Metru Nui
"It was one of the safest places in the universe, because everyone knew how vital the city was to the well being of so many other lands. The goods it traded were desperately needed elsewhere and the energy produced by the power plants was so great it could be funneled to other cities at no cost to Metru Nui."
— Narrator, Legacy of Evil
| Metru Nui | |
| |
| Island City | |
| Status | Dismantled |
| Inhabitants | Thousands of Matoran[1][2] (formerly) Several teams of Toa (formerly) Various Turaga (formerly) Dark Hunters (formerly) Various Rahi (formerly) Teridax (formerly) |
| Population | None |
| Assigned Makuta | Makuta Teridax |
| Position | Inside the Mata Nui Robot's head |
| Pronunciation | MET-troo NOO-ee |
Metru Nui, also known as the City of Legends, was the most significant location of the Matoran Universe. The island city functioned as the brain of the Great Spirit, and the work of the Matoran there was vital in keeping the universe active. It was highly coveted by several factions, including the Brotherhood of Makuta and the Dark Hunters, because of its strategic significance to the universe as a whole. Metru Nui was the northernmost region of the entire Matoran Universe, being located in the head of the Great Spirit, and was the only island in its dome.
The name Metru Nui means "Great City" in the Matoran language.
History
Early History
Metru Nui's foundations were laid by the Great Beings, and the Matoran constructed the city with assistance from Helryx. It was attacked by the Kanohi Dragon which was defeated for the first time, around 94,000 years before the events of Karda Nui. About 87,000 years ago, the League of Six Kingdoms formed a trade pact with Metru Nui in return for freedom. This pact was nullified 7,000 years later when the League of Six Kingdoms was defeated by Teridax and his army.
Half a millennium later, the Matoran Civil War in Metru Nui caused the Great Disruption. The war was started over a dispute between Ta-Metru and Po-Metru, and eventually dragged the entire city in, with the Ta-Matoran, Onu-Matoran, and Ga-Matoran fighting the Po-Matoran, Le-Matoran, and Ko-Matoran. It lasted for 400 years before the Brotherhood of Makuta leader, Miserix, had Teridax step in and end the conflict. Teridax chose to do so by sealing parts of the armies in the Archives and unleashing the exhibits on them. The war leaders were banished to the Pit, and Makuta Teridax was assigned the region of Metru Nui. As a result of the Archives Massacre, the Matoran of Metru Nui never truly trusted Teridax and the other Makuta, and viewed them with a wary respect born of fear.
100 years after the Civil War ended, a golden age of peace and prosperity begins for Metru Nui.[3]
At some point, a Turaga came to Metru Nui and led the Matoran for some length in time. When this Turaga left office around 15,000 years ago, Turaga Dume came into power. It was during Dume's time in office that the Vahki were created as law enforcement for the city, after the disastrous initial attempt of the Kralhi.
About 4,000 years ago, the Kanohi Dragon was unleashed again by the Dark Hunters. At this time, no Toa were active on Metru Nui. Seeing the destruction, Dume sent out Vahki with a call for help. Eleven Toa, led by Toa Lhikan, were sent to stop the threat. This team also included Nidhiki, Naho, Tuyet, four Toa of Ice, and three other Toa. After they defeated the Rahi following a month-long battle, they took the beast to Xia. The Toa then returned to Metru Nui, and remained there, becoming the Toa Mangai, protectors of the island.
Five hundred years later, the Dark Hunters Triglax, Gladiator, and Devastator entered Metru Nui in search of Toa Tuyet and the Nui Stone she possessed. Tuyet murdered several Matoran to try to blame the Dark Hunters. After Nidhiki and Lhikan defeated the Dark Hunters, they learned that they were not responsible for the murders and that Tuyet was. When Lhikan confronted her with Nidhiki's help, she used the Nui Stone to gain power and attempt to overwhelm the two Toa. Lhikan managed to destroy the Nui Stone, and Tuyet was taken into custody. Before her punishment could be decided, however, Botar appeared in the night and took Tuyet to a pocket dimension to discover the secrets of the Nui Stone, placing a decoy Tuyet from an alternate universe in The Pit.
