Koro

The Koros were the six MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. villages built 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. after the Great RescueThe Great RescueThe campaign that brought the mutated Toa Metru back into Visorak-occupied Metru Nui to recover the sealed Matoran spheres, find Keetongu, and break the hordes' grip on the city long enough to evacuate every Matoran to the surface of Mata Nui., on sites 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. had chosen. Each Koro housed one of the six elemental MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. tribes, was guided by a TuragaTuragaFormer Toa who fulfilled their destiny and transformed into leaders. Turaga wield Noble Kanohi masks and weakened elemental powers, guiding their communities., and kept a SuvaSuvaSuva were the sacred shrines of Matoran civilisation, holding Toa Stones, Kanohi, and Nuva symbols across Mata Nui, Metru Nui, and beyond. shrine for the ToaToa (2001)Biomechanical heroes bonded to elemental powers and masks. Not born, but chosen and transformed. of its element. (BIONICLE: World; Mata Nui Online Game)

Establishment after the Great Rescue#

On their first visit to Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years., 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. split up to explore the island, and each chose a site for the village of their element. 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. picked a spot near the Mangai VolcanoMangai VolcanoThe central volcano of Ta-Wahi, formed by Mata Nui's damaged camouflage systems and used by Teridax as cover for his hidden lair Mangaia. with defence in mind. NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras. chose the landing spot on the shore. 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. chose a site in the desert of Po-WahiPo-WahiPo-Wahi is a region of the island of Mata Nui, inhabited by Po-Matoran and Rahi. The territory formerly fell under the control of Teridax., 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. found the caverns that became Onu-KoroOnu-KoroOnu-Koro was the earth engineers' city, where underground isolation created one of Mata Nui's most self-sufficient settlements, until the Bohrok came., and 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. climbed the mountain he named Ihu, in honour of his late mentor. MatauMatauA former Le-Metru test driver who became a Toa Metru, Matau wielded air, illusion, and shape-shifting before sacrificing his Toa power to wake the sleeping Matoran., lost and uncomfortable in the swampy jungle of Le-WahiLe-WahiLe-Wahi is a region on the island of Mata Nui, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and Rahi. Formerly subject to the power of Teridax, the region is no longer under that influence., decided his village should be built in the treetops. (BIONICLE: World)

After the Great Rescue the Toa Metru became TuragaTuragaFormer Toa who fulfilled their destiny and transformed into leaders. Turaga wield Noble Kanohi masks and weakened elemental powers, guiding their communities., and the reawakened MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. built the villages under their guidance, using parts of the airships from the rescue, pieces of the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. spheres and local materials. 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., 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., NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras., 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., 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., and MatauMatauA former Le-Metru test driver who became a Toa Metru, Matau wielded air, illusion, and shape-shifting before sacrificing his Toa power to wake the sleeping Matoran. each led the village of their element for the thousand years that followed. (BIONICLE: World; Mata Nui Online Game; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

The Six Primary Koros#

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. stood in the volcanic region near the Mangai VolcanoMangai VolcanoThe central volcano of Ta-Wahi, formed by Mata Nui's damaged camouflage systems and used by Teridax as cover for his hidden lair Mangaia., with Matoran homes built from cooled lava. 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., under Captain 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., defended it against 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. attacks. After the defeat of the Bohrok-KalBohrok-KalSix elite Bohrok designed to free the imprisoned Bahrag, they nearly defeated the Toa Nuva before the Toa turned their own powers against them., the Wall of HistoryWall of HistoryA series of inscribed walls in Ta-Koro that recorded Matoran life on Mata Nui, maintained by successive Chroniclers and destroyed when the Bohrok cleansed the island. was built in the village to record every major event in the island's history, carved by TakuaTakuaAn Av-Matoran hidden on Mata Nui as a Ta-Matoran, who gathered the Toa Stones, served as Chronicler, and ultimately accepted the Avohkii to become Takanuva, the Toa of Light. as Chronicler. (Mata Nui Online Game; BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia)

Ga-KoroGa-KoroGa-Koro is a village on the island of Mata Nui, inhabited by the Ga-Matoran and associated with both Nokama and Gali. The settlement was formerly under the power of Teridax. was built on the water at the spot where the Toa Metru had landed, from airship metal, sphere parts and native plants. 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. such as 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. and 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. lived and worked on the surrounding waters. (BIONICLE: World; Mata Nui Online Game)

