Ecumene: Difference between revisions

The '''Ecumene''' (or '''Amiable Ecumene''') was an interstellar government composed of multiple advanced spacefaring species in a unknown galaxy. It was destroyed during its cataclysmic [[Hive-Ecumene war|war]] with the [[Hive]].<ref name="XXIX">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXIX: Carved in Ruin|XXIX: Carved in Ruin]]''</ref>

The Ecumene was a peaceful alliance of multiple technologically advanced spacefaring species, such as the [[Dakaua]], and was well over twenty thousand years old by the time the Hive first encountered it.<ref name="XXV">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXV: Dictata ir Dakaua|XXV: Dictata ir Dakaua]]''</ref> Member species were known as "clients" of the Ecumene. They were evidently attuned with the [[Darkness]], if not wielders of it, and their connection to the Darkness appeared to form a central part of their civilization.<ref name="Habitable World">'''(2023/3/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Lore:Inspiral#The_Habitable_World|The Habitable World]]''</ref>

Prior to the advent of the [[Hive]], the Ecumene maintained contact with the [[Ammonite]] civilization of [[Fundament]] and were aware of its destruction, but not of its cause.<ref name="XXV"/> The [[Vex]] possessed a gate within Ecumene territory, though the extent of their presence is unknown.<ref name="XLIII">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XLIII: End of Failed Timeline|XLIII: End of Failed Timeline]]''</ref>

The origins and early history of the Ecumene remain unknown; by the time they encountered the Hive, their dominion had grown to encompass many client species, including the [[Dakaua]],<ref name="XXIX"/> and a significant portion of their local galaxy; at least one whole galactic arm is mentioned ("''spinward frontier''") to be under their banner.<ref name="XXVII"/> The Ecumene is known to have persisted for at least twenty-five thousand, one hundred and forty years.<ref name="XXV"/><ref name="XXVI">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXVI: star by star by star|XXVI: star by star by star]]''</ref>

This strategy of overwhelming force proved effective for a time, and the Hive's advance stalled. In response, [[Oryx, the Taken King|Oryx]] acquired the power to [[Taken|Take]] from the [[Worm]] [[Akka]], the power of the [[Darkness]] itself, and rapidly regained the advantage. The Ecumene Crisis Council met and determined that the Ecumene and its member species faced extinction within two hundred twenty years, and should therefore devote every aspect of its civilization to fighting the Hive. While this bought the Ecumene some time, the Hive's victory was now inevitable. After a century of war, the Ecumene Crisis Council was killed by Oryx at a place called the Fractal Wreath. Forty years after that, Oryx deceived the Dakaua and eliminated them. The Ecumene fled from the galaxy into the intergalactic void but were pursued by the Hive. One thousand years later, the Ecumene had been annihilated so utterly that only the Hive and Taox, who had managed to flee, remembered it.<ref name="XXVII">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXVII: Eat the Sky|XXVII: Eat the Sky]]''</ref><ref name="XXIX"/>

Members would "gland" a certain chemical, such as "sixty proof assimilation liquor" or "one hundred twenty proof fight or flight encoding" that would allow them to reinforce the general meaning of a message. Messages were marked with an imperative notice that identified which chemical to gland, as well as what punitive measure would be used ("noncompliance taxation") or what consequence would occur ("certain catastrophic defeat") if the recipient did not comply. Messages were also punctuated with emotional bursts that possibly involved the administration of an additional chemical: "VIGILANCE SPIKE" would likely bring the recipient to a state of increased alertness, while "ENACT IMPULSE" concluded the message and urged the recipient to act on it.<ref name="XXV"/><ref name="XXVII"/><ref name="XXXIV">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXXIV: More beautiful to know|XXXIV: More beautiful to know]]''</ref> "RECORD" seems to indicate ordinary writing, "GRIEF IMPULSE" indicates additional emotional flavoring, while "ENACT: REMEMBER" is for permeance, likely by utilizing the Darkness to record things safely.<ref name="Habitable World"/>