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#Bionicle RaE
joy-crimes · 8 months
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HAPPY BIONICLE DAY!!!!
Claire's just happy to be here.
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dogesterone · 1 year
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trying to think of what kinds of irl music different bionicle characters would like
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sepublic · 4 months
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So remember that Zamor sphere pack that came with (at the time) exclusive gold, silver, and gunmetal colors? Since this is Bionicle, there’s actual lore for these exclusive Zamors and the powers they possess! Gunmetal causes a target to be tracked via an energy pulse they give off, and silver binds the target to the nearest living being with an energy chain (Interesting how they’re both centered around capturing people)! These powers were listed only in the Bionicle Encyclopedia and have no known canon usage/wielders. By contrast, we did see an instance of a golden Zamor in the story; The one used by Hewkii to transfer Brutaka’s power back from Hakann and Thok. So Greg applied that to these golden Zamors as well by making them the same type.
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Unfortunately, there’s no lore for the blue-green Sea Squids exclusive to this pack they were sold in; I guess the species just comes in different colors the same way animals do? I remember actually adapting this difference into my Bionicle RaE fanon for G2, explaining the color comes from absorbing a specific type of energy that they can now use, kinda like the Creeps from the Deep commercial (canonically a vision Dekar received from the Ignika) having a Sea Squid glow from lightstone energy Ehlek drained… Did anyone actually buy/use this pack, especially with how unpopular the squid launcher was as a gimmick? I want to see the color paired with a set like Takadox or Nocturn.
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samwiselastname · 6 years
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ive lost like 10 followers, ive been hovering at just under 100 for like months and am losing people at the same rate im gaining. im one away from 100 right now after clearing out all the bots.
anyway if you wanna promo me, my name is samwise. i like carly rae jepsen, bionicles, pictures of toys that arent bionicles, cyberpunk, the elder scrolls (and eso....), furries, cool monsters, overwatch, homestuck, pokemon, horses and cleancore. my byf/about is here
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under-the-arch · 6 years
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Rules: List 10 of your favourite female characters from 10 different fandoms then tag 10 people.
Hey I got tagged in a thing by @sm-over so thats cool thanks
Elizabeth from Bioshock Infinite
GLaDOS from Portal
Rae Sloane from Star Wars
Texas from Red vs Blue
Senua, from the amazing game Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Kristin Ortega from Altered Carbon
Jessica Jones
Pam from The Office
Nokama from Bionicle
Alyx Vance, from Half Life 2
The girl reading this
I had a hard enough time remembering the names for this list my brain is not working properly today so im not tagging anyonee do this if you want to idc its a free country. 
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sepublic · 2 years
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Two Masks of Time, Two Bionicle Timelines?
            A lot of Bionicle fans really struggled to figure out the exact nature of the connection between both halves of the Mask of Time being in G1 and G2 respectively, especially since G2 was forced to end early- So any explanation or resolution to THAT connecting plot point was never resolved, if there was even a plan by the writers. But after years of deliberating upon a fanon explanation, I’ve finally settled upon one that I’m pretty happy with;
         Okay, so remember that pivotal scene at the end of Time Trap, where Vakama threatens to shatter the Vahi unless Makuta makes a deal with him? THIS is the start of it all, because;
         In what we’ll call the original timeline, Vakama created the Vahi… But as a full and intact mask, both halves combined into one Mask of Time! The timeline and destiny went along from that point as intended, up until the moment where Vakama threatened Makuta… Because even though the future was supposed to happen otherwise, as the fans remember it; In this scenario, Makuta chose to fuck around and find out.
         And, he found out- Vakama kept true to his word and smashed the Vahi, splitting it neatly into a lower and upper half respectively. Attuned to the force of Time itself and basically a physical incarnation for it, the Vahi’s split caused the timeline itself to split in two; Two replicas of the exact same Bionicle timeline, the only difference being that one had its Vahi incarnate as only the lower half, the other timeline had the Vahi take the form of its upper half.
         Splitting the Vahi didn’t just split the timelines, either; It caused Time itself to implode and collapse, folding in on itself into chaos. Variables and paradoxes twisted around, trying to reorient and reorganize themselves, and it was utter chaos as Vakama predicted. But the transformative power of life and Time itself ultimately prevailed;
         Amidst the two whirling balls of chaos, the timeline holding the upper half of the Vahi began to transform. It took the same variables and constants from before, these identical concepts and characters, events and places- And managed to reorganize itself into a new timeline, a universe so alike and yet so different… It was the same fragments of the original story, put back together but into a new legend altogether; And this is the G2 timeline.
         Hence, the universal constants of various characters and locations, certain story parallels… Etc. But rearranged into a new configuration, as part of the Upper Half timeline’s attempt to reorganize itself, and bring back order. Thus a new configuration of these timeless concepts was born, and as for the Lower Half timeline?
         It succeeded in recreating the Original Timeline, but without the moment of Makuta risking it all to attack Vakama and seize the Vahi; Instead, he obliged by Vakama’s terms, surrendering to them, and thus the future and Destiny went on as it was meant to. Vakama returned to Mata Nui and his comrades became Turaga; The Toa Mata were summoned by a re-awakened Takua, becoming the Toa Nuva and saving the universe, Spherus Magna is remade, etc.
         But just as the Vahi’s state reflects that of Time itself… The Lower Half of the Vahi was unable to truly replicate the Original Timeline as it was meant to happen, no shattering of the timeline or anything- Because it was only half of that original Time. So aside from Makuta never risking it, the other main difference between the Original Timeline and Lower Half Timeline, is that the Lower Half Timeline –what we call G1- has the Vahi represented by only its lower half, incomplete.
         Because its upper half is present, intertwined with a new, reorganized timeline- The G2 timeline… To rejoin both halves of the Vahi would mean merging the timelines, and would more than likely spell the destruction of one –probably the G2 timeline- if not both… The two timelines can’t merge properly because the G2 timeline is now different, and thus they are no longer compatible.
         To sum it all up; Vakama originally went through with breaking the Vahi, splitting it in half, and thus the timeline itself. One half of the timeline, and its associated part of the Vahi, managed to reorganize itself into what Destiny originally intended, with Spherus Magna being remade and all that, the storyline us G1 fans remember. But the other half ended up transforming and reconfiguring into something entirely new, in an attempt to stabilize itself- Which is what led to G2, hence the repeating factors and variables, yet the many differences as well.
         It’s why the Mask of Time is split across two separate halves, respective to two separate versions of the Bionicle story; It’s why both Bionicle generations share many of the same concepts, but done in different ways. In-universe, I imagine those Vahi cameos don’t actually exist in G2, solely placed there by the animators to build up that connection.
         I’m honestly pretty happy with myself and satisfied at this explanation, plus I think it’s fun to mess around with this concept of alternate universes and timelines, and the idea of this powerful force that mess with the intended future and destiny itself, the Vahi- What we see already IS the result of Vakama following through on that threat! And I imagine free will still exists, mostly- Otherwise how else could Vakama break away from the original timeline’s path to shatter the original, complete Vahi? It also helps that he’s in the presence of such a Time-breaking and altering presence…
        But ultimately, it feels like I’ve finally laid this long question to rest with my own answer that I’m happy with! And for those select few who remember or are still interested, yes, I imagine this explanation for the two halves of the Vahi, respective to the separate G1 and G2 timelines, will be included in Bionicle: RaE as the official explanation for all that. I should probably finish the Bionicle: RaE summaries, by the way… In fact, it’s why I really worked so hard on this explanation, because I was planning for the two halves of the Vahi to factor into Bionicle: RaE, which was meant to live up to that failed potential and set-up plot threads! I’m pretty content with this writing decision, and I wonder how anyone else explained it as part of their fanon?
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sepublic · 2 years
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Tbh I think a sandy desert or a grassy field with windmills would be a better elemental environment for Air than a densely-packed jungle. These are open spaces where air can flow freely, and there’s things that can visualize the movement of wind; Sandstorms and shifting dunes, as well as swaying grasses and fans. Obviously jungles produce a lot of oxygen, but in terms of aesthetic I actually think a desert would be better.
