healer's Hut]

The Ko-Matoran barely remembered how she got to this room in the first place. It had been a miserable night that blurred the lines between nightmares and the prior day's events. Did I really see a dragon? When did Sav leave me here?

Eventually, however, she came to her senses. The ringing stopped. She touched her Kanohi and felt how dry her fresh bandages were. Breath in, wait, breath out, wait, she reminded herself. Staying calm was the key to survival. They had made it out of there. It was over.

Reyal's ears perked up as Kreigero stirred on the healer's cot. The Hapaka had been laying on the floor next to the trapper's backpack and gear, but after looking at Kreigero he trotted over and licked her hand. The healer heard the movement and re-entered the room. With a warm smile, the Turaga of Magnetism explained how often to chew on the pain-numbing herbs he had put next to Kreigero's bed. The Ko-Matoran nodded, refraining from telling the healer that she already knew what those were; the prior day's near-death experience had humbled her.

Kreigero was thankful to be back in Ko-Koro. She sat up, stretching her back. It was the best she had felt in a while - but there were still some aches. It was hard to tell how much of the dried blood on the cot was from her or from prior patients. Was my head wound that bad? The thought made her shiver more than the cold ever had. In fact, she was quite warm. It became clear the healer had removed much of her outer gear in order to dress the wound - now she was covered in blankets the healer had set up instead of her own insulated cloak. Her black shemagh was tucked into her backpack - instead her neck was kept warm by a red knitted scarf. Reyal was staring at it. Kreigero blinked and pet him.

Unfortunately the Turaga's Kanohi couldn't remove the stains from Kreigero's gear the way it could repair her wounds. However, apparently he had made a semi-effective effort at scrubbing and bleaching the faded blood off the cloak while Kreigero had rested. That was truly going above and beyond. Maybe there was something to staying in Ko-Koro...

Edited September 18 by BULiK

[Geardirector]

 

On 9/16/2024 at 12:24 PM, Rahisaurus said:

IC: Siika (Ko-/Le-Wahi Border)

Reaching Karv, she hesitated for an instant while she tried to figure out how to pry the two apart, before plunging her foot into the writhing mass of chitin and claws, flesh and teeth. Thankfully she managed to land a heavy stomp on the Rama's abdomen, pinning it. She drove her spear through its head.

Karv rolled free and caught his breath for a second, before bounding off toward Mar again. Siika was left on the other side of the fray, looking up at the remaining five-or-so bugs. She dug the base of her shield into the dirt and hunkered down behind it, but stuck one hand out with a raised thumb for Mar.

IC: Mar (Ko-/Le-Wahi Border)

While Siika advanced (and did me a huge solid I wouldn't soon forget), I held cover, and went for my crossbow. Pulling tricks like the one with the explosive blast were always a somewhat shaky proposition. Even with how easy it was for me to grab onto some ambient noise or to simply make some of my own to feed my powers, it wore on me to keep such stunts up. I wasn't spent yet, far from it, but I would be if I didn't know how to pace myself. So, crossbow it was, bolts flew. Skewering one or two of the bugs as they got frightfully close to Siika. The *twang* of the bowstring and whistling of the flying bolts rang muffled in my ears, dulled and not as loud as they would have been, before I started absorbing their soundwaves.

I was saving up again, preparing for something big that would put at end to this encounter. Siika would see me once again somehow fraying at the edges, an unclear silhouette that met with the Kavinika, and without any sign of a gesture or command being given, Karv acted as if he had one.

A Kavinika was often a silent predator, but at night, when the blizzards howled not so fiercely and the moon stood high in the night sky, their howls could reach far and wide and sent the fear of Makuta rushing up the spines of those who heard it. I knew the feeling all too well.

There was something else you could do with it, too.

Karv and I rushed to get ahead of Siika as the swarm closed in again. Karv made sure he had his eyes on the target, reared back, and howled. Just as he did, I acted again, and this time I hadn't managed to store up much, as I'd had other things occupying me. I would have to spend on this move.

Karv's howl turned into a Power Scream worthy of a Rakhshi as I fed my power into it, and gave it direction so it only blasted forward and outward from where we stood. The effect would be bizarre to witness. Vaguely discernible ripples wafted through the air as the ground shook and the landscape vibrated. The Nui-Rama were all thrown back and knocked out of the sky, and they would be staying down this time.

letting go of the grasp I'd been holding, I grunted indiscernably as I fell to one knee, Karv finding my face and offering me a friendly lick or two before he perked his ears and scouted for something else. It seemed to be over for now.

OOC: @Rahisaurus

[The UltimoScorp]

IC Tarkahn - Akiri's office:

"That is an enticing proposal, I'll admit. The health of a Koro is directly linked to the health of its people after all. Before you start to sell me on anything though, I'd much rather hear a little more about the product. The...medicine you haven't even discovered yet? You must understand as a businesswoman yourself that I'm hesitant to go into an agreement on "could-be"s. This new company of yours, what makes you so sure they can find this....wonder medicine?"

