BZPRPG: Kini-Nui

IC. Talking.He held up a finger, silencing Aurum for a second, though he had heard and begun a response already. He heard something. For the most part, Xerov's conversation would've gone unnoticed. He would've gotten away with it. However, he hadn't accounted for the extrasensitive hearing of an Akrainid. Even beyond that, he wouldn't have noticed it if he hadn't been listening.His trip to Onu-Koro would have to be delayed a bit further.As he walked away, he pointed to Aurum."Wrong." he shot back, "We follow a very specific purpose from the Makuta. A Duty, you could say. Without that, we could never achieve a Destiny. And without a Destiny, there is no Unity."With that, he stalked after Xerov.

IC: AurumAurum nodded. Kyju's point of view was valid. But it didn't fully respond to Aurum's words. Either way, Kyju had left. Tracing where he was walking, he found a curious pattern. Was Kyju stalking Xerov?Curiosity piked, and Aurum started to follow silently across the treetops, an illusion cast on himself to camouflage himself.

IC: Kuhrin

"I do indeed. As you can see, I'm a fan of the style." he gestured to the rest of his armour, all of which had the same rusted texture as that of an infected mask, but clearly Kuhrin lacked the actual infection. "The infectious appearance is more of a symbol, I think."

His ears perked up as his enhanced hearing picked up snippets of conversation from the constant rabble around them.

"...personal business..."

"...someone's got to watch your back..."

The tone they spoke in suggested something they didn't want the others to know, but there wasn't enough evidence to suggest they were doing anything directly against the Makuta's will. Kuhrin filed the words away in his mind for later use.

IC:

Feongulf raised hr hands and calmly replied to Xerov's hysterics. "Slow down, man. No need to starting losing yourself in fear. Slow down and actually tell me what the karz is wrong."

Her voice dropped even lowe as she glanced over her shoulder and noticed the growing number of eyes wandering toward the two Matoran. "As we walk, of course, no need to for everyone else to hear."

IC: Xerov (Kini-Nui)

I turn, looking at the gathering group. Kyju is at the front.

That's strange, I could've sworn he went to talk to Echelon, I don't see why his attention would suddenly come back to me. I'll just have to add that to the list of things I don't understand, along with how he found out my name-

Wait. Echelon had mentioned my name, not too long before he arrived behind me. If I consider that along with this... it would appear that Kyju can either read minds, or has very good hearing. I'll have to remember that.

"Yeah, I think moving a little further might be a good idea." I raise my voice, slightly -- if my suspicions about hearing are correct, that might be enough to make Kyju leave me alone for a short while. Suddenly I'm glad I didn't discuss the second part of my plan.

IC:

"So, who exactly is this "old friend"?" Feongulf whispered as the two Matoran began walking, leaving the suspicious glances of the others nehind. "And what exactly is the problem you have with him?

IC: Xerov (Kini-Nui)

My eyes dart around, and I pick up my speed slightly to put more distance between myself and the others. "I am a Matoran with blood on my hands, Feongulf."

IC:

"Aren't we all."

IC: Xerov (Kini-Nui)

I open my mouth to speak, then bite my lip, struggling to free the words. "I killed someone. Someone close to me. And for a long time, another person has wanted to kill me to avenge them."

IC:

      "Sounds reasonable," Feongulf replied, staring out at the mountain surround Kini-Nui's valley. "That's usually what happens, with that sort of thing. Not very reasonable, but people aren't reasonable."

IC: Xerov (Kini-Nui)

I nod. "He's been trying to track me down for decades, but he's getting close now. I can't run any longer."

IC (Echelon)

There was a gust of wind behind Echelon, and the Necromancer turned to see a bent old Turaga approach. Echelon raised an eyebrow - but the Turaga's eyes flashed red briefly, and the eyebrow slid back down.

"Our contact failed," said the Turaga, leaning on his staff, "but your item is ready for pickup."

"Excellent," Echelon replied. "I'll depart immediately."

A smirk flickered across the Turaga's face.

"Interesting new look, by the way," he said.

"Its benefits outweigh its costs, I believe," the Dark Toa said, turning to gaze at the Suva Kaita. "Such a link to Makuta is not to be - "

Echelon turned back, and the Turaga was gone.

IC: Xerov (Kini-Nui)

 

I nod. "He's been trying to track me down for decades, but he's getting close now. I can't run any longer."

