Piraka
The Piraka are the villains of the 2006 storyline. They have seized control of the island of Voya Nui, enslaving the Matoran population with their zamor spheres. They are searching for Kanohi Ignika, the Mask of Life, an object of great power supposedly hidden in the lava chambers of Mt. Valmai. Quarrelsome and greedy, each Piraka secretly plans to betray the others and seize the mask for himself alone.
History
The Piraka were previously Dark Hunters. They served the organization for about seven thousand years, and were involved in the Kanohi Dragon incident, the war with Metru Nui, and the war with the Brotherhood of Makuta, among other things. They left the Dark Hunters and traveled to Makuta's lair, which they intended to loot. While searching the lair, they all suddenly became aware of the existence of the Mask of Life and realized that they needed to seize that powerful Kanohi. They traveled to Voya Nui in metal canisters, convinced the Matoran that they were Toa, and began to establish their rule over the island.
Antidermis
The Matoran built a large temple-like structure, where the Piraka installed a crystal sphere. This sphere became filled with a greenish-black "virus" called antidermis. Zaktan filled smaller spheres, called zamor, with antidermis. Zamor can be fired from launchers, which Avak built soon after the Piraka arrived on Voya Nui. A Matoran struck by a zamor sphere is infected with the virus and becomes a mindless slave of the Piraka. Only Zaktan knows the secret of how the spheres work, and he is the only one who can approach the large crystal sphere that holds the antidermis without feeling intense pain. It has been discovered that antidermis is not merely an infectious poison- it is actually alive. It is the belief of the archivists that antidermis is in some way related to Makuta.
Weaponry
Each Piraka possesses five powers:- An elemental power, which can only be used when two Piraka are working together.
- An eyebeam power, which is shot at a victim from the Piraka's eyes.
- A weapon, usually carried in the right hand, often with multiple functions.
- A zamor launcher, usually carried in the left hand.
- A further odd ability.
Biography
Zaktan
Zaktan leads the Piraka on their quest for the Mask of Life. His body is actually composed of billions of microscopic creatures called protodites. This allows him to shape-shift or disperse his body to avoid a blow. The ability comes in handy when the other Piraka need keeping in line. In addition, Zaktan carries a zamor launcher and a three-bladed sword with a pair of tongs attached to the hilt. He has the elemental power of air, and his eyes can fire destructive laser vision beams. The other Piraka resent Zaktan's harsh rule, and have tried to remove him once or twice. Zaktan spends little time with the others, so he is unaware of these plots. However, all efforts to kill or overthrow him have failed. Zaktan allows the would-be assassins to remain alive because he needs the other Piraka in order to get the Mask of Life.
Hakann
Hakann is quick-tempered, nasty, and treacherous. Besides his zamor launcher, he carries a lava gun which fires blasts of molten rock, and has a heavy claw at the other end. His heat vision eyebeams can melt or incinerate almost any substance at long distance. Hakann also has the elemental power of fire and the ability to strike at his enemies' minds with mental blasts. He and Avak worked on a plan to deceive the other Piraka with a counterfeit Mask of Life, but this never materialized. Hakann is waiting for Zaktan to make a mistake which will allow him to take over as leader, not realizing he is the most hated by all the others.
Avak
The tan-armored Piraka is a remarkable inventor of mechanical devices. It was he who devised the launchers for the zamor spheres used to enslave the Matoran. Avak can use telescopic vision to see distant objects, or see through them with X-ray vision. But strangest of his powers is the ability to create prisons ideally designed to contain his opponents. For example, to imprison Zaktan, Avak surrounded him with a field of sound at a pitch intolerable to protodites. The creatures composing Zaktan went berserk, leaving the Piraka leader unable to use his own body. Avak's prisons can only be escaped if he loses consciousness; they will then immediately dissipate. Avak's tool is a combination jackhammer and pickaxe, and he can control the element of stone when working with another Piraka.
Reidak
Though Reidak is intelligent and capable of carefully planning out an operation, he prefers just smashing things. His strength, endurance, and impatience are unmatched among the Piraka. His weapon, containing a drill at one end and a buzzsaw at the other, can shake the ground into quicksand. Reidak has infrared and thermal imaging vision, meaning he can detect objects by the heat they give off. If he survives a defeat, he can adapt himself to the method of attack and become practically invulnerable to it. Reidak and Vezok originally had an agreement that, if either one found the Mask of Life, the two of them would abandon the others and escape with the mask.
Thok
The white-armored Piraka is likely the most intelligent and the most treacherous. He knows quite well that the Piraka alliance will fragment, so he has made deals with all five of the others. Not surprisingly, he does not intend to keep any of them. Thok carries an ice gun combined with an ice peg, along with a zamor launcher. His spellbinder vision distorts the senses and balance of his enemies, making them too disoriented to be any threat. He can make inanimate objects, such as bushes, rocks, and flames, temporarily take on the appearance of life and move under his command.
Vezok
Vezok is completely bad-tempered, always bottling up his rage and always on the point of releasing it. He especially hates the other nasty Piraka, Hakann. His versatile weapon contains a harpoon launcher, useful for pulling himself around while swimming, a jetlike device, also for underwater propulsion, and a buzz saw, which can throw water daggers. Vezok's impact vision eyebeams can knock down a Toa or send a Matoran flying. He can absorb a quantity of any power used against him, and then use it himself. He was once a cunning tactical thinker, but he lost this ability to Vezon.