The Gathering of the Protectors

The Gathering of the ProtectorsProtectorsThe six elders of Okoto's villages, each wielding elemental powers and guarding their regions before the Toa arrived. was the rite, in the 2015 reboot continuity, at which the six tribal leaders of OkotoOkotoOkoto is a world whose known inhabitants include the Toa, the Mask makers, and the Protectors. met at the Temple of TimeThe Temple of TimeThe Protectors' most sacred site on Okoto, built to house the Mask of Time and the place at which Ekimu received the vision that prepared the island for the coming of the Toa., recited the Prophecy of HeroesThe Prophecy of HeroesThe dying instruction that the Mask Maker Ekimu pressed into the Protectors of Okoto, foretelling the coming of six Toa and the sign of the aligned stars that would let them be summoned., and called the six prophesied ToaThe Toa of Okoto: The Six Heroes Summoned to Save the IslandThe six elemental heroes summoned by the Protectors of Okoto, who recovered the Golden Masks, woke Ekimu, fought the Skull Army, and twice banished Makuta to the Shadow Realm. down from the sky onto their regions. It answered the prophecy EkimuEkimu the Mask MakerEkimu is the Mask Maker of Okoto in the 2015 BIONICLE reboot, brother of Makuta, who knocked the Mask of Ultimate Power from his brother's face and slept for thousands of years before the Toa woke him. had left after the Battle of the Mask MakersThe Battle of the Mask MakersIn the 2015 reboot continuity, the unveiling of the Mask of Ultimate Power at Capital City, the strike of the Hammer of Power, and the cataclysm that drew the city and Makuta into the Shadow Realm., and the Toa's whole campaign against the Skull SpidersSkull SpidersThe arachnid swarm that raided the villages of Okoto, clamped infection masks onto its captives, guarded the City of the Mask Makers under the Lord of Skull Spiders, and broke against the arrival of the Toa., the Skull ArmyThe Skull ArmyThe undead host raised by Kulta beneath the City of the Mask Makers, drawn from the corpses of fallen Okotans, organised into tiers of Skull Basher, Skull Slicer, Skull Warriors, and Skull Scorpios, and aimed at the destruction of the Mask of Creation., and ultimately MakutaMakuta (2015)Ekimu's brother and rival Mask Maker, who forged the forbidden Mask of Ultimate Power and was sealed in the Shadow Realm with Capital City. followed from it. (BIONICLE: Island of Lost Masks; LEGO Bionicle: The Journey to One)

The prophecy carried across centuries#

The conditions for the Gathering were set long before any of the ProtectorsProtectorsThe six elders of Okoto's villages, each wielding elemental powers and guarding their regions before the Toa arrived. who performed it were born. Ekimu had seen a vision of catastrophe and of the coming Toa through the Mask of TimeMask of TimeThe Kanohi Vahi is the Matoran Universe's deadliest mask, capable of stopping or accelerating time, and its creation nearly tore Metru Nui apart. at the temple. After he and Makuta fought over the Mask of Ultimate PowerMask of Ultimate PowerA heretical Kanohi forged by Makuta of Okoto that contained the powers of all six elements and ruined the Mask Makers' civilization the moment it was worn., the Protectors of that age found Ekimu unconscious and heard the Prophecy of HeroesThe Prophecy of HeroesThe dying instruction that the Mask Maker Ekimu pressed into the Protectors of Okoto, foretelling the coming of six Toa and the sign of the aligned stars that would let them be summoned. whispered from him. They laid him in a sarcophagus and kept the prophecy to be recited in times of peril. (BIONICLE 2: Battle of the Mask Makers; LEGO Bionicle: The Journey to One)

The prophecy was handed down by the ProtectorsProtectorsThe six elders of Okoto's villages, each wielding elemental powers and guarding their regions before the Toa arrived. to their successors along with their masks, weapons and armour, usually from parent to child. NarmotoNarmoto, Protector of Fire of OkotoNarmoto was the village elder and Protector of Fire in the second age of Okoto, wielder of the Elemental Fire Blaster and the Flame Swords, descendant of Mamuk, and guide who led Tahu across the volcanic region to the Golden Mask of Fire. of Fire inherited his post from his father, as did NilkuuNilkuu, Protector of Stone of OkotoNilkuu was the village elder and Protector of Stone in the second age of Okoto, wielder of the Elemental Sandstone Blaster, rescuer of Bingzak, and guide who led Pohatu across the desert to the Golden Mask of Stone. of Stone. KorgotKorgot, Protector of Earth of OkotoKorgot was the village elder and Protector of Earth in the second age of Okoto, the only female Protector, descendant of Etoku, and guide who led Onua through the tunnels and caverns beneath the island to the Golden Mask of Earth. of Earth inherited hers from her father too, despite the village saying that the post passed from father to son. (LEGO.com Protector character profiles; BIONICLE: Island of Lost Masks; BIONICLE 1: Gathering of the Toa)

