Skull Spiders

The Skull Spiders were a species of predatory arachnid native to the island of OkotoOkotoOkoto is a world whose known inhabitants include the Toa, the Mask makers, and the Protectors. that emerged as the island's most visible threat in the period immediately before the arrival of the Toa. They raided the villages of the six regions, clamped snap-on infection masks onto the islanders they captured, guarded the abandoned City of the Mask MakersCapital CityThe former main city of Okoto, drawn into the Shadow Realm by the destruction of the Mask of Ultimate Power, leaving the Black Crater on the surface and a ruined court for Makuta in the dark below. on behalf of MakutaMakuta (2015)Ekimu's brother and rival Mask Maker, who forged the forbidden Mask of Ultimate Power and was sealed in the Shadow Realm with Capital City.'s agents, and obeyed the Lord of Skull SpidersLord of Skull SpidersAn oversized Skull Spider that guarded the ancient City of the Mask Makers and commanded the rest of its species through the Golden Mask of the Skull Spiders., an oversized member of their own species that commanded them through the Golden Mask of the Skull Spiders. Their campaign was broken in the opening engagements of the Toa's mission to recover the Mask of CreationMask of Creation: the Legendary Kanohi of ArtakhaOne of the three most powerful Kanohi in the Matoran Universe, the Mask of Creation let its wearer envision and build any object from raw materials. Won by Artakha and worn for over a hundred thousand years..

A swarm species, not a faction#

The Skull Spiders were a species before they were an army. They were arachnid creatures native to OkotoOkotoOkoto is a world whose known inhabitants include the Toa, the Mask makers, and the Protectors., present on the island in sufficient numbers to function as a generalised hazard across all six regions rather than as a localised infestation. They were small enough to be handled individually by a single OkotanOkotanThe Okotans were the villager population of Okoto, six regional groups corresponding to the island's six elemental regions, who lived through the Battle of the Mask Makers, the long retreat into the lesser villages, and the recovery of the Ancient City after the defeat of Kulta and the revival of Ekimu. Protector, large enough to overrun a village in groups, and aggressive enough that no part of the inhabited island was beyond their reach in the period before the Toa fell from the sky.

What distinguished them from ordinary island wildlife was the snap-on infection mask. A standard Skull Spider attacked an OkotanOkotanThe Okotans were the villager population of Okoto, six regional groups corresponding to the island's six elemental regions, who lived through the Battle of the Mask Makers, the long retreat into the lesser villages, and the recovery of the Ancient City after the defeat of Kulta and the revival of Ekimu. by springing onto the head and clamping a mask shape over the face of the victim, suppressing their volition and producing a subordinated, controllable creature in place of the islander. The infection mask was the method by which the species converted a captured population into a hostile one, and it was the reason the ProtectorsProtectorsThe six elders of Okoto's villages, each wielding elemental powers and guarding their regions before the Toa arrived. regarded the Skull Spiders not as a pest problem but as an existential threat to the regions they defended.

The raids on the regions#

The Skull Spider attack on the surface of OkotoOkotoOkoto is a world whose known inhabitants include the Toa, the Mask makers, and the Protectors. was distributed across the six regions rather than concentrated in any one of them. In the Region of FireRegion of FireThe volcanic region of Okoto, home of the Fire Tribe and the Protector of Fire, Narmoto, and the country in which Tahu landed and was guided across lava streams and erupting mountains to claim the Golden Mask of Fire., the swarm began attacking the Protector's village with enough force that Narmoto and the other ProtectorsProtectorsThe six elders of Okoto's villages, each wielding elemental powers and guarding their regions before the Toa arrived. broke off to assemble at the Temple of Time and recite the Prophecy of Heroes. In the Region of StoneRegion of StoneThe northwestern desert region of Okoto, home of the Stone Tribe and the Protector of Stone, site of the Battle of the Mask Makers and the Black Crater, and the territory through which Pohatu hunted for the Golden Mask of Stone., the swarm pressure was severe enough that Nilkuu set out across the island to join the same assembly, picking up the young islander BingzakBingzakBingzak was a young villager from the Region of Jungle on Okoto, sole apparent survivor of a Skull Spider raid that destroyed his village, rescued by Nilkuu in the forest and the guide who led the Protector of Stone to the Temple of Time. on the way after BingzakBingzakBingzak was a young villager from the Region of Jungle on Okoto, sole apparent survivor of a Skull Spider raid that destroyed his village, rescued by Nilkuu in the forest and the guide who led the Protector of Stone to the Temple of Time.'s home village in the Region of JungleRegion of JungleThe rainforest region of Okoto, home of the Jungle Tribe and the Protector of Jungle, ground over which Lewa sought the Golden Mask of Jungle and bonded with Uxar, and the coast from which the Labyrinth of Control rose offshore. had been raided and destroyed by Skull Spiders. The destruction of BingzakBingzakBingzak was a young villager from the Region of Jungle on Okoto, sole apparent survivor of a Skull Spider raid that destroyed his village, rescued by Nilkuu in the forest and the guide who led the Protector of Stone to the Temple of Time.'s village was the clearest single statement of the swarm's capacity: an entire Jungle settlement reduced to a sole implied survivor escaping with nothing but his mask.

The Region of JungleRegion of JungleThe rainforest region of Okoto, home of the Jungle Tribe and the Protector of Jungle, ground over which Lewa sought the Golden Mask of Jungle and bonded with Uxar, and the coast from which the Labyrinth of Control rose offshore. endured the heaviest pressure of any region. Once 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. was guided to his Golden Mask of Jungle and formed the Battle AxesBattle AxesLewa's transforming Jungle weapon that shifts between combat axes, an aerial glider, and swords., he had to use them immediately to defend the Protector of Jungle from a sustained onslaught of Skull Spiders. The Region of EarthRegion of EarthThe western elemental region of Okoto, home of the Earth Tribe and the Protector Korgot, a country of treacherous ravines, obsidian fields, and underground tunnels, and the territory through which Onua hunted for the Golden Mask of Earth. was similarly contested: OnuaOnuaOnua was the Toa Mata and Toa Nuva of Earth, a quiet, deliberate warrior whose patience and underground mastery anchored his team across the Matoran Universe.'s first major act after forming the Earthquake Hammer was to ward off a horde of Skull Spiders attacking the Protector of Earth. The same pattern repeated for each Toa and each ProtectorProtectorsThe six elders of Okoto's villages, each wielding elemental powers and guarding their regions before the Toa arrived. as the six pairs moved toward convergence at the City of the Mask MakersCity of the Mask Makers: Home of Ekimu and MakutaThe City of the Mask Makers was a city on the island of Okoto, named for the brothers Ekimu and Makuta who dwelt there before the Battle of the Mask Makers. It fell to ruin and became the lair of the Lord of Skull Spiders before the Toa reclaimed it., with TahuTahu (2001)Tahu was the Toa Mata of Fire and leader of the team, from his first landing on Ta-Wahi Beach to the destruction of Teridax's Rahkshi army on Bara Magna with the Golden Armor. defeating many Skull Spiders to save the Protector of Fire and Gali clearing those attacking the Protector of Water with her Elemental Trident.

Command through the Golden Mask#

The Skull Spiders' coordination did not arise from instinct alone. The species was directed through the Golden Mask of the Skull Spiders, worn by an oversized member of the same species: the Lord of Skull SpidersLord of Skull SpidersAn oversized Skull Spider that guarded the ancient City of the Mask Makers and commanded the rest of its species through the Golden Mask of the Skull Spiders., who guarded the abandoned City of the Mask MakersCapital CityThe former main city of Okoto, drawn into the Shadow Realm by the destruction of the Mask of Ultimate Power, leaving the Black Crater on the surface and a ruined court for Makuta in the dark below. and held telepathic command over the rest of the swarm. The mask was the entire basis of the species' command structure. Without it the Lord was merely a larger member of his species; with it, he could direct the movements and tactics of Skull Spiders across the island.

