BZPRPG - Po-Wahi

[a goose]

IC: (See How They Run)

“Tut tut,” whispered the stranger. As a crowd began to gather in response to Ranok’s shouting, his location was only becoming harder to pinpoint. “Are you and your friends always so uncouth? I don't see what I could ever have done to you to deserve so impolite a greeting.

“Now, I know that you can hear me, so I would ask that you listen closely before this awful din drowns me out altogether: all that I want from you and your compatriots is the opportunity to have a conversation. I will come unarmed, hands where you can see them, all that – I can understand if you would prefer not to do likewise, but you should understand that I may feel the need to defend myself if I’m… cornered.” There was a malicious glee in the last word that gave the lie to the stranger’s geniality.

“Now, I’m afraid I must be going, but don't worry; I promise I won't be far. Besides, I think you’ll be quite busy yourselves – I’m sure the Sentinels are on their way, and I do so hope you have a good explanation for them. After all, I’ve heard it said that there can be consequences when one shouts ‘Makuta’ in a crowded amphitheatre. Best of luck.”

There was a panic rippling through the throng – just as some came to ascertain the source of the commotion, many others had heard enough to know that they wanted to be nowhere near it. Among the people in retreat was a tall, hooded man, who moved unnoticed and without urgency, vanishing back into the fabric of the city, there to bide his time.

Edited September 23 by a goose

[Geardirector]

On 9/21/2024 at 7:24 PM, Geardirector said:

IC: Sholix (approaching Po-Koro)

The carriage ride was taking her closer to the site of the village of Stone by the minute, and Sholix was reaching the stage now where she couldn't think of anything she looked forward to more than to hit up a watering hole when it was all over and get herself a nice refreshment or two.

She maintained her lookout as she trundled along, the radio still twinkling jauntily away next to her in her seat as she spotted someone ahead of her on the road. A lone figure, Turaga by the looks of it, that was walking the road to Po-Koro by their seemingly lonesome self. Sholix would catch up with her soon, might send a greeting her way when she did.

OOC: The previous post didn't happen, fake news. Look away

IC: Sholix and Farzan(Po-Koro)

"By the Great Spirit it's crowded here today" Sholix remarked with dismay as she tried to find a way towards her destination, and was not very successful in doing so. Something big seemed to have just happened which were drawing a number of people towards the great Altar to Pohatu near the center of the Koro. She didn't have time for such, and she really didn't have time to find out what the holdup was. It was a shame her Miru didn't actually work, or maybe she could... ah well.

No use crying about it, could she maybe take a different route?

The sidestreets further towards the edge of the Koro were a double-edged sword. She could make it somewhere but it was doing a number on her poor carriage, already straining under a heavy load. Sholix grit her teeth as an especially threatening creak sounded from the wheel axles, and then she was past, and could keep going.

But to where? She had a visit lined up with a respectable businessman who had quite the idea for something she wanted to outfit her rig with, but she wasn't getting there today, it seemed.

"Do I spy with my little eye? A pilot, and a vehicle, oh so spry"

The voice twittered from somewhere in the wagon behind her, and to her sudden shock she saw a Matoran up there. She was of course fortunate enough to spot me before me, yours truly, had spotted her.

"Hey! Get away from there, It's dangerous to mess around with that thing and I'd rather have it in one piece"

"Oh but dangerous is just my style, my good lady" I replied with an enviable amount of grace and flair (trust me). I scooched down uninvited to sit next to her at the seat of the carriage, looking certainly excited and fired up.

"I see you have one of the newer models. A fine piece of work, and not poorly modified at all. The Volo-Lutu Launcher deployment mechanism is very nice, and the hydraulic converters to lock those grasper implements, very solid, sturdy, could use a bit of an oiling however. Very impressed with the fine shield as well, Rhena-edged is it? I detect a hint of maybe some swing strength in that arm, and the reinforcing struts as well. Capital! Capital I say!"

