BZPRPG: Ga-Wahi

OOC: Toa Fanixe, before you tear up King Snelly's wedding dress up any further, you may want to read this: Guidelines on Mahiki ShapeshiftingIC: Merla"So where do you suppose we find them?" Merla asked KaithasIC: ValjaValja found a spa and relaxed in the hot tub.

IC: "I'd imagine we would need to go back to town, and they would probably show up there. I don't know who the rest are." I shrugged. "Either way, it's late. we could probably go with some rest."

IC: [Naona]Naona sighed. "No thank you. I'll be able to deal with it myself."She paused for a moment."But anyway, Hari, time to head back to Po-Koro. You can drag Krayn along if you want, but that depends on his superior's decisions."

ooc: Thanks Constructman, was not aware of that.IC:Labelle continued to panic as her Mask of Illusions continued to malfunction, making it seem as thought she was destroying Emotia's once-splendid dress.

ICFear doesn't change, only how we react to it. If you want to be a hero, you need to be willing to do what needs to be done, even when you're terrified.There was an amazing amount of truth to that."No," I said slowly, mulling those words over, "those were the appropriate words. It will take some time to sink in... just like everything else." I lean back on my hands, trying to dismiss the pantheon of emotions that were parading through my mind. "It's just so difficult trying to focus when you're on a constant Gukko ride. My emotional state has been a constant up-and-down for the last two days, and honestly it's tiring me out, and not in a good way. Do you know what I need? I need help finding something, whether a movement, technique, I don't care, but something I can do when I'm feeling anxious. Something to focus on when my emotions begin to get the best of me. I don't care what it is, but it needs to help me burn off this extra energy that my body seems to happily and endlessly create."I gave a sigh. "You know what else I need desperately right now? A friend. Not the kind who give lectures, or tells me what I need to do. Everyone already does, has, or probably will when I meet them. I guess someone who understands the karzahni I'm going to go through over the next few weeks. Someone who just understands... but not to hold my hand... oh forget it." I mumbled as I rubbed the bridge of my mask. Already I was rambling. Guess I'm too rattled right now to think straight.

OOC: Thanks to Eyru for pro Wrath bunnying. Not being sarcastic; that was pretty good.All this is Wrath's opinion, not mine.IC: THAT--THAT COOL DUDE--WHAT DOES HE--WHAT IS HE--WHAT KIND OF-Wrath's irascibility was exacerbated when Pride left in seeming ignorance of their mission. It was further inflamed by the collision with a Ga-Toa. And pure rage seethed in his skull as he stared down at the display of sheer apathy before him. -SON OF A XIAN--PIRAKA-He didn't care if the disinterest was a facade. Ta detested idealism, was irritated by self-righteousness, and held nothing but contempt for cowardice; but he hated apathy. Snide disinterest, cool demeanor, the arrogantly-casual stride, a general lack of concern or care...That stoicism diametrically opposed his very philosophy. There would be no compromising on that.But then again, there didn't need to be.The team this prick might join was not a team of friends. There were no bonds of fellowship here, save that produced by a common short-term cause. At best, this Greed's group was a coalition fighting for Makuta; at worst, it was several amoral toa who simply happened to have the same goal. Wrath held no illusions about the matter of his 'comrade's' trustworthiness. Greed's genial speech and actions towards Ta only comprised part of a larger farce...Pride's quiet obedience masked goals of her own and a rigid adherence to achieving them, and Envy was the kind who would slip a knife betwixt the shoulder blades of a best friend to obtain the latest in designer jeans.Wrath emitted a choked sort of derisive snort from that last idea as he stared down at the shorter toa. Another followed as he thought of said toa on the team. One more toa fighting for the 'Dark One', one more person in this twisted sham. Ha!The idea might have pleased him in younger days. But now it only became another target for his scorn, and his rage blazed to a new height.Wrath had fallen into one of his moods. Heads were going to roll.In an instant, his longsword was in his hand and hanging low in the Fool's Guard. The thing on his back sent him images of fire and blood. Wrath sent back his own and growled again. His eyes flicked a fiery glance to Greed. "Permission to hunt, o glorious leader," The toa snarled. He made a slight motion towards the koro with his sword to illustrate.The message of this display was clear: Wrath could kill the offender, but had let him go. For now, the berserker would concentrate his volcanic fury elsewhere.

IC-Nokth:Nokth, once he noticed the longsword brought out, had also pulled his podao from its sheathe on his back, just as a precautionary maneuver-better to have it out and ready than resting in its bed.

