musurvivalistguide

[musurvivalistguide]

So I was thinking about this post again, and I think I figured out why the Mata Nui Turaga developed such a strong familial bond with their Matoran compared to any other Turaga.

When the Matoran lost their memories from their previous lives, that means they forgot everything, right? Sure, they may have some base instincts for their purpose as Matoran (or even a base instinct like Takua knowing something was wrong when Jaller's mask was broken but not knowing how to fix it), but while muscle memory could be a thing, they wouldn't remember the technical skills or other things that would be needed.

So, while Turaga are naturally inclined to guide and teach Matoran with the wisdom they'd learned from their time as Toa, the Mata Nui Turaga had to go beyond that and teach them how to do everything. Just like parents would their children, they taught them things they'd need to know to survive or how to handle various situations that would normally rely on Toa to protect them. But if a Toa wasn't around, the Matoran would need to know how to defend themselves too...right?

The Matoran were essentially blank slates that Teridax would have used to turn them into workers when he took control, but instead the Turaga were able to essentially "raise" them in ways no other has had to before during that year Teridax left them alone.

I wonder how long it took before one of the Turaga realized this felt different than just normal instruction and guidance. How long did it take Turaga Nokama to realize these weren't just her former students she was teaching again, but the makings of a maternal bond forming and seeing them as her daughters? Or for the other Turaga who thought it was natural patience and understanding to realize that the Matoran were seeking their approval or even comfort more than they remembered ever hearing others approach Turaga Dume during their time in Metru Nui?

Normal Turaga don't have to put as much time and effort into teaching their Matoran charges when said charges already know what to do. It takes time and patience to teach someone who knows nothing to ensure they can take care of themselves when the time comes, and it can be difficult to know when to let them forge their own paths and still feel like you could--or should have--done more to prepare them for the challenges that lie ahead.

Of course, it probably also helps that the instincts awakened by the Hordika venom and previous experiences may have had a hand in their choices 😂 It gives me "I don't want to turn out like Turaga Dume [my parent], so I'm going to do things differently and protect the little ones even if I have to whack the threat with my staff!" sort of vibes now that I think about it (especially since no one even noticed when Dume became Teridax in the first place).

So because I'm still working on refreshing my memory on things in the Bionicle fandom, looking through the reference books is quite the treasure trove of little nuggets.

In Bionicle World, a book written to seem like Helryx is writing it based on information collected by OoMN agents, I happened to notice something in the Metru Nui chapter.

Now, according to the wiki, it's not unheard of for the characters in Bionicle to use family terms such as brother and sister. But for a species that can't reproduce, I find it interesting that this term pops up--from Helryx nonetheless!--as though they know what parents or mothers or fathers are.

This makes me wonder if--since she's the first Toa that was made--she might have learned about these terms from the Great Beings? After all, even when there's fighting going on all around them while the planet is getting ready to shatter, I'd find it hard to imagine that she hadn't noticed any Agori or Glatorian children running around or hiding (protective Toa instincts activating and the Great Beings having to stop her from rushing off to save them? 😂). Perhaps even one of the Great Beings we've heard nothing about had a kid of their own and had to do what they could to keep them safe from the fight by bringing them along!

I certainly have memories of when I'd go to work with my parents, so it's not hard to imagine this happening. But if Helryx understands this concept and the family terms are in their programming...would everyone else in the Matoran Universe have any comparison to understand what paternal means, or would they attribute it similarly to how Turaga (specifically the Mata Nui Turaga since we know them best) would treat and protect their villagers?

Would Toa develop a similar role/pattern of behavior as their Turaga, and it's like the Matoran have two sets of parental figures? Or would it be a clash of "Toa, can I do this?" "Ask the Turaga." "Turaga, can I-" "No." ?

And would Makuta refer to themselves as the mother/father of the krataa they create from their bodies, or would they refer to themselves as their creator? Considering that Teridax literally calls his krataa/rahkshi his "sons", it feels like a term he'd just throw around even though he literally commanded a horde of them to die to Sentrakh in Time Trap. >.>

I dunno, it's late, and my brain is getting tired 😂 Would love to hear a second opinion or two, though!

#bionicle #matoran universe

[musurvivalistguide]

Omg yes yes yes to both of these!!! I can just imagine Nuju being the most reluctant to even do the dance, even if he's being dragged by the scruff by his brother or Kualus to learn (why did I just picture it like that bit where a mama cat is still carrying their now adult kitten despite them dragging along the ground?) 😂

...Turaga Vakama just gets the angriest glare from Nuju when he's recounting their Hordika arc, while everyone else is trying to imagine him even doing it in the first place. 🤣

Okay, hear me out.

