The Hand of Artakha

The Hand of ArtakhaArtakhaArtakha is the master craftsman of the Matoran Universe, ruler of a hidden island where the Toa Mata came into being and the Avohkii was forged. was an ancient organisation dedicated to carrying out the Great Spirit's will and protecting the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. in the early days of the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control.. For more than two hundred years it challenged threats to the new universe and stopped a number of natural disasters, but its members did so much damage along the way that it was forced to disband. Many former members later joined 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.. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Origins and Foundation#

The Hand of ArtakhaArtakhaArtakha is the master craftsman of the Matoran Universe, ruler of a hidden island where the Toa Mata came into being and the Avohkii was forged. was founded in the early days of the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control., while it was still taking shape, with the aim of keeping the peace and pursuing justice. It took its name from ArtakhaArtakhaArtakha is the master craftsman of the Matoran Universe, ruler of a hidden island where the Toa Mata came into being and the Avohkii was forged., the great maker of the universe's early days. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated; BIONICLE: World)

The Hand drew its members from more than one species, and its goal was to carry out Mata Nui's will and protect the Matoran. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Operations and Mandate#

For more than two hundred years, the Hand of ArtakhaArtakhaArtakha is the master craftsman of the Matoran Universe, ruler of a hidden island where the Toa Mata came into being and the Avohkii was forged. challenged threats to the new universe created by the Great Beings and stopped a number of natural disasters. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Its members meant well, but they were undisciplined, and they caused a great deal of damage in the course of their duties. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Dissolution#

After more than two centuries, the Hand was forced to disband because it was causing more harm than good. Its members went their separate ways, each trying to find a place in the universe. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

The role of public defender passed to the more efficient ToaThe Toa: Heroes of the Matoran UniverseThe Toa were biomechanical guardians sworn to protect the Matoran, bound by a strict code and defined by sacrifice across every age of the universe. teams that were beginning to form. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Transition to the Order of Mata Nui#

Not every former member was ready to give up the cause. One of them went on to found 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., a secret organisation dedicated to following Mata Nui's will, and invited many former members of the Hand to join it, and many accepted. The founder of the Order is 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., the first Toa. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated; BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets)

Where the Hand had acted openly, the Order worked in secret, recruiting beings from many backgrounds and acting largely behind the scenes. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated; Federation of Fear)

Recorded Members#

Only a few former members of the Hand of ArtakhaArtakhaArtakha is the master craftsman of the Matoran Universe, ruler of a hidden island where the Toa Mata came into being and the Avohkii was forged. are known. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

AxonnAxonnAxonn served as an arbitrator under the Hand of Artakha and later as an Order of Mata Nui agent, guarding the Kanohi Ignika on Voya Nui for thousands of years. turned to conquest after the Hand disbanded but was later recruited into 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., where he became a guardian of the Mask of LifeThe Mask of Life (Kanohi Ignika), explainedA failsafe forged by the Great Beings to recharge a god. It curses everyone who touches it, and by the end of Bionicle it had learned how to be a hero. on 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.. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated; BIONICLE Legends 2: Dark Destiny)

HydraxonHydraxonThe jailer of the Pit was killed once, then resurrected as the Matoran Dekar by the Mask of Life. was also a former member. He was recruited into the Order and given the task of bringing Axonn in, and he later served as jailer of the Pit. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Shadow Stealer, another former member, went on to join the Dark HuntersThe Dark HuntersA band of mercenaries and thieves founded on Odina by the Shadowed One and Ancient, hired out across the Matoran Universe, and left a battered ruin by the time Teridax ruled the universe.. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Philosophical Legacy#

The Hand of ArtakhaArtakhaArtakha is the master craftsman of the Matoran Universe, ruler of a hidden island where the Toa Mata came into being and the Avohkii was forged. ended because its open, heavy-handed methods did more harm than good. 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., founded by one of its veterans, took the opposite approach, working in secret. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

The ToaThe Toa: Heroes of the Matoran UniverseThe Toa were biomechanical guardians sworn to protect the Matoran, bound by a strict code and defined by sacrifice across every age of the universe., who took up the Hand's public role, became the universe's recognised defenders, bound by a code against killing. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Historical Status#

The Hand of ArtakhaArtakhaArtakha is the master craftsman of the Matoran Universe, ruler of a hidden island where the Toa Mata came into being and the Avohkii was forged. appears in the published story chiefly through the Encyclopedia Updated, which records its history and its known members. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Its legacy lived on through the Order, whose leader and several of whose veterans had first served in the Hand. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated; BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets)