Whenua

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Whenua
Turaga
Occupation	Elder of Onu-Koro
Element	Earth
Kanohi	Ruru
Tools	Drill of Onua
Status	Alive
Location	Spherus Magna
Pronunciation	wen-NOO-ah

Whenua was an Onu-Matoran Archivist from Metru Nui, who became the Toa Metru of Earth and later Turaga of Onu-Koro.

Biography

Early Life

As an Onu-Matoran, Whenua began his life on Spherus Magna, where he aided in the construction of the Matoran Universe. He was later placed in Onu-Metru with a small community of Matoran.

Whenua gravitated towards a career in the Archives, a line of employment which made him responsible for documenting current affairs transpiring in the early stages of the world's development.

Once the Brotherhood of Makuta had begun to produce Rahi breeds to populate the Matoran Universe, Whenua was one of many Archivists tasked with cataloging the behaviors of early Rahi specimens. Developing a reputation as one of the more cautious Archivists, he came to specialize in the study of more docile Rahi species, such as the Ussal and Mahi.

4,000 years ago, the Chief Archivist commissioned Whenua, Onepu, and Mavrah to undertake a heavily-censored assignment, cataloging the behavioral patterns of the First Rahi, a number of ancient aquatic creatures first developed by the Great Beings during their first forays into populating the Great Spirit Robot. While the project was carried out in secret, the Rahi responded poorly to confinement in such a small space beneath Onu-Metru, causing structural damage entire sections of the Archives and nearly devouring Whenua, who was rescued by Mavrah.

With Turaga Dume stepping in to terminate the Underwater Rahi Study owing to the dangerous nature of the specimens, Whenua witnessed Mavrah's attempts at protest. With Vahki Rorzakh deployed to hunt down and eliminate the Rahi, Mavrah escorted the specimens to the safety of the Great Barrier, abandoning his life in Onu-Metru in order to care for the Rahi neglected by Turaga Dume.

Sometime after the implementation of the Vahki as a fully mechanized law enforcement entity, Whenua became increasingly anxious, growing deeply concerned by the presence of Vahki Rorzakh in the Archives and uncomfortable with their brand of oversight.

With universal attitudes towards Toa growing increasingly contentious, the Dark Hunters made a number of attempts to seize a regional foothold in Metru Nui, which ultimately resulted in the organization declaring war on the local Toa Mangai by invading the northern-most island in the Matoran Universe. Arming himself with a Kanoka Disk Launcher, Whenua took shelter from the conflict alongside his Onu-Matoran neighbors, staying out of the line of fire and evading the Dark Hunter anarchists.

Toa Metru

Toa Whenua finding a Lightstone.

With the remaining Toa Mangai disappearing in rapid succession, Toa Lhikan grew wise to the Dark Hunter plot and the intentional spread of the Morbuzakh. Mistrustful of Turaga Dume, the Toa of Fire looked to the stars and saw the names of six Matoran written among them. Reviving the ancient practice of creating Toa Stones, Lhikan imbued his Toa Power within the stones then transported them to the six Matoran: Vakama, Nokama, Onewa, Matau, Nuju, and Whenua, in the hopes that they could succeed where he and his fellow Toa Mangai had failed. Distributing the Toa Stones, however, Lhikan was ultimately captured by Nidhiki and Krekka in Ta-Metru.

Traveling to the Great Temple in Ga-Metru, Whenua convened with the five other Matoran destined to become Toa. Placing his Toa Stone into the Great Temple's Suva, Whenua was transformed into a Toa of Earth. Intent on rescuing Lhikan and stopping the Morbuzakh, the Toa Metru set off in search of the Great Disks hidden in the six districts of Metru Nui by the Toa Mangai.

Searching for an Onu-Matoran named Tehutti believed to know the location of the Onu-Metru Great Disk, Whenua soon discovered that his old colleague has vanished from his workstation. Venturing deep into the Archives, Whenua eventually located the missing Archivist pinned beneath rubble in the Fikou's Web, an area where dangerous Rahi roamed freely. With a Rahkshi of Heat Vision stalking the pair, Tehutti and Whenua notably released a Muaka from a Stasis Tube in order to distract the Rahkshi, allowing them to escape.

Reconvening with the Toa Metru and a Matoran similarly accredited with having found a Great Disk, the Toa made clear their plans to use the Great Disks to stop the Morbuzakh from destroying the city. Holding private concerns that one of the Matoran was working for the Dark Hunters, however, the Toa became mistrustful of the Matoran and decided never to leave them alone.

Sticking with Tehutti, Whenua and his cohort were paired with Ehrye and Toa Nuju and journeyed to the sublevels of the Archives, where Tehutti outlined the location of the Onu-Metru Great Disk. Struck by a Vahki Rorzakh Staff of Presence, however, Tehutti became compromised and was forced to remain on an Archives sublevel he had never visited with Ehrye while Whenua and Nuju searched for the Disk. Eventually retrieving their quarry, the two Toa rescued the Matoran once more before traveling to Ko-Metru.

