The Great Tournament

The Great Tournament was the annual championship of Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna., held in the Arena MagnaArena MagnaThe oldest and largest Glatorian combat arena on Bara Magna, where champions tested their skills and settlements resolved conflicts. at the free city of AteroAteroThe free city at the heart of Bara Magna, home to the Arena Magna and the Great Tournament, destroyed by Tuma and the Skrall during the opening match., in which the prime GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. of every village competed to determine which tribe was the strongest. It was organised by the AgoriAgoriThe villager species of Bara Magna, organised by tribe and settlement, who governed their villages and arranged the Glatorian arena system. themselves, ran on a calendar all the surviving tribes recognised, and produced a line of recorded winners that supplied the planet's institutional sport with both its champions and its central text on technique. The Tournament ended when the SkrallSkrallA black-armored warrior species from Spherus Magna that dominated northern Bara Magna under Tuma's rule. army under TumaTumaTuma rose from the survivors of the Baterra massacre to rule the Skrall Empire from Roxtus until Mata Nui defeated him in single combat. attacked AteroAteroThe free city at the heart of Bara Magna, home to the Arena Magna and the Great Tournament, destroyed by Tuma and the Skrall during the opening match. on the morning of its opening match.

Origins and purpose#

The Great Tournament was the showpiece event of the post-Core WarThe Core WarThe generations-long war on Spherus Magna over Energized Protodermis that produced the Shattering, the exodus of Mata Nui, and the long Glatorian peace on Bara Magna. village system on Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna.. The system itself ran on arena combat: two villages with a dispute over water, food, or ExsidianExsidianExsidian was the dense black metal mined by the Ice Tribe in the White Quartz Mountains around Iconox, valuable enough to serve as inter-village currency and the cargo that drove the events of The Crossing. each sent a GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them., the fight settled the matter, and no raiding party was needed. The Tournament was the application of that principle on a planetary scale. Once a year, instead of fighting over a specific resource, the GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. and AgoriAgoriThe villager species of Bara Magna, organised by tribe and settlement, who governed their villages and arranged the Glatorian arena system. gathered to fight over the recognition of which village stood at the top.

The institution was AgoriAgoriThe villager species of Bara Magna, organised by tribe and settlement, who governed their villages and arranged the Glatorian arena system.-built and AgoriAgoriThe villager species of Bara Magna, organised by tribe and settlement, who governed their villages and arranged the Glatorian arena system.-run. The Arena MagnaArena MagnaThe oldest and largest Glatorian combat arena on Bara Magna, where champions tested their skills and settlements resolved conflicts., the largest and oldest arena on the planet, was created by the AgoriAgoriThe villager species of Bara Magna, organised by tribe and settlement, who governed their villages and arranged the Glatorian arena system. in AteroAteroThe free city at the heart of Bara Magna, home to the Arena Magna and the Great Tournament, destroyed by Tuma and the Skrall during the opening match., and the Tournament was the principal event the arena was designed to hold. The free city of AteroAteroThe free city at the heart of Bara Magna, home to the Arena Magna and the Great Tournament, destroyed by Tuma and the Skrall during the opening match. carried no tribal affiliation, which allowed members of every tribe to assemble within its walls without provocation. The Tournament was therefore both a championship and a yearly demonstration that the village system could still produce a single neutral space.

