Editing The Nine

{{New content|Destiny 2}}
{{Outofdate}}
{{Faction infobox
|variant=
|image= [[File:Nine.png|300px|Insignia of the Nine as it appears in Destiny 2: three circles divided into nine pieces.]]
|Domain(s)= [[Unknown Space]] <br> Solar System Planetary Bodies <br> Milky Way
|Type= Oligarchy
|Functions= Planets
|Other names= IX <br> Ennead<ref name="Ennead">'''Bungie (2018/8/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Warmind (expansion)|Warmind]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Equitis_Shade_Armor#Equitis_Shade_Rig|Equitis Shade Rig]]''</ref> <br> Worlds <br> Planets <br> Celestial Bodies <br> Gaiaforms
|Conflicts= [[Wolf Rebellion]] {{C|catalyst}} 
|Leadership= Sun <br> [[Mercury]] <br> [[Venus]] <br> [[Earth]] <br> [[Mars]] <br> [[Saturn]] <br> [[Jupiter]] <br> Neptune <br> Uranus
|Notable= Released [[Skolas, Kell of Kells]] <br> Hosts the [[Trials of the Nine]] <br> Provide homes for the many races of the [[Solar System]]
}}
{{Quote|You want our source, our primal cause? WE ARE THE SHADOWS OF YOUR WORLDS' MASS.|The Nine<ref>Bungie (2019/3/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Joker's Wild]], Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Dust#The_Declaration|The Declaration]]</ref>}}
The '''Nine''' (often represented as the '''IX'''; also known as the '''ennead''') are a group of enigmatic entities affiliated with the planets of the [[Sol System]]. They control several locations within the [[Unknown Space]], a mysterious region within the [[Ascendant Realm]] whose nature is poorly understood.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfmh3HDlGNg '''YouTube''' - ''Destiny 2: The Third Spire Social Space'']</ref> 

==Overview==
The Nine are essentially beings of pure thought, composed of galaxy-spanning streams of dark matter and beyond which developed cognition after being pulled into loops by the gravity of Sol and its planets. Their existence is predicated on the existence of those planets, particularly the life that developed on them and every system in the galaxy and likely larger with every life form; hence, their primary concern is sustaining that existence, whether by protecting that life or by finding a way to end their reliance on it. 

Despite their omnipresence over the influence of the Dark Matter in the universe, the scope of their power over the world of "normal" matter is limited, and so they primarily act through a handful of agents, emissaries, and associates. They appear to be capable of freely manipulating the dark matter that composes themselves.<ref name="TheWitch">'''Bungie (2019/3/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Joker's Wild]], Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Dust#The_Witch|The Witch]]</ref> They are also able to manipulate and even synthesize regular matter under certain circumstances, such as through the portals of [[Cocytus]].

At present, the Nine are divided into two factions. One faction, consisting of five members, seeks to study the [[Light]] and use it for their own purposes, and is responsible for sending [[Xûr, Agent of the Nine]] and [[Orin|The Emissary]] to interact with the [[Guardians]]. The other four seek to free themselves from their dependence on matter-based life and the Light, and to that end have experimented with creating their own realms through spacetime engineering and the creation of dark matter-based black holes akin to the singularity that contained the [[Distributary]], even taken dark matter from other parts of the universe.

==History==
===Origins===
As revealed by the Nine to [[Lavinia Garcia Umr Tawil]], the Nine originated from streams of dark matter particles passing through the galaxy and the solar system. As dark matter only interacts with normal matter through gravity, these streams were drawn to the cores of the Sun and its orbiting planets. The infalling dark matter was then flung back into space, before being pulled in again to form endless loops. These loops formed the basis of emergent consciousnesses that would become the Nine.

The Nine did not truly "awaken" until life evolved within the solar system. The movements of life-forms resulted in perturbations to the loops of dark matter particles cycling through each celestial body, creating waves that formed the basis of complex thoughts. According to Lavinia, the dark matter of the Nine passes through every living thing and every iota of matter in the galaxy and beyond, as their reach extended infinitely.<ref name="TheNine">'''Bungie (2019/03/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Joker's Wild]], Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Dust#The_Nine|The Nine]]''</ref>

