BZPRPG - Po-Wahi

[Ghosthands]

On 2/27/2023 at 3:40 AM, Emzee said:

“Heroics are a lie on this land. I know that even more now, with these rumors I heard on my way to Ostia. So **** it. Let the Makuta take this land, and we’ll make a new life on this ‘Zakaz’ place you suddenly remembered”

IC (Lohkar) [The Dancing Crab, Ostia]

"Hey now," the pirate replied, furrowing his brow and raising his palms in a gesture of restraint. "Let's not be too hasty. As I see it, there's no need to be dismissin' heroics entirely. The trick is to believe in, shall we say...the heroism of self-interest."

As he spoke, Lohkar sidled around to Tailua's side and wrapped an arm chummily around the Toa's shoulders, casting his other hand towards an imagined horizon with the air of a visionary. One could almost hear the swell of triumphant music.

"Goin' where ya choose, doin' as ya please, and thumbin' yer nose at anybody who thinks they can stop ya. Once you look at things that way, there's all sorts o' noble adventurin' to be had, wherever the winds take ya."

He bumped a conspiratorial fist against Tailua's shoulder.

"Freedom, mate. That's real heroism."

He grinned, blue eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of a man who knew the true meaning of life.

"An' I should know. I'm somethin' of a hero myself."

OOC: @Emzee@BULiK @Void Emissary

[ARROW404]

On 2/27/2023 at 4:40 AM, Emzee said:

IC: Tailua — Ostia, The Dancing Crab

“Heroics are a lie on this land. I know that even more now, with these rumors I heard on my way to Ostia. So **** it. Let the Makuta take this land, and we’ll make a new life on this ‘Zakaz’ place you suddenly remembered”

OOC: @Ghosthands @BULiK @Void Emissary

IC: Suran - Ostia, The Dancing Crab

Having paid his boarding fee, he figured he might as well spend whatever Mata-nui currency he had left, and ordered himself a bottle of middlingly-priced alcohol to sip. As the first shot wet his palate, he listened in. So this one was leaving to escape the Makuta. He gave a little sideways nod of his head in consideration. Once that idea spread, journeys like this one were sure to become more popular. If he thought to find heroics on this new island though, the Lesterin strongly suspected he would be disappointed.

"Empty hope," he muttered quietly, not intending to be heard, but not particularly caring if he was either. "Run from the Kofo-Jaga, straight into the nest of the Nui."

[Perp]

IC: Baszlin - Iron Mahi

Where were we, where were we…?

Deigning not to sit, the Skakdi stood in the aisle, leaning against the side of the seat across from the Lesterin, crossing his arms.

“Ah! Right, yes. See, you’ve got it backwards. He’s doing me the favor in exchange for protection of his person. It’s a noble and just duty that I’ve been charged with.”

Grunts of pain and displeasure, mingled with verbal threats and warnings of impending violence emanated from the direction of the engine car, forceful enough to be heard over the howl of rushing wind. The shattered window, as well as the open connector doors, made their current leg of the journey fairly breezy.

"Baz, that crazy Toa's trying to kill people." 

“Hmm. Well, worry not. His manners may be quite rancid, yes, but be assured – I will politely convince him to leave if he misbehaves.”

OOC: @Krayzikk

[Silvan Haven]

On 1/29/2023 at 7:30 PM, Perp said:

IC: Jokaro - Po-Koro Streets

“In due time, Farzan! All in due time…” 

In his mind, Jokaro hoped Farzan wouldn’t pry, but he knew the Fa-Matoran would do it all the same – it was just in his nature, inquisitive to a fault. Truthfully, Jokaro would need to bring Farzan into the fold for something of this magnitude. He wouldn’t just need Lenat’s help, nor the help of Wiremu and his connection to Nuparu; not even Renaka’s blessing would suffice, but the combined efforts of all these people, and assuredly more, would be required. You can start to see why this was an ostensible mountain compared to the roadbumps ahead. There were, however, good reasons not to entrust the secret to Farzan at this time.

Reason one: shouting at each other in the street was absolutely not the correct venue to be discussing the finer points of something so ludicrous and expensive. It didn’t matter that the avenues were slowly emptying in the waning twilight of the desert – you could never know who might be listening these days. Discretion was key to this project.

