Operation Ahamkara

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Previous:	Hunt for Riven's Clutch
Next:	Upheaval on Nessus
Operation Ahamkara
Conflict:	War against the Witness
Fronts:	The Pale Heart, The Traveler
Outcome:	The Vanguard is temporarily reunited with Cayde-6 being returned after Riven granted Crow's wish Crow would become the next Hunter Vanguard The Guardian breaks the barrier between the Light and Darkness and discovers Prismatic Zavala's Ghost, Targe, is destroyed by the Witness after learning the way to "unmaking" it from Dissenters in the Witness Zavala learns how to wield Stasis as a result The Guardian manages to wound the Witness by destroying Dissenter statues within it using a sword granted to them by the Traveler, but would be forced to retreat with the Vanguard and Mara after the Witness wounds them The Witness then retreats to the monolith and roots itself into the Traveler to make preparations to enact the Final Shape A fireteam of six storms the Monolith and uproots the Witness from the Traveler, driving it back The united forces of the Coalition and the Lucent Brood launch a final attack against the Witness and its forces The Guardian's Ghost sacrifices himself to channel the Traveler's Light into a beam to unmake the Witness, but Cayde-6 uses his Light to resurrect him, returning him to the Light of the Traveler The Valence seeps out of the Traveler after the Witness's defeat The Coalition enacts a no-fly zone around the Valence Echoes are created from a fusion of the Traveler's Light and Darkness from the Witness and eject outwards from the Traveler The first Echo is acquired by Maya Sundaresh after it landed on Nessus The second Echo is acquired by Fikrul The third Echo lands on the Dreadnaught Parallel Operations: Kargen, the Technocrat clone killed and Freeborn Otzot's attempt to steal Vex data about the OXA Machine and the Veil thwarted Xivu Arath's attempt to explore the space-time fractures on Mars thwarted Xivu Arath manages to regroup and move massive amounts of forces from her brood using the Ley Lines Sepiks Prime copy killed and Eramis, Kell of Darkness's attempt to trade weapons in exchange for the Prime Servitor with House of Dusk thwarted Navôta, Eir Spawn, either a disguised wizard or her resurrection, killed and Savathun's plans involving the Hive on Earth thwarted Data about the Psions ancient past involving Nezarec, Final God of Pain and the Witness recovered on the Lunar Pyramid
Belligerents Forces of the Coalition: Last City Vanguard Six Coyotes Imperial Cabal House of Light House of Spider Reef Neomuna Cloud Striders Hive: Lucent Brood (briefly) Forces of the Witness: The Dread Taken Scorn Xivu Arath's Horde Wrathborn House of Salvation Shadow Legion Sol Divisive Hive: Lucent Brood Cabal: Psion Conclave Deserting Shadow Legion Fallen: House of Dusk Hive: Xivu Arath's Horde Commanders Vanguard: Commander Zavala Ikora Rey Cayde-6 The Crow Micah-10 Imperial Cabal: Empress Caiatl House of Light: Mithrax, Kell of Light Reef: Mara Sov Lucent Brood: Savathûn, the Witch Queen (briefly) Luzaku Forces of the Witness The Witness Herald of Finality Kataxiia, Tormentor of the Ahamkara Rhuna, Subjugator of Chasms Rhaska, Subjugator of Thresholds Vrihn, Subjugator of Gardens Lenurae, Subjugator of Fluxion Molak'al, Subjugator of the Traveler Araaxen, Reverent of the Witness Eshkin'tuk, Witness's Blessed Kholon, Taken by the Witness Voxelos, Taken by the Witness Koftiks, Taken by the Witness Pillar of Denial Dolgith, Blade of Reasoning Icon of Finality The Unwaking Mind Expector Yemiq Expector Selin Pillar of Devotion Lii'liks, Harvester of the Witness Pillar of Silence Korha, the Hollow Pillar of Stillness Artillery Commander Lucent Brood: Savathûn, the Witch Queen Ir Okmarr, Devoted to Savathûn Nolakh, Star-Eater Mharuk, Sky-Stealer Psion Conclave and Deserting Shadow Legion: Freeborn Otzot Kargen, the Technocrat (Clone) House of Dusk: Sepiks Prime (Copy) Xivu Arath's Horde: Xivu Arath, God of War Strength Thousands of Guardians Countless Imperial Cabal troops Imperial Cabal Carriers Countless House of Light soldiers Eliksni Ketches Dozens of Corsairs Spider's Crew and Associates Countless Lucent Brood Hive (briefly) Hundreds of Hive Lightbearers (briefly) Countless Dread units Countless Taken Thousands of Scorn Thousands of Hive Thousands of House of Salvation Fallen Eliksni Ketches Thousands of Shadow Legion Cabal Thousands of Vex frames Countless Lucent Brood Hive Hundreds of Hive Lightbearers Hundreds of Deserter Shadow Legion and Conclave Cabal Countless House of Dusk Fallen Countless Hive Casualties Targe The Ghost (briefly) Cayde-6 Dozens of Guardians and Ghosts Hundreds of Imperial Cabal troops Several House of Light soldiers Several Corsairs The Witness Thousands of Dread units Thousands of Taken Hundreds of Scorn Thousands of Shadow Legion Cabal Hundreds of Hive Hundreds of House of Salvation Fallen Hundreds of Vex platforms Thousands of Lucent Brood Hive Dozens of Hive Lightbearers Hundreds of Deserter Shadow Legion and Conclave Cabal Hundreds of House of Dusk Fallen Hundreds of Hive

"A final shape is coming."

— The Witness

Operation Ahamkara was a massive conflict that took place shortly after Crow's entry into Pale Heart of the Traveler. With the way now open, Zavala, Ikora Rey, and the Guardian are all separated but ultimately succeed in entering the Pale Heart. Arriving at the Lost City, the Guardian reunites with Cayde-6 before finding Crow, Ikora, and Zavala. As Zavala begin to be tempted by Darkness, he would seek out the Witness who would offer the Vanguard Commander a chance to join them. Ultimately Zavala's Ghost, Targe heroically sacrifices himself to save his Guardian's life at the cost of his own. However his sacrifice would not be in vain as Zavala discovered that the Witness could be "unmade" thanks to the knowledge given by its dissenting voices.

Arriving at its monolith, the Guardian destroys multiple of the dissenting statues before retreating with the aid of Mara Sov, wounding the Witness in the process. With their Coalition allies now within the Pale Heart, the Vanguard begin preparations for an assault against the Witness to uproot its hold over the Traveler. Climbing to the top of its monolith, a Guardian fireteam uproot the Witness from the Traveler and force it to retreat from the monolith. The forces of the Coalition with the assistance of the Lucent Brood would then launch one final assault against the Witness and its forces. A fireteam of 12 Guardians would confront the wounded Witness and unmake it using the Traveler's Light, avenging the countless civilizations devastated by its conflict with the Traveler. The Guardian's Ghost dies as a result of channeling the Light of the Traveler, however Cayde-6 altruistically uses his Light to resurrect the Ghost, resulting in the former Hunter Vanguard returning to the Light of the Traveler.

Prelude

Main article: Hunt for Riven's Clutch

When the Vanguard discovered one of Riven's uncorrupted eggs and uncovered the existence of the fifteenth wish on Savathûn's wings, they would contact Mara Sov who would begin to assemble her Techeuns to awaken Riven's spirit so she could grant them the wish. However, Riven refused to grant it. He offered a bargain to Mara: she would grant the fifteenth wish if they recovered her remaining uncorrupted eggs, which the Awoken Queen agreed to. And so, the Guardian would delve into Riven's Lair to recover the eggs, with the Techeuns using the Ley Lines to pull them into the lair after they learned the eggs had been scattered through the Ascendant Plane.

Eventually, after facing Sol Divisive Vex sent by the Witness to halt their efforts, Taken left directionless or sworn to Xivu Arath and Scorn under the command of Fikrul, the Fanatic, as well as uncovering the lair of Riven's former mate, Taranis, who originally scattered the eggs in after granting his own wish to protect them in the Black Garden after a Vex Mind who stole one of the eggs, the Guardians successfully manage to recover all of the eggs. However, they had previously learned from Riven that the fifteenth wish would only allow one person to follow the Witness into the Pale Heart. Despite this setback, Crow came up with the solution that he should be the one to enter the Pale Heart and that he and Mara could use their connection to open the way for everyone to enter. With their bargain complete, Riven grants them the wish, allowing Crow to enter the portal into the Pale Heart.

Months after this, after the Guardians fought against the Witness's forces across the System, the Sol Divisve would attempt to prevent Crow entering the Pale Heart by recreating the Black Heart with the guidance of the Witness to take the place of the Veil in the entanglement. To bring an end to their intervention, the Guardian entered the Black Garden, destroying its Heart once more by defeating its new vessels known as the Temporal Progeny. With the interference halted, Crow entered into the Pale Heart before being bested in a duel by the now resurrected Cayde-6. However, upon noticing Crow's Ghost, Glint, Cayde lowered his weapon and helped Crow to his feet as they glanced in the distance to see pulses of Light emerging from the Witness's Monolith.

History

Crossing the Threshold

"You live without purpose. Anguish. Bliss. A meaningless cycle... of action and reaction. Let us bring an end... to your futile exertions. A final shape is coming. Chaos untangled... made knowable... with immaculate intent. Let us know you... and be reborn into perfection."

