Society
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| Table of Contents | Beliefs and Mythology | Sports and Contests | Occupations and Crimes | Inventions and Mathematics | Communication |
Alongside the many beings and species of the BIONICLE storyline, there are also many accompanying cultures, laws, occupations, and entertainment.
Beliefs
In the BIONICLE storyline, beliefs are often present amongst different species. These beliefs are often guidelines used to create harmony amongst the species.
Matoran Universe
Matoran
The Matoran revere the Great Spirit Mata Nui, who brought them into being and gave them the important task of maintaining his health. Most of the beliefs of the Matoran revolve around Mata Nui.
Mata Nui: The Great Spirit who presided over the universe. He had the Matoran situated in key locations working hard to maintain his own health.
- Three Virtues: Virtues handed down by the Great Spirit. Matoran, Toa, and Turaga alike strive to live by these values day in and day out.
- Principles: Developed by the Matoran of Metru Nui to get through the Dark Time. Principles are derived from the Three Virtues.
Vortixx
At some point in a Vortixx's life, they would pair with another and climb "The Mountain." If they return alive, they are given better working conditions. However, Vortixx who climb up with a partner and return alone are given a special status, as they have proven they have what it takes to survive in the world.
Mythology
Many different types of mythology exist. These include myths, misconceptions and unexplained mysteries.
Matoran Universe
The BIONICLE universe is filled with such types of myths, misconceptions, and the unexplained. One such mystery is the Red Star, a glowing object located in the Wall of Stars. Only Matoran who have visited the planet's surface know of its existence.
Matoran everywhere believe in the existence of Great Beings, powerful creatures known to have created the universe and several of its inhabitants.
The Turaga of Mata Nui told its people a legend pertaining to the events of the universe. The legend was later revealed to be fiction, designed by the Turaga to conceal the existence of Metru Nui, as the Matoran had forgotten about it.
There was a tale of a Great Refuge, a place where good workers were sent to and they would labor in paradise under the watch of its ruler, allowing no evil to enter his realm. Artakha Bulls are said to be the only Rahi allowed to enter the realm. In contrast, there was another place where lazy and damaged workers were sent to be "fixed" by its ruler. The two lands were eventually forgotten outside of myth.
Lhii was also a mythical Matoran revered for his lava-surfing talent. He actually represents Toa Lhikan, who died at the hands of Teridax.
Leaders of the Skakdi race on Zakaz are known to tell stories of a horrific being named Irnakk. In a way similar to how Turaga tell stories of the Toa to encourage Matoran, Skakdi leaders tell these stories to keep their race in line through fear.
Sports
In many societies, sports are used to promote harmony and fair competition amongst the members of the species.
Spherus Magna / Bara Magna
Arena Matches
Following the Shattering, which destroyed Spherus Magna and created the new desertic planet of Bara Magna, members of the warrior class developed a new system to settle disputes and avoid war. The Glatorian class was created to fight in these Arena Matches in order to claim resources and protect the various tribes.
Matoran Universe
Matoran everywhere have developed their own forms of recreation, primarily sports. The sports differ by area, as locales may be suited to one type of sport or another.
Mata Nui
- Kolhii: Most popular sport on Mata Nui.
- Great Ussal Race: Race involving Ussal Crabs.
- Ignalu: Lava Surfing Competition in Ta-Koro.
- Kewa Bird Riding: Sport in Le-Koro; involves riding Kewa.
- Huai Snowball Sling: Game in Ko-Koro where participants sling snowballs at each other.
- Ngalawa Boat Racing: Boat race held in the waters of Ga-Koro.
Metru Nui
- Akilini: Most popular sport in Metru Nui.
- Disk Surfing: Race involving Kanoka.
- Kanoka Toss: Dangerous sport involving tossing Kanoka disks.
Contests
Spherus Magna / Bara Magna
Great Tournament
Every year, Glatorian travel to the Arena Magna in the free city of Atero to participate in a tournament to be named the champion of all Glatorian. At the most recent Tournament, the city was attacked by an invading army of Skrall warriors, endangering the tradition from being continued.
Matoran Universe
Stelt
Contests such as gladiator fights constantly occur on Stelt. Each opponent attempts to battle the other opponent, which may be a local fighter or fighter from a distant land, to the death.
Occupations
Occupations are present and essential in many of the societies.
Matoran Universe
In particular, the occupations held by the Matoran were particularly important in maintaining the health of the Great Spirit Mata Nui.
Crimes
When there is moral good, there must therefore be moral evil. As such, crimes exist in almost all societies.
Spherus Magna / Bara Magna
Murder in an Arena Match
During a battle, if one partaker was to kill another after he had given up, the attacker would be banished to the Wastelands. One such warrior is Malum.
