BZPRPG: Ko-Wahi

IC: Tivanu

Tivanu nods a bit

"Aye... i would not put you as the type who enjoys killing."

IC Viima

(Ko-Koro):

"Hunting is natural. Mata Nui intended the Rahi to be hunted", Viima said with a shrug. "Killing your own isn't, though. Or even other sapient beings."

IC: Tivanu

Tivanu sighed

"And you are convinced i have killed a sapient being before am i right?"

IC: Sulkua"Stronin... no, sorry. I don't travel the Toa circuit much. Where was the last time you saw him?" Sulkua asked.

IC Viima

(Ko-Koro):

"I wouldn't know. But you came awfully close with me."

IC Kirgan

(Ko-Wahi, Sulkua's Cavern):

"We haven't. I found the name on this stone tablet."

Kirgan took the piece of the tablet out of his bag and handed it over to Sulkua. It was a piece of a much larger tablet. It was filled with some ancient, uncomprehensible language. The name Stronin was at about the center of the piece, standing out by being obiously a name.

IC: Tivanu

Tivanu smirked rather softly

"But i didn't.. Just think i held your life in my hands.. or my foot more correctly."

He adds a bit darkly

IC Viima

(Ko-Koro):

"Surina wanted you to kill me", Viima said, his voice more serious than before. "She paid you to do it. Why didn't you?"

IC: Tivanu

Tivanu shook his head

"She never paid me to kill you. Infact it was only the turage who paid me to be their bodyguards.. And that is what i did. I protected them and diverted any threats. There are ways to get rid of a problem without killing."

IC Viima

(Ko-Koro):

"There are, aren't there?" Viima said quietly. Memories of Surina's trial entered his mind. The death penalty had been a shock to him, because he had never thought Hahli would be able to give it. It served to demonstrate how much people could change.

"Why... Tivanu, why did you give me that feather earlier?"

IC: Tivanu

Tivanu arched his brow a bit and he merely shrugged his shoulders

"To show you that not all Skakdi are criminals or cruel. We all don't take from others only to fill a void left in our souls.. Some of us can be decent people."

He leaned down and smiled to Viima

"Plus you never really looked at that feather closely did you?"

OOC: @Toatapio: Is this tablet part of your plot on the wiki? c:IC: SulkuaSulkua looked closely at the tablet. There were many strange letters and symbols on it like:"1*%" and "é", nothing which Sulkua understood. Only the name:s: : :n:"Well, I don't know who you could possibly ask. Where did you find this?" Sulkua inquired, handing the tablet back to Kirgan.

IC: Xaron

See? I said we should sit on the dummies.

Yeah yeah yeah, whatever. Besides, those are more comfortable than sitting on someone's back.

Amen.

I plopped down on one of the straw dummies, since it was a lot more comfortable than the floor, and looked at Sulka. And waited for Kirgan to answer Sulka's question, of course.

Why would I know where Kirgan found the table?

OOC: Yes, it's part of the plot... however, it depends on where things go in this RPG whether it will stay in that or become its own separate plot. We'll see.

IC Kirgan

(Ko-Wahi, Sulkua's Cavern):

"I was mining in this remote section of the Great Mine and found it embedded in the rock. I accidentally broke the tablet into pieces. I've got almost all of them with me, but it's all just gibberish."

IC: Xaron

"So... you broke the tablet into pieces... have you tried putting them together with some tape? Or glue? I would assume you have, and it still was gibberish..."

Oh. Wait a second.

"Maybe it's a code. Maybe, if we had someone with a Rau, they could break the code if it is a code!"

Brilliant thinking, Xaron!

Thank you, brain.

I concur. That was a surprising spout of intelligence.

Quit being negative, you stupid slug.

IC Kirgan

(Ko-Wahi, Sulkua's Cavern):

"I tried finding someone with a Rau", Kirgan replid, turning to Xaron. "But I couldn't find any. You know one?"

IC: Xaron

"Nope. We should try to find someone who does by poking them with sharp sticks and throwing money at them. Unless..."