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. sat in the desert of Po-WahiPo-WahiPo-Wahi is a region of the island of Mata Nui, inhabited by Po-Matoran and Rahi. The territory formerly fell under the control of Teridax.. Its MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. were carvers and athletes whose lives revolved around stonework and the sport of 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., then called koli. Le-KoroLe-KoroLe-Koro is a village situated within Le-Wahi, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and home to Turaga Matau and Toa Lewa. The settlement was once held under the control of Teridax. was built in the treetops of Le-WahiLe-WahiLe-Wahi is a region on the island of Mata Nui, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and Rahi. Formerly subject to the power of Teridax, the region is no longer under that influence.. Ko-KoroKo-KoroKo-Koro is a location in Ko-Wahi, home to the Ko-Matoran and associated with both Nuju and Kopaka. Its exact size is unknown. sat high on Mount Ihu in Ko-WahiKo-WahiKo-Wahi is a region situated directly above Ko-Metru, inhabited by Matoran, Turaga, Toa, and Rahi. It was formerly under the control of Teridax., home to quiet, watchful Ko-Matoran. Onu-KoroOnu-KoroOnu-Koro was the earth engineers' city, where underground isolation created one of Mata Nui's most self-sufficient settlements, until the Bohrok came. lay underground, lit by lightstonesLightstoneGlowing crystals that powered Onu-Koro's mines and revealed secrets beneath Mata Nui. and dug deeper by its miners. (Mata Nui Online Game; BIONICLE: World)

Each Koro kept a SuvaSuvaSuva were the sacred shrines of Matoran civilisation, holding Toa Stones, Kanohi, and Nuva symbols across Mata Nui, Metru Nui, and beyond., a shrine for its Toa. When the Toa MataWho are the Toa Mata?Six warriors built to order by Artakha, stored in canisters, dropped into the ocean. This is the origin story of Bionicle's heroes and why their first week of work was entirely amnesiac. arrived, the Ko-Suva held the masks 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. collected, and the Toa Nuva later kept their Nuva symbols in their villages' Suva. The idea was older than Mata Nui: in Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh., a SuvaSuvaSuva were the sacred shrines of Matoran civilisation, holding Toa Stones, Kanohi, and Nuva symbols across Mata Nui, Metru Nui, and beyond. in the Great Temple had received six Toa StonesToa StonesSmall stones charged with a portion of a Toa's power, used to awaken the dormant Toa Power within a destined Matoran and elevate them into a Toa. to transform the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. chosen by LhikanLhikanToa of Fire, leader of the Toa Mangai, and the last Toa of Metru Nui, who surrendered his Toa Power to create the Toa Metru and died defending Vakama.. (Mata Nui Online Game; BIONICLE Chronicles 3: Makuta's Revenge; BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru Nui)

Elements and Regional Isolation#

The Koros grew up largely apart from one another, each shaped by the environment of its 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.. Po-MatoranPo-MatoranThe Stone-element Matoran of Po-Metru and Po-Koro, carvers and quarry workers, the most athletic of the Matoran types and the population behind the Kohlii and Akilini circuits. became expert carvers. Onu-MatoranOnu-MatoranEarth-wielding Matoran of the deep who adapted to darkness and built the Matoran Universe's defensive cavalry. were miners who rode UssalUssalSix-legged crustacean Rahi domesticated across Metru Nui and Mata Nui for cargo, mining, and sport. Backbone of Matoran labor. crabs through their tunnels. 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. were at home on the water, and Le-MatoranLe-MatoranGreen-powered Matoran obsessed with thrills and transport. They're basically Bionicle's daredevils. flew the GukkoGukkoA large, swift bird-like Rahi domesticated by the Le-Matoran as the mount of the Gukko Force, the second-largest Matoran military unit on Mata Nui. birds of the Gukko Bird Force. (Mata Nui Online Game)

Contact between the villages was limited. Ko-Koro in particular rarely dealt with the others in the thousand years after its founding. Every village had to defend itself against 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. that TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. set loose once the first year of peace was over, and each Koro's defences were built around the threats of its own region. (BIONICLE: World; Mata Nui Online Game)

This decentralised structure kept MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. life going through the long years after the Great RescueThe Great RescueThe campaign that brought the mutated Toa Metru back into Visorak-occupied Metru Nui to recover the sealed Matoran spheres, find Keetongu, and break the hordes' grip on the city long enough to evacuate every Matoran to the surface of Mata Nui., but it left each village to face the Rahi largely on its own until the Toa arrived. (Mata Nui Online Game)

The Bohrok Invasion#

When the BahragBahragCahdok and Gahdok were the twin queens of the Bohrok, sealed in a protodermis cage by the Toa Mata and later released to finish their cleansing of Mata Nui. queens awoke, they sent the BohrokBohrokHive-minded mechanical creatures designed to reshape worlds, the Bohrok represent a threat the Toa Mata never expected. swarms out across Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years. to clear the island. The TahnokTahnokFire-element Bohrok swarms from Mata Nui, controlled by krana and armed with Fire Shields., PahrakPahrakStone-aligned Bohrok swarm units that forced the Toa Mata to realize they couldn't win through isolated victories., LehvakLehvakAcid-wielding Bohrok that dissolve obstacles as easily as enemies., GahlokGahlokWater-element Bohrok swarms that flooded Mata Nui's aquatic zones with relentless purpose., KohrakKohrakIce-wielding Bohrok from the 2002 original wave, the foundational design for all subsequent Bohrok variants., and NuhvokNuhvokThe earth-dwelling Bohrok whose rigid nature made them dangerously predictable. swept through the regions, and the villages came under attack one after another. (BIONICLE Chronicles 2: Beware the Bohrok)

