Turaga of Mata Nui

Shortly after the Great Cataclysm, the six Toa Metru – Vakama, Onewa, Matau, Nokama, Whenua, and Nuju – were charged with transporting the comatose Matoran of Metru Nui to a new home: the island of Mata Nui. After an incredible struggle against the Visorak hordes in Metru Nui, the Toa Metru were able to bring the Matoran to the surface of Mata Nui in six airships. With their destiny as Toa fulfilled, the only task that lay before the Toa Metru was awakening the Matoran, all of whom were tucked into Makuta’s silver spheres and trapped in endless sleep. At first unsure of what to do, the Toa Metru realized that they could awaken all of the Matoran by surrendering their Toa power. On one of Mata Nui’s beaches, where all of the Matoran spheres were collected, the Toa Metru released their Toa energies into the pods and their Matoran, allowing them to wake up. Because they fulfilled their destiny and gave up their Toa power for the greater good, the Toa Metru were transformed into Turaga, wise and venerable leaders among the Matoran they had saved.

Having been in the silver spheres for so long, all of the Matoran’s memories of Metru Nui faded. Their bodies were also weakened and reduced in size. Not wanting to be cruel in telling the Matoran of the home to which they might never return, the new Turaga of Mata Nui kept Metru Nui a secret from the Matoran and decided to build up a new home on the island of Mata Nui, waiting for the day that the Toa Mata of legend would come to save them. The Turaga and the Matoran had but one year of peace on Mata Nui to construct the six Koro, each governed by one of the Turaga, before Makuta spread his shadow over the island. When that time came, Makuta sent his Kraata out to infect the masks of Rahi beasts that had migrated to the island, taking control over their actions. Makuta also held sway over some of the natural effects of the island, causing storms and earth tremors at his will. Although Makuta never intended on killing the Matoran, he succeeded in making them live in fear of him.

For as long as any Matoran of Mata Nui could remember, the Turaga had told them the Legend of Mata Nui, a legend spawned by a mix of common Matoran legends, the past experiences of the Turaga as the Toa Metru, and Turaga Vakama’s visions. The legend, as the Matoran of Mata Nui knew it, stated that the Great Beings sent the Great Spirit Mata Nui from the heavens into the world to care for all living things. Mata Nui brought with him the Matoran to the paradise that was the island of Mata Nui, named so in his honor. Mata Nui gave the Matoran the Three Virtues to live by: unity, duty, and destiny; and the Matoran lived happily under Mata Nui’s loving protection. Unfortunately, Mata Nui’s dark brother, the Makuta, had followed Mata Nui from paradise and coveted the world and all that his brother had. Makuta cast a spell over Mata Nui that caused him to fall into a deep slumber. Then, Makuta claimed the world as his own, bringing darkness and destruction everywhere. Fields withered away, sunlight grew cold, and the ancient values of the Matoran were eventually forgotten. However, all was not lost; for the Great Beings would send six mighty Toa to defeat Makuta and awaken Mata Nui once more.

The Turaga and the Matoran constantly struggled with Makuta’s forces for centuries. Each Turaga assigned a right-hand and left-hand Matoran to better organize their defenses; and some official Matoran defense organizations were formed, such as the Ta-Koro Guard and the Ussalry. The Turaga themselves secretly hunted Makuta’s Kraata, storing those captured away in stasis tubes in a forbidden cave in Po-Wahi. As Toa Metru, the Turaga had secured thirty Noble Kanohi from Metru Nui, so that each Turaga had access to a Huna, Komau, Ruru, Mahiki, Matatu, and Rau. These thirty Noble Kanohi, however, were taken by Makuta’s Rahi.

A thousand years passed before circumstances for the Matoran and Turaga began to change. When each of the Turaga had been kidnapped by Makuta’s Rahi, a Matoran of Ta-Koro named Takua traveled the island to rescue each of them in turn. Throughout his journey, Takua also collected the six Toa stones that the Turaga had hidden all over the island of Mata Nui as Toa Metru. At the end of Takua’s journey, the Turaga witnessed his gathering of the Toa stones at the Kini-Nui. When Takua placed the Toa stones at the center of the temple, a beacon shot into the sky that called six canisters floating far off in the ocean to the shores of Mata Nui. These canisters held the Toa Mata, who shortly found their ways to the Koro after arriving on shore. Each Turaga made sure to greet his or her Toa and inform them of the island’s situation: how Makuta had been using the Rahi to harass the Matoran for centuries, and how Makuta had cast the Great Spirit Mata Nui into endless sleep. The Turaga informed the Toa that, in order to gain the strength needed to defeat Makuta, they needed to go on a quest for the Kanohi masks of power that were hidden all over Mata Nui. Additional to the Great Kanohi that each of the Toa already wore were thirty Great Kanohi that were hidden all over the island (which the Turaga had hidden as Toa Metru). The types of hidden Great Kanohi were Hau, Kakama, Pakari, Miru, Akaku, and Kaukau. The Turaga also asked the Toa to retrieve the thirty Noble Kanohi that had been stolen by Makuta’s Rahi.

