BZPRPG: Ta-Wahi

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Hospital):

 

"Why would she want harm to me?" Viima wondered aloud. "It's like I have this curse of being attacked by females anywhere I go."

 

Viima turned back to Orderin.

 

"I'm glad you're alive, now you should rest", he said. "Any ideas on what we do after that?"

IC: Tivanu

 

Tivanu shrugged a bit

"Yeah it was a bit odd..."

IC: Two more rounds. His pawn presses my first.

 

(4. b3.)

 

I meet the challenge.

 

"We came a long way to kill Makuta."

 

IC (Oreius) (Inu)

 

Oreius could feel Inu's thoughts trembling alongside his own, like a single leaf on the tip of a branch. The Parakuka was fascinated by chess, a game he had learnt of from Onewa. More than that though, he was a hunter, and he respected the strategies of war, even when confined to a chessboard. He had an uncanny knack for noticing weaknesses in his opponent's defenses, but often struck too quickly, fuelled by instinct and raw energy. Oreius was more patient, and tended towards playing defensively, often against the whims of the fire in his chest.

 

Picking up his right bishop, he drew it across the board, flanking his own knight and pinning Sulov's. The Toa of Earth silently moved his own bishop, and the Toa of Fire responded by moving a lowly pawn up one square.

 

5... g6.

 

"True," he replied at last. "But that wasn't a game."

IC:"There is something more sinister afoot here."Orderin grimaced as he moved his bad leg to get out of the bed, before being stopped by cries of protest from the doctors,"Well, I guess I'll be here a little longer. You can leave if you want."

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Hospital):

 

"Leave to where? And how long will you have to be here?"

IC:"Who knows, as soon as these doctors can fit me to a crutch I'm leaving."Orderin leaned back on the bed,"What I meant was that you two could go to the Lavapool Inn or something instead of hanging around here if you want."

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Hospital):

 

"I'm your friend and I'll stay here with you, even if weeks..."

 

A doctor nearby gave Viima the 'I think not'-look.

 

"Ok, we'll go", Viima said. "But only as far as the inn. When you're allowed to, come there, ok?"

IC: Tivanu

 

Tivanu smirked rather slightly as he hears this

"Oh yeah i don't know what i would do without you two crazy folks to keep me sane.. so i will not be leaving you any time soon.

IC: I add another wall to my extension. He responds by fianchettoing between the pawns. Placing artillery. In a move, it could aim towards the rook stuck with a knight and pawn. Trapped.

 

All as foreseen.

 

The knight leaps to support the wall and its twin. Oreius swings out his queen to fork two pawns.

 

But none are open. Defenses total.

 

I copy his fianchetto. Defenses decrease for king's pawn, but increase for knight. Castling available and pressure on Oreius' extension applicable. A tradeoff in potential.

 

(8. g2.)

 

"Do gods lack for games?"

IC (Oreius) (Inu)

 

His fingers tapped a bishop, then took the knight instead, sweeping it around to threaten the enemy pawns. Sulov responded in turn, and the two exchanged a flurry of quick moves, each placing their pieces calmly and with little hesitation.

 

13... Rad8.

 

The Toa of Fire pulled his rook out of its corner.

 

"I'm not a god," he said, before adding half-jokingly: "Are you?"

IC: Pressure in the center. Every piece about the first two pawns aligned to combat. We move from creation to battle.

 

My last preparation: a rook mirroring Oreius' copy. The file they sit on to fight.

 

(17. fd1.)

 

"Mata Nui and Makuta are."

IC

 

The tension was rising. Inu's mind rippled as Oreius pulled his knight out to stand before his rook.

 

17... Nd7.

 

"Makuta was. Not anymore, not unless gods can exist in the void."

IC:"You know I'd never pass up on staying with you guys, as soon as I get out of here I'll meet you at the inn."Orderin smiled as he laid on the bed.

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Hospital):

 

Viima returned the smile and turned back to Tivanu.

 

"Well, let's go then."

IC: Tivanu

 

Tivanu nodded to Viima as he moved to follow him

"I suppose we should go."

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Lavapool Inn):

 

Later, at the Lavapool Inn, Viima and Tivanu sat down at a round table to wait for Orderin. Outside, they could hear the sounds of battle between Vezok and everyone else.

