BZPRPG - Onu-Wahi

[ARROW404]

1 minute ago, Geardirector said:

IC: Ussalry NPC (Ussalry HQ)

Onepu's current attache was interrupted by another that entered his office brandishing Nuparu's seal; a quick identifiable marker that told everyone he was here as Nuparu's acting representative.

"Commander Onepu, I've got a message for you from the Akiri."

OOC: @ARROW404

Ic: Onepu - Ussalry HQ

The Captain immediately straightened up, unable to keep from grinning- both at the fact he could forestall these signatures, and at the timing of the messenger. He rose to his feet with a nod. "Let's hear it, then. Or have it, if it's written."

[EmperorWhenua]

On 9/15/2024 at 4:40 PM, Void Emissary said:

Sulov blinked and he was outside the Akiri's office, meeting finished and successful - Nuparu having signed off on Stannis' plan. Correspondences will be made between his administration and Po-Koro's, orders will be transmitted, squadrons moved into position - prayers said, lives lost, Dark Walk taken. 

On a long enough time-scale, you almost forget when you failed deep down in Mangaia. It didn't have to be this way. No one else had to die for this.

"Well, Stannis," he said, "what's next?"

IC Stannis Maru | Onu-Koro

What's next? was a question that always stuck around the Maru like an anxious memory, popping up when least expected or, more like than not, when an answer was not imminently clear. Advice for what happened next was frequently asked of the Maru as anointed toa-heroes, and few more than Stannis himself, the Wanderer, the Prophet.

He stood outside in the koro street with Sulov and Ra'lhen and chewed his lip in thought. Over time, he'd became used to the question, and though he never became comfortable giving answers he'd grown to embrace his fallibility. Answers came with more thoughtfulness now, more collaborative council than the oracular wisdom he'd dispensed in his earlier years as a leader.

It would take time to formalize plans between koro, messengers to exchange information and akiri to drum up plans, efforts left to people better suited for the tasks leaving time that could be spent doing other things. He turned to his brothers for input. "Well," he said slowly, "I'm... not certain. We could try recruiting other toa for the effort, or scout the Dark Walk, or something else. But what do you think?" 

@Emzee

[Emzee]

IC: (Onu-Koro)

Ra’lhen shut his eyes for a moment as if trying to conjure up a good answer. They had what they needed. He knew it would be good to send word to Akiri Lichtgheist at once so preparations could be made.

But what about them?

“We could try seeing if Ta-Koro would want involvement. Having a third city contribute to this project would have an incredible impact,” Ra’lhen said, “Though... since the original agreement was just between Onu- and Po-, that could lead to us needing re-negotiations”.

Plus… things were not so great last time ‘I’ was physically there, Ra’lhen thought. The only regions he had really ventured since he was freed from Makuta’s hold were Le-Wahi, here, and Po-Wahi. Venturing into the City of Fire would likely trip up memories.

And the City of Water was likely to never be an option for him. Good thing Ga-Koro wasn’t on the list.

“Or, we could set up two teams: one for Po-Koro and one for Onu-Koro. Each would go into the Dark Walks and scout them like you said, Stannis. The teams would handle threats and bring reports back to their respective Akiri”

OOC: @EmperorWhenua @Void Emissary

[Geardirector]

IC: Ussalry NPC (Ussalry HQ)

"He wants to see you in person, and I'm here to lead you to him" the Ussalryman answered.

IC: Akiri Nuparu (Highway Entrance)

Akiri Nuparu had spent a few moments after the meeting with Sulov and Stannis going over a few reports about the state of things, and in so doing, found something that caught his attention.

"This is not how things should look... the readings..." he mused privately, before he picked up an iStone and disappeared behind feverish calculations for a few moments. He emerged from them with a look of alarm on his face.

He got up and stepped out of his office, only barely remembering to grab his handbag of tablets and notes, and his Disk Launcher. Just in case...

"Send word to Onepu I need to see him immediately at the southern Koro exit." he announced to one of his staff, while his bodyguards fell in behind and in front of him. He had just spoken aloud where he was headed, they could take it from there. For once, Nuparu agreed to the security theater, he couldn't stand to be interrupted this time.

OOC: @ARROW404

[ARROW404]

1 hour ago, Geardirector said:

IC: Ussalry NPC (Ussalry HQ)

"He wants to see you in person, and I'm here to lead you to him" the Ussalryman answered.

IC: Akiri Nuparu (Highway Entrance)

Akiri Nuparu had spent a few moments after the meeting with Sulov and Stannis going over a few reports about the state of things, and in so doing, found something that caught his attention.

"This is not how things should look... the readings..." he mused privately, before he picked up an iStone and disappeared behind feverish calculations for a few moments. He emerged from them with a look of alarm on his face.

He got up and stepped out of his office, only barely remembering to grab his handbag of tablets and notes, and his Disk Launcher. Just in case...

"Send word to Onepu I need to see him immediately at the southern Koro exit." he announced to one of his staff, while his bodyguards fell in behind and in front of him. He had just spoken aloud where he was headed, they could take it from there. For once, Nuparu agreed to the security theater, he couldn't stand to be interrupted this time.

OOC: @ARROW404

IC: Onepu - Onu-Koro

Onepu nodded, casting a sidelong glance at the eye-roll of his secretary, before heading quickly out the door. "Let's not keep him waiting." He shouldered his dolabra on the way out and hopped onto his crab. 

[Geardirector]

IC: Ussalry NPCs and Akiri Nuparu (Onu-Koro)

Onepu was escorted by Nuparu's staffer briskly out of the Koro's central hub and not towards his office inside of the great hut once used by Turaga Whenua, but instead they were heading through the streets towards the Koro's edge. There, he saw the Akiri sitting in the back of an Ussalry carriage, clearly waiting for him to join him.

The Ussalrymen all saluted their commander, and made way for him to take his seat in the carriage opposite Nuparu.

"It's good that you could come on such short notice, Commander" Nuparu began, looking up from an iStone he had been reading, "I have something I think both of us need to see."

He signaled for the carriage to get moving, and the two of them started the journey out of the Koro.

OOC: @ARROW404

[ARROW404]

2 hours ago, Geardirector said:

IC: Ussalry NPCs and Akiri Nuparu (Onu-Koro)

Onepu was escorted by Nuparu's staffer briskly out of the Koro's central hub and not towards his office inside of the great hut once used by Turaga Whenua, but instead they were heading through the streets towards the Koro's edge. There, he saw the Akiri sitting in the back of an Ussalry carriage, clearly waiting for him to join him.

The Ussalrymen all saluted their commander, and made way for him to take his seat in the carriage opposite Nuparu.

"It's good that you could come on such short notice, Commander" Nuparu began, looking up from an iStone he had been reading, "I have something I think both of us need to see."

He signaled for the carriage to get moving, and the two of them started the journey out of the Koro.

OOC: @ARROW404

IC: Onepu

While it wasn't unusual to meet Nuparu elsewhere than his office, this far at the edge of Onu did raise Onepu's eyebrow. 

"It's good you caught me in the middle of paperwork," he responded with an amiable, but curious grin. He hopped into the seat, laying his dolabra across his legs, and leaned over to try and get a look at his friend's iStone. "Danger?" He asked, more seriously. 

[Daniel the Finlander]

IC: Oliphko (Onu-Koro)

She took a deep breath as if she was preparing to take a plunge into water. "Alright. I think this will be fine... mushrooms can't be sentient, right? I know the Daikau plants for example are rumoured to be sentient, but they're not edible... but you know, hypothetically speaking. It's not possible for mushrooms to feel pain I assume? From what I know the edible part is just a small section of a larger organism that lives in the earth."

It was clear she was moreso trying to convince herself that it was fine rather than actually asking Ferron about it. This became obvious when she grabbed a dish of stew and sipped some of its contents before hearing his response. She then slowly lowered it back on the table, her expression unreadable as if she was trying to process what she had just done.

"You know... I kind of like it!"

OOC: @Geardirector

[Geardirector]

IC: Akiri Nuparu and Ussalry NPCs (Onu-Wahi)

"Do you recall, before we learned for a fact that The Makuta has returned, those months of unexplained unease and dread? I had the vague premonition that Onu-Koro would need to be ready for something. So far, the only definite response is the arrival of the Dasakan refugee flotilla, but beyond that, once The Makuta is active again one cannot be too careful"

Nuparu let Onepu see the iStone while the caravan moved, and they were travelling down the main highway leading south from Onu-Koro, in the direction of the border with Ko-Wahi.

"I decided that to be on the safe side, we should put out a few extra patrols and scouts to keep a closer eye on the goings-on here in our tunnels."

"We've found one hotspot in particular that indicates troubling recent activity. I decided I needed to see this for myself."

Onepu saw a map of some of the southern tunnels closer to the surface, one spot outlined with an "x"

"There is already a small Ussalry detachment waiting for us there"

@ARROW404

[Void Emissary]

IC: Sulov | Outside Akiri Nuparu's office

"Ta-Koro would be tough to swing," he said. "Oreius was our liaison there, and with him out of commission...."

...I doubt their Akiri would want much to do with us anymore was what Sulov left unsaid.

"But your other plan's good," he said to Ra'lhen. "Best that we head in first, get the lay of the land. Avoid unnecessary risk when the others arrive."

OOC: @EmperorWhenua@Emzee

-Void

[EmperorWhenua]

IC Stannis | Onu-Koro

"Then let's scout," Stannis concurred, stirring himself once more. "But just the three of us, plus any other toa who wish to join. Splitting in twain is unlikely to yield positive results with such a small group. 

"Sulov, I understand the Ussalry still manages to deploy extensively through the tunnels. Could we use the Ussalry's activity to desguise our efforts until we are well into the Walk from here? Po-Koro is not as thoroughly inserted, so if we entered from our ingress point our presence would likely be detected immediately."

[ARROW404]

On 9/23/2024 at 5:11 PM, Geardirector said:

IC: Akiri Nuparu and Ussalry NPCs (Onu-Wahi)

"Do you recall, before we learned for a fact that The Makuta has returned, those months of unexplained unease and dread? I had the vague premonition that Onu-Koro would need to be ready for something. So far, the only definite response is the arrival of the Dasakan refugee flotilla, but beyond that, once The Makuta is active again one cannot be too careful"

Nuparu let Onepu see the iStone while the caravan moved, and they were travelling down the main highway leading south from Onu-Koro, in the direction of the border with Ko-Wahi.

"I decided that to be on the safe side, we should put out a few extra patrols and scouts to keep a closer eye on the goings-on here in our tunnels."

"We've found one hotspot in particular that indicates troubling recent activity. I decided I needed to see this for myself."

Onepu saw a map of some of the southern tunnels closer to the surface, one spot outlined with an "x"

"There is already a small Ussalry detachment waiting for us there"

@ARROW404

IC: Onepu

The brow of his Pakari furrowed, head nodding as Nuparu explained. "Troubling enough to call me to check in person?" he asked curiously. None of what Nuparu had said yet had justified the personal call, so he figured there must be more details the Akiri would get to. 

[Geardirector]

IC: Akiri Nuparu (Onu-Koro Highway)

"It's more a matter of want than need," Nuparu admitted, "I want to see it in person, and I'm willing to hazard a guess that you had trouble hiding a smile when you were told the Akiri had something for you to personally attend to"

"I still think this is important, of course, but I'm also creating an excuse for myself to leave the office. I'm sure you understand"

The Ussalry Caravan kept heading down the highway for some time, but did eventually turn down a side tunnel. The journey was on a very slow but steady climb upwards and towards the southeast. They were beginning to approach the border with Ko-Wahi, Onepu would be able to tell.

OOC: @ARROW404

IC: Ferron (Onu-Koro)

Ferron didn't interrupt while Oliphko sussed out her moral dilemma aloud, and smiled as she finally crossed the treshold and had a taste. It was a small thing, but Ferron was glad to see this nervous young Toa exercize some reasoning.

"Now that we've covered that, if I remember correctly, you wanted to hear more about what being a Toa was like for me"

Ferron drummed his fingers on the table, appearing hesitant but not voicing any protest.

"Anything in particular?"