When the Rahaga were first learning how to do what they could to save rahi from the Visorak (and likely in general), they had to have learned quite a lot from failing before figuring out the techniques that work best. Best example: Kualus learning how to do birdspeak. But...

What if they developed a secret "hunting" technique?

Imagine this: the Toa Hordika helping the Rahaga as they're also trying to figure things out before Vakama's betrayal. They come across a rahi that's hiding in a spot that would get exposed or destroyed by the Visorak, and it refuses to come out even with their best techniques. One of the Rahaga suggests using "the secret hunting technique", and the Toa Hordika watch in fascination and confusion as whichever Rahaga volunteers to perform it...

And it becomes the goofiest dance they've ever seen. They can't believe anyone would even dance so strangely on purpose. Worse yet, they can't even believe it's even working! How is this working?!

Whenua is now questioning how this technique has the effect it does on rahi, and I would not be surprised if he didn't try to learn how to do it himself!

...Matau totally got hypnotized by the dance as well, tell me not 😂

(Inspiration for this random idea came from this Amphibia scene here.)

[musurvivalistguide]

Okay, hear me out.

When the Rahaga were first learning how to do what they could to save rahi from the Visorak (and likely in general), they had to have learned quite a lot from failing before figuring out the techniques that work best. Best example: Kualus learning how to do birdspeak. But...

What if they developed a secret "hunting" technique?

Imagine this: the Toa Hordika helping the Rahaga as they're also trying to figure things out before Vakama's betrayal. They come across a rahi that's hiding in a spot that would get exposed or destroyed by the Visorak, and it refuses to come out even with their best techniques. One of the Rahaga suggests using "the secret hunting technique", and the Toa Hordika watch in fascination and confusion as whichever Rahaga volunteers to perform it...

And it becomes the goofiest dance they've ever seen. They can't believe anyone would even dance so strangely on purpose. Worse yet, they can't even believe it's even working! How is this working?!

Whenua is now questioning how this technique has the effect it does on rahi, and I would not be surprised if he didn't try to learn how to do it himself!

...Matau totally got hypnotized by the dance as well, tell me not 😂

(Inspiration for this random idea came from this Amphibia scene here.)

#bionicle #matoran universe #rahaga #toa hordika #now imagine their turaga selves teaching it to certain matoran #it's been banned from being used in Le-Koro because Turaga Matau keeps getting hypnotized by the dance for some reason #once they hear the story then it all makes sense why it happens 😂

[musurvivalistguide]

Can you imagine how the residents of the Matoran Universe reacted once they learned about eggs and the fact that birds, reptiles, and even insects can come from said eggs?

I know it's been mentioned before about them discovering and finding out about this (I forget the post or where I saw it), but I'm gonna add a step:

Imagine any of them finding an abandoned egg or an egg that somehow survived an attack by an animal hunting for food, and the closest Glatorian/Agori explains to them that if it's still viable, the egg will need help hatching. This teenie, tiny, itty-bitty lil' egg...being cared for by biomechanical beings who have large hands and heavy feet who have no clue how eggs work or why they have to keep rotating the egg in the makeshift nest near a heat stone every so often.

Now picture an egg chase around the village as the Matoran/Toa responsible for the egg have to save it from getting crushed or worse in increasingly wacky and hilarious situations where it somehow lands safely and the chase continues on.

Have I been daydreaming about said egg-cellent shenanigans and the idea of Matoran/Toa/Turaga bonding with a tiny birb they collectively raised to adulthood and getting emotional over it leaving the figurative/literal nest? Yes. Yes I have.

Am I debating writing said daydreams into a silly fic? Yes I am.

Is this inspired by that age-old classroom partner project where you have to take care of an egg? Not initially, but still a valid thought!

Am I imagining Takanuva being absolutely terrified of handling the tiny egg/baby bird (this tiny little ball of limbs and feathers no bigger than his thumb) and just standing still as a statue with it in his hands since he's bigger than normal Toa? Oh absolutely 😂

#bionicle #matoran universe #takanuva #kualus would be best bird mom and would absolutely seek abandoned nests to raise the baby birds tell me not

[musurvivalistguide]

Oh yeah, I vaguely remember reading that in the books before now that you mention it! I also remember there was a young ash bear that the Toa Metru healed, and if memory serves, the bear was considered young. From what I read though, even if they appeared "grown" (aka not kitten or cub sized like we know it...we never really get an idea of how big they are when first created en mass), they were still smaller than the true adults of the species. It would make sense that one or more would take on the role or behavior of a parent teaching the young how to survive!

