BZPRPG: Le-Wahi

IC: Donal (Le-Wahi)

A lone grey figure sat on the scorched stump of a tree, overlooking the site of what at first glance appeared to be a natural clearing. A closer look, though, would reveal similarly burnt stumps of trees and shadows of huts lurking among the plant growth, along with a worn metal slab jutting from the desolation's centre, a commemoration of whatever calamity had occurred there or a marker of its mass grave. No flowers lay by it; no one came to see it, or cared to respect it.

Donal sat on his stump and stared impassively at the scene, his emerald eyes glazed over. He'd seen it a thousand times before; he didn't care for the aesthetics, just the feeling of peace it brought him. He came there to think, to consider whatever he felt deserved consideration at the time. And right now, he was considering his life.

"Interesting place," a voice pondered from behind Donal. He didn't turn around; this was his sanctuary, he would behave as he wanted to, not as others expected him to, and he'd treat touristic insects with the mild irritation that they deserved. "Can't help wondering why you chose it, though. Plenty of other places offer peace and quiet, most of them better than a jungle. Or maybe you're here for the philosophical drama -- growth springs up at the site of tragedy. A universal statement; even in the face of gruesome death, life goes on. You know what happened here, right? Terrible thing. Just terrible.

"But perhaps I'm over-thinking things. Perhaps this was just a random spot you chose to rest. But we both know that's not true, now, don't we Donal?"

Now that, that warranted turning around. He swivelled his head to look at whoever had addressed him, only to find them dressed in a black cloak with its hood raised, the only visible feature their golden eyes, appraising him knowingly from their shadowy residence. No matter; he could make his own deductions. Height implied a Matoran, voice a female. Time to get more information. "How do you know my name?"

Her eyes became a little thinner, and Donal could tell she was smiling. "Oh, I know a lot of things about you, Donal. The people I work with have put in a lot of research."

"And just who do you work with?" Donal queried, looking her over suspiciously. She was keeping her distance -- biding her time for an introduction, he suspected. Likely planning to step forward and throw her hood back to emphasise a dramatic announcement of her name.

She paused, considering his question. "Like-minded individuals. But that doesn't matter to you. As far as you're concerned, I'm your handler, and no one else is of consequence."

Handler. Like an animal. Like a pet. She thought she could control him. He almost snorted in derision, but kept his face straight. This was becoming interesting, he didn't want to spoil it now.

"But how rude, I've forgotten to introduce myself." She stepped forward, drawing her hood back to reveal a grey Volitak and a fairly pretty (if unremarkable) face. "You can call me Koura."

"Nice name," Donal noted, nodding his head slightly. He finally turned his whole body around to face Koura, folding one leg over the other and leaning back slightly, one hand resting on the stump and the other stroking his beautifully-carved jawline. He patted the stump, smiling. "Are you going to sit down?"

"No, thank you," she answered quickly, shaking her head. Too quickly, Donal thought -- acting against her impulses. He could use that to his advantage. "I'm here to do business."

"What kind?" Donal's face again became serious, his eyes hardening. Time to learn what Koura was here for.

"The kind that will get you a lot of fame and a lot of money," she grinned, obviously proud of whatever little scheme she'd cooked up and fooled herself into believing Donal would take part in. "Assuming all goes according to plan."

"Fame and money," Donal echoed, nodding again and raising his eyebrows. "Always fun, I suppose. But listen, Koura, I have no confirmation. No guarantee. I mean, how the ###### am I supposed to jump into this with no idea what I'm really getting into?"

Koura was silent, thinking over what Donal had said, the hypothetical cogs in her head turning so obviously they were almost audible. "Do you remember the Arete?"

"Sure I do," Donal shrugged. "Bunch of Toa, nearly got control of Ga-Koro before they were busted for something or other. What, you want to get me together with a bunch of other freaks and take over a village? Sorry, honey, but they're a lot more suspicious of that kind of thing now it's already been done."

"You're thinking along the right lines, but we're talking about something... bigger." Her eyes lit up with that last word, her grin widening. "Besides, it's not like you have anything better to do at the moment. Just... consider it."

She was right, he didn't. Donal frowned slightly, thinking over his options -- he could blow off this girl, who was clearly excited about the prospect of something, or indulge her and see what came of it. A lot of fame and a lot of money, he repeated to himself. Yeah, this could work out well. "Alright, yeah. I'll think about it."

Her grin, rather than widening even further, became smaller, more knowing, and for the first time Donal got the feeling he was being played. There was something about Koura in that moment that gave him the feeling she was a lot smarter than she was letting on.

"Here's your first freak," she said with a wink, walking closer to give him a small slip of paper, patting his hand. "For while you're thinking. I'll tell you what, you make up your mind, and if your answer is yes, I can explain the rest to you."

"And how do I let you know once I've made up my mind?" Donal asked, noticing that she was stepping back, preparing to leave.

"I'll know," she trilled, turning and pulling her hood back over her head as she retreated, disappearing into the jungle, the angular white hourglass on her garment's back lingering for a few moments before its own inevitable fade into the darkness. Once he was sure Koura was gone, Donal turned over the paper, examining the words inscribed on it in neat, plain handwriting which carried just a hint of cursive -- he suspected it was Koura's own, she seemed the type to add that kind of personal touch.

"Stendhal," he read aloud, smirking lightly. "Well, Stendhal, guess you and me are in this together."

OOC: Donal to Po-Wahi.

IC: (Valria)

"You should probably go and find him." I smiled, sometimes it's good to keep up an act, even if it hurts. I wanted to go talk, to try and be a more active member of this team. Truth was, at the moment I'd just get in the way. Agni knew that, I knew that, so I sat down at one of the chairs and waved him off. He needed to clear the air with Dorian, Dorian barely knew me, Tuara, and Cael. Merror as well. If anything I was just a piece of Agni's past, not really much of a help. More of a reminder if anything. I looked to my left and saw a woman, a Toa like me, she looked to be a Toa of Earth, he armor as black as a starless night. She looked as though she had been waiting, waiting a long time, for who I did not know yet. She wore black sunglasses across her eyes, so I couldn't see her eye to eye. I was bored, what else was I to do?

"Hello! You look like you're waiting for someone. I am as well. He's gotta resolve some things, and I guess I'll be seeing the rest of them later," I smirked.

IC: (Hari)

"Actually I swung into your room by accident! Swung a little too fast on the vines, didn't want where I was going and then bam you're on the floor and I'm on Tillian, and Naona and Krayn are at the door." I giggle, so many of my friends here! How positively exciting! However I heard the word "shop" and an almost devilish chuckle escaped from my lips. I saw Naona dart underneath the bed, her feet still sticking out as she tried to hide from me. "Aww, Naona you have to go! It wouldn't be the same without you!" I reached for her legs and started pulling. Like it or not, Naona was coming with me as was Skyra and probably the guys as well. We could have so much fun today! Perhaps even go get a bite to eat together!

IC: Skyra

"Ohhhh I see." Part of me now wished I hadn't mentioned shopping. Ah well. Nothing to be done about it now.

I watched (with much amusement) as Hari began pulling on Naona's legs in an attempt to yank her out. I felt the need to 'help' Naona overcome her fear of shopping, which was surprising far worse than mine. I guess I wasn't the only girl who didn't find shopping all that appealing.

I reached down and began pulling on one leg, letting Hari focus on the other. Even Naona, a strong Toa of Stone, wouldn't be able to hold on with the two of us pulling her.

"Yeah come on Naona! You have to!" I thought of an idea that was for sure going to get us her cooperation. "I do outrank you, Lieutenant." I smirked devilishly. "Come out and shop with us, that's an order!"

IC:

"..."

"You're all insane." The De-Toa remarked casually, without any real surprise. Nothing that had happened here warranted any real surprise, not after what he'd seen before. Not even Hari landing on Tillian. Krayn himself had once caused an even worse incident just by waking up, one that Naona was thankfully absent for.

While two of his friends tried to pull Naona out from under the bed, he settled into the room's armchair, watching the proceedings with a barely visible glint of amusement.

"You can't win, Lieutenant Naona. Give in. Or keep resisting and provide me with a distraction to escape."

IC (Cael)

The Toa of Water looked down at the behemoth that lay before her, silent as a stone, and almost as still, save for the gentle rise and fall of his chest, and the almost imperceptible throbbing of the purple Mark on his arm.

Men and women scurried around her, one of them being Praggos, the doctor who had introduced himself to her moments after she'd burst into the morgue like a girl on fire. The reason for their excitement was obvious: Utu was supposed to be dead. And yet, he wasn't. No, on the contrary: he was very much alive.

Though he most likely had some form of brain damage. Lack of oxygen. She didn't know how he'd come back to life (did it have something to do with the Mark on his arm, that bulbous growth that was, even now, pumping some sort of purple fluid into his veins? They stretched across his white corpse like a spiderweb), but it seemed it hadn't been quite quick enough to save him from all injury.

She stepped back half a step, then, emboldened by something she couldn't name, she reached out and caught Praggos by the arm.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked.

IC:

Liacada furrowed her eyebrows. With a blank expression she looked into the newcomer's eyes.

"You're friendly," she noted.

IC: Naona

"Commander Skyra," said Naona slowly, her voice somewhat muffled due to the fact that she was underneath the bed. "If you let go, I shall do all your paperwork."

IC: Skyra

"Paperwork?" I cocked my head in confusion. "No, I don't have any paper work..."

The truth of the matter was, I usally just ignored my paperwork...left it on my desk back in my office at the Gukko Force HQ. I hadn't seen the inside of my office in years.

I yanked harder on Naona's leg. "Come out!"

IC: Naona

"Akiri Kongu would not be pleased to know that one of his officers fails to do her paperwork," said Naona cheerily. "It'd be a shame if he found out."

IC: Skyra

"Nobody cares about the paperwork!" I exclaimed, though I glanced at Krayn briefly. I cleared my throat.

"Now come out and come shopping with us! What are you so afraid of?"

IC: Naona

"Dresses."

IC: (Valria)

"Yeah, I guess!" I smirked. "So what brings you to Le-Koro?" She seemed very distant, maybe even a little frustrated, but it wasn't something to dwell on. I could dwell and feel frustrated or I could do something. Right now talking sounded good. Maybe I'd go see what Utu was like myself, maybe talk to Cael. That and I wanted to go get some clothes, and weapons, a new mask. Listen if I'm going to start over and get all this out of my life, might as well go all the way.

IC: (Hari)

"Come on Naona, please!" I begged, I had wanted to do this for the longest time, but there was a point I guess. Where I was becoming too pushy. Perhaps I was being that way now? There it was, she just backed Skyra into a corner. "Fine! I get it!" I huffed, dropping her leg and turning on my heel brushing past Krayn. "Well I can go alone, if you hate it that much." Clearly I was too pushy, I was too annoying. Fine, be like that. I'll just disappear. And disappear I did, by the time Krayn or the others reached the Inn floor I was already out of sight.

IC: Kunitu

A certain Toa of Air however, noticed Hari storm down the stairs.

"You look pretty cheery," said Kunitu, calling out to the younger Toa.

IC:

...

"I could go dress shopping with her."

-Tyler

IC: Naona

"NO."

IC: Skyra

"Hari!" I called out, though she was already gone, I tripped over Naona's legs as I attempted to go after her.

"Karz Naona!"

IC: (Hari)

"Yeah, I guess I'm fine. It's just Naona and Skyra, neither of them really want to hang out it seems. Like I'm annoying them. Anyways sorry, this isn't your problem, I shouldn't be bugging you." I sighed and went to move past her.

IC: Kunitu

"Naona? Skyra?"

Kunitu's grin widened. "They're upstairs? Wait, you're Naona's minion- I mean, student, right?"

IC:

"I'm the one trying to help!" protested the hapless surfer that someone, somewhere, at some time, decided would be put to good use defending an entire city.

-Tyler

IC: (Hari)

"Yeah, Naona is hiding under the bed, Skyra is probably lying on the ground by the sound of it, Tillian is probably trying to smooth things out and Krayn is avoiding this mess." I sighed. "That is how it usually goes and yes I'm her protege."

IC: Kunitu

"Hm, so why don't they want to hang out with you?" asked Kunitu. "Aren't kids supposed to be groovy and hip these days and go riding on Kane-Ra and things with their friends?"

IC: Skyra

I scrambled off the floor quickly, running toward the door. I began rushing down the stairs...

IC: (Hari)

"Because Naona hates the idea of shopping and Skyra is still getting used to herself I think. I just wanted to hang out, to have fun together. I'm being too pushy though, that's all I'm ever good for." I said and brushed past her. I didn't feel like talking. If Skyra and Naona didn't want to hang out, fine. They didn't have to hang out. I could do this on my own.

IC: Kunitu

"Shopping? I think I see your problem! Naona doesn't do dresses. She really likes suits."

The Toa of Air paused, before rifling through her pocket for a picture. Seconds later, she pulled it out.

"She also does skirts with lots and lots of pockets though."

IC: (Hari)

Wait! What?

"Oh my god, she's ADORABLE!" I squeed so hard that nearly all the customers of the Bright Star Inn groaned. "That's Naona, never thought I'd see her in a skirt. She looks so cute! So you think, you think she'll do it?"

IC: Kunitu

Kunitu chuckled. "Yes. Especially if you mention pockets."

IC: Skyra

I ran down the stairs so fast I almost collided with a waitress, I apologized under my breath as I saw Hari and....

"Oh my god a monster!" Oh wait no...it was Kunitu, I cleared my throat. "I mean...hi...Kunitu."

IC: Kunitu

"Hey! I only pulled off the swamp monster thing once! Once!"

IC: Skyra

"It was one time too many!" I shivered dramatically.

IC: Kidona

The Lavender armored Vortixx stood up from her chair and handed Unari the silver required for her drink before she was off.

Short walk later

She walked into the Gukko force recruitment office and approached the spokesperson

"Hello.. i would like to inquire about joining the force.."

OOC: That's your cue Turntechofgod

IC: Colx (Bright-Star Inn)

"If you think she's a monster you ain't seen nothing yet" a voice spoke up from the seat beside Kunitu.

Colx turned around, pipe in his mouth and a contented grin plastered across his face, and there was no arguing that this particular Skakdi had been dealt a bad hand or two in the looks department, although not quite as much as some.

"Good day, laides" he said to Skyra and Hari as he could hear Unari plonk a round glass object onto the bar counter now behind him.

"Better make it a double" he said to the bartender

IC:

Almost silently, though truthfully he did make a sound, it was just difficult to hear, Krayn descended back into the hustle and bustle of the inn's main room. Concern was etched across his mask, distinctly at odds with the frown he had so often worn in his hometown. But that was irrelevant at the moment. Naona and Tillian were still upstairs, but he had no doubt that they would follow fairly soon.

Well, Naona would. Hard to call with Tillian.

A loud laugh drew his attention in the correct direction, and he crossed the room in a few quick strides to stop just behind Hari, who was talking with a very familiar looking being.

"Sorry to interrupt..." He started apologetically, before looking at Hari. "You okay?"

IC:

Was there something she could do? There was always something somebody could do, really; as for her, though, she seemed to know Utu somewhat - at least, know of him, and was with the group that brought him in - and that already meant she had a bit that she could help with, telling me what state he was in when he came in, what he'd been doing for the past few months, stuff like that...first off, though:

"That depends. Are you a trained medical professional? If the answer is yes, then yes; if the answer is no, it's still yes."