And to be honest, that’s something I considered when writing Bionicle RaE, my rewrite of G2; Since Lewa was already Jungle, I legit contemplated making Pohatu the Toa of Air. My reasoning being how I’ve never been content with the distinction between Stone and Earth, but if I were to combine the two, that’d leave a missing element... There’s of course metal for Pohatu, and I did include metal under the elemental umbrella of Stone for RaE.
However, the imagery of desert winds whipping up the sands into a frenzy is a popular one, and I already have the Levatans, some of whom use the air currents to push their sand skiffs along; Like the Sand Benders from Avatar! There’s also the fact that in G2, Pohatu is even seen whipping up sand into a cyclone, and this fits his usage of boomerangs with turbines. The desert can be a brutal force of nature when it comes to storms, and this idea retains Air as an element while accommodating Lewa as a Toa of Jungle in G2.
Of course, I have to ask if this is too radical a change... But then consider, does it even matter what others say? I can do what I want! And while I did write a lot of RaE lore with the idea of Stone and Earth as separate elements (the former being Pohatu’s element, the Region of Stone, etc.) honestly I wonder if I should implement the change. This way I don’t have to rely solely on metal and crystals as the differentiation between Pohatu and Onua’s elements.
(That also reminds me, I actually did finish the synopsis of Part 4 for the most part, way back in Summer 2020; But I procrastinated on adding a few details I forgot in the first draft, and have done so for nearly two years now. I should fix that, but on the other hand, I’m focused on YaBr and not RaE at the moment. Was anyone looking forward to the Part 4 summary, anyhow? Maybe I’ll do it when I finally get back into RaE as a commitment.)
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sepublic · 2 years
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Concept: The G2 Olisi is the same as its G1 counterpart, but with its mismatched colors and parts swapped, like so;
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The implication is that the Olisis were once a wholly purple and wholly green mask separately, before they got mismatched and mixed in with one another due to alternate timeline shenanigans. Which timeline had which original color of Olisi is unknown (and frankly inconsequential), but presumably, this swapping symbolically suggests that the timelines are intertwined and mixed with one another -perhaps unnaturally- and that both Karzahnis were aware of the other universe, thus contributing to the madness of each...
Did they occasionally have conversations with one another across time through visions? It would just make outsiders even more convinced that their Karzahni was mad, not that they were wrong in that regard.
(I should try drawing the ‘original’ Olisis in their whole form. Aside from color, their overall shapes are pretty similar, which fits with how G1 and G2 counterparts are often different but have enough in common to be recognizable, like Tahu’s mask for example.)
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sepublic · 2 years
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What the fuck why is there so much Bionicle lore I've been scrolling down your tag for it for days
That’s not CANON Bionicle lore, actually- Although canon Bionicle lore is similarly endless, too!
No, that’s just the lore I’ve written for my personal fan project Bionicle: Redone and Expanded, basically my attempt to redo Bionicle Generation 2, and then further expand it past the original ending!
A personal passion project of mine, where I’ve really taken pains to adapt as much of Generation 1 as possible, and really build a world chock-full of characters, settings, and other unusual things that could be considered a spiritual sequel to the original Bionicle!
A lot of the concepts are pretty faithful to the originals, but many are further elaborated upon and/or changed as to practically be their own, original thing! Such as the characterization of Makuta, for example... Really, a lot of these characters are practically OCs in their own right, most without any G2 counterparts to work off of! But yeah, if you want canon Bonkle lore, just filter my Bionicle RaE tag!
That reminds me, I still have yet to return to and finish my posts on Bionicle RaE... Believe it or not, I more or less finished the draft for Part 4’s storyline summary over a year ago, but just kept procrastinating and forgetting to add the finishing touches! I should post it soon, it seems I’m getting back into a Bionicle fix...
Of course, I still don’t really know where to take the direction of Part 5, so maybe I’ll just skim over the general framework I had in mind, and then move onto Part 6- Which I do have figured out for the most part, and is essentially the final climax and ending of the series!
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sepublic · 4 years
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Worthy of the Mask of Control
           The Mask of Control is about being decisive and sure in yourself; Of believing that what you’re doing is right, of having no hesitation. It truly is power-incarnate, a mastery over things and confidence, and certainly not for the faint of heart. For Makuta, it symbolizes his narcissism and lack of remorse, and his elitism hence the Mask of Control only accepting the worthy; But for Ekimu, when he learns to truly stand up for himself, to recognize his own mistakes but also stop Makuta? To not hesitate in defeating his brother, breaking free of the gaslighting abuse and doubt? It’s Ekimu having power over himself, and only then can he have power over other things… And thus symbolically, he defeats Makuta and dons the Mask of Control.
           Ekimu knew he could stand up for others, but only then can he stand up for himself; And vouch for his OWN worth as a person, not just the worth of others! He believes in what he stands for. Makuta’s confidence in himself is ultimately superficial, a symptom of narcissism, and at its root is insecurity and jealousy; Whereas Ekimu doesn’t need to feel better than others, he knows who he is, and that on his own he’s a worthwhile and good person!
          It’s this difference that is why Makuta is no longer ‘worthy’ to the Mask of Control, which rejects the Mask Hoarder in favor of the Toa of Creation. Similarly, Makuta initially defeated Umarak as the Mask of Control’s chosen ‘champion’ because of his lack of inhibition, whereas Umarak at least had brakes and doubts related to not having a Kaita, as well as not wanting to use the Kraahl as minions.
           Makuta is incensed, because obviously the Mask of Control basically told him that Ekimu has the stronger will of the two, and is thus more worthy for it than him. The Mask of Control is the power to control yourself, your surroundings, your circumstances… Even one’s fate! It is the resolve that makes the difference between avoiding one’s fate, and confronting and changing it head-on! It is autonomy and agency, incarnate, being able to make decisions and go through with them! Maybe even hope… The Mask of Control can ‘control’ others, because if one can change themselves, then they can change fate and the world, and thus ideally those around them; Ideally, changing people for the better and bringing out the best in them, and helping them self-actualize.
           Even if Zaktan and his team had beaten Ekimu and taken the Mask of Control, it would’ve rejected them; Ekimu’s conviction and belief in himself and the cause he’s fighting for makes the Piraka, who simply lack remorse and don’t believe in ‘anything’, to look pale and weak in comparison. The Mask of Control is identity, knowing who you are, and what you stand for and believe in. It is self-reflection, and coming to terms with oneself, and being truly at peace; Hence ‘control’, of a person… TRUE control of oneself, ideally, instead of merely a lack of inhibition and guilt. To make a decision and stick by your own principles. It is much more than enforcing one’s will over others, so much more!
           By donning the Mask of Control, Ekimu is able to ‘redeem’ its image and association as a face of Makuta’s, and allow the Mask of Control to fully self-actualize its true power and nature. Ekimu reclaims the Mask of Control from his brother, not just literally but the image and symbolism behind it all, the values and beliefs, etc. It is the truth and Ekimu showed it to the Mask of Control, reminding it after centuries of corruption with only a portion of Makuta’s soul, trapped in the Labyrinth of Infinity. The Mask of Control cannot be broken; Because it knows itself.
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sepublic · 4 years
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Barraki
           The Powers That Be are those Xians who reign above the rest. They are the most powerful of Xia’s elite, upper-class; Members of its upper-echelon of society who hold great dominion and control over various facets of Xian existence. These range from the duplicitous Roodaka, CEO of the all-powerful Vortixx Industries; To Turaga Dume, the powerful and authoritarian dictator of Artidax; And Nicron, the incredibly wealthy banker and economist of Stelt.
           But amongst the Powers That Be, there exists a group of six individuals; Hidden beings elusive from the sight of the public and even most Xian nobles. These select six have had their faces hidden for millennia, and are the most powerful of the Powers That Be. Even the likes of Roodaka and Dume must bow before their absolute and total power, because these shadowed figures control the Codrex; The Eternal Engine and Xia’s primary source of power. No army could hope to match theirs if it doesn’t have any power to run on, and for this reason and more, these six individuals reign supreme as the most powerful Xians in existence, and arguably Xia’s true ‘kings’.
           Their name? The Barraki- The warlords of Xian past, who led and fought their armies in the War of Six Kingdoms… Approximately eight-hundred years ago.
           Centuries ago, before Xia began its industrial revolution, there existed six warlords of rising power; Pridak, Ehlek, Carapar, Kalmah, Mantax, and Takadox. These up-start conquerers succeeded in building empires larger than any other seen in Xian history, absorbing and assimilating neighboring kingdoms into their arsenal and establishing total control. Their famed visages were spread across their respective empires, with statues and offerings and other forms of tribute dedicated to them. The six Barraki were regarded as the most powerful Xians in all the land, and to some, were practically gods.
           The Barraki were momentous, with all of Xia more or less gathered beneath at least one of them; Something never before seen with any other empires in history. A select few groups retained independence, such as the nomadic Skull Raiders or the northern kingdom of Iconox; But generally speaking, wherever one stepped, they would be within the borders of a Barraki’s empire.
           Predictably, the Barraki were not sated with just a sixth of Xia; And upon encountering the empires of one another, declared war. Each hoped to have total control over the entire island, and be forever remembered throughout Xia as THE Xian Emperor. Thus ensued the War of Six Kingdoms, by far Xia’s bloodiest and most brutal conflict. Young soldiers were freshly-churned out and slaughtered, villages and cities erected before being burned down, as the Barraki directed the entirety of their kingdoms’ efforts towards conquest.
           But one day, just as the War of Six Kingdoms began to reach a stalemate; The Barraki vanished, seemingly from thin air. Decapitated and leaderless, their empires collapsed as others attempted to take control in the ensuing vacuum of power. Six kingdoms fractured into many more, and eventually, the dust settled and Xia resumed its normal business prior to the creation and expansion of the Barraki.
           Shortly afterwards, Xia’s industrial revolution began. Inventors and engineers began devising brilliant schematics for powerful machines that could change the face of Xian industry, mechanizing the process of mass-production. Factories were built and devised, and complex technology and lights spread that relied on electricity and other intricate forms of energy to be fueled. Xia itself became engulfed in this wave of technology, reliant on the machines that made up the island itself; And in turn, the entire island of Xia became dependent on the Codrex, the Eternal Engine that powered it all.
           Despite conspiracy theories, the Barraki did not die; If anything, they ascended. Rumors of a massive ‘treasure’ at the core of Xia, a secret worth dying over, reached their ears. Eager for an advantage over the others, the Barraki set out in the dead of night with a small group of their most trusted followers and attendants, and explored the caverns below Xia. There, they came across one another, and after a brief conflict, the six Barraki headed off alone to Xia’s core.
           There, they found a titanic, metallic sphere; An ancient machination potentially older than Xia itself, located within its heart. Entranced, the six Barraki recognized that they had found something larger and grander than even all of them combined; And so they reached out and touched it.
           Like the Great Forge of Okoto, the Codrex activated –or perhaps reactivated- at the touch of six, powerful souls. In a burst of energy, the Codrex’s mechanisms began to turn, generating pure energy that had no outlet to go, building up.
           Upon being struck by the flash of energy, the Barraki were changed. Like the Mask Makers who awakened the Great Forge, they were imbued with pure Life energy that rendered them immortal beings with superhuman qualities and attributes. Feeling the raw power coursing through their veins, the Barraki realized they had found Xia’s greatest secret; And like any secret, it would cease to be a secret if everyone knew of it.
           A quiet agreement was made over blood that night, signed with the massacre of all their nearby attendees and servants to keep quiet. The six immortal Barraki agreed to go into hiding; It seemed that the best way to rule Xia with the Codrex was to do it from the shadows. If their subjects saw them last eternally throughout the decades without aging, inevitably people would try to find out the truth of their immortality; And in turn, they would learn of the Codrex. Thus, the Barraki must remain hidden, to the chagrin of some like Pridak or Kalmah- Although Mantax and Takadox were perfectly fine with this.
           Through proxies and puppets, they contacted engineers and inventors. By analyzing the Codrex’s ancient mechanisms, these inventors were able to reverse-engineer the Eternal Engine and create advanced forms of technology. A great city was established and founded, right above the Codrex, and its powerful machines and factories all got their power from massive underground cables connected to the Eternal Engine below. The Barraki began to rule through proxy, puppet-leaders, often assassinating minions once they had reached their usefulness and trading them out for fresh blood; No one could truly be trusted at this point.
           And as that famous city of legend grew and expanded, the knowledge of its technology spread. The rest of Xia began to industrialize, and more cities allied with that City of Legends, sharing in its massive swathes of infinite energy, none the wiser as to its source. All of Xia became rooted in technology, separating further into a strict lower and upper-class. To compete with anyone else, a Xian must have powerful technology; But that technology was useless without an energy source. And by controlling Xia’s main source of energy, the Barraki had total dominion over the entire island…
           Since then, the Barraki have ruled from the shadows, guiding Xian politics, economics, and so forth. They have influenced and swayed Xian culture from the shadows, directing upper-class nobles and elites from the darkness. Only the most esteemed of the Powers That Be know of their existence, and it is a true privilege to meet the Barraki first-hand and learn of the six who control all of Xia.
           Xia became more or less ‘conquered’, save for the district of Zakaz; But that needed to remain lawless, so as to create a thriving wartime industry. Inevitably, the Barraki found themselves bored, having found total control, but being unable to flaunt it. They wished for more lands to conquer, but there was nothing beyond Xia except the endless oceans and their raging hurricanes.
           Then came Kratakal, the Rahkshi from Okoto. Through the son of Makuta, the Barraki learned of another land out there; The mythical island of Okoto, a natural paradise of spirits, elements, and power. It was a land brimming with life-energy, the very thing that the Codrex generated, the very power that made the Barraki immortal. They saw the reality-warping abilities of the Kraata and became obsessed. Plans were discussed of launching a Xian invasion of Okoto, so the Barraki could relive their old glory-days as warlords and conquerers.
           Alas, it was not meant to be; The massive hurricanes beyond Xia ensured that travel between islands would be nearly impossible. A small, sleek canister could make the voyage, but ultimately it would be an impractical venture. The likes of Pridak were incensed, not caring about the cost because to the warlords Okoto was THEIR right, as kings entitled to ruling. If it weren’t for that blasted ocean, they could easily invade Okoto; The Brotherhood of Makuta and its swarms of Skull Spiders would be no match for them, they reasoned!
           Once again, it seems as if fate smiled upon the Barraki. The Shadowed One, leader of the Dark Hunters, succeeded in hijacking the Codrex right beneath their noses. This would normally be a disaster; But with Makuta’s Mask of Life, The Shadowed One transported the entire island of Xia right next to Okoto, before being foiled by an Okotan expedition and slain by his own lieutenant Lariska. With the Codrex back beneath the Barraki’s control, the island of Okoto was now just beyond the shores of Xia, barely even a few miles away…
           Since then, the Barraki have mobilized their armies. They have begun to exercise their authority, pulling together nations, governers, and soldiers to invade Xia. The six warlords, eager to conquer Okoto after all this time, have now kickstarted the Xian-Okotan War. Now, their forces clash with the Okotan Alliance, who stands against their mindless expansion and conquest.
           On the side, a Xian rebellion, a revolution unlike any other has begun to brew. With Xians seeing that a better life IS possible through Okoto, many have had enough are choosing to rebel. Thanks to the Okotans, knowledge of the Codrex and its role as Xia’s primary energy-source has spread throughout both lands. Now a rising rebellion is forming across the island, hoping to overthrow the Powers That Be, and leading them is the Order of Mata Nui; a secrective organization that has recently revealed itself and hopes to defeat the Barraki.
           With all bets off the table, the Barraki have revealed themselves. And while many question how these six warlords are alive after all this time –with some theorizing them to just be impostors- there are those who know the truth. The Mask Makers Ekimu and Makuta recognize the effects that an ancient machination has had on those six, having felt identical immortality themselves.
           While the Barraki lead a war against the Okotan Alliance, they also lead a war against the rebellion; The Core War, named after the primary objective of the Eternal Engine. Whoever controls the Codrex, controls Xia’s power and thus the entire island by consequence. The Barraki are incensed by the blatant insolence of their subjects, and hope to suppress them. In the process, they have formed a tenuous alliance with the Brotherhood of Makuta. The Barraki know that Makuta is not to be trusted, and likely intends to betray them (they have their own plans vice-versa)… But regardless, the Brotherhood wants the Okotan Alliance gone, and so do the Barraki.