Matoran Universe
During the Matoran's time on Metru Nui, a Matoran Underworld was established. Though hindered by the presence of the Vahki, many crime rings were still present on Metru Nui prior to the Great Cataclysm, and were a serious threat to the security of the city. Most Matoran know better than to commit crimes, as it may interfere with their own duty and endanger the health of Mata Nui, but some still insist on devoting themselves to criminal activities.
Smuggling
Rare artifacts attract the most unscrupulous Matoran, who insist on passing through illegal channels to gain maximum profit for it. Before the Sea Gates were closed, several businesses extended to other lands, but after the shutting of the gates, the rings were forced to keep their efforts concentrated to Metru Nui. Though crafty, the rings were effectively dealt with by the Vahki. Bordakh were the most effective in breaking these rings, as they used their staffs to stun Matoran into giving away the others.
Theft
Though once a minor crime, the extensiveness of the Chute system enabled more Matoran in Metru Nui to steal things by diverting shipments to unused chutes to be looted by them later. Chute Station Attendants monitored all shipments, but due to the thousands of shipments day in and day out, it was impossible to keep track of everything.
Matoran from other places will occasionally commit petty theft as well, lacking the advancement of Metru Nui to pull off large heists.
Disk Dueling
Matoran on Metru Nui rarely got into physical altercations, but a strong feud could end in a disk duel, where opponents stood at opposite ends and slung disks at each other. This can have serious consequences; one Matoran was shrunk so much that he was never found, while another was turned into something so grotesque that he almost wound up on display in the Archive. This activity is highly illegal.
Forgery
A rare crime, but one with dangerous repercussions. Often on Metru Nui, forged Kanoka disks would be created, and therefore lacked powers, leaving a Matoran helpless to a Rahi or other such danger.
Inventions
In any society, there would be individuals with vast reserves of creativity. Sometimes, these individuals put their skills into action and invent new or improved ways of living.
Transportation
Like all societies, transportations are necessary to keep a society running. Over the duration of history, many types of vehicles were designed, invented and created.
Defense Groups
Defense groups are necessary to protect a society from danger. Various defense groups are established in different societies to maintain the safety of the society.
Mathematics
Matoran Universe
Below are some Matoran concepts that involve mathematics.
Currency
After the defeat of the Bohrok-Kal, the Matoran on Mata Nui used a special currency type called Widgets. These Widgets are made up of different sized shapes and objects, like gears, but are carved from Protodermis. The currency is based on the forms they used on Metru Nui. Widgets were only adopted after the defeat of the Bohrok-Kal; prior to then, the Matoran had used a simple barter system. Widgets are used by Matoran throughout the universe.
Measurements
Matoran and other species use a distinct measuring system. The system is split into three different types: bio, kio, and mio.
The exact conversion rates (with real world measurements) are:
- 1 bio = 4.5 feet = 1.37 meters
- 1 kio = 1,000 bio = 4,500 feet/0.85 miles = 1.37 kilometers
- 1 mio = 1,000 kio = 850 miles = 1,370 kilometers
As a reference, all Toa are roughly 1.6 bio tall.
Communication is essential for one sapient race or being to communicate with another. To do so, it usually involves languages or different signals. Languages can also be used in written form, however the form can change from region to region.
Spherus Magna/Bara Magna
Spoken Languages
The main language of Bara Magna approximates the Matoran language enough that Vezon was able to understand the Agori Tarduk when the half-Skakdi visited an alternate Bara Magna universe.
The Vorox and Zesk have their own language, composed of a broken version of the main language, and a series of gestures and whistles.
Written Languages
The written language of Bara Magna, and formerly of Spherus Magna, differs from those of the Matoran Universe, but it was similar enough for Toa Hagah Bomonga to translate "Bara Magna" from the text inscribed in the walls of a tunnel deep beneath Metru Nui.
Matoran Universe
Spoken Languages
There are many languages spoken through the Matoran Universe, but the one in most widespread use is the Matoran language. Many languages are spoken by Rahi, which can be learned by other sentient species. For example, the Visorak developed their own language, of which the Vortixx Roodaka made a study. Rahaga Kualus was also fluent in the languages of flying Rahi, one of which he taught to Toa Hordika Nuju, who took to speaking it exclusively, even to the present day as a Turaga.
The Le-Matoran of Metru Nui also developed their own slang, known as Chutespeak (later known as Treespeak on the island of Mata Nui).
Only two languages belonging to sapient species are known:
- Matoran, the dominant language
- The native language of the Skakdi
Written Languages
The Matoran Alphabet is used to transcribe the Matoran language. The Matoran of Metru Nui use circles, and those of the Southern Continent use hexagons respectively. Ancient Matoran texts are illegible to anyone but few who have studied such ancient texts. Most text is transcribed onto stone tablets or painted onto a surface. The only known paper of the Matoran Universe is the ancient scroll left by the Great Beings inside the Great Temple.