I turned to Sulka. "Do you have a Rau? It would be nice if you did."

IC | The hunched man had been in this cold, cold fortress for far too long. He had only a wet twig to defend himself with, some fur armor that he did not recall acquiring, and it was only because of the generosity of the Ko-Koronians that he was alive. They gave him bread and hard liquor, but kept their warm tea for themselves. Not that he minded, for he could use the alcohol to start a campfire. He was still stuck in the ###-end of the island without money or food.

He had tried scavenging, and it worked, for a while. He still had leftover beef that he bought with the widgets he earned selling old trinkets he had found. He had tried theft, but that ended in disaster, just as he had predicted. Luckily, he was, with very, very carefully chosen words, able to talk his way out of that predicament. He had considered mercenary work, but whenever his mind brought that up, he remembered the runaway from a few months back.

He was poor and homeless, but he was far from alone. Technically. He had a pair of friends, that followed him everywhere. They kept him company, but were also a constant source of murderous impulses. This could be easily explained, as one of these two friends was a demon that clung to him tightly. It always has. The other one was of his own design, born from the parts of him that he did not know exist. Until now.

​They were still his friends, though, and he had grown used to their presence. The three of them laughed, joked, and bore their hardships together. But they had grown tired of their present situation. The hunched man's name was Vanamaru, his friends Brelken and "God".

IC: Sulkua"Nope, I have a Calix, though you probably can't tell by the looks of it," Sulkua shook his head.

IC Hile

(Ko-Wahi, Sulkua's Cavern):

Hile nodded. He was surprised at Sulkua's true mask.

"We were on our way to Ko-Koro to check the libraries and wall of prophecy for clues on Stronin. Care to escort us? You probably know this place better than either of us do."

IC: Tivanu

Tivanu sighs as he does not hear a reply

"Obviously that means no.. perhaps if you had you would see that the stem of the feather is hollow and the tip is gone?"

OOC: Sorry, this sometimes happens when interacting with multiple characters at a time. I just missed that one. :/

IC Viima

(Ko-Koro):

"What does it mean? It's a pen?"

OOC: No problem

IC: Tivanu

Tivanu shook his head

"Nope.. Think more like a musical instrument except it only has one note. I had this crafted from one of Kive-phu's larger tail feathers a long time ago.. essentially it emits a unique sound that Kive-phu has come to recognize so if she hears this she it acts as a summon.. She will come flying. I originally intended to use it if she and i got separated but that does not happen enough.. So think of it has a gift. If your ever in trouble you can use it to call for her then you could tie a note to her leg for me or it can just be incase of emergency which i can then follow her to you."

He added with a smile

IC Viima

(Ko-Koro):

Viima looked at the feather for a long time, in silence. He tried to think of something to say, but could not, for quite some time. When he finally did speak, his voice was full of confusion.

"I - er - thanks...", he said. "That's... very, um... nice of you."

Nice? Viima thought in disbelief. Tivanu? I never thought I would associate him with 'nice'...

Viima was deeply disturbed by realizing he had to change his perceptions somewhat.

IC: Tivanu

Tivanu looked down at Viima and smiled faintly

"Your welcome.. Though to be honest i had intended you to figure it out for yourself.. But alas now you know."

I truely hopes he will not ask me to explain why.. i am not ready for that. can't allow people to know have a good side.

IC Hile(Ko-Wahi, Sulkua's Cavern): Hile nodded. He was surprised at Sulkua's true mask. "We were on our way to Ko-Koro to check the libraries and wall of prophecy for clues on Stronin. Care to escort us? You probably know this place better than either of us do."

IC Viima

(Ko-Koro):

"Thanks for telling me... I - I appreciate it."

There was a moment of akward silence.

"Eh, we should leave."

IC Kirgan

(Ko-Wahi, Sulkua's Cavern):

"Let's get going."

The snow made Kirgan's feet feel numb, but he decided not to tell Xaron or Sulkua that. Probably they were much tougher than he was and had no problem withstanding the cold.