IC (Cael)Cael thought for a long moment."I know this is going to sound crazy," she said slowly. "But your body isn't actually producing extra energy. It's simply the energy that comes with being a Toa. You see-"The Toa of Water caught herself before launching into another lecture on Toa energy. I'm getting better at this, she thought wryly."What I mean is, you don't need to find a way to burn off this energy; you just need to learn to live with it." She paused. "What you said was exactly right: you need something to focus on, to preserve your balance."Cael glanced at Joske and laughed a bit. "I hope you'll forgive me for using a water metaphor, but it's like the ocean." She pointed to the gently rolling surf that washed up onto the sand before receding. "The tide never stays in or out. It changes, goes back and forth."She took a deep breath. "It's like your powers. They'll fluctuate, partly because of your emotions. What you need to learn is balance."The healer changed her position, sitting cross legged with her hands in her lap, her right palm over her left with her thumbs touching. She looked sidelong at the Toa of Fire."I learned this a long time ago," she said softly. "From Toa Gali. She would rise early every morning to sit by the ocean and meditate."The Toa of Water closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, feeling the air rush into her lungs. As she did so, Joske noticed the surf washing up almost to touch Cael, the waves travelling much farther up the beach than they had before. Then Cael exhaled, and the water rushed back down the beach into the ocean.The healer opened her eyes. "You're trying to control your element, but it can't be reined in. It'll drive you mad. Let it flow." She looked a little sheepish. "I know it sounds a little half-baked, but it will help you."Concentrate on the fire inside of you. As you breathe in, let it rise up, then let it die down as you breathe out. Don't worry about either extreme; just focus on the middle ground."IC (Greed)“Of course not,” the Toa of Air said in reply to Decaia’s inquiry, ignoring the drawn weapons. “As long as he is, shall we say… discreet. We have had some rather interesting experiences with spies and the like in the last few days; ones I would prefer not to repeat.”He turned to Wrath then, and nodded, though inside he was a little perturbed. He had not expected the hulking brute of a Toa to be quite so bloodthirsty. That might prove tricky to handle later on, though for now, it needn’t be an issue.As Wrath loped off, the Toa of Air began walking down the docks, back the way Decaia had come. The Toa of Water followed like a fish on a line, and behind him walked Dico, and the Toa of Gravity that Greed was beginning to associate with gluttony. All he seemed to think about was food; he ignored anything that could be put off in favour of another bite or a drink. Pride of course, had vanished already, though Greed had little doubt that she would find them again: she was far smarter than she let on.Before long, the little group had entered a restaurant with a low terrace outside that provided a view of the ocean. Not that this was particularly rare in Ga-Koro (all you could see was ocean, for Mata Nui’s sake). The Toa sat down at a table close to the edge of the terrace, which afforded them both an enjoyable dining experience and relative privacy.“Now,” said Greed affably as the group took their seats. “You may call me Greed. A trifle dramatic, I know, but what’s in a name?” He picked up the menu, which was composed of a single sheet of paper, and mused for a moment, before returning his gaze to the Toa of Water. “And you are?”

ICI could not help but stare for a second; the freakin' ocean had just come to her, then receded back. That was truly impressive. At least to me."Sounds half-baked? What, you talking to a Toa of Fire or something?" I said out of the corner of my mouth. My body automatically went with the comment, but my mind was elsewhere. What she just said. About not being in full control, not able to reign it in. That went against my pre-conceived notions in every way, but so far my limited experiences lent evidence to that fact. I needed... to let flow.Balance."Well, fire doesn't exactly flow, but I think I get your drift." I quickly raised my eyebrows twice before sitting cross-legged like her. I used to meditate like this back in the day, but I had stopped for some reason. But just like riding an Ussal, the skill never goes away, so it was relatively easy to get into position and mood. Now came the hard part: dissecting what she said.Ok, water flows. I got that. Ebbs back and forth, tide and such... fire, not so much. It doesn't rise and fall as it much grows and consumes, then simply dies. Not an endurance element. Well, not necessarily. As long as there is fuel it will burn. Ok, so how do I equivalent that to what she's saying?As difficult as this was, it wasn't frustrating; it was almost enjoyable. My mind was directed on a practical problem, and I was spending all of my energy trying to solve it. Interestingly enough I was pretty calm as my mind spun, I could sense the even-ness of my mind as I thought quietly-Wait.Like a small ember that begins to grow, an idea took root. Maybe for me it was the act of doing something that triggered this state. In fact, I remembered way back when I had been told on more than one occasion that I was calmest when most active, most level-headed when in the thick of playing Kohlii or even battle, and the most jittery when not doing anything. Maybe... maybe I just needed to do something, stay active in some way to keep myself in check, something to release the steam that otherwise built within me. But how could that relate with concentrating on the fire within? Unless...Unless I actually and actively concentrated on my inner fire. Focus on the inner flame.Focus on the Flame.I lowered my chin as I brought my hands together, focusing on some distant point far out over the bay. In my mind's eye I imagined my Toa Power as a continuous flame, a brilliantly burning tongue of fire that could never be quenched. Yes, that was my power. A single flame. Orange and red, burning brightly, burning hot. I closed my eyes to get a better view of it. Yes, there it was. My symbol. My little avatar. It was feeding off my power, my emotions, my feelings... and so I let it. In fact, I fed it more. I pushed my emotions towards it, fueling this little flame with my essence. My fears, worries, aspirations, hopes, dreams... all entwined in this little flame.I let out a long breath.I opened my eyes, fully relaxed for the first time in days. It may look like I was doing nothing, but really I was focusing my mind on this little flame, something that-Whoa!I blinked. My fingers and thumbs were touching in the shape of a diamond in front of my face, a tongue of flame hovering in the center. I blinked a few more times, saw the light shimmer around it from the heat. A controlled flame. A perfect, real, flickering flame. For the briefest of moments I wavered, and the flame did to. Quickly I re-focused, and the flame resumed it's stead burn. Slowly I lowered my hands to where they were in my lap, open-faced and palm up. Cradled within it was the hovering ball of orange and red. Burning off my emotions. The strangest part? I was completely and utterly still.Slowly I lifted my eyes, and the flame followed until it was mask level, just floating mid-air before me. Just there. I took a long breath. This was rather... relaxing. A ghost of a smile played across my lips. I was doing something, yet nothing. Balance.This... this was cool.