The woman's expression had changed from concerned and annoyed to comparatively amused and slightly intrigued. She cracked a smile I was certain could be deduced as friendly to the common mind.

"Sounds like you have a bit of a clue what you're on about. You mechanically gifted?"

"As few others. My ingenious devices have spread far and wide across this island of ours and my name is spoken in hushed whispers in the halls of the mighty!" I boasted, and didn't flinch at the raised eyebrow of skepticism she gave me.

"You're confident I'll give you that, but what I need is someone who can whip up some real firepower"

"Oh!?" I caught her look with a twinkle in the eye, "you should have said so earlier! Takes us to our emporium and we will find just what you need"

"I'll need to wait a bit for the commotion in the middle of town to settle anyway, might as well browse while I'm here"

"Madam," I offered "you are an individual of discerning taste and wonderful curiosity such as I will soon be forced to tell you everything to merely hope to sate it. Do not hesitate to hold me to that"

"It's this way. I have not worked on an Exo-Matoran before, but I know I will rise to the occasion"

...

Edited October 16 by Geardirector

[Rahisaurus]

IC: Timak [Po-Koro Suva Temple]

Timak flinched as Ranok started to yell. The town crowd nearby shifted into frantic motion, some heading closer to investigate, others panicking and making themselves scarce. As he continued his search for the mysterious voice, it kept whispering to him, seemingly aware of the fact he could hear. The chiding words spoke of diplomacy and reason, but the leering tone and almost audible corruption warned otherwise. The Toa was finding it hard to pinpoint the voice's origin in the crowd, even with his sonic powers amplifying his perception, but something caught his eye... an eddy in the current, a point in the crowd where the frantic townsfolk seemed to subconsciously flow around, like a school of fish around a shark. And at the center, a taller, hooded figure. Timak's eyes met with his for a brief instant and the whispering became as clear as crystal, searing through his perception like a hot knife.

14 hours ago, a goose said:

Best of luck.

Then the crowd swirled in front of him, and the prey lost sight of the hunter.

He staggered backward a little, breaking his rigid distant stare with a shake of his head. He looked around at the others, relaying the sinister message to the group.

"He's playing with us. I caught nothing more than a glimpse, then I lost him... and I fear he intends to wait until the sentinels have given up on us."

ooc: @ARROW404 @Snelly @~Xemnas~@Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @Umbraline Yumiwa @Mel @Harvali @a goose

Edited September 23 by Rahisaurus

[Silvan Haven]

Po-koro - Suva Temple

IC: Ordinarily there would already be a pair of Sentinels standing guard at the entrance to the temple. All the new expansions and chaos of the previous era had resulted in a manpower gap that was still being addressed. As a result the area had a roaming patrol that quickly came in response to the loud call about Makuta worshipers. A call that every guard across the island was on the lookout for. In normal Sentinel fashion it was a duo. One of them a tall Lesterin with an equally tall glaive. Rock-like armor gave bulk to what would normally be a very lithe form. Easy to see above the mixed crowd of rushing people. By his side marched a Matoran so covered in armor and gear that he'd likely already have perished from the weight and heat of it all if he hadn't been of the sturdy stone-folk. Although that clearly did not make him immune to it as his huffing breath suggested.

The taller of the two quickly took in the situation with an experienced eye. Nobody was screaming in pain yet. Plenty of cries of fear and alarm for sure. If something wasn't done soon the crowd of panicked and fleeing beings would fix that. There were no obviously cackling evil minions of the dark god around. Although he did see a couple of people trying not to fall off the roof of the Suva temple. The veteran Sentinel frowned up at them as he considered if they were the threat. They didn't look like they were preparing any attacks or other dastardly deeds. Although that didn't always mean that nothing was afoot.