IC: Tivanu

Tivanu awkwardly rubs the back of his neck before nodding

"Aye we should.. though i wonder if orderin is ready since he is the one who wants to go to Ta-koro."

IC:As the two talked Orderin was leaning back in his chair, smiling, apparently asleep. As he heard Tivanu's comment he quickly leaned forward and stood up, "I'm ready to go."

IC: Tivanu

Tivanu smirked at Orderin

"Have a nice nap?"

IC Viima

(Ko-Koro):

"Wonderful", Viima said with a smile. His relationship with Tivanu might be difficult and complicated, but Viima knew he would never stop liking Orderin for his good nature.

Viima stood up and began walking towards the gates of Ko-Koro.

IC | Vanamaru cracked various parts of his body, while pondering a question that had always bothered him:

How come, when I get up in the morning, I'm sleepy, but late at night I can't get any sleep?

Except, he never could get any sleep, because of "God".

Is it us? We'll quiet down if you want us to. "God" presented Vanamaru with an image of a mollusk with random letters coming from it's back.

No, it's fine. We've got things to do anyway.

OOC: Open for interaction.

OOC: I'm just going to refer to Xaron and his Parakuka as simply 'Xaron' in ICs now.

IC: Xaron

"Back to the adventure!" I shouted to the wind.

Hopefully I didn't cause an avalanche.

We set forth, into the still cold snow which thankfully wasn't falling any more, towards Ko-Koro.

Hey, Xaron.

Hm?

What if we find someone with a Rau in Ko-Koro?

That would be nice.

You can never tell by the look of a mask what power it has, I have learned from the time I have spent attached to you, host.

Gee, you think I didn't realize that a while ago?

I think we should poke people with sticks to find out if they have a Rau. Or get someone to make a code for them to crack instantly.

Good idea, brain.

IC: (Jorruk Yokin/The Wastes/Ko-Wahi)

The Ussal Crab's legs softly hit the young slow. The bitter winds cut into Jorruk, though he was covered by furs and a nice layer of fat. He was searching the Wastes, for a Toa of Crystal. He thought that somehow, Larikon had thought that since Ko-Koro had fine, crystalline structures, Toa of Crystal flocked there. He questioned his leader's sanity at times, almost as often as he did his own. But the Grand Master's word was Ak'rei'an's word.

Thus, it needed to be followed.

OOC: Mild bunnying of Enax approved by PyroLizard.

 

IC: NPCs and the Nuju-Marion Research Hospital

 

The vortixx did not lay in the snows for long. After he fell, there was a call from the wall, and soon the gates groaned open. He was gently moved, surrounded by a small crew of ko-matoran who busied themselves with loading the wounded stranger silently onto a litter. Their feet tramped a hurried pattern through the winter landscape away from Ko-Koro and up a glistening hillside so dazzling it would be forgiven if one thought the slope made of crystal. A damp sunlight filtered through stormy clouds above.

 

“He doesn’t seem to have much time… Check his pulse,” one of the white and grey armored matoran murmured under the sounds of travel. A hand lightly gauged the severity, and with a cold sigh gave the only answer the foot crew needed. They picked up their pace, clots of snow flung from their toes as they sprinted the vortixx to medical attention.

 

~

 

It was a new building, but old. The ancient ways of monastic architecture flowing into new visions of structure, one hundred years of oppression finally released, reaching for the skies in vaulted arches and towers with spindly points at their crest, great lotus blossoms developed as a cohesive theme throughout. Here the past and the future merged into unified shape, a building where the duties of medicine and healing advanced with each passing day, and the destiny of all who entered altered forever. Granite hexagons tessellated the path to the core tower and main entrance, the long steps swept clear of snow and salted to remove ice. A great pile of the cold stuff rose like a crystal hedge along the pathway.

 

Directly across from the main entrance was a circular dais, a temple to Mata-Nui in the shape of a suva with the names of those who perished in the hundred years of oppression carved into its surface. These were the martyrs who trail blazed the path to freedom. Standing there one could see the entire branching complex of the hospital scraping the heavens, arched windows of deepest aquamarine glass glittering like precious jewels in the gray light, two pathways of the same hexagonal granite slabs cutting through the rounded passages on the bottom of the North and South wings.

