Mission 13 - Part 1 Epilogue

Key Matters
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Mission 13 - Part 1	Mission 13 - Part 2	
It is the final day of Makahiki, the end of the peace festival. Warmth heavy with the threat of rain hangs over the islands as most games conclude, and the buzz of festivities is starting to wind down as evening approaches. Many of the islanders now return to their homes on their respective islands to prepare for the evening feasts, some choosing to observe the final games on their way there. Similarly, the leaders of the five islands now ready themselves for their traditional meeting -- and depending on what transpires there, the year to come might colour the waves as red as the setting sun.
However, not all leaders are ready for this meeting: mentally, but more importantly, physically. The Kahuna of Pu’uwai and the Rangatira of Paorangi are not quite themselves, still trapped in the bodies of the Aetherians as they set foot on Palānaka Island to explore the only shrine they had yet to visit. Pania takes the front to lead the group across the barren landscape of rock, glancing briefly at the dense forests stretching like leafy fingers over the island’s surface, keeping an eye out for Palānaka natives. Right behind her is Kaleo, side-winding with effort, and the snake pauses for a moment to point a vine at a tall mountain coated in jungle looming overhead.
: There we are, the shrine entrance should be on the cliff ahead.
: Scaling the cliff will take too long. I’ll fly ahead; Kaleo, you lead those that can’t follow me through the jungle and up the mountain.
: (nodding and turning towards the group of displaced islanders behind them) Kapono, I have a very important task for you and Aukai. I need you to stay with the boats, make sure Kekoa or his people don’t take them away. Can you do that?
A strange-coloured Hawlucha and a Girafarig nod, the former chattering happily about being given such an important task to the latter as they make their way back to the canoes pulled onto shore. As they begin the work of securing the outrigger, Pania stares blankly at the mountain ahead, her draconic visage unreadable.
: ...
: Kaleo…
The Serperior stiffens at her even tone. Sensing something unspoken, he gestures with an extended vine towards a Fraxure and Marshtomp, shooting them a meaningful look. They follow his gaze towards the silent Charizard and nod, guiding everyone ahead and starting to divide them into groups out of earshot. Kaleo moves closer to Pania once they are gone, and he waits patiently for her to gather her words -- which, in time, she does.
: (sighing) What if the Tapu isn’t here, as it was on Nuʻuanu and Wailele, and we can find no clues? The meeting with the other leaders is after sunset.
: If we are not swapped back by then...
: Frankly, I doubt Kekoa will notice the difference.
: But Leilani and Kahurangi will.
: Well, if we find no clues and are not swapped back by then, I will return to Puʻuwai to try to explain the situation.
: You DO know what the others are planning to propose during the meeting, or even what they’ll do after the festival, right? Those kids--
: This is why you will not return to Puʻuwai with me. Instead you will head to Paorangi to ask for the aid of your guardian. I will send that Charizard and Marshtomp to you as soon as I return, were you to swap back before you could complete your task and return to Pu’uwai.
: But what if the Tapu doesn’t recognize us in these bodies? Even if it does, our guardian is fickle, Arapeta’s body is resistant to its electric touch, and I’m--
: --as is my luck, I’m as vulnerable to it as ever...
Kaleo doesn’t answer, an odd, pinkish glint in his eyes. Pania leans forward, staring questioningly.
: Kaleo?
: Gawain?
: No.
: Don’t tell me you--?
: I’m not sure I caught what you just said, but I’m afraid Kaleo can’t answer you either, as it appears we have swapped back.
: Or at least, myself and Kaleo have.
: Of all the moments and people to have swapped--
Her annoyance suddenly melts to panic as she realizes what this means. She whirls around, stomping towards her brother with a claw raised overhead.
: Arapeta, don’t let anyone fly!
The surprise and confusion change to understanding as the Marshtomp observes the Serperior looking at their surroundings with befuddlement. He turns to his sister, but she spins to yell at the Hawlucha and Girafarig.
: Change of plans, we’re all heading up the mountain! If we swap back, at least we’ll all be together, and I can lead you back to Paorangi, as myself or still as this.
: Hold on, I’d like to come with--
: You’ll just be in the way. Besides, I can’t guarantee your safety, if the Tapu realizes that a true outsider has stepped onto sacred grounds. (points at the largest outrigger canoe that has a hut in its center under the sails) Go inside the hut and stay hidden; if anyone tries to get the canoes, just… do what you can to remain unseen.
: The rest of you, let’s make haste, follow me.
