BL8 - Artakha Made Masks

“Whatever is causing this is greater than our powers can deal with,” Gali said. “Do you think this is the work of Artakha himself?”

“If it is, he and I are going to have a long deep-talk,” said Lewa. “Fine way to treat guests.”

They had reached the massive iron doors of the fortress. There was no sign of a knocker or any other way to signal their presence. As it turned out, none was needed.

“Who are you? Why have you come here?”

The voice was indescribably ancient, and yet young at the same time. It came from everywhere around them — the fortress, the rocks, the trees, even the air itself.

Tahu took a deep breath. This had to be Artakha talking to them. It wasn’t easy to know how to answer a legend. Artakha was rumored to be the greatest builder and designer in the universe. Some of the greatest artifacts known, from the Mask of Light to the Mask of Shadows to the Nuva masks he and his friends wore, were said to have come from Artakha’s forge. Yet, if the stories were to be believed, no one had actually seen Artakha in all the millennia of his existence.

Maybe that is about to change, thought Tahu.

“We are —” he began, then stopped. “But you already know, don’t you?”

“Does the sun know its light?” the voice responded. “You have come here to find arms and armor for your fight. I tell you that the weapon you need cannot be found here — that must be sought in the world that feeds the world. As for the other…”

The storm suddenly abated as quickly as it had arisen, replaced by a cold wind that made even the Toa Nuva of Ice shiver. Sleet and snow began to fall, half burying the Toa in a matter of moments.

“Tell me what you have done on your path to this place,” said the voice of Artakha.


- BIONICLE Legends 8: Downfall, Epilogue