Mar 19
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Typa shit Jaller be posting in voya nui
Toa Lhikan
I feel like the Ta-Metru trio and Lhikan were so funny together
Like after Vakama’s promotion to Mask-Maker and getting commissioned to make the Mask of Time, he audibly fretted over getting disks to make the mask
Takua and Jaller eyed each other and looked up at Lhikan, and said, “Oh, if only we knew a Toa that could find these disks.” And Lhikan plays along and goes, “If only you did and he knew where to look with help from someone who can’t stay at his job.” Just back and forth until Vakama gets the hint
He would later admit to Lhikan he doesn’t want to ask too much of him because he’s the last Toa in Metru Nui and it’s not Vakama’s place to constantly ask for favors. Lhikan simply pats him on the head and tells him not to worry about that because it’s better he finds the disks instead Vakama because they’re hidden in dangerous places and he’s not letting Vakama risk his life and possibly die; he doesn’t want to lose any more Matoran
The Toa Mangai
"You and I have been friends for thousands of years. We've traveled together, fought together, and once almost died together." -- Lhikan to Tuyet, The Many Deaths of Toa Tuyet
Headquarters: Metru Nui Leader: Lhikan Goals: Protect Metru Nui Allies: Matoran / Turaga Dume / Toa Metru Enemies: Brotherhood of Makuta (indirectly) / Rahi / Dark Hunters Status: Disbanded / At least one member revived in the Red Star and another still alive Pronunciation: TOE-ah MAHN-gigh
The Toa Mangai were a group of Toa led by Toa Lhikan that protected Metru Nui from danger.
(Detailed Character Descriptions below. Majority are original, as seven of the eleven members never had names or true descriptions, and all but one had canon designs. I tried my best.)
What is the Default Toa Form?
So, theory time.
It's a common fandom headcanon that the natural state of all Toa is the Toa Metru build. The reasons for this are varied (but if I'm honest seem mostly rooted in the fandom's love affair with the build that came to an end during the TTV Hagah Contest rather than any actual lore), but I personally disagree with this.
So I'm going to run through the various Toa builds in roughly chronological order (with one exception) and determine whether I think they're likely to be the true default form of a Toa.
1) Helryx
Well, right away, here's one that probably isn't.
Helryx is the oldest build lore-wise, newest IRL. She's also kind of a "Meta Build", aiming to look like a forerunner to the Toa Mata build we'll discuss shortly, not by directly evoking the way the Mata were styled (I would argue that a lot of the Mata's identifying hallmarks aren't present in her), but by being primarily composed of parts from 2001 and earlier.
However... this isn't what Helryx always looked like. Nor is the art that actually represents the canonised design.
The intent of the contest was to create Helryx as she appears in the present, after thousands of years of wear, tear and repair. In the text, she's referred to as disturbingly frail and alien-looking compared to what Takanuva expects a Toa to look like.
Even if she once looked like a default Toa, she doesn't now.
Orde, the only other known prototype Toa, never received a canon design (for what it's worth, I won't be putting a lot of weight on the DuckBricks Fanon Contest designs, since they're, well, fanon. So Bukkey's Orde won't be factored in here, besides me noting that he has a more Mata-esque body than Helryx does).
However, another popular headcanon is that Krakua represents another example of this generation of Toa, as Helryx would've been the basis for Krakua's transformation.
Perhaps this is what Helryx would've lookedd like when she was healthy and built?
Well, as much as I like that headcanon, and will continue to use it in fanon, probably not. Based on the evidence we have of Toa transformations, both in-story through Takanuva and the Toa Metru, the transformation is pretty much 1-to-1 with current forms. The Metru all get Lhikan's build exactly, except for specifically their height. Likewise, Takanuva's build is identical to Gali Nuva's, despite him not being a Toa Nuva. He didn't resemble base Gali, he resembled her current form.
If Krakua was transformed in Helryx's image, he'd likely be just as small, spindly, and hunched-over as she is.
For now, Krakua remains a weird outlier.
2) Mata
While not as common a choice as the Toa Metru build, the Mata build has also been suggested a few times as "Base Toa," largely because it's the original. It's relatively simple, and depicting any given Toa as a Mata build is easy enough and looks good.
(I honestly prefer it over the Metru build. It's easier to put proper hips, knees and elbows on a Mata than it is to un-fuck a Metru's shoulders and neck)
However, the Toa Mata are actually pretty much unique entities within the Matoran Universe, unlike any Toa before or after them. They are the only Toa who aren't transformed from Matoran or built by the Great Beings, instead being created by Artakha.
As a result of that unique method of creation, it's entirely reasonable to suggest that the Toa Mata look different to every other Toa in the world besides Takanuva, who was transformed in their image. They're the only canonical Toa whose bodies directly resemble the Great Spirit Robot itself, use these specific colour schemes, and have its specific design language in their construction.
3) Hagah/Mangai/Metru
By far the most popular contender for this title, but one I don't personally agree with.
We don't know whether the Toa Hagah were built or transformed, but we know they were assembled from across the Matoran universe and given new armour upon recruitment into Teridax's team, and we have no idea what they looked like before they were given this armour, beyond Bomonga presumably already having his huge limbs. Additionally, the Metru were all transformed based on Lhikan, so it's him I'll be focusing on mostly.
Lhikan was transformed and was trained at a Toa Fortress around 6000 years ago. We don't know what the other Mangai looked like (though they're popularly headcanoned as being Metru too, no canon look for them was ever settled).
However, my stance is that this design is not the default (Lhikan would've been transformed in someone's image), but rather a cultural one, a sort of 'uniform' armour style adopted by Toa during the height of their power, when the Toa Fortresses were active and Toa were commonly trained by other Toa. The image of a Toa would've become a consistent thing, and caused almost all transformed Toa to adopt it for a time, making it almost a new default, but not the original, until the Toa genocide and the subspecies becoming largely extinct caused things to diverge again.
This is, to be specific, not a counter-theory I'm proposing to the "Default Metru" theory in and of itself, but rather a part of a wider theory, explaining the commonality of the Metru build when I think that the last spot on our list is the real default.
And that leaves us with only one option.
4) Inika/Mahri/Cordak/Nuva 2.0/Glatorian
So yes, I think this is the default Toa build.
That might strike you as weird, considering that the Inika are only transformed at the beginning of the Ignition Arc, right before the end of the story in terms of the MU's timescale, and the Nuva adopt this design even later.
But let's consider a few points, shall we?
First off, the Toa Inika are the first and only Toa team we see who are transformed into their Toa forms, and do not have their appearance influenced by previous Toa. And while there's some weirdness with their heads and powers, their bodies seem pretty normal, and remain as such after their Inika weirdness is removed by the Ignika.
Secondly, we know the Great Beings made the Matoran based on the Agori, and the Toa based on the Glatorian. The first Matoran, the default form of a Matoran as it were, are the Av-Matoran, who use the same build as the Agori exactly. Should it not stand to reason that a default Toa uses the same build as the Glatorian?
Additionally, like the Glatorian, the Inika build and its derivatives have by far the most variation from individual to individual. True, we've never seen a Toa as weird as Strakk, but that doesn't mean that none existed.
Thirdly, there's one more character we haven't discussed thus far.
And this, then, is my smoking gun.
Lesovikk was a member of the first Toa Team, and one would assume based on that information that he's a purpose-built Toa. Well, he isn't. He's transformed. Given how rushed the Great Beings were at the end of the GSR project, I wager they found it easier to make a small number of Toa and then have them immediately transfer power to Matoran than it was to make thousands of Toa from the off.
Lesovikk may well be the first Toa transformed, and if he was, then his transformation would either be free of influence from anyone, or in the direct image of whomever transformed him, who could only be a default, purpose-built Toa.
"But wait!" I hear some of you typing already. "Lesovikk is a mutant, we have no idea what his true form looks like!"
Or do we?
Let's look at another character who was affected by Pit Mutagen in 2007, shall we?
This is Defilak, a Matoran of Mahri Nui. Like all the residents of Mahri Nui, he once lived on the Southern Continent, and later Voya Nui, after an ill-fated trip to Karzahni.
He used to be a weird little gremlin Matoran like his brethren from 2006, and transformed into the form above after being immersed in Pit Mutagen.
But here's the twist: Rather than simply mutating them directly from their twisted post-rebuild forms, the Mutagen actually reverted the Matoran of Mahri Nui to their original forms first, and only then started to mutate them.
This is Defilak's default form. This is what he always looked like, just with added weapons.
With that in mind, I think it's safe to say that Lesovikk is likely in the same boat: Reverted to his original form before the mutations started.
With the exception of the tube-like gill, I think it's more than probable that Lesovikk is mostly-normal still, and as such, is a very early Toa with a Mahri build.
With that in mind, I conclude that the default design for a Toa is a 2006-2009 build, with Helryx being the product of damage and repair, the Metru/Mangai/Hagah being a cultural design, the Mata being Artakha designs, and Krakua being a weird outlier.
Rahaga Onewa, Rahaga Whenua, and I spent many years digging out the cave and carving out each alcove for the Kanohi we were able to recover from the Bohrok nests.
Lhikan's was the first memorial alcove we had planned, but the last one we made. The other Matoran had regained a lot of their abilities by then, so everyone who knew how to dig or carve got to contribute a little to his statue. It felt like the end of a chapter when we held a gathering to set his mask on the statue in the Great Mausoleum.
