The Iron Toa

Yeah, the Shadowed One probably gets the special stuff he's after, but he must arrange for each Dark Hunter to get payment somehow. That's kind of the whole point of the organization.

Well the Voya Nui Matoran apparently forgot that Toa didn't have huge teeth and spiky spines, and considering the difference in genders is usually only mental, I think the fact that all Toa of Water are female is a minor detail in comparison.

Hold on, what's the reference date for that timeline? I mean, the Matoran returned to Metru Nui one month before what point in the story?

End of YrentaChapter Fifty==Yrenta Region, Northern Continent, Matoran Universe==~1,000 AGC~ Imlen had recently passed through the volcanic region that had once been part of Yrenta before the Ta-Matoran living there went into isolation. Now he traveled eastward south of Yrenta's mountains, through the lands he had lived in as a Matoran. He took care to avoid being seen, however. He had been away from his homeland for months, and did not know where Brotherhood agents were watching these days. It was better to be safe, and not reveal himself until he reached the jungle village, which was hopefully still the haven it had always been. Soon his path turned to the southeast, but Mount Tasle was still visible when he passed several kio south of it. Imlen gazed across the rocky wilderness to the peak of the great mountain, and was shocked by what he saw. The sky above Mount Tasle was clear. The presence of storm clouds was usually troubling, but in this case it was their absence that worried Imlen. For as long as anyone could remember, a thunderstorm had constantly lingered over the mountain. He did not know what link it had to Mata Nui's health, but he was certain its absence was a sign that something was very wrong.He was tempted to find a Matoran and ask how long the storm had been gone for, but knew it would be best to find Turaga Morok as soon as possible. He quickened his pace and reached the river at dusk. He crossed over and prepared to enter the jungle – which was already nearly dark as night – when a bolt of energy shot through the treetops and into the sky. From the shape and color of the projectile, he immediately recognized its origin: a Rahkshi. He sprinted into the jungle, and though his passage was at first hindered by the tangle of plants, he quickly came upon the barren scar in the jungle the Rahkshi had left. Dead and dying plants and Rahi marked the passage of the Makuta-spawn, and Imlen followed this trail to find six of them leading a host of Visorak and a pack of various Rahi enslaved by infected Kanohi. Occasionally a Lerahk stabbed the ground with its staff, releasing a poison that killed all plant life in a wide radius, and a Rahkshi of Heat Vision set groves ablaze, but fortunately the environment was too moist for the fire to spread far.There were too many for Imlen to defeat alone, so he followed at a safe distance. When the invaders intruded upon the territory of a large nest of Fikou, Imlen saw his chance. While the small spider Rahi dropped down from their webs and attacked the Visorak, he leaned out from his hiding place behind a tree and melted the Rahkshi of Heat Vision with one intense jet. The other five Rahkshi immediately turned, and a Guurahk caused the tree to crumble. Imlen had already moved, however, and he struck again from a growth of large ferns. He aimed for the Guurahk this time, but failed to destroy it with one hit, and he was revealed. He created a cloud of plasma to obscure himself and ran behind another tree, then another, then another. He moved farther away each time, and as he had hoped, the Rahkshi split up to look for him. As a Rahkshi of Gravity drew near, he threw a small stone at a nearby tree, disturbing the branches. The blue and silver machine noticed the rustling but not the rock, and began to use its power to bring down the branches and everything hiding in them.The sound of snapping wood muffled Imlen's footsteps as he crept up on the Rahkshi and buried his protosteel dagger in its back. It immediately turned around, but he managed to withdraw the blade and skewer its head before it could retaliate. The Kraata within screeched loudly as it died, alerting the nearest of its brothers. Before Imlen could take cover, this Rahkshi – the Lerahk – caught sight of him and charged. He quickly let out a burst of plasma, but the Rahkshi of Poison shrugged it off and was quickly on top of him. Imlen twisted out of the way as its staff came down, and coughed as poisonous fumes sprung from the ground where it struck. He attempted to balance himself and move away from the foul vapors, only to find his feet were entangled. As he tripped, he realized that of course a Rahkshi of Plant Control had been sent with this group. The fumes continued to choke him as vines wound around his prone body, and both Rahkshi loomed over him. Fortunately, the Rahkshi of Plant Control was unable to strengthen plants as much as a Toa of the Green could, and with some effort Imlen broke free.He was still on the ground at the feet of his enemies, however, and feeling dizzy and nauseated by the toxic vapors. He tried and failed to call upon his element as the Lerahk brought its staff down again. As it did a roar sounded from behind the Rahkshi, and it faltered long enough for Imlen to dodge again. Holding his breath, he rolled away, out of the poisonous cloud rising from the ground, and when he got up he saw a Muaka emerge from the trees. With one swift extension of its neck, it took a great bite out of the Rahkshi of Plant Control, destroying it and devouring most of its metal body. While the Lerahk turned to face the newcomer, Imlen drew his Nynrah Ghost Blaster and used it to immobilize the green Rahkshi. The Muaka smashed its head with a mighty paw, and Imlen retreated to let the Rahi feast. He expected the other Rahkshi would have found him by now, but when more hisses and roars echoed through the jungle, he realized that they had already fallen afoul of the wildlife. He rushed to the site of the Fikou webs to find the Visorak had prevailed against the lesser spiders, but were now under attack by another Muaka, a swarm of Draka, and several other beasts.Several of the enthralled Rahi had been killed by their free brethren, and so Imlen used his Nynrah Ghost Blaster to make them tear off their own infected masks before this went on any longer. When that was done, he helped defeat the last of the Visorak. Soon the invaders were all destroyed, and the night was peaceful again. The creatures that had gathered to defend their home went their separate ways, and Imlen continued. The battle had surely been noticed throughout much