#lhikan

[bioniclechicken]

ULTIMATE MATORAN UNIVERSE

[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.

[bionicle-ramblings]

Don't mind me!

Just,

Vezok: We have your Toa of Water! If you want her back-

Nidhiki: Which one?

Vezok: ... What?

Lhikan: We have two Toa of Water on our team, who do you have?

Vezok: The... Does it matter? Don't you want her back?

Lhikan: Obviously, but there's also a chance you're in for a rough day, so who do you have?

Vezok: Er... Naho. You care about her, don't you, Toa of Fire?

Naho: Would you like to try again?

Vezok: ...

Tuyet(already freed herself and armed with her sword and a dagger and basically had Vezok in a, "move and you die" spot): Rude that you never asked me for my name. I'll see you guys in a day or two.

Lhikan: Please, don't kill him.

Tuyet: No promises.

Naho: *Tuyet.*

Tuyet: Fine.

[crystaltoa]

I really wonder how Tuyet came to be the way she was.

Was she always the type of person with such a self-centred sense of morality that killing innocent people to frame her enemies was a reasonable course of action?

Lhikan was supposedly close to her and considered he a good friend. Was she like that the whole time and hiding it really well? Or did her beliefs about justice gradually become more and more extreme over time.

We really only see the end result of her corruption, if it can be called that, but it would be interesting to see how she started out as a young Toa, and what might have driven her to wanting to rule the universe.

[ashilean]

LHIKAN, toa Mangai of fire (1/11)

Astride his lava board, Lhikan patrols the towers of Ta-Metru as the last of the city's toa heroes. While matoran from every corner of the city stare reverently as he passes overhead, he casts a long shadow, and one hero can only be so many places at once...

When setting out to make the Mangai, I wanted them to stand out and use some of the less-common elemental colour schemes--taking heavy inspiration from the matoran in the Legend of Mata Nui and MNOG. In Lhikan's case, a toa of fire that is all smoke and golden sparks is both unique and a good fit for the pre-existing elements of his character I am keen to retain.

More to come soon!

[beesgav]

some bits for that human AU of mine I vaguely mentioned a bit ago- Lhikan mentors the Metru a bit more directly, and he's Jaller's dad

[e-matt93]

Turaga Lhikan/Good Guy based on the polybag promo.

[rrbobani]

Toa Lhikan

I was pretty excited to do Lhikan~ I wanted him and Jaller to share similar looks. Though I imagine when Lhikan was around, Jaller looked a little different. Wearing the mask for a certain amount of time maybe changed Jaller into more of Lhikan here. Don't ask me how that exactly works in this humanized version here, I just thought it would be cool honestly wehkgjdsjaf OTL

Anyways, enjoy~

[tiredspacedragon]

Concept: Lhikan (or any other Toa who wielded dual curved swords) posing to look like the three virtues symbol

[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 💔

[deepsearahi]

LHIKAN - HERO OF THE HALCYON AGE

Time to cap off this trip down memory lane with a brand-new build: the last remnant of Metru Nui's golden era.

Built with Stud.io

[bioniclechicken]

art block lhikan

[nattarthetimedragon]

Toa Lhikan

[bionicle-ramblings]

Now that I'm watching the Droid factory scene from Attack of The Clones again

No thoughts

Just the Mangai fighting in a factory that builds Vahki, and EVERYTHING threatens their lives

Their enemies

The machinery around them

Heights

Molten Protodermis

Just the blorbos being in situations

[crystaltoa]

It’s been noted a few times the Toa Metru’s powers seemed weaker and more easily depleted than other Toa’s.

I wonder if this is because their powers came from Lhikan, who might have had a reduced amount of Toa power because he was being drained by Tuyet’s Nui stone for many years?

[afanofmanyhats]

Metru Nui DnD AU: Titan Builds

Inspired by @crystaltoa's burgeoning au, I made the Metru Nui Titan builds. With my own headcanons!

Lhikan is a Half-Elf, a veteran of wars past and the surviving member of a legendary band of adventurers that saved Metru Nui over a century ago. Most folks can hardly remember a time that he hasn't been serving them as the city's champion. He isn't a member of the Vahki City Guard, but the automatons that police the streets only answer to him and Turaga Dume. At least, they did before he disappeared. Mechanics wise he'd either be a Battle Master Fighter, or an Oath of Devotion Paladin. Not sure which. He likely has some fire spells through a feat too.

Turaga Dume is a Dwarf, and the city's mayor. He's been in charge for about as long as Lhikan's been protecting Metru Nui, and his policy in light of the frequent threats has been a harsh police state to keep mercenaries and the Dark Hunters at bay. Only approved adventurers can lodge in the city, which in practice means none at all outside of the Mangai. Mechanically I'm thinking a Forge Cleric, with Mata Nui as his patron deity.

Nidhiki was a Drow from the dangerous depths of the Underdark, but when he sold out the city to an invading guild of mercenaries, Lhikan sent him packing as a traitor. To ensure his loyalty, the Shadowed One contracted a Drow priestess of Lolth named Roodaka to curse Nidhiki, turning him into a Drider. Now a twisted monster, Nidhiki stalks the streets he used to protect in order to get his revenge on Lhikan. Drider get their own statblock as monsters, but prior to getting transformed Nidhiki likely would've been either a Rogue or a Ranger. Maybe a multiclass? I got the Drider design from MinerSigner60Neiner on Reddit.

Krekka is an ogre of some kind. He lost his eye and his arm in a fight with the warlord Gorast, but his new mechanical arm is just as dangerous as his flesh and blood. He is by no means stealthy or smart, but he is incredibly difficult to take down, and serves as a good distraction for Nidhiki. Pretty self-explanatory. I'm really happy with how all of these turned out. I've been playing DnD and working with HeroForge for years now, so being able to cross them over with my favorite arc in BIONICLE has been a joy.