Avohkii

The Kanohi Avohkii is the Great Mask of Light. It is an elemental Kanohi, and thus allows the bearer to control the element of light. It is said to be able to turn anger into friendship and turn the night into daylight.

Artakha
Many tens of thousands of years ago*, the Matoran of Artakha created this powerful Kanohi mask. In a way, it was meant to be insurance against the possibility that the Brotherhood of Makuta, whose members were beings of shadow, might betray their duty. Down the line the Brotherhood did in fact turn evil, but somehow they knew of the Avohkii's existence. Makuta lead a strike force of Rahkshi and Visorak swooped into Artakha, easily overcame its defenses, and retrieved the Mask of Light so the Brotherhood could safeguard it.

Brotherhood of Makuta
Thirteen-hundred years ago, after the Toa Hagah, guardian Toa of the Makuta of Metru Nui, discovered that the Brotherhood had stolen the Avohkii, they turned against their master and temporarily defeated him. Although the Brotherhood's agent Roodaka mutated them into Rahaga before the deed was done, Toa Hagah Norik was able to steal the Mask of Light from a Brotherhood of Makuta fortress. Seeking a reversal for the damage done to them, the Rahaga sought out the mythical Rahi Keetongu while trying to protect other lands from the Visorak hordes, carrying the mask with them throughout their quest. It glowed brightly at all times.

Metru Nui
Eventually the Rahaga settled in Metru Nui 1,050 years ago, hiding from the Matoran living there in the Archives. The Avohkii was kept safe in a special chamber only able to be unlocked by the Makoki stones. A Brotherhood of Makuta guard turned to the Dark Hunters to try to retrieve the mask.

Fifty years later, after the Great Cataclysm occurred, the Visorak finally invaded Metru Nui, and the Toa Metru were mutated into Toa Hordika, the Rahaga sent the Toa Hordika on a mission to retrieve the Avohkii from its locked chamber before the Visorak could get to it. To do this, the Toa Hordika first retrieved the six Makoki stone fragments hidden by the Rahaga in each Metru. To conceal the Avohkii's bright glow from the eyes of Visorak, Toa Hordika Onewa used his Rhotuka to encase the mask in stone.

Hiding of the Mask
After the Toa Hordika drove the Visorak out of Metru Nui, were changed back to the Toa Metru, and transported the Matoran to the safety of Mata Nui, Vakama had a vision concerning the Avohkii's use in the future. In his vision, he discovered that the mask was meant to be kept hidden even from the Matoran. One day, when an adventurous Matoran found the mask, that Matoran would take on the role of Herald of the Seventh Toa, charged with brining the mask to its rightful owner, the Toa of Light. Therefore, the Toa Metru -- transforming into Turaga after they awakened the Matoran from their Matoran Pods -- carved the stone shelled over the mask into a warning totem, placed it on the far end of a lava tunnel-stream not too far from Ta-Koro, and waited for the day when destiny signaled the mask was to be used.

Mask of Light Saga


Just a couple months ago, Takua the Chronicler found the mask right before Mata Nui's championship Kolhii match. After Takua and his partner Jaller lost to Ga-Koro's team, the Avohkii slipped out of Takua's pack and into view before Turaga Vakama, Onewa, and Nokama. Takua, not wanting to take responsibility for this strange new mask's appearance, positioned it so that all of its glow fell on Jaller. The three Turaga took the mask at once to the Ta-Suva, where Nokama deciphered the writings on the inside of the mask (although the Turaga would have already known what it said). It became official -- Jaller was clearly meant to be the Herald of the Seventh Toa, and Takua would accompany him to chronicle the journey.

Jaller; Takua; and Pewku, Takua's pet Ussal riding crab; followed the direction in which the mask shone brightest from Ta-Koro through the jungles of Le-Wahi, the snowy slopes of Ko-Wahi, and the tunnel highways of Onu-Wahi. It was in these dark caves where Makuta threatened Takua to give up the mask so he would not take Jaller's life. Takua, afraid to take definite action, left Jaller to continue the quest alone. After three of Makuta's Rahkshi attacked Onu-Koro, however, Takua regretted his decision to ditch Jaller and rushed back to join him again. Reunited, Takua and Jaller eventually came to the Kini-Nui temple. Incredulous that such an obviously sacred site could be the Toa of Light's "secret" hiding place, Takua took the Avohkii from Jaller's hands himself. As soon as he touched it, the glow of the mask flared up. When Takua shook the mask, a shaft of light shot out from the mask and broke apart a portion of the giant stone bust of a maskless Matoran head that overshadowed the Amaja-Nui. Through the new space blown apart emerged Makuta's six Rahkshi, aiming to kill the Herald and take the mask. Suddenly, Takua proclaimed to Jaller that he was the true Herald, as he had clearly been all along; and the two ran together to the Amaja-Nui to hold off the Rahkshi as best as two Matoran could.

Suddenly bright fires flared up on the small mountaintops near the Kini-Nui; the Toa Nuva had arrived to come the Matoran's rescue. Working together against the Rahkshi for the first time, all but one Rahkshi did not rise again when the battle was over. As the Turahk spread its fear power into the heart of Takua and prepared to charge the true Herald, Jaller leapt at the Rahkshi, allowing Takua to gain distance between himself and the monster. Jaller clung to the Turahk's staff, but the fear energies overtook his mind, and he died as Takua knelt over him. Saddened and given hope by a few final words from his best friend, Takua underwent an epiphany of the mind and donned the Avohkii on his face. It was then that he found the Toa of Light -- in himself. Energies of the Avohkii suddenly coursed through Takua's Matoran being and transformed him into a Toa: Takanuva, the Toa of Light. Takanuva incapacitated Turahk in a brilliant column of light and then finished the masonry that the Avohkii had begun on the Matoran bust. In a sign of Destiny, the stone fell away, uncovering a statue of Takua's original Kanohi Pakari.

The victory at the Kini-Nui came at a cost, but when it had ended the Turaga, the Toa Nuva, and Takanuva gathered together to discuss their next course of action during this opportune moment to strike back at Makuta and end his reign over Mata Nui forever. Eventually Takanuva faced off with the Makuta himself in Mangaia. As events unfolded, the Toa, Turaga, and Matoran were able to rediscover Metru Nui and return to it.

The Kanohi Avohkii rested on the face of Takanuva from that point forward.

Known Bearers

 * Takanuva

Trivia

 * Unlike most masks, the Avohkii was one of a kind. Thus the Noble version has not yet come into existence and there are apparently no powerless versions.
 * The Avohkii was featured largely in the 2003 storyline, and was mentioned and had a minor part in the 2005 storyline.
 * The Avohkii was released in three colors: gold on Takanuva, 'sparkly' with Takanuva (supposedly what it looked like when Takanuva used his powers), and silver on the Makuta set, which used two Avohkii for claws.

*All dates given are in relation to the Bionicle Legends saga.