View source for BIONICLE Adventures 9: Web of Shadows

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{{Quote|The [[Toa Nuva]]'s eyes were drawn to the pit. The [[Makuta Stone|Makuta stone]] had pierced the rock below the sand, and now a spiderweb of cracks had formed, threatening to topple the {{G|1|Toa}} stones. [[Vakama]] smiled grimly at the sight, and resumed his tale.|Narrator|center}}
{{Book|
name=Web of Shadows|
image=[[Image:BA9.png|250px]]|
series=[[BIONICLE Adventures]]|
author=[[Greg Farshtey]]|
publisher=Scholastic|
isbn=ISBN 0-439-74558-6|
}}
'''''Web of Shadows''''' is the ninth [[BIONICLE]] [[Books|book]] in the [[BIONICLE Adventures]] series by [[Greg Farshtey]]. It is a novelization of the film ''[[BIONICLE 3: Web of Shadows]]'', but like the previous novelizations, it delves deeper into the characters and shows some deleted scenes and dialogue. It contains a short appendix on the origin of the [[Rahaga]] and a preview of the ''[[BIONICLE: Encyclopedia]]'', featuring an article covering the [[Bohrok]], in the back of the book.

== Synopsis ==
After the [[Toa Metru]] re-enter the city of [[Metru Nui]] on their mission to rescue to [[Matoran]], the {{G|1|Toa}} quickly discovered that the entire city is shrouded in mist and strange webbing. However, due to the overconfidence of their leader, [[Vakama]], the team is quickly ambushed and captured by the spider-like [[Visorak (Rahi)|Visorak]]. Condemned to die by the Visorak king [[Sidorak]] and his repulsive viceroy, [[Roodaka]], the Toa are saved by six bizarre, [[Rahkshi]]-headed beings called [[Rahaga]]. But the venom of the Visorak had done its damage - the six Toa have been mutated into grotesque half-Toa, half-beast monsters called [[Toa Hordika]].

Having decided to recover the Matoran and worry about themselves afterwards, the Toa Hordika and Rahaga quickly begin executing a plan of action, while fighting off both Visorak and the Toa's own beastly natures. Eventually, Vakama strays from the other Toa to have some time alone to think - and is promptly ambushed and captured by more Visorak. He is brought to Roodaka, who sees him as a useful pawn and offers him command of the Visorak horde. Eventually, Vakama accepts this offer, and Roodaka sends him on a mission to prove his worth: capture the Rahaga.

With Vakama defected to evil and five Rahaga captured, the remaining Toa Hordika and Rahaga [[Norik]] quickly change priorities and begin to track down the mythical [[Rahi]] named [[Keetongu]] - a legendary creature said to have the ability to counteract Visorak venom. Eventually, Keetongu is found, but he refuses to cure the Toa; nevertheless, he decides to help them against the spider invaders. Meanwhile, having earned Sidorak's trust - and command of the Visorak - with the five captured Rahaga, Vakama settles down in the [[Coliseum]], now the headquarters of the Visorak, to await the final battle with the Toa Hordika which came none too soon.

While four of the Toa Hordika head straight for the battle with the Visorak and Norik rescues his fellow Rahaga, [[Matau]] goes off for Vakama in a last-ditch attempt to reclaim his friend and leader to the side of light. Meanwhile, Sidorak is shocked to see the supposedly-nonexistent Keetongu, but he is subtly forced by Roodaka to engage the Rahi in combat. Roodaka cleverly wounds Keetongu and abandons Sidorak to be killed by the Rahi; she then triumphantly faces the Toa Hordika - now five again - and Rahaga. All five Toa lash out at her with their [[Rhotuka]] spinners, but the onslaught only causes her to laugh. Vakama appears by her side, but with a surprising announcement: he has indeed forsaken the darkness, and is now again allied with the embattled Toa and Rahaga. At his command, the Visorak scatter, leaving Roodaka all alone. Vakama then strikes her with a Rhotuka spinner, but in vain - she is carrying a piece of the [[Protodermis]] [[Toa Seal|prison]] of [[Teridax]], and when the spinner hits, Teridax's prison is undone, freeing the master of shadows into the world once more and allowing him to transport Roodaka away. But the Toa Hordika - now transformed back into Toa Metru by Keetongu - are able to complete their mission: The [[Great Rescue]], the mass transport of Matoran from the damaged City of Legends to the island of [[Mata Nui (Location)|Mata Nui]].

=== Appendix: Origin of the Rahaga ===
''"From the Chronicles of [[Takanuva|Takua]], as related by Turaga Vakama"''

Featured at the end of the book is an [[Chronicles of Takua#Origin of the Rahaga|abridged history]] of the [[Toa Hagah (Teridax)|Toa Hagah]]/Rahaga from their inception up until the point when they learned of the Brotherhood's corruption and turned against it. It also tells of how Norik and [[Iruini]] were able to defeat Teridax with the aid of their fellow Toa Hagah.

== Characters ==
* The [[Toa Metru]]/[[Toa Hordika]]
* Toa [[Lhikan]] '''{{C|V}}'''
* The [[Rahaga]]/[[Toa Hagah (Teridax)|Toa Hagah]]
* The [[Visorak (Rahi)|Visorak]] horde
* [[Roodaka]]
* [[Sidorak]]
* [[Keetongu]]
* [[Makuta (Species)|Makuta]] [[Teridax]]

== Quotes ==
{{Quote|But the journey would not be an easy one for the Toa Metru—for Makuta did not leave the slumbering Matoran unprotected. Their resting place was guarded by creatures of the night, hordes of the shadows, those that would poison and deceive any traveler true of heart. Their name alone was enough to strike fear: Visorak.|Turaga Vakama}} 
{{Quote|It was then, even as she disappeared among the pillars of protodermis, that Sidorak finally knew. She had engineered it all. Her blasts had been calculated to wound the Keetongu, but not to kill, leaving Sidorak at the mercy of a maddened Rahi. And why? Because there was another way for Roodaka to take control of the horde, one much faster and easier than a marriage of convenience.<br />The death of the king.<br />A shadow fell on Sidorak, but now he realized it was not the shadow of Keetongu. It was the shadow of his own doom. The fate he had visited upon so many others over the centuries was now to be visited upon him. As Keetongu raised his great fist, Sidorak wondered if his viceroy realized that in a way she was acting in the interests of justice—a concept she despised.<br />"Roodaka," the king said weakly as the blow fell. As last words go, not very memorable. But in the moment of his death, Sidorak did something he had never done before: He gave credit where credit was due.|Narrator}}

=== Dedication ===
{{Quote|For Jackina, my love and my darling wife|Greg Farshtey}}

== See also ==
* ''[[BIONICLE 22: Monsters in the Dark]]''
* ''[[BIONICLE 25: Birth of the Rahaga]]''
* ''[[BIONICLE Adventures 7: Web of the Visorak]]
* ''[[BIONICLE 3: Web of Shadows]]''
* [[Saga Guides/The Great Rescue|Saga Guide - The Great Rescue]]
* [[Timeline/History of the Matoran Universe#The Great Rescue|Timeline - The Great Rescue]]
* [[Chronicles of Takua#Origin of the Rahaga|Chronicles of Takua § Origin of the Rahaga]]

== External links ==
* [https://wallofhistory.com/read/?id=PTMJ5P&v=1&lang=en Web of Shadows archived on Wall of History]

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