Reason two: he didn’t know whether or not he could trust Farzan to uphold that discretion. True, he’d been tight-lipped when it came to the exact methodology behind his diskette innovations and volo-lutu enhancements, but this… well, this was a different ballpark entirely. It took considerable effort for Jokaro himself to not exclaim aloud when he looked over the provided blueprints, even if it was simply a string of expletives. Telling the Fa-Matoran would likely be… overstimulating. Farzan was quite fond of talking as it was.

Reason three: Jokaro liked being solely responsible for something this significant. Was that selfish of him? Probably yes, especially since this “Captain Dehkaz” had given it to the Emporium to work on, not Jokaro specifically. However, there had seldom been a single project both he and Farzan had not worked on together in his time at the Emporium. There was something special, exciting, and terrifying about taking the full weight of if on his shoulders, at least initially.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

An exhausted, half-hearted wave to the other Matoran and the final hundred-eighty-degree turn of the evening put him on the path towards his abode, where his long-neglected bed called for him. It was only now he began to notice the ache in his limbs again, much more intense than it had been this morning. If he collapsed and passed out on the sidewalk before he got home, he wasn’t sure he’d mind.

 

* * *

 

You know, Po-Koro’s “Engineering Department” wasn’t the full name of either the establishment nor the bureau that operated it. It was shorthand.

The full name was the Po-Koro “Department of Research, Engineering, and Development.”

Or, in other words, DREAD. Which was exactly what was seeping into Jokaro’s soul the longer he sat in the building’s lobby.

It was a massive complex smack-dab in the middle of Kirikiri Boulevard, sandwiched between a Papa Podu’s and a Hatmaster’s Haberdashery. Down the street, the equally-massive squat ziggurat that was to be the new headquarters of the Sentinels was still under construction. Traffic on Kirikiri had been nightmarish for months, or so he’d heard. Today, he experienced it firsthand trying to get to the building in the first place. Worming his way through a thickening crowd as the mid-morning sun overhead char-broiled him alive was pretty dаmn bad, for sure. Having the DREAD(ed) receptionist tell him that Lenat would be with him in five minutes approximately two and a half hours ago was worse. 

He’d given the receptionist “the tirade” about forty minutes in, making it absolutely clear that he was “an old friend of Lenat’s” (not patently false) and that he “had important business that would be of interest to the Koro’s government” (absolutely true). Of course, her response was simply to smile and nod helpfully, reassuring him that Lenat would be with him “soon”. He could do nothing but sit and wait, defeated by the receptionist, the immovable object triumphing over the unstoppable force after all. At least he was out of the sun. Maybe he should stop at the Hatmaster’s on the way back to the Emporium later.

Where the hеll was Lenat?

OOC: @Geardirector @Silvan Haven

Lenat - Po-koro - Engineering Department

IC: The massive amounts of civil works that had been going on in the koro had been an equally massive boon to the parched and often unpleasant town. Nobody who had actually spent any time there in the past could say otherwise. Better public infrastructure, freely available water, actual plants. Before a month ago the only place that plants could have been found in the koro was the homes of the exceedingly wealthy. As much a way for them to show off their wealth as a way to add some color and life to the place. Lenat would know, he'd been one of those people.

For the person responsible for directing and organizing all of the various projects and new equipment it had been sheer Karzahni. Exciting, fascinating, and deeply satisfying Karzahni but Karzahni all the same. Seeing his own designs and those of people from all over the island being put to use to improve the lives of the citizens of Po-koro had been deeply fulfilling in a way that few people ever got to truly experience. And then reality had to come crashing in. Problems started popping up left and right.

Organizational issues rather than technical ones. People needed to be payed on time. Supplies needed to keep flowing to all of a dozen different construction teams that were working at any one time. That construction had played merry havoc with traffic flows. All of the delegations from the various koros needed to be housed, fed, and protected. A thousand and one minor issues that threatened to spiral into major issues if not taken care of properly. Nobody on the island had ever attempted something as big and complex as this before and Lenat had to wonder if that had more to do with the lack of desire to deal with the headaches involved than the danger of Makuta interfering. The Vortixx wasn't sure when the last time he'd slept for longer than five hours had been.