The Nine were cognizant of their dependence on all life and the body-worlds they reside in the Sol System: if that life ended, so would the Nine as thinking entities. They began searching for a way to end that dependence and sustain their existence independent of it. Two factions emerged after the arrival of the [[Traveler]] to Sol: one faction sought to harness the paracausal properties of [[Light]] to construct living bodies for themselves out of regular matter, the other sought to create a pocket universe with physical laws that could accommodate them.<ref name="TheWitch"/>

===City Age===
{{Quote|[[Osiris|He]] says the Nine are vulnerable every moment they touch our world.|Brother Vance<ref name="Vance">'''Bungie (2015/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, Quotes: [[Brother Vance]]''</ref>}}
Little of the Nine was known outside of the cryptic sayings of [[Xûr, Agent of the Nine]].<ref name="Xur">'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]: Console, Activision Blizzard, [[Xûr, Agent of the Nine]]: [[Xûr#Quotes|Quotes]]''</ref> [[Osiris]] is said to have met with the Nine on [[Europa]],<ref name="Vance"/> and before his exile had an obsessive interest in them to the exclusion of his duties as the [[Warlock]] [[Vanguard]].<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard'', ''[[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Allies/Osiris#Osiris|Osiris]]''</ref> Nonetheless the Nine had a vested interest in helping the City, tasking Xûr to sell powerful weapons to Guardians.<ref name="Xur"/> Following the [[Red War]], the Nine have taken an active interest in [[Guardians]], and hosted the [[Trials of the Nine]] through their proxy, [[The Emissary]].<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard''</ref> [[Emperor Calus]] is dismissive of their efforts.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, [[I Am Alive]]''</ref> 

The Nine have an alliance of sorts with [[The Reef]], but their loyalty is in doubt following the release of [[Skolas, Kell of Kells]] at their command.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Allies#Mystery: The Fate of Skolas|Mystery: The Fate of Skolas]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]] PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard'', ''[[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Activities/House_of_Wolves#Prison_of_Elders|Prison of Elders]]''</ref> The Cabal know of them as the Ennead.<ref group=note>An "ennead" is a group or set of nine, from the Greek ''enneas''.</ref><ref name="Ennead"/>

===Reef Wars===
During the [[Reef Wars]], the [[Queen's Wrath]] [[Sjur Eido]] was killed by an unknown party, and her [[Wish-Ender|bow]] stolen. A [[strange coin]] was left on her body as "weregild", suggesting that the Nine were in some way involved with her death.{{citation needed}}

===Arrival of the Taken King===
Shortly after the battle of Saturn, when [[Oryx]] invaded the [[Dreaming City]], the Nine debated about what to do regarding Oryx's incursion, for he threatened all life. Some members seemed to blame [[Mara Sov]] for worsening the situation, claiming that her actions had "ruined everything." Oryx soon took [[Riven]], after which the Nine were driven into a frenzy. Although their wording is ambiguous, communications between the Nine during this time seem to indicate that they knew of surviving [[Ahamkara]] other than Riven, and that they killed them in order to prevent them from falling into Oryx's grasp.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken (expansion)|Forsaken]], Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Lore]]: [[Lore:The_Dreaming_City#Reextinction|Reextinction]]''</ref>

===The Red War===
Sometime during or before the Red War<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[The End]]''</ref> an Awoken named [[Orin]] (and potentially an agent of [[Mara Sov]]<ref name="Suppress">'''Bungie (2018/8/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Warmind (expansion)|Warmind]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Motion to Suppress]]''</ref>) sought out nine [[Ghosts]] who had gone beyond the Solar System and inquired after their findings. Receiving only a set of coordinates she left them.<ref name="Long Walk">'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[The Long Walk]]''</ref> She also found several "deep-orbit minds" in the midst of her search.<ref name="Sudden Death">'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[A Sudden Death]]''</ref> Orin soon encountered some of the Nine herself.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Judgment]]''</ref> After warning her of the possibility of going mad from the conversation<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Bond Relentless]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[A Swift Verdict]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Mark Relentless]]''</ref> and of a potential price as consequence,<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Flowing_Armor#Cloak_Judgment|Cloak Judgment]]''</ref> they tasked her with finding three "worthy keys".<ref name="Relentless">'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Relentless]]''</ref> They then commended her for seeking them out, for her resourcefulness in acquiring a ship and her decision to avoid "''a golden snake who poses as a god''".<ref name="Adjudicator">'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Adjudicator]]''</ref>

