Barraki

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The Barraki are a group of conquerers in LEGO BIONICLE storyline. While they were defeated and banished some time ago, their prison was flooded and they escaped into the surrounding area; they also evolved characteristics of sea monsters in order to survive. The term "Barraki" is the Matoran word for "warlord".^[1]

Contents 1 History 2 Personalities 3 Bios 4 References

[edit] History

Over 80,000 years ago, the Barraki were a group of allied warlords, leading their armies in conquests. Pridak's army included Matoran criminals, ex-Dark Hunters, and other outcasts; "thieves, murderers, traitors, and liars". The other Barraki also had similar armies.^[2] The Barraki also had alliances with several lands, including Xia.^[3]

Their conquests ended when they were banished to an isolated cavern called the Pit around 80,000 years ago by Botar, as the Order of Mata Nui considered their crimes irredeemable (these crimes had no connection to the Great Disruption that occurred in Metru Nui at the same time). Before their banishment, they had also made enemies of both the Toa and the Brotherhood of Makuta, and now want revenge on both groups.^[4]

One thousand years ago, in the Great Cataclysm, the Pit's cavern caved in and flooded. The Barraki and other Pit inhabitants were able to adapt aquatic appearances and the ability to breathe underwater in order to survive.^[5] They were able to escape to the surrounding ocean, but no farther, essentially expanding the Pit into the sea. Some time later, the floating island of Voya Nui entered the region, and a portion of land including a Matoran settlement (called "Mahri Nui") sank into the Pit.^[6] The Barraki have also formed new armies of native sea life.

Most recently, the Ignika Mask of Life has left Voya Nui and entered Mahri Nui. The Barraki have claimed the Mask of Life after it retreated underwater, and those who have held it have become cursed. However, they think little of the curse, believing there is little it could do to add to their suffering.^[7]

[edit] Personalities

Series writer Greg Farshtey has made some statements concerning the Barraki's general personalities and dispositions:

[The Barraki] don't see themselves as evil villains -- they see themselves as conquerors and rulers by right of strength and experience. They aren't trying for power from the outside like the Piraka ... they had it, in spades, and they want it back. They once lived a much better life than the one they have now, and that fuels a lot of their behavior.[8]

One of the differences between the Barraki and the Piraka is that most of the Piraka commit violent acts because they can and they enjoy it. Barraki are not like that -- they commit violent acts when it's necessary to prove a point. In [the case of Kalmah's blinded eye], Kalmah got out of line, and Pridak made an example of him. Pridak understands that this is not a case where he is the boss and the others are the henchmen -- they are all powerful, all former rulers and conquerors, and if he wants to be in charge, he has to continually prove he is the strongest. He doesn't attack the other Barraki all the time or beat up on them or anything like that .. but on the rare occasions when it is necessary to impose discipline, he does what he has to. He knows full well that if positions were reversed, Kalmah would do the exact same thing. I kind of like that about the Barraki. They are evil and dangerous, but there is almost a warped sense of honor to some of them. They aren't brutes and bullies, like the Piraka were -- in the case especially of Pridak, Takadox, and Kalmah (Mantax, too, really), there is a calculating intelligence behind whatever they do. They kind of have a little streak of some of the better comics villains in them ... beings who strive to conquer because they see themselves as having EARNED the right do so, not just to show how tough they are.[9]

[edit] Bios

Unlike most groups in Bionicle, the Barraki are not all the same race;^[10] but each one's aquatic adaptations is based on a different sea creature.^[11] Each one also carries a "squid launcher", though the exact purpose of such squids are unclear; an unconfirmed description claims they suck life energy out of targets.^[12] While the Barraki may be able to use Kanohi Masks, they look down on those who rely on them and weaken when their masks are removed.^[13]

Kalmah: "The silent killer ... stronger than he is fast, but able to glide silently through the water and seize and squeeze prey to death in his tentacle. Five smaller tentacles on the back of his head let him sense motion behind him. Three eyes, but blind in one due to a disastrous past encounter with Pridak. Highly intellgent. Breeds the sea squid the Barraki use in their launchers, making sure they are kept half-starved and vicious so they are ready for prey. Leads an army of giant squid."^[14] Also, "[Kalmah]'s not easily tricked -- he might SEEM like he is going along with you, but all along be using you with the intent of eliminating you once he has gotten what he wants."^[15] Kalmah has one main tentacle, some sensory tentacles, and a squid launcher; but no other special powers. Kalmah is based on a squid, thus his name may be a play on the word "calamari".