Which all went to say that when his secretary had called him over the telegram to say that one of various mad scientists they kept on staff was here to meet with him, Lenat had said that he'd bee right out, reached for the very large mug of bula berry juice on his desk, and then lost himself in considering whether or not it was possible to overdose on the drink that he was becoming increasingly more reliant on. Did it come in powdered form? Perhaps he could mix it into his breakfast cereals. In fact that would be a great product li-

"Sir, your guest has been waiting for a very long time now and is becoming increasingly impatient."

Karzing cracked mask!

The fact that he did not wear a mask did not drain any of the startled jolt of adrenaline and guilt from his mind as the voice of his secretary crackled over the intercom once more. One hand reached out to grab the oversized mug and the bleary eyed Vortixx took a deep swig of the highly concentrated mixture before reaching out and pressing the button that allowed his voice to be transmitted back to his attentive doorkeeper.

"Thank you, please send him in. I'm ready for him now."

OOC: @Perp

Edited March 7 by Silvan Haven

[Perp]

IC: Jokaro - Po-Koro Engineering Department

Were he a petty man, Jokaro wouldn’t have hurried into Lenat’s office. He would’ve taken his time, dallied, wasting minute after minute just to let the old Vortixx stew, give him just a minuscule taste of the relative eternity he’d been held up for.

But Jokaro wasn’t that kinda guy. Irritable as he was at that moment, waiting any longer would’ve been more self-imposed torture than any kind of inconvenience on another. Presently, he almost jogged down the corridor to where Lenat’s office was situated, and nearly fell through the door.

The first thing he noticed was that the temperature was a few degrees cooler within the office. Air conditioning? Of course there was. Renaka poured more widgets into this place than any other Department, which the whole Koro was becoming increasingly reliant upon. There was scarcely a construction project, business venture, agricultural initiative or any other number of figurative pies the DREAD had ties to, subsidized, and dipped their fingers into. DREAD was everywhere in Po-Wahi, their reach extending as far as the new railways would take them. Of course they’d set aside a fraction of those widgets for just a little more comfort. 

Were he a petty man, and a real self-righteous hypocrite, he would’ve made a snide remark about the privileged position that allowed Lenat those comforts. But, of course, Jokaro wasn’t that man. He would’ve done exactly the same thing. And?

And, he was gonna need those same widgets. A lot of them. Enough to make that A/C system’s budget look like a popsicle-stick bridge project for schoolchildren; he was going to have to be a little diplomatic. If all went well, by the end of today, the aforementioned far-reaching influence of the Engineering Department, and Po-Koro as a whole, would be marginally longer, but that promise alone was no easy guarantee. Yes, diplomacy, showmanship, good business sense… a whole secondary set of skills the Po-Matoran would have to tap into to accomplish his mission today.

“Lenat! Long time no see!”

All the same, he could not help but inject a little professional sarcasm into the air between the two engineers, right off the bat. It was bordering on three hours, cut the guy some slack. The snark was well deserved. Unfortunately, he made the mistake of looking Lenat directly in the eyes before committing.

“Uh… busy morning?”

He wondered if the Vortixx knew exactly how bloodshot they were. His mildly-accusatory query came out a lot more genuine than intended.

 

OOC: @Silvan Haven

[Silvan Haven]

Lenat - Po-koro - Engineering Department

IC: The slightly breathy half-chuckle the question received said plenty even if it was shallow on details. The taller man had slept on his office couch the night before and had spent the entire morning before Jokaro had showed up finishing the last week's paperwork. Pages after pages of forms and numbers scrolling past on the slight blue glow of his task pad's screen.

If those numbers are right it looks like the foreman of the southern third shift crew is trying to embezzle funds from his designated budget. Plumbing systems don't cost that much to install unless there's something seriously wrong with the location. If that was the case he'd be fighting Jokaro for space in my office instead of sending in massively inflated budget requests.

"I've had busier." A slightly haunted look entered his eyes before he shook his head and took another drink from his mug. With a sigh, he let the exhaustion fade to the back of his awareness and focus on the engineer before him. This was apparently important enough for the Matoran to put up with a rather obscene wait time. "Thank you for asking, Jokaro. So, what did you want to see me about? You don't usually come to me unless you want to show off something in person."