           These aligning interests are for the best; With the Brotherhood’s capture and execution of Kratakal, they now control the Kraata and the means of creating them. And without Kraata, the Barraki can’t power their Exo-Toa armies. Thus, the Brotherhood and Barraki are allied, and under Makuta’s orders, Roodaka is producing Exo-Toa and various other war machines for the six warlords at a fraction of the cost. Together, the Barraki will take over Okoto; And in time, they will prepare for Makuta’s inevitable betrayal, and deal with the Mask Hoarder later.
           After all, that fool couldn’t even conquer an entire island! Meanwhile the Barraki have control over Xia, AND will soon dominate Okoto. Soon… for now, they are secretly paying the Nynrah Ghosts and other engineers to create ‘bootleg’ forms of Kraata energy and wave-lengths, hoping to find a way of powering the Exo-Toa without the Power Serpents. Kraata are simply life-energy, and the Codrex produces this constantly; All they need to do is replicate that special wavelength, and perhaps they’ll be able to power their Exo-Toa without need of the Brotherhood!
           Once THAT happens… They’ll be prepared to eventually betray Makuta. But for the timebeing, that upstart failure has his uses.
           There are six Barraki warlords;
           Pridak is the self-appointed leader of the Barraki, a title that means little practically-speaking. Easily the proudest and arrogant of them all, Pridak believes it his divine right to rule and conquer, having clawed his way from the bottom and arriving at the top. Thus, he believes all his victories are earned, and that more are due to him. Pridak is a ruthless, vicious individual with a penchant for bloodshed and a love for battle. He is hot-headed and can kill subordinates on a whim before perceieved slights against his godly honor. Nevertheless, he can still manage to be practical… It frustrated him when he couldn’t invade Okoto at first, but he nevertheless listened to reason. How else could he be such a brilliant tactician, having created the largest empire of the Barraki?
           Suave, confident, and charismatic- These all describe Pridak. He believes himself to be the peak and pinnacle of physical being, and it is not hard to see why; He loves posing for paintings and sculptures. A few parties have seen him roam around entirely naked for guests to enjoy his beautiful, sculpted physique. Pridak is terrifying and intense, and demands total loyalty from guests and minions; Once, he ordered a noble to kill her husband to prove her loyalty to him, reasoning that words meant little without actions to back them up. Pridak is entertained in combat and loves to personally participate in it, enjoying a good fight as well as brutally tearing apart his enemies.
           Takadox is a beautiful, dazzling Barraki. Once a pharaoh in the deserts of Zakaz, even before he found the Codrex he had scarlet eyes; Enchanting eyes of psychedelic beauty, like staring into a kaleidoscope of colors. Since his beginnings, Takadox has had the unique ability to hypnotize others, and since becoming immortal those abilities have become even more powerful. Through hypnosis, clever manipulation, and ruling through proxies, Takadox was able to back-stab his way to the top.
            He is an incredibly charming and distracting individual, with a beautiful voice like a siren’s. Takadox is musically-gifted, and it is considered the greatest honor to listen to him sing. Takadox is both a composer and a conductor, having penned brilliant works of music before leading orchestras of the most skilled musicians into playing them. Much pressure is put upon performers to convey his music, and failure can mean execution.
          Takadox loves to treat others as puppets, toys, and play-things, utilizing his hypnosis to completely control servants. He has employed it upon performers to better control them, and he greatly enjoys forcing people to do things they never would through hypnosis; It makes Takadox feel powerful and superior. He is a natural sadist, making his slaves do his bidding and exhausting them to the point of death, knowing they can’t refuse, and has had many he has hypnotized –ranging from servants to nobles that have angered him- dance for his amusement. Takadox has used his hypnosis to access the secrets of others, and values total control over anything else. A master-manipulator, he doesn’t need to be flashy, and is fine with pulling the strings from the shadows.
          Ehlek is a Lekara; A race of aquatic beings found both on Xia and Okoto. Ehlek succeeded in uniting the Lekara clans scattered around Xia’s shores, rivers, and lakes, uniting them beneath his banner and controlling most of the island’s water-source. By controlling the waterways, transport between his empire was the fastest and most efficient, making up for a geographically smaller size; Ehlek managed to expand his armies beyond the shores by inducting kingdoms bordering him, but regardless it seems his specialty was in the water.
          Ehlek is aware of his outsider-status as a non-human among the Barraki, and knows that they underestimate him for allegedly being limited to the water. However, Ehlek understands that water is also the essence of life, and far-outdwarfs the land with its oceans; He believes that in the end, HIS armies will rule, expanding into the vast oceans while his fellow Barraki remain isolated on comparatively tiny islands.
          He is a high-strung, short-tempered individual, capable of bearing grudges eternally. Ehlek has a tendency to lash out bitterly at those he perceieves as having wronged him, or even just for having things that he does not. Since his ascension as an immortal Barraki, his temper has cooled; But he can nevertheless be an impulsive, wrathful leader, and he has employed incredibly brutal executions in the past, being a person with little trust.
          Hailing from darker regions of Xia, Mantax and his people were taught by necessity to hide and lurk in the shadows, striking rapidly and concisely. A master of stealth and assassination, Mantax led an army of samurai against his rivals, with his own personal clans of shinobi to perform murders on select individuals. Mantax is a stern, secretive individual; He is the least socially-inclined of the Barraki and not much for small-talk, always keeping an eye out for danger. For everyone he meets, he makes sure to understand exactly how to kill them should the need arise; To Mantax, he has no friends or allies, merely enemies he hasn’t killed yet.
          Easily the most elusive of the Barraki, Mantax is an incredibly patient and cautious warlord. He knows when to cut his losses and retreat, and prefers subtlety and being unknown. He appears the least to nobles in formal events, instead using his time gathering information on others, surveying Xia, and training his own fighting skills. Information and secrets are the key to victory for Mantax, and he is always vigilant and keeping a close-eye on is fellow Barraki. To call him paranoid may not be entirely correct, as it would imply that Mantax’s wariness is unfounded.
          Carapar is a loud, boisterous, and seemingly-agreeable individual. He hailed from the steppes and plains of Xia, leading nomadic tribes on horseback as he swiftly raided, conquered, and pillaged his enemies’ settlements. Carapar is proud of his raw, physical strength and prowess, being the largest of the Barraki. Unlike the others, he likes to be seen as approachable and amicable, like a friendly politician who will gladly shake one’s hand and brightly smile at them. But beware- Carapar is at heart a treacherous, cunning individual with a mind for dirty tactics. He has no honor, and will resort to any trick in order to win; Once, he violated the rules of parlay with an enemy tribe, poisoning the food at their feast to ensure his victory. Yes, there were also children present at that feast; But he does not care.
          While his tactics can be subtle, by the end of the day Carapar is a brute in how he considers others. Since his rise to power as an immortal Barraki, Carapar has often visited subordinates unprompted, hoping to charismatically pull them into his circle of supposed trust. He has led frequent hunts with honored guests, occasionally heading into Nynrah to kill Vorox and take them as trophies; He has a penchant for displaying the heads of creatures, and even sapient enemies, that he has slain. Sometimes a servant will exceed his patience, and Carapar will drop the façade entirely before bluntly getting his point across.
          Kalmah is a hedonist, an emperor who once led legions of centurions to conquest. Now, he throws the most lavish, extravagant parties; According to him, he fought for the right to be a king, so it only makes sense that he lives like one. Kalmah prizes luxury, wearing the finest threads, all while greedily hoarding wealth. The flashiest of the Barraki, Kalmah suffers from frequent boredom and will hold brutal games and gladiator matches in the Coliseum Atero, all for his personal amusement.
          He has a penchant for the finer things in life, such as delicious cuisine, and he has a zoo of exotic animals and beasts, many of whom are the last of their king, and others from Okoto itself. Unfortunately, Kalmah is also a sadist, and he enjoys subjecting his pets to cruelty. Sometimes he’ll feed others to them, or force nobles or servants that have displeased them into facing off against beasts in the arena. Kalmah can be loud and spoiled about what he wants, and believes himself worthy of praise. He enjoys parades, and would rather not dirty his own hands, being displeased with the ‘lesser’ facets of life and preferring servants do the deed for him. Kalmah is highly possessive of his wealth, and to have his own possessions dirtied is a personal insult to him by extension in his eyes.