Format and divisions#

The Tournament's central division was direct GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. combat. Prime GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. from each village travelled to the Arena MagnaArena MagnaThe oldest and largest Glatorian combat arena on Bara Magna, where champions tested their skills and settlements resolved conflicts. to compete: AckarAckarVeteran Glatorian of the Fire Tribe and prime fighter for Vulcanus, Ackar served from the Core War through the defence of Spherus Magna. of VulcanusVulcanusThe Fire Tribe's settlement on Bara Magna, caught between resources and threats. as Prime GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. of the Fire TribeFire TribeThe master smiths of Bara Magna who forged tools for all tribes before the Shattering scattered them into conflict., KiinaKiinaKiina is a Glatorian of the Water Tribe who served as the secondary Glatorian for the village of Tajun on Spherus Magna. Colored in shades of dark and light blue, she wielded a Vapor Trident and a Thornax Launcher in combat. Following the reformation of Spherus Magna, she continued to reside on the restored world. of TajunTajunTajun was a village of the Water Tribe, situated on the banks of the Skrall River. as Secondary GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. of the Water TribeWater TribeA trading-focused desert tribe vulnerable to Bone Hunter raids and arena warfare on Bara Magna., TarixTarixThe Water Tribe's toughest fighter, Tarix earned his place through instinct and hard-won experience in the arena. of the Water TribeWater TribeA trading-focused desert tribe vulnerable to Bone Hunter raids and arena warfare on Bara Magna. as its Prime GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them., StrakkStrakkA profit-driven Glatorian mercenary from the Ice Tribe who fought in Bara Magna's arenas before joining Mata Nui's cause. of the Ice TribeIce TribeOne of Bara Magna's six major tribes, the Ice Tribe produced legendary Glatorian like Strakk and survived the Shattering intact. as Prime GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. of IconoxIconoxIconox is a village of the Ice Tribe, situated in the White Quartz Mountains. at the time of the final running, GeluGeluGelu is a Glatorian of the Ice Tribe, native to Bota Magna, who formerly served as a secondary Glatorian for the city of Iconox. White and dark blue in color, he wields an Ice Slicer and a Thornax Launcher and resides on the reformed Spherus Magna. as the Ice TribeIce TribeOne of Bara Magna's six major tribes, the Ice Tribe produced legendary Glatorian like Strakk and survived the Shattering intact.'s second representative, and GreshGreshA young Glatorian of the Jungle Tribe who served Tesara and later joined the alliance that defended Bara Magna during its final crisis. of TesaraTesaraTesara is a location belonging to the Jungle Tribe, situated to the south of the White Quartz Mountains and to the north of the Dunes of Treason. for the Jungle TribeJungle TribeThe Jungle Tribe of Tesara originated in Bota Magna, weathered the Shattering, and sent Gresh and Vastus into the Bara Magna arena system.. Each fight settled a bracket; the bracket eventually produced the championship.

A vehicle division also formed part of the Tournament. CrotesiusCrotesiusA Vulcanus pilot who went from dismissing legends to answering one in Riddle of the Great Beings. of the Fire TribeFire TribeThe master smiths of Bara Magna who forged tools for all tribes before the Shattering scattered them into conflict. drove his Cendox V1The Cendox V1The single-rider racer excavated from the dunes of Bara Magna, restored by an Agori partnership across tribal lines, and driven to victory in the vehicle division of the Great Tournament before the Reign of Shadows reached Atero. to victory in the vehicle division at least once. KirbrazKirbrazKirbraz was the Water Tribe Agori from Tajun who piloted the primary cycle of the Kaxium V3 alongside his partner Scodonius, winning many vehicle division matches in the arena before the Skrall conquest of Bara Magna. and ScodoniusScodoniusAn Agori pilot who prepared Arena Magna for the tournament and refused a wild hunt for the Red Star. of the Water TribeWater TribeA trading-focused desert tribe vulnerable to Bone Hunter raids and arena warfare on Bara Magna. piloted the twin-cycle Kaxium V3Kaxium V3The Kaxium V3 was the Water Tribe two-rider arena vehicle piloted by Scodonius and Kirbraz on Bara Magna, a convertible racer that could split into a primary cycle and a smaller Thornax-armed cycle in mid-match. to many important matches, including the second-to-last vehicle Great Tournament. The vehicle division was therefore a recognised parallel championship with its own line of past winners.

The Tournament had a recognised technical canon. CertavusCertavusCertavus was a Prime Glatorian of Iconox, a Great Tournament champion, and one of three architects of the post-Shattering arena system on Bara Magna., the Ice TribeIce TribeOne of Bara Magna's six major tribes, the Ice Tribe produced legendary Glatorian like Strakk and survived the Shattering intact. Prime GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them., won the Tournament once and afterwards wrote the Book of CertavusCertavusCertavus was a Prime Glatorian of Iconox, a Great Tournament champion, and one of three architects of the post-Shattering arena system on Bara Magna., detailing his strategies and battle plans. The book was preserved as the central text on arena combat across Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna. until it was eventually lost in an old arena.

Preparation at the Arena Magna#

The days before each Tournament saw a recurring preparation routine. The AgoriAgoriThe villager species of Bara Magna, organised by tribe and settlement, who governed their villages and arranged the Glatorian arena system. organising the event drew a crew of cleaners and groundskeepers from every village in turn. The recorded crew for the final running included KyryKyry, Agori of the Fire TribeKyry was an Agori of the Fire Tribe who stood guard for Raanu at the Energized Protodermis spring before the Shattering, sounded the alarm at the Raid of Vulcanus, and spread word of the Glatorian alliance through the desert of Bara Magna. of the Fire TribeFire TribeThe master smiths of Bara Magna who forged tools for all tribes before the Shattering scattered them into conflict., CrotesiusCrotesiusA Vulcanus pilot who went from dismissing legends to answering one in Riddle of the Great Beings. of the same tribe, ScodoniusScodoniusAn Agori pilot who prepared Arena Magna for the tournament and refused a wild hunt for the Red Star. of the Water TribeWater TribeA trading-focused desert tribe vulnerable to Bone Hunter raids and arena warfare on Bara Magna., KirboldKirboldKirbold is an Agori of the Ice Tribe, distinguished by white and grey coloring, who serves as a maintenance worker on the reformed Spherus Magna. He carries a blade as his primary tool. of the Ice TribeIce TribeOne of Bara Magna's six major tribes, the Ice Tribe produced legendary Glatorian like Strakk and survived the Shattering intact., and TardukTardukTarduk is an Agori of the Jungle Tribe, distinguished by his dark green and lime coloration. A treasure hunter by trade, he wields claws and spikes and makes his home on the reformed Spherus Magna. of the Jungle TribeJungle TribeThe Jungle Tribe of Tesara originated in Bota Magna, weathered the Shattering, and sent Gresh and Vastus into the Bara Magna arena system.. Four tribes, one crew, one Tournament.

The preparation period was also when off-event business attached itself to the Tournament. TardukTardukTarduk is an Agori of the Jungle Tribe, distinguished by his dark green and lime coloration. A treasure hunter by trade, he wields claws and spikes and makes his home on the reformed Spherus Magna. found a map in the sand while preparing the Arena MagnaArena MagnaThe oldest and largest Glatorian combat arena on Bara Magna, where champions tested their skills and settlements resolved conflicts. for the final running; the map bore a Red StarRed StarThe Red Star was an orbiting facility that revived the dead and enabled the Great Spirit Robot's cosmic travels., and he, CrotesiusCrotesiusA Vulcanus pilot who went from dismissing legends to answering one in Riddle of the Great Beings., and KirboldKirboldKirbold is an Agori of the Ice Tribe, distinguished by white and grey coloring, who serves as a maintenance worker on the reformed Spherus Magna. He carries a blade as his primary tool. departed in pursuit of its destination before the opening match. The Tournament's neutral ground attracted side-quests as readily as it attracted contests.

In the days before the final running, the GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. practised at the Arena MagnaArena MagnaThe oldest and largest Glatorian combat arena on Bara Magna, where champions tested their skills and settlements resolved conflicts.. TarixTarixThe Water Tribe's toughest fighter, Tarix earned his place through instinct and hard-won experience in the arena. and StrakkStrakkA profit-driven Glatorian mercenary from the Ice Tribe who fought in Bara Magna's arenas before joining Mata Nui's cause. practised for the Tournament coming up the next day, with TarixTarixThe Water Tribe's toughest fighter, Tarix earned his place through instinct and hard-won experience in the arena. anxious to return to TajunTajunTajun was a village of the Water Tribe, situated on the banks of the Skrall River. given a recent Bone HunterBone HunterDesert nomads of Bara Magna who raided for survival until their alliance with the Skrall nearly conquered the continent. raid on his home village. GreshGreshA young Glatorian of the Jungle Tribe who served Tesara and later joined the alliance that defended Bara Magna during its final crisis. prepared in his quarters with TardukTardukTarduk is an Agori of the Jungle Tribe, distinguished by his dark green and lime coloration. A treasure hunter by trade, he wields claws and spikes and makes his home on the reformed Spherus Magna. watching. The exiled GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. MalumMalumFire Tribe Glatorian exiled from Vulcanus for arena killings, who became the warlord of a Vorox pack in the wastelands of Bara Magna. arrived at GreshGreshA young Glatorian of the Jungle Tribe who served Tesara and later joined the alliance that defended Bara Magna during its final crisis.'s quarters with a pack of VoroxVoroxThe warrior caste of the Sand Tribe, reduced to feral pack hunters in the wastes of Bara Magna after the collapse of their civilisation in the Core War. and urged him to flee; GreshGreshA young Glatorian of the Jungle Tribe who served Tesara and later joined the alliance that defended Bara Magna during its final crisis. refused, and MalumMalumFire Tribe Glatorian exiled from Vulcanus for arena killings, who became the warlord of a Vorox pack in the wastelands of Bara Magna. departed without further explanation.