The incantation itself told the Protectors to unite, one from each tribe, and look to the skies: when the stars aligned, six comets would bring the heroes. The Temple of TimeThe Temple of TimeThe Protectors' most sacred site on Okoto, built to house the Mask of Time and the place at which Ekimu received the vision that prepared the island for the coming of the Toa. was the Protectors' most sacred place, and because of their duties and the size of the island they rarely met there all at once. (BIONICLE: Island of Lost Masks; BIONICLE 1: Gathering of the Toa)

The Skull Spider plague#

The trigger was the rise of the Skull SpidersSkull SpidersThe arachnid swarm that raided the villages of Okoto, clamped infection masks onto its captives, guarded the City of the Mask Makers under the Lord of Skull Spiders, and broke against the arrival of the Toa. under the Lord of Skull SpidersLord of Skull SpidersAn oversized Skull Spider that guarded the ancient City of the Mask Makers and commanded the rest of its species through the Golden Mask of the Skull Spiders., who were hunting for Masks of Power. The spiders attacked villages and drove islanders from their homes. Skull Spiders struck NarmotoNarmoto, Protector of Fire of OkotoNarmoto was the village elder and Protector of Fire in the second age of Okoto, wielder of the Elemental Fire Blaster and the Flame Swords, descendant of Mamuk, and guide who led Tahu across the volcanic region to the Golden Mask of Fire.'s village in the Region of FireRegion of FireThe volcanic region of Okoto, home of the Fire Tribe and the Protector of Fire, Narmoto, and the country in which Tahu landed and was guided across lava streams and erupting mountains to claim the Golden Mask of Fire., and a young islander named BingzakBingzakBingzak was a young villager from the Region of Jungle on Okoto, in the 2015 reboot story, who escaped a Skull Spider raid alone and guided the lost Protector of Stone to the Temple of Time. lost his village to them. (BIONICLE: Island of Lost Masks)

The ProtectorsProtectorsThe six elders of Okoto's villages, each wielding elemental powers and guarding their regions before the Toa arrived. were raised to defend their regions, and each carried an Elemental Blaster and a hereditary mask for the job. The Skull Spiders were more than they could handle. The teaching they'd been given was plain: in times of peril, recite the prophecy. (BIONICLE: Island of Lost Masks; LEGO.com Protector character profiles)

When the stars aligned, the Protectors gathered. Each came from a region under Skull Spider attack. (BIONICLE: Island of Lost Masks)

The journey to the temple#

The roads to the Temple of TimeThe Temple of TimeThe Protectors' most sacred site on Okoto, built to house the Mask of Time and the place at which Ekimu received the vision that prepared the island for the coming of the Toa. ran through dangerous country. NilkuuNilkuu, Protector of Stone of OkotoNilkuu was the village elder and Protector of Stone in the second age of Okoto, wielder of the Elemental Sandstone Blaster, rescuer of Bingzak, and guide who led Pohatu across the desert to the Golden Mask of Stone. of Stone saved BingzakBingzakBingzak was a young villager from the Region of Jungle on Okoto, in the 2015 reboot story, who escaped a Skull Spider raid alone and guided the lost Protector of Stone to the Temple of Time. from a group of Skull Spiders on the way, and when Nilkuu got lost in the Region of JungleRegion of JungleThe rainforest region of Okoto, home of the Jungle Tribe and the Protector of Jungle, ground over which Lewa sought the Golden Mask of Jungle and bonded with Uxar, and the coast from which the Labyrinth of Control rose offshore., the boy guided him to the temple. (BIONICLE: Island of Lost Masks)

The temple stood as the Protectors' shared sacred retreat. The Mask MakerEkimu the Mask MakerEkimu is the Mask Maker of Okoto in the 2015 BIONICLE reboot, brother of Makuta, who knocked the Mask of Ultimate Power from his brother's face and slept for thousands of years before the Toa woke him. whose words they carried lay asleep in his sarcophagus, and the recitation was theirs alone. (BIONICLE 1: Gathering of the Toa; BIONICLE 2: Battle of the Mask Makers)

The recitation and the falling of the Toa#

At the temple the Protectors recited the prophecy and sent their prayers to the stars. Then they went home to wait. (BIONICLE: Island of Lost Masks)

Some days later, six comets appeared over OkotoOkotoOkoto is a world whose known inhabitants include the Toa, the Mask makers, and the Protectors. and six ToaThe Toa of Okoto: The Six Heroes Summoned to Save the IslandThe six elemental heroes summoned by the Protectors of Okoto, who recovered the Golden Masks, woke Ekimu, fought the Skull Army, and twice banished Makuta to the Shadow Realm. fell from the sky, each landing in a different region. TahuTahu, Master of Fire: Leader of the Toa of OkotoTahu of Okoto was the Master of Fire summoned by the Protectors, the hot-tempered would-be leader of the Toa who opened the Labyrinth of Control and held the line at the Black Volcano. of Fire crashed in the Region of FireRegion of FireThe volcanic region of Okoto, home of the Fire Tribe and the Protector of Fire, Narmoto, and the country in which Tahu landed and was guided across lava streams and erupting mountains to claim the Golden Mask of Fire.. KopakaKopaka, Master of Ice: The Chivalrous Toa of OkotoKopaka of Okoto, in the 2015 reboot continuity, was the Master of Ice summoned by the Protectors, the cold perfectionist who found his Golden Mask with Izotor and clashed with Tahu over who should lead. of Ice came down in the Region of IceRegion of IceThe northern frozen region of Okoto, home of the Ice Tribe and the Protector Izotor, a country of glaciers, tundra, and flash-freezing blizzards, and the territory through which Kopaka hunted for the Golden Mask of Ice. and GaliGali, Master of Water: The Toa Who Closed the RiftGali of Okoto, from the 2015 reboot, was the Master of Water of the Toa, the team's mediator at the City of the Mask Makers, and the Toa pulled into the Shadow Realm who came back knowing how to banish Makuta again. of Water in the Region of WaterRegion of WaterThe eastern water province of Okoto, home of the Water Tribe and the Protector of Water, Kivoda, and the region through which Gali was guided across rivers, lakes, and deltas to claim the Golden Mask of Water., KivodaKivoda, Protector of Water of OkotoKivoda was the village elder and Protector of Water in the second age of Okoto, wielder of the Elemental Torpedo Blaster, descendant of Owaki, and guide who led Gali through the underwater region to the Golden Mask of Water.'s home. LewaLewa, Master of Jungle: The Daredevil Toa of OkotoLewa of Okoto was the Master of Jungle summoned by the Protectors, the rebellious flier who quested for the Mask of Jungle in the Region of Jungle and bonded with Uxar in the second wave. of Jungle landed in VizunaVizuna, Protector of Jungle of OkotoVizuna was the village elder and Protector of Jungle in the second age of Okoto, wielder of the Air Elemental Flame Bow, descendant of Agarak, and guide who led Lewa through the rainforests to the Golden Mask of Jungle.'s region, PohatuPohatu, Master of Stone: The Stubborn Toa of OkotoPohatu of Okoto was the Master of Stone summoned by the Protectors, the stubborn sandstorm-rider guided by Nilkuu through the Region of Stone whose hesitation at the Labyrinth cost the team the Mask of Control. of Stone near NilkuuNilkuu, Protector of Stone of OkotoNilkuu was the village elder and Protector of Stone in the second age of Okoto, wielder of the Elemental Sandstone Blaster, rescuer of Bingzak, and guide who led Pohatu across the desert to the Golden Mask of Stone.'s fortress village, and OnuaOnua, Master of Earth: The Sage Toa of OkotoOnua of Okoto was the Master of Earth summoned by the Protectors, the quiet sage who separated Tahu and Kopaka at the Ancient City and felled the Lord of Skull Spiders with his Earthquake Hammer. of Earth in KorgotKorgot, Protector of Earth of OkotoKorgot was the village elder and Protector of Earth in the second age of Okoto, the only female Protector, descendant of Etoku, and guide who led Onua through the tunnels and caverns beneath the island to the Golden Mask of Earth.'s Region of Earth. (BIONICLE: Island of Lost Masks; BIONICLE 1: Gathering of the Toa)

The islanders saw the landings too. NarmotoNarmoto, Protector of Fire of OkotoNarmoto was the village elder and Protector of Fire in the second age of Okoto, wielder of the Elemental Fire Blaster and the Flame Swords, descendant of Mamuk, and guide who led Tahu across the volcanic region to the Golden Mask of Fire. heard a loud crash in the Region of FireRegion of FireThe volcanic region of Okoto, home of the Fire Tribe and the Protector of Fire, Narmoto, and the country in which Tahu landed and was guided across lava streams and erupting mountains to claim the Golden Mask of Fire. and led his people, his young son among them, to its source, where he met TahuTahu, Master of Fire: Leader of the Toa of OkotoTahu of Okoto was the Master of Fire summoned by the Protectors, the hot-tempered would-be leader of the Toa who opened the Labyrinth of Control and held the line at the Black Volcano.. Tahu said he knew nothing about defeating evil. In the Region of Earth, Korgot had just told her restless villagers to keep their eyes on the Skull Spiders rather than the sky when the comets appeared. The Protectors then told each Toa of their destiny. (BIONICLE: Island of Lost Masks; BIONICLE 1: Gathering of the Toa)