— The Witness speaking to humanity as it finalizes earth

As the people of the Last City were continuing their everyday activities, they would be interrupted by the unnoticeable voice of the Witness. It would pronounce that they lived a purposeless existence of anguish and bliss before finalizing the entirety of Earth into a frozen stillness. With the finalization complete, the Witness would declare that a final shape was imminent, to see the malicious chaos of the Light made knowable. However, the Traveler would successfully undo the finalization, the Witness continued torturing it for its resistance. Back at the H.E.L.M., Mara Sov, looking at her hand in horror, revealed to Zavala and Ikora Rey that the Witness was close to enacting the Final Shape. Understanding it was their only chance, Zavala declared they were now initiating Operation Ahamkara to enter the portal into the Pale Heart. Mara warned them that the Traveler could not prevent it for much longer and that the portal was unstable. Still determined, despite the danger, Zavala would enter the portal alongside Ikora and the Guardian. While Zavala and Ikora successfully entered the portal into the Pale Heart, the Guardian would be unable to avoid the hurdles in their way, crashing into the Threshold between the outside world and Pale Heart.

With their ship destroyed, the Guardian was forced to traverse the Threshold on foot while Mara used her power to keep the portal open long enough for them to enter. Defeating Taken sent by the Witness, the Guardian discovered a fount of Darkness and interacted with the resonance shell in the middle, manifesting a pathway of possibilities. Using the icon of Light dropped by a Will-Crushed Centurion, the Guardian interacted with the shell again to make the pathway physical, allowing them to traverse closer towards the portal. As they navigated across the platforms, the Guardian encountered Weavers, members of the Witness's new army, the Dread. Along the way, they encountered Taken with shields of Light and Darkness energy, forcing the Guardian to retreat. Despite Mara's strength beginning to diminish, the Guardian successfully crossed the Threshold, entering the portal into the Pale Heart.

Shortly after entering the portal, the Guardian received a vision from the Traveler itself. In this vision, a falcon of Light flies above Earth as the Light from its wings creates the Ghosts, an astronaut on Mars touching the rain from a storm, before switching to a drop of water falling from a white leaf. It then transitions to a sun being destroyed before showing the falcon being consumed by the Witness's corruption as the Traveler is subsumed in shadow. As the Witness's corruption begins to spread, it changes to show the Astronaut wielding Arc, Solar, Void, Stasis, Strand, and finally an unknown power. The vision then ends with the Traveler sounding out an outburst of Light.

Waking up from their vision, the Guardian found themselves on a platform within an empty place. Spotting a spike of paracausal energy located on a dead tree in the distance, the Guardian traveled towards the spike thanks to further platforms created by drops of Light falling from the sky. Finally, they arrived at the tree as the energy spike dissipates, allowing them to travel further across the branches. The Guardian entered a cave entrance within the tree and eventually crossed the Threshold, exiting the cave to find themselves within the Pale Heart of the Traveler. Unlike the place of nothingness they emerged from after entering the portal, this place was brimming with nature and beauty. As Ghost failed to reach out to Zavala and Ikora, the Guardian journeyed further into the Pale Heart, eventually finding themselves in the Lost City, a place similar to the Last City itself.

Along the way, they slew hordes of enemy forces, including winged Dread called Grim. Using Icons of Darkness they received from killing Harvesters of Light, the Guardian lowered the barrier into a building to discover Light and Dark energy colliding together to form a Wellspring. Using this wellspring, the Guardian briefly Transcended, allowing them to pierce the Bound Taken's shields. Using these wellsprings to their advantage, the Guardian pierced the Harvesters Bound shields to receive the Dark Icons and kill a Taken Ogre called the Icon of Finality to lower the barrier into a building resembling the old Vanguard command center before the Red War, where another wellspring of Light and Dark energy reside. As Ghost wondered if it was possible to wield this power, the Guardian stepped forward to the Wellspring and interacted with it. Upon interacting with it, their body overflowed with paracausal energy as they unlocked Prismatic, a fusion of Light and Darkness energy that allowed them to wield both powers in harmony and Transcend. Travelling towards the Vanguard transponder signal to hopefully find Crow, the Guardian found themselves at the Tower's balcony and defeated forces of the Witenss led by Vrihn, Subjugator of Gardens. Shortly after the Harbinger's defeat, a pulse of Light was emitted from a distant Monolith as the Traveler was tortured by the Witness, harming Ghost in the process.

As they strangely heard a song playing closely by, the Guardian followed its sound to find Cayde-6 playing "The Man They Called Cayde" with his back turned behind them. Originally believing they were Crow, Cayde quickly recognized they were not the former Awoken Prince and threw his instrument as he turned around and drew his weapon. However, upon recognizing the Guardian, Cayde lowered his weapon and invited them to speak with him as he acknowledged they had questions. Cayde explained that after his death, he and his Ghost, Sundance, were reintegrated into the Light of the Traveler where they existed in a place of peaceful nothingness. However, something pulled him out of that place and transported him to the Pale Heart, where he spotted Crow shortly after. Getting back to business, Cayde would tell them that Crow went on a patrol after he discovered an anomaly of Darkness. Shortly after Cayde departed, Ghost revealed to the Guardian that his scans confirmed that this was truly the former Hunter Vanguard, but that he was astonishingly made of Light just like the Ghosts and the Traveler.

Hunt for Crow

Because Crow had not returned from his scouting mission, the Guardian traveled to the Landing to search for him. Upon arriving, they encountered Shadow Legion and Dread forces, including reshapped Psion with the power of Stais known as Attendants. After defeating a Tormentor, the Guardian followed the bird they had seen in their vision to discover a cave entrance blocked by a barrier. They then received a transmission from Glint, who revealed that Crow had entered the cave, and he couldn't follow him. Searching for a way to lower the barrier, the Guardian discovered three different conduits maintaining the barrier. Defeating Insight Psions to receive Psionic Insight, the Guardian rotated the hand on the conduits to the radiating Light. With the conduits deactivated, Ghost asked Cayde what he thought was the nature of that bird that led them to Glint. Generally, they all concluded that the bird was the Traveler, attempting to aid them.

Returning to the cave entrance, the Guardian vanquished the Pillar of Denial to lower the barrier to the Refraction. Upon entering, the Guardian defeated further forces of the Witness, an Omen of the Witness. Entering further into the cave, the Guardian follows the bird into a gateway made of glass to arrive in a cave tunnel. As Ghost remarked that this tunnel felt like a Blight, he would be possessed by the Witness, while the Guardian would be severely harmed, causing them to collapse onto the ground. The Witness would attempt to destroy the Guardian's Ghost to free them from their "enslavement" to the Light, but the Ghost managed to break free of its control and shut it out completely, but not without cracking his shell. However, the Witness would continue to speak to them. As their strength returned, the Guardian would travel into different caverns as the Witness explained it had offered Crow an eternity with his sister, and the Awoken throne, with the promise to erase his Dark past by utilizing dioramas created by the Light and Dark. Eventually, the Guardian would find Crow within a room containing a Veiled Statue. They were then interrupted by Glint, with Crow apologizing and promising not to leave him behind again before departing.

Arriving back at camp, Crow told Cayde what he encountered. After Crow and Cayde's conversation, the Guardian spoke with Ghost, who reveals that the cave they found within was not merely Darkness, but corruption reshaped by the Witness. Ghost would also reveal that they had spotted a location identical to the Cradle on Io, where they would almost certainly find Ikora. As the Guardian tuned the radio, they would receive a weak signal from Mara Sov, who was unable to hear them. Nonetheless, Mara warned that the Dread they encountered were created by the Witness utilizing stolen Light. Due to the Witness intervening with their attempt to cross the portal, Mara revealed that the Coalition was creating a method to allow their entry into the Pale Heart.

Searching for Ikora

With Crow successfully rescued, the Guardian began their scout mission to search for Ikora's ship, which had crashed at a location resembling the Cradle on Io. Entering the Refraction again, the Guardian encountered Hive forces of Xivu Arath's Horde guarding barriers maintained by founts of Light and Dark. Slaying Hive Knights, the Guardian retrieved Dark Motes and used them to empower the fount of Darkness to dispel the barrier. Upon entering the next room and destroying the branches of Darkness, Ghost scanned the perimeter to discover Ikora's location. Shortly after this discovery, the Guardian would be ambushed by further forces of the Witness, including Husks. Using the Aegis that manifests to their aid, the Guardian kills the Knights to receive Light motes and utilizes them to empower the fount of Light. Upon exiting the cave through a gate they had opened using a Crystallized key, the Guardian utilized the Light and Darkness founts, as well as another key to depart from the Refraction.

As Ghost realized their utilization of Light and Dark being what brought down the barrier, Crow compared the Awoken and Guardians' similar connections to these paracausal forces. After finally arriving at Ikora's ship, they would uncover a message she had left behind, revealing she was attempting to commune with the Traveler and ordered them to find her in the Cradle. Travelling towards the Cradle, the Guardian engaged with Hive and Dread forces led by the ferocious Ogre, the Pillar of Silence. Piercing its shield with the Aegis, the Guardian forced the Ogre to retreat into the Refraction. Pursuing and slaying the Ogre within the cave, the Guardian followed a path of Light to arrive at the Cradle.

After defeating forces of the Dread, they find Ikora meditating in an attempt to commune with the Traveler. Awakening from her meditation, Ikora thanked the Guardian and revealed that she could hear the Traveler screaming. Ikora then revealed her hypothesis that the Pale Heart is a manifestation of their memories made physical by the power of the Light. Furthermore, Ikora recognized that the Witness's desire for the Final Shape is to reshape reality into a perfect stillness by weaponizing the Light. However, Ikora realized that if the Light was powerful enough to destroy the universe, it was powerful enough to destroy the Witness. After the debrief, Ikora and the Guardian met with Cayde-6 at the new camp. Originally, Ikora was angered at Cayde for his irresponsibility during his time as Hunter Vanguard, while she and Zavala shared the burden of the responsibilities. Recognizing his mistakes, Cayde apologizes to Ikora and promises to make it up to her before they embrace. With their mission completed, Ghost orders the Guardian to prepare for their journey to locate Zavala.

Seeking Zavala

Arriving at the Blooming, the Guardian defeated forces of the House of Salvation guarding a Veiled Statue blocked by a barrier. Ghost pondered if they truly believed in the Witness's cause, while Ikora concluded that they were carrying out the Witness's orders as it had promised them an end to suffering. Recognizing that Pyramid technology maintained the barrier, the Guardian defeated a Resonant Warder to reveal Glyphs. Interacting with the correct Glyph, they successfully lower the barrier and send Ghost to scan the statue. Upon scanning it, they briefly hear the statue wailing before going silent. Ghost quickly recognized that they had encountered these statues in their past journeys, including on the Moon, Europa, and the Black Garden.

Continuing their journey, the Guardian defeated House Salvation and Dread forces, and lowered the entrance into the Seclusion by nullifying a Glyph. As the Guardian entered inside, Cayde asked Ikora if Zavala had anything to say at his funeral, to which the Warlock Vanguard revealed he wouldn't come out of his office. Cayde responded that he understood Zavala's reaction, as grief is an emotion that can seclude you. However, they would be interrupted by the Witness, who stated that he stayed in his office, not out of grief, but shame. Defeating further agents of the Witness within the cave, the Guardian would nullify two more Glyphs and defeat an Imprint of Nezarec to continue deeper into the cave.

Entering into another gateway made of glass, the Witness spoke to the Guardian again, showing them dioramas of Zavala's doubts, those he has lost, and when he prepared to shoot his Ghost, Targe, when he was overwhelmed by grief over the death of his son, Hakim. When the Witness declared they could generously resurrect Hakim for Zavala, Targe would interrupt, stating that Zavala had refused their offer while also warning Ghost to leave for their safety. Despite Targe's warning, the Guardian pushed forward and exited the cave to discover a memory of Zavala's old home where he lived with Safiyah and Hakim. Finding the Vanguard Commander at his son's grave, Zavala would order them to assist him in defending his home as the House of Salvation launched their assault. Upon destroying the Brig known as the Pillar of Stillness, they forced the remaining enemy forces to retreat.

With the Fallen's assault thwarted, Zavala would thank the Guardian for their assistance before asking them to give him a moment to say goodbye. Entering his old home, Zavala spoke with a diorama of Safiyah that he once thought he would give up anything to bring her back. However, when the Witness offered him an eternity with her and Hakim, he ultimately refused as he realized his friends still needed him. Zavala then promised Safiyah that he would see her once again and placed his hand on the diorama's palm. However, he received a vision, showing the diorama quickly transform between his wife and a Veiled Statue while hearing a voice that appears to be pleading for help. Overwhelmed by fear, Zavala pulled his hand back as the vision ended. Ikora then patted him on his shoulder to bring her friend back to reality, reminding him that the Witness only showed them what it thinks they desire. Zavala asked her what the Traveler had ever shown him. Having no answer to his question, Ikora reminded Zavala that they should prepare to leave before exiting the cottage. Standing up and walking to the front door, Zavala took one last look at Safiyah while Targe stated that he understood his grief as he also dearly loved them. Opening the door, Zavala and Targe left their old family home one last time, leaving the diorama of Safiyah within in shadow.

As Cayde and Crow sat together at their newly set-up camp, they would be joined by Zavala and Ikora, who had returned from the cottage. Walking towards Cayde, Zavala embraced his old companion before they sat down at the campfire alongside the Guardian, Crow, and Ikora. While Crow recited the story of Amanda and began to choke on his words, Ikora put her hand on his shoulder and divulged that losing Amanda was like losing Cayde again. She then declared that she was done burying her friends, while Cayde told her that life is not about holding on forever and that you eventually have to let go. After briefly remaining silent, Zavala, Ikora, and Crow got up and walked away. Later, the Guardian spoke to their Ghost, who would tell them that Targe divulged that the Witness forced Zavala to relive his trauma and demonstrated to him what it would be like if they returned. The Guardian then listened to the radio to hear Cayde tell Crow how he met Amanda and confined Zavala to give her a job at the Tower. The former Hunter Vanguard would also tell him that Amanda had lived a good life and went out being a hero.

Ascending the Mountain

Persisting with their journey to the Monolith, the Guardian entered a cave close to Zavala's home, infested with Taken. Meanwhile, Crow and Cayde discussed their concern over Zavala's recent change in behaviour. Later, Ghost discussed Cayde's return and hypothesized that the Traveler brought him back to make their fireteam whole once more. Cayde stated that, although he was happy to see them, he would have preferred that the Traveler had warned him before returning him to life. Crow then told Cayde he had to tell him something and ordered him to meet him ahead. As the Guardian enters the Divide, they defeat further Taken forces and use Volatile Darkness to destroy the Blight blocking the entrance.

The Guardian then exited the cave to arrive at a mountain frozen around a Cosmodrome wall, following a trail of Light to traverse further up. Meanwhile, another Pulse of Light was sent out as the Witness continued torturing the Traveler, severely harming Ghost in the process. Finally, the Guardian met up with Crow and Cayde at the edge of a mountain. Crow revealed to Cayde that he was responsible for his return due to a wish he made with the Ahamkara, Riven. Feeling guilty for not telling him earlier, Crow apologized to Cayde, who assured him he did the right thing by keeping this secret between them. On the orders of Cayde, the Guardian navigated further up the mountain, fighting through forces of the Sol Divisive and the Dread. They destroy Resonant Warders to reveal the Glyphs, nullifying them to dispel the Vex illusion blocking the way forward.

Arriving at the top, the Guardian destroyed another Taken Blight to delve deep into the mountain and enter a room to confront the Unwaking Mind. After destroying the Taken Vex Mind and forcing the enemy forces to retreat, Glint detected a massive spike of Light energy, which the Taken Vex Mind had previously obscured. Following the signal, the Guardian exited the wall to arrive at the Impasse, where they found the well of Light. Harnessing its power to gain new abilities bestowed upon them by the Traveler itself, the Guardian vanquished hordes of Taken attempting to ambush them.

Acknowledging Ikora's previous attempts at meditating, Cayde began to form a plan to commune with the Traveler. At the new Campsite, Crow revealed to Zavala and Ikora the new power that the Guardian received from the Traveler. However, Zavala would remain skeptical, believing that the Traveler could give them weapons, but they stood no chance without a plan to use them. Ikora would then speak up, reminding Zavala that the Traveler was assisting them and gave them Cayde. Zavala stated that it was not enough before revealing that a Veiled Statue reached out to him at his homestead and questioned if it was a prisoner of the Witness. As Zavala and Ikora debated whether it was a trap, Crow revealed Cayde's plan to communicate with the Traveler. Although Zavala remains skeptical and believes it will fail, he allowed them to go through with the plan. After speaking with Ghost, the Guardian listened to Ikora and Cayde discuss Zavala's loss of faith in the Traveler.

The Message

"What comes from the Light… returns to the Light."

— Sundance

Beginning their plan to commune with the Traveler by utilizing the fissures of Light, Cayde and Crow would split up to do backtracking, while the Guardian would search for a fissure that Glint sensed. Entering the Broken Deep, the Guardian fought through Taken and Dread forces. Upon slaying Rhalis, Subjugator of the Light, they successfully locate the fissure only to discover it was strangled and held back by the Witness. Nonetheless, Glint would then uncover the location of another fissure within the Landing.

Returning to the Landing, the Guardian enters into the Forgotten Deep to astonishingly discover it was infested with Hive from the Lucent Brood. Destroying the Void crystals in the sector, the Guardian eventually arrived at the main room and defeated Ei Räkosh, Banisher of Memory. They discovered that the fissure was also held back by the Witness, but Glint had one more telemetric for them to check at the Blooming.

Delving into the Blooming Deep in search of this final fissure, the Guardian engaged the Taken converging on the fissure. However, the Guardian would be aided by an unusual ally, a Lightbearer Wizard who had broken away from her brood named Luzaku. With her assistance, the Guardian defeated the Taken and their leader Azshrūnah Ur-Nokru, the Sacrificed to find a fissure, uncorrupted by the Witness. Bewildered by the assistance of a Hive, Ghost asked Luzaku how she entered the Pale Heart, to which she revealed she had crossed the Threshold after infiltrating the Black Fleet on the orders of Savathûn. Although Ghost would remain skeptical of Luzaku's trustworthiness, she would assure them that she would not interfere with their attempts to commune with the Traveler.

