During the Creation Age, the Mask Makers Ekimu and Makuta rose to nearly-deified status for the monumental revolution they brought more or less single-handedly to the island and its civilization. But for Makuta, envy and jealousy eventually settled in when he felt that his position as the most esteemed and valued of the Mask Makers was being threatened, even usurped by his twin brother Ekimu.
One slippery slope led to another, with some a lot steeper and more careening than others, until inevitably Makuta began to dabble into forbidden experiments. He took multiple commissions from the Okotan Emperor that Ekimu himself never would have, and even resorted to using the lives of death-row inmates, the elderly, and others approaching death.
Although the Great Forge was the optimal place for experimentation and crafting Masks of Power, with select areas and rooms sealed off and seized by Makuta for his own private affairs, inevitably he decided it wasn’t safe to conduct his more heinous ideas in the same building as his ‘noble’, goody-two shoes brother Ekimu. As work poured into his Forbidden Masks, which even the Emperor was not privy to initially, Makuta needed a separate workplace away from everyone else, where he could work in peace without interruption and operate as he pleased.
Thus, using the Mask of Control’s powerful transmutive properties and employing the help of only his most loyal Brotherhood servants, Makuta ventured out of his way to craft hidden laboratories and underground networks where he could conduct experiments with his Forbidden Masks as he pleased, test them out, and even harvest life energy from prisoners. While Makuta had multipled scattered across the island, a few of which were intercepted and discovered by the Skull Raiders, who seized the Forbidden Masks within for themselves, his primary laboratory was hidden right underneath Ekimu’s nose.
The City of the Mask Makers, where Makuta’s primary experiments took place, is located on a massive stone pillar and surrounded on three sides by sheer cliffs, with only bridges connecting the city to the rest of the mainland. But farther down the length of one of these surrounding cliffs, hidden beneath foliage and illusions, was Makuta’s main laboratory for unethical, hidden experiments.
Carved in the dead of night, when Ekimu was away, this lab was a secret to even the Okotan Emperor following the revelation of the Forbidden Masks and Makuta’s work on them. Consisting of a vast tunnel network, various rooms and chambers were used for a wide variety of reasons- To store materials and tools, as testing chambers for Forbidden Masks, to safeguard records, journal entries, and Knowledge Crystals, and even store prisoners within inhumane conditions. The inside of these tunnels were dark and damp and generally unpleasant, but Makuta had no time for luxuries when he could focus efforts on honing his heretical craft.
The walls of these chambers were all sound-proofed by life automatons using the power of Silence, ensuring even the loudest screams and most brutal lab accidents could not be noticed by the Okotans in the city nearby. The lab was heavily-fortified like an underground bunker, and its entrance, completely invisible and shielded with an illusion in the cliff-face, was watched over only by the most faithful of Makuta’s guards, who were told to look the other way. Everytime he made trips to this hidden laboratory, Makuta would utilize a Mask of Stealth and a tamed steed to make his journey from the Great Forge unseen.
Most of the prisoners were death-row inmates and others taken by Makuta from the Emperor, with the idea that they’d be quickly and –usually humanely- harvested for life energy. Unbeknownst to the Emperor, however, while many of these prisoners were harvested as intended in the confines of this secret lab, others were forced to suffer a far worse fate first.
Justifying his experiments with the idea that the prisoners he experimented on were trash and deserved their fate, or that he was doing thema favor by allowing these criminals the chance to contribute towards Okoto’s progress, Makuta set to work testing out his Forbidden Masks on various prisoners, all of whom were kept inside dark, dank cells and shackled to the walls. Generally speaking, Makuta preferred to conduct his experiments by himself as much as possible, but due to practical reasons he also had to rely on a few trusted servants- But even then, Makuta made it very clear to them what would happen should they betray him, as said guards and assistants no doubt saw with the Forbidden Mask tests.
The Mask of Agony’s effects on the nervous system was tested, with Makuta usually judging its success by how loud the screams of his prisoners were. He diligently recorded the Mask of Poison’s corrosiveness on Okotan bodies, and observed the desperate measures that some prisoners would take to kill themselves after repeated exposure to the Mask of Despair. Tests were repeatedly run as Makuta evaluated the practicality of a Mask of Fear VS a Mask of Aging, and some chambers were specifically cut-off and carefully quarantined to contain the Mask of Pestilence’s horrific disease.
Prisoners were offered freedom if they could answer the simplest questions, only to find themselves at a loss for words thanks to the effects of the Mask of Incomprehension. Makuta went out of his way to test the boundaries of already-established Masks of Power, and see if they could be used on living Okotans- For example, some of Makuta’s experiments tinkered with the idea of a Mask of Liquefaction that could liquefy even living creatures, while others saw how long a person could survive being fused with a solid object.
Unsurprisingly, many experiments got messy and most prisoners went mad with despair, not taking into account those exposed to the Mask of Despair. During the Skull Raider wars, Makuta enhanced and tried out torture techniques on various Skull Raider prisoners, utilizing his Forbidden Masks to divulge answers out of them, while regularly using the Mask of Incomprehension on prisoners to keep them from telling anyone the truth of his deeds, should any ever manage to escape- Alas, none of them did. Even the guards were privy to such effects to prevent them from ratting out Makuta, with Makuta reasoning that even if they could never convey what they needed to, they would always be able to understand his orders and that alone would be sufficient- Besides, he could always release the curse on them and apply it whenever he wanted.
Dead remains and corpses were piled up, with Makuta using some for more biological experiments as he toyed with the facets of anatomy, while other corpses were used as a test-bed for the Mask of Undead’s necromancy. Makuta’s infamous Trap-Masks, whose ‘power’ was to drive a blade through the wearer’s head, were first tested out in these dark and inhumane tunnels. Experiments of other natures and techniques were devised, and the laboratory was used as Makuta’s primary storage place for the life energy of Okotans he harvested for the Mask of Life- Such energy would be transported in secret to the Great Forge for him to use.
It its unknown if the dark chambers of the secret laboratory ever became haunted from all of the constant evil, suffering, and death that went on in them, but even if they weren’t, the effects of what unspeakable atrocities happened there would go on to change Okoto forever. Even if the prisoners’ voices were never heard, silenced by the layout of the facility and its power of Silence, eventually Okoto would hear them, one way or another.
Even after the existence of the Forbidden Masks and their creator was revealed, Makuta made a point never to reveal the particular lab he had stationed near the City of the Mask Makers, claiming the other labs and the Great Forge were where he had done his research, and denying the usage of any ‘test subjects’ if asked. Still, suspicions existed, and it was generally (and correctly) assumed following the Great Cataclysm that horrific underground torture chambers for Makuta’s horrible experiments had existed.
As Makuta used the Skull Raiders to harvest Okotan lives and work on the Mask of Life began to near completion, Ekimu and the Protectors’ investigations into the sudden massacres made Makuta nervous. Fearing he would be caught and that he was leaving a trail leading directly to himself, Makuta, in his paranoia, eventually killed all of the prisoners and guards within his secret lab, sacrificing them for the Mask of Life. Perhaps the vengeful spirits of Makuta’s victims were what influenced the Mask of Life to absorb Okoto’s spirit- Regardless, Makuta made a point of sealing off his secret lab after the deed was committed, reasoning that once the Mask of Life was completed, none of his sins would matter to the Okotans.
When the Great Cataclsym occurred, Makuta’s spirit was left scattered throughout all of Okoto and unable to access his hidden lab. As Makuta pulled himself together both literally and figuratively and carved new locations, Okotans who re-gathered at the City of the Mask Makers following the incident never learned of the lab or discovered it- They were far too busy trying to repair from the Great Cataclysm to explore a random part of the Cliffside.
