Gresh

"I'm bigger, stronger, and faster than the Agori. I've got a shield and a launcher, and I know how to use them. I'm a Glatorian. Doesn't that mean I have to protect people who aren't as strong as I am?"
— Glatorian Gresh, Raid on Vulcanus

Gresh
Glatorian
Tribe	Jungle
Powers	Air
Tools	Jungle Shield (formerly) Thornax Launcher Blades
Status	Alive
Location	Spherus Magna
Pronunciation	Gresh
Set number	8980, 7117

Gresh is a Glatorian of the Jungle Tribe on Spherus Magna.

Biography

Early life

Gresh in the arena at Tesara

Prior to and during the Core War, Gresh lived on Spherus Magna under the rule of the Element Lord of Jungle, though he was too young to participate in the war itself. When the Shattering took place, he was in the region called Bara Magna which came to form a separate planet given the same name.

Glatorian career

Gresh joined the Jungle Tribe as a trainee, with the aspirations of becoming a Glatorian. He displayed great promise, at one point winning several matches during a Great Tournament. After the Secondary Glatorian at the time passed away, Gresh gained the position. He managed to win all of his matches, and remained undefeated.

While Malum was fighting a trainee in Tesara, Gresh spoke to Raanu about Malum's recent brutal defeat of Vastus in a match, expressing anger at the Fire Glatorian. He also confronted Malum after the Tesaran trainee was beaten.

Several months later, during a match between Strakk and Malum, Gresh tackled Malum before he could kill Strakk. Malum threatened Gresh, but Gresh refused to release him. Malum was eventually imprisoned and later exiled for his crimes.

During a practice match in the Tesara arena, Gresh was defeated by Tarix, who pointed out his tendency to repeat battle techniques. Resolving to find a new technique, Gresh was about to leave when he was stopped by the Agori Berix, who showed him a fragment of parchment with the name Certavus on it, which he recognized as part of the Book of Certavus. Realizing that the rest of the book might contain a good secret to defeating his opponents, Gresh struck a deal with Berix, who led him to where he found the scrap in exchange for protection while he looked for other valuables. Along the way, the pair was ambushed by a pack of Vorox. Gresh defended himself and Berix from the beasts for a time, but the Vorox eventually overwhelmed him, forcing the two to retreat into an unused practice arena. After being attacked by a Vorox that snuck in, Gresh realized that they could use practice dummies to scare the Sand Tribe. Spending the night in the practice ring, Gresh and Berix set up several dummies, and frightened the Vorox off. Berix stumbled upon the Book of Certavus and offered it to Gresh, but Gresh declined, having realized the secret of fighting with his head.

In order to claim rights to an oasis, the Jungle Tribe sent Gresh to fight the Rock Tribe in the Vulcanus arena. While traversing through the deserts with Tarix and Strakk, Gresh encountered Berix fleeing from Fero, a Bone Hunter. Gresh intervened, saving the Agori's life. Though outclassed by the Bone Hunter in strength, Gresh and his allies managed to defeat the Bone Hunter, forcing him to flee. After the fight, Gresh reassured Berix that no payment was required, the Agori regretting that he could not pay them. Gresh, Tarix, and Strakk then followed the Agori to Vulcanus, encountering and defeating a pack of Vorox along the way.

Upon arriving at the arena, Gresh was soon forced into the fight, combating a vicious Skrall. The Skrall, tearing through Gresh's shield with his blade, overpowered Gresh and defeated him. Before the Skrall was about to deliver a finishing blow, Tarix intervened, and forced the Skrall to spare Gresh's life. Gresh stayed briefly in Vulcanus to have his shield repaired, and later returned to his village.

Gresh was introduced to an Agori who had been sent by Raanu to ask the Glatorian if he would find a way to help Vulcanus, which was suffering from daily Bone Hunter raids and had no way to defend itself. Impressed by the Agori's courage and willingness to help he suggested the Agori make a contract with him, Strakk, Tarix, and even the Skrall. After being paid, he gladly donated his own seal to the contract.

