Gavla

Gavla was an Av-MatoranAv-MatoranThe Light-element Matoran, prototypes of their species, who colonised Karda Nui from the Southern Continent and built the Stalactite Villages above the Swamp of Secrets. of Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui. who was turned into a Shadow MatoranShadow MatoranAv-Matoran corrupted by the Makuta in Karda Nui, drained of Light and weaponized with shadow powers. during the Brotherhood of MakutaMakuta (Species)Shadowy Antidermis beings and the Brotherhood's elite, Makuta commanded darkness and shaped the Matoran Universe's fate.'s siege of the Universe Core. She became the leader of her fellow corrupted villagers and the partner of VamprahVamprahVamprah hunted in absolute silence, but silence wasn't enough when Tahu outmaneuvered him in the swamp. until TakanuvaTakanuvaHidden among the Ta-Matoran as Takua, the disguised Av-Matoran who became Takanuva was the sole Toa of Light produced in the Matoran Universe's full history. used a klakk's scream to reverse her condition, much against her will. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

Life in Karda Nui#

Like the other Av-MatoranAv-MatoranThe Light-element Matoran, prototypes of their species, who colonised Karda Nui from the Southern Continent and built the Stalactite Villages above the Swamp of Secrets., Gavla was made by the Great Beings to help build the Great Spirit, and later worked to prepare Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui. for his awakening, under the protection of the Toa MataWho are the Toa Mata?Six warriors built to order by Artakha, stored in canisters, dropped into the ocean. This is the origin story of Bionicle's heroes and why their first week of work was entirely amnesiac.. She then went back to the Av-Matoran homeland in the caves beneath the Southern Continent. When the Great Cataclysm struck, part of that homeland fell into Karda Nui and became the sky villages, and Gavla lived in one of them for over a thousand years. The villagers kept lightvines around their homes, and the marsh far below became the Swamp of SecretsSwamp of SecretsThe Swamp of Secrets was the mutagen-saturated wetland that filled the floor of Karda Nui after the Great Cataclysm, serving as a Brotherhood stronghold until the Energy Storms.. (BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets; BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

Then TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. sent the Makuta into Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui.. Gavla was working with Tanma, setting up scare-Rahi to keep flying creatures away, when ChiroxChiroxA Makuta of the Brotherhood who questioned Teridax's plans before being sent to Karda Nui. dropped a Tridax pod and a shadow leechShadow LeechMutated Kraata designed to drain light and corruption. Created by Mutran and allies, they transformed dozens of Matoran before the Energy Storm wiped them out. drained her light. She clashed with Tanma, whose light was untouched, and flew off with the Makuta. MutranMutranMutran is a Makuta of the Brotherhood of Makuta who serves as the Makuta of Voya Nui and is among the most prolific Rahi creators within the organization. Hailing from the Southern Islands, he wears the Great Shelek and commands the powers of Shadow and Silence alongside the full range of Kraata abilities, wielding a Shadow Blade, Shadow Spear, and Tridax Pod in combat. then mutated her with viruses, giving her wings and talons. She was the first of the Av-Matoran to be corrupted. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

Leader of the Shadow Matoran#

Gavla became the leader of the Shadow MatoranShadow MatoranAv-Matoran corrupted by the Makuta in Karda Nui, drained of Light and weaponized with shadow powers. of Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui.. When the Ignika's light blinded the three Makuta in the skies, they began using shadow Matoran as their eyes, and Gavla became the favourite partner of the silent VamprahVamprahVamprah hunted in absolute silence, but silence wasn't enough when Tahu outmaneuvered him in the swamp.. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; Bios: Gavla)

