Editing The Cunning

{{Level infobox
|prev= [[Memories of Ruin]]
|next= [[The Last Chance]]
|game= ''[[Destiny 2]]''
|campaign= ''[[The Witch Queen]]''
|name= The Cunning
|image= [[File:Cunning MS.jpg|350px]]
|player= 1-3
|place= [[Savathûn's Throne World]]
|objective= 
}}

'''The Cunning''' is the seventh story mission of [[The Witch Queen]] expansion.

==Objectives==
*Locate Sathona's Temple
*Continue the Descent
*Forge the Caldera
*Lower the Drawbridge
*Reach the Dais
*Defeat the Warden
*Acquire the Worm Familiar
*Outlast the Illusion
*Escape the Caldera

==Transcript==
===Original===
'''Fynch''': Good, you're here. I've got a feeling about this lead, Guardian. This could be big! Big enough to crack this case wide open.

:::The Guardian goes deep into a cave

'''Ikora''': Fynch. A hunch is not enough. We need evidence. Compelling evidence.

'''Fynch''': Okay, how about a secret, underground temple? 'Cause I found one, deep in the tunnels there.

'''Fynch''': And guess who it's dedicated to?

'''Ikora''': Savathûn

'''Fynch''': Yeah, well… kinda. It's dedicated to Sathona, Savathûn before she was a Hive God.

'''Fynch''': I mean, talk about compelling! Like, just imagine what's buried down there!

'''Ikora''': Imagine? So you haven't seen this object?

'''Fynch''': I didn't get eyes on it per se, but I know it's powerful, enough to attract a whole mass of Scorn.

'''Ikora''': If this object is what you promise, them it'll be worth it. Stay alert, Guardian. We can't miss this one.

:::Scorn appear

:::The Guardian defeats the Scorn

:::The Guardian enters the portal. Teleporting them close to the Temple of the Wrathful

'''Ghost''': The Scorn are even more entrenched than the last time we were here.

'''Fynch''': Oh yeah, the Scorn have dug themselves in deep down here.

:::Darkness Zone. Respawning Restricted

:::Scorn appear

:::The Guardian defeats two Invasive Abominations

:::The gateway is opened

:::The Guardian enters the gateway and goes deeper into the cave

'''Ikora''': So, Fynch. Tell us more about this temple. How do you know it's dedicated to Sathona?

'''Fynch''': I only got a peak inside, but the statue in there looks just like her.

'''Ikora''': So Savathûn built a mausoleum for her younger self, than abandoned it. Why?

'''Fynch''': Mmm, I don't know. Embarrassment? Who isn't a little… ashamed of their past?

:::The Guardian reaches a room with a dead end

'''Ghost''': Dead end. But there's an illusion here-with Savathûn's signature. So… she didn't leave this area totally unprotected.

'''Ikora''': Why didn't she return to upgrade her defences with the Light? Why haven't the Lucent Hive come back to confront the Scorn?

'''Fynch''': Oh, maybe it's bait! Maybe she's luring the Scorn in so she can convert them, use 'em against the Witness.

'''Ikora''': I highly doubt Savathûn would gamble her throne world for the sake of a few Scorn brigades.

'''Ikora''': No, Savathûn and the Witness are fighting a turf war. You don't cede ground unless you're losing.

:::The Guardian interacts with a Deepsight Orb. Revealing tokens

:::The Guardian shoots the tokens. Completing the puzzle

:::An entrance is revealed

:::The Guardian enters the Entrance.

:::The Guardian enters a room

:::The Guardian interacts with a Deepsight Orb. Revealing tokens

:::The Guardian shoots the tokens. Completing the puzzle

:::An entrance is revealed

:::The Guardian arrives at a room. Scorn appear

:::The Guardian defeats the Scorn and arrives at a platform above the temple

'''Ghost''': So that's the temple Savathûn dedicated to herself. It's…

'''Fynch''': It's quite the sight, isn't it? Can't accuse Savathûn of being too humble.

:::The Guardian jumps down to a broken bridge to the temple. The Drawbridge is upward

:::Scorn appear

:::The Guardian defeats the Scorn

'''Ghost''': There's no way to lower the bridge from here.

'''Ikora''': There has to be another path forward. Use your senses, Guardian. You've gone too far to turn back empty-handed. 

:::The Guardian interacts with a Deepsight Orb. Revealing tokens

:::The Guardian shoots the tokens. Completing the puzzle

:::Rocks are revealed. 

