Av-Matoran

The Av-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. were the Light-element MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. of the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control.. Their natural armour colouration of gold and white set them apart from every other variant produced by the Great BeingsThe Great BeingsScholar-inventors of Spherus Magna whose creations shaped the Matoran Universe and whose absence defined the conflicts that followed.. Their history threads through three principal phases: their original life beneath the Southern ContinentThe Southern ContinentThe Southern Continent was a vast landmass beneath the Matoran Universe, scarred by Voya Nui's separation and held under Makuta Mutran's nominal dominion., their colonisation of Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui. at the heart of the Great SpiritThe Great Spirit Robot, explainedBionicle's whole universe lives inside a 40-million-foot robot built by the Great Beings. Here is what it is, why it was built, and how it ended.'s body, and their near-destruction at the hands of the Brotherhood of MakutaThe Brotherhood of MakutaAn organization of Makuta created by Mata Nui to build Rahi and keep order in his universe, later seized by Teridax and turned into the instrument of the Plan that overthrew the Great Spirit. during the struggle over the awakening of Mata NuiMata NuiBuilt by the Great Beings to restore Spherus Magna, Mata Nui sustained an entire civilisation inside his body, was deposed by Teridax, and reclaimed his purpose as a mortal on Bara Magna.. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe)

Origins#

Writer Greg Farshtey later described the Av-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. as the first type of MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. the Great BeingsThe Great BeingsScholar-inventors of Spherus Magna whose creations shaped the Matoran Universe and whose absence defined the conflicts that followed. built, though the books themselves do not say so. In the stories, they could channel light through their tools and turn it on their enemies, as they did against the Shadow MatoranShadow MatoranAv-Matoran corrupted by the Makuta in Karda Nui, drained of Light and weaponized with shadow powers. of Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui.. Their ranks also included both males and females, such as KiropKirop, Av-Matoran Leader of Karda NuiKirop was the leader of the Av-Matoran in Karda Nui, captured and transformed into a Shadow Matoran by the Brotherhood of Makuta, restored by the cry of a klakk, and a survivor of the Destiny War and the Reformation. and GavlaGavlaAn Av-Matoran of Karda Nui transformed into a Shadow Matoran, Gavla led Vamprah's corrupted villagers and resisted restoration., which set them apart from the other MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. types. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE Ignition 12: Realm of Fear)

Their original home was a network of underground caverns beneath the Southern ContinentThe Southern ContinentThe Southern Continent was a vast landmass beneath the Matoran Universe, scarred by Voya Nui's separation and held under Makuta Mutran's nominal dominion.. For most of MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. history, the Av-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. lived apart from the rest of their species, and their existence was not common knowledge among the populations of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. or other inhabited regions. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe)

The colonisation of Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui.#

Long before 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., the Av-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. were sent to Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui., the vast cavern at the core of the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control.. Their assignment was to prepare Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui. for the awakening of the Great Spirit Mata NuiMata NuiBuilt by the Great Beings to restore Spherus Magna, Mata Nui sustained an entire civilisation inside his body, was deposed by Teridax, and reclaimed his purpose as a mortal on Bara Magna.. (BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets; BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

The work was not unopposed. Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui. was haunted by AvohkahAvohkahThe Avohkah were incredibly fast and powerful elemental beings, sentient lightning bolts produced as by-products of the Av-Matoran's labours in Karda Nui and defeated by the Toa Mata before the Great Spirit Mata Nui's awakening., sentient creatures that looked like bolts of lightning. The Av-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. took them for ordinary lightning until more than a dozen of their number had been killed, and the Toa MataWho are the Toa Mata?Six warriors built to order by Artakha, stored in canisters, dropped into the ocean. This is the origin story of Bionicle's heroes and why their first week of work was entirely amnesiac. were summoned to defend them. After several months the Toa rid the core of the creatures, and the Av-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. finished their preparations and returned to the caves above. When the Great Spirit awoke, the Energy StormsEnergy StormsThe raw-energy maelstroms that filled Karda Nui whenever Mata Nui was awakened, incinerated the Brotherhood of Makuta contingent at the climax of the Final Battle, and fed the Great Spirit's body with the energy it needed. began to rage through Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui., and the Toa Mata sealed themselves in their Toa CanistersToa CanisterThe Av-Matoran-built pods that delivered the Toa Mata to Mata Nui and were later repurposed by the Piraka. to survive. (BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets)

The Time Slip and the dispersal#

Much later, during the Time SlipThe Time SlipThe Time Slip was a period of about six months that was wiped from the memories of most Matoran universe inhabitants after the Order of Mata Nui scattered the Av-Matoran of Karda Nui across the universe to defend against the Brotherhood of Makuta., 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. carried out an operation that changed how many Av-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. lived. As beings of Shadow, the MakutaMakuta (Species)Shadowy Antidermis beings and the Brotherhood's elite, Makuta commanded darkness and shaped the Matoran Universe's fate. were vulnerable to Light, and the OrderThe 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. feared that the Brotherhood of MakutaThe Brotherhood of MakutaAn organization of Makuta created by Mata Nui to build Rahi and keep order in his universe, later seized by Teridax and turned into the instrument of the Plan that overthrew the Great Spirit. might one day turn evil and try to wipe the Av-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. out. To guard against this, the OrderThe 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. removed a number of Av-Matoran from their homeland, disguised them as Matoran of other elements, convinced them that they were what they appeared to be, and relocated them across the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control.. (BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe)

The process took six months. When it was done, the memories of those six months were erased from everyone in the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control. except members of the OrderThe 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., leaving a gap in recorded history that became known as the Time SlipThe Time SlipThe Time Slip was a period of about six months that was wiped from the memories of most Matoran universe inhabitants after the Order of Mata Nui scattered the Av-Matoran of Karda Nui across the universe to defend against the Brotherhood of Makuta.. TakuaTakuaAn Av-Matoran hidden on Mata Nui as a Ta-Matoran, who gathered the Toa Stones, served as Chronicler, and ultimately accepted the Avohkii to become Takanuva, the Toa of Light., who would much later become TakanuvaTakanuvaHidden among the Ta-Matoran as Takua, the disguised Av-Matoran who became Takanuva was the sole Toa of Light produced in the Matoran Universe's full history., was among the relocated Av-Matoran, placed on Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. in the guise of a Ta-MatoranTa-MatoranThe Fire-element Matoran of Ta-Metru and Ta-Koro, forgers of masks and Kanoka, lava farmers, and the standing core of the Ta-Koro Guard during the war for Mata Nui.. The relocated Av-Matoran were absorbed into their new communities as Matoran of other elements. (BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe; BIONICLE World)

The Stalactite Villages#

The Av-Matoran who stayed behind were caught by 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.. Massive stalactites broke from the ceiling of Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui. and impaled the ground below, carrying Av-Matoran settlements in the caves above down with them. When Voya NuiVoya NuiAn island born from catastrophe and hiding the universe's most powerful artifact, Voya Nui was everything Bionicle 2006 promised: danger, mystery, and a race against time. broke away from the Southern ContinentThe Southern ContinentThe Southern Continent was a vast landmass beneath the Matoran Universe, scarred by Voya Nui's separation and held under Makuta Mutran's nominal dominion., it left a hole through which sea water laced with Pit MutagenPit MutagenThe biological lock built into the Pit, a mutagenic substance that rewrote every being immersed in it into a water-breathing form unable to survive on land. poured into the core, turning the floor of Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui. into the Swamp of SecretsSwamp of SecretsThe Swamp of Secrets was the mutagen-saturated wetland that filled the floor of Karda Nui after the Great Cataclysm, serving as a Brotherhood stronghold until the Energy Storms.. (BIONICLE Ignition 12: Realm of Fear; BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

The survivors adapted. The Av-Matoran built new Stalactite VillagesThe Stalactite Villages of Karda NuiThe Av-Matoran settlements built atop the fallen stalactites of Karda Nui after the Great Cataclysm. Five Lightvine-protected villages, the only habitable refuge above the Swamp of Secrets, and the targets of the Brotherhood of Makuta's Shadow Leech invasion. on top of the fallen stalactites, high above the Swamp of SecretsSwamp of SecretsThe Swamp of Secrets was the mutagen-saturated wetland that filled the floor of Karda Nui after the Great Cataclysm, serving as a Brotherhood stronghold until the Energy Storms., linked by rope bridges of lightvine and almost impossible to leave without flight. KiropKirop, Av-Matoran Leader of Karda NuiKirop was the leader of the Av-Matoran in Karda Nui, captured and transformed into a Shadow Matoran by the Brotherhood of Makuta, restored by the cry of a klakk, and a survivor of the Destiny War and the Reformation. emerged as their leader, and the community lived in peace for some time. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe)

The Brotherhood invasion#

The peace ended when the Brotherhood of MakutaThe Brotherhood of MakutaAn organization of Makuta created by Mata Nui to build Rahi and keep order in his universe, later seized by Teridax and turned into the instrument of the Plan that overthrew the Great Spirit. found the way into Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui. and invaded the core ahead of Mata NuiMata NuiBuilt by the Great Beings to restore Spherus Magna, Mata Nui sustained an entire civilisation inside his body, was deposed by Teridax, and reclaimed his purpose as a mortal on Bara Magna.'s awakening. The strike force split in two. One team searched the swamp below, while the aerial force of AntrozAntrozMakuta commander who led the Phantoka assault on Karda Nui and pilot of the Jetrax T6, ultimately outmaneuvered by Kopaka's superior strategy., VamprahVamprahVamprah hunted in absolute silence, but silence wasn't enough when Tahu outmaneuvered him in the swamp., and ChiroxChiroxA Makuta of the Brotherhood who questioned Teridax's plans before being sent to Karda Nui. attacked the villages with Shadow LeechesShadow LeechMutated Kraata designed to drain light and corruption. Created by Mutran and allies, they transformed dozens of Matoran before the Energy Storm wiped them out., parasites that drained the Light from a victim and turned them into Shadow MatoranShadow MatoranAv-Matoran corrupted by the Makuta in Karda Nui, drained of Light and weaponized with shadow powers.. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE Ignition 12: Realm of Fear)

GavlaGavlaAn Av-Matoran of Karda Nui transformed into a Shadow Matoran, Gavla led Vamprah's corrupted villagers and resisted restoration. was the first to lose her light, and KiropKirop, Av-Matoran Leader of Karda NuiKirop was the leader of the Av-Matoran in Karda Nui, captured and transformed into a Shadow Matoran by the Brotherhood of Makuta, restored by the cry of a klakk, and a survivor of the Destiny War and the Reformation. and RadiakRadiakAn Av-Matoran of Karda Nui who was corrupted into a Shadow Matoran by a Shadow Leech, restored by a Klakk, and evacuated to Metru Nui before the Energy Storms. were among the many who followed, pressed into service as riders and scouts for the MakutaMakuta (Species)Shadowy Antidermis beings and the Brotherhood's elite, Makuta commanded darkness and shaped the Matoran Universe's fate.. In the end only one village of Av-Matoran held out, with TanmaTanma, Av-Matoran Resistance Leader of Karda NuiTanma was the Av-Matoran who took command of the Karda Nui resistance after Kirop's corruption, partnered with Lewa Nuva during the Phantoka campaign, and led the evacuation that carried the surviving Av-Matoran to Metru Nui., SolekSolekSolek was an Av-Matoran of Karda Nui who fought alongside the Toa Nuva against the Brotherhood of Makuta during the final battle for Mata Nui's awakening., and PhotokPhotokPhotok was an Av-Matoran of Karda Nui who fought alongside Tanma and Solek in the resistance against the Brotherhood of Makuta during the final battle for Mata Nui's awakening. among its fighters. The arrival of the Toa NuvaToa NuvaThe form the Toa Mata took after stepping into the Energized Protodermis beneath the Bahrag, with new masks, new tools, and the elemental scale to fight Karda Nui. turned the tide, and the Av-Matoran fought alongside them for the rest of the campaign. The shadow Matoran VicanVicanVican is a mutated Le-Matoran who previously served as a Shadow Matoran and as an assistant to Mutran. He wears a powerless Shelek, wields claws, and bore the black and lime coloring of his time as a Shadow Matoran. Connected to the element of Air, Vican resides on Spherus Magna. discovered that the sonic scream of a klakkThe KlakkThe bat-like sonic Rahi engineered by Makuta Mutran whose scream shattered the inner barrier holding back the Light in a Shadow Matoran, used by Takanuva to cure Karda Nui's corrupted Av-Matoran. could break the barrier that kept Light from returning, and TakanuvaTakanuvaHidden among the Ta-Matoran as Takua, the disguised Av-Matoran who became Takanuva was the sole Toa of Light produced in the Matoran Universe's full history. used the creature to restore all of the Shadow Matoran to their Light state. (BIONICLE Ignition 12: Realm of Fear; BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

Abilities and legacy#

The Av-Matoran carried a further secret. In Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui., the Toa NuvaToa NuvaThe form the Toa Mata took after stepping into the Energized Protodermis beneath the Bahrag, with new masks, new tools, and the elemental scale to fight Karda Nui. watched a group of Av-Matoran transform into BohrokBohrokHive-minded mechanical creatures designed to reshape worlds, the Bohrok represent a threat the Toa Mata never expected., and learned that the BohrokBohrokHive-minded mechanical creatures designed to reshape worlds, the Bohrok represent a threat the Toa Mata never expected. swarms had once been Av-Matoran. The Bohrok-KalBohrok-KalSix elite Bohrok designed to free the imprisoned Bahrag, they nearly defeated the Toa Nuva before the Toa turned their own powers against them. were in turn six BohrokBohrokHive-minded mechanical creatures designed to reshape worlds, the Bohrok represent a threat the Toa Mata never expected. remade by the BahragBahragCahdok and Gahdok were the twin queens of the Bohrok, sealed in a protodermis cage by the Toa Mata and later released to finish their cleansing of Mata Nui.. (BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

When the Energy StormsEnergy StormsThe raw-energy maelstroms that filled Karda Nui whenever Mata Nui was awakened, incinerated the Brotherhood of Makuta contingent at the climax of the Final Battle, and fed the Great Spirit's body with the energy it needed. returned and destroyed the villages, all of the Av-Matoran, including the restored Shadow MatoranShadow MatoranAv-Matoran corrupted by the Makuta in Karda Nui, drained of Light and weaponized with shadow powers., evacuated Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui. and made their way to Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. Along with the rest of the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. population, they eventually left the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control. to settle on the reformed Spherus MagnaSpherus MagnaA desert world of ancient conflict that became the merger point of the Matoran Universe and Bionicle's true endpoint.. (BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle; BIONICLE: Journey's End)