Avohkii

"Truly no more vile or disgusting thing has ever been created in this universe. There it was in the hands of Teridax, not even having the courtesy to be the color of a lump of clay when not being worn-–oh, no, the Avohkii gleamed golden. Locked within it was the one power we Makuta dreaded, and the unspoken promise of something far worse-–the existence, someday, of an actual Toa of Light."

- Makuta Mutran, The Mutran Chronicles

The Kanohi Avohkii is the only Mask of Light in the Matoran Universe. Its ownership has been contested many times throughout its history, being desired by, among others, the Brotherhood of Makuta and Toa.

History
The Kanohi Avohkii was created on the island of Artakha, as a safeguard against the possibility of the Brotherhood of Makuta turning evil. 2,500 years before the Quest for the Mask of Life, Makuta Kojol stole the mask from Artakha for the Brotherhood. During the Brotherhood's possession of the mask, the being who would eventually become the Dark Hunter Seeker was assigned to guard the Mask of Light. 1,200 years later, the Toa Hagah stole it from Destral, the Brotherhood's headquarters. After their mutation into Rahaga, the Toa Hagah continued to carry it with them during their search for the great Rahi Keetongu. Eventually settling on the island city of Metru Nui, the Rahaga hid the mask in the Archives, safely locking it away with the Makoki Stones. After the Toa Metru were mutated into Toa Hordika, the Rahaga sent them on a quest for the Kanohi Avohkii. To retrieve it, the six Toa Hordika had to track down and retrieve all of the Makoki Stones. After their adventures, the mutated Toa were able to used the Stones to unlock the Mask of Light's hiding place. Onewa then used his Stone powers to encase the mask within a rock. This allowed the group of Toa to successfully smuggle it out of the city unnoticed by the Visorak hordes. After being purged of the Hordika venom and having rescued the Matoran, the Toa Metru took the Mask of Light with them to the island of Mata Nui and hid it in the region of Ta-Wahi. Over one thousand years later, the Mask of Light was released from its bonds of stone by Takua, who accidentally dropped it into a lava stream. After it was unintentionally revealed, Turaga Metru Nokama translated writing on the back of the mask, which explained that the Seventh Toa, a Toa of Light, would soon come to destroy Makuta Teridax. Two Matoran--Takua and Jaller--were chosen to find the Toa of Light. To do this, they had to cross the island, racing against the Rahkshi. They eventually reached the Kini-Nui at the center of Mata Nui. After Jaller was killed by a Turahk in battle, Takua put on the mask and was transformed into the seventh Toa, Takanuva.

During Takanuva's battle with Teridax, the Kanohi Avohkii was merged with the Kanohi Kraahkan when the two fighters fell into Energized Protodermis. The being formed from the melded mask-wearers, Takutanuva, wore the Mask of Light and Shadow. After the fusion was undone, the Mask of Light was used to resurrect Takanuva, who continued to wear it.

The Kanohi Avohkii's appearance was altered by a Shadow Leech that attacked Takanuva, and became dark gray. Once Takanuva arrived in Karda Nui, the Kanohi Avohkii grew larger, to accommodate his enlarged size. After Takanuva was cured by a Klakk, the Kanohi Avohkii returned to its original color. Once Takanuva left Karda Nui, the Mask of Light returned to its original size and shape.

The Kingdom
Takanuva was among the Matoran Universe's survivors following Mata Nui's death in The Kingdom Alternate Universe. There, Takanuva fulfilled his destiny by driving away the remainder of the Brotherhood of Makuta with the help of the Order of Mata Nui. He then sacrificed his Toa Power to create six new Toa, and became a Turaga. As such, his Kanohi Avohkii was also transformed into a Noble Mask.

Powers
Great: The Great Kanohi Avohkii gives its user Toa-level range and strength of Elemental Light powers. In addition, it can spread understanding to others, generating peace and trust. It can also sense moral light in other beings. While it is one of the few Kanohi to have Elemental Powers, it will not boost any pre-existing Elemental Light powers the user wields.

Noble: The difference between this and the Great version is that its power level of Elemental Light is lower and the duration of its effects are shorter.

Example Usage
Great: In Dark Destiny, while Takanuva was in a tunnel that absorbed all light, he used the Mask of Light to shoot out a thin laser beam.

Great

 * Takua - Briefly
 * Toa Takanuva
 * Makuta Teridax - Briefly

Noble

 * The Turaga Takanuva of The Kingdom Alternate Universe

Set Information
The Kanohi Avohkii was released in three colors in 2003. In the Takanuva and Ussanui set, a golden Kanohi Avohkii was packaged within it. A translucent Kanohi Avohkii with golden glitter was also included in the set to represent the mask while activated. Two silver Kanohi Avohkii were also used in the Makuta set of 2003 to create his hands.

A contest held in 2003 rewarded the winner with a solid platinum Kanohi Avohkii, the only one of its kind.

An altered version of the Kanohi Avohkii was released in summer 2008 with the new, partially light-drained Takanuva set. In addition to being shaped differently, this edition of the Kanohi Avohkii was metallic gray to reflect the changes in the Takanuva character.

Quotes
"I know you Fire types like good mask work, but is this thing really worth all this?"

- Toa Hagah Iruini, Birth of the Rahaga

"It was a mask. A mask like the ones he and Jaller and every other Matoran wore-–but different. This mask glowed with the light of a thousand suns."

- Narrator, Mask of Light

"This is the Great Kanohi Mask of Light. A mask to be worn only... by the Seventh Toa, a Toa of Light."

- Turaga Nokama, Mask of Light

Trivia

 * Before "Avohkii" was chosen as the Mask of Light's name, another name considered was "Korusca".