Not long ago, two Av-Makuta appeared to a people disheartened by war and oppression. Their words lifted the hearts of those around, inspiring the people to take part in something greater than themselves.
Their efforts produced the city of Aluxa, a burgeoning settlement in the middle of a volcanic wasteland that most would find inhospitable. It is a haven for the outcasts that find themselves ground down by the relentless march of the powers around them.
Though the inhabitants of the city are by no means forced to convert, many of those within the settlement have taken to following a creed known simply as the Path. This creed venerates the element of Light as representing moral purity, and the adherents strive to perfect their knowledge of the self through inner meditation and reflection.
The entrance to the city is wide and gateless, though they clearly have a place. Perhaps, as belonging to a new city, they simply have not yet been created.
To either side of that large, empty doorway stands a Toa. One is coated in a resplendent suit of gold and white armor, a shield leaned against the wall behind him and a sword at his side; the other is unarmed and unarmored, wearing but a mask and metal mesh robes.
The more heavily-armored one steps out from his position, leaving his shield behind. He stretches one hand out and gestures with an open palm, as if requesting those within the vehicles to slow down their machines. The robed Toa quietly sends a telepathic message further into the city, detailing the newcomers.
The vehicles slow at the gates, and the driver of the first truck reaches to the dashboard and begins speaking. Within his vehicle, the agent ready their heavy assault weapons; the other drivers pass on the message to their charges, who do the same. The convoy nonetheless stops at the gates.
"We're here on a diplomatic mission from the Brotherhood of Makuta," calls the principal driver to the Toa at the gate. He makes a note that the Toa's armor is gold and white, like a Toa of Light's. He would make the primary target if things ran downhill. He follows up with, "Is there any process we need to go through to enter?"
The robed Toa takes a closer look at the truck, a lens clicking down into place before one of her eyes. Though she's not surprised by what she sees, the information is quickly shared with her companion.
The Toa in golden armor drops his hand to his side, seemingly relaxed. "Not at all! We are always pleased to receive guests. As a diplomatic envoy, I expect you wish to see our master?" There is a pause as he silently confers with his friend, and she with others. He doesn't so much as twitch during the conveyance. "He appears to be within the central sphere. It should be visible as soon as you enter."
The Toa bows and steps back, adopting a more formal posture. "We offer our hospitality to you." He sweeps his arms towards the gate. "May your visit be a pleasant one."
The robed Toa takes a closer look at the truck, a lens clicking down into place before one of her eyes. Though she's not surprised by what she sees, the information is quickly shared with her companion.
The Toa in golden armor drops his hand to his side, seemingly relaxed. "Not at all! We are always pleased to receive guests. As a diplomatic envoy, I expect you wish to see our master?" There is a pause as he silently confers with his friend, and she with others. He doesn't so much as twitch during the conveyance. "He appears to be within the central sphere. It should be visible as soon as you enter."
The Toa bows and steps back, adopting a more formal posture. "We offer our hospitality to you." He sweeps his arms towards the gate. "May your visit be a pleasant one."
The driver nods and makes a sweeping gesture out the window, signalling to the other trucks his intent to begin moving. The convoy enters the gates and upon sighting the central sphere drives to it.
"Remember," the commander begins, "we're not here to wipe them out. I know this is a strange development for all of you, but we're here to make friends with them. Absolutely not violence unless things turn lethally against us. Understood?" Affirmations resound throughout the convoy. Once the sphere is reached, all agents disembark; one unarmed agent, a Toa of Psionics, is sent inside with two armed agents each of Ehlek's species. The rest stand guard in a semicircle around the trucks. They're expecting cynical response and remember the pressure to remain peaceful.
Many of the inhabitants can't help but notice the convoy rumbling through the city. Most of them, refugees from past acts of violence and brutality, shy away and clear the streets. By the time the trucks reach the central sphere, the plaza outside is only a few steps away from being deserted. One particularly brave little Glatoran toddles out towards the curious new visitors, but is quickly rushed away by a concerned parent.
The guards before the sphere, a duo much like that at the gates, nod at the approaching diplomat. The armored one steps forward and, in the same manner as the last, assumes the speaking role.
"Welcome, Ambassador! I regret to inform you that our master is currently occupied, but he will be able to meet with you shortly." The Toa spins around, facing one of the towers that seems to be suspending the sphere in the air. He places a palm upon it and pushes, allowing a brief flare of Light to escape it. A portion of the wall glows and vanishes, opening to a well-furnished room beyond.
"Please, do come in. I cannot abandon my post, but I will be able to summon another who could provide something to while away the time. Refreshments, perhaps, or a tour of the facility. Would you be interested in either of these?"
Last Edit: Jul 22, 2016 17:42:25 GMT -6 by Deleted
Many of the inhabitants can't help but notice the convoy rumbling through the city. Most of them, refugees from past acts of violence and brutality, shy away and clear the streets. By the time the trucks reach the central sphere, the plaza outside is only a few steps away from being deserted. One particularly brave little Glatoran toddles out towards the curious new visitors, but is quickly rushed away by a concerned parent.
The guards before the sphere, a duo much like that at the gates, nod at the approaching diplomat. The armored one steps forward and, in the same manner as the last, assumes the speaking role.
"Welcome, Ambassador! I regret to inform you that our master is currently occupied, but he will be able to meet with you shortly." The Toa spins around, facing one of the towers that seems to be suspending the sphere in the air. He places a palm upon it and pushes, allowing a brief flare of Light to escape it. A portion of the wall glows and vanishes, opening to a well-furnished room beyond.
"Please, do come in. I cannot abandon my post, but I will be able to summon another who could provide something to while away the time. Refreshments, perhaps, or a tour of the facility. Would you be interested in either of these?"
The ambassador steps into the room and faces the guard. She nods, understanding that arriving unannounced was certainly not in anyone's best interests. "I believe a tour of your facilities would prove most educational, thank you." She turns to the guards, who put away their weapons and nod as well.
Meanwhile, the guards attempt to remain inconspicuous and appear nonthreatening, though they cannot help but recognize how awkward the situation is.
The guard nodded and withdrew, leaving the ambassador and her retinue to their own devices. The entrance was left gaping open, presumably so as to reassure the soldiers outside that their diplomat remained unharmed.
A black Matoran stumped in a few minutes later. Upon seeing the ambassador and her escort, he dipped into a shallow bow. "This unworthy soul has been sent as your guide." He straightened, undermining his previous self-debasing remark with a direct gaze into the Toa's eyes. "Please, follow me."
Without giving her a chance to respond, he spun and walked towards the room's exit. A scar was revealed as his back was turned, a garish, twisting gash that snaked from the left shoulder to the right flank. Still facing away, he began to speak.
"I suspect that, given who your masters are, your primary interest is our military. Let me spare you the attempted wheedling and surreptitious observation; we have no factories or foundries. Only a regime with the intent to conquer requires anything other than a simple force of guardians, and you have already seen ours at their posts."
He paused for a brief moment, with his voice if not his feet. When he continued, he would once again roll right over anything the ambassador had been trying to say. "Seeing as our society doesn't revolve around military force, I'm not certain what you'd want to see. The living conditions of our people are plain enough, and I'm not about to invade their privacy for the sake of some diplomat sent by that band of—"
The Matoran visibly took mastery of himself, swallowing the beginnings of his tirade. "I offer my regrets. That was unbecoming of me. Our violence-related facilities may be lacking, but I do have something to show you." He bowed once more and continued on.
They soon came to a lift that, should the Toa still be following, would take them back to the ground. As the lift doors opened, a towering structure was revealed. It was a domed building supported on all sides by columns and buttresses. A steady stream of inhabitants, mechanical and biological, were entering and exiting through a massive pair of doors.
"Come." The Matoran joined the line, the Toa and her guardians presumably following. They soon entered the structure to find a vast, open interior. Only footsteps marred the silence inside the doors. Ornate carvings were sprawled upon each wall, and the floor itself was elaborately done. Directly underneath the dome, etched in the sleekest obsidian, was the symbol for Light.
Glatoran, Agori, Matoran, and Toa were scattered about. Most sat in small alcoves or rooms set off from the main, meditating. A single closed scroll lau upon a pedestal beyond the dome.