The Crossing

The village of Iconox offered an employment contract to Gresh, to escort a trade caravan of Exsidian to Vulcanus. Gresh accepted the contract, and traveled with Tarduk to Iconox, where they prepared the caravan. Despite Gresh's insistence on departing at dawn, they left several hours after sunrise, a result of Strakk packing extra weaponry. As they traveled, Gresh and Strakk debated on the better method of travel, as well as what to do in the event of a Bone Hunter encounter. After traveling far enough out of sight, Strakk halted the convoy, and attempted to split the supply of Exsidian with the rest of the protection detail. Gresh refused to accept Strakk's bribe and threatened him with his Thornax Launcher, forcing the Ice Tribe warrior to go in front in order to keep an eye on him. As they traveled, Gresh conversed with the two Agori on potential terrain dangers they might encounter. Gresh asked Kirbold about his involvement with the convoy, and Kirbold explained his task of using the Exsidian. Recognizing the obsession as similar to the protectiveness Glatorian have over their weapons, Gresh let the issue drop.

The convoy stopped briefly when the heat grew too cumbersome to bear, and set out later in the day. During a discussion on the dangerous fauna of Bara Magna, the group was attacked by a pack of Dune Snakes. While attempting to escape, Strakk was caught in a bog of quicksand, and Gresh turned around to save him.

He managed to get a rope to Strakk and pulled him to safety. Strakk refused to accompany the convoy further, and Gresh offered the Ice Glatorian half of his own payment to get him to stay. They later arrived in the Black Spike Mountains, and discussion of the Skrall led Gresh to think back on his own defeat in the arena at the hands of one of them. Armor propped on sticks frightened the group, but Gresh realized that it was merely armor, guessing that it may have been a Rock Tribe scare tactic. Malum arrived, and warned them of an increased Skrall presence in the area. He left shortly after, and the group heard bird calls, which they realized were signals. Before Gresh could formulate a plan, a Skrall band captured and disarmed them. The Skrall ordered them to surrender their cargo, but Gresh convinced them that it was a gift to the Rock Tribe. His ruse worked, and the Skrall began taking them to Roxtus. Gresh, after hitting Strakk to get the attention of the Skrall, used bars of Exsidian as a weapons to attack the Rock Tribe warriors, and claimed a Thornax Launcher. He used the Thornax Launcher to create small rockslides, and the group escaped. Strakk took the launcher and fired it at the mountain, in an attempt to open up a pass. The resulting explosions buried the group, though Gresh managed to pull them inside the caravan to avoid harm. Upon examining the site, the Skrall assumed them to be deceased, and left their weapons on the pile of rocks.

Gresh and the others later awoke in a strange tunnel, one that was not a natural formation. Upon discovery of some mysterious symbols, Gresh decided that the symbols were not a cause for worry, and continued on. When the group heard a mysterious noise, Gresh went to discover the source. He encountered a Sand Bat, but the creature was devoured by Scarabax Beetles before it could reach the Glatorian. Deducing that the Sand Bat came in from a potential exit, Strakk suggested it to the rest of the group. Traveling further, they found a small slit in the wall. Gresh also spotted a button, and pressed it, believing that it would widen the opening. The walls instead started closing in, but Tarduk managed to stop it with another trigger. They left the cave, but were confronted by Malum.

Malum took Kirbold and Tarduk hostage, and offered to exchange them in return for his sword, which had been stolen by the Skrall. Gresh and Strakk successfully snuck into Roxtus, and discovered the sword. Gresh decided that they could not return it to Malum, and should instead bring it back to Ackar, as it had been his originally. Strakk pointed out that they needed to recover the Agori first, and unleashed several captive Spikit to use as a diversion. The two escaped in the confusion, and Gresh noticed that there was a tracking device on the sword; though he did not understand why they had one on the sword, he speculated that the Skrall might have wanted to kidnap Ackar, and crushed the transmitter.

On their way back to Malum, the two discussed how to free the Agori and acquire the caravan without returning the sword to Malum. Gresh found several luminescent rocks and crushed them into a powder, which he covered his body with. His glowing appearance frightened the Vorox, who ran off, allowing Strakk to get the caravan and Agori. Attempting to escape, the caravan group accidentally plunged down the Dark Falls. Gresh's mind raced, and the sense of impending doom allowed him to retain mental clarity. He dove headfirst into the water, to prevent the impact from damaging his body, but struck his head on the riverbed due to the river's shallowness, and fell unconscious. While out, a vision appeared to him of various forces of Bara Magna attacking one another, and a giant emerging from a crater. Strakk pulled the Jungle Glatorian out of the water, and Ackar and Kiina arrived, and woke him up. Gresh slowly recovered from the blow to his head, and listened as the others made plans to recover the Exsidian from the bottom of the river.

