Tales from Turaga Ventax: Volume 1

The Devotee

Written by Minirigby

Early on in my journey, while traveling through the Southern Continent, I encountered an individual most strange. An old Ga-Turaga tending to a monument on a mountain cliff, who wore a kanohi which at first appeared to be a great Pakari, but I could tell enough from my time working with kanoka to know that its true nature was something else.

After approaching my fellow Turaga it was clear to see that this individual was far older than even I, perhaps older even than most I had met on my travels thus far, or even since. Naturally I decided to inquire about the monument he was tending to, and am I forever grateful that I did, as the story it had to tell was just as spectacular and insightful as the age of its teller would suggest.

Aepio was the Turaga’s name, and in his earlier years he had been a rare male Toa of Water who, upon receiving a most mysterious vision, set out on a journey of trials and tribulations with his comrades in an effort to save our very universe itself, the Great Spirit, Mata Nui.

However, this stone monument was not built in Turaga Aepio’s honor, instead the name ‘Miharo’ could be made out on the stone, just beneath the offerings of flowers decorating the stone’s surface. Aepio explained that this Miharo, a former Toa of Stone, had been one of his fellow Toa who set out on their journey so many years earlier.

When I inquired as to what this Miharo could have done to deserve a monument in his honor, I was quite delighted when Aepio offered, as his response, to regale me with the Toa’s life story, so that I might better understand the significance of his monument...

Our tale begins right here on this very mountain, more than 90,000 years ago. Miharo had already been a Toa for quite some time before receiving his vision from the great Mask of Life, once the sole protector of the village he called home. However those days were long behind him, and despite his strong devotion to the Great Spirit, unity was one virtue the hermit Miharo struggled to live up to.

On one especially wicked night, along with ten others, Miharo was called upon by the Kanohi Ignika through a vision which warned of dire consequences, should action not be taken. Viewing this quest as an opportunity to redeem himself for his self-imposed exile, Miharo immediately got to work the next morning preparing for the journey ahead.

Before he could leave his hut however, Miharo was disturbed by the sound of movement outside. Thinking that perhaps some rahi had wandered over to his garden in search of food to steal, Miharo grabbed his catching pole and headed out, careful not to alert the unwanted guests with his footsteps.

It came as quite the surprise, then, when Miharo did not see rahi in his garden as expected, but two clumsy Toa tramping through his bushes. Without a second thought, he charged forward and tackled the smaller of the two to the ground, holding their neck in place with the end of his catching pole.

“Speak your names, strangers. And then leave” Miharo spoke at the intruders, “I have important matters to see to”.

“Aepio” whimpered the smaller one, from under the weight of Miharo’s foot on his chest. “And they call that one Chunk” Aepio motioned his hand back towards his larger companion.

“I’m sure they do” Miharo muttered under his breath, “be gone, the both of you”. Miharo lifted his weapon from the smaller Toa’s neck.

“Wouldn’t I love to” the big one chuckled, “but we’ve been called here by a great vision”.

Aepio stood slowly, wiping the dirt off his chest, “the both of us received a vision from the Mask of Life, calling us here, to meet you”.

Miharo hadn’t considered that he might have comrades on this mission, but figured if they knew about the vision it was best to take them at their word.

“Very well then”, Miharo said, “I’ve received this vision as well, it would seem destiny has brought us together for a reason”...

As the three Toa made their way down Miharo’s mountain, heading North toward Mount Valmai, Aepio thought it a good idea to get to know his companions better.

“So, grumpy one, what’s your story?” Aepio said, playfully.

“Not much of a story, not that it’s any business of yours” Miharo spoke back at his new companion. “You see those structures off in the distance, that way, to the East?” Miharo motioned his hand toward a collection of small derelict buildings off in the distance, “That was my home, many years ago”.

Miharo seemed bothered by the memory, but continued “I was its protector once, but I failed, and that’s all I’m willing to share” Miharo said.

“Fair enough, I suppose I can hold back from bothering you further” Aepio said.

“You two, quiet, I hear something in the bushes” Chunk spoke up.

To the surprise of Miharo and Aepio, a large Doom Viper crawled out from behind the cover of the jungle.

“Damned Makuta-spawn, that’s just what we needed to run into” Aepio cursed.

“Hold your tongue, the Brotherhood are servants of The Great Spirit, just as we are” Miharo said scornfully.

“Less talk fellas, more action. This thing’s not gonna let us pass” Chunk shouted.

“Aepio, help me hold down its necks!” Miharo commanded, “Chunk, once we’ve got it held down, smash your club down onto its spine”.

“Why not just go for one of the heads?” Chunk shouted back.

“We want to incapacitate the beast, not kill it. We’re all children of the Great Spirit, blocking our path isn’t a crime worthy of death” Miharo said.

“A real devotee, aren’t you Miharo?” Aepio chuckled back while struggling to wrestle down three of the beast’s heads.

Miharo used his catching pole to hold down the Doom Viper’s final head, while standing with one leg on each of the remaining two necks.

“Alright, I hope you know what you’re talking about” Chunk said, raising his club over his head.

With a single crushing strike, the beast stopped spraying its venom aimlessly and finally passed out, with minimal harm received. After the beast finally collapsed, a voice could be heard coming behind it from the jungle.

