Hello everyone, and happy new year! A couple of months ago, I built a batch of Voya Nui-style Matoran covering the six classic Bionicle elements- fire, ice, water, stone, earth, and air- along with a Toa of Plantlife. I’ve already shown all of them in my main MOC topic, so go check that out if you’re looking for more photos. Here they all are, along with their backstories.
Lexar
Lexar is a Ta-Matoran who hails from a western island just north of Tren Krom’s island. He was badly wounded and sent to the island of Karzahni, where he was rebuilt into an altered form, but like all other Matoran sent to be repaired there in that timeframe, he was not sent back to his home island but shipped off to the Southern Continent. After his rebuilding by Karzahni, only his left leg remains out of all his original limbs, with the rest being replaced by wholly mechanical equivalents that occasionally break down and need repair; consequently, Lexar became a skilled mechanic out of necessity. The weapons given to him by Karzahni consisted of a small Protosteel Buckler and an Electro Greatblade, a large (relative to a Matoran) single-edged greatsword capable of shocking anything it strikes.
Note: Since photographing Lexar, I’ve given him an Arthron in place of a Hau.
Kolux
Kolux is a Ko-Matoran who originates from the same island as Lexar and was similarly sent to Karzahni to be patched up following an accident. Unfortunately, he was rebuilt into a much weaker form, resulting in him being sent away to the Southern Continent. Unlike Lexar, however, he managed to build a boat out of scraps of wood (from the few trees on the Southern Continent that aren’t toxic, carnivorous, or otherwise violent) and sail back to his homeland, where he spread word of Karzahni’s failures. As a result of his actions, no more Matoran of that island were ever sent to Karzahni to be repaired again. Kolux is an experienced navigator, even with only one original limb- his right leg- remaining. He wields a pair of Electro Daggers, which can shock anything he hits with them.
Note: Since photographing Kolux, I’ve switched his Gelu helmet and ungainly long neck for a sand blue Akaku.
Ikora
Ikora is a Ga-Matoran from the same island as Lexar and Kolux, once sent to Karzahni to be repaired after an accident. After being shipped off to the Southern Continent, she met up with Kolux and assisted him in gathering materials to make two boats in which the pair would escape to their home; however, there was a Rahi attack shortly after departure, and the creature punched a hole in the bottom of Ikora’s boat. Though the pair were able to chase the Rahi off with their weapons, Ikora’s boat sank shortly thereafter. Being a Matoran of Water and thus a strong swimmer, she bid Kolux good luck and was able to return to the Southern Continent, later leading a group of Matoran in creating a much larger fleet of boats and returning home. Ikora reunited with Kolux and her other friends, and resided on her home island until the Matoran Universe was evacuated. Ikora wields a Protosteel Katana that is very difficult to break despite how thin and light it is and has a pommel made from a Burnak fang. Her left arm has been replaced with an ungainly, entirely mechanical version attached next to her original shoulder.
Jasku
Jasku is a Po-Matoran who hails from the same island as Lexar, Kolux and Ikora. He was the first Matoran ever to be shipped to Karzahni for repair, but the seas were not mapped at the time; thus, no alarms were raised when he didn’t return, and it was believed he had suffered a shipwreck, Rahi attack, or some other unfortunate fate on the journey. Of course, this was untrue- in reality Karzahni had (poorly) rebuilt him and sent him away to the Southern Continent to hide his failure. Jasku was thus the first rebuilt Matoran on the continent and the first Matoran on the bulk of it, and remained as such for a very long time. Until other Matoran began arriving, he was alone and lived a somewhat peaceful life, exploring and mapping as much of the continent as he safely could (which wasn’t much). When others did begin to show up, though, he gladly took up the role of a pseudo-Turaga. Anytime a new Matoran arrived, he and a few others began an orientation: guiding the new arrivals, teaching them which trees you could climb to get the lay of the land and which ones would melt your armor off if you tried, and educating them on the Rahi of the continent and the many exotic ways said Rahi could and would kill them if looked at funny. Jasku was eventually one of the Matoran to return to his home island as part of Ikora’s fleet, where he reunited with his friends and lived in relative peace until the emergency evacuation of the Matoran Universe. Jasku was fortunate enough to be altered only slightly by Karzahni, with his only significant changes being the attachment of an articulate Protosteel Tri-Claw to his left hand and the replacement of his right arm with a massive, bulky prosthetic that can crush rocks and lift large objects; these function as his Karzahni-granted weapons.
Zalek
Zalek is an Onu-Matoran who was shipped from his home island to Karzahni for rebuilding, then sent to the Southern Continent. He was one of the unlucky few who was on Voya Nui when the Piraka took it over, and was enslaved, forced along with a team of other Onu-Matoran to mine in hopes of tunneling into the chamber where the Mask of Life was held. One day, Zalek decided he had had enough, and he used his Karzahni-given mining tools to snap his chain, allowing him to cut the chains off his friends. Then, all the Onu-Matoran ran. Though some were recaptured, many escaped, including Zalek. He got to the eastern coast and hurled himself into the sea, swimming as fast and as far as he could. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to make it to dry land, becoming too tired and passing out. He was lucky enough not to be attacked by any sea Rahi and washed up on the shores of Nynrah. Discovered by a group of Fe-Matoran and taken in, he became what he knew best- a miner who searched underground for material the Nynrah Ghosts would use to make weapons. He lived there in peace, happy with his life and his role in the society of Nynrah, until the Matoran Universe was evacuated, whereupon he reunited with his old friends and introduced them to his new friends from Nynrah. Zalek wields two mining claws, which allow him to break through tough rock and pluck ore and gemstones from the rubble.
Note: Since photographing Zalek, I’ve given him a smoky-colored Kaukau, replaced his Hordika-neck hands with Glatorian necks, and switched that Pahrak-Kal shield for a second Vorzakh staff.
Okar
Okar was an introspective and curious (some would say nosy) Le-Matoran sent to Karzahni from his home island. After the replacement of his right arm and leg, various other reassemblies, and the addition of a Gale Cutlass and Gale Dagger from Karzahni, Okar was shipped off to the Southern Continent. He arrived without incident and was shown around by Jasku. Unfortunately, Okar’s curiosity proved to be his undoing, as he decided to start poking around in a cave that, though he didn’t know it until it was too late, proved to be the home of an incredibly irate Ash Bear. He was mauled quite badly, and though Jasku stepped in to rescue him and chased off the Rahi, Okar expired shortly thereafter. After his demise, Jasku made sure to return his mask to the village’s Turaga upon returning home, and it was buried at the foot of a tree under which Okar had always liked to sit and think. Okar’s Gale Cutlass allowed him to create wind currents by swinging it, with the direction and strength of the current determined by the direction and strength of the swing. His Gale Dagger was extremely aerodynamic, allowing him to throw it for maximum distance with minimum effort.
Hakalo, Toa of Plantlife
Hakalo is a Toa of Plantlife who guarded a small village of Matoran including Lexar, Kolux, Ikora, Jasku, Zalek and Okar. Upon Kolux’s return home from the Southern Continent, Hakalo was horrified by the Matoran’s disfigured appearance, listened intently to his story, and immediately set off on a voyage to rescue the remaining Matoran on the Southern Continent. Though he was unable to gather all of them, as that would be a nearly impossible task for only one Toa, he did get together at least seventy-five and used his power over plants to assist Ikora in building many small wooden boats. In these, the rescued Matoran would sail back to their homelands. Though several opted to stay behind (having become familiar with and almost comfortable on the Southern Continent), a good sixty or so of the Matoran immediately embarked on journeys back to their homes. The fleet shrank as groups of Matoran split off in various directions to return to different islands, with Hakalo, Lexar, Ikora and Jasku accompanying each and every one back home, until those four were the only ones left. They swiftly set their sights on home and returned safely, where they were hailed as heroes and lived happily until they were evacuated to Spherus Magna to begin new lives. To this day, Hakalo’s ship, which he took to the Southern Continent and used to lead the fleet, is moored on the island. Hakalo wears the Kanohi Kosel, Mask of Grounding, which allows him to stop beings of his choice from flying in a generous area around him. He also wields a scythe, flail and Kanoka disk launcher. His shins, chest and shoulder are adorned with flowers, and a thorny vine that he’s been known to grow and use as a weapon if he’s disarmed sprouts out of the armor on his left forearm.
Note: Since photographing Hakalo, I’ve switched out the janky bottom portion of his flail for another mace half piece and made his upper leg armor silver.
Thoughts, comments, and constructive criticism is, as always, very welcome. Here’s to a great 2025!