of the jungle, and so he was not surprised when he came upon a Matoran scout some distance from the village. He greeted the villager, and as they walked to the village together they exchanged news. The Matoran of Yrenta had just learned of Metru Nui's reoccupation the day before, and were celebrating. The jungle-dwellers, however, could not relax. The attack that night was only the most recent of a series of raids that had been going on for weeks. Brotherhood activity had increased in all of Yrenta, though no other settlements had been attacked outright.By the sound of things, Turaga Morok and his people already had a lot to worry about. As he looked upon the jungle village, a sanctuary protected and provided for by nature itself, he knew it would be difficult to tell the Turaga that they might soon need to leave it all behind. But it had to be done. Imlen followed his Matoran guide through the living defensive wall. Morok was waiting for them in the upper levels, illuminated by softly glowing leaves sprouting from the head of his staff. As Imlen came near, the Turaga waved and jumped out of the tree, using his Noble Kanohi Miru to glide down to the ground. He did indeed look troubled, but he smiled as he shuffled forward.“Welcome back, Toa Imlen!” he said cheerfully, but his tone also betrayed a hint of worry. “Have you heard the news?”“Metru Nui? I have, Turaga. We have... much to discuss,” said Imlen hesitantly.“Of course,” said Morok, his concerned frown visible through the mouthpiece of his light green Kanohi. “I would offer to take you on a refreshing walk while we speak, but that would be unwise. The jungle is not safe these days, as you've discovered this evening. So let us discuss matters in the safety of my hut.”The Turaga led Imlen to a ladder of vines in the center of the village. While Imlen climbed, he activated his Mask of Levitation again and floated alongside. At the top of the ladder, they stepped onto a platform made of interwoven leaves and branches. From there, they crossed two hanging bridges to reach the Turaga's hut. Like everything else in the village, the hut was made of living plants, and at this late hour the interior was lit by lightvines woven into the walls. Imlen and Morok entered, and plants unfurled to close the entrance behind them. The lightvines cast strange patterns of greenish light.“Has something happened to Mozmana?" asked the Turaga.“Not that I know of,” said Imlen. “She went to speak with the Thane of Leokhtlich.”“To speak of the same matter you came here to discuss?” said Morok, and the Toa of Plasma nodded. “Well, tell me.”“We were summoned – summoned by another Turaga... he gave us... terrible news,” Imlen said hesitantly. “Turaga Morok... he said – he thinks Mata Nui is dying.”“And so the harm the Makuta did to Mata Nui will be the undoing of us all,” said Morok grimly, and with only a trace of surprise. “Blindly ambitious, treacherous fools. Surely they knew their actions might have led to this, but they did not care.”“But all may not be lost, Turaga,” consoled Imlen. “The Matoran of Metru Nui – ”“Yes... I know the rumors,” Turaga Morok looked up hopefully and smiled a little. “They found that refuge, that otherworldly island.”“Exactly. This Turaga – Turaga Alled – thinks we could make a home for everyone there. But we cannot tell everyone yet, or there would be disaster as everyone rushed to evacuate,” said Imlen. “He wishes for us to create a network of leaders we can trust to discreetly arrange for an orderly evacuation of their people.”“That seems wise to me,” agreed Morok. “But they must know when the time is right. It would be no better to not give enough notice.”“I will keep that in mind. But what can we do here?” said Imlen. “Even if we put the entire population to work making boats, we might not have time, and that would be quite conspicuous.”“Perhaps not. We may be in luck,” said Morok. “A few Matoran adventurers recently reported Brotherhood construction along the shore south of the former De-Wahi. They seem to be setting up a new supply line.”“That explains why the Ga-Matoran have been left alone. Had they attacked the Water village again, it would have been noticed,” said Imlen. “But a few kio to the west, in that scarcely-traveled region, their activities could have gone unnoticed for years.”“Indeed. We are fortunate that the wanderers happened to be exploring the area,” said the Turaga.“If there are boats there we can seize, that presents an opportunity,” said Imlen. “However, it will take time to gather allies for the attack, and we will not be able to hold the coast for long. Without knowing the day we must evacuate in advance, I suppose we must capture it when the time comes for us to flee, but that would waste time.”“If it comes to that, I hope we can avoid a battle, actually,” said Morok. “The servants of the Makuta are our enemies, but we must give them a chance to renounce their dark masters and join us. Hopefully they will be reasonable.”“No one will want to stay and fight while the universe dies,” said Imlen. “But I do not think I can trust such villains to change their ways and share a new home in peace.”“We will worry about that when the time comes. For now, expect us to need to put aside our old enmities and work together,” said the Turaga. “All factions and peoples, even the Dark Hunters and the Skakdi clans of Zakaz, must be informed before the end.”“I'm in no hurry to arrange a meeting with them! But I will do what I must, Turaga,” said Imlen.“Soon, I will call for a convocation of village leaders, and I will reveal the truth to those of them I trust,” said Turaga Morok. “First, I need you to make sure none of our villages are facing troubles that will interfere with our exodus. Do not tell them anything yet, I will handle it.”“Yes, Turaga. What about here? I hear Rahkshi and Visorak have been attacking the jungle regularly,” said Imlen. “The jungle fights back, but it will not hold out forever.”“It will not,” agreed Morok with a sad nod. “But we cannot put an end to it. Any such attempt would merely provoke Makuta Teskor into sending all the forces at his disposal to raze the jungle in one night. We are fortunate that, for now, he is content to spread his destructive influence gradually. We must endure. And we can do that, for now. You are needed more elsewhere. Get some rest, and begin your investigation of the other villages tomorrow.”