Whilst ascending the slope of a Knowledge Tower in search of the Ko-Metru Great Disk, Tehutti was struck by a Keerakh Staff of Confusion. Mentally displaced, the Onu-Matoran became convinced that he was studying a Fikou spider for an important Archives project and lost all sense of his present predicament. As a result, Nuju and Whenua once again left him in the care of Ehrye and went on to successfully retrieve the Ko-Metru Great Disk.

Whenua rescuing Tehutti from the Fikou's Web

When the Toa Metru retrieved all six Disks, they traveled with their respective Matoran to the Great Furnace to confront the Morbuzakh. With the Toa soon finding themselves overpowered, the Matoran were forced to fend for themselves using Kanoka Disks to limited effect. Joining hands, the Matoran were able to form a powerful mental link, merging to form the first Matoran Nui seen in Metru Nui for 100,000 years, staving off the Morbuzakh long enough for the Toa to combine energies of the Great Disks and sever the King Root from its branches, destroying the Morbuzakh spores once and for all and burning it with the Furnace's intense flames.

Attempting to prove their merit as Toa, Whenua and his teammates approached Turaga Dume in the Coliseum and presented the Great Disks. Unaware that Makuta Teridax had abducted the Turaga and assumed his form, however, the Toa were faced with an impossible task and humiliated in front of the Matoran. Conscious that a new wave of Toa would inevitably complicate his Grand Plan, the Makuta used his guise to brand the Toa Metru as public enemies and ordered the Vahki to detail them. While Vakama, Nokama, and Matau were able to escape, Whenua was captured alongside Onewa and Nuju and taken to the Prison of the Dark Hunters in Po-Metru.

Trapped in a cell with no prospects for escape, Whenua and his teammates lamented their circumstances for some time before they were approached by a mysterious Turaga, who offered to help them escape. Blindfolded, the Toa were instructed to concentrate on their surroundings and pick their way across the chamber. After the exercise riled tensions in the cell, Onewa and Nuju were able to access their Kanohi powers for the first time, facilitating their escape from the chamber. In the darkened corridor outside, Whenua was also able to access his Kanohi Ruru and illuminate the way forward.

Whenua and Nuju being attacked by Morbuzakh seeds

Traveling a great distance through the Prison of the Dark Hunters, the Toa eventually reconvened with their teammates, who had arrived to mount a rescue. At this point, the Turaga revealed himself to be Lhikan, who had become a Turaga after his Toa Power had been transferred to the Toa Metru. After stumbling upon the Matoran Pod that contained the real Turaga Dume, however, Vakama came to understand the scope of the Makuta's plan and insisted that the Toa return to the Coliseum to confront the false Turaga. Hijacking a Vahki Transporter, the Toa escaped a squadron of Vahki and made for the surface, Whenua using his Earthshock Drills to tunnel a large hole wide enough for the transport to fit through.

Arriving in the center of the island, the Toa resurfaced to find that the entire population of Metru Nui had been summoned to the Coliseum by the Vahki and placed inside Matoran Spheres, where they entered into a comatose state. With the Matoran unable to carry out their tasks of maintaining the districts of Metru Nui, Makuta was able to set in motion a chain of events that debilitated the Great Spirit Robot and transferred the seat of power to himself, also siphoning off energy from the city's power grid to shapeshift himself into a larger form. Beset by Krekka and Nidhiki, Whenua defended Turaga Lhikan in the Vahki Transporter until Onewa was able to use his Komau, compelling Krekka to turn on Nidhiki. As the Toa set off in search of the Matoran, Whenua was notably able to locate the Matoran Pods beneath the Coliseum using his Ruru. With the Vahki Transporter knocked into the waters of the Great Barrier, Whenua attempted to keep the vessel waterborne while Makuta obstructed the Toa with columns of Liquid Protodermis. As Vakama confronted the Makuta with the Kanohi Vahi, Whenua and the other Toa Metru escaped the waves and combined their Elemental Powers to encase Makuta in a prison of solid Protodermis. Learning then that Turaga's Lhikan had sacrificed himself to save Vakama, Whenua and his teammates sought to transport the Matoran beyond the Great Barrier, to allow them to live beyond the Makuta's reach.

The Toa Metru battling the Morbuzakh

Traveling through the Great Barrier in the Vahki Transport, the Toa Metru came into conflict with several ancient Rahi specimens that Whenua had once encountered in the Underwater Rahi Study. Eventually captured, the Toa were brought before Mavrah, who wrongly assumed the Toa were agents of Turaga Dume intent on capturing and eliminating his Rahi. Orchestrated a synthetic whirlpool to trap Whenua and his teammates, Mavrah instead dispatched the Kralhi to capture the Toa and bring them before him. With the Kralhi succeeding in their mission, Mavrah confronted the Toa and remarked Whenua among their number. Skeptical of the Toa, Mavrah was temporarily caught under the mental influence of Onewa, who attempted to use his Kanohi Komau to trick the Onu-Matoran into releasing the captive Toa. However, attuned to the use of Kanohi powers, Mavrah's pet Kavinika broke the Toa's concentration with a piercing shriek, freeing Mavrah but unwittingly creating an opening for Vakama to escape using his Kanohi Huna. Dispatching the Kralhi to hunt down the Toa, Mavrah witnessed the Toa eliminate his robotic enforcers and engage his marine Rahi.

Unmoved by Whenua's initial pleas for his surrender, Mavrah commanded the Rahi to attack the Toa with the full fury of their powers. Confronted by Onewa, Mavrah witnessed the Toa of Stone being flung into the depths. With Whenua hazarding all to rescue his fellow Toa from a school of Takea, Mavrah was finally persuaded to stop the fighting, a decision that was expedited by the arrival of several Vahki Vorzakh, which critically diminished his Rahi numbers. Appealing for a ceasefire, Mavrah was caught in a tidal wave and thrown into the turbulent waters, where he drowned in the moments before Onewa triggered a cave-in.

The Toa Metru imprisoning Makuta Teridax during the Great Cataclysm.

Continuing on to the island of Mata Nui on the surface of Aqua Magna, the Toa each found a region of the island that would support Matoran colonies. Finding a tunnel network and rich mineral deposits in the north-west, Whenua founded Onu-Koro before reconvening with the other Toa Metru. After Onewa's confrontation with a Nui-Jaga that had managed to reach the island from Metru Nui, the Toa investigated a subterranean cavern that led deep underground. Encountering a Bohrok Hive and Energized Protodermis, the Toa refer to Vakama's visions for guidance. As Matau and Whenua discussing the regions they had picked on the island, Whenua was tripped by a Kranua. While not directly confrontational, their attempt to flee prompted it to retaliate, suffocating the Toa in a sandstorm. Rescued by Nuju, the Kranua was blasted by Vakama's daring offensive, which fused it to glass.

Venturing deeper into the tunnel network in the light of Whenua's Ruru, Matau split off from the group to scout ahead and was assaulted by a Red Serpent, which knocked him unconscious with an energy beam. Encountering a mutated Muaka, Nokama revealed that the Rahi was in considerable pain after sustaining injuries in Metru Nui. Continuing on, the Toa would find Matau fused to the cave wall. Delicately, Onewa used his Elemental Powers to free the Toa of Air from his predicament. While Matau vowed revenge on the Rahi, Nokama and Whenua questioned if hunting down the creature would be wise. Investigating further and finding carvings of the Bahrag Queens and Bohrok, the Toa began to surmise that the caverns were older than the island itself. While Vakama confided his concerns that the Chutes and Molten Protodermis lines may have ruptured during their time away from Metru Nui, Whenua confessed his anxieties over the Archives succumbing to the earthquake. Whenua then sensed a series of vibrations in the earth as the Toa were attacked by the Rahi Nui. Determining that the creature was capable of using Kanoka Disk powers, Nuju and Vakama were able to devise a plan, blasting the Rahi Nui with Elemental Energy as it Enlarged, temporarily disrupting its density. As Whenua returned to consciousness, it became clear that Nokama had sustained serious injury during the battle.

