Tales from Turaga Ventax: Volume 1

Four Toa

Written by Minirigby and Minirigby

Once on my travels, while making my way through the islands to the North of Odina, I was welcomed most hospitably by the residents of a small village settled on the Western shore of their particular island. It was a modest settlement, with surprisingly few Matoran for the number of huts I observed. Though the most interesting feature of this village, to my eyes anyway, was the single Toa who resided there.

After asking around among the residents, I came to learn this Toa had only recently arrived in their village. Curious as ever, I elected to approach and ask the Toa for his story, to learn what may have brought him to such a small and out of the way settlement in the first place.

The Toa explained to me, in a most mournful tone, how he and his former companions first arrived to this village...

The ship rocked back and forth violently in the storm. Even Saiwai, with her powers as a Toa of Water, could do nothing to calm the raging waves which now battered the sides of their vessel.

“If we had set sail earlier, like I suggested, we could have avoided this storm by three days!” shouted Onui, the Toa of Earth.

Their leader Kohari, the Toa of Ice, sat perfectly still on the deck of their ship, concentrating all of his focus into guiding their vessel with his mask of telekinesis.

“What’s done is done,” said Avuru, the Toa of Plantlife. “Now, quiet down and let the boss concentrate”.

The four Toa had set out from their home, a small island to the North of Nynrah, on the express orders of their Turaga more than a week earlier. Their mission was to deliver an important message, the contents of which were unknown to them, directly to Turaga Dume in Metru Nui. However, after setting sail from Odina, the group were surprised by the storm they now found themselves trapped in.

“Quick, Kohari!” Saiwai shouted “There’s land ahead!”. The Ga-Toa motioned her arm forward, pointing at the coastline that lay distantly in front of them.

“If we can reach it, we can rest there until this storm clears up,” Avuru said.

“Very well, I’ll steer the ship towards the shore,” said Kohari, “but we’re resuming our mission the moment the storm ends”. Arriving on the island’s shore, the Toa were quickly met by a small band of Matoran.

“Welcome, travelers. We are most humbled to have you here on our small island,” a Ta-Matoran stepped forward and said. “I am Rofu, leader of our village. And these are my companions, Koki and Halu”.

The four Toa were surprised by the warm welcome, but not ungrateful. The Matoran quickly led their new guests into the village, and out of the wrath of the storm.

“There doesn’t seem to be very many of you here,” Onui noted.

“Yes, it is true that our numbers are not what they once were,” Rofu said, avoiding eye contact with the Toa. “In truth, this is why we were so grateful when we spotted your arrival. You see, our village has been the target of many raids from bandits and mercenaries who camp nearby”.

“We’re sorry to hear that,” Avuru said, “but unfortunately there isn’t much we can do to help. You see, we’re on an urgent mission ourselves. We can’t afford any delay.”

“That’s right,” Kohari said sternly. “As soon as this storm passes, we’re leaving. Turaga Subaras is depending on us to deliver an important message to Metru Nui.”

Surprised by this refusal, the Ta-Matoran spoke up: “But, you are Toa, are you not? Sworn to protect those in need, on behalf of the Great Spirit himself?”

“Surely you see how this meeting was the Great Spirit’s intention, for you to come and save us from our troubles!”, the Ga-Matoran Halu spoke up.

Disheartened by the pleas for help, Kohari began to speak. “We are truly sorry to hear of your troubles, but our mission is of the utmost importance. We can not afford to-”

Before the Toa could finish, he was interrupted by the sound of alarm bells ringing throughout the village.

“The bandits are back! The bandits are back! Everyone to your shelters!”, a Matoran from outside could be heard shouting over the rain, as raiders leading large Rahi beasts could be seen storming towards the village gates in the distance...

“I thought you said we weren’t gonna stay and help?” shouted Onui, as he swung his mace towards a group of the bandits, making contact with two of them.

“We’re not!” Kohari shouted back. “Once this attack is over, we HAVE to leave”.

“Oh, come on, Kohari,” Saiwai said. “Surely the Turaga will understand. These Matoran are as good as dead without us. We have a duty to stay and help them!”.

“I have spoken,” Kohari said, pulling his spear from the back of a fallen Rahi.

“Hate to say it, boss, but I think the bleeding heart’s right on this one,” Avuru said, leaping behind cover. “This village is as good as gone if we don’t at least try to help.”

Onui stood up, lifting his mace over his shoulder. “What do you propose then, huh? The four of us aren’t enough to protect this place, not if the amount we’ve fought so far is any indication of their numbers. Not to mention, we’ve still got our mission for the Turaga!”

“Onui is right,” Kohari said solemnly. “This village is a lost cause. We’ll do what we can while we’re passing through, but this isn’t our problem”.

“We can’t leave them!” Saiwai shouted in protest, “if the mission for the Turaga is so important, you go ahead. I’ll stay and protect the village.”

“Saiwai, you can’t. You’d die if we left you here alone, you can’t defend this place on your own” Kohari said, as the last of the bandits fled the scene in failure.

“Maybe, if we do this right, she wouldn’t have to?” Onui said, “if we stay for just a little while longer, and teach the Matoran how to protect themselves, they would have no need for us to stay behind. At least, not all of us anyway..”

With the raid ended for now, the Toa met up with Rofu again in the village leader’s hut. “Rofu...” Kohari said, “It has become clear to us that you won’t be able to defend your village from another attack in its current state...”

“So, you’ve decided to stay and protect us?” Rofu asked with excitement.

“For a little while, yes,” Saiwai said, “but we aren’t going to protect you ourselves. We’re going to help teach you how to fend for yourselves instead.”

“B-b-but, we’re not warriors, we don’t even have a village guard! We’re just farmers!” the Le-Matoran Koki said from behind the other Matoran.

“I understand your hesitation,” Kohari said, “but for the sake of your village, and your lives, you MUST learn to defend yourselves”.

“What will you do once we’re gone?” Onui asked, “We’ve still got our own mission to see to, we can’t stay here forever.”

“I suppose you’re right. We need to learn how to protect ourselves for once,” said Halu the Ga-Matoran.

As the conversation continued, Rofu noticed Toa Avuru favoring one of her legs. “Brave Toa of Plantlife!” the Matoran said, looking in Avuru’s direction. “Your leg, it does not look well. Were you hurt in the attack?”

“I’ll be fine, it’s nothing to worry about,” Avuru said, holding on to her right leg.

“It’s settled, then,” Kohari said, “At first light you’ll all gather in the village center, and we’ll teach you how to handle weapons for yourselves...”

“Looking good, you’re improving quickly,” said Avuru, overlooking the Matoran training with pitchforks and farm equipment in the village center.

“But you can do better! Come on, straighten up your posture!” Onui shouted, adjusting a Matoran’s weapon as he walked past.

“If this is all three weeks worth of training gets us, we’ll be no match for the bandits the next time they return,” Rofu said with a worried tone, watching from the sidelines.

“They’re coming along fine,” said Saiwai, “they just need a little more practice. Besides, the bandits haven’t attacked again since we ran them off. They might be too scared to attack now that we Toa are here.”

Rofu still looked concerned. “All the more reason for you to stay then. Say, you haven’t reconsidered our offer, have you? We’d be more than happy to send a messenger to Metru Nui in your place if-”

Kohari interrupted the Ta-Matoran as he approached. “No, we haven’t reconsidered. This message is too important to be delivered by a less than capable traveler. We should have moved on from here days ago already.”

“Oh Kohari,” Saiwai said playfully to their leader, “lighten up a bit. Every day we stay here is another day the Matoran have to improve.”

“I’m afraid we have no more time left!” said Koki, rushing towards Saiwai, Kohari, and Rofu.

“Whatever do you mean Koki my friend?” asked Rofu.

“The bandits!” Koki said, trying to catch his breath after running from the village gate, “they’re back, and it looks like they’ve been busy!”

“By Mata Nui,” swore Saiwai, standing up to see the approaching enemy. “They’ve almost tripled their numbers in Rahi alone!”

Kohari looked over to the Matoran training with Onui and Avuru in the village center. “Everyone, prepare for a fight. The bandits have returned, and they’ve more than got the numbers on their side,” he shouted. “Avuru, are you sure you can fight with that leg of yours?” asked Kohari.

“Don’t worry about it boss, Saiwai looked me over best she could. I’ll make it through the day, promise.” she said.

The largest of the Rahi beasts smashed their way through the village defenses, crushing Matoran near the walls under debris. Onui used his elemental powers of Earth to summon barriers and trenches throughout the village for the newly trained Matoran to make use of.

“Quick, everyone grab cover and leap out at the shadow beasts from behind once they’ve passed you!” Kohari shouted. “Saiwai, Onui, you two go after the bandits! If we can take out the handlers, maybe the Rahi will be easier to deal with.”

“And what about us, master Toa?” asked Rofu. “My Matoran and I are ready for action.”

Kohari pointed to the trenches and barriers made by Onui, “stick to the plan for now, but get out of there if things get too heated.”

Just as Kohari had finished speaking, a massive Rahi beast charged towards him and Rofu. Before the creature could crush Rofu and his Matoran companions however, Saiwai jumped in the way and blocked the beast’s crushing fists with her trident.

“Don’t worry” she shouted, “I’ve got this. You help take out the bandits in my place”.

Just as Kohari was about to leave to meet up with Onui, he heard a loud, crushing sound from behind him. “Saiwai! No!” Kohari shouted as he quickly turned around to see what had happened. The Rahi’s strength was too much, Saiwai’s trident shattered under the pressure of its massive fists. With nothing left to block its attacks, the creature crushed the life out of Saiwai where she stood, reducing the Toa’s numbers down to three.

Shocked by Kohari’s shout, Avuru quickly lost focus and turned around to see what had happened. Just as she did, the foe she was fighting struck her on her already injured leg. Avuru shouted in pain, as Onui jumped in just in time to knock aside the foe and help Avuru to safety.

The three remaining Toa met up in the center of the village, and with no time to grieve for their lost companion, they continued fighting. Surrounded on all sides, with the fate of the village and every Matoran who lived there in the balance, the Toa kept fighting.

After one wrong move, Onui stepped forward to reach an enemy, but was dragged out of their circle by two of the bandits.

“Keep going!” Onui shouted. “I’ll be fine, don’t-”, when suddenly his voice was cut short, with any cries of pain or pleas for help bleeding into the noise of the action and clanging weapons.

Kohari and Avuru knew they were the only Toa remaining. With the village overrun, and Avuru too injured to keep fighting, Kohari knew what had to be done, even if it went against their code. With one look exchanged between them, the plan was clear.

Kohari began charging the last of his power into a Nova Blast, one which would wipe out most of the village, and all of the Rahi and bandits which had swarmed through it. Avuru quickly got to work ordering the Matoran to shield themselves as best as they could with the trenches and barriers made by Onui at the start of the battle, covering them over with the thickest vines and flora her powers as a Toa of Plantlife could conjure.

With the remaining Matoran as safe as they could be given the circumstances, Avuru struggled to her feet and placed a hand on Kohari’s shoulder. “It’s time boss, been an honor” she said with calm acceptance.

“I’ll make sure the message makes it to Metru Nui, eventually. Don’t you worry.” Kohari said to his friend.

“Still going on about that message, eh? I suppose one of us has to.” Avuru dropped down, no longer able to stand on her injured leg.

As the Rahi began to swarm them, Kohari was finally finished charging his power. He unleashed his Nova Blast, the ultimate expression of a Toa’s elemental power, vaporizing every last bandit and Rahi beast in the village, as well as many of the structures, and the injured body of Toa Avuru. What remained of the village was now safe, gently coated in a snowfall from Kohari’s powers of ice, but the cost was great. The lives lost that day would not be forgotten, by the villagers who now lived safe and free, or by the bandit lord who soon after moved on to less troublesome ventures...

As we return to the present day, and my meeting with Kohari, the sole remaining Toa of this village, it occurred to me to ask about the message he had set out to deliver in the first place.

Kohari chuckled when I asked him what had become of it. “Nothing,” he said. “I’ve been here ever since. I didn’t want to risk leaving, in case those Makuta-spawn ever thought to return.”

Well then, I thought, why not deliver it myself? Kohari seemed surprised by my offer, but when I explained that I would be traveling to Metru Nui myself anyway, and that I had in fact once served as the city’s Turaga, I’m sure he felt a great deal more comfortable with the idea.

And so it was that I set out from this small, recently destroyed village, eventually delivering the ever-so-important message to my old colleague Dume. At last, Kohari’s fallen comrades would be able to rest peacefully, knowing now that the mission they set out to complete had been seen through to the end...