Editing Emperor Calus

{{References}}

|species= [[Cabal]]

|faction=[[Loyalists]]

|rank= [[Cabal Emperor]] <br> [[Disciples of the Witness|Disciple of the Witness]] <br> [[Ultra]]

|faction=[[Shadow Legion]]

|rank= [[Cabal Emperor]] <br> [[Disciples of the Witness|Disciple of the Witness]] <br> [[Ultra]]

'''Emperor Calus''' is the former [[Cabal Emperor|Emperor]] of the [[Cabal]]. After overthrowing the ruling [[Praetorate]], he reigned the Cabal Empire for over a thousand years until he was overthrown himself in a coup led by [[Dominus Ghaul]] and exiled to aimlessly wander the galaxy aboard the [[Leviathan (ship)|Leviathan]]. It was there he first encountered the [[The Witness|Witness]] who enabled him to take control of his fate.

 

Following Ghaul’s death in the [[Red War]], Calus traveled to the [[Sol System]] to scout [[The Guardian|the Young Wolf]] and their fellow [[Guardians]] as his future [[Shadows of Calus|Shadow]]s to have by his side as he prepared for the coming of the [[Black Fleet]] and what he believed to be the [[Final Shape|end of all things]].

Despite their efforts, the exiled Emperor had successfully given himself in service to the Witness, and underwent a physical transformation into the newest of its paracausal [[Disciples of the Witness|Disciples]]. Becoming the main antagonist in ''[[Lightfall]]'', Calus unleashed his [[Shadow Legion]] in an all-out siege on the [[Neptune|Neptunian]] city of [[Neomuna]], to link [[the Veil]] with the captive [[The Traveler|Traveler]] at the behest of the Witness, although their efforts were met with resistance from the Young Wolf, along with [[Osiris]], Caiatl, and the [[Cloud Strider]]s of Neomuna. Calus would ultimately meet his fate at the hands of his former Shadow.  

Calus was known as the '''Prince Designate''' to the Cabal Empire and to succeed the Empress before him. By the time of his birth, most of the throne's power had been taken over by a military aristocracy known as the [[Praetorate]], who strictly controlled his life to a degree he openly compared to slavery. While he was born near the end of her life, the Praetorate feared a succession crisis and forced the previous Empress to live upon a [[Leviathan (ship)|ship]] that was kept near light speed constantly, using the relativistic effects to slow her ageing to an effective eternity. Calus believed that she eventually committed suicide due to her powerlessness and isolation.

 

At some point, Calus came into possession of the Imperial Trinket: an [[Ahamkara]] bone that originated from the extinct civilization known as the [[Harmony]] which had passed hands through the Cabal Emperors.<ref name="BLVD 9">'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]], [[Lore]]: [[Beloved (lore)|Beloved]] - [[Beloved (lore)#I am a few days older.|Entry 9]]'' </ref> While he initially desired nothing at first, the emperor would suffer from bouts of depression and ennui under the Praetorate's grip. It was there that he had desired someone to love him unconditionally; a desire that became fulfilled when Calus sired a single daughter with a consort who left him unsatisfied except for their only child to brood.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]], [[Lore]]: [[Beloved (lore)|Beloved]] - [[Beloved (lore)#I am centuries old.|Entry 8]]''</ref> He named his newborn daughter [[Empress Caiatl|Caiatl]] after the brightest star in Torobatl's sky,<ref>'''Bungie (2022/05/27)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSF9E997dEg Duality | Enter the Dark Shrine: "The Brightest Star in Our Sky"]''</ref> which itself was named after a loanword from the [[Hive]] language - as its base form, "aiat", means "it is this way because it can be no other way", "caiatl" means "it does not always go as it needs to go"<ref name="BLVD 4">'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]], [[Lore]]: [[Beloved (lore)|Beloved]] - [[Beloved (lore)#I am thirty-five years old.|Entry 4]]'' </ref> Caiatl had also shown a curiosity for the world beyond, which Calus recognized having the same fascinations as him despite his worries for her.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/05/27)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktJ-kldPd-s Duality | Second Repressed Memory: "Grow Up Knowing Only Celebration"]''</ref>

 

After Caiatl’s birth, the Emperor would become driven by a gluttonous desire to be even greater than his current self. He would continue to use the Imperial Trinket and its [[Anthem Anatheme|wish magic]] to lead a populist revolution; removing the Praetorate and restoring the Emperor's power.<ref name="BLVD 9"/>  He would further cement his newfound power by exiling the [[Consul]], a prominent member of the Praetorate, into the wastelands of Torobatl.<ref name="Inaugural Address">'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Weapon|Weapon Lore]]: [[Inaugural Address]]''</ref> It is inferred that Caiatl's mother was later killed by Calus at some point after her departure, as he selfishly desired her daughter's affection all to himself.<ref name="BLVD 4"/>

