Nokris, Supplicant to Savathûn
From Destinypedia, the Destiny wiki
| Nokris, Herald of Xol | |
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| Nokris, Supplicant to Savathûn | |
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- "Hear me, o dreadful worm. We will raise an army. We will die and be reborn in your name, feed you the souls of our enemies."
"State your claim."
"We take Mars. " - — Nokris to Xol
Nokris, Supplicant to Savathûn is a Hive God[1] and the estranged son of Oryx, the Taken King[2]. Exiled by Oryx for his heresies, Nokris formed a pact with the Worm God Xol, Will of the Thousands, taking the title Herald of Xol and leading a new brood of Hive known as the Grasp of Nokris. Xol, Nokris and their followers would later travel to Mars during the Collapse, where they were imprisoned in the polar ice by the Warmind Rasputin. [3]
Following Xol's abandonment of Nokris in favor of the Guardians, Nokris pledged his allegiance to his aunt Savathûn, the Witch-Queen in a bid to end the Hive's pact to the Worms and the Witness. He served as the final antagonist of the Season of Arrivals, working for Savathûn to subvert the Witness's messages until he was defeated by the Guardians.
Biography[edit]
Pre-Golden Age[edit]
- "You seek power? I will give you power beyond measure. The power of life renewed."
- — Xol to Nokris[4]
Born to Oryx, the Taken King, Nokris was disfavored by his father for his physical weakness. To make up for this, Nokris instead honed his mind, teaching himself Hive arcana and hoarding knowledge and stories; in doing so, he found a different way of feeding his Worm through the Sword Logic.
Seeking to gain his father's favor, Nokris attempted to commune with the Worm Gods as Oryx once did, but most of them rejected his entreaties. However, Xol, fearing an imminent attack from Yul, agreed to make a pact with Nokris, who traded his heart for some of Xol's power and the forbidden secret of necromancy. [5][4][2]
Upon learning of his son's actions, Oryx was furious. Necromancy was considered a heretical violation of the Sword Logic, for it returns life to that which has rightfully been slain, and thus Nokris' actions were sacrilege. For his crimes, Oryx exiled his son and removed all references to him from the World's Grave and the Books of Sorrow;[6] only a statue within the Dreadnaught remained, bearing Nokris' name but no additional information.[1]
Nokris was unperturbed, for in exile he saw freedom and opportunity. He informed Xol that he would claim Mars in his name, and raised a new brood, the Grasp of Nokris, to conquer the planet.[6] Upon arriving on Mars during the Collapse, Nokris, Xol and their forces were met with overwhelming resistance from the Warmind Rasputin, who eventually invoked his SIBERIAN ENTROPY protocol and froze the invaders beneath a layer of ice in Hellas Basin. [7]
The Taken and Red Wars[edit]
- "The name is... Nokris."
- — Ghost[1]
Nokris first became known to the Guardians when the Young Wolf found his statue in the Dreadnaught near the Altar of Oryx[8], alongside similar statues of Crota and Oryx. The Guardian's Ghost inferred Nokris was a Hive god based on the accompanying glyphs, but did not recognize the name.[1] At Eris Morn's request, Asher Mir scoured his library for references to Nokris, but turned up nothing.[9].
War with The Warmind[edit]
After the deaths of Oryx and Crota and the end of the Red War, Nokris and his master were released when the ice in Hellas Basin began to melt, an effect of the Light released by the Traveler's reawakening. Together, Nokris and Xol sought retribution for their imprisonment and engaged once more with the Warmind.[11]
However, interference came in the form of the Guardian working with Ana Bray, who tried to lure Xol into the open using a small shard of the Traveler as bait. Nokris arrived to fight the intruders, but after a fierce battle he was slain by the Guardians.[12]
False Idols[edit]
- "My life is spent: servitude to those who cast me away. Our blood is all that remains of the old pact."
