BZPRPG: Le-Wahi

IC:

"Oh," Cysero said, disappointed, leaning against the rail of a lift as the platform began to ride further up the tree, towards Kongu's sanctum. Behind Cysero, vines and branches swayed and squeaked, and he watched Naria grab the railing with a hint of fear. It wasn't surprising. The Le-Matoran loved their heights almost as much as the Ga-Matoran loved their swimming, and Cysero was quick to smile and wrap his hand around the one she used to hold on. 

When the makeshift elevator stopped, he gently pried her hands off the railing and led her onto one of the more stable walkways that helped make up Le-Koro, but he didn't let go of her hand. The Gukko Force sergeant led his friend through the street, pointing out what places were good to eat, which stall had the best wares, areas of recent interest, and finally the Gukko Force headquarters themselves. To get where they needed to go, he needed to use a few more lifts, but with his assurances and her desire to look tough each one got progressively and exponentially easier for her to muster. Finally, they weaved in front of a spare looking hut and Cysero turned.

"I guess I'll leave you to it, then," he said, smiling and giving her a quick hug. "I'll be out here if you need me afterwards." He stopped for a second, and then planted a small, quick kiss on her cheek.

"It's good seeing you, Naria," Cys repeated, before walking across the street to a merchant who was offering up the best pears this side of the Koro.

-Tyler

IC

Sloth last. The Toa finally gave some small signal of satisfaction: he nodded slightly, suddenly confident in his choices. These were sinners; some he knew, and of others he had only heard rumours. Skulking through the bowels of each Koro, he had learned the names of the island's lowest and blackest, the names of liars, thieves, gluttons and murderers. Sinners. The lowest of the low, and they were his.

Turning slowly around, he looked each Toa in the eye and named them. Some he had not seen, but he knew their name all the same. He had bestowed them, after all, naming them like children.

"Pride. Gluttony. Envy. Sloth. Wrath. Lust."

Greed stopped there, his own name tingling on his lips. They knew who he was.

"We are the Toa Daedra. And, a thousand years from now, they will remember this day, and weep."

IC:

Naria, smelling the pears and seeing them too, watched Cysero carefully - with an almost annoyed expression - as he strode off over to them. Then she frowned, turning resolutely and walking up to the hut.

Hopefully Cysero would be smart enough to remember to grab Naria some pears.

Upon reaching the door of the hut, she knocked, the bottles she had with her jingling against each other as she did so.

IC Jrahann

Jrahann shook her head, dizzy from Asuno knocking her into a slab of rock when he'd pulled her into the foliage. "Whoa guys, you forgot my sight sharing vision. I can tell you exactly what's ahead of us, as long as someone is there to see it." She activated her vision power, then blinked dizzily to focus. 

OOC: Toa Onaku, can you PM me what it is ahead of them that Jrahann can see? I'll edit this post after.

OOC: General timeskip. "Prisoners" (kidnapped people), you're still in your cells. PM me to know who you're fighting.

"Volunteers" (Not-kidnapped people), you're in the settlement. Do the same thing as the "Prisoners" please.

Let's do this.

IC:

It was (finally) time.

"All fighters, gather round!" The Reveler's voice called, booming across the settlement. The Horned Toa stood in a platform above a pit, various other malcontents who weren't participating had gathered at the pit's edge, most of which looked hungry. For blood.

('Cause what else would they want? All the food is gone...)

Once the various fighters had assembled themselves, the Reveler began to speak, "Now, the matches have been selected. All who fight today have the chance to win glory, riches, a bloodied weapon, and other cool stuff. If you're afraid to get a little mud and blood on you (or lose a limb or two), then now is your last chance to leave."

He paused a moment, looking over the crowd for any spineless cowards. Preferably the ones with yellow bellies.

"Now for the oh-so-simple rules. The fight is until your opponent is unable to fight back. Killing your foe is not allowed, without my permission. At the start of the fight, you will be called upon and you shall enter the arena. Should you try to leave before the fight is over, your enemy has the right to kill you for your cowardice. Simple. Any questions?" He asked, the rhetoric being thicker than the gluttony that was killed in Ga-Koro, "Good."

