Poor Disadvantaged
Toa Matoro, the Legend
“Is this what we’ve become?” asked Kongu. “Sacrificing Matoran lives, Rahi lives, just so we can quick-finish our mission? Hahli could be dead, for all we know, and all you care about –”
“Don’t, just… don’t,” said Matoro.
“If we fail at this, there won’t be any more Matoran, or Rahi, or Hahli… or any of us. None of us are happy about what’s been done,” he added, glancing at Maxilos.
“But I think we are going to have to do far worse before this is over.”
________________________
Once Fearful, then Burdened, now Legendary;
A mere droplet, shaped into a cold, jagged crystal, shone brightly as it plummeted toward its end –
A humble translator from Ko-koro, laden with the weight of both life and death, became willing to do whatever it took to save his universe:
Hiding secrets from friends, exploiting a mask of Reanimation, aligning with a villain;
Matoro proved that sometimes a hero isn’t defined by their strength, endurance, or even courage – but by what they’re willing to sacrifice.
____________________________
[ Hakann, the Explosive ] [ old version ]
[ Vezon, the Disaster (Spear) ] [ (Scythe) ]
[ Toa Kongu, the Wrangler ] [ old version ]
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An edgy look for Bionicle's quintessential hero might be surprising, but in my eyes Matoro was written almost an 'anti-hero', especially when he was separated from his team and forced to work with Makuta/Maxilos.
The sword was a nod to the Inika's light-up weapons, and I tried to emulate the vague skull-shape of Matoro Mahri's mask once I decided a simple one wouldn't be as effective.
The final addition to my Piraka and Toa Inika series - for now!
Had lots of fun, and heaps of nostalgia, reading through those ancient Bionicle texts then figuring out how I could make the most faithful revamp/tribute for each character.
Which one of these is your favourite?
________________________
More photos are available on my:
________________________
Is this the price the Mask of Life asks to save the Great Spirit Mata Nui? the Toa of Ice asked himself.
Already, I’ve seen Matoran enslaved, Piraka driven mad, Brutaka betraying everything he ever believed in, all in the name of a cursed mask.
And now more death and destruction, this time through my actions. Where does it end?
And I… what have I become? As soon as I realized I wore a mask that let me reanimate the dead I should have cast it aside – I never should have used it.
“Shut up,” said Matoro. “I’m doing only what I have to do to save the life of Mata Nui – a life you put in jeopardy.”
Makuta laughed. “Think what you like, little Toa, and try to avoid admitting to yourself that you are one bad day, one moment of cruelty, one fit of rage away from being me.”
"Anything you are asked to do – even if it’s hard, or painful, or you hate having to do it – you get done. Look, Matoro, back on Voya Nui you once questioned your worth to the team because you aren’t a warrior. But being a Toa isn’t about who’s strongest or toughest or has the best mask power. It’s about spirit. And by that measure, you are a great Toa.”
“Please. This is the logical choice. I’m not a warrior, like you, Jaller, or you, Kongu – or an athlete, or an inventor, or even a Chronicler. I am just a translator for a Turaga, and not even that anymore. I won’t save the universe with my fists or my wits, but maybe I can do it this way.”
Toa Matoro, the Legend
“Is this what we’ve become?” asked Kongu. “Sacrificing Matoran lives, Rahi lives, just so we can quick-finish our mission? Hahli could be dead, for all we know, and all you care about –”
“Don’t, just… don’t,” said Matoro.
“If we fail at this, there won’t be any more Matoran, or Rahi, or Hahli… or any of us. None of us are happy about what’s been done,” he added, glancing at Maxilos.
“But I think we are going to have to do far worse before this is over.”
________________________
Once Fearful, then Burdened, now Legendary;
A mere droplet, shaped into a cold, jagged crystal, shone brightly as it plummeted toward its end –
A humble translator from Ko-koro, laden with the weight of both life and death, became willing to do whatever it took to save his universe:
Hiding secrets from friends, exploiting a mask of Reanimation, aligning with a villain;
Matoro proved that sometimes a hero isn’t defined by their strength, endurance, or even courage – but by what they’re willing to sacrifice.
____________________________
[ Hakann, the Explosive ] [ old version ]
[ Vezon, the Disaster (Spear) ] [ (Scythe) ]
[ Toa Kongu, the Wrangler ] [ old version ]
____________________________
An edgy look for Bionicle's quintessential hero might be surprising, but in my eyes Matoro was written almost an 'anti-hero', especially when he was separated from his team and forced to work with Makuta/Maxilos.
The sword was a nod to the Inika's light-up weapons, and I tried to emulate the vague skull-shape of Matoro Mahri's mask once I decided a simple one wouldn't be as effective.
The final addition to my Piraka and Toa Inika series - for now!
Had lots of fun, and heaps of nostalgia, reading through those ancient Bionicle texts then figuring out how I could make the most faithful revamp/tribute for each character.
Which one of these is your favourite?
________________________
More photos are available on my:
________________________
Is this the price the Mask of Life asks to save the Great Spirit Mata Nui? the Toa of Ice asked himself.
Already, I’ve seen Matoran enslaved, Piraka driven mad, Brutaka betraying everything he ever believed in, all in the name of a cursed mask.
And now more death and destruction, this time through my actions. Where does it end?
And I… what have I become? As soon as I realized I wore a mask that let me reanimate the dead I should have cast it aside – I never should have used it.
“Shut up,” said Matoro. “I’m doing only what I have to do to save the life of Mata Nui – a life you put in jeopardy.”
Makuta laughed. “Think what you like, little Toa, and try to avoid admitting to yourself that you are one bad day, one moment of cruelty, one fit of rage away from being me.”
"Anything you are asked to do – even if it’s hard, or painful, or you hate having to do it – you get done. Look, Matoro, back on Voya Nui you once questioned your worth to the team because you aren’t a warrior. But being a Toa isn’t about who’s strongest or toughest or has the best mask power. It’s about spirit. And by that measure, you are a great Toa.”
“Please. This is the logical choice. I’m not a warrior, like you, Jaller, or you, Kongu – or an athlete, or an inventor, or even a Chronicler. I am just a translator for a Turaga, and not even that anymore. I won’t save the universe with my fists or my wits, but maybe I can do it this way.”