Editing Hive

As the newborn Hive forced an ultimatum on the remaining Krill either to accept the worms or perish, Auryx turned his attention to Fundament's moons and the [[Ammonite]]s there who had allied with the Traveler and given asylum to Taox.<ref name="One">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XIV: 52 and One|XIV: 52 and One]]''</ref> Initially he was willing to negotiate with the Ammonites. His sister Savathûn, under pressure from the Worms, killed Auryx as punishment for not destroying them.<ref name="Born As Prey">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XV: Born As Prey|XV: Born As Prey]]''</ref> Rather than dying, Auryx's soul instead passed to the [[Ascendant Realm]], where it resided until he returned to the mortal realm.<ref name="Weakness Verse">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XVII: The Weakness Verse|XVII: The Weakness Verse]]''</ref> Rebuked, Auryx purged what sympathy and goodwill he had left, becoming a merciless tyrant. They overwhelmed the Ammonites, slew the Leviathan, and forced Taox and the Traveler to flee.<ref name="Crusaders"/>

He and his sisters regularly warred with and killed one another afterwards, as part of their worship of the Sword-Logic and their attempt to become the sharpest blades in the universe, each returning to their throne worlds whenever defeated. Their war of revenge against Taox had transformed into a campaign of mass genocide when they slew the Qugu and other interstellar civilizations to feed their worms. The gods of the Hive also established their throne worlds within the Ascendant realm, with Auryx naming his the High War.<ref name="Hive">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XX: Hive|XX: Hive]]''</ref><ref name=Incision>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXI: an incision|XXI: an incision]]''</ref><ref name="The High War">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXII: The High War|XXII: The High War]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXIII: fire without fuel|XXIII: fire without fuel]]''</ref> [[Savathûn]] was inspired by this, and named her own throne world the [[High Coven]].<ref name="The High War"/>

Fearing that he was becoming a nihilist, Oryx eventually decided to sire his own spawn. The result of this was [[Crota, Son of Oryx]], and the Deathsinger twins, [[Ir Anûk, Deathsinger|Ir Anûk]] and [[Ir Halak, Deathsinger|Ir Halak]]. One day, the Deathsingers were refining their [[Deathsong]]s and came up with the idea of the [[Oversoul]]. Intrigued, Oryx commanded Crota to watch his sisters, so that he might learn something. But while Oryx was off studying the Deep, Crota was deceived by Savathûn into using his [[Cleaver]] to cut a portal in the High War, allowing the [[Vex]] to enter.<ref name="partition">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXXVIII: The partition of death|XXXVII: The partition of death]]''</ref> For one hundred years the children of Oryx waged war with the Vex, who quickly deduced that worshipping the Sword Logic and the Deep was key to attaining power in the High War. However, while the Hive were able to overpower the Vex, they were unable to expel them, as they lost too much power whenever they entered the Vex conflux. The situation became so severe that the Worm God [[Eir]] itself demanded that Oryx return and end the war.<ref name="open eye">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXXIX: open your eye : go into it|XXXIX: open your eye : go into it]]''</ref> Quickly returning to the High War, Oryx used his powers to Take the Vex and cleanse his throne world. Angered at his son's imperfection, Oryx threw Crota into the Vex gate network, decreeing that he "''return victorious or die forgotten''". At first, Crota resented his father for his apparent abandonment, but after time, he came to understand his father, and built temples to Oryx and the Deep, eventually becoming a vital link in Oryx's tithe of death and achieving godhood himself.<ref name="Emperor">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XL: An Emperor For All Outcomes|XL: An Emperor For All Outcomes]]''</ref> However, Oryx recognized that the threat of the Vex invading his throne world could not happen again, so he moved the High War into a mighty [[Dreadnaught]] scrimshawed from the remains of Akka.<ref name="Dreadnaught">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XLI: Dreadnaught|XLI: Dreadnaught]]''</ref>

During the [[Hive-Harmony war|Hive's campaign]] against the [[Harmony]] and the Vex, [[Quria, Blade Transform]] presented Oryx with a simulation of his former self, Aurash. Oryx looked upon the simulation with amusement, while Aurash looked upon Oryx in horror, demanding to know what he had done to her sisters and her people.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XLII: <>.7C<>.7C<>|XLII: XLII: <>|<>|<>]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XLIII: End of Failed Timeline|XLIII: End of Failed Timeline]]''</ref> In the end, Oryx Took Quria and presented the Vex to Savathûn as a gift. When she asked him what proof they had that their actions right, Oryx simply replied that the Hive's existence was proof enough in their convictions to live eternal by the Sword-Logic.<ref name="spe">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XLIV: strict proof eternal|XLIV: strict proof eternal]]''</ref> Following the war with the Harmony, Savathûn decided that her fleets would enter the black hole that the Harmony lived around, claiming that they would become stronger for it, while Xivu Arath detached her fleets from Oryx's, as she felt he constrained her too much.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XLVI: The Gift Mast|XLVI: The Gift Mast]]''</ref> Meanwhile, Oryx continued his crusade alone while ruminating on the future.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XLVII: Apocalypse Refrains|XLVII: Apocalypse Refrains]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XLIX: Forever And A Blade|XLIX: Forever And A Blade]]''</ref>

As the Hive launched their [[Seeder Ship]]s towards [[Earth]], a fireteam encountered elements of the Hive in the [[Rusted Lands]] in the ''Eastern Flooded Zone''; only one surviving [[Hunter]] returned to warn the City of the initial Hive invasion of Earth.<ref name="TRL">'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Activities|Activities]]/[[Grimoire:Activities#Crucible Arenas|Crucible Arenas]], [[Grimoire:Activities/Crucible Arenas#The Rusted Lands|The Rusted Lands]]''</ref> Against overwhelming odds, the Guardians succeeded, barely, in repelling the Hive's offense at the [[Battle of Burning Lake]]. Not realizing the true threat the Hive posed, they planned a counterattack on the moon. Lord [[Shaxx]], a veteran of Burning Lake, opposed this, and eventually busted in on a [[Consensus]] meeting, calling the idea of a counterattack 'madness' and saying that the Guardians needed to learn about the Hive's swords and find a way to defend against them, first.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Inventory|Inventor]]/[[Grimoire:Inventory/Heavy Weapons|Heavy Weapons]], [[Grimoire:Inventory/Heavy Weapons#Raze-Lighter|Raze-Lighter]]''</ref> The Consensus ignored Shaxx's warnings and the failed attack that followed was later called the [[Great Disaster]]. The Sword Logic proved to be too much for the Guardians, as countless heroes fell before Crota's [[Blades of Crota|Blades]], rendering the entire battle a mere slaughter.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/12/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Dark Below]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Exalted Hive|Exalted Hive]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Exalted Hive#Blades of Crota|Blades of Crota]]''</ref> In particular, the legendary [[Titan (class)|Titan]] [[Wei Ning]] was slain personally by the God-Knight, who cracked the surface of the Moon with his sword, forcing the Guardians to retreat completely from the battle.<ref name="Warlock2">'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Guardian|Guardian]]/[[Grimoire:Guardian#Classes|Classes]], [[Grimoire:Guardian/Classes#Ghost Fragment: Warlock 2|Ghost Fragment: Warlock 2]]''</ref> The Vanguard and Consensus then declared the Moon off-limits, and allowed only the most elite Guardians enter.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Places|Places]]/[[Grimoire:Places#Moon|Moon]], [[Grimoire:Places/Moon#Ghost Fragment: The Ocean of Storms|Ghost Fragment: The Ocean of Storms]]''</ref>

The exact nature of Oryx was once unknown to the Guardians, but the name Oryx appeared often enough in Hive rituals that it could not be ignored. [[Shrine of Oryx|Shrines]] dedicated to Oryx, used by the Hive to communicate with Oryx across the universe, were known to exist throughout the Solar System. [[Osiris]] studied the Hive extensively and foretold that the [[Spawn of Crota]] would one day pave the way for Oryx's coming by "snuffing out the worlds of [[Light]]".<ref name="Spawn Crota">'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive#Spawn of Crota|Spawn of Crota]]''</ref> Members of the [[Blood of Oryx]] Hive sect are thought to be the direct servants of Oryx himself, though it is speculated that he is the master of all other Hive sects as well.<ref name="Grimoire">'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive|Hive]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive#Blood of Oryx|Blood of Oryx]]''</ref>

Since the Guardians refused to take Oryx's place as the next Taken King, various powerful Hive and Taken entities arose in a bid to claim the Osmium Throne for their own. Chief among the contenders for the throne were [[Alak-Hul, the Darkblade]], a powerful Hive warrior Oryx imprisoned for an earlier usurpation,<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Exalted Hive|Exalted Hive]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Exalted Hive#Alak-Hul, the Darkblade|Alak-Hul, the Darkblade]]''</ref> and [[Malok, Pride of Oryx]], a former scion of Savathûn Taken by Oryx.<ref>'''Bungie (2016/4/12)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[April Update]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/The Taken|The Taken]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/The Taken#Malok, Pride of Oryx|Malok, Pride of Oryx]]''</ref> Before Alak-Hul could break out of his shadowed cell, Eris Morn called upon the Guardians to break into the prison section of the Dreadnaught, not only to remove a potential candidate for the throne but also to avenge her fallen comrades who fell to Alak-Hul. After fighting to Alak-Hul's cell in [[The Hanging Crypts]], the Guardians battled with the Darkblade within his own black cell, but after a tense battle, they successfully struck him down.<ref name="TSC">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[The Sunless Cell]]''</ref>

{{Quote|The markings suggest this is a Hive god, but I don't recognize the symbol. Nothing in the World's Grave file either. The name is… Nokris.|Ghost}}<ref name="GhostScan">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Ghost scan]]: [[Ghost scan#Dreadnaught, Rings of Saturn|DNT-TRN-3]]''</ref>

Many centuries earlier, Nokris, was exiled from kith and kin for violating the Sword Logic via necromancy. Nokris originally hoped to prove himself to his father by communing with the Worm Gods the same way Oryx himself did but was rejected by them to save Xol, Will of the Thousands. They forged a pact where Nokris traded his heart for the secrets of necromancy, which Oryx viewed as heresy. Despite being exiled, Nokris and his followers aimed to conquer a world for their god and Mars became their target.<ref name="VB">'''Bungie (2018/5/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Warmind (expansion)|Warmind]] - Item Description: [[Verity's Brow#Lore|Verity's Brow]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2018/4/30)''', ''[[Weblore]]:[[Weblore:Warmind|Warmind]] - [[Weblore:Warmind#Apocrypha|Apocrypha]]''</ref> However, Rasputin put a halt to their invasion, managing to imprison Nokris, Xol, and their army within the frozen wastes of Hellas Basin. For centuries they remained there until the return of the Light melted their prison. Now free, the forces of Xol aimed to destroy the ancient Warmind and continue their conquest of Mars.{{Citation needed}}

Traversing deep into the Keep, the Guardians unlock passages to new forbidden areas, encountering strange yet powerful Hive, Disciples of the Broken Blade. After unlocking each gate and traveling deeper into the Pit, the Guardians encounter products of Hashladûn and her sisters' wicked schemes.<ref name="PoH">'''Bungie (2019/10/1)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Shadowkeep]] - [[Pit of Heresy]]''</ref> Upon further investigation, the Guardians learned that Hashladûn and her sisters used the pits beneath the Scarlet Keep to further their magical experimentation and find a possible solution to use the Pyramid's power to create a Nightmare of Oryx. Though such a plot directly violated the Sword Logic, the Daughters of Crota believed such a breach of the Hive's sacred Logic was necessary, as the Taken King's killers, the Guardians, never assumed his place. However, the Daughters of Crota were unable to perform such a feat, as Hive Minds could not conjure Nightmares. However, [[Kinox]] instead proposed to use the Nightmare essence and raise a champion of their own: [[Zulmak, Instrument of Torment]] by creating a Nightmare hybrid abomination to serve as their puppet.<ref name="Apostate">'''Bungie (2019/10/1)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Shadowkeep]] - Item Description: [[Apostate#Lore|Apostate]]''</ref><ref name="Blasphemer">'''Bungie (2019/10/1)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Shadowkeep]] - Item Description: [[Blasphemer#Lore|Blasphemer]]''</ref><ref name="Heretic">'''Bungie (2019/10/1)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Shadowkeep]] - Item Description: [[Heretic#Lore|Heretic]]''</ref>

Sometime before the Black Fleet's appearance in the Solar System, the Hive would lay waste to the Cabal after Savathûn managed to corrupt one of their high-profile leaders, [[Umun'arath]], into worshiping the Hive. As a "gift" to her sister Xivu Arath, Savathûn had Umun'arath perform a ritual that in the event of her death, a portal would open, allowing the Hive to directly invade the Cabal homeworld of [[Torobatl]]. The plan came to fruition when Uman'arath was killed by her former student, [[Empress Caiatl]], allowing the full force of Xivu Arath's armies to invade.<ref name="New Gods">'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]:[[Lore:Empress|Empress]], [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 5: NEW GODS|CHAPTER 5: NEW GODS]]''</ref> Despite the Cabal's best efforts, the Hive of Xivu Arath slaughtered their people and destroyed much of their homeworld, forcing Empress Caiatl to order an evacuation of their homeworld and regroup to the Solar System, the home of those who have slain Hive gods before: the Guardians of the Last City.<ref name="Battle Song">'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]:[[Lore:Empress|Empress]], [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 6: BATTLE SONG|CHAPTER 6: BATTLE SONG]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]:[[Lore:Empress|Empress]], [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 8: EMPRESS|CHAPTER 8: EMPRESS]]''</ref>

{{Quote|Tell me oh honored guest… How did you do it? How did you find the strength to destroy something so like yourself? To look in a mirror and kill what looks back...|[[Savathûn]]}}

Despite being suspicious, the Guardians listen to Fynch, who directs them to a temple Savathûn had made in honor of her sister, Xivu Arath, the [[Temple of the Wrathful]], and what they found inside was, to their surprise, Sagira's shell, collected by Savathûn after her light was taken by Xivu Arath. Traversing the dark temple and battling organized Scorn forces, the Guardians were able to retrieve Sagira but, in doing so, they hear Savathûn's voice telling them of a being called "the Witness".<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[The Ghosts]]''</ref> Uncertain of what the Witness is, the Guardians learn they heard was a memory of Savathûn and to fully see the memory, they delve deeper into the Throne World, passing various Darkness-related illusions, before entering a portal that leads them to a strange area called the [[Altar of Reflection]]. There, placing Sagira's shell at the altar, the Guardian see Savathûn's memory where she impersonated Osiris and from his friends, learned secrets of the Light. Believing that those secrets involve how the Witch Queen stole the Light, Ikora has the Guardian continue working with Fynch in discerning more from Savathûn's memory.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[The Mirror]]''</ref> However, to fully do so, Ikora allowed the Guardian to enter the Pyramid on [[Europa]] to directly commune with the Darkness, heightening their [[Deepsight]] abilities to see through the illusions in Savathûn's Throne World.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[The Communion]]''</ref>

Returning to Fynch, the Hive Ghost informs them of another temple that Savathûn had made in honor of her brother, Oryx, the [[Temple of the Navigator]], claiming there is a secret within. The Guardians enter the Temple and battle with to their surprise, [[Alak-Hul]], now raised as a Lightbearer called the Lightblade. Though the Guardian managed to slay Alak-Hul, his Ghost managed to escape before they could destroy it. Nonetheless, at the center of the Temple, the Guardian found a piece of the [[Tablets of Ruin]], the artifact that taught Oryx how to Take.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[The Lightblade]]''</ref> Bringing the tablet piece to the Altar of Reflection, they see Savathûn's memory where she refused to become the Taken Queen but learn to their shock, that Savathûn intends to bring the Traveler to her Throne World and seal it away, as a way to "protect" it from the Witness. However, such an act would cut the Guardians off from the Light and leave the Last City vulnerable.{{Citation needed}}

Admitting that she anticipated this and needing every advantage they can get before the Witch Queen enacts her plan, Ikora has the Guardian follow another tip from Fynch, believing that there is another important artifact hidden within Savathûn's Throne World. Fynch informs the Guardian that deep beneath the tunnels of the [[Quagmire]] lies a temple dedicated to Sathona, the Witch Queen's former identity before becoming a Hive God, and within lies an artifact next to a statue of Sathona. Despite heavily entrenched Scorn forces and many illusionary securities impeding them, the Guardian manages to locate the [[Temple of the Cunning]] and enter it. There, they find the statue of Sathona and after slaying the Scorn Warden and moving past Savathûn's illusionary tricks, they collect a separate piece of the statue: a calcified Worm Familiar, the same one Sathona had kept by her side that whispered to her about Fundament's end. However, taking the familiar activates a powerful illusion of an Ahamkara and a suffocating haze that nearly kills the Guardian.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[The Cunning]]''</ref> Despite this, the Guardian manages to escape with the Worm Familiar and attempts to take the familiar to the Altar of Reflection but the portal entrance rejects them, forcing Ikora to call upon Eris Morn for guidance.  

Eris tells them that from a trusted source, Mara Sov, a memento from Savathûn before her conversion to the Light is located deep in her fortress, a possible answer to how the Witch Queen gained of the Light. Guiding them to the Apothecary Wing of the Fortress, Eris claims that the item is a crystal that was once a part of Savathûn's prison during her time with the Awoken. Using their gift to pierce through illusions, the Guardian is able to traverse Savathûn's fortress and breach the [[Apothecary]], the grounds from which the Lucent Brood conduct their wretched experiments with the Light. Within the Apothecary, the Guardian search for the Crystal but encounter the keeper of the Apothecary, [[Savathûn's Right Hand]], a Lightbearer Wizard. Chasing the wizard throughout the Apothecary, the Guardian manages to corner the wizard at the crystal's location and slay her.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[The Last Chance]]''</ref> Grabbing the crystal allows the Guardian to hear a piece of Savathûn's memory but to fully see the memory, they return to the Altar of Reflection. Bringing the crystal to the altar, the Guardians witness that after Savathûn escaped from her crystal prison in the Reef, she came to Earth, to a mountain range overlooking the Traveler and the Last City. There, she came to the Traveler as a "supplicant" but at that point, the wounds from her escape became too much and died. However, to their shock and horror, the Traveler willingly has a Ghost, [[Immaru]], revive Savathûn as a Lightbearer the same way as a Guardian. At the memory's end, Savathûn herself enters and "thanks" the Guardian for helping her remember her memories, proving that the Witch Queen never stole the Light but was ''granted'' it. Before Savathûn could attack the Guardian, they managed to escape and report back to the Last City, telling the Vanguard of the awful truth they had witnessed.{{Citation needed}}

The Vanguard is left completely shocked and rattled to the core that the Traveler would raise Savathûn, one of humanity's most devious adversaries, and grant her the Light. Zavala himself is left incredulous and in near denial but Eris Morn points out the Traveler's behavior of uplifting countless civilizations and then abandoning them in the [[Books of Sorrow]]. Zavala attempts to denounce this as mere Hive propaganda but Eris further details that the Fallen themselves tell a similar story, the moment the Witness and its Black Fleet arrived, the Traveler left, leaving them to the [[Whirlwind]], and eventually making it's way to the Sol System. However, Zavala angrily reminds everyone present that when the Black Fleet arrived in the Sol System, the Traveler sacrificed itself to save humanity. Yet, the Vanguard Commander cannot comprehend that after everything the Hive had done, the Traveler would give Savathûn the Light. Ikora merely states that it doesn't matter, regardless of the Traveler's reasons, only concerned that if the Witch Queen takes the Traveler and seals it away, humanity would lose any hope of surviving the Witness.{{Citation needed}}

Theorizing that the calcified Worm Familiar found in Savathûn's temple may hold the key to stopping the Witch Queen, Ikora takes the Worm to the Enclave, believing that the Relic within may be able to slice into its past. With Eris helping her prepare, Ikora, after a struggle, can see into a memory of the Worm Familiar and discovers a shocking revelation: the Worm Familiar whispered that a cataclysm would come and destroy their home of Fundament but in truth, it was the Witness who spoke and it lied to Sathona. There was no cataclysm coming. The Hive were lied to. The Witness was aware that the Krill would soon encounter the Traveler and so, to claim them first, the Witness deceived Sathona into guiding her siblings into the Deep, thereby leading them to release the Worm Gods and forge the pact that would create the Hive species and rebirthing Sathona and her siblings into the Hive Gods, Oryx, Xivu Arath and Savathûn.{{Citation needed}}

Armed with this knowledge and with Savathûn's ritual already beginning, Ikora has the Guardian take the familiar so when they confront the Witch Queen, the truth would destabilize the Hive God of Lies, breaking her hold over the ritual. With no time to lose, the Guardian enters Savathûn's Throne World but finds that the Traveler is already within her domain, forcing the Guardian to fight through Hive and Scorn forces to reach the portal to the ritual's location. Fortunately, Ikora herself arrives to help open the way after the Guardian held off Hive reinforcements, allowing the Guardian to enter the [[Court of Thorns]] and fight their way up to the top of Savathûn's fortress. Despite Lightbearer Hive barring the way and the Witch Queen's taunts, the Guardian was able to reach Savathûn's inner chamber and the ritual's location, the [[Sanctum of the Brood Queen]]. Confronting Savathûn, the Guardian battles her and her Lightbearer Hive and manages to defeat her, but before they can destroy her ghost, she traps them in a thread-bound spell, allowing herself the time to revive and retreat to her ritual's center point. Pursuing, the Guardian battles with Savathûn once more but proves too powerful for them.<ref name="Ritual">'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[The Ritual]]''</ref>

Knowing the truth won't likely stop her but aware they need to try, the Guardian gains access to a portal that leads them to a memory altar but also sees that Savathûn is casting a spell that is weaving a web around the Traveler. Heading to two of the towers, the Guardian can slay the spell's [[Threadweaver]]s, undoing the spell before showing Savathûn the memory of the Witness' lie. At first, the memory surprises and confuses Savathûn, she ultimately becomes infuriated that the Guardian is using her own tricks against her, sending the Witch Queen into a fury, as they disrupt her ritual and undo her spell. With the last of the Threadweavers slain and her spell broken, the enraged Savathûn forces the Guardian back to her Sanctum and battles them. Despite the full force of her light and the support of her Lucent Brood, the Guardian nonetheless defeats the Witch Queen. Before dying, Savathûn admits she miscalculated and gives the warning to the Guardian that the Witness is coming and the "game" is theirs to play now. However, before the Guardian can destroy her ghost, the Traveler returns to the Last City in a flash of light, allowing Immaru to flee. Taking it nonetheless as a victory, Ikora sends her Hidden to collect Savathûn's remains with the Guardian believing that their next plan is to prepare for the Witness' return and prevent another Collapse.<ref name="Ritual"/>

Despite the loss of their queen, the Lucent Brood continued to operate under Immaru, plotting his return as the Hive and Scorn struggled for supremacy over Savathûn's Throne World. This forces the Vanguard to conduct operations within the Throne World to prevent either faction from gaining any ground.{{Citation needed}}

Following Savathûn's death, Ikora knows that the Witness is likely returning to finish what it started and understanding they need the support, she summons the Guardian to the Enclave on Mars to meet with Mara Sov who requested them for a special task.{{Citation needed}} At the Relic, the Guardian finds the Witch's Queen's dying worm, brought by Mara Sov who believes the worm holds secrets that they could learn from involving humanity's collapse. The Awoken Queen states she plans to give the worm strength and host to keep it alive, thereby allowing them to glean the secrets they require. Though the Guardian believes this to be a death sentence, Mara believes for her, it will be worth the risk.{{Citation needed}}

Knowing where they can find the means to breathe life into the worm, Mara Sov guides the Guardian to a city shrouded in Darkness near the caverns of Savathûn's Throne World. Taking the worm with them, the Guardian can locate the doorway to the Dark City, finding it to be similar to what they found inside a Pyramid. Mara Sov explains that a disciple of the Witness created the Dark City with the purpose to grow and facilitate beings similar to the worm itself and what they are looking for is akin to a Cryptoglyph, a Darkness incubator that will provide life for the worm. The Guardian locates the Dark City but finds only a resonance of a Cryptglyph that the Scorn gave their lives to protect. Mara Sov suspects that the resonance is but a trick and advises the Guardian to clear it, doing so opens a portal that allows the Guardian to traverse deeper into the Dark City and locate the Cryptoglyph, claiming it from the Scorn thieves. Traversing further, the Guardian can locate the Incubation Chamber they need, forcing them to confront the Scorn leader, [[Heimiks, Warden of the Harvest]]. Despite the Scorn's strength, the Guardian can clear them out, allowing them to access the incubator. Placing [[Savathûn's Worm]] at the altar, the Darkness energy breaths life into it, allowing it to speak for only a moment but its vitals remain low. Mara Sov believes this to be a partial success and knowing that there are more incubators hidden in the Throne World, she tasks the Guardian to keep the worm safe and refill the Cryptoglyph with energy, while she locates more incubators.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[Birthplace of the Vile]]''</ref>

To refill the Cryptoglyph with energy, the Guardian meets with Fynch, who believes to know what they need; a Cryptoglyph rune and they are located within the Temple of the Cunning. Returning to the Temple, the Guardian can find the rune but has to slay a large number of Scorn forces to energize it. Fynch then directs them to a Lost Sector called the Sepulcher, a hive tomb and after slaying its keepers, they find another incubator that allows the worm to regain some of its strength and speak again. The Awoken then strikes a bargain with the worm, offering a new host in exchange for secrets regarding humanity's collapse. Savathûn's Worm grudgingly accepts to keep itself alive. Despite their concerns that she is offering herself as the host, Mara Sov has the Guardian continue onward in finding more incubators within the Lost Sectors of the Throne World as well as keeping a location called the Wellspring secure from the Hive and Scorn. During this time, Savathûn's Worm repeatedly attempts to sow distrust between Mara and the Guardian but despite its words, they continue with Fynch aiding them in locating more runes and incubators.{{Citation needed}}

After finding enough incubators for Savathûn's Worm to regain its strength, Mara Sov demands the information they seek first before gaining its host. Just when it was about to speak of Savathûn's part in the Collapse, the Worm begins to writhe in pain, as a dormant curse the Witch Queen placed on it activated in the event Savathûn's Worm attempted to speak her secrets. Unsure of what to do, Mara Sov leaves but the Guardian quickly takes to the only other being they know who has information on Hive worms: Fynch. The renegade Hive ghost gives them a casing that temporarily prevents the worm from dying and now have to carry the Worm through springs of Hive energy to give it strength again. Despite Lucent Brood's forces attempting to stop them, the Guardian reaches through enough springs for the worm to stop dying. Mara Sov returns after this, apologizing, and directs the Guardian to fill the Cryptoglyph with Hive Light for the Worms ritual. Returning to the Apothecary, the Guardian manages to steal the Hive Light they need and reach the Temple of the Wrathful, where Mara Sov lays the groundwork for the ritual. Though the Guardian and their Ghost believe the Awoken Queen is about to become the Worm's new host, she instead turns the Worm into a weapon called [[Parasite]], much to the Worm's shock and dismay. Mara clarifies that she fulfilled her end of the bargain by providing a vessel for the worm, thereby allowing it to continue living, but its new host is now more like a prison, to which the Worm objects. The Scorn react to the Worm's presence in the ritual and, to prevent the worm from escaping, Mara Sov has the Guardian hold them off with their new weapon as she completes the ritual.<ref name="PP">'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[Parasitic Pilgrimage]]''</ref>

The weapon proves useful against the Scorn as Mara Sov finishes the ritual and now demands Savathûn's Worm deliver its end of the deal. Though angered at being deceived, it nonetheless agrees. Savathûn's Worm tells them in the wake of Humanity's Collapse, Savathûn rode along in the apocalypse but deceived the Witness when it turned a violent gaze upon the Traveler, weaving tricks and lies that ultimately turned the tides and forced the Witness to return to the stars. Though this information leads Mara and the Guardian to believe that Savathûn tricked the Witness to save humanity, Savathûn's Worm corrects them stating that she did so to protect the Traveler. With his part of the deal complete, Savathûn's Worm refuses to speak anymore but Mara Sov is nonetheless satisfied with the information they now have. The Awoken Queen then gives the Guardian another task: to keep the weapon so the information the Worm has does not fall into the wrong hands and hopefully it will speak more of its secrets.<ref name="PP"/>

Though Savathûn had been defeated, the Guardians still had to deal with her Lucent Brood and more importantly, the ramifications of killing Red Legion Cabal on Mars during their early missions against the Hive, which was a breach in the Last City's armistice with the Cabal Empire. Ikora informed the Guardian that Zavala managed to set up a meeting with [[Empress Caiatl]], to discuss the situation and avoid making another conflict with the Cabal, giving them a [[Synaptic Spear]], a weapon of cabal origin, before they head to the meeting.