Now that I think about it, the fact that rahi pack bond with one another just like Whenua pack bonded with Pewku really does feel more like a hordika thing. At least if we go by the behavior you mentioned! Sure, Toa and Matoran and perhaps even Turaga may sometimes work together with other species, but generally speaking, they feel less inclined to seek companionship outside their group/if they were hired for a particular job...at least, so far as we know from what's been written.

I have to wonder now though: since the Toa Hagah became Rahaga, did it allow them to reach a better understanding of rahi than others because they hid and formed a connection similar to how the hordika pack bonded? In that case, would it be subconscious instinct built into their programming, or would it be a learned instinct/habit that they learned over time versus the hordika's instinct?

So because I'm still working on refreshing my memory on things in the Bionicle fandom, looking through the reference books is quite the treasure trove of little nuggets.

In Bionicle World, a book written to seem like Helryx is writing it based on information collected by OoMN agents, I happened to notice something in the Metru Nui chapter.

Now, according to the wiki, it's not unheard of for the characters in Bionicle to use family terms such as brother and sister. But for a species that can't reproduce, I find it interesting that this term pops up--from Helryx nonetheless!--as though they know what parents or mothers or fathers are.

This makes me wonder if--since she's the first Toa that was made--she might have learned about these terms from the Great Beings? After all, even when there's fighting going on all around them while the planet is getting ready to shatter, I'd find it hard to imagine that she hadn't noticed any Agori or Glatorian children running around or hiding (protective Toa instincts activating and the Great Beings having to stop her from rushing off to save them? 😂). Perhaps even one of the Great Beings we've heard nothing about had a kid of their own and had to do what they could to keep them safe from the fight by bringing them along!

I certainly have memories of when I'd go to work with my parents, so it's not hard to imagine this happening. But if Helryx understands this concept and the family terms are in their programming...would everyone else in the Matoran Universe have any comparison to understand what paternal means, or would they attribute it similarly to how Turaga (specifically the Mata Nui Turaga since we know them best) would treat and protect their villagers?

Would Toa develop a similar role/pattern of behavior as their Turaga, and it's like the Matoran have two sets of parental figures? Or would it be a clash of "Toa, can I do this?" "Ask the Turaga." "Turaga, can I-" "No." ?

And would Makuta refer to themselves as the mother/father of the krataa they create from their bodies, or would they refer to themselves as their creator? Considering that Teridax literally calls his krataa/rahkshi his "sons", it feels like a term he'd just throw around even though he literally commanded a horde of them to die to Sentrakh in Time Trap. >.>

I dunno, it's late, and my brain is getting tired 😂 Would love to hear a second opinion or two, though!

#bionicle #matoran universe #so many questions and theories on how they function #Great Beings tell us your secrets!!!

[musurvivalistguide]

@jamster-wheel

So I did quite a bit of digging on that as well during my refresh spree, and no, rahi don't reproduce. According to the wiki (and I believe Greg had answered this question as well in an Ask Greg forum), once an initial rahi is created, the Makuta activate a protocol that allows the virus used to create them to create a certain number of rahi to be released into the world.

Of course, that's what's said canon wise.

However, the pack mentality is quite possibly the most primal instinct even we humans have, so it wouldn't surprise me that the rahi--and by extension hordika--would have developed it too. Given that if the timeline we have to go off of is right, the Toa Metru were hordika for quite a while and their instincts would have kicked in such as the nest making Matau did (he's never gonna live that one down, is he? 😂), or as others have stated with Whenua bonding with Pewku.

I just love that no matter how long its been, there are still ways to theorize and try to understand how Bionicle works 🤣

So because I'm still working on refreshing my memory on things in the Bionicle fandom, looking through the reference books is quite the treasure trove of little nuggets.

In Bionicle World, a book written to seem like Helryx is writing it based on information collected by OoMN agents, I happened to notice something in the Metru Nui chapter.

Now, according to the wiki, it's not unheard of for the characters in Bionicle to use family terms such as brother and sister. But for a species that can't reproduce, I find it interesting that this term pops up--from Helryx nonetheless!--as though they know what parents or mothers or fathers are.

