Corpus Rahkshi

IC: Mortsia

Mortsia decided not to follow them. He swung into the library, and grabbed a book on poetry. He then jumped not his favorite spot, and started reading.

IC: Revenge-Infirmary

Revenge walked into the infirmary.  "Are the Matoran going to be ok?"

IC: A Visorak cocoon was not some fruit or berry that could be so lightly dislodged from the stem and roots that held it one it was ripe, and even if they were, then in Sanu's case he was no done yet. His plan currently relied too much on simple luck to do his work for him, he'd have to take his fate into his own hands if he wanted to be free.

* * * * * * * * *

"Smoke and flame in an enclosed area, one that's often underwater so has to be sealed shut?" Suvak raised an eyebrow at Sidonas' mutterings. He only had the one so it just made him look surprised. "Not a good idea. But back to the task at hand. Ideally we need to find some way of luring them into the tunnels of the Low Way around Farsholt. Then we might be able to collapse the entrance there and cut the bulk of them off. Even the odds a bit for the rescue team. The bugs'll break through or find another path eventually but it'll take them time, which our troops can use."

IC: "Um, put bluntly? No."

Palma didn't turn to look at Revenge, trying to maintain her focus on her two patients. 

"I don't think this one will ever walk again no matter how well I can repair the damage to his legs. And I'm not sure I can save the other one at all."

IC: "I am a crafter of the more exquisite and up-market style of weaponry yes. But I have to be honest my real passion is for armour." The golden Vortixx gestured at the lines of empty suits of armour that stood their eternal guard around the dining room, "I always feel I can get more character into a piece when I have the whole body to work with. More tricks of engineering and crafting too."

IC: "I am a crafter of the more exquisite and up-market style of weaponry yes. But I have to be honest my real passion is for armour." The golden Vortixx gestured at the lines of empty suits of armour that stood their eternal guard around the dining room, "I always feel I can get more character into a piece when I have the whole body to work with. More tricks of engineering and crafting too."

IC Phogen: Ah! A kindred spirit! Perhaps this was one of those chances at friendship. If not, it was a chance at connecting and learning more about this Grossh. Either way, it was a chance to show off the masterwork the rahk had worked so hard at to a professional for praise and critique.

Phogen removed her jacket, revealing the armor she currently wore in all of its visual flair and practical design. The modifications were readily apparent when seen next to Hoto and Jayar, the lightened load, the smooth joints, and, of course, that brilliant coloration Phogen was so known for. She tilted the spines slightly to modulate the sound of her Matoran voice better, and even got the chance to produce a slight plebeian-Xia rasp by quavering the third spine.

"I have dabbled a little in the art myself, and I have made this armor to reflect and accentuate my unique dual gender, if not enhance my ability in combat. For example..." The Rahkshi stood and leaned on the chair, slightly altering posture and very clearly becoming a 'she'. "By drawing attention to the dark portions of the armor, I look feminine with the accentuated wide hips, thin limbs, and a curved frame." She shifted almost imperceptibly, becoming a he. "By drawing attention to the yellow portions, I emphasize the shoulders and torso, becoming a he. Furthermore..." His voice became a little effete, and his posture changed slightly, so he was still male, but a feminine one. "I can adjust to be anything in between." Her posture straightened a bit, and she became a bit butch. "Heh... Depending on the situation, of course."

IC: Shark / Crawler

Consciousness returned slowly for Shark, and that was not necessarily a pleasant experience. As Shark rose from slumber so did pain, coming to him like a friend long ago betrayed returning embittered for vengeance tenfold.

It was the price of his passion, one he could easily endure. Regret? No, there was none. He had experienced no comatose epiphany, nor could one loss or a thousand bring a revelation that right would triumph over wrong. His mind was dead set on bringing death, as it always was.

Though in his current state, murder would be difficult to perform. He settled, for now, with laying unmoving, his position and breathing no different than when he was unconscious, his eyes stayed closed as in that same discomforted slumber.  But he was awake, and he was doing that which he had always done so well - listening. Words could be carelessly dispensed in the presence of an enemy unconscious, and easily received by that same enemy by a simple deception.  Now this was something about fire, the horde - Visorak - and the low way. More certainly to come any moment now.

Fascinating.

* * *

IC: Vlad / Infirmary

Turn away. Don't look at them any more. It's too depressing.

But Vlad stayed where he was, ready to offer Palma any assistance she might require to the best of his (admittedly often mediocre) abilities.

IC: Revenge-Infimrary

Revenge turned to (Vlad) "Did you bring one of them in here?"

IC: Vlad / Infirmary

Vlad gave a grim frown and nodded, gesturing to the one with the broken neck. "Zat vun."

IC: Revenge-Infirmary

"Thank you for doing that."

IC: Vlad / Infirmary

Vlad shrugged. "Yeah. But it might vell have been useless..." His fists clenched slightly.

IC: Revenge-Infirmary

"Well you did your best.  Would you be willing to help me figure out how they got here and keep it from happening again?"

IC: Vlad / Infirmary

It was seeming like this guy wasn't a complete moron like most of the Rahkshi here apparently delighted in being. This was a chance to actually make a positive impact on the world, and he'd gotten precious few of those. He glanced at Ivan, who nodded, and declared "I vould indeed."

