Savathûn, the Witch Queen: Difference between revisions

|title1=Witch Queen |content1= [[File:SavathunInfo1.jpg|300px]]

|title2=Grimoire |content2= [[File:Savlore.jpg|300px]]

'''Savathûn, the Witch Queen''', formerly known as '''Sathona''', is a [[Hive]] god and sister to [[Xivu Arath, God of War]] and [[Oryx, the Taken King]]. Together with her two siblings, she was a progenitor of the contemporary Hive species and one of its chief gods, having made a pact with the [[Worm]]s of [[Fundament]]. She is driven to understand the deepest secrets of the universe, and gains power from the deception and confusion of those who seek to understand her unfathomable schemes.

Savathûn was born Sathona, on the planet [[Fundament]]. She was one of a short-lived species whose homeworld had crashed into Fundament millions of years earlier, with the shards of the planet forming Fundament's continents. The [[Osmium Court]] was one such continent, ruled by the [[Osmium King]], and Sathona was his second-born daughter, older sister to [[Xivu Arath, God of War|Xi Ro]] and younger sister to [[Oryx, the Taken King|Aurash]]. The three sisters were tutored by [[Taox]], a sterile Mother, the proto-Hive morph capable of spawning children, which also allowed them to live longer by eating "Mother-jelly" at adulthood. The proto-Hive's harsh lives convinced Sathona at an early age to become a Mother, not because she wanted children or feared dying, but because she wanted to live long enough to have meaning in her life.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#V: Needle and Worm|V: Needle and Worm]]''</ref>

However, by the time her father turned ten Fundament years (a lifetime by the standards of their species), he had discovered a dead [[Worm]] on the shores of the Osmium Court, which he started tending to it as a familiar, and began raving that the Syzygy, a prophesied disaster, would soon occur. While Aurash took her father's warnings to heart, Taox concluded that the King was falling to senility in his old age, and that none of his daughters, which were two years old at the time, could properly rule the Osmium Court and protect it from the [[Helium Court]], a rival kingdom. While acknowledging that Sathona was a brilliant thinker, Taox noted that she could not fight. In desperation, Taox sent a message to the rulers of the Helium Court, the Helium Drinkers, saying that she would help them assassinate the King and his daughters if they installed her as their regent. The Helium Drinkers accepted Taox's proposal and attacked, killing the King but failing to kill his daughters. In the confusion, Sathona managed to steal her father's Worm in their escape. Reaching Aurash's ship, the three sisters made a blood oath to return and take vengeance, with Sathona vowing that she would become a Mother and raise her spawn on the corpses of the Helium Drinkers.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#III: The Oath|III: The Oath]]''</ref>

Over the next two years, the sisters repaired the needle, but by this point, the sisters were five years old. Sathona raised her fears that she would soon be too old to eat mother-jelly, and that the sisters would be unable to fulfill their oath. Aurash said that the sisters had to dive beneath the oceans of Fundament, traveling to the planet's core. Xi Ro warned that this was how the crew had died, but Sathona, urged on by the Worm, agreed with Aurash. The sisters took the needle into the deep. They finally reached a point where they could use the ship's sensors on the oceans. To their horror, they discovered that the Syzygy was real, and that Fundament's moons had already aligned. Just then, they were encountered by the [[Leviathan (creature)|Leviathan]], a creature long spoken of in proto-Hive myth. The Leviathan warned the sisters that they needed to turn back, or else would unleash disaster upon the universe, saying that they faced a choice between the [[Light]], which offered civilization, and the [[Darkness]], which offered only violence. However, the Leviathan offered no hope to the sisters to avoid the Syzygy. Sathona then revealed the Worm's help to her sisters, and how it urged them to go down. Rejecting the Leviathan's entreaties, the sisters dove into the core.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#VIII: Leviathan|VIII: Leviathan]]''</ref>