Behind the official schedule, the Ice TribeIce TribeOne of Bara Magna's six major tribes, the Ice Tribe produced legendary Glatorian like Strakk and survived the Shattering intact. recruiter MetusMetusMetus was a transformed Agori from Spherus Magna who worked as a Glatorian recruiter. Originally a member of the Ice Tribe, he later joined the Rock Tribe. White and ice blue in coloration, Metus wielded an Ice Axe and an Ice Shield. was arranging a private fixture. He pulled StrakkStrakkA profit-driven Glatorian mercenary from the Ice Tribe who fought in Bara Magna's arenas before joining Mata Nui's cause. aside and told him that immediately after the Great Tournament, he would fight AckarAckarVeteran Glatorian of the Fire Tribe and prime fighter for Vulcanus, Ackar served from the Core War through the defence of Spherus Magna. in a contracted match at TajunTajunTajun was a village of the Water Tribe, situated on the banks of the Skrall River., with RaanuRaanuRaanu is an Agori of the Fire Tribe, distinguished by his dark red and yellow-orange coloration, who served as the leader of Vulcanus and the Fire Tribe on Spherus Magna. He wielded a Flame Blade and Fire Shield as his tools of office. Following the reformation of the planet, Raanu continued to reside on the restored Spherus Magna. of the Fire TribeFire TribeThe master smiths of Bara Magna who forged tools for all tribes before the Shattering scattered them into conflict. insisting on the venue. The match was being set up as part of MetusMetusMetus was a transformed Agori from Spherus Magna who worked as a Glatorian recruiter. Originally a member of the Ice Tribe, he later joined the Rock Tribe. White and ice blue in coloration, Metus wielded an Ice Axe and an Ice Shield.' wider double-game, and the Tournament was the cover under which the arrangement was being moved. StrakkStrakkA profit-driven Glatorian mercenary from the Ice Tribe who fought in Bara Magna's arenas before joining Mata Nui's cause. accepted the terms, expressing a preference for a victory and a good payout over loyalty to AckarAckarVeteran Glatorian of the Fire Tribe and prime fighter for Vulcanus, Ackar served from the Core War through the defence of Spherus Magna., who had saved his life. The contracted match did not happen; events overtook it within hours of the agreement.

The final running and the Fall of AteroAteroThe free city at the heart of Bara Magna, home to the Arena Magna and the Great Tournament, destroyed by Tuma and the Skrall during the opening match.#

The Tournament's final running opened with a match between TarixTarixThe Water Tribe's toughest fighter, Tarix earned his place through instinct and hard-won experience in the arena. and StrakkStrakkA profit-driven Glatorian mercenary from the Ice Tribe who fought in Bara Magna's arenas before joining Mata Nui's cause.. The fight never finished. TumaTumaTuma rose from the survivors of the Baterra massacre to rule the Skrall Empire from Roxtus until Mata Nui defeated him in single combat., in response to the migration of the BaterraBaterraMechanical shapeshifters built by the Great Beings to end the Core War by killing every armed combatant on Spherus Magna, and the failsafe that never shut them down. through the Black Spike MountainsBlack Spike MountainsThe mountain range north of the Bara Magna desert that served as the Skrall homeland after the Shattering, became Baterra hunting ground, and was destroyed when the Mata Nui robot fell upon it., had ordered an attack on the free city of AteroAteroThe free city at the heart of Bara Magna, home to the Arena Magna and the Great Tournament, destroyed by Tuma and the Skrall during the opening match. on the day of the Great Tournament. The SkrallSkrallA black-armored warrior species from Spherus Magna that dominated northern Bara Magna under Tuma's rule. arrived during the opening match and savagely took the Arena MagnaArena MagnaThe oldest and largest Glatorian combat arena on Bara Magna, where champions tested their skills and settlements resolved conflicts. by force, killing many GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. and AgoriAgoriThe villager species of Bara Magna, organised by tribe and settlement, who governed their villages and arranged the Glatorian arena system.. The survivors fled the arena and moved into the surrounding caves in the desert to plan their defence against the SkrallSkrallA black-armored warrior species from Spherus Magna that dominated northern Bara Magna under Tuma's rule..