Without a clear threat to direct their adrenaline fueled skills against the pair of guards fell back on making sure that nobody was gravely injured during their hasty retreat from what was suddenly a very unfriendly feeling location. The Lesterin used the telekinetic powers of his mask several times to push people out of the way of a quickly rumbling cart. The heavily armored Matoran stood between the press of the crowd and a couple children before their parents found them and pulled them to safety. With the wide streets leading to such an important cultural and spiritual location the crowd was quickly dispersing. Leaving only the brave, the foolish, or both.

Edited September 25 by Silvan Haven

[Geardirector]

IC: Sholix, Farzan and Wiremu (Tech Emporium)

Arriving at my humble establishment and negotiating our way through the sidegate to make it into the sizeable backyard, we could finally start to do some real work on this number the Su-Matoran had told me she was carrying behind, and that I had sneaked a peek at, and then several more.

"So, then" Sholix remarked, standing next to the covered machinery with a look of anticipation and pride clearly showing on her face as she reached for the tarp to pull it off.

Kreff and I both gathered together to see what was going on, and just before Sholix was to unveil her rig, another voice piped up.

"Umm, Farzan? I was wondering if I could get your opinion on..." Wiremu began entering the backlot, holding an iStone and clearly about to consult my incredible self about something he doubtless needed my genius to weigh in on, but he was quite dissuaded by seeing our customer, and the load on her wagon. A look of recognition showed on his face immediately.

"By the Great Spirit, it's one of the new models. You're one of our new pilots?" he asked Sholix, who nodded with an appreciative smile upon seeing Wiremu.

"In the flesh, and with you here too, I have no doubt my rig's gonna be in good hands. I was headed somewhere else for a customization job, but couldn't get there and your colleague here showed me around to his place."

I delivered a knowing wink and then urged Sholix to get on with it.

"Well, let us see what we're working with already" I urged, and she nodded, grabbing the tarp more firmly.

"Yes, of course. Gentlemen, I give you, the Obsidian Temper" she announced and pulled back the tarp.

Unveiled was a fine piece of hardware. All of its wires and hydraulics and shimmering glass windshields appearing in a slight haze of dust from the unveiling, colored in burnt orange, white and black like her pilot, and holding lightstone mounts, weapon mounts and every piece a clear sign of its craftsmansip and strange, oxymoronic fragility. It was a machine built to take punishment, but one of a kind it was as well, a rare kind at that.

"It's been my dream to work on one of these forever since I first heard about them" I confessed, approaching the exo-suit, circling it with my fingers itching to get in close and my eyes trained on every curious detail I could find. I looked around for a moment, realizing Jokaro wasn't around, before promptly forgetting about that and turning to Wiremu while Sholix hung back and watched us work.

"She said she wants to upgrade firepower on this rig. Doesn't seem to have any at the moment aside from the Volo. You think we can soup it up?"

Wiremu nodded eagerly, gesturing almost as wildly as I would when I had an idea, which was definitely a first for him. They grow up so fast...

"It's designed to be modular, so of course, " he exposited, "it could easily fit some sort of projectile launcher, if only...."

"Miss-" he ventured.

"Mrs. actually"

"Alright, Mrs., Did you have something in mind you were after already?"

"Well," Sholix answered, crossing her arms where she stood, noticeably taller than either of us two, and regarded the Exo-Matoran, "I was initially just hoping to get some sort of high-caliber disk launcher fitted on. Something that lets me fire back whenever someone tries to hit me from afar."

We nodded in understanding, and I spoke up.

"Well, we could certainly handle that, but I have a suggestion for you. Perhaps you could see yourself trying something a little different? Wait here"

I rushed inside, and came back out sporting one of my heavier armaments, double-barreled and quad-railed with my "special ingredient" to boot. I handed the Diskette Rifle to Sholix, who took it into her arms with obvious interest.

"You know, I've seen these around a few places," she mused, "especially those smaller handheld pistol variants... you invented these?"

"Me and no other" I replied, "Farzan at your service"

Without waiting for a reply, I turned to Wiremu who had been following this little exchange with great interest.