Three millennia ago, the Toa-Dark Hunter War broke out in Metru Nui. After an initial invasion, Toa Naho slipped through enemy lines and retrieved reinforcements for Metru Nui. After months of fighting, Nidhiki finally defected, attempting to betray Metru Nui to the Dark Hunters. Unbeknownst to him, Lhikan had requested several hundred Toa as reinforcements. When he stumbled onto Nidhiki's meeting with a Dark Hunter, Lhikan laid a trap for him and the Dark Hunters. The trap succeeded, and the Toa won the war. Lhikan then banished Nidhiki with the Dark Hunters, and in return for allowing them to leave alive, he received the Makoki Stone.
Great Cataclysm
About 1,001 years ago, Teridax kidnapped and impersonated Dume in a plan to take over the city and rule over the Matoran. He first created the Morbuzakh, which was planted in the Great Furnace. The Morbuzakh spread through the city and herded the Matoran towards the Coliseum. Matoran often went missing during this time, and were secretly placed in Matoran Spheres.
Teridax hired three Dark Hunters to assist in his plan: Nidhiki, Krekka, and Eliminator. Teridax then sent most of the remaining Toa Mangai seal off the Sea Gates into several groups, along with the Chronicler Kodan. Eliminator ambushed and killed them, including Kodan. Teridax also commissioned Vakama to make the Mask of Time for him, however the results were consistently inferior.
Wary of what was happening, Lhikan decided to create a new team of Toa to help fight the attacks, originally planning on the six Matoran who knew the locations of the Great Disks. Teridax, after reading the stars (falsely altered by Mata Nui), instead gave Lhikan the idea to chose six other Matoran. Lhikan broke into the Great Temple and stole six Toa Stones, and after a brief fight with the Dark Hunters, left to give them to the designated Matoran. After he had given the last Matoran, Vakama, his stone, Nidhiki and Krekka caught up and attacked him. Lhikan surrendered after Nidhiki threatened to drop Vakama into the forge, although he did so regardless. Lhikan managed to save the Matoran, but was kidnapped and taken to the Canyon of Unending Whispers.
After becoming Toa, the Toa Metru sought out the Matoran who knew the locations of the Great Disks, and found that each of them happened to have a reason to betray the others, as each were found in perilous situations. After gathering the Great Disks and discovering that Ahkmou was the traitor, the Toa Metru destroyed the King Root, expending all of their elemental energy in doing so and stopping the destruction of the city. However, when the Toa went to the Coliseum and offered the Great Disks as proof of their being Toa, Teridax, still posing as Dume, pronounced them criminals that had captured Lhikan. Whenua, Onewa, and Nuju were captured, but Vakama, Nokama, and Matau escaped. Nuju, Onewa, and Whenua were put in the same prison as Lhikan had been, but the Toa did not recognize Lhikan, both because he was a Turaga and because he was wearing a helmet. He attempted to help them learn their Kanohi powers, and eventually succeeded, and the group was able to escape.
Simultaneously, Vakama, Nokama, and Matau used a chute leading out of the Coliseum to continue their escape. However, Nidhiki and Krekka threatened Kongu, who was working at the station, into reversing the flow. He did, although they escaped the chute. The Toa followed Lhikan's Spirit Star to Po-Metru, combating the Hunters along the way. They journeyed with a Kikanalo herd to the prison, where the Rahi helped get rid of the Vahki as both the Kikanalo and Toa were enemies of the Hunters. There the Toa Metru reunited and Lhikan unveiled his disguise. After realizing that they believed him to be the heart of Metru Nui, Lhikan had them escape to the Coliseum as they came across the Matoran Sphere in which Teridax had placed Dume.
