The Outsiders

The Outsiders
Mercenary Organization
The insignia of The Outsiders.
RPG	BZPRPG III
Type	Mercenary Organization
Alignment	Neutral
Leader	Minnorak
Headquarters	Obsidian Outpost
Affiliation	Ko-Koro
Status	Active

The Outsiders are a band of mercenaries and misfits who offer “a place for those who feel out of place”, providing a new home and new purpose to beings of all skillsets and species., with the goal of making plenty of coin in the process. They currently run the Ko side of the cable car that spans the Tren Krom Break between Ta-Wahi and Ko-Wahi.

History

Founded at the height of the inter-Koro conflict with the intent of restoring order and uniformity across the island, the lofty ambitions of the original Outsiders outfit were undermined by poor decisions in the field, and an inconsistent insistence on secrecy. The group attracted an influx of new members, but opportunities for employment were few and far between, a situation that was only exacerbated by the disappearances of two of the group’s leaders.

The reclamation of Ko-Koro spelled the end for the first incarnation of The Outsiders, when Makuta worshippers fleeing Ko-Koro sacked the group’s base of operations, driving away or killing those members who hadn’t already abandoned the failing organisation. A few months later, the group was relaunched by the Vortixx Minnorak, former third-in-command of the original organisation.

Base

The approximate location of Obsidian Outpost.

The Outsiders maintain and operate the Cable Car station on the Ko-Wahi side of the Tren Krom Break. This station, dubbed Obsidian Outpost, also serves as their main base of operations, and has been extensively renovated both above and below ground to accommodate space for the operatives and their needs.

The original group supplemented their meagre income by inflicting a toll on all who used the cable car. At the request of Akiri Tarkahn of Ko-Koro, the new iteration of the group has continued this policy, with 40% of the profits going to Ko-Koro. The group have also established a trade deal with Ko-Koro, protecting and operating the cable car in exchange for regular deliveries of food and other essential supplies.

Motto and Creed

The Outsider's Motto is "Live by the widget, die by the blade," in reference to their mercenary nature. Their insignia is a representation of this, and also has their motto inscribed on it in Matoran lettering. Additionally, they have also written a creed, which goes:

"From the depths we rise, in Mangai we reign.

Let our enemies tremble, let them fear our name.

We hunters come, bringing justice to all.

For the right cost, all foes shall fall."

Arc 3 - The New Order

Recruitment

New characters can join the group simply by walking up to the outpost and asking to join. The organisation isn't just looking for fighters and killers, but other capable characters whose skills would be useful in missions or in maintaining the fort. In addition, The Outsiders also accept recommendations from trusted contacts, and members will even sometimes scout out promising new prospects while traveling the island on missions. Arrangements to join the group can be made in-game or out.

As part of the sign-on process, characters undergo a challenge of some kind to allow them to demonstrate their skills. This may consists of a duel with an existing member for those looking to show off their combat prowess, or some other task depending on the recruit's skillset.

After being accepted into the organisation, new members can choose to take on a nickname that embodies their abilities or persona, and will be able to have a seat at the table when it comes to discussing missions and other major decisions. Members also gain sleeping quarters and storage space to call their own at the outpost, a share of the food and water supplies, and a range of new contacts and comrades.

Members

Active members of The Outsiders.

• Minnorak, formerly known by the code name Enforcer. (Played by Nato) One of the founding members of the original Outsiders, and the de-facto figurehead of the revamped version of the organisation.

Associates

Affiliates of the organisation.

• Kain (Played by Nato) An ill-tempered Ta-Matoran engineer who maintains and repairs the cable car.

Activity

• Several months after the reclamation of Ko-Koro and the fall of the old Outsiders, surviving member Minnorak met with Akiri Tarkahn of Ko-Koro to discuss relaunching the group in a more official capacity.
• Negotiations proved successful, with the Outsiders allowed to remain in control of the Outpost, and continue collecting tolls. In exchange, 40% of toll profits were to be given to Ko-Koro, and a contingent of Sanctum guards were stationed at the outpost to aid in its defence.
• The Matoran Quoribay arrived at Obsidian Outpost with an offer than Minnorak couldn't refuse: the heist of the century.