As Auryx and his sisters forced an ultimatum on the remaining proto-Hive to accept the worms or perish, Auryx turned his attention to Fundament's moons, and the [[Ammonite]]s there who had allied with the [[Traveler]] and gave asylum to Taox. Initially he was willing to negotiate with the Ammonites, but his sister Savathûn, under pressure from the Worms, killed Auryx as punishment. Rather than dying, Auryx's soul instead passed to his [[Ascendant realm]], or throne world, where his soul resided until he returned to the mortal realm. Rebuked, Auryx purged what sympathy and goodwill he had left, becoming a merciless tyrant. He and his sisters warred with and killed one another on a regular basis after the defeat of the Ammonites, as part of their worship of the Sword-Logic and their attempt to become the sharpest blades in the universe, heading to their Ascendant realms when defeated. Their war of revenge against Taox had transformed into a campaign of genocide, when they slew the Ammonites and other interstellar civilizations to feed their worms. When Oryx established the [[High War|Court of Oryx]] to study the sword logic, Savathûn was inspired to establish a court of her own, known as the [[High Coven]].<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XXII: The High War|XXII: The High War]]''</ref>

During the war with the [[Ecumene]], Auryx came to realize that the Worm Gods had deceived him and his sisters: their worms appetites were growing past their ability to feed with death. Meeting with his sisters in his ascendant realm, surrounded by their servants (some of which despised them for showing weakness) they despaired over their dilemma. When his sisters offered their power to help Auryx find a way to save them, Auryx killed them, then used that power to confront his patron god [[Akka, the Worm of Secrets]]. He killed Akka so that he could steal its ability to call upon [[Darkness|the Deep]] and created the Tablets of Ruin, which gave him the power to [[Taken|Take]]. His transformation complete, Auryx was now Oryx, the Taken King. During the subsequent war with the Ecumene, Oryx revived Xivu Arath in an act of war, and revived Savathûn in an act of cunning. He then decreed the tithe system: each Hive would kill their enemies, take some to feed their own worm, and tithe the rest to their superior. Thralls would tithe to Acolytes, Acolytes would tithe to Knights or Wizards, the Knights and Wizards would tithe to the Ascendant Hive, those who commanded legions of warriors and earned the right to enter the Hive gods' Ascendant realms. All of this violence would eventually reach Oryx, Savathûn, and Xivu Arath, allowing their worms to feed on violence while continuing to invoke their inner natures.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XXIX: Carved in Ruin|XXIX: Carved in Ruin]]''</ref>

As Savathûn neared gaining complete control over the Taken, within the [[Reef]], the Witch-Queen gained a new and powerful ally in the form of [[Riven]],  the last known [[Ahamkara]] in the Solar System; Taken by Oryx during the onset of the Taken War and the first invasion of the [[Dreaming City]]. However, unlike most Taken, Riven retained her sense of self and free-will. With Oryx's passing and the Taken leaderless, Savathûn made contact with the Taken within the City and Riven, giving the Ahamkara a new purpose to serve the Witch-Queen. Through Riven, the Taken were prepared to corrupt the whole of the Awoken and launch an invasion of the Reef, using proxies like [[Uldren Sov]] and his [[Fallen]] [[Scorn]]. Though Riven succeeded in opening the gateway to the City, it left her vulnerable to the [[Guardians]] sent to kill her. The Guardians, aided by their Awoken allies and the formerly Taken [[Techeuns]], managed to kill Riven and cleanse her Taken essence. Nonetheless, her death served a purpose as the Ahamkara transcended death and granted one last wish: cursing the Dreaming City with Taken energies and altering its rules of ascendancy.

The Witch Queen's efforts to subvert the Pyramids would not go unanswered; the Hive broods that previously sworn to Savathûn would brand her a heretic for having conspired against the Darkness with the exiled [[Nokris]] and defected from her ranks as the Black Fleet invaded Sol, sending the former into hiding. Due to this her own court was left in the dark of her whereabouts.  

Titles of the Taken commanders she sent to battle the Guarian under the shard - [[Akorith, Lightdrinker of Savathûn]], [[Ishrasek, Lightbinder of Savathûn]], [[Korusk, Lighteater of Savathûn]] and [[Tarusk, Lightstealer Savathûn]] - imply she might be trying to siphon the Light from the Traveler in some way.

[[File:Caiatl Meets with Zavala and Osiris.jpg|350px|thumb|Savathûn and Zavala meet with Empress Caiatl.]]