"The first match will commence shortly."

And with that, the Horned Toa returned to his own viewing box, and prepared for the fights to begin.

OOC: Let's say Jrahann described the arena during the timeskip.

IC Jrahann:

Just after Jrahann finished explaining what she had seen ahead of them with her sight-sharing vision, she heard a voice beginning to speak loudly inside the arena.

"It's the horned guy on the platform," she told Dia and Asuno. She listened carefully, but at this distance she could only understand a small fraction of the words. "Asuno, can you hear him?"

IC:

"A thousand years seems a little long for me, quite frankly."

Pride smiled, tilting her head to one side.

"Call me shallow, but I do crave instant gratification."

-Void

OOC: Let's say Jrahann described the arena during the timeskip.

 

IC Jrahann:

Just after Jrahann finished explaining what she had seen ahead of them with her sight-sharing vision, she heard a voice beginning to speak loudly inside the arena.

"It's the horned guy on the platform," she told Dia and Asuno. She listened carefully, but at this distance she could only understand a small fraction of the words. "Asuno, can you hear him?"

IC Asuno:

Asuno, after listening, contorted his face a bit, though still partly hidden by his broken Akaku. 

"He's making him fight each other!" He whispered hoarsely. 

He felt disgusted. Anger rose up and brought him to a dark place. 

He looked at Jrahann, and then at Dia. 

He didn't know whether or not to let loose or to wait for the others to strategize. 

The fact that he felt he had to stagnate and wait to refrain from losing his life when innocent matoran could end up dead or worse caused the anger to rise even further. He felt it in his throat. Never mind sonics. He felt he could breathe fire.

OOC: I hope you guys hurry up with the plan.

IC Jrahann: 

"So it's a gladiator thing? Well, we can't just run in there. They're probably prepared for escapees, and I think they could handle a break-in too. Definitely enough weapons in there to blow us to pieces. What if, though--what if we tried to get into the audience, like we wanted to watch?"

IC: Dia

"That could be a plan, but I may need a disguise, considering those two thugs might be here somewhere..." Dia looked to her two companions. "Either of you got a cloak or somethin'?"

IC:

 

Naria, smelling the pears and seeing them too, watched Cysero carefully - with an almost annoyed expression - as he strode off over to them. Then she frowned, turning resolutely and walking up to the hut.

 

Hopefully Cysero would be smart enough to remember to grab Naria some pears.

 

Upon reaching the door of the hut, she knocked, the bottles she had with her jingling against each other as she did so.

IC:

 

Blugh.

 

If only I had the resolve to puke up some seawater. I could feel it swishing around in my gut, salty and toxic, but I had spent months vomiting from bourbon and usage and poisons most foul, and apparently my stomach thought that a little bit of the Kanae Bay was a step up in the world. I heard Praggos and Cael fumbling about for a gameplan, just outside the door. Tuara was singularly, notably silent. Guilt roared up in my chest; the seawater began to boil into steam, clouding my vision and throbbing in my head. All for Utu. No, that wasn't right, surely someone shared my ambivalence whether he lived or died. Joske. All for Joske.

 

The dark sword on the bed gleamed its approval. "Oh, shut up," I muttered, throwing it over my back and nudging the door open with a foot. I didn't want to sit anywhere near Utu - it was him I had to blame for this migraine, after all - and perched up on the rail.

 

-Tyler

IC: Tuara Drigton - Kumu-Islet Seas

While Praggos, Utu and Cael spoke together, Tuara watched as Dorian slunk across the deck. She sighed and walked over to him, speaking quietly as she leaned against the railing on her forearms, "I'm sorry I got upset," before Dorian could respond she continued, "I should've made more of an effort to keep my cool."

Tuara gave Dorian's blue gaze a glance, "The last time I was doing stuff like this and things got heated, I lost the person I thought meant the most to me. And I don't want that to happen again. Not with you Shaddix," the Toa of fire said, still without responses from Dorian, "I'm just anxious about all of this. I'm anxious about him and I'm anxious about Joske."

Tuara looked off across the sea into the empty void. She spoke as if she were awestruck and breathless, "I'm tired of breaking things Dor. I've got to help people again."