As for the secret lab itself, it was left relatively intact, save for the obvious cracks and collapses here and there- Makuta had built the area like a bunker so it could last. The years passed and Makuta conducted his other experiments, eventually creating the first of the Rahkshi, his ‘son’ Morbuzakh. Morbuzakh proved to be rebellious and strong-willed, and eventually escaped from his creator, exploring Okoto for a place to make his home. Recalling the stories his father had told him of this place, he immediately sought the secret lab out, hoping to find the research notes left behind- To his confusion and dismay, however, they were all gone by the time he arrived, presumably retrieved by Makuta.
Despite the location’s relative uselessness, Morbuzakh still chose to make it his new ‘home’ for now, using his powerful strength and plant-tendrils, to carve a new, hidden chamber within the secret lab and infesting the tunnels with his own roots and branches. Morbuzakh used the network of tendrils he established to spy on the Okotans at the City of the Mask Makers from afar.
When Fenrakk was created and unleashed the Skull Spiders upon Okoto, he quickly took residence in the City of the Mask Makers alongside Kulta and various other Brotherhood forces. Morbuzakh, witnessing the occupation first-hand through his plant-tendrils, decided to follow in Makuta’s footsteps and operate directly underneath an enemy’s nose by continuing to hide in the secret lab, instead of retreating in case Fenrakk found him.
Fenrakk eventually got curious and sent the possessed Red Serpent to comb the secret lab, but it found nothing of note as Makuta had already told him besides several skeletal corpses, the remains of his old experiments, and at least one room possibly containing the sealed-off diseases of the Mask of Pestilence. The power of Silence and Illusions that once hid the lab had long worn-off when the Great Cataclsym acted almost like an EMP, disrupting the lab’s functions.
Fenrakk did notice several root-like growths and plant tendrils, interwoven throughout the walls, but he took no notice of them like anyone else would. Meanwhile, Morbuzakh spied on his brother and successor, situtated at the heart of a network of plants within the secret lab’s hidden chamber he made for himself.
Morbuzakh would continue his operations within the secret lab, until a member of the Gukko Airforce, Harvali, was nearly shot down by Kal archers as she attempted to observe the City of the Mask Makers from afar. Falling down a cliff, she barely held onto the cliff-face, and holding on for dear life, would’ve fallen to her death had a vine not appeared that she hadn’t noticed earlier. Grasping onto the vine, Harvali followed it down its length toward its roots, eventually discovering the entrance to the secret lab.
For a while, Morbuzakh watched carefully from afar, observing Harvali’s progress as she explored the abandoned tunnels in growing horror, coming across the skeletons and the (sometimes scrambled) messages carved into the walls long ago by dying, despairing prisoners who were desperate for a legacy to leave behind. He entertained the idea of revealing himself as the one who saved her earlier, but decided to just wait and intervene only at the very last second, for when Harvali was dying of thirst or starvation. To Morbuzakh’s surprise, Harvali managed to survive on her own in the secret lab, subsisting on cave mosses and lichen, as well as insects and small creatures that had also made their home. Somewhat out of his own amusement, Morbuzakh even regularly spawned fruits from his vines spread throughout the caverns to keep Harvali alive, all while remaining hidden and watching from afar.
Eventually, the Okotan Alliance besieged the City of the Mask Makers in an attempt to take it back and prevent Kulta from destroying the Mask of Creation. During the fateful battle, the legendary Toa heavily wounded Fenrakk, forcing the Lord of Skull Spiders to escape- And with the Toa raining fire (and other elements) down on him from above, he went for the nearest source of cover, the entrance to the secret lab, and ventured inside to hide himself and heal.
Even as Fenrakk summoned several Skull Spiders and the Red Serpent to defend himself as he recovered, Morbuzakh bided his time and considered attacking his vulnerable brother then and there, but eventually decided to wait for the Okotans to provide backup first. Surely enough, the Protectors arrived alongside some of their most trusted warriors and infiltrated the secret lab, slowly uncovering the scars of Makuta’s atrocities as they searched for Fenrakk and quickly came across Harvali. When the Red Serpent came close to finishing them all off, Morbuzakh took his opportunity to intervene, ensnaring the Rahi and shattering its Skull Spider mask as he captured the Okotans, revealing himself to them and Harvali. Explaining his origins and intent, Morbuzakh teamed up with the Okotans and the newly-freed Red Serpent to attack Fenrakk.