 

OOC: @Perp

[Perp]

IC: Jokaro - Po-Koro Engineering Department

This was… not the Lenat he had first met roughly a year ago. It was almost sad to see him in this state, chained by duty to a desk. Bureaucracy really didn’t suit him. Depending on what exactly weighed the most on his mind in recent days, the blueprints that Jokaro had brought him today would either restore some life within the Vortixx, or crush his soul completely. No use in delaying any further. He crept forward, approaching the wide desk with trepidation.

“Well, yes, uh… I do have something here for you. See, we were approached yesterday by one, uh, Captain Dehkaz? Commander Dehkaz? At the Emporium. He had a… request.”

For the first time since yesterday, almost as if prolonged exposure to them was inadvisable, Jokaro withdrew the documents from his backpack, unfolding them with exaggerated care as he spoke.

“Now, I understand why he came to us specifically, and not you – you’ll see why soon enough – but… I told him, straight up, there was no way Farzan and I could possibly build it. At least, not at the Emporium, and not alone.”

He set the pages down in front of Lenat, smoothing them against the desk, hands pinning the far edges in place. Only a moment’s worth of admiration was spent on perusing the specifications again; he broke away, staring expectantly at the fellow engineer opposite him, watching his eyes for the tell-tale reaction.

“You realize what that is?”

 

OOC: @Silvan Haven

[BULiK]

On 3/5/2023 at 11:40 AM, ARROW404 said:

IC: Suran - Ostia, The Dancing Crab

"Empty hope," he muttered quietly, not intending to be heard, but not particularly caring if he was either. "Run from the Kofo-Jaga, straight into the nest of the Nui."

  IC: Frii'Glokk [Ostia, The Dancing Crab]

The armored skakdi, observing with his signature intensity until now, raised his gun-arm to the air. A strange parallel.

"Grass is always greener."

Having split the difference between the realistic and optimistic views of Zakaz given by the two Ga-Lesterin, the Fe-Skakdi looked Tailua in the optics and lowered the arm-gun back to his side. Time to finish the point.

"Sometimes you need to get prepared on a different island before you're ready to return for payback."

OOC: @Emzee @Ghosthands @ARROW404

On 2/25/2023 at 1:03 AM, ~Xemnas~ said:

IC, Skrol: Iron Mahi freight car

"Do ya see anything that could be our target?" he asked in a hushed tone. "If ya don't, we might have to split up to cover more ground."

IC: Quoribay [Iron Mahi, Middle Cargo Car]

We waited for moment. No movement. Aside from the 'everything' that was constantly in motion because, we were on a train, I guess. No unexpected movement. Looked like we were in the clear. Still couldn't shake that feeling creeping up the back of my spine, but what the Karz, we had a job to do.

"No and yes, respectively," I ordered Skrol. "You head the opposite of the way I go. If that isn't it then we double back to each other's car"

I made my move, creeping up to the door that lead to the final train car. I opened it, bracing myself for the noise and the rushing wind, then carefully crossed to the other car. No wonder they typically don't want passengers to cross trains - that felt dangerous. Because it was dangerous. Not that I couldn't handle it - because I did. Effortlessly.

OOC: @Krayzikk@~Xemnas~@a goose

On 2/23/2023 at 12:37 AM, ~Xemnas~ said:

OOC: Aurax and co. from Ga-Wahi

IC, Aurax: Forsi

Aurax turned around to look back at his companions. “So, where is the Iron Mahi station?” he asked. “Some of you are probably more familiar with this place than I am.”

OOC: Nichou from Ga-Wahi

IC: Nichou [Forsi]

Forsi was on the border of Po-Wahi and Ga-Wahi, so much so that people from either city might disagree about which region. While it was nestled in the fertile crescent of Naho bay, If you took a short walk from the docks you would see the telltale tumbleweeds and cracked clay soil of the Motara desert's outskirts.

Po-Wahi - A dusty museum of the duality of memory:

Traveling with the companions. Hafu's kidnapping.

Meeting Kyhra on a caravan to Po-Koro. Kyhra missing in action since the invasion of Ko-Koro.

Traveling to Po-Koro with a reincarnated Aurax.

...

Well, there wasn't a second calamity yet? Maybe things were getting better.

CUT TO SCENE 27, IRON MAHI STATION

Nichou lead the team to the Iron Mahi station, but it was closed for some unknown reason. The first indication of this before they could make out the 'CLOSED' signs was the line to complain to the ticketmaster. It stretched around the corner from the station, even longer than the line that the massive group of travelers created wherever it went. Waiting for a meeting that long would be a black hole of unparalleled proportions. Not that the group was in a rush or anything. There was just some excitement about Aurax's return home.

Time for plan B.

CUT TO SCENE 28, PAPA PODU'S FRANCHISE STORE #3

Near the end of a hasty lunch at the nearby Papa Podu's. The discussion picked up for the plan for the next phase of the journey.

"Anyone here used to navigating the desert paths? Or should we just walk along the tracks?"

OOC: @~Xemnas~ @Harvali@ARROW404@Mel@Lady Takanuva@Tarn@BBBBalta@EmperorWhenua@Rahisaurus

Edited March 8 by BULiK

[Daniel the Finlander]

IC: Sir Dahkapa (Blackrock Canyon)

The tablet slammed right onto his mask, sending him tumbling backwards. As he was completely taken aback by it, he failed to maintain his balance and fell onto the rocky ground.

He lied there for a moment, then slowly pushed himself up. There was an ominuous glow in his eyes as he stared at him.

"Why... why in the name of Ak'rei'an did you do that?" he asked quietly.

OOC: @Endless Sea (Alaki Nuva)

[Endless Sea (Alaki Nuva)]

IC: Joskander (Blackrock Canyon)

Because you were talking like a cultist.  Because I didn't like the look in your eyes.  Because you're scaring me.  Because this place is scaring me.  Because I hate this place and everything it stands for.  Because I remember burning buildings, and I know something wrong happened in one of them, and something's wrong here too.  Because I miss my friends and I want to see them again.  Because I thought you were a friend and now I don't know anymore.  Because I don't know you and I never did.  Because I've lost the ability to trust ever since I saw you again in Ta-Koro.  Because I've been carrying the world ever since I watched Ko-Koro burn.  Because I feel responsible for everything you are and everything you do.  Because I don't understand what's going on.  Because I'm lost.  Because you're lost.  Because I wish I'd never come to this god-forsaken island no I don't no I don't stop that stop that what is WRONG with me

Joskander looked down at his fallen brother, eyes narrowed, shoulders rising and falling with every heaving breath.  A thousand thousand answers to Dahkapa's question flitted through his mind, rattling the edges, screaming to be heard.  Had he been any less tired, he would have let them all out.

The tablet in his hand had cracked upon impact with Dahkapa's face.  A second crack was forming right alongside it, widening rapidly beneath the Toa of Air's gauntleted grip.

Joskander sighed and let the tablet fall.

"Before I answer that question, I want you to answer one of my own.  I want you to define the word 'sacrifice' for me."

OOC: @Daniel the Finlander 

[Silvan Haven]

20 hours ago, Perp said:

IC: Jokaro - Po-Koro Engineering Department

This was… not the Lenat he had first met roughly a year ago. It was almost sad to see him in this state, chained by duty to a desk. Bureaucracy really didn’t suit him. Depending on what exactly weighed the most on his mind in recent days, the blueprints that Jokaro had brought him today would either restore some life within the Vortixx, or crush his soul completely. No use in delaying any further. He crept forward, approaching the wide desk with trepidation.

“Well, yes, uh… I do have something here for you. See, we were approached yesterday by one, uh, Captain Dehkaz? Commander Dehkaz? At the Emporium. He had a… request.”

For the first time since yesterday, almost as if prolonged exposure to them was inadvisable, Jokaro withdrew the documents from his backpack, unfolding them with exaggerated care as he spoke.

“Now, I understand why he came to us specifically, and not you – you’ll see why soon enough – but… I told him, straight up, there was no way Farzan and I could possibly build it. At least, not at the Emporium, and not alone.”

He set the pages down in front of Lenat, smoothing them against the desk, hands pinning the far edges in place. Only a moment’s worth of admiration was spent on perusing the specifications again; he broke away, staring expectantly at the fellow engineer opposite him, watching his eyes for the tell-tale reaction.

“You realize what that is?”

