#onuvius

300-Follwer Special (Part 2) - The New-Age Turaga (Re-Post)

Re-post due to Tumblr’s lovely safety bot flagging the original as “sensitive content.”

Part 1

Lenua, Turaga of Air

Lenua’s lore has completely changed since the conception of her character. Originally, the Le-Matoran were a small tribe of warriors who trained within Le-Koro and then set out to lend their blades to any cause they found just once they came of age. They placed great value in honor and virtue, a trait I would later prescribe to the Ta-Matoran. Lenua, at that time unnamed, was male, but I ultimately decided to change her gender when redesigning her.

For Lenua’s redesign, I aimed for an aesthetic akin to a grasshopper. This was to place greater emphasis on the Le-Matorans’ element. Many aspects of Lenua’s old design were utilized in Poha’s current iteration. The Le-Matoran culture was also retooled. It abandoned the sellsword concept. Le-Matoran are now raised atop a mountain and glide to the world below in search of self-fulfillment once they come of age. More may be read here.

Poha, Turaga of Stone

Poha’s original design is thematically similar to his current iteration but is now more refined. I did away with his trans-light green skeleton for a more solid dark bluish grey, for Poha is not one to use elemental energies. Instead, I aimed to create a hardened look for Poha, for his kind endure many hardships within the Karzahni Desert. With this stated, his lore has remained virtually the same. More information about Poha and the Transients may be found here.

Konari, the Vanished

Konari was originally the chieftain of a tribe of Ko-Matoran who presided in the tundra deep within Ko-Akota. Her great-great grandfather, the first Ko-Turaga in the New Age, discovered the Grand Archive when searching for a place to form a permanent settlement. A wealth of knowledge of the late Ancients was discovered within. For a time, the Ko-Matoran made the Grand Archive their home, delving into the many tomes contained within the Archive. Eventually, the turaga discovered knowledge he believed could be detrimental to life on Akota Nui. He sought to destroy this knowledge to eliminate the potential for its misuse. Upon discovering his intentions, conflict erupted between those among the Ko-Matoran who sought to further their research and those who sided with the turaga. Eventually, the turaga and his followers exiled themselves into the precarious tundra. In the end, this all was scrapped, although many concepts from the original lore were later used in Konari’s current lore.

As for Konari’s design, her original design was inspired by the garb donned by Inuit chiefs. In hindsight, I feel I failed to capture this aesthetic miserably. I ultimately discarded this design along with her original lore. Her arms, on the other hand, were immediately scrapped. I felt the use of a lance and shortsword was an odd choice particularly for someone based upon Inuit design. As for her current design, I aimed for an aesthetic that is feminine and tough. A look which is rugged yet refined. She is one who was raised in the Grand Archive, studying its many secrets but ultimately exiled herself to the depths of Ko-Akota upon discovering a terrible secret. More may be read here.

Tamir, Turaga of Fire

The nature of the Ta-Matoran had yet to be solidified at the time Tamir’s first prototype was complete. Now, Ta-Koro has been incinerated by some unknown force, and Tamir is presumed dead. More may be read here.

As turaga are meant to be representations of their respective elements, I wanted to create an almost ethereal appearance for the turaga of fire. While Tamir’s first design ultimately failed to capture this aesthetic, it certainly was a step in the right direction.

Onuvius, Turaga of Earth

Onuvius has undergone some minor aesthetic changes over the duration of the design process. He is now more refined, reflecting a more civil, yet secretive, existence. His lore has also undergone very little change, albeit he was once intended to be one of the lead antagonists in my continuity. Nevertheless, the nature of Onuvius and the Darkwatch remains within the very shadows they oversee. What is your take on the Onu-Matoran of Onu-Koro? More may be read here.

Thank you for sticking with me to the end. Please note that I am currently overhauling the lore on Akota Nui, so what you read above is subject to change. I hope you found this post insightful and enjoying to read. Tune in next time when I describe the development of one of the pinnacle character’s in Akota Nui’s lore: the High Turaga. Keep being amazing.  

Love,

Matoran-Akota Open Build

Hello, everyone! 

This is an open invitation to all to create and submit your own matoran for my Akota Nui continuity. To help you get started, you’ll find a brief overview of the different matoran races with links to their turaga below. I highly recommend reading both the turagas’ lore as well as the overviews. If I feel a character really fits well into the continuity, I may make them canon. If I do canonize them, I'll make a special post regarding the character. 

To submit, simply include @toakiora in your post. Please include a link to this post so that others may know how to participate.

If you have any questions regarding the open build, Akota Nui, the matoran, etc., feel free to submit an ask.

Have fun!

~Toa Kiora <3

The Ancients and the Outsiders

The Ancients are the matoran who survived the Second Cataclysm and existed before the Third. The Great Cataclysms are events which brought an end to nearly all life on the planet. The nature of the Cataclysms is unknown, for most of the Ancients’ records have been lost to time. Nevertheless, there are numerous, often conflicting, beliefs regarding what may have transpired during the Third Cataclysm.