@Emzee

[Emzee]

IC: Niici (Ko-Koro, Akiri Tarkahn's Office)

“Your skepticism is valid. I had similar questions, and to be honest, we are still in the early stages of our research; nothing is guaranteed,” Niici said. “That’s why, in order to eliminate waste within the government and this company, I’m proposing a multi-step process”

Niici took one of the scrolls she was holding and unfurled it. At a quick glance is just look like 4 or so horizontal bars of different colors sitting next to each other, bisected by several lines clearly indicating times and dates.

“We’ll start at step 1 here. This will cost your government the least, but it’s the most important step. Experts and field researchers will take what reports we do have, conduct interviews, and compare possible substances with the documented traits. If we cannot find this substance by the end of the four week period, then this project will terminate and the company will reimburse those expenses”

Niici then began to move her index finger from the left end of the graph towards the right.

“But if we do discover this substance, then the next steps will be breaking down the substance, analyzing and removing toxic parts, tests, and finally, Matoran trials. The most expensive part of this operation will be the distribution of this medicine, but by then we would’ve reached success already”

Niici then set down the scroll onto the desk for the Akiri to see.

“Now to your original question: what do we know about this substance? Well, we know that it’s extremely rare, that it can augment the body if ingested, and that overexposure to this substance has led to side effects and even death,” Niici said, “Even more reason to investigate and find where it’s coming from. If the substance can’t be made beneficial, then we must neutralize or purge it from the island”

OOC: @The UltimoScorp

[Rahisaurus]

On 9/18/2024 at 6:31 PM, Geardirector said:

It seemed to be over for now.

IC: Siika [Ko/Le-Wahi border]

Siika peeped out from behind her shield, thankful that Mar and Karv's combo move had been aimed away from her. Seeing no moving Nui Rama, she picked herself up and made her way over to him.

"Heck of a technique you got there," she said, in the kind of gruff appreciative tone you might hear between two mates playing darts at the local pub. "I got a little scratched up, but hopefully the mask corruption doesn't spread through their claws.. right?"

"... speaking of - who's out there making corrupted masks these days? I thought Makuta was done with?"

ooc: @Geardirector sorry for the delay!

Edited October 7 by Rahisaurus
removing the naughty heck word

[Geardirector]

IC: Mar (Ko-/Le-Wahi Border)

I had dropped to one knee for a bit, feeling the drain of massive exertions of power like that. I didn't do that so often, and even with pulling into me all surrounding noise to feed into my elemental energy, it took a lot out of me. If our surroundings were weirdly quiet for a bit, it'd be because I was building up my reserves again. It helped counteract some of the fatigue.

"the cliché that Sonics is a two-edged sword is true, as such. If you know how to wield that blade, though, it works for you more often than not"

I didn't say more than that, as I stowed or sheathed my tools and gave Siika my attention, while Karv kept a lookout.

"Seems that way, doesn't it? Still... his devotees would probably still want to carry on his practices. The Nightfall proved that" I suggested, looking around.

"Still, our directions to the hideout of this particular gang are more than a little suspect. They probably had that trick ready in case someone came this way..."

"We're still supposed to head West towards the ocean from here. Keep eyes and ears peeled" I said, before turning to lead the way.

I stopped for a moment, looking over my shoulder.

"Oh, and... thanks"

OOC: @Rahisaurus

[Rahisaurus]

IC: Siika [Ko-/Le-Wahi Border]

She matched pace alongside the Toa, her heavy footfalls leaving deep 3-toed prints in the snow. If the trail west was still part of their previous quarry's directions, then it seemed likely there would be more traps and ambushes to come. She took Mar's advice to keep her eyes peeled seriously, but figured she could leave the ears part to him.

On 10/7/2024 at 8:40 PM, Geardirector said:

"Oh, and... thanks"

"Any time; brother." 

The Skakdi held out her large fist toward him, palm downward. She'd seen some of the island's residents do it after the liberation of Ko-Koro. She hoped it meant what she thought it meant.

 

ooc: @Geardirector i just realised i have been using the same colour for siika's speech as you did for Mar

 

Edited October 13 by Rahisaurus

[Geardirector]

IC: Mar (Ko-/Le-Wahi Border)

It took a moment for me to notice Siika holding her fist out, but before I was able to really articulate an opinion about that, I'd reacted in the affirmative and bumped her fist right back.

The journey along the side of the narrow bay between Ko-Wahi and Le-Wahi remained quiet and uneventful for a little while yet, but as we kept travelling forward, the way the body of water to our south grew wider as we went made me take notice and curse my own lack of forethought.

"We're going to need to find a way to cross the water before we're done with this hunt, but, if they hid a boat somewhere I'm not seeing it"

OOC: @Rahisaurus