 

OOC: @Silvan Haven

Lenat - Po-koro - Engineering Department

IC:The other man's eyes instantly became glued to the paper. His well ordered mind assorting itself, tracing lines of force, stress, fiction points and more. To call this device complicated would be an understatement. The notes indicating various measurements indicated that it would be big as well. Very big...maybe too big. He knew Commander Dehkaz of course. The refits to the Fowadi had been one of the many projects Lenat had been involved in overseeing over the last couple months. The koro's peeminent captain was a consumate professional according to both reputation and personal experience. To suggest a project like this was certainly ambitious. Although with Makuta back it might be needed.

It would also be extremely expensive and manpower intensive. At least when it came to technically trained personnel. A frown creased the tell man's brows as he ran through a rough estimate of the costs and resources needed for something like this. It wasn't a pleasant number to consider after everything they had just spent on the Po-koro and its ancillary towns.

"This is...impressive to say the least. I can see why you came to me in my capacity as the koro's chief engineer. I could fund most of this project personally but..." He glanced down at the paper again and shook his head. "It would be risky. it looks like you still have some things to work out in the design. The costs on a project like this will be monumental. Probably more than what Po-koro can spare after all of our recent works."

[Rahisaurus]

[IC: Timak - Forsi, from Ga-Koro]

Timak followed the group to the ferry, and after a minute to look around for Kimala, boarded the boat and sat down somewhere quiet, leaning their back against the side. They thought back to the conversation from before.

Quote

"I need to run some errands. I will join you if I am able, but I cannot say for sure. 
I will meet you at the exit of the Koro if I'm able to. If not, don't wait for me."

The Toa of Crystal seemed to have her head in the right place, and Timak was none to argue with a more experienced Toa, but they were disappointed to see her leave regardless. They had hoped to get a little more wisdom from her before they parted ways. Unable to think of more, they had said a simple goodbye.

Quote

"Thank you for all your help, Kimala. I hope we meet again soon."

The ferry trip itself was uneventful, thankfully. The De-Toa used the time to relax and meditate in their element, letting the soothing sounds of the waves rush over them, into their body, and feeling them revitalise him. It was an odd duality, being so sensitive to noise, yet using it to survive. They hummed softly to theirself, rocking with the boat.

---

As the boat landed, Timak gazed upon the new scenery in wonderment. Such a short trip across the bay, and yet such a drastic change in environment. Even the sea air here felt warmer, the plants clinging to the coastline more suited to the arid environment.

Walking to the Iron Mahi station, the Toa turned to Nara, who happened to be next to them. "This is a strange place. I've never been somewhere so dry, and the sounds are all different... The footsteps are muffled in the sand, yet peoples' voices carry further in the still air." 

---

At "Papa Podu's" (Timak thought the name sounded strange... what was a "Papa" anyway), they ate slower than everyone else. They chewed each mouthful for too long, mutedly staring down toward the plate, though unfocused on the food. The Toa wasn't particularly happy at having been dragged out to the station only for it to be closed, but they knew it wasn't anyone's fault, so they simply stewed on the disappointment. Eventually they tuned back into the conversation.

On 3/8/2023 at 4:30 PM, BULiK said:

"Anyone here used to navigating the desert paths? Or should we just walk along the tracks?"

Timak blinked a couple of times and looked up from their plate. 

"Didn't Aurax say he used to live here?"

-ooc: @~Xemnas~ @Harvali@ARROW404@Mel@Lady Takanuva@Tarn@BBBBalta@EmperorWhenua@Rahisaurus @BULiK

[Perp]

IC: Jokaro - Po-Koro Engineering Department

“Oh yes, I agree completely,” replied the Po-Matoran, retracting his hands as Lenat took the pages into his own, poring over the contents intensely. “These aren’t even my designs; these prints are exactly what the Commander supplied us with. I can think of several glaring issues without even doing the math. Speaking of…”

Delving into his pack once again, Jokaro withdrew his notebook. He had to thumb through a considerable number of pages until he found one that was blank.

“Cost is always of utmost concern on projects of this scale,” he sighed, diverting his attention as he began scribbling a few figures in the notebook. “The good Commander did say that he would return soon, and I could direct him to you to make the proper arrangements for funding. I don’t expect him to be able to fund the whole project, but I barely know anything about the man, to be honest. He mentioned having resources at his disposal.”

Frown lines creased the Po-Matoran’s brow, coinciding with some rather intense scribbling on the notebook page. “No, no, that wouldn’t do…” he muttered to himself before continuing his previous thought. “And, well, no offense to the Commander, but costs aside… the mechanical, chemical, and metallurgical effects don’t scale proportionally, either. Farzan and I would have to do a lot of legwork with the research and development on that front.”

