The Silver Sea

The Silver Sea was the vast body of unrefined liquid 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. surrounding 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 filled the Great BarrierThe Great BarrierThe enormous underground dome of rock and solid Protodermis that enclosed Metru Nui and the Silver Sea, sealed Teridax into a cliff face, and was finally cracked open during the Great Cataclysm., the enormous underground dome of rock and solid 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. that contained the city and its waters, and it formed the principal water environment in that section of the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control.. Silver in colour in its unrefined state, it was at once the city's surrounding sea, the raw material drawn into Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. for purification, and the route by which 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. evacuated the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. population after TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna.'s coup.

Composition and the Great Barrier#

The Silver Sea was composed of unrefined liquid 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 substance that pervaded the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control. in many forms. In its unrefined state the liquid carried a distinctive silver colour, which gave the sea its name. After purification in Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh., the same liquid became clear and was distributed for use in the city's chutes, in Kanoka disk manufacture, and in tool production. The sea therefore served as the source of the city's working medium as well as the surrounding environment in which the city sat.

The entire body of water was contained within the Great BarrierThe Great BarrierThe enormous underground dome of rock and solid Protodermis that enclosed Metru Nui and the Silver Sea, sealed Teridax into a cliff face, and was finally cracked open during the Great Cataclysm., an incredibly large underground dome of rock and solid 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. that housed 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 sea around it. The dome formed the ceiling and outer wall of the environment, and its few openings connected the interior to the wider universe above. Two such openings were significant for the later history of the city: one was believed to be in Naho BayNaho BayThe body of water that made up most of Ga-Wahi, named for a fallen Toa of Water and home to the floating village of Ga-Koro on its surface. on the island called Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years., and the other lay under the ice of Mount IhuMount IhuA snow-capped peak in Ko-Wahi where Kopaka sought his first mask and Nuju honored his mentor. on the same island. These connections allowed MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. spheres and other objects to pass between the sea and the regions above, and they later mattered greatly during the evacuation and return of the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. population.

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. stood at the centre of the dome, surrounded on all sides by the sea. The position made the city directly dependent on the sea for its water supply and on the Great BarrierThe Great BarrierThe enormous underground dome of rock and solid Protodermis that enclosed Metru Nui and the Silver Sea, sealed Teridax into a cliff face, and was finally cracked open during the Great Cataclysm. for its physical security. When 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. cracked the dome and disrupted the sea, both the supply and the security of the city were compromised in the same event.

Native life and dangers#

Several 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. species lived in the Silver Sea. Cave FishCave FishObscure aquatic Rahi with minimal story presence, documented mostly in BIONICLE creature reference materials., small fish-like 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., made their home in the waters surrounding Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. and in the canals of Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh.. During 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. the schools migrated outward through the breached dome and integrated into the surface waters of Aqua MagnaAqua MagnaThe endless ocean where the Matoran Universe found refuge and Mata Nui made his final stand. around 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., where they later became part of the natural ecosystem of that region. Their migration was one of several that demonstrated how directly the Cataclysm linked the interior environment to the surface above.

The sea also held considerable concealed dangers. The Kanohi DragonKanohi DragonA fearsome Rahi that plagued Metru Nui with soot and darkness, freed by Dark Hunters and exiled to Xia., a large 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 had originally lived in Ta-MetruTa-MetruThe fire district where Ta-Matoran perfected their craft and powered Metru Nui's industry for thousands of years., was sealed in a cave within the sea after one of its early rampages. The cave was covered with a hundred-foot block of ice and remained sealed for approximately four thousand years before the dragon was freed by ReidakReidakA sadistic Skakdi thug who traded the Dark Hunters for the Piraka and paid the price.. The sea therefore served not only as a water environment but also as a containment zone for entities the city's authorities had been unwilling to destroy.

The liquid 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. of the sea retained the regenerative properties of its substance. The KarzahniKarzahniA region of the Matoran Universe built by the Great Beings as a Matoran repair facility, ruined by the failures of its overseer. plant, after being damaged in its confrontation with 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., used the liquid 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. of the sea to regenerate its body while retaining its memories, 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. in that restored form. The sea's water was not inert, and prolonged exposure to it could repair, transform, or otherwise alter what came into contact with it.

The flight from Metru Nui#

The Silver Sea became the principal stage of 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.'s flight from Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. after TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna.'s coup. The ToaThe Toa: Heroes of the Matoran UniverseThe Toa were biomechanical guardians sworn to protect the Matoran, bound by a strict code and defined by sacrifice across every age of the universe. hijacked a Vahki TransportThe Vahki TransportThe multi-legged cargo vehicle built by the Vahki of Metru Nui and used by the Toa Metru to escape the city across the Silver Sea after the Great Cataclysm., christened it the 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., and strapped MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. spheres to the underside of the vehicle to keep it afloat in the sea. The transport carried six recovered spheres, with the Toa intending to return for the rest. The vehicle was tricked into appearing to sink during the initial escape, when it was piloted into the sea in a way that suggested it had gone under entirely, which allowed the Toa to cross the sea while TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. absorbed the energy of the city behind them.

TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. confronted the Toa on the sea after absorbing NivawkNivawkNivawk was a scavenger hawk Rahi that served Makuta Teridax as an aerial spy during his impersonation of Turaga Dume., KrekkaKrekkaA brutish but ineffective Dark Hunter with no powers or masks, Krekka was outmatched from his first moments in Metru Nui., and NidhikiNidhikiOnce a guardian of Metru Nui, Nidhiki traded his Toa honor for Dark Hunter gold and paid the price. and becoming a monstrous behemoth assembled from their bodies. Controlling the sea around the transport, the MakutaMakuta (Species)Shadowy Antidermis beings and the Brotherhood's elite, Makuta commanded darkness and shaped the Matoran Universe's fate. knocked the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. spheres adrift and forced the Toa to fight him in his own medium. 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. went forward to engage him, recovered the displaced spheres, and was joined in turn 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. and the rest of 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.. 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. died in the course of the battle, sacrificing himself to save 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.. During the same engagement the 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., the Vahi, fell into the sea, and 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 returned to recover it from where it had settled.

The ToaThe Toa: Heroes of the Matoran UniverseThe Toa were biomechanical guardians sworn to protect the Matoran, bound by a strict code and defined by sacrifice across every age of the universe. eventually crossed the sea in full and reached the Great BarrierThe Great BarrierThe enormous underground dome of rock and solid Protodermis that enclosed Metru Nui and the Silver Sea, sealed Teridax into a cliff face, and was finally cracked open during the Great Cataclysm., where they sealed TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. inside a Toa SealToa SealA cage of Protodermis created by six Toa combining their Elemental Powers, used to trap powerful beings.. Their vessel, the 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., carried them through the sea on what was described in surviving accounts as the city's voyage of fear. On the return crossing some time later, the Toa's boat was destroyed by a storm; 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. survived and washed up on the shores of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive., where they continued their work as the Toa HordikaToa HordikaToa mutated by Visorak venom into bestial hybrids, forced to fight their primal nature and hunt for a cure..

Battles in the sea after the Cataclysm#

The Silver Sea continued to play a major role long after 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.'s flight. During the Destiny WarThe Destiny WarThe open conflict between the Order of Mata Nui and the Brotherhood of Makuta that ended fifty thousand years of operational secrecy and broke the Brotherhood's last assault on Metru Nui., Brotherhood ships engaged the defenders of the city, and several of those ships sank to the bottom of the sea after the storm of the engagement had passed. The wreckage joined the older deposits already on the sea floor, including the shattered remains of TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna.'s armour from the encounter with 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 masks that had fallen into the water in earlier events.

The Kanohi KraahkanKanohi KraahkanTeridax's Great Mask sees the darkness in everyone. That's how it conquered the Matoran universe. was one of those masks. After ReidakReidakA sadistic Skakdi thug who traded the Dark Hunters for the Piraka and paid the price. threw the mask into the sea in the course of the PirakaPirakaSix rogue Skakdi mercenaries who broke from the Dark Hunters to hunt the Mask of Life on Voya Nui.'s visit to MangaiaMangaiaThe hidden stronghold of Teridax beneath the island of Mata Nui, containing Energized Protodermis and connected to the Bohrok Nest., it lay in the sea until MakutaMakuta (Species)Shadowy Antidermis beings and the Brotherhood's elite, Makuta commanded darkness and shaped the Matoran Universe's fate. IcaraxIcaraxHe thought scheming was for the weak and said so out loud, so the canon made sure the thing that finally killed him was a scheme. retrieved it on TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna.'s orders. IcaraxIcaraxHe thought scheming was for the weak and said so out loud, so the canon made sure the thing that finally killed him was a scheme. replaced his original mask with the Kraahkan and wore it until his eventual dispersal. The sea also continued to be used as a containment medium and as a route for objects deliberately discarded by those who wanted them lost.

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.'s use of his mask above the sea, recorded in Mask of LightKanohi Mask of Light and ShadowA single fused Kanohi formed in Energized Protodermis when Takanuva and Teridax merged into Takutanuva, holding both light and shadow at once., revealed Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. to the surviving MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. of the island above and reopened the connection between the surface and the city below. The beam of light passed across the sea and illuminated the city at its centre, and the return of the population followed soon afterward. When the MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. eventually evacuated to Spherus MagnaSpherus MagnaA desert world of ancient conflict that became the merger point of the Matoran Universe and Bionicle's true endpoint. and the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control. was abandoned, the Silver Sea was left behind along with the city it had surrounded.