Charred Forest

The Charred Forest was once a diverse, peaceful jungle, a section of the volcanic region of Ta-WahiTa-WahiTa-Wahi was the volcanic region of Mata Nui surrounding the Mangai Volcano, encompassing Ta-Koro, the Lake of Fire, the Charred Forest, and the Ta-Wahi Beach. on the island of Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years.. It was burned by Makuta TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. in one of his early attacks on the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. of Mata Nui.

During the Matoran-Rahi WarMatoran-Rahi WarA thousand-year struggle between Matoran villagers and Teridax's enslaved Rahi nearly broke the five koros before the Toa arrived., the forest was the site of the Battle of the Charred Forest, a clash between the 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. of Ta-KoroTa-KoroTa-Koro was a settlement located in Ta-Wahi, home to the Ta-Matoran, Tahu, and Vakama, and formerly connected to Teridax. The settlement was ultimately destroyed. and the infected 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. controlled by Teridax. The fighting was fierce, with 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.'s Ta-Koro GuardTa-Koro GuardThe Ta-Koro Guard was the largest standing Matoran fighting force on Mata Nui, captained by Jaller and active from the early Rahi conflicts through the return to Metru Nui. maintaining outposts throughout the area. The results were inconclusive: the Ta-Matoran forced the Rahi back, but the trees were left twisted and black by the combat, which gave the forest its name and present state.

Afterward the Charred Forest became a dark and dangerous place, and few Ta-Matoran ventured into its depths unless they were hunting Rahi. A sole exception was KapuraKapuraKapura was a red Matoran of Fire who served as a member of the Ta-Koro Guard and formerly as part of the Chronicler's Company. A native of Metru Nui, he later worked as a Vat Controller there, wearing a powerless Ruru on Mata Nui and a powerless Pakari on Metru Nui, and ultimately settled on Bota Magna on Spherus Magna., who was frequently seen there practicing. The Ta-Koro Guard set Rahi Traps among the trees to catch infected beasts; one such trap accidentally caught 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. when he first arrived on Mata Nui, until TuragaTuragaFormer Toa who fulfilled their destiny and transformed into leaders. Turaga wield Noble Kanohi masks and weakened elemental powers, guiding their communities. VakamaVakamaA Ta-Metru maskmaker transformed into the Toa Metru of Fire, leader of his team through the Visorak war, and Turaga of Ta-Koro for a thousand years. came by and apologized to the Toa.

The wood of the forest had an unusual property: it was all but impervious to heat and flame, and would not burn even when placed in lava. Ta-Matoran harvested it to craft Lavaboards, the heat-resistant boards used to cross the lava flows of Ta-Wahi and to compete in the sport of Ignalu. Tahu himself owned such a board before he acquired his Magma Swords.