Whenua's discovery of the shattered Archives

While Onewa, Matau, and Whenua resolved to take Nokama back to the surface, Nuju insisted that they must continue as Nokama had a better chance of treatment in Metru Nui while Vakama could not condone preserving Nokama's life at the expense of the Matoran. With Matau carrying Nokama, the Toa set off to complete their quest, descending deeper into the Maze of Shadows. Restrained by moss in one of the tunnels, Vakama openly challenged to Morbuzakh only for its precursor, the Karzahni vine, to reveal itself. Recounting the Matoran legend of Artakha and Karzahni, the plant revealed its origin as a failed creation of Makuta. Temporarily healing Nokama, the Karzahni persuaded the Toa to retrieve a vial of Energized Protodermis from one of Makuta's lairs. Recounting an experience as a trainee Archivist, in which he was surrounded by Kinloka in the dark after wandering onto the wrong level of the Archives, Whenua led the way through Makuta's lair while Vakama retrieved the Kanoka Disks that littered the floor, studying unfamiliar carvings drawn by Makuta. In opening a cavity in the wall, however, Onewa was attacked by a Kratana, which showed him a vision of Visorak in Metru Nui. While Nuju wished to hear more, the Kratana was forced off of Onewa, who apologized to Vakama for making light of his visions. Encountering a number of Rahi traveling through the tunnel to the surface of the island, Whenua recounted an instance where Lhikan had struggled to defend Ta-Metru against a Stone Rat infestation, which was prompted by an underground Nui-Rama hive driving the vermin to the streets. With this realization, the Toa grow wary of events in Metru Nui that may be driving the Rahi beyond the Great Barrier. Delving into the Mangaia and locating Makuta's inner laboratory, the Toa were confronted by the Energized Protodermis Entity, which denied the Toa a sample of its form, using its transformative powers to enlarge an insect-Rahi only for Nokama to swiftly tame the creature. Dissolving one of Vakama's Weaken Kanoka, the Energized Protodermis Entity attempted to disintegrate Matau, only for Whenua to pull the Toa of Air out of the way. Targeting the stone pillars, the Toa Metru eventually managed to strike a deal with the Energized Protodermis Entity, leaving the last pillar in exchange for a vial of its substance. Despite providing the vial, the Energized Protodermis Entity attempted to strike at the Toa regardless, only for Onewa to destroy the final pillar and block the tidal wave. Returning to Karzahni's lair and demanding the antidote to the Rahi Nui's stinger, the Toa Metru were able to permanently heal Nokama. Consuming the Energized Protodermis sample, the creature was burnt from within by its touch and began rapidly decaying. Dying, the Karzahni vine warned the Toa that they had only slowed Makuta down. Nuju then remarked that, like Mavrah and Ahkmou, the Karzahni vine had succumbed to its inner darkness.

Whenua spotting a Visorak in Metru Nui

After ensuring that a Toa Stone was hidden in each village of Mata Nui, the Toa would use the trunks of Karzahni to repair the Lhikan II, affixing the wooden pieces to the vessel's underside before sailing back across the Silver Sea. As the Toa Metru approached Metru Nui, however, Onewa remarked that Makuta had obstructed on of the suns in the sky while Nuju was able to spot Rahkshi on the rooftops, confirming their suspicions that the Archives had been breached and that the abandoned city had been overtaken. Capsizing along the coast of Le-Metru, Whenua freed Matau from the wreckage of the vessel while Vakama proved over-eager to reach the Coliseum and free the Matoran. Observing a worrying new reckless streak in the Toa of Fire, the Toa traveled to the Moto Nub of Le-Metru, where they discovered a squadron of Vahki capable of firing lethal energy blasts and communicating in the Matoran dialect. With Matau posing as a Vahki in hopes of warding suspicion away from the Toa, Whenua and his teammates discovered that the Great Cataclysm had caused an energy surge, altering the programming of all remaining Vahki. Their investigation also revealed a ruptured Visorak cocoon missing its occupant. After a battle with a Sonic Entity, Whenua would finally come to understand that the Visorak had arrived on Metru Nui, prompting an explanation as to their origins and behavior. Enraged that Whenua had not thought to voice such relevant details earlier, Vakama admonished the Toa of Earth so relentlessly that the other Toa Metru came to his defense. Theorizing that all Rahi previously housed in the Archives had traveled to Metru Nui fleeing the Visorak Horde established across the Matoran Universe, the Toa came to understand why Rahi now migrated across the Great Barrier.

The Toa Metru suspended in cocoons above the Coliseum

While descending a narrow access shaft, the Toa were attacked by a mutated Lohrak, which Whenua identified as the creature that had inhabited the cocoon. As the Toa battled the Lohrak and Vahki, three Visorak Suukorak ambushed Onewa and Nokama as they splintered off from the group. Although Onewa was ensnared in an energy field, the Visorak would retreat when the other Toa approached. Escaping the Vahki, the Toa descended further into the Archives access tunnels beneath Le-Metru, relying on Whenua's expertise to the network to travel beneath the surface of the island. Coming across a mortally injured Ash Bear, Nokama persuaded the Toa to heal the Rahi by sacrificing a portion of their Toa Power. Weakened by the experience but restoring the Rahi to health, the Toa Metru returned to the surface, where the Toa each remarked a change in Vakama's character, noting that he had become especially impatient in his quest to reach the Coliseum and rescue the Matoran as quickly as possible. Following Vakama's lead, the Toa were paralyzed by a squadron of Visorak Keelerak and taken to the Coliseum as prisoners. Bound in Visorak webbing and suspended in cocoons high above the city, the Toa were injected with Hordika Venom and left to mutate.

Toa Hordika

Whenua as a Toa Hordika

While Sidorak, the ruler of the Visorak Horde intended for the Toa to meet a simple end, his viceroy, Roodaka, intended to extract their Elemental Powers to free Makuta from the Protodermis Cage. As a result, Whenua and his teammates were mutated into Toa Hordika and dropped from the cocoons on Sidorak's orders. Intercepted by the Rahaga, the Toa Hordika were carried to the safety of Ga-Metru, where they were introduced to Norik, Gaaki, Bomonga, Pouks, Iruini, and Kualus, who explained the nature of their mutation, offering them tutelage in the use of their diminished Elemental Powers and unclear Rhotuka capabilities.

