Zavala: Difference between revisions

{{Character infobox

|variant= Awoken

|image= [[File:ZavalaGhost.png|325px]]

|homeworld= [[Earth]]

|species= [[Awoken]]

|mass=

|hair= none

|rank= [[Titan (class)|Titan]] [[Vanguard]]<br/>[[Vanguard]] Commander

}}

==Biography==

===Early life and Career as a Guardian===

{{quote|The first time I met Zavala, I was really intimidated. He's kind of a lot to take in, you know? But then we got to talking about the [[City]] and the Walls and how we're all going to die and the nine hundred things that want to wipe us out. And I realized he's actually much scarier than most people give him credit for.|[[Amanda Holliday]]}}

Zavala was revived by his stalwart [[Ghost]], [[Targe]], as a [[Guardian]] in the bowels of a shattered spaceship wreck along a shoreline. With absolutely no memory of his past, a trait typical of Guardians, he began a journey to the [[Traveler]] due to its very light re-conceiving him. He encountered many [[Fallen]] on his journey and, during a battle against an Eliksni [[Vandal]], he was swiftly cut down and revived by Targe for the first time. He claimed a Fallen spear as a weapon after his victory, quickly fleeing when he spotted a [[Skiff]] landing nearby. After slaying another group of Fallen, one Vandal shot him in the back as it was dying, killing Zavala again. Once Targe revived him once more, he found an [[auto rifle]] on one of the Fallen and took it with him. Upon reaching the Traveler, Zavala discovered a humble encampment of refugees below it with other Guardians acting as its defenders, including another Titan named [[Shaxx]]. Zavala also met a spiritual leader called [[The Speaker]] as he preached around a campfire, claiming to speak the word of the Traveler.<ref name="ZP">'''Bungie (2017/5/25)''', ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI5poBxV_-A Destiny 2 Gameplay Premiere – Zavala's Prelude]''</ref>

Remaining in the encampment, Zavala aided refugees as they arrived. The camp soon grew into a village, eventually becoming [[The Last City]] of Earth. When the City was assaulted by angered [[Eliksni]], Zavala fought alongside Warlord Shaxx and his fellow Guardians to protect the citizens and the Traveler. When he spotted the future [[Hunter]] Vanguard [[Cayde-6]] and a group of civilians being chased by a pack of Vandals and Dregs, Zavala used his [[Fist of Havoc]] to destroy the raiders. Following the battle, he helped construct walls around the Last City with the aid of other Guardians, including Shaxx, [[Ikora Rey]], and [[Sloane]].<ref name="ZP"/>

===A life with Safiyah===

===Commander of the Vanguard===

While the City was preparing for an assault by the combined forces of all the Fallen houses, tensions between the Speaker and [[Vanguard]] Commander [[Osiris]] reached a breaking point. Zavala, having recently become the Titan Vanguard by replacing [[Saint-14]], attended a meeting of the [[Consensus]] without Osiris present. When the [[New Monarchy]] representative protested that Osiris was absent, Zavala announced that Ikora would be filling in for Osiris. The Speaker asked her to formally become the new Warlock Vanguard, which she accepted. The Speaker then proclaimed that he was exiling Osiris from the Last City and thus named Zavala as the new Vanguard Commander in place of the troublesome Warlock.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/14/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Curse of Foresight]]''</ref>

When Zavala learned that the Hunter [[Anastasia Bray]] was investigating her past life, which Guardians were discouraged from doing, he confronted her in the Tower's plaza. He told her that in addition to the inappropriateness of keeping her previous life's name, he believed her research was causing her to neglect her duties to the Last City. Ana argued that her past was useful to the Last City and may be why the Traveler brought her back, but Zavala countered that she was brought back to be a Guardian and fight for the future. Their argument was interrupted by the Hunter Vanguard [[Andal Brask]], who informed them that the Fallen were assaulting [[Twilight Gap]].<ref>'''Bungie (2018/6/22)''', ''[[Destiny: Warmind (comic)]]'', ''Chapter 3'', ''Page 2''</ref>

====Overseeing the Vanguard====

As Commander, multiple factions approached Zavala to try and gain his support. In particular, he was approached by [[New Monarchy]] via Executor [[Hideo]], and was offered to be made king of the City if he had joined their faction, but he refused,<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], Activision Blizzard - [[Executor Hideo]]: [[Executor_Hideo#Quotes|Quotes]]''</ref> likely not wanting to reignite the [[Faction Wars]]. He also turned away Arach [[Jalaal]] of [[Dead Orbit]] when he pleaded with Zavala for support.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], Activision Blizzard - [[Arach Jalaal]]: [[Arach_Jalaal#Quotes|Quotes]]''</ref>

