Artakha

Artakha is a figure of legend in the fictional Bionicle universe, and also applies to the kingdom that he rules.

Unlike his brother Karzahni, who is remembered in Matoran legend, Artakha has been forgotten. Only his realm is remembered, as the "Great Refuge" where there is no conflict or strife.

There is also an organization known as the Hand of Artakha and an artifact called the Staff of Artakha, though the connections to either of the actual Artakhas are unknown.

The Ruler
One of the first beings made along with his brother Karzahni, he once gathered the best Matoran to his kingdom to create essential relics, artifacts, and objects of power. However, after the Brotherhood of Makuta raided his realm to steal the Mask of Light, he asked the Order of Mata Nui to erase all records of the land's location from existence. Neither Artakha or his realm have been seen by outsiders since, and both have passed into legend. There were originally a number of myths concerning Artakha's identity, such as the idea that he may be a Great Being; but now Artakha has been mostly forgotten.

Artakha is a master craftsman. He is said to wear a Kanohi Mask of Creation that, while not actually able to create anything, helps him visualize the finished product and how it must be designed. Legend says that he once entered into a contest with Karzahni for it, and Karzahni's loss is in part responsible for his failure to properly aid the Matoran. To this day, he and his workers still create and anonymously distribute vital equipment where it is needed.

The Realm
According to Matoran legend, in a time before Mata Nui came, the Matoran worked in darkness without knowing the importance of their duty. If the Matoran had done their job well, then they would go to a place of light called Artakha, the Great Refuge. However, if their job was not done acceptably then they would be condemned to the realm belonging to the dreaded ruler Karzahni.

Karzahni has confirmed that the Great Refuge does indeed exist. The Order of Mata Nui has a little more information; but not much, as the land has been closed to outsiders for several millennia. Not even its location is known, as Artakha requested that the Order erase all records of the land's location from existence.

Artakha was the first location created in the Bionicle universe. It used to be connected by a land bridge to a larger uninhabited island, but Artakha's inhabitants destroyed both island and bridge when the land entered its period of isolation. Its terrain and weather tends to reflect the current disposition of its ruler, though by use of some device rather than a special power of the ruler's.

Artakha is home to some of the world's most accomplished Matoran builders and crafters, and their work has made Artakha into what is likely the most technologically advanced city in the Bionicle world. Under their ruler's direction, these crafters have created several essential items of power:
*The Great Kanoka Disks
*The Kanohi Nuva Masks
*The Nuva Cube and Nuva Symbols
*The Avohkii Mask of Light and Kraahkan Mask of Shadows
*The first Toa was also created here, though by the Great Beings rather than Artakha or the Matoran
*Weapons used by the first Toa
Artakha still observes the rest of the universe, and when items are needed they are anonymously teleported to their destinations.

Hand of Artakha
The Hand of Artakha was a group of heroes predating the first Toa. The Hand disbanded after the Toa arrived, partially due to the fact that the Hand's members were undisciplined and caused as much damage as they prevented. The Hand was eventually secretly reorganized as the Order of Mata Nui.

Former members of the Hand are known to include Order of Mata Nui members Axonn and Hydraxon. Another Hand member briefly worked for the Dark Hunters under the codename "Shadow Stealer".

Staff of Artakha
The Staff of Artakha is an artifact that can repair and even recreate any object from even the tiniest fragment. The Dark Hunters stole it from the Metru Nui Archives some time ago, but later gave it to the Vortixx of Xia as payment for weapons; though the Vortixx do not know the staff's full value.

The staff's retrieval was included on a list of essential tasks for the Toa Nuva to perform. However, Makuta Icarax beat them to it on Xia. He then left for Karzahni, where he ambushed the Toa Nuva, but was forced to flee with the Staff when Gali summoned all of her power and unleashed a Nova Blast, destroying the realm of Karzahni in the process. Icarax managed to deliver it to the Makuta of Metru Nui near Mahri Nui, who desired the staff so that he could recreate the Nui Stone from its miniscule fragments. However, before he could do so Brutaka intervened and claimed it for the Order of Mata Nui, tossing it to Botar and letting him teleport away with it before engaging Makuta. The Order used the staff to fulfill the Nuva's task: restoring the planet and fixing damage done in the Great Cataclysm. However, it was not perfect; any devastation caused after the cataclysm has not been affected, and the staff's power could not breach the shields of Karda Nui.

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