Hekua's Tales

Findings of matoran Hekua as she researches anomalies in the Matoran Universe

[hekuastales]

The Flimsy Sheet Bindings:

Reports of these strange objects have been cropping up everywhere recently. They seem to be record keeping tools, though the symbols they contain aren't from any culture I'm aware of, and I'm guessing neither is the language.

Apparently a Toa with a Kanohi Rau did manage to read one. Unfortunately, the reading seems to have left him quite mad, making it impossible to retrieve any useful information from him. Since the reading, he hasn't left his hut, where he spends his day curled up in a corner, agitatedly rocking back and forth, rambling about being watched. Many have tried to talk to him, but he appears to be unaware of his surroundings, though he has a strong reaction to any light being introduced into his chamber.

At least, that's what the Matoran of the village had told me. When I asked him about the strange writing, he snapped to look at me like I was holding a weapon to his head: scared, and ready to attack if I made the wrong move.

"It has already sunk its teeth into you, and yo-yo-you don't even know it! I'm no-not giving you anything, and you can't take it! Stop asking before you can't."

---

I have procured several of these bindings from a few nearby villages. Some had no interest in them. Others had ones that either featured only images or didn't really on the reader to understand the symbols to trigger their effects. Those I keep in more secure containment.

Now I have a choice: Do I try to decipher what they contain, or do I store them so they can't affect anyone else? I’m hesitant to risk my own mind trying to read them, but the urge to know is overwhelming.

I did manage to… acquire the unfortunate Toa’s Kanohi Rau, so perhaps I can convince another Toa to translate for me. I’ll save the book that drove the original wearer insane for last, so I don’t have to keep securing new Toa.

[hekuastales]

Audio Log 1 ⚠️Content Warning: Body Horror, Vermin, Enclosed Spaces, Mention of Slavery, Disturbing Sounds, Violence⚠️ All sounds effects sourced from Pixabay Inspired by the works of the Magnus Archives: https://rustyquill.com/show/the-magnus-archives/ Distributed under a creative commons license

[hekuastales]

The Strange Box:

One of the first abnormalities I heard about. I interviewed Akora, the Ta-Matoran who first reported seeing it. His report was as follows:

"I stumbled upon the strange box while exploring the depths of the forest. I didn't know why it was chained close, or what the strange symbols scratched on it's lid meant. All I knew was something inside it was... humming?

"No. Not humming. It wasn't as cheerful as a hum, though it did carry a tune. It wasn't a sound any creature with vocal cords could make. Moaning would probably be a better description. A melodious moan that seemed to beckon me in- calling me to see what was inside. "

It's a good thing Akora didn't open the box. A Ga-Matoran and Onu-Matoran pair who stumbled across it did. The Ga-Matoran was lured inside. The Onu-Matoran chased after her, and after a week the two emerged once more. The Ga-Matoran seemed traumatized by the event, but Onu-Matoran seemed largely unfazed.

The Onu-Matoran explained that inside was a long staircase that kept getting tighter and tighter as you went. There was no light to speak of, and even the glowstone he kept on hand didn't seem to illuminate anything.

"I've been in worse cave ins," he said, "Like the one I lost a foot in. But poor Tali... She's still recovering..."

It is currently being held in a local Onu-Koro's archive, though it now refuses to open for any Matoran of Earth...

*Addendum, since the Koro fell to infection, the box has vanished. Whether it was removed by the infected is unknown. I have gotten word of a sighting near the Teka Jungle.

I am preparing to investigate.