Moments later, the group follows behind Pania as they approach the shrine on the green-shrouded mountain side, avoiding various hazards like the unstable grounds caused by earlier landslides, and cracks in the rocky surface. Pania is afraid to use her new ability to fly too much, in case she and Gawain swap back, but using it even in small amounts still makes her the first one to arrive. She casts a glance behind her, seeing her people are not too far behind, and as they catch up to her, she enters the jungle pathway to the shrine, broad leaves forming a natural canopy around the gates leading to the sacred grounds.
: (turning to look at a Magnemite) Riripeti, I will need you to assist me inside the shrine. Do the best that you can with, uh, what you have available.
The Magnemite tilts downward in a nod, and Pania takes a deep breath and faces the shrine’s entrance. However, as soon as she places her foot on the tiles beyond the gates, she feels an overwhelming presence -- as if a massive hand was pressing against her chest, no, her very heart! -- and she drops to her knees. Her brother runs to her side, but before he can speak, a loud rumble shakes the island, causing him and the others to lose their balance as well. A fine pink dust falls from above as the leaves are shaken by the winds accompanying a sudden rainfall -- and Pania lifts her gaze to the heavens, watching as the dust settles onto their shoulders.
: So this is where they all were…
: Everyone, retreat!
Brushing the pink dust off of themselves, they rush back the way they came, exiting the pathway onto the cliff’s edge. Pania ushers everyone down the mountain side, trying to keep them (and herself) calm, her gaze momentarily brushing over the horizon -- just in time to see a lightning bolt strike!
It cracks into a large rock formation to the northeast of the island, darting between its distinctive, horn-like pillars… and Pania feels as if a bolt has struck her as well, falling to her knees for the second time. She hears Tapu Koko’s cry -- a shrill, trilling sound, gone as soon as it appeared -- and at the questioning look from her brother, she answers.
: A vision... from Tāwhiri… We have to get back to Puʻuwai.
Stomping noises echo from the jungle around them, and Pania’s eyes narrow as part of the foliage seems to be approaching them.
: No time to explain, we better hurry, lest we be blamed for the Tapu’s outburst.
Kaleo is tired -- more so than usual, after switching back into his own body which felt stiff and unwieldy. What had the snake king been doing, running laps? Regardless, the Magmar watches idly as Gawain paces to and fro in front of him, the two of them waiting at the Pu’uwai beach for Pania and the others to return. Even Lono is uncharacteristically anxious, floating at the ocean’s edge and allowing the surf to push him back and forth along the sand.
: The swap suuure is taking a long time to wear off… How much longer you think it will take, Kal -- I mean, King Alaric?
: Ooh, I wouldn’t worry; it will wear off soon enough.
: (pausing his pacing) You alrigh’, sire? You sound a bit… funny.
: (with effort, straightens his back and nods) I’m alright, Gawain, truly. This body just… takes time to get used to.
: Well, all we’ve had is time. That monkey and fire duck better get back soon, I can’t take much more of this ‘rangatira’ stuff.
Kaleo frowns slightly at the ‘duck’ comment -- but his retort goes unheard as a fleet of voyaging canoes appear on the horizon, sails unfurled and billowing in the wind. The large canoes make haste, driving onto the beach as those who are adept at sailing bail out of the boat to help drag the vessels over the sand. Pania leaps out of the lead outrigger canoe swiftly and rushes over to Kaleo, mouth already moving a mile a minute.
: Good, you’re all here, quickly, we must prepare the canoes for departure--
: Hold on a minute there, where’s Alaric’s body?
: (throws a hand backward) -- he’s in the boat -- (back to Kaleo without skipping a beat) -- but listen, we need to hurry--
: Slow down, Pania, deep breaths… What happened after I swapped back?
: (staring sharply at Kaleo) You WHAT, swapped bac…?
: (having finally extradited himself from the canoe and reached the group) Gawain, guess what, Kaleo and I switched back!
: Oh. That’s great. Just great.
: Yeah, it is! That means everyone else will switch back soon too!
: Yes, yes, that is wonderful news. But Pania, please, tell us what happened at Haumia-tiketike’s shrine.
: Well, for one thing, all three of the missing Tapus appeared at the shrine.
: Hiʻiaka and Kanaloa too? That is most concerning.
: They chased us away from the shrine, and then we were pursued by Kekoa. Luckily for us, he wanted to be the one leading them down the mountain, and since he is slow and can’t decide on directions well, we were able to outrun them.
: So the Tapu were angered by your presence? Haumia has never been fond of outsiders, could that have been it?
: Perhaps, but why were the other guardians there? They do not travel across borders so easily.
: I am not certain… but what of Tāwhirimātea?
: That is why I am here and not on Paorangi -- as we exited the shrine, we saw a bolt of lightning hit Nā Pepeiaohao.
: !
