Toa (Bionicle)

In the fictional Bionicle universe certain Matoran (workers and villagers) are destined to become Toa; heroic warriors of great strength and power. It is Toa who defend the Matoran when they cannot defend themselves. They usually work together in teams, with one member representing each of the six most common elements (fire, earth, stone, air, water, and ice). Each Toa has near-complete control over their element, and can access the powers of the more powerful Great Kanohi Masks. As the Bionicle universe is based around a line of action figures, most Toa have appeared in their action figure.

There were once as many as 3,000 Toa in existence, but as of the time of the Toa Inika their numbers are down to 50. [http://www.bzpower.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=228703 Tiny Bit on 2007] at [http://www.bzpower.com BZPower] forums, post #1 The Toa Hagah have since returned to active service,"Gali Nuva's Blog" #6 at [http://www.bioniclestory.com BionicleStory.com] raising this number to 56. Currently, after Matoro's death and Toa Krakua's existence in the story, the number remains 56.

History

Toa Teams

Toa Mata/Toa Nuva

The chosen guardians of the Great Spirit Mata Nui, destined to awaken him if he would ever fall. In his honor, they were known as the Toa Mata, six Toa warriors. After their transformation in energized protodermis, they became the Toa Nuva, with improved armor, weaponry, and masks. They then added the suffix "Nuva" to their name, and masks. After donning Artakha's Adaptive Armor, they were able to master any environment with its ability to adapt to the current situation. Tahu, Gali, and Onua dispatched themselves to the Karda Nui swamps, while Lewa, Kopaka and Pohatu left for the skies to rescue the Av-Matoran.

Tahu's team has been known as the Mistika, in the Matoran language translating to "spirits of the swamp", with their armor adapting to a swamp environment with aerial capabilities armed with Nynrah Ghost Blasters. Kopaka's team also received a Matoran term, "spirits of the skies", or Phantoka, armed with Midak Skyblasters.

Tahu Nuva

The Toa Nuva of Water, Gali is as cool as the waters of Ga-Koro's bays. Seeking to contain Tahu's aggression and protect the unity of the Toa Nuva, she takes her role as a Toa with the utmost importance, and is willing to protect any sentient being threatened by the evils of the Brotherhood. Considering her peaceful lifestyle, she is an accomplished warrior against those who threaten her allies. Gali Nuva is armed with the Kanohi Kaukau, Mask of Underwater Breathing. As a Toa Mata, she was armed with hooks applied to her arms, later transformed to Aqua Axes. As a Mistika, she is armed with a Nynrah Ghost Blaster with laser sighting [http://bionicle.lego.com/en-us/story/bios/mistika/ToaGali.aspx] .

Kopaka Nuva

The Toa Nuva of Earth, Onua is very quiet, speaking only when he has something important to add. He is intelligent, wise, and the second strongest of the Nuva, behind Pohatu. A running gag has Onua saving people at the last moment, including catching Tahu as he was dropped from the sky, Lewa when his mask was infected (Infected masks make the wearer serve whichever Makuta infected it), and when Lewa was controlled by a krana. As a Toa Mata, his weapons were his hands, which sported large claws. When he became a Toa Nuva, he received dual Quake Breakers (basically chainsaws), and as a Mistika, he is armed with a Nynrah ghost blaster and a shield [http://bionicle.lego.com/en-us/story/bios/mistika/ToaOnua.aspx] .

Rahaga/Toa Hagah

The Rahaga/Toa Hagah's history dates back to prior the coming of the Toa Mata during the early stages of Makuta Teridax's plan. The guardians of Makuta Teridax, the Toa Team was made of six Toa chosen specifically in reward of their previous deeds. Given an elite status and unique armor that identified them as Hagah, or Guardians in the Matoran language, and thus were named the Toa Hagah. [Farshley, G (2007): Bionicle Encyclopedia: Updated Edition", Scholastic.]

The Toa Hagah served Teridax on Destral, deceived and manipulated to destroy the rampant artificial Bohrok the Brotherhood created, which were initially considered by the Brotherhood as a potential weapon, unknown to the elitist faction. Eventually, this deception did not last long, and they rebelled against Teridax and the Brotherhood when they discovered their they had committed theft and stolen the Kanohi Avohkii. When four of their number were captured by the Brotherhood, Norik, and Iruini, whom for different reasons were not, and attempted a rescue, but were mutated by Roodaka into Toa Hagah-Rahkshi mutants named Rahaga. Escaping with their lives, they were given a fate worse than death, and could never be accepted into Matoran society as true heroes. [Farshley, G & Elliot, R (2005): "Comic 25: Birth of a Rahaga".]

The "Rahaga", accepting their fate, turned to enemies of their nemesis Roodaka, saving threatened Rahi from the threat of the Visorak, who were commanded by the Vortixx and her King, Sidorak. Educating themselves about Rahi, they also searched for the mythical Keetongu (which possessed the ability to cure those infected with Hordika venom) to aid in their quest. Fate would have it as the Visorak invaded Metru Nui, the Rahaga in tow. [Farshley, G (2007): "Bionicle Encyclopedia: Updated Edition", under "Rahaga", p. 118.] Arriving to rescue the Toa Metru, sent to their deaths, they informed them of their mutation by Hordika venom into Toa Hordika, educating them in their new forms and the possibility of a cure in Keetongu."Farshley, G (2005): "Bionicle Adventures #7: "Web of the Visorak", Scholastic]

There, they helped the Toa Hordika when the Visorak took over Metru Nui. A recent event in the storyline has seen the Rahaga restored to their Toa Hagah forms.

