Hello. My name is Folk. I’m new on this website, and I was wondering if this topic would interest anyone. This is basically a whole kind-of theory, that leads to just a different interpretation of Bionicle generation 2’s story.
It is very long, it is biased, some stuff is probably missing, but I still like it a lot. Think of it as a “reading perspective” of sorts, just something to ponder about… Let me know what you think! I hope you guys like it.
Part 1:
It’s a basic design trait that I have noticed with the masks, but the theory just bloomed so much in my mind I thought it would be fun to talk about it.
In the story, we know basically two things about the masks in G2:
- The mask are granted powers with crystals from the elemental creatures.
- Masks are forged by Ekimu and previously Makuta. The only exceptions are the toa masters’ normal masks and the Vahi, which has been said to be there before the mask makers came to the island.
Here is the thing: on every single mask in G2 (literally, even the unnamed ones like the skulls and the beasts, as well as the uniter, I have checked) have one detail in common. A small, circular shape, kind of like a medal of sorts, with a small translucent point in the middle (that detail is almost unnoticeable in pictures, but you should see it in person if you look hard enough). It’s on the mouths of the protectors and toa, and on the foreheads of the other masks, like the legendary masks. It’s everywhere! I can’t send pictures, but check your sets, I think it’s easy to notice. So i thought “well that’s just a small seal, that’s where the mask makers put the crystals to give power to the masks, most likely”.
Here is the thing though: on the toa and protectors, it makes sense: these masks have been told to us to have been made by the mask makers. But why do Skull grinder and Umarak have this detail? Because they were built by the mask makers well, and more specifically, Makuta. Why Makuta?
Two reasons:
- Kulta and Umarak’s masks powers seem useful, but rather immoral in a way: Kulta has been shown to have the Mask of Reanimation (Like in G1 with the Tryna), and Umarak with the Mask of Shadows (like in G1 with the Kraahkan, although not nearly as powerful, here it just helps him move with the shadows). These power seem strange for someone like Ekimu to create, leaving Makuta as the main suspect.
More importantly: these two are the only character we meet to be able to communicate with Makuta’s “illusion form” after he loses his body, and to obey his orders. No other character has been shown to have this ability yet.
Basically, here are the basic points of the theory: Kulta and Umarak have been built by Makuta. But why? We know Makuta did not have evil intention before the day he put on the Mask of Ultimate Power and oh yeah, DIED. So, why would he create them?
Part 2:
If you followed the Bionicle story line in 2015 (or have watched bionicle autopsy on Makuta’s dark secret), you will know that 3 main events happened before the summoning of the toa:
The battle between Makuta and Ekimu
A wave of skull spiders attacked Okoto, which led the villagers to leave the ancient city to create their own villages around the island.
Another wave of skull spiders arrived, which led to the protectors summoning the toa.
Here is the thing: I have noticed while researching that skull spider swarms attack Okoto on a rather regular basis, with a big gap between each attack, that usually lasts about ten to a hundred years. So, it has led me to believe that the skull spiders already attacked Okoto before makuta and ekimu’s battle. Here is how I think it all took place.
Ten years before having their battle, Ekimu and Makuta lived in harmony, producing masks for the entire island. However, Makuta had always had a competitive side to him, most likely born from the envy to craft masks as beautiful as Ekimu’s. So, to compensate, thanks to his mask of Control, he started creating strange masks with intriguing powers, which he presented to the islanders. Some of them were considered helpful, while others were seen as immoral and were frowned upon. Two of these were the Mask of Reanimation and the Mask of Shadows. Makuta was ultimately disillusioned that nobody had shown enjoyment for what he considered his two greatest creations, but rather than destroying them, he decided to keep them to the side, as reminders of his genius.
But one day, a swarm of skull spiders invaded the island, bigger than any they had ever seen. They were so large in numbers that even the protectors and the Mask Makers eventually found themselves powerless against it. Something had to be done.
The protectors eventually gathered in the temple of time, and performed an ancient rite to summon the toa. They waited days, months… The toa would not come. Apparently, the prophecy was not yet to unfold…
At last, fter gathering all the protectors, the mask makers decided to create a mask that would be able to control the swarms telepathically. And so they did. After a night of struggle, Ekimu and Makuta’s efforts gave birth to the golden mask of the skull spiders. But had the mask just cooled down that a gigantic spider-like creature, that had built its nest in the city years ago, jumped in the room, knocking the mask makers out. As the mask makers laid down on the room’s floor, unconscious, the beast laid its six red eyes on its victims’ last creation. Out of curiosity and out of attraction for the shining gold, the monster picked up the mask with its front legs, and left. The creature was unaware that it had become the Lord of the skull spiders, even though he wasn’t related in any way to this species.
When they retrieved consciousness, the Mask Makers were appalled to see that their last chance for survival had been taken away. However, Makuta came up with an idea. If the toa did not show up, they shall create toa.
