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Taox: Difference between revisions

From Destinypedia, the Destiny wiki

(I'll be working on this article as it looks a tad incomplete, even by Destinypedia's standards, and the Needle/Krill homeworld articles put this one to shame)
(Rewrite complete, personality and traits are upcoming next. Amazing what can be extracted from the Books of Sorrow almost ten years later.)
Tag: Disambiguation links
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|othernames= The Traitor Mother
|othernames= The Traitor Mother
|image=  
|image=  
|homeworld=[[Fundament]]
|homeworld= [[Fundament]]
|birth=
|birth=
|death=
|death=
|species=[[Hive#Origins|Krill]]
|species= [[Krill]]
|gender=Female
|gender= Female
|height=
|height=
|mass=
|mass=
|hair=
|hair=
|eyes=
|eyes=
|affiliation=[[Osmium Court]]
|affiliation= [[Osmium Court]]
|rank=Osmium-mother
|rank= Osmium-mother
|class=
|class=
|sn=
|sn=
|notable=
|notable=
}}
}}
'''Taox''' was a [[Hive#Origins|Krill]] who once tutored the [[Osmium King]]'s three daughters, [[Xivu Arath, God of War|Xi Ro]], [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen|Sathona]], and [[Oryx, the Taken King|Aurash]].
{{Quote|I alone see the patterns of survival. [...] Alone I must act to save my kingdom.|Taox<ref name="Hateful">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#II:_The_Hateful_Verse|II: The Hateful Verse]]''</ref>}}
'''Taox''' was a [[Krill]] female who once tutored the [[Osmium King]]'s three daughters, [[Xivu Arath, God of War|Xi Ro]], [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen|Sathona]], and [[Oryx, the Taken King|Aurash]]. She betrayed her King to save the Osmium people from extinction and unwittingly doomed the entire species to slavery by her actions.<ref name="TTK">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard''</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
Taox was a sterile Mother and consequently fortunate to have a longer lifespan than most members of her species. She became the teacher of the royal offspring of the Osmium Court, a floating continent on the gas giant [[Fundament]]. When the Osmium King's mind began to crumble from senility and madness, Taox realized his death was imminent, and feared that all of his daughters were too wayward and weak to ascend to the Osmium Throne and rule effectively. Secretly, she invited their rivals, the Helium Drinkers of the Helium Court, to invade the Osmium Court, assassinate the royal family, and make her regent of the continent under the Helium King.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#II:_The_Hateful_Verse|II: The Hateful Verse]]''</ref> The Helium Drinkers subsequently invaded and killed the Osmium King, though the King's daughters managed to escape, vowing to one day return and take revenge on Taox for her treachery.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#III:_The_Oath|II: The Oath]]''</ref>
Taox was a sterile Krill Mother of the [[Osmium Court]], a floating continental nation of the Jovian [[Fundament]], and tutor to the royal offspring of the Osmium King. She also designed and built immense engines to move the continent from place to place.<ref name="Hateful"/> She instructed the last three daughters in the ways of governance, rulership, and the philosophy of the Timid Truth, and was held in high esteem by Xi Ro,<ref name="Predators">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#I:_Predators|I: Predators]]''</ref> but feared for their individual weaknesses.<ref name="Hateful"/> Because of her sterility she was above petty political intrigue and could see the greater picture without distraction.<ref name="Hateful"/>