This command relationship was what placed the Skull Spiders inside the broader conspiracy that occupied the abandoned Mask Maker capital. The City of the Mask MakersCity of the Mask Makers: Home of Ekimu and MakutaThe City of the Mask Makers was a city on the island of Okoto, named for the brothers Ekimu and Makuta who dwelt there before the Battle of the Mask Makers. It fell to ruin and became the lair of the Lord of Skull Spiders before the Toa reclaimed it. had become the residence of MakutaMakuta (2015)Ekimu's brother and rival Mask Maker, who forged the forbidden Mask of Ultimate Power and was sealed in the Shadow Realm with Capital City.'s minion KultaKultaKulta was the leader of the Skull Creatures, a group native to the island of Okoto, and operated from the City of the Mask Makers. Armed with a Mask Stealer Staff and Hook Blade, he possessed the ability to drain masks of their Elemental Powers and once held both the powerless Skull Mask and the Mask of Creation. and his subordinates, and the Lord of Skull SpidersLord of Skull SpidersAn oversized Skull Spider that guarded the ancient City of the Mask Makers and commanded the rest of its species through the Golden Mask of the Skull Spiders. served as the gatekeeper of the city's bridge approach with his swarm filling the surrounding ground. The Skull Spiders were therefore not a wild population that the recovery of the Mask of CreationMask of Creation: the Legendary Kanohi of ArtakhaOne of the three most powerful Kanohi in the Matoran Universe, the Mask of Creation let its wearer envision and build any object from raw materials. Won by Artakha and worn for over a hundred thousand years. would have left alone. They were the outer perimeter of the same network that had taken over the capital, and any approach to the city required passing through their territory.

The bridge and the collapse#

The decisive engagement against the species took place at the bridge outside the City of the Mask MakersCapital CityThe former main city of Okoto, drawn into the Shadow Realm by the destruction of the Mask of Ultimate Power, leaving the Black Crater on the surface and a ruined court for Makuta in the dark below.. The six Toa, having cleared their respective regions and recovered their Golden Masks, entered the city and were intercepted on the bridge by the Lord of Skull SpidersLord of Skull SpidersAn oversized Skull Spider that guarded the ancient City of the Mask Makers and commanded the rest of its species through the Golden Mask of the Skull Spiders.. Their first attempts to defeat him in single attacks failed. TahuTahu (2001)Tahu was the Toa Mata of Fire and leader of the team, from his first landing on Ta-Wahi Beach to the destruction of Teridax's Rahkshi army on Bara Magna with the Golden Armor.'s Fire BladesFire BladesTahu's dual weapons upon arrival at Okoto in the 2015 reboot, serving both in combat and as a means of traversal. were knocked aside, Gali was ensnared by a web projectile from the Lord's mouth, and PohatuPohatuPohatu was the Toa Mata and Toa Nuva of Stone, guardian of Po-Wahi, whose speed and steady humour anchored the team through every era of the Matoran Universe. was knocked down by the same web attack after charging in a sandstorm. The coordinated assault that followed succeeded: PohatuPohatuPohatu was the Toa Mata and Toa Nuva of Stone, guardian of Po-Wahi, whose speed and steady humour anchored the team through every era of the Matoran Universe.'s StormerangsStormerangsPohatu's boomerang weapons that double as speed-enabling foot attachments called Jetarangs. disoriented the Lord, Gali's Elemental Trident struck home, 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.'s Battle AxesBattle AxesLewa's transforming Jungle weapon that shifts between combat axes, an aerial glider, and swords. contributed further disorientation, KopakaKopakaKopaka was the Toa Nuva of Ice, deputy commander of the Toa Mata, and one of the six warriors crafted on Artakha to defend the Matoran Universe.'s Frost Shield blocked a second web shot, and OnuaOnuaOnua was the Toa Mata and Toa Nuva of Earth, a quiet, deliberate warrior whose patience and underground mastery anchored his team across the Matoran Universe.'s Earthquake Hammer struck the bridge with enough force to send the Lord falling from it.

The Lord survived the fall, was carried into a nearby cave by his Skull Spiders, and was killed when the ProtectorsProtectorsThe six elders of Okoto's villages, each wielding elemental powers and guarding their regions before the Toa arrived. collapsed the cave roof on top of him. The collapse of the cave roof was, in operational terms, the end of the Skull Spiders as a coordinated force. The species lost the Golden Mask of the Skull Spiders, lost the telepathic command it had granted, and lost the central commander it had served. Surviving Skull Spiders persisted as a residual population on the island, but they no longer moved as a directed swarm.