IC: I started to walk back to town, inviting the others to follow. "Yick? You done yelling?" I started forming a ball of plant matter as I walked.

IC - Decaia - Bar-restaraunt-place: Decaia followed after Greed, taking a seat across from the Toa of Air. He observed the others--as well as the rest of the patrons--as Greed spoke. He left his own menu off to the side, for the time being. He leaned back in his seat, looking at Pride from beneath his hood.“You may call me Greed. A trifle dramatic, I know, but what’s in a name?”"A lifetime of decisions," he answered after a moment, avoiding the question of his name. the Toa of Water closed his eyes momentarily. "Association with a personality over which you have little control... A destiny at the end of the line, set in stone with one's name written upon it, set aside for them to one day claim..." He opened his eyes. "Who I am depends upon whom you ask. Around here..." He lazily waved a finger in a circle, indicating Ga-Koro as a whole. "I'm Decaia. Ostracized. Failure. Despair. But on a larger scale..."He paused, chuckling slightly to himself and shaking his head. "Perhaps you've heard the name the rest of the island likes to associate with me--one which, coincidentally, fits into the same category as 'Greed.' The idea of a sin unrepentant. Something so terrible that it corrupts the very fabric of a being." He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice, his tone mocking, as if the following word would summon some sort of demon into their midst: "Sloth."Normally, he would not have revealed that about himself to a stranger. However, Greed's very name all but confirmed Decaia's suspicions about this group--that they, like him, were criminals. Perhaps they were better in the public eye, or perhaps they were worse; he did not know. But if Greed had any intentions of attacking him... Well, he would have a tough time of doing so now that they were in public...

IC: [Naona]"Hari ... do not joke about that."

IC (Cael)Cael hadn't been sure as to what was going to happen. Telling Joske to let go of his control over his power made sense from a psychological standpoint, but it was scary when she thought about the amazing displays of power the Toa of Fire had unleashed over the last few days. Joske might release a wave of heat and flame, scalding the ocean into steam, or ignite an explosion that turned the beaches to glass.Recalling the last time she had counseled Joske on the use of his powers, the Toa of Water pulled a sheet of water from the ocean, manipulating it so it separated her from the Toa of Fire, just in case something went wrong. His red and gold body was blurred and distorted through the shimmering oval of water, but that was it. As Joske closed his eyes and concentrated, he failed to destroy anything.The healer sighed with relief. That was an improvement.Then, something did happen. A flame flickered to life in Joske's hands, hovering between his fingers like a candle from which all the wax has dripped away. It burned, yellow and cheerful, without wavering, as Joske meditated, his eyes closed and his breathing soft and measured.The Toa of Fire opened his eyes, and looked surprised to find a flame flickering in his fingers. Cael couldn't blame him. She hadn't been expecting him to find his pivotal point so quickly. Not merely because he was an unskilled Toa, but because of his personality. Joske was quick to action and slow to find patience. He seemed to thrive on doing, and everything else he met with frustration and impatience.And yet here he was, finding balance.Slowly, Cael let the shield of water pour back down onto the sand. Her caution had been warranted, but in the end it was needless. She smiled as she watched Joske, who was grinning as the candle slowly grew into a dancing fireball of red and gold.The Toa of Fire lowered his hands and began to control the sphere of flame with nothing but his mind. His brow furrowed in concentration, but his mouth curved in a triumphant smile, Joske was now the picture of victory. Now, he had beaten his first obstacle, and unlocked the beginnings of control over his new powers.Now, anything was possible. IC (Greed)The Toa of Air smiled at Decaia's introduction. "To be honest, my friend, you sound like one of us." Greed looked around the table at the other Toa. "Each of us are nothing more than sinners; we are people whom the island has chosen to cast out and fear." He looked back to Decaia, his sharp eyes meeting the Toa of Water's own. "But the difference between us and so many others is that we are unrepentant."Why should we prostrate ourselves before a sleeping god? Mata Nui is dead to me, and for that I am an outcast. I don't want forgiveness, no: I want revenge."Greed smiled knowingly. "You look like someone who wants revenge. Your attitude speaks rebellion against that virtue the Matoran call Duty. Do as you are told, work hard, and you will be rewarded."But why should we work for others' again? I can see it in your eyes: apathy is the answer you give to those who command you to slave for their god. It is no crime, but they have marked you for it, and called it a sin."If sloth is a sin, if greed is a sin, if pride and anger and jealousy are sins, then we are all sinners. We are all Daedra."Greed's voice was low and passionate, his words slipping through the air, full of power as though they could even incite someone like Decaia to action. "Apathy is fine, but if you really want to strike back for the wrongs done to you, then join us. Join me. We will reclaim the island in the name of the fallen, instead of the name of the one whose laws have cast us out."

ICBalance through action. Stillness through movement. Control through release. The only way to find yourself was to lose it.Ok, this was really weird. But hey, it worked!The details of this new arrangement eluded me, but honestly at the moment I really didn't care. I had produced a flame AND at the same time kept all my new and wild feelings and emotions in check. I raised my hands and circled this flame, it no bigger than one found on a candle, and slowly maneuvered them around it in amusement, a giddy smile on my face. I had no doubt to Cael I looked like a child who had caught his first fish, or whatever an important first around here was, but I didn't care. I had made a huge milestone. Granted, a flame the size of a candle was not impressive considering most Toa of Fire could summon a volcano, but it was important to me.And I had Cael to thank for that.With a clap I closed my hands together, and with a puff of grey smoke my little flame was gone, my meditative trance now broken. Using my mind's eye I looked inward - yup, that little flame was still there inside if me me, burning bright. I took a long, deep breath in, letting the salty sea air fill my lings. I felt amazing. Calm, collected, relaxed... I turned my head and looked Cael right in the eye, a boyish grin on my face."Cool."I returned my gaze back to my hands, which by the way were still clasped together. Now came the next test: could I summon it again? Could I drop into that meditation on command? This was the big question. If I could, then I had a means to control myself: my temper, emotions, fluctuating element... something I could do in a moment's notice to keep me in check. If not... I breathed out, concentrating on the spot between my closed hands, visualizing that flame, letting it feed off my newest emotion, anxiety. I opened my hands quickly-I needn't have worried so much. The moment my hands parted, that flame reappeared. By breathing was once again soft and measured, a bit of a tunnel sensation forming around my senses. Yes, I could. I could drop myself into this state at will. It wasn't at all difficult. In fact, it felt... natural. I blinked as I re-focused on the bay before me, the flame vanishing into this air. Over the next two minutes or so I summoned it only to banish it again, taking some time to practice this new technique. It wasn't so much as a physical action as a state of mind, which meant even though there was a tangible result, I really wasn't tired after several attempts. Smiling with self-satisfaction I placed my hands behind my head and looked at Cael."You were right... mostly. The trick was figuring out what you said and, um, what's the word, ah! converting it to what I needed to do. I guess more importantly this highlighted a weakness of mine: I can't sit still. I always have to be doing something. If I'm not doing something, I get antsy. Agitated. Distracted. Someone like me is most calm when I'm active, or actively doing something, anything. That's... that has been my problem. I thought and I have been repeatedly told since my transformation that I needed to quiet myself in order to focus and control; that's not how I operate. The more I try to sit still, the more frustrated I get, especially if I'm trying to do something. Particularly then."I paused for a moment, mulling over my own thoughts. "That's why I've been having so much trouble. But now... " I smiled again, pleased with myself, "now I have learned that my shortcoming can also be a boon. If I can keep a part of my mind busy, focused on something, then the rest of me will be relaxed because, well, I am doing something, not nothing. Now it seems I can be razor-focused and calm despite my urges. Funny how a weakness can also be a strength."With a single motion I leaned back and crossed my ankles, my body flopping itself on the warm sand, hands still cradling my head. I stared into the cloudless, enjoying these new-found feelings. I sighed contently, raising an eyebrow.*fomp*About a foot above my head, a little flame appeared, hanging and floating effortlessly in mid-air. My eyes bobbed up and down as it began to dance a little, amusing myself greatly with this little ball of light.Finally some progress.

OOC: Toa Fanixe, before you tear up King Snelly's wedding dress up any further, you may want to read this: Guidelines on Mahiki Shapeshifting

As Dekuna searched for Miha's Voice, he managed to hear Miha mumble something. The Toa of Sonics enhanced his powers, allowing him to hear Miha's whispers clearly. "...so that's what I need you to do. Can you guys do it?" Various forms of the word yes were heard, before Miha and her friends went quiet. Then, a clanking sound, the sound of widgets being transfered from one hand to the other. All the while, Dekuna and Co. were closing in on Miha, using Dekuna to find her. Suddenly, out of the hut that Miha's voice was coming from, burst forth Matoran. Around ten kid Matoran, screaming as loud as they could. Now, Dekuna had enhanced his hearing to be able to hear Miha's whispering, so the shrill voices of the Ga-Matoran children would at the least, give the sonic sensitive Toa a migraine. Through the open door, the Hau Karda members would notice Miha bolting out the back door.OOC:Slight bunnying Lorax, but I figured that's what Dekuna would do in that situation anyways, so it wouldn't matter. If you think differently, I'll edit.