          The six Barraki wielded armor and weaponry in the past; Since their ascension amongst the Powers That Be, they have since taken to wearing more modern clothing. Nevertheless, they’ll still dress up every now and then, either to show off or train and hone their combat skills, ensuring they remain sharp as ever. And with the recent Xian-Okotan War, the Barraki have begun to don and wield their old armor and weapons like the good old times…
          In combat, Pridak wields his Shark Tooth Blades; A pair of incredibly-sharp swords, said to be crafted from hundreds of carefully-compressed shark teeth. They are of a beautiful craftsmanship, and capable of scarring even Protosteel; Weapons befitting of a king, in Pridak’s eyes. Pridak’s Shark Tooth Blades of a beautiful ivory that is stark-white, an identical coloration to his armor.
          Takadox wields a pair of long, thin blades that are slightly-curved at the end; He prefers to hold them upside-down, as part of his confusing, dance-like fighting style. Ehlek has a pair of Protosteel tri-talons that he attaches to either hand, to shred opponents with. Mantax wields a long sword, but also prefers daggers and hooks. Carpar has a wide, dual-edged blade, while Kalmah relies on a pair of whips in combat, as well as a crossbow, preferring to keep his opponents at arms-length.
          As a whole, the Barraki jointly-rule Xia as part of the League of Six Kingdoms. They hold the most wealth and stocks in just about every property and company out there, and their authority is absolute. With a snap of their fingers, they could rend an entire city razed, and there is no one who is permitted to disobey them. Even incredibly secure locations like the Archives must fully-yield to the authority of a Barraki, who is immune to rules that are normally uniform amongst all.
          The Barraki have orchestrated Xian politics to ensure an oligarcy with them at the top, keeping workers in line while having a select group of nobles for their upper-class. Xia is structured to leech as much power and wealth as possible from the island and its inhabitants, with even a war-time economy established in the district of Zakaz. To those that know them, they are truly the most terrifying people in existence; Servants are usually dominated by the most advanced and loyal of machines.
          Those who ARE alive are tied to their masters for life, with their living quarters established upon the various properties, mansions, and villas that the Barraki own. They regularly trade out servants and puppet-leaders, but the pay from them is also very good at least. Each of them have quarters in the Coliseum Atero’s tower, and at its peak is a meeting room for war-strategies and other important events. Among those who know them, the Barraki often host extravagant events to flaunt their power and wealth, and will occasionally sharpen their skills in combat against desperate slaves and the like. Just about every powerful Xian on the island answers to them, and is vulnerable to their control over the island’s power-supply.
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sepublic · 4 years
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Dark Hunter Statuses
In the chaos of the search for the Mask of Life’s fragments, the Brotherhood of Makuta’s assault on the Odina Fortress, as well as the Battle of the Codrex, many Dark Hunters have been involved. As events unfolded, some have died; While others continue to live, and some keep fighting even now. As the organization sees new management underneath Lariska, the question raises- What are the current whereabouts and circumstances of certain Dark Hunters?
The Shadowed One: Deceased; After being betrayed by Darkness for showing weakness, he was eventually slain by his lieutenant Lariska, thereby ending the Battle of the Codrex. Afterwards, his dead body was puppeted by Matoro’s Mask of the Undead, used as a means of escorting the Okotans back to the City of the Mask Makers- Lariska has since bought it from the Okotans for a hefty sum, and now displays the crystallized corpse in her newly-rebuilt throne room.
Lariska: Alive; Is now the new leader of the Dark Hunters, and is restructuring the organization to be more lenient towards its members, while still practical when handling its affairs.
Ancient: Alive; Is serving as second-in-command of the organization as always beneath Lariska.
Airwatcher: Deceased; Killed in the Brotherhood siege on the Odina Fortress.
Amphibax: Alive; Has since rejoined Ehlek’s army and is fighting on behalf of the Barraki.
Charger: Deceased; Electrocuted to death in the Battle of the Codrex.
Conjurer: Alive; Defeated in the Battle of the Codrex, and has since regrouped with the remaining Dark Hunters underneath Lariska.
Darkness: Deceased; Destroyed by the Mask of Life’s destruction.
Devastator: Alive; Is currently imprisoned in the City of the Mask Makers, with his powers disabled by the Mask of Control.
Dweller: Deceased; Eaten alive by Jumala.
Eliminator: Alive; Has regrouped with the Dark Hunters and continues her duties beneath Lariska’s command, although is less active as a punisher and moreso as a general assassin.
Dracax: Deceased; Destroyed by the Elemental Deities during the Invasion of Okoto.
Gatherer: Alive; Is currently undergoing an identity crisis somewhere in Xia.
Gladiator: Alive; Is currently serving as usual beneath Lariska.
Guardian: Alive; Has regrouped with the Dark Hunters and now continues her previous role, but her duties have changed to assassination. She is no longer charged with hunting down defectors, at least not nearly as much, and is now questioning her purpose in life.
Lurker: Deceased; Slain by Pohatu after he used Poison to indiscriminately kill several Xians.
Mimic: Alive; Has defected from the Dark Hunters alongside her lover, Ferri. The two are now living in the City of the Mask Makers, granted special protection by the Okotan Alliance for their contributions towards The Shadowed One’s defeat.
Minion: Deceased; Killed in the Brotherhood siege on the Odina Fortress by Makuta himself.
Phantom: Deceased; Devoured alive by multiple Energy Leeches.
Poison: Alive; Currently operating as usual underneath Lariska’s command.
Primal: Deceased; Sacrificed herself to hold off the Brotherhood siege on the Odina Fortress.
Prototype: Deceased; Accidentally killed by Eliminator. His armor-remains are kept as a keepsake in the rebuilt Odina Fortress.
Ravager: Unknown; Was last seen buried beneath the wreckage of multiple engines from the flying island of Xia.
Savage: Alive; Defeated during the Battle of the Codrex, and is now back with the Dark Hunters and performing missions on Lariska’s orders.
Seeker: Unknown; Was severely damaged during the Battle for the Codrex, but has since disappeared.
Sentrakh: Deceased; Was incinerated into ashes in a Tametru furnace, before those were destroyed as well.
Silence: Alive; Defeated during the Battle of the Codrex, and has since regrouped with the other Dark Hunters underneath Lariska’s command.
Spinner: Alive; Is operating as usual beneath Lariska.
Subterranean: Alive; Has defected from the Dark Hunters and reunited with his family. Him and his family are trying to avoid the vast brunt of the Core War, but Subterranean is already considering siding with the Xian Rebellion at this point.
Tracker: Alive; Is operating as usual beneath Lariska.
Triglax: Alive; Defeated during the Battle of the Codrex, but later regrouped with the other Dark Hunters and now serves Lariska.
Tyrant: Unknown; Was last seen falling off a cliff into the depths of the ocean, swearing vengeance upon Kualus and her Okotan allies.
Vanisher: Unknown; Disappeared during the Brotherhood siege on the Odina Fortress. Honestly, who can keep track of him at this point?
Vengeance: Alive; Defeated during the Battle of the Codrex, and has since defected from the Dark Hunters. He now aids the Xian Rebellion against the Barraki, hoping to take down Mantax in particular for betraying the Lumada Clan.
In addition, the Dark Hunters Zaktan, Hakann, Avak, Vezok, Reidak, and Thok have all defected from the organization. The six have banded together in the hopes of finding the fabled Mask of Light, for whatever purpose.
The Hordika Dragons have survived, although a few are still in recovery after brutal injures from their battles with the Okotans. The Recorder is also still alive. He was disappointed upon hearing of The Shadowed One’s demise; But after being offered new meals by Lariska, he happily attends to her call as the Dark Hunter’s personal scribe.
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sepublic · 4 years
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Jumala
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           Colloquially known as the Lord of Energy Leeches from time to time, Jumala is the progenitor of his species and one of the dreaded Rahkshi, the sons of Makuta. A ravenous, shark-like being of massive size, Jumala’s appetite for life energy is more unsatiable than the rest of his brethren, an issue only further worsened and encouraged by Makuta’s deliberate starvation of him in order to reap the most of Jumala’s bounty while encouraging the Rahkshi to feed more.
           Created as part of Makuta’s research and experiments towards a more effective, efficient way of extracting life energy than the automatons built in the City of the Mask Makers’ catacombs, Jumala’s success as an experiment and soul born partly of Makuta’s own led to him being merged with a powerful, biomechanical body and exoskeleton resembling a shark with massive, crustacean claws. As Makuta created eggs containing hordes of Jumala’s unborn brethren and waited for them to hatch, he dispatched Jumala with journeying into Okoto’s wilds and harvesting life energy wherever he could, preying on massive beasts, plants, and even the earth itself. Once Jumala was full, he would return back to Makuta and deposit almost all of the energy he had absorbed, leaving only just a little bit left to sustain himself on. Like the Skull Warriors, Jumala was also sent on campaigns to recover lost artifacts and other objects of interest for the Brotherhood of Makuta; Most notably, the fabled Mask of Control, which had been lost during the Great Cataclysm.
           Due to Fenrakk already having the situation under his control with the Skull Spiders, Makuta didn’t bother having Jumala attack the Okotans, not wanting to completely massacre them and lose his main source of energy. Following the Arrival of the Toa and Phase 2 of the Skull Spider Wars, Makuta planned to use Jumala to bolster the Brotherhood offensive, but Jumala became incapacitated after being critically wounded by Axonn, whom he had encountered. Axonn, not wanting the location of the Labyrinth of Infinity and its guarded secret to be known, engaged in combat with the Rahksi and defeated him.
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           With Jumala recovering from his extensive injuries, he was largely out of commission for the rest of the Skull Spider Wars, unable to provide Fenrakk and Kulta aid during the crucial Battle for the City of the Mask Makers. Makuta, incensed by his failures there, made sure to hasten his son’s recovery, and once his army of Energy Leeches had hatched, sent out Jumala to avenge their father’s name.
           Jumala proved to be a capable and viable threat against the Okotans, challenging the Toa on numerous occasions, although like any Rahkshi unable to defeat them all in a six-on-one battle. Nevertheless, his powerful liquefaction capabilities, great strength, and ability to absorb just about anything made him a continued opponent towards the Okotan Alliance. As the war continued, Jumala occasionally had his attention drawn to the energy signatures of the Elemental Deities being hunted by Umarak, but was discouraged from following until Makuta eventually allied with the Hunter.
           Jumala would continue to operate as normal following the alliance, occasionally assisting Umarak in his hunts- However, Umarak remained distrustful of Jumala, finding his ravenous hunger to be too clumsy and unreliable to control, and likewise being wary of Jumala’s personal connection and loyalty towards Makuta. As a result, Umarak only called upon Jumala sparingly, not wanting the Rahkshi to take the Elemental Deities’ energy for himself, nor wanting the beast to kill the Rahi he sought to preserve.
           Jumala would later fight alongside Brotherhood forces to defend the Skull Raiders’ underground city, and afterwards helped lead the Brotherhood campaign to seize the Mask of Control in the Labyrinth of Infinity. Despite initial complications, the latter campaign was a success, and Makuta took control of Umarak using his recovered Mask.
           Having full access to the Hunter’s control over shadow, Makuta took advantage of his newfound affinity for darkness to gift Jumala with a new ability, one fueled by the all-consuming nature of Umarak’s darkness- The Shadow Hand, a powerful vortex of shadow that could extend from Jumala’s maw in the shape of a hand and absorb whatever it grasped without fail.
           When Makuta began to raze Okoto with the Elemental Beasts, Jumala assisted them with his newfound Shadow Hand, and later participated in another assault on the City of the Mask Makers. When Makuta focused his efforts on reuniting his soul, Jumala served as one of his main lines of defense, intercepting the Toa at the City of Destral during their attempts to disrupt Makuta’s plans. Despite Jumala’s best efforts, he and his allies would be defeated by the Toa and their powerful Kaita fusions with the Elemental Deities- Jumala himself was left critically wounded at Destral, with the Toa abandoning him to defeat Makuta.
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           Since his father’s death, Jumala has practically vanished with the vast majority of Energy Leeches and other Brotherhood forces. His current whereabouts are unknown, and of major concern to the Okotan Alliance, who fear that Jumala’s insatiable appetite and Shadow Hand could wreak untold havoc upon the still-healing island. Some offers have even been made to grant Jumala amnesty for his crimes in exchange for a tenuous coexistence, but so far Jumala has yet to respond to any of the Okotans’ messages.
           A powerful, biomechanical beast, Jumala is an amphibious predator, able to breathe and function on both land and in water, with the latter environment most conducive to his effectiveness. Like his fellow Energy Leeches, Jumala has the ability to absorb life nergy from prey, his mouth splitting open to create a powerful vortex that can suck in anything, even regular objects, and completely digest them into energy that is stored within his stomach. Whereas other Energy Leeches merely drain the power from their prey, Jumala is able to completely devour and assimilate whatever he consumes, making him far deadlier and efficient.
           Additionally, Jumala’s vortex abilities can be used to conjure powerful gusts that draws food further towards him, making it easier for Jumala to lunge forward and devour whatever he chooses. While most objects are easy for Jumala to swallow whole, he can also use his powerful crushing jaws to rend apart his meals to more easily absorb them. If unable to swallow a victim, Jumala can still drain their energy by direct contact with his jaws, and likewise, his vortex’s pull naturally pulls souls towards him, with nearby victims feeling an almost magnetic force dragging them towards Jumala’s maw. His vortex can absorb just about any form of energy-attack, such as lightning or fire. Finally, if necessary, Jumala can gather up all of his stored life-energy and fire it forward as a powerful energy beam from his maw, although he rarely resorts to this as it leaves him starving afterwards.
           Amidst his ravenous capabilities, Jumala also possesses powerful crab-like claws, and a thick, armored exoskeleton that is a blend between metal, a crustacean’s shell, and shark-skin. His strength, size, and durability are only further exacerbated by his power of Liquefaction, which grants him the ability to turn solids into liquefied versions of themselves.
           By summoning a dome-like shield of Liquefaction energy in front of himself and diving forward, Jumala can turn whatever surface his energy-shield comes into contact with into a liquid and swim through it, essentially enabling him to swim on land by forming underground tunnels of liquefied earth wherever he goes. Once outside of his range and after a short period of time, whatever Jumala has liquefied will eventually revert to a solid state.
           Jumala is able to wield his liquefaction abilities to terrifying efficiency, easily absorbing liquid matter to fuel himself as well as swimming around in it at high speeds. A common hunting tactic of his is to swim around prey, destabilizing the ground they’re standing upon by liquefying everything beneath it- In turn, the ground falls apart and sinks, leaving Jumala’s victims floundering and vulnerable in his liquefied pool of earth for him to devour. Alternatively, he can even leave victims behind in liquefied earth and leave the area, letting the earth turn solid and effectively burying opponents alive. Jumala’s powers allow him to destabilize foundations, and penetrate nearly any barrier, making him a nigh-unstoppable opponent. In order to navigate underwater and underground, Jumala has echolocation.
           Additionally, Jumala has a lure on his head to draw in dimwitted prey, and can absorb large quantities of liquid and blast them forward at rock-shattering pressures, and with his liquefaction power he is never in want of the necessary ammo for this process. Thankfully, Jumala can’t utilize both his liquefaction AND vortex abilities at once, a weakness many of his opponents have taken advantage of. In aquatic environments, however, Jumala is even more powerful, not needing to actively liquefy his surroundings and thus able to maneuver AND use his vortex. His liquefaction doesn’t affect living things, only the non-living and deceased.
           After Makuta possessed Umarak with the Mask of Control, he granted Jumala a fragment of shadow that manifested in the form of a Shadow Hand. With this fragment of darkness embedded in his body, Jumala gained the ability to form an extending arm formed of vortex-energy and shadows that could reach out and lunge towards opponents with frightening range and speed. Once something is touched by his Shadow Hand, it cannot escape Jumala’s pull as it is disintegrated and absorbed down the Shadow Hand’s length into his body. Attempts to break free from its grasp are completely impossible and futile.