OOC: @Daniel the Finlander

[Emzee]

IC: (Onu-Koro, Outside Akiri Nuparu’s Office)

Ra’lhen nodded. The idea of other Toa joining the expedition put him even more at ease. It had been so long since Ra’lhen had been part of a real team—not the Sentinel squads that often resented his presence.

“Sulov, I understand the Ussalry still manages to deploy extensively through the tunnels. Could we use the Ussalry's activity to desguise our efforts until we are well into the Walk from here?” he heard Stannis ask, “Po-Koro is not as thoroughly inserted, so if we entered from our ingress point our presence would likely be detected immediately.”

Ra’lhen looked to see what the Toa Maru pf Earth would say.

OOC: @EmperorWhenua @Void Emissary

 

Edited September 26, 2024 by Emzee

[ARROW404]

On 9/24/2024 at 9:19 PM, Geardirector said:

IC: Akiri Nuparu (Onu-Koro Highway)

"It's more a matter of want than need," Nuparu admitted, "I want to see it in person, and I'm willing to hazard a guess that you had trouble hiding a smile when you were told the Akiri had something for you to personally attend to"

"I still think this is important, of course, but I'm also creating an excuse for myself to leave the office. I'm sure you understand"

The Ussalry Caravan kept heading down the highway for some time, but did eventually turn down a side tunnel. The journey was on a very slow but steady climb upwards and towards the southeast. They were beginning to approach the border with Ko-Wahi, Onepu would be able to tell.

OOC: @ARROW404

IC: Ferron (Onu-Koro)

Ferron didn't interrupt while Oliphko sussed out her moral dilemma aloud, and smiled as she finally crossed the treshold and had a taste. It was a small thing, but Ferron was glad to see this nervous young Toa exercize some reasoning.

"Now that we've covered that, if I remember correctly, you wanted to hear more about what being a Toa was like for me"

Ferron drummed his fingers on the table, appearing hesitant but not voicing any protest.

"Anything in particular?"

OOC: @Daniel the Finlander

IC: Onepu

"Am I that predictable?" he asked, barking out a laugh. "You know me too well, old friend." He gave Nuparu's shoulder a pat. "And thanks for the excuse to get out." 

It wasn't the first time he'd referred to Nuparu as 'old friend', but this time the term stuck in his mind for a bit. Nuparu was still the same Matoran he'd known long before, but being an Akiri had left a marked difference in him over time. 

Not for the first time, but the first time in a while, a question formed in his mind. This time, he figured he'd ask. "Out-of-the-blue question," he preambled, talking just a tad lower, the click-clack of the Ussal's claws masking his words. "Before Whenua's passing, I never in my life would have pegged you for the Akiri type. But you've taken to it really well. You... got any thoughts on that? Things you wished you'd done differently, things you're amazed you can do now that you couldn't before?"

[Geardirector]

IC: Akiri Nuparu (Ussalry Caravan)

Nuparu went silent, clearly in a lot of thought as he pondered Onepu's question.

"I didn't take to it as well at first, to tell you the truth" Nuparu answered first with a furrowed brow. He put his iStone aside, resting his hands on his knees.

"It's starting to recede into the background now but remember if you can, how the first few months after the Toa Maru defeated The Makuta transpired. Po-Koro hid all its roads, Ta-Koro's monorail was bombed, and I... Onu-Koro was putting its finger on everyone's scale."

Nuparu counted on his fingers, speaking aloud.

"Le-Koro's chute network, the Iron Mahi, Ta-Koro's thermal power plant, Ko-Koro's aural detection system, Ga-Koro's underwater greenhouses... our engineers played a major hand in developing and designing all of those. In hindsight, it was opportunistic and cynical to a degree I'm not... comfortable admitting openly: to play all sides and just expect everything to work out in our favor when it came to blows. People really thought that was going to happen... it turned out I was wrong, and I'm glad that I was"

"I had to hear some serious words from all of them when we had that summit at the Kini-Nui to reopen relations, I needed to hear it, I had spent too much time approaching this game of politics as a puzzle I could manipulate. I had to learn the hard way, I'm just glad it didn't turn out worse"

Nuparu looked thoughtful as he often did, but he also looked a little distraught.

The caravan arrived at its destination. A few Ussalry members stood waiting to meet them at the mouth of a cave.

OOC: @ARROW404

[Void Emissary]

On 9/24/2024 at 2:04 PM, EmperorWhenua said:

"Sulov, I understand the Ussalry still manages to deploy extensively through the tunnels. Could we use the Ussalry's activity to desguise our efforts until we are well into the Walk from here? Po-Koro is not as thoroughly inserted, so if we entered from our ingress point our presence would likely be detected immediately."

IC: Sulov | Outside Akiri Nuparu's Office

"Yeah," he said, "that shouldn't be an issue. I can take take care of those arrangements - you and Ra'lhen handle recruitment?"

OOC: @Emzee@EmperorWhenua

-Void

[ARROW404]

On 10/1/2024 at 5:51 PM, Geardirector said:

IC: Akiri Nuparu (Ussalry Caravan)

Nuparu went silent, clearly in a lot of thought as he pondered Onepu's question.

"I didn't take to it as well at first, to tell you the truth" Nuparu answered first with a furrowed brow. He put his iStone aside, resting his hands on his knees.

"It's starting to recede into the background now but remember if you can, how the first few months after the Toa Maru defeated The Makuta transpired. Po-Koro hid all its roads, Ta-Koro's monorail was bombed, and I... Onu-Koro was putting its finger on everyone's scale."

Nuparu counted on his fingers, speaking aloud.

"Le-Koro's chute network, the Iron Mahi, Ta-Koro's thermal power plant, Ko-Koro's aural detection system, Ga-Koro's underwater greenhouses... our engineers played a major hand in developing and designing all of those. In hindsight, it was opportunistic and cynical to a degree I'm not... comfortable admitting openly: to play all sides and just expect everything to work out in our favor when it came to blows. People really thought that was going to happen... it turned out I was wrong, and I'm glad that I was"

"I had to hear some serious words from all of them when we had that summit at the Kini-Nui to reopen relations, I needed to hear it, I had spent too much time approaching this game of politics as a puzzle I could manipulate. I had to learn the hard way, I'm just glad it didn't turn out worse"

Nuparu looked thoughtful as he often did, but he also looked a little distraught.