“I will, Turaga,” said Imlen, and he stretched. “I will visit the Ga-Koro first, to make sure the Matoran of Water are free to build boats. Then I will report back to you before visiting the northern settlements.” ----- Mozmana had encountered an unexpected problem. Communities in this part of the continent were usually linked by a well-maintained network of courier Rahi and local postal services, and so she and Imlen had taken the ability to contact each other from many kio away for granted. But as they should have expected, the lines of communication were cut. Messenger birds were not kept in Hayafod, and no one who usually delivered mail to the outlying villages was willing to, for fear of the bandits. Mozmana wished she could communicate with Imlen, even if she had to seek him out in Yrenta, but Thane Frithozib had given her a task she could not set aside. An influential member of the nobility in a neighboring region had long been hostile to the Thane, and though the two of them were no longer at war, there was still tension between the Leokhtlich region and that aristocrat's city. Frithozib respected his former enemy, and wished to warn him of the impending disaster, but the other being would surely dismiss it as a trick if the news came from the throne of Hayafod. And so he had asked Mozmana to serve as an emissary and mediator – a neutral third party that could be trusted.The Thane had granted her a magnificent new Hypaka to bear her to her destination, the city of Balkhder, but even on this swift steed the city was several days' ride away. As she traveled west, deteriorating farmland gave way to grassy hills and marshes watered by winding streams branching off from a river flowing down from somewhere to the north. The terrain changed yet again long before she reached her destination, and at noon of the second day she was guiding her steed across the passes of a rocky ridge. Once on the other side of this small mountain range, she looked down upon forests and plains, and spotted the settlement that must have been Balkhder far off on the horizon. Days like this reminded her how vast the universe was, and it usually filled her spirit with wonder, but now she could only mourn at the thought of losing it all. One island would never be able to replace their entire world, no matter how hard they worked to enlarge it.But she had not come into existence during easy times – or perhaps she had, but if so she had forgotten the peaceful days of her early life. In any case, she lived in a time of strife and catastrophes, and she had been chosen to do whatever she could to set things right, even if only in small ways. Whether or not Mata Nui and the universe died, encouraging peace and trust between old rivals was one such helpful action. It was not the time to mourn. Mozmana rested briefly, then found a way to the mostly flat expanse below. Two days later, her road took her through one of the forests she had seen. Closely-spaced trees and protruding roots made riding impossible, and so she dismounted and led her Hypaka by the halter. She and the Rahi continued in such a way for about three hours, then suddenly the Hypaka became anxious. A flock of birds crowed and made the canopy rustle as they took off, and several woodland creatures bolted. Mozmana knew something was wrong, and she reached out with her elemental power to sense a great many minds approaching from the south.“Hide,” she whispered to her steed, using a touch of her power to ensure her message was clear.The intelligent and well-trained beast joined the Rahi of the forest in fleeing to a safe distance. Mozmana crawled into a fallen hollow log and watched as a column of Brotherhood soldiers and Visorak marched past. The enemy warriors passed without noticing her, but she was still concerned. She had felt safe in the lands under Frithozib's watch, but it was likely there were unseen Brotherhood agents in the vicinity of Balkhder. She waited, and a short while after the army had left her Hypaka returned. After scanning to make sure no hostile minds were still in the area, she got out of the log and reached into her pack. Toa did not usually wear fabric, as it provided little protection and often got in the way, but she and Imlen made sure to carry concealing cloaks for when disguise was needed. Unfortunately, such clothing was conspicuous, but being marked as a suspicious vagrant could sometimes be better than being immediately recognizable as a Toa. Mozmana donned the dark blue cloak, raised the hood, and resumed her journey. She finally reached the gates of Balkhder early in the morning of the day after the next.“Halt!” said one of the sentinels on duty, holding out a halberd to bar her way. “Who are you, and what business have you in Balkhder?”“I am... um, Alneev,” she said in a poor attempt to make up an alias on the spot in case the name Mozmana was known in these parts. “I must meet with your Earl.”“Who are you to demand to see Earl Drahais, traveler 'Alneev'?” asked the guard defiantly.“I am an emissary from another land, and I bear urgent news for his ears only,” said Mozmana, deciding it would be unwise at this point to reveal she had been sent by their old enemy.“Hmm,” grunted the sentinel. “Uilriaduris here will take you to see Gardrus, the door-warden of the Earl's keep. He will know what to make of you.”Mozmana could have attempted to use her element to influence the guard's decision, but she decided it was not worth the risk. If she had tried and her mental intrusion had been felt, he would have a reason to be more suspicious of her, or even hostile, and he might have guessed she was a Toa of Psionics. And so she decided she had been offered her best option and graciously accepted. The one she had spoken to called for the gates to be opened, and his subordinate Uilriaduris led her into the city. Though Balkhder was not the capital of this land, it was more populous than the capital of Leokhtlich. Its magnificent, towering buildings were impressive, but it lacked the simple artistic beauty of Hayafod. A few banners – less brightly colored than the ones in Hayafod – marked many winding streets paved with gray stone and lined by metal and stone buildings. Mozmana quickly saw this town was more diverse than the communities of Leokhtlich. The neighboring region was home to several species, but the great majority of the population in that land was of the yellow-armored prime species, followed by Matoran.Balkhder, on the other hand, seemed to have nearly equal numbers of a variety of species, including many Matoran. It seemed the majority were of a race of black-armored beings, but Mozmana saw nothing to make her think that particular group ran the city. Indeed, the guards at the gate were all different species, and when she was brought before Gardrus the door-warden she saw he was of the tall blue and red species. Her attention was more drawn to another detail, however – he wore the Great Mask of Truth. There would be no deceiving this sentinel.Review

