Fire Greatswords

The Fire Greatswords were the twin elemental Toa ToolsToa ToolsToa Tools were the implements every Toa carried as channels for elemental power and as physical fighting gear, with each tool specific to a wielder's element and form. carried by LhikanLhikanToa of Fire, leader of the Toa Mangai, and the last Toa of Metru Nui, who surrendered his Toa Power to create the Toa Metru and died defending Vakama., Toa MangaiToa MangaiThe defenders of Metru Nui before the Toa Metru arrived, a team that fell to betrayal and relentless war. of FireFireOne of the six main elements of the Matoran Universe, marked by the Ta- prefix and the colours red and orange, and wielded by Toa from Lhikan to Tahu., during his years as protector of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. Joined together, they made a flying board, and Lhikan is best remembered for using them to carry himself clear of the Dark Hunters at the Great Temple and to save VakamaVakamaA Ta-Metru maskmaker transformed into the Toa Metru of Fire, leader of his team through the Visorak war, and Turaga of Ta-Koro for a thousand years. after Nidhiki dropped him into a forge. (BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Form and function#

The Fire Greatswords were a pair of large blades that Lhikan used to channel his FireFireOne of the six main elements of the Matoran Universe, marked by the Ta- prefix and the colours red and orange, and wielded by Toa from Lhikan to Tahu. powers and in close combat. Fitted together, they formed either a shield or a board that Lhikan could ride through the air, and he used it to fly high above Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. looking out for trouble. The 2004 set could build both combined forms. (BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui; BIONICLE: Metru Nui, City of Legends; Toa Lhikan & Kikanalo)

The Toa MangaiToa MangaiThe defenders of Metru Nui before the Toa Metru arrived, a team that fell to betrayal and relentless war., Lhikan's team, were the protectors of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive. before the Toa MetruToa Metru and Toa HordikaSix Matoran elevated by Lhikan to save their city, mutated by Visorak venom, and restored in time to deliver the population to safety., and the greatswords were his weapons throughout that service. (BIONICLE: Metru Nui, City of Legends; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

The rescue of Vakama#

Lhikan stole six stones from the Great Temple to use as Toa stones. The Dark HuntersThe Dark HuntersA band of mercenaries and thieves founded on Odina by the Shadowed One and Ancient, hired out across the Matoran Universe, and left a battered ruin by the time Teridax ruled the universe. NidhikiNidhikiOnce a guardian of Metru Nui, Nidhiki traded his Toa honor for Dark Hunter gold and paid the price. and KrekkaKrekkaA brutish but ineffective Dark Hunter with no powers or masks, Krekka was outmatched from his first moments in Metru Nui. caught him there, and he narrowly escaped on the greatswords. (BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui; BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru Nui)

He then gave the stones to six Matoran. After he handed the last one to VakamaVakamaA Ta-Metru maskmaker transformed into the Toa Metru of Fire, leader of his team through the Visorak war, and Turaga of Ta-Koro for a thousand years., the Dark Hunters cornered him again, and Nidhiki forced him to surrender by threatening Vakama. Nidhiki dropped Vakama into a forge anyway, but Lhikan saved him with the greatswords and told him to save the heart of Metru Nui before he was taken away. The greatswords stayed behind with Vakama. (BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui; BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru Nui)

Reduction to a shield#

The Toa stones turned VakamaVakamaA Ta-Metru maskmaker transformed into the Toa Metru of Fire, leader of his team through the Visorak war, and Turaga of Ta-Koro for a thousand years., NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras., MatauMatauA former Le-Metru test driver who became a Toa Metru, Matau wielded air, illusion, and shape-shifting before sacrificing his Toa power to wake the sleeping Matoran., OnewaOnewaOnewa served as Toa Metru of Stone, led Po-Koro through the Dark Time, and constructed the Metru Nui statue honoring the fallen Toa Mahri Matoro., WhenuaWhenuaToa Metru of Earth and later Turaga of Onu-Koro, formerly an Onu-Metru archivist whose career in the Archives shaped his role across the rescue of Metru Nui and the long residency on Mata Nui. and NujuNujuNuju served as a Ko-Metru seer, Toa Metru of Ice, and Turaga of Ko-Koro who spoke only in bird calls translated by Matoro. into the Toa MetruToa Metru and Toa HordikaSix Matoran elevated by Lhikan to save their city, mutated by Visorak venom, and restored in time to deliver the population to safety., and having given up his Toa power, Lhikan became a TuragaTuragaFormer Toa who fulfilled their destiny and transformed into leaders. Turaga wield Noble Kanohi masks and weakened elemental powers, guiding their communities.. (BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru Nui; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

The idea that Turaga Lhikan carried a smaller version of the greatswords as a shield comes from Greg Farshtey's later answers to fans, not the stories. On screen, the greatswords themselves were last seen with Vakama. (BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui)

Lhikan's death#

Turaga Lhikan and the Toa Metru confronted the false Turaga Dume in the ColiseumThe ColiseumCentral tower of Metru Nui, serving as government seat, akilini arena and, during Teridax's masquerade, the place from which the city's Matoran were rounded up into spheres., where TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. revealed himself as the Great Cataclysm began. They escaped the city, but Teridax caught up with them at the Great Barrier, and Lhikan threw himself in front of Teridax's shadow hand to save Vakama. He died after giving Vakama his Kanohi Hau. (BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru Nui; BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui)

Place among Toa Tools#

The Fire Greatswords are the only Toa Mangai tools ever released as a set, in 2004's Toa Lhikan & Kikanalo. Their best-known feature, the flying board, is shown both in the film and in the set. (Toa Lhikan & Kikanalo; BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui)