Karunax wanders down into the Catacombs, but not with ignorance. He knows exactly where he is going as he stalks though the multiple, seemingly endless corridors, searching for one room in particular. As a precaution, he activates his Chameleon power and engulfs himself in a field of Silence, so as to not be disturbed on his way.
Lomois follows from the Convocation hall. He still does not know exactly what he is tracking, but he is excited. The absence of sound where there was great pounding perplexes him, but he presses on, for science!
A cluster of vines notes Lomois, with curiosity on why the Makuta are now taking interest in the Catacombs.
Karunax wanders down into the Catacombs, but not with ignorance. He knows exactly where he is going as he stalks though the multiple, seemingly endless corridors, searching for one room in particular. As a precaution, he activates his Chameleon power and engulfs himself in a field of Silence, so as to not be disturbed on his way.
Despite the endlessly winding labyrinth of passages, Karunax finds what he is looking for in no time: at the end of the darkest corridor yet, there is a small, decrepit wooden door, which bears the moldy scars of age and neglect. The usual odor of dampness and mildew is suddenly overcome by the stench of rot and decay, to which Karunax pays no attention. Ducking down low, he pushes the door open with a loud creak and a sudden snap as it breaks from one of its hinges. The chamber beyond is large, but one might not be able to fully appreciate its space thanks to a massive pile of trash taking up more than half of it. The heap is made up mostly of rusting metal, but closer inspection matched with the rotting smell would immediately reveal a far less pleasant ingredient.
Once through the doorway Karunax is able to stand tall again, and he deactivates his cloaking powers as he approaches the pile. The voice in his head speaks up for the first time in minutes.
What is that? Why are we here? This is just... echhk... okay, maybe more than just trash...
This room is thousands of years old, but I remember when the Brotherhood commonly used it to store dead training Rahi to be burned. That never happened, obviously. I was likely the last being to visit here... not too long ago, in fact.
He flanks to the side of the pile, towards the far left corner of the room. At the base of the mound of decay, the glint of something far shinier than anything else here seems to have his attention. He kneels down to get a closer look at what appears to be a small pileup of blue and silver armor, carefully situated apart from the rotting grave of Rahi. It bears none of the same rust or decay as everything else, and seems to be neatly set in place.
At the top of the small pile is a dull grey Great Kanohi Ruru, and behind it, two broken halves of a decently large hammer are propped against the wall.
Karunax, who was this?
My enemy. You wouldn't know her.
What was her name? Why is she here?
That's not important.
Karunax bends down and snatches up the Ruru. After hesitating a moment to stare into its empty eyeholes, he turns it around and puts it on his face. It changes from its dull grey into a sharp black to match his armor.
Is this your attempt at a burial?
Not a proper one.
The Makuta turns to leave, but the voice remains persistent.
I've never seen anyone build a makeshift shrine for their enemy.
Even if that enemy was respected?
Well... no?
Shut up about it. It's not important.
He travels back through the Catacombs without another word from the voice. At least, not for a few minutes.
Is your name Karun?
Karunax freezes in place, a terrible rage rapidly clawing its way to the surface.
What??
And that was Nadika, wasn't it? What's left of her? She was a Toa... and you were too, right?
Get the ever-living Karzahni out of my head. Right NOW.
What? I'm just...
NOW I SAID.
What the *brick* is your problem??
I warned you not to intrude in my head. I WARNED you. GET OUT.
A vapor-like blue substance materializes and pours away from Karunax, pooling together to form a sizzling blue cloud apart from him.
"You let me in, you *bricking* idiot!"
"I gave you Karzing conditions. Stay the Karz away from me."
Karunax continues on, storming right through the blue Nova Vapors... which follow him anyway.
"We have a deal, Karunax! You're not about to break it because I hurt your stupid feelings!"
Karunax ignores him, continuing to storm away. While simultaneously worrying that the hulking Makuta will suddenly teleport away, the Vapor can feel its own barely contained turmoil seething under its thinnest layer of self-control. The last thing it wants right now is for that to happen. However, there are simply too many questions it wants answered, regardless of consequences.
"So when were you gonna let me in on the whole 'I'm not the good guy' thing?? Seems like something you should tell a partner, ya know?? I mean, I can understand having no choice but to leave a friend behind... "
For some reason, it stops itself talking for a few seconds, its voice trailing off quietly. It quickly resumes with a harsher tone.
" ... But murdering her because she wanted to save you from being... this?!"
Karunax suddenly stops and whirls to face the blue cloud. Although his face is violently contorted with anger, his voice is disturbingly calm.
"I killed her because she wanted to destroy everything that I am. I snapped her body because she wanted to destroy everything that I stand for. I crushed her skull because for as much as she claimed to want to help me--when I did not need nor ask--she only wanted the past back. If she truly wished be of use, then she would have been wiser, and allowed the Brotherhood to drain every last screaming drop of light from her husk. She would have stood with me in conquest, as a Toa of Shadow. She did not want that. Instead, she expected to simply erupt back into my life and undo everything I built. Not for virtue, but for selfish nostalgia. I gave her a choice... and if she couldn't accept to live in the present, she didn't deserve to live at all."
The Makuta grins wickedly at the blue Vapor.
"I'm sure you can guess what she chose." "That's horrible. That's... evil!"
"You can call it whatever you want... well, except 'unpredictable'. It was definitely the most inevitable ending, regardless of how much she sobbed at me."
Karunax pauses his conversation with the Vapor and turns halfway around when the three strangers come out of hiding.
"You're interrupting something."
"So? Why should I not interrupt? Besides, your lucky you got this escapade by Koval."
Koval, who has entered the catacombs to search for some live rahi (all his test subjects are dead), runs across Lovok and the rest. "Got what by me?!?!"
"So? Why should I not interrupt? Besides, your lucky you got this escapade by Koval."
Koval, who has entered the catacombs to search for some live rahi (all his test subjects are dead), runs across Lovok and the rest. "Got what by me?!?!"
Zeytran, still hulking, teleports in quickly, flanking him are Crystalia, Zenila and Astrona. He looks with cold indifference before seeing Karunax. "Brother! You have returned to Destral! Welcome!" He says with a grin. Crystalia looks at Antermina with icy fascination.
"Hello." Crystalia coldly comments. Zenila and Astrona begin conversing with one another.
Karunax pauses his conversation with the Vapor and turns halfway around when the three strangers come out of hiding.
"You're interrupting something."
"That's your response? You - the mighty Karunax - dissappear for weeks without notice, and 'you're interuppting something' is the only explanation you give when we finally find you?"
Koval, who has entered the catacombs to search for some live rahi (all his test subjects are dead), runs across Lovok and the rest. "Got what by me?!?!"
"I'll let Karunax explain sir."
Karunax chuckles harshly, a sound not unlike crunching bones.
"I need no permission to go about my business within my own home. Yet you would do well to mind your own."
Zeytran, still hulking, teleports in quickly, flanking him are Crystalia, Zenila and Astrona. He looks with cold indifference before seeing Karunax. "Brother! You have returned to Destral! Welcome!" He says with a grin. Crystalia looks at Antermina with icy fascination.
"Hello." Crystalia coldly comments. Zenila and Astrona begin conversing with one another.
OOC: I'm gonna be gone for approximately the next 6 days.
IC: The Juggernaut regards the colossal Makuta leader with no newfound respect, but rather the same as always: casual and indifferent.
"Zeytran. Seems only a few days ago you were chasing after me without purpose. And now look at you--the Brotherhood's newest leader and... you've gained weight."
It's extremely hard to tell if the ending jab was meant as a joke. He glances at Crystalia and the other two, but still addresses Zeytran.
"I wonder as to whether you've changed anything for the better; anything that might help break the cycle of failure the Makuta have been imprisoned in."
Karunax pauses his conversation with the Vapor and turns halfway around when the three strangers come out of hiding.
"You're interrupting something."
"That's your response? You - the mighty Karunax - dissappear for weeks without notice, and 'you're interuppting something' is the only explanation you give when we finally find you?"
"You think you deserve a thorough explanation? If you want to make sense of my actions, perhaps you should've joined the disaster convocation after we lost the Great Robot."
Zeytran, still hulking, teleports in quickly, flanking him are Crystalia, Zenila and Astrona. He looks with cold indifference before seeing Karunax. "Brother! You have returned to Destral! Welcome!" He says with a grin. Crystalia looks at Antermina with icy fascination.
"Hello." Crystalia coldly comments. Zenila and Astrona begin conversing with one another.
OOC: I'm gonna be gone for approximately the next 6 days.
IC: The Juggernaut regards the colossal Makuta leader with no newfound respect, but rather the same as always: casual and indifferent.
"Zeytran. Seems only a few days ago you were chasing after me without purpose. And now look at you--the Brotherhood's newest leader and... you've gained weight."
It's extremely hard to tell if the ending jab was meant as a joke. He glances at Crystalia and the other two, but still addresses Zeytran.
"I wonder as to whether you've changed anything for the better; anything that might help break the cycle of failure the Makuta have been imprisoned in."
OOC: Okie dokie
IC: "If memory serves correct, it was only a few days ago. You were once my leader, and I had wished for that. You had denied such, so I decided to take matters into my own hands for once." Zeytran chuckles a bit at the lastpart.
"There is unity and loyalty. I am preparing to amass an army. The Matoran and Agori won't know what hit them!" He chuckles again. "Brother, while you are most certainly welcome upon Destral, have you come to rejoin the Brotherhood?"