After I finished writing this post out, it told me it was too long to publish. Thus, I have split it into two parts. Here is part 2!
Khumu
Species: Toa
Element: Ice
Kanohi: Calix, Great Mask of Fate (scoped)
Weapon(s): Frost Flail
Abilities: Control over Ice; Able to act at the peak of their physical ability
Affiliation(s): Toa Mangai (formerly); Makuta Hiyura’s Toa Hagah (formerly)
Once, long, long ago, Khumu lived a comfortable and lavish life in a village at the foothills of the Southern Highlands. As the only Toa present in a community of Matoran, they were unquestionably their leader. They used this position to enhance their own life, not caring if their indulgence made the lives of his villagers worse. This selfish lifestyle led to Khumu receiving a dream that they believed was sent by Mata Nui himself. In the dream, Khumu saw that disaster would befall their village if they continued on this path, and it would be entirely their own fault. After waking up, Khumu decided to leave their village and go on a journey of self-interrogation and discovery.
On this journey, Khumu encountered a small group of other Toa, who they decided to join. At first, they were arrogant and selfish, leading to their new team disliking them quite a bit. Over time, though, they changed this mindset. Eventually they became the most chivalrous, kind, and selfless Toa of the group. In fact, this led to them becoming the team’s leader. Khumu led their brothers and sisters into exceptionally dangerous situations to rescue imperiled Matoran (and other species). Their old villagers likely wouldn’t have recognized them.
When the Brotherhood of Makuta began assembling Toa Hagah for their members, Khumu was contacted by Makuta Hiyura (the Makuta assigned to the Southern Highlands). The Toa of Ice accepted the invitation to the Makuta’s team, believing the Brotherhood to be a force for good. Their teammates gifted them a new mask and set of armor made from ice as hard as metal, both of which they accepted graciously. Then, they traveled back to the Southern Continent and met Hiyura and their new teammates. Khumu served Hiyura well for many years, until they received an urgent call for help from a Turaga in a distant city. The Ko-Toa brought the message to Hiyura, but the Makuta forbade them from leaving. Unable to ignore a call for help, Khumu disobeyed orders and left that night.
It was Khumu who landed the final blow against the Kanohi Dragon. After Kanae lured the dragon into Ta-Metru’s harbor, the Mangai’s Toa of Water and Ice pelted it with their elemental powers. Khumu used their flail to hook themselves onto its head, and from there they unleashed a wave of pure elemental energy that froze most of its skull solid. It would take more than that to kill the beast, but Khumu’s effort at least knocked it out and allowed for it to be transported away.
Knowing that returning to the Southern Highlands would be folly, Khumu remained with the Toa Mangai. They and Lhikan got along quite well, as both exemplified what it meant to be a Toa. Khumu was utterly disappointed when they heard of Tuyet’s actions, and was severely disheartened when Nidhiki betrayed them during the war. They started thinking that this Toa team was not the shining beacon of goodness they thought it was. In fact, they were considering abandoning the Mangai and returning to Hiyura to face their punishment.
Khumu resolved to leave after one final mission. This mission would be to visit the southwestern Sea Gate to investigate what happened to Faro, and close the gate if she failed to do so. Upon reaching the gate, Khumu found a monstrous creature there waiting for them. During the ensuing conflict, the Toa of Ice learned the monster was actually their former brother Nidhiki. Shocked by the revelation, Khumu didn’t notice Eliminator sneak up behind them until it was too late. A strike from the Hunter’s powerful fists took them down, and an energy blast took them out.
Itiro
Species: Toa
Element: Stone
Kanohi: Motuneke, Great Mask of Kinetic Absorption
Weapon(s): Solis Scepter
Abilities: Control over Stone; Manipulation of light via his staff; Passive absorption of any kinetic energy dealt to him that he can expel in his own attacks (like Black Panther’s suit)
Affiliation(s): Toa Mangai (formerly)
Itiro is not a fighter. He never has been. He is a scholar of the past. Long ago, he was an explorer and archeologist. It was his mission to traverse the universe in search of answers: who really were the Matoran? Where did they come from? Why and how were they there? And perhaps most importantly, what was their collective destiny? Itiro knew he could look to the past to uncover their future.
Itiro found a temple located in a vast desert one day. The trip there was perilous, made even more so by a strange creature hunting him. Finally the Po-Matoran reached the steps of the structure, acutely aware of dead eyes watching him. Once inside, he found a great many carvings and sculptures. They looked to have been made by Matoran, but clearly ones with a very unique culture. At the center of the temple, beneath a hole in the ceiling that seemed to focus the daylight through it, stood a strange golden scepter. Intrigued, Itiro reached out and touched it. Instantly, power surged through him, transforming him from a Matoran into a Toa, decked out in ornate golden armor.
No sooner had he transformed than his hunter attacked. It was a starving, feral thing with great antlers sprouting from its skull. Itiro and the creature fought through the temple. His foe had Toa powers, strangely enough, though it had very little control over them. Likewise, Itiro was completely new to being a Toa and really had no idea what he was doing. The two, then, were equally matched. The temple ended up collapsing due to the creature using support columns as ammunition. As the temple roof fell, a chunk of it fell onto Itiro’s head, knocking off his mask. Another chunk struck him soon after, pinning him down. The creature would surely have finished him off, but his scepter shot a beam of light at it, scaring it away. Itiro retrieved his mask and made his way out. With the temple sadly reduced to rubble, there was nothing left for him there.
Itiro would continue to study the past for years to come. His research would come to a halt when he heard of a city in dire need of help. At the time he was residing in a Steltian inn, and he learned of Metru Nui’s situation and Turaga Dume’s call from a Vortixx traveler. Although he wasn’t a fighter, he had a very strong feeling that he needed to go there. And so, off he went.
After dealing with the Kanohi Dragon, Itiro spent much of his time in the Archives. Even though he was a Po-Matoran, he much preferred the ancient history of the Archives to the life of carving in Po-Metru. Eventually he became more acquainted with Onu-Metru than Duloh, who spent most of his time in Po-Metru.
Itiro never got to unravel the mysteries behind Matoran civilization. His own destiny was cut short when Turaga Dume ordered him on a mission with Bellara and Chronicler Kodan. Their goal was to give aid to a village located in the Okoto Jungle, a rainforest on the Northern Continent that was once ruled by Makuta Umarak. When they reached the destination marked on their map, they found no village. Together they wandered through the jungle, very concerned and confused. That was when Itiro’s staff flashed a warning, and a black-armored giant pounced from the treetops.
Thanks to the warning, Itiro was able to dodge. He shouted for Bellara to take Kodan and run, then turned to face the hulking Dark Hunter. The ensuing battle was brief but intense. Itiro’s scepter blocked Eliminator’s energy blasts, forcing him to use more physical means of attack. Itiro took a pummeling, though his mask allowed him to fire back a massive blast of kinetic energy. Eliminator was blown through a number of thick tree trunks, momentarily dazing him. He was back on his feet before Itiro could take advantage of his foe’s weakness, and once again he went on the attack. Itiro, who you may remember is not a fighter, couldn’t stand up to Eliminator’s onslaught, even after letting loose a number more kinetic bursts. The Po-Toa finally met his end as Eliminator brought a massive fist onto his head, crushing his neck.
Duloh
Species: Toa
Element: Earth
Kanohi: Kakama, Great Mask of Speed
Weapon(s): Tremor Gauntlets (designed by @archivist_of_metru_nui on Instagram)
Abilities: Control over Earth; Superspeed
Affiliation(s): Toa Mangai (formerly)
Duloh has always been a sportsman at heart. As far back as he could remember, he was competing in and overseeing sporting events in his homeland of Artakha. On one day, Artakha designed a massive sporting competition, the winner of which would become a Toa. The event included a footrace, fencing, shooting, an obstacle course, and swimming. Duloh just barely managed to claim victory, just as Artakha expected - after all, the energetic Onu-Matoran was destined to become a Toa, and this was the builder’s way of testing him.
Following his transformation, Duloh was exiled from Artakha, as Toa were not permitted to live on its shores. Duloh wandered for a bit, joining various Toa teams. Unfortunately for him, they didn’t often end well. His first team went on a mission that ended in them battling a squad of mutant Rahkshi. During the fight, Duloh used his powers a bit too recklessly, resulting in the team’s Toa of Air plummeting into a deep pit. Duloh left after that, feeling responsible for the loss - it was kind of his fault, after all.
A few dozen years later, he joined a new Toa team. The group got along well, until one member was mutated into a Toa Hordika. Frightened, the Toa attacked him (Duloh being the one to strike the first blow), leading to the Hordika fighting back and maiming most of them before fleeing. After recovering, Duloh struck out on his own for a long while. Both times he joined a Toa team he screwed things up, so it would be best if he kept to himself.
It wouldn’t be until he heard of trouble in Metru Nui that Duloh would eventually return to the group dynamic. He didn’t really want to join another team, but he deeply needed to do something right for once. Thus, he made his way to Metru Nui and helped put a stop to the rampaging Kanohi Dragon. Duloh and his fellow Toa were hailed as heroes, and he had to admit it felt pretty good. After some internal debate, he decided to give the team thing one more shot - and he’d be quite thankful that he did, as his time on Metru Nui was the highlight of his life (even better than Artakha). During that time, he played in and administered a great many Akilini tournaments.
Like most of the Mangai, Duloh would see his life cut short by Eliminator. When Greizin failed to report back from the main Sea Gate, Duloh was sent to ensure it was closed. Duloh was successful, but just after he closed the gate, Nidhiki sprang from the shadows. Duloh used his Kakama to dodge all of the Dark Hunter’s attacks, though his luck wouldn’t last forever. Eliminator managed to sneak up from behind and knock the Toa’s mask off, allowing Nidhiki to finally pin him down before Eliminator ended him with an energy blast. His gray Kakama would sit by the Sea Gate for many years before the Shadowed One eventually found it and cast it into the sea.
Bellara
Species: Toa
Element: Plantlife
Kanohi: Nehi, Great Mask of Healing
Weapon(s): Dual Vinesaws (currently only has one); Kanoka disc launcher
Abilities: Control over Plantlife; Can heal physical damage done to organic matter
Affiliation(s): Explorers Three; Toa Mangai (formerly); Toa Xia (formerly)
Bellara spent most her life in great cities. It didn’t start out that way, though. She originally hailed from a small, forested island (the same one Boro would eventually call home). The island’s Toa gave up her power into a single Toa Stone, which she secretly hid somewhere in the forest. Ideally, only someone with a deep connection to the forest would be able to find it and become a Toa. Bellara had that deep connection and feet that tended to wander, and so managed to find the stone underground nestled within a tangled root system. The Bo-Matoran emerged as a Bo-Toa, and she went right to her Turaga to ask permission to leave her home. After all, she was always hungry for adventure. After much convincing, the Turaga acquiesced, and Bellara left.
Early in her travels, she met a short, quiet Toa of Ice. The Toa’s name was Kanae, and she told Bellara that she was on her way to Xia. Bellara had never been to Xia, but she was curious. She tagged along with Kanae on her trip, and despite the two’s differences, they ended up getting along. When they reached Xia, it wasn’t exactly what Bellara had imagined - far more smoggy, loud, and crowded - but she stayed by her new friend’s side. Apparently Kanae was there because she wished to join the newly-created Toa Xia, and so Bellara decided to follow suit.
Over time Bellara grew used to the horrendous conditions of Xia and forgot all about the natural world she was once so connected to. Being a member of the Toa Xia allowed her to quickly gain experience in combat and teamwork as she battled pirates and thieves alongside her sisters. Yet, although she wouldn’t admit it to anyone but Kanae, something was missing. What that something was, Bellara had no clue. But when the Toa Xia received word from Turaga Dume of Metru Nui that the city was in trouble, Bellara jumped at the chance to leave Xia and go somewhere else. Kanae volunteered as well, and so off the two went.
Bellara and Kanae reached Metru Nui just in time to deal with a giant Kanohi Dragon. Unfortunately Bellara was completely out of her depth there and really couldn’t do much, but she tried her best at least. Following the defeat of the dragon, she realized just how much better this city was than her old one. After a long argument, she managed to convince Kanae to stay on Metru Nui and become part of the new Toa Mangai.
As a Toa Mangai, Bellara spent most of her time in Le- and Ga-Metru. She enjoyed learning at the Great Temple almost as much as thrill-seeking in Le-Metru. During Akilini tournaments, her ultra-competitive edge shined through. Often she would compete against Duloh, and the two formed a bond over their love of challenges.
Things would soon go awry when Kanae didn’t return from a mission she was sent on. Bellara went to investigate and found nothing. Cofused and fearing the worst, she went into full detective mode. She poked around Metru Nui ceaselessly, causing Dume to grow concerned. To get her out of his metaphorical hair, he ordered her to go rescue a fictional village on the Northern Continent with Itiro and Kodan. There, the Dark Hunter Eliminator was waiting for them. Bellara fled with Kodan while Itiro and Eliminator battled it out, but they didn’t get too far. Eliminator dealt with the Toa of Stone and quickly caught up with the two runners. Kodan was killed, and Eliminator dealt a devastating blow to Bellara’s chest, cracking her armor. Downed and dying, the Toa tried one last option. She jabbed Eliminator with a vine coated in hallucinogenic poison, causing the Dark Hunter to imagine he had killed her. Satisfied, he lumbered away, leaving Bellara alone. She used her mask to heal her injuries, gave Kodan and Itiro proper burials, and pondered what to do next.
Bellara realized she was marked for death, and though she knew it was cowardly, she remained in the jungle. To ensure she wouldn’t be found out, she changed her armor, got her mask reforged in secret, and went by the name Fiora. Henceforth, she remained in the jungle. Over time she realized just how beautiful and wonderful nature was, and couldn’t imagine how she ever survived somewhere like Xia. Bellara’s wandering spirit led her to explore the entire jungle, while her curious mind led her to study all the flora living within it. After many decades of study, she was the foremost authority on the Okoto Jungle. Not only did she study it, but she also acted as its protector, stopping poachers and loggers from harming its delicate ecosystem.
One day, she encountered a Toa of Water strolling through the jungle. Bellara intercepted and interrogated him, but soon realized there was nothing to worry about. He introduced himself as Lord Atlan, an explorer and naturalist. The azure explorer managed to convince Bellara to leave the jungle and sail with him on his adventures. The Bo-Toa reluctantly agreed, something she has not regretted once ever since.
Being a member of Atlan’s crew was liberating, to say the least. Bellara got to travel the universe and explore all sorts of new environments. Botany was what truly spoke to her, and she quickly became the crew’s flora expert. She even grew to trust Atlan enough that she told him her true identity, and in turn Atlan told her his (once he figured it out himself).
After the Reformation, Bellara was able to truly be herself again, now that Makuta Teridax was dead and the Dark Hunters were on the ropes. Now going by the title Lady Bellara, she got new armor that reflected both her past and present. Now, she explores the vast jungles and forests of Spherus Magna, finally content. Although she dearly misses her old brothers and sisters, she is greatly appreciative for her new close friends.
Well, that was a lot! If you actually read all that, I have a lot of respect for you.
Until next time!