When Fenrakk fully recovered and began to gain the upper hand, Morbuzakh chose not to take his chances used his roots’ strangehold on the walls to pull down the secret lab, tearing apart its supports and bringing the ceiling collapsing down on everyone, even his Okotan ‘allies’. Fenrakk, the Okotans, and the Red Serpent managed to escape as Morbuzakh abandoned the location, and the secret lab was destroyed underneath the collapsing rubble.
Following the Battle for the City of the Mask Makers, the Protectors had the Toa unearth the ancient lab’s ruins so they could comb the area for any clues that could help them defeat Makuta, with Harvali reasoning that she and Morbuzakh may have missed something during their time there. Alas, nothing was found, confirming once and for all that Makuta’s records and journal entries had already been retrieved by him.
…But they weren’t- Makuta didn’t have the chance to remove them, and when Morbuzakh arrived, they were gone. By the time Fenrakk had scoured the supposedly-abandoned lab, he found no trace of the records and reported this to a concerned Makuta, who felt an enemy in his midst. After Morbuzakh’s survival and existence in the secret lab was discovered, Makuta assumed his usurper son had taken them, but this assumption was also false.
So who was it that took the forbidden research notes…?
Harvali is a former, lost member of the Gukko Airforce. A natural explorer, historian, and archaeologist, Harvali used her position as a rider to travel between the Mega Villages, learning tales of Okoto’s past, in particular from Kokoro, where she would listen to Kylma drone all day long. Working with her lover Vira, Harvali would explore areas, helping her more artistic friend depict the locations she found on their maps. Due to her desire to explore, this naturally led Harvali to, riskily, land on the ground to walk amongst it, and even dig up artifacts. Despite Kongu’s warnings, Harvali continued on her passion, eventually being burdened by her desire to explore other parts of Okoto- Parts deemed off-limits by Vizuna.
Despite pleas with Vizuna to try sending another search party, Harvali was refused. Thus, Harvali continued flying the same routes, finding the occasional new place with Vira’s help and support, but ultimately desiring, deeply, to see the rest of Okoto. She knew the airspace was too dangerous, and she knew the ground was littered with Skull Spiders- But if she could maintain a delicate balance between the two…
And so, Harvali made secret plans to fly into the restricted airspace, low enough to avoid whatever caused the disappearance, and high enough to evade Skull Spiders. Harvali announced these plans to a despondent Vira, who feared for Harvali’s safety. The two argued, and put their foots down- Vira would not support Harvali in this reckless pursuit.
Tearfully, Harvali agreed and bade her lover farewell one last time, the two taking a day out together in case Harvali never came back. And with that, Harvali got atop her Gukko at night, and flew off into the restricted airspace, past the designated highways.
As far as everyone else could tell, she never returned. Vira didn’t quite make a funeral or shrine for Harvali- She still slightly held onto the vain hope that Harvali lived… And lived, she did, but barely. Harvali’s plan had worked, to an extent- She managed to map out quite a bit of the unknown Okoto, thrilled by her explorations, but then wary of Skull Spiders that seemed to regard her apathetically.