IC:

"Vengeance. And because there is nobody else who can do it." Kehua simply said. Brykon glanced at him, obviously not satisfied with such a small answer. A few more seconds of silence passed, the two unlikely traveling companions hearing only the sounds of the jungle, the soft clatter of their gear against their bodies and the sounds of their own feet against the forest floor. The ground was getting much harder, Kehua noticed, along with the slight incline. They had covered some distance during their chat already and climbed a bit higher as well. Up ahead loomed a large wall, rising up from a diffuse fog hanging over the forest in the distance and disappearing again behind the lowest clouds. That was the border to Ko-Wahi. And it was likely that was where Brykon was heading. The Aitua focused back on the other Toa walking beside him, still waiting for him to elaborate.

"The ones me and my brethren are after are the ones that made us the shadows we are today. Because of them, we walk in twilight, fighting for the light by means of darkness. They are the ones that took that from us which can never be regained: our home.The Matoran we were once sworn to protect were wiped out because of their actions. An entire island's population and culture, undone by the work of their hands."

Kehua paused for a second. "I told you I can relate." he said, a tiny, bitter smirk playing across his features, before continuing:

"Me and the others, we are the only thing that survived. Besides them, of course. That is what being Aitua means: We are the ghosts of a lost people and the shadows of the heroes we were supposed to be. There is nothing left for us to return to. All we have now is the memory of the ones that have passed on and the desire to avenge them; to see justice done."

Kehua appeared collected on the outside, as he described his fate in his solid, deep voice. But there was a sombre undertone and Brykon could easily see that there was a fury underneath it all that had burned for a millennium. Yet for all he had been through, the dark Toa did not act like a being his age. For all his experience, the only righteousness Brykon could see in the Aitua was his anger.

"We've followed them through time and from place to place, until the hunt finally led us here." - he waived his hand around, indicating the entirety of the island - "But they are crafty. They have managed to elude us, disappearing and moving on whenever we got too close. We may have been after them for a thousand years, but who knows how much more time they have had before we came into being...We've managed to thin their ranks slightly throughout the years, here and there and one by one. But they are still active and dangerous, using their anonymity to fully hide once they set up in a new place."

"Even if I told you what they looked like before, they will have taken a new disguise by now as they have done in the past. Which leaves only us to track them down again."

OOC: I will reveal more of the Aitua's backstory once I have the time to write longer flashbacks again.

IC (Cael)

"Yes." Cael replied. "I'm trained as a healer. I've worked for both the Ga-Koro Marines and at my own clinic in Ga-Koro. I'll do whatever needs to be done."

IC: The Dragon Who Dreamt

You have no home, but you are a prince. You are no one's hero, but it will fall to you to save everyone. You know nothing of dragons, Dorian Shaddix, but you are a dragon. Open your eyes and breathe.

I opened my eyes.

Breathe out, Dor. I don't know what I was expecting, but it came like any other breathe - lungs felt good, air felt fresh, nothing was burning. Breathe in. Breathe out. You have to be the first person ever to remind yourself how to live.

My basic refresher course in Basic Existence 101 came courtesy of a nice sized little room in the Inn from earlier, with three notes plastered around my face. The first read Night, in a blunt script that looked feminine while trying to look buff - Tuara. Second read This isn't over. The note was wrinkled at the top, faded, and unnecessary - Agni. Good night. I hope we can talk. This one was...Cael. I crinkled them all up into one ball and flicked it across the room; it bounced off the top of a dresser like a stone on a pond and skimmed right over the back edge. Whoops. Not going back there for that one. I had about a second and a quarter of another before I felt something silk slipping out from under me and panicked, sitting up with a gasp and drawing my gun in a slick motion.

The pillow had been three quarters off the mattress; it slipped to the ground and poofed harmlessly. Smooth. Dorian Shaddix had truly met his greatest foe on this morning - the power of inertia. Grokk would be in tears right now.

With no pillow, the mattress was a bit harder to tolerate when the back of my head was pressing into it, so I stayed sitting up and finally slid off the bed just as effortlessly as the cushion had. Something - in my head, heart, or (and this is the most likely candidate here) my stomach - led me out the door to where the sounds of yelling and protests rang; when I took a seat in the common room and kicked a menu up to disguise my face, my ears perked at the sounds coming from right above me. Some very familiar voices - coupled with a few new ones - were throwing a bash about eight feet above my head.