This makes me wonder if--since she's the first Toa that was made--she might have learned about these terms from the Great Beings? After all, even when there's fighting going on all around them while the planet is getting ready to shatter, I'd find it hard to imagine that she hadn't noticed any Agori or Glatorian children running around or hiding (protective Toa instincts activating and the Great Beings having to stop her from rushing off to save them? 😂). Perhaps even one of the Great Beings we've heard nothing about had a kid of their own and had to do what they could to keep them safe from the fight by bringing them along!

I certainly have memories of when I'd go to work with my parents, so it's not hard to imagine this happening. But if Helryx understands this concept and the family terms are in their programming...would everyone else in the Matoran Universe have any comparison to understand what paternal means, or would they attribute it similarly to how Turaga (specifically the Mata Nui Turaga since we know them best) would treat and protect their villagers?

Would Toa develop a similar role/pattern of behavior as their Turaga, and it's like the Matoran have two sets of parental figures? Or would it be a clash of "Toa, can I do this?" "Ask the Turaga." "Turaga, can I-" "No." ?

And would Makuta refer to themselves as the mother/father of the krataa they create from their bodies, or would they refer to themselves as their creator? Considering that Teridax literally calls his krataa/rahkshi his "sons", it feels like a term he'd just throw around even though he literally commanded a horde of them to die to Sentrakh in Time Trap. >.>

I dunno, it's late, and my brain is getting tired 😂 Would love to hear a second opinion or two, though!

[musurvivalistguide]

So because I'm still working on refreshing my memory on things in the Bionicle fandom, looking through the reference books is quite the treasure trove of little nuggets.

In Bionicle World, a book written to seem like Helryx is writing it based on information collected by OoMN agents, I happened to notice something in the Metru Nui chapter.

Now, according to the wiki, it's not unheard of for the characters in Bionicle to use family terms such as brother and sister. But for a species that can't reproduce, I find it interesting that this term pops up--from Helryx nonetheless!--as though they know what parents or mothers or fathers are.

This makes me wonder if--since she's the first Toa that was made--she might have learned about these terms from the Great Beings? After all, even when there's fighting going on all around them while the planet is getting ready to shatter, I'd find it hard to imagine that she hadn't noticed any Agori or Glatorian children running around or hiding (protective Toa instincts activating and the Great Beings having to stop her from rushing off to save them? 😂). Perhaps even one of the Great Beings we've heard nothing about had a kid of their own and had to do what they could to keep them safe from the fight by bringing them along!

I certainly have memories of when I'd go to work with my parents, so it's not hard to imagine this happening. But if Helryx understands this concept and the family terms are in their programming...would everyone else in the Matoran Universe have any comparison to understand what paternal means, or would they attribute it similarly to how Turaga (specifically the Mata Nui Turaga since we know them best) would treat and protect their villagers?

Would Toa develop a similar role/pattern of behavior as their Turaga, and it's like the Matoran have two sets of parental figures? Or would it be a clash of "Toa, can I do this?" "Ask the Turaga." "Turaga, can I-" "No." ?

And would Makuta refer to themselves as the mother/father of the krataa they create from their bodies, or would they refer to themselves as their creator? Considering that Teridax literally calls his krataa/rahkshi his "sons", it feels like a term he'd just throw around even though he literally commanded a horde of them to die to Sentrakh in Time Trap. >.>

I dunno, it's late, and my brain is getting tired 😂 Would love to hear a second opinion or two, though!

#bionicle #matoran universe #helryx #order of mata nui #mata nui turaga

[musurvivalistguide]

When I read the indignant squeaking part, all I could think of was the desert rain frog war cry 😂

Desert rain frog video because who can resist such a cute sound????

Matau Hordika: *-angrily squeaks and squeals like a dog toy-*

Norik: "Though the sound may be adorable, this is a sonorous war cry...of a very angry hordika."

Matau Hordika: "Beeeee!"

Norik: "...ferocious."

Another embarrassing fact of Matau’s Hordika form: Having the same pent up rage as everybody else but no claws or fangs or anything even vaguely intimidating to express it with. Vakama snarls at him and he attempts to respond in kind, but instead it comes out as a indignant high pitched squeaking noise. It’s just not FAiR.

Matau's main defense mechanisms are 1) Limb Fall Off and 2) Skittering. It's SO embarrassing and it sucks SO bad. Like yes technically he's a predator like the others but he predates, like. Bugs. Worms.

His bite is worse than his bark, though, because he absolutely will just chomp down on someone. Did he bite Vakama at least once? Probably. Did it work out in his favour? Definitely not.