The caravan arrived at its destination. A few Ussalry members stood waiting to meet them at the mouth of a cave.

OOC: @ARROW404

IC: Onepu 

The Captain's brows rose on his Pakari. "I wouldn't have guessed you had such sour feelings about it... Everyone benefited from those, after all- Well, aside for Ko-Koro, but... four out of five is an excellent shot record."

Speaking of shots, they were overdue for a Kolhii tournament... 

He put a hand on Nuparu's shoulder as they drew close to their destination. "Don't be too hard on yourself. Your decisions benefited more than they harmed, and you learned from your mistakes. That's even better than not making any." Usually, but this case was one the saying definitely applied to. 

[Geardirector]

IC: Akiri Nuparu and Garn (Ussalry Caravan)

"It's good to at least hear someone else approve, we'll see how far that goes. I can't be distracted by it now." Nuparu answered, and the two of them finally felt the wagon come to a stop, and they had presumably arrived.

"Akiri, and Commander Sir." a gruff voice spoke as a large figure appeared at the exit to the carriage Nuparu and Onepu had sat in. It turned out to be a Skakdi, black and purple most dominant in his color scheme, and the arm he wasn't saluting with covered by a large, armored gauntlet.

"Lieutenant Garn" Nuparu answered, and got up to leave the carriage, Onepu presumably in tow.

"Didn't expect to see you all the way out here in person, Akiri" Garn admitted, but seemed to take it in stride.

"What we found is this way, though, so follow me and we'll get a good look at it"

Garn turned and led the way, stepping through a hole in the cave wall that had clearly been recently opened and widened by the Ussalry patrol standing guard.

OOC: @ARROW404

[Daniel the Finlander]

IC: Oliphko (Onu-Koro)

She was busy consuming more mushroom when he asked a question. 

”Mwoh, myes, Ih dhid… hould onw…”

She swallowed, emptying her mouth before continuing.

”Sorry about that, I actually quite like the taste. Anyways, I… think I mostly wanted to hear about what you did? Like, uh, did you fight much? Did you… k-kill anyone or anything?”

OOC: @Geardirector

[Geardirector]

IC: Ferron (Onu-Koro)

Ferron was at first smiling at her obvious enjoyment once she actually got the taste for it, and adopted a sterner expression as she got around to asking a question. He and Oliphko had already had some disagreements about the place and use of violence. As he thought back to what he had gone through as a Toa, his expression shifted again, looking more like he was listening to something far away that Oliphko couldn't hear.

"I did fight quite a bit when I was still a Toa, yes. A lot of us, back when the First Toa had fallen and new Toa appeared apparently out of nowhere in numbers nobody expected, many of us banded together to form our own teams to try and follow in their footsteps."

He folded his hands as he spoke, looking down at them.

"My hand," he offered, gesturing with his right, "I have this one because we were taken out. Singled out and killed, all of us. They all died expect for me. I lost my original hand that day."

This shouldn't be too much of a surprise, he figured. Oliphko had probably guessed already he had been injured somehow to need a metal hand in the first place.

"Have I killed? Yes, infected Rahi, Makuta cultists. It wasn't our first choice, my Toa Team, but we did it if we felt we had to. Me personally, after I lost them all, I was lost myself. When I finally made some new friends, whatever I had to do to protect them, I would."

Ferron had closed his eyes, and something in the Turaga was apparently fighting to come out, it was most visible in his eyes. Oliphko had only ever seen the silvery grey that seemed to reflect inner strength and peace. It always seemed like Ferron was a man in control of his faculties and thoroughly at peace with himself, but obviously the subject matter had touched a nerve.

"If I had to kill someone to protect those I care about, I still would"

OOC: @Daniel the Finlander

[Krayzikk]

IC:

Shame burnt all the hotter at home.

Time, he thought, had reduced it to a smolder; no feeling could sustain that kind of intensity forever, and the need to be home had eclipsed it before the voyage ended. The desperate need to return to the island he had known all his life, and to the village beneath it that he had pledged his life. The Dasaka had been nothing but polite, generous hosts even as they fled their own home. Rayuke— the Dasaka called him 'Lord', though he did not rule— had impressed upon them that the five Matoran (and one Dashi) were his guests. He could not accompany them home, but the Umbraline were determined to treat them with the deference that he would have in their place. In the face of such despair, they clung to their Honor like a lifeline; he firmly believed they would have cut their own throats before failing to uphold it.

Ga-Koro's relief was temporary, he needed to be home. Kellin and Leli, the three of them had traveled together. Reported to the Akiri together. Faced a judgement that refused to come together, and in that moment Tarnok had wished to scream  at his Akiri.

The feeling refused to abate. For the first time in his career, he ignored a direct order; when Leli wouldn't speak with him, he didn't go to see the Commander. He didn't stay at headquarters. He walked out, into the village, and he didn't stop walking. Ferron wasn't in his shop, so he left a note at his door. Then he walked some more. His habitual patrol, first, and when that ran out he kept going. Nothing guided his steps, nothing decided the direction at each fork in the road. He just kept going, and going, and going until long after 'day' turned into 'night'. There was no real difference in Onu-Koro, of course, and some Matoran kept their own clock with the stubborn irreverence of the earth itself to those that would change it. The village, still, kept loosely in time with those on the surface for convenience. Businesses closed, lights dimmed, and bars opened and still he walked until the hour at which even they began to close.

When Makuta reigned, Onu-Wahi was one of the most dangerous places on the island. There were fewer Rahi than on the surface, the air itself didn't try to kill you the way it did in Ta-Wahi, Po-Wahi, or Ko-Wahi. But underground was where Shadow held sway, and everyone knew it. Beyond the edge of the village's great cavern, where civilization did not reach, Makuta ruled. Tunnels never carved by Matoran hands intersected with those that had. Lightstones embedded in the walls, even along the major routes to other villages, would break and plunge even these safest of passages into darkness. No one traveled underground alone. What little safety existed was found in numbers, in the comfort of the group, for when those groups passed through the darkness not everyone came out again. People in Onu-Wahi simple went missing. Maybe they got lost. Maybe they had an accident. Sometimes they simply abandoned the Wahi for the surface and the safety found in sunlight.