IC (Cael)Cael smiled sat back down next to Joske, who lay on his back, concentrating on keeping a flame hovering in midair. The tongue of fire danced and flickered, but didn't go out, even as a cool, salty breeze swept off the ocean. The waves rushed up and down the beach. It was peaceful here.The Toa of Water found herself wondering what would happen after this. Where was Joske planning on going? What did he want to do? Knowing him, he wouldn't want to stay in Ga-Koro forever; he was probably only still here so he could get training from Agni. But once he was done...?Cael had spent her life in Ga-Koro. She had grown up here, and lived as both Matoran and Toa on the lily pads that floated on the waters of Naho Bay. But, as she watched Joske, she found herself wondering if she would ever leave.There was no doubt that times were darker than they ever had been. Makuta was very much alive and powerful, and rumours had spread like wildfire of Rahkshi, mythical monsters with the strength of ten Skakdi, and a mysterious Toa who appeared and disappeared like a shadow, dealing death wherever he went.Amidst this chaos, Joske had appeared: the first Matoran to transform into a Toa in a very long time.Though she was a healer, not a mystic, Cael had no doubt that there was some significance to this. Toa Stones were few and far between these days; she hadn't heard of one in many years. And suddenly this brave Matoran had been given one (by whom?) and become a Toa. Despite his inexperience, he was powerful, and the Toa of Water knew she couldn't be the only one who saw him as a new hope in the face of an encroaching storm.She recalled his impassioned speech in the face of Rit's condescension, defending the Toa Code and the responsiblity of Toa to protect the Matoran. If he truly believed that, then he would do incredible things."Joske," she said slowly. "I don't know if you even have an answer, but... what are you planning on doing after your training?"IC (Jin)Ah, Ga-Koro.Sweet village of innocence and purity. Dozens of perky little blueberry Matoran fishing, sailing, and skipping around (all female, of course). Warm blue skys, cool blue water... the place is basically a tropical paradise.Which is the only thing it's got going for it.Don't get me wrong, I'm all for those cute little huts that float on lily pads. But it's so boring. What do you do in Ga-Koro is you're not fishing or sailing or skipping around like everything's peachy? Nothing, that's what. There's not a decent bar in the whoel town.That's why I prefer Xa-Koro, on the whole. It may be dirty, ugly, and completely uncivilized, but you're never bored there. Either you're picking someone's pocket, or someone's picking yours, and there's a good dozen excellent taverns that serve some of the cheapest alcohol on the island.As if that isn't good enough, it's also the best place to pick up jobs in my line of work, that being everything unsavoury. It's an irony in some ways that a gorgeous person like myself gets stuck doing the dirtiest jobs, but it pays well, and the adrenaline rush you get... lt me tell you, it's worth it.But for now, here I found myself in Ga-Koro. And even though there wasn't a decent bar on this floating botanical experiment, I found myself walking into the best of the worst: relatively cheap, and not serving watered-down booze.I took a seat and ordered an entire bottle of spirits with the first of the widgets from my latest payment. Taking out that Skakdi in Po-Wahi may have been a trip through karz, but it was all worth it now.I poured myself a glass of the clear, strong-smelling whiskey, and downed it in one go. It burned like fire sliding down my throat, then settled into a warm glow in my stomach. I licked my lips, and poured another glass.The Xa-Koro ferry leave till morning. I had a whole night to polish this stuff off.

IC: Seeing as they had now reached the borders of the Fau Swamp, Lepidran turned to look at the other four members of the group, "I can safe-lead us through the dread-swamp, but it would help if...uh, I knew where I was supposed to be leading us."

IC (Oreius)Oreius had been walking quietly and with wide eyes, taking in the beautiful scenery around him. Part of this was his tendency to stay on guard and keep an eye on everything, but it was also due to his fascination with the landscape that was so alien to his Ta-Koran upbringing.When Lepidran stopped the group and asked where they were going, all Oreius could do was look to Stannis. He figured that, with the way the terrain was becoming increasingly lush and full of flora, they were heading towards Le-Koro. But the task wasn't to reach a village: it was to find Sulov, the sixth and final member of the Wanderer's group. He might not be in the village; he could be anywhere.If anyone would know, it would be Reordin, who seemed to know Sulov quite well. But if anyone could find him, it would be Stannis, whose wanderings had led him directly to each of his companions in turn.

IC - Decaia - Bar-restaraunt-place: Decaia went silent, drifting lazily from thought to thought as he listened to Greed speak, filtering out the theatrics and unnecessary energy in the Toa of Air's words and instead focusing on the simple facts of what he was saying. Before too long, the ball was in his court again."Tell me, Greed," he said after a moment, his voice low again. "Have you ever heard of a species of plant called Dark Bloom?"He produced a small, glass case from his cloak. Inside of it--lying in a carefully-carved, perfectly-made niche--was a blue rose. Its petals seemed to glimmer slightly with each movement as Decaia slowly moved the case around in his hand, almost intoxicating in its beauty. For a moment, all hint of emotion--joy, passion, anger--seemed to be sucked from the room, at least until Decaia set it carefully on the desk, the slight snapping sound it made drawing attention back to reality."Dark Bloom is a rather rare plant," he continued. "Many legends surround it--that it can cure illness with just a whiff of its scent, that it can bring unending luck to one who possesses it, and others. Now, I can't personally attest to any of those... But one of the most... fascinating... aspects of the plant... one that I have seen myself... is its peculiar habit of only growing on the deathbed of one who bore... immeasurable love for another in their life... and only ever blooming once, wilting if not taken by the one who... reciprocated that love..." He cupped the case in his hands, closing his eyes for a moment in thought, the yellow lights seeming to become more vibrant the longer he spoke.When he opened them again, they were a dull yellow again. "I agree... we are similar..." Decaia said. "And I admit that your cause... resonates with me on some levels... But, your assumption about me is... somewhat inaccurate. I do not care about the myriad of ways in which this island's inhabitants have wronged me, and so I would not label it as revenge... not the same kind as yours, at any rate..." His eyes narrowed slightly. "I do, however, care about the single way in which it wronged Seyza."Toa of Ice... Bright blue eyes, radiant as a star... End of the line... Fun... Love...Decaia looked straight at Greed now, locking eyes with the Toa of Air. There was a new force behind the yellow lights that had not been there a moment before."I want to see these people suffer, Greed," he said simply. "I want them to live in despair for the rest of their sorry little lives, just as they made her. I have spent an immeasurable amount of time attempting to figure out how to make that happen in a subtle, powerful, psychological way that the greatest tsunami or the most powerful flood could never bring about." He leaned forward, eyes glinting dangerously now. "You say you can help me get revenge for myself, to strike back at those whom I detest... but I already forsaken their ways. I want to know if you can help me avenge someone... who meant the world to me..."

IC (Dekuna): Dekuna fell to the ground under the childerns' aural assault, clutching at his ears and trying desperately to create a field of silence around them. Maybe splitting up hadn't been such a great idea. He only hope some of the others would have heard the commotion and realise Miha was behind it.

OOC: Man, there's some heavy stuff goin' on. But not with Kaithas. Because that's just how lulz he is.IC: I walked back to town, filtering out Yick's yelling. I have to find the rest. Gosh, I hope I don't mess up. Destiny. Funny thing sometimes.

IC: YickYick picked up Nidiak again and began following the Kaithas. He frowned at the Toa of The Green "Well if you just got over here when I called for you I would've barely had to yell at all."

IC: "I think you wanted to yell anyway. Uh.." Kaithas leaned toward Nidiak. "Is he okay?"

IC: Yick"Yeah, he's just a complete tool sometimes... Most of the time... Actually, whenever we aren't in danger of dying."

IC: I grinned. "And during battle he's the dominator?"

IC: Yick"Something like that. He's collected, 'n' he knows what he's doing." Yick scowled. "Not like Slannak. She's just as stupid as usual when she's being attacked."

IC: I looked at Slannak, seeing if what Yick had said would get a response. "Well, she hasn't acted stupid to me. Just caring." I grinned. "And immature, but I can't judge for that."

IC: Slannak and YickSlannak crossed her arms and pouted jokingly at Yick. He rolled his eyes looked away from her. Yick spoke to Kaithas again. "The line between immaturity and stupidity is a pretty thin one."OOC: Yay, colours!

IC: "In my experience, sometimes the immature one is using jokes to deal with emotions." I grimaced. No use thinking about that now. I have a responsibility, and I won't let my team down.

Ooc: Stannis, Oreius, Lepidran, Aurax and Reordin to Le-Wahi.An IC post here would be out of place.

IC: [The Fourth]"So, what do you all do in your spare time?"

IC-Nokth:From where he stood behind Decaia, Nokth had a very clear view of the flower-one similar that he had seen on his uncle's grave, when last he had visited it. Now he almost regretted his not picking it, but that would go against his philosophy-Beauty must remain untouched, lest it be marred, no matter how long you wish to prolong it. Going against nature would have marred the beauty of the flower he had seen, rendering it nothing more than a common item that he may see every day.However, there was a subtle difference between Decaia's thoughts, and Nokth's. Nokth's uncle had been killed by Makuta...of this, he was certain. And yet Decaia and these others seemed to wish to follow Makuta, to go against Mata-Nui, to go against that which was their Duty, protecting the Matoran.Although...Mata-Nui's followers had done little to help his uncle, instead hindering him, even though he tried to help them...simply because he was a different being. One insolent Matoran had even called him Makutaspawn, once, and his uncle did nothing against it, unlike how Nokth would have. Perhaps Makuta would be the more benevolent being, then. He made no distinctions amongst his followers, and his followers didn't seem to discriminate against each other, unlike the Matoran when they met with other species."...Master, I am troubled," he said in a quiet voice to Decaia, having taken a moment to remind himself of the position he'd taken. "May I take a small leave to think?"

