Renowned Nynrah Ghost and leader of a prominent crafting guild. Malruuk made a name for himself with early success inventing the firing mechanism that would be later used by other Fe-Matoran crafters in the Zamor Launcher. He was ruthless in his practice and often absorbed entire operations into his guild.
During the Reign of Shadows, he openly began creating weapons for the armies of Makuta, commissioning new Exo-Toa and Protosteel molds to equip the Rahkshi armies invading the rest of the universe. Ethically ambiguous and morally dubious, Malruuk had a historic ability to always back the winning side, be they Makuta, Dark Hunter, or Vortixx.
Malruuk uses a Matoran body design I’ve been tinkering with since 2011. His mask is a noble Kadin designed by Exota Forge.
Fun fact; There is a direct duality, a parallelism between the six Elemental regions of Okoto, and the six districts of Xia in Bionicle: RaE! Each one corresponds to its other island counterpart, respectively, with Xia’s districts being a ‘dark mirror’ of the role the Mega-Villages serve on Okoto as well! Specifically, the Mega-Villages and their respective regions are synonymous in these dualities…
Stelt parallels the Vuata Maca; The Macans grow flora, crops, and food, and Stelt is where nutrition and crops are mechanically-grown and hoarded within greenhouses and facilities! The Gukko Airforce acts as the primary means of transportation for people and goods across Okoto, and Stelt does the same with its Chutes for Xia! Trade and Okoto’s economy is facilitated by the Gukko Airforce, while Stelt is the main heart of its economy, with black markets, banks, smuggling, all that stuff going on.
Tametru’s parallel to Tawahi is obvious; They both start with Ta and are adapations of Fire-related locations in G1. They’re both the hottest areas of their respective islands, and use that heat to melt down materials and reforge them into stuff. Weapons are made here, amongst other metallurgic tools.
Now, despite its heavy reliance on water and its presence… Voymari is actually meant to mirror Marn! Yes, water is a big deal and Voymari has a few shipyards, but its primary export and industry is mining; Just as the people of Marn specialize as tunnelers due to their subterranean location. Voymari relies more on mining and changing the landscape than anything else, deals with minerals in the air, and so it’s just naturally more suited for the element of Earth.
Zakaz and Levato go hand-in-hand. They’re both located in vast, barren deserts and rely a lot on scavenging. They have naturally brutal conditions, but also have entertainment; Levato specializes in the arts, in sculptures, as well as board-games, and sports like Kolhii. Zakaz’s entertainment comes in the form of brutal gladiator matches and races, but it also has its own sports like Akilini, and of course theater productions, studios, and casinos as well.
Nynrah goes with Kiniga! This one is less obvious, and that’s my fault; I never DID make my own separate post detailing Kiniga, but I may do that soon! I think I’ve finally begun to figure it out, so look forward to that…! Anyhow, Nynrah was and in some ways still is the sector of education, and Kiniga is where a lot of schools and textbooks are located! Medicine and healing is a big deal in Kiniga, and in Nynrah, the Nynrah Ghosts work specifically towards the anatomy of others and how to alter it. Water is the stuff of life, and it can sustain it… But with Nynrah, it was used to carry chemicals, mutagens, and Visorak into the bodies of others, horrifically transforming and distorting them.
Finally, Artidax is the direct counterpart to Kokoro! Both involve knowledge and information; Kokoro stores past texts, deciphers them, and reads the stars. It is well-versed in the lost traditions and ancient culture and religion of Okoto. Artidax’s computer-banks store vast quantities of information, and both areas value the power of the mind and ‘thought’. Artidax’s satellites can read weather patterns just as Kokoro reads the stars, and it relays information and decodes data transmissions, just as Kokoro interprets past texts and forms predictions, and then brings that information to the rest of Okoto through the Gukko Airforce. Both have arctic locations in the north; Or at least Artidax did, but most of the snow and ice has melted. Some of it still remains, however. Finally, while the Region of Ice hosts another race of sapient beings, the Frostelus, Artidax hosts sapience separate from humans in the form of AI!
Additionally, each Xian District in RaE has the same symbol as their corresponding Metrus from Metru Nui, you can probably guess which is which at this point. As G1 fans may have noticed (so basically, 99% of the Bionicle fandom), I took a LOT of inspiration from Metru Nui’s industrial, hi-tech city setting! If Okoto adapts the mythical, island parts of Bionicle, I wanted Xia to be an adaptation of the futuristic, sci-fi part of it, its later years; This includes the Bara Magna saga as well, which is somewhat represented in Zakaz and its Baran Desert. Naturally, Xia’s G1 namesake itself, as well as the districts’ namesakes, played heavy roles in influencing the island and its landmarks and locations, to varying degrees.
Each district also takes heavy, direct influences in terms of aesthetic, function, and appearance from locatons in other forms of media as well! Stelt is based off of the images we have of Xia in G1, specifically its polluted air and its dark, mechanical skyline. Its whole deal with trade is also from G1 Stelt as well. It probably has the least fictional influences, in all honesty.
Tametru is based off of G1 Ta-Metru obviously… But a lot of it is also inspired by Hotland from Undertale! In fact, everytime I think of Tametru, Another Medium plays in my head… Hotland is almost entirely responsible for my conception of Tametru as a location, not gonna lie, and I personally consider Another Medium to be my ‘theme song’ for Tametru! I love that song…
Voymari is actually based not only on Mahri Nui (specifically with the Fields of Airweed and the semi-aquatic setting), but also the look of its towns and the skyline and shipyards come from Corellia’s Coronet City from Solo: A Star Wars Story! Sue me, I thought it was a cool movie with lots of cool locations that visually inspired me… Also, the idea of ‘Saltlung’ comes entirely from the town of Stain’d-by-the-sea from All the Wrong Questions.
Zakaz is… literally just Bara Magna from G1, combined with Mad Max. Not much else to say here, honestly, other than that it also some adequately-developed cities and small nations, kind of like how G1 Zakaz had some urban areas before Spiriah ruined everything. Like G1, Zakaz has a LOT of conflict, and the Skakdi as well to boot!
Nynrah started off as Fallout’s post-apocalyptic wasteland, but then it was combined with a lot of Resident Evil after I got into the series and realized just how well it fit; Specifically, the whole situation with Raccoon City and monsters roaming about the streets. In all honesty, Resident Evil’s monster aesthetic and whole corrupt scientist group schtick has overtaken as Nynrah’s primary influence. There’s also just a LITTLE bit of Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, believe it or not. I went with the fact that G1 Nynrah had the Nynrah Ghosts, who are very science-oriented, and worked from there.
Finally, Artidax is a combination of the aesthetic of Blade Runner and other cyber-punk settings, but is also blatantly ripped from Sanctuary Fortress, from Metroid Prime 2: Echoes! Brilliant game… Fun fact, Artidax was the last district to be planned and designed by me, by a LONG shot. For like three years, I didn’t even know what Artidax was supposed to be, what its function was, what it looked like; All I knew was that The Mountain existed within it, and that was about it. And even then, it wasn’t like I intended for The Mountain to have anything to do with Artidax’s lifestyle, as well! Occasionally, I even entertained just giving up and making The Mountain take up the entirety of Artidax…!
But, I held on; I waited for inspiration, and lo it came to me with Sanctuary Fortress! I love Metroid Prime 2, it’s a great game and you should seriously play it! Metroid’s hi-tech, mythical settings are VERY conducive to Bionicle in general, and I have much to thank Retro Studios for their creative influence on me! Once I saw that mountainous region, with the hi-tech facilities of drones and computers, with coding that seemed to come from the skies… It all came into place!
As you can probably tell, the Artidax District bears the least resemblance to its G1 namesake. The G1 Artidax was known for having a bunch of volcanoes and being where Makuta Miserix was imprisoned. I sort of tried to maintain that spirit by making the Artidax District mountainous (and mountains are basically sauce-less volcanoes), because I already had the heat and molten theme with Tametru. Mostly, I just took the name of Artidax because it was an island location in G1, and I needed a name for the final Xian district.
Once a prosperous district, Nynrah was the home of Xia’s most esteemed and elite scholars. Academics would find education in its prestigious colleges and universities, and Xia’s next generation of their finest, most brilliant minds were hosted here. Experiments into the very nature of the universe and life itself were conducted in order to unlock the secrets that conducted reality itself.
One particular group of scientists emerged, known as the Nynrah Ghosts for their reclusive nature and pale masks. These Nynrah Ghosts were the most elite scientists and researchers in all of Xia, and were dressed in identical, uniform cloaks and outfits to prevent contamination and protect themselves during experiments. The Nynrah Ghosts did not care for ‘ethics’ or anything else they saw as hindering their search for the truth, and their forays into science and their various experiments. The homeless and prison populations were frequently sent to them to be tested upon, and they helped design a wide variety of deadly weapons, such as Rhotuka, the Hagah Plasma Cannon, Destructors, Zamor Launchers, and even the Vahki themselves.
Graduates and other students who showed promise in the field of study would be inducted into the Nynrah Ghosts, led by their leader Trydahk, creator of the space-warping Trydahk Pods he named after himself. As the Nynrah Ghosts helped lead multiple technological advancements, they also began to experiment with biology, with the anatomies of Xians and other organisms. In particular, they found interest in Viruses, volatile, energy-based substances that had a wide variety of effects and reality-warping natures.
Demand for their Bio-Weapons, organic creatures bred specifically for warfare and combat, rose in areas such as the Zakaz District. Biomechanical creatures meant for killing and assassination were devised, and horrific mutagens were created and tested within underground facilities. The Nynrah Ghosts operated with total impunity, and eventually created their most infamous mutagen of all; VISORAK, the Virus of Reconstitution and Killing. VISORAK’s powerful mutagenic properties, when applied to a victim, would randomly recode and reprogram their genetic sequence, mutating them into just about anything.
Experiments on test subjects with VISORAK allowed the Ghosts to examine a wide variety of mutations they never could’ve imagined, and if a discovery was made with a particular mutation, it’d be studied, analyzed, and potentially even replicated and enhanced if considered potent enough. Waves of Bio-Weapons were designed after curious Visorak mutations, with those altered by the virus dubbed as ‘Vorox’. Intelligent, biomechanical spiders loyal to the Nynrah Ghosts, with a penchant for hunting and an immunity to Visorak, were designed to carry the venom within their fangs and inject it into victims.
The Nynrah Ghosts initially operated discretely and illegally, sending their Visorak Spiders out to capture Xians and animals in the dark of night and deliver them to labs, where they’d be cocooned and injected with nutrients to help facilitate a mutation. Some Vorox were too damaged by their mutations to emerge from their cocoons, and were deemed failures and thrown amongst the bio-waste. Those that did emerge would be stunned and paralyzed by the Visorak spiders’ Rhotuka, to be properly contained and studied by the Nynrah Ghosts.
Horrific experiments continued as usual, until one day, an incident happened. A Xian Heart was detonated, and while the exact details behind the accident are uncertain, it led to the destruction of a facility as various Bio-Weapons escaped and fled out into the surrounding district of Nynrah. Civilians were attacked, and rogue Visorak spiders fled, forming into packs to hunt and mutate as they pleased and desired.
