Toa Metru: Heroes of Metru Nui

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. MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it. were the team of six ToaWho 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. who rescued the MatoranTuragaFormer Toa who fulfilled their destiny and transformed into leaders. Turaga wield Noble Kanohi masks and weakened elemental powers, guiding their communities. of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. after 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.. They were transformed from six Matoran of the city by Toa stones that 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. had infused with his own power, and they took their name from the six metru, the elemental districts of MetruMetruIn the Matoran language a metru was a single district of Metru Nui; the city was divided into six such districts, one for each element, and the term covered both the place and the elemental community that lived in it. Nui. The team comprised 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., Toa of Fire and leader; NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras., Toa of Water and deputy; 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., Toa of Air; 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., Toa of Ice; 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., Toa of Stone; and 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., Toa of Earth. They defeated the MorbuzakhMorbuzakhA sentient plant monster created by Teridax to terrorize Metru Nui and control its population through fear., sealed TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. in solid protodermis, endured a period mutated into Toa Hordika, and finally gave up their power to awaken the Matoran 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., becoming the Turaga who would lead them.

Origin and transformation#

A thousand years before the awakening of the Toa Mata, 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 in danger. Several Toa had vanished while carrying out missions for Turaga DumeTuraga DumeThe Turaga of Metru Nui for sixteen thousand years, a former Toa of Fire who saved Lhikan's life and was abducted and impersonated by Teridax., leaving only 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. to defend the city, and Dume had ordered the routes out of Metru Nui sealed in preparation for an impending crisis. A plant creature called the MorbuzakhMorbuzakhA sentient plant monster created by Teridax to terrorize Metru Nui and control its population through fear. was attacking the districts and dragging more Matoran into captivity with each passing day. When two Dark HuntersThe Dark HuntersA mercenary organization founded on Odina by The Shadowed One and Ancient, contracted across the Matoran Universe for assassination and theft, and ultimately reduced to a battered remnant by the fall of the universe itself., one of them 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.'s former teammate NidhikiNidhikiOnce a guardian of Metru Nui, Nidhiki traded his Toa honor for Dark Hunter gold and paid the price., were sighted inside the city, 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. grew certain that something was deeply wrong.

Acting on his suspicion, Lhikan stole six Toa stones from the Great TempleGreat TempleThe Great Temple is a structure situated in Ga-Metru, Metru Nui, associated with the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. It formerly fell under the influence of Teridax, though it currently holds no such power.. He had first intended to give them to six Matoran who had found the Great Kanoka DisksKanoka DisksThe protodermis throwing disks of Metru Nui, used in Akilini sport, in Matoran self-defence, in Vahki weaponry, in mask-making, and as the signature armament of the Toa Metru., but reconsidered and chose six others instead: 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., NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras., 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., 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., 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., 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.. He infused the stones with a measure of his own Toa power and delivered them with directions to the Great Temple. As he handed the last stone to 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., Nidhiki and his partner KrekkaKrekkaA brutish but ineffective Dark Hunter with no powers or masks, Krekka was outmatched from his first moments in Metru Nui. attacked and captured him. His final words to 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. were a charge to save the heart of Metru Nui.

The six Matoran placed their stones in the SuvaSuvaSuva were the sacred shrines of Matoran civilisation, holding Toa Stones, Kanohi, and Nuva symbols across Mata Nui, Metru Nui, and beyond. shrine at the Great Temple, and a beam of light transformed them into Toa. Inside the SuvaSuvaSuva were the sacred shrines of Matoran civilisation, holding Toa Stones, Kanohi, and Nuva symbols across Mata Nui, Metru Nui, and beyond. they found KanokaKanoka DisksMetru Nui's most versatile artifact: flying disks equally at home in sport, combat, and crafting. disks engraved with their names and the images of their new masks, which they took as proof that they were destined for the role. Each chose a tool from the shrine, and Vakama received a vision of the Great DisksThe Great DisksThe six legendary Kanoka of Metru Nui, one hidden in each district, recovered by the Toa Metru during the Morbuzakh crisis and later fused into the Kanohi Vahi. and the Matoran who had found them.

The Morbuzakh and the Great Disks#

Acting on Vakama's vision, the new Toa split up to locate the six Matoran who had found the Great Disks, evading the VahkiVahkiMetru Nui's mechanical law enforcement squads, designed to maintain rigid order but ultimately undermined by chaos beyond their programming. law enforcement squads that pursued them as troublemakers and struggling with their unfamiliar powers. After finding the Matoran, they learned that one of them had helped the Dark Hunters set the traps that snared the others. They then set out to recover the Great Disks themselves, succeeding only after a series of dangerous retrievals across the six metru.

