Just a notice: There will be 25 posts displayed on a page for now. This is because that it takes too long to load if there is 999 posts per page (not that I have 999 posts)
Therefore, if you want to view all of the posts, go to the bottom of the page and select "Older Posts." Then you can see everything.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Remember the Warriors
From Bionicle.com.
Toa Ignika
Toa Ignika is the Mask of Life and the body it has created for itself. He is very eager to be a hero and to have friends, but also fairly innocent and naïve. He rarely speaks initially, since he does not have a grasp of spoken language. Brave and somewhat reckless, but with his level of power, he can afford to be.
Mask: Kanohi Ignika, the Mask of Life
Powers: Although not as powerful as in pure mask form, Toa Ignika still has the ability to bring inanimate objects to life and evolve or devolve objects or other beings.
Weapons: Midak skyblaster; lifeblade
STRENGTH:12
AGILITY:12
TOUGHNESS:12
MIND:14
Mutran and Vican
Mutran is the Brotherhood’s master of mutation, having turned a simple Le-Matoran into the monstrous Vican and kraata into shadow leeches. Well past the point of insanity, Mutran has been assigned to breed the leeches and guard the cavern in which it’s done. Vican serves his faithfully, partly out of his own madness, partly in hope that Mutran will return him to his former shape if he does a good job.
Mask: Kanohi Shelek, Mask of Silence – can cause a target to temporarily lose the ability to hear or speak
Weapons: Shadow blade; shadow spear; claws
Powers: Mutran has the power of flight and has access to all 40+ Makuta powers. He also can wield shadow energies.
STRENGTH:10
AGILITY:10
TOUGHNESS:15
MIND:14
Makuta Icarax
This deadly foe has immense strength and toughness, and has access to shadow energy and all 40+ powers of the Makuta. Unlike the Makuta of Karda Nui, Icarax was not blinded by the burst of light when the Mask of Life was used.
Mask: Kanohi Kraahkan, Mask of Shadows
Weapons: Rotating blade; shield
Quote: “I have fought tougher Toa than you before. And as I stepped over their bodies, I will step over yours.”
STRENGTH:14
AGILITY:18
TOUGHNESS:18
MIND:13
Gadunka
Once, he was a tiny sea creature only a few inches long. Then an accidental exposure to the power of the Mask of Life evolved him into the huge and savage creature he is now. To Gadunka, anything else that lives is the enemy.
Weapons: Cordak blaster
Natural Tools: Claws, teeth
STRENGTH:15
AGILITY:9
TOUGHNESS:15
MIND:5
Hydraxon
The original Hydraxon, jailer of the Pit, died long ago. But the Mask of Life transformed a Matoran into a new Hydraxon. Now this skilled weaponsmaster stalks the seas, hoping to recapture the escaped Barraki.
Weapons: Explosive boomerangs, wrist knives, Cordak blaster
Quote: “Who I am is my business. Staying out of my way is yours.”
STRENGTH:13
AGILITY:12
TOUGHNESS:14
MIND:11
Maxilos
The robot guardian of the Pit has been taken over by the evil Makuta, master of shadows. But is he the enemy of the Toa Mahri … or their only hope of victory?
Weapons: Twin-bladed black fire sword; shoulder-mounted Cordak blaster
Quote: “Carapar, you are an ignorant spawn of a Brakas monkey. You couldn’t snap your fingers without help … if you had fingers.”
STRENGTH:15
AGILITY:10
TOUGHNESS:13
MIND:16
Powerful.
Toa Ignika
Toa Ignika is the Mask of Life and the body it has created for itself. He is very eager to be a hero and to have friends, but also fairly innocent and naïve. He rarely speaks initially, since he does not have a grasp of spoken language. Brave and somewhat reckless, but with his level of power, he can afford to be.
Mask: Kanohi Ignika, the Mask of Life
Powers: Although not as powerful as in pure mask form, Toa Ignika still has the ability to bring inanimate objects to life and evolve or devolve objects or other beings.
Weapons: Midak skyblaster; lifeblade
STRENGTH:12
AGILITY:12
TOUGHNESS:12
MIND:14
Mutran and Vican
Mutran is the Brotherhood’s master of mutation, having turned a simple Le-Matoran into the monstrous Vican and kraata into shadow leeches. Well past the point of insanity, Mutran has been assigned to breed the leeches and guard the cavern in which it’s done. Vican serves his faithfully, partly out of his own madness, partly in hope that Mutran will return him to his former shape if he does a good job.
Mask: Kanohi Shelek, Mask of Silence – can cause a target to temporarily lose the ability to hear or speak
Weapons: Shadow blade; shadow spear; claws
Powers: Mutran has the power of flight and has access to all 40+ Makuta powers. He also can wield shadow energies.
STRENGTH:10
AGILITY:10
TOUGHNESS:15
MIND:14
Makuta Icarax
This deadly foe has immense strength and toughness, and has access to shadow energy and all 40+ powers of the Makuta. Unlike the Makuta of Karda Nui, Icarax was not blinded by the burst of light when the Mask of Life was used.
Mask: Kanohi Kraahkan, Mask of Shadows
Weapons: Rotating blade; shield
Quote: “I have fought tougher Toa than you before. And as I stepped over their bodies, I will step over yours.”
STRENGTH:14
AGILITY:18
TOUGHNESS:18
MIND:13
Gadunka
Once, he was a tiny sea creature only a few inches long. Then an accidental exposure to the power of the Mask of Life evolved him into the huge and savage creature he is now. To Gadunka, anything else that lives is the enemy.
Weapons: Cordak blaster
Natural Tools: Claws, teeth
STRENGTH:15
AGILITY:9
TOUGHNESS:15
MIND:5
Hydraxon
The original Hydraxon, jailer of the Pit, died long ago. But the Mask of Life transformed a Matoran into a new Hydraxon. Now this skilled weaponsmaster stalks the seas, hoping to recapture the escaped Barraki.
Weapons: Explosive boomerangs, wrist knives, Cordak blaster
Quote: “Who I am is my business. Staying out of my way is yours.”
STRENGTH:13
AGILITY:12
TOUGHNESS:14
MIND:11
Maxilos
The robot guardian of the Pit has been taken over by the evil Makuta, master of shadows. But is he the enemy of the Toa Mahri … or their only hope of victory?
Weapons: Twin-bladed black fire sword; shoulder-mounted Cordak blaster
Quote: “Carapar, you are an ignorant spawn of a Brakas monkey. You couldn’t snap your fingers without help … if you had fingers.”
STRENGTH:15
AGILITY:10
TOUGHNESS:13
MIND:16
Powerful.
Descriptions and stats of Matoran. Yes, Matoran.
From Bionicle.com.
Tanma
Tanma is the leader of the last remaining Matoran of Light. He has grown into the job, learning to make the hard choices in the short time Karda Nui has been besieged. Brave, but not foolish, and wise enough to know the Matoran have to strike and run away if they are going to survive.
Weapons: Power swords which fire light bursts; rocket boosters.
Quote: “The life of one Matoran doesn’t matter compared to the fate of the whole universe.”
STRENGTH:8
AGILITY:7
TOUGHNESS:8
MIND:10
Solek
Solek is an expert on the ancient legends of Lewa, Pohatu, etc., and knows more about their past than they do! Kopaka is his hero and he wants to be more like him, but has not yet discovered how to contain his excitement and master his emotions.
Weapons: Power swords which fire light bursts; rocket boosters
Quote: “This is just like that time you fought the acid-spitting air serpents, remember that?”
STRENGTH:7
AGILITY:7
TOUGHNESS:8
MIND:9
Photok
Photok is a warrior who has been longing for something to fight for millennia. He is impatient to take the battle to the Brotherhood of Makuta and feels Tanma is too cautious. He was best friends with Radiak and now the two often clash.
Weapons: Power swords which fire light bursts; rocket boosters
Quote: “Hiding and running away doesn’t make us safe or wise … it makes us cowards.”
STRENGTH:9
AGILITY:8
TOUGHNESS:9
MIND:10
Radiak
He is as fierce a fighter for the side of Shadow as he ever was for Light, and he takes special delight in challenging his former friends to combat and then seeing them ambushed by the Makuta.
Weapons: Four leg blades; teeth
Quote: “Why are you hiding? You always used to talk so brave … come out and fight!”
STRENGTH:9
AGILITY:9
TOUGHNESS:9
MIND:8
Gavla
Leader of the shadow Matoran, Gavla’s hatred for her own people makes her a formidable enemy. She fights the Matoran of Light as much because she enjoys it as because she has been ordered to.
Weapons: Claw blades; teeth
Quote: “You might say I saw the light … by looking into the darkness.”
STRENGTH:7
AGILITY:7
TOUGHNESS:8
MIND:11
Kirop
Former leader of the Matoran of Light, Kirop has become their most dangerous enemy because he knows everything about all of them. He dislikes Gavla because she has been given the authority he feels should have been his.
Weapons: Claws; teeth
Quote: “All those years we spent hiding in the light … we were wrong. We should have embraced the darkness from the start.”
STRENGTH:8
AGILITY:7
TOUGHNESS:8
MIND:11
Matoran with elements.
Light against dark.
Winner take all.
Tanma
Tanma is the leader of the last remaining Matoran of Light. He has grown into the job, learning to make the hard choices in the short time Karda Nui has been besieged. Brave, but not foolish, and wise enough to know the Matoran have to strike and run away if they are going to survive.
Weapons: Power swords which fire light bursts; rocket boosters.
Quote: “The life of one Matoran doesn’t matter compared to the fate of the whole universe.”
STRENGTH:8
AGILITY:7
TOUGHNESS:8
MIND:10
Solek
Solek is an expert on the ancient legends of Lewa, Pohatu, etc., and knows more about their past than they do! Kopaka is his hero and he wants to be more like him, but has not yet discovered how to contain his excitement and master his emotions.
Weapons: Power swords which fire light bursts; rocket boosters
Quote: “This is just like that time you fought the acid-spitting air serpents, remember that?”
STRENGTH:7
AGILITY:7
TOUGHNESS:8
MIND:9
Photok
Photok is a warrior who has been longing for something to fight for millennia. He is impatient to take the battle to the Brotherhood of Makuta and feels Tanma is too cautious. He was best friends with Radiak and now the two often clash.
Weapons: Power swords which fire light bursts; rocket boosters
Quote: “Hiding and running away doesn’t make us safe or wise … it makes us cowards.”
STRENGTH:9
AGILITY:8
TOUGHNESS:9
MIND:10
Radiak
He is as fierce a fighter for the side of Shadow as he ever was for Light, and he takes special delight in challenging his former friends to combat and then seeing them ambushed by the Makuta.
Weapons: Four leg blades; teeth
Quote: “Why are you hiding? You always used to talk so brave … come out and fight!”
STRENGTH:9
AGILITY:9
TOUGHNESS:9
MIND:8
Gavla
Leader of the shadow Matoran, Gavla’s hatred for her own people makes her a formidable enemy. She fights the Matoran of Light as much because she enjoys it as because she has been ordered to.
Weapons: Claw blades; teeth
Quote: “You might say I saw the light … by looking into the darkness.”
STRENGTH:7
AGILITY:7
TOUGHNESS:8
MIND:11
Kirop
Former leader of the Matoran of Light, Kirop has become their most dangerous enemy because he knows everything about all of them. He dislikes Gavla because she has been given the authority he feels should have been his.
Weapons: Claws; teeth
Quote: “All those years we spent hiding in the light … we were wrong. We should have embraced the darkness from the start.”
STRENGTH:8
AGILITY:7
TOUGHNESS:8
MIND:11
Matoran with elements.
Light against dark.
Winner take all.
Bios...did I tell you that this isn't new? - TOA MAHRI
From Bionicle.com.
Toa Kongu
Although Toa Kongu hates the water, he is forcing himself to adapt to battle beneath the sea. He is one of the best at seeing a situation for what it is and using humor to keep his enemies off-balance.
Weapons: Cordak blasters
Mask: Kanohi Zatth, Mask of Summoning
Quote: “Five of us, 5000 of them. I like your idea of fair odds, Hahli.”
STRENGTH:10
AGILITY:12
TOUGHNESS:11
MIND:11
Toa Jaller
Toa Jaller is used to being one of the most powerful Toa, but a water world is not made for a Toa of Fire. Still, he is a strong leader and is working hard to keep his team together in this crisis.
Weapons:Cordak blaster; aquatic fire blade
Mask: Kanohi Arthron, Mask of Sonar
Quote: “Give it up, or some lucky Rahi will be having boiled Barraki for dinner.”
STRENGTH:12
AGILITY:11
TOUGHNESS:12
MIND:11
Toa Hewkii
Toa Hewkii has decided that battle is just another kind of competition, and he is determined to be a champion. Sometimes he won’t even use his mask power or weapons, just pitting his strength against that of his foe.
Weapons: Aqua warblade; Cordak revolving blaster
Mask: Kanohi Garai, Mask of Gravity
Quote: “It’s Gadunka. Too bad we don’t have any of those explosive madu fruit like on our old island. I could teach him to play fetch.”
STRENGTH:13
AGILITY:9
TOUGHNESS:14
MIND:10
Toa Nuparu
Toa Nuparu never dreamed a city of Matoran could exist under the sea. He’s hoping that when the crisis is over, he will have time to study the technology that helped the Matoran survive.
Weapons: Aqua blaster blade; shield; Cordak blaster
Mask: Kanohi Volitak, Mask of Stealth
Quote: “I know a way out … It involves explosions … lots and lots of explosions.”
STRENGTH:12
AGILITY:10
TOUGHNESS:12
MIND:12
Toa Hahli
Toa Hahli is in her element now, and it has helped her to become a stronger person. She has even taken the lead on some missions and has become one of the best fighters on the team.
Weapons: Protosteel talons; Cordak blaster
Mask: Kanohi Faxon, the Mask of Kindred
Quote: “Back off, or I will personally teach you the meaning of ‘dead in the water.’”
STRENGTH:11
AGILITY:13
TOUGHNESS:11
MIND:11
Toa Matoro
Toa Matoro feels responsible for losing the Mask of Life and is determined to get it back, come what may, even if it means making a deal with his worst enemy.
Weapons: Twin cutter, Cordak blaster
Mask: Kanohi Tryna, Mask of Reanimation
Quote: “It ends now. One thousand years of fear and violence and darkness even in the daylight … all over now.”
STRENGTH:11
AGILITY:10
TOUGHNESS:11
MIND:12
Heroic...
Toa Kongu
Although Toa Kongu hates the water, he is forcing himself to adapt to battle beneath the sea. He is one of the best at seeing a situation for what it is and using humor to keep his enemies off-balance.