Transmatting to the location, Cayde stepped within the fissure of Light and, after briefly ridiculing Crow, successfully received a vision from the Traveler. Within this vision, Cayde heard the voice of a female Ghost who recited the Guardian tenets of devotion, bravery and sacrifice by displaying Crow and Glint's bond, Ikora defending civilians from a Vex Hydra, and Zavala mourning Cayde at his casket. Finally, Cayde would be greeted by who was speaking to him: his Ghost, Sundance. Upon questioning Sundance whether it was truly her, she would merely tell him that she was what he wanted her to be. Cayde expressed his confusion to his Ghost, Sundance assured him she was aware before revealing that what comes from the Light returns to the Light after death. When Cayde told Sundance he desired to stay within the Light with her, she told him that might have been the fate he would choose to make. Turning around, Sundance assured Cayde she would always be with him before revealing that the Guardians, Ghosts, and the Traveler are all connected. However, the Witness intercepted the vision as Cayde found himself and Sundance in the Prison of Elders. As Sundance repeated the Guardian tenets of devotion, bravery, and sacrifice, Cayde attempted to remind her of the final tenet of death. But, she would be destroyed by Pirrha, the Rifleman, ending the vision.

Upon awakening, Cayde transmated away shortly after and revealed to everyone what he had experienced. When Ghost asked Luzaku what she would do, the Hive Lightbearer divulged that she would defend the Blooming Deep in defiance of the Sword Logic. Remaining skeptical, Crow asked Luzaku about why her brood had attacked them, to which she answered that they were all ultimately their own individual, and she could not control the choices they made. With their mission complete, Crow ordered the Guardian to return to camp. Once there, they spoke with their Ghost about Cayde's vision and how both Guardians and Ghosts are connected. They also listened to a conversation between Zavala and Targe on the radio about his grief, with Targe promising to stay at his side until the end.

A Buried Memory

"Give yourself to Darkness… Only there will you find the answers you seek."

— Veiled Statue

During their scouting missions, Cayde and Crow had discovered multiple potential paths guarded by a Tormentor that led closer to the Monolith. To make the path to the Monolith clear, Zavala sends a Guardian fireteam to eliminate the Tormentor. Arriving at the Abscess, the fireteam pushed forward into a cave while slaying members of the Lucent Brood. Upon entering a cavern filled with sludge, the Guardian discovered an Ahamkara skull and imbued it with Taken Essence retrieved from another skull to drain the sludge and continue further. Although Ikora would warn them to be careful using the Ahamkara skull's power, Zavala would encourage them to use the bones if they once again prove useful, which astounded Ikora. Concerned for the fireteam's safety, Ikora questioned Zavala on why he had ordered the fireteam to take the most dangerous route, causing the Vanguard Commander to angrily respond by reminding her that she once demanded he be willing to take more dangerous risks.

As the Guardians entered another cavern, they defeated three Knights to dispel Hive seals blocking the way forward. Ikora would strive to make Zavala realize that his disillusionment with the Traveler had blinded his judgment. Responding bitterly, Zavala proclaimed that the decisions he had made were not a result of his loss of faith in the Traveler, but to deal a blow to the Witness. Eventually, the fireteam reached a Pyramid structure with Ahamkara guts on the walls, where they confronted Kataxiia, Tormentor of the Ahamkara. Imbuing the Ahamkara skulls with Taken energy once more, the fireteam drained the sludge blocking the entrance and forced Kataxxia to retreat. While the Guardians exited the area and entered another Pyramidal structure, Cayde expressed his concern for Zavala and his actions.

Entering a portal, the fireteam arrived at a Precursor town manifested by the Witness's memories and defeated swarms of ambushing Taken. Communing with a Veiled Statue within, it declared to the Guardians that they must give themselves to Darkness to uncover the answers they seek. While Zavala was ecstatic over this revelation, Ikora remained cautious and would once again attempt to make him see the rashness of his actions, but to no avail. Finally, the fireteam confront Kataxxia once more within a large cavern and dispel its immunity by empowering Ahamkara skulls before finally vanquishing the Tormento. While Zavala would desire to follow the guidance given to them by the Veiled Statue, Ikora wanted to follow the path the Traveler had laid for them, resulting in further tensions between Zavala and the rest of the fireteam. As the fireteam set up camp, the Guardian speaks with Ghost shortly after witnessing an argument between Zavala and Crow. Ghost later revealed that Zavala had abandoned the camp to find a way to destroy the Witness by giving himself to Darkness. To locate the commander, the Guardian and Ghost would work alongside Targe to save Zavala before it was too late.

Whispers of Dissent

"What was made can be unmade."

— A Dissenter

Beginning their search for Zavala, Crow revealed that a storm was gathering the closer they got to the Witness's Monolith, with Targe stating that the storm was interfering with his ability to track the commander. Cayde then revealed that he would join the mission, congratulating Crow for standing up to Zavala and telling them Ikora was not joining them on their journey. Exiting the cave and arriving at the Transgression, the Guardian killed Hive forces loyal to Xivu Arath and discovered another Veiled Statue, identical to the one that ordered Zavala to give himself to Darkness. To get the statues to speak, the Guardian summoned Targe to scan the statue. Targe ordered it to tell them where Zavala was, and the Veiled Statue stated that Zavala sought out their Witness, and he would become a part of its collective consciousness if they didn't reach him in time. Furthermore, the statue declared that while those not culled from the Witness's collective would guide Zavala, those bound would guide them to him before it was too late. Following the trail created by the statue, the Guardian kill Wrathborn blocking the cave entrance and travels into the storm. Due to the statue's warnings, Targe realized that Zavala's hypothesis of the statues being prisoners of the Witness was correct. Entering into a Pyramidal structure, the Guardian defeats the Dread and Scorn forces guarding another Veiled Statue before communing with it. When Targe asked the statue why they chose to reach out to Zavala, the statue responded that, although they are comprised of many individuals, their voices are weak. Furthermore, the statue stated that they must give themselves to Darkness if their voices are to be truly heard.

When Ghost questioned whether they could truly trust the statues, he was interrupted by Ikora, who decided to join the mission and asked if they had spotted Zavala. Cayde told Ikora that they hadn't located Zavala yet, while Targe remarked that Zavala's belief that the statues were trying to assist them was correct. Traversing further into the storm, the Guardian entered another Pyramidal structure to uncover another statue. As Targe tried reaching out to Zavala, the Guardian communed with the next statue as Ghost realized that the statues likely still shared a connection with the Witness. Targe responded that an entity composed of billions of people is guaranteed to have dissenters among its collective. A Dissenter speaks through the statue and discloses that the Witness viewed them as shameful, and thus they were cut out by the "first knife" until they could be deemed worthy, or be integrated into the Final Shape. Pushing further into the storm and arriving at another structure, they questioned another dissenter on how to defeat the Witness, which stated that giving themselves to Darkness was the only way to do it. Astonished at this regulation, Ghost questioned why the Witness would imprison its own kind, to which Ikora stated that the Witness imprisoned them due to desiring to control what it can't change. This made Targe realize that the Witness was afraid. Finally, the Guardian entered a large temple, guarded by Scorn. After briefly communing with a dissenter consumed by hopelessness, they continued further into the temple to defeat three Devoted Acolytes and their Devoted Commander to open the trapdoor into the lower temple. Eventually, the Guardian, after traversing across the lower temple, is confronted by the Pillar of Devotion. Utilizing the Aegis again, the Guardian pierced its shield and slew the Pillar before escaping the temple as it began collapsing around them. Emerging from the temple, the Guardian found Zavala outside as he stood before a pool of Darkness leading into a shrine.

As Zavala heard the pleas of a dissenter, he was slowly approached by Ikora, Cayde, Crow, and Targe, who begged him not to enter. Despite their pleas, Zavala entered the pool of Darkness as Ikora screamed his name in fear. Awakening within an endless room, Zavala was greeted by the Witness, who showed him a vision of the Precursors' civilization. The Witness stated that they once sought the Traveler's guidance for purpose, but it only offered them more life devoid of meaning. Zavala was then flashed by a Light from a Precursor holding a piece of glass, which declared that they chose to run from the Traveler's answer. The Witness then stated they sought out the Veil instead, as the vision changed to show the Precursors in a circle with the Veil above them. When the Traveler abandoned the Precursors, the vision changed again, showing them collapsing on the ground as they cull away their doubts and fears to create the Witness. Before all the Precursors collapsed, a dissenter whispered to Zavala that the Witness could be unmade by finding the ritual site where it was created. The Witness then manifested itself and offered Zavala an opportunity to join its collective. However, they were interrupted by Targe, who flew towards the Witness and stated that he realized it was afraid. Angered by Targe's claims, the Witness grasped him and declared that it had culled away any fear it had. However, Targe remains persistent in his beliefs, resulting in the Witness crushing him for his defiance, creating an outburst of Light that sends Zavala back. Zavala's allies then pulled out of the pool of Darkness, saving his life.

At their new camp, Zavala was comforted by his allies for the death of Targe, with the Commander remarking that he had thrown away his Light just for a riddle and a memory. However, Ikora and Cayde realized that Targe's death wasn't in vain as the dissenters gave them the knowledge they needed to unmake the Witness at the memory of the ritual site where it was created. Zavala told his companions that he could guide them to the ritual site's location with their assistance. Before travelling to the ritual site, the Guardian speaks with Ghost about Targe's sacrifice and how the Traveler still held faith in them.