====Strikes Against the Darkness====

{{Quote|But in the Darkness rising, more fleets will come and new leaders will rise. We must be ready to face them all.|Zavala, following the defeat of Valus Ta'aurc}}<ref name="CVIII">'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Cerberus Vae III (strike)]]''</ref>

====Mending Relations with the Sunbreakers====

{{Quote|A Sunbreaker's fire has not been seen in the City for years. Their association with Osiris, the stupidity of our youth... it all seems so long ago.|Zavala}}<ref name="Bound by Fire"/>

===The Red War===

====Fall of the Last City====

{{Quote|I mean live to fight another day. We don't have the luxury of rescue flights anymore. The longer we stay here, the tighter the noose.|Zavala, while ordering the evacuation of the Last City}}

On the anniversary of the [[Battle of Six Fronts]], the Last City and its Guardians were preparing to celebrate the unity of the City and foundation of the Vanguard.<ref>'''Bungie:''' ''[https://www.bungie.net/en/News/Article/47017 Solstice of Heroes development update]'', 7/17/2018</ref> Zavala met with Ikora and Cayde in the Hall of Guardians when trouble with the Skyline Defense Systems was reported and the communications systems became blocked. He wondered if it was just the storm around the Last City that was interfering with their systems, but Ikora then reported that all of their satellites had been destroyed. As he peered into the storm, Zavala witnessed dozens of Cabal warships emerge from the clouds and ordered the entire City to battle stations. As the Cabal began to assault the Tower with a missile barrage, Zavala created a [[Ward of Dawn]] and ordered the command center's staff to take cover within. Zavala strained against the unending barrage, but held his Ward as the Hall of Guardians fell apart around them.<ref name="HC">'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Homecoming]]''</ref>  

====Retreat to Titan====

{{Quote|The Golden Age cities of Titan were once the pride of humanity. We thought they were abandoned. But I was a fool to think the Hive would not spread this far.|Zavala, lamenting his decision to come to Titan}}

Zavala worked with Sloane and Amanda to find a rally point, and the three settled on [[Saturn]]'s moon of [[Titan (moon)|Titan]]. Zavala began working on a message to be broadcast throughout the system to rally Guardians to Titan, but Sloane and Amanda disliked his initial recordings, noting he made it sound like they had already lost the war. Sloane wanted him to be more inspiring and present more of a plan, but Zavala refused to lie to his people and ordered the message to be sent out, believing that he owed them the truth at the very least.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/7/31)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Solstice of Heroes]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Rekindled Solstice Armor (Titan)#Solstice Greaves (Rekindled)|Solstice Greaves (Rekindled)]]''</ref>

When the Young Wolf arrived on Titan to aid the resistance, Zavala warned them away, declaring that too many Lightless Guardians had already fallen to the Hive. However, their Ghost informed him that they had regained the Light, stunning Zavala. Sloane redirected the Young Wolf to the command center at [[Siren's Watch]], and Zavala asked them to be careful in their assault. As they began their mission, Zavala explained to them why he had come to Titan, although he now bitterly regretted his decision. While the Young Wolf made progress, Zavala disagreed with Sloane's assessment that once they secured the control center they could plan a counter-offensive and be at the City's gates soon, noting it would not be so easy. After a Hive ritual was disrupted, the Young Wolf's Ghost suggested they should consult [[Eris Morn]] on which god they had been attempting to commune with, but Zavala revealed that no one had seen Eris, or Cayde and Ikora, since the Last City fell. After the breeding ground at the control room was cleared out, Zavala and Sloane flew to meet the Young Wolf there. As Sloane began setting up the command center, Zavala spoke with the Young Wolf on the landing platform, and expressed hope that if the Light had managed to find its way back to them, then perhaps it could be restored to the other Guardians as well. However, he was worried about what would happen before then, as many more Lightless Guardians would fall in the meantime, and wondered what they were without the Light. Shaking off his despair, Zavala directed the Young Wolf to restore power to the platforms by reactivating the New Pacific Arcology's wave energy convertors, which had been damaged by the Hive's occupation.<ref name="Hope">'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Hope]]''</ref>

===A New Golden Age?===

{{Quote|None of us will take the Speaker's place. And all of us will. We must find our own consensus now.|Zavala, after being questioned by Executor Hideo about replacing the Speaker as leader of the Consensus}}<ref name="PBC">'''Bungie (2017/5/12)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, [[Peace by Consensus]]''</ref>