Weapons: Cordak blasters
Mask: Kanohi Zatth, Mask of Summoning
Quote: “Five of us, 5000 of them. I like your idea of fair odds, Hahli.”
STRENGTH:10
AGILITY:12
TOUGHNESS:11
MIND:11
Toa Jaller
Toa Jaller is used to being one of the most powerful Toa, but a water world is not made for a Toa of Fire. Still, he is a strong leader and is working hard to keep his team together in this crisis.
Weapons:Cordak blaster; aquatic fire blade
Mask: Kanohi Arthron, Mask of Sonar
Quote: “Give it up, or some lucky Rahi will be having boiled Barraki for dinner.”
STRENGTH:12
AGILITY:11
TOUGHNESS:12
MIND:11
Toa Hewkii
Toa Hewkii has decided that battle is just another kind of competition, and he is determined to be a champion. Sometimes he won’t even use his mask power or weapons, just pitting his strength against that of his foe.
Weapons: Aqua warblade; Cordak revolving blaster
Mask: Kanohi Garai, Mask of Gravity
Quote: “It’s Gadunka. Too bad we don’t have any of those explosive madu fruit like on our old island. I could teach him to play fetch.”
STRENGTH:13
AGILITY:9
TOUGHNESS:14
MIND:10
Toa Nuparu
Toa Nuparu never dreamed a city of Matoran could exist under the sea. He’s hoping that when the crisis is over, he will have time to study the technology that helped the Matoran survive.
Weapons: Aqua blaster blade; shield; Cordak blaster
Mask: Kanohi Volitak, Mask of Stealth
Quote: “I know a way out … It involves explosions … lots and lots of explosions.”
STRENGTH:12
AGILITY:10
TOUGHNESS:12
MIND:12
Toa Hahli
Toa Hahli is in her element now, and it has helped her to become a stronger person. She has even taken the lead on some missions and has become one of the best fighters on the team.
Weapons: Protosteel talons; Cordak blaster
Mask: Kanohi Faxon, the Mask of Kindred
Quote: “Back off, or I will personally teach you the meaning of ‘dead in the water.’”
STRENGTH:11
AGILITY:13
TOUGHNESS:11
MIND:11
Toa Matoro
Toa Matoro feels responsible for losing the Mask of Life and is determined to get it back, come what may, even if it means making a deal with his worst enemy.
Weapons: Twin cutter, Cordak blaster
Mask: Kanohi Tryna, Mask of Reanimation
Quote: “It ends now. One thousand years of fear and violence and darkness even in the daylight … all over now.”
STRENGTH:11
AGILITY:10
TOUGHNESS:11
MIND:12
Heroic...
Bios...this isn't new - PHANTOKA
From Bionicle.com.
Toa Kopaka
Unlike some of the other Toa Nuva, Kopaka has changed very little. He still prefers to fight alone, given the opportunity, though he knows it’s not a wise tactic against the Makuta. He is not at all happy about going into battle with Solek, feeling that exposing Matoran to danger is the last thing a responsible Toa should do. He and Tahu have settled many of their differences and Kopaka now fills the role of deputy leader of the team.
Mask: Akaku Nuva, Great Mask of X-Ray Vision.
Weapons: Midak Skyblaster, equipped with blizzard blade and laser sight
Quote: “All right, then, you Matoran ride with us. Stay low, keep your mouths shut, and try not to get killed.”
STRENGTH:12
AGILITY:11
TOUGHNESS:12
MIND:13
Toa Lewa
Of all the Toa, Lewa is one of the two (along with Tahu) who have matured the most. Although he still has an adventu- rous spirit, he is no longer so reckless and wild. He knows he has proven himself in battle, and so doesn’t feel the need to try quite so hard all the time. As a result, he has become a better teammate, a better fighter, and someone both Tahu and Kopaka feel can be trusted in dangerous situations.
Mask: Miru Nuva, Great Mask of Levitation.
Weapons: Midak Skyblaster (fires spheres of light) and air saber
Qutoe: “I am a Toa-hero, here to save you from … whatever it is you need saving from.”
STRENGTH:11
AGILITY:13
TOUGHNESS:12
MIND:11
Toa Pohatu
Always one of the friendlier Toa, Pohatu has been happy to see the team coming together and the internal fights a thing of the past. He is regarded as the most loyal and reliable team member, so easygoing and with such a good sense of humor that even Kopaka can’t help liking him. But Pohatu is also a fierce fighter, especially when he feels the weak are being threatened.
Mask: Kakama Nuva, Great Mask of Speed
Weapons: Rotating propeller/drill claws, Midak Skyblaster (shoots spheres of light)
Quote: “You know, I’ve seen things crawl out from under rocks that had more class than you Makuta. And I’m a Toa of Stone – I know rocks.”
STRENGTH:13
AGILITY:10
TOUGHNESS:14
MIND:11
Antroz
Antroz is the leader of the Brotherhood of Makuta forces in Karda Nui. Aggressive, he is not really a long-range planner, more a fierce warrior. In his opinion, complex tactics and strategies don’t win battles – crushing your enemy before he crushes you wins battles. Unlike the Makuta of Metru Nui, he never underestimates a foe.
Mask: Kanohi Jutlin, Mask of Corruption. Causes items to rot and break down.
Weapons: Tridak pod with shadow leeches; claws; teeth
Peculiarity: Antroz is a rare Makuta who has some sense of honor. For example, he’d prefer to win in a fair fight than to hit from behind.
Quote: “Toa serve an important purpose in this world – they help me keep my claws sharp.”
STRENGTH:16
AGILITY:12
TOUGHNESS:16
MIND:14
Vamprah
Vamprah is the true hunter among the Makuta, who delights in silently stalking his prey. Even his allies are uncomfortable around him. Thanks to his mask power and his own experiments, he now literally feeds on the hopes and dreams of others.
Peculiarity: Vamprah hates to see a hunt end too soon, and will often toy with his prey before feeding on their light.
Mask: Kanohi Avsa, Mask of Hunger – allows Vamprah to drain light/energy from a target over a distance
Weapons: Tridak pod with shadow leeches; claws; knife-sharp wings
STRENGTH:15
AGILITY:13
TOUGHNESS:15
MIND:14
Chirox
Chirox is one of the Brotherhood’s top scientists, but is best known for the fact that the Rahi he creates tend to be vicious and destructive. He is less of a warrior than Antroz, but more cunning, and much more likely to fight dirty.
Peculiarity: Chirox lives to do experiments, and is always tinkering with the flying and swimming beasts of Karda Nui to create new and more monstrous creatures.
Mask: Kanohi Shelek, Mask of Silence – can cause a target to temporarily lose the ability to hear or speak
Weapons: Tridak pod with shadow leeches; hook blades; teeth
Quote: “We knew what to do with Toa on Destral – raw material for my Rahi, that’s what they were.”
STRENGTH:15
AGILITY:12
TOUGHNESS:15
MIND:16
Toa Kopaka
Unlike some of the other Toa Nuva, Kopaka has changed very little. He still prefers to fight alone, given the opportunity, though he knows it’s not a wise tactic against the Makuta. He is not at all happy about going into battle with Solek, feeling that exposing Matoran to danger is the last thing a responsible Toa should do. He and Tahu have settled many of their differences and Kopaka now fills the role of deputy leader of the team.
Mask: Akaku Nuva, Great Mask of X-Ray Vision.
Weapons: Midak Skyblaster, equipped with blizzard blade and laser sight
Quote: “All right, then, you Matoran ride with us. Stay low, keep your mouths shut, and try not to get killed.”
STRENGTH:12
AGILITY:11
TOUGHNESS:12
MIND:13
Toa Lewa
Of all the Toa, Lewa is one of the two (along with Tahu) who have matured the most. Although he still has an adventu- rous spirit, he is no longer so reckless and wild. He knows he has proven himself in battle, and so doesn’t feel the need to try quite so hard all the time. As a result, he has become a better teammate, a better fighter, and someone both Tahu and Kopaka feel can be trusted in dangerous situations.
Mask: Miru Nuva, Great Mask of Levitation.
Weapons: Midak Skyblaster (fires spheres of light) and air saber
Qutoe: “I am a Toa-hero, here to save you from … whatever it is you need saving from.”
STRENGTH:11
AGILITY:13
TOUGHNESS:12
MIND:11
Toa Pohatu
Always one of the friendlier Toa, Pohatu has been happy to see the team coming together and the internal fights a thing of the past. He is regarded as the most loyal and reliable team member, so easygoing and with such a good sense of humor that even Kopaka can’t help liking him. But Pohatu is also a fierce fighter, especially when he feels the weak are being threatened.
Mask: Kakama Nuva, Great Mask of Speed
Weapons: Rotating propeller/drill claws, Midak Skyblaster (shoots spheres of light)
Quote: “You know, I’ve seen things crawl out from under rocks that had more class than you Makuta. And I’m a Toa of Stone – I know rocks.”
STRENGTH:13
AGILITY:10
TOUGHNESS:14
MIND:11
Antroz
Antroz is the leader of the Brotherhood of Makuta forces in Karda Nui. Aggressive, he is not really a long-range planner, more a fierce warrior. In his opinion, complex tactics and strategies don’t win battles – crushing your enemy before he crushes you wins battles. Unlike the Makuta of Metru Nui, he never underestimates a foe.
Mask: Kanohi Jutlin, Mask of Corruption. Causes items to rot and break down.
Weapons: Tridak pod with shadow leeches; claws; teeth
Peculiarity: Antroz is a rare Makuta who has some sense of honor. For example, he’d prefer to win in a fair fight than to hit from behind.
Quote: “Toa serve an important purpose in this world – they help me keep my claws sharp.”
STRENGTH:16
AGILITY:12
TOUGHNESS:16
MIND:14
Vamprah
Vamprah is the true hunter among the Makuta, who delights in silently stalking his prey. Even his allies are uncomfortable around him. Thanks to his mask power and his own experiments, he now literally feeds on the hopes and dreams of others.
Peculiarity: Vamprah hates to see a hunt end too soon, and will often toy with his prey before feeding on their light.
Mask: Kanohi Avsa, Mask of Hunger – allows Vamprah to drain light/energy from a target over a distance
Weapons: Tridak pod with shadow leeches; claws; knife-sharp wings
STRENGTH:15
AGILITY:13
TOUGHNESS:15
MIND:14
Chirox
Chirox is one of the Brotherhood’s top scientists, but is best known for the fact that the Rahi he creates tend to be vicious and destructive. He is less of a warrior than Antroz, but more cunning, and much more likely to fight dirty.
Peculiarity: Chirox lives to do experiments, and is always tinkering with the flying and swimming beasts of Karda Nui to create new and more monstrous creatures.
Mask: Kanohi Shelek, Mask of Silence – can cause a target to temporarily lose the ability to hear or speak
Weapons: Tridak pod with shadow leeches; hook blades; teeth
Quote: “We knew what to do with Toa on Destral – raw material for my Rahi, that’s what they were.”
STRENGTH:15
AGILITY:12
TOUGHNESS:15
MIND:16
Death at the Coliseum - Dark Mirror: Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Takanuva crouched behind a wall, a wounded Lesovikk beside him. All around, Elemental Power bursts were flying, warriors were screaming and a disaster beyond his imagination was taking place. It had all started out so well: Lesovikk's van had made it close to the Coliseum before being spotted. As planned, Takanuva had used his new found Shadow powers to blind the guards. Pohatu followed with a massive fist of stone that cracked the walls of the huge structure. To the east, Makuta Teridax led Krika, Kojol, Turaga Dume and Takua into battle.
At first, they made short work of the Matoran and Toa who guarded Tuyet's fortress. Then it all went wrong: a Toa of Iron appeared on the walls and a hail of spikes spelt the end of Takua. Takanuva watched in sheer horror as his other self collapsed and died. Kojol fell next, his armor crushed by the Toa's power, and his essence incinerated by a Toa of Plasma. Teridax was forced to pull back.
Things were going no better for Lesovikk's squad. Primal had run into Tahu in the eastern entrance, and killed the Toa of Fire. But the sudden appearance of Gali, and a sphere of Water around the Dark Hunter's head left him to drown on dry land. Toa Krakua hit Gali with a wave of solid sound, blasting apart her mask and armor. Pohatu cried out too late: Ahkmou had already dashed ahead and slain the fallen Toa of Water. He didn't get to enjoy his triumph long. Kopaka flash-froze Akhmou, and a swipe from Onua's claws shattered the Matoran into little pieces of crystal and Protodermis.
Now it was no longer one battle, but a dozen seperate ones being fought at once, the lines moving back and forth. Pohatu fought his way into the Coliseum, but found himself too evenly matched with Onua to make much progress. Lesovikk fell with an Ice dagger in his shoulder, but rallied to blow Kopaka off his post high atop the Coliseum. Takanuva winced as the Toa of Ice hit the ground and lay still.
"Now," said Lesovikk to Takanuva, "Darkness will lead the way. Get in there and do what you have to."
"What about you?" asked Takanuva.
"We'll give them something to remember," said Lesovikk.
Takanuva took one last look around. Nuju was side-by-side with Guardian, keeping a Toa of Magnetism too off-balance to use his powers. Teridax's forces had charged again. Krika used his Vacuum power to absorb Lewa's attacks until Teridax had summoned a bolt of Lightning, powerful enough to turn a Toa into ashes.
Darkness was already on the move, slipping through the cracks in the Coliseum walls. Takanuva used his Shadow power to enlarge them and followed. Inside, the Coliseum was strangely silent. One would never know a battle raged outside its walls. A team of Toa rushed by on their way to join the fight. Steeling himself, Takanuva fired laser blasts at the ceiling, bringing the rubble down on top of them. He still found himself hoping he had only stunned them, not killed them. Together, Toa and Dark Hunter fought their way to their goal: the Hall of Masks. They had made it to the chamber door when Darkness paused. He heard something. The next instance, the door exploded outward as a wall of water erupted from within, sweeping Darkness away. Takanuva managed to grab hold of the doorway, holding on with all his might and holding his breath. Outside, Teridax's attack had met with success as Toa fell before him and Krika. Turaga Dume had rallied Lesovikk's group, although not before Nuju had been pulled into the Archives by plantlife gone wild. Guardian, too, fell, but took half a dozen Toa with him. Back in the Coliseum, the deluge had finally stopped. There, framed in the chamber doors was Toa Tuyet; Nui Stone in one hand, Mask of Dimensional Gates in the other.
"I know who you are," she said. "Or rather, I had guessed. You don't belong here."
"Neither do you," said Takanuva. "You don't exist in my world. True Toa must have stood up and stopped you before you went too far."
"In my world, I am much more... competent," she replied. "How unfortunate for you."
"Alright then," said Takanuva. "For Takua, for Lesovikk, and for all the Toa and Matoran whose lives you have ruined, I strike."
Takanuva crouched behind a wall, a wounded Lesovikk beside him. All around, Elemental Power bursts were flying, warriors were screaming and a disaster beyond his imagination was taking place. It had all started out so well: Lesovikk's van had made it close to the Coliseum before being spotted. As planned, Takanuva had used his new found Shadow powers to blind the guards. Pohatu followed with a massive fist of stone that cracked the walls of the huge structure. To the east, Makuta Teridax led Krika, Kojol, Turaga Dume and Takua into battle.
At first, they made short work of the Matoran and Toa who guarded Tuyet's fortress. Then it all went wrong: a Toa of Iron appeared on the walls and a hail of spikes spelt the end of Takua. Takanuva watched in sheer horror as his other self collapsed and died. Kojol fell next, his armor crushed by the Toa's power, and his essence incinerated by a Toa of Plasma. Teridax was forced to pull back.
Things were going no better for Lesovikk's squad. Primal had run into Tahu in the eastern entrance, and killed the Toa of Fire. But the sudden appearance of Gali, and a sphere of Water around the Dark Hunter's head left him to drown on dry land. Toa Krakua hit Gali with a wave of solid sound, blasting apart her mask and armor. Pohatu cried out too late: Ahkmou had already dashed ahead and slain the fallen Toa of Water. He didn't get to enjoy his triumph long. Kopaka flash-froze Akhmou, and a swipe from Onua's claws shattered the Matoran into little pieces of crystal and Protodermis.
Now it was no longer one battle, but a dozen seperate ones being fought at once, the lines moving back and forth. Pohatu fought his way into the Coliseum, but found himself too evenly matched with Onua to make much progress. Lesovikk fell with an Ice dagger in his shoulder, but rallied to blow Kopaka off his post high atop the Coliseum. Takanuva winced as the Toa of Ice hit the ground and lay still.
"Now," said Lesovikk to Takanuva, "Darkness will lead the way. Get in there and do what you have to."
"What about you?" asked Takanuva.
"We'll give them something to remember," said Lesovikk.
Takanuva took one last look around. Nuju was side-by-side with Guardian, keeping a Toa of Magnetism too off-balance to use his powers. Teridax's forces had charged again. Krika used his Vacuum power to absorb Lewa's attacks until Teridax had summoned a bolt of Lightning, powerful enough to turn a Toa into ashes.
Darkness was already on the move, slipping through the cracks in the Coliseum walls. Takanuva used his Shadow power to enlarge them and followed. Inside, the Coliseum was strangely silent. One would never know a battle raged outside its walls. A team of Toa rushed by on their way to join the fight. Steeling himself, Takanuva fired laser blasts at the ceiling, bringing the rubble down on top of them. He still found himself hoping he had only stunned them, not killed them. Together, Toa and Dark Hunter fought their way to their goal: the Hall of Masks. They had made it to the chamber door when Darkness paused. He heard something. The next instance, the door exploded outward as a wall of water erupted from within, sweeping Darkness away. Takanuva managed to grab hold of the doorway, holding on with all his might and holding his breath. Outside, Teridax's attack had met with success as Toa fell before him and Krika. Turaga Dume had rallied Lesovikk's group, although not before Nuju had been pulled into the Archives by plantlife gone wild. Guardian, too, fell, but took half a dozen Toa with him. Back in the Coliseum, the deluge had finally stopped. There, framed in the chamber doors was Toa Tuyet; Nui Stone in one hand, Mask of Dimensional Gates in the other.
"I know who you are," she said. "Or rather, I had guessed. You don't belong here."
"Neither do you," said Takanuva. "You don't exist in my world. True Toa must have stood up and stopped you before you went too far."
"In my world, I am much more... competent," she replied. "How unfortunate for you."
"Alright then," said Takanuva. "For Takua, for Lesovikk, and for all the Toa and Matoran whose lives you have ruined, I strike."
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Some Prototypes
From the Battle for Power game.
CODE: NRZ981
Makuta
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/nrz981.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/upload2087246B-E322-4DD7-B7F5-E54F5F6AE41B.jpg
CODE: PRA628
Makuta
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/pra628.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/uploadDBD4567C-4F87-476D-8ECB-D6358B44C9ED.jpg
CODE: WAL886
Toa
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/wal886.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/upload92FE1FDB-7210-43C6-B763-3D0A6D425E3B.jpg
CODE: KPK858
Toa
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/kpk858.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/upload11974AE1-84E4-4511-815D-76A130E5D6E6.jpg
CODE: LES485
Toa
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/les485.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/upload095DC8E9-CD96-4A75-B717-D1D4ED5CDB32.jpg
CODE: OAU867
Toa
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/oau867.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/uploadD47A5BF1-65A7-44D2-B0B9-5C508D85807C.jpg
I'll have more.
CODE: NRZ981
Makuta
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/nrz981.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/upload2087246B-E322-4DD7-B7F5-E54F5F6AE41B.jpg
CODE: PRA628
Makuta
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/pra628.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/uploadDBD4567C-4F87-476D-8ECB-D6358B44C9ED.jpg
CODE: WAL886
Toa
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/wal886.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/upload92FE1FDB-7210-43C6-B763-3D0A6D425E3B.jpg
CODE: KPK858
Toa
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/kpk858.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/upload11974AE1-84E4-4511-815D-76A130E5D6E6.jpg
CODE: LES485
Toa
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/les485.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/upload095DC8E9-CD96-4A75-B717-D1D4ED5CDB32.jpg
CODE: OAU867
Toa
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/oau867.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/uploadD47A5BF1-65A7-44D2-B0B9-5C508D85807C.jpg
I'll have more.
Bionicle Comic 2008#1 Online
On Bionicle.com, Bionicle 2008 Comic#1 is online. Check it out if you aren't subscribed to the Lego Magazine!
Power...
Two new Battle for Power games have swooped down to Bionicle.com. You should go check them out now! I personally think that these are the best out of all of them that I've played. It's the three Av-Matoran and the three Kraa-Matoran.
Check it out here:
http://www.bionicle.com/
And, here's some rewards:
(prototype Lewa Phantoka mask and black Pohatu preview)
CODE: BIO962
Toa
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/bio962.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/uploadCA0BC5AA-579C-490A-B30A-2A28CC929CD2.jpg
CODE: BIO502
Makuta
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/bio502.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/upload909BB8FA-E027-45FB-801E-7ACABACBDEBB.jpg
There you have it!
Check it out here:
http://www.bionicle.com/
And, here's some rewards:
(prototype Lewa Phantoka mask and black Pohatu preview)
CODE: BIO962
Toa
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/bio962.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/uploadCA0BC5AA-579C-490A-B30A-2A28CC929CD2.jpg
CODE: BIO502
Makuta
Link: http://bionicle.lego.com/en-US/rewards/bio502.aspx
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/BionicleBIOCodes/otherfiles/1033/upload909BB8FA-E027-45FB-801E-7ACABACBDEBB.jpg
There you have it!
Finally-The Long-Awaited Mutran Chronicles Chapter 8!
Chapter 8
Well do I remember the first time I saw the Kanohi Avohkii, or Mask of Light. Truly no more vile or disgusting thing has ever been created in this universe. There it was in the hands of Teridax, not even having the courtesy to be the color of a lump of clay when not being worn – oh, no, the Avohkii gleamed golden. Locked within it was the one power we Makuta dreaded, and the unspoken promise of something far worse – the existence, someday, of an actual Toa of Light.
Whispered rumors had reached Destral that such a mask had come into existence on Artakha. Natually, Makuta Kojol, being the idiot he was, had not learned this directly. But he was more than ready to lead an armada against the island and seize the thing.
Teridax wanted a subtle operation, a few Rahkshi, that's all. Kojol, at his peril, chose to ignore this. He assembled a strike force of Visorak, Rahkshi, and even a few Exo-Toa, intending to overwhelm any defenses on the island with one crushing blow.
It didn't quite work out that way. The first things the Visorak ran into when they hit the beach were two massive serpents that seemed to be made of crystal. The Visorak, supremely confident as always, thought they would make short work of such large Rahi. Instead, the rays of the sun focused through the bodies of the snakes promptly incinerated Kojol's entire first wave.
Kojol pulled his ships back and tried another approach. Fortunately, Rahkshi are good climbers and were able to get a clawhold on more treacherous terrain. While the Matoran on the island posed little threat, the devices of the island's ruler – also named Artakha – took a heavy toll on the Rahkshi. They bought enough time for the Exo-Toa to deploy, however, and with their power added to the battle, the island fell.
Kojol could have - should have – taken everything in sight from the fortress. But it took him so long to come ashore, and so long to find the Avohkii (since the interior of the fortress was booby-trapped), and then he claims there was this intense blizzard as he tried to depart. Worse, he was never supposed to have set foot on the island at all – the point was for this to be a secret raid, not one that could be tied to the Brotherhood. (True, Visorak and Rahkshi are associated with us, but without the actual presence of a Makuta there, we could still deny knowledge of what happened.)
Kojol returned to Destral in "triumph", and despite disobeying orders, Teridax praised him for claiming the mask. The Toa Hagah who served us showed no indication they knew anything about the raid, meaning somehow our plans were still safe from view. The story, it seemed, was over.
Then something strange began to happen. Two squads of Rahkshi dispatched to a remote part of the southern continent were never seen alive again. When I found them, their armor was reduced to scraps and their kraata to dark smears on the ground. It seemed an interesting coincidence that they were the same Rahkshi who were on the Artakha raid.
The Exo-Toa were next. In the middle of the night, they vanished from their guard posts. To this day, we have no idea what became of them. By then, I was beginning to suspect that Artakha, or someone close to him, was taking revenge for our raid. That would mean Kojol would be next. Teridax needed to be informed immediately...
So, naturally, I did nothing.
Why? Because Kojol was a posturing, arrogant, obnoxious buffoon. If someone else wanted to spare me the trouble of killing him one day, so be it.
Oh, it looked like an accident, of course. He was visiting Xia, presenting them with a new armor-eating virus he wanted them to incorporate into a weapon. Either he made the virus better than he knew or else someone substituted a different one – for when it escaped, it turned out to have a taste for protosteel. His armor was devoured in seconds. Well, accidents happen. Of course, that didn't explain how his energy form wound up in a high-temperature Vortixx furnace where it was completely destroyed.
The virus had died almost immediately upon finishing its work, and we have never seen its like again. The Vortixx claimed innocence, but Teridax ordered part of the island razed anyway, as a reminder to them to be more careful in future.
It was only later that I realized what a fool I had been. Kojol was the only one who knew where the island of Artakha was, and I should have forced the knowledge from him before he died. When the Brotherhood tried to seek out others likely to know where the island might be located, we found that all had mysteriously died. Artakha – if it was him – was being very thorough.
In the end, we did not keep the Mask of Light for long. Teridax's squad of Toa Hagah actually dared invade the Destral fortress and steal the mask! They paid for it in the end – remind me to write sometime of Roodaka's nasty sense of humor – but they did escape with the mask.
Once that happened – once we knew there were Toa who had divined our new purpose in life – the Plan had to go forward swiftly. The time had come to bring down the Great Spirit and begin our march to power.
Well do I remember the first time I saw the Kanohi Avohkii, or Mask of Light. Truly no more vile or disgusting thing has ever been created in this universe. There it was in the hands of Teridax, not even having the courtesy to be the color of a lump of clay when not being worn – oh, no, the Avohkii gleamed golden. Locked within it was the one power we Makuta dreaded, and the unspoken promise of something far worse – the existence, someday, of an actual Toa of Light.
Whispered rumors had reached Destral that such a mask had come into existence on Artakha. Natually, Makuta Kojol, being the idiot he was, had not learned this directly. But he was more than ready to lead an armada against the island and seize the thing.
Teridax wanted a subtle operation, a few Rahkshi, that's all. Kojol, at his peril, chose to ignore this. He assembled a strike force of Visorak, Rahkshi, and even a few Exo-Toa, intending to overwhelm any defenses on the island with one crushing blow.
It didn't quite work out that way. The first things the Visorak ran into when they hit the beach were two massive serpents that seemed to be made of crystal. The Visorak, supremely confident as always, thought they would make short work of such large Rahi. Instead, the rays of the sun focused through the bodies of the snakes promptly incinerated Kojol's entire first wave.
Kojol pulled his ships back and tried another approach. Fortunately, Rahkshi are good climbers and were able to get a clawhold on more treacherous terrain. While the Matoran on the island posed little threat, the devices of the island's ruler – also named Artakha – took a heavy toll on the Rahkshi. They bought enough time for the Exo-Toa to deploy, however, and with their power added to the battle, the island fell.
Kojol could have - should have – taken everything in sight from the fortress. But it took him so long to come ashore, and so long to find the Avohkii (since the interior of the fortress was booby-trapped), and then he claims there was this intense blizzard as he tried to depart. Worse, he was never supposed to have set foot on the island at all – the point was for this to be a secret raid, not one that could be tied to the Brotherhood. (True, Visorak and Rahkshi are associated with us, but without the actual presence of a Makuta there, we could still deny knowledge of what happened.)
Kojol returned to Destral in "triumph", and despite disobeying orders, Teridax praised him for claiming the mask. The Toa Hagah who served us showed no indication they knew anything about the raid, meaning somehow our plans were still safe from view. The story, it seemed, was over.
Then something strange began to happen. Two squads of Rahkshi dispatched to a remote part of the southern continent were never seen alive again. When I found them, their armor was reduced to scraps and their kraata to dark smears on the ground. It seemed an interesting coincidence that they were the same Rahkshi who were on the Artakha raid.
The Exo-Toa were next. In the middle of the night, they vanished from their guard posts. To this day, we have no idea what became of them. By then, I was beginning to suspect that Artakha, or someone close to him, was taking revenge for our raid. That would mean Kojol would be next. Teridax needed to be informed immediately...
So, naturally, I did nothing.
Why? Because Kojol was a posturing, arrogant, obnoxious buffoon. If someone else wanted to spare me the trouble of killing him one day, so be it.
Oh, it looked like an accident, of course. He was visiting Xia, presenting them with a new armor-eating virus he wanted them to incorporate into a weapon. Either he made the virus better than he knew or else someone substituted a different one – for when it escaped, it turned out to have a taste for protosteel. His armor was devoured in seconds. Well, accidents happen. Of course, that didn't explain how his energy form wound up in a high-temperature Vortixx furnace where it was completely destroyed.
The virus had died almost immediately upon finishing its work, and we have never seen its like again. The Vortixx claimed innocence, but Teridax ordered part of the island razed anyway, as a reminder to them to be more careful in future.
It was only later that I realized what a fool I had been. Kojol was the only one who knew where the island of Artakha was, and I should have forced the knowledge from him before he died. When the Brotherhood tried to seek out others likely to know where the island might be located, we found that all had mysteriously died. Artakha – if it was him – was being very thorough.
In the end, we did not keep the Mask of Light for long. Teridax's squad of Toa Hagah actually dared invade the Destral fortress and steal the mask! They paid for it in the end – remind me to write sometime of Roodaka's nasty sense of humor – but they did escape with the mask.
Once that happened – once we knew there were Toa who had divined our new purpose in life – the Plan had to go forward swiftly. The time had come to bring down the Great Spirit and begin our march to power.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Quotes from Greg
These quotes are from GregF's blog on BZPower.
A few pieces of news today --
1) I finally got a look at a pic of Mazeka today -- looks from the photo like he's an Onu-Matoran.
2) The Jan. 2009 sets are in our showroom now. Gotta say, very impressive. The new mask pieces are particularly cool shapes and the weaponry is slick too. On the whole, they manage to stay recognizably BIONICLE while still looking nicely different from past sets. I think the new pieces will probably be good for those who like to MOC, too. I will tell you up front, having only seen pics up to now, the pics do not do the sets justice. They are much more striking in person.
I am definitely inspired to do a Club building contest once those come out, to see what fans will build out of them.
3) 2010 story conference next week, so we can clear the decks and I can get moving on the screen treatment for 2010 movie.
4) I am going to be signing up for something on the Scholastic site where teachers and librarians can find authors to come speak at their schools/libraries. Not sure it will produce anything, but at least it will put me out there for folks who might want to do a BIONICLE event as they did in Coventry. So maybe there will be more school/library appearances in the Northeast in future, we'll see.
Interesting...
A few pieces of news today --
1) I finally got a look at a pic of Mazeka today -- looks from the photo like he's an Onu-Matoran.
2) The Jan. 2009 sets are in our showroom now. Gotta say, very impressive. The new mask pieces are particularly cool shapes and the weaponry is slick too. On the whole, they manage to stay recognizably BIONICLE while still looking nicely different from past sets. I think the new pieces will probably be good for those who like to MOC, too. I will tell you up front, having only seen pics up to now, the pics do not do the sets justice. They are much more striking in person.
I am definitely inspired to do a Club building contest once those come out, to see what fans will build out of them.
3) 2010 story conference next week, so we can clear the decks and I can get moving on the screen treatment for 2010 movie.
4) I am going to be signing up for something on the Scholastic site where teachers and librarians can find authors to come speak at their schools/libraries. Not sure it will produce anything, but at least it will put me out there for folks who might want to do a BIONICLE event as they did in Coventry. So maybe there will be more school/library appearances in the Northeast in future, we'll see.
Interesting...
Another Clue to the Mazeka Mystery
Greg Farshtey, writer of the Bionicle storyline, has revealed that Mazeka is an Onu-Matoran. That's all for now.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Some 2008 Set Reviews (Ratings) - Just a Preview
Some ratings of the Phantoka...
Kopaka Phantoka: 8/10
Great new wings. I think that the bayonet is rather small for a melee weapon, and just looks like an advanced Midak Skyblaster. Also, the arm armor keeps falling off when I try to move his arms.
Pohatu Phantoka: 8.4/10
The propellors are fun to spin, and he has two of them. Also, there is a shoulder-mounted Midak Skyblaster that fits in well. Three weapons in all, all of them with functions. These are the highlights of the set. The bad sides? There is a small kind of mask that doesn't cover his whole face (that might not be bad for you) and I think that he's too short. Well, I'm not sure about you, but I prefer taller sets.
Lewa Phantoka: 9.45/10
One of the best Phantoka, he stands tall and wears a neat mask. Also, there are two jetpacks and Matoro Twin Cutters that attach to the shoulders. Midak Skyblaster really fires!
Vamprah: 6.9/10
Good bat wings that attach to the arms. Neat hooks. Only one exclusive piece (the mask, of course) A Tridax Pod. Note that this Tridax Pod only works if you dump it on a hard surface. The bad parts? NO LEGS! Well, there are legs, but they are short and close to nothing. I would not recommend this set, but if you like blue, go ahead, he'll probably satisfy your thirst for blue things and add another Makuta to your collection. True hunter of the sky!
Chirox: 8.7/10
Very tall. Very long arms. Very skinny. Very nerd-like (just kidding). The mask is very neat, though it is not exclusive (See Mutran) Nice pieces for MOCing. Actually, I can't find many bad parts, except that he's rather skinny but tall. Like Brutaka, kind of. Not like Axonn. However, the set has no pieces that are only included in the Chirox set. (the melee weapons are part of the Jetrax T6 Bionicle vehicle)
Antroz: 8.35/10
The most in-balance of the Makuta sets, though with an abnormally small waist. However, he's not too tall (taller than most canisters) and not too short. Not too skinny and not too wide. The average of the Makuta, I would highly recommend that you buy Antroz. Also, he has cool new wings, a great Kanohi, and a Tridax Pod to explode Lewa with. Buy this set!
Mutran and Vican: 8.45/10
Mutran is practically a clone of Chirox, except for a few small differences (i.e. the weapons). Vican is hard to stand up, and like Kirop (thought not as much as Mutran resembles Chirox) Personally, I think that this is almost Chirox recolored. Not sure if you should get this one. Fans of green people (like me) should finish the deal and take him for the price of $15. Compared to the regular price for a Toa and a Matoran ($6) Mutran and Vican for $15 is a nice deal, but there aren't any pieces that aren't included in another set. That's just how store-exclusives work.
Icarax: 9.8/10
He's the best of the Phantoka. Tall. Great poseability. Four functions to keep you at bay. The Kanohi Krahkaan (with one small, almost unnoticeable difference than the 2003 Krahkaan) Let's get started. First, Icarax has many points of articulation (I haven't yet counted, but I think it's around 20) The functions. The Tridax Pod. As told in the Vamprah rating, this pod full of cute 'n cuddly (the Makuta would kill me for saying that) leeches. These leeches deserve a sentence or two to describe them. The leeches are bluish-green and have these neat little faces (they're supposed to terrorize the neighborhood and suck the light out of people) They do not really resemble actual leeches, which happen to suck the blood out of people. Anyway, enough on the Shadow Leeches. Just remember...they're nothing like they're supposed to be. Antroz is angry at me... So, next "function." The Krahkaan. Just as specified in the 2003 Krahkaan, you can flip it and see the other face on the side. The instructions say to put it with the weird face up, but I guess that you can pose it however you want. The moving wings on Icarax's back. They can be adjusted to change to many different ways. Great job, Lego designer people! And the spinning shield, which works perfectly. You just spin it, and it spins (as is the obvious) Anyway, Icarax is (in my opinion) the most awesome set of the Phantoka (though not out of all of the 2008 sets) and you should definitely buy him. Head over to a Toys 'r Us now! (or order him on Lego Shop at Home)
Next time: Reviews of all six of the Av-Matoran and the Shadow Matoran!
Yes, I have all of the Phantoka.
Also, these are just ratings and descriptions. The REAL set reviews come soon!
Kopaka Phantoka: 8/10
Great new wings. I think that the bayonet is rather small for a melee weapon, and just looks like an advanced Midak Skyblaster. Also, the arm armor keeps falling off when I try to move his arms.
Pohatu Phantoka: 8.4/10
The propellors are fun to spin, and he has two of them. Also, there is a shoulder-mounted Midak Skyblaster that fits in well. Three weapons in all, all of them with functions. These are the highlights of the set. The bad sides? There is a small kind of mask that doesn't cover his whole face (that might not be bad for you) and I think that he's too short. Well, I'm not sure about you, but I prefer taller sets.
Lewa Phantoka: 9.45/10
One of the best Phantoka, he stands tall and wears a neat mask. Also, there are two jetpacks and Matoro Twin Cutters that attach to the shoulders. Midak Skyblaster really fires!
Vamprah: 6.9/10
Good bat wings that attach to the arms. Neat hooks. Only one exclusive piece (the mask, of course) A Tridax Pod. Note that this Tridax Pod only works if you dump it on a hard surface. The bad parts? NO LEGS! Well, there are legs, but they are short and close to nothing. I would not recommend this set, but if you like blue, go ahead, he'll probably satisfy your thirst for blue things and add another Makuta to your collection. True hunter of the sky!
Chirox: 8.7/10
Very tall. Very long arms. Very skinny. Very nerd-like (just kidding). The mask is very neat, though it is not exclusive (See Mutran) Nice pieces for MOCing. Actually, I can't find many bad parts, except that he's rather skinny but tall. Like Brutaka, kind of. Not like Axonn. However, the set has no pieces that are only included in the Chirox set. (the melee weapons are part of the Jetrax T6 Bionicle vehicle)
Antroz: 8.35/10
The most in-balance of the Makuta sets, though with an abnormally small waist. However, he's not too tall (taller than most canisters) and not too short. Not too skinny and not too wide. The average of the Makuta, I would highly recommend that you buy Antroz. Also, he has cool new wings, a great Kanohi, and a Tridax Pod to explode Lewa with. Buy this set!
Mutran and Vican: 8.45/10
Mutran is practically a clone of Chirox, except for a few small differences (i.e. the weapons). Vican is hard to stand up, and like Kirop (thought not as much as Mutran resembles Chirox) Personally, I think that this is almost Chirox recolored. Not sure if you should get this one. Fans of green people (like me) should finish the deal and take him for the price of $15. Compared to the regular price for a Toa and a Matoran ($6) Mutran and Vican for $15 is a nice deal, but there aren't any pieces that aren't included in another set. That's just how store-exclusives work.
Icarax: 9.8/10
He's the best of the Phantoka. Tall. Great poseability. Four functions to keep you at bay. The Kanohi Krahkaan (with one small, almost unnoticeable difference than the 2003 Krahkaan) Let's get started. First, Icarax has many points of articulation (I haven't yet counted, but I think it's around 20) The functions. The Tridax Pod. As told in the Vamprah rating, this pod full of cute 'n cuddly (the Makuta would kill me for saying that) leeches. These leeches deserve a sentence or two to describe them. The leeches are bluish-green and have these neat little faces (they're supposed to terrorize the neighborhood and suck the light out of people) They do not really resemble actual leeches, which happen to suck the blood out of people. Anyway, enough on the Shadow Leeches. Just remember...they're nothing like they're supposed to be. Antroz is angry at me... So, next "function." The Krahkaan. Just as specified in the 2003 Krahkaan, you can flip it and see the other face on the side. The instructions say to put it with the weird face up, but I guess that you can pose it however you want. The moving wings on Icarax's back. They can be adjusted to change to many different ways. Great job, Lego designer people! And the spinning shield, which works perfectly. You just spin it, and it spins (as is the obvious) Anyway, Icarax is (in my opinion) the most awesome set of the Phantoka (though not out of all of the 2008 sets) and you should definitely buy him. Head over to a Toys 'r Us now! (or order him on Lego Shop at Home)
Next time: Reviews of all six of the Av-Matoran and the Shadow Matoran!
Yes, I have all of the Phantoka.
Also, these are just ratings and descriptions. The REAL set reviews come soon!
Federation of Fear 8
Federation of Fear, Chapter 8
Brutaka pushed aside a pile of rubble and struggled to his feet. Around him, Spiriah and Roodaka were using shadow energy to blast themselves free. Vezon and Lariska were nowhere to be seen.
He glanced back toward the now blocked tunnel entrance. A few blasts of power would no doubt clear away the pile of rocks and stones, but Takadox would be long gone by now. There would be time to settle with him later.
"I've got him!"
Brutaka turned to see Lariska holding a squirming Vezon by the throat. "I caught him sneaking down a side tunnel," the Dark Hunter said.
"Let us track down that traitor," snarled Roodaka. "I want his shattered body beneath my heel."
"We're here to do a job," Brutaka replied. "We keep moving. All of us," he added, looking hard at Vezon.
The tunnel proved to be far more than a mere pathway. It opened upon a vast underground cavern spanned by a narrow bridge made of fibrous protodermis. Down below, the floor was littered with a massive tangle of what looked like dead branches intertwined with each other. Deep channels had been carved into the walls by lava flows over the centuries. Strange flying Rahi hung from the ceiling, their six eyes blinking slowly at the sight of intruders into their realm.
"Remind me not to let Makuta Krika arrange for my next pleasure trip," muttered Spiriah.
"This whole island is volcanic," said Brutaka. "Minor eruptions over the years, but nothing major. Tahu and Kopaka are supposed to have taken care of the problem. Otherwise, we would probably be flash fried by now."
"No Carapar, no Takadox," said Vezon in a sing-song voice. "Who will go next? Spiriah the Sullen? Brutaka the Boorish? Vezon the Vanquisher? Or Lariska --"
The Dark Hunter whipped out a dagger and flung it into the stone right at Vezon's feet. The mad half-Skakdi turned to her, smiling, and said, "Or Lariska, the wise, wonderful, and gloriously homicidal."
Brutaka led the way across the bridge. At the far side, light spilled through a narrow opening. The symbol of the Brotherhood of Makuta was seared into the stone beside that portal. Someone – maybe Krika, maybe Miserix – had marked their path, so long ago.
"What are we going to do with this legendary Makuta when we find him?" asked Roodaka. "What makes you think he will help the likes of you?"
"Miserix hates the Brotherhood for turning on him," Brutaka replied. "He would ally with three Matoran and an Ussal crab if it would get him revenge on his fellow Makuta."
"And so what will he be for you?" Roodaka pressed. "A general? A hero? A symbol around which to rally resistance to the Brotherhood?"
Brutaka shook his head. "Nothing quite so grand. He'll be a weapon, like a Rhotuka launcher or a ghost blaster. And we're going to aim him right at the Makuta fortress on Destral."
Roodaka smiled. "And who, might I ask... are 'we'?"
Brutaka smiled back, the grin of a Kavinika about to feast. "Now, now ... what you don't know won't cut you in two and dump you off this bridge."
"I hear something," said Lariska. "Up ahead... it might be a voice... or the rumble of the volcano."
"I hear something too," said Vezon.
"Shut up," replied Roodaka.
"And I see something as well," Vezon continued. "But since you aren't interested..."
"We're not," Roodaka snapped.
"Personally, I always find my comments and observations most interesting," Vezon rambled on. "You haven't truly lived until you have seen the world through the eyes of madness. Why, half the time I don't know if what I see is what's really there, or what I wish was there ... or what I pray, I beg, I plead is not."
"Why did we bring him again?" said Spiriah.
"He breaks up the monotony," said Lariska.
"I'd like to break something much more satisfying," hissed Roodaka. "I hear Skakdi make a most appealing sound when you snap them into pieces."
"But, since you seem to have no interest," Vezon continued, utterly disregarding his teammates' comments. "Well, then, I won't tell you that the floor is moving. You can find out on your own."