ICGood question.I cocked my head sideways, watching the little flame move with me. I had been so wrapped up in my new abilities (or lack to use them thereof) to think that far ahead. What WOULD I do? I couldn't exactly return to Kohlii. I was no longer a matoran, and there weren't any Toa-leagues, and for obvious reasons. I could go back to my retreat deep into the delta and return to life as a recluse. I could take up a holy crusade and try to right the wrongs of this island. Or I could try a new career; what though I hadn't the foggiest. "I don't know." I finally answered. "It's not as if I was given a vision or-"The moment I said that word a memory flashed before my eyes, an event that had happened months earlier, startling me so much that my flame instantly flickered out of existence. If Cael didn't notice the flame winking out, she did the shadow that crossed my face."Joske... something wrong?"Her voice was filled with concern, and her face covered in worry. Shaking my head I rose to a sitting position, the memory having clearly jolted my from the tranquil serenity that had encompassed the beach moments before. My eyes searched for an invisible object, my face thoughtful. I turned to look at her, a confused, ghosted look on my face."Actually, I did have a vision." I breathed out heavily. She placed a hand on my shoulder."When was this?""About six months ago."She opened her mouth to say something, that is until the implications sank in. The face she gave me mirrored my own thoughts. "This happened some time ago, before I came to Ga-Koro, back when I was still a reclusive matoran in my river delta hideaway. It was... disturbing."I pulled away slightly and hugged my knees as the memory came to bear. "At the time I thought it a simple nightmare, but now, after everything that's happened... the coincidences... the way things have been falling in place... "I stared out into the ocean. "In my vision I saw a chamber that was so dark black would have been too bright a color descriptor. Inside was a single being who bathed in this darkness, reveled in it... he was the darkness, oppression personified. But it wasn't Makuta; no, this was a Toa. A toa who could do anything, could convince anyone of anything... and he had a slave. Female toa slave... a Ga-Toa."I could hear the sharp intake of air next to me. "No, it wasn't Gali; at the time it was current, as if I had been given a spyglass to watch what was happening now. But that wasn't all I saw. This being, this living shadow cooed his slave and then- " I paused, taking a moment to relive it all. "and then killed her. With her own power. From the inside out. She drowned in her own element. It was... " I couldn't continue. It was as vivid as when I first experienced it, and I could not move on. The beach was unusually quiet for quite some time before I found my voice. "Again, at the time I took it as nothing more than a bad dream, but now I have this feeling that there is more to it than that. That my future is somehow connected to this... thing." I could not bring myself to call him a toa despite the physical evidence. "How or why I don't know. I don't know if I'm even right. But the more I think about it, the more it seems that to be the case. I guess when I'm done training I'll have to do some researching, if not simply to find out if I'm overreacting and taking too much stock in a nightmare."My gut told me otherwise.OOC: for anyone interested, I did post "meaningless" vision many moons ago... I'm just too lazy to try and dig it up

IC: I couldn't stop thinking about him.. I frowned.

IC (Revor and Grata):Grata walked up to Revor who was staring at him. Revor had never seen a skakdi before in his life, so was confused when he saw him."What is Toa looking at?" Grata said in a heavy voice."Somthing that should probably never exist" said Revor, noticing Grata's lack of good grammer and bully-like attitude."If Toa was smart, he would surrender now so his death would be quick. No one challenges Grata and lives.""Well, there is a first for everything" Revor said, holding his three-pronged staff at the ready.With a final growl, Grata swung his battle axe at Revor with incredible force. But it wouldn't matter how much force he swung it at, because the axe was made of iron, which happened to be Revor's element. Revor droped his staff, put his hand up just before the axe hit the tip of his mask, and changed the shape of the axe head to the shape of an "O" so Revor would pass unharmed through the center. Grata growled at the Toa, and shot his lazer vision at him. Revor did not know that he had this power, and was hit by the lazers, stumbling a few feet before falling on his back. Grata walked up to him, planning to smash Revor with his bare hands. In desperation, Revor held his hand out to the demented axe head, and pulled it into his hand. Grata swung his fists down at Revor, who blocked it with the "O" shaped axe head. Grata yelled out in pain, as his hands were now throbing from the impact. Revor got up, seeing his chance, shaped the axe head into a spear, and ran at Grata. He plunged the spear into Grata's stomach, and it came out the other end. Grata gave a bloodcurdling scream, and clenched the spear that was once his own axe. Noticing that Grata was not yet dead, Revor shot spikes out from the spear within his body, puncturing every vital organ. Grata coughed up blood, and collapsed to his side. Grata was dead.Revor walked back in disgust at the corpse, picking up his staff and saying to himself "He had to go." and "He deserved it."