By his side during the revolution stood his long-time friend and protector [[Shayotet]], who stopped numerous attempts to kill Calus. Under his rule, the Cabal Empire became a seat of all-encompassing hedonism and revelry. His accomplishments during that time included redistributing Praetorate wealth to the people, granting citizenship to the Imperial Legions, and putting down various alien threats such as the [[Sindû]], the [[Clipse]], and the [[Psion]]s' [[OXA Machine]]. However, when the OXA machine was rebuilt by the savant [[Freeborn Otzot|Otzot]], Calus was impressed enough by her genius to order the machine preserved and hold a festival in her honor, elevating Otzot to his court as Imperial Dreamer.<ref name = "Cabal Booklet">[[Cabal Booklet]]</ref> He would also disregard Cabal tradition by implementing draconic and byzantine bylaws into the [[Rite of Proving]], abusing its power to push his own imperial agenda until it eventually fell out of practical usage.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - Quest Item Lore: [[Hammer of Proving]]''</ref> By that time, he transformed the Cabal Empire into a shell of its former self; forming his own cult of [[Loyalists]].

His reign was not without personal troubles. When Caiatl was at age three, Calus had sired new children with a new female consort more appropriate to his station. Calus invited her to visit her newborn half-siblings while he nursed them despite her own personal misgivings. Inside the bower, she asked her father if her own mother was dead only for him to deflect the question by asking her to sing to her newborn siblings. This only raised Caiatl's concerns that Calus would be willing to forsake his children, a fact Calus would reassure by stating that selective breeding was proof of his love for her.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]], [[Lore]]: [[Beloved (lore)|Beloved]] - [[Beloved (lore)#I am three. My father is pregnant again.|Entry 1]]''</ref> His affection, however, would ultimately not extend to his consort who expressed worried concerns with her lover's unfulfilled political promises to the ex-Praetorate families that approved their match. As they fought over his disregard for policy and external security, Calus went on to gaslight her consort accusing her of making him unhappy and calling her a curse and killer. She would strike the emperor out of anger, to which he then immediately called off their engagement and disowned their children he had been brooding in his pouches, forcing her to leave the palace along with her babies. <ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]], [[Lore]]: [[Beloved (lore)|Beloved]] - [[Beloved (lore)#I am three. Something has gone wrong between the woman and my father.|Entry 3]]''</ref>

At court, Calus was wary of [[Umun'arath]], his Evocate-General, for her paranoia and obsessive fixation on war. Caiatl would also grow up similarly despite his efforts. <ref name = "Cabal Booklet"/> In truth, his efforts are probably part of the reason that Caiatl came to trust Umun'arath over him, as while he sincerely cared for her, he was emotionally abusive towards her, even killing her pet [[War Beast]], [[Milos]], out of jealousy, leading to Caiatl's deep resentment of him and what she came to view as his fundamental cowardice, selfishness and desire to be loved without working towards becoming respected. <ref>'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [[Weapon|Weapon Lore]]: [[Unforgiven]]''</ref> <ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]], [[Lore]]: [[Beloved (lore)|Beloved]] - [[Beloved (lore)#I am exactly that old when I realize that my father, the Emperor Calus, is full of shit.|Entry 10]]'' </ref> Overtime, his mistrust of Umun'arath grew until the night of Caiatl's homecoming when the emperor openly refused to honor the Legions out fighting beyond Torobatl as per tradition; much to the Evocate-General's fury as she openly lashed at Calus for his complacency. Calus would angrily retort Umun'arath by proclaiming the point of existing was for pleasure itself; anything else beyond that and his selfish love for Caiatl meant nothing to him.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]], [[Lore]]: [[Beloved (lore)|Beloved]] - [[Beloved (lore)#I am thirty-five. It is later the same night of my homecoming.|Entry 7]]'' </ref>

One of Calus' pleasures was the Coliseum, and one day, an albino gladiator, bleached from prolonged exposure to solar radiation due to being cast out as an infant, named [[Dominus Ghaul|Ghaul]] made his first appearance there. Ghaul's patient skill and unusual coloration soon made him a favorite of Calus', and the Emperor eventually made him [[Primus]] of the [[Red Legion]], where he believed his talents would be put to better use as the head of the most fearsome [[Cabal]] legion ever assembled. Calus grew to love Ghaul like a son and believed they were kindred spirits who both envisioned a newer, more perfect world.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Ghost Primus]]''</ref>