"The floor is...?" Brutaka repeated. He looked down. Far below, the tangled growth of dead branches had indeed begun to shift. The reason why rapidly became clear: they weren't branches at all, but the twisted limbs of thousands of crimson insects, now disentangling themselves from each other. Apparently, it was time to wake up and they were ready for their morning meal.
Swifter than anyone could have predicted, they began to swarm up the walls of the canyon on every side. In an instant, they had blocked the openings on both ends of the bridge. The surrounding rock was now gone, buried beneath a skittering sea of red and thousands of unblinking, predatory eyes.
"No, no, no," said Vezon, shaking his head. "Too late to apologize. Much, much too late."
Brutaka pushed aside a pile of rubble and struggled to his feet. Around him, Spiriah and Roodaka were using shadow energy to blast themselves free. Vezon and Lariska were nowhere to be seen.
He glanced back toward the now blocked tunnel entrance. A few blasts of power would no doubt clear away the pile of rocks and stones, but Takadox would be long gone by now. There would be time to settle with him later.
"I've got him!"
Brutaka turned to see Lariska holding a squirming Vezon by the throat. "I caught him sneaking down a side tunnel," the Dark Hunter said.
"Let us track down that traitor," snarled Roodaka. "I want his shattered body beneath my heel."
"We're here to do a job," Brutaka replied. "We keep moving. All of us," he added, looking hard at Vezon.
The tunnel proved to be far more than a mere pathway. It opened upon a vast underground cavern spanned by a narrow bridge made of fibrous protodermis. Down below, the floor was littered with a massive tangle of what looked like dead branches intertwined with each other. Deep channels had been carved into the walls by lava flows over the centuries. Strange flying Rahi hung from the ceiling, their six eyes blinking slowly at the sight of intruders into their realm.
"Remind me not to let Makuta Krika arrange for my next pleasure trip," muttered Spiriah.
"This whole island is volcanic," said Brutaka. "Minor eruptions over the years, but nothing major. Tahu and Kopaka are supposed to have taken care of the problem. Otherwise, we would probably be flash fried by now."
"No Carapar, no Takadox," said Vezon in a sing-song voice. "Who will go next? Spiriah the Sullen? Brutaka the Boorish? Vezon the Vanquisher? Or Lariska --"
The Dark Hunter whipped out a dagger and flung it into the stone right at Vezon's feet. The mad half-Skakdi turned to her, smiling, and said, "Or Lariska, the wise, wonderful, and gloriously homicidal."
Brutaka led the way across the bridge. At the far side, light spilled through a narrow opening. The symbol of the Brotherhood of Makuta was seared into the stone beside that portal. Someone – maybe Krika, maybe Miserix – had marked their path, so long ago.
"What are we going to do with this legendary Makuta when we find him?" asked Roodaka. "What makes you think he will help the likes of you?"
"Miserix hates the Brotherhood for turning on him," Brutaka replied. "He would ally with three Matoran and an Ussal crab if it would get him revenge on his fellow Makuta."
"And so what will he be for you?" Roodaka pressed. "A general? A hero? A symbol around which to rally resistance to the Brotherhood?"
Brutaka shook his head. "Nothing quite so grand. He'll be a weapon, like a Rhotuka launcher or a ghost blaster. And we're going to aim him right at the Makuta fortress on Destral."
Roodaka smiled. "And who, might I ask... are 'we'?"
Brutaka smiled back, the grin of a Kavinika about to feast. "Now, now ... what you don't know won't cut you in two and dump you off this bridge."
"I hear something," said Lariska. "Up ahead... it might be a voice... or the rumble of the volcano."
"I hear something too," said Vezon.
"Shut up," replied Roodaka.
"And I see something as well," Vezon continued. "But since you aren't interested..."
"We're not," Roodaka snapped.
"Personally, I always find my comments and observations most interesting," Vezon rambled on. "You haven't truly lived until you have seen the world through the eyes of madness. Why, half the time I don't know if what I see is what's really there, or what I wish was there ... or what I pray, I beg, I plead is not."
"Why did we bring him again?" said Spiriah.
"He breaks up the monotony," said Lariska.
"I'd like to break something much more satisfying," hissed Roodaka. "I hear Skakdi make a most appealing sound when you snap them into pieces."
"But, since you seem to have no interest," Vezon continued, utterly disregarding his teammates' comments. "Well, then, I won't tell you that the floor is moving. You can find out on your own."
"The floor is...?" Brutaka repeated. He looked down. Far below, the tangled growth of dead branches had indeed begun to shift. The reason why rapidly became clear: they weren't branches at all, but the twisted limbs of thousands of crimson insects, now disentangling themselves from each other. Apparently, it was time to wake up and they were ready for their morning meal.
Swifter than anyone could have predicted, they began to swarm up the walls of the canyon on every side. In an instant, they had blocked the openings on both ends of the bridge. The surrounding rock was now gone, buried beneath a skittering sea of red and thousands of unblinking, predatory eyes.
"No, no, no," said Vezon, shaking his head. "Too late to apologize. Much, much too late."
Monday, April 28, 2008
Dark Mirror 7
Chapter Seven
Under the cover of darkness, Toa Lesovikk and Toa Takanuva darted through the sculpture fields of Po-Metru. They had slipped back to Metru Nui via an underwater chute a few hours before. Lesovikk knew a few there were closed for repair but were still functioning, and the best of all, unguarded.
"Where are we going?", whispered Takanuva. "The Coliseum is the other way! If Brutaka's mask is in there, that's where I need to go."
"Right," said Lesovikk. "But if you want to get in and out of there alive we do it my way. And my way starts at the Throne of Stone."
The Toa of Air pointed straight ahead. Not far away was indeed a huge throne made of rock, mounted atop a base of Rahkshi parts. Po-Matoran bearing torches surrounded it, and seated in the great chair was Toa Pohatu himself.
"Umm, excuse me," said Takanuva. "I ran into Tahu and Kopaka not long ago, and...are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Trust me," said Lesovikk, smiling.
After a few hours, the Po-Matoran left to go back to their homes. As Pohatu descended from his throne, Lesovikk scraped three times with his armoured boot against a nearby rock. The Toa of Stone stopped, head turned to listen. Then he said, "Lesovikk, you're out of your mind."
"It helps," said the Toa of Air, leading Takanuva to where Pohatu stood. "This is my new pal, Takanuva. He's waiting for the five widget tour of the Coliseum, particularly the Hall of Masks."
"Wait a minute," said Takanuva. "I don't understand any of this. Tahu, Pohatu and the rest were supposed to stay asleep until they were needed to awaken Mata Nui. But Mata Nui never fell asleep here, so why are they here?"
"He talks a lot, doesn't he?" Pohatu said to Lesovikk. Lesovikk shrugged.
"OK, glowfish, let me tell you a story," Pohatu said, "Toa Tuyet found out where we were from Artakha. She sent some Toa in to find us, but none of them survived the trip. That was when she found a spot in the Coliseum no one had ever seen before. A place from which she could fake the signal that would launch our canisters. Next thing you know, here we are. She laid it all out for us. How the Makuta and the Dark Hunters were plotting to take over, and how it was our duty as Toa to stop them dead. It was the only way to make the universe really safe. So we all signed on, but after a while I started to have doubts. They turned into fears when I found out Tuyet had sent a squad headed by Toa Nidhiki to wipe out the Nynrah Ghosts, just because they might someday make something that could be used against her. Four dozen Matoran dead. 'Still makes me sick. That was when I made contact with Lesovikk, and we've been working together ever since. Of course, Tuyet doesn't know that."
"You're a regular stone Wall of History," said Lesovikk. "But it's going to be light soon. We need to get the troops together and get ready for a raid."
Pohatu led the two Toa back to his cavern. Once inside, he used his power to send a mild tremor the length of Metru Nui. Not enough to cause damage, just enough to signal those who would understand and then respond. They started filtering in through underground tunnels not long after. Nuju, Ahkmou, three Dark Hunters: Guardian, Darkness and Primal, one Toa: Krakua, and a Po-Matoran that Lesovikk introduced as Kodan.
"It's handy to have the Toa's Chronicler on our side," said Lesovikk, "Helps us stay informed."
"So what's the plan?" asked Takanuva, "We sneak in, steal the mask and get out?"
"He thinks small, too," Pohatu said to Lesovikk. Lesovikk shrugged.
"Listen, junior. I don't know where you came from or why," said Pohatu, "But I'm betting Tuyet doesn't know either, and maybe that gives us an edge. So we're putting everything on one Akilini play. Ahkmou here has alerted the Makuta in town, Darkness took care of any Dark Hunters nearby who were still on two legs. Everybody's in."
"In what?," asked Takanuva.
"Tuyet's had her own way for too long," Pohatu answered, grabbing a Protosteel Axe off the wall. "It's time to take her down."
Under the cover of darkness, Toa Lesovikk and Toa Takanuva darted through the sculpture fields of Po-Metru. They had slipped back to Metru Nui via an underwater chute a few hours before. Lesovikk knew a few there were closed for repair but were still functioning, and the best of all, unguarded.
"Where are we going?", whispered Takanuva. "The Coliseum is the other way! If Brutaka's mask is in there, that's where I need to go."
"Right," said Lesovikk. "But if you want to get in and out of there alive we do it my way. And my way starts at the Throne of Stone."
The Toa of Air pointed straight ahead. Not far away was indeed a huge throne made of rock, mounted atop a base of Rahkshi parts. Po-Matoran bearing torches surrounded it, and seated in the great chair was Toa Pohatu himself.
"Umm, excuse me," said Takanuva. "I ran into Tahu and Kopaka not long ago, and...are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Trust me," said Lesovikk, smiling.
After a few hours, the Po-Matoran left to go back to their homes. As Pohatu descended from his throne, Lesovikk scraped three times with his armoured boot against a nearby rock. The Toa of Stone stopped, head turned to listen. Then he said, "Lesovikk, you're out of your mind."
"It helps," said the Toa of Air, leading Takanuva to where Pohatu stood. "This is my new pal, Takanuva. He's waiting for the five widget tour of the Coliseum, particularly the Hall of Masks."
"Wait a minute," said Takanuva. "I don't understand any of this. Tahu, Pohatu and the rest were supposed to stay asleep until they were needed to awaken Mata Nui. But Mata Nui never fell asleep here, so why are they here?"
"He talks a lot, doesn't he?" Pohatu said to Lesovikk. Lesovikk shrugged.
"OK, glowfish, let me tell you a story," Pohatu said, "Toa Tuyet found out where we were from Artakha. She sent some Toa in to find us, but none of them survived the trip. That was when she found a spot in the Coliseum no one had ever seen before. A place from which she could fake the signal that would launch our canisters. Next thing you know, here we are. She laid it all out for us. How the Makuta and the Dark Hunters were plotting to take over, and how it was our duty as Toa to stop them dead. It was the only way to make the universe really safe. So we all signed on, but after a while I started to have doubts. They turned into fears when I found out Tuyet had sent a squad headed by Toa Nidhiki to wipe out the Nynrah Ghosts, just because they might someday make something that could be used against her. Four dozen Matoran dead. 'Still makes me sick. That was when I made contact with Lesovikk, and we've been working together ever since. Of course, Tuyet doesn't know that."
"You're a regular stone Wall of History," said Lesovikk. "But it's going to be light soon. We need to get the troops together and get ready for a raid."
Pohatu led the two Toa back to his cavern. Once inside, he used his power to send a mild tremor the length of Metru Nui. Not enough to cause damage, just enough to signal those who would understand and then respond. They started filtering in through underground tunnels not long after. Nuju, Ahkmou, three Dark Hunters: Guardian, Darkness and Primal, one Toa: Krakua, and a Po-Matoran that Lesovikk introduced as Kodan.
"It's handy to have the Toa's Chronicler on our side," said Lesovikk, "Helps us stay informed."
"So what's the plan?" asked Takanuva, "We sneak in, steal the mask and get out?"
"He thinks small, too," Pohatu said to Lesovikk. Lesovikk shrugged.
"Listen, junior. I don't know where you came from or why," said Pohatu, "But I'm betting Tuyet doesn't know either, and maybe that gives us an edge. So we're putting everything on one Akilini play. Ahkmou here has alerted the Makuta in town, Darkness took care of any Dark Hunters nearby who were still on two legs. Everybody's in."
"In what?," asked Takanuva.
"Tuyet's had her own way for too long," Pohatu answered, grabbing a Protosteel Axe off the wall. "It's time to take her down."
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Mutran Chronicles: Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Bitil was the first one to notice. We were both visiting Destral at the time, laying plans to support Teridax's planned coup against Mata Nui. As I recall we were discussing how unfortunate it was so much of the plan might hinge on the actions of Makuta Kojol, who oversaw the region of Artakha. Kojol was a secretive sort, never sharing what he knew with anyone, not even the location of Artakha itself. His specialties were flying Rahi and sea Rahi, both of whom protected his region from any intrusion, even by us.
But I must stay on the subject. Bitil was making a point in his usual way, by throwing a weapon at the wall. He went to pick up an axe and found he couldn't make his armor move. It was like all his muscles had turned to water. My amusement at his panic faded when I realized the same thing was happening to me.
Chirox pulled away some of Kojol's armor, only to see a greenish-black mist rising from inside the shell. Worried, Chirox caught a sample, then did a crude patch of the armor. After extensive tests, he returned to inform us of his results.
"This," he began, holding up a tube with the mist inside, "is what is left of our bodies. We have evolved from muscle and tissue to pure energy. No longer do we need to eat, or breathe, nor do we need fear the pains that come with advanced age.
"But there is more," he continued. "If a Makuta's energy disperses, his consciousness will disappear and he will die. So it is critical to guard against damage to our armor that might allow our essence to escape."
How did I feel about this, you might wonder. Intrigued... resentful that Chirox figured out what was happening before I did... and unsure what this meant for the future of we Makuta. Would we be more powerful now that we did not have to worry about organs and muscles being harmed? Would the fear of our armor being pierced and our energy dispersed make us too cautious?
Teridax wasted no time worrying. He ordered the "Nynrah ghosts" brought to Destral so that they could modify our armor to take advantage of our new "bodies." They added additional layers of protosteel, possible now that we had no physical forms that required space.
An unexpected benefit of our new existence was discovered in quite a painful way (for me, at least). Wandering through the fortress, I encountered a lone Exo-Toa. When I tried to pass it, the robot picked me up and threw me the length of the hallway, all the while laughing a most familiar laugh.
"Chirox?" I asked, getting back to my feet – for that was whose laugh I heard.
"Our new forms," came the reply. 'With them, we can take over robot bodies – perhaps living ones, too, I do not know. Think of it – the ultimate disguise!"