While the Toa went on their quest, the Turaga were kept busy with increasing Rahi attacks on the Koro. Since they secretly knew the locations of all the Great Kanohi, they often showed the Toa where to look for them. The Toa eventually succeeded in retrieving the Turaga’s Noble Kanohi and, with help from the Turaga, their own Great Kanohi. When the Toa were about to go into Mangaia through the Kini-Nui, the Turaga gave them the Makoki stones to unlock the passage to Makuta’s lair. Each Turaga also lent one of their Matoran to the Chronicler’s Company so the Kini-Nui would be defended while the Toa battled Makuta below.

The Toa successfully defeated Makuta – temporarily, at least. The Turaga and the Matoran could only enjoy a few moments of peace before the Bohrok swarms began rampaging throughout Mata Nui, threatening to destroy all of the island’s landscape. The Toa initially returned to the Koro to make sure they were safe and then went off on another quest to stop the Bohrok swarms. While the Toa sought to end the threat of the Bohrok, the Turaga and the Matoran each held their own struggles against the Bohrok, with many defeats and victories. The Toa Mata emerged victorious from their trials in the Bohrok nests and succeeded in stopping the Bohrok at their source. With their triumph, the Toa Mata were exposed to energized protodermis and were forever transformed into the more powerful Toa Nuva.

At the moments of the Toa Mata’s transformation into Toa Nuva, strange icons appeared in their Suva back in the Koro. The Turaga, unsure of what this could mean, made sure to station Matoran at the Suva to guard the symbols for the time being. When each of the Toa Nuva returned to the Koro in their new forms, the Turaga tried to ease the shock among the Matoran of the Toa’s new appearances; and although the Toa Nuva dismissed their Nuva symbols as simple objects, the Turaga still regarded the icons’ strange appearance to be of some significance. The Turaga’s attention soon turned to repairing the damage done to the Koro by the Bohrok swarms, actually employing disabled Bohrok to carry out much of the work.

The Turaga’s judgment of the Nuva symbols proved to be correct when the six Bohrok-Kal stole them from the Koro. With the theft of their symbols, the Toa Nuva lost their elemental powers. After the Turaga comforted the Toa Nuva with their loss of strength, the Toa Nuva went out on a mission to stop the Bohrok-Kal from achieving their goal of restarting the Bohrok’s rampages. The Turaga again aided them in a quest for the Kanohi Nuva, masks of greater power than the ones they had before. Ultimately, the Toa Nuva were victorious against the Bohrok-Kal, if narrowly so. All of Mata Nui was able to celebrate an opportunity to build during the time of peace following the end of the Bohrok’s threat.

At this time, the Turaga decided to gather all of the Matoran of Mata Nui at the Kini-Nui to share with them a method of physically reconstructing their bodies which they had learned from the Rahaga on Metru Nui. By this means, all of the one-thousand Matoran on Mata Nui adopted larger, stronger, more agile bodies than the ones they had had before.

Although the Bohrok had automatically returned to their nests, the Turaga, Matoran, and Toa Nuva continued repairing the Koro. Taking advantage of the time off from conflict, the Turaga held an island-wide Kolhii tournament among the Matoran, each Turaga choosing a team of his or her two best players. The Toa Nuva even helped construct a grand Kolhii field in Ta-Koro.

Right before the championship Kolhii match, the Turaga held a private meeting in which they shared stories of the Toa Nuva’s quest for the Kanohi Nuva, which the Toa Nuva had achieved while simultaneously battling the Bohrok-Kal. The purpose of this council was to decide whether or not they would share their knowledge of Metru Nui with the Matoran and Toa Nuva after so long a time. The Turaga’s final decision was to announce the truth of the Matoran’s original home as soon as the Kolhii tournament was over. While Whenua, Matau, and Nuju went elsewhere, Vakama, Onewa, and Nokama attended the championship game between Ta-Koro, Po-Koro, and Ga-Koro.

As Toa Metru, one of the several items that the Turaga had brought with them to Mata Nui was the Kanohi Avohkii, the Great Mask of Light. According to ancient legend and Vakama’s prophetic visions, a Matoran would someday find the mask in a hidden location and take on a role as Herald of the Seventh Toa, a Matoran who would go on a quest to bring the mask to its rightful owner: the Toa of Light. It was said that this Toa of Light would defeat Makuta and bring light to darkness. When it was revealed at the end of the Kolhii match that Takua and Jaller had just found the Mask of Light where the Turaga had hidden it as Toa Metru, all thoughts of sharing the tales of Metru Nui suddenly elapsed. Vakama, Onewa, and Nokama wasted no time in taking the Avohkii to the Ta-Suva, where Nokama translated a mysterious text on the inside of the mask before an assembly of several Matoran as well as Tahu Nuva, Pohatu Nuva, and Gali Nuva. Given what looked like the Avohkii shedding its entire glow on Jaller in the Kolhii stadium, Vakama decided that Jaller was destined to be the Herald, much to Takua’s relief. To spite Takua’s irresponsibility in not telling the Turaga that he was truly the one who found the mask, Jaller announced that Takua would be traveling with him to chronicle his journey. The two Matoran soon set out from Ta-Koro traveling in the direction in which the Mask of Light shined brightest.

With the appearance of the Mask of Light, Makuta, having bided his time during the Bohrok invasion, unleashed upon the surface of Mata Nui three Rahkshi: Panrahk, Lerahk, and Guurahk. When these Rahkshi arrived in Ta-Koro, it was obvious that they were seeking something – exactly who or what that was, was unknown, even to the Turaga. The three Rahkshi did not leave Ta-Koro before severely damaging the village, making it no longer inhabitable to the Ta-Matoran.

Takua and Jaller’s quest for the Seventh Toa proved very difficult, even with occasional aid from the Toa Nuva. Having been threatened by Makuta himself, split up, reunited, and pursued by a total of six Rahkshi, the two Matoran arrived at the Kini-Nui. There, all six Rahkshi caught up with them to kill the Herald once and for all. Fortunately, all six Toa Nuva shortly arrived for a final showdown with Makuta’s forces. The Toa Nuva successfully defeated the Rahkshi, but not before Jaller was killed at the hands of Turahk while trying to protect Takua. Turning over new thoughts in his head amidst the grief over the loss of his friend, Takua suddenly found the Seventh Toa – in himself. Donning the Mask of Light, Takua discovered his destiny and transformed into Takanuva, Toa of Light.

As legend foretold that the Toa of Light was destined to defeat Makuta, the Turaga gathered with the Toa Nuva and Matoran at the Kini-Nui to send Takanuva off into the depths of Mangaia. Riding a Kraata-powered vehicle called the Ussanui, Takanuva sailed his way through the dark tunnels that led to Makuta’s lair. When Takanuva crashed into the gate of Makuta’s realm, a Ga-Matoran who had stowed away aboard Takanuva’s craft, Hahli, revealed herself. Taking advantage of her presence, Takanuva ordered her to summon all those waiting above to come and witness the final confrontation between Toa and Makuta. When Hahli reached the surface and announced Takanuva’s message, the Turaga debated whether or not entering Makuta’s lair was a wise decision. Hahli convinced the quarreling council to honor Jaller’s death by accepting whatever destiny they might have in the darkness of Mangaia.

The Turaga and Toa Nuva led all of the one-thousand Matoran of Mata Nui (minus Takua and Jaller) through the underground tunnels that led to the central chamber of Makuta’s lair, in the center of which was located a pool of energized protodermis. There, all arrived to witness a deadly, high-stakes Kolhii match being played between Takanuva and Makuta’s favored form. As soon as all of the Matoran passed into the chamber after the Turaga and Toa Nuva, Makuta destroyed the gate through which they had entered, blocking their way back up to Mata Nui. Takanuva, more determined than ever to set his island free of darkness, executed a move with the Kolhii ball that sent Makuta flying into a wall. After Makuta got back up and recovered from the blow, Takanuva boldly leapt for Makuta’s Kanohi Kraahkan, attempting to remove it from his face. As Makuta tried to wrestle Takanuva away from his mask, the two fell into the pool of energized protodermis in the middle of the chamber. After a few suspenseful moments, a being called Takutanuva emerged, an amalgamation of Takanuva’s and Makuta’s bodies and minds. As Takanuva’s will dominated this figure’s actions, Takutanuva moved to lift and suspend a giant gate that blocked the way to a chamber beyond that of Makuta’s while the Turaga, Toa Nuva, and Matoran hurried through underneath. As Hahli passed by carrying Jaller’s mask, Takutanuva sacrificed Makuta’s life-force to revive the fallen Matoran through his Kanohi. After the Turaga and the others were safely through to the second chamber, Takutanuva was so weakened that he split back into Takanuva and Makuta as the gate came crashing down. While the Turaga reasonably assumed that both had been crushed to their deaths, Takanuva’s Mask of Light slid out from the debris and stopped at their feet. Seeing that a giant Three Virtues symbol dominated the floor of the chamber, which opened up to overlook a seemingly endless cavern, Turaga Vakama placed Hahli on the symbol for Unity and the living-anew Jaller on the symbol for Duty. When Vakama placed the Kanohi Avohkii on the Destiny symbol, Takanuva suddenly appeared in a whirl of light and dust wearing the mask. Then, looking out into the unimaginably vast cavern beyond, Takanuva illuminated the space to reveal the island of Metru Nui in the distance, resting in the center of the Silver Sea.