The menu raised a little higher. More good vibes. Gross.

-Tyler

Ooc: Jam with Ghosthands.

Ic:

“Thank you, Valria,” said Merror, lowering his eyes in weary relief - then paused. Something wasn’t right. Something about what Valria had said. The names…

One was missing.

His gaze flitted back up to meet hers.

“Wait a minute,” he said. “What about Joske?”

“That’s my cue,” a voice said from behind Merror. The toa of fire spun to face the familiar voice and was confronted by Stannis Maru, who stood placidly but not fully at ease. In the days since their last meeting, Stannis had become far more daring and active against the darkness, and the weight of his actions only built greater burdens on his shoulders and reflected on his posture.

Merror’s eyebrows raised a little at the sight of the Toa Maru’s leader.

“Stannis,” he said, with a note of surprise. “I didn’t know you were here.”

The Maru shrugged placidly and took it as fact. “I move around a lot and usually find myself where I'm needed most, so nobody should be surprised. Welcome back to the land of the living, Merror. I’ve spoken to all the others; you’re the last one. Come; we should talk,” the prophet said with a small wave of his fingers to invite Merror with him.

The Ta-Toa nodded his acquiescence, briefly looking back to Agni and Valria. “I’ll see you two later,” he said, then gave them a tired smile. “It’s been a long day, and I don’t think it’s over yet.”

He turned back to Stannis.

“Lead the way, Wanderer,” he said. Merror used the Toa’s other title not just for its aptness, but also out of respect. Stannis might be a rookie compared to him, if you used time as the sole yardstick, but there was more to a Toa’s calling than age and experience. The Toa Maru had seen only the beginning of their destiny, but Merror knew it was a destiny far above his own. And despite his disapproval over some of Stannis’ conduct (the statuette incident did come to mind), he trusted the Toa of Stone to show wisdom and leadership beyond his years.

So if Stannis wanted to talk, then talk they would.

The two toa walked in silence to a more secluded spot. Once they were out of common earshot, Stannis calmly began, “Joske is alive, as far as I know, but he won’t be coming back for a while. I need you to understand that truth.”

Merror stayed silent for a while, meeting Stannis’ gaze pensively. He rubbed his chin with one hand.

“I understand it,” he said. “You’ve told each of us in turn, yes - each of us on our own, I think, which suggests to me that this is important, and that each of us needed to be told in a different way. Different questions from different people, and different answers for different relationships to Joske. A friend, a lover, a saviour, a protégé...some faithful, some skeptical...”

He gave Stannis a knowing smile. Though his face bore the scratches and scuffs of recent battle, the Toa of Fire’s voice was quite serene.

“Oh, there are a hundred questions I’d like to ask about what’s going on and why our dear Joske has so suddenly disappeared,” he said. “But only one, I think, that really matters. Do you, Toa Stannis, Wanderer of Mata Nui and leader of the Maru, believe that Joske is where he most ought to be?”

Stannis shuddered at the titles. He didn’t like being revered with honorifics, instead preferring simple names: Stannis, the Wanderer, was enough for him. Titles were to be used when being regal or when referring to others of nobility, but Stannis had been taught to be a servant, to be himself, to not be bogged down by prestige. Merror doubtlessly did think of him as someone great, but he did not feel he deserved any of it then. “Just call me Stannis,” he managed to say before answering Merror’s question.

“Everyone will have their own idea of where Joske should be and what he ought to be doing,” he explained. “Everybody has needs, but right now he is where he is needed by the most.”

Merror watched Stannis’ reaction with shrewd eyes. The Toa Maru might be wise and prophetic, but he had not understood the reason for Merror’s use of his titles. The veteran Toa had called him by those names not to recognise their prestige, but to remind Stannis of their responsibilities. And it seemed to have worked. Stannis’ reaction was one of genuine humility, and the point had been made, whether he realised it or not.

Merror smiled.

“Then you need say no more about it,” he said. “I’ll trust your judgement of the greater good.”