Journey to the Ritual Site

"You are unworthy of salvation!"

— The Witness

Beginning their journey to the memory of the ritual site, the Guardian fought through Taken and Dread forces. They would also be taunted by the Witness, who proclaimed their efforts against it yielded nothing. While the Guardian engaged with Taken and Dread units, Zavala, Ikora, Cayde, and Crow were ambushed by swarms of Hive. Zavala ordered the Guardian to continue their pursuit and told them that the Witness knew there were dissenting voices within its collective. As the Guardian slew an Imprint of Nezarec to lower the barrier, the Witness would attempt to convince them to renounce their efforts to assist the Traveler. Arriving at the Sacrarium, the Guardian traversed across the platforms to eventually arrive in a cave. Contemplating the dissenters' guidance, Ikora realized they could use the power of the Light to destroy the Witness. With the doorway in the cave blocked by a barrier, the Guardian interacted with a resonance shell to gain the ability to pass through resonance barriers. They entered a glass gateway to arrive in a cavern filled with dioramas of Ghosts with red eyes, as the Witness attempted to persuade them to destroy their Ghost. Reaching another cavern, the Guardian interacted with another resonance shell to delve into the room below and slay the two Resonant Warders within to reveal Glyphs upstairs. Returning upstairs, they activated the correct ones to summon Eshkin'tuk, Witness's Blessed and defeated the Taken Knight to dispel the Blight blocking the entrance. With the Guardian persisting in their efforts, the Witness declared that they merely desire endless challenge through the Sword Logic.

Exiting the cave to return outside and setting forth in another glass entrance, the Guardian entered another cavern where the Witness coaxed them to ascend to their potential as an admired hero of the Last City by showing them dioramas. Eventually, the Guardian emerged from this cave and arrived at a large Pyramidal structure leading to the ritual site. The Guardian was then confronted by Dolgith, Blade of Reasoning, who bore an Immunity Shield and summoned Taken forces to its aid. Destroying the Blights, the Guardian entered a portal to take them to a room where two Darkblades reside. Defeating the Darkblades, they enter another portal to return to the entrance and dispel the Glyphs to retrieve the Aegis and pierce Dolgith's shield. Despite its formidable strength, the Guardian succeeded in vanquishing the Taken Ogre. With Dolgith's defeat, the Witness spoke with the Guardian over the Sword Logic's belief that the strongest being in the universe will ascend to become the Final Shape through endless slaughter. The Witness stated that the Hive's Sword Logic was a childish game of violence caused by their obsession with the "first knife", which blinded them to the true nature of the Final Shape. Moreover, the Witness would equate the Guardian's endless battles to the Hive's religious principle, as their victories resulted in them receiving opulent awards, prestigious praise from their acquaintances, and monumental accolades. As the Guardian traveled to the ritual site, they were greeted by Mara, who succeeded in entering the Pale Heart alongside their allies.

Traversing up the ritual site, the Guardian entered another glass gateway where the Witness ordered them to take what they were owed. Eventually, they reach a room where dioramas of the Vanguard leaders stand. The Witness offered a Guardian a chance to join them not as part of the Final Shape, but as one of its Disciples. Ghost would interrupt the Witness and tell the entity that Targe's belief that it was afraid was correct, as it feared what the Guardian was capable of. Enraged at this defiance, the Witness ordered them to go where they wished, where it would destroy them itself. Upon arriving at the ritual site, the Guardian was confronted by the Witness, who manifested itself alongside Dread forces led by two Subjugators. However, after defeating one Subjugator at a time, the Traveler granted the Guardian a sword of Light. Heeding the words of the dissenters, the Guardian gave themself to Darkness to penetrate the Witness's consciousness. Within the collective consciousness, they discovered many of the beings calcified into statues by the Witness, with the dissenters ordering the Guardian to destroy them. Obeying their commands, the Guardian destroyed three statues, wounding the Witness in the process. After the third statue's destruction, the Witness, in a fit of rage, cut the Guardian out of its collective and would send its Taken to destroy them. Despite being severely wounded, the Guardian escaped the Witness's grasp as they are transmatted onto the H.E.L.M. by Mara Sov.

Meanwhile, at the ritual site, Zavala, Ikora, Cayde, and Crow eliminated all enemy forces standing in their way. The Witness would then manifest itself and express its disappointment with the Vanguard, as three souls are seen disintegrating away. As the Witness spotted the H.E.L.M. in the distance, it would use its power to briefly hold it in place as it declared that the fireteam had chosen entropy. Being entirely subsumed in smoke, the Witness began transforming into another form and chased the fireteam, furiously shouting that they reveled in chaos and were unworthy of salvation. Despite Zavala being injured by a piece of the wall hurled at him by the Witness, all four would manage to escape the Witness and transmit onto the H.E.L.M. Although the Witness won this battle, the Coalition ultimately proved that defeating it was possible, as Mara had succeeded in bringing their allies in the form of her Awoken, the Imperial Cabal, House of Light, and the esteemed Guardian, Micah-10. Returning to the Tower at the Lost City, the Guardian would receive a radio message from Savathûn, who revealed that she had now entered the Pale Heart alongside the Lucent Brood to assist them in defeating the Witness.

Game of Queens

"Welcome to the end, Guardian. Show me how you're going to stop it."

— Savathûn to the Guardian

Despite the Lucent Brood's "temporary alliance" with the Coalition, Savathûn would continue her schemes by sending her forces to hone the Guardian's strength by assaulting the Lost City. Upon sensing the assault, Mara Sov would warn the Guardian of the Lucent Hive's attack while remarking that they were too large in numbers to be merely from Luzaku's brood. Spotting War Totems from the old Vanguard command center, the Guardian traveled to the city to confront the Hive invaders. The Guardian overloaded the Hive elemental ruins by reflecting Arc, Solar, and Void projectiles. While travelling towards the ritual site, they are mocked by Savathûn for their inability to understand her motives. After overloading another ritual site, Crow would criticize Savathûn for attempting to sabotage them. The Witch Queen would claim she was assisting them while remarking that she was preparing for the next game after the Witness is defeated. Arriving in the Lost City's Outskirts, the Guardian confronts Savathûn at the final ritual site. The Guardian dispels Savathûn's shield by overloading ruins and briefly engages with her before she chooses to retreat. Ultimately, the Witch Queen remarked that although their strength is impressive, they still do not possess the power to defeat the Witness. As Crow was concerned over the Lucent Hive's presence, Mara would assure her brother that she and the Guardian would uncover Savathûn intentions.

The Dare

"It's a new cloak. If you're going to be the next Hunter Vanguard, you'll need one."

— Cayde-6 to Crow

Within the Landing, the Witness's forces would conduct experiments utilizing Screebs and Dark Ether. Desiring to end the operation, Cayde and Crow would send the Guardian to investigate. At a cliff, they discover packs of Cabal War Beasts and Shanks radiating with Dark Ether. Scanning the area around the Landing, Crow recognizes that the Witness is using Screebs to spread its corruption within the Pale Heart. Eventually, they set up camp close to a waterfall where they placed their Dark Ether canister. After the Guardian slew swarms of Screebs outside camp, Crow detected a concentrated energy signal nearby. Due to spotting War Beasts clashing with Screebs, Cayde remarked that the tainted War Beasts appeared to be going mad from consuming the Dark Ether from the Screebs. Following the energy signal, the Guardian scans deceased Screebs and even Shadow Legion soldiers brutally before being pounded by a pack of War Beasts led by the Devourer of Tainted Light. Despite its resilience and assistance from Taken and Dread forces, the Guardian slew the Devourer before returning to camp. Upon returning to camp, they encounter tainted Shanks and discover that the Witness's forces had stolen the Dark Ether canister. However, despite this setback, Crow remained confident that he could track the barrel's likely location, while Cayde asked Crow to speak with him at the camp. As the two Hunters arrive at the camp, Cayde disclosed to Crow that part of him always knew that the Traveler had not brought him back due to his lack of importance. Crow assured Cayde of his importance by remarking on his significance to Zavala, Ikora, and the Hunters, but Cayde would remain unconvinced that his allies no longer need him. Crow would reveal to Cayde that he relates to this lack of purpose and advises him to do what he wants with his life.

After briefly meditating, the Guardian awakened to assist Crow in destroying Taken Blights around the Landing before they return to the camp. Crow remarks on Cayde's importance to the Vanguard and why that was ultimately the reason they hunted down Uldren before ordering them to get rest. Eventually, Crow woke them up as Cayde discovered that the Shanks were responsible for stealing their canister. Traveling towards their coordinates, the Guardian scanned the bodies of dead Fallen killed by Shanks, confirming that Dark Ether could corrupt wiring. From a cliff, the Guardian destroyed hordes of Shanks led by the Hoarder of Tainted Light. Although they had successfully retrieved a large amount of Dark Ether, the barrel was still missing. Using the Hoarder's data, Crow discovered the coordinates of the barrel's location. As the Guardian returned to camp for the campfire, Crow told Cayde he understood his hatred for him, but that they should ultimately stick together. Astonishingly, Cayde revealed to Crow that he doesn't hate him or Uldren, as they had both lost everything by falling into the enemy's hands. Still consumed by guilt, Crow apologized to Cayde for murdering him as the Awoken Prince, to which Cayde accepted his apology.