: Yes, I saw it too. Why, does that mean something?
: It is certainly troublesome. That is near where Tama’s father and all the other boats we sent vanished when we first investigated the happenings across Pae’aina.
: And it is for that reason why we should go again. I believe Tāwhiri is telling us to sneak back into the shrine by going in from another entrance, a less direct approach.
: Excuse me, but if your guardians are this angry, what would goin’ back accomplish? No offense, but I don’t want my body to be destroyed on a fool’s errand.
: Tāwhiri gave me a vision after the bolt hit -- one that very clearly showed that he wants us to bring Lono to the shrine.
At the mention of his name, Lono jumps, staring wide-eyed at Kaleo who simply nods. Gawain and Alaric, however, exchange glances, and Gawain crosses his arms with an eyebrow raised.
: To do what? Swapping the guardians ‘round won’t do you good, they already seem to be pretty pissed with you.
: And seein’ as according to you, the whole issue is that these guardians and their tribes, including your own, don’t like the kid, bringin’ him in front of them seems like a sure way to get him killed.
: Well, while that might calm the guardians’ anger--
: An’ there we go, seems your true motives are revealed.
: I wasn’t done yet, lizard.
: Have you looked in a mirror lately, monkey? I believe YOU’RE the ‘lizard’ here.
: That’s enough, Gawain. Pania, please continue.
: (taking a deep breath to calm herself) What I was going to say is that I do not believe Tāwhiri wants Lono destroyed. According to Kaleo, Lono was some sort of peacekeeper in the past. Perhaps it has a power we do not know of that could help in this situation -- and Tāwhiri knows that.
: It is true, there is much about Lono that we do not know… and it is likely that the Tapus wish to reveal that knowledge to us. Well, Tāwhiri does, at any rate.
: In that case, it would be wise if my citizens were to go with you to Nā Pepeiaohao. Since Kaleo and I swapped back, it is possible that everyone else will swap again as well, and even if they don’t, at least we will be good back-up for whatever Tapu Koko has planned at the shrine.
: Or to make sure both Lono and our bodies make it out in one piece.
: I’m sorry, did you forget that you are outsiders? You can’t come to the shrine, what is the point of sacred ground if anyone can walk on it?
: Do you still doubt our willingness to help? You have already gone to the shrines in my citizens’ bodies and been denied, just as you were when you first approached them in your own skins. Either way, you are trespassing into Tapu Bulu’s shrine, and you will need our assistance.
: This is not the same as last time, we can step onto Haumia’s lands and even if we are caught, he will not threaten us--
: Oh, but WE can get caught by the Tapus and possibly killed and that’s FINE?
: Enough, both of you. (turning to the Charizard) Pania, I agree with Alaric and Gawain. It is unclear when the heart swap will wear off, but what is clear is that its effects are waning at different times for different people. In order to avoid any… disorientation in the eventual swap, it would be wise if they were to accompany you to Nā Pepeiaohao. In the meantime, I shall stay on Pu’uwai to prepare for the leader’s meeting after sunset to buy you and Arapeta some time.
Pania scowls, clearly not in love with the plan… but she knows that there’s no point in arguing with the kahuna. Kaleo takes her silence as agreement and looks down at Lono who is still floating at the ocean’s edge, eyes round as pearls.
: Lono, you must promise that you will do all that the Rangatira asks you to do. Approach the shrine and wait for the Tapus’ instructions; they will guide you.
: O-Okay, I’ll do my very best.
: I’m sure you will. (turning to Alaric) Aether king, might I request that you stay behind as well? I know you would like to go with your people, make certain their safety, but since Kekoa did see your people near the entrance to his guardian’s shrine, it would be good if you could help explain your presence there.
: Er, yes, that will be an… interesting conversation.
: I’d rather you there than at danger rock, sire.
: Don’t worry, captain, I’ll make sure your people are returned safely.
: Damn straight, cuz I’m comin’ with.
: That makes no sense, what if you and I swap back, then who will attend the leader’s meeting?
: There is no way I’m leavin’ my body with you again. I already got zapped once, and I don’t want to swap back to me drowning or meeting some other horrible end.
: If I’m gonna die, I wanna see it comin’.
: But--
: No point in arguing with him, Pania. Trying to change Gawain’s mind is like attempting to convince a volcano to not erupt.
: Besides, there is no time to argue. We have already wasted precious seconds discussing this matter; take Lono, Gawain, and the others and go.
: (sighing through her nostrils and pinching the bridge of her snout) Alright then, now that that’s settled -- Aetherians, islanders, with me.
: With us, ya mean.
: Don’t push it.
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Category:Arc 2
Category:Pae'aina