Akilini

Akilini was the official sport of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. Matoran surfed around the field on a KanokaKanoka DisksMetru Nui's most versatile artifact: flying disks equally at home in sport, combat, and crafting. disk while trying to throw more disks than their rivals through the scoring hoops, and tournaments were played on the shifting floor of the ColiseumThe ColiseumCentral tower of Metru Nui, serving as government seat, akilini arena and, during Teridax's masquerade, the place from which the city's Matoran were rounded up into spheres.. The Po-MatoranPo-MatoranThe Stone-element Matoran of Po-Metru and Po-Koro, carvers and quarry workers, the most athletic of the Matoran types and the population behind the Kohlii and Akilini circuits. KodanKodanThe Po-Matoran Chronicler who invented Akilini and shaped Metru Nui's recorded history. was eventually credited with inventing it, and winners received the Copper Mask of VictoryCopper Mask of VictoryA powerless ceremonial Kanohi first awarded to akilini champions in Metru Nui and later to the champions of the villages of Mata Nui, forged in the shape of a Noble Huna or Komau., a ceremonial mask that later passed into the Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years. era. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Origins#

Several Matoran claimed to have invented akilini, and the metru argued for years over whose citizen deserved the honour. Kodan, a Po-Matoran, was one of the claimants. He later became Chronicler to the Toa Mangai and recorded their exploits, and after he was lost, the Matoran of Metru Nui raised a monument to him in Po-MetruPo-MetruMetru Nui's Stone District, home to carvers whose work defined the city and site of an ancient conflict that threatened to divide it. crediting him with the game. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

The sport grew around the city's Kanoka disks, which Matoran in every metru carried. Friends played it for fun, too: the Ko-Matoran EhryeEhryeEhrye was a Ko-Matoran errand-runner of the Knowledge Towers who tried to sell the location of a Great Disk, thought better of it in front of a Dark Hunter, and helped the Toa Metru find it. and the Po-Matoran Ahkmou often played together. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated; BIONICLE Adventures 1: Mystery of Metru Nui)

The Coliseum venue#

Tournament akilini was played at the ColiseumThe ColiseumCentral tower of Metru Nui, serving as government seat, akilini arena and, during Teridax's masquerade, the place from which the city's Matoran were rounded up into spheres., the great arena at the centre of Metru Nui where Turaga DumeDumeDume is a Turaga of Fire and the former ruler of Metru Nui, distinguished by his red and black coloring and the Noble Kanohi Kiril, the Mask of Regeneration. As a member of the Turaga of Metru Nui, he wields a Staff of Office and commands a weakened mastery of Fire. He later resides on the reformed Spherus Magna. lived. Its floor could shift and reshape itself, throwing up obstacles for players. (BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui)

The Toa Metru saw the field in action when they brought the Great DisksThe Great Disks: six Kanoka of level nineThe Great Disks were six Kanoka of Metru Nui, each at the maximum power level of nine, one hidden in every district. The Toa Metru recovered all six. to the Coliseum. Dume, who was really TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. in disguise, refused to accept them as Toa and set the arena floor moving to test them in front of the crowd. (BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui; BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru Nui)

Beneath the playing field lay chambers large enough to hold the city's Matoran in their spheres. When the Toa Metru came back to rescue them after the Great CataclysmThe Great CataclysmThe day Makuta Teridax put the Great Spirit to sleep, the Great Spirit Robot fell from the sky, Metru Nui flooded, and Voya Nui tore loose from the Southern Continent., they found AhkmouAhkmouA Po-Matoran carver of Metru Nui, one of the six Great Disk holders, who betrayed his fellow Matoran to the Dark Hunters, served Makuta Teridax, and became a false Turaga during Teridax's reign.'s sphere beneath the akilini field. (BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru Nui)

Rules of play#

The basics were simple: each player rode a Kanoka disk around the field and threw other disks, and the side that put more through the scoring hoops won. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Tournament play and the Copper Mask of Victory#

Champions were awarded the Copper Mask of VictoryCopper Mask of VictoryA powerless ceremonial Kanohi first awarded to akilini champions in Metru Nui and later to the champions of the villages of Mata Nui, forged in the shape of a Noble Huna or Komau., a powerless ceremonial KanohiKanohiMasks that grant powers and sustain life, they're the most vital artifact in the Matoran Universe. forged in a copper colour and worn by the winners on Metru Nui. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

The masks outlasted the city. The Toa Metru brought them to Mata Nui, where they were awarded to the champions of village games and sports. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Descent into KolhiiKolhiiKolhii was the inter-village sport of Mata Nui, grown out of the older game of koli and played by all six Koro until the Matoran left the island.#

When the Matoran of Metru Nui escaped to Mata Nui, they lost their memories, and akilini was lost with them. It was soon replaced by KolhiiKolhiiKolhii was the inter-village sport of Mata Nui, grown out of the older game of koli and played by all six Koro until the Matoran left the island., the sport played between the villages of the island. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Kolhii kept some of akilini's spirit: teams representing different regions, a tournament overseen by the Turaga, and a Copper Mask for the winners. By the time of the great Kolhii Tournament at Ta-Koro, teams from each village competed for the honour. (Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Akilini didn't return after the Matoran resettled Metru Nui. By then kolhii was their game, and akilini survived in the guidebooks, in Kodan's monument, and in the Copper Masks still passed to winners. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)