"You think we can put together a little something to give this discerning customer the advantage she seeks?" Wiremu nodded without hesitation.

"Oh, yes. Absolutely. We could give her much better firing rate than a simple stock launcher would, we could..."

whirr, whirr, whirr

bang

The target stands and test dummies were getting a real workout from Sholix putting the weapon through its paces. As the smoke cleared, she handed it back to me, clearly impressed.

"Impressive, better shot strength and projectile speed than I would really expect. What's happening there?"

"Ah, that..." I answered with a knowing wink, "is what we in my business call a 'trade secret'"

Edited October 16 by Geardirector

[~Xemnas~]

IC, Aurax: Po-Koro

On 9/21/2024 at 7:35 PM, Mel said:

[Po-koro Streets(Ranok)]

Ranok, in his short stint as a gukko rider, had learned how to fall, to be cognizant of the rush of air and relax in anticipation of landing.   The jump to the water tower went about as well as could be expected. However, his brain barely had time to register the creak, to start to analyze how severe of a bending of metal it entailed, then he was flying through the air again.

The deep breath he was holding in escaped as a startled yelp as they hurtled right toward the dome of the suva.  Adrenaline dimmed the pain of contact, and he was sure glad nothing broke (he knew what that felt like), but he knew he would feel the bruises later. Luckily, the dome was not a perfect half-sphere—the curvature was gentler, and the carvers has taken out a series of stepped rings.   He couldn’t hug it like this, he wasn’t doing any good facing inward.   He turned, scooting his bottom back so it hit the edge of one of the steps as he took another breath.   No time to question Kanohi’s decision, to make that connection between the creaks and the nausea.   It was time for him to do what he was best at.

“HELP, MAKUTA WORSHIPERS ARE HERE!”

Ranok was not lying about his ability to be loud—but it was more than the volume.   His voice projected over the square, landing perfectly clearly on the ears of the crowd with a clarity hard won from nights in crowded bars.

“SENTINELS, TOA, HELP!   DEATH WALKS AMONG YOU!”

One could hardly blame him for indulging in his flair for the dramatic.

OOC: @Harvali @~Xemnas~ @a goose @BULiK @Lady Takanuva @BBBBalta @Rahisaurus @EmperorWhenua @BULiK @ARROW404 

Aurax quickly turned back and held his katana out in front of him in a fighting stance. "Well, that's one way to garner attention!" he said to Lekua and Sigrus. He paused and held his ground momentarily as he observed a pair of Sentinels arrive and begin doing their peacekeeping duties. 

On 9/23/2024 at 8:34 AM, Rahisaurus said:

IC: Timak [Po-Koro Suva Temple]

Timak flinched as Ranok started to yell. The town crowd nearby shifted into frantic motion, some heading closer to investigate, others panicking and making themselves scarce. As he continued his search for the mysterious voice, it kept whispering to him, seemingly aware of the fact he could hear. The chiding words spoke of diplomacy and reason, but the leering tone and almost audible corruption warned otherwise. The Toa was finding it hard to pinpoint the voice's origin in the crowd, even with his sonic powers amplifying his perception, but something caught his eye... an eddy in the current, a point in the crowd where the frantic townsfolk seemed to subconsciously flow around, like a school of fish around a shark. And at the center, a taller, hooded figure. Timak's eyes met with his for a brief instant and the whispering became as clear as crystal, searing through his perception like a hot knife.

Then the crowd swirled in front of him, and the prey lost sight of the hunter.

He staggered backward a little, breaking his rigid distant stare with a shake of his head. He looked around at the others, relaying the sinister message to the group.

"He's playing with us. I caught nothing more than a glimpse, then I lost him... and I fear he intends to wait until the sentinels have given up on us."

ooc: @ARROW404 @Snelly @~Xemnas~@Lady Takanuva @Tarn @BULiK @Umbraline Yumiwa @Mel @Harvali @a goose

"That buys us some time, then, at least!" Aurax called back, lowering his katana as he did so. His guard was not lowered, however. 