At last, he seemed pleased with his scrawlings, and turned the notebook towards the Vortixx opposite. On it were a dozen different calculations, some scratched out, others circled.

“If we’re to design a working prototype, scaling it down roughly ninety to eighty percent would certainly save on material resources, and the values required would remain within the realm of feasibility once scaled back up – if the sun hasn’t baked my brain yet.” Unceremoniously, he dropped the notebook atop the sheaf of blueprints depicting the Conceptual Nightmare. He leant in, tapping the page with a finger, once again looking into Lenat’s weary eyes.

“This need not represent the extent of our capabilities, however. There is another avenue to consider. An attaché from Onu-Koro stopped by the shop yesterday. He spoke about a technology-sharing initiative between our two Koro. Sound familiar to you?”

OOC: @Silvan Haven

[Mel]

[Forsi, Papa Podu’s Restaurant (Ranok)]
Ranok ate slowly, giving his honey and cheese flatbread plenty of time to cool.   A musician couldn’t afford to burn his most important instrument.  He nodded at Timak’s comment.

“Also, if I recall, don’t we have a wayfinder with us?”  He raised an eyebrow at Sigrus.

OOC: @EmperorWhenua @BULiK @Rahisaurus @Tarn @~Xemnas~ @Harvali @Lady Takanuva @BBBBalta

[EmperorWhenua]

IC Sigrus | Papa Podu’s

Sigrus’ brow cocked back at Ranok in response. 

“Yes, yes.”

His nose pointed north. 

[Mel]

[Forsi, Papa Podu’s Restaurant (Ranok)]
Ranok didn't reply--clearly Sigrus was what was colloquially known as a "smart alec".

He waited instead for someone else to inquire more specifically.

OOC: @EmperorWhenua @BULiK @Rahisaurus @Tarn @~Xemnas~ @Harvali @Lady Takanuva @BBBBalta

[Daniel the Finlander]

IC: Sir Dahkapa (Blackrock Canyon)

Dahkapa stood up fully and straightened himself, wiping off the dust from his body armour. He took his time to answer Joskander's question, seeming to focus on calming himself through controlled breathing.

"Is it not obvious?" he finally replied with a tinge of contempt. "Sacrifice means offering something valuable to a deity. The greatest sacrifices are those where you give up something you value yourself. Followers of Ak'rei'an can give up some of their inherent power, such as their elemental abilities or their mask power. Usually this was done to gain control over a resurrected person. It is undisputed proof that Ak'rei'an is awake and can reward his most loyal followers."

His eyes narrowed. "What did you think I meant?"

OOC: @Endless Sea (Alaki Nuva)

[Endless Sea (Alaki Nuva)]

IC: Joskander (Blackrock Canyon)

It took almost a minute before Joskander found his voice again.  "Dahkapa, you worship a death god.  You know what I thought you meant."

OOC: @Daniel the Finlander 

[ARROW404]

IC: Lapu - Forsi, Papa Podu's

Possibly against his better judgment, Lapu had given in to his curiosity, and his attachment to the little band that had formed around Kanohi. He had never taken himself for the sentimental type, but he had spent more time 'socializing' with Hakari and Kanohi in the span of a couple of days than he had with anyone else in years, and leaving them to go back to the jungle somehow seemed less important than figuring out what this niggling sense at the back of his skull was.

How he regretted following his curiosity now. It was hot. It was dry. And the only plant he had seen in hours were cacti- and the aloe plant sitting on the windowsill of the restaurant. Not remotely enough to comfort him. He wanted to touch grass, curse it.

He almost grumbled, but instead opted for simply allowing his face to adopt an even more sullen look than usual. He was here- his armor was wilting already- and he lacked the ability to ask for a way to somewhere greener anyways. So, like it or not- he didn't- he was along for the ride.

[Snelly]

IC: Hakari - Forsi, Papa Podu's -

Hakari leaned back in her chair as she bit into her sandwich, thinking about how to solve their current issue. Her mask would all her to run to Ostia or Po-koro without too much issue, assuming she didn't get lost on the way. Of course that didn't solve the problem for the rest of the group. 

