Pit Mutagen

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Pit Mutagen
The Barraki, examples of the mutagen's effect.
Substance
Known State(s)	Energy, liquid
Primary Location(s)	Karda Nui, The Pit
Functionality(ies)	Causes mutations

The Pit Mutagen was a substance diluted from a form of energy radiation emitted by energy sources, such as the Codrex. The energy itself was invisible, occurred naturally, and was harmless. Combined with water, the energy forms a mutagenic substance that was first discovered in The Pit. Large amounts of water containing Pit Mutagen leaked through the holes in the Southern Continent's dome and into Karda Nui, where it created a swamp at the bottom. The mutagen energy was around since the Matoran Universe was created, but was not a problem until after the Great Cataclysm, when it first leaked into the ocean.

The Mutagen has mutated the Matoran of Mahri Nui and the Barraki, among other beings. The level of the mutagen's saturation in the waters of The Pit increases with depth; higher up, brief visits will produce no change at all, midway down exposure for a minute or so causes drastic changes, and near the bottom of The Pit complete mutation occurs almost instantaneously. Nocturn is immune to it, along with the Zyglak and Hydraxon. Pit Mutagen can also be damaging to Kanohi, with both the Ignika and Brutaka's Olmak being damaged by it.

Makuta Krika rising from the mutagenic waters of the Swamp of Secrets.

The only positive effect that the mutagen has caused was the fact that the "repairs" by Karzahni did on the Mahri Nui Matoran were reverted (although most of the weapons he gave them became unusable).

In Karda Nui, numerous Rahi and three Makuta were mutated by the Pit Mutagen. The Makuta lost many of their powers and their ability to shapeshift, becoming locked in their insectoid forms. Krika and Gorast also must now feed on heat and light, respectively, to survive.

[carve] The Kingdom

In "The Kingdom" Pocket Dimension, Pit Mutagen spread throughout the flooded undersea caverns that are all that remained of the destroyed Matoran Universe, so that any creatures that survived were mutated beyond recognition.

[carve] Beings Affected

• The Barraki
• Brutaka
• Karzahni
• Keras Crabs
• Lesovikk
• The Matoran of Mahri Nui (Only reversed Karzahni's "repairs")
  • Sarda (Water breather)
  • Idris (Water breather)
• The Piraka
• Spinax (Amphibious)
• Niazesk
• At least one Nui-Kopen
• Mistika Makuta

[carve] Beings Immune

• Hydraxon
• Hydruka
• Nocturn's species
• Toa Mahri
• Zyglak

[carve] Trivia

• The only known cures for the mutagen are the powers of the Kanohi Ignika and Mata Nui.
• The mutagen is a byproduct of some process that is vital to the Matoran Universe, the creation of energy.
• Organic Rahi are not immune to the mutagen; it simply affects them so slowly that the effects are almost unnoticeable.
• A quirk of Brutaka's species gives them a slight resistance to the effects of the mutagen; although it makes them water breathers just as quickly, it takes longer to change their physical appearance.