Arc 2 - The Old Guard

Operatives

These are characters who actively perform missions for the group.

• Zero (played by Requiem)

• Forger (Langmuir, played by Tiragath)

• Enforcer (Minnorak, played by Nato)

• Judge (Barus, played by Isamu)

• Scholar (Kouyran, played by Miras)

• Champion (Dartakh, played by Daniel The Finlander)

• Cryptic, previously Transient (Nialus, played by Jakura Nuva)

• Tracer (Avsa, played by One-Eyed Construct)

• Veteran (Draygon, played by Nato)

• Zealot (Veneras, played by Rorschach the Absolute)

• Vandal (Rekhyt, played by 000/Sil)

• Ace (Charek, played by Endless Sea)

• Spectre (Verulas, played by Timageness)

Recruits

These characters were in the process of being recruited into the group, or were on the list of characters who the group wished to recruit.

• Ayar (played by Miras the Omniscient)

• Faora (played by (Daedalus))

• Marauder (played by Jakura Nuva)

• Yeri MacGukko (played by Rorschach the Absolute)

Miscellaneous

These are characters who perform roles other than being operatives for the group.

• Kain: An NPC Ta-Matoran who collects the toll and maintains the machinery.

• Murrae (played by Joseph Cooper): An Ihu-Koronan healer currently on loan to the Outsiders in return for free cable car passage for the Ihu-Koronans and Ta-Koro not forcibly removing the group from the Outpost.

Pre-retcon

These events took place before a staff retcon that shifted several locations and erased others.

• Zero called a meeting and asked for volunteers to help with the evacuation of Ko-Koro. Enforcer and Champion were among the first to volunteer, followed by several others. Forger was announced leader of the operation, with Enforcer serving as second in command.

• In Ta-Koro, one of the Outsider's recruiters, Veteran, contacted Kouyran and offered him a place within the organization, to which the Toa agreed.
• The Ko-Koro team consisting of Judge, Forger, Enforcer, Tracer and Champion crossed the Tren Krom Break in the cable car, then used sleds to halve their travel time on their way to Ko-Koro.
• Because everyone else was headed to Ko-Koro, Zero made Veteran himself fight Kouyran for the latter's combat trial to join The Outsiders.
• Veteran won the battle, but Kouyran was still accepted into the group and given the code name Scholar. Zero then left to meet with Transient in Onu-Koro, instructing Scholar and Veteran to take some time to recover from their fight, then go recruiting in Ta-Koro once more.
• The Ko-Koro team encountered a pair of Dark Toa, who hired them to attack the hospital.

• Veteran and Scholar set out on another recruiting mission, encountering Rekhyt Mahara in Ta-Koro, before setting off to find Ayar in in Ga-Koro.
• Enforcer, realising that the Ko-Koro team had been misled into believing the hospital would be an easy, undefended target, offered to strike a deal with the defenders to switch sides and aid in the evacuation, as per Zero's original orders.
• The titan, Krayzikk, ultimately agreed to the offer, but the alliance was almost immediately thwarted as Kimala was revealed to have mutilated Judge, destroying one of his eyes, which resulted in the two groups entering yet another uneasy standoff. This was resolved when Forger convinced Enforcer to calm down, arguing that they could hunt Kimala another day.
• Veteran, Scholar and Rekhyt convinced Ayar to join them without any trouble, however they were interrupted by a very confused Toa named Onamazu, who accused them of brainwashing and kidnapping Ayar. A very brief fight broke out, with Scholar taking on Onamazu and winning without too much difficulty.
• The group arrived just in time for Veteran to intercede in an argument between Kain, and a group of Travellers - Khervos, Vesun, Kirgan and Tuli, the latter of whom didn't wish to pay the toll. They finally agreed, but Veteran hesitated when he realised they didn't know about the state of Ko-Koro.
• Ayar and Scholar found a wounded Haarnak, who had crashed in the courtyard after fleeing Ko-Koro.
• Deciding they didn't wish to wander into a battlezone, Khervos, Vesun, Kirgan and Tuli returned to Ta-Koro without making the crossing.

Post-retcon

These events all take place after the retcon.

• Forger's team, along with a large number of refugees, arrived at Obsidian. To keep anyone from discovering that the cable car station also served as The Outsider's base, Veteran pretended that he didn't know any of the others, an act that Champion and Forger soon caught on to. 
• Veteran later spoke with the former Sanctum Guard Veneras, and persuaded him to join The Outsiders. 
• The refugees began to cross the Tren Krom Break using the cable car. 
• Zero went to speak with Transient in Onu-Koro, who volunteered to go return with her to Obsidian.
• Veneras, Verulas, Rekhyt and the non-Outsiders Kimala and Dastan returned to Ko-Koro. Veteran asked Enforcer to go with them and make sure the three recruits made it back alive. Despite his misgivings about Kimala, Enforcer agreed.
• The six arrived at Ko-Koro and scaled the wall. Spotting the Toa Maru Korero and Oreius from their vantage point, Kimala suggested they split up to contact them both, to which Enforcer disagreed.
• Before the argument could continue further, the wall they were standing on was brought down by Mortem, using his new antidermis ability. He and Dayeth then proceeded into the rubble to finish the six off.
• Zero recruited Charek in Onu-Koro, then contacted Faora as well.
• After being abandoned by Kimala, Veneras and Rekhyt were injured in the fight, and Verulas fell through a building. Enforcer ordered Rekhyt and Veneras to stay with the non-Outsider Dastan and keep an avenue of retreat clear, while he went to find Verulas, who was fighting Dayeth.
• When Enforcer caught up, he discovered that Verulas had been joined by Toa Maru Korero. Outnumbered and outmatched, Dayeth tried to make a run for it, but Verulas and Korero went after her. Recognising that the situation was spiraling out of control, he ordered Verulas to fall back and leave Ko-Koro with the rest of the group, leaving Korero to handle Dayeth himself.
• Enforcer arrived just in time to finish off Krakant, shooting the skakdi in the back with his own laser rifle. With Rekhyt, Veneras and Verulas injured, and everyone else having their fair share of cuts and bruises as well, he ordered the recruits - plus Dastan and Razsk - to make their way out of the city. They were delayed, however, as several of the group members wished to bring the injured Vortixx Mortem along with them, to discover the source of his strange powers.
• They eventually returned to Obsidian without Mortem, only to find a rude, irritating skakdi calling himself "Marauder" waiting for them. He, Veteran and Enforcer argued, which ended with Marauder punching Enforcer in the face, only to be shot in the chest by Enforcer's plasma weapon. He was dragged off by Verulas to be healed by Ayar, who left him tied up where he couldn't escape.
• Zero, Transient and the others arrived at Obsidian as well, and as they settled in, Veteran persuaded Kellin and Krayzikk to leave. Soon after, Yeri Macgukko arrived, basically inviting himself into the base. Enforcer tried threatening him to leave, but the Lesterin was too drunk, too oblivious or too stupid to get the message, so the Vortixx allowed him to stay.
• The first combat trial began, with Veneras facing off agaisnt Champion. Veteran and Enforcer started making bets, while Yeri decided that selling drinks to the onlookers would make him a profit.
• Champion ultimately won the fight, but Veneras had well and truly proven himself, and was accepted into the group. Zero besyowed upon him the codename "Zealot", and asked for volunteers for the next trial. Rekhyt stepped forward for the recruits, and Forger for the existing members.
• While the fight was ongoing, a conversation sprung up, sparked by Rekhyt's hit-and-run tactics, regarding the concept of honour. Zealot argued that it was important and integral, as merely "surviving" was no way to live. Enforcer and several others argued otherwise, with Enforcer recounting his own story, concluding that while admirable in other walks of life, honour and nobility had no place in the work of a mercenary. After being wounded by Rekhyt's laser rifle, Forger called off the battle, deciding that the Toa had indeed proven himself.