Macula proposed to gather parts from ancient statues, robotic components from machines (such as their airships), as well as great amounts of elemental crystals, in order to create beings that would protect them from the forces of evil or, in this case, be able to hold back the swarms, or even destroy them completely. Thanks to their combined mask powers, Ekimu could build the bodies and the weapons with the mask of creation, and Makuta give them life with the mask of control.
Ekimu was at first firmly opposed to this idea, as he felt using the ancient statues as body parts for their creations was an insult to the city itself, and creating life was simply a project which he did not want to partake in.
“Having legendary masks does not grant us the right to play with life and to profane our beloved city, Makuta. I would rather die.”
“This isn’t only about you, Ekimu. It’s about all of them. All of us”
But quickly, the mask maker realized that his brother’s proposal was simply the only solution. He agreed, but not without two important conditions: they would only build two of these beings (one would guard the ancient city, and one would travel around Okoto, clean the swarms and find the nests), and that these beings would be destroyed after the swarms were stopped. Makuta agreed to these rules, and they started working. Makuta, as an act of pride, gave them his two favorite masks, that he had kept as trophies thus far, without revealing his brother what power they possessed.
"Yes brother. These masks are powerless, I promise! I just thought that they would serve them well, to intimidate evil, you know?
They were almost twice as tall as a protector, with strong armor surrounding their bodies and limbs. Their appearances would strike fear to all those who would threaten Okoto. They were as imposing as the statues they once were. In memory of their origins, the mask makers granted them a name: The Ancient Ones.
“That is Umarak. He is an Ancient One, and very, very dangerous.”
Ekimu, Journey to One, episode 1
The one to keep the ancient city was made to be bruiting, cold and loyal. He was granted a sword and a humongous staff, which he would use to squash and slash the skull spiders, as well as rip them off the infected villagers’ faces, and was appropriately called: Kulta, the Skull Grinder.
The one to hunt the spiders was made to be cunning, intrepid and tenacious. He was granted a gigantic bow, and a special tool, invented by the mask makers themselves: the shadow traps. These small walking traps were built in order to fit any and every terrain and to hide in these terrains, as hunting devices to catch skull spiders. They called him: Umarak, the Hunter.
(This is why in the Journey to One, we see one of them attacking a random skull spider, even though it clearly contradicts Umarak’s orders: The mask makers’ “programming” is still there, and, sometimes, they simply glitch out.)
The Ancient Ones quickly proved to be incredibly effective, and loyal to their masters and to the Okotans. In a few weeks, they managed to almost completely stop the attack, and saved the lives of many, many villagers in the process. Makuta’s idea turned out to be a smashing success, and all of the Okotans quickly grew to love these beings that had saved them and their home.
However, Ekimu was still bitter about what had been done to save the island, and even though he was their masters and, therefore, expected to take care of these beings that he had created, he quickly grew to hate the Ancient Ones. Each time he saw them, Ekimu’s disdain simply grew more and more, and although he had told Makuta about the rule that these beings would be destroyed after the end of the attacks, he simply knew that the villagers and the protectors, as well as his brother, would all strongly oppose to his decision. All he could do, was to hate them.
MaKuta, on the other hand, was respectful towards the Ancient Ones, and didn’t simply see them as mindless slaves. He left them free to go were they saw fit, let them ask him questions, even taught them about the basics of tool crafting. Despite having two masters, only one of them was truly caring, the other was disgusted of their mere existence.
Part 3:
The Ancient Ones had been accepted by the Okotans. Kulta and Umarak became the great defenders of Okoto, and they were shown respect and love everywhere they went. They even helped the villagers when building their houses. However, the villagers did notice that their defenders spent most of their time with Makuta, rather than Ekimu, who, in fact, rejected them. Regardless, the creation of the Ancient ones had led to a great area of peace. But peace was not meant to last.
One day, Makuta created the Mask of Ultimate Power, which corrupted him, turned him into an unbelievably powerful and dark being (all this is shown in great detail in “the battle for the mask makers”). The battle between Ekimu and Makuta led to the island’s climate and landscape being definitively altered, separating the map in six regions. The Mask of Ultimate Power even caused terrible elemental storms all over Okoto, leading to earthquakes, floods, forest fires, volcano eruptions and blizzards, putting the life of many Okotans in dangers, even with most of them living in the ancient city. This battle led to a huge explosion, sending Ekimu into a deep slumber, and supposedly destroying Makuta’s body.
When the Okotans learned of Ekimu’s faith, the grief progressively led to great anger towards Makuta. The Ancient Ones, that had mostly been seen with Makuta, were now seen as his minions, and rejected as well. Fearing that Makuta had order the Ancient Ones to attack the ancient city’s inhabitants, the protectors led the evacuation, to prevent Kulta from completing his mission.