IC:

     "You can always run," Feongulf said in reply, shrugging and continuing to stare into the ditsance. "Whatever's chasing you sometimes just runs faster then you can."

     She glanced back at Xerov. "So, you said you're going to Ta-Koro, right? How exactly are you going to deal with, um- whoever it is."

IC: Aurum

Seeing as the Makuta followers were spreading out now, and having no job to do for now, he took his leave, heading towards Le-Koro.

OOC: JL, I'm sorry, but Aurum couldn't have heard the discussion -- they deliberately put enough space between themselves and the Followers that no one could overhear, and Xerov even tried to avoid Kyju's hearing. You're going to have to edit that out.

IC: Xerov (Kini-Nui)

I nod again, solemnly. "Depends on what the situation calls for. At the least, major damage. At the most..."

I leave the end of the last sentence unsaid. It doesn't need to be further explained.

IC (Echelon)

"Gentlemen, I must take my leave of you," Echelon called to the remaining Followers of Makuta. "I trust our paths will cross again. Kino, Kyju, contact me when you need to."

With that, Echelon walked off into the jungle, his two Juggernauts rising from where they lay and following.

OOC: Echelon to Ga-Wahi

IC:

"How specific," Feongulf said to Xerov, looking up into the sky. Grey clouds obscured the sun and washed the valley in a cool half-life. A leaf snapped behind them, but the Fe-Matoran. Probably nothing, that she thought. "You're almost as bad as my employe- um, someone I know." Cursing mentally at her slip, she continued in an attempt to change the subject. Just because he's your friend doesn't mean you can trust him. "Any, if it's the others you're afraid of, maybe we should just get going. Then you might drop all the vagueness."

IC: Xerov (Jungle near Kini-Nui)I hear a twig crack. I'm immediately on defense. Assume the worst, run if you end up having to apologise (because that's always worked for me in the past).Feongulf starts saying something, then cuts herself off. The last word sounded suspiciously like 'employer', and I make a mental note to congratulate myself later."You can leave the Followers, Feongulf," I warn, thinking back to the snapping twig, "But that doesn't mean they'll leave you. Either way, you're probably right; I'll have to explain that I'm leaving. If I just try to go, I'll never be able to shake the stubborn ones off."

IC:

"Yeah, I don't think they'd really like us running off," she replied, following the other Tohunga. "No, they wouldn't like that at all. As in, murderously not like it."

IC: Xerov (Jungle around Kini-Nui)I chuckle darkly. "My parents warned me about hanging around with the wrong crowd. Might've been an idea to listen to them."I can imagine what my dear old mum and dad would be doing if they were alive right now:Scratching the insides of their coffins.

OOC: Really...fine Kino normally doesn't handle these sorts of things. Consider my post to Le-Wahi retconned at this point. IC: (Kino Iho) As Kino climbed she noticed that Echelon had left, without even giving everyone their current mission, or at least the vague objective Kino had in mind. She walked back to the center of Kini-Nui and cleared her throat in an attempt to capture the attention of the Followers. "Ahem! Seeing as Echelon has apparently be called away it has fallen to me to let you know what our new direction will be." She paused and made sure that attention was turned to her. "We had a great victory in Pala-Koro, a symbol that our faith and our will is strong. Our work is not yet finished though. We still have an island to enshroud in shadow. What I am going to ask of you will be strange...you are to be heroes to the people of this island. Criminals and sociopaths plague the poor people. You will take new identities, you will become someone else. You will work with the guards to weed out criminals and deal with their threats. However you will still believe in Makuta. You just won't behave as radically as you have before," She said, her arms folded, awaiting the flurry of response heading her way. Fighting crime? As followers of Makuta, to some of them it likely made no sense. They needed to erode the people's faith in Mata Nui and bring them to Makuta. Eventually these people would do so of their own volition and Makuta's control of this island will be absolute. Kino's grey eyes scanned around and she had know a few key people missing, her eyes narrowed and she kept looking around, her eye's meeting Pae's for the briefest second. Pae knew that look. Do your job and find those in our group lacking of faith or putting this group at danger. Deal with them as you see fit. Kino's eyes continued around, still awaiting a response.

IC: Aurum

Aurum had been walking, or flitting, away when he heard Kino clear her voice to attract attention. Unamused, he turned himself around, and started to listen. What he heard, definitely amused him. When Kino waited for a response, he was the first to speak up. "So, we are presented a challenge. A test of patience. To serve the shadow, by posing as light. Well, if our master presents us with a challenge....it is our duty to accept. Will you lead us for now, tell us where to go, what to do?"

IC (Bartan)

Bartan scratched at his wounded shoulder; he really was a mess. From the looks of it, the Makuta Followers weren't doing any more interesting stuff, so he didn't see much point in sticking around. He'd only come for the big battle after all. It had been glorious fun, but it was over now, so he might as well get the karz out before Echelon roped him into doing some boring mission for his all-powerful master.

The Skakdi wasn't a follower of Makuta, not by a long shot. He just liked fighting, and blood, and wanton destruction. Since Echelon couldn't provide that anymore, he figured he'd have to look somewhere else for it, and the best place to find that kind of stuff was in Xa-Koro, on the Kumu Islets.

Snorting up a hunk of bloody phlegm, Bartan spat onto the ground, then began walking back to Le-Wahi, and the ferry to the Kumu Islets.

OOC: Bartan to Kumu

IC: Xerov (Jungle around Kini-Nui)I chuckle darkly. "My parents warned me about hanging around with the wrong crowd. Might've been an idea to listen to them."I can imagine what my dear old mum and dad would be doing if they were alive right now:Scratching the insides of their coffins.

IC:      ". . .My parents would have to speak for themselves. . ." Feongulf muttered, damming up the flow of memories of her family that came surging back unbidden. Considering what the people they call friends and neighbors did to them. But's now's not the time, or place. Not at all.      Still, the Fe-Tohunga wouldn't quite suppress the image of the rotting log hut she was born and raised burning, along with what little childhood she had ever had and the remains of her mother and father, the eyes of the ones responsible watching with barely a hint of interest. . . Never trust people, even just with remaining alive.      Feongulf shook her head, clearing her mind from its' reverie. Ancient history is hardly relevant right now. Making sure Makuta's servants don't have every armed killer on island after me and dealing with Xerov's "old friend" are.

IC: Xerov (Jungle near Kini-Nui)

I almost ask Feongulf what she's talking about, then think better of it. There's a kind of sadness in her eyes, enough to make me think that I've already gone too far. I know that people often don't want to reveal their secrets.

If I didn't, I'd hardly be here.

It doesn't take too long to reach the clearing again, and I hear our ex-leader shouting something about churches. Religion's never been my thing.

Let's add that to the ever-growing list of reasons to get the bloody Karz out of here.

Almost all of the Followers are missing, and I'm not surprised; Unity was never a strong thing in this group.

IC:

"Um-" Feonulf coughed, addressing no on in particular. A great deal seemed to have disappeared, which boded well for their ploy."Me and Xerov have some work that requires us . . elsewhere."

IC:

Boredom had become quite the frequent caller in Heuani's mind. At least, boredom was what he called it.

He sat in his dark chamber, drumming the arm of his hemispherical chair. The room was one of many of the recesses in his master's lair, the one that had been designated to him a long while ago. The steely walls were blank of much decoration or light, and the furnishings were basic: a chair, a table, a bronze fire pit - unused, filled with cold oil instead of fire - and a large bed. Sprawled across the top of this bed was the sleeping form of an athletic Toa of Water, whose spine, arched gently, rose and fell as she lay on her stomach. Her blue Kanohi peeked out from a mess of blankets.

Heuani faced away from the bed. He stared pointedly through the room, lancing his eyes through the apathetic blackness as though intent upon drilling a hole into the wall with them. The Toa of Shadow knew that his master had sent the Toa of Water to curb his hungry desires and to renew his spirits as usual, but after the heat of those first short moments, Heuani found himself oddly aggravated by her presence. She had, he concluded, disappointed him.

His latest consumptions, Heuani reflected, had felt less like pleasure and more like routine, and this was part of the trend. It was starting to become boring.

Heuani hardly ever let his guests live longer than the night, unless they impressed him somehow, which this Toa had not. It was therefore strange that he found himself allowing her to sleep on. It had been an odd impulse, but one that he found himself passively following several hours later. Heuani missed sleeping sometimes, being able to shut one's mind off for a few hours. The darkness of the night, after all, reinvigorated him, so he never felt the need to slumber; but sleep brought more than physical rest, he had long ago realized. And so here he was, sitting bored and wide awake in his chair, drilling his eyes into the wall with nothing better to do.

He heard the Toa of Water stir behind him, sit up and yawn. Heuani did not leave his chair, or even turn around. "Is it early?" she asked from the bed. "It's still so dark."

"It's always dark," Heuani replied.

"Come here," she implored, squinting against the darkness. Heuani remained silent, kept drumming his fingers on the side of the chair, insisting upon his boredom. He was tired with people feeling so much like they needed to touch him.

The Toa of Water groaned in mock resignation and stood from the bed, walking slowly across the room. "I guess I'll come get you, then," she continued, feet treading carefully across the floor. "I can't see you this far away." Heuani hadn't taken time to acquaint her with the features of his room - why would he have? So, on her path towards the chair, she unexpectedly reached the lip of the bronze pit in the middle of the room with her toes, tripped, and would have stumbled straight into its slick contents had Heuani not shadow-jumped into her path and caught her in his solid grip. "What was that?" she asked, eyes wide at both her fall and Heuani's instant apparition.

"Fire pit," he said plainly, picking her up off the ground, carrying her, depositing her back in bed, and sitting on the edge of it himself. He sat with his elbows on his knees, eyes still resolutely trained somewhere other than on her.

"Then why don't you... start a fire?" she asked, crawling catlike across the bed and then caressing his back with a few of her fingers. She felt it shake with a small laugh. "What's so funny?" she asked.

"Nothing," he answered.

"I want to see you," she said, purring and batting her lashes. "Please?" The showy helplessness had no effect on Heuani, but he glanced back at her and stood up anyway, meaning to summon a kindling kit. He hated starting fires by hand this way, which was why the fire pit was left mostly unused. But as soon as he stood up, the oil in the bronze bowl was illuminated by a sourceless spark. The oil caught quickly. Heuani knew that his master must be watching his room with particular interest to have responded to a request like that so quickly.

In the crackling firelight, Heuani's chamber was illuminated yellow-orange, capturing its dark furnishings in moving shadows. The Toa of Water smiled. She had a pleasant smile. "That was fast," she nodded approvingly, circling to stand in front of Heuani and wrapping her arms languidly about his neck. "And now I can enjoy you more fully-"

"-Stop," Heuani said, lifting her arms and scooting back into the frame of the bed. "Here," he said. Like a fly following honey, she obeyed, sinking into his waiting embrace. A fire like burning oil's was eager in her eyes, but was extinguished by a strange look from the Toa of Shadow. "No," he said, turning her around so that she lay next to him rather than on top of him. He lay with his arms behind his neck, positioned her head to rest on his shoulder. She cuddled close, looked at the room with him; the chair, the table, and other things cast spiderlike shapes upon the floor.

Her eyes fell on the far wall. In one corner hung a dark grey mantle; next to it was a ripple-edged sword with a strange, clear blade that caught the dancing fire. But mounted in the center of the wall, apart and above anything else in the chamber, was a round white shield with radial slats in it. It was an elegant thing, perfectly crafted. She nuzzled her head to rest over his left breast. "What is that shield?" she inquired, her voice the only vibration Heuani felt in his chest.

"It's a reminder of someone," he said.

IC: Xerov (Kini-Nui)

Once Feongulf has spoken, and no one responds, I turn to her. "That sounds like a yes to me."

With that, I begin walking away. I'm pretty certain that Ta-Koro is in this direction.

OOC: Round two of me and Gravs' jammy mayhem.

IC: Kuhrin

Many of the mingling beings were now beginning to depart on their own ventures. Kuhrin had contemplated following up on the conversation he had been listening in on, but he had spotted Kyju taking care of that. Presently, he sat on the steps leading up to the Amaja circle with his head in his hands. As a Toa of sonics, he constantly had to deal with the onslaught of sound his enhanced hearing picked up. He tried not to make a fuss about it, despite the mental agony it caused, but the echoes cried out in his head like ghosts. Never was there a moment in his entire life when he had experienced silence, never had he experienced peace from all the little noises and voices and whatever else. Perhaps that was what made him a little... Different. Mentally.

But not insane. Never insane.

* * *

"Are you insane?"

Kuhrin and Krell stood in the office of their benefactor, Magvix. Word of their life-risking escapades earlier that day had reached his ear surprisingly quickly, and he had summoned them at once. they were in line with each other, looking almost like brothers with their identical Kanohi staring guiltily at the floor. Magvix was on his feet too. His chair didn't seem suitable size to contain his fury, or his behind.

"Uh duh, I mean no sir."

Krell had a thing for pushing people over the edge. Both literally and metaphorically. Added some spice to life. Not that riding down a mounting on a rock didn't, but...

The Ta-Matoran rocked back on his heels, as if debating to continue. Might not be the smartest thing in this situation.

Magvix shut his eyes and tried to withhold the rage that attempted to burst from him. He had always had problems with keeping his temper in check, and Krell knew it. What Magvix in turn knew was that Krell was pushing him over the edge. Do not let him win, he told himself, taking deep breaths. Do not relapse.

He turned his head on its axis to face Krell and snapped his eyes open wide. "Did you eventhink of the risks?" he asked quietly, practically shaking with suppressed anger. "Not for one second?"

Kuhrin mumbled something. "What was that?" the other Matoran shook his head and turned his gaze back to the floor. Magvix's eyes darted back over to Krell, expecting a sensible response.

"Yep," the Ta-Matoran said cheerfully, seemingly oblivious to Magvix's current state. As always, Krell was living on the edge. He knew that Magvix was insanely angry at the moment, but Krell need to see just how far he could go. How close he could get to the edge without going over. And Krell had yet to go over, but he was fast approching.

He wasn't afraid, Magvix posed no threat to him. Even if he did, Krell didn't care. It was a risk. But a calculated risk.

"I did use the thing inside my head, you know, the one thing that helps with thinking. Mostbeings have it." Subtle insults were another hobby of his. Helped with risk taking.

A grim smile stretched across Magvix's face. He blinked, seemingly in slow motion, holding his eyes shut for a split second longer than usual. "You like to push it, don't you Krell," he breathed solemnly. "you like taking risks."

Slowly, he strode round his desk, halting every time his foot hit the ground and swaying, as if that made his stomps more ominous. Either that, Kuhrin thought, or he was a little tipsy. "But hear me now," Magvix went on, "if you carry on the way you are, you- both of you- are in grave danger of being fired," his expression became more sympathetic. "You're good workers, you really are. But this is for your own safety. I hope you understand what I'm saying here."

Krell blinked a few times, more casually then anything else. It was one thing to be able to push people over the edge, but it was another thing entirely to stop them from going over. Krell was a master at both. To push people far, and then snap them back, was almost an art to him. He didn't mean to manipulate them, it just happened.

"Yes sir," the Ta-Matoran replied, an unreadable expression on his face. He knew how far Magvix could go without snapping. Besides, Krell really didn't think Magvix wanted them fired, simply for the reason that worked harder then the rest of his employees combined. They were good, not easily replaced, and the benefactor knew it.

Magvix stood over Krell for a few seconds, sizing him up as if contemplating whether he was taunting him further, then thought better of it and turned away, waddling back to his desk at last. While his back was turned Krell's gaze slipped over to Kuhrin, who was grimacing suspiciously not at Magvix, but at Krell. "You may leave, by the way." said the plump Matoran at his desk without looking up from his tablets.

Magvix's office was located at the top of a tower that formed a corner in the wall around Ta-Koro. It's height had once given Kuhrin vertigo and the guards along the battlements had intimidated him, but over time the militaristic environment had grown on him. Now, he looked upon the soldiers with fascination as they crossed paths, feeling a tinge of sorrow that he could never live up to their supposedly great expectations.

After the two Matoran had left the office, shut the door and walked a short distance along the wall (away from prying eyes and ears), Kuhrin violently shoved the oblivious Krell's left shoulder, forcing his friend to face him. "What the karz was that?"

"Whaddya mean?"

"You were pushing him. Like you always do. That's why he wants to kick us, can't you see? What've I told you about this, Krell?"

The Ta-Matoran crossed his arms, leaning up against one of the stone pillare that lined the walkway. It was the only thing between him and a not-too-pleasent fall. "I knew how far to go," Krell said to his friend, before holding up a hand to stop a reply. "I wasn't going to go over, I know him too well for that."

Krell looked like he was going to add more, before pausing for a moment. What if... Kuhrin was right? Sure, Krell did it all the time, but... What if...? No, he'd never gone over before. He knew when to stop. He knew hard far to go.

But was it really worth it?

After a moment longer of thought, Krell glanced back up at Kuhrin, his blue eyes gazing out at his friend from under his black Kanohi. It was then that the Ta-Matoran realised that he might have gone to far, but he didn't know what to say to Kuhrin.

Kuhrin smiled a small, comforting smile, and placed a hand on Krell's shoulder. "It's okay. We'll get through this. I'm sure of it."