Taox presumably ruled the Osmium Court until the King's daughters returned, transformed by the [[Worm]]s into Xivu Arath, Savathûn, and Auryx, the first Hive, and began spreading the Worms among the other Krill to build an army. The nascent but powerful Hive forces recaptured the Osmium Court and took revenge on the Helium Drinkers, but Taox managed to escape to another kingdom, the Hydrogen Fountain.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XI:_Conquerors|XI: Conquerors]]''</ref> The Hive's advance was inexorable, however, and Taox's Refusalist resistance was forced to continue retreating. Eventually, she traveled to Kaharn Atoll, where she attempted to marshal the myriad other species of Fundament to strike down the Hive. This plan failed: the Hive conquered Kaharn and slaughtered everyone there.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XI:_Conquerors|XI: Conquerors]]''</ref>
When the Osmium King's mind began to crumble due to his advanced age, Taox realized she could not put off the truth any longer. Her King was dying and had no suitable offspring left to lead their Court and protect them from the dangers of Fundament. She despaired over Xi Ro's inability to lead, Sathona's inability to fight, and Aurash's endless curiosity keeping her from the mundanities of rulership. In desperation she turned to the Osmium Court's enemies, the [[Helium Drinkers]], who had recently begun raiding them and exacting punishing tribute, and wrote a letter offering to sell her people's sovereignty in exchange for survival.<ref name="Hateful"/> The Drinkers accepted her request and invaded, killing the Osmium King, conquered the Osmium Court, and installed Taox as Regent; unfortunately, her three students escaped and fled into the depths of Fundament. The sisters swore vengeance,<ref name="Oath">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#III:_The_Oath|II: The Oath]]''</ref> with Xi Ro personally promising to slay the Traitor.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#IV:_Syzygy|IV: Syzygy]]''</ref><ref name="Dive">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#VII:_The_Dive|VII: The Dive]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#VIII:_Leviathan|VIII: Leviathan]]''</ref>


Once more escaping the Hive's grasp, Taox took a spaceship to the capital of the [[Ammonite]] civilization that ruled Fundament's 52 moons, and was granted asylum. The Hive followed, and began their conquest of the moons. A violent war followed that saw the Ammonite exterminated, but Taox had slipped away yet again.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XII:_Out_of_the_Deep|XII: Out of the Deep]]''</ref>
For two years<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#VI:_Sisters|VI: Sisters]]''</ref> Taox ruled the Osmium Court for the Drinkers, presumably building them also a set of engines to move their continent in tandem with hers. When her three students returned as terrible conquerors<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#X:_Immortals|X: Immortals]]''</ref> Taox rallied the survivors of both Osmium and Helium Courts and fought back as the Refusalists, eventually fleeing to the other continents of Fundament and gathering other reinforcements, but failed to stand against the inexorable advance of the Hive.<ref name="Conquerors">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XI:_Conquerors|XI: Conquerors]]''</ref><ref name="Deep">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XII:_Out_of_the_Deep|XII: Out of the Deep]]''</ref> Taox and whomever else was with her took to outer space, fleeing amongst the fifty-two moons for sanctuary, and were granted asylum by the [[Ammonite]]s.<ref name="Fifty-Two">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XIV:_52_and_One|XIV: 52 and One]]''</ref> She presumably provided tactical intelligence and information of her students, their motivations, and intentions, to the [[Ammonite Satellite Congress]], as the cephalopods were able to push the Hive forces all the way back to the sixth moon.<ref name="Born">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XV:_Born_As_Prey|XV: Born As Prey]]''</ref> The [[Worm||Worm Gods]] told Auryx that Taox mocked him for his weakness.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XVII:_The_Weakness_Verse|XVII: The Weakness Verse]]''</ref>


Approximately 24,000 years later, the [[Dakaua]] discovered a starship which held Taox in cryo-stasis at roughly the same time they and the other species of the [[Ecumene]] were dealing with a Hive invasion. Taox shared what she knew about the Hive's leaders and their overall motivations with Dakaua leadership, who passed the information on to the Ecumene. The Ecumene determined that the Hive had to be defeated by any means necessary, and embarked on a campaign of genocide using their most powerful weapons.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XXV:_Dictata_ir_Dakaua|XXV: Dictata ir Dakaua]]''</ref> During this time, the [[Vex]] were able to create a simulation of the original Aurash, the first iteration of Oryx, which was based on attempted simulations of the Taken King and the information given to the Ecumene by Taox.<ref>'''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> In the end, however, Taox's aid was in vain; the Hive weathered these attacks and eventually annihilated every last trace of the Ecumene.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XXIX:_Carved_in_Ruin|XXIX: Carved in Ruin]]''</ref>
When the Ammonite civilization fell to Auryx, Taox put herself in cryo-stasis on a spaceship and fled the Fundament star system,<ref name="Crusaders">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XIX:_Crusaders|XIX: Crusaders]]''</ref> eventually leaving even the local galaxy and, over twenty four thousand years later, came across the [[Amiable Ecumene]]. Mercenary explorers, working in the employ of the [[Dakaua Nest]], discovered her spacecraft and brought her to the attention of the [[Dakaua]] who promptly informed the Ecumene Crisis Council; there she provided intelligence again on the Hive and their commanders, who had already been waging war with them for the past century.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XXV:_Dictata_ir_Dakaua|XXV: Dictata ir Dakaua]]''</ref> In spite of her assistance, one hundred and forty years later, the Ecumene was shattered, and over a thousand years later rendered completely extinct. Taox escaped again, the only survivor of their destruction.<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>


Taox fled yet again, the only survivor of the Hive's conquest. Although the Hive would continue hunting her, as Xivu Arath, Savathûn, and Oryx had sworn a blood oath to kill her, they lost track of her whereabouts.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XXIX:_Carved_in_Ruin|XXIX: Carved in Ruin]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Darkness#Calcified_Fragments:_Insight|Calcified Fragments: Insight]]''</ref>
At some point during or after the obliteration the Amiable Ecumene, knowledge of Taox's existence entered into the group mind of the [[Vex]]; the [[Hydra]] [[Axis Mind]] [[Quria, Blade Transform]] used her information to create an imperfect simulation of Aurash in its final confrontation with the Taken King.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XLIII:_End_of_Failed_Timeline|XLIII: End of Failed Timeline]]''</ref> Taox passes out of history after the destruction of the Ecumene, with Oryx only musing the possibility that she may have died without giving it much consideration.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Darkness#Calcified_Fragments:_Insight|Calcified Fragments: Insight]]''</ref>


==Personality and traits==
==Personality and traits==
{{Expand-section}}
{{Expand-section}}


==List of appearances==
==Trivia==
*''[[Destiny]]''
*[[Crota, Son of Oryx]] is aware of Taox's existence, but is not oath-bound to hunt and kill her.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XXXVI:_Eater_of_Hope|XXXVI: Eater of Hope]]''</ref>
**''[[The Taken King]]'' {{First mentioned}}
*Taox's letter to the Helium Drinkers must have been found and incorporated, or reproduced, into the [[Books of Sorrow]] during the Hive's conquest of Fundament. Yet Savathûn later graffities a notice into the Books themselves, saying they're nothing but lies.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books_of_Sorrow#XLI:_Dreadnaught|XLI: Dreadnaught]]''</ref> Either this is part of Savathûn's worm-driven oath to practice cunning and deceit, or Taox's letter and/or its exact contents are a forgery.
 
==Appearances==
*''[[Destiny]]'': ''[[The Taken King]]'' {{First mentioned}} {{Mo}}


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 12:33, May 11, 2024

Taox
Biographical information

Other name(s):

The Traitor Mother

Homeworld:

Fundament

Species:

Krill

Gender:

Female

Political and military information

Affiliation:

Osmium Court

Rank:

Osmium-mother

 

"I alone see the patterns of survival. [...] Alone I must act to save my kingdom."
— Taox[1]

Taox was a Krill female who once tutored the Osmium King's three daughters, Xi Ro, Sathona, and Aurash. She betrayed her King to save the Osmium people from extinction and unwittingly doomed the entire species to slavery by her actions.[2]

Biography

Taox was a sterile Krill Mother of the Osmium Court, a floating continental nation of the Jovian Fundament, and tutor to the royal offspring of the Osmium King. She also designed and built immense engines to move the continent from place to place.[1] She instructed the last three daughters in the ways of governance, rulership, and the philosophy of the Timid Truth, and was held in high esteem by Xi Ro,[3] but feared for their individual weaknesses.[1] Because of her sterility she was above petty political intrigue and could see the greater picture without distraction.[1]

When the Osmium King's mind began to crumble due to his advanced age, Taox realized she could not put off the truth any longer. Her King was dying and had no suitable offspring left to lead their Court and protect them from the dangers of Fundament. She despaired over Xi Ro's inability to lead, Sathona's inability to fight, and Aurash's endless curiosity keeping her from the mundanities of rulership. In desperation she turned to the Osmium Court's enemies, the Helium Drinkers, who had recently begun raiding them and exacting punishing tribute, and wrote a letter offering to sell her people's sovereignty in exchange for survival.[1] The Drinkers accepted her request and invaded, killing the Osmium King, conquered the Osmium Court, and installed Taox as Regent; unfortunately, her three students escaped and fled into the depths of Fundament. The sisters swore vengeance,[4] with Xi Ro personally promising to slay the Traitor.[5][6][7]

For two years[8] Taox ruled the Osmium Court for the Drinkers, presumably building them also a set of engines to move their continent in tandem with hers. When her three students returned as terrible conquerors[9] Taox rallied the survivors of both Osmium and Helium Courts and fought back as the Refusalists, eventually fleeing to the other continents of Fundament and gathering other reinforcements, but failed to stand against the inexorable advance of the Hive.[10][11] Taox and whomever else was with her took to outer space, fleeing amongst the fifty-two moons for sanctuary, and were granted asylum by the Ammonites.[12] She presumably provided tactical intelligence and information of her students, their motivations, and intentions, to the Ammonite Satellite Congress, as the cephalopods were able to push the Hive forces all the way back to the sixth moon.[13] The |Worm Gods told Auryx that Taox mocked him for his weakness.[14]

When the Ammonite civilization fell to Auryx, Taox put herself in cryo-stasis on a spaceship and fled the Fundament star system,[15] eventually leaving even the local galaxy and, over twenty four thousand years later, came across the Amiable Ecumene. Mercenary explorers, working in the employ of the Dakaua Nest, discovered her spacecraft and brought her to the attention of the Dakaua who promptly informed the Ecumene Crisis Council; there she provided intelligence again on the Hive and their commanders, who had already been waging war with them for the past century.[16] In spite of her assistance, one hundred and forty years later, the Ecumene was shattered, and over a thousand years later rendered completely extinct. Taox escaped again, the only survivor of their destruction.[17]

At some point during or after the obliteration the Amiable Ecumene, knowledge of Taox's existence entered into the group mind of the Vex; the Hydra Axis Mind Quria, Blade Transform used her information to create an imperfect simulation of Aurash in its final confrontation with the Taken King.[18] Taox passes out of history after the destruction of the Ecumene, with Oryx only musing the possibility that she may have died without giving it much consideration.[19]

Personality and traits

This section needs expansion. You can help Destinypedia by expanding it.

Trivia

  • Crota, Son of Oryx is aware of Taox's existence, but is not oath-bound to hunt and kill her.[20]
  • Taox's letter to the Helium Drinkers must have been found and incorporated, or reproduced, into the Books of Sorrow during the Hive's conquest of Fundament. Yet Savathûn later graffities a notice into the Books themselves, saying they're nothing but lies.[21] Either this is part of Savathûn's worm-driven oath to practice cunning and deceit, or Taox's letter and/or its exact contents are a forgery.

Appearances

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King, Grimoire: II: The Hateful Verse
  2. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard
  3. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King, Grimoire: I: Predators
  4. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King, Grimoire: II: The Oath
  5. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: IV: Syzygy
  6. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: VII: The Dive
  7. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: VIII: Leviathan
  8. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: VI: Sisters
  9. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: X: Immortals
  10. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King, Grimoire: XI: Conquerors
  11. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King, Grimoire: XII: Out of the Deep
  12. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: XIV: 52 and One
  13. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: XV: Born As Prey
  14. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: XVII: The Weakness Verse
  15. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: XIX: Crusaders
  16. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: XXV: Dictata ir Dakaua
  17. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: XXIX: Carved in Ruin
  18. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: XLIII: End of Failed Timeline
  19. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: Calcified Fragments: Insight
  20. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: XXXVI: Eater of Hope
  21. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: XLI: Dreadnaught