           However, due to the Shadow Hand’s unstoppable nature and Jumala’s lack of familiarity with the ability, he is unable to control his Shadow Hand, meaning once something is grasped by it, he will devour it no matter what. During their final confrontation with him at Destral, the Toa took advantage of his supposed strength and turned it against the Rahkshi, tricking him into trying to absorb Destral’s primary tower, an ancient, indestructible automaton that the capital was named after.
           Due to the Destral’s invulnerable nature, Jumala found himself unable to disintegrate and absorb it, but also couldn’t let go- his Shadow Hand’s attempts to pull it in merely resulted in Jumala pulling himselftowards the Destral, slamming into it at high speeds and ripping his jaws apart as the Shadow Hand attempted to absorb the automaton. His mouth and throat severely damaged, Jumala was left helplessly incapacitated and stuck to the Destral, unable to move as his own Shadow Hand absorbed the blood from his wounds. Unable to fight and with time pressing, the Toa opted to abandon Jumala to his fate and head for the Mount of Shadows to defeat Makuta, once and for all.
           With Makuta’s defeat, loss of control over Umarak, and the Shadow Deity’s weakened state, it is currently unknown if Jumala still has access to his Shadow Hand, and if so, how he managed to let go of the Destral and escape.
           On another note, it seems that the confining nature of Jumala’s exoskeleton has, thankfully, prevented his true form from evolving into the further stages in the Energy Leech’s lifecycle. Makuta’s reasoning for keeping Jumala’s exoskeleton was various- One reason was that Jumala’s vortex and liquefaction abilities were assets too unique and powerful to exchange for another Stage 5 Leech, which Makuta could develop from just about any Energy Leech anyway. Likewise, Makuta lacked the time and resources necessary to build a new exoskeleton for Jumala that could fit a Stage 5 Leech- Though if he did have them, the results would no doubt be catastrophic and could possibly devour all of Okoto itself.
           Jumala himself is a dimwitted brute and predator, with little else on his mind besides food and the avoidance of punishment. He has very little ambition or deep thought in his life, especially with both discouraged by Makuta and an insatiable hunger that constantly seizes Jumala’s attention. Despite the blatant abuse and starvation from his father, Jumala is still loyal to Makuta, as a result of upbringing, fear, and genuinely not knowing anything else. And while Jumala possesses a destructive, remorseless nature, there is still some pity towards him from the Toa and Okotans, who have considered the humane option of placing him in stasis, a fate also considered for another ravenous creation of Makuta’s, the Kuma Nui. Until he resurfaces, fate can only tell what Jumala will choose to do with his newfound freedom following Makuta’s demise, and how others must react towards these decisions.
[Fun facts about the MoC: This dude is one of my oldest creations, having been made as far back as 2012- Eight years ago! He’s actually a combo-model of Furno 3.0, Jawblade, and Waspix from Hero Factory, with a few extra pieces thrown in. He originally started off as a revamped Jawblade, but I had so much fun with the character design that I applied him to Bionicle: RaE! Obviously, Jumala has a LOT of areas he could improve on... But for now, he holds a special place in my heart, and this is the closest thing to a ‘canon’ depiction of him in RaE lore.]
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sepublic · 4 years
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Region-District Parallels
           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.
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sepublic · 4 years
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Rhotuka
           Studies into transmitting the power of the soul itself –initially by harnessing Kraata power with the Exo-Toa- eventually delved into the concept of sentience, as well as sapience. Individuality, personhood, the nature of the metaphorical soul came into question and how it was structured; After all, before Kratakal’s arrival on Xia, few scientists believed in the soul having an actual existence.
           But with his appearance and the knowledge he offered, combined with studies on recreating the sapient mind with AI… Eventually Xian scientists asked if it was possible to harness the power of the mind itself. In particular, the Nynrah Ghosts took towards exploring what made a person, well, a person- And not just a person, but their own unique individual as well.
           Mind was a result and/or aspect of a sapient soul, and generally speaking, souls with more energy tended to develop higher levels of thought; Spiriah’s experiments, as well as his experiments on beings such as the Dark Hunter Charger, proved this concept. The Nynrah Ghosts developed increasingly complex AI, as well as Exo-Toa technology designed to further access the mind itself. Combined with a few Viruses, and the Rhotuka launcher was finally invented; An incredible piece of technology that had the ability to almost subconsciously analyze a mind and react specifically towards the unique things, wavelengths, and patterns that made up someone’s personality, manifesting it as an energy-wheel with an unusual property.
           Rhotuka are wheels of energy that can be conjured through the use of a Rhotuka Launcher, an artificial creation of the Nynrah Ghosts. The exact effects and properties of a Rhotuka vary by individual (and some species), but generally speaking they are first charged up within the launcher as it gathers energy, spinning it into a wheel before finally releasing it. The wheel then whirls through the air until it reaches a target, before transmitting its effects.
           The power of a Rhotuka depends on the personality of the user; For example, one individual may have a Rhotuka that spreads out into multiple explosions, while another being will have a Rhotuka that melts through all matter with a corrosive, acid-like property. A Rhotuka could switch the minds of the user and the target, or it could transmute matter itself.
           The exact ability of a Rhotuka is a direct reflection of the individual user’s soul, personality, and experiences. It is the very culmination of who they are (or at least a partof that identity), manifested in the form of an energy-wheel whose powers and properties are symbolically tied to the user. The exact nature between how a Rhotuka is influenced is not entirely understood; When creating the Rhotuka Launcher, the Nynrah Ghosts delved into a field of forces and study that they themselves did not quite understand- They could merely only interact with it, the same way a bird may use the wind to keep itself in the air without truly knowing how air itself functions.
           With very few exceptions, just about every sapient individual’s Rhotuka is unique in some shape or form. Unless two people have two incredibly identical experiences and personalities, the likelihood of two Rhotuka being the same is extremely scarce. However, when it comes to sentient creatures of some thought –such as certain species of intelligent animal- it seems that a single species will tend to produce the same Rhotuka effect throughout all members. Again, occasional exceptions amongst animal species occurs, but generally speaking, it seems that all members of an intelligent animal species yield the same Rhotuka; But as sapience increases with a species –particularly with Xians- the Energy-Wheels’ variety exponentially branches out.
           Rhotuka Launchers can come in a wide variety of shapes, with some being attached as large tools to a user, and others directly grafted into their very being. All Rhotuka interact with the nature of the soul itself, using technology not dissimilar to what one may find in an Exo-Toa. Thus, cheaper models tend to require direct attachment to a user, while the most expensive consist of gauntlets that can easily be donned and removed at will.
           Any sapient being can and will produce a Rhotuka. When it comes to animals, as aforementioned, only species of a certain intelligence threshold can yield the power of a Rhotuka, incorporating a grafted launcher into their body like any other limb given enough time and opportunity. Since AI lack souls, they themselves cannot manifest Rhotuka; Likewise, Kraata are of a very basic mindset, and their Rhotuka have the same powers as them, making a Rhotuka Launcher for a Kraata a general waste of an asset.
          Whether or not a being can use Rhotuka is a suggested litmust test for intelligence amongst living things, but the Nynrah Ghosts are not entirely certain if they should accept such a standard into practice. After all, there are multiple forms of intelligence, and it is possible that their imperfect Rhotuka launchers can’t quite adequately recognize all forms of thought; The Nynrah Ghosts themselves are not 100% sure on what constitutes intelligence, much less the exact nature of Rhotuka and how they are influenced by a user. For now, further research is being developed into the matter of Rhotuka.
          As for Rhotuka Launchers themselves, their hyper-specific programming and properties make them incredibly expensive, moreso than an Exo-Toa, and thus they are not exactly conducive for mass production. Due to the complicated programming involved, Rhotuka launchers are manufactured exclusively in Artidax. The existence of one is found only very sporadically across Xia. Thus, not many Xians are well-aware of or familiar with Rhotuka; Especially since the powers of a Rhotuka are so individualized, thus making them somewhat reliable in certain regards. Demand for Rhotuka Launchers is typically low.