IC: Zharuk (from Ko-Wahi)Zharuk walked into Ga-Koro and saw a dead body in the streets. On closer inspection, it was revealed to be Grata! Zharuk remembered Grata fondly. He was very loyal, if a but stupid. Zharuk had made him Primo Capo; not that he had any major responsibilities; he was just there to report any traitors. Then he saw what appeared to be his murderer carrying the sixth axe! Grimly, he reached out with his matatu and snatched the axe out of the dead body. Axe in hand, he noticed that the shape of the axe head had been changed. "<Censored>"! He thought. "I need to find myself a toa of iron," he thought. "Or maybe a blacksmith." On his way, he passed by a guard member and reported the murder.

Ic: Anthyn had vanished from the air long ago and once again strode through the streets of Ga-Koro. Her appearance was that of a devilishly attractive Pa-Toa, essentially what she preferred to project herself as. Her wings were pressed hard against her back, nearly flat and disguised by her illusion, hopefully for a while. Though her presence had been received as positive in the village, the appearance of an angel after so long without one surely triggered mass hysteria, good and bad.But despite the seemingly serious tone of her being, she felt the pangs of hunger, especially after flying and killing a very tough cookie: Dorian. She found a nice little restaurant with bayside views, and it caught her attention. While Savina would try to find her, she would stop and enjoy a nice sandwich and a view, and possibly some non-combative conversation.Her heels slapped on the wooden floor with dull thuds as she entered the establishment and smelled the aromas. The salty seaside air was peppered with scents of lemongrass, paprika and cardamon while fish and boiled beef wafted through the room in a peaceful odoriferous orgy, permeated with a scene of quiet harp music and nice chatter."You must be with the group of five," the waiter said as she took note of Anthyn as she stopped and smelled the area, mistaking her taking in the ambiance to the search of an estranged group. Before she could speak up against it, though, her curiosity got the better of her and she decided to see where this waiter would take her. "Right this way, ma'am."She followed, footsteps signaling her advance as she came closer to a table of men, four toa and a skakdi by the looks of it. Well, well, well, what sort of company is this?

[iC: Rannin]"Bruntoa. Are you active?"

IC: Savina - Ga-koro -Savina had lost sight of Anthyn yet again, it seemed that the Valkyr could disappear at her leisure. Savina really didn't like Ga-koro much anymore, it was too easy to get lost. She wandered aimlessly around the village, looking for any signs of Anthyn and at the same time avoiding as much eye contact as possible from anyone. As she passed through the market place, the sights and smells of various food all around her began to overwhelm her senses. Her stomach rumbled a bit, she realized she hadn't eaten in quite some time, not since the ritual even. Unfortunately, she had no money whatsoever, she had never needed it in the jungles of Le-Wahi, but here, she was a stranger, and did not know how to survive in the civilized world. She spotted an old, orange colored Turaga, who seemed to be selling fruit. He hadn't noticed her staring at his cart yet...maybe she could take a few mangoes without him noticing? She began to move closer...Bruntoa looked at Rannin with a puzzled look. "What are you talking about? I'm looking for a Toa of Plantlife, what are you doing?" Bruntoa suddenly felt a tug on his arm, he looked down toward the source, a Turaga?"You look like someone who eats healthy, how about some oranges? If you buy a dozen I throw in some free apples!" Denerium said with a honest-to-good grin. Bruntoa looked at Rannin. "What do you think, should we take five for lun-" Bruntoa stopped as Denerium suddenly howlered."Hey stop! Come back here! Thief! THIEF!" Denerium began yelling at a certain Toa of Plantlife, who was running away as fast as she could with several mangoes. Denerium swerved to look at Bruntoa and Rannin. "You two! Don't just stand there looking all dumbfounded! Catch her! If you do...I'll give you some fruit for free!" Bruntoa looked at Rannin, the Toa of Plantlife was already almost out of there sight. "Shall we?" He asked Rannin.Meanwhile, Savina was running as if her life depended on it, mangoes in her arms. Several Ga-koran Marines had noticed the disturbance and already were giving chase, they however were slowed down a bit as vines began to grow from the lily-pads and latch onto their feet, tripping and slowing them down. Savina figured if she could just find somewhere to hide...Havon had split up from the rest of the group like Dekuna had suggested, surveying the entire koro from the skies. He was looking intently for Miha. She couldn't hide inside one of the huts forever, eventually she'd have to come out and...There she is! Havon thought, spotting a Le-matoran sprinting out of the back door of a certain hut. Havon began to fly at break-neck speed toward her, taking care not to reveal himself to her and staying high enough in the air that she wouldn't notice him unless she looked straight up. OOC: Savina open for interaction? =P