At the Tower Hanger where the meeting was taking place, the Guardian arrived as Empress Caiatl expressed her anger that the Vanguard's Guardians opened fire on her troops, who were responding to an unexpected threat, towards Zavala, Lord Saladin and Crow. After offering their condolences, Zavala suggests they put that act behind them and work together to combat the threat of the Lightbearer Hive, which poses a threat to both humanity and the Cabal. Caiatl, despite her anger, agrees to ally against the Lucent Brood, as she is pleased that the Vanguard needs them to hit the Hive hard. Thus, operations in the Vanguard [[H.E.L.M.]] are set up and [[Lord Saladin]] works with Caiatl in combating the Lucent Hive. Caiatl explains that the Synaptic Spear is a weapon made from Light-suppressing technology, refined and weaponized. The Cabal Empress then instructs the Guardian to locate a Hive Lieutenant brimming with Savathûn's influence, then her Psions will force it into their mindscape, connect the Guardian's Light with the weakened Hive's. Doing so will force the Guardian to face the embodiment of the Hive's belief in their god, an [[Aspect of Savathûn]]. At that point, the Guardian will use the Spear to destroy the aspect, rendering the Hive Lightless. Without a worm or the Light, the Hive will die but Caiatl informs the Guardian that with her Psions keeping them alive, they can bring it to the Vanguard's H.E.L.M. and have [[Psion (Psisorium)|Caiatl's Psion]] shift through the Hive's mind to discover any secrets.

Though Lord Saladin was reluctant to work with the Cabal, the Iron Lord finds the Lightbearer Hive sickening and agrees to oversee operations. As Ikora focuses on Savathûn's Throne World, Lord Saladin directs the Guardian to locate the Lucent Hive that breached into the [[EDZ]], catching guardians unprepared, killing them and stealing their Light. After heading to the EDZ, the Guardian succeeded in battling the Lightbearer Hive, using the Spear to sever their connection to the Light and bring it to the H.E.L.M. research site, the [[Psisorium]] for the Psions to gaze into the Lucent Hive's strategy. The Mindscans already brought results that the Hive are hunting Guardians and collecting their Light, though for what purpose, they do not know yet. Despite the method in which the psions put the Hive in a painless state of being neither alive nor dead unnerves Zavala, Saladin and Crow, they nonetheless forge ahead in capturing more Lightbearer Hive and stopping Lucent Hive operations in the EDZ and Cosmodrome.

Despite the loss of many of their Lightbearers and Immaru's failure, the Lucent Brood remained active but operated under the Vanguard's radar as they contended with the resurgence of Nightmares, the return of [[Calus]] and his intention to become the newest Disciple of the Witness.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]]''</ref> However, following the Nightmare Containment and preparing for when Calus would make his next move, the Guardians would have to contend with another servant of the Witness: [[Eramis]], the Shipstealer and Kell of House Salvation, freed from her Stasis prison. The Dark Kell was given the order to find relics containing pieces of the fallen Disciple [[Nezarec]], which were once used by the Fallen of the Old Crews.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]]''</ref>

As the Guardian tracked one specific relic, held in the possession of [[Alaaks, the Beast Tamer]], they found her lair already ransacked and most of Alaaks's crew killed. The Guardian and Mithrax wondered who was also seeking the relics but nonetheless finished the job by slaying Alaaks and claiming the relic.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Pirate Hideout: The Beast Tamer]]''</ref> It wouldn't be until the mission to claim the relic held by [[Vrisk, the Coward]], that the Guardian discovered the Lucent Brood attacking the Old Crews, revealing themselves to be also seeking the relics, but for what purpose is unknown. Regardless, the Guardian prevented the Lucent Hive and their raid leader, the Hive Lightbearer, [[Ei Arat, Trespasser]], from claiming the relic.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Pirate Hideout: The Coward]]''</ref>

With the third party revealed to be the Lucent Brood, the Guardians worked in haste to search for the last relic and they found it within an asteroid lair already besieged by the Lucent Hive. In her haste and naivety, Eido secretly went ahead to collect the relic nonviolently and though she acquired the relic, the Hive spotted her and gave chase, forcing the Guardian and Mithrax to battle through the lair with all speed to save Eido, forcing them to slay another Hive Lightbearer, [[Hiak'ar, Hoardseeker]]. Unfortunately, Eido found herself cornered by the Lucent Hive but, to everyone's surprise, Eramis herself protected Eido as she safeguarded the relic. The Lucent Hive ultimately failed to collect the last relic as the last of their raid party was killed by Eramis.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/8/23)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Plunder]] - [[Pirate Hideout: The Lucent Brood]]''</ref>

Following both Eramis's and the Lucent Brood's failure to secure the relics of Nezarec, the Hive War God would re-emerge once more to consolidate her power over the system and prepare for the Witness's invasion. To do so, Xivu Arath amassed her Wrathborn forces to seize control over the Warsat Network in the wake of Rasputin's continued incapacitation. In addition, Xivu Arath assumed control over most of what was left of the House of Salvation, corrupting its members or resurrecting them as Scorn, serving as a punishment for Eramis.<ref name="HB:M">'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Heist Battleground: Moon]]''</ref> Though Xivu Arath gained control over some of Rasputin's defense systems, the whole network remained out of reach, forcing the War God to target one of the Warmind's creators, Clovis Bray himself, trapped as a stationary AI within the Creation Labs on Europa. The Guardians, under the direction of Ana Bray and a newly awakened Osiris, also searched for Clovis Bray as he was needed to restore Rasputin's central core systems. Though the Guardians were delayed due to some of the Warmind's defenses being used against them, they were nonetheless successful in rescuing Clovis from being subjugated by Xivu Arath's forces.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Hierarchy]]''</ref>

With his main AI being transferred to a prototype Exo Frame on the H.E.L.M., Clovis reluctantly agreed to aid Ana and the Guardians in restoring Rasputin. He first directs the Guardians to an underground Seraph Bunker on Luna, containing the main data of the submind [[Malahayati]]. Despite the heavy Wrathborn presence, the Guardians were successful in retrieving Malahayati.<ref name="HB:M"/> With further aid from Mara Sov, the Guardians next head to Earth to another bunker containing the data and warsat launch location. Despite Empress Caiatl's earlier efforts, the bunker's warmind defenses force the Guardians to infiltrate the facility and gain the data they need. However, they could not hold the facility as they lacked all the data they needed to launch them to the central hub of the Warsat network, the Seraph Station, a space station hovering in orbit over the Last City.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Operation: Archimedes]]''</ref>

In time, Clovis decrypted the next submind needed, [[Charlemagne]], deep within a vault on Mars. However, as they need Charlemagne intact, the Guardians make use of the "time wounds" found on the planet, windows into the Golden Age, which allows them access to Charlemagne's data in pristine condition. However, during this mission, the Exo Stranger, [[Elsie Bray]], arrives to aid her sister but immensely objects to Clovis Bray's involvement in the mission. Despite the argument, Elsie nonetheless agrees to aid in the mission but continues to hold their grandfather under a watchful and suspicious eye. The Guardians meanwhile infiltrate the Mars facility, heavily infested with Hive and Taken forces alike. Despite the warmind defenses impeding them, the Guardians manage to reach the vault with Ana's and Elsie's aid but are forced to face an old and determined foe: Kelgorath, risen to serve Xivu Arath once more and made into a [[Darkblade]]. Yet, despite his strength and power, the Guardians slay Kelgorath again, allowing them to gain Charlemagne's data.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Heist Battleground: Mars]]''</ref>

In addition to gaining Charlemagne and Malahayati's data, the Guardians were advised by Ana and Clovis to seek out a vault hidden within the Bray Patriarch's facility on Europa, beneath the Exoscience labs, the [[Yggdrasil Stack]], to help them understand the Submind frameworks and to merge it with their mainframe. As the Guardians infiltrated the labs, they encountered [[Warwatcher, Eye of Xivu Arath]], a powerful Hive Shrieker and commander within Xivu Arath's Horde. Despite the Shrieker's power, the Guardians destroyed it, allowing them to gain access to the vault and in the process, temporarily blinding Xivu Arath on Europa.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Heist Battleground: Europa]]''</ref>

Eventually, the Guardians made preparations for when Rasputin would be ready to assume control over the Network again, first by preparing the Seraph Station to be more accessible for the Warmind. Elisabeth and Ana Bray developed a means that would make it easier for the Guardian to board the station once Rasputin is ready, by uploading a virus into the station's security mainframe, they would be able to infiltrate the station and upload the data of Malahayati and Charlemagne, making it easier for when Rasputin is ready to assume control over the station. Using a system reboot, the Guardian was able to board the station without setting off any alarms or defenses but found Salvation Fallen Splicers working under the direction of Xivu Arath's Hive, led by [[Haroktha, Scourge of the Helium Drinkers]]. Elsie surmises that the splicers have been tasked to hack into the station's mainframe to make it easier for the Hive to corrupt and control the Warsat Network. Bypassing the station's heightened security, slaying the splicers and eventually Haroktha himself, the Guardians reached Nexus Control, the main hub of the station. There, they battle with, to their surprise, another old foe risen again, [[Praksis, the Technocrat]], now under the moniker of "The Defiled" and a Scorn in service to the Witness. Despite Praksis's stasis powers, the Guardians managed to slay the former lieutenant of Eramis's, allowing them to upload the virus and escape before reinforcements arrived.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Operation: Seraph's Shield]]''</ref>

Ultimately, after Rasputin was repaired enough for him to speak to the Guardians directly and reveal Clovis's true intentions in aiding them, causing the Bray Patriarch to be cast out by his granddaughters, Mara Sov would suspect Xivu Arath's true strategy in corrupting the Network: the War God was counting on the Guardians in restoring the Warmind's Warsat Network and use it against her Wrathborn in retaliation, thereby feeding her worm from all the destruction and conflict. Further, the conflict would also serve as a fuel source for a ritual, one large enough to open a portal over Earth and send her endless legions to overwhelm humanity, just as she had done to the Cabal on Torobatl. The Awoken Queen would bring these findings to the Guardian, Osiris, Rasputin and the Vanguard, causing them to debate their next move. Rasputin was uncertain as being humanity's protector is his purpose and not being a weapon is unknown to him yet he cannot allow Eramis and her splicers to hack into the network and use it against the Last City, thus having the Guardians continue infiltrating the vaults and collecting submind data. In a meeting with Zavala, Mithrax and Empress Caiatl, informing them of Xivu Arath's true plan, Mara Sov reasons that they cannot restore the Warmind. Ana, however, interrupts and voices her objections, stating that humanity needs Rasputin and that he is more than a weapon. Mara then suggests a compromise: instead of having Rasputin smite the Wrathborn, they restore him as Ana wants but he refrain from using his arsenal, creating a stalemate with the Hive God of War, denying Xivu Arath the requirements she needs for her ritual. Zavala and the other coalition members agree to the plan, leading the Guardian to continue in their infiltrations of the submind vaults and keeping Seraph Station secure.{{Citation needed}}

After many more weeks of collecting submind data and keeping the Hive at bay, Eramis would succeed in gaining access to one of Rasputin's most dangerous protocols, ABHORRENT IMPERATIVE, an order to have all the Warsats target the Traveler directly in the event the Traveler ever intended to leave Humanity. Desperate and with little time, Rasputin has the Guardians take his Pillory Engram to upload himself into Seraph Station and activate his AURORA SACRIFICE protocol, which will cause the Warsats to self-destruct but will also sacrifice himself in the process. As the Guardians battled with Eramis's House of Salvation, they made their way to the Bridge where they encountered more of Xivu Arath's Hive, before ultimately clashing with [[Ir Garza, Scourge of Earth]] as Rasputin uploaded himself into the station and as Eramis slowly gained access to the Warsats. Though the Guardians slayed Ir Garza, Eramis succeeded in gaining access to the Warsats, having them target the Traveler as it began to leave the Last City. However, Rasputin succeeded in getting the Warsats to self-destruct, saving the Traveler and thwarting Eramis's efforts. Yet, instead of leaving, the Traveler stays within Earth's outer orbit, with the Witness stating that it simply had no other place to run to.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[ABHORRENT IMPERATIVE (mission)|ABHORRENT IMPERATIVE]]''</ref>

With the Warsat network and the Warmind itself no more, rendering her ritual useless, Xivu Arath began to have her hive pull back but would still maintain a grip on Europa, causing the Guardians to continue operations to prevent the Hive from claiming the moon and corrupt what's left of Clovis Bray.{{Citation needed}}

Following the Witness's arrival and the Guardians combatting [[Emperor Calus|Calus]] and his [[Shadow Legion]] forces on both Earth and Neptune, the Traveler would be claimed by the use of a paracasual entity called [[The Veil]] to create a gateway upon it. After months of fighting the Shadow Legion and failed attempts to follow the Witness, the Vanguard received a distress call from Titan from [[Sloane|Deputy Commander Sloane]], who had been missing since the moon's disappearance following the Pyramid's arrival. With haste, Zavala gathers Saint-14, Lord Saladin and the Guardian to head to Titan and bring Sloane home.<ref name="Descent">'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[The Descent (mission)|The Descent]]''</ref>

Arriving at Sloane's last known position at the New Pacific Arcology, the team finds the area eerily quiet but as the Guardian headed toward the Communications Array to pinpoint Sloane's location, they come under assault from the Taken and Hive. During this, The Drifter makes a surprise appearance after taking notice of Titan's return, also looking for Sloane's whereabouts. As they fight off their attackers, they hear the thundering voice of Xivu Arath herself, taunting them. As the Guardian attempts to silence the Hive War God's Battlesong, they encounter another Celebrant of Xivu Arath, [[Azshradat, Celebrant of Xivu Arath|Azshradat]], but it escapes, leaving the Guardian to finish their task in realigning the Communications Array. However, they discover that Sloane's location is pinpointed one kilometer down in the methane ocean, where the pressure would likely kill anyone. With Zavala's insistence, Drifter lends the Guardian some aquatic devices that will allow them to survive the pressure for a brief period. The devices worked as hope and found Sloane, though partially corrupted with Taken energies, along with a massive creature the Deputy Commander claimed is named [[Ahsa]] and who the distress signal was actually for.<ref name="Descent"/> Sloane stated that Ahsa saved her life when Titan was taken by the Witness, almost being possessed by Xivu Arath when her Taken affliction began, and claimed she is an old enemy of the Witness. Further, her Taken affliction not only allows her to be "tuned into the enemy's radio" but also communicate with Ahsa, albeit very briefly, and Ahsa has some very important information to share with the Guardians.{{Citation needed}}

With the Drifter's expertise, his use of Gambit Tech and an underwater coral plant that bares the same physic properties as Egregore, the Vanguard believes they can strengthen Sloane's connection to Ahsa for her to interpret her messages. Their first mission involved finding more of the coral plant within the Methane seas and locating a Fallen Servitor, [[J4W-S, Wrath-Hunter Servitor]], that Xivu Arath's Wrathborn had taken control over. Delving deep into the methane seas with a golden age version of the gear the Drifter gave them, the Guardians are able to locate the servitor, after using Sloane herself as bait, destroy it and gain the egregore coral they need,<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Operation Thunderbolt (Twilight)]]''</ref> allowing Sloane to interpret Ahsa's first message. Said message involved "an oasis in the desert", of travelers and wanderers and the "first of those claimed by the Deep", the first "victims of the Witness".{{Citation needed}}

In addition to helping Sloane, the Guardians conducted Salvage operations in the methane seas on both the Vanguard's and Drifter's behalf. During one such salvage operation, they encounter Azshradat once more. Despite Azshradat's power and the Hive supporting him, the Guardians slayed the latest of Xivu Arath's Celebrants. The Guardians would also face old foes that Xivu Arath had risen and made Taken, such as [[Val Ca'uor]] but were not enough to stop the Guardians' efforts.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[The Descent (mission)|The Descent]]''</ref>

After gathering more salvage for the Drifter to tune his Gambit device, Sloane directs the Guardians back into the depths to find more coral egregore with Saint-14 providing tactical. As the Guardians worked their way down, they were swarmed by Xivu Arath's Taken forces but despite their efforts, the Guardians preserved, Sloane resisted the War God's taunts and managed to reach the sea floor, where they confront [[Kudazad, Binder of Savathûn]], a former field leader of the Witch Queen, now twisted to serve Xivu Arath. Despite the Wizard's power the Guardians managed to slay Kudazad and gather the coral they needed.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Mayday, Mayday (Midnight)]]''</ref> Using it, Sloane can interpret Ahsa's second part of her message, speaking about a "city of light" and a "Silent God withholding a deeper truth". However, the experience of the message takes a toll on the deputy commander, to the concern of both Zavala and Saint-14.{{Citation needed}}

In time, the Vanguard had located a new area of Titan's depths that possessed untouched egregore coral but their movements were noticed by Xivu Arath's forces, leading them to move in and try to claim the coral themselves. Racing towards the depths, the Guardians encounter Taken under Xivu Arath and find they were corrupting the coral before the Guardians could reach them. However, using the Drifter's tech, the Guardians were able to purify the coral as they took out the Taken. During this, Sloane noticed she was being pursued by a Taken Knight which she briefly fought off before it disappeared. The Guardians themselves would confront this Taken Knight, revealed to be Kelgorath, who allowed himself to be Taken to continue his devoted service to the Hive God of War.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - Item Description: [[Thin Precipice#Lore|Thin Precipice]]''</ref>. Yet, despite Kelgorath's persistence and Taken powers, the Guardians prevailed, slaying Kelgorath and collecting the coral.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Operation Fulgurite (Abyss)]]''</ref> With the coral, Sloane was able to better her connection with Ahsa, taking less of a toll on her, and interpret her next message. Said message spoke of "A promise of something more... Two halves of a whole... long divided."{{Citation needed}}

Later on, the Drifter would inform the Guardian that the salvage they collected from Titan's depths had been put to good use but, to complete it, he needed a different piece of technology, Pyramid tech. He directs them to travel to Savathûn's Throne World and secure pieces of Pyramid tech that the Scorn have been acquiring from the Rhulk's [[Sunken Pyramid]]. With it, he can modify his extraction equipment to work in the deepest trenches of the [[Kraken Mare]]. Traveling to the Quagmire of the Witch Queen's realm, the Guardian succeeds in gathering [[Amorphous Alloy]]s from the Scorn. After another Deepdive Mission and gathering egregore coral, Sloane interprets the next part of Ahsa's message which spoke of "calamity" and "A wordless denial. A fleeing god. Betrayal... and escape. The pursuit... for the final shape..."{{Citation needed}}

The Drifter would continue to tune his machine to strengthen Sloane's connection to Ahsa. However, to make it work better, he asks the Guardians to gain more Pyramid Salvage but most importantly, he has the Guardians hunt for something of the Light, specifically components of a Hive Ghost. Traveling to the Witch Queen's Throneworld once more, pillaging the Sunken Pyramid and hunting for a Hive Lightbearer, the Guardians return to the Drifter who uses the new components to his device to enhance Sloane's connection. This time, Sloane and Ahsa's minds become one, allowing Ahsa to speak with Sloane's voice for only a few moments to speak of the most important segment of her message: The Witness's origins. In the very distant past, the first victims of The Witness were as Ahsa described, a people not unlike humanity, struggling in a hostile world that would ultimately find the Traveler, giving it the name of "the Gardener", turning their world into a paradise and begin a golden age that would last eons. However, the Traveler never spoke to them or offer guidance as the people began to crave meaning in their lives, a purpose. In time, as they studied the Light, they encountered an entity that was connected to the Traveler, the Veil, and their study on it led them to commune with the Darkness, the power of thought and consciousness, for the first time, concluding that the Light was a force of chaos. However, they believed that by using the Veil and the Traveler together, they could bring order to the chaos, a "perfect" reality that they would call the Final Shape. The Traveler, however, refused to let this happen and thus fled but the people remained determined to enact their goal. Using the power of the Darkness, the people merged their entire civilization's consciousness into a single unfathomable being, The Witness. Said being would embark on its crusade to find the Traveler and the Veil to fulfil its ambitions in enacting the Final Shape and after billions of years, it is now close to reaching its goal.{{Citation needed}}

Sloane is left reeling at not just the strain of the message but at the knowledge of The Witness's origins, the desire for a purpose, to find meaning in a meaningless universe. Nonetheless, Ahsa's message gives the Guardians the knowledge of their foe few possess and hope that Ahsa may also have some intel on how to follow the Witness through the portal, thus resolving to continue the mission on Titan.{{Citation needed}}

However, following a recent Dive, Saladin took immediate notice that as the Guardians did their salvage missions, Xivu Arath had struck, conducting a ritual against Ahsa, leading her to leave the safety of Kraken Mare to disrupt their ritual but ended up being captured. Gathering Zavala, Drifter, Sloane, Saint-14 and the Guardian, the group mount a rescue mission, Saladin manages to track Ahsa's location and organize the group to divert Xivu Arath's forces to create an opening for the Guardian to breach through and reach Ahsa. Gathering his Iron War Beasts as backup, Saladin launches the mission but as the Guardian delves deeper and closer to Ahsa's position, Sloane feels Ahsa's pain as a result of their link, discovering that the ritual Xivu Arath is conducting is meant to Take Ahsa. Racing to the ritual site, the Guardian confronts the ritual's handlers, three wizards, each bearing the title [[Scream of Xivu Arath]], who were using corrupted egregore coral to the catalysts of their ritual. Despite the Hive and Taken's efforts, the Guardian slays the Screams and using Drifter's machine, purifies the coral, actually wounding Xivu Arath in the process. With the Iron War Beasts' support, the Guardian managed to disrupt the ritual and save Ahsa from being Taken, leading the group to clear their zones before Drifter had Ahsa, Sloane, Zavala and the Guardian transmat back to base.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Barotrauma]]''</ref>

Back at the safety of the Arcologies and Xivu Arath's forces in full retreat, Sloane "finishes the mission" by interpreting the last part of Ahsa's message but is nearly possessed and Taken by Xivu Arath. Fortunately, Zavala is able to reach Sloane, getting the Deputy Commander to regain herself and interpret the message: the way to The Witness may be blocked but one may know of a way to reach it, "she who hides truth in deception", Savathûn, the Witch Queen, leaving the Guardian and Zavala shaken. The finished message straining her and wounded from the ritual attempt, leads Ahsa to enter hibernation. However, the knowledge that the only method for the Vanguard to follow the Witness through the portal is to rely on the Witch Queen, which means they have to allow her to be revived. This plan leaves both Saladin and Saint-14 incredulous, believing that bringing Savathûn back is a huge mistake. Zavala however, believes there is no other way and claims that Eris and Ikora have a method to ensure the Witch Queen will remain captive even when revived but this does little to ease his fellow Titans or even the Guardian, citing that Immaru will not be fooled into a trap. Zavala however, states that it won't be a trap but a bargain. He gets his Lightbearer back while they get the answers they need to enter the portal to follow the Witness. Still heavily wary, Saladin departs to inform Empress Caiatl of this development while Saint-14 promises that if the Witch Queen strays for even a moment, he will strike, something which Zavala understands and accepts.{{Citation needed}}

As the Guardians combatted Xivu Arath's forces within the depths of Titan's oceans, they received word from Hawthorne that there had been a development on Titan; a Lucent Hive ship had delved deep into the waters beneath the New Pacific Arcology, though for what purpose remains a mystery.{{Citation needed}} Gathering a team, the Guardians brave the depths to reach the sea floor and the Lucent Ship but lose contact with Sloane as it seems a mass ritual being conducted at the site was disrupting communications. As they delved deeper into the methane sea to reach the Hive ship, the Guardians also collected calcified fragments that held the voice of Xivu Arath, who appeared to be journaling her tribulations since Oryx's death towards her conquest of Torabatl and even Savathûn's conversion to the Light.<ref name="GOTD"/>

After reaching the Lucent ship and locating the ritual's center point, the Guardians discovered the calcified remains of Oryx himself and the Lucent Hive were attempting a brute force approach to resurrect him with the Light. The ritual was led by a former member of the Grasp of Nokris, [[Šimmumah ur-Nokru]], now a Lightbearer necromancer for the Lucent Brood, along with other former members of Oryx's court. Despite the Lucent Hive's efforts, the Guardians slay Šimmumah ur-Nokru and disrupt the ritual, preventing the attempted resurrection but the revelation of such an attempt worried Sloane.<ref name="GOTD">'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Ghosts of the Deep]]''</ref> Taking this news to Ikora, the Warlock Vanguard agreed to set up patrols and fortifications to prevent such an attempt again but the situation rattled Ikora greatly. She took further measures by placing Oryx's corpse within a secured Vanguard vault, much like with the Witch Queen's remains.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - Item Description: [[Taken King Suit]]''</ref>

Female Krill would consume a substance called "mother jelly", similar to Earth bees, in order to reproduce, between the age of four and five Fundament years.<ref name="Predators"/><ref name="Sisters"/> Additionally, female Krill who consumed this jelly were capable of flight. Hive Wizards are the only fertile females, and are capable of either self-fertilization or being with a mate,<ref name="Hive"/> likely a holdover from their Krill past.

Hive gestate as eggs or cocoons.<ref name="Heart"/> Upon hatching, newborn Hive swallow a Worm larva whole, becoming symbiotic and dependent on it.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive|Hive]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive#Ghost_Fragment:_Hive_2|Ghost Fragment: Hive 2]]''</ref> These newborn Hive grow into Thrall, and Thrall that survive into maturity become Acolytes. Acolytes who have proven themselves can become Knights, who in turn may become Princes leading their own broods.<ref name="Hive"/>  

Hive are capable of [[wikipedia:sequential hermaphroditism|sequential hermaphroditism]]; Oryx, born the female Aurash, became the male Auryx after assuming the unique "king morph".<ref name="Born As Prey"/>. While Knights are commonly seen as male and Wizards as female, they are not completely locked to specific genders as evidenced by Xivu Arath remaining female despite being a Knight<ref name="OotD">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XII: Out of the Deep|XII: Out of the Deep]]''</ref> and Nokris remaining male despite being a Wizard.<ref name="GhostScan"/> Meanwhile, Ogres appear to be not a stage of growth in the Hive life cycle, but a mutation brought upon Thrall by Wizard rituals.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive|Hive]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive#Ogre|Ogre]]''</ref>

Grown members of the Hive are pale, sinewy, and vaguely humanoid, with varying levels of musculature and armor. Acolytes and Knights have three eyes, whereas Thrall appear to be eyeless, except for the Thralls encountered at the beginning of the [[Crota's End]] raid who all have three glowing eyes. Wizards would seem to be eyeless as well, but their eyes are really concealed behind the helmets they wear. The ancient armor many of the Hive wear has fused with their skin, becoming part of it.<ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2013/12/16/the-enemies-of-destiny.aspx?PostPageIndex=2 '''Game Informer''': ''The Enemies of Destiny'']</ref> When most Hive are killed by a body shot from a typical weapon, they disintegrate into ash, while suffering a headshot causes them to burst into [[Soulfire|green flames and embers]] before disintegrating into nothing, in both cases leaving parts of their armor behind. When killed by a [[fusion rifle]], [[trace rifle]] or similar disintegrating weapon or ability, most Hive will be disintegrated completely without leaving any ash or armor fragments behind.<ref name = "GIJ2014"/>

The Light is both a food source to the Hive and a cause of pain.<ref name="Heart">'''Bungie (2014/12/9)''', ''[[Destiny]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Exalted Hive|Exalted Hive]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Exalted Hive#Heart of Crota|Heart of Crota]]''</ref><ref name="Warlock2"/> The Hive life cycle is so deeply entwined with that of their parasitic Worm that not even the Light can fully restore them. While trickling Light can keep their Worm sated without the need for bloodshed or other forms of tithing,<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[Lore]]:[[Lore:Lucent Tales|Lucent Tales]], [[Lore:Lucent_Tales#Specter|Specter]]''</ref>, if a Lightbearing Hive is deprived of their Ghost, they will quickly die unless special measures are enacted.<ref name="PsiOpsBattlegrounds">'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Risen]] - [[PsiOps Battlegrounds]]''</ref>

The Hive are known to constantly adapt and evolve, generating new mutations as effortlessly as breathing, which is considered of great interest to the Vex.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/12/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]] - [[Bug in the System]]''</ref> They also described to be rather like their own living-component-containing [[Hive Warship|Warships]]; a terrifying amalgam of predator genetics, arcane bio-energetics, and what is considered as Darkness incarnate.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Activities|Activities]]/[[Grimoire:Activities/Crucible Arenas|Crucible Arenas]], [[Grimoire:Activities/Crucible Arenas#The Dungeons|The Dungeons]]''</ref> Their biology is so reactive that, when exposed to overwhelming amounts of beneficial Light, it causes the cysts used to contain it to become a [[Lucent Moth|rudimentary lifeform]] of its own.<ref name="KrillHive2"/>

Hive fangs grow in rows, with grooves on their roots, and are continually shed, much like those of Earth sharks; when one fang is lost, another moves forward to replace it.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Hunt]] - Item Description: [[Dark Heirlooms#Lore|Dark Heirlooms]]''</ref>

{{Quote|Crota's spawn will snuff out the worlds of Light, and Oryx's coming shall be unfettered.|[[Osiris]]<ref name = "Spawn Crota"/>}}

The Hive Prince Crota is introduced as one of the youngest Hive deities. Known as the God-Knight and the Hope-Eater, he and his broods precede the coming of Oryx when they invade worlds touched by [[the Traveler]] and its [[Light]].<ref name = "Spawn Crota"/> Oryx is Crota's father and the central figure of their religion as well as the God-King of the Hive;<ref name="Grimoire"/> through his shrines he maintains contact with his force spread across the universe.<ref name = "Destiny"/> Other deities include Oryx's own sisters Savathûn and Xivu Arath, and the greater Worm Gods Eir, Ur, Xol, and Yul. Like Crota and Oryx, they have disciples named after them.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/12/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Dark Below]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive|Hive]], [[Grimoire:Enemies#Ghost Fragment: Hive 4|Ghost Fragment: Hive 4]]''</ref> A fifth god, named Akka, is recorded in the Books of Sorrow and it is from his remains that the Dreadnaught is built.<ref name="Dreadnaught"/>

The Hive use a unique writing system,<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]] - Item Description [[Silken Codex]]''</ref> based on runes and glyphs which they describe as a "viral language". Hive runes draw their power from a [[Ascendant Realm|different dimension]], where there's no difference between a word and its meaning. According to Ikora, the Hive's runes are not letters but rather logograms representing a word or idea etched into them. Their patterns draw power from their meaning, and their orientation casts a spell.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [[Ikora Rey]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYrN3aCP7rA "Hive runes aren't letters. They're logograms. Each one represents a word or idea. Their patterns draw power from their meaning, and their orientation casts a spell. Eris uses them in her rituals... and we can use them now."]''</ref>  When the Hive erode the barrier between our dimension and theirs, the rune for 'death' brings literal death. They also employ it for their forbidden Hive rituals, including the use of [[Shadowrift]]s and the [[Weapons of Sorrow]]. The same glyphs are also found on sealings used to lock doors and contain their [[Phogoth, the Untamed|monsters]].

The Hive have great hatred for the [[Light]], and to them, the eternal struggle between light and dark is not only a war, it is a crusade; all Light must be devoured so Darkness can reclaim the universe.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive|Hive]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive#The Hive|The Hive]]''</ref> They have even attempted to attack the [[Traveler]] directly, through a ritual in which they drained its light through a fragment that they captured in the [[Chamber of Night]].<ref name = "Destiny"/>

{{quote|Ah, Oryx, how do we explain it to them? The world is not built on the laws they love ''[…]'' but in the cold hard self-verifying truth of that one ultimate arbiter, the only judge, the power that is its own metric and its own source—existence, at any cost. Strip away the lies and truces and delaying tactics they call 'civilization' and this is what remains, this beautiful shape.|The Darkness<ref name="Majestic">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXXII: Majestic. Majestic.|XXXII: Majestic. Majestic]]''</ref>}}

The Hive religion is not based on any sort of conventional morality; in fact, they see morality and the "false hope of comfort" as an abomination. Instead, a metaphysical principle known as the "[[Sword Logic]]" forms the basis of the Hive's belief system. According to the Sword Logic, it is the ultimate goal of intelligent beings to challenge one another for the right to continue existing, and a being may acquire paracausal power by defeating another being.<ref name="Darkness 3">'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Darkness|Darkness]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Darkness#Ghost Fragment: Darkness 3|Ghost Fragment: Darkness 3]]''</ref> All such power must necessarily be taken by force, not received as a gift.<ref name="King of Shapes"/> This is why Hive swords are so deadly to Guardians; they create a bridge in which the wielder saps the power of the victim.<ref name="Ascendant Sword"/>

This also extends to sacrifice, as Hive become Ascendant by consuming the souls of lesser Hive. The Hive's lust for power is a direct reflection of their Worm Gods' insatiable hunger for Light, and that the Hive must always be powerful, or else they themselves will be consumed. Even if they wanted to, the Hive can't stop killing or else they will perish. The Sword Logic determines the right to rule, as anyone who can depose the current King is rightfully the new King of the Hive. Anyone who cannot defend themselves, whether it be a person or a civilization, does not deserve to live and is fit to be obliterated.<ref name="Weakness Verse"/><ref name="General Battuta">'''reddit''', ''[https://www.reddit.com/r/DestinyLore/comments/5ag9ne/the_sword_logic_and_its_implications/d9gfxnb/ The Sword Logic and its implications - GeneralBattuta (Seth Dickinson), Books of Sorrow Grimoire writer]''</ref> This is how the Hive intend to "liberate" the universe from its false hope, and the existence of the Hive themselves is proof enough in their belief.<ref name="spe"/>

The Ascendant Realm is ruled in totality by the Sword Logic; when Crota accidentally allowed the [[Vex]] into his father's realm,<ref name="partition"/> they learned the Sword Logic from him and adapted it to their own functions,<ref name="open eye"/> learning to worship and bootstrap themselves into divinity, striving to become the most powerful beings in the universe.<ref name="Emperor"/> At the time however, they were unable to fully comprehend the role that the worms and the acausal Darkness played. While the Sword Logic helped the Guardians in defeating Crota when they stole his sword and used it against him,<ref name="Ascendant Sword">'''Bungie (2014/12/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Dark Below]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Activities|Activities]]/[[Grimoire:Activities/Raids]], [[Grimoire:Activities/Raids#Ascendant Sword|Ascendant Sword]]''</ref> they broke the Sword Logic when they recovered and uncorrupted the Light found in the Dreadnaught's cellar, and used it against Oryx, then refusing to take up the mantle as the new Taken King.<ref name="King's Fall">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Activities|Activities]]/[[Grimoire:Activities/Raids]], [[Grimoire:Activities/Raids#King's Fall|King's Fall]]''</ref>

{{Quote|Death is only and forever an ending. All else is sacrilege.|Kuldax<ref name="Heretic"/>}}

[[Resurrection]], in general, is seen as heretical by the Hive who follow the Sword Logic. To the Hive, death is the principle of the Sword Logic to attaining apotheosis; to take and grow stronger after defeating an opponent. If the slain were resurrected, it would be contradicting the logic it violated. As such, Nokris, who learned the secrets of necromancy from Xol, was branded a heretic, exiled from his kind and condemned to obscurity as his father removed nearly all traces of his name.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/8/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Warmind (expansion)|Warmind]] - Item Description: [[Wormgod Caress]]''</ref><ref name="VB"/>

The rules of death are somewhat different to the Hive than what they are to humans. This is most notably exemplified by the concept of Ascendance: those Hive individuals who have grown powerful enough through the Sword Logic can move between the physical dimension and the [[Ascendant Plane]] and carve a "throne world" there so that when they are killed in the real world, they retreat to their throne world and can return after a time. Only death occurring in their own throne world is a true, final death in terms of the Hive. It appears that dying in another's throne world is reversible, as illustrated in the Books of Sorrow, where Oryx resurrects his sisters having killed them both within his throne world.<ref name="Carved in Ruin"/> It is likely this was possible because the sisters had already established their own throne worlds.<ref name="The High War" /> Furthermore, the manner in which Oryx brings his sisters back is very particular - he does it by defining their nature through acts of war and cunning. At another point Xivu Arath calls him back from the Deep (where she and Savathûn have trapped him) in a similar manner, through describing him,<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXXV: This Love Is War|XXXV: This Love Is War]]''</ref> and millennia later Savathûn summons Xivu Arath to [[Torobatl]] through an act of "war and blood".<ref name="New Gods"/> Another example of a Hive dying in another's throne world and then coming back is [[Ir Yût, the Deathsinger]]; being one of the bosses of the [[raid]] [[Crota's End]], she dies in [[Oversoul Throne|his throne world]] but can be later seen attending Crota's ritual of passing in the mission [[Last Rites]]. Crota's mate Omnigul is also notable for returning after having been killed by Guardians, but it can be a hint towards her being an Ascendant Hive.{{Citation needed}}

Though most of the Hive pantheon seem to be Ascendant, it is hard to define the exact rules of achieving this status. [[Lore:Inquisition of the Damned|Inquisition of the Damned]] notes that the Daughters of Crota have not reached it, maybe due to the miserable state the [[Hidden Swarm]] had been in ever since Crota's death;{{Citation needed}} [[Hiraks, the Mindbender]] managed to carve out a small throne world thanks to the power murdering [[Cayde-6]] provided him, but his mate [[In Anânh, Brood Queen|In Anânh]] is yet to be seen coming back from beyond the grave.<ref name="Mindbender"/> Savathûn's daughters [[Balwûr]] and [[Dûl Incaru, the Eternal Return|Dûl Incaru]] are noted having some protection from dying (with Balwûr's death being "hidden well", according to Oryx), but there is no information whether her other child [[Malok, Pride of Oryx|Malok]] or Oryx's twin daughters [[Ir Anûk, Deathsinger|Ir Anûk]] and [[Ir Halak, Deathsinger|Ir Halak]], the inventors of death-hiding technique in the first place, had some sort of a throne world or an [[Oversoul]] too.{{Citation needed}}