Harvali’s flight could only continue for so long, before Makuta’s forces attacked and tore apart her steed. Wounded and hurt, Harvali was forced to hide until her attackers left, before continuing on. Unable to head back due to several slumbering Skull Spiders she had spotted during her flight, Harvali kept navigating the swarm-free areas, mapping and exploring, becoming afraid and missing Vira, until she finally stumbled across it;
The City of the Mask Makers. And from her vantage point, she could see that SOMETHING was stirring, operating there… And unfortunately for poor Harvali, she paid little heed to a patrolling Kal, who spotted her from afar and fired. The blast destroyed the ledge she was on, and Harvali fell into the chasm below, only to catch on to one of many hanging vines. Clinging to life, Harvali clung to the cliff side, hoping to climb up, until she noticed a nearby cave entrance below. Puzzled, she climbed down and entered it, discovering an underground, seemingly, cavernous network of tunnels…
Harvali found what seemed to be abandoned labs, with discarded research files, tossed-aside tools, failed experiments still in their flasks, and the occasional leftover of Makuta’s madness still roaming the tunnels. Harvali was forced to evade these creatures, and she attempted to leave from which she came- But she couldn’t. The vine she had climbed with was too far, the rock face too steep, and the bottom too far below. And so Harvali was forced to reenter the tunnel network, navigating and mapping out the abandoned lair, avoiding Makuta’s past experiments, learning past secrets left behind, and trying to find another way out, subsisting on what little she could find…
The legendary tree itself, the biggest in all of Okoto by the largest margin, and said to be the first tree in existence, planted by Uxar herself. Although Okotans had already lived in its branches prior to the Great Cataclysm, the arrival of the Skull Spiders caused all Okotans living in the Region of Jungle to congregate in its massive, overhanging branches.
Its primary defense against the Skull Spiders is its massive girth and shape. The Vuata Maca consists, essentially, of massive, underground roots, followed by its colossal trunk, which is hundreds of feet wide, and the branches above that spread outward, housing its inhabitants. In order to access said inhabitants, the flightless Skull Spiders are forced to climb up the trunk, forcing them into a general area that defenders can keep track of and fire on, with gravity helping pull down the Skull Spiders. The Vuata Maca is able to recover quickly from the scars made by the Skull Spiders.
Towering over the Region of Jungle, the Vuata Maca’s roots allow it to access nutrients across the entirety of the region, and it was these massive roots that kept it from being uprooted by the Great Cataclysm. Some theorize that the jungle energy hoarded within the Mask of Life released itself in the direction of the Vuata Maca because it was attracted by such a powerful object of nature.
Regardless of whether or not this reason is valid, the Vuata Maca is able to supply more than just protection from the Skull Spiders, as its massive branches often have homes carved into them, or else built atop them from its wood, and even hanging from them. Sprouting from the Vuata Maca’s branches are gardens of flowers and its nutritious fruits, and the tree has wells of delicious sap that can also be mixed in with other ingredients to create a powerful glue, a commodity frequently distributed across Okoto. As a result of its high elevation, the Vuata Maca’s branches are also home to the Gukko, a species of massive, flying bird with intelligence, strong enough to carry multiple Okotans upon its back. Years of living atop the same tree of caused Macans and Gukko to grow an almost sacred kinship and bond.
Due to the ease from which resources can be acquired, the Macans are fairly egalitarian, mostly getting what they desire by trading with one another. Outside items, such as the lush flora and exotic fauna below, is gathered and distributed by the Gukko Airforce, contributing to a massive economic system first started by Lein, a Macan of many generations ago who flew atop his Gukko to aid other Okotans following the Skull Spider emergence. Due to the Gukko Airforce’s abilities to traverse across all of Okoto, flying above any Skull Spiders, interaction and trade between the tribes has been achieved. The Gukko Airforce is practically the foundation of the Okotan economy, with the Vuata Maca being the hub for all of Okoto’s trading and commerce.
Due to its powerful trading system, the Vuata Maca is comprised of many traders, and its location in the Region of Jungle allows it to host several hanging gardens, making most of the Macans related to gardening and agriculture as well. Markets are a frequent sight and visit. Members of the Gukko Airforce gather plants and occasionally hunt, with Macans being primarily vegetarian. Every Macan knows how to traverse the tree villages, becoming excellent climbers and jumpers, and rope bridges link buildings to one another. For the easily lost or new, several maps, provided by the Gukko Airforce, are dotted amongst the branches to help Macans navigate the Vuata Maca.
The Macans are fairly egalitarian thanks to the ease of which resources are available, making them occasionally envied by other Okotans. This egalitarian system means that there isn’t much of a ruling council, as everyone tends to look out for themselves. To resolve conflicts, most Macans look to the Protector of Jungle, Vizuna, who is the final say in these matters. As Protector, Vizuna is also tasked with ensuring that traders don’t abuse their power or try to hoard resources, although this thankfully is a rare occurrence.
There are many Macans. One particular group is the Gukko Airforce. Generations ago, in response to the formation of Mega Villages to shelter Okotans from the Skull Spiders, the Protector of Jungle at the time, Jagiri, needed a way to contact the other Protectors. A Macan by the name of Lein volunteered with his own solution, as he himself had managed to befriend a Gukko that he used to fly about. He offered to fly across Okoto, untouched by the flightless, ground-bound Skull Spiders, and act as a messenger and transport between the Mega Villages.
With approval from Jagiri, Lein flew around the island, avoiding the Skull Spiders below as he and his Gukko steed delivered messages, information, and plans, helping Jagiri coordinate with the other Protectors. Lein’s efforts allowed him to keep the Mega Villages in contact with one another, and as his journeys continued, others began to request him to bring them certain items from places they themselves could not access, even offering payment. Lein, of course, accepted these offers and complied by these requests, delighting many as he brought foreign, new things for Okotans to look at.
As time passed, Lein realized that he had inadvertently established a trading system, and inspired, he helped teach others to ride upon their Gukko and fly about Okoto. This group worked with Lein to help keep contact between the Mega Villages, with many running their own trading operations. With Lein leading these operations, the group, dubbed the Gukko Airforce, helped establish a trading system and economy amongst the Okotans, something that would have been otherwise impossible thanks to the seclusion forced by the Skull Spiders.
Despite being one of Okoto’s great heroes for the way he allowed everyone to survive, Lein and his steed were not granted a happy ending. He and other Airforce members attempted to fly into airspace previous unexplored, over darker, ancient ruins, such as Destral and the City of the Mask Makers- And they never returned. Unbeknownst to them, Makuta had created counter-measures that patrolled the sky, keeping the Gukko Airforce from accessing certain areas and prohibiting their travel to certain safe lanes. Those that attempted to fly over the City of the Mask Makers would be shot down by the Skull Warriors, the Kal.
Despite this, the Gukko Airforce continued its operations, eventually acting as the defenders of Vuata Maca, using their aerial advantage against the ascending Skull Spiders, and coordinating with the crew of the Aqua Magna into combating the swarms.
Various Macans make their homes in the branches of the Vuata Maca, whom some even worship. For example is Kumo, a crafter and carver who specializes in making throwing disks and other objects, and helps trade in sports-related goods. Kumo likes to keep track and tally of all of the games and sports across Okoto, from the feats of Hewkii the Kolhii champion, to Kopeke, master of the Huai Snowball Sling. Kumo is likewise privy to gossip and loves to hear the latest news and stories, making him one of the first to greet Tamaru upon his return.
Tuuli is one of the more successful traders and shopkeepers of the Vuata Maca. While she has never actually flown atop a Gukko before, Tuuli nevertheless coordinates with the rest of the Gukko Airforce to bring him goods and deliver her products to customers, paying them well and making good business with all she deals with. There are rumors that Tuuli is the descendant of Lein, but she thinks it is all baseless folktale that Kumo may have accidentally indulged in too much.
Sanso is a local gardener who indulges in his hobby of collecting flora from across Okoto and cultivating them in his hanging gardens. While he has some hits and misses, he has nevertheless managed to amass a sizable garden of beautiful flowers, and other exotic flora. Many come to Sanso with offers to trade in exchange for some of his flowers. Many report Sanso to have a ‘beautiful’ smell, and he is a particular fan of Makani’s performances, often gifting the musician with special flowers grown and handpicked from his gardens.
Makani himself is one of the Vuata Maca’s most beloved musicians. A natural at all of the instruments, many of which he carves, occasionally with assistance from Kumo, he frequently practices his songs and music-playing and likes to go about the branches, playing for all to hear. He is also a bit of a partyer, and Makani is frequently invited, occasionally paid, to go to celebrations and other events to perform. Interestingly, he is often seen with a flower in his hair given to him by Sanso.
