Order of Mata Nui

The Order of Mata Nui was a secret organization devoted to carrying out the will of Mata Nui.^{1, 2} It was formed very early in the history of the Matoran universe. Its original members were formerly of the Hand of Artakha. It was decided at the outset that while Toa would be the public face of order and justice, the Order would remain hidden so that they could do things Toa could not. It had hundreds of agents.¹

Notes

The Order's primary base of operations was on Daxia.¹ All Order of Mata Nui members had orders to fall back to Daxia in the event of a major attack.³ Daxia was the Order's oldest and largest base.⁴

In the Order of Mata Nui's guidebook to the Matoran universe, the timeline of Metru Nui's history was purposely incomplete for reasons which, it claimed, should have been well known to its members.⁵ This guidebook also included information about the Order's own base, Daxia, as a contingency in case the Order come should suffer a devastating attack and surviving members should require the information to rebuild.⁴

Members of the Order of Mata Nui were expected to have familiar knowledge of the Toa Mata and their accomplishments.⁶

The Order of Mata Nui had a library, which included the Rahaga's Rahi Beasts.⁶

The Great Beings realized very early on in the history of the Matoran universe that there was a need for an organization such as the Order of Mata Nui. It was expected that Toa would be the public face of Mata Nui's will, earning the Matoran workers' trust by protecting them. However, the need to maintain this image implied that there would be some tasks which the Toa could not do and some which the Toa could know nothing about. Another organization, one dedicated solely to Mata Nui with no other loyalties or allegiances to interfere, was needed. Hence, the Order of Mata Nui was founded.⁴

In its time, the Order acted only when it needed to and when the Toa could not. Their operatives checked, in part, the plans of the Dark Hunters, the League of Six Kingdoms, and the Brotherhood of Makuta. Regrettably, some of the Order's actions resulted in the deaths of Toa or Matoran for the sake of the organization's anonymity, its greatest strength. From their point of view, even saving the lives of Toa fell short of the importance of serving the interests of Mata Nui.⁴

At the time of the Toa Mahri's mission in the Pit, the Order of Mata Nui was hundreds of members strong, with members scattered across the Matoran universe. Although outnumbered by their foes, they compensated with sheer power. The Order believed that any one of their operatives could easily overcome the Brotherhood of Makuta's servants, although members of the Brotherhood would likely be able to stand up to an attack from the Order.⁴

No intelligent beings other than Order members lived on Daxia. The Order had no workers, servants, or slaves but instead saw to its own needs, considering it better and safer for all concerned. The Order's members came from numerous species, each bringing unique talents and abilities. All members had a passionate commitment to the Order's mission, which was essential for their work. Those who were recruited into the Order had to surrender their lives and their freedom for the sake of Mata Nui, giving up any hope of a life of leisure or the option of leaving the Order later in life. For this reason, the Order thoroughly tested potential members, in secret, before making an offer of membership. Even at the time of offering, they did not give candidates a clear picture of what they will be doing or whom they will be joining. The Order only revealed the truth when it was certain a candidate would serve with honor. Up to the current time, no one ever rejected an offer of membership. The Order also had certain other requirements when seeking recruits. They would not consider Toa, Turaga, or Matoran, since they had their own role to play in the Matoran universe. They would also not consider former Dark Hunters or servants of the Brotherhood of Makuta. The Order's recruiting methods were not infallible, as there were instances where members betrayed the Order's ideals (even before Brutaka). The Order had Botar banish such traitors to the Pit, never to return. Botar's unwavering devotion to his task and long record of success instilled some fear even in loyal Order members. Merely mentioning his name was enough to dissuade potential traitors.⁴

The Order of Mata Nui considered the Makuta to be brutal, ruthless traitors and regretted their inability to protect the Matoran universe from them.⁷

The Order placed agents in places of importance to monitor events. Throughout history it thwarted plans of the Dark Hunters, the Brotherhood of Makuta, and the League of Six Kingdoms, all without exposing their own existence.¹

During the Toa Mahri's mission in the Pit, the only outsiders who knew of the Order's existence were the Toa Mahri, the Toa Nuva, and the members of the Matoran Resistance.¹

The Order of Mata Nui gave members like Brutaka mental training in order to resist attempts by others to probe their minds, so that the secrets of the Order of Mata Nui would not be exposed.⁸

Order members like Brutaka were willing to kill in order to keep the identity of the Order a secret.⁸

The Order of Mata Nui would probably have killed Gatherer if they knew he was investigating them.⁹

If Gatherer got too close to discovering the Order of Mata Nui, the Order would likely kill him. They weren't known for their mercy.¹⁰

The Order of Mata Nui would be unlikely to kill a Matoran who was threatening to divulge information about the organization. They would be more likely to find an easier and more merciful way to handle the situation. The Order didn't tend to go around killing beings who found out about them.¹¹

Toa Helryx was the leader of the Order of Mata Nui.^{12, 13}

Order of Mata Nui training resulted in shielding one's mind from mental intrusion. This was enough to protect Mazeka from having his mind being read by a Makuta via telepathy.¹³

The Order most likely acted on behalf of Mata Nui without being given overt direction from him. They have had access to some insider information, but they never showed any sign that they were aware that Mata Nui was a giant robot or understood the fundamental nature of things.¹⁴

The Order of Mata Nui had no direct connection to the Bohrok, although both were in service of Mata Nui.¹⁵

The Order of Mata Nui existed long before the Brotherhood of Makuta's betrayal.¹⁶

The Order of Mata Nui were more powerful than Toa.¹⁷

The Toa Mata were not members of the Order of Mata Nui; Toa were public agents and the Order worked in secret. Not many knew about them, but they pulled strings.¹⁸

Matoran, Toa, and Turaga could not become members of the Order of Mata Nui.¹⁹

Toa being admitted to the Order of Mata Nui was not a rare occurance, it simply didn't occur. Toa sometimes knew about the organization, such as the Toa Nuva and Toa Inika, but they did not join.²⁰

The Order of Mata Nui couldn't awaken Mata Nui because it was not their destiny, it was the destiny of the Toa Mata.²¹

Mata Nui was not a member of the Order of Mata Nui. The Order was an organization that served the will of a more powerful entity.²²

The Brotherhood of Makuta had an edge over the Order of Mata Nui because the former had more resources and could operate in public, unlike the Order.²³

When the Order of Mata Nui was in hiding, members of the Brotherhood of Makuta were some of the very few who knew of their existence.²⁴

The Order of Mata Nui did not intervene in wars.²⁵

Unlike the Brotherhood of Makuta, members of the Order of Mata Nui didn't necessarily have powers in common with other members.²⁶

Members of the Order of Mata Nui were scattered around the universe.²⁷

The Order of Mata Nui remained in secret because they could be more effective that way. The Toa were public and got killed and spent time fighting enemies; the Order avoided such things.²⁸

The Order of Mata Nui did not have Hagah-like guardians because they were not public.²⁹

Members of the Order of Mata Nui knew about each other.³⁰

Order members did not maintain constant communication and contact with each other.³¹

The Order of Mata Nui didn't execute defectors because that did not fit the moral values of Mata Nui.³²

The Order of Mata Nui did not take a vow which prevented them from killing others.³³

The Order of Mata Nui had far more than six members.³⁴

The Order of Mata Nui collectively was not as powerful as Mata Nui himself.³⁵

Most of the time, the Order of Mata Nui carried out the will, or what they perceived to be the will, of Mata Nui.³⁶

The Order considered Toa to be the public face of the will of Mata Nui, able to do things they couldn't because they needed to remain secret.³⁷

The Order of Mata Nui did things that violated the Toa's beliefs and virtues.³⁸

Mata Nui was aware of the Order of Mata Nui.³⁹

The Brotherhood of Makuta likely had no first-hand knowledge of the Order of Mata Nui, but theorized the organization existed.⁴⁰

It would be highly, highly doubtful that a Toa could become a member of the Order of Mata Nui.⁴¹

The Order of Mata Nui approved of Toa because they were the public face of Mata Nui's will and could do things the Order couldn't do given their secrecy.⁴²