Tracking the Dark Ether signature, the Guardian, Cayde and Crow discover that their barrel was located at the Transgression. Delving into a cave to find their barrel, the fireteam would confront the Abomination responsible for leading the operation, Lii'liks, Harvester of the Witness. Despite its strength and engorged Screebs, the Guardian defeated Lii'liks, halting the Witness's attempts at further corrupting the Pale Heart. However, as Cayde and Crow look down at its corpse, Lii'liks rose again and released tainted Screebs. Utilizing the Screebs to their advantage, Crow and Cayde crush Lii'liks to death by caving the roof in. With their mission complete, the Guardian returned to camp, where Cayde offered Crow the position as Hunter Vanguard. Although Crow was reluctant, he agreed with Cayde to consider taking the position before departing. As Crow transmated away, Cayde ordered the Guardian to prepare for the final battle before calling them one of his favourites. Returning to the tower, the Guardian listened to a radio transmission between Zavala and Ikora discussing Cayde offering Crow his position within the Vanguard. Despite his previous distrust of the Darkness, Zavala astonishingly asked Ikora if she could teach him how to wield Stasis, to which she agreed.

Unmasking the Witch's Scheme

To learn the nature of Savathûn's plans, Mara Sov ordered the Guardian to investigate her brood's activities. Over the comms, Savathûn and Mara would mock each other for their past failures, including the "bomb logic", while the Guardian engaged with the Lucent Hive. Shortly after exiting a cave, Mara ordered the Guardian to slay Taken and release their energy. Following the Awoken Queen's commands, she empowered the Guardian with Taken energy to allow them to traverse previously unseen platforms and perceive how the Taken see. Entering another cave, the Guardian repeated the previous process to discover hidden fissures of Light only the Taken could see. With the assistance of Luzaku, the Guardian defeated the Witness's forces and liberated the fissures of Light.

Hunting the Hollow

"Korha! I am Misraasks, son of Inaaks! And I am your end!"

— Mithrax to Korha, the Hollow

Receiving a report from Crow about the House of Salvation converging on the Cradle, both the Guardian and Mithrax would investigate. Meeting up with Mithrax within the cave in the Blooming, the Guardian sent their Ghost to hack into House Salvation's system while they fought off the enemy forces. After Ghost successfully hacked into their systems, Mithrax uncovered that the House of Salvation were attempting to harvest the paracausal energy from the Tree of Silver Wings. Emerging from the cave, the Guardian discovered that the bottom of the tree was inaccessible due to being blocked by a barrier. To lower the barrier, the Guardian would defeat Eaters of Light Darkness to receive notes of Light and Dark, and imbue the founts with the opposite paracausal force. With the barrier down, the Guardian returned to the bottom of the tree where they confronted the Captain leading the operation, Korha, the Hollow. Recognizing them, Mithrax quickly ordered the Guardian to bring them to justice. Despite the assistance of his forces, the Guardian's strength proved too formidable, forcing Korha to retreat and leaving Mithrax enraged at his cowardice. When Ikora asked Mithrax who the Captain was, the Kell of Light responded that he was an individual from his past. Recognizing that Korha was a threat, Ikora and Mithrax would agree to hunt him down with the assistance of Mithrax's House Salvation contacts.

Tracking Korha's location to Riis-Reborn, the Guardian and Mithrax would arrive at the Fallen city to confront him. Furthermore, thanks to the information from the Hidden, Ikora would reveal that Korha was Eramis's right hand until they retook Seraph Station. Desiring to end his old foe, Mithrax proclaimed that he would kill Korha like he should have done years ago. Although Ghost remained puzzled by Mithrax's relationship with this foe, he remained supportive of the Light Kell. Traversing up Riis-Reborn, the Guardian used Demolition Shanks to destroy the inaccessible entrances and defeated Weaver squadrons to travel further into the settlement. Baffled by his hatred for this Captain, Ghost finally questioned Mithrax about what his hatred of Korha stemmed from. Mithrax revealed that Korha was a former member of the House of Winter responsible for killing his mother: Inaaks. Eventually, the Guardian and Mithrax reached the Technocrat's Iron, where they confronted Korha. During this fierce battle, Mithrax demanded that Korha answer him, only to receive silence from the enforcer. Hacking into House Salvation's systems, Mithrax would reprogram a Brig and use it to crush Korha, delivering justice for the death of his mother. After the battle was complete, Ikora stated that Korha had been rendered into a hollowed vessel by the Witness. Mithrax would then speak of his concern for Eido's future, to which Ikora proclaims she will find her own path thanks to their guidance.

Relinquishing Grief

"We are so much more than the scars of our failures, Zavala."

— Caiatl to Zavala

Across the Pale Heart, Crow would spot the Shadow Legion transporting heavy equipment across the Pale Heart. To uncover their ambitions, Zavala and Caiatl would send the Guardian to investigate their activities. While the Guardian killed Psions in Pyramidal structures, Caiatl would speak to Zavala of the strength demonstrated by the Lightless. When the Guardian killed the final Psion, Zavala would order the Guardian and Caiatl to complete the task without him. However, Caiatl would persuade him to stay as she enjoyed the Vanguard Commander's presence. After destroying Cabal batteries with Antennas, the Guardian discovers that the Shadow Legion are attempting to harvest the Traveler's Light. With Caiatl and her forces joining the battle, the Guardian defeats the Artillery Commander leading the operation. As Zavala revealed Crow's discovery of another harvesting operation, he would attempt to convince Caiatl to lead the mission alone. However, the Empress would remain persistent and remind him of his position as the Vanguard Commander.

As Crow's intel revealed that the Shadow Legion were harvesting Light in the mountains, the Guardian, Caiatl and her soldiers would arrive at the location to halt their efforts. Killing the Psions, the Guardian dispelled the resonance shield around the Cabal batteries and destroyed them using Unstable Power Units. When Zavala told Caiatl to withdraw, she would reply by asking him to join her in battle. As they traveled towards the next extractor, Zavala revealed to Caiatl that his fear of the battlefield was not because he was Lightless or afraid of death. Acknowledging his answer, Caiatl would tell her comrade that she merely wanted to see the life within him once again. Arriving at the memory of Zavala's home, the Guardian and Caiatl destroy the generators and, later, a Goliath Tank to halt the Shadow Legion's efforts again. Concluding that this was Zavala's family home, Caiatl declared to him that his memory honored them. Still submerged by his grief, Zavala proclaimed that he had failed both Safiyah and Hakim, just like he had failed Targe. Caiatl would then advise Zavala to relinquish his grief before stating, "We are so much more than the scars of our failures." When Zavala asked her if Eris told her this, Caiatl revealed that he had given her this advice.

After preventing the Witness from further corrupting the Pale Heart, the Guardian fused the powers of Light and Darkness to create a Dyadic Prism.. Returning to the ritual site, the Guardian acquired one final gift from the Traveler: the sword that was found on their grave in the Corridors of Time known as the Ergo Sum. With this new weapon wielded in their hand, the Guardian was ready to begin their assault on the Monolith and uproot the Witness's hold over the Traveler.

Search for Lost Ghosts

Convalescence

Within the Pale Heart, the Guardian would be contacted by Micah-10, a member of the Six Coyotes and an old friend of Cayde-6. Speaking with the legendary Guardian at the Arbor of Light in the old tower, Micah would introduce herself before revealing her mission to find and save unpartnered Ghosts who had arrived within the Pale Heart to assist the Traveler in healing. Finding the Lost Ghost within the Forgotten Deep, the Guardian brings it to the Arbor, slowly healing the Traveler.

They would later retrieve blessings of the Traveler at the Landing after defeating Lucent Hive and return to the Arbor to speak with Micah, where she would tell them of the Warlock, Ulan-Tan and how he believed that the Ghosts, Guardians, and the Traveler were all linked. Considering the hypothesis, Micah wondered if the damaged Ghosts were forced to rely on their own Light after being disconnected from the Light of the Traveler.

Sending them to follow the Traveler's avatar, the Guardian delved into the depths of the Pale Heart, where they fought through hordes of Lucent Hive. They would retrieve a sword from a Hive statue, using it to slay the enemies standing in their way and destroy the corruption within. Eventually, the Guardian confronts the Hive Lightbearers, Nargul, Urtokk, and Ir Haza to uncover a cyst of Light and utilize it to reconnect the damaged Ghost to the Traveler. With their mission complete, the Guardian spoke with Micah at the Tower, who realized that the Ghosts were entering the Pale Heart due to the Traveler's injuries.

Alone in the Dark

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A Puzzling Return

At the Arbor of Light, the Guardian spoke with Micah-10, who asked them for assistance in tracking unpartnered Ghosts so they can help heal the Traveler's wounds. She would task them with locating the Ghost, Peach at the Cosmodrome in Old Russia. As the Guardian arrived in the Cosmodrome to begin their search, Micah states that Shaw Han told her that Peach asked him for directions to the Hive nest previously inhabited by Omnigul, Will of Crota, and later Navôta, Eir Spawn. Furthermore, Shaw shared that he spotted Lucent Hive scouts a few weeks back. Traveling towards the nest, the Guardian fought through swarms of Hive and scanned a calcified statue before defeating the returned Navôta. Due to Navôta's resurgence, Micah would hypothesize that this was either an imposter masked by Savathûn to infiltrate Xivu Arath's ranks or that she was resurrected through Necromancy. With Ghost picking up Peach's signal, the Guardian found the Ghost within a bunker where calcified Hive were situated. Returning to the Arbor with Peach, the Guardian briefly spoke with Micah at the holoprojector about the world outside of the Pale Heart being calcified. Micah would state that she would set up the cleansing team in the Pale Heart and call upon the Guardian again when she had another telemetry.