- — Nokris to Savathûn[13]
Nokris managed to evade permanent death following Xol's defeat, only to be left abandoned within the crust of Mars. His attempts to reconnect with the Worm God were rebuffed, as it had already found more worth in his slayers. Dejected, Nokris sought entry into the Ascendant Plane, which was previously denied to him due to his rejection of the Sword Logic, using a fragment of Xol's remains to force open a gate. He lured fireteams of Guardians under the pretence of resurrecting Xol into slaughtering him and his revenant Hive, gaining enough power from their acts of violence to feed Xol's remains enough to use it to pierce a tiny hole into the Sea of Screams through which his soul could slip into.[13]
However, the trickery he used attracted the attention of his aunt, Savathûn. Although expecting to be used as nothing more than a simple pawn, Nokris struck a bargain with her after Savathûn offered him a place in her Court and acknowledged his value in being able to overturn the Sword Logic and those bound by it. As Savathûn sought to free herself from the Witness, who was bound in servitude by her pact with the Worms, she desired Nokris's knowledge of Necromancy. In exchange for his secrets, she would grant him access to the Dreaming Mind so that he could learn how to Take. Savathûn also foresaw the arrival of the Black Fleet in Sol, and so she instructed him to interfere in any of their attempts to communicate with the Guardians.[13]
Interference[edit]
- "Whispered gifts are promised blades that twist. A liar's game."
- — Nokris' whispers in the Ascendant Realm
Two years after his initial defeat on Mars, Nokris would resurface as the Supplicant to the Witch-Queen herself, playing his role as a catalyst to intervene with the Witness's messages at the Tree of Silver Wings on Io. Armed with massive Shriekers belonging to Savathûn, called: Savathûn's Witnesses, the Supplicant would shroud the Cradle with the Witch Queen's influence and even lay a trap out for Eris Morn and the Guardian; threatening the life of the former and pulling the latter into a counterfeit version of the Witch Queen's throne world within the Ascendant Plane. Eris barely survives her encounter and in turn saves the Guardian from the full force of the Shriekers.[14]
For a period of eighteen weeks, Nokris commands armies of Hive and the Taken to swarm the Tree and shroud it in Savathûn's influence with one of her Shriekers, barring the Witness's messages directly with Eris and the Guardians. Each week, the Guardians would face one of the massive Shriekers at the Cradle before they are summoned back to the Ascendant Plane, to which Nokris mocks them in whispers and even insults their Ghost at one point, drawing comparisons to a Worm. Nonetheless, the Guardian's efforts were proven successful at destroying the massive Shriekers and allowing Eris to briefly interpret the Black Fleet's messages with the Seed of Silver Wings.[15]
On the final week, Eris had successfully identified Nokris as the source of the interference just as the Supplicant would summon the Guardian into a new area of the Court, where he would face them directly once more near the backdrop of a massive Taken Blight the size of a star. Throughout the fight, Nokris addresses them as a mere pawn tied to the everlasting struggle between Light and Darkness, to which he offered to have them free of in eternal servitude to Savathûn. However, the Hive heretic's offers would only fall on deaf ears as the Guardian destroyed him for seemingly a final time, diminishing the Witch-Queen's influence considerably and allowing the Witness' final message to reach the Guardian. [16]
Legacy[edit]
Despite his death at the hands of the Guardians, Nokris would leave a legacy on the future of the Hive. His knowledge of Necromancy would influence the creation of the Lucent Brood, which his own Hive would eventually pledge themselves fully to Savathûn and join the ranks of.[17][18][19]
Gameplay[edit]
Nokris is the boss of the Strange Terrain mission and is encountered at Xol's feeding grounds. He fights primarily by firing Solar blasts at the player and occasionally summoning Hive to assist him. For the very third of his health depleted, Nokris will break two of the pillars in the arena and retreat to the gate at the front of the battlefield. Nokris will proceed to shield himself with an immunity shield. To break the shield, the player must find the large green crystal that came out of one of the two pillars Nokris broke, find the recently resurrected Ugul Gar Knights, kill them, and throw the dropped relic at one of the crystals and then the next to stun Nokris and take down his shield. In the Strike version of the mission, two crystals will spawn every phase. During the first immunity phase, he will stand still while summoning Hive, during his second phase, he will begin firing darkness blasts in rapid succession, and at his last phase, he will begin moving around the arena, using his Dying Star ability.
In Interference, there are a few changes to Nokris's mechanics from Strange Terrain, aside from a change in environment. During his first two immunity phases, one crystal will spawn on one of two floating islands located behind the arena, guarded by Taken enemies. Two Envoys of Savathûn will also spawn before Ugul Gar Knights can appear. This starts with the Wizard variant, then the Knight and Ogre variants in the second and final immunity phases respectively. Additionally in the final phase, two crystals will spawn hidden behind walls on new floating islands, which players must bypass by climbing up to the islands while carrying their relics in order to destroy them.
Personality and traits[edit]
Nokris lacks the physical strength of his father Oryx and brother Crota, but instead proves to be a knowledgeable and powerful sorcerer.
The disowned son appears to look down on his father, brother, and later Xol after his god had abandoned him, stating to the Guardian that they were all gods with gods. But like his father Nokris has a hunger for knowledge and secrets, he would bargain with the Worms, Xol to learn and gain some of his power, including the secret of Necromancy. He would later bargain with his aunt Savathûn to learn how to Take by gaining access to Quria. Like his aunt, he is willing to use cunning and trickery, tricking fireteams of Guardians into slaughtering Hive so he could gain enough power to penetrate a hole into the Sea of Screams.
After Xol's excommunication from the brood, Nokris began to hold a disgust for the Sword Logic, he viewed it as a lie and was willing to turn away from the logic that most Hive served without question. He believed that the Light and Darkness as forces that had strengths and weaknesses, stating that the Sky was vast but shallow, and the Deep was boundless but suffocating, and that there was another way.
Family[edit]
| Gen 1 | Gen 2 | Gen 3 | Gen 4 | Gen 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osmium King (M) | Oryx (M) | Nokris (M) | ||
| Crota (M) (Consort: Omnigul (F)) | Hashladûn (F) | |||
| Besurith (F) | ||||
| Voshyr (F) | Yishra (F) | |||
| Ayriax (F) | ||||
| Kinox (F) | Ulg'Urin (M) | |||
| Ir Halak (F) Ir Anûk (F) | ||||
| Alak-Hul (M) (fostered) (Consort: Verok (F)) | ||||
| Savathûn (F) | Balwûr (F) | |||
| Malok (M) | ||||
| Dûl Incaru (F) | ||||
| Xivu Arath (F) | Xavan (F) | |||
| Tir Balok (F) | ||||
| An Ragaar (M) | ||||
| Scoroboth (M) |
Other potential members of the Pantheon include Mysik, Zyrak, Thyshik and Urrox. However their names may be honorary titles, as their is no further mention of a relationship to the Pantheon.
Xavan, Tir Balok, and An Ragaar are also potential members of the Pantheon; apart from their names, there is no other reference, so their inclusion is for the sake of completion.
Quotes[edit]
Interference[edit]
- "You are abandoned."
- "Is malice not enough?"
- "Does Xol's clutch hold you now, as it once did me?"
- "Give and be Given. Take and be Taken."
- "Whispered gifts are promised blades that twist. A liar's game."
- "The Taken Queen saves. Freedom for Bondage."
- "Cast off your Worm. Your tiny bulb of sickness. Your tethered anchor that drags to the sky."
- "An agent of violence. What more must you cull?"
- "The sky is vast, but shallow. The deep is boundless, but suffocating. There is another way."
- "You will learn that wrath shall only bring forth ruin. You've made a mistake deciding to exist."
- "You are a child reaching toward a flame. The Taken Queen would not have you burnt. Pledge your allegiance and be reborn."
- "Our shackles are strong. We must be strong to break them."
- "You are but one in a chain of failures claimed and sunken."
- "Life and death are liar's tools. Weave your own lie."
- "Light and Dark are locked blades. A logic simple and narrow. A bridge with only one path."
- "The tree brings ruin. Fell its might or be buried in the shadow of its leaves."
- "Oryx, Crota, Xol. Gods with gods. End your faith and walk unhindered."
- "Savathûn shields from dire truths. Submit and be free."
- "Be Taken and see endless possibility awaken."
Gallery[edit]
Nokris reveals himself.
Nokris' face.
Hive assisting Nokris in battle.
Supplicant to Savathûn.
The statue of Nokris first seen in the Taken King expansion.
Nokris render at an angle
Nokris from behind
Nokris from the front
The symbol of Nokris.
