Tsukumi: Toa of Water

 

History

Spoiler ahead. Highlight the text to read, if you wish.

Tsukumi has a very brief history as she was created as a Toa, not as a Matoran. However, due to Infernum's "keyboard smash" during Madness: Genesis, Tsukumi and her teammates all have falsified memories. Below are all of her false memories.

 

Tsukumi began her life as Ga-Matoran on the Southern Continent. After the Great Cataclysm, she was trapped upon the landmass that broke away from it, Voya Nui. Like the other Matoran on the island, she managed to bear the trials before her on the island. She changed from your ordinary, pacifist Ga-Matoran, into a hardened, slightly world-weary one. As a Matoran, she could easily be compared to the likes of Dalu. Like Dalu, Tsukumi usually acts first, then ask questions later. However, after acting, her target is rarely able to answer questions afterwards.

Once the Piraka invaded, she was one of the last members of the Resistance. In fact, she was the seventh member, until she was finally struck by one of Thok's Zamor Spheres. In a misfortunate turn of events, the sphere did not shatter. Instead, it struck her, hard, on the back of her head. The blow was more or less like getting a headshot from a cannonball. So, the Piraka left Tsukumi for dead and went on trying to root out the other more well-known members of the Voya Nui Resistance.

At some point without the Resistance, the Piraka, or the Toa Inika knowing, Infernum spirited Tsukumi away. He locked her away in a stasis chamber. Nearly two decades later, Tsukumi is released and finds herself as a Toa, an exceptionally powerful one at that.

Like the rest of the "Nameless Team", Infernum gave Toa Tsukumi the choice of participating in his Game. Though it did require much contemplating and convincing, Tsukumi finally agreed to partake in the Deathmatch. Her reasons why are unclear, but rumours whisper of her wanting an even greater degree of power so she and those she hold dear would never be oppressed again. 

Tsukumi's story, along with the rest of her team's, continues in the Madness Series.

 

Equipment

• Twin arm-mounted condensers: Toa Tsukumi does not carry any actual weapons as she prefers to use her elemental powers in every combat situation. These condensers augment her abilities greatly. They constantly condense moisture from the air to fuel her water-based attacks. This creates a scenraio for Toa Tsukumi similar to that of Toa Mahri Hahli underwater.

• Kanohi Maion: The Kanohi Maion is the Mask of Elemental Embodiment. Considered borderline immoral by Toa not because of any moral issues, but simply becuase of how powerful this mask is. Even a low level of activation can cause an attack to be devastating, as is explored in the below section. This mask, when at full power, transforms the user into a being of whatever element he or she controls. So, basically, the user of this mask becomes a near-indestructible entity for about fifteen minutes. Crazy stuff!

• Leg-mounted blades: Blades that can fold in or out. They are discreetly hidden and disguised as part of Tsukumi's armor. 

• The Meridian Chronicle: See this page for more info.

 

Personality

One word, an anime term: tsundere.

Tsundere: "a character development process that describes a person who is initially cold and even hostile towards another person before gradually showing their warm side over time."

Tsukumi is first mentioned as a "combative Toa of Water" in the Madness Series. These words could not be any more accurate.

Tsukumi is unlike any other Toa of Water. She's powerful and she knows it. This leads to her being both proud and arrogant, traits she reveals more than once.

One may take Toa Helryx as an example. Though she is battle-hardened and not a slacker in the power department herself, she's had the time to "mellow out". Helryx is described as "extremely fierce, somewhat impatient, and quick to anger", but she's still had millenia of experience to teach her that force is not always the answer. Toa Tsukumi... hasn't.

On the other end of the scale, there's Toa Tuyet. 100% insane, driven mad with power. Tsukumi may be full of herself but in reality, she has a very strict code she follows, as well a incredible deep sense of duty and honour. She is nothing like the disgraced Tuyet.

Speaking of honour, Tsukumi seems to follow a personal, stricter version of the Toa Code. Like all Toa, she abhors killing her opponents. In addition, she always seems to crave "just battles". She hates team fights as she feels they are never fair. It's always duels with her. She, however, will battle alongside others if the situation truly demands it.