The King Root

The King Root was the central, sentient core of the MorbuzakhMorbuzakhA sentient plant monster created by Teridax to terrorize Metru Nui and control its population through fear., a giant plant created by MakutaMakuta: species, title, and TeridaxMakuta means three things in the Matoran Universe: the Antidermis species Mata Nui created, the Brotherhood rank, and most often Teridax himself. TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. to terrorise the city of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. It grew in the Great FurnaceThe Great FurnaceThe largest furnace in Ta-Metru, site of the Morbuzakh King Root's nest and the recovery of the fused Great Disks that became the Kanohi Vahi. of Ta-MetruTa-MetruThe fire district where Ta-Matoran perfected their craft and powered Metru Nui's industry for thousands of years., spread vines across the city, and was destroyed by the Toa MetruToa Metru and Toa HordikaSix Matoran elevated by Lhikan to save their city, mutated by Visorak venom, and restored in time to deliver the population to safety. using the combined power of the six Great DisksThe Great Disks: six Kanoka of level nineThe Great Disks were six Kanoka of Metru Nui, each at the maximum power level of nine, one hidden in every district. The Toa Metru recovered all six.. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Origin#

TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. created the MorbuzakhMorbuzakhA sentient plant monster created by Teridax to terrorize Metru Nui and control its population through fear. from energized protodermis several years 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.. It was his second attempt. His first such plant, KarzahniThe Karzahni PlantThe sentient prototype of the Morbuzakh, created by Teridax and abandoned in the labyrinth beneath Mata Nui after it proved too willful to control., turned out too powerful and intelligent for his purposes, so he abandoned it and made the Morbuzakh instead. When Teridax took Turaga DumeDumeDume is a Turaga of Fire and the former ruler of Metru Nui, distinguished by his red and black coloring and the Noble Kanohi Kiril, the Mask of Regeneration. As a member of the Turaga of Metru Nui, he wields a Staff of Office and commands a weakened mastery of Fire. He later resides on the reformed Spherus Magna.'s place in the months before the Cataclysm, he secretly planted the Morbuzakh in Ta-MetruTa-MetruThe fire district where Ta-Matoran perfected their craft and powered Metru Nui's industry for thousands of years.. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated; BIONICLE Adventures 6: Maze of Shadows; BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)

The plant's first move was to grow vines around the Great FurnaceThe Great FurnaceThe largest furnace in Ta-Metru, site of the Morbuzakh King Root's nest and the recovery of the fused Great Disks that became the Kanohi Vahi. and drive the Matoran away, leaving it free to grow its King Root in the middle of the huge building, fed by the molten protodermis and the flames. The root grew to well over a thousand feet tall. From there its vines spread throughout the city, attacking buildings and Matoran seemingly at random, though mostly around the edges of each MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it.. The VahkiVahkiMetru Nui's mechanical law enforcement squads, designed to maintain rigid order but ultimately undermined by chaos beyond their programming. and the Matoran fought back, but the plant was too strong for them. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire; BIONICLE: Metru Nui, City of Legends; BIONICLE Adventures 1: Mystery of Metru Nui)

Purpose#

The job of the King Root, and of the MorbuzakhMorbuzakhA sentient plant monster created by Teridax to terrorize Metru Nui and control its population through fear. as a whole, was to drive the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. into the centre of the city, to the Coliseum. Once they were gathered there, Teridax and the VahkiVahkiMetru Nui's mechanical law enforcement squads, designed to maintain rigid order but ultimately undermined by chaos beyond their programming. could easily capture them and seal them in Matoran SpheresMatoran SphereRound containers that wiped memories and hid Makuta Teridax's manipulation of the Matoran.. The attacks on outlying districts and the vines that tore through buildings all served that one herding goal. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

When the Toa MetruToa Metru and Toa HordikaSix Matoran elevated by Lhikan to save their city, mutated by Visorak venom, and restored in time to deliver the population to safety. finally reached the root, it told them telepathically that it had been commanded to drive the Matoran to the centre of the city. It was the clearest sign yet that someone else was behind the attacks. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)

Path to the Great Furnace#

Legend said the Great DisksThe Great Disks: six Kanoka of level nineThe Great Disks were six Kanoka of Metru Nui, each at the maximum power level of nine, one hidden in every district. The Toa Metru recovered all six. were the only thing that could destroy the Morbuzakh, and the Toa MetruToa Metru and Toa HordikaSix Matoran elevated by Lhikan to save their city, mutated by Visorak venom, and restored in time to deliver the population to safety. collected all six, one from each MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it., with the help of the Matoran who knew where they were. 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. VhisolaVhisolaVhisola was a Ga-Matoran student of Nokama, one of the six finders of a Great Disk, whose research deduced the location of the Morbuzakh King Root. had studied the plant and worked out that it thrived on heat and had to be beaten at its King Root. NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras. realised that the root had to be in the Great FurnaceThe Great FurnaceThe largest furnace in Ta-Metru, site of the Morbuzakh King Root's nest and the recovery of the fused Great Disks that became the Kanohi Vahi. of Ta-MetruTa-MetruThe fire district where Ta-Matoran perfected their craft and powered Metru Nui's industry for thousands of years.. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)

All six Toa MetruToa Metru and Toa HordikaSix Matoran elevated by Lhikan to save their city, mutated by Visorak venom, and restored in time to deliver the population to safety. and their six MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. partners set out for the Furnace. On the way they ran into hundreds of MorbuzakhMorbuzakhA sentient plant monster created by Teridax to terrorize Metru Nui and control its population through fear. seeds, pods that dropped from the rafters and split open to send out grasping tendrils, and got clear of them. During the same stretch AhkmouAhkmouA Po-Matoran carver of Metru Nui, one of the six Great Disk holders, who betrayed his fellow Matoran to the Dark Hunters, served Makuta Teridax, and became a false Turaga during Teridax's reign. tried to run, and OnewaOnewaOnewa served as Toa Metru of Stone, led Po-Koro through the Dark Time, and constructed the Metru Nui statue honoring the fallen Toa Mahri Matoro., now sure he was the traitor in the group, confronted him. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)

In the hallway leading into the Great FurnaceThe Great FurnaceThe largest furnace in Ta-Metru, site of the Morbuzakh King Root's nest and the recovery of the fused Great Disks that became the Kanohi Vahi., NujuNujuNuju served as a Ko-Metru seer, Toa Metru of Ice, and Turaga of Ko-Koro who spoke only in bird calls translated by Matoro. used up most of his elemental power against the vines blocking the way. The Toa left the six MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body., NuhriiNuhriiNuhrii was a Ta-Matoran mask-maker of Metru Nui, one of the six finders of a Great Disk, who later served in the Ta-Koro Guard on Mata Nui., VhisolaVhisolaVhisola was a Ga-Matoran student of Nokama, one of the six finders of a Great Disk, whose research deduced the location of the Morbuzakh King Root., TehuttiTehuttiTehutti was an Onu-Matoran archivist of Metru Nui, one of the six finders of a Great Disk, whose Archives research produced the Matoran Nui technique., OrkahmOrkahmOrkahm was a Le-Matoran Ussal rider of Le-Metru, Matau's chief rival, one of the six finders of a Great Disk, and later a Gukko Force member on Mata Nui., EhryeEhryeEhrye was a Ko-Matoran errand-runner of the Knowledge Towers who tried to sell the location of a Great Disk, thought better of it in front of a Dark Hunter, and helped the Toa Metru find it. and AhkmouAhkmouA Po-Matoran carver of Metru Nui, one of the six Great Disk holders, who betrayed his fellow Matoran to the Dark Hunters, served Makuta Teridax, and became a false Turaga during Teridax's reign., outside to guard their way out, and the Matoran merged into a Matoran Nui to hold off the vines while the Toa went in. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Confrontation#

Inside the Great FurnaceThe Great FurnaceThe largest furnace in Ta-Metru, site of the Morbuzakh King Root's nest and the recovery of the fused Great Disks that became the Kanohi Vahi., the Toa MetruToa Metru and Toa HordikaSix Matoran elevated by Lhikan to save their city, mutated by Visorak venom, and restored in time to deliver the population to safety. found the King Root, as tall as a skyscraper, filling the enormous room. It spoke to them telepathically and admitted that it had been commanded to drive the Matoran to the centre of the city. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)

The King Root then tried to snatch WhenuaWhenuaToa Metru of Earth and later Turaga of Onu-Koro, formerly an Onu-Metru archivist whose career in the Archives shaped his role across the rescue of Metru Nui and the long residency on Mata Nui.'s Great DiskThe Great Disks: six Kanoka of level nineThe Great Disks were six Kanoka of Metru Nui, each at the maximum power level of nine, one hidden in every district. The Toa Metru recovered all six., and failed. The plant could also launch thorns at its enemies, and the fight wore the Toa down. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)

During the battle the Toa MetruToa Metru and Toa HordikaSix Matoran elevated by Lhikan to save their city, mutated by Visorak venom, and restored in time to deliver the population to safety. each used up almost all of their elemental power, and as new Toa it would take them a long time to recharge. To finish the plant, they tricked it into drawing them closer, then unleashed the power of the six Great DisksThe Great Disks: six Kanoka of level nineThe Great Disks were six Kanoka of Metru Nui, each at the maximum power level of nine, one hidden in every district. The Toa Metru recovered all six.. The disks' energies combined into a sphere around the King Root that cut it off from the rest of the plant. Without their source, the vines across the city withered and died, and the root itself collapsed into dust, wrecking the Furnace in its death throes. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire)

Aftermath#

The defeat of the King Root ended the MorbuzakhMorbuzakhA sentient plant monster created by Teridax to terrorize Metru Nui and control its population through fear. crisis. The Great Disks had done their job against the plant; 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. later fused them into the Kanohi VahiKanohi VahiThe Kanohi Vahi was the Legendary Mask of Time, forged by Toa Metru Vakama from the six fused Great Disks of Metru Nui during the city's evacuation., the Great Mask of TimeMask of TimeThe Kanohi Vahi is the Matoran Universe's deadliest mask, capable of stopping or accelerating time, and its creation nearly tore Metru Nui apart., which is covered under that mask's own entry. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire; BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru Nui)

The Great FurnaceThe Great FurnaceThe largest furnace in Ta-Metru, site of the Morbuzakh King Root's nest and the recovery of the fused Great Disks that became the Kanohi Vahi. itself was reduced to rubble by the implosion and was never rebuilt. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

For the six MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. partners, the King Root battle ended with them merged into a single Matoran Nui at the Furnace doors, fighting side by side with the Toa they had guided. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Significance#

The King Root holds an unusual place in the events of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. It was the first major opponent the newly formed Toa MetruToa Metru and Toa HordikaSix Matoran elevated by Lhikan to save their city, mutated by Visorak venom, and restored in time to deliver the population to safety. defeated together and the reason they gathered the six Great DisksThe Great Disks: six Kanoka of level nineThe Great Disks were six Kanoka of Metru Nui, each at the maximum power level of nine, one hidden in every district. The Toa Metru recovered all six.. Its admission that it had been commanded to act was an early sign that a deeper authority was directing events in the city, a thread that ended with the unmasking of TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. as the false TuragaTuragaFormer Toa who fulfilled their destiny and transformed into leaders. Turaga wield Noble Kanohi masks and weakened elemental powers, guiding their communities. DumeDumeDume is a Turaga of Fire and the former ruler of Metru Nui, distinguished by his red and black coloring and the Noble Kanohi Kiril, the Mask of Regeneration. As a member of the Turaga of Metru Nui, he wields a Staff of Office and commands a weakened mastery of Fire. He later resides on the reformed Spherus Magna.. (BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire; BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru Nui)