#stelt

[toacody]

Makuta Jasax - Baron of Stelt

"Speak softly and carry a big [sword]!"

Source

Creator: Gilahu

[toa-arania]

So what the fuck did Roodaka mean by marriage?

This was like. a Thing in Web of Shadows. Literally Sidorak's primary motivation is he wants that vortussy, but the horny vibes are actually just that: vibes. Despite the general way that Roodaka is, there's no implication of reproduction or physical attraction, not even a chaste peck on the cheek (although let's be real there would be tongue involved). Honestly, bringing in the Romance Isn't Canon sledgehammer isn't even necessary for the vibes to be there that this needs to be more than just for romance.

So what does marriage actually mean to them if it's debatably romantic in the first place? Obviously political marriages happen in humans all the time, even if they're not considered the norm any more, but I'd wager that for societies so heavily structured around industry and profit as Xia and Stelt, I think it actually makes a lot more sense for marriage to have originated as a form of political or business agreement in the first place - a binding of two people and a unison if their assets for further gain for the two of them. It could literally be like merging or buying another company, or bringing someone into a position of power for their acumen in a way that is more solidly enshrined than typical employment. There's probably weird other shit going on because to be honest I'm not entirely clear on what the point of human marriage is either, but there's a lot to chew on while still having it make sense that Roodaka can lead Sidorak around by his dick for the entirety of 2005 if his dick is recontextualised as a profit motive.

[matau-the-228th]

Our friends from the Acromion of Stelt have warned us to stay away from the Voya Archipelago for the time being.

The "Kourarex," Aurumenez, has begun work on something that involves his whole kingdom, and none of the Steltan trade ships have returned from any of his islands in the past year. The Steltans believe that he's preparing for war, and has taken their ships and crew captive to prevent them from warning anyone.

It always made me feel uncomfortable when a Matoran or Skakdi from Voya came to visit with the trade-ships. Their eyes seemed hazy, fogged over by some strange power. They would make wild promises, saying that they could give us anything our hearts dreamt of, but only if we came with them back to the Archipelago.

They always smiled, too, and only ever stopped if their offer was turned down.

The Steltans are going to warn our sister-island Okoto next, then move on to the smaller charted Islands before heading back to the Acromion. They say that it's entirely possible that this may be the last time we see a trade-ship from them for a while, but most of our resident Steltans have decided to stay with us instead of returning to their homeland.

What I don't understand is that the people of the Voya Archipelago have never been violent or aggressive, despite their strange nature. I can't really imagine them seizing the ships violently, especially if their Kourarex (which, as far as I can tell, is just a fancy word for 'King') is as all-powerful as they all claim.

Something else must be going on here.

Songs: For Narmer (Warframe), Eiyuu Ou (Fate/Stay Night), Ante Meridiem (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

[that1cactus]

Some BIONICLE heads

[Ko-Fi]

[bionic-baby]

A bionicle related speedpaint:

If you are from stelt and you see other species with more… expressive-let’s just say-faces, do not feel bad about yourself! You have…

Steltian beauty

And you’re rockin’ it, girl!

[datharlequinoni]

Orgonak, Steltian Rekridor warlord. Revamp of previous version.

[sepublic]

Gladiator defeating Sidorak takes a new meaning when you remember that they both came from Stelt, which had a caste system; And Sidorak’s species is at the very top as the pampered nobles, while Gladiator’s struggles at the bottom as the strongest yet lowest, the slaves and fighters.

It must’ve felt deliciously karmic to Gladiator to kick Sidorak’s ass; To tell this noble that he’s not good enough, actually, not worthy enough to join their ranks. Especially since his species was looked down upon and seen as good only for their combat prowess, only for that to be the only thing that matters in the Dark Hunters; Meaning here, Stelt’s rules don’t apply. It really is more ‘fair’ to Gladiator because it’s Survival of the Fittest, and he gets to flex the power he thinks he deserves, and he’s not wrong about that.

Likewise I have to wonder if Sidorak underestimated Gladiator, thinking of him as just another brute even dumber than Krekka’s species. And that just led to his defeat, and made him feel particularly humiliated; Not just from being beaten so easily, but by a member of his home’s most lowest. An actual former slave no less; If it wasn’t Gladiator’s job to test all recruits, I’d have assumed the Shadowed One specifically chose him to evaluate Sidorak based on their past. And tbh he definitely thought of that.