===Midnight Coup and Exile===

Behind Calus’ back, however, Ghaul was in fact organizing a [[Midnight Coup (event)|coup]] with the Consul and some of Calus's closest friends, family and advisors: Umun'arath, Shayotet, Otzot, [[Moli Imoli]], [[Iska'al]], and Caiatl; all of whom had shared concerns for the Cabal's future under his hedonistic rule.<ref name = "Cabal Booklet"/> Calus had grown suspicious of Ghaul and considered sending a spy to trace his movements, but the emperor would instead decline to take any action against him as Calus felt guilty for doubting him at the time, a sentiment he would later regret.<ref name="conspirator">'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Conspirator]]''</ref>  

While Calus and his Loyalist Cabal were engaged in pompous revelry, Ghaul launched his coup in the dead of night. With the Red Legion storming into Calus' palace, seizing and/or killing political supporters, the emperor immediately ran to his throne to retrieve the Imperial Trinket meant to save him from this fate. Caiatl, however, was waiting for him sitting upon it with the Ahamkara bone in hand. Despite his pleas for help, his daughter crushed the bone in hand and declared she would not be weak.<ref name="CBCaiatl">'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Cabal Booklet]] - [[Cabal Booklet#My Daughter: Caiatl, the Princess-Imperial|My Daughter: Caiatl, the Princess-Imperial]]''</ref> Ghaul was prepared to execute the deposed emperor with his own [[Cabal Severus|blade]], only to be stayed by Caiatl's hand.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/05/27)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBFTxG-4sbc Duality {{!}} Navigate the Mindscape: "Caiatl Stayed My Blade"]''</ref> With the Emperor being too popular to simply execute, Ghaul, his Red Legion, and the Consul arrested Calus and an unknown number of supporters in his own court and exiled them aboard the Leviathan, imprisoned within the [[Menagerie]] and taken far from the Empire along a pre-programmed course, far into the cosmos.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Midnight Coup]]''</ref>

 

With control of the Leviathan back in his hands, Calus set out on a long voyage of his own, ''"[plumbing] the secret places of the cosmos"'', visiting strange realms and old ruins. This cemented both his conviction that his hedonistic philosophy was correct and his intent to retake his empire.<ref name = "Cabal Booklet"/> Along the way, he gathered forces to strengthen his Loyalists. He created the [[Shadows of Calus|Shadows]] as his elite champions, allied with aliens such as the Clipse<ref>'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Rull Suit#Gauntlets of Rull|Gauntlets of Rull]]''</ref> and the Sindû<ref name="HotAD">'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Ace-Defiant Suit#Helm of the Ace-Defiant|Helm of the Ace-Defiant]]''</ref>, and sent messages promising that whoever slew his conspirators would be given great wealth and glory. He would also target his own daughter, giving his Shadow assassin the [[Heartshadow]] blade to impale with during her failed assassination. She would instead return the enactine blade broken in two along with the crushed head of his own Shadow.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 3: ASSASSIN|Empress: CHAPTER 3: ASSASSIN]]''</ref> <ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]], [[Lore]]: [[Beloved (lore)|Beloved]] - [[Beloved (lore)#I am centuries old.|Entry 2]]'' </ref>  That would soon became a tradition between Caiatl and her father as both parties kept passing the ceremonial blade between each other, being their only effective means of communication for the time being.<ref name="Heartshadow"/> Eventually, he set a course for the [[Sol]] system, which the Red Legion was planning to assault. He sent his Shadows on a mission to assassinate Ghaul which failed, but he learned of [[Guardian|other warriors]] in the system that might serve his purposes. <ref name="SB">'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Fulminator Suit#Shadow's Bond|Shadow's Bond]]''</ref> <ref name="RotF">'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Fulminator Suit#Robes of the Fulminator|Robes of the Fulminator]]''</ref>

After the death of Ghaul, Calus immediately set to work on reclaiming the empire. He gave elements of the now leaderless Red Legion the chance to "join the loyalist regime," sending them on missions to collect geological data on Nessus with the intent of converting the soil of the planet into Royal Wine.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Invitation from the Emperor]]''</ref> The Leviathan arrived at [[Nessus]] soon afterwards and began consuming it.