One of the Nine was responsible for disabling the City's satellites, allowing Ghaul to successfully attack and occupy the city. The purpose of this was to learn how the Light could be taken, but that particular member of the Nine was severely punished, as Ghaul's success led to the deployment of [[the Almighty]], which would have destroyed the Sol system and the Nine had it not been disabled.<ref name="TheWitch"/>

Whether before or after Orin/the Awoken agent visits them, the Nine speak of two significant events. The first event is with expectation and appears to be Mara Sov's plan with her Techeuns. They are confident that her fall is inevitable for the odds she plays with have been weighted by them.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/8/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Warmind (expansion)|Warmind]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Motion to Compel]]''</ref> The second event is tinged with overtones of regret and sadness; the Nine lament their slaughter of the remaining Ahamkara after Riven was taken by Oryx.<ref group=note>The Great Ahamkara Hunt: "''Remember the slaughter? it was no slaughter T E N T H O U S A N D D Y I N G W I S H E S''" — The Collapse: "''the dreamer survived O N L Y T O F A L L''" — The Harbingers: "''OUR CHILDREN. stolen constructs not ours''"</ref> Regardless of the specifics, one member urges the rest to "''rid'' [themselves] ''of regret''".<ref>'''Bungie (2018/8/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Warmind (expansion)|Warmind]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Motion to Vacate]]''</ref>

===Forsaken===
During the Guardian's third visit to [[Mara Sov]]'s throne, the Queen was seen talking to [[The Emissary]], saying that she agreed with the Nine's terms regarding an "asset" to be stationed "beyond the grave of the [[First Fleet]]". She then told the Emissary to remind the Nine that she had shown enough patience regarding the matter. The Emissary leaves and Sov warns the Guardian not to get involved in the Nine's schemes, claiming that they never end.<ref name="AwtQ">'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken (expansion)|Forsaken]], Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Audience with the Queen]]''</ref>

At an unknown time after the curse was unleashed upon the [[Dreaming City]], the Nine argued with [[The Emissary]] regarding her status as a pawn of the Nine, Mara Sov's plan, and an [[Darkness|oncoming storm]]. During the conversation, the Emissary pointed out the fact that seemingly only five of the Nine were present, which the Nine admitted was true. <ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken (expansion)|Forsaken]], Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Emissary]]''</ref>

===Joker's Wild===
During her surveillance of the [[Drifter]], the [[Praxic Order|Praxic]] [[Warlock]] [[Aunor Mahal]] recorded at least one conversation between the Nine and the Drifter. The Drifter appeared to be speaking aloud to empty air, and remarked upon the Nine showing him visions of a future universe consumed by Darkness, as well as another vision of a universe suffused with Light. The Drifter rebuked the Nine for trying to sway him to their cause, upon which they apparently attempted to kill him by overheating his brain. The Drifter responded by using his Light to counter their attack.

In addition, one can hear different members of the Nine speak directly to the Emissary during several invitations of the Nine.

==Identity==
{{quote|I cannot explain what the Nine are. They are... very large. I cannot explain. The fault is mine, not yours.|Xûr, Agent of the Nine}}
Very little about the Nine or the Jovian peoples was known for very long due to their enigmatic nature, and lack of information on their true form as the planets of themselves. In ''Destiny'', a [[Grimoire]] Card, Ghost Fragment: Legends 2, presents nine legends that offered contradictory clues and hints as to their nature.<ref name="Legends 2">'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard'', ''[[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Allies/Legends_%26_Mysteries#Ghost_Fragment:_Legends_2| Ghost Fragment: Legends 2]]''</ref> Many of the entities described by the legends actually exist, but while they all seem to be linked to the Nine, the nature of the connection varies. The Emissary claims that both deliberately seeking them out and doing nothing may lead one to encounter them, as they are ''"everywhere and nowhere"''. The Cabal call them the Ennead, and characterize them as ''"trapped and reaching out"''.<ref name="Ennead"/> These theories all turned out to be incorrect, as the Nine are infact the conscient dark matter of the galaxy and beyond, literally being "everywhere and nowhere" as described by the Emissary herself.