:::The Guardians traverses the rocks to a make there way to an another rock with a Deepsight Orb

:::The Guardian interacts with a Deepsight Orb. Revealing a path back to the broken bridge

:::Scorn appear

:::The Guardian defeats the Scorn

'''Fynch''': Oh, hey hey, before you go to the temple, we should take bets on what the object's going to be.

'''Fynch''': Now, I don't technically have any glimmer, but I do have a pretty solid theory based on what we've found so far-

'''Ghost''': Now's not a good time, Fynch.

'''Ikora''': Yes. Don't distract the Guardian.

'''Ikora''': We're already taking a gamble that this thing has the answers we need.

'''Ikora''': The Traveler and the Last City are depending on it.

:::The Guardian interacts with a Deepsight Orb. Revealing platforms

:::The Guardian interacts with a Deepsight Orr. Revealing tokens.

:::The Guardian shoots the tokens. Completing the puzzle

:::The Guardian interacts with a Deepsight Orb. Revealing a path back to the broken bridge

:::Scorn appear

:::A plate is revealed in the middle

'''Ghost''': Guardian, look! That plate in the center should lower the drawbridge.

:::The Guardian gets on the plate. Lowering the drawbridge

'''Ghost''': Finally! Ikora, we're lowering the drawbridge now.

'''Ikora''': Good. Once you're in, head straight for the statue Fynch described.

'''Ikora''': If this fits the pattern, the object should be nearby.

:::The Guardian walks across the bridge to the temple

:::Scorn appear

:::The Guardian defeats Scorn. Revealing a small bridge to the heart of the temple with the statue

'''Ikora''': Guardian? Ghost? Have you found the object yet?

'''Ghost''': The only thing here is the statue…

'''Fynch''': What? There's got to be more!

:::A doorway opens

:::Termiiks, Invasive Warrant and Scorn emerge

:::The Guardian defeats Termiiks, Invasive Warrant

'''Ghost''': Ikora, I'm sorry but… it doesn't look like there's anything here but the statue…

'''Ikora''': Fynch? Please don't tell me the Guardian did all of this for nothing.

'''Fynch''': No, no, there's something there, I swear!

'''Fynch''': Wait! What if the object is the statue itself!

'''Ghost''': Or one part of the statue. That worm familiar looks like it's a separate peace.

'''Ikora''': Of course. This is Savathûn's temple after all. There had to be a trick in it.

:::The Guardian interacts with a Deepsight Orb. Revealing tokens

:::The Guardian shoots the tokens. Completing the puzzle

:::Platforms around the statue are revealed

:::The Guardian interacts with a Deepsight Orb. Revealing tokens

:::The Guardian shoots the tokens. Completing the puzzle

:::The shield around the statue is broken. A platform next to the statue is revealed

:::The Guardian picks up the Worm Familiar

'''Unknown Voice''': [unintelligible whispers]

:::The Ahamkara Illusion appears

'''Ghost''': What? But… that's impossible! That's an Ahamkara.

'''Ikora''': What?!

'''Fynch''': I knew it! I knew the Ahamkara weren't gone. I knew there was one left! At least one!

'''Ikora''': The last one died cursing the Dream City!

'''Ikora''': This has to be another illusion!

:::The Guardian damages 1/3 of the Ahamkara Illusion's health

'''Ghost''': Ikora's right. This is an illusion. Just a very, VERY realistic one!

:::Scorn appear

:::The Guardian damages 2/3 of the Ahamkara Illusion's health

'''Ikora''': The Hive magic powering that illusion is limited. If you escape, it can't follow.

'''Ghost''': No chance of that! Exit's completely blocked.

:::Scorn appear

'''Ghost''': Though those Scorn must have come from somewhere!

:::The Guardian defeats the Ahamkara Illusion

:::Scorn appear

'''Ghost''': Of course that Ahamkara would have one final move!

'''Ghost''': We gotta find a way out… fast!

'''Ghost''': Ikora? Fynch? Any suggestions?

'''Ghost''': Guess we're on our own. Let's go, Guardian!

:::The Guardian interacts with a Deepsight Orb. Revealing a path

:::The Guardian takes a Scorn Pike. Using it to make their way to a tractor beam

:::The Guardian uses the Tractor beam to escape the temple

'''Ikora''': Ghost? Guardian? Come in. Are you there?

'''Ghost''': We're here, Ikora. We're on our way back to the surface now.