The Vahki were sent in to contain the incident, but more accidents began to happen, a chain-of-events, a horrific butterfly effect. Vorox accessed the water supply, dying as Visorak leaked into the waterways and was spread throughout Nynrah’s various canals, contaminating the water supply. This was only worsened when another facility was damaged and breached, and Visorak and other Viruses were released into Nynrah’s drinking water, with disastrous results; Many Xian residents were horrifically transformed, with some dying from the mutations, and others becoming destructive monsters devoid of conscious thought, acting only on murderous instinct.
A few airborne plagues were accidentally released as the damage worsened. Riots ensued as Dume, Xia’s Head of Security, attempted to instate a mandatory quarantine and curfew, only for citizens to get infected anyway. Xian corporations focused on protecting their stocks over providing for those trapped in their homes, and resources dwindled as citizens became desperate. Xians fought over the remaining supply of food and clean, bottled water, even as Vahki violently suppressed riots and Vorox and other Bio-Weapons began to overtake Nyrnah. Mutations were spreading rapidly, and at this rate, it seemed almost the entirety of Nynrah’s water supply was infected.
Chaos and anarchy began to descend as monsters and outbreaks spread out. The Nynrah Ghosts desperately attempted to quell the damage, but it only worsened as rival gangs and crimelords fought one another openly and deployed powerful weapons of destruction, including another few Xian Hearts. The Nynrah District began to actively collapse as cities burned and mobs of infected monsters roamed about.
Dume became desperate to contain the incident, and announced a mandatory quarantine of the entire Nynrah District. Although some citizens managed to escape Nynrah before it was fully enstated, far too many were instead trapped when the Vahki erected massive, towering walls that surrounded the entire district. The coast was sealed off with giant Sea Gates to prevent the leakage of Visorak, mutagens, and other Viruses into the ocean surrounding Xia itself. Any and all travel from Xia was completely banned, and anyone and anything, from Vorox, to Bio-Weapons and Visorak spiders, and even uninfected Xians, that came too close to the border would be shot on sight by the Vahki, with stun staffs set to lethal.
The horrific series of accidents, outbreaks, and the utter collapse of what was once the most prosperous Xian district, would later become dubbed the Nynrah Incident. The district was almost completely sealed-off, with heavy protection in the form of battalions, turrets, and even a few artillery cannons stationed along the walls. Entry and exit from Nynrah was expressly-forbidden by Dume.
Those Xians trapped inside had a few options, most of them unpleasant. Some were outright skilled; Others were mutated. Some continued living cutthroat lives, gathering into groups and competing with one another for resources, while fending off rogue Vorox and roaming Visorak spiders.
As for the Nynrah Ghosts? Most of them operated relatively safely from the underground safety of their bunkers and more secure facilities, examining the situation through cameras. And while some were horrified by what happened, others… Were interested.
Because you see, it now appeared that they could examine in witness, in real-time, exactly how many of their horrific inventions and Bio-Weapons would function on the field. The Nynrah Incident yielded valuable, precious combat data on the effectiveness of some Bio-Weapons, of Visorak’s potency, and provided countless fascinating mutations for the Ghosts to study. When the district became quarantined, the Vahki effectively abandoned the region, interested only in regulating passage into and from Nynrah; Everything within the borders was essentially lawless.
And because of this, the Nynrah Ghosts had free impunity to openly operate, sending out Bio-Weapons onto the surface to test their effectiveness, having Visorak Spiders kidnap Xians to experiment on, and even openly testing inventions on the remaining civilians, in broad daylight. Yes, it was a lawless, chaotic environment and post-apocalypse wasteland… But to Trydahk and his Nynrah Ghosts, the incident was a blessing in disguise.
For just about everyone else, however, it was the end of the world, and even the end of one’s life. Amidst the roaming Vorox and escaped Bio-Weapons of various sizes and lethality, some maintained or even gained sapience and gathered into tribes, fighting over resources and tending to one another.
As of now, the Nynrah District consists of ruined, post-apocalyptic cities, long in disrepair. Mutant Vorox roam the streets, and the water supply has long been infected and contaminated. Most uninfected Xians come from outside the district; It is not uncommon for powerful Xians to get rid of those they are displeased with, by having them exiled into Nynrah as a death sentence of sorts. Likewise, while the Vahki are ordered to guard the walls, they are more concerned with keeping things in Nynrah, than keeping others out of it; And with bribes and deals from the Nynrah Ghosts, a ready-supply of Xians can be transported within the district to be tested on, or released onto the surface for ‘field studies’.
The canals have long-since been clouded with sludge, viruses, and various other pollutants, and unimaginable monstrosities dwell within them and the sewers. In one area of Nynrah is the Botana Forest, a jungle of mutated trees and flora that hosts massive Bio-Weapons and other Vorox. Often, if the Nynrah Ghosts are unhappy with a Bio-Weapon, they will either recycle its flesh and mechanical components, or else just let it loose onto the surface to do as it pleases. Acid rains are not uncommon, burning away at those unfortunate to be caught inside, and the storms can get powerful and intense, further spreading infectious substances throughout Nynrah. In some rivers and lakes, boats and cruise ships drift afloat, overtaken by Vorox.
Vorox and Xians scavenge for remaining resources, such as leftover components from a Vahki hive, radio parts, discarded weapons and ammunition, and so on and so forth. The infected are unafraid of feasting on other Vorox, even sapient ones, for survival is dangerous and brutal. Some areas leak brutal, burning radiation, while others spew poisonous gases and airborne plagues. Horrifice lifeforms dwell about, hunting and stalking.