Under the instruction of Rahaga Bomonga, Whenua was escorted through the ruins of the Archives, searching for Levitation Kanoka to power an Airship. Ambushed by a pair of Kahgarak, however, Bomonga and Whenua were transported to the Field of Shadows with one of their attackers. Stalking the Kahgarak as it began scuttling into the distance, the pair trailed after the Visorak until they re-emerged from the Field of Shadows through a portal in Le-Metru. Captured by Sidorak, both Bomonga and Whenua were bound in Visorak webbing and used as bait to attract the Zivon, an enormous predatory Rahi that would later emerge from the Field of Shadows. Rescued by Nuju, however, Whenua and his teammates were able to secure a Visorak Watchtower in the region, which would come to be repurposed as a base of operations, named the Tower of Toa.

Toa Hordika Whenua and Rahaga Bomonga in the Onu-Metru Archives

Returning to the Archives after securing a base of operations, Whenua and Bomonga once again encountered Nuju and Kualus, with the Toa Hordika of Ice finding himself flung through a wall during a battle with a Kahgarak. Following the instruction of the Rahaga, Nuju then used his Rhotuka spinner to produce a smooth construct made of Ice, which caused a particularly dangerous Rhotuka launched by the Kahgarak to backfire, casting their adversary into the Field of Shadows. In an over-eager attempt to combat a resurgence of Visorak Vohtarak, however, Toa Whenua accidentally triggered a cave-in, burying their party and the Visorak under a mountain of rubble and debris. Regaining consciousness shortly afterwards, Whenua and his cohorts broke free of the rubble and made their way to shelter.

However, growing confrontational and impulsive on account of his mutation, Toa Hordika Vakama's relationship with his teammates became increasingly strenuous. Venturing off on his own, the Toa of Fire was captured by Visorak and brought before Roodaka, who swayed him to use his abilities in the service of her cause. Ambushing the Rahaga during a sweep of the Great Temple for inscriptions relating to Keetongu, Vakama assaulted all six of the former Toa, leaving Norik buried beneath a pile of rubble and abducting the others, bringing Gaaki, Bomonga, Pouks, Iruini, and Kualus to Sidorak as prisoners of war. The following morning, Norik was located by the Whenua and the remaining Toa Hordika, who pried him free of the wreckage and listened to his account of the attack. Skeptical at first, Norik soon convinced the Toa that their leader had struck an alliance with Roodaka and that Keetongu was the only being capable of reversing the mutation and curing Vakama of his affliction.

Trekking across the island with the other Toa Hordika, Whenua followed Norik to a tower in rural Ko-Metru, identified by a frozen waterfall marking the end of their journey. Venturing inside, Whenua witnessed Keetongu waking from his hibernation and was introduced to the mythical Rahi by Norik, who earnestly entreating him for aid in the coming battle with the Visorak Horde. Although the Toa Hordika proved irresolute at first, Keetongu observed the Toa's arguments and was ultimately won over by their concern for Vakama, agreeing to offer his services and potentially reverse the effects of the Hordika venom if the Toa proved worthy.

Whenua charging a Rhotuka.

Intent on rescuing the Rahaga and recovering Vakama, Whenua joined his teammates on an assault on the Coliseum, making an explosive entrance through the gates of the structure so as to draw attention away from Keetongu, who was scaling the side of the structure to engage Sidorak and Roodaka. Confronting their former leader, the Toa Hordika refused to submit their fealty to Vakama and were set upon by the full might of the Visorak Horde. Using their Rhotuka Spinners to propel themselves across the Coliseum, Matau splintered off from the group to confront Vakama alone, leaving Whenua to fend off the Visorak alongside Nokama, Onewa, and Nuju. Once Norik had liberated the prisoners, the Rahaga eagerly joined the battle alongside the remaining Toa Hordika. Fending off Visorak, the Toa and Rahaga were soon overwhelmed following the arrival of Roodaka atop a Kahgarak. Concealing a shard of the Protodermis Cage on her person, Roodaka goaded the Toa to strike her with their Rhotuka Spinners, which appeared ineffective. However, once Vakama came to betray the Viceroy by disbanding the Visorak Horde, the Toa of Fire would join his fellow Toa in defeating Roodaka, launching the final Rhotuka Spinner needed to defeat her but unknowingly destroying the Protodermis Cage that trapped Makuta in the process. With Keetongu appearing once more after killing Sidorak, Whenua and his fellow Toa appealed to Keetongu to cure them of their mutations. Complying with their request, Keetongu would purge the Hordika venom from all six Toa, restoring Whenua to his Toa form.