'''Fynch''': And you've got the object, right. Otherwise, this was a HUGE waste of time.

'''Ghost''': We got it. Thanks for the concern, Fynch.

'''Fynch''': Phew! Well, I never doubted you for a second.

'''Fynch''': Ikora was worried, but I knew you two could handle that Ahamkara. Wasn't even a real one, heh!

'''Ikora''': The danger was real enough.

'''Ikora''': I never should have sent the Guardian in on such shaky intel. Even if it was our only lead.

'''Ghost''': Well, we made it out in one peace. And if this object shows us how Savathûn got the Light, the risks were worth it.

'''Ikora''': Yes. Let's hope.

'''Fynch''': Yeah! [chuckles hesitantly] Go, team?

'''''{End Mission:The Cunning}'''''

===Lost Ghosts: The Illusion===

'''(Mission begins)'''

'''The Guardian arrives in Savathûn's throne world.'''

*'''Ghost:''' The telemetry we have for [[Heilung]] goes deep into Savathûn's throne world, and I mean deep. 

*'''Mara Sov:''' It is a palace of insidious illusions. Whatever you see, Guardian, do not trust it on the surface.

*'''Micah-10:''' Good news is, with Savathûn gone and focused on [[the Pale Heart]], her defenses are minimal. So we should be able to slip in and out easier than usual. 

*'''Mara Sov:''' One wrong move, though, and the whole of the Lucent Hive could come crashing down upon your head. 

'''The Guardian enters the Temple of the Wrathful.'''

*'''Cayde-6:''' Can anybody clue me in on exactly why the Traveler gave Savathûn the Light? 'Cause nobody's really explained that to me in a way that doesn't make me angry.

*'''Micah-10:''' Because they'd already been chosen. Long before humanity even existed, the Traveler chose the progenitors of the Hive — the Krill — to come to its side. And then [[the Witness]] interposed itself between them, turned the three siblings against their own people... all for a lie. 

*'''Cayde-6:''' But they're not those people anymore. Savathûn's... I mean, look at all the hurt she's caused. That ain't fair. That ain't right. 

*'''Micah-10:''' And therein lies the truth of the Traveler. It is not always fair; it is not always right. But it does want our survival. And in that, we are one. 

*'''Cayde-6:''' Yeah. Yeah, it... sees our potential. Couldn't abandon it. That feels right in my head; it just doesn't feel right in my heart. 

*'''Micah-10:''' That sounds a lot like life. 

*'''Cayde-6:''' Both of mine. 

'''The Guardian descends further to the Temple of the Cunning. After dealing with the Scorn, and Termiiks, Invasive Warrant, the Guardian triggers the Ahamkara alarm.'''

*'''Ghost:''' Guardian! It's just an illusion, but it's still deadly! 

*'''Mara Sov:''' It is more than an illusion, it is an alarm! The Lucent Hive are converging on your position, Guardian. You must get out of there! 

'''The Guardian defeats the Ahamkara illusion.'''

*'''Micah-10:''' Go! Go! Get our ass out of there, now! 

*'''Ghost:''' I've got Heilung's location! She's still here in the Throne World — in fact, I — I think she was watching us! 

*'''Micah-10:''' [sighs] Heilung! 

*'''Ghost:''' I think she fled ahead of us! It shouldn't be too hard to track her down once we get out of here. 

'''The Guardian finds a calcified statue and has their Ghost scan it before escaping.'''

*'''Ghost:''' We... we did it. [sighs[ We did it.

*'''Micah-10:''' I have a general idea where Heilung fled to; she should be easy to find. Hopefully, she'll believe it's really you, and not another trick.

*'''Ghost:''' We'll find her. Don't worry, Micah. 

'''(Mission ends)'''

===Lost Ghosts===
{{Expand-section}}

==Enemies==
;[[Scorn]]
*[[Abomination]]
**[[Invasive Abomination]]
*[[Chieftain]]
**[[Tarnished Chieftain]] {{c|Legend difficulty}}
*[[Lurker]]
*[[Raider]]
**[[Tarnished Raider]] {{c|Legend difficulty}}
*[[Ravager]]
**[[Invasive Warrant Ravager]]
*[[Stalker]]
*[[Screeb]]
*[[Wraith]]

;Bosses
*[[Termiiks, Invasive Warrant]]
*[[Ahamkara Illusion]]

==List of appearances==
*''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[The Final Shape]]''

{{Story missions|WQ}}