Visorak Spiders prowl across Nynrah. While some continue to operate on the Nynrah Ghosts’ orders, others have broken free to hunt and mutate as they please, too intelligent and willful for their own good. Many of them have fallen underneath the leadership of the disgraced general Sidorak, who remains uninfected thanks to a special mask, and valiantly leads his spiders on hunts to their pleasure. Sidorak the ‘Visorak King’ and his spiders frequently come into conflict with Vorox clans, including ones led by the exiled Glatorian Malum, or the first-generation victim Kabrua.
Outside of Nynrah, beings considered too dangerous or ‘undesirable’ for Xia, such as others mutated by outside sources, are quickly captured and released in Nynrah. Escape is just about impossible, with the Vahki programmed to always shoot first, and then keep shooting afterwards. The walls are impossibly high, and the waters off the coast only go off for a while before being blocked off by the Sea Gates.
Life is dangerous in Nynrah; Vorox and other Bio-Weapons are constantly hunting, sometimes for sustenance, sometimes just for the ritualistic sake of it. Visorak spiders constantly hunt, paralyzing prey with their Rhotuka before injecting them with their venom, wrapping them within cocoons, and seeing what emerges, if anything; Those led by Sidorak simply kill the Vorox that do come out. Meanwhile, the Nynrah Ghosts have drones flying about, monitoring the entire situation as they pluck unfortunate wanderers and experiment on them, conduct ‘field studies’ where inventions will be unleashed on the populace, and so on and so forth. While the Zakaz District may be a war-torn hell, Nynrah is a mutated, desolate hellscape and far beyond any saving. Some residents, depressed by their living conditions, will resort to drugs and even pump themselves full of unknown chemicals as a thrill-seeking Russian Roulette.
These biomechanical spiders are considered synonymous with the mutagen they carry in their fangs; VISORAK, short for Virus of Reconstitution and Killing. The Visorak Horde is comprised of multiple packs that serve their creators, the Nynrah Ghosts, but have also proven to be rebellious and strong-willed in the past themselves. Programmed to enjoy hunting, all Visorak spiders have the innate urge to track down prey before paralyzing and injecting them with venom, and finally cocooning their victims to eventually mutate.
Created early in the Nynrah Ghosts’ tenure, the Visorak served multiple purposes as guard-dogs, personal protectors, security, enforcers, etc. Their primary function however was to manually carry out the mutations of VISORAK by injecting various test subjects out in the wild with the virus, and then hauling back the infected to be analyzed by the Nynrah Ghosts. Prior the Nynrah Incident, Visorak spiders would be sent out into packs -usually with a designated squad leader- into what few areas of wilderness existed on Xia.
Dispersing within the wild, the packs would randomly target prey –sometimes a specific species depending on the task of the day- and paralyze them with their Rhotuka spinners. From there, a victim would be injected with VISORAK, before being wrapped up into cocoons and hauled back to one of the Nynrah Ghosts’ laboratories.
Cocooned victims are kept in a separate part of the facility. Sensors keep track of subjects’ life processes, with the cocoons providing an ideal environment for the most drastic of transformations. Some subjects are unable to survive their mutations, dying in the process; Such failures are dragged off by the Visorak spiders and thrown down a chute, to be processed into bio-matter. This fate occasionally applies to Vorox too weak to emerge from their cocoons without help, although some examples are still salvaged for analysis by the Nynrah Ghosts, just in case.
Upon completing a mutation, the transformed victim tears their way out of the cocoon. Sensors and cameras monitoring patients’ activity notify the Nynrah Ghosts, who send down a Visorak pack to surround the cocoon, Rhotuka ready. From the webbing emerges a freshly-mutated, and often hostile, Vorox; Before the creature can fight back, the Visorak paralyze them with their Rhotuka, before dragging the subject to a secure prison cell to be analyzed and studied.
Due to the randomized, drastic nature of VISORAK mutations, many retrieved experiments have yielded fascinating biologies and abilities, many of which have given the Nynrah Ghosts insight into the nature of Life itself. Many bioweapons have been genetically reverse-engineered from Vorox mutations, with the Nynrah Ghosts taking frequent inspiration from the wide variety of organisms that have resulted from VISORAK.
As the main carriers of VISORAK, the biomechanical spiders are the ‘face’ of the mutagen, and meant to unlock the virus’ full potential by consistently infecting and carrying back subjects in a generally-controlled procedure. For a while, the Visorak Horde worked in the wilds, hunting without impunity, although some would continue their task even when given the order to head back home. Aside from the occasional uprising here or there, the Visorak Horde remained obedient.
Some packs with skilled experience on their belt would be assigned with hunting down enemies of the Nynrah Ghosts, sometimes merely to paralyze and retrieve; Other times to mutate as well. However, there have been incidents of targets being mutated despite orders dictating otherwise- Such is the flaw of the innate programming of these creatures, meant to result in highly-intelligent pack hunters that can strategize and cooperate with one another, while also needing to hunt in order to feel satisfied.
When the Nynrah Incident first began, packs of Visorak spiders were sent out to neutralize and contain infected citizens, before transporting them back to the Nynrah Ghosts’ facilities. As cases quickly sky-rocketed, nearly all Visorak packs were sent out onto the field at unprecedented rates, and the ability to keep track of all of them began to wear thin. Inevitably, as with their aforementioned rebelliousness, some Visorak packs got high on the hunting spree; So many Xians, some transformed and others still in the process, were available for them to pursue!
Many of these packs became so immersed in their hunts that some even began to target non-infected Xians, mutating them; Some Vorox were even given a second dosage. The Nynrah Incident was a nightmare for many, but for the Visorak, it was paradise. And with their creators distracted and more permission to hunt than they had ever received in their lives, some packs of Visorak inevitably chose to defect from their masters. Most had never spent so much time beyond the facilities, allowed to rampage, with so much time between orders; They felt the allure of self-determination and couldn’t imagine leaving it behind.