The Dashi turned back to the Suva. He finished his approach and began to examine the ancient stone closely. He ran his fingers over it, examining every groove and crevice in the weathered shrine. 

What exactly was he looking for? Answers? Some direction? Aurax himself didn't know at that point, but he continued scrutinizing the Suva nonetheless.

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

Edited September 25 by ~Xemnas~

[Void Emissary]

On 9/18/2024 at 8:55 PM, Emzee said:

With her right hand, the Waif pulled out one of her daggers and waited.

He watched and waited to see what the Le-Toa would do.

OOC: @Void Emissary Stalemate! Stalemate!

IC: Gunner | Rooftop of The Dancing Crab

"Gunner" - as he was calling himself those days - might have preferred to tell his own story but, for the purposes of clarity, I think it's best if a third-party handle narration from here on out.

There he was, Miru-floating above the alley behind the Dancing Crab, his eyes barely above the roof of that establishment as he tried valiantly to make out the shape of the would-be assassin on the building across the street - although he didn't know she was an assassin at that point. He was, as yet, also tragically unaware of her partner-in-crime watching him in turn from behind the nearby motel. For a guy who complained about the tutors and trainers that had been paraded through his life as a gentry-child, he always had a knack for following his gut over his head - Spirit bless him. So, he figured he could take this rooftop lady if worst came to worst, and he also figured it was worth checking up on her. Maybe she would have seen something? Maybe he just wanted the thrill of the chase again. Midlife crisis, you know how it is. Me, I died too early for that.

He switched off his Miru, dropped back down to the ground, and moved around the side of the Crab - he kept his gait casual as he strolled into the open street, straight towards the building the mystery lady was lying on. He even smiled, the blasted fool. Then, he rolled his left wrist - a movement that the air followed and then some, as a gust of wind blew out from behind him and towards the building in question. The way that he described the plan to me was as follows:

"Well, you see, I'll send a gust of wind from behind where I'm standing, you see? Straight towards where that lady's perched. The wind'll pick up the sand on the street that Po-Koro's lousy with - instant smokescreen for me, blinds her, but it's nothing too flashy, nothing that couldn't be explained away by a freak bit of weather. While that's happening, I use my Miru to float up to the building, already drawing my sword - so that, hopefully, by the time the sand clears, I'm on in front of her and ready to talk, or fight, or come up with a good reason for why the guy with a sword is standing on her roof shouldn't get arrested." 

So that's what he did.

Or tried to do, anyway.

OOC: @Emzee

-Void

[Vezok's Friend]

IC: [Kohra - Iron Mahi, First Passenger Car]

Kohra stood, with her arms covered by her poncho. Her eyes drifted from Datrox to the other Vortixx, looking him over with an intensity that had not been there before. Her Toa companion recognized the icy tone that crept into her voice as she spoke. He’d heard it that morning when he’d offered a comforting hand.

“Except you’re a friend short. Maybe it’s time you took a seat.”
 

OOC: Choo choo. @Tarn @Nato G

[Geardirector]

IC: Sholix (Leaving Po-Koro)

After she had finally talked the two specialists at the tech emporium into a reasonable price (wasn't actually that hard) Sholix had left the emporium, her rig finally fitted with a fancy new loadout that she had never dreamed of liking as much as she was right now.

A double-barreled firing suite that could do side-by side firing or fire both at once, with a punch and projectile speed she never quite saw coming from these "diskettes" that the Fa-Matoran inventor had labeled them. Bamboo, stralix powder or perhaps metal? She was going to need to talk to the Ussalry's quartermaster about provisioning for it. This was going to be fun to put to the test. In general that felt true for her rig overall of course, but even more so now.

The carriage ride home to Onu-Koro was uneventful.

OOC: Sholix to Onu-Wahi

Edited September 29 by Geardirector