===Rasputin's Return===

{{Quote|Rasputin is Vanguard business, Anastasia. Not yours. You do not belong here."<br>"I beg your pardon?!"<br>"You belonged in the city! But instead of standing by your brothers and sisters when Ghaul came for us… you were here, doing what you always do - what you were never supposed to do.|Zavala arguing with Ana over her actions and Rasputin}}

In the months after the Last City's liberation, Zavala began going through the Speaker's restricted files and learned many secrets that had been kept hidden from the Vanguard and Consensus. Among those files was the true location of [[Rasputin]] at the [[BrayTech Futurescape]] in the [[Hellas Basin]] on [[Mars]], not within the [[Cosmodrome]]. The Speaker and Lord Saladin had deliberately misled Zavala and the others in order to keep Rasputin hidden and most of his power frozen beneath the ice caps of Mars, as they did not trust the [[Warmind]]. Now armed with the knowledge of Rasputin's role in the destruction of the [[Iron Lords]], Zavala agreed with their fears and no longer viewed Rasputin as a potential ally, but rather a potential enemy that had become mentally broken following the [[Collapse]]. He was therefore alarmed when Ikora informed him that the Traveler's awakening had caused the ice caps to melt and begin revealing the BrayTech Futurescape and Rasputin's hub. Pouring over the files, Zavala discovered a secret entrance into the Warmind's vault and resolved to eliminate Rasputin personally and without informing Ikora or Cayde, as he believed Ikora would wish to use the Warmind's knowledge and ignore the dangers while Cayde was too busy filling the [[Prison of Elders]].<ref>'''Bungie (5/1/2018):''', ''Destiny 2 Narrative Preview, [[Warmind_Weblore#Zavala|Weblore: Zavala]]''</ref>

{{Quote|We are not an army. We are not conquerors. We are Guardians. We need to keep our eyes here. On our home. Our people. The Traveler. The Reef was lost the moment it lost its Queen. So if another Sov wants a stretch of lifeless rocks, let him have it."<br>"This is Cayde we're taking about. For us to do nothing is… is…"<br>"Say it."<br>"…cowardice."<br>"I refuse to bury any more friends.|Zavala and Ikora arguing after Cayde's death}}

Several months after the events on Mars, Zavala and Ikora were left a letter by Cayde admonishing them for not catching him sneaking out of the Tower once again. He informed them that he was heading to the Reef to assist [[Petra Venj]] out with a few issues for a couple days and would ask the Young Wolf for backup if he needed it. The letter also asked if Zavala had figured out his tell when playing cards yet and recommended he play a few hands with [[Banshee-44]], who might take pity and tell him what it was if he lost enough.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/8/28),''' ''[[Weblore:Forsaken|Weblore: Forsaken]] - [https://www.bungie.net/en/News/Article/47166 Letter from Cayde]''</ref> However, issues within the Reef quickly escalated as massive breakout within the [[Prison of Elders]] led to the release of not only countless deadly prisoners but also the freedom of the Fallen [[Scorn]], undead and mutant Fallen. Cayde-6, the Young Wolf, and Petra arrived at the prison to contain the chaos but their mission ended in tragedy as Cayde found himself surrounded by the Scorn's Barons and his Ghost [[Sundance]] was killed. The mad Prince [[Uldren Sov]],  who had become the leader of the Scorn, executed the Hunter Vanguard with the [[Ace of Spades]] before the Young Wolf or Petra could arrive to save Cayde.<ref name="LC">'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], Activision Blizzard - [[Missions|Mission]]: [[Last Call]]''</ref>

Upon the return of Cayde's body to the Tower, Zavala mourned the loss of his comrade and friend with Ikora and the Young Wolf. The Warlock Vanguard, enraged at Cayde's murder, declared that the every Guardian would arm themselves and storm the Reef to kill Uldren. However, Zavala refuses, citing the recent conflicts that have already reduced their strength and that they must focus on the awakened Traveler and the Last City instead of pursuing vengeance. Thus, Zavala was willing to let Uldren and his Scorn have the Reef. Ikora accused him of being a coward, a accusation Zavala accepted if it meant he did not have to bury anymore friends. However, the Young Wolf interjected and declared that he would not have to, as they would deal with Uldren themselves.<ref name="LC"/>