Calus extended an invitation to [[The Guardian]] to board his vessel for slaying Ghaul. The Guardian would accept Calus' challenge and lead a raid team through Calus' palace and defeat his Loyalist army; confronting Calus in person in his throne room. Seemingly facing off against the exiled Cabal Emperor, the Guardians witness his strange powers and after dealing critical damage, they find that the Calus they are facing is actually a robotic Automaton. Regardless, the Guardians succeed in destroying the robot. Before the machine's destruction, Calus boasts about his power and claims to know the "real truth" about the galaxy. Nonetheless, he rewards the Guardians for completing his challenge and offers them a place by his side should they seek him out. As the Guardians step past the machine's body into a large room to claim their reward, they see countless robotic bodies, all in the image of Emperor Calus.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Leviathan (raid)|Leviathan]]''</ref>

At some point months later, the Leviathan consumed a chunk of Nessus that contained a powerful [[Vex]] Mind, [[Argos, Planetary Core]], the entity responsible for converting Nessus into a perfect Vex world, creating a massive barrier which caused the world-eater to clog up and malfunction. Emperor Calus immediately called upon the aid of the Guardians to destroy the Vex intrusion, where they succeeded and repaired the Leviathan. However, as they destroyed the [[Vex Mind]], the barrier protecting itself was removed, thereby threatening the Guardians to be consumed by the fiery inferno of the Leviathan. Calus then saved the Guardians from being sucked into the Leviathan afterwards, where he rewarded and congratulated them for their efforts. The Cabal Emperor once again offers them more than just the power of the Light, as Calus demonstrated that he can keep them safe. He also warns them that the "end" is near and therefore must be ready, as he will find them again.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/12/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], [[Leviathan, Eater of Worlds]]''</ref>

When [[Val Ca'uor]] and the Red Legion invaded the Leviathan directly, Calus called upon the Guardians once more to expel them. Several of his Loyalists were slain and one of his duplicates was destroyed personally by Ca'uor; however, with Calus assisting the Guardians with his own psychic powers, Ca'uor was killed, the Red Legion Fleet decimated and his forces routed. Calus watches with glee as Ca'uor dies and is impressed that the Guardians have grown "fat from strength and power." Calus tells the Guardians that he awaits the day they will stand by his side when the end comes.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Warmind (expansion)|Warmind]], [[Leviathan, Spire of Stars]]''</ref>

At one point, Calus contacts the Guardian via [[Werner 99-40]] and gifts them the [[Chalice of Opulence]], a symbol of their nomination as a Shadow of Calus. He also invites them to the [[Menagerie|Menagerie]] to compete for pleasure and glory.  

Around the time, Calus bred [[Gahlran, the Sorrow-Bearer|Gahlran]] as a Shadow of the Hive in order to wear the [[Crown of Sorrow]], a Hive artifact that was recovered by a [[Hunter]] in the emperor's service named [[Katabasis]]. This plan goes awry as Gahlran is corrupted by the Crown's powers and goes insane, much to the emperor's chagrin - though it was ultimately fortunate that he chose another to bear its power, as the Crown was in reality an attempt by [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen|Savathûn]] to put him under her control. Nonetheless, with Gahlran under the control of the Witch Queen, the mad Shadow rallied the imprisoned Hive within the depths of the Leviathan's Menagerie. Wanting his former Shadow put down, Calus calls upon his Guardian allies once again, offering more riches and rewards upon their success. After a perilous struggle against the Sorrow-bearer and the Hive's wicked rituals, the Guardians succeeded in putting Gahlran down and retrieving the crown, thereby saving the Leviathan from the threat of a Hive incursion.

Pleased with their success, Calus rewards the Guardians as promised but also officially makes them his Shadows of Earth, creating a [[The Tribute Hall|Tribute Hall]] in honor of their deeds. Several of the Guardians would accept Calus' offer and pledge themselves up as Shadows, much to the suspicions of [[Aunor Mahal]] of the [[Praxic Order]]. Despite the mistrust in the Cabal Emperor though, [[Ikora Rey]] and [[Zavala]] agreed to leave Calus alone citing his deterrence against the Red Legion, though under continued [[Vanguard]] surveillance.

Later on, still wanting a Shadow to command the Hive, Calus sends an invitation to [[Eris Morn]], a former Guardian Hunter who has a deep history with the Hive. Knowing of such history, the exiled emperor aims to have Eris Morn become the Shadow of the Hive in place of Gahlran. He would also meet with the renegade [[Lightbearer]] called the [[Drifter]]; the latter wanting to size up the emperor in his first and only meeting. He issues Calus a warning not to cross him nor the Guardians he counts in his crew before leaving, as Calus states that his friends were his first.

