Keahi's Cliff

KeahiKeahiKeahi was a Ta-Matoran of Ta-Koro and a member of the Ta-Koro Guard, the patroller of the ledge above the lava break that bore his name, and the instructor who trained Hahli in the Kolhii skill of Strength before the championship at Ta-Koro.'s Cliff was a ledge above a lava break in the 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. region of Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years., close to the Ta-Koro Kolhii StadiumTa-Koro Kolhii StadiumThe largest Kolhii venue on Mata Nui, host to the championship match in which the Mask of Light first appeared before the public eye.. It was patrolled by KeahiKeahiKeahi was a Ta-Matoran of Ta-Koro and a member of the Ta-Koro Guard, the patroller of the ledge above the lava break that bore his name, and the instructor who trained Hahli in the Kolhii skill of Strength before the championship at Ta-Koro., a member of the 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., and it was where he trained the Ga-MatoranGa-MatoranThe Water-element Matoran of Ga-Metru and Ga-Koro, a female Matoran type, who filled the schools of Metru Nui and crewed the boats of the Mata Nui coast. 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. in the 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. skill of Strength before the island's Kolhii championship. (Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle)

Setting in Ta-WahiWahiThe Matoran word for region. The six Wahi of Mata Nui were the six elemental territories that made up the island before the Bohrok cleared its surface.#

The cliff was a ledge above a lava break, one of the open channels of molten rock that ran through the volcanic land around 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.. It was a hot, exposed spot, typical of Ta-Wahi. (Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle)

It lay near the entrance to the Ta-Koro Kolhii StadiumTa-Koro Kolhii StadiumThe largest Kolhii venue on Mata Nui, host to the championship match in which the Mask of Light first appeared before the public eye., the arena where the island's Kolhii championship was played. The only way to the ledge was a ladder fixed near the stadium entrance. There was no second route. (Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle; BIONICLE: Mask of Light)

That siting makes it easy to see why a Guard would watch it. A ledge over lava with one ladder down would be hard to approach unseen, though the game itself never explains why the post was there. (Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle)

Keahi and the Ta-KoroKoroThe Koros were the six elemental villages built on Mata Nui after the Great Rescue, on sites the Toa Metru had chosen, each tied to one element and one Turaga. Guard#

The Guard the cliff was named after was KeahiKeahiKeahi was a Ta-Matoran of Ta-Koro and a member of the Ta-Koro Guard, the patroller of the ledge above the lava break that bore his name, and the instructor who trained Hahli in the Kolhii skill of Strength before the championship at Ta-Koro., 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. who had helped build Ta-Koro and later joined the 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.. According to 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., the Guard's captain, Keahi was its strongest member, and he was well versed in the Kolhii skill of Strength. (BIONICLE: World; Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle)

He wasn't invincible. When a Tahnok-Kal came to steal Tahu's Nuva symbol, Keahi tried to stop it, and the Bohrok-Kal simply leaped over him. After the Bohrok-Kal were defeated, he was rebuilt into a stronger form with the other Matoran. (Mata Nui Online Animations)

The cliff became linked with him because it was his post. The Guard watched many stations, but this ledge above the lava break was the one Keahi patrolled, and it took his name. (Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle)

Hahli's training and the skill of Strength#

The cliff's best-known moment came when Keahi trained 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.. Turaga NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras. had picked her over KotuKotuKotu was a Ga-Matoran of Water who resided on Spherus Magna. Blue and light blue in color, Kotu wore a powerless Rau and carried a Kolhii Stick, serving at various times as a Rahi Tender, an assistant to Nokama, an athlete, and a guard in the Defense Force. to play for Ga-Koro in the Kolhii tournament, with MackuMackuMacku was a Ga-Matoran of Metru Nui and later Ga-Koro, attendant to Turaga Nokama, Kolhii partner to Hahli at the championship at Ta-Koro, and a member of the Chronicler's Company. as her defender, and her preparation took her around the island to learn each village's skills and Principles. (Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle)