“Woah, what do we have here?” said a Ce-Toa, emerging from the jungle with five other Toa following soon behind. The leader of this new group, a Toa of Water named Gorlock, stepped forward.

“Greetings friends, we’re on an important journey for the Great Spirit, could you point us toward Mount Valmai?” He said.

Miharo, Aepio, and Chunk all looked to each other in surprise, “I suppose the more the merrier” Chunk said, laughing to his companions...

At the base of Mount Valmai the group of Toa, now nine of them in number, gathered to plan their next move.

“Chunk, that’s a Miru you wear, isn’t it? See if you can fly up and spot a way into the mountain”, Gorlock commanded.

“I’ll save you the trouble”, Miharo said. “I can use my Kanohi Iden to phase through the mountain and find an entrance from the inside-out”.

Miharo held his hand to his head before collapsing, almost hitting the ground if the Fe-Toa, Eklar, hadn’t caught him first. Once outside of his body, Miharo projected his spirit towards the mountain and was able to find a hidden entrance on the other side, while avoiding the main entrance guarded by two armored beings he didn t recognize.

After returning to his body and alerting his teammates of the hidden entrance’s location, Miharo led the other Toa down the large set of stairs.

“Halt, I here something up ahead” said Neauar, the Toa of Ice, “sounds like there’s a fight going on further down”.

The group proceeded with caution, until they came across a large chamber with a pedestal in the center, containing the very Mask of Life which had called them all there to begin with. However, instead of noticing the mask right away, the group’s attention was pulled away by the sight of a towering being engaged in battle with two unfamiliar Toa.

“Those Toa are under attack from that, thing? Perhaps it’s trying to steal the mask” said Faragis, the Toa of Magnetism.

“Quick, let’s help them out!” Gorlock shouted to his comrades.

The Toa jumped into action, charging at the being from all directions. However, as it continued to parry every attack with its incredible speed, Miharo noticed something the others had missed.

“This being, it’s a being of light. Why would it try to steal the mask?” he asked.

“Steal the mask? HA, I am Umbra, guardian of the Mask of Life. It is you foolish creatures who have come to steal it” the being shouted.

The Toa ceased their attack, and moved away from Umbra.

“If you’re the mask’s guardian, why were you attacking those two Toa over there?” asked Aepio.

“They are intruders, as are you. I am protecting the mask, as is my purpose” Umbra said.

“We’re not intruders you big oaf!” shouted one of the unfamiliar Toa, “I’m Ammeka, and this is Karkilo. We were summoned here by a vision from the Ignika.” she said, offended by the accusation.

“A vision from the mask?” Korlax, the mask-maker Su-Toa spoke up, “we were also summoned here by this vision”.

“A vision you say? From the mask itself?” Umbra asked. “Very well then, as a servant of the mask I must comply. So, which of you will be making the sacrifice?”.

The Toa seemed confused by this question. “What sacrifice, exactly?” Gorlock asked.

“The mask’s purpose is to awaken The Great Spirit. In order to do that, one must sacrifice themselves by putting on the mask” Umbra said.

Gorlock looked grimaced by this information. “Alright then” he said, “I led us here, if anyone should have to make the sacrifice, it should be me”. Faragis, a long time friend of Gorlock, stepped forward and rested his hand on the Ga-Toa’s shoulder.

Miharo, seeing this as his opportunity to prove his renewed loyalty to The Great Spirit, stopped Gorlock. “No, this burden is mine to carry” Miharo said calmly, “for too long I’ve disgraced The Great Spirit by isolating myself away from my failures. I know now, with certainty, that I was called here to make amends”.

Aepio moved forward, “Miharo, stop joking around, this is serious. You don’t need to throw your life away to make up for whatever failures plague your past” he said.

“My friend” Miharo looked to Aepio, “after I failed to protect my home, I was certain The Great Spirit was done with me, that I had failed to live up to the three virtues we Toa hold so dear. But through this journey, I’ve found unity with all of you. And now, with the choice in front of us, my duty has become clear. I was chosen for a purpose. Of all the Toa under Mata Nui’s watch, I was chosen to go on this mission, even after my failure. This is my destiny, friend. Nothing can stop that now”. Miharo stepped towards the pedestal and grabbed the Mask of Life.

“Once you put on the mask, you will be required to carry this burden to Karda Nui, the universe’s core. It is there that you will reawaken The Great Spirit” Umbra said.

“You may be the one putting on the mask”, Gorlock said, “but you won’t be carrying this burden alone”.

“We’ll travel to the universe’s core with you, to make sure you arrive safely” spoke Chunk.

“And once your task is complete, we’ll be there, to return the mask back here, where it belongs” said Karkilo.

Miharo looked down to the mask in his hand, and then back up to his fellow Toa. “Thank you all, your loyalty means more than I can ever express” he said.

Miharo reached up to remove his Kanohi Iden, and with his friends supporting him, replaced it with the Mask of Life. As the chamber was filled with an all-consuming light, Toa Miharo was no more. Once the light show disappeared, the group of Toa left the chamber the way they entered. Determined to escort the now energized Kanohi Ignika to the core of the universe, they set out...