A year later, Calus would relay word that [[Imperial Cabal|emissaries]] of his daughter Caiatl were tracing his movements, having murdered a Shadow agent of his in the process of eliminating Red Legion personnel with [[The Fourth Horseman]].<ref>''' Bungie (2020/3/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Worthy]], [[In Rides A Pale Horse]]''</ref>

Following the disappearance of [[Mercury]], [[Mars]], [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], and [[Io]], Calus attempted to communicate with [[The Witness|the Witness]]. In conjunction with a small crew of Loyalists and a Guardian confidant named Katabasis, Calus used [[Scorn]] and the Crown of Sorrow, aboard a ship called the ''[[Glykon Volatus]]'', to demand an explanation for the fleet's actions, which Calus had seen as underwhelming. Further investigation would reveal that Calus also desired to obtain power from the Darkness using the same manner as the aforementioned communion and share it with the crew he had sent. By this point, Calus' physical form had become decrepit, and he spent much of this time within a containment frame which constantly supplied him with Royal Wine.<ref>https://www.ishtar-collective.net/entries/entry-1-charons-silhouette?highlight=royal+wine</ref>

The Emperor had actually managed to commune with the Witness, and it told him to seek more in the anomaly of Mercury. Calus returned to the Leviathan and traveled to where Mercury once stood, plunging into the gravity shadow. Though he was afraid his ship would be torn apart like the ''Glykon'' had been, the Leviathan survived the trip, though changed. In this communion, Calus managed to truly converse with the Witness and understood what its plans were, even for him. He accepted his intended place as a [[Disciples of the Witness|Herald]] and resolved to prove his loyalty to their cause by shedding his body and becoming more than himself.<ref>[[Duality (dungeon)|Repressed Memories 9-12]]</ref>

Sometime later, during the events of [[Lucent War|Opperation Elbrus]], Qabix, a member of the [[Psion Conclave]], began to broadcast Psionic propaganda that exhorted the members of the Imperial Cabal to mutiny and attempted to entreat them to defect. As Caiatl could not launch an attack on the broadcasting station without being viewed negatively in the army's eyes, she entreated the Vanguard to step in. A fireteam was deployed which managed to slay Qabix and shut down the broadcasts, despite the threat of an orbital bombardment being constantly present. Upon reaching the broadcast room, the fireteam discovered a chest and several other pieces of finery that appeared to have come from the Leviathan, and viewing of the propaganda revealed it to be a message involving a Psion, a golden statue of Calus offering "[[Darkness|Salvation]]", and a [[Pyramid]]. Calus would continue restocking the base with his cloned troops and resources, forcing the Guardians to periodically take it down again.

===Ascension into a Disciple===

After disappearing for two years, Calus returned with the Leviathan as a Disciple of the Witness, aiming to create a bond between his flagship and the [[The Lunar Pyramid|Lunar Pyramid]] formerly piloted by [[Nezarec, Final God of Pain|Nezarec]]. He now has reinforced his Loyalist troops with Scorn, as well as also controlling [[Nightmares]] created by the connection with the Pyramid. The Guardian learns from [[Caiatl]] that when the Leviathan appeared in orbit of the [[Moon]], two hundred Loyalists departed and fled. The Loyalists encountered in the ship itself are newly spawned clones who act as an extension of Calus's will.

As Eris Morn and the Vanguard began [[Operation: Midas]], the Guardian finds destroyed robotic copies of Calus and speaks with Calus through them. During an attempt to sever the [[Nightmare of Uldren|Nightmare of Uldren Sov]] from the [[Uldren Sov|Crow]], Calus tells the Guardian that they are just a grub fattened on the lies of the universe. He also tells them that he too was like them and that he will enjoy seeing the Guardian's reality shattered. He would further be amused with the Guardian's efforts to sever his connections to the Pyramid, getting into heated conversations with their allies in the process.

Though Calus had been defeated and the Leviathan is now silent, Eris claims that the battle was not a victory, as Calus had succeeded in his goal of becoming a Disciple of the Witness, thereby becoming the harbinger of a Second Collapse. Thus, Eris states they had merely bought themselves time and now they must prepare themselves for when The Witness returns.

{{Quote|My faithful Shadow Legion, this is your glorious emperor speaking. Our alliance with the Witness bears such "delectable" fruits. [chuckles] Together, we will devour Sol!| Emperor Calus}}

When the Black Fleet finally moved on the Traveler following [[Rasputin]]'s sacrifice, Calus and his [[Shadow Legion]] fleet rode alongside and engaged the forces of [[The Coalition|the Coalition]]. Upon receiving a vision from the Traveler revealing the location of the Veil on Neptune, the Witness commanded Calus to go to Neptune and secure the [[The Veil|Veil]]. Calus obeyed, traveling to Neptune aboard his new flagship, the ''[[Typhon Imperator]]'', and led an invasion of the formerly-hidden Neptunian city of [[Neomuna]].