"Ah, yes," I answered. "Once again, you find a better way to hide."
He fired a missile from the armor in response, but not fast enough. I stalked over and tore an arm off the robot, then smiled as I saw his energies begin to drift out of the gap. My smile grew broader as I heard him cursing in my mind, while he directed his energies back toward his empty Makuta armor in another chamber.
The idea of destroying the armor before he could reach it did, I admit, cross my mind. Did I refrain out of mercy, or kindness, or some sense of fellowship with my brother Makuta?
No, no, quite the opposite. I simply knew how long Chirox had been struggling to develop a flying serpent with just the right amount of exterior slime to allow it to slither through small crevices, while not so much that it left a trail wherever it went. And as soon as he was back in his body, I was going to take a great deal of joy in introducing him to my Lohrak, wings, slime, and all...
Bitil was the first one to notice. We were both visiting Destral at the time, laying plans to support Teridax's planned coup against Mata Nui. As I recall we were discussing how unfortunate it was so much of the plan might hinge on the actions of Makuta Kojol, who oversaw the region of Artakha. Kojol was a secretive sort, never sharing what he knew with anyone, not even the location of Artakha itself. His specialties were flying Rahi and sea Rahi, both of whom protected his region from any intrusion, even by us.
But I must stay on the subject. Bitil was making a point in his usual way, by throwing a weapon at the wall. He went to pick up an axe and found he couldn't make his armor move. It was like all his muscles had turned to water. My amusement at his panic faded when I realized the same thing was happening to me.
Chirox pulled away some of Kojol's armor, only to see a greenish-black mist rising from inside the shell. Worried, Chirox caught a sample, then did a crude patch of the armor. After extensive tests, he returned to inform us of his results.
"This," he began, holding up a tube with the mist inside, "is what is left of our bodies. We have evolved from muscle and tissue to pure energy. No longer do we need to eat, or breathe, nor do we need fear the pains that come with advanced age.
"But there is more," he continued. "If a Makuta's energy disperses, his consciousness will disappear and he will die. So it is critical to guard against damage to our armor that might allow our essence to escape."
How did I feel about this, you might wonder. Intrigued... resentful that Chirox figured out what was happening before I did... and unsure what this meant for the future of we Makuta. Would we be more powerful now that we did not have to worry about organs and muscles being harmed? Would the fear of our armor being pierced and our energy dispersed make us too cautious?
Teridax wasted no time worrying. He ordered the "Nynrah ghosts" brought to Destral so that they could modify our armor to take advantage of our new "bodies." They added additional layers of protosteel, possible now that we had no physical forms that required space.
An unexpected benefit of our new existence was discovered in quite a painful way (for me, at least). Wandering through the fortress, I encountered a lone Exo-Toa. When I tried to pass it, the robot picked me up and threw me the length of the hallway, all the while laughing a most familiar laugh.
"Chirox?" I asked, getting back to my feet – for that was whose laugh I heard.
"Our new forms," came the reply. 'With them, we can take over robot bodies – perhaps living ones, too, I do not know. Think of it – the ultimate disguise!"
"Ah, yes," I answered. "Once again, you find a better way to hide."
He fired a missile from the armor in response, but not fast enough. I stalked over and tore an arm off the robot, then smiled as I saw his energies begin to drift out of the gap. My smile grew broader as I heard him cursing in my mind, while he directed his energies back toward his empty Makuta armor in another chamber.
The idea of destroying the armor before he could reach it did, I admit, cross my mind. Did I refrain out of mercy, or kindness, or some sense of fellowship with my brother Makuta?
No, no, quite the opposite. I simply knew how long Chirox had been struggling to develop a flying serpent with just the right amount of exterior slime to allow it to slither through small crevices, while not so much that it left a trail wherever it went. And as soon as he was back in his body, I was going to take a great deal of joy in introducing him to my Lohrak, wings, slime, and all...
Mutran Chronicles
Chapter 7
Bitil was the first one to notice. We were both visiting Destral at the time, laying plans to support Teridax's planned coup against Mata Nui. As I recall we were discussing how unfortunate it was so much of the plan might hinge on the actions of Makuta Kojol, who oversaw the region of Artakha. Kojol was a secretive sort, never sharing what he knew with anyone, not even the location of Artakha itself. His specialties were flying Rahi and sea Rahi, both of whom protected his region from any intrusion, even by us.
But I must stay on the subject. Bitil was making a point in his usual way, by throwing a weapon at the wall. He went to pick up an axe and found he couldn't make his armor move. It was like all his muscles had turned to water. My amusement at his panic faded when I realized the same thing was happening to me.
Chirox pulled away some of Kojol's armor, only to see a greenish-black mist rising from inside the shell. Worried, Chirox caught a sample, then did a crude patch of the armor. After extensive tests, he returned to inform us of his results.
"This," he began, holding up a tube with the mist inside, "is what is left of our bodies. We have evolved from muscle and tissue to pure energy. No longer do we need to eat, or breathe, nor do we need fear the pains that come with advanced age.
"But there is more," he continued. "If a Makuta's energy disperses, his consciousness will disappear and he will die. So it is critical to guard against damage to our armor that might allow our essence to escape."
How did I feel about this, you might wonder. Intrigued... resentful that Chirox figured out what was happening before I did... and unsure what this meant for the future of we Makuta. Would we be more powerful now that we did not have to worry about organs and muscles being harmed? Would the fear of our armor being pierced and our energy dispersed make us too cautious?
Teridax wasted no time worrying. He ordered the "Nynrah ghosts" brought to Destral so that they could modify our armor to take advantage of our new "bodies." They added additional layers of protosteel, possible now that we had no physical forms that required space.
An unexpected benefit of our new existence was discovered in quite a painful way (for me, at least). Wandering through the fortress, I encountered a lone Exo-Toa. When I tried to pass it, the robot picked me up and threw me the length of the hallway, all the while laughing a most familiar laugh.
"Chirox?" I asked, getting back to my feet – for that was whose laugh I heard.
"Our new forms," came the reply. 'With them, we can take over robot bodies – perhaps living ones, too, I do not know. Think of it – the ultimate disguise!"
"Ah, yes," I answered. "Once again, you find a better way to hide."
He fired a missile from the armor in response, but not fast enough. I stalked over and tore an arm off the robot, then smiled as I saw his energies begin to drift out of the gap. My smile grew broader as I heard him cursing in my mind, while he directed his energies back toward his empty Makuta armor in another chamber.
The idea of destroying the armor before he could reach it did, I admit, cross my mind. Did I refrain out of mercy, or kindness, or some sense of fellowship with my brother Makuta?
No, no, quite the opposite. I simply knew how long Chirox had been struggling to develop a flying serpent with just the right amount of exterior slime to allow it to slither through small crevices, while not so much that it left a trail wherever it went. And as soon as he was back in his body, I was going to take a great deal of joy in introducing him to my Lohrak, wings, slime, and all...
Bitil was the first one to notice. We were both visiting Destral at the time, laying plans to support Teridax's planned coup against Mata Nui. As I recall we were discussing how unfortunate it was so much of the plan might hinge on the actions of Makuta Kojol, who oversaw the region of Artakha. Kojol was a secretive sort, never sharing what he knew with anyone, not even the location of Artakha itself. His specialties were flying Rahi and sea Rahi, both of whom protected his region from any intrusion, even by us.
But I must stay on the subject. Bitil was making a point in his usual way, by throwing a weapon at the wall. He went to pick up an axe and found he couldn't make his armor move. It was like all his muscles had turned to water. My amusement at his panic faded when I realized the same thing was happening to me.
Chirox pulled away some of Kojol's armor, only to see a greenish-black mist rising from inside the shell. Worried, Chirox caught a sample, then did a crude patch of the armor. After extensive tests, he returned to inform us of his results.
"This," he began, holding up a tube with the mist inside, "is what is left of our bodies. We have evolved from muscle and tissue to pure energy. No longer do we need to eat, or breathe, nor do we need fear the pains that come with advanced age.
"But there is more," he continued. "If a Makuta's energy disperses, his consciousness will disappear and he will die. So it is critical to guard against damage to our armor that might allow our essence to escape."
How did I feel about this, you might wonder. Intrigued... resentful that Chirox figured out what was happening before I did... and unsure what this meant for the future of we Makuta. Would we be more powerful now that we did not have to worry about organs and muscles being harmed? Would the fear of our armor being pierced and our energy dispersed make us too cautious?
Teridax wasted no time worrying. He ordered the "Nynrah ghosts" brought to Destral so that they could modify our armor to take advantage of our new "bodies." They added additional layers of protosteel, possible now that we had no physical forms that required space.
An unexpected benefit of our new existence was discovered in quite a painful way (for me, at least). Wandering through the fortress, I encountered a lone Exo-Toa. When I tried to pass it, the robot picked me up and threw me the length of the hallway, all the while laughing a most familiar laugh.
"Chirox?" I asked, getting back to my feet – for that was whose laugh I heard.
"Our new forms," came the reply. 'With them, we can take over robot bodies – perhaps living ones, too, I do not know. Think of it – the ultimate disguise!"
"Ah, yes," I answered. "Once again, you find a better way to hide."
He fired a missile from the armor in response, but not fast enough. I stalked over and tore an arm off the robot, then smiled as I saw his energies begin to drift out of the gap. My smile grew broader as I heard him cursing in my mind, while he directed his energies back toward his empty Makuta armor in another chamber.
The idea of destroying the armor before he could reach it did, I admit, cross my mind. Did I refrain out of mercy, or kindness, or some sense of fellowship with my brother Makuta?
No, no, quite the opposite. I simply knew how long Chirox had been struggling to develop a flying serpent with just the right amount of exterior slime to allow it to slither through small crevices, while not so much that it left a trail wherever it went. And as soon as he was back in his body, I was going to take a great deal of joy in introducing him to my Lohrak, wings, slime, and all...
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Review Time...comes soon.
Well, as the title implies, we will begin to review the Lego Bionicle sets...sometime in the future. The near future, then?
Betrayal
Federation of Fear 7...
Chapter 7
Brutaka and Lariska stood together, watching Takadox standing silently by the rail of the ship. "I worry about that one," said Lariska. "He has not spoken a word since we left Tren Krom's island, after the death of his friend Carapar."
"Friend?" snorted Brutaka. "Barraki don't have friends, just people they use – and Carapar was Takadox's favorite puppet. Besides, don't waste your worry on him – save it for us.” He pointed off the bow. "We've arrived."
Looming out of the mist was an island of black sand and jagged rock, volcanic peaks and strange Rahi arcing and wheeling through the sky. Despite the bright light that played off the waters around it, the island seemed to be in perpetual shadow.
"Welcome to Artidax," said Brutaka.
Vezon approached, chuckling. "Hope we survive our stay."
Brutaka looked around at his team – a Barraki, half a Skakdi, a Makuta, a former queen of the Visorak, a Dark Hunter, and himself. "Well, if we don't, who knows? The world might be better off without us."
Brutaka and Spiriah, being the two most powerful team members, led the way to shore. As they trod on the ebon sands, all seemed quiet. "So you know nothing about the defenses here?" asked Brutaka.
"Only what Krika sometimes talked about. Ideas he had," said Spiriah. "You realize this whole thing is a terrible idea."
"What?"
"Freeing Miserix," said Spiriah. "He can't stop the Plan. All we will find here is an early death. Listen, we -- "
What happened next was startlingly fast. The black sands began to swirl around Spiriah, forming a hand which grabbed the Makuta and started dragging him down. Brutaka grabbed Spiriah's hand, calling to the others, "Help me!"
Lariska, Vezon and Roodaka rushed to his aid. Takadox hung back, occasionally glancing toward the ship as if contemplating escape. The pull of the sand was too strong and Spiriah’s mask had almost disappeared beneath it. Then Roodaka fired her Rhotuka launcher, the spinner striking the living sand and mutating the grains into a swarm of fireflyers. Unable to maintain its grip in this new form, it freed Spiriah. The Makuta crawled back onto the beach, cursing.
"I'm an idiot," Brutaka said. "I should have realized – Krika rigged this place to sense the presence of a Makuta and react. He didn't want Miserix escaping, or any other Brotherhood member finding him and finishing him off."
"Then I would be insane to go any further," said Spiriah. "I brought you here – you don't need me anymore."
"On the contrary," said Lariska. "I think you would be very useful. Anyone ever hear of a stalking kinloka?"
Surprisingly, Vezon was the only one who nodded. When everyone turned to look at him, he shrugged. "Vezok. He saw lots of things, and since I came from him, I saw them too. Say, when we are done here, who's up for killing him? I'll even clean up after."
Lariska turned back to Brutaka, ignoring their lunatic companion. "Kinloka are rodents, found in many places, among them Zakaz. When the Skakdi need to cross land that might be booby-trapped, they send the kinloka through first. The creatures set off the traps and the Skakdi can cross safely."
"And the traps here are sensitive to Makuta," said Roodaka, smiling. "I see, I see. And come to think of it, Spiriah is somewhat rodent-like."
Spiriah, back on his feet, looked right at Brutaka. "No. Not even if you threw in the chance to eviscerate that Vortixx --"
"Watch your mouth," Roodaka spat, aiming her launcher at him, "while you still have only one."
Brutaka put his arm around Spiriah and led him away. "You're not looking at the big picture here. When all this is over, the Brotherhood could still be a powerful creature, only without a head. It’s going to need a new leader... and the beings I work for will remember who helped them... and who didn’t. Trust me, they have long memories."
It only took a few more minutes of whispered conversation before Spiriah turned back to the group and announced that he would be their guide to Artidax. He immediately set off inland, with the rest following. Lariska fell in beside Brutaka, saying, "You know full well he could never be leader of the Brotherhood."
"Let him think he might get to be the head," Brutaka replied. "It will distract him from the fact that he might well lose his own here."
Their path took them right up to the slope of a volcano. A tunnel had been bored through the mountain at some point, the only way to directly traverse the island. Spiriah was striding on ahead when Vezon leapt in front of him, holding up his hands. Then he pointed downward, at a razor-thin vine stretched across the path. It led up to a pile of boulders poised precariously on the slope.
Spiriah stepped carefully over the vine, followed by the others, and went into the tunnel. It was only when they were already inside that Brutaka noticed someone was missing. "Where's Takadox?"
Lariska turned. "There! Look out!"
Brutaka turned to see Takadox bringing his blade down on the vine. In the moment before an avalanche of rocks cut them off from the Barraki and trapped them in the tunnel, they all could see his evil smile.
Chapter 7
Brutaka and Lariska stood together, watching Takadox standing silently by the rail of the ship. "I worry about that one," said Lariska. "He has not spoken a word since we left Tren Krom's island, after the death of his friend Carapar."