Teridax summoned the rest of the Matoran to the Coliseum, and had them put into Matoran Spheres to wipe their memories. The Toa Metru hurried on a Vahki Transport to the Coliseum, where they confronted the false Dume, who revealed himself as Teridax. The Great Cataclysm suddenly rocked the universe, destroying much of Metru Nui. Teridax began draining the Coliseum's power generator, which sent an energy feedback throughout the city, destroying or warping the Vahki who were charging at the time. This event finally succeeded in putting Mata Nui to sleep, causing him to crash-land on Aqua Magna. This shock was felt as a massive earthquake throughout the universe. Using this stolen energy to fuel his transformation, Teridax absorbed Krekka, Nidhiki, and his Rahi Nivawk into his own mass.
The Toa escaped into the Silver Sea on a Vahki Transport. While they were heading for a gap in the Great Barrier, Vakama completed carving the Vahi. Teridax appeared, in a large winged form, and began assaulting the Transport. Vakama confronted Teridax by using the Vahi, but was unable to control it. Teridax killed Turaga Lhikan, who threw himself in front of Vakama to protect him, and the impact threw the Vahi into the Silver Sea. By using his Kanohi Huna, Vakama eventually defeated the Master of Shadows, and the Toa Metru imprisoned him in a Toa Seal. The Toa Metru escaped to the island above, and Teridax summoned Sidorak, Roodaka and the Visorak horde.
The Visorak horde took over the island, shrouding the city in webbing and capturing any Rahi in sight. Metru Nui became the staging-ground of a clash between the Visorak horde and their commanders, and the Toa Hordika (who were mutated from their Toa Metru forms by the Visorak) and Rahaga. During this time, the Toa Hordika found false evidence claiming that they were never meant to become Toa. Vakama let himself be controlled by his Rahi side, defected to the Visorak, and captured five of the Rahaga. The remaining Toa Hordika and Norik continued in their quest to find Keetongu, a legendary Rahi rumored to be able to cure all poisons. When they eventually found him, they explained their situation, but Keetongu refused to cure the Toa of the Hordika Venom for the time being, explaining that they would need their new powers for the upcoming battle.He also volunteered to join them for the fight. During the Battle of Metru Nui Matau was able to convince Vakama to come back, and together they disbanded the Visorak and defeated Roodaka who had had Sidorak killed by Keetongu. After being cleansed of Visorak venom by Keetongu, the Toa Metru rescued the sleeping Matoran and brought them to Mata Nui, where they were awakened.
Vakama stayed behind, however, to retrieve the Vahi. While he was there, the city became a battleground between Teridax and the Shadowed One, competing for the Mask of Time. However, Vakama retrieved the mask and escaped to Mata Nui. It was during this time that he learned that the Toa Metru were indeed meant to become Toa.
The Dark Time
During the Dark Time, the city was only populated by Turaga Dume, the Rahaga, Keetongu, and some of the escaped Rahi. Many of the other Rahi and some of those migrated to Mata Nui, but other Rahi stayed in the city, for instance the Longfang, and formed Metru Nui's new ecosystem during this time.
Metru Nui was slowly rebuilt, and the eight of them slowly cleared the Visorak webs. Five hundred years after the Great Cataclysm, a rogue group of Visorak landed on the shores of Metru Nui, but were fended off by the Rahaga, Dume, and Keetongu.
Return to Metru Nui
After one thousand years, with the defeat of Teridax at the hands of Takanuva, the Matoran returned to Metru Nui, as did the Rahi which had migrated to Mata Nui. The Matoran immediately began rebuilding the city, but construction was halted by Jaller in an attempt to get the Turaga to tell him where the Toa Nuva had gone. Turaga Dume's and Vakama's efforts to get the rebuilding started again failed. Nokama eventually told Jaller, and he, several other Matoran, and Takanuva left for Voya Nui to find the Toa Nuva. Takanuva returned to Metru Nui after being unable to move past a barrier to Karzahni that blocked Light. Some time after his return, he fended off numerous Frostelus. The Matoran of Karzahni were later freed by the Toa Nuva, and were sent to Metru Nui, where they began to reside. Reconstruction of Metru Nui came to an end following the Staff of Artakha's use, which reversed the damage caused by the Great Cataclysm.