The schedule change had a consequence the SkrallSkrallA black-armored warrior species from Spherus Magna that dominated northern Bara Magna under Tuma's rule. could not have predicted. By striking during the opening match rather than after the Tournament had concluded, TumaTumaTuma rose from the survivors of the Baterra massacre to rule the Skrall Empire from Roxtus until Mata Nui defeated him in single combat. caught the prime GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. of every village in one place, but he caught them while they were still fresh and armed. The bracket that would have produced a single champion produced instead a single distributed GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. command, scattered across the surviving villages but co-ordinated for the first time. KiinaKiinaKiina is a Glatorian of the Water Tribe who served as the secondary Glatorian for the village of Tajun on Spherus Magna. Colored in shades of dark and light blue, she wielded a Vapor Trident and a Thornax Launcher in combat. Following the reformation of Spherus Magna, she continued to reside on the restored world. helped defend the arena to let the AgoriAgoriThe villager species of Bara Magna, organised by tribe and settlement, who governed their villages and arranged the Glatorian arena system. escape. GreshGreshA young Glatorian of the Jungle Tribe who served Tesara and later joined the alliance that defended Bara Magna during its final crisis. stood his ground until he was outnumbered. GeluGeluGelu is a Glatorian of the Ice Tribe, native to Bota Magna, who formerly served as a secondary Glatorian for the city of Iconox. White and dark blue in color, he wields an Ice Slicer and a Thornax Launcher and resides on the reformed Spherus Magna. retreated to IconoxIconoxIconox is a village of the Ice Tribe, situated in the White Quartz Mountains. and afterwards retired from arena combat. The named heroes of the post-AteroAteroThe free city at the heart of Bara Magna, home to the Arena Magna and the Great Tournament, destroyed by Tuma and the Skrall during the opening match. campaign were the survivors of the unfinished Tournament.

Aftermath and significance#

The Great Tournament was never held again on Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna.. The Arena MagnaArena MagnaThe oldest and largest Glatorian combat arena on Bara Magna, where champions tested their skills and settlements resolved conflicts. was destroyed in the SkrallSkrallA black-armored warrior species from Spherus Magna that dominated northern Bara Magna under Tuma's rule. attack, the surrounding city was rendered uninhabitable, and the planet did not regroup quickly enough to rebuild a comparable venue before the larger crises of Mata NuiMata NuiBuilt by the Great Beings to restore Spherus Magna, Mata Nui sustained an entire civilisation inside his body, was deposed by Teridax, and reclaimed his purpose as a mortal on Bara Magna.'s arrival, the Battle of RoxtusThe Battle of RoxtusThe climactic engagement at the Skrall stronghold of Roxtus on Bara Magna, where Mata Nui defeated Tuma in single combat, Metus was exposed and transformed, and the united tribes broke the Skrall and Bone Hunter army., and the reformation of Spherus MagnaSpherus MagnaA desert world of ancient conflict that became the merger point of the Matoran Universe and Bionicle's true endpoint. overtook everything else.

What the Tournament had been was the institutional anchor of the post-Core WarThe Core WarThe generations-long war on Spherus Magna over Energized Protodermis that produced the Shattering, the exodus of Mata Nui, and the long Glatorian peace on Bara Magna. settlement. The arena-combat system that replaced raiding required a recognised apex venue and a recognised apex contest; the Tournament supplied both. With it gone, individual matches continued in village arenas, but the planet had no single yearly event that brought every tribe to the same neutral ground. The United VillageUnited VillageThe mega-village built from the main structures of Tesara, Tajun, Vulcanus, Roxtus, and Iconox after the Battle of Roxtus, which proved to be the Prototype Robot Mata Nui used to confront Teridax. that formed after the Battle of RoxtusThe Battle of RoxtusThe climactic engagement at the Skrall stronghold of Roxtus on Bara Magna, where Mata Nui defeated Tuma in single combat, Metus was exposed and transformed, and the united tribes broke the Skrall and Bone Hunter army. inherited the political union the Tournament had once enacted symbolically, and the rebuilt New AteroAteroThe free city at the heart of Bara Magna, home to the Arena Magna and the Great Tournament, destroyed by Tuma and the Skrall during the opening match. on Bota MagnaBota MagnaA verdant jungle moon separated from Spherus Magna for 100,000 years, then restored by Mata Nui himself at the climax of the Core War. became the cultural successor without ever holding the original event.

The Tournament's recorded champions, the Book of CertavusCertavusCertavus was a Prime Glatorian of Iconox, a Great Tournament champion, and one of three architects of the post-Shattering arena system on Bara Magna., and the vehicle-division winners' line together constituted the surviving documentary record of an institutional sport that ended in a single morning. The opening match between TarixTarixThe Water Tribe's toughest fighter, Tarix earned his place through instinct and hard-won experience in the arena. and StrakkStrakkA profit-driven Glatorian mercenary from the Ice Tribe who fought in Bara Magna's arenas before joining Mata Nui's cause. was the last fight ever held in the Arena MagnaArena MagnaThe oldest and largest Glatorian combat arena on Bara Magna, where champions tested their skills and settlements resolved conflicts..