These rogue Visorak contributed even further to the Nynrah Incident, infecting more Xians and leaving their cocoons behind to eventually hatch horrific Vorox. The credibility of their Nynrah Ghost creators was called into question; Many Vahki were sent in to apprehend and control these rogue Visorak, to varying success. A few loyal packs were assigned with bringing back their defecting brethren; But upon encountering them, were quickly convinced to also rebel. Growing packs began to actively seek out loyal groups and induct them into their ranks.
It was a disaster for the Nynrah Ghosts, and it eventually culminated in the district’s complete and total quarantine. As the dust began to settle and the trapped inhabitants of Nynrah adjusted to a new, chaotic lifestyle, many of them would continue to fear the Visorak Horde; Be it those serving the Nynrah Ghosts or operating under their own terms, either possibility was incredibly dangerous.
After adapting to Nynrah’s downfall and even embracing the situation, the Nynrah Ghosts had their Visorak spiders operate almost entirely within the district. Packs would be sent out to mutate non-infected survivors, or even try injecting already-transformed Vorox with new strains of virus and mutagen. Deadly plagues would be tested upon the various monsters roaming Nynrah, while others would be captured and sent back to the Ghosts for analysis. It was a lifestyle that the Visorak Horde quickly enjoyed.
For the rogue packs, many resisted attempts by the Nynrah Ghosts to recapture them; Such missions were usually carried about by non-Visorak servants, such as the bio-weapon Bruisers, a mechanical Slizer or Exo-Toa, and even a mercenary here or there. Trydahk set a new policy; Either detain and capture rogue spiders, or else kill them entirely so they won’t interfere with field-studies and experiments.
The rogue Visorak continued their hunting sprees as they pleased, often meeting resistance from bands of Vorox; But otherwise they were unhindered, infecting and cocooning the non-mutated and even those who were already Vorox. Many Vorox, unable to handle a second dosage of VISORAK, have entered comas or even died from within their cocoons. Many of these rogue Visorak have also settled for outright killing their prey in wanton massacres.
When the esteemed general Sidorak was banished to Nynrah, he adapted to the fallen district and seized control of a Visorak pack. Earning their respect as a leader and honorary ‘Visorak’, Sidorak was given a commemorative badge, hand-made by his troops to signify his newfound status. From there, Sidorak went on to incorporate other rogue packs into his growing army, using either diplomacy or force. Beneath Sidorak’s command, many rogue Visorak have defected from the Nynrah Ghosts, drawn to the allure of a lifestyle where one can hunt and kill as they please.
Sidorak’s growing horde has gone on campaigns against enemy Vorox clans, as well as the Nynrah Ghosts, sabotaging facilities, creations, and experiments. Clans led by the likes of Malum or Kabrua have come into conflict with the Visorak, who seek to exterminate them and vice-versa. Since Sidorak’s tenure, his rogue Horde has engaged in repeated guerilla warfare against their enemies, and hope to one day topple the Nynrah Ghosts. Doing so would not only establish freedom for all Visorak spiders, but grant the Horde access to the resources needed to create many more of their kind…
When The Shadowed One transported Xia to Okoto, the walls of Nynrah were heavily-damaged by the ensuing quakes, collapsing in multiple areas. Led by Sidorak, many of these rogue Visorak have escaped out onto not only Xia, but Okoto as well.
As of the Xian-Okotan War, Visorak both loyal to the Nynrah Ghosts or Sidorak are now being employed by the Barraki as a brutal asset against their enemies. Under his master Makuta’s command, Sidorak is now leading his Visorak Horde against the Okotan Alliance, working with the Nynrah Ghosts he once fought against; The Nynrah Ghosts themselves are unhappy with Sidorak’s continued reign, and want him brought to justice.
But as an esteemed Brotherhood of Makuta member with continued victories, Sidorak is allowed to operate. And as his successful campaigns have begun to stack up, more Visorak spiders are being made and transferred beneath his command under the Barraki and Makuta’s orders. Even spiders loyal to the Nynrah Ghosts find themselves working alongside these rogue packs, and are now beginning to question their current way of life.
The Nynrah Ghosts are naturally anxious about this, and fear Sidorak will seize control of the entire Visorak Horde from them, converting the spiders into the Brotherhood of Makuta’s army. The Ghosts suspect this of being Makuta’s true intentions, and are considering having Sidorak assassinated; Such treacherous ideas are discussed in secret, and are being cautiously shared with Roodaka, CEO of Vortixx Industries…
In the meantime, the Visorak Horde is greatly enjoying new hunts on the exotic island of Okoto, and find the change of scenery to be a welcome vacation. An entire islands’ worth of new species has been made available for them to hunt, and many Visorak spiders are invading to their hearts’ content. Many others are adapting to a new lifestyle of formalized warfare against the Okotan Alliance and Xian Revolution, but ultimately enjoying this as well.
Since their arrival on Okoto, many Visorak have taken to targeting the mythical Rahi, putting them at odds with the shape-shifting Krahka. Attempts to capture the Kardas Dragon have all resulted in utter failure. As Okoto’s natural landscape is razed and damaged by the Visorak, many of its wildlife have taken to fighting back, putting up more of a fight than most of Xia’s beasts. The success of certain species has varied, with Rock Raptors and their Spiny Stone Ape allies faring well; Others, like the Kikanalo, are suffering devastating losses, whilst creatures such as Sea Skimmers are outright huntingthe Visorak for sport!
The Visorak themselves are also curious regarding their Brotherhood allies; Many are fascinated by the Skull Warriors’ undead, indestructible nature, while others withhold the urge to hunt and mutate animals controlled by the Skull Spiders. The Visorak and Energy Leeches are hostile towards one another, and have gotten into spats in the past, with varying victories on either side. Energy Leeches that have developed into stronger stages tend to handle Visorak with ease, draining their spinners mid-air. The Visorak are both mortified and fascinated by their rivals’ strength, and wish to openly fight with the Energy Leeches despite being less numerous.