He was the guiding light for these Matoran in this life, and still guides them, in a way, through the Rahaga. He would certainly still guide and protect us in the next life, if such a thing exists.
Takua asked me if his statue depicted the Great Spirit Mata'Nui.
Perhaps he isn't too far off. Perhaps Lhikan was the closest we got to meeting the Great Spirit himself.
Vakama always seems proud when he tells the story of Toa Lhikan, that somehow, through his words, you can feel the warmth and sense of security Lhikan gave to us. And afterwards, the other Matoran always seem to share his pride and admiration of Lhikan, even though they don't remember him.
It was disheartening, to say the least, when I saw Takua's face fall as I told him who Lhikan was, and why his mask is hung here in the Mausoleum.
Maybe it's just how I recount the story.
...Maybe it's just me.
Songs: Gallery Theme (Myst: URU), May it Be (Enya, LOTR), Smiles from Juran (Warframe)
Story Usefulness of the Toa Hagah and Mangai
A number of things have been on my mind about the Toa Hagah (Teridax’s team) and the Toa Mangai. The Mangai seem more renowned for what they did, while the Hagah really only seem important as Hagah for who they defected from. The actual career as a Toa Hagah team seems irrelevant. But imo they’re both fascinating teams and it seems like they’re both underutilized in the backstory of this saga.
The first thing: a plot hole: Part of me wonders if Dume called on the Brotherhood for help first, and Teridax either denied or “sent Dume to voicemail”
—Teridax had been established as the Brotherhood agent tens of thousands of years before.
—The Hagah and Mangai were both formed at about the same time.
—if both of the above stand true (and unless Teridax’s Hagah were dealing with other stuff) why didn’t Teri himself deal with the Kanohi Dragon or send his Hagah to deal with it? It’s his region and he should be overseeing it
—I do get Teridax’s may have been working more on the plan then overseeing his region, but there was potential to send his team in his stead.
—Additionally with the importance of Metru Nui to Mata Nui’s well being and the plan, it just seems odd that Teridax is completely absent from the conflict.
Part two: maybe both groups were placed inappropriately into the story.
The timeline of events in the overall story is so stretched, and I’m wondering if the story could be enriched by switching or combining their storylines.
Switching them:
Still working on the starting point for this. But if the Mangai had been the Hagah instead, we could have had:
—Lhikan’s story being more deeper and thorough. He starts out in his tower of Toa being the lone survivor. Teridax notices this, sees it as an opportunity to win Matoran over with a hero and get a chance to keep an eye on Lhikan if he has an inkling of what that Tower of Toa was guarding.
This also could have created a lot of spy espionage stories for Lhikan. He could get a chance to spy on the brotherhood from the inside. Plus an explanation for why the set has the armor and mask it does.
—put Lhikan in as a Hagah and having him deal with the frostelus encounter would be great for him dealing with trauma and a great story for four toa of ice and two toa of water.
—The many deaths of Toa Tuyet could be a longer and larger conflict. The Nui stone could be a brotherhood experiment and note about how a makuta likes to create stuff like this instead of rahi. Tuyet could have had the Nui Stone around way more Toa (other Hagah teams), murdered a few Matoran still, and the conflict with her in a show trying to overpower the Makuta themselves and then get absolutely walloped by said Makuta.
—It feels like the canon Toa Hagah really only dealt with a few Rahi invasions. They didn’t save Teridax (that we know of) from assassins etc and other bodyguard work.
—More with the Brotherhood & dark hunters: The Dark hunters start a war in Metru Nui and the brotherhood putting Teridax’s team in charge of it. (Does anyone know if the Toa Hagah were actually present for the war?) The Toa vs Dark Hunter War could be an outsourced war to all and any Toa under or aligned with the brotherhood.
—It seems that the little details we know of the Hagah deal with the rahi. This is clearly meant to foreshadow their Rahaga careers. With all of the Rahi in the archives, Po-Metru and other sectors of Metru Nui, it seems like Norik and co would be better suited living and growing as a Toa team in Metru Nui during the years.
—putting the og Hagah in the DH war could also foreshadow their conflict post Great cataclysm, where they are already facing a war against both the Brotherhood & Dark hunters.
—Involving the Brotherhood into the Kanohi Dragon conflict by bringing in their set of Hagah and the Toa Dark Hunter War could have deepened the conflict with the Dark Hunters. The buildup towards a direct war between the two would be a stronger storyline and more grand.
So I’ve been thinking about how to either combine or switch these characters so that the story could be more thorough. As nice as it is to have more Toa sets, more history of Toa, it is a wonder if the legacy of Metru Nui would have been better if there was just a switch or combo of characters in an already bloated cast.