I like this theory. I never liked how of all of Spherus Magna, there are only seven elemental tribes. However, some elements like plasma aren't as natural-sounding as the Agori tribes we have. Maybe in a more advanced, civilization, however...Mata Nui gave Gresh elemental Air power because he associates fully green armor with that element. (So that if Gresh had some blue on him, he might have gotten plant control powers.) Simple as that.

Hmm... she would probably be able to morph them into the shape of Toa, but I doubt she would be able to enhance their diminished elemental powers, and she certainly wouldn't be able to restore their lost Toa Energy.

You may be on to something, Bonesiii. Brilliant! Check out this quote from Annona in Sahmad's Tale:"I even tried to touch them with madness, but their minds were too... strange. Their minds fed on mine. They took the dreams from me and that energy inspired them to greater and greater feats of creation"It sounds to me like she accidentally let the Great Beings gain knowledge from her. What if they gained more than just knowledge and inspiration? If she was able to give the Sisters of the Skrall psionic powers...(Oh, and I think the fact that even this eldritch dream-eater could only describe the GBs' minds as 'strange' is saying a lot )

Hmm, well, Dark Mirror did say that with the fall of the Toa Empire, there was a chance the Makuta would seize power. Of course, with some of the Toa Mata dead, Teridax might have not been able to carry out the same plan as he did in the main universe.

Greg made it sound like no Makuta at all, but I don't see why the pre-evolution ones wouldn't... oh, hey -- in the case of the Makuta that sided with Miserix, maybe their bodies were destroyed to make sure they would not come back.

Aaaauuugh! It's 'Wookiees', with two 'e's! Get it right! :burnmad:Ok, so this post has some relevant content: do you think the GBs were born with special powers or altered themselves to gain them?(PS: I'm not really mad at the misspelling, just being silly.)

Hello Maganar. Here are my thoughts on the chapter you just posted:The illusion trick was a great surprise! I certainly didn't expect it, and I hadn't known Tignioni was skilled enough with his mask to pull it off. The fight scene against the Skakdi captain was also excellent. I must say it makes up for the far less thrilling final battle at the end of Lightfall. Two details did bother me, however -- both can be justified, but the way they were written didn't seem quite right. First, there's the part where it's implied that a regular Nova Blast wouldn't wipe out the whole fleet. Considering a Nova Blast is big enough to level Metru Nui, I disagree. But I don't think a Toa of Gravity would normally be able to throw his friends to safety in such a way while also creating a miniature black whole. That could be where the Energized Protodermis comes in -- it gave him enhanced control of his powers (though clearly not enough to prevent slamming Tignioni into a wall). Second, you say that the removal of his mask would be fatal. Removing Kanohi isn't fatal, for Toa it just weakens them greatly. However, as he was already injured, such a loss of strength could cause him to succumb to his wounds much faster. That would explain why it would kill him.Your idea for C... Cap... um, Capila'aris was clever. I disagree about its view of Matoran Universe inhabitant emotions, however -- they do know love, just not romantic love because they have no need for it.

Once the Makuta evolved into a gaseous form, their essence needed to be destroyed for them to die. So I expect no post-evolution Makuta were able to be resurrected.

Right. Like those seed pods are non-canon, as they were changed into cylindrical canisters. But I don't see why the images of Metru Nui that were drawn just as the city was depicted in the movies wouldn't be canon.

Actually, I agree. Movie Jaller sounded more like a kid than the Captain of the Guard. He's the only GB I remember having actual lines, but I think that narrator would be better voicing a sane GB, such as Angonce, or some other legendary character such as Artakha. It would suit his narrator role to play a character that's a precursor/working behind the scenes if you know what I mean. What? I don't remember the Rahkshi ever talking. I thought they just hissed and screeched. *Looks at BS01* Oh, Shadow Kraata can speak Matoran. But I still don't remember them ever doing so.

I like the idea that Artakha made them when the Red Star stopped working. But the Great Beings might have made those machines to replace beings that didn't have anything left of them to resurrect, too.

I wonder how this and what we know about the Red Star ties in with MU inhabitant reproduction. The GBs must have developed the mysterious machines used to bring new Matoran, etc into being. I wonder if that has anything to do with the Red Star, and if they planned for that system to be necessary, maybe they planned for the Red Star to stop working.

If the two most popular options remain tied for winner, could we have them be able to bear more weight/pressure and have a greater sense of balance?

Do you think a Toa of the Green's power applies to fungi as well? They're quite different from plants, but on the other hand, the two are sometimes traditionally put into one category.Also, when are the Elemental trait polls going to be closed and the results posted? It looks like the topics for Plasma and Lightning have died.

They could be linked to Lego fans and designers on some metaphorical level. More literally, I'm pretty sure they're either a biological species native to Spherus Magna, enlightened members of a known species (such Glatorian) or alien beings that settled on Spherus Magna.I wouldn't be surprised if any powers they had were not natural, but granted by alterations they performed on themselves, i.e, mechanical implants and/or mutations. But that's just speculation.

Quite a list. I wish I knew what more of those voices sounded like. So Hahli's voice actress was named Chiara? I wonder if Greg had that in mind when he named the Toa of Lightning.Krika should have a voice that can be menacing, like all Makuta, but more mournful.

... Interesting choices. Lesovikk, Irish-sounding? Never thought of that. Is it because he's green? I go by the movies too, for the characters they portray at least. I also think Lesovikk could sound like Batman, except far less confident. Mm.. it might work, but Icarax seems less refined than Dooku. Christopher Lee isn't known for portraying simple-minded warriors. Maybe Icarax could sound more like Grievous, but less exaggerated and without the coughing. But I'm sure there's a better choice. The voice he already had (Alan Rickman, you say?) sounded fine to me, but Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock does have that soft, intelligent tone. But Sherlock talks too much for a Toa of Ice, of course.When I read funny lines from Mutran, I feel like I should be able to name a goofy villain whose voice would suit those lines, but I can't. Anyone have any ideas? Oh, and if Mako (the voice of Aku from Samurai Jack) was alive, which Makuta should he voice?

End of YrentaChapter Forty-nine==Leokhtlich Region, Northern Continent, Matoran Universe==~1,000 AGC~ Like many other communities, the town of Kotleef was going through hard times. The once pristine and peaceful settlement, located a few dozen kio northwest of Yrenta, had been becoming more and more dilapidated and crime-ridden lately. And so when Imlen and Mozmana arrived to find commotion in the streets and a crowd gathering around what looked to be a tavern, they prepared for trouble. But there was no riot or gang fight in progress this time. The Toa soon discovered that the source of the excitement was astonishing news that apparently had been reported in a message carried by courier Rahi, and recently confirmed by travelers from neighboring lands.“Metru Nui is reoccupied! Dume's people have returned!” they said, and everyone celebrated – enforcers and criminals, laborers and chieftains alike.“The very same Matoran that disappeared in the Cataclysm?” Mozmana asked one of the travelers inside the tavern, and he nodded. “But... how? Where were they this past millennium?”“Now that part I don't understand,” said the blue and red being. “Allegedly they found an island – a magical island beyond the sky, or some such thing. It's bigger than any uncharted island should be, and the sky and sea there are strange, or so I've heard.”“I heard the Makuta o' Metru Nui was spending all his time up there tormenting 'em,” another being spoke up. “But then he was killed – by a Toa of Light no less! Could it be? The boss o' the Brotherhood, dead?”“Wait a minute,” someone else joined in. “Could there even be a Toa of Light? I've never heard of any Matoran of Light...”“Of course there are Matoran of Light!” said the blue and red traveler. “They're just hiding, that's all. Living in secretive isolation – and who could blame them? If the Brotherhood were to find them...”“Hiding? An entire race of Matoran? That seems perfectly likely,” replied the other sarcastically. “But if this Toa of Light really does exist, what can I say?”“Forget that – if the Makuta of Metru Nui is dead, what does that mean for the Brotherhood?” yet another being joined the conversation.“A power struggle, most certainly,” said the second patron to have spoken. “I expect Icarax would win, an' the end result would all be the same t' us.”“No real change? I doubt that,” someone else said. “Icarax doesn't have the cunning to lead the Brotherhood as the Makuta of Metru Nui did. He's a lout – but that's not to say I'm not worried by the thought of him taking over. Sure, he'll probably run the Brotherhood into the ground, but he'd burn the whole universe doing it.”“I wonder what the Dark Hunters are going to do about it,” said the third being. “They could really take advantage of this, and I bet the Shadowed One knows how to do it best.”Imlen and Mozmana attempted to change the topic back to the matter of Metru Nui, but it was in vain. These beings were clearly intent on discussing the larger factions. One of them was kind enough to purchase each of the Toa one of the less noxious drinks on the menu, and after graciously accepting, they left the tavern. The news they had heard was joyous, and they felt better about the state of the universe than they had since before the Great Cataclysm, back when they were Matoran. Imlen took a drink, allowing the murky blue liquid blend to invigorate him and push his worries aside. Mozmana held up her cup and was beginning to take a tentative sip when someone called out to them. The Toa turned to see a Ta-Matoran running towards them.“Toa!” he said again.“Is there trouble, friend?” asked Imlen, though he was still cheerful.“I fear there is, Toa... um, Imlen, is it?” said the Ta-Matoran.“That's right. I haven't been this way for decades, though. I'm surprised I'm still remembered around here,” said Imlen. “But anyway, what trouble threatens to darken this glorious day?”“I do not know. My Turaga has not told me, but whatever it is, it has dismayed him greatly,” said the Matoran gloomily. “He wishes to speak to you in private.”“Very well,” said Mozmana immediately. “Lead the way.”“He's not in town. He is back at the village – about eleven kio from here,” said the Matoran of Fire. “Do you have steeds?”“No. We lost our Hypaka weeks ago, and haven't found any for sale since,” said Imlen.“Ooh, that's a costly loss,” winced the Matoran. “I am sorry, Toa, but in that case you will have to make the journey on foot. My Ussal is far too small to carry either of you.”Imlen and Mozmana had only just arrived in town, and would have liked to rest for a while, but the Matoran – who introduced himself as Yeblaawan – would not have approached them had his need not been urgent. It was their duty to help, and the mystery of what concerned his Turaga was intriguing. They could not refuse, and so they were soon hiking again. The Ta-Matoran rode just in front of them on his Ussal, for his own short legs could not match their great strides. The scurrying of the crab kicked up great clouds of dust, for the Leokhtlich region was slowly turning into a desert. The one who ruled it, Frithozib, took the title of Thane in memory of the chieftains of the long-lost kingdom the realm had once belonged to, and under his rule it had remained a place of farms and green wilderness for centuries after the cataclysm. Troubles had finally taken their toll on the region several years ago, however, when war between the Brotherhood, the Dark Hunters, and several lesser factions had ruined much of the farmland, and bandits inhabited the homesteads and villages that were abandoned. One such group of brigands was waiting down the road, but they wisely fled without a fight upon recognizing the Toa.The sight of the spreading lawlessness and desolation reminded Imlen that whatever was happening in Metru Nui, the rest of the universe had not become any less dangerous and desperate. This year marked the thousandth anniversary of the Great Cataclysm, and the optimistic had predicted that the milestone would be significant. Today they had been proven correct, but it would take much work to end and undo the decay – both societal and environmental – brought on by the millennium of darkness. Whatever was happening in Metru Nui, this mission would be no less dangerous and important than the last one. While he shielded his eyes from the dust with one hand, Imlen reached over and adjusted his pack with the other, then he paused for a moment to stretch. After the disastrous attack on Destral, his body had required extensive repair. The injuries he received that day had ceased to pain him long ago, but the parts of him that had been thoroughly rebuilt or replaced altogether still felt awkward sometimes. He was still recognizable as the Toa he had been before that day, but he almost felt as if he had an entirely new body.