#bionicle #matoran universe #matau #iruini #the rahaga and rest of the hordika are stifling their laughter while Vakama is just going Ò.Ô #why did I imagine it sounding like he inhaled helium? 🤣

[musurvivalistguide]

Bionicle: Dungeons and Shadows (Fantasy AU) Worldbuilding Thoughts

Because I have no self-control when it comes to the plot bunnies that bite me, here’s a brain dump of ideas for a Fantasy AU inspired by the various Isekai manga/anime I’ve watched and various tabletop games. If anyone has any ideas to contribute to this AU or help flesh it out more or have any questions that'll help me think on how to develop it better, I’d love to hear it!

Also, if it feels like it’s all over the place, blame the fact that I wrote all this on a Monday when my brain was fried from work and I didn’t want to lose the thoughts I had. Things are bound to change the next time I look at this idea. 😂

In this AU, Mata Nui is considered a deity, but is actually a Titan created by the Great Beings. The Great Beings are a pantheon of mortals known as Glatorian who rose to godhood status, though they prefer not to trifle with petty squabbles and focus on creating. Another name to refer to the Great Beings is “the Divines”.

Energized protodermis is a great source of magic that transformed Spherus Magna, imbuing organic and inorganic materials with powerful magic. These very materials were used to create the beings of the Matoran Universe, with many non-Toa possessing the capability to perform magic to varying degrees. (Note: Conjurer may or may not possess actual magic and may be using an enchanted weapon in this AU, though he claims he does like in the Prime Universe)

Toa—alongside their element—can either learn magic to augment their natural element or may learn other classes of magic to increase the range of their capabilities. Typically some classes are chosen based on a Toa’s element, such as a Toa of Plantlife choosing the druid class specialty while a Toa of Water chooses the cleric or priest class or a Toa of Stone chooses the paladin class. However, it’s not unheard of for a Toa to choose a different class outside their typical range, such as a Toa of Fire learning the druid class while a Toa of Water learns the barbarian/destructive “warlock” class. *cough*JallerandHahli*cough*

Note: Undecided if the warlock class would actually involve summoning demons or if demons would even be a thing in the Matoran Universe’s AU here. If demons are a thing, it’s possible that they may closely resemble the concept of the Skakdi myth Irnakk, or they may be more monstrous. Again, up for debate and may focus more on the destructive capabilities. The summoning aspect of being a warlock may only be for those who prefer subservient pawns like the Shadowed One/anyone from the Makuta species.

Aside from rahi that were created by the Makuta, monsters also exist in this AU that take on quite a few familiar concepts that we’re familiar with in MMORPGs or typical isekai stories. These monsters were not created by the Makuta nor the Great Beings, but were formed by the amount of magic that was stored and built up by the Mata Nui robot as he traveled the galaxy. Some places possess more magic than others, noted by many inhabitants to make the air “heavy and dense yet charged like an impending storm”.

To a degree, these monsters are more “organic” than their rahi and Matoran neighbors, being creatures made of pure magic or “energy” given mass. (The complete opposite of the Makuta species now that I think about it!)

Compared to the Prime Universe, the Toa Code’s “no kill” rule is more lax on a case-by-case basis. For particularly problematic monsters that can’t be captured or deterred, a Toa may destroy its form and release the magic back into the environment. After a while, the creature will return and it will be like a blank slate from which the residents of the nearest village/city may deter them from repeating past aggressive behaviors. If too many monsters are in one area, a dungeon will form until someone conquers it and claims the treasure hidden within.

Dungeons in the Bionicle Universe’s AU are unique in that they come in two forms: natural and unnatural. Natural dungeons are places that are a natural part of the environment that anyone can enter and train or harvest materials from within, while unnatural ones are those formed by the density of magic of monster hordes congregating in one space. For example, Metru Nui’s districts each have one or two natural dungeons spread across each Metru, with Matoran being able to venture in and harvest materials to craft with or study the formations. Higher level dungeons reset their maps after a certain period of time has passed, while lower leveled dungeons meant for Matoran remain the same. The number of floors each dungeon possesses varies based on the danger levels and the quality of treasures or materials that can be harvested within.