 

Pushing against the giant teak doors with iron fittings, the main entrance opened into a circular chamber, the base of the core tower. A desk manned by a sleepy ko-matoran scribe loomed in the foreground, while passages lead to the wings on either side, and the door of a winch-operated elevator waited for use on the far side of the room. Rushing the unconscious and poisoned individual through the portico and past all these sights, the matoran branched into emergency room on the ground floor of the South Wing. Inside a sequestered stone room they deposited the vortixx, a simple mat of woven reeds covering the rectangular doorway. Soon, the doctors would arrive, extract the poison with a kanohi sana and prayers, and then move the patient upstairs to Recovery, where a rickety spring cot with cotton bedding waited for his large form in a public room, rows of beds separated by nightstands and little mirrors.

 

IC: Ishi Polzin

 

So much had happened in the past few weeks. The brass fittings for a briefcase rested in a jar below the shifting sands of Po-Wahi, the six akiri had made peace and rebuilt their trust in each other despite the looming secrets hiding in their shadows of command, and a new race of creatures had landed on the shores of Mata-Nui, their strange ways and looks spreading fierce as a blazing wildfire between koros. Ishi found the dasaka as perplexing as they were majestic, and already had begun to plan for the chance to see their native shores, rumored to be in the west as a archipelago of five islands. The world was getting bigger by the day: he would grow with it.

 

The matoran of stone had rented a small room at Rhanus’ Inn, wooden floorboards creaking from the heated encounter of neighbors in the next room, exposed beams threatening to give any sapient taller than a matoran the severest of concussions. Two rough-hewn wooden bed frames were shoved into the slope of the roof, turned down linens bewitching Ishi with images of comfortable dreams. A crackling fire produced welcome heat from the woodstove situated in a corner of the attic room, two armchairs and a small table pointed toward the source of relief from the hoarfrost clinging to Ishi’s coat. He sat in one of the chairs while gingerly unwrapping the white lengths of cloth from his feet. Clots of snow fell from between the layers of fabric, melting in small puddles on the floor. Somewhat abashed, Ishi rubbed a foot over them, attempting to make the mess go away by increasing the surface area. With a sigh, he gave up and committed to rolling the cloth into two bundles for tomorrow.

 

The door opened and closed, wooden latch locking into place. There were footsteps, and then the black and purple carapace of his friend and roommate came into view, flopping into the other chair with an exhausted groan. Nichou’s kakama showed weariness Ishi was afraid decorated his own. They had traveled far, and were due for farther still. Peace, quiet, rest, and a proper bed were deserved.

 

“Any luck finding a ride?” Ishi asked without looking toward Nichou for a response, his blue eye staring into the orange tangle of flames. The pair of matoran had rode dikapi to the northern fringe of the mountains, then hitchhiked with a small caravan of merchants the rest of the way south, riding on the backs of bumpy carts, occasionally stopping to repair a wheel. Nichou had put his carving skills to good use, and Ishi had helped in allocating rocks from the side of the road to raise the cart. The carver and the kohlii player had made quick friends with the merchants, learning about island events as they traveled...

IC:

The Onu-Matoran tossed his pack on one of the cots, before sitting in a chairs, joints and muscles stiff from being in the freezing outdoors. Nichou immediately scooted the said chair further towards the fire, whilst being mindful not to feed the flames with the furniture. His hands drifted closer to the warmth, seemingly guided by a natural response to the cold around him.

"Unfortunately, travellers to the massif are few and far between, and I would rather not try to find my way there myself. I suppose I could visit the sanctum instead. I never really did get to see it in all its grandeur, or after the renovations."

The matoran's thoughts floated back to his last visit to the koro, back in the days of Makuta, when he was in Stannis's Companions. He brushed off a layer of frost that was clinging to the edge of his mask. Despite wearing a newly bought coat, Nichou was still quite chilled by the temperature.

"Remind me, why exactly are you in the koro?"