* * *

I'll get through this.

Yes. The flashbacks were just a short phase brought on by where he was. Perhaps Makuta was testing him, perhaps there was some kind of bizarre poison on one of the ILF member's swords; whatever the case, Kuhrin was not going 'soft', he was not 'insane', he was Kuhrin, Toa of sonics and wilful follower of the Makuta. Nothing could change that. Nothing.

In fact, he had business to attend to regarding Krell, who still had to answer for his sudden leave of absence.

Kuhrin certainly had been preparing for the meeting.

OOC: Kuhrin to Po-Wahi.

IC:

Feongulf nodded and walked after Xerov. She had succeed in staving unpleasant memories of her post, for now. The duo turned east down a fork in the rough dirt road formed by the endless parade of Makuta's rahi servants and the march of ill-fated adventures down a another path that would hopefully lead them to the to the the ashy plains of Ta-Wahi.

Turning to Xerov, she queried into what exactly was his problem, hoping for that without any other Follower of Makuta around she might get an actual answer. "So, would you mind telling exactly who the heck is after you?" she said. "And why, and what your plan is for dealing with him?"

IC: Xerov (Path to Ta-Koro)

"Guy named Tarrhus. Ta-Matoran. I killed his sister." I'm surprised how easily the words roll off my tongue. It's slightly strange, it's been so difficult any other time I've spoken about it. Maybe the short sentences thing helps. "I have to at least cripple him. He's catching up with me, and when he finds me he's going to kill me. He told me so himself."

IC:

Feongulf nodded, giving him an understanding and still inquiring look. That only raises more questions.

"Ta-Tohunga, hmm? Seem odd to engage someone on their own turf like this," she replied, widening her eyes as her mouth dropped into a frown. The palmy trees around them soon gave way to rocks and tall, untrampled grass as their altitude increased and they came to a windy pass betwixt the gargantuan mountains that huddled on Mata Nui's epicenter. "I'd have tracked him down somewhere, anywhere, besides the place where most everyone know him, including the guards, and where he knows the quickest routes and shortcuts. . .

"What was his sister like, anyway?"

IC: Xerov (Path to Ta-Koro)Beautiful. Sweet. Kind. Funny. Wonderful. Perfect. "I don't think I have the right words to describe her."As for confronting Tarrhus on his own turf... I want to get this over with. Better to get to him first. Even if he has the advantage of knowing the area, I have surprise on my side. Besides, he wouldn't run -- this is personal for him. He'd want to stay and fight."

IC: Feongulf [Kini-Nui mountain pass]~

Feongulf raised an eyebrow at the emotional tinge to Xerov's answer. A crime of passion. Great, now things are going to get complicated. . .

"You didn't tell me we're were dealing with a fool," Feongulf said, smirking. Dark volcanic clouds from Mount Mangai spewed across the sky as the two came to the borders of the land of fire. And soon, the land of blood.

Pausing a brief moment to stare out over the wasteland below and contemplating just exactly what the karz she had gotten into herself into. To think at one point I was all I could find to do was wonder 'cross the island without an aim in the world, and without a job. she thought, stepping down the rocky path down to Ta-Wahi's planes. I've stumbled into a story larger then mine, one of heroes and villains- She turned her head to stare back at Xerov, continuing her trek. -And people like me.

She nodded for her companion to follow.

OOC: Feongulf to Ta-Wahi.

IC: Xerov (Ta-Wahi Border)I follow Feongulf, solemnly. This, without doubt, will not end well.OOC: Xerov to Ta-Wahi.

OOC: Lost track of this guy, so whatever.

If Makuta servants need to act like heroes, let us begin!

IC: Aurum

Aurum had got his answers. He knew his job. Deciding to head north, he started the long trek towards Po-Koro. The last time he'd been there, he'd been serving Makuta as well.

Ask Hafu, and you'll know.

OOC: Aurum to Po-Koro.

IC-KuAnLo:

KuAnLo frowned, watching as Xerov and Feongulf walked off in the direction of Ta-Wahi. It could only relate to what few things that he had heard from Xerov-some person's brother looking for revenge against Xerov himself. And KuAnLo had to go that way, as well.

Information gathering was always useful, and it could also prove useful to turn Xerov and Feongulf to his side. Slowly, KuAnLo began to slink off after the two, towards Ta-Wahi...partly to aid Xerov, and partly to get Ira for what he needed.

OOC: KuAnLo to Ta-Wahi.

OOC: Zauk from Le-Wahi.

IC: Zauk [Kini-Nui Forest]

The hunter's armored feet crunched through the underbrush, crushing dried leaves and fallen sticks underneath his tredded sole. He was physically exhausted from his trek through the thick Le-Wahi jungle, unable to do much more than just put one foot infront of the other. His bow was held loosely in his left hand, sparking every so often as he tried to absorb what little static electricity was in the air. It barely did anything to make up for the massive release of elemental energy earilier, but he hoped that every little bit would count.

Every little bit would count. The forest was slowly starting to become thinner, more areas of the ground were exposed to sunlight, the clouds in the sky were becoming much more visiable. It showed, too. The plantlife was beginning to change, more ground cover was present as the large trees that blocked light disappeared. Soon, he would reach the clearing, and then everything would fall into place. Hopefully as he planned, but one could never count on anything.

Still, he was making sure that the odds were in his favor. Unconsciously, Zauk reached up to his mask, running an armored finger over its painted surface. He immeadiately brought it back down. He had got the pattern right, there was no need to worry. The long hours spent in the Drifts collecting infected Kanohi from rahi were starting to pay off, he just hoped they would continue to.

He had everything worked out, it would just depend on how good of an actor he was. Well, being an insane, raging maniac should be that hard for him, considering his last few days spent in the jungle.

Wait, up ahead. That was it. Between the trees, Zauk could make out a clearing. And in the center of the clearing sat a temple. The Great Temple, Kini-Nui. Here, it was the closed thing Zauk could get to enemy territory. It was a place he had long dreamed of going to. And now he was here.

The Toa prepared himself to step out of the treeline. His face adopted a glassy look, his eyes staring out into space from under his painted Kanohi. A Kanohi, made to look like it had been touched by darkness.

If any of the Followers of Makuta were paying much attention, they would notice a tall, muscular Toa covered in teal armor walk out from the treeline. A bow held in one hand, a spiked whip curled at his hip, and an Infected Kanohi place upon his face. And so it begins.

OOC: Any care to notice this guy? He's traveled a long time. :3

OOC: Considering the fact that the last time my Makuta-character did something, it was both highly stupid, insane, and nobody was affected, plus the fact that I have nothing to do with him, here ya go, Gravity.

IC: Aurum

Nothing.

That was the general idea as to what flowed through his head. Well, lack of idea. Aurum had nothing to do. Sure, the others had said, 'We need a church.' They had said, 'be nice to matoran.' But he just couldn't....get that. While he had no problem with doing it, what he had originally anticipated to come had already caught up to him before he even started. And the biggest problem he faced with the task was, how does he start?

How does one become a hero? Even if it was a 'lie', he didn't know how to make it work. Much of the things he had heard was that heroes - their deeds - were consequences to things that happened...randomly. And if Fate worked so that all the good guys got to be heroes, and show their epic deeds and be hailed by the matoran, then Destiny would obviously work against luck for the side of evil.

But Destiny was something they all had. And it was something you can never affect, just like you could never affect the flow of time.

As the Toa of Iron sat in the shadows, pondering exactly how to start, he started to ponder on something else. Why was he pondering on these, menial things? He had a duty before him. Duty. One of the Three Virtues of the Matoran. As far as Aurum knew, the three virtues were considered symbols of the 'good' side. So why exactly did he need to do his duty? Why not just have chronic procrastination, or better, an infinite holiday?

Oh, right. Because he had a master, and if he didn't do a good job, then his master - and his premiers - would have to do a bad job on him. He sighed. His personality didn't suit his duty well, until he was well into his duty.

For a second, Aurum thought he was secure. His thoughts had wandered, and he was only barely re-awakened into the world when he saw a teal armored being holding a ranged weapon. What caught Aurum's interest, though, was the infected mask on the Toa of Lightning's face.

Of course, Aurum wouldn't know that Zauk was a Toa of Lightning, nor would he know the mask was just a piece of unoriginal art. He didn't even know his name yet. But how would he learn that? By asking, of course. He stood up, finally happy there was something else other than his duty that he could attend to. This didn't include maintaining his weapons, 2 Long Katars hanging as shoulder armor, which barely swung as he walked over to Zauk.

Analyzing the Toa of Lightning with his eyes, his face showed no emotion, but it did show interest. "I don't recall seeing you in Pala-Koro. If you don't mind, could you tell me as to where you got that nice..mask?