IC: Akiri Kongu - Le-Koro

The guards next to Naria gave her a concerning glance while towering over her. One said into the door, "Akiri Kongu, you have a visitor. Ga-Koronian." Outside the door, Naria could hear a shuffling of papers and the scuff of a chair. The door opened and the Ga-Koronian was greeted with the sight of Akiri Kongu. His chest and torso were covered in elaborate tattoos and his face was covered by a natural smile.

"Ah!" Kongu starts happily, "How fares the village of the water-maidens? Do you bring word from Hahli?"

IC: Kunitu

"Actually, I've been wondering: what exactly do you do here now?"

IC: Qyntar

The toa of gravity opened his eyes. What happened? He thought to himself. Looking at his surroundings, he noticed he was lying deep within a jungle. Qyntar sat upright, looking around himself, noticing his partner lying a short distance from himself. "Athiel? Are you alright?!"

IC (Merror)

 

Merror returned Sisk's smile, a little wearily.

 

"Yes, it does," he said. "And it's things like that that make it bearable, Sisk. Points of light in the darkness..."

IC (Sisk/Agni):

"Spirit be thanked, we've had very little-few dark-days in Le-Koro since the Makuta fell-vanished. It is still tree-bright." Sisk said.

"So, if you are hunt-searching,you are not by your lone-self, are you? Who are your hunt-travel companions?"

"Toa Valria, Toa Liacada and Toa Agni." the veteran fire-Toa replied. 

"I don't think I know-heard of them before. Where are they?" Sisk said, his brows furrowed, trying to recall the names. 

"Valria and Agni are still asleep, it would seem." Merror said, answered, followed by a slight sigh, as if annoyed by the fact. Sisk picked up on it and immediately asked: 

"Ohh, shall we quick-find and loud-wake them then?" 

He seemed rather excited by the prospect,

"No need, tamer." another voice cut in. Entering the room were two of the mentioned Toa - Agni and Valria - looking far more relaxed than Merror had seen them the past few days since the other half of the group had left with Dorian and Utu. The other Toa of fire walked up to him they bumped fists briefly. "Sorry about the late start into the day." Agni said. "Some mornings, gravity just seems higher than usual." he added, with a wink.

---------------------

(Aparangi):

Among the 'volunteers' that had come to participate in the Reveler's contestants, Aparangi stood as the odd one out. He had been supposed to be in the cells with the others, but the brutes the Reveler had sent after him had done far from what they had set out to do. Three of them were dead, rotting away as worm-food somewhere in the jungle, the last one would probably not walk or do much of anything for the coming months.

Aparangi cracked his knuckles. He had a little lesson to teach at this tournament. He normally did not get involved in dealing with the every-day injustice in the world. He and his brethren were more suited to go after bigger game and normally left the small crimes to the guards and Toa of the lands they visited. But the Reveler had specifically sent his mooks after him and a number of others, most of whom were now locked in cages like beasts.

And that just wasn't right. 

IC:

"Things are going rather well in Ga-Koro," Naria replied, smiling back at Kongu. "Although I can't say - for sure - that I bring word from Hahli, I do bring gifts from her!" Naria held up one of the bottles she'd been assigned to take to the Akiri of Le-Koro, the liquid inside sparkling when the sunlight hit it. "May I come in?" she asked then, replacing the bottle in the bag. "Before I feel tempted to try and sample all of the fruit you've got here in your Koro?"

IC:

I favored Tuara with a tight smile and put my hand on hers; the railing was old and sketchy beneath her grip, but even if it gave way on us and we fell over, Tuara would have screamed at the water for getting in her goddamn way until it spat us back out onto the boat. You couldn't see her determination unless you were looking for it now; Tuara had a way of looking defeated even on the cusp of victory lately, and I could tell that what she'd said was eating at her as much as it had eaten at me. A year ago, I would have mocked her. Two years ago, I would have killed her for even daring to talk to me the way she had. In all those years combined, I'd never seen her look dejected. She was the only person I'd been with since the beginning, from our rock bottom to enemies to frenemies to this, and she'd never faltered. She was dangerously close now.