“Our meeting has further importance,” Stannis continued. “Unfortunately we haven’t worked together much before, even when we ventured into Po-Wahi, so I know little about dynamics around you. What role have you played in Joske’s troupe?”

“You make us sound like a travelling circus,” Merror joked. “Well...I’d like to think I’ve been the voice of experience. I am the oldest of us, after all, though Agni’s not so far off. I’ve tried to be a steadying and guiding influence; to make sure nobody forgets about the Code or the Virtues, and maintain calm where there is chaos.”

He sighed.

“After seeing what Dorian did when we fought Echelon, I can’t say how successful I’ve been.”

“You’ll be even less pleased soon after we depart, then,” Stannis said with some remorse. “But you ought to know that Joske has entrusted Dorian with the crystal sword. I cannot say that Dorian is the team’s leader, fettered as he is, but… follow him and guide him on his path and assist him as you can. He is deserving of friends like you lot and needs you all now more than ever.”

“I will,” Merror replied. “Joske clearly sees a great deal in the boy. I’ll do all I can for him, and for the others.”

“Then that is all we can ask for," Stannis said simply, patted Merror's shoulder once and walked away.

* * * * *

Ooc: Resuming regular programming...

 

Kehua appeared collected on the outside, as he described his fate in his solid, deep voice. But there was a sombre undertone and Brykon could easily see that there was a fury underneath it all that had burned for a millennium. Yet for all he had been through, the dark Toa did not act like a being his age. For all his experience, the only righteousness Brykon could see in the Aitua was his anger.

 

"We've followed them through time and from place to place, until the hunt finally led us here," - he waived his hand around, indicating the entirety of the island - "But they are crafty. They have managed to elude us, disappearing and moving on whenever we got too close. We may have been after them for a thousand years, but who knows how much more time they have had before we came into being... We've managed to thin their ranks slightly throughout the years, here and there and one by one. But they are still active and dangerous, using their anonymity to fully hide once they set up in a new place."

Ic: As Kehua gave his side of the story Brykon compressed each phrase into his mind for future study, though as it went on one thing became clear: Things didn't add up. "You'll find evil here but I'm not sure if they are the ones you've been after," he began. "And as far as I am aware, the ones I... served before," he said, struggling to force the word out like a repressed urge, "are only matoran. Nevertheless, we both know what they have done already, and I attack them for righteous vengeance, too. I used to think I was alone in my endeavor, but maybe I was wrong.

"They are called the Peers. When I became their tool there were four but I killed one and you doubtlessly met another." Brykon was eager to share these pieces of information. What was there to lose anymore? What possible good could come from keeping it to himself? He had concluded that it was time to divulge the word and set others like him on the right track to find the real enemy in the dark. It wasn't an easy decision despite the simplicity of the point; Brykon was a private man who kept a solid network, though that web of lesser tools and spiders had all but left him over the previous few months. He needed to feel his breath wasn't being wasted and that he wasn't shooting himself in the foot with his tongue. But even with all the potential bad outcomes he knew the end of the road was coming up, and if there were others like him they'd best understand what they were up against. They had the right to know if they were to stand a chance against the enemy. After all, he had all but failed and he was the best there was.

"That leaves two more: One is an Onu-Matoran named Aurelia."

He had another motive, too: Revenge. He wanted his vengeance on her especially. That vixen had manipulated him, enslaved his son, kept both of them on a leash as living trophies and insisted on the most diabolical of machinations. He wished for no less a sweetness than his dirk in her jugular but... if he couldn't do it, someone had to.

"She is from another land and was a noblewoman there apparently. The other, however, is a man I have never once met though I have heard a lot about: Ambages. The others always spoke of him and I was hired by the man, too, but cannot claim to have ever laid eyes or spoken to him," Brykon admitted. He never knew that the devious mastermind had in fact stared right into his eyes in conversation and Brykon had no idea. "I have spent a lot of time trying to get to him, though for every step I take in his pursuit I wonder if he is more myth than reality. To me, Aurelia is the true enemy."

The elder Shaddix, for all his power and wisdom, had been a foolish soldier. He chased after demons in the night and pretended to undermine the strata he worked under but never once truly realized the irony of it all. Perhaps the most brutal, unforgiving irony was squarely rested in Aurelia's being. The ###### who played with the Shaddixes like petty novelty playthings kept in an underwear drawer was the very same person who murdered his wife and tore his very soul away from him. If the colonel ever realized that he had not only looked at but worked for and stood with his most sworn enemy -- if he could even fathom such a thing -- the earth would quake as he would tear apart the planet's metal core with unfettered rage in himself.

"Are they behind your island's destruction?" he posed. "It's possible. The Peers have existed for a long, long time, and at least Aurelia is a foreigner. Their modus operandi, too, matches what happened to your place and people: The island gone, the people slain, the culture demolished." He could not help but see the similarities, though similarities by themselves were no way of drawing conclusions.

He glanced up at the lower clouds of Ko-Wahi, the border of which they then straddled. Beyond the border and into the wispy veil was his destination and his heart beat faster with anticipation of meeting his high priest, if only to confess and seek solace anew. "We may be after the same enemy after all."

IC: Kidona

 

The Lavender armored Vortixx stood up from her chair and handed Unari the silver required for her drink before she was off.

 

Short walk later

 

She walked into the Gukko force recruitment office and approached the spokesperson

"Hello.. i would like to inquire about joining the force.."

 

OOC: That's your cue Turntechofgod

IC: NPC Le-Koronian - Gukko Force HQ

"I'll answer the best I can."

IC: Akiri Kongu - Le-Wahi

Kongu whistled softly, picking up intensity and volume reaching a tension. He stopped to let it ring before giving one last quick, hard note. He stepped backwards twice on the long branch before twisting around, gripping a branch and pulling himself into the cover of the trees. He stopped, listening. Other than the song of the jungle, he could hear nothing. Kongu's wind-riders were as silent as ever.

They were below, their own Gukko's perched in trees while their riders moved along the lower levels of the Le-Wahi jungle. After his signal they would begin work according to his instruction. He looked east to the ridge the Mangai, and again looked southwards. Kongu was positioned just south of the Fau Swamp which began almost immediately after the stony border to Ko-Wahi. He looked down the tree's trunk to see a shadow pass through the lower branches. The team was small, four wind-riders. He had selected a small clearing. Boreas would have take part, had his team not been currently working to clean up what Joske's companions had set off in the jungle.

He dropped down the branches.

"Kongu," Shu started, his voice emanating from the darkness in the branches, "I am still trying to piece together your idea out here." with a ruffle of leaves, Shu fell into the light, upside down. His arms waved lazily. Suspended in front of Kongu he spoke, his voice hushed and soft, blending into the sounds of the jungle.

Kongu kept his eyes focused ahead while three of his wind-riders continued to leap through the trees without a sound, "In time you will know."

"Oh," Shu began mockingly, in his best impression of Kongu he could muster, "I will think as the great Captain Kongu to figure out his stump-puzzle!" He made a fake thinking face.

"Charming as always Shu," Kongu said with a look of amusement, "I know I can count on you undermining my plans when I need it most."

Shu waved the package of letters in front of Kongu's face, "At least I make a good delivery boy."

Kongu smirked before continuing, "Please do what you can to ensure that the letters reach their destination."

"Of course!" Shu exclaimed happily.

"I do not need to remind you of the implications of any sorts of actions," Kongu looked Shu in the eye a little harder, "Ko-Koro is in turmoil today, and if they are to weather their storm - and they must - then we must do everything in our power to help." Kongu said as he stepped past his old friend, "Please see to it that we are clear on those grounds."

"On it!" Shu pulled himself back up into the darkness. Kongu could hear his feet and fingers kiss and caress branches softly. A low whistle sounded, and through the cracks of the trees Kongu watched as Shu leaped into the night sky only to be whisked away by a Gukko. Kongu turned around and began to make his own way back to Le-Koro.

IC: Kidona

Kidona smiled softly as she heard this

"Ah good to hear.. Tell me does the gukko force have a ground squad.. one that does not involve flying?"