Visorak are massive, biomechanical spiders, with each one about the size of a fully-grown adult and more than capable of subduing humans on their own. Armed with an armored carapace and crest on their heads, Visorak have the standard eight legs of spiders, with their front pair acting as forelimbs. Visorak have massive, metallic mandibles with which to attack prey and handle objects; Their venom is injected through a smaller pair of syringe-like fangs.
Built within the abdomen of a Visorak is a Rhotuka launcher. As a result of their manmade status, the Visorak are able to rotate through a variety of Rhotuka powers at will; Their standard Spinner paralyzes prey by shutting down multiple parts of the nervous system, while enabling vital organs to continue functioning. Other abilities include activating the nerves to transmit signals of pure, agonizing pain; Bloating the bodies of victims, causing them to float to the surface of water; Absorbing nutrition and directly transmitting it back to the Visorak; And acid that can melt through even steel.
In addition to this wide variety of abilities, Visorak also possess many other traits as well. They can see in total darkness, and possess enhanced senses to detect prey. Their tracking and hunting abilities are potent, and they’re adapted for long-distance hunts. Visorak have potent camouflaging abilities that make them nearly invisible, and can slow down their life-processes to just short of death, making them hard to detect; This ability also enables Visorak to enter periods of rest and hibernation should sustenance remain scarce.
The armored head of a Visorak can temporarily harden to become resistant to physical harm, enabling the spiders to charge forward like living battle rams. Disturbingly, the Visorak can also perfectly mimic sounds and voices, and will often echo the voices of trusted allies to confuse and disorient enemies, lulling them into a false sense of security or greatly unnerving them; It is not uncommon for a felled Visorak to deter an enemy by begging for its life in the voice of a loved one.
Visorak are able to naturally skate on the surface of water, although they can deactivate this ability to pursue underwater targets. Luckily, they are poor swimmers; If a Visorak wishes to return to the surface, their bodies can synthesize buoyant gases that will cause their bodies to float upwards, before releasing them from the mouth.
A Visorak’s living components consist of protodermal tissue, which is more durable and longer-lasting than regular organic fibers, and yields greater strength. As a result of their protodermis-based bodies, Visorak are immune to their own venom, as well as certain other poisons; Protodermis is more inflexible than flesh and thus resistant to change.
Their green, protodermis-based webs are strong and powerful, thicker and more durable than a typical spider’s. These webs sometimes spew a fog that conceals the surrounding area, obscuring it for ambushes; Visorak often mark their territory with these webs, wrapping up entire areas within them. These webs are sticky and cling, but Visorak are able to climb along them with ease.
Visorak also use their webs for hunting, laying traps for prey, or shooting strands from their mouths or abdomen. A message-system has been incorporated by the Visorak with these webs, with mile-long strands strewn across areas; Visorak can message and signal one another by tapping along these webs in a manner similar to morse code. Nests and hideouts are often sealed with barriers of webbing that are easily torn-apart by Visorak and then replaced, and the Horde’s fortifications can be found containing cocooned victims as a form of morbid hunting trophies.
As a result of their programming, both genetic and technical, the Visorak are highly-aggressive pack hunters. A social species, they tend to organize themselves into groups, often deferring to a leader decided through a contest of strength. Visorak are remorseless, ruthless individuals who want only to hunt as they see fit, mutating or killing all in sight.
This desire is innate, a natural part of their programming to create the perfect hunter; But it can also backfire as well. Many Nynrah Ghosts have found their Visorak difficult to handle, as they desire to hunt even when ordered to go home; Due to their respect for powerful authority, the spiders will often contest and question the strength of their creators. They can sense weakness, and will often act upon it.
Visorak will only yield to those they see as strong, possessing rebellious wills. Even without the influence of Sidorak, many chose to defect against the Nynrah Ghosts, while others even plotted to overthrow their creators. To keep them in line, the Nynrah Ghosts have relied on methods of pain, force, and fear. Many packs have chafed greatly beneath the strict control of their masters, and resent them for it.
Despite their hostility, the Visorak are capable of loyalty and respect. As mentioned before, they value strength and powerful leadership; Those who serve under Sidorak do so loyally, valuing the general for his brilliant tactics and comradery with underlings. Sidorak has often personally commended a Visorak and rewarded them for success on the battlefield, and it is beneath his command that many spiders enjoy thrilling hunts on a regular basis.
When left to their own devices, Visorak will sometimes wrestle with one another using their mandibles, to pass the time- They are patient when hunting, but restless otherwise. Sometimes Visorak torture prey with their Rhotuka, acting on their natural love of torment. These attitudes of sadism and respecting power are preconceived notions, programmed into the Visorak to make them both potent hunters and brutal exterminators.
In regards to their minds, Visorak are highly-intelligent creatures, able to strategize and coordinate effectively to hunt, and even anticipate the actions of prey. They possess their own language, referring to themselves as ‘Stealers of Life’ and ‘Poisonous Scourge’ in their tongue. Visorak are borderline-sapient, although they lack much of a discernible ‘culture’ due to their sole interest in hunting, nor are they able to read. Despite this, Visorak can perfectly understand orders and even ‘speak’ by mimicking voices. They are curious creatures, and require stimulation.