It must’ve been humbling to Sidorak to have a former slave kick his butt; And also eye-opening because Odina is NOT Stelt, the rest of the world does not run on the same rules where this Gladiator would be scum at the bottom of society. He’s not some bare-minimum grunt to surpass, he’s an actual threat and skilled warrior recognized by the Shadowed One. Maybe Sidorak tried to apply salve to his humiliation by reassuring himself that at least he’s smarter than Gladiator, that’s something that dumb brute will never have over him; And that just worsened his arrogant belief in his intelligence over all others, making it easy for Roodaka to manipulate him because Sid can’t believe he’s actually fallen for that to begin with.

Or did Sidorak actually recognize how screwed he was, since he was fighting a stronger species on his own turf, his own terms; The fighting ring, and not the political aristocracy of Stelt? Did that make Sidorak reevaluate his actual skills and biases? Learn to rely on his intelligence since he knew there was always someone bigger and stronger than him (like Keetongu)? Did this incentivize him to operate on the field alongside his Visorak, to make up for his past weaknesses; Especially with his guilt over betraying Voporak and thus having never truly earned his position? Another insecurity that Roodaka was able to take advantage of... Did he already hear of Gladiator’s infamy as a slave fighter who went berserk, and saw/dreaded this as an opportunity to re-instill social order? Get some bragging rights for beating the infamous beast?

There’s no place like home for Sid I guess, always being haunted and reminded of Stelt. I also have to wonder when he fought Gladiator; Was this before he betrayed Voporak, and this loss contributed to Sidorak’s need to claim power and thus feel assured in his own self-worth, only to paradoxically destroy it in the process? Or was this after, and Sidorak entertained the Dark Hunters, before the Makuta of Stelt inducted him into the Brotherhood thanks to their past transaction? Was he like Tyrant or Conjurer, wanting to further the power he already had with his Steltian clan, by allying with the Shadowed One?

That seems to be an MO of his, given Sidorak’s goal of marrying Roodaka to get power and foothold in Xia. The Brotherhood of Makuta was another entity that offered influence, and unlike the Dark Hunters was a lot more legitimate and widespread, and powerful; Not that Stelt seems like a place that cares for legitimacy, either. Still, can you imagine the hilarity and awkwardness if Sidorak did make it into the Dark Hunters anyhow; Either by some other means, or actually beating Gladiator? And how Gladiator would feel, how Sidorak would become emboldened by legitimate proof of his strength? But the Shadowed One would have to keep these two from killing one another...

Or, being the Shadowed One; Would foster that mutual hatred to his own benefit? Make them work together for sick kicks even. Really makes you wonder if things would’ve turned out better or worse for Sidorak if he’d joined the Dark Hunters... It also means we could’ve seen him interact with Nidhiki and Krekka, a member of another species below Sidorak’s, but not as low as Gladiator’s. I can only imagine Sidorak and Nidhiki interacting, both wanting power and glory and thinking they’re a lot more competent than they really are.

Possibly hating each other, especially if by self-recognition through the other (derogatory). Depending on if Sidorak betrayed Voporak or not already, his guilt would def serve as a contrast to Nidhiki insisting everyone else was wrong, actually. Either way they both hate and can’t stand Krekka... And I guess Krekka would be too dumb to really ponder the social nuances and dynamics between him and Sidorak, as well as Gladiator, because of their species? Given his blind loyalty to the Shadowed One, I have to wonder if Stelt’s caste system instilled that obedience, and Krekka would feel obligated to obey Sidorak.

And would Krekka flex power over Gladiator, or not? Does he feel any bitterness towards the caste system, towards the nobles who exiled him for failing his job; When his job was the impossible task of defeating a Makuta? Is he even self-aware enough to actually think about and register this, or was it just something that happened and he’s kinda forgotten and not really comprehended, nor appreciated the weight of it all? Honestly, a team up between Krekka and Gladiator (and maybe even Sidorak!) sure would be something; Each our only named representative of the Steltian trio!

[ghastown]

Krekka! The half-dead brute coming all the way from Stelt!