Norik

Norik is the Toa Hagah of Fire, and the leader of the Toa Hagah, and was previously the Rahaga of Fire. In the discovery of the Brotherhood's rebellion, he allowed his team to become overconfident against their foes, paving the way for their capture. He, along with Iruini, was the only to escape the fate of his teammates, and teamed up with him to rescue them. Now changed to a Turaga-esque wise persona, he became cautious, but still preferred to lead psychically instead of verbally. He was also very concerned about Vakama's rapid primal transformation, and was the only one to escape capture once more when Vakama turned to the dark side with Roodaka.

As a Rahaga, Norik was armed with a Rhotuka spinner with the "Snare" power, which tangled the limbs of a target. His Rahaga Staff could also be manipulated to distract his reptile Rahi prey (Norik specialized in the capture and study of these Rahi such as Furnace Salamanders) as he prepared to strike.

As a Toa Hagah, he is armed with the Hagah's standard weapons: a Spear, in the form of a Lava Spear which contained the power of Lava and could sap or increase the heat of its target, and a Rhotuka-Launching Shield with Rhotuka containing "Weakening" power which weakened and slowed its target. He wore the Kanohi Pehkui, Great Mask of Diminishment, presented by his previous team in memory of a former warrior.

Individual Toa

Other prominent Toa include Jovan, Krakua, Helryx, Lesovikk, Lhikan, Nidhiki,Naho, Nikila, Tuyet and Ignika. Also see "Rahaga" below, who were once the 'Toa Hagah' before getting mutated by Roodaka.

Takanuva

Takanuva was originally an Av-Matoran named Takua. He was later hidden on Metru Nui during the Time Slip, and was later brought to Mata Nui. After being transformed into a Toa of Light by the Kanohi Avohkii, he renamed himself Takanuva and fought Makuta Teridax. He later guarded Metru Nui in the Toa Nuva's absence, fought Frostelus. He was later intercepted a dark presence from his mind, and went after the culprit, the Dark Hunter codenamed "Dweller", who was assigned to the Metru Nui region to kill Takanuva, leaving the City of Legends open to Dark Hunter control. As he did, Makuta Icarax, under the orders of Teridax, dropped a Shadow Leech upon him (intended for Teridax's Matoran ally, Ahkmou), and was able to incinerate the leech with concentrated light, and fell unconscious. He was then told by Brutaka to go to Karda Nui, and opened a portal, leading to several dimensional journeys before arriving in Karda Nui. There, he found the Toa Nuva in the swamps with vital information and fought against the Makuta.

Powers & Abilities

All Toa share common powers and abilities.

Weapons

Toa are known to use weapons named Toa Tools. Toa Tools are weapons that focus the Toa's elemental energies as well as provide a useful combat weapon.

Zamor Spheres

Zamor Spheres are transparent hollow spheres that are filled with gas, energy or liquid and fired from a Zamor Launcher. On contact with its target, the Zamor Sphere's solid exterior gives way to release its contents.

Zamor Launchers

Zamor Launchers are launching mechanisms to hold and fire Zamor Spheres. They were developed and manufactured by the Nynrah Ghosts. Toa Jovan was one of the first active users of the Zamor Launchers. They were later redesigned, and three prototypes were manufactured by the Nynrah Ghosts. The Dark Hunters Nidhiki, Krekka, and Lariska were able to steal the prototypes. Avak, a Piraka, would later craft seven Launchers from the Toa Mata's Toa Canisters and use them against the native Matoran on Voya Nui. A group of Matoran was able to steal the Launchers and Velika constructed six for the Toa Inika. Balta later constructed an additional Zamor Launchers to free the Toa Nuva, and when the Toa Inika were transformed to Toa Mahri, the Zamor Launchers were lost.

Over the centuries, many models of Zamor Launchers existed. The earliest model was used by Toa Jovan. The Piraka used the standard model, and the Matoran and Toa Inika modified the Piraka's Launcher to hold four Zamor Spheres instead of one.

Cordak Blasters

Cordak Blasters are rotating six-shot projectile weapons developed by the Order of Mata Nui member, Hydraxon. It took its name from the Matoran word "Cordak", which translated, means "desolation". They are manufactured on Xia, and Hydraxon and the Maxilos robots were outfitted with them. After the Pit was destroyed, the Barraki stole Cordak Blasters from Hydraxon's cache, but were used by the Toa Mahri when they discovered them.

Karzahni also discovered them and armed his Manutri with them. On the Toa Mahri's departure, Nuparu disassembled and studied the Cordak rockets. Thus, the Matoran were able to manufacture these rockets for the Toa's use in Metru Nui.

Controversy

In 2001, Lego faced legal action by Māori activists from New Zealand for trademarking Māori words used in naming the Bionicle product range for use in the Matoran language, including the names of some Toa, and even the word "Toa" itself.cite news | first = | last = | author = | coauthors =| url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1362435.stm | title =Lego game irks Maoris | work = | publisher =BBC News | pages = | page = | date =2005-05-31 | accessdate =2006-08-14 | language =English Despite this, many of the names of the Toa from Māori language, were still kept, though lego was careful in naming characters from then on.

References