The damage was heavy. 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 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. were struck by the swarms, and Le-KoroLe-KoroLe-Koro is a village situated within Le-Wahi, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and home to Turaga Matau and Toa Lewa. The settlement was once held under the control of Teridax. was overrun, with its Matoran fitted with kranaKranaThe small organic creatures that controlled the Bohrok, made in eight types plus a mutated variant, without which no Bohrok could serve the swarm. and turned against the Toa. Even 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. fell under krana control for a time. (BIONICLE Chronicles 2: Beware the Bohrok; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Following the Toa Mata's victory over the BahragBahragCahdok and Gahdok were the twin queens of the Bohrok, sealed in a protodermis cage by the Toa Mata and later released to finish their cleansing of Mata Nui. and their change into the Toa NuvaToa NuvaThe form the Toa Mata took after stepping into the Energized Protodermis beneath the Bahrag, with new masks, new tools, and the elemental scale to fight Karda Nui., the Koros were repaired, with help from the krana-less Bohrok. The peace did not last long: the Bohrok-KalBohrok-KalSix elite Bohrok designed to free the imprisoned Bahrag, they nearly defeated the Toa Nuva before the Toa turned their own powers against them. soon raided the villages and stole the Nuva symbols from their Suva. (BIONICLE Chronicles 3: Makuta's Revenge; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

A Note on De-Koro#

A small villageDe-KoroDe-Koro is the silent village of De-Matoran on the Tren Krom Peninsula, where Mazeka found the future Toa Krakua and where Vultraz knocked out the whole village with a blast of sound. of De-MatoranDe-MatoranMatoran with Sonics powers who valued silence so deeply that they didn't welcome Toa and the conflict they bring., the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. of Sonics, stood on the Tren Krom PeninsulaThe Tren Krom PeninsulaThe Tren Krom Peninsula was a rocky strip of the Northern Continent ruled by Makuta Gorast, riddled with acid falls and Razor Crystal cliffs, and home to Ko, Ta, and De-Matoran villages., far from 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 home to KrakuaKrakuaA Toa of Sonics from De-Koro who served the Order of Mata Nui and delivered a devastating prophecy to Vakama. until Vultraz attacked it. The story doesn't name the village, and it was never part of the six-Koro system on Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years.. (Brothers in Arms)

There was no seventh Koro on Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years.. The villages there were limited to the six elemental tribes living on the island, each with one TuragaTuragaFormer Toa who fulfilled their destiny and transformed into leaders. Turaga wield Noble Kanohi masks and weakened elemental powers, guiding their communities. and one ToaToa (2001)Biomechanical heroes bonded to elemental powers and masks. Not born, but chosen and transformed.. (BIONICLE: World; Mata Nui Online Game)

Inconsistencies in the Surviving Record#

The story told the Koros' origins out of order. In the Mata Nui Online GameTakua's Journey Across Mata Nui: The Chronicler's Path to Kini-NuiA wandering Ta-Matoran with no memory of how he reached the beach walked the six villages of Mata Nui, witnessed the Toa Mata's awakening, and organized the defense that held Kini-Nui. and the early books, the villages simply existed and the Turaga kept their past hidden. Only later stories revealed that the Turaga had once been 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. and that the villages were founded after the escape from Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. (Mata Nui Online Game; BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru Nui; BIONICLE: World)

That late reveal is why early descriptions of the villages say nothing of their Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. origins, and why some details, such as the airship parts built into the villages, only appear in later reference books. (BIONICLE: World)

These gaps come from the order in which the story was published rather than from contradictions in the canon. (BIONICLE: World)

Significance#

The Koros were the centre of MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. life on Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years. for the thousand years between the Great RescueThe Great RescueThe campaign that brought the mutated Toa Metru back into Visorak-occupied Metru Nui to recover the sealed Matoran spheres, find Keetongu, and break the hordes' grip on the city long enough to evacuate every Matoran to the surface of Mata Nui. and the return 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 gave a population that had lost its memories a familiar village life, and each Koro kept the traditions of its element alive. (BIONICLE: World; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

The 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. ended that era. Searching for the Mask of Light, they destroyed 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., which sank into the lava after its Matoran escaped, and its people took refuge in other villages. Ko-Koro was also partly wrecked. Soon afterwards the Matoran left the Koros behind 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., and the Toa NuvaToa NuvaThe form the Toa Mata took after stepping into the Energized Protodermis beneath the Bahrag, with new masks, new tools, and the elemental scale to fight Karda Nui. went from guarding single villages to defending the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. people as a whole. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE: Mask of Light (novelisation); BIONICLE Adventures 3: The Darkness Below; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)