Barotrauma

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Barotrauma
Game:	Season of the Deep
Player(s):	1-3
Location:	Bathypelagic Midnight, Titan
Enemy faction(s):	Xivu Arath's Horde
Hostile race(s):	Taken Hive
Objective(s):	Ahsa's signature has been detected deep beneath Kraken Mare, behind enemy lines. The Vanguard fears she has been captured by Xivu Arath. Prepare your armaments and venture once more into Titan's methane sea to find and rescue Ahsa.
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Barotrauma is the fifth Mission of Season of the Deep, accessed through the Into the Depths quest. Xivu Arath's forces launched a surprise attack and managed to drive Ahsa in their territory. The Guardian and all the Vanguard leaders assemble to launch a rescue mission.

Objectives

• Search and Rescue
  • Break through enemy lines and find Ahsa.
• Break the Taken Defense
  • Taken Defeated
  • Break through the Taken's defensive lines and reach the ritual site where Ahsa is being held captive.
• THE COWARD FLESH MUST BURN
  • YOUR WORM WRITHES IN PAIN, AS MINE IN PLEASURE. COME AND TAKE IT, WARRIORS OF THE SKY
• Rescue Ahsa
  • Xivu Arath's forces hold Ahsa in a devious ritual. Destroy them and free her before it's too late.
• Disrupt the Ritual
  • Slay the Warsingers conducting the Taking ritual, and purify Taken energies from Egregore coral to strengthen Ahsa's will, mending her bond with Sloane.

Transcript

"And my vanquisher will read that book, seeking the weapon, and they will come to understand me, where I have been and where I was going."The following is a verbatim transcription of an official document for archival reasons. As the original content is transcribed word-for-word, any possible discrepancies and/or errors are included.

{Loading Screen}

• Lord Saladin: Commander, we've picked up Ahsa's trail deep below Kraken Mare, behind Xivu Arath's battle lines.
• Zavala: Understood. The deputy commander, Saint, and I will set up a perimeter to draw the Hive's attention. Then the Guardian can break through unscathed.
• Lord Saladin: The Iron War Beasts prepare to support our assault. Say the word.
• Zavala: Keep them in reserve until the Guardian has eyes on Ahsa.
• Sloane: Daylight's burning, and she's in pain. I can feel it.
• Lord Saladin: I'll find you on the field, Sloane. Hit your marks, and we'll get this done. Move out!

{Gameplay}

Mesopelagic Twilight, New Pacific Arcology, Titan

The Guardian transmats in 1000 meters into the Methane Sea.

• Zavala: Fireteam, check in. I've reached my position on the left flank. I've encountered a ritual.
• Sloane: I'm setting up on the right. Looks like a smaller ritual site here too.
• Saint-14: Pushing toward the commander's position now. Lord Saladin: My drop pod is deploying to your location, Sloane. Drifter, you're on Tac.
• Drifter: Well, all right. Taken energy's spiking up ahead of you, hero.
• Sloane: That must be Ahsa — ahh! My arm! Whatever they're doing, it's getting worse. If we're gonna do something about it, now's the time!
• Zavala: Guardian, start pushing forward — as soon as Saladin's pod hits ground, we launch our diversion.

The Guardian dives up to 2750 meters into the Methane Sea.

Bathypelagic Midnight, New Pacific Arcology, Titan

• Lord Saladin: Pod grounded. I'm in position.
• Zavala: Guardians, strike!

The Guardian defeats the Taken force.

• Zavala: Fireteam, report! Saint and I hold the left flank.
• Saint-14: It is working! We draw them off the Guardian!
• Lord Saladin: Enemy reinforcements flooding the right flank! We're holding.
• Sloane: This line doesn't fall back.
• Drifter: OK, hotshot. It's all you now.

The Guardian follows the Taken energy off the usual path.

Wrathborn Sink

• Drifter: Found the long-girl. Guardian's almost there. Dropping a ping to the fireteam.
• Sloane: Taking fire. Repositioning.
• Lord Saladin: I've got you! Saint-14: They are overrunning our position! Zavala!
• Zavala: Drop wards and focus fire on their ritualists! No one gets past us!

The Guardian gets closer to the source, moving past an imposing Pyramid door.

Hadal Sunken Shelf, New Pacific Arcology, Titan

Three Screams of Xivu Arath congregate around a ritual circle. There are multiple hive and taken, among them Eyes of Xivu Arath.

In an opening in the cave, Ahsa is captured for the ritual.