Toa had to be just and moral because they were the public face of the light. The Order of Mata Nui did not because they were secretive.⁴³

An Order of Mata Nui member would be as strong as a Brotherhood of Makuta member.⁴⁴

The Order of Mata Nui wouldn't wage a war because they couldn't remain in secret and a war between them and the Brotherhood of Makuta would likely destroy everything.⁴⁵

The Order of Mata Nui knew the location of Karzahni's realm, but not Artakha's realm.⁴⁶

Members of the Order of Mata Nui weren't supposed to reveal their membership outside of extreme circumstances.⁴⁷

Order of Mata Nui members didn't have code names.⁴⁸

In general, the Order of Mata Nui considered itself above performing the kinds of twisted experiments the Brotherhood of Makuta did.⁴⁹

Members of the Order of Mata Nui didn't keep slaves.⁵⁰

The Order of Mata Nui didn't believe in reforming people. They believed if a member screwed up once, they are beyond redemption because the stakes dictate they can't take chances.⁵¹

The Order of Mata Nui served the will of Mata Nui. They dealt with beings like Artakha and others that Toa knew little to nothing about. They did the things Toa couldn't do.⁵²

Axonn and Brutaka were a good sampling of the power level of Order of Mata Nui members.⁵³

The Order of Mata Nui had a good idea of where the Great Spirit Mata Nui was located.⁵⁴

The Order of Mata Nui got new members by recruiting them.⁵⁵

Order of Mata Nui members were recruited, they did not choose to join on their own.⁵⁶

The Order of Mata Nui didn't know where Mata Nui was.⁵⁷

Axonn was not disavowed by the Order for revealing himself to the Matoran of Voya Nui because he had no other choice.⁵⁸

Communication between Order of Mata Nui agents varied depending on the islands they were on. Axonn and Brutaka seemingly had very little contact with the rest of the organization, but others traveled freely and had more contact.⁵⁹

The Order of Mata Nui was more powerful than the Dark Hunters and easily as powerful as the Brotherhood of Makuta.⁶⁰

One couldn't exactly say the Brotherhood of Makuta was stronger than the Order of Mata Nui because one was secret and one was not.⁶¹

The Order of Mata Nui was cautious by nature. Any organization with the kind of power that the Brotherhood of Makuta had was going to be someone they looked twice at as a potential threat. They were planning "what if" scenarios regarding the Brotherhood practically from day one.⁶²

The Order of Mata Nui had multiple bases.⁶³

The Order of Mata Nui probably didn't have enough members to form an army.⁶⁴

The majority of Order of Mata Nui members were former Hand of Artakha members.⁶⁵

The Order of Mata Nui didn't worry about being sure everyone honored and trusted them, they did what they felt had to be done, the things Toa couldn't do.⁶⁶

Daxia was the main base of the Order of Mata Nui. They had other bases as well.⁶⁷

Mata Nui was unlikely to have a backup plan in case the Order of Mata Nui turned against him.⁶⁸

There was an Order of Mata Nui agent in Metru Nui.⁶⁹

There was no Order of Mata Nui agent in Karda Nui.⁷⁰

There were probably Order of Mata Nui agents on Xia and Stelt.⁷¹

It is highly doubtful there was an Order of Mata Nui agent on Zakaz.⁷²

Order of Mata Nui members underwent mental training to achieve the ability to throw up a psychic shield around their minds.⁷³

Order of Mata Nui members had no connections to the Brotherhood of Makuta.⁷⁴

Mental barriers could be broken by someone with sufficiently powerful psychic abilities. It was a lot harder with an Order of Mata Nui agent who would have had extensive training, but it was not impossible.⁷⁵

Other Information

• Greg Farshtey stated that, if released, other members of the Order of Mata Nui would probably be $19.99 sets like Axonn.⁷⁶
• The Order of Mata Nui was probably Greg Farshtey's favorite major faction by the end of 2006.⁷⁷

List of Order of Mata Nui Members

• Axonn
• Botar
• Brutaka
• Hydraxon
• Jerbraz
• Johmak
• Tobduk
• Trinuma