"Friend?" snorted Brutaka. "Barraki don't have friends, just people they use – and Carapar was Takadox's favorite puppet. Besides, don't waste your worry on him – save it for us.” He pointed off the bow. "We've arrived."
Looming out of the mist was an island of black sand and jagged rock, volcanic peaks and strange Rahi arcing and wheeling through the sky. Despite the bright light that played off the waters around it, the island seemed to be in perpetual shadow.
"Welcome to Artidax," said Brutaka.
Vezon approached, chuckling. "Hope we survive our stay."
Brutaka looked around at his team – a Barraki, half a Skakdi, a Makuta, a former queen of the Visorak, a Dark Hunter, and himself. "Well, if we don't, who knows? The world might be better off without us."
Brutaka and Spiriah, being the two most powerful team members, led the way to shore. As they trod on the ebon sands, all seemed quiet. "So you know nothing about the defenses here?" asked Brutaka.
"Only what Krika sometimes talked about. Ideas he had," said Spiriah. "You realize this whole thing is a terrible idea."
"What?"
"Freeing Miserix," said Spiriah. "He can't stop the Plan. All we will find here is an early death. Listen, we -- "
What happened next was startlingly fast. The black sands began to swirl around Spiriah, forming a hand which grabbed the Makuta and started dragging him down. Brutaka grabbed Spiriah's hand, calling to the others, "Help me!"
Lariska, Vezon and Roodaka rushed to his aid. Takadox hung back, occasionally glancing toward the ship as if contemplating escape. The pull of the sand was too strong and Spiriah’s mask had almost disappeared beneath it. Then Roodaka fired her Rhotuka launcher, the spinner striking the living sand and mutating the grains into a swarm of fireflyers. Unable to maintain its grip in this new form, it freed Spiriah. The Makuta crawled back onto the beach, cursing.
"I'm an idiot," Brutaka said. "I should have realized – Krika rigged this place to sense the presence of a Makuta and react. He didn't want Miserix escaping, or any other Brotherhood member finding him and finishing him off."
"Then I would be insane to go any further," said Spiriah. "I brought you here – you don't need me anymore."
"On the contrary," said Lariska. "I think you would be very useful. Anyone ever hear of a stalking kinloka?"
Surprisingly, Vezon was the only one who nodded. When everyone turned to look at him, he shrugged. "Vezok. He saw lots of things, and since I came from him, I saw them too. Say, when we are done here, who's up for killing him? I'll even clean up after."
Lariska turned back to Brutaka, ignoring their lunatic companion. "Kinloka are rodents, found in many places, among them Zakaz. When the Skakdi need to cross land that might be booby-trapped, they send the kinloka through first. The creatures set off the traps and the Skakdi can cross safely."
"And the traps here are sensitive to Makuta," said Roodaka, smiling. "I see, I see. And come to think of it, Spiriah is somewhat rodent-like."
Spiriah, back on his feet, looked right at Brutaka. "No. Not even if you threw in the chance to eviscerate that Vortixx --"
"Watch your mouth," Roodaka spat, aiming her launcher at him, "while you still have only one."
Brutaka put his arm around Spiriah and led him away. "You're not looking at the big picture here. When all this is over, the Brotherhood could still be a powerful creature, only without a head. It’s going to need a new leader... and the beings I work for will remember who helped them... and who didn’t. Trust me, they have long memories."
It only took a few more minutes of whispered conversation before Spiriah turned back to the group and announced that he would be their guide to Artidax. He immediately set off inland, with the rest following. Lariska fell in beside Brutaka, saying, "You know full well he could never be leader of the Brotherhood."
"Let him think he might get to be the head," Brutaka replied. "It will distract him from the fact that he might well lose his own here."
Their path took them right up to the slope of a volcano. A tunnel had been bored through the mountain at some point, the only way to directly traverse the island. Spiriah was striding on ahead when Vezon leapt in front of him, holding up his hands. Then he pointed downward, at a razor-thin vine stretched across the path. It led up to a pile of boulders poised precariously on the slope.
Spiriah stepped carefully over the vine, followed by the others, and went into the tunnel. It was only when they were already inside that Brutaka noticed someone was missing. "Where's Takadox?"
Lariska turned. "There! Look out!"
Brutaka turned to see Takadox bringing his blade down on the vine. In the moment before an avalanche of rocks cut them off from the Barraki and trapped them in the tunnel, they all could see his evil smile.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Dark Mirror 6
Chapter Six
Back when Takanuva was Takua, a Matoran in the village of Ta-Koro, he had once found himself walking through a stretch of jungle, being stalked by a monstrous Nui-Jaga scorpion. Whenever he moved, the scorpion moved; if he stopped, it stopped. If he turned to face it, it would kill him, but if he led it back to the village, it might harm others before it was driven off. He was finally saved by a sudden inspiration: he changed direction and led the Nui-Jaga straight toward a Muaka-cat cave. Angered at the intrusion of its territory by the other Rahi beast, the Muaka attacked the Nui-Jaga, and Takua escaped.
Which just goes to show, thought Takanuva, nowadays there's never a Muaka around when you need one. Here he was, trudging across the barren plains of Karzahni in this weird alternate universe. Behind him were two Toa, Bomonga and Kualus, both of whom served the oppressive dictatorship of the Toa Empire. Between them was Jaller, a Matoran, who in Takanuva's world, was the Toa of Light's best friend. In this universe, he was a servant of the Empire, transporting the Mask of Time back to Metru Nui. That wasn't the worst of it, though: Takanuva needed to find Brutaka and the Mask of Dimensional Gates if he was ever going to make it back to his own universe. And Bomonga had just announced that Brutaka was dead, killed by him, all of which left Takanuva exactly nowhere.
"Ah, Brutaka," said Bomonga, "He fought well, but when he turned to fight Gaaki and Pouks, I hit him from behind and that finished him."
"Not very... fair," muttered Takanuva.
"Fair?" asked Bomonga, "He was an enemy of the Empire, he tried to prevent our lawful exploration of Voya Nui. Who cares how he died, as long as he's dead."
"Our friend, Takanuva, seems to be carrying a conscience," said Toa Kualus. "That is a heavy burden in a place like this. You would be amazed how many poor, dead beings I see on the side of the path who just couldn't go one more step with that load on their backs."
"Spare me the philosophy," snapped Takanuva, "What about Brutaka's weapons and his mask? What happened to them?"
"You should know," said Bomonga, "If you really served Toa Tuyet as you claim, any treasure like that gets brought to the Coliseum on Metru Nui for safe-keeping."
"Right, naturally," said Takanuva.
This was going to be a problem: how was he going to get into what happened to be the most heavily guarded spot in Metru Nui to get that mask?
"You know, you remind me a little of someone," said Bomonga, "A Toa of Water, one of Lhikan's old team. What was her name? Toa Naho, that was it. She came along on one of our missions to Odina to clean out that nest of Stone Rats. Offered to go after The Shadowed One herself, take all the risks. Turned out she was helping that creep escape. He got away, she didn't. Tuyet turned her over to her friend Roodaka and, well, she wound up an interesting exhibit in the Archives."
Takanuva knew he should keep quiet, but he couldn't.
"Do you think this is what Tuyet really wanted? Toa betraying other Toa, Matoran living in fear of their heroes. Toa were supposed to be respected, and looked up to!"
"But we are," said Kualus, "Everyone respects what they fear, and they can't help but look up to us when we always look down on them."
Takanuva heard a stirring behind him. He could guess what it was: Bomonga and/or Kualus getting ready to blast him from behind. While there was no choice, he would have to try and take them both out and get the mask from Jaller. It would take a lot of luck, probably more than he could hope for, but... Then he heard other sounds; a rush of wind, startled cries from the two Toa which receded in the distance and the sound of a cart crashing. He turned to see a strange Toa standing amidst the wreckage of Jaller's Ussal cart. He was retrieving the Mask of Time, which lay next to the unconscious Jaller. When he noticed Takanuva, he stopped.
"You're not one of them," the Toa of Air said, "That's why you're still alive. Don't make me regret that decision."
"Who are you?" asked Takanuva, "What do you want here?"
"What do I want," said the Toa, "I want some peace, but I'm never going to get any while that crazy Toa of Water is running things. So I keep an eye out for things she wants, like this Mask here, then I take them from her. That's why when you see her list of enemies of the Empire, you'll find my name at the top: Toa Lesovikk."
So, apparently Lesovikk is still on the side of good! Exciting news for me (I am a Lesovikk fan)
Back when Takanuva was Takua, a Matoran in the village of Ta-Koro, he had once found himself walking through a stretch of jungle, being stalked by a monstrous Nui-Jaga scorpion. Whenever he moved, the scorpion moved; if he stopped, it stopped. If he turned to face it, it would kill him, but if he led it back to the village, it might harm others before it was driven off. He was finally saved by a sudden inspiration: he changed direction and led the Nui-Jaga straight toward a Muaka-cat cave. Angered at the intrusion of its territory by the other Rahi beast, the Muaka attacked the Nui-Jaga, and Takua escaped.
Which just goes to show, thought Takanuva, nowadays there's never a Muaka around when you need one. Here he was, trudging across the barren plains of Karzahni in this weird alternate universe. Behind him were two Toa, Bomonga and Kualus, both of whom served the oppressive dictatorship of the Toa Empire. Between them was Jaller, a Matoran, who in Takanuva's world, was the Toa of Light's best friend. In this universe, he was a servant of the Empire, transporting the Mask of Time back to Metru Nui. That wasn't the worst of it, though: Takanuva needed to find Brutaka and the Mask of Dimensional Gates if he was ever going to make it back to his own universe. And Bomonga had just announced that Brutaka was dead, killed by him, all of which left Takanuva exactly nowhere.
"Ah, Brutaka," said Bomonga, "He fought well, but when he turned to fight Gaaki and Pouks, I hit him from behind and that finished him."
"Not very... fair," muttered Takanuva.
"Fair?" asked Bomonga, "He was an enemy of the Empire, he tried to prevent our lawful exploration of Voya Nui. Who cares how he died, as long as he's dead."
"Our friend, Takanuva, seems to be carrying a conscience," said Toa Kualus. "That is a heavy burden in a place like this. You would be amazed how many poor, dead beings I see on the side of the path who just couldn't go one more step with that load on their backs."
"Spare me the philosophy," snapped Takanuva, "What about Brutaka's weapons and his mask? What happened to them?"
"You should know," said Bomonga, "If you really served Toa Tuyet as you claim, any treasure like that gets brought to the Coliseum on Metru Nui for safe-keeping."
"Right, naturally," said Takanuva.
This was going to be a problem: how was he going to get into what happened to be the most heavily guarded spot in Metru Nui to get that mask?
"You know, you remind me a little of someone," said Bomonga, "A Toa of Water, one of Lhikan's old team. What was her name? Toa Naho, that was it. She came along on one of our missions to Odina to clean out that nest of Stone Rats. Offered to go after The Shadowed One herself, take all the risks. Turned out she was helping that creep escape. He got away, she didn't. Tuyet turned her over to her friend Roodaka and, well, she wound up an interesting exhibit in the Archives."
Takanuva knew he should keep quiet, but he couldn't.
"Do you think this is what Tuyet really wanted? Toa betraying other Toa, Matoran living in fear of their heroes. Toa were supposed to be respected, and looked up to!"
"But we are," said Kualus, "Everyone respects what they fear, and they can't help but look up to us when we always look down on them."
Takanuva heard a stirring behind him. He could guess what it was: Bomonga and/or Kualus getting ready to blast him from behind. While there was no choice, he would have to try and take them both out and get the mask from Jaller. It would take a lot of luck, probably more than he could hope for, but... Then he heard other sounds; a rush of wind, startled cries from the two Toa which receded in the distance and the sound of a cart crashing. He turned to see a strange Toa standing amidst the wreckage of Jaller's Ussal cart. He was retrieving the Mask of Time, which lay next to the unconscious Jaller. When he noticed Takanuva, he stopped.
"You're not one of them," the Toa of Air said, "That's why you're still alive. Don't make me regret that decision."
"Who are you?" asked Takanuva, "What do you want here?"
"What do I want," said the Toa, "I want some peace, but I'm never going to get any while that crazy Toa of Water is running things. So I keep an eye out for things she wants, like this Mask here, then I take them from her. That's why when you see her list of enemies of the Empire, you'll find my name at the top: Toa Lesovikk."
So, apparently Lesovikk is still on the side of good! Exciting news for me (I am a Lesovikk fan)
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Gavla Game Appears on Bionicle.com
Title tells the truth, folks! Look at Bionicle.com to find the new Gavla game, where you can drop Tridax Pods on people and villages!
Do you like exploding poor and helpless Matoran? (okay, I'm stretching the truth a bit with the "helpless" part. I mean, come on, they keep attacking you!)
If so, this is the game for you! Go to Bionicle.com NOW!
Do you like exploding poor and helpless Matoran? (okay, I'm stretching the truth a bit with the "helpless" part. I mean, come on, they keep attacking you!)
If so, this is the game for you! Go to Bionicle.com NOW!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Federation of Fear 6
Brutaka tried to close his eyes. It didn’t help. He couldn’t get the image of Tren Krom out of his mind – a writhing, crimson mass of tentacles emerging from a gelatinous central core, with two dead yellow eyes that somehow followed every movement without ever moving themselves. At least, that was what he had seen at a glance – somehow, Brutaka knew to gaze for long at Tren Krom would be to invite madness.
The entity seemed over time to have merged with the stone floor and walls of its cave, so that lurker and place of concealment were one. The acrid stench of decay hung over everything. In vain, Brutaka tried to break free of the grip of Tren Krom’s tentacle. He could feel the strange being trying to probe his mind, but so far, Brutaka’s mental training had allowed him to resist. If that should fail, he knew, the secrets of the Order of Mata Nui would be exposed to this monster.
“What wonders have come into my universe in the millennia since my exile?” Tren Krom said softly, his voice as revolting as his form. “I must know!”
Hesitantly, the other members of Brutaka’s team had entered the cave, only to wish they hadn’t. It was only Lariska, protosteel dagger in hand, who kept them from fleeing.
“You think me an alien... an ‘other’...” Tren Krom continued. “But I am of the substance of this universe, and I walked here long before you or even Mata Nui himself. Have you not heard the tales?”
“There is a Tren Krom in legend,” said Brutaka. “But... the tales obviously left some parts out.”
Tren Krom laughed. The sound made the team wish death would come for them right now. “Before the Great Spirit Mata Nui was born, the Great Beings created one being who was purely organic. They taught me the ways of the universe they were creating and they placed me in its core. There I was to remain, maintaining the heat, the light, all the forces that made their creation whole...”
Brutaka had managed to work an arm partway loose. With a little luck, he would be able to get his hand on a dagger and cut himself free... all he needed was time. “So what happened? How did you end up here?”
