Mata Nui was once an island paradise. The island featured tall icy mountains, deep ocean bays, wide desert expanses, caves deep underground, lush green jungles, even a volcano. For a thousand years, Matoran lived in six villages, each ruled by a wise Turaga, bothered only by the occasional rahi beast.
Each village was located in a different region.
Ko-Koro: Icy mountainous village, which was overseen by Turaga Nuju and his spokesman, Matoro.
Po-Koro: Wind-swept desert surrounded the enclosed canyon protecting this village of carvers and Rahi-herders. Onewa ruled Po-Koro, and Hewkii was the island’s best Kolhii champion.
Ta-Koro: Fiery village perched on a rocky island in the middle of a lava lake, surrounded by the Charred Forest. Turaga Vakama guided the village, which was guarded by Jaller, Captain of the Guard. Takua the Chronicler likewise called Ta-Koro home.
Ga-Koro: Floating on lush green mats of vegetation, the all-female village resided in a bay. Wise Turaga Nokama ruled this watery realm, and Hahli performed many tasks to help her village – even playing Kolhii.
Onu-Koro: Deep, dark caves and tunnels connected the caverns of this underground village. Turaga Whenua was in charge of the miners, and one of his engineers, Nuparu, invented the Boxor vehicle.
Le-Koro: Built high in the trees above a swamp, this leafy village was ruled by Turaga Matau and his crack squadron of air fighters riding trained rahi.
Just before the coming of the Toa, rahi beasts – driven mad by infected masks provided by the Makuta – rampaged across the island. They were stopped, only to be replaced by more dangerous and destructive invaders: the Bohrok swarms. Thousands of Bohrok tried to strip the island clean, but were stopped by the Toa and Matoran. Later, when Makuta unleashed his Rahkshi on the island, several villages were destroyed, and the inhabitants migrated to Metru Nui.
Since the departure of all Toa and Matoran, Bohrok swarms have stripped every shred of vegetation from the surface of Mata Nui. The island awaits a time foretold…