Residual use and significance#

Individual Skull Spiders continued to appear as functional pieces of MakutaMakuta (2015)Ekimu's brother and rival Mask Maker, who forged the forbidden Mask of Ultimate Power and was sealed in the Shadow Realm with Capital City.'s campaign even after the swarm collapsed. The most consequential of these later appearances was the Skull Spider acting on MakutaMakuta (Species)Shadowy Antidermis beings and the Brotherhood's elite, Makuta commanded darkness and shaped the Matoran Universe's fate.'s order that freed KultaKultaKulta was the leader of the Skull Creatures, a group native to the island of Okoto, and operated from the City of the Mask Makers. Armed with a Mask Stealer Staff and Hook Blade, he possessed the ability to drain masks of their Elemental Powers and once held both the powerless Skull Mask and the Mask of Creation. from his imprisonment beneath the Temple of CreationTemple of CreationThe Temple of Creation lay buried in the dunes of Po-Wahi, dedicated to the Principle of Creation and gated behind four charms and a Kolhii skill check., allowing him to mount his second strike at the underground city of the Skull RaidersSkull RaidersThe ancient pirate band that plagued Okoto before the Mask Makers, was driven into the mountains, allied itself with Makuta, was trapped beneath the island by the cataclysm at Capital City, and dug its way back as the Skull Creatures under Kulta.. Another Skull Spider directed a hawk that delivered the captive Stone Tribe children Ako and Oda to AxatoAxatoAxato is a Skull Creature from the island of Okoto who served as the leader of the Skull Creatures in the City of the Mask Makers. Armed with a spear, Axato possessed the ability to drain masks of their Elemental Powers and formerly wore a powerless Skull Mask. in that same underground city, providing the abduction that produced the final engagement of the OkotoOkotoOkoto is a world whose known inhabitants include the Toa, the Mask makers, and the Protectors. campaign. Without coordinated command, the Skull Spiders functioned as opportunistic assets that MakutaMakuta (Species)Shadowy Antidermis beings and the Brotherhood's elite, Makuta commanded darkness and shaped the Matoran Universe's fate. could deploy through individual acts. The mass infestation of the regions was over.

The Skull Spider campaign nevertheless defined the opening shape of the Toa's mission. The raids on the villages produced the urgency that drove the ProtectorsProtectorsThe six elders of Okoto's villages, each wielding elemental powers and guarding their regions before the Toa arrived. to recite the Prophecy of Heroes. The destruction of BingzakBingzakBingzak was a young villager from the Region of Jungle on Okoto, sole apparent survivor of a Skull Spider raid that destroyed his village, rescued by Nilkuu in the forest and the guide who led the Protector of Stone to the Temple of Time.'s Jungle village produced the displaced survivor whose travel became a recurring thread in the early surface action. The defence of each Protector against Skull Spider onslaught provided each Toa with a first practical use of an Elemental weapon, and the convergence at the City of the Mask MakersCapital CityThe former main city of Okoto, drawn into the Shadow Realm by the destruction of the Mask of Ultimate Power, leaving the Black Crater on the surface and a ruined court for Makuta in the dark below. was a convergence dictated by where the swarm's command lived. Every Toa met Skull Spiders before meeting any other adversary. The species was the first lesson in coordinated combat that the team learned, and its defeat at the bridge was the first proof that the lesson had taken. Beyond the operational record, the snap-on infection mask, applied by a foreign creature to a captured OkotanOkotanThe Okotans were the villager population of Okoto, six regional groups corresponding to the island's six elemental regions, who lived through the Battle of the Mask Makers, the long retreat into the lesser villages, and the recovery of the Ancient City after the defeat of Kulta and the revival of Ekimu. to convert that OkotanOkotanThe Okotans were the villager population of Okoto, six regional groups corresponding to the island's six elemental regions, who lived through the Battle of the Mask Makers, the long retreat into the lesser villages, and the recovery of the Ancient City after the defeat of Kulta and the revival of Ekimu. into something hostile, was a compact illustration of the entire war MakutaMakuta (2015)Ekimu's brother and rival Mask Maker, who forged the forbidden Mask of Ultimate Power and was sealed in the Shadow Realm with Capital City. was running against the island: the use of imposed masks to subordinate the will of others. The Skull Spiders fell early. The lesson they made visible carried through the rest of the campaign.