Krakua, Helryx, and Brutaka were in Metru Nui below the Archives after rescuing Takanuva, and after sending him to Karda Nui and defeating the Dark Hunter Dweller, the two Toa left the city to go to Daxia, leaving Brutaka there to assist the Toa Mahri. He left shortly afterwards, however, on another mission.
Kardas also wandered into Metru Nui after being healed by Gali on the island of Mata Nui, where he had been attacked by Bohrok. However, the Toa Mahri confronted the dragon again, and managed to defeat and capture him.
The Toa Hagah arrived at Metru Nui on their mission to track down Teridax, which required destroying the Coliseum. The Toa Mahri tried to defend the Coliseum from the Hagah. During the battle, Kualus summoned a large Rahi to fight the Mahri, but lost control of it. Both Toa teams worked together to defeat the Rahi, and later the Toa Mahri and Toa Hagah thought of a better way for the Toa Hagah to do their mission without destroying the Coliseum, which was accomplished by using Hewkii's Garai to lift the Coliseum, allowing the Toa to descend beneath it.
Afterwards, a member of the Order of Mata Nui, Johmak, arrived in the city. She gave the Heart of the Visorak to the Toa Mahri, telling them to depart to Artidax where the Visorak could destroyed. Johmak planned for the Toa Mahri to leave the city, as the Order required Metru Nui for a final conflict against the Brotherhood during the Destiny War. However, Jaller, Nuparu, and Hahli were the only ones to depart, as Hewkii and Kongu remained to protect their city and were soon knocked unconscious and confined in the Coliseum with the Turaga.
With this, the Order took control of Metru Nui and transformed it into a fortress. Walls were erected along the coastline, as weapon emplacements were mounted upon them and structures throughout the city. The streets leading to the Coliseum were barricaded and Order members patrolled them. As Matoran continued fortifying the city as Voporak arrived, breaking through the walls, stealing the Kanohi Vahi, and killing a four-armed Order warrior.
A Brotherhood fleet then arrived to begin the last campaign of their war against the Order, and the Siege of Metru Nui began. Jaller, Hahli, and Nuparu returned during the midst of the battle as Rahkshi assaulted the city and overwhelmed the Order of Mata Nui defenders. Vakama formulated a plan to awaken the Bohrok beneath the Archives using Krakua's Sonic powers. As the Bohrok emerged from Ta-Metru, the Rahkshi attacked, unaware they only wanted to go to Mata Nui. This provided the Order and the Toa Mahri the opportunity to attack the Rahkshi at will.
Meanwhile, Teridax, in the body of Mata Nui and in control of the Matoran Universe, created a storm that capsized the Brotherhood fleet, and the Toa Nuva and Takanuva arrived in the city from Karda Nui. The Axalara T9, Jetrax T6, and Rockoh T3 fought the undeterred Rahkshi, rallying Order members and the Toa Mahri to fight them harder as well. Following the defeat of the Makuta forces, Vakama and Dume emerged and announced the following day that Metru Nui would be host to a celebration in the Coliseum. During this time, the Av-Matoran of Karda Nui migrated to Metru Nui, as the Energy Storms in Karda Nui prevented them from living there.
Teridax's Reign
During the victory celebration, Teridax revealed himself during Dume's speech. The inhabitants of Metru Nui were forced to hide in the Archives to avoid being terrorized by Rahkshi. Of the assembled Toa, only Gali remained behind in the city to provide some protection to the Matoran. A group of Ta-Matoran soon broke free of the Rahkshi and attempted to make their way to the island of Mata Nui, unaware that the island no longer exists. Teridax would later imprison the Turaga of Metru Nui in the Coliseum and name Ahkmou "Turaga" of the City of Legends. One of his first orders was to have the Po-Matoran construct statues of Teridax throughout the city. He also removed all previous statues of Toa.[4] Later, some Rahkshi and the Skakdi warlord Nektann invaded, but were beaten back by the Toa Mahri.