“Toa Imlen?” Yeblaawan turned to say. “Please, let's continue. We are almost there. See?”To the confusion of the Toa, the Matoran pointed at a large pond or small lake a short distance ahead. But they continued without question, and soon noticed jets of steam erupting from the surface of the water. On the other side of the water were two villages, or perhaps two distinct neighborhoods of one village. Huts built in the Ga-Matoran style lined part of the shore that seemed to be devoid of geysers, while nearby a cluster of Ta-Matoran structures surrounded a little stream of lava that flowed out of the ground and then back under it before reaching the lake. It was an interesting habitat for Matoran of Fire – not quite a volcano, but a place where the magma that heated the springs was exposed. Upon coming closer, the Toa noticed that this was not a completely natural part of the environment. The Ta-Matoran had made an excavation, too shallow to notice at a distance, to uncover the lava. The Toa and their guide entered the village just as the sun began to darken to make way for night.“Clever,” said Mozmana. “I usually picture Ta-Matoran as living on the ashy slopes of a dangerous volcano, but you were able to find igneous rock to build your homes in a place like Leokhtlich.”“Yes. It allowed us to use traditional building materials, but it is far more important than that,” said Yeblaawan with a smile. “The Ga-Matoran fishers provide us with most of our food, but for other necessities we rely on the money the lava provides us with. As you alluded to, Leokhtlich is not a volcanic region, and so we have a valuable resource here. We sell rare ores we harvest from it, as well as obsidian weaponry and trinkets carved from the rock. Some of us used to sell such baubles as good luck charms, for this type of stone is exotic to most people in the region, but our Turaga Alled thankfully put an end to that sham long ago.”“If you have such a rare and valuable resource here, I'm surprised you haven't been driven out,” said Imlen as the Ta-Matoran led them to a large structure at one end of the village. “No offense to your fighting capabilities, of course, but there are many malicious beings roaming these lands – beings that are bigger than your people.”“Oh, brigands and raiders have given us trouble once in a while, but Thane Frithozib is a good ruler. He knows to take good care of us. At least as good care as he can manage, which has been less and less these days... but even if those thugs did get their hands on our lava stream, what would they do with it? Burn themselves, that's all,” laughed Yeblaawan. “We are the only ones around who know how to extract its treasures.”“But still, do you think it's likely that your Turaga's worries revolve around it?” asked Mozmana, walking up the path to the building's door flap. “Maybe he knows of an impending attack, or the lava is going to run out – could that happen?”“Probably not, unless there were some sort of geological disturbance underground... anyway, I do not doubt that it's on the Turaga's mind, but I cannot tell for sure. But you can ask him yourself,” said the Matoran of Fire, and with that he opened the door flap. “Presenting Turaga Alled.”“Thank you, Yeblaawan,” said the Turaga, standing up from a seat in front of a fire pit. “You have done well. I see it is getting dark – you certainly have worked long today. Get some rest, and you can take some time off tomorrow.”“Thank you, Turaga, but it was my Ussal that did most of the work. He deserves the thanks, and I am not yet tired,” said Yeblaawan, and he remained in the room, watching the Toa and his Turaga expectantly.“I insist, Yeblaawan,” said the Turaga of Fire kindly yet firmly. “You are dismissed. These noble Toa and I must converse in private.”The Matoran of Fire bowed his head in submission and obeyed, though he was clearly disappointed. He neglected to close the door flap as he left, and so Alled gestured for Imlen to do it.“Why such secrecy?” asked the Toa of Plasma as he complied, then he joined the Turaga and Mozmana at the center of the room. “What can you not tell your own people?”“Something I cannot bear to tell them, and something they might be better off not knowing,” said Turaga Alled quietly, with a heavy sigh.“What is it? Is it something we can help with?” said Mozmana.“I do not know. But you must be told regardless,” said the Turaga, and he took a deep breath. “Toa, I... I fear Mata Nui is dying.”That was just about the worst news the Toa could ever hear. Where – and what – Mata Nui was, exactly, was a mystery, but it was well-known that if he died, his universe would die with him. His sleep had damaged his world and affected the natural order, and his death would cause it all to plunge into darkness and crumble. For over a minute, the Toa were speechless. Then the questions came to them.“How do you know this?” asked Mozmana.“And what could we possibly do about it?” said Imlen.“As to how I know, I read signs in the natural world that can hint at such things,” said Alled, sitting back down in his chair. “I am also a member of a small association that includes several other local Turaga, scholars, and mystics. All are well-versed in this art, and one even has the gift of precognition. All of them... all of them have come to the same conclusion.”“Well, you wouldn't have brought us all the way here if...” Imlen trailed off, unable to make light of the situation.“If I were not reasonably certain,” the Turaga finished for him anyway. “But there may be hope. Legends tell of a unique mask that is capable of saving Mata Nui's life. This mask, the Kanohi Ignika, was hidden by the Great Beings for just such a contingency.”“And you mean for us to retrieve this Kanohi,” said Mozmana in sudden understanding.“Actually, no,” said Alled, to the surprise of the Toa. “Even the friend I mentioned that is capable of foresight cannot tell your destinies for certain, but we believe that another team of Toa is fated to recover the Mask of Life – or at least to attempt to. If the legends are true, only two of you would not get far anyway. No, I have summoned you to help us prepare for the possibility – the likely possibility – that Mata Nui will die.”