“My time was always to be short,” Tren Krom replied. “I was to shepherd this universe until Mata Nui was prepared to take power. A Matoran of Light came to me and said the hour had come for me to move on... a crafter of canisters he was, whose sanity did not survive our encounter. I surrendered myself to my fate, only to be exiled here by the Great Beings and bound to this rock.” His voice tuned heavy with bitterness. “The universe, it seems, did not need two entities supreme.”
“What... what do you want with us?” whispered Vezon. “And please don’t say someone to hold your mirror for you.”
“I would know what has gone on in the universe in the last 100 millennia,” Tren Krom answered. “My visitors have been few in number. You seven will remain here and I will gain the knowledge I need from your minds... of course, sadly, you may have no minds left when I am done.”
“Why ask us?” said Lariska. “You obviously don’t really care.”
“Would you shut up?” hissed Carapar. “Rule number one: don’t annoy the giant, tentacled monster, or don’t they teach that one in The Shadowed One’s school?”
“Be quiet,” snapped Lariska. “Tren Krom... your universe is in danger. It’s our job to help save it. If you keep us here, you’ll be hurting the one thing you helped bring into being.”
Carapar edged slowly to the side, sword in hand. No one paid any attention – all eyes were on Lariska, who had been grabbed by one of Tren Krom’s many arms. Without the discipline Brutaka possessed, her mind was an open book to the entity. She screamed as a lifetime of memories were sifted through in an instant, screamed as she saw glimpses of the ancient mind of Tren Krom. When he finally released her, she collapsed on the stone floor.
“Mutran,” Tren Krom muttered to himself. “So long ago now, I entered his mind … and he mine … and so he learned how best to strike at Mata Nui. He and his kind have dared reach for power that fate chose to deny them. How... intriguing.”
“It’s more than that,” Brutaka said. “Tell him, Spiriah – tell him what will happen to him if the Makuta succeed in their plans.”
“If the Plan succeeds...” Spiriah began. He glanced around as if one of his former comrades might be somewhere nearby, listening. “A shadow will fall... Makuta will rule the universe, their will enforced by Rahkshi. Anyone with the power to threaten that rule will die... and that means anyone.”
“Impossible,” said Tren Krom. Suddenly, the minds of every team member were filled with nightmarish images projected by the tentacled entity, visions that would sicken even the mad. “No one can approach without my assent. No one can fight me. No one can kill me. I am eternal!”
Brutaka had his dagger in hand now. “Maybe not,” he said. “But I’m betting there was a time you said no one could bind you... and look what happened.”
Tren Krom paused in thought. Brutaka started to make his move, then caught Carapar out of the corner of his eye. The Barraki was raising his sword to strike the entity. It was too late to shout, too late to stop him.
Carapar brought his blade down, confident he had taken his enemy by surprise. Then a third eye suddenly appeared on Tren Krom, one gazing right at Carapar. The Barraki froze in mid-blow. A shaft of energy shot out from the eye, bathing him in its glow. The next instant, Carapar shattered into fragments as if he had been made of crystal. Then there was nothing left of him but a pile of glittering dust on the stone floor.
“I helped to birth a world of order,” Tren Krom whispered. “But from what I have seen in the female’s mind... you have turned it into a universe of madness and fear. It is not worth saving. But it is the universe you and your kind deserve.”
Tren Krom hurled Brutaka at his team. Spiriah used his magnetic powers to catch him before he could slam into the wall. The tentacles withdrew then, wrapping themselves around the core of Tren Krom’s being.
“Go,” the entity said. “Take yourselves from my prison... take your memories and plans with you... for the horrors already in your minds are worse than any I could visit upon you. I condemn you to your fate – life in the universe you and your kind have made.”
No one was going to take the time to argue. Gathering up Brutaka and Lariska, they fled the cave even as the stone walls that surrounded the island receded into the sand. Only Takadox paused to look back at the cavern where Carapar had died, wondering for a moment just what it would take to end the life of a being older than the stars.
The entity seemed over time to have merged with the stone floor and walls of its cave, so that lurker and place of concealment were one. The acrid stench of decay hung over everything. In vain, Brutaka tried to break free of the grip of Tren Krom’s tentacle. He could feel the strange being trying to probe his mind, but so far, Brutaka’s mental training had allowed him to resist. If that should fail, he knew, the secrets of the Order of Mata Nui would be exposed to this monster.
“What wonders have come into my universe in the millennia since my exile?” Tren Krom said softly, his voice as revolting as his form. “I must know!”
Hesitantly, the other members of Brutaka’s team had entered the cave, only to wish they hadn’t. It was only Lariska, protosteel dagger in hand, who kept them from fleeing.
“You think me an alien... an ‘other’...” Tren Krom continued. “But I am of the substance of this universe, and I walked here long before you or even Mata Nui himself. Have you not heard the tales?”
“There is a Tren Krom in legend,” said Brutaka. “But... the tales obviously left some parts out.”
Tren Krom laughed. The sound made the team wish death would come for them right now. “Before the Great Spirit Mata Nui was born, the Great Beings created one being who was purely organic. They taught me the ways of the universe they were creating and they placed me in its core. There I was to remain, maintaining the heat, the light, all the forces that made their creation whole...”
Brutaka had managed to work an arm partway loose. With a little luck, he would be able to get his hand on a dagger and cut himself free... all he needed was time. “So what happened? How did you end up here?”
“My time was always to be short,” Tren Krom replied. “I was to shepherd this universe until Mata Nui was prepared to take power. A Matoran of Light came to me and said the hour had come for me to move on... a crafter of canisters he was, whose sanity did not survive our encounter. I surrendered myself to my fate, only to be exiled here by the Great Beings and bound to this rock.” His voice tuned heavy with bitterness. “The universe, it seems, did not need two entities supreme.”
“What... what do you want with us?” whispered Vezon. “And please don’t say someone to hold your mirror for you.”
“I would know what has gone on in the universe in the last 100 millennia,” Tren Krom answered. “My visitors have been few in number. You seven will remain here and I will gain the knowledge I need from your minds... of course, sadly, you may have no minds left when I am done.”
“Why ask us?” said Lariska. “You obviously don’t really care.”
“Would you shut up?” hissed Carapar. “Rule number one: don’t annoy the giant, tentacled monster, or don’t they teach that one in The Shadowed One’s school?”
“Be quiet,” snapped Lariska. “Tren Krom... your universe is in danger. It’s our job to help save it. If you keep us here, you’ll be hurting the one thing you helped bring into being.”
Carapar edged slowly to the side, sword in hand. No one paid any attention – all eyes were on Lariska, who had been grabbed by one of Tren Krom’s many arms. Without the discipline Brutaka possessed, her mind was an open book to the entity. She screamed as a lifetime of memories were sifted through in an instant, screamed as she saw glimpses of the ancient mind of Tren Krom. When he finally released her, she collapsed on the stone floor.
“Mutran,” Tren Krom muttered to himself. “So long ago now, I entered his mind … and he mine … and so he learned how best to strike at Mata Nui. He and his kind have dared reach for power that fate chose to deny them. How... intriguing.”
“It’s more than that,” Brutaka said. “Tell him, Spiriah – tell him what will happen to him if the Makuta succeed in their plans.”
“If the Plan succeeds...” Spiriah began. He glanced around as if one of his former comrades might be somewhere nearby, listening. “A shadow will fall... Makuta will rule the universe, their will enforced by Rahkshi. Anyone with the power to threaten that rule will die... and that means anyone.”
“Impossible,” said Tren Krom. Suddenly, the minds of every team member were filled with nightmarish images projected by the tentacled entity, visions that would sicken even the mad. “No one can approach without my assent. No one can fight me. No one can kill me. I am eternal!”
Brutaka had his dagger in hand now. “Maybe not,” he said. “But I’m betting there was a time you said no one could bind you... and look what happened.”
Tren Krom paused in thought. Brutaka started to make his move, then caught Carapar out of the corner of his eye. The Barraki was raising his sword to strike the entity. It was too late to shout, too late to stop him.
Carapar brought his blade down, confident he had taken his enemy by surprise. Then a third eye suddenly appeared on Tren Krom, one gazing right at Carapar. The Barraki froze in mid-blow. A shaft of energy shot out from the eye, bathing him in its glow. The next instant, Carapar shattered into fragments as if he had been made of crystal. Then there was nothing left of him but a pile of glittering dust on the stone floor.
“I helped to birth a world of order,” Tren Krom whispered. “But from what I have seen in the female’s mind... you have turned it into a universe of madness and fear. It is not worth saving. But it is the universe you and your kind deserve.”
Tren Krom hurled Brutaka at his team. Spiriah used his magnetic powers to catch him before he could slam into the wall. The tentacles withdrew then, wrapping themselves around the core of Tren Krom’s being.
“Go,” the entity said. “Take yourselves from my prison... take your memories and plans with you... for the horrors already in your minds are worse than any I could visit upon you. I condemn you to your fate – life in the universe you and your kind have made.”
No one was going to take the time to argue. Gathering up Brutaka and Lariska, they fled the cave even as the stone walls that surrounded the island receded into the sand. Only Takadox paused to look back at the cavern where Carapar had died, wondering for a moment just what it would take to end the life of a being older than the stars.
Tanma Game
Tanma game on bionicle.com!
You must dodge enemies (or hit 'em in the stomach) and rush through tunnels, all in an attempt to survive, I guess.
You must dodge enemies (or hit 'em in the stomach) and rush through tunnels, all in an attempt to survive, I guess.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The fifth Mutran Chronicles has arrived...and things just got crazier.
It's here! Also, there appears to be an important spoiler hidden in it, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
The Mutran Chronicles
Chapter 5
Wherever you may travel in this vast universe of ours, it is likely you will run across someone who will tell you that Tren Krom is no more than a myth... just a legend of antiquity, no more real than Irnakk or any other figment of the imagination. Setting foot upon his island will not bring terrible consequences, they insist, just a pleasant walk on a rocky beach. To those beings, of course, I say, "What would you like for your memorial upon your death? So I can start planning it now."
For it is a well known fact to those who know it well that Tren Krom is no myth. He is older than the stars themselves, born in a time when there was no Mata Nui, no Makuta, only never-ending darkness that encompassed all. He walked through a universe in the throes of its birth, and even the shadows feared him. To meet Tren Krom was to court madness, or worse... so naturally, the Brotherhood chose me to seek him out.
The reason for the meeting was obvious: the Brotherhood could not allow a being of such power to dwell unchecked in our universe. We had to know his intent and whether he posed a threat to the lands we watched over. Thus I followed a trail of half-remembered stories told by the mad until I reached the shore of an island whose shores had not welcomed a visitor in millennia.
In the interests of writing a complete record, I should include every detail of my time there. In the interests of the sanity anyone reading this, I will not. Even when I look back now, I remember only a scarlet mass, a face that was not a face, tentacles lined with tiny, sharpened hooks, eyes that were little more than holes in a gelatinous skull, and that voice... oh, that voice made Makuta Teridax sound lilting and sweet.
I expected to die. When Tren Krom's mind touched mine, and I saw the reality of what he was, I almost wanted to perish in that moment... better that than to live with the memory. But he saw something in my thoughts that must have intrigued him... hard to imagine what it might have been, given how alien he was to any form of life. Rather than crush me in his grasp, Tren Krom explored my consciousness, like an Archives mole rooting about for a meal. It was amazing... it was horrifying... it was a view into a mind as far beyond mine as mine is beyond a fireflyer's... and it was feeling my mind turn into a nest of serpents, hissing and slithering and trailing slime.
Then everything went black.
When I awoke again, I lay on the deserted beach. There was no sign of Tren Krom, or even the cavern in which I had encountered him. I thought perhaps the whole thing had been a nightmare, some trick of my fellow Makuta... and then I knew it could not be. For I understood now... I knew how the universe worked, and as much as my mind could stand, why the universe worked.
And I knew one thing more – that Makuta Teridax's mad dreams of overthrowing the Great Spirit Mata Nui were not just fantasies. It was possible. It could work. The knowledge I held was the ammunition for the weapon Teridax would one day wield, a weapon that would win us a universe.
Did you find the spoiler?
The Mutran Chronicles
Chapter 5
Wherever you may travel in this vast universe of ours, it is likely you will run across someone who will tell you that Tren Krom is no more than a myth... just a legend of antiquity, no more real than Irnakk or any other figment of the imagination. Setting foot upon his island will not bring terrible consequences, they insist, just a pleasant walk on a rocky beach. To those beings, of course, I say, "What would you like for your memorial upon your death? So I can start planning it now."
For it is a well known fact to those who know it well that Tren Krom is no myth. He is older than the stars themselves, born in a time when there was no Mata Nui, no Makuta, only never-ending darkness that encompassed all. He walked through a universe in the throes of its birth, and even the shadows feared him. To meet Tren Krom was to court madness, or worse... so naturally, the Brotherhood chose me to seek him out.
The reason for the meeting was obvious: the Brotherhood could not allow a being of such power to dwell unchecked in our universe. We had to know his intent and whether he posed a threat to the lands we watched over. Thus I followed a trail of half-remembered stories told by the mad until I reached the shore of an island whose shores had not welcomed a visitor in millennia.
In the interests of writing a complete record, I should include every detail of my time there. In the interests of the sanity anyone reading this, I will not. Even when I look back now, I remember only a scarlet mass, a face that was not a face, tentacles lined with tiny, sharpened hooks, eyes that were little more than holes in a gelatinous skull, and that voice... oh, that voice made Makuta Teridax sound lilting and sweet.
I expected to die. When Tren Krom's mind touched mine, and I saw the reality of what he was, I almost wanted to perish in that moment... better that than to live with the memory. But he saw something in my thoughts that must have intrigued him... hard to imagine what it might have been, given how alien he was to any form of life. Rather than crush me in his grasp, Tren Krom explored my consciousness, like an Archives mole rooting about for a meal. It was amazing... it was horrifying... it was a view into a mind as far beyond mine as mine is beyond a fireflyer's... and it was feeling my mind turn into a nest of serpents, hissing and slithering and trailing slime.
Then everything went black.
When I awoke again, I lay on the deserted beach. There was no sign of Tren Krom, or even the cavern in which I had encountered him. I thought perhaps the whole thing had been a nightmare, some trick of my fellow Makuta... and then I knew it could not be. For I understood now... I knew how the universe worked, and as much as my mind could stand, why the universe worked.
And I knew one thing more – that Makuta Teridax's mad dreams of overthrowing the Great Spirit Mata Nui were not just fantasies. It was possible. It could work. The knowledge I held was the ammunition for the weapon Teridax would one day wield, a weapon that would win us a universe.
Did you find the spoiler?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