• Zero's ex Varan arrived at Obsidian, and was almost immediately attacked by Transient and Zero, who were soon joined by Enforcer and Champion. Swiftly defeated, the Ba-Toa coerced Zero into helping him house a prisoner, reminding her that she owed him a debt. Veteran felt guilty, recalling that he'd been the one who'd allowed Varan into the base, but Zero let him go, explaining that Varan would have found his way inside one way or another. She then ordered Enforcer to take the prisoner to one of the underground cells to be interrogated later, while Verulas started organising teams to visit Ta and Ihu Koro to find more healers, as Ayar had passed out from overusing her mask.
• Verulas and Veteran headed to Ta-Koro, while Champion accompanied Enforcer to Ihu. Here they met a group of highlanders, Even though Ihu-Koro was also packed with refugees from Ko-Koro, they did manage to spare the services of one medic to accompany the two Outsiders back to Obsidian.
• Verulas and Veteran got into trouble with the Ta-Koro guard on their way into the city, and were accompanied everywhere by the guardsman Apollon. They reached the hospital, but were unable to find any medics who were available to aid them.
• A group of refugees arrived, bearing news of the fall of Ko-Koro. At the same time, a disguised Makuta worshipper known as The Deceiver showed up, seeking to cross into Ta-Koro, but stopped to help with the refugees. While Vandal handled that situation, Crab found Marauder and made the mistake of letting him free. A fight broke out, with Scholar soon showing up and attempted to break up.
• In The Chamber, Zero called a meeting with Forger, Enforcer and Transient to discuss plans for dealing with the immediate situation: continuing the combat trials somewhere away from the influx of refugees.
• After dealing with a thief, Septima, who had been following them, Veteran and Verulas returned to Obsidian Outpost, their mission a failure.
• Having spoken with the duo, Enforcer then located the Ihu-Koroan Sergeant, who presented him with an offer already approved by Jaller in Ta-Koro. The Outsiders would guard the cable car and keep Murrae, and in return, the Ta-Koro Guard would stay out of their business. In addition, Ihu-Koroan envoys would be allowed toll-free passage across the Break. Seeing the offer as a win-win-win situation for everyone involved, Enforcer agreed to the Sergeant's terms.
• Several days later, after the refugees and other uninvited guests had left the Outpost, the combat trials resumed with Enforcer versus Charek. The fight ended in a standstill when both figters were badly injured, and Zero announced that Charek - now Ace - was officially the twelfth member of The Outsiders. 
• The trials continued with Verulas taking on Tracer.  
• Verulas defeated Tracer, receiving the title "Spectre" from Zero.  
• A team consisting of Spectre, Tracer, Scholar and Ace set off from Obsidian for Ga-Koro in order to bring down a businessman making money off the misfortune of the Ko-Koro refugees.  
• A team consisting of Forger, Champion and Vandal set off for the Vault in order to learn more about Antidermis.  

Trivia

• Due to a retcon, the location of Obsidian Outpost was shifted to the Ko-Wahi side of the Break, and Quartz Outpost was removed completely. Because of these changes, some of the events in the activity section may have inaccurate locations.
• OOC, the six characters who travelled back to Ko-Koro were dubbed The Suicidal Six.
• There is a maximum of two Outsider characters per player.
• Kain was originally intended to be controlled solely by Requiem, but due to his leave of abscence, the privilege of controlling Kain has been extended to the majority of Outsiders players.