I slipped off the railing and wrapped an arm around the front of her waist, looking out at Cael, Utu and Praggos while she faced my back, gazing at the waves.

"How long have we been going out? Four months?" I asked quietly. "Four months. I knew you for two years before that, and I'm not gonna you they were some terrible years. A lot of people, they'd just lay down and die without a second thought after being what you've been through, but here you are, tough as nails. You didn't give up. You didn't smother Utu like a baby in his crib. I did. I didn't believe in him and I still don't. Don't really believe in Stannis, either, and if Joske's eyes weren't so godawful pretty I really don't think I'd believe in him either. But I believe in you, chief. Because for four months, I've watched you get out of bed every morning knowing that it was going to be the worst day of your life, and then I watched you go to sleep and I watched you rinse and repeat and improve. You muscled through it."

She looked from the waves to me; I smirked and leaned in, and Tuara Drigton kissed the smirk right off my face.

"And that makes you just about the toughest I know."

-Tyler

IC: Athiel

Athiel struggled to move. His legs were cut and brused. He pulled using all of his strength, inching his way toward a tree, laying his back upon it. "What happened. I can't seem to remember how we got down here." He quickly glanced around the area. "All of our gear is gone. Were we shot down?"

IC: Dia

"That could be a plan, but I may need a disguise, considering those two thugs might be here somewhere..." Dia looked to her two companions. "Either of you got a cloak or somethin'?"

IC Asuno:

"I'm wearing one," Asuno said coarsely. He removed the cloak he was wearing and handed it to the matoran. 

    "Now, what if they are charging admission? What if we don't have tickets or whatever? And a cloaked matoran? They might get suspicious."

He sheathed his Tuner Blades and let his charged energy subside, as he felt as if he was about to burst.

"If we're going to do anything, we have to move. They're about to start."

IC Jrahann:

Jrahann scowled, realizing her blunder. The captors might easily be in the arena, and they would undoubtedly recognize a gray Matoran who couldn't walk.

"Give me your cloak, Asuno. Dia can hide under it on my back. I'll just look like some hunchback Skakdi, and she'll be safe. Besides, I think we stand a chance of bartering our way in with the widgets.

IC:

"I know how to have fun." 

The De-Toa's response followed a long period of quiet, as he leaned against the railing and looked out at the water they were crossing. His head turned slightly to regard the Le-Toa out of the corner of his eye, the faintest hints of a smile tugging at the edges of his expression. The statement, coming from most people, would have been obvious; from Krayn, and for anyone who hadn't spent the last few months in Po-Koro, it was as if someone had declared that water wasn't really met. "I haven't much, in recent years, but I know how. I have hobbies. Restaurants I enjoy visiting, people I go see, every so often. Not as much as other people, and not as openly, but I do. No one ever bothered to find out. Nor, all things considered, did I really desire to inform my colleagues of any of these things."

Silence settled once more, for a few minutes. "... Commander, do you ever consider leaving the Force?"

IC: Qyntar

"I... I don't remember..." Qyntar looked around himself, then decided to look through the gravity field of the vicinity. Touching the ground, he searched the high and low points for any irregularities. Very close by there was a large gathering of beings, by the feel of it. "I can feel a settlement nearby, do you want to check it out?"

IC: Dia

"That's a good idea, but I don't think we'll need to take any extreme measures. Says right here on the note that this is an open event, considering that the location is secret. If I hide on your back, we should easily be able to walk in, and blend in with the audience. Maybe we'll find Ankarya among the fighters... although I honestly hope not." 

IC: Skyra

"Wha..." The question had taken me my surprise, I could honestly say I'd never been asked the question before. I remained silent for a moment as I pondered on how to respond. 

"Have I considered it? Sure...for time to time I've wondered if I'd be happier if I struck out on my own, being my own...woman." I had to pause for a moment, that still felt like an odd thing to say. "I...I don't think I could actually leave though, at least not right now. I feel like I still have things to do as part of the Force. I can't really explain it but I just feel like I'm supposed to stay. Maybe it's my destiny or something..." I shrugged. 

I looked at Krayn. "Why do you ask?" I had this anxious feeling in my chest, it was same kind of feeling I felt when I knew I might not see someone again for a long time. 