Before the Third Cataclysm, it was believed the Ancients were visited by an extraterrestrial race known as the Outsiders. Ancient and Outsider relics riddle Akota Nui, and they lend to the belief that the two species managed to integrate into a singular society- a peace which did not last. Many believe that the Third Cataclysm was the result of a conflict between the Outsiders and the Ancients, yet few can agree to the nature of the conflict. Some suggest that the Outsiders were divine, deeming them ‘Angels,’ and that they were sent by the Great Spirit to bring salvation to the Ancients. These same individuals believe that the Ancients failed to be redeemed, and thus were destroyed as punishment. Others suggest the Outsiders sought to betray the Ancients and claim the island for their own. Nevertheless, both the Ancients and the Outsiders are gone- proof of their existence solely manifest by the decaying ruins scattered across the land.

Vagrants

Ethereal beings which inhabit Akota Nui. What used to be a minor nuisance to the matoran is now perhaps the greatest threat to matoran life. The Vagrants are generally hostile towards matoran, although other, more peculiar, behaviors have been observed.

Av-Matoran: High Turaga Aviah

Only one Av-Matoran exists on Akota Nui, High Turaga Aviah. As founder of the Church of Cradle, Akota Nui’s most powerful religious institution, Aviah holds phenomenal influence. Beneath Aviah is the Church’s Papal Administration, a zealous group of elites which oversees the actions of the Church and enforces its laws. The principle belief of the Church is that all life on Akota was born from a singular divine entity, known simply as ‘Mother.’ It is their belief that Mother was the one chosen by the Angels to renew life on Akota after the Angels brought an end to the Ancients as punishment for their sins. They believe she slumbers within the Cradle of Life, an ancient temple which rests at the center of the island. Through her, they believe they can be reborn as Angels. As such, the Church scours the island, searching for the key to gaining entrance into the Cradle of Life, an ancient temple which lies at the center of the island.

Originally, the Church of Cradle was a peaceful institution, but as the years passed, and the Vagrant threat increased, the Papal Administration grew more fearful that the end was near. Their laws grew stricter and their influence more heavy-handed. They became invasive, interfering with the livelihoods of those who did not share their faith. While Aviah discouraged this, the Papal Administration undermined his words, and they slowly relinquished Aviah of his standing within the Church. One day, Aviah called the other turaga to M’rama, the holy city which serves as the Church’s base of operations. Only one turaga arrived at the city, it was then M’rama fell to the Vagrants and Aviah disappeared. With M’rama gone, and their numbers devastated by the Vagrant attack, the Church had fallen into disarray.

Ga-Matoran: Galia, Turaga of Water

The Ga-Akotan Domain is a matriarchal society led by the graceful Galia, Turaga of Water. Women compose the majority of the Ga-Akotan population, and they often hold positions of greater significance. Nevertheless, both men and women are treated as equals.

The Ga-Akotan rule the waterways, providing commerce, as well as transit for travelers, through Akota Nui’s vast network of rivers. Before the fall of M’rama, the Papal Administration attempted instill crippling taxes on trade and transportation in an attempt to garner additional funds for their operations. Galia opposed this, and ties with the Church were severed as conflict arose between the two factions.

Ko-Matoran: Konari, the Vanished

The Ko-Akotan scholars toil surreptitiously within the Grand Archives, seeking to uncover the truth behind the very nature of Akota Nui. They are led by the three Grand Scholars: Korva, Kotapa, and Otelle. While the Grand Scholars possess minimal interest in the Church’s faith, they share a common interest: gaining access to the Cradle’s depths. The Grand Scholars are convinced that the truth they’re seeking lies in the heart of the temple. The Church and the Grand Scholars formed a powerful partnership; however, as the Church continued to assert itself upon the denizens of Akota, unease rose among the Ko-Akotan scholars.

Le-Matoran: Lenua, Turaga of Air

The Le-Akotan live fleeting lives. As such, it is customary for Le-Akotan to embark on a journey of self-fulfillment before their passing. Once a Le-Akotan reaches young adulthood, their departure is christened by the Ceremony of the South Wind.

Onu-Matoran: Onuvius, Turaga of Earth

Onu-Akotan tend to live reclusive lives within the walls of Onu-Koro. They’re steeped in mystery, birthing myths of peculiar rituals and even Vagrant worship. Within Onu-Koro is the Darkwatch, a small religious sect tasked with guarding the Pit- and chasm which is home to an indescribable darkness. At some point in their lives, Onu-Akotan of Onu-Koro are granted a choice whether or not to leave Onu-Koro. This decision is permanent. It is unknown what befalls those who choose to stay. As for those who depart, they are sworn into secrecy, vowing never to disclose the happenings of Onu-Koro. Each are assigned a Shadow, an adept assassin tasked solely to dispatch the Onu-Akotan if ever they dare impart Onu-Koro’s secrets, as well as the one the secrets were revealed to.

Po-Matoran: Poha, Turaga of Stone

Within the Karzahni Desert, there is a clan of Po-Akotan known as the Transients. In the cooler seasons, they scour the desert for Ancient ruins uncovered by the hazardous desert winds. During the summer, when the heat has become too much for even them to bear, they journey across Akota Nui in search of trade. They trade Ancient relics for food, supplies, and various other items; however, they save the best finds for the Ko-Akotan scholars. Over the years, the relationship between the Ko-Akotan scholars and the Transients grew unstable, for Korva’s questionable research, and her ties to the Papal Administration, gravely concerned the Transients’ leader.

Ta-Matoran: Tamir, Turaga of Fire