Two weeks later, a lone Psion attempted to kill Zavala within one of the Last City's gardens using Light-draining technology developed from the [[Traveler Cage]]. Crow managed to warn the Commander in time, but was briefly seen without his mask. "Osiris" confronted Crow when he returned to the H.E.L.M. and angrily berated him for his mistake, but was lucky that Zavala was passing it off as a hallucination. Crow insisted that he had to do something, although "Osiris" dismissed his concerns again and stated that it was not the first time an assassin had infiltrated the City and he did not feel this was the crisis that Crow believed it to be. The two argued, with "Osiris" confidant that Zavala could have survived against one Psion without help and questioned why his mask had been removed, believing that working for the Spider should have taught him how small mistakes could have large consequences. Crow retorted that he supposed "Osiris" learned that chasing Xivu Arath. Savathûn faked a moment of quiet fury and warned Crow to choose his next words wisely. Crow apologized for not having his mask on but still believed Zavala to be in danger. "Osiris" agreed, and informed the Hunter that he would be assigned to Zavala as a bodyguard. A larger team would draw attention and prevent the assassins from being drawn out, but "Osiris" ordered Crow to keep his mask on, stay quiet, and act with discretion, rules which the Crow promised he would abide by.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Quests (Destiny 2)|Quest]]: [[Challenger's Proving V]] - [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/tensions Tensions]''</ref>

Later on, "Osiris" was present for a disagreement between Mithrax and Saint-14 regarding the division of resources between the City and the House of Light. Saint was adamantly opposed to this, claiming that they had already given them too much, to which Mithrax responded by saying the Eliksni would only take what they could give. Saint went on to say that their resources were already spread thin due to the Endless Night’s draining of the city, and stated that everything given to the House of Light was being taken from their own citizens. "Osiris" then intervened, reminding him that he was to provide for the Eliksni as if they were their own people, per Ikora’s insistence. Saint scoffed at this and told Osiris that Lakshmi was correct in that he was too political an animal. Mithrax reaffirmed the House of Light’s and the City’s shared desire to aid the Guardian and stop the Vex. Saint attempted to rebuff by asking the Kell if the Eliksni would bow to all of his demands if he were in one of their cities. Mithrax confirmed that they would give him anything he asked for, because they would wish to live. This caused Saint to relent, acknowledging that he was fighting for his people as Saint would fight for his own, and he agreed to split the supplies between the humans and the Eliksni before both parties transmated away. Savathûn noted this development as interesting before transmatting away as well.

While strolling the City in disguise Savathûn fed upon the people's ignorance and naiveté, but would catch herself seeking their companionship--much to her own disquiet. Watching the endless night unravel, she was still tormented by her Worm, hungry even amidst such ample deception to feed on, and raised her eyes to the Traveler waiting for her overhead.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/5/11)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Splicer]], Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Lore:Beneath_the_Endless_Night#VII_-_Ripe|Beneath the Endless Night, VII - Ripe]]''</ref>

Tracking Osiris to the Reef, The Guardian, along with Saint-14 and Crow entered the Dreaming City and found "Osiris" speaking with [[Mara Sov]] herself. The three lightbearers attempted to convince "Osiris" to return but instead the formerly exiled warlock backed away and revealed that the Osiris they knew was actually Savathûn herself, to their utter horror. Mara Sov came between them and encased the Witch Queen in a large crystal. In response to Saint-14's demands for answers, Savathûn revealed that she took Osiris' form to hide from her sister, Xivu Arath, who now hunts her on another's behalf. To further save herself, Savathûn agreed to a bargain with Mara Sov. In exchange for excising the worm inside her, Savathûn would release Osiris back to the Guardians. Wary of the infamous Queen of Lies yet desperate to save their friend, Saint and the Guardian agree to help Mara Sov with her bargain, as the Awoken Queen wishes to save her people lost in the Ascendant Plane.

Needing her Techeun Coven to help her excise Savathûn's worm and prevent Xivu Arath from fully corrupting reality through the dimensional Ley Lines, Mara Sov fully allies the Awoken with the Guardians of the Last City, having the Guardians traverse the Ascendant Realm and liberate the [[Techeun]]s. As they do so, Savathûn herself remains bound in crystal but requests meeting with the Guardian face to face. Warily, the Guardians agree to meet with the Witch Queen, who states the only "regret" she bears is how long it took for her to meet with the Guardian. Further, she states that for quite some time, she has been "helping" the Guardian during her time before posing as Osiris, "protecting" them from the Black Fleet, from guiding Crow to the Last City to be redeemed, preventing Zavala in making war with [[Empress Caiatl]], bringing the House of Light to the Last City to even exposing Lakshmi's conspiracy. She even states that she saved Osiris from Xivu Arath when he became Lightless. From there Savathûn states that while they may not agree with her methods, she states that she is no villain, that the Guardian is no hero but that they are both "paracausal".