In the [[Tangled Shore]], the Young Wolf forged an uneasy alliance with the Fallen mob boss, [[The Spider]], to aid them in hunting down Uldren and his Scorn Barons. One-by-one, the Guardian succeeded in striking down the Scorn Barons and ruining their unscrupulous plans. At the mysterious Awoken [[The Watchtower|Watchtower]], the Young Wolf and Petra finally managed to confront Uldren, who was weakened and at their mercy after being mauled by the [[Voice of Riven]]. The two completed their mission to avenge Cayde-6 and recovered the Ace of Spades from the traitor Prince's corpse. Upon the Young Wolf's return to the Tower, Zavala sternly stated that while he did not shed a tear for Uldren's death and would have ended him personally in another lifetime, he believed that the Guardian risked much in storming the Reef on their own accord. Zavala was certain that Uldren's death would have consequences in the future and hoped that the Young Wolf was prepared to deal with them.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], Activision Blizzard - [[Missions|Mission]]: [[Nothing Left to Say]] post-mission dialogue''</ref>

Wishing to send a message to the Cabal who were threatening the City once more, Zavala asked the Guardian to retrieve [[The Fourth Horseman]] from the Vanguard vault. As he provided them the keycard to the vault, Zavala warned them that they needed to pass through his office to reach it and requested they not violate his trust and leave his personal effects alone. Zavala was stunned when the Guardian returned and reported that the Vanguard's access codes to the vault had been rescinded and the weapon stolen. He vowed to boost security measures to prevent similar breaches in the future, and lamented that someone had used the current crisis to steal the weapon. Seeking answers, Zavala ordered the Guardian to visit Ana on Mars and use BrayTech equipment to track the weapon down.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/3/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Worthy]], Playstation 4, [[In Rides A Pale Horse]]''</ref>

Later on, as the Guardians worked on powering up the [[Io]] [[Seraph Bunker]] and connecting it to Rasputin's mainframe, Zavala sought out the Warmind to make sure he understood the stakes and was on the City's side. Rasputin answered by showing him a galaxy map displaying how close the Pyramid Fleet was to the Solar System. Zavala understood this and questions Rasputin if this is what had his attention, whether to fight, rebuild or run. Zavala soon found his Ghost hijacked by Rasputin, who relayed various messages from the Collapse, from those who did not survive. Zavala finally came to understand that while the Warmind had given everything for a cause that was swept away, he had nonetheless survived through the Collapse and was now afraid to fail humanity again. The Titan Vanguard finally came to an understanding with Rasputin, resolving that once ''The Almighty'' had been broken, the City would devote whatever resources the Warmind needed and when the time came, they would stand together as allies, equals, and Guardians.

====The Truth Behind the Mask====

{{Quote|Without trust, we become like the Cabal: fractured and consumed from within.|Zavala, expressing his disappointment with the Young Wolf keeping Crow's former identity from him.}}

Zavala traveled to Nessus with Crow, who had been assigned as his bodyguard by Osiris in the aftermath of the assassination attempt in the Last City. They met with Caiatl, two of her bodyguards, and the Psion [[Valir]] to engage in a formal ceremony to end the conflict. Zavala, Targe, and Crow watched as the Empress cut her palm with a ceremonial blade and vowed that blood would be the last spilt between their species. As Valir approached to hand Zavala the blade, Targe was suddenly entrapped by Light-draining cage and disabled. Zavala fell to his knees and the Light left him and Valir charged him with the blade. However, Crow threw himself between Zavala and the fatal blow, while Caiatl killed Valir for his treachery. Zavala looked at her in shock as she vowed that she had not ordered his assassination and sent one of her bodyguards to pursue the [[Qalec|sniper]] who disabled Targe. Crow freed Targe from the cage and the Light swiftly returned to Zavala. Turning to his savior, Zavala asked Crow if he was alright but was shocked to discover that beneath the damaged mask of Crow was the face of Uldren Sov. Zavala quickly realized what this meant, but rather than hold Crow's past life against him he offered the Lightbearer his hand to stand up.<ref name="ProvingGround"/>

Despite Saladin's misgivings, he was placed in charge of the campaign against the Lucent Brood, [[Operation Elbrus]], while Zavala himself often mediated between the Iron Lord and the Cabal Empress. After a time, the Guardians made progress alongside Caiatl's Cabal in capturing Lucent Brood leaders where the empress's best Psion would put them in a neither-alive-nor-dead state and glean their minds for intel. Though Zavala found this method unnerving, he nonetheless complied with it for the sake of the Last City and of the Vanguard's alliance with the Cabal. However, Crow was more unnerved about it and spoke out against it. Zavala had Saladin try to teach Crow lessons regarding consequences using his experiences, the Iron Lord reluctantly agreed as he often found the scout reckless and impulsive.