IC:

Orderin walked with Viima but turned around and smiled good-naturedly at Tivanu,

"How do you know I was sleeping? I was merely resting my eyes."

IC: Kriigata

The short bow was held in her hands, strung despite the cold, an obsidian tipped arrow knocked and held undrawn between her middle and ring fingers. Snow had clumped onto the top of her bedroll, leaving a chill on the back of Kriigata’s neck. She shook it off, face hidden beneath the black cowl. Her acolyte robes helped the toa of iron blend in with the shadowy piles of ice and snow, but provided no relief from the frigid air. It bit her body like a thousand sharp needles, and she enjoyed the pain. It stimulated her mind, kept her on alert and murmuring her mantras to Ak’rei’an as she slogged through the storm.

Up ahead was the vague outline of a small caravan, ussals scuttling and the habits of their riders snapping in the wind. Breaking a twisted grin, she returned the arrow to its quiver on her left hip and unstrung the bow as she ran the rest of the distance. That was Jorruk’s fat figure in the white haze.

“Ak’rei’an be with you,” Kriigata called out in matoran as she approached, throwing back her hood to reveal her ancient kanohi. She blinked snowflakes from her eyes and smiled her tattooed smile as she fell in line with the priest. “Larikon sent me to assist in the mission. My apologies for being late.”

IC: Ishi Polzin

“Oh,” Ishi responded naturally as he leaned back in his armchair. “I wanted to throw some snowballs. Actually, I wanted to see the new Academy. It’s supposed to be an architectural marvel… Well, and it has a library. I always loved books. Maybe they have some kohlii technique manual I can learn from.” He yawned and reached for the teapot. The buttered tea Rhanus had prepared poured out in a thick, golden brew. Glazed ceramic cup in hand, he took a sip, feeling the liquid warm his throat as it slid down. With an absentminded scratch at his eyepatch, the undercover informant lied again.

“Besides, it’s good travel after all that political tension.”

IC: Tivanu

Tivanu smirked a bit as she patted Orderin on the shoulder

"Welp i guess we should get going.. Did you two pay your for your drinks and food?"

He looked down at the golden wristwatch that was on his right wrist and noted the time

"Dang is it that time?"

IC:

Nichou poured his own cup of tea, eagerly letting the warm liquid refresh his throat and tongue. Setting the cup back down on the table, he responded.

"Yeah, all that suspense was getting on everyone's nerves,"

OOC: I'm just going to refer to Xaron and his Parakuka as simply 'Xaron' in ICs now.IC: Xaron"Back to the adventure!" I shouted to the wind.Hopefully I didn't cause an avalanche.We set forth, into the still cold snow which thankfully wasn't falling any more, towards Ko-Koro.Hey, Xaron.Hm?What if we find someone with a Rau in Ko-Koro?That would be nice.You can never tell by the look of a mask what power it has, I have learned from the time I have spent attached to you, host.Gee, you think I didn't realize that a while ago?I think we should poke people with sticks to find out if they have a Rau. Or get someone to make a code for them to crack instantly.Good idea, brain.

IC Viima

(Ko-Koro):

"Of course I paid. I'm not a thief", Viima said.

The trio walked out of Ko-Koro and entered the pathway that led to late Kopeke's observatory. Now it was occupied by a single guard who made sure that the cablecar was used correctly and with no damage done to it. Access was granted (naturally) and soon Viima, Tivanu and Orderin were standing next to the cablecar.

"So, time for some quick-travel", Viima said. He took a look at his comrades. "In case you're wondering why I don't treespeak more often, it's because I learned to ignore it long ago... when Surina and I were still dating and she insisted I learned to talk normally."

IC Kirgan

(Ko-Koro, Libraries):

Sulkua led Xaron and Kirgan into the series of large buildings that hosted different sections of the Ko-Koro library. They were grand structures, symbolizing the pursue of wisdom that many Ko-Matoran respected.

"Well, now we are getting somewhere", Kirgan said happily. "We should find the right section... legends, maybe? Or list of names of important individuals in history? Or translation books?"