Were he any other Rahk, he might have extended his hand for a handshake, but he realized that was probably not such a good idea for him. He was already on edge, touching another Rahk might set off his predatory tendencies... "I am Vlad, unt zis is Ivan," he introduced himself and his Ice Bat.

IC: Revenge-Infirmary

Revenge gave a small smile.  "I am Revenge.  I am sorry about attacking you that one time.  I was stressed out because I had just gotten back from a difficult situation on Nynrah."

IC: Vlad / Infirmary

Of course, Vlad had encountered this one before. So Revenge was his name. Somehow Vlad hadn't recalled their encounter until now - perhaps he hadn't wanted to. His frenzies were far from moments to cherish.

"No... I am sorry for needink to be attacked. If I'm goink to be helpink you, I might as vell explain now... I am a Vorahk. I get... compulsions... to feed off of other beinks... Kraata especially. Zeir energy is... delicious..." His gaze fell a bit, these primal drives were not something the vampiric Rahkshi was proud of. "I try to fight zem off, but sometimes zey are just too stronk unt I go into a frenzy. Zat vas vhat happened vhen you vere forced to attack me."

His voice fell with shame, and he braced himself for the typical reaction of barely hidden (if he was lucky) revulsion and disgust. Really, it was miraculous that the Cloak of Umbra hadn't already produced such a reaction; most students utterly reviled it and by extension him.

IC: Revenge-Infirmary

Revenge took a moment to think before he replied.  "I never knew Hunger Rahkshi actually got feelings like that.  I am glad we understand each other now."

IC: Mortsia

Something was bugging Mortsia. He kept seeing the masks of the gravely injured matoran. He realized that he was actually really worried about them, something Rahkshi aren't supposed to do. Closing his book, he put it up, then started climbing and swinging to the infirmary. Please let them be alright, he thought to himself.

IC: Illusive - Library.

Idly pretending to read some of the books, I considered my options. We could kill the Matoran to cover up the evidence, but I didn't think that would be required. We'd attacked in darkness, and the first thing we'd done was put out their fire.

There was no way for them to identify us, and even if they did tell the other rahks that they'd been captured and brought here, it would only serve to turn the sutdents against each other even more.

No matter how this thing played out, I still got what I wanted out of it.

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IC: Era - Backstab (Farsholt Village).

I didn't land, instead flying over the village, laying down cover fire for Kat with some well-placed sonic bursts. As I did, I listened to the sounds the Visorak made, trying to figure out what they meant.

Maybe I could find a way to communicate with them?

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IC: Sliver - Doublecross (Terrain Crawler).

I finally stumbled out of the trees into the clearing. "Visorak, in the village," I managed to wheeze. 

___________________________________________________________________________

IC: Exxan - Backstab (Farsholt Village).

Soon catching up with the others, I landed near Kat, lashing out with Remembrance at the horde of spiders.

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IC: Xara - Infirmary.

Eventually, I made my way to the infirmary, where some of the captured Matoran seemed to have been brought. "Does anyone know how they got in, yet?" I asked no one in particular.

IC: Liar - Infirmary

Liar continued to stay silent, secretly eavesdropping on the conversation being held between Revenge and Vlad.

IC: Revenge-Infirmary

Revenge turned as Xara entered.  "No, but I plan on finding out."

IC: Punch+Uppercut+Counterpunch/Punch's Mind, Crawler >>> Farsholt

I then remembered what we were trying to do.

~Vote. Save him or not,~ interjected Counter.
~Are you going to be like this?~ said an annoyed Uppercut.

~Doesn't hurt to ask.~ he said with a grin.

~I say we go.~

~Me too.~

~Fine. Let me handle the fighting then.~

~Deal.~

Counterpunch took control and gave us a booster shot. Then he ran.

IC: Alpha/Farsholt

I reached Kat while spearing through some of the Visorak with my halberd. She was fighting unarmed.

"Hey Kat, wanna borrow my tomahawk?"

I stabbed through another Visorak.

IC: Fang - Crawler (Team Backstab)

At last, Fang pushed himself up from the Crawler wall and walked over to Sliver. "We know. Some of the others just left to pick up the survivors, and then we're leaving. Come on, we should get you to the Crawler." He held out a hand to help her inside, even though he wasn't in the best shape either.

IC: Char - Hallways

She wandered off away from Vitesse to let the Rahkshi sleep and soon came back into the main body of the school. If only someone had given her a map... or a tour. Despite all the subtle hints she tried to drop, no one seemed willing. To force them into it would hardly earn her associates.

And so she casually strolled through the halls, one hand absently stroking the handle of her gun.

OOC: Char open to interaction.

IC Kat:

"Good of you to show up, Exxan!" I said bobbing and weaving as I sent fists and feet flying in every direction, each strike powerful and controlled.

"We need to-" duck under, come up, right straight to a chitinous shell. "-draw them away from-" sidestep, lunge, grab and throw. "-the village!"

I waved away the offer for the tomahawk. Axes were one of the weapons I never could quite get the hang of.