 

"Well, they sure can keep going", Viima said idly.

IC: Tivanu

 

Tivanu nods slowly as he hears this

"Indeed though neither you or Orderin are in any shape to fight and considering the wound i sustained earlier i am in no shape to fight either."

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Lavapool Inn):

 

"I wasn't intending to fight", Viima said. "Let them take care of that. Anyway, what are we going to do once Orderin returns?"

IC: Azthran

 

"Well, can I get a mask or something here?"

He asked Fladerick, hoping to get a Rau.

IC: Tivani

 

Tivanu shrugged a bit as he heard this

"Well likely get out of Ta-wahi.. Though viima i am curious what your opinion is about this whole vault thing?"

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Lavapool Inn):

 

The Vault...

 

The word brought an image of a dark cave with an enormous door into Viima's mind. He could see smoak floating around everywhere, partly covering large stone pillars reaching from the floor to the ceiling. Ancient words were carved in the pillars, but even more importantly, on the door itself.

 

This was a mental image of the Mangaia, created by Viima's imagination and whatever he had been told about the mysterious place.

 

"I think it's a fascinating mystery...", Viima began. "But not something I, personally, am really bothered by. I know the answer is out of my reach anyway, so I try to keep my thoughts to the life on the surface."

IC: Tivanu

 

Tivanu nods very slowly as he hears this though he then considers something

"I had just kinda of always wondered what could be behind it but not enough to go out of my way or anything.. I was just curious as to what your view on it was."

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Lavapool Inn):

 

"Understandably", Viima said. "I bet there's some good stuff in there. There is another entrance too, you know... one guarded by this robotic fellow. Not sure which way is more easy to go through."

IC: Tivanu

 

Tivanu nodded slowly as he heard this

"Ah yes... Abettor or something.. odd name. But frankly i have no interest in the vault as long as whatever is in it does not get me killed."

IC: Xaron

"150 widgets? That seems a bit pricy for a slice of metal...well, a very sharp and pointy slice of metal but still just metal." I rolled my eyes.

"How much would it cost to get a dagger forged, then? Would it be cheaper? More expensive? Would the dagger be pointier?" All very good questions, since I stopped listening after he dropped the price on me.

Xaron, you can afford 150 widgets.

Yes, I can, but if I get it forged then I might be able to talk to Stronin, or whatever his name is. The tablet guy.

Oooh, you're being smart!

This is a rare occurrence indeed.

Hey, no need for that you stupid slug. I can be smart...sometimes...it's not that rare.

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Lavapool Inn):

 

"I guess we're on the same line of thought then", Viima said. "Who would've guessed? I suppose people who spend much time with each other eventually become alike."

 

Another thing I would not have guessed back then at the Ko-Koro Inn... Viima thought.

IC: Tivanu

 

Tivanu nods slowly

"Indeed.. Though i do wonder how long orderin will be out of commission for.. i mean surely there will be no fighting for him right way?

Loren- Ta-koro IC: Of course the skakdi had gone for him, it was standard battlefield tactics, go for whoever was giving the other side orders. What was more confusing was the brawler's powers. In addition to the teleportation and fire powers exhibited at the start, there had also been some sort of odd ###### movement when he dodged the flurry of attacks, A movement that there was no way it could be natural.In addition the flurry of trash and dust from another of the blue skadki's moves showed the presence of air powers. The Guardsman had never heard of any being with so many powers. However, further thinking would have to wait as his opponent moved around behind him, sending out a blast of fire while he was at it. Spinning in the opposite direction the skakdi was running, Loren stretched out a hand, the palm facing counter to the direction of the spin. With a burst of elemental power, a soundshape appeared on a collision course with the blue figure, acting as if it were an extension of his arm. The spin also shifted Lorens field of vision and he activated his mask, sending him to the roof of a nearby house with a pop.

