Artidax

Artidax was an island in the western chain of the southern islands of the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control.. It served as the prison of MakutaMakuta (Species)Shadowy Antidermis beings and the Brotherhood's elite, Makuta commanded darkness and shaped the Matoran Universe's fate. MiserixMiserixThe deposed Makuta leader clawed back from exile to hunt the brother who stole his throne., the deposed leader of the Brotherhood of Makuta, and later as the trap that destroyed the VisorakVisorak (Rahi)Spider-like Rahi employed by the Brotherhood of Makuta whose name meant 'Stealers of Life' and whose swarms threatened the Matoran Universe. horde. Its black sand and jagged volcanic peaks seemed to sit in perpetual shadow even when the sun blazed on the water around it. (Federation of Fear; Dwellers in Darkness)

Geography#

Artidax was an island of black sand and jagged rock, with volcanic peaks and strange RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts. wheeling through the sky. Despite the bright light on the water around it, the island seemed to be in perpetual shadow. (Federation of Fear)

The only way into the volcano where Miserix was held was a tunnel in the side of a mountain, with a razor-thin vine across its mouth that would bring down a rockslide if cut. Inside, a bridge spanned a chasm full of what looked like twisted plants but turned out to be insects, and beyond it lay the chamber where Miserix was chained to the floor. (Federation of Fear)

Imprisonment of Miserix#

When TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. seized control of the Brotherhood, he ordered Makuta KrikaKrikaThe cautious Mistika leader who survived by never taking unnecessary risks, until Teridax's Plan forced his hand. and SpiriahSpiriahA Brotherhood Makuta exiled for a failed experiment who briefly controlled an outcast strike team before his death by absorption. to kill Miserix. Krika showed mercy and imprisoned him on Artidax instead. (Federation of Fear)

Krika guarded the island with Rahi, traps and special powers strong enough to stop a Makuta escaping and to prevent any Makuta from coming to finish Miserix off. Even the sand on the beach was part of the defence: when the rescuers landed, it tried to suck Spiriah into its depths. (Federation of Fear)

BrutakaBrutakaBrutaka guarded the Kanohi Ignika on Voya Nui, betrayed the Order during the Piraka incursion, was mutated in the Pit, and later led the Order's strike team to free Miserix.'s Extraction Team#

Before the rescue, the Toa Nuva TahuTahu, Toa of FireTahu served as Toa Mata, Toa Nuva, and Toa Mistika of Fire, leading his team from the first landing on Mata Nui to the destruction of the Rahkshi army on Bara Magna. and KopakaKopakaKopaka was the Toa Nuva of Ice, the loner of the Toa Mata, and one of the six warriors created on Artakha to protect the Great Spirit Mata Nui. capped the volcanoes in the region as part of their preparations for Mata Nui's awakening, unaware that this would help Miserix's rescuers. (Toa Nuva Blog)

BrutakaBrutakaBrutaka guarded the Kanohi Ignika on Voya Nui, betrayed the Order during the Piraka incursion, was mutated in the Pit, and later led the Order's strike team to free Miserix. then led a team of RoodakaRoodakaShe spent the entire Visorak arc letting everyone think they were using her, then walked away having beaten the Brotherhood and the Toa at their own game., TakadoxTakadoxA Barraki warlord whose hypnotic vision and cunning made him dangerous even in defeat., Spiriah, VezonVezonHe started as a weapon misfire and a throwaway joke, and the canon spent four years quietly turning him into its most useful expendable asset. and LariskaLariskaDark Hunter defined by discipline and tactical competence, Lariska was one of the Shadowed One's most dependable operatives before joining Brutaka's desperate mission. to the island; CaraparCaraparOne of six Barraki warlords imprisoned for 80,000 years, Carapar sought the Mask of Life and became expendable muscle for a final, fatal mission. had set out with them but was no longer part of the group. When the sand seized Spiriah, Roodaka mutated it into a swarm of fireflyers, which let him go. (Federation of Fear)

The team climbed the mountain and slipped into the tunnel without touching the vine, but once they were all inside, Takadox cut it with his sword and trapped them. Vezon tried to sneak away and was caught by Lariska. At the bridge, the insects swarmed both ends, and Roodaka mutated them so the team could pass. (Federation of Fear)

In Miserix's chamber, the team introduced themselves. Miserix killed Spiriah, then let them free him. Once loose, he brought down the side of the mountain and carried the rest of the team off the island, vowing to return one day and destroy Artidax. (Federation of Fear)

Order of Mata Nui Involvement#

The rescue served the Order of Mata NuiThe Order of Mata NuiThe covert organization founded by Helryx to serve the Great Spirit directly, operating in concealment from a fortress on Daxia and waging the open war against the Brotherhood of Makuta that decided the fate of the universe., which wanted Miserix free to fight Teridax. Takadox didn't get far: the team's boat crashed as it left, and he was stranded. Some time later he saw two beings place a device on the volcano, meant to set off an eruption when the Visorak horde arrived. (Federation of Fear; Dwellers in Darkness)

Aftermath and Later History#

HelryxHelryx: the first Toa ever createdHelryx was the first Toa ever made, commissioned by the Great Beings on Artakha long before the Toa Mata. She founded and led the Order of Mata Nui. had the Heart of the VisorakHeart of the VisorakA golden crystal that compels every Visorak in the universe to converge on its location when activated. delivered to the Toa MahriToa Mahri: The Toa Who Saved the UniverseThe Toa Mahri were the water breathing form of the sixth Toa team, transformed by the Mask of Life on the way down to the drowned city of Mahri Nui. They fought the Barraki for the mask and recovered it at the cost of one of their own., and JallerJallerJaller served as Captain of the Ta-Koro Guard, led the Toa Inika to Voya Nui, and commanded the Toa Mahri through the recovery of the Mask of Life., HahliHahliA Ga-Matoran scholar who rose to become Chronicler of Mata Nui, then Toa Inika, then Toa Mahri of Water during the final crises of the Matoran Universe. and NuparuNuparuAn Onu-Matoran engineer from Metru Nui who built the Boxor and rose to become a Toa of Earth despite no warrior destiny. took it to Artidax to lure the horde there and destroy it. Takadox found them, learned why they had come, hypnotised them, stole their boat, and told them about the device, leaving them on the sand as thousands of Visorak closed in. (Dwellers in Darkness)

A telepathic nudge from Makuta Teridax woke Jaller, who roused the others, and the three fled. As they did, an explosion went off and the volcano erupted, killing the entire Visorak horde. (Dwellers in Darkness)

Place in the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control.#

Artidax was a prison, and then a killing ground. Krika picked it to keep Miserix alive but out of the way, and the Order picked it to end the Visorak for good. Twice, the Toa who helped those plans along had no idea what they were part of. (Federation of Fear; Dwellers in Darkness; Toa Nuva Blog)