The Turaga and the others were able to take a passage back up to the surface of Mata Nui. With their original home rediscovered and Makuta no longer opposing them, the Turaga decided that the time was right for the Matoran to return to Metru Nui after their thousand years spent on Mata Nui. The Turaga set the Matoran to work building boats and widening the underground tunnels of Mata Nui to prepare for their journey across the Silver Sea back to Metru Nui. At this point, the Turaga finally started sharing the tales of Metru Nui and their deeds as Toa Metru with the Toa Nuva. The first revelation that the Turaga exposed to the Toa Nuva and Takanuva was the fact that there had been other Toa before them. Within several different sessions over some time, the Turaga related how a thousand years ago they had once been Matoran, were granted the power of Toa, defeated the Morbuzakh, witnessed the Great Cataclysm in Metru Nui, defeated Makuta, fought the Visorak hordes, were mutated into Toa Hordika, met the Rahaga, were cured by Keetongu, and brought the Matoran to Mata Nui in safety. Throughout all this, the Toa were somewhat uncomforted by the fact that the Turaga had kept so many things secret, but they came to understand why the Turaga had wished to do so.

The Matoran finished constructing the boats that would transport them to Metru Nui; and the Turaga, Matoran, and Toa of Mata Nui made the days-long journey to the shores of the city. When they arrived on Metru Nui, the Turaga made a happy reunion with the Rahaga and Turaga Dume, whom they had not seen in a thousand years.

The Rahaga soon departed to help other lands ravaged by the Visorak while the six Turaga of Mata Nui joined Turaga Dume in governing Metru Nui as his council of advisors. The Turaga quickly put the Matoran to work rebuilding the battered city, which had been damaged by a quake during the Great Cataclysm and later overrun by Visorak as well as other Rahi beasts. For the next few weeks, the thoughts of the Turaga turned to rebuilding a former life.

It was not long before Dume revealed a shocking discovery to his fellow Turaga, consulting with Nuju to see if he agreed with his findings made known by the stars over Metru Nui. They agreed without a doubt that the stars were telling them that Mata Nui was not merely asleep – he was dying. All knew full well that if the Great Spirit died, the entire universe would perish as well. The skies told of a Mask of Life on an island called Voya Nui – also referred to as “the Daggers of Death” – that was the key to saving the life of the Great Spirit. Greatly disturbed by the news, the seven Turaga quickly ordered a private meeting with the seven Toa, telling them the tragic news and of the fateful mission to Voya Nui that they were required to undertake. It was not long before the Turaga took the Toa to a chamber far beneath the surface of Metru Nui where six transportation canisters were docked. While Dume ordered Takanuva to stay behind as the stars had requested, the six Toa Nuva entered the canisters and rocketed their way to Voya Nui.

With the mysterious disappearance of the Turaga and the Toa in a private council, Jaller began suspecting that something was wrong. Later, he persuaded Takanuva to take him to the seven Turaga in the canister chamber. There, he showed his fury over being left in the dark about the situation. As captain of the Guard, Jaller soon decreed a city-wide Matoran strike that would only be ended when they learned the truth.

After many days, the Toa Nuva still had not returned from their quest. In accordance with Jaller’s ultimatum, no Matoran had done any work to repair Metru Nui, not even to build shelters for themselves. The Turaga had little hope that the Toa Nuva were coming back, and they were consumed with worry. Unbeknownst to the other Turaga, Nokama finally slipped away to the ruins of the Great Furnace to tell Jaller about Mata Nui’s dying and why the Toa Nuva had to leave. While horrified that the universe was so close to coming to a crashing end, Jaller was overcome by determination to do whatever he could to save his world. Overnight, he secretly collected five of his most trusted fellow Matoran – Hewkii, Nuparu, Kongu, Matoro, and Hahli – and set out from the south of Metru Nui with them towards Voya Nui, Takanuva traveling with them as well.

The Turaga soon found out that Jaller had left the city with his six companions and what Nokama had told Jaller, but all they could do was to wait for what would happen next, it being only a matter of months – even weeks – from the death of Mata Nui.