Returning to the Pit

The Guardian spoke with Micah at the holoprojector to locate the next unpartnered Ghost, who ordered them to find Link, a member of the Watchful Eye whose last known location was in the Ocean of Storms on the Moon. Beginning their search, the Guardian arrived on the Moon and delved into the Hellmouth. Meanwhile, Micah and Cayde would speak over the comms, with Cayde stating he was unsure if he would come out of the fight alive. Oblivious to how he truly returned, Micah declared she would thank the Traveler for resurrecting him in her next letter. Fighting through Hive forces of the Hidden Swarm, the Guardian returned to the Summoning Pits, where they scanned a calcified statue upon arrival and then defeated the Nightmare of Phogoth, the Untamed. Picking up signs that Link was previously here, Ghost would also reveal that he appeared to be scanning the Nightmares. Exploring beneath the Moon's surface, the Guardian discovered calcified Hive statues and retrieved Link, bringing him to the Arbor. The Guardian then briefly spoke with Micah about the final shape reaching the Moon and how the Hive still work towards it, being victims of its calcification.

Shadows in the EDZ

Micah would discover the telemetry of Dejana, one of the oldest known unpartnered Ghosts investigating Taken activity in the European Dead Zone. Sending them to find her at the Trostland, the Guardian defeated Shadow Legion and Taken forces attempting to spread their corruption. Scanning a calcified statue and vanquishing Gor'ath Gath, Ghost picked up multiple anomalies due to the Final Shape reaching Earth. Picking up Dejana's trail into the Dark Forest, the Guardian found her near a Shard of the Traveler before taking her to the Pale Heart. Despite their lack of time, Micah still recognized that the Traveler was not yet ready and that they only had one opportunity to defeat the Witness.

Revelations on Nessus

Tracking Bean's location to the Insight Terminus on Nessus, the Guardian would be sent to find him while Cayde and Micah spoke over the comms. Due to picking up a Red Legion detachment, Micah and Ghost would conclude that this was either a Red Legion warlord serving its own interest, or they answered to the Shadow Legion. Navigating towards Bean's location, the Guardian encountered a clone of Kargen, the Technocrat attempting to interface with a Vex Conflux being teleporting away. With the revelation that Cabal cloning technology could clone Psions, the Guardian pursued the clone to the Quiet Epiphany. After scanning a calcified statue, they defeat Kargen and bring an end to his attempts at accessing Vex data once more.

As Ghost would reveal that he had obtained Bean's signal, he would discover that Kargen was attempting to access Vex data on the OXA Machine once again. When Micah remarked on the OXA's similarities to the Future War Cult's Device, Ghost would state that both machines appeared to either be the same thing or share the same design. Furthermore, Ghost would also discover that Kargen was attempting to access the Sol Divisive's research on the Veil and that this Cabal detachment was sent by Otzot, a leader of the Psion Conclave and co-conspirator of the Midnight Coup. This revelation would lead to speculation that branches within the Shadow Legion were not loyal to the Witness. When Micah asked Ghost who had stopped Kargen from accessing the data, he revealed it was Maya Sundaresh, according to this log. Finding Bean at the Pools of Luminance, the Guardian would return to the Pale Heart to discuss these new findings with Micah. Ultimately, the Hunter would conclude that the Conclave's loyalty to the Witness was dubious as a means to cover their own operations.

Ascendant Regrouping

As the Guardian would speak with Micah at the holoprojector, she would welcome them back before revealing she had obtained the telemetry of the Ghost, Akasha, who had been scanning Awoken territory for years. Upon arriving in the Dreaming City, Ghost revealed that although he had obtained Akasha's location, her signature was cutting in and out. Realizing she was likely in the Ascendant Plane, Glint would send them sensor modulations he and Crow had created to track beings between planes. Heading to the Harbinger's Seclude, the Guardian defeats Taken and Scorn forces and enters the Ascendant Plane. After scanning a calcified statue, Ghost realized that Akasha appeared to be analyzing the Ley Lines. Due to the mass movement in the Ley Lines, they realized that Xivu Arath had abandoned the Witness and was moving her Hive forces across the Ascendant Plane with Mara preoccupied in the Pale Heart. Tracking Akasha to the Confluence, the Guardian accompanied her to the Pale Heart. At the holoprojector, Micah would tell the Guardian that they would likely find themselves in a conflict with the God of War if they succeeded in vanquishing the Witness.

Rifts in the Past

Returning to the holoprojector to speak with Micah, she reveals that she had located Citrine, a Ghost obsessed with Warmind technology on the planet of Mars. The Guardian arrives in the Hellas Basin, which had been caught in a time rift. Engaging with the forces of Xivu Arath, which had arrived to investigate the time rifts, the Guardian arrived at the Submind Vault to scan a calcified statue. Shortly after defeating a manifestation of Kelgorath, Risen from Bones brought forth from the rift, Ghost located Citrine's beacon as she had made her way to the Enclave and the Hidden had ordered her to wait for them. Due to the time wound bleeding out, Mara declared that she and her Techeuns would seal the rift away, even if temporarily. Arriving at the Enclave, the Guardian found Citrine, bringing her into the Pale Heart to assist the Traveler in healing. Micah revealed to the Guardian that Citrine had apologized for her late arrival, although she would attempt to hide that she had attempted to harvest the Warmind bunker for its parts.

Veiled Memory

Arriving at the holoprojector to speak with Micah, she would reveal that she had telemetry of the Ghost, Anwar, a former confidant of the Speaker who had begun to seek out the true nature of the Darkness following his death. Micah stated that Anwar would come to believe that the Darkness was a force of the universe that must be tended to like a garden. Furthermore, her telemetry led her to believe he was within the Europan Pyramid. As the Guardian traveled to Europa to begin their search for Anwar, Micah would ask Cayde if he remembered his time on Europa, to which the former Hunter Vanguard revealed he only maintained vague memories.

Following Anwar's previous signal, the Guardian traveled into the Pyramid, engaging with Cabal forces sent by Oztot. While the Guardian progressed through the Pyramid, Micah would ask Cayde questions about the child he remembered from his first Exo incarnation. Eventually, the Guardian entered a room containing a Veiled Statue, with a Dissenter calling out and warning them of their limited time. After scanning a calcified statue and defeating the Cabal force within, Micah discovered that Anwar had been killed at the Ziggurat. While the Guardian would go to receive Anwar's remains, Cayde would offer to speak with Micah about anything she wanted. After retrieving her remains and bringing them into the Pale Heart, the Guardian would converse with Micah, who would reveal that she and Cayde knew each other in their past lives on Europa, where they developed a friendship over cards that assisted her in processing her emotions and transgender identity.

The Illusion

Micah would discover the general location of Heilung, another member of the Watchful Eye who had been sent on a long-term recon mission into the Court of Savathûn, but had been unresponsive for a year. Returning to the Witch Queen's bewildering realm, the Guardian returned to the Temple of the Cunning and defeated hordes of Scorn to make their way to the main part of the temple. Defeating the Ahamkara Illusion, which served as an alarm for the Lucent Hive, Ghost realized that Heilung had been watching them. The Guardian would manage to escape the Lucent Hive, briefly scanning another calcified statue on the way. Finding Heilung at the Sanctum of the Brood Queen, the Guardian accompanied her to the Pale Heart. With the intel that Heilung had collected, Micah would learn that, although Savathûn had aligned her brood against the Witness, the Witch Queen intended to pursue something after it was defeated.

Vanquishing Resurfaced Fears

As the Guardian spoke with Micah again at the holoprojector, she revealed that she had uncovered the telemetric data for Balthazar, who had made his way to the Moon. Making their way to the Scarlet Keep, Micah and Ghost realized that Balthazar was within the Lunar Pyramid due to his location being smothered in Darkness. Upon spotting the Nightmares, Ghost expressed his astonishment that they remained even after the death of Nezarec, Final God of Pain. Micah divulged that Eris's documentation on the Nightmares led them both to believe that they are an untapped power of the Darkness that Nezarec had woven into the fabric of his Pyramid. Because the Nightmare's presence remained, Micah pondered whether the notorious Final God of Pain was truly dead.

Upon entering the Pyramid, Ghost would divulge that it appeared to be yearning for a master. Upon defeating the Nightmares of Ghaul, Fikrul, and Crota, the Guardian sent out their Ghost to scan a calcified statue. From the Veiled Statue at the top of the stairs, an Archival Sphere would appear and play a recording of the Witness speaking to Nezarec. In it, the Witness would order Nezarec to show the Psions the power of the Veil. Micah realized that Balthazar was searching for this sphere to retrieve the information it possessed. With Ghost sensing Balthazar's location, the Guardian would find Balthazar and escort him to the Pale Heart.

