#stelt

Makuta Jasax - Baron of Stelt

"Speak softly and carry a big [sword]!"

Source

This was like. a Thing in Web of Shadows. Literally Sidorak's primary motivation is he wants that vortussy, but the horny vibes are actually just that: vibes. Despite the general way that Roodaka is, there's no implication of reproduction or physical attraction, not even a chaste peck on the cheek (although let's be real there would be tongue involved). Honestly, bringing in the Romance Isn't Canon sledgehammer isn't even necessary for the vibes to be there that this needs to be more than just for romance.

Our friends from the Acromion of Stelt have warned us to stay away from the Voya Archipelago for the time being.

The "Kourarex," Aurumenez, has begun work on something that involves his whole kingdom, and none of the Steltan trade ships have returned from any of his islands in the past year. The Steltans believe that he's preparing for war, and has taken their ships and crew captive to prevent them from warning anyone.

It always made me feel uncomfortable when a Matoran or Skakdi from Voya came to visit with the trade-ships. Their eyes seemed hazy, fogged over by some strange power. They would make wild promises, saying that they could give us anything our hearts dreamt of, but only if we came with them back to the Archipelago.

They always smiled, too, and only ever stopped if their offer was turned down.

The Steltans are going to warn our sister-island Okoto next, then move on to the smaller charted Islands before heading back to the Acromion. They say that it's entirely possible that this may be the last time we see a trade-ship from them for a while, but most of our resident Steltans have decided to stay with us instead of returning to their homeland.

What I don't understand is that the people of the Voya Archipelago have never been violent or aggressive, despite their strange nature. I can't really imagine them seizing the ships violently, especially if their Kourarex (which, as far as I can tell, is just a fancy word for 'King') is as all-powerful as they all claim.

Something else must be going on here.

Some BIONICLE heads

If you are from stelt and you see other species with more… expressive-let’s just say-faces, do not feel bad about yourself! You have…

Steltian beauty

It must’ve felt deliciously karmic to Gladiator to kick Sidorak’s ass; To tell this noble that he’s not good enough, actually, not worthy enough to join their ranks. Especially since his species was looked down upon and seen as good only for their combat prowess, only for that to be the only thing that matters in the Dark Hunters; Meaning here, Stelt’s rules don’t apply. It really is more ‘fair’ to Gladiator because it’s Survival of the Fittest, and he gets to flex the power he thinks he deserves, and he’s not wrong about that.

Likewise I have to wonder if Sidorak underestimated Gladiator, thinking of him as just another brute even dumber than Krekka’s species. And that just led to his defeat, and made him feel particularly humiliated; Not just from being beaten so easily, but by a member of his home’s most lowest. An actual former slave no less; If it wasn’t Gladiator’s job to test all recruits, I’d have assumed the Shadowed One specifically chose him to evaluate Sidorak based on their past. And tbh he definitely thought of that.

It must’ve been humbling to Sidorak to have a former slave kick his butt; And also eye-opening because Odina is NOT Stelt, the rest of the world does not run on the same rules where this Gladiator would be scum at the bottom of society. He’s not some bare-minimum grunt to surpass, he’s an actual threat and skilled warrior recognized by the Shadowed One. Maybe Sidorak tried to apply salve to his humiliation by reassuring himself that at least he’s smarter than Gladiator, that’s something that dumb brute will never have over him; And that just worsened his arrogant belief in his intelligence over all others, making it easy for Roodaka to manipulate him because Sid can’t believe he’s actually fallen for that to begin with.

Or did Sidorak actually recognize how screwed he was, since he was fighting a stronger species on his own turf, his own terms; The fighting ring, and not the political aristocracy of Stelt? Did that make Sidorak reevaluate his actual skills and biases? Learn to rely on his intelligence since he knew there was always someone bigger and stronger than him (like Keetongu)? Did this incentivize him to operate on the field alongside his Visorak, to make up for his past weaknesses; Especially with his guilt over betraying Voporak and thus having never truly earned his position? Another insecurity that Roodaka was able to take advantage of... Did he already hear of Gladiator’s infamy as a slave fighter who went berserk, and saw/dreaded this as an opportunity to re-instill social order? Get some bragging rights for beating the infamous beast?