Kopaka

Kopaka was the stoic and abrasive Toa Mata of Ice who was transformed into the Toa Nuva of Ice, after being exposed to Energized Protodermis.

Creation
Firm in their conviction that the early Toa population could one day prove to be inadequate guardians of the Matoran Universe, the Great Beings chose to take action by commissioning the creation of the Toa Mata: the principle Toa-guardians of the universe, to be summoned only in the most dire of global emergencies, their destiny tied to the continued maintenance of the Great Spirit Robot.

Created under the charge of Artahka, Kopaka and his teammates; Toa Tahu, Gali, Onua, Pohatu, and Lewa, thus came into existence. From there, they were transported to Daxia and awakened, their training commissioned by Toa Helryx, who informed the Toa Mata of their collective destiny to be the guardians of the Great Spirit, Mata Nui.

Over the course of several years, the Toa were then mentored in the ways of combat by an Order of Mata Nui operative named Hydraxon. In one exercise, the Toa were made to escape Spinax, an Energy Hound loyal to their trainer. In another exercise, Hydraxon took the Toa's Kanohi and hid scattered across Daxia. Kopaka spent all day attempting to retrieve his Kanohi from a volcano until Lewa's revelation that the teammates were meant to work together so as to accomplish their task.

Upon completing their training, the Toa Mata were dispatched to Karda Nui to protect its Av-Matoran residents from living lightning bolt Rahi, known as the Avohkah. After several years of stability and a reputation for heroism, the Toa traveled to the Codrex, entering through a hatch and sitting the Energy Storm out. Subsequently, the Toa entered their respective Toa Canisters in order to preserve themselves until a time when they were needed once more.

Arrival on Mata Nui
1000 years after the Great Cataclysm - an event which incapacitated the Great Spirit from his position as the helm of the Matoran Universe - the Toa Mata were summoned to the island of Mata Nui. Having spent so long in the untested canisters, however, their structures began to decay causing their mechanical components to dislocate when they arrive on the island. As a further consequence, Kopaka and his fellow Toa suffered from amnesia and could not recall their past lives or training spent under the protection of the Order of Mata Nui. Finding himself on a coastal slope at the foot of Mount Ihu, Kopaka re-assembled himself and made for the nearest settlement: Ko-Koro. Upon arriving in the village, he was greeted by Matoro and referred to Turaga Nuju, who in turn began the long process of mediating the role of the Toa upon the island, instructing the Toa of Ice to seek a number of Great Kanohi masks scattered across the island so as to defeat the dreaded Makuta and restore the island.

Journeying across Mata Nui, Kopaka encountered Pohatu in the cliffs of Mount Ihu. Eager to cooperate with the Toa of Ice, Pohatu endeavored to earn Kopaka's trust only to accidentally trigger a localized avalanche. Struggling to free himself, the Toa of Ice tolerated his newfound cohort with some reluctance as they continued to scale the mountain. Eventually reaching the summit, the Toa were attacked by a Kane Ra. Happening upon a Kanohi Hau hidden in the snow, Kopaka donned the mask and used it to shield his teammate from the Rahi. Working together, the two Toa were able to subdue the Kane Ra and descend the mountain with their new-found prize.

Traveling to Kini-Nui, the geographical center of the landmass where all six districts met, Kopaka and Pohatu convened with their fellow teammates. Acknowledging their shared state of vulnerability, the Toa resolved to go their separate ways in search of their masks. Kopaka thus returned to Ko-Wahi in search of his masks, braving a number of intrepid cliffs and dangerous Rahi, most notably of which was a Muaka on the outskirts of Le-Wahi.

Whilst searching for his Kanohi Pakari on a pedestal seated in a river of molten magma, Kopaka attempted to conjure a number of ice constructs to get him across unharmed. With his ice bridge rapidly melting, however, the Toa was forced to produce a large block of Ice to use as a makeshift raft. Drained by the use of his Elemental Powers in such a volcanic environment, Kopaka experienced a vision of Kini Nui, beholding the forms of Akamai and Wairuha. Unsure what to make of the vision at the time, Kopaka drifted back into consciousness and was able to retrieve the Pakari. Using the mask to leap across to safety, Kopaka's jump fell short and he nearly fell to his death. Fortunately, the Toa of Ice was rescued by Lewa, who had witnessed him from afar.

Upon the completion of his quest, Kopaka exchanged his six masks for a Golden Kanohi, affording him a number of enhanced capabilities. With his teammates also at the end of their respective quests, the Toa journeyed to the Mangaia, intent on confronting the Makuta beneath the surface of the island. Confronted first by a pair of Manas crabs, the Toa locked themselves in a fusion, forming the Toa Kaita known as Akamai and Wairuha. Kopaka in particular merged with Gali and Lewa to form Wairuha. Overwhelming their opposing Rahi, the Toa were then met instead by their own shadowy counterparts and disconnected from each other. Overwhelmed and forced into a losing battle, the Toa eventually resorted to switching opponents, eventually managing to best each other's Shadow Toa selves in individual combat. With their battle won, the Toa were known to have caught a brief glimpse of the Makuta's form before being teleported back to the surface, having temporarily overwhelmed the Makuta and severed his control over the island's Rahi population.