When KopakaKopakaKopaka was the Toa Nuva of Ice, the loner of the Toa Mata, and one of the six warriors created on Artakha to protect the Great Spirit Mata Nui. and Solek took on Vamprah and Gavla, she warned them what was coming, and Vamprah drained Kopaka's energy with his AvsaAvsaThe Kanohi Avsa was the Mask of Hunger, draining moral light, physical energy, or positive emotions from a target across a distance.. Later Gavla joined Vamprah, ChiroxChiroxA Makuta of the Brotherhood who questioned Teridax's plans before being sent to Karda Nui. and Kirop against LewaLewaToa of Air, member of the Toa Mata and Toa Nuva, whose career was marked by repeated possession, body theft, and aerial campaigns from Le-Wahi to Karda Nui. when he came to rescue his friends from a cave, though the prisoners escaped. (BIONICLE Ignition 12: Realm of Fear; BIONICLE Ignition 12.5)

The Shadow MatoranShadow MatoranAv-Matoran corrupted by the Makuta in Karda Nui, drained of Light and weaponized with shadow powers. fought with claw blades and teeth. Gavla had no time for her old life, and right after the change she clashed with her old work partner Tanma. (Bios: Gavla; BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

Confrontation with the Toa Nuva#

When the Toa NuvaToa NuvaThe form the Toa Mata took after stepping into the Energized Protodermis beneath the Bahrag, with new masks, new tools, and the elemental scale to fight Karda Nui. arrived in Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui., LewaLewaToa of Air, member of the Toa Mata and Toa Nuva, whose career was marked by repeated possession, body theft, and aerial campaigns from Le-Wahi to Karda Nui., PohatuPohatuPohatu was the Toa Mata and Toa Nuva of Stone, guardian of Po-Wahi, whose speed and steady humour anchored the team through every era of the Matoran Universe. and KopakaKopakaKopaka was the Toa Nuva of Ice, the loner of the Toa Mata, and one of the six warriors created on Artakha to protect the Great Spirit Mata Nui. stayed in the sky to help the Av-Matoran. Gavla and Vamprah kept up the pressure on them through the battles that followed. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky)

After the shadow leech hive was destroyed, Gavla rode with Vamprah in the Makuta's assault on the last sky village. In the air battle that followed, IcaraxIcaraxHe thought scheming was for the weak and said so out loud, so the canon made sure the thing that finally killed him was a scheme. was reduced to raw muscle, and the Makuta and their Matoran riders fled into the swamp to prepare for the final battle. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets)

Equipment and abilities#

As a Shadow Matoran, Gavla had her light replaced with shadow, and Mutran's viruses gave her wings and talons, so she could fly on her own. She fought with claw blades and teeth. (BIONICLE Legends 9: Shadows in the Sky; Bios: Gavla)

The Klakk's scream and restoration#

In the end TakanuvaTakanuvaHidden among the Ta-Matoran as Takua, the disguised Av-Matoran who became Takanuva was the sole Toa of Light produced in the Matoran Universe's full history. restored Gavla by force, using the scream of a klakkThe KlakkThe bat-like sonic Rahi engineered by Makuta Mutran whose scream shattered the inner barrier holding back the Light in a Shadow Matoran, used by Takanuva to cure Karda Nui's corrupted Av-Matoran., one of the bat-like creatures Mutran had made. The sound broke the shadow's hold and brought her inner light back. (Takanuva's Blog; BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle; BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe)

Gavla didn't want it. She argued with Takanuva, telling him the Makuta had accepted her and had a use for her, which was more than her fellow Matoran ever had, and that he'd taken away the one place she belonged. (BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle)

Later life#

On Takanuva's orders, and with no other choice, Gavla fled Karda NuiKarda NuiThe vast cavern at the core of the Matoran universe, home of the Av-Matoran's Sky Villages and the Codrex, and the site of the battle to awaken Mata Nui. with the other Av-Matoran and went to Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive.. She was there for the celebration of the Great Spirit's awakening, which ended when TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. announced that he ruled the universe. (BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle; BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe)

The stories don't follow her by name after that. After the battle on Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna., the Matoran left the broken robot for the restored Spherus MagnaSpherus MagnaA desert world of ancient conflict that became the merger point of the Matoran Universe and Bionicle's true endpoint.. (Journey's End)