Sokka the 18th - [Action]

[markofthewise]

[So after Katara has had her counseling session (with Sokka naturally following her around and being even more Batman super spy than usual), the two will be heading deep in the forest to search for Zuko. They'll try to raise him a few times on the journals, but are otherwise prepared to stay a few nights in the forest, even packing enough gear to spend a few nights camping if need be. After the loss of Toph, Sokka has no intention of seeing their missing comrade suffering a similar fate.

If for some reason your character is out deep in the forest, they may run across the two Watersibs combing their way through the forest. They may not exactly be the most conversational, but they'll probably talk to you if there's good reason to. Feel free to run into them while they're either hiking or if it's late in the day, setting up camp for the night.

Note: Either Katara or Sokka (or both) will answer your character.]

Comments

[markofthebrave]

Hmm... [She'll sit up and grab her food and absently start to pick at it as she talks.]

I heard that there were some in the village that looked almost human. Maybe we can start there? Or do you think we'd need to find a way to catch a droid?

[markofthewise]

They look... kind of human. But only in shape. Like a metal puppet.

Where would you even begin? They attack completely at random, you can't call them out on the journals, and they don't have any apparent weaknesses.

[markofthebrave]

[She nods. That objection doesn't bother her, and she's starting to eat a little as she talks.]

Yeah, so I heard. Plus, even if we got one, it would probably be reported. But if we got a hold of one of the metal puppets... maybe it wouldn't be noticed as quickly?

[markofthewise]

Maybe. But that's a big maybe. If they found out, there's no telling how they would punish us.

[markofthebrave]

They didn't do anything to Aku for burning down the grocery store.

[markofthewise]

That's... not really the same. [Although he realizes that's a weak argument on its own.]

[markofthebrave]

Why can't it be? Why can't we make it seem like an attack?

[markofthewise]

Because unlike Aku, if we get stabbed, we don't just heal and keep fighting. Maybe they did try to attack him? For all we know he might have received some kind of attack for what he did.

[markofthebrave]

Yeah, except that if the Malnosso want something done? It gets done, Sokka. If they'd hurt Aku, he would have been hurt. That man talked about it like nothing mattered, and from the way they keep playing with us do you really think that they did anything?

[markofthewise]

[He sighs.]

What do you want me to do, Katara? Do you want me to challenge the Malnosso daring them to kidnap me? I'll do it. Even if I couldn't take them on, I'd take the risk of finding a way to break out from the inside. But right now all we can do is guess at what they might do. Yuber has been hurt, Aku has been hurt, but the Malnosso? They've never been hurt. We don't have anything to make a plan with.

[markofthebrave]

What? Don't be ridiculous! If anyone is going to get kidnapped by those stupid droids, it's me. What's the point of getting kidnapped if no one is able to track it? You're a way better tracker than I am--

But anyway, there's no point. No one I've talked to knows how or why they pick their victims. That's why we need to try to find out more! They're just going to hurt us anyway, we could at least try to make it worth it!

[markofthewise]

Look, I never said we shouldn't. But until they strike again or someone else is returned, its completely out of our hands. It probably won't be long before I see some of their facilities anyways.

[markofthebrave]

...what? Why would you say that? What aren't you telling me?

[markofthewise]

I volunteered for the war.

1/2

[markofthebrave]

[...please hold.]

1/3 - I lied

[markofthebrave]

[Oh no. Not again. Now a war is tearing her family apart again.]

[markofthebrave]

Damn it, Sokka! [She'll get up and yell before start to storm off.] Isn't one war enough? When were you planning on telling me this -- were you just going to up and leave one day, go out there and fight with who knows who?

[markofthewise]

... it was never meant to be a secret. Toph had volunteered too. [Does that make it better, maybe not.] One minute ago, you were offering yourself as bait for those droids. Well this? This is my plan for getting information.

[markofthebrave]

No, one minute ago I was talking about offering myself up as bait. Which is a completely different thing! [Nevermind the fact that she'd be doing it if she thought that there was a way for it to actually work. In this case technicalities are her friend and she'll wield them like a club.]

You already volunteered! You were just going to go!

[markofthewise]

Katara, I'm sorry you had to find out like this, but the past few weeks haven't exactly been the easiest for us here tp just casually mention it. In any case, it's not up for discussion. I made up my mind about this almost a month ago. I'm going to fight in that war.

[markofthebrave]

Not without me you're not!

[markofthewise]

[One year ago, he would have forbid it. But a lot had happened since then.] Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[markofthebrave]

[A pause.] Good. Then why don't you get to the part where you start explaining why this is a good idea.

[markofthewise]

Before the draft, the Malnosso weren't the type to tell us anything. After the village-wide memory loss, they wouldn't tell us much of anything. But they've been forthcoming since they realized they need us for their fighting.

If we fight for them, not only do we get to get a chance to see the world outside the barrier, but we get to see who their enemies are. We might even get a chance to get information from that third party group. We'll have a chance to see their facilities... and if it comes to it, to escape from the village altogether.

[markofthebrave]

[Katara could argue and challenge every single point there, but she already knows that this is a war that they need to fight. Especially if the Third Party really is hurting innocent people. So instead she focuses on Sokka's last sentence, and after a while, knows what she needs to ask.]

...do you think that they're telling the truth? About not being able to control the Shifts? About not being able to send even themselves home?