Orkahm is the resident farmer amidst the branches of the Vuata Maca. Whilst Sanso specializes in flowers, Orkahm is more invested in herbs, roots, and food ingredients. He often has ambitious gardens that he asks Kumo to help him construct in the branches, and Orkahm is even a bit of a geneticist, experimenting with hybrids to create tastier, more bountiful plants. Due to his avid hobby, career, and passion, Orkahm is often in need of Ussal manure, which acts as a potent fertilizer, and constantly orders it from Tuuli and others to get as much as he can.
Kongu is the Captain of the Gukko Airforce. Having inherited the position from his mother, Kongu and his steed, Ka, lead the Airforce in their travels, delivering necessities, luxuries, bringing messages, and with Vizuna by his side coordinates the occasional defense against an attempted Skull Spider breach of the Vuata Maca’s branches. A no-nonsense flyer and pilot, Kongu is more invested in the practical, military applications of the Airforce, but at the same time notices the importance that the market and its luxuries provide to often hopeless Okotans. Believe it or not, but Kongu occasionally hides a sly sense of humor that slips out from time to time.
Tamaru is another member of the Gukko Airforce, and one of its more unusual ones. Crippled with a fear of heights, easy air-sickness, and vertigo, Tamaru nevertheless lives for the report. He is dedicated to delivering information to others, as well as acting as a mailman, and he engages in the current workings and know-how of Okoto, intending to see how the war against the Skull Spiders turns out. As a result of this need and desire, Tamaru became a member of the Gukko Airforce, although his weaknesses force him to fly with others. As the man of news in Okoto, many often swarm Tamaru for messages from others, to send messages, and to learn about the current goings of the other Mega Villages. In his rare spare time, Tamaru loves to gab, with Kumo being a faithful audience member.
Shu is a daredevil pilot of the Gukko Airforce, who loves to showboat her flying abilities atop her steed, often doing complicated maneuvers, spins, and dives, something Kongu is quick to lecture her about. Due to her wild, rowdy nature, Shu likes to hold Gukko races with other flyers, and if doing none of the above, has once been sighted trying out skydiving- Which, again, agitates Kongu. Despite her seemingly fearless nature, however, Shu is not dumb and is well aware of the threat that Skull Spiders pose, and refuses to underestimate them.
Vira is the mapmaker of Okoto, and knows the layout of the entire island- Or as much as she can, if it weren’t for the mysterious, restricted airspace where flyers disappear and never return. A coordinator, Vira was the one who helped map out the branches of the Vuata Maca. With a natural penchant for exploration and an almost obsessive curiosity, Vira has taken to the Airforce to fly above Okoto, using her altitude and vantage point to map out the island. Her knowledge of the geography makes her vital in planning out flights, coordinating paths, and calculating times and distances. Vira makes her own personal profit making and selling maps to others, and she dreams of exploring Okoto, in honor of her disappeared lover, Harvali.
The resident food connoisseur, chef, and diner, Boreas joined the Gukko Airforce in part to fuel his culinary passions. One of Orkahm’s most frequent customers, Boreas is an admirable chef, combining various herbs, spices, and other ingredients to create the most delectable dishes. Many will come to his small cottage, offering something in exchange for a delicious recipe. Boreas likes to use his position of the Airforce to visit other Okotans and try their cuisines and share cooking tips and recipes, and his part-time job is delivering and selling ingredients, some of which he needs to gather from the ground below; A job the fearless, but not foolish, Shu is willing to do for him.
Taiki is a kindred spirit amongst the Gukko, and some joke that she IS part Gukko. Secretly, Taiki wishes this was the case. A member of the Gukko Airforce, she perhaps shares the closest bond with the Gukko birds, tending to them, making sure they are fed, and even playing with them. Taiki likes to travel around the branches, visiting other Gukko nests and helping the mothers with their eggs. Amusingly, Tamaru once saw Taiki actually sit on an egg in the vain hopes of helping it hatch, a sight Taiki has made him swear never to divulge. Taiki is particularly insistent on the mutual bond and respect between rider and Gukko. Taiki is often called ‘Featherhead’ by the others, but this is an endearing nickname.