What they didn’t know, was that neither Umarak or Kulta had received orders from Makuta, nor were they even aware of what had happened to the only one that had ever seemed to understand them. But progressively, as they heard the villagers’ insults and cries of fear, they understood what had happened to the Mask Makers. Not only were they now challenged by grief, but they were also challenged by all of the Okotans flying away from them…
They were alone. They had lost their only true friend, and all the people that they had saved had all left the ancient city. Umarak decided to leave the city to go live in the jungle, were he could keep hunting creatures, as that was all he was ever created to do. Kulta, on the other hand, stayed in the ancient city, in front of the great Forge, strong, and still as a sculpture. All day, he would stand there, looking over the city he once protected. He stood there so long that his armor and mask started to chip away and decay. He stood there for over thirty years, to the point were almost nothing was left of his old body, leaving behind only the foundation of his mask, and the metallic bones that held his giant body together.
However, in the meantime, as the protectors were all trying to hold the villagers in the same place, they also started to consider going back to the ancient city, to lay Ekimu to rest were he belonged. One night, in fear that Kulta would see them, the six protectors infiltrated the ancient city, until they reached the proper room, were they could put his tomb.
“We have made it, brothers. No matter what happens to us now, this monster will not be able to break this tomb, nor will he be able open it. Ekimu can rest in peace, our duty is done.”
But as they closed the tomb, they saw the shadow of the Ancient One. The sight of this decayed body, this skull like mask, and all the scars and bruises that were once hidden by his armor, simply left the protectors petrified, as if they had seen death itself.
“Why are you afraid?”
“Don’t come near us! There are six of us, don’t make us destroy you.”
“Why have you come back?”
“We are putting Ekimu to rest, in the city he loved so much”
“What about my master?”
None of the protectors answered his question.
“You have not buried my master, but you have put to rest the one whom has killed him. The one who could bear the burden of having created me. The one whom despised me. This is the last time anyone shall ever be insolent towards me. I am Kulta, they call me the Skull Grinder. It is time I show your people how far my anger can lead me”.
A few minutes later, all the protectors were lying down, silent, their eyes lightless and their mask shattered to pieces…
Hundreds of years passed since that day. Umarak was still living in the forest, his body progressively decaying as well, his mask turning disfigured over time and from the poison of the creatures he had hunted. Slowly, he would replace his armor with the pieces of his victims, and he would develop a strong feeling of independence, as if he never needed a master.
Kulta was still laying still in the ancient city, his body being chipped away by time and anger …
One day, the Ancient Ones started hearing voices in their heads. A familiar voice… This was Makuta. He used the link mask makers share with their masks to communicate telepathically with them. He then explained to them what was to come.
“They have dishonored me. They shall be punished for it, all of them… Will you help me?”
Kulta, out of loyalty, swore allegiance without question. But Umarak reacted in a strange manner. He felt that if he had been able to live for so long in this jungle, he never needed a master in the first place. Despite this, he still joined Makuta’s cause, as he felt he should pay respects to him as a friend. They were both given orders:
-Kulta was to create an army and to destroy the Mask of Creation.
“If the Okotans are to be punished, Ekimu must not help them. I don’t know if Ekimu is capable of using his legendary mask this way, but if I can use it to talk to you, so can he, most likely. Destroying the mask of Creation is simply a precaution, to make sure my brother never disturbs my plans again…”
-Umarak was to hunt down the elemental creatures of the six regions, and to find the mask of control.
“I know what power my mask possess. It is simply too helpful for us not to retrieve it.”
Makuta also used this occasion to introduce the Ancient Ones to their mask powers, which that had never even known about: Umarak could manipulate the shadows and swiftly move around using them, and Kulta could reanimate the dead villagers of the ancient graveyard. He would use this power to create his army.
After stealing bodies from the graveyard, Kulta dragged them to the ancient forge. There, he used the mask-making lessons Makuta had taught him, years ago, and rebuilt the villagers. Over night, Kulta built an army of skeletal soldiers, all inspired by his own twisted image. He built skull warriors, and even mixed dead creatures of Okoto with the dead villagers to create abominations. His two lieutenants were his most treasured work: a strong, bulky and reckless bipedal bull, and a four armed maniac which he built out of a dead skull spider and a dead protector, that had been know as one of the great gladiatorial warriors of the ancient city. Then, using his mask of Reanimation, Kulta revived the army. The modified bodies started walking, grabing their weapons, and obeying fiercely to their new master.
“The Mask of Creation possess unimaginable power. Don’t destroy it just yet, I may find a use for it later. However, you can wear it, but only if the situation absolutely requires it. If you take of your mask off to replace it, its power will no longer work, and your army will crumble to pieces”.
Meanwhile, Umarak kept hunting for the elemental creatures, in order to know where the Mask of Control had been hidden. But the creatures were wise and powerful, and Umarak’s traps simply proved ineffective for a very long time. Little did he know that Makuta would only use his body as a puppet, once the Ancient One wore the mask…
That’s the whole theory. This is just another way to think of two characters that we simply know very little about, and whose descriptions on the website and other media may seem confusing. I really hope you enjoyed! 
And to think I thought of all this simply by looking at a small seal on the G2 masks. I wonder if I’m insane, or if I’m just faithful to Nuparu’s saying:
“Imagination is making the greatest sculpture out of the smallest rock”.
Nuparu
. [quote=“Folk, post:13, topic:25124”]