Each Protector to their Toa#

Each ProtectorProtectorsThe six elders of Okoto's villages, each wielding elemental powers and guarding their regions before the Toa arrived. sought out the ToaThe Toa of Okoto: The Six Heroes Summoned to Save the IslandThe six elemental heroes summoned by the Protectors of Okoto, who recovered the Golden Masks, woke Ekimu, fought the Skull Army, and twice banished Makuta to the Shadow Realm. who had landed in their region and led that Toa for weeks through Skull SpiderSkull SpidersThe arachnid swarm that raided the villages of Okoto, clamped infection masks onto its captives, guarded the City of the Mask Makers under the Lord of Skull Spiders, and broke against the arrival of the Toa.-held country to the shrine where the matching Golden Mask of Power had been placed. Those masks had been scattered in Ekimu's battle and later found and housed in shrines by the Protectors' forebears. (BIONICLE: Island of Lost Masks; BIONICLE 1: Gathering of the Toa)

The journeys weren't easy. TahuTahu, Master of Fire: Leader of the Toa of OkotoTahu of Okoto was the Master of Fire summoned by the Protectors, the hot-tempered would-be leader of the Toa who opened the Labyrinth of Control and held the line at the Black Volcano. decided along the way that he would lead the other Toa. NarmotoNarmoto, Protector of Fire of OkotoNarmoto was the village elder and Protector of Fire in the second age of Okoto, wielder of the Elemental Fire Blaster and the Flame Swords, descendant of Mamuk, and guide who led Tahu across the volcanic region to the Golden Mask of Fire. reminded him that the legends spoke of the Toa as a force guided by unity rather than one leader, and Tahu agreed to heed the Protector's greater knowledge while holding on to his ambition. At the shrines, Narmoto and Nilkuu each held off hordes of Skull Spiders while their Toa reached the Golden Mask of PowerThe Six Golden Masks of Power of OkotoThe six Golden Masks of Power from the 2015 reboot, made by Ekimu with Elemental Crystals, hidden in shrines across Okoto, and worn by the Toa as the first prize of the Prophecy of Heroes. and turned its power on the spiders. (BIONICLE: Island of Lost Masks)

Aftermath#

Once the ToaThe Toa of Okoto: The Six Heroes Summoned to Save the IslandThe six elemental heroes summoned by the Protectors of Okoto, who recovered the Golden Masks, woke Ekimu, fought the Skull Army, and twice banished Makuta to the Shadow Realm. had their Golden Masks of PowerThe Six Golden Masks of Power of OkotoThe six Golden Masks of Power from the 2015 reboot, made by Ekimu with Elemental Crystals, hidden in shrines across Okoto, and worn by the Toa as the first prize of the Prophecy of Heroes. and set out for the City of the Mask Makers, the Protectors parted from them. They met again later, answering Vizuna's call, and entered the city by another route. There they brought down the lair of the Lord of Skull SpidersLord of Skull SpidersAn oversized Skull Spider that guarded the ancient City of the Mask Makers and commanded the rest of its species through the Golden Mask of the Skull Spiders. on top of him and many of his minions, then reached the Mask Makers' forge, where they met the revived EkimuEkimu the Mask MakerEkimu is the Mask Maker of Okoto in the 2015 BIONICLE reboot, brother of Makuta, who knocked the Mask of Ultimate Power from his brother's face and slept for thousands of years before the Toa woke him., who briefly mistook them for their ancestors. (BIONICLE: Revenge of the Skull Spiders)

The Gathering's real legacy was what came after it. The prophecy had been answered and the ToaThe Toa of Okoto: The Six Heroes Summoned to Save the IslandThe six elemental heroes summoned by the Protectors of Okoto, who recovered the Golden Masks, woke Ekimu, fought the Skull Army, and twice banished Makuta to the Shadow Realm. had arrived. The Protectors' long job of keeping the prophecy turned into helping in the fight it had started, and later, around the campfires of the restored city, telling the story of the Toa to the island's children. (BIONICLE: Revenge of the Skull Spiders; LEGO Bionicle: The Journey to One)