There were Things in the darkness. Miners worked together. Miners talked to their Ussals. Miners brought glowstones, and lanterns, and torches that they didn't need to see because if there was a light they could believe they were safe. They could breathe a little easier, trusting in the illusion that if their own light went out their friends would notice. If they ceased to sing along to the chants their crew belted out someone would notice their voice's absence. Someone would notice, someone would care, someone would find them, someone would save them.

It didn't work that way.

People in Onu-Wahi just... went missing. Miners. Travelers. Guards. Young, old, local or foreign, Matoran or Toa. Missing persons reports that no one would ever solve, filed as a sort of vigil. A memorial. The last proof that they existed, once, before the earth swallowed them up.

They were wonderful years, that precious time when Makuta was gone. The reports dropped. When people went missing, they were usually found; even if they didn't return home safely the people who cared about them could know, could receive the closure denied to so many. He hadn't looked, yet. Hadn't reported for duty to see the way that the reports, he knew, had risen again.

And it was his fault.

Not alone, not intentionally, not from any one act taken in haste. No single mistake.

But his fault. He stood there, atop a far-off mountain, with six others that he had come to know and ended, in a single instant, the peace they had won. Every report from that moment forward belonged at his door, every fearful whisper a truthful accusation that he had killed them. He had betrayed the people he had fought for since the moment that there had been no one to fight for him. Every victory he'd ever won tasted like ash in his mouth, every memory made that smoldering shame in his heart burn hotter, and hotter, and hotter until it eclipsed even the ache in his muscles from uncounted hours of walking.

His pain, for nothing.

The friends he'd lost, for nothing.

The 7th had been dead a long time, but he kept the memory alive. If it pained him that his friends were scattered, that they did not speak with him, that they were dead he moved on, one step at a time, because it had been worth it. His home was safe. They'd done their duty, and he could remember their sacrifices— and his own— with pride. Now the 7th wasn't just dead, it was gone— forsaken, in shame and despair, by the last member standing.

Nearly.

He stood in front of his home when 'morning' came, his insignia held so tightly in his hand and for so long that the trickle of blood had long since dried and crusted its surfaces as well as his fingers. There was one other member of the 7th, so long ago, left standing. He had given his report to the Akiri yesterday. There was only one place, for a little while longer, that he could be now. His feet carried him to headquarters again, so long after the last time he had left it, in search. One person could, perhaps, tell him why.

Three stood outside the Akiri's office, one even more famous than he, but Tarnok's eyes never wavered from the tallest. His voice was hoarse from tension, but the name that left his mouth was rustier still from disuse.

"Sulov Maru."

@Void Emissary@EmperorWhenua@Emzee

[Void Emissary]

IC: Sulov | Outside the Akiri Nuparu's office

(Ghost--)

(A test of character--)

The Maru and the First Toa traded blows in Sulov's brainspace, so the big guy himself could do nothing else but stare down at the old boy in front of him. History (myth) would be the judge of whether his silence was dumbfound amazement or the cold midnight silence of a prayed-to god. Just like Destiny, one's character was usually determined posthumously. Sulov Koskium was proof enough of that-- maverick hero, dead in the jungle, the tragedy of the True Patriot. Clean, simple, right-angled lines -- like a well-crafted door, shut and locked from the other side, never to be opened again.

(You want to return--)

(--to an imagined past.)

Did Tarnok know about Koskium/Uhunga? Had Sulov told him? He had been drifting for so many years, running from crisis to crisis, buried under the weight of legend. Drowning himself in capitalism to escape the horror-- the horror of being a ghost haunting his own hometown. Memories blurred, and the lines between Koskium (the Destined Man) and Uhunga (the Underdog Story) and Maru (our Absent Saint) blurred with them. Sulov wanted to break the whole ###### pretence. Just scream: "TARNOK! SAVE ME! DESTINY'S A SUCKER'S GAME! GET ME OUTTA THIS CRAZY THING!"

But he doesn't.

(You are Maru.)

(And if Destiny is a closed door--)

"Private Tarnok," Sulov said. "It's been a long time."

(--then Duty is the lock upon it.)

OOC: @Krayzikk@Emzee@EmperorWhenua

-Void

[ARROW404]

On 10/5/2024 at 1:30 PM, Geardirector said:

IC: Akiri Nuparu and Garn (Ussalry Caravan)

"It's good to at least hear someone else approve, we'll see how far that goes. I can't be distracted by it now." Nuparu answered, and the two of them finally felt the wagon come to a stop, and they had presumably arrived.

"Akiri, and Commander Sir." a gruff voice spoke as a large figure appeared at the exit to the carriage Nuparu and Onepu had sat in. It turned out to be a Skakdi, black and purple most dominant in his color scheme, and the arm he wasn't saluting with covered by a large, armored gauntlet.

"Lieutenant Garn" Nuparu answered, and got up to leave the carriage, Onepu presumably in tow.

"Didn't expect to see you all the way out here in person, Akiri" Garn admitted, but seemed to take it in stride.

"What we found is this way, though, so follow me and we'll get a good look at it"

Garn turned and led the way, stepping through a hole in the cave wall that had clearly been recently opened and widened by the Ussalry patrol standing guard.

OOC: @ARROW404

IC: Onepu

"Lieutenant," Onepu acknowledged with a nod as he stepped out. "So what's this all about, then?"

[Krayzikk]

On 10/9/2024 at 11:07 PM, Void Emissary said:

IC: Sulov | Outside the Akiri Nuparu's office

(Ghost--)

(A test of character--)

The Maru and the First Toa traded blows in Sulov's brainspace, so the big guy himself could do nothing else but stare down at the old boy in front of him. History (myth) would be the judge of whether his silence was dumbfound amazement or the cold midnight silence of a prayed-to god. Just like Destiny, one's character was usually determined posthumously. Sulov Koskium was proof enough of that-- maverick hero, dead in the jungle, the tragedy of the True Patriot. Clean, simple, right-angled lines -- like a well-crafted door, shut and locked from the other side, never to be opened again.

(You want to return--)

(--to an imagined past.)

Did Tarnok know about Koskium/Uhunga? Had Sulov told him? He had been drifting for so many years, running from crisis to crisis, buried under the weight of legend. Drowning himself in capitalism to escape the horror-- the horror of being a ghost haunting his own hometown. Memories blurred, and the lines between Koskium (the Destined Man) and Uhunga (the Underdog Story) and Maru (our Absent Saint) blurred with them. Sulov wanted to break the whole ###### pretence. Just scream: "TARNOK! SAVE ME! DESTINY'S A SUCKER'S GAME! GET ME OUTTA THIS CRAZY THING!"

But he doesn't.

(You are Maru.)

(And if Destiny is a closed door--)

"Private Tarnok," Sulov said. "It's been a long time."

(--then Duty is the lock upon it.)

OOC: @Krayzikk@Emzee@EmperorWhenua

-Void

IC:

"It has."

The past hung heavy on the words, and for a moment he felt his hand start to rise as though to throw the badge on the ground at Sulov's feet. The betrayal he felt at his core burned— for turning his back on the 7th, forgetting his old comrades, and above all else for lying about the Makuta. It screamed that he could find catharsis if he cast down the symbol of his Duty in front of the leader who had set the standard.

The moment passed, and his closed hand sagged limply at his side. Without the anger all he felt was fatigue, deep in every fiber of his being, beyond the weariness from his night-long march.

"Makuta is alive, and I set him free."

[Void Emissary]

IC: Sulov | Outside the Akiri Nuparu's office

Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.

Truth #1: Private Tarnok was listed as absent from standard duty beginning roughly one month ago.

Truth #2: Sightings of phenomena indicative of Makuta's return to power begin roughly one month ago.

Truth #3: Informal rank of "Maru" trumps formal hierarchy of the Ussalry (ex: "What is a god to a king?"). As a single act of selfishness upon his return, Sulov Maru reviewed previous psych evals of 7th. Koskium listed as "oppositional." Tarnok listed as "risk of martyr complex."

(Truth #4: Ossify that sense of relief in your chest, maggot. Makuta's bloodshed is still on your hands. No one else's.)

Conclusion: Possible that Tarnok had something to do with Makuta's return. Also possible that he overstates/overestimates his involvement. More data needed. Most importantly, though: this conversation should not be happening in public.

"...you want some noodles, Private?" he said, lumbering past Tarnok, already making his way west, towards his own abode. "I could go for some noodles."

OOC: @Krayzikk @Emzee @EmperorWhenua

-Void

[EmperorWhenua]

On 10/14/2024 at 12:04 PM, Krayzikk said:

"Makuta is alive, and I set him free."

IC Stannis | Onu-Koro

It was a lie, an obvious fabrication from soldier's a nightmarish imagination, but it settled on Stannis' ears like a static-charged toque and his brow-ridges flinched in shock. 

Sulov began to move. "...You want some noodles, Private?" Sulov said, lumbering past Tarnok. "I could go for some noodles."

He wanted to go with Sulov, to hear whatever it was he would say, learn whatever it was Tarnok had on his mind. The mention of Makuta pulled the weight in his heart like a chain to an anchor, urging him to chase it, but he restrained himself and his feet remained glued to where they stood as he chose not to insert himself where his presence may not be welcome, too overwhelming, his mind too opinionated, too transferable.

Stannis, realizing he'd forgot to breathe, inhaled sharply, too quickly to be normal. "Should we meet later, brother?" he asked, though his eyes, implacable otherwise, broadcasted in their dim twinkle to Sulov alone that his words were asking for explicit permission to go with, instead. 

@Void Emissary @Emzee

[Krayzikk]

IC:

"Sure. As long as they're not made from kelp."

The comment was— almost— humorous. He'd had a long experience with the noodles— and other foods— the Dasaka made with all manner of ocean plant-life. They weren't awful, but they did make him long for something as simple as proper grains. The Matoran started to follow his former commander, but paused when he heard one of the other Toa's question. Tarnok had seen the man before, but not really registered him— certainly not as Stannis Maru.

The question wasn't for him. Whatever their dynamics, their plans, they simply weren't his business.

@Void Emissary@EmperorWhenua@Emzee

[Void Emissary]

IC: Sulov | Outside the Akiri Nuparu's office

"More the merrier," was what he said, not looking behind. "I think we all have things to discuss over a meal."

***

The hut to which Sulov Maru’s Trail Mix and Hookah Bar was attached was the home of Sulov Uhunga, Onu-Koro's protector, and all were welcome to come forth to petition their great hero there. It had been owned by Uhunga for many years, even before his destined transformation into Sulov Maru, and this was a fact that could be confirmed in any of the city's census records or real estate registries. Since the Maru's return from Mangaia all those years ago, it had been the site of no less than twenty-three assassination attempts by various methods - a fact which did nothing to deter the pilgrims who slept before his stoop in the hopes of catching a private glimpse of their celebrated protector.

This hut was not the home of Sulov Koskium.

That was far from the bustle of city life - it was the edges of the industrial zone, surrounded not by apartments and shops but by storehouses and barracks and mining plants. The smell of Matoran-made magma and burnt crude Madu-tree oil were thick in the air, and the landscape was one of piled with uncut lightstones and broken production equipment. The workers and the travellers and the Ussalmatoran here were spread thin, and there were enough restricted zones that one could come and go in these parts regularly without fear of being noticed - which suited Sulov well. For though he had never quite been a hermit, save for his days as exile, true privacy had become a treasured commodity for him in recent times.

His true home was retrofitted from an old Ussalry garrison building - damaged in a mine explosion a few years ago, the limits of "No-Matoran's-Land" (AKA: the shadow-area between the city's edge and tunnel wilderness beyond which needed round-the-clock observation) had extended far past its jurisdiction by the time repairs had been finished, and so it had been abandoned by brass as a tax write-off, whereupon an anonymous source had purchased it for an ungodly sum of money.

The canteen had been transformed into an open-plan kitchen/dining area, which was where Sulov and guided his companions, and where he himself stood over a stovetop, staring into a yet-to-boil pot of cooking water.

"So," he said, not turning.

"Makuta."

OOC: @Krayzikk @EmperorWhenua @Emzee up to you if Ral'hen would also join!

-Void

Edited October 20, 2024 by Void Emissary
Adjusted some wording for accuracy.

[Krayzikk]

IC:

"Makuta."

He'd never been here, despite the throngs of visitors he'd seen in the area over time. It had been a petty sort of pride that kept him away— Sulov owed no one in Onu-Koro anything, not after his exile. He knew where to find his old comrades if he wanted to. If he didn't... If Tarnok went complaining to his old boss, it would have been proof he could never escape Sulov's shadow. That the 7th would never be remembered as anything but their commander's original entourage, background players in Sulov Maru's rise from exile to paragon.

Maybe that wasn't fair. No one gets to decide how they're remembered, not even legends. Maybe he was blaming Sulov for his own aimlessness after the Akiri's restructuring, for feeling... Forgotten. Overlooked.

No wonder Makuta suckered him so easily.

"We all thought he was dead," The Matoran started again, unable to totally keep the accusation out of his voice. "The five of us from Mata-Nui, I mean. Soraya— the Dashi— wouldn't have known either way. We weren't suspicious enough when the Ta-Matoran gathered us. With the Makuta gone, who could know so much about us but Mata-Nui? We met at Kini-Nui, and he lead us to a portal. It would take us to the Kentoku Archipelago, but it would only work once. I'd take you there to see it, but..."

He shrugged, the simple motion conveying clear frustration. It didn't help that even with the bar stool to sit at the same bar, even taller than most of his fellow Matoran, he felt towered over. It only rubbed salt in the wound that the people whose victory he had undone were so much bigger physically, too.

"He said we'd never find that Place again without the right guide. I don't know that area well, but Leli— Major Leli— patrolled Le-Wahi for years. She said she'd never even heard of a place like it before that night, let alone seen it."

@Void Emissary@EmperorWhenua@Emzee

[Void Emissary]

IC: Sulov | House of Sulov Koskium, outskirts of Onu-Koro

He looked over to Stannis, a barely perceptible shadow in his gaze: Ta-Matoran, six chosen ones, a secret place in the deep jungle. Only this time, Makuta returned: a negative copy of the Great Prophecy of yore.

"You remember what this Ta-Matoran looked like?"

OOC: @Krayzikk @EmperorWhenua @Emzee

-Void

[Krayzikk]

IC:

"He wore a hood. I could tell he was a Ta-Matoran by the coloring of his hands." He paused, thinking; remembering. "A bit shorter than me. I never saw what mask he wore, but I remember thinking it was strange. It was some shade of blue, from the brief look I could get in the right lighting. Maybe one of the others had the chance to see his face clearly."

@EmperorWhenua@Void Emissary@Emzee

[Daniel the Finlander]

IC: Oliphko (Onu-Koro)

She listened closely to Ferron's tale and tried to consume the mushrooms as quietly as possible. By the end of it, she was staring at him with her mouth hanging open.

"Thats... a lot to digest. And I don't mean the mushrooms..." The flat delivery made it sound less like a joke and more like a slip of the tongue. "I'm... sorry for your loss. Losses. You... you did what you had to do." Her voice was frail and wavering and she seemed to have lost her appetite, too. "I don't think I would've been able to recover from all that like you did. Being a Toa clearly requires... strength, not just physically, but mentally. I'm not sure I have either."

She looked away, having run out of things to say.

OOC: @Geardirector

[Emzee]

On 10/20/2024 at 12:12 PM, Void Emissary said:

OOC: up to you if Ral'hen would also join!

OOC: Don’t mind if I do!

IC: Ra’lhen Kodin (Onu-Koro, Outside Akiri Nuparu’s Hut)

The Toa of Lightning had remained silent, digesting the words of this Matoran newcomer. An old friend of Sulov’s apparently, he had come with a proclamation so shaking that Ra’lhen had to stifle a gasp. Ra’lhen’s worst enemy, his nightmare, his former master… alive because of this man?

It was preposterous, surely. He was present with Stannis during his interrogation by that unshakeable lawyer. Ra’lhen thought he knew the story.

Actually, that was always just part of it. It explained why Makuta was alive. But how he returned remains a mystery.

As Ra’lhen regained his nerve, he listened as Sulov they continue the conversation at his home. He followed Stannis, Sulov, and Private Tarnok, eager to learn more about their resurgent threat.

(Onu-Koro, Sulov’s Home)

Ra’lhen remained silent as he stood alongside Stannis.

“We all thought he was dead,” Tarnok began, “The five of us from Mata-Nui, I mean. Soraya— the Dashi— wouldn't have known either way. We weren't suspicious enough when the Ta-Matoran gathered us. With the Makuta gone, who could know so much about us but Mata-Nui?”

What’s a Dashi? Ra’lhen had not heard that title before. And after a time, the Vo-Toa started to wonder if he missing more pieces to this story then originally thought (incidentally, if they had only stopped at newspaper stand on their way out here, Ra’lhen might have seen the Mata Nui Daily’s newest cover story and gained all the context he needed).

“We met at Kini-Nui, and he lead us to a portal,” Tarnok continued, “It would take us to the Kentoku Archipelago, but it would only work once. I'd take you there to see it, but...“

Ra'lhen didn’t feel the need to intrude, there was a tension in the air, for reasons he knew he couldn’t know fully. Best not speak until he truly had something to say.

“He said we'd never find that Place again without the right guide,” Tarnok said, “I don't know that area well, but Leli— Major Leli— patrolled Le-Wahi for years. She said she'd never even heard of a place like it before that night, let alone seen it”

“You remember what this Ta-Matoran looked like?” Sulov asked.

“He wore a hood. I could tell he was a Ta-Matoran by the coloring of his hands,” Tarnok replied, clearly trying to remember more details, “A bit shorter than me. I never saw what mask he wore, but I remember thinking it was strange. It was some shade of blue, from the brief look I could get in the right lighting. Maybe one of the others had the chance to see his face clearly”

Ta-Matoran? Shade of blue?

