Malum

Malum was the Fire TribeFire TribeThe master smiths of Bara Magna who forged tools for all tribes before the Shattering scattered them into conflict.'s Second GlatorianGlatorianTribal warriors of Spherus Magna who settled disputes through arena combat, until the Skrall conquest enslaved most of them. in VulcanusVulcanusThe Fire Tribe's settlement on Bara Magna, caught between resources and threats., below the Prime Glatorian AckarAckarVeteran Glatorian of the Fire Tribe and prime fighter for Vulcanus, Ackar served from the Core War through the defence of Spherus Magna.. A brutal fighter with no control over his temper, he was banished after trying to kill StrakkStrakkA profit-driven Glatorian mercenary from the Ice Tribe who fought in Bara Magna's arenas before joining Mata Nui's cause. at the end of an arena match. He survived in the wastelands of Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna. and made himself the leader of 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.. (The Exile's Tale; Empire of the Skrall)

Service in Vulcanus#

Before the Shattering, Malum fought in the Core War under the Element Lord of Fire, and he was with the unit that captured the energized protodermis spring late in the war. Moments before the disaster, the Agori Raanu and Kyry tried to warn him, but he brushed them off, saying the Fire Tribe was winning. Afterwards he was stranded on Bara MagnaBara MagnaA desert world of tribal warfare and scarce resources, one of three landmasses that formed Spherus Magna., where he became Vulcanus's Second Glatorian. He was known as a brutal fighter, tolerated because he never directly broke the rules. (All Our Sins Remembered; BIONICLE: Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna)

In one match he overwhelmed VastusVastusVastus is a Glatorian of the Jungle Tribe who serves as the Prime Glatorian for the village of Tesara on the reformed Spherus Magna. Clad in dark green and lime, he wields the Venom Talon and a Thornax Launcher, and commands the element of Air in battle. and was about to keep attacking him when Strakk stopped him. AckarAckarVeteran Glatorian of the Fire Tribe and prime fighter for Vulcanus, Ackar served from the Core War through the defence of Spherus Magna. later warned him about his attitude, and Malum rebuffed him and threatened the Prime Glatorian. Raanu also warned him that other villages would refuse Vulcanus's challenges if he were ever made Prime Glatorian, but Malum carried on as before. (The Exile's Tale)

Months later, Malum fought Strakk, whose dirty tactics pushed him further than any opponent ever had. Infuriated, Malum knocked Strakk down and was about to kill him when GreshGreshA young Glatorian of the Jungle Tribe who served Tesara and later joined the alliance that defended Bara Magna during its final crisis. knocked him over. For breaking the arena's code of conduct, he was banished from Vulcanus to the wastelands, and he came to believe Ackar had set him up out of jealousy. (The Exile's Tale)

Exile in the Wastelands#

Surviving against the odds, Malum wandered the deserts challenging any Glatorian he came across. Eventually he met 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., the feral warriors of the Sand Tribe, and challenged the alpha male. Knocked down, he faked defeat and struck when the Vorox turned its back, winning control of the pack. The next day he sought out the exiled former leader and killed him. (The Exile's Tale)

Over time Malum learned the Vorox language of whistles and hand gestures. He became fiercely protective of his pack and of the Vorox in general, and saw more civilised values in them than in Agori or Glatorian. (BIONICLE: Raid on Vulcanus)

The Empire of the SkrallThe Skrall Conquest of Bara MagnaThe year in which Tuma turned Roxtus into the strongest power on Bara Magna, dealt with the traitor Metus and the Bone Hunters, and set the southern villages on the road to the Battle of Roxtus. serial describes Malum, now afflicted with desert madness, as the most dangerous kind of warrior: one who did not fear death, because death would seem a comfort next to the life he now lived. (Empire of the Skrall)

Conflict with the Skrall#

After Malum and his Vorox bloodied a SkrallSkrallA black-armored warrior species from Spherus Magna that dominated northern Bara Magna under Tuma's rule. party, TumaTumaTuma rose from the survivors of the Baterra massacre to rule the Skrall Empire from Roxtus until Mata Nui defeated him in single combat. ordered a dozen warriors on fresh rock steeds to bring Malum to RoxtusRoxtusThe largest Agori village on Bara Magna and the seat of Tuma's Skrall, Roxtus was the centre of the Empire of the Skrall until Mata Nui defeated Tuma in single combat. alive, judging that so fierce an enemy could also be a valuable ally. (Empire of the Skrall)

Malum expected the retaliation. He had the Vorox leave just enough traces to lure the patrol to a cave, then sprang an ambush. The Skrall fought their way through and fired their launchers at the rocks above Malum's cave, bringing down a rockslide that pinned him. Threatening to kill him, the patrol leader made the Vorox hold back, and the Skrall carried the unconscious Malum off to Roxtus. (Empire of the Skrall)

Malum woke to find chained Vorox beside him and told Tuma he would celebrate at his grave. Tuma wanted the Vorox as allies and forced Malum into an arena with several of them. Malum calmed the Vorox with a gesture and a whistle, and when a Skrall tried the same trick the Vorox tore into him. In the confusion Malum grabbed a weapon, freed more Vorox and escaped into their tunnels, telling himself that the Skrall wouldn't forget this day, and that neither would he. (Empire of the Skrall)

Equipment and combat profile#

Malum had no elemental powers and wore no KanohiKanohiMasks that grant powers and sustain life, they're the most vital artifact in the Matoran Universe.. His old arena sword was broken by Strakk in his last match. He also kept a sword originally meant for Ackar, but the Skrall later stole it from him. (The Exile's Tale; The Crossing)

He came to carry a pair of Flame ClawsFlame ClawsMalum's signature melee weapons on Bara Magna, favoring close-range combat in the desert. and a shoulder-mounted 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.. (BIONICLE: Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna)

Later dealings#

When Gresh and Strakk recovered his stolen sword from Roxtus but refused to hand it back, Malum accused Ackar of keeping company with thieves. Later, Ackar and Gelu persuaded him to help Vulcanus by taking revenge on the Bone HuntersBone Hunters: the Agori who left the rock tribe and became desert raidersBone hunters are a nomadic tribe of Bara Magna raiders descended from rock tribe Agori. Left out of the social system after the Shattering, they took what they needed by theft and by force., who had wounded and robbed him in the past, and his Vorox raided their camp. Even so, to keep his pack from harm, Malum forbade the Vorox from joining the Glatorian's war with the Skrall. (The Crossing; BIONICLE: Raid on Vulcanus; BIONICLE: Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna)