The Coming of the Neţeru

=Preface=

The following record is but one biological chronicle, i.e. BIONICLE, concerning a species of diligent villagers, known as the Matoran, who live within a vast network of interconnected subterranean domes.

In this Universe, each Matoran villager is a biomechanical being that can live to be hundreds of thousands of years old and is associated with one of many specific elements, including, but not limited to – fire, water, stone, air, light, plasma, etc. In many ways a villager's elemental affiliation determines their personality traits and thus provides for a natural division of the Matoran civilization into a tribal hierarchy. The domes the Matoran dwell within contain islands upon which they live, most often either in a village, called a Koro, or a city district, called a Metru, again each associated with one element or another. This particular record is chiefly pertaining to a dome known as Kemet Nui (Dome), which houses many islands, including one isle of the same namesake as the dome itself. Each element is represented by a prefix, such as Av-Matoran, meaning Matoran of Light, or Tai-Koro, meaning Village of Plasma.

On rare occasions the elemental energies within a Matoran are unlocked, transforming them into heroes, known as Toa. Toa live by a code of honor and are sworn to protect the Matoran. They often work in teams and are thus denoted by not only their personal name, but their team name as well. When a Toa fulfills their destiny, they can choose to sacrifice their energies into special Toa Stones, which can in turn be used to transform other Matoran into Toa, However, by doing so, a Toa loses most of their powers and is transformed into an elder, known as a Turaga.

All Matoran wear masks, known as Kanohi, which are vital to the survival of their species. There are different three types of Kanohi, the first of these are Great Masks, which can only be used effectively by Toa. The use of a mask power requires a high level of concentration, mental discipline, and willpower, therefore Turaga are no longer able to use Great Masks, despite having once been Toa, and Matoran cannot use any mask powers at all. There are a wide variety of mask powers each specific to the particular mask's properties. The second type of Kanohi are Noble Masks, worn commonly by Turaga, and occasionally by Toa. They are less powerful than Great Masks, but do afford the wearer with diminished powers. The final type of Kanohi are Matoran Masks, worn by villagers, which afford them no extra powers, however wearing them is essential, because removing them for any extended period of time will result in a development of a comatose condition. Matoran masks are fashioned to resemble Noble Masks and Great Masks despite their being powerless.

The most important substance in the Matoran Universe is called Protodermis. It can exist in solid, liquid, and gaseous form, and virtually everything known to the Matoran is made of it. The domes they live in, islands they live on, seas they swim in, Kanohi they wear, buildings they dwell in, tools they use, and even the tissues they Matoran themselves are comprised of is made of Protodermis. The Matoran mine Protodermis in its' solid form to make things and this is a primary industry for most of their economies.

There are other species that also populate the Matoran domes. Many of them are simply called Rahi by the Matoran, meaning "not us". The Rahi are animals created in many cases to aid the Matoran by another species found in the domes called Makuta. Makuta are overlords of the Matoran society and are associated with the element of shadow. Each individual Makuta is assigned by the Brotherhood of Makuta to safeguard a specific dome within the subterranean network. Unfortunately, due to their connection with the shadows, Makuta are sometimes more easily subject to corruption by the darkness.

The Turaga are the leaders of the Matoran society and protectors of their legends by way of a rich oral tradition. Elders often relay the tales of the past or predictions of the future to Matoran at an location called the Amaja Circle. The Amaja Circle is a sandpit where various stones are used to represent certain characters in the story being told. Stories typically revolve around one of the three virtues that guide the lives of the Matoran – Unity, Duty, or Destiny – and describe how their species strives to serve the will of their benefactor, Mata Nui, a Great Spirit revered by the Matoran. It is the job of one distinguished villager on each island, called a Chronicler, to accurately document each narrative given by their Turaga. Thus is the way of the BIONICLE.