Alliance of Desperation

As Micah succeeded in receiving the telemetry for the final Ghost, the Guardian would speak with her at the holoprojector. She would warn them that while they had been striving to heal the Traveler, the Witness was getting closer to enacting the final shape. Due to their limited time, Micah would then order them to find the final Ghost, Hecate, a scholar of Hive lore who formerly studied under Toland, the Shattered and Eris Morn. Micah would divulge that Hecate was investigating a rumour of the House of Dusk moving into the old territory of the House of Devils within the Cosmodrome. With the Guardian returning to the Devils' Lair where they destroyed Sepiks Prime years ago, Micah would reveal that Eliksni communications spoke of the creation of a new Prime Servitor.

Fighting their way through House Dusk forces, the Guardian encountered Brigs from the House of Salvation not in their ordinary colours. Shortly after destroying a Walker, Ghost spotted a House of Salvation Ketch that had not rallied in the Pale Heart to assist the Witness. After briefly scanning a calcified statue, the Guardian confronted and destroyed a copy of Sepiks Prime. Recognizing some of these Fallen as renegades from the House of Wolves, Cayde realized that they interrupted an arms deal and that the House of Dusk offered Eramis a Prime Servitor in exchange for weapons. Furthermore, Micah would conclude that Eramis was more Ether-starved than the House of Dusk refugees and pirates. Due to this revaluation, Micah hypothesized that House Dusk either had another Prime Servitor or an alternative supply of Ether. After the Guardian retrieved Hecate from where they were resurrected and brought them to the Pale Heart, Micah would reveal that the Vanguard forces were preparing for their final assault against the Witness.

Unmaking the Witness

"We—I—I don't understand."

— The Witness's final words

To uproot the Witness's hold over the Traveler, a six-Guardian fireteam led by the Guardian was sent to infiltrate the Monolith and end the Witness's ambitions to bring about the Final Shape. Upon arriving at the Monolith, the fireteam were greeted by the Witness, who once again attempted to sway them to its side. Arriving at the Substratum, they would fight through the Sol Divisive and open doorways to continue further into the structure. They would also power a machine by feeding the conductor a pyramidal, spherical or hexahedral resonance while transferring power from one plate to another. As the fireteam progressed to the Dissipation, the Witness advised them to accept the stillness of the Final Shape, but to no avail. Remaining persistent through these challenges, the Guardians slay the formidable Herald of Finality before ascending the structure. As the fireteam traveled across floating platforms, the Witness revealed it is not the perplexing Winnower, but rather the First Knife wielded in its hand. Furthermore, the Witness spoke of how they and the Guardians were forged by gods, but ultimately proclaimed that the Winnower couldn't choose what the Witness enacts for the Final Shape. Reaching the summit of the Monolith, the Guardians confront the Witness, which now possessed a new form. Using its immense paracausal power, the Witness attempts to destroy the Guardians and enact the Final Shape. However, despite its unimaginable power, the Witness would be further wounded, resulting in its connection to the Traveler and the Light being severed. With its strength now greatly diminished, the Witness retreats from its Monolith to another location within the Pale Heart to recover its strength.

With the Witness's connection to the Traveler now severed, Zavala rallied the forces of the Coalition and the Lucent Brood to launch one final assault against their ancient enemy. The Vanguard Commander would speak of how they now had an opportunity to defeat the Witness thanks to the efforts of the fireteam. Furthermore, Zavala declared that while the Guardians and their Ghosts confront the Witness, everyone else would engage with its forces. Looking at his allies, Zavala would call upon all the species standing against it. As hordes of Scorn prepared to engage, Zavala proclaimed that they would end this ancient conflict once and for all before assaulting the enemy forces with the power of Stasis. Arriving at the large wall blocking the way to the Witness, the Guardian, leading a fireteam of twelve, fought through the forces of the Dread, Taken, Shadow Legion, and Sol Divisive alongside Caiatl, Mithrax, Savathûn, Luzaku, and others. The fireteam successfully lowered the barrier blocking the way to their fireteam while their allies retreated to assist Zavala. Confronting the Witness again, the Guardians would not fight alone as Saint-14 would arrive on the battlefield and summon a Ward of Dawn for defensive support. Furthermore, their comrades would also deliver powerful weapons for them to wield. To wound the Witness, the fireteam retrieved Light, deposited it into a relic, and gave themselves to Darkness. Entering the Witness's consciousness, they use swords to destroy the many statues containing the Precursors. As the Witness cut them from its collective, the Guardians destroyed its Glyphs and struck at the weak point within its chest. Losing its battle against the Guardians, the Witness summoned a glass barrier for defence. Understanding what must be done, Ghost ordered the Guardian to channel the Traveler's Light through him. Utilizing their Ghosts, the Guardians channel the Traveler's Light directly into the Witness to unmake the eldritch entity and end its obsessive ambitions once and for all. With its final words, the Witness referred to itself as "I" as it expressed its confusion at how the people of Sol would find meaning in this chaotic existence.

However, their victory would not be without a cost, as Ghost would be severely weakened. Hovering up into the air, Ghost's Light would fade away before he fell to the ground, dead. Devastated by his death, the Guardian would run over and pick him up, calling out for the companion who had stood alongside them throughout their journey. Finding themselves in a mysterious place of Light, the Guardian begged the Traveler to resurrect Ghost, only to receive silence. Cayde would then appear in this place, impressed by Ghost's heroic sacrifice and reminding the Guardian that what comes from the Light returns to the Light after death. Moreover, Cayde also revealed that Ghost, Guardians, and the Traveler all share a connection. Using the Light within him, Cayde resurrected the Guardian's Ghost and expressed his favouritism for them before returning to the Light of the Traveler to be with Sundance again. Returned to the battlefield, Ghost gasped back to life and quoted what he said to the Guardian when they were resurrected. Overwhelmed by gratitude, the Guardian embraced their Ghost, with their War against the Witness finally now over.

Aftermath

With the ancient war of Light and Darkness finally concluded, the Coalition's forces returned to the Last City to celebrate their monumental victory. At the tower, Zavala, Ikora, and Crow sat together on a ledge overlooking the city, Crow stating to them that while the Traveler was healing, they still had a lot of work to do. As the Guardian arrived, Zavala looked down below and spoke of how they had finally prevailed over the Witness after the many years of conflict. Ikora would state that she imagined the feeling of their victory would be different. Stretching out his paper lantern, Crow would realize that they likely didn't feel satisfied because they had not yet celebrated. As the Guardian walked over and sat beside their friends, the four of them released their paper lanterns into the sky along with the civilians of the Last City to celebrate their victory.

Despite their victory, the death of the Witness would not come without consequences. Most of the Witness's forces would retreat from the Pale Heart, although its most loyal followers would continue their attempts at enacting their master's final orders. With her newfound mortality, Xivu Arath would continue to hide in the shadows as she prepared for the next conflict to come, while House Salvation would begin to turn on itself with Eramis's absence. Furthermore, Savathûn and the Lucent Brood would begin their attempts to claim the Pale Heart for themselves, while the Scorn and Taken would be left directionless with the lack of a commanding will. To learn more about the Scorn's activity, Crow would begin to search for Fikrul's whereabouts.

Meanwhile, an Aurora of Light and Darkness known as the Valence would begin to pour over Earth. To ensure no casualties occur, the Coalition would designate a no-fly zone within 100 kilometres. Furthermore, with the Witness's destruction at the hands of the Guardians, three artifacts created from its Darkness and the Traveler's Light, containing the memories of victims of the Witness and its followers, known as Echoes would be ejected from the Traveler and into the System.

The first of these, the Echo of Command, would land on Nessus. Created from the memories of a Qugu Fleet Commander, it enabled the user to command and compel other beings. It would be retrieved by the consciousness of Maya Sundaresh, who had survived her death on Neomuna within the Darkness of the Veil and had infiltrated the Vex Network. Using it to compel the local radiolaria, she constructed herself a new Exo body resembling Lakshmi-2. Taking the mantle of "the Conductor", Maya used the power of the Echo to take command of the local Nessian Vex and formed her own Vex collective known as the Nessian Schism, introducing individuality among their ranks, embarking on a quest to find her wife Chioma Esi and bestow upon humanity a new Golden Age by spreading radiolaria throughout the Sol System. With the Echo altering the behaviour of the Nessian Vex, the Guardian would be sent to investigate the impact site while Saint-14, Osiris, and Failsafe assist them in their task.

The second Echo, the Echo of Riis, would fall into the possession of Fikrul. Created from the memories of a pre-Whirlwind Eliksni, it enabled the user to control the Ether within Eliksni. In the hands of Fikrul, he used it to corrupt the Ether of living Eliksni and transform them into a new kind of Scorn: Revenant Scorn. With this power, Fikrul would proclaim himself the Kell of Kells. The Vanguard would come to the attention of Fikrul's threat during a mission to capture Eramis. After which, they work wth their Eliksni allies, including Mithrax, Variks, the Spider, Eido and Eramis to stop Fikrul's plans to turn all Eliksni into Scorn.

The final Echo, the Echo of Navigation, would crash onto the Dreadnaught and contained the memories of Oryx, the Taken King up to the vessel's creation.

List of appearances

• Destiny 2: The Final Shape (First appearance)
  • Episode: Echoes (Mentioned only)
  • 10th Anniversary (Mentioned only)
  • Episode: Revenant (Mentioned only)