• Sloane: Is that... Wait... these rituals... they're trying to Take Ahsa!
• Drifter: Keep your Taken pants on. I ain't never seen a ritual our walking tank couldn't smash.
• Sloane: Don't hesitate, Guardian — she's relying on you.
• Drifter: That's a whole lotta magic, and I bet those Wizards are holding the reins. Get in there, and start breaking things!

Ahsa bestows her gifts to the Guardian.

The Guardian defeats the first Scream of Xivu Arath.

The Guardian takes the corrupted coral they hoarded and purifies it using the deployed tsunameter.

Egregore coral purified!

The ritual weakens as the coral gets purified.

Ahsa bestows more of her gifts to the Guardian.

• Xivu Arath: [screams in pain, then laughs]
• Drifter: Every Wizard you put in the dirt makes a dent. Plug away, hero!
• Sloane: [pants] Ahsa just got a second wind, Guardian — whatever you're doing, keep it up.

The Guardian defeats the second Scream of Xivu Arath.

The ritual weakens further as the coral gets purified.

• Lord Saladin: War Beasts, DEPLOY! You will take that position!

Saladin’s Iron War Beasts arrive to aid the Guardian, led by Tuk’rin, Iron War Boss.

• Xivu Arath: CLEVER, WARRIOR OF THE SKY.
• Sloane: Hold on, Ahsa! We're coming!
• Xivu Arath: THE COWARD FLESH MUST BE TAKEN.

The Guardian defeats the last Scream of Xivu Arath.

The ritual breaks, freeing Ahsa from Xivu Arath’s hold.

• Xivu Arath: [screams, pants, and chuckles]
• Drifter: Last one. Long-girl should be home free.
• Zavala: Excellent work, Guardian. Fireteam, check in.
• Sloane: Down to a sword, but... Hive and Taken forces routed.
• Saint-14: They will not run far. So many Titans; we encircle them like impenetrable walls, ha!
• Zavala: Clear your zones, and fall back to defensive positions around Ahsa as she swims back to the Arcology.
• Lord Saladin: Consider it done. War Beasts, you fought well. Extra rations for all.
• Sloane: What's Ahsa's status?
• Drifter: I've got an eye on her, and I'm shipping a transmat beacon your way. Hold onto your boots.

{Cutscene}

The Plunge, Dive Tank, New Pacific Arcology, Titan

The Guardian and Sloane—wielding her sword, Crown-Splitter—transmat back to the Plunge with Ahsa in safety.

Zavala transmats soon after.

• Zavala: Xivu Arath’s forces are in full retreat.
• Sloane: Good. Time to complete the mission.

Sloane steps up to the porthole in an attempt to commune with Ahsa.

Xivu Arath stops Sloane, and begins to possess her partial Taken form.

Xivu Arath speaks through Sloane.

• Sloane: OUR DANCE WILL NEVER END. I... AM... WAR!

In Sloane’s psyche, she shakily huddles herself in fear.

• Sloane: YOU CARRY MY BANNER. CLING TO ME LIKE HOPE. WHAT ARE YOU WITHOUT ME?

Sloane’s possessed body clutches her sword tighter.

• Sloane: SINK INTO MY EMBREACE. DROWN IN THE DEEP. FIGHT... FOREVER.

Zavala places a hand on Sloane’s shoulder.

Sloane swats Zavala’s hand and swiftly draws the blade to his throat.

• Zavala: Stand down, Deputy. Sometimes the battle... is stepping away from the battle.

Sloane slowly regains control as Xivu Arath’s hold on her dissipates.

• Zavala: We’re with you, all the way.

Sloane drops her blade.

• Sloane: [gasping, heavy breathing]

Ahsa begins to speak through Sloane.

• Sloane: The true path lies obscured. But she knows the way. She who hides truth... in deception. The Witch Queen... must rise.

Sloane reels back exhausted.

• Sloane: [pants heavily]

{Mission Ends}

Enemies

Taken

• Taken Thrall
  • Ravenous Taken Thrall
• Taken Psion
  • Ravenous Taken Psion
• Taken Acolyte
• Taken Vandal
  • Ravenous Taken Vandal
• Taken Phalanx
  • Ravenous Taken Phalanx
• Taken Knight
• Ravenous Taken Wizard
• Ravenous Taken Captain
• Eye of Xivu Arath
• Ravenous Taken Centurion

Hive - Xivu Arath's Horde

• Thrall
  • Cursed Thrall - Minor and Elite
• Acolyte
• Revenant Knight
• Revenant Ogre
• Shrieker
  • Revenant Shrieker

Boss

• Screams of Xivu Arath

Allies

Cabal - Imperial Cabal

• Iron War Beast
• Tuk'rin, Iron War Boss

Appearance

• Destiny 2: Season of the Deep (First appearance)