Each village had its own Principle, drawn from the Three Virtues, and each Principle gave a Kolhii skill. Ta-Koro's Principle was Courage, which meant putting your responsibility and the safety of others above your own, and its skill was Strength. When Hahli arrived to play Jaller and Takua, Jaller sent her to Keahi to train in Strength, and Keahi had her build it up by kicking Kolhii balls at columns. The Principle of Courage she learned from 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.. (Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle)

With the skills and Principles of every village behind her, Hahli beat Ta-Koro to reach the championship. In the final at the Ta-Koro Kolhii StadiumTa-Koro Kolhii StadiumThe largest Kolhii venue on Mata Nui, host to the championship match in which the Mask of Light first appeared before the public eye., she and Macku narrowly beat Po-KoroPo-KoroPo-Koro was the Po-Matoran village in Po-Wahi, led by Turaga Onewa and guarded by Toa Pohatu, reached through a single statue-lined road called the Path of Prophecies. and 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 at the end of the match the Kanohi AvohkiiAvohkiiThe Avohkii is the Mask of Light, a golden mask that granted its wearer the power of Light and the ability to spread understanding. It was worn by Toa Takanuva. slipped out of Jaller's bag in front of everyone. (Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle; BIONICLE: Mask of Light)

Strategic value of the position#

The cliff's main recorded role is as a training ground, but its setting suggests more. A post on a ledge over the lava would give a Guard a view across the broken, lava-cut land near the village, and a single ladder is easy to watch. That's a reading of the place rather than anything the game spells out. (Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle)

Its closeness to the stadium also put it at the heart of championship day, when the whole island came to Ta-Koro to watch. On that occasion, Keahi's post sat just outside the arena where the Avohkii would be revealed. (Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle; BIONICLE: Mask of Light)

Fate during the Rahkshi attack#

Soon after the championship, TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. sent RahkshiBionicle Rahkshi: the Sons of Makuta from Mask of LightRahkshi are armoured hunters made from kraata, the slug-like creatures of the Makuta. Six of them chased the Mask of Light across Mata Nui in 2003. Here's what they are, the different kinds and where they turn up in the films, books and comics. after the AvohkiiAvohkiiThe Avohkii is the Mask of Light, a golden mask that granted its wearer the power of Light and the ability to spread understanding. It was worn by Toa Takanuva. and its herald. LerahkLerahkLerahk is a green and dark grey Rahkshi of the Kraata species and a native of Mangaia. Serving as a servant of Makuta within the Brotherhood of Makuta, Lerahk possesses the power of poison and wields the Staff of Poison., PanrahkPanrahkPanrahk is a brown and dark grey Kraata, known as a Rahkshi, who hails from Mangaia and serves as a servant of Makuta within the Brotherhood of Makuta. Carrying the Staff of Fragmentation, Panrahk wields the power of fragmentation. and GuurahkGuurahkThe disintegration-breed Rahkshi released by Makuta Teridax to hunt down the Mask of Light, one of the first three sent to Mata Nui to kill the Herald before the Toa of Light could rise. attacked 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 village sank into the lava. Keahi was evacuated with the other Matoran. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light)

What happened to the cliff itself isn't recorded. The Matoran later built boats and returned to Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive., Keahi among them, and Ta-Wahi's ledge didn't follow them there. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE Adventures 1: Mystery of Metru Nui)

What lasted was the training. Hahli went on to become the ChroniclerChroniclerThe Matoran role of recording history and Toa deeds through word and carving, held by figures like Takua and Hahli. and later a Toa Inika and then a Toa MahriToa Inika and Toa MahriSix ordinary Matoran transformed by lightning from the Red Star into heroes who ultimately revived the Great Spirit itself. of Water. The strength she drilled on the ledge above the lava break outlived the village beside it. (Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle; BIONICLE: Mask of Light)