Research by one of the Matoran revealed that the Morbuzakh could be stopped by destroying its King Root, and the Toa reasoned that the root lay in the Great FurnaceThe Great FurnaceThe largest furnace in Ta-Metru, site of the Morbuzakh King Root's nest and the recovery of the fused Great Disks that became the Kanohi Vahi. of Ta-Metru. On the way, the Matoran AhkmouAhkmouA Po-Matoran carver of Metru Nui, one of the six Great Disk holders, who collaborated with Makuta Teridax and later imposed false Turaga rule during Teridax's reign. admitted that Nidhiki had threatened him into trapping the others. Within the furnace the Toa found that the Morbuzakh could communicate, and that it had been commanded to attack by an unseen master. After draining nearly all their elemental power in the fight, they lured the creature close and released the combined power of the Great Disks, severing the King RootThe King RootThe sentient central core of the Morbuzakh plant, grown in the Great Furnace of Ta-Metru and destroyed by the Toa Metru using the fused Great Disks. from its vines and killing it. The plant's growth withered throughout the city, and the Great Furnace collapsed behind the escaping Toa.

The Great Cataclysm#

Hoping to be recognized as heroes, the Toa Metru presented themselves and the Great Disks to Turaga DumeTuraga DumeThe Turaga of Metru Nui for sixteen thousand years, a former Toa of Fire who saved Lhikan's life and was abducted and impersonated by Teridax. at the ColiseumThe ColiseumCentral tower of Metru Nui, serving as government seat, sporting arena, and, during Teridax's masquerade, a prison for the city's Matoran population.. Dume rejected their gifts and demanded they pass a brutal physical trial, in which the exhausted Toa, their elemental power spent and their mask powers still dormant, were humiliated. Dume ordered the impostors arrested, and only Vakama, NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras., 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. escaped. On the way out, Vakama saw two Dark Hunters at Dume's side and understood that the three were allied.

While on the run, the Toa began to activate their mask powers for the first time, and the two separated groups eventually met beneath Po-Metru. A strange Turaga who had set their fellow captives to seemingly pointless tasks revealed himself as Lhikan, his power drained by their transformation. Nearby they found a silver sphere holding the true, unmasked Turaga DumeTuraga DumeThe Turaga of Metru Nui for sixteen thousand years, a former Toa of Fire who saved Lhikan's life and was abducted and impersonated by Teridax.. Realizing that an impostor had seized the city, they raced to the Coliseum, only to find Metru Nui deserted and its population sealed into spheres. The false Dume revealed himself as TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna., one of the Matoran's former guardians, who then put 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. to sleep and triggered the Great Cataclysm.

As the Toa fled with a few of the Matoran spheres, TeridaxTeridax (Melding Alternate Universe): the Makuta who kept his lightIn the Melding alternate universe, Makuta Teridax was created as a warrior of light who never fell to shadow. Brought across to the main reality by Mazeka, he confronted his corrupted counterpart and outlived the war. pursued them, and Vakama turned to face him alone. Vakama revealed the VahiKanohi VahiThe Kanohi Vahi was the Legendary Mask of Time, forged by Toa Metru Vakama from the six fused Great Disks of Metru Nui during the city's evacuation., the Mask of Time he had forged from the Kanoka disks, but could not control it and slowed time to a crawl for them both. When TeridaxTeridax (Melding Alternate Universe): the Makuta who kept his lightIn the Melding alternate universe, Makuta Teridax was created as a warrior of light who never fell to shadow. Brought across to the main reality by Mazeka, he confronted his corrupted counterpart and outlived the war. loosed a fatal blast, Lhikan threw himself into its path, sacrificing his life and naming Vakama a brother with his last words. Spurred on, Vakama mastered his power of concealment, and the reunited Toa Metru combined their elemental powers to seal TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. inside a prison of solid protodermis.

The journey and the discovery of Mata Nui#

Carrying the rescued Matoran away from the ruined city, the Toa Metru encountered MavrahMavrahA Metru Nui Archivist who fled his city rather than let Turaga Dume cull his pet sea Rahi, drowned in a feeding frenzy a thousand years before the Great Cataclysm, and was rediscovered alive aboard the Red Star., an old acquaintance of 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. who had fled with a number of sea 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. after Dume shut down their study. His paranoia sparked a feeding frenzy among the creatures, and MavrahMavrahA Metru Nui Archivist who fled his city rather than let Turaga Dume cull his pet sea Rahi, drowned in a feeding frenzy a thousand years before the Great Cataclysm, and was rediscovered alive aboard the Red Star. was swept out to sea along with the sphere holding the traitor AhkmouAhkmouA Po-Matoran carver of Metru Nui, one of the six Great Disk holders, who collaborated with Makuta Teridax and later imposed false Turaga rule during Teridax's reign.. Reaching the surface of the world, the Toa found a lush tropical island and named it Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years. in honor of the Great Spirit. They explored it for sites to found villages, and at Vakama's suggestion created new Toa stones so that replacement Toa could arise if they failed.