When an unnatural dungeon forms, it creates a “dungeon master” that must be defeated in order to dispel it or make it “safe” for Matoran to enter. The more floors a dungeon has as noted by the number of stars outside the entrance of each floor (ie: 1 star equals 4 floors, 7 stars equals 28+ floors. Considering how often the number “seven” seems to follow chaos or darkness in the Bionicle Universe, I think it’s safe to say that seven stars means this dungeon is going to be very dangerous!). The higher ranking the dungeon, the more Toa are required to complete the dungeon, but the greater the reward and materials to be found and brought back, including Great Kanohi and powerful enchanted artifacts and weapons.

Random musing: should the dungeon master be transformed from the Toa Mata’s Great Masks/Toa Metru’s Great Kanoka Disks? Or should they just be intelligent monsters that are simply guarding the them as treasure?

Time magic does exist in this AU, but it is incredibly difficult to learn or wield even for a Makuta, leading many to believe it’s near impossible. Typically this magic can only be found within dungeons, used in traps or by boss monsters. Very, very few beings outside the dungeons (such as Voporak) can utilize it in some form or another, but not very well. Vakama is the only notable Toa who learned to wield it, which initially began as visions when he was a Matoran and became an unlocked ability after he became a Toa. He was initially limited to being able to rewind time by a few seconds at a time (think Prince of Persia and the Sands of Time), though using this too often will drain his mana faster than normal spells and runs the risk of suffering from mana drainage and possibly dying. He keeps this in reserve as a last resort, but he cannot alter specific instances that are unavoidable (such as Turaga Lhikan's death).

The Mask of Time is a legendary item that must be crafted, and wearing it will grant others mastery over time or act as a focus for those with time magic. Note that Vakama only uses it as a last resort to avoid damaging the timelines.

Monster parts can be used to forge equipment or enhance armor and weapons for Toa, the quality needing to be higher and higher as they progress and face stronger monsters and beings. Depending on the type of monster, these materials can grant enhancements to a Toa’s abilities such as increasing their speed or strength—though nowhere near the same extent as a Pakari or a Kakama.

Vakama was well known as a Matoran for being able to craft weapons and armor for Toa. When he became a Toa himself, the others relied on him to upgrade their armor and weapons using the materials they farmed from dungeons. Unlike crafting regular tools and masks from protodermis or disks, monster materials require a special technique that follows a certain rhythm, meaning Vakama (and any other Matoran crafter) must sing songs to keep time with each hammer strike. (Inspiration comes from this song here, which inspired this whole AU idea).

#bionicle #matoran universe #vakama #matoran #makuta #jaller #hahli

[musurvivalistguide]

Something that bothered me the other day when I was trying to sleep (before remembering today) is: how do the Toa actually know specifically what their destiny is, and how do they know they've completed their destiny in the first place?

It would be a fair and possibly safe assumption that the Toa from any part of the Matoran Universe are destined to protect the Matoran/those who cannot defend themselves. That's great and all, but...at what point do they feel they've achieved this? For the Toa Metru, it was fairly easy to know because the sacrifice of their powers helped revive the Matoran and what would eventually lead to the Toa Mata to arrive on the island via Toa Stones.

But not every Toa--or Toa Team for that matter--is going to have some grand event happen then decide, "I have fulfilled my duties and now pass this on to the next generation" or just keep going as a Toa for several thousand years or so longer...right?

So who actually tells them what their destiny is and who decides when they've completed their duty? Is it the OoMN again guided by the will of Mata Nui? Probably not considering how many Toa there would have to be to keep track of, and it's not like they wouldn't let a Toa or Matoran die if it didn't serve somehow to keep Mata Nui on track.

And even if they had completed their destiny, who is to say they don't decide they wish to continue and claim it as their duty even if there are potentially new Toa recruits who can take their place?

Or what if they become so world-weary that they just don't want to be a Toa anymore? Would they be able to give their power away so they can become a Turaga, or would the effect not take place because their inner programming (if that's what's dictating this) won't allow it?

#bionicle #matoran universe #most of my thoughts about Bionicle since I got invested in it again have come to me at night when I'm too tired to write them down #or I simply forget them in the morning then wonder wtf I was trying to remember about Toa or Matoran thoughts

[musurvivalistguide]

Me: *listening to character in an anime sing for the hundredth time as he forges a weapon for the MC* "This song is so cool, I love it!"

My imagination: *imagines Vakama as a Toa in a fantasy setting forging weapons for his team while singing the same song*

Me: "......dangit, I'm trying to rewrite old ideas for Bionicle, not create another AU for it!"