Ultimately being tired of being kept in the dark and wanting answers, Crow confronts Savathûn demanding the truth. The Witch Queen toys with the former prince, claiming that she wanted to be kind because the truth hurts as he shirked away from the rumors of the man he used to be. With the Guardian present and despite Glint's pleas, Crow touches Savathûn's crystal prison, seeing everything he used to be as Uldren Sov, including his death at the Guardian's hand. Shaken and angered, Crow leaves, with Glint condemning the Witch Queen for hurting Crow. Brushing this off, Savathûn merely stated that someone had to and better be it come from a "friend". Mara Sov learned of what the Savathûn had showed Crow and would be enraged by it, as now Crow departed from the Dreaming City and requested a new assignment from Ikora, granting him it. Not wanting to have the Witch Queen sow more division, Mara Sov ordered that Savathûn receive no more visitors.

After months of preparation and saving the last of the Techeuns, Mara Sov had what she need to excise Savathûn's worm but in doing so, Xivu Arath's forces will likely seek to stop the ritual. Gathering her Corsairs, Saint-14 and the Guardian, Mara Sov proceeded with her ritual as she is defended. Ultimately growing desperate, Xivu Arath sends her champion, [[Kelgorath]], to stop the ritual but fails, the Witch Queen's worm now excised from her form.

Believing Savathûn to be vulnerable now and seeking justice for the Witch Queen's role in pushing Uldren into the destructive path he walked, Mara Sov released her from her crystal shell and prepared to deliver the killing blow. Unfortunately for the Awoken Queen, Savathûn had already long anticipated this and made a contingency. Just prior to her imprisonment, the Witch Queen wove her magics into the prison, allowing her to spirit away the moment her prison shatters. However, keeping her end of the "bargain", Savathûn returned Osiris alive.

Savathun realized she would die when her worm was excised <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR9YZdCh1Nw</ref> so she departed the [[Dreaming City]] and traveled to an outcrop above the Traveler. She spoke to it, noting that she had chased the [[Traveler]] for a long time as an enemy, then a collector, and now, "a supplicant." She begins coughing, as she is close to death, and Savathun tells the Traveler how clever it would be if it just let her die now after everything. She slowly slumps to the ground and dies.

However, [[Immaru]] arrives and begins reviving her. <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR9YZdCh1Nw</ref>

Savathûn's relationship to her siblings appears to be the closest yet most complex one, reaching all the way back to their shared childhood on Fundament. It used to be marked by tenderness and care, with Aurash, Sathona and Xi Ro often comforting and counseling one another on their journey, as well as both sisters trusting Sathona's judgement when she told them to dive into the ocean's depths following the worm's advice. The love between them shined through even after the dooming pact with the worm gods, albeit in a distinctly Hive, violent way of the Sword Logic. Savathûn often tested her siblings using tricks and cunning, and encouraged them to strike back against her as a means of "sharpening themselves" in combat. When Oryx realised she had convinced Xivu Arath to trap him in the Deep in order to steal the Tablets of Ruin from him, he remarked he "loved them so dearly" as no one else would give him the gift of trying to break him.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XXXIV: More beautiful to know|Books of Sorrow XXXIV: More beautiful to know]]''</ref> The Books of Sorrow also recount Oryx's love for Savathûn when he defines her back into existence with cunning, and is glad she has not perished eternally.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XXIX: Carved in Ruin|Books of Sorrow XXIX: Carved in Ruin]]''</ref> Despite it probably being a scheme meant to keep Xivu Arath away from the Solar System, Savathûn would conjure her sister into the Cabal homeland of Torobatl to ravage it as a gift.<ref name="New Gods"/>

During her conversations with the Guardian, Savathûn shared some of her own insight on the relationship between the siblings. She stated that everything they had done throughout their millennia-long journey of conquest had been for each other, and "you would go to any lengths to avenge [your family]". She also stated she understood Xivu Arath was hunting her out of fear of losing her, because separating herself from her worm would render Savathûn separated also from her sister. Somewhat sadly, she admitted that however deeply she cared for Xivu Arath, it could not deter her from her path anymore.<ref name="Wayfinder's Voyage IV"/>