There are other ways of protecting oneself from death besides having a throne world - the aforementioned Oversoul is one of them. Ir Anûk and Ir Halak invented a way of hiding one's death within this construct so that one can die only after the Oversoul have been destroyed. The Oversouls are often kept within throne worlds, as it was in the case of both Oryx and Crota. Members of the [[Court of Oryx]] are described as having their deaths hidden in various other ways: [[Kagoor]] hid hers within her skill of creating and commanding Ogres, [[Krughor]] in [[Cursed Thrall]] he would send forth into battle and the sisters [[Zyrok Däl]], [[Alzok Däl]] and [[Gornuk Däl]] in each other.{{Citation needed}}

Other than Nokris' necromancy, other blasphemous acts of defying death could be seen in the [[adventure]] [[Deathless]] on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], where [[Savathûn's Brood]] repeatedly killed and resurrected [[Takul-Dar, the Unbreakable]],<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]] - [[Deathless]]''</ref> and the story of [[Hashladûn, Daughter of Crota|Hashladûn]] and her sisters trying to bring back Oryx.<ref name="Heretic"/>

'''[[The Witness]]''', the First Knife, original master and creator of the [[Taken]], and the entity controlling the Hive and Worm Gods through the deeds of [[Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness|Rhulk]].<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - Item Description: [[Resonant Fury Suit (Titan)#Resonant Fury Helm|Resonant Fury Helm]]''</ref>  

Hive "technology" is esoteric and often bio-mechanical, constructed or grown from organic materials like bone or chitin. Through signs and incantations, the Hive are able to channel the Darkness, and through this magic, they can contend with the conventional technology of other species on equal or greater footing. According to [[Fynch]], old Hive structures decay into literal skeletons; everything the Hive use, from their weapons, ships and buildings, were all once things the Hive enslaved and twisted into a useful shape.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[Fynch]]: [[Patrol/Dialogue#Hive Ruin|"It's a skeleton of an old structure. Literally. Everything the Hive use — weapons, ships, buildings — it's all things they enslave and twist into a useful shape."]]''</ref> This fact is also supported by Eris, who mentions that Oryx has prisoners tortured and then renders them down into chitin for his Dreadnaught,<ref name="TSC"/> as well as by Toland, who theorised that the giant creatures, whose bones can be found on the Moon, were used by the Hive to burrow into the lunar rock to create the Hellmouth.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Ghost scan]]: [[Ghost_scan#Ocean_of_Storms.2C_the_Moon|MN-CON-3]]''</ref>

Hive tend to use physical chains with Runes to lock doors, and recently energy barriers powered by Soulfire crystals. Hive Runes have various meanings that the Hive can use to tap into different dimensions either as a doorway to another location or as a source of power. These dimensions hold no distinction between a word and its meaning, and in cases where the Hive erode the barrier between these dimensions and our own, the Hive rune for "death" can bring literal death to others.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]] - [[Ghost scan]]: [[Ghost scan#New_Pacific_Arcology.2C_Titan|TM-FH-2]]''</ref> Chains with these Runes cannot be broken physically. Runes can be "hacked" and cause the chains to disintegrate, though it is considered incredibly difficult to do so; a triptych of Runes is said to be "uncrackable". Ghosts are able to hack Hive Runes, but it takes them time.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]] - [[The Summoning Pits]]''</ref> Some Rune-locked doors, however, can only be broken using a Hive item known as a [[Tomb Husk]]. Hive crystals are structures powered by, or made of, Soulfire, an energy implied to be emitted by souls themselves. Hive crystals are used as power sources either for rituals or, more commonly, for maintaining barriers, whether to guard entrances or to shield a particular Hive from attack. Although the exact mechanism behind the barriers and crystals is unknown, a cutoff comment by [[Clovis Bray I]] has him believe that the barriers are some form of emitted [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casimir_effect Casimir field], though Ana mutes his communications link before he can bloviate further.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/06)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Operation: Diocles]]''</ref>

Hive have access to several forms of teleportation, from simple materialising and de-materialising from seemingly dust, to climbing out of shallow pools of water. The most iconic of them are "Ruptures";<ref name="LtL">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''Destiny: [[The Taken King]] - [[Lost to Light]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Ghost scan]]: [[Ghost scan#Dreadnaught.2C_Rings_of_Saturn|DNT-TAS-2]]''</ref> dimensional portals to different parts of space, or even new "spaces" in other dimensions such as the [[Ascendant Realm]] or the [[Vex Network]],<ref name="partition"/> caused by cutting a wound into the flesh of space itself,<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive Arsenal|Hive Aresenal]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Hive Arsenal#Tomb Ship|Tomb Ship]]''</ref> which they use for interstellar travel. These wounds can be performed either by use of the Sword Logic,<ref name=Incision/><ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XIII: Into the Sky|XIII: Into The Sky]]''</ref> through Soulfire rifts,<ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/06)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - Item Description: [[Disparity#Lore|Disparity]]''</ref> whatever method is employed by Tombships, or through Hive statues that are used to both activate and navigate through Ruptures. According to Eris Morn, however, only an Ascendant can will a Rupture to open,<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Enemy of My Enemy]]''</ref> and only Ascendant Hive can move through them;<ref name="LtL"/> a Rupture can sense if a being holds an Ascendant's soul<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Regicide]]''</ref> and will repulse any who do not possess one. There exists another method: a turbine known as a "Dimensional Lock", which allows Oryx to move between dimensions. Crota also appears to have one in his Throne World. According to scans, the place the lock is kept along with everything in said place only exists in one realm as long as the turbine is stationary.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Ghost scan]]: [[Ghost scan#Ocean_of_Storms.2C_the_Moon|MN-OST-1]]''</ref>

Some known Hive materials include [[Hadium Flake|Hadium]], which is a reactive crystal that stores any energy it is exposed to, [[Wormspore]], a concentrated transmutation catalyst that reacts to both the Light and the Darkness, and [[Moldering Shard]]s. [[Osmium]] holds a certain significance to the Hive due to their early years on [[Fundament]], seemingly a precious component for certain rituals, and a variant found scattered within Savathun's Throne World known as [[Fundamental Osmium]] is described as a super-dense transition metal with paracausal traces made from supernovae and dead stars that was taken from Fundament.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/interactions/evidence-board-hard-evidence| Evidence Board - Hard Evidence]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/hard-evidence-step-4| Evidence Board - Hard Evidence Step 4]''</ref> There also exists a filament that's said by Fynch to be a metamaterial capable of soaking up everything from vibration to EM radiation; an "all in one" passive scanner.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[Fynch]]: [[Patrol/Dialogue#Filament|"Oh, that filament — it's like a metamaterial. Soaks up everything from EM radiation to vibration. Now that? Yeah, that is a neat "all in one" little passive scanner."]]''</ref> Other examples of Hive inventions mentioned by Fynch include a Hive torch that may be used to broadcast signals by pulsing exotic radiation in a cycle,<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[Fynch]]: [[Patrol/Dialogue#Filament|"So, it's a Hive torch, yeah? But it's pulsing exotic radiation on a predictable cycle. Yeah, it's out there, but I'm thinking it's a broadcast."]]''</ref> a "boson impactor" that can be used as a bomb,<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[Fynch]]: [[Patrol/Dialogue#Filament|"Huh, the thermal signature's holding — oh! Whoa, whoa, whoa — that's a boson impactor, like a — like a bomb! So let's just look, but don't touch, yeah?"]]''</ref> and a difficult-to-make adhesive mixed with a "morta-toxin" - an exotic poison that affects Hive.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[Fynch]]: [[Patrol/Dialogue#Florescent Outpost|"Ah, so it's adhesive. Mixed with traces of what looks like a morta-toxin — that's an exotic poison that affects the Hive. Super hard to make… I imagine."]]''</ref> An unknown type of stone is used in the construction of Hive [[Tombship]]s,<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - Item Description: [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/fused-tomb-stone Fused Tomb-Stone]''</ref> along with their structures like their combat arenas; [[Toland]] questions if the stones have a strengthening function or are merely used as a legacy of a forgotten time.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Ghost scan]]: [[Ghost scan#Ocean_of_Storms.2C_the_Moon|MN-CON-2]]''</ref>

The Hive have taken an interest in fusing their own dark understanding with Humanity's mastery of war. The most well-known of these are the [[Weapons of Sorrow]]; initially created by the Hive themselves and later adopted by Humans who studied Hive arcana. While the Hive had uncovered this arcana of Ghost-killers from [[Xyor, the Unwed|Xyor, the Betrothed]] and [[Enkaar, the Anointed]],<ref> '''Bungie (2018/12/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Forge]] - [[The Draw]]''</ref> they would not adapt it to their conventional weaponry with Savathûn citing the process as "distasteful" to them.<ref> '''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Lucent Tales|Lucent Tales]], [[Lore:Lucent Tales#Immaru|Immaru]]''</ref>

*Ripper<ref>'''Bungie (2024/6/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Episode: Echoes]] - [[Lore]]:[[Lore:Dynasty|Dynasty]], [[Lore:Dynasty#Chapter 1 - A Step Leads. A Step Follows.|Chapter 1 - A Step Leads. A Step Follows.]]''</ref>

*The Hive and the Taken are the first races to work together within the ''Destiny'' series.