Artakha (Location)

This article is about the location. You may be looking for the being.

"Artakha can go from beautiful and idyllic one moment to dark and forbidding the next, depending on what impression its ruler seeks to make."
— A member of the Order of Mata Nui, World

Artakha
Island
Status	Dismantled
Inhabitants	Matoran, Artakha (both formerly)
Population	None
Assigned Makuta	Makuta Kojol (formerly)
Position	West of the Northern Continent
Pronunciation	arr-TOCK-ah

Artakha, also called the Great Refuge, was an island realm in the Matoran Universe governed by the being Artakha, after whom it was named. It was home to the Universe's best Matoran Crafters and the location where many valuable artifacts were made.

History

City view of Artakha

Artakha was the first island created by the Great Beings during the construction of the Matoran Universe. Artakha chose to govern the realm, which he named after himself. He intended it to be a refuge for hard-working Matoran and a place where no evil could enter.

Once the universe was completed, the inhabitants of the island created various artifacts and objects of power. It was here that Helryx, the first Toa, and the Toa Mata came into existence, using materials provided by the Great Beings. The island was protected from intrusions by flying and marine Rahi created by its assigned Makuta, Kojol.

Eventually, Artakha forged the Kanohi Avohkii. 2,500 years ago, Kojol raided Artakha to retrieve the mask on orders of the corrupt Brotherhood of Makuta. Kojol's strike force sustained damage from the Crystal Serpents and Artakha's devices. However, the Rahkshi distracted the defenses long enough for the Exo-Toa to deploy, and the island's inhabitants were unable to stop them. Against the Brotherhood's orders, Kojol himself entered the fortress and took the Avohkii.

After Kojol's raid, Artakha asked that the Order of Mata Nui remove all traces of his realm's existence. The Order complied, commissioning Tobduk to eliminate everyone who knew where the realm was located (including Order members and Kojol himself). The Order also destroyed all existing maps showing Artakha. Meanwhile, the residents of Artakha destroyed a larger, uninhabited island nearby, along with the land bridge that used to connect them.

Some of Artakha, particularly Artakha's fortress, was damaged in the Great Cataclysm. However, the island's inhabitants quickly repaired the damage.

As part of their mission to prepare the world for Mata Nui's awakening, the Toa Nuva were invited to Artakha. Its ruler sent a Matoran to greet them on Daxia, and then teleported them to Artakha. The Toa were greeted by a welcoming sight of a tropical island with delighted Matoran. Shortly thereafter, the landscape changed rapidly, as storms raged and the plants they had seen shriveled and died. Eventually the Toa arrived at Artakha's fortress, where they were asked by Artakha for details of their recent deeds. When the Toa finished their tales, Artakha presented them with Adaptive Armor, and teleported them to Karda Nui.

After Teridax took over the Matoran Universe, he sent Rahkshi to Artakha to eliminate its ruler. Toa Nuva Lewa arrived to ally with Artakha in the fight against the Makuta, only to find the island nearly overrun and its Matoran defenders losing the battle. Lewa prepared to rescue the land's ruler, but Artakha telepathically commanded him not to, instead sending him to Tren Krom's island to seek that being's aid against Teridax. Artakha later left his island to stop the battle going on in the Core Processor.

Following the Battle of Bara Magna, the Matoran on the island evacuated to Spherus Magna. Later, Artakha, along with all other locations in the Matoran Universe, was dismantled.

Alternate Universes

Toa Empire Alternate Universe

In an alternate universe, Artakha's ruler kept the Great Disks for experimental purposes, and eventually forged the Kanohi Vahi. Tuyet, leader of the Toa Empire, sent Jaller and two Toa, Bomonga and Kualus, to Artakha, where they confiscated the Vahi.

Landscape

The giant Kanohi Hau

Artakha was a land of advanced technology, filled with modern cities. Many other cities, such as Metru Nui, were based on Artakha's design. In the center of the island was an enormous sculpture of a Kanohi Hau. The rest of the geography was always changing, as Artakha was able to change it to look however he pleased, along with the island's climate, by using a mechanism on the island. Artakha was damaged during the Great Cataclysm, but was repaired very quickly.

Artakha himself resided in a fortress in the center of the island. Even the fortress, however, was able to change its appearance to suit its owner's fancy.

Former Inhabitants

• Artakha, the legendary ruler of the island.
• Matoran, the main residents of Artakha.
• Crystal Serpents, Artakha's only attempt at creating Rahi.

Known Creations

A pair of Matoran of Artakha

The following items were created by Artakha and/or the inhabitants of Artakha:

• The Crystal Serpents
• Protosteel
• Makuta armor and masks
  • The Kanohi Kraahkan
• The Kanohi Avohkii
• Great Disks
• Golden Kanohi
• Kanohi Nuva
• The Kanohi Olmak
• The Maxilos robots
• The Adaptive Armor
• The Nuva Cube
• The Nuva Symbols
• The Toa Canisters
• The Rockoh T3
• The Axalara T9
• The Jetrax T6
• The Toa Mata
• The Spear of Fusion
• The Staff of Artakha
• Several artifacts for defense purposes
• Most Order of Mata Nui weapons

Trivia

• A myth states that the Artakha Bulls were the only Rahi allowed to live in Artakha, which is how they got their name.
• During the search for the Toa of Light by Takua and Jaller, two other Matoran began a quest of their own to find Artakha, believing that the Matoran could take shelter there away from the destructive might of Teridax and his Rahkshi. Their journey was ultimately fruitless, ending with an encounter with Teridax in Mangaia. The pair returned home, but decided they didn't need to hide from their fears. During their quest Gali Nuva spoke of a legend that indicated that the Seventh Toa resided in Artakha, though this was proven to be false.

Appearances

Artakha in BIONICLE: Mistika Makuta Mini Guide

Books	Online	Multimedia
Novels BIONICLE Adventures 6: Maze of Shadows (M) BIONICLE Legends 8: Downfall BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky (M) Guides BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts (M) BIONICLE: Encyclopedia BIONICLE: World BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe	Story Serials Into the Darkness (M) Toa Nuva Blog The Mutran Chronicles (M) Dark Mirror (AU) (M) Brothers In Arms (M) Reign of Shadows	Online Games The Legend Continues (FA) (M)