Presuming the Makuta to have been vanquished and the struggle to be over, the Toa considered parting the company of each other and once more returning to their homes. However, a brief encounter with a Ta-Matoran trapped beneath a tree branch revealed that the settlement of Ta-Koro was under siege by a mysterious new adversary known only as the Bohrok. Travelling to the island's volcanic region, the Toa united in defense of Ta-Koro, ultimately managing to overwhelm the advancing swarm of Tahnok units through use of their combined Elemental Powers. Upon the inspection of one such unit after the battle, the Toa were approached by Turaga Vakama, who revealed the functionality of the Bohrok and informed them of the various breeds of Krana housed within their adversaries. Intent on collecting all eight variants of Krana breeds from the six types of Bohrok, the Toa parted ways once more. Kopaka returned to Ko-Koro, challenging the Tahnok swarms had invaded his village, witnessing the destruction of the Three Brothers Bridge. After a lengthy confrontation, the Toa of Ice was able to rid the village of Tahnok invaders while amassing a number of their Krana. While the majority of the village had already evacuated, the damage to Ko-Koro was severe and Kopaka learnt a valuable lesson in humility from the experience.

Reuniting with his fellow Toa, Kopaka joined Gali and Onua in an offensive strategy to counteract the pronounced Tahnok presence in Po-Wahi. Following a Tahnok Va, Kopaka was able to discover the location of the Bohrok Hive. Revealing his findings to Tahu, the two Toa resolved to return with the full might of their team. Entering the Bohrok Hive as a group, the Toa Mata remarked the unusual features of the structure. Finding themselves separated from Tahu by a moving wall, the Toa found themselves in a chamber about to be flooded with molten lava. Onua and Pohatu thus began in their attempt to bring down the wall and allow the Toa to escape while Kopaka subdued the lava with a pillar of Ice. Lewa, who remained partially connected to the Bohrok hive mind after being possessed by a Krana, revealed that the wall in question was an illusory barrier put in place to misdirect intruders. Once aware of this, the Toa were able to pass through the obstacle, where they were reunited with Tahu. Happening upon a number of Exo Toa suits, the Toa donned the battle armor and proceeded towards the central lair of the Bahrag Queens. Confronting Cahdok and Gahdok, the Toa swiftly discovered that the suits restricted their Elemental Powers. Reluctantly discarding the mech-suits, the Toa combined their abilities to overwhelm the Bahrag Queens, trapping the sisters beneath a Protodermis Seal. Having successfully defeated the commanders of the swarm, however, the Toa triggered a mechanism in the chamber that launched them into a pool of Energized Protodermis. Destined for a greater purpose as they were, the Toa were transformed by the mysterious properties of the liquid and emerged as Toa Nuva.

Toa Nuva
Now imbued with a greater elemental capabilities, the Toa emerged victorious with new armor and weapons. Swiftly discovering that their Kanohi Nuva allowed them to share mask powers, the Toa propelled themselves back to the surface.

After several days spent adjusting to their new forms and rebuilding their damaged villages, the Toa were reunited once more in Le-Wahi. Engaging in a well-natured battle, the Toa Nuva splintered into two factions competing against each other to test the limits of their new power. With Tahu, Gali and Pohatu representing the opposition, Onua, Lewa, and Kopaka rallied against their teammates.

To be added

Abilities and Traits
Kopaka is a wise and reserved figure who has been known to deviate from the group and prefers to work independently of his fellow Toa. While he has been known to possess a soft spot for Pohatu and has often engaged in meaningful conversation with both Gali and Onua, much of Kopaka's time on Mata Nui saw the Toa of Ice coming into direct confrontation with Tahu. While these tensions have cooled as the Toa continued to evolve, Kopaka still prefers his own company.

Kopaka has control over the element of Ice. He can thus manipulate temperature, survive in sub-zero conditions or at high altitudes, detect pressure points in ice formation, conjure a broad range of icy constructs, and absorb all the coldness in a localized area to generate a devastating Nova Blast. After becoming a Toa Nuva, these abilities were greatly enhanced, and also allowed him to use Kanohi Nuva.

Mask and Tools
Kopaka was originally known to have utilized an Ice Sword and Ice Shield through which to channel his elemental powers. In addition to his Great Kanohi Akaki, Kopaka was afforded a resistance to cold temperatures. Often, the Toa of Ice would combine his weapons and his mask power in order to orientate himself amidst the foothills of Mount Ihu.

After Kopaka became a Toa Nuva, his Ice Sword was replaced with an Ice Blade, which could be separated into a pair of skates and attached to his feet, enabling him to traverse considerable distances. In addition, his Kanohi was also replaced with a Akaki Nuva, affording him advanced X-Ray capabilities.

Appearances

 * Quest for the Masks