*Former human colonies who made a compact with an alien force to survive became the Nine and/or the Jovians.
*Deep-orbiting [[Warmind]]s (or potentially subminds) who survived the [[Collapse]]. Questioned by Orin on her search, who asked her in turn about the location of the ''"lying robot"'' who ''"no longer lies with others."''<ref name="Sudden Death" />
*Ancient leviathan intelligences originating either from Europa or [[Titan (moon)|Titan]]. The Emissary names ''"the hydrocarbon pits of distant moons"'' as one possible place the Nine may be found by worthy Guardians.
*The Nine originated from the [[wikipedia:Corona_Borealis|Corona-Borealis]] supercluster.<ref group=note>The ''Corona Borealis'' is a constellation and known as the "Northern Crown". Additionally, it is made up of seven stars, one of Bungie's many [[halopedia:Seven|references to the number seven]].</ref> The Emissary advises worthy Guardians to listen for the Nine in its direction.
*The first [[Awoken]], now transcended into mental energy moving along the [[Jupiter]]-[[Io (moon)|Io]] [[wikipedia:flux_tube|flux tube]].<ref group=note>The Jupiter-Io flux tube is a cylindrical section of Jupiter's magnetic field line which passes between Jupiter and Io. If it were able to be seen by the naked eye, it would resemble a tube of electromagnetic force between the two. Electrical current passes along this flux tube forming a circuit between the planet and moon, which ionizes the cloud of volcanic sulfur, oxygen, sodium and chlorine into a ring of plasma which surrounds the planet, boosting its already powerful magnetic field even further. The flux tube itself boosts radio emissions from Jupiter, making them increase considerably when Io's orbit brings it closer to Earth.</ref> When the Awoken first self-created in the [[Distributary]], nine of the ''[[Yang Liwei]]'''s 900 crew were not accounted for.
*Nine [[Ghost]]s who exited the [[Solar System]] and studied the [[wikipedia:Heliosphere#Heliopause|heliopause]]. Apparently made contact with the Nine when they did so,<ref name="Adjudicator"/> and so were sought out by Orin, but were unforthcoming with details.<ref name="Long Walk"/><ref group=note>Heliopause (also known as heliosphere) is the boundary between solar wind and external cosmic rays, effectively the outer boundary of the Solar System. Therefore, the "Deep Black" is outside of the reach of the Sun's influence.</ref>
*Remnants of the [[Darkness]], broken by the [[Traveler]]'s sacrifice, still seeking to destroy human civilization. <ref group=note>This would conflict with their indirect assistance to the Last City and the Guardians, such as Xûr providing rare weapons to them.</ref>
*A viral language of pure meaning. A concept familiar to Xûr, who defines ''"[doing] what you say"'' as speaking it.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Xûr, Agent of the Nine]]: [[X%C3%BBr,_Agent_of_the_Nine#Destiny_2|Quotes]]''</ref> 
*Imprints of a transcendent entity left behind after its complete destruction.<ref group=note>This is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Plato|Plato]]'s [[wikipedia:Allegory_of_the_Cave|Allegory of the Cave]].<br/>

:In this allegory, Plato explains that the inhabitants of the cave are prisoners, trapped inside with no knowledge of, nor have any desire to escape to, the outside world. Behind them a fire burns; objects passed through its light cast a shadow on the cave wall. A prisoner one day escapes their shackles and leaves the cave to find the sun, which shines more brightly than a campfire and overwhelms him; armed with this knowledge of the new reality he returns to try and convince his fellow men to escape but they steadfastly refuse.<br/>

:The objects which pass between the flames and the wall are what Plato calls the "Theory of Forms", or "Ideas". These objects are the true, metaphysical essence of what the prisoners perceive on the wall. Because the prisoners are shackled they lack knowledge of the "reality" of these shapes and presume the "shadows" are what's real when in fact they are not. The true reality, or higher reality, is what Plato called the "Good", and those which have discovered the "Good" must not remain there alone, but return to release their brethren and perceive the Good.<br/>

:''Destiny'' inverts this by having the Nine be the remnants of the Forms, the shadows "''burned into the weft of what is''" are the only remains of the Forms. Something, like the Darkness or even the Light, destroyed the transcendent Forms and recreated them into a new metaphysical archetype. To put it more bluntly, the Nine are the ghosts of dead gods, whose bodies were slain and now endure as wisps of what they once were.</ref>

In ''Destiny 2'' there are seventeen [[Lore entries]] from which can be gleaned five particular members of the Nine based on the writing style, with a potential sixth and seventh. It should be noted that VI could be I speaking more, and VII a possible typo, and thus not conclusive or definite. 

These members are as follows:

{| cellpadding="5" border="1" style="clear: both;"
! '''I'''
! '''II'''
! '''III'''
! '''IV'''
! '''V'''
! '''VI'''
! '''VII'''
|-
| Proper Punctuation. || lower case || BIG CASE || BIG PUNCTUATION. || B I G C A S E A L L S P A C E || Proper Punctuation II <br/> {{C|potential}} || B I G C A S E A L L S P A C E<br/>W I T H P U N C T U A T I O N<br/>{{C|potential}}<ref name="Relentless"/>
|-
| Most well-spoken and neutral in personality. || Almost whisperlike and cautious. || Pragmatic and straight to the point; emphatic. || Well-spoken but straight to the point; emotive and forceful. || Contrariwise and sarcastic; emphatic and forceful. || Also well-spoken with a neutral personality. || Potentially the same personality and speech patterns as V but uses punctuation.
|-
|}

The Nine also seem to have a connection to the [[Awoken]] or [[Ahamkara]], as they were greatly angered by [[Oryx|Oryx's]] incursion into the [[Dreaming City]], and were driven into a frenzy when [[Riven]] was [[Taken|taken]]. In addition, the Techeun [[Shuro Chi]] believes that the Ahamkara either originated from or were sent by the Nine.<ref>[https://www.ishtar-collective.net/transcripts/pilgrimage-harbingers-seclude-shiny-geode?highlight=pilgrimage Pilgrimage: Harbinger's Seclude, Shiny Geode]</ref>

==Members==
*Sun (implied)
*[[Mercury]]
*[[Venus]] 
*[[Earth]] 
*[[Mars]] 
*[[Jupiter]]
*[[Saturn]] 
*Uranus
*Neptune

===Agents of the Nine===
*[[Xûr, Agent of the Nine]]
*[[The Emissary]]

===Territory===
*All known planetary moons in the [[Solar System]]
*[[Unknown Space]]

==Trivia==
*The Nine is a homage to Bungie's ''[[wikipedia:Myth_(series)|Myth]]'' series, where a similar group also known as the Nine lead the forces of Light against the forces of Darkness. Five members are named: Alric, Rabican, Maeldun, Murgen and Cu Roi.
*The name, "The Nine" or "IX", is likely a reference to the "[[wikipedia:Ix (Dune)|Ix]]" in Frank Herbert's ''Dune'' series, a fictional planet whose position from its sun inspired the name, ruled by the Ixian Technocracy. Ix was the primary provider of technology for the Old Imperium (or Galactic Padishah Empire) after the infamous Butlerian Jihad, which banned AI; ironically, Leto Atreides II used many of their creations later in his reign, a situation unthinkable in his early years.
**Additionally it could also reference the {{Plain|[http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/n/ninerings.html Nine Rings of Power]}} in J.R.R. Tolkien's ''The Lord of the Rings'' trilogy, given by Sauron (in disguise as Annatar) to corrupt nine powerful kings of men to his service, of which three were Númenórean, the last noble survivors from the island kingdom of Númenor that Sauron had destroyed. "''Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die...''" The Nine in ''Destiny'' similarly tempt Guardians with strange gifts.
*The identity of at least five Nine was put together in a reddit post by u/jeckal_died, and serves as the basis for some of this article, minus the speculation.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/DestinyLore/comments/8idjao/trials_lore_tabs_and_the_personalities_of_the_nine/ '''reddit''' - ''Trials Lore Tabs and the personalities of the Nine.'']</ref>
*The Nine are technically a completely natural phenomenon and came to gain consciousness in a causal manner. The implications of this in regard to the nature of the Destiny universe, dark matter, and planets as a whole is unknown, but it now establishes that universal forces themselves are capable of achieving sentience.
*If the Sun is not one of the Nine, it is possible that Pluto is. Considering eight of the Nine are planetary bodies, it would be internally consistent for them all to be.

==Notes==
<references group="note"/>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Destiny]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[The Dark Below]]''
**''[[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]]'' 
**''[[The Taken King]]''
**''[[Rise of Iron]]''
*''[[Destiny 2]]'' 
**''[[Curse of Osiris]]'' 
**''[[Warmind (expansion)|Warmind]]'' 
**''[[Forsaken]]''
**''[[Black Armory (expansion)|Black Armory]]''
**''[[Joker's Wild]]''

==References==
<References/>

[[Category:Organizations]]