![Early concept of Nokris and Xol.[20]](https://destiny.wiki.gallery/images/thumb/5/53/Nokris_early_concept.jpg/200px-Nokris_early_concept.jpg)
Early concept of Nokris and Xol.[20]
![Early concept of Nokris and Xol.[20]](/File:Nokris_early_concept.jpg)
Trivia[edit]
- The name "Nokris" might be derived from "Noctuidae", which is a family of moth, the wing patterns of which resemble the Shroud of Flies Hunter Cloak pattern.[21] Similarly, "Nokri" is a Hebrew word for "alien" or "adulteress".[22] Relatedly, the prefix "Nok" could be a derivation of "Noc", or "Nocturnal", the Greek Goddess of the night; similarly, the Roman translation is "Nox".
- Nokris is the very first wizard to be a male, followed by the Wizard mentioned in Cold Denial and Ubartu-ana
- Nokris bears a stronger resemblance to his father Oryx than Crota.
- Nokris's dying star attack bears a resemblance to the Acolyte's grenade attack.
- To date, Nokris and his sect are the only known Hive which have been permanently expunged from the rest of their kin.
- Nokris is the fourth Hive to speak English in-game, after Crota, Oryx and Ecthar.
- Whispers from Nokris could be heard throughout the various interference weekly missions, where he taunted the player.
- This was compounded further during his battle in Season of Arrivals, where he tempted the Guardian to leave the Light.
- This is consistent with his attempts to contact the Hive after retreating from the loss of Xol, illustrating desperation and a departure from his previous isolation.
- This was compounded further during his battle in Season of Arrivals, where he tempted the Guardian to leave the Light.
- During the strike "Strange Terrain", players have a short period immediately after summoning Nokris to instantly kill him, avoiding the tedious 3 damage cycles that normally occur. The most effective way to do this with any given strike modifier is with the Exotic Rocket Launcher "The Wardcliff Coil".
List of appearances[edit]
- Destiny: The Taken King (First mentioned)
- Destiny 2 (Mentioned only)
- Warmind (First appearance)
- Forsaken (Mentioned only)
- Season of the Drifter (Mentioned only)
- Shadowkeep (Mentioned only)
- Season of Arrivals
- Season of the Lost (Mentioned only)
- Season of Plunder (Mentioned only)
- Season of the Seraph (Mentioned only)
- Season of the Deep (Mentioned only)
- Season of the Witch (Mentioned only)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King - Ghost scan: DNT-TRN-3
- ^ a b Bungie (2018/4/30), Weblore:Warmind - Apocrypha
- ^ Destiny the Game - Expansion Pass 2
- ^ a b Bungie (2018/8/5), Destiny 2: Warmind - Item Description: Wormgod Caress
- ^ Bungie (2018/8/5), Destiny 2: Warmind - Item Description: Wormhusk Crown
- ^ a b Bungie (2018/8/5), Destiny 2: Warmind - Item Description: Verity's Brow
- ^ Destiny 2 — Escalation Protocol Level 1 Dialogue
- ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King - Regicide
- ^ Bungie (2017/8/9), Destiny 2 - Item Description: Gensym Knight Cloak / Mark / Bond
- ^ Bungie (2018/5/8), Destiny 2: Warmind - Pilgrimage
- ^ Bungie (2018/5/8), Destiny 2: Warmind
- ^ Bungie (2018/5/8), Destiny 2: Warmind - Strange Terrain
- ^ a b c Bungie (2020/6/1), Weblore:Season of Arrivals - FALSE IDOLS
- ^ Bungie (2020/6/9), Destiny 2: Season of Arrivals - A Shadow Overhead
- ^ Bungie (2020/6/9), Destiny 2: Season of Arrivals - Interference Week 1
- ^ Bungie (2020/10/6), Destiny 2: Season of Arrivals - Interference Final Week
- ^ Bungie (2022/12/6), Destiny 2: Season of the Seraph - Ana Bray: "These Hive Don't Belong to Nokris."
- ^ Bungie (2023/5/26), Destiny 2: Season of the Deep - Ghosts of the Deep
- ^ Bungie (2023/8/22), Destiny 2: Season of the Witch - Immaru: "She wanted to see if they were anything like Nokris's necromancy."
- ^ Dave E. Phillips, Destiny 2: Warmind, High-Level Exploration
- ^ Bungie (2014/12/9), Destiny: The Dark Below, Item Description, Shroud of Flies
- ^ Bible Hub, Strong's Hebrew: 5237. נָכְרִי (nokri) -- foreign, alien