Takadox: "The great manipulator ... physically the least powerful of the Barraki, mentally one of the sharpest. Can sit motionless for days on end waiting for prey to make a wrong move, and then attack. Uses his power of hypnosis to make others do his bidding (and so rarely has to run the risk of executing his own plans). Prior to the coming of the Mask of Life, rarely left his cave -- simply mesmerized Carapar into getting whatever he needed. Controls an army made up of underwater insect life." Besides hypnosis, Takadox has twin knives and a squid launcher. Takadox is also the murderer of an Order of Mata Nui member who was a jailer in the Pit. He is similar to a mantis - strangely, perhaps more of a praying mantis than a mantis shrimp.

Ehlek: "Ehlek was the only member of the original Barraki alliance who was a native water-breather, from the liquid protodermis sea around the island of Zakaz. After the Great Cataclysm and escape from the Pit, he built a fortress for the Barraki, which was destroyed when Mahri Nui landed on top of it. Ehlek is angry, bitter, and hungry for revenge, almost willing to sacrifice the Mask of Life if it would mean exterminating all Matoran. Although slim and poorly armored, the spines on his back give off electric bolts that can stun or kill. He commands an army of venom eels. An interesting sidenote is that the Dark Hunter Amphibax was originally a member of Ehlek's army prior to Ehlek's exile to the Pit. Another interesting note is that Ehlek's species was tampered with by the Order of Mata Nui in an attempt to engineer a race specially designed to combat the Brotherhood of Makuta." In addition to the electricity from his spines, Ehlek's weapons include a squid launcher and tri-talons strong enough to shred "protosteel" (presumably solid protodermis). His features are based on that of electric eels. Ehlek has a lieutenant named Nocturn, who was banished to the Pit for breaking something beyond repair and whose favorite food is razor whales.^[16]

Carapar: "The ravager of the seas ... the physical powerhouse of the Barraki ... virtually invulnerable to everything but electrical attack ... uses his powerful embrace and giant claw to chop up and cut down anything in his path. Prior to exile in the Pit, was known as the most ferocious of the Barraki -- the slightest sign of disrespect from one villager would mean destruction and death for an entire village. Once ended a siege by withdrawing and leaving the enemy city a gift of foodstuffs, which turned out to be poisoned. Although his intellect has been dulled somewhat by centuries of Takadox's hypnosis, you underestimate him at your peril. As Takadox has noted, Carapar is not as stupid as he looks, for no one could be. Carapar commands an army of Keras crabs and pit war tortoises." Carapar has thick armor, a pincer, and a squid launcher. Carapar is very crab-like, thus his name may be a play on the word "carapace", another name for a shell.

Mantax: "Dweller in darkness ... the most secretive and mysterious of the Barraki. Spends most of his time buried in the sea floor, with only his eyes and head spikes visible, waiting for prey to swim by. When he's not there, he is down in the flooded remains of the original Pit, for reasons unknown. Traditionally keeps silent and in the shadows, preferring not to share information with the other Barraki unless he has to (knowledge is power, after all). Commands an army of rays." Mantax's natural weapons include a pincer, head spikes with paralyzing venom, a tentacle on the back of his head that conducts lightning, and armored shoulder plates; he also has a squid launcher. As his name suggests, Mantax is like a manta ray.

Pridak: "Undisputed ruler of the Barraki dating back 80,000+ years. Mind as sharp as his teeth. Extremely fast underwater and a perfect killing machine. More than willing to use violence to enforce discipline -- in addition to blinding Kalmah in one eye, once bit Nocturn's arm off. Learns from his mistakes. Expert at holding a grudge. Feels entitled to power, and is willing to defy even Makuta to his face. Feels no guilt or regret over anything he does. Hot-tempered, but also practical -- sees no reason to kill Matoran if there is nothing to be gained by it (hence the survival of Mahri Nui all this time). If there IS something to be gained by it, would calmly order destruction of an entire village and sleep peacefully that night. Commands an army of Takea sharks." Pridak's weapons are his shark tooth blade and a squid launcher, and his teeth can tear open even Brotherhood of Makuta armor. Pridak has a certain resemblance to a shark. The red stuff around his mouth may possibly be the blood of his prey, similar to how real sharks' mouths are bloody from feeding (it has only been confirmed that it is a possibility that prey has such blood - most Bionicle creatures don't, being biomechanical; but the Barraki live in an area that includes fully organic creatures).^[17]

Regarding inter-team dynamics, "Kalmah and Carapar have sort of naturally evolved into a team in the books, the same with Pridak and Takadox ... Ehlek and Mantax tend to be more loners."^[18]

[edit] References