Strakk was sent out to act as bait, and returned with a group of Skrall that had agreed to help him recover the Exsidian, which they intended to keep. Once the Skrall were finished fishing the ingots out of the river, Gresh and his allies sprung their ambush, and captured the new wagon. They started racing towards Vulcanus, but were blocked by Malum and his Vorox.

Ackar tricked the Skrall into attacking the Vorox and the convoy fled from the battle scene. Malum pursued and accused Gresh and Strakk of having entered Vorox territory and having stolen from them. Gresh, reminding him the sword had not been his originally, proposed to fight over the issue, but Malum refused and, after threatening the Glatorian, left.

Later, Gresh spotted the bodies of a Bone Hunter party. One of them revealed that they had been attacked by a Skopio before dying. The group moved on, intending to reach Vulcanus, only to be attacked by Telluris on his Skopio XV-1. Gresh suggested that they split up to confuse their assailant, but Telluris targeted Ackar and succeeded in wounding him. While Kiina attacked the vehicle, Gresh took care of Ackar and the two worked together to divert Telluris's attention from Kiina. Gresh came up with the idea to use the Exsidian ingots to block Telluris's vehicle, and the plan succeeded, giving Kiina the time to capture the mad warrior. Telluris promised to go after the Skrall chasing them, which Gresh believed, but Kiina made him realize that the Iron warrior was lying and dispatched the threat.

Eventually, the group made it back to Vulcanus. Kiina and Gresh spoke about the adventure and Gresh stated that, despite many dangers, he had found friends during the journey. Kiina proposed to train him, and Gresh accepted her offer.

Gresh training for the Great Tournament

War with the Skrall

Gresh, along with Strakk and Tarix, traveled to the Arena Magna in order to compete in the Great Tournament. Preferring to keep his moves a secret, Gresh, along with Tarduk, ventured out a short distance from the arena in order to practice his moves. While practicing, the two were approached by Malum and a pack of Vorox, causing Gresh to send Tarduk back. The former Glatorian warned Gresh of an approaching danger, but denied Gresh the details, and departed soon after. The next morning, Gresh informed the Agori of Malum's warning. While watching a fight between Strakk and Tarix the next day, Gresh was forced into combat in order to fend off the invading Skrall army. Though managing to fell several of the Rock Tribe soldiers, Gresh and his allies were eventually overwhelmed, and retreated. Later he regrouped with Tarix, Strakk, and a few Agori to discuss what they should do.

Metus later approached Gresh and arranged a match between the rookie Glatorian and the Fire Glatorian, Ackar. During their travels to Vulcanus, they encountered a caravan with a broken wheel. Against the protests of his traveling companions, Gresh insisted that they help the convoy, and assisted them in fixing the broken wheel. After resuming their travels, the group was attacked by a pack of Vorox. Gresh and Gelu succeeded in fending off the wild Sand Tribe, and escorted the convoy the rest of the way to Vulcanus.

After settling down at an inn, Gresh began talking to the former Glatorian, about his hopes and fears for the job, and what he expected from it. Gelu in turn talked about the Core War, and his experiences. As they were talking about Gelu's retirement, Raanu entered, and Gelu left to talk to the Fire Tribe elder. Gresh followed, and offered his assistance in defending the village upon hearing of the Bone Hunters plan to raid. Ackar arrived, and the three Glatorian made plans to find help.

Gresh traveled to Tesara, planning on recruiting Vastus for the cause. Vastus refused to leave Tesara without a Glatorian to defend it, forcing Gresh to leave without his assistance. Gresh then traveled to Iconox, where he convinced Strakk to ally with Vulcanus, lying about a reward Strakk would receive. The two Glatorian made their way back to Vulcanus, encountering the Hero Agori, who had previously contacted him on behalf of Raanu. The Agori informed Gresh that the Bone Hunters would be traveling through the Iron Canyon in order to reach Vulcanus.

Upon arriving in Vulcanus, Gresh relayed the news he had learned to Raanu. Armed with the new knowledge, the defense team began fortifying their defenses, and laid traps and ambushes along the canyon. After encountering several of their preliminary traps, the Bone Hunters retreated. Gresh and the others were dismissed by Raanu, though Gresh vehemently opposed Raanu's decision. The group, knowing that the Bone Hunters would return, traveled to Tesara, where they convinced Vastus to ally with them. They returned to Vulcanus amidst the raid, and eventually succeeded in fending off the Bone Hunters.

Several days later, Gresh accompanied Vastus and Tarduk outside the village, listening to the tales of his adventure. Gresh did not believe the Agori, and suggested focusing on constructing new walls to defend against Bone Hunter raids. Likewise expressing skepticism at Tarduk's tales, Vastus struck a hiding Bone Hunter, and the group discovered a Skrall shield with the Bone Hunter. As they debated the origin of the weapons, the trio noticed a bright light emitting from an object falling from the sky.

Gresh later traveled to Tajun, to fight with Tarix in a practice match. While waiting for the Water Tribe warrior, Gresh noticed an oncoming Bone Hunter horde. Gresh was able to defend the village and allow the Agori to escape, but was defeated by a second wave of Skrall warriors. After the raid, Gresh emerged from his hiding place, and informed Ackar, Kiina, and Mata Nui, about the event, before succumbing to his wounds.

He was taken into a secret lab of the Great Beings, where Berix managed to heal him. After recovering, he asked Mata Nui to help him acquire some new weapons, and Mata Nui used the Kanohi Ignika to transform Gresh's blades and endow him with Elemental Powers.

Gresh was eager to test out his new powers, but was told by the others to wait. When Ackar and Kiina engaged in a test of their powers, Gresh activated his own Air abilities to end their stalemate. Ackar took the opportunity to teach Mata Nui fighting techniques. The group soon arrived in Tesara, Gresh's village. Ackar called for an end to the arena system, and urged the villages to unite against their common enemy of the Skrall and the Bone Hunters.

Metus later informed the Glatorian that the Bone Hunters had kidnapped Kiina and Berix. Gresh desired to go and help out his friend, but Mata Nui insisted on going alone. He later joined the party that traveled to Roxtus in order to claim the necessary village piece to complete the structure of the united villages. They encountered the massive army of Skrall and Bone Hunters, and began fighting them. Kiina and Mata Nui joined the fight, and they were able to combine their powers to finally defeat their attackers.

Gresh during the Battle of Roxtus

Gresh, Kiina, Berix and Ackar later visited Mata Nui, who was supervising the construction of the unified city. Mata Nui thanked Gresh and the others for their support in his struggles. Gresh joined the defense force of the city under the command of Ackar.

Battle of Bara Magna

Mata Nui attempted to lead a group consisting of himself, Kiina, Gresh and Berix to the Valley of the Maze, though they encountered a Skrall patrol along the way. Berix was injured in the fight, and Mata Nui insisted on making the rest of the journey alone. Gresh and the others returned to the city after the event.

Gresh caught in a blast from Teridax

He eventually outfitted himself with new armor and weapons that he salvaged.

Mata Nui later returned from his trip with a power source, and convinced Ackar, Kiina, and Gresh to back him up in trying to get Raanu to give up the Prototype Robot that was serving as the Mega-Village, but Raanu refused. Mata Nui later met with Gresh and Ackar and revealed that his former body could be used for destructive purposes, which he believed Teridax, in control of the body, would use on Bara Magna. Gresh was angry that Mata Nui had not revealed his origins before, and demanded proof that he would not harm their planet. Mata Nui offered his sword to Gresh and the chance to lock him up, to Gresh's hesitation, ceasing the argument and convincing Gresh that he was an ally.

With Raanu's permission, Mata Nui later transferred his spirit into the Prototype Robot and ordered the Bara Magnans to take shelter while he began to undo the Shattering. Teridax arrived on Bara Magna shortly after, in order to kill Mata Nui and begin conquering the universe. As the two robots fought, Gresh came up with a plan to infiltrate the Matoran Universe, and his allies shot Thornax at Teridax in an attempt to distract him. Though the shots were unable to penetrate the armor, Teridax noticed the Glatorian, and blasted them. Gresh was caught in the blast, but landed near a hatch on the Great Spirit robot. Intending to enter the Matoran Universe and smash everything he could, Gresh was surprised by a squad of Rahkshi, who leapt from the hatch and began fighting the inhabitants of Bara Magna. Before Gresh could act, the hatch began opening again. Gresh refused to be taken by surprise, and attacked the emerging figures with a gale of wind. The new arrivals were revealed to be Tahu and Takanuva, who engaged Gresh in combat.

Overpowering the Glatorian, the three quickly concluded that they were allies. After Teridax blasted the Golden Armor across Bara Magna, Gresh found a piece, and was attacked by three Skrall with their own piece. Using his power over Air, he created a powerful wind gust that blew them away, and took their Golden Armor piece. He eventually found and gave both pieces to Tahu.

Gresh eventually began battling a Skakdi, which was felled by Tahu and Takanuva. The Toa then took the two Golden Armor pieces Gresh had acquired.

After Spherus Magna was reformed, he rushed to the site of the destroyed Prototype Robot to see Mata Nui.

Alternate Universes

Spherus Magna Alternate Universe

In an alternate universe, Gresh was helping to repair a metallic shelter in Tesara alongside Toa Kongu when an army of Vortixx, Skakdi and Bone Hunters attacked.

Abilities and Traits

Gresh unleashing his Air powers

Gresh is one of the youngest Glatorian, but has already proven himself as an able fighter. He is known to be proficient in the usage of many weapons, and is capable of executing various battle techniques. He tends to be unwilling to try inventing new techniques, and relies too much on past successes, a habit he is working on overcoming. Gresh has a battle custom of executing a backflip while firing his Thornax in the midst of a fight. When practicing for fights, Gresh prefers for others not to view his techniques, believing it better to keep them secret.

Gresh believes in the noblest aspects of being a Glatorian, and is willing to assist those in need without expecting payment. His attitude towards the job was initially very serious, but Kiina was able to convince him to relax, and not be as solemn as he was.

Gresh was given control over the Element of Air from Mata Nui's use of the Kanohi Ignika.

Tools

Gresh carried a Jungle Shield. The shield was damaged in the fight with a Skrall, but was later repaired. He later replaced it with twin blades. He also wields a Thornax Launcher, able to fire the explosive Thornax.

BIONICLE.com Stats

STRENGTH: 11	AGILITY: 12
TOUGHNESS: 11	MIND: 11

Set Information

Gresh Sets
8980 Gresh	7117 Gresh

8980 Gresh was released as one of six Glatorian canister sets in early 2009. The set contains fifty-five pieces, among them a Thornax fruit and a "life counter" piece on his back. This piece indicates his health in the BIONICLE Action Figure activity, which uses both Gresh and his canister.

7117 Gresh was released again, in early 2010, as part of the BIONICLE Stars line. The set contains nineteen pieces, including the left shoulder armor piece of the Golden Armor for use on the 2010 Tahu set. The set's pieces can be combined with pieces from 7116 Tahu, 7135 Takanuva, 7136 Skrall, 7137 Piraka, and 7138 Rahkshi to create Gaardus.

Quotes

"Glatorian fight for the villages that hire us, so they don't have to fight each other. But we don't charge to save a life."
— Gresh, Sands of Bara Magna

"If I surrender, I have nothing to live for."
— Gresh, Sands of Bara Magna

"It's not enough to think you're going to win in the arena. You have to know you're going to win."
— Gresh, My LEGO Network BIONICLE Campaign

"Gresh has a plan."
"I don't know whether to be intrigued or scared."
— Kiina and Ackar, Journey's End

Trivia

• Gresh was voiced by Mark Famiglietti in The Legend Reborn.
• The name "Gresh" was taken from a character in one of Greg Farshtey's earlier novels.

Appearances

Books	Comics	Online	Multimedia
Novels BIONICLE: Raid on Vulcanus BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn BIONICLE: Journey's End Early Readers BIONICLE: The Secret of Certavus Guides BIONICLE: Mata Nui's Guide to Bara Magna BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn - Official Movie Guide Activity BIONICLE: Glatorian The Crossing	Glatorian Comic 1: Sands of Bara Magna (FA) Comic 2: The Fall of Atero Comic 3: A Hero Reborn Comic 5: Valley of Fear (M) Comic 6: All That Glitters Comic 7: Rebirth Graphic Novels The Exile's Tale Promotional Secrets of Bara Magna!	Chronicle Mata Nui Saga Story Serials Empire of the Skrall Riddle of the Great Beings (M) Reign of Shadows (AU) Animations Glatorian Mini Movie (NC) BIONICLE Battle Videos (SC)	Movies BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn Online Games My LEGO Network BIONICLE Campaign Glatorian Arena (SC) Glatorian Arena 2 (SC) Glatorian Arena 3 (NC) Sands of Time (NC) Agori Defender (NC) Card Games BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn (NC) Commercials Glatorian Commercial (NC)

See also

• Gallery:Glatorian § Gresh

External links

• 8980 Gresh Building Instructions on LEGO.com
• 7117 Stars Gresh Building Instructions on LEGO.com
• Gresh's My Lego Network Page