IC:

 

"Things are going rather well in Ga-Koro," Naria replied, smiling back at Kongu. "Although I can't say - for sure - that I bring word from Hahli, I do bring gifts from her!" Naria held up one of the bottles she'd been assigned to take to the Akiri of Le-Koro, the liquid inside sparkling when the sunlight hit it. "May I come in?" she asked then, replacing the bottle in the bag. "Before I feel tempted to try and sample all of the fruit you've got here in your Koro?"

"And that makes you just about the toughest ###### I know."

 

-Tyler

IC: Akiri Kongu - Le-Koro

"Of course," Kongu stepped back to his desk as Naria entered and closed the door, "There will be plenty of time for you see the rest of the village I'm sure."

IC: Tuara Drigton - Kumu-Iselt Sea

Tuara sighed, "Thanks," she gave a thoughtful glance to the waves, "I guess I'm looking to make somebody else better too. If I can."

IC: Dia

"That's a good idea, but I don't think we'll need to take any extreme measures. Says right here on the note that this is an open event, considering that the location is secret. If I hide on your back, we should easily be able to walk in, and blend in with the audience. Maybe we'll find Ankarya among the fighters... although I honestly hope not." 

IC Asuno:

Asuno thought for a moment, then pulled out the long segment of rope in his satchel. 

"You might want to use this to secure yourself to Jrahann," He told Dia, "But keep in mind, they might get suspicious and want to get touchy-feely with Jrahann, no matter how grotesque a hunch might be. At that point, we'll have to act quickly."

He held out the rope, preparing to tie the Matoran to his Skakdi companion. 

"What I wouldn't give for a Huna right now..." He sighed.

IC:

"And it's more than likely that I won't leave the Koro until I have seen every last square inch of it," Naria said, smiling. "Especially with Cysero having found me." She pulled the two bottles out, setting them on Kongu's desk, before pointing to the one to the right. "The wax seal on that one isn't original; my guess is that there's probably a message for you hidden in the cork."

IC: Naona

"What's the plan now, Dehkaz?"

IC Jrahann:

"If they find out, our alibi is that she wanted to go to the games, but she's too light-sensitive to be in daylight for very long. That way we can hopefully put the cloak back on her before she's recognized." Jrahann crouched down to allow Asuno to fix Dia into place. "Just speak under your breath if you need to talk to me, Dia. I have sharp ears."

IC: Akiri Kongu - Le-Koro

Kongu reached to the bottle on the right and twisted off the cork. He took it in both hands and peeled off the wax siding to reveal a small parchment with Hahli's handwriting, "I have no doubt that you speak the truth. I have known many energetic Matoran in my time, and Cysero is no different," He said with a chuckle. He quickly scanned the letter with his yellow eyes before waving it in front of raised light-stone. The letter read:

Kongu -

Hope you're doing well! How are the critters over in Le-Koro? They're doing okay here, but things still pop up from time to time that make me want to jump out of my skin. Just the other day I was going through reports of what was happening in Ko-Koro and along came across the biggest spider I've ever seen! Tempted to crush it, but decided against it. I have it safe in a bottle. Friend is holding onto it for me. I have three more empty bottles saved, for a few more critters. Been wondering if there are any moles running around - fitting one of those ugly things in a bottle would be the pinnacle of, like, my entire life.

But never mind all that. Enjoy the vintages! I spared no expense for your favorites. Tell Naria she's only needed when she's grown tired of your Koro (I think she's a bit smitten with one of your Kolhii stars over there) and give your people my love. Lots of love your way, too!

                                                                                                                             - Hahli

P.S. Don't trust the architect.
P.S. Burn this.

"Hahli has instructed me to tell you, you may still until you are tired of my village," Kongu started, "I suppose she will never see you again will she?" He said with a smile and a wink, "Only joking Naria... partly," Kongu finished, thinking about Cysero.

"I am planning to visit the Koro's myself, so I will personally thank your Akiri for the fine drink. Thank you for bringing this too me, it is much appreciated," Kongu gave a slight bow before reaching for a capped heatstone in order to burn the letter, "If there is nothing else you wish to tell or ask me, I must be going soon. I have an announcement to give shortly and I should not be late for my own appointment."

IC: Dia

"Alright... mind giving me a hand here?" She said to Asuno.

IC: Athiel

The Toa activated his mask, becoming invisible to the naked eye. He struggled to climb to his feet. "What should I be looking for?"

IC: Dia

"Alright... mind giving me a hand here?" She said to Asuno.

IC Asuno:

 "Absolutely." Asuno replied. He helped her Dia onto Jrahann's back, and secured her in a manner he hoped was acceptably comfortable for her in terms of being strapped to a Skakdi.

He aided Jrahann with securing the cloak over wherever it might blow off and reveal Dia's presence, and as the De-Skakdi finished messing with the cloak, he said, "Ok, are we all set?"

IC: Qyntar

"I didn't mean like that, but now that I think about it, that might be a better idea. Just go over there and find out what the general activity there is. I'll be waiting here." Qyntar said. He walked behind one of the trees, only to discover something "Oh hey, here's our gear..."

IC: Dia

"Pretty much" came from under the cloak.

OOC: From Ta

IC: Ryzen

I stepped into the territory of what most people had christened "Le-Wahi". I call it forest. Just the forest. For those who may call that boring, a better explaination is, well, better than a "name".

Looking around me, I continued walking down some path that seemed to wrap around the trees yet still stay straight. [i{Look at that,[/i] I smiled to myself, as I noticed some signposts(I guess?) that will lead me to the koro, perhaps. I'm following the path.

IC (Cael)

The trip was nearly over; Cael could sense the approach of the shore even as she watched the span of ocean separating their boat from the beach rapidly decrease. They had only been together for a day, but this little group had already come close to tearing itself apart. Utu was no longer a violent murderer, as far as she could tell, but he was impatient and angry, trying to comprehend a world that he no longer remembered. Praggos was calm for the most part, but often sarcastic; for now, he was an enigma. Dorian was, as always, abrasive, emotionally scattered, and as quick to offend as he was to be offended. Cael considered Tuara her lone true ally on this trip, a usually consistent voice of reason. Still, the Toa of Water recalled the first trip they had taken together, and how the ex-Deputy had stormed from Ko-Koro in a fit of rage. Could she be trusted to keep her calm this time?

These thoughts weren't vindictive; they were simply observations. As always, the healer preferred to process her surroundings in a logical manner, keeping tabs on potential and current dangers and sources of support. Her profiling of her companions was a sort of psychological triage: which psychological problem was of the highest priority? Which emotional damage was least likely to result in the shattering of their group before they reached their destination?

The boat ground against the sand, beaching itself in the last few inches of water, and Cael breathed a sigh of relief. They had made it this far, at least. Time would tell how much farther they would go.

* * *

IC (Greed)

"I know some of you better than others," the Toa of air began. "But I think we are all similar in one way: we are not afraid to do whatever it takes to get what we want."

He folded his arms, eyes alight with a strange fire. "And what I want is to crush this island under my foot. I want revenge; I want its people to cower before me, begging for mercy. I want this island to call me its king, and then I want to refuse, and grind it to dust."

His serious expression melted into an ugly smile. "But what do you want? Let's not waste time with pleasantries; tell me the desires of your hearts."

IC Jrahann:

Jrahann resisted the urge to tug at the cloak and make sure it covered Dia properly, and stood up. The Fe-Matoran was more weight than she was used to carrying on her back, and she had trouble not stooping for real. Jrahann took a few steps experimentally, getting used to the feeling.

"Let's get going, I don't want anyone seeing us out here and getting suspicious."

IC:

Ga-Koro, came the unbidden thought of a callow boy who had died long ago. It was a lie and it chewed me up and spat me out, but it was the only home I ever had. But Envy's face was impassive and smooth, with the stillness of a corpse, and it beheld the madness in his one-time comrade's eyes until his own madness passed.

Once, a callow boy had quaffed down an entire glass of ale and boasted to a man named Ketan of how the world would soon remember him. He must have been mad, as mad as the people in this clearing right now. Or madder. Here I am again. But if that could be said for him, then what was Greed? Ketan had been handsome, clear-eyed and noble; Ketan had melted the hearts and wettened the stares of women up and down Ga-Koro during the Daedra's occupation of the city. Whatever he was now was an ugly thing, a caricature with grass stains on his armor, lust and vengeance in his eyes, and an ugly sneer instead of the smile that he had used to become a king. Only madmen would follow this broken thing, Envy thought.

Yet Anthyn, Greed's old right hand, was staring at him with an expression that was supposed to be unreadable, but Envy knew her better than most, and he knew that she was interested in what she was hearing. Sloth was a broken woman, comely but lost and more than a little haughty looking - I knew a girl like that once, he thought, and was surprised by how much that hurt before his guard raised again - and the fact that the Toa of Fire (Envy could not find it in him to call her Pride) hadn't yet set something on fire in her brazen feats of idiocy meant that something in her was piqued, too. Only Gluttony had yet spoken up, with the same debonair, overly eloquent sneer that Envy suspected would be a running gag of his. People had listened to Ketan in rapture; in Greed, what did they hear? Promise? Power? Rapt, horrified fascination at the things this broken man thought he could achieve? For the first time since they had first met, Envy found himself looking at the Toa of Air and doubting, truly doubting. 

But for now, he followed the lead of the team, and said nothing. The Toa of Plant Life had once known a callow boy who had dreamed and dreamed of being a leader, but the man knew that it was not time for that sort of display. Not yet.

-Tyler

IC: Vyartha ~ Hive Ruins

Though it may have surprised the likes of Envy or Wrath to see Vyartha, now rechristened Pride, silent in these proceedings, the fact remained that hers was a military mind, honed to respond to the situation at hand according to the observations made. With precision unanticipated from those who knew of her hedonism, she watched the madness present in each blink of Greed's eyes, each syllable of his proclamations, each gesture of his hands in the darkness. Is darkness not but the absence of light? It was a madness that she knew well.

The man known as Gluttony had finished his tirade against their resident personification of avarice, and the woman called Pride turned to face the two. "I'd have to agree with our eloquent friend here; your failure back in Ga-Koro hasn't exactly inspired confidence for Act Two of this tragedy."

She watched Greed's eyes, burning orange like the twin bonfires of a master storyteller, and observed the paltry job that did of piercing the night's darkness, itself paltry in comparison of the blackness in their souls. Amidst this eternal darkness, is there no light to be found?

"You say that criminals like us are prepared to do whatever it takes to reach our goals." She made a sweeping gesture to the assembled Daedra. "Well, I think I speak for all of us when I ask just what it is you'd have us do; what is this grand scheme of yours?"

She watched Greed's eyes, the eyes of a wolf disguising itself as a man. They were feral eyes, mad eyes; the eyes of man who, amidst the shambles of a broken life, still clung to his pride like a buoy caught in a tempest, as if it could save him from the dark waters grabbing at his frame. In a world of black souls, what hope could light have against the darkness? It was a madness that she knew well.

Oh yes, quipped the woman who was once Vyartha, it was a madness she knew quite well.

-Void

IC: Sloth (Rama Hive, Le-Wahi)

"Act Three," Sloth said, turning to look at Pride as she spoke for the first time. "Act Two is the conflict, in which the characters reach their darkest hour, often resulting in a temporary defeat. This is Act Three. Act Three is the resolution."

She wasn't insane. She wasn't evil. Not like they were. She could feel it - every being in the clearing radiated madness, some more than others. Everyone was a threat.

"I agree. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm here because I have nowhere else to go. I'm with this for better or for worse, but that doesn't mean I don't want to know what it is."

Her sentence felt incomplete, but she bit her tongue. Best to leave things simple, avoid frustrating those around her. Only one was named for Wrath, but I can't help but feel that none of them is a stranger to it.

IC:

Naria smiled, standing. "Not a problem, Kongu," she said, about as informal as ever, before stepping to the door. "Good luck with your endeavors, and also, you should be careful that I don't steal one of your Le-Matoran and convince them to stay in Ga-Koro." She winked at the Akiri of Le-Koro, and then stepped out the door, looking around for Cysero after she did so.