Protodermis

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"Protodermis, the stuff of life..."
Whenua, Mata Nui Online Game

Protodermis
Substance
Function Numerous
Known states Solid, liquid, gaseous[1]
Primary location Matoran Universe (formerly), Spherus Magna
Pronunciation Pro-toe-DERR-miss


Protodermis is a synthetic atomic element[2][3] (not to be confused with the Elements[4]). It is capable of forming various molecular structures[5] and is very versatile,[6] and thus constitutes nearly everything (materials, objects, islands, beings, ...) in the Matoran Universe.[1] Energized protodermis, which is naturally occurring,[7] is not required at all in the creation of protodermis.[8][9] Antidermis is a byproduct of it.[10][11]

History

Before the discovery of energized protodermis,[12] protodermis was synthetically created by the Great Beings on Spherus Magna, and many varieties of it were created, differing in states, durability, and various other properties. The Great Beings used the many types of protodermis to construct the Mata Nui Robot and all of the locations and inhabitants of the Matoran Universe within him. Protodermis was mined in several parts of the Matoran Universe, but it was a dangerous task.[13]

On Metru Nui, solid protodermis was mined in Onu-Metru,[1] while liquid protodermis was channeled from the Silver Sea into Ga-Metru, where it was purified. Protodermis was used all over the city, where it was turned into various objects such as Kanoka disks, Kanohi masks, weapons, tools, and transports.

On Mata Nui, solid Protodermis was mined in the Great Mine in Onu-Koro by the Onu-Matoran[1] and then traded and used to make goods.

Purification Process

A Protodermis Purification System

In the Great Temple in Ga-Metru, liquid protodermis was drawn from the Silver Sea[14] into special purification chambers[15] to be purified through rapid heating and cooling, which removed any impurities from it, turning it from a silvery liquid into a clear liquid with a bluish tinge.[14][16] The purification work was performed by a special group of Ga-Matoran. While a few read passages in an ancient Matoran dialect asking for the protection and aid of Mata Nui, the others supervised the actual process.[16] A separation tank was also required.[17]

Forms

Gaseous Protodermis

  • Liquid protodermis exists as vapor[18] in the clouds above Metru Nui.[19][20]

Liquid Protodermis

  • Raw liquid protodermis is a half-clear and silvery liquid that comprises the oceans of the Matoran Universe and contains impurities.[1][21] It can be controlled and absorbed by a Toa of Water.
  • Pure liquid protodermis is the clear and slightly bluish liquid obtained after the purification of raw liquid protodermis.[14] It can be created, controlled, and absorbed by a Toa of Water. On Metru Nui, it was obtained in the Great Temple and then transported through underground pipes to other places in the city. It was also used in Chutes, contained by a magnetic sheath that enabled its flow.[22]
  • Molten protodermis is solid or pure liquid protodermis that has been heated.[16][23] It has the properties of molten metal and cannot be created or controlled by a Toa of Iron.[24][25] While it can be created by Toa of Fire and Stone working together,[26] they cannot control it easily if at all.[27][28] On Metru Nui, molten protodermis was dumped in a subterranean pipe system and used to heat the city. It was also used in Ta-Metru to create Kanohi, Kanoka, and tools, or allowed to return to the sea.[29][16]

Solid Protodermis

  • Metallic protodermis is a variety of solid protodermis that resembles metals, some types of which are derived from the solidification of molten protodermis. Armor usually comes in this solid form, as do the products of Ta-Metru Foundries and other artifacts. Special types of metallic protodermis exist, like that of transparent Kanohi,[30] copper Masks of Victory,[31] and the precious metals that compose the Toa Hagah's armor.[32] Protosteel is the hardest known type of metallic protodermis, often used in the making of weapons. All types of metallic protodermis can be created, controlled and absorbed by a Toa of Iron,[33] but he cannot transmute one type of metallic protodermis into another.[34] They are all susceptible to magnetism[35] but only some can be magnetized.[36][37][38] A Toa of Magnetism can therefore affect them via magnetic fields, but cannot create them.[39]
  • Stonelike/Earthlike protodermis[40] is a variety of solid protodermis, some types of which can be created, controlled, and absorbed by a Toa of Stone and others by a Toa of Earth. It was used to construct almost every land, building and carving in the Matoran Universe. In the Great Mine of Onu-Koro, solid protodermis in the form of gelatinous rock was extracted from the earth and collected using pickaxes and sluices. Toa Seals are made out of a rocklike protodermis.[41][42]
  • Frozen protodermis is liquid protodermis that has been frozen.[43] It can be created, controlled, and absorbed by a Toa of Ice. It is different from crystalline protodermis.[44]
  • Crystalline protodermis is a variety of solid protodermis in the form of crystals, which a Toa of Stone cannot wield.[45][46] Knowledge Crystals, the Knowledge Towers of Ko-Metru that were grown from them,[47] Memory Crystals, Lightstones,[48] and Heatstones[49] are made up of different types of crystalline protodermis. Another type can be produced by the Shadowed One's Staff of Protodermis.[50]

Organic Protodermis

Organic protodermis makes up all the tissues of the biomechanical beings from the Matoran Universe, including Tren Krom.[51] Being artificial, it emulates the properties of natural organic tissues without being truly organic.[52] It decays over time if not supplied with energy, but regenerates much faster than natural organic tissues. For instance, as the Toa Mata laid inactive for a thousand years in their Toa Canisters while adrift on the Endless Ocean, their organic parts decayed, but they quickly regrew when they fused their lost limbs back on. Protodermic muscles are stronger than natural organic muscles,[53] and notably contribute to the body's integrity of the former Matoran Universe inhabitants as well as the cohesion of their mechanical parts.[54] Biomechanical beings can rebuild themselves by painlessly detaching the living tissue from their mechanical parts and fusing it with new ones.[54][55] Organic protodermis has a cellular structure.[56] A priori, organic protodermis does not have DNA or a genetic equivalent.[57][note 1]

Trivia

  • An early name for protodermis was "biodermis".[60]
  • Protodermis is not a nanotechnology.[61][62]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Protodermis." Encyclopedia Updated, p. 116.
  2. "Chat with Greg Farshtey", post 14228720. LEGO Message Boards. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  3. "Official Greg Quotes", post 73. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  4. "Official Greg Discussion", post 7291. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  5. "Official Greg Discussion", post 6844. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  6. "Official Greg Discussion", post 4432. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  7. "Chat with Greg Farshtey", post 14369048. LEGO Message Boards. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  8. "Official Greg Dialogue", post 11192. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  9. "Details on Protodermis Synthesis?", post 3. The TTV Message Boards.
  10. "Chat with Greg Farshtey", post 12163955. LEGO Message Boards. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  11. "Chat with Greg Farshtey", post 14525223. LEGO Message Boards. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  12. "Farshtey Feed, 2008-12-19". BZPower Blogs. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  13. "Chapter 2." Legacy of Evil. BIONICLE Legends 4, p. 30.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Protodermis Purification." Encyclopedia Updated, p. 116.
  15. "Chapter 4." Web of Shadows. BIONICLE Adventures 9.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "Ga-Metru." "Protodermis." Metru Nui - City of Legends, p. 8.
  17. Nokama's Toa Metru Mini Promo CD.
  18. "Official Greg Dialogue", post 7346. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  19. "Official Greg Discussion", post 608. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  20. "Official Greg Discussion", post 658. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  21. "Official Greg Discussion", post 685. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  22. "Le-Metru." "The Moto-Hub." Metru Nui - City of Legends, p. 61.
  23. "Official Greg Discussion", post 1870. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  24. "Official Greg Discussion", post 10759. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  25. "Official Greg Discussion", post 10969. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  26. "Chapter 16: Kini-Nui." Mask of Light, p. 102.
  27. "Official Greg Discussion", post 180. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  28. "Official Greg Discussion", post 8198. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  29. "Ta-Metru." Metru Nui - City of Legends, p. 42.
  30. "Official Greg Discussion", post 10830. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  31. "Official Greg Dialogue", post 1751. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  32. "Official Greg Dialogue", post 6410. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  33. "Official Greg Discussion", post 10806. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  34. "Official Greg Dialogue", post 10594. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  35. "Chat with Greg Farshtey", post 12819684. LEGO Message Boards. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  36. "Episode 9." Mata Nui Online Animations.
  37. "Official Greg Discussion", post 5692. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  38. "Official Greg Dialogue", post 3658. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  39. "Official Greg Discussion", post 11425. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  40. "Official Greg Discussion", post 928. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  41. "Official Greg Discussion", post 2256. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  42. "Official Greg Discussion", post 5544. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  43. "Official Greg Discussion", post 625. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  44. "Official Greg Dialogue", post 10617. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  45. "Official Greg Dialogue", post 4662. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  46. "Official Greg Dialogue", post 10581. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  47. "Ko-Metru." Metru Nui - City of Legends, p. 24.
  48. "Official Greg Dialogue", post 11353. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  49. "Heatstone." Encyclopedia Updated, p. 43.
  50. "Shadowed One." Encyclopedia Updated, pp. 127-128.
  51. "Official Greg Dialogue", post 1515. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  52. "Chat with Greg Farshtey", post 10670993. LEGO Message Boards. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  53. "Chat with Greg Farshtey", post 11697362. LEGO Message Boards. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  54. 54.0 54.1 What Makes a Toa US LEGO BrickMaster Magazine January/February 2006
  55. "Official Greg Discussion", post 5066. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  56. "Rahi." Encyclopedia Updated, p. 118.
  57. "Official Greg Discussion", post 10219. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  58. "Chat with Greg Farshtey", post 10954755. LEGO Message Boards. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  59. "Chat with Greg Farshtey", post 11002911. LEGO Message Boards. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  60. "Official Greg Discussion", post 126. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
  61. "Official Greg Discussion", post 766. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)
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Notes

  1. Later on, Greg Farshtey assumed the existence of a protodermic equivalent of DNA.[58][59]