“Help prepare? How so? Are we to help you spiritually, so that you will be at rest when the universe becomes our grave?” demanded Imlen with frustration. “I cannot imagine what else we can do. If Mata Nui dies, everything in existence will die with him!”“Shh! I do not want the Matoran to overhear us,” Alled shushed the Toa of Plasma. “And you may be wrong about that. Consider the possibility of a world outside our own, to which we could evacuate.”“A universe... beyond our own universe?” said Mozmana, and Alled nodded.“Surely you have heard of the return of the population of Metru Nui,” said the Turaga, and he used his limited elemental power to morph the flames from the fire pit into the shape of the island city. “But do you know where they dwelt this past millennium?”“We have heard rumors... rumors of a fantastic island,” said Imlen, and now it was his turn to feel realization dawn on him. “But surely that is only a strange, previously unknown part of our own world... isn't it?”“Part of our world where the water is not any sort of water we have ever known, where there are birds and fish with characteristics unlike any known Rahi, and where the sun – ” Alled paused to shape the fire into a great blazing sphere, “ – the sun is a ball of flame? I think not.”“Lost Artakha's treasures,” Imlen exclaimed breathlessly. “Could it be? A whole other universe?”“Well, one large island surrounded by endless ocean, as far as anyone can tell,” clarified Alled, letting the fire return to its natural shape. “But if that place survives Mata Nui's death, we could build upon it. We could build additional land, to make room for as many people as possible.”“It would be better than waiting, hoping for a few other beings to save us all,” said Mozmana. “So what would you have us do?”“You must help to mobilize the people. Meet with leaders and make sure they are prepared to lead their people to safety, but only reveal the whole truth to those you can trust,” said the Turaga. “This knowledge must be shared, so that others can aid us, but I do not wish for it to become common yet. It is too early and too sudden. There would be panic. Only once we are ready to evacuate our universe can the secret be let out.”“Does Thane Frithozib know?” asked Mozmana.“No, but he is one I would trust with the knowledge,” said Alled. “He is wise and noble.”“Then we will inform him at once,” said the Toa of Psionics. “His influence is widespread. He can give the information to what subordinates and allies he trusts, and soon we will have many leaders in this part of the continent working with us.”“Mozmana... that sounds like the wisest course of action,” said Imlen, and Alled nodded in agreement. “But... I cannot do it. I must continue home to Yrenta. I must tell Turaga Morok, and see to the safety of my own people first.”“Yrenta? That region has long been isolated,” said the Turaga. “I sympathize with your concern for your homeland, but it would be folly to go to the Turaga of a such a remote place before informing such an influential leader as Frithozib.”“You are right,” said Imlen. “But I must return home at once regardless. Mozmana, we can each survive on our own if we are careful. I will be careful, please be careful as well.”“I will be,” promised Mozmana. “I will consult with Frithozib, and send word to Yrenta once I have his advice.”“If nothing else comes up, I will head directly to Turaga Morok's village,” said Imlen. “Have your message delivered to there.”Despite his urgency, Imlen was tired, and did not dare to travel alone in this unfamiliar land at night. He and Mozmana spent the night in the village, and the next morning they prepared to part. Before they left, Turaga Alled assured the Toa that he would summon others to join in the evacuation plan, and send messengers to meet in secret with the Turaga of Metru Nui. Then Imlen walked south, while Mozmana made for the capital city of Hayafod, to the west. It would be a few days' journey to the capital on foot, and by that night Mozmana expected Imlen had reached the border of Yrenta, assuming nothing had waylaid him. As for herself, she had been accosted by bandits twice already, but the thugs had barely slowed her down. The brigands that haunted Leokhtlich were unskilled ruffians that usually relied on their victims being far weaker than them, but Mozmana knew she would be in great danger if she was targeted by any elite Brotherhood of Makuta or Dark Hunter agents. After the disaster at Destral tore a chunk out of the dwindling number of Toa, she had encountered such assassins less often – it seemed the two evil organizations were focusing on other matters for now.Still, Mozmana took great care to hide herself when she slept, and she was relieved when she caught sight of the gates of Hayafod around noon of the third day. This town was much larger and rather more urbanized than Kotleef, but the architecture was much the same. The buildings were larger and more numerous, but for the most part were constructed of the same wood and gray stone. The same decay that affected the surrounding villages was noticeable here to some degree, but the center of the Leokhtlich region was still thriving and mostly beautiful. Colorful crests and banners adorned the walls, roads, and watchtowers. A pair of standards, each bearing a symbol of what appeared to be a white eight-legged Hypaka on a dark blue background, marked the path up the hill upon which the Great Hall of Hayafod sat. When Mozmana reached the ornately-carved double doors, the guards on duty bowed before her and escorted her into the presence of their Thane.Review

How is it? And if the beings on the Red Star are alive again (despite being trapped), destroying it would be the evil thing to do.

Yeah, I think it would depend on the method by which they were fused. Something like the Spear of Fusion might do it safely (not counting the issue of one mask not being able to handle all that power) but melting the masks down to reforge them into one would probably count as breaking them. The Vahi and Mask of Creation don't have minds of their own, so the resulting mask would probably have the mind of the Ignika (and at this point, Mata Nui).But I'm thinking if a Legendary mask power can't be stored in a Noble Mask, no Kanohi could hold all three.

Wait, is this for the Memoirs of the Dead? In that case, I think it would belong in S&T.