As the Typhon Imperator arrived at Neptune, Calus noticed the Guardian making their way through his fleet and was happy about their arrival. After asking them what they thought about his new Shadow Legion army, Calus laughed and told the Guardian to enjoy every small and hollow victory they could get, as he wanted them in the best of spirits when they eventually faced off against each other. Calus then took his Flagship and headed straight for the surface of Neptune, landing it on the outskirts of Neomuna in [[Ahimsa Park]].  

As the Shadow Legion began invading and ravaging the city, Calus would stay aboard his ship to enjoy himself. He would later emerge from a dark sarcophagus in his new disciple armored form, boasting about how his semblance matched his inner beauty and how powerful The Witness had made him. After grabbing a crystalline object from a pedestal, Calus use his powers to transform it into a golden chalice. Grateful for his newfound powers, and noticing that the chalice was empty, Calus called for a toast to one of his [[Tormentor]] guards, only for it to not respond as it moved to stand guard at the Emperor's new throne, much to Calus' disappointment. The Witness would then manifest itself before Calus to check on his progress in finding the Veil. Calus would reassure The Witness that his forces were actively searching for the Veil and that the Neptunians, even with their advanced technology, wouldn't pose much of a threat. The Witness, then asked Calus if he had all that he ever wanted, to which Calus responded, that thanks to the Witness's power, he had become glorious. After The Witness left, Calus would turn to rest on his throne, ordering his troops to find the Veil as fast as possible so that he may move on and continue to live a life of luxury.

With the situation clear, the Guardian was tasked by both [[Osiris]] and the Cloud Strider [[Rohan]] to storm The Typhon Imperator and destroy the Radial Mast before Calus has a chance to link it up with the Veil. However, Calus anticipated this and used the Radial Mast as a trap. Upon arriving in the arena where the Radial Mast was kept, Calus appeared before the guardian in his psionic form to mock them, excited that they were going to be "tonight's entertainment" in a final test of strength and also gloated that he had no riches to give them this time. Calus then unleashed a horde of [[Taken]] and a few of his [[Garaask, Undying Inferno|Shadow Legion]] [[Kar'uul, Indomitable Champion|champions]] on the Guardian while trying to convince them to join him all the while. The Gaurdian, however, ignored Calus's banter and was able to expose the Radial Mast, only for a Cabal shield to surround it before they had a chance to destroy it. As Calus sent more Taken and Shadow Legion into the arena, the Guardian was forced to use a [[Strand]] Anomaly to fend them off, but it would ultimately render them vulnerable and exhausted. Recognizing that the Guardian wouldn't be accepting his offer to join him, Calus sent in one of his commanders, [[Val Bho'kaurl]], to finish off the weakened guardian. Calus told the Guardian that they could not escape oblivion and that they should embrace their end. However, the Guardian would end up receiving surprising assistance from Empress Caiatl, who showed up in a [[Empress's Thresher|Thresher]] and bombarded the arena, creating an opening for the Guardian to escape, which angered Calus. With Caital's Help, the Guardian successfully escaped the Typhon Imperator with their life. But regardless, they still failed in their mission and Calus was able to secure the Radial Mast.

However, when the time came, Calus' attempt to establish a link using the Radial Mast and the Veil ended up failing due to the Guardian's efforts in clearing out the Shadow Legion fortifications around the Veil, killing Val' Bor'kaurl, and destroying the Radial mast, at the cost of Rohan's life. After which, Calus would inform the Witness about this setback while in a state of sleep. The Witness then explained that Calus feared loss and that fear was the cause of his failure. Angered by this, Calus began to scold The Witness on how he had led this invasion with vicious subjugation, broke through their enemy's defenses, and claimed the Veil with ease, all because he wanted it. While on the other hand, The Witness held the power of the universe within its grasp, yet never decided to do anything with it. The Witness became furious at Calus for questioning its judgment and interrupted his rant by shouting "ENOUGH!" at him, cracking reality around him. The Witness then ordered the Emperor to secure the Veil and that It would create the link between The Veil and The Traveler when the time came. Utterly terrified as he looked upon the Witness, Calus begged for its forgiveness as he began bleeding from his head. He complied with his master's wishes and ensured that The Witness's will shall be done, after which he awoke from his nightmare. Looking at his chalice for a moment, he angrily crushed it in his hand and then tossed it away, feeling humiliated and knowing that he must take matters into his own hands.

After a failed attempt to use the Taken to [[HyperNet Current|Infiltrate the]] [[CloudArk]], Calus began mobilizing his Shadow Legion for a massive full-scale assault on the Veil's containment, intending to take it no matter what.  

After the Guardian breached through the Shadow Legion's defenses around the Veil Containment and destroyed a few of their Anti-Air Cannons, they would meet up with Caiatl and her army of Imperial Cabal warriors at the vault entrance. At the same time, Rohan's apprentice, [[Nimbus]] would also take control of Neomuna's defense rely. Together, the Guardian and their allies held the line valiantly as Calus threw everything he had at them, including [[Goliath Tanks]] and [[Imprint of Nezarec|Imprints of Nezarec]]. But, after fighting through many waves of Shadow Legion, the defense relay Nimbus was operating overheated and was rendered inoperable. To make matters worse, Calus materialized in the sky in his psionic form yet again as The Guardian and Caiatl's forces were backed up against the vault door. The Emperor immediately recognized his daughter on the battlefield for only a brief moment, and before anyone could do anything else, Calus unleashed a powerful Psionic blast which obliterated everything in its path and blew open the vault door. When the dust settled, only the Guardian and Empress Caiatl were left standing. Without wasting any more time, Caiatl told the Guardian to safeguard the Veil at all costs, while she would deal with Calus herself. The Guardian obliged and made their way down through the vault until they reached the Veil. Meanwhile, Caiatl fought bravely against Calus and his forces with all of her might, but was outnumbered and overwhelmed. The Empress was forced to withdraw and warned the Guardian that Calus was coming for them and the Veil. She also asked the Guardian to give Calus the end he deserved.  

But as the Guardian got closer and closer to where the veil was, Calus began smashing his way through the vault and managed to barely reach the Veil before the Guardian could arrive. As Calus stood up in awe at the Veil, He turned around and noticed that the Guardian had finally caught up with him. He stated that he had been waiting for this day for a long time and was very excited to finally face off against the Guardian. Calus then summoned his weapon, [[Cabal Slug Launcher|the Resonant Sun]] and engaged the Guardian in a great battle. Midway through the fight, the Guardian managed to blast off some of Calus's armor, weakening him. In desperation, Calus used his power to split his weapon into a pair of [[Cabal Severus|Resonant Severi]]. As if in response to this, The Veil used its roots to trap both the Guardian and the Disciple in a paracausal dome. Limiting the fight to close quarters. Regardless, despite his powers and desperately calling out for the Witness to see him, Calus would ultimately fall to the Guardian's might. After dealing the final blow, Calus's body would be consumed by his own darkness powers until he finally exploded in a similar way [[Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness|Rhulk]] did when he was defeated, with dark roots expelling from his body and becoming some kind of Darkness tree. After Calus's death, Caiatl arrived at the Veil and looked upon her father's lifeless body. In an honorable gesture, Caiatl told her now-deceased father that there was no more running away anymore, and told him to finally rest.

However, Calus's demise would ultimately turn out to be exactly what The Witness wanted as the Guardian had unintentionally brought their Ghost too close to the Veil. While everyone was distracted by the death of the Emperor, the Witness would yet again take possession of the Guardian's Ghost and use it to create the link between the Veil and the [[The Traveler|Traveler]], allowing The Witness to open the way into the [[The Pale Heart|Pale Heart]] and finally bring about the [[Final Shape]]. Even after Calus's death, the remaining Shadow Legion forces in the system would continue to fight on in their Emperor's name and carry out the orders of the Witness. They would even fight within the Pale Heart alongside the Taken, Scorn, [[Sol Divisive]], [[House of Salvation]], [[Xivu Arath's Horde]] and [[the Dread]] to aid the Witness in bringing about the Final Shape. However, both before and after the Witness' death, there were signs that the Shadow Legion were splintering, with some not loyal to the Witness and answering to [[Freeborn Otzot|other]] [[Yirix|powers]]