Song in question that inspired the idea

#bionicle #matoran universe #vakama #I swear my imagination runs wild with any scrap of an idea that seems interesting and turns it into a story 😂 #not sure if it will be like Bionicle D&D or if it'll be more like the other fantasy MMORPG style isekai animes #but either way please enjoy the mental image of Vakama singing a tune as he forges to keep time

[musurvivalistguide]

So apparently, while playing around with a Bionicle name generator for some character name ideas, I came across a very familiar name in the mix of randomness. (Very last one on the list)

Apparently, Ahkmou lost his name privileges, and now someone needs a Naming Day celebration 😂

#bionicle #matoran universe #ahkmou #silliness with the name generators bring up fun results don't they? 😂

[musurvivalistguide]

When it comes to Matoran languages, I know that the common language in the Matoran Universe is...well, Matoran. But the other day, I was mulling over some notes for something I had written before when I realized: what do they do when someone can't speak?

I don't mean someone who can't speak the language like the rahi, but someone who either lost their voice entirely due to an accident or maybe was "born" without a voice. Do they have some tools to try and repair or replace any possible wires that might be affecting their speech, or is it an organic component in their biology that can't easily be replaced or fixed? Or even those who completely lose their hearing or come into existence without their hearing? (If either are even possible to begin with, but let's just imagine here)

I was reading back on some of the old stories (namely when Mazeka and Jerbraz went to save Krakua from Vultraz), and I got hit with a curious thought for De-Matoran. If whispering is enough to disturb them, and possibly writing messages takes time (and causes noise since they're writing/scratching on stone), wouldn't it be easier and quieter for them to communicate via hand and arm gestures like how we (for example) have American or even Australian sign language? Or any other variation from around the world?

I know that Nuju speaks in clicks and chirps, but he also uses hand gestures. Now, whether any of those gestures are the Matoran variation of sign language or is just the equivalent of a person "talking with their hands" is up for debate, but it seemed like an interesting thought of it being like sign language he's using.

Just seemed like an interesting thought to mull over how they'd translate letters and words/actions using their hands and arms. Like, would some of them be close enough to what we would know and recognize, or would there be completely different hand shapes? Probably more the latter than the former, but I digress.

#bionicle #matoran universe #Jerbraz #Mazeka #Krakua #Vultraz #Turaga Nuju #I did not think of that one Bluey episode while typing this no siree

[musurvivalistguide]

Yeah, that too! Which makes me wonder (since you mentioned it) whether or not this ability to mask their presence is like a signal blocker like for phones or other electronics.

Hey, if it's an ability for light and is in the superpower wiki, then why shouldn't it be something he can do? A character can have all these abilities, it's just figuring out how to make it a limited use ability to keep the character from being overpowered. Takanuva being able to do so would be amazing though, and if not being completely invisible then at least making it so his colors completely blend in like those body artists who can camouflage themselves against the background--but more mobile in a sense! 😂

Speaking of which, something I just remembered is Nidhiki and Nuparu Mahri's mask, the Volitak. While not as effective as the Huna, it still made the user semi-invisible and muffled their sounds. They could still cast a shadow, though, so I'm wondering if it really is a signal and sound blocker. Even Vakama noted in Voyage of Fear that it was hard for him to even see where he was going when he couldn't see his own feet, so it's rather curious having it affect the user in the same sense as it would others. Like...wouldn't they at least be allowed to see a faint outline of themselves since they're the ones using the mask?

Something that just occurred to me, but in terms of powers and abilities, there's one that makes me wonder just how exactly it works in the Matoran Universe: invisibility.

We all know that the Kanohi Huna can turn the user completely invisible...except for their shadow. Granted, not every ability is meant to be perfect, but it still makes me wonder just how it actually functions.

Does the concept of invisibility in the Matoran Universe only affect the residents of that universe (save those who have a mask that can see them), or does this make them completely invisible even on Spherus Magna to the Agori and Glatorian? Does it bend light around the user to conceal them without the user being an Av-Matoran/Toa, or does it emit some sort of frequency that can block the user from being seen by anyone save for their shadow? Or do their eyes simply block out what they can't see similar to how we humans try to fill in the blanks when something is absent in the dark?

And then there's Jerbraz, an OoMN member who was accidentally turned permanently invisible during an experiment. Does he cast a shadow like a Great/Noble Huna wearer, or is his shadow completely invisible too because the process was different? Or is he only invisible to the residents of the Matoran Universe due to their programming to react to invisibility, but the moment he steps on Spherus Magna, he's suddenly being addressed by people left and right while the Matoran Universe residents are confused until he speaks or picks someone up?