Finishing the construction of the Airships needed to transport the Matoran Pods to the island of Mata Nui, the Toa would make peace with Vakama. Intent on settling on a newly-discovered island beyond the Great Barrier with the other Toa Metru, Whenua bid his farewell to Bomonga and the other Rahaga, who had chosen to reside in Metru Nui and repair the damage of the Great Cataclysm and Visorak occupation.

Turaga

Whenua as a Turaga in Onu-Koro

Settling on Mata Nui, Whenua and his fellow Toa would unload the Matoran Pods onto the shore of Naho Bay and sacrifice the final vestiges of their Toa Power to awaken the Matoran, transforming into Turaga in the process. With their memories erased and their bodies shrunken from prolonged stasis, the villagers turned to the Turaga for wisdom and protection, a duty they undertook with sincerity and devotion. Returning to the caverns of Onu-Wahi, Whenua oversaw the construction of Onu-Koro from the Airship parts and became the village elder, commissioning Onepu and Taipu as his aides while reintegrating the Onu-Matoran into various new professions suited to life on Mata Nui.

Enjoying a year of peace, the progress of the Matoran was halted by the arrival of Makuta on the island, however, who used Infected Kanohi to corrupt the island's Rahi population. Relentlessly hounded by Rahi attacks and avalanches, Whenua came to situate himself in Onu-Koro, rarely traveling beyond the village for fear of the Manas. Over the course of the next 1000 years, Whenua oversaw construction of the Great Mine and the Marn Tunnels as well as the establishment of the Ussalry defense force, which was commissioned in response to hostile Rahi encroaching upon the village.

Whenua awarding Onua his first Kanohi mask.

In the final days of the Dark Times, a Matoran named Takua would rescue Whenua from a Vatuka in the mines of Onu-Wahi. As a result of Takua's exploits, the Toa Mata would be summoned to Mata Nui. Landing on the shores of the Papa Nihu Reef, Toa Onua would journey to Onu-Koro and approach Whenua for guidance. Contrary to the legends, however, Onua and his fellow Toa suffered from amnesia and could not recall their past lives, prompting Whenua to begin the long process of mediating the role of the Toa upon the island, instructing the Toa of Earth to seek a number of Great Kanohi masks scattered across the island so as to defeat the Makuta and restore the island.

With the Toa Mata arriving on the island, the Rahi attacks increased in their frequency, prompting the Onu-Matoran to defend their village from threats such as Kofo-Jaga, Fikou, Vatuka and Manas with limited success. When the Toa succeeded in their quest to collect their Golden Kanohi and descended into the Mangaia tunnels, Onu-Matoran miners were able to penetrate the depths of the Great Mine, where they found the Great Sundial. Summoning Takua to Onu-Koro to investigate, Whenua unknowingly allowed the Matoran to access the chambers of the Mangaia, prematurely awakening the Bohrok in the process.

Obeying their programming directives, the Bohrok Swarm began its assault on the island, emerging from the Bohrok Hive that Whenua and his fellow Turaga had traveled through as Toa. Besieged by Nuhvok, Whenua busied himself protecting the Onu-Matoran in the confines of the village while Onua attempted to collect all eight breeds of Krana. After a brief invasion attempt, the Toa of Earth was able to rid the village of Nuhvok while amassing a number of their Krana. However, the battle for Onu-Koro was eventually lost when a troop of Gahlok arrived and flooded the tunnels with a series of tidal waves. While the majority of the village had already been evacuated at this point, the damage to Onu-Koro was severe enough to prompt an evacuation to Le-Wahi. Unbeknownst the Whenua, the flooding of Onu-Koro afforded Nuparu the opportunity to construct the Boxor, a battle harness constructed from the remains of a defeated Gahlok that eventually enabled the Onu-Matoran to both liberate both Onu-Koro and Le-Koro from Bohrok occupation.

Whenua teaching Onua the legend of the Great Spirit.

Following the Bohrok Invasion and Onua's transformation into a Toa Nuva, Whenua would witness the theft of Onua's Nuva Symbol from the village Suva. Accompanying the Toa of Earth on a quest to find his Kaukau Nuva, Whenua dissuaded Onua from engaging a swarm of Kofo-Jaga alone, instead revealing a path around and teaching the Toa the value of avoiding confrontation. Eventually locating the Kanohi Nuva between two Manas, Onua would use Whenua's wisdom to drill holes in the cavern walls, causing magma to trickle into the cave and attract the Kofo-Jaga. While dangerous, this action warded the Kojo-Jaga back into the fray, prompting them to attack the Manas and allowing Onua to retrieve his mask.

Whenua would later summon Onua back to Onu-Koro after a spate of recent Bohrok-Kal attacks in his absence. The activities of Lehvak-Kal on the island's surface coupled with some manner of geothermal event on the slopes of Mount Ihu notably caused cooling temperatures across Onu-Wahi, creating a large glacier and adding tremendous weight to land already riddled with tunnel networks and an intricate lattice of tectonic anomalies. Instructing the Toa to fend off the Kohrak-Kal so the Onu-Matoran could evacuate the Great Mine, Whenua would later discover that Onua had been defeated by the Kohrak-Kal and buried in a cave-in.

With the villages completing their reconstruction and with the Toa restored, a Matoran and Toa celebrated their victory over Makuta's forces with a Kolhii Tournament between the six districts. With the Onu-Koro team swiftly being eliminated from the qualifying match, Whenua busied himself overseeing the Matoran of his village on various mining projects. After some time, Toa Pohatu traveled to Onu-Koro, reuniting with Onua and bringing word of an expedition to find a prophesied seventh Toa. However, the arrival of Takua in the village prompted a Rahkshi attack. Converging on Onu-Koro, the Toa Nuva defended the village from a second offensive while Whenua led the Onu-Matoran to safety. Onu-Koro would be destroyed when Onua triggered a localized cave-in, accidentally trapping both himself and Pohatu under great megaliths of rubble, where the two Toa were forced to wait for rescue at the hands of Kopaka.

Whenua warding off a Nui-Jaga

Whenua would later travel to Kini-Nui with his fellow Turaga, eventually learning that Takua had become Takanuva, the destined Seventh Toa, and that Jaller had sacrificed himself to save his friend in a confrontation between the Toa Nuva and the Rahkshi. Feeling the loss of Jaller to be a failure caused by their own overconfidence, the Toa Nuva collectively dismantled the Rahkshi and used their components to construct the Ussanui, a vehicle they theorized would lead them to the Mangaia lair of the Makuta for their final confrontation. Commandeering the vehicle, however, Takanuva insisted upon facing the Makuta alone, leaving the Toa Nuva in the center of Kini-Nui. With the Turaga swiftly arriving on the scene, Whenua was soon swayed to defy Takanuva's instructions by Hahli, descending into the catacombs beneath the island and confronting the Makuta in his lair one final time. Locked in the midst of a battle with the Toa of Light, Makuta launched a powerful energy sphere at the entrance to the his lair, triggering a locking mechanism and slamming a metallic door down, sealing the exit and trapping the Toa Nuva and Turaga within the chamber. Witnessing Takanuva merging with the Makuta in a pool of Energized Protodermis, Whenua and his teammates marveled at the form of Takutanuva before the newly-formed entity raised the gateway to the Mangaia, allowing the Toa and Turaga to pass through. Sacrificing its residual life force to revive Jaller from the imprint of consciousness left in his Kanohi Hau, the Takutaknuva fusion became unstable and collapsed beneath the weight of the gateway. Conjuring Takanuva from the Avohkii, Turaga Vakama was able to reunite the Toa and led the islanders back to the surface, proclaiming that the time had come for the Matoran to return to their homeland of Metru Nui.

Owing the Toa a debt of gratitude, the Turaga resolved to finally reveal to them the secrets of their past. Recounting the tales of their previous lives, Vakama revealed to the Toa Nuva that he and his fellow Turaga had once been the guardians of Metru Nui: the Toa Metru. While the Matoran busied themselves deconstructing their villages and preparing to migrate back to their homeland, Whenua and his fellow Turaga bore witness to Vakama's dramatic retelling of Metru Nui's history, a tale that required multiple installments and that helped alleviate any lingering suspicions that the Toa had of the Turaga. Content with the reasoning behind such secrecy, the Toa Nuva would journeyed to Metru Nui alongside the Matoran populace and the Turaga, eventually landing in the City of Legends.

Intent on settling the villagers back into their original homeland, Whenua and the other Turaga returned to find that Turaga Dume and the Rahaga had rebuilt much of the city's infrastructure over the Dark Times. During this time, Turaga Dume revealed several unusual constellations appearing in the Wall of Stars, which suggested that Mata Nui's injuries sustained from the Great Cataclysm had been left too long without treatment and that the Great Spirit was dying. Informing the Turaga and Toa Nuva of the Kanohi Ignika, Dume directed the Toa to a secret cluster of Toa Canisters, instructing them to travel to Voya Nui and claim the Mask of Life in hopes of reviving Mata Nui and remedying him of his affliction. Aware of this ambitious undertaking, Whenua and the other Turaga resolved not to inform the Matoran while they settled back into their homeland.

Whenua revealing the truth of the Toa Metru to the Toa Nuva

Several days after the departure of the Toa Nuva, however, Nokama broke her silence and informed Jaller of the quest the Toa Nuva had embarked on. Upon this revelation, Jaller instigated a protest, entreating the island's entire Matoran population to lay down their tools until the Turaga revealed the nature of the mission. Eventually, the Turaga were able to quell suspicion and return the Matoran to work, though not before Jaller, Hahli, Nuparu, Hewkii, Kongu, Matoro, and Takanuva had left to follow the trail of the Toa Nuva. Unbeknownst to the Turaga, this journey would see the six Matoran transformed into the Toa Inika, and later Toa Mahri.

Some time after the return of Takanuva, Metru Nui would be suffer a minor Frostelus attack, though the Matoran were able to repel the reptillian creatures with little instruction from the Turaga, a feat they would not have been able to achieve in the past without their experiences on Mata Nui. Whenua was later present for a ceremony held for Kopeke's appointment as Chronicler. Several weeks later, the five remaining Toa Mahri were teleported to Metru Nui from the Pit, where they were greeted by the Turaga. The return of the Toa Mahri also heralded the revelation that Matoro had sacrificed himself to restore life to the Great Spirit.

Reign of Shadows

Several months later, the Toa Nuva would return to Metru Nui having completed their destiny and awakened the Great Spirit from the Universe Core. During a public celebration in the Coliseum, however, the Toa Nuva were confronted once more by Makuta Teridax, who revealed himself to be in command of the Matoran Universe, having usurped Mata Nui as the Great Spirit. As a result, Whenua and the other Turaga were forced to find shelter from the Brotherhood of Makuta armies that razed the domes of the Great Spirit Robot. Despite the best efforts of the Toa Nuva, the Matoran would eventually be rounded up by squadrons of Rahkshi enforcing the will of Teridax and forced to swear their allegiance to the Makuta. Rewarded Ahkmou for his allegiance, Makuta would appoint the Po-Matoran as the Turaga of Metru Nui, Whenua and his fellow Turaga were held captive in the Coliseum for a period of time, though they were eventually able to escape and lead the Matoran of Metru Nui to safety.

Once the Matoran Universe successfully landed on Bara Magna, Whenua and his compatriots remained with the Matoran throughout the Battle of Bara Magna, a battle fought between the Matoran Universe resistance and the Glatorian and Agori against the combined Skakdi, Skrall, and Rahkshi forces. The conflict would last for some time, until Toa Tahu used the Golden Armor to vaporize the Rahkshi army, allowing Mata Nui to complete his mission of reforming Spherus Magna from Bara Magna, Bota Magna and Aqua Magna, destroying Metru Nui and Makuta in the process.

Spherus Magna

Following The Reformation, Mata Nui used his final vestiges of energy to revitalize the Spherus Magna ecosystem, enabling the planet to accommodate the denizens of both Bara Magna and the destroyed Matoran Universe.

With Spherus Magna restored, Whenua and the other Turaga helped Tahu to establish a Spherus Magna Council to ensure lasting peace between the denizens of the Matoran Universe and Bara Magna. Once peace had been secured and a stable system of government had been established, Whenua went on to continue studying the new creatures of Spherus Magna whilst continuing his duties as a village elder.

Abilities and Traits

Cautious and wise, Whenua has spent his life engaged in the study and conservation of Rahi, earning prominence amongst the Archivists in his Matoran days. As a Toa, Whenua came to convince his teammates that the answers to all modern problems could be found by studying the past.

As a Toa, Whenua had control over the element of Earth. He could use his Elemental Powers to manipulate loosely-compacted rocks, incite localized earthquakes, detect pressure points, and produce earthy structures, such as pillars and hands with which to defend or advance towards a target. After becoming a Turaga, these abilities were greatly diminished.

Masks and Tools

Whenua wore a Great Ruru as a Toa Metru, a mask that enabled him to see in low light conditions or even total darkness, projecting an intense beam of light that illuminated a target. While the mask offered enhanced vision and limited X-Ray capabilities, it left Whenua sensitive to sudden flashes of light. Upon his transformation into a Turaga, Whenua's Mask of Power was transformed into a Noble Kanohi, offering more limited night vision.

As a Toa Metru, Whenua was equipped with a pair of Earthshock Drills, which he often used for digging, climbing, and combat.

Whenua's Earthshock Drills were temporarily transformed into Thumpers during his time as a Toa Hordika. These tools were able to drill in a pneumatic fashion and could be used to charge a Rhotuka.

As a Turaga, Whenua came to wield the Drill of Onua, a long-handed staff that served as his Badge of Office. The Drill of Onua could notably channel Whenua's diminished Elemental Powers and could sense vibrations. Most often, Whenua used his staff to detect Kofo-Jaga nests in the earth.

Forms

Picture	Description
	Whenua's form as a Toa Metru on Metru Nui.
	Whenua's form as a Toa Hordika.
	Whenua's form as a Turaga on Mata Nui.

Appearances

• Quest for the Masks
• Relevance - Mentioned