Ra’lhen winced as an intrusive thought bore through his skull like a miner’s drill through the soil of Onu-Wahi. The Toa of Lightning had experienced this before, but he wished he had been more prepared. Even though Makuta’s chains had been broken for years, Ra’lhen’s mind still bore certain scars. There were very few living creatures on Mata Nui that had such a strong CAPTURE ON SIGHT mental commandment. There were the members of the Wanderer’s Company. But they merely inherited the persecution that had been planned for another company.

The only Ta-Matoran with possible shades of blue on his mask that Ra’lhen could recall was the leader of the deceased Chronicler’s Company. That, or this Ta-Matoran had a mutated pigmentation. Ra’lhen, a Toa of Lightning with a naturally red torso, was no stranger to that phenomenon.

Ra'lhen's eyes shifted to Stannis', then to Sulov's, and then back to Stannis'. The Vo-Toa's face had clearly indicated that he had recognized such a description. Assuming he wasn't going insane, something would be clicking within the two Toa Maru.

OOC: @Void Emissary@Krayzikk@EmperorWhenua

[Void Emissary]

IC: Sulov | House of Sulov Koskium, outskirts of Onu-Koro

The water boiled.

Sulov imagined a scenario in which Leah was here, her Kanohi softly fizzing to life at Tarnok's words; and from that imagined bit of set-dressing grew a war-game of each Maru's hypothetical approach to this news. Leah would inquire further, move to an interrogative posture against Tarnok - of all the Maru, she had least moved from her military mindset into the new and awful mythic mode they had all found themselves operating within. This would be followed by Korero theorizing possibilities - the once-Chronicler-always-a-Chronicler tracing back the plot arc of history to its origin. Oreius would remain silent, with only the twitch of an eyelid and tug at the mouth's corner to suggest his fevered debate with his parasite on the nature of the beast's grim father.

And then Reo, whose silence was deeper and colder than Oreius', would wait for the perfect lull in conversation to strike. Stannis would counter, gesturing to the mechanics of the cosmos, or the story of a God who doesn't play dice.

And Sulov?

Sulov dropped the dry noodles into the water.

(I miss you. Come back. I need you. Please.)

"He brought you to this portal," he said. "The portal brought you to this archipelago. And then...."

OOC: @Krayzikk @Emzee @EmperorWhenua

-Void

[Krayzikk]

IC:

"Then a garden. A garden, and a..." The Matoran's mouth quirked suddenly, lopsidedly; the comic indignity of their arrival warring— just for a moment— with the severity of his tale. "A fountain. The Dasaka have an imperial culture. The uncle of their empress is— was— the Imperial Executioner, and five foreigners and a member of their lowest caste had just appeared from thin air and landed in the fountain of his private garden. It got his attention."

Tarnok began to rub at his eyes, his lack of sleep beginning to set in while he tried to organize his thoughts, but stopped abruptly. In front of three Toa, two of them Maru, one their leader, and one his former commander he refused to show that weakness. Not when he was laying bare his gravest sin and how it had come to be. His spine straightened and his eyes focused, the meandering path of his recollection finding once more the clear path through his memories.

"Mata Nui was supposed to awaken when Makuta was defeated. These portals, they're... They connect distant lands, but also they connect the Great Spirit. Maybe they're like nerves, or blood vessels, or sites of power— I don't know. But without them, we were told, Mata Nui couldn't wake. Not properly. We told Lord Rayuke about the Vault's riddle, and he recognized it. One of his ancestors had found an ancient shrine on Mt. Koshiki, a volcano, with a description that was a clear twin to the Vault's."

"It talked about a lock, and a key, and the right time of night. Metal is extremely, extremely rare on the archipelago. They have but one blade made of it, and it belongs to the Executioner. It was supposed to be the key." He reached down to his belt for a knife, but not one he was familiar with— Sulov at least could tell the difference. He had seen the certainty, from weight to shape, with which Tarnok knew the blades on his belt. This one was unfamiliar to him, and it was clear why as soon as he lay the crystalline weapon on the bar in front of him. "The Dasaka use forged crystal like this, instead. It seemed familiar when I met a few of their people at the Kini-Nui, before we left. I couldn't put my finger on it then. It was from the Hive Battle."

"I only saw it at a distance, but that Dark Toa's sword was made of the same material." He stared at the blade in front of him, then shook his head. "That should have been a bigger clue. I assume that sword was the key here. We reached the shrine, inserted the key, and..."

"And Makuta came out." Shame burned in his voice, no matter how flatly he delivered the words. "Makuta came out, and he brought... Did you ever read the after-action reports? About what happened here, when you fought Makuta."

@Void Emissary@EmperorWhenua@Emzee

[Void Emissary]

IC: Sulov | House of Sulov Koskium, outskirts of Onu-Koro

Sulov had been aware, idly, of the Dasaka's arrival and their predilection for crystal armamentarium - the habits of an Ussalman die hard, and a re-forged capitalist needs to remain up-to-date on the news of the day. But the landing of an alien vessel had been sadly overshadowed by the arrival of its grimmer counterpart: the six Skakdi, the Piraka as the tabloids called them. And then the Necromancer, then Ko-Koro, then Makuta - the little details had fallen by the wayside. The obvious connection between the Dasakan weapons and the miraculous blade of Makuta's lieutenant.

He could have smacked himself.

"I'm familiar," he answered. "It was hard to miss what was left when we returned, in any case."

More troubling: Tarnok had followed the same path as Sulov had. Had opened a place that should have been a conduit to God and had instead unleashed the Devil. The central question was: how? How had Makuta sheltered in Mata-Nui's place of power?

Your society's built on division, the voice in his head rumbled, its voice as dark and rich as freshly-tilled loam. Koro from Koro, Toa from Makuta.

(But the first Virtue--)

--speaks to a deeper truth. That there are no divisions. Kopaka is Heuani is Kopaka is Reordin--

(Silence.)

Onua is Oru is Sulov--

(Silence.)

Perhaps, in the same way, Mata Nui is Mak--

(SILENCE!)

 

 

 

"A prophecy, a lock, a key, a sword, a shrine," he continued. "A gateway opened-- how do you know it was Makuta that emerged? How are you certain it was him?"

OOC: @Krayzikk @EmperorWhenua @Emzee

-Void