Gresh

Gresh was a GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. 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., the secondary fighter for the village 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. on Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna.. The youngest Second Glatorian in Bara Magna's history, he fought in the arena system that settled disputes between the villages, and later joined the alliance led by 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. against the SkrallSkrallA black-armored warrior species from Spherus Magna that dominated northern Bara Magna under Tuma's rule., the Bone Hunters and finally Teridax's forces. He lived to see 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.. (Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna; BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn; Journey's End)

Early Career in Tesara#

Gresh lived on Spherus Magna under the Element Lord of Jungle but was too young to fight in the Core WarThe Core War: the war that shattered a planetThe Core War was fought on Spherus Magna over Energized Protodermis. It ended in the Shattering, which tore the planet into three planetary fragments.. After the ShatteringThe Core War: the war that shattered a planetThe Core War was fought on Spherus Magna over Energized Protodermis. It ended in the Shattering, which tore the planet into three planetary fragments. he made his home in 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., 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.'s village on Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna., where the villages now settled disputes over scarce resources through arena combat between hired fighters. (BIONICLE: Raid on Vulcanus; Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna)

Gresh joined the tribe as a trainee and showed great promise, at one point winning several matches in a Great Tournament. When Tesara's Second Glatorian died, Gresh took the post, becoming the youngest ever to hold it. Because the senior Glatorian, Vastus, preferred to stay home in case Tesara needed defending, Gresh fought many matches away from the village. (Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna)

His first major defeat came in the arena of VulcanusVulcanusThe Fire Tribe's settlement on Bara Magna, caught between resources and threats., where he fought a SkrallSkrallA black-armored warrior species from Spherus Magna that dominated northern Bara Magna under Tuma's rule. for the rights to an oasis. The Skrall tore through his shield and overpowered him, and only TarixTarixThe Water Tribe's toughest fighter, Tarix earned his place through instinct and hard-won experience in the arena.'s intervention stopped it from killing him. (BIONICLE Glatorian 1: Sands of Bara Magna)

The Glatorian System#

The GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. system let the villages of Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna. settle disputes over water, food and trade through sanctioned arena matches instead of open war. (Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna; BIONICLE Glatorian 1: Sands of Bara Magna)

Gresh believed in the noblest side of that system and was willing to help those in need without asking for payment. When Tesara was short of water, he fought a Tajun representative for free and won, which earned him the resentment of StrakkStrakkA profit-driven Glatorian mercenary from the Ice Tribe who fought in Bara Magna's arenas before joining Mata Nui's cause., Malum and other Glatorian who fought for pay. His peers on the circuit included AckarAckarVeteran Glatorian of the Fire Tribe and prime fighter for Vulcanus, Ackar served from the Core War through the defence of Spherus Magna., the veteran of Vulcanus, and TarixTarixThe Water Tribe's toughest fighter, Tarix earned his place through instinct and hard-won experience in the arena. of TajunTajunTajun was a village of the Water Tribe, situated on the banks of the Skrall River.. (Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna; BIONICLE: Glatorian IV)

The Bone Hunter Threat#

The Bone HuntersBone HunterDesert nomads of Bara Magna who raided for survival until their alliance with the Skrall nearly conquered the continent., raiders such as FeroFeroA veteran Bone Hunter who rode the rock steed Skirmix, led a raid on Vulcanus, and fled the Battle of Roxtus before the Skrall lost. and his steed Skirmix, were a growing danger to the AgoriAgoriThe villager species of Bara Magna, organised by tribe and settlement, who governed their villages and lived by the Glatorian arena system. villages. On one journey, Gresh, Tarix and Strakk saved the Agori BerixBerixBerix is an Agori of the Water Tribe who lived on Spherus Magna. A scavenger by trade, he is recognized by his blue and dark blue coloration and carries a Water Sword and shield. from Fero, and Gresh told Berix no payment was needed, to Strakk's disgust. (BIONICLE Glatorian 1: Sands of Bara Magna)

Gresh also escorted an IconoxIconoxIconox is a village of the Ice Tribe, situated in the White Quartz Mountains. exsidian caravan to Vulcanus alongside Strakk and the Agori 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. and Kirbold. The journey took them through Bone Hunter country, into the hands of the Skrall and past the exiled Glatorian Malum, and at its end 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. offered to train him. (The Crossing)

The Fall of Atero#

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. was the neutral city where the yearly Great Tournament brought GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. from every village together. On the eve of the Tournament, Malum came to Gresh with a pack of Vorox and warned him of danger without saying what it was. Gresh passed the warning to the Agori the next morning. (BIONICLE Glatorian 2: The Fall of Atero)