Metru Nui was greatly damaged when when a fragment of Aqua Magna collided with Teridax's head during his battle with Mata Nui. This collision ripped a hole in the ceiling of Metru Nui. The surviving Matoran evacuated the Matoran Universe for the surface of Spherus Magna. Later, Metru Nui, along with all other locations in the Matoran Universe, was dismantled.[5][6]
Alternate Universes
Toa Empire Alternate Universe
In this reality, Metru Nui became the base of operations for the newly formed Toa Empire, and its caverns became home to the underground resistance movement. Teridax, Krika, and Kojol recruited the prime reality Takanuva to steal the Kanohi Vahi from a caravan. After he and Lesovikk got the Vahi, Takanuva joined the resistance as they planned a full on attack on Tuyet. During the ensuing battle several members on both sides were killed, but the empire inhabitants, sick of Tuyet's tyranny, descended on the Coliseum and overwhelmed Tuyet. Tuyet was killed after being cut in two by a portal to Karda Nui.
Landscape
Metru Nui was roughly 65 times smaller than Mata Nui, being only 47.6 kio long and 24 kio wide (40.51 miles/65.2 km long and 20.43 miles/32.88 km wide).[7] The design of the city originated from that of the island of Artakha. The island city was directly below Mata Nui and received light from twin suns, which were the eyes of Mata Nui's body. There were stars present in the dome at night, though these were actually electrical representations of Mata Nui's thoughts. However, after Teridax's takeover they reflected his thoughts.
The city of Metru Nui was advanced, dotted with Matoran Homes and crisscrossed with Chutes, the main form of transportation on Metru Nui which Matoran traveled through. The city was divided into seven districts: Ta-Metru, Le-Metru, Ko-Metru, Ga-Metru, Po-Metru, Onu-Metru, and the Coliseum. Casual travel between these Metru was illegal prior to the Great Cataclysm without a Matoran first seeking their supervisor to notify the Vahki so that the Matoran was not apprehended for not being at work during their shift.
Metru Nui was damaged during and after the Great Cataclysm, but was repaired to its former state by the Staff of Artakha and the work of the Matoran.
In preparation for the final battle of the Order of Mata Nui/Brotherhood of Makuta War, the Order transformed Metru Nui's landscape into a massive fortress, fortifying the coastline with massive walls with help from the island's Matoran.
The city had a defense mechanism protecting it from attacks by the sea, which could create huge hexagonal pillars of protodermis to capsize enemy ships.[8][9][10][11]
The roof of the dome was equiped with an emergency fire extinguishing system, which was activated after the Great Cataclysm, resulting in twin convergent rainstorms.[12][13][14]
Ta-Metru
The Fire region of Metru Nui, where weapons, Kanohi, and Kanoka were forged. The Great Furnace was also located in Ta-Metru. Ta-Metru was home to the Ta-Matoran.
Ga-Metru
The Water region of Metru Nui, and the site of the Great Temple. Ga-Metru was home to the Ga-Matoran who were generally students and Teachers.
Ko-Metru
The Ice region of Metru Nui, and the site of the Knowledge Towers. Ko-Metru was home to the Ko-Matoran.
Onu-Metru
The Earth region of Metru Nui, and the site of the Archives. Onu-Metru was home to the Onu-Matoran.
Po-Metru
The Stone region of Metru Nui, and the center of goods manufacturing. Po-Metru was home to the Po-Matoran.
Le-Metru
The Air region of Metru Nui, and the center of the Metru Nui transportation facilities. Le-Metru was home to the Le-Matoran.
Coliseum
The center of Metru Nui, the Coliseum dominated over Metru Nui. Matoran had Akilini tournaments at the Coliseum four times a year prior to the Great Cataclysm. Below it, the Core Processor served as the brain center for the Great Spirit.
Telescreens
Telescreens[15] were devices used by Turaga Dume in Metru Nui to make announcements to the Matoran of the city. They were massive kinetic displays[16] that displayed Dume's image and projected his voice from inside the Coliseum; there were dozens in each Metru.
Teridax made use of the Telescreens while he posed as Dume, using the screens to accuse the Toa Metru of being criminals, and later ordering the Matoran to gather in the Coliseum so he could place them in Matoran Spheres.
The Telescreens of Metru Nui were destroyed during the Great Cataclysm, but were repaired by the Staff of Artakha.
Former Inhabitants
Matoran
The Matoran of Metru Nui were its primary inhabitants. Shortly before the great cataclysm, they were placed in Matoran Spheres by the Makuta. They were awakened by the Toa Metru on Mata Nui, leaving Metru Nui mostly deserted for a thousand years. After The Rebuilding and the apparent defeat of Makuta on Mata Nui, The Matoran returned to Metru Nui and began rebuilding it.
Many Matoran escaped to Metru Nui from Karzahni with the assistance of the Toa Nuva, as well as the Av-Matoran from Karda Nui. Later on, all of the Matoran evacuated to the surface of Spherus Magna.
Turaga
The Turaga were the leaders of Metru Nui. There were seven Turaga in Metru Nui: Dume, Vakama, Nokama, Matau, Whenua, Nuju and Onewa. The last six Turaga were once Matoran inhabitants of the city and later Toa Metru during the time leading up to the Great Cataclysm. There was also at least one other Turaga that led the city before Dume. The Turaga immigrated to the surface of Spherus Magna due to massive damage caused to Metru Nui.
Toa
The Toa were the main protectors of Metru Nui, though before the second appearance of the Kanohi Dragon, there was no need for them. Metru Nui once even hosted over 300 Toa. Throughout history, it was protected by the Toa Mangai, the Toa Metru, the Toa Nuva, Toa Takanuva, the Toa Mahri (excluding Matoro), and the Toa Hagah. During Teridax's reign, Metru Nui was guarded by the Toa Hagah and Gali Nuva[17][18] until they evacuated to the surface of Spherus Magna due to the damage done to the city.
Rahi
There were many species of Rahi living on Metru Nui, including some driven there by the Visorak horde. Some of the Matoran of Metru Nui kept tame Rahi as pets, although a Rahi larger than half a bio could not be kept in a private residence under Metru Nui law. Due to massive damage to Metru Nui, all the Rahi performed a mass exodus to the surface of Spherus Magna.
Others
- The Rahaga (formerly)
- The Dark Hunter Dweller (formerly)
Quotes
"The City of the Great Spirit... my island home..."
— Vakama, Mask of Light
"Mata Nui, in his wisdom, brought us to this beautiful island that bears his name. But home will always be Metru Nui."
— Vakama, Mystery of Metru Nui
"We believed Metru Nui to be a paradise."
— Vakama, Trial by Fire
"In the time before time, in the glorious city of Metru Nui, we believed new heroes could not be made."
— Vakama, Legends of Metru Nui
"Home! I can see the Coliseum, the spires of Ko-Metru, the Great Forge of Ta-Metru, and the beautiful gem that is the Great Temple."
— Takanuva, Takanuva's Blog
"Well and truly a city of legends since, as is well known, most legends are about the dead."
— The Shadowed One, Encyclopedia Updated
Trivia
- The Shadowed One nicknamed Metru Nui as the "City of Legends" during the Toa-Dark Hunter War.[19]
Appearances
References
See also
- Gallery:Metru Nui
- The Capital City of Okoto in Generation 2
| Metru Nui |
| Coliseum | Ta-Metru | Ga-Metru | Le-Metru | Po-Metru | Onu-Metru | Ko-Metru | Great Barrier |
| Locations | ||
| Solis Magna | Spherus Magna (Aqua Magna | Bara Magna | Bota Magna) | Red Star | |
| Matoran Universe (Mata Nui) |
Metru Nui (Maze of Shadows) | Karzahni | Zakaz | Xia (The Mountain) | Northern Continent (Tren Krom Peninsula) | Artakha | Stelt | Odina | Southern Continent (Voya Nui, Mahri Nui) | Karda Nui | The Pit | Destral | Nynrah | Tren Krom's Island | Visorak | Daxia | Southern Islands (Artidax) | |
| Alternate Locations |
Pocket Dimensions |
Zone of Darkness | City of Silver |
| Alternate Universes |
The Melding | Spherus Magna | Toa Empire | The Kingdom | |
| Other Locations | ||
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