Gukko

The Gukko was a large, swift, four-winged bird RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts. of the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control.. Peaceful by nature but fierce in defence of its nest, it was long thought impossible to tame, until the Le-MatoranLe-MatoranGreen-powered Matoran obsessed with thrills and transport. They're basically Bionicle's daredevils. made it the mount of the Gukko ForceGukko ForceLe-Matoran aerial cavalry that defended their treetop home during the Matoran-Rahi War., the aerial military unit that defended Le-KoroLe-KoroLe-Koro is a village situated within Le-Wahi, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and home to Turaga Matau and Toa Lewa. The settlement was once held under the control of Teridax. on Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years.. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Species Profile#

The Gukko was a large bird RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts. with a long, graceful body and four slender wings, regarded as a beautiful creature by the Matoran. It was extremely swift and generally peaceful, but would fight hard to protect its nest from Nui-Rama. A Gukko could carry two Matoran riders. Like many Rahi, the species was created by the Makuta. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts; BIONICLE: Mask of Light novelisation; Makuta's Guide to the Universe)

On Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive., Gukko made their nests among the tangled cables of Le-MetruLe-MetruThe teal district where Le-Matoran managed everything that moved through Metru Nui, from chutes to airships. and travelled in small groups in search of rising air. Their speed attracted the Phase Dragon, and they were the main prey of the Silver Chute Spiders. After the Great CataclysmThe Great CataclysmThe day Makuta Teridax put the Great Spirit to sleep, the Great Spirit Robot fell from the sky, Metru Nui flooded, and Voya Nui tore loose from the Southern Continent., many Gukko migrated to the new island of Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years. and settled in the jungles of Le-WahiLe-WahiLe-Wahi is a region on the island of Mata Nui, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and Rahi. Formerly subject to the power of Teridax, the region is no longer under that influence.. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

The Gukko Force#

For centuries the Le-Matoran tried and failed to ride the Gukko; even Matau, as a Matoran, never managed it. The birds were finally tamed during the Great Rescue, when Rahaga Kualus and Toa Hordika Nuju rode them. On Mata Nui the Le-Matoran carried on the tradition, training Gukko as brave and loyal mounts for the Gukko ForceGukko ForceLe-Matoran aerial cavalry that defended their treetop home during the Matoran-Rahi War., Le-Koro's military unit. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts; BIONICLE Adventures 8: Challenge of the Hordika; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

KonguKonguKongu captained Le-Koro's Gukko Force before lightning from the red star turned him into a Toa of Air, who later served among the Toa Mahri. commanded the Force, with Boreas as his second in command. Its riders flew with mechanical disk launchers strapped to their mounts, using them to shoot down flying enemies and strike at foes on the ground. Other known members included Orkahm, Taiki, Shu and Vira. (Mata Nui Online Game; The Official Guide to BIONICLE)

Despite its name, the Gukko ForceGukko ForceLe-Matoran aerial cavalry that defended their treetop home during the Matoran-Rahi War. flew KahuKahuKahu were hawk-like bird Rahi of Le-Wahi, ridden into battle by the Le-Matoran of the Gukko Bird Force across the skies of Mata Nui. and KewaKewaA vulture-like Rahi species native to Le-Wahi, a cousin of the Kahu used as aerial mounts by the Gukko Force of Le-Koro. as well as Gukko. Kongu's own mount, a Gukko named Ka, saved Toa Nuva Lewa when he fell from the Le-Wahi canopy after losing his powers to the Bohrok-Kal. (Mata Nui Online Game; BIONICLE Chronicles 3: Makuta's Revenge)

The Matoran-Rahi War#

The Force's great test came while 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. were searching for their masks. A hive of Nui-RamaNui-RamaLarge insect-like Rahi with deadly claws and venom, known for kidnapping Matoran and attacking Le-Koro. carried off almost the whole population of Le-Koro, leaving only the Gukko Force and Tamaru. When the swarm returned, Kongu took Takua up as his disk thrower, and the two flew into the hive, only to be trapped there. The captives were freed when Toa Onua came to confront Toa Lewa, who had fallen under the influence of an infected mask. (Mata Nui Online Game)

The battle confirmed the Force as Le-Koro's defenders against the airborne infected Rahi that threatened the village. (Mata Nui Online Game; BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

The Battle of Kini-Nui#

While the Toa were at the Kini-Nui confronting Teridax, Rahi attacked Le-Koro and the Gukko Force fought them off. When the Rahi suddenly broke off, the Le-Matoran guessed they had gone to attack the Matoran defending the temple, and flew to their aid, helping to save the Kini-Nui. (Mata Nui Online Game)

The battle brought the Gukko Force together with the Matoran of the other villages, including Jaller's Ta-Koro Guard, in the temple's defence. (Mata Nui Online Game)

Carrying the Search for the Seventh Toa#

During the search for the seventh Toa, a Gukko carried JallerJallerJaller served as Captain of the Ta-Koro Guard, led the Toa Inika to Voya Nui, and commanded the Toa Mahri through the recovery of the Mask of Life. and TakuaTakuaAn Av-Matoran hidden on Mata Nui as a Ta-Matoran, who gathered the Toa Stones, served as Chronicler, and ultimately accepted the Avohkii to become Takanuva, the Toa of Light. through the trees of Le-WahiLe-WahiLe-Wahi is a region on the island of Mata Nui, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and Rahi. Formerly subject to the power of Teridax, the region is no longer under that influence., saving them a long journey through the jungle. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light novelisation; BIONICLE: Mask of Light)

It was one of the best-known times a Gukko carried riders from outside Le-Koro. (BIONICLE: Mask of Light novelisation; BIONICLE: Mask of Light)

Related Species#

The Gukko Force also flew the KahuKahuKahu were hawk-like bird Rahi of Le-Wahi, ridden into battle by the Le-Matoran of the Gukko Bird Force across the skies of Mata Nui. and the KewaKewaA vulture-like Rahi species native to Le-Wahi, a cousin of the Kahu used as aerial mounts by the Gukko Force of Le-Koro., two related birds. The Kahu could carry two riders like the Gukko, while the smaller Kewa carried only one. (Mata Nui Online Game)

Rahaga KualusRahaga KualusKualus was the Toa Hagah of Ice, mutated into a Rahaga by Roodaka, restored centuries later on Xia, and known as the only recorded speaker of the language of the flying Rahi., who could speak with RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts., once remarked that "Gukko" might be an insult in the birds' own language, since it was not what they called themselves. (BIONICLE Adventures 8: Challenge of the Hordika)

Place in Matoran Society#

The Gukko held a place in MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. life unlike most RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts.. It was neither a threat nor a wild animal kept at a distance, but a working partner in the life of Le-KoroLe-KoroLe-Koro is a village situated within Le-Wahi, inhabited by the Le-Matoran and home to Turaga Matau and Toa Lewa. The settlement was once held under the control of Teridax., where Le-Matoran even played an airborne version of kolhii from Gukko-back. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated; Mata Nui Online Game)