BZPRPG: Le-Wahi

IC (Hoka)

The breeze felt nice.

Hoka gently pulled Ngaro to the left, avoiding a large branch that jutted out from the jungle canopy. While she might as well be riding a Gukko as a Nui-Rama up above the trees, it was nice to enjoy the sun and the cool wind once in awhile, as well as not worry about dodging tree trunks every five seconds.

The insect grumbled under her. The whine of his wings had long since had long since faded from her ears; all she could hear was the clicking of his mandibles and the creaking of chitin-wrapped limbs. She and Ngaro had learned to accommodate, if not respect each other over the last few months. He allowed her to ride, and she allowed him to feed. They were hardly friends, hardly even companions. More like partners.

Maybe not even that, Hoka pondered. Maybe more like cellmates.

Training had been hard. But they'd more or less made it through intact. She'd had a few falls, and Ngaro had experienced a bruised wing or two. There was no love in his compound eyes, all these weeks of riding later, but that wasn't the point.

The point was she was a rider. She was somebody.

With a small smile, Hoka pulled her mount into a dive, and the Rama and his rider disappeared beneath the jungle foliage.

IC (Merror)

Merror didn't notice Aerus' mutterings, as he was busy trying to remind himself of which way they'd come and thus where the route back to Le-Koro lay. Eventually deciding on a direction, he set out.

"Come on," he said gruffly, lacking the energy for further conversation. "It's this way."

It was going to be a long walk.

IC: The Digested Duelist

He was digging his own grave with a crystal spade.

Joske Nimil had never shed a drop of blood in his life, never accepted coin in exchange for death, had never even held a sword in his life; Heuani's blade had turned him into a formidable warrior all the same. If the weapon had done a lifetime's worth of training for the novice Toa of Fire, then Dorian Shaddix, with his feline grace, quicksilver personality, and ferocious talent as a duelist, must have been the most terrifying man alive the second he put the flamberge to his palm. The cafeteria had long been cleared out for him, a last vestige of his no doubt finite authority as a Ta-Koro guard affiliated emotionless shell; the hospital common room was his training arena now, and every table, every chair, was a chance to balance himself. Projectiles and men of steel attacked him in equal measure, but his dark sword would carve them like a finger rends foam, and after ten minutes the thought of even breaking a sweat was foreign, unknown. Impossible.

He was powerful, this beast, this vengeful, wounded, heartbroken young dragon that had swallowed Dor whole, and he was hungry.

They could never see that he meant well, no matter how he tried to flaunt it. Utu had been diseased, half-crippled, half-insane out of agony and hate and a blind thirst for revenge against everything in the world; the Utu he knew would have begged for what Dor gave him, and if he had refused he would have been cursed at and forced to watch as Utu killed himself anyway. The others had shunned him for it, but only one of them had really known Utu, and it turned out that she hadn't even known the dragon a tenth as well as she thought she had. That was the way of the world. They'd picked up something they'd thought they'd wanted, found it was damaged beyond anything they could use it for, and then it had to be cut away like gangrenous flesh.

Two somethings.

He was made for this sword.

He spun on his toes, balanced preciously on one foot like a raindrop on a gutter, and sliced a metal arrow into halves.

He was hungry, but this cafeteria had nothing to offer him in the way of sustenance. There was no one here.

He was alone.

-Tyler

IC:

The wild Toa came to a stop on a bough overlooking the headless carcass of an Ash bear. He bristled. Ash bears were good meat when cooked, but there was no sign of cooking. Somebody had either killed it in self-defense, or in senseless violence. Neither of which sat well with the Toa.

He sailed down to the forest floor and cast his gaze about. A skakdi was smoking a pipe nearby. He surely would have noticed the Toa's approach.

IC: Colx (Fau Swamp)

Colx looked up (well, technically down) to see a Bo-Toa stand on the small grass patch before him. He was wearing armor that looked like it was made of wood.

"Typical tree-huggers, don't they know that stuff is fragile" Colx disapproved as he continued observing the Toa. He was wearing what looked like a Faxon, Colx recognized the mask.

His gaze flew between the ash bear and the Toa, before it suddenly hit him.

"Oh, that," he mumbled off-handedly, "I didn't mean to kill it, you know, that part was accidental"

Even so, his hand edged ever so slightly closer to his club, he didn't want to be caught off guard.

IC: Kewa

Kewa opened the door to his house. There was the sound of sizzling in the back, most likely a tool being forged for display. "Oh, hello Ryzen. did you finish posting the advertisements?"

IC: Ryzen

Ryzen watched the door open.

"Oh, hello Ryzen. did you finish posting the advertisements?", said Kewa.

He nodded. "That's why I'm back. Can I come in?" Without waiting for an answer he did, closing the door behind him.

IC:

When the Matoran found me, I was sitting on the floor, propped up against the wall next to the supply-closet down one of the hallways, knees tucked in and eyes half closed. I listened, heard the faint sobs through the bamboo wood as Valria tried to cope with our most recent adventure. Or misadventure, rather. Ah forget it, let's call it what it was: a disaster. No well-planned combined attack strategy, complete lack of home-field advantage. We'd jumped into the rabbit-hole to see how far down it went and found somebody had stuck explosives to the walls at the end. In another moment, down went Agni after it, never once considering how in the world he was to get out again.

I partially blamed myself for it. We'd been so confident that I'd let the enthusiasm we all felt get the better of me. Now two of our number were missing, the guard still searching the area for Merror and Joske, and the rest of us had all spent time inside the hospital. A victory this was not. At least, we'd gotten out alive and we'd managed to finish a third of what Joske had wanted to do: Get Utu. At least we'd managed that. Or so I thought.

I was torn out of my musings by the backlit stout figure appearing in the doorway. I looked up at him from my low vantage point. "Toa Agni?" he asked, not quite sure what to make of me slouched against the wall like a drunken man after his 7th bottle of hard cider. "Hm, what is it?" I asked, studying him. He was wearing very light gear, but a lot of pouches, definitely hospital staff.

"It's uhm, it's about the man Toa Tuara brought in custody with her...Utu? I was just told that he passed away."

I sat up straighter and motioned for him to be quiet, before getting back up to my feet. "She's been through a lot." I explained quietly. "No need to burden her further." His expression was rather serious. Something had happened. I softly knocked against the closet door. "Val...I've got to take care of this. I'll be just down the hall." I said as reassuringly as I could. There was no reply and so I nodded in the direction of the door, walking a few steps, the orderly behind me. After we were out of earshot, I stopped and turned to face him again.

"Dead?" I asked, confirming what I knew to be true, but still not ready to accept it yet. The Matoran nodded. I leaned in closer, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Tell me everything."

Thirty seconds later I was in the loop on what had happened within the last few hours alone. Thirty seconds later I knew that the Toa I had bonded with over breakfast had smothered our prisoner. Thirty seconds later, I was furious. My knuckles cracked as my fingers curled into fists. I could feel the heat pulsing outward from my center, but I kept it bottled up, for now. I hadn't even thought about what I was going to do yet. All I knew was that I had to find Dorian. Keeping my voice level I told the orderly to keep and eye on the closet and Valria. Then I stalked down the hallway, heading for the cafeteria with heavy, determined steps.

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

OOC: Somewhere between Pala Koro and Le Koro.

The dark hooded Toa waded through the bog, the water up to his hips. Now ad then, he felt something brush against his leg as he moved, his feet sinking halfway into the mud at the bottom. But the Aitua didn't care about the discomfort the situation brought. All he cared about was his target. A well hidden target. Hidden enough, that it had taken Aparangi several days to pick up on the right trail. He'd caught himself more than once thinking about how much easier the task would have been if Rewera had been with him, but his sister was far from speaking terms with him after their disastrous meeting at the Kini Nui two weeks back. With her talents, they probably could have found the Toa he was looking for in a fraction of the time it had taken him.

For all his failings, his quarry had a knack for staying out of site, at least until now. The island in the swamp looked completely unremarkable, except that he knew for a fact that the Toa was here. As he reached the shore he dragged himself out of the murky water onto a thick root from one of the many trees growing nearby. With solid ground once more beneath his feet, Aparangi started looking around for the most likely hiding spot. Not everything on this spit of land was growing. Some of the trees were dead and rotting where they stood. For some it was only a question of time before the next storm would fell them. For some, that day had already come. And one of them had fallen in such a manner, that it had covered a large spot of ground. An enormous rotting trunk, four times as wide as he was tall. And there, in the lower half, was the opening, hidden behind foliage and vines.

"You clever son of a Muaka..." Aparangi muttered, as he approached the entrance. He brushed the hanging growths aside and stepped into the twilight, taking a second to let his eyes adjust and take a look around. The smell of decay was in the air, coming from the foul wood all around him. It had been hacked away and slashed at until the inside of the massive tree had become an actual chamber, the floor covered in the remains of the walls. From some unseen hole outside, sickly yellow rays of light fell inside...and onto a figure, sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room.

"I knew you would come." the figure said. He sounded as if he hadn't used his voice in a while.

Aparangi glared at him. "Of course. You think I'd just walk away?"

The other Toa ignored his question.

"Sit. Let us talk."

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

OOC: Akiri Kongu's office.

IC:

Leah looked from Korero to Kongu and back. "Murdered?" she asked. "When? How?"

"Last night, not a day ago." Kongu replied.

"How much do we know?"

"Not a lot." Korero chimed in. "We will need to find out the details when we get there."

The Toa of water nodded. "And what about the other Maru?

IC (Korero)

"Again, we don't know," Korero replied. "Haven't heard anything from the others. I'd hope Reordin's there, but we should get over there in case things get out of hand."

No sooner had Korero finished speaking than there came a slow, booming knock on the door. The Akiri and the two Toa turned to look at it, in silence. Whoever this was, either the guards had let them pass, or...the alternative wasn't a welcome thought.

Korero cautiously opened it - and they relaxed as they saw a monolithic but familiar figure.

"Brother Sulov," Korero said, with an approving smile at the Onu-Toa Maru's timing. "Three of a kind."

IC:

"Sulov." Leah said, stepping up besides Korero and looking up at the sharp-edged obsidian features of the Maru of earth. "It's been too long."

IC:

The Bo-Toa didn't understand quite every word, but he got the gist. He looked down at the shreds that remained of the bear's neck and back at the club. He gave the Skakdi a look of incredulity. Didn't look like an accident to him.

IC: Colx (Fau Swamp)

"I was aiming for a pounding headache, okay?"

IC:

He would have liked to ask who had attacked first, if he could. All he could settle for was a look that said "watch it next time". At least there was edible meat here, so it wouldn't be a waste. He signed to the Skakdi, making a chewing motion with his mouth and pointing at the bear.

IC: Colx (Fau Swamp)

"Matoran, man, please" Colx whined, but he nodded.

"Be my guest"

IC:

The wild Toa could make no sense of the Skakdi's first sentence, and stopped trying to after a couple seconds. He gripped the bear's forepaws and pulled, dragging it along the ground with greater strength than his size would suggest.

OOC: I understood what Colx meant, don't worry.

IC: I embrace both and nod to the niceties. A turn and I tip my head to the Akiri. Enter. Examine the room.

A pall hangs over the group. Their smiles are strained, from relief more than other factors. Their stances are tense. Hugs stiff. Maru together, but distant by reflex. Oppressed. On edge.

(Ergo.)

Requirement-discover the reason for the solemnity.

I keep my mask blank and direct it toward Korero. Let's fulfill that requirement.

"News."

IC (Korero)

Korero nodded purposefully, closing the door behind Sulov. He could tell his Toa-brother had made the same deductions he would have.

"Akiri Matoro has been murdered," he said, keeping his words concise and to the point. "Besides the obvious Ko-Koro power vacuum, it looks as though there may be more dangerous machinations at work."

He glanced at Kongu, then back to Sulov.

"We know very little about what's going on there," he said, " and we've heard nothing from Reordin. Can you sense his location?"

IC: Calamitous. Too early. Unity had been seconds ago, now it is not at all.

("Fundamentals: gods.")

Reordin...

"Ko-Koronan Captain of the Guard's office."

OOC: I missed this character. XD

IC: Drome

I felt a wincing pain as Kadon's kick struck me upside the face. It was a rather stinging blow, but I knew I could dish out something far more painful. He was really pushing his luck this time, I wasn't going to let him get away with it this time. "ll kll ygh!" I shouted, the wording not coming out quite right due to the presence of a foot still impacting my face.

He had my book. I wasn't going to let him get away with stealing it. I hadn't even finished it yet, I had just reached the part where Remero and Julette had fallen in love, they still had to deal with their feuding families! I had to finish that book!

Reeling back slightly from the attack, I turned and attempted to smash into Kadon, using my weight to create a living battering ram. He was going to pay... yes, he was going to pay for what he had done. "Give it back!"

IC:

"In that case we should go pay them a visit right away." Leah said. She looked from Sulov to Korero. "Brother, do the honors."

IC: Kadon

I grinned viciously as my foot collided with Drome's face. I was effortlessly beating him, as usual. "Go ahead and try! Hard to do with my foot in your ugly mug!" Pleased with my quip and victory, I leaped back a few feet.

To my surprise, Drome didn't try and futilely swat at me. Instead, he took a step back and charged, after I had just given him more space to do so. An image of myself getting stabbed with his shoulder spikes flashed briefly through my mind. "Whoops."

Luckily, though, Drome's tactic had about as little thought put into it as was possible. Waiting for him to get close, I merely dove to the side, grinning triumphantly. "You'll have to come and get it, Fangs!"

IC: Drome

His arrogance would be his downfall, especially when I made him eat those pathetic little hooks that he called weapons. He could leap around all he wanted, but no amount of acrobatics and lame comments would ever help him best me. I could tell from his evasive motions that I had him on the ropes, that I was winning like I always do. Funny, I hadn't even broken a sweat yet. "Alright then. Let's get serious."

He effortlessly evaded my charge, probably thinking himself so clever. What he did not know, was that he had fallen into my trap. And by trap, I meant that I was going to shout at him really really loudly. Summoning my powers of sonics, I let loose a deafening roar. "You are a moldy blueberry!" It was loud enough to terrify the nearby birds into fleeing, and no doubt audible over a great distance. I just wanted Kadon's ears to hurt as badly as not finishing that book did.

IC (Korero)

Korero nodded again, taking his fellow Toa Maru's hands. He looked over his shoulder to Kongu.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," he told the Akiri. "Stay safe."

With that said, he looked back to Leah and Sulov.

"Right," he said. "Next stop..."

He concentrated as he activated the Hiko, closing his eyes and focusing not just on their destination, but also on the mass of his Brother and Sister. The mask allowed him to take twice again his own bodyweight with him when he Jumped, more or less - and Leah and Sulov combined were significantly on the 'more' side. It wasn't a problem, per se; it just meant that Korero needed to pay a little extra attention to avoid anything going wrong.

Things such as, say, accidentally leaving some of Sulov behind.

As the white flash swallowed him and his teammates up, it occurred to Korero that he probably should have mentioned that.

OOC: Korero, Leah and Sulov to Ko-Wahi

IC: Kadon

"Serious? What do you mean by-" I began, ready to say something witty, when suddenly my words were drowned out by the loudest shout I'd ever had the misfortune of hearing. My ears rang and my head felt like it was splitting as Drome's favorite, and lamest, insult rang out for all the world to hear. I felt certain half the village of Le-Koro would hear 'you are a moldy blueberry' ringing out from the jungle, accompanied by a bunch of scared birds.

It took all of my willpower to stop myself from falling over, book now hanging somewhat limply from my fingers. Aware that a certain scheming, deceitful, cheating, rotten orange was probably going to try to take advantage of my stunned state, I raised my free hand and pointed it at the big orange-and-teal blob that was standing a few feet away in a sea of green blobs. I couldn't help but grin. Drome, your gaudy colors were about to be your downfall.

I let loose a blast of electricity that was hopefully enough to let Drome feel the pain he had inflicted on me, plus some. I would have said something clever as well, but my head hurt too much for that.

Ic: It seemed as though Stannis had turned into a G-Man, moving here and here, skulking down hallways and streets, talking to people one by one in private conversations about secret missions and uncontrollable destinies. He had taken it upon himself to do it, of course, since it was his fault as the messenger that things broke down the way they did. Had he not have sent Joske into a mission the toa of fire would be there in Le-Koro, guiding his team and protecting Utu, maybe helping deposit good thoughts of redemption into the monster's mind. The only thing stronger than Stannis' personal honor was his conviction that what was done was right.

Destiny had to run its course. Stannis had wandered just as his mouth had and things happened as a result of it all. That was how things worked. It was how his mask worked, even. Every single action Stannis did seemed to have incredible reverberating effects across Mata Nui, sometimes taking form of guilt trips or flustered nerves, sometimes being an unseen threat only hinted at by reports of strange visitors. Stannis didn't always know what was going on... but if he didn't want to know more.

His position as a prophet and his devout dedication to Mata Nui's wishes made hims seem aloof and distant. Some might have even criticized him for being almost one-dimensional, always speaking and doing without a single question as to the why, but in truth Stannis was as much a toa as anyone else, lost, confused and burdened, though obviously better fitted for the supernatural than most others. Stannis' entire life quest was as much about doing his god's will as it was finding the answers to the island's secrets. The fact that his elevation to Toa Maru had only dazed him with more problems and secrets upset him even more. What upset him even more was that he couldn't find the answers he needed alone, and so he sent Joske instead.

"...So long, Wanderer." Joske said.

"God be with you, Gatekeeper." They bumped their fists for a last morale boost before Stannis nodded once and began his litany. "Gather and hear the tale of the Great Spirit and his creation..."

He withdrew a tablet from his bag and scratched out another name.

Dorian

Agni

Cael

Tuara

?Merror?

They all needed to know the truth, but not the whole truth. They needed to know enough to put them at peace and keep them on the path Joske directed them on, but none could know the full breadth of Joske's mission. Stannis wouldn't let them know. He couldn't let them. If they did they would never forgive the messenger.

"Have you seen a toa of fire, about my size, golden armor and twin swords?" he asked a nurse he passed.

"Yeah -- I just saw him going down to the cafeteria. Must be hungry."

Stannis just nodded his thanks and stepped his pace up. Agni was obviously going to be much angrier and harder to assuage than Cael.

IC:

The wooden planks beneath my feat creaked as I walked and I could have sworn that if stopped walking now I'd leave scorched imprints on them. Normally I had myself under control, but right now, that hold was slipping fast. A line had been crossed for me and as I walked I realized that the anger that drove me closer and closer to the cafeteria was the feeling of betrayal.

I was halfway to the door when a familiar voice called out from behind me. "Toa Agni."

I whirled around, eyes stern. "What." I snapped, just when I recognized the orange Kanohi and brown armor before me. Toa Stannis was here.On the one hand I was furious still and following that feeling meant going into the adjacent room to have a serious serious talk with Dorian Shaddix. But on the other, I was curious as to why the Toa Maru was here and that made me pause for a moment.

Ic: Stannis grew cautious; Agni was very angry and clearly about Utu's death. "I'm here to give you news," he said carefully, getting to the good news to divert Agni's attention. "About Joske."

IC: Drome

I had him almost down for the count. Now it was time to finish this and get my book back. Kadon should have known better than to mess with me. This would be just another in my very long line of victories against him. I could finally see what was going to happen to Remero and Julette, and see how their love for each other would no doubt overcome the differences between their families. It would be so beautiful.

All that stood between him and his story was Kadon, and there was no challenge in defeating the weak little lightning-slinger. "Now, are you going to give me my book back, or am I going to have to Gyaaaaa....."

My mind couldn't think straight. My muscles just gave out on me, and I toppled down to the ground in a heap. The voltage that had just arced through the air had knocked me for a loop. Kadon had just elementally tazed me.

I was going to kill him.

IC: Kadon

With no small amount of satisfaction, I watched Drome collapse. "Hahahaha- oooooh, my head," I winced. Thankfully, my vision had cleared up, but there was still a tremendous ringing in my ears and my head throbbed. Briefly, I wondered if my ears were bleeding.

Either way, Drome was out for the count for the time being. No doubt he'd announce his recovery with a bunch of yelling, which I would probably hear above the ringing. Hopefully. Whatever. Karz, Toa of Sonics could yell.

By now, I was starting to wonder what was so great about the book he was reading. I walked to the other side of a considerably thick tree and climbed into one of the lower branches to give me a bit of time to react to the revenge Drome was probably planning at the moment and stared at the cover. Romero and Julette, huh? Wasn't that some sappy love story? Drome reads love stories? Oh, Mata-Nui! That's hilarious! Ouch, my head.