On 3/8/2023 at 11:30 AM, BULiK said:

"Anyone here used to navigating the desert paths? Or should we just walk along the tracks?"

"I'm not too sure. If I was by myself I would just run straight towards Po-koro using my mask power." She tapped the golden Kakama on her face. "Not really an option as a group though." 

OOC: @Harvali @ARROW404 @Mel @Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @~Xemnas~ @BBBBalta @Umbraline Yumiwa @Rahisaurus 

 

[BULiK]

17 hours ago, Snelly said:

IC: Hakari - Forsi, Papa Podu's -

"I'm not too sure. If I was by myself I would just run straight towards Po-koro using my mask power." She tapped the golden Kakama on her face. "Not really an option as a group though."

IC: Nichou [Forsi, Papa Podu's]

"Yeahhhh," Nichou agreed, trying to guide the conversation back to the two wayfinders among them. "So - Sigrus, weren't you navigating for ships? Do you even know the land routes?"

OOC: @EmperorWhenua@Mel@Tarn

[Silvan Haven]

On 3/10/2023 at 9:54 PM, Perp said:

IC: Jokaro - Po-Koro Engineering Department

“Oh yes, I agree completely,” replied the Po-Matoran, retracting his hands as Lenat took the pages into his own, poring over the contents intensely. “These aren’t even my designs; these prints are exactly what the Commander supplied us with. I can think of several glaring issues without even doing the math. Speaking of…”

Delving into his pack once again, Jokaro withdrew his notebook. He had to thumb through a considerable number of pages until he found one that was blank.

“Cost is always of utmost concern on projects of this scale,” he sighed, diverting his attention as he began scribbling a few figures in the notebook. “The good Commander did say that he would return soon, and I could direct him to you to make the proper arrangements for funding. I don’t expect him to be able to fund the whole project, but I barely know anything about the man, to be honest. He mentioned having resources at his disposal.”

Frown lines creased the Po-Matoran’s brow, coinciding with some rather intense scribbling on the notebook page. “No, no, that wouldn’t do…” he muttered to himself before continuing his previous thought. “And, well, no offense to the Commander, but costs aside… the mechanical, chemical, and metallurgical effects don’t scale proportionally, either. Farzan and I would have to do a lot of legwork with the research and development on that front.”

At last, he seemed pleased with his scrawlings, and turned the notebook towards the Vortixx opposite. On it were a dozen different calculations, some scratched out, others circled.

“If we’re to design a working prototype, scaling it down roughly ninety to eighty percent would certainly save on material resources, and the values required would remain within the realm of feasibility once scaled back up – if the sun hasn’t baked my brain yet.” Unceremoniously, he dropped the notebook atop the sheaf of blueprints depicting the Conceptual Nightmare. He leant in, tapping the page with a finger, once again looking into Lenat’s weary eyes.

“This need not represent the extent of our capabilities, however. There is another avenue to consider. An attaché from Onu-Koro stopped by the shop yesterday. He spoke about a technology-sharing initiative between our two Koro. Sound familiar to you?”

OOC: @Silvan Haven

Lenat - Po-koro - Engineering Department

IC: The taller man couldn't help the wince as he saw the proposed figures. Even while downscaled the the R&D price would be significant. Maybe they could pull from the Fowadi's operating budget while the ship was away for however long the ship's newest voyage would take. Moving funds between departments like that usually get those involved feeling testy in case such a move was a precursor towards a permanent reduction in funding. Before Lenat could continue down that line of thinking, his guest's words caught his attention once more.

"As a matter of fact I was involved in setting that initiative up. Akiri Renaka sees it as chance to mend some tunnels so to speak. A way to promote unity after the unpleasantness of Hewkii's reign as well as improve our own capabilities. At the moment it's only a general agreement dealing with information that's already more or less available for anyone who puts some effort into it however. They wont be teaching us how to build exo-matoran, for example. Are you suggesting asking for their expertise on this project? This design might still be unfinished but it should be quite potent if it can be successfully completed."

[EmperorWhenua]

IC Sigrus | Po-Wahi, Papa Podu's

"Hm? Land routes? Ah, I do, yes, yes," the wayfinder said to Nichou. He offered slightly more context this time to his friend, adding, "The Massif is secluded by intention but relies on trade routes by necessity. I charted all the major and minor trading roads before taking office."