IC(Iiasmir-Ta Koro Brawl)Through a tinted lens, a pair of Skakdi eyes had been watching the fight. Unseen and unacknowledged, the behemoth man gazed over the battle. Three on one (or worse- he couldn't see very well) wasn't a fair fight at all, and no one likes an unfair fight he thought to himself. Iiasmir grinned (read: continued to grin) at the prospect of combat. He hadn't let loose in much too long. Maybe he would have to help his brother Skakdi. Besides, it wasn't as if he had any love for the guard- Black Marketers generally didn't. And so he took action.Behind the scenes, he quickly bounded from rooftop to rooftop, finally positioning himself behind Loren. Like a panther, he pounced silently but agressively, aiming to tackle the Toa off the building. There was no real chance for Iiasmir, a massive brute, to damage himself in the fall. The same could not be said for the Toa.In truth, the Skakdi was acting out of careful thought. Vezok would make a powerful ally. Besides, no one would miss a couple do-gooders who got in his way.

IC (Stralix)

 

It was a good thing the inventor had kept his distance from the fight - he was able to spot a third Skakdi attempting to catch his fellow Guardsman by surprise.

 

"Loren! Behind you!" he barked, before drawing a Volo Lutu launcher and grappling his way onto the rooftop, flamethrower primed and ready.

Loren- Ta-koro

 

IC: Before he could see the result of his strike, a shout drew Loren's attention behind him where another Skakdi was currently diving towards him.

 

He quickly activated his mask, vanishing from his stationary position on the roof and reappearing in midair behind Iiasmir. Letting out a shout, the Toa of Sonics infused it with his elemental energy, turning the simple sound into a shockwave rocketing towards his second opponent.

IC(Iiasmir-Ta Koro Brawl)Unable to control his momentum, he barreled off the roof, barely dodging the blast of sound. A bit of it caught his ears and his left threatened to go deaf. He jerked his head around and fired off his heat vision. Not at Loren- more specifically, the air around him. Unless Loren moved, he would be standing in an oven.

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Lavapool Inn):'

 

"Hopefully we won't have to fight for our lives again anytime soon", Viima agreed. "Though I guess it was our fault that we got involved in that Skakdi battle."

IC: Tivanu

 

Tivanu arched his brow

"I will remind you that i suggested not rushing into the fight.. Which i am not glad i didn't."

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Lavapool Inn):

 

"There was a life at stake", Viima said. "That Ga-Matoran. I felt I had to do something, and so did Orderin. It's about being a hero to help others."

IC: Tivanu

 

Tivanu nodded slowly

"And look what you got from this.. Orderin almost killed and you shot by a disk from that Ga-matoran.. I am not saying i wouldn't have saved the ga-matoran but i already had a planned forming.. one that would have gotten the Ga-matoran out of harm's way. But before i was even able to get a word out you and orderin were rushing into a fight with unknown circumstances.."

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Lavapool Inn):

 

"Okay, okay, I get it", Viima said, sighing. "That Matoran turned out to be very ungreatful when she attacked me and yes, we got hurt. But we just thought it was the right thing to do. You know, the exact same thing happened when me and Khervos attacked you at that Ko-Koro Inn. It was my fault that we failed. Khervos wanted to wait... but..."

 

Viima's voice drifted off.

 

A Ga-Matoran? Throwing a disk at me? Hitting the mark perfectly?

 

Viima struggled with his thoughts.

 

No, it can't be... I'm just making unlogical associations.

IC: Tivanu

 

Tivanu nodded very slowly looking down at Viima

"Well perhaps that should say something Viima.. If you keep rushing into things one day it will get you or someone else killed. But if we had gone with my plan and i used my staff to decrease the ga-matoran's gravity and then orderin used a well timed blast of air it could push her out of the way of the skakdi."

 

He noticed how Viima seemed to trail off and shot a questioning look

"Is something the matter Viima?"

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Lavapool Inn):

 

"Nothing, just... just thinking about that Ga-Matoran", Viima said absent-mindedly. "I didn't realize it when you first told me about it, but you were right. She did have a familiar feeling to her. Just not sure why."

 

Viima gave a weak smile to Tivanu.

 

"And from now on I'll put more value on your advice."

IC: Tivanu

 

Tivanu smirked a bit

"Well i am glad to hear you will take it more seriously.. but yeah i wonder if her familairty would be worth looking into?"

IC Viima

(Ta-Koro, Lavapool Inn):

 

"Perhaps, considering that she purposefully attacked me", Viima said. For a change, he was trying to carefully think things through. "I never saw her face. Perhaps she was a friend of Surina's who wants to avenge her?"