Cabal: Difference between revisions

Sometime following the Vanguard-Cabal Coalition handling the Lucent Brood and Yirix's Deserters, the Guardians and Empress Caiatl would face a surprise encounter: the return of [[The Leviathan]], the personal pleasure craft of the former Emperor of the Cabal, Caiatl's father Calus, hanging derelict near the Moon. More strangely, the Leviathan began broadcasting a call towards the Pyramid beneath the Moon's surface, causing the [[Nightmare]] phantoms to resurface and torment anyone who came too close to the Leviathan. Believing that Calus's obsession with the Darkness had created a new threat, [[Eris Morn]] called upon the Guardian to investigate the massive vessel.<ref name="Midas">'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [[Operation: Midas]]''</ref>

As the Guardian ventured onto the vessel, they found it eerily deserted, large sections of it overgrown with the same dark flora that had overtaken the Glykon Volatus. Unnerved by this discovery, the Guardian ventured deeper into the Leviathan but encountered a unique Nightmare that actually spoke in a voice that Zavala recognized. However, the Guardian was blocked by a [[Unrelenting Nightmare|Loyalist Gladiator]] that they cannot seem to harm. Left with no choice but to hide and escape, the Guardian proceeded further through the vessel until reaching Calus's throne room and encountered one of the Emperor's damaged robotic proxies. Investigating the robot seemed to activate it, producing the laughter of Calus himself before summoning swarms of Loyalist forces. On the verge of being overwhelmed, Eris attempted to teleport the Guardian to safety, only to discover that a power was blocking her attempts, forcing the Guardian to flee from the Leviathan on their own. Despite the Loyalists' efforts, the Guardian managed to reach their ship and return to the Vanguard to report their findings.<ref name="Midas"/>

Eris met with Zavala and Caiatl, explaining that [[the Lunar Pyramid]] was stirred by the Leviathan's call and it now manifested their deepest regrets, wearing familiar faces and speaking with familiar voices. Eris explained that she could bind the Nightmares, granting safe passage through the Leviathan, but Caiatl balked at the thought of using Hive Magic to do so. Despite his concerns, Zavala agreed after Eris stated that the rules have been bent around them and now they must bend to survive. Though Caiatl refused to take part in the ritual, she stood firm in leading the charge, claiming her armor was protection enough. Regardless, Eris Morn conducted her ritual using the Crown of Sorrow with Crow and Zavala, binding their personal Nightmares of Uldren Sov and [[Safiyah]], and creating the [[Nightmare Harvester]]. Despite her insistence on not taking part in a Hive ritual, Caiatl would find herself haunted by her former co-conspirator, Dominus Ghaul.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [https://youtu.be/DWHphu-iT3w?t=68 Herald]''</ref>

Over the next few weeks, Guardians would battle Loyalists Cabal, allied with Scorn and their own Nightmares, on the Derelict Leviathan, as they [[Nightmare Containment|collected]] the energy needed for the [[Sever|severance]] rituals.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]]''</ref> They would also uncover several rituals conducted by Nightmares and Loyalists alike, and dismantle them, fighting beside the Imperial Cabal's forces.{{Citation needed}} As the Sever operations progressed, the Guardian would find themselves hunted by the Unrelenting Nightmare once more.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [[Sever]]''</ref>

Over time, Caiatl grew tired of the situation with Calus not moving forward and had enough of the Nightmare of Ghaul taunting her. She misinterpreted Eris' ritual as simply a "conquest" of a foe and believed she was enough to take out the Nightmare of Ghaul. She advised the Guardian not to interfere, and declared an open challenge to her former Dominus, seeking battle with the Nightmare in the depths of the Derelict Leviathan.{{Citation needed}} Seeing this as folly, Eris had the Guardian follow Caiatl to the ritual location. The Empress, angered that the Guardian was following her, allowed them to fight alongside her forces against Calus's Loyalists, but forbade them from interfering with the ritual. During all of this, the Nightmare of Ghaul continued to taunt Caiatl about her supposed weakness and failures as a leader. Upon reaching the ritual site, Caiatl began the severance but like Crow and Zavala before her, she struggled against her Nightmare, who then summoned another one of himself as remembered by Humanity, forcing the Guardian to fight it. Though the Guardian slew the Dominus, the ritual failed, with Caiatl's Nightmare denouncing Caiatl as not the one he had trained when he first rose to power.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [[Sever - Rage]]''</ref>

With this failure and Caiatl still refusing to take part in the binding ritual, Eris instead looked for a new way forward and found a clue to one on the Moon. Tasking the Guardians to investigate, they enter the [[K1 Revelation]] site, battling with the [[Nightmare of Arguth, the Tormented]] near a relic belonging to Calus. After slaying the Nightmare, Eris discovered a call to the Pyramid in its dying screams. Eris surmised that in place of the severed connections to the Pyramid, Calus had used the relic within K1 Revelation as a focusing point to strengthen what remained. Eris directed the Guardian to the Lunar Pyramid, where they discovered a trail of deceased Loyalists, with Egregore lining their esophagus. Eris then understood that Calus forfeited their lives to ferry his mind across a great distance and hasten ingress to the Pyramid. Concluding that Calus is now desperate and that their plan is working, Eris sought to speak with Caiatl. Speaking with the Guardian, however, Eris understood Calus knew exactly what he was doing, goading his daughter to recklessly strike out on her own. Nonetheless, with the recent discovery in the [[Admittance]], Eris was able to figure out that Calus is seeking to become one with the Lunar Pyramid and claim its power. Worse, Eris believed that Calus was doing this at the behest of [[The Witness]] in bringing about a second Collapse.{{Citation needed}}

Finally speaking with Caiatl, Eris once again offered her support, but the Empress remained hesitant, as the weight of her responsibilities as leader of the Cabal made her reluctant to engage in the situation. However, Eris stated that she is not a crown but a woman with a burden and that her true nightmare is the expectations placed on her as leader. Understanding this and realizing she doesn't know what she wants for the future, Caiatl agreed to take part in the binding ritual.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [[H.E.L.M.]] Radio Message: [[H.E.L.M.#Season of the Haunted|Caiatl and Eris' discussion]]''</ref>

After completing her part of the binding ritual, Caiatl was now prepared to take part in the severance ritual to break the last of Calus's connection to the Pyramid. Still, Eris feared he may have already made his way into the core of the Lunar Pyramid, taking note of voices she recalled from her time on Io under the Tree of Silver Wings and beneath the ice of Europa, which caused her to urge the Guardians to make haste. The Guardian returned to the Leviathan alongside Caiatl and her forces and battled against the Scorn and Calus's Loyalists. As they reached the ritual site, the Nightmare of Ghaul continued to denounce Caiatl for not conquering the Last City and destroying the Guardians, but Caiatl remained resolute in her beliefs. Upon reaching the site and beginning the ritual, the Nightmare of Dominus Ghaul returned, forcing the Guardians to battle it. Despite its power, the Guardians prevailed, with Caiatl reaffirming that she accomplished more with compromise than with conquest as Ghaul had normally done. Taking her blade, Caiatl stabbed the Nightmare of Ghaul, transforming it into the [[Memory of Ghaul]], with it acknowledging her accomplishments, taking note that where he sought to conquer the Light, he burned for it, but Caiatl was able to utilize it through her War Council, stating that she had surpassed him. With the ritual complete, Caiatl returned to her ship.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [[Sever - Resolve]]''</ref>

Returning to Eris, she stated that they had achieved their goal in severing Calus's connections to the Lunar Pyramid, yet took note that nothing on the Leviathan had changed and Calus himself had done nothing in response, making the victory seem hollow. However, Eris noticed that the Nightmares imprisoned within the Crown of Sorrow were beginning to seethe, meaning that something was coming and they weren't prepared for it. Wishing to discover more before such an event were to occur, Eris delved into her research once more as she instructed the Guardians to continue with their Nightmare harvesting.{{Citation needed}}

After a time, Eris discovered her worst fears realized; they were too late to sever the last of Calus's connections, as Caiatl's previous brazen attempt was the time Calus needed to complete his plan. The former emperor had extended his consciousness into the Lunar Pyramid, causing it to surge to life and begin his efforts to assume control over it. However, Eris believed there was still hope to stop Calus, as not all of his power had merged with the Pyramid yet. There was still time to conduct one last, desperate, severance ritual at the seat of Calus's power, to dislodge him from the Pyramid before the change became permanent. However, conducting a ritual of such magnitude would require the aid of Caiatl, Crow, Zavala and Eris herself altogether. Gathering the Nightmare Harvester, the Guardians invaded the Leviathan, distracting the Scorn and Loyalists while the others planted their amplifiers. However, Caiatl would lose contact with the team, forcing the Guardian to head towards Calus's throne room alone as both Crow and Zavala found themselves attacked. Reaching the throne room, the Guardian located the hall filled with the emperor's robotic proxies and headed through a dark portal that took them into the Lunar Pyramid itself, specifically a location called the [[Chantry of the Darkest Hour]].<ref name="Catharsis">'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [[Catharsis]]''</ref>

There within the Pyramid, they reunited with Caiatl, who issued a challenge for her father to reveal himself as the Guardian places the Nightmare Harvester, which ultimately revealed Calus in his true psionic form as a Herald of the Witness. Calus answered his daughter's call, stating his disappointment in his daughter's refusal to stand by his side, and summons the Nightmares the Guardian previously faced. Despite being nearly overwhelmed by Calus's nightmares, the Guardians are able to wound Calus directly by slaying the projections and even receive aid from the Memories of Uldren Sov, Safiyah and Ghaul. Despite his vast psionic powers, the use of his forces and the Nightmares, the Guardians succeed in defeating the former emperor-turned-herald, ending Calus' threat.<ref name="Catharsis"/>

Reuniting with Eris, Zavala and Crow, the team witnessed the memories fade away as Caiatl confirmed that her father was gone, that he had given himself over to the Witness, leaving all present relieved but exhausted by what they went through. Nonetheless, the mission was a success; Calus had been pushed back, the Leviathan had gone silent and the memories had returned to the psychic noise of the Pyramid.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [https://youtu.be/DWHphu-iT3w?t=421 Catharsis]''</ref> However, while Eris commended the Guardian's efforts, she stated that their battle with Calus was not a victory, as they had merely bought themselves time. She further states that while Calus may be defeated, he was not gone, as he was successful in becoming a herald of the Witness and the harbinger of the Second Collapse. In addition, the Leviathan remained and it would take months to clear out the rest of the Nightmares and ensure it was no longer a threat. However, Eris remained somber, as their efforts were likely for naught, for they had reached the point of no return. That the Witness is near and it is the beginning of the end.{{Citation needed}}

Sometime after pushing Calus back, the Guardians would receive a priority message from the H.E.L.M. vessel. Arriving at the H.E.L.M.'s main hall, nearly overcome with egregore flora, the Guardians were greeted by one last, surprise message from the former emperor of the Cabal turned Herald of the Witness. Calus taunted the Guardians as they amused and entertained him, granting them gilded rewards and hoping they would join him in preparing for the end, but instead is disappointed in their stubbornness to resist. Speaking of how the Witness has turned its gaze towards the Traveler, Calus stated if they instead refuse his final offer of "salvation" in experiencing revelry before the inevitable, then the newly made Herald will savor the Guardians final moments, finally bidding them farewell until they meet again. Zavala later confirmed the same projection of Calus appeared over the Last City, threatening all who live there with the same fate.{{Citation needed}}

As the Guardians worked in reaping the Nightmares and investigating the Leviathan's current condition, Eris Morn would find a statue of the former Emperor where the Darkness had coalesced inside and, more importantly, connected to Calus's very consciousness. Managing to catch that connection, Eris could allow the Guardians to enter Calus's very mind and steal his darkest secrets, but warned them that even though they are entering into a world born of Calus's thoughts, it will be no less dangerous than reality. Entering the rift, the Guardians explore the reaches of a palace-like environment but to Eris's surprise, they find the imprints of Calus's consciousness are fractured and straining. This makes it apparent that Calus was at war with himself. As they collected pieces of Calus's memories and recollections of his past, the Guardians hear echoes of the former Emperor, something that Eris believed were Calus's personal torment.<ref name="Duality">'''Bungie (2022/5/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]] - [[Duality (dungeon)|Duality]]''</ref>

As they traversed the former Emperor's mindscape, the Guardians heard every repressed personal thought of Calus, from his rise to power, overthrowing the Praetorate, his drunken stupors to the moment Ghaul led the coup against him. As they progressed, the Guardians faced off against the [[Nightmare of Gahlran, Sorrow Bearer]]. Despite the danger, the Guardians prevail against the Nightmare and collect more memories of Calus's time during his exile before coming into contact with [[The Witness]], vowing to become its herald and be the last being left in the universe before the end. Their journey through the expansive world of Calus's mind would ultimately have the Guardians confront a phantom of the Emperor's daughter, the [[Nightmare of Caiatl, Princess-Imperial]]. After a struggle, using the reality of Calus's mind against it, the Guardians managed to defeat Nightmare of Caiatl before claiming the last of Calus's repressed memories. With Eris's aid, the Guardians returned to their reality and gleaned from Calus's nightmares that the former Emperor was seeking a transfiguration of sorts, believing it would help him understand the goals of the Witness. Recalling Calus mentioning the "final shape" that Eris has heard before in Hive Apocrypha and from Toland, she claimed that, by understanding the true goals of what the Witness seeks, they might be able to prevent a second Collapse.<ref name="Duality">/>