Tamani

The Tamani are one of the six main species created by Mata Nui, a deeply spiritual and traditionalist race.

History
After the Great Spirits Mata Nui awakened for the first time, he created the Tamani as part of a collection of six major species. The Tamani came to settle on the island of Piruw, sharing their land with members of Nocturn's species.

For years, the Tamani remained isolated from most of the universe. In a short time, they developed a cultural system based on the supernatural, being able to contact with spirits and assimilate their power to do "witchcraft". The mightiest mages were united in a religious order called "Priests of Piruw", that soon assumed the political control of the island.

As predestined, a member of this species, Takadox, later became a Barraki.

One day Piruw suffered a terrible catastrophe because of Nocturn, who broke the island in portions. The disaster was taken advantage of by a member of the species called Diguxx to take control of the island. Thanks to Diguxx the Tamani managed to recover from the catastrophe, but the Priests soon became corrupt.

It was not long before the Priests got out of control and began to demand adoration and take sacrifices. This represented the breaking point for the Order of Mata Nui. Diguxx and the corrupt Priests were defeated, collected by Botar, and imprisoned in the Pit.

The Tamani that survived Teridax's reign migrated to Spherus Magna and integrated into the unified society.

Abilities and Traits
The Tamani are thin blue armored beings, with several characteristics similar to that of salamanders. Their height varies between individuals, but they tend to be higher than most species; in exceptional cases, some are up to twice the normal height and with proportional force. The organic portions of their bodies are permeable and exude mucus to stay moist.

All Tamani have a pair of large glassy eyes with which they manifest hypnotic powers; They are not able to turn off their hypnosis, and therefore avoid eye contact or wear veils to cover their eyes.

The Tamani have binary brains, something unique among the inhabitants of the Matoran Universe. This binary structure allows them to reflect on two aspects of one subject at a time. It also allows them to quickly process information and solve problems, and provide a very advanced ability for concentration and meditation. Due to their reflective nature, the Tamani tend to be quiet, rational and analytical.

Most of the Tamani are very spiritual and, therefore, have the innate potential to do what is seen as witchcraft. The most powerful are the Priests of Piruw, who allow themselves to be voluntarily possessed by a spirit as part of their initiation; this symbiotic relationship allows them to do witchcraft more easily.

The Tamani are able to access the powers of Great Kanohi masks.

Society
The Tamani developed a society of little technology in their native island of Piruw and preferred to live isolated from the rest of the universe.

They consider their hypnosis power as a curse that makes them prisoners within their own bodies, and always wear Kanohi masks or veils to try to cover their eyes. Wanting to escape their curse, the Tamani also used meditation as an essential part of their daily rituals. This led them to establish close relationships with the spirits, which makes them deeply religious: for them the universe is a consciousness, each spirit is an aspect of a greater whole, and death represents the return of one's energy to a greater universal consciousness.

The beliefs of the Tamani are administered by a religious order called the Priests of Piruw, who take charge of worshiping the spirits and organizing rituals to communicate with them. The order also exercises political power over the species.

Under the leadership of the Priests of Piruw, the Tamani are deep traditionalists. Members of the species that do not fit the religious lifestyle often leave Piruw forever. Those who leave can not return because they are considered corrupted by the outside world and a threat to social order.

Examples

 * Diguxx
 * Takadox

Trivia

 * Tamani are a species composed entirely of males, with no female counterparts.
 * The Tamani are one of the few species within the Matoran Universe that opposed the intrusion of the Alpha Beings and the Order of the Great Creators as mediators between societies.