Calus' personality is defined by five key characteristics: his hedonism, his narcissism, his ruthlessness, his need to be adored, and his utter certainty in the ultimate [[Final Shape|victory]] of the Witness. As a hedonist, he loves opulence, extravagant displays, and pleasures of all kinds.<ref name="Booklet">[[Cabal Booklet]]</ref> As a narcissist, he considers himself godlike in status and power,<ref name="conspirator"/> is incapable of accepting any point of view other than his and immerses himself in royal scenery that often depicts his own image. When roused or denied, he is fully willing to use force to achieve his goals, throwing the old Praetorate to the mercy of mob justice without remorse and annihilating the Sindû fleet when they refused to join his loyalists.<ref name="HotAD"/> Fundamentally, however, Calus wants to love and be loved by those he rules. He abolished the Cabal Praetorate as he believed they abused their control of the Cabal Legions for their own benefit at the expense of the people's welfare, attempted to free the indentured Psions but was overthrown before he could complete the act, and considered the Consul and Ghaul turning the Cabal into a warmongering empire to be the ultimate betrayal to their way of life. <ref name = "Booklet"/>  

Calus has been imbued with potent psionic abilities by his Psion council, having the ability to pull individuals into what is called a mind prison; composed out of the sheer force of his psionic energy similar to an [[Ascendant Realm]], making him a force to be reckoned with.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCBJUGwKhmw</ref> Calus also claims to have knowledge on the true origins and purpose of the [[Traveler]], and to have encountered a far greater power during his travels.

Following his encounter with the "black edge," Calus had apparently undergone profound physical changes. His Councilor, [[Match]], claims to have seen him ingest exotic and dangerous substances, such as liquid helium-4 and pure neutronium, which would instantly kill any normal biological being. Some time after these events, Calus ceased to appear in the flesh, instead making exclusive use of his robotic proxies when addressing his advisors. It is implied that his robots no longer bear any resemblance to him as he is now, as in his own words, ''"I was not what I appeared to be"'' and ''"...my form and my strength are inextricably linked."'' <ref>'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Sekris Suit#Robes of Sekris|Robes of Sekris]]''</ref>

Calus' decision to embrace his hedonism partly stems from the fact that he knows how the end of the galaxy is approaching quickly, and how he wished to revel in each small delight until the end comes. <ref>'''Bungie (2017/12/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], [[I Am Alive]]''</ref>He states that the reason he won't kill the Guardian is because he's enamored with a warrior who won't yield in the face of such overwhelming despair.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/12/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], [[Zenith of Your Kind]]''</ref> Overall, the only goal Calus strives for is the right to be the last survivor before his own end at the upcoming apocalypse.

Calus appears to take issue with the [[Mara Sov|Queen of the Reef]], though not the [[Awoken]] people in general. His scribes state that at some future date his Shadows will kill the Queen for her defiance, and he personally mentions that if the Guardians come to live on the Leviathan that they cannot return to the [[Dreaming City]]. This likely has to do with their conflicting crowns, as Calus would not accept subservience to anyone but himself and the Queen notably bows to no one. He also loathes and pities the Hive, viewing the sword-logic as something they use as an excuse to hide their own fear of death; he states that given their repeated defeats at the hands of the Guardians, they would kill themselves as soon as they encountered them and save the Guardians the hassle if they truly believed it. Nonetheless, he wishes to civilize the Hive and induct them into his empire, saving them from themselves.

In [[Leviathan (raid)|Leviathan]], Emperor Calus will initially be immune to damage and will attack from afar with his Emperor's Gaze laser. He will summon an onslaught of Loyalists that must be killed, after which four unique Psions will appear on each of the four plates around the throne room. They each will each have a unique symbol above them: a War Beast, a chalice, a sun, or a pair of axes like the ones carried by [[Gladiator]]s. These symbols need to be memorized for the next section. After a brief pause, Calus will clap his hands twice to teleport all Guardians into his mindscape, where they will be met with a giant projection of his head. Killing the Psions beforehand will just spawn extra enemies.

In [[Desperate Measures]], Calus appears as the final boss of the mission, being the final fight of [[Lightfall]]. He appears in the chamber underneath the Veil and can be seen observing it when the Guardian arrives a few seconds after him. To start the encounter, a member of the [[Fireteam]] must either approach Calus past the rally flag, or step onto one of the side platforms, which will cause Calus to turn around and summon his Resonant Sun [[Cabal Slug Launcher]], beckoning any Guardian to fight him as considerable amounts of [[Shadow Legion]] pour into the arena to assist him.

*Calus also shares a rivalry with the Drifter over the Guardians and their allegiance, despite sharing similar apocalyptic beliefs over the Darkness.

*''[[Cabal Booklet]]'' {{Fm}}

***''[[Season of the Deep]]'' {{Mo}}

**''[[Into the Light]]'' {{Mo}}

*''[[The Hidden Dossier]]'' {{Mo}}

[[Category:Paracausal entities]]