The Matoran dropped his voice to a hushed whisper, so as to avoid disturbing the others. "We aren't forced to participate, but most of us follow a certain... philosophy, I suppose. The Path of Enlightenment. I'm no priest, and I've never been much of a speaker. Whatever the case, the tenets teach serenity, understanding, and self-betterment."
He took a deep breath, interrupting the flow of his speech. His small hands closed into fists and an edge came into his voice, the same that had intruded earlier. "What do you believe in, Toa? What do your masters believe in?"
Last Edit: Jul 24, 2016 18:31:06 GMT -6 by Deleted
Until something comes through, it needn't be treated as a threat. Even so, the robed Toa of Psionics swivels down a lens framed in the metal of a recast Akaku and peers at the door.
The diplomat took in her pacifist surroundings with a mixture of disgust and fear. Only people extremely confident in their own defense would dare be so... so lax in their defense. While the Matoran's words did bite, she noted that they came from an ignorant Matoran and let it go.
The temple was to the Toa what the crucifix was to a vampire. She was compelled to fall to her knees but her entourage threw out their clawed hands, holding her upright. "We believe in a ... different path to peace. Security over freedom. A necessary sacrifice, but only the Makuta... are fit... to rule."
Until something comes through, it needn't be treated as a threat. Even so, the robed Toa of Psionics swivels down a lens framed in the metal of a recast Akaku and peers at the door.
This proves a very bad thing to do. The Toa of Psionics sees the full insanity of the Door. Looking through he should see an entire realm of craziness. And a tall figure wearing a top hat stepping over a few bushes to open the door from the other side.
The Makuta arrived just in time to hear the ambassador's final remark; the irony wasn't lost on him. He approached the four beings, dipping into an ever-so-slight bow upon reaching them. "Greetings, ambassador."
It had to be said; that Toa wasn't looking too well. The taint of his misguided brethren was clearly stamped upon her soul.
The Matoran was returning his bow and excusing himself. It was time, then, to move the conversation.
"It would pain me to disturb the meditation of these beings. Shall we relocate to a more suitable area?" The Makuta glanced about the building, running across an empty alcove in the process. Perfect. He pointed to it with one clawed finger. "There, perhaps."
Assuming that the diplomat took him up on his offer, he would kneel in that alcove and shift his weight back onto his toes. He did not initiate the conversation, choosing to sit in silence until she wished to speak.
Last Edit: Jul 25, 2016 15:49:40 GMT -6 by Deleted
This proves a very bad thing to do. The Toa of Psionics sees the full insanity of the Door. Looking through he should see an entire realm of craziness. And a tall figure wearing a top hat stepping over a few bushes to open the door from the other side.
Overwhelming insanity is an awful threat to the average being, simply because they are unable to cope. The massive amount of data that conflicts with everything they know and believe can easily sweep away the unprepared.
Fortunately for this Toa, her element was Psionics. The power she wielded on a daily basis required a complete and iron control over her own mind. The way to avoid being driven mad by a rush of nonsensical information was, simply enough, to only process a piece at a time. The scene in front of her was disassembled bit by bit, being broken down into small and managable (if such a thing is possible with the alien) chunks. Several other robed Toa across the city, the ones possessed of the Psionics element, assisted with a shared telepathic link. There were enough that one eventually recognized that a being was coming and warned the guardian, but it took far longer than the norm.
The Makuta arrived just in time to hear the ambassador's final remark; the irony wasn't lost on him. He approached the four beings, dipping into an ever-so-slight bow upon reaching them. "Greetings, ambassador."
It had to be said; that Toa wasn't looking too well. The taint of his misguided brethren was clearly stamped upon her soul.
The Matoran was returning his bow and excusing himself. It was time, then, to move the conversation.
"It would pain me to disturb the meditation of these beings. Shall we relocate to a more suitable area?" The Makuta glanced about the building, running across an empty alcove in the process. Perfect. He pointed to it with one clawed finger. "There, perhaps."
Assuming that the diplomat took him up on his offer, he would kneel in that alcove and shift his weight back onto his toes. He did not initiate the conversation, choosing to sit in silence until she wished to speak.
She bows her head in recognition and replies, "Greetings to you, Makuta." She followed his lead to the alcove, squatting opposite him and waving the guards to post themselves at the doors.
For a time, she stared in silence at the Makuta, attempting to read him without the use of Psionics; as an agent who had to work with Makuta and other agents with mental shields, this was a critical skill. However, even with her ability, she could detect nothing from the wise being's darkened visor. She realized this was getting nowhere and customarily cleared her throat. "I represent Makuta Inharax of the Brotherhood of Makuta. We have come to make contact with this city on the terms of a possible friendly relationship between the two states. Inharax is interested in cooperating with his--" the ambassador made a near-instant calculation for the politically-correct term "-- differently-aligned brethren in this city to ensure peace and prosperity for all the world. This is a cause we have reason for you to believe in yourself, Makuta...?"
She makes a gesture conveying her wish to learn the Makuta's name.
The Makuta shook his head in response to the diplomat's last query. "I am not in possession of a name. I sat aside my old one when I departed from my home, and I have yet to consider myself worthy of another."
"You speak of Makuta Inharax. I will admit that I have not looked beyond my borders, but my people tell stories."
The Av-Makuta regarded the Ce-Toa. "I dislike negotiating with a face sent in place of another, but this will have to do. I am unwilling to deal with a being whom I do not know. Tell me about him. What do you, one of his underlings, think of your superior?"
Last Edit: Jul 25, 2016 19:10:37 GMT -6 by Deleted
The Makuta shook his head in response to the diplomat's last query. "I am not in possession of a name. I sat aside my old one when I departed from my home, and I have yet to consider myself worthy of another."
"You speak of Makuta Inharax. I will admit that I have not looked beyond my borders, but my people tell stories."
The Av-Makuta regarded the Ce-Toa. "I dislike negotiating with a face sent in place of another, but this will have to do. I am unwilling to deal with a being whom I do not know. Tell me about him. What do you, one of his underlings, think of your superior?"
The diplomat maintains a straight, dispassionate face. "Inharax is all there is of the Brotherhood. Its other leaders and members have cast everything aside: the Plan, their original purpose, even their name. He has recognized and corrected the Plan's failings, and seeks to return the Brotherhood to its original role as producers and guardians for a flourishing world. I have nothing but respect and admiration for the Makuta."
"It's awfully convenient, isn't it. All of his rivals are dead or depowered, and he has arranged things to appear as though he is the only option left to a downtrodden and beleaguered people."
The Av-Makuta pointedly looked at the two armed guards. "He and his have done an excellent job at cultivating a society based around violence. Look at you. A single, unarmed diplomat requires a full military escort. Why? Why should she?"
"The only stable foundation in your world is a being who has only recently been known to do good. Before he was a ruthless killer, a murderer who was known to gleefully destroy the people who opposed him. He began to act charitably after his traditional opposition was removed, and the only people left to fight were his own corrupt brothers, all hated by the people."
A deep thrumming noise began resonating throughout the building, though the Makuta gave it no mind.
"Tell me again. What have you been told? What do you believe? I invite you to punch as many holes in my theory as you can. I, myself, would prefer it to be proven incorrect."
Last Edit: Jul 25, 2016 19:46:53 GMT -6 by Deleted
"It's awfully convenient, isn't it. All of his rivals are dead or depowered, and he has arranged things to appear as though he is the only option left to a downtrodden and beleaguered people."
The Av-Makuta pointedly looked at the two armed guards. "He and his have done an excellent job at cultivating a society based around violence. Look at you. A single, unarmed diplomat requires a full military escort. Why? Why should she?"
"The only stable foundation in your world is a being who has only recently been known to do good. Before he was a ruthless killer, a murderer who was known to gleefully destroy the people who opposed him. He began to act charitably after his traditional opposition was removed, and the only people left to fight were his own corrupt brothers, all hated by the people."
A deep thrumming noise began resonating throughout the building, though the Makuta gave it no mind.
"Tell me again. What have you been told? What do you believe? I invite you to punch as many holes in my theory as you can. I, myself, would prefer it to be proven incorrect."
"What do you mean? I told you what I believe, Makuta..."