           However, amongst those who DO utilize and recognize their power, interest is had towards certain individuals. As mentioned before, the exact powers of a Rhotuka are unique to a user, and thus cannot be replicated as they are dependent on the very personality and experiences of an individual. To recreate a useful Rhotuka power would involve recreating the exact same person; Itself an incredibly impossible task.
           Thus, there is a black-market for beings who exhibit useful and valuable Rhotuka abilities. A few trafficking groups have set up a program where people who are kidnapped are regularly screened through a Rhotuka launcher to see what they are capable of; If they have a useful ability that could garner plenty of profit, then the individual will be advertised and sold to groups who have a desire for that particular ability. The Dark Hunters in particular are very interested in this ‘Rhotuka Market’, looking for specific powers, or seeking to replicate them; Either by seeing how to duplicate a mind entirely (possibly through complex AI scans within Artidax), or simply by just kidnapping the individual that the power is unique to and forcing them into servitude.
           Thus, beings with valuable Rhotuka powers have high demand on the human trafficking market. Some people will be targeted and hunted down specifically if they are suspected of having a potentially valuable Rhotuka; Others with confirmed, useful abilities often find themselves bullied or blackmailed into servitude by certain organizations. Some groups will offer pay, but others will get impatient and soon resort to outright kidnapping. Brainwashing an individual into joining a group is risky, as the dramatic change in personality can change the Rhotuka they have.
           Due to the complex nature of personhood, little time and effort has been invested into figuring out the full nature of Rhotuka. Nevertheless, some psychologists have been hired to analyze trends and correlations between Rhotuka abilities and personality traits, with some organizations –such as the Nynrah Ghosts or Dark Hunters- interested in utilizing brainwashing technology, in the hopes of changing a subject’s personality to the exact one needed to unlock the Rhotuka power they are looking for. Complex simulations and mind-altering technologies in Artidax are frequently patched and updated, and discussion is made on ‘manufacturing’ a personality by raising a person entirely through simulations, all for the purpose of creating someone so identical to another individual that they have the same, or at least a similar, Rhotuka.
           The following is a list of individuals and their unique Rhotuka abilities;
Roodaka- Reconstitutes and drastically mutates a target permanently into an entirely different creature. The victim’s new form is completely random, and can either be useful or debilitating. Some mutated bodies are non-conducive towards an environment, or living in general, thus killing off a victim in addition to physical trauma from the transformation. It is possible that a target’s specific mutation is unique to them, similar to one’s own Rhotuka ability; However, Roodaka is skeptical of this idea.
Sidorak- Makes targets incredibly loyal to Sidorak, as a manifestation of his leadership skills and natural charisma. Victims will obey any and all commands by Sidorak for a few hours, before the effect eventually wears off.
The Shadowed One- Victims are subject to madness in the form of a mental illness, whose symptoms are dialed up to an exaggerated, debilitating degree; Examples include depression, schizophrenia, OCD, bipolar disorder, etc. The effects will eventually dissipate, but trauma from the horrific effects tends to inevitably linger afterwards.
Ancient- All physical coordination of a target is completely scrambled; For example, if a victim attempted to move their arm, their neck may begin moving instead. The effects will eventually wear off after a while.
Amphibax- Renders all water within an approximately mile-wide radius unable to support the buoyancy of any thing; Anything in water affected by her Rhotuka lose their ability to float and will begin sinking unless deliberate swimming attempts are made. Additionally, Amphibax can charge and spin her Rhotuka within her launcher, which can turn the affected water it touches into a devastating whirlpool. The effects wear off after a few hours.
Airwatcher- Solid material becomes soft, malleable, and incredibly sticky like chewing gum, with most things that come into contact with the affected matter sinking into it like quicksand. Objects affected by Airwatcher’s Rhotuka can still be torn apart in this state, but the incredibly sticky, clinging properties makes such things difficult to handle. The effects wear off after a few hours.
Spinner- Targets lose all sense of balance and begin stumbling about; The effects wear off after a few hours.
Guardian- Transmutes all non-gaseous matter it passes through/impacts against into a fragile glass.
Kahgarak- Creates a temporary opening into the mysterious dimensional plane known as the ‘Zone of Darkness’
Visorak Spiders- Paralyzes victims by interfering with their nervous system, collapsing and numbing a target as their bodies become unresponsive to the brain’s signals; Certain organ systems, such as the respiratory or circulatory system, remain somewhat active to prevent a target from dying. The effects wear off after a few hours. Other, alternative abilities are also present, but less frequently utilized.
Gatherer- The memories of a target are scrambled as they interfere with the victim, randomly trapping them within various past experiences with only a dim, dream-like awareness of what is going on.
Sentrakh- Renders targets intangible for several minutes before the effect wears off; People and creatures affected can somewhat float around in this intangible state.
Tracker- Absorbs an object with a ‘trace’ of a target’s life energy and begins replicating the exact movements of that target’s soul within real-time, from the moment of the absorbed object’s separation from the person in question.
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sepublic · 4 years
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This is the Exo-Toa Kraahkan from Bionicle: RaE; Although if we’re being real, this could also totally function as a drawing of G1 Makuta from 2003, but with the alternative mask configuration. When redoing Bionicle G2, I really wanted to incorporate a lot of G1, while still reimagining it in some ways. And, I wanted to bring in the OG Makuta design in some capacity, especially since it wasn’t really going to be used for RaE Makuta!
Most Exo-Toa are piloted by the Kraata that power them; The Kraahkan is special in that it requires three Kraata to fuel its energy-intensive mechanisms. As a result, it is without a doubt the most powerful of all Exo-Toa, and the most expensive naturally. In-universe, its name is meant to invoke the term ‘Kraata’, to remind buyers that this one places a lot of emphasis on its power source due to requiring more of it than any other Exo-Toa model. Because having three Kraata pilots is complicated, the Kraahkan is unique amongst Exo-Toa in that it has its own functioning, independent AI mind that controls the body, while the three Kraata are relegated to mere energy sources.
The Exo-Toa Kraahkan is fast and powerful, and the largest of all Exo-Toa. It can shoot energy-beams transmitting its Kraata powers through the palms. The Kraahkan can only use one Kraata power at a time, but enhances each one it utilizes. Most models come equipped with an additional staff, whose handle can conduct the energies of the Kraahkan and release them through the twin-tonged blades at the end, enhancing firepower and range. These staffs also function perfectly as melee weapons, and the Kraahkan’s natural size, durability, and strength make it a nearly unbeatable opponent. Only the Exo-Toa Lerahk is more skilled in terms of combat skills.
On the back of each Kraahkan is a pair of boosters that can facilitate movement speed, with the tubes helping to divert power from the chest-module to the arms and boosters. Because of their heavy stature, the Kraahkan relies on powerful legs with multiple built-in pistons, gears, and other articulated bits inside. Thanks to wheels located on the soles of its feet and the back-boosters, a Kraahkan can essentially ‘skate’ forward at high speeds, swinging its staff around to clear obstacles and destroy enemy targets.
A Kraahkan can also charge up the pistons in its legs to fully-extend them, which when used in conjunction with its boosters, allows the Exo-Toa to achieve a massive leaping jump through the air. When combined with a Strength Kraata, the Kraahkan can jump even further- And Flight Kraata enable it to bypass the need to jump entirely, with legs mostly used as power-modules and landing gear. Additionally, the Kraahkan has equipped boom-stompers within its feet, enabling it to unleash powerful shockwaves with a charged-step through the ground that releases a specific Kraata power. The Kraahkan can also release this same kind of shockwave through its staff, by slamming it down into the ground. When combined with its massive leaping jump, a Kraahkan can fly through the air and slam into the ground with both feet and its staff, unleashing a massive crater of damage that sends armies flying.
Fully autonomous and able to interpret orders, the Kraahkan is an incredibly powerful, potent Xian weapon. A single Kraahkan can not only turn the tide of a battle, but even a war if utilized correctly. When one takes into account the complex, advanced AI, as well as the multi-energy module systems, AND the need for three Kraata (which on their own are already expensive), the price of a Kraahkan can become astronomical. As a result, it is one of the lesser-utilized products from Vortixx Industries. As an Exo-Toa requiring multiple Kraata, it pushes the very limits of Vortixx engineers and the size and power of the machines they design.
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