Personalities exist and vary somewhat amongst the species, with some more pre-disposed for leadership than others. Visorak can argue and question loyalties, exercise creative problem-solving, and potentially even consider their place in the universe. All feel genuine emotions, from hatred and fear, to thrill, and even respect- They may even be capable of happiness and genuine love. Visorak possess the personal concept of names for one another and themselves, further contributing to the argument for their sapience. They can be instructed to build entire structures by webbing together pieces of debris, and craft complex web-systems across their territory.
While Visorak are undoubtedly creatures with a natural hostility towards all, there are some who consider and even argue for their right to exist as living creatures; However, their manmade status and threat puts this right into question. The Visorak cannot be blamed for their pre-programmed natures, but they nevertheless act upon them; However, it is not like they have ever had access to an environment that would not only allow, but even encourage peace and pacifism.
And despite their general aggression towards outsiders, exceptions have been made not only for individuals but even entire species; The Visorak exist in symbiosis with the bioweapons known as Venom Flyers, with the latter often acting as scouts and air-support for the swarms, in exchange for food ensnared by the spiders. Similarly, ant-like Colony Drones regularly provide Rhotuka spinners containing energy edible to the Visorak- Though it should be noted that the Visorak keep the Colony Drones alive for sustenance, and that their good relations are likely programmed.
Colony Drones are an invention of the Nynrah Ghosts specifically made to feed the Visorak and keep them in line; Sidorak managed to gather many of them to feed his rogue Horde. Visorak can also feed themselves through the draining-power of their Rhotuka, which was programmed as a failsafe should the Colony Drones be compromised- This method does not yield as much nutrition as a Colony Drone’s spinner, however.
Curiously, the Visorak have been observed to spare Silver Chute Spiders, passing over and sparing the arachnids completely; The Nynrah Ghosts have no explanation for this, and are certain this behavior was not programmed. Perhaps it is a fluke in the programming, or maybe the Visorak feel a comradery with these spiders- They also seem to respect the rarer Fikou Nui bioweapon as well. Regular Fikou and other spiders are not nearly as lucky with the Visorak, paradoxically enough.
Amidst the brutal Xian-Okotan conflict and Core War, nobody really has the patience nor resources to test theories of co-existence with the Visorak, and the Horde cares little for the opinions of others. If the war comes to an end, the spiders will likely be exterminated, or else placed into indefinite stasis. For now, the Visorak remain an infamous threat that is both feared and hated by enemies and allies alike.
A ‘cursed’ land, the original home of the Skull Raiders, countless miles across the ocean from Okoto, and obscured by massive hurricanes, waves, and storms… This dark island, a counterpart to Okoto in some ways, is the polar opposite of that land. While Okoto is an island of life, of nature, and of spirits, Xia is the opposite- It is of cold machinery, of pollution and smog, and has no sacredness. Its population is cutthroat, greedy, and selfish, both out of a natural inclination towards such attributes, but also because the cruel environment of Xia necessitates such attitudes.
Believe it or not, Xia was not always the industrial land it is now, every square inch of land choked by either factories or urban cities, or clogged with polluted and razed rivers. Before its skies were darkened by the stench of smog and haze, it was once not too unlike Okoto.
In those older days, the tribes and kingdoms of Xia engaged in brutal warfare and conquest, lacking the ready resources and abundance of life that Okoto was blessed with. Perhaps if they had their own Elemental Deities, or a Great Forge to carve Masks of Power with, this wouldn’t have happened- Regardless, it was a horrific time. Tribes were taught to be selfish, to use every dirty trick imaginable. Massacres of innocent civilians were normalized, as was poisoning others during banquets and so forth.
But then out of nowhere, Xia began to take a new turn. As kingdoms clashed and battled, a new city emerged, wielding advanced technology in the form of factories and machinery. A new industrial age, a revolution of technology was introduced, one not necessarily powered by Life energy like the automatons of the Okotans. This industrial revolution favored maximum output, at minimal costs, and would do anything required to harvest the necessary materials. In particular, this industrial age produced weapons- So many of them, in order to profit off of the wars between nations.
Other kingdoms and tribes saw the advantages of this industrial nation, and learned its trade secrets before inevitably adopting them. Attention turned towards colonization, of harvesting natural resources in bulk and producing large quantities of products. And while this industrial revolution was certainly helpful for many, the greed and heartlessness of many Xians took it to unnatural steps. Labor and workers were exploited in horrific factory conditions, deemed replaceable and switched out after collapsing from exhaustion like yet another cog in the machine. Smog was pumped out into the air, turning it toxic, while pollution funneled into rivers and poisoned the surrounding nature. Forests and fields were burned down to make room for new machines, and the very land itself was over-turned to access its precious metal veins underneath- Metals such as the valuable Exsidian, or the indestructible Bohrok.
Several more centuries of this process happened, spreading across the island of Xia, until it became the brutal, technological industry it is today. Ruled by various corporations, dictators, oligarchs, and criminals, the highest class of Xia, those who control the stock market and own the higest shares, are known as the Powers that Be. They pass the laws, influence policy, broker between nations and take advantage of conflict, all in order to stockpile maximum amounts of capital in their insatiable hunger and greed.
Weapons are the go-to market for many Xian industries, and warfare is a natural facet of existence. Crime rates are high and rampant, as is poverty and ghettos. A major chasm is only widening between the rich and the poor, who enforce their dystopia with the help of the robotic Vahki, controlled by the dictatorial Turaga Dume. To survive, many have resorted to crime, mercenary work, and assassinations to make a living, with many criminals joining the infamous Dark Hunters, situated in the allegedly haunted Odina Fortress. Organizations such as Vortixx Industries, or the fabled Nynrah Ghosts exploit lives and meddle with them for material gain and/or knowledge, and a cruel cynicism has overtaken the Xians in order to ensure their survival. Attempts at revolution are pointless, fruitless, and futile.
Xia is divided into six districts, each serving a major purpose in its economy and the way life is organized. They are, as follows;
The Stelt District, where the Xian market is located and the vast majority of its population lives. The Stelt District is where shops, stock markets, banks, super-markets, and other ludicrous ventures take place. Ghettos are rampant here, and materials, products, and even slaves regularly pass through Stelt. The district is the center for all transport and commerce, with packages frequently shipped through the electro-magnetic chutes scattered throughout the cities. Stelt is the preferred homeland of crime lords and gangs, with the ludicrous black market and its smuggling rooted firmly here, and is the location of the infamous Odina Fortress. Land and real estate in Stelt comes at incredibly high prices, forcing most to live either on the streets or in crowded tenements. The primary bulk of Xia’s agriculture and livestock is grown and processed within air-filtered buildings to prevent smog contamination, although food and cleaning regulations are nevertheless suspiciously lax. Crops are almost entirely lab-grown within cramped, mechanical confines, with the only exceptions reserved for wealthy aristocrats at exorbitant prices. Stelt’s food production is intensely guarded, and many have died trying to break in to steal something to feed themselves and/or loved ones.
The Tametru District is the industrial, mass-manufacturing heart of all of Xia. Here is where the vast majority of mechanization and production takes place, with factories constantly active 24/7, grinding and smelting materials. Mechanical parts used in just about anything all come from Tametru. The temperatures are high from the massive furnaces constantly molten-metal being processed and refined into products, to later be shipped and distributed throughout Stelt. Weapons are frequently made, tested, and exported. While machinery has replaced many workers in Tametru, engineers are still prized and welcomed, as are individual guilds and blacksmiths. Smog is a constant presence in Tametru, even amongst other districts, and workplace conditions are especially hazardous thanks to the threat of heatstroke, factory accidents, and molten materials accidentally being let loose. While some factories are cold and abandoned, others have been reactivated by illegal bootleg operations.
The Voymari District is where most of Xia’s raw materials comes from. The lowest district topographically, this has enabled Voymari to be constantly washed over by a high-and-low tide, which over the centuries has contributed to the softening and eroding of the land. Combined with massive mining operations, Voymari is now a rocky, barren land that is regularly flooded by the high tides. Once the water recedes, miners flock in to harvest precious veins of Exsidian, Bohrok, and other ludicrous metals to be shipped to Tametru. A large population of orphans lives here, and salt-lung is a real and common ailment. The constant floods and tides make Voymari ideal for establishing shipyards, and many Xian nobles own extravagant, if impractical, ships and yachts from which they sail out of Voymari and into the oceans surrounding Xia for lavish parties.
The Zakaz District is where warfare and conflict truly shine. While the rest of Xia naturally flourished and developed, the desert conditions of Zakaz made it unprofitable and unwanted, resulting in the area lagging behind in terms of development and technological advancement. Zakaz is essentially where the ‘third-world countries’ of Xia exist, constantly fighting in open warfare and ruled by dictators who hope to join the Powers that Be. Machines of warfare and weaponry are constantly shipped here and utilized. The one truly neutral and safe place in Zakaz is Lake Tajun, the primary source of clean water in Xia. Zakaz is also home to Xia’s ‘entertainment’ sector, with gladiator matches being common. Disputes are often settled in these matches, as well as within brutal races and other competitions. Theaters and movies are produced within certain locations of Zakaz, most of them owned by the charismatic and unusual Kratakal, Xia’s top celebrity.
The Nynrah District was once the center of the fishing market, as well as the sector education, research, engineering, and science. Headed by the Nynrah Ghosts, an elusive organization of Xia’s most brilliant minds and researchers, it was at one point a prosperous district. But one day, a mutagen was leaked into the water supply, spreading rapidly throughout Nynrah and infecting the population, killing many and mutating others into horrific creatures dubbed as Vorox. Infrastructure collapsed in this outbreak, and as the Vahki scrambled to contain the chaos, destruction ensued that released horrific Xian bioweapons into the area. With the situation rapidly deteriorating and falling apart, Turaga Dume ordered a complete and total quarantine of the district, erecting massive walls around Nynrah to seal it off from the rest of Xia. Countless citizens and Vorox were trapped inside, and now the district is a post-apocalyptic wasteland of mutants and rejects. The Nynrah Ghosts continue to operate here from within the shadows, releasing experiments, testing them, and gathering test subjects from the unfortunate population as bands of Vorox war over resources and supplies.
The Artidax District is the AI mind of Xia. Here, massive servers, computers, broadcasting towards, and satellites are situated and launched regularly. A cold, sterile environment, Artidax is the very heart of programming, where code is sorted, machines are programmed, and the primary location of the Vahki Hives. Cameras are ever-present, turning Artidax into a Surveillance State underneath Dume’s command. Just about all internet and communication passes through the massive towers and satellite dishes present. Due to the massive heat expenditures of Artidax’s computers, the district was established in the frozen north, which eventually melted due to the massive heat pollution. In Artidax, computers sort through algorithms and calculate stocks, while Vahki and Exo-Toa gain sentience. Massive data-banks store precious information. Workers are constantly suited to prevent dust contamination of computer chips, and the district, while deemed ‘safer’ than the rest, is highly oppressive and quiet with eyes watching every step.
For your average Xian and more, Xia is a hopeless, heartless land. It is a cursed land, the soil awash long ago and even now by the blood of innocents- Perhaps this is the reason for Xia’s horrible conditions? Is the land haunted by massacres and bloodshed? No one can say for sure. All anybody knows for certain is that Xia is a horrible, unhealthy land, a disheartening fact that leaves many yearning for more. And to get more, most Xians will do anything to escape their horrific, squalid conditions.
For most, Xia is hell, and for the Okotans, it is even worse.