During the opening match, a Skrall army attacked Atero. Gresh rushed to defend the Agori and brought down several Skrall before he and the others were overwhelmed and forced to flee. He regrouped with TarixTarixThe Water Tribe's toughest fighter, Tarix earned his place through instinct and hard-won experience in the arena., StrakkStrakkA profit-driven Glatorian mercenary from the Ice Tribe who fought in Bara Magna's arenas before joining Mata Nui's cause. and a few Agori to face the coming war. Soon after, he helped AckarAckarVeteran Glatorian of the Fire Tribe and prime fighter for Vulcanus, Ackar served from the Core War through the defence of Spherus Magna. and Gelu defend Vulcanus against a Bone Hunter raid, recruiting Strakk and Vastus to the fight. (BIONICLE Glatorian 2: The Fall of Atero; BIONICLE: Raid on Vulcanus)

Alliance with Mata Nui#

After 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. arrived on Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna. in a body made by the Mask of LifeThe Mask of Life (Kanohi Ignika), explainedA failsafe forged by the Great Beings to recharge a god. It curses everyone who touches it, and by the end of Bionicle it had learned how to be a hero., Gresh was badly wounded defending TajunTajunTajun was a village of the Water Tribe, situated on the banks of the Skrall River. from a Bone Hunter and Skrall raid. He was taken to a secret Great Beings laboratory, where Berix healed him. (BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn; BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn novelisation)

When Gresh asked for new weapons, Mata Nui used the Mask of LifeThe Mask of Life (Kanohi Ignika), explainedA failsafe forged by the Great Beings to recharge a god. It curses everyone who touches it, and by the end of Bionicle it had learned how to be a hero. to repair his blades and give him elemental power over Air. Gresh was soon using it, ending a stalemate between Ackar and Kiina with a blast of wind. He went on to fight in the Battle of Roxtus, where he, Ackar, Kiina and Mata Nui combined their powers to defeat the Skrall and Bone Hunters, and then joined the village's defence force under Ackar. (BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn; BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn novelisation; BIONICLE Glatorian 5: Valley of Fear)

In the final battle against TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna., Gresh came up with a plan to get inside the Great Spirit RobotThe Great Spirit Robot, explainedBionicle's whole universe lives inside a 40-million-foot robot built by the Great Beings. Here is what it is, why it was built, and how it ended.. Caught in a blast from Teridax, he landed near a hatch on the robot's foot, fought the Rahkshi that poured out of it, and met the Toa NuvaToa Mata and Toa NuvaSix biomechanical heroes created by the Great Beings to awaken Mata Nui and defeat the Brotherhood, transformed once and tested across an entire age. as they emerged. He survived the battle and saw Spherus MagnaSpherus MagnaA desert world of ancient conflict that became the merger point of the Matoran Universe and Bionicle's true endpoint. reformed. (Journey's End)

Equipment and Combat Style#

Gresh first fought with a Jungle ShieldThe Jungle ShieldGresh's Jungle Shield split into twin blades, broke against a Skrall, and was restored by Mata Nui as a conduit for the elemental power of Air.. It was damaged in his fight with the Skrall in Vulcanus and later repaired, and he eventually replaced it with twin blades. (BIONICLE Glatorian 1: Sands of Bara Magna; The Crossing; BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn)

A Thornax LauncherThornax LauncherThe Thornax Launcher was a scrap-built projectile weapon produced by Agori engineers, firing Thornax fruit and standard across Glatorian and Skrall ranks. gave him range, and in a fight he liked to backflip while firing it. He knew a wide range of fighting techniques but tended to rely on past successes rather than invent new ones, and he preferred to practise in secret. After Mata Nui gave him power over Air, his fighting combined his blades with control of the wind. (BIONICLE: Glatorian II; BIONICLE: The Secret of Certavus; BIONICLE Glatorian 2: The Fall of Atero; BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn)

Aftermath on Spherus Magna#

After TeridaxTeridaxTeridax orchestrated a thousand-year scheme that ended with him occupying the Great Spirit Robot itself before his death on Bara Magna. was killed and Spherus MagnaSpherus MagnaA desert world of ancient conflict that became the merger point of the Matoran Universe and Bionicle's true endpoint. restored, the prototype robot Mata Nui had used collapsed, and Gresh hurried to the site to hear Mata Nui's parting words. (Journey's End)

His later life on the restored planet is not described in the published story. (Journey's End)