Kirop, Av-Matoran Leader of Karda Nui

Kirop was the leader of the Av-MatoranAv-MatoranThe Light-element Matoran, prototypes of their species, who colonised Karda Nui from the Southern Continent and built the Stalactite Villages above the Swamp of Secrets., the Matoran of Light, and lived in the Sky Villages 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., the great chamber at the core of the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control.. When the 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. invaded, he was turned into a Shadow MatoranShadow MatoranAv-Matoran corrupted by the Makuta in Karda Nui, drained of Light and weaponized with shadow powers. and became the favourite of the blinded Makuta ChiroxChiroxA Makuta of the Brotherhood who questioned Teridax's plans before being sent to Karda Nui., until a klakk restored his light and he left for Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. with the surviving Av-MatoranAv-MatoranThe Light-element Matoran, prototypes of their species, who colonised Karda Nui from the Southern Continent and built the Stalactite Villages above the Swamp of Secrets.. (BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe; BIONICLE Ignition 15: Mata Nui Rising; BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

Origins and the preparation of Karda Nui#

Kirop was created by the Great BeingsThe Great BeingsScholar-inventors of Spherus Magna whose creations shaped the Matoran Universe and whose absence defined the conflicts that followed. to help build 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.. He became the leader of the Av-MatoranAv-MatoranThe Light-element Matoran, prototypes of their species, who colonised Karda Nui from the Southern Continent and built the Stalactite Villages above the Swamp of Secrets. and directed their work, carried out in darkness, building the islands and places of the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control.. Once that was done, the Av-Matoran were set to preparing the universe core, 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 Great Spirit's awakening. (BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets)

During that work, energy creatures called 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., Rahi by-products of the Matoran's efforts, threatened the Av-Matoran. The Toa MataToa Mata and Toa NuvaSix biomechanical heroes created by the Great Beings to awaken Mata Nui and defeat the Brotherhood, transformed once and tested across an entire age. arrived and dealt with them. When the work was finished, Kirop and the Av-Matoran went back to their homeland in the caves below the southern continent. (BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets)

The return to Karda Nui and the Sky Villages#

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. shook the Av-Matoran homeland, and part of it broke away and fell 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., forming the Sky Villages that hung in the chamber 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.. Kirop made his home in one of them. (BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe)

He carried on as leader of the Av-MatoranAv-MatoranThe Light-element Matoran, prototypes of their species, who colonised Karda Nui from the Southern Continent and built the Stalactite Villages above the Swamp of Secrets. there, helping them adjust to the hardships of their new life. Before he was corrupted, he was seen as a wise and well-qualified leader. (BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe; BIONICLE.com biography: Kirop)

The Brotherhood's invasion and the Shadow Leech#

When the 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. arrived 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., Kirop was the one who recognised them as Makuta. On the second day of the invasion he led a rescue mission, but it failed: the Makuta ChiroxChiroxA Makuta of the Brotherhood who questioned Teridax's plans before being sent to Karda Nui. drained his light and turned him into a Shadow MatoranShadow MatoranAv-Matoran corrupted by the Makuta in Karda Nui, drained of Light and weaponized with shadow powers.. His sense of right and wrong was corrupted along with it, and he became an outspoken ally of the Makuta. (BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe; BIONICLE.com biography: Kirop)

After ChiroxChiroxA Makuta of the Brotherhood who questioned Teridax's plans before being sent to Karda Nui. was blinded by Toa Mahri Matoro's use of the Kanohi Ignika, Kirop became his preferred Shadow Matoran. As the former leader of the Av-Matoran, he knew everything about their resistance and turned that knowledge against them. He resented GavlaGavlaAn Av-Matoran of Karda Nui transformed into a Shadow Matoran, Gavla led Vamprah's corrupted villagers and resisted restoration. for being named leader of the Shadow Matoran, a role he felt should have been his. (BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe; BIONICLE.com biography: Kirop)

