2003 - Violent Thunderstorm

The Toa moved rapidly through the borderlands of Ta-Wahi. Normally, when heading for a confrontation with an unknown foe, Gali and Onua would have been counseling caution. But not today… no, today each Toa knew that there was not a single moment to be wasted.

It was hard to believe that, only minutes before, they had returned from their battle with the shadow Toa. A great victory had been won, and it seemed that peace would reign at last on Mata Nui. But then a lone Ta-Matoran stumbled into the clearing, exhausted, frightened, and suffering from shock. Only one word did he speak, over and over:

“Bohrok.”

Now, as they approached the village of fire, Tahu felt the first stirrings of fear. What could have happened in the short time they were below the surface? Had Makuta feigned defeat and slipped away, only to turn his wrath on Ta-Koro?

The Toa stopped at a high ride overlooking the lava plains… and saw a scene out of nightmare. Hordes of insect-like beings were swarming all over the fields. Some were freezing the molten lava in its tracks… others using seismic waves to crumble the mountainside.

“What are they?” Gali cried. Seeing the damage being done to the island was like a physical blow to her.

“I do not know,” Tahu replied. “But they must be stopped!”

The Toa charged… but their new foes seemed to take no notice of them. It was only when Lewa blocked the path of some of these Bohrok that they responded. Their cold blasts caused ice to build up on the Toa of Air’s body, sending him crashing to the ground. Only a hastily conjured heat shield provided by Tahu saved Lewa from being frozen solid.

The struggle did not go well. For every Bohrok the Toa drove away, six more seemed to take its place. Unlike the Rahi, the Bohrok seemed to be intelligent creatures, organized, and focused on a goal. But what the goal might be was unknown — it seemed like all they were accomplishing was the mindless destruction of Mata Nui’s landscape.

It took a violent thunderstorm created by Lewa and Gali to make the Bohrok flee… but no one present believed the swarms would be gone for long. In the hours that followed, reports streamed in from all over the island — the Bohrok had appeared everywhere at once, and the land had suffered mightily as a result.

It was Turaga Vakama, leader of Ta-Koro, who gave the Toa their first clue to the nature of the Bohrok…


- BIONICLE 2003 Style Guide, Synopsis