As I opened the book, a thought crossed my mind. Shouldn't I be more concerned about Drome's health, considering I'd just blasted him with a bunch of electricity?

... Nah. He's been through worse. Besides, it's only been a minute or two. He'll be up in about, oh, ten seconds, probably swinging his Morning Star around in an effort to kill me. Not like it'd work. I always win, after all.

IC: Ryzen

Once inside the house, Ryzen turned to Kewa again. "Would there be anything else for me to do? Or is that all?" He yawned through his teeth. Tired, but bored. He'll just have to wait.

IC: Kewa

"Yeah, that's about all for now. Only thing left to do is make some weapons. Unless you can make weapons, then there isn't much else to do."

IC: Drome

It took me a little while to rise to my feet, feeling rather sore from the electrical energy. As soon as my head cleared, I searched around for that sad little lightning bug, ready to show him just how painful it would be to swallow his own Kanohi. Then his little hooks were going to follow. And if I was still feeling angry after that, I'd cover him in something sweet-smelling and leave him for the insects.

That was when I noticed a rather revolting mix of colors in a tree just a short distance away. The first thing to run through my head was to smash down the tree with him in it, but it appeared to be a very sturdy tree. I would have to do something a little different. Nah, smashing was certain to work, it hadn't ever let me down before. Only, the tree wouldn't be the thing I smashed...

If Kadon turned, he would see a morning-star flying through the air at him, thrown by a very angry Toa of Sonics. I was getting my book back. "KADOOOOOOON!"

C: Kadon

Fortunately, the ringing noise had faded by the time Drome started blundering around in search of me. I turned to face him and make a stinging remark just in time to see him throw his morning-star at me. Uh-oh.

I fell off the branch backwards, which did NOT help my headache. Thoughts raced through my aching mind- my sickles were back at camp, too far away to get to. If I made a run for it, Drome would blast me with more noise... why did I have this worthless mask instead of something like a Kualsi?

Then I spotted the book laying next to me, and a brilliant idea popped into my head. I lunged for it, flipping to the last page as I turned to face Drome. I was grinning triumphantly. "One wrong move, Drome, and I read you the end of the book!" Yeah, sure, the plan wasn't foolproof. But Drome wouldn't spot the flaws until it was too late.

I glanced down and read a few sentences, ready to shout a book-ruining, fight-winning line. Then, my grin turned to a frown. "Wait, that can't be right."

OOC: For you non-believers in Treespeech, avert thine eyes.

IC: Lear, Le-Koro

Always time for a breath. Inhale. Feel the jungle-scent scratch my throat. Exhale. Move on.

Quick-jump from the roof of a matoran's bark-hut. Speed-vault over the hanging bough. Grip the length of chord and under-bar the rope-bridge's rail. It sways and I self-chide my laziness while moving on, feet silent-stepping across the wooden planks, and fast-duck behind a cloth-stall in the market before Tuara's eyes true-sense my presence. Lear is a kanohi sanok who hides in the leaves, disappearing when you turn back around for a close-look. I'm her second shadow now: quick and supple, glue-stuck to every movement, and unseen by all. When quick-running through the boughs of jungle-trees I'm nothing but a second-look and a laugh at air. She finished the anxious glance and I up-ride a warm gust into the canopy, fingers nimble-grabbing a dancing leaf before it falls.

Rushing is unnecessary while my tree-speed is equal to her fire-spittter stride. This mission from Kongu is vast-different from reconnaissance and silent-murder: I hunt a fiction instead of a fact. Last starlight was an exception. In the battle-chaos, I disobeyed orders to complete them. There would be repercussions, starting with meditation. I need to purge my growing attachment to her. She's a mission, nothing more.

Turaga Matau's words return as the wind changes: the hunter may become the hunted. Keeping on my toes, fast-shifting downwind. Every part of my body is stretch-pulled to the limit, dangling by nothing more than a finger: any moment I could far-drop to my wet-death in the Fau swamp. Death doesn't jump-scare me, and the drop is placed firmly in my past.

Palm spin an oncoming trunk. Duck into a bark-hut. Sorry-talk to the matoran about guard-duty and pottery prices, wet clay in their hands. As she leaves the area I spider-scurry out the window, cling to a vine, and slow-swing outside the line of vision. I am secreted away wherever she goes. I spy-hear the words of Dorian, of Stannis. My heart aches for both fire-spitters. He is sure-lost. She has such doom-grief. I wish to bring her laugh-joy, but my mission calls.

I remain invisible.

IC: Drome

Threatening me with ruining the end of my book? How low could Kadon sink to think that such monstrous action would be fair in a fight. There had to be some sort of law against it, but more importantly... I wasn't going to let him get away with it. I reached for my mace, only to realize that it was currently stuck on the tree where Kadon had been sitting moments before.

For a second, I was distracted by how impressive my accuracy had been, before quickly realizing that it meant I would have to beat Kadon into a pulp with my own bare hands. I would make sure it hurt very badly.

Then Kadon's expression changed as he read the book, a strange look passing over his face. It was followed by a sentence of confusion, but I wasn't going to fall for it. He was trying to trick me, make me ruin the book for myself by reading the end. There was a special place in Karzahni for people like that, I was certain. But he didn't expect that I would outsmart him.

"Nice try, but I'm not falling for that one!"

IC: Kadon

One word stood out from the rest: Death. What? Wasn't this supposed to be some sappy romance novel or something? Romero and Julette couldn't just die in the end! No, there had to be a mistake... no, there wasn't. It was right there, plain as day.

I ignored whatever Drome was blabbering on about. "Who writes a book that ends like that?" I exclaimed in disgust. "That's just stupid!"

IC: Drome

It wasn't going to work. It wasn't going to work. It wasn't going to... Gah! I couldn't let Kadon get to me, I was too smart to fall for something so blatantly intended to trick me into ruining a wonderful love story. He was not going to break me, I wasn't going to let curiosity kill my enjoyment of the beautiful tale. I was... I was going to get that book back and find out what was so terrible!

I charged over towards Kadon, my intent no longer on harming my mortal foe. I reached out and swiped the book from his hand, not stopping until I was a good few feet away. Then, I flipped open the book, turning past pages upon pages of the great story that would momentarily be completely ruined. When I reached the last page, I began reading.

"...What... no... no that can't... and she... he... oh no no no no... They both die!?"

I dropped the book down upon the muddy jungle ground, staring blankly off into space for a few moment. How could such a horrible story have ever been written? I felt as though everything good in the world had been covered over in a terrible fog. "I will never read another book again..."

IC: Kadon

"That's supposed to be, like, one of the best love stories of all time!" I said, still wondering at how horrible the ending of the thing was. "Who wants to read depressing stories like that?"

Still feeling somewhat curious, I picked up the book, shook off a bit of mud, and reread the last few pages to get a bit of context. I was appalled. "Mata Nui, they committed suicide! That's horrible!" I flung the book down. I couldn't help but think it was a bit of poetic justice that it landed in mud and decaying leaves- reunited with its own kind. Still, I felt just a bit of curiosity.

".... So it was pretty good until the end, yeah?"

IC: Drome

Kadon summed up my thoughts perfectly. How could anyone write a story like that, then try selling it? I didn't want to read horrible tales of death and tragedy, the island had enough of that already without adding books into the mix. If I wanted to hear a tragic story, I could speak to almost anyone and find something terrible that had happened to them at one point. Why would I ever want to read about such terribly depressing garbage?

Once again the book found itself laying in the mud, most certainly where it belonged. How could anyone call that a love story, when there is nothing but death awaiting them? It was a crime against the island, a love story where everyone dies... what was wrong with that writer?

"Well... It... it wasn't terrible... and... it was... it was pretty good actually... but..."

IC: Kewa

"Yeah, that's about all for now. Only thing left to do is make some weapons. Unless you can make weapons, then there isn't much else to do."

IC: Ryzen

Ryze nodded. "Well, I'll be around the area. Anytime you need me just find me."

With that, he headed out the door and back in the streets. He planned to head for the inn, or anywhere that he can find news.

OOC: OpEn for interaction

IC:

"When will we meet back up with the others?" Atea asked Hasil, looking back down at the jungle floor.