On the trek back to Metru Nui they fought the Rahi NuiRahi NuiA monstrous mutant Rahi engineered by Teridax to hunt the Toa across two separate conflicts., which gravely injured Nokama, and then met a plant creature called KarzahniKarzahniA region of the Matoran Universe built by the Great Beings as a Matoran repair facility, ruined by the failures of its overseer., a prototype of the Morbuzakh seeking revenge on TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. for abandoning it. KarzahniThe Karzahni PlantThe sentient prototype plant created by Teridax as the predecessor of the Morbuzakh, abandoned in the tunnels beneath Metru Nui after proving too willful to control. agreed to heal Nokama in exchange for Energized ProtodermisEnergized ProtodermisA sentient substance that could remake or annihilate any being that touched it. One of the Matoran Universe's most lethal hazards., which the Toa obtained after battling an entity made of the liquid. The creature kept its word and cured Nokama, but the protodermis the Toa gave it in return destroyed it rather than transforming it.

Mutation into Toa Hordika#

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. returned to find Metru Nui transformed: the bioquake of the Cataclysm had damaged its buildings, freed the 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. from the Archives, and left the city draped in spiderwebs. Driven by guilt over the captured Matoran and Lhikan's death, Vakama led the team straight to the Coliseum, now the nest of the VisorakVisorak (Rahi)Spider-like Rahi employed by the Brotherhood of Makuta whose name meant 'Stealers of Life' and whose swarms threatened the Matoran Universe. horde that had overrun the city. The Toa were captured, cocooned, injected with Hordika venom, and strung up above the streets. As the venom mutated them into half-beasts and they tore free, falling toward the ground, they were caught in midair by the Rahaga.

The Rahaga told them they were now Toa Hordika, with diminished powers and a primal rage to keep in check, and that a Rahi called KeetonguKeetonguThe legendary Rahi who broke the Visorak siege and lived to prove he was worth the legend. might reverse the change if he existed at all. Choosing to rescue the Matoran first, the Toa set about building airships to carry them to Mata NuiMata Nui: Great Spirit of the Matoran UniverseBuilt by the Great Beings as a biomechanical guardian, betrayed by Teridax, and returned in a smaller form to reshape Spherus Magna., fighting the VisorakVisorakSpider-like Rahi created by Makuta Chirox, conquered for the Brotherhood by Gorast, broken at Metru Nui, and ultimately destroyed in a volcanic eruption on Artidax. and their own feral instincts. During this time the horde's viceroy, RoodakaRoodakaShe spent the entire Visorak arc letting everyone think they were using her, then walked away having beaten the Brotherhood and the Toa at their own game., planted information suggesting that the Matoran originally chosen to be Toa had been the true destined heroes, and that Lhikan had been manipulated into changing his choices.

Demoralized and feeling like an impostor, Vakama was abducted by RoodakaRoodakaShe spent the entire Visorak arc letting everyone think they were using her, then walked away having beaten the Brotherhood and the Toa at their own game. and persuaded to take command of the VisorakVisorakSpider-like Rahi created by Makuta Chirox, conquered for the Brotherhood by Gorast, broken at Metru Nui, and ultimately destroyed in a volcanic eruption on Artidax., intending to use the army to free the Matoran. He captured the Rahaga as proof of his loyalty and was welcomed by King SidorakSidorakHe took credit for someone else's idea, called it leadership, and spent his whole reign as the Visorak's king certain he could not be out-played., but his betrayal taught the other Toa how dangerous their constant arguing had been. The Rahaga's leader, NorikNorikToa of Fire and leader of the Toa Hagah, who broke with the Brotherhood of Makuta to recover the Avohkii and led his team through a thousand years of mutation as a Rahaga before being restored., led the team to a hidden mountain of ice in Ko-Metru, where they found Keetongu. He agreed to help them save their friend but refused to cure them yet, telling them they would need their mutated forms for the battle to come.

