#Toa Lhikan

[ariartaccount]

Toa Lhikan

[toaarcan]

What is the Default Toa Form?

So, theory time.

It's a common fandom headcanon that the natural state of all Toa is the Toa Metru build. The reasons for this are varied (but if I'm honest seem mostly rooted in the fandom's love affair with the build that came to an end during the TTV Hagah Contest rather than any actual lore), but I personally disagree with this.

So I'm going to run through the various Toa builds in roughly chronological order (with one exception) and determine whether I think they're likely to be the true default form of a Toa.

1) Helryx

Well, right away, here's one that probably isn't.

Helryx is the oldest build lore-wise, newest IRL. She's also kind of a "Meta Build", aiming to look like a forerunner to the Toa Mata build we'll discuss shortly, not by directly evoking the way the Mata were styled (I would argue that a lot of the Mata's identifying hallmarks aren't present in her), but by being primarily composed of parts from 2001 and earlier.

However... this isn't what Helryx always looked like. Nor is the art that actually represents the canonised design.

The intent of the contest was to create Helryx as she appears in the present, after thousands of years of wear, tear and repair. In the text, she's referred to as disturbingly frail and alien-looking compared to what Takanuva expects a Toa to look like.

Even if she once looked like a default Toa, she doesn't now.

Orde, the only other known prototype Toa, never received a canon design (for what it's worth, I won't be putting a lot of weight on the DuckBricks Fanon Contest designs, since they're, well, fanon. So Bukkey's Orde won't be factored in here, besides me noting that he has a more Mata-esque body than Helryx does).

However, another popular headcanon is that Krakua represents another example of this generation of Toa, as Helryx would've been the basis for Krakua's transformation.

Perhaps this is what Helryx would've lookedd like when she was healthy and built?

Well, as much as I like that headcanon, and will continue to use it in fanon, probably not. Based on the evidence we have of Toa transformations, both in-story through Takanuva and the Toa Metru, the transformation is pretty much 1-to-1 with current forms. The Metru all get Lhikan's build exactly, except for specifically their height. Likewise, Takanuva's build is identical to Gali Nuva's, despite him not being a Toa Nuva. He didn't resemble base Gali, he resembled her current form.

If Krakua was transformed in Helryx's image, he'd likely be just as small, spindly, and hunched-over as she is.

For now, Krakua remains a weird outlier.

2) Mata

While not as common a choice as the Toa Metru build, the Mata build has also been suggested a few times as "Base Toa," largely because it's the original. It's relatively simple, and depicting any given Toa as a Mata build is easy enough and looks good.

(I honestly prefer it over the Metru build. It's easier to put proper hips, knees and elbows on a Mata than it is to un-fuck a Metru's shoulders and neck)

However, the Toa Mata are actually pretty much unique entities within the Matoran Universe, unlike any Toa before or after them. They are the only Toa who aren't transformed from Matoran or built by the Great Beings, instead being created by Artakha.

As a result of that unique method of creation, it's entirely reasonable to suggest that the Toa Mata look different to every other Toa in the world besides Takanuva, who was transformed in their image. They're the only canonical Toa whose bodies directly resemble the Great Spirit Robot itself, use these specific colour schemes, and have its specific design language in their construction.

3) Hagah/Mangai/Metru

By far the most popular contender for this title, but one I don't personally agree with.

We don't know whether the Toa Hagah were built or transformed, but we know they were assembled from across the Matoran universe and given new armour upon recruitment into Teridax's team, and we have no idea what they looked like before they were given this armour, beyond Bomonga presumably already having his huge limbs. Additionally, the Metru were all transformed based on Lhikan, so it's him I'll be focusing on mostly.

Lhikan was transformed and was trained at a Toa Fortress around 6000 years ago. We don't know what the other Mangai looked like (though they're popularly headcanoned as being Metru too, no canon look for them was ever settled).

However, my stance is that this design is not the default (Lhikan would've been transformed in someone's image), but rather a cultural one, a sort of 'uniform' armour style adopted by Toa during the height of their power, when the Toa Fortresses were active and Toa were commonly trained by other Toa. The image of a Toa would've become a consistent thing, and caused almost all transformed Toa to adopt it for a time, making it almost a new default, but not the original, until the Toa genocide and the subspecies becoming largely extinct caused things to diverge again.

This is, to be specific, not a counter-theory I'm proposing to the "Default Metru" theory in and of itself, but rather a part of a wider theory, explaining the commonality of the Metru build when I think that the last spot on our list is the real default.

And that leaves us with only one option.

4) Inika/Mahri/Cordak/Nuva 2.0/Glatorian

So yes, I think this is the default Toa build.

That might strike you as weird, considering that the Inika are only transformed at the beginning of the Ignition Arc, right before the end of the story in terms of the MU's timescale, and the Nuva adopt this design even later.

But let's consider a few points, shall we?

First off, the Toa Inika are the first and only Toa team we see who are transformed into their Toa forms, and do not have their appearance influenced by previous Toa. And while there's some weirdness with their heads and powers, their bodies seem pretty normal, and remain as such after their Inika weirdness is removed by the Ignika.

Secondly, we know the Great Beings made the Matoran based on the Agori, and the Toa based on the Glatorian. The first Matoran, the default form of a Matoran as it were, are the Av-Matoran, who use the same build as the Agori exactly. Should it not stand to reason that a default Toa uses the same build as the Glatorian?

Additionally, like the Glatorian, the Inika build and its derivatives have by far the most variation from individual to individual. True, we've never seen a Toa as weird as Strakk, but that doesn't mean that none existed.

Thirdly, there's one more character we haven't discussed thus far.

And this, then, is my smoking gun.

Lesovikk was a member of the first Toa Team, and one would assume based on that information that he's a purpose-built Toa. Well, he isn't. He's transformed. Given how rushed the Great Beings were at the end of the GSR project, I wager they found it easier to make a small number of Toa and then have them immediately transfer power to Matoran than it was to make thousands of Toa from the off.

Lesovikk may well be the first Toa transformed, and if he was, then his transformation would either be free of influence from anyone, or in the direct image of whomever transformed him, who could only be a default, purpose-built Toa.

"But wait!" I hear some of you typing already. "Lesovikk is a mutant, we have no idea what his true form looks like!"

Or do we?

Let's look at another character who was affected by Pit Mutagen in 2007, shall we?

This is Defilak, a Matoran of Mahri Nui. Like all the residents of Mahri Nui, he once lived on the Southern Continent, and later Voya Nui, after an ill-fated trip to Karzahni.

He used to be a weird little gremlin Matoran like his brethren from 2006, and transformed into the form above after being immersed in Pit Mutagen.

But here's the twist: Rather than simply mutating them directly from their twisted post-rebuild forms, the Mutagen actually reverted the Matoran of Mahri Nui to their original forms first, and only then started to mutate them.

This is Defilak's default form. This is what he always looked like, just with added weapons.

With that in mind, I think it's safe to say that Lesovikk is likely in the same boat: Reverted to his original form before the mutations started.

With the exception of the tube-like gill, I think it's more than probable that Lesovikk is mostly-normal still, and as such, is a very early Toa with a Mahri build.

With that in mind, I conclude that the default design for a Toa is a 2006-2009 build, with Helryx being the product of damage and repair, the Metru/Mangai/Hagah being a cultural design, the Mata being Artakha designs, and Krakua being a weird outlier.

[matau-the-228th]

Rahaga Onewa, Rahaga Whenua, and I spent many years digging out the cave and carving out each alcove for the Kanohi we were able to recover from the Bohrok nests.

Lhikan's was the first memorial alcove we had planned, but the last one we made. The other Matoran had regained a lot of their abilities by then, so everyone who knew how to dig or carve got to contribute a little to his statue. It felt like the end of a chapter when we held a gathering to set his mask on the statue in the Great Mausoleum.

He was the guiding light for these Matoran in this life, and still guides them, in a way, through the Rahaga. He would certainly still guide and protect us in the next life, if such a thing exists.

Takua asked me if his statue depicted the Great Spirit Mata'Nui.

Perhaps he isn't too far off. Perhaps Lhikan was the closest we got to meeting the Great Spirit himself.

Vakama always seems proud when he tells the story of Toa Lhikan, that somehow, through his words, you can feel the warmth and sense of security Lhikan gave to us. And afterwards, the other Matoran always seem to share his pride and admiration of Lhikan, even though they don't remember him.

It was disheartening, to say the least, when I saw Takua's face fall as I told him who Lhikan was, and why his mask is hung here in the Mausoleum.

Maybe it's just how I recount the story.

...Maybe it's just me.

Songs: Gallery Theme (Myst: URU), May it Be (Enya, LOTR), Smiles from Juran (Warframe)

[n0ts0phism]

I was reading about Toa Lhikan, and the “Citation Needed” mark really got me.

There has got to be at least one Ta-Matoran who hates Lhii’s guts.

[sandiaheadonline]

Lhikan, Naho and the Dermis Turtle.

I have this headcanon where these two used to be close friends until well... Naho was killed by Eliminator.

Nothing else to say, I just made this a while ago and wanted to share it because I love them and hate the fate Naho had both in her universe and in the Dark Mirror. It's just messed up and she deserved so much better than that 💔

[angryraptor13]

Reblog to be blessed by the

✨Lhikan Fairy✨

Yeah, I know he has an actual set, but I modded *this* one from a Vakama set.