A rather Large spider jumped on me, teeth gnashing and pincers clicking together dangerously close to my carapace.

With a grunt of exertion, I flipped it over the top of me, planting it firmly in the ground as rhotuka whiz zed to and for, likely hitting some of the spiders.

But maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part.

"Ten seconds!"

IC: Vlad / Infirmary

Understand? Vlad was pleasantly surprised, and honestly a little befuddled, by the lack of hostility he was being shown by Revenge. "Yes... me too..." he mumbled back just before Xara entered.

As for Xara's question... he hadn't a clue. He just stayed silent - he'd rather not push his luck by assuming someone else would be friendly towards him. Plus, you know, it was Xara, and she wasn't exactly famous for her charming personality.

IC: Exxan - Backstab (Farsholt Village).

"Forget drawing them away!" I called back, a plan already forming in my head, "We need to kill the Kahgarak."

Without a leader, the Visorak would probably break ranks, or turn on each other. 

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IC: Sliver - Doublecross (Terrain Crawler). 

"Thank you," I said weakly, letting him help me, "do you know what's become of my brother?" 

IC Kat:

"There's a Kahgarak?! Jeez, why are we wasting time here then?! Let's-"

A numbing spinner hit my left arm, and pins and needles spread across it.

I bit back a long string of expletives, as I nodded for Exxan to take the lead.

"Everyone, on Exxan!"

IC: Exxan - Backstab (Farsholt Village).

How could she have not seen the giant Kahgarak stomping around in the middle of the village? I took to the air, twisting out of the path of an oncoming Rhotuka, and making a beeline right for the horde leader....

IC: Sidonas - Crawler

Sidonas, though not looking at Suvak, replied as he scanned his maps.

"So cut off the tunnels to eliminate the bulk of the swarm. The rest dig around, our team working on retrieval could use those paths dug by the Visorak. Any alternative methods? I think we have one or two Rahkshi in here that could go and find an alternate route incase things don't go according to plan, might think of sending them out. As for bringing down the tunnels I hope we have something that packs a heavy punch. What do we have in terms of weapons capabilities Drillmaster?" Sidonas stopped talking out his thought process and took a breath while marking down alternative, some peciuliar and irrational as worst case scenario, routes that could be travelled by rescue teams and their wounded.

IC: Fang - Visorak Shoreline (Team Backstab)

He shook his head. "The last I saw him was in the forest, fighting some of your teammates. I lost sight of him afterwards."

IC: Mortsia

Mortsia swung into the infirmary to see new people. They were talking about theories on how the matoran got in. Clearing his throat, he said:

"There was one

One who had a theory

She had a deed done

One that cost a matoran dearly."

Mortsia said, motioning towards the matoran with the snapped neck.

IC: Sliver - Doublecross (Terrain Crawler).

"He's still alive?" I spat, "He stabbed me - his own sister - and left me for the Visorak," this idiot was so easy to manipulate, "I was hoping karma would have caught up with him already...." 

IC: Fang - Visorak Shoreline (Team Backstab)

He growled, and his hands holding Sliver up became just a few degrees warmer. Exxan was a threat to the lives of everyone in the Academy... it would be better if he was no longer there...

No. He had just ran through the forest trying to prevent Kat from killing a known murderer. He couldn't kill Exxan now. He had his chance... and he failed.

"Unfortunately, no," he snarled. "With any luck, the others will return the favor soon enough."

IC: Sliver - Doublecross (Terrain Crawler).

"I hope so..." 

IC: Revenge-Infirmary

"Really?  Was she one of the ones trying to help contain the Matoran?"

IC: Mortsia

Mortsia nodded slowly.

"She truly tried to help

But the matoran broke his neck

He couldn't shout or even yelp

And now his neck is a wreck."

IC: Revenge-Infirmary

"I believe I know who you are talking about.  Do you remember her name?"

IC: Mortsia

Mortsia shook his head. He then started describing the Rahk.

"The Rahk was armed to the teeth

With knives galore and a bow.

Scarred and damaged beneath

Colors of density did she follow."

Mortsia hoped that the description helped, as that was all he got from first impressions.

IC: Fang - Crawler (Team Backstab)

He wasn't in much of a talkative mood as the two managed to get into the Crawler. Fang helped Sliver into a bed and then waved to Suvak indicating he had a new patient.

IC: Counterpunch+Punch+Uppercut/Forest

He flew through the forest, headed towarda the village.

IC: Stronghold/Village

Stronghold was still attempting to dodge. Of course, since he was tiring, he had a few close calls. He whacked a few Visorak with his Rhotuka.

"Anyone out there?" he shouted.

IC: Alpha/Village

I began to follow Exxan to the Kahgarak continue to lance through Visorak.

IC: Revenge-Infirmary

Revenge nodded.  "Do you know where she is right now?"

IC: Mortsia

Mortsia shrugged. He knew she wasn't in the library, as Mortsia was just there. That left the dorms, the gym, and the Refectory. Finally, he said,

"Not in the place of books

So that leaves the place of sleep

The training place with weapons such as hooks

And the place where hunger draws you deep."