Ultimately, Caiatl's psion learned from the Lucent Hive's minds that the Lucent Brood are planning on seizing control over the [[Scarlet Keep]] from Xivu Arath's forces and make it the center point of a ritual to summon an invasion force to attack Earth using Light they had stolen from slain Guardians. With Caiatl's fleet in position surrounding the Keep, the Guardians fight their way to the ritual's center and slay the Lucent leaders, thwarting the invasion. However, expecting Crow to lend support, the scout was no where to be found and Zavala would learn, to his dismay, that despite Saladin's lessons, Crow still disagreed with the method in how the Vanguard gained the necessary intel, leading him to recklessly shut down the machine keeping the hive in their deathless state, which unwittingly killed Caiatl's psion in the process. Empress Caiatl learns of this and, enraged, demands Crows life in accordance with Cabal justice.

===Haunted by the Past===

Upon the re-arrival of the Leviathan within the system of Sol, Zavala took it upon himself to take part in the investigation into its activity. Stationed within the orbit of Luna, the former Cabal Emperor Calus sought to create a connection between the Leviathan and the Pyramid on Earth's moon. This caused Nightmares to emerge en masse within the derelict halls of the Leviathan, tormenting those who get too close. Seeking to interrupt this and prevent an enemy gaining unknown power, Zavala authorized the mission, [[Operation Midas]], and took part in a ritual conducted by Eris Morn, binding his own personal Nightmare to be used in an attempt to cut Calus' connection with the Lunar Pyramid. This took the form of Zavala's wife, Safiyah, from long ago when Zavala was still a protégé of Saladin Forge.

As stoic as ever, Zavala sought not to speak directly about the subject of his Nightmare, though was willing for those who do know to relay information about it to other Vanguard members. Eris Morn reveals to the Guardian the tale of Zavala, his wife and their adopted son, [[Hakim]], who he lost in battle centuries ago. To sever the connection to the Pyramid, Eris asks Zavala to confront the Nightmare, but the guilt of his past perceived failings prevents Zavala from completing the ritual of severance, even as the Guardian managed to slay the [[Nightmare of Kethiks, Grief Unforgiven]], the embodiment of Zavala's guilt and the apparition of the Fallen who killed Hakim. After spending a week in thought over the situation, Zavala comes to accept that he must let go of those past failings, for he had tried his best and nothing could be done to change the outcome of the past. Upon doing so, he manages to convert the [[Nightmare of Safiyah]] into the ''Memory of Safiyah'', finally granting Zavala a measure of peace and forgiveness. This helps inch the Vanguard and Cabal coalition towards its goal of stopping Calus' current activity, but it comes at a cost. Zavala admits that the Traveler isn't his "god", and the words of his Nightmare appear to have darkened his belief in the Traveler as a benevolent entity. However, Zavala admits the old adage, that Guardians "make their own fate", Traveler or not.

===Lightfall===

{{Expand-section}}

==Personality and traits==

Resolute, experienced, strong and charismatic, Zavala is a perfect exemplar of the Titan class of Guardian and a gifted leader that leads the Vanguard with the utmost determination. Zavala's first priority is the protection of the Last City and takes that charge seriously. No matter what force that seeks the destruction of the Last City, Zavala would face that enemy head-on. His one true goal is to defeat the Last City's enemies and reclaim the Solar System. Zavala has complete faith in the Guardians purpose in defending those in need. For this reason, he doesn't approve of those who doubt the Guardians abilities while espousing the dangers of the Last City's enemies, such as Eris Morn. Despite this, Zavala finds the value and skills in everyone and will defer to their advice when needed.

====Pinnacle weapons====

====Ritual weapons====

==Quotes==

==Trivia==

*He seems to be familiar with the works of the ancient Chinese war general Sun Tzu, as he is heard paraphrasing ''The Art of War''.<ref>[http://suntzusaid.com/book/10/25 ''"One victory is not enough. '''Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you''' into the dark."'']</ref>

*His [[armor]] is the [[Jovian Guard]], a [[PlayStation]] exclusive Armor set, although the symbols are different denoting his status as the Titan Vanguard.

File:ZavalaRasputin.jpg|Rasputin showing Zavala the Pyramid threat.

File:Zavala with the Cabal.png|Zavala and Osiris meet the Red Legion regarding the Pyramids.

</gallery>

==List of appearances==

*''[[Destiny]]'' {{1st}}

*''[[Destiny: Warmind (comic)]]''

==References==

[[Category:Guardians]]

[[Category:Vendors]]