... I think he's flipping me off. 😅

[driver270]

Lhikan & Kikanalo photo because why not?

[screaming-for-eternally]

Lhikan Park

[licencetocolt]

Brothers in Arms

Photography by @anotherbionicle.

[knightscanfeeltoo]

I guess I just Love Tragic Boys that Died saving the Main Characters...

[makiruz]

Hey, here's a question, what if Lhikan had survived the Legends of Metru Nui movie?

I assume the Toa Metru would still need to give their powers to revive the Matoran and become Turaga, but what about him? Like, he would've been, I don't know, the president of Mata Nui? The head of the Turaga?

Would he be so on board with making fake legends too?

[bionicle-ramblings]

No thoughts, just the Ta-Metru Trio during the time of Tuyet's murder spree, more specifically Jaller when he was told by Turaga Dume to investigate a dead Matoran that was found(No one knows who's committing the crimes yet)

Jaller obviously accepts and tries to Sherlock Holmes/Scooby-Doo what's going on and where the killer could strike next and who the killer could be and while it's easy to do at first, because he and Takua question the other Toa Mangai for details, whatever was left of them anyway, Takua decided to help when he saw Lhikan scouting one time and got some intel, it soon started to not get easy because with each new Matoran death, Jaller soon began to feel like he was racing against time because he was growing more and more worried that one of his friends would be next and there was nothing he could do about it

Jaller eventually snapped when Vakama found him mulling over what he had found and Jaller essentially vented and had a nervous breakdown because he was tasked with solving a city-wide murder spree and had barely any leads and equally less and to many suspects, and knowing his friends and innocent lives were at risk and their deaths would be on him if he failed did not help in the slightest

As he basically succumbed to fear and panic, Vakama calmed him down and asked Jaller to tell him where his friends were at the moment. Jaller was hesitant, by complied, saying where each of his friends were, eventually saying Vakama was right in front of him and Takua was hopefully at work, but that's wishful thinking

Vakama jokes that it takes a spree of murders to keep Takua from wandering as much as he does, and the two share a laugh. Takua, having just arrived, pointed out how he ought to consider wandering just to spite the two of them. Jaller yells at him that he'd better not, but Vakama asks what he's doing here because he's got work. Takua admits he got off work early and reveals he saw what Jaller had and decided to lend a hand by finding Toa Lhikan, much to the surprise of Jaller and Vakama

Really, though, Lhikan found Takua first and thought he was walking the troublemaker back to his dwelling, not his friend's evidence board/office. Vakama is silently impressed while Jaller makes a mental note to scold Takua later as he shows Lhikan what he's found, Lhikan giving his two cents and his own suspensions and findings on the sprees

Seeing how overwhelmed Jaller was emotionally and mentally, Lhikan asked if he could try following the "map" of victims Jaller laid out in case he missed anything, and also asked Jaller to just take time away from the investigation; Lhikan isn't taking it off his hands, just testing a theory Jaller developed

Jaller agrees and Lhikan orders Vakama to keep an eye on Jaller, and orders Takua to make sure Vakama doesn't get into a fight trying to look after his friend. Vakama objects with, "It was ONE TIME," and Takua asks to switch jobs because he doesn't want to mess with Vakama when he gets THAT angry

Regardless, they take a day off(Jaller only agreed to having a full day off while Vakama and Takua wanted him to rest longer), and later go back to the drawing board, though Jaller notices a key clue that he overlooked: a Nui stone, which Lhikan did not overlook when he forst saw Jaller's investigation and findings

[toa-ayli]

This is what I have finalised as my definitive version of Toa Lhikan. I have made all the Toa Mangai in the past but they were very simple, so I hope to get around to remaking them sometime soon.

[mask-of-prime]

Lhikan but the pronunciation of his name varies regionally like "pecan"

[manmisplace]

Brexta meets Lhikan

If you wanna know some behind story...

[necromastersdomainstuff]

Some more Bionicle fan art-- this time, my takes on the Toa Mangai! I liked the idea that the Turaga would later go on to name the locations around Mata Nui after the icons of old, so I saw fit to incorporate that aspect here. Most of the masks are canonical, but Tuyet’s mask of intangibility was made using G2 Gali’s mask design as a very loose basis (I blame @bioniclechicken) and for the Mask of Healing I used one of @lesbianchemicalplant‘s AI generated Kanohi-- give them a look, if you haven’t already!

(Also, continuing on with the idea that the weird gender restrictions from canon are lifted here-- Hura and Mafa are sisters! Helps to diversify the team a little more.)