I dunno, this was a random thought that wouldn't leave me alone. What do you guys think? Is this some variation of an "illusion" the mask casts to hide the person, or is it just me overthinking the biology aspect of bio-mechanical beings with superpowers?

#bionicle #matoran universe #Vakama #Nidhiki #Nuparu Mahri

[musurvivalistguide]

Something that just occurred to me, but in terms of powers and abilities, there's one that makes me wonder just how exactly it works in the Matoran Universe: invisibility.

We all know that the Kanohi Huna can turn the user completely invisible...except for their shadow. Granted, not every ability is meant to be perfect, but it still makes me wonder just how it actually functions.

Does the concept of invisibility in the Matoran Universe only affect the residents of that universe (save those who have a mask that can see them), or does this make them completely invisible even on Spherus Magna to the Agori and Glatorian? Does it bend light around the user to conceal them without the user being an Av-Matoran/Toa, or does it emit some sort of frequency that can block the user from being seen by anyone save for their shadow? Or do their eyes simply block out what they can't see similar to how we humans try to fill in the blanks when something is absent in the dark?

And then there's Jerbraz, an OoMN member who was accidentally turned permanently invisible during an experiment. Does he cast a shadow like a Great/Noble Huna wearer, or is his shadow completely invisible too because the process was different? Or is he only invisible to the residents of the Matoran Universe due to their programming to react to invisibility, but the moment he steps on Spherus Magna, he's suddenly being addressed by people left and right while the Matoran Universe residents are confused until he speaks or picks someone up?

I dunno, this was a random thought that wouldn't leave me alone. What do you guys think? Is this some variation of an "illusion" the mask casts to hide the person, or is it just me overthinking the biology aspect of bio-mechanical beings with superpowers?

#bionicle #matoran universe #vakama

[musurvivalistguide]

So...would this mean they'd have fangs that pop out like Toothless does and scare the ever living daylights out of anyone who sees them? 😆

Others have said it before, and it bears repeating. The Turaga Mata Nui / Metru should have sharp teeth and be allowed to bite.

#bionicle

[musurvivalistguide]

Been a long time since I'd looked at any of the posts here, but while I was revisiting some of the info from the handbooks and wiki, there's something that came to mind that made me wonder (and I don’t recall seeing it or not, but if it has been, please share!):

Do all Matoran/Toa/Turaga (before the Island of Mata Nui and the Toa Nuva or Spherus Magna residents, of course) see eating as barbaric, or is it just the ones in Metru Nui who think that?

Brutaka had mentioned how there were Matoran fruit stands in the story, but if it's the case of all Matoran (and by extension the Toa and Turaga) seeing the act of eating as barbaric...then what's the point?

Is it perhaps more for those Matoran who dwell on islands that have trade routes to sell to other species to make a profit? Aside from the Matoran and the skakdi, I don't recall seeing anything about how (or what) other species that live in that universe eat. Sure, they all drink water as the Skakdi prove with that sole freshwater lake, but we don't know exactly what they eat or if they have specific diets to fuel their bodies best. Unless the skakdi themselves are just weird due to their "biology" for lack of better term?

(Whatever it is that makes them grow so big, gimmie. They're too tall, and I need to see at least two inches over the shelves! >:/ )

A thought that occurred to me as I was typing this though is that--while Matoran may not like the act of eating--there is more than one way and reason to consume fruit and get nutrients from them:

Fruit smoothies.

Since they drink water anyway, who's to say that they haven't figured out how to make a fruit smoothie to enjoy a spin on drinking ordinary water or as a special treat? Or even fruit juice? Or maybe even a syrupy slushie or shaved ice! (Okay that last one might be a stretch, but it's not like they're actually crunching on anything but flavored ice) Surely even they aren't opposed to using fruit for their juices as a refreshing beverage, right?

I dunno, it just seemed odd to me after all this time how there seems to be a blanket "no eat food by mouth it's gross" for the Matoran, yet it's stated there are--in fact--fruit carts.

And then there's the silly image of a Matoran using a straw to drink their smoothie, and they have to have specific straws for masks who don't have a clear opening/have vents in their designs 😂

...now I wonder if a Matoran would be horrified by Boba tea or if they might accidentally choke on a pearl trying to drink it instead of chewing 😬

If I'm missing any other species that has been noted to eat something, feel free to add because my memory is fuzzy on those worldbuilding details!

#bionicle #matoran universe #bionicle matoran #bionicle toa #bionicle turaga #random bionicle musings