The final battle and the rescue#

Together the Toa Hordika, NorikNorikToa of Fire and leader of the Toa Hagah, who broke with the Brotherhood of Makuta to recover the Avohkii and led his team through a thousand years of mutation as a Rahaga before being restored., and Keetongu stormed the Coliseum. While the others searched for the Matoran, Matau went alone to confront Vakama atop the highest spire, talking him down even as Vakama tried to kill him, then plunging after him and catching him with Visorak webbing as Vakama leapt to save him. Reunited, the Toa confronted RoodakaRoodakaShe spent the entire Visorak arc letting everyone think they were using her, then walked away having beaten the Brotherhood and the Toa at their own game., who had disposed of SidorakSidorakHe took credit for someone else's idea, called it leadership, and spent his whole reign as the Visorak's king certain he could not be out-played. to rule the horde alone. Vakama, still the horde's commander, ordered the Visorak to disband, and they obeyed.

Vakama fired a RhotukaRhotukaRhotuka were wheels of pure energy generated by living beings, shaped by the user''s nature, and launched through natural or artificial launchers. spinner at Roodaka, but she carried a fragment of Teridax's prison, and having now absorbed all six elemental powers, the seal broke and the 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 freed once more. Teridax left them be for the time, and Keetongu cured the Toa, restoring them to their Metru forms. With the Rahaga and Keetongu, they finished the airships and loaded the Matoran aboard for the journey to Mata NuiMata Nui: Great Spirit of the Matoran UniverseBuilt by the Great Beings as a biomechanical guardian, betrayed by Teridax, and returned in a smaller form to reshape Spherus Magna..

One task remained: the Vahi was still lost and dangerous in the wrong hands. Vakama went alone to recover it from the ocean floor and was caught up in a struggle involving the Dark Hunters, VoporakVoporakVoporak is a mutant member of Sidorak's species and a servant of the Dark Hunters. Clad in dark red, black, orange-yellow, and silver, he wields Rotating Blade Tools and a Rhotuka spinner and commands the power of time. He resides on Spherus Magna., and Teridax over the mask, in which the 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 deceived and forced into a bargain granting safe passage and a year of peace. Returning to 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. with the Vahi and the knowledge that they had after all been the true destined Toa Metru, Vakama rejoined the others. On the shores of the island, the six Toa Metru gave up their power to awaken the sleeping Matoran, becoming the TuragaTuragaFormer Toa who fulfilled their destiny and transformed into leaders. Turaga wield Noble Kanohi masks and weakened elemental powers, guiding their communities. who would lead them in their new lives.

Equipment#

Because all destined Matoran took the form they believed a Toa should have, and Lhikan was the most prominent Toa of Metru Nui, the armor of the Toa Metru resembled his own. From the Suva in the Great Temple each took a Toa Tool: Vakama a Disk Launcher that doubled as a jetpack, wearing a Great HunaHunaThe Kanohi Huna granted full invisibility to its wearer, with the limitation that the user's shadow remained visible and detectable.; Nokama two Hydro BladesHydro BladesThe twin elemental blades borne by Toa Metru Nokama, used to channel Water power and serve as combat, mobility, and grappling instruments. and a Great Rau; Matau two Aero SlicersAero SlicersThe Toa Tools wielded by Toa Metru Matau, capable of channeling Air, serving as melee blades, and catching wind to permit limited gliding flight. and a Great MahikiMahikiThe Great Mahiki granted its wearer true shapeshifting, while the Noble variant projected only external illusions. Matau was its most prominent bearer.; 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. two Proto Pitons and a Great Komau; Whenua two Earthshock DrillsEarthshock DrillsThe Earthshock Drills were the paired Toa Tools of Whenua, used to channel Earth and to excavate the tunnels of Metru Nui. and a Great Ruru; 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. two Crystal SpikesCrystal SpikesThe Crystal Spikes were the paired Toa Tools of Toa Metru Nuju, used to channel Ice powers and to scale the vertical architecture of Metru Nui. and a Great MatatuMatatuWorn by Toa Metru Nuju and his later Turaga form, the Matatu let its bearer move and strike at any target within line of sight by force of will alone..

When the Hordika venom took hold, their masks fused to their faces and they lost access to their mask powers. In their place they gained natural RhotukaRhotukaRhotuka were wheels of pure energy generated by living beings, shaped by the user''s nature, and launched through natural or artificial launchers. launchers and new organic tools that charged the spinners: Vakama received Blazer ClawsBlazer ClawsThe mutated weapons that replaced Vakama's Disk Launcher during his time as a Toa Hordika, producing uncontrolled bursts of fire instead of guided shots., Nokama Fin Barbs, Matau Fang Blades, Onewa Claw Clubs, Whenua Thumpers, and Nuju Hordika TeethHordika TeethThe mutated form of Nuju's Crystal Spikes during the Toa Hordika period, capable of summoning flying Rahi by ultrasonic resonance.. A fully charged Hordika spinner was said to rival the force of a Toa Nova Blast. After Keetongu's cure restored them, they returned to their Metru forms and tools.