Kanohi Mask of Light and Shadow

The KanohiKanohiMasks that grant powers and sustain life, they're the most vital artifact in the Matoran Universe. Mask of Light and Shadow was the merged mask worn by TakutanuvaTakutanuvaThe temporary fusion of Takanuva and Makuta Teridax, born in Energized Protodermis, wielded light and shadow as one during the climax of Mask of Light., formed when 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 TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. fell together into a pool of Energized ProtodermisEnergized ProtodermisA sentient substance that could remake or annihilate any being that touched it. One of the Matoran Universe's most lethal hazards. within MangaiaMangaia: Teridax's lair beneath Mata NuiMangaia was Teridax's hidden lair beneath the island of Mata Nui. It held a pool of Energized Protodermis used to make Infected Kanohi and Rahkshi.. It joined 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 the KraahkanKanohi KraahkanTeridax's Great Mask sees the darkness in everyone. That's how it conquered the Matoran universe. into one face. The mask existed only for the brief span of TakutanuvaTakutanuvaThe temporary fusion of Takanuva and Makuta Teridax, born in Energized Protodermis, wielded light and shadow as one during the climax of Mask of Light.'s life, splitting apart when the gate he had lifted came down on him. The name "Mask of Light and Shadow" comes from writer Greg Farshtey's later online answers; the story just calls it a merged face. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE: Mask of Light (novelisation))

Formation in Energized ProtodermisProtodermisThe engineered substance building the Matoran Universe, protodermis exists in countless refined states from mundane metal to diamond-hard crystal to the destruction-or-transformation force of energized form.#

The mask was not forged. It came into being during the final confrontation between 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., the Toa of LightToa of LightThe sole Toa wielding the Element of Light through the Avohkii mask, singular and feared by Makuta itself., and TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna., the MakutaMakuta (Species)Shadowy Antidermis beings and the Brotherhood's elite, Makuta commanded darkness and shaped the Matoran Universe's fate., inside MangaiaMangaia: Teridax's lair beneath Mata NuiMangaia was Teridax's hidden lair beneath the island of Mata Nui. It held a pool of Energized Protodermis used to make Infected Kanohi and Rahkshi.. Takanuva launched himself at Teridax and grabbed hold of his KraahkanKanohi KraahkanTeridax's Great Mask sees the darkness in everyone. That's how it conquered the Matoran universe., and the two of them fell into a pit of Energized ProtodermisEnergized ProtodermisA sentient substance that could remake or annihilate any being that touched it. One of the Matoran Universe's most lethal hazards.. A huge head rose from the pool: the merged face of Takanuva and Makuta, half Mask of Light and half Mask of Shadows. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE: Mask of Light (novelisation))

The merging was an effect of the Energized ProtodermisEnergized ProtodermisA sentient substance that could remake or annihilate any being that touched it. One of the Matoran Universe's most lethal hazards. acting on both beings and both masks at once. In the film the merged mask is half Avohkii and half Kraahkan, with the Avohkii partly dominating the centre, and the encyclopedia's Takutanuva entry describes it the same way. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Powers#

As a merger of 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 the KraahkanKanohi KraahkanTeridax's Great Mask sees the darkness in everyone. That's how it conquered the Matoran universe., the mask gave TakutanuvaTakutanuvaThe temporary fusion of Takanuva and Makuta Teridax, born in Energized Protodermis, wielded light and shadow as one during the climax of Mask of Light. access to the powers of both, the light of one and the shadow of the other. Farshtey's later answers list the rest: the Avohkii's understanding alongside the Kraahkan's anger and fear, and a sense for the moral light and shadow inside a being. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

No new abilities are shown emerging from the merger. In the story, the mask is the sum of its two halves rather than something more. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light)

Sole bearer#

TakutanuvaTakutanuvaThe temporary fusion of Takanuva and Makuta Teridax, born in Energized Protodermis, wielded light and shadow as one during the climax of Mask of Light. was the only being ever to wear the Mask of Light and Shadow. The mask was part of his merged form and existed only as long as he did. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light)

During his brief life TakutanuvaTakutanuvaThe temporary fusion of Takanuva and Makuta Teridax, born in Energized Protodermis, wielded light and shadow as one during the climax of Mask of Light. declared that 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. must be awakened and lifted the great gate to Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. so the Matoran could pass. Once they were through, he took 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.'s mask from Hahli and poured part of his own life force into it, bringing Jaller back. The effort weakened him badly. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light)

Destruction#

Drained, TakutanuvaTakutanuvaThe temporary fusion of Takanuva and Makuta Teridax, born in Energized Protodermis, wielded light and shadow as one during the climax of Mask of Light. dropped the gate, and its weight crushed him. The merged being split back into Takanuva and Makuta, and the mask split back into 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 the KraahkanKanohi KraahkanTeridax's Great Mask sees the darkness in everyone. That's how it conquered the Matoran universe.. Takanuva was killed, but the Avohkii was used to bring him back to life. The Kraahkan was flung out on the far side of the gate, leaving Teridax's armour shattered in MangaiaMangaia: Teridax's lair beneath Mata NuiMangaia was Teridax's hidden lair beneath the island of Mata Nui. It held a pool of Energized Protodermis used to make Infected Kanohi and Rahkshi.. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light)

The end of the mask came at the same moment as the end of TakutanuvaTakutanuvaThe temporary fusion of Takanuva and Makuta Teridax, born in Energized Protodermis, wielded light and shadow as one during the climax of Mask of Light.. Nothing in the story suggests it could exist apart from him, and no attempt to make another is known. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light)

Status in the Kanohi record#

The Mask of Light and Shadow holds an odd place among the known KanohiKanohiMasks that grant powers and sustain life, they're the most vital artifact in the Matoran Universe.. It was not made at any forge or given by any Great BeingThe Great BeingsScholar-inventors of Spherus Magna whose creations shaped the Matoran Universe and whose absence defined the conflicts that followed.. It was a short-lived by-product of Energized ProtodermisEnergized ProtodermisA sentient substance that could remake or annihilate any being that touched it. One of the Matoran Universe's most lethal hazards. acting on two opposed masks at once, and it does not exist as a LEGO piece: the Takutanuva combination model uses a Kraahkan in its place. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)