Capture, the keystone, and the planted plan#

The arrival of the Toa NuvaToa Mata and Toa NuvaSix biomechanical heroes created by the Great Beings to awaken Mata Nui and defeat the Brotherhood, transformed once and tested across an entire age. 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. brought real resistance to the Makuta. Kirop had kept one of the pieces of the keystone, holding on to it as a bargaining chip. LewaLewaToa of Air, member of the Toa Mata and Toa Nuva, whose career was marked by repeated possession, body theft, and aerial campaigns from Le-Wahi to Karda Nui. knocked him out of the sky with a gust of wind, and KopakaKopakaKopaka was the Toa Nuva of Ice, the loner of the Toa Mata, and one of the six warriors created on Artakha to protect the Great Spirit Mata Nui. took him captive along with his keystone. He woke as a prisoner in a hut. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

The Toa then made sure he overheard a made-up story about a way to destroy all of the Makuta's 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.. Kirop escaped and fled to the leech hive, unknowingly leading the Toa NuvaToa Mata and Toa NuvaSix biomechanical heroes created by the Great Beings to awaken Mata Nui and defeat the Brotherhood, transformed once and tested across an entire age. and their Matoran partners straight to it. After the hive was destroyed by the Toa Ignika, Mutran blamed Kirop and threatened to kill him, until Antroz stepped in and said they couldn't afford to lose anyone while the war went on. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

Kirop took part in the Makuta's attack on the last village, which was ambushed by the Toa Nuva, and went down into the swamp with the Makuta for the final battle. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

The klakk and the restoration of Light#

Kirop was cured by a klakk, a 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. whose blast could break the barrier that kept light from returning to a Shadow Matoran. The change reversed his transformation and made him an Av-MatoranAv-MatoranThe Light-element Matoran, prototypes of their species, who colonised Karda Nui from the Southern Continent and built the Stalactite Villages above the Swamp of Secrets. again. (BIONICLE Ignition 15: Mata Nui Rising; BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

The same discovery let 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. and the Av-Matoran track down the other Shadow Matoran and free them, before Takanuva ordered the Matoran out 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. ahead of Mata Nui's awakening. (BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

Evacuation, Metru Nui, and Spherus Magna#

On Takanuva's orders, Kirop and the other Av-MatoranAv-MatoranThe Light-element Matoran, prototypes of their species, who colonised Karda Nui from the Southern Continent and built the Stalactite Villages above the Swamp of Secrets. left Karda Nui and travelled to Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. They were in the Coliseum celebrating the reawakening of Mata Nui when TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. interrupted to announce that he now ruled the universe. (BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

As an Av-MatoranAv-MatoranThe Light-element Matoran, prototypes of their species, who colonised Karda Nui from the Southern Continent and built the Stalactite Villages above the Swamp of Secrets., Kirop can change how the colour of his armour looks, a habit his people trained to keep their element secret, and can channel small amounts of light through his hands or tools. He carried power swords and a rocket booster. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets; Chirox)

As a Shadow MatoranShadow MatoranAv-Matoran corrupted by the Makuta in Karda Nui, drained of Light and weaponized with shadow powers., he had been mutated, with wings, blades fixed to his hands, claws and teeth. He could fire bolts of shadow, and while joined to a Makuta he could steal an opponent's sight and grew stronger through the link. Those powers ended with his cure. (BIONICLE.com biography: Kirop; Chirox)

Significance#

Kirop's arc ran from leader to victim to weapon and back again across the whole of the 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. campaign. As leader of the Av-MatoranAv-MatoranThe Light-element Matoran, prototypes of their species, who colonised Karda Nui from the Southern Continent and built the Stalactite Villages above the Swamp of Secrets., he headed his people from the building of the universe to the Sky Villages. As a Shadow Matoran, he was ChiroxChiroxA Makuta of the Brotherhood who questioned Teridax's plans before being sent to Karda Nui.'s favourite and the most knowledgeable enemy the Av-Matoran had. Restored, he joined the evacuation that took his people out of the chamber before Mata Nui woke. (BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets; BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe; BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

His fall and recovery followed the shape of the wider campaign: corruption by the Makuta